21 FEBRUARY 1846, Page 11

POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY NIGHT.

Still unfinished!' The adjourned debate was once more adjourned last night, for the eighth time. The discussion is getting merely wearisome: the identieal things—arguments, accusations, explanations, jokes and all— appear and reappear again, late supernumeraries in a stage procession; until- the identity- of every insignificant feature grows painfully glaring; and the attention of the spectator becomes a nightmare spell of watching the ceaseless' pageant of trivialities: After this. fashion, the motion was opposed. by Mr. CUMMING Itence., supported by. Mr. POUCETT SCROPF., opposed by MT. NEWDEGATE Sup- ported by Mr HNRY BARELY, opposed by Mr. BENNETT, supported d Mr. MUNTE, and opposed by Mr. DISRAELI. The notabilia of the speeches were few; the orations, it may almost be said, being remarkable for being not notable: a description whereof a few short notes will indi- cate the truth.

Mr. Bnurewspeech was a moderate and regretful defence of protection. Mr. POULETT SCROPE furnished a short essay on political economy, to be found in any library; except one illustration' in which lie, described Mr. Staffotd O'Brien, stripped of his foreign lusbiliments, reduced to a state of primitive na- ture, and grubbing.up roots with his nails. Mr. NEWDEGATE furnished a second jeremiade concerning protection, with a very affecting complaint as to the dictatorial and unconstitutional manner in which Sir Robert Peer treats his colleagues in theCabinet and the Protectionists in the House.

Mr. BARELY vindicated the rules of political economy as being no less sus- ceptible of proof than .any proposition in Euclid; only that exact science must be applied cautiously—precasely as Sir Robert Peel is applyingit. Mr. BENNETT (the maiden Member for Suffolk) was greatly alarmed—which his inaudible voice attested—and was deeply impressed with the virtues and good fellowship of country gentlemen; with whom honourable gentlemen opposite were not sufficiently acquainted.

Mr. MUNTZ—an exception to the dull level line of debate—had, done his best to keep Sir Robert Peel out of power, but now he was very glad to see him there: he was very happy to see what the Premier was doing—thought his course was quite wrong—but would do his best to carry out his views: he advocated free trade—but would protect all "native industry." These paradoxical eccentricities, coming pretty thick upon the House, and delivered with all Mr. Muntz's gigantic voice, amused the honourable assembly consumedly. Mr. blunts, however, denied that he ever spoke one way and voted another. Pot in brief, we venture to guess his meaning to be this—that free trade, especially in earn, is very desirable, but that a change in currency is still more so; and while it is desirable to lower the price of bread, itis still more essential to see that wages be not lowered. He re- marked that the people were in great doubt and uncertainty as to what course Sir Robert-Peel would take on other subjects—all exclaim "What next ? " He fully expected another change—to hear Sir Robert manfully declare that for forty years he had been all wrong about the currency, and that he was "unable to resist the experience of the last two years !" (Great laughter.) Thus speaking, Mr. Muntz- is to give the Minister his.vote.

MT. DISRAELI'S speech was, for a wonder, scarcely an exception to thezeneral rule of flatness,—long, extravagantly discursive, less personal and sarcastic, more dry and statistical than usual, as dreamy as-ever in parts. It touched upon sub- jects too various even to enumerate: the merits of party as an embodiment of public opinion--the flagrant scandal of a Minister's proposing a measure from which his Cabinet dissented—the importance of the Colonial system—hostile tariffs—the onus probandi lying on those who object to protection as it is, which Mr. Disraeli boldly challenged (he would, not say that be could prove protection to be beneficial)—the "territorial constitution" of English society, and its advan- tagm in counteracting centralization, &c. &c.

The debate was adjourned half an hour after midnight, till Monday.

Earlier in the evening, the SPEAKER mentioned that he had received a communication from the Honourable Captain Lindsay, intimating that he rEchnot intend to defend his return, ffir-Wigani In the other House, Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Cork, praying for the abolition of the charge called "minister's money" in Ire- land; and urged the impoliey of retainingso unpopular a tax. The Earlof Si: GERMANS assured the House that the Government had taken the question under its serious consideration.