The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1841.

been dissolved in 1834. The Right Hon. Baronet had
spoken a vast deal about the prerogative ; it was a
theme-that was ever in the mouth of the Right Hon.
Baronet whenever it was brought under the considera-
tion of the House,' and he (Mr. Wakley) thought that it
was a subject which should be treated with the greatest
respect when discussed before that House. However, it
was strange that so much attention was bestowed on the
prerogative in one point of view, and so little in another.
If the people perceived that when the right of appeal of
the House, or the executive to the Crown, was to be made
in their behalf, it was impossible to obtain the exercise
of the-prerogative ; and when they saw at the same time
that in the case of appeals made by particular parties in
that House, the prerogative could be exercised at plea-
sure—as, for instance, when the Right Hon. Baronet
called on the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies,
I to state what the Crown intended doing, they would
say that the Crown was placed in the hands of the
great factions ; and they might begin to think that they
were paying too much for that state of things—that it
was too dear an entertainment. For his (Mr. Wakley's)
part, he should wish to see a dissolution of Parliament
every month, or at least every year, until the condition
of the people was bettered, and they were more truly re-
presented in that House. The Right Hon. Baronet had
been very stingy in his statements of what he
would do when in office. That might be a
very sagacious course ; it was at all events a
very convenient one. Te Right Hon. Baronet alluded
to the offers which he had made, and which should not
be lightly rejected. He said he offered a prospect of
continued peace—he offered reduced estimates (that was
a most important offer)—(Hear, hear)—he offered re-
form of the ecclesiastical law—settlement of the tithe
question in Ireland—commutation of the tithes in Eng-
land—removal of any real abuses in the Church of which
the Dissenters complained. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man said he offered also to advance soberly and cau-
tiously (no doubt of that) progressive improvement.
Was there any more to promise ? If the Right Hon.
Baronet could make so many promises in 1835 was the
stock of promises exhausted now ? If they were ex-
hausted what was the use of his coming into office ? The
Right Hon. Baronet was more useful in opposition, for
he kept a wary eye on those who were opposed to him.
The Right Hon. Baronet talked of his supporting the
Government, but he (Mr. W.) though that he had sup-
ported Government when they least deserved it. In
1834 the Poor-law Bill passed through that House, not
because the Right Hon. Baronet opposed but supported
the Government. The Noble Lord (the Member for
North Lancashire) was now ready to take office with
the Right Hon. Baronet, yet what was the language of the
Noble Lord in the speech which he (Mr. Wakley) had
already quoted. He said he was confident that no re-
presentative of any Administration could either impede
or endanger, after the passing of that great measure (the
Reform Bill) the course of comprehensive and salutary
reform. Since an appeal was going to be made to the
country, he (Mr. Wakley) wished to know what that
system of reform was—was it to be a sliding system ?
(Hear, hear.) Were they to take the Irish Registration
Bill as a specimen of that system of reform. But that
Bill was thought, by many competent to judge of the
matter, most hostile to the principle of reform. There
ought, he thought, to be no concealment in a public man
in such a position as the Right Hon. Baronet was, as to
what were his intentions. The Right Hon. Baronet ex-
presses himself hostile to the Ballot, a measure which
the friends of the people wished to see carried. He had
opposed that measure without any reserve whatever ; but
at the same time the Right Hon. Gentleman said he had
got a system of reform of his own. In order to judge of
that system, he (Mr. Wakley) thought they ought to
have its details.. When the appeal was made to the coun-
try, he hoped that public men would be honest in their
declarations at the hustings. He feared his admo-
nition would not be attended to ; but he de-
clared, if he should again have the honour of a
seat in that House, he would exercise his industry in no-
ticing what were the declarations of public men at the
hustings, and comparing them with the votes and speeches
in the House, and let them be friends or foes, he should
be the first to charge them with inconsistency if they de-
served it. With regard to the Poor-law, many persons
had said to him that they could point out several Mem-
bers who on the hustings spoke in favour of the repeal
of that law, and in the House voted for the continuance
of it. The Right Hon. Baronet had never (as we under-
stood) said one word against the Poor-law in public.
Sir R. PEEL said that he stated the modifications
which he proposed having made in the law, at the same
time he stated he would support the principle of the law
with certain modifications.

