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Northern Star (1837-1852), 16th March 1850, Edition 3 of 3, Page 8, THE LATE POWDER-MILL EXPLOSION. (Conclud...

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    • „ - fcnamfal aaarliament
    • ? t Printed "fcy VfllLI AM WIDER, OfNoi 5, MacolesneU-sM^
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      O'Connor V . Bradfiuayf. X A Speech Of M...

      • which had been entrusted to him . 2 fo _doiibt many a wealthy banker and merchant in the city regards Mr . O'Connor ' s institution -with feelings of scorn and disdain ; but , oh , how few of them are there who would consent to let their acoounta be subjected to the same rigorous examination as that to which Mr . O'Connor ' s accounts have been submitted . How few of them are there who would come out unscathed from such an ordeal . If the day were to arrive when man would be weighed against man , on the score of conduct and character alone—if the day were to arrive when , it being acknowledged throughout tbe world that " Hank is but the guinea stamp , The man ' s the gowd for a' that !" *• - -,- »_ . _. .- _~ . „ _-- : - . _.-...-- .---..-

      it shall be agreed on all hands that man should be weighed against man , irrespective of extreme differences , and the adventitious advantages of social position and aristocratic lineage—if such a dav shall ever arrive , it will then be revealed to tbe universe how much better a man was Mr . O'Connor than the men who persecuted and assailed him . If Mr . O'Connor be an impostor , how comes it that , of the 70 , 000 shareholders who have confided their fortunes to his charge , not one has called upon him to resign his trust ? Here is a man who has dene everything to invite attention and defied scrutiny . His scheme may have failed and his wishes may not be realised , but that is not the question ; it ' " s whether he knew they

      ¦ would fail . Unless that was the case we cannot say lie was dishonest , and unless be were I am entitled to your verdict . I will call your attention to another letter published in the Star of July 10 , 1847 , to Mr . T . A . Barnsley Since that time thousands have enrolled themselves as members ofthe society , and yet we are told that the people have been induced to take that step because there was a bank having the security of the land ofthe Company . With regard to the increase of the sale of the Northern Star , I must ask whether it followed that because he discovered that thc Land Flan wonld aid another important undertaking in which he had an interest , he was dishonest . Let them see how that cut both ways . Did he

      anticipate the circulation would increase to 20 , 000 ? If he did he must have known how dangerous it would be to attempt to impose upon so large a number of persons . If the paper increased tenfold so did the difficulty of cheating anybody . It was said that his declarations are of no value * . that is doubtful—but one thing is clear , viz ., if be had intended to keep this property he would net have made those declarations . I will next call' attention to the bank circular of which my learned friend would only use a part , because / in fact , it was an answer to his whole case . Mr . Roebuck . —The whole was read yesterday . Mr . Sergeant Wilkixs . — My learned friend fell into the trap yesterday beautifully . When the witness spoke of it , he said triumphantly , " Where is

      that letter ? " " Here it is , " said I . He did not . know there was such a letter in the world . The plea says , — "And the defendant further saith that at the time of the publication ofthe said books mentioned , the said Company had an office of business in a certain house : plaintiff had last an office for carrying on the business of the bank , called , < £ c „ the same being not the bank of the said Company but the bank of him the plaintiff , " -fee . Here is my answer . : —[ This letter having appeared at length in the Star of the 23 rd February , it is not necessary to repeat it . ] That was sent to every depositor in the bank , and is dated the loth of September , 1848 .

      The learned Sergeant then went on to ask what document could he have produced , which furnished a more perfect answer to the whole case . He had produced O'Connor ' s receipt book for 1847 . and had proved that up to the receipt of £ 26 , 000 "Roberts had performed the office of treasurer . He had shown why Mr . O'Connor had taken it . He had produced balance sheets , headed " Feargus O'Connor , treasurer in account with the Land Company . " He had proved the audit ofthe accounts , and the expression of gratitude awarded to himby the Company for the way in which he conducted their business . The defendant had not

      shown one person in the world who could produce a well founded complaint . Were they then to suppose that these 70 , 000 subscribers were demented ? If Mr . O'Connor was an impostor , and his imposture was so palpable , how in the name ofthe common instincts of our nature ont of all these 70 , 000 , was it that not one should ever ask Mr . O'Connor to give np his interest?—how was it they did now come forward to say he was an impostor ? If the imposture were so palpable that a child Blight detect it , by what magic art , unknown to all other men , did Mr . O'Connor keep these 70 , 000 subscribers in quietness ! Really what was there in this case , even when aided by the beautifully rounded periods of his learned friend ?

      His learnedfriend had appealed to them as the protectors of the poor—he appealed to their reason and understanding . His learned friend had spoken in praise ofthe press—but no man had a higher respect forthe press than he ( Sergeant Wilkins ) . He believed that the cause of liberty owed to it the deepest obligations , and he thanked Heaven that there was in this free and happy land such an organ of opinion , which would inflict condign punishment on all who would dare to invade tbe rights of the Constitution or to inflict an injury on the poor _. He respected and reverenced the press , because it promoted civilisation , enlightenment , and rational freedom ; and he should always desire to see the legitimate rights and pr ivileges Gf that great censor

      of the age preserved intact and inviolate ; but surely it conld not be contended that Job Bradshaw was the representative of the press in this countn , or that the pitiful and malignant hand-bill he ha 4 posted about the wails of Nottingham came within the legitimate province of the press , or was to be classed in the category of editorial comments . Mr . Roebuck had stated that Mr . O'Connor ' s composition savoured very strongl y of the Macassar oil style of literture ; but most assuredly the defendant ' s handbill savoured as stronly of that delectable school as any piece of composition that bad fallen under his notice . The objects of the writer were twofold—firstly to give vent to his own private spleen , under the pretext of _prbtectin- * - the riirhts of

      tbe public ; and secondly , to puff off Ms own newspaper . Every sentence professed to be dictated by a feeling of philanthropy and patriotism , but the whole document ended with an exhortation to buy Hie Nottingham Journal , and at the end of every sentence might have been printed the words " Fourpence halfpenny , " There never was a showman at Greenwich fair who revelled in such eloquent bombast . The whole document , if translated into showman ' s parlance , might be read tbu - , " Walk up , walk up , ladies and gentlemen , walk up , and see how the great giant Feargus O'Connor will be polished off by that redouhtahle champion Job Bradshaw , ior the low charge of fourpence halfpenny . " "Sot a . tittle of evidence had been adduced to show that Mr . O'Connor had acted otherwise than as a faithful steward ; and he , therefore , implored the

      jury to come and stand between him and his slanderers . In his desire to benefit his race , he had familiarised himself with scenes of wretchedness and wpe , and had subjected himself , from choice , to evils to which the poor had to submit through necessity . A jury of honest Englishmen were bound to throw the shield of their protection around such a man . They should not forget that the interests ofthe public might be wounded through the side of an individual , and the present was precisely such a case . They shonld take care how they permitted themselves to be used as an instrument to allow one man to vent his private spleen , against another , under the plausible pretext of exposing an imaginary imposture . The learned Sergeant concluded his address by imploring thejury to bring to the consideration of this most important case minds unbiased by prejudice and unswayed by passion .

