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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th February 1848, Edition 2 of 3, Page 7, ESECUII'S fP THE Coj-YICT IIarriet Pakke...

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    • colonial ma ;tromsn.
    • tamai gjaritfimeiit*
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      F Ebbpaots6, | .1848. Teh Northern Star....

      F ebbpaotS 6 , . 1848 . TEH NORTHERN STAR . 7

      Colonial Ma ;Tromsn.

      colonial ma ; tromsn .

      •"" Per A Fau Sccouat Ot The Important E...

      •"" per a faU sccouat ot the important events ia £ C = nce , Ke ° m- fifth page . J * " lvnvt aWT \ « tttv ¦

      INDIA . AND CHINA . - ( lis arrival of the India mail we have dates from ' rav ' to llie 15 tn of JaDuary . and Calcutta to ffa „ srj 6 * -a- A proclamation has jast been issued by he Bangs' government , intimating that no fewer than ! ff £ nty . three prince aad chiefs had been induced by us j-ave sutt ee and female infanticide pat down through" „ their dominions . — The distribunon of the greater ^ pf the Sciade prize money has baen ordered to take * 7 | Ce immediately . The ameunt capturtd in February , ?;( ? . valnfd at £ 560 , 000—that realised at the time " anted to £ 430 , 000—the amount te be distributed is ilsT . SSo , Ot this , Sir C Napier receives £ 27 , S 67— only r , ; f of what he claimed as his share . Of those who ere present at both battles , Lieutennnt-colonels and ^ pjrin'en ^ ing surgeons receive nearly £ 6 GOO , majors j ^ ut £ -5 , 000 , captains , surgeons , and regimental pij-< jj 5 t ; r = about £ 2 , 600 , subalterns and assistant-surceon ; about £ 1 , 000 each . - f 5 tGaTFur . M ' ckdeb . cf Six Esgushsiek—Letter * from Hong Kong * f December 30 ih , contain the

      followjsx tfe bars this month to record a dreadful tragedy in tSe horrid murder of six Enalish gentlemen by the Chinese , abaut three miles from Canten on theolh of this Bo ntb . After church they went up the river , and jin . ' -el * o ta , Ke a q"ioc walk , and shortly after they fmad tbesiie lvts attacked by a body of Chinese . an 4 cut off fara their boat . Is this attack one or two of tbe party ' el !; the others , being overpowered , attempted to espj e , bi t were tak- ti at one of the vilhges and confined . Tfcev were k-tpt without food and repeatedly tortured

      unti l the 7 th , when they wera cruelly pat to d- a » h . The names of the gentletnen are , —Mr W . Ratter , Mr Small , j ! r Bellamy , Mr Brown , Mr Balkwill , and Mr M'CUrte . Oa the recovery of the bodies the wounds on Mr M'Carte rrere in all forty-four , —thirty-six incised , and eight orata-ian . Many of them would have canted death , the rtu ' . l b ? ii : g broken in several places . The bodies of Messrs Bilkwiil , Small , and Bro « n , had numerous wound ? oa each of them , the two first having marks of jce rattan on the back . On the bodies of M < S 5 rs Bellamy and Butter there were cVp wounds on the bead snd c ' ust , and the marks of ropes on the arms .

      A force was immediately sent to Canton , and his Excellency Sir John Davi « went up iRthe Dis'iaiusto fii-nand r rdrtss . After much uego ? ia . vion with K-ying , fusr Chinese were executed on the 21 « Dec ., and eleven cere under trial . Sir John returned here on the 24 th , having g iven Keying to the 20 th proximo for his final ssswer to his demands . It is usdersteod thst sterner ! hare been seat for from Singapore , and men-of-war ordered d-nvn from the coast , to neprepares , should any coercive tae . ieo . re b- neces = srv .

      IMPORTANT NEWS FROM ITALY . Rohe . —Ob the 3 rd of February a torch-light demoactrati-ai took place in honour of the patriots of Naples and Sicily . The people were tbe Italian tri-colour ribbons in their hats a & d button-ho ' e *—red , white , and green . They repeated the usual cri' c . to which wer ^ aii ' d , ' The Palermiiaus for ever ! Viva , the Constitution ! G ' ory to those who shed their blood for their crontry ' . ' After reaching the capitol , the multitude , which filled the square , ascended the stairs , and the neighbouring : monuments . A man , covered with a threadbare cloak , snd wearing a locg grey beird , who was seid to be a Tuscan , mounted on the horse , sup . porting the s * -atne of Marcus Aurelius , and placed in the hsnU of that emperor a huge three-coloured flsff . After parading round tho rains of the Forum they dispersed .

      The agitation continued , and on the 7 th and 8 : h , the peoi-Ie assembled in jrreat numbers along the Corso , in a state of vrry alarming effervescence , shouting ^ * Away with ell moderation ' D wn wit a tbe ministry ! We want cannon I Viva PioSino solo !' Ac * -ants Jrora Rome , -fthe 11 th , state that OQ tha ansoancs-m st of the Neapolitan constitution a preat crjwd went in procession to the Qoirinal , withtricnlonred figs , to demand further concessions . The Pope appeared at tbe balcony and gave his benediction to the crowd . Advices from Rome of the I 3 : h inst ., announce that Pius IX had published a proclamation wi : h a view to

      allay the fears of a foreipn intervention , which he pronounced at pr ^ s ? nt impossible , ' But , ' adds tbe Pontiff , ' if it w » re attempted , I would appeal to my fornVdatle array of 200 , 000 . 009 of Catholics , who would maintain with me the honour aad rights of mj throne with the same v ; gonr as sons would display in defending the parental hon-e . ' The official journal of the * 12 ih inst . contains fie resignation cfthree ecclesiastical Minister ? , and thi appointment of l « ymen to three of the most importsst departments , of the State , namely , a lawyer , M . Starbinetti , to the Ministry cf Jatti ^ e ; M . Pastolini , Deputy of K-. venna to that of Commerce ; and 1 $ . Gaetani ce Teano to tbe Direcnon of the Police . -

      RCMOTJrVSD DEPOSITION OP THE POPE . Tke French government have , it is said , received a teJesrapkie dispatch from Rome announcing that the Tops hfis been reposed . At Bologna , the Papal colours have been discards' ] , and the tricoloar of Italy adopted . " ? Naples akd Sicily . —A letter from Messina , dated the 6 : h , sajs that the bombardment ef the 29 th alt ., far from obtaining tbe o > j--ct the government proposed to itself , only excited general indignati a , and raised to a degree impossible to Scribe the ardour and courage of the defenders of liberty .

