Star.
London, England, 1830-09-18 00:00:00

MIL HUSZISSO N.

Of the family and early history of Mr. HUSKIIIIIOII little is known.
is said to have been a native of Staffordshire, where his father was a
small farmer. Having been destined to the medial profession, he was
sent to Paris to pursue his studies, and being in that capital at the
commencement of the Revolution, he took a warm interest in the politi-
cal transactions of the day. We have heard an English nobleman say,
that be well remembers bearing Mr. HITIIKIIIIOII make a speech in the
Jacobin Club, and his attention was particularly directed to him from
the fair complexion and English appearance of the youth. However
this youthful enthusiasm soon gave way to the honor with which he
was inspired by the revolutionary proceedings. Through the interest
of the Staffent family, he obtained an introduction to men in power at
home, to whom, it is reported, his knowledge of French affairs was
of signal benefit. Mr. Pitt was singularly ill-informed respecting
Continental affairs, and out in all his calculations respecting them;
and Mr. Dundee, his influential colleague, was perhaps still more igno-
rant of them. Some curious details of the ignorance of these Statesmen
of French affairs is given in the Memoirs ofLs Roche Jacquelin. We
can easily conceive, then, that a man of Mr. Huakissoo's talents and
persevering industry, possessed of so much knowledge of France, would
be of inestimable advantage to them.
He soon wrought his way upwards, and as early as 1796 we find him
returned for Morpeth, wbea be was Under Secretary in the office of Mr.
Dundee. He next sat forthe Borough of Liskeard. In 1802 he stood
candidate at Dover against Mr. Spencer Smith and Mr. Trevanion, with.
out success. He was then returned for Chichester, through the influence
of tit Duke of Richmond. When Under Secretary of the Treasury in
the:Administration which succeeded to the Fox and Grenville one, be
hathshe boldness to call the attention of Parliament to the dangerous
career the country was running, from the excess of expenditure beyoni
the income, and predicted that the most serious consequences would
ensue if this system were to be persevered In much longer. This was
unusual language in those days fora man in office, and it made et the
time a strong impression on us.
On the retirement of Mr. Pitt, he procured for Mr. Huskisson a pen.
aion of 1,2001 per annum from May, 1801. On his marriage, Mr.
Dundee procured for Mrs. Huskissoo a pension of 816 L to commence on
the death of her husband. lie retired from office with Mr. Canning,
after the duel of the latter with Lord Destines& During the agitation
of the Bullion Question, he wrote a pamphlef whin% produced a great
impression, and procured for him considerable reputation as a political
economist.

Mr. Huskisson remained some years out of office, but on his return
he immediately distinguished himself. He advocated the Corn Bill of
1815, but his views on the subject soon underwent considerable alters.
tion. He was the most active Ministerial Member of the Committee
which reported at such length in 1820, and is understood to have made
himself unpopular with the country gentlemen at that time on account
of the steadiness with which he advocated a more liberal system in op.
position to them. He had a firm supporter in Mr. Ricardo, to whom
he was, on several amnions, greatly indebted at that time. The Re-
port is understood to have been chief his work. It labours under the
disadvantage of recommending conclusions not altogether reconcileable
with the premises; but for this inconsistency he was not to blame, hay.
ing been obliged to give way to the agricultural Members. From that
time to the day of his death, Mr. Huskisson's name was, in one way
or other, associated with every question of importance. He enjoyed a
high reputation with the country for the inflexible determination with
which he advocated and enforced, as far as he could, the doctrines of
Free Trade, undismayed by the opposition of the Country Gen-
tlemen, who hated him, or the complaints of the manufac-
turers. Mr. Canning held him always in the highest esteem,
.red in the discussion on the Silk Question, when Mr. John Williams,
the barrister, gave utterance to some petulant remarks, implying that
Mr. Huskisson was insensible to the distress he inflicted in the execution
of his scheme!, Mr. Canning pronounced a warm eulogium on his
friend, whom he compared to Turgot. No man's reputation stood
higher in the country than Mr. Huskisson's, when, on the dissolution
of the tioderich Ministry, he unfortunately abandoned Lord Lansdown,
and accepted office under the Duke of Wellington. Feeling himself that
he was placed in an unfortunate position, the men whom he bad
joined having contributed so much to shorten the days of his friend,
he went into an explanation at Liverpool, which may be said to have
led to the subsequent disagreement with his Grace. The opposition to
Mr. Canning having been conducted on illiberal principles, it became
necessary for him to explain to his Constituents how he had acceded to
the new Administration ; and he intimated to his Constituents that some-
thing like a pledge had been given to him that the Administration would
be conducted on liberal principles. This was contradicted in Parliament,
with very little ceremony, by his Grace, and Mr. Huskisson was obliged
to remain silent. He had cut off all retreat, and the Duke was well
aware of this. The irritation which this treatment caused must
have been felt in the Cabinet, otherwise we can hardly conceive that
the Rut Retford differences would have led to the retirement of himself
and friends. We have always calculated on the return of Mr. Bus-
kiseon to office, from the helplessness of the Cabinet at the present
moment. We have little doubt that the death of this able man must
have materially deranged the plans of his Grace. As • Parliamentary
speaker, Mr. Huskisson was clear and rigatoni. His manner was not
ornate, and he was indebted to his matter 4.hiefiy for the attention which
he commanded in the house.He could be severely sarcastic when be chose,
and be was not a man whom any one would have wished unnecessarily
to provoke, as he was always prepared both with facts and arguments.
\Ve have often thought that he did net advocate the principles of free
trade very skilfully. He used to endeavour to show, that in the ad-
vanced state of our industry, free trade could not be injurious to us;
but these arguments had a tendency to impress other nations, that as
they were less advanced in industry ourselves, the restrictive system
would be more beneficial for them. He did not advocate the system on
the true. principle, that it never can be advantageous to a nation, what-
ever the character of its Industry, to impose restrictions on trade.