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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th February 1848, Edition 3 of 3, Page 7, ^- Tor ' a fall account of the important...

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      Febbuaby ^ 6 1848 «__ Teh Northern Star....

      Febbuaby _^ 6 1848 «__ TEH NORTHERN STAR . 7 r _^^ _^*^^^^^^^^^^ _= m ' ¦ i _^^—^*^^—— _—¦^ _j'B _^^ _- _' _g-gT _^™* _" ' - _-.- _jj _i-- _?*^^ _^ — . - _^^^— . _ _» _. _^^ _——^^^^ _CT _^ _gfaw _. W . 1 _. m . - " " *"" _~™' _*^^^^^^^^ j _^ ' _^ ' _*^ ' _^ : _M' _^^*' _fc , _'""™™*™* _MM—|^ _M _^—E _^^ _yMM _, _^^ _, _^ _, _^ _,,, _^ _, _^^ _, _^!^^_^ _ ir «¦ _SlTTT _¦^¦ _nf _cMlTTITilTinrTt- _^^ " 171 * 1 _^ r » _^ _M--i

      Cslomafl Ana Foreign.

      _Cslomafl ana _foreign _.

      ^- Tor ' A Fall Account Of The Important...

      _^ - Tor ' a fall account of the important events is France , see our fifth page .

      IKDIA ASD CHINA . By the arrival ofthe India mail we have dates from Bombay to the 15 th of January , and Calcutta to January 6 th . A proclamation ha 3 just been issued by _jjie Bengal government , intimating that no fewer than i _^ _tnty-three prince and chiefs had been induced by ub to have suites and female infanticide put flown throughout their dominions . —The distribution of the greater psrt of the _Scisoe _prizemeney ha 9 been ordered to take p lace immediately . The ameuat captured in February , 1 S 43 , was valued at £ 560 , 000—that realised at the time amounted to £ 4 . 60 , 000—the amount te he distributed is £ 437 , SS 3 . O f this , Sir C . Napier receives £ 27 . 387—only _U 3 lf of what be claimed as his share . Of those who were present at both battles , Lieutenant-colonels and superintending surgeons receive nearly £ 6 , 000 , majors about £ 5 , 000 , captains surgeons , and regimental paymasters about £ 2 , 600 , subalterns and _assistant-sur . geons ahout £ 1 , 000 each .

      _FsiGHTFm ; Moedeb of Six EsGLiBaMEH . _—Lstteri from _Hong-Eonc ef _December 30 th , contain the

      following : — _VTe have _tTais month to record a dreadful tragedy in the horrid murder of sis _English gentlemen by the Chin : se , _absut three miles from Canton on the 5 thof this month . After church they went up the river , and landed to take a quiet walk , and shortly after they fraud themselves attacked by a body of Chinese , an _3 cut off from their boat . Ia this attack one or two ofthe party fell ; the others , beiDg overpowered , attempted to _escape , bat were taken at one of the villages and confined . _Tliey were kept without food and repeatedly tortured

      until the 7 th , when they were cruelly put to death . Tha nanus of the gentlemen are , —Mr W , Rotter , ifr Small , Hr Bellamy , Mr Brown , Mr Balkwill , and MrM'Carte . Oa tha recovery of the bodies the wounds on Hr _M'Carte Were in all forty-fonr , —thirty-six _ineiBed _j and eight contusion . Many of them would have canted death , the skull being broken in several places . The bodies of _Mestrs Balkwill , Small , and Brown , had numerous _wouna = on each of them , the two first having marks of the rattan on the hack , On the bodies of Messrs Bellamy and Ratter tliere were deep wounds on the head and ehest , and themarks of ropes on the arms .

      A force was immediately sent to Canton , and _hi 3 Excellency Sir John Davis went up ia the _Daflalus to demand redress . After much _negotiation with Keying , font Chinese were executed on the 21 st Dec ., and eleven ¦ were under trial . Sir John returned hers on the 24 th , _i _^ _aving _giren Keying to the 20 th . proximo for his final SS 8 wit to his demands . It is uBdersteod that steamers _iiavebsen sent for from Singapore , and men-of-war ordered do wn from the coast , to be prepares , _shonld any coercive measure he necessarv .

      IMPORTANT . SEWS FROM ITALT . Roue . —Oa the Srd of February a torch-light demonstration took place in honour of the patriots of Naples asd Sicily . The people wore the Italian tri-colonr ribbons in their hats asd button-holes—red , white ,, and green . They repeated the usual cries , to which were added , ' The _Palermitans for ever ! Tito the Constitution ! Glory to those who shed their blood for their country I * After reaching ths capltol , the multitude , which filled the square , a . scended the stairs , and the neighbouring monuments , A man covered with a threadbare cloak , and wearing a long grey beard , who W 3 s said to bs a Tuscan , mounted on the horse , supporting the statue of Marcus Aurelins , and placed in the hand of that emperor a hnge three-coloured Sag . After _psradmg round th _« rahuoi the Forum they dispersed .

      The agitation continued , and oa the 7 th and 8 ih ~ the people assembled in great numbers along the _Corso , in a stafe of very alarming ' _effervejcence , shouting , ' Away with fill moderation ! Down with the ministry ! We want cannon ! Tiv & Pio _Xino SOlo'V _Acsunnts from Borne . * fthe 11 th , state that on the _aasouncemest of the Neapolitan constitution a great crowd went in procession to the _Qoirinal , _withtricolonrei _flsgs , to demand further concessions . The Pope _appeared at the balcony and gaTe his benediction to the crowd .

      Advices from Rome of the ' 13 th inst ., announce that ? _ias IX . had published a . proclamation with a view to _a'day the fears of a foreign intervention , which he pronounced at present impossible , * Bat , ' adds the Pontiff , ' if it were attempted , I would appeal to rny formidable army of 200 , 000 , 005 of Catholics , who _woTtld maintain with me the honour and _rights of my throae with the same _Tigonr as sons would display in defending ihe parsntal house / The official journal of the * 12 tb inst . contains tbe resignation of three ecclesiastical Ministers , and the appointment of laymen to three of the most important departments of the State , namely , a lawyer , M . Sturbinetti , to the Ministry of Justice ; M . Pastolini , Deputy of Rivenns , to that of Commerce ; andM . Gaetani de Teano . to the Direction of the Police .

      RUMOURED _DEPOSITION OF THE POPE . The Prench government have , it is said , rereived 8 telegraphic dispatch from Borne announcing that the Pope has been deposed . At Bologna , the Papal colours Save been discarded , and the _tricoloer of Italy sdopted . f _NiFLESlKD _SiciLT . —Aletterfrom Messina , dated the Sth , says that the bombardment of the 23 th nit ., farfrom obtaining the object the government proposed to Itself , only escited general indignation , and raised to a degree impossible to _geicribe the ardour and courage of the defenders of liberty .

      letters from Palermo of the 5 th state that on the arrival from Naples efthe _steamer the Palianre with the _decree of amnesty _sndtheproclamationof a constitution , these _docamentg were communicated to the Junta , who proceeded to deliberate on them . Ths people who were _afsemhLd around the palace ofthe Senate in whieh the _Janta was Bitting uttered threatening cries . After remaining ia deliberation for some time , the Junta _decided that it would not 8 ceept the constitution and would insist ea having that ef 1812 , guaranteed by Great Britain , with eucS modifications as are adapted to the present time . On the 5 th , after an obstinate conflict , Colonel Gross , -who commanded the fort of Castellamare , had consented to surrender it to the provisional government , and was permitted to embark with the garrison . The Neapolitan forces sent to Sicily have returned in the most _dissstroas condition , both Gensral de Songet and _Nunzlate beine wounded .

