therefore, that we had insisted on the abo- | had any constituents (a laugh, and cries of lition of that Trade; and that Portugal, Hear, hear!) would take those steps, which, whom we had also saved, and over whom if they bad been adopted last year, would we could exercise some influence, at least, have rendered it impossible for the burthen had abandoned that dreadful traffic. The to have existed beyond the present spring. right hon. the Chancellor of the Exche- -With respect to all the other burthens quer

had stated, that he reserved himself observed upon by his hon.friend near him, for a future occasion to enter upon the de- he could only say that he most entirely tail of the flourishing condition of the reve concurred in those observations. He renue, which was one of the topics of the served himself, however, upon those vari, Speech, and was re-echoed in the Address ous branches of the national finances, unof the hon. baronet. But he could not til they should be brought in detail under help taking notice, in this early stage of the consideration of the House. The hon. the business of parliament, of what had gentleman opposite seemed to suppose that fullen from the right hon. the Chancellor there were no means of relieving the landof the Exchequer by way of intimation ed interest, because their affairs were so in. upon this subject. As one reward of our terwoven with the national prosperity, that exertions in the late contest, so gloriously it was impossible to separate them from spoken of in the Address, and as an imme- other objects. But he could not help exdiate consequence of what the hon. gen- pressing a hope that the Chancellor of the tleman who had so eloquently seconded it, Exchequer would speedily find that there termed the breaking of the rod of enchant- were means of separating them, and that ment, and dissolving the spell by which some seasonable relief would be afforded the nations had been bound in slavery, he to the distresses with which so important had heard with more regret, than perlaps a part of the community was afflicted, astonishment, that the most oppressive of The right hon, gentleman had alluded ta any of the taxes that had been imposed some branches of the revenue which he upon the nation-the heaviest and most intimated would undergo revision and reobnoxious of those burthens under which trenchment.-[Here the Chancellor of the country had groaned that that most the Exchequer uttered some negative ex. oppressive and tormenting tax upon in- pressions]. From the manner of the right come was to be continued. It was for this hon. gentleman, he must presume that the we had been fighting, not only our own disappointment of his hopes upon this subbattles, but those of other nations. Our ject would be more general than he had fortitude and perseverance had led to this expected. He had consoled himself with happy consequence, that we were not the thought that the right hon. gentleman merely to bear the other burthens which would seriously set about a revisal of some had been so heavily laid upon us, but were part of the revenue and finance, with a to be borne down by this most tormenting view to mitigate as much as possible, the of all taxes—a tax which was still more severity of those taxes now imposed upon oppressive in the detail than in the bulk: the country. Was it then to be under, and this, it was said, was necessary, not stood, that not only half the Property-tax, withstanding “ the flourishing condition but all the other war taxes were to be of the manufactures, commerce and reve- continued? Was the country to under. nue of the united kingdom!” (Hear, hear!) stand from the Chancellor of the Exche. If this odious tax could be dispensed with quer, that at a season when grain was if there was any other means of going almost a drug in the markets, and when on without it, no man in his senses-stili coro was not only at the lowest price, bus less would the right hon. gentleman, on when no price could be obtained at all; and the very first day of the meeting of parlia- when the most grievous burthens were ment, intimate an intention of renewing it. imposed upon the barley growers, was it to Such an intimation surely could arise only be said, that under such circumstances the from the consciousness of there being no War Malt-tax was to be continued? Was other means of carrying on the financial it to be said that the landholders were still affairs of the country. He, however, did to pay 5 per cent. Property-tax, and ene trust, that this early hint, which had been dure in times of peace all the hardships to so plainly and unequivocally given of the which they had been exposed during the intention of government, would not be lost war? Was the Malt-tax of 388.per quarter upon the country or upon the House, and laid on during the war, to continue during that the constituents of such of them as peace? If this was to be the state of