Mr. LABOUCHERE thought that the speech of the
Right Hon. Baronet contained more serious charges
against the Government than he had hitherto made. The
Right Hon. Gentleman had charged his (Mr. Labou-
chere's) Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer with having a fair-weather budget and a foul-
weather budget. He (Mr. Labouchere-) would answer
that charge by stating that he knew from personal as
well as official acquaintance with his Right Hon. Friend
that the statement which his Right Hon. Friend had
made, and the system he proposed were entertained
by him from the beginning of the session. He (Mr.
Labouchere) knew that his Right Honourable Friend
had all along never departed from the opinion that it
was the duty of Government, when the time for the
financial statement of the present year should come, to
propose that that statement should be founded not on
new taxes—not on a loan—but on an arrangement of
nigh a change of duties as would meet the financial diffi-
culties of the country, and, at the same time, afford relief
to the people and to the manufacturing interests. There
was another charge against the Government, which the
Right Hon. Gentleman made, and which he (Mr. L.)
thought was one of a very grave description, and equally
unfounded as the former one. The Right Hon. Baronet
said that it was strange enough that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer should come down to the Honso to move
the Sugar duties Bill, and go on in the usual way, and
that nothing should be said as to a dissolution until he
(Sir R. Peel) had moved his resolution. It must have
been the impression of the Right Hon. Baronet that the
Government, after the defeat they sustained on the sugar
duties, meant to retain office without an appeal to the
country—that must have been his impression since he
had moved the resolution which had lately been decided.
But he (Mr. L.) could assure the Right Hon. Gentleman
that the course of the Government had been decided on
long previous to the time when he (Sir R. Peel) gave
notice of his motion. The Right Hon. Member stated,
if that was the case—if their measures had been so long
prepared, it was their duty to have mentioned it. But
it was necessary for the Government to wait for that pe-
riod of the session when the financial statement was
usually made before Parliament, from which the Go-
vernment would not be justified in disconnecting those
measures. The Right Hon. Baronet had also repeated
on the present occasion what he (Mr. L.) had heard
before. The Right Hon. Gentleman seemed to Suppose
that those measures brought forward by the Government
were founded altogether on the Report of the Import
Duties Committee. He (Mr. L.) spoke with all respect
for that Committee. Their labours had been most useful,
and the circulation of that Report through the country
had done more to call attention to the facts of the sub-
ject than any other document that was ever published.
At the same time he must deny that any discovery was
made by that Committee. With respect to the timber
duties, a measure identical with that was proposed by
Lord Althorp some six or seven years ago; and since
that time the principle of the measure had obtained the
sanction of a Committee of the House of Commons.
With respect to the Corn-laws, the Right Honour-
able Gentleman seemed to think that the measure
of the Government was quite a sudden thought.
During the debate last Session on that subject, the Right
Hon. Baronet might recollect that he (Mr. Labouchere)
had stated a fixed duty was the best system which could
be adopted, with a due regard to those interests which
were involved in the subject; and that with respect to
the amount of duty, it might be fixed very fairly at 6s.
Bd. The Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies had
also, on the discussion of the subject last Session, stated
he was in favour of a moderate fixed duty; and if the
House should resolve itself into a Committee on the sub-
ject, that either the Noble Lord himself, or he (Mr. La-
bouchere) would move a resolution for a fixed duty.
There were several indications that both he (Mr. La-
bouchere), and the Noble Lord the Secretary for the
Colonies, were of the same opinion as to the principle.
Mr. Huskisson, too, had introduced a measure which went
further than the present one, and was so far a better one.
He would ask the House to consider the course taken by
the Government in the present Session with respect to
matters of trade. That course, whether right or wrong,
had at least been directed not by the pressure of party
difficulty at a particular time, but by general feeling.
They said that it was for the interest of the country dur-
ing the present Session to reform the whole of our com-
mercial system.—(Hear, hear.) What measure had he
given notice of the first day of the Session ? He had
looked forward to the sugar duties, but he had felt it
necessary first to put the East Indies on the same tbot-
ing as the West Indies, and with that view he had
brought forward his East India Rum Bill. He felt also
that it was necessary and just, if he intended to deal
with the question of the sugar duties, to relieve
the West India planters, from the duties of which they
had so often complained.—(Hear.) With that object he
had brought in the Colonial Duties Bill, which had re-
ceived the sanction of the House, but which he extremely
regretted the state of the business of the Session world
prevent his bringing to a satisfactory conclusion.—
(Hear.) He thought it necessary to state these things
because he heard it stated that the Government had
brought forward these measures in a state of despair.
He could conceive no graver charge against a Govern-
ment, and being conscious that the present Government
did not deserve that charge, he was surprised that any
gentleman who had watched their proceedings could en-
tertain such an opinion.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
He had stated that it was their intention to make
most important changes in the commercial policy of the
country. They had introduced measures relating to the
rum duties, colonial duties, timber and sugar, but they
had intended not to stop there.—(Hear, hear.) It was
his intention,• when the Customs Bill of the year was
brought in, to have proposed such alteration in the duties
as he was convinced, if carried into effect, must have had
the most important results on the commerce of the coun-
try.—(Hear, hear.) It was on the same feelings and
principle that the other measures were founded. What
was the state of things ? They saw the country divid-
ing itself into two great parties : on the one side, the
great protective interests bonded together ; and on the
other, the merchants, maaufacturers, and the great body
of the industrious people of the country. He confessed
he could not contemplate such a state of things without
alarm. He thought that all party contention would be
as nothing if that fearful struggle should take place
without any attempt on the part of the Government or
Parliament to interpose and restore tranquillity or con-
tentment by the only means by which they could be re-
stored, by measures of fairness and justice.—(Cheers.)
But he denied that the Government had taken an ex-
treme course on this occasion.—(Hear, hear.) He al-
lowed that such,conduct would be unworthy of a Go-
vernment, but Was there the simplest pretext for saying

