as he says, to promote the objects of this great exhibition, I very much regret that he did not accept the invitation of the Lord Mayor, that we might have thanked him for the effective aid with which he has, it appears, endeavoured to promote its ultimate success by the speech he delivered the other night in this house." Lord BROUGHAM, who sat covering his face with his hand, now rose to reply, with much energy. In the course of his reply, he declared that he possessed the kindest and most benevolent feeling that he could possibly entertain for Lord Stanley; but rebuked him for attempting by a dull joke to set people laughing at an absent man. He concluded by saying that no one could entertain a higher respect for that illustrious Prince; a respect increased by the interest which the Prince has recently shown in the condition of the working classesso that it is difficult to know which most to admire, the sound judgment or the benevolent feelings of the Prince." Their lordships, who had roared with laughter during this encounter, now composed themselves and proceeded to business, which was of an unimportant nature.

On Monday, the 25th, Lord BROUGHAM moved the second reading of a bill intended to Reform the Proceedings in the Court of Chancery, in cases where the will of a deceased person was uncontested, and to assimilate the proceedings to the course provided under the winding up of railway acts. The noble and learned lord introduced his motion with a graphic description of the delay, expense, and irritation to which parties were subjected in that court, even in cases where there was no opposition whatever, and stated that the effect of his measure would be to reduce the preliminary expenses from between 2001. to 3007., which they were now, down to 5s., with a proportionate saving in all the subsequent steps of the suit. Lord LANGDALE expressed a cordial concurrence in the objects of the bill, though he had some doubts whether this measure would attain them. The bill was then read a second time, and the house adjourned for the Easter recess until Thursday, April 11th.

Greek government, and his lordship mentioned a confirmatory fact, which, however, appeared to be rather amusing than convincing to the house, namely that the British fleet had fired a salute in honour of the Queen of Greece.-The Parliamentary Voters (Ireland) Bill was considered in committee. Sir R. FERGUSON moved the omission of the 2nd clause, which gave a title to vote to joint-occupiers rated at 81. each; but after some discussion, upon a division the clause was retained by 144 against 104. Clause 3, creating a freehold county franchise of the rated value of 5., was opposed by Mr. REYNOLDS, as a dangerous innovation, opening the door to fictitious voters, since neither occupancy nor payment of rates is required. Sir Frederick THESIGER followed up the objection, and in a long speech supported an amendment by which he proposed to secure that the 51. value should be net value above all rates and charges. The amendment was rejected, by 106 to 30.Clause 6, creating a borough franchise for 87. occupants, was criticised by a number of Irish members, as too high in value; Lord CASTLEREAGH, Mr. MONSELL, and Mr. M'CULLAGH joining in the representations that an 87. franchise is higher for Ireland than a 107. one for England; and urging reconsideration of the matter in favour of a 51. franchise.-Lord John RUSSELL resisted all importunities; stating, that if the proposal of 51. were adopted there would be little chance of the bill passing this session. A 51. amendment was negatived, by 142 to 90.