Cries which

things, he trusted the House would not penses would be reduced to the smallest separate withivut hearing a notice from amount possible, consistently with our some of his hon. friends, who were conver- safety. For it was a robbery of the peosant with this subject, for bringing the ple of this country, it was a cruel mockery question of the War Malt-tax immediately of their sufferings to tell them, after twen. under the consiileration of the House.- ty-five years of distress and misery, and But there were other matters independent when the long looked for peace was at of the subject of reduction in the taxes, to , length arrived, that they were still to enwhich he hoped the attention of parliament dure the expenses of war, without the would be speedily called. If the Amend- benefits of peace. And for what purpose? ment of his hon. friend was carried, the For the purpose of securing the cession of House would pledge itself speedily to take new islands, of appointing new governors, under its consideration, the state of the new secretaries, new clerks, of establishing country, he doubted not that one of the new sources of patronage, new causes of first objects of their inquiry would be those alarm to the people, and new quarters laws which prevented the exportation of from which danger may be portended to some of the most important staple commo- their rights. (Hear hear!). The right dities of the country. He trusted also hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had that the state of the usury laws would be expressed a hope that gentlemen would brought under consideration with the like turn their attention to the accounts that celerity; for there was no subject more would be laid before them, not in the deserving the interposition of parliament. gross, but in detail, and that they would He hoped those laws, which operated investigate the items. He would promise most oppressively on the indigent bor- the right hon. gentleman that he, for one, rower, which had been disapproved of by would not only examine them en masse, the first characters of the country, which but would go through every estimate and sir Francis Baring more than thirty years item in all its bearings, in the humble ago had strongly pronounced against, as hope of assisting the right hon. gentleman injuring the interests of those they were in his laudable inquiry. Thus the prointended to protect, and which were so blem might be discussed this session, as manifestly impolitic and ruinous, would to what was the least farthing of expense soon receive a thorough revision and al- in every department, from the establishteration. There were various other sub-ment of the Prince down to that of the jects, unnecessary for him to allude to at common soldier, which was necessary for present, which were equally pressing upon the country to pay, consistently with its the notice of the House, he would only security, and what was the lowest reducinstance the state of the poor-laws, as they tion in our civil and military establishrespected the equalization of rates. All ments, which that security could admit of. that he was desirous of urging upon the The hon. and learned gentleman connotice of the House at present was, the cluded by giving his cordial support to absolute necessity of redeeming their the Amendment of his hon. friend. pledge, by immediately entering into that Lord Milton was anxious to state in a inquiry, which was, of all others, the most few words the grounds of his vote. If important-namely, into the state of the any thing could have induced him to supfinances, and by thus showing to the port the amendment, it would have been country that their condition was not abso. the speech of his hon. and learned friend lutely hopeless, and that the promises of who had just sat down. But it appeared parliament were not mere empty sounds to him, as the House was at present situwithout meaning. Before he concluded, ated, that the Address proposed by the he begged to allude to one part of the hon. baronet contained all the pledges hon. gentleman's speech opposite, and the which it was necessary for the House to more so, because it formed a part of the Ad- give. He agreed with his hon. and learned dress under consideration. He meant that friend, that the time would come when it part which pledged the House to measures would be necessary for the House to maof economy. That part of the Address nifest its sentiments, not in speeches but and speech of the hon. gentleman must be in acts. The time would come when it taken to mean, such a rigorous investiga- would be necessary to enter into every tion into the amount of our enormous es. article of expense and retrenchment; and tablishments both at home and abroad, as it would be well, if those matters were to would lead to this result; that our ex. come under the consideration, not of one

committee, but of several, which might | burthens of the country. One was full as sit up stairs; for, indeed, the subject necessary as the other; and if the hon. branched into such multifarious ramifi- baronet thought that he should satisfy his cations, that it would be impossible for speech of that night, by merely adverting the House, sitting in a body, to take it into to the economical administration of the their serious consideration. One of his supplies which this House might vote, he objections to the Amendment was, that it apprehended the hon. baronet would not appeared to go rather too far, and to hold give that satisfaction to his constituents out pledges which it would be impossible which he had expressed his desire to give, for the House to realize. Nothing was and which he was sure he felt as much as more dangerous, and in his opinion more any member of the House did. He had mischievous, for this House to do, than to heard that night, for the first time, that hold out pledges for any of its solemn and an intention existed of continuing the deliberate acts, which there was not a Property-tax. The Chancellor of the fair prospect of their being able to redeem. Exchequer had not indeed stated whether Speaking, however, as an individual, he his plan was to have a limited duration. did entertain considerable hopes, that by But the right hon. gentlemen would re. proper attention to these subjects the ex- collect that his declaration of that night pectations of the people might be much was directly contrary to the positive exmore effectually realized than the House pectations he had held out last year. The had reason to entertain from what had declaration then was—" Only give us the fallen from the Chancellor of the Exche- Property-tax for one year, just to wind quer. Indeed, upon this subject he was up the expenses of the war, and we will rather jealous of a particular part of the be satisfied.” Now they talked of reSpeech, to which the House as yet had ducing it to one half. But the noble lord not, he thought, sufficiently adverted. said he wished to know whether the Pro

