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h
THE
Hagerman Collection
HISTOBY AND POUTICAL SaENCE
JAMES J. HAGERMAN OF CLASS OF '61
Prafcuw Chtrfct KcmUII Ad«iM
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I
• A'
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THE
ANTHUAL REGISTER,
OR A VIEW OF THE
HISTORY
AND
POLITICS
OF THE YEAR
184 8.
LOTJDON:
PRINTED FOR F. & J. RIVINGTON ;
I^NOMAN AND CO.) J. M. RICHARDSON I HAMILTON AND CO.i SIMPKIN AND
CO.i -IRODWELLi HOULSTONAND STONIHANi G. LAWrORDi J. DOWDINOl
J. BUHPUSi COWIE AND CO. I CAPE9 AND SON) SMITH, ELDIR AND
CO-I H. WASHBOURNEi H. O. BOHNt WALLER AND SONl J. THOMAS I
L- BOOTH 1 W. J. CLEATERi D. notTTLEDaBi O. WILLIS I J. OREEN t
AND TBOG AND CO.
:.=.i,:sa:,G00gIc
OBOBOI WOODPALL AHO aOH,
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CONTENTS.
B»«wembljng of Fwlument. ftftei the Chiiatnuts R«oeM, on the Srd of F»-
bmUT — Th« West Indik Qutitioii bMomee the fint robject of Discuuion
— Lord Qeoige Bentinck moves for a Select CiHumittM of Iiiqiili7-_His
Speech — Speeches of the Chsncellor of tiie Sxchotjuer^ Mr. James WiboD,
Mr. T. Banns, Hr. BwnaJ, Mr. Disnuli — The Motion u n^Teed to without
ft DiTiaioB— LoMi of iEOfXHX. to some of the West Indism Colonies ^o-
posed bj the Ghucellor of the Bxcbequer. — Discussion thereon — -Un-
ntTOontUe Intelligence received respecting the Condition of the West In-
disn Inteicct — Remedi&l Aleesures — Lord John Russell proposes his Flftn
in the House of Commons on the 16th of June— He reviews the put
Legislation uid existing Position of the Qaestiou at gMkt length— ^^b«
Hinisterikl Scheme is nnfftvourablj received — Sir John Fakington moves
■n Amendment on the 18th of Jane, asserting the Claim of ^e Colonies
to -sore effectoal Relief— Speeches of Sir E. Buxton, the Chancellor of the
Rxcheqoier, Mr. E. Sejmer, Mr. Hum<^ Ltnd Qeor^ Bentinck, Mr. Hawes,
and otiier Members — A warm peraoniJ Discussion arises touching the
Adminiatration of the Colonial Office — The Debate is continued bj Ad-
journments at ^eat leiwth — Important Speech of Sir Babert Peel in
&Tour of the Muvisteriaf Measure — The, Amendment in rejected b; 260
to 245 — Several other Amendments are moved, but without success, b;
Hr. Blight, Mr. BarUj, Mr. Bouverie, and other Members — Lord John
Bussell's Resolutions are finally agreed to and embodied in a Bill, which
pisBm ihnnwh the House of Commone — Debates in the House of Lords
on West In&n A&irs — Barl Orey introduces the Question diEcuased in
the House of Commons affecting the Colonial Office, and vindicates his
own Conduct — Speeches of Lord Stanley, Lord Brougham, the Marquis of
Isutsdowne, and other Members — Debate on the Second Heading of the
Sugar Duties Bill-Speeches of Earl Grey, Lord Sedewialej and Lord
Denman — The Second Beading is agreed to, and the Bill becomes
Law Page [I
CDAPTEB 11.
PinABce — Division of Public Opinion, at the commencement of the Session,
rei^Mcting the Kational Defences — Views of the Free-Trade Leaden on
the Subject — Lord John Rnesell makes a Financial Statement on the 18th
of Februarf — His Speech — Detail of the Income and Expenditure — Pro-
position for ccntinnmg the Income Tax for Three Years at the increased
Bate of Five per Cent. — Cn&TOurable reception of the Ministerial State-
nent b/ tiie House — Sir Charles Wood enaeavourt to pimtitiate the Op-
position bj moving that the Army, Kavy^ and Ordnance Estimates be re-
ferred to a Select Committee — Observations of Mr. Hume, Lord Qeorge
Beutiiick, and otiter Members — Great Agitation excited in various parts
^ the Countrr by the poposed augmentation of the Income Tax — The
a a
h CONTENTS.
ChuiMlloT of tbe Bxcbequer snnounceg on th« 2Sth thftt the Qoremineiit
do not intend to press the Resolutiaa for mcrewung tbe Income Tai — His
StatGiueiit of the Pinanciftl Prospecte of the Country— Speeches of Mr.
Waklej, Mr. Cobcten, Lord John Russell, Mr. Disraeli, and other Membera
— Tbe public feelioe is turned by these discussiane to the unequal pres-
sure of the Tax ai tuen esiatin^— Mr. Horsman proposea a Plan for grai-
duating the Tax in respect to different Icinda of Property — The Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer and Lord John Russell oppose the Motion — It is re-
jected on a Division by 316 to 141 — Mr. Hume moves that the Tax be
renewed for One Tear only, instead of Three — Sir Charles Wood opposes
the Motion— General Discussion on the Income Tax — Sir Robert Peel de-
fends his own Measure and Policy — He is answered by Lord Oeorge Ben-
tinck— Mr. J. Wilson defends, in an elaborate Speech, the ?ree-Tr»de
Measures of Sir Robert Peel — Mr. Diaraeli argues on the other side — Mr.
Gladstone vindicates the reiKnt Commercial Changes in an able Speech —
Speeches of Mr. Cobden and Lord John RuBsell — The Debate, after two
_y of his Arguments — It is opposed warmly by the Irish Members,
and resisted by the Oovemmeat — Majority arainst it 80 — Unsatisfactory
position of the Finances, with an anticipated Deficit — The Chancellor ot
the Exchequer promises to make a definite statement before the close of
the Session — On the 25th of August he enters fully into the state of the
Revenue, and announces his plan for supplying the DeficienCT — Proposi-
tion to raise 2,031,22G{. by a Loan — Dissatisfaction created by this Pro-
posal — Mr. Hume strongly objects, and again urges retrenchment of the
lUxpenditure — He renews his objections on the 29th, when the Bill for
givme effect to Sir Charles Wood a Plan is before the Uouse — Speeches of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Henley, Mr. Drummond, Mr.
Spooner, Mr. Cobdeo, Mr. A. Smith, and Lord John Russell — Mr. Hume's
Motion for rejecting the Bill is negatived by 66 to 4G, and the latter is
passed [33
CHAPTER III.
Alteration of the Navigation Laws — Announcement respecting them in the
Queen's Speech — Mr. Labouchere, on the Kith of May, explains the Mi-
nisterial Scheme in a Committee of the whole House — His Speech — Lord
Oeorge Bentinck declares his Opposition to the Plan, which is commented
upon by various Members on either side — Mr. Herries moves a Resolution
on the 39th of May, in favour of munttuning the fundamental principles
of the Navigation Laws — Tbe Debate is prolonged for three nights by Ad*
ioumment— Speeches of Mr. Herries, Mr. labouchere, Mr. Alderman
Thompson, Mr. Baitlie, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Gibson, Mr. W. B. Oladstone,
Mr. Cardwell, Sir C. Wood, Lord Oeorge Bentinck, Mr. Cohden, Mr. Di»-
raeli, and Sir Robert Peel — Upon a Division, the Resolution is lost by
S94 to 177 — In consequence of the delay which had occurred, Mr. Labou-
chere, en the ISth August, announces the Postponement of the Measure
till the next Beasion— Jewish Disabilities Removal Bill — Circumstances
which led to the Introduction of this Measure — The Second Reading
being moved on the 7th February, Mr. Augustus Stafford moves, aa an
Amendment, that it be read a Second Time that day Six Months— Lord
Burghley seconds the Amendment — Speechos of Mr. W. P. Wood, Mr.
Milnes, Sir W. Molesworth, Lord Mahon, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Shiel, Mr.
Newdegate, Sir Robert Peel, and other Members — The Second Reading is
carried by a Majority of 73— Upon a subsequent stage, Mr. Q<aing moves
an Ajuendmeal oondemnatoty of the Bill — AAer some Discussicn it it
CONTENTS. T
witlidrawit — Tftriom AmeDdments on tlie Bill, moved bj Sir B. H. Inglu
Mid other Momben, are rejected — On the Motion for the Third B«ading,
Six F. Thedger mores thkt it be read a Third Time that dav Six Montha
— After Speeche* &om Lard John Russell, and other Members, the
Amendment is rejected and the Bill passed — In the Rouse of Lords the
Second KeadinK 19 moved bj the Harquia of lADBdowne on the 25th Maj
— ^The Earl of Ellenborongh movea the Bejection of the Bill— The Duke
of Cambridge followa on the same side — It is supported br the thike of
Axgjle, the Bishop of St. David's, Lord Brougham, and the Earl of Elie»-
roere; opposed b; Lord Stanlcj, the Earl of Winchilsea, and the Bishop
of Oxford — On a Dirision, the Amendment is carried against the Bill bj
k majorit; of 35 [64
CHAPTER rV.
A&in of Ireland — IMsaffected and critical state of that County during the
Spring of 184S — Progress of Insorrection — Movements of Mr. £nith
Brien and his confederates — Ignominious Failure of the projected Out-
break — Policv of the QoTcrament and state of Public Opimon in (his
Country on the Su^ect — Adoption of Coercive Measures — Announcement
of a Bill for the ouipension of the Habeas Corpus Act — ^Debate in the
House of Lords upon a Motion made bj the Earl of Glengall — Decisive
I>eclaTation of the Afarquia of Lansdowne on behalf of the Qovemment —
Bem&rks of Lord Brougham, Lord Stanle;, and other Peers — Unanimous
feeling of the House — Lord John Russell, on the 24th Julj, moves for
Leave to bring in a Bill vesting ex traordinarj powers in the Lord Lieu-
tenant — His Speech on the state of Ireland and the features of the Crisis
— He is warmlj supported by Sir Robert Peel — Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Hume,
Mr. B. Osborne, Sir D. Norreys, Sir Lucius O'Brien, and many other Eng-
lish and Irish Members, apeak in favour of the Bill — Mr. Feargus O'Con-
nor delivers a vehement Repeal Speech againstit — Mr. 8. Crawford moves
an Amendment which is loet on a Division, only Eight Members voting
for it — The Bill is passed through all its St^es on the same Day, and is
■ent up to the House of Lords — The Marquis of Lansdowne, on the 26th,
introduces the Bill, with a Speech similar m effect to that of Lord J. Bus-
sell — Lord Brougham, the Earl of Wicklow, the Earl of Olengall, and
other Peers support the Bill, which is then carried through all its Stages
' without any Opposition — Debate in the House of Commons on the Con-
dition of Irehind, originating in a Resolution proposed bv Mr. Shannan
Crawford for the Bei&ess of Grievances — His Speech — Answer of Lord
John Russell — Speeches of Mr. H. Herbert, Mr. Pagan, Mr. Monsell, and
Mr. Osborne — The Debate is adjourned — Declarations of Bir George Grey,
Sir William Somerville, and Lord John Rusaell respecting the Irish Church
— After further Debate, the Resolution moved by Mr. S. Crawford is
negatived by 100 to 84 — -Bill for facilitating the Tnnsfer of Encumbered
1, Lord Stanley, Lord Campbell, and
Lord Monteagle— The Bill is read a Second Time— It is much debated in
the House of Commons — Sir Lucius O'Brien, Mr. Napier, Hr. Henley, and
other Members oppose the Bill — The Solicitor-General, Mr. B. Osborne,
Sir J. Oisham, Mr Monsell, Mr. Sadleir, and Mr. F. Wood, support it —
Ad Amemlnient moved by Mr. Napier is defeated by 197 to 52 — The
Amendment* made in the House of Commons are opposed in the House of
Lord* by Ijoid SUnley and Lord Monteagle, but adopted on a Division by
27 to 10, wd the Bill is passed^ [&4
CONTENTS.
VoMESTIO AF»iiM.— Eitnwrdinftry TpBnquillity of this Countrj duriiiE the
Continental ReTolutions — AttemptB made bj the Cbftrtuts to disturb the
Peace — Demonstration of the 10th of April, and ita harmless Result — Ex-
cellent Moral Effect produced thereby— Disorderly Asacmbliee and sedi-
tious Speeches in the Metropolis and other Flacea — Measures adopted by
the QoTemment — The Great Chartist Petition to Parliament, and Pro-
ceedings respecting it — Report of the Committee on Public Petitions ei-
jxmog the Mierepresetitatioiig as to the Signatures — Peraanal IHspute in
the House between Mr. Cripps and Mr. Feargua O'Connor— Interferonc«
of the Speaker and Explanations of the Parties. — Cbowh ahi> Qovkbh-
itBifT BscnaiTT Bill introduced by the Home Secretary — Objects of the
MeMure — Speech of Sir George Grey— Observations of Mr. J. O'Connell,
Mr. F. O'Connor, and other Members — The Bill is brought in — Lord John
Russell moTCS the Second Beading on the 10th of April— Mr. Smith
O'Brien appears in Parliament for the last Time, and speaks against the
Bill — Sir George Grey ansners him in an animated Speech — Speeches of
Mr. Thompson, Sir R. Inglia, and other Members — The Second Reading is
carried by 4fi2 to 35 — The Clause making " Open and Advised Speaking"
of Treasonable Matter felonious is much objected to in Committee — Mr.
S. Martin, Mr. Horsman, Mr. Hume, Mr. Osborne, and other Members
strongly opposed to it — Speech of Sir. R. Peel with reference to events in
France — The Bill passes tne Third Reading by a great Majority — Debate
upon the Second Reading in the House of Lords— speeches of Lord Stan-
ley, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Pen-
man, and other Peers. — Aliens Hehotal Bill introduced by the Marquis
of Lansdowne— Eiplanationa and Debate on the Second Reading— In the
House of Commons the Bill is opposed by Sir W. Molesworth — Remarks
of Lord Dudley Stuart, the Attomey-General, Mr. Urquhart, Dr. Bowring,
and other Members — The Second Reading is carried by a Majority of 119.
ExTEKBioH OF THE Electith Fbahcbise — Popular Movement on this
Subject and Exertions of Mr. Hume — A Reaolution in favour of fiirtber
Reform in Parliament is proposed by that Gentleman on the Slst of June
— His Speech on that occasion — He is answered by Lord John Russell,
who opposes the Motion — Speeches of Mr. H. Drummond, Mr. Fox, and
Mr. Duiaeli — The Debate is adjourned and resumed on the 6th of July —
Speeches of Mr. B. Osborne, Mr. Serjeant Talfourd, Mr. Cobdeo, Mr. F.
O^Connor, Mr. Milnea, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Muntz, and Mr. C. Til-
liers— On a Division, Mr. Hume's Motion is rqected by 3G1 to 84 [123
CHAPTER VI.
FoKHQir ArvAiBS. — Diplomatic Relations with Rome — Negotiations opened
at Rome by the Ewl of Minto for this object — Bill brought in by the
Marquis of Lansdowne to legaliae such relations — Debate on the Second
" *" "' ■ *■ ■■•(..-. - - ■'■■"■' op of
t the
Committee — The Second Reading is moved by Lord Paltnerston, .
" le of Commons, on the 17th of August — Mr. C.Anstey, Mr. Urquhart,
Sir Robert Inglia, Mr. Law, Mr. K Palmer, >tr. Napier, and Mr. Newde-
gate oppose the Second Reading, which is supported by Lord John Rus-
sell, Mr. W. B. Qladsbme, Mr. M. J. O'CoDoell, the Earl of Arundel, Mr.
CONTENTS. vii
Hoon^ tni Mux Hanbo^— The BUI ia retd « Swond Tim^ a m^orilj of
78 Toting iu ita &Tonr — Further oppoution in Committee, Mid on the
Thirf Be*diiiK — The Bill i» pissed. Aptaibb oi IiiLi abb Sioilt ^—
Lord Stoalej l>riiiKS fonnrd s Motion in the House of Lords ntpecting
the iiitenrention of the British QoTenuneut in the Sicilian Insuirection —
The Harqais of Ijuisdowne aaswerB the Charge on the part of the Qovem-
meBt — ObMrratioiu of the Earl of Miulo, the Duke of Aivyle, Eul of
Malmeabuij, and other Feen — Proceedings on the same Bubject in the
Hooae of CommoDB — Declaiation of Lord Palmenton reBpecUog the Id-
terrenUoa of England — Mr. Piiraeli, on the leth Augast enters into a
full review of the whole field of Italian Politica and British Interrention
— Remarlu upon Lord Minto's Miedon and the real objects of Lord VaX'
menton's Mediations — Lord Falmerston Tiudicates his own conduct and
poUcj at great length. AtrAiaa or Sfaik : — Abrupt Dismissal of Sir E
Bulwer, the British AmbsMador>~Circumstaiices which led to this trva
iseTMkt
— The nibject is brougbt before tbe Mouse of Ijords by liord Stanley —
Hia Speecn — Answer of the Uarquia of Lansdowne — Bemarks of Lord
Brongiuun, the Earl of Aberdeen, and other Feen — Mr. Banlces brinci
the matter before the House of Oommoni bj a Kesolution ditapproTinf
the matter before the House ot Uommoni bj a Itesolution ditapproTinK of
the Policj of our Oovemment — Speeches of Mr. Sfaiel, Lord Mahon, Mr.
Disraeli, Lord John Russell, Sir R. Peel, and Lord Falmerston— The
Uotion is ultimatelj withdrawn — Close of the Session : — Mr. Disiaeli,
on the 30th August rsTiewa the events of the expiring Session in an
animated and humorous Speech, satiming the Jailures and disap-
pointments of the Government — Lord John Russell parries the attack
with much deiteritj — Remarks of Mr. B. Osborne and Mr. Hume — Pro-
Tontion of Parliament bj the Queen in person, on the Qth of September
—Address of the Speaker to the Throne—Her Majestr's Speech — Close of
theSeuion [IfiO
CHAPTER VIL
y^ixcx. — PosiUon of the Quitot Ministrr — State of Parties In France— Un-
popularitj of the Kins— Death of Madame Adelaide, the Kind's Sister —
Suirendei of Abd-el-Kader in Algeria — Violation of the Promise made to
him — His Letter at the end of tiie Tear to Prince Louis Napoleon — Ex-
planation by M. Guizot as to Foreign Polity of his OoTemment— Able
Speed) on the Necessity of Reform, by M. Mesnard, in the Chamber of
Electoral Law — Discussion in the Chamber of Deputies respecting the Sale
of Offices bj the QoTcinment — Speeches of MM. OdiUon Barrot and Qui-
sot — Victory of Ministers in the Chamber— Discussion on the Sepaiate
FsragraphB of the Address — Speeches on Finance bv MM. Dumon and
Thiers— Speech of M. Thiers on the Affairs of Ital^— Bepl;r bj M. Quicot
— Speechea of MM. Thiers and Quiiot on the Affairs of Switzerland — De-
claration of M. Duchatel condemning the Refonn Banquets — ni>roar in
the Chamber— Debate on A&irs of Poland— Statement by M. Guizot re-
nwcting DMtination of Abd-el-Eader — Renewed Discussion on Reform
Deroonstiations, and Scene of Confusion in the Chamber — Tbe (>ppoaition
refuse to vote— Majority for Miubters— Debate on Electoral Beforni —
Speeches of MM. Quiiot, Thiers, and others — The Address voted in tbe
Chamber of Deputies-^State of Public Feeling at this time [194
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER Vm.
Meeting of the Opporition Member* — Announcement of a Refonn Bnnqnet
at Parii — The National Quardg called upon to appear in Unifonn — Pro-
hibition of the Banquet hj MinisterB — It is {pven up bj th« Opposition —
Address bj Oenerai Jacqueminot to the National Ghiards — Act of Im-
peachment of Ministers— Disturbed state of Paris— Resignation of H.
Ouizot and his Colleagues — Cotlisioni between the Populace and the Mili-
tary — Jot of the Mob at the Downfall of the Mtuistij — Lamentable inci-
dent at tne Hotel of the Minister des Affaires Etrongtees — Cruel Strata-
gem of L^range and the Republicans — Its momentous Consequences —
Batricadet erei^ed on the Momingof the 24th of Februai^ — Count M0I6
is unable to form a Ministry — H. Thiers sent for by the King — Proclama'
tion hjM. Thiers and M. Odillon Barrot— The Mob threatens the Tuila-
rie»~'The National Guards and Troops of the Line offer no lUeistaiice —
Abdication of Louis Philippe — Terrible Scene in the Chamber of Deputies
— The Duchess of Orleans and the joung Princes enter the Chamber —
Irruption of the Mob — Demand of a ProTisional Qovemment bj M. Marie
—Speech of H. Odillon Barrot — Speeches of M. Iiedru RoUin and M. de
Lamartine — The Mob masters of the Chamber — Nomination of a ProTi-
sional QoTemment — " To the HOtel de Tille ! " — Scene of tumultuous
Yiolence in the Chamber — Proclamation of the Rbpublio at the HAtel de
Tille — Banguinarr Contest at the Palais Rojal — Escape of Louis Philippe
and the KaTal Family— The ex-King and Queen arriTe in England —
Farewell Address by the Due d'Aumale to the Army in Algeria — The
Tuileries in the Hands of the Mob — Proclamations of the Provisional Qo-
Teniment— Distribution of OIBces — All Vestiges of Monarchy swept away
— Abolition of Titles of Nobility — Respect shown for Private Property in
Paris — Devastations in the Provinces— Appointment of Barbie as Colonel
in the National Guard — The Populace and the Ciei^ — Clamours for the
" Red Bepublic " at the netel de Ville— Courageous Finnnesa of M. de
Lamartine — Official Proclamatioa of the Republic — Was France repub-
lican at Heart ! — Decree convolciDg a Constituent National Assembly—
U. de lAmartiDe and the Foreign Policy of the New QoTemment — -His
Manifesto to Europe — Alarming Circulars issued hy H. Ledru Bollin and
M. Caraot — Their Doctrines disclaimed by the Provision^ Oovemment —
Quanel between the National Guard and the Oovemment — The former
Doliged to give way^Appointment of a Committee of labour for the Ope-
ratives — National Workshops (Ateliers) established— Hostility to English
Workmen — Regulations for Payment of Taxes — Financial Position of
the Republic— Suspension of Cash Payments by the Bank of France, and
by Banks in the Provinces — Louis Blanc's Plan for the Oreaniaation of
Labour — The Communbts or Socialists — Disturbance created by them on
the 16th of April— Election of Deputies for the National Assembly— Riots
in various Places — Views of the eztteme Democrats . . . [2SS
CHAPTER IX.
Meeting of the National Assembly on the 4th of May — Address by K. Du-
pont (de I'Eure) — Oath of Allegiance abolished— Proclamation of the Re-
public in presence of the People — Election of Officers of the Assembly —
Policy of Provisional Oovemment detailed in Speech of M. de Lamar-
tine— Election of Members of Executive Committee — Nomination of Mi-
nisters — Formation of Clubs in Paris — The Assemblr invaded by the Mob
— ^cen« of Confusion in tiie Chamber— H. Hubert declares that the Na-
CONTENTS. ta
tioDftl AaaeuAlj i§ disMlted — SoppitMioa of the Inmiectioii — Conduct of
Ooieni Oonrtkia and H. Lovtia Bl»nc — Defence nude b; M. Csunidike of
liu Conduct — Addrem bv Executive Committee— Appointment of Cinn-
nittee to dnw up Plan of Cooatitutiou— Diitiurimnces at Lyon*— Decree of
FeipetuAl BMuabment pronounced ageinat the ez-BoTal Family — Impeacb-
meut of H. Lonii Blanc — Election of Prince Louia napoleon Buona^iarte
at Deput; — DiscuMion on thii miltject in the Assembler — ^The Prince de-
clines to take Ma Seat — Proof of ConeemtiTa Feeling in the Awembtj—
Attack on the Hinistij in the Ammblj— Speech of Genenl CKWgua^—
Defence of the Execntire Committee bj H. de I«martine— Debate leapect-
ing Prince Louie Napdeon — PUn of the Gonstitutioii — ^The National Ate-
lioa — Bod J of PioTindal Workmen ordered to i^uit Peria — Commencement
of Dutuib*ncet — The CfinireU beaten — Bamcadea and Inauirection —
Deapetate Combat in the Streett of Paiia — Beaigmtion of the Bzecutife
Cbmmittee — Oenerat OaTugnac inveated with aupreme Authority — Snc-
ceaaea of the Military — Deatructire uae of Artillery — Death of the Arcb-
toahop of Pari* — Termination of the Btruggle— ^neral Cavaignac ap-
pointed Preddent of the Council — Hia Cabinet — Report of Committee on
the Inaurrection — Leave given to the Attomej-Oeneral to prosecute MH,
Lediu ELoltin and Cauaudiire — General Cavaignac and the National Work-
ahopa — Project of the Conatitution — Speech of M. Thien on the Second
Article relating to Property and Labour — Louis Napoleon takea hia Seat
aa Deputy for the DepartmoDt of the Moaelle — Hit firat Speech — Import-
ant D«bate on the Twentieth Article, confining the Legialative Power to
one AeaemblT — Speechea of HM. Lamartine, Odillon BiuTot,and Dupin —
Majority in Avour of a Single Chamber-r-DiicuMion on various Articlea
of the Conatitntiou — The Election of the Preaident aubmitted to the Totes
of the People— Republieaniflm on the wane— Pinal Adoption and Pro-
clamation of the Constitution — Charges brought ^eainat Oeneral Cavaignac
by M.Barthelemy St. Hilare — Hia triumphant De^nce — Blectiou of Prince
Louis Napoleon as President of the Republic — His Address to the Aaaem-
My — Formation of a Cabinet — Reflectioua on the Rise and Fall of popular
Favoniitea in France [S64
CHAPTER X.
SrAnr.— Reoonitmction of the Bpaniah hfinistay — Announcement of the
Queen Mother's Marriage with Hunoz in 1633 — Impeachment of S. Sala-
manca in the Congress — Hia Defence — Eagtrtero arriyeB at Madrid —
Quarrel between Lord Palmerston and the sputish Minis^ — Dismissal
^ Sir H. L. Bulwer from Madrid — Military Disturbance iu the Capital
— Cailiat Inaurrection, headed by Cabrera.
PoKTUOAL. — Formation of a New Ministry under the Dnc de Saldanlia — The
Qneen's Speech on the Opening of the Cortee — Modification of the Cabinet
-—Closing of the Session of the Cortea.
Sabuihu. — New Constitution promulgated to hia Subjects by the King,
Charlea Albert.
IiALT. — War in Lombardy. — Diaturbaneea at Milan in beginni^of Januaiy
— Address of Manhal Badetzky to the Austrian Troops — ^^cta of the
Fiencb Bevolution in Italy — Commencement of the S^^le at Milan-
Combat between the Populace and the Austrian Ghuriton — Milan aban-
doned by Marahal Radotiky — Proclamation by Proviaional Qovemment —
The King of Sardinia leads the Piedmonteae Troopa into Lombardy —
Bevolution at Venice — Strength of the Piedmonteae Force— Redetiky
retires upon Terona — Auatriau Lines forced along the Miucio — Supine-
ncM Ot tbe Papal Troops under General Duraudo— Junction effected by
Oeneral Hugent with Marshal Badetzky— Severe Engagement between
X CONTENTS.
tlk« Amtmns and Italians before Terona—Chaika Albert ben(^:ea
PeMluera — lu ultimate Capture — Partial SucceBMR of the FiedmonteM
AmiT — Ticenza lunendeTB to Rodetiky — Padua and Palma Nuot» taken
bj the Augtri&M— Mantua invested bj tie King of Sardinia— The Pied-
montese Lines forced by Oeneral Aapre — Tarioui Conteila between the
two Armiea — Victory of the Austrians at Somma Campa|nia— Chailsa
Albert retreats towards Milan — Punuit b; the AustiianB--MilaB aban-
doned by tlie R^r^inian Aisiy — Capitulation of Milan — Anniftice agmed
upon [309
CHAPTER XI.
ItjUT, continued. — Papal SiATxa. — New Organization of the Executive at
BMne— The Pope promiMi a new Constitution to hie Bubjecta — Hia nn-
willingDeee to engage in the War a^ainit Austria — New Ministn at
Bome — Progiamme of its intended Pofic; — Auauination of Count KohIi
at Borne— State of the Ca^tal at this Juncture — FormatiMk of a Radical
Miuittiy — Flight of the Fope £ram Borne— He takes Refuge in the
Neapolitan Territorv.
STAPLES asdSicili. — Outbreak of Inguixoction at Paietmo — Conflict between
the Populace and the Military — New Ministry appointed at Naples — The
King promises a ConstitutioD — Bnthusiasm of the People — Insurrection
at Messina — Di»turbancea at Naples — Saniruinarj Conflict in the Streets
— The King victorious — Downfall of the Bourbon Dynasty — Decrees by
the SiciliKD Chamber at Falenno — The Sicilian Throne offered to the
Duke of Oeno^ and declined by him— Kxpedition sent from Naples
uaiust the Sicilians — Bombaidmeut and Capture of MeBsin»— Energetic
Measures of the Revolutionary Qovenunent at Palermo.
Dbnhars akd Sobleswio-Holstein. — Death of Christian Till., King of
Denmark, and Succession of Frederick Til. — Plan of new Constitutim)
promulgated — Narrative of Events leading to a Quarrel between the
Crown of Denmark and the two Duchies of Schleswig and Holstoii^—
Deputation sent from .the Itleetipg of, the States at Reudsbur^ to Copen-
hagen — The King's Reply — Explosion of the Revolution at Kiel — Strong
Feeling in Demnaric against the Separation of the Duchies — Proclama-
tions by the King — The Prussian IVoops oross the Holstein Frontier —
Conduct of the German Assembly at Fninkfort— Protest of the Danish
Ambassador — The Danish Forces attacked by the Prussians — Schleswig
and Flensbourg taken by the latter — Glenerat Von Wrangel invades Jut-
land — The Danish Army retires to Funen and Alsen — Interference of
Sweden in the Struggle — The Prussian Troops withdrawn from Jutland
—Blockade of the German Baltic Ports b^ the Danish Fleet— Note
addressed by the Danish Government to Foreign Ministers — Termination
of Hostilities by Armistice concluded at MalmS — Provisions of the Ai-
misrice — Speech of the King of Denmark at the opening of the Diet.
Nethb&IiAHds. — Appointment of Committee to revise Constitution.
Bbloidn. — Abortive Attempt of French Democrats to excite a Revolution
— Speech of the King on opening of Sesuon of the Chambers. . [328
CHAPTER XII.
GxKif AHT. — Reflections on the Political Slate of Qermony — Popular Demands
in the Soutb-Westem SUtes— Riots at Cologne and Wiesbaden. Hesse
Cabsbl. — Commencement of Insurrection, and Concessions by the Elector.
Bavaria. — Ignoble conduct of tbe King — Riots occasioned b^ the pre-
sence of Lola Montes — She is ordered to quit Munich — Abdication of
Louis in favour of his Son— The Chambers opened by Maximilian 11.^
CONTENTS. li
Hii Bpttech on the occuioii. Saxoht^— Popnlu Tamoltf at Dresden —
C3uag« of Hiautfj—Pnignuiiinfl of Policy of now C&binei Havotzb.
— R^pl^ of the King to Petition of the Mariatntea — Royal PmelAiiUktion
' — Meeting of Genenl AmboMj, ftod Speech of the King.
Bennnciktion of Seignoiul Bighta bj Fnnce Ton Leineugen — Meeting at
Hddalbeig on the 0th of Mkt — Tor-Ptu-Iament conTok^l — Second great
Meeting at Heidelberg on the 2eth of March— Speech of Welckei—
Meeting of the Toi^ParUinent at Frankfort — Election of FrendenU-
Omunittee of Rftv appointed — Bandi of Imu^ent Democtatf defeated
W the Troops of the Diet— Meeting of the Oer^n National ABcembI; at
nankf<«t— ^>iscnssion on the question of a Central ExecutiTe Power —
I»w puaed on the mibject — The Archduke John of Austria elected
B^ent of the Empire — Recognition of this choice by the old Diet-
Address to the Archduke — His Reply to the Deputation — Report of Com-
mittee on Plan of a Conrtitntion— Inatallation of the R^ent at Frankfort
— Appointment of a Ministrr — Abolition of C&pit^ Punishmenta — ■
Question of the Armistice of MtdmS — Tiolent conduct of the Radical Parn
in the Awembly, and of the Populace — Tumultuous Scene* — The Mili-
tary act against the Mob—Combat in the Streets — Defeat of the Insur-
gent* — Uurden of Prince Lichnowsky and Major Anergwald — PrDclama-
tion by the Regent — The question of Austria and the German Parliament.
Kussu. — Policy of Russia. — Manifesto of the Emperor — Circular of the
Russian GoTemment addressed to its Diplomatic Agents in Oennany. [3M
CHAPTEE Xni.
Pbdssia. — Speech of the Eing in closing the Session of the TTnited Die^—
Great Befonn Meeting at Berlin — R^arkahle Manifesto of the King —
Censorship of the Press abolished — Unfortunate Collision between the
Militaij and the Populace at Berlin — Decree authoridng a National
Qnaid — Address of the Minister, Count Schweru, to the Students —
Idberation of the captive Poles — Frederick William's Address to the
Students — Boyal Proclamations — Deputation of Poles from Breslau —
Rapid Changes of Ministry at Berlin— Opening of Second Session of the
Prussian Diet — Royal Speech — Programme of the Electoral I«w — Ad-
dress of the Diet — Mini st^ial Explanation — Resignation of Count Amim —
Basis of new Prussian Constitution — Question of direct or indirtet Elec-
tion for the National Assembly at Frankfort — Oeneial Election — Meeting
of the Prussian National AssemblT— Speech from the Throne — Outline of
the Constitution — Tumult at Berhn, and Attack on the Arsenal — Besigna-
tion of the Ministry — The Auerswald Cabinet — The Army and Political
Questions — Change of Ministry— General Ton Pfuel forms a new Cabinet
->— Proclamation to the Army — General Ton Wrangel's Address to the
Troops — Invasion of the Assembly by the Mob — Count Ton Brandenburg
made President of the Council— Sitting of Assembly transferred to
" '' inbn^ — Tumult in the Assembly— Interference of the Military —
_ ar Quard disbanded — Berlin declared in a state of Siege — Disarming
e Burgher Guard— Obstinate Conduct of the Assembly — It denies to
the Brandenburg Ministry authority to le^ Taxes — The GoTemment suc-
cessful in the struggle — Address by the Archduke John to the German
People — Meeting of the Assembly at Brandenburg — It is dissolved by a
Boyal Edict.
Oman Dbcbt or Pofliii. — Outbreak of Polish Insurrection in Posen —
Horrible Atrocities committed by the Insurgents — Defeat and surrender
of Mieroslawski — Termination of the Rebellion — BeeoluUon of the Frank-
fort Assembly as to the Partition Line dnwn in Posen — German view of
the Polish Question. [375
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Annui. — PopoUtion of Aiutruui Empire — TUriew of Eventt in Hung&ij
— Frinee Mettemicb proposes DisBolution of Hungariui Chajnber — Open-
ag of 8«uioii of Diet far Lower Auttria — The Chunber iuTulod l^ the
ob— Conflict with the Military — ProcUmatiou b; the Emperor — Flight
of MetterDich from TieDba — Conduct of the Bathyuij-KosButh Miniiti;
in HimgKn — Baron Von Jollachicli appointed bj the Emperor Ban of
CkoMia— New Minisby %t Vienna — Declaratiou of Amnesty— Outline of
New Constitution — Promulgation of the Can«titution — (Siaugei in the
Minittry at Vienna — New Electoral Law— The Emperor abandona the
Cb^itol for Innipnick — Proclamation to the Austrian People— Quarrel of
Roeei in Bohinnia— The Chwclu and the Germans — Qreat PanMslaronic
kblisbed there
/ Jellachich — Outbreak of Insurrection at
Plague— The Princess Windiachgr&tz killed by a Bifle Shot— Bombard-
ment of Prague — The Bebellion crushed — Jellachich stripped of his
Office by the Emperor — Reconciliation effected at InDspruck — Failure of
attempted Adjustment of the Quarrel between the Hungarians and
Croats — Hanitesto of the Bon — Opening of Session of the HunKarian
Diet — Speech of Kossuth in the Diet, on the Question of Magyar Kation-
olit; — Address of the Hungarian Chamber — Constituent Assembly of
Austria opened at Vienna — Speech of the Archduke John-— Return of the
Emperor to Vienna — His enthusiastic Reception — Contest in Hungary
between the Magyars and the Croats — Deputation from Pesth to the
Emperor — Threatening Advance of Jellachich — Hb Proclamation — The
National Assembly at Vienna refuses to receive Second Hungarian Depu-
tation — Murder of Count Lambei^, at Pesth — The Ban of Croatia ap-
pointed by the Emperor Commander-in-Chief and Commissary Plenipoten-
tiary in Hungary — Bovolt at Vienna — Flight of the Emperor — Jellachich
marches upon the Capital — Bis Reply to the Messages of the Diet
— Approocb of the Hungarian Troops^— Situation of Vienna at this Crisis
' — lYmceWindischgr&ti takes the Command of the besieging Army — ■
Prague declares for the Emperor — Storming of the Suburbs of Vienna —
Surrender of the City — Execution of Blum and Messenhauser — Protest
of the National Aaumbiy at Frankfort — The Austrian Army marches
rinst the Hungarian»--Change in the Viennese Cabinet — Meeting of
Diet at Kremsir — Abdication of the Imjierial Throne by the Emperoi
— Proclamation by the New Emperor, Francis Charles — Reflections on the
Position of Austria. [4U1
CHAPTER XV.
Imdia.— ^The Sikhs in the Punjanb — Moolraj Dewan of Mooltan — Murders
of Mr. Vans Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson — BraTe and spirited
Conduct of Lieutenant Edwordes and Colonel Cortlandt — Engagement
with the Rebels, and Defeat of the latter — Obstinate Conflict at Noonanee
before Mooltan — Disturbances in the Hazareh Country— Major and Mrs,
Idwrence taken Prisoners — Assault on Mooltan on the 12th of September
— Sortie from the Garrison — Treacherous Defection of Shore Singh —
Troops ordered to assemble at Ferozepoor under command of Lord Oough
— Shore Singh leaves Mooltan and marches to the North-West — He is
joined by his Father, Chuttur Singh — Position of the British Forces at
Ramnuggur — Disastrous Attack on a Body of Sikh Cavalry in a "Nullah"
— Death of Oeneral Curelon — Qeneral Thackwell ordered to turn the
Flank of the Sikhs — Cannonade between them and the Detachment under
CONTENTS. xiii
Qenenl Ttutckwell — Shore Singli ntirea upon the Jheluin— 0«tiend
AnMilt upon Hooltan, on S7th of D«eember — Esplomon of Mi^uiue in
the Fort— Sortie of the Sikhi repulsed.
Caraoa- — Opening of Seuioii of New P&rliunenb— Speech of QoTemor-
Gener&l — befeat and BeBi^mtioD of the Ministn.
UnTED Statu. — Trea^ of Peace with Uexico — Meuue of the Prendent
to Omgr«M on the mbject — Ditcoverj of* Oold in (Alifomia — Scene at
the " Digguwe" — Contest for the Presidencj — Election of Qeneral Tajlor
—-OpauBg of Sesnon of Congren — Mewage of the President — It« Tofuci
— 1. Qeneral Renew. 3. Treaty with Mexico. 3. Armj and Mavy. 4.
Tenitorial Acquidtioiu. 6. Qold Minea in California. 6. Qneition of
Slavery. 7. Teiritorial Surrey. 6. Mexican Debt. 9. "American Syitem."
10. Preaidential Veto. [487
CHRONICLE.
APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.
Page TRIALS, LAW OASBS, Ati.
^M HramBT, aa it stood at the Page
Opening of Parliament on the TheSpecialCommiwion, Ireland:
18th of November, 1647 . . 173 Prooeedi^Ra at Limmck, En-
BsBBim fitr the year 1848 . . 174 nia, and Uonmel 331
BlKTHB 176
HuaiAon 180 STATE TIOALa
I>»A»B» IW Court of Queen'e Bench, Dublin
Pbohotiobb 277 _rr^a Qu^j, p, ^_ gmith
O'Brien, for sedition .... 364
PUBUC DOCUMKHTa The aame-The Quean p. T. P.
. _ Meagher, for sedition . . . 373
PtBAHOi AoooDHTS roK THI Yi*B Commisiion Court, Dublin— The
1W8. Qoeen e. John Mitchell, for
L Public Income 290 felony 373
IL Public Expenditure . , . S9S The same—The Queen p. K. L
ITT. DinKsiUon of Orante . . 293 O'Doherty, for felony. . . . 38S
IT. Unmnded Debt 303 The same— The Queen v. John
Y. Public Funded Debt ... 304 Martin, for felony 38S
VL Trade and Navigation . , 306 Spedal Conuuisdon, Clomnel—
Lirt of Acta, Public and Private, TriJof William Smith O'Brien
paaaed during Session 1848 .309 ™^'<«'>'8'' H^*^ ■,■,■-• V *^
PnWrf Stec? 334 The ^e-The Trnlof T. B.
AveiaM Price* of Com, Hay, ^^Manus fw high treason. . 446
etiaw, Clover, and Butcher^ ^* "V"*^^ *^ ^^P*!"
jiH^f 32S Francis Meagher for high
Tablea of "Mortality [Marriages, treason 4«1
Birtha and Deatha; Bankrupts; Patuhb 47fi
and Meteorology 326 p„_-_ 4jo
Univewity Honours-Oxford. ,327 ^^"""^ *'"
Cambridge 329 Ihmx 49i
L.M:sa:,G00gIC
b,GoogIc
ANNUAL
REGISTER.
184 8.
VOL. XC.
b,GoogIc
b,GoogIc
THE
ANNUAL REGISTER,
FOR THE YEAR
1848.
HISTORY OF EUROPE.
CHAPTER I.
Bt-oMMtnUmg of Partiament, after the Chrittmat Reeeu, on tht Sri of
Ftbmarif — The WeA Indian Qveition bfcomet the fir»t tuhjfct of
ditamum — Lord Oeorge Bentmek movet /or a Select Commitiae of
Inepmy — Hi* Speech — Speeches of the CkanctUor of the Exchequer,
Mr. Jamet WiUim, Mr. T. Baring, Mr. Bemal, and Mr. DiiraeU
— The Motion it agreed to mthout a divition — Loan of SOO.OOO^. to
tome of the Wett Indian Coloniee propoied by the Chancellor of
Ae Exchequer — Dteeiation thereon — Unfavourable Intelligenee received
reepectingthe Condition of the We$t Indian Interest — Benudial Measuret
— Lord John RtauUpropou$ hit Plan in the Houu of Commons on Ihi
16th of June — He reviews the past Legislation and existing Position of
the Question at great length—The Minisierial Scheme is unfavourably
received — Sir John Pakington movet an Amendment on the 1 8th of
June, atterting tht Claim of tht Colonies to more effutual Belief —
Speeches of Sir E. Buxton, the Chancellor of the Excliequer, Mr,
K. Segmer, Mr. Hume, Lord George Bentinck, Mr. Hawet, and
other Members — A warm personal Ditcussion arises touching tht
Adminiitratitm of the Colonial Office — The Debate it continued by
Adjoummenti at great length — Important Speech of Sir Robert Peel
in favour of the Ministerial Measure — The Amendment is rejected by
S60 to S45 — Several other Amendments are moved, but unthout
tueeest, by Mr. Bright, Mr. Barkly, Mr. Bouverie, and other
Members. — Lord John Rasters Setolutiont are finally agreed to and
embodied m a Bill, vihidt pastes through the Home of Ommotif — •
Vol. XC. [B]
2] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
Dd>aUi m the Houte of Lordt on West Indian Affairt — 'EaA Grttf
introduce* the QuMtion dieeiaud in the Hotue of Commons affecting
the Colonial Office, and vindicate! hit own Conduct — Speeehee of
Lord Stanley, Lord Brougham, the Marquie of Lansdoime, and
other Metttbert. — Debate on the Second Heading of the Sugar Dutiet
Biil — Speechei of Earl Qrey, Lord BedeedaU, and Lord Denman.
