France were co-operating with us: even in Cuba and the Brazils a feeling had arisen that exeinsion from our market on account of the slavetrade was injurious to the slaveowning countries. He expressed his deep regret to find that, just ns the goal was in view, a measure should be proposed, the inevitable effect of which would be to reopen the slave-trade in all its horrors. The Bishop of London seconded the amendment. The result of his consideration of the arguments which had been addressed to their lordships on the first reading of the bill was, that if this measure p. 2d, it would sanction the slavegrade, the abolition of which was on of the brightest features in the history of this country. His right reverend thiend had shown, that if wo wore to have a large increase of this quantity of sugar, it must be by a largo mercase in the number of davea nuported into Brazil and Cuba The number was now 10,000 por amum, and if we wore to have 30,000 tons more of angan, that could only be supplied hy 30,000 additional slaves: and the number of slaves imported into aup growing countries was ΠΟ youre of the ovis millieted, inasonly we for every additional slave www.ould chem the middle passage, th ww coming. From 60,000 2,000 human beings would, 1 Nomad to eternity, cruel torments. dear the real prosperity, pel the welfare of this nvolved my this muca V quiesce in it, home chat it would fix a stain on this country which no future legislation would remove. The Marquis of Lansdowne complimented the Bishop of Oxford upon the eloquence he had displayed, observing, that upon this question the right reverend prelate had peculiar claims to the attention of their lordships. After replying briefly to some of the remarks of the bishop, the noble marquis observed, that it was the opinion of those conversant with the subject, that by freedom of trade, and a liberal and generous policy as far as commerce was concerned, bringing with it an increase of moral and religious feelings, an impulse would be given to free labour. He could not but consider the scarcity of petitions against the Bill a most decisive proof that, in the opinion of the country, this measure was not retrogressive ; otherwise, instead of half-a-dozen petitions presented against it in the last few weeks, the table would have been covered with them. He hailed this as a proof that the country did not participate in the fears of the two right reverend prelates, and that the people believed that not only would the interests of commerce be extended by this measure, but that, ultimately, in connection with it, the moral feelings of mankind would lead to a final euthanasia of slavery. Their lordships then divided, when the numbers were— CHAPTER VII. Miscellaneous Measures-The Government propose to renew the Irish Arms Bill-Dissatisfaction excited by this announcement-Explanation of the Secretary for Ireland-Debate on the Second ReadingRemarks of Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Hume, Mr. B. Escott, Mr. B. Osborne, Mr. T. Duncombe, and other Members-Lord Morpeth and Lord John Russell intimate a willingness to make concessions-The Second Reading is carried by a majority of 33-On a subsequent evening Lord John Russell announces the determination of the Government to abandon the Measure-Distress in Ireland occasioned by the recurring failure of the Potato Crop-Lord John Russell proposes a measure for the employment of the population in Public Works-Explanation of the Ministerial scheme in detail-Remarks of Mr. D. Browne, Mr. Williams, Mr. Labouchere, the Earl of Lincoln, and other Members-The Public Works Bill passes the Commons, and is introduced in the House of Lords by the Marquis of Lansdowne— Speeches of Lord Monteagle, the Earl of Wicklow, and other PeersDeclaration of Lord Lansdowne respecting out-door relief-Further discussions in Parliament respecting the impending scarcity in Ireland -Speeches of the Earls of Roden and Clarendon, and of Mr. Dillon Browne and Mr. Labouchere-Flogging in the Army and Military Reform-Tendency of public opinion on this subject-Captain Layard mores an Address to the Crown praying for an Inquiry, with a view to limiting the period of enlistment-His Speech on moving the Address -Speeches of Mr. Fox Maule and other Members-The Motion is postponed-An order is issued from the Commander-in-Chief limiting the Sentences of Courts Martial to fifty lashes-Lord John Russell makes a statement upon the subject-Dr. Bowring moves a Resolution in favour of the total abolition of flogging-Speeches of Captain Layard, Mr. B. Osborne, Colonel Peel, Colonel Reid, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Fox Maule, and other Members-Dr. Bouring's Motion is rejected by a large majority-Statement of the Duke of Wellington in the House of Lords on the subject of the recent order-Occupation of Cracow by the Austrian Government-Lord Beaumont moves for papers relating thereto-Speeches