Debates anti iproutbings in Varliament.

RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Mr. HUME asked Lord John Russell a question which drew from him an explicit statement on the subject of our relations with France. Lord JOHN RUSSELL &mid- i can assure the House—indeed, I should hardly have thought it nece.aary to declare it—that we have no intention whatever to interfere with the form of

government which the French nation may choose for themselves, or in any nay to meddle with the internal affairs of that country." (Much cheering.)

On Tuesday, Mr. MONCRTON MILNES asked whether any formal com- munication had been made by the French Government to Foreign Powers, announcing the existence of the Republic?

Lord PALMERSTON replied in the affirmative-

" I have this morning received from Lord Normanby, our Ambassador at Paris a copy of a communication made to him and to all the other Foreign Ambassadors' by M. Lamartine, the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Provisional Govern' ment, conveying the information of the formation of such Provisional Govern- ment; and declaring that the new form of the constitution adopted by France will make no alteration in the position of France towards England; and that the French people will display the same loyal and sincere desire of maintaining the most amicable relations with all foreign powers, who may, like France, respect the independence and r,ghts of nations." (Cheers.) On Wednesday, Mr. \VARLET having given notice of a question respect- ing the safety of the English residents, Lord PALMERSTON said, he had no reason to believe that any personal violence whatever has been offered to British residents in Paris- " I believe also, that those residents have conducted themselves with the pm. deuce and judgment that became strangers in a country where such scenes as have recently occurred were going on—that they have abstained from taking any part in these occurrences." (Cheers.)

THE BUDGET: THE INCOME-TAX.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Sir CHARLES WOOD, on moving the order of the day for the House to go into a Committee of Ways and Means, took the opportunity to supply some farther explanations. Oa the 5th of January last, the expenses of the year exceeded the income by 2.956,0001.; but of this sum 1,525,0001. was incurred on account of the Irish distress, and it is now the distinct intention of Ministers to charge that sum against the balance of the Irish loan still in hand. The income has been charged with 450,0001. of China money which was stopped at the Cape and applied to the expenses of the Caffre war: it is now intended to defray this debt by a charge on the present balances in the Exchequer. The deduction of these two sums from the deficiency already stated leaves that deficiency at somewhat under 1,000,0001. Lord John Russell has stated the probable deficiency to be about 900,0001; but it is impossible to be sure which of these sums will tarn out accurate, from the in- certitude with regard to the income. The symptoms of a revival in trade are not so marked as they appeared to be some time earlier: the receipts ae to the pre- sent time have fallen short by 400,0001. of the corresponding quarters receipts in 1847, and that was a quarter of no extraordinary produce. It is tree, there will be some i extraordinary receipts from the Excise by the 5th of April; yet, under all circumstances, there s no good hope that the deficiency at that time will be less than 1,000,0001. From these remarks on the past Sir Charles passed to the finances of the year to commence on the 5th of April next, and began with the payment side of the account. It is notorious that many items of the annual charges are not of a na- ture to admit of reduction. He mentioned for examples, the interest of the Funded and Unfunded Debt, amounting to 28,530,0001.; the charge on the Con- solidated Fund for the indispensable increase and payment of the Irish Constabu- lary, 272,0001.; payments on account of Pensions and Half-pay for the Nonef- fective service, 3,620,0001.; and further sums, which with these make a total of 35,000,0001., over