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

THE

is my confidence and reliance upon the present laws
in this country to maintain the public peace, and to protect
the liberty of the subject—l would, under present circum-
stances, feel no hesitation in supporting her Majesty's Ministers,
or any Noble Lord, on either side of the House, in giving to
her Majesty increased powers for the preservation of the peace
and integrity of the empire. lam sure thatevery Member of
your Lordships' House will concur in any rseeasure which may
be necessary for the happiness and prosperity of Ireland.
Her Majesty has this day pointed out to us one or
two of the subjects to which it is desirable that we
should direct our attention. The registration of voters is one
of which, I am sure, your Lordship acknowledge the import-
ance. Her Majesty has referred to that subject in her
speech, and I trust that when it is brought forward
your Lordships will give it every consideration, and do
everything in your power to promote the happiness
of that country. Her Majesty has also called our
attention to the laws relating to landlord and tenant. On that
subject, a Commission of Inquiry has been appointed, and
your Lordships will agree with me, that the utmost reliance
may be placed in the sagacity, justice, and ability of my Noble
Friend at the head of the Commission, and of the gentlemen
who are associated with him in the inquiry. lam sure they will
spare no pains in thoroughly investigating the subject, and
bringing before you all the information which it may be in
their power to collect. Her Majesty has told us now, as on
former occasions, that the most amicable relations continue to
subsist between her Government and foreign nations. In her
recent visits to the Sovereigns of neighbouring countries,
she has had opportunities of confirming that friendship.
It had been the source of great gratification to their Lordships
to see two of the greatest warriors of this age con-
ferring happiness upon their country by social in-
tercourse ; and much greater was it now to see
the Sol ereigns of the countries meeting in the same manner.
and with the same friendly feelings. But he was not, when he
said this, at all throwing any other nation into the back
ground. He had only to notice the French in a more
more prominent point. Circumstances had thrown this great
nation into a situation in which they had occasion to act upon
nearly similar principles by which England was guided. The
subject which her Majesty next mentioned was the subject of
our intercom se with China. The circumstances connected with
the whole of the- war, and the consequent negotiations in that
country, could not fail to strike their Lordships as being most ad-
vantageous to this country. But the liberality of her Majesty
was such, that she was anxious that other nations should also
share in those advantages, and the conduct of this country in
that instance, was marked by the most kindly feelings, even
towards those nations who had acted in such a manner as to
call for no forbearance on the part of this country. With re-
spect to that part of her Majesty's speech, in which
she alludes to Sinde, he should abstain from saying
more than that he was sure their Lordships must
feel sincere gratification at the bravery and conduct of the
military engaged in the operations there. He should not refer
to the policy of that country, because he understood it was her
' Majesty's intention to older certain papers in connection with
! this subject to be laid before their Lordships. The subject of
' the estimates came more properly under the consideration
of the House of Commons, and he should therefore only
say that her Majesty had directed that the strictest
economy should be observed under this head. But this expen-
diture, it should be remembered, must depend very much
upon the state of the country ; and it had been necessary,
during ihe last season, to keep a large force in Ireland,
dering the disturbances and egitaton there. These dis-
turbances were most painful to contemplate, but
he should read a letter from a young lady, the daughter of
a clergyman in that country, descriptive of the state of
the country. He felt bound to state that that letter was
never intended to be read before their Lordships. when it was
written. He would read in a few words the contents of a letter
which was of a very different character from those usually
quoted in that House. It was not written for the purpose of
answering any questions which had been put in that House, in
order to make up a case, hut it was simply a narrative of dis-
tress that cannot be pictured in words. The writer mentioned
that in the part of the country in which he lived there was
the most peaceful tranquillity, but that it was not the case
in the neighbouring district, where many people nightly
fortified their houses in expectation of a nightly mas-
sacre. She stated that her father frequently received bless-
ings from the poor people in walking along the roads pro-
nounced in a very striking manner, and these tee from persons
with whom he was totally unaequainted, almost seeming as if
they thought that something dreadful was about to happen to him,
and that he needed those blessings. Such was the description
of a clergyman among his own parishioners. It was not the
actual evil of which he complained, but the apprehen-
sion that evils were about to ensue, from the alarming
state of the country ; the real source of the misery was
that he could not receive blessings from his own parish-
ioners, without an apprehension in the minds of himself
and of his family being created that there was too much reason
for those blessings, and for invoking Providence to protect
them. He would now proceed to speak of the other subjects
in her Majesty's speech. Her Majesty spoke of the improved
state et trade, and of the manufacturing districts—that they
were in a considerably better state than they had been
some time ago. He felt the truth of these observations
though there might be some few exceptions which he was un-
willing to notice specifically. Among the blessings for which
they had reason to thank Providence, and which had been men-
tioned by her Majesty, was the improved condition of the
people and the increased demand for labour : that wag a cir-
cumstance which would give them the greatest possible satis-
faction. A great blessing had been conferred upon them by Pro-
vidence in the very favourable harvest of last year. There was
another subject, which, though not distinctly mentioned in the
speech, he would say a fow words upon. Her Majesty had
not alluded to the corn-laws, and it was not therefore neces-
sary for him to enter upon the question at any length, but he
hoped and believed that the protection which the agriculturists
now received would be long continued to them.—( Cheers anst
" Hear," from the Ministerial benches.) For several successiie
years the annual produce was falling short, and it was ex-
tremely gratifying to find that the prospects which had been
held out by her Majesty's Ministers last year had been realised.