— The Second Beading it agreed to, and the Biil become* Late.
THE Sessiou of Parliament adopted by Parliament for their
haTlng oonuneDoad, hj a de- relief."
parture from the usual custom, in In introducing this motion to
November, 1847, and being ad- the House, LordQeorge first de-
jonraed for the Christmas holy- fined his own position. His per-
days, the two Houses resumed sonal vish, as he was aware Uiat
business f|fiun on the 3rd of Fe- his motion would be unopposed hy
bruaiy. The condition of the Her Mtyesty's Ministers, was to
West Indian Colonies was the first make no statement to the House :
subject that occupied the attention the observations he should make
of the House of Commons, a mo- were offered only in deference to
tion being brought forward bj what he believed to be the genenl
Lord George Bentinck, the iu- desire of the House and of the
defatigable advocata of that in- parties at large interested in the
terest, for a Select Committee of question. It ^d been represented
Inquiry. The noble Lord, before to him by the colonial interest
entering upon his subject, pre- that the planters were in extremit,
sented three important petitions ; and that whilst redress was under
one from the Standing Committee disoussion by the Committee that
oftha West Indian Planters, another great interest would perish. His
from the merobsnts of Greenook, motion had, indeed, neen termed
figainst restraints on immigration pusilianimous. It was, however,
and on the employment of labour, for himself to oonsider what was
•nd a third from merchants and his power to obtain any substantial
othan in Jamaica, praying for the relief by a direct vote of the House,
removal of burthens, for a full In July 184S, only five gentle-
supply of African labour, an altera- men conneoted with the West or
tion <^ the Navigation Laws, and an the East Indian interests had voted
assimilation of the duties on colo> with him in a minority of 130
niat rum to those paid by the against the m^ority of 006, who
British distiller. The motion of then n^tived the proteetion now
Lord George Bentinck ran as fol> sought : he thought, therefore, that
lows :— the West Indian interests had
" That a Select Committee he no right to blame him on the pre-
appointed to inquire into the pre- sent occasion. He had no reason
sent condition and proepeots of tlie to suppose that the minority had
interests connected with, and de- been converted into a mqjority;
pendenton, sugar and cofiee plant- but, to juatify inquiry, he pointed
ing in Her JJ^jesty'a East and to the extremity of the West In-
West Indian possessions and the dies, to the failure of fifty great
Mauritius; and to consider whether houses in this country, withTialu-
any and what measures can be lities exceeding 6,300,0001., and
EmgUnd.] HISTORY. [3
to thft chuiga in Ute public fMlin^ the Wait Indies is 60j. a year;
on the sul^ect of glareiy uid slave- in Jamaica a free labourer is paid
trading ; at the last general eleo- half-s-dollar a d^, for six or seven
tioo not a wrod w&s said on the hours' work, and he can BcanMly
Bolgeet ; those vho were otnDipo- be got to work four or five dayi in
tent in 1839, were powerless in the week. In Cuba the slave ia
1847. In proposing his inquiry, made to work sixteen or even
be wiahed it to be distinctlj un- twentT hours a day; the driver
dantood that be neither precluded armed with whip, outlaas. and dag-
himself nor vriahed to preclude ger.attonded by bloodhounds. That
others, it a. substantial measure ia the kind of slavery which we are
for immediate and effectual relief Etimulating by the admission of
sbonld be brought forward, from slave-grown sugar intothiscountry.
lending their support to any such However, there is no ol^eotion to
pvpoMl. He hoped that he should immigration. Sir Charles Ulet-
be able, through the i^st^lmen^ oalfe declared, in 1840, that the
ality of a Committee of inquiry, to fertile soil of Jamaica could provide
prevail upon the House to change for any multitude without duni-
ita policy with regard to this great niabing the comforts of the exiat-
queatian. He did not seek to en- ing population ; and similar reports
force the distinction between slave- were mode from other colonies,
grown and free-grown sugar, be- But the cost of immigration is too
cftoae thst attempt would be fol- great for the planters to bear,
lowed by the overthrow of the especially with the obligation to
Qorenunent^-which he did not send back the immigrants at the
desire. end of five years. He did not
Alluding to the petition from know why there should be this
Jamaica, Lord Oeorge declared delicacy about removing an Afri-
that he could not agree with the can, a Cooly, or Chinaman, when
demand for the repe^ of the Navi- he is only transferred from one hot
gotion Xaws ; and he entered into climate to another, and no such
a long statement of the rates of delicacy is ehovm to the British
freight, to show that the West soldier, who is bound to remain ten
Indians suffer no injury from those years in an uncongenial climate,
laws. With respect to the differ- LordGeojgeadvertedtothe cose
ential duty on spirits, he thought of the East Indies, invited by Par-
that the British distiller would liament to exert themselves in
need its maintenance. He was producing free-labour sugar — coit-
not indisposed to give every feci- tending that the foith of Parlia-
11^ for immigration, but doubted ment was as much pledged to them
whether it would do much good, to enable them to repay themselves
The atate of Barbadoes, as densely for the outlay of that capital, as it
peopled as China, shows that in- was pledged to repay the fund-
creued numbers will not suffice, holder the debt that was due to
He agreed with Mr. Merivale, the him.
uew Under-Secretaiy for the Co- In July last, Mr. Hawes had de-
lonies, that free labour never can scribed the Mauritius as being in a
sneoessfully compete with slave stateofmostflourishingprosperity;
labour. At the highest estimate, since that, out of six grMt finns in
the cost of maintaining a slave in the Matuitius trade, but one re-
IB ''I . „|C
4] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
mained standinff -. the liabilitieB of opening the trade of Brazil ? Cotn-
thoee that had follen are estimated paring the sixteen months before
at 3,900,000/. ; Ministers have with the sixteen months after the
been obliged to advance 450,0001. admission of slave-grown ai^ar,
on sngar to enable the colony to there had been a gross decrease in
fo on, and to supply rice from the production of cotton goods to
ndia for the food of the labourers, the amount of 1,339,341 pounds.
That fact showed bow ntterlj Mi- c^net an increase of 108,082
nisters had been in the dark re- pounds: taldog into acconnt tha
specting the true state of Her enhanced price of raw cotton, the
Majesty's colonial pOBeesflions, and balance remaining for wages and
would alone justiiy ini^uiry. profits hod declined by 1,671,003^
He wanted the inquiry also as a Lord George assailed Uie system
bridge of retreat for Ministers and for suppressing the slave trade,
the free-traders. He would not calculating, with a great array of
hint to them that it should be a figures, that from first to last it
bridge Buch as acted as a guide to hadcostthiscouutiy 100,000,0001.
a certain proposition in Euclid. He proposed a substitute for the
They wanted no bridge for the ineifective blockade of Africa. They
blockheads who had predicted all would never put down the slave
tbe evils that had occurred ; they trade so long as it depended upon
must have a bridge for the men of blockading 10,390 miles of coast,
brains, wbich the hon. Member He would, as Captain Pilkingtoa
for the West Biding of Yorkshire recommended, atnko a blow at the
and his friends might be permitted head and not at the hand. He
to pass over ; but certmnly not with would not send an army to destroy
colours flying, or drums beating, every individual hornet, but go to
nor with bands playing " See the hornets' nest at once, and
the Conquering Hera comes," or smother that nestof the slave trade
tbe tune of " Cceur de Lion," wbich now existed in Cuba. He
with which the hon. Oentleman bod rood in the Times an extract
was, he believed, greeted abroad ; from an United States ^per,
but they might be permitted to in which it was stated that if the
pass over with arms reversed, and United States did not possess her-
with muffled drams, muttering per^ self of Cuba, Great Britain would;
haps between their teeth, " If our and that England hod a strai^r
cause is of God, it will live ; but claim by a hundredfold to Cuba
jf not, it must perish." Their than the United States had to Mex-
cause WBS not of God, aud there- ico, because a sum of 45.000,000{.
fore it must perish. To make was due to British subjecta upon
out the failure of the recent mea- Spanish bonds, and Cuba was hy-
Bures of free trade. Lord George pothecated for the payment of that
plunged into an immense mass debt.
of statistical details. Against Sir Charles Wood. — " But
cheap sugar, he set oif the milnre would you seize the Bi-azils as
of our great merchants for moi-e well?"
than 6.300,000/., asked how free Lord George Bentlnck. —The
trade had benefited Lancashire, cose of Cuba stood upon its own
now in so miserable a state ; whe- merits, and upon the debt of
ther it bad fulfilled the promise of 49,000,0001. In taking possession
E«gl«Hd.l HISTORY. [5
of it we sboDld only be distraiaiDg resting hjs caae partly on a pamph-
for ajast debt,of wbicbwe faadlong let entitled " Ministera and the
demuided payment in vain. We Sugar Duties." " The curtailment
migbt then emancipate the Blavea of the apprenticeship," be said,
ofCnba; and h&Ting thusdeetroyed "bad worked well; the anticipation
sUveiy itsdf in that quarter of formed, in 1844, that there would
the world, there would be no be a targe increase in the pnxjac'
difScolty in allowing the Britisb tion of free-labour sugar, had not
merchant to go to Africa, for the been confirmed ; and the diatinc-
purpose of obtuning there, by the lion between free-labour and slave-
offer of good wages and other ad- labour sugar bad proved to be in-
fant^ea, a number of free Africans compatible with treaties. As the
to cultivate his estates. question of slavery bad to be
Sir Charles Wood, though not omitted from consideration, they
opposing the ^pointment of the were led toconsider solely whether
(knnmittee, guarded himself against there should be protection or no
the supposition that the Qovem- protection. The proposal of the
ment meant to recede from the West Indians was to fix the diSer-
coorse wbioh they bad chosen in ential duty at 10*. per cwt., or
1846, and thought that be should 10/. per ton; the avowed object
be showing most kindness to the being to enhance the price by that
West Indians by staling distinctly amount. Last year the consump-
what were the views and intentions tion of sugar amounted to 290,000
of the Ministiy. He declined to tons ; the proposed enhancement
follow bia noble Friend through of price, therefore, would be equi-
maoy of those topics which he had valent to a tax of !2,0OO,OO6/., or
presented to the House, especially say, in round numbers, 3, OOO.OOOt.
as he thought that no sound in- On the other hand, diminished
ferences, with regard to the future, protection had benefited the re-
coold be drawn bom the state of venue, which bad risen from
trade daring the last twelve 3,749,363/, in 1845, to 4,596,6961.
months. The extraordinary fall in 1847, despite the great distress,
in-the price of sugar, for example. Her Mt^esty's Ministers held that
he regarded as transitory, because duties should be imposed with re-
he thought it owing to the gene- ference to revenue alone. Govem-
ratly disastrous stale of commerce ment intended to propose such an
during the autumn. As great a alteration in the Navigation Laws
fall was to be fonnd in the prices as would completely put an end to
of other articles ; in indigo, US per any discontent springing from that
cent. ; in rice, 26; in sw>, 51 ; and source. He should be happy to
in tea 41^ per cent. The houses extend the tise of molasses to
in the Mauritius trade had fallen brewers; but he thought that it
from causes totally independent of would not be practicable, as mo-
the price of sugar; and in like lasses could not, like sugar, be
manner the West Indies . had suf- made to bear an amount of duty
fered from the &ilure of the West equal to that on malt ; but the ex-
India Bank. perience of the past year had
As to the grievances of the West shown that there was no difficulty
Indies, SirCbarles contended that in admitting molasses into dislil-
tb^Jiad been much exaggerated ; leriea; he proposed, therefore, to
6]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
introduce a Bill, immediately, au-
thorizing the admiBsion of molasaes
into diatillerieB upon terms such ae
those on which sugar had been here-
tofore admitted. Cane-juice might
be admitted on payment of an
equiralent duty, but he understood
tint that would be prohibitory.
" With respect to immi^tion,
a statement which he held in his
hand showed that it had been ex-
tensive and beneficial. The de-
tails to which he referred were as
follows : —
ifun^itr <if Siatf in 182S. Frm La-
bota-tri inporUd inlo lie faUmittg
Colmit* la 1843.
Muiriliiu, ,
28,000 ■
Jamaica,
322,000
Briliib
00,000
TritiidaJ, _
24,000 ■
" Ithadbeen found, however, that
the present eystem of immigration
did not answer; and be proposed a
change. He knew that there was
a risk in allowing the practice
of taking negroes from Africa ; that
if parties were permitted to buy
negroes for slaves, and to bring
them from Africa upon the pretext
of their being made free labourers
in the West Indies, the permission
would offer a direct encouragement
to a renewal of all the horrors of
tbe slave trade. With this con-
viction, prDvision must be made
that if natives were brought from
Africa to ^e West Indies, itshould
be with their own free will, though
the Government were not disposed
to throw any fresh obstruction in
the way of the importation of free
labour ; and they were prepared to
advance a sum of money not ex-
03,000 Free.
23,000 Liberatsd AMoni.
8,500 Free.
3,000 Liberated A&icuM.
33330 Free.
6.180 Liberated ArHcuii.
' 17,788 Preo.
8.181 Liberated Africani.
ceeding 200,0001. for tbatpurpoae.
Another source ooneistea in the
liberated Africans. At present th«
cost of these liberated negroes was
defrayed bj the colonists ; bat the
Government were prepared to cast
upon this country the cost of con-
veying these negroes to the West
Indies. But the great body of
these negroes were set free at
Sierra Iieone ; and be believed the
transferring them to the West In-
dies would be not only bensflcial
to these colonies, but beneGcial to
the negroes themselves, and to tbe
colony of Sierra Leone itself.
" Another measure of relief would
be to postpone tbe repayment of
the hurricane loan for five years ;
and a new loan would be made to
Tobago, Sfi a relief on account of
the last hurricane."
Reading various extncte ftom
the memorial of the Jamaica House
of Assembly and other documents.
Sir Charles contended that there
was vast room for agricultural im-
provements in the West Indies;
and if proper exertions were made,
he did not despair of seeing those
colonies restored to a state of com-
parative prosperity.
Mr. Robinson gave credit to tbe
Government for the openness of
thsir declaration, but thought that
if the West Indies were to nave no
other measure of relief than that
suggested by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, they must be prepared
for total and irreparable ruin.
Mr. Hume and Mr. Ellice also
made a light account of the pn>-
mised measures, but ui^ged Lord
G. Bentinck to withdraw his mo-
tion and leave the matter to the
responsibiUly of Government.
Mr. James Wilson entered into
the subject at considerable length.
He commenced by observing that
he should not follow the noble
En9U«d.\ HISTORY. [7
Mover into those gvneral qnesdoiu admitted th&t he had heard with
of oommercial poUcj into which he great BatiaGution the alatement of
bad deviated, but should confine Uie Chancellor of the Exchequer
lutoseU exclnaiTelj to the intereeta last night, not merely because he
of the cultivators of eugar. He (Sir 0. Wood) had announced the
placed the whole qoestion on the intention of the Government to
lateteetofdieWflstlndianplanters, adhere to the Act of 1816, but
on their demands for protectioD, because he had also announced his
aad on the power of Government intention to remove many restrio-
to grant those demands. The West tions which still pressed heavily on
Indians rested their demands for the West Indian planters ; hut he
protection on four distinctgrouads; nevertheless thbugfat that much
of which the first was, that if moral further good might be conferred
considerationa compelled us to ex- on the o^onies by going into this
dude slavery from our colonies, Committee, for if thoee planten
they also compelled us to exclude were to be saved, it must be by a
all sngar, the produce of slave considerable change in the social
labour, from the home market ; relations of the islands in which
the second, tiiat slave labour was they lived. In the British West
cheaper than free labour, and Indian islands the whites formed
that it was therefore unequal only 7i per cent, of the whole
and unJDst to confine the West population, whilst the labourers
Indians to free labour entirely; formed theotherOeJperoent.; for
the third, that the sugar of the whites only went there to make
Cuba was the produce of slave their fortunes, and, when they had
labour, and ought, therefore, to be done so, retnmed home to spend
excluded ; and the fourth, that the them. But it was not so in Cuba.
Imperial Legislature had power to In that island there were ancient
protect the sugar colonies by ex- fkmilies resident on their estates,
eluding all Bugar the produce of and therefore attentive to the im-
fottiga colonies emploTiog slave provement and prosperity of their
labour. He cmitendea at great country. Nothing of this kind naa
lettgth that not one of these four to be found in the firitish West
propositions was true ; and, in the Indies; and, as a proof of the
course of his oheervatioiis, entered vnietcbed consequences of such i
into a laboured refutation of most system, he mentioned that there
of the arguments advanced last were 800 miles of tailroad in Cuba,
night by Lord O. Bentinck. He and not above a dozen in the whole
showed that 300,000 tons of sngar of our West Indian possesaions.
were now annotlly produced by Considerable mischief had alM
free labour in countries east of the been done to our planters by the
Cape of Good Hope, and si^gested onerous resttictioiis placed on them
that even if the Legislature were as employers of labour with regard
to exclude the sugars of Cuba and to the importatioD of labourers.
Btasil, on the ground that they They had also suffered injury from
were die prodoce tit slave labour, the want of laws for the pre-
the West Indian planters wouldstill vendon of squatting and vagraney.
find it impossible to compete nith- Now, these were all oonsideiations,
out difflcnl^ with that enormous and many others might be sug*
it of fne-labour produce. He gested, conneoted with the polk^
8] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
and finance of the West Indian sugars of Cuba and Porto Rico had
islands, nhich might usefully be- not&llenintbesaineproportiouas
come subjects of inquiiy before a tlie price of Britisb su^u^; and.
Select Committee; and, such being having established that point, he
the case, he hoped that Lord Q. concluded that the Act of 161S
Bentinck nould not accede to the must have had some share in
proposition of Ur. Hume, bat producing the ousting distress,
would persevere in hia motion for Almost all the requests of the
inquiry. colonists the Chancellor of the Ex-
Mr. T. Baring observed, that of chequer bad rejected, contending
all the disheartening statements that it vros not the law, but the
which this debate had brought for- absenteeism of the proprietors, and
ward, none was more so than the their want of management in their
description which Mr. Wilson had estates, which had caused all the
given of the flourishing condition distress. Now, he (Mr. T. Baring)
of Cuba, and of the depressed con- was afraid that the Chancellor of
dition of the West Indian islands, the Exchequer would find that the
Mr. Wilson had also told theHouse residents in the Colonies had suf-
that no protection could save our fered as much as the absentees.
Colonies ; for such was the gronth and that West Indian estates were
of sugar in countries east of the as well managed by agents as by
Cape of Good Hope, that he was proprietors. The Chancellor of the
only surprised th^ our Colonies Exchequer had quoted extracts
were not worse off than they were, from many nameless pamphlets to
havii^ such an amount of produce show that West Indian estates
recently raised to compete with in were not well managed ; but he
the market But why was this? would have been better pleased had
Because the planters in the east Sir C. Wood given the House ex-
were not fettered in their labour, tracts from the despatches of our
and because there had not been different governors — Sir C. Grey,
among them that great revolu- Lord Harris, and other men of in-
tion which took from them the telligence and station. But how
means of producing sugar at the were those estates to be better
very moment at which it opened managed, when in consequence of
the home market to other sugars, the Act of 184G the credit and
When the Chancellor of the Ex.- capital of our West Indies were
chequer asserted that the Act of destroyed, and the credit and
1646 had not produced the dis- capital of Cuba and Brazil had
trees of the West Indian interest, risen upon theirniin? TheHouse
and that sugar was now only suf- had raised hopes in the West
fering the same depression of price Indian planters in 1840, and in
to which other article were now 1844, which it had subsequently
liable, he overlooked the real ques- disappointed. It had given them
tion, whether the same fall of price a compensation which was clearly
had taken place in the su^rs inadequate, for it was founded on
which were not introduced nito the value of the slave, and without
this country before 1646, as had any consideration of the fact that
taken place in the sugars of our when the slave was taken away
ovrnColonies. Mr.Baringthenpro- from the property the property was
ceeded to show that the price of the rendered valueless. He would not
Enjlaad.]
HISTORY.
[9
saij, that it it «eie possilile to fe-
Btore BUvei; to the Mauritins and
the West Indies, it would not be &
good bargain for those Colonies to
fuj back that money to this coirn-
tiy. He did not set himself up
as an advocate for&ee trade; but,
if he did, be should contend that
the case of the West Indians was
an exception from the ordinary
principles of free trade. If it were
not, iroold the free traders rest the
tiutb of their principles on the suc-
cess of the experiment which they
had tried in the Act of 1846?
They had said that it would benefit
all, ityare none, and produce a low
price of sugar; but if it should
throwout of cultivatioD the exist-
ing sugar plantsUions, as he auti-
cipated, then it would destroy the
punters, and ultimately enhance
the price of sugar itself. It had
been said that free trade was cer-
tain to produce hannony in all
quarters ; but the oommencement of
the era of hannony would not be
Teiy bvourable if free trade should
produce discord between our Colo-
niea and the mother country. Let
the House then declare whether it
attached value to those Colonies or
not; whether it wotildallow them to
transfer their allegiance to another
power; and whether, according to
the principles of free trade, they
would allow them to sell themselves
in the dearest, and to buy their
OoTemment in the cheapest mar-
ket. With r^ard to the motion
of Lord O. Bentinck, he wished to
say, that althongh the West Indian
interest would look with confidence
to theappointnentof aCommittee,
if Government would give them
any assurance of substantial relief,
they did not attach much import-
ance to it now, as any relief which
the Coniniittee might suggest Mould
come too lat«. The alteration o( the
duties on mm and molasses might
be of use if connected with other
measures, but would be of no use
by itself. He would therefore
leave the responsibility upon Sliui-
Bters to decide whether the country
should psy an additional price for
its sugar for the pur])OBe of giving
free labour a fair trial, and of so
making free labour the best exter-
minator of slave labour. He called
upon the country to observe their
conduct, and to insist upon their
saying whether they would restore
hope to theColonies, to enable them
to struggle against the competition
of slave labour, or whether, after
acknowledging their distress, they
would not give them a farthing in
relief, although last year they had
given 8,000,0002. to mitigate the
sufferings of Ireland.
Mr. Bemal support«d the claims
of the West Indians, as did Sir
Edward Buxton, and Mr. Ooul-
bum, the two latter resting their
arguments rather on anti-slavery
grounds. Mr. Bagsbaw asserted
the rights of the East Indies to
relief. Mr. Labouchere backed up
Sir Charles Wood's argument, re-
peating his assertion that free la-
bour would be able to compete
successfully with slave labour. Mr.
Disraeli supported the motion iu
his usual lively and pungent style
of oratory.
The real problem before the
House, he said, was the success of
the new commercial system in the
only branch of our imperial in<
dustry upon which it had been
tried : it bad proved, he main-
tained, a total failure. But the
bulk of his speech was a very ani-
mated and trenchant attack on the
paltrinesBof the Government policy
and measures. He announced, in
the outset, that he should give an
nnqtialified opposition to the vote
10] ANNUAL REGISTEE, 1848. lEnpland.
of SOO.OOOI. for immigration. Hs niurn of free tnd« ? Turning to
conld not bring himself to tbink Mr. Cobden, Mr. Disnteli oon-
ihat such a sum could exer- eluded vrith a pointed and em-
cise any influence on the dietress phBtiodenunciationofthequackeij
of the Colonies ; it could not exe^ of economic science,
cise&nyinfluenceatal] 1 and there- I>ord George Bentinclt, in his
fore be would not encourage the lax reply, explnined vhy he could not
practice of public men. who, after yield to the recommendations of
having got themselTes. by want of Mr. Hume and Mr. Elliee to
prescience, into difficulty, endea- withdraw his motion. If either
Youred to extricate themselves from of those gentlemen had expressed
it by a grant of public money. If a readiness to support any eub-
tbere were the money to spare, it stantial measures of relief to the
might become a question what West Indies, he would have ac-
would be the best thing to do with ceded to their request ; but all
it : perhaps it might be, to build a that be had beard from them was
new National Gallery. that Government would not do
He contrasted the brief notice more than what it had announced,
bestowed on the avowed remedies andthathisCommitteewouldexcite
— the ten minutes devoted to mo- hopes which would only be disap-
lasses and immigration— with the pointed. He thought it worth tiy-
faour and a half given to secret and mg whether he could not obtain by
inuendo remedies— the cardinal vir- this Committee such evidence as
tuesof "enerm'"and "enterprise," would at last bring conviction even
preached by Her Majesty's Govern- to the House of Commons,
ment, in jingling words, in smooth The motion for a Committee wai
phrases, and loose abstractions. agreed to without a division.
Sir Charles Wood had preached The next proceeding in Parlia-
" competition, "but competition pre- ment relative to West Indian affairs,
sumes equality of circumstances ; was a proposal made by the Chan-
and what is theequatity between the cellorof the Exchequer, on the let
Spanish ond British Colonies in the May, to the House of Commons, to
West Indies? the Spanish Colonies authoriEC a loan of 800,0001. for
having abundance of labour, for the purpose of promoting the im-
which they pay nothing; the British migration of free labourers into the
Colonies deficiency of labour, for Colonies of British Guiana and
which they pay dearV Cor head- Trinidad. This motion was stoutly
long legislation, in fact, has created opposed by Mr. Hume, who uived
a differential duty in favour of the that, as the report of the Select
Spaniards. Such is the effect of Committee on West Indian ai^in
being ruled not by facta, but by would shortly be presented to the
phrases ! House, it vrould be more advisable
The West Indian supply of to postpone the proposed grant
S50,000 tons of sugar will disap- until that time. It appeared, bow-
pearfromthemarketsof tlieworld; ever, on farther explanation, that
and what will then become of cheap the money had already been ex-
sugar? Of what use will the pended, upon the authority of the
Colonies be, except as garrisons? Colonial Secretary, Lord QrOT; a
and, indeed, what use can we have proceeding against which the Earl
of garrisons, in the coming millen- of ]>ice8ter and some other Mett-
S»gUiuL-]
HISTORY.
[11
ben protMted as contrarj to
nssge aad constltudona] nils. Ul-
tiinUe]j. upon the megMtion of
Ur. Herries, I^ord John Bussell
coDSCDted to tttke a reduced gnut
of ITO.OOOf., which was CBrried on
■ di<nNOD bj 70 to 31.
Aa the Sesaioii advanced it be-
euao evident, from the increu-
ingl; adverse tenor of the acconnts
received from the West Indies,
that 00010 meaaore of relief or as-
natance most be extended to these
Colonies, as the onlj means of ez-
tncating them from imminent in-
•oWenc; and ruin. Althoogh the
Ministers had some months before
avowed their determination to ad-
here to tbeir settlement of the pre-
ceding year, sjmptoma of concea-
aion began to manifest themseWea ;
and at length, on the 16th of June,
Lord John Rusaell laid before ttae
House of Commons hii proposed
measore of relief. In moving that
the House should resolve itself into
a Committee to consider the Aot
of & 10 Vict. c. 63, Lord John
reviewed the past legislation afieot-
ing the West Indies, especially
referring to the Emancipation Act
of 1834, and to the alteration
of the Sugar Duties, by admitting
foreign free-labour sugar in 1S4G,
and all foreign sugar in 1846.
The first measure he declared to
be an act of humanity and justice,
andheverilybelieved, that if it had
not passed, we should have had a
series of inaurrections and disturb-
ances, which would have been fatal
to the prosperity of the West
Indies. The gift of 90,000,0001.
to the West Indian proprietors
showed that the Parliament and
people of England were disposed
to make important toorifices to pre-
vent distress and ruin from falling
on them. Both that Act and the
Acts of 1640, he maintained, had
been completely attocessfol. The
main object of the Act of 1634 vras
to give freedom to 800,000 slaves,
and to place them in a condition of
independence and proeperitj. That
ol^ect was admitted on all hands
to have been attained. The main
object of the Act of 1846 was to
obtain a cheaper and larger supply
of sugar, with a diminution <n
burdens to the people of England ;
an abject which he showed by
financial retnms had been com-
pletely accomplished. The con-
sumption of sugar had increased
from 344,000 tons in 1640 to
290,700 tons in 1647, and was still
increasing. The revenue derived
from the duties on sugar had in-
creased from 8,74B,000{. in 1645,
to 4,6be,00O{. in 1847.
Lord John reviewed the mea-
Buree which had been taken for in-
troducing labourers ^m the East
Indies into the Mauritius, and
from the East Indies and Africa
into the West Indian Colonies;
which ho admitted had not been
very sucoeesful, The present state
of the case was, that labourers might
be introduced from any British
poisession in Africa, with only this
provision, that there should be an
officer on board the vessel who
should take care that there were no
transacUons resembling the pur-
chase of slaves or the slave trade,
and that the person vrho emigratee
to the West Indies, should go there
with his own consent. Also, " li-
berated Africans," from captured
slave ships, were conveyed direct to
the West Indies, instead of being
sent first to Bierra Leone. But
the suspicion entertained in this
country, that the slave trade might
be revived under the pretence of
immigration — the fear that slaves
shonld be compelled to vmrkinthe
West Indies — retarded for a longer
12] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
period tlian was quite lair or just 1846. What he proposed vas,
to the West Indian proprietora the tbat the du^ on colonial sugar
immigration into the West Indies, should be reduced after the 6th of
He proposed, therefore, to do more Juir in the present year to IS*.,
now than he should have done had and should be reduced snbse-
that (jaestioii been eetUed some ^uently a shilling eveir succeed-
years ago, and had there been a ing year until it reached 10«. He
fiiir import of labour since the year likewise proposed that the duty on
1834. Ue proposed to make an ordinary foreign Muscovado sugar
advance to the Colonies, on the shouldremain as fixed by the Act
security of the colonial revenues, of 1846; but he proposed a new
for the purpose of meeting the ex- distinctive duly for foreign brown
Eense of immigration; or rather, clayed sugar. In this species of
e should say, that he proposed to sngar, the foreign producer had an
guarantee a colonial losn, not ex* undue advantage, from the wide
ceeding 500,0001., in addition to variation of quality which might
160,000i. which the House had be made to come under that head ;
already guaranteed this Session. and thus the foreigner was able to
Complaints had been made of introduce a very liigh quality of
the too rapid operation of the Act that saw under the low range of
of 1846; and that under it one duty. Lord John proposed a dis-
clasaofsugarhadanadvantageover tjnctive scale for brown clayed, or
every ether class in the classifies- qualities equal to brown clayed,
tion of duties, which it ought not foreign sugar: from the 5th July,
fairly to have. In considering that 1618, to &» 5th July, 1849, the
subject, he firankly avowed that he duty would remain at 20(. ; and it
did not thiuk it fair to the Bridsli would then be reduced by It. M.
consumer to impose a difierential ayear, until itreacbed a 10«. duty
duty of 10*. on sugar, to last for inJulyl854. The proposed duties,
ten years or more, for the purpose then, would stand thus : —
of revivinir the industry and pros- r*ueiidiD( FonifD. coioowii.
perity of the West Indiea. Ho ^'^^ "■ *™cu,m. h^ ""^'"^
therefore looked in another direc- 1849 ... 20 ... 16 9 ... 13
tiun: be looked to the experience 1S50 ... 18 « ... 17 ... 12
of late years, in which he saw that, j|*' - j' * ■■■ jj < - jl «
with regard to manv articles on ig^g "; ,4 ^ ;;; ,3 q ;" ,0 q
which the duty had been dimi- 1B54 ... 13 ... 12 ... 10
Dished and the price had been ^ •
lowered, the revenue had been no Equal ... 10 10 10
loser, whilst theconsumer had been Of course such a change in tliese
a great gainer. He quoted a table Sugar Duties would require a cor-
showing that from 18S6 to 1841 responding change to be made In
every &II in the duty on sugar had the duties on refined and double
been accompanied by a rise in the refined white^Iayed sugars, and
consumption, and every rise of duty on molasses,
by a ful in the consumption; a Complaints had been made by
fact also shown by the returns for the West Indian proprietors of the
184&-7. He therefore looked to differential duty on rum. Lsst
a large consumption of sugar for year, the Chancellor of the Ex-
the means of modifying the Act of chequer had proposed that the dif-
EnfUni.] HISTORY. [13
f«reii(ial da^ on mm Bbonld be sfaarpl; accused the Government
6i. Some difficult; arooe on tlut of broking &itli nith the West
propositioD, and the Chancellor of Indies. Lord George faateued
the Exchequer raised it to 9d., a serioos imputation upon Mr.
althoogfa he maintained that id. Hawes, of having withheld from
was quite sitfficient. The Chair- the Conunittee on the West Indies,
man of the Board of Excise thought for fift^-six dajs, a despatch of
that id. was sufficient as a differ- Sir Glurlea Grey, Governor of
eutial dn^ ; and Lord John there- Jamaica, suggealing a plan of re-
ibre conld not agree to impose a lief for tiie West Indies,
higher differential duty on rum The measure was attacked on free-
Ihan that sam. There was one trade groonds hj Mr. Bright, Mr.
question connected with this rednc- Cobden, and Mr. Cliarles Villiers ;
lion of da^, which would make it Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright calling
neceasaiy to withdraw the permia- upon the House not to overlook the
sion ^ven last jear to use sugar in sufferings of their own fellow-coun-
breweries. With regard to the use trymen in Yorkshire and Lanca-
of sugar in distilleries, no change shire.
in the present law would be made. On the 18th the auhject was
The proposition of the Govern- renewed, Sir John Pakington pro-
ment was received with & good deal posing an amendment coudemna-
of disapprobation in several qoar- toiy of the MiniBterial scheme in
ters of the House. the fallowing terms : —
Sir Robert Inglis and Sir John " That this House, considering
Pakineton condemned it, on the the evidence taken during the
ground that it would encourage present Session before a Select
the slave trade. Committee, is of opinion that the
Mr. Bemal, Mr. Barkly, Mr, remedies proposed by Her Ma-
Henry Bsillie, Mr. Hume, Mr. jesty's Government for the great
Henry Drummond, Mr. Philip distress of the sagar^ro¥ring pos-
Hiles, Mr. Uenley, Mr. Hudson, sessions of the Crown, and which _
and Mr. Evelyn Denison, all con- that Committee has said will re-'
demned the plan as totally insuffi- quire the immediate application of
cient to avert the ruin of the West relief, will neither effect that oh-
Indies. Mr. Barkly declared that ject, nor check the stimulus to the
the loan of 600,0001. would be slave trade which the diminution
useless for purposes of immigra- of the cultivation of sugar in those
tiou — it might as well be thrown colonies has inevitablyoccasioned."
into the sea. Mr. Bemal claimed, Th^ object of this amendment, he
on behalf of the West Indian pro- said, was not to create embarrasK-
prietors, the right to import their ment and delay, but to rescue the
produce into this coontiy free from Colonies from the danger which
all duties whatever, was impending over them. He
Mr. Herries, Lord George Ben- did not argue the qneetion ns one
tinck, sad Mr. Distaeli, vigorously of protection or anti-protection, hut
urged both objection^^the encou- contended that the differential
ragement of Uie slave trade, and duty now proposed by the Govero-
the insufficient aid to the West ment was quite inadequate to tho
Indies. Mr. Duraeli called it a present crisis, and totally incapable
paltry and perilous measure ; and affording relief to the distress
14]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [B»»l«i<I.
of Ui6 British Colonies. HeproTed
tliia bj referring to the comparative
co3t of produoiDff sugar in the
British West Indies and in the
slave colonies of Cuba and the
BraziU. He aUo objected to that
psrtofXiord John Husseirs scheme
nhich permitted the captured Afri-
eana to be landed in tfamaioa and
the other West Indian islands
free of coat, on the ground that it
may lead to the renewal of the
slave trade. He likewise oom<
plained of the mode in which the
Act of 1846 had been passed, and
of the rasnltB which it had pro-
duced in the West Indies. No leas
than eighteen mercandle houses in
the Weat Indies had already be-
come bankrupt, and if the present
state of things continued, other
firms must be involved in the same
ruin. He ahowed that equally
melanoholj reaults had been pro-
duced by the same cause in the
Mauritius and in the East Indies;
and quoted the opinions of the
moat competent authorities in all
ourColoniea to prove that onr sugar
planters oould not cultivate their
estates to advantage without com-
petent protection. He then turned
to that portion of the subject which
is connected with slavery and the
slave trade, and contended that the
Aot of I64S had increased both loan
extent almost incalculable. If we
wished to exterminate tlie slave
trade we must enable the British
planter to enter Into competition
with slave labour, and to do that
we must give him competent pro-
tection. He therefore implored
the House to retr«oe iu st«pe, as it
valued the dependencies of the
British Crown and the reputation
and character of this Christian
land.
Sir E. Buxton seconded the
amendment, thoogh he did not
approaoh tlia question a1t4^ether
with the same views as Sir J.
Pakington. The true policy ' of
this country was, he thought, to
exclude from its shores all slave-
labour sugar, and to admit from
every country, vrithout any restric-
tion, sugar the prodnoe of free
labour. He was anxious to let the
people of England have sugar at a
low pnoe ; but he firmly believed
that if they were informed that
they could not have low-priced
sugar without the destruction of
the man who made it, they would
reject it with abhorrence, and would
gladly give a higher price for the
sugar raised by the freeman.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer
had listened to the speeches of the
mover and seconder of the amend-
ment with great attention, in the
vainhope that be should findin some
portion of them a aubatitute for the
measure of the Government which
the^ condemned ; but with all his
desire to dive into the meaning of
Sir J. Fakington's amendment, he
could not make out either what he
would do for the relief of the West
Indian planter, or what protection
he would grant to hia augar. Sir
E. Buxton was somewhat more ex-
plicit, for hs proposed the perpetual
exclusion of slave-labour sugar;
but, unfortunately. Parliament had
already decided against that pro-
position, as well as against the
perpetual high protective duty to
which Sir J. Pakington appeared
inclined. He then proceeded to
contend, In opposition to the same
seotlemen, that the Act of 1848
had not caused that increase of
slavery and the slave trade which
had been attributed to it; that
neither slavery nor the slave bade
could be put down by high protec-
tive duties ; and tiiat the only
mode of extinguishing either was
Biytow*.] HISTORY. [15
})j Mtablialiiiig the ■nperior ohesp- it were carried it weald compel
new of free I^iour. He admicied the GoTemmeut to reeoniider liie
that there was no hope of reetunng whole of this eut^ect. After a
the proaperity of the West Indiei, itrong attack on tho political eoo-
aolw we could enable their nomiate, whom he charaDteriaed aa
planters to compete anccesefiil]/ doll deceivers, who were eometimes
with the pUntero in Cuba and in right in their deeimala but always
the firazila ; and at the risk of wrong in their millions, he ex-
being lectured by Mr. Ellice as bresaed himself unable to conceive
Lord J. Rossell had been for how the country, which had ao
alluding to the extravagance of the noblv abolished alavery in 1807,
West Indies, he would repeat, that could have passed the Act of 1840,
one mode of enabling them to which not only encoutaged slavery
meet that canpetition was the di- but also renewed the slave trade, or
minotion of their expenses, and how it could accede to a proposition
eapecially of the coat of managing like the present, It was true that
their estatea. After showing that the Act of 1846 had rendered sugar
protection had operated very in- cheap ; but did the House nefet
jurioDsly in the West Indies by hear of parties selling their wares
iucreaaiog the rate of wages, which at a tremendous sacrifice ? Many
wai an essential ingredient in the of our plsntera were already
price of production, he argued at ruined, and those who were not
great length that Oovemment were declining businees ; and the
would defeat its own olyeot if it result would be that the supply of
were to restore the high protectioa sugar would diminish, and before
which formerly existed, and that long the price wonld again increase,
the best plan for renewing the He should have gladly given his
prosperity of the West Indies and vote in favour of a lOt. discrimi-
(br auppreesing the slave trade nating duty against alt foreign
would be the plan of the Govern- sugar ; but, aa that question was
meat, which gave at once a free sup. not at present before the House,
plyoflabourtothose colonies which he should vote in favour of 8ir J.
wanted it, and an extension for Fakington'a amendment.
three years longer of the moderate Mr. Hume rose as a free trader
protection now in foree. He then to show that £ree trade had nothing
travelled over mocb of the same to do with the queatiou then before
^nnd as on Friday last, defend- the House. Free trade could only
mg the Government resolutions in operate where the parties were in
all their details, and contending like (nroumstances, and where both
that whilst thev were beneficial to could apply the same otQects to
the West Indies, they were not the same ends. Now, it was the
iignrious to the consumers in this opinion of Mr. Deacon Hume that
country. He also maintained that if the British West Indies could
no ii^ury would accrue to the re- be placed on a footing of equality
venue from the changes now pro- with Cuba or Porto ^co, they
posed, as they were calculated to would be able to compete with
produce an increased consumption them successfully ; and that gen-
of sugar. tleman entertained that opinion
Mr. Seymer snnported the with great oonfidence, beoause, up
amendment, in the nope that if to a recent period, this oounlxy had
16] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. \E„,l,nd-
been die great mart for the sugar, be better to let them die qnickl;
oofiee.andTumof the West Indies, than to keep them in a lingering
" But," Boid he, " nhen ^ou abo- and painfiil existence. For hia own
lished BlaTei7 you depnved the part, he was of opinion that if we
British planter of the labour which were to withdraw our squadron
he enjoyed before in common with from the coast of Africa, and apply
the Spanish colonist; and until the expense of it to the relief of
you have again placed him on a the distress in the West Indies, in
level with his rivals in that re- ten years their proBperity would
spect, you cannot call upon him to be restored, and all their distress
meet the competition of free trade." would Tsnisb.