all of which no effective control can be exercised. The amount left under control is not more than 18,153,0001. On such an amount it is easy to see that no room for economies coming up to the sanguine hopes of some can possibly exist. Sir Charles threw the blame of extravagance, if there had been any, on the House of Commons. " I commenced my public service," he said, " as Secretary to the Admiralty, twelve years ago. I held that situation four years; and, re- earring to the time when I did so, I have only to say that it was my duty year after year to defend the Admiraltragainst chatges of not having incurred greater expenditure than they did. And, what is still more worthy of notice is, that when the House of Commons does interfere with the expenditure of the public departments, it almost invariably does interfere to increase the non-effective ex- penditure, which, as we have already seen, is incapable of reduction." He could state various circumstances explanatory oithis: " I will not enter into those de- tails; but but year after year, sometimes one and sometimes another increase was proposed in the. Naval expenses, including a great variety of naval works, in- creased wages in the dockyards, increased naval forces, and the like; and I must say, that during those four years, the honourable gentleman the Member for Mon- trose was the best friend I had in resisting those incessant applications for in- creased expenditure in the Naval department." He adduced the increase in the charges for Naval service on account of the con- veyance of foreign mails: the payment on that account in 1835-6 was but 128,0001., the estimate for 1848-9 is 611,6621. This charge was forced on the Government for its advantage to the commerce of merchants; and it is unfair that Ministers should be charged with profligate and lavish expenditure when the House had itself so much interfered to compel increased outlay. The honourable Member for Montrose is at present urgent that the expenses of lighthouses, amounting to 220,0001., be remitted to navigation and charged on theConsolidated Fund : but such a project can only be entertained concurrently with provision for raising by.other means that amount of taxation. Again, under the head of War expenditure, 264,0001. a year of added expense was due to improvementa, de- manded by the House itself, in the management of regimental hospitals, in ar- rangements for increasing the comforts of soldiers, and the like. As a result, though a number of men to the extent of 32,000 are to be provided for this year more than in 1835, the improved administration is such, that if the same numeri- cal force were to be provided for this year without any of those additional com- forts and accommodations in barracks, they would be provided for at a reduced expense of 647,0001 There is a further increase arising from the constant im- provements in arms. Our cannons are now of different and more efficient make than they were, and the old-fashioned muskets have been changed for muskets with percussion-locks. There is now no danger of a recurrence of the incident in the China war when two companies of one of our regiments were surrounded by a force of Tariar soldiers ten times superior in numbers, and were near being annihilated because the rain had rendered their guns useless for firing. Returns of expenditure for the years 1828, 1838, and 1847, show that sums amounting to more than 1,000,0001 had been added to the yearly expenses of those years, on suggestions enforced by the House. Some in that amount were, 140,0001' for harbours of refuge, 100,0001. for the Caledonian Canal, 17,0001. for auditing Poor- law Union accounts, 104,0001. for Irish public works, and 30,0001. for public education. With regard to " wasteful expenditure " in the method of collecting the Excise and Customs, there had already been considerable reductions under the first, and it might be possible to reduce the charges under the last; but the Government has been embarrassed in its essays in this direction by the strong representations of merchants against lessening present facilities at the places of import and export.

