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HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY.
Parliament was opened by the Queen in person, with the
usual formalities. Her Majesty having arrived at the
House of Lords, and taken her seat on the throne, read
the following most gracious speech :
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
" It affords me great satisfaction again to meet you in
parliament, and to have the opportunity of profiting by
your assistance and advice.
" I entertain a confident hope that the general peace,
so necessary for the happiness and prosperity of all na-
tions, will continue uninterrupted.
" My friendly relations with the King of the French,
and the good understanding happily established between
my government and that of his Majesty, with the continued
assurances of the peaceful and amicable dispositions of all
Princes and States, confirm me in this expectation.
" I have directed that the treaty which I have concluded
with the Emperor of China shall be laid before you, and I
rejoice to think that it will, in its results, prove highly
advantageous to the trade of this country.
" Throughout the whole course of my negotiations with
the government of China, I have uniformly disclaimed the
wish for any exclusive advantages.
" it has been my desire that equal favour should be
shown to the industry and commercial enterprise of all
nations.
" The hostilities which took place during the past year
in Scinde have led to the annexation of a considerable
portion of that country to the British possessions in the
East.
" In all the military operations, and especially in the
battles of Meanee and Hyderabad, the constancy and va-
lour of the troops, native and European, anti the skill
and gallantry of their distinguished commander, have
been most conspicuous.
" I have directed that additional information explana-
tory of the transactions in Scinde shall be forthwith com-
municated to you.
" Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
" The estimates for the ensuing year will be immediately
laid before you.
"They have been prepared with a strict regard to eco-
nomy, and at the same time with a due consideration of
those exigencies of the public service which are connected
with the maintenance of our maritime strength, and the
multiplied demands on the naval and military establish-
ments from the various parts of a widely extended
empire.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
" I congratulate you on the improved condition of se-
veral important branches of the trade and manufactures of
the country.
" I trust that the increased demand for labour has re-
lieved in a corresponding degree many classes of my faith-
ful subjects from sufferings and privations, which at former
periods I have had occasion to deplore.
" For several successive years the annual produce of
the revenue fell short of the public expenditure. I con-
fidently trust, that in the present year the public income
will be amply sufficient to defray the charges upon it.
" I feel assured that in considering all matters connected
with the financial concerns of the country, you will bear in
mind the evil consequences of accumulating debt during
the time of peace, and that you will firmly resolve to up-
hold the public credit, the maintenance of which concerns
equally the permanent interests and the honour and repu-
tation of a great country.
" In the course of the present year the opportunity will
occur of giving notice to the Bank of England on the
subject of the revision of its charter.
" It may be advisable that, during this session of par-
liament, and previous to the arrival of the period assigned
for the giving of such notice, the state of the law with
regard to the privileges of the Bank of England, and to
other banking establishments, should be brought under
your consideration.

" At the close of the last session of parliament, I de-
clared to you my firm determination to maintain inviolate
the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland.
" I expressed, at the same time, my earnest desire to
co-operate with parliament in the adoption of all such
measures as might tend to improve the social condition of
Ireland, and to develope the natural resources of that part
of the United Kingdom.
" I am resolved to act in strict conformity with this
declaration.

" I forbear from observations on events in Ireland, in
respect to which proceedings are pending before the proper
legal tribunal.
" My attention has been directed to the state of the law
and practice with regard to the occupation of land in
Ireland.
" I have deemed it advisable to institute extensive local
into a subject of so much importance, and have appointed
a commission with ample authority to conduct the requisite
investigation.
" I recommend to your early consideration the enact-
ments at present in force in Ireland concerning the regis-
tration of voters for members of parliament.
" You will probably find that a revision of the law of
registration, taken in conjunction with other causes at
present in operation, would produce a material diminution
of the number of county voters, and that it may be ad-
visable on th.t acconnt to consider the state of the law
with a view to the extension of the county franchise in
Ireland.

" I commit to your deliberate consideration the various
important questions of public policy which will necessarily
come under your review, with full confidence in your
loyalty and wisdom, and with an earnest prayer to Al-
mighty God to direct and favour your efforts to promote
the welfare of all classes of my people."