      " Ht ' « A R ' Of Thrmmifawthe Chanworki...

      _" 8 . . _, T H _^ , , t'PBTHi « ya _^ A ; R _, r Mab h : 16 , 1850 .... _„ _^ _ . _ ___^^^^^ m _^^^^ _j _^ _gjB _mim _* i' _^ ' _*' m' _* ' _* _''^* _f _*** mm ' _^ _^*^ _^' ' _^^^^^^^^^^^ _^^^^^^ _^ _r _. _t _^ _V _^^^^^^^^ _^^^^! _T _^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ _^^^^^^ , _^ , lll ! _" _* , MMMM ' _T _*' _** ' ll , MM ' * _*' ' _*^^ ¦ ¦ I ¦ - .. .- ¦ .- ¦ ¦ ~ -- - _:. T ~ ' - ¦ ' ! _- | _titiii "' fi ¦ _™ _' * : _'"'"* '' _*•* ¦

      . ^ British College Of Health, Nsw-Uoad,...

      . _^ BRITISH COLLEGE OF HEALTH , Nsw-uoad , Lokdox . . TO THE FINANCIAL & , SOCIAL REFORMERS THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN . _TeHmOw-Cotjstbxubs , —Prove , as most easily you can , how doctors have for ages cheated the people on the question of their health , and all the reforms that yon demand must follow , and that , too , in quick succession . The dishonesty of the medical body can be most easily established . We are , Fellow Countrymen , Tours , in the cause of Salutary Reforms , The _Mejcbers ot the British Collegk of March 6 th , 1850 Health .

      The Late Powder-Mill Explosion. (Conclud...

      THE LATE POWDER-MILL EXPLOSION . ( Concluded from the sixth page . ) On Thursday Mr . Wakley , the coroner , assisted by Mr . Wakley , jun ., the deputy coroner , held an inquest on the bodies of the seven men who were "killed by the explosion at the powder mills of Messrs . Curtis and Harvey , at Twickenham , near Hounslow-heath . Thejury , after a lengthy investigation , returned the following verdict : — " That George Goddard , James Bookmastcr , and Joseph Perry died on Monday , the 11 th inst , from mortal injuries inflicted upon divers parte of their bodies by theesplo 3 ion ofa certain quantity of gunpowder , and that there ia p evidence before the jury to prove by what means the said explosion of gunpowder was caused . "

      T,I£F/F^ I L P » Ese,Ltld S The Republic...

      T , _i £ f / f _^ l » ese , ltlD S the Republic has been _fcmH _. _* _^^^ _¦« _' _lfperieI _»•'• _t the National _r-vlSprtK _? - ¦ place * ¦ _** ••** - *" ¦ " _* _*" a ** *• """<> years since w 3 ! tL ° nef J *™ -PMKppe . The statue , dS'lif' _^ _V- _'' Banefthe sculptor , is _? ESa & ? - > fibt * ifc _hi «* MB hid _trV - _^ lif & ' _tf- _?^ - ** " _*** » and of _indus-StelSSh ¥ r lfc ho i _5 _'« own of laur _<*! . _*& ¦

      „ - Fcnamfal Aaarliament

      _„ - _fcnamfal _aaarliament

      M0nda*X7marchii...;. ";• . ' ;; House Oe...

      M 0 NDA * x 7 MARCHii ... ; . _";• . ' ;; HOUSE OE" LORDS .-Railwat AoDiT .-Earl Granville moved the second reading of the Railway Audit Bill , and after recapitulating the details of the _measure , alluded to the bill prepared by certain shareholders of the North-Western Railway , to which the government could not give their support , because it would not secure a continuous and independent audit . _. Lord Stanley would not oppose the second reading of tbe bill if the government would promise not to press it forward too rap idly . The reason why he wished for delay was to be found in the fact , that ne had been requested to take charge of _theother Audit Bill , to which Lord Granville bad alluded , and though he was little _verstd in railway matters himself , he hoped the house wonld not object to have the bill printed , and trusted , though the government bill might be read a second time , yet its rival would reciive due share of consideration .

      a Lord Monteagle again _expressed his satisfaction that the government had taken this question up , and hoped the house would remember the immense amount of property sunk in railways , as well as the fact tbat the accounts of those companies had got into such confusion that no confidence was placed in them . After some further discussion , Lord Granville undertook not to hurry the bill on without affording time for duly considering the question . With regard to the proposition for a select committee he would give his opinion to

      morrow . The bill was then read a second time , and their lordships adjourned , after disposing of some other business . HOUSE OP COMMONS . —The Lords' amendment of the Party Processions ( Ireland ) Bill were agreed to . Abut Estiuates . —The house then went into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates , when .. . . Mr . F . Maule renewed his motion—made on Friday—for a vote of 99 , 128 men for the land forces for the service of the present year , and entered into a detailed _explanation of the state and expenditure ef the army . He stated the distribution of the forces—59 , 393 at home , 39 , 730 in the colonies—replying , as

      he proceeded , to objections offered in the debate _"f Friday by Mr . Cobden and Mr . M . Gibson , observing , that the officers in the army were the worse paid and the hardest worked of any of our public servants , and tbat a very small proportion of the commissions in the army were held by the _aristocraey . With resard to the proposed number ofthe forces , considering the strength of the continental armies , the French being 430 , 000 , besides National Guards ; that of Prussia 325 . 000 , exclusive of Landwehr ; that of Austria 539 , 000 ; it would ill befit the position which this country holds amongst nations , he observed , to maintain ouly a sufficient number of troops to furnish reliefs for those iu our colonies , without regard to . the protection of our interests at home . The charge for the land forces this year was £ 3 , 562 , 430 , being a reduction of £ 93 , 158 in comparison with the charge of

      last year : and , including the effective and non-effective services the aggregate decrease was £ 122 , 814 . The internal condition of the army had greatly improved , if measured by the number of men committed to military prisons , and , in particular , that of young men so committed had been gradually diminishing for the last few years . The health of the army was greatly ameliorated , as shown by the returns of mortality in corps serving abroad . Education was raakiug progress in the regimental schools , and measures were taken to secure a higher standard of education among the officers , the Commander-in-Chief having insisted upon gentlemen undergoing examination before entering the service . He ( Mr . Maule ) bad been assured by the highest authority , that with respect to both officers and men , the British army was at present in a state of which the country might well be proud .

