The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-01 00:00:00

opening, and the appearance of the people indicated increased"!
comfort. They were better clothed and better fed. There
was also a great increase in the amount of money deposited in
the savings' banks. He knew what observations were fre-
quently made when an increase of deposits in the ravings'
banks was spoken of, but when taken in connection with
other circumstances which showed improvement, this in-
crease was not altogether withnut its value. With regard to
the wool trade there were signs of improvement, though from
the dearness of the raw article the improvement was more tardy.
The wages of the labourers were also increased. There were
also improiements in the traie in flax, which was so closely
connected with the linen trade ; and he trusted that the linen
trade would also advance, as it was the- principal trade of
the enterprising population of the north of Ireland.
He, hoped the House would agree with him in
the hope that Ireland, in developing her great and fertile re-
sources, aided by the application of British skill and enter-
prise, would not fail to recognise the benefits of her
, connexion with England. (Cheers.) The trade in
iron he was afraid to 'speak of too sanguinely. The
excessive excitement of past years had produced a corre-
sponding and protracted depression, but he believed that even
there he could say that there were symptoms of se-
turning health.—(Cries of " No, no.") He did not
deny that the patient was sorely diseased, but he
thought that symptoms appeared of tie crisis of the
disease having passed. He hoped and confidently anticipated
that the icon trade would still continue to improve.
He held in his hand an intelligent and important
report from his friend Mr. Austin, in which he found that
able-bodied vaulters we, e no longer a burden on the poor rates
of the unions of South, Staffordshire. The furnaces which
bad been blownfouchad been rekindled, and additional la-
bourers had been employed, Could they hesitate to
draw favourable anticipations ham the appearsnce of
the iron market, when they remembered the grs at number
of new rsilvt ays for which plans-had been &petits d ; or could
they hesitate to find consolation, when they remembered
that at the commencement of the present century this
country imported iron from sweden, while now we were
sending iron ourselves to the Baltic ? The necessary
consequence of prosperity in regard to the market for cotton
wool had been also felt by the manufacturers. He was not
able to trace any portion of-that improvement to the Bill which
passed that House in the last session of Parliament, but he
had ressi.n to believe that although that Bill hail created
cun.4jerabie excitement awl jealousy amongst the manufac-
turers ..f mar:Liners- is this country, yet that excitement and
jealousy had now been proved to be unnecessary. Could a
snore decisive test of the improvement and tetuin to health of
the trade of the country be found than in the increasing traffic
in railways ? That increase had not been counted by hun-
dreds of thousands but by millions of money. He, therefore,
said that he had good reason for anticipating that even the
small pulses of the trade of the country would begin
to ,increase in vigour. He would take the liberty of
referring to one or two circulars which usually
appeared r this season of the year from persons in trade to
their practical customers, from men who could net be for a
moment suspected to have prepared those circuiars for any
party or political purpose. When he looked at those circulars,
he could fancy that he held in his hand a manual of geography.
First and foremost, he would refer to China. She hail taken
a great—a vast quantity of the products of this coun-
try.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.") He (Mr. Cardwell) was
rejoiced at that part of her Majesty's speech which
showed the great line of policy she had, and intended to, pur-
sue towards China. He was sure that they would afford
a glorious example to that country, and would show to all
that the best source of wealth and competence was unlimited
competition in commerce. The Noble Lord who had moved
the address had re/erred to what had taken p'ace in France.
He trusted tkat the time was not far distant when the trade
between that country and England would be such as to be
worthy of each other.--( Hear.) It was of the utmost import-
ance that commercial interests between different countries
should be fully considered, but it was necessary that the home
market should be considered.—( Hear, hear.) All practical
men pointed at that as the only safeguard of the British manu-
facturer. If the statements the Noble Lord and himself had
made of the revival of trade were the right ones, which he be-
lieved to be the case, the House would excuse him if he now
turned to matters of congratulation in other respects.
