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

THE ADDRESS.

The SPEAKER said he bad to inform the House that the
House of Commons had been to the House of Lords, when her
Majesty was graciously pleased to deliver the following speech
from the Throne— [ See our Lord's report.]
Lord CLIVE, in rising to move the address to her Majesty,
said, as the topics involved in her Majesty's speech were, in
many respects, of great importance, he trusted the House
would excuse him, under the circumstances. In the
first place, he rejoiced that her Majesty had been gra-
ciously pleased to refer, in such satisfactory terms, to the
relations of this country with Foreign Powers, and their
continued assurance of their wishes for the continuance of
peace. The maintainanre of peace throughout Europe was of
such paramount importance and necessity to the prosperity of
the country, that unless they could look forward to it with
certainty, they could have no security for the ultimate welfare
of the country. Amongst the magnitude and variety
of the topics to which her Majesty had directed the
attention of Parliament, there was one which was most to be
desired and that was the gratifying declaration of the prospects
of continued it ace remaining unelouded—( Hea , hear )
the more so when to this was added a similar declaration with
respect to France, as it was essential to the interests of those two
great and powerful countries that t rey should go hand in hand
in the peaceful career of national intercourse.—( Cheers.) l'he
situation of those countries was so similar, that any injury in-
flicted upon the one, would affect the other. But he could
conceive no assurance so strong ae that conveyed by her Majesty's
vise to France, and the cordial reception she there received, of
the friendly feeling existing between the two nations. Although
future historians might not record so gorgeous an array as in
the last instance when a chivalrous Sovereign of this country
visited than country in former days, yet neither in the present
instance could any manif .ration of ill-feeling or rivalry be re-
corded. The visit of Queen Victoria to France would be handed
down to posterity as an assurance of international peace
and amity between the two countries.—( Hear, hear, and
loud cheers.) The peace with China remained unbroken,
and the negotiations which followed the termination of the
war in that country had been brought to a successful termina-
tion. In consequence of that the commercial intercourse would
increase between this country and that great empire.—( Hear,
hear.) While this event offered great benefit to this country,
it was not to be forgotten that it freed this country from
great and expensive wars and negotiations. He thought that the
House and the country were greatly indebted to Sir H. Put-
finger. It was no difficult task to obtain such an end with a
Power that held itself aloof from all foreign Powers. Sir
H. Pottinger had been the means of opening the commerce of
that extensive country not only to England but teethe whole of
Europe—( Hear, hear)—and he had shown ,consummate
skill in establishing a most intimate acquaintance
with the character and inhabitants of China. If they
turned to their Indian empire, the results had been most
satisfactory, and her Majesty had informed them that
the results of the operation of her armies there had led
to the annexation of Sinde to the British possessions
in the east. Her Majesty had also stated that she
had directed additional information, explanatory of the tran-
sactions in Sinde, to be forthwith communicated to the
House. He could not refrain from expressing his great
gratification at the gallantry of Sir Charles Napier and the men
under his command, nor could he restrain his praise from
the sepoys or native troops, who had shown themselves worthy
of standing by English soldiers.—( Hear, hear.) If they
looked to their domestic affairs, they were matter of
great congratulation. He rejoiced at the improvement
that had taken place in trade, and he was glad that,
owing to the improvements that had taken place
in trade, much of the misery and distress that
existed last winter had been removed. It was
also satisfactory to know that improvement in the con-
dition of the people had been attended with an increase
in the revenue.—(Cheers.) Ile rejoiced to be -able
to state that that increase afforded a certainty that the
revenue for the present year would be more than suf-
ficient to meet the expenditure, and that there would
consequently be a surplus, which might be applied to the
reduction of the national debt.—( Hear, hear.) Thus that
insprovement which her Majesty had stated at the commencement
of the last session she confidently expected would take place in
the revenue, had actually taken place ; so that that revenue was
now found fully adequate to meet the exigencies of the public
service.—(Hear.) Passing over the financial topics to which her
Majesty had directed their attention, and which, owing to their
own importance, would, of themselves, sufficiently
attract the attentions of the House, he felt
assured that all would cordially concur with him
in expressing a wish for the welfare of her Majesty's
Irish subjects, to which her Majesty had assured them that she
had directed her most anxious attention. He was sure that the
House would concur• with him in expressing to her Majesty
the anxous desire of Parliament to do everything in their
power to ensure the improvement and the development of
the resources of that country. —( Loud cheers.) Under
ordinary circumstances, and on ordinary occasions, in moving
an address to her Majesty, he should have felt anxious to
avoid all topics which might tend to create a differ-
ence of opinion, and on the present occasion he
wished, more especially, to guard himself against alluding to
those subjects which were under the consideration of the courts
of justice ie that country. He would, therefore, content himself
with moving that they should uniteto thank her Majesty for having
especially directed their attention to the improvement of the
condition of Ireland.—( Hear, hear.) He was happy to say
that the reception which had been experienced by her Majesty's
Commissioners in Ireland appointed to consider the subject of the
occupation of land had been most gratifying, and afforded every
hope that the labours of that Commission would be attended
with the most beneficial results. That Commission had investi-
gated all matters affecting local interests, and had derived
every possible advantage and assistauce from parties re-
siding in Ireland—persons of all parties and of every
shade of political opinion, had come forward to give evidence,
and to assist the Commissioners with local information without
which it would be impossible that their labours could be
attended with success.—(Cheers.) Having touChed Upon the
principal topics to which her Majesty bad directed their consi-
deration, he would not detain them longer, but would
content himself with thanking the House for the kind attention
with which they had heard him —( Cheers)—and with
expressing a fervent hope, that in addressing them-
selves to the subjects laid before them by her
Majesty, the issue of their councils might tend to promote the
prosperity of all classes of her Majesty's subjects.—(Cheers.)
The Noble Lord concluded by moving the address, which was,
as usual, an echo of the speech.
Mr. CARDWELL said, in rising to second the able address
which the Noble Lord had submitted to the House, he must
throw himself on the never-failing indulgence extended to
Members in his situation, before venturing to touch upon the
topics contained in her Majesty's most gracious speech
from the throne.—(Hear, hear.) He should not tres-
pass on the time of the House, by following the Noble
Lord ever all the topics in the speech, for they had been handled
by him with the ability due to matters of historical association
and national interest. He regarded with peculiar satisfaction
. . .