such had been their course ?—(Hear, hear.) He asked
was it not ludicrous to hear the measures they proposed
styled extreme measures, when they left on the sugar
duties a protection of 50 per cent., on the timber duties
a still higher protection to our colonies, and on the
Corn-laws a protection of Bs. a quarter for the benefit
of the landed interests ?---(" Hear, hear," and cheers.)
It was extraordinary, therefore, that Gentlemen should
say that these measures were proposed for the sake of ex-
citement, and were not honest bona fide attempts to le-
gislate on questions which could no longer be left un-
legislated on without producing the worst effects on fhe
community.—(Cheers.) The Right Hon. Gentleman
had said that he (Mr. Labouchere) had never attended
to the Import Duties Committee. That was quite true.
That Committee sat at a late period of the session,
when he (Mr. Labouchere) was on four other Committees,
and when it was, therefore, utterly impossible that he
could attend ; but two members of the Government had
constantly attended, one being a Lord of the Treasury,
and the other the Right Hon. the Paymaster of the
Forces. It could not, therefore, be said that the Com-
mittee was abandoned on the part of the Government.—
(Hear, hear.) The arguments of the pion. Gentleman
with respect to the Committees were somewhat contra-
dictory. When he brought forward the India Rum Bill
he was taunted for acting against the opinions of a Com-
mittee ; but now that he brought forward a measure in
the spirit of the resolutions of the Import Duties
Committee, he was taunted with having no opinion
of his own upon the subject.—(Hear, hear.) He had
always followed the same course with regard to Commit-
tees. Thinking there was sufficient sources of informa-
tion in his own office, he had never moved for a Com-
mittee, but if any independent Member of that House
wished one he had never opposed it. He had always
given the Reports of Committees the most attentive con-
sideration, but he had never felt himself bound by them.
He did not now think it necessary to trouble the House
at greater length, as his sole object in rising was to re-
pel some attacks from the Right Hon. Gentleman, and to
vindicate the course pursued by the Government.
Colonel SIBTHORP said it would appear very im-
proper for any Member of his side of the House to
make any charge against any Member of the Govern-
ment. He had no *pinion of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer in his financial or any other capacity. He
quite shared in the opinions of the Right Hon. Gentle-
man (Sir R. Peel). It was his opinion that the Go-
vernment had never done anything to promote the dig-
nity of the Crown, the character of the country, or the
welfare of the people. He had seen a constant attempt
to evade measures. • There were no less than thirty-
one Orders of the Day then on the papers, and among
them he observed one introduced at the eleventh hour, to
which he would never give his consent—he meant the
Noble Lord's Bill to prevent bribery at elections. The
Government exercised corruption privately, and then
let them not charge Gentlemen on that side with it. He
had often asked them to define what bribery was.
Was it meant by this Bill to prevent the exercise
of the common charities of life ?—(Hear.) If he
understood what the Government meant, he believed
these measures were brought forward to produce excite-
ment and agitation, to enable them to effect their pur-
poses. Were they now to abandon upwards of four mil-
lion of money to the hands of such a Government ? He
believed the matters of Mr. Vizard and Dr. Bowring, on
which he had taken the sense of the House, to be mere
jobs. He was prepared to tell his constituents, whom
he hoped he should shortly meet on the hustings, that a
more profligate, a more dangerous, a more idle and in-
efficient Administration never existed. He spoke politi-
cally enly, for he believed the Chancellor of the Exchequer
was an excellent man out of the House. He wished to ask
the Chancellor of the Exehequer what was the
particular sum he asked for in this vote of credit ? If he
were satisfied that no portion of it would go in payment
of Mr. Vizard and Dr. Bowring, he would not object to
it, but otherwise he should vote against it. He came
down determined to take the sense of the House against
the amount granted year after year to Dr. Bowring, but
he feared he must postpone it until he had again the
honour of appearing at that table.—(Laughter.) He
believed the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Peel) was
the only man in the present crisis that could save the
country.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the Gallant Officer must be aware that the warrant for
payment of Dr. Bowring was already issued and paid
out of the vote of last year. With regard to the Esti-
mates it was perfectly competent for the GallantiOfficer,
if he should not retire from public life, in any future
session to make the speeches he was so fond of indulging
himself in on the subject.—(Laughter.) He hoped the
House would permit him to allude to the statements of
the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel). He was
satisfied that the Right Hon. Baronet had withdrawn
his imputations with respect to the Budget, but since
he had been in the House he had received communica-
tions from Gentlemen on the opposite side, stating that
the Right Hon. Baronet was in possession of informa-
tion respecting the Queen's Speech which proved those
imputations. He took it for granted that the Right
Hon. Baronet would withdraw the statement also.
Statements of this kind grew more and more particular.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he had not the slightest
information on the subject ; he had never heard any one
suppose that he had any private information respecting
the Queen's speech. He had not said that his statements
were founded, on private information, and he had no such
information. The moment he heard the Noble Lord
state that his surmises were erroneous, he had withdrawn
the charge.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
he was perfectly satisfied with the explanation, but the
one withdrawn was not the only statement of the Right
Hon. Baronet which was erroneous. He had seen a
statement made by the Right Hon. Baronet which had
filled him with great surprise, and which the Right Hon.
Baronet would have an opportunity of setting right in a
Committee of Supply, and which he (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer) was anxious to give him an opportunity
of explaining. The Right Hon. Baronet had stated that
during the time he was in office he (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer) would find that they had left a sur-
plus of two millions, that they had reduced
the national debt in three years by twenty millions, that
they had reduced the interest of the national debt by one
million more_; but now there was a deficit of upwards
of seven millions created by him (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer). Now, first, as to the statement as to the
two millions surplus ; that was not correct. It was quite
true that the last year the Right Hon. Baronet was in
office he had a surplus revenue to a considerable amount,
but he spent it.—(Hear, hear.) He took off taxes, and
his own Chancellor of the Exchequer was taunted in the
House, and told that so far from leaving a surplus he had
left a deficiency of 300,0001. That was not quite cor-
rect ; but the Right Hon. Gentleman admitted that he
did not leave two millions, but said he believed the sur-
plus was 1,600,000/. The Right Hon. Gentleman, in a
subsequent budget, lost several taxes, and commuted
others. When Lord Spencer came forward with his bud-
get, he had occasion to state what the Right Hon Gentle-
man had left him to spend. It was then his interest to
state it as high as possible, and he stated it to be 300,000/.
If they put it at 500,000/. they would exceed the surplus
left, so that he believed the Right Hon. Baronet saw a
little double with regard to ;this subject.—(Hear, hear.)
The next question was with regard to the 20,000,000/. of
debt, which the Right Hon. Gentleman said he had re-
duced. This was not quite correct nor quite incorrect.
It was quite true that the amount of the capital of the
national debt was reduced by the Right Hon. Gentle-
man's Government, but 10,000,000/. of that was con-
verted into terminable annuities. No doubt that was a
good arrangement, but was he to be told that the debt
was paid off by it ?—(Hear, hear.) Again the Right
Hon. Gentleman stated that, the annual payment on ac-
count of the national debt was reduced a million. He
should like to hear the Right Honourable Gentle-
man's figures.—(Hear, hear.) • The third statement
with respect to the deficiency was equally incorrect.
He had last year received 2,400,0001. for the duty on
corn. But taking the average received by the
_revenue
upon corn since the present law had come into operation
it did not amount to more than 500,0001. It should be
observed that in various years the duty on malt and the
duty upon corn counterbalanced each other. If there
was a large return from corn, there would be a dimi-
nished duty on malt. The average returns from both
amounted to 5,560,000/., except in the year 1838, which
was a remarkable year. It was a year in which there
bad been a considerable importation of corn, but the price
was so high that it had been introduced at a very low
rate, and, consequently, he lost that year the duty upon
corn as well as the duty upon malt.—(Hear, hear.) He
believed that under the proposed alteration he would
receive a dbkty of 900,0001. a year.
Sir R. PEEL said that the charge he had to make
was the same as that which he had urged in the debate
on the Sugar Duties Bill. His charge against the Go-
vernment was that after five years they had left a defi-
ciency of 7,600,000/. The estimated deficiency during
the present year was 2,400,000/. The deficiencies during
the four preceding years amounted to 5,166,0001., and if
to that 2,400,0001. were added it would make the sum of
7,566,000/. It was true they had begun with a surplus,
of 1,961,000/., and that in 1837 they had had a surplus of
1,862,000/., but since that period they had accumulated
a deficiency of 7,500,000/., and the former surplus fol-
lowed by such a deficiency only indicated a more alarm- '
ing state of things. They had begun with a large
surplus, and within five years there had been a defi-
ciency of 7,600,0001. of expenditurg-over revenue. And
he was perfectly warranted in bringing that charge
against them when speaking of their administration of
the finances.