The address in reply to the speech from the throne'
was moved by the Earl of Eldon, who observed that he
occupied a more favourable position than had fallen to
the lot of his predecessors on similar occasions, for they
could do little more than express hopes of better times,
while he had to touch on matters which were almost en-
tirely subjects of congratulation. In reference to Ire-
land, which, though the last topic referred to in her
Majesty's Speech, must almost of necessity be the one
uppermost in their lordship's thoughts, he was delighted
to find that her Majesty was resolved to persevere in ex-
tending strict justice to that country, and he hoped, what-
ever way the pending trials might terminate, should it be
found necessary to arm the executive with additional
powers in order to preserve the peace of the country, that
Parliament would not hesitaie to give them. Amongst
other topics touched upon by the noble earl, he alluded
to the omission from the speech of all notice of the corn
law, from which he inferred and believed that the protec-
tion which they now received would be long extended to
the agriculturist. He also referred to the melancholy
death of Colonel Fawcett who had fallen by the hand of
another officer in the service of her Majesty, who had,
however, been since obliged to quit that service, and ex-
pressed an opinion that some measure ought to be, if
possible, adopted to secure the country from the loss of
valuable servants, to which it was constantly liable.
Lord HILL, in seconding the address, expressed a hope
that her Majesty's Government would be supported by
Irish proprietors in sifting to the bottom the real state of
that country, with a view to measures for the ameliora-
tion of the condition of the people, and for giving stability
to its Protestant institutions.

The Marquis of NORMANBY said he should feel it his
duty, as soon as the state trials should terminate, to sub-
mit for their lordships' consideration a general motion
upon the state of Ireland. If the promise contained in
the speech from the throne, respecting a registration bill,
should be fulfilled in a fair and equitable spirit, it should
have his full and hearty support ; but with respect to the
landlord and tenant commission he must express the
greatest fears, being decidedly of opinion that government
should, upon its own responsibility, have brought i❑ spe-
cific measures to remedy specific evils, instead of ap-
pointing a commission unrestricted in the nature of its
inquiries, and which could only operate as a convenient
reason for the government in resisting any measures pro-
posed by others for the benefit of Ireland while declining
any attempt at legislation themselves.
Lord BROUGHAM said it gave him great satisfaction to
have lived to see the day when an address could be agreed
to in reply to the speech from the throne, in which, with-
out any violation of truth, there was nothing but congra-
tulation from beginning to end. He thought it was wise
to abstain from discussing the affairs of Ireland while the
trials were pending, for in such a debate they would be
necessarily hampered and restrained by a sense of justice
both to the crown and to the traversers, whom they were
bound to believe innocent until found guilty. If, how-
ever, it should be found necessary to arm the government
with new powers in order to suppress disturbance, he had
no doubt but that parliament would do its first and most
sacred duty, and give any supplementary powers that
might be wanting. The only question would be as to the
necessity; and though willing to give the power, if requi-
site, he would rather arm the government with the power
and the disposition to better the condition of the people
of Ireland—to gain them over rather by paternal mea-
sures than by a display of force, and thus to rescue them
from being the dupes of impostors and deceivers. In re-
ference to the commission of inquiry respecting the state
of land tenure in Ireland, the noble and learned lord al-
luded to the observation of the late Mr. Drummond, that
" property had its duties as well as its rights," and while
admitting its truth, said it was not to be forgotten that
though the rights were of perfect the duties were of im-
perfect obligation ; and however one might regret that a
rich man would not perform his duties towards the poor,
yet it could not be remedied without trenching upon the
inviolable rights of property, which, if once sanctioned,
would totally unhinge society. The noble lord next ad-
verted to our relations with France, warmly eulogising
M. Guizot, as warmly condemning the French opposition,
and that portion of the French press which was endeavour-
ing to fan into a dame the slumbering embers of antipathy
to this country. As regarded America, he condemned
the repudiators who were by their conduct casting discredit
upon popular or republican governments, and related an
anecdote showing that since the repudiation of her debts
by Philadelphia and other states of the union, Americans
in France were ashamed of their country.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that if the Speech
contained nothing but topics of congratulation, it was be-
cause the most important topics were not at all referred
to. He was convinced from the speech that government
had no measure in contemplation for the benefit of Ire-
land during the present session, and he regarded the
commission for inquiring into the state of Ireland as the
most pitiful clap-trap imaginable, for the purpose of de-
lay ; while it had the mischievous effect of disturbing men's
minds in districts which had hitherto been perfectly peace-
able.

