ebe Country.
The freedom of the borough of Plymouth was publicly conferred on Lord John Russell, Lord Ebrington, and Mr. J. C. Bulteel, on Tuesday last. Mr. Bulteel was unable to attend; but the two former gentlemen were present. In the evening, a public dinner was given, which the two Lords attended. About one hundred and thirty gentle- men were present. After the usual toasts had been given, the health of his Majesty's Ministers was proposed, and Lord John Russell returned thanks. He entered into a defence of the conduct of Ministers since their accession to office; and dwelt upon the difficulties they had . to encounter in the work of retrenchment and reform. With regard to reduction.in the. Army, he said, that Lord Althorp
had not waited till Parliament again met to redeem that pledge; but at the last meeting of his Majesty's Ministers in London, it was agreed those reductions should be effected, and orders had been given to stop recruiting ; and when Parliament assembled he would be able to announce it.
With regard to the other Estimates in reference to reduction, I have never seen A well-digested plan by which such reductions could be effected : if stch a plan is produced, the Ministry is ready to do it ; but no such plan has been laid before them by the Secretary of War. There was a question at one time pro- posed in reference to the Army and Navy sinecures ; and I was one of those who did support the Government of that day in maintaining those sinecures, and stated they were the rewards of service which had been rendered the country. But since then—and I was glad that an examination was gone into upon the subject—I have been convinced that, in some instances, they have been given to those who have not distinguished themselves by military services or otherwise; and that is quite sufficient to convince me, that, as sinecures, they should be abolished. But while I fully agree in that proposition, I was anxious—and I am ready to bear the blame, if it be blameable—I was anxious, that while we shut out the avenue to favour, we should not be neglectful of military merit ; for it would be at once unjust and unworthy a great country, to deprive those who deserved it of the just and honourable reward of their services."
He then alluded to the reduction of taxation effected by Ministers, particularly the taxes on Coals and Candles ; and the intention to take off the House-tax, as soon as the state of the revenue permitted it. He concluded by declaring, that
his Majesty's present Government have tasted but little of the sweets of office; but they do hope to reap that last and best reward of their exertions—that the country they have attempted to serve will du them justice.
Upon his own health being proposed, Lord John Russell again ad- dressed the meeting, and in reference to an attack made upon him by Bishop Phillpots, in a charge to the Clergy of his diocese. The Bishop had accused him of holding up the enormous revenues of the Church to public indignation ; whereas he had only advocated a more equal distribution of its revenues, not being of opinion that they were too large. Lord Ebrington's health being drunk, his Lordship declared, that sanguine as his expectations bad been of the good to be expected from the accession of the -present Ministers to office, he could lay his hand upon his heart and conscientiously declare that they had exceeded those sanguine expectations. The healths of Lord Brougham, the Liberty of the Press, and many other toasts, were drunk before the meeting separated.
About two hundred and eighty gentlemen, electors of Manchester, dined on Thursday at the Exchange in that town, to meet Mr. Poulett Thomson and Mr. Mark Phillips, their Representatives. Upon the health of Ministers being proposed, Mr. Thomson rose to return thanks. After some preliminary remarks, he proceeded to speak of the various reforms which are now in progress, and which it was the in- tention of Ministers to carry through next session.
" Is there any one who will 'say, after having administered reform to the Church of Ireland, that reform is not needed in the Church of England? We have set on foot the means of searching into the abuses of the system of Corpo- rations in this country; let us take advantage of the fruits which will thus be .gathered, and administer correction there. The Dissenters call aloud for relief from practical grievances—from the necessity of contributing to an establishment to which they do not belong. That appears a just and fair demand. The state of Public Education calls for the attention of Parliament, more, I was almost go- ing to say, than any other subject. There are reforms in the Law just begun, which require to be carried' out. There are Commercial reforms which have been carried (and I thank Parliament that we have been enabled to carry them) to a certain extent, but which yet demand amplification and extension. There are grievances complained of—controversial grievances—in the Elective system, which demand also Parliamentary attention. But let us take these one by one; let us carry them through; and I speak not solely in the name of one who should venture to give advice to the Parliament—let us carry' them through steadily, so that we may be enabled to advance them by degrees."
On the subject, of National Education he said-
" Amongst those whom I see around me, I know how many feel a deep in- terest in that question. 'How can it be otherwise, when I, who am but a casual observer, cannot but be struck with almost amazement when I see how little, in comparison with your wishes, is effected in that great purpose? Private bene- volence and industry can unquestionably effect much, but the system should be a national one. It is an object worthy—ay, the most worthy—of the attention of the nation. And if before—if under any circumstances it were so—permit me to say, that under the present condition of this country, it has become here, more than in any place, important. Power has been conceded to hands that knew it not before. And I am glad that it has on all accounts, but on one more particularly, inasmuch as I think it.must force upon every reflecting mind the necessity of- seeing that power. properly wielded, the means of which can only be found in the education of the people. These, gentlemen, are some of the 'questions which must come before this country' in Parliament."
Then he came to the Corn-laws-
"I am aware (but I fear being tedious) that there are many other, perhaps not less important topics than those which I have already named ; but still I pass over them. There is one, however, with which I do not meddle—not he- -cause I do not consider it important, but because I consider it perhaps the most 'important of all. I think there is scarcely one gentleman present who does not 'already imagine that I allude to the Corn-law. That question stands under peculiar circumstances; upon it the people of England are entirely disagreed. Ignorance—for, in my opinion, it is ignorance—makes those who ought to be the best friends opposed to every alteration in the present Corn-law. It is a question upon which we should feel—as all here do deeply feel—its importance, and ought to strain every nerve to carry some change.".
The health of the Members for the borough was given separately. Mr. Phillips, in returning thanks, impugned the proceedings of Mi- nisters. Mr. Thomson vindicated them from the attacks of his col- league ; maintaining that their aim had been practical good, and that in this the greatest possible progress had been made. Mr. Potter and Mr. Brotherton, the Members for Wigan and Sal- ford, concurred in Mr. Phillips's censure of the Ministry.
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