      The new constitution was proclaimed at _Naples on the inorn _' ng of the 12 th , and in the afternoon an immense assemblage took place under the windows of ( he palace . "When the King appeared on the balcony surrounded by his family his reception was most popular . _TnsciKT . —The Grand Duke _hasissueda proclamation Stating his intention to grant a constitution . The Alba , of the 10 th instant , mentions a popular demonstration which took place at Fiesole , at which the popul 8 tien shouted , ' Long live Leopold IL ! Long live Charles Albert and Pins IX . Long live the British nation and the English fleet , ' & c . _Lshbisbt . —A sanguinary collision has taken plaee between the people and the military in Pavia . A number of the citizens were killed and wounded . "Without any provocation , the people were attached by the Austrians . I

      Letters from Padoa of the Sth give details of encounters there between the Austrian troops and the people . Alain without any provocation tbe soldiers attacked the pespie , and a Woody conflict ensued . Two captains , four oSceri , and about a score of soldiers were killed -on the spot . The losses on the Bide of the inhabitants ware still greater ; it is presumed more than one _hundred pergsns have been killed or wonnded . AtComo and Brescia similar scenes are reported to have taken place on the same day . _Odine , Treviso _, Belluno , and VicBnza were the theatres of disturbance . Teror reigns in Milan .

      The _ActiBiA _* _OasravEa . which is the semi-official organ ofthe Austrian Government , publishes a long article on the affairs of Italy , in which it declares that -the wishes of Lombard ? for administrative reforms will he discussed , and perhaps he granted ; but that as to the idea of separating that kingdem frem the empire , or of causing a change of dynasty , the Austrian _Governtnent will be inexorable in preventing It . * Let the Italians , ' it adds , ' not forget tbe example of the more -warlike Poles in the straggles egsinst the Russian em--pire , an j let them tremble J *

      GERMANY . The _Acqsbdsg Gazette , in a letterfrom Berlin ofthe 10 th of Febraary , states that a panic toek place that day on the Bourse in that city , in consequence of the flaws whieh arrived from _Tienna , that the government had been obliged , in order to meet the extraordinary expenses caused by the recent events in Italy , to demand from the _Vienna Bank an advance of ninety-five millioas -ef florins . Lstt & rs from Munich staU that _LtfaMontes bad reappeared in Munich in male atiire ; she was discovered find seat off to Switzerland , According to some ac-¦ _COsnts she is on her way to England .

      SWITZERLAND . The Swiss Diet has adjourned . It will meet again when the Committee for the Revision of the Pact shall "hare terminated i _» s labours . The Committee has already commenced its sittings . The Austrian Government having learnt that enrolments of great numbers of men have been made in _Switserland for the troops of several of the Italian State * , has addressed , sayg the _Ubidk _jaoSAECBicjCe _, a strong note to the Diet , declaring that a continuation of these _earolments will become a casus belli .

      Irish Dj-Hociutic Cosjbdkhatiox.—This Bo...

      Irish _Dj-hociutic _Cosjbdkhatiox . —This body held & very crowded meeting on Sunday evening last at GaTtwrighVs , Mr Haughey in the chair . A very animated discussion took place oa the pretensions of the Natios and Uxikd Irisbhak newspapers , in vbieh Messrs Tucker , William * , Joyce , M'Carthy , _SullivaD , Bizer , Manly , Dalrymple , and others took part . On the motion of Mr Bezer _, seconded by Mr Joyce , a resolution was unanimously adopted , inviting that eloquent advocate of universal liberty . Ernest Jone ? , barrister , to deliver one of bis soulstirring lectures on some future evening . _Shockiso _Accidest . —On Saturday evening last , as a train oi coal waggons was passing through tbe tunnel betwen Wrexham and Brymbo , tbe breaksman slipped from his position , and fell upon the rails . Eight oi the waggons passed over hia body , and , besides doing other injuries , cut off both his legs . Tbe unfortunate man -was taken bome , and died the following morning .

      For, Land And Life 1 . (From The United ...

      FOR , LAND AND LIFE . ( From the United Irishhah . ) _Lsnd in Ireland is life . Just in the proportion tbat our people contrive to keep or to gain some foothold on the soil , in that proportion exactly they will live and not die . All social , all industrial , all national questions resolve themselves now into this—how many Irish cultivators can keep root in the earth during the present year—that so the storm and blight , tho famine , and the blnck flood of pauperism , may not sweep them off , away into _destraction and outer darkness ?

      Not to the individual farmer only is tbis alife-anddeath question , but to society and to the nation . With the ruin of the tillers ofthe soil , all is ruined —in vain shall you adopt manufacture pledges—hold meetings to develops resources—form companiesmake speeches—insist upon national rights , a national legislature , a national flag;—once let the farmers be swept off this Irish soil , and there is an utter end of as and of our cause . ' Ireland for the Irish . ' means primarily and mainly , not * Irishmen for Irish offices / not ' political ameliorations , ' not ' assimilation to _English franchises '—patient Heaven I no ;—it means , jirtt . Irishmen fixed upon Irish ground , and growing thereoccupying the island like trees in

      , a living forest , with roots stretching as far towards Tartarus a 3 their heads lift themselves towards the clouds . Iu such a nation as this , industry , energy virtue , become possible ; manufactures weuld grow up Without _erer a pledge , or a speech , or a waistcoatpattern agitation ; a national senate would meet and sit , and rule the land , of its own native energy and by the necessities of the case , without ever a foreign statute empowering it so to do : a national army would arise from the earth like the sons of tbe dragon's teeth ef old ; and a national flag would plant itself without hands , and wave in the dawn of freedom , defying all the ends ef the earth to pluck it down _.

      But let the tillers of the soil be once uprooted—let the forest be cleared , and the prostrate , withered nation is fit for railway sleepers ; tbe living forest is dead and gone ;—the _living nation is undone for ever , and tbe place that knew it shall know it no

      more . In one word , Land is Life : and for the possession of land there is now a deadly struggle going on in every part of Ireland . The fanaere of Ulster are in utter dismay , seeing tbeir ancient tenant-right slipping away from them day by day , and the monster Pauperism coming nearer and nearer to the door . The farmers of the other three provinces , without a shred of law or custom on their side , are , it is true , here and there making out a law for themselves ; but , on tbe whole , they are yielding , _Binking , withering off the earth . From nortb , south , east , and _vrest , comes a terrible cry of terror and of agony—Spare us , spare ns our Lives and Lands ! In this crisis comes in tbe * Government' with a ' Bill to ameliorate tbe relations of landlord and

      tenant . ' A fine phrase ! a liberal and conciliatory _phrass ! But the bill , tbe bill ? Surely it legalises tenant-right at last ? Surely it makes some first step , at least to extend it to the South . Surely it interposes to stop this , cruel warfare at last , and to give the hard-hunted peasant some respite , some hope 1 Now , as Heaven is above us , it is a bill deliberately framed to destroy Tenant-Right where itis—tocut off all hope of it where it is not—to rob the nortb—to exterminate the south—to take care that ' property ' in Ireland shall support poverty , not by dividing tho property , but by slaying the surplus poverty . It doe 3 , indeed , _interpose in the agrarian war , but for the parposeof finishing it in tbe utter conquest of the people . It is the brother and ally of the Coercion Act . It is the remainder of the bargain be * tween England and the landlords , fulfilled to the letter on England's part .

