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tion to destroy what ships of the Ottoman / at hearing the Tower guns fire, when a navy may yet remain, now that so signal a feeling at least of common sympathy might vengeance has been taken for the first be expected from the mouths and hearts cannon-shot which has been ventured to of those who contemplated the loss of be fired on the allied Aags.” And he human life, and the extent of human sufafterwards proceeded to say, that if the fering. It was upon these principles, laid Turks abstain from committing any act of down by a man who was as much alive to hostility, “We shall resume those terms the military and naval glory of his country, of good understanding which they have as any member of that House, that he was themselves interrupted." Could any terms prepared to justify the expression of regret; have been employed more descriptive of and the more so, as that expression implied the fact that this action had arisen from a in it no imputation against the conduct of casualty, and was not to be characterised, sir E. Codrington, or those who acted with whatever skill and valour the exploit under his command. Such were the prinhad been conducted, as a warlike proceed- ciples avowed by a man who was so careful ing? Why, then, hesitate to mix up with of the fame of naval and military men, that their praise of the heroism of individuals, even in the case of a single frigate, comthat kind of regret which ought to accom- manded by sir E. Pellew, he had manipany such an action, and divest it of that fested his anxiety, that it should not pass attribute of war which alone could sustain without distinction, measuring that disthe present motion? There was an authority tinction, not by the extent, but by the to which he might refer upon the present nature of the service. For the reasons he occasion, and towards which he was per- had already stated, he could reconcile his suaded the House would feel the strongest mind to the part which his majesty's gosentiments of respect. He alluded to the vernment had acted; satisfied as he was, late Mr. Windham, who, in speaking of the that no inference could be drawn from Copenhagen expedition, had expressed thence to the injury of sir E. Codrington. himself, in a speech, which, if not strictly In fact, the present was not an occasion applicable in all its principles to the ques- which it was customary to signalize by a tion before the House, was, nevertheless, vote of thanks; and it would be injurious in its general spirit, and in many of its to establish such a precedent as that of points and principles, capable of affording voting the thanks of parliament, without a just view, without reflecting in the reference to the nature of the service for slightest degree upon the conduct of the which they were awarded. It would be a gallant officer. Mr. Windham had express- departure from the practice of parliament, ed his regret at the part which he felt him to regard valour, however signal, and skill, self bound to take, because there was an however unquestionable and undisputed, idea that where praise was withheld, blame as constituting in themselves a sufficient was intended to be cast. But nothing title to the distinction. He admired the could be further from his intention than to skill and bravery displayed, as much as any visit with the slightest reproach or indif- man; and if, in conformity with the pracference the conduct of the gallant men who tice of the House, he could agree to the were engaged. On the contrary, he sub- motion of the hon. gentleman, he would scribed most cheerfully to all that had been most willingly have done so. God knew said in favour of the navy and army; they he did not oppose the motion upon private had acquitted themselves to the arlmiration grounds! He acknowledged the merits of of all, not merely by doing their duty, but sir E. Codrington; but the hon. gentleman by displaying that humanity for which was bound to acknowledge to him, on the they were equally remarkable in mitigating other hand, that it was not customary to the horrors of war. But still it was neces- vote the thanks of the House, under the sary that their conduct should be kept circumstances in which they were called distinct from the nature and character of for that night. The hon. gentleman, in the service in which they were employed, the progress of his speech, had objected to and from the conduct of his majesty's the introduction of the term, "ancient ministers who were responsible for that ally,” which he seemed to think that service. Mr. Windham had said, and truly Turkey herself would be disposed to dissaid, that actions of that description were claim, as altogether inapplicable to our not selected by nations for rejoicing. It former relations with that power.

He was upon that principle that he felt pain I even seemed to infer, that some peculiar VOL, XVIII,

P.

favour was intended to be paid to Turkey addressed by Mr. Canning to Mr. Rodio, at the expense of Russia. As to the pro- the agent of the Greek government, in bability of Turkey declining the epithet, answer to an application for assistance. he must say, that it did not strike him to That letter, which was dated the 1st of be very clearly made out when he looked to September, 1824, stated that, connected some of the state documents which had as England had been with the Ottoman passed between the Porte and this country Porte by ancient obligations and treaties, in the reign of queen Elizabeth. He had which the Porte had not violated, England not brought those papers with him for the could not surely be expected to engage in purpose of making extracts, but he could a war against her. Let it not be supposed assure the House, that so far from betray- for a moment, that the words objected to ing any coldness of style, they were lavish in the king's speech had been used with a in the use of those magnificent and high- lurking desire to cast a reflection on the toned compliments for which the inhabit- conduct of sir E. Codrington, and the other ants of the east have been always remark- gallant officers and men who were engaged able. Again, after the restoration of at Navarino. Nothing could be further Charles 2nd, when, as the House knew, from the fact. Neither let it be supposed,