      Mr . Home concurred in believing that the army was well managed and in a state of high efficiency . He did not think that the individuals , whether men or officers , were paid too highly , but he was convinced that their numbers were too great . Referring back to the year 1828 , when the annual outlay of the country was £ 55 , 000 . 000 , Mr . Uume recorded tbe results of the scrutiny instituted by the committee appointed in that session , and which led ultimately to the minimum expenditure of 1835 . Since then the charges had again expanded until they had . actually exceeded the amount voted twenty years ago . This fact proved the necessity for renewed efforts of retrenchment . The hon . gentleman founded upon his calculation a proposal to reduce the number of men to be immediately voted to 89 , 000 ; as the first step towards reforms which he _^ intended to enforce until a sum of ten millions annually had beeu struck off the national burdens .

      The amended vote , as suggested by Mr . Hume , having been put , Major BlackalLi who opposed the amendment , remarked that the hon . member h * d proposed a reduction often thousand men , but had not explained from" whafregiments they could be spared . He argued that there was no branch of the military force that was not already overtasked by the duties assigned to it . Sir W . Molbswokth treated the military expenditure chiefly as a colonial question . Out of £ 6 , 600 , 000 which was the whole cost of the effective services , no less than five millions , being live elevenths , was

      incur'ed on ace untof the colonies . Was this enormous ou _' lay necessary ? On this question the hon bironet entered into a detail ofthe military forces em-aged in the various dependencies distinguished into garrison colonies , plantations , and colonies proper . Many incidents proving the extravagant charges for fortifications , and the unnecessary number of _ttoopg employed wero adduced * and the conclusion enforced that the colonies to whom we were giving free constitutions . out-lit to provide for their own defence . From New Zealand ; New South Wale . " , and the Cape we mig ht thus withdraw no leBS than 7 , 000 men , enabling us to dispense with a much larger number from our army .

      Captain _Boluero argued that the state neither of the colonies , of Ireland , or of Europe generally , justified any reduction in our military

      establishments . Mr . Macgregor . nave the government credit for the reductions they had already accomplished , and relied upon sincerity in prosecuting the work of economy . Previously to the last session , he had calculated that about four millions could be saved out of the eighteen millions spent on the army , navy , and ordnance . He now found that £ 2 , 600 , 000 had been actually reduced , and more was promised . He was convinced that further retrenchments were _possible , _especially in the colonies , but be objected to pass a sweeping vote which might prove embarrassing to the public service and unjust to the gallant men

      composing our armies . Mr . Bursal Osborne contended that by improved management we could combine a large saving with increased vigour in the army . He suggested the combination ot the three distinct departments of the Horse Guards , ordnance , aud commissariat , and placing them under the control of a minister of war , wbo shall be duly responsible to the house . In the clothing system for the army a fair field wais offered for reform A saving of £ 40 , 000 a year might be effected with an enhancement of the respectability of the colonels of regiments , who now shared the tailors' profits . A protracted discussion ensued , which was terminated by brief _replies fropi Mr . Fox Maule , and

      Mr . Hume , and a division . For the amendment ... 50 Against 223 Majority against it ... Majority against it ...

      173 . The vote asked by the government was then agreed to . On the grant of £ 1 , 700 , 000 to defray the charge rendered necessary by tbe preceding vote ' Mr . Hume , observing that he had done his duty towards the cause of retrenchment , said that he would not delay the committee with any further opposition . The vote , after some miscellaneous conversation , was agreed to . Sir F . Basing then brought forward the navy estimates . As a preface to them , but promising that it shuu'd be the last occasion on which the item should appear ; the right hon , baronet placed a sum of £ 211 , 000 as the excess ofthe past two years beyond

      the sums granted by the house . The sums required for the ensuing year were—For the effective services , £ 4 , 323 , 000 ; non-tffective , £ 1 , 188 , 000 ; making , with the additions . required for the conveyance of troops , mail-packets , dtc , a to _' al of £ 6 , 613 . 000 for the naval service . This amount presented a reduction of £ 480 , 000 from the expenditure of last year . Compared with 1848-9 , the saving was no less than £ 1 , 333 . 000 . Tbe retrenchment had extended through all the departments , thc number of seamen , marinvs , officers , and _dockyard workmen , the vessels in commission , bavins * all been reduced with a corresponding saving in provisions and supplies or all sorts . In stores , works , & c , large economy had been effected .

      A _voieof 30 , 000 men was then proposed for thc naval service . Mr . Home referred to the average ofthe six years ending with 1839 , to show that 31 , 400 men had then been found ample for every duty . He did not wish to persevere in an unavailing opposition i but . desired to record his protest against this extravagance . . The vote would mike an amount of twelve millions granted in one night . He placed before the committee an amendment to reduce tbe vote to the number he had stated . ; Captain Pechkll signified his intention to vote for the _amendment if it were carried . ' to a division . : The existing condition of the navy was , he added , highly satisfactory , buthe ' remonstratid against the proposed diminutionin the allowance ot grog to the sailors ; - _,... ; . . ' * .- ¦ _- _.-¦ ¦

      Colonel Sibthorp , regrftting that the lateness of the _h-. ur forbade hisdoing justice to the subject , took the opportunity of suggesting omelreduetioos ia the

      M0nda*X7marchii...;. ";• . ' ;; House Oe...

      _JMorae of th _^ FirstCofd ' of thrMmifaW , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and some-other . official _^ _Caftaio Psihamspoke a ; few _^ words in favour of ' _" _mSankhs made some inquiries as tp the destiny which awaited the prizes taken . off the shores of Greece , by Admiral Parker ' s squadron . Lord Pambhston said the Greek ships were detained as pledges , not as prizes , but would be sold to furnish compensation for the dangers suffered by British subjects , if there was no other way of secur" On " a division there appeared—Forthe amendment . 19 Againstit 117—98 The vote of 39 , 000 men was then agreed to . The Chairman then reported progress , and the house resumed . _ - w _.--. -- - _••^ . ¦ - _¦••• _-w- _^

      Lord J . Rossbll brought in a bill to reduce the salaries of the Chief Justices uf Queen ' s Bench and Common Pleas to £ 8 , 000 and £ 7 , 000 respectively . The house adjourned at one o ' clock .

