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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd January 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, TOL jLJQ.483- LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY ...

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    • 3 T0 THF IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
    • Jmaenai sarnamiffi&
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      3 T0 Thf Imperial Chartists.

      3 T 0 THF IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .

      . Jar Friends,—There Are Two Old Sayings...

      . Jar Friends , —There are two old sayings , the ^^^ W . 'tedrtheother , MVhen the steed 'I / Ino feel any disappointmeut at the Ministers ^ Selirered ly the Queen , as you expected C C trom it . The TOndemnation , howeve ^ h , ch J £ 3 we « . 1 * e passed upon themselves , by locke door . hen the steed was stolen « .. giuc . giuc serious consideration ^ tter ^ t ter worthy of your most serious ^^ t naturally pr esume that the « tate of Irethe of forei

      £ * nd of Scotland , and power gn : U C U to contribute towards the rehef of distress in i c «« earlv known to lhose who un * » tise ftcee countries , was ean » * w « ,. f Government , and are responsible tortocwook the tass 01 v , u „ . J v j- I ,, * -of governmental duties . We have » 5 > r tbir the discharge 01 j , »»^ eardUd of nothing Wirfy bnt the universal distress Icivailing in monarchies , and their reliance upon ajjEoSE REPUBLIC for the means of alleviahng the « la 3 *! 23 iity . It mig ht then be reasonably supposed , hit w 3 good start in the food market should have been L . Lpplicy , esp ecially of anation commanding solarge

      a . am 0 , ! nt of steam navigation . However , instead ¦ iv ^ fakinc , ime b . v * be forelock , all countries are now . i . -yafin one general scramble for the means of ^ ' ^ iwg gainst landlords' dispensation . And the ' m l' ! , ] V remarkable feature in this year ' s drama , as far « i « it has eone , is the powerful lesson that distress reads . , . jjj 0 narc ! is , and the astounding and amiable sur-^ ^ jr of a ll political differences , to enable different ? t sets of polttccan * to protect the remnant of their sot social position . No r is this curiosity confined to the House of

      d Coma "" ; it does not partake of the mere national cb character , it is embracing and cosmopolite in all its bi bearings . The rotten potato , which I recommended ' ' Punch " to crown , last year , with the motto , WHO IS MONARCH NOW ? 1 ias acted as a monarchical salve , healing the differe ewes of Kings , neutralising and nullifying the effect 0 of treaties , and establishing a new code of internat nonal law . based upon the convenience of royalty . 1 Hence , we find the violation of the treaty of 1 uecht , in the case of the Montpensier marriage \ with the Infanta of Spain , and the violation of the treaty of "Vienna , as regards the possession of Cratow by the Emperor of Austria , made subservient » the expediency of preserving a cordial

      understanding between men in arras to reconcile men in rags to poverty , starvation , and death . It would be almost premature to offer a conclusive op inion upon the sermon that is to be preached from the Queen ' s text ; hut , taking nature , past and present circumstances , as ray text-book , I think I msv lead you to an interpretation of coming events . Leaving Divine Providence wholly out of the question , then , I tell you , that , sooner or later , thin eaunt mei , dying of famine , pestilence , and hunger must have been the result of the usurpations of a bloated aristocracy—an over-paid staff of Jfiniste . rial menials—a well-fed standing army—a gorgtd

      church , over-paid officials , and pensioned paupers ; of the alsorption of the honey of the factory bee , bv the drone who owns the key ; of a useless police . only rendered necessary to reconcile men to their dezradation , of over-grown bankers , merchants , and traders , speculating upon the blood , the misfortunes , and the distresses of their country ; and , above all , that such must be the result so long as the rich oppressor monopolises all power over the poor oppressed . He who forewarns men of their inevitable fate , is denounced as an alarmist , while he who sees the monster coming , and would hide its approach till resistance is useless , is looked upon as an amiable

      philanthropist . I am TiOt an alarmist ; but I tell you , and through yon the aristocracy of this country , that the most perfect surrender of all political differences between the representatives of protected property will not , and cannot , possibly insure the continuance of things as they are , and the effect of the only measures which government can rely upon in its present emergency , will be to knock the stool from under enthroned and pompous faction . It is impossible

      that idleaess can longer live upon the parings from industry's board , and the inevitable effect of trying to patch the system up must lead to its more speedy destruction . Hence , funded property , landed property , church property , « id railway property , will all be thrown into a "ate of confusion ; while that of the mortgagees ; ° f the church , the army , the navy , tke Civil Lis * ^ over-paid functionaries , will stand on the ^ crease in proportion to its augmented Ta un consequent upon the depression ef all other

      Ascriptions ot property . Sow , r ay friends , mark me , and mark me well . —

      • THESE ARE THE TIMES TO TRY MEN'S SOULS . " In the flush of trade , or during the period of comparative dearth , when scarcity is reconciled by the diead of famine , the duty and responsibility of an agitator is simple and harmless , but when universal chaos stares us in the face , and when all who can read the signs of the times must prognosticate convulsion , then the duty and responsibility of an agitator becomes arduous and awful . I am vain enough to believe , that , although a convicted conspirator against a system which my persecutors are now

      preparing to level , that , nevertheless , the working basset of this country still possess as much confidence in my honest desire to serve them , if not in my ability , as ever they bestowed upon any livine Ma , and it becomes my imperative duty to warn you against artful and designing men , who would lead you from your mature opinions and calm resolve into useless and dangerous excitement . £ tell yon , that , if the Minister fails to reconcile his opponents to his measures , that he will try to make them palatable by the necessity of protecting them against fury and folly engendered bv his local

      parties . In plain and unmistakeable language , if opposition threatens defeat , the Whigs will endeavour to force you into revolution , to make their iile palatable to their opponents . I am now in the lath year of my English agitation , and I would implore you , I would beseech you , above all things to avoid all secret meetings , to abstain from any single violation of the peace or the law * , as out of your wisdom will spring your oppressors' ruin , while , upon your folly , he might repair the temple of abuse . Rely upon it , that we can make ourselves awe heeded , more dreaded , and more heard bv our !