The British planter therefore had The debate after Mr. Hume's
a cloAn to a discriminating duty, speech was adjourned, and on the
not as a matter of favour, but as a following night was resumed ; Mr.
matter of right And why? Be- P. Miles and Lord George Ben*
cause every arrangement into which tinck opposing the Govemmeut
Great Britain had entered with plan, and Mr, Hawes defending it.
him at the period of emancipation The discussion now assumed a veiT
had been grossly violated. He had, personal shape, Lord G. Bentinck
therefore, not had the requisite accusing the Colonial Office in
means for the cultivation of his round terms of suppressing im-
eslates, and hence his present dis- portant information, in order to
tress. He believed that free labour keep the House and the public in
was the only mode by which you the dark as to the real predicament
could put down slave labour; but oftheColonies. Mr. Hawes warmly
his complaint was, that the colo- repelled the imputation, and Lord
nblshad never hadau opportunity of John Russell coming to the asaist-
giving free labour a fair trial. The ance of his colleagues, esnecially of
Colonial Office had prevented that Earl Giey, attacked Lord G. Ben-
—the Colonial Office, which from tinck with great warmth and per-
first to last had always been a sonali^. The following passage
nuisance. Fortunate would it have will exhibit a specimen of the
been for the Colonies if that Office tone of this unusually acrimonious
had been locked up, for, if we had diecussion. Lord John Russell
' allowed them to manage their own said : —
afbirs, they would have known no- "Ingeneral, with regard to those
thing of this distress. As we had matters, it is quite evident that
not allowed them the labour which these menu frauds^-^hese ex-
they wanted, and as the loes of tremely disgraceful tricky — which
that labour had occasioned high the noble Lord imputes to my noble
H-ages, we ought to consider whe- friend — are not the faults and the
ther we could not restore the con- characteristics of men high in office
fidence which we had destroyed in this country. They are the
by giring them a supply of labour, characteristics of men who are eu-
and that protection which we had gsged in pursuits which the noble
promised hut had subsequently Lord long followed. {Loud ciie» of
withdrawn. He was of opinion 'Oh.ohV and grtat uproar.) Some
that the measure of Government time ago, the noble Lord very
would have no effect in restoring greatly dislinguished himself by
their prosperity, and that it would detecthig a fraud of this nature —
Engimi:] HISTORY. [17
(loud cAwrt and counur^heen) — tinck dediiMd toBiBkeanydiatmcl
withicspecttothenameaadageofft retractation of Ub former charges,
bone; * traosaction in nUch he and after moch fmicless altercation
showed \Brj great quickness of ap- the debate on the main question
prefaensioi)." {Great eonfution.) was resumed. Mr. ikmai began
Lord John continued bia re- \ij laying before the House some
mariis in the same tone, inter- personal knowledge of the depreci-
mpted by renewed bursts of angiy atlon and ruin tbatwas overspread-
intermption, and applause mm ing planters' estates in Jamaica.
his own side. He, however, announced his in-
Ur. Dianeli took up the qnarrel. tention of giving his vote in favour
He soggeeted that charges of this of Lord John Russell's proposition,
nature were not to be disposed of although he was not a warm ad-
by appeals to high station or pedi- mirer either of that plan or of any
gree. Lord George BentinCk'a in- other that had been proposed,
defatigable spirit of investigation Sir James Graham rapidly re-
and coniage were not to be cowed viewed the oircumslances of the
by any bravo, whatever his position first infringement of the policy of
— not to be bullied either in the excluding from this country the
ring or on the Treasury bench, sugarofslave-labonrcountries; and
In the matter of the horse. Lord he defended the Act of 1845 on the
George had been thanked by a whole case as it then stood. He
meeting at Newmarket, the chair- admitted, however, as an imper-
mao of which meeting was the fection of that Act. that prominency
Duke of Bedford. This was not the bad not been given in it to the
first time that despatches had been question of encouragement or non-
treated nnttttis&ctorily by an Ad- encouragement of the slave-trade,
ministration. The Honse might The steps following that Act were
remember the suppressions in the a necessary seqnel to the first steps
de^iatchea of Sir Alexander Bumes. taken in the new course : the sub-
Sereral other members took part ject was one of great difficulty, but
in the contention, and warm re- the balance was in favour of tbs
criminations were interchanged, course taken. The Act of 1646
ontil Mr. Hawes was called to order received Sir James's unwilling sup-
by the Speaker. Lord Palmerston port, on the grounds stated by Sir
interposed with an ingenious and Robert Peel. He now opposed a
good-nnmoured speech, endeavour- ten-shilling protective duty for six
inglohealtbebreeehbyexploiniug years, as inexpedient for the co-
Ihe afbir to have originated in a Ionics themselves, from its probable
misconception between Kir. Goul- effects in exaggerating the compe-
bum and Mr. Hawes. The debate tition for labour, and raising ^vages.
was again adjourned, and on its He had also a more general ground
resumption the personal iuputa- of objection. On the first night of
tions affecting the Colonial Ad- this session Mr. Disraeli had re-
ministration again became the sub- ferred to a prophecy made by him
ject of discussion. Mr. Dawes two years ago, ^at there would be
entered into a lengthened explana- areaclion in our commercial policy;
tion of the facts affecting the and he now triumphed in what he
despatches alleged to have been believed ti> be the nearaccomplisb-
mppressed, bntLord George Ben- ment of that prophecy — bebelieved
yoL. XC. [C]
18] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. VSngland.
that tfae time had arrived when the prifDo necwmiea of lifo. lam
tbatreacUonwouldcommence. Nor satisfied you moat be mcMt oanlioaB
vas tliat all ■ Lord Stanley had the not to let anything enhance the
other night, in another plaoe, asked prioes of artiolesof the flrat necea-
foraprolongationofthetimeduring eity. Cheap sugar is not to be
which the existing Com Law waa laughed at, sotwitbilanding the
to continue; and Ur. Herrieahad anathema of the Duke of Rioh-
deliberately given it sa his opinion mond. Sugar enters into the eom-
tbat nothing would be really effec- forta of every family; it ia the only
tnal lor the relief of the West little luxury that many fomilies can
Indies except a diacriminatJng duty et^oy; it renders palatable their
approaohing in its character to a rice, their gruel, their cront, their
prohibition. Why, if we were to indifferent toa and coffee. It is
revert to a system of prohibitory our duty, as far as poasible, to
duties on foreign sugar, and if, cheapen everything. When it be-
under the terms lately issued by comes a question of reactloD and of
the Protection Society and signed prohibitory duties, I oppose myself
by the Duke of Richmond, the idea to reaction; for I believe that in
of cheapneea was to be made the the present state of the countir
snl)jeot of ridicule and soom, then that policy is impractioable — if
he would at once say, to any praotioable, most lungeroua; and
Bttch reaction he was opposed. In if carried into effeot I ^uld
passing, he would advert to what tremble for the consequences. I
had been said with respect to most sincerely intend to give my
cheap sugar, and the connexion vote against the amendment."
which the noble Lord said there The debate again adjourned vraa
existed between cheap production continued at great length, llie
and low wages. He did not shrink Oovernment plan waa opposed on
from that declaration. His official Anti-Slavery grounds by Sir Robert
expenence— Inglls, on Protectionist grounds by
Lord Oeorge BenCinok— " Yon the Marquis of Grsnby and Ur.
have sUted it both ways." Urquhart. Ur. Munta otgeoted to
Sir James Orahsm — "Thattaunt re-open the settlement of 1845.
blla upon me harmlessly. No taunt Mr. Labouchere defended the Mini-
can now drive me from office, to sterial scheme, hut without novelty
make way for others. I have no of ai^ument.
power which the noble Lord or Mr. Barkly defended the planters
others may desire to deprive me of, from exploded charges which had
to bestow it elsewhere. I desire no- been renewed by Mr. Hawes, and
thing but to speak the plain truth, corrected that gentleman's stato-
I was formerly of opinion that low ment in several details; giving hia
prices made low wages; butmyoffl- own personal experience gathered
oial experience seems to gustily the on the spot. He showed that
oonolusion that high pnces make the unremuneralive condition of
low wages; and that the effects si^ar-planting does not arise from
of low wages fall most heavily on abaenteeism or careless cnltivatjon.
the working classes at a time when He described the exertions of a
they are least able to bear that planter who had spent 6,0001. or
evil, because then they are in a 7,0001. and great personal exertion
condition tibe least able to purchase without suocess. In Berhloe, he
JSnflmt.} HISTORY. [19
tKW a peiwm who had lived on hit exprasaing hie doep Bjmpathy with
omi etlate for firtj jesrs ; two years the diatreaa of oar Oolonies in the
be&n Ur. Bai'kl;r'" ^i^U he hod West Indiea — Colonies ^rbioh had
nfiiaed for hia propertj 60,000/., stood by us unflinctdnglj duiing
ofiiBTad by a noUraiBiL now in the the American and the French re-
Honae of Peara ; whan Mr. Borkly volutions, and had been the con- ■
n« him, that penon had aold his duoton liy which the temfwst of
estate for 1000 doUara, and was war had on both oooaaions been
tbm linng on an allowanoe grantad averted from our own shoree. There
to him by his former manager : the were, however, social relations
manager had onwsed orer to the eonnected with those Colonies <^
Dutch alaTe-faolding colony, and even still higher value than poli-
thers BOOD amaased a fortone. tieal relations. The smaller the
Mr. Goolbum took a view similar white population was in them, the
to Mr. Ghtdstooe's; but, although more important was it for the pur
he dtsdaimed a recurrenoe to pro- poaee of ciTillzation, humanity, and
tection, leaning more to that side; religion, that we should oome for-
and also differing in his practical ward to protect them. Their dis-
ctmelnaiona aa to the rata which ha tress was now admitted on all
shoohl give- He obaerrad that hands, and there was a general
the gentlemen oppoatte came desire to remedy it. On this oc-
into office on the 6th of July, casion he would not say anything
184S; and on the SlOth of July, of the interesta of the consumer,
after fbarteen dajB* considera- but would apply himaelf to those
tion, catting short iho espeiiment of the ooloniata abne. Her Ma-
then in progFBBs, they came down jeep's Oovemment had made pro-
to the House aiid proposed a total posals for their relief, and Sir John
change in the system Uiat had been Fakington had called on the House
for aome time previous in opera- to refttse oonsideration of those pro-
tion. They eslled for the ssseot posals, and on the Govenunent to
of Parliament to the measure which bring forward a better plan, or else
they proposed, and pledged upon it to leave others the introduction of
the existence of the Government, one. The West Indies were look-
He for one gave his assent to the ing to this country for a remedy,
schema brought forward in these and if the proposals of Goveroroeut
cirenmstancea, not that he approved were condemned as unworthy of
of tha measure itself, but because consideration, the news would be
he thought there was a possibility wafted in great triomph to them,
that (he Colonies might escape the and the next day would bring back
destruction that many persona fore- a demand for new remedies. He
told was certain to ensue; and be- then discussed the merits of Lord
eanse at that particular moment G. Bentinck's plan, and look a
there was, as it appeared to him, rapidreviewofthepresentposition
danger In the general interests of of the West Indies. Having done
the em^re from another change of that, he asked whether, if he agreed
Administta^on, which, in his mind, to tiie amendment, he could go
outweighed theee chances of mis- back to the measure of 1844, and
fortune that were likely to &11 on re-establish the distinction between
the Colotbea, slave-labour and free-labour sugar?
Sir Bobert Feel commenced by He thought that he could not. In
[C2] ,...-.. ^^.-
20] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Enfftand.
1846 he agreed to the law which plopaent. If yon were to bave
put an end to that distinction, Emd immifration at all, you should have
he could not shrink from the vote it at the cost of private speculation,
which he then gave. He there- He would, therefore, facilitate the
fore could not hold out anj hopes enterprise of individual proprietora
to the West India interest in that to obtain labour in every possible
direction; neither could he hold way, taking care at the same lime
out to them any hopes from the that no ^und ahonld be afforded
reduction of Colonial expenditure, for the imputation that we were
although he thought that that ex- recurring to the slave trade. He
penditure admitted of great reduc- begged Government to consider the
tion, and ought to be reduced to best mode of extending to tlie
the narrowest limits. The pay- Colonies the pecuniary relief which
mentof the salaries of our Colonial they had determined to grant, and
Governors by the Home Govern- suggested that their presentscbeme
ment, and the passing of police might be ameliorated by devoting
laws for the prevention of vagrancy the public funds to private reme-
and squatting, were measures to be diee against drought by irrigation,
reoommended, but were not mea- better draining, and varions other
Bures to remove the existing dis- measures of local improvement,
tress. He then referred to the He came to the last of the two sug-
measures of relief to be derived gestions which he had just men-
from the reduction of differential tioned — a lOs. protecting duty for
duties on rum to id. a gallon, from six years. Now, if hs could vote
the repeal of the Navigation Laws, for that, he would vote for the
and from the withdrawal of our amendment of Sir J. Fokington;
squadron from the coast of Africa, but he could not vote for that
and delivered his opinion on each amendment without giving the
of them. He then observed that West India body a right to expect
there were only two other eug- thathewouldgiTethemthatamount
gestions of any importance left for of duty. He was, therefore, pre-
themidgationofWestlodiaBufier- pared to vote against it from a
ing. The first of them was, that sinuereandconscientionsconviction
there should be a great supply of that such protection was not for the
labour by immigration ; and the benefit of the West Indies them-
aecond, that there should be direct selves. Having given his reasons
assbtonce given to them by this for that conviction at some length,
country by the increase and con- he observed that the beet plan of
tinuance of protection to their pro- benefiting the West Indies was to
duce. Now Her Majesty's Govern- reduce the cost of cultivation to
ment had proposed a loan of public the planter, so as to enable him to
money for the first purpose. For enter into competition with the
his own part, he did not attach foreign cultivator. He could not
much importance to this increased hold out any hope of carrying that
supply of labour. To pour in a plan into execution, and, Uierefore,
large number of Coolies or other he must again decline to vote in
strangers would be injudicious; for favour of the amendment. He
you would only be adding to the would not say anything upon the
population of the Colonies without scheme of the Government, for it
providing it with permanent em- was not regularly before the House
Englmi.]
HISTORY.
[21
•t present. He did not despair of
tbe West Indies; bat he was con-
vinced, that if ve were to allow
them a monopoly of the Briiish
mariEet. it would not tend to their
prosperity. There might now be a
temporary prosperity in the slava
colooiee of Cuba and Brazils; but
he most be blind to the signs of
the times who thought that slave
labour could be nltimately main-
tained in those colonies. In bothof
them there nas no confidence in the
continuance of their prosperity.
At no time, and under no circnm-
■tances, coald a Goveniment be
seenre which contained within it-
self the accursed system of slavery.
If he could suppose that a tem-
porary profeection would mitigate
the faoiTors of that ayateiD, he would
vole for such a protection at once;
but it would not produce any miti-
gation. He reminded the West
IndioDS that there were other cir-
comstances at present which ag-
gnvated the insecurity of all slave
states. The mighty heavings of the
eonvalsion in France had already
been felt at the other side of the
Atlantic. They were already read-
ing lemons by which Cuba and the
United States ought to take warn-
ing. There was an increasing
sympathy at present vrith the slave ;
and he who imported a slave into
any country stood in slippery places,
and should take heed lest he fall.
He believed that the doom of
alaveiy was fixed, and that the slave
at nodistant period would be eman-
cipated, and would stand, in the
eloqnent language of Curran, " re-
deemed, regenerated, and disen-
thralled, by the irreeistible prin-
ciple of universal emandpalion."
Lord John Rnssetl, in reply,
pointed ont the futili^ involved in
the amendment of Sir J. Paking-
toD, inAsmnch as many gentlemen
who intended to vote for it wonld
not vote for his remedies for the
West Indies. The only effect of
his success would be to destroy
the proposition of the Oovemment;
it would not enable him to advance
a step on his road to the protection
of West India produce. His Lord-
ship then proceeded to enforce bis
former arguments and observations
in support of the scheme of Go-
vernment. In the course of his
remarks he replied to Sir B. Peel's
question, whether the loan of
500,000/. could not be appropriated
to other purposes thtui those of
immigration, by stating that the
multiplicity and vario^ of the ap-
plications would render it impos-
sible to advance it to individual
applicants. If there were any
great works undertaken in the
West Indies which were calculated
to increase their produce, or if any
great plan were devised for irri-
gating the country and for remov-
mg droiight by better drainage, he
should have no objection to extend
the appropriation of the loan to
such purposes. He then replied
at considerable length to the speech
of Mr. Gladstone on the discrimi-
nating daties, and that of Sir B.
Inglis on the increase of slaveiy
and the slave trade.
On a division there appeared, —
16
Upon going into Committee on
the 80th June, Mr. Bright re-
opened the discussion with a new
amendment, viz.: that it is not
expedient to make any alteration
in the Sugar Dutiea Act of 1846.
He observed that hitherto the de-
22] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EnsUind.
bftU had turned on Hw question, p1et9 as tbat of 1646, both as re-
wbether the Committee should garded the revenue, theproducer,
agree to the small protection pro- and the consumer. Why then
I»eed hj the Government, or to disturb a settlement bo recently
the lai^e protection that was pro- made, which bad been productive
posed bj members on the otfaer of bo much benefit to the comforta,
side. One great party in this indneti?, and exports of this coon-
tnuosaotion had been entirely for- try? Mr. Wilson, before his sue-
gotten. Great sympathy had been cession to the Administradon, had
exhibited for the colonists, and made it as 6lear as demonstration
also for the slaves; but non« could mt^e any conclusion, that
had been expressed in behalf the protection which he now ad-
of the consumers of sugar at vooited would do no good, hut
home. On their behalf he im-
plored the HoQse and the Govern-
ment not to alter the Act of 1846
and he did so because he was con
vinoed, that after the 20,000,000/.
which it had pud for the emanci-
much harm, to the West Indian
interest, to whom he now offered
it as a tioon. Sir R. Peel, in his
speech last night, had made the
same declaration, and he therefota
expected that the right hon. ba-
padon of the negroes, and after ronet would notoppose, but support
the30,000,OOOI.whichit hodgiven his amendment Having submitted
to the planters by means of the -Lord J. Russell's speech of last
iirot«ction which they hod enjoyed night to ft very severe criiJcism,
brthelasteleven years, Parliament and having pointed out the Diani-
owed nothing to the colonists, fold inconsistencies which it oon-
whilst it owed a great deal to the tained, he accused his Lordship of
consumers of this country, who having done much mischief in dia-
had been deeply wronged by the turbing the principle of free trade
protection granted for so many as applied to sugar, ond warned
years to the sugar growers. He him to be cautious of disturbing it
therefore protested against Par- as applied to com. If his Lordship
liament now taxing the people ventured upon Buoh a vagary he
of England to the amount of would not escape even with a mt-
8,000,000/. or 3,000,000/. an- jorityof 16, asbehadthatmoniin^.
nually, for the benefit of the West Indeed, he ou^ht to make np his
Indiui interest. He reminded mind to provide for the present
Lord J. Russell that his Cabinet defalcation in the revenue, befbrs
had been broken up in 1841, and he made a further gap in it by ap-
Sir. R, Peel's Cabinet in 1646, on plying 600,000/. wrung from the
Uus very question of protection ; pockets of the poor to the support
nud that even this morning the of an experiment which even the
Ministry had been in artundo West Indian body repudiated.
moTtit, bod received extreme unc- Mr. Bright's amendment was
tion, and hod only been saved opposed, on behalf of the colonial
from dissolution by the votes of interests, by Mr. Gran tley Berkeley,
15 members, who differed from Mr. Bagshaw, Mr. Tollemsche,
it m toto OS to the mode of relief. Mr. Hastie, and Lord Nugent. —
Never had a measure been passed On the part of the Government
by Failiament of which the success by Mr. Wilson and Sir Charles
had been so immediate and com- Wood. The latl«r expressed hie
BitgtMd.]
HISTORY.
[S8
; in gnat part of Mr.
Sti^fB jmnciplM and speech;
but, while hs contended that, the
Uiniflenal proposition would not
itguie the revenue, he maintained
that QoTemment was bound to
attempt a <dwok to that destniotion
of propertj which was threatened
in the West Indies, from the utter
want of credit. He estimated the
conramptiao of next jeax at
509,000 or 3 10,000 tons— being an
incTMse of 16.000 or 90,000 tons.
The amoont i^ reveDue woald de-
pend oa the proportionate increase
of foreign or colonial sugar: the
Btmoet loss could not be more tbaa
6S,00M. ; bat he calculated on a
lerenne of 1,636,000^, being an
incTMSe of 984,0001. As bearing
m the tveoilntion before the House,
Sir Charles Wood prooeeded to
aake a atatement of the existing
ftnanria^ pnapecta of the country.
This part oi the Bolgect wUl
more appropriatelj find a place in
another chapter.
After some further debate, in
which Mr. Cardwetl, Mr. Mowatt,
and Lord John RBsseU took part,
ths Committee dirided, when Mr.
Bii^t'a amendment waa declared
to be rejected by 803 to 86.
Further amendments were pro-
posed in Committee, and a good
deal of discuesioD took place upon
the details of the Bill. An amend-
ment moved bj Sir John FaldDg-
toD, for increasing the di0brential
duty in ianur of British colonial
■agar to lOt., was negatived, after
a long debate, by 331 to 169.
Another wsa proposed by Mr.
Barklj, whic^ he thus eipUined:
—He did not propose to idter the
rates of duty upon foreign and
colonial sugar, bat simply to ar-
rest the progress of tlra Bill of
1846; except that he proposed lo
uoks ID olieiatiDn in tbe ftandord
sample at the Custom-house on
which the duties are levied, and
to substitute the new standard
which the Oovemment hod adopted
for hrown-elayed sugars, so that
there might be only one class ibr
all clayed sugars, instead oi the
two classes as proposed by the
Chancellor of the Kschequer. He
proposed to give « minimum pro-
tection of 4<. 6d. per hundred-
weight on Moscorado for six years,
and a maximum protection of 7i. 7d.
upon clayed sugar for the same
period ; so as to obviate the oom-
Slaints of the eliding scale <d
uties in the Bill of 1B46. He
otfjeoted to the Government plan,
that reduotioDS of one shilling at
time would not benefit the con-
sumer, but would only frittw away
the revenue.
Sir Charles Wood objected to
the amendment that the pre-
arranged and sudden cednction of
tlie duty would cause a previous
stagnation of trade. The piopoei-
tion was also opposed d; Mr.
Labooohere, Mr. Jas. Wilson, and
Mr. Godson ; — it was supported
by Mr. W, Gladstone. Mr. Cayley,
Sir George Clark, Mr. Bruce, and
Mr. Henry Baillie. The debate
again took a ^ln»Tn\iBl iara, and
was ultimately adjourned. Being
resumed on Uia lOth July, Lord
Geo. Bentinck avuled himeelf of
the opportunity afforded him to
explain at great length the views
which he had propounded as Chair-
man of the West India Committee.
The question at present was, whidi
of all the propositions made to the
House on this sul^ect was most
worthy of its attention ? He was
bound la say, that the amendment
of Mr. Barkly was one of which
he approved very little; but the
question which he hod then to de-
termine was, whstlwr it was bettar
24] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. {.England.
or worse tlian tbe propoeition of om. He could se« notlung to
the Government? Now, tbe sum approve in ihe proposidon of Her
total of the protection for six years Maiesty's GoTemment. It would
given by Mr. Barkly's amendment aggravate tbe slave trade in its
amounted to i5s. a cwt. on the obrtrecter, and increase it in its
highest, and to 27», a cwt on the amount. Instead of reducing the
lower qualities of sugar. The whole profits of the slaveholder by iu-
protection proposed by the Minis- creasing the differential duty,
ters amounted in six years to and snaking the slaveholders pay
9Si(.6(^.acwt.intheaametime. He it, their scheme selected other
(berefore felt it impossible to deny victims, and robbed the distillers
that tbe proposal of Mr. Barkly of Scotland and Ireland of 70,00OJ.
was better for the Colonies than a year. He also accused the Cban-
that of Government. He should, cellor of tbe Exchequer of bribing
therefore, voteforthe former; but, the shipowners to agree to his Act
in so doing, it was bis duty on be- of 1846 by promises of a great io-
balf of the West Indies, of tbe crease in the freight of their
Mauritius, and of the East In- vessels, arising from the in-
dies, and on behalf of the gentle- creased consumption of sugar
men who had supported bis views in Great Britain, and of bilking
in the Committee, to repudiate it them now by depriving them of
altogether as a settlement of this the Act which had seduced many
question. It was an expedient of them from tbe strict path of
wbicb would give no satislactaoa duty. He concluded an elaborate
either to the West Indies, or to the speech, full of atatietica, by de-
Mauritius, or to the East Indies, daring that the people of England
He then explained to the Honse were not disposed, for the gain of
at great length tbe reasons which a farthing in the pound, to refuse
bad induced bim to submit bis to do justice to die British colonies,
scheme of sugar dudea to tbe or to endure tbe condnnance of
West India Committee, complain- the slave trade. They bad not
ing that all the force of tbe Go- adopted the two doctrines of tbe
venimeat had been mustered to Manchester school — first, that
defeat it, and contending that, if ••^lius ■rgentuni ca auro
it ware adopted, it would reduce ■unimi"
the price of the poor man's sugar and next —
](i. a pound, increase the con- " rem, Ikciu n
sumption, benefit tbe revenue, "Si poMia r«c|e; li aoa,
and produce innumerable advan- modorem."
tages to tbe sugar colonies. In No, they rather adopted tbe wiser
tbe course of his speech he frankly langu^e of tbe poet, when be said
declared that neither the Cban- " Hie munu (heneiu eaio,
cellor of the Exchequer, nor the "Ni!con»drBMbi,nullipJIe»cerocu]pl.'t
Undep Secretary for the Colonies, Lord J. Russell observed that,
nor Mr. Goulbum, nor Mr. Card- although Lord G. Bendnck, from
well, nor Mr. Gladstone, knew tbe attendon which he bad given
anything of tbe sugar question, to this subject in the inquiry
and insisted that there was no cor- conducted before tbe West In-
rectness in their estimates, and no dia Committee, had a ngbt to be
aocuiacy in any calouladons but bis heard upon it before the close of
EM,lM»d.] HISTORY. [25
tfaa dbcmsion, he bad still exe^ recklessly tiiTown &way by any
cised his privil^e of address- Goverament, inasmueh as it would
ing the Ckimmittee that erpn- give to the consumer that sum to
ing almost to an abuse, for be expend upon the other neceasaiies
had said nothing to tbe quee- and comforts of life. Ha then
tion before it except a few entered into a statement of con-
Bentencea at the commeucement siderable length to prove that the
of hia speech, and a few at its end. Gorerument plan would give a
He had, it was tnie, given the better chance of restoiing proB-
UoQse seveial Latin qaotations not perity to the Colonies. Be re-
altogether unknown to it ; and be ferred also to the recommendation
(Lord John Rossell) might there- given to him by Mr. Gladstone
fore be permitted to use another, on a former night, to save the
and say, that bis Lordship, fore- revenue by increasing taxation
seeing that fae could retrieve the during tho present session. Now,
fortunes of hia party by delay, had he admitted, that if, at the com-
determined, like the Roman gene- mencemeut of the next session,
ral, to achieve for himself tbe the state of Europe should be so
npotation of threatening as not to permit us to
" UuuKjui Dobii cuDCtuida re
reduce our establishments, it would
not do to go on another year with- -
Taking his leave of Lord G. Ben- out making the income of the
tinck with this quotation, he ex- country superior to its expenditure
plained to tbe Committee that the by increased taxation. But if pa-
question then before it did not cific counsels should, as he hoped
involve any question of humanity, they would, prevail at that time,
or any question of the prohibition and if there were no danger to the
or non-pn>bibitiou of slave-labour preservation of pence both at home
sugar. Both the proposition of and abroad, be thought thtU we
Ur. Barkly and that of tbe Go- should be able to reduoa our es-
veniment admitted that slave- penditure to our income by the
labour si^sr was to be introduced exerdse of a rigid and unsparing
at a diflerential duty; and at the economy. He thought, however,
end of six years it would be intro- that it would be unwise to come to
dnced at the same rate of doty any decision upon that point now.
under both propositions. The He concluded by recommending
question then for the Committee the Oovemment scheme to the
to coneader was, whether for the approbatioa and support of the
benefit of the consumer, of the Committee.
West Indian body, and without Mr. Goulbum contended, that of
any great risk to the revenue, it the two propositions which were
oonld not reduce from 14t. to 10«. then under discuBsion, the Com-
the duty on sugar, tbe amendment mittee was bound to consider by
proposing that that duty should which the prosperity of the Colonies
remain stationary at 11«. Now, would be best promoted, end the
tbe reduction of 4*. of duty on increase of slavery and the slave
every cwt. upon a consumption of trade most effectually checked.
300,000 tons of sugar was a benefit Neither of them deserved his appro-
of 1,200,00M. to the oonsumer, bation, for neither of them met the
and that ins a benefit not (o be real evil of the case— the evil
26] ANNUAL REaiSTER, 1848. [Efvi^.
uiBiDK from a want of labour ID the in which the aconracj of 1h«
West Indita. occasioned b J our Iflgis- Ministerial calculations for ad-
ktion, and the evil arising from a justing the Kale of daties was
■nperflnity of it in the East Indies, impugned bf XiOrd Qoo. Ben-
Both the West and the East tinok, and some correctiona were
Indies had been deceired by the introduced by Sir Charles Wood,
usurance given to them by Far- the Sugar Duties Bill flnallj
liament that they should not have passed through the House of
to contend in future with the pro- Commons,
duce of slave labour in Cuba and In the House of Lords, the
the Brazils. Driven to choose measure underwent but slender
between the two propositions then discussion. Previously to the Bill
before the Committee, he had no coming into that House, a d»-
faesitatiou in giving his support to bate of some interest oocnrred,
that of Mr. Barkly; first, becanse involving the conduct of the Colo-
he feared the effect of Lord J. nial Administration, with refeienoe
Huasell's plan on the finances of to thoseobarges of suppreasing in-
the state, and, secondly, because formation and garbling despatches,
he believed that Mr. Barkly's plan which Lord George Bentinok had
was more likely to restore that so strenuously urged in the Lower
oonfidence which oould alone rescue House. Earl Grey took up the
the West Indies from their present matter in his own vindication as
state of ruin and despair. Colonial Minister, and took the
The House then divided on Mr. opportunity of eKplaining his oon-
Barkly's ameadment as follows— duct by moving tor oopies of the
despatches in question. The charge
Ayes 194 made against him, said the noble
Noes ISO Earl, amounted to this, that he, in
oonoert with Mr. Hawes, hod en-
Minority against . . 66 deavoured to mislead the Com*
mittee of Inquiry on the sulfject
Another amendment, proposed of West India distress by delibe-
by Mr. Bouverie and supported by rately vrithholding papers which
Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Goulbum, favoured the opinions of those who
was to the following efiect :— attributed that distress, to the Aot
"That provision be made for the of 1846. This cha^, he observed,
admission of such foreign sugars involved imputations so di^raoe-
as shall be cleared out of the ful. that, if it were maintainable,
foreign. West Indian, and Ameri- he should be unworthy of holding
can porta, before the 1st day of the office he filled. A distinction,
August next, and out of ports east it was true, had been attempted U
of the Cape of Good Hope before be drawn between a personal iin>
the Ist day of September next, at nutation and one cast upon him iit
the rates of duty imposed on such his political capacity, but he m-
sugars respectively by the aot 9 pudiated such a distinction; a
& to Victoria, c. 68." Minister of the Crown capable of
It was lost on a division by 143 thus deceiving Fariiament was
to 84. The whole of the Minis- petsonally culpable. The noble
terial resolutions were then agreed Earl then detailed the partioular
to; and after some further debate, oitoomsttnceaoonnecbadwiththMa
CfiMLl HISTORY. [27
daspatchM, which have been n- noble Earl appraled to hia own
Maudl; lUted in the House of character, and fa> the justice of the
ConnKHit. lie admitted that Sir countiTi which would not convict
Charles Onj's despatch ought to him o/ sullyinff the name be bor«
have been laid before the Com- by a mean and dishouourahle act.
mittee. Ha had intended itahould He treated theattacke upon him
bave been, and, up te a recent not with contempt, but with die-
peiiod, ha neveT saspeoted it had regard, convinced thathigh-minded
not been communicated to the and honoureble men would con-
Committee, never doubting that demn the degradation of a great
hia nunate to that effect would ha question of policy to the low level
attended to. ' A miatake had, how- of petty personalities,
ever, occnired, end the noble Earl JUtrd Stanley, though he ina
esplaioed toij minuteljr the cause not surprised that the noble Eart
ot it, which pwtlj arose from the should desire to vindicate himself
TSst pressure of business. He and hia department from charges
^edged his honour that it was a made against them in their official,
nuatake. With regard to the de- not their personal capacity, re-
spatch of Governor Light, his gretted the statement he had
Lordship freely avowed that it made, because it was a proceeding
was bj his direction that the ex- wholly irregular, and because it
bact wu sent to the Committee, obliged him, in vindicating a noble
and the despatch kept back, for friend, to appear to be an accuser
ntwma whiui he stated. He con- of the Colonial Department, andot
ndered that whilst the facts stated the noble Earl, to whose personal
in the portion ot the despatch with- honour be bore testimony. After
held were notorious, they furnished an allusion to the remark of Lord
an argument for— 'not against^— the 3. Russell upon Lord Q. Bentinck'a
viflwa wbioh he (Lord Grey) was connection with the Jockey Club,
mippoMd to be anxious- to press Lord Stanley proceeded to justify
upon the Committee. The de- tiie examination which had been
tpatch of Lord Harris was in- pressed in the other House into the
mded in a motion for a large public acts of the Colonial-ofSce.
collection of similar papers, which It was Ute ridit and the duty of
coold not be prepared before the a member of Parliament, without
Committee hM ceased to sit; but regard to peraonal feelings, to
it had been laid before the House expose what he believed to be
of Commons, and if dishonest con- delinquency. He did not justify
cealment had been his object, he every expression which might have
wonld have suppressed it alto- been used elsewhere, hot he would
gether. The noble Earl then pro- state facts which laid a ground for
ceeded to notice the charge of his suspicion, and called for the notice
having read in the House, on the of Parliament. The Colonial-office
7th of February, a portion only of was charged with suppressing docu-
a memorial from Januuca, which ments, and portions of documents,
supported hia own views. He ad- and perverting their meaning, so
mitted that he did so, and he as to mislead Fariiament. The
jusliBed such use of the memorial, noble Lord then went over the
Having thoB disposed of all the details respecting the despatch of
•peciAo matters of i^iarge, the Bir 0. Grey, and the replies of
28]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Engia„d.
Mr. Hawea before the Committee
with reference to communicatioiiB
from Jamaica, and contended that,
giving entire credit to the expla-
nation of Earl Grey, the withhold-
ing of this des|»tch formed a
reasonable ground of enspicion,
which was augment«d b; the dis-
covery that other despatches from
other coloi^es had been similarly
treated. The noble Lord dwelt
at some length upon a variety of
circumstances which appeared to
strengthen the suBpicion which
attached to the Colonial-office.
The noble Lord then passed from
the Colonial-office to the noble
Earl at the head of it, whom he
directly charged with making an
unfair use of documents in that
House. On the 7th of February,
when he (Lord Stanley) presented
certain petitions to their Lordships,
and called their attention to tne
state of the colonies, having stated
that the bulk of their distress had
been caused by the acts of the
British Legislature, Earl Grey
had endeavoured to show that, on
the contrary, the distress had been
mainly attributable to other causes,
to waste and extravagance, and to
the absence of the proprietors;
and, in order to support that view
of the case, he had quoted an ex-
tract from a Memorial from the
planters of Jamaica, which was not
a fair extract, but involved an
infereuco directly opposed to the
scope of the document itself. The
passage read by the noble Earl
led their Lordships to believe that
143,000/. had been invested in
sugar cultivation upon that island
by resident planters, and that the
experiment had been eminently
successful ; whereas the noble
Earl had proof in his haod, in
that very document, that tlie ex-
periment had failed and had over-
whelmed the parties with loss.
He left it to their Lordship to
say how for the noble Earl had
justified himself; he did not say.
that the noble Karl had been
wilfully suppressing and pervert-
ing documents ; but he (Lord
Stanley) had demonstrated that
Lord George Bentinck, who had
devoted himself with so much seal
to West India interests, had
ground for grave suspicion as to
the manner in which the Colonial
Department had dealt with the
papers, and he had expressed those
suspicions in strong and vrarm
terms ; but neither the noble Earl,
nor the Government, he tliought,
had a right to be offended.
Earl Grey, in reply to Lord
Stanley, whilst be admitted the
right and duty of Members of
Parliament to scrutinize the con-
duct of Ministers of the Crown,
protested agiunst the imputation
of motives. Lord G. Bentinck
seemed to think that he (Earl
Gray) was inBuenced by a desire
to oppress and discourage the
West India colonies. He had
heard with deep regret Jjord '
Stanley, adopting the views of
this subject entertained by his
political allies, and speaking with
all the ingenuity and practised art
of a skilful advocate, elill en-
deavour to convict him of inten-
tional prevaricatioD. The noble
Earl defended Lord John Russell
against the chaise of taunting
Lord G. Bentinck vrith his pnr-
sttits on the turf, and explained
the real intention of that noble
Lord in the remark he made in
the other House. Even if his
noble friend had been betrayed by
the heat of argument on that occa-
sion beyond the strict line of
debato, their Lordships, when
they remembered the imexampled
E»9l^»d.-\ -HISTORY. [29
ptdeitce, temper, and forbeannce facts. He did not complain otOie
yitli wtuch Lord John bore the noble Earl'a suppreseing the opi-
Uttereat attacks upon himself, nions of the planters, but of giving
would at least pardoD an exoess of some facts and suppressing others,
varmtfa provoked in bis generous namely, the result of the experi-
mind \>j an attack upon an absent ment, which Itad been a total
friend. The noble Earl then vin- failure.
dksted himself from the charge Lord Brougham interposed aa a
of partial dt&tions, observing that peacemaker botneen his two noble
tboee poss^es' in the despatches friende. He regretted that the
of governors which related to facts discnssiott should have taken place,
were of the utmost ralue, but be regarding it as wholly irregular,
did not always so highly appreciate and he hoped never to hear such a
their opinions. He had quoted so debate again. He paid a high
ranch of Governor Higginson's tribute to the honourable feelings
despMch as he deemed valuable which hod actuated Lord George
in ue course of an iucidental dis- Bentinck, but intimated his opinion
cvssion ; and vrith respect to the tliat Earl Grey had satisfactorily
Jnmaica memorial he had quoted vindicated both his own conduct and
that to prove certain ta£ta, declar- thatof hissubordmates. Hecould
ing at the time be did so that the not conclude without snggeeting,
Hemorial complained of distress, considering the enormous amount
Whilst, however, the memorialists of bosinees which now encumbered
complained of distress they ad- the Colonial office, the average
mitted the &ct that there was a number of despatches received
part of Jamaica in which a veiy being not less than 10,000 or
considerable change was taking 11,000 a year, the absolute neces-
place ; that there was springing sity of an increase of the staff of
up a class of owners and lessees i^ that office, where errors, so easy to
property carrying ou the cultiva- occur, might create immense mi»-
- tionof sugar on their own account, chief. The Marquis of Lansdowne
This very Memorial had been in- bore testimony to the honourable
eluded amongst the papers laid character of Earl Grey, and his in-
before the Committee at an early capability of being guilty of inten-
st^e of their inquiry. tional misconduct of the nature
Ijoi Stanley, in explanation, ob- suggested. He hoped that this
served that he had not volunteered discussion would have the effect of
his share in this discussion, snd impressing ou the miuds, both of
had followed in it strictly the their Lordships and of Members
coarse pursued by Earl Grey, not of the other House, the impolicy of
with the view of showing that the mixing up matters of personal im-
Doble Earl had been guilty of wit- putation with discussions of public
tvl suppression of documents, but affairs, and be trusted that the
that there were fair and reasonable Honse would notagain be the scene
gronnds for believing .that im- of a similar discussion,
proper delay and neglect had Lord Redesdale declared that
taken place in the Colonial-office, he considered Earl Grey's expla-
With respect to the Memorial of nation very unsatisfactory, and he
the planters of Jamaica, he had protested against the principle
not r^erred to opinions but to asserted by the noble Lord — that
80
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngUnA.
he attended to the &cta, and not
to the opiniona oommunioated bjr
offloere locally «aquaint«d with the
colonies.
The diuuBdon tlwa termiiMted.
The second reading of t^e Sugar
Duties Bill, in the Houae of Lords,
did not take plao* till the flTtii of
August. It was then moved by
Earl Qrev, who introduced the
notion mdi a speech of some
lei^th.
Having on a former occasion
har^rded some prediotiona, be took
this opportunitj to brin^ forward
proof that his predictioDS had
been fulfilled. Though the dis-
tress in the West Indies was still
extremely severe, yet the des-
patches from some of the colonies
slated the opinions of governors,
that the worst time is past. Wagea
bad fallen— singularly enough, they
bad fallen least where they were
before highest ; and the cost of pro-
duction had been largely reduced.
Governor Light, and Oovemor
Lord Harris, and the Governor of
Antigua, gave abundant testimony
of a rising spirit of enterprise, pro-
viously unknown in uie West
Indian Colonies. LordGreyqupted
returns showing the increased pro-
duction of Guiana in the present
year. The transition to a bettor
and a healthier state of things
might be attended, and uufonu-
nately was attended, with no small
fireesore and distress ; still be be-
ieved that the change bore in
it the seeds of prosperity and well-
grounded hope for the future.
But If this was his opinion, he
might be asked on what grounds
he justified the present Bill? The
object of that Bill was to eictend to
a longer period, and to grant to a
greater extent, the protection and
privileges accorded by the Bill of
184fl to the British sugar-growing
Colonies; and the gronnda oa
which he thought such a meaaure
justifiable were those:— In the first
place, there existed amongst the
sugar growers a pauio, which if not
checked, must lead to the most
disastrous results. His own opi-
nion was, that this panic was a
groundless one ; but the planters
had been so long taught to rely on
protection, that he could not be
saiprised at their considering the
withdrawal of that protection as
equivalent to ruin. Besides, it
was now confessed on all handa
that the amount of advantage in-
tended by the Act of 1846 to be
conferred on the colonists hod not
as yet been fully or praoticolly
realixed. This measure, while it
conferred coniiderable adTontages
upon the Bntish producer, he ^It
confident would not ha*c an in-
jurious effect upon the revenue.
Among the measures introduoed
for the benefit of the planter, were
the reduction of the differential
duty upon rum, and a loan of
600.000^ He could have wished
that this aid were larger ; but the
financial difficulties of the country
rondered a larger loan an impos-
Bibility.
In conclusion. Lord Grey would
offer one word of warning to the
oolonists— they should he careful
not to tggrKraM their present diffl-
oulties by following the illegal
advice tendered them from oertain
quarters. If they were persuaded
to have recourse to rash prooeed-
inga, in the vtun hops of inducing
Parliament to alter that policy
which it had adopted, they would
only increase the present distress
by preventing the mfiux of capital.
They were blind observers of pass-
ing events, and the settled cur-
rent of public opinion in this
country, who could for a moment
EmU-UUI history. [31
W£«T«t!bat:tboNprace«diiigiooDld of a noble Earl, apenonofgrMt
ban the effect of mdueiDg Farlia- and high talents and attainments,
imnt to alter that poliqr which it and connectAl with a still more
had adootod, to irtuch uis intelli- Important personage, and also nith
goDce M (he 0000(17 waa irre- a member of the ^mmittee which
TooiUy pledged, and whiofa he wm inquired into the slave trade ; and
eoBTioeedwoiildiMYer be departed the preoeedinga of the Committee
hum. are in some degree detailed in that
Lord Bedeadale did not oppose newspaper, the Morning Ckromek.
the Bill, bat he protested against Therefbre I feel anxiotiH as to what
the late introduction of it. The yoor lordships may think of tfaia.
Eari of Grannlle alleged in ex- I am aocnsed of iqjustice and
planataon the protracted debates in illiberalitj nnder the mask of
the other House. The Duke of Justice and humanity, and even of
ATgfle remarked that Earl Orej's calumny. The calumny is, that I
Kteeoh contained do allusion to made strong observations on the
the slave trade. He was no Fro- evidence of Dr. CUffe, who states
tectionist, and if ha wished that himself to be a slave-trader ;
nstem to endure la the West that is to say, the worst man
Indies, it was only in order that on the face of the earth — the
eveiy means, direct and indirect, greatest criminal— condemned by
might be used to suppress the uie laws of three countries in
tended that free labour could never Europe, and the laws of the coon-
slavetrade. Earl StVincentcon- try in which be was bom. I be-
eontend with slave-labour. lieve what he confesses, but I
Lord Denman addressed the donot believe what he states in bis
House, in a speech beariog chiefly own &vour. I do uot know that
on the slave question, and on he has ceased to be a trader: be
some matters personal to himself expresses that be was a slave-
It had been supposed that he owner, but that he abstained from
had a personal interest in this motives of humanity, and because
matter, because one who was dear he was so shocked at the horrors
to him was largely engaged in it. which were committed that his
On that subject he was utterly in- delicate nerves would no longer
different ; the professional reputa- allow him to proceed in it. Have
tion of that individual might take I no right to examine the history
care of itself. It had been said of a witness who comes to offer
that he was a leading member voluntary evidence before a Com-
of the Anti-Slavery Society. It mittee, as to his former eonduct?
M happened that he never was Am I not to judge from his owu
a member of the Ania-Slavery story whether he is entitled to be
Society ; he never even subscribed believed? He declines on two or
to it; he- never attended their three occasions to enter into some
councils. The noble and learned particulars which the Committee
Lord then went on to say — ask. He says, ' I have told you I
"A very formidable attack has should lead an uncomfortable life
been made upon me by a news- in the countiy to which T ant going,
paper of high reputation and and you will be spending more
great name, and which is supposed money in your efforts to put down
to hare lately passed iuto the care the slave-trade.' He seems to
32] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. iE»gla«d.
hare some secret ; but this he does that in the uext six or eight years
not le)l, because he is afrsid ve there would be a great glut, a great
shail spend our money. I am demand for slaves, and subsequently
asked, 'Wouldyounot, asa judge, an insurrection of those sbvea,
hear the evidence of a person nfao and a massacre of all the white
has ceased to be a thief?' — I would proprietors. Who coald oonUm-
bear the evidence of any man ; but plate that withoat horror ? After
if he offered me counsel as to how all, would it abolish slaveiy ? The
I should aoppress crimes in which slaves coneisted of various nations,
he hod himself been engaged, and and were often in a state of abso-
he should let them be carried on lute hostility to one another, llie
to an eitent in which a person was massacre would not be confined (o
tempted by high profits to pursue whites ; it would be the destruction
them, 1 should know whether I of all.
was dealing with one who had The second reading of the Bill
those profits in his eye." passed without a division, and it
Lord Denman then turned to underwent no further debate until
the general subject. lie predicted it became law.
b,GoogIc
HISTORY. [33
CHAPTER II.