      TUESDAY , MABcn 12 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —The royal assent was given by commission to tho . Party Processions ( Ireland ) Bill . ¦ , ¦ " " Lord _Stai-let introduced the rival bill for the audit of railway accounts prepared by the shareholders in opposition to that of the government . agricultural Distress . —Lord Redesdale , pursuant to notice , presented two petitions praying for agricultural protection—one from Northumberland signed by . 4 , 700 persons , and the other from the county of Worcester , numerously-and respectably si » ned . Parliament had now met about six weeks , and no notice had been taken in that house of this important subject . He considered , therefore , having these petitions to present , that it was his duty to do

      so . The noble marquis opposite , in the debate on the address , _ga . ve that house the comfortable assurance that the worst had arrived , and he hoped an improvement would take place in agricultural prospects ; six weeks , however , had elapsed , and so far from those expectations being realised , there had been a constant tendency downward in the market . Let them see how this matter affected the poorer classes , from whom a large , portion of the national income was derived . ( Hear , hear . ) Wages had been reduced in all classes of labour , from tho most skilful artisan down to the agricultural labourer ; and taking ten millions of the population of this country to be employed in labour , he was safe in _savine there had been , on an average , a reduction

      in their wages of 2 s . per week . If that was the case , there had been a falling off of £ 62 , 000 , 000 a year in the income of the people . ( Hear . ) On the other hand , our boasted saving by buying in the cheapest markets had not covered that loss . He would take the average price of corn when Sir R . Peel introduced his measure in 1842 ,, as , compared with the present time , and it would appear that there had been a saving of £ 16 , 000 , 000 in wheat , £ 4 , 000 , 000 in barley , and . £ 500 , 000 in oats , which with the saving in butter , cheese , and other articles of food , made a total amount of £ 40 , 000 , 000 , only as a set-off against the £ 62 , 000 , 000 loss in the income of the people . ( Hear , hear . ) The doctrine of buying in the cheapest and selling in the dearest market the labouring man could not avail himself of 'Hear , hear . ) The labouring man had nothing

      but his labour to sell , and he must sell it before he could buy anything . Now the object of the present system was to make wages low ; there could be no doubt of that ; and the only peoplo who were not able to go into any other market were the agricultural labourers , and yet the free traders found fault with the reduction of their wages . ( Hear , hear . ) The noble lord after enumerating the grievances of the agricultural interest , concluded by asking the Marquis ef Landsdowne whether there was any chance ofa considerable alteration in the price of corn ; whether , _supposing there was no alteration , the present extent of land could be cultivated and , lastly , whether the government had been able to

      frame any calculation as to the future average price of corn ; Marquis of Lan _« oow _** e replied that he was not one of those who bad anticipated that the abolition ofthe Corn Laws would be effected without difficulty or pressure . In his opinion , the abrogation of these laws was inevitable , and he was firmly convinced that the change would ultimately be most beneficial for the prosperity of the country . While he regretted the temporary distress of the agricultural interest , he would add that the experiment now in progress ought to be allowed every fair chance of success , and it certainly could not be said to have failed . He declined to answer either of the

      above questions . Earl of _Malmesmjry contended that the experiment of free trade had not worked well , and that the only result which had at present attended it was that the interests of the rural districts were sacrificed to the prosperity of the towns . . Earl Grey said that if free trade was merely regarded as an experiment , still it must bo regarded as entirely successful . In fact , the country could never have gone through the past four years without the abolition ofthe Corn Laws . The petition was ordered to lie on the table , and their lordships adjourned , after despatching some other business . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Arctic Expedition . —

      Sir F . Baring stated that the new expedition about to be despatched to the Arctic Regions in search of Sir J . Franklin , consisted of two ships , manded by Capt . Penney , and two steamers commanded by Captain Austin . The squadron , it was expected , would be ready to sail in the first week of April .

      THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY .-Mr . F . O' Connor gave notice that immediately after Easter he should bring in a bill to wind up the affairs of the National Land Company . ; ' Sir B . Hall said he questioned whether this would not be taken as a private bill , and he suggested to the hon . member for Nottingham whether he should not take steps to obtain the sanction of the house to . the bill before Easter . Mr . F . O'Connor said he hardly understood what thc hon . member meant . He intended to take the advice of the best conveyancer , the best equity lawyer , and the best common law lawyer , as to the best means of effecting the object he had in view ..

      Taxation and _Expenditube . —Mr . H . Dbummond moved a resolution , that whereas the present taxation depresses all classes , by diminishing the funds for the employment of productive labour , adequate means should be forthwith adopted to reduce the expenditure , He gave a rapid sketch of the history ofthe last few years ; the lavish profusion in the time of war , the command we obtained by the war over the commerce of the world , and the stimulus which this prosperity , received from a gradually depreciated currency . The peace , be observed , changed the aspect of affairs ; the demand for agricultural produce fell off ; the . currency measure of 1819 augmented the difficulties of the landed interest ' , and the corn law was given as an equivalent .

      That law was now repealed , and , although he did not ask the house to reverse its policy , he called upon it not to halt midway ; he demanded a reduction of expenditure in the matter of salaries , and that all . burdens should be revised wliich checked the growth of raw produce . When salaries were increased on account of tbe dearness of the necessaries of life , it was never supposed that they should be maintained at their high scale when prices became low , * and whilst the value of produce had been lowered , the cost of production remained the same . By what right , he asked , were the . yeomen of this country prevented from growing what they pleased upon their land ? . and why were ' . - they subjected , in their rural affairs , to an interference

      from which other trades were exempt ? He should contiuue to press this matter , on the attention of the house so long as he sat there ; and ho would give every constituent in the country an opportunity of knowing how his representatives voted on this matter . ( Hear , hear . ) To . the demand he now made for a removal of all the burdens pressing alike on the labourer and the owner of the soil , it was no answer to talk of faith being kept with the public creditor . They had not kept faith with the public debtor . ( _Htar _. hear . ) They had taught the public debtor to have no respect for faith , with the public creditor ; and whether they might like it or not , the language of the farmers . nt the present moment was this ( he had heard it from more than one of them )'' Whatever , were our politics , we ; were

      , faithful and loyal men ; : and we respected the institutions of our country ; we : have not . found those institutions to proteot our property ; and we care not a rush whether they are : maintained or not . " ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) Hon .: members might not think it a laughing matter when these threats were carried into effoct . What was worse , amongst the labourers who had beon made to suffer by the recent changes , a very common sentiment had begun to prevail—they did not see why there should be such a difference between the rich and the poor . He confessed that was a question which he could not answer ; but it . was a fearful condition of things with which they had to deal . To avert the evil

      they must' act justly and honestly , by diminishing the salaries of all the senanta of the crown , aud by removing every impediment in the way ofthe cultivator of the soil doing what ho pleased with'his produce . ( Hear , hear . ) These were the two points on which he should insist . He wished not to screen the rich—not to protect the landlord against the labourer . Let them put a property tax on the landlord if they pleased ; but , whatever they did , let them remove the burdens which : oppressed the labourer . ( Hear , hear . ) . ¦ Mr . Catlkt seconded the motion . The object of the Legislature for some years past had been to create a fall in prices . . Cheapness was their object , and cheapness they , had got .. The advantage proposed wm the _advantage ; of the consumer—meaning . the