The military expense may be lessened by diminishing either the payments or the number of men. The Government, however, distinctly announces its adhe- rence under present circumstances to non-reduction of the forces. (Cheers.) If the payment of the forces can by new arrangements be lessened, and so also if the miscellaneous payments can be fairly lessened, Ministers will be happy to have the means suggested. There is much fallacy in the comparison between retrench-

men east of governments and that of individuals. A state cannot shut up its house, discharge its servants, and go abroad. (Cheers and laughter.) Two Com- mittees have been appointed to consider two classes of estimates; but Sir Charles did not expect their utmost exertions would discover means of considerable re-

ductions. • i The Chancellor then dealt with the coming years income; which he set down

at 51,250,0001. He believed the receipts will retain for awhile the impress of the late misfortunes, and therefore he took the basis of the year 1845-6 for his estimate of the Customs: that basis gives a sum of 19,774,0001. The Excise he estimates at 13,340,0001.; a considerable increase being counted on from the malt and spirit duties, and a small one in iron; but some decrease is expected in hop-duty. The stamps will probably yield 7,150,0001.; taxes, 4,340,0001.; Income-tax, 5,200,0001. [this last item is expected to fall off in the produce of schedule D]; Post-office, 900,0001.; the Crown Lands, 60,0001.; Mis- cellaneous, 250,000/. There will also be repayments of advances for Irish relief- works; but as these repayments are to be spread over ten years, each annual yield will be small. The repayment at the half-yearly assizes will be 27,0001. on the first relief-works, and 147,0001. on the second. The total income will be 51,250,0001.; and it,e whole deficiency 3,000,0001. if the Income-tax be only re- stewed and not increased. The question is, how to provide for that deficiency. This tax wan imposed in 1842, by Sir Robert Peel, with the view of lightening indirect taxation. At that time Sir Charles opposed it, as not worth the price of the then proposed reductions. At the same time, however, he said that altera- tions in the Corn, Sugar, and Timber duties, would receucile him to the imposition. Those alterations have since been effected, by the late and the present Govern- ment-7,500,0001. of taxation has been remitted between 1842 and 1847. More- over, he then said—and he believed now—that though an opponent, no member bad any other expectation but that the tax, once imposed, would be permanent. On these grounds, the tax is no longer objectionable for the reasons once urged against it. He admitted that if it were con.inued permanently, then Ireland as well as Great Britain ought to be subject to pay it, Considering, however, the enormous increase of local assessments which Irish property will this year be sub- ject to, and the danger of discouraging the employment of the Irish people, he could not advise an extension of the tax to that country at present. He still thought it to be the cheapest means of providing for the temporary emergency and repairing the coming deficiency. On the point of its duration he said— "I have been asked whether I will promise to take it of at the end of two years. I said, and I say again, that it would be exceedingly unwise to make any promise on the subject. (Laughter.) Can any one foresee what will be the state of this country two years hence? Can any one foresee what it will be in a much shorter period? ("Hear, hear! ") How long is it since an honourable gen- tlemen, recently arrived from France, (Mr. Cobden,) stated to this House that there could be no object for a revolution there? (Shouts of laughter.) The truth is, that the wisest of men may be misinformed; and I believe that not only that honourable gentleman, but everybody in this country and France too, has been much surprised at the events which have taken place there during the last ten days." The Government, in this view, proposed to continue for a certain number of years the present impost, and during a portion of that term to ask for an increase of its amount. The proposal, however, has not been well received, (" Hear, hear ! " and mud?, merriment.) From all quarters of the House and all parts of the country the most unequivocal disapprobation has been expressed. Plans had been proposed for rendering it more .equable—with little prospect of practical success. The matter is neither easy nor simple; and any inquiry made must be long and careful, and not alone into one duty but into many. However, if there is one sub- ject on which above all the Representatives of the People have a right to dictate to Government, it is this. (Chmrs.) Sir Charles therefore, though with much regret, announced the intention of Ministers not to press the resolution which im- plied an addition to the amount of the tax—(General cheers and laughter)—but to draw upon the balances now in the Exchequer for the expenses of the Caffre war and the excess on Naval uxpenditurat , There will then be a deficiency of 1,500,000Lor 2,0009001: to provide for. He hoped, with such reductions as may be made in expenditure, and such increases as may be hoped in revenue, that this deficiency may not prevent the average ex- penditure of the next three years from equalling their average income. Sir Charles, however, expressly reserved to the Government to propose additional taxa- tion to make up the deficiency, if hereafter they should think that right. He moved that the order of the day for going into Committee be read; and asked the House to consent to a resolution for the continuance of the present income. tax for three additional years.

A long, desultory, and rather angry debate ensued. Mr. Hums would like to know how Sir Charles could admit the injustice and inequality of this tax, and yet in asking its renewal propose no sort of modification— How could he suppose the House would at this day renew so unjust a tax and make no alleviation of its oppressiveness on the pretence of its being temporary ? After what had fallen from Sir Charles Wood about the permanency of the tax, and from Lord John Russell about the proposed Committees—which are to be placed on so different a footing from what was expected—he thought the House ought not to vote the tax at all. The House had been told, that out of the 54,000,0001. of taxation only 18,000,0001. could be touched: he contended that numbers of items charged on the Consolidated Fund ought to be recon- sidered and taken off. If, in 1833, 1834, and 1835, the Army, Navy, and Ordnance were sufficient, as Lord John admitted, and we have now nearly 250,000 armed men of different services, it is perfect folly to talk of renewing this tax for three years, or for one year without determined attempts to bring down the expenditure. Mr. Hume earnestly counselled the making of reductions instanter. He would hare the Government show a con- fidence in the French people. After the excellent declaration of Lord John Rus- sell that the French people might form their Government as they please without fear of interference from this country, let him instantly reduce the Army some 40,000 or 50,000 men, as the beet overture for the maintenance of peace.