      Ictter . « from Palermo of the 5 : h state that on the arrival froai Naples of the steamer tke Palinure with the aecree of suiatsty and the proclamation of a constitution , these documents were cimnmsicated to the Junta , who proceeded to deliberate on them . The people who were s ? sembl d around the palace of the Senate in which the Junta wss sitting ntured threattmog cries . After reciaiaing in deliberation for some time , the Junta decided that i : would not accept the constitution and would insist on having that * f 1812 , guaranteed by Great Britain , with tucJj modifications as are adapted to the present

      time . On tbe 5 th , after an obstinate conflict , Colonel Gross , wbo commanded the fort of Castellamere , had consented to surrender it to the provisional government , and was psrmirt-d to embark -witfci the garrison . The i \» pol 2 tan force * ** nt to Sicily hare returned in the m .-st dis ' . stross condition , both Gensral de Songet szd NuiiZ ate beinp wounded . The new constitution was proclaimed at Naples on the EorniCR of tbe 12 th , ard in tbe afic-rnooa an immense assemblage took place under tbe windows of ihe palace . Khen the King appeared on the balcony surrounded by Hi family his reception was most popular . Tc-cakst . —The Grand Dake has issued a proclamation statiag bis intention to grant , a constitution . Tte Aiba , of th . e 10 th instant , mentions z popular demonstration which took place at Fieiole , at which the population shouted . ' Long live L'fepoH II . ' ling live Caarles Albert srd Pius IX . Long live tbe British nation and the E : elUhfl-et . ' o : e .

      IftHs-iBBT . — a sarigninary collision has taken p . aee between the people and the military in Pavia . A iramher of the citizens were killed aud wounded . Without any provocation , the pteple ^ itre attacked by the Aus-Iriaz : ? . letttrs from Padua of tbe 8 th give details of encounter ? there tttween the Austrian troops and the people . Asain witbuut any provocation fie soldiers attacked lis p 3 * pia , and a bloody conflict tnsusd . Two captains , four ciScerf , ard about a score of soldiers wtre killed oa the spot . Thelesscs on the side of the inhabitants were st'll greater ; it is presumed more than one hundred p : rsfins have been kl ed or tvounded .

      AtCoiroand Brescia similar eceaes are reparted 10 have taktn pibcc on the sieic day . C ine , Trevifo , Belluno , and Vicenza were the theatres of (! is"trbonce . Teror reians in ililan . The Ac-ijiak OfiiEBTEB . which is the scmi-r facial orgsn of the Austrian Gov .-tnment , publishes a long article oa the ssairs of Italy , in which it dec ' ares that tbe wishes < -f Lo-nbardy for administrative reforms will be discussed , " aud perhaps fee granted ; but that as to tfceidea ot ' siparatingthat kingdatn f « m the tmpire , OT of causing a charge of dynasty , the Au-trian Governm-. ut will bf inexorable in preventing it . ' Lit tbe l'sliacs , ' it zeds , ' not forget the example of the more war : ik = Poles in the ttrupgl-. s against the Russian empirf , andlttlhem irewblel '

      GERMANY . The Arc ecig GiztXTE . in a le ' . terfrom Berlin cftbe 10 h of Fcirsiary , states that a panic to ? k place tint dsy en the Bourse in thifc city , iu consequence of the nr « 5 which a'tr ' sv . d from Tietma , that the government had bitn obliged , in order icmeet the extraordinary expanses C 2 used by the recent events in Italy , to demand from thi- Vienna Bank an advat . ee of ninety-five millions 1 6 f florins . I L ' .-iuis from Munich stats that L-laMontes bad re I appeared in Munich in male aliire ; she was discovered 1 tnd sent off to Switi ^ rland . According to some acj counts tbe i > en h : r way 'o Eneland . I SWITZERLAXB . I The Sffis ^ B ' . it has adjvmtned . It will meet agsin [ wken the C . mmittee for the Revision of tbe Pact shall - have terminated i ' s labours . The Committee has al-5 ready commenced its sittings .

      Thi Austrian Government baring learnt that enrol-! inen ' . S Of grtBt numbirs of icen have b : ea made ^ in ! Switz-rlacd for the troors of several of the Italian 1 States , has addressed , says ihe UsilH HelUBCniQCE , A j strosg rote to the Diet , declaring that a continuation of i thesefcEi-dlmtntR wiil become a cas'Sbelli .

      Ii Ii.S^I —"— [| Jkisii Dsm Cratic Com'f...

      II II . S ^ I — " — [| Jkisii Dsm cratic CoM'fDEBATio . v . —This body ;! held a verv crowded mcetinj ; on Sunday evening ; last at C ' 2 itwrfgh : ' s , . Mr Hanjrhey in tbe chair . A very l"I animated discussion tt ok place on the pretensions o ! ffthe Natios and TJxiiiD Irishhax newspapers , in If whicti Messrs Tucker , William * . Joyce , M Carthy , ! Sullivan , Bfz-r , Manly , Dalrymple , and others took " part . O- ^ tbe motion of Mr Bezer , secpnded bv Mr " i Joyce , a resolution was unanimously adop ' ed , invii ting that elcquent advtcate of universal liberty , - Ernest Jont ? , barrister , to deliver one oi his eoul-. ' . stirring lectures on some future evening . Sei cking Accident . —On Saturday evening last . -as a train of coal waggons was passing through the tuuBfl letwen Wrexham and Brymbo . tke breaksjnan slivped from his ppsition , atd fe'l upon the rails . Eight of the waggons passed over his bedy , : - : - gnd besides d-nng other injuries , cut off both his Jess ' . The unfirtnnate man was token borne , and died the following e . orning .

      Fob Land And Life! (From The Vsited Iris...

      FOB LAND AND LIFE ! ( From the Vsited Irishman . ) Land in Ireland is life . Just in tbe proportion that our people contrive to keep or to gain some foot hold 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—thaf ; so the storm and blight , the famine , and the black flood of pauperism , may not sweep them o & , away into destruction and outer darkness ? Not to the individual farmer only is this a life-and . death question , but to society and to the nation With the ruin of the tillers of the soilall is ruined

      , —in vain shall you adopt manufacture pledges—hold meetings to develops resources—form companiesmake speeches—insist upon national right " , a national legislature , a national flag;—once let the farmers be swept off this Irish soil , and there ia an ut'er end of us 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 ! no ;—it means , first , Irishmen fixed upon Irish ground , and growing there , occapym ? the island like trees in a living forest , with roots stretchin ? as far towards

      Tartarus as their heads lift themselves towards the clouds . In such a nation as this , industry , energy , virtue , become possible ; manufactures would grow up without ever a pledge , or a speech , or a waistcoat * pattern agitation ; a national senate would meet and sit , and rule the land , of its own native energy and by the necessities of the ca ^ e , without ever a foreign statute empowering it so to do : a national army would arise from the earth like tbe sons of the dragon ' s teeth 6 f old ; and a national flig would plant itself without hands , and wave in the dawn of freedom , defying all the ends ef the earth to pluck ir d-wn .

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

      more . In one word , Land is Life : and for the psssession of land there is now a deadly struggle going on in every p : irt of Ireland . The farmers of Ulster are in utter dismay , seeing their ancient tenant-right slippingaway irom them day by day , and the monster Panpersm coming nearer and nearer to the door . The farmers of tbe 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 the who ' e , they are yielding , sinking , withering off the earth . From north , south , east , and west , comes a terrible cry of terror and of agony—Spara us , spare us our Lives and Lands !