Knana — Divinon of PiMie Opinion, at tht commeneemsnt of the
ScwioN, rcfpeetin^ th^ IfatioiuU Defencet — Vuwi of Ae Ftm-TtocU
Lead«n on tht mhjeet — Lord John RuutU makes a Financial Statt-
w«nt on the IQth of Fdmtarif — Hit Speech — Detail of the Income
and Expenditure — Propoiitton for continuing the Income Tax for
Three Year* at the increaeed Rate of Five per Cent. — VnfawurMe
rece^itm of the iSiniaterial Statement by the House — Sir Charlee Wood
endeataUTt to propitiate,the Opposition by moving that the Army, Navy,
and Ordnance E$timatet be referred to a Select Committee — (Knerva-
lion* of Jfr- Hume, Lord George Bentinek, and other Membert~-~
Great Agitation excited in variaut part* of the Country by tke
propoted augmentation of the Income Tax — The Chancellor of the
Exchequer announce* on the 38(A that the Qovemment do not intend
to pre** the He*oluiion for increating the Income Tax — Hi* Statement
of the Financial Protpeet* of the Country — Speeche* of Mr. WakUtf,
Mr. Cobden, Lord John RuueU, Mr. Ditraeli, and other Member*.
The puhUc feeling m turned by theie diaeuM»ion* to the unequal
pretiure of the Tax a* then exitting — Mr. Honman propose* a Plan
for graduating the Tax in retpeet to different kind* of Property—The
ChaneMor of the Exchequer and Lord John HuMeU oppote the
MotiiM — It i* rejected on a divition 6y 316 to 141 — Mr. Hume moves
that the Tax be renewed for On* Year only inetead of Three — Sir
Charle* Wood oppote* the Motion — General discussion on the Income
Tax — Sir Robert Peel defend* hit own Measure and Policy — He t*
antwered by Lard George Bentinek — Mr. J. Wdton defends, in an
elahonUe speech, the Free-Trade Measures of Sir Rob^ Peel — Mr,
Disraeli argues on the other tide — Mr. Gladstone vindicate* th*
recent Commercial Change* in an able speech — Speeches of Mr.
Cobden and Lord John Ruetell — The Debate, after tteo Adjournment*,
end* in the defeat of Mr. Hume't Motion by a Majority of SS5—
Sir B. Hall movet tliat the Income Tax be extended to Ireland — Sum-
mary of his argument! — It is opposed uiarmly by the Irish Membert,
and renited by the Oovemment — Majority against it 80 — Umatitfac-
tory potitian of the Fiuanca, u!ith an anticipated DeficiX — The Chan-
eellor of the Exchequer promius to make a definite statement before
the dose of the Session— On the itbth of August he enter* fully into
the ttale of the Revmut, and announces his plan for supplying the
ddicieney— Proposition to raite S,031,336I. by a Loan — DiMatitfae-
Vol. XC. [D]
84] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Enjlond
turn created by thU Proposal — Mr. Hums ttrongly dbjecta, and again
urge* retrenchment of the Expenditurt — He rencvit kit ei^eetiont on
the 29tA, wk«n the BUI Jor giving effect to Sir CkarUa Wood't Plan
it be/ore the Home — Speechet of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Mt. Henley, Mr. Drummond, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Cobden, Mr.
A. Smith, and Lord John Buuell — Mr. Hume't Motion for ryecting
the Bill it negatived bjf dfito 45, and the latter ie paeted.
SGABCELYsnypartoftbemi- stances of the counti;. It was
nisterial policy oC4:asioned so nsturaUf antidpftt«d that the Go-
muohdissatisfsctioa during the pre- Temment, ia Iraming the Estimates
sent session as that which related to for the present ;ear, would exhibit
the public finances. It forms a pro- their adhesion to one or Other
minentchapter in the history of the of these views; and this ciromn-
session, and the retractation and stance gave additional intemt to
variation of the schemes proposed the financial statement of the Pre-
by OOTemment makes it neces- mier. In openins the contents of
sary to devote to it a more extended bis Budget, Lord John Bussell
space than is usually allotted to rapidly surveyed the ocMnmerual
Finance in thiavolume. The Budget distress caused by the ecarci^, the
was originally announced for an high prioe of com, Ac ; its efiect
early day — the 18th February — on trade, on the social condition of
but, for reasons which will presently the people, on the Kxcise, aodon
tppear, the financial arrangement the sources of the revenue gene-
remained unsettled almost till the rally. Mr. Huskiasou had re-
close of this very protracted session, marked, in 1817, that after a great
It is necessary to premise, by way famine a falling o£f of ten per cent,
of introduction to the statement of in the revenue ought not to be made
the Prime Minister, now about to a subject of wonder. Lord John
be given, that shortly before the also reminded the House, that in
reassembling of Farliament .the the last statement made by Mr.
validity of our armaments for the Goulbum, before he went out of
Eurpose of national defence bad office, he only took some of his es-
een the subject of much discus- timatee for three quarters of the
sion in the public prints, and some .year to which his speech applied,
eminent aathorities, both military That circumstance, with some
and civil, had expressed a good others, bad transferred e3B,000{.
deal of distmst as to the predica- which ou^ht properly to have been
ment in which this country might included in the expenditure of that
be foundin the possible contingency year to the expenditure of the fol-
of a sudden invasion. On the other lowing jrear, 1847-8, apparently
hand an active party, consisting augmenting a deficit which was
mainly of the popular champions really no more than 304,000i.
of the Free-Trade movement had Lord John also took credit for the
strenuously denounced such alarms increase of revenue derived from
as chimerical and delusive, snd the alteration of the Sugar Duties,
hadavowed their opinion, that a re- which yielded 3,574,0001. in 1845,
duction rather than an increase and 4,414,0001. in 1847. The
of military force and expenditure balance-sheet of the past year was
was caUed for by the circum- t^esented on the Srd of Febroaiy,
Cuitoms . .
,619.760,000
Excise . . .
18,000,000
Btoge-coachM ■.
600,000
Stamps . . .
7,aoo,ooo
Taxes . . .
4,840,000
Income Tax .
8,200.000
Post Office . .
900.000
Crown lands .
eo,ooo
UiBcellBDeouB .
300,000
making a total
amonnt i
SM«i] HISTORY. [86
1U8. EVom tlMt it appnred tint the Loan 280,0001., and interest on
UuRmstnexcen of expenditure Exchequer Bills 143,0001. The
onr inoome duriDg the last jear expenditure actually Totod for the
of 9,96S,688/.; bat in that sam year 1847-8, including several
«u to be included 1,53A,000/. suns whioh were not contained in
gnntad Ibr the relief ofdistressm the budget, was SS,3ie,709I.; the
Inliod, and 400,000^. the re- estimated receipts to which he had
BMDuiw China money, which was alludedwere 61,369,0501., leaving
Me^wdat the Cape of Oood Hope a deficiency of 989.6491.
m lU road to England and applied Lord John stated the estimate of
■o the parpoMS of the Cal&e war. the revenue for the year oomraenc-
Therealexeess would be 961,683^ in g on the 6th of April, 1848, and
Lord John recited the estimate ending on the 6th April, 1649 >
nade by the Chancellor of the Ex- "
eluqim fbi the past year, and
•Wed the produce, of the revenue
BpoD an cBtimate formed for the
lemiinder of the year to the 6th of
April. 1848. The Customs, esti-
mated to produce 30,000,0001., had
DDlypnduced 19,774,0001.; the Ex-
as«, estimated at 18,700,0002.,had
produced 19,940,000{. ; Stamps, making a total amount of
«ttimated at 7,600,0001., produced 61,360,0001. Taking the expendi-
T,160,00OI.; Taxes, estimated at tnrevoted at 63,816,7001., and the
4JT0,0OOl., produced 4.840,0001. ; estimated receiptof revennefor the
Property Tax, estimated at next year at 61,360.0001.. there
li.300,0001., produced 6,460,0001. ; would therefore be a deficiency of
Poet Office, estimated at 846,0001., 1,068,7091., that is, on the snppo-
{woduced 933,0001. ; Ciown-lands, sition that the expenditure would
ettinttted at 130,0001., produced bethesamein 1848-9a8ioie47-8.
60,0001. ; Uisoellaneous, estimated But there was at present a sum of
at 380,0001., produced 8SB,000/.; !U6,6001. due for the expenditure
the whole estimate, calculated of the Navy for the year ending in
at 53,065,0001., had produced April. 1847 ; there was also a sum
61,863,0601. Keferring to some of^ 1,100,0001., to ba paid for the
of the more important items, Lord eipensee of the Oaffre war; and,
John Rossell sUted that there had taking these two sums, together
been an increase in the produce with uie deficiency which he bad al-
of duties on molasses, snear, rum, ready mentioned, there would be a
and tobacoo; but, on Ue other deficiency of 3,141,3001.
hand, there had been a decrease in Now he had been desirous to
the revenue derived from the duties lay this condition of the finances
on com, timber, wine, malt, and at sn eariy period before the House,
spirits. in order that it might take it
The estimated expenditure for into the fallest consideration, and
the year ending on the 8tb of April, might resolve upon that course
1848, was 61,676,0001.; but the which was most fitting to the in-
exoess on the Navy Estimates had tereeta and the credit of the nation,
been 188,0001., on the interest on Various courses were open to the
863 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngUHd.
House ; and sU he had to do iraa Nothing had giveii that illustriooB
to 8tat£ tiie course nhich appeared individoal greater paia than t^e
to the GoTemment to be beat, publicstion of sentimenta nhkh he
leaving it to be decided bj the de- had coafidentially expressed to a
liberate judgment of the House brother officer. The Duke of
irhetber irhat Ministers proposed Wellington, as was his duQr, had
waa most fitting, or whether any communicated to the Qoremment
otlier course would be more con- of the countiy that which he con*
duoive to Uie wel&re of the country, ceived to be a deficiencjr in our de-
Jtmu obvious that the deficiency fences; but, in bo doing, nothing
mnstbemeteitherbytszationorby vaa further from his wuh than te
great reductions in the armj and make anj public appeal, or in an;
navy. Extreme opinions bad been way to inflame or exasperate rela-
expreased out of doors on the de- tions between England and other
fences of the country. On the countries. No one could diaputa,
one hand, it had been stated that however, continued Lord John Ros-
Foreign Powers, especially France, sell, that this countiy might be ia-
were making great preparations ; volved in war. Since the peace of
that there might be war, and possi- 18 16, disputes between this country,
bly invasion ; and that our prepara- the United States, Russia, and
tions were inadequate to meet this France, had been allayed only by
danger. On the other hand, it was great forbearance on both sides,
said that there was evety prospect However tranquil, therefore, the at-
of peace; that the inclinationa of mosphere might be at present, there
Foreign Powers were friendly; that might be at any time an unforeseen
invasion was most improbable ; and storm ; and he was the more ci
that our naval and military esti- vinced of that circumstaoca when
mates were extravagantly high. In he recollected that Mr. Pitt in
stating the views of the Govern- 1703 anticipated a long oontina-
ment on these discordant qiinions, ance of peace. It must be borne
be wished to guard himseu against in mind, that in the last three hun-
the supposition that there was any- dred years the elements on various
thing in the mwent state of our occasions had been our friends, and
relations with France which threat- expeditions against us, prepared
ened the rupture of peace. with the most zealous core, had
Lord Jolm Russell here avowed, been defeated only by adverse
in the most emphatic terms, his winds. The science and skill of
anxiety for a cordial, intimate, and late years had enabled seamen to
lasting alliance with the French traverse the sea against winds and
nation. This portion of his speech tides; and that circumstance might
was warmly cheered by the House, induce hostile powers to consider
He wished to guard himself this country more open to invasion,
upon another point. A foreign Underakingwhowssasincerelover
writer.animated by the most kindly of peace, since 1833, the active pre-
feelings towards Engknd, had de- parations and increase of the naval
scribed the Duke of Wellington ss force of France had been very ex-
having made a pamphleteering re- tensive. Lord John read returns
ply to the Prince deJotnville. No- to the French Chambers ; the
thingoouldbemorefonngntotliein- number of seamen had increased
tentionsof the Duke of Wellington, from 18,000 to 89,000; vessels at
Engbmd.] HISTORY. [37
SM, from 153 to S16; steuneis, degrees of preparation, daring the
from 68 to 130; tlie expenditure present year. It vas proposed to
from S,980,00(U. to 3.903.00(X.; have a reserre of Bteamen at
the wbole sum for the French army Fortsmonth, Flymoath, Co^ and
and oaTj in 1S49 vas 23,817,00(U. Sheeraess. To the Marines would
Sereial of the French steamers are beaddedl600man: 1600hadbeen
of sodi a size that they each carry added last year. With regard to
fnm 1000 to ISOOmen. the defences of onr ports and dock-
PrepanUions had not been nant- yards, their deficieiunes had at-
ingononr^de. Since 1835, we tnu;ted the aUentiou of the late
had increased the nnmber of our Goferament, which had giren or-
seamen from 36,000 to 43,000 ders for their examination. That
men; ofoorsoldiers.&om 100,991 subject had been too long n^
to 138,769; and of oni ordnance lected; but, since the year 1844,
C0Tpsfrom8a5Stol4,S94;making 262,0001. had been expended on
an mcrease of 60,331 upon our mill- the works for the defence of Forts-
taiy force in the whole. Besides, month, Flymoath, and Deronport,
the kteOoTemment had organized Pembroke, Sheemess, and the
IB.OOO soldiers of the line as pen- Thames; and they were now, in
sitHiers. The present Government the opinion of the Duke of Wel-
had formed a force of 9600 men lington, aud the Master of the
oat of the woricmen in the dock- Ordnance, in a satisfactory state,
yards, who, as infantry and artil- Betoming to the Army, he said,
leiy, were in possession of, and that although Ministers did not
capable of working, 1080 gone. A propose to incresse its force by a
plan had also been carried into single man, yet the number of
effect for drilling and organizing soldiers in the United Kingdom
the Coast Guard, and for keeping would be incressed by the return
a so^lemental force ready in case this year of 5000 men, if not more,
the services of the Coast Guard from India; so that in the course
should be wanted elsewhere; which of the summer he expected that
would supply a force of 6000 men. we should have a force of 60,000
Lord John showed that the charge men in the British islands. As
of the Army, Nai^, and Ordnance, compared with the year 1S3S, this
lor the defence of the coontry, bad would be an increase of 30,000
increased from 11,730,073/. in men. The increase on the esti-
I83& to 17,340,0901. in 1847. He mate for the Army was 43,0001.
then called the attention of the only. Oovemment proposed to
Hoose to our condition ss regarded make a much larger increase in
the Navy. He proposed to make the Ordnance Estimates. It was
an increase oS 164,0001. upon the obvious that, while we conld make
Naval Estimates ; but of that sum a rapid increase in our iniantiy,
«ily 70,0001. would go to the real we could not make an increase of
increase of our naval expenditure ; our artillery in less than eighteen
94,0001. being for expenditure not months or two years. It was there-
naval. He reaid a letter of the First fore proposed to increase the grant
Lord of the Admiral^ to himself, for the Ordnance by a sum of
describing in detail the varions 245,00U. The whole incresse on
skips which he intended to keep the Military, Naval, and Ordnance
in commissioii, and in different Estimates wonld be 366,0001.
38] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Bngkni.
Then was Bnother speoiM of Lord John stated ths whola «x-
foroo, lespeoting wbich a meaauro pendittm which bs contemplated
would be laid before the House ia for the jrear ending the 6th of
the course of the present session. April, 164ft, as follovre— ^
In oonaidering the question of 9 »
national defence it to. necessary to ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ 37,™^
take into calculation the chance, Unhnded Debt.. 7SZ.600
howBTor remote, of an enemy's — . SM90,600
landing on our shores ; and in that CoMolhkled
«8e our force of 60.000 men would (^"^W^"^ l lOO/MO *'*'"*
not altogether suffice to garrison mMle»c«iV." WSoo
the dockjards and other points of .—— ],345,500
defence, and to supply troops for Nitj.... 7,796,610
the field. In former times the A™7 I'IS'255
eountjy looked for defence to what "^^^—Z JKo
waa tbe farounte force of one of 21,890 400
the greatest men the country ever ' —
produoed. Lord Chatham: he 04,440,200
meant the miUtia. There were, ""^^ J*>'«»
however, difficulties on that sub-
ject now, which did not formerly
exist. If you were to allow men Now, it would be idle and pre-
to eerre by aulHtjtute, it was pro- sumptuous to say that the country
bable, from the migratory habits would at ouco return to a atate of
of our labouring population, that prosperify; yet they might look
the substitute would not be forth- forweid to an improted oonditioa
coming when he was want«d ; and, of the commerce and mann&otnres.
if you were to refuse permission to They might expect an improvS'
serve by substitute, you would mentof income, oiid a diminution of
place parties under military aer<- the expenditure occasioned by the
vice who had hitherto been exempt Oafla« war, which Sir Harry Smith
from it. He should propose a said wsa now at an end. Lord
measure to meet those mfficultieB. John, therefore, thought that only
If it be prBAtioable, he believed it a temporary increase of taxation
to be right to have a portion of our would t>e required. He proposed
people trained to the use of arms, that they should continue the In-
and capable, on the breaking ont come Tax, which would expire in
of hostilities, of being marched to April next, for five years, and
any point at which uieir services increase its amount from Td. ^a 1*.
might be required. But, if the in the pound, or from 3 to 5 per
House should come to the oonclu- cent, for the next two years,
sion that a Militia force was not (Louif ironieal dtMn.) Consider-
desirable, then it must consider, ing the distress of Ireland, and tbe
next year, whether it would not be efiorts whioh its landlords and
expedient to make an addition to tenants were making to relieve it
the regular army of the country. — though in justice we had a right
He propoeed, for the present, to impose this tax upon Ireland as
to take a grant of 150,000/. to well as upon Eiwlaud — {Loud
lay tlie foundation of this Militia chwn) — admitting fully tbe justice
force. of that ooutse, Ministers oonadered
BmgUnd.] HISTORY. [39
UMt this ma not Uie motaient. it might then b« applied to the
{BgelamMionM of rftsMnt mingUi redaction of those taxes vfaich
wUk ehMnfrwH difftmU parti of pressed most heavilj on the elastio
tkt Rmua.) He begged boaour springs of industry. It vss not in
able gentlemen to consider, that hia power at present to propose
if tli«7 checked the exertions auj such reduotioa. He had
in Irehwd, thej irould check also taken that vhich some considered
the retaming pnspentj of the the odious path of duty ; and he
United Kingdom. He proposed should conclude by expreaeing his
the Prc^rty Tax exactly on the conviction, that, by adopting hi*
«me principles as diosfl oo tthich enggestions, they would restore
it WW pTopoeed by Ur. Pitt, on the commercial credit of the ooud-
which it was inoreased by Zxirds try, preserve the public laith un-
QrenriUe and X^nsdowne, and on impaired, and would run no danger
wldch it ma unpeaed and defended of seeing the empire insulted or
in 184S hj 8ii Bobert Feel, injorsd by any power whatever.
(Laufktar.) Lord John RusBell then moved
He drew attention to the large two Resolutions, embodying bis
reduction of datiee which had plan for augmenting the Income
taken place of late years on articles Tex. A long and desultory debate
of consamption required by great ensued. Almost all the speakers
bodiee of Uie people. There had expressed dismay and reprobation,
been taken off taxes on salt, can- Ur. Hume asked whether they
dlee, eoals, leather, beer and cider, were all mad, that in a time of
glass, sngar, butter and cheese, increasing distress among manu*
grain and meal, amounttng to bcturera they should propose
10,543,6731. in late years; and increased taxation? He ehould
the iriiole amount of annual taxes undoubtedly propose reduction in
oa ntiolea of taxation taken off our esubliuiments to meet the ex-
sinoe the peaoe amounted to cess of expenditure. Mr. Bankee,
39.70tt,34lZ. The r^«ult of hia the Uarquis of Granby, Mr. CI.
■dieme wonid be this ; the ex- B. Bobinson, and Mr. Newdegate
pendhore being 54,S0ft,S00I., and saw in the disastrous state of the
die income 51,350,0001., he pro- finances the result of free tiade.
poeed to make up the deflmency by Mr. Osborne bellered that, if there
tbe increase of the Income Tax, had been a regularly organized
which he eatimated to produce Opposition, such a financial state-
8,500,0001. ; making a total income ment would never have been made
of 51,750,0001. He also proposed — ^it would have been the death-
to remit the highly inju^ous du- vrarrant of any Administration;
dea on copper ore, whidt were im- Sit Bobert Peel wae now avenged
poeed in 1849, and prpdnoed for Lord John Russell's speecbea
41,0001. When those duties were against his Income Tax. Mr. Oa-
remitted, he should have a aur> borne thought they might have in-
plns of income over expenditure, creased efficiency of national forces
amounting to 118,000/. In ano- with their present expenditora.
Iher year, he trusted that the Sir Benjamin Hall hoped that the
miplna would be laijgely increased Income Tax would at least be more
by die ceeaation of die expense justly distributed. Colonel Sib-
eeoaeioned by the Cafire war; and thorp woa surpriced at no amount
40] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEn^hmd.
of hypocri^, dvpluuty, or te^ the addition of two par oent. now
siversatbn, from the Treuury- proposed for two yean onlj. he
bench. Mr. Francis Baring could woidd not make any promise, as he
not concur in a proposition which did not wish to be taunted with it
recognised the Incamfl Tax as a hereafUr.
permanent impost; and he called Lord Palmerston wonnd up the
the House to its duty of inves- debate with a few pacific obeem-
tigating the voles proposed by dons, inferring from the long dn-
Govemmant with somewhat more ration of peace its still longer
rigid attention to economy than condonance.
had been the practice. Idr. The Committee voted 6,000,000/.
Disraeli delivered one of his most oat of the Consolidated Fund
animated criticisms on the fonni- towards the snpply granted to Her
dable recurrence of a Whig deficit ; M^ee^, and ordered Lord John
<«k Sir Bobert 'Feel's plausible Russell's resolutions to be reported,
professions that the Income Tax The nn&vourable recepdon
should only be temporary; on the which the Budget, as firat moved,
neolt of the Reformed Parliament had encountered in the House of
manifested in a oonstandy increas- Commons attended it also through
ing expenditure — on free trade, the country at large, and the pro-
that great principle which in- position for increasing the Militair
flicted 6 per cent Income Tax and Naval Esdmates excited much
upon us; on Mr. Cobden's vision unfavourable comment By a
of perpetnal peace, copied from statement which he made on
Bt Pierre, Rousseau, and Robes- moving that the House do resolve
pierre, that " apostle of perpetual itself into a Committee of Supply
peace," and followed by M. Cre- three nights afterwards. Sir Chanes
mieox's anticipation of "Uberty, Wood endeavoured to soften down
Soality, and fraternity," the motto some of the more nnpleasiDg fea-
the Jacobin banner. Mr. Cob- tnres of Lord John Biusell's state-
den characterized Lord John Bus- ment
aell's speech as a menace to France, SirCharles stated, thatMinisttira
and enforced the policy of re- could not accede to die proposal of
ducing the establishments to the whichMr. Hume had given notice,
level of income by means of sweep- to postpone the Committee of
ing retrenchments. Mr. Bright Supply on the Aimy and Navy
followed, in the same tone. Esdmates tilt the House had 6a-
8ome few speakers supported the cided on the proposal made on the
Government Sir Charles Wood former day by the Firat Lord
defended the Ministerial scheme, of the Treasury. This would be a
Mr. Monckton Milnes extended reversal of the consdtntional usage,
to them the succoar of a good- that a vote of supply should pre-
natnred apology. Sir Robert In- cede the consideration of the Ways
glis gave his general concurrence, and Means. The producdvenees
In his defensive speech. Sir of the taxes could not laUonally
Charles Wood declared his belief be the index of the amount of the
that when the Income Tax was vote : the amount should be vot«d
voted in 1646, no man really be- according to the real exigenciee of
lieved that there was any prospect the State, and the " ways ' in which
of its being taken off; and as to thatamonntshouldberaisedBhould
EnflmJ.1
H ISTORY.
[41
aftannrdB bea4joB^ inBCcardttDoe
with the "means" of the classes
Kbo pay the taxes. Sir Chsrles
aUnded to aa impression vhich had
■risen both in and out of the House,
that the increased taxation wss
rendered necessary bj the increased
Estimatfls: he hcmed Uiat farther
consideratian of wnat actuallj fell
from the Prime Minister on the last
occasion had shown this impression
tobeentireljtmfoimded. Tnerewas
a present deficit on the pest year,
OTBr which control was now gone.
Hut must be met. That alone
called for increased taxation, with-
out reference to any additional or
Snapective demands. These ad-
itMoal demands arose in connec-
tion with the maintenance of con-
victa — formerly a local charge ; the
fittings of the new Houses of Par-
liament ; the British Museum ; the
expedition in search of Sir John
Fnnklin ; the new scale of pay-
ments to certain petty officers, and
the new modes of paying off sea-
meik and ntarines. None of these
expenses had a military aim — not
eyen of defence. The Government
seriously deprecated any parade of
■imament The Ministers in their
proposals meant simply to act ao-
Gording to the rule in such cases :
a deficiency in a department of
pnblic service having occmred,
they came with a specific proposal
to the House for the addition
wbkb would fill up the new want.
Th^ had nothing more at heart
than that the House should be
folly satisfied.
As, however, necessary explana-
tions conid not convenienuy be
made to the House itself. Minis-
ters proposed that a Select and
Secret Committee be appointed to
exunine how far the Estimates of
the Kavy, Army, and Ordnance
nugbt be adopted, and to inquire
generally into the affairs of those
departments. This Committee
would be distinct from the one he
intended to move for next day for
inquiring into the expenditure for
Miscelluieous Services, and report-
ing whether any reductions or im-
provements be practicable under
that head.
Sir Charles cited precedents.
Sir Robert Peel in 1828 moved for
a Finance Committee, and on that
occasion recounted parallel cases in
the years 1T85, 1791, 1796, 1807.
and 181T. So again a somewhat
similar Committee sat in 1834, on
the expenditure of the Colonial De-
partment. Complete information
could be laid before such a Select
Committee ; the statements made
to tho Boose at large could only
be imperfect and unsatisfactory.
The constitution of the Committee
would notin the least be infiuenced
b^ Ministers ; and the full discus-
BioD, according to usage, would
take place in the Committee of
Ways and Means.
Meanwhile, the Secretaries at
War and for the Navy would pro-
pose the votes necessary for cany-
mg on the Pnblic Service ; and the
Chancellor of the Bxcheqner de-
quent day. He movod'the reading
of the Order of the Day for going
into Committee of Supply.
Mr. Hume strongly olgected to
the course pursued by the Oovern-
ment. He advocated a reduction
of expenditure as tlie true solution
of the financial difficulties. If
firivate men of prudenee calcu-
ale their means before settling
their expenses, the nation should
do the like. The revenue of the
country, after deducting the cost
of coUeoting, was about the same
42] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
munrat of 66,000,0001. in each of fimutioal amiig«m«ntfl of these
tbatwo yeaiB 1846 itnil 1848. The several departmeati.
expenditure, however, had varied The expenditare for the Kavj,
bv on amount of 6,756,000i. in Annj, and Ordnance had moraaMd
those 7ean~tbere was a sorplus &om 11,730,0001, in I8S6, to
in reoeipU of 8,800,000^ in 1846, 17.840,000i. in 1847. The Army
and an ezom in payments of inorease was inconsiderable; the
3,960,0001, in 1848. Was this no Narj inormse was 9,600,0001. : bat
justification of his endeavour to the Ordnance had donbled its
atop Oovemnient till some inqui^ ooatsincs 1836. That increase was
had been made whether expendi' a very proper subjeot of inquiry,
tore might not be somemere On tfaeir acceesion to office, Uinis-
reduced? From 400,0002. to ters intimated their intention of
600,0001. annuitieB bad ceased, appointing a Committee to inqair«
and OoTemment might have been into the Miscellaneous Expendi-
expectedtopropose retrenchments: tnre. It was convenient to defer
tbej had instead proposed an in- the time of appointing that Oom-
oresae of the Income Tax. The mittee till this Session: inthemean
peoplewouldnotbesrtheadditional time, Mr. Hume had suggested
Durden. Oar navj showed a great it etiould not be confined to a
waste of national resaroes — ebipa finance inqulrf , but should inveeti-
oselesslv lying in the Tagus, or ^te the whole sulgeot of the na-
engagedin the fruitless squadron tional expenditure. Such an in-
OB the coast of Africa. Mr. Hume quiry would be so wide as to lead
alio strongly objected to the pro- to no result; but it wae thought
poeed eeoraoy of the Oommittee. vetydesir^le that these Estimates
Mr. Ewart and Mr. Sfaarman should be submitted to a Select
Crawford spoko to a similar effect. Committee, who should inqnin
Other Members expressed dis- how &r our increased expenditurs
approbation of the Ministerial pro- wss real or only nominal— how far,
poeal, as tendiog to shift from the for instance, increased by efforts to
shoulders of the Government their improvetheconditicnof oursoldiera
oonstitntional responsibility. Lord and sailors in actual service.
John Russell vindicated the course He was not anxious to adhere
proposed. He also took occasion servilely to mere precedents; but
to repndiate the imputation that if instances were demanded they
the Estimates, as stated by him, could be found in abundance. Mr.
were War Estimates, or that they Pitt had appointed three Corn-
had been fhtmed in antioipation of mittees of the kind, in 1791, 1797,
■ rupture with any Foreign Power, and 180). In 1817 Lord Liver-
The next evening, the Chan- pool gave an example; in 183B
eellor of the Exchequer brought the Duke of Wellington furnished
forward his formal proposition for another ; and one was supplied as
appointing two Gomniittees — one late as 1834, on aColonial subject,
toinquireintotbe Army, Navy, and by Lord Stanley. He thought that
Ordtiance expenditure, the other neither Mr. Pitt, nor the Duke of
into the Miscellaneous Estimates, Wellington, nor Lord Stanley, were
and to report to the House whether likely to yield too readily to pres-
any rednctiona oould be efboted or sure, or to avoid official reeponai*
any improvements made in the bility. The CommittM of 1898
1-3 HISTORY. [48
had raponed. among other tluogi, oonntiy, which if retiated might
the Amy, Navy, and Ordnance, sweep B,\n.j the Income Tsz and
ind then on the expsnditaie of the Minietiy together. The Go*
theootmtiy. Although the; Med Tfimmeut qnioldj perceived the
in cuTymg out tlieir inqoiiiee to danger of peraeTering in their pro-
ths fuU extent they contemplated, ject, and took the resolotion to
jet snch iofonuation was obtained, retract On ths 36th February,
Hpecially on the examination of the Ohanoellor of the Exohequer
Sir Henry Hardinge, as led to the came down to the Hoase with an
p«at and important reforms in the amended budget, and umounoed
Admiralty introdno«d by Sir James the abandonment of the inoreased
Graham. Since that tima, the ex< Inoome Tax. In making his atate-
penditure had incareaaed again, and ment the right bononrable gentle-
fraah ground had been laid for in- man traveraed exaotly the aome
qmiy. groonda aa the Premi» had done
IJoid George Bentinck proteeted in introducing the budget, con<
against any encroachment by the trasting the ordinary income of the
ComnuttAeB on the proper functions country with its ordinary expendi'
t£ the ExscutiTe, but offered no tore, and pointing out the amount of
farther ohgeotioD to the motion, the deficieni^. He then adverted to
whidi was then carried. the pro^wcts of ths year, oommeno-
It very soon became evident ing on Uie 6th of April, 1816, and
that the proposition which Lord ending on the 5th of April, 1649,
John Bosrall had made of increas- and in the courea of hts obgerrB^
ing ths nnpopular Inoome Tax to & tiona explained the nature of our
per cent was huihly unpalatable expenditure, and the small chanee
to the public. The general de< there was of making any great re*
preosioD of trade and reduced cir- ductions in it. The GoTomment
comstancea of almost all classes, had not propoaed a larger amount
consequent upon the late com* of force for the military service of
nwicial criais, had indisposed the the country than it deemed indis*
eoontiy to bear patiently any in- pensably necessary. He would not
crease of tszatiou. Besides this, allude, except cursorily, to the ex<
« keen sense of the inequality of temal circumstances which had
the mode of taxing incomes, ao- occurred since the Estimates were
cording to the uniform 3 per cent, first proposed ; it would be enough
Male, generally prevailed; and, for him to say, that it would
however the existing grievanoa not be expedient for the Go-
ndii be endured, the sggiavation veromeDt to propose at present
of It, as now proposed by iacreasing any redaction in the amount of
the per-oentage, was vigorously pro- oar force. He then went through
tested against. Petitions poured the different resources from which
in from all the piinoipal towna in our income for the next year was
the oonutiy, canatituencies in- to be derived, estimating it at
stmoted their Members to oppose, 61,350,000/., and showing that
on pain of forfeiting their future there would be a deficiency in it of
support, the UinisteiiU measure, 3,300,OUOi. to meet oar expendi-
aad it became evident, from a ture in case the Income Tax at 8
variety of symptoms, that a form- per cent, were oontiiiiied, and of
idaUeagiutu«iwas rising Qpinthe 8,000,0001. in case it were not.
44] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. {Engh^d.
In lookJDg to the best mode of pro- proposed to reneir it. Whether it
viding for this defidency, be con- should be reneved for three or for
cnrred niih Mr. T. Baring in five years was a point to be con-
thinking that we should not be sidered in Committee ; but the Go-
justified in resorting to a loan, verometit had proposed to renew it
He had, therefore, turned his at- for five years, because it was of
tention to the financial proceed- opinion tbat the country could not
ings of the last few years, and had thoroughly recover ita financial
considered the measures which had prosperity until the expiration of
been sanctioned and approved by that period. Stilt, if toe Income
Farliameot. In 1643, when there Tax were passed at the same per-
was a deficiency. Sir R. Peel had centage as at present, there w«ild
proposed an Income Tax, partly to be a deficiency. It therefore be-
meet it, and partly to relieve the came neceasaiy to condder how it
lower classes from the pressure of was to be supplied. The Mi-
indirect taxation upon articles of nistr^ were of opinion tbat the
general taxation. His (the Chan- deBciency would only be for a
cellor of the Exchequer's,) opposi- time. The Caffre war was already
tion to the Income Tax in 18)3 wag at an end. Theexpenditarein the
grounded on the argument that it dockyards would cease in eighteen
was not worth the price which wc months or two years, when the
were then called on to pay for it ; conntiy would reap the benefit of
but he had then stated that, if the the pennanant works which had
Com Duties, the Timber Dudes, been erected. A reduction of ex-
and theSogarDutiesweretakenofi', penditure might also be e£Fected
he should have no olgection to vote by the Committees recently ap-
for the tax which he then opposed, pointed by the House. It would
Those taxes had since been taken be hardly wise to impose a new tax
off ; and he therefore felt himself for a time, as such a tax must have
justified in proposing in 1648 the effect of deranging trade without
the vetT same law which he had any corresponding benefit. A per-
opposed in 1643. He then re- centage on the existing taxes would
minded the House of what had oo- in all probability fail in producing
curred in 1645, when Sir Bobert increased revenue. Under such cir-
Pecl proposed the continuance cumstaiiceB,theGoTernment,know-
of the Income Tax for the sake ing that the Income Tax could he
of persevering in the commercial increased immediately without any
policy of 184S, and of taking off increased expenditure in the col-
further duties on the raw materials lection of it, had determined to
of our manufactures, and on articles propose an increase of it to 5 per
of general consumption. Various cent., to continue for two years,
propositions were then mode for Having stated that it would not be
the purpose of amending the Act, politic to extend such a tax for so
hut no one got ap and opposed it short a period to Ireland, and hav-
altogether. The House of Com- ing further added that, if it were
mons sanctioned it; and it would a tax for more than a temporaiy
be a most extraordinary coarse for emergency, itwould he just to make
the Government to come forward Ireland pay it, he replied to the
now and propose to reverse it. question whether he would pledge
The Qovemment had, therefore himself to take it off from Great
E«9i««i.l HISTORY. [45
BntMQ »t the end of two jeais— addition to the Fropertr Tax. He
Could utj man foTOsee what the made that annonncenient, he re>
■Meof taeworldvodldbetwoj'ears peated, vith regret, beoauee at tbe
ixeTennxmontl)shence?Howloi]g present moment he considered «
was it nnce k gentleman, recently liill Exchequer to be very desirable,
retomed from France, had told and he ehould be sorry to draw on
them that the French people could the balances, which were now high,
hftTe no olQeet in making a rerolu- for any part of the deficiency. He
tion? Who ooold have foreseen, ten hoped at all erents that the House
dajB ago, what had occorred in would not refuse to Government
Paris daring the laat week ? the present Income Tax for three
Making, then, no promise on the years, as it could not conduct afiairs
■abject, he thonght that no man without having, for that time, the
eoold doobt that the increased p«- same average revenue which it
eentage for two years would ha had at present.
taken off at the end of that time, Mr. Hume defied the Chan-
provided that our income rose to cellor of the Exchequer to continue
the level of the last year ; and, if it the Property Tax vrith alt its pre-
did, it would leave as, at the end sent inequalities. He was also of
of two years, a surplus of 700,000(. opinion, after what. Sir C. Wood
He had now explained to tiie had said about the improbability of
Honae the proposab of Ministers, making any large reductions, Uiat
He could not say that they had been the House ought not to grant him
well received, either in tite House this tax at aU ; for then the Go-
or in the country. From every vemment would be compelled, as
quartet Ministers bad received un- tbe Government of 181S was com-
eqnivocal demonstrationa that they pelled, to reduce establishments,
were strongly disapproved of. He Alluding to Lord J. Russell's
then took a hasty review of the declaration of pacific intentions
different otgections raised to the towards France, he called upon
Income Tax, as well by those who bis lordship to produce confidence
ifiproved as by those who dia> in it among the French people
approved of direct taxation, and, by diminishing the amount of
after refuting them to the best of our forces by 40,000 or 60,000
his power, expreesod his r^ret that men.
there was bo universal a dislike to Mr. Osborne followed on the
the increased per-centage which same side, and threatened to op-
Lord J. Russell hod proposed. He pose the Income Tax by the most
thought that, if the conntry would energetic means in his power,
■nbtnit to that increase, it would Mr. Waklay recommended the
derive great advantage from it; Government to withdraw the reso-
bat, if there were any point on lutions altogether. The budget
which the people had a right to bubble had burst; it was exploded
dictate to the Government, it was —gone. He assured Ministers
on tbe subject of taxation. He that a feeling of impatience was
therefore announced at once to tbe rising and spreading over the king-
Honse, on the part of the Govern- dom, engendered by bad and un-
ment, that it did not intend to press j^t legislation in Parliament. Sir
tliose resolations which made an Hany Vemey suggested import-
46] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [BngUmL
■nt improvements in Bome mili- observations on ths unsatiaSutfoiy
taiy dep&rtmente — BBpeoiallj in tni fruitleaa turn which the dis-
regard bi enltBtmeDte. Mr. Fian- otiasion had takeni pnxieeded to
us Baring approved of the course advert to some remaAB which had
Government had now taken ; but blleii from Mr. Oobden.— " That
insisted that reductions should be honourable gentleman, after what
made, not by the Committees, bat 1 remarked to-night — and I be-
bf Government. Mr. Oobden Ueve be most admit that his
joined in the protest against the propheoj was not a veij sncoeas-
present shape of the tu on pre- nil one— -{LaughUr) — has tried to
oariouB income. He found no out- excite a suspicion, and to-induce
let from the diffiaulties which the those in this House, and perhaps
Chancellor of the Exchequer had those oat of doors, to think that
stated, save through reductions of I was not sincere In the deola-
ouF establishments,— effeotive as radon I made, and that, when I in-
well as non-effective. Mr. Cobden timatad we did not mean to inter-
oonfeased that, when he had lately fere with any disposal of her own
spoken against the probability of any institutions whitji France might
but the most peaceful aspect of af- ohoose to make, I still meant we
fairs in France, he was unprepared were to be led by some * coteries
for tfle political revolution which and clubs ' to go to war with Uiat
has occurred — for suob insanity in nation, because she had , adopted
a Minister, oi such madness in a some particular form of govein-
Monuch. Let them mark himi ment. Now, I can only reiterate
if it were the policy of ths GoTsm- what I said before, that it is not
ment of this country to avoid a the intention of the Oovemmsut to
collision with France, it was per- interfere, in any way whatever, with
fectly easy for England to avoid it. whatever settlement France may
He ventured to say that England think proper to make with respect
was the last country that France to ber own government [Chten.)
was likely to attack as a nation. Qui only interest in that settle-
inasmuch as we were inaoeesible, ment is the interest of naighbonrs
But, unless the people of this ooun- and friends ; and all we wish is
try took the question into their that the institutions France may
own hands, there was a danger of adopt shall tend as much as pos-
war with France; if it were left sible to her own prosperiiy.
with the Foreign Secretary — if it (Cheen.) I may, perhaps, be per-
were left to the clubs and cote- mitted to add, that of course I do
ries of the KletropoHa, or to the not believe England would refuse
spirit he had seen evinced that to perform any of those sacred
night in reference to the state of duties of hospitality which she has
France— he feared we mightbe in- performed at all times to the
Tolved in a war ; and he took that vanquished, whoever they were,
opportunity of calling upon the whether of extreme royalist opi-
oountiy to beware of what would nions, of moderate opinions, or of
be impending if they did not extreme liberal opinions. Those
take the matter into their own duties of hospitality have made
hands. this country Uie asylum for ths
Lord John Uossell, after some unfortunate; and I for one will
En^tmd.] HISTORY. [47
MT«r auBMit thst we shaald nag- tax ; u «*il pardoned in a tompo-
lect them." {Loud ckttn.) my impoet, out intolerable in one
Mr. Disraeli aubeoribed to the that has evidently become perma-
inle tbat obaerrationB ehould be re- nent He illoatrated thia position
aerred till the measurea they ooo- by quotations from former speecheai
oemed were fairly before the House, in which Lord John Ruaaell had
He proceeded, lioweTar, to critioM boreia teetimony to the inherent
the pnipoaitioii of Oovemment in " ineqtudity, vexation, and Irand "
a speech of aome length. Several of the tax. Mr. Horsman suggested
other Members aleo censnred the a different plan, of which we need
Ministerial plans, insisting on re- only mention tiie main features,
dsdiona and economy. He showed that incomes derived
Bir Robert H. Inglis auggested from different Idnds of property
atamp dutiee on foreign bills of ex- are of different values ; that the
change, and a tax on gas. Ha juat way to ascertain a common
also urged an old suggestion of value was to capitalize the incomes,
hia own, that the taxation on in- and then to oJculate the tax on
cmaea should begin at 1601., such each kind of yearly income aocord-
inomoaa to be rated only on the ex- ing to a ratio determined by its
ceaa above 1501. c^talixed value. To apply this.
The question of the Income Tax ana rearrange the tax bo as to pro-
having been once stirred by the un- duce at least the present amount
luekj proposition of the Govern- by a different scale, be took as hia
ment for augmenting it, the popular basis the returns obtained by Mr.
feeling against the tax, even in ita Mofiatt, for the year ending 6th of
original shape, revived, and the April, 1846; and, instead of a uui
otgeotiona so often urged t^nat form rate of Td. in the pound, he
it were forcibly represented both propoeed the following rales,— 8<f.
in Parliament and out of doors, in the pound on incomes arising
The poasibili^ of remodelling it, from realized property; 6d. on
so as to place it upon a more eqni- trade, commerce, and manufitc-
taUe basis in regard to different tures; dd. on professional and oilier
classes of incomes, was much agi- precarious sources. This would
tated, and several debates took yield 300,000^ more than the pre.
place in the House of Commons sent revenue,
anon motions introduced by private Sir Charles Wood and Lord
Memben. One of the most pku- John Bussell contended that Mr.
aible of the plans propoeed was Horsman's plan would be more
embodied in an smendmMit moved odious than the present, because it
1^ Mr. HoTsman on the 9rd of would require a more inquisitorial
March, to the following effect : — machinery.
