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, Re-

venue, and Condition of the Lower Classes-Complaints of the Agricul-

tural Interest-Opening of Parliament by the Queen in Person, on the

4th of February-Her Majesty's Speech from the Throne-Debates in

both Houses-In the Lords, the Address is proposed by the Earl of Effing-

ham, 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 Ad-

journments The Motion is supported by the Attorney-General, Mr. W.

Page Wood, Sir George Grey, Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Disraeli, 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

Page [1

CHAPTER II.

AGRICULTURE AND PROTECTION.-Mr. Disraeli's Motion in favour of Relief

for Agricultural Distress-His Speech-The Debate is continued for two

nights by adjournment-Answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer-

Speeches of the Marquis of Granby, Sir James Graham, Mr. Booker, Mr.

Labouchere, Mr. Cayley, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Cobden, and Lord John Russell

-After a Reply from Mr. Disraeli, the Motion is negatived by a majority

of 14. PARLIAMENTARY FRANCHISE, AND DEFEAT OF MINISTERS-Mr.

Locke King moves for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the Franchise in

Counties to 10%. Occupiers-His Motion is supported by Mr. Hume and

Mr. Cobden, and opposed by Lord John Russell, but is carried against the

Government by 100 votes against 52. THE BUDGET-First Financial

Statement of the Year made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

on the 17th of February His Propositions respecting the Income

Tax, and Partial Repeal of the Window Tax-The Statement is very

unfavourably received by the House-Adverse Criticisms from various

Members. THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS-On the 20th of February the Re-

signation of Lord John Russell's Cabinet is announced in the Newspapers

-Reasons generally alleged for this step-On the meeting of the Houses

on the 21st, the Ministerial Leaders propose Adjournments till the 24th-

On the 24th Explanations are given in both Houses-Statement of the

Marquis of Lansdowne in the House of Lords-Remarks of Lord Stanley

Similar Statement by Lord John Russell in the House of Commons-

Remarks of Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Roebuck-Further Adjournments till the

28th are proposed and agreed to—On that day the Marquis of Lansdowne,

in the Upper House, enters into a detailed account of the Negotiations

carried on for the reconstruction of the Ministry-He announces that the

Queen had had recourse to the Duke of Wellington for advice at this

juncture-Speeches of the Earl of Aberdeen and Lord Stanley relative to

the parts taken by them in the late transactions-In the Commons, on

the same evening, Lord John Russell enters into a full Statement of what

had occurred-Important Speech of Sir James Graham-Remarks of Mr.

Disraeli, Mr. Hume, Sir R. Inglis, and other Members-Ultimate adjust-

ment of the Ministerial Crisis, and Reinstalment of the late Cabinet

announced on the 3rd of March-Discussions in both Houses on this

occasion-Declarations by Irish Members of determined hostility to the

Ecclesiastical Titles Bill Remarks of Lord John Manners and Mr.

Wakley

.

[20

CHAPTER III.

ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL.-The Bill is reintroduced by Sir George Grey

on the 7th of March, with the omission of the second and third Clauses-

Remarks of Mr. Stuart, Mr. M. Gibson, Sir R. Inglis, Mr. Bankes, Mr.

Gladstone, Lord C. Hamilton, and Lord John Russell-The Debate on the

Second Reading of the Bill commences on the 15th of March, and is con-

tinued for seven nights by Adjournment-Summary of the leading Speeches,

including those of Lord Arundel and Surrey, Mr. Roundell Palmer, Sir

Robert Peel, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. Cardwell, Lord

Ashley, Mr. Sidney Herbert, and Mr. H. Drummond (whose remarks excite

a violent commotion in the House), Sir James Graham, Lord John Russell,

Mr. Walpole, Mr. Roebuck, the Attorney-General, Mr. Fagan, Sir John

Young, Mr. Grattan, Mr. Hume, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Dis-

raeli, and Sir George Grey-On a Division the Second Reading is carried

by 438 to 95-Proceedings on the Committal of the Bill-Protracted

Discussions, and numerous Amendments proposed, but without success—

The Bill does not pass through Committee till the end of June-On

bringing up the Report Sir F. Thesiger moves three important Amend-

ments of which he had given notice-A large number of Roman Catholic

Members walk out of the House, and the Amendments are carried against

the Government by considerable majorities-On the Third Reading Lord

John Russell attempts to induce the House to rescind Sir F. Thesiger's

Amendments, but is again defeated-The Third Reading is carried some-

what unexpectedly by 263 against 46, and the Bill is sent up to the Lords

-The Second Reading is moved by the Marquis of Lansdowne on the 21st

of July, when a spirited Discussion takes place, which is continued for

two nights Speeches of the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Beaumont, the Duke

of Wellington, who supports the Measure, the Earl of Malmesbury, Vis-

count Canning, the Duke of Argyll, the Bishop of St. David's, the Earl of

Winchilsea, Lord Lyndhurst, the Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis of Clan-

ricarde, Lord Monteagle, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of St. Germans,

the Earl of Minto, and Earl Fitzwilliam-The Second Reading is carried

by 265 against 38-The Bill passes through Committee unaltered-On the

Third Reading a further Debate takes place, when the House is again

addressed by the Earl of Aberdeen, the Bishop of Oxford, the Duke of

Argyll, and other Peers-Lord Monteagle moves an Amendment, which is

negatived, and the Bill becomes Law

CHAPTER IV.