      In this crisis comes iu the ' Government with a ' Bill to ameliorate the relations of landlord and tenant . ' A fine phrase ! a liberal and conciliatory phrase ! But the bill , the bill ? Surely it legalises tenant-right at iast ? 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 . ? Now , as Heaven is abjve us , itisabill deliberately

      framed to destroy Tenant-Right where it is—tocut off all hope of it where it is not—to rob the north—to exterminate the south—to fake care that 'property ' in Ireland shall support poverty , not by dividing the property , but by slaying the surp ' us poverty . It does , indeed , interpose in the agrarian war , hut for the purpose of finishing it in the utter conquest of the people . It is the brother and ally of the Coercion Act . It is the remainder of the bargain between England and the landlords , fulfilled to the letter on England' .- ;

      part-The bargain is this—Keep for us , ye landlords , our Irish province , and we shall set your heel on the necks of all your 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 , certificate ? , and final decrees—improvements to which the tenant shall at last be lucky enough to make gopd 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 with elaborate schedules and statements , and dancing attendance on the clerk of the peace , the assistant barrister , the agent , the bailiff , the nnder-bailiff , and all the agents , bailiffs , and nnder-bailiffs of all persons who have any claim as landlords on the estate , which persons the tenanS is to find out by his learning .

      The chief point is the arbitration : and we will tell you how the arbitrators are to be appointed—the tenant to name one—the landlord another—and these two to nace an umpire : —but if they cannot agree upon an umpire , { and they never will ) , why then an umpire is to be named by the Petty Session Court , that is , by landlords ; so that , in every case , the landlord is to have two to one on the arbitration . If tfee farmer , by any miracle or mistake , get an ar ord for his 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 specification ? What of the tenant-right farms purchased with money in Ulster , or held by the farmer and his 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 Somerville says plainly the bill is framed accardmg to the report of that Commission ; and Mr Sharman Crawford says the certain effect of the bill in Ulster , wjJl be to ' afford a pretence to landlords to abro / ate the custom . They would say that a law had been passed for the relief of the tenants in Ireland ; and the landlord would take advantage of that hw to deprive the tenant of those ri » hts who had hitherto enjoyed them . ' Of course he would : tnd such is the intention . But we foreot : the bill is to be retrospective , as to tenants holdin ? at a rent ; under £ 10 . The .-e

      tenants , if they have effected substantial imprivemcnts . u'i '/ Ziirtjii'e years , and have kept a record ( f the same , and can produce witnesses io prove it , are to be allowed , on ejectment , some compensation ; but itis not in any cas . e 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 ; ai : d il 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 not overtake them in the meantime—they are expected

      to lay down their gucs , and proceed quietly to get estimates and specifications prepared , put thtmseives in communication with the clerk of the peace , and begin at once to invest the capital they have gathered throu-h the- three famines in thoroush-draining according to the Dsanston system , and bui'ding colleges ornecs with mitred eaves and Tudor gables I Yes , let northern and southern farmers lay down their arms , and cease their ' seditious proj--cts . ' landlord llerbert calls them . They must see that ' government' is 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 aie glad to learn from landlord Castlcreagh . in the course of this debate , ' That the farmers of the north of Ireland have nothing to complain of !' Is this true , farmers of the nerth of Ireland ? _ But enough for one week ; wo shall return in our next , number to this measure of wholesale and atrocious robbery and slaughter ; and consider how it is to b :- met and defeated . For defeated it must be .

      Esecuii's Fp The Coj-Yict Iiarriet Pakke...

      ESECUII ' S fP THE Coj-YICT IIarriet Pakkeh-On Monday morninr , Harriet ; Parker , the woman who was 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 i-he cohabited , underwent the extreme penalty of the l . -. w in front of New ^ e . Since her conviction she had not entertained or expressed a hope that her life w \; uld be spared ; and on being apprised that a retnisji ^ u of the extreme penalty of tbe law had been refused by Sir G . Grey , she received the information with great firmne ? s , and repeated she had not expected or hoped for mercy , admitting tho justice of the punishment for the crime she had committed , but insisting that she had be : n driven to despera lion bv the conduct of Blake . As early as two o ' clock

      in the morning , numbers of persons began to congregate in front of ihe 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 tritb a dense mass ot persons . Shortly after seven o ' clock . Parkei was conducted from the cell to what was called the bread-room , and thence to the scaffold . The fatal moment having arrived , the bell of the prison chapel began tolling , and thecondemned woman walked firmly but with slight assistance to the scaffold , where in a . few minutes she ceased to exist . The un fortunate woman remaiised up until two o ' clock on Monday morning , passing her time in

      prayer , and reading the biMe . Ste then slept for about three hours , when she rose , and at six o ' clock was joined by the rev . ordinary , and continued in religious communion with him . Some time before eight o ' clock , she sang , in a deep clear voice , a hymn , with a fiimntss tkat su rprised those who tare been in the habit of attending the last bonis 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 ble ? sed and hftly bible with attention , the bible having been presented to her bv Lady Pirie . Tbe wretched woman was dre ? f ed ' in deep mourning . The last words > he Uttered were , ' Mav the Lord have merey on mc !'

      The salm on fishing on the Severn bids fair to be unusually productive , and some fish of extraordinary size have already Leen caueht .

      Tamai Gjaritfimeiit*

      tamai gjaritfimeiit *

      Monday , Feb. 21. Hod8e Op Lords. — Dipl...

      MONDAY , Feb . 21 . HOD 8 E OP LORDS . — Diplomatic Relations ( Coost op Rohe ) Bill . —The Marquis of LahiDowne , in bringing up the report on this bill , moved the insertion of the words ' to establish and maintain relations with the court of Rome , ' with the view of having the sama printed . The report wai then received . Iribh Poob Laws . — Earl Fitzwilliam , in -presenting the petition from Ireland on the subject of workhouses , said he had received a Utter from a paid gunrdian in Ireland , stating that the poor in his part of the country were satisfied with only 7 d . a week , or a penny a daj . He 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 Englnnd whether they should continue

      to maintain the population of Ireland on so pitiful a sum ? £ 1 , 500 , 000 was granted by way of loan last year ; but a larger sum had be . n applied for , and the amount appropriated did not exceed £ 1 , 000 , 000 , and that for 23 . 000 . 000 acres . He thought 180 , 000 men might be beneficially employed on public works , and he also considered an extensive system of emigration necessary to relieve Irclasd , the present tax upon the land for the support of the poor being upwards of £ 2 , 000 , 000 annually , and the amount collected only exceeded , by a comparativ « ly small sum , the amount which could not ba obtained . In phasing the Poor Law Bill , sufficient consideration had not been given to the communities on which the taxation was to ba levied . The rural community consisted ef the landlord and his tenants , and our legislature ought to encourage those landed proprietors who employed their means in improving their lands ; but at present they were only doubly taxed .