      M0nda*X7marchii...;. ";• . ' ;; House Oe...

      working , classes ; but were they as a class better off ? Try to delude themselves as they rilfghtj it was in vain to conceal that both in the , country and in that house a doubt of the eventual success of the free tradesystemincreased daily . " Free tradchad produced so Jowa price of agricultural produce that the very advocates of cheapness were frightened at thehvown work . ' For the motion of Mr . Cobden he felt himself bound , in-duty to his constituents , to vote ; for the motion of the hon . member for Montrose , for the reduction of the army , ' he also . felt bound to vote . The necessities' and safety of the government were one element in the present dues- ; tion , but there was another element , which he ' _nlantfiq ' hllfc WAl » A f . linv q « *» _nlnaa 1 _taff . Ar

      could not but remember—the necessities and safety of . his constituents . ( Hear , hear . ) On similar grounds he ' should support the motion of his hon . friend , the member for Surrey . Bufwas this impatience of taxation which was now evinced the only thing of evil import in prospect for his noble friend ? It was but the beginning of the end . Did he imagine the system of free trade established ? They were scarcely at the end of the first stagechanging horses at Barnet on the road to the north . Sincerely did he wish that the impatience of taxation already expressed was all that his noble friend would have to contend with . At' each stage he would be met by obstructions and resistancenot voluntary and hypothetical , but arisinir from

      dire necessity , and out of the nature of things . " War to the knife" would he have to encounter between British wages and foreign wages—war to the knife between white bread and black bread—war to the knife between poor laws and no poor laws—between a nation , with poor laws , and a world without them—war to the knife between the lawful insanity of an abstract dogma , and the lawless insanity of the lucifer match .- And well would it be if , in the prosecution of the ruthless 3 cheme to make the rich richer , and the poor poorer , the walls even of the house in whioh they sat were not shaken to their vory foundation . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Fox M _aults gave his full assent to the premises laid down by Mr . Drummond , but disagreed with his conclusions . He agreed that taxation was an evil , and that the labourer should be relieved , as far as possible , from its burden , He did not , however , believe that tho labourer ' s position would

      be improved by sweeping resolutions which might damage the credit of the country . Free trade , he was convinced , bad led to ' a great and nearly _universal increase of public prosperity , and the government were willing to abide by all the contingencies that could result from that great experiment . It was a fallacy to argue about labour as if the agriculturist was the only , or indeed the most numerous , class of labourers . It was no true economy to reduce the salaries of public men , and especially of judicial functionaries , atthe risk of sacrificing their efficiency and trustworthiness . Retrenchment had already gone a great way . There was no head _, of expense which offered a margin for reductions so freat as were proposed by the resolution before the ouse . That proposition he declared was merely a trap set to catch the votes of every ndvocate of economy of whatever colour . , Tho right hon . member concluded by moving the previous question . Mr . Mangles seconded the amendment .

      Sir R . Pbel said , the motion must be looked at either in a commercial or financial point of viow , Mr . F . Maule . had supposed that Mr Drummond intended that the house should imply an opinion unfavourable to the commerciarpolicy of late years ; but he ( Sir R . Peel ) believed if this had been his intention , he would have said so in plain and direct terms ; and , moreover , such an intention was incompatible with Mr . Drummond ' s avowed opinions and with the legitimate inferences from the terms ofthe motion . What that gentleman meant was , that the taxation which remained ' pressed heavily upon industry , and therefore it was desirable to adopt all practicable economy . He agreed with Mr . Cayley that the merits of our _uecent

      commercial policy lay in the answer to the question . Had the social condition of the labouring classes generally been improved thereby ? Had their command over the necessaries of life been increased ? And so far as a judgment could be formed , we had at least no right to infer that the comforts bf even the agricultural classes had been curtailed by the legislation since 1812 . In various years , under protection , agricultural distress had been most severely felt , even co-existeht with high prices . Mr . Drummond had claimed for the farmer exemption from restrictions ; that he might , for example , grow tobacco ; but if the foreign duty on that article was maintained , and an Excise duty was imposed upon British tobacco , agriculture would reap but a slender benefit . Ho had not been able to vote tho other ni g ht with Mr . Cobden , because he thought the principle of bringing the expenditure down to the

      standard of any particular year was a fallacious one , and he had more confidence in the progressive and reflecting retrenchments of a government than in the varying and vacillating declarations even of a reformed House of Commons , which had its hot as well as cold fits . How could the house adopt this resolution , which must excite expectations ofa large reduction of taxation , immediately after rejecting by large majorities propositions foi * reducing the army and navy estimates ? He believed that there were many taxes , the reduction of whieh consistently with good faith and public security , would confer inestimable benefit ; and he advised tho house to apply itself to economy in every practical form , but not one day vote large estimates , and the very same day agree to a general resolution justifying the expectation of a large reduction of expenditure , and thereby propagating a delusion .

      In the further discussion of tho question , Mr . Nkwdeoatk , Col . Sibthorp , Mr . _SiAPFORn ' Lord J . Manners , Mr . Bright , Mr . Heniet , Mr . Hetworth ; Mr . Hume , Mr . Behnett , Capt . Harris , Mi * . Mcntz , and Lord Duncan spoke in support of the motion . Col . Thompson , Lord J . Russell , Mr . B . OsnoiiNE , Mr . Labouchere , and Mr . Brotherton , ' opposed it . Mr . Osborne and Mr . Brotherton looked upon thc ¦ notion as a Protectionist trap , and refused to walk info it . _'' ¦ _'/¦ Mr . Drummond having replied the house divided , when the previous question was carried by 190 against 156 . County Rates . —Sir H . Halforo moved for leave to bring in a bill to relieve occupiers of lands and tenements , not beimj owners , from county and police rates ; which , after some disparaging remarks by Mr . Miles and Mr . Agmonbt , and a qualified consent from Sir G Grey , was given .

      Jews in Parliament . —Mr . Wood moved for a committee to search the journals and report upon sueh precedents or acts as relate to the question of Jews or others being admitted into Parliament without being sworn upon the Holy Gospel ; and also in what manner Mr . Pease , in 1833 , made affirmation to the effect of the oaths required from members ; and further , in what manner Jews and ethers , not professing the Christian religion , are permitted to make oaths in courts of Justice and elsewhere . He referred to the circumstances connected with the election of Baron Rothschild , and stated that he had made this motion witha view of inquiring into all tbe circumstances which would enable the house to arrive at a right determination , following a prepedent he had found in the journals in the case of Mr . Pease .