Lord CAMPBELL said that when the state trials should
have terminated, he would have much to say respecting
the manner in which they were instituted, and the man-
ner also in which they were conducted. He complained of
the ornissions in the speech, and that no promise was
made of the law reforms which had been under discus.

Lora LYNDH TTILST said it was nis intension to introduce
an Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, and also a Small Debts
Bill. lie would add that those were not the only measures
of reform which he would introduce to their lordships'
consideration.
After some desultory conversation, the address was
agreed to, and their lordships soon after adjourned.

HOUSE OF CO'sVINIONS.—rHURSDAY.

Lord CLIVE moved the address in answer to the royal
speech. The noble lord passed in review the various topics
on which her Majesty had dwelt. He congratulated the
house on the determination expressed to use every exer-
tion to improve the condition of the people of Ireland,
and felt assured that the house would approve of his ab-
staining, under existing circumstances, from a more direct
allusion to the events that had recently occurred in that
conntry.
Mr. CARDWELL in seconding the address, followed the
noble lord over the chief topics of the royal speech, dwel-
ling particularly on the improved condition of the people
in the manufacturing districts. He felt assured that our
manufacturers had nothing to fear from competition ; on
the contrary, they had never been more pro-perous than
when stimulated by competition. (This declaration was
followed by loud cheers from the opposition.) Mr. Card-
well added that the manufacturers, grateful to Providence
for returning prosperity, felt a confident better that the
point they had already reached was but a preparatory step
to a more extensive sphere of activity. On sitting down
the hon. gentleman was warmly cheered by both sides of
the house.
Mr. HUME, after complimenting the noble mover and
the hon. seconder of the stddiess on the able and most
unobjectionable manner in which they had both spoken,
complained of being obliged to come to a hasty vote in
answer to a Speech of which members wet e not yet even
possessed of a copy. He was prepared to go even farther
than the Address in congratulating the house on tae re-
newed friendly relations with France. He had prepared
an amendment on the subject of Scinde, but as that ques-
tion was so soon to come before the house he should not
now press it. What he complained of most in the Royal
Speech was the absence of any announcement from which
the country might gather the intentions of the government
with respect to the corn laws. If the present system of
governing Ireland was persevered in, he believed he should
himself end by b coming a repealer. The hon. gentleman
concluded by moving amendments, expressing a regret
that the attention of parliament had not immediately been
directed to the state of the corn-laws, and expressing a
conviction that, with a view to the relief of the people,
large reductions ought to be made in the civil and mili-
tary establishments of the country.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD wished to move an amendment
pledging the house to inquire into the just grievances of
the people before the supplies were voted. One of these
grievances was the inadequate representation of the people
in that house, whence arose class legislation, and many
attendant evils.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he never could give his sanction
to any proceedings by which a minority might attempt to
force certain measures upon the majority by a succession
of obstructive proceedings. With respect to Ireland, he
wished to secure himself against being supposed to ap-
prove of the conduct of government in that country. He
had already given notice of a motion on the subject of
Ireland. On the day fixed for that motion, the trials now
going on in Dublin would probably have been brought to
a close. If not, be should postpone the motion till after
the conclusion of those trials. With respect to China,
he could not now but rejoice that the English government
had not submitted to the ignominy of suffering English-
men to be imprisoned with impunity. He rejoiced at the
friendly terms existing between this country and France.
They (the Whigs) had sometimes been reproached with
attaching too much importance to a French alliance.
France was for a time diverted by some Egyptian idol
from her ancient policy of supporting the integrity of
Turkey; but he rejoiced to find France had returned to
that policy. He had heard with much pleasure the state-
ments of the hon. seconder respecting the improved con-
dition of the manufacturing classes, and he believed him-
self there was no doubt that some solid improvement had
taken place, owing to the reduced price of bread. This
improvement was quite independent of the corn-laws.
On this subject the noble lord said, that in making a
change great caution ought to be observed, and he thought
that those who expressed a much stronger distrust of the
right hon. baronet (Sir R. Peel) than he (Lord J. Rus-
sell) had ever felt, were acting very unreasonably in now
expecting the right hon. baronet to come forward with a
distinct declaration on the subject. He (Lord J. Rus-
sell) should give his cordial support to the Address, and
should vote without hesitation against the proposed
amendment.
Sir R. PEEL, after passing some handsome compliments
to Lord Clive and Mr. Cardwell, for the ability they had
shown that evening, deprecated strongly any attempt on
the part of a small minority to obstruct the business of
the house by repeated motions for adjournment. That
power ought to remain with the minority, but those would
assume a very serious responsibility who attempted to re-
sort to it on a trivial occasion. He thought it advisable
that the address should be drawn up in such general terms
as might make a division unnecessary. A contrary prac••
tiee might give a very unfair advantage to a minister who,
relying on a strong majority, might feel disposed to extort
an important pledge from the House of Commons. On
the subject of France, he believed the house was unani-
mously of opinion that the greatest value ought to be at-
tached to a good understanding with that country, not
merely so for the sake of the two countries themselves,
but it was for the interest of humanity and civilisation
that that good understanding should exist in the most
perfect form. A cordial good feeling between the two
countries however could be maintained only so long as
neither were called on to make any unfair concession. If
there was to be an English party and a French party in
every country, England and France would become a curse
to the world. Passing to the subject of the corn-laws,
the right hon. baronet intimated that her Majesty's go-
vernment had no intention to propose any alteration in
the existing law. Had such an intention existed, it cer-
tainly would have been announced in the speech from the
throne. The total abolition of the corn-laws, he felt sa-
tisfied, would lead to much suffering and distress in the
country; and if a fixed duty were laid on foreign corn, for
purposes of revenue, it would be found very difficult to
resist the call that would be made for a similar duty on
home-grown corn. The pressure under which a large
portion of the labouring classes were lately suffering had,
he rejoiced to say, been converted into comparative
prosperity, and the revenue had been so far improved
that, where a deficit very recently existed, there was now
a surplus.