      The Marqais of LiNsDowNE agee « d tHat the Poor-Liw haS pressed heavily on some parts of Ireland where dietress existed t ) a great extent , amounting filmott to famine ; but , as a whole , it could not be complained of . The total amount of poor rates in 1847 , in Ireland , was £ 1 , 018 , 009 , giving au average ef 2 s , 5 d . in the pound throughout the unions . It was gratifying to know that emigration was steadily increaaisg , and by a measure which had been prepared a number of the children of the poor would be provided for . The public works had been carried to such an extent as to employ a large portion of the population , and by the grant which had been made to landlords for the purpose of

      improvement , thiomode of relief weuld be continued . Upwards of £ 2 , 000 , COO had been sanctionsd out of the application which had been made snd there was not a county in Ireland in which works were not proceeding in consequence of these grants . He had no doubt that the mode of rating had operated with some degree of it justice ' , but , after most mature deliberations , it bad b « n 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 . Govern , inent were prepared to enforce the poor rate , and to look carefully into the question of redistribution of « xistine divisions . ( Hear , hear . )

      After a few obsi rvations from Lords Cabew and Mont . eagle , the subject dropped . The 'Ubttid [ bishhak '—Lord Stanley gave notice that he would , on Thursday , call attention to a newspaper published in Dublin , called the United Ibishhan , and which was of a rebellious and revolutionary char efcer ; Ehiqratiok from Ieelaho . —Earl Gret , with reference to ttbat be had said on a former occasion , explained that the emigration he referred to would be confined strictly to those workhouses in which it would le

      proved that children had been trained to habits of useful industry . They had been led to understand that in sev . ral of the onions there were a number of young female orphans trained to habits of useful domestic indnstry . Great care would be taken in selecting them , and io providing for tbeir well-being , both during tbe passage and after landinc . snd he bad sanguine hopes that this emigration might be of considerable benefit to Sew South Wales and South Australia . He thought it desirable to srate tld « , in order to prevent any misapprehension which might occur upon the subject . The house adjourned at seven o ' clock .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS —Mr Hosshah gave notice that , on going into Committee tf Supply , on Monday next , he would submit a motion to tt . e effect that tbe mode of assessing the income- ' ax should bo fo altered as to render it more fair and equal in its operation . Mr B . Obbobne gave notice that he would move , rs an amendment to Sir R . Inglis ' s motion for a committee on the new Houses of Parliament , an address to the Crowu , praying far tbe appointment of a Royal Com . miesion to superintend the votes granted by Parliament , so as to ensure the finishing of the new Houses bs speedily as possible . Mr Bkisbt gave notice that , on the motion that tho Speakee leave the cbair to go into Committee of Ways and Means , on Monday next , he would move an instruction to the committee to extend the probate an 3 legacy duties to real property . SirB . Hall gave notice of his intention to move that the income-tax be extended to Ireland .

      The Bddset . —Tbe CffAifCEtios cf Jhe Excbeqveb on moving that the house resolve itself into Committee of Supply , adverted to some misapprehensions which bad gone abroad with respect to tbe intention of the government , and tbe financial position of tbe country , as explained in the speech of the First Lord of the Treasury on Friday evening ; and intimated that it was the wish of the government to submit to the investigation of a secret and select committee the whole question of the Army , Navy , and Ordnance Estimates , which comtnitteee he would move for this day . It was erroneously supposed by some that the budget was a war budget , and that the increased expenditure was owing to militnry preparations , which were to be continued . So far from this being the case , most of the increase in

      the expenditure had V een occasioned last year , and must now bepr-vided for , the greater porion of the increase having bad reference to peaceable and not to warlike objects . The policy of the government was peace , and it would do nothing w " : ich waa likely to compromise the tranquillity | of the world . His reason for proposing a secret and select committee was , that tkera were many points , connected with tbe estimates in question , which wonld bo more properly sifted by such a tribunal than by tbe house itself , all the deliberations of which were public . In view of this committee , he trusted that Mr Hume wjuld forego the motion which he had upon the pnpert . T the poafponfmfnt of 'he estimates , and that the house would avoid all premature and-desultory discu ' s ' onupon the budget at present , as the whole subject w < u ! d come before it next week .

      Mr Hcme was glid to bear that tbe speech of Lord J . Russell wa « not a war speech ; but if it was not to be considered warlike its tone and temper were very much so . He held in his hands tbe balance sheets for the years 1846 and 1848 , tbe first drawn up by Mr Cirdwel ) , and the latter by Mr Parker . The revenue in the first was £ 51 . 217 000—in the second £ 51 , 340 , 000 , In both years tbe cost of collection was four millions—so that tbe whole taxation in both years was nearly fifty six millions . He found , likewise , that the excess of income over exrellditure was on the 5 th of January , 181 G , £ s 85 ' \ 000 , and of expenditure over income on the 5 th of January , 1848 , £ 2 . 95 C , 000 . Such being the case , he had asked why Lord J . Russell , with such a deficiency before l-. im would notcooscnt to mrke reductions in our

      establishments . lie bad also asked whether bis loraship intended to increase taxation without giving to thecountry tbe satisfaction of knowing what its income and its expenditure really were . If it could be shown that no reduction could be made , tnd that taxation must be increased , the govtrnment would not be damoged by the inquiry , snd the country would make up its mind to bear with firmness a necessary burden . On Friday nig bt , when instead of reductions announcement was made ol an increase of taxation to the amount of two and a half millions , he was roused to make tke observations which he then offered to the house . There was an additional payment announced for the charge of tho funded and utifanded debt , amounting to nearly balf a million ; but th- re was no mention made that since 184 ( 5 £ 400 , 000 of terminable annuities had ceastd , from which the country ought to d rive some relief . Knowing as he did the distr . sa wh . c < was now expirlenctd by the woikng classes , tbe shopkeepers , and the small traders , he

      thaogbt tl at it became a v > . ry serious question , whether the government was acting wisely in its distribution of the public force . Was there any reason for having so icany ships of war in the Tagus and on tho coast of Africi , where the expense and loss of life were perfectly frightful ? It was also worth knowing whether , since the last report on the nuby . et , a single officer the loss had been appeinted in either the Exciee or the Customs . He also wished to revise our whole system ot taxation , Hith the purpose ef sceiog whether taxes could not be raised in a better and cheaper manner . He had not , however , any wish to impede the public service ; and he would there ' ore embrace the proposition just offered to him by the Chancellor of tho Exchequer on one condition—naniely , that he would consent to take a supply for six weeks on account . At the close of that time the committee which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had just proposed would have made its report , and the house would be enabled to act accordingly .

      Mr Ewart felt the greatest dissatisfaction at the financial proposals of the government , and trusted that i : s subsequent conduct with regard to tbe finances would bj such as would remove that dissatisfaction . Mr S . Cbawfobd protested against the 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 ds > y , when they fell into other hands , become dangerous to tbe liberties of the country . Cohhittee or Supply . —The touso went into Committee of Supply on the navy estimates , and Mr Wakd , without making the usual statement , moved for a vote of £ 235 , tfl 0 for the naval excess of last year . Mr Hebbies and Mr | BANXEB objected to the secret committee of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given notice .