On Tuesday, the 5th, Mr. SLANEY moved for a committee to consider on the plans which might be devised for the Social Improvement of the Labouring Classes. Concerning the distressed condition of those classes, the honourable member entered into many details. He showed, by the returns of mortality, pauperism, and criminality, how wide and excessive was the destitution under which they were now suffering. The causes of this deplorable state of things ought to be discovered, and the remedies pointed out. In an economical point of view, the question was most important. Want and its consequences, in the shape of hospitals, gaols, workhouses, transportation, and all their accessories, amounted altogether, for England alone, to an aggregate of twentyOn Thursday, the 28th of February, in the HOUSE OF seven millions, and for the whole of the United Kingdom COMMONS, Mr. HUME moved for leave to bring in a could not be less than forty millions annually. All the bill to Amend the National Representation, by extend-remedial measures, for improving the education, proing the elective franchise to resident occupiers of houses tecting the health, and increasing the employment of or lodgers for a year, rated to the poor; by enacting the poorer classes, had originated with private members, that votes shall be taken by ballot; the duration of and had neither received due attention from the governparliaments limited to three years; and the proportion of ment, nor attracted its fitting share of interest in parliarepresentatives made more consistent with the amount ment. He concluded with denouncing the laissez-faire of property. The debate which ensued was not charac- system of legislation.-The motion was directly opposed terised by novelty, the usual topics being urged on by Mr. TRELAWNEY, as a proposition to do for the both sides. On a division the motion was negatived by working-classes what they ought to do for themselves; 242 against. 96. by Mr. CAMPBELL, as an attempt to constitute an unpaid commission for doing what a paid commission would do better; and by Mr. STANFORD, on the ground that it is unnecessary-if gentlemen would voluntarily devote themselves to the inquiry during the recess, their labours could not fail of being advantageous to the government. Sir George GREY bore witness to Mr. Slaney's devotion to the subject, and his desire to benefit the workingclasses; but he expressed doubts as to the possibility of working a commission of four or five. The only effect of such a plan would be to overwhelm parliament with blue books, full of matters on which there is already ample information. When any proposition to promote the welfare of the working-classes is clearly and distinctly recognised, there is no necessity for any committee to carry it out.-Mr. HUME concurred in Sir George Grey's doubts; and Mr. SLANEY withdrew his motion.

On Friday the 29th, Sir B. HALL presented several petitions from subscribers to Mr. Feargus O'Connor's National Land Scheme, complaining that they had been deceived. Mr. O'CONNOR defended himself: he had deceived nobody; had got no money out of anybody; and had neglected no means of securing the welfare of his clients and subscribers. The petitioners had paid, he said, little or no rent; the scheme was his debtor for large advances, and it was no fault of his that the company had not been fully registered, and its financial concerns placed under the control of responsible trustees. He had applied to Lord Duncan and Mr. S. Crawford to assume those functions, but had received a refusal from the former. Finally he promised to offer a bill to settle the affairs of the association under the supervision of parliament.

Lord PALMERSTON, on Monday the 4th of March, gave some explanations respecting the State of our Relations with Greece. He said that application for redress having been refused by the Greek government, reprisals had been made upon Greek vessels in order to obtain security for satifying our demands, and that the reprisals were thought, at the date of the last accounts, the 18th of February, to be sufficient for the purpose; that the good offices of the French government had been accepted, but that the French negotiator had not arrived; that diplomatic relations with Greece had not been suspended, Mr. Wyse being still in diplomatic intercourse with the

The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Marriages Bill was resumed on the 6th. Mr. HOPE opposed the bill, on the ground that it would be but one step, because the legislature, if it passed the present measure, would be compelled to legalise all marriages which had been contracted in violation of the present law. He stated that 280 clergymen in various parts of the country have returned information that they know of 269 marriages within the prohibited degrees. Of these cases, 178 were marriages of the deceased wife's sister: the remaining 91 cases were marriages of persons stand

ing in the relations following-marriages with a brother's widow, 41; own aunt, 6; own niece, 19; wife's daughter, 6; own half-sister, 1; father's wife, 1; brother's wife's daughter, 1; son's wife, 2; uncle's wife, 3; wife's niece, 11. The marriages with the wife's sister were "almost without one exception" in the upper and middle ranks of life; and the other marriages were mostly in those ranks. In one of the marriages with an uncle's wife, the parties were a clergyman and a peeress. The cases of marriage with the aunt and the niece were those of tradesmen, yeomen, and farmers, generally men of substance. A lieutenant-general in the army married a lady, and then her aunt; subsequently a third lady, and then the third lady's niece. It was visible from these cases that the grievance was not one that pressed especially on the poor.-The bill was supported by Mr. S. Herbert, Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Milnes; and opposed by Mr. Roebuck, Lord Mahon, Mr. Sheil, Mr. Goulburn, and others. The second reading was carried by 182 to 130.

some length ensued, and the motion was negatived by 176 against 121.