, the knowledge of the Turks in geography that they were not prepared to fulfil to the was not very far advanced, the same spirit utmost those engageinents to which the pervaded their style, and the opinion that faith of the country was pledged. His England had been a dependency of France majesty's government were as willing as was put forward as an apology for some those who might be inclined to support differences which had taken place, but the motion of the hon. gentleman, to do were reconciled. To deny that the Turks justice to the gallantry of all who were were our ancient allies, seemed to be rather engaged in the late affair; and therefore a fastidious nicety, after the lapse of three he was not without a hope that the hon. hundred

years, during which we had been mover, instead of pressing the question to concerned with them in the interchange of a division, would adopt the suggestion of treaties of amity, and after having pre- his right hon. and learned friend, and take served with them those relations, from the that course which would, under all the ciryear 1589, when they first commenced, cumstances of the case, be most satisfacdown to the present period, with only the tory to the feelings of the gallant officer, temporary interruptions which took place most agreeable to the consistency of parin 1799 and 1806. It was assuming rather liament, and, as he believed, to the wishes too much to say, that they would fling of the country at large. back the expressions alluded to, when in Sir F. Burdett said, that, after the liberal the Treaty of Amiens, a treaty so remark- speech which had fallen from the right able for its importance, the Ottoman Porte hon. gentleman, he had very little to say ; adopted the language which described and he had no doubt that it would be the England as her ally : when, in the treaty means of prompting his hon. colleague, of 1799, the good understanding which who, he was sure, felt the same candour had always existed between the courts and that the right hon. gentleman had exthe Sublime Porte was distinctly stated on pressed, to come to the conclusion which the part of Turkey, and the propriety of would be most satisfactory to the House, Tenewing their ancient friendship admitted and to his gallant friends, whose characby the contracting parties. Was it not, ters he had so ably vindicated. It apthen, a quarrel upon words alone, to dis- peared to be admitted on all hands, that pute the use of the term “ancient ally;" sir E. Codrington had performed the when we had always been in the habit of service on which he had been engaged, calling her our ancient friend? But, what and under whatever circumstances it might were the terms in which Mr. Canning have been imposed upon him, in a way that spoke of the Turkish government-and redounded highly to his character—in a that, not when he was addressing the go- way too, he might add, which was calcuvernment of Turkey, or could be suspected lated, in a very eminent degree, to exalt of using terms for the purpose of concilia- ! the naval character of the country, and to ting that power, but when he was address- reflect honour on himself. It was not, ing another party, with whom they could however, his intention to take ap the time not be expected to communicate. The of the House, by repeating those panedocument to which he alluded was a letter gyrics which had already been bestowed by so many members; but when he con- yet, in the general applause which had -sidered the difficult situation in which the fallen from every one who had spoken gallant admiral had been placed—when might be found the true feeling that was he considered the heavy responsibility which entertained of their conduct. attached to the conduct he had that day Mr. Hobhouse said, that after the attenadopted--when he considered not only the tion which the House had already paid to valour, but the eminent discretion and what he had to say on the subject, he prudence, which he had evinced, he thought would not take up their time in reply. it impossible for the House not to agree- There was only one term in the right hon. as, indeed, he might say, it had agreed gentleman's speech with which he had to that no military or naval commander had quarrel, and it was that in which he ever executed a service under more trying charged him with not having shown his circumstances, or had ever come out of discretion in bringing forward this motion. the difficulties of his situation with more If there was nothing else to prove the disclaim to praise. He regarded it as one of cretion of his having done so, he thought not the least fortunate circumstances of that the mere fact of its having elicited the affair, that that day had been the the general praise that it had done with means of placing the names of the greatest respect to the conduct of sir E. Codringstates in Europe side by side in alliance, ton, was sufficient evidence; and he thought and had thus made the gallant admiral the that the gallant admiral might himself means of uniting the combined powers in a dwell with satisfaction on what had taken boud, founded on a reciprocity of interests, place in the House that night. It had existing between Russia, France, and Eng- been said, that there would have been no land; and he congratulated himself, as an objection to the motion, if we had been at English member of parliament, that it had war, and these words certainly proved to been an admiral of his own country who him, that what had likewise been observed had had the happiness of uniting in valour that night—that the gallant admiral stood the admirals of the other allied powers ; as high for valour and discretion as any man that it was under his guidance they had in his majesty's service-was strictly true. placed themselves, and united in a feeling Under these circumstances, and believing even more splendid than that of victory. that the conduct of the gallant admiral There had been between them an emula- needed no further explanation, he should tion, not only of glory, but of generosity ; consent to the withdrawing of the motion. and while each had striven to outdo the The motion was accordingly withdrawn. other in deeds of bravery and brilliancy it appeared as if they had done so, less for