      Mr Home refused to consent to the specific vote asked , though ho would consent to a sum of money en account of the general estimates . Lnrd G . Bentisck declared that in hia opinion it was wholly unconstitutional fo propose a secret committee to inqaire into tbe sta ' e of the Royal Navy , The Chan * cellor of the Exchequer bad attempted to draw an analogy between tbe select committees from time to time appointed to inquire into the general finance of the country , and this proposed committee to inquire into our

      Monday , Feb. 21. Hod8e Op Lords. — Dipl...

      naval and military defences . But there was the moat msttrial tt'ff .-rence between the two Inquiries ; and unless the Prime Minister was prepared to nsmt on his responsibility that thore were grave reasons of Stateandthat there-was imminent peril , he ( Lord ( 3 . Ben Hack ) would not consent to any sccretcommittee . " The government was not fit to hold possession of ofilce if they threw that responsibility , which properly belonged to thvra , upon a secret commutes . Lord J . Rossell said that In 17 * 8 G . in 1797 , in 18 , > 7 ir . 1817 , and in 1828 , under various Minlstors-lpitt , Gren ville , Liverpool , and Wellington—the house had oppointed select committees to inquire into the whole

      expenditure , including the army , navy , and or »' nanou . These committee * . were not only select , hut secret There might bo facts and evidence received by the proposed committee that it might not bo desirable to mike public ; and he was ready to stats , on his responsibility , that it would be highl y inconvnient to ha » e the proposed committee , an open one . The government did not wish to avoid responsibility ; on the contrary , their proposal was , that , in addition to the inquiries of a comraitte-jof tho whole house , the estimates should be submittod to a secret committee . The nobla lord ' emphatically declared that the estimates were not war csttmates , nor framed with the view to a rupture of peace . Heubies did not

      Mr think the precedents quoted by the noblo lord were applicable . They were all general financial committees , very different from a committee to inquire into the defences of the country . Mr Henlet considtred the proposal for a select com . mittee as nothing less than the abdication of the funations of government . Sir R . Peel said that , ;„ 1828 , he had moved for the last committee to inouire into the military expenditure of the country . It was like those that preceded it , a select committee , but not a secret < ne ; that is , it published its reports , but ha-i the power of excluding evi . dence , and it hud suppressed evidence cm military works , on tha ground of ' prudmtial motived . ' Ultimately tho opposition was so strong that the Chancellor of tho Exchequer consented to withdraw the specific vote before the Committee , and to take one on account .

      Lord J . Rcsjell , in reply to a question from MrHiLD . TABD , repeated that he Certainly should persist in asking the House oh Mondoy next to assent to hia budget . As we had a deficiency in our revenue to meet expenditure , amounting to 2 , 000 , 000 or 3 , 000 . 000 , it would be necessary to meet it with Increased ^ taxntioa . If he could suppose that the House could rffect a roductien of 3 , 000 , 000 in the estimates , he could » hen po on without anj increase of the property . tai ; but he could not suppose that any such reduction would be made . The Governme & t did not wish to get rid of any responsibility which belonged to it . It was willing to submit the estimates not only to tho investigation of a committee of the whole ll-. uso , but also of a select and secret committee besides .

      Mr Disraeli culled attention to the extraordinary fllenco of tbe members below the gangway on this occasion— asilenca which must be hiithly gratifjing to tbe Government . He could not find in the committee ap . pointe-d by Sir It . Peel in 1828 any precedent for the se . cret committee now proposed . He likewise hoprd tfcat the Government would tell the House wh y this committee was to bs appointed , If it were not inti nded for economical parposfs . for what was it intended 1 LordDoDLET Stuart also opposed the budget . Mr Waki . es remarked that the gratification of ministers at the silence c-f the members below the gangway ( upon which Mr Blt-r ^ eli had observed ) would , he was sorry to say , be but of short continuance . ( Hear , hear . ) Thehon . member , however , ought not to feel surprised

      that those members abstained from speaking on a very painful subject . It was his duty to inform Lord John RubsbII that his proposition bad besn received by his ( MrWakley ' s ) constituents with astonishment , indignation , and disgust . ( Hear , bear . ) The public were not particularly pleased with Sir It . Peel , whrn he first proposed his three per cent , tsx on property and incoma for three y « aH ; but there was go much o / andness , such a fascination in his manner of proposing it , and he paved the way to It bo smoothly , thatlt was impossible to be angry with bim . ( Hear , hear , and a laugh . ) But the noble lord had resortad to no such expedient . He cams out in a broad honest way with bis proposal , and lt waa quite evident that ho thought it would not be unac ceptable to the public . It was his conviction that ,

      though perhaps ministers might have succeeded in passing a renewal of the tax for three years more , it would be wholly out of their pnwer to Increase it to fi > e percent . ( Loud cheers . ) He might bo wrong ; h * v , from what he saw and , beard , he helfevtd . the pwtrte weuld make such representations > o tbeir representatives ; that they would not dare to support the government In that proposition . CHear , hear . ) Should this increase be submitted to for two yeirs , what man in his senses could suppose that it would be afterwards aban . doned —( hear , bear )—especially after the experience Jbey had of the present income-tax 1 The public were right , therefore , in resisting at once a proposal that involved one of the most dishonest and disgraceful modes of taxation that had ever been tolerated . ( Hear . ) If

      John Bull was content to bear this burden , then let government j ?' him more of It—punish him for his stupidity —( hear , and a laugh)—and befora the end of tbe session , make it 7 J or even 10 per cent . ( Hear , hear . ) It would servo him right . ( Hear , hear . ) It would appear that when miuts'ers found the country in a difficulty , tbey asked what waa done on the last occasion of difficulty . The answer was of course , 'Oh , n dose of the income-tax . ' ( Hoar , and a ) aa ; h . ) 'Then double tbo dose this time ' was tho remedy proposed . But werethedootors certain thatthair patient ' s strength would endure those constant drastic purges—was it not possible that he had been already reduced too much ? He regretted Mr Hume had not persisted in his amendment which he would certainly have sut-portvd . Just

      before Christmas tho bouse was called upon to consider the distress with which all dosses were afflicted and tbe grest loss which had been entailed upon our commerce and manufactures , and now , in a few short weeks after—without any attempt being made to reduce the burdens which were already weighing down the public—a new proposition was brought forward to increase the pressure upon them . He betieved there would be 'no difficulty whatever if ministers Would reduce our establishments to what was really necessary in bringing the expenditure of the country within the income . ( Hear , hear . ) What fudge and sonsente it was to talk about war with France or any other country . ( Cheers . ) Suppose a war did come , how long would it take to prepare for it 1 But there

      was no danger of anything of the kind , The people of foreign countries were now too busily occupird in improving their ewn domestic institutions to think of interfering with others . ( HeaT . hsar . ) If subjects were wise , war waa a game which gOYernmcnts would not dare to play . ( Hear , hear ) There was not the rtmo ' . est chance or prospect of a foreign invasion . We were at peace with all tho weild , and yet our expenditure f . r the naval and military establishments of the country was to be increa « ed —( hear , hear )—and that , too , by means of a tix which , as regarded a large clas « of tbe people , was no better than a robbery . ( Hsar , hear . ) All taxes , to be just , must be equal ; but the income tax pressed heavily and unjustly on the poor man—tbe man who came just within its grip—while the property tax scarcely touched the rich man . He held that the income tax wag an impolitic and an iniquitous tax upon the industry of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho had received a letter from one of his constitusnta in

      which the oppressive operation of the income tax was described . [ Thehon . member read the letter , which stated that the writer had an income just 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 liolti his situation , and to educate his children ; that his income would cease altocetber in tha event of illness , and complained that besides being called upon te pay asse « ed taxes , be bad to pay as much for income tax as a person who had £ 5 000 in the fueds , of which no contingency could deprive bim , and which would be available in case of death for tbe support of his wife end family— whereas , if the vrriterdied , his family must be left destitute , tho pressure of taxation upon bim being ao heavy that , to make provision for the-m , or for sickness , by saving , was impossible . ] This person called upon hira to oppose the proposed incn-ase . Another correspondent hud suggested that the tax should bo charged on all beyond £ 150 a jpar . ( Hear . )