On Friday the 8th, Mr. COBDEN moved a resolution on the subject of the Public Expenditure, in the following terms:-That the net expenditure of the government for the year 1835, amounted to 44,422,000.; that the net expenditure for the year ending the 5th day of January, 1850, amounted to 50,853,000.; the increase of upwards of 6,000,000, having been caused principally by successive augmentations of our warlike establishments, and outlays for defensive armaments; that no foreign danger, or necessary cost of the civil government, or indispensable disbursements for the services in our dependencies abroad, warranted the continuance of this increase of expenditure; that the taxes required to meet the present expenditure impeded the operations of agriculture and manufactures, and diminished the funds for the employment of labour in all branches of productive industry, thereby tending to produce pauperism and crime, and adding to the local and general burdens of the On Thursday, the 7th, Mr. Poulett SCROPE moved people; that to diminish these evils it was expedient for a special commission to inquire into the state of the that the house should take steps to reduce the annual Kilrush Union. He gave the following description of expenditure, with all practicable speed, to an amount not its present condition :-The extent of the Kilrush Union exceeding the sum which within the last fifteen years is about 150,000 acres, its population in 1841 was 80,000, has been proved to be sufficient for the maintenance of and its rental in 1845 was about 60,000l. From the inor- the security, honour, and dignity of the nation. In dinate rents, the famine threw the entire population on the support of his motion, he contended that, though in relief works: 110,0007.-double the rental-was expended every branch of our national expenditure there was on these works in 1846-7, and in August 1847, 133,000l. great waste, ostentation, and jobbing, he did not object of public money had been expended: but from favour- to her Majesty's income, and he held in high estimation itism and other abuses the poor were still left to starve. her domestic virtues; but he considered that many of the The Poor-law Amendment Act threw the Union on its court offices ought to be abolished-that of the Master of own resources; a rate was not struck till nearly two- the Buckhounds, for instance, whose salary should pay thirds of the population had perished, or been removed the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench. He compared our by evictions; and, being chiefly due from the guardians diplomatic expenditure with that of America, and prothemselves, the rates were allowed to fall in total tested against the payment of 10,000l. per annum to our arrear. The Union became bankrupt; out-door relief ambassador at Paris, while the representative of the was stopped, and the in-door paupers were left starved United States had but 2,0007.; and he treated our judiand unclothed. The mortality from disease became cial expenditure in a similar manner, showing that enormous, and verdicts of death by starvation numerous. while the supreme judge at Washington, the head of In three weeks relief was recommenced, and 12,500 per- American jurisprudence, had but 1,2007. a-year, a judge sons received aid: it was discontinued again; and then in impoverished Ireland had 8,000. He deprecated the again it was renewed, to be continued to the present expense of the new houses of parliament, and the entire time. The deaths from insufficient food were 21 in system of parliamentary business, printing, and manageNovember, in December 71, in January 140: poor ment, as grossly extravagant; and he then went into wretches travelled twenty miles for relief, stood all day every denomination of our armaments all over the at the door, and had to go home at night with their world; he declared his belief, that although the imporcases even unheard. Who (Mr. Scrope asked) is tunities of the professions, which had already interrupted responsible for this frightful state of things?the the house with a debate upon the brevet, were very guardians, who accuse the Poor-law Commissioners? urgent with ministers, they would be willing to reduce the commissioners, who throw the responsibility on the the expenditure of the country if they were strongly government? or the government itself? In England, snpported by the house.-Mr. LABOUCHERE, in reply, the administrators of the Poor-law have been declared maintained that the apparent increase of 6,000,0007. had responsible for refusing relief. If the rates were not had not been caused by a real augmentation. In the sufficient in Kilrush, is that an excuse for govern-naval and military expenditure, the apparent increase, ment's abandoning its declaration that no poor person rather more than 4,000,0007., was owing to such causes as could be allowed to starve? They might have lent the the accumulated excess of expenditure left from previous money to the guardians; or have undertaken the duties years, the transfer of the Packet service formerly paid out of the guardians, and themselves distributed the relief. of the Post-office revenue, accidental demands, like the From a commission the house would receive suggestions payment of head-money for capture of pirates, construc tending to save vast numbers from the grave yawning tion of great permanent works, dockyards, &c., involving before them.Sir William SOMERVILLE defended the a payment once for all, with other causes as little coming government for simply administering the law as they under a true comparison. Under the civil head, the found it; and opposed the motion, as being likely to apparent increase of 2,478,000l., was caused by charges furnish no other information than that which is already forced upon government by the house, under the quite available to the house; and as being likly to excite pressure of demands from constituencies, such as harhopes which never could be realised, and to prevent self- bours of refuge, payments in aid of county-rates, &c.; reliance and independent exertion. He added that the charges for unforeseen calamities, among which might Kilrush guardians were now exerting themselves with be reckoned the burning of the old houses of parliament satisfactory effect; that their proceedings should be and the building of the new; charges transferred from watched, and if they failed in their duty the govern- other accounts, such as official franking, quondam fees ment would be prepared to act on their own responsi- replaced by fixed payment, &c. Mr. Labouchere conbility. Mr. MONSELL suggested that this should be tended that many of these payments, such as those for treated as an exceptional case, by superseding the ordi- the improvement of Ireland, are dictated by a wise and nary operation of the law, and appointing some fit person profitable economy.-Mr. Cobdon was chiefly supported with full powers to reorganise the affairs of the Union.- by Mr. Milner GIBSON; Mr. Labouchere, by Lord Lord John RUSSELL affirmed that such a measure John RUSSELL. The other speakers were-for Mr. would be impracticable and mischievous, and objected Cobden's motion, Mr. SPOONER and Mr. HUME; against to making Kilrush a special object of special inquiry and it, Mr. HERRIES and Mr. HENLEY. Colonel SIBTHORP assistance, as setting a bad example to other distressed declared that he trusted neither party, but should take districts. Eventually the motion was negatived by 76 up his hat and walk out of the house; which he did to 63.-Mr. H. BERKELEY moved for leave to bring in a amidst laughter and cheers from all sides. Mr. Cobden's bill for the introduction of The Ballot. A debate of resolution was negatived by 272 to 89.

