The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-04 00:00:00

NOTICES OF MOTION.

Mr. WILLIAMS gave nutice that on this day fort-
night he should move fir a return of the sums expended
on royal palaces since her lklajesty's accession.
Mr. CAYLEY gave notice that on this day week he
should move for the repeal of the malt•tax.

Sir E. N. BUXTON gave notice that on this day
fortnight he should move that the differential duties,
which were to expire on the 6th of June, should con-
tinue until the abolition of the slave-trade.

Mr. STUART gave notice that on Tuesday next he
should submit to the House a resolution relative to the
Royal Commission issued to inquire into the High Gout t
of Chancery.
Mr. SLANEY gave notice that on this day fortnight
heg should move for a Committee to kquire into the
best means of improving the law of partnership.
Mr. BROTHERTON gave notice that on the reading
of the sessional orders, he should move that in the pre-
sent session no business be transacted after midnight,
and that at twelve o'clock on each night the Speaker be
directed to adjourn without proceeding with any business
on the paper.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. H. BAILLIE gave notice, that on Tuesday next,
he should call the attention of the House to the proceed-
ings of the Committee which sat last session on the
afLirs of Ceylon, and should move that the evidence be
printed, together with the report of the commission sent
out to that island.

Mr. ANSTEY gave notice that on Monday he should
move for leave to briug in a Bill for the repeal of the
penal laws affecting Roman Catholics.
Mr. DISRAELI gave notica that on the 11th instant
he should call the attention of the House to the distress
still existing among that important class of her Majesty's
subjects the owners and occupiers of land, and movo for
the adoption of such measures its may be best calculated
to remove it.

Colonel SIBTLIORP gave notice that on an early day
he should clove for the reduction of the duties ou fire-
assurance.

PAPAL AGGRESSION.

Mr. WILLIAMS gave notice that he should move for
a return of the results which had occurred since the sth
of August, 1819.

STATE OF IRELAND.

Mr. REYNOLDS gave notie. that he should, en
'rueiday next, move fur returns of the taxes which had
been imposed upon Ireland.

ROYAL SPEECH-THE ADDRESS.

The 3PEAKEF having rcad her Majeity's Spree])

