The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-05 00:00:00

Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure.

Their Lordships having re-assembled,
The Duke of WELLINGTON laid a Bill upon the
table, which was read a first time, but of which (amid
the confusion) we did not hear the designation.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, then informed their
Lordships that her Majesty had come down to that
House, and that she had been pleased to deliver her
most gracious Speech, which he should read to them.
—(The Lord Chancellor then read the Speech, which
was also done immediately afterwards by the Clerk at
the table.)

THE ADDRESS.
The Marquis of CAMDEN then rose and said : My
Lords, in rising to move that your Lordships should
agree that an humble Address be presented to her Majesty,
in answer to her most gracious Speech, which we have
this day heard from the Throne, I feel that I must
commence by asking you to give me that kind attention,
which during the few years that I have had the honour
Jf sitting in this House, I have usually seen bestowed
upon tlb Ise who, like myself, had never before addressed
your Lordships.—(Hear, hear.) But, my Lords, I feel
this difficulty considerably lightened by the reflection
that I am addressing you upon an occasion when, with-
out any exaggerated statements of national prosperity,
your Lordships may concur in expressing your gratifi-
cation at the state of the country, in its domestic con-
dition and foreign relations, as they have been repre-
sented in her Majesty's speech.—(Hear, hear.) I
believe that in every branch of manufactures of
this country there is an increasing activity. I believe
that the home trade of this country is increasing in
activity in almost every branch. I believe that the
' commerce of the country, which is carried through
almost every part of the civilised globe, is largely and
rapidly extending.—(Hear.) My Lords, I trust that we
may hope that the gradual improvement in the
manufactures of the country will be permanent. and will
continue to increase. The next topic in her Majesty's
speech is the satisfaction which she has felt from the
visits of those Sovereigns whom she received at
her court in the course of last year. My Lords, I think
that we can most cordially concur with her Majesty in
the gratification which she expresses at the visit which
the Emperor of Russia paid to her Majesty, at great
inconvenience, and at a time when private afflictions
must have weighed heavily upon him. That showed
the anxiety of the Emperor to manifest his feel-
her Majesty. My
.ords, the
ectcotountry, and to pay _
La tribute
most ancient date ; it is one of the oldest which that
aoklflgiaasnmetieto; aaornfdd Rrteuhssipssia with this country is of theords,
power maintains in Europe ; and nothing could more
tend to contribute to the permanence of this alliance,
and, as her Majesty has stated in her speech, the future
extension of this alliance, than the visit of the
tthat
deriveer great Majesty's
j e
more
to yr,es
this
hl illustrious satisfaction.
steroiuonu country
r consort.
y A
i And d
visited
beyfirst,
Emperor to her Majesty. The speech also alluded to the
visits of other Sovereigns, from which her Majesty and
the country In
let me refer to the visit of the King of Saxony, con-
bnelleftedeevreelligs mynh seovereigns, the more its resources are known,
Lisouswrdt ,
hl
with
and the happiness of its people is witnessed, the greater
will be its influence. I believe that, as in private life,
so amongst those in the most exalted sta-
tion, the frequency of intercourse will lead
to more lasting and more intimate friendships.
My Lords, it will be in the recollection of your Lord-
ships that in her speech at the termination of the last
session, her Majesty expressed her gratification at being
enabled to state to this House and the country that the
negotiations between this country and France had been
brought to a satisfactory conclusion. That commu-
nication of her Majesty was very speedily followed by
the visit of the King of the French ; and I am
sure your Lordships will feel great gratification that his
Majesty was received in this country by the people in
the most gratifying manner. When we consider the
various parts of the world in which the cooperation of
France with this country is necessary for the maintenance
of peace, when we consider how likely is the maintenance
of peace to extend the commerce of this country and
that intercourse which, from the facility of communica-
tion with France, must naturally follow the al-
liance between these two countries, his Majesty's late
visit must be looked upon with peculiar gratification.nf the
e I
am sure that the reception which the
King
untryo must
French met with from the people of
setnsible of the great
talent, and perseverance, fully convince him that the peoplea l a
, r
vhich
has evincedin preserving that peace and amity which
are so essential to the interests of both countries. The
p and zeal,
he at all times
next topic of interest in her AfajcAy's speech relates
to a subject which comes more particularly unda

the discussion of the other House of Parliament, I
' but I think that your Lordships will concur
in the necessity for an increase in the steam navigation
of the country, which is so necessary in this time of im-
provement to the protection of the trade and commerce
of the country: My Lords, the next point in her Ma-
eaty's speech is, that she observes wji th great satisfaction
that the improvement which is manifestedin the other
parts of the country has extended to Ireland. My
Lords, so long as political agitation continues in
that country, there must necessarily be alarm in the
minds of those who have capital to invest, and they are
therefore unwilling to embark meney.in Ireland. My
Lords, the best proof that tranquillity is returning, is to
be found in the different projects of enterprise which
have been brought forward. not by the Government,
but by private individuals. These, my Lords,
are proofs of returning activity.—(Hear, hear.)