MARCH.]

PARLIAMENT AND POLITICS.

On Monday the 11th, in committee on the Army Estimates, Mr. F. MAULE moved, for a vote of 99,123 men for the land service of the year.-Mr. HUME moved, as an amendment, that the vote this year should be for 89,000 men, to be reduced next year to 80,000, After some there being no reason why we should not revert to that number, which was sufficient up to 1837. debate, this amendment was negatived by 223 against 50. The committee then proceeded to the Navy Estimates, and, on the first vote of 39,000 men for the sea-service, Mr. HUME protested against its extravagance, and moved that the number should be reduced to 31,469. The amendment was negatived by 117 against 19.

tions who had prosecuted an European war. On this
point Lord J. Russell drew a distinction between duties
for revenue and taxes imposed for purposes of protection,
and to favour particular classes of producers. The former,
he contended, should not be abolished unless it was
Mr. Drummond's resolution was negatived by 190
clearly proved the exchequer could afford it. Eventually
against 156.

On the second reading, on the 13th, of the County
Rates and Expenditure Bill, Sir J. PAKINGTON moved,
as an amendment, for a select committee, to inquire
county rate, with a view to ascertain whether any more
into the present mode of levying and expending the
satisfactory mode can be adopted of levying the rates,
and of giving the ratepayers more effectual control
over their expenditure. This amendment, being opposed
by several members, was withdrawn; the bill was read
a second time, and ordered to be referred to a select
committee.

The Public Libraries and Museums Bill was read a second time, after a short discussion, by a majority of 118 to 101. It was supported by Mr. Ewart (by whom it was brought in), Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Hume, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Bright, and others. Its leading opponents were Mr. Spooner, Mr. R. Palmer, Sir R. Inglis, and Mr. P. Howard.

