litical excitement had become comparatively calm: the agitation commenced with so much vehemence against the Corn Laws, had considerably abated in vigour; and no other stirring topic of controversy occupied, to any observable extent, the public mind. In Ireland alone, where the momentous trial of Mr. O'Connell and his associates was just about to commence, the state of public affairs afforded matter of disquietude and apprehension. The issue which the Government had taken with the great popular leader was a bold one-its event pregnant with uncertainty the consequences of failure seemed full of peril, and even success in such a case seemed to involve embarrassments scarcely less serious. It was obvious, too, that the Opposition party in Parliament would not fail to avail themselves to the full of every opening which the proceedings in so critical a prosecution might afford, for impugning the policy of the Ministers, and representing their Irish administration in the most unfavourable light. Such was the position of public affairs when Parliament was opened by the Queen in person on the first of February, with the usual solemnities. The Commons having been summoned to the bar, Her Majesty read from the Throne the following Speech:

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It affords me great satisfaction again to meet you in Parliament, and to have the opportunity of profiting by your assistance and ad

vice.

"I entertain a confident hope that the general peace, so necessary for the happiness and prosperity

of all nations, will continue uninterrupted. My friendly relations with the King of the French, and the good understanding happily established between my Government and that of His Majesty, with the continued assurances of the peaceful and amicable dispositions of all Princes and States, confirm me in this expectation.

"I have directed that the treaty which I have concluded with the Emperor of China shall be laid before you; and I rejoice to think that it will in its results prove highly advantageous to the trade of this country. Throughout the whole course of my negotiations with the Government of China, I have uniformly disclaimed the wish for any exclusive advantages. It has been my desire that equal favour should be shown to the industry and commercial enterprise of all nations.

"The hostilities which took place during the past year in Scinde have led to the annexation of a considerable portion of that country to the British Possessions in the East. In all the military operations, and especially in the battles of Meanee and Hyderabad, the constancy and valour of the troops, Native and European, and the skill and gallantry of their distinguished commander, have been most conspicuous. I have directed that additional information explanatory of the transactions in Scinde shall be forthwith communicated to you.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"The Estimates for the ensuing year will be immediately laid before you. They have been prepared with a strict regard to eco

nomy, and at the same time with a due consideration of those exigencies of the Public Service which are connected with the maintenance of our maritime strength, and the multiplied demands on the naval and military establishments from the various parts of a widely-extended empire.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I congratulate you on the improved condition of several important branches of the Trade and Manufactures of the country. I trust that the increased demand for labour has relieved in a corresponding degree many classes of my faithful subjects from suffer ings and privations, which at former periods I have had occasion to deplore.

"For several successive years the annual produce of the Revenue fell short of the public Expenditure. I confidently trust that in the present year the public income will be amply sufficient to defray the charges upon it. I feel assured I feel assured that in considering all matters connected with the financial concerns of the country, you will bear in mind the evil consequences of accumulating debt during the time of peace; and that you will firmly resolve to uphold that public credit the maintenance of which concerns equally the permanent interests and the honour and reputation of a great country.

"In the course of the present year, the opportunity will occur of giving notice to the Bank of England on the subject of the revision of its charter. It may be advisable that during this session of Parliament, and previously to the arrival of the period assigned for the giving of such notice, the state of

the law with regard to the pri vileges of the Bank of England, and to other banking establishments, should be brought under your consideration.

"At the close of the last session of Parliament, I declared to you my firm determination to maintain inviolate the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, I expressed, at the same time, my earnest desire to co-operate with Parliament in the adoption of all such measures as might tend to improve the social condition of Ireland, and to develope the na tural resources of that part of the United Kingdom. I am resolved to act in strict conformity with this declaration. I forbear from observations on events in Ireland, in respect to which proceedings are pending before the proper legal tribunal. My attention has been directed to the state of the law and practice with regard to the Occupation of Land in Ireland. I have deemed it advisable to institute extensive local inquiries into a subject of so much importance, and have appointed a Commission with ample authority to conduct the requisite investigation. I recommend to your early consideration the enactments at present in force in Ireland concerning the Registration of Voters for Members of Parliament. You will probably find that a revision of the law of Registration, taken in conjunction with other causes at present in operation, would produce a material diminution of the number of county voters, and that it may be advisable on that account to consider the state of the law with a view to an extension of the county franchise in Ireland.

"I commit to your deliberate consideration the various important

questions of public policy which will necessarily come under your review, with full confidence in your loyalty and wisdom, and with an earnest prayer to Almighty God to direct and favour your efforts to promote the welfare of all classes of my people."

[It was observed that, in the part relating to Ireland, the Queen laid a marked emphasis on the words "I am resolved to act in strict conformity with that declaration."]

In the House of Lords the Earl of Eldon moved the Address, which, as usual, was an accordant response to the Royal Speech. After touching on some domestic topics which afforded matter of congratulation, arising out of the improved state and resources of the country, he adverted to the state of Ireland as furnishing some exception to a favourable review.