Mr. OSBORNE also urged the great objections to the unjust principle on which the tax is imposed.

He would take the course he took in 1845, when he moved that the measure be read a second time that day six months, and was supported by the votes of six members of the present Government: Mr. Hawes, Mr. Charles Bailer, Viscount Ebrington, Colonel Anson, and Mr. Sheil, all voted with him; and the last spoke against the tax on the ground of religion. As an independent Member, he should divide the House on the principle of the tax.

Mr. CARDWELL asked a full time for consideration of the new proposition Ministers had made.

Sir CHARLES WOOD acceded to so just a request, and proposed to ad- journ further discussion till Friday. In reply to Mr. GLADSTONE, Sir Charles stated the amount of the balances is the Exchequer at the pe- riods stained below— In 1839, the balance on the 5th April was

1840 f.,497,000 1,007,000 1841 1842 874,000 857.000 1843 956.000 1844 2,235,000 1845 6,257,000 1846 6,507.000 1847 ................ ...... • .. • • 5,450,000

Jan. 5. 1848 8,400,000 If the income for this quarter equalled the expenditure, the balance on the 5th of April woulci be about 7,000,0001.; but supposing a deduction of 1,500,0001. were made from that sum on account of the expenditure, then the balance remaining on the 5th of April would be about 5,500,0001. Mr. WAKLEY recommended the Government to withdraw the resolutions altogether. The Budget bubble had burst; it was exploded—gone. He assured Ministers that a feeling of impatience is rising and spreading over the kingdom, bred by bad and unjust legislation in the Parliament. Sir HARRY VERNEY suggested important improvements in some military departments—especially, for instance' in regard to enlistments. Mr. FRAN- as Bemire approved of the course Government had now taken; but in- sisted that reductions should be made not by the Committees, but by Go- vernment. Mr. COBDEN joined in the protest against the present shape of the tax on precarious income. He found no outlet from the difficulties which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had stated to be now growing, save through reductions of our establishments—effective as well as non-effective. Mr. Cobden confessed that when he lately spoke against the probability of any but.the most peaceful aspect of' affairs in France, he was unpre- pared for the political revolution which has occurred—for such insanity in a Minister or such madness in a Monarch.

Let them mark him: if it were the policy of the Government of this country to avoid a collision with France, it was perfectly easy for England to avoid it. He ventured to say that England was the last country that France was likely to at- tack as a nation, inasmuch as we were inaccessible. But unless the people of this country took the question into their own hands, there was a danger of war with France; if it was left with the Foreign Secretary—if it were left to the clubs and coteries of the Metropolis, or to the spirit he had seen evinced that night in re- ference to the state of France—he feared we might be involved in a war; and he took that opportunity of calling upon the country to beware of what would be pending if they did not take the matter into their own hands.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL saw no fairness in spending the whole evening in alternate attacks of the proposed measures and prayers to adjourn the de- bate on them to Friday: it would be but fair for the House to do one of two things—either to adjourn the consideration of the proposition and the debate, or to.debate it, and allow the Government to come to some deter. urination. Be alluded to what fell from Mr. Cobden- " That honourable gentleman, after what I remarked tonight—and I believe he must admit that his prophecy was not a very successful one—(Laughter)-- has tried to excite a suspicion, and to induce those in this House, and perhaps those out of doors, to think that I was nut sincere in the declaration I made, and that when I intimated we did not mean to interfere with any disposal of her own institutions which France might choose to make, I still meant we were to be led by some coteries and clubs ' to go to war with that nation, because she had adopted some particular form of government. Now, I can only reiterate what I said before, that it is not the intention of the Government to interfere. io any way whatever, with the settlement France may think proper to snake with respect to her own Government. (Cheers.) Our only interest in that settlement is the interest of neighbours and friends; and all we wish is that the institutions France may adopt shall tend as much as possible to her own prosperity. (Cheers.) I may, perhaps, be permitted to add, that, of course, I do not believe England would refuse to perform any of those sacred duties Of hospitality which she has performed at all unite to the vanquished, whoever they were whether of extreme Royalist, pinions, of moderate °melons, or of extreme Liberal opinions. Those duties of hospitality have made this country the asylum fur the unfortunate; and I for one will never consent that we should neglect them." (Loud cheers.) Mr. DISRAELI subscribed to the rule that observations should be re- served till, tile, measurea they concerned were fairly before the House. He proceeded to4briah this rule, in a critical speech of some length. Several other Members also criticized the Ministerial plans; hisisting. on reduc- tions, &c.