Mr. HERRIES was surprised at the statement of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. He could not deny the
fact that during the last five years there had been a con-
tinually increasing deficiency, which had at length
amounted to seven millions and a half, but because in
former years there had been a surplus which had been
disposed of the Right Hon. Gentleman challenged that
surplus as a set-off. If they went back to 1835 why
might they not go back to Lord Grey's Administration,
and say that because there was a surplus during that
Administration therefore they had a right to claim that
as a set off ? Lord Althorp had handed over a surplus
to Lord Monteagle, which had been sufficient to keep up
a surplus during the first two years of the present Admi-
nistration, and which proved the better administration
of the finances of Lord Althorp during the time he had
been in office. The surplus under Lord Grey's Adminis-
tration amounted to six millions and a half, and if that
was added to the surplus of two millions and a half
handed over by Lord Althorp to; Lord Monteagle, and
if they claimed that as a set-off against the present defi-
ciency of seven millions and a half only, instead of a de-
ficiency they would at that moment be entitled to take
credit for a surplus. But what would the nation say to
such a statement of accounts ? Would they be inclined
to admit that there was no cause of alarm from the defi-
ciencies of the last five years, because, during the pre-
vious twenty years there had been a surplus ? He had
mach a statement a few nights ago to
which ho had ex-
pected the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have paid
some attention. He bad beon contrasting the financial
administrationof the last few years with the previous
administration of the finances since the
peace. By thos

