The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-04 00:00:00

THE ADDRESS.

Her Majesty's Speech having been read by the clerk
at the table,
The Earl of CORK rose to move an humble Ad-
dress to her Majesty in reply to her most gracious
Speech, which had just been read. In doing so! he
claimed the indulgence of the house, as this was the
first occasion he had had the honour of addressing the
house. The noble lord then alluded to the late war
in which this country was engaged, in conjunction with
the Emperor of the French, against Russia, and to the
duplicity wit's which that power acted with respect to
he treaty of Paris, and to the attempt Russia had
made to retain her power over the Danube Ly
the refusal to give up Belgrad, and by the unwarrant-
able seizure of the Isle of Serpents. It was much to be
rejoiced'at that, owing to the firmness with which the
Western Powers had acted, she had been compelled to
relinquish her unjust acquisitions. The people of this
country deserved the greatest praise for the manner in
which they had supported the Government in resist.
ing Russia, and in obtaining the fulfilment of the
Treaty of Paris. He congrapcountry upon
the settlement of the Netichatel sikastron;*bitdiodennt
time threatened to disturb the peace of Europe, in con-
sequence of the miserable attempts that had been made
at insurrection by Prussia, to establish a sovereignty
in a Swiss canton. Having then proceeded to
notice the condition of .the Neapolitan states, he ex-
pressed his deep sympathy with the subjects of such
misgovernment as characterised the Two Staines, and
he hoped that before long their condition would be ame-
liorated. The next paragraph in her Majesty's Speech
ought to be a matter of general rejoicing, that our rela-
tions with the United States were now placed upon a
friendly and secure footing. With respect to Persia, it
was an undeniable fact that the Shah of
Persia, in respect to the capture of Herat, left this
country no alternative but to vindicate her dignity by a
resort to arms. Already the Persian Sovereign had
been taught that he could not insult the honour
or encroach upon the rights of this country
with impunity. The late proceedings at Canton
had shown that this country was determined to main-
tain her rights and independence, and it was to be hoped
that matters in this part of the globe would speedily be
brought to a satisfactory termination. the noble earl
then alluded to Ireland, for the purpose of showing
the ex, raordinary advancement that country had made
in happiness and prosperity. The noble earl concluded
by moving the Address, which was merely an echo of
the Royal Speech.
The Earl of A IRLIE, in seconding the Address, said
could not but be a source of satisfaction that those
differences that had existed with respect to
the navigation of the Danube had been satis-
factorily settled. He could not but express his ad-
miration of the conduct of the Swiss when their territory
was attempted to be invaded. The spirit tbey had displayed
Was such as to convince Prussia that they were deter-
mined to resist to the utmost all attempts to infringe
on the just rights of their native country. It was a
source of gratification to find that a treaty of commerce
'and friendship had been concluded between this
country and Siam. (Hear, hear.) Much good
unquestionably would arise from such a circumstance.
The noble lord having alluded to the paragraph relating
tothe taking possession of Karrak and thetown of Bushire.
which, he said, had been effected with the usual gal-
lantry by our naval and military forces, next
proceeded Co touch upon the affairs of China
He said it was quite unnecessary for him to detain their
lordships by detailing the proceedings relative to the
seizure of the men ou board the Arrow ; but he felt
sure that the steps taken by the British authorities were
only those that could be taken after the manner in
which the Chinese had violated the arrangements
that had been formerly entered into by them
with this country. The noble lord, who was but very
indistinctly heard, having formally seconded the Address,
resumed his seat.