He was well aware that in all Governments there
would be a difference of opinion. The present Govern-
ment had, in the late outbreaks that had taken place, been
able, by a temperate severity, to vindicate the majesty of
the law, and had ensured the good feeling of the people.
The House would be glad to learn that a Bill which had
passed last ession with their unanimous concurrrence, and
from which the most beneficial results had been antici-
pated, had already produced the most gratifying results. That
was not the place in which to speak of individual munificence,
of the sacrifices which had been made by those who were
possessed of patronage, but. the House would be glad to learn
that there were already 150 applications from dif-
ferent districts before the Ecclesiastical Commissioners,
and that in consequence of the Bill of last
session, means would be afforded to half a million ot
persons, to enjoy religious advantages in connection
with the Established Church. There was another subject ot.
which their deliberations in that House had been less
unanimous, but he was happy to say that the earnest
anxiety which had been exhibited by the House to
grapple with the subject of education had called forth
a spirit and excited an energy on the subject in the
minds of the people at large. If they had not beer,
able to make united efforts thay had at least made simultaneous
efforts for the dispelling of ignorance, and from the car did
spirit ith which the subject had been discussed in that House,
and which had, he hoped, excited a corresponding spirit out
• of doors, hi 'trusted that theiresult would be the establishment of a
sy tem of education which might. meet with the cordial concur-
rence and support of all moderate and reflecting men.
He believed that the people were sincerely grateful to the
Giver of all good for the return of that prosperity, the bless-
ings of w ich they appreciated still more from the
recent experience which they had had of adversity ;
and they looked upon that prosperity as but a type of that to
which she was destilital to attain hereafter. They looked is
the ex tent of her resources; they counted up the armie-
and the fleets of her commerce which was bounded only by the
habitable globe, and they felt that this anticipation of fortuto
and greater prosperity was something more than the mere
dream of an enthusiast. A century had scarcely
elapsed since the empire of the East had been opened to these
by the genius of one of the Noble Lord's ancestors.—(Lout,
cheers.) In the lifetime of their. lathers their manufactures
were yet struggling in their infancy. When they considered
these things, and reflected on the accelerated motion sshict:
progressive improvements gave to the wheels of time, they (souk
not but feel assured that there was a high destiny in store for
this country, the extent of which the boldest could not ven-
ture to predict, and which yet those even now living
might reasonably expect to see accomplished. This was no hilt
dream; it was merely an anticipation of what they might expers
to see realised from that union of energy and prudence which they
believed t o be the fortunate peculiarity of the national character.
By the charter enjoyed by Britons it was their birthright not
to be denied any of the advantages to be derived from their
own well-directed industry and prudent conduct, and these
were not to be hazarded by crude and precipitate legislation.
They desired to be guarded by the recollection of
past successes against any rash and hasty interferences with
other interests, whose sympathy it was wise for all should
be cultivated. They knew that when rade had been
brought to a happy maturity as in this country. that to create
differences between different interests was indiscreet
in the extreme—that from that inauspicious hour the decline
of one would begin, and assuredly prove the bane of all. Pru-
dent men, such as these, would not hazard, by fallacious views
and speculative theories, their well-grounded prospects of
prosperity and success. Adulation had likened the mer-
chant of England to the Princes of Tyre; but he wisely
rejected the comparison, for Tyne was a deserted place, acid
he had learned that purely commercial places, however they
may have risen for a time into wealth and renown,
have soon sunk again into poverty and desolation. The
merchant here knew he never 'could be better
off than under the advantages he derived from the British con-
stitution; he liked far better that confidence and certainty
which steadiness and sobriety attadhed to his pursuits, and
which were the sure signs that his efforts would be matured
into the full fruits of a great and widely-spread pros-
perity.—( Cheers.) He could not but return his thanks to
the House for the indulgence he had experienced after tres-
passing at so great a length, although he had precluded himself
from many subjects, to which, fortunately, the Noble Lord, in
his opening speech, had so ably alluded. The Hon. Member
formally set:elided the address, and resumed his seat amidst
loud cheers.