Sir ROBERT H. Noma suggested stamp duties on foreign bills of ex- change, and a tax on gas. (" Hear, hear! " and cries of " Oh, oh!") Sir Robert also urged an old suggestion, that the taxation on incomes should begin at 1501.; incomes to be rated only on the excess above 1501.

The order of the day was read, and the Committee was postponed till Friday.

IRISH POOR-LAW.

On Tuesday evening, the House of Commons had a debate which occu- pied nearly the whole sitting, on the motion of Colonel DUNNE for a Select Committee to inquire into the working and effieieuoy of the Poor-law in Ireland. The discussion did not bring forth anything new or of fresh in- terest; the most remarkable feature of it being the nearly perfect unani- mity of the Irish Members on an Irish question.

Colonel DUNNE, in support of his motion, oontented himself with a brief state- ment of facts showing the inequality, and in some cases the exorbitency, of the ratings under the new Pour-law. Mr. STAFFORD and Major BLACKALL urged inquiry on behalf of those land- lords who really attempt to employ labour, and are in danger of being eaten up by

unconscientious neighbours.

Mr. SHARMAN CRAwFoRD and Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN enumerated heads of in- quiry that call ior immediate examination by a Committee. The starvation of thousands, the non-payment of rates in seine districts, the abuse of ejectment*, the dismissal of Boards of Guardians by the Commissioners, the enormous areas of districts, the operation of the quarter-acre clause, the inequalities of valuation to the rate, and the general admimsuation of the Commission—all these things justify and call strongly fur inquiry by a Committee. Mr. Fatima{ brought figures to prove the disproportionate pressure of the Irish Poor law on Ireland as compared with that of the English law on England. The rental of Connaught is 1,500,0001.; the paupers are 1,500,000. The mor- tality in the 49,000 inmates of the Irish workhouses has been 1,000 a day; the mortality of Loudon itself, with her 2,000,000 of inhabitants, is the same. The other speakers fur the motion were Mr. °FLAHERTY, its seconder, Mr. W. R. Fox, Colonel CONOLLY, Dlr. MAxwELL, Mr. FAGAN, Mr. CLEMENTS, Mr. GROGAN, Sir ARTHUR BROOKE, and Sir JOHN Welell. The English Members, Mr. WAKLEY, Mr. AGLiONHY, and Mr. Ht/ME, be- sought Ministers to concede the inquiry to so unanimous a request from Irish Members ou an Irish subject..

The Committee was opposed by Ministers.

Sir GEORGE GREY saw in the motion the bare object of paving the way for a demand upon the national exchequer. He warmly defended the administration of the law; and upposed the Committee, on the ground that it would impeach the principle of a pour-law and paralyze the exertions which the present law is calling forth. The true theatre for the efforts of those who wish to ameliorate the poor- relief system of Ireland is Ireland itself, rather than in the Committee-roouts of the House of Commons. Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND enforced similar views. Sir Wim.sam SOMERVILLE, spoke in very complimentary phrase of Colonel, Dunne, whom he declared peculiarly entitleu to the attention of the House on the subject of the Irish Pour-law. Sir William, in a conciliatory style, but with clear- neas and decision, stated his objections to the Cominittee,—principally, that t he in- quiry is premature. There are many detects, and there will be good grounds for

Committees and amendments of the law hereafter; but at present the law is not wen in full operation, and some of the defects already discovered are now in pro- cess of amendment He differed from so many of his countrymen with great reluctance, but could not at the present time consent to the appointment of a Committee.

The remaining speakers against the motion where Mr. JONES, the Marquis of $11..DAUE, Mr. CHARLES BULLER, and the Earl of Lnecouri who concurred with Sir William Somerville that it is too early to make the inquiry proposed.

The House went to a division; and negatived the motion, by 165 to 101.

URQUHART versus Paeatensron.