and pride all the observations which had falle❑ from the
Noble Lord, intending to congratulate the Crown on
the renewed encouragement given to commercial enter-
prise and manufacturing industry and prosperity, stimu-
lating and encouraging the energies and the comforts
of the masses of the population, and assured in its
permanency, as it was by an exchequer more than fully ade-
quate to the necessities of the nation.—( Cheers.) His con-
nexion with the north of England permitted him to form
acquaintance in person with this subject, and to speak with a
peculiarly strong feeling in regard to it. He need
not desire the House to revert to those tales of sorrow and
distress which last year had been too familiar to all.
His heart must have been insensible, indeed, that could
have contemplated them without the most poignant
feelings, and which might have led them to despair, if English-
men knew such a word. Now a renewed demand and renewed
confidence were spreading comfort around, for they could not
look to the returns in the customs, and the large imports,
without feeling that a corresponding amount of British goods
found their way in return to other countries. He would not
prosecute this subject further, but simply say, that every-
thing tended to show the symptoms of returning health.
If they turned to the cotton trade they would find that the
stimulus which began with the low prices of last year had
steadily maintained itself, that notwithstanding some in-
crease in the price of the raw material, and some groundless
alarm with regard to the future, the demand had been brisk
and continued brisk, the stocks were low, and all the indications
of healthy trade presented themselves. He had no intention of
trespassing upon the time and indulgence of the House by reading
to them detailed statements, because he felt that the present
was not the time or the occasion to present state-
ments which from their nature challenged dispute, and
because he felt that unless he could establish a
case upon bread grounds which commended themselves to the
judgment of Hon. Members on both sides of the House, con-
versant with the subject, he had no case at all to substantiate.
The House would, however, allow him to refer, in detail, to
two particular subjects which la ad frequently engaged
their attention. He held in his hand a paper emanating
from the guardians of a poor-law union. It stated that
there had been a great improvement in the condition of
the lower orders since 1841 ; that on a comparison of the
Michaelmas quarter now last past with the previous quarter, it
had been found that the number of applications for relief had
been diminished from 12,600 to 5,000, and the amount ex-
pended from 4,0001. to 2,800/. Besides this upwards of
10,000/. had been received from the manufacturers' re-
lief fund. There had been a great improvement in the cot-
ton trade, and consequently in all the businesses which were
dependent upon it. Thiec new mills were on the point
of being erected ; several lately unoccupied mills were
now let, and a corn-mill and a woollen-mill were being
fitted up for cotton manufactories. Everything wore an im-
proved aspect.—( Cheers. ) He thought it must he agreeable
to the feelings of the House to learn, that improvement had
also taken place among the hand-loom weavers.—( Hear,
hear.) He would also refer to a letter which
he had received as to the state of Stockport.
The poor-rates last year were 4s. in the pound. in the pre-
ceding year they were (' In he workhouse there wet e not
halt the number of ihni4Les there w era in the preceding year,
and there was not a single able-bodied pauper there.—