And on this matter, my Lords, I may observe, though this
may not be the place in which such matters should be
noticed—yet I feel assured that your Lordships will
agree with me, that we ought to thank her Majesty for
directing our attention to the financial condition of the
country, and especially to that great measure which
was passed at the close of the last session
for regulating the affairs of the Bank of England,
and the intention which is entertained of applying the
same consideration this year to the great public esta-
blishments of Ireland and Scotland, ensuring the per-
manent and prosperous promotion of that activity. I
am sure, my Lords, that in this consideration your
L Tdships will take an ar xious part. My
Lords, another subject to which her Majesty
has called our attention, is the health of
this metropolis especially, and of large towns in general.
Your Lordships are aware that this subject has been
brought under your notice during the last two or three
years, and that last year an Act was passed which was
designed to carry out this object. My Lords, I am
aware of the deep interest which your Lordships
take in this matter, and I doubt not that your careful
attention will be given to it during the present session.
Another subject to which your Lordships' attention has
been directed, is the working of the Charitable Bequests
Act, also passed during the last session of Parliament, a
measure which is likely to conciliate the several
portions of the people, and bring them all into a com-
mon spirit of unanimity and agreement. My Lords, it
will be recollected that, three years ago, the finances
of the country were attempted to be relieved by the
passing of an income-tax, and, as stated in her
Majesty's speech, the measure has been emi-
nently successful. It is now proposed to ex-
tend the benefits of this improved state of
things to the manufacturers of the country. I hope that
the feeling of mutual confidence which at present exists
between her Majesty and her people will long continue.
I need not detain your Lordships by referring to every
topic adverted to in her Majesty's gracious
speech, and while I thank your Lordships
for the attention you have been pleased to
extend to me, I pray of you that, should any ex-
pression of mine have been inadequate to express
the importance I attach to these topics, you will impute
it to my inability, and not to any defect in the matter of
the speech which has been read to your Lordships. I
beg, my Lords, to more that an humble address be pfe-
iiented to her Majesty, thanking her Majesty for her
most gracious spet ch.
Lord GLENLYON (who appeared attired as a
Highland Chief) then rose and said: My Lords—
In rising to second the motion of the Noble Marquis,
that an humble address be presented to her Majesty in
answer to her gracious speech, I feel a considerable de-
gree of embarrassment in thus addressing your Lord •
ships' house for the first time on this question, more espe-
cially when I consider the vast importance of the topics
adverted to; but my task is greatly lightened by the
admirable and able manner in which the Noble Mar-
quis has treated the subject ; and I need not, therefore,
occupy your Lordships' time more than a few moments.