At the usual mid-day sitting on Wednesday, Lord PALMERSTON resumed his defence against the attack made upon him by Mr. Anstey on Wednes- day last week, in moving for papers on foreign policy. Lord Palmerston rose about one o'clock, and spoke for five hours.

Mr. Anstey's speech, he said, reminded one of the confusion of the outpoured luggage of a Continental railway train at a station. The topics were indeed vo luminous: they had been discussed 139 times in Parliament, and the register of their occurrences filled 2,775 folio volumes. He explained the diplomatic usage with regard to the publication of confidential papers, and refused to publish any of the secret matters with which any of Mr. .Anstey's forty charges dealt. He would willingly, however, consent to a Secret Committee. In entering upon the topics of accusation, he remarked, by the way, that Mr.

Anatey, in his ffve-hours speech, had not alluded in detail to more than twenty of the forty charges. He justified his conduct regarding the treaty of Adrianople. No protest against it was made by the Government of the day—the treaty was no more cancelled by them than first ratified by him. They remonstrated, and so did he; but the treaty was undoubted and valid law of Europe in their time as well as his. He upheld the treaty of 1840 as a successful settlement of the Sy- rian question. That question, from having given rise to serious broils every six

i

months, and dangers of war, bas now sunk into perfect rest, with the slight ex- ception of some local excitements between the Druse and Maronites clans. The treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, which followed in 1841, was doubtless a surprise to us, and was objectionable as giving Russia the exclusive right of advice with the Turkish Government on all her internal affairs : that treaty, however, was cured by the treaty of the Dardanelles, which came after—and which Mr.Anstey, in his ignorance, stated to have affirmed, but which in fact was an abrogation of it: Lord Palmerston went into the history of the treaty of commerce with Turkey in 1838, and Mr. Ur- quhart's connexion with it. Mr. Urquhart acted only as a subordinate: be pre- pared the draft of a treaty; and although that was not confirmed, a treaty differ- ing from it in no essential was confirmed. You cannot go to a foreign Govern- ment with a draft in your hand and say " Confirm this treaty, (wimp out of window." This carried him into the affair of Mr. Bell in the Black Sea, and the questions between Russia and the Circassians. Mr. Urquhart had been recalled on specific ground: lie had urged Mr. Bell to " try the question " of Circassian independence, by sending the Vixen,—as if it had been a mere point of law between two subjects whether Circassia were dependent on Russia or not; and this was done after Mr. Bell had been discouraged from his attempt in London by Lord Palmerston himself. Lord Palmerston refused to discuss the Algiers or the Spanish question—circumstances make that course inopportune just now. The iuterference in Portugal he justified as an attempt to preserve peace; though the event had not in all respects answered his desires. The Brazil affair, in 1826 and in 1844, had not occurred in the time of his administration: however, he adopted the course of Lord Aberdeen in 1844, in all its circumstances, and its present or future necessary consequences. In like manner, Lord Palmerston made explanations on the subject of Texas, the North-eastern boundary, the slave-trade treaties, and the Persian attack on Herat.

He then narrated some facts with regard to the British State documents Mr. Anstey had alluded to, and explained all that lie knew about the Portfolio. Cer- tain documents were brought away from Warsaw to this country by some member of the Polish Government. He learnt this in 1834, from a Poll* gentleman; and afterwardsethe doduments were intrusted to him. He got Mr. sekheuse, the Under-Secretary, to look over thorn and pick out the most interesting. This Mr. Backhouse did, and he gave Lord Palmerston one. In January or February 1835, Lord Palmerston returned all the despatches M a Polish gentleman authorized to re- ceive them; having, with the one exception mentioned, never seen the originals. He therefore did not deliver them to Mr. Urquhart for publication; nor, of course, had he been compelled to do so by the late King. With regard to the Portfolio, a Foreign Minister one day produced a copy from his pocket. There were in it some of the documents that had appeared in Germany; and, he thought, one of the despatches which had been brought from Warsaw. This was the first time he knew of the Portfolio. He learnt who the editor was, but no more. "I utterly deny," said Lord Palmerston, " that it was published by my authority, with my sanction, or any concert or communication with me; nor did I ever see it before publication— with one exception. (Mr. Urquhart was leaving the House.) I trust the honour- able Member will not go away. (Mr. Urquhart returned to his seat.) One day Mr. Strangwayes—but the honourable and learned Member for Youghal [Mr. Anstey1 is not present—I will wait until he returns." (Laughter, in the midst of which Mr. Ansley returned and resumed his seat.) The exception was this. Mr. Strangwayes, the Under-Secretary, who was on intimate terms with Mr. Ur- quhart, brought Lord Palmerston a despatch under a doubt whether it ought to be published. Lord Palmerston marked for omission one or two passages that were disparaging to the Duke of Wellington and Lord Aberdeen. The statement that no document had ever been published in it without his sanction, and his sig- nature, he utterly denied. The omissions from this one despatch was the only exercise of authority on his part. That was all he had ever known or had to do with the Portfolio.

