have been committed unknown to the Estimates which provide for their the Practice of a civilized People. Efficiency. In conjunction with the King of the French, I am endeavouring to effect the Pacification of these States.

"I have had great Satisfaction in giving My Assent to the Measures which you have presented to Me from Time to Time, calculated to extend Commerce, and to stimulate domestic "Although I am deeply sensible Skill and Industry, by the Repeal of of the Importance of enforcing Eco-prohibitory and the Relaxation of nomy in all Branches of the Expen-protective Duties. diture, yet I have been compelled, by "The prosperous State of the Rea due Regard to the Exigencies of the Public Service, and to the State of our Naval and Military Establishments, to propose some Increase in

Testimonies in favour of the Course | be presented to Her Majesty, in answer to

you have pursued.

ther it may not be in your Power, after a careful Review of the existing Duties upon many Articles, the Produce or Manufacture of other Countries, to make such further Reductions and Remissions as may tend to ensure the Continuance of the great Benefits to which I have adverted, and by enlarging our Commercial Intercourse, to strengthen the Bonds of Amity with Foreign Powers.

"Any Measures which you may adopt for effecting these great Objects will, I am convinced, be accompanied by such Precautions as shall prevent permanent Loss to the Revenue, or injurious Results to any of the great Interests of the Country.

Her Majesty's most Gracious Speech from the Throne, which your Lordships have just heard read, I feel gratified by the reflection that I shall have no proposition to submit to your Lordships, upon which I anticipate difference of opinion in debate, or any division in the Vote which I must

"I recommend you to take into your early. Consideration, whether the Principles on which you have acted may not with Advantage be yet more extensively applied; and whe-call upon your Lordships to give. It is also a matter of high satisfaction to me when I consider that the subjects alluded to in the Speech and in the Address I am about to submit, are not surrounded by such difficulties as need call for that, which, were it required, I should feel quite unable to bring to bear upon them-namely, a power of illustration and explanation. I am, however, too sensible of my own deficiency to occupy more of your Lordships' time by dwelling upon it, and I therefore proceed at once, with these few prefatory remarks, to the immediate duty with which I have been entrusted. In the first place, I have to congratulate your Lordships on the assurances which Her Majesty informed you She continued to receive from Her Allies, and from all other Foreign Powers, of their desire to cultivate the most friendly relations with this country. I am aware that owing to the constant recurrence, for a series of years, of the same assurances being received from Foreign Powers of their peaceable desires and intentions, your Lordships can scarcely avoid looking upon this part of the Royal Speech as a mere matter of course; and, in offering my congratulations to your Lordships at receiving this gratifying intelligence from Her Majesty, I therefore "It is My earnest Prayer that, labour under the disadvantage of appearing with the Blessing of Divine Provi- to repeat what, year by year, has been said to your Lordships by those who, on similar dence on your Counsels, you may be occasions, have appeared in the situation in enabled to promote friendly Feelings which I have now the honour to stand bebetween different Classes of My Sub-fore your Lordships. But, in truth, the fact of the repetition of this congratujects, to provide additional Security lation enhances its value; and every year's for the Continuance of Peace, and to prolongation of peace in the world, ought maintain Contentment and Happiness to make us the more sensible of the advanat home, by increasing the Comforts continuance of peace brings to this country, tages and the blessings which this long and bettering the Condition of the and ought to induce us more highly to apgreat body of My People. preciate the skill and judgment of those by whose wise counsels this state of things has been prolonged. Her Majesty proceeded to inform your Lordships, that in conjunction with the Emperor of Russia, and through the success of their joint mediation, She has been enabled to adjust the differences which have long existed between the Ottoman Porte and the Schah

"I have full Reliance on your just and dispassionate Consideration of Matters so deeply affecting the Public

Welfare.

HER MAJESTY then retired, and the House adjourned during Pleasure: having resumed,

ADDRESS IN ANSWER TO THE SPEECH.

The EARL of HOME: My Lords, in rising to propose that an humble Address

very

conjointly to undertake that work of pacification; and there is every reason to hope, that as the Governments of both countries are perfectly disinterested, and have no object of their own to serve, and no desire to interfere with the internal concerns of other countries, but only to restore independence where it had been invaded by the stronger State, and to re-establish peace, their efforts will soon be crowned with success, and that at no distant day freedom of commerce will be established on a secure and lasting basis. Your Lordships are already aware, that in the course of last year a Convention was concluded between this country and France, for the more effectual suppression of the Slave Trade; and your Lordships will derive satisfaction from knowing, that that Convention is about being carried into immediate execution by the active co-operation of both Powers. Feeling in common with every other Englishman the greatest detestation of this dreadful trade, it might perhaps be a comparatively easy task for me to dilate on some of the horrors attendant upon it; but as I know that your Lordships do not require to have your feelings aroused on this point, and as I know that every information that could be acquired has been already afforded to your Lordships, I will refrain from entering upon the subject. Neither do I think it necessary to enter upon any historical details of the efforts that have been made by this country for the extirpation of the Slave Trade; efforts made through good report and through evil report, and in spite of the insinuations which were thrown out against our sincerity. It was thought that we could not have devoted so much treasure, and in