"That, if the Income Tax be Mr.FrancisBaringuiigedtheMi-
eontinned, it is expedient to amend nisters to attempt the a^justmeDt
the Act, and not to impose the of the tax on a &irer basis: merely
same charge on incomes arising to continue it was only to post-
from [oefeeaioaal and precariona pone a difficulty with which the^
sources aa on those derived from ought to grapple at onoe ; for, if
lealisednropertj." the tax were not rendered more
Mr. Ataman dwelt on the ex- acceptable, the country would
eaanvely im«qual inddmce of the compel ita abolition. Several
48] ANNUAL REGISTER, 184S. [E»j!".J.
other speakera joined is the de- natural and commercial calaiaitiea
hat«, the balance of argument that had occurred had deranged
eoing against the tax. But, on a all calculation, and brought atwat
division, the amendment was nega- the present state of the national
tived by 310 to 141. finances. He could not sa; that
A financial debate of more im- he saw any early prospect of re-
portance took place on the 6th of vival ; because, if there were no
Uarch upon another amendment, other circumatance to interrupt its
which was proposed by Mr. Hume, progress, he feared the stat« of
for altering the period for the re- affairs abroad, and the uncertainty
newal of the Income Tax from that this would produce in trade
three years ta one year. and commerce, would prevent a re
Sir Charles Wood opposed the vival at an early period : but that
proposition, and appealed to the was a reason for continuing the In-
House to support bim in sustain- come Tax for a longer period than
ing the national credit. If he a year.
entertained any doubt that the Mr. Spooner, Captain Towns-
revenue would in a certain time hend, and Mr. G. J. Turner dwelt
not only restore the balances now strongly on the ui^ust operation
drawn upon for present deficien- of the tax. Sir William Clay sup-
cies, but also exhibit a large surplus, ported the measure as proposed by
he would not make his proposal, the Govemment, Mr. lAbouchere,
If the means of additional taxation taking the same course, pointed
were refused by the House, and to some encouraging fiictB esta-
the only course remaining were also blishing the financial progress of the
denied to the Government, the re- country. Sir Robert Peel (having
pudiation would lie at the door of been reflected on by some animao-
the House itself. He thought versions of preceding speakers with
that the aditional Income Tax had reference to the mode in which the
better have been acceded to; but, Income Tax was carried) vindicated
surely, he continued, the House his own conduct, and that of the
was bound, under the circum- majority who passed it.— When in
stances, to grant the renewal of the 1841 he was called to the Ministry,
tax for such a time as would enable there had been a succession of d»-
the Government to realize a sur- ficits from the year 1636. The
plus. If they did not, public credit aggregate deficiencies of the years
would undoubtedly suffer; and he from 1836 to the Sth April 1643,
must say that, let whoever might he had estimated at not less than
undertake the task, of carrying on lO.UOO.OOO/. The House had
the Oovemment in such circum- itself capsed a large part of
stances, Her Majesty's present ad- that deficiency by surrendering to
visers would not consent to so dis> the nation a revenue of nearly
creditable a course. 1,SOO,000/. a year ^m the Foet
Sir Charles reviewed the history office, and had thought itself bound
of the tax; denied that it was im- to make an attempt in support of
posed on the country by stealth; public credit. What was the source
and asserted that it was part of the whence to obtiun any augmenta-
scheme of commeroial reform since tion of the revenue ? Eiperiraents
carried out by the 1at« and the made by the Chancellor of the Ex-
present Oovemmenla. The great chequer of the day, in 1641, had
B»«U»UIO HISTORY. 40
ianoDBtisted that indirect taxsdau pest might drop. He rejoiced to
bkd mlready been tasked to its fnll believe that the experiment had
pDwen; the additional 10 per cent been greatly Buccessfd, tbou^ un-
on CnBtama and Excise hsTing exampled natural calamities had
jielded but 700,000/. in place of disappointed his fullest expecta-
tlie 1,900,0001. looked for. Not tiona. He exclaimed— "As long
■9 with direct taxation ; the 10 as I live I shall never repent that
par cent, added to the assesBed I proposed that alteration in the
taxes having, io plac« of the ex- oommercia] policy of the country ;
pected ai5.000L, given above and that I induced the House of
300,000^ Such was the financial Command— not by fasdnatioii, not
part of the case ; but there was the by deception, but by a full and ex-
eommercial also. It had been plitut statement of the financial
tfaoogbt deairahle to remodel the afTairs of the country — tc continue
Cnatoms Duties of the kingdom ; the tax ; and that I induced the
to remove all prohibitions, and to House, in lieu of the largo reduction
aimpKfy the protective taiiff to an of duties upon imports, to impose a
immenaa extent, by a &r more tax upon the income and property
imiibrni system of dutiea. The of the country." (ChMrt.)
dtttiea on TOO articles were to be Sir Bobert Peel then dealt with
lowered, and on SOO were to be the qiieetion of the incidence of the
repealed. The advantages to trade tax. "Taking the circumstances
were expected to be immense ; but of individual cases into oonsidera-
they could only be had at the price tton, instances of hardship cannot
of T,000,OOOL to the public reve- be denied ; but I do not assent to
Bue. How would it have been poa- the propoeition that It is there-
Bible to accomplish such financial fore an unjust tax If you
otgects, end such a commercial were to attempt to make a dis-
revohition, but on the foundation tinction such as the honourable
of the Income Tax? In full oog- Member for Cookermouth has sug-
nizanoe of these things, the House gested, it would be fallacious, and
■Bsented to (he scheme of fin^nnial the same difficulties whioh are
policy sahmitted to it. now pointed out in respect to the
Sir Ilobert Fael then reamitn- inoomes of professional men and
lated the drcumstaneeain which hia owners of real property would
IneomeTax bad originated, as con- occur. No principle ean, in my
oected with the great enteriment opinion, be devised which would he
of Free Trade. He appealed to his more just— or, I would rather say,
former speeches, and to the hmous would be more firee from otgection
Elbing letter, to prove that the — than that which you are desirous
tax had been intended as the faun- of seeing removed."
dalion of a commensal pdJcy He should give his decided sup-
aimed at the removal of vexatioaB port to the Mmiaterial proposition
end onerona reatrietiens. In pro- to renew the tax for three years,
poong the tax, ke had bad no eorert Ha had himself been alarmed at
flaBignafpeipetaatiDgit,hut had felt the great increase of expenditure ;
eaognine hopes that the proeperi^ and in giving ooneent to that pro-
of trade, under the poliqr of relaxa- position he aaid nothing in denial
tion. would have so incteased the of the necessily for moit searching
oidintiy reveoue that tbe new im- inveatigatioas. If the Qovem-
VoL. XC. [E]
60 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [En^iawf:
men t had called more streouatisly in which euoh a wonderful social
for the means to relieve their revolution has taken place. {Loud
financial wants he would have sup- ckeen.] I hope, however, that
ported them. Still, he did not we ehall not &il to exercise the
blame them for the discretion tbe^ rights of hospitality. I heard,
had used in retiring from their with great satisfaction, the decla-
proposal to increase the tax. The ration that onr Government has
difficulties of their situation were wisely determined to abstain from
vei7 great. " I am quite aware all interference in the internal
that it is probable there may be concerns of France ; and I am
some increase of revenue from convinced that the principle so pro-
tiie ordinary sources. Some oh- claimed will be act«d upon with
servations nave been made with perfect good faith and scrupulous
regard to the recovery of the Cus- honour, and that the Government
toms: but I must say that there will not only abstain from any such
never was such a combination of interference on its own part, but
circumstances as those by which will discourage any abuse of our
the trade and commercial energies hospitality for the purpose of in-
of the country have for the last terference on the part of others."
two years been aSected; and I (Cheen.)
feel it tny duty, in this day of com- Lord George Bentinck endea-
mercial depression, to assert my voured to reply to Sir Bobert Peel's
continued adherence to the prin- exculpatory speech, ui^g the
ciples on which the remissions in usual arguments of the Protec-
the Customs Duties took place, tionist party in favour of msing
(pheen.) I have the firmest con- large revenoes by taxes on foreign
fideocc in the justice of those re- imports. He preferred the restora-
missions." tion of some of the abandoned
Sir Bobert concluded with an duties on timber, com, cotton, Ac-
allusion to the events abroad. "I as sources of income, which would
must ovm I shall be influenced in soon restore the prosperity of the
my support of the proposal made Exchequer. He then referred to
by the Government by a reference the events passing in France; dis-
to the wonderful events which have claiming, like Sir R. Peel, the de-
taken place within a very recent sire to interfere with the institu-
perjod in a neighbouring country, tiona which the French people
{Loud chMn.) I think they are might adopt, and expressing his
an ample justification for this coun- hope that a Republican form of
try' not consenting to incur any Government might prove as last-
risk of a larger deficit for a period ingly advant^eous to that country
of three years. I conceive it to be as it had proved to our great Traos-
utterly inconsistent with sound atlantic rivals. At the same lime,
policy not to make any reference to he said, he could not conceal from
events which must have filled us himself the possible result from
all with astonishment. • Of this I the present changes of the ascend-
am perfectly con6deiit. that the ancy of ambitious leaders, who
tjue policy ^ this country dictates might force the country into mea-
the most complete and absolute sures of tentorial aggrandisement,
abstinence from all interference in He, therefore, could not consent
the internal affairs of that country for a moment to leave the military
KmjfJiuL] HISTORY. 51
or vxnl strangtli of this ooantij rieocj'ofreTenne.sBcompered whh
in tn iropured condition. To the expenditure, woold be to can; out
sources of revenue he had indicated the same policj ; and as he foresaw
he would add the sam to be de- cootinaed difficultj and deficiene;
rived from rsising the general for the next year, he could not
poetage on letters to twice its pre. concur with Mr. Kume in contino-
sent anxtimt. From this soorce ing the Income Tax for so short a
he should expect 8!>0.00<M. ; and time. He rindicated an Income Tax
from the whole he computed as a proper element in the taxation
that an income of ifiiO.OOOl. of the country, bat insisted on the
would be derived. His adrice to necessi^ and praclicability of ren-
the House was this: — Let tbem dering it a fair and equal tax.
ke«p a ti^t band on the GoTem- With such a prospect for the ensn-
ment; let them hold to this tax ing year, Mr. WIIgod maintained
for anoUier year; and when that that it would be most dangerous
term had expired it would be for policy to entertain the Budget in
them then to consider whether the its present ah^>e, without distinctly
expenditure could be reduced, if providing for the deficiency. Mr.
such an event were posssible. under Cardwell followed up the same
their free imports and restricled tine of aigoment
currency ; or whether, on the other Mr. Disraeli undertook to answer
hand, diey would r^ect this tax these speeches. He denied the
and adopt s different system. success of Sir Robert Peel's policy.
The debate having been ad- The aggregate national income
jonmed, Mr. James Wilson, in an had fallen off to the extent of
elaborate speech, replete with sta^ 17.500,000/.; and if the public debt
tistical detail, vindicated the com- bad been reduced by 20,000,0001.,
mercial and financial policj of Sir the reason was, that 89,000,000/,
Robert Peel, and undertook to had been raised from Income Tax,
prove by fJEu^ts and figures its ab- China-money, and such extraor-
solute success. The speech of Mr. dinaiy sources. Mr. Disraeli —
Wilson wan generally regarded ss a describing himself as "a free-
very able one. He showed that, trader, but not a free-hooter of the
Dotwithslanding the leductjon of Maiicbesler school" — went on to
taxee to the amount of 7,897,000/., crittcise Sir Robert Peel's policy in
the decrease in the aggregate re- bis pecnliar style of analysis ; his
ceipts of Customs ana Euise in arguments not being so new as
184T had been only about 700,000/. some of his illustrationB and turns
In 1842 the Deficiency Bills were of expression. He contended that
6,000,000/. ; in 1847 none, and the Sir Robert Peel bad abandoned his
Funded Debt has been reduced by policy of 1842. which was based on
14,000,000/. In 1842 our ex- a firuitlesa expectation of com-
ports were 47,000,000/. ; in 184S, mercial " reciprocity," and had, in
67,000,000/. The distress arising 1845, introduced two new prin-
from the famine, which we had ciplee — that of the " cheapest
shared with other countries, would market," and that of fighting
have been much worse, but that hostile tarifib by free imports:
this policy had been adopted just hence, our present commercial
in time. Mr. Wilson argued, that dbtrese and financial defiint; which
the way to make good the defi- onght to be made good by. the
[El!)
62
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
aathors of sach inisohievons policy.
Mr. Disraeli called the blue book
of the Import- Duties Committee
" the greatest work of imagincKion
that tbe nineteenth centiuy had
produced;" he likened theOoTem-
inent, acting on Eooh guides, to a
man smoking a oigar on a barrel of
gunpowder ; and warned Mr. Cob-
den and Mr. Bright — the repre-
sentatiTee of " peace and plenty,"
in the face of a starving people and
a world in arms — not to venture
on middle^lass legislation against
realized property.
Mr. Glaoatone, passing by the
clever declamatioii and witty per-
sonalities of Mr, Disraeli, faanaled
the subjeot before the Bouse with
logical clearness, and vindicated,
by reference to faots and statistical
deductions, the complete success of
Sir Robert Peel's free-trade policy.
Hia ooncluaion was to support tlie
proposition of the Oovemment in
preference to that of Mr. Hume,
as absolutely necessary for the sus-
tentation of public credit.
The debat« being again ad-
jonmed, was renewed on the 13th ;
the Ministerial pn^osition being
supported by Mr. Hioe, Mr. Leo-
nard, Lord Dmmlanrig, and Mr.
Henley. Mr. Hume's amend-
ment was advooated by Mr.
McGregor, Mr. Headlam, Mr.
Buck, Mr. G. B. Roche, Mr. Alde^
man Sidney, Mr. Mowatt, Mr.
Hudson, Mr. Muntz, and other
Uembers. llie most promineiit
speeches were those of Mr. Cobden
and Lord John Russell. Mr. Cob-
den entered somewhat ftilly into
tbe general question of taxation,
expressing an abstract preference
for direct over indirect taxation,
and regarding the latter class of
imposts as pressing with nndae
weight upon the poor. He said:
"While the House frets over
its sevenpence in the pound, the
poor are paying twice that number
of shillings in the pound on the
great staples of their consumption.
For every SO*, the working classes
expend on teat, they pay 10<. of
duty ; for every 90*. uiey expend
on sugar, they pay 6*. of duty ; for
every 30«. they expended on coffee,
they pay 6s. of duty ; on soap, ia. ;
on beer, 4s. ; on tobacco, 10*. ; on
apirils, lit. When you bear in
mind that the working classes ex-
pend much more income on those
articles than people of our class,
you cannot but see that this
amounts to aa income-tax not of
Id. per pound, but sometimes of
IS*., 15*., or 10*., per pound;
while men of some thousands a
year^expend a vast deal more in
buying furniture, horses, carriages,
books, and other things which pay
comparatifclylittleULx, Andhence
it is that in this country, where
we derive so much revenue from
articles which enter largely into
the consumption of the woridag
classes, you find, when trade is bad
in Lancashire or tbrooghout the
countiy, the Chancellor of the Rx-
cbequer reminding you that the
state of tbe revenue has been
affected by the state of trade. Both
for the sake of trade, then, and in
justice to the people, you must
diminish your expenditure, or in-
crease the amount of your direct
taxation."
Mr. Cobden would make the lax
just, in order that it might be per.
maiient. He thought it ridiculons
to deny the broad demaroatton be-
tween the inoomee derived from
trades and professions and those
dravrn from htnd. " Take the case
of a tradesman with 10,0001. of
capital : he gets 5001. a year in-
terest and 600'. more for his skill
and industry. Is this man's 10001.
Enjhnd.-] HISTORY. 53
■ jMr to be mulcted in the same Part of the debate Beemed to as-
Mmoant with lOOOt. a jeaz deriTcd sume that if the tax were not given
from a real property cspital of for three years the revenae would
11S,0<M, ? So with Uie cases of &il ; but this was a gratuitous ha-
pmfBBUonal men, who literally live sumption. Next Februaiy, just aa
Dj the waste of their brains. The last month, the House could renew
]^nB £ur dealing of the eoanUy the tax if it should think proper ;
rerolts at an equal levy on snch meanwhile, and long before twelve
nits of property. Professionat months have passed, if the House
men and men of business put in approved of the amendment be-
ntotum tha wheels of the social fore it, the Oovemment would find
STBtem : it is their industry and means to render the lax aeceptable
enterprise that mainly give to to the whole people. The classee
realized property the value which Mr. Cobden represented, who favoor
it bean-, to them, therefore, the more direct taxation, would suffer
State first owes sympathy and sup- far the most of any class by tha
port. Every le«iding member has catastrophe of a national bank'
admitted the injnstice of the lax; ruptoy; but, for this very reason,
yet Government has neither taken they pressed for suhstantial reduc-
any means nor shovm any disposi- tions of Government expenditure,
tioo to apply a remedy." andfor the introduction of the same
Mr. Cobden even now urged an prudence and economy which were
inquiry vrith this object. "Appoint necessary te success in mannfae-
a Committee, and let there be upon turing and commercial parsuita,
it — whatthereisnotin the Cabinet Lord John Russell eemmented
-^ — an equal proportion of merchants, with some humour upon the hete-
manuiacturers, professional men, rogeneous elements of which Mr.
and landed proprietors or other Hume's supporters consisted, com-
possMsors of realized property; bining tree-traders and protec-
mnd I engage that in less time tionista — those who wished to re-
than it vodd lake to fix the duce expenditure, and those who
tariff of a railway company, to desired to see a great addition to
determine whether co«u shall direct taxes.
. penny a ton, lime three The qaestioD before the House
(Mtlfpenc
tb^ will find a mode of adjusting tax was last proposed, and the iol-
ttie tas upon equitable principles. lowingyeBr.taiation wasreducedby
Sut no attempt of that kind has 4,000,0001., and an addition was
been made, and no promise is held made to the Navy Estimates : was
ODt that snch an attempt will be it ever rationally supposed that if
made. It is the dty, pedantic ad- the revenue did not flourish the
hesitm to the letter of the law, tax would be taken off at the end
wbicfa has roused the indignation of three years, notwithstanding
of the coontiy. If a dieuoction that a deficiency should have ap-
were made between permanent and peared by that time? In 1840
precarioos incomes — if a gradation and 1847, food had been imported
of daty were established — I under, to supply the place of iailing
take to say that you would have no harvests, which required some
remonstrances from the great ma- 30,000,000/. to pay for iL Two
uajactuiing seats in the North." commercial panics followed, and
54 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Englajui.
failnKBofthegreatestandstrongest or professions beyond those who
houses in the country. It might are to be run doinn because the;
be beforehand inferred that such are the possessors of land. But
circumstances would cause tho the honourable gentleman says, it
revenue to flag. No one could ex- would have been some conaolatioti
pectthatin fiveyeara of such times if we had attempted to make this
6.000,0001. could be replaced. distinction. Why, sir, I stud on a
Lord John Buasell admitted the former ereniug that my right ho-
inequality of the tax, the discus- nourable friend and myself had
aionof whichhetboughthadalready attempted to draw some line by
been disposed of. " Those who which we could make the tax. ac-
argue for rendering the tax lighter cording to the sense of this House,
in its pressure, take either a par- appear more just ; but we could
ticular schedule of trades or pro- find no line which would not have
fessions, or a schedule of particular been immediately attacked and in-
kinds of occupation, but tiiey leave vaded, and which would not have
many cases of hardship luid in- obliged us to leave other cases of
justice more glaring than those still greater hardship. Of course,
they remedy ; or, if they do not having come to that conclusion, we
take that course, and attempt to go should have been deserting our
further, then they must go almost duty to this House had we taken a
into the individual coses vrfaich different course. We slated our
were alluded to with so much force conviction to the House ; and the
by the honourable and learned honourable gentleman cannot say
Member for Newcastle, such as that we have nut made every
rent-charges for life, leaseholds, attempt to render the t&x more
money in the funds settled upon fair."
distanCrelatiDns.andeverykindand He dismissed the proposal of
predicament of property, tenure, Lord George Bentinck to return
and provision. But, in a country to import duties on com, and such
where the transactions of society are staples of consumption, as a retro-
so complicated and intricate, if you gression that no party could for a
attempt to do that, you will not moment attempt in pi-actice.
only find yourself engaged in a task There remained only the alter-
of inextricable difficulty, but the native of Mr. Hume — greatly to re-
tax will be far more inquisitorial duce the Estimates, To the ques-
than it has ever yet been, and thus, tion, whether it is possible to make
in the end, you will find that you such a reduction in the Estimates
have made the tax only half as proposed, as to enable the House
productive, whilst you hftve ren- to dispense vrith the Income Tax
dered it twice ae vexatious. The after one year. Lord John gave a
only fair line you can take is to decidedly negative reply. The Go-
treat all classes justly. Whether veroment desired even an addi-
they have land, or whether they tional two per cent, for two years i
are engaged in trades or profes- but, this being refused, they could
sions, or whether they have money not possibly do without a guarantee
in the funds, assess your tax as of Uie present impost for three
justly as you possibly can, and never years to come, in order that the
mind any question as to the merits years 1849, 1860 might cover any
of those who are engaged in trade deficiency likely to arise. The
EngUnd.} CHRONICLE. 65
Estinutes were proposed at a time lish Members sboald not return
when eTeiyUiing appeared tranquil ; the fafour.
even then, be (Lord J. Rossell) The motion was sopported br
had refused to prophesy the events MrJohDWilliamB. Sir John Tjrell,
which a year might bring forth ; Mr. Horsman, Colonel Mure, Mr.
loach less wonld he now attempt Bankes, Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Wak-
to forecast the future. ley, Mr. Hume, and Mr. Muntz.
The debate was at length brought The Irbh Members received it
to a division, when there appeared with great indignation. Sir Henry
Barron (who nicknamed the mover
For Mr. Home's Amendment 138 " Condliataon Hall''^ pointed to
Agunst it 868 the agitated state of France and
' Ireland as a warning to the House.
Uajority . . S2B He vras followed by Mr. Fagan, by
Mr. O. A. Hamilton (who opposed
The next financial propoeilioii the motion on the score of the
introdnced, wss a motion by Sir different condition of the two
Benjamin Hall to extend the In- countries), Mr. Napier and Colonel
come Tax to Ireland. Dunne (for the like reason), Mr.
Sir Benjamin contended, that the Roche (who reproached Sir Ben-
new payment of poor rates by the jamin with creating more disaffeo-
land of Ireland constitnted no fair tion in Ireland than all the elo-
examption : that the landlord had quence of Mr. Mea^^er), Colonel
for so long a period paid no poor Conolly, Mr. Monsell, Mr. Bey-
rates, was no reason why he should nolds, and Sir Arthur Brooke,
not pay Income Tax now. He Mr. Moore also opposed the mo-
qnoted statistical figures to show tion ; though he ailmitted that a
that Ireland could plead no special species of properly tax would reach
harden on the score of its poor ; those who eluded local liabilities,
that the rates paid in Ireland were and might become absolutely
not so high ss they had been ; necessary to restore the wel&re
that Ireland was specially exempted and prosperity of Ireland,
from taxes which England pays, to On behalf of the Government,
the smount of IS.OOO.OOOi. an- Sir Charles Wood resisted the mo-
Dually; and that, the Irish Members tion as impolitic and inexpedient,
themselves, atameetingoverwhich It has been found inconvenient to
Ijord Cloncurry presided, had pro- impose exactly the same taxes on
posed an income tax in aid of poor Ireland as on England, and the Iq-
ratea. Ixraking to the conduct of come Tax would be an impost par-
Irish Members in the House, he ticularly cruel at this moment of
fixuid that 52 of them had voted in severe and calamitous affliction,
fitvonr of the tax and only 8 a^inst On a division, the motion was
it; on the question of continuing it negatived by 318 to 196.
for a period of three years, 67 It has been seen that the Go-
Irish Members had voted for that vemment found themselves com-
proposition and only 9 against it. polled in the early part of the Ses-
If the Irish Members chose to sion to back out of their unpopular
saddle Great Britwu vrith this tax, proposal for augmenting the Income
there was no reason why the Eng- Tax U> five per cent., but as this
66] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [E«{,Umd.
measure, if carried, would hare In a Committee of the whole
given them an increased revenue of House on that day, he stated *ri»t
uiree millions, which lliej had he believed the financial condition
stated to be necessary to equalise of the countij to be, and also the
income with eipendiUire, the with- meaaurea whichit was the intention
drawal of the scheme of course in- of Government to propose to meet
volved the consequence of a deficit it. He commenced nia observa-
The reduction in the Estimates of tions by recuiitulating the leading
the Annj, Navy, and Ordnance, points in Lord John Buasella
which the Ministers had consented statement at the commencement of
to submit to the ordeal of a Select the Session respecting the income
Committee, might indeed go some and expenditure of the jear, and
way to supply the expected defal- referred to the measurea which his
cation ; but aa it comd not be an- lordahip had proposed and Partia-
ticipated to equal the amount which ment bad rejected, for meeting
it had been proposed to raise by the deficiency which was then con-
taxation, a deficiency of ways and templated ; tracing to its sooroe
means, to a greateror less amount, the increase of our expenditure,
seemed inevitable. Much suspense for which, as Mr. Gobden had
and anxiety prevailed among per- jusUy observed, neither this nor
sons to whom the maintenance of a that Government was blameable,
sound financial policy was an oliject hut the House of Commons. When
of interest, as to the consequences Ministers withdrew their prc^osi-
of suffering the nation thus to ex- tion for increased taxation, it ba-
oeed its iucome, and the Chancellor came necessary to revise our pn-
of the Exchequer was frequently sent system, and to make sack
importuned, as the Session went alterations in it as the altered oir-
on, to state definitely to the House, cumstancea of the countiy required.
what the position of the country Tn the statement which he was
was likely to be. Sir Charles about to make, he would deal ia
Wood, in answer to these appUca- the first instance only with the iti-
tions, stated, that as the Estimates come of the year aa compared with
which had been referred to the its expenditure. After the decision
Select Committee, were in course (tf of the House on the budget of
reduction, it would be more con- Lord John Bussell, Ministers felt
venient t« defer his ultimate expo- that their first duty was to revise
sition of his views till the close of the expenditure ; and with a view
the Session ,- but he, from time to to its reduction they had appointed
time, made partial diaclosures to the two Committees, one to examine
House as to the progress effected into the Miscellaneous and the
in reducing the Estimates, and the other into the Naval and Militarj
anticipated results of bis calcula- expenditure. Having appointed
tions. At length on the S5th of these Gommitteee, Ministers had
August he fulfilled his engagement called upon every department of
by making a more complete and the Government to revise its Esti-
explicit disclosure of the state of mates, and the result was that dimi-
the Exchequer, and of the mode in nished Estimates had been sub-
which he proposed to meet the exi- mitted to and been sanctioned by
gencies of the public service. Parliament. No redaction had beeti
1 HISTORY. [67
Hide in die anaonnt of onr effective year tltat nultiiig lutd been carried
Mnl and military force. TbeHonse on to a vet; great extant, and had
of Commons had coDfij-med the opi- led to a considerable increase in
nioD of Uinisters on that point, the rerenue of the Excise. The
and nothing had since occurred to Stamps, however, had fallen off.
shilie it. Frooi Ireland, and the NevertbeleBs, he anticipated an in-
JDtDsfiutnring districts of England, creese of ordinary revenue above
denuade for protection had fre- that contemplated bj Lord John
foentl/ been made ; and ve should Bussell of not less than 340.000/.
have been ill able to afford it had Add to this a sum of B0,000£, the
oar foroB been less than it vaa at last remnant of China money, and
^eaenU On other points Minis- the income of the year would
ters had been able to make several amount to 52,130,000/.; and,
reductions. Far instance, the Navy therefore, upon the balance of the
Estimates voted were lees than income and expeodiUire of the
those originally snbmitted to the year, there would only be a defi-
Honae by 208.00Ut. ; the Army ciency of 393,3061. He hoped
Estimates irere less by 160,000^.; that, after this statement, the Com-
the Ordnance Estimates were less mittee would be of opinion that
by 123,00(M. ; the Miscellaneous MiniateFs had given some earnest
)ijm,000l.; and the Estimate for of their desire to equalize the ex>
the Uilitia by 160,0001. The penditure and income of the year.
whole reduction on those Estimates In the present condition of the
■moonted to B66,300I. Subse- trade and commerce of the country,
quently, however, the Secretary at it was difficult to anticipate the
War had taken S5,0OO2. for the amount of the revenne of the year,
pensioners, whom it had been found but he entertained litde doubt that
neeeaaary to call out, and an addi- at the close of the year ending
tioa had been made to the Miscel- 5th of April, 1B49, the inoome
laneooB Estimates of I3,300Z. ; so would be equal to its expenditure.
that the actual reduction on the He then adverted to the necessity
original Estimates did not exceed of providing for what he called
834,000/. Now, the charge of the the " extraordin&ry " expenditure
Debt and the Consolidated Fund of the year, in which be included
ma 81,360,9001., the charge for the expense of the Cefije war and
the Navy was 7,678,6101., for the the amonntof naval euMBa,amount-
Army7,013,795/.,fortheOrdnanee ing togetherto 1,34(>,411/. That
3,078,000/., and for the Uiacel- sum had already been advanced,
laneous Estimates 3,780,000/., and but it was necessary to replace it ia
the total expenditure of the year the Exchequer. . A few days ago he
was 63,433,000/. Lord John Bus- had proposed to vote away two
•allbadeatimatedtheincomeofthe sums, amounting to 393,610/.,
yearat 61,3 10,000/. Byanarrange- partly for the relief of distress in
isent, however, which had been sub- Ireluid, and partly for repaying to^
sequentlymadeastotheAppropria^ the province of Canada the charge
tions in aid, a sum of 600.000/. to which it had been put during
had become available for the ser- the last year for relieving the
vice of ^e year. The barley crop emigrants from Ireland. These
had alao been so plentiful last sums added together amounted to
58] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngLmd.
and Sir Robert Feel hod declared
that Ministers had done right in
^ondoniDS it. The citYmmstaaces
under which Miaisters had recourse
to their present plan were not or-
dinary. During the laat two years
there had been famine in Ireland ;
during the last autoinn there had
been great commercial distress in
this country ; during this year
there had been revoiudou in Eu-
rope, disorganizing all commercial
arrangements ; and there had been
l,788,9aii., which, added to the
deficiency of 292,305^. already
mentioned, made the total defi-
ciency to be provided for 2,03 1 ,Q26I.
Now, if be were b) follow the coarse
which bad been taken in similar cir-
cumstances before, he should throw
this as a charge upon the Con-
solidated Fund. But he thought
that such a course would be unad-
visable at present, as a charge of
S,500,000I. bad been placed in
1846 on the Consolidated Fund for
the purpose ofloansfordrain^in
England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Of this 8,600,000/. only 600,000i.
had been expended. He could not
say what amount might be re-
quired this year, but for some years
it would be a charge annually in-
creasing. There were also other
charges, for New Zealand, for the
West India hurricane loan, Sk.,
amounting to 800,0001., on the
Consolidated Fund ; and therefore
be thought it impolitic to increase
the charge already upon it. What
be proposed to do, in order to re-
place in the Treasury the amount of
two millions, which was the excess
of expenditure for the year, was to
borrow the money in the market.
Having explained the reasons why
he did not adopt the course pur>
sued by Sir Robert Peel in 1843,
to cover the deficiency which then
existed, he stated that he intended
to raise the money either by an
issue of Exchequer bills or by a
creation of stock. No one felt
more than be did that this, in or-
dinary circumstances, was an ob-
jectionable course. It was in-
^oreasing the debt in the time of
peace, and the Oovemment deemed
that so undesirable that it had
even proposed increased taxation
for two years. That proposition
the House would not accede to.
at home. Under such
circumstances, it was very difficult
to anticipate the revenue of fubm
years, or even to say what the ex-
penditure might be for Ireland
next year. But unless matters
took a worse turn than he antid-
Kted, be thought that we should
able to reduce our expenditure
next year, and that we might
reckon upon a better revenue tban
we bad gained in the present It
was most consolatory to know that
even in the present year the re-
venue had maintained its amount;
and taking the year as far as it
bad gone, our prospects were any-
thing but unsatisfactory. Indeed,
the revenue bad kept up to an
amount, this year, which bad filled
him with astonishment as he looked
on it week by week. Taking the re-
ceipt of the revenue from the 0th
of April to the 5th of August this
year, and comparing it with that
during the corresponding period of
last year, tbe whole amount of de-
crease did not exceed 115,0001.;
whilst upon Customs and Excise
there had been a positive increase
of 500,000/. Though our exports
had fallen off, our imports bad
increased, owing to the general
cheapness of commodities which
EngUmd.] HISTORY. [50
the peace and tianquillily which there wsa do reason to believe
bad prevailed at faoue. The re- that there would not be the same
ceipt of our own Costoms, when amonnt of sound potatoes this jear
compared with those of France, was as there was the last In his pre-
most salis&ctory, as he showed at sent etat« of informatioD as to the
some lenffth. If the disaffected would crops, it would be impossible to
only reflect upon it, thej would calculate what would be the omonnt
see the injury thejr were inflicting of produce available for human
on themselves by disturbing the fooa ; but unless there were a
public peace, and interrupting the failure of the crops like that of
ordinary avocations of industry. 1846, there must be a quantity of
He was happy to soy that trade, food in the country capable of sup-
throngbont the country, was still porting the people for a very con-
in a sound state. Tboueb there siderable time. It would be un-
bod been a drain of bullion last just to the people of England, and
week, it hod been replaced in the disadvantageous to the industry of
present ; and the reserve in the Ireland, if a large and sweeping
Bank had, in both weeks, amounted measure for the relief of Irish dis-
to 9,OU0,OO0f. He then advened tress should again be adopted. At
to the state of the crops and of the present, he believed that it was
weather, which was to all a source not needed ; at the same time, he
of anxiety. He was sorry to say, must say that it would be cruel
that in the sonth and west of Eng- and inhuman to withhold all assist-
lond there was danger of a cunsi- ance firom such localities as were
derebld failure in the potato crops ; suiTering severe distress. To hold
but he was led to believe that in the out to uiem any hope of general
north of England, and in Scotland, and systematic relief would be in-
no serious injury bad been done, expedient. He hoped, however.
The accounts respecting the bar- that Parliament would allow the
vest were conflicting. In some Government to dispense sncb aid
parts of England, he heard that as might be necessary. If things
the com had sprouted, but he did should turn out worse than be sn-
oot anticipate very considerable ticipated, it would be necessary to
damage to it by the weather. The apply for assistance to the wisdom
panic in London was not general ; of Parliament But Parliament
end in the north of England peo- must see what the crops were, and
pie were even complaining of the what was the neceesity of Ireland,
want of rain. As far, then, as this before it decided on the course
country was concerned, there was which it ought to pursue.
no great cause for anxiety. From The statetnent of the Chancellor
Ireumd the accounts were various, of the Exchequer was followedbya
It wonid be impossible to go into desultorydiscusaion, in which seve-
detoils : but the inference he drew nil Members eipressed disaatisfao-
from tbem was this, that there tion at the position in which the
was scarcely any port of Ireland finances of the country were placed)
in which the potato disease had and also at the method proposed for
not shown itself more or lees. On recruiting them. Mr. Hume, in
the other hand, it appeared that particular, objected very strongly to
the Irish hod planted a latter the proposition for increasing the
quantity of potatoes than ever, and permanent debt in time of peace.
60] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEnaUmd.
tracting loans and increasing the
debt in times of peace. He next
went oyer the often repeaUd stAte-
menta respecting the expense of
collecting the refenae, which
amoimted to a sum of four or five
millions a year, and increased oar
t&xation to an amount of 09 millions
a jear, and then digressed into a
long remotutrance ^^nsC the mis-
management and expenditure of
our Colonies. In the early part of
next Session he wonld put his stats-
ments of that evening upon record,
in order that ereiy man who had
leisure might read and reflect upon
them. He concluded by moving
that the Bill be taken into con-
sideralJon that day three months.
Ur. Muntz seconded the amend-
The Chancellor of the Exche-
quer contended that the Tarious re-
ductions of expenditure which Mr.
Hume had proposed in the course
of the present Session were not con-
sistent either trith the safety or
with the interests of the country,
and he showed that a vast nuyoii^
of the House had concurred in the
amount of the various estahlish-
ments now proposed for the defence
and maintenance of our commercial
greatness and national independ-
ence. He reminded the House
that there were only three ways
in which it could meet a deficient
revenue. Thefirstwasbyincreaaed
taxation ; the second, by the re-
duction of eetablishments to the
amount of the revenue; and the
third, by having reoourse to some
such means as were now proposed,
of borrowing money to meet our
expenditure. If it were neoessary
to support our eiiattng eetabtieh-
ments. and if the country would
not submit to increased taxation,
the only course left to the Govern-
ment— which nevertheless he ad-
a measure which he regarded as
being occasioned by the extrava-
gant eetablishments kept up by
the Government. He also de-
murred to the plan which Sir
Charles Wood meant to adopt for
raising the loan, it being in hi^
opinion a preferable course to bor-
row the money in the market
rather than to sell stock to the re-
quired amount, which he r^arded
as an improvident proceeding.
A more formal discussion upon
these financial arrangements took
place on the 29th August, when a
motion was made for the committal
of the Bill introduced to give ef-
fect to the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's propositions. Mr. Hume,
on this occasion, renewed at some
length his opposition to the Minis-
terial plan. He ol:>)ected, first, on
the ground that ^e Bill was a
measure for the creation of a loan
of two millions in time of peace,
which would add 6t),000i. or
70,000/. to the interest of the debt,
and, secondly, on the ground that it
sanctioned a very impiolitic mode
of borrowing money for the country.
Early in the Session be hod urged
on the Government the propriety
of either diminishing the expendi-
ture within the revenue, which then
showed a deficiency of 2,900,0001.,
or of providing by taxation to meet
the excess of our expenditure. He
had urged the propriety of not add-
ing to the amount of the debt in
time of peace, and had shown that
a very large portion of our expen-
diture was not necessary. On a
division the numbers were 157 in
favour of continuing a large ex-
penditure, and only 59 against it.
After reoapitulatiogatoonsiderable
length the various economical mo-
tions which he had proposed in the
course of the Session, Mr. Hume
dilated on the impolicy of con-
Emji«ui.l HISTORY. [61
mittedtobeanoliiiectloTiablecourse He should certaitil/ vote against
— yna to coTer an extraordiDuy this loan.
and temporary expenditare bj tbe Mr. A. Smith contended that
loan which he now proposed, the Govemment had done all in
Hftving promised Mr. Hume that its power to avoid the position in
in the next Session the Administra- which it was now placed, of being
tion would adopt all practicable obliged to borrow in time of peace.
meaaoTM of economy in eveiy de- At Uie commencement of the Se»-
partment of the State, he applied sion GoTemment had proposed in*
himself to a very brief eiposare creased taxation, but, in conformity
<rf Uie monetary doctrines of Mr. to the wishes of the House and the
Huntz, and concluded by recom- country, had subsequently aben-
mending the Bill to the support of doned it. He had supported, and
tbe Honee. should have continned to support,
Mr. Henley and Mr. H. Drum- QoTcmment in that taxation, but
mond declared their intention of still he could not shut his eyes to
supporting the Government Mr. the fhot that tbe state of the world
Spooner announced the same in- justified them in conceding to the
tention, but launched out into an deliberate decision of the House
emphatic invective agunat the pre- that it was not expedient to in-
sent system of tbe Currency. crease taxation this year. As then
Mr. Cobden held up to the high Miniateia could not incresae tax-
adminuion of the Bouse and the ation or diminish establishmenta
oountry the declaration of Sir R. so as to equalize income and ex-
Peel, that he would not carry on penditnre, no other resource was
the Adminbtration of the country left to them but to incur a loan.
if he could not make its ezpendi- He should, therefore, support the
tnre equal to its revenue. Tbe proposition of the Chanoellor of
present Government had departed the Exchequer. In conclusion, he
from that rule ; and. unless the read Mr. Cobden a severe lecture
conntry took the sutgect up and for asserting that tbe apprehen-
prevented this system of borrow- sion of war at the commence-
mg, it would be carried on to the ment of the Session bad been pro-
aanw extent as it had been in pagated by professional men for
France and Austria, and would their own private interest and
plunge us into tbe same ruin. emolumenL He utterly denied
With oar local expenditure in poor the truth of such an imputation,
ntesandiuoounty rates oar aggre> Lord G. "Bentinck contended
gate taxation amounted this year that Mr. Oobden was tbe last
to 70 millions sterling. That sum man in the worid who ought to
was rooDstrons, and it was impos- charge his opponents with propa-
aibla for us to go on raising it. He gating delusions. Mr. Cobden
then defended the speech which he might think that 17 millions
bad made at the commencement might be reduced at one slash of
of tbe Session for the reduction of the knife ; but few gentlemen bad
oar military armaments, and he been found to coincide with him in
attributed the temporary panic of that opinion. Though the House
invaaian which was than felt to at the oiHumencemeut of the See-
the interested exertions of military sion had refused to grant increased
men, who desired employment, taxation to the Ooveniment, it had
62] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [.England.
never been asked wliether it would the resonrces of the coimtiy, our
reimpose the duties on Customs expenditure exceeded our income,
which had been latelr repealed. If and it became necessary to have
the Chancellor of the Exchequer recourse to a loan. It would not
had made such a proposition to have been wise to increase the per-
the House, he should have given manent taxation of the countr; to
it his most heart; support. The meet a temporary deficiency, and
taxes which hod been repesled Government hod in consequence
amounted to the deficiency which proposed a temporary increase of
we hod now to supply. He there- , the per-oentc^ on property, which
fore called on the House not it was obliged subsequently to
to look for the Ailing of the Ex- abandon. Having abandoned it,
chequer to the spendthrift mode Government said that it would en-
of inflicting debts on our posterity deavour to ride over the difficulty
by incurring loans in the 33rd by means of the balances in the
year of peace, but to the reim- Exchequer, provided that the In-
portion of the Customs Duties come Tax was continued for three
which we had repealed to our own years. In the present condition
dam^e and to the benefit of the of the couutiy, however, it did not
foreigner. appear to be wise to allow those
If the Chancellor of the Exohe- balances to run too low, and it
quer had said that he would re- was therefore deemed expedient to
enact the Com Duties, which had supply them by a loan. He then
produced 700,000i. of revenue in proceeded to show that no bett«T
1640, he did not believe that any course had been saggeeted by any
man in the country would have party in the House. Mr Hume
grumbled at it. In conclusion, he and Mr. Cobden thonght that we
exhorted the House to beware of m^ht have made great reduciioiis
those gentlemen who decried all in the amount of our military force,
who differed from them, who He could not consent to those re-
thought themselves the only oracles, duotions when they were first pro-
and who declared, in the language posed, and recent events had con
of Jack Cade before he ordered firmed the propriety of the decision
Lord Sele off to execution, " I am which he had then announced; for
the besom who shall swee^ the itmisnowevidontthatinFebmary
House clean of all such villains as last the Government of France in-
Uiou." tended to make war in Belgium,
Lord J. Russell was of opinion and a war in Belgium would have
after all the experience of this Ses- kindled a conflagration in Europe,
sion that the Government bad not He would not enter into any refu-
acted unwisely in proposing an in- lation of the arguments used by
crease of the Income Tax, in order Lord G. BentincK in favour of the
to meet the deficiency in the re- reimposition of the duties on tim-
venne. On a former occasion he ber and raw cotton, further than
had shown that in the last few was necessary to remind the House
years ten millions of taxes, which that all the leading statesmen of
pressed heavily on the springs of this country, from the days of Sir
industry, had been taken off; and R. Walpole down to the present
the result was, that when an extra- time had declared taxes on the
ordinary pressure took place on raw materials of manufactures to
England.} HISTORY. [63
be tfae worst taxes that conld be importadon of foreign gntin into
imposed. As to the reimpositioii our barboura .
of the Com Doties. he would 011I7 The House then divided, when
say that he very mach ngoiced that the amendment of Mr. Home vma
in ihfl present circamst&ncee of the negatived bj a majorily of fl6 to
country we had not the sliding 46.
scsle of 1845 to prevent the steady
t,GoogIc
64] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Enghnui.