HOUSE OF COMMONS. the sake of individual praise than for general emulation--not an emulation which

Friday, February 15. founded its birth in envy, and which turned FINANCE COMMITTEE.] Mr. Secrepale at the voice of approbation, but an tary Peel rose, and spoke to the following emulation of great deeds, and of all those effect :-In rising on the present occasion, generous feelings which, displayed before Sir, in pursuance of the notice which i the world, proved the union of the men, have given, I shall take the liberty in the and that their great object was each other's first place, to move the reading of that success. ---Though there were one or two passage in his majesty's most gracious points on which he intended to have re- speech, at the commencement of the sesplied to the right hon. gentleman, he would sion, in which he recommends us to innot enter further upon any part of the quire into the state of the public Income subject, as he was content to leave it, as and Expenditure. far as testimony was concerned, to the The clerk then read the following pascandour and fairness with which the right sage :hon. gentleman had met it. He should “ We are commanded by his Majesty to therefore content himself with merely recommend to your early attention, an inexpressing his satisfaction at the justice quiry into the state of the revenue and exwhich had been done to the naval officers penditure of the country. who had commanded on that occasion; “ His Majesty is assured, that it will be and though there was not room for a par- satisfactory to you to learn, that, notwithticular panegyric on all those persons who standing the diminution which has taken had distinguished themselves in the action, place in some branches of the Revenue

the total amount of receipts during the another such committee was appointed; last

year has not disappointed the expect- and in the early part of the year 1807, ations which were entertained at the com- after the lapse of exactly a similar period, mencement of it."

another. Then again in 1817, after anoMr. Secretary Peel resumed.-Sir, I ther period of ten years, the fourth comhave moved that that part of his Majesty's mittee was nominated; and now, in 1828, Speech which refers to the state of the in-accidentally no doubt, but again, after a come and expenditure of the country similar interval, I have come forward, Sir, should be read, not merely in compliance to propose the re-institution of the finance with the general usage which has prevailed committee. upon the occasion of similar motions, but Sir, I do not propose the appointment in order that I may introduce the proposi- of this committee from any of the motives, tion which I am about to make, under the or from any of the objects, which have, in highest auspices and claim for it the sanc- the course of the casual conversations that tion and the recommendation of the first have lately taken place in this House, been authority in the land. The proposition for sometimes insinuated, as the motives or the appointment of a finance committee objects of such appointment. I assure is not a novel proposition. At various pe- the House, that I do not, for a moment, riods of the history of this country, com- propose this committee in the reluctant mittees have been appointed at the recom- fulfilment of a pledge given by a former mendation of the Crown, for the purpose government. I propose it, Sir, in the deep of examining into the expenditure and the conviction which I have long entertained, income of the country; and for the pur- and which has been confirmed by the expose also of submitting to this House their aminations I have recently made, of docusentiments as to the possibility of esta- ments intimately connected with this subblishing a more effectual control over that ject. I propose it, in the deliberate conexpenditure, and of making such reduc- riction, that the time has at length come, tions in its amount as may be deemed when we must look fully and fearlessly at compatible with existing circumstances. the state of the finances of this country.