      Hern enunciation of truths and principles , that we will not relinquish or abandon them by overzeal and laipnidence . You recollect how , from 1839 to 1841 , the « hi gs propped their tottering cabinet upon violence cr eated by their mercenaries , and never lose sight tf the fact , that we have never yet heard of the Newport man with a glazed hat , that was the medlar between the Chartists of Wales and Protheroe ^ d Phillips ; the man who conveyed the placards ' 5 Lancashire and Yorkshire , but who was un-Wn to all , and never has been heard of since . Xer er forget , that Fox Maule was compelled to admit , 13 'he House of Commons , that a part of the dutv of

      Ibe government surveyors , sent to Scotland to inspect ^ report upou thestate of th « harvest IN WINTER , ^ to follow Mr . Feargus O'Connor in his tour , and to ^ lfrt the state of his mind . Neverforget , that , when jf a charge of High Treason , Peddie declared •?" , ie w * s offered a free pardon and JE 500 a year , "* ouid put the rope round Feargus O'Connor ' s ?* > and , above and before all , never forget that , '! : ou gh in the midst of the whole bustle , and , / diking from the most dangerous post , that - ^ eminent was only able to convict me of ^ H'ni : the speeches of O'Brien and Dean Taylor . , r y ff ^ COme Rben y < u choose to sign the ' - ° n , and when the dying house is compelled to

      . Jar Friends,—There Are Two Old Sayings...

      discuss its merits . Another day will come when the General Election takes place , and when faction will be obliged to bid for favour . I assure you , my fr iends , that all the power at the disposal of government" cannot mitigate famine without paralysing the monetary system , the great upholder of tyranny and persecution . You are now so wedded , politically and socially , that I cannot conclude my letter without a bit of Land Chartism , and hear what I

      have to say . In that part of Worcestershire where Lowhands is situated , there are a great number of forty shilling freeholders , who , times gone by , took a slice of common land and built a nest upon it , the allotments varying from three-quarters of an acre to two acres , and I mention the following circumstance in confirmation of my oft repe ated opinion as to the value of the land in the retail market . An

      impression became very prevalent that I was anxious to purchase up those allotments—the very last thing , however , which I would be inclined to do—but the fact induced many to make the trial ; one man came to offer me an acre with a miserable lath and plaster cottage upon it , and when I asked him the price , he told me , Two Hundred and Seventy Pounds . I smiled , and asked him why he wished to sell , he answered , " that there was a mortgage of

      TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUNDS upon it , and that the mortgagee wanted his money . " Another man offered me two acres and a better cottage , but not half as good as yours , for Four Hundred and Sixty Pounds , and there was a mortgage of Three Hundred upon it , and many others demanded a similar price in proportion to the quantities , varying from one to three acres , and all of which were proportionately mortgaged . Now you must bear in mind that the Two Hundred and Thirtv Pounds raised upon the acre that I have

      mentioned , was , barring a miserable cottage , all clear gain , a savings bank to the cottager . I trust that this circumstance will convince you of the proud position of an occupant holding land under the company , at the wholesale price , and for ever , thus constituting his allotment his savings bank , and his pocket his banker . I have already opened a splendid road communicating between the two parallel hig h roads that bound the estate on either

      side , and when it was done , the wonder of all was that it had not been done before . We are now at full work , and upon Thursday week last I realised Two Hundred and Seventy-Two Pounds for the Company , and before long I hope to announce the purchase of three hundred acres of marrow , so that yon see , my friends , that I am determined to heat the Whistler and John Bright . Ever your faithful Friend and Bailiff , Feargus O'Conkor .

      '< Jo < Utility For Ireland, He Would Hi...

      ' < JO < Jm * Z / yjtt ifi &^ tf - > ofrs ^ i ^^ ^^^^^ - ^^ /&/ ^ fa & 3 s ^^*^***^&*^^ y ^ s ^^^/ i utility // A Q ^^ - ifi ^^" At . ,

      ^¦^^Hw Yrf~*^ Jm*Z And National Trades' ...

      ^¦^^ hW yrf ~*^ AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL .

      Tol Jljq.483- London, Saturday, January ...

      TOL jLJQ . 483- LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY 23 , 1847 . n , JayjgSglr ^ " ,

      Jmaenai Sarnamiffi&

      Jmaenai sarnamiffi &

      On Tuesday Parliament Was Opened By The ...

      On Tuesday Parliament was opened by the Queen in person with the usual costly and ridiculous formalities . The whole line of the procession was much more crowded than is usual on snch occasions . At a quarter past two o'clock the firing of cannon and the heralds * trumpets announced the arrival of the royal eortege at the Houses of Parliament . After a short sojourn in the Robing Room , the Queen and Prince Albert , accompanied by the officers of State and the Iloushold , entered in the usual form . Both her Majesty and her Royal Consort appeared in excellent health and spirits . She wore a magnificent tiara and stomacher of diamonds . ' . iHaving taken their seats on the Throne , and commanded the assembly to be seated , and the Commons having Irccu aurmuuned , the Lurd Chancellor presented her Majesty with the speech .

      Her Majesty then , in a clear and firm voice , read the following speech : — " ifu Lorda and Gentlemen , " It is with the deepest concern that , upon your again assembling , I have to call your attention to the dearth ot provisions which prevails in Ireland and in parts of Scotland . " In Ireland , especially , the loss of the usual food of the people has been the cause of severe sufferings , of disease , and of greatly increased mortality among the poorer classes . Outrages have become more frequent , chiefly directed against property ; and the transit of provisions has been rendered unsafe in some parts of the country .