The spirit of loyalty and obedience to the law has mani-
frsted itself in every part of the kingdom. Everywhere
her Majesty visited, the greatest manifestations of reve-
rence for her sacred person were evinced. On the late
occasion of the royal visit to Scotland, it was a source of
the greatest gratification to witness the manner in which
her Majesty was received by all classes of my coun-
trynsen. Can we wonder at those feelings of attachment
to her Majesty, w hen her Majesty's kind qualities are con-
sidered? Her Majesty,l can safely aver,has left behind her
iu the breast of every Highlander no other feelings than
those of pure affection and devoted loyalty. Those
feelings of loyalty were demonstrated on a still later
occasion, when her Msjesty attended the opening of the
Royal Exchange. On that occasion very remarkable
order and regularity existed among the multitude assem-
bled.—(Hear, hear.) I hope your Lordships will agree
with me in thinking that this decorum may be
attributed in a great degree to feelings of respect
for her sacred person.—(Hear, hear.) I further
think that the respect with which her Majesty has
everywhere been received, is to a great extent indicative
of increased confidence in her Ministers. In the second
paragraph of the Royal Speech allusion is made to the
visits of the Emperor of Russia and the King of the
French to this country. The past year has been re-
makable for the numerous visits of royal personages
to this country. The Emperor of Russia, at great pri-
vate inconvenience, undertook a journey to this country,
and your Lordships must agree with me in considering this
visit as an earnest of the good feeling which has existed,
and which I hope will long continue to exist between the
two natioas, Russia and England. The visit of the King
of the French must also be very gratifying to your Lord-
ships as well as to the country at large—
(Hear, hear)—more especially after the differences
Which occurred between the two countries, but the set-
tlement of which was happily effected in consequence of
the good feeling between the Governments of the two
countries. This settlement was alluded to in
the speech at the prorogation of the last
session of Parliament. Her Majesty, . in three
paragraphs, speaks of her address to the House of Com-
mons, and alludes to the state of the navy. Your Lord
ships, I believe, will agree with me in thinking that the
commerce of this country has of late years increased to
a very considerable extent, and that facilities of commu-
nication in all quarters of the globe have rapidly extended.
Your Lordships must also be impressed with the ne-
cessity of doing your utmost to defend our naval su-
periority. The introduction of steam as a motive power,
though it has brought with it many advantap.;es, has also
brought with it increased expenditure. Under these
circumstances, I trust the other House will readily
vote the sum requisite to enable the wooden walls of old
. England to be, as they ever have been, the safeguard
of our commerce in time of peace, and the terror of our
foes if this country should ever unhappily be involved in
a war. Her Majesty again is happy to observe the im-
proved condition of Ireland ; that country and its condi-
tion have been often discussed by your Lordships, and
with regard to it I need say nothing more than that I am
sure your Lordships will do all that lies in your
power to improve it. ller Majesty alludes
to- the Commission appointed to inquire into the sanitory
condition of populous towns and districts. I am sure
that a#ything calculated to benefit the poorer classes,
and improve their physical condition, will have your
Laialships best consideration.— (Hear, hear.) In
conclusion, allow me to thank your Lordships for
the kind manner in which you have been pleased to
listen to me, in this my first attempt to address the
House. I am sure we shall all join in her Majesty's
earnest prayer for peace and prosperity to this country,
and the world at large.—(Cheers.)
The Marquis of NORMANBY said if, before lie had'
heard the speeches of the two Noble Lords opposite, he
had not intended to address many observations to
the. House, nothing that had fallen from them
had induced him to alter his intention. The
Noble Lord must be aware that there was a
clan-like affection and loyalty, which made them receive
the address of her Majesty in a spirit different from that
which might be applied to the measures of the Ministry.
He would not have thus early troubled their Lordships
with any remarks, but that in her Majesty's speech there
were one or two allusions to subjects to which he had
himself called their Lordships' attention during the last
session of Parliament. It seemed now to be conven-
tional, that upon occasions like the present, the address
should be considered as a matter of form, and it would
hardly become anybody to protest against any part of
it, even though they did not acquiesce in the construe
lion put upon it by the Noble Lords who recommended
it for her Al s'jest;'s adoption. He thought it would be
well to adopt a practice which prevailed iu other coun-
tries, and which was an improvement, he thought. upon
our own—of having some short interval before they
were called upon to pronounce an opinion upon the many
topics which were contained in the address. Such, how-
ever, was not the custom here. It must not be consi-
dered that in agreeing to the address that they were
thereby pledged to support fully those measures which
might subsequently be brought forward. There were
two topics in the address upon which he wished to make
11, few observations. The first was, that which related
to the state of Ireland. He alluded to this subject be-
cause, during the last session, he had announced to their
Lordships that it was his intention to make a motion on
the general state of that country. It was not, however,
his intention now to do so, as he was content for the
present to turn the responsibility of that state upon
Noble Lords opposite, until they had before them
those measures which were so vaguely shadowed
forth, and which,
by lareer perhaps, might be followed up
intende
to measurescal in the same direction. He did nut
state of Irelandtl;: attention of their Lordships to the
because he was in hopes that some mea-
sures would be
assent. At the same proposed to which he could give his
he could not agree in the
widest interpretation timel
sen-
tence of the speech which alludedhad been
to the put
gradualon that aathate
ee
anent of agitation and excitement.
that the existiee. tranquillity was He did not think
secured as had
been anticipated'. Still he hopedwa stthhat the particular
onagitation in Ire-
direction which had been given to
land, had somewhat checked the fc (din:of the part of the
he the measure
Irish people, as to the practicabilii'
meanttil repeal.
which had been recommended to them).