      Sir R . Peel was still ready to give his cordial support to any legislative enactment for the admission of persons of the Jewish persuasion into that house ; but no gentleman opposed to their admission would watch with more jealousy than he should any attempt by tho House of Commons to supersede the authority of the House of Lords . Lord J . Russbll considered that the House , by agreeing to the committee , would not signify any opinion as to the admission of Jews into the house ; but he thought it of very great importance that there should be a committee . A few remarks were made by Mr . Stuart Wortlet , Mr . Anstey , and Mr . Walpole , and tho motion was agreed to . Mr , _Deedes obtained leave to bring in a bill _, to amend the act 6 th Victoria , chap . 109 , for the ap pointment of parish constables . ' ; The remaining orders were disposed of , and the house adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock _.

      WEDNESDAY , March 13 . HOUSE OF COMMONS . — Couhty Rates . — The debate upon thc second reading of this bill ( adjourned on the 13 th of February ) , was resume *" by . Sir J . Pakington , who . moved , as an . amendment , for a select committee to inquire into the present mode of levying and expending the county rate , with a view to ascertain whether any more satisfactory mode can be adopted of levying the rates , and of giving the ratepayers more effeotual control over their expenditure . A bona fide inquiry , he thought , was an essential preliminary to legislation upon so

      essential a subject , and he was averse to sanctioning the principle of a bill so objectionable in its details , which had originated , he believed _. in a local squabble between two large towns in Lancashire . He vindicated the conduct of the magistracy , with reference to local finances ; he showed over how small an amount of expenditure the proposed county boards couid exercise a control ; Hnd he contended that , if grievances did exist under the present system , this bill , which was adapted to Lancashire , would not afford an effectual remedy for them in other counties .

      After ft long debate the amendment was negatived , and the "bill read a second time . Public Libraries ;—Mr . Ewart then moved the second reading of the _ Public Libraries and Museums Bill , explainining that it proposed to give to town-councils a permissive authority to levy a small limited rate for the purposes ofthe bill .. Colonel Sibthorp opposed , upon , constitutional grounds ,, the _, second reading ofthe bill without the previous , sanction of a committee ; but Sir G . Grey having shown that there was ho constitutional _impediment . to the progress of the bill '; Colonel Sibthorp resisted it upon the ground that , it increased public taxation , and moved that it be read-six month * hence . ¦ ' .. ¦ . ¦ ¦ - •""' :. ¦

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      . _Thesecbhd reading was supported by Mr . Brotherton ; Mr ; : HuME _' _-vMr . G . A : 'Hamilton ; ' Mr ; Labouchere , Mr . ; _HBroifyj _' Mr , SLAirar , Mr . _IIkywood , and Mr .. Wtld ; ' severarof whom objected to parts' of the bill- ; whichwas opposed by Mr Buck , Mr . Goulburn , ' Miv _Bernav ' Mr . ' -Miles ,. ' Mr . Spookur , 'Mr . _Roundlet Palmer ; ' Sir It' Inglis , Mr . P . Howard ; and ; Mr ; Oswald , most of whom , however , severed in their * grounds of opposition . ;' Mr . Ewart having replied , ' . Sir J . Graham _inquired whether he would adopt the suggestion of ; some * members , to require the consent of a majority of the ratepayers . Mr . Ewart had ho ; objection to such a general principle , but declined to pledge himself to its adoption . Sir G . Grey thought , there ought to be such a check ; and ' ' Thrt Qoonn / 1 _~ _nnA _' _m _~ w _«'» - ; . _«« _- _^ _i-J t . ; : _¦»» _- ¦ _* t > - V'

      Mr . Law said , without an express provision for the consent of three-fourths of the ratepayers , he would oppose the bill . The house having divided , the second reading of the bill was carried by 118 against 101 . At six o ' clock the house adjourned . THURSD ' IY , March 14 . HOUSE OF LORDS . — Earl Grey moved the second reading of the Convict Prisons Bill , and in so doing stated at length the tenor of existing _arrangements , and the nature of tho projects in contemplation for the disposal of convicts sentenced to transportation . . Their lordships then adjourned .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . — Mr . F . O'Connor presented a petition ,. signed by members of the National Land Company resident in Manchester , against the winding up of the Company ; also _petitions from places in Nottinghamshire , and from Lincoln ' s Inn , praying for a repeal of the taxes on knowledge . i Irish MAOisTRACi _.---Mr . F . O ' Connor wished to ask the noble lord , the Prime Minister , if he had any objection to submit to the house copies ofthe correspondence Which had passed between him and Dr . Grattan , who had lately been deprived of the commission of the peace in Ireland for presiding over a public meeting . . Lord J . Russell had no objection ,: _, . ¦ Mr . F . O'Connor gave notice , then , that on an early day he should move for its production . Factory Acts . —Lord _Asulet rose to move for

      leave to bringin a bill to declare the . intentions of the Legislature in respect of the hours and mode of working under the Factory Acts . ; - The circumstances which led him to . do so , he said , were very simple , and he would be brief in stating them . In 1847 a bill for regulating the time of labour in factories was . introduced . By the Act of 1845 it was enacted that labour in factories should be confined between the hours of . half-past five in the morning and eight in tho evening—a period of fifteen hours ; but by a clause it was provided that the labour of all young persons should be calculated from the time when they first commenced . in . the morning and that none should work for more than ten hours . The result was that under thejnterpretation of that

      Act , the system of relays and shifts were altogether impossible _^ After the passing of the Act of 1847 , it was discovered that the section limiting the labour of young persons , was not so stringent as to entirely exclude : the system of relays . Great discontent was consequently produced among factory operatives ; cross and contradictory decisions were given by . magistrates on _. the clause , and no one knew exactly , what the clause was . To prevent further litigation , a case was referred tb the Court of Exchequer for its decision , and the result was , a decision ; ad verse : to the interpretation put upon the Act by the factory inspectors ; and Mr . Baron Parke declared that the words of the Act were not sufficiently strong to carry . into effect what the

      court strongly suspected was the intention of the Legislature . _^ . ( Hear , hear . ) Believing , himself , that the object of thc Legislature in passing the Act whs to .-interdict shifts and relays , he now asked for leave to bring in a Bill to more effectively carry out that object / - Mr / Baron Parke gave it as his opinion that the intention of the Legislature was that relays and shifts should not be allowed , but the words of the Act were not sufficiently stringent to prohibit' them . But that was not all , for Mr . Inspector Horner , in his report of December , 1849 , stated that he knew , of his own knowledge that that it was the intention ofthe framersof the bill of 1844 , that the working by shifts as had been practised in 1833 should be prohibited . In 1844 the inspectors were called upon to

      suggest an enactment . which should remedy the defect in the Act of 1833 ; and in the following year , doubts having arisen as to whether the Act of 1844 really did prohibit relays , the Secretary of State wrote to the inspectors , _telling ' them that as he interpreted the law the relay and shift system was interdicted . After some further comments oh the late decision , he then showed the evil effects of the relay system upon the operatives , contrasting with it the . beneficial results of the limitation of labour . Having put the house in possession of the benefits . which had been wrought by the Ten Hours Act , and shown the utter falsification of all the predictions of its enemies , he concluded with a solemn appeal on behalf of the temporal and eternal welfare of thousands , to the justice and honour of Parliament .