, He meant that expression of the Speech perty-tax was to be given to wind up the which talked of “the high station which expenses of the war, or whether it was to we occupy in Europe.” He should like be looked to as a source of permanent to know what was the secret explanation revenue ? This was a point upon which which the ministers. would give of that he should wish to be informed, in order sentence. Did they mean by that, that that the country might have the consolaGreat Britain was to become a great mili. tion of knowing the worst they had to extary power — that she was to vie with pect. There were other subjects which Austria, France, and the other great mili- might be discussed upon the present occatary powers of the continent, in military sion, as growing out of the treaties : but strength and reputation. If that was the as those treaties had not yet been laid becase, he must say that the present was fore the 'House, he thought the House indeed a new era in the history of the would do well to satisfy itself fully upon country. It would be one of the greatest these points; for he confessed enough misfortunes that could befal the country, could not be expected from the meagre if she was to be held out as a great Address which had been proposed. It military power. That had not hitherto was a notorious fact, that the treaty of been our character, and he very much peace between this country and France, doubted whether, if we assumed that and the other treaties connected with it, shape, it would be possible for us to main- had been signed two or three months, tain our liberties at the same time. He and the people of this country knew their felt extremely anxious upon this subject, contents only through the medium of the because it was impossible not to suspect Rhenish Mercury. Such was the state in that in a certain quarter, a peculiar love which his Majesty's ministers placed the of this sort of establishments existed, people of Great Britain! It had been which it ought to be the business of this thought a good thing to obtain peace; but ,House to check and control. And he much of the merits of the peace must dehoped when the time came, that the hon. pend upon the nature of it, the means rebaronet himself who had moved the Ad- sorted io for obtaining it, and the secudress, would lend his hand, not only to- rities provided for its continuance. He wards an economical administration of the would not admit the comparison between finances, but that he would interfere, as the framers of the Treaty of Utrecht and far as in him lay, to lessen this class of those of the treaties alluded to; but in expenses, which might be added to the saying this he must not be taken to approve the Treaty of Utrecht. It had been glorious victories that had been obtained, said by the highest authorities that that he could not concur in giving so unqualiwas a treaty disgraceful to this country. fied an approbation of the cause as that The noble lord concluded by voting for which was expressed in the Address. It the Address, in preference to the Amend- seemed to him extraordinary that this ment, for the reason before stated, that House should, as it were, be unanimous in he thought it not prudent to hold out silent approbation, or, at least, that they pledges which could not be redeemed, or should concur in adopting that new system make promises which might be broken. He of policy which bis Majesty's ministers was firmly persuaded, that if the House had recently taken up, in contradiction to would seriously enforce plans of economy, their own repeated declarations. Down a great saving might be made ; but it would to the moment when the House last sepabe better that the public learned its inten- rated, his Majesty's ministers had always tions from its acts, than from its speeches declared that the war was carried on or pledges.

against Buonaparte individually, and those Mr. Preston drew a feeling picture of immediately connected with him; and they the present distressed state of the agri- took occasion repeatedly to deny imputacultural interests of the country. He said tions to the contrary of this, which had that the weight of taxes which oppress- come from this side of the House, by ed them was twice the amount of the saying, that they did not make war upon interest of all the landed property in the France to compel her against her will to kingdom. He recommended a revisal of admit upon the throne the present reignthe entire system, to which he thought ing family. Since the prorogation of par. the House should pledge itself, and, in liament, however, this new policy had not consequence, he expressed his intention only been adopted but avowed, and the of voting for the Amendment.