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He was sure that there was only one wish among their lordships, that those troubled waters which had so long flowed in that country, should at length, if possible be allayed. He should not, however, trespass on their lordships' attention with respect to Ireland, for the reasons and on the ground which had been so judiciously stated by Her Majesty. Into none of the details of those trials which were now before the tribunals of that country was he about to enter; but there was one point on which he might undertake to say (as Her Majesty had already said it), that it would afford Her Majesty the greatest gratification that any steps should be taken in the endeavour that strict justice should be done to the people of Ireland. What Her Majesty had promised in her original declaration from the throne, and what her pre

decessor had promised was, that she would ever be ready to take every step to secure the peace and properity of that country, and to maintain the Legislative Union in full force. He was sensible that it was not in their lordships' House that what was going on before the tribunals of that country should be alluded to; but he must say, that in carrying into effect her intention, it was clear to him that though it might appear to be a long time ago, she had never lost sight of what she had promised on coming to the throne, and that she had accordingly rightly desired that those things which had been doing in Ireland, should be brought before a legal tribunal for its decision, whether they were contrary to law or not. With those trials he had nothing to do; whether they or any other should terminate in conviction or acquittal was not material to his purpose in addressing their lordships; but he was convinced that their lordships would agree with him in the necessity of enabling Her Majesty to carry out her intentions, and that if their lordships found the present laws inadequate to keep the peace in that country (though his own reliance was strong in the adequacy of the existing laws to keep the peace and protect the liberty of the subject), they would have no hesitation in supporting Her Majesty's Government, by conferring on Her Majesty fresh powers for maintaining the peace and integrity of the empire. He had no hesitation in saying, that any nobleman, in reference to any measure for this purpose to which his assent might be asked by the advisers of the Crown, would be ready to concur in any measure which might be deemed necessary

That would be their lordships' first duty, and it must always be the first duty of their lordships to adopt every measure which could cause an accession of peace and prosperity to that country. Her Majesty had pointed out for early consideration the enactments at present in force in Ireland concerning the registration of voters for members of Parliament. The registration question was one which at one time obtained great attention, and he trusted that when it should be brought before their lordships they would be disposed to give it every attention which a subject of such magnitude and importance required. Her Majesty had also called their attention to the state of the law and practice with regard to the relations of landlord and tenant in Ireland. Her Majesty had appointed a commission to investigate those relations, and knowing as he did the noble lord at the head of the commission, and being aware as he was that the gentlemen associated with him attended strictly to their duty, he was assured that they would spare no pains that might be necessary to enable them to lay before their lordships all the information necessary to a sound decision, and calculated to lead to practical results in some measure for securing the peace and prosperity of Ireland. In any measure calculated to secure peace and prosperity to that country he was sure their lordships would concur. He referred to the disturbances then

necessitating the maintenance of a proper military force in that country. As bearing on this subject he read to the House a letter which he had lately received, written by a young lady, a relation of his and the daughter of a clergyman residing there, which had convinced him that the country could scarcely be in a more deplorable state than it was in at present. After mentioning that the part of the country whence she wrote was in a peaceful state, and that a thought of danger scarcely ever entered their heads, she continued

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"Not so our neighbours; some of them have fortified their houses, expecting nightly massacres. Her father said that he constantly received blessings from the poor people as he passed along the road. They said, God Almighty bless your reverence, and shield you from every danger,' or words to that effect; and they were people whose faces he was unacquainted with, but who seemed as if they knew that some danger was impending, and wished to warn him. Thus, in a parish where there were not at present disturbances, the clergyman could not receive the blessings of his parishioners without their exciting in him feelings of apprehension

and alarm."

In concluding his speech, Lord Eldon expressed a hope that the existing protection to agriculture would be firmly maintained; he hinted also at the necessity of in troducing some legislative measures for the prevention of duelling.

Lord Hill briefly seconded the motion. He glanced at most of the topics discussed by the preceding speaker, congratulated the

House on the increase of ma nufacturing prosperity, and expressed a hope that the agricultural interest would soon experience a similar revival.

The Marquess of Normanby (having been absent during the greater part of the last session in consequence of illness) took the earliest opportunity of stating his opinions on the affairs of Ireland: As soon as possible after the termination of the trials, he would give notice of a motion to consider the state of that country: probably for the 13th instant. Lord Eldon had been indiscreet enough to go beyond the Speech and suggest what he would do with Irelandquoting a letter from a young lady: surely the House would require further documentary evidence before increasing the military establishment for the coercion of Ireland; and Lord Eldon's grandfather would have been more difficult to satisfy on the subject. A measure really to extend the Irish franchise might deserve support.

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He then adverted to the appointment of the Government Commission:-"There was subject on which he wished to say a few words, as he viewed it with a feeling of difficulty-he meant the appointment of a commission to inquire into the relation of land lord and tenant in Ireland. None would think that he was likely to take a light view of that subject. Their lordships would remember the letter of a Tipperary magistrate, and the charge of imprudence brought against him for his opinions expressed on the subject, when it so happened that in the last Session those opinions were echoed by the Ministry. He would much rather that Government had informed themselves on

the points upon which alterations were desirable in the relation of landlord and tenant in Ireland upon their own responsibility, and brought in a Bill confined to those specific remedies. The Speech from the Throne told their lordships that the commission "had full authority;" but he regretted that that authority was not restricted to certain points. He regretted it, as it would be quite impossible to estimate from the letter which his noble friend opposite had written the extent of time through which this would be carried on. Mischievous expectations must thereby be excited throughout such a population as the tenant population of Ireland. He was speaking from his personal knowledge and from the representations made to him whilst holding an office in that country. It was most desirable that the commission should contain a declaration of the points to which its attention was to be directed, and, by these means, counteract impressions in consequence of which the tenant population of Ireland might find themselves deprived of the remedies to which they had been induced to look. He felt a difficulty after having said so much, lest he should be misconstrued to desire that something more should at present be made known on the subject. The views he had taken were, he considered, of much importance, and he would refer to what he had previously stated,— that it was better in Ireland, where the means of information were so easily at the disposal of Government-it was better that nothing should be dissembled as to what they felt it right to legislate upon, and in effect the matter would be very inconvenient to