But they might depend upon it that until adopted
something more comprehensive than that whicheyhaCl been
shadowed forth in the address, they would never securee"l
the affections of that people, and they might never look
for any permanent or well -founded tranquillity. He
believed that the measures, so far as they went, which
were to be proposed by the Government were likely
to have his support. It those measures should be ineon-
eietent with the course which had been taken on that
occasion by Noble Lords opposite, it was not fur his
Noble Friends around him, or for himself, to complain
tipsii that score. That was a question which history
would record, and posterity decide. At the same
time he could not avoid making this a subject of reflec-
tion, when he considered the slight success that had
Jiitherto attended the attempts of Noble Lordsoppnoseieteei
to conciliate the people of Ireland.
the
31iniaer of the Crown, charged with the particular con-
duct of Irish affairs, was reported to have said, that con-
'ore,oh reached its utmost limits, and could, there-
S go no farther. When such was the case, the people

of Ireland felt that they had no claim on the Legislature,
and, therefore, it could not be wondered at that such
small success had hitherto attended the efforts of Noble
Lords opposite. The Bill more particularly alluded to
in the speech from the throne, was one to which he had
himself given his most cordial support in the last session
of Parliament—he meant the most important part of it—
that which established a more efficient and impartial
board for the distribution and management of charities
generally. He gave Noble Lords opposite credit for the
best intuitions with respect to persons professing the
Roman Catholic religion. But he regretted that some-
thing had not been done to conciliate the Roman Catho-
lic Prelates in Ireland ; but he was happy to say that he
gathered from a statement made by Archbishop Murray,
that an amendment was likely to take place in that re-
spect. Her Majesty stated that that Act had been car-
ried out in the spirit in which it was passed. He gave
Noble Lords opposite great credit for having done so,
and it was not, perhaps, for him to consider the ap-
pointments which had been made to the Commission,
or to declare their inconsistency with the clause in the
Emancipation Act, which prohibited Roman Catho-
lic Prelates from assuming the titles of their dioceses.
When he considered that the religion over which
these prelates presided was that of the majority
of the people of Ireland, he, for one, could not object to
giving them precedence in the Commission. But if he
had proposed to do so in the presence of a Noble Earl,
who was not then in the House, the Earl of Donough-
more, if he (Lord Normanby) had proposed to give place
and precedence to Dr. Croly and Dr. Murray in the
Commission, he thought the Noble Earl would have
rated him soundly ; he thought that no railroad could
carry the Noble Earl to the House fast enough to state
his surprise and indignation at so extraordinary an inno-
vation. The Noble Earl had rated him in the House
most soundly for having given place and title to the
Catholic Bishop of Quebec; and the Noble Lords who
supported the present Government for the most part
concurred in censuring him (Lord Normanby) on that
occasion. However, he concurred with the Noble Lords
opposite in the propriety of placing the Catholic bishops
in the Commission, with the acknowledgment of their
authority over those dioceses, the limits of which they
would have to fix. He had always thought that the dis-
tinction which prevented the Catholic bishops from as-
suming their titles was childish and impolitic. As well
as he recollected the tenour of the Act of Parliament,
they were forbidden to assume any titles not authorised'
by law. Nov, with respect to the title of Archbishop
of Team, what was there to prevent Dr. bhHale from
assuming that title? There was no Archbishop of
Tuam authorised by law, and therefore Dr. M-Hale's
assumption of the tide could not interfere with other
rights. What reason could there be why Dr. Murray
and Dr. Crolly should not be allowed to assume the title
of bishops? Another word as to Ireland—as to the
passage in the speech, that there would shortly be laid be-
fore the House the report of the Tenure of Land Commis-
sion. Now, there Lordships would recollect that in the
course of last session, he (the Marquis of Normanby)
had expressed his regret that so little information bad
been obtained by the Commission, and that he be-
lieved it would not effect the object for
which it had beets appointed. He believed
that most exaggerated expectations had been raised by
it which never could be realised. He did not think that
the report would give any valuable information, but he
thought it was most desirable that it should be laid be-
fore the House as speedily as possible, in order to give
the Government an opportunity of stating whether they
intended to produce any measures on the subject, and
what the nature of those measures would be, in order to
allay the excitement which prevailed from the erroneous
and unfounded expectations to which the Commission
had given rise, and which had done, perhaps, more mis-
chief than the political agitation which prevailed before.