. [43

FINANCE. The Chancellor of the Exchequer makes his second Financial

Statement for the Year, on the 5th of April-He explains at length the

motives which had influenced him in making his Propositions to the

House, and the subsequent modifications in his Plans-He proposes a total

Repeal of the Window Tax in lieu of the Alteration before propounded,

and retracts some of the boons to the Agricultural Interest which had

been ungraciously received-The Budget meets with a more favour-

able reception than the former one. THE INCOME TAX-Mr. Herries

moves a Resolution directed to an alleviation of that Impost-He is

answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speeches of Mr. Prinsep,

Mr. F. Peel, Mr. T. Baring, Mr. J. Wilson, Sir R. Inglis, and other Mem-

bers-Mr. Herries's Resolution is rejected on a division by 278 against

230-The Second Reading of the Income-Tax Bill is opposed by Mr.

Spooner and Mr. Muntz, but without effect-On the Bill going into Com-

mittee, Mr. Hume moves that the Grant be limited to one year, with the

object of having the whole subject considered in a Select Committee—

The Amendment is opposed by the Government, also by Mr. Cobden, and

Mr. Sidney Herbert-It is supported by Alderman Thompson, Mr. Miles,

and Mr. Disraeli, and is carried by 244 to 230, amidst great cheering from

the Opposition-A few days afterwards, Lord John Russell declares the

intention of the Government to acquiesce in the Amendment--Remarks

of Mr. Disraeli-Mr. Hume experiences much difficulty in nominating a

Select Committee on the Income Tax-Discussion as to the object of the

Amendment, and the motives of those who had supported it-Remarks of

Lord John Russell and Sir C. Wood-A Committee is at length nominated.

PROTECTIONIST FINANCE-On the 30th of June, Mr. Disraeli moves certain

Resolutions respecting the Financial Position and Prospects of the

Country, and the Policy of the Government-His Speech-He is answered

by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speeches of Mr. Newdegate, Mr.

Labouchere, Mr. Hume, and other Members-The Resolutions are ne-

gatived by a majority of 113. ALTERATION OF DUTIES ON COFFEE AND

TIMBER-The former opposed by Mr. E. H. Stanley, but agreed to by the

House-Mr. T. Baring moves a Resolution condemnatory of the Adul-

teration of Coffee by means of Chicory-The Motion is opposed by the

Chancellor of the Exchequer, and rejected after a Debate, by 5 votes only

-On a second attempt with the same view, Mr. T. Baring is outvoted by

199 to 122. MALT TAX-Repeal of that Duty moved by Mr. Cayley—

His Speech-He is supported by Mr. Disraeli and other Members of the

Agricultural Party-The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord John

Russell resist the Motion, which is rejected by 258 to 122—Mr. Bass after-

wards moves that the Malt Duty be reduced one-half-This also is ne-

gatived by the House-Mr. Frewen attempts a Repeal of the Hop Duty,

but without success-Lord Naas twice defeats the Government on his

Motion with respect to the mode of levying Duties on Home-made

Spirits in Bond; and Lord Robert Grosvenor once, upon a Proposi-

tion for repealing the Attorney's Certificate Duty-The Chancellor of

the Exchequer ultimately succeeds in reversing the decisions as to

both

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CHAPTER V.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL AFFAIRS.-Ceylon, and the Charges against Lord

Torrington-Notice of Resolutions censuring the Conduct of that Noble-

man and of Earl Grey given by Mr. Baillie-Lord Torrington enters into

a detailed Explanation of his own Conduct in the House of Lords—Re-

marks of Earl Grey and of the Duke of Wellington-Important Debate

on Mr. Baillie's Motion continued for two Nights-Speeches of Serjeant

Murphy, Mr. Ker Seymer, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Hume, Sir James Hogg, Sir

F. Thesiger, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Gladstone, the Attorney-General, Lord John

Russell, and Mr. Disraeli-Mr. Baillie's Resolutions are negatived by a

Majority of 82. COLONIAL EXPENDITURE AND SELF-GOVERNMENT-Sir

William Molesworth moves Resolutions in favour of a Reduction of the

former, and an Extension of the latter to the British Colonies-His able

and comprehensive Speech-He is answered by Mr. Hawes-Speeches of

Mr. Adderley, Mr. Cobden, and Lord John Russell-The Debate is ad-

journed, and is not afterwards resumed. AFFAIRS OF THE CAPE COLONY-

Political Agitation and Discontent in that Settlement, and Renewal of the

Kafir War-Debates in Parliament on these subjects-Mr. Adderley moves

an Address to the Crown, praying that a Commission may be sent out to

inquire into the Relations between the British Government and the Kafir

Tribes His Speech-Lord John Russell moves as an Amendment that a