LONDON:

GEORGE WOODFALL AND SON,

ANGEL COURT, SKINNER STREET.

HISTORY.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

State of Public Affairs at the commencement of the Year-General Prospe-

rity of the Country and improvement of the Revenue-Great increase of

Railway Undertakings-Stability of Sir R. Peel's Government-Prospects

of the Corn Law Question-Opening of Parliament by the Queen in per-

son, on the 4th of February-Speech from the Throne-The Address in

the House of Lords is moved by the Marquis Camden, and seconded by

Lord Glenlyon-Speeches of the Marquis of Normanby, the Earl of Hard-

wick, Lord Brougham, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and Lord Aberdeen-

The Address is agreed to nem. con.-In the House of Commons it is

moved by Mr. Charteris, and seconded by Mr. Thomas Baring, who refers

in decided terms to the improved Prosperity of the Commercial Classes-

Lord John Russell declares his intention to vote for the Address, but ani-

madverts with some censure upon several points referred to by the pre-

ceding Speakers, especially the Affair of Tahiti, and the Condition of

Ireland-Mr. Gladstone enters into an Explanation of the Causes which

had led to his withdrawal from the Cabinet-Sir R. Peel vindicates the

Proceedings of Government in answer to the animadversions of Lord John

Russell-Speeches of Sir C. Napier, Mr. Plumptre, Mr. Wyse, Mr. Bellew,

Mr. Villiers, Mr. Sheil, Sir James Graham, Mr. Shaw, Lord Palmerston,

Sir R. Inglis, Lord Howick, and other Members-The Address is carried

unanimously

[1

CHAPTER II.

Finance and Commercial Policy-Sir Robert Peel brings forward his Budget

on the 15th of February-His luminous and comprehensive speech on

that occasion-Details of the Plan-Retention of the Income Tax and

Reduction of Import Duties-Reception of the Scheme by the House of

Commons-Observations of Lord John Russell, and other Members-

Debate in the House of Commons on Financial Policy on the 17th, com-

menced by Lord J. Russell-Speeches of Mr. Roebuck, Sir George Grey,

the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. C. Wood, Colonel Conolly, Mr. G.

Bankes, Mr. Warburton, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Gibson, Mr. P. Miles, Mr.

Vernon Smith, Sir Robert Peel, Viscount Howick, Sir John Tyrell, the

Marquis of Granby, and other Members-The Amendment moved by Mr.

Roebuck for modifying the Income Tax is rejected by 263 to 55-Further

Debates in Committee on the Income Tax-On the 5th of March Mr. B.

a 2

Osborne moves that the Bill be committed on that day Six Months-Mr.

F. T. Baring enters into a Critical Analysis of the Ministerial Budget-

He is answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-The Amendment is

negatived after a Discussion, by 96 to 23—Mr. Curteis moves to continue

the Tax for Two Years instead of Three-Motion rejected-The Bill passes

through Committee-On the 10th of March Mr. C. Buller moves a Reso-

lution in favour of modifying the Operation of the Income Tax-His

Speech-He is answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speeches

of Lord Howick, Sir R. Peel, and other Members-The Resolution is ne-

gatived by a Majority of 128-On the third reading of the Bill several

Amendments are moved without success, by Mr. R. Spooner and Sir

R. H. Inglis-Bill passed-In the House of Lords it is discussed on the

Motion for the third Reading, which is moved by the Earl of Ripon-

Speeches of Lord Ashburton, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Stanley,

Lord Monteagle, the Duke of Richmond, Lord Brougham, and the Earl of

Radnor The Bill is passed-Customs Duties' Bill-Debate in the House

of Commons on the Sugar Duties-Mr. M. Gibson moves a Resolution in

Committee for equalizing the Duties on Foreign and Colonial Sugars—Mr.

Ewart seconds the Amendment, which is supported by Mr. Ricardo, Mr.

Villiers, Lord Howick, Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Bright; and opposed by Sir

G. Clerk, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Cardwell, and the Chancellor of the Ex-

chequer The Amendment is rejected by 217 to 84-Various Amendments

are proposed in Committee-The Bill is passed-Mr. F. T. Baring opposes

the Auction Duties Abolition Bill-Speeches of Lord John Russell and

Sir R. Peel-The Ministerial Proposition affirmed by a Majority of 137—

Discussions on other portions of the New Tariff-It passes through the

House of Commons-Debate on the Sugar Duties in the House of Peers—

The Earl of Clarendon states objections to the proposed Arrangement—

Lord Brougham vindicates the Bill-Lord Monteagle opposes the Principle

of the Measure, and is answered by Lord Stanley-The Duke of Richmond

opposes the Repeal of the Auction Duties, and urges Relief to the Landed

Interest The Earl of Dalhousie supports the Bill-Lord Monteagle op-
poses-The Amendment is lost by 33 to 15-The Duke of Richmond op-
poses other branches of the Customs Bill, but without success, and it be-
comes Law

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CHAPTER III.

Corn Laws and Free Trade-Mr. Cobden moves for a Committee to inquire

into the Effects of Protection upon Agriculture-His Speech-He is an-

swered by Mr. Sidney Herbert-Speeches of Viscount Howick, Mr. Stafford

O'Brien, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Wodehouse-The Motion is rejected by 213

to 121—Mr. W. Miles brings forward a Resolution pledging the House to

a Relief to the Agricultural Interest-The Motion is seconded by the Earl

of March; opposed by Sir James Graham, on the part of the Government

—Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Darby, and Mr. Bankes speak in favour of the Mo-