The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-08-21 00:00:00

CANADA INDEMNITY BILL

Mr. SANFORD said he should wish to give the bill his entire
opposition ; and as there was not to be a envision, he was
anxious to state his opinion. He thought they ought not to
declare the ordinanCes If there hail been a division,
be should have certainly voted against the bill.

Lord EBRINGTON did not feel justified in dissenting from
the bill, •although he regretted that the question had been
brought forward. It would add to the etnharassments of Lord
Durham, if a division were- to take place, and exhibit a
difference of opinion.
Admiral CODRINGTON was- sorry
_that Igo one had moved
the rejection of the bill; and if any honlimember would do
so, he would second the motion.
Lord J. RUSSELL, begged his hon. friend (Mr. Sanford)
not to press any division. Under all circumstances, he
thought it would be most advisable to pass the bill, particu-
larly as the Attorney-General said there was one part of the
ordinance which could not be justified by law. He lamented
that the bill had been introduced; but, having come down to
the house, he thought the best course would be to pass it.
Mr. AGLIONBY deprecated the bill, and also the hurried
manner in which it had been paced.
Sir. G. GREY thought it was clear that, in the opinion of
the house of commons, at least, the noble Earl (Durham).
was entirely free from blame or criminality.
After some observations from Mr. Easthope, Mr. Grote,
and Colonel Sibthorp,
m'' moved that the bill be read a tuna
day three

Mr. HCTTON then addressed the hcuse ; and after some
further discussion, the bill was read a third time and passed.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY

The galleries and doors of the body of the house were
opened for the admission of strangers at twelve o'clock, im-
mediately after which the Lord Chancellor, in his state robes,
took his seat on the woolsack. The only other peers present
were Lord Lyndhurst and the Earl of Shaftesbury. Prayers
were then said by the Bishop of Hereford.
At one o'clock, the side ani end galleries were completely
filled with ladies ' • and most of the seats reserved tor the
peeresses in the body of the house were occupied.
The Lour) CHANCELLOR presented the fourth report of the
poor-law commissioners of England and Wales.—Laid on
the table.

At half-past one, the foreign ambassadors began to arrive
in quick succession, and took their places in the railed-off
space behind the episcopal bench. Among them we observed
Prince Esterhazy, whose extremely rich and costly uniform
attracted much attention; the Austrian, Prussian, Hanove-
rian, Russian, Turkish, and Dutch ambassadors, with their
attaches. The Duke of Norfolk, earl marshal, the Duke of
Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge, Viscount Melbourne, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Glenelg, and the other minis-
ters, in their robes of state, arrived shortly afterwards; and
at this moment the appearance of the house was extremely
brilliant and animated. Almost every seat was occupied-,
and the rich and varied dresses of the ladies glittering with
brilliants, pearls, and other precious gems, the magnificent
state robes of the peers and great officers of state, and the
unif.rms of the foreign ambassadors, formed a very striking
and brilliant coup
At a quarter before two, the Princess Augusta and the
Princess Hohenlohe entered, and took their seats on the
woolsack, immediately fronting the throne.
It was the subject of general observation, that the old de-
corations of the throne remain as they have been for several
parliaments, and the letters "G. R." are still displayed in
tarnished gold at the back of the throne after the lapse of two
reigns. _ _ _

At half-past two, the firing of guns and flourish of trum-
pets announced the arrival of her Majesty, who shortly after-
wards entered the house, preceded by the heralds and great
officers of state, and attended by the 'Duchess of Sutherland,
mistress of the robes, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, and
the other ladies of the royal household.

The queen wore her c^own, a splendid robe of white satin,
richly trimmed with gold lace, the crimson velvet state man-
tle, with a broad band of gold lace around the hem, and
decorated with gold cord and tassels. Her Majesty's neck-
lace, stomacher, and ear-ring, were composed of large bril-
liants of the purest water. Her Majesty looked extremely
well, and conversed for some time with the Duke of Sussex,
who stood upon her left hand, and Viscount Melbourne, who
carried the sword of state, on her Majesty's right hand.
Having requested the peers to be seated, her Majesty di-
rected Sir Augustus Clifford, the usher of the black rod, to
summon the House of Commons; and shortly afterwards,
the Speaker, in his robes of state, attended by the ser,,"eant-
at-arms arid a large body of members, appeared at the bar.