      Mr . Edwards seconded the motion . Sir G . Grey admitted the injury that would result from leaving the law uncertain , and was willing to give it full force . But he drew . a distinction between the system of shifts and that of relays . To the first , by which the . same operatives were made to work for the allotted ten hours , distributed arbitrarily throughout a . long day of , perhaps , eighteen hours ,: he strongly objected . The relay system , however , where fresh Bets of young or female _© peratives were provided to keep the

      machinerj going . when the time of their predecessors had expired , offered much lighter evils . It was not quite clear that the intention ofthe passers of the bill had been to prohibit this system of relays . The hon . bart . was . not ashamed to confess that hiB mind was not yet made up as to the scope which ought prudently to be assigned to the measure , and would offer no opposition to the introduction of an act to define and , amend it , if he were left unfettered with regard to the specific mode of carrying out that object . Mr . Bankes supported the bill .

      Mr . Milner Gibson said that the Ten Hours Bill had been vaguely drawn , and ; dealt Tery carelessly with great and important interests . The provisions which had _baen uncertain , but harmlessly so , 'inthe old twelve hours bill , became Injurious when transplanted into the new measure restricting labour to ten hours . Many _. of the ameliorations in the moral and physical condition ofthe operatives which Lord Ashley had- attributed to this act , were in reality the result of free trade . Mr . F . O'Connor said , that if the right hon . gentleman whohad just spoken did not represent the manufacturers of Manchester , he should be at a loss to reconcile his conduct with respect to the measure under consideration with the motion of

      whicli he had given notice , with regard to the in < _struction of the working classes .... There were few gentlemen who traversed more through the manufacturing districts than he had , and he could assure the house that he was perfectly astonished at the misery that he found to exist there . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not think thatthe right hon . gentleman ( Mr . M . Gibson ) appeared to pay much attention to the noble lord ( Lord Ashley . ) The right hon . member had charged the noble lord with making a . lax speech , but the . right hon . member must have discovered that he himself was standing on a weak crutch in that respect , after the very limping and incoherent speech he had ; made . All that he ( Mr ; O'Connor ) asked was , that the house should

      put its own construction on the act in question , and so promote the amelioration of the people . When they talked of the ignorance of the working classes , that must Burely _^ be aware . tbat it was caused by the . tyranny of the manufacturers . He denied that . it was intended by this bill to limit adult labour to fen _houra a day . There was nothing of the kind in the noble lord's bill , but he ( Mr . O'Connor ) contended that it was ' only right and just that this should bo done .. The manufacturers had taunted the landed proprietors with harshness and indifference towards the agricultural labourers , but they , wero never called upon to work more than eleven hours a day , but in . the manufacturing districts the workmen were often . engaged sixteen

      hours a day , and they at other times were employed only three days in the , week , and had to pay the same ; rent for their holdings as if they had six days work . A labourer in , the manufacturing districts was worn out as much at the age of 28 as an agricultural labourer was in Dorsetshire at fifty-three . The condition of the factory operative as compared with that ofthe agricultural labourer bore the same comparison that the race-horse _. did to the agricultural horse—the one was ' a » old and as exhausted at five , and older than the other was at twenty . ( Hear , hear . ) At the age of five the one had run his sweating race like the poor operative , and . the master of eaoh lived upon the sinew , and marrow , and blood of eaoh . ( Hear , hear . ) He would give them a graphic illustration ofthe comparison which a child drew between agricultural or . natural , and artificial or unnatural labour . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had taken

      the noble lord the member for Dumfneshire , to visit one ofthe hovels of his scouted Land Plan ; the father showed him a little boy , not fourteen yw _s of age ,, whom he called the little farmer . He told them that planting cabbages and sowing seeds was his delight , thathe rose with the . dawh . of day , arid thought the day too short for his cheerful work . He ( Mr .. O'Connor ) asked the father what the boy would havo been , had he not been located upon the , land ' ; tho father replied , ' a factory operative ; ' then , _j-aidMr . O'Connor , toll me _^ his _, suppose little "Will ' broke sonic crockerj , aiid that" the punishment infl'Qted upon them was that he should hot work at tfce land for a _wook ? " _' _., The father replied ; , •' That he would not . look at ! a ' . bit of crockery , ' again , " for fear of being so punished , " ( Cheers and laughter . ) V " Well , but , " said , he ( Mi . O'Connor ) ' . ' * _mappoae

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      Will was a factory operative , _thiitThe broke tha teapot , and that mconsequence _. ' _ybu _' to'd kimtw he should nofc _irork in the mill for a weok " Oh » replied the father ; ,, "he > would •' smash all tl , crockery in . the house . _*?<; _i ( Great cheerhn- _™* laughter . ) _sHe , ( Mr . O'Connor ) was rejoiceS " to H that the noble lord , who proposed this measm _£ had discovered the value of small _allotments-Tw _2 that the peoplo instead of spending their unem ployed hours in idleness and dissipation aDS themselves to the cultivation of those _allotniPnt and turned barren soil into fertile land ml , ? The Secretary for the Home Department tniSJ about antagonism , but the antagonism whini _, _k really feared was that of the hon ™ it were seated behind him , and who lived on _iT labour of unprotected infants . They _diiihUi people from doing domestic work , and , after tw they charged them with idleness and i _gnoraSce ' ( Bear hear . 1 The fact was that machinery in creased on them so fast in this country th-it ! h government wore afraid to tdeal with it Ami _» must be recollected also , that at . that eariy DCrin , i he had not had time to make sufficient to main _, _;„' himself during the premature old acre _vhUu -.-r-. - . -- ~ .-: -- _* _-- _^ _^ _- - ' _^ : * . _"r : —

      unnatural style of living had brought on iv were some charitable persons who were inclS to comply with this act because it was a _mZl matter of justice , but those persons wnnw be driven to break it through competition If the manufacturers had a spark of humanity * they would not allow the persons labouring foi them to remain in their present condition . _Wiu it not the common case now , that a mother 11 hearing the factory bell , was obliged to take W child from her breast and throw it to a _stranger u take care of , while she rushed off to her labour n tho factory to get a bit of bread ? He would i _* the house to consider what could be the state ofa community in which tho mother was obli ged to throw her child away trom her breast as soon as shs heard the factory bell riDg . By the system which was . at present adopted , the father was mado * dependent on the child , which created _nothing