      Severnl votes were then agreed to for tho navy and army , after some discussion , and tbe house resumed . Pddlic Health . —Lord MonrETU then moved the second reading of the Public Health Bill , in the hope that the bouse would not object to the hill at once passin ? through that stage , it being his intention to give ample time for its consideration before going into committee . The bill , after some desultory conversation , was then read a second time . Pa'SENsebs Bill —Mr Labouchibe then moved the second reading of the Passengers Bill .

      Mr Hdhe , after drawing a frightful picture of the disease and pestilence prevailing on board the emi (( rant ships which carried the emigrants from Ireland lnet year to British North America , and after insisting ou the propriety of taking immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of such melanchol y events in future , recommended the government , instead of amending tho two acts now in force , to cousolidate them Into ono statute , aad to form them into one compaca and intelligible system . Mr Laboocuebe admitted that the terrific description Which Mr Hume had just given of the disease and peslilence carried by Irish emigrants into our North Amc « rican colonies rendered it imperative upon the governnnnt to devise measures for the prevention of evils so

      detrimental , not only to the colonists , but also to the emigrants themselves . It was not surprising that tho danger to which human life had thus been exposed had excited a strong feeling against immigration iu Bcitish North America . The commissioners of emigration had drawn up the bill then before tho house with tha view of appljlng a remedy t « a state of things In every point of view bo deplorable . The principal features of the hill were shortly these : —There was , first , a clause # nlorging tbe space allotted to esch emigrant from ten to twelve feet ; there was next , another , enacting thatibe owners of emigrant ships to British North America should , as the emigrant ships te Australia now did , carry sufficient provisions to sustain the lives of their passengirs during tho voyage ; and there was , lastly , a clause appointing a government oScer or superintendant

      Monday , Feb. 21. Hod8e Op Lords. — Dipl...

      to see the regulations of the bill enforced . It had been recommended that every emigrant ship should be compelled to take a surgeon ; but he could not advise the house to accede to such a recommendation . Ho proposed to r . fer this bill , after it was read a second time , to u select committee . When it had been amended there he mould read it a third tiiee , and after it had b (? en reao a third time he would withdraw it . Ho would then incorporate it with the Passenger * Regulations Bid , and « ould introduce it again as a new bill , provided it were und > mood that It should then pass without discussion . A abort discussion ensued , which terminated in the second reading of the bill , and its being referred to a select committee , , after disposing of some other unimportant business , the house adjourned at twelve o ' clock .

      TUESDAY , Febihjart 22 nd . HOUSE OF LORDS , —The Burl of Aberdeen , in a speech descriptive of thj past efforts , and tho present exertions made and making for tho suppression of the slave-trade , concluded by moving for returns showing tho number of vessels captured by the different squadrons of the different nations , since tho treaty was affected , by which it was stipulated that such a force should be employed on the coast of Africa with that object . The Earl of Auckland said there could be so difficulty in giving tho returns . He was auxious , however , to soy ft few words in corroboration ot what had fallen from the noble lord . In ( ho last letter he rcedvrd from Sir Charles Adam , that gallant officer stated that he had

      n 3 w finished the first year of his command , and he ahou'd ! ae able to show more prizes and fewer deaths than during any preceding similar period . The per centngo of deaths had been reduced during the last year from five per cent , in 1815 to two per cent , in 1817 \ and the number of invalids had been reduced in proportion . The island of Ascension has been made a place of sanitary resort , and no vessel was now allowed to remain more than two years upon tbe station , ( Hvar , hear . ) With respect to the general question , he must say , that he ttvMight it would be s great Wow to civiiUation if they withdrew their squadron from tho coast , and allowed that system to bo revived which so much was now done to check and put an end to .

      Lord St * nlex had expressed his opinions upon this subject on a former occasion . Ho thought it right to say , that the sentiments ho then expressed were curiously identical with the opinions expressed to-night by the noblelord . Ho bad then said , that if ho had to choose aa a means of putting down the slave trade between the admission of slave-grown sugar and the continuance ot the rquadron on tbe coast of Africa , he should , as least likely to prove iff jetive , prefer a measure of financial prohibition to the continuance of the squadron . What he intended to say was , that he very much feared that the legislation of 1 S 1 G would bo calculated to destroy all that fleets could effect . The Bishop of Exeteb wished to express bis hops that if it was tbe decided system of this country to promote tbe admission of slave-grown sugar , all checks would . be ta' en off the free importation of slaves from Africa . Ii waR obvious that such chocka only caused additional & ui faring to tbe unhappy slaves .

      Earl Gret emphatically denied that it was the policy of her Majesty ' s government to encourage the growth or admission of Blave-gro'in sugar . They maintained the argument , that if the sugars of other couztrics were admitted at all , it was practically impossible to exclude slavo-grown sugar . It was proved to demonstration that Cuba sugar came in as the produce of other countries , and that we could not avoid that consequence . It wa « proved also that the treaties of this country wholly precluded our checking such importation ; and , indeed , the only occasion on which he had ever known a British

      minister act in diplomacy like a pettifogRing attorney was , when a noblelord tried to got over that difficulty . Lord Demian was not sure that he entirely understood tho right reverend prelate in the enmo sense as tbe noble earl appeared to understand him ; but certainly if the effect of the admission of slave-grown sugars wag such as had been depicted , he . should bo In . cllned to agree with the right rev . prolate that It would be more desirable to the causa of humanity to withdraw the squadron . Upon that point , however , he was not convinced .

      LoreAaBBG'B . TOtt remorkftd ttiat with , respect to wbat had been said by the noble lord about the admission of slave-grown sugar , he wished him to bear in mind that the mischief was dono , aud that without an immediate review of the law of 1 S 16 , our colonies mast be inevitably ruined . If their lordships woull go into inquiry upon the subject , they wonld find that our colonics even with a par ' . ial protection , could not compete with slave-holding countries . There was no denying the fact—no shirking thfl question—that after the millions laid out upon the skve . rrade , xve were absolutely at this time stimulating and promoting it by our legislative measures .