previous administrations twenty millions had been paid
out of the official surplus, and twenty-one millions of
debt had been paid off—that was a plain money statement.
During the Administration of Lord Liverpool 31 millions
of money had been paid out of the surplus, and during the
Administration of his Right Hon. Friend, the Member
for Cambridge, the debt had been reduced ten millions.
Lord Althorp, by his surplus, had reduced six millions
and a half of debt. During the first two years of Lord
Monteagle's Administration, there had been a surplus of
three millions ; butduring the last five years there had been
a deficiency of seven millions and a half. But it was ob-
served by the Hon. Gentleman opposite that they had
taken off taxes, and that accounted for their not having
any surplus. When Mr. Spring Rice had brought for-
ward his first Budget, he had done justice to the efforts
of former Administrations in the reduction of taxation.
He bad said that he could only be a gleaner in the field,
--that the harvest had been gathered by the Wellington
and Liverpool Administrations. He told the House that
since ti„: peace 42 millions of taxation had been
reduced, of which 33 millions had been reduced
by the Liverpool and Wellington Administrations.
He hoped, therefore, be should not again hear of any
more exclusive claims fOr present Administration on
account of the reduction of taxation. The Right Hon.
Gentleman had stated that there 11,-2,d not been a surplus
of more than a few hundred thousand coilnds left by the
Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Cambridge,
and had therefore urged that his calculations were erro-
neous. Now it was the duty of a Finance Minister to
make provision according to the best estimates he colud
procure, and state to the House what would be the FO-
bable surplus, and he was fully justified in acting oil
those estimates, although he might be disappointed in
the result. His Right Hon. Friend had estimated his
surplus at 1,600,000/. ; it did so happen that during the
next year, owing to circumstances which it had been im-
possible to foresee, the actual surplus had fallen short
of that amount ; but the following year Lord Althorp
found the surplus greatly increased. He went into these
details for the purpose of showing. the great contrast be-
tween this and all former Administrations. All former
Administrations had had a surplus, but the present Ad-
ministration had a deficiency.
Mr. HUME was amazed at the charges brought against
the Government by the Right Hon. Baronet. The
Right Hon. Baronet was quite as responsible for the
deficiency as the Government. The Government had
been foolish enough to suffer themselves to be entrapped
into increased expenditure by Hon. Gentlemen opposite.
He had told them at the tune what must be the conse-
quence of such profuse expenditure ; but they had
chosen rather to listen toglon. Gentlemen opposite than
to him, and therefore the Right Hon. Baronet had no
merit to the claim he had put in, that would have
managed the finances better. The whole exce.s of ex-
penditure had been owing to the misconduct of the To-
ries and the weakness of the Whigs—(Hear)—the
Tories urging them to an extravagant expenditure, and
the Whigs having the weakness to yield to them.—
(Hoar, hear.) Did the Right Hon. Baronet forget that
five millions taxation had been reduced, and yet the
revenue had only fallen by one and a-half millions ? He
would admit that from 1836 there had been no
relief, but the revenue had been annually in-
creasing, and the average revenue of 1839, 1840, and 1841
exceeded that of the four preceding years by 600,0001.
There had been no deficiency of revenue, and the pre-
sent deficiency was entirely owing to an increased ex-
penditure, against which he had protested year after year.
The army, the navy, and all the establishments, had
been increased in consequence of the representations of
Hon. Gentlemen opposite, to which the Government
had had the weakness to yield. Hon. Gentlemen! oppo-
site had themselves created the deficiency, and now they
turned round upon the Government, in a manner very
little creditable to any party, and taunted them with the
deficiency, which they themselves had occasioned. Let
Hon. Gentlemen point out one instance, with the single
exception of the vote to Prince Albert, in which they
had ever given an economical vote ; and even on that oc-
casion, when he had moved to reduce the grant to
21,0001., they had divided against him. But they said
if they had been in office they would have managed
better, they would have had no deficiency. No; because
they would have laid on new taxes.—(Hear, hear.)
Then they raised this outcry in order to blind the
people as to the real question at issue. A more
barefaced attempt to mislead the public he had
never heard of. He had seen many things in
that House, and had frequently blushed at the
effrontery of Hon. Members, but a more shameless and
scandalous attempt to impose upon the public, he had
never known.—(Cheers.) If they were so anxious to
have the deficiency made good, why did they stand in
the way of the remedy the Government proposed ?
(Cheers.) Up to the month of January last, he should
have cared little whether the Administration had been
Whig or Tory, but now when the Ministers brought for-
ward measures calculated to benefit the country, he felt
bound to give them his support, without asking when
they had determined to bring them forward. He was
glad to see they were bringing forward measures calcu-
lated to turn public attention to the real causes of the
distresses of the country. The real author of the Com-
mittee on the Import Duties was the Right Hon. Baronet
the Member for Tamworth, as it was in consequence of
his speech on the Corn-laws that he (Mr. Hume) had
beets induced to move for that Committee. The
Right Honourable Baronet had said that he had
no objection to consider the question of the Corn-
laws, but that he did not think it right to the
landed interest to bring forward that question alone, but
that all the interests should be considered together, and
in consequence of that speech he (Mr. Hume) had moved
for the Committee. He rejoiced at the prospect they had
of removing the shackles from industry. They had last
year laid on an additional 5 and 10 per cent. on the as-
sessed taxes, and in that the Right Hon. Baronet had
concurred, but when he (Mr. Hume) had proposed last
year to meet the deficiency by making the landed inte-
rest, which 'was not taxed at all, contribute a proportion
to the public burdens by imposing on landed property a
legacy duty similar to that paid on all personal property,
and which would have produced a revenue of 3,000,000/.,
the Right Hon. Baronet had voted against him. The fact
was that as long as land was not touched, Hon. Gentle-
men opposite cared not how they increased those taxes
the burden of which was borne by the working classes.
The complete failure in the expected increase from the
additional tax might have shown the Hon. Baronet how
vain it was to attempt to raise the revenue by any fur-
ther tax upon industry.—(Hear, hear.) Let the House
of Commons reduce the expenditure which had led to the
deficiency, and he believed that that would be the ultimate
result. Her Majesty's Ministers had been supported by
Hon. Gentleman opposite in every proposition for in-
creasing the public burdens. They had been very help-
less to do any good—(Hear, hear)—but powerful to do
ill when supported by the Opposition in measures which
he conceived to be against the principles upon which
they took office. He rejoiced that her Majesty's
Government had brought forward so large and com-
prehensive a measure, and that the present Parliament
was about to be dissolved. The time was come when an
appeal should be made to the people. It was necessary
for the interests of the country that the House should be
more decided one way or the other. It could not longer
remain in its present position.—(Hear, hear.) He was
confident that the electors would not throw away the
opportunity afforded to them of retnrning a better Par-
liament.—(" Hear, hear," from the Opposition.) Those
gentlemen who supported the resolution went to the
country with a declaration that they would not remove
the taxes which were put into the pockets of individuals
by the protective duties; that they would not allow sugar
to be cheaper, and were determined to continue that tax,
by which five millions were paid last year out of the
pockets of the industrious classes. They declared that
they would not admit cheap corn ; that they
would keep up all the necessaries of life at the highest
price. He would repeat that he looked with confidence
to the results of the elections. It was a great disadvan-
tage that the Corn-laws should not be previously dis-
cussed. The want of a single additional Reformer to
secure the discussion of that subject was greatly to be
deplored. He regretted that they had not had the op-
portunity of proving that Bs. protection was a tax
amounting to 30 or 40 millions a year, upon the industry
of the country, and that that went into the pockets of the
country gentlemen. The Hon. Member for Tamworth
and his party had come forward by their resolution to
prevent the discussion of this subject; that was in fact
their sole object in proposing it, and he hoped the coun-
try would so understand it. The situation of the country
was truly distressing. There was a population starved
by the landholders, laws were passed which positively
starved the people by inches. Whilst some countries
were cursed with an unproductive soil, and others with
calamities arising from the climate, the people of Eng-
land were doomed to be starved by the landed proprie-
tors. It was melancholy to think that they could lay
their heads on their couches whilst there was so much
misery of their creation, the result of their monopoly.
Every one who had voted no confidence in her Majesty's
Ministers had, in fact, voted against the discussion of the
Corn-laws, because they wished to have the advantage
on the hustings of having said little or nothing on the
subject. He deplored the ignorance which existed with
reference to it, and Hon. Gentlemen opposite shared in
the ignorance which existed as to the real cause of the
distress.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Still he looked with
confidence to the coming struggle, believing that the
people of this country would not allow class interests to
prevail. It would be impossible for any any who took
the course of Hon. Gentlemen opposite, that of setting
themselves against all reduction of taxation, and all re-
lief to the working classes, to reflect for a few moments
and not feel that they, had a reavy responsibily resting
upon them. He would be sorry to feel himself liable to
those charges which he now made against them and
against every man who wished to keep up monopoly,
and to prevent that alteration which was called for by an
increasing population. He took the speech of the Right
Hon. Gentleman, the President of the Board of Trade
as a pledge by the Government, that they were pre-
pared, should they continue in power, to carry out a
large and liberal reform. Even Honourable Gen-
tlemen opposite, if they would only examine the
subject, would see the necessity which existed for
such a measure. How could they visit the manufac-
turing districts, and reconcile it to their consciences to
maintain the monopoly ?—(Hear, hear.) The people at
present paid all the taxes—the landed proprietors did
not pay one shilling.—(lronical cries of " Hear' hear,"
from the Tory benches.) He would take upon himself
to prove that the landed proprietors of this country were
as free from taxes as were the nobility of France in
1789. The only difference was that in France the in-
justice was more open. The country gentlemen had a
monopoly amounting to more than double what they
paid towards the public expenditure. Last year they
had on a moderate calculation eighty millions of money
raised from the industry of the people, whilst that they
contributed did not amount to twenty-five millions. He
contended, therefore, that they were in a better condition
than the noblesse of France at the period to which he
had referred. The events of history should teach them
what was to be expected from such a state of things.
(Hear, hear.) At this moment the landed proprietors
from one end of the country to the other did not