      but disobedience , and everything that was repulsive in a family . Look at the manfacturing districts and see a Jittlc boy of H years of age-a miserable ' dwarfed , deformed creature . Let them see this * and compare these children with the healthv ' stalwart little fellows in the agricultural districtsand he asked whether .., they must not admit that . the factory system of this counti ? was an abomination ,, and reflected dishonour and disgrace upon the legislation of this country ? The representatives of the manufacturing districts knew that the government were dependent on tliem when in fix

      they were a , so that their power was very great in that house ; but still , when they went down to the manufacturing districts , what apologies would they make to the great bulk ofthe inhabitants for the rotes tbey would give on this subject . He was sure bo one would be against the measure of the noble lord who would not be branded hereafter as an enemy to his fellow-creatures . Tho honourable gentleman , the member for Manchester , should , when he went down to his constituents , apologise for the vote which he was about to give on tbe bill . He defied

      any man to come to a conclusion to vote against the proposition of the noble lord , without being looked upon as an enemy to the circulation of knowledge and the country in general . The ri _« _-ht hon . gentleman who had just sat down had made some remarks upon the observations of the noble lord . How different wero the two speeches ! ( Hear , hear . ) The noble lord spoke with feeling ; he spoke logically , and truly ; but the right hon . gentleman had spoken unfeelingly and uncandidly ; the right hon . gentleman had spoken for a small class , but the noble lord had spoken for the country at large . ( Hear . ) There was a man who had done more than any other person in this country for the operative classes , and who the noble lord the Prime Minister had had the audacity and impertinence- ( cries of "Chair , " and "Order ! " )—he repeated it , for it was no mora

      audacious for him ( Mr . O'Connor ) to do so than for the noble lord to have charged the philanthropist to whom he alluded—Mr . Richard Oastler—with all but treason and rebellion , on account of his unexampled efforts on behalf of the labouring classes . If there were to beany investigation of this matter , that gentleman could give the house a true and fair account of the factory children . If he were asked to place his hand upon the men who lived exclusively upon the sinews marrow , bones , and bleod of women and children , if he could group them all in one lump , he would put his hand upon the master manufacturers of this country . Tho hon . member concluded by stating , that he need scarcely have offered any observation on the subject after the powerful speech which had been made by the noble lord the member for Bath .

      Mr . BBiom contended that the use of enactments ofthe class before the-house depended upon tha concurrence of the employers . Tbe restriction to ten hours was an extreme measure , and had given rise to much ill feeling and estrangement . A mo . derate limit , which should be received in a friendly spirit by all parties , would prove more really beneficial to the classes for whose sake it was enacted . He urged on the house' to free itself from the prejudice against employers which had prevailed in the legislature that passed the bill in 1847 . Mr . Aolionbt , Lord J . Manners , Mr . W . J . _Foar , Lord R . Grosvenob , and Colonel Thompson , supported the bill .

      Sir James _Gbaiiam would state , as a matter of honour , and though unfavourable to restrictions upon labour and capital , he certainly meant the Ten Hours Act ( of which he had been a reluctant framer ) to forbid the shift and relay system ; and it was through an oversight if that act did not effectually do so . At the same time he thought tha working classes would one day discover that the restriction did not operate for their interest . Leave was then given to bring iu the bill . Alter some other business being disposed of the house adjourned .

      FRIDAY , March 15 . HOUSE OP COMMONS . —The Budget . —The Chancellor ofthe Exchequer . made his financial statement . In the estimate he had laid before Parliament last summer he had assumed the income for the year to be £ 52 , 262 , 000 . Up to January last it amounted to £ f 2 , 874 , 000 . The expenditure up to January had been £ -50 , 853 , 022 , considerabl y below his estimate , and the amount for the financial year would be still less , namely - £ 50 , 533 , 051 , showing a surplus of £ 2 , 252 , 000 , in the past year . With regard to tho current year , he was afraid he could not promise quite so favourable a result . The probable aggregate amount of the year 1850-51 would be £ 52 , 285 , 000 . The amount of tlie expenditure would

      be £ o 0 , 613 , o 82 , to which he proposed to add , on account of a further vote for the new Houses of Parliament and for the Arctic Expedition about £ 150 , 000 ; which would leave a surplus of , in round numbers , - £ 1 , 500 , 000 . Sir Charles Wood then reminded the house of what had been the scrope of our policy for the last twenty years , the principle of which , as expounded by Mr . Huskisson _, was to relievo the weight of taxation which pressed upon the poorer classes ; and in pursuance of that policy taxes to the amount of £ 8 , 650 , 000 on articles of consumption had been repealed , the result of which had been most beneficial . After some observations upon the condition and prospects of the landed interest , Sir Charles

      proceeded to declare his intentions with regard to the surplus of £ 1 , 500 , 000 . The first object , he said , should be to reduce our debt . During the last 20 years we had borrowed no less than £ 35 , 000 , 000 . whereas the surplus income applied to the reduction of the debt had been only £ 8 , 000 , 000 ; so that during 20 years of profound peace we had increased , the principal of the debt by no less-than £ 27 , 000 , 000 . His first moasure was * intended to benefit small owners of land . He proposed , therefore , that there should bo a considerable reduction of the stamp duties upon the transfer of landed property aud upon mortgages undor £ l , 000 , and that within the same limit the stamp duty upon leases should be an _unifor-n half per cent . His next proposal , the

      objects of which were to increase the comforts of the labouring classes , by improving their dwellings , and to facilitate' agricultural improvements , was to repeal the duty on bricks . The loss of revenue by these two remissions would be £ 750 , 000 , half the expected surplus . The other half he proposed to apply to a reduction of the debt . Concurrently with this relief from taxation , he had another measure in view calculated to promote the outlay of capital upon land—namely , to make further advances for drainage and land improvements , the benefits of which had been sensibly felt , He proposed to advance for these purposes

      £ 2 , 000 , 000 for England & Scetland _, and £ 1 , 000 , 0 _UD for Ireland , £ 800 , 000 of this latter sum to be appropriated to arterial drainage . These advances could be made , in the present state of the Exchequer , without any addition to the public debt , and the is * payments would be available for the reduction of the national debi . He proposed to apply £ 250 , 000 immediately tothe extinction of a part of that debt by discharging , the Equivalent Fund in Scotlandand be hoped the house would suffer him to . retain the surplus of £ 500 , 000 remaining . Sir C harles then moved a vote of _^ _SOO _. OOO towards supply , to Deraised . by Exchequer bills '

      , At the conclusion of ihe Budget address ihe _gWa majority of the members quitted their seats arid the debate languished on 'for some hours in a thu * and inattentive house , barely oomprising the statutable number of representatives , ' aad tjis committee was adjourned to Monday next ,

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 16, 1850, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_16031850/page/8/