CHAPTER III.
Alteration of the Navigation Law* — Annouiuement respecting them in
the Queen'i Speech — Mr. Labouchere, on the I5th of May, expiaine the
Minieieriai Scheme in a Committee of the whole Houee — Hie Speech —
Lord George Bentinck dec/aree hit Opposition to the Plan, tthick it
commented upon by various Members on either side — Mr. Herries move*
a Resolution on the S9tA May, in favour of maintaining theftmda-
mental principiet of the Navigation Laws — The Debate is prolonged for
three nights by Adjournment — Speeches of Mr. Herries, Mr. Labou-
chere, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Eobinson, Mr.
Gibson, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, Mr. CardweU, Sir C. Wood. Lord George
Bentinek, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Disraeli, and Sir Robert Peel — Upon a
Division, the Resolution u lost by SDd to ITT — In consequence of the
delay which had occurred, Mr. Labouchere, on the liith August, an-
nounces the Postponement of the Measure till the next Session — Jeu^ish
Ditfibililiet Removal Bill — -Circumstances which led to the Introduction
of this Measure — The Second Reading being moved on the 7th February,
Mr. Augustus Stafford moves, as an Amendment, that it be read a
Second Time diat day Six Months — Lord Burghley seeonde the Amend-
ment— Speeches of Mr. W. P. Wood, Mr. Miines, Sir W. Moletworth,
Lord Mahon, Mr. Walpole. Mr. Shiel, Mr. Netedegate, Sir Robert
Peel, and other Members — The Second Reading is carried by a Majority
of 73 — Upon a subsequent stage, Mr. Goring moves an Amendment
condemnatory of the BiU — After tome discuition it is withdraim —
Various Amendments on the BUI moved by Sir R. H. Inglis, and other
Memben, are rejected — On the Motion for the Third Reading, Sir F.
Thesiger moves that it be read a Third Time that day Six Months —
After Speeches from Lord John Russell, and other Members, the
Amendment is rejected, and the Bill passed —In the House of Lords
the Second Reading is moved by tlie Marquis of Lantdovme on the
•iith May— The Earl of Ellenborough movet the R^ection of the Bill
—The Duke of Cambridge foUoKs on the same side — It it tupported
by the Duke of Argyle, the Bishop of St. David's, Lord Brougham,
attd the Earl of EUesmere; opposed by Lord Stanley, the Earl of
WinchiUea, and the Bishop of Oxford — On a Division the Amend-
ment it carried against the Bill by a majority of 86.
AMONG the measures which miiient. By the Free-Trade -party
formed the Ministeri&l pro- the alteration of these laws was
gramme at the opening of Parlia- regarded as the complement of
ment, a settlement of the Navigation that commercial policy to which
X^aws was one oF the most pro- Parliament hod already giren its
EngUind.] HISTORY. [65
suMtion. The present Govern- je&ra after, reasonable freii^ht-
m«Qt XmA pledged itseU to can? obarges, and later BtiU, a tariff of
out the BjBtem in this direction, maximum freight-charges, were
taA the speech from the Throne enacted for ships going between
bad recommended the subject to England and the chief porta of
the attentive oonsiderKtion of the Europe. A BjHt«m of exclusive mo-
Legislature- Seveti tnonthB of the nopoly lasted, with modificaiiona,
Session, however, vrere suffered to tothetimeofElitabeth.whenanew
piss without any step being taken principle was engrafted upon the
to ^«e effect to the engagement lav— the principle of protection bj
vhwh the Ministera had entered differential duties. During Eliza-
into, and doubts began Ut be enter- beth'a reign, thia principle waa
lained of the sincerity of their in- adopted and acted upon throughout
tention to deal with a subject in- Europe, with but one exception,
voiced in much difficulty, and cal- Holland, by a 8yst«m of unre-
ccdated to provoke vigorous oppo- etrioted freedom — by making her
aition. At length, on the IQtn of marshes the home of every atizen
Hay, in a Committee of th«<whole of the world who chose to seek
House, the Minbterial plan for the them — buUt up the most mag-
modification of the Natigation Laws ntficsnt fabric of commercial great-
was formally propounded. On Mr. ness and political pover that up to
I^bonchere, as President of tlie that time the world had ever seen.
Board of Trade, the task devolved While in thb reign oar foreign
of developing the proposed mea- trade was somewhat opened, our
sure, which he did in an able and coasting trade was for the first
eomprehensive speech, tracing out time made a close monopoly : the
the origin and history of this part trade with our colonies, which then
of our legislation, and explaining first grew important, was placed
the grounds on which an alteration in the same position. With the
in the system had been deemed Commonwealth commenced the
advisable. In order to do justice system which attained full develop-
to the ailment, it will be neces- ment in the Navigation Act of
sary to give rather copious extracts Charles the Second. That system
bom this importantspeech. Going was founded rather npon motives
back to the earliest records in our of state policy than maxims of
Statute Book, Mr. Labouchere trade; and was framed, firstly, in
stated, that in the reign of Richard the hope of impeding the inter-
the Second was passed the first course of the IiU>yaliBta with their
Navigation Law in the English foreign allies, and, secondly, in
code. It enacted broadly, " that simple jealonsy of the great cany-
no subject of the King should ship ing trade then enjojred by the
any merchandise outwards or home- Dutch. Itsprinciplewas monopoly
wards in any but ships of the King's and exclusion ; its end was to make
Jiegeance, on pain of forfeiting all the British empire self supported
the rnerchandise shipped." This and self-relying. Its leading fea-
Act was found too strong, and was turea have subsisted to the present
next year altered: foreign ebijM day; thoughmanysucceasiveeventa
were allowed to take freights if have interfered with its grand aim,
English could not be found. Some and gradually abridged its action.
Vol. XC. [F]
66] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EmffUmd.
The firet greal breach in the eyatom which it naa too late to te-
syitam followed on tba American pair, and which it would be exceeal-
war. A great colonial trade tud- ingl; difficult to present becoming
deolv bet^une a foreign trade when much wider.
tbe independence of our ColoaieB The existing law on the Bnb|ect
was acknowledged. Anj aelf-sup- ia comprised in three statntea. One
jrarting power till then enjoyed bj is the Navigation Law, properl;ao
the empire was deatrojed; and, in called — the Bth and flth Victotia,
particular, the great intercolonial chapter 88 — which is a snmmujr
traffic which had hitherto subsisted of the pn>*isioQB of our Nangation
between the United States and the Laws; the next is the Act re^o-
West Indies was cut off. Parlia- lating the regiatrotiim of British
ment was unwilling to accept all vessele, being the 8tb and 9th
the consequences cs such cluuiges : Victoria, chapter 89 ; and the third
the influence of Ur. Pitt ftuled him is the statute for consolidating the
when he, wisely and courageously, laws relating to mendiaot seanten,
proposed to continae tbe com- and for keeping a registry of sea-
mercialintercourseoftheestnuiged men, being the 7th and 8th Vic-
countries on its former footing, toria, chapter I L3. The Nanga-
Grievous embarrastimenta arose, don ]>w enaols, with regard to oar
No fewer than 16,000 slares foreign trade, that certain enn-
perished between IT80and 1787. mersled European articles can only
from want of the accustomed sup- be imported in British sliips, or in
filies of food from America. Pal> ships of the country from which
iatives were at last applied, and the goods are exported, or of which
step by step a freer intercourse the goods are the produce. Arti-
was allowed. It was reserved for cles the produce of foreign Asia,
our own times to give to the British Africa, and America, can only be
West Indian Islands a perfect free- imported direct from the producing
dom of access to the United States country, in ships of that country,
for supplies. Other important or in British ships. With r^ard
changes bad been tbe admission of to our colonial trade, it is throngh-
Irelend to the English trade, the out the empire — except the trade
establishment of free porta, the between this country and India,
introduction of tbe warehousing which ia open to certain foreignera
system, and the reciprocity treaties under treaty — confined to the me-
of Mr. Huskisson. L^Uy, and dium of British ships, and ke|>t
recently, came the measure adopted quite to ourselves. A British ship
for enabling those inland countries in the foreign trade must be navi-
which, by means of steam navig&- gated by a British master, and by
tion and of rivers, can carry on an a crew at least three-fourths of
intercourse with the sea near to which are British seamen, and
the mouths of those rivers, to use about one-sixth apprentices. The
the ports which they approach as if term British seamen excludes A
they were ports of tbeir own. Mr. Lascar. Furthermore, a British
Labouchere thought that no man ship must have been British-built,
who looked into results could fail andmustbe Britieb-owned. There
to see that this last measure bad is an anomalous legal rule, that a
made a breach in our navigation foreigner naturalized in Great
EV«»<t] HISTORY. [67
Bnain caut become n Britisfa sbip- docnrnent ttiui that Address conid
owner, ^ileaforeignerturttmliieil hardly solicit the attention of Par^
binjof oar Colonies cannot do liameot. In a deepatch dated 19th
go. Aa to the ships of oar coastinff March, 1847,Lord£lginsuppaTted
tnde, tb^ must be wholly manned the Addreaa with these Btat«sman-
bj British seamen. like opinione — "It will probably
The eoacloaicHi that tiiese laws be ui^ed in certain quart^re, that
require alteration is Bopported by the monopoly of the riTsr nari^-
eonnderatuniB regarxling the se- tion is essential to the maintenance
mrity eqaally of the oolonial trade, of British supremacy in this por-
l^ long Toyage tnde, and the tion of North America, and that
onyioe tntde. 'With regard to the authority of the mother
the coiomal trade. Mr. Laboa- country will be imperilled if the
ehera thmightitiinpaeaible todeny United States are permitted to
Hm claim ^ the Colonies, that re- share the privilege. It may well
stnctionB originally imposed on all bedonbted. however, whether these
fw the good of all. and now re- apprehensions are well founded.
moved from the mother oountjy One of the most e6Scacion8 ejcj)e-
alone, should also be removed firam dients for securing the allegiance
the ColonieB. Beetriedons had of a high-spirited and enterprising
ever been the leading oolonial people, is to convince them that
^ieratees. Mr. HnsloBSon even their material interests will not be
thoo^t that they had more to do advanced by separation; and with
with the American war of separa- respeet te any disposition on the
tion than the qnestion of taxation part ct the United States to resort
ita^. HistoTOal research would to a policy of aggreenon, I think
Bvpport that opinion, Ur. I^bon- it may safely be affirmed that do-
chiare referred to the history of thing will be more likely to keep
Bryan Edwards, replete with ac- anch a tendency in check than the
oooBts of complaints sad stmggles knowledge that it will entail the
about navigation restfictions. So destruction of a flourishing trade
at this di^, remonstrances and in which the citazens of that conn-
oonplaints against the Navigation try are largely engf^ed."
IjawB come from all parts of onr Ur. Labonchere then read an
colonial poiseeeions. extract from a Memorial addressed
On the 11th of July, 1817. the to the Qneen by the House of
I-iegialatiTe Cooncil and Assembly Assembly in Jamaica, in which
trfCanadaadoptedajoiotAddresato that body prayed for a relaxation
onr Qoeen, praying for the opening of the Navigation Laws, as a mea-
of the St. Lawrence to all nations, sure coodooive alike to their own
and the aboHtion of the Navigation eommercial advancement and to
Laws. The United States strive the tma interests of England. He
by every means to entice acroBs quoted also from a despatch from
their own territoiy the trafBe from lord Hania, the Governor of
the great Western lakes to the sea- Trinidad, advocating the same
boaM; and ftnther indueeBieats policy as ctUonlated to be most
than exist must be offered by the ben^ial to that colony, and as a
rival nrate of the St. Lawrence, compensstion justly due to its
Considariflg the parties and the traders for the abolition of those
dmuastBnoes, a more important differential duties <m whioh the
(Fa]
68] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
West Indi&n interest had fonnerly other quarter — the United States
depended. of America — we have received, not
Aa to the long voyage trade, Mr. a warning, but an invitation, Laat
Laboucbere observed that the law autumn, Mr. Bancroft and Lord
prohibited exportationfromEurope Falmerston had an oEGcial conver-
of Asiatic, African, and American eation on the Navigation Laws, in
produce, and compelled its imports the course of which Mr. Bancroft
ation in native or British ships expressed himself in these terms
direct from the producing country — " We are ready to do anything
He had receivea information that you like : if you can do but little.
Members of the Opposition were we must do little ; if you can do
pre]nred to abandon some part of much, we will do much ; if yoa
the Navigation Laws, and he sue- shall do all, we shall do all." Snb-
pected it was tfata. He renutrked sequently, Mr. Bancroft put these
that the pecuniary mulct on actual offers on record, and on the 3rd
trade which this branch of the law November, 184T,wroteasfoltowe —
inflicted was a trifling matter com- " The prohibition of the indirect
pared with the national loss it oc- trade has but restrained enter-
CBsioned, by preventing trade from prise ; it has done good to neither
being carried on at all. country. To abrogate it would at
Then, aa tn the security of the once set free dormant commercial
indirect or carrying trade, the ques- wealth, without injuring any one.
tjon whether or not the carrying Should Her Majesty's Government
trade shall be retained no longer entertain similar views, the under-
rests with us alone. Foreign na- signed is prepared, on the part of
tions have acquired new powers, the American Oovemment, to pro-
and have given us no obscure inti- poae that British ships may trade
mations of new intentions. Prussia from any port in the world to any
has already spoken on the subject, port in the United States, and be
with the voice of all Germany. In received, protected, and in respect
aletterof the 10th May, 1847, M. to charges and duties treated like
Bunsen thus addressed Lord Pal- American ships, if, reciprocally,
merston — "The treaty of 1941 American ships may in like man-
does not allow Prussis, as the ag- ner trade from any port of the
grieved interestsand public opinion world to any port under the domi-
in Germany, which powerfully sop- nion of Her Britannic Mtuesty."
ports those interests, would re- Lord Palraerston was unable to
quire, to restrict in analogous say more in reply than that his
manner the admission of British colleagues were prepared to submit
ships; for the second article of this propositions to Parliament in ac-
treaty accords to Great Britain the cordance vtith Mr. Bancroft's views,
rights of the most &voured nation Mr. Lobouchere would deeply la-
with respect to the importation of ment to throw away such an op-
si^ar and rice. The expiration of portunityas this,
the treaty at the end of the present The alterations contemplated
year will restore that liberty to by Government were thus an-
the Prussian Government, and a nounced by Mr. Labonchere. Re-
change in the laws affecting navi- serving the coasting trade and
gation has been the subject of its fisheries, both of Great Britain
serious oonsiderftlion." From an- and of the Colonies, he proposed
England.]
HISTORY.
altogether to strike oat of the 8ts-
tat« Book the present system, and
to " Oaaw opea the Trhole nan-
gition of the coantiy. of every sort
and description." He propoeed,
howerer, to retain to the Queen in
Council the power of putting such
restriction on the navigation of
foreign countries aa she might
think fit, if those countries did not
meet ns on equal temiB, — not
making it ohligatoiy on the Queen
in Cmmcil, but enabling her te use
the power in such a vkj as might
be best for the interests of the
oountrj. As regards the coasting
trade of the Colonies, that he pro-
posed to reserve in the same
inuiner as the coasting trade of the
mother coontiy ; but he meant to
allow each colouy, if it should
think fit, to pass an Act throwing
open its coasting trade to foreign
countries ; such Act to have the
consent of the Crown ia the usual
manner. In short each colony
should be allowed to deal with its
coasting trade as it ttioaght proper.
If such a power were not given,
the case of Canada and the navi-
ron of the St. Lawrence would not
provided for at all. As to the
intercolonial trade, a clause would
be introduced into the Bill giving
the Queen ia Council genenu
powers relating to that sutyecti
As to the manning, ownership,
and building of British ships, he
proposed to do away with the
necessity that ships he British-
bailt. but still to require them to
be British-owned. The present
regulations as to manning are to he
retained both in the foreign and
coasting trade — except those re-
garding apprentices, which are to
be done away with entirely. Las-
ears are in future to be considered
Britisb sailors ; and the anomalous
Mr. Labouchere anticipated some
of the Directions which he supposed
would be made ; and quoted some
&cts from the evidence taken be-
fore the Select Committee, and
bJbo from the blue book of the
Consul's Reports, in its support
la reply to Mr. Hume, Mr.
Labouchere stated thai Ceylon
would be treated as any other
British colony. In reply to Mr.
Gladstone, be said that foreign
vessels from the deep-sea fisheries
would be enfU>led to bring their
produce direct to this country; but
with respect to the coast and bank
tisheries, it was proposed to retain
to our own people their existing pri-
vil^es. In further explanation he
stated that it bad not been thought
expedient to communicate with
other Oovemmente except the two
be bad mentioned, while the sen-
timents of Parliament were unas-
certained. Lastly, he was not pre-
pared to propose a compulsory
system of examiriatioD of ehip-
mastere. There was an increasing
disposition among shipmasters to
submit to the voluntary examina-
tion now made ', and Government
desired to give that system a Air-
ther trial. They intended during
the present Session to snbtnit mea-
Bures relating to the Light Dues
and the Merchant Seamen's Fund ;
and they contemplated the form-
ation of a now department of the
Board of Trade, to be called the
Department of the Mercantile
Marine, which should consist of
unpaid officers, and be presided
over by a Lord of the Admiralty.
Lord George Bentinck took the
lead in opposing the Ministerial
proposition, repeating the main ar-
guments on which the advocates of a
70] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Et^ond.
protective policy rely, and criticis- thongh^ now th&t dte mano&c-
ing in detail the grounds on vhicb taring int«reat had been, end tbo
Mr. Labouchere had supported shipping interest was to be, shoni
his proposidoD. In reply to the nev of exclusive benefits in the C&oa-
poiats raised by the proposes ot dian markets, it would be difficult
Prussia and Amenca, Lord George any longer to see what advantage
insisted particularly on the obvious the Canadae could bring ujs, be-
ond one-sided interest of America yond the privilege of paying for
in making euch proposals to us. their Oovemmeot As to the
The aniuety of the American Mi- West Indian reprMentations, Mr.
iiister to be present at this debate Labouchere well knew that for
was perfectly natural, for the mea- every one person connected with
snres proposed would be simply that interest who desired a repeid
measures for tiie encouragement of of the Navigation Laws, there
the United States marine. We pro- wero three others who see that
pose to'tiironppen to the States our repeal would be of no use (o the
colonial trade ; this we did to some West Indian Islands unless it were
extent in I8SS, and again in 1842 confined to them. Cuba, Porto
or 1843 : and the result has been, Rico, and Brazil, would profit far
that our own timber trade with the more than our own islands by eucfa
West Indies has fallen off 60,000 measures as were now proposed,
tons, and that of the States has in- The American ships were better
creased by 140,OOU tons. The Oo- built for stowage of the sugar-
vemment ought to be prepared to freights of those places than ours
infonn the House what would be the for the hogehmiiB and butts in
reduction of freight-rates which which West Indian sugars are
their measures would eETect. In packed ; and the result must be an
the Economist — now. as Lord advantage to the Americans in the
George supposed, an official organ market. As to the Lascars, Lord
— the honourable Member for George believed the Queen already
Westbury lately set forth that bad Sufficient powers in councU to
2«. 6d. a ton would be the saving regulate the proportions in which
effected by repeal of the Navigation they might sail in our ships.
Laws. A million sterling, there- Mr. Ricardo replied to Lord
fore, was to be taken from tlie George Bentinok. He believed
shipping interest and given to the that a reciprocal opening of trade
oontmmer. Ought not the House between this oounUy and America
to wait for further experience of would be more to our advantage
the £'ree-Trade system before it than our loss: for although we now
struck BO great a blow to the ship- excluded American ships from oiir
ping interest? Colonies, those ships now displaced
It had not been shown that any ours from the better markets of
interestwasdiscontentedbutthatof Europe. The Americans, whose
oar Kortb - American Colonies ; ships wero the dearest built aiid
whO) having been shorn of protec* maimed in the woHd, had two-
tion to their timber and com, thirds of the whole trade between
naturally now turn round and de- this country and the United States,
mand facilities of conveyance for On the other hand, the Russiaa
their products. Lord George ships, wbichwerethecheapestbnilt
E»ji«Al HISTORY. [71
lod maimed in the wm^d, were ried nutrath upon their verj- taoe.
oUiced to yield to our ships the The &re hence to Bremen was but
irbole trade from tbeir conatiy ta fU. or 31., and what was there to
ouB. Itwaa clear tliat oursncoew prevent emigrants from going to
in afneign trade dependedon other firemen, and then pajing the
dements thaii tbe high coat oi cheaper fares to Australia?
■bme or high -wages. Mr. Ricardo Mr. Mitchell rindicated Mr. Bi-
adaoced the great discrepancy of caido's atstemente. He sssured
panage-Mles charged here and at the Eonae that the difTerenoe in
Bremen for emigration passages to the rates of pasaage-money had
Aostralifl. The Core here was some been scarcely stall ezaggented.
SOt.ahead-.atBremenitwas nearer With regard to the inanranoe, be
to im. Elnglish ^ps bad a mo- informed the Honse, diat thonah
nopolj of freights to onr Colonies, the onderwritera at Lloyd's would
MonaneoaldteUbowfarthaenter- insure a Biitiah ba^ at a lower
prise of the merchant was diecked, rate than a fore^ hull, they
and his operabone prerenled, hy would not instire a cargo in a
nek laws. And whatwaa the benefit Brittsh vessel at so low a rate as
Iheycrffered us inretnm? We were one in a foreign vessel. ThereasoD
promiaed a better mMining to our was that our ship-building was supe-
RT*] oavy. But a law that had rior, but oar captains were in intel-
ensted for two hundred years with ligence and reputation iaferior to
this olgect ou^it befnre now to foreign masters,
have made onr captains and sailors The other speak»B were —
the most perfect in the world. How against the Ministerial measure,
hixie tlue was true aa to the offietn Mr. Bobinson, Ccqitaiu Harris,
ci oar commercial marine, might be Lord Ingestrie, and Mr. Hudson ;
mbered trom the reports of our in its &voar, Mr. Hume.
Consols as collected from stations The fhrUxer progress of the
all round the world, and now laid Uinieterial measure thus advanced
on the table of the House. Mr. was suspended by a debate intro-
Baeardo read several retracts from doced by Mr. Herries, who, by way
iheee reports, to support his asser- of making a movement in an oppo-
tkn. that allhoiuh onr seamen were site direction, propoaed a general
the most skilftu, oar shipmasters resolntion on the SMh M^, in
were commonly the least educated favour of maintaining the fnnda-
■nd moral of any in all the navies mental princijdee of the Navigation
of the world. laws. Mr. Herries' qieedi on
Mr. Henley defended the Eng> this occasion may be considered as
lish shipowneiB agunst " the abuse embodyinff all the leading ai^|a-
of every sort asd kind " which the menls of me advocates of a reMrio*
}«8eedin£speaker bad beeped upon tive policy, and we shall, therefore,
tbenL The best answer to auch dte in etetmto the most material
dedaaUion, be said, was the rate passages. After some preliminary
of insurance at Uoyd's ; where it ot^tions as to the time and man-
was universally true that English nor in which the OoremmeDt mea-
•bipe paid a lower per oentage than sure had been breeched, while a
any other ships in the world. The Committee of the Lords was still
emigratioa fares qnoted as otirrmt sitting on the eot^t, and the in-
here and at Bcemen relatively car- qniry was theitfore incomplete.
72] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Engh»,ui.
Mr- Hemes proceeded to confront NaT^atioD Laws, or of solidtadon
the reasons adduced by bis oppo- for their repeal. Commenting on
nenta. He contended that no the reeerration of the coasting
urgency in reasons of state had trade in contrast to the opening of
been shown for seeking so great the colonial trade, Mr. Berries as-
alterations ; and little ground for serted his belief that if an; alter-
distrusting the established opinions ation were desirable it should be
that such a venture would be dan- applied to the former rather than
gerous to the interests of the coun- the latter. It was also a great in-
try. He criticised in succession the congruity of the scheme, that, while
pleoB in behalf of Prussia, America, it entirely abrogated all the pro-
and our West Indian Colonies, for tection hitherto afforded to Britiah
repeal or modification of the pre- seamen, it left unrelieved the
sent code. Prussia had nothing to whole weight of the present bur-
give us in return for the concessions dens borne bf British shipowners
she sought : on the other baud, — burdens only borne in considera-
her warnings and threats of with- tion of the protecaon hitherto
drawing those advantages she had granted. Mr. Herries relied much
already conceded, were of trivial on the antbority of Mr. Huskisson,
moment. America, in the most and quoted him for a defiaiijon of
kindly and friendly way no doubt, that protecrive principle which he
requested to join in our foreign and was vrilling to stand by ; and which
colonial trade in return for reel- would reserve our colonial, coast-
procal concessions to be made to ing, and fishing trade wholly, and
us ; but America had no colonies ; protect our foreign trade as fkr
and it must be sdmitted that she as was consistent with our rela-
had ever been too "smart" to make lions and engagements with foreign
an offer from which she herself was countries. He approved the ad-
npt to be a gainer. As to .the vant^es given by Mr. Huskisson
West Indies, Mr. Herries went under his reciprocity treaties. He
into detailed statements to show was not aware that any Members
that the petition against the Navi- of the House were disposed to re-
cation Laws agreed to by the fuse all discussion of the sulgect,
Jamaica House of Assembly could or the removal of any existing and
but very imperfectly have repre- real inconveniences which might
sented the real sentiments of that be safely removed. If the House
body, or of the island at large, were agreed on the general prin-
It had been carried tbroi^h in an ciple of protecting our marine, it
unusual way, at an unusual time might, in Committee, remove ano-
— had in fact been smu^led mules which bad been the object
through: some Members had never of censure and ridicule in some
heard of it, and one bad even de- quarters, where attention seemed
nied its existence, when examined to have been bestowed only on the
before the House of Lords. Public smaller parts of the subject: they
memorials had been prepared both ni>gbt put an end to some of those
before and since that petition, and difficulties as to sending nnts from
had passed through Committees of Hamburg, end the like, which cer^
inqmiy in the island Legislature, tainly might be described as ab-
in which not a vrord occurred of BurditieB.
allnsioB to the grievances of the Sketefaing atatistically the enor-
EnglMMd.]
HISTORY.
[73
Btaaa magnitude of the interests
embttrked, he etuneatlj deprecated
hasty ]egisIatjoo. He indicated
the extent and nature of the
changes he thought admissible,
and the opposition he would offer
to tneasurea which he might think
too hazardous or too precipitate,
in their ez(«nt, or in their time
and method of proposal. If the
House proceeded with care and
deliberation, affording full time to
the nation, and espe^l; to those
deeplj interested in the subject,
for expreasing their opinion to the
Legislature, then he had no olgec-
tioo. But upon a question which
iuToIved no demand for immediate
legislation, which did not contain
in the slightest degree the element
of emei^encyi and which involved
an alteration that in the opinion
of man; would be attended with
the worst effects, though others
donbtless considered the effects
voold be meet salutary — upon such
a question to proceed with the
haste which was now proposed by
HerMajesty'sGovemment, wasut-
terly preposterous, and would never
be agreed to, he hoped, by the
House of Commons. At^l events,
no effort should be wanting on his
part to prevent the passing of euch
a measure at the present time.
Mr. Herries moved the follow-
ing Resolution, as an Amendment
to Lord John Russell's Motion on
the order of the day for going into
Committee : — " That it is essential
to the national interests of this
country to maintain the funda-
mental principles of the existing
Navigation Lews, subject to such
modi£catione as may be best calcu-
lated to obviate any proved incon-
venience to the commerce of the
United Kingdom and its depen^
dencies, without danger to our
maritime strength."
Mr, LaboQcbere followed with a
general support of the Ministerial
scheme. He showed that English
shipping and seamen were quite
equal to meet foreign shipping and
seamen in equal markets ; that, in
fact, wherever they had done so,
the increase of tonnage in our fa-
vour had been strikingly great.
On the other hand, he showed by
figures that the moat protected
departments of the shipping were
comparatively the least fiourishing
He replied to the remarks made
respecting the Jamaica Memorial.
He was unable to contradict or
confirm Mr. Herries, but be ap-
prehended that the right hon.
Gentleman was hardly prepared to
say, unless the same trick was
tlayed all over the island, that the
[emorial of the planters, mer-
chants, labourers, and others of
Jamaica, did not represent the
opinions of those who had sent it
to this country. Mr. Labouchere
read an extract from a Memorial
from the latter body, setting
forth that the freights which
they were obliged to pay were
nearly double the amount of what
they would be if the Navigation
Laws were repealed; and that a
large number of American ships
went away from the island in bal-
last, which would otherwise be
available for carrying away the
produce of the colony. He ad-
mitted that the real point for the
House to decide was fairly raised
bythe Resolution proposed. Would
they be contented with patchwork
legislation? Was it right to main-
tain the principles of the Naviga-
tion Laws? The first principle
was that of colonial monopoly; the
second was the maintenance of
those restrictions which were in-
tended to secure the long voyage
trade to this country ; and the
third was the maintenance of those
restrictions which were intended U>
74] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEnglMd.
secure tiieEurap«uioan7ing-traJe. Mr. Heniy Dnimmoad difiered
Tlie question wee, wbetlier thej from the OoTBrnmeiit. and from
««re prepared to consider the pro- their opponents also : he disap-
priety of departing from those proved of the principle of the Mi-
principles, or leaving them un- nist«rial scheme, but intended to
touched; whether they should meet give no vote against it, regardii^
tile «-ants of commeroe and the it as an ewential step in ^e new
exigenciesof the case before them; corameroiAl policy to whidi the
nhether they wero prepared tho- country was committed,
roughly and completely to revise Mr. Scott supported the Reso-
the whole system of our Navi^tion lation, wbidi was opposed widi
Laws, with the view of adapting much statistical research by Mr.
them to the s^orit (tf the bmes, James Wilson, and also t^ Dr.
and meeting the just demands of Bowring.
other countries, the wishes of our The debate beii^ ajjonmed to
own colonies, and the interesta of the nest evening, Mr. Bobinson,
our expanding trade? Ha had the Marquia of Granby, and Mr.
never sought to disffoiee from the Henley, spoke on the protection
House the magnitude of the quee- side : Mr. Mo&tt, Mr. Mitchell,
don. It was to be considered in and Mr. M. Gibson, on the side of
all its details, and was fairly raised relaxation.
by the right hon. Gentleman. Of Mr. Bobinson not only enforced
course, if the right honourable Gen- the general argument that therewaa
tlemen carried his resolution, it no demand for the measure, nor any
would be fatal to the measure of adequate cause for change, but also
the Government. referred to special evidmee to diow
Mr. Laboochere deferred all dis- that English shipmasters were not
cnssion of details till the House so inferior as they had been de-
should be in Committee, and would scribed, but were improving. He
simply call for the taking of that would like to know from the Lords
step, in order that tlw measure oftheAdmiralty.wbetherthey were
might be £airly considered. prepared with any other plan of
Mr. Herries' views were ably manning the navy in cases of
supportedbyMr.A1dermanThomp> emergency than the one now in
BOD. He warned the House against existence, b^ore they exposed our
the effect on our colonial shipping commeroial marine to siich fearful
trade which would follow on the competition as was then proposed,
opening of that trade to the Ame- He doubted exceedingly whether
ncans, whose ships already sup- the proposal of Sir James Stirling
plied our West Indian settlementa to keep up a loi^e naval establish-
with the whole of the lumber re- meut in time of peace, so as to
ned by them, even under the render the navy at all times com-
dvantage of always leaving the paratively independent of our com-
port in ballast meroial marine, would meet with
Mr. H. J. Baillie admitted that much favour in the present stats
all restrictions on trade are iiyu- of our finances. He assented la
rious to Botne extent ; but he one change ; shipovmers wero forced
thought that the restrictions of the to train up apprentices, very much
Navigation Laws were far out- to their detriment, and woidd will-
balanced by the advantages which ingly agree to the proposition for
they secured. altering the law in (hot respect.
E»gU»d.} HISTORY. [75
The Harqois of Qnnby also al- clamoured for suspensioD of the
luded to the imperative necessitir NaTigstJon Lans. What can that
of maniuDg tlie fieet. Mr. IaIiou- law be good for which moat be
cbera had said he had kept the suapended on the first presBure?
cosating trade iutaot ss a reeerre Fore^ countries maj cury for
for aeainen fot the rojnl navy; themsehes, but not for each other;
but waa there no chance of that ao that in &ct the Navigadon
trade failing? Was he certain that Law protects each foreign country
in a few years hence that trade agninat all the rest; ami the cor-
could be relied upon asareserre responding Navigation Law — of the
for Buppljring the na^ with sea- United States, for instance — ec
BMn? There was erideuce on re- oludes the ehipe of this ooooDy
cord which went to show that the firom more thui h^ the import
railways might, in a few yeara, trade oi the Union,
deetxoj dte coastiiig trade of the Mr. Gibson beliered that Sir
James Stirling's proposition
Mr. Ifitcbell conHoTorted Ur. not bo very unreasonable ae some
Bobinsen's assertions — instating repressnted, and that there might
that EngUah ahipmasters were pe- be a reoonstitution ot the navy so
caliariy dtargesUe with dmnl^ as to make it quite independent of
habits : and ^st shippers predened ^e merchant serrice for a eupjdy
Jbreigu vessels to £ngUsh, the of men. It mit^t be done by di-
cargoes being in greatier Bsfety. minishing the expenses of the
Ee showed that in respect of outfit navy. For instance, might there
English shiui are as cheap as any; not be fewer officers ? Honourable
asd he partly imputed the superior Gmtlenen oj^oaite said that the
chancter of the masters and crews mercantile marine was necessary
in the ships of the Americans for the suf^rt of our naval power,
to faif^ier scuariea and wages : the and yet tbeysaid they most strongly
masters were better paid than olgected to impressment; but no
onr own, except In the India or one pointed out how the transfer
long voyage trade; and while the of men from the merchant service
lowest wages in American ships to the navy vras to be efiected.
were 81. a mcmth, in our ships they That was a point that perplexed
were 4&$. him mnch. He believed we bad
Mr. Gibeon showed the oonfiissd no mode of getting these men ex-
and conflicting efiects of the pro- cept making them come against
hibitory parts of the law. People their will. At this moment they
may export in any ships they think did not volunteer very freely ; and
{■roper, but they must only import he wad quite sure they would not
in shipa of the country or their in case we wanted their services
own. A merchant may even im- for waifore. But the effect of onr
port f(»eign provisions, if they are attempting to impress them would
not to be consumed by the people be to make them fly to America;
of England ; if his goods are to be and the mercantile marine and the
bonded, then they are untonched naval power would both lose their
by the Navigation Laws ; yet, last eervioes.
year, when there was a pressure A further ai^ouroment took
from the want of food, ^e very place, and numerous speeches were
opponents of the present measure delivered on either side. The Re-
76] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Enjte**-
solution of Mr. Herries was sup- Ad attempt was now nude to
ported by Mr. Hudson. CaptaiD bring the lengUiened discussion to
Harris, Sir Alexander Hood, Mr. a close; but Sir John Walsh suc-
.Newdegate, Mr. Wawn, Lord In- ceeded, after a division on the
gestrie, and Mr. R. Hildyard. point, in a motion for resuming it
The repeal of the Narigation on the 6th of June. The most
Laws was advocated by Captain prominent speeches on l^at night
Berkeley and Lord John Hay. Mr. were those of Mr. Cardwell, Sir
Clay could not support the mea- George Clerk, and Sir Charles
sure of GoTemmeat without auxi- Wood.
liery measures, to create a nursery Mr. Cardwell objected to the
for our seamen, and to relieve our measure for not relaxing the law
mercantile navy from restrictions in fovour of reciprocity treaties, ro-
and burdensome duties, such as ther than abrogating those treaties;
marine insurance duties, foreign and he noticed some particular im-
brokerage, church-money at Cron- perfections. Restrictions aa to the
stadt, 1^. manningofshipsweretoberetained
Mr. Gladstone made an able and against the English shipowner, al-
comprehensive speech on the whole though those with whom he would
subject, taking a view not exactly in have to compete were exempt. The
accordance with the sentiments of British shipowner would be free to
either party in the debate. The purchase ships where he could ob-
broad question of repeal, as a tain the cheapest; and yet the duty
matter of expediency and season- was retained on the timber used by
ableness, he decided in the afBrma- the British shipbuilder, the only
tive ; but on the specific Govern- instance in the tariff of a duty on
ment scheme he expressed a qua- raw material, Mr. Labouchere had
lified opinion. He should have hoped to avoid creating qlarm by
preferred a more gradual mea> exempting the coasting trade from
sure. He wished that the Govern- the operation of the measure ; but
ment had adhered to the uniform he bad not avoided alarm ; and he
course of precedents, and made might have used relaxations in that
large concessions conditional upon law to obtain reciprocal relaxaUons
reciprocal conc«BsionB by o^er from the United States. On the
Powers. He objected to the dis- whole, however, Mr. Cardwell
cretionary power proposed to be thought that the time was come for
lodged in the Queen in Council, a ju£ciouB relaxation of the Navi-
wilJi a view of extorting reciprocity, gation Laws; and he regarded it
which was a discretion too large and aa a libel on the British name to
too delicate ; and he thought the sa; that we were not qualified to
Government would have acted more compete with every nation in the
safely and wisely by undoing piece- world,
meal, rather than by introducing a Sir Charles Wood noticed the
measnreofeo sweeping a character, all but universal concurrence in
He censured the policy of exclud- favour of some change in the Navi-
ing the coasting trade from this gation Laws: every speaker but
measure : we should have offered two had admitted the necessity,
to admit the Americans to our Sir Charles showed the difficulty
coasting trade if they would admit of proceeding by the exceptional
US to theirs. mode of reciprocity treaties. By
EnglnA,-\ HISTORY. [77
general measures oar Golonies enough to petition for th^ repeal
would benefit. Sir Robert Feel's of the Navigatioa I>aws be aware,
eipeneoce of relaxiDg the Sugar then, that they would have 16,900
Duties to particular coanlries was more boxes of Cuba sugar in the
inatructiTe: it failed because ^ market, and S«. lower in price than
were hampered and boand by trea- they could afford to sell it at.
ties with other Powers, especially Lord George attacked the Free
imder the "Inos^£aTo^r«d nation" Trade of 1846, for producing the
clause; so that it was difficult to dire consequences which we had
cariT out views with respect to any since felt, in a ruined trade and
single country. Sir Chailes stated starring people; and he warned
several instances of similar anoma- Ministera ^oioBt a further attempt
lies, one of which hod been got over to lay the iron hand of competition
by declaring a port in Turkey to on our shipping.
be a port in Austria. Mr. Cobden endeavoured to place
Sir John Walsh. Mr. Miles, and the main arguments on which the
Sir Charles Burrell, addressed tbe advocates of relaxation rely in a
House on the other side; but the close and succinct form. He
subject was now becoming too much showed by an appeal to the pub-
exhausted to admit of novelty, lished evidence, that we can build
The debate was again ai^oumed ships better than foreign countries,
for the fourth time, and the last and at as cheap a rate ; sail them
night called forth some of the most as well ; take greater care of the
powerful speeches that had been cargoes, and secure greater punctu-
delivered on the question. ality and despatch — our sailors
Lord George Bentinck enforced havingthe greatest natural aptitude
hisargumentA byacopious display of for tbe sea of any in the world. The
statistics, for thepuroose of show- only drawbacks were of a moral
ing, first, that Mr. James Wilson kind— insubordination and drunk-
had been guilty in his speech of enness; but they would yield to
serious errors ; and, next, that Bri- better culture. Alluding to one
tish merchants and seamen, how- part of Mr. Gladstone's speech,
ever energetic and enterprising, Mr. Cobden reminded him that re-
woold not be able to cope wiUi ciprocityhadalreadybeen promised
the rivalry of the United States onthepartof AmericaandPrussia.
andother fbreign countries, if the Mr.Cobdenrepudiatedtheboast-
loiter were admitted to a partici- fullanguagewhichhesooftenheard
paiioD of the carrying trade. For with regret respecting England's
example. Lord Oeoige read a let' naval Bupremacy. He must say that
ter addressed to a broker in tbe those boasts were generally uttered
City, in which it was stated that after dinner, and therefore they
there were American vessels in the might be the result of a little extra
river with 16.927 boxes of Cuba excitement. The abolition of the
sugar, and that it was 2«. per Navigation Laws would not aSect
hundredweight cheaper in conse- thenavolcDnditionofGreatBritain.
qnence of being brought in foreign But was this a time to be always
vessels; but in consequence of the singing "Rule Britannia"? ("Hear,
Navigation Laws it was not ad- hear!" and latighleT.) Ifhonour-
missn>Ie into this country. Let able Members opposite had served
those coloDJsts who were foolish with him upon tbe Committee on
78]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[England.
the Army, Navy, and Ordnmcd
EstimaUe, thej would bswe a
joat sense of the cost of that song.
The conatatit assertion of mari-
time eupremai^ was calcniated to
provoke hindred passiona in other
nationB ; whereas, if Great Britain
«nuDciated the doctrines of peace,
she would invoke similw send-
ments from the rest of the world.
Freedom of trade and interoonrsa
blended the interests of nations to-
gether, and placed one of the most
potential obstacles in the waj of
war.
Mr. Bisiaeli delivered a speech
replete with statistical details, but
illustrated with bis nsnal brilliancy
of rhetoric and sarcastic hnmour.
He had described the Manchester
Free-Trade school as ai^ning in a
▼ioioos circle, to tn^e ont their
promise of perpetoal advantagea :
that promise had been disproTed by
the events; and Mt. Cobden now
became the advocate of a new
vicious oi role, endeavouring tu prove
that this country ought to take its
share in univeraal aisoster. Mr.
Disraeli avowed that he was there
to advocate the present syitem,
which had worked with great ad-
vantage to the State; and be un-
dertook to show that the arguments
against it were unsubstantial and
fallaoiouB. Forinstance, itwassaid
that the oountiy successfully com-
peted with the foreigner in the »•
port trade: he denied it. Every
one knew that if a lai^e order was
given from America for iron, they
made it a condition that it should
be exported in American ships.
Within a day or two, a large order
bad been given from the French
Ooverament for coal; and it was a
condition of the contract that it
shoold be exported in French ships.
Mr. Disraeli adduced a mass of sta-
tiatiea to establish tbia position,
and to show that Mr. James Wilson
had been deceived in his con-
clusions. He insisted that the
Colonies ooutd not be proved to have
aqSered from the Navigation Laws;
he read evidence given before the
Lords' Oommitt«e, to ■ show that
Prussia ooold not retaliate, and the
UnitedStates could not reeiproeate;
and he adris«d the Ministers, whose
Vice-President of the Board of
Trade stood amazed between the
bland smiles of Mr. Bancroft and
the bowl and dagger of the Cheva-
lier Bunsen, to oia^e themselves
better acquainted with the facts,
and to mature tiieir position a little
more, as there was nothing more
fatal to national interests than the
recklesBness of ignorance. He
would not sing "fhile Britannia,"
for fear of distressing Mr. Cobden ;
butfaedid not think that the House
would encore "Yankee Doodle."
Mr. Labouchere had described this
as " the age of commeroe, peace, and
internal improvement:" on the
contrary, it was the age of no trade,
of intended war, and of Communist
bands tearing up railways. Look-
ing at the state of the Continent,
Mr. Cobden probably was not now
BO devoted a believer in the qitut
gsntium tine armu. Mr. Disraeli,
at all events, could not " share the
responsibility of endangering that
empire which extended beyond the
Americas and the 'farthest Ind,'
which was foreebadowed by the
genius of a Blake, and conseorated
by the blood of a Nelson — the em-
pire of the seas." (Cheen.)