      "With a view to mitigate these evils , very large numbers ot men have been employed , and have received wages , in pursuance of an Act passed in the last session of Parliament . Some deviations from that Act . which had been authorised by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland , in order to promote more useful employment , will , I trust , receive your sanction . Means have been taken to lessen the pressure of want in districts which are most 'emote from the ordinary sources of supply . Outrages have been repressed , as far as it was possible , by the military and police . " It is satisfactory to me to observe that in many of the most distressed districts the patience and resignation of the people have been most exemplary . "The deficiency of the harvest in France and Germany , and other parts of Europe , has added to the difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies of

      provisions . "It will be your duty to consider what further measures are required to alleviate the existing distress . 1 reeommend to you to take into your serious consideration , whether by increasing for a limited period the facilities for importing corn from foreign countries , and by the admission of sugar more freely into breweries and distilleries , the supply of food may be beneficially augmented . "I have likewise to direct your earnest consideration to the permanent condition of Ireland . You will perceive , in the ab-ence et political excitement ,

      an opportunity for taking a dispassionate survey of the social evils which afflict that part of the United Kingdom . Various measures will be laid before you , which , if adopted by | Farliament , may tend to raise the great mass of the people in comfort , to promote agriculture , jemi to lessen the pressure of that competition ifor the occupation of land which has been the fruitful source of crime and misery . " The marriage ; of the Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain to the Duke of Montpensier has given rise to a correspondence between my Government and those of France and Spain .

      * ' The extinction of the Free State of Cracow has appeared to me to be so manifest a violatios of the Treaty of Vienna , that I have commanded that a protest against that act should be delivered to the Courts of Vienna , Petersburgh , and Berlin , which were parties to it . Copies of these several papers will be laid before you . * I entertain confident hopes that the hostilities in the River Plate , which have so long interrupted cornmercatfjay soon be terminated ; and my efforts , in eonjun & jpn with those of the King of the French , will be earnestly directed to that end . "My relations generally with Foreign Powers inspire me with tke fullest confidence in the maintenance of peace . i '" Gentlemen of the / fotweo / Commons , '

      " I have directed the Estimates to be prepared with a view to provide for the efficiency of the public service , with a due regard to economy . " . ify Lordt and Gentlemen , " 1 have ordered every requisite preparation to be made for putting into operation the Act of the last session of Parliament , for the establishment of local courts for the recovery of Small Debts . It is my hope that the enforcement of civil rights in all parts of the country to which the Act relates may , by this measure , be materially facilitated . " I recommend to your attention measures which will l > e laid before you for improving the health of towns , an object , the importance of which jou will

      not tail to appreciate . " Deeply sensible of the blessings which , after a season of calamity , have been so often vouchsafed to this nation by a superintending Providence , 1 confide th « se important matters to your cate , in a full conviction that your discussions will be guided by sn impartial spirit ; and in the hope that the prescnt-sufftrings of my people may be lightened , and- that their future condition may be improved , bv your . 'deliberative wisdom . " \ -It was observable that the passages which referred to . Irish distress were delivered by Her Mujestyiii rather a su bdued tone , add with an accent of sympathy for the sufferings described ; but when Her Majesty came to the passage relating to the Spanish

      On Tuesday Parliament Was Opened By The ...

      marriage , and also that which refers to the subject of Cracow , her tone became perceptibly changed ; and , besides that she spoke more loudly and emphatically , there was a slight abruptness in the delivery . The aspect of the interior of the house during the ceremony was more brilliant even than usual , in consequence of the place being lit up . At all times tin scene is splendid and imposing , fwan . the gay array of brilliant uniforms , the beauty of the ladies , and the elegance of their costumes , and , above all , from the presence of so many illustrious persons distinguished for high rank or for talent , who are seldom or never assembled together , except on such an occasion . Her Majesty ' s dress , particularly the stomacher and tiara , blazed with diamonds , and the jewels of the Duchess of Sunderland also shone with conspicuous splen do * r . With the reading of the speech the ceremony of opening Parliament was concluded . Her Majesty

      and the Prince preceded , and attended as before , left the house on their return to Buckingham Palace . The Commons retired from the bar , and the Lords adjourned daring pleasure . At five o ' clock the house re-assembled- There were some changes in the position of the leading peers . The Ministers , of course , occupied their usual seats . Lord Melbourne was present , and occupied the seat he usually held among his colleagues when he was a Minister . On the Opposition bench there was a change . Lord Stanley occupied the usual place of the leader of Opposition . By his side was the Duke of Richmond , and the principal Protectionist peers were seated near . The Duke of Buckingham occupied a seat next to Lord Brougham , below the gangway , and the Earl of Winchilse & sat next to him . The Duke of Wellington arrived a few minutes after five o ' clock , and immediately took his seat on the cross-benches . The Earl of St . Germans and one or two other members of the former Government sat

      below the gangway . The Marquis of Lansdowsk moved the first read ing of the Select Vestries Regulation Bill .

      THE ADDRESS . The Lord Chancellor read her Majesty ' s speech , which was afterwards , according to custom , read by the clerk at the table . Lord Hathbrtos rose to move the address , and began by describing the pitiable condition of the people of Ireland owing to the failure of the potato crop , and the ill-success of the measures which had been resorted to for the purpose of alleviating that calamity . The Labour Rate Act of last session had been almost universally put in operation ; and , though in his opinion no blame was to be attributed to those who introduced it for its failure , yet it had signally failed . The question then arose whether Parliament should be convened , or whether the Government

      should invest the Lord Lieutenant with power to act at his discretion , according to the nature of the case . The latter course was adopted ; the useless works of the Labour Rate Act were abandoned , and the application of the public money extended to private and reproductive works . But even the exertion of this discretionary power had been found inadequate to the emergency of the case , and all were now eager for a better adaptation of the law . Other measures were therefore ne 3 e « sary ; what those measure should be it was not for him to dictate , when there were so many in that house better fitted than he to decide . He only declared his own sentiments , and wished to involve no one else in any responsibility which might attach to them ; but he called on the people of England to

      make the ease of Ireland their own , and to consider the difference between England—rich in her lauded proprietary , in her vastmonied interest , in her manufacturers and merchants , and in her admirable parochial organization—and Ireland , where rich proprietors were exceptions , where absenteeism abounded , and where there was no organization , except for political purposes . This wide difference suggested one or two analogies . Suppose every bag efcotto . t imported into England were infested and ruined by an insect , would it be right to say to the manufacturers , you have congregated a mass of population in large towns for your own benefit , and now you must bear the burden of supporting them ? No doubt there would be much private liberality on such an emereencv . but . doubtless , an appeal would also be made

      to the Imperial Legislature . Or , suppose the crop of wheat and oats had been blighted in England , would it be right for Ireland to say she would send no help Whatever then might be the result of the present calamity , it would teach us to do our duty liberally by our fellow creatures ; and it was to be hoped that both England and Ireland would be benefited by the trial . The noble lord then passed in review the propoeoi suspension of the Corn Laws and the legalization of the use of sugar in breweries and distilleries , and augured well as to the probable results of these measures ; and after hoping that a bill would be introduced for facilitating the transfer of real property , and denouncing the policy of Austria in the annexa > tion of Cracow , concluded by moving the draught ol an address , which was , as usual , an echo of the speech . Lord Cakbw seconded the address .

