the sentiments of the colonists were adverse | possible that he could have been aware, of to the views of Her Majesty's Ministers on its existence. He had applied to the prothe question. He was not about to commit per Office, and found the facts to be simply the irregularity of alluding to what had these. The steamer which brought the taken place out of the House; but if he despatches arrived at Liverpool after their should, by implication, allude to what was Lordships commenced their sitting at halfknown to their Lordships, he trusted, under past five o'clock on Thursday evening. the peculiar circumstances of the case, he The despatches were forwarded by the Post should not be called to order, or be held to Office, and arrived in London after their say anything which could be considered a Lordships closed their sitting at six o'clock breach of order, or offensive to any indivi- in the morning; and were sent to the Colodual. It was, he believed, well known to nial Office in the ordinary course of post, their Lordships, that on the following day at ten o'clock; and he was not aware of the a question was put publicly to the First existence of the Address, the despatch, or Minister of the Crown, which was intro- the mail, until his right hon. Friend the duced by the statement that a question was Vice President of the Board of Trade came about to be put which bore the appearance to him between five and six o'clock, to anof throwing by implication an imputation nounce to him that the question was to be on the character for fairness and truthful-put, and to ask if he was aware of the exness of a Member of the Cabinet, and that istence of the Address. He was aware it that Member of the Cabinet was the Earl was said that persons in town late that of Dalhousie. The question was then put, night were aware of the existence of it; whether at the time he (the Earl of Dal- but he could assure their Lordships in his housie) made that statement with respect place as a Peer, and upon his honour, that to the Address from the House of Assem- he was not aware of its existence. He was bly, he was aware of the existence of an- not aware of the arrival of any mail-he other Address which had subsequently was not aware of the expression of any opinbeen forwarded to this country, and which ion contrary to that which he read as the had at that time arrived? Now, he con- opinion of the Legislative Assembly, and fessed, and was not ashamed to confess, which he sincerely believed to express fully that he felt deeply wounded by such a ques- and finally the sentiments of the people of tion being put in connection with his name, that Colony. He would not comment at because there was nothing in his past all upon what had taken place. He would conduct, either in their Lordships' House only express his regret, that if it was or out of it, which could justify the impu- thought necessary to put the question, it tation of unfairness or untruthfulness. He was not put by some noble Lord, and to his was aware that the question was coupled face, in that House. He regretted that it with the statement that an explanation had was put at a time when a week must elapse been given by him (the Earl of Dalhousie) before he could take any notice of it in the in private, as at once showed that no such way of debate or comment; and he regretimputation was applicable to him; but he ted that it was not put in the House of could not help feeling that that statement which he was a Member, but that he having gone out uncoupled with any state- should have been left to the defence of ment by himself, or any contradiction on his others instead of to his own vindication. part, must have left on the minds of many He felt it due to their Lordships and to persons in the country an impression that himself to make this explanation, and it was not very clear whether he was aware trusted their Lordships would not think he of the existence of that Address or not. had occupied their time unnecessarily. Now no one could for a moment suppose that it would have been worth his while on Thursday night to imply that no Address had been received from Canada, when, if he had known of its existence, he must also have known that it would be produced the next morning; and consequently that the fact of its omission would have been much more injurious to his case than if he never made any allusion at all to an Address from Canada. He begged to say, that he was not aware, and that it was physically im

LORD STANLEY said, that no one who knew his noble Friend would suppose that in whatever terms the question was put in another place, with regard to the Address, there could be on the part of any human being the slightest intention of casting the smallest shadow of imputation on his personal character and honour. He himself was not aware that there was any intention of putting the question. ceived the Address by post on the following morning, and saw with some sur