of the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Kinnaird, and the Duke of Wellington-Mr. Hume makes a similar Motion in the House of Commons-Speeches of Mr. Milnes and of Lord Palmerston-Sees of St. Asaph and Bangor-Earl Powis brings in a Bill to rescind the proposed union-Debate on the Second ReadingVOL. LXXXVIII. [0] France were e even in Cuba a ing had arisen our market on trade was in owning count his deep regt as the goal w sure should be vitable effect to reopen the horrors. The Bishop the amendm his considerati which had b.. lordships on i the Bill was, passed, it wo trade, the a one of the b history of th reverend frie we were to l Τ the quantity by a large of slaves in Cuba. 150,000 were to ha sugar, that by 30,000 the numb sugar-grow measure much as two wou or in t to 80. therefo after Feelin ho Mind for one year. The Go had introduced an exrision into the Bill that it Spire on the 1st of May ar, thereby giving a pledge House that they would at as period as possible bring the Onder the consideration of islature. intention of the Government ew this measure created great efaction among the Members al party, and opportufaen, on subsequent occagive vent to the strong which had been excited. Labouchere moving the reading of the Bill on the he was much pressed with sistency and impolicy of Ministerial plan. He vinditheir proceedings at first with warmth. He was prepared to tain, in the face of the House of the country, that a Governwould desert its duty, and ld act a part utterly unworthy of dignity of the Crown, if they alwed the Bill to drop. The spirit which he asked the House to pass Bill was not one of approval, in tor detail. The Bill would be in force till the 1st of May; he gave the House not only a ge but security of the intenof Government to bring in a ure on the subject. All that Ministers asked was time. As any odium which would be proed by the licensing and brandof arms, all the arms were alPady licensed and branded. The mischief was done already, and no harm could be done y continuing this measure for only nine months. He should be sincerely sorry if the necessity for proposing such a Bill were to be taken as a specimen of the feeling and a sample of the legislation that the present Govern 1 ment would adopt towards Ireland. A long and desultory discussion ensued, and drew forth a host of opponents from all quarters. Mr. Hume had a very simple plan which he would recommend to Mr. Labouchere. It was to drop the Bill altogether-not to dirty his fingers with it. Sir James Graham, the late Home Secretary, had twice admitted that the measure had failed. Mr. Hume wished to know why the House should place an unconstitutional power in the hands of a set of men who declared they disapproved of that power, merely as a mark of confidence? The present step seemed to be quite unnecessary. There were no petitions-no applications from Ireland; no Irish Members had asked for it. Mr. Shaw, though not friendly to the Bill, was, nevertheless, of opinion that it was but fair to allow the Government time to look into the subject. Mr. Escott said, it was to him a matter of the most curious conjecture what wild infatuation could have induced the Government to take such a Bill under its protection. Mr. Labouchere had himself admitted that the measure was a failure; and Mr. Sheil, in opposition, had mercilessly denounced it. Was the honourable and learned member going to support that Bill now? Mr. Muntz felt, that to support Ministers in the present case would be to degrade and disgrace himself. They had fallen to a great discount in his estimation by their conduct on this occasion. Mr. Sharman Crawford considered the Bill, as it stood, a breach of the constitution; and he would oppose it. Earl Grey and the Marquis of Lane To the surprise and disappoint TY W. ment of many of those who had assisted the present Ministers in defeating Sir Robert Peel's Government on their Irish measure. the renewal of the Irish Arms Act was announced by them as one of the first of the Government measures to be pressed forward this session. Mr. Bernal Osborne called the attention of the House th of Commons to the subject on the of 7th of August, by asking Mr. Labouchere (the new Secretary for Jur Ireland) what were the intentions of the Government, and the reasons which influenced them in this proceeding. Mr. Labouchere explained the circumstances of the case. He could assure his hon. friend that the step the Government had determined to take with reference to the measure to which he had alluded had not been resolved on without mature consider ation. He (Mr. Labouchere) had not altered any opinion he had ever held with regard to the Arms Act, He considered that many of its provisions were most objectionable and the working of the measur had not tended to change the favourable opinion he had originals entertained of it. He would to his hon. Friend what was the ne |