The Marquis of KILDARE said, in rising to move
that a humble Address be presented to her Majesty in
reply to her most gracious Speech from the Throne, he
hoped the House would grant him that indulgence
which was always shown to one unaccustomed
as he was to address the House while he
made a few observations on the different topics al-
luded to in the royal Speech.—(Hear.) It was a subject
of sincere congratulation that her Majesty should con-
tinue to receive assurances of friendship from all foreign
states. It was also most gratifying to find that at the
present moment peace had been restored over the whole
continent; and it was a source of still greater satisfac-
tion, that while there had been wars over a great part
of the continent, this country had for years enjoyed
uninterrupted peace.—(Loud cheers.) It was also
a subject of congratulation that the universal peace
which now existed had been in great part owing to the
exertions of her Majesty's Government.—(Hear, hear.)
Ho was glad to find that the measures which had been
taken with regard to our relations with Brazil would
tend more than almost anything; else to prevent
the continuance cf the slave trade.—(Hear, hear.) It
was also a source of great congratulation that, notwith-
standing the reduction of many taxes, the country was
still in a flourishing state.—(Hear.) The next subject
mentioned in the Royal Speech, he regretted to say,
this country could not congratulate itself upon.
Ho referred to the state of depression, which
the landed interest was now lying under.—
(" Hear, hear," from the Opposition benches.) But he
thought that whilst the other classes of the community
were in a prosperous state the condition of the landed
interest must before long improve. The next subject
mentione din the Speech west a very painful one, viz.,
the unjustifiable aggression in this country on
the part of a foreign State. It would be the duty
of this House, while it maintained the religious
liberty of her Majesty's subjects, to consider the
measures which were to be brought before it for
the purpose of maintaining her Majesty's supremacy
and the established religion of the land.—(Hear.) The
next subject alluded to by her Majesty was the in-
tended reforms in the highest court of justice in
the country, and the alteration of the law with regard
to the registration of deeds. He considered the
latter measure to be of very great importance.
There was another subject of congratulation to which
ho (the Marquis of Kildare) would draw the attention
of the House, which was the state of Ireland. It was
gratifying to find that after that country had suffered
from years of political agitation, men's minds wore being
drawn from political matters to industrial pursuits, and
such occupations, he (the Marquis of Kildare) believed,
were calculated, under the blessing of Divine Provi-
dence, to raise his country to a higher pitch of pros-
perity than she bad ever before enjoyed. The Noble
Marquis concluded by moving the Address, which was
an echo of her Majesty's Speech.
Mr. VETO rose and said—Mr. Speaker, before I ven-
ture on the topics which the occasion and the gracious
Speech from the Throne naturally suggest, I must throw
myself on the kind and never-failing indulgence of the
House, and state at once my great anxiety that no word
Isbell escape my lips which shall court debate, or sug-
gest a difference, when the House will naturally desire
to respond with unanimity in the adoption of tho Ad-
dress which I have the honour to second.—(Hear, hear.)
Her Majesty congratulates her assembled Parliament on
the continuance of peace; and when we reflect how
much the prosperity of the country is stimulated by
peace with foreign states—how much misery is
averted—we must rejoice in the ;fact that the con-
viction is generally and deeply felt that peace
should be preserved at the risk of everything
but good faith and national honour.—(Hear, hear.)
Nor can I resist the pleasure of stating my deep convic-
tion that human skill and ingenuity are largely contri-
buting to its permanent continuance. The great mecha-
nicalthat important
portionsagen agent
of
ff
Europe,
power of the age,
civiliza-
tion, steam, by uniting the
lerer.iimdeprettubseuat
nfriideunrdalrlycodmesmiruouniscoaftiDoenc distantee
and consequently binding irlistatnie's
.of
.friendship and
gives to the destructive power of armaments renders their
use more unfrequent and and dreaded. Her
.Majesty
.has
wliile“tahtee°'tewrrilibi
graciously stated her conviction that recent treaties with
Brazil render more hopeful the extinction of the slave
trade.—(Hear, hear.) Whatever may be the difference of
opinion amongst Hon. Members as to the mode in which
this will be ultimately effected, in this I take it we are all
agreed, that we earnestly desire'the utter abolition of this
accursed traffic, and that we shall all rejoice when it shall
bo read of only in the history of the past.—(Hear, and
cheers.) Her Majesty also congratulates her assembled
Parliament that, notwithstanding the large reductions in
taxation, the revenue will to satisfactory, and also cn the
state of commerce and manufactures, and the consequent
general employment afforded to the working classee.—
(Hear, hear.) Results are the solo tests of legielatite
measures in the long run. Last year duties were re-
pealed or reduced to the extent of, about a million and
a half. It is true they did not affect the
revenue until part of the year bad expired,

but still they caused at the least a reduction
of a million ; yet, despite of this, the national
revenue has suffered no reduction—(Hear, hear)—it
has even exceeded that of the last year, and the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer is in the happy position of
having a surplus at his command.—(llear, hear, and
cheers.) Now, the question 'arises, why has not the
revenue proportionably decreased? I apprehend there
can be but one answer—the prosperous condition of the
people, and consequent increase of consumption, have
swelled the receipts.—(Hear.) I take one item as
strongly elucidating this position. The duty on sugar
was reduced one shilling per cwt. The consequent loss
to the revenue, taking the consumption of the preceding
year, should•have been 311,4541., but it resulted in a loss
of 9,1801. only, a good practical reason for
reducing other items of large consumption where the
duty presses heavily, and one which I.doubt not will have
its due effect in future fiscal arrangements.—(Hear,
hear.) In a few days the returns of the Board of Trade
will be issued. The returns of the first 11 months of
1850 will enable us to anticipate the results.—(Hear,
hear.) The exports for the first eleven months of
1848 were 44,407,9121.
1849 54 089 809 L

60:400,52U

In what did this increase consist? Principally in
British manufactures, cottons, woollens, linens, silks,
and hardware.—(Cheers.) This increase has taken
place, too, under most unfavourable circumstances. The
great staple is cotton—at least the great employing ar-
ticle is cotton, but, in the cotton-producing states of
America, last year, there was a short crop, and erise of
price of full 75 per cent. over the price of the early part
of the preceding year was the consequence.—llear,
hear.) For instance, Orleans cotton was in January,
1849 4d. per lb.
1850.. 7id. If