Sir Bobert Peel, who was at
first encountered vritfa an unusual
demonstiution of hostility from the
Protectionist benches, which, how-
ever, was composed into silence by
the reflection be drew from it upon
the want of confidence which it im-
plied in their own arguments, then
»wfc^ ] HISTORY. [79
■ddreesed the Honse in one of his countries "liaTiDg found out that
most impressive and cloeelj'-ar^ed thej have a ikii claim to insist on
spoeches. Beverting to the great tboseprivil^eeinnaTigationwhich
question of oommercial policj, jou insist on for jouraelves — if I
which had been re-opened by the look to our reciprocity treaties, and
preeeot debate, he addressed him- to the various complicated claims
self to prove that, in spite of casual arising under them — if I look to
disaster, the advantages of Free the mutilate and shattered state
Trade were manifest in the exten- of the Navigation Laws, as thej now
sion of our commerce. It was not, exist — ^I find a number of con-
ofoourse.intendedon theotherside current reasons for delibenttelj
to saj that tiie adraiaeion of ran thinking that we should consider
material under the tariff of 1843 whether those laws should stand
and 1846 had injurioualj affected on their present foundation, or
the trade of the coontrj. The vrbetber we should consider diem
grouod of objeclioQ must be, that with a view to extensive change."
it waa wrong to admit foreign The speech of Ur. Diaraeli had
manufactures in competition with in truth scarcely touched the qnes-
oor own. (ChMn Jrom the Pro- tion. If he could have shown that
lectionUtt.) Bvetyarticle of foreign the relaxation of the Navigation
manufacture, itwas said, threw out Laws would* diminish our means
of employment thousand of native of national defence, and endanger
workmen. ("Hear, hear!") But the national security. Sir Robert
what a doctrine was that for a great Peel, differing in this respect from
manufacturing nation, which ex- Mr. Cobden's views, thought that
ported 58, 000,000^. in declared a powerful, perhaps a btal oh-
value of its own manufactures! jecLion, might be urged against
Admit that doctrine, and foreign sacrificing the national security
countriee must regard us not as the to any interest. But did the Navi-
■ bene&ctora, btfC as the enemies of gation Laws conduce to that end?
human happiness. Look at the pro- The amendment called upon them
mssive increase of exports under to nmintain the "fundamental
Free Trade — from 37,000,000/. a principles "oftheNavigatiouLaws:
year, in the five yeais ending with now what were those principles?
183S, to 55,000,0001. in the last Tbe Navigatioa Laws were esta-
five yean, and 58,971,0001. in the blished to destroy the maritime
last year, 1847, a year of severe power of the Putco; hut what waa
depression. Yet it was said that their effect? — To give the Dutch
Free Trade has failed — that we a direct advantage over us in the
did nothing but import, and that intercourse with the United States,
we purchased our imports vrith As laid dowti by Adam Smith, the
gola! principles of the Navigation Laws
The period had now arrived when applied to tbe coasting trade, the
it was desirable to revise tbe Navi- cairying trade, the Ssheries, and the
ran Laws. " If Hook," sud Sir colonial intercourse. The fisheries
Peel, "to the position of our and coasting trade were to be pre-
Colonies, after the application of servedby theGovemmentmeasure,
the principle^ of Free Trade to IntheoUierreepectstfaeKavigatioa
many articles of their produce — if I^aws bad been completely mud-
I locate tbe {act of many European lated by the reciprocity treaties.
80]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [E-sfanJ.
Mr. Hemes hsd avowed that ha
had laboured night and day with
Mr. HuskissoQ, and was prepared to
cany Mr. Huskisson'a reciprocity
principlea still further: yet there
was no greater breach of the fun-
damental principles of the Naviga-
tion Laws than the reciprocity
system. And in the face of this fact
Mr. Herries came down and es-
hibited his "fundamental prin-
ciples!" When Adam Smith wrote,
he did not foresee the separation of
the United States; but from that
period scarcely a year had passed
without an infringement of the
" fundamental principles " of these
laws. And he must here observe,
that on the occasion of every such
infringement there was prectisely
the same sort of outc^ of " ruin to
the shipowner." In 1789, when
they wished to admit Ireland to par-
ticipation in the colonial trade, the
shipowners loudly complained ; and
those of Liverpool, in a petition
which they had addressed to that
House, declared that " if any such
thing were permitted, Liverpool
must inevitably be reduced to its
original insignificance." ("Hear!"
and laughter.)
As to the national defence, it was
on the commercial marine and the
number of our seamen that we must
place our reliance in time of war.
Now the tonnage of this country
had increased from 2,792,000 in
1836, to 3,952,000 in 1847; our
seamen, from 117.000 in 1814 to
!iS3,000 in 1847. Impressment
applied equally whether the Naviga-
tion Laws were maintained or not;
but the time had arrived when it was
incumbent on Parliament to con-
sider whether it would ever be pos-
sible again to put that system into
operation ; and its value had been
much reduced by the introduction
of steam navigation. On the other
hand, let them compare our favour-
able position with that of other
countries. The Baltic ports were
closed by ice four montl^ in every
year. France had a strict Naviga-
tion Law ; had it improved her com-
mercial marine ? if ight it not, on
the contrary, suggest a doubt whe-
ther naval superiority did not de-
pend on the habits, pursuits, incli-
nations, and associations of a peo-
ple, rather than on any code of laws
whatever? {Much cheering.) In
moat items of expense, it was shown
by Captain Briggs, the master of a
liner between Uie United States
and this country, and a most intelli-
gent witness-^that tlie balance was
m favour of the British shipowner.
Touching upon the particular
measure before ihe House, Sir
Robert Peel expressed an appre-
hension that the power proposed
to be given to the Crown, of re-
establishing restrictions after a
trade had once been opened, would
be most difficult in operation: it
looked very like inverting the usual
order of the constitution. The
House of Commods would relax,
while the Grown would have to
restrain; and he feared that that
was a position which the Crown
would find difficult and unplea-
sant. He thought it would be
much belter to give a temporary
foroe to the Act, sending it back
to the Commons, say at the end of
five years.
Lord John Russell briefly woimd
up the debate, the necessity for a
lengthened speech being obviated,
he said, by Sir Robert Peel's
The House now came to a di-
vision, when there appeared —
For Mr. Herries' Resolution 177
Against it . . ^ . . 294
Minority for the Government 1 17
Enghua.-l HISTORY. [81
B7 thia decision the gronnd was the GoYemmeiit had engaged
cleared for the Minbterial mea- themselves to promote duriog the
mre, but as the above result was present Session, was a Bill for the
not arrived at until the 9th Jane, removal of the test b; which Mem-
it was manifestly hopeless to ex- hers of the Jewish persuasion bad
pect that the Bill could pass hitherto been prevented from
throogh Parliament during the taking their seats in the House of
preaeot Session. The circnmslance Oommons. The impediment was
of its being introduced at so late a created hj the words with which
period was adverted to with some the declsmtion, exacted from every
dia^probation bj those Members Member, concludes, "on the true
who were anxious for a settlement lailh of a Christian." The election
ef the questi(»i, and the conduct of of Baron Rothschild as one of the
the Government did not escape Members for the City of London,
eensure. No surprise was created and the colleague in that repre-
under theee circumstances, when sentatioa of the Prime Minister,
Mr. Laboocbere, on the 10th was the immediate occasion by
August, announaed the conclusion which this question, after having
which every one had anticipated, remained for many years dormant,
that the measure was to be post- was revived in Uie public mind,
poned to tbe following year. He Lord John Russell undertook, in
mored at tbe same time for leave compliance with the wishes of bis
to bring in tbe Bill which had been constituents, to remove the legal
prepared, in order that the views impediment which debarred Mem-
of the Idinistry on the question here of the Jewish reli^n from
might W definitely laid before the one of tbe most important civil
public, and might receive due con- rights of British sulyects. A mo-
nder&tlon in the interval. At the dification of the terms of the deda-
aame time, Mr. Laboacbere in- ration to be taken by Membera of
timate4thattheOovemmentwould Parliament formed the simple eu-
by no means deem themselves actmentof the Bill. It encountered,
precluded from taking advautage however, a very warm opposition,
of any information or suggestion both in Parliament and among the
during the recess, by which the community at large. On the
measure mi^t be altered for the second reading being moved upon
better. the Tth Februaiy, Mr. Augustus
Mr. Herries said, that upon this Stafford took the lead by proposing
understanding he should not at an amendment, "that the Bill
present oppose the introduction of should be read a second time that
the Bill, though be should reserve day six months." It may be re-
to himself the full right of renew- marked inpassing,that,aeit turned
ing his opposition to it next year, out, the House was actually sitting
Mr. Gladstone uiged npon the on that day six months, and for
Government the expediency of some time afterwards, so that this
bringing on the Bill at the earliest formal method of shelving the Bill
period pOBwble in the ensuing might have failed of its design.
BeanoD. Leave was then given to Mr. Stafford began by reminding
bring in the Bill. the House that but a small number
Another measure involving prin- of petitions had been presented in
(udes of gnat importuice, which &vo<^ of the measure:, the feding
voL.xa "■ [Gj
82] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Enyhnd.
of the public could not, tbetefore. Bill. He endeaTonred, in a Bpeech
be relied upon as an argument for of much legal research, to eatablisb
the change. Neither persecution tiiat there vaa nothing in the
nor toleration was here at stake; common law or in the statute Iftw
iireedom was already oonceded and of the coontr; of so exclusive &
guaranteed to every religion. There character that violence would be
waa involved only the question, done by the remoTol of the Jemsb
whether the House would continue disdoilidea. Reviewing the cases
to hold certain beliels or no-behefs in the law books, the old forms of
as disqualifications to legislate. In writSiandtbeproviaioRsofstatntes,
reply to the plea that the admis- be contended that oil contradictiona
nuns of Jews could but be few to bis proposition wme only ap-
if the disqualification were re- parent contradictions, or too ex-
moved, he asked, waa that the travagantly superstitions to be now
argument that was successful in gravely quoted. Of both cbarao-
the case of seven millions of people ters was the prt»%tmed opinion of
in a neighbouring island some years Lord Coke, that Jews were aliens.
^0 ? If concession were made in In the first plaoe, the passage
this case, how could it be refused really had nothing to do wiib Jews,
to the appointment of a Boman Secondly, the red point laid down
Catholic Lord Chancellor of Ire- was, that no injidd could be a
land? A notice was now on the natUTaHom subject, becaose be
Order Book, that that concession was the subject of the devil, who
woold be sought in Oommittee on was the enemy of Christ onr king,
the Irish Cmritable Trusts Bill. It was eonUnded that an infidel
What then would stand between could not even sue or move in the
the English Romanists and tlie cor- courts; which, however, was too
responding office here? Lastly, much even for the judges of those
when a Roman Catholic Lord times, and was suppressed- The
Chancellor dispensed lawinEng- ActofWilliamtheThird,excluding
land, what should bar a Roman Unitarians from certain civil pri-
CatholicSovereignfromthethrone? vileges, waa aimed only againat
A far greater grievance to the Jews persons "who had been ed nested
than the one aimed at by this Bill in or mode profession of Chris-
was the compulsory observance of tianity," and then "denied the
the Christian Sabbath; yet there doctrine of the blessed Trinity:"
wss no agitation against that. If the section seemed purposely
such an agitation should arise, was moulded to leave the Jews intact,
the House prepared to give up the Since that time, Acts hod passed
recognition of that day by all ? by which Jews had been admitted
Lord Burgbley seconded the to legislative privileges in the
amendment, on the ground that Colotiies. This was the oaae both
the bill tended to unchrislianize in Jamaica and in Canada. The
the Legislature. He could not first Christian principle was to do
admit infidels or &fussulmans to a unto others as you would bedoneby.
seat in Parliament, nor could he Mr. M. Milnes adverted to the
admit Jews, towards whom, neveiv distinction drawn by Mr. StttSbrd
tbeless, he entertained the most betneen what was persecution and
charitable feelings. what was not. But surely the
Ur. W. P. Wood supported the victim and not the oi^reasor should
] HISTORY. [83
b« coiudlted npon tlitt qnMtkm. vwe withdrawn? Might th«Uem'
Hm »f»thj in ths pnblic nund ber not say, 'I h&TS not sworn
from whidi eome Mombns had to any &ith, and declare, ss Cod
infened an indiffcmos to th« doie«t declared, my disbelief in
rif^ta of die Jews, was in his (Hr. Christianity?' " Tltere must ensue
^nes's) eyes a piwtf that the a lowering of the tone of debate to
Bill did not oatiage the religions enable persons to eipresa opinions
sentinienta ot the natioii. This whioh would be most painful to
conntfj, eren with a few Jewish the minority at Brst, but would by
memben in its Liegislature, would cnatom oeaee to be t^auBive, and
Bot cease to be the moet Christian at last enter into the recognised
eomtiy on the esrtb. Hie ex- opinion of the House. The oath
ehisioB from the CbancellofBbip in muld exdude all lumourabU
England depmded on the office DeiBts; and others would be re-
harii^ ehnrcB patronage : aoch was strained from propagsndism of
sot the case with the Irish office, their doctrines on the door of the
and Uisra was thwefere not the House.
same occasion for exclusion. The Sir. W.Uoleeworth called stlen-
prrnciple of onr oonstitutioa was tion to some striking contrarietiea
■ot exclusion, but the reverse; and arising out of the conflict between
ereiy test was fonnded on some the statutes regulating Election
Bpenfio object : for example, the Committees and the statutes im>
Homai Cubcdio oath arose from posing oaths and tests. " The sum
fear of a Fofosh succession and and substance of my argument,"
Fo^h plots. The decuionof the SirWilliamrecapituUUed, "is this.
Honae would be of important in- BoronRoihschUdhasbeenlawfully
flnencfl beyond English shores, chosen a Member of the House
The question had raised the great- of Commons ; consequently, be is
•at interest in the Pmssian Pailia- legally bound to serve, and may be
mflat, when lately complete eman- summoned to attend in bis place in
•ipation was refused by only a Parliament: if, when summoned,
■arrow minori^ of ST. The qoes- he do not attend, be must be taken
tion was a turning-point of libwty into custody, and otherwise pun-
Ibr larj^ bodies of men in fbragn ished : if he do att«ad, he would
eoDotnee. If tluHoose determined be entitled to take the oaths of
in fawoBT of the Jews, it was to be allegiance end sopremaoy acnord-
hoped thatnootheraathoritywoald ing to the Jemsh mode of taking
teel jostifled in closing the doors an oath; but his religious faith
of Pariiament agunst men such as would prevent him from tsking
had bacQ seleoted by the people of the oath oi abjuration. He would
England and anpavved by the thereibre refuse to t^e that oath.
Englisli Boose of Commons. What would be the consequence?
Lord Mahon opposed the Bill, I cannot pretend to say whether
eontroi'ertiiig some of the moM such a refusal wonld or would not,
pmninaat acgnaMnts of ito sup- under the orcumstsnoes of the
porten. " Soppose a Deist took ease, constitute an offence for
his seat in flu House, and there which he could be punished. It is
wviled Chriatiaaity — <woidd the c«1«in, however, that the House
Bpe«ker have tlie power or right to has no power to relieve Baron
iuer&te if the nligiona aanetaQn Sothsehill from the oblicntign »
[Ga] , .. . ,,.c
84] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. LEngUind.
take the oath of abjur&tion, no the e&rlj Cbristuna, tibe Albi-
power to relieve him from the genses were elaugbtered, and onr
obligation to attend in his place in own fires were lighted in Smith-
tiie House, no power to dispense field. Under that pies Catholics
with bia services on an Election burnt Ptx)te8tant8 ; Proteatants
Committee, no power to declare burnt Catholics. Calvin kindled
bis election null and void ; and the faggot of Servetus witb the
that no law or custom of Parlia- approbation of Uelanctbon ; and
ment can be cited, and no prece- even the Pilgrim Fathers of New
dent con be produced, which would England were persecutors, and
justifj the House in expelling hung Quakers on the gibbets of
him. If, indeed, the Honee were Massachusetts 1 Under the same
nevertheless (o expel the bononr- plea, in modem times, we excluded
able Gentleman, he would not Dissenters from our Corporations
thereby become legally ineligible ; and Roman Catholics from For-
and, as often as the House might liament ; and for the same reasons
expel him, so often would the Jews are now refused a seat in the
electors of the city of London be British Houseof Commons. Butre-
legally entitled to re-elect him," ligious liberty has triumphed over
Uembers who objected to the pre- thenidebigotiyofantiquityandthe
sent Bill ought to propose some cruel persecutions of our fore-^
other efi'ective means of escape out fathers ; it will ultimately acbiere
of these diflicnitiea — bnt they had a victory over the milder intole-
not attempted the task. The object ranee of honourable Gentlemen
of the Bill was merely to make such opposite i and the result will bo
an alteration in the form, not the peace and good-will among men of
Buhstance, of the oath, as would evei7 faith who are sul^ects of the
enable the Jew to take it. The British empire."
I^egislature never meant the form Mr. Wdpole opposed the Bill
to be a religious test. Where- in an ai^mentative and -earnest
ever it was likely to prove bo, speech, which he summed up aa
enactments hod specifically pro- follows: — "When the noble Lord
vided the very means proposed in was returned for the City in con-
this case to avoid that difficulty. junction with a Jew, his (Mr.
It was not, however, a question Walpole's) first impression was
of mere precedents, bnt a struggle that he would support the intra-
between the principle of religions duction of that gentleman to Par-
equality and its antagonist prin- liament; and it was not till be had
dple that the State is able and considered the subject in all its
Ought to determine what religion hearings that he found himself
is the true religion. " That doc- bound in duty to oppose iL It
trine of religious infallibility of the was therefore notwitbout a stmggle
state," said Sir W. Molesworth, with bis own feelings that he
" hasbeeninallagesandamongall opposed this measure, when b4
people the plea for the crimes of in- thought of all that the Jews were,
tolerance and persecution. Under of all that they had been, and of
that plea Socrates vras put to all that they might be, and when
death and the Saviour of the world be bore in mind that the time
was crucified. Under that plea would yet come when they would
ib» Pagan Empeiws immolated again be what they once were, .the
Enyu«>a.} HISTORY. [8B
bronred people of the Lord. This ing almost to idoUtrous veneratioa
was, however, a qoestion of prin- — was not Bolingbroke, who united
dple, and when principle was at toezternalaccompliahmentbighin-
Btake feeling mnst give way. He tellectual endowments, and whose
entreated the House to pause ere intercourse in private life exercised
they gave ia to the falladons a species of fascination on all who
reasoning that becaose thej had had the misfortune to approach
made a man a magistrate they him — was not Bolingbroke, the
ahonld also make him a l^sletor ; infidel Bolingbroke, a member of
— to pause ere they adopted the this House? Was he stopped by
btal maxim of the noble Lord, the test which arrested the Jew?
that all who bore the bordens of Did he not, on the contrary, tread
the State were entitled to its privi- upon it and mount to the height
leges and honours ; — to pause ere of power, and become a confidential
they allowed themselres to be adviser of the Sovereign? Is it
carried away by the &nciful notion not preposterous that a man by
that their constitution was a fun- whom Revelation was rejected, who
-damental matter of an ezpanaive doubted the immortality of the
character; — to pause ere (heyun- aoul, who doubted a future state
dennined, or in any way dimi- of reward and punishment, who
nished.tbat great principle on which doubted eternity and Providence,
the State bad always been founded; who believed nothing, who feared
a principle which in the minds of nothing, who hoped for nothing,
all reflective men bad been always who laid no restraint upon his
associated with the national great- depravity, who had no incentivia
nese, because it was identified with to virtue beyond such natural
the national goodness ; a principle promptings as God may have given
which animated the public conduct him, — is it not monstrous that
of their Government, and operated such a fiend should find bis vray
as effectively in their Legislature into the Honee of Commons, and
as in their households. And in climb to the pinnacle of power, and
conclosion they wonld perhaps per- that you should slap the door with
mit him to remind them, in the indignation in the face of an
solemn language which was heard honourable and conscientious man,
yesterday in ever; cfaorch in the who adheres to the religion in
idngdotn, ' that whatever ye do in which he was bom and bred — of
word or in deed, ye shall do all in a man who beheves in the facts
the name of the Lord Jesus.' " which constitute the foundation of
Mr. Shell supported the Bill in Christianity — who believes in the
an eloquent speech. The follow- existence, of the noble part of onr
Xpaasage waa one of the most being — who believes in the mercies
live: — "There had been re- of God.andwhopractiseshomanity
peated references in this House to to man>-who believes in the Ma
thecelebrBtedauthorofthe'I>eGline great injunctions on which all
■nd Fall of the Roman Empire;' morality is based — whose ear is
bnt I think that a name still more never deaf to the supplications of
illustrious might have been cited, .suffering, ' whose hana is open as
Was not Boliogbroke, the fatally day to melting charity,' and whose
acoomplisbed Bolingbroke, to whose life perhaps presents a better e^
{leniaa were ofieredtribotes amount- «m|£flcatiQn of-the precepts of th$
86] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngUmd.
Gospel than mtny of those men for proposition now before the Houh ?
the Oake of whose Chrislian re- It wts that they, a Chriatiaa
ligion these dishonouring disabili- people, shonld set at nought the
ties are injuriously maintained?" truUia of prophecy; that they
" In Belgium and in France all should be blind to the fulfilment of
distinctions between Christian and the decrees of Providence ; and that
Jew are abolished. I trust that they should in their weakness call
Protestant England will ftdtow in ^at people to legislate for them
that great example. A great deal irhom Ood had pronounced to be
of pr^ndice at one time esisted in unfit to legislate for themselves,
this country which is banning to The debate was now adjourned,
disperse. London has made a and resnmed on the 11th. On
noble manifbstation of iu will, that evening, the speakers in op-
Are yon prepared' to throw back position to the Bill were Lord
the Jew upon London, in order Drumlanrig, Mr. R. Spooner, Mr.
that London may throw badi the H. K. Seymer.and Ur. G. Bankes.
Jewuponyou? But notonlyare ItwassupportedbyMr.C. Pearson,
the disqualifications of the Jew Mr. W. Uowpar, Mr. Horeman,
inconsistent niih the spirit of the Mr. Gockbom, and Sir Robert PeeL
Christian relijpon. bnt those dis- The speech of the right honour-
abilities impede the progress of able Baronet was a very imprees-
Christian truth. They prevent ive one, and produced much efiect
the conversion of the Jew, and npon the House. Sir Robert
produce effects diametrically oppo- began with an avowal that in
site to what is intended. The matters of legielation and govern-
disabilities of the Jew are sufii- ment he entertained a deep sense
ciently vexatious to make conver- of roligioos oUigation ; and he ad-
non be regarded as a synonyme mitted that between the tenets of
with apostacy. The fetters by the Chrititians and the Jews there
which the Jew is bonnd, though was a vital difference — inessentials
apparentiy light, are strong enough the two religions were more directly
to fosten nim down and make it a ants gonizea than any others. But
natter of discredit that he should even siqipoaing that he had any
desert his creed. Nothinff effectual authority to determine what is
will be dons for the extinction of religious error, he cerlainlj had no
Judaism till you yosrsetves have commission to ponish the Jews —
begun by making restitution of his to ponish the descendants for the
birthright to every Englishman by sin of their &thera, not onto the
whom the Jewish religion is pro- third and fourth generation, but
fessed." . nnto the throe-hundredth or four-
Mr. Newdegate complained that fanndnedth. Civil disability, how-
tbe intentions of the Government ever, was a penalty. In the case of
respecting the Jewish question had the Roman Cathotic the disability
been purposely suppressed at the was not imposed as a penalty
late general election. He could because he maintained the iKKtrine
not forget the history of that of transubstantiation, but because
people, nor disregard the lessons he was deemed a dangerous subject
which the visible judgments upon in consequence of his adraowledg-
their race were so strongly calcu- ing the suprsmai^ of a foreign
lated to impress. — What w$ lbs pnnoe. Sir Robert aitaied into a
E^land.] HISTORY. [87
critical axamioalion of Dr. Arnold's For the Second Readiog 377
dicbun. that Jews should bsre the Against it 204
ffiTale but not the pablio rights of
atixcms; to which he opposed the H^ority .... 73
tiUhontf of Bjtoom, that tJie rights Upon two .subsequent occasions
of " natural - bom subjects" are the principle of the Jewish Dis-
"eompleteaud entire." Heshowed abilities Bill was sgain contested
how Ine Jew is piacticsUj excluded in the House of Commons. On
from no pablio office — not even the motion for considering the
tntm the Privy Council, unless it Report, Mr. Goring moved as an
be indirectly ; so that he had amendment, " That it is the
already acquired the position of a (pinion of this Hooae, that so
Britiahcitizen,withrigbtsconi^lete long as the House of Commons
and generally recognised. The re- exercises the authority which it
fnsal to admit faim to Psrliameat at present does over the Estab-
wsa the sole invidious exception to lished Church, no Jew ought to
that position. The Jew sustained possess the franchise, much less
the same burdens as other citi- to be allowed to sit in this House."
sens ; the Christians scrupled not Mr. Goring said that there was
to borrow money from him ; manj one class in the country, the
<rf his race, like Sir Uoees Moots- nsursrs and gamblers in the pub-
fiore, were brilliant examples cf lie securities, whose interests were
vittne and benevolence. An exotu- in direct opposition to those of
■ion nnanpported bj reason could the rest of the community. He
not be permanently maintained, dted the apostoUcal precept against
The safety of our religion was in holding communion with heretics,
nowise dependent on the exclasi<»i and declared that to invite the
of Banm do Bothschild or any revjlers of our Saviour into that
othergentlemanof the Jewish per- House would be to draw down
■oaaion : nnlees it weie from inier> Almighty vengeance upon the
nal dissension, the Church of £ng- country.
land was stronger at that moment Mr. Gumming Bruce, iu support
than at any other period within r^ of the amendment, said, that he
centhistoiy, and was not dependent did not conceive that a man's re>
en the question of two or three l^on was, as alleged by some
«otes more or fewer in that House, persons, a matter exclusively be-
There was no clase oi oar fellow tween himself and hie Creator;
beings to whom every Christian it materially affected his fetlow-
state in Europe owed such rep&rar beings, and bad a strong tendency
tion for oentuiiee of iryostice. per- to qualify or disqaalify him for
eacution, and wrong ; and Sir Ro- political functions. Sir W. Vemer
bart Peel rejoiced to think that the thought the Established Church,
example of England woold conduce both here and in Ireland, hod
to the weUare «f the Jews in other never ceased to suffer wrong siuoe
eoontries — wovld expedite their the Boman Catholic Relief Act wss
emancipation, or at least -soothe passed. Mr. Hornby expected ere
tbem aader oppression. many years after this Bill passed
After some further discuanon to see thirty or forty Jews in that
the House came to a division, House-^that four of them would
iriien there appeand— represent London ; thiy mightalso
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
become 'Premiere and Chancellors
of the Exchequer, and in such
case would no doubt favour their
own people on 'Change with any
priority of information officially
obtained, Hr. Adderly concurred
in the poaition set forth by the
emeadment. Sir R. H. Inglis
thought that it nould have been
sounder policy to refuse the fran-
chise to tiieBoman Catholics, than
to concede to them admission to
the Legislature. He suggested
that the amendment should not
be pressed, but that opponents of
the Bill should reserve themselves
for a protest against the principle
upon the third reading, ^r. Gard-
ner spoke in favour of the Bill.
Mr. Urquhart, on the other side,
argued that the Church was un-
justly exposed to the assaults of
her enemies, by the indiscriminate
admission of Members of all creeds
into the House. Lord Dudley
'Stuart exhibited the statistical
account of the petitions which had
been presented affecting the Bill.
Ample time had been asked by
the opponents of the Bill for the
country to rise up against it : after
ample time has elapsed, what were
Ihe results — petitions with 60,000
siguatures a^inst the Bill, and
petitions signed by more than
300.000 in its favour. In the
latter class were petitions from
almost every corporation in the
Itingdom— Jedburgh and Sudbury
being the only two on the other
side. Lord Dudley stated that a
learned Jewish doctor, a Rabbi, in
a late lecture at Birmingham,
taking the Gospels as authentic
histories of their times, avowed
that Jesus of Nazareth was the
victim of fanaticism, of the lust of
Eower and jealousy of the Jewish
ierarchy. The feeling was a grow-
ing one among men ot piety, and
reflection, that complete toleratioa
must be established.
Ultimately Mr. Goring withdrew
his amendment. Mr. Willoughbj
moved another, limiting the offices
to be held by Jews, which was lost
on s division by 196 to SS. Sir
Kobert Inglis next moved a pro-
viso, that no Jew should be a Judge
in any Court of Law, or a Member
of the Privy Council. This was
also negatived by 303 to 109.
The third reading of the Bill
underwent considerable postpone*
ment, bnt tbo motion ultinuUely
came on upon the 4th of Alay. 3ir
Frederick Thesiger renewed the op-
position on this occasion, by moving
" that the Bill be read a third
time on that day six months."
Sir Frederick gave up the doc-
trine that to admit Jews to the
Legislature would in any degree
interfere with the Divine decree
under which their condition pre-
sentsastanding miracle; for it was
absurd, and perhaps worse, to
suppose that any course of pro-
ceedings adapted by the frail and
feeble inhabitants of this nether
world could interfere with the
councils of the Almighty. But he'
opposed the alteration of the oath,
because our laws must be based
upon Christian morals : and with
that view it was proper that there
should be a test to judge of the
inclinadon of every one entering
the House to accept that basis.
Admit the Jews, and the Deists —
a class, he feared, not less numerous
thantheJews — might say that they
desired to serve their country, but
that the declaration " on the true
faith of a Christian " operated to
their exclusion.
The third reading was also op-
posed by Mr. Campbell, Mr. F.
Scott, Mr. Raphael, Lord Mahon,
Sir R. H. Inglis, and Mr. Newde-
Eitghmd.}
HISTORY.
[89
gate. It was supported by Mr.
Trelaimey, Mr. Weathead. Mr.
Comewall Levis, Mr. firotherton,
Mr. Rubinson, and Mr. Fortescue.
Lord JohD Russell, in reply, dis-
tinguished the gnrands on which
he adrocsted the Bill. He did
DOt support it on the groitnd thst
religion has nothing to do with
politics, or that Members of Par-
liameDt ought not to be guided
by religious views and motivea iu
legislation.
"I belieTe."aaid the noble Lord,
" that religion ought to influence us
in the smallest domestic a£[airs,
and in the highest legialstive con-
cerns. I believe that Christianity,
far from having nothing to do with
legislation, is the source of the
most enlightened laws which
modem times have produced. I
believe that it is owing to Chris-
tiani^ that the slavery which
pre rail Bid in the ancient world
was abolished in an early part
of tha modem ages. I beheve
that it was Chrutianity which
inspired Mr. Wilberforce and
those who acted with him to
make that attempt which finally
■Qcceeded in destroying the slave
trade, which was a disgrace to any
Christian oountry. My belief is —
to speak of no particular law, but
of me general spirit of institu-
tions — that, whereas ancient re-
poblics and states, the more they
became civilized became the more
loose in their morality, the more
bewildered by vain theories of phi-
losophy, and the more corrupt in
Uieir mond practice, — modem na-
tions, on the contrary, having
Christianity to guide them, will,
in pioportion as Uiey become more
civilized, so far from falling into
those corruptions, and being less
governed by the moral law, as in
e^y. and i»mote ages, become
more sulgect to the rules of mo-
rality, and will more acknowledge
the supremacy of the Divine law.
But you cannot by special declara-
tions, by mere words introduced
into an oath — you cannot by the
mere terms of a statute obtain
that religious spirit and that ac-
knowledgment of Christianity
which you desire. It is not to be
gained in that way. I proved this
formerly by the instances of thoee
who, being notoriously unbelievers
in Christianity, nevertheless sat
in this House in spite of these
declarations : but I will put it to
this simple test — If these declara-
tions are sufficient, why do yon
not carry your legislation much
further? Why not impose a de-
claration to be made by every
Member that he is not governed
by prejudice or partial affections,
that he is not swayed by corrupt
motives or personal animosities,
but that in all his votes he is
?Dvemed by love of the country?
f men were ruled by the mere
words of a declaration, surely such
a declaration would be as good as
any declaration with regard to the
religious belief of the party."
Upon a division there appeared —
For the Third Reading . 234
Against it 173
Msjority for the Bill . Ql
The Bill was then passed. In
the House of Lords, however, it
experienced a much leas favourable
reception. The second reading
was moved on the asth May, by
the Marquis of X^nsdowne, who
opened the debate with a clear and
temperate recapitulation of the
arguments in favour of the mea-
sure, which were for the most part
the same as bad been mgea by
Lord John Russell in the House
»0]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [iM««rf.
«f Gommona. He espeeullj dwelt
on the fact, that the exclusion i£
the Jews was not b^ virtae <rf Uie
ancient laws of the kingdom, but
ma an innovftdiH] of recent times ;
that the very declaration which
now openU«e to their exclusion,
"on the true faith of a Chriatian,"
was not originally directed against
Jews, but against Popish recusants
in the reign of James the First )
that from the earliest introduction
of their faith Christians had repu-
diated the connection of theology
and politics, and that the general
eligibility of the Jews for luvil
offices renders their exclusion from
legiriative power anomalous and
inexpedient.
The Earl of Ellenboroogh then
rose to move " that the Bill be read
a second time on that day six
months." He took his stand against
the Bill on the ground of Ghriatian
obligation; ana insisted that the
Jew was not only a citizen of a dis'
tinct nation, but a member of a
class having ecarcdy any social
rdation with the community. In
an agricultural and mantifactnr-
ing nation the Jew was neither
an agriculturist nor a manuiacturer.
He did not labour, he only bought
and Bold, at a small profit, the
labour of others. There were few
rich men among his persuasion, but
Bome very rich. They could not
intermarry vrilh the people of tliia
country; and, except among the
h^er classes, they mixed but
little socially with the members of
other religious persuasions. They
were oitiEens of the world rather
than of any particular country.
Though they were not aliens in
the sense of owing allegiance to
another country, there were no
people who could transfer them-
selves to another oountiy with the
flame faeali^ as the Jews. Wher*-
ever the Jew went be fband hia
own people ; the same religion and
the same language were ccanmon
to them all ; and when he removed
to another country be found per-
eons of his own nation engaged in
transactions similar to his own.
Lord Ellenborough quoted from
th« " Memoirs of Sir Fowell Bux-
ton" the anecdote related by Mr.
Rothschild, the founder of the
house in London, who said that
he first came to England from
Frankfort because an English
manuiacturer had refused to show
his patterns, and who boasted of
having acted on the most selfish
principles ; such was the origin of
the great house of Bothscliild, and
of the present Bill.
Lord Ellenborough warned the
House agaiust the public danger
of acceding to the measure, a^er
the warnings of Providence, in the
shape of famine and distress — na-
tions convulsed on eveiy side — the
most ancient and powerful dynas-
ties of Europe crashed in one day —
the great empire of Austria broken
in pieces like a potter's vessel—
the disruption of some of the most
ancient and important alliances of
states — the present age forgetting
the hist<vy of the past. How could
this countjy hqie to escape the con-
tamination of these prinoiplee, ex-
cept by obtaining aid from above ;
and he trusted that they would not
deprive themselves of heavenly
aid by giving up the distinction
which had hitherto belonged to this
country of (he exclusively Christian
character of its Legislature.
The Duke of Cambridge, pro-
fessing great personal respect for
the Jews, could not consent to ad-
mit them into Parliament, so long
aa the govemmeDt of the conntiy
was to remain a Christian one.
The Duke of Ai^le, addressing
EnfUmd.] HISTORY. [91
du Hdom for the first time in &- Canuo. Thst people had 9>a«m
Toar of the me^Bare. diadaguisbfid for 1800 yeaxs. Teceiriog a wetk-
Mmsalf br a speech of calm and ened Uadirion from their half un-
eameat ai;ganMniation. believiDg fatherB; and how «iuld
The End of WiDckikea, in aop- it be expected that a race immerBed
port of the antcndment, treated in Ute puiBuit ef gain, vith no-
tbesnlgectwithnmchmorevanDlh thing to oeoBtenct that paasion
of kagoi^. He declared the Bill but a bdief in the troth of their
l» be a greater insult to the boooar rel^on, vonld be benefited hj an
and glory of God than any which admission into the BritiBh Parlia?
hadbeenbfon^tbefMretlieHanse; ment? Abhorring as he did the
he proteeted againBt adnribtiiw one croelty with vhkh the forefathers
lieh Jew to Padiament in order to (so called incorrectly) of the Jews
reward him for fovoiuB rendered were treated, he oonteBded that
to the Uinister of the day ; and that omehy was baaed upon truth,
he hoped that none of the Bishops and was kinder tbau the &lse hu-
woald rote in Ettour of the Bill, inanity whish would teach this peo-
for if it passed, mthin a year not pie that the revelation made to
OM of them woald hare a seat in them was eithra a folse or an imina-
that Hosae. tehal one.
The Bi^op of Bt Darid's aor- He most remark, that every
njed the enkgect in an faistofioal Jew who was now in Cngland had
and phUosophical ptnnt of view, re- come to £ngland (or his immediate
viewing fbe relations of Christiana ancestors had done so) within tbe
rad Jews doctrinally ssid socially ; last two hundred years ; and tbey
he traced the efieots of mntual per- had eome on tbe condition that
Bscntioiia in still surnring nsperi- they sbould bave shelter and kind*
tiee ; showed how mach they have ness, bat not political privileges,
in oominou; and maintaitted the No doubt there migbt have been
real sin of this country in respect in certain oases certain adTantagea
of the Jievra was in the old perse- derivshle fran tbe election of Jew-
cMions, not in the recent in- ish lepresentativee. Far be it
dnlgencea. from blm, however, to say tbat he
^nie Biehop of Oxford entered knew any such instance. He pio-
into the more fonuliar and popnlar fessed to bave no knowledge of
topics of the controversy. He main- those " secrets of the prison-house."
tained that the sitting in Parlia- He repeated, that though be knew
mrat me no r^At, bttt a truMt oon- sothiug aboat the secrets of the late
ferred at the will of the consti- election for the city of London, yet
toents, who had a perfect title to tbat be was not wiUiout aome know-
exolnde Jews from that tnet He ledge of the public history of that
qaoteddocametita.B8peaially"AMa- transaction. (" Hear.hear.") Itwas
ooal of Judaism " by Mr. Josbnavan pretty well known that the Prime
Oven, to show that the Jews were Minister's election for tbat City waa
really a distinct and alien race, and not a feat of very easy accomplish-
that the earnest men among them ment, and that there were no small
deprecated any social or political diffloultjes to be overcome, where
connection with other nations, as there was a good deal of character
the auctions of die Hebrew on the one side and much capital
tmeJarasoIem'aiid on the other. Deolanttaona in fo-
weaningtfaea^i
peeideuomthe
92] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [E«jtai
VOQI* of remoriog Jewish diskbili- the putting forwarfl of Banm Roth-
ties might under such circum- schild, becauBo of the contest it
Btances have been found exceed- would provoke ; so that Itis onl^
ingly convenient. " obligation " to B&ron Rothschild
He called upon the House to was the injuiy which he suatuned
beware of doing what this measure bj the contest which ensued.
would do — unchristian ize the coun- As to the danger of admitting
try • a. meaanre which would yield the Jews, Lord Brougham pointed
nothing in retnm — not the smallest to the analogous case of theRonian
accession of strength, or of consis- Catholics since Emancipation— the
tency, or of character — a measure Protestant Kstablishmenthad been
which woidd ii^ure all and as efQcieutly vindicated as ever,
strengthen none. As tothefearof "unchristianiziag"
The Earl of EUesmere contended the Commons, they were unchns-
that the British Jewnever sheltered tianized already. (Lou^Atn-.) Would
himself from civil responsibility the Commons come to the bar of
and patriotic duties under the plea that House by message, or in any
of being an alieu, and that it was other way, and by their words,
neither equitable nor safe to ex- acts, or desires, pretend to call
cludefrom themakiugoflawstbose themselves a Christian assembly ?
who had so lai^s eui interest in He did not know what would be-
the well-being of the community. come of them ; hut assuredly it was
Lord Stanley contended against not to be denied that we had a
the admisGiion as a right. If there motley sort of legislation, half
vras DO law excluding the Jews infidel, half Christian. OfHerMa-
from Parliament before the time of jesty he would only say, may God
James I., it was because no Jew long preserve her in her Christian
bad a right to set his foot in this character to reign over a tolerant
countiy : while the statute wliich and enlightened people. As for the
DOW operates to his exclusion was Ministry, they were undoubtedly
suspended during the reign of nearly as unchristian as the Com-
William and Mary, he could not mons. {Laugkur.) So that he was
obtain letters of naturalization ; afraid they must stand before the
and if born here, he could acquire world as half Christian, half Pagan
no freehold qualification. — a Pagan House of Commons, and
The Earl of Dysart deemed it in- a perfectly Christian House of
expedient to admit Jevrs, because a Lords. (LaughUr.) He saw little
Jew must wish to see our Christian use, therefore, of so much argn-
institutions destroyed, ment about unchristianizing Ute
Ix>rd Brougham argued in sup- Legislature,
port of the Bill, replying especially The Bishop of Oxford explained,
to the speech of the Bishop of He regretted that any words should
Oxford. He denied the alleged have udlen from him in the warmth
partnership at the London election, of debate which might appear sus>
between Lord John Russell and ceplible of the meaning which bis
Baron Rothschild : it was slan- nohle and learned friend had af-
<lerouslr said, and if a Bishop had fixed to them. He had not the
not said it he should have said that smallest idea that the noble Lord
it was false. {Laughter.) Lord John at the bead of the Govemmeat
bad always refused to be a party to had been privy to any bribery wbat^
B*giand.\
HISTOB Y.
C9S
erer— Lord Jolin bad sapported
the admisaoD of Jem into Par-
liament long before; and the
Bishop heamlj regretted having,
in the midat of a grsve argumeat,
used words that might be construed
to bear soch a meaning. He had
no mt«Dtioa wfaat«Ter to slander
the noble Lord, and be begged to
recall bia words. {Chun.)
The Marqais of Lansdowne re-
plied. He took the opportunity
of Tindicating Lord John RosBell
from the imputation of having
benefited daring the recent election
tor London b; the assistance of
Banin Rothschild. Lord John
RaaBell bad k^t lus interest and
ba a£hirs on that occasion per-
fectly distinct from those of any
other candidate.
The House then divided, when
the reaolt was as follows : —
96
Non-Conl«nta — Present 126
Proxiea 38
iSajontj
The Jewish Disabilitiea Bill w
consequently lost.
C.=.l,:sa:,G00gIC
»4J ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. iS«^iand..
CHAPTER IV.
AffaxTt of Ireland — Ditaffeeted and critical ttaU of that Country
during the Spring of 1848 — Progreu of Inmrreetion — Uovemtnti of
Mr. Smith O'Brien and hit eonfederatea — Ignonwwmt Failura of the
frejected Outbreak — Policy of the Qover»tnent artd Uate of Public
Opinion in tht* Country on ths SvJgect — Adoption of Cotreixe Mea-
turtt — Announcement of a Biil for the Stapension of ths Habea*
Cotjnu Act — Debate in the Hotiie of Lordt upon a Motion m«<{« by
the Earl of GUngall — Deeieive Declaration of the Marquii of Lata-
doane on behalf of the Oovemment-^Itemarkt of Lord Brougham,
Lord Stanley, and other Peen — Unanimout feeling of the Hpuse —
Lord John Rtueell, on the Zilh July, move* for Leave to bring in a BiU
vetting extraordinary Poieen in the Lord Lieutenant— Hi* Speech on
the itate of Ireland and the features of the Critie — He ii warmly
mpported by Sir Bobert Peel. Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Hume, Mr. B.
