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    Beside this , he appealed to Ministers publicly to abandon Protection , and consolidate the great progressive Conservative party . ; - ; y « What was this corn-lawy which ^ qntlemen opposite wanted to brin * back—what tvtis it , after all , but a system nf outdoor relief to the country gentlemen ? ( hear , hear , ' and lAuwhter)—different , indeed ,. froin a Poor-law rate in this material respect , that whereas the Pp&r-law rate was a tax imposed on property for tho sustontation of poverty , the corn ^ tax was an impost levied on poverty f 6 r tho ao-oTandizement of property . " ( Hear , hear . ) DO ¦ ' ... t » » . < rh j % m t -m have two articles of faith

    ' Uli * . Mooeb seemed to — hatred of the Whigs , and a sneaking kindness for Protection . He made the House roar with laughter by the pert arrogance with which he proclaimed to the world at large that " the Irish people had unanimously , irrevocably , and inexorably decided that Lord John Russell , at all events , should never again he at the head of the Treasury bench . " The debate languished very fast in the hands of Sir John TyRELX > who thus maladroitly alluded to Disraeli ' s first appearance in the

    House" Hon . gentlemen opposite pretended to misunderstand what had taken place in the other House ; but , as his right hon . friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had once said , ' thereshall come a time when you shall hear me' so he ( Sir J . Tyrell ) "would :, venture to say that there should come a tune when they should understand his right hon . friend—if they would only continue to listen hter

    to him . " ( Great laug . ) Mr . NeWdegate did not revive the dying interest Of the discussion by saying- that the opinions of his friends had not abated one jot—not one jot- —on the question of Protection , and that all the Protection Societies believed in Lord Derby ; and tho debate died in the hands of Sir Robert Ixgms , who seemed hurt at the interruptions of the Opposition . IONIAN ISLANDS . Mr . Hume made a rambling speech on Monday respecting the conduct of Sir Henry Ward , in the Ionian Islands . He alleged all kinds of irregularities and tyrannical proceedings against the Lord High Commissioner , and compared his rule to that of Louis Napoleon . Sir , John-PakiNWWN defended Sir Henry WafcL on the ground that the conduct of the Ionian people justified what had beeii done . They were evidently unfit for liberty , and the punishment inflicted on the ringleaders was justified by the abominable acts they had committed . Mr . I . Peel concurred , with some reservation in favour of constitutional government . Mr . Hume , who had made a motion for a commission of inquiry , withdrew it . THE KAFliB > VAR . . .. . The discussion on the Ionian Islands closed with the speech of Mr . Frederick Peel , and the House went into Committee of Supply . A vote of 460 , 0002 . was proposed towards defraying the expense of the Kafir war . Sir William Molesworth takirig up this text , preached a long homily upon the disastrous state of tho Capo Colony , the immense , increase in our expenditure there , and the pernicious character of our policy . The first paragraph of his discourse contains a geographical and statistical picture of South Africa , which will interest our readers .

    " Ho wished to call tho attention of tho committee to tho groat and increasing amount of that expenditure , as shown b y returns which had been lately presented to Parliament . That expenditure hod gon . j on steadily and rapidly increasing for the last twenty years . On tho average of the three years ending 1850 , it had amounted to half-a-mjllipn a year , or to , about throe times the avorago of tho three years ending 1830 , or to about &l . a head a year lor oyory European colonist in South Africa , or to about 20 s . m tho pound upon our exports to South Africa . Thoso ex ports rose and foil pretty much as our military expenditure increased or docroasod , and wero greatest immediately ftltor a Kaliv war . Tho reason was simple . Our oxports

    jo houth Africfv consisted chiefly of merchandise for our troops , with some muskets and ammunition for tho Kafirs , ana during or immediately after ft Kaiir Avar tlun-o Avaa abund ance of British gold in South Africa , andcommorco "ouriahod . Thoroforo , if wo could withdraw our troops fom bouth Africa , and as a compensation for no doing woro to lnuko tho colonists a pveaont of all our merchandis e which thoy aotually consumed , wo should make a most txcoiion t bargain . Tho groat iueroaao in our South African military Oxpondituro had nriann r-liinflv lVr . m txvn wmsns : ii

    amoly , from tho groat inoroiwo in tho oxtont of our South ^ incau do minioriB , and from tho abolition of tho old and tnoap HVBtom of flolf . protoction by tho colonists . In tho w > JUpho of tlio last tQU yoars tho Bvituh Empire in South « ' «» liiulbfloninoro than" doubled . In 1640 it oovovod iiii v ' 1 O ' 91 "quaro milos ; in tho course of tho noxt it ' w yoiU ' . 12 () , 0 Q 0 square rniUw had l > oon added . to it , and •«» h ovlmidud to nearly tho-87 dog . of equth lutitudo . Sm . n AVy ° ' ° drawn in about that lutitudo' right across won 1 M nc , ' rom Ul ° Indfon U > tho Atlantic Ocean , it al n nhont 1 ' tX ) 0 " > ilos . long , and would constiLulo SniiH H ^? M »« ni boundary » f tho British dominions in j :. ' . . ™ - Tho territory lyin / r to tho south of that tcSi ? ,-, call « cl Kvitish South Africa , because nino-Wiih fi ° 1 woro BritfoU dominions , tho romaining tonth vrliirt . t 0 l ' rito ' T inhabited by oar Kafir enomios , and bv « -jkT i > t fluwoundod on nil nidon , but tho eoasido , y ^ utj 8 h dominions . Tho area of British South Africa