It is well known that a rise in the price of cotton rapidly
diminishes consumption.—(Hear, hear.) It did so con-
siderably in this instance, but owing to two circum-
stances the effect was much mitigated. Ist. When the
material is dear the best quality is always run upon by
manufacturers, as, for a smaller quantity in weight they
get the higher price; our skill in the application of ma-
chinery, and the high character of the machinery itself,
has enabled us in finer fabrics to surpass all competition
—(Hear, hear)—and the consequence was, that with all
our disadvantages wo partially shut up the American
mills and gave our people full employment.—(Hear.)
2nd. Full employment secured good wages—(Hear,
hear)—and good wages and cheap food enabled
the industrial classes to dress well.— (Cheers.)
The foreign market and home consumption kept the
mills going, and I find 50,000 mare hands were em-
ployed in the factories in 1850 than in 1847—the gross
numbers being in 1847, 544,876; 1850, 596,028.—
(Hear, hear.) It may be said that the high price of
fabrics helped to swell the amount of exports, but, in
point of fact, quantity was in excess in reference to
cloth; while in yarn there was not only a decrease in
quantity but in value, the increased value being prin-
cipally in labour.—(Hear.) I have the statistics to refer
to, but will not weary the House by doing so. Now, if
our manufacturers have accomplished a result so grati-
fying under unfavourable circumstances, what might we
not have expected had the cotton crop been
a full one, and had the price of the raw
material continued low ? Instead of 50,000 hands, we
should have employed three times that number.—(Hear,
hear.) The low price of cotton brought us through
the year 1847—the high price of cotton acted adversely
in 1830—and here I must pause for a moment and ask,
how important is it that we should be energetic in our
endeavours to get the railway communications of conti-
nental India executed ?—(Cheers.) We are depending
on one quarter of the world only for the means of em-
ployisg our operatives in the cotton factories, when we
should be blessing our fellow-subjects by the
activities of commerce, and have a fresh market to de-
pend upon, and that, too, the home. I desire also
to advert to the gratifying fact that the increase of fac-
tory hands, to which I have referred has not been ob-
tained at the sacrifice of infantile energy.—(Hear, hear.)
There has been a &crease since 1831 of 20 per cent. in
the children employed, and an increase of 81 per cent.
in the adults.—(Hear.) I think it cannot be denied that
the poor of every class are better fed and clothed than
they have ever been. If I refer to the poor-law record,
I find that the number of able-bodied paupers have
largely decreased during the year, and the amount of
general relief has been largely lessened. True, some of
the agricultural districts are exceptions, and on which I
shall be called on presently to speak. If I refer to our
criminal records, I find the facts to be equally gratify-
ing. In the city of Manchester the returns of persons
apprehended for crimes in the three last years are, in
1848, 6,587; 1849, 6,277; 1830, 4,657. The West Riding
of Yorkshire, in its criminal prosecutions, shows a
similar result. I now come to another result of the po-
licy of the present and the last ?Ministry. Two years
since London was crowded with deputations ardent in
deprecating any interference with the navigation-laws.
Fortunately for themselves and the country, their en
treaties did not avail. They returned to their localities
to rejoice in the increase of the shipping trade rather than
to mourn its gradual extinction.— (Hear.) It is very true
the entrance and clearing of foreign shipping has in-
creased, but it is equally true that British ships have
also increased. I will admit all details of numbers of
ships and tonnage which I have before me for the first
eleven months of 18-18, 1849, and 1850. I give you the
gross increase of tonnage the first eleven months of 1849
and 1850:

INCREASE OF TONNAGE.