      The bargain ib this—Keep for us , ye landlords , onr Irish province , and we shall set your heel on the necks of all yonr enemies . The government bill is a complicated system of compensations for improvements—and only future improvements , which shall have been effected hereafter according to certain notices , specifications , dockets , awards , certificates , and final decrees—improvements to which the tenant shall at last be lucky enough to make good his claim , after being coursed through four or five courts of law and equity , after employing attorneys and providing witnesses , at least three times for each improvement , covering quires of paper witb elaborate schedules and statements , and dancing attendance on the clerk ofthe peace , the assistant barrister , the agent , the bailiff , the nnder-bailiff , and all the agents , bailiffs , and under-bailiffs of all persons who have any claim as landlords on the estate , which persons the tenant is to find out by hia learning .

      The chief point is the arbitration : aHd we will tell you how the arbitrators are to be appointed—the tenant to name one—the landlord another—and these two to name an umpire : —hat if they cannot agree upon an umpire , ( and thy never will ) , why then an umpire is to 6 a named by the Petty Session Court , that is , uy landlords ; so that , in every _* xsc , the landlord is to have two to one on the arbitration . If the farmer , by any miracle or mistake , get an award for bis improvements , the yearly value of them is to be allowed him in his rent for twenty-one _vears . and no more !

      But what of past improvements , made without speciSoatien ? What of tbe tenant-right farms purchased with money in Ulster , or held by the farmer and hi 3 ancestors time out of mind ? Is it not to be legalised , then ! No : this bill is intended for the gradual abolition of that tenant-right property , according to the recommendation of Lord Devon ' s Commission . Sir William SomerviUe sayB plainly the bill is framed according to the report of that commission ; and Mr Sharman Crawford Bays the certain effect ofthe bill in Ulster , will be to 'afford a , pretence to landlords to abrogate the custom . They would aaythata law had been passed for the relief of the tenants in Ireland ; and the landlord would take advantage of that law to deprive the tenant of those rights who had hitherto enjoyed them . ' Of course he would : and snch is the intention .

      But we forgot : tbe bill is to be retrospective , as to tenants holding at a rent under £ 10 . These tenants , if they have effected substantial improvements , within five years , and have kept a record of the same , and can produce witnesses to prove it , are to be allowed , oa ejectment , some compensation ; but it is not in any case to exceed three years' rent . If they connot point out these improvements , and prove them in due form ( even though they should have bought their little farms at £ 20 an acre but last year ) , why they must tramp ; and if the ' union' be a solvent one they may get out-door relief .

      As to the southern farmers , if they have capital ; and can employ lawyers ; and ejectment do net overtake them in the meantime—they are expected to lay down their gncs _, and proceed quietly to get estimates and specifications prepared , put themselves in communication with the clerk of the peace , and begin at once to invest the capital they have gathered through tbe three famines in thorough-draining according to tbe Deanston system , and building cottages ornees with mitred eaves and Tudor gables ! Yes , let northern and southern fanners lay down their arms , and cease their ' seditious projects , ' as landlord Herbert calls them . They must Bee that ' government' iB caring for them ; in government let their trust be reposed , and let them lie down to sleep in peace under the shadow of its wings .

      Indeed , we ate glad to learn from landlord Castlereagh , in the course of tbis debate , * That the farmers of the north of Ireland have nothing to complain of !' h this true , fanners ofthe north of Ireland ? But enough for one week ; we shall return in our next number to this measure of wholesale and atrocious robbery and slaughter ; and consider how itis te be met and defeated . For defeated it must be .

      Execdtic-K Or Thb Cojsvict Habriet Fabkb...

      _Execdtic-k or thb _Cojsvict Habriet _Fabkbb . — On Monday morninp , Harriet Parker , the woman who waa convicted at the last Sessions at the Central Criminal Court of the murder , by strangulation , of the two children of a man named Robert Blake , with whom she cohabited , underwent the extreme penalty of the law in front of Newgate . Since herconviotion she had not entertained or expressed a hope that her life would be spared ; ' and on being apprised that a remission of the extreme penalty of the law had been refused by Sir _G-. Grey , she received the information with great _firmne-s , and repeated sbe had not expected or hoped for mercy , admitting the justice of tbe punishment f . r the crime she had committed , but insisting that she had been driven to

      desperation by the conduct ol Blake . As early as two o clock in the morning , numbers of persons began to congregate in front of the prison , and long before the fatal hour , every house-top , window , and avenue where the slightest glimpse of the scaffold could be obtained was filled with a dense mas 3 ot persons . Shertly after seven o ' clock . Parker was conducted from the cell to what was called the tread-room , and thence to the scaffold . The fatal moment having arrived , the bell of the prison chapel began tolling , and the condemned woman walked firmly but with slight assistance to the scaffold , where in a few minutes she ceased to exist . The unfortunate woman remained up until two o ' clock on Monday morning , passing ber time in nraver . and reading the bible . She then slept for

      about three hours , when she rose , and at _siXOOloCK was joined by the rev . ordinary , and contmued in religious communion with him . Some time before eight o ' clock , she sang , in a deep clear voice , a hymn , with a firmness that surprised those who have been in tbe habit of attending the last hours' of the condemned . In the course of the night she wrote another letter to Blake , in which she begs of him to accept and read the accompanying blessed and holy biblewith & ttention _. thebible having been presented to her by Lady Pirie . The wretched woman was dressed in deep mourning . The last words she uttered were , ' May the Lord have mercy on me ! The salmon fishing on the Severn bids fair to be unusually productive , and some fish of extraordinary size ha ye already been caught .

      Tamai Pritmimft*

      _tamai _pritmimft _*

      Monday, Pn. 21. House Op Lords. — Diploh...

      MONDAY , Pn . 21 . HOUSE OP LORDS . — _Diplohatio _BELATiotro ( _Cobbt oi ? Bome ) Bill . —The Marquis of _Lanidowns , in bringing up the report on tbis bill , moved the Insertion of the words 'to establish and maintain relations with the court of Borne / with the view of having the same printed . The report was then received . IeisH _Pooa Laws . —EarlFiTzwiLLi & H , in _prasentlng the petition from Ireland on the suhjeet of WOlkhOUSeS , said he had received a lettor from a paid guardian in Ireland , stating that the poor Sn bis part of the country were satisfied with only 7 d . a week , or a penny a day . Ho thought the people of England ought to pay some consideration to the humility and virtue of a people who were contented with so small a pittance ; and he wished to ask the government and parliament ef Esgland whether tbey should continue

      to maintain the population of Ireland on so plu * fnl a sum ? £ 1 , 500 , 000 wbb granted by way of loan last year ; hut a larger sum had been applied for , and the amount appropriated did not exceed £ 1 , 000 , 000 , and that for 29 , 000 , 000 acres . He thought 180 , 000 men mig ht be beneficially employed on public works , and he alio considtred an extensive system of emigration necessary to relieve _Irelaad , the present tax upon the land for the support of the poor being up » vardB of £ 3 , 000 , 000 annually , and the amount collected only exceeded , by a _comparatively small sum , the amount which could sot ba obtained . In passing the Poor law Bill , sufficient constderation had not been given to the communities on which the taxation was to be- levied . The rural community consisted ef the landlord and his tenaals , and OUT legislature ought to _encourage those landed proprietors who employed their means in improving their lands ; but at present they were only doubly taxed .