pay one quarter of the fifty millions of taxes ; their
monopoly therefore was a legal plunder upon the mass
of the people. The common sense of the people would
teach them how to act in their present position. From
one side they had to expect relief, from the other no-
thing but taxation and oppression; and he had no doubt
that Hon. Gentlemen opposite would be foiled in their
attempt to secure a majority in the House of Commons.
Mr. GOULBURN said, as ho had not been present
during the speech made by the Right Hon. Gentleman
opposite, he would not attempt to answer it ; but there
was one point to which he would just advert. The
Right Hon. Gentleman had objected to the statement of
his Hon. Friend, that during three years of the Adminis-
tration of the :Duke of Wellington there had been a re-
duction of the National Debt to the amount of twenty
millions, and a reduction of the charge to the amount of
one million. The Right Hon. Gentleman said they had
no right to take credit for that reduction, because it was
produced by the increase of terminable annuities. If he
were to take that alone, he (Mr. Goulburn) granted
that the objection would be good ; but he could show
that they had not only reduced the capital, but the
charge also, and he maintained that they had a right
to take credit for the reduction. (The Honourable
Member then entered into some financial statements
in order to prove the fact of the reduction.) With re-
spect to the speech of the Hon. Gentleman who had
just addressed the House, he could not help telling the
Hon. Gentleman who wondered that they could not re-
frain from blushing at their conduct, that if he were at
all given to blushing there was nothing for which the
Hon. Gentleman ought more to blush than the exagge-
rated statements which he had made that evening ; and
as the Hon. Gentleman had made such charges against
th.it side of the House, he would remind him that in
1830 he applauded him (Mr. Goulburn.) for the reduc-
tions which he had made in the taxes of the country.
Mr. HUME explained. He had not defended the
Right lion. Gentleman during the last five years.
Sir DE LACY EVANS said, upon the ground of
justice the Right Hon. Baronet ought to have allowed a
discussion upon the Corn-laws. In his opinion, it would
have been better for the landed interest to have had that
discussion before the House. The people would soon
understand the real nature of the technical motion which
the Right Hon. Baronet had succeeded in carrying. He
entirely concurred in what had fallen from the Hon.
Member for Kilkenny. The present system of fiscal
duties was one of gross fraud, and that was the language
which he would use before his constituents.—(Tory
cheers.) These were his opinions, and he would think
himself degraded if he did not give utterance to them.
The House then went into Committee, Mr. BERNAL
in the chair.

