The break in the session naturally suggests a memorandum of
what has been done since its commencement, and what remains to be accomplished before its close. Parliament met on the 15th of November, and sat till the 23d of December 1837; an adjourn- ment then took place to the 16th of January 1838; from which day till Wednesday last its sitting has been uninterrupted. From these dates it appears that the Legislature has been nominally engaged in the public business for four months. During that period, what measures of national importance have been com- pleted? The following short list, we believe, comprises the whole.
The Civil List Bill, The Canada Bill, The Slavery Act Amendment Bill, The Army and Navy Estimates.
It would be useless to go into any lengthened remark on these measures. Of the first it will not be forgotten, that it gives—not to theQueen,but to the persons who surround her—not for the Royal dignity or comfort, bur, for purposes of Ministerial corruption—a larger sum than the Tory Government of GEORGE the Fourth or WILLIAM the Fourth dared to ask from a Parliament Unre- formed.
The operation of the Canatla.Bill remains to be seen. Its im- mediate effect, in conformity with-irs,aim, is the destruction— the wanton, we still believe, and unnecessary destruction—of the Canadian constitution... Should the measure produce peace and loyalty, it will be by some miraculous change in the nature of men, or by some latent energies in the art of government, which the progress of human society has not heretofore developed. For the Slavery Act Amendment Bill, inadequate as it may be found, the Emancipationists are indebted to Lord BROUGHAM, who spurredUord GLENELG into a celerity of movement not natural to that amiable and tranquil official : let us hope that the 'hock has not permanently injured, though it must for the time have inconveniently affected, his health. The measure will Probably accomplish some good in a small way. At all events, it Is not a bad bill; and for the absence of evil in a Whig measure, tnen should be duly thankful.
The Estimates were voted by idle Committees, without diffi- culty, without knowledge, and without care. Though the revenue is diminished, the cost of the Army and Navy is increased.
The Parliamentary Electors and Freemen's Bill. The Alunicipal Boundaries Bill. The first, passed by the Commons, was destroyed by the Lords. Peace be with its manes ! a more harmless thing was never in- flated by legislative breath. The second was withdrawn by its Sponsor, Mr. VERNON SMITH. It was unpopular in the towns With whose localities it interfered; and seems to have been brought forward Without due inquiry or consideration. We now come to a long list of incomplete measures. Of many of them it can scarcely be said that they are in progress.
The Irish Poor,
Irish Corporations, Intimidation of Voters, Election Expenses, Bribery at Elections, Registration of Voters, Rating of Tenements,
Controverted Elections, Qualification of Members, County Rates, County Courts, English Church, Clergy Residence,
Benefices Pluralities,
General Copyright, International Copyright, Custody of fauns, Benda CAM, Lord's Dap
Glass Dans,
Scottish Prisons, Scottish Schools, Scottish Small Debt*, Irish Sheriffs, Irish Waste Lands,
Irish Court of Chancery, Irish Marcel Charities.
II • The measures announced, but not yet introduced, are those re- lating to I es,
English Church-rates, Election Committe Irish Tithes, Ordnance Estimates,
Endowment of the Church of 1 The Budget, Scotland, Government of New Sonth Wale& ' These lists are only intended to give an idea of the public busi- ness done, on hand, and contemplated. Matters of routine, and the mass of private business in which Committees are involved, are not put down. When it is remembered that though four months of the session have passed away, the most difficult ques- tions which can come before Parliament—those relating to the Church in the Three Kingdoms—are as yet almost untouched; and that in all probability Parliament will be prorogued before the coronation on the 26th of June; it is absurd to suppose that
any considerable portion of the work set down will be accom- plished, or that it is the intention of Government to carry their
measures. "Rub on' is the motto—another evil day of session- time almost over—so many more of pleasant quarter-days to come I It is not only with regard to the practical fruits of legislation —the bills passed—that the results of the first session of the MELBOURNE Parliament will be contemptible, or worse. The characters of public men, professing Liberalism and Independence, have sunk lower than even we thought it fair to anticipate, albeit
having sorrowful misgivings as to not a few of them. The system of voting black w bite," of sacrificing consistency, violating en- gagements, and degrading their personal respectability, all under the pretence of a ridiculous dread of Tories, has been carried fur-
ther by a large portion of the Liberal Members than at any pre- vious time within living memory. Should any accident bring a general election upon us suddenly, it will be found that men upon whom reliance for independent action can be placed are very scarce, and especially among the old Members. The extent of the damage done to character will then be more apparent than it is at present. It will be found that the strenuous, disinterested support, which has hitherto carried Liberal candidates successfully through fearful struggles, will, in many instances, be denied in future. In short, the timeserving conduct of numerous Members has made a split in the Liberal ranks, through which many Tories will pass. Mournful reference will often be made to the votes in the first session of the MELBOURNE Parliament.
