The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-28
Important European Intelligence.
Arrival ofthe Mail Steamer
G A ME RIA.

Z A M B II / A.
30 DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
The Royal Mail Steamship Cambria, ar
rived at Boston, Febl9 at - past o'clock,
from Liverpool via Halifax. She left the for
mer port on the afternoon of the 4th inst, at
Ia o'clock, and arrived at Halifax on the
18th, at 8 o'clock A. NJ, and left the same
day for Boston at l-2 past IL o'clock =. M.
aud has consequently made her passage IN "A
few hours over Ia days TO this port including
the detention at ii.
BY the Cambria are received files of Lou
don and Liverpool papers, the dates of the
former being to the evening of the Sd and the
latter to the morning of the 4th inst.
The news from England by this arrival is
of the deepest interest and importance, and
especially so to the commercial and agricul-
tural classes of the United Sites. 1t is i'm
portaut ipmany respects to every class, but
we can do no more at this time than direct
attention to the ministerial explanations in
both Houses-to remarks on the Oregon
question, aud TO the proposed Government
measures for the total abolition or relaxation
of protective duties on a large number of ar
ticles.
Parliament was opened on Thursday, Jan.
%, by her Majesty in person. The usual
ceremonies having been gone through, her
Majesty read Speech but it is so noncom-
initial little can be gathered from it.
In the opening ofthe House of Commons
Sir Robert Peel gave reasons for the break
ing up ofthe Cabinet. He said:
"The immediate cause of this resignation
was, he said, that great and mysterious ca
lamity which had befalen Europc-the fail
are Of the potato crop. He did not attach eX-
elusive importance TO that particular cause
Ihad gained, however, additional weight by
its forcing an immediate decision upon the
laws which governed the importation ofgraiu.
His own opinions on the subject of protection
had undergone great change-that change
had been forced upon him by the experience
of The last three years. He proved from sta
tistical returns, that the result upon trade of
removing protective duties had been a great
increase in the foreign exports of the country
and that the result upon the Revenue, though
a reduction had been made in the customs
and excise duties to the amount offive mil
lions and upwards, had been equally salts
factory. He conteuded that he was justified
in proceeding with the further removal of
protecting duties by these gratifying results.
He then referred TO the calamity that had Wis
! tied the kingdom, aud said that there was a
scarcity of food, and that it was the duty of
government TO provide n supply for the peo-
pie He then described the circumstances
that induced him in November last TO meet
the evil by a suspension of the duties in the
importation of foreign produce.
His colleagues differed from him as 10 the
extent of the measures TO be adopted. Sir
| Robert Peel, then went intou heightened
statement relative TO the resignation of the
Ministry, and their reinstatement in Office
He referred to the many Cabinet meetings
held between Oct. 3lst and Dec. 9th. He
stated at these meetings that he was then
ready TO call Parliament together, and advise
| Parliament that for limited period the re-
strctions on importations should he suspend
ed. Only three of his colleagues concurred
with him. On the 22d of November, Lord
John Russcll's letter appeared, which Sir
RobeH Peel said did materially affect his po-
sition. Finding it impossible to reconcile the
Cabinet, he felt it to be his duty TO tender his
resignation; that resignation was accepted 10y
| Her Majesty, who, of her own choice, imme-
diately sent for Lord John Russell, who, I'M
dertook the duty of forming an adminstra-
ton. On the Goth of December, Sir Robert
Peel said he went TO Windsor TO take final
farewell ofEIer Majesty; but before waiting
on the Queen, he was apprised that Lord
John Russell had failed to form n govern
ment. Her Majesty then informed Sir Rob
ert, that so far from taking farewell ofhim,she
was obliged to require him to continue in her
service. Sir Robert at once informed Her
| Majesty that he should return as her Minis
ter, and withdraw his resignation. He did
return, and met his colleagues, one ofwhom,
Lord Stanley, could not give his consent 10
opening the ports, and it was his painful du-
ty to accept his resignation. His other COL
leagues prmoised to assist him in the task he
| had undertaken.
The Plan of Sir Robert for free admission
of certain articles which England cannot well
do without in case of a famine, is tliis:-Indi-
an corn, potatoes, fresh and sailed meat, pork
bacon, vegetables, hay, animals, &c, are to
be admitted Immediately duty free-on butter
and cheese, candles and soap, and other arti-
cles the duties are to he reduced one hrIf
| from the present rates. With regard TO Corn
wheat, flour, &C. in lieu of the present
sliding scale, when the average price ofwheat
is ASS per quarter the duty is TO be los to
the quarter, the duty falling by one shilling
with every shilling of rise in price, till on
reaching SO shillngs, the duty is to be fixed
one of four shillings. This mitigated scale is
to continue in force three years, and to disap-
pear entirely OH the LIST ofFeb., lS49.
THE OREGON QUESTION. House of Com
mons, Jan. 23d, Lord John Russell begged
to ask the right hon. baronet whether, as was
stated by the President ofthe United States,
n proposition for a compromise respecting
the Oregon had been made to the British
minister at Washington, and whether negoti-
atoms were now going on upon the subject.
! Sir Robert Peel said, Mr. Pakenham had
taken upon himself to reject the compromise
of the American government without con-
ferring with the Government at home, which
he TSir r. PEEL regretted but proposition
had now been made by Great Britain, to sub
nit the matter to arbitration, and no answer
had yet been returned to that proposal.
The Premier, in reference TO the language
that had been made use of by the President