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which it rolled, our ship still rode tri- | doing justice to these important subjects, umphant; but if ever it should threaten to enter much at large into the considerathe establishments of England, he had no tion of the topics which they suggested. doubt that our safety would be found in Although it was not for him to offer an the renewed vigour and aroused energies opinion on the cause of the Revolution in of the people. He would not then go France, or to say whether it proceeded through the unnecessary details of the sys- from the Sovereign or the people, or tem of economy proposed, but might whether it was produced by the acts of congratulate the House on that which had the King or his Advisers, yet he was conbeen already achieved, namely, the re- vinced there was not a Member of that peal of taxes last Session, which pressed House, whatever might be his political so grievously on the public, and on the creed, who did not regret that event: he the extent be lower classes more particularly. Nor repeated, he should feel surprised if there could he forbear to advert in terms of was any Member who did not join with praise to the moderation of his Majesty, the majority in regretting the events which who, notwithstanding the increased ex- arose from that Revolution, and the cirpenditure, had so far waived his personal cumstances which attended it-circumclaims as to recommend a revision of the stances which were calculated to awaken Civil List. He hoped that Government those feelings respecting civil dissensions would not fail to follow the example, for which it was fondly hoped, had been allayed the awakening spirit of the age called for ever, and which were calculated to loudly for reform and improvement. The produce others so dangerous to the trancode character of the Sovereign, and the aspect quillity of Europe. While he deplored of public affairs, warranted the presump- these events, it was, however, a subject tion that the spirit of the constitution of congratulation that the illustrious would be kept up, and that Ministers in person now called to the throne of France, the work of reform would not be found and who was said to be distinguished by wanting. Although the new Parliament almost every grace which adorns humanity, had certainly been deprived of the services had declared his determination to preserve of several able statesmen,-of one who most faithfully the relations of amity with had long presided at the head of their this country. After alluding to the fact councils, amongst others, of whose many that the other Powers of Europe had reexcellent qualifications that was no time cognised the new government of France to speak, he trusted they would be en- as promptly as this country, the hon. abled to do their duty to their own credit Member observed, that the same reasons and to the satisfaction of their country. which produced regret for the changes He had now done all that he had proposed, which had taken place in France, must and would leave the further discussion of operate to produce still greater regret for such important subjects to the deliberate the disturbances in the Netherlands. It judgment of abler debaters and more ex- might, indeed, have been supposed that perienced statesmen, merely adding, that the people of a country which had suffered he would give his decided support to the so much from the horrors of a war, and present Government, as one calculated to which had been so often made the arena uphold the liberty of the people, the on which the great Powers of Europe desafety of the Church, and the dignity of cided their quarrels, would have been the Crown. The noble Lord concluded taught by the sad experience of former by reading the Address, which, as usual, calamities, to restrain their feelings within embodied and echoed all the sentiments the bounds of moderation, and to have of the King's Speech. adopted every reasonable method of redressing their grievances, before they had recourse to the power of arms. As, however, they had unfortunately pursued a different course, it was some consolation, in the midst of the anxieties felt for the peace of Europe, when a country so intimately connected with the causes of all former contests was in a state of anarchy, that, however appalling the prospect of war might be, or however much the pre

jand was the great orti-place of mins livery. h. R. of al coure 1 ST was to be found the greates perier tha aliance of or order with yo government, when formet the hammer of the peɔtic, and vnich was for remYA from the visiona pius of those foustrion-makers who sought up the jugnent of the people, the th mom the better insteak then u ms The ins and the religion of THE SOUT formed its security and safegurt

nie other nations groanet under * NORE OF TYTHUrs and or pressIOL, BUT WEE the people of other count is either aufer without relief or suovered ther Gover ment and institutors, the Constituent England hat remameć untouched att unaffected. like that sacred char nature which binds the rating elemes r peace. Disorders, I was true, there be Dee and attemus, he knew, were wi wanting u exci decontent and dæt faction; but they arose no from BIT fem in the Constitution, put from the demaviy of numur nature; they were de work of men who were virket enangi

