Star.
London, England, 1830-02-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FRB. 4.
At one o'clock the doors were to those who had obtained
Peers' orders. That Portion of opened
douse below the her devoted
to the sons of Peers and foreigners of distinction. was by no means
crowded. _ _

There was a thin attendance of Peers.
The Commission for holding Parliament, with that appointing
the Lords Commissioners for opening the um*, having been read
by the Clerk,
The Loan Cataxcat.sos delivered the King's Speech, of which
we gave a copy yesterday.
The Commons then retired, and their Lordships adjourned.—
At five o'clock their Lordships again met.
Dawes, from the Hanaper Office, Ireland, presented at the
bar the writ and return for the election of the Earl of GlOl4llll,
as Representative Peer for Ireland, in the room of the Marquis of
Headfort.

The Duke of %Lummox snowed the first reading of the BSI
for the regulation of Select Vestries, the Bill usually read at the
cotnmeocement of each Session.

The Bill was accordingly read a first time.
THE ADDERS. 4 TO HIS MAJESTY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR having read the Speech
from the Woolsack, which was afterwards repeated by
the clerk,

The Duke of BUCCLEUCH (dressed in a military uni-
form) rose and spoke to the following effect :—My lords,
in rising to move that an humble address, in answer to
his majesty's most gracious speech, which has bean just
now read, I am not unmindful of the difficulties Mick
have to encowater *mapper, dr tlritalik.LMve plrso•

taken, nor oftlay inability to do justice tie those import-
ant subjects contained in that gracious speech. It would
be presumptuous, my lords, in one so young and inex-
perienced as I am, and who have bad the honour of a
seat in your house for so short a period, to venture to
give opitrions at length, or to enter into a discussion on
the vserious topics contained in his majesty's speech. I
shall, therefore, confine myself to each few obseriations
and reasons as may occur to me, claiming, at the satire
time, the indulgence of your lordships. (Hear, hear),
feeling as I do that there never was more need of it
than on the present occasion. • My lords, the strong
assurances which his majesty has been pleased to in-
form us he still continues to receive from the dif-
ferent states of Europe, of their anxiety to maintain and
cultivate the relations of peace with this country,
mast be a subject of congratulation. We have, my lords,
every prospect of the peace which for so many years we
have enjoyed being lasting. My lords, this nation is
too much involved in the generakintereste of Europe not
to view with satisfaction the intelligence that peace has
been established between Russia and the Ottoman Porte
—that, therefore, the scene of warfare between these
two neighbouring stated which bad so long existed, is
happily terminated, must be a subject of satisfac-
tion; for who could contemplate the conflict carried on
without fearing that the ravages of war might be ex-
tended to other states of Europe ? We cannot but hear,
my lords, with satisfaction of his majesty's unremitting
offices with his allies to carry into effect the treaty of the
6th of July, 1827. I trust, my lords, that you will
think with me, that this is not the period to enter into
the details on that topic of the speech, but that you will
wait until his majesty shall think fit to make those dis-
closures respecting the measures carried on with his al-
lies as regards the situation of Greece. The measures
are of great importance, and are intended to raise
up a people who have been so long a time plunged into
misery and ruin, and give to them a station which
they have not enjoyed among the nations of Europe.
With regard to Portugal, my lords, it is impossible that
we can view with indifference the proceedings there
forward, considering towlotote bass
lations with that country. friendly relations must
continue to be interesting to a country which for so long
a period of time has been our ally. I trust that his ma-
jesty's exertions will effect a reconciliation between the
two branches of the house of Braganca, and that the di-
plomatic relations which have been so long interrupted
between the two countries will be again established. One
of the most important questions which will come before
your lordships is the revision of the courts of law, with
a view of expediting and facilitating the course of
justice in different parts of the united kingdom. Every
one of your lordships, I am sure, will agree in the propo-
sition, that it is expedient some alteration should be made
in the administration of justice. I feel convinced of the
necessity of such a proceeding, more particularly as re-
spects the country with which I am more immediately con-
nected. I am sure a vast advantage will arise from expe-
diting the course of justice, and adopting laws adapted to
the present day. No one, my lords, can be ignorant of,
nor view with indifference, the distress which the
agricultural and manufacturing classes are at present la-
bowing under in many parts of the country. I am not
disposed to consider that the distresses now felt are so des-
perate, or so universal, as some have represented, or as
other persons would wish to have it believed, nor do I
think they will continue. But this is a subject of vast im-
portance for your lordships to consider, and one which
requires great judgment and caution in your deliberations,
but upon which Ido not now enter. I would fain hope
my lords, that it is only a temporary distress which is
felt, and that it will be alleviated and removed. In the
consi.leration of this subject, we must give due weight to
the two late unfavourable seasons which the agriculturiets
have experienced. .T 6 the many difficulties with which
they have had to contend, must be added the expending
of their capital in getting in the harvest, which, when
secured, proved so indifferent. I will not, however, my
lords, enter into any detail ; it Is a subject of too vast
importance to be discussed now, and one upon which I
do not feel capable of entering were the details before you.
But, my lords, although there is distress among the agri-
culturists and the manufacturers in parts of the country,
have we not a subject of congratulation in the fact men-
tioned in his majesty's most gracious speech, that the ex-
port of British produce and manufactures during the last
year has exceeded that of any former year? This, my
lords, is surely a subject of congratulation, and I think
warrants me in the coaclusion to which I have come, that
the evils complained of are not deep rooted. Your lord-
ships are not ignorant that we have now the manufac-
tures of other countries to contend against. Formerly
this was the only nation where manufactures were exten-
sively carried on. Now every nation is turning its atten-
tion to manufactures. We have, therefore„ to compete
with foreign markets in our manufactured articles. My
lords, I trust that whenever that measure to which I
have adverted shall be brought forward its this house,
your lordships will avoid any thing that may tend to show
the people that we entertain apprehensions on tke sub-
ject. My lords, the population of *this country will na-
turally look to your lordships for example; and, there-
fore,when the discussion is brought forward, it should be
our endeavour to encourage the people rather than dis-
hearten--to persuade them to cherish the expectation of
their distresses being removed, rather thananduce them
to suppose that they are—which assuredly they are not
permanent. But whenever that measure, whatever it
may be, shall be brought forward, I trust that we shall
see nothing advanced which may cause to the public cre-
ditor any hazard of the public credit; or injure the cha-
raster which this nation had supported in more difficult