      Lord Stanley said that , as the Government barabstained from introducing into her Majesty ' s speech any expression which must necessarily lead to discussion , so there was no wish on the part of those who had not repostd their confidence in that Government to embarrass them by premature opposition . Having attained power by no factious proceedings of their own , but by a combination of circumstances , Her Majesty's adviser had peculiar claims to the forbearance of the House , and they might rest assured that , so long as they walked in the path of the constitution , and avoided rash and dangerous innovations , they would be met , not only by no factious opposition on that side of the House , but a ' so by a ready and disinterested support .

      In thissiirit and temper he would proceed to make a few observations , premising that , from the significant omission of any allusion to the financial condition of the country in the speech , it might be argued that that condition was not so satisfactory as it appeared on the face of the last quarterly returns ; in fact , he was afraid lest in the course of the next six months there should be such an increase of imports over exports as seriously to inconvenience the country by reducing the quantity of bullion . In passing then no the topics contained in the speech he was sure all must rejoice in the prospect of continued peace , though his confidence in that prospect was dased rather on the general conviction throughout Europe , of the folly of war , than on the state of our

      foreign relations . He could not look with satisfaction on those relations so long as we were not on tarms , not * mere 1 y of amity , but of cordial co-operation with France . It was impossible not to see that the good understanding lately existing between the two countries had been very much altered for the worse during the last few months ; and though he should abstain from an opinion as to the comparative merits of the statements on either side respecting the Spanish marriage until the whole correspondence was before the House , yet he thought the country had received a slight in the manner in which that marriage was brought abeut which would not have been passed on it had Lord Aberdeen been at the head of Foreign Affairs .

      This unfortunate coolness had been followed by another event , with which he could not help thinking it was nearly connected—the annexation of Craeow ; aad , though on this point , too , he must reserve his judgmeat until the necessary papers were produced , lie regarded the step taken by the three Powers in violation of a treaty entered into under the auspices of England as a discourtesy which could not have happened if England and France had preserved their former cordial understanding . With regard to Ireland , there conld be no question that an awful visitation had fallen on that island , and he was convinced that the country would make every sacrifice for ite relief , he was not disposed to make captious observations on the

      course hitherto pursued for that end , but it was admitted on all hands that great errors had been committed , that the Labour Rate Act was a blunder , and that the plan for its extension was so clogged and fettered as to become a dead letter . In his opinion , however , a great error of the Government had been a too strict adherence to the abstract doctrines of political economy when they resolved not to compel with private speculation in the supply of food to Ireland . Those doctrines must give way to great emergencies ; and though he did not mean to assert that the Government should ha"e nndertaken to supply the whole Irish [ eople with food , they might havt done milch by establishing dc ^ Cta of provisions , and soling them at a fair market value , so as to keep down ( famine prices .

      With respect to the proposed measures of relief , he did not anticipate any serious opposition to the measure for increasing the tonnage applicable to the importation of corn ; but , believing as he did , that the scarcity of corn , both at home and abroad , was very much exaggerated , it ought to be a question whether the temporary suspension of the 4 s . duty would answer the humane expectations of the Government , and whether it would not put money into the pockets of foreigners at the expense of the revenue . After alluding to the injustice of allowing the use of sugar in brewing and distilling while the malt-tax was retained , the noble Lord promised the Government supportin | their | Irish measures , provided ihey did not yield to exorbitant demands ; and after depicting the hampered position of the Irish landlords , who he thought hadjbeen undeservedly abused ,

      On Tuesday Parliament Was Opened By The ...

      implored the Government not to take any rash steps with regard to them , and to set to work at the soc ' al improvement in that country in the confident assurance that , if they honestly laboured for that end , no party considerations should defeat their

      endeavours . The Marquis of Lansdowne replied to Lord ' . Stanley with respect to the conduct pursued in Ireland by the Government . As for the errors which they were accused of committing , it must be remembered that the extent of the calamity which was about to befall Ireland could not be ascertained when the Labour Rate Act was passed , and thoueh the extension of that act had not obviated the sufferings of the Irish peasantry , yet i £ had undoubtedly mitigated them . With regard to the objections of the Noble Lord to the proposed measures of relief , the question was not into whose pockets the profits of importation would go , bat how an addition to the supply of food under a national calamity was to be obtained . The

      Noble Marquis concluded by vindicating the Government from the remaining objections of Lord Stanley , and declared that the wisdom of their policy would be proved in a few days by documents which would be laid before the House . Lord Brougham expressed his doubts whether Parliament ought not to have been convened at an earlier period—doubts which were strengthened by the confessions made of the fruitlessness of the Irish Acta of last session , and of the Lord-Lieutenant'h efforts t » render them available . As for the Spanish marriage , the people of England cared nothing about it , and he hoped they should have no debates

      about the matter , which would only tend to prolong that interruption of the entente cordiale which unfortunately existed . On the subject of Cracow , while he agreed with the expressions used in the speech and address , he hoped that all unnecessary harshness and recrimination would be avoided , as a good understanding with Austria was of great importance to England . With regard to Ireland , ho hoped the House would proceed , in the first place , by resolu tions , and that a line would be carefully drawn be tween temporary measures ot momentary expediency and permanent measures introducing organic changes into the policy of the country with respect to the sister kingdom .