      Tho Earl of AnenoFju wished only to say a word as to an allusion which Earl Grey bad made to an act in which be took part , and which he had strangely chosen to stigmatise as ' petrifogg ' -ng . ' He ( Lord Aberdeen ) would only say that the not alluded to received the sanction of the house , and that hia own conscience had be :-n entirely satisfied respecting it . Subsequent reflection convinced bim that the course he then pursued was entirely correct . Earl Grev expressed his regret that he had used the word complained of . Ha 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 him , At the same time , be had been sorry to see this country placed Jn tbe position in which the government of which the noble lord was a member had placed her . After a few words from the Eurl of H ^ hb obby the motion was agreed to . Their lordships adjourned at h . 'df . past set en .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The second re-a ing of the Macclesfield Water Works and Improvomei . t Bill was lost on a division by a majority o' seventy-tl r'e . » -Th <> second reading of the New SmitlMeld , or G ut Metropolitan Cattle Market and Abattoirs Coaipauy Bill , being Rtrong ' opposed , was , on the motion of Mr 0 bouse , put off for six months , and consequently lost . SfLECT CpHHlTIBB OF EXPENDITURE . —Tke ChAKcellob of the Exchequer stated the grounds on which the government thought It desirable to appoint two C 0 IBluitie 66 ~ -ttie One 8 se lect committee to inquire into the expenditure for miscellaneous services , and to re port to tho house whether ' any reductions ean , in their opinion be effected or any improvement made in th >

      mode of submitting this branch of the public expenditure to tho consideration of Parliament ; ? and the other a select commjttee to inquire into the expenditure on account of the navj , army , and ordnance , and toreport their observations thereupon to the house . It had been usual for tbe house from time to time , to appoint such cammittees to inquire into the expenditure and income of the country . He himself when sitting oh tho opposite benches , had viewed with sotoe uneasiness tho increasing expenditure of the country . The increase in connexion with our military and naval establishments alone since 1835 had been from £ 11 , , 000 to £ 17 300 , 000 . Of this the iacrease for the army had been but small , that for the navy about three millions

      and a half , whilst tho expenditure for the ordnance was now double that which it was in 1335 . Tnat increase was a fit subject for inquiry . He bad no doubt that tbe increase of expenditure had been justifiable—it had , almost without opposition , received the sanction of the House , and the greater part of it had been pressed ou the Government by individual members . Baring the four years in which he had himself been Secretary of Adrni ralty he had been repeatedly called upon to defend himself from attack for not having taken sufficient care of the naval armaments of the country . He , therefore , was of opinion that neither the late ntr the present Government were responsible for the increase which had taken place . But on that account that increase was not less fitting to bo made the subject of inquiry by tbe House of

      Commons ; and therefore he had come forward on a former evening to propose a select and secret committee to make such inquiry . Mr Humo had proposed to appoint a finance committee which would embrace nn inquiry into the wide subject of our nctme and expenditure . The government thought that , as before in 1817 and in 1928 , such a wide field oi inquiry might lead to benefi-ial results ; but Mr Hume was ii't content even with that , f \ ir he wished to inquire also into the cost of collecting the revenue , and into the question of imposing direct or Indirect taxation . He ( Sir C . Wood ) thought it better that their inquiries should embrace a part rathir than the whole of such extensive subj' cts . The governmont had laid the estimates for the year on the table , and did not tbrisk from the

      responsibility which belonged to them . Though the government was prepared to defend them in most of their details , it thought that it was desirable to submit them to tho examination of committees , in wlncb they oomld be more conveniently discussed than in a committee of the whole bouse . It was fitting to inquire how far the increase in the miscellaneous estimates , ninth was occasioned by the transfer of local charges to the public charge , was justifiable . It was fitting also to inquire bow far the increase iu the military and naval estimates of the country had been occasioned by tho desire of tho house to increase the pcrseuul comforts and efficiency ot those engaged in our military and naval service , It would be bad economy to stop works now ia progress ; and it would be satisfactory tkat the propriety of those works should be recognised by tho vote of o committee , A questiou had also been raised as to the proper distribution of our force ; and gentlemen said that it was

      worth inquiring whether we could not rtnder tlin tamo , if not a less amount of force , more available to \ he defence of the United Kingdom , Having described the ad > vantages which had been derived from the reports of such committees ashebad propose '"! , bo said thatthe go vernment on the present occa & irn w-uld propose the number of men to be voted for the three services for the ensuing year , but would not withdraw frona tho examination of the two committees which he now prop- ^ seO tc appoint any part of tbe expenditure which was necessary for tbeir support . He admitted that he had proposed last night that these committees should be secret com . mittee 0 , and that in so doiiif ho ' had acted under misapprehension . He now only intended to move that they should be select committees ; for they would have power in themselves to exclude the public from thoir sittings , and any matter which it would ho injurious to publish from tloir report . lie tutu couclucM by formally putting his motion . Lord G . Bentinck felt himself relieved in a great degree from the opposition which ks had threatened last

      Monday , Feb. 21. Hod8e Op Lords. — Dipl...

      night by the fast that the government had abandoned its dtcl ^ ration of last nisjht , and had given up tfeesecrecyyr of these committees . He imauined tfeat Ministers were © - going to abandon the prerogative oi the crown to decider upon the amount of the army and the navy , and upooa tbe general defences of tho country , He presumed thatt ; the inquiry to which the attention of these committeess was to be directed would not bo as to the increase of onrr armnments , but as to the diminution of car expenses . Mr Diskaeli said that a few weeks ago the house bacJT been told in the speech from tbe throne , that the csti . . maies had been framed , ' with a careful regard to tbe exigencies nf the public service , ' and yet now the Cm » o- . cellor of the Exchequer would not undertake to say tbatt considerable reductions might not be made in tboas

      same estimates . Last night they had been told that at decennial periods from 1787 to 1848 finauce committers had been appointed to inquire into the expenditure and income of the country , and had therefore been authorised to inquire into the costs of the public establish , ments . It happened , however , that in every instance the inquiry into the military and naval estimates hail only been corollary ; and what else happened ? That in every case in which such committees of finance bat 3 been appointed , their appointment had been announcer in the speech from tho Throne . He was afraid that Ministers were proposing ; these committees , not for pun poses of economy , but for tha purpose of obtaining from them recommendations for increased establishments , and

      for increased taxation . If , as it seemed , there waa no precedent for the propasition of the government , the bouse ought to look at tbe principle involved in it . Is was nothing less than this—that Ministers were shuf . fling the responsibility from their own shoulders upon those of the flouse of Commons , lie thought that the government had made a great mistake in tbe course which it had taken . He did net , however , intend to resietit , Happy men were Ministers ; for even their blunders compelled their opponent ) to assist th r m . Ec-Intended to follow the example of Lord G Bentinck , and to allow the motion to pass , merely entering his protest aga nst it as a measure contrary to the practice of parliament , and not conducive to the dignity of the Administration .