He re

prise that the question had been put | sult from giving the province of Canada in the course of the afternoon, not, how- an inducement to act independently of this ever, as he understood, for the purpose of country with respect to its commercial poascertaining whether his noble Friend was licy, and the danger of throwing that procognizant of the existence of the Address vice into too great an intimacy, commerat the time he made his statement, but for cially and politically, with the United the purpose of knowing whether, at the States. He would not say that his appretime the debate closed, Her Majesty's Go-hensions were treated with inattention; vernment knew that such an Address had but they certainly were treated as unbeen received? He was quite satisfied founded and chimerical. Their Lordships that not only in their Lordships' House were told that the Canadians had no such not only in the other House of Parliament-apprehensions, and no such fears—that the but throughout the country generally, the Canadians were throwing themselves, heart high honour and character of his noble and soul, into the principle of free trade. Friend rendered it unnecessary for him for But, even if that were so, it would not dia single moment to enter upon the excul- minish his apprehension: if Canada, in pation of himself from a charge which, if consequence of our policy, was disposed to it had rested on the slightest foundation, throw herself into the principle of free trade, would not only have involved a gross it was to palliate the evils likely to result breach of public honour, but also of the from our legislation, by separating herself grossest folly. With regard to the regret from her commercial connexion with this expressed by his noble Friend, that the country, and availing herself of the closest question had not been put in their Lord- connexion possible with other countries. ships' House, he must have overlooked the He did not say that was a satisfactory ancircumstance that immediately on the close swer, or that it removed the particular apof the debate on Thursday evening their prehensions which he felt. But in the Lordships adjourned, and it was not till course of that very evening-he would not this moment they had met after the recess. say before his noble Friend ceased speakIt was very natural that the arrival of ing-but before twelve hours had elapsed, a despatch of such a nature should excite and before the country were in possession immediate attention, and that it should be of the recorded contradiction of his apprebrought under the notice of Her Majesty's hensions on the part of his noble Friend, Government at the earliest period in an- and his noble Friend opposite, there arother place. As his noble Friend the Un-rived a unanimous Address from the House der Secretary for the Colonies had intimated his intention of laying the despatch on the Table of the House, perhaps he might be excused in making one or two observations on the subject of that Address, and the statement made by his noble Friend. He took the liberty, in the observations which he made to their Lordships on the second reading of the Corn Importation Bill, to state his serious apprehension that the measure would be, in a com-sembly of Lower Canada, one of the most mercial point of view, seriously injurious to the province of Canada-that it would excite serious discontent there, and cause great irritation. He also pointed out specific effects which he expected to result from the measure. These were the diminution of the agricultural prosperity of Canada, and the consequent inability of its inhabitants to take our manufactures in return the throwing away of a great portion of the capital which, by our assistance, Canada had been induced to lay out on the improvement of the navigation of the St. Lawrence; and he mentioned also the political dangers which were likely to re

of Assembly in Canada, verifying his apprehensions with regard to that state of feeling to the very letter, following his specific objections to the course then taken; and had he acted in concert with them, they could not have more completely echoed his sentiments than they did in the Address which he held in his hand, to one or two passages of which he would call their Lordships' attention. The House of As

divided bodies in existence, with the great-
est variety of interests and of origin, com-
posed of French Canadians, Anglo-Cana-
dians, and United States
men, much
agitated by political dissensions amongst
themselves, had nevertheless come to a una-
nimous vote in condemnation of the policy
of the British Government. They express-
ed their apprehension in words which he
trusted would not be lost on their Lordships,
before they were again called upon to give
their vote on this important subject. The
unanimous vote of the House of Assembly
assured Her Majesty that while they have
seen with feelings of satisfaction the hap-

piness and prosperity of the people of that | the provinces of East and West Canada, Colony advancing in steady and successful in which they deprecated the evils likely progression, under a moderate system of commercially to result to them, and in protection, they feel it their duty to represent which they avowed as the greatest of all to Her Majesty that they view with serious evils the danger which he (Lord Stanley) alarm and apprehension, as detrimental to took the liberty of pointing out to their the best interests of the Colony, the adop- Lordships, that the consequences of the tion of the proposed principle of commer- measure would not be wholly commercial, cial intercourse now under the considera- but would be political also; and that the tion of the Imperial Parliament. They people of Canada might, in consequence of say they cannot but feel that the abandon- this policy of the Government, be led seriment of the protective principle, the very ously to consider whether their union with basis of the colonial commercial system- this country is of that paramount advan(the very words used by him during the tage which they have hitherto felt it to be. recent debate)-is not only calculated ma- He would not add one single word to the terially to retard the agricultural improve- force of that Address. Remembering from ment of the country and check its hitherto whom it came-remembering to whom it rising prosperity, but seriously to impair its it was addressed-remembering the strong ability to purchase the manufactured goods but yet loyal and affectionate terms in of Great Britain, a result alike prejudicial which it was couched-remembering at to the Colony and the Parent State. The what time it came-he felt that it would Address went on to thank Her Majesty and be a satisfactory vindication of the apprethe Parliament for the loan of 1,500,000l., hension which he had expressed to their for the improvement of the public works of Lordships. He deeply regretted that it the Colony; but at the same time they ex- did not arrive before their Lordships depressed their apprehension that the agri- cided on the second reading of the Bill. culturists of the province would be deprived He trusted, however, it was not yet too of a fair and remunerating price for their late to remove the apprehensions which supplies, and that consequently the increase had been entertained by the contradiction of the staple product would be checked to given to his statement by his noble Friend such an extent as materially to lessen the the President of the Board of Trade and profits of their canals and other public the noble Lord opposite; and that when works; and they summed up their Address their Lordships again came to consider the to Her Majesty in these terms:provisions of the Bill for the total removal of all protection-he was not speaking of the sliding-scale or of the present amount of protection-but when their Lordships came to consider the effect of the total removal of all protection from the agricultural interests of this country and the Colothe loyal and dutiful Address unanimously nies, he trusted they would bear in mind agreed upon by the House of Assembly of Canada.