He defended the course taken with regard to Cracow. It had been intended to send a Consul there; but the discussion of the matter here in Parliament turned the Northern Powers so strongly against the course, that they intimated they would insure our Consul would not be received if sent; and he did not think it right to go to war to send a Consul to Cracow. It was perfectly new to him that Austria had been in favour of the Poles in 1831: he thought if she had declared so, Galicia would not have been long in rising. The armament of Sweden against Russia, which he was accused of discouraging, was madness on her part: and the marching of 200,000 horsemen by Turkey to carry off the Emperor was merely impossible, since Turkey had no such force at her disposal. He was not unwil- ling, however, to publish the correspondence on Cracow. Lord Palmerston concluded by assuming that the public opinion of the country had in general upheld his policy abroad. England should have no "eternal friendships" nor eternal enmities. She should continue moderate and just, and avoid being the Quixote of nations. He adopted the expression of Mr. Canning, that the "interest" of England is over the shibboleth of peace.

At the conclusion of the speech it was almost six o'clock, the standing hour of adjournment on Wednesdays. Lord DUDLEY STUART rose and moved the adjournment, not of the House, but of the debate. This was

et, Appd cries of " Divide, divide! " but in the midst of the hubbub, the EWS Mai 411/4 arrived; the Speaker rose, and the House stood adjourned.

Alen GOVERNMENT. The bill for suspending the constitution,of w recently debated in the noose of Commons, was read a second time by the CO n Tuesday. Earl GREY explained the circumstances under which,

entering n 1846, he had endeavoured to extend the privileges of local self- governmentib the colony of New Zealand; the opinion of Governor Grey, that the measure Would not work; and the effect of the present bill: in all of which

he traversed the ground already beaten in the House of Commons. The bill will suspend the proposed form of government for five years; and at the end of that time the question will receive full reconsideration. Lord STANLEY criticized the former measure, and the egregious haste of its author; but without introducing any new matter, except a panegyric on Captain Fitzroy. He regretted that the proposition had not been, to repeal, rather than to suspend, the constitution granted to New Zealand; but, as Lord Grey insisted on the latter course, he would offer no objection. He believed that the less Parliament interfered, and the more the business of the Colonies was left to the Secretary of State and to the Governors, the better would be the result; and, as this was a move in the right direction, he would give his decided support to the bill.

REFORM OF MAN. In the House of Commons, on Thursday, Dr. Bowan% i moved an address praying that a commission be issued to inquire into the grievances endured by the inhabitants of the Isle of Man. He explained the principal grievanees,—the government of the island and its 50,000 inhabitants by the irresponsible self-elected Executive Council and House of Keys; the ca. pricious administration of fez non scripta, or "breast law,' in the Deemsters' Courts, &c. Sir GEORGE GREY would not deny the existence of grievances that might merit inquiry; but a complete remedy would be, not the establishment of a separate legislature for so small an island, but the complete incorporation of the island with the United Kingdom. A separate legislature would cause great abuses; but there might be a representative body to regulate the repair of high_ ways ;nd other local affairs. Alarmed at the hint of "annexation," Dr. Bow- RING withdrew his motion.