      Earl FmwiixiAM believe that no small or half measures would do for Ireland . » As far as lie could form an opinion of those to be proposed by the Government , henpproved of them , though he doubted if they would go far enough . The Marquis of Wesimeath , as an Irish landlord , expressed his gratitude to England for the sympathy so readily afforded to Irish distress . The Earl of Roden also expressed his thanks to the people of this country and to the Government for the sympathy shown to the Irish people . Earl Uardwicke contended that the great difficulty was not so much want of food as want of ships to transport it . He suggested that all her Majesty ' s shies and steamers of war should be employed in eonvey ing food to Ireland . The Earl ot Auckland said there was already between thirty and forty steamers and tourteen or fifteen sailing vessels employed in carrying

      provisions . The question was then put , and agreed to nem . con . ; and their Lordships adjourned till Thursday . HOUSE OF COMMONS-T » Ka » Ar , Jas . 10 . The Speaker , in his robe of office , entered the House about half-past one o'clock , and took his seat at the table in the chair usually occupied by the chief clerk . About one hundred members had assembled , who , after prayers , seated themselves for the most part in the places held by them at the close of the last session . A little before two o ' clock Lord J . Russell entered the House , and took liis seat on the Treasury bench , after shaking bands with the Speaker . The noble lord ( whose features were observed to wear a pale and somewhat anxious

      expression ) was followed by the Earl of Lincoln , who , after exchanging salutations with the Speaker , shook hands with his lordship , and took Jhis place on the front Opposition bench , in the seat usually filled by Sir R . Peel at the close of last session . Mr . Goulburn shortly afterwards entered the house , and seated himself next to Lord Lincoln . The benches at this time exhibited an unusual number of those ajjidies which denote that the seats are taken by hon . members who have heard prayers ; and , from the appearance of the house at this juncture , there was reason to suppose that the three groat parties of the

      Ministerialists , the Conservative Opposition , and the Protectionists intend to preserve the same relative position which they assumed after the resignation of the Government of Sir R , Peel . On the Ministerial bnch were Lord J . ( Russell , Sir J . Uobhuuse , Mr . Wyse , and other members of the Government . Mr . Ferrand occupied the seat held by Lord G . Bentinck during last ses » iou on the- ministerial side of the House , and on the bench below him were Sir It . Inglis , Mr . Stuart , etc . The members of the late Government sat on the front bench upon tho Jefc of the Speaker , in the seats so long tenanted by the Whig Opposition .

      At twenty-five minutes past two o ' clock , Mr . Pulman , Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod , summoned the house to attend her Majesty immediately in the House of Peers . The Speaker hereupon rose , and preceded by his mace , and followed by Lord J . Russell , Lord Lincoln , and the great body of the members present , left the House . Upon his return , the members who had remained , wishing to avoid thejfatigue and pressure ol attendiag in the House of Lords , ranged themselvetin their places , uncovered , expecting that the right hon . gentleman would take his seat and read her Majesty ' s speech . The Speaker , however , walked up the floor of the house in his usual manner , and , passing his chair with an air of arch good humour , proceeded at once to his private room . A slight laugh followed at the expense of the disappointed members , and the house adj . iurnod .

      1 he Speaker took the chair at ten minutes to four o ' clotk , when a considerable change appeared to have taken place in the position of the parties . The Opposition benches presented a very crowded appearance . Sir R . Peel and Sir J . jGraham were . not present , but in their places were Lord G . Bentinck and Mr . Disraeli , having on their right Mr . Goulburn , the Earl of Lincoln , Mr . S . Herbert , and other members of the late ministry . On the left ot Lord G . Bentinck , we observed Mr . G . Bankes , Mr . llihlyard , Mr Christopher , and Air . James Stuart . The last seat of the front Opposition bench was occupied by Mr . W . Smith O'Brien . Oh the benches behind Lord G . Bentinck were Mr . Ferrand , Mr . Hudson , Mr . Finch , and other members of the

      Protectionist party . Sir C . Napier , Sir De Lacy Evans , and other metropolitan members , occupied their former seats on the Opposition side of the house , below the gangway . The 'lrensury benches were well filled . When the mover of the address rose , the house was very lull ; but it was not until the seconder had advanced half way through his speech that Sir J . Graham entered the house , and took his seat on one of the back benches , a modest movement , which excited some observation in the house . Shortly after , Sir It . Peel entered and took his seat at one end of the front Opposition bench , at the other

      end of which sat Lord G . Bentinck . Mr . Tupnell , on the part of Lord John Russell , gave notice that on Thursday his lordship would move a committee of the whole house to consider resolutions on the Corn Laws , and on the Navigation Laws ; also , that on Friday he would move for a select committee on the Law of Settlement : and that on Monday next he would bring the state of Ireland under the consideration of the house . Mr . Tvtnbll , on the part of the Chancellor of the Exch « quer , gave notice that on Friday the right hon . gentleman would propose resolutions on the Customs and Excise Duties Acts .

      Mr . rox Maule g & ve notice for Tuesday to bring in a bill for shortening the present term of enlistment . Mr . J . Fibldks gave notice of a motion for shortening the hours of factory labour . Mr . Hume gave notice for Tuesday next of certain questions which he would put respecting the occupation of Cracow . Mr . P . Scnor-s gave notice for Tuesday week to more a resolution declaring the expediency of extending the main principle of the English Poor Law to Ireland—the right of the poor to relief from theii respective parishes .

      THE ADDRESS . The Spbmuii communicated to the house her Majesty's speech . Mr . 0 . W . Howard moved an address in repl < thereto , which he prefaced by a brief address , touching lightly on the topics aientioned in the speech . Mr . UicARDti seconded the address . He contended that a temporary relaxation of the Navigation La \\> was indispensable , and that every facility for the : ut mission of forei gn grain had become a necessity ; ami if it could be shown that a large quantity of ^ ain could be liberated without great loss to the revenue then it would bekflnly lair to admit sugar for u-c ii . the breweries aiufai-tillcriesof the United Kingdom The hon . member insisted that the new Free-trade commercial policy had been eminently successful ; that an increase of Customs duties , and a large consumption of sugar , timber , & c , had been the result ; and that they had every encouragement to go on in the same direction .

      On Tuesday Parliament Was Opened By The ...