      The Marquis of _Lussdownb _ageeed that the _PoorLiw had pressed heavily on some parts of Ireland where distress existed to a great extent , amounting almost to famine ; but , as a whole , it could not be complained of _. The total amount of poor rates in 1847 , iu Ireland , was £ 1 , 618 , 609 , giving an average ef 2 s . 5 d . In tho pound throughout the unions . It was gratifying to know that emigration was steadily increasing , and by a measure which had been prepared a number of the children of the poor would be provided for . The public works bad been carried to such an extent as to employ a large portion of the population , and by the grant which had been _maoe to landlords for the purpose of

      improvement , this mode of relief weuld bo continued . Upwards of £ 2 , 000 , 000 had been sanctioned out of the application which had been made , and there was not a county In Ireland in wbich works wero not proceeding in consequence of these _grants . Be had no doubt that the mode of rating had operated , with some degree of _ii-justice ; hut , after most mature deliberations , it had been thought that electoral divisions were best adapted to meet the exigencies of the case ; he did not , however , think it was a perfect mode of distribution . Government were prepared to enforce the poor rate , and to look carefully into the question of redistribution of « . i 3 ting divisions . ( Hear , hear . )

      After a few observations from Lords _Cabew and _Mohteaolb , the subject dropped . The 'TJmxiD Ibibhmas . '—Lord _St * slet gave notice that be would , on Thursday , call attention to a newspaper published in Dublin , called tho United _Ieibhhah , and which was of a rebellious and revolutionary

      ohar . _eter ; Ehigbatiok fboh Ibblakd . — Earl Gbbt , with reference to what he had said on a former ocoaBion , explained tbat the emigration he referred to would be confined strictly to those workhouses in which it would te proved that children bad been trained to habits of useful industry . They had been led to understand tbat in several of the unions there were a number of young female orphans trained to habits of useful domestic industry . Great care would be taken in selecting them , and in providing for their well . being _, both during the passage and after landing , and he had sanguine hopes that this emieratiom might be of considerable benefit to New South Wales and South Australia . He thought it desirable to state this , in order to prevent any _misapprehension whioh might occurupon the subject . The house adjourned at seven o ' clock .

      HOUSE OP COMMONS . —Mr Hobbhan gave notice that , on going iato Committee cf Supply , on Monday next , he would submit a motion to ti e sffect that the mode of assessing tbe income-tax should be . fo altered SB to render it more fair aad equal in its operation . Mr B . Obbobhe gave notice tbat he would move , aa an amendment to Sir R . _IsoLis ' _g motion for a committee on the new Houses of Parliament , an address to the Crowa , praying fer tbe appointment of a Bojal Commission to superintend the votes granted by Parliament , so as to ensure the finishing of the new Houses as speedily as possible . Mr Bbisht gave notice that , on the motion tbat the Speakee leave tbe chair to go into Committee of Ways and Means , on Monday next , he would move an instruction to the committee to extend the probate and _legacy duties to real property _. Sir B . Hall gave notice of his _iutentiea to more that the income-tax be extended to Ireland .

      The _Bcdset . —Tbe _Chakcellob of the Exchsqusb on moving that the bouse resolve itself into Committeeof Supply , adverted to some misapprehensions which had _gooo abroad with roepoot to tho intention of the government , and the financial _position of the country , aa ex . plained in the speech ofthe First Lord of the Treasury on Friday evening ; and intimated tbat it wss the wlah ofthe governmant to submit to the investigation of a secret and select committee the whole question of the Army , Navy , and Ordnance Estimates , which committeee ho would move for this day . It was erroneously supposed by some that the budget was a war budget , and that tbo increased expenditure was owing to military preparations , which were to be continued . So far from this being the case , most ofthe increase in

      the expenditure had Veen occasioned last year , and most now be provided for , the greater portion of the increase having had reference to peaceable and not to warlike objects . The policy ofthe government was peace , and ft would do nothing wbich was likely to compromise the tranqaUlity _' of the world . His reason for proposing a secret and select committee was , that there were many points , connected with tbe estimates in question , which wonld be mora preperly sifted by _soch a tribunal than by the honso itself , all the deliberations of which were public . Iu view of this committee , he trusted that ilr Home would forego the motion which he had upon tbe paper tor the postponement of the estimates , and that the house would avoid all premature and desultory discussion upon tbe budget at present , a * tbe whole subject would come before it next week .

      Mr Hcke was glad to hear that the speech of Lord J . Ru ? sell was not a war speech _; but if it was not te be considered warlike its tone and temper were very much se . He held in his bands the balance sheets for the years 1846 and 1818 , the first drawn up by Mr _Cardwell _, ond the latter by Mr Parker . The revenue in the first was £ 51 , 317 , 000—in the second £ 51 , 310 , 000 . In both years the cost of collection was four millions—so that tbe whole taxation in both ysara was nearly fifty-sir millions . He found , likewise , that tbe exeess of income over expenditure was on the 5 tb of January , _iste , £ 3 . 850 , 000 , and of expenditure over income on the Sth of _Jannary , 1848 , £ 2 , 956 , 009 . Such being the case , he had ssked why Lord J . _RuBgell , with such a deficiency before him , would not consent to make reductions iu our

      establishments . He'had also asked whether his lordship intended to inorease taxation without giving to the country the satisfaction of knowing what its income and its expenditure reallj were . If it could be shown that no reduction could be made , and tbat taxation must be increased , tbe government would not be damaged by the inquiry , and the country would make up its mind to bear with firmness a necessary burden . On Friday night , when instead of reductions announcement was made of an inorease of taxation to the amount of two and a half millions , he was roused te make tbe observations which _hethen'offered to the house . There was an additional payment announced , for the charge of the funded nnd unfunded debt , amounting to nearly half a million ; but there was no mention made that since 1846 £ 400 , 000 of terminable annuities had ceased , from which the country ought to _derive some relief . Knowing as he did the distress wh * a '» was now experienced by the _wotk ng classes , the shopkeepers , and the small traders , he

      _thsngbt that it became a very seriouo question , whether the government was acting wisely in its distribution of the public force . _Was there any reason for having so many ships of war in the Taguo and on the coast of Africa , where the expense and loss of life were perfectly frightful ? It was also worth knowing whether , since the last report on the subject , a single officer the less had been appointed in either the Bxcise or the Customs . H 8 also wished to revise onr whole system ot _taxstlen , with the purpose ef seeing whether taxes could not be raised in a better and cheaper manner . He had not , however , any wish to impede the publio service ; and he would therefore embrace the proposition just offered to him by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ene condition—namely , that he would consen t to tako a supply for sir weeks on account . At the close of that time tbe committee which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had just proposed would have made its report , and tho house would bs enabled to act accordingly .

      Mr Ewast felt the greatest dissatisfaction at the financial proposals of tbe government , and trusted that Its subsequent conduct with regard to the finances would bs each as would remove that dissatisfaction . Mr S . _Cbawjobp protested against tbe budget , propos . Ing , as It did , an expenditure utterly incommensurate with the resources of the country . Our military establishments were not only far larger than were required , but might one day , wben they fell into other hands , become dangerous to the liberties of the country . Committee or Supply . —The house went into Com . mittee of Supply on the navy estimates , and Mr Ward , without making the usual statement , moved for a vote of £ 235 , 600 for the naval excess of last year . Hr Hebbies and Mr BM « K . E 3 objected to the secret committee of which ths Chancellor of the Exchequer had given notice .