Another very gratifying circumstance was, that the revenue
had increased during the last quarter, and during the
last year, and. from this beneficial results might be
hoped and expected. Among other sources which had
added considerably to the revenue was the income-
' tax, which had been most successful in operation. Their
Lordships had great reason to feel that the country fully appre-
ciated the sacrifice which their Lordships had made in consent-
ing to this tax. Their Lordships had shown an interest in the
welfare of the country, and a desire not to oppress
the working classes, which must secure for them the
gratitude and affection of the country. This tax had
enabled the 'Government to go on without con-
tracting any further debts during peace—to make the
necessary financial arrangements. The Bank Charter was then
renewable, and their Lordships should devote as much of
their attention as possible to those financial questions which
had come more immediately under the attention of the House
of Commons. Among the measures which were passed
last year, and which may be considered as tending
greatly to the happiness of this country were these
measures connected with Church endowment, and other
questions bearing on that subject. Her Majesty called
upon their Lordships to unite with her in thank-
ing Divine Providence for the blessings which the
Church had conferred upon the country. The Church
had made all the exertions that it could have made,
and it was gratifying to perceive that in those matters
upon which the Legislature had interfered—that in-
terference had been eminently successful. Within the
last few days it had come to his knowledge that a gen-
tleman from the North (Dr. Hook), the vicar of Leeds, who
had been his own school-fellow, had done all he could to carry
out, in the full spirit, every wish their Lordships could enter-
tain. He had given up one half of his income, and retired into
a smaller house than he before occupied. He had engaged to do
everything by which a district, so large as Leeds, might be formed
into twenty or thirty different parishes. We proposed to make
such exertions, that every poor man might have his pastor, and
every poor child his school—this was highly creditable in
itself, and must draw down blessings. on his head. 'there
were other circumstances connected with national education
which were highly gratifying. Within three months
114,0001. had been raised, a 'circumstance which
spoke highly for the people of this country, and
which must draw down the blessings of Providence.
There was another subject which had not been mentioned in
the speech from the throne, but which was of so important a
nature that he was unwilling to pass it over. Their Lordships
would recollect the dreadful occurrence which took place last
year, of an officer, high in her Majesty's service, falling by the
hand of his brother officer, who was nearly related to him. He
feared there was little prospect of any measure being carried to
prevent a recurrence of this evil. He perceived that the officer
was obliged to leave her Majesty's service—or what was tanta-
mount to it. He was sure that if any measure could be brought
into that House to prevent the recurrence of such a calamite, as
that which he had alluded to, it would be thankfully received by
the country, and the service would not be deprived of many
excellent officers. It was hardly possible to conceive anything
more distressing than the condition of a man returning
to his own home—to the sister of the woman whom
he had made a widow. Eve. if their Lordships would not pass
any measure, the expression of their dissatisfaction would be
very thankfully received by all classes. He should not trouble
them with further observations, and would conclude by
moving that an humble address be presented to her Majesty,
in conformity with the address which had been read to their
Lordships.
Lord HILL felt great gratification in seconding the address.
It must be very pleasing to their Lordships that her Majesty
had received assurances of continued peace-from foreign Powers.
His Lordship then alluded to the state of Ireland. He said he
hoped the landed proprietors of that country would as-ist the
Government, in probing to the bottom the hidden grievances
which now afflict it. After a few further observations, his
L3rdship concluded by expressing his sincere hope that the
union between the two countries might be preserved inviolate
—that the Protestant institutions might be strengthened in
Ireland, to restore tranquillity.
Lord NOBMANBY said that the Noble Mover of the ad-
dress had not confined himself to the mention of Ireland which
had been made in the speech from the throne, but had ex-
pressed himself with what he feared must be termed an indis-
cretion in reference to the present trials going on in that
country. As he (Lord Normanby) was of opinion that
it was the wisest, most becoming, and must dignified
course to preserve silence on the subject, he would not at-
tempt to follow the Noble Earl, although he felt the deepest
interest in the condition of the people of Ireland. His former
connexion with that country had endeared them to him as
warmly as if the accident of birth had strengthened
the ties of affection which bound them to him.
[The Noble Marquis then ma le some allusion to the conduct of
the Noble Earl's grandfather, in respect to the claims of the
Roman Catholics, which was not distinctly heard in the gal-
lery, but excited considerable laughter in the House. ]-lle was
happy to say that although he differed Caen no man more in his
political opinions than from the great-grandfather of the Noble
Earl—(Laughter)--he begged pardon, the grandfather—
in whom the Noble Duke opposite had found so in-
convenient an ally in the campaign of emancipa-
tion--(Loud cheers)—yet there was no person from
whom he had experienced greater respect, or inva-
riably grew er personal kindness.—( Hear, 'ear.) There were
some topics connected with Ireland, upon which the speech
did not touch, and upon which he did not intend to
detairi their Lordships, although he !tumid have wished
that they had not been altogether omitted. There was
one subject, however, which was referred to rather more freely
than usual in a speech from the throne, be meant the registra-
tion of voters, which was mentioned in connexion with its effe, t
upon the limitation of the franchise. If the Government
brought forward in relation to that subject the measures which
the exigencies of the case, and the circumstances of
the country, required, no one would more cordially
support such measures than he. There was an-
other subject on which he wished to say one word,
and which he still felt considerable difficulty in approach-
ing. It was the appointment of the Commission to inquire into
I the laws relating to landlord and tenant. There was no one
who attended to the proceedings of that House but would ad-
mit that he (the Marquis of Normanby) took no light view of
the subject of that inquiry, and that he was the person who
wroteore
magistrates
had
charged
hi
mwith
in
taking
which
m
erroneous views. Yet the opinions which he expressed in that
than a letter
one
of their Lordshipsletter were echoed in the last session of Parliament by the
ttte
highest member of her Majesty's Government. He would,
however, have much preferred that the Government had in-
formed itself upon the po:nts in which it was necessary to alter
the relation of" landlord arid tenant, and had then brought
iin a Bill to effect a specific remedy. The speech
lOW them that the Commission bad full authority !