    was 260 , 000 square miles , about the same as that of the Austrian empire . Its population amounted to about 700 , 000 persons ; of these ono-seyenth , or about 100 , 000 , were of European origin , the greater , portion of whom w ^ ere discontented ; about 150 , 000 were Hottentots and mongrel races , generally disaffected ; about 350 , 000 were Kafirs and kindred tribes , most of whom were our avowed enemies ; - and the remaining 100 , 000 werp Toolahs , in If atal , of doubtful allegiance . In the midst of this discontented ^ traitorous , or hostile population , we had about 10 , 000 British troops , who alone and unaided were , according to Sir Harry Smith , carrying-on a war over an area of twice the size of the United Kingdom , with tribes as fierce as the Circassians or the Algerines . ( Hear . )

    He entei-ed at length into a history of our policy at the Cape , to show how we had extended our territory without necessity , and how all past wars , as well as the present , had been caused by our vexatious mode of dealing with the Kafirs . He condemned the civil policy of Sir H . Smith , and declined to form any opinion of his military system . Sir William had given the tone to the debate , and it continued to flow on in an easy current , unruffled by any painty breezes . Mr . Gladstone impressed on the

    House that the present vote did not represent anything like the total expense of the war . The figures of that expense were frightful and incredible , but that was not the worst part of the evil . The losses brought on by our frontier policy were fabulous . We had " gone a hunting" to the ends of the earths- " not to found colonies or to extend them with a greater effect than might have been done under a different system , but to deprive them of the opportunity of learning the lessons of freedom , of self-reliance , and of independence , which can alone train them to social union , and ensure their

    permanent connexion with this country . 1 he lives and treasure were squandered for no conceivable purpose of policy , arid the government in South Africa , permanently , costs more per head than the Government of Great Britain or Ireland . Then whom were we defending at this frightful cost ? Five thousand five hundred was the entire population of ' Albert and Victoria in the district of Kaflraria . " If you were to buy up these 5 , 500 souls , men , women , and children , ten times over- ^ if you were to transport them all in carriages and four from the provinces which they inhabit to districts where they would be in a condition of security , the expenditure would not amount to onefourth of that which you are now expending on a Kafir war . "

    Excepting to the instructions given to General Cathcart , and especially to that special clause in which he was ordered "to consider fully the question of our frontier policy , and to make a report on that question , Which is to be submitted to the Government , and to the British Parliament , " he declared that he was perfectly convinced all the debates on the different kinds of colonial policy were in the main " idle , futile , and mischievous debates ; " for they " all proceeded upon the false assumption that the regulation of the relations between the European settlers and tho barbai'ous natives of South Africa were matters to be settled by a gentleman sitting in Downing-strcet , " The North American colonists were an instance of how they could best govern and defend themselves .

    " Sir , " he continued , " if I am right m my opinions , it is to the colonists themselves that wo must look for the change in the frontier relations of the colony . Wo must not only look to them for tho determination of thoir frontier policy , but wo must leave tho colonists to dotcrmino what that frontier is to bo . It will not do to send gontlomon from this country to disport thomsolvos in tho wilds of Kuffraria by adding once a week or once a fortnight some space of country as large , or two or three times as largo as

    Groat Britain to tlio British dominions of tho Capo . VV hatover is dono thoro must bo done under tlio responsibility of tho popular constitution you are about to accord to tho colony , itchy upon it if you will give tho boon of local liberty without stint , and luiving regard , of course , to imperial unity ; if you will give tho colony this boon of local liberty without stint and without limitation , you will find no disposition on thoir part to grudge tho sacrifico and offorta which will l > o necessary for tho nolf-defoiico of tho colony . "

    By such measures tho bonds of attachment connecting England and tho colonies would be strengthened , and its growth and development secured . LordioirNltTTBSiSLTi carped at Mr . Gladntonc ' Hspeech , and mildly taunted him with not having nolvod the question . Ho denied tlmt tlio cnso of tho North Americans wan a ci » 80 in point , defended tho ruinouH course purfjued by IiIh late ' colleagnoH , and absolved Sir If , Smith of u ' ll military kuih . Hut John Paion ( JT () N di . sconrwod fluently about what had boon said by preceding

    apeakors , und roeonnnondod tho Houho to wait for tho next innil . Mr . IIokuuok harangued upon tho maxim that it i . s tho fato of tlio black to disappear before tho white race , und instated on supporting tlio colonists Mr . AiXDKnx / tiY hud confidence in tho present Colonial Secretary . Tho romaimlor of tho dobuto foil into tho hand * of Colonel Tlioinpnon , Mr . l \ Veal , Mr . Henry Drumniond , and Mr . Hiudloy , and the vote was agreed to .

