ENGLAND.-Circumstances of the Country at the commencement of the year 1851-Prevalent Feeling of the Nation respecting the Papal Aggression -Anticipations of the Great Exhibition of Industry-State of Trade, Revenue, and Condition of the Lower Classes-Complaints of the Agricultural Interest-Opening of Parliament by the Queen in Person, on the 2nd of February-Her Majesty's Speech from the Throne-Debates in both Houses-In the Lords, the Address is proposed by the Earl of Effingham, and seconded by Lord Cremorne-Speeches of Lord Stanley, the Duke of Richmond, Earl of Winchilsea, Lord Camoys, and the Marquis of Lansdowne-The Address is agreed to nem. con.-In the Commons, the Address is moved by the Marquis of Kildare, and seconded by Mr. Peto-Speeches of Mr. Roebuck, Sir R. Inglis, Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. A. B. Hope, Mr. Chisholm Anstey, Mr. Plumptre, Mr. Hume, Mr. Bankes, Lord John Russell, and Mr. Disraeli-The Motion is carried without a Division-Retirement of the Earl of Shaftesbury from the Office of Chairman of Committees, and Election of Lord Redesdale in his room—! -Tribute of Respect to the Memory of Mr. J. H. Ley, late Clerk of the Table in the House of Commons. ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL-On the 7th of February Lord John Russell moves for leave to bring in a Bill for counteracting the Aggressive Policy of the Church of Rome-His able and interesting Speech on that occasion-The debate on the preliminary question of introducing the Bill is protracted during four nights by successive Adjournments-The Motion is supported by the Attorney-General, Mr. W. Page Wood, Sir George Grey, Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Disraeli, VOL. XCIII. 7 [B] Mr. Napier, and numerous other Members-It is opposed, among others, by Mr. Philip Howard, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Hume, Mr. Moore, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Keogh, Mr. A. B. Hope, Mr. Oswald, and Mr. Frederick Peel-On a Division the Motion for leave to introduce the Bill is carried by 395 against 63; Majority, 332. AT T the opening of the year 1851, one prominent subject engrossed the minds of the community, and superseded all other topics of political speculationthe Papal Aggression, and the measures likely to be adopted to counteract it. The ferment that the Papal brief had created throughout the kingdom, as described in the preceding volume of this work, had in no degree subsided, but appeared rather to increase in intensity as the usual period for the meeting of Parliament drew near. Second only in interest to this absorbing subject, the preparations for the opening of the Great Exhibition of Industry of all Nations diverted the public mind in a great measure from the interest usually concentrated on party polities or schemes of legislation. It was the general expectation that, with the exception of the measure necessary to abate the pretensions of the Papal See, the forthcoming session would prove rather barren of legislative results, and that the administration of Lord John Russell, though weak and tending to decline, would be suffered to tide quietly over a season devoted by anticipation to the gaieties and festivities of the great Jubilee of Commerce. In some respects it will be seen that these predictions were verified by the result, though with regard to the destinies of the Government, they were somewhat less accurate. The general condition of the country, so far as regards revenue, commerce, employment, and the cir cumstances of the labouring population, was prosperous and hopeful; and, with the exception of the farmers, still struggling with the difficulties of low and unremunerating prices for their corn, there was an absence of complaint, and a marked diminution of pauperism and distress. Such was the posture of affairs when, on the 4th of February, Her Majesty opened Parliament in person with the following Speech from the Throne: "My Lords and Gentlemen, "It is with great satisfaction that I again meet my Parliament, and resort to your advice and assistance in the consideration of measures which affect the welfare of our country. "I continue to maintain the relations of peace and amity with Foreign Powers. It has been my endeavour to induce the States of Germany to carry into full effect the provisions of the treaty with Denmark which was concluded at Berlin in the month of July of last year. I am much gratified in being able to inform you that the German Confederation and the Government of Denmark are now engaged in fulfilling the stipulations of that treaty, and thereby putting an end to hostilities which at one time appeared full of danger to the peace of Europe. "I trust that the affairs of Germany may be arranged by mutual agreement, in such a manner as to preserve the strength of the Confederation and to maintain the freedom of its separate States. "I have concluded with the King of Sardinia articles additional to the treaty of September, 1841, and I have directed that those articles shall be laid before you. "The Government of Brazil has taken new, and, I hope, efficient measures for the suppression of the atrocious traffic in slaves. have assured them of my resolu tion to maintain the rights of my Crown, and the independence of the nation, against all encroachment, from whatever quarter it may proceed. I have, at the same time, expressed my earnest desire and firm determination, under God's blessing, to maintain unimpaired the religious liberty which this country. It will be for you "Gentlemen of the House of is so justly prized by the people