Lord PALMERSTON denied that a fixed duty on foreign
corn must be followed by a similar duty on corn grown at
home. Such a principle had never been applied to any
other article of trade. He rejoiced as much as any man
could, at the existence of a cordial good understanding be-
tween this country and France, and it was certainly not
the fault of the government of which he had been a mem-
ber, if any interruption had taken place i❑ that good feel-
ing. If on the eastern question they had differed with
France, they had done so in common with the other great
powers of Europe. The good understanding that existed
between the two countries from 1830 to 1836 had led to
satisfactory results in the Netherlands, in Portugal, and
in Spain, and to the conclusion of a treaty by which the
mutual right of search was conceded. The result of the

present good understanding had been most unsatisfactory
in Spain. and should the right of search be abandoned, the
slave trade would immediately revive under the French
flag. The Message of the President of the United States
on the subject of the Oregon territory awakened serious

apprehensions on his mini, lest undue concessions might
again be made. Rumours had prevailed of an intention
on the part of the goverament to propose large alterations
in our criminal code. If such intention existed, it ought
to have been announced in the Speech from the Throne.
The Address he approved of as it stood, and he should
certainly vote against the proposed amendment.
Mr. ROEBUCK expressed surprise that the present state
of Ireland should be possed over in complete silence, when
such imminent danger existed of a dissolution of unity of
the empire. Such a course of proceeding could not but
excite a strong feeeling in Ireland.
Lord HOWICK thought the very importance of the Irish
question made it desirable that it should not be discussed

