30 APRIL 1853, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

WHILE a minority in Parliament is keeping up a squabble over the passing measures, the Government is going straight ahead, and

the country is pronouncing its own decision with a cheerful and general acquiescence. On Monday, the House of Commons began to take the Budget in its successive sections, starting with the In- come-tax and the extension thereof to Ireland. Although the contest was opened by an amendment from the pen of Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, condemning the extension of the Income-tax with- out redress of its inequalities, the real subject was the Irish part of the extension, debated on Monday night, and on Thursday, and then adjourned for more debate. But the discussion was carried on in two parallel lines—an up and a down line within the same limits. Certain Irish Members raised that customary outcry which is commonly called a "howl," and which is flavoured with peat- smoke like the genuine whisky; but the parade of the " mere Irish" was remarkable for its beggarly show of argument, or even persons. the country is pronouncing its own decision with a cheerful and general acquiescence. On Monday, the House of Commons began to take the Budget in its successive sections, starting with the In- come-tax and the extension thereof to Ireland. Although the contest was opened by an amendment from the pen of Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, condemning the extension of the Income-tax with- out redress of its inequalities, the real subject was the Irish part of the extension, debated on Monday night, and on Thursday, and then adjourned for more debate. But the discussion was carried on in two parallel lines—an up and a down line within the same limits. Certain Irish Members raised that customary outcry which is commonly called a "howl," and which is flavoured with peat- smoke like the genuine whisky; but the parade of the " mere Irish" was remarkable for its beggarly show of argument, or even persons.

The speakers pleaded poverty ; Irishmen can't afford it at all, at all : but they forget that the Income-tax is a tax on income, not payable bi those who have no income. Beggars are .oxempt. IThe standing argument against this plea was that Ireland would get equivalents, especially the concession of the old debt of 4,000,000/. The parallel line of debate consisted in criticisms foreign to the immediate question, and extending over the whole Budget. This line was distinguished by a speech from Mr. Hume and one from Mr. Cobden, of a kind indicated by their names,—Mr. Hume for "the actuaries' plan "; Mr. Cobden against military expenditure, and for direct taxation. But several important admissions were made, that on exact inquiry " adjustment " of the Income-tax proves to be practically impossible; Mr. John Ricardo being one of the most distinguished converts. In other respects the debate was languid ; chiefly, no doubt, because the decision was already settled out of doors ; as we see by the ordinary signs of com- merce, by the spontaneous manifestations of vestries, and by the universal conversation. With all diversities of opinion on details, with all wishes that Mr. Gladstone's project may here and there receive correction "in proof," the general, obvious, and strong feeling abroad, is that of hearty acquiescence. The bill for commuting South Sea and other Annuities is an es- sential part of the financial scheme; and it has been so regarded, in the debates of the Commons, in the public view, and in the op- position of party. And its ultimate fate is equally settled : the bill has passed the Commons with very little delay, and it awaits the concurrence of the House of Lords in block. There have been diversities of opinion, and reasonable diversities, on the details of the bill ; but diversity itself finds a certain repose in the tho- roughly definite purpose of Mr. Gladstone ; and the cheerful ac- quiescence in this part of his financial project is shown, not only in the usual signs of public 'opinion, but in the tangible tests of the Funds, and in the specific acquiescence of the South Sea Com- pany, which formally resolves not to discuss its own share in the transaction until Mr. Gladstone's bill shall have become law.

The new arrangement for the transmission of mails to Australia is one of those minor acts which throw light upon the general course of the Administration. A worthless contract is thrown up ; and the method of sending the mails by open tender, in any of the vessels constantly sailing from England, is nothing more nor less than a reconcilement of the official regulation with the actual circumstances of commerce. We believe that no Ministry ever made so much progress as the present, at a given time, in improving the state of public business.

The bill for relinquishing the Canada Clergy Reserves has passed the Upper house; Lord Derby resisting it ineffectually. He tried to economize his resources, Napoleonically, by not attacking the entire front, but concentrating on a point, and he chose the Very centre point : he resisted the proposal for giving up to

Colonial control the fund already derived from the sale of Clergy Reserves. He chose to call this, the turning-point of the whole question, a matter of detail; just as a linch-pin might be called a matter of detail in the structure of a carriage. But the House of Lords treated the detail with not less consideration than the whole and declined, by 117 to 77, to follow the ignis fatuus. That transportation, discontinued in the Colonies, must be dis- continued from home everybody knew; and perhaps Lord Grey was the only person that could be surprised at the announcement of a forthcoming plan by Ministers to provide a substitute for the system of transportation. Lord Grey can only see what Lord Grey wishes to find. He insists that the people of Van Diemen's Land are in favour of transportation, notwithstanding the declara- tion of their elected representatives to the contrary ; which implies that the Tasmanians are a race that have the singular habit of electing representatives opposed to their own view—a sort of boomerang election ! Lord Grey wants to make the Falkland Islands a convict settlement—a depot for concentrated essence of vice. "I can't," said Charles Lamb, "give up my hell" : Lord Grey can't give up his Norfolk Island. But England and the Government of England, having more to do with the world as it is than the closet-statesman, can. Lord Grey's impracticability might be converted by the Opposition into a weapon against Ministers; but the prestige which they have earned by the general completeness and steady pushing of their measures will serve them very usefully in this matter : the public is with them.

The endeavour of Mr. G. A. Hamilton to break bulk in the Irish system of National Education, by an inquiry, was a sequel to the attempt at subverting that popular, beneficial, and successful sys- tem, which we recently exposed : it had nothing to do with any real public business; and after taking up an evening in the House of Commons, it was negatived, by 179 to 109. Parliament has little favour this session for idle "motions."