"It, therefore, becomes our duty, as faithful subjects of Your Majesty, to point out what we sincerely believe will be the result of the measures which have for their object the repeal of the laws affording protection to Canadian exports. First, it will discourage those at present engaged in agricultural pursuits from extending their operations. Secondly, it will prevent the influx of respectable emigrants from the mother country, who, by their industry and capital, materially contribute to the rapid advancement of the interests of the Colony. And, lastly, it is much to be feared that should the inhabitants of Canada, from

the withdrawal of protection to their staple product, find they cannot successfully compete with the United States in the only market open to them, they will naturally, and of necessity, begin to doubt whether their remaining a portion of the British Empire will be of that paramount advantage which they have hitherto found it to be. These, we humbly submit, are considerations of grave importance to Your Majesty and the people of this province. We trust we need not assure Your Majesty that any change which could tend in the remotest degree to weaken the ties that have for so many years bound the people of Canada to the land which they are proud to call their mother country, would be deemed the greatest misfortune that could befall them."

These were the terms of the loyal and dutiful Address unanimously agreed to by

EARL GREY had no wish to prolong the debate on the subject, but, after the speech of his noble Friend, he was bound to make one remark. He ventured to say, from what he had seen in the newspapers, that the tone of the discussions which took place in the Canadian Legislature, after the policy of Her Majesty's Ministers was known, was not one of despair or of alarm. Having not yet seen a statement of the subsequent discussions, he had no means of learning what had led to the change of opinion, and the reasons which had created apprehension. But he contended, that in the first instance, none of the existing apprehensions were entertained by the Cana

CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL.

dian Assembly, but that, on the contrary, | ties upon raw materials should be rethey combined to pass a Resolution expres- moved; that articles wholly manufactured sive of their confidence in the policy about should be subjected to a duty of 20 to be pursued by Her Majesty's Govern- per cent; and that those partially manufacment. He was satisfied that the measure tured should be subjected to a duty of 10 which had since been sanctioned by the per cent. A list of the principal articles Legislature would tend to the advantage with regard to which changes were then of our colonial and domestic interests. made, had recently been laid on the Table; Subject at an end. they amounted to nearly 600 in number; and reductions were made in duties which reached to upwards of 1,300,000l. In the following year, 1843, still further reductions were made upon seven different articles; and, in 1844, four others of great importance, and involving large amounts of revenue, were included in the reduction; and, in 1845, the duties were proposed to be reduced on 112 articles, and entirely repealed on 54 of them. By these alterations very large reductions were made from articles from which we derived a large revenue; and a very large number of articles were expunged from it, as far as duties were concerned, although left for the purposes of registration, and that the resources of the country might be ascertained. These changes, especially those of 1842, were introduced in the firm belief that the removal of the duties on the raw material of manufactures, and the reduction of duties on manufactured goods, while beneficial to the consumer, would also give a stimulus to trade, which would tend directly to the be

The EARL of DALHOUSIE proceeded to move the Second Reading of the Customs Duties Bill, and said that the Bill was made up of details, which he would not trouble their Lordships by entering largely into; but would content himself with stating generally the reasons which induced Her Majesty's Government to submit the Bill to the consideration of the Legislature. In 1842, one of the first acts of Her Majesty's Government was to submit a proposal to the Legislature for a reconsideration of the Customs laws, and for a complete revision of the Tariff, with a view to the removal of prohibitory, and the relaxation of protective duties. That was not the first adoption of the principle; it was only following in the wake of that course of commercial legislation commenced twenty years before, which had been gradually advancing in the direction the Legislature was now called upon to take.nefit of commerce, and in the end leave To go no further back than 1819, considerable reductions were then made in the duties on the import of several foreign articles; and between 1819 and 1826 still more numerous and important changes of the same character were made. There were great alterations even in the navigation laws, and in our colonial commercial policy; large reductions were made in the case of almost all the principal articles of import into this country, and with respect to some of them the trade was almost thrown open. It was found, however, in 1842, that there was still a mass of duties imposed upon different articles, regulated apparently by no one pervading principle; and that, in fact, no recognised principle This was only the amount entered for conpervaded our system of commercial tax-sumption; it did not include the amount ation. Under the superintendence of the noble President of the Board of Control (the Earl of Ripon), and the present Secretary for the Colonies (Mr. Gladstone), those articles were classified, and the charges regulated as far as possible upon a fixed scale-the principles applied to the Tariff being, that as far as possible du

the revenue very little, if at all, a sufferer
by the change; and the mention of a very
few of the articles would show how
this anticipation was fulfilled. In 1842,
and again in 1844, very large reductions
were made in the duty upon coffee, the
duty on the import of foreign coffee having
been reduced in the former year from 15d.
per lb. to 8d., and on colonial coffee to
4d. He would state the amount entered
for consumption three years subsequent to
the reduction :-
In 1843 the amount was

1844
1845

...

...

"

30,000,000 lbs. 31,300.000 34,300,000"

imported, and afterwards re-exported. In 1844, a large reduction was made in the duty on sugar. He did not intend to enter into the sugar question then, as that article would form the subject of separate consideration on another occasion. He would only just state the effect of the reduction upon the consumption :

4,000,000 cwts. | years, that there had been a very large increase in their official value. The official value of the imports, exclusive of corn, amounted

The same effect was observable under perhaps the most important head, viz., the 40,000,000 lbs. exports. The total real or declared value of British and Irish manufactured articles in the same period, according to the same returns, was