He believed that the agitation on this subject would not
have arisen but for the ill-timed appointment of the
Commission. He was ready to admit that the political
agitation had in some degree subsided ; but he believed
it would not have arisen to the height which it reached
if it had not been for the injudicious appointments made
by the Government. He would not now allude to that
subject further than to say that it had been made matter
of an attack on him in that House, that the agitation was
increased in the time of his government. But he had
repeatedly shown from unquestionable documents that the
agitation had decreased, and that crime also had consi-
derably diminished during his administration. He had
also always stated that the present Government was not
to be blamed for the agitation which prevailed in its
time, as that was to be traced to the mismanagement of
previous Governments for ages past. In respect to other
topics, he concurred with the Noble Lords opposite,
that every one must feel satisfaction at the gratifying
state of manufactures and commerce. But, at the same
time, they should not forget that this prosperity was in
the regular ebb and flow of prosperity following adver-
sity, which they always were accustomed to witness.
Let them hope that the periodical return of prosperity
would continue longer than tuual. But let not the Go-
vernment claim credit for it, unless they could show that
hey had prevented the recurrence of depression and

distress, which usually followed upon the period of
prosperity and activity. He concurred, also, in the satis-
faction of the Noble Lords opposite at the good under-
standing which existed with France and other countries.
With respect to France, he felt that there was a feeling
so sensitive connected with that subject, that he would

best promote the good understanding by saying no more
than that no one could be more anxious than he was for

the maintenance of peace with France and the rest of
the world. Perhaps it might be unusual to allude tothe
personal visits of foreign sovereigns. But he would say
that the visits of two sovereigns, so remarkable for
their personal characters and elevated positions,
were matters of cordial congratulation.—(Hoar.)
In recurring to a notice of the periodical returns of
prosperity and adversity, he could not but take some
credit for the Government of which he had formed a
part, in devising the measures which, while they took
some time in bringing forth the fruits of their results,
were not the less sure of doing so, and, if they had at
length been productive of good to Ireland, no one would
rejoice more heartily with those who prepared her Ma-
jesty's speech than himself, and those friends on that
side of the House with whom he had the honour to act.
He rejoiced to perceive that there was a clause in her
Majesty's speech, referring to the measure which was
passed last session, for promoting the health of the in-
habitants of large towns, and he saw that the words
which on this subject had been put into her mouth,
were in accordance with that deep and intense feeling
for the welfare of her subjects, which all knew to be in
perfect unison with that greatness and benevolence of
character which was one of the most honourable fea-
tures of her mind. He rejoiced in this, and sin-
cerely and earnestly hoped that the measures which
might be brought forward would tend to promote that
happiness and health among the people which wore ne-
cessary to insure that physical power which once dis-
tinguished the lower orders of this country, and enabled
them to achieve their ancient renown, and which toge-

ther with the moral rectitude by which they had been
characterised, constituted their chief greatness. With
this hope he most heartily concurred in the recommen-
dation of the speech, and trusted it would be carried
into effect.
The Duke of RICHMOND was unwilling to intrude
on their Lordships' attention, but there was one orris •
sion in the address which he felt compelled to notice.
The address congratulated their Lordships on the im-
proved condition of the country, and he would not pre-
tend to say but that in some respects there was great
cause for congratulation, but surely her Majesty's Go-
vernment would not pretend to say that there was no
distress in the agricultural districts of the country ?
The Board of Trade was the medium through which
any communication from Government was received by
the manufacturers, but there was no such medium be-
tween the Government and the agriculturists. He
could state from his own knowledge that great dis-
tress then existed amidst the agricultural tenantry, and
he certainly thought that the speech should have
directed that inquiry be instituted upon the subject.
