The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL DEBT

Mr. 'TERRIES wished to know if there would be any ob-
jection to his moving for certain returns relative to the
funded and unfunded debt ? and gave notice that he should
move for these returns on the motion for going into com-
mittee of supply.

HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.--THE ADDRESS

The speech from the throne having been read,
Lord BRADAZON, in moving the address, congratulated
the house on the birth of the Princess Royal, and how grate-
fully they should thank the Almighty Giver of all Good that
he had deigned to hearken and to answer the nation's prayers
to protect her Majesty through all the perils she had under-
gone, and to give to the country a direct heir to the throne,
who, he sincerely trusted, would have her mother's virtues,
and would preserve unimpaired the constitution of the coun-
try. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to the achievements in India
and China, he said it was pleasing to reflect that in all these
undertakings her Majesty's efforts had been either crowned
with success, or were upon the eve of being so. With re-
spect to the political state of the country, he had no hesita-
tion in asserting, that upon the success of the measures of
her Majesty's present government the interests of the coun-
try mainly depended. The course they had hitherto pur-
sued had been attended with the most beneficial results. It
was to be sincerely lamented, that, in the course of events,
France had thought it necessary to withdraw her assistance
from the other great powers, which bad confederated solely
for the purpose of maintaining the pesce of Europe and the
safety of the political relations. It was satisfactory to know,
and it was matter of self-congratulation to this country and
to her Majesty's ministers, that the righteous objects they
had inview, and which it was their determination to secure,
had been attained without the assistance of France, and even
in spite of her opposition. To the former minister of that
country another had succeeded, in whose abilities and mode-
ration Europe had reason to repose every confidence. They
might hope that France would. yet see her error, and would
enter again into friendly relations with this country, and re-
new her former intercourse with us. The immense resour-
ces, and the many dependencies of that great empire, Im-
posed a very serious responsibility on those who bad to con-
duct its government ; and it was to him matter of rejoicing
to find in the measures and principles of our colonial policy
that love of justice, and those principles of liberty, on which
a free country should ever act. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY, in seconding the address,
dwelt at some length on the glorious achievements of our
arms in India and China, from which he anticipated the best
results. The policy of his noble friend bad made this coun-
try the arbitrator of foreign nations, in spite of the attacks
of France and the cry at home. The government had done
their duty, and were it the last act of his noble friend, be
might fairly exclaim—
" To4norrow do thy worst, for I
Have lived to-day."
(Laughter.) .

Mr. GROTE then rose and censured the policy of govern-
ment in making war on a power which had never been un-
friendly, and which never had done any injury to this
country. He dwelt at much length on the foreign policy of
the country, in a tone of disapprobation towards the course
adopted by the government.
Mr. JAMES defended the conduct of the government.
Lord. J. RUSSELL entered at great length into the eastern
question, and defended the government from the charges
made against it by Mr. Grote. Most of the points touched
upon were the same as had been under discussion in the
House of Lords. In reply to an observation of Mr. Grote,
to the effect that the present ministry were finalists, and op-
posed to all reform, be said that such was not the case, for
they were friendly to reforms, particularly in matters more
immediately connected with trade and commerce, but they
did not conceive the institutions of the country to be grie-
iances because they were looked upon in that light by others,
and they were firmly resolved to malUtains he established
church, the hereditary peerage, and the hereditary monarchy
of this empire.

Mr. Mii,Nzs regretted that France had not been treated
with more deference by the British ministry.

Mr. Hume, afters speech of considerable length, moved
as an amendment to the address—
" To thank her Majesty for having called them together at
a period when the finances of the country, the condition of
our working classes, and our foreign relations in every quar-
ter of the globe alike required the most grave consideration;
to declare that, regarding war as the greatest calamity that
could betel a civilised people, and especially destructive of
commerce and manufactures, the house could not but view
with intense apprehension and regret, the interruption of
that peace which we had now for some years happily enjoyed ;
that they viewed with especial uneasiness the state of our re-
lations with France, as they considered a cordial alliance
with that power essential to the peace of Europe ; that they
regarded with distrust the convention with Russia, Prussia,
and Austria, under the pretext of preserving the integrity of
the Ottoman empire, which had been injured by Russia-more
than by any other power ; to state to her Majesty, that while
they fully recognised the power of the Crown to make war,
they considered it their right and their duty to inquire and
examine into the exercise of that power ; to beseech her Ma-
jesty to direct her ministers to lay before that house the
ground upon which they had advised the employment of her
Majesty's forces in Syria, with full information to enable the'
house to judge of the wisdom and policy of that course which
her Majesty informed the house had been attended with sig-
nal success ; to express their surprise at her Majesty's ad-
visers having recommended increased establishments, attended
as they must be, with increased taxation, and their regret
that her Majesty had not directed the attention of the house
as to the increase .of an expenditure beyond the revenue ;
and to the distress and discontent which prevailed to an
alarming degree amongst the labouring classes throughout
the kingdom, and the causes of it ; and the best means of re-
lieving her Majesty's faithful and loving subjects."
Sir R. PEEL would decline to agree to any thing like cen-
sure on the government on the ground of its foreign policy,
until all the documents should be laid on the table. He was,
however, of opinion that a proper degree of courtesy had not
been observed towards France, and, referred to the explana-
tions of M. Guizot in the French chamhers, in which he
stated that he was not aware of the execution of the treaty
by the other allied powers, exclusive of France. He was of
opinion that the intention to sign it should have been confi-
dentially communicated to M. Guizot, who was a warm friend
to England. The right hon. baronet strongly condemned
the omission of the name of France from the speech, and said
it would have been in no degree derogatory to England, and
would be very conciliating towards France, if there had been
in the speech an expression of regret for the disagreement
which had taken place between the two countries, and a hope
for a speedy return of the cordial understanding which
formerly existed between them. _ _ .

Lord PALmEasTorr said that no fair opportunity would be
lost in endeavouring to conciliate France, but he could not
allow that there had been any discourtesy towards that coun-
try—on the contrary, a great number of concessions had been
made to France, with a view to obtain her, co-operation, and
at length a final one:was sent, to which a positive refusal was
received, on the giound that to coerce, the Pacha France
could be no party. After that communication it would have
been vain, he contended, to have .again solicited the coalition
of France, when it was the decided intention to take coercive'
measures. All the documents however, connected with
these matters would be laid before parliament, when hon.
members would be better enabled to judge of the correctness
of the course pursued by her Majesty's government. He
would only add that if the same zeal had been displayed to
enlighten the people of France, upon the course pursued by
the British government, as had been displayed to mislead and
excite them, there would have been no danger of collision be-
tween the two countries. He regretted that this irritation
had been excited in France, but he hoped ere long to see the
two countries once more resume their former good under-
standing.
The amendment of Mr. HUME not being pressed, the ad-
dress was agreed to, and the house adjourned.