of Commons, "I have directed the estimates of the year to be prepared and laid before you without delay. They have been framed with a due regard to economy, and to the necessities of the public service. "My Lords and Gentlemen, Notwithstanding the large reductions of taxation which have been effected in late years, the receipts of the revenue have been satisfactory. "The state of the commerce and manufactures of the United Kingdom has been such as to afford general employment to the labouring classes. "I have to lament, however, the difficulties which are still felt by that important body among my people who are owners and occupiers of land. But it is my confident hope, that the prosperous condition of other classes of my subjects will have a favourable effect in diminishing those difficulties, and promoting the interests of agriculture. "The recent assumption of certain ecclesiastical titles conferred by a Foreign Power has excited strong feelings in this country; and large bodies of my subjects have presented addresses to me, expressing attachment to the Throne, and praying that such assumptions should be resisted. I to consider the measure which will be laid before you on this subject. "The administration of justice in the several departments of Law and Equity will, no doubt, receive the serious attention of Parlia ment; and I feel confident that the measures which may be submitted, with a view of improving that administration, will be discussed with that mature deliberation which important changes in the highest courts of judicature in the kingdom imperatively demand. "A measure will be laid before you providing for the establishment of a system of registration of deeds and instruments relating to the transfer of property. This measure is the result of inquiries which I have caused to be made into the practicability of adopting a system of registration calculated to give security to titles, and to diminish the causes of litigation, to which they have hitherto been liable, and to reduce the cost of transfers. "To combine the progress of improvement with the stability of our institutions will, I am confident, be your constant care. We may esteem ourselves fortunate that we can pursue, without disturbance, the course of calm and peaceable amelioration; and we have every cause to be thankful to Almighty God for the measure of tranquillity and happiness which has been vouchsafed to us." In the House of Lords, the Address was moved by the Earl of Effingham, who first called the attention of the House to those subjects in the Speech from the Throne which afforded matter for unmingled congratulation. Such were the settlement of the Danish question on the basis of the peace of July; the maintenance of general peace; the announcement that the Brazils were about to adopt more vigorous measures for the extirpation of the slave trade; and the satisfactory state of the revenue after the reductions effected in taxation during the last session. The noble Lord then went on to regret the existence of considerable distress among the owners and occupiers of land, remarking, however, that it was most undeniable that the labouring population in the agricultural districts had never been better off than they were at that moment, and expressing his conviction that the energy and industry of the British farmer would ultimately bear him through all his difficulties. Turning, lastly, to the question of Papal aggression, he declared that the step lately taken by the Pope was such as would never have been tolerated in this country in Roman Catholic times, nor would be tolerated in any Roman Catholic country in the present day. It was necessary, therefore, that this insolent assumption of supremacy should be repressed; and he was glad to learn that a measure would be laid before them, which, while it did not violate the principles of religious toleration, would extinguish the attempt to introduce a Roman Catholic hierarchy into England with territorial designations. The noble Lord then sat down, after moving the Address, which was a mere echo of the Speech. Lord Cremorne having seconded the Address, Lord Stanley said he was of opinion that, unless the Speech from the Throne contained principles or language which it was impossible to overlook, it was more respectful to the Crown, and more advantageous to the public service, that the Address in reply to it should be voted with unanimity. Although, therefore, he was not altogether satisfied with the Speech, he would at once declare that it was not the intention of himself or his friends to propose any hostile amendment on the present occasion. He would simply content himself with a few observations on some of the points mentioned in the Speech. As far as the foreign relations of the country were concerned, it seemed that the Foreign Office had been less actively employed than was usual in the recess. It was, doubtless, satisfactory to learn that the Danish disputes were on the eve of adjustment, but, perhaps, that happy result was rather to be attributed to the firm attitude assumed by the Emperors of Austria and Russia than to the intervention of Her Majesty's Government. Though he looked with some faint hope to the execution of the treaties entered into by Brazil for the suppression of the slave trade, he could not refrain from calling their Lordships' attention to the fact that this country could apply a more powerful engine than any treaties for its prevention, by the abrogation of the commercial regulations which encouraged that abominable traffic. It was satisfactory, too, to find that the ruin of |