of Persia, and which have seriously en- | be put to such a state of things. Accorddangered the tranquillity of the East. The ingly, France and England determined mere fact of the settlement of a dispute which had existed between the Porte and the Schah of Persia, might not at first sight appear to be of any immediate importance to this great country, or to have any direct bearing on the peace of Europe and of the world; but when your Lordships take into consideration the vast interests which Great Britain possesses in the East, and the consequences that might have ensued to the tranquillity of the extended frontiers of our empire in India had these differences been permitted to ripen into war, I am convinced that you will see the importance of the intelligence which Her Majesty has graciously communicated, and that you will concur with me in the satisfaction which I feel at the evidence to be derived from this transaction, of the desire of the Emperor of Russia to unite with Her Majesty in promoting the line of policy adopted by Her Majesty's Government to preserve peace in the East, more especially when the result has been to prevent a rupture between two Mahommedan powers, which probably would have led to horrors all the more dreadful, inasmuch as they would have been unrestrained by the softening influences of Christianity. From this subject I have now to draw your Lordships' attention to another quarter of the globe, in which Her Majesty is similarly employed, and for a similar object, and in which also Her Majesty has had the happiness to obtain the co-operation of a powerful ally. I allude to the warfare that has been so long existing in the States bordering on the Rio de la Plata. These States, formerly dependencies of the Spanish Crown, have since been recognised as independent Governments; and your Lordships must be well aware of the importance of pre-curred so much risk and so much trouble, serving to cach State its particular independence. Differences had, however, arisen between these States; and these differences had led to a war, which, as Her Majesty has informed you, has been for several years past of a desolating and sanguinary character, and has been characterized by barbarities, on both sides, among the conflicting parties unknown to the practice of civilized people. The result has been, great interruption to trade and commerce; and consequent inconvenience, not only to the subjects of this country, but also to the merchants of all parts of the world. It became, therefore, for every reason, most desirable that an end should

for the mere purpose of putting down the Slave Trade, and for an object which was considered too romantic to be real; and that our efforts were chiefly directed to the assertion of our own maritime rights and supremacy. I rejoice to think that this feeling no longer exists, and that an ardent desire to effect the abolition of the Slave Trade is no longer confined to this country, but that other nations of Europe are joining their efforts to ours, and are awakened to a full sense of the disgrace which this nefarious traffic brings upon the civilized world. It must be, therefore, most satisfactory to your Lordships to know that France is now for the first time, actively

sure, cordially join in the regret expressed by Her Majesty that this question still remains unsettled, and will cordially approve of any efforts which Her Majesty may be advised to take, consistent with the national honour, to bring it to an early and peaceful termination. It must be evident to all true friends of their country, both on this side of the Atlantic and on the other, that it is obviously for the interest of both countries that the most friendly relations and good understanding should exist between them. Disastrous as the consequences are when hostilities take place between nations, they are peculiarly to be deprecated when they occur between two countries bound together by so many ties-the ties of common origin, common language, and of common interests-as England and the United States of America undoubtedly are. This must be so evident to all, that the negotiations which may take place on this question must be accompanied by the ardent wishes for success of all reasonable and rightthinking men in both countries. The progress of these negotiations has indeed hitherto been slow, and attended with no successful results; but the difficulties, though hard to be avoided, can scarcely be such as may not be overcome when the negotiations are entrusted to the hands of those who are zealous in the cause of peace and reconciliation. I look, indeed, to the success of past negotiations as a happy

co-operating with this country in this measure. And here your Lordships may well join in the wish expressed by Her Majesty, that the union and cordial understanding which so happily exist between Her Majesty and Her powerful Ally may long endure, and that the power of both nations may be exerted, not in rivalry against each other, but for the benefit of mankind, and for the advancement of the interests of humanity. I believe that it has been said that England has purchased this co-operation of France rather dearly, by the sacrifice of the Right of Search, which has long been considered essential to carrying out effectual efforts for the suppression of the Slave Trade; but when we know that the French Government are, on the other hand, assailed on the same point, and charged with having established a new right of search more prejudicial than the old one, the natural conclusion to be drawn is, that both accusations are alike unfounded that the sacrifice has been injurious to neither. For my own part, I am fully convinced that an effectual method has been discovered for putting an end to this traffic, which has the merit of respecting national prejudices, while it does not sacrifice the honour of either party. It must be satisfactory to your Lordships, as well as a subject of congratulation from me, that the negotiation was entrusted to the hands of the Duke de Broglie and Dr. Lushington-augury for that which is to come. I alwho are the two men least likely, perhaps, of any others in Europe, to agree to any thing which could be injurious to the cause of abolition of the Slave Trade, to which so much of their lives had been devoted. It may, perhaps, be too sanguine an expectation for me to indulge in, to anticipate that there can be any immediate diminution in Slavery itself, in consequence of the joint efforts of the two countries; but we may at least hope that by the vigilance of the united cruisers of France and Great Britain, anguished Member of your Lordships' House. effectual check may soon be put to the dreadful transport of human beings across the Atlantic from the coast of Africa, for the purpose of filling up the gaps which cruelty and neglect may have made in the ranks of the unfortunate negroes, in those States where the disgrace of slavery is still permitted to exist. I next proceed to that part of Her Majesty's Speech which relates to the conflicting claims of this country and the United States in respect of the territory on the north-western coast of America. Your Lordships will, I am