He hoped that it the income-tax were continued the
agriculturist would be excluded from its operation, for it
was a moral impossibility that a tenant with only 1001.
a year could stand it.—(lleac.) The farmer at present
lost instead of gaining. If they made the inquiries
he prayed for, they would find that what he had stated
of existing agrienitural distress was but too true, not
in any isolated spot, but in the different parts of the
country.—(llcar, hear.)
The Duke of MONTROSE said that any alteration
of the present currency in Scotland would be viewed
with the utmost distrust by the commercial men there,
and he regretted exceedingly that her Majesty's speech
expressed an intention on the part of the Government to
interfere with it. The same feelings actuated all classes
in that country, that any alteration of it would be altoge-
ther unnecessary, more especially when not a word of
complaint had been uttered by any person to the present
system, and when great complaints had been expressed
to the English banking system. It appeared to him sin-
gularly strange, that Government should interfere in
that case at all, when, by so doing, they were assured
the advantages then resulting from the system would by
any such alteration be completely lost. The merchants
of Scotland were decidedly opposed to any alteration in
the system, and therefore he hoped that any change pro-
posed would be trivial, and not of great importance.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE could not let the remarks, or,
more properly, questions of the Noble Lord who had last
spoken, pass unanswered. With respect to the remarks
of his Noble Friend who sat in front (the Duke of Rich-
mond), ho w stated that he thought her Majesty's
speech, in r, ference to the improvement of the country,
t he stateo f t
the
ef
farmerst heag agricultural ca us I tnuort a
being
edis-
tricts.
e that
spoke considero
f thestate
(Lord Wharucliffe) thought that
I'v'ehreynflothuerisshtiantge- He
of the country was referred to, it more
particularly meant the condition of manufactures and
commerce. With respect to that part of the Queen s
speech that spoke of the banking system in Scotland, it
(lid not say any change in the currency ; and he there-
fore wished to set the Noble Duke right in that parti-
cular. He should be sorry if anything should arise to
disturb the unanimity which seemed at that time to pre-
I vail in the house, and therefore he would add nothing
further on the subjects referred to.
Lerd BROUGHAM did not wish. to prolong the de-
bate, but as several topics in the speech had been adver-
ted to by the Noble Marquis (Normanby) behind him,
he (Lord Brougham), inasmuch as they were very
vaguely mentioned in the speech, would also make a
et, iofyu
ni nt gr N—oh
nme ea
moren t trheaj to
ioc fe
dt h
few remarks upon them. One of these was a very gra-
thaefionahnimeisalelsftiantethco)fptrlei
sent improved condition of the labouring classes of the
country ; and their Lordships
might remember it
to
thatb
was but two short years since he had felt it
duty to bring before that House the misery and distress
which which prevailed among the lowest because the largest
classes of the country. The contrast which appeared at
that time, from the state of things when he had called
their Lordships attention to the subject, was most gra-
tifying, and it was the snore gratifying that such im-
provement was not confined to one or two branches of
the community, but was perfectly general over the excise

and customs, those two great indications of the pros-
tterity of the kingdom.—(Cheers.) Nothing, therefore,
could possibly be more gratifying than this improve-
ment, for by reference to the financial state of the
country they would observe that the last year showed a
considerable increase over the year preceding, and that
again over the one.that went before, as did that last over
the year 1841, thus exhibiting a fact which could not
but be peculiarly pleasing, satisfactory, and, what was
more, trustworthy—trustworthy inasmuch as the im-
provement was a progressive and not a sudden one.—
(Cheers.) He was led to speak of the income-tax, but
he must be distinctly understood as not pledging him-
self in favour of any motion of the Noble Marquis's,
whom he had heard for the first time that day with
great pleasure. He was a worthy scion of his illustrious
line, and none of them could forget the one who sat in
that House, and that other whom no subject of
these realms ought to name but with a feel-
ing of admiration for his splendid generosity—a
generosity never to be surpassed, scarcely ever to
be equalled—(Hear, hear)—but which, he was sorry to
say, from the thoughtlessness of mankind, had never
properly been made the subject of a nation's gratitude.