'I he SPEAKER having read the address,
Mr. HUME, who commenced in a very low tone, and was
scarcely audible in the gallery, said he could not quite unite
with the Honourable Gentlemen who had just addressed
the House in the glowing terms in which they had spoken of
the removal of distress from the country—(Hear, hear)—but
at the same time he must acknowledge, and he did
so with great satisfaction, that they met at that
time under more favourable auspices as regarded
the rate of the population than they did in the last session ;
and he thought there was also ground to hope for continued
improvement. He could not but think that the present mode
of proceeding with respect to the address was extremely objec-
tionable ; it was impossible under the present arrangement
that there could be due deliberation.— (Hear.) The speech
consisted of twenty-three distinct passages, every one
of them containing matter of considerable importance;
and yet they were called upoa without having
even a copy of that, speech in their hands, which they ought to
have had before they came to the House to vote an answer to a
speech containing seal various and complicated topics. He had on
foe mer occasions protested against the present course of proceed-
hag. Mary years ago, attempts had been made to allow it. It
could not be supposed, a hasty effusion, like the address, drawn
up by two hen. Members, who knew as little of the subject
as themselves, would be looked upon by her Majesty in any
other light than-as a farce. Twenty7two years ago, an Hon.
Baronet, who had lately departed this life, stood forward, in
conjunction with his associate in the representation of
Westminster, and submitted to the House a most
reasonable alteration in the existing practice, namely,
that four and twenty hours should be given to con-
sider her Majesty's speech, in order that the answer
to it might be entitled to due estimation. But now
they were called ter to deliberate after two hours.
He had no doubt that snme parts of her Alajesty's speech
might have given offence to individuali. He would not dwell,
however, on that which was omitted in the speech. There was
one paragragle in it which gave him great satisfaet ion, namely,
that which referred to the existence of friendly relations between
this country and France. He was aware how beneficial peace
was to the manufacturing and commercial prosperity of every
country, and he would be therefore prepared to go even farther
than the words the address with regard to the connection
between the two countries. The policy of her Majesty's Go-
vernment in bringing about a good understanding between
France and England, was likely to be more con-
ducive than any other to the interests of the country.
The prosperity of the country was more likely to be promoted
by an intimate union with France than any other, and while
both those countries remained united the peace of the world
would be secured, and all the advantages which ought to be
expected front peace—diminution of taxation and reduction of
expenditure would follow. He was sorry to say they
did not enjoy' all the advantages which a closer commercial in.
tercourse would confer ; but he, however, repeated the
expression of his satisfaction with that part of her
Majesty's speech which related to the amicable rela-
tions subsisting between those countries.—( Hear. )
The seconder of the address had painted in glowing terms the
advantages which we may derive, and were already deriving,
from our commercial negotiations with China. When the k ight
Honourable Baronet and Gentleman behind him considered
the tariff the Chinese had lately imposed, they could
not but feel ashamed of themselves for having allowed the
Chinese so far to have out-stepped them in enlightened prin-
ciples of commerce. By the Chinese tsriff, every article of
food was admitted free of duty. Let the Right Hon. Baronet
and his Colleagues follow that example. We had been called
barbarians by the Chinese, and he thought the
terms were not misapplied when s the principles of
our tariff were considered. He would take that opportunity of
re:erring to one subject, which he thought was highly credita-
ble to the character of this country and honoural.le to the in-
dividual in whom it had originated. He alluded to the
supplemental treaty which had been boricluded by the
Majesty's Plenipotentiary. By this treaty every nation was
admitted to trade with our recent possessions in China. He
thought this most praiseworthy, anti an honour to the country.
He (Mr. Hume) had proposed an amendment to one of the
rrairavhs -of the address, which was to this effect