      Mr . S . O'Brien observed , that , however reluctan he might be to disturb the unanimity of the House on the present occasion , he should feel himself to be wanting in his duty to his country if be were to remain silent with respect to tho sufferings of the people of Ireland , which couhl neither be described nor exaggerated . The very last paper which he had received from Dublin contained the report of eight inquests held in the county of Mayo which had each returned verdicts of " Death by starvation . " If asked , he could not say that the Government was entirely guiltless of this stateof things ; on the contrary , ho was of opinion that if the Government had taken proper measures , not a single individual would have perished in Ireland from starvation .

      Why had not the Government remitted the duties on corn three months a » o ? Why had it not called Parliament together three months ago , and proposed to it then , as it proposed now , to relax the navigation laws , and to prohibit the use of grain in our breweries and distilleries ? Ho then proceeded at great length , to find fault with the Government for the mode in which they had regulated the aipply of food and of employment to the people of Irelaou He condemned not only ihe Labour Rate Act , but < ilso the deviations made from it under the sanctum of the Irish Government , assertins that a Min . ster who

      had taken such a course as Mr . Labouchere deserved impeachment . Ilis regulations had thrown the whole country into confusion . He ( Mr . S . O'Brien ) wanted the labour of the people to be directed to wo ks of a productive , not of an unproductive , character . Thousands of men were now employed in destroying roads , while the fields remained unfilled , lie , therefore , rose for the purpose of asking Lord J . Russell what were the measures which he had in contemplation , first for the supply of food , and next lor the supply of reproductive labour for Ireland . He also wished to know whether his Lordship considered the calamity a locator a national calamity .

      Mr . P . Scropk complained that no provision had been made for the infirm poor in Ireland , and blamed i he Government for having placed any dependence on voluntary aid . Voluntary contributions had proved wholly inadequate ; and in the workhouses fever was making its appearance , and was destroying the inmates . He , therefore , asked the Government to explain what measures they had in contemplation upon th ' tt subject . Mr . Labouchere wished that he could say that Mr . S . O'Brien had drawn an overcharged picture of the miseries of Ireland—but he could not . Still , he must dissent from Mr . S . O'Brien ' s conclusion when he attempted to fasten on the Government the ( responsibility of those calamities , and when he

      said that every death which had occurred from starvation ought to weigh heavily on the conscience of every member of the Cabinet . He reminded Mr . S . 0 'Brien of the ordinary condition of Ireland , ot which the population was admitted to be the worst housed , tho worst clothed , and the worst led in Europe ; and asked him to consider the natu'e ot the extraordinary visitation which had just fallen upon it . The great bulk of its food had been swept away . The total loss in money value which that population had sustained by the failure of the potato crop , and of the oat crop , had been calculated to amount to not less than £ 15 , 960 , 000 . But the loss was not to be considered merely as a loss ot money and iood—it must be recollected that the potato

      cultivation was connected with the entire agricultural system of Ireland , and that the failure of it had deranged the interests of every branch of agricultural community . After showing that the power of Government to relieve distress was not unlimited , he proceeded to defend himself against the charge of not having adopted the same system which Sir R . Peel had adopted last year for supplying the people of Ireland with food , on the ground that the circumstances in which the country was then placed were , very different from those in which it was placed at present . Then we were under a restrictive system ; now we were under the system of free trade . Then the evil was limited in its extent ; now it was almost universal , He next proceeded to defend the

      employment which he had afforded under the Labour Rate Act , and the deviations which he had recommended to be made from it , expressing his surprise that Mr . S . O'Brien should say that in making those deviations in compliance with thegeneral voice of the landowners of Ireland , he deserved impeachment . He believed that whenever Mr . S . O'Brien brought forward the articles of that impeachment , he would not find a single Irish member to second them . Ireland had a right to expect assistance from both England and Scotland ; but , in return , both England and Scotland had a right to call upon the gentry and people of Ireland to leave nothing undone in their efforts to grapple with its distress . He saw an improved spirit springing up in Ireland ; he believed

      that the landlords of that country were wakening to the conviction that if Ireland was to be saved from great disaster , it must be through the agency of her own children . To tho question of Mr . P . Scrope he replied that the imfirm and impotent poor of Ireland had been relieved through the medium of the relict committees . Ho admitted that Ihe existing Poor L-tivhad been found insufficient to compete with the present calamities of Ireland ; but he believed that any Poor Law—even that which Mr . P . Scrope had himself _ proposed last session—would have been equally insufficient for that purpose . It was stated n tho speech that outrages had been committed . Now , it was not surprising , with famine in the land , that the bonds of society should be relaxed ; but while the attention of the house was called to that

      fact , it was important that the house should not form any misconception respecting it . The general character of the state of crime in Ireland amounted to this : —There was a great increase in the amount of outrages , but it was an increase in the attacks on property . The old agrarian offences had disappeared ; the spirit of combination had almost disappeared ; there was no longer any sympathy with the offence , or difficulty in enforcing the law against the offender , lie proved this statement by contrasting the amount of crime in December , 1845 , with the amount in Ducember , 18-10 ; and concluded by once more calling upon the house to give its assistance to the people of Ireland , and by calling on the Irish members to justify that assistance by struggling manfully against the evils of their country .

      Lord G . BiiNHNCK , as leader of the Protectionists , took similar grounds to that of Lord Stanley in the other House . lie assured the Government that the advocates of the Protection policy had no intention of making Ireland tho battle-ground of party . They felt that the | present Government had succeeded to the administration of Ireland at a time of extraordinary difficulty , and therefore they fott that it was due to the Government to examine its acts with indulgence . The miseries of Ireland demanded sympathy , and it was the resolution of the Protection party to give their calmest and best consideration to any measures that might be proposed for the alleviation of the calamity . He emphatically disclaimed all idea of a compact , as supposed to exist

      between the Protection party and Parliament , relative to the existing is . duty on corn ; the Protection party acknowledged rie such compact , and therefore the Government were free to propose the removal of the Is . duty if they thought fit . Should ihe Government propose the temporary removal of this 4 s . duty , the Protection party would not oppose it ; but it was their firm percussion that its removal would give no benefit to the consumer . The Exchequer would lose the duty , but every farthing of it would go into the pockets of the corn merchants and forestallers . Should the Government also think fit to propose the admission of sugar for the use of breweries and distilleries , the Protection party would { offer it no opposition , although from such a measure they