—(Cheers.) In giving his concurrence to the address
he did not pledge himself to a continuance of the income-
tax ; for his compliance depended greatly upon the other
taxes, whether those might be added or remitted. Till
they should see the plans which were intended to be laid
down, he thought it would be improper and inexpe-
dient to say whether the income-tax should be repealed
or not. He said this, putting his own prejudices out of
sight ; for he thought, in truth, that to that tax there
could be urged the most valid objections.—(llear, hear.)
But that was not the ground on which it must be con-
sidered. If it could be shown that another tax pressed
more heavily upon the industrious classes, fettering and
stunting the commerce of the country—a bad manufac-
turing tax, if he might say so—a tax which pressed upon
the raw material of manufactures ; and if, by giving up
this latter tax, they gave a spring to home manufactures,
to the materials consumed by the low and middle classes
of society, then did he say they might with propriety give
to the retention of the income-tax a favourable hearing.
He had listened with the utmost attention to one part of
her Majesty's speech—that part of it, he meant, which
had treated of increased academical instruction for the
country ; but as that subject would be, at a future time,
discussed by their Lordships in detail, he would not do
more than thus briefly notice it. With respect to the
congratulation which the Noble Marquis called for on the
improvedconditionoflreland asregarded its freedom from
agitation and from internal disturbances, he (Lord B.)
without having any desire to remark upon this topic,
because it ought by every means to be avoided, could
not at the same time avoid (in order that his silence
might not be wrongly construed) saying that in his
opinion that improved state of the country was conse-
quent upon the State prosecutions—(Hear, hear)—and
he would be quite ready to prove so, should the matter,
in an after day, come on for discussion. One part of
the speech referred to the visits paid us by foreign sove-
reigns, and he believed that those visits had given uni-
versal satisfaction. If he (Lord B.) were allowed, he
should congratulate her Majesty and their Lordships on
the last visit of a foreign monarch, and he would take
that opportunity of saying that:the fact of that visit had
created a friendly feeling, not confined to the gracious
Queen who received him, to the brilliant Court by
which they were surrounded, but extending across the
Channel, and into the heart of the French dominions.
Prejudices the most inveterate were by that visit over-
come, and this advantage had been attained without any
sacrifice of principle, without any concession, without a
loss of interest or of honour. Without any concession,
he said, either en one side or the other—without any
alliance being entered into between themselves and the
French—without even the shadow of an alliance. He
would refer to another part, relating to our commercial
policy, and here he could not help feeling astonishment
that person. could be found to say that the commercial
greatness of England depended upon her monopolies.
‘Vhy, commerce was absolutely inconsistent with even
the slightest monopoly. In conclusion, the most fervent
prayer to which he could either there or elsewhere give
utterance was that a continued good feeling should exist
between the English and: French nations, and long, he
trusted, would the present amicable relations exist be-
tween them.—(Cheers.)
Lord HARDWICKE regretted that the Noble Lord,
the President of the Council, had not given a full and
definite answer to the Noble Dukes who sat upon the
cross benches (Richmond and Montrose). The first had
touched a chord that would reverberate throughout the
country ; and from the state of feeling of that class
known as agricultural labourers, and their sense
of the position held by the Noble Duke in re-
ference to themselves, he felt sorry that the answer
had not been more full and decided. Were
he called on to give his opinion on the subject,
he should say that a motion on the speech should take
place in reference to that question—the question of the
distress alleged to exist among that numerous class. His
impression was, that the agriculturist, if left alone—if
notinterfered with by legislative enactments, and by the
panderers of the press, who ministered to a peculiar class
—a class fond of agitation, for reasons best known to
themselves—if thus left alone, he said the agricultural
interests of the country would eventually triumph.—
(Hear, hear.) It should be remembered by that class,
that the depression which affected the one class would
in a similar manner affect all the others, for their interests
were so closely connected, that they must of necessity feel
a common evil.