31,7861. was voted for the British Museum.
400,000/. for the expenses of the War in China, and
1,624,6211. for the Commissariat of Canada, and Mis-
cellaneous, for six months.
In answer to Mr. T. PARKER,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Noble Lord, the Secretary for the Colonies, would state
to-morrow what Bills the Government proposed to go
on with.

Sir J. Y. BULLER moved that the House do go into
Committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill.
Mr. DIVETT and Sir C. DOUGLAS opposed the
motion.

The House divided, when there appeared—
For going into Committee 5B

Against it 3l
Majority
The House then went into Committee, and the several
clauses were agreed to without observation.
The Ecclesiastical Commistioners Bill was read a
second time.

On the motion that the Bribery at Elections Bill be
read a second time,

Sir R. PEEL said he would not oppose the second
reading of the Bill.
Colonel SIBTHORP was opposed to the Bill receiving
a second reading.
Sir E. SUGDEN did not object to the second reading
of the Bill, but was opposed to that part of it which re-
lated to treating.
The Bill was then read a second time, and was or-
dered to be committed to-morrow (this day.)
The New South Wales Bill, and the Western Aus-
tralia Bill was each read a second time.
The Schools Sites Bill went through Committee.
On the motion for going into Committee on the Clerk
of the Peace (Lancashire) Bill,
Sir E. WILMOT moved an instruction to the Com-
mittee, that compensation should be granted to all offi-
cers whose incomes were affected by the Criminal Jus-
tice Bill.

After' some discussion, strangers were ordered to
withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared—
For the instruction
Against it 46
Against the instruction
The House then went into Committee.
Mr. BOLLING moved a clause to exempt Bolton from
the operation of the Bill.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House
divided, when there appeared—

For the clause 9
Against it 52
Majority against the clause
The Chairman then reported the progress, and the
House resumed.

Mr. C. WOOD obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
Amend and Extend the Act 3 and 4 William IV. chap.
83, and to make further provisions relative to the re-
turns to be make by Banks in the United Kingdom, of
the amount of their notes in circulation. _

Sir E. KNATCHBULL obtained leave to bring in a
Bill to amend the Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c 25.