The Earl of DERBY—I quite concur with the noble
earl who addressed the house this evening for the first time
with so muoh modesty and good taste, that in discussing
an address which involves so many subjects of great im-
portance, it is not fit to enter into a lengthened discussion
on any one of those topics yet. The speech now before us
embraces many subjects on which much difference of
opinion exists, and refers to many points, both foreign and
domestic, which iu due course will require our most ma-
ture deliberation ; and for that reason I quite agree that
it would be inconvenient to raise a debate on any ono of
them at present, when the discussion would be constantly
interrupted by the interpolation of some of the numerous
other subjects referred to. I think that of late years it has
become a laudable practice in Parliament, except on some
extraordinary occasion,to concur in the general tenour of the
address in answer to the speech from the throne, that address
being in point of fact nothing but the respectful expression
of our devotion and gratitude to her Majesty on the first
occasion of our approaching her. It has been, however,
customary for the crown on one side to refer in the speech
from the throne to the most material circumstances of public
importance which have occurred since Parliament separated,
and on the other side for the ministers to set forth in the
address the most material measures to which they think it
important during the coming session to direct attention of
Parliament. Adopting that view of the case, my lords, I
can only entertain a hope for the future, that her Majesty's
Government have in preparation something more than
they promise, for a more meagre bill of fare, or a more
vague and shadowy portrait I never remember than that
presented in the few paragraphs of the speech which refer
to domestic affairs. There is indeed a reference to the
general subject of the amendment of the law, which has
been before Parliament in repeated sessions, and there is
also a reference to another most important subject—the re-
newal, and period of renewal, of the charter of the Bank if
England. As to the law reform, I should be rejoiced to see
that the Government acted in a manner which would unite
them with those men, who, though not in office, had for
so many years devoted themselves to the task, and I ven-
ture to express a hope that there will be no more difference
of opinion between the high legal authorities in this and
the other House of Parliament. I observed with some
surprise that the noble earl did not at all enter into the
question of the Bank charter, but observed a most discreet
silence with regard to it. Ido not know whether to con-
sider this as an additional proof of his discretion, or con-
clude that his silence was caused by the fact that he did
nut know, what to say. I can imagine that the noble vis-
count at the head of the government, when giving the noble
earl his information, told him that the less he said the bet-
ter, and the less he committed the government, the more
satisfactory it would be; and the noble viscount must have
been quite satisfied that he would not be committed by the
noble earl, for—

" He might well believe
He would not utter what he did not know."

In the paragraph of the speech which referred to the Bank
the expediency of
wasth privileges of the Bank of
renewingchar t er,alflours allusion nf
further
madeer
p tioodthtrheee topics
England, the conditions imposed on the issue of Bank
notes in the United Kingdom, and the laws relating to joint
stock banks. As to the first and most important question,
it does not seem by this that the Government are pledged
to the existing state of the law, which I muet confess I do
not consider satisfactory, but I do hope that they have
made up their minds as to the course they intend to re-
commend, and that they are not going to launch this great
question on the abyss of select committees, nor invite the
deluge of pamphlets and correspondence that will issue
from the pen of "Mercator" and his contemporaries; but
I do trust the Government will, on their responsibility, pro-
pose a measure which they have deliberately adopted, and
that the measure will be settled by Parliament on some plan
deliberately submitted to them as the result of the best
consideration on the part of the Government. I think I
have now averted to all the measures suggested by her
Majesty's Government as subjects for legislation. There is,
indeed, one paragraph which may lead to very important
consequences. It is not addressed to your lordships, but to
the other house of Parliament ; but when I look to the im-
portance and gravity of the subject,. I cannot think that the
vague and meagre reference to it, in the stereotyped form
of announcing that " the estimates have been prepared with
every attention to economy, and due regard to the efficiency
of the public," will sufficient to satisfy the other House
of Parliament in their capacity of guardians of the public
purse. (Hear.) We are now at a critical period in our
financial history, and the statement to be made this year,
and the discussion on it, must be directed not to the pro-
vision for a single year, but to the adoption of some mature
plan of finance. In the year 1853, a very able and com-
prehensive budget was presented to the other house. I
do not quite share in the extravagant admiration ex-
pressed by some for that financial statement ; but it had
one great
merit, that it took a comprehensive view of the
national finance, and it had ono advantage which compen-
sates for many defects, viz., a positive pledge that after
1860 the income tax should not be retained. (Hear, hear.)
I think Parliament will not do its duty if it is satisfied
with less than the entire execution of that pledge. (near.
hear.) .It has been ratified by the act which continued
the tax at an increased rate for the period of the war, and
such further period as thus Government might deem neces-
sary. T e
public gener.ly submitted to the heavy
den placed on them, having confidence in the good faith