The Earl of MALMESBUUY said he had never in
his life seen the agricultural interest so depressed as it
was at the present moment, and he regretted that in her
Majesty's Speech there had been no expression of sym-
pathy with that interest. Was there no precedent for
such an expression ? He apprehended that there was,
and therefore he could not see why it had not been
adopted on the present occasion.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that, in giving
his full assent to the address which had been proposed
to their Lordships, he had certainly not intended to have
addressed them upon it, but there was one topic in her
Majesty's speech upon which he would offer a few re-
marks, and upon which several other Noble Lords had
already addressed the House. He now rose to address
their Lordships in consequence of what had fallen from
his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Brougham) with
regard to the late proceedings which had taken place in
Ireland. His Noble and Learned Friend having alluded
to the circumstance, that during the whole of the
last session of Parliament, out of deference to the
pending judgment of that House relating to those trials,
and having connected that observation with the addi-
tional observation that now an opportunity was afforded
for considering the spirit of those proceedings,
and the mode in which they- had been con-
ducted, he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) certainly
was anxious to take the first opportunity of protesting,
that if the first opportunity was not taken for the pur-
pose of instituting such an inquiry, or proposing the
adoption of any vote on that subject in their Lordships'
House, it might not be considered to involve the appro-
bation of those proceedings. All that he wished to
claim on behalf of that forbearance, which he for one in-
tended to exercise on the subject was, that in so doing
he might not be supposed to have approved at the time,
or upon reflection, to approve now of the mode in which
those trials were conducted. But in what situation did
he find himself ? and in what situation did that House
find itself ? That at the close of those proceedings that
House had, by a solemn judgment set aside that decision
of the courts of law of Ireland. Whatever opinion after
that judgment had been pronounced in that House, he
might entertain with respect to the mode in which those
proceedings were cartied on in that country, and in the
courts of that country, he certainly, for one, was contented
with that judgment, and be was desirous, as far as he
was concerned, not to revert to the consideration of that
subject, and to avoid as much as possible the examina-
tion of those topics, which could not be examined either
in that House or elsewhere, without exciting a spirit
which he would be sorry to see excited again. All that
he would say on the subject, that without presuming to
offer now what he would not have presumed to offer at
the time, any opinion as to the merits of the judgment
which that House, after hearing the opinions
of Noble and Learned Lords, much better cal-
culated than he was to judge on the sub-
ject had pronounced—all he would say was, that
whatever were the merits of that judgment, he did con-
sider it to be one of the circumstances which had led to a
better state of feeling in Ireland among the more ra-
tional persons aho composed the public opinion of that
country. He thought it impossible, in contemplating the
care and caution and forbearance with which that House
had endeavoured to secure to the people of Ireland the
most perfect enjoyment of that most inviolable privilege
of the British constitution—trial by jury—without feel-
ing that they had been indebted to that branch of the
constitution of the United Kingdom for a deal of care
and attention to their rights and privileges, which, un-
der no Government and. no constitution, would they
have obtained to a greater degree. Ile believed that at
that moment, in that respect, he could join in the lan-
geage of the address, that whatever unhappy disposition
might prevail among the misguided in the lower classes
in Ireland, there prevailed among the higher classes a
better tone of feeling than had existed in that country
for a long time past, and this circumstance he attributed
in a great part to the operation of the diligeuoe, the
care, and the respect which was shown by that House
fur the feelings and constitutional rights of the people of
that country. He did hope, now that all obstacles were
removed with respect to political interests, that
the proceeding which had been proposed by his
Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Campbell), who,
able and constitutional lawyer as he was, was pe-
culiarly suited to take up that subject, and who he
hoped would again propose what he had proposed last
year, and which was objected to merely on the round
of its effect on the proceedings at that time, viz., an
Act, the effect of which would be to remove so great a
stigma from the law of England, as that of imposing on
a person convicted, before that conviction was complete,
the endurance cf a part of that sentence, which on the
completion of that judgment he would have to undergo.
This was a manifest injustice, and was not admitted into
the administration of the law of any other country, and
he could not believe, that if his Noble and Learned
Friend could be induced to take up the subject, their
Lordships would give a ready assent, not to the benefit
of Ireland only, but in behalf of England and English
subjects. Before he left the subject of Ireland, there
was no part of the address which he assented to with
°Tenter cordiality than the intimation given that it was
now the intention of her Majesty's Government to take
up the subject at an early period, of extending made-
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to express was, that it had not been taken up before.
He believed that to the absence of that extended education,
and he might add, to the existence of a vicious system
cobonyute t r
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- education in that country, were to be attributed the
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many evils which existed in the social condition of that
think it necessary to trouble their Lordships. He would
those topics of the address he did not
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