on the first night of the session along with a number of
other topics. When the trials now pending were over he
trusted his noble friend would bring the question fully
before the house. The corn laws also were too important
to be discussed incidentally. A fixed duty would be a

compromise between extreme opinions, and perhaps the
time for a compromise was not yet gone by. If, however,
the right hon. baronet resisted all compromise, the only
question that remained would be whether the existing law
should continue, or whether foreign corn should be entirely
free; and if that was to be the only alternative, then he
had no hesitation in declaring himself in favour of free

importation. In the sentiments with respect to foreign
policy to which the right hon. baronet had given expres-
sion, he (Lord Howick) cordially concurred.
Mr. WysE, after what had occurred, would not allow
the debate to close without declaring his dissatisfaction
and indignation at the situation in which Ireland had been
placed ; and he considered it the duty of the house, at the
earliest opportunity, to take this question into considera-
tion.

Mr. M. GIBSON considered the amendment of Mr. S.
Crawford well deserving of support. He thought the
right hon. baronet had done right in making no declaration
pledging himself to the maintenance of the existing corn
law, for the significant speech of the right hon. baronet
could only be understood as an intimation that he was not
at present prepared with any bill on the subject. He (Mr.
Gibson) defied any minister to rise and declare in the name
of the Cabinet a determination to maintain the existing
law.

Sir R. PEEL thought it hardly neeessary to protest
against the interpretation put upon his words.
Mr. PLUMPTRE believed that the declaration of the
right hon. baronet would give great satisfaction to the
country.
Mr. BROTRERTON protested against any attempt to stop
the business of the house by vexatious divisions, but in
voting against the amendment he hoped he should not be
understood to vote against an inquiry into the grievances
of the people. He distinctly understood the right hon.
baronet to have declared himself this evening in favour of
the existing law, and it was better that this intention
should at once be declared, than that the delusion should
be kept up that it was likely government would do any-
thing.
__

Acr. VILLIERS thought the debate had elicited from the
right hon. baronet au acknowledgment that he could not,
in his present situation, abandon the corn law. The fact
was, the government was not the government of the
crown or the people, but of the landed aristocracy, and the
government did not dare to act otherwise than as that
landed aristocracy permitted, The hon. gentleman read
long extracts from an article in the Foreign and Colonial
Quarterly Review, and commented upon the article at
considerable length, intimating his belief that the article
spoke the sentiments of the Right lion. the President of

Mr. GLA DSTONE assured the house that he bad never
read even a line of the article referred to.

Sir J. liArlmEtt. earnestly hoped the right hon. baronet
would follow up the policy of treating our colonies as in-
tegral parts of the empire.
Mr. SCARLET spoke strongly in condemnation of the
proceedings of the Anti-Corn-Law League.
Mr. HUME was then understood to withdraw one of
his amendments, and the other was thrown out by 235
against 49.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