      Mr Home observed , that if these committees were fairly appointed and performed their duty , they woalci do much good , but not otherwise . He therefore implored tVe government to constitute them in a satisfactory manner , and not to place upon them men who had become hicknied and callous to large estimates , The system of Free Trade which Sir It Peel had introduced had led to important changes in our systim of taxation , and o $ the principle of those changes be cordially approved . He was , therefore , of opinion that a committee ought to bo appointed to examine bow our present revenue waa raised , what changes could be made in tho mode of raising it , whether it could not be raised in a way whieh would be lea » oppressive to the subject , aod whether the weight of taxation mightnot be diminished ,. He hoped that no estimates would be voted until the reports of these committees were received .

      Sir R . Peel observed that his chief object in rising on the previous night was to exprss his doubt as to wietberthe precedents bore out the proposition for a secret committee . Tho former commi-. toea were select , not secret . Although lie would offer no opposition to tho appointment cf the committee , be was bound to say that he was then pe-rfei-tly prepared to give his opinion ast © 'he estimates proposed . Ha agreed with Lord G . Beut ' nek , that no committee , whilst it could not adequately discharge them , should be entrusted with tho powers mid functions of the Executive government . There was an erroneous impresiion abroad that governments were prone unnecessarily to increase tho espenditure , Tha very reverse was tho case , for even , if Ministers acted with a sole regard to the stability of tbe Cabinet , they

      would butter secure th < dr object by conciliating the House of Commons with reduced estimates , ti . an by prccuiing suppor ; from friends out of doors . The right hon . gentleman t ^ en adverted to the panic which had existed but a month ago , nod congratu / ated the house that ii had < c rapidly subsided . He confessed that he had been uiicersoine apprehension that government would be unduls influenced by that alarm , and was rather relieved to find that no increase was proposed in the estimates . He had read the letter of a noble friend of his for whom he entertained a high respect , indicating the course which should betaken ia case of invasion . ( A laugh . ) That letter stated that in such an emergency the duty of the Lord Mayor of London would be—not to sumevon tho citizens to its defence—but to make the Mansion Houst

      head quarters for making out billots for the French army . ( Laughter . ) He must say that when he read that letter , ho thought it gave a most imperfect and unjust account of the spirit of Eug ' . ishme-n . ( Cheers . ) Ho did not mean of the military—even that aplendid corps the guards , which his noble friend had since relieved from all imputation—but of the strength of the country , of the spirit of the men of mature ago , ay , and even tho old men and old women . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Ho verilj believed that if tho Lord Mayor , instead of occupying himself in the defence of tho metropolis , were to abandon that duty for the purpose of billeting the French army , he would perform that duty in secret , and dareuat show himself in Cheapside . ( Cheers and laughter . ^ lie was perfectly convinced that if an attempt should bemads to subject this country either to insult or Invasion , it was difficult t j estimate the spirit with which such aa

      attempt would be met . ( Hear , hear . ) He said nothiagagainst the propriety of taking proper precautions , tecMise although , we knew what would be the ultimate result of any attempt , yet even the most partial success must be accompanied with much ruin to private fortune and great desolation . ( Hear . ) Bat he confessed that on seeing the e « timates , after reading all the recent publications , so for from being astounded by the proposition of the government , he was greatly relieved by the preposition of the noble lord . He thought that a wise discretion had been exercised in not increasing the naval ^ r 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 very clear which could induce hira , as a private individual , to offer any opposition to Buelx proposal .

      Jfr Bright could assure the right hon . baronet that so far as the north of England was concerned , the panijs which prevailed had no reference to any fear of Frencb invaeian , bat rather to an apprehension that that cry would be made ths pretest for iuorpasing the military forces of the country , and so to add to the burden oi " taxxtion . ( Hear . J Neither was this alarm altogether groundless , for tho people remembered well that some ? years ago a senseless rumour of war with Russia , and subsequently a foolish pamphlet published by a Preach priuce , bad been seized by the government of th « da > as grounds for adding to our military and naval establishments . The right boo . gentleman had stated that there was to be no increase in the army ; but , asbt * asder » too

      tho country ? ( Hear , hoar . ) Again , though the noblo lord did Dotpropcse any actual addition to the number of men voted for tile army , he bad intimated that tie country must look forward to s gradual augmentation of that force ; and when they found that in about ten » years tbe estimates fo * the fermy and navy had inereaati from eleven to seventeen millions , what security had they that in ten years more another ten millions would ; not ( be added ? ( Hear , hear . ) As to what had been tai < l about not interfering with the present eptimates , it was rather an extraordinary doctrine for their days to hold that the army , navy , and ordnance establishments were such sacred things that thoy must not be touched by a committee of that house . He would say , if ministers re fused to sanction the recommendation of tl e committee of the house—supposing that the result of the inquiry should be to show that some reduction might safely bs made—their coarse would be to vacate their offices , ( Hear , hear . )

      Colonel Sibthoup hoped the proposed comraittie would extend their inquiries to the salaries of the principal officers of the several public departments . He , however , thought it a datig-rous precedent to transfer the * functions of th * House- of Commons to any select commiUeo , Ha anticipated no good result frcta the inquiry . With regard to the financial scheme of minutera , there was but one feeling throughout this metropolis , n » d that waa a feeling of disgust . ( Hear . ) But , it tba people had only the courage , and spirit , and the purfteVLr - arioe to make thuir rainonsiirnnces heard in that

      house , tho noble lord and his colleagues might bid a speedy adieu to office , ( Ui'ar . ) It might bo asked , who were tho men to take tbeir places ? Would he ( Colonel Sibtborp ) ? ( ' Hear , ' and a laugh . ) For no price ia the world would he accept office . ( Rentwea laughter . ) But he would say to the . people of this couatrr , ' Tak & - your stand , and do your duty as an Englishmen ought , to do , aud you will soon find an honest ministry . ' ( Hear , hear . ) Lord J , Russell said so far had he been from proposing great armaments , that he had actually proposal the some amount offeree as last year , with the exception of sn addition to tie marines of 1 , 500 men , whicb bo had announced his intention of making last year ^ . and of another addition to the artillery . With respectto the number of men to be employed during the year ^ . . the government did not wi « h to ri ¦} itself of any responsibility . They were ef opinion that the consideration of

      such a circumstance belonged to the government , a a ( 5 the government alono , which ought to fix tho num ber of men eufflciuHt for the service of tbe country under anyexisting emergency . Ho admitted that the war ir * Africa had bceu very expensive . England , however , could not allow its colonists to be murdorad , though it was hard that this whole expanse of deftndinir tnena should fall upon the moth-r country . He also contended that in a foreign country British subjects had » . right to be protected by tho public force of this country-That protection had been afforded to them at Me « ina „ « nd must bo extended to those at Canton . The E . ect » t : ve > Government would be greatly to blame if it gave less protection t « British subjects than in former tur . M > and if it allowed the name of an Englishman to be less respected than it hitherto had been . His torJshipconcluded by declaring that i > c OH not shrmV t , ojj the defence of the estimates , and that he wanted no committee to screen him .

      Mr 6 . Bankes contended that the country was 5 b » debted to Mr Hume , and not to the government , for th © appointment of these committees . Sir B . IsoLit retained all his objection to the- principle of a government transferring its rS 8 ? oniibili : y l «' committees of that house .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 26, 1848, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_26021848/page/7/