      Mr Hche refused to consent to the specific vote asked , though he would consent to a sum of money en account of the general estimates _. Lord Q . BentikcK declared that in hit opinion It was wholly unconstitutional to propose a secret committee to Inquire into tho state of the Royal Navy . Tbe Chancellor of the Exchequer had attempted to draw an analogy between the select coiamiUeeB from time to time appointed te inquire into the general finance ofthe country , aud this proposed committee to iu _^ uixa Iato oui

      Monday, Pn. 21. House Op Lords. — Diploh...

      naval and military defences . But there waa the most material difference between tbe two inquiries ; and unless tha Prime Minister was prepared to assort on his responsibility that _thfre were grave reasons of Stateand that there was imminent peril , ho ( Lord G Ben tinck ) would not consent to any _oeoictcomHiittee . Tha _gevernment was not fit to hold possession of office if tbey threw that responsibility , which proporly belonged to them , upon a secret committee . Lord J . _Bussell said that in 1786 , in 1797 , In 18 » 7 , in 1817 , and in 1828 , under various Ministers—Pitt , _Grenville , Liverpool , and _TVelllngton—tho house had appointed select commi ttees to inquire into tho whole

      expenditure , including ( he army , navy , and or _^ _nnnco . These committee * were not only select , but secret There . might be faote and evidence received \ . y tho proposed committee that it mi ght not be desirable to make public ; and he was ready to _Btate , on his responsibility , that it would be highly inconvenient to hare the pro . posed committee , au open one . The govemme * at did not wish to avoid responsibility ; on the contrary , tlieir proposal waa , that , in addition to the inquiries ofa eommit _' ea of tbe whole house , the estimates should bo subznittad to a secret committee . The noblo lord _emphatically declared that tho _eBtimatfcB _wers not war esti . mutes , nor framed with tho view to a rupture of peace .

      Mr Hebbies did not think tho precedents quoted by the noble lord were applicable . They were all _senerol _finanolal committees , very different from a committee to inquire into tbe defences of tbe country . Mr _Heblet considtred the proposal for a selcetcommitteo as nothing less than the abdication of tbe fune . tion 9 of government . Sir B . _Pebl said that , in 1828 , h _« had moved for the last committee to inquire into the military expenditure of the country . It was like those that preceded it , a select committee but not a secret i ne ; that is , it published its reports , but had the power of excluding evidence , and it had suppressed _ovldence oa military works , on tho ground of _prudt-ntial motives . ' Ultimately tho opposition was so strong tbat the _CHANCEltoa of the Excheqdeb consented to withdraw the specific rote before the Committee , and to take one on account .

      Lord J . _BcssBLL , in reply to a question from Mr _TIild-YiBD , repeated that be certainly shonld persist in asking the House on Monday Deit to assent to bis budget . As we had a deficiency in our revenuo to meet expeiidlturo , amounting to 2 , 000 , 600 or 3 , 000 , 000 , it would be necee 8 ary to meet Jt with Increased _^ taxation . If he could suppose that tha House could _t-ffect a reduction of 3 , 000 , 000 in the estimates , ho could then go on witheut any inorease ofthe property-tax ; but he could not suppose that any such reduction would be made . The Government did not _nish to get rid of _sny _renponsibility which belonged to it . It was _willing to submit the estimates not only to the _Investigation of a committee ol the whole Houao , but also of a select and secret committee besides .

      Mr DI 8 BAELI called attention to the extraordinary _11-leuoo oftho members , below the gangway on this , occasion—a silence which must be _highly gratifying to tho Government . He could not find In tho committee appointed by Sir B . Peel in 1828 any precedent for the secret committee now proposed . He likewise _hopsd tbat the Qovornment would tell the House why this com . mitteo was to be appointed . If it were not _intended for economical purposes , for what waa It intended 1 Lord Dudlet Stiubt also opposed the budget . Mr "Waklex remarked that tho gratification of ministers at the silence of the member * below the gangway ( upon which Mr Disraeli bad _obsTved ) would , he was aotry to say , be but of short _contiauance . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . member , however , ought not to feel surprised

      that those members abstained from epeahiDg on a very painful Bubject . It was his duty to Inform Lord John _BussbII that his proposition bad been roceivod hy bis ( _MrWakley's ) _coastitunnts with astonishment , indignation , and disgust . " ( Hsar , hear . ) Tbe publio were not particularly ploaBed with Sir B _. Peel , when he first proposed his three per cent , tux on property ana income for three years ; but there was so much hlandness , such a fascination in his manner of proposing it , and he paved the way to It so smoothly , that It was Impossible to Toe angry with bim . ( Hoar , hear , and & laugh . ) But the noble lord had resorted to no such expedient . He came out in a broad honest way with his proposal , ond It was quite evident tbat he _thought it woald not be unacceptable to the public . It was his conviction that ,

      though perhaps ministers might have succeeded In passing a renewal of tbo tax for three years more , it would be wholly out of their power to increase it to five per cent . ( Loud cheers . ) He might be wrong ; but , from what be bbw nnd _, heard _, he believed th » _pseplo would make such representations te tbeir representatives ; that they would not dare to Bupport the govern _, ment in tbat proposition . fHear , hear . ) Should this increase be submitted » o for two years , what man in his senses could suppose tbat it would be afterwards abandoned—( hear , bear )—especially after the experience they had ofthe present income-tax t The public were right , therefore , in resisting at once a proposal that involved one of tbe most dishonest and disgraceful modes of taxation that _had ever been tolerated . ( Hear . ) If

      John Boll was content to bear this burden , then let government give him more of it—punish him for hia Stupidity —( hear , ahd a laugh)—and before the end of tbe session , make it 7 _| or even 10 per cont . ( Hear , hear . ) It would servo him right . ( Hear , hear . ) It would appear that when ministers found the country in a difficulty , they asked what was done od the last occasion of difficulty . The answer was of course , 'Oh , a dose of the _ineome-tax . ' ( Hoar , _andalautb . ) 'Then double tbe dose this time ' waa the remedy proposed . But were the doctors certain that their patient's strength would endure those constant _drastlo _purges—was it not possible that he had been _alrsady reduced too much ? He regretted Mr Hume had not persisted in his Amendment which he would certainly bave supported . Just

      before Christmas _thn house was called upon to consider the distress witb which all clauses were _afflicted and tbe great loss which bad been entailed upon our _commerco and manufactures , and now , in a few _sbert weeks after—without any attempt being made to reduce tbe burdens which were already weighing down the public—a new proposition was brought forward to increase the pressure npon them . He believed there would be \ ao difficult * whatever If ministers would reduce our establishments to what was really necessary in bringing the expenditure of the country within the income . ( Hear , _hssr . ) "What fudge and sonsenae it was to talk about war with France or any other country . ( Cheers . ) Suppose a war did come , how long would it tako to prepare for it ? But there

      was no danger of anything of tbe kind . The people of foreign countries were now too busily occupied in im . proving their ewn domestic institutions to think of Interfering with Others , ( Hear , hear . ) If subjects were wise , war was a game which governments would not dare to play . ( Hear , hear ) -There was not the remotest chance or prospect of a foreign invasion . We were at peace with all the _werld , and yet eur expendl . ture fi _> r tbe naval and military establishments of tbe country was to ba increased —( bear , hear ) —and that , top , by . means of a tax which , as regarded a large _claas of the people , was no _better than a robbery . ( Hear , hear . ) All taxes , to be juei , must be equal ; but the Income tax presse d heavily and unjustly on tho poor man—the man wbo came just within its grip—while tbe property tax scarcely touched the rich man . He held that the income tax was an impolitic and an Iniquitous tax upon the Industry of tb _« country , ( Sear , hear . ) He had received a letter from one of big constituents , in

      which the oppressive opera tion of tho Income tax was described . [ The hon . member read the lettor , whioh stated tbat tho writer _Irnd an incomo ju 9 t over the £ 150 a year , that he had a wife and large family to support , that he was compelled to maintain a respectable appear _, auce , or he could not hold his situation , and to educate his _childrrn ; that his income wonld cease altogether In the event of illness , and complained that besides being called upon to pay _assested taxes , he had to pay as much for income tax as a _psr _« _on who had £ 0 000 in tbe funds , of whieh no contingency could deprive him ; and which would be » vailable In case of death for the support of his wife and family—whereas , if the wrlterdled , his family must he left destitute , tho pressure of taxation upon him being so heavy that , to make provision for them , or for sickness , by saving , was impossible , ] Tbis person called upon him to oppose the proposed Increase . Another correspondent had suggested that the tax should be charged on alt beyond £ 150 a year . ( Hear . )

