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    ^© rons- to ^ he- community . — Sir Astdrev ? AGNEW'seooncted the Address ^ Mr . © Israeli delivered a speech of great length , in ¦ tfjhich he severely criticised the policy of Government . The condition of the great Powers at the close of the Russian war ^ heargued , was such as to warrant a reasonable hope of peace ; yet we were pursued by wars and rumours of wuts . Russia and the TJnited States , he was convinced , were sincerely desirous of peace ; and the people of this country were disposed to be on good terms with tfreir neighbours . But every part of the Royal Speech indicated want of trust in foreign Powers . This disastrous state of things was attributable to Lord Clarendon . The seeds of the Italian difficulty were

    sown by him in the Paris Treaty of Peace . We interfered ¦ with the independence of Italy , to the neglect of our own internal affairs ; we negotiated with Count Cavour ; yet all this while a secret treaty was in « xistence , guaranteeing to Austria her whole possessions in Italy . [¦ Lord : Palmerstobt : " By -whom was the guarantee given ? " 3 The guarantee was given by Prance , with the concurrence of the English Government . The King of Naples had set the remonstrances of England at naught . Austria is at rest under her guarantee , and regards the movements of England with indifference . As regards the Peace treaty with Russia , why had the difficulty about Bolgrad occurred at all ? It was owing to a blunder on the part of the English Minister , -which implied a lamentable ignorance of geography . It was altogether unfair to twit Russia with , duplicity . Our

    Government said that Russia had no claim to Bolgrad ; but she had been bribed by a large compensation to give it up . Then came the Swiss difficulty , whicli had been settled by the Federation taking the advice of France rather than of England . Furthermore , there were the Persian and Chinese quarrels , which had been precipitated by the meddlesome policy of the Government , and were in fact the consequences of instructions from home , sent out some time ago . The question of t"he incometax should be at once entered into ; and , if it were left to himself , he would suggest that it be brought forward On Monday fortnight . The course he would then take would be to move two resolutions—one , that it is not right that taxes imposed for the purposes of war should be continued in . time of peace ; the other , that the plan of Mr . Gladstone , brought forward in 1853 , for the abolition of the tax in 1860 , should be insisted trpon .

    Tie Chancellor of the Exchequer declined to enter into the questions of foreign policy raised by Mr . Disraeli , and very briefly remarked on the financial part of hi 9 speech . The expenses of war , he reminded the House , do not immediately cease with war itself . He was anxious to make his official statement as soon as possible . Mr . Gladstone spoke to the same effect as Mr . Disraeli , and observed that he thought the silence of the Government was disrespectful to the House . The attack on Canton was an outrage to humanity . By whose authority was it that war was declared against Persia ? and were the English people to be saddled -with the expense ? A large rechiction of the estimates was both necessary and practicable ; and he ( Mr . Gladstone ) felt himself bound to maintain the settlement of 1853 , under which the income-tax would cease in 18 G 0 .

    Lord John Rcssbel . expressed satisfaction -with several parts of the Ministerial policy , trafc feared that the expedition to Bushire might lead to serious eonsequenceB . The opinion of Parliament should have been taken before commencing hostilities . The state of Italy had been made worse , instead of letter , by the course pursued by Government ; and he therefore could not approve of Lord Palmerston ' s policy in that respect . — -Mr . Mitjneb Gibson condemned the pugnacious tendencies of the Government , and said he saw that finance

    would prove the rock ahead on which Lord Palmerston ' s Ministry would split . —After some observations by Tffr . Hadfield and Mr . Ykrtsox Smith , regarding the cultivation of cotton in British India , and af ter Lord Paxmerston had consented , at the request of Sir John Pakington , to introduce some -words into the Address , qualifying the expression of approval of our proceedings against the Chinese , the Address was unanimously agreed to , and the House adjourned at half-past twelve o ' clock . Wednesday , February 4 th . INDIA . In the House of Commons , on the report upon the Address , 5 Ir . Hadfield complained of the omissions in the Royal Speech , particularly in Tespect to the colonies , dwelling upon what he termed the degradation of the people of India . —Admiral Walcott commended the caution , celerity , and efficienc y displayed by the Government of Bombay in preparing the expedition to the Persian Gulf , and by the officers in command of the forces . —Sir J . Pitzgeraud made some observations upon the cotton cultivation of India ,- and upon the deficiency of transport . —Mr . Vernon Smith explained the difficulties which beset all questions concerning land in India .

