The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-13
THE POLICY OF THE NEW BRITISH MINISTRY,
Speeches Of Earl Derby, the New Premier,
Earl Grey, Earl FitzwilIiam, Earl Of
Aberdeen, and Lord BrOugham.
Imperial Parliament.
HOUSE m IORnS


The expectation of some ministerial statement on
the part of the Earl of Derby, caused the lobbies
leading TO the various entrances in the House Of
Lords to be thronged at an early hour yesterday
evening" and it required all the energy and vocifera
ton OF the police on duty in that part of the new
palace to preserve free passage for the peers and
members. As the brazcn gates opened there was
rush of great vehemence, and every part of the
chamber to which male strangers have access was
Immediately and densely crowded. On entering, we
found large attendance of their lordships, and
there was q very considerable muster Of ladies in
the galleries appropriated for their accommodation.
were also rapidly occupied. Lord Redesdale occu-
pied the woolsack. Upon the ministerial benches we
observed the Earl Of Derby, the Earl Of Eglinton,
the Marquis Of Salisbury, and the Earl Of Malmes-
Lansdowne, Earl Grey, the Earl Of Mimic, the Earl
of Carlisle, the Marquis of Anglesey, Lord Truro,
the Earl of Aberdeen, and Lord Brougham.
MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION.
The Earl Of DERBY-My lords, in the position
which now have the honor to occupy, feel there
is imposed upon me the duty Of endeayoring, as
shortly and snccinctly MS can with as much frank
ness is due to the assembly have the honor to
address, and without any reserve, to explain, not
only the motives which have induced me to accept
the arduous task that have thought it to be my
duty to undertake. but ALSO far as can, to lay be-
fore your lordshps the outline Of tho course which,
having undertaken that responsibility, feel it
incumbent on me to take. But, my lords, before |
proceed to refer to the general plans which propose
to adopt, cannot deny myself the qualification, in
the presence ofthe noble marquis opposite, ofexpres
ing my regret that not being present in the house,
was unable to express, ut the last meeting Of Your
lordships, my grateful thanks TO my noble friend for
the kind and friendly terms in which he spoke Of
me. (Hear, hear.) My lords, to any man accept
ing the high Office have now the honor to fill, such
terms of commentator could not but be gratifying;
but they are peculiarly gratifying to me in public
and also in private capacity, as coming from one
whom, from early boyhood, was accustomed to
look upon with hereditary respect and regard
Clear hear)-for whom, as advancing years rolled
on, those feelings ripened into sincere personal
that neither on the noble marguis's port, nor on
NINE have the circumstances that have separated
political connection in the slightest degree tend
cd to warp our personal feelings. Clear, hear) !
cases. whereby it is proved that, amidst all the
fcs of parties in this great country entertain
ing opinions far more widely different than those
which separate the noble marquis and myself,
gard unembittered by party contention-that what
ever may be the views which sense of public duty
compel rs to entertain, there is nothing in this di-
versity Of opinion that can influence the personal
feelings Of English gentlemen (Cheers.) My lords,
trust may have misuu ]erstood, but am told that
the noble marquis iutimated the occasion to which
refer, his intention Of shortly retiring from the
active pursuits Of that political c, and from those
political duties, which for long period he has
discharged with such signal success. (Hear, hear.)
My lords, if differences Of opinion between me and
leau the alienation OF
feelings between u.s. it would be absolutely inpossi-
bic that such would be the with the noble marquis
who-l am sure am expressing the opinion Of every
individual at both sides of your lorships house-has
won the esteem-I might almost say the affection
(hear, hear)-of every one Of your lordships who
has witnessed the firm, incorporating, and digni-
fed. and yet perfectly friendly and
in which he has discharged his duties QHear, hear)
My lords, it may be-if the noble marquis in truth
intends to retire from public fe-an encouragement
for future statesmen to point to him an example
from which they may see how, after period Of
nearly fifty years spent in the public service,
statesmen can retire with the friondshipthe warm
ard cordial friendship-of his political associates
with the cordial and sincere respect and esteem of
his political opponcnts-and with a character IN
blemishcd by single stain his political virtues
| Ihecis) Ny lords, having thus relieved my mind
| from debt OF gratitude which feel dlc TO the
| noble marquis, must now proceed to the far
| ardent portion Of the task ! proposed to myself to
Should trouble your lorflships with any speculation
Of mine TO the causes that led; may have led
to the downfall Of the late admnist alton (Hear.)
Undoubtedly, ny ioras, there had been general
expectation that the resignation of her Majesty
! ministers rot far distant; but ], for one, so
little expected that such event would the
particular occasion when it took place, that, most
Of your lordshps aware, went 10 the country 10
spend three or four days. Clear, hcar.) will not
attempt TO speculate as to whether the particular
vote arrived ut that night led to that determination
on the Part Of the late government whether other
Teasols Hau icd FORM iN.t deter
mination which was only confirmed by that vote.
Clear. hcar.) My lords II was on Saturday | re-
ceiyed the surprising intelligence of the result
q the division in the House of Commons, and of
the resignation Of her Macsys ministers; and on
the evening Of hat day bad the honor to receive
her Majesty's commands TO wait upon her AT the pa
lace ut half past two o'clock the following day.
(Hear.) My lords, had then to consider not what
course 1t war my interest (hear, hear), but what
course 1t was my public duty to perform. (Hear,
hear) had to weigh deliberately and candidy all
the overwhelming difficulties Of the situation in
which was placed and all the awful respons bility
Of the task felt might be called upon to perform.
Clear. hear.) had TO weigh, on the other hand,
as II appeared TO me- q more awful responsibility,
II it could be imputed to that from
personal feeling, through an unwilling
sibility, had left, by my act, the Queen or the
country at the present time without an adniuistra-
ton, however imperfect that administration might
be- Clear, hear) My lords. saw little prospect
Of any other government being speedily formed.
CLEAR, hear.) | saw little prospcct-and trust the
noble lord opposite will forgive me for saying it
period by the resumption of Office by the late minis
try. (Hear, hear) felt, therefore, however un-
equal 10 the task, however great the dficL'cs that
might stand IN my way--dificulties from my own
positions difficulties from the position Of those who
shared my opinions aud were unable to command a
majority in tho other house Of Parliament
hcar)-dcliberatey weighing and not overrating
any Of those difficulties ] felt my frs; duty to
the country was, that this time the country
should dot be left without an administration
(hear, hear)-and not without deep conscious
ness of the great responsibility of the task and
Of my own inability adequately to perform the duty
was undertaking, at once and without hesitation
intimated to her Majesty, receiving her gracious
commands to that effect that resolved to attempt
the task Of forming an administration. Qcar
hearl Ny lords, by the concurrence of almost ali
! If those TO whom ] felt il ia the first instance nv
duty to apply, was enabled on the following
day to lay before her Majesty the outline OF 4
government, and in the course Of the four DAYS
that since elapsed have been enabled to submit to
her Majesty list (Which has bcen approved Of by her
Majesty Of those who will ill all the PRINCIPAL Offices.
Hlear) Ny lords. at the same time, tie govern
ment being thus constituted, feel it necessary that
should state TO your lordshps, frankly, and with
OFT me least reserve, the course of policy which thus
feel il an imperative duty in me to pursue QIear1
Ny lords, with regard to the foreign relations of this
country, am sure there is hardly any one Of your
lordsbps and few indeed in the country, who will