*

62 the commercial policy of that Gentle- | be very sorry indeed to make such an araman, he was sure there was no Member of rangement with respect to the Civil List, that House who did not feel regret for his as would be incompatible with the comdeath, and deplore the loss of a man fort and dignity of the Sovereign. He IT whose talents were unquestioned, and hoped, however, that whenever this subject whose life had been devoted to the service was brought under the consideration of of his country. This eulogium might be Parliament, the particular interests of his styled foreign to the subject before the Majesty would be carefully separated from House; but although that right hon. all other interests; for nothing could be Gentleman's political opponent, he thought more inconvenient, or more calculated to be he should be unworthy of a place in that foster unjust prejudices, than that ques21 House if he failed to pay a just and proper tions relating to the maintenance of the tribute to his talents and his services. proper dignity of the Crown should be united With regard to the questions of the Civil to questions with which they ought to be List and the Regency, he was confident altogether unconnected. He hoped, therethey would receive due consideration from fore, that the estimates of the Civil List, the House; and he therefore should now when submitted to the House, would be conclude by expressing his belief, that the in such a shape as would admit of their distress of the country, felt so strongly at being discussed with reference solely to the commencement of the Session, had, what was due to the honour and dignity of as was anticipated, subsided under the the Crown; and that the other questions influence of time. He thanked the House to which he adverted should be considered for the indulgence with which they had with reference to the general expenditure been pleased to hear him; he would no of the country. As to the Regency queslonger trespass upon their time, but would tion, he was happy to understand that it conclude by expressing his cordial concur- was to be brought forward. Until, howrence in the Address moved by his noble ever, the provisions which it was intended friend. to propose were known, it would, of course, be impossible to make any particular observation on that subject. With reference to the last topic of a domestic nature to which his Majesty's Speech adverted, it must be quite unnecessary for him to say, that he lamented as much as any man could lament, the turbulence and malicious mischief which had been manifested in various parts of the country, and especially in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. It was certainly most deeply to be regretted that any portion of the people, however suffering from distress, should be so misguided as to be induced to destroy the property of their employers, and thereby to diminish the power of those employers to assist them.

The Speaker having read the Address, Lord Althorp said, that the subjects to which his Majesty's Speech, and the Address which had been moved by the noble Lord referred, might be classed under two heads our domestic and our foreign relations; on both of which he begged to say a few words. With respect to the first, he had heard with gratification that part of the King's Speech which declared his Majesty's determination to enforce strict economy in every branch of the public expenditure. Such a declaration, if duly acted upon, would communicate general satisfaction throughout the country. With respect also to the passage in his Majesty's Speech which related to the Civil List, it He would not say any more was most gratifying to him, and it must on the domestic topics of his Majesty's be most gratifying to every one, to find Speech. As to our foreign relations, and that his Majesty was disposed to place his first with respect to the recent occurrences interests in the hereditary revenues, and in France, he begged to observe, that the in the other funds, which, in former settle- honorable Seconder had expressed a rements of the Civil List, had been reserved gret at those occurrences which was not to to the Crown, at the disposal of Parlia- be found in the King's Speech. All that ment. He was quite sure that in doing the Speech did, was to announce the fact, so his Majesty might rely with perfect" that the elder branch of the House of confidence on the House and the country; because he was certain, that while the House and the country must feel the absolute necessity of the most rigorous economy and retrenchment, they would

Bourbon no longer reigned in France, and that the Duke of Orleans had been called to the Throne by the title of King of the French." If the hon. Gentleman meant by his regret, that he regretted that

any government had been induced to in-, the same time, feeling as he at present di vade the liberties of a country, in such a with respect to the existing Administration, regret he perfectly concurred. But if the he should certainly not object to any pro hon. Gentleman meant that he regretted position, the tendency of which might be that a sovereign and a ministry, so mis- to displace them. On the question of conducting themselves, should suffer for economy and retrenchment, he though their behaviour, in a regret of that nature the country had a right to demand the he could not for a moment concur. As to strictest limitation in every department of the Netherlands, he was sorry that his the public expenditure. He thought Majesty had been advised to express any that the country had a right to demand opinion on the state of public affairs in this; and he also thought that his Majes that country. He entertained consider- ty's Government ought, in the present able objection to the part of the Address Session, to take a more extensive and which expressed to his Majesty a corre- statesman-like view of the general system sponding opinion on that subject; but it of our taxation than it had hitherto done. was so inconvenient, and was attended It would be affectation, however, on his with so much disadvantage to discuss a part, if he were to say that he had any question of that nature on an occasion expectation that it would undertake such like the present, that he would abstain a task. It might be, however, that they from saying or doing anything more than contemplated some proceeding of the na entering his protest against any inter- ture he alluded to; and if so, he confessed ference on the part of our Government in it would come upon him as a very agree the domestic concerns of the Netherlands. able surprise. As to the external and diplomatic considerations which might arise out of existing circumstances, that was a question which stood on very different grounds. With respect to the proposed recognition of the Sovereign of Portugal, when he considered that the present sovereign of that country had been a sovereign de facto for three years, his hostility against any foreign interference with a de facto government compelled him to say, that he did not think we should do well if we delayed the proposed measure. Having stated his views on these several points, he would proceed to make a few observations on the general state of the country.