The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'Clock.

RAILWAY EXCURSION FROM
DARLINGTON TO YORK.

On Tuesday last, the Directors of the Great North of
England Railway gave to an immense number of the
inhabitants of Darlington and the intermediate places, a
cheap trip to York, the fare being only five shillings
from Darlington to York and back. At an early hour
in the morning the station at Darlington was besieged
by parties wishful to avail themselves of the Company's
offer ; and at half-past nine o'clock, the time appointed
for starting, the trains were filled by a res iectable com-
pany, a great number of whom had come from Hartle-
pool, Middlesbro', Stockton, Shildon, &c., by special
trains, furnished by the Stockton and Darlington and
Stockton and Hartlepool Railway Companies. All the
second class carriages the Company could muster were
put in requisition, as well as a number of second and
third class carriages, borrowed from the York and North
Midland Railway Company ' • and, in order to provide
accommodation for all, a large number of spring-
mounted merchandise waggons were fitted up with seats
for the occasion. The morning was beautiful, the sun
smiling pleasantly, and the party .all appeared well
pleased with the prospect of their excursion. About ten
o'clock the engines were put in motion and went off sur-
rounded -by a host of spectators, who cast a long linger-
ing look at the lengthy trains as they began to leave
them in the distance. The trains were propelled at a
great speed, and the engines soon were " careering in
thunder along"—
On, on to the goal, over valley and mound,
How wond'rous and rapid his race !
Afar as he speeds, rock and river resound
'Neath the tread of his fire brightened pace.
At the stations at Croft, Cowton, Northallerton, Thirsk,
Alne, and Shipton, the number of the party was consi-
derably augmented, especially at Northallerton and
Thirsk, where carriages were ready filled to be attached
to the trains. At all the stations there were immense
crowds drawn up to see " the folks," and the bridges
along the line also had their share of visitors. The
party arrived at our city soon after twelve o'clock, the
bar walls were occupied by numbers of our fellow-
citizens, and when the visitors had alighted from the
train the spacious and splendid station presented an ap-
pearance not easy to be described, and therefore we will
not attempt it. The streets of Old Ebor were soon
thronged by the party wending their way towards the
various "lions" of York, our noble Minster being the chief
point of attraction, which seemed to strike many with
surprise ; next was the Museum, with the delightful
grounds attached, which were thrown open gratuitously
to the public. Here we observed many of the " canny
lasses" of the north promenading the gardens, admiring
the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey, the fountains in full play,
and inspecting the curiosities located within our Mu-
seum. The Castle, too, had a goodly number of visitors.
many of whom viewed with astonishment the massy
walls which encircle that receptacle of malefactors. Some
few went as far ss the Cemetery, but in short we may say
that although the time allowed in York was short, every
one seemed to dispose of it to the best advantage. At a
quarter past four the station in Tanner-row again pre-
sented a scene,—the platform was literally covered with
a moving mass of human beings ; when the bell rung,
people might be seen running in all directions, climbing
over the waggons, and the first train left Old Ebor com-
pletely laden ; there was not, we believe, a spare inch
anywhere. A second train train soon afterwards fol-
lowed with the remainder of the party, and the station
again presented its ordinary appearance. This is the
first pleasure excursion which the Directors have given,
but from the success which has attended it, we need not
hesitate to prophesy that it will not be the last ; though,
by the by, we hope on the next occasion more time will
be allowed at York. The novel character of the excur-
sion—the perfection of the arrangements—the good
spirit which animated the whole of the party--together
with the favourable nature of the weather, that marplot
to holiday lovers !—all tended to bring about the de-
sired end—" the greatest happiness of the greatest
number."

It would have given us great pleasure if we could have
concluded our few brief remarks by saying, "no acci-
dent occurred to mar the pleasures of the day ;" but we
regret to have to state that, on tha homeward journey,
Mr. Hutchinson, of Darlington, one of the conductors of
the train, a very respectable young man, met with an ac-
cident, from the effects of which we fear he will not soon
recover. We are not in possession of the exact circum-
stances of the case ; but, from all that we can learn, it
appears he left York with the second train, and when
near to Thirsk he was standing on the top of the car-
riages, when the train was approaching a bridge ; his
hea came in contact with it, and he was knocked down
insensible. On arriving at Thirsk station, he was put
into one of the carriages and conveyed to Darlington.
The last account we heard was that he was still in a very
dangerous state, but had partly recovered from his insen-
sibility.
With the exception of this unfortunate accident, the
whole trip went off ver well indeed. The trains reached
Darlington about eight o'clock, having gone at a slow
rate, and having many stoppages to put down passen-
gers. Trains were ready at Darlington, for Stockton,
Hartlepool, &c., which started immediately on the arri-
val of the trains from York. _

Since the above was put in type, we have been re-
quested to state that the illness of Mr. Hutchinson, the
conductor, was not the result of accident. It appears
that when near Think, he was suddenly attacked with.