Some conversation was elicited, by a question put to
Lord Stanley respectiag the administration of Sir Charles
Metcalfe in Canada. The noble lord announced that Sir
C. Metcalfe, in what he had done in that colony, had the
entire concurrence of her Majesty's government.
Ma. WALLACE, pursuant to notice, moved that the
order of the house, by which discussion on the presenta-
tion of petitions is prohibited, be rescinded.
Dr. Bow RING seconded the motion.
Sir R PEEL pointed out some of the inconveniences
attendant on the ancient practice of discussing petitions
on presentation, and instanced the fact that 25,000 peti-
tions had last session been presented, as a proof that the
people at large had not been discouraged by the present
practice from addressing tbeir petitions to the house. It
could not be said that the petitions piesented last session,
on the subject of education, had been without their effect.
The present practice did not l reclude members from raising
debates on petitions; but it was required of them, when
they entertained such an intention, to give a regular notice ;
and such a discussion had infiniteiy more weight than a
mere incidental debate, for which the house was wholly
unprepared. The present practice had been adopted and
repeatedly confirmed by large majorities of the house,
and he hoped that the house would not now be prevailed
on by the arguments of the hon. members opposite to re-
scind the order.
Mr. BROTH ERTON said that petitions were dealt with
couch more fairly now than at a time when only one or
two petitions c old sometimes be presented on the same
evening, the time of the house being occupied by a few
hon. gentlemen, who got up debates regardless of the con-
venience of the house.
Mr. WARD, though be had formerly been in favour of
discussing petitions on presentation, was now convinced
that he had been in error.
Mr. FIELDEN supported the motion. If the hon. mem-
ber for Greenock went out alone in the division, he (Mr.
F.) would go out with him. (A laugh.)
Mr. WALLACE found his motion would be attended
with some technical inconvenience, and he would, there-
fore, beg leave to withdraw it.
Mr. WILMA MS expressed regret that orders should be
retained which were habitually violated, and which the
house had not even the power of enforcing. There was no
law, for instance, to prevent papers from interfering with
elections, and if they did so interfere, the house had not
the power of proceeding against the offender.
A somewhat desultory conversation followed, the result
of uhich was that the sessional orders were agreed to, no
amendment having been moved.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD objected to the paragraph referring
to the Repeal of the Union. He bad never joined the
Repeal Association, but he would not pledge himself
against supporting such a measure as repeal at a future
time; and he thought that all to whom the rights of Ire-
land were dear ought to be extremely cautious of giving
such a pledge. He should move the omission of all those
words that referred to the Repeal of the Union.
Sir R. PEEL expressed surprise at this objection, after
the general satisfaction expressed on the preceding evening
with the manner in which the speech from the throne had
been framed. He certainly could not accede to the pro-
posed omission.
Mr. BnEwurr highly approved of the amendment. It
would be just as reasonable to call on the house to pledge
itself against ever repealing the corn laws, as to demand a
pledge such as was now demanded. The conduct of
England towards Ireland had often made him blush to
think be was an Englishman. (A laugh.)
Mr. ROEBUCK rose to put a question to the right hon.
baronet opposite respecting the conduct of the gentleman
now conducting the state trials in Ireland. A gross breach
of law and decorum had been committed by the Attorney
General for Ireland, and he (Mr. Roebuck) hoped that
public officer would not escape the indictment to which he
had rendered himself liable. Mr. Roebuck drew a com-
parison between the public conduct of the Irish and the
English Attorney Generals, and while he looked with pride
to the manner in which the latter had conducted state
prosecutions, he could not but cordernn in the strongest
terms the " desecration of justice" of which the Irish At-
torney General had been guilty.
Sir R. PEEL deeply regretted that the hon. gentleman
had been induced to make these observations, but nothing
should induce him (Sir R. Peel) to depart from the rule
he had laid down for himself of abstaining for the present
from all remarks on the trials now going on in Ireland. He
must say, however, that the remarks which had been made
were much more severe than the case at all called for. It
was impossible for the house to judge of the nature of the
irritation which led the Attorney General into a moment-
ary forgetfulness. Her Majesty's government had cer-
tainly no intention of taking such notice of the occurrence
as might lead to the dismissal of the Attorney General.
Mr. W 1 SE supported the motion for the omission of the
words objected to. The hon. gentleman admitted that the
attacks on the Attorney General had been such as must
have severely tried that gentleman's patience.
Lord ELIOT spoke warmly in defence of the character
of the Attorney General for Ireland, though the momentary
indiscretion into which he had allowed himself to be be-
trayed on the occasion alluded to was certainly not to be

Capt. BERNAL looked upon the AttOrniy `de—neitTl'id
conduct throughout the whole of these trials as calculated
to show his utter unfitness for the office he held; and that
was the opinion of the friends as well as foes of that gen-
tleman.