On Tuesday, the 12th, Mr. H. DRUMMOND proposed a resolution enforcing the necessity of Reducing the National Expenditure, on the ground that the present weight of taxation depresses all classes, and especially the labourer, by diminishing the fund at liberty for the employment of reproductive labour. After forcibly describing the distresses that weighed upon the labouring classes, he referred to the fiscal burdens by which It was fair that those distresses were aggravated. free trade, if introduced into our system, should be made impartial and complete. The agriculturist should be allowed to do what he liked with his land. He ought On Monday the 14th, Lord ASHLEY moved for leave to not to be prohibited from growing tobacco, nor find himself oppressed with duties whenever he wished to gather hops from his hedge, cultivate beetroot, turn his barley introduce a bill to declare the intention of the legislainto malt, or manufacture clay into bricks for his cottage. ture with regard to the Factories Act. He had little To remit all these taxes it would be necessary to reduce or no doubt that it was the intention of the legislature and re distribute the burdens of taxation. The way to that the labour of all young persons employed in facaccomplish this object was to cut down all salaries, and tories should be continuous from the time it commenced, shift the great weight of the taxes upon property instead and shoull not be taken in parts and in succession, of labour. Mr. CAYLEY seconded the motion, and a thereby extending the time over the full fifteen hours in long debate ensued in which many members joined. Sir every day. Mr. Baron Parke, in giving his judgment, Robert PEEL said that he accepted the resolution, as showed clearly enough, that the opinion of the court designed unequivocally to imply nothing more than it was, that it was the intention of the legislature that expressed. He drew from its tenor an inference strongly relays should be prohibited. The noble lord, in a in favour of the commercial policy of 1842, inasmuch as it speech of much eloquence and length, detailed the evil simply demanded a further and more complete fulfilment results of the relay system, and illustrated the improveof the principles then introduced. As a social question ment already caused by the act, reading a variety of he agreed to test the results of the free-trade experiment testimonies from clergymen and others to that effect.by its effects upon the condition of the industrial classes. Sir G. GREY said he would certainly offer no opposition So far as the facts were now known, they showed that to the introduction of the bill; he would only throw out this test had satisfactorily stood. Even among the agri- this suggestion to his noble friend, that he did not think culturists, from whom the complaints were now so loud, that his object would be attained, unless he made such he believed that a better share of employment, and a an alteration in the definition of "night" as would greater command of the comforts of life were enjoyed reduce its range from fifteen hours to twelve: that he at present than before the recent changes. Turning to thought was the right principle, and one on which his the financial question, the hon. baronet, as the author noble friend might safely proceed. He did not thereof the reduced estimates of 1835, and the expanded out- fore wish, in consenting to the introduction of the bill, lay in 1848, declared that both proceedings were justified to be in any way bound to the specific remedy which by the condition of the country at the respective periods. Lord Ashley wished to adopt.-Mr. BANKES, Mr. F. He could not now vote for a general resolution to enforce O'CONNOR, and Sir R. INGLIS supported the bill.-Mr. retrenchment. Notwithstanding the hot and cold fits Milner GIBSON would not oppose its introduction, to which the House of Commons was subject, he pre- but would reserve any opposition he had to make, for ferred trusting the work of economy to the hands of a the second reading of the bill.-Mr. BRIGHT attributed judicious government, rather than leave it to the votes the improvement that had taken place, not to the Ten of a vacillating assembly. In the necessity for retrench- Hours Bill, but to free trade. ment he concurred. Waiting the happy time when all years he thought a good feeling on the whole apparent; nations would consent to put their armies upon a peace but exasperation to some extent still existed, and he establishment, he believed that some risk of loss in case believed it would continue while this bill was pressed in of hostilities ought to be incurred for the sake of allevi- its present shape; he therefore advised the noble lord, ating burdens that would otherwise crush the energies who represented a large number of persons out of doors of the country. Lord J. RUSSELL inquired how the on this subject, and who were willing to listen to the some course might not be adopted to meet the views of reductions in expenditure suggested by the motion before suggestions of the manufacturers, to consider whether the house were to be effected? After determining to keep faith with the public creditor, to continue the pen- all parties. If the noble lord did this, and if the house sions, allowances, and half-pay, to which the country came to a calm view of the subject, he hoped they might stood already pledged, and defray the charges for the settle for ever a question which had done more to excite army and navy sanctioned by the votes which had passed heartburnings and bitter feelings between the employers the house a few hours previously, only a small amount and the employed, than all other things which had of expenditure remained open for economical measures. occurred.-The debate was continued by Mr. AGLIONBY If a reduction of 10 per cent were effected, as had been and Lord J. MANNERS, who declared that there should Com- the scheme already in existence the best that could be proposed, on all the salaries of the cabinet ministers, the be no compromise, and Mr. W. J. Fox, who thought total saving would amount to 40007. per annum. menting upon the duties specially recommended for proposed.-Sir J. GRAHAM said with respect to what That certainly had remission by Mr. Drummond, Lord J. Russell stated occurred in 1844, his object in framing the bill as he had His own opinions remained that if the cultivation of tobacco were allowed, it would introduced it, was absolutely to prohibit the relay The malt been his intention. not be prosecuted with advantage, except under a pro- system in any form whatsoever. tective duty of several hundred per cent. duty was a question of revenue, and rendered necessary unchanged.-Lord Ashley in reply said that his intenby the inheritance of debt transmitted from administra- tion had been to move for leave to bring in a bill to