For

The object ought to be to take such an enlarged view of the principle of our taxation as might tend to reder its pressure as light as possible on the industry of the country. There was another great question which he had long supported, the importance of which had not hitherto appeared to have been duly estimated by the country, but which now seemed likely to assume a more practical character. The people at large seemed at length to be convinced that the most effective measure towards a remedy for the various evils under which they laboured, was a reform in Parliament. himself he believed, that if concessions on this subject had formely been made, less would have satisfied the people than would now satisfy them. This was not to him, however, a matter of the slightest regret. The reform ought to be extensive; and he was very far from being sorry that at the great skill and great care would be neces-late elections the people seemed to be sary to guide it safely through its difficul- almost universally of the same opinion. ties; and he was bound to say, that he He hoped and trusted, that in the course did not think his Majesty's present Minis- of the present Session much would be ters were qualified for so arduous an effected in furtherance of this most desirundertaking. But while he stated this heable object; and every measure of that would add, that he should look at their description should receive his most cordial measures, and if those measures appeared support. to him to be such as to deserve approbation, they should receive his most cordial He made that declaration support. for himself, but he believed it would also be found to express the sentiments and intentions of all his hon. friends near him

He confessed that he was not alarmed on that point. He did not believe that the country was in such a state of general discontent as to justify immediate apprehension. At the same time he felt that

Mr. Dundas was understood to say,

that

the noble Lord had misconceived his
observations on Don Miguel.

The Marquis of Blandford said, it was of the greatest importance, in these eventful times, teeming with jealousy and sus[assenting cheers from the Opposition]. Atpicion on the part of subjects towards

ct to the exist

time, feeling w: their rulers, that from this new Parlia- | of the taxes, instead of endeavouring to

certainly not get

me tendency of them. On the

Eation in every dec Expenditure. E try had art so thought the nt ought, at e a more et

iew of the gement. han it had hit ctation, how o say that a

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prop their existence by forced loans, false credit, and all the abominations of the funding system. Under the last Parliament, the laws of England were fearfully altered; the Judges of the land, the ambassadors to foreign courts, the

ment, which ought to speak the voice of the people, his Majesty should hear and know what they felt and thought of the measures and character of the last Parliad retrenchment: because, if his Majesty should be had a right led to believe, that the last Parliament was governors generally approved of by his people, it of our colonies, and a great variety of would be one of the most fatal errors that other officers, as well as placemen and could be palmed upon his Majesty, and pensioners, were paid far beyond what the might lead him to connect himself with country could afford; and at the same that small faction in the State, which was time doctrines and opinions were mainnotoriously the master of the last Parlia-tained, and conduct adopted by different That circumstance alone might functionaries, diametrically opposed to the defeat and disappoint all the hopes of maxims of our common law, and to those those who placed their reliance upon the long-acted-upon principles of our ancespersonal disposition of his Majesty, who tors, to which England owed her former were sincerely attached to our ancient prosperity and power. All this had, he Constitution of King, Lords, and Com- contended, arisen from want of the promons-and who looked to his present per intelligence, honesty, and superintendMajesty, as he undoubtedly had the power, ence of a fairly chosen and uncorrupted with hopes that he would be the great House of Commons, and the consequent instrument of restoring that Constitution dread of the due exercise of the power of to its pristine purity, and thereby prevent impeachment by such a House. Trial by what, at such a period as the present, was Jury-that palladium of our Constitution, but too likely to happen-the bringing into had been, in some cases, absolutely set disrepute among the people even the very aside, in defiance of Magna Charta, and frame of that Constitution; engendering the declarations of the most learned textperhaps a spirit for theories, novelties, writers and commentators upon our laws. and questionable "improvements," in place In other cases, this celebrated mode of of a lawful endeavour to get back the well- trial had been so accommodated and dealt known and long-tried Constitution of their with, as to have ceased altogether to be ancestors. Under the last Parliament, that palladium of the rights and liberlaws were put in force which greatly in- ties of the people that it used, and always creased the value of the current money was intended to be. The King's Attorney then circulating in the kingdom, and a General, an officer utterly unknown even deaf ear was turned to all the just and by name to the common law (and it would reasonable petitions of the people for a be difficult, he believed, for any lawyer to corresponding reduction of the taxes. point out the Statute by which such a Hence the affairs of all persons concerned functionary was created), had assumed in land and trade became unexpectedly the most wanton and unconstitutional involved in confusion; and losses to so powers, and dared to threaten the liberty of great an extent occurred, as in thousands the Press in language that ought to have and thousands of instances were productive deprived him of his office, even had it of utter ruin-while the land itself, and been a more legitimate one, and better most other sources of productive industry, known to the law and the Constitution suffered a diminution of their former value than he supposed. Being wholly unof the most alarming nature. Such, in- connected with those in place and power, or deed, had been the influence of our fluctu- with any persons seeking place and power, ating monetary system over other countries, he had determined to place upon reco that to it might be ascribed the contraction for the information of his Majesty, wh of the currency in France and elsewhere. in his opinion--and, he believed, in th That, again, had caused so great a want of opinion of every intelligent and independ employment among the working classes, ent man in the kingdom-was the cause wherever heavy taxes had to be paid, as of all these evils; namely, the want of seriously endangered the very existence of reform in the House of Commons. He the governments where those in power meant, therefore, to move an Amendment had not the wisdom and the virtue to to the Address. Very many of his brave make large and corresponding reductions and sensible fellow-subjects had already VOL. I.

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