In the year 1786, some short time after I do not propose this committee with the the termination of the American war, a object insinuated, of deluding and deceivfinance committee was appointed on the ing the people of this kingdom, and of recommendation of Mr. Pitt. After an either procuring from it recommendations interval of some years, again in 1796, a for increased establishments, or of foundsimilar committee was appointed, over ing upon the recommendations of this which the present lord Colchester presided; committee any propositions for increased and presided with a degree of ability, taxation. I propose this committee, bewhich has conferred upon him the greatest cause I believe it will fulfil the purposes honour; and of which committee, so pre- for which it is to be ostensibly instituted, sided over by him, the recommendations and because I believe if it shall honestly have realized to the country the greatest fulfil them, the executive government and benefits. Sir, in the year 1807, I think the country at large, will derive the most upon the recommendation of the present important benefits from its appointment. marquis of Lansdowne, then lord Henry It, perhaps, may be unnecessary for me, Petty, a committee was appointed, having as it would certainly be much more agreefor its object to make similar inquiries. able to myself, if my labours were confined Again in the year 1817, a fourth commit- to a statement simply of the views, and to tee was moved for by the late lord Castle- the proposal of the names of those, whose reagh; and that was the last of those known acquirements point them out to the committees of finance, which have been House as fit to be the members of this appointed by preceding parliaments. By committee--it, perhaps, may be unnecesan entirely fortuitous, but somewhat sin- sary that I should much exceed a brief ingular coincidence, the same period of time dication of these two topics. But I think or very nearly the same period of time, I have inferred from conversations which has elapsed between the respective ap- have already taken place here, that a gepointments of all these committees. The neral expectation is entertained, that I committee of 1786 was the first instance should preface my proposal for the appointof such an appointment in modern times : ment of this committ ee, by some reference in 1796, after an interval of ten years, I of a general nature to the finances of the country. I should be sorry to disappoint I shall attempt then, Sir, to consider that general expectation; but, at the same this important question, namely, the pretime, I hope that in attempting to answer sent state of the finances of this country, it in my address to them, they will bear on precisely the same principles that any with me, and extend to me their indulgent individual would apply to a view of his consideration. They will have the good- own concerns; supposing he found it neness to recollect, that statements of this cessary, for any purpose, to enter upon the kind have not been at all necessarily con- consideration of them. I shall, therefore, nected with the labours of that depart. as far as possible, divest my statement of ment which I have been more particularly all technicality-of every thing tending to connected with ; and that, under the parti- obscure it, or to make it unintelligible to cular circumstances that have attended my those even who may be least versed in recent return to office, I have been called financial matters. Now, I presume, Sir, on to give almost an undivided attention that if an individual were about to look to other matters; and have really not had into the state of his affairs, in order to time to devote that degree of consideration ascertain what his circumstances really to the subject which its extreme import- were what were his expenses, and what ance deserves ; but which, had I been able the probable prospective state of his finanso to do, might have compensated in some ces to meet them, he would decide upon degree, for the disability and unaptness, proceeding on these principles; first, he which I fear will be perceptible in the would attempt to determine what were the statement I am about to offer.

encumbrances to which he might be liable, In deference, however, to this general and from which he could not escape ; expectation of the House, I will state, or secondly, what had been the nett amount endeavour to do so, not only my general of his income, for some years past ; thirdly, view of the whole question of finance, but what the nett amount of his expenditure also an outline of the income and expen- during the same period; and, fourthly, diture of the country, for some years pre- what reasonable prospect there might exist, ceding. If there be any merit in the either as to the future amount of his exstatement, then, which I am about to penses or his income. make, it will consist in this only--that I In referring thus briefly to the matters shall attempt to state the truth, without which I shall submit to the House, I am concealing or glossing over any thing. merely about to state a few facts, which For, Sir, I am convinced, that nothing can may enable the House to take a general be more fruitless, or more impolitic, than view of the present financial condition of to introduce any thing like mistification, the country. The first question, then, to or suppression, into a view of the public be propounded, according to the course finances of the empire. These matters which I have prescribed to myself, isare, I take it, much more simple than they what is the present amount of those enappear to be on the face of ordinary offi- cumbrances, of those pledges, to the fulfilcial statements of them. There is, in fact, ment of which we are bound, by every not the slightest difference between the obligation of national honour and national calculations formed upon many millions good faith. For, Sir, whatever may be and upon a few pounds, or between the the state of the finances of this country, expenditure of a humble individual and or whatever our present difficulties, I bethat of a rich and powerful country. They lieve there will be almost an unirersal depend upon the same principles, and hope, and an universal feeling and expecmust be governed by the same laws; and tation, throughout the empire, that the one might as well contend that the rules national faith which has been pledged to of arithmetic, applying to the suins with the public creditor, must be, in the first which we ordinarily deal in the course of instance, regarded as a bond, as an encumdomestic occurrences—that these rules do brance, which must be satisfied, before not apply to the division or the sub-division any proceedings are adopted, with a view of many millions of money, as to suppose to reduce the expenses of the country. that the finances of the country, however I think it will be quite sufficient for my great or important she may be, mast not, purpose (although I will go as much further after all, rest on the same principles, and back as any gentleman may desire), if, be governed by the same rule, as the taking the amount of the general debts, finances of an individual,

funded and unfunded, at a recent period,