THE NEW PALACE AT WESTMINSTER. On Thursday, Sir ROBERT INGLIS moved the appointment of a Select Committee, including himself, Lord Morpeth, Lord Lincoln, Sir Robert Peel, and eleven other gentlemen, to inquire into the progress and present state of the New Palace at Westminster, with the probable expense of its completion, and into the state of Westminster Bridge. In making his motion, Sir Robert argued that the expense already incurred had been greatly exaggerated. Mr. OSBORNE moved as an amendment, that the Crown be asked to appoint Commissioners "to superintend the expenditure of the amount voted by this House for the new Houses of Parliament, with a view to make such ar- rangements as shall complete the building at the earliest period." Mr. Osborne criticized the building—an Italian composition in a Gothic dress; and complained of needless expenditure, such as the item of 90,0001. for exp 3nments in ventila- tion. Lord MORPETH resisted both suggestions, especially the Commission, as counter to the generally expressed wish of Parliament. He admitted, however, that the department of Woods and Forests is not adequate to discharge the duties expected from a Minister of Public Works. Indeed, he had sometimes to give an opinion upon matters which required the education and acquirements of a land steward, of a practical farmer, of a builder, of an architect, of an inspector of mines, a valuer of timber, and of a practical engineer; and in addition to his own radical deficiences in these respects, he felt that the department had not a sufficiently organized staff to discharge the duties required from a regularly constituted office of Works. It had been found hopeless to reconcile the dispute between Mr. Barry and Dr. Reid; but Dr. Reid had been obliged to make specific drawings of his plans for ventilation, and Mr. Barry bad undertaken to make the necessary arrangements for those specific plans. Lord Lixeorar objected to dilettante Committees or Com- missions, and suggested the appointment of some responsible functionary to super- intend the erection of the new Houses of Parliament, and of other public buildings of any magnitude. Sir CHARLES Woon suggested the appointment of a Com- mission, by Government, to have a merely controlling power over the economy and proper construction and the expenditure on the two Houses of Parliament. Sir Ronzur Iwous asked whether Lord Morpeth would concur in that sugges- tion? Lord MORPETH would be quite willing to consider what advice could be given to her Majesty respecting the appointment of such a Commission; premis- ing only that he thought the members of it ought to be very few indeed. Mr. OSBORNE was perfectly ready nominally to withdraw his amendment; although he thought that, in fact, her Majesty's Government had accepted his suggestion. The motions were both witkdrawn. TENANT COMPENSATION LAW. On Tuesday, Mr. NEWDEGATE moved for a Select Committee " to inquire into the law and custom of different parts of the United Kingdom between outgoing and incoming tenants, and also as between landlord and tenant, in reference to unexhausted improvements or deteriorations of land or premises occupied for agricultural purposes." Mr. PUSSY seconded the motion; and said that if the Committee were granted, he would not trouble the House more for the present with his bill on this subject, which stood for second reading next day. Mr. CHRISTOPHER and Mr. MILES concurred in the belief that it would be impossible to legislate on the subject without full previous en- quiry. After observations from Sir GEORGE GREY and Mr. HEATHCOTE, and some opposition from Colonel Sfirraour, the House agreed to the appointment of a Select Committee.

INCOME-TAX ON IRELAND. On Monday, Sir BENJAMIN HALL stated, in re- ply to several Members, that he would bring on his motion to extend the Income- tax to Ireland, as soon as the House had declared whether that tax should be con- tinued or not (General cheers.) REDUCTION IN OFFICIAL SALARIES. On Monday, Mr. HUME gave notice for Friday the 3d of March, to move an address to the Queen, praying that she would graciously direct that after that date all appointments to civil, military, naval, and all other offices, be made subject to future alterations in the office or reduc- tion in the salary.

KINSALE ELECTION. The Committee appointed to inquire into the allegation of bribery and corruption at this election reported, on Monday, that Mr. Guinness was not duly elected; and that the late election was void; also, that Mr. Guin- ness had by his agents, but without his personal knowledge or concurrence, been guilty of specific acts of bribery.

THE LANCASTER Emscriore Comairrrali reported, on Tuesday, that Samuel Gregaon, Esq., was not duly elected; that the election was void; that Mr. Gregson was by himself and agents guilty of treating, and by his agents alone guilty of bribing to procure his return.