    When the House of Commons met on Tuesday , the Speaker had scarcely taken his seat , when Mr . Forbes Mackenzie moved that the House at its rising do adjourn until the 19 th inst . This was instantly put and carried . The unseemly hurry and unusual time chosen for making the motion caused gi * eat dissatisfhctipB . Other business was performed of a trifling character . Mr , G . - . Thompson moved "for leave to bring- in a hill for establishing a Ballast-heaver ' s office . The Speaker intimated that as the proposed measure affected the laws of trade , the House must first go into

    committee . The motion was altered accordingly , and complied with . The Chancellor of the Excheqttek encouraged the scheme , but Mr . Henxey and Mr . Gladstone , while admitting that the condition of the ballast-heavers needed some such act . as-that establishing the eoal-whipper's office , which had worked we ' ll , seemed jealous of further legislation of that kind . It is probable that the bill will be allowed a second reading , and then be referred to a select committee . Finally , the House was counted out , at half-past seven , while in committee on the Suitors in Chancery Bill . HOUSE OF LORDS . The Earl of Ellenborottgii , in moving for papers on Monday in explanation of the grounds upon which the war with Ava had been undertaken , observed , that it might have been expected that the requisitions from the King of Ava would have provoked hostilities , and yefc the Indian Government did not appear to have made any preparations for such a contingency . In that country , as in this , people seemed to cling to the belief that they could have as much or as little war as they pleased . In explanation of the error of this- belief , and to show the magnitude and difficulty of the position in which we stood , it was necessary to recapitulate some of thfi circumstances connected with the last war

    with Burmah . In the operations of that war we employed no less than 40 , 000 men—a larger force than the French sent to Algiers in 1830—a larger force than Bonaparte took to Egypt . There were 33 ^ 000 native troops , and 7000 Europeans . Of these latter the 13 th and" 38 th Regiments left Calcutta in April , 1824 , 1300 strong-, and in January , 182 G , they had not 500 men fit for active service . Many other corps suffered in proportion . A large force landed at Rangoon , and was surrounded by a superior force of Burmese , and detained for nine months ,. during the whole of -which period they were compelled to subsist on salt provisions .

    Notwithstanding the largo numbers of troops sent , the general commanding was never able to have more than 5500 men under arms ; and at the conclusion of the war there were not more than 4000 fighting men under his command . It was true that we possessed some advantages now which wo did not then possess , but the deadly climate remained the same . By means of steamers we could convey troops and munitions of war with greater speed than before ; but as soon sis the array left the banks of the river , that advantage was gone . And some circumstances of the present time were decidedly more disadvantageous than in tho

    former war . On that occasion Rangoon was taken by surprise , and capitulated without loss to our troops . Hut how had tho present war commenced ? Wo had twice come into collision with the enemy , and twice our ships were forcod . to retire from tho contest . That retirement , however judicious on the part of the officer in command , must have been a great encouragement to tho Burmese . Tho town of Rangoon , wliich wo occupied before , was now destroyed , and a new town built beyond tho reach of our steamers , strongly fortified , and armed with a hundred guns . . Another unfortunate circumstance was , thiit the 3 ' unjaiub

    could not bo considered in a settled state , and that , therefore , there woro not throe regiments tlmt could safely be withdrawn from Bengal . During the lust war no lens than 28 , 000 men had been furnifihed from tho Madras army , chiolly owing to tho groat ability and personal influence of Sir Thomas Munro . But tho Hepoy . s of tho Madras army hud noensomuchdiHtrossintho families of tho native regiments which had boensont to China , that ho believed that tho MadraH regiments would . show great disinclination to proceed on foreign HCrvico to Iiunnah . But notwithstanding all thin , ho would RHMiuuN and ho did not doubt it , that wo should bo

    siuietwHUil . What would bo tho consequence P Tho Jviu ^ ' of Ava would prohu , hly fight to tho hint , und HiiwuHH would hu dourly bought . Tho Govornor-GoncM'iil of India would thoiv bo placed undor tlio iiiiliuima ) of groat pressure ? from all sides iis to his policy . Tho press of Calcutta , uudor Llio dictation of tho niorcantilo community , would call for annexation , in order that enterprising speculators might got access to tho groat teak forests of Uurmah , and bo ,. « blo to find now Holds for trade by an overland communication with China . Ho hoped that the press of India , would bo treated with tho disregard it dosorvod . Monoy

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    ^^ ?^ - ^ fe ' - . ^ - ' ^ 0-- ' ' ¦ ¦ - ¦ ' :-. T % ® & $ A # " * E"St . 335

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 10, 1852, page 335, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1930/page/3/