Lord STANLEY had listened with pain to the able but
needlessly bitter speech of the hon. member for Bath. No
one attempted to vindicate the infirmity which the Attor-
ney-General bad shown, but he (Lord Stanley) confessed
that he had often himself felt the greatest difficulty in
governing his temper when remarks were made in that
house of a much more moderate character than those to
which the Attorney. General had been subjected. A
systematic attack had been carried on throughout these

trials with a view to provoke that gentleman into some
indiscretion ; and though that might not vindicate a pub-
lic officer, whom the Government could not hold to be
entirely blameless, yet he (Lord Stanley) hoped the [louse
of Commons would not, upon the information now before
it, sanction the severe censure to which expression had
been given. . _ _

Serleant MURPHY attacked the general conduct of the
Irish Atorney-General, and maintained that for the act
to which more direct allusion had been made, that public
officer ought to be ignominiously dismissed. He would
appeal to the English Attorney-General on the subject,
whose conduct in the prosecntion of state trials presented
so strong a contrast to what had lately occurred in Ire-
land.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM reminded the house that her Ma-
jesty had forborne all comment upon the state trials now
going on, and he had believed that a general feeling pre-
vailed in the house that a similar forbearance ought to be
shown there. In a very short time all these matters
might be freely discussed, when the hon. and learned
gentleman would have an opportunity of meeting in person
any attack that might be directed against him. Under
great provocation, the Attorney-General for a moment
departed from that prudent conduct which he had pre-
scribed to himself; but it was not for a popular assembly
to take upon itself to pronounce on the conduct of a pub-
lic officer in his absence, when the court of justice where
the occurrence had taken place had already declared itself
on the subject. He (Sir J. Graham) would certainly
never consent to be a party to that ignominious dismissal
which had that evening been called for.
Mr. WARD was glad that no attempt was made to
excuse the indiscretion of which the Attorney General had
been guilty, and which that gentleman would probably ac-
knowledge himself if he were now in the house; but that
would not remove the impression which had been pro-
duced, that a public officer had been guilty of conduct
that proved his unfitness for the charge he held.
Mr. SHAW could not have believed that so ungenerous,
unjust, and unjustifiable an attack could have been made
by one gentleman, or one lawyer, on another. Was the
hon. gentleman (Mr. Roebuck) the man of all others the
most qualified to censure the Attorney General for Ire-
land for the occurrence referred to ? The Attorney Ge-
neral was an honour to his profession • and considering
the trying position in which he was placed, he had acquit-
ted himself most creditably in the discharge of a very dif-
ficult duty.

Dr. STOCK, in answer to an appeal from Mr. Shaw,
said that the Attorney General throughout a very trying
course, up to the unfortunate occurrence which could not
hnt be regretted, had acquitted himself in a most exem-
plary manner, though it must be admitted that the selec-
tion of Mr. Smith for the office he held had been a most
unfortunate one.

Mr. BROTHERTON said that he should be glad to see
the house come to some resolution in condemnation of
duelling. At the same time he thought many of the re-
marks that bad been made that evening ought to have
been reserved till the Attorney-General was present.
Sir H. BARRON made a violent attack on the Irish
Attorney-General, for the whole course of his proceed-
ings in these state trials, and dwelt particularly on the
exclusion of every Roman Catholic from the trial, as an
insult to all the Catholics of Ireland. If that gentleman
was retained in his present office, Ireland never could
be governed in peace.
After some observations from Dr. BOWRING, in sup.
port of Mr. S. Crawford's motion, the house divided,
and the amendment was rejected by a majority of 142
against 35.

-On our return, after the division, we found Mr. FRENCH
complaining of the appointment of Englishmen to the
most important offices in Ireland.
Sir 11. PEEL with some warmth vindicated the appoint-
ment of Lord Devon as one of the commissioners for in-
quiring into the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland.
The noble lord was appointed as an excellent Irish land-
lord, and as one, at the same time, well acquainted with
English law on the subject.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD passed a high eulogium upon the
commission, for the appointment of which the highest
credit was due to her Majesty's government.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, after a few brief remarks, moved
the amendment, of which he had given notice, in the last
paragraph of the Address.
Sir R. PEEL said, there was nothing in the Address to
pledge any gentleman on the subject
of the registration of
voters in Ireland, and therefore he hoped the honourable
gentleman would see there was no necessity for pressing
his amendment. The government were about to bring in
a bill on the subject of the franchise in the counties in
Ireland, and it would be much better to postpone ail dis.-
cui•sion till that bill was before the house.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE consented to withdraw his amend-