    After some observations by Mr . Kisnatkd , the report was agreed * to , and the Address was ordered to be presented to the Queen in . the usual manner . The House adjourned at half-past-one o ' clock . The House of Lordb did not meet . •»„ ¦ ¦ - ¦ Thursday , February 5 th . THE PERSIAN AND CHINESE WARS . In the House of Lords , Earl Spencer , Lord Steward of the Household , brought up her Majesty ' s answer to the Address . A discussion then ensued with respect to the production of papers relating to the Persian and Chinese ware , in the course of which Lord Clarendon declared that the documents relating to our quarrel with Persia would be laid before the House in a few days . His Lordship also intimated his intention of producing certain papers connected -with our diplomatic intercourse with China .

    latea , he had never been , imprisoned ffcr any offence whatever . From . Christmas , 1855 , to August , last , he worked for the same master , receiving his wages weekly , and considering his engagement as one from week to week . In the latter month , a dispute occurred between him and his master , in the course of which bis master tola him that be was at liberty to go . On the following flay , therefore , he engaged Mmself to another employer , Whereupon his roaster took out a summons against him on tie charge of having unlawfully quitted his situation . The summons was disposed of by the Reverend Mr . Hemming , a magistrate , -who sentenced the petitioner to twenty-one davs' imprisonment with hard b

    labour , and it was only ~ y the kindness of the superior officers that he was not put iatc irons ou his way to gaol . On returning from prison , ivhere he had to work at the crank , he was taken unwell , and by his imprisonment he lost the advantage of the harvest month . On the 14 th of last December , the petitioner ' s son , who worked with the Rev . Mr . Hemming , went to town , and by accident lost the train by which he was to have returned . Upon his non-arrival , Mr . Hemming immediately obtained a warrant against the son from another magistrate . This so terrifi ed the young man that he fled , and , returning to London , has not since been heard of . Under these circumstances , the petitioner submitted to the House that such transactions tended to * weakeu

    confidence between employers and employed ( cheers ) , and prayed the House that means might be taken for doing away with the arbitrary power which is now possessed by a single magistrate . ( Z , oud cheers . ) THE CAPTIVES AT FORMOSA . la answer to Maj or Sibthorp , Sir Gorge Gret said that orders had been sent to Sir John Bowring to communicate with the Admiral ontlie Formosa station , in order that the most effectual means might be taken to ascertain whether there are any British subjects in captivity at Formosa , and , if there are any , to take steps to Telease them . ( Hem ; hear . ) THE LATE BARON -ALDERSON . Sir Geoege Grist , in answer to Mr . GxjAI&tone , stated that it was not the intention of the Government to keep open the -vacancy occasioned by the death of Baron Alderson .

    the Hudson ' s bay compaim :. Mr . Labouchere moved for the appointment of a select committee to consider the condition of the territories of the Hudson ' s Bay Company in North America . Considerations of higli importance , moral , humane , and mercantile , were involved in the inquiry . The trading license of the company expired in 1859 ; and he hod just received a letter from the directors asking if it was the intention of the Government to renew their license . Before pledging the Government to any course , he had resolved to submit the question in all its extent to the consideration of a select committee .

    the earl op Cardigan ' s character . The Earl of Cardigan drew attention to some attacks upon his character which had been made in a work on the Crimean war , written ( under the signature of " A Staff Officer" ) by Major the Hon . Somerset Calthorpe . These attacks , he said , were of the most unwarrantable , false , and malignant character ; and he bewailed the recent abrogation of " the laws of honour " : —an abrogation which had caused him some years ago to be placed at their Lordships ' . bar as a felon , with a chance of losing , not only his property , but his liberty , though he only did what the Duke of Wellington , Pitt , Fox , Lord

    Mr . Roebuck and Mr . Adderley both argued in favour of taking away the powers of the Company at once , and without any previous inquiry . Those powers had been used tyrannically , and had had the effect of preventing colonization in a very important part of North America . The Company , remarked Mr . Roebuck , had simply acted on the narrow policy of petty merchants ; but the whole of British America should be properly developed as a counterpoise to the lust of power exhibited by the United States . —Mr . Edward Ellioe said that the two previous speakers had shown great ignorance of the facts of the case ; and he supported inquiry as a means of removing erroneous impressions . —Mr .

    Londonderry , Canning , Sir Robert Peel , and other great and distinguished men , had done before him . He wished to ask the Secretary-for-War whether an officer who had disgraced himself by publishing false statements was to be permitted to remain on the staff of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . —Lord Panmuue , while admitting that Lord Cardigan had been wantonly attacked , said it was not the intention of the Commander-in-Ohief to bring Major Calthorpe to a court-martial . Having 1 received the thanks of Lord Raglan and of Parliament for his services in the Crimea , Lord Cardigan could aflbrd to despise the assaults of one in an inferior position .

    Gladstone was also in favour of inquiry . He had doubts as to the legality of this Company ' s titlo , and he was decidedly of opinion that it would bo highly imprudent to continue the monopoly . Still , ho hoped ample compensation would be ' given for the withdrawn ! of the exclusive privileges , supposing : that course to bo determined on . —Mi * . Uknlky was apprehensive , from the tone of Mr . Labouohorc ' s speecli , that the inquiry xra& intended merely to buck up n foregone conclusion of the Government . — Mr . Laino supported inquiry . —After some brief romurlcH by Mr . I £ ailliu : and Mr . Georgia Butt , witli respect to tho validity of thus chartora , and a reply by Mr . Lauouohkhk , disavowing any foregone conclusion upon the subject , tho motion waa agreed to .