      Several voteB were then agreed to tor the navy and army , after some discussion , and the house resumed . Pbbmc Health . —Lord Mobhth then moved the second readiBg of the Public Ilealth Bill , in the hope tbat tbe house would not object to the bill at once passing through that _stane , it being his intention to give ample time for its consideration befdre going Into committee . The bill , after some desnltory conversation , was then read a second time . _PA'SEnoebb Bill— Mr _Labodmube then moved tht second reading of the Passengers Bill .

      Mr Hohe , after drawing a frightful picture of tho disease and pestilence prevailing on board the emigrant ships which carried the emigrants from Ireland lant year to British North America , and after insisting on the propriety of taking Immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of such melancholy events in future , recommended the _government , Instead of amending the two acts now in force , to consolidate them into one statute , aad to form tbem imo one compact and intelligible system . Mr LAdouoiizbb admitted that the terrific description which Mr Hume had just given of the disease and pes . tilence carried by Irish emigrants into our North American colonies rendered it imperative upon the govern _, vent to _devtae measure * for the prevention of evils 10

      detrimental , not only to the eoloniBts _, but also to tbe emigrants _themselves . Itwas not surprising that thti danger to which human life bad thus been exposed bad excited a strong feeling against _immigration in British North Amorica . The commissioners of emigration bad drawn up the bill thon bofore the house with tha vlow of applying a remedy t _$ a state of thtogB In _eviry point of view bo deplorable . The principal _featuras-of the bill were shortly th « se : —There was , first , a clause _onlarglng tho apace _allotted to each emigrant from ten to twelve feet ; thero was noxt , another , enacting thatthe owners of emigrant ships to British North America should , ns the emigrant ships to Australia now did , carry sufficient provisions to sustain the lives of theiz _paBsengers during tbo voyage ; ond there was , lastly , a ' clause appointing a government officer or superinttaihmt

      Monday, Pn. 21. House Op Lords. — Diploh...

      to ses tbe regulations of the bill onforced . It had been recommended that every emigrant ship should be compelled tti take a surgeon j but bo could not advise the houso to accede to _euch a recommendation . He proposed te rtfer this bill , after it wns rvad a second time , to a _askct committee . "When it had been amended there he would read it a third time , and after it had bt en read a third time he would withdraw . it . He would then incorporate it with tho Passengers Regulations Bill , and would introduce it again as a now bill , provided it were _lunkMood . that Jt should then p » 6 a without _discustiioti , A short discussion ensued , which terminated la the second reading of the bill , and its being referred to a select committee , and , after disposing of some other unimportant business , the houso adjourned at twelve o ' clock , *•

      TUESDAY , F £ beuabt S 2 _nd , HOUSE OF LORDS . —The Earl of Aberdeen , in a speech deseriptlvo of the past efforts , and the present exertions made anil making for thn suppression of the _slave-trado , concluded by _moving for returns showing the number of vessels captured by the different squadronsof the different nations , since the treaty was _effec ted , by which it was stipulated that Buch a force should ba employed on the coast ' of Africa with that _object . The Earl of Auckland said there could he no difficulty in Riving the returns . He wa 9 anxious , however , to say a _ftirr words in eorr _.-boration of what had fallen from tha noble lord . Iu tho last letter ho received from Sir _ClurleB Adam , tbat gallant officer stated that he had

      _nsw finished tho first year of hia command , and he _shou'd be _ablatoshow more _prizaa and fewer deaths than _( luriug any preceding similar period . Tbe per _oentage of _deaths had been roiiuced during the last year from five per cent . In 1815 to two percent , in 1817 ; and the number of Invalids had baen reduced in proportion . The island of AscenBion has been made a place of sanitary resort , and no vessel was now allowed to remain moro than two years upon the station . ( Hear , hour . ) With reBpect to the general question , he must any , that he thought it would be a greut bio" to civilisation If they withdrew their squadron from the coast and allowed that Bjstem to bo revived which so much was now done to check and put » n end to _.

      Lord Stamlei had expressed his opinions upon this subject on a former occasion , ne thought it right to say , that the _sentimenti he then expressed wtrecuriously identical with the opinions expressed to-night by thn noble lord . He bad then said , that if he hud to choose an a means of patting down the slave trade between the admission of slave-grown 9 ujjar and tbe continuance of tl \ e squadron on the coast of Africa , he should , as least likely _teprovoeffective , prefer a measure of financial prohibition to the continuance ofthe squadron . What ho intended to say was , that he very much feared that the legislation of 1846 would be calculated to destroy all thatfleeta could effect . The Bishop of Exbtbb wished to express bis hope that if it was the decided system of this country to promote the admission of slave grown sugar , all checks would be ta' en off the free impoitation of _alavea ftom Africa . It was obvious that such checks only caused additional suffering to the unhappy _slavej _.

      Earl Gebt emphatically denied that it waB the pulley of ber Majesty ' s government to encourage the growth or admission of slave-grown suzar . They maintained the argument , that if tho f ngar 6 of other countries were admitted Bt all , it was practically impossible to exclude slave-grown sugar . It was proved to demonstration that Cuba sugar cane in as the produce of other countries _, and that we could not avoid that consequence . It wan proved also that the treaties of thin country wholly preolttded our checking such importation ; and , indeed , the only occasion on wbich he had ever known a British

      minister act in diplomacy like a pettifogging attorney was , wben a noble lord tried to get over that difficulty . Lord Denkax was not sure tbat he entirely understood the _rlgbt reverend prelate in the same sense as tbe noble earl appeared to understand him ; but certainly if the effect of the admission of _slave-gronn sugars _wasfiuch as had heen depicted , be should be in . clined to agree with the right rev . prelate that it would he more desirable to the cause of humanity to withdraw the _pquadron . Upon that point , however , he was not convinced .

      _Lori Abbbobton remarked that with respect to what had been said by tbe noble lord abmit tbe admission of _slave . grown sugar , he wished him to bear in mind that the mischief was done , and that without an immediate review of the law of 1816 , our colonies must he Inevitably ruined . If their lordships would go into inquiry upon the subject , tbey wonld find that onr colonies even with a partial protection , could not compete with alave-holding countries . There was no denying the fact—no shirking tha question—that after the millions laid out upon tbe slave-trade , we were absolutely at thiB time stimulating asd promoting It by our legislative measures .