After the last two

declare the interpretation of the inspectors, and the opinion of the law officers of the crown that the hours of the work of young persons be limited to ten; that they should be continuous hours of labour, and should count from the time when any child began to work. That was the sum and substance of the whole, and from that principle he would not deviate to the right or to the left.-After a few words from Mr. BROWN, leave was given to bring in the bill.

The second reading of the Highways Bill was carried by a majority of 144 to 55, after a discussion in which many members for the agricultural districts took part. On the motion for the second reading of the Chief Justices' Salaries Bill.-Mr. MULLINGS gave notice of his intention to move in committee for reducing the retiring pensions of the Chief Justice. He did so from motives of economy which touched himself nearly, for he had invested all the earnings of a life of hard work, in an estate which suffered under the distress of the times, and which could be preserved to him only by a reduction of the public burdens. Mr. SPOONER supported the principle of reduction, reminding the house that Lord Denman had been Chief Justice for seventeen years, at a salary of 8,000l., and it was very certain that if that salary was justifiable at the time it began, it was vastly too much now, considering the relative value of money. Sir George GREY said that in committee Government would be ready to justify the proposed mode of dealing with the salaries in question.-Colonel SIBTHORP suggested that the bill should be postponed till they had the Chancellor of the Exchequer's budget before them. He believed the Treasury bench had all got too much; they got too fat, and were too well fed, and that was why they resisted proper reductions. The second reading was then agreed to without further opposition.

Sugar Act, the duties on certain classes of foreign and colonial sugars would be reduced from the 5th of July next, affording a relief to the consumer, taking the average of the country, to the extent of 350,000l. Therefore, the actual relief to the people of this country would be about 1,100,000. He also had another important proposal, viz., that parliament should do what was done in 1846, make advances for drainage and for other land improvements-the sum of 2,000,000l. to be advanced to England and Scotland, and 1,000,000l. to Ireland. He proposed to retain in his hands the sum of 750,000%., either for the reduction of the debt, or to meet any contingency that may occur throughout the year. But he would apply also out of it, although not in the usual way, a sum of 250,000l. in the reduction of the debt. There had existed, since the union with Scotland, a charge on the revenue in the shape of an annuity of 10,000l., called the equivalent rent; it is provided by the act which established that fund, that it might be redeemed at any period by the payment of 250,000. A portion of the revenue of the year would be applied in the extinction of this 10,000l. a-year. There would remain beyond this a surplus of 500,0007., and he hoped that the house would support him in his intention of retaining that sum, because he did not think it would be safe to go on in any circumstances with a surplus of less than that amount.

On Monday, the 18th, Mr. HUME desired to know what notice the government intended to take of the protest of the Rev. G. A. Denison, impugning the judg ment of her Majesty in council in the case of "Gorham v. the Bishop of Exeter," and denying the supremacy of the crown as head of the established church.-Lord J. RUSSELL read a statement by Mr. Denison of his real sentiments upon the subject, and observed that he thought the rev. gentleman was mistaken; that the judicial committee of the privy council had acted entirely within the scope of their jurisdictions, and, moreover, that he believed their decision in the matter had given great satisfaction. With respect to the intentions of the government, he said, though it might appear hereafter necessary to adopt some measure, he should be most reluctant to take any step against any men entertaining conscientious opinions upon this question, and which might tend to disturb still further the harmony of the church.