      ImI little expectation of benefit . Should a temporary interference with the Navigation Laws be proposed , the Protection party would not oppose it , though they ulhvvd such a remedy came too late Let tho Government , if they wished really to apply a remedy , throw aside the rigid principles of political economy , ,-uichase corn wherever they could net it , and let them employ her Majesty ' s ships in ' aiiying these supplies into the ports of Ireland . An cx > crirnced captain had informed him that there wove eight ships of the line now available , which in foriy-right hours could be got ready , with which , in ( en weeks 80 , 000 quarters of grain could be brought into our ports , lie regretted that anything should have occuircd between the Governments ot France iml England to interrupt the amity that existed beween ihcm . He did not believe the people of Englaud sympathised at all with tho foreign minister on

      • In-: question that bad arisen . The commercial pari . il ' the country certainly would he better ple .-ised if ihe Noble Lord had turned his attention to the Spanish canyingtrade instead of to the Spanish mar-¦ i'lges . As to the grave -charges made in the royal speech against the great Sovereigns with whom wt ( ought thu battle of European peace , Loin Geo . Bentiuek expressed his regret that suah condemnation had been thought necessary . The idea of brandiiiL ' the occupation of Cracow as a manifest violation ol e Treaty of Vienna was preposterous . How many times had the Treaty of Vienna been violated r What was tho severance of Belgium from Holland ;" Lord George , for him » elf , declared he felt no sympathy for tho people ol Cracow , the peaceable portion of whom were themselves delighted at the change . On the part of the Protection party , the Noble Lord t-avc notice , that unless the Government should bring forward some comprehensive measure of general

      On Tuesday Parliament Was Opened By The ...

      utility for Ireland , he would himself do so . Mr . Roeucck made one ofhis usual bitter diutrihea against the Irish landlords , and tho Prot . OM . iocist Leader , and Mr . O'Conrull , wMi reference S tho landlords he said , a word now about Irish landio ,- Is . ( "Oh , oh ! " ) Ife Ind no doubt the term wo . dd excite some sort of feeling [ an hon . member , . Mr . B . Osborne , it i « believed , bore made feme remat k ]; he did not . mean an Irish landlord on a sovi ' . ien —( laiisl ^ cr)—h / mra :: t the Irish landlord for wii'ira the British Parliament had been legislating me the last three centuries ; and , during that time , On y i , sd been legislated for , as a body , against tho people of Ireland . They had wrought always for thv-r \< sx sonal purpose , unmind ul of the -wants of the pcple for Ireland , he would himself do so . Mr . Roeucck made one ofhis usual bitter dhitri ' ipa asa ' mst the Irish landlords , and tho Protner , io ! : i . nt

      of Ireland . And let him explain' in afewwocos l . osr this had bt'Pii done , When an Irish landlord c ; iraa into posses-ion id ' an estate he built cottages U-re and there , intendiiw . by letting tliem , to o ' -iain what to him was a v . n- necessary extra peircn- ^ e . He built those cottage . * ¥ » r the pauper pnp , ;!» i . ; -in , continuing the characteristics of that pop' <' : > .-. ; . m . Were there a Poor L \ w in Ire l and that he d ;« n . not do . ( Hear , hear . ) Some Irish landlords w-.. tld lierhans denv this ; hut he ( Vlr . Roebucki A-uild affirm that tfmy had in this way ministere-s u . die desire ol the people to po * s

      of Commons . Acts of I ' aviiameut had been earned for them ; of those acts the Imdlords had taken advantage , and hy them the people of Ireland v . rt . reduced to a state of paiiiterisin , universal and cvt ivvxe And now , at ' terall this , the Irish landlords v . « i >» to England to maintain , not oulv them , but the nru . ^ rs nlso , whose conditio was the . result of their m .-trlcct , ( Hear , hear . ) Such a proposition wasadver . Hu !<¦ ihe feelings and the uoitnnmi sen . se of the pi-te-1 . ; of England , and , as an English representative , ho declared his opinion that it was the duty ut the Imperial Government t . <> iti .-ist that the lam * of ireland should maintain fin- people of Ireland . (' . ;• . it .-s . J r ,, tus next Ga ^ tigaVion was ailministered toO ' Otnneii , He had heard itatattd within the last t .. v . Inyg ,

      of one who called himself the representative of Ireland , that all the measures of relief dictated by the earnest sympathy and overflowing benevolence of the people of Enuland hail ( iroui- 'ded from an i < ten tion on the part of the English Government to buy IVotestants in Ireland . ( Laughter . ) He ( Mr . Roebuck ) had never so clctrly perceived and felt the ii ;; criority of one man who lud heeu pushed into consideration . by the pressure of extraneous circumstances as during the last six months , ii-knd had wanteii ' : nwio , and , unfortunately , Ireland found no man for her purpose . She had not possessed a man win . ooi . ld forego personal intensts , and resign perse ; . ii pelf , and in that hour of danger merge himself inn » tho people of Ireland . Such a man , so called for j-h .- :. ad

      not met with ; but , in his place , a man who w :.. s . iblB to exacerbate all the evil passions existing w . W < ticking themselves manifest in that country , —who cr-uld create , if he did not find them , and if he _ found them could exaggerate , the prjndices which ignoi . uie . oof cash other only had produced , separating the cwo countries of England and Ireland . Was such a man to be accepted there as a representative of the people , of Ireland ! No , certainly not ; he (? . ir . Roebuck ) believed the people of Ireland to be a great and an honest , people ; and he could not thiol , utat their sentiments were the sentiments of the man he had spoken of . Lord G . Bentick formed ti . e . next topicfar criticism ; he regretted he had not hao ! he

      opportunity of expressing an opinion of "t'nc ^ ioat and comprehensive measure , " as it was tvn . wd , which had been announced hy the noble ktd ( Bentick ) opposite . His attention had been aroused « nd his curiosity had been excited to discover tti < . meaning of the noble lord ' s hint . He had waited to God in the n * ble lord » , regenerator of his eouuivy and time , as he was of his party , lie had relk-il upon obtaining from the noble hed some grand paivicoa ror all evils , something , in a word , that should u » toiiish . them like gun-cotton . ( Laughter . ) But a ctoc-I deception had been practised upon him ; lie had hoard nothing of the scheme more than its title . The noble lord had talked of himself as the leader oi his