      The Earl of _Abebdejk wished only to say a word as to an allusion which Earl Grey had made to an act in which he took part , and which he had strangely chosen to stigmatise as ' pettifogging . ' He ( LorJ Aberdeen ) would only say that the act allnded to received the sanction of the house , and thak his own conscience had _ba . 'tl entirely satisfied respecting it . Subsequent rb _(* uct \ on convinced him that the course he then _putsaed was en . tirely correct . _Eorl _GaEi expressed bis regret tbat he had used tbe word complained of . H » had no doubt that the noble lord had acted on this , as on all other occasions , with that high sense of honour which always Influenced hira . Atthosame time , hs had been Bovry to see this country placed in tho position In wbich tbe government of which the noblo lord was a member had placed her , After a few words from the Earl of _HaBBowbt the motion was agreed to . Their lordships adjourned at _half-past seven .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The second reading ef Ma _Maocltffield Water _Wurks and Improvement Bill was lost on a division by a _majority of seventy-three . —Tho second rending of the New Smitlifield _, or Great Metro _, politan Cattle Market and Abattoirs Company Bill , belnir _strong _t y opposed , was , on tbe motion of Mr OfBoBNE , put off for six months , and consequently lost . Select Committeb or _Expendi-toms . —The _Chancellor of tho Exchequer stated _thegrouudson which tbe go vernment thought it desirable to appoint two committees—tbe one a select committee to inquire into the expenditure for miscollaneoua services , and to report to the house whether any reductions can , in their opinion be effected or any . _unproreaient made in the

      mode of submitting this branch of the publio expendl . ture to tbo consideration of Parliament ; _5 and the other a select committ 9 e to inquire into the expenditure or , account of tbo navy , army , and ordnance , and to report their observations thereupon to tho bouae . It had heon usual for the house from timo to time , to appoint such committees to inquire Into the expenditure and income of the coun . try . He himself when sitting- on the opposite benches , bad viewed with seme _uneaBieeaa the increasing expenditure of the country , The increase in connexion with our . military and naval _estab'ishments alone since 1835 had been from £ 11 , 700 , 01 ) 0 to £ 17 300 , 000 . Of this the increase for tho army had been but small , tbat for the navy abaut three millions

      and a half , whilst the expenditure for the ordnance _was how double that which it was in 1835 . Tbat increase was a fit subject for inquiry . He had no doubt that the _increase of expenditure had been justifiable—it had , olroost without opposition , received tho sanction of tbe House , and the greater part of it had been pressed on the Government by individual members . During the four ycarB in which he bad himself been Secretary of _Adaol _ralty he had been repeatedly called _upen to defend himself fromWack for not having taken _sufficient tare of tbe naval armaments of tbo country . He , therefore , was of opinion that neither the Iato nur the present Govern _, ment were responsible for the increase which bad taken place . But on that account that Increase was not less fitting to be made tbe subject of inquiry by the House of

      Commons ; and _therefore ha had come forward ono former evening to propose a select and secret com . mhteo to make Buch Inquiry . Mr Hume had pro . posed to appoint a finance committee wbich would embrace an inquiry into the wide subject of our ncem « and expenditure . The government thought that , SB before in 1817 and in 1328 , 6 uch a wide field of inquiry might lead tobenifiolal results ; but Mr Hume was n't _content even with that , for he wished to inquire also Into the cost of collecing the revenue , and iato tbe question of imposing direct or indirect taxation . He ( Sir C , Wood ) thought it better that their Inquiries Bhould embrace a part rather than the whole ef such extensive subjects . The government had laid the estimates for the year or tho table , and did not _rhrink from the

      responsibility which belonged to them . Though the government was prepared to defend them in most of their details , It thought that it wa ? desirable to submit them to tbo examination of committees , in which they c » uld be more conveniently discussed than in a committee of the wholo houso . It wua fitting to inquire how far the increase la the miscellaneous estimates , nhich was occasioned by the transfer of local charges to the public charge , na » justifiable . Itwas fitting also to inquire how tar the increaBe in tbe military and naval estimates of tho country had been occasioned by tbe den ire of the house to increase the personal comforts and efficiency of tliOBe ongaged ia our military and naval service , It would ba bad economy to otop works now in progress ; nnd it would bo _eatisfactory that tho propriety of those works should be recognised by the vote of a committee . A question had also been raised as to the proper _distributes of our _iorce ; aud gentlemen said that it was

      worth inquiring whether we could not render the tarn . * , If not a less amount of force , more available to the defence of the United Kingdom . Having described the advantages which had been derived from the reports of such committees as he had proposed , he said that tho go vemment on the present occasion would propose the number of mon to be voted for tbe three services fer the ensuing year , but would not withdraw from the examination ofthe two committees which he now proposed to appoint any part ofthe expenditure which was necessary for their support , He admitted that he had _proposed last night tbat these committees should be secret com . mitteo " , and tbat In so doing he ' had aotod under misapprehension . Ha now only intended lo move that they should bo select committees ; for they would bave power in themselves to exclude the public from thoir sittings , ond any matter which it would bo injurious to publish from their report . He then concluded by formally putting his motion . Lord O . Bentinck : felt himself relieved in a great degree from the opposition which he had threatened last

      Monday, Pn. 21. House Op Lords. — Diploh...

      night by the faet that the government bad _ahnndonedei its declaration of last night , and bad given u ? tbo si _erccyc _; of these committee * . He _imagined that M _' n ' atrr * wi n n going to abandon the prerogative 01 thecroivn todec ! d « d . upon the amount of the army and tho navy , and upwr the general defences of the country . He presumed _thatat the inquiry to which the attention of these _commktMwj was to be directed would not be as to tbe increase of Oum « armaments , but as to the diminution of oar expenses . _MrDisBAEiisaidthatafew weeks ago the _houae hadid been told in tho speech from the tbrone , that the _esti-imares bad boen framed , ' with 0 careful _regard totheie exigencies ofthe pnbhe service , ' aBd yet now tbe Chan-jcel / or ofthe Exchequer nouid not undertake to say thattt considerable reductions might not be made in those e

      same estimates . _Last ' nieht they had beeu told that at it decennial periods from 1787 to 1848 finance committees 9 had been appointed to inquire into the expenditure and i income of the country , and had therefore been author--ised to iuquiro into the costs of the public establish- - _ments It happened , however , that in every instance a the inquiry into the military and nav . il estimates had I only been corollary ; and what else happened * That t in every case in wliich such committees of finance had I been appointed , their appointment had been announced I in the speech from the Throne , ne was _afra'd that t Ministers were proposing theBe committees , not for pur- ¦ posesof economy , but for the purpose of _obtdinrn _^ from I them rccommendatioii 8 for Increased establishment ! - , and l

      for increased taxation . If , as it seemed , there was no > precedent for the proposition of the government , the 1 house ought to look at the principle involved in it . Ic ; was nothing less than this—that Ministers were shuf- . fling the responsibility frt , m their own _shouliers upon . those of tbe House of Commons , He thought that the > government had made a great mistake in thu course 1 which it bad taken . Ho did net , however , intend to 1 resist it , _Happj' men were Ministers ; f . jr even their blundcrB compelled their opponents to assist th- m . _Fe 1 intended to follow the example of Lord G Bentinck , and ! to allow the motion to pass , merely _entering his protest i aga _' _nst It as a measure contrary to the practice of per . . liament , and not conducive to the dignity of the Aduii- . nistratlon .