The

The Budget was brought forward on Friday, the 15th, by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who introduced his proposed measures by a long financial statement. Referring to the budget of last year, he stated that he had then calculated the probable income of the year at 52,262,000. The results of the first nine months of that year would have justified him in placing the receipts at 52,874,0007.; but as there had been a falling off on the last quarter, he would estimate them at 52,785,5007. The estimated expenditure for that year was 52,157,696., and the actual expenditure (up to January 5) was at the The subject of the African Blockade for the prerate of 50,853,6227., but would, in point of fact, be only vention of the Slave Trade was brought forward, on the 50,533,6517. Last year he anticipated a surplus of 19th, by Mr. HUTT, who moved an address praying her 104,000.; but the actual surplus over the estimated Majesty to direct negotiations to be commenced for the expenditure amounted to 627,000%., and the income actu- purpose of releasing the country from all treaties which ally received exceeded the estimated amount by 523,500l. at present engage us to maintain a squadron on the On the other hand, the expenditure had been less than coast of Africa. Two successive committees of the he had estimated it by 1,625,000. Consequently the legislature had recognised th impolicy of endeavouring surplus of income over probable expenditure might be to suppress the slave trade by force of arms. stated at two millions and a quarter. The income for blockade of the coast of Africa, undertaken thirty-one the next year he calculated at 52,285,0007., and the expen-years ago, had resulted in an aggravation of all the diture he estimated at 50,613,5827.; and to this he would atrocities that characterised the traffic in slaves; while add certain outlays in reference to the Merchant Seamen's the numbers increased from 90,000 in 1815 to 105,000 in Bill, the new houses of parliament, a building for the 1819. Since that time England had extended her efforts records of the realm, the Arctic expedition, and some at suppression, by enlarging her squadron, by employing other smaller sums, which would leave a surplus for the the new arm of steam-vessels, and by contracting more ensuing year of about 1,500,000l. He was not prepared stringent treaties on the subject with Spain, Portugal, to say that he would devote the whole of the surplus to and France, but with no corresponding success. In the purpose of the diminution of the debt. He proposed, corroboration of these statements Mr. Hutt referred to for the purpose of relieving the landed interest, to the opinions expressed by the Duke of Wellington at make a considerable reduction on stamp duties upon the the Congress of Verona, and by Lord J. Russell as transfer of real property up to 1,0007., and to equalise recently as 1839. The temporary diminution in the the duties after a large amount: he proposed to adopt slave trade in 1840 was attributable not to the vigilance the same principle with regard to the stamp duties on of Captains Denman and Mansel, but to a mercantile mortgages, and also to reduce the stamp duty upon leases. depression and some sincere efforts made in Cuba and He proposed that when the stamp duty, now payable Brazil about that time to abolish the traffic. upon a lease was 17., it should be reduced to 2s. 6d., and sequently the numbers had again extended to 83,000, in so on in proportion. He also proposed, for the purpose 1848, and the commerce was at present flourishing of improving the dwellings of the labouring classes, to abundantly. The danger of capture by the British accede to a total repeal of the duty on bricks. (This cruisers added exorbitantly to the sufferings of the announcement created a great sensation in the house, slaves both during the "middle passage" and while and was received with loud cheers.) The amount of waiting purchasers in their African captivity. On this losses he anticipated in the revenue were, upon stamps point Mr. Hutt entered into many striking details, a little under 300,0007., upon bricks to a little over which he summed up with the conclusion that the 450,0007., making a total of 750,000l., being half the squadron, though costing so heavy a price in money and surplus. The other half he proposed to devote to the human life, was utterly unavailing in reducing the reduction of the debt. By the operation of the existing amount of the traffic, while it frightfully enhanced its

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