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believe there is a real and a deep feeling, and, what is more, an increasing feeling, on the subject. The subject is being more considered, opinion will become more matured. There cannot be, therefore, a more legitimate occasion for the Peers of England to come forward and to give to the country the results of their wisdom and their experience, as I hope they will tonight, in reference to the Empire of India.

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IRISH ELECTION PETITIONS. December 7, 1837.1

MAIDEN SPEECH.

[The first Parliament of Queen Victoria assembled on November 13, 1837, and on December 6 the attention of the House was called by Mr. Smith O'Brien to the existence of an Election Subscription Fund, carried on for several months in England and Scotland for the purpose of encouraging the presentation of petitions against members returned to serve in the present Parliament for the counties, cities, towns, and boroughs of Ireland, and of defraying the expenses attendant upon the conduct and prosecution of the same.' The result was that on the following day a debate took place on the subject, Mr. Smith O'Brien moving for a Select Committee 'to inquire into the allegations' contained in the petition aforesaid. The motion was opposed both by the Government and the Opposition, and supported of course by the Irish members. Sir Francis Burdett, then member for North Wilts, was one of the offenders aimed at, and his speech was answered by O'Connell. When O'Connell sat down the new member for MaidThe earlier part of the following speech, at all events, seems sensible and practical enough; but that in some way or another the speaker, before he had done, succeeded in making himself ridiculous, is a fact too well attested to be doubted.]

stone rose.

MR.

R. DISRAELI rose and said, that he trusted the House would extend to him that gracious indulgence which was usually allowed to one who solicited its attention for the first time. He had, however, had sufficient experience of the critical spirit which pervaded the House, to know and to feel how much he stood in need of that indulgence-an indulgence of which he would prove himself to be not unworthy, by promising not to abuse it. The honourable and learned member

'This speech is reprinted from Hansard's Debates by permission of Mr. Hansard.

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