war was commenced for the purpose of Sir - Sumuel Romilly said, that however dispossessing Buonaparté of the throne. desirous he was to go into a consideration British and foreign armies had united their of the topics connected with the foreign efforts, for the sole purpose of placing the policy of this country, he should for the Bourbon family upon the throne of France present abstain from the indulgence of without regard to the wishes, the desires, that desire, from a persuasion that he or the feelings of the French nation. He, should have frequent opportunities here for one, could not concur in the approbaafter of discussing them. The speech, tion which had been expressed of that however, of his right hon, friend the Chan- new policy. It was not necessary for him cellor of the Exchequer rendered it im- now to enter into a full discussion of the possible for him to give a silent vote in impolicy, the infidelity, and the injustice favour of the Amendment that had been of this measure; for the time would come proposed. At least he was desirous of not when he should have the opportunity of a having it supposed that he had approved of more elaborate expression of his dissent all the sentiments which had been expressed from such a policy. For the present he on the other side of the House. No doubt should only observe, that, as it appeared in a great part of the speech of the hon. to him, no new ground had occurred since gentleman opposite, he most cordially con- the last meeting of Parliament, to justify curred. He agreed with him in rejoicing the change in the determination expressed at our having at length obtained peace. by the British government upon this imHe agreed with him in thinking that peace portant subject. No change of circumwas most desirable, in an abstract sense, stances had occurred when they thought but without reference to the particular proper to avow this new system_nothing circumstances under which the peace was whatever had occurred to authorize then obtained. The expressions also of the in adopting a policy, which till the mohon. gentleman's condolence upon the ment it was embraced, they had strenulamented indisposition of his Majesty—a ously deprecated. It might be proper to subject interesting to every body-most call to the recollection of the House, that heartily met with his approbation, for it about nine months since a letter arrived was a matter upon which no one could en in this country from lord Clancarty, adtertain a different opinion. He was cer- dressed to the noble lord opposite,* which tainly far from desiring a premature dis- showed, that even at that late period, a cussion; but he must say, that though he acquiesced in the eulogium upon the

* See Vol. 31, p. 311.

distinct intimation was given, that nothing expected. He apprehended what had was farther from the intentions of the been said proceeded from an anxious wish British government, than to take part in that ministers should confine themselves restoring Louis the 18th to the throne of to that line of policy, which at a former France. The opinion of the allies was said period they had held to be prescribed to to be decidedly against all inteference with to them by duty, and it would be his task, the internal situation of France. They when that great question came before ávowed that they adhered to the decla- them, which must shortly be submitted to ration of the 13th March; that they their deliberation, to satisfy the House combined to exclude Buonaparté from that in no instance had they departed from the throne of France, because his occu- that line of conduct which they had forpation of it was inconsistent with the merly taken, and which, as it had been security of Europe ; but that when this adopted on the broadest and soundest object was accomplished, they disclaimed principles, would be that to which they any wish to influence the French people should adhere for the future. He was in their choice of a sovereign. These not disposed to infer that unanimity was professions were held after the battle of to be expected, from the feeling which Warterloo; they were proclaimed in the had been manifested in this night's debate. triumphant march of the allied armies; He should expect to find immense va. they were declared by the duke of Wel rieties of opinion on the great questions lington till he arrived at St. Cloud. Up which would soon come under discussion, to the convention of Paris, the same lan- on the present state of Europe. The guage was continually held—even to the course pursued by ministers with respect deputies from the provisional government to other powers he should defend, because Immediately upon the occupation of Paris he thought it had been the wise one; but these principles were renounced. Did at the same time he did not deny the right this happen because the allies then felt which the House, had to determine on it themselves able to enforce principles as they in their wisdom shonld see fit, diametrically opposite? If so, where was when it came under the examination of their faith to the French people? They parliament. On all the important questions had broken their engagements—they had which were to be investigated, he should renounced their professions. Instead of expect much difference of opinion would concurring in the praise of ministers for be found; there was only one point on their conduct in bringing about the peace, which he wished gentlemen opposite to they deserved, he thought, the severest touch with a delicate hand-namely, the censure for having compromised the ho proceedings of other and foreign governnour of the country. Neither did he ima- ments. These he lioped, would be more gine that the peace would be more secure tenderly dealt with than they had been, than it was honourable. It was not found although the system acted úpon should ed on the basis of reciprocal good-will not be such as to obtain their approbation. but on that of arbitary power-of unjust He hoped those attacks would not concompulsion. Ia making it we had planted tinue to be made upon foreign administrathe seeds of war, and had left behind us tions, which had of late become so frethe stings of hatred and revenge.

quent. Such opposition might be properly Lord Castlereagh said, he did not wish directed against the ministers of this to protract the discussion which had been country, who were present and able to introduced on topics which he had not defend themselves, but be trusted genexpected would come under the considera- tlemen would feel the propriety of not tion of the House in the present debate. turning their arms against those of other The delay which had been complained of nations with whom we were in alliance in calling parliament together, he consi- and that scrutinizing criticism would not be dered to have been explained even by transferred to the investigation of the inthose who had made their not being as- ternal policy of foreign countries, which sembled before, a charge against ministers, could only be properly exercised at home. and it would therefore be unnecessary for Though he expected great differences on him to dwell upon this; and he should all the foreign questions, he still denied consider what had fallen from gentlemen the accuracy of the assertion that had opposite on a variety of subjects intended been made, that the Address now under but to open to the government those topics consideration was entitled to support, on which a difference of opinion might be because it pledged the House to nothing

a