1849 over 1848. 1850 over 1849
British 226 „ 207 ... 162 „ 843
Foreign
I have taken the returns of vessels cleared outwards,
because that is an evidence of work done—the returns of
vessels entering may be affected in a variety of ways,
apart from the evidence of work done within the period
specifisd . I must also very briefly call the attention of
lien. Members to the fact, that the repeal of the naviga-
tion-]was has not yet affected either the value of ship-
ping or the demand. The ship-building of the Clyde,
the Tyne, the Mersey, and the Thames, is fully equal in
its activity to any preceding period, and within the last
few days an eminent t hip builder informed me the
orders for ships and steamers on his books exceeded
400,0001. If I refer to the circulars of firms engaged in
the sale of ships I find the same activity of trade indi-
cated.—(Hear, hear.) One of the largest firms in Eng-
land so engaged, and whose place of bu 'Mess is Liver-
pool, thus writes:—" It gives us pleasure to state that
the amount of tonnage sold in 18:50 in Liverpool exceeds
that sold in 1849, being 81,028 tons against 78,212;
showing an increase of 1850 over 1849 equal to 36 per
cent.—(Cheers.) Now, as to the price of shipping, the
same circular states—" New British ships have fully
maintained our last quotations. Indeed we have felt
the want of a larger supply of good vessels."—(Cries
of " Hear, hear.") And as to the ships built in
the Mersey port, their circular shows an excess
of tonnage in 1850 over 1849 of 4,609 tons. I have
made careful inquiries as to prices ruling at
.New York
on all the items affecting the price at which ships can be
built there. I have failed to find any reason for alarm.
—(Hear, hear.) Their prices of labour exceed ours
by more than 50 per cent., while the average of the. cost
of materials used is quite equal to their cost with us.
A great revolution is now takicg place in the shipping
trade, and which revolution was in progress when the
navigation-laws were repealed. That measure helped to
anticipate the result—a result, I believe, which the re-
tention of protection would have rendered
utterly dis-
astrous to us. The old mode of shipbuilding, it is ad.
mitted on all hands, will no longer do. Capacity without
speed is the reverse of recommendation in a ship. What the
American shipbuilderseffected, the Scotch have surpassed,
and the result of the trial between the Scotch built ships
and steamers and the United States, shows us we have
nothing to apprehend, but much to gain, if British
skill and enterprise be but relieved from all impedimenta.
The merchants and traders of Liverpool are generally
considered to be well and practically acquainted with all
the circumstances which regulate commerce. I have
several of their annual circulars before me, and I am
struck with the unanimity of their testimony. One of
the most eminent says—" The present year opens under
circumstances of great encouragement. Money is abun-
dant—food of every kind cheap—general trade is active
and remunerative, finding ample employment for the
industry of the country."—(Hear, hear.) With all that is
so encouraging at home, there are evident symptoms of
the gradual prevalence in foreign countries of sounder
principles of international commerce : they are learning
the lesson that it is better to buy economically, than to
manufacture expensively—they are learning that the
merchants of England are the best customers in every
market—that their manufacturers are surpassed by none
in skill and ingenuity.—(Hear, hear.) To illustrate the
perfect certainty that such must be, in the course of events,
the policy of every state, let us take France and her iron
trade. Her protective iron duties are now so high, and
are of such a comparative amount, that she pays every
five years the full value of purchase of every iron work in
the kingdom on her home consumption only. Is it not self-
evident that it would be far more the policy of her people to
receive our iron, and for us in treaty to take her light
wines on lower duties, and yield to our own Exchequer
larger revenue than from our present limited consump-
tion, resulting from the almost prohibitive duties of the
present tariff ?—(Hear, hear.) But her Majesty expresses
at the same time the sympathy she feels for the owners
and occupiers of land in the difficulties which now affect
them, and a hope that the prosperity of the manufac-
turing and commercial interests will soon be productive
of beneicial effect to the agricultural body.—(Cheers.)
And here, I trust, I may fairly aile the question, if such
is the state of the commercial, manufacturing, and
shipping
is
the
en.gasyulbni:enitbypt:dglinterests,croebefiecaanr tuexocu al
hatlynetsi,eoei
minnca;rn
aeaopgirpxlnatewori
singftmotn:rehdr.
snoeromeebpi
nevwaaceeptsi
ttahritntatni supposed
to
hneyndotyxfgoohaf?firtutceeaeoebttisayidoubt that
destined t ha t t h t the
share agricul-
turalc—ll:clb
its
ahutfus
vessel
aenshii
vs: redelfrstheever-growing
impossible
rtlpvtaosilhoetdawirol Iltftlahrobewoayar,
not
or
twc,fh7oprogressionhear,substantial naeca and
ties of proyert (Hear, he ar)— an dvbeoerftyshhaoutwn distressjnthu—es t
existingcnbthue erreed shown—(Cheers)
w ich tohne friendsits
interests, of a g raincdu ture
rejoicingca ns hionw
theto f
pressaot un-
fairlyof
the alteration .of the law, I cannot hesitate to
expressmy wish that more time had keen allowed
to adjust the interests which had, under the old
and vicious system, teen placed in a false
position. It is easy to say that this adjustment is en-
tirely an affair of landlord aad tenant. It is so, but
when we reflect that no good tenant could farm without
imparting value to the land which it takes years to ab-
stract, a re-valuation at present prices is simply giving
to the landlord a rental arising from value imparted by
the expenditure of coat onlypital to carry by thetenant.tryout
ba
abstract
et vpoi:ii:l,o:.
1,
be cur duty, Sir,
nt
they
laws,
that affectt ttimeinterests,t4 large
should
be
•
be
extensiveP lesof rightbutwhere
h alterationsin
given for the adjustment cf theinterests to the new and
altered state of things,—(Hear.) But while I make this