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

LORD MORPETH.

In another part of our paper will be found a lengthened
report of the proceedings of the free-trade banquet at Wake.
field on Wednesday. Very great interest was attached to
this meeting in consequence of the attendance of Lord Morpeth.
The Noble Lord's withdrawal from public life for the last two
years has been a source of deep regret, as well as a real loss, to the
Liberal party. The circumstances attending Lord Morpeth's
temporary retirement were such as to increase the attachmen
which his countrymen already so strongly felt for the many emi-
nent qualities which distinguish his character ; and his re.appear-
ance amongst them was by many hailed with the greater enthusiasm
from its being regarded as the preliminary step to the re-occupa-
tion by his Lordship of an active position in the ranks of his party.
And we trust this anticipation may not be wholly disappointed.
The speech of Lord Morpeth is another indication of the progress
of opinion upon the subject of free trade. Like the letter of Mr.
Gibson Craig, it is one of the facts that denote this pro.
gress, as it were, by stages. In 1841, Lord Ifoipeth was
a strenuous advocate of an eight-shilling fixed duty.
Such a compromise as that his Lordship now thinks
is wholly unattainable. He thinks, however, that even still a com.
promise is desirable ; and, notwithstanding the adverse opinions of
the audience by which he was surrounded, he candidly avowed this.
But, he added, if within a year a low fixed duty is not adopted, he
would then join the League in demanding a total repeal. And thus will
it be with the whole party who is now in favour of a fixed duty.
The operation of the same causes which have converted a sup-
porter of an eight-shilling duty into an advocate of a five-shilling
duty, must induce the advocate of the five-shilling duty, by and
by, to join the ranks of the total repeaters. However desirable
may be the adoption of a low fixed duty, as a compromise of a
question upon which two great interests of the nation are at issue,
or however just, in point of principle, it may he regarded by many,
yet all men are coming, by degrees, to feel that neither upon the
ground of justice, or still less of expediency, can such a settlerrent
be hoped for, after the obstinate resistance of another year. The
combination against it is becoming too strong. It is, day by day,
absorbing into its ranks some new element of power, which, like
theconditional adhesion of Lord Morpeth, renders its final triumph
only a question of time.— Chronicle.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Fe 6. 1.
THE ADDRESS.

Lord ELDON (in continuation from our Third Edition last
night)—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, but it was simply a narrative of chs •
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 tco from permits
with whom he was totally unaiiquainted, 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 sources 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 of 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 bl,ssings for which
they had reason to thank Providenee, and which had been men-
tioned by her Majesty, was the improved condition of the
people and the increased demand for labour : that was 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 few words upon. Her Majesty had
not alluded to the corn-laws, arid 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 and
" Hear," from the Ministerial benches.) For several successive
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
gratituiie 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 Batik Charter was then
renewable, and their Lordships should devote as much of
their attention as possible to those financial questions which
had conic 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. He 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 stational education
which were highly gratifying. Within three months
114,000/. 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 calamity 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. Evers 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 assist the
Government, in probing to the bottom the hidden grievances
which now afflict it. After a few further observations, his
Lordship 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 NORMANBY 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 most dignified
course to preserve silence on the subject, he would nit at-
tempt to follow the Noble Earl, although he felt the eeepest
interest in the condition of the people of Ireland. His former
connexion with that country had endeared them to him as
svarmiy as if the accident of birth had strengthened
the ties of affection which bound them to him,
ril. Noble Marquis then ma le some allusion to the eonduct of
the Noble Earl's grandfather, in respect to the claims of the