In the debate on-- Sir Fitzroy-Kelly's motion - for the reduction
of the Malt'- Duty, Mt. J. S. mill- seconded Mr. Neate's amend= ment, that provision to pay of the National Debt should take precedence of such a step as the reduction of the malt duty, in a speech of great force and much beauty of expression. He urged very strongly the point that if M. W. S. Jevons be right in appre- hending the failue of our supplies. of coal within a few genera- tions from the present • time, we ought. not• to transmit to our -children obligations incurred on the security of national wealth and assets_whielwe should not be able. to transmit to them.: He dealt very eloquently,, though perhapstsomewhatover subtly, with the, commonplace that as posterity has never done anything for ns, we can owe nothing to posterity; urging, that we do owe- it. all the store of motive• to great 'things which the.hope to be:remern► bared, and to be gratefully nemembered, by posterity has inspired. im our greatest poetry and. thinkers.. Perhaps the truth. is not, exactly that.. We: should' owe just. as; much. to posterity with, regard to the diminution, of the-national. debt. if there-were; such thing as a love of fame at all. To forestall recklessly the future is precisely. as unjust if. we-hope.for nothing from the future, -waif we. do. But the speech.' was. in a. far. higher tone•thanthe- h ouse isAccustomed to 'hear, and. produced: a. profound' impression:
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