    THIS NEW" li"ORE 8 T . The Earl of MALMEsntmT moved for certain returns connected with the proceedings of the Commissioners for disafforesting the New Forest , and complained of tho injustice which characterized those proceedings . — After considerable discussion , in which Lord Granvillk , the Loud Chancellor , and Lord GAMrmsrx took part , the returns were ordered . TICKETS OV LEA VIS . Lord Bkiineks moved for returns showing tho number of tickets of leave issued to convicts in each 3 'ear since Hie commencement of that 83 'stem , specifying their original sentence , their unexpired timo , the nnrobcr rcnppvehenrtod after release , the i'resh charge , and Lhe result of the investigation . —After a . short discussion , the return was oderort , with an amendment proposed by Lord Carnarvon , who suggested that , the number of convicts with tickets of leave rcupprclu'ndcd without having committed any fresh offence should bo cliaLinguitihed in the return . Their Lordships then adjourned . UK ; I ITS OK 1 . A 1 SOUUKUH .

    TIIK IONIAN STATES—NOnVOLK ISLAND . Mr . L-vnouciiKHic obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable tho subjectH of tho Ionian States to hold military and naval com missions under the Crown , thus removing the anomaly which now exists , lie also obtained leave to bring in a bill to alter tho existing provisions relating to the ecclesiastical government , of Norfolk Island , the object being to cor rue t an error which took pluco two years ago , when certain colonial arrangements were made . NOTICES OP MOTIONS . Mr . William Williamm moved that notices of motions on going into committee of supply on the esti mates Bbuill tuivo precedence only on nlUirnatc days . — Sir Gkouok Guiw opposed tli « motion , as tending to do awuy with u gre / it constitutional privilege . — Ultimately , tho motion was withdrawn . IMriUHONMKNT POU IWHT , &C . Mr . 1 fAnnrci . i ) , in tho absence of Mr . Arai . KV Pbl-T .. A . TT , obtained leave to bring in a bill to « min « l the law of imprisonment for debt , to extend the remedies of

    fll tllC IIOURK OK COMMON'S , Mr . lvOUNDKLL PALMKlt lii-osiiuted a petition from Charles At wood , ji labourer , Hi . xty years of age and upwards . Tho petitioner stated that he had lived in the hhido cottage more than thirty youra , and brought , up a family of eleven children , and that , up to tho period to which his petition especially

    rc-Lord Paxmerston repudiated any intention of disrespect to the House in not before speaking on behalf of the Government . Mr . Disraeli had exhibited great talents as a writer of fiction ; and the greater part of his speech was an entire romance The mistake in the Treaty of Peace with respect to the boundary line had not resulted from any geographical ignorance . The Russian plenipotentiary had asked that the line should go to the south of Bolgrad , and , from a map produced , the English Plenipotentiaries had been induced to accept the proposition . But the real Bolgrad and the Bolgiad on the map were found to be so widely different , that a line drawn to the south of the latter would interfere With the spirit of the treaty . The Russian Government

    attached great importance to IJolgrad as the headquarters of the Bulgarian colonies ; and . this being considered a just demand , Yalpuck was given in exchange . The papers detailing the differences would not bo laid on the table , but the final protocols would be produced . Mr . Disraeli had entirely misunderstood our course with regard to tho Swiss question . Tho English Government had consented to unite with the French in . making an arrangement with Prussia for the settlement of the Ncufchiitel difficulty . lie ( Lord Palmerston ) had heard of no such treaty with France for securing the Austrian possessions in Italy , us Mr ! Disraeli hud spoken of . That gentleinim had recently b in Pariswhere it well known

    een , was , that persons could bo found ready enough to play upon the credulity of over-confiding and imaginative people The cxi . sttsneo of tho secret treaty waa an entire romance . In answer to Mr . Gladstone , Lord Palmerst-on admitted that tho Persian war had been commenced on the authority of tho Government . As there wan u prospucL of a tie U lament , he should postpone- producing th « papers . The . hoHtilitieswith China had arisen out . Of a breach of the treaty of Nankin , which had btvn concluded by the Cjovurmnont of Sir Robert Peel . Matters of linanev . he thought it premature to discuss before thy production ot the estiiaatcfi . Mr . HicnkvBaiu . ik hiiviuy condemned the expedition to the Tei-ainu Gulf ,

    Untitled Article

    rPEBIr tJART 7 , 1867 . J Ti ± J 3 i JLi ± i A JJ JUr JBb . 1 ^ 3

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 7, 1857, page 123, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2179/page/3/