The SPEAKER immediately proceeded to address her ma-
jesty as follows:
Most Gracious Majesty,
We, your faithful Commons, approach your majesty at the
close of a laborious and unusually protracted session of par-
liament. The serious disturbance which unhappily broke
out in the province of Lower Canada demanded our imme-
diate attention. It was our first care to place at the disposal
of your majesty, such means as we deemed to be indispensa-
ble for the restoration of order, and the maintenance of fu-
ture tranquillity. In considering, as it Was our ditty to do,
the causes which had led to these deplorable events, we found
that the discord which had so lw.urperi
ferent branches of the government and legislature had ren-
dered it impossible to conduct public affairs with that effici-
ency and harmony which were essential to the prosperity and
safety of that province. Under-this conviction, we telt that it
was necessary to interpose, by adopting a vigorous and deci-
sive measure; and we have passed an act, suspending, for a
limited time, the constitution of Lower Canada, and have
given large and extensive means to be exercised under the
control of your majesty, and on the responsibility of your
ministers. We are conscious that such a measure can only
be defended by the deepest conviction of its necessity; and
we anxiously look for cur justification in the early re-estab-
lishment of the 'free institutions of that important colony,
with such amendments as may best secure the happiness of
its people, as well as cement its union with the mother coun-
try. Among the subjects rendered to our consideration in
your majesty's gracious speech on the opening of the parlia-
ment, there was none that presented neater difficulties, or,
which demanded more care and circumspection, than the
provision to be made for the destitute in Ireland. We felt
that no measure for the introduction of a poor-law into a
country circumstanced as Ireland is, with respect to the num-
ber and condition of its population, could be proposed with-
out incurring heavy responsibility; but, looking at the exam-
ple of what had been done on this subject, by former parlia-
ments, with respect to England, we thought that the time
was come when we might legislate for Ireland with safety,
and with a reasonable hope of success. We have firmly ad-
hered to these principles, which have been sanctioned by
general concurrence and by experience; but we have not
carried them further than was necessary to give them a fair
chance of success, and to meet the pressing.exigency of the
case. If the execution of thieigaost important law shall be
watched over and guided by thefaine prudent and impartial
spirit which governed our deliberations in its enactment, we
confidently hope that the benefits which it is calculated to
confer wilt he gradually developed, that it will be found to
be just towards all who are effected by its provisions, and that
it will eventually be the means of greatly improving the
comforts and the habits of the people of Ireland. We have
passed an act for abolishing compositions for tithes in Ire-
land, and have substituted rent charges, payable by those
who have a perpetual interest in the land. The exaction of
tithe from those who were either unable, or who refused to
pay, has been a fruitful source of strife, alike injurious to the
public peace and the real interests of the church. We have
given the strongest proof of our desire to extinguish those
evils, and to procure present repose and tranquility by mak-
ing a liberal and munificent grant to idemnify, in certain
cases, those to whom arrears of composition for tithes are
due. We have mitigated the severity of the law, and the
sufferings of the unfortunate, by abolishing in certain cases
imprisonment for debt; and we have endeavoured to increase
the usefulness of the church, by abolishing the holding of
benefices in plurality, and by making better provision for the
residence of the clergy. In passing these measures, we have
again recorded our, conviction, that the surest way to main-
tain respect for our laws, and attachment to our institutions,
is by gradually introducing such amendments as are most
likely to recommend them to the improving opinions and in-
creasing knowledge of the educated classes of the community.
We have made provision with liberality, but without impro-
vidence, for the necessary expenditure of the year, as also
for those additional expenses arising from the events in Ca-
nada. I have now, on the part of the commons, to present
• our last bill of supply, to which, with all humility, we pray
your majesty's royal assent.
The royal assent was then given to a number of bills. '4e
Lord Chancellor, on his knee, then presented the speech to
her Majesty, who read it in her banal clear and impressive
manner.

"MY LORDS AND GRNTLEMEN,
" The state of Public Business enables me to close this
protracted and laborious Session.
" I have to lament that the civil.war in Spain forms an
exception to the general tranquillity. I continue to receive
from all Foreign Powers the strongest assurances of their
desire to maintain with me the most amicable relations.
" The disturbances and insurrections which had, unfortu-
nately, broken out in Upper and Lower Canada, have been
promptly suppressed ; and I entertain a confident hope that
firm and judicious measures will empower you to restore a
Constitutional form of Government. which unhappy events
have compelled you for a time to suspend.
"I rejoice at the progress which has been made in my Co-
lonial possession towards the entire Abolition of Negro Ap-
prenticeship.
"I have observed with much satisfaction The attention
which you have bestowed upon the amendment of the Domes-
tic Institutions of the Country. I trust that the mitigation of
the law of Impri:ionment for Debt will prove at once favor-
able to the liberty of my Subjects, and safe for commercial
credit; and that the Established Church will derive increased
strength and efficiency from the restriction of the granting
of Benefices in Plurality.

" I have felt great pleasure in giving my assent to the Bill
for the Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland. I cherish
the expectation that its provisions base been so cautiously
framed, and will be so prudently executed, that whilst they
contribute to relieve distress, they will tend to preserve order
and to encourage habits of industry and exertion. 7
"I trust likewise that the Act which you have passed re-
lating to the Composition for Tithe in Ireland, will increase
the security of that property, and m:onpre intern•!l
"IGENTI.EMF.N"Or THE }LOUSE OF COMMONS,

" I cannot sufficiently thank you for your dispatch and
liberality in providing for the expenses of my household and
the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the Crown. I
offer you my warmest acknowledgments for the addition
which you have made to the income of my beloved Mother.
" I thank you for the supplies which you have voted for
the ordinary Public Service, as well as for the readiness
with which you have provided means to meet the extraordi-
nary expenses rendered necessary by the state of my Cana-
dian possessions.
" My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
" The many useful measures which yo❑ have been able to
consider, while the settlement of the civil list and the state of
Canada demanded so much of your attention, are a satisfac-
tory proof of your zeal for the public good. You are so well
acquainted with the duties which now devolve upon you in

your respective counties, that it is unnecessary to remind
you of them. In the discharge of them you may securely re-
ly upon my firm support, and it only remains to express an
humble hope that Divine Providence may watch over us all,
and prosper our united' efforts for the welfare of our country."
The LORD CHANCELLOR announced, that the parliament
stood prorogued till Thursday the 11th of October next.
Immediately afterwards her Majesty and her attendants
quitted the house, all the Peers and Peeresses standing, and
returned to the palace in the same order as before.