lude more particularly to the termination of that dispute which, a short time back, existed respecting the north-eastern boundary which separates the territory of the United States from those of Great Britain -a dispute which bore at one time the most threatening aspect, and which created great excitement and even animosity against this country among some of the citizens of the United States; yet we find that even this dispute was amicably terminated by the intervention of a noble Lord, a distin

As to the mode in which this amicable arrangement was effected, it is sufficient for me to say that it met with the decided approbation of both Houses of Parliament, which approbation has been since fully confirmed by the general voice of the country. I consider also the fact that the same noble Earl, under whose firm and skilful, but at the same time temperate instructions, that noble Lord to whom I have alluded, carried on his negotiations, still presides over the Foreign Affairs of this country; and I may, perhaps, be per

pate that you will take Her Majesty's wishes into consideration, and direct your attention to the consideration of such measures as may seem best calculated to give increased protection to life, and to bring happiness and security to our Irish fellow subjects; and which may have the effect of providing a remedy for this crying evil. Her Majesty in the next

the disease that has unfortunately affected the potato crop in several parts of the United Kingdom; and on that subject I feel sure that your Lordships will have shared in the general anxiety and appre

mitted to express my confidence, that in | with the Sovereign in Her feelings on the the hands of that noble Earl the country subject, and that I may confidently anticiwill suffer no loss of honour; while at the same time every effort that diplomacy can make will be tried to bring the matter in dispute to an amicable conclusion. I next come to that part of Her Majesty's Speech in which She announces that She has been compelled by a due regard to the exigencies of the public service, and to the state of the naval and military establishments, to propose some in-place brings to your Lordships' notice crease in the Estimates which provide for their efficiency. When your Lordships take into consideration our widely-extended Empire, and our colonial possessions scattered over the face of the globe, I think you will find sufficient reason for this re-hension which has been felt on account of commendation in Her Majesty's Speech, the great failure that has taken place in without looking for one in the anticipation what I may call one of the necessaries of life. of any possible interruption to the peace of Failures in the potato crop have been known the world at present so happily existing. before; but never, I believe, one so fatal Your Lordships need not be told of the nor so extensive in its operation as the pregreat amount of forces that are required, sent. It has not only visited this country, even in periods of the most profound but other countries also; and is not only peace, for the maintenance of order in all more destructive than any former visitathe territories of Great Britain, both at tion of this kind, but also different in its home and abroad, and for the protection of nature. No part of this country has been our commerce in those parts of the world exempt; but in England and Scotland the not under Her Majesty's dominion. Bri- evil has not reached to such an extent as tish enterprise is daily extending the sphere was at one time feared it would have done; of its operation, and making corresponding but there is no doubt that great distress demands for protection. Without, there- will be felt even here. Had England and fore, entering into any details of the seve- Scotland, however, alone been concerned, rity of the duty required from our gallant I think I may venture to say that the evil soldiers and sailors, and which, I firmly has not extended farther than, with the believe, nothing but the proverbial loyalty industrious habits of the people, would have and patient endurance of hardship in the been remedied by their own exertions. British character would enable them to go In Ireland, however, the case is different. through as they have done; I think that I The ravages of the disease are said to be have shown grounds sufficient to justify me much greater in that country than here e; in asking for your Lordships' concurrence in and I believe that I do not err from the that part of the Address. I next come to truth in saying, that from the accounts a subject in which I feel confident that the which are continually received from that House will join with me in the regret which country, the extent to which the evil has I must express that Her Majesty should gone, and the dreadful consequences which be obliged, by the dreadful nature of the must result from it, are yet not fully case, to bring under your Lordships' notice: known. Your Lordships will therefore see I allude to the deep regret expressed by that in that country disastrous conseHer Majesty at the very frequent instances quences may justly be apprehended; and in which the crime of deliberate assassina- we should feel deeply grateful to Her Mation has been of late committed in Ireland, jesty for having, with Her usual care for and Her Majesty's recommendation of the welfare of Her people, adopted all such measures to bring to justice the per- precautions as it has been in Her power to petrators of such dreadful crimes. Your adopt, for the purpose of alleviating the Lordships must have observed in the pub- sufferings that may be caused by that lic journals, and through other sources of calamity, and for having gone to the full information, to what an extent this dread-extent of the powers of the Crown, without ful crime has been carried in some parts of that country; and I feel confident that your Lordships will completely sympathise

the sanction of Parliament, in order to do so; and I feel confident that your Lordships will cheerfully do whatever may be necessary