      party , had spoken of " our intententions , " una what " we " would support , of " our " resolves on t Li . s and on that , but nothing -vas proposed , though tvery thing was promised , and no one could form m : > Jea as to the nature of the measure , or could comprehend its comprehensiveness . ( Laughter . ) It was an easy thing to criticise , but in this case there was no hold for criticism , and that wa ., annoying ( LaugLar . ) He ( Mr , Roebuck ) wou . d recommend to the noble lord the next time ho placed himself at the head of a party and criticised the mhenies of others , t-. iefi . those others know what were his measure * , , 'ind what , were the Chancellor of the Exchequer , he would do . ( Hear , he ; . r . ) The patty of tho uoide lord had indeed disappointed him ( Mr . Boemiek ); .

      he had waited for many to arise from whom much was expected ; he had iooKed for great thing : ; , and he had never been more de . Aided . There had been nothing iu all that inten .-ity of extraordinary gesticulation and wonderful emphasis ( a laugh ); there was nothing apparent in the exhibition but a unlike to somebody that was not named , and who could not and would uot be liked under present uveumstances . ( Laughter . ) Uad there been suggested any measure tending to the benefit of the people of Ireland , he would have given to it anxious consideration . The noble lord led a party in that house—not a very powerful , but still a parly—pnd as it aspired to the reputation of being an intollec tual party , it would onl > have been satisf . iirir ; the

      claims upon them to have proposed something . Perhaps the deficiencies of the noble lord \> o- » l , i be remedied by his second , and the house wonio > . ien have an opportunity of forming an estima ; - ' ; the comprehensive measure which the futui < • • i > to disclose . The noble lord might think , th . u -s he ( Mr . Roebuck ) was equally wanting in I'M . , -ing forward any substantial scheme , he was siiitiucu to censure the coucso which had been takeii . . but he ( Mr , Roebuck ) had never spoken of " » . ! , ' resolvts , he had never been one of a Government , and never expected to be one of a Government ; he had

      no expectation of bcin- in the place of lite noble lord i ( llussell ) . and that made all the dillercnce between him and the noble lord ( Bentinck opo-ite . ( Laughttf , ) The only parties in the House iitj Mr . Roebuck ) recognised were those headed l \ fiUi d J . Russell and Sir Robert Peel , The Hon . " Member concluded a review of ihe Spanish and Ctacovf questions by entreating the Foreign Secret . , v aide \ m country the ineffable favour of remainu . i ipiiet . Mr . Grattan indignantly rejected tin torn of beggars applied by Mr . Roebuck to the It ' : u Imdlords . They were not beggars ; they only u . n :: i- ded what they were justly entitled to .

      -Mr . Dillon Bkow . ye lashed Mr . Roe (\ e k for coming down to the House "to void his wMsuish and dyspeptic disposition on tho landlords ot Ireland . " The lion . Member upheld the G . i ercaent for not interfering with tho course of trail *; , Mr . B . Osburnl vindicated the Irish ! . ! " ilords from the charges so unjustly prefcred again- ! -hem by Mr . Roebuck . A speech of a more chillir . ^ r ,. > ture than the present bad never fallen from t ! -. < j lipsof Majesty . It stated that outrage had ben ; . leaked —huthow ? By the military and the p oVe . It ought to have been checked by the free iniooii . ttioa of food . Why had not government done lung since , by Order in Council , what they were now -oing to do by an act of the Legislature ? He w . is sorry to find that there was an inclination in tho iiof < e to sneer at the distresses of Ireland ; and , what was worse , the government was acting in thai , country upon tho suggestions of Mr . TrcveJyau , whe was inimical to its people .

      Sir R . Inous vindicated Mr . Trevclvan from the unjust attack made upon him by " the last speaker . LordJonN Manxfiu spoke shortlvon the foreiga policy alluded to in the speech . Loro John Russell maintained that if thc-i ' lovcrament had taken the course of ransacking tho world for food , there would have been an end to all private enterprise , and every thing would have been lei ' Uo the c ^ t is vi the government , which would have boon so presumptous as to undertake so gigantic a task . Had it been known that the English government wen-the buyers in foreign markets , the prices would have risen exorbitantly high . The government had established depots , and had purchased a large auantity of food witht-ut interfering with the course of trade and

      though he was well aware that abuses and impcrfec turns were incident to the application of relief , . u felt satisfied that ujie principle was sound , and won ' -i be effective it the calamity had not been so veiv extent sivo . However much the public works promoted might bo eritised , it could not be denied that a ; rcat benefit was conferred on Ireland by th <> wmloy mont ot 400 , 000 men ; and the desire of the government to alleviate the calamity as much as t ! :-v could , could hardly be questioned . But if cenW > - wag to bo passed tor the measures taken , let it fall ' on the government , and not on their subordinate Agents in Ireland , who had only obeyed tho instructions "ivon to tlietn . As to the charge of not having called " Pa * liaraent together in November , he did not believe that such a course would have had ranch , if any practical effect m increasing tho supply of food , and as toi net haying recourse to an Order in Council , hedid not think such interference with tho course

      o law warranted b y the state of circumstances . lie then adverted to Mr . Roebuck ' s strictures on the Montponsier marriage , and observed that from tho criticisms which that gentleman hud passed upon the diplomatic papers , lie must have read them in a translation from the French documents , whiob gave a very imperfect account ot the British argument . He could not agree with Mr . Roebuck that ; i question of this kind was unworthy the attentioa of the British public . On the contrary , he main * tained that the recent transaction was one of serious importance ; and so it * as considered , by Lord Aberdeen and the late Government . Ho . thought that tho expectations of the French Government would in all probability bo disappointed '; but the attempts of Louis XIV . and of Napoleon to dbtwoi supremacy in Spain might be repeated again , and tho union of France and Spain in one policy would ( Conlinun \ to thedth » wJ

      I

      i

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 23, 1847, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_23011847/page/1/