      Mr Hume observed , that if theBe _commitieon were 1 fairly sippointed and performed their duty , they wonld I do much good , but not otherwise . He theref » re implored 1 _tVie government to eonstitutotbem in a satisfactory man- ¦ nor and not to place upon them men who had become i _hocknied and callous to large estimates , The system t of Free Trade which Sir R Peel had introduced had led 1 to important changes in our system of taxation , and ot ! the principle of those changes he cordially approved . He was , therefore , of opinion that a committee ought to be appointed to examino how our present revenue was raieed , what changes could hs _mudo in the niodo of raising it , whither it could not bo raised in a way which would he less oppressive to the subject , and whether the weight of taxation _mightnot ba _diminished . He hoped that no estimates would be voted until the reports of these committees were received _.

      Sir II . Peel observed tbat his chief object m rising on ths previous night was to express kin doubt as to wLetbertbe _precedents bore out the proposition for a secret committee . The former commiltocB were select , not secret . Although lie would offer no opposition to tho appointment of the committee , he was bound to say that be was then perfectly prepared to give his opinion as to the estimates proposed . He agreoil witb Lord G . Bent ' nok , that no committee , whilst it could not adequately discharge them , should be entrusted with the powers and functions of the Executive government , There waa an erroneous impression abroad that _governments were prone unnecessarily to increase the expenditure . The very reverse was the case , for even if Ministers acted with a sole regard to the stability ofthe Cabinet , they

      would butter secure thoir object by conciliating the House of Commons with reduced estimate !) , t _' _-an by procuring support from friends out _ofdoora . The right hon . gentleman t _^ en adverted to the panic which _hadexisted but a month ago , and congratulated the house that ii bad _* o rapidly subsided . He confessed that he bad been uuder some apprehension that government would be un'iul _; influenced by tbat alarm , and was rather relieved to find that no increase was proposed in tbe estimates . He bad read the letter of anoble friend of his for whom he entertained a high respect , indicating the course which should be taken in case of invasion . ( A laugh . ) That letter stated that in such an emergency the duty of tha Lord Mayor of London would be—not to summon the citizens to ita defence—but to make tbe Mansion House

      head quarters for making out billets for the French _, army . ( Laughter . ) He must say that when he read that letter , he thought it gave a most imperfect and unjust account of the spirit of Englishmen . ( Cheers . ) Ho did not mean ofthe military—even tbat splendid corps the guards , which his noblo friend had since relieved from all imputation—but ofthe strength of the country , of the spirit of the men of matnre age , ay , and even tbe old men and old women . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Ho verily believed that if the Lord Major , instead of occupying himself in the defence of the metropolis , wtre te abandon that duty for the purpose of billeting the French army , he would perform that duty in secret , and dara R _« t show himself in Cheapside . ( Chcera * n < t l _.-ingbter , ) He was perfectly convinced tbat if an attempt should ba made to subject tbis country either to insult or invasion , it was difficult to estimate the spirit with nhich buck an

      attempt would be met . ( Hear , hear . ) He Buid nothing against the propriety of taking proper precautions , hacause although we knew what would be the ultimate result of any attempt , _jet even the most partial success must be _accompanied with much ruin to private fortuno and great desolation . ( Hear . ) But ho confessed tbat on seeing tho estimates , after reading all the reoeHtpublications , so far from being astounded by the _propositioa of the government , he was groatly relieved by the _proposition of the noble lord . He thought that a wiso discretionhad been exercised in not increasing the naval < e military forces . None but a government could know the amount of force necessary ; and when a proposition was made on the responsibility of government , the _circumstances must be vsty vlear whieh could induce him , as a private individual , te offer any opposition to snch proposal ,

      Mr Bruanr could assure the r / gbt hon . baronet that so far as the north of England was concerned , the panic which prevailed had no reference to any f * ar of Fiench invasion , but rather to an apprehension that that cry would be made the pretext for increasing tbe military forces of tbe country , and bo to add to tbe burden of taxation , ( near . ) Neither was this alarm altogether groundless , for tbe people remembered well that soma years ago a senseless rumour of war with RubbU , and _subsequently a foolish _pamphlet published by a French prince , had been seized by the government of the day as groundB for adding to our militarj and naval _ests . blisbmenti . The right hoa , gentleman had stated tbat there was to be no increase in the srmy ; hut , aa ha understood , the 5 , 000 mon who had biea recruited for India , but who were no longer required thtre _. _wereto

      be made part of the permanent force of tbis country . What was tbat but an increase ot the military force of thecoantry _? ( Hear , haar . ) Again , though the _nahla lord did not propose any actual addition to the number of men voted for toe _oreoy , he had intimated that the country must look forward to 9 gradual augmentation of that force ; and when they found tbat in about tea years the estimates for the army and navy _had increased from eleven to seventeen millions , what security had they that ih ten years more another ten millions _would _notjbe added 1 ( Hear , hear . ) As to what had been _tald about not interfering with the present _estimates , it waa rather an extraordinary doctrine for their days to hold that tho army , navy , and ordnance establishments were Such sacred things tbat they must not be touched b y a committee of tbat house . He would say , if ministers refused to sanation the recommendation of the committee

      ofthe house—supposing tbat tbe result of the inquiry _ShouUl be to show that some reduction mijjht _eaftly bo made—their course would be to vacate their offices . ( Hear , heBr . ) Colonel Sibthobp hoped the proposed _comrsittje would extend their inquiries to tbe salaries of the principal officers of tho several public departments . He , bowever , thought it n _darg-roui precedent to transfer the functions of tha House of Commons to any select committee . He anticipated no good result frem the inquiry _. With regard to the financial scheme of _uiinieters _, there was but one fueling throughout this _metropolis ,

      aid that was a feeling of _diBgnst . ( Hear . ) But , If tha people had only the courage , and spirit , and the perseverance to make thtir remonstrances heard in that house , the noble lord and his colleagues might bid a speedy adieu to office . ( Hear . ) It might bs aBked , who were the men to take their places ! Would he ( Colonel Slbtborp )? ( 'Hear , ' and a laugh . ) For no price in the world would be accept office , ( Renewed _laughter . ) But ha would say to the _paople of thia couatr / , 'Take your stand , and do yonr duty _ns-an Englishmen ought to do , andyou will _so'jn find an honest ministry . ' ( Hear , hear . )

      Lord J . R 088 ELL said so far had he boen from proposing great armaments , that he had actually proposed the same amount of force as last year , with the exception of an addition to the marines of 1 , 500 men , which _, he had announced bis intention of making last year , und of another addition to tbe artillery . With _respeot to the number of men to be employed during the year , the government did n _» t wi « h tori . ) Itself of any _rosponeibility , Tbey w « ro of opinion that the consideration of auch a circumstance _belonged to the _goverumeBr , asd the government alone , which ought to fix the _number of mtn sufficient forthe service of tho _country uader any existing emergency . Ho admitted that the war ia Africa had been very expensive . England , however ,

      coald not allow Its colonists to be murdered , though it was hard that the whole _txponao of 61 fending them Bhould foil upon tbe mo ther country . He also con . tended that in a foreign country British subjects had _s right to be protected by tho public force of this country . That protection had been afforded to them 3 tMe » h » _» and must be extended to thoso at Canton . The Exoeu . tive Government would bo e reat ! y to blame if it gave less protection to British subjects tban in former times ' , aud if it allowed the name of an Englishman to be less respected than it hitherto had boen . His _lorthhip concluded by declaring that bo did not shrink from tha defence of the _ostimatca , and that he wanted no com mittee to Bcretn bim .

      Mr G . _BiHKEB contended that the country _va _» ia * debted to Mr Hunio _, and not to tbe government , for tbo appointment of these committees ' Sir B . _Ikolis « 4 nined all his objection to the priaclple ot a government transferring its resoonsibility to committees , of that heme .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 26, 1848, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_26021848/page/7/