Osborne, Sir D. Norreys, Sir Lucius O'Brien, and many other Eng-
lish and Irish Members, speak in favour of the Bill — Mr. Feargvs
O'Connor delivers a vehement Repeal Speech against it — Mr. S. Cra%e~
ford moves an Amendment, which is lost on a Division, only Eight
Members voting for it — Tlie BUI is passed through aU its Stages on
the same Day, and is sent up to the House of Lords — The Marguis of
Lansdowne, on the 2StA, introduces the BUI, with a Speech similar in
effect to UuU of Lord J. Russdi — Lord Brougham, the Earl of Wick-
lovi, the Earl of Qlengall, and other Peers support the BUI, which i*
then carried through aU its Stages without any OpposUion — Ddtate m
the House of Commons on the Condition of Ireland, originating in
a Resolution proposed by Mr. Sharman Crawford for the Redress of
Grievances — His Speech — Answer of Lord John Russell — Speeches of
Mr. H. Herbert, Mr. Fagan, Mr. MonseU, and Mr. Osboms — The
Debate t* adjourned — Deelarationi of Sir George Grey, Sir WiJliam
SomsrvUle, and Lord John Russell respecting the Irish Church — After
further Debate, the Resolution motied by Mr. S. Crawford is negatived
by 100 to 34 — BUlforfacilUating the Transfer of Encumbered Estate*
— Speech of the Lord Chancellor explaining the Bill — Speeches of the
Earl of Roden, Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Stanley, Lord CampbaU, and
Lord Monleagle — The BiU is read a Second Time— It i* much debated
in the House of Commons — Sir Jjueiu* O'Brien, Mr. Napier, Mr.
Henley, and other Members, oppose the BUI — The Solicitor-Oeneral,
Mr. B. Osborne, Sir J. Graham, Mr. MonseU, Mr. Sadlsir, and Mr.
P. Wood, sufport it — ^n Amendment moved by Mr. Napier is defeated
Englmi,] HISTORY. [96
far 197 to 52 — The Anundmenti made m tks Hoiue of Commont art
o^oud tM the Houte of Jjordt by Lord Stanlty and Lord MonUegU,
but adopted on a Divuion by QT to 10, and the Bill itpaned.
DURING the early part of this flaming tiie minds of the diatatmsed
Session the (UBcassian of peasBntrytoanlairfaldeaignB. The
bisb qoeBlioDs oocnpied a less pro- narratdTO of the events that marked
pwtion than usual of the time and the Irish innirrectioa of 1848 be-
attention of Parliament. A Bill to longs to snother part of this work,
facilitate the sale of encumbered e»- Happily it prorea too ii)si|^ificant
tates in Ireland, to which we shall to be worthy of any serious regard,
Wreafter refer more particularly, and to a certain extent it snswered
msintrodooedbytheLordChancel- a good purpose, by exposing to the
lor early in the year, thoogh it did eyes of the Bngtt^ people the real
notfinally pass into law until many weakness of that much Tsmited
inontlia afterwards ; with this ex- agitation, which was crushed, al'
eeption, dnring the spring of the most without an eSbrt, tbe moment
present year, Irish measares en- it broke out into orert seta. The
SBged little of the public notice, ignominiona defeat of Ur. O'Brien's
But aa the summ^ advanced of- ludicrma attack on the civil
fints in that unhappy couDtry be- power, and the unresisted capture
ffa to asnme a very threatening sf his person, annihilated at once
aapect. Menaces ai a general in- both the dignity and the danger of
■nrreotion had, indeed, for several a conspiracy which had been mag-
montha been openly thrown oat, nified by die vanity of a few con-
hu the people at this country had ceited demagogues into a civil war.
beenaoaocostomedlothevBpouring Nevertheless, frivolous as the out-
tfareata and treasonable harangues break was, and chimerical as the
«f Irish agitatois, that they turned alarms which had been entertuned
far aome time an incredulous ear to wereproved to be, it was imposaiUe
the Tumours of an outbreak. The to doubt, from the evidence as to
B of rebellion were, how- the state of public feeling which it
, for once in earnest They brought to light, that a widespread
Baa Buned, in the person of Mr. and deep-rooted disaffection per*
Bmiui O'Brien, a leader of rank vaded a Isrge part tit the popala-
and tDflnetice, who, however Ei- tion. However little apprebeosiMt
natical and wild in his views, was tbsrefbre might be felt that the dis-
at least sincere in the cause which tempers of the country would break
ha had espoused, and willing to out mto war, there was the greatest
stake his own life and fortune in reason to dread that they might exr
the despMate game in whioh his plode in the shspe of outrage and
party were engaged. He was sup- isrime, and that ^though the right
ported by a number of active co- of the Grown might be in no jeo-
•djntOTS, less eminent indeed than P^J, the life and property of in*
himself in social rank and position, dividuals would be seriously en-
bnt poeaessed of no mean powers dangered. Under theSe circUB-
of talent and education, which stances the necessi^ for making
made tkcm formidable instramentB the bands of the law more strin>
in ttimohtiBg diaaffectioD and in- gent, and arming the heads of the
96] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [•»»»!««'-
Qumd's Govermnent mth more give notice tlut I propose, at the
extensive powers, iras admitted hy Bitting of the House to-morrow, to
almost every cIsbb of politiciana in ask leaTe to bring io a Bill to em-
England. The absurd and frantic powerthe Lord Lieutenant or other
efforts of the Irish demagogues Chief Governor or GoTemore of Ire-
had disgusted eren the most tele- land, to apprehend and detain, until
rant friends of their nation in this the 1st day of March, 1849, such
country, and produced an una- persons as he shall suspect of con-
nimity in the councils of the Bri- spiring agiunst Her Miyesty's pei^
tish Parliament which no other son or Government." [LotidchMT-
event could in bo short a time have tn^.)
brought about. The repugnance It happened that the Earl of
to entrust summary and arbitrary Glengalt had given notice, for the
powers to Ministerial discretion, same evening, of a motion in the
which is generally found to exist in House of Lords for papers, with
themindaof liberal politicians, had the view of bringing the proceed-
given way to more urgent consider- ingsin Ireland, and thenecessi^for
ations. On the other hand, the voice further legislation, under the con-
of Conservative opinion in both sidenttion of Parliament. Before
countries demanded in the strongest this motion was called on, the Mar-
manner a reinforcement of the law, quis of Lonsdowne communicated to
and the enactment of additional se- Uie House the notice which his col-
curides for the life and property of league had given in the House of
the Queen's loyal sul^ecta on the Commons : he, however, invited
othersidetheChannel. Tothisde- Lord Glengall, nevertheless, to
maud the Government promptly proceed with his motion, as oflbrd-
yielded. It was a happy circum- ing an opportunity to the Govem-
fltance that at this time Uie highest ment for a further statement. In
focecutive authority was vested in accordance vrith this suggestion,
aLord Lieutenant inwhoaeenei^, Lord Glengall moved for copies
judgment, and sagacity all parties of such reports as had been re-
entertained conGdence. In the ceived by Her Miyeaty's Oovem-
Earl of Clarendon the public knew ment from the stipendiary magia-
that the Crown would find a firm trates, constabulary officers, and
butt«mperateaseerterof its rights, police, respecting the formation of
and rebellion an uncompromising clulis in Ireland,
opponent It was well understood. Lord Glengall glanced at the
also, that between that nobleman recent history of Ireland, — the
and the Members of the Go- schism in the Repeal party; the
Temment in England the most grovrth of the clut» ; the atrocions
cordial understanding existed, and counsel given to the people not
that eveiy measure of their Irish only to prepare pikes and blunder-
policy would be dictated by his in- busses, but to destroy the soldiery
formation and advice. with vitriol and burning turpen-
It was under these circum- tine; the military array; the
Btances, that, on the 31st July, treasonable communioatione with
Lord John Russell made the fol- France and America; and the evi--
lowing announcemeDt in the Houae dent intention to effect, not only a
of Commons:— "I rise, sir, to political but a social revolution, by
B'»9»«^*] HISTORY. [97
txtarmiimting " tbe Ei^tisb guri- of w. ' I aee that in esnying oat
■cm" — diat IB, the 8000 ProteaUnt the militaiy amj they bare been
Imdloids of Inland. Hd com- directed by a penon who not Itma
{luned. that neitfaer the Ortme i^ weot to F^s, for tbe avowed
and Ontmge Aut, nor the Sedi> poi^oee of coimeoting hiauelf with
tiooa SpeebiBg Act, liad prored the clubs in that metropolis, and
anffiuentlj powerfbl : nothing who, after meeting with aomethii^
diort sC BOBpeadiDg the Habeas like r^ection from the then Go-
Corpoa Act would do ; for anarchy veniment of Francs, went forth
waa io tbe ascendant, and insturec- knooking from door to door, Beet
tiwi most follow. ing where he could find tbe
The Harqnia of Lansdowne ad- greatest bostiU^ to the Govem-
mitlad that the fitcts stated by ment of bia own country. When
ixird Glangall were notoriooB, but that pereon, retnrmng from this
be tboof^ the motitm onneces- expedition, was placed at the head
■uy ; extracts from the pc^is in of these institutions in Ireland, I
f oeation — for. no more then ex- knew what the isaae of theae pro-
tracts could be given with pro- ceedings must be."
[wiety — would only weaken the Lord Clarendon, however, had
eaae, as it stood npon &ct8 which employed the powers already at
were notorious. Lord Lansdowne bis command more effectively than
then proceeded farther to explain Lord Glengall seemed to allow,
tbe views of Government :~-" It By tbe help of the Crime and
is unnecessary t« gauge the actual Outrage Bill the peace of the
extent of the clubs ; but they must dtj of Limerick has been com-
be stopped at once by the strong paratively restored. An existinR
aim of the law. These clubs Act against illegal training had
have reached to a pitch in Ireland been useful : it would expire at the
which I affirm to be, on the an- end of that Session, but would be
thority of tbe Lord Lieutenant, renewed. Other powers, inclad-
and not on bis autbori^ alone, ing those conferred by the com-
bat on the concurrent aauority of mon law, bad been carried into
all observers, eabversive of the efiect; and the law had beenai^
public peace, and nothing but a ported by the juries,
prelude to civil war. There is "I nererthelese agree," added
not a doubt about it, because Lm^ Lansdowne, " that the dnbs
their proceedmgs are open to the are capable of being used, as I
worid. What is secret among finnty believe they are intended
them I do not pretend to dis- chiefly to be osed, fw the pur-
cover; bat what is open and pal- pose of intimidstion. ("Hear!")
pable ia emngfa for me. When I They have acquired that charac-
loc^ at tbe mimbers, tbe language, ter, and are enabled to exercise it
and the objects proposed by those with efiect upon every class of the
ehibs, and the amount of military communis, rich and poor, lioman
array by which it ia sought to at- Catholic and Protestant ; openly
tain those otigectB. I say you have avowing, as they have done within
all Ute elements of proof before the last week, that those who did
yoo, and that there is nothing not yield to their arbitrary au-
wandng in the framework of re- thorily, and ^pear armed at their
ballion bat the actual declaration call, are to be considered as ene-
VoL. XO. [H]
98] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEnffUmd.
niies ; end in the name of liberty noble friend, but upon the aiitha<
the; are endeavouring to eBUblieb rity of others also, though more
a most cruel autbority, subversiTe especially upon my noble friend's,
of all liberty, destructiTe of all that in this formidable morement,
conscience, and leading, as these althoogh there is reason, doubtless,
associations have always led, to to apprehend that many individuals
murder and bloodshed, and finally of the Roman Catholic clergy have
to anarchy and perfect despotism, been engaged, jet nevertheless the
Is this, or is it not, a state of things conduct of the great portion of
which ought to be met by all the that body has been most men-
vigour of the Government, sup- torious. And I again state, upon
ported, aa I trust it will be, by Eul the authority of my noble friend,
the authoiity of Parliament?* who has from day to day examined
" We are arrived at that state the progress of this disorder, that
of things in which loss of time is although, whilst such disorder is
loss of power. (CliMn.) Use preying upon society, they have
that power while you have it — been without the means of eierting
[Bmewd eheen) — and the effect the same vital energy in opposition
of your using it will be, not to to its progress, yet some of the
destroy or impair liberty, but to Roman Catholic clergy have been
save and preserve life. It was most active in preventing the pro-
upon these considerations that the pagatiou of these clubs ; and in-
I^rd Lieutenant of Ireland, in the stances could be quoted, amidst
responsible situation which he fills, this progress of sedition and plant-
has told Her Mtyesty's Govern- iug of disorder, of the greatest
ment here that the time has ar- benefit having attended their ex-
rived when it has become neces- hortations to peace, and their en-
sory to arm him with power to de- deavours to defend their unfortu-
tain all persons justly suspected of nate flocks from the contagion they
treasonable intentions. I will not had received. It is but justice to
say that no other efforts will he them to make this statement In
made ; but I heUeve that this is that great conflict which I fear ia
the measure which is called for, coming, though I trust it will be
because it goes at once to strike short, I believe that the Govern-
at the leaders having those oh- ment of Ireland will have the aid
jectfl: for, considering the state of one portion at least of that
of the Irish people — their poverty, highly respectable and religioua
tbeir sufferings, their national ten- body. As to the measure to which
dency to excess, and their igno- Uie noble Earl alluded, notice of
ranee — 1 feet that much may be its introduction has already been
said in extenuation of their con- given to the other House of Par-
duct. Against the leaders, who liament ; and when it comes here
mislead Uie people by wilful false- I trust that your Lordships will
hood, the punishment cannot be give to it the most attentive con-
too severe. And I know that sideration."
Lord Clarendon wonld exercise Lord Brougham cordially ap-
the powers intrusted to him with proved of the course now taken by
safety and forbearance." the Government ; adducing in sup-
" Before I sit down I will state, port of it the authori^ of the lats
not only upon the authority of my Mr. O'Connell. A declaratiott
Ei»sl««i.] HISTORY.
made hy him, then leader of tiie O'Connell'a permisaioD, I stated on
Ituh people, had been fumiehed t<) the following day tiie subst&nce of
him (Loid Broughun) by a high]/ that conversation to Mr. ,
Kepectable individual, whose com- U.P. ; and I got leave also to
mnnicaldon he read to the House, sbov it to Sir Robert Peel and
"The writer said — 'Three weeks Lord John Bussell.' "
before Sir Robert Peel's Coercion Lord Stanlej rejoiced too much
Bill was introduced. In 1846, the at the present resolution of the
late Mr. O'Conndl deliberately Uinistrj to criticise their past
stated to me and Dr. , and conduct: he only hoped that the
Mr. , now M.F. for an im- measure adopted would be atroDg
poTtant place, and lately and at eaough, and not hampered by
thai time in a situation under Go- needless details, and he undertook
vemment,' — 'that in his opinioo that, without regard to party con-
the true remedy, which would be a sideration, the OoTerament should
safe and cooatitutional core in the receive the UDammous support of
then state of certain districts in that House.
Ireland, as Limerick, Tipperary, Lord Lansdowne stated that the
and so forth, was the power com- Ministers would make eveiything
monlj called,' though not very give way to the progress of the
accurately. ' (he suspension of the measure, which should be pressed
Habeas Corpus Act,— as it would forward as speedily as the forms
core and not irritate' — the very of legislation would allow. In
words, observed Lord Brougham, the event of an; unfortunate delay
that I used, in ignorance of having taking place with respect to the
this authority; ' and he said, that passing of the Bill — if, in the pre-
if Sir Robert Peel made out a sent feverish state of the people at
case to entitle his Government to Ireland, they should be tempted to
possess such a power, he would break out into actual rebellion —
support his application to Parlia- there existed an Act of the Irish
ment for it, provided ' — now, I Parliament passed long before the
thoi^ht that what followed would Union, under which the Lord
take away the whole value of the Lieateuantcotild immediately seize
opinion as to the Habeas Corpus and detain every person whom he
suspension — ' provided Sir Robert might suspect of being an accessoiy
Fed would give'— I expected to to that rebellioua proceeding. He
find what he termed 'justice to would go further, and state that
Ireland,' and there was no saying the Lord Lieutenant was prepared
what that might be, and the pledge to take that course the moment an
in favour of coercion might soon outbreak arose. (Loud ehttn.')
be forgotten: but it was, 'pro- LordBroughameaidhewasaware
vided Sir Robert Feel would at of the Irish Act referred to. In
the same time introduce to the order to bring it into operation, it
House those measures of relief and was not neoessaiy that there should
justice ' — not in general terms, be a general outbreak ; any insur-
acGording to Mr. O'Connell's own rectionary movement was sufEident
notion of justice, but ' which be for the purpose. He bod no doubt
(Sir R. Peel) had so often pro- that the Lord Lieutenant would
mised to bring forward.' The do his duty vigorously and fear*
writer then added, 'With Mr. lessly.
[H21
100] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [SnglMd.
L»rd OlengnU then withdrew t^ast the Crown of this kingdom.
his motion. Whilst England and Scotland had
The next day, although, being been contributing their private
'Batuiday, it was oat of oourae for and public funds to the mitigatioa
th«HouBe of Commons to ait, Lord of the famine which had recently
John HuBsell.purBnant to his notice rav^d Ireland, all that the con-
Bbore stated, brought forward his f^emtes and thdr leaders had con-
motion for a Bill ta suspend the tributed was seditious harangues,
operationof the Habeas Corpus Act inflammatory appeals to the pas-
in Ireland. He commenciBd his eiona, and misrepresentations of
addrees by assuring the House of tho contributions and motives
the deep concern which he felt in of the British people. Ireland
baving to propose to it the sua- was slowly recovering from that
peneicoi, for a limit«d time, of the great calamity, when Uie events of
oonstitutianal libertiee of Ireland. February last occurred in Paris,
In proposing it, he undertook to giving encouragement to all who
prove Uiree things — first, that the believed that wo force and the
Jtresent state of Ireland was fraught authority of this empire might be
with evil, and that we were upon overthrown by open insurrection,
the eve of a formidable outbreak, A deputatiou, oomprising among
If it were not Buppressed in time ; its members Mr. S. O'Brien, was
secondly, that there were means sent from Ireluid ta Paris for the
provided by the leaders of the con- purpose of asking assistance from
templated insurrection to produce France to the contemplated Irish
great i^jnry and danger unless insurrectioD. Although that at-
BtnnemeasurewereadoptedtoeouQ- tempt failed, the project went on,
teract them ; and, thirdly, that the and there was little or no disguise
Taeasure which he was about to any further attempted as to the
propose was that particular remedy intentionB of the Irish Confederor
which appeared to be the best to tion. His Lordship then adverted
then traced the history of the agi- Mr. Mitchell was then snfiering
tation for the Repeal of the Union transportatioa, and to the more
from its commencement under recent articles in the In$h Felon,
Mr. O'Connelt, who declared that to show that this Confederation
no political change was worth the intended, first, to abolish the Im-
ahedding of one single drop of perialCkiveramentoftheseislands;
blood, down to the present period, next, to take away from the Queen
when a new faction had started all authority over Ireland; and,
into existence, which at first lastly, to abolish at once i^l the
covertly and ambiguously, bat at existing rights of proper^. To
last openly and explicitly, had aocomplish these olijocts it waa
in view the total seiMiration of proposed that the people should
Ireland from the dominions of the arm themselves, ana should thus
United Kingdom. The means be ready to encounter any force
vhich they proposed for effecting which the Government might
that object were distinguished by have at its disposal. It was felt,
the appellation of physical force, however, in Ireland, and by none
which evidently meant rebellion more than the Roman Catholic
*«*«.*.] HISTORY. [101
clem, that if the Confederatioa femd to the establishiaent of
■houd Buoceed in iu olyects, there numerous duba, during the last
would be bh ead of all reelect for two months, at Carrick-on-8uir,
nl^ion, and that the rule of bnit9 Meath, Cork, Wat^rford. and other
force miald be estahliahed. In places ; and showed that the titlea
order to oentnhze the alarm thus of several of them had been taken
£Blt by the «lerg]r, tiie leaders fr(»n nuiis who had rendered
of the intended Irish republic, themselTes oonspicnous iu the
after diaclaiming all intentions of rebellion of 1T0S, with the ezpreas
pillage and massacre, and of over- intention of encoungiog the mem-
throwing religion, issued a reso- bers to imitate their traitorous
Intimi in which the; ieaakl^ example. He particularly referred
arowed that their object was not to the military organisation of the
Bta^j to repeal the Le^htive clubs of Cork, which had been
Union, but to overthrow the power reviewed bj Mr. 8. O'Brien, to
•nd authmiw of this counti? al- the salutation which had there
tegMher, and the away of that Go- been addressed to that aspiring
Tentment which thej were hound traitor as King of Mimster, and to
and had sworn to obey. He then his mock tnodee^ in refusing the
came to his second pn^ioeitMMt. appellation by sajins, " Not yet,
wioeh was, that theie were forr not yet." He also adverted to the
midahle means preparing for a re- language used by Meagher on his
hellion against the constitutjonal aiTest at Wateiford, and on his
ontbOTitiee of the oountiy. All the return some time sfterwards from
aoeonnts which he had recently re- Slierannon, where he was met hy
ceived from Ireland ooncarred in some lO.OOOor 16,000people, who
the conelusion, that the orgoniza- avowed that, as di property had
tion proposed by this Confederation originslly belonged to the people,
was of a formidable character, was a division of it now would only
rapidly eztendmg, and that in be a resumption of their own
parts of the country the clubs and by the people. He allnded to
associations eBtablisbed by it were the recent events at Corrick-on-
already ripe for iaBorrection. It Suir, where the peasantry hod
was, howsTer, chiefly within the assembled, armed with muskets
last Boonth that their proceedings and e<^thes, and other fonrndablo
bad become more formidaUe and weapons, for the rescue of Botno
daagaroiia. Ee then read extracts persons arrested for bsilable of-
from the despatches of Iiord lencee. On that occasion neither
Gkmdon, stating that though the the ^till nor the intention to rebel
chibe might not oontempl^ an was wanting ; all that was wanting
ontl»«ak immedifO^, Govern- was the occasion. He then read a
ment must detennine before Far- letter which he bad received that
liabent was up, whedier it would nxnnii^ from Lord Clarendon,
seek for fresh powers, or would declaring that the change which
permit the orauuzttdon fbr an had come over the people within
immediate dvil w$r to proceed the last ten Ab^ was most alorm-
tmmolested. The accotmta received ing, and was greater than any
thnu^ the Constabulary Reports which had ever been seen beibre
correepMided with the views of in Ireland. No doubt any attempt
Lord Clorendw. He then re- at insurrection would be put dowsi
i02] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
Wt it could not be done without now eonght to obtain; and he
moch bloodBhed, and the sacrifice asked those who were of opinion
of manj lives. He therefore felt that the Bill should pass, not to
it to be his duty to come down to render themselves reBponsible for
Parliament and propose a measure the delay of a measure which
to meet this state of things. The might prove the saving of life in
Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Irelan<£ He stood before the
Chancellor of Ireland bad both House responsible for proposing
pointed out the dangerous cba- this measuf'e ; be assumea that
racter of the confederate clubs. It responsibility, and confidently
migbtyetbeneceesary tointroduce asked the House to assume its
a measure to prevent tbe organiza- responsibility also ; he called upon
tion of these clubs. Constituted as them to be mindful of tbe blessings
these clubs were, no doubt could which they yet enjoyed, and might
exist as to their illegality, but the secure.andalso of the results which
meansofprocuringevidenceagainst must flow from any other course
them were not such as enabled tbe than that which the Government
Goremment to put them down invited them to follow.
with fecility. Such being tbe Mr. F. O'Connor observed that
case, he knew of no remedy so the object of this measure was to
direct in its object, and so imme- seize upon Uessre. Smith O'Brien
diate in its purpose, as that of and Meagher because itaey shared
securing the persons of those who in hie own feelings, and hoped that
were at the head of tbis projected Ireland would one day rid herself
insurrection, by the suspension of of tbe domination of England,
the Habeas Corpus Act. There was Mr. O'Connor was proceeding to
Bt this moment a necessity for a declare himself in uvour of tbe
Bill to enable the Lord Lieutenant separation of the two countries,
of Ireland to secure the persons of when Lord John Russell took up
those whom he suspected of medi- from the table the board to which
tating high treason. He ihere^ the oath of allegiance is attached,
fore asked the House of Com- and pointed it out in a significant
mous to consent to tbe introduction manner to the honourable Member,
of eucb a Bill. He might have Mr. O'Connor paused for a mo-
been justified in asking for such ment, but afterwards proceeded to
a Bill at an earlier period; but contend that tbe best mode of
he bad waited until, in his mind, keeping his oath of allegiance was
and in that of his colleagues, the by pointing out tbe way in which
necessity for it was so clear, so Her Majesty was most likely to re^
notorious, and so convincing, aa tain her British dominions. He
not to be detiied bj either Honee was determined to give every op-
of Parliament. He trusted that position to this Bill, the effect of
no time wbuld be lost tn paasinff which he believed would be an im-
this Bill into law. Protracted mediate revolution. He then pro-
debates on such a subject could ceeded to denounce with much
do no good, and might do incal- vigour the English newspaper
culablfe narm. No man could say press.
what might be the consequence of Sir R. Peel gave his cordial sup-
withhotdmg even for a short time port to the proposed measure. He
the powers which the Government believed that a wicked conspiracy
EngbBnd.] HISTORY. [103
existed in Irel&nd to deprive the Bill at once. In conclosioii he
Queen of her rightful dominions animadverted with much seTeritj
in thst conntry. Such being his on the laxity of construction which
belief, he took his part at once with Mr. O'Connor had applied to the
the Gromj of the United Kingdom oath of allegiance. " The noble lord
against the conspintora, who were showed Mr. O'Connor the oath hj
endeavouring to wrest that power which he swore to bear true alle-
from the Sovereign bj unuwful giance to Her U^esly Queen Vic-
means. It was possible that a cass toria; upon which the honourable
mi^t have been made out at an gentleman said, ' And am I not
earlier period for a Bill like the fnlfilUng the oath of alliance
present, hut be agreed with Lord when I am trying to insure for
J. Rossell, that when a proposal of Her Mtyesty the lopdty of her
this natore was made, there ought faithful aubjecta in Ireland?' Mr.
to be a strong opinion in the mind O'Connell might have stud that,
of the House and the country that for he was the enemy of separa-
a necessity had arisen to justify tion, end he wished to maintain
extreme measures. The question the golden link of the Crown. But
now at issne was really not whether the honourable gentleman, the
there should he a repeal of the Member for Nottingham, declared
union, but whether there should for a teparation between England
be a totad separation of the two and Ireland. Now, if the honour^
countries. He believed that if the able gentleman meant that by a
House refused to act now there separation Ireland was sliU to re-
would 1>e a desolating war&re main connected with the United
during the recess in Ireland. Kingdom, and was to form an inte-
He believed that the Crown wonld gral part of it, why was he scared
ultimately be aoccessful in it; by the oath of allegiance? ("Hear,
bat if it were not, of this he was hear ! ") On seeing the oath, be de-
■nre, that there would be sub* clared that he was faithfully dis-
BtitDted for the present Govern- charging his obligations by pre-
mmt the most cruel, the most serving for Her M^esty the alle-
base, and the most sangninair des- giance of her Irish sutyects and
potism that ever disgraced any her rightful dominions in Ireland."
country. He considered the mea- Mr: O'Connor'—" Her English
sure of Government to be fully dominions."
justified by the avowed declarations Sir Robert Feel — "Oh! her
of open and oodisgnised traitors, English dominions. Let me re-
who bad not scrupled to recom- mind the honourable gentleman,
mend the BSBassination of the Lord that the oath was taken without
Lieutenant. If further measures equivocation or mental reservation,
were reqiured for the suppression The allegiance promised was an
of crime in Ireland, he hoped allegiance on the part of Ireland as
that additional powera wonld be de- fully and completely as on the port
manded from ue House, and that of England ; and if the honourable
there would be no delay in stating gentleman took the oath with a
their extent. He likewise hoped secret reservation to be a bithful
that the House would consent to the and loval subject of this part of the
■uspensioD of any of its forms which United Kingdom, but reserved to
would prevent Uie passing of this himself a latitude with regard to
104] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [A«to«A
Ireland, and s perfect ri^t to Mr. B. Oibone nid he fUt
Berer Ireland from Her MajeBtj'a modi embontssment u to the
dDminions, then I Mj that he re- oootm whkih he sbenld {mrRoa.
serves to himself a latitude of cod- He at flnt bad reaolved to abMnt
stnictioQ so large that there can be himseU from the debat« ; hot, oo
no Talne in hia oath of allegiance." reflection, he thought it voold be
In conclusion, Sir Robert n- onwortby to shrink tiaat taking
plied to Mr. O'Connor'* queation, his &1II reaponsibilit; in pasaing
iras it possible to maintain a ra- thia meaanre ; for he believed in
Btricted monarchy in this oonntry ? his heart that the persons whom it
" Loc^ng at what hea taken phboa waa directed vainst tnado Repeal
on the cdiief arena of these revoln- bat a pretext for nnirder 2nd ml-
tionary moTements — taking I^ris lage. cnt he did not cooeeal oia
andFranceasmjexample— lookitig strong conviction that remedial
at the Oovsmment which existed BMasures had been wrongfully
before February, the secaritiee for withheld ; and he should not (»n>
tfae public liberty, the state of the sent that the Bill should oontiDue
revenue, the condition of the ma- in opemtioti till Uorofa 1849. The
nolactnring classes, the principles Houisesbouldratbersitfrom moctth
which were acted upon with respect to month henceforward, that this
to the rewards of labour-booking Bill might go forth hand in band
at what passed in-Fobruaiy— look- with healing and oonoiliating mea>
ing at what passed in the interval enres. He would himself bimg be-
of three or fonr monHu until June, fore the House his lon^coosiwred
when the new Oovemtneat, which conviction that thwesbouldbe some
was founded upon the barricades of modification of tiie Act of Union.
February, was exposed to the moet Mr. 8hartaan Crawford oouid not
Tiolent attack by tboee whose hopes express the pain he felt in di»
vrere disappointed— looking at all charging bis du^ of TOting against
tboee circamstanoes— avoiding any the measure, Ue desired to sea
reflection upon them, and only peace, and this Bill would bring no
drawing an example for the guid- peaee. He admitted that liberty
ance of the people of this coustij, maat be restnined in times u
—I say, so he from what has orisis ; bat never, in such a caae aa
passed iudadng me to distrust the this, withoat aeoompanying mea>
advantwes of a limited monardiy suree of amedioiation and social
—to b^eve its foundations are improvement The Oovenunant
less secure — to bdieve that there bad neglected tfae use of the powers
is lees aSecttm for the person of inthin its bands : if it Wd aaed
the Sover^gn, or less ratioaal ooor these, its troops and ita FsIorj
viction in favour of the advantages Bill maid have prevented the
of a limited monarchy ; — looking praaent head being gaioed \if ae-
to the experienoe of the laat wx atdon. But now, a new coercion
months, I retain an inereaaed con> Act woold be a vain measure : fkj*
viction that the monarohy of this sieal force could not sow pravent
coaudy is aecurB> and is endeared resiatanoe to rente and taxes, and
by nameroos conaideratione and as- disoiganiaation of society. He
aociations to the affsotionate sui^ theKfom fett bound to move as as
port and devotion of the people of amendment, " That the present
thia country." distracted state of Lrehnd mrisee
HISTORY. [105
from tmsgoveniBent, and &om ths encooi^r its violenoe irith gra>t«r
vBiit of remedial aeasana, idtboat tanx, and mwi meet vith ooorage
irtiich no cootme meaMiraa can that wuiaalj iriudi had boon vof
inatoro either oidar w conUnt to amraged bj evante whidi had not
the eonntij." oecsned in En^and. nor as yat in
Hr. FuBii seconded the amend- Ireland. He |nvteet«d againat the
meat. He dwo^t the erils of attempt ta ma np the aooial and
Irdaiul weiv of a eodal dafaeter, r«''*i—' grienncaa of Irrimd with
and required a soekl rene^. tbequealiontbeBbclaBatbeHtMue.
Hr. Callagfaan on>OMd the Bill, He idao protected agaraat its going
bebering th^ its effect woidd be to forth to Europe that this was a
inoreaee tbo eoBpentiaa which qneetioD between the Engliah Gs-
prevailed in Ireland. He ahoald vemment and the Inab people,
eppoae^ coercive measBiw SB locig Tbem|yori^of that people iwre
aa be onld see other means ^ not traitoiv. Ete eoold not bdiere
paciiying Ireland. that the Roman Oatholio prieet-
Hr. Diameli declared his inten- hood waold look with fmaar on a
tion of giviog the meaanre of Go- Jacobin moTemant, nor would he
TenHDont hia nnmying and nna- lidiave, thoa^ some of the pea>-
qoTNcal anmetC. U be conhl eaatif migfat hove been deeeiTed
bdng bimelf to think tfaaA Una b; the driuaiona of had men, that
rfniBng inamedian araae from the great bodj of lAtem in the aoBtli
the aocial and political grieraaeea of Iiriaad ware heart and sonl in
of Irdand, and that this Bill woBld thia Menacing mevenent. It was
be an obstai^ In the reoMdj of tlis monmsnt of a party stima-
tfaoae grievances, be slioald be in- lated bj fareign erante and enean-
dined to view it with diatraet Its ragad 1^ fne^ sncoeas. He had
*'—- ~-*— was flagrant; it waa no daut that their plots would
avowedly an invasioD of the con* meet vrith diseeatfitore ; bnt be
at itwi pp. The only excnae for it wiriied that that diecomfitnre might
was its necessity, and its seeeaai^ not be aeeompliahed at the same
had been promd t^ the aremm.' aitpense of Itfe and treaeore at
atancea to whidi Lord J. Bnaaell which it had beea aceompliahed
bad allnded in his epeeefa. His en former occasicaia, snd fcr that
Iiordahipfaadnotflomedown to the neaoo he soppeited thia Bill.
boaaa anth a gseen bag foil of Bir Doiham Noire^ shontd give
' i bam cordial sappcrt te the Bill,
a with althonrii fay so doing he afaonld
h all veae familiar, aa a jttsti' mJMMy comimt political snicide.
fication ef tbi m aaa niw irinch he Tba was not the time for in-
tecoounmided. He considered ifaia ^ring into the political ante-
n to be neitber an agc^ oadants of this or that Qoveni-
" ' a movement. It sent The eoantiiy was en the
turn any perverted brink of a precipioe, and his only
natiotMJty. for it oare now was to prevent it faUing
laa nothing SMWe or lae» than a te the bottoao. Oeao|daiiits had
Jacobin movemenL Now, lookiiigi been nuule of the £aalty chatacter
as he did, upon Jacolimism as a of the infomiatim on which Lord
eyatem <rf onmidgated fraud and John Russell was proceeding. He
iidenoe, be thought that we most oared not for that information — he
106] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngUnd.
wanted it not — for ho had read the tm Star) was no credit to any nun
present history of Ireland on the connected with it, for it pandered
market-crose. This Bill was a se- to the base passions of the popu-
rioua experiment, and would lead lace, and held out to the ignorant
either to the immediate extinction hopea which could never be realized.
or immediate explosion of the in- After deprecating in the strongest
Burrection. He therefore appealed terms the doctrines of Commuoism,
to those who now opposed it, and he proceeded to observe that the
begged them to recollect whether long attention which he had paid
thej were not running the risk of to the condition of Ireland had
imposing upon Ireland by their op- placed him on this occasion in a
position a greater evil even thui position of some difficulty. It was
this Bill — he meant martial law necessary to put down the excite-
and military proscription. It was ment now prevailing in that coun-
to save his countrymen from the try, in order to preserve peace and
nuBCry which would inevitably be prevent a civil war. He was there-
brought upon them if they were fore obliged, thoi^h reluctantly, to
misled any longer by wicked and give his consent to the measure of
guilty men, that he gave his unhesi- OovemmenL He mast nevarthe-
tadng support to this measure. less warn the House that it never
Mr. H. Drummond supported could remove the discontent of the
theBill because heconceivedthatit population of Ireland unless it re-
would be efBcacious in suppressing moved the cause of it. In his
the insurrection which was on the opimon that would not be a task
point uf bursting upon them, and of much difficulty, for the discon-
because he conceived that civil war tent of Ireland arose from the Eng-
vas no child's play. Though ready, lish Government withholding from
he ?ra8 disinclined at present, to it its civil rigbts. Irishmen were
enter into a discussion of the social not on equal terms with English-
grievances of Ireland ; but be was men and Scotchmen. Whenever
prepared to deny the assertion of they were placed on that level dis-
Mr. F. O'Connor, that a profligate content would vanish and peace and
press bad poisoned the public confidence would return. He re-
mind of England. The only pro- commended the House to modify
fligate press with which he vras ac- the Irish Church, to extend the
qnainted was that which advocated franchise, to improve the ^rand
die doctrines of Communism, and jury laws, to amend the mmiicipal
which published, for a price paid institutions, and not to separate
every day, a whole column contain- without proposing and carrying the
- ing ^e names of the most infamous other remeaial measutes which had
and blasphemous publications. A been introduced that Session for
man must publish the names of the amelioialion of society in Ire-
such publications, either because land. He advised his friends not
he agreed with their principles, or to oppose this Bill, but to show that
because he wished to derive some they were anxious for the toainte-
paltry gunfrom the advertisements nanoe of peace and order in Ireland
of them. by supporting it.
Mr. Hume admitted that the Mr. Sadleir thought it was high
publication to which Mr. Drum- time that the proceedings of the
mend had adverted (viz., the North- revolutionary party in Ireland
Enfft4ttid.]
HISTORY.
[107
should be stopped, and he therefore
tCDdered his support to tbe Go-
verameot. At tbe same time be
told the Prime Ministor that the
exteDBive disaffection vhich existed
in Ireland could not have arisen
without great misconduct on the
part of her rulers.
Mr. Newdegate briefly, but in
decided terms, expressed his inten-
tion of Toting with the QoTem-
ment.
Mr. Grogan, as representative of
the loyal citizens of Dublin,
thanked the Oovemment for thia
Bill, which would put an end to that
agitation which had reduced so
many of tbe opulent and industri-
ous tradeemen of Dublin to bank-
ruptcy and ruin. He regretted
that this measure had not been in-
troduced earlier, and hoped that
the Govemment would not show
any indecision in carrying it into
effect
Mr. Reynolds differed toto eaU>
from his honourable colleague. He
prophesied that thia BiU would
pass and would be a failure. Still,
tn expressing that belief, be must
declare himself favourable, not to
its introduction, but to its extinc-
tion. He should vote ag^nst it in
all its stages, and hoped that those
stages would be long and tediona.
Tbe Bill would create Repealers,
and would extend all the evils
which it professed to cure.
Mr. Muntz appealed to Mr. S.
Crsvrford to vrithdiaw bis amend-
ment He (Mr. Muntz) regretted
tbe necessity iu which he found
himself placed of voting for the
BiU, but the circumstances of the
case left him no allematiTe. Un-
less, however, the Qoverament
really proceeded to redress the
grievances of Ireland, he warned
them that this wss the Isstcoerc'
raeasnie he would ever support.
Sir H. Barron added his testi-
mony to the absolute necessity of
adopting this measure with una-
nimity. He had that morning re-
ceived letters from Ireland of the
most alarming nature. People of
all descriptions were lamenting
that the Government had not
adopted these measures sooner.
Some of the leaders of the in-
tended rebellion, who had some
property, wera most anxious for
the passing of this Bill, and would
rejoice when they heard the sound
of the prison doors closing behind
them ; for they knew that they and
their property would be sacrificed
in a rismg which most lead to
their ruin. No one was more con-
vinced of the hopelessness of the
rebellion than some of the leaders
of it ; and, to his knowledge, some
of them had exprassed themselves
to that effect
Col. Dunne concurred in the
amendment, but nevertheless felt
bound to vote in favour of the Bill.
Mr. Scalby denied the disloyalty
and disaffection which hsd been at-
tributed to Tipperary. He thought
that the effect of this Bill might be
fatal, snd urged the adoption of
remedial measures.
The Honse then divided: the
numbers were^
For Mr. 8. Crawford's
Amendment ... 8
Against it 271
Minority against It . . 363
Leave was then given to bring
in the Bill.
Sir Lndus OBrien, brother of
Mr. Smith O'Brien, addressed a
few words to the House in refe^
ence to his personal position. His
original feeling was, considering
that a near relative of his own
would most probably be one of the
108] ANNUAL REGISTEK, 1848. [EngUnd.
first persons to oome under the better front our tate at once, and
(^ration of the Bill, that it would be free in death if we cannot lira
be more delicate to absent himself in freedom. Brothers, let your
figom the House ; but, reSecting watchword be ' Now or never^—
that bis opinions on the prea^nt now and toi ever.'" Mr. J. F.
posture of Iriah afiairs might be Lalor, in the same paper, said —
misinterpreted, he overmJed bis "In thecasetrf Irelaiunow, there
feelings, and concluded it would be is but one fact to deal with, and
more patriotic and decorous to at- one question to be oonsidered.
t«nd in the House and take part The fact is ^is, thai there are at
IB the debate. {Loud and gmtral preeent in occupation of ouir coim'
okteruiff.) tij some forty thousand armed
Lord John Buesell said, that sa men in the lireTj and service of
tto House had expressed so une- England;" and he proceeded —
qniTocdljr its feding in favour of " "Die qneelian w, how beet and
ue Bill, it would doubtleas permit soonest to kill and capture these
the further stages to be proceeded forty thousand men." He declared
nilh instants. Ho moved the se- in favour of an instant rising —
oond reading. " If require to state my own in-
After some objections from Mr. dividual opinion, and allowed to
Callaghan and Mr. Beynolds, the choose my own time, I certainly
Bill was read a seootid tuue. The would take the time when the full
House then went into Committee harvest of Ireland shall be etacked
opon it Mr. fi. Osborne moved in the bsggardB. But not unfre-
to limit its operation to the lat quently God selects and senda hia
of September, 1846; bat the Irish own seasons and occasions; and
Members appearmg to be against oftentimes, t«o, an raiemy is able
him, he withdrew hu motion. The to foresee the neoessity of mther
Bill being passed through Com- fighting or Ming. In the one
mittee, I^rd John Kussell moved case we oo^t not, ia the other
the third reading, which was agreed we sorely cannot, attem^ waiting
to, and the Bill was fortJiwith taken for our harTra^home. If oppor*
up to the House of liords. tunity offers, we must daah at that
On the nextday but one.Monday, opp<ntunity ; if driven to the wall,
the 36th of July, the Bill was in- we mmst wheel for reaiatance.
troduced into the Upper House by Wherefore, let us fight in 8ep-
the Marquis of Lansdowne, with a tember, if we may — but sooner, if
statement nearly similar to that we must" Lord Lanadowne had
which Lord John Russell had some eatiafaotion in closing hia
made. The club organization, he quotatkms from the aame letter
said, rapidly increased with each with the following one, which indi-
faour's delay ; and he quoted from Dated in the laadera a beeitatioa tt
the last manifestoes issued by the begis : — " Meanwhile, howerar, rfr
confederate leaders since they memberthis: tint somewhei^, And
had learnt the meaaurea of the somehow, and by eomeb^y, a be-
■ Qovemmont. Mr. Brennan, in the ginmng must be made. Who
IrUh Fdon pnbliahed on the lUth, atrikee tJie first blow for Ireland?
eoonaelled the young Irishmen to Who draws first blood for Ireland?
ahoulder their pikes and mazob, Who wins a wreath that will be
■nd dedaied — "I think we had green for ever?" He believed
SHgiMd.] HISTORY. [109
thftt tbft hesitation here betrayed behalf of, and in the name of, the
wetild be coufiraed, and that no priBonerB.
one woold be found to "strike the The Earl of Ellenboroogh be-
first blow," if this Bill were passed liered ^t if the Bit] had been
vitboat delay. Lord Lansdowne introduced eight months earlier, it
flondnded hy moring that the ^b- vould have prevented a rebellion
lie safetj reqcdred that the BUI which it would now only precipi-
should be passed with all possible tate. " Nothing," said he, " mil
deapatch ; and that, notwithstand- now prevent a rebellion in the
ing the Stfdiding OrdaTB, the Lord South but an arming of the llorth.
Gbancellor should be aadiorized to If the Gtovemment go into the
put the question of each stage of straggle without organization of
the measure at sncfa timee as the the well-affeoted, ana without the
House should deem necessary. arming of &iends, it will place
Lord Brougham cordiaUv ee- the eonntry in the condition of
cnnded the motion of Lord LaaS- having to undergo a long and
dowoe, being convinced of the ne- bloody contest, whereas it bad the
ceasi^ of conferring extraordinary means of rendering it short, if not
powers upon the Xiord Lieutenant, of preventing its possibility."
Sot it wtnild be a lallacy to suppose The Marquis of Lansdowne vin-
that the measure was wanted to so- dicated the Ooveroment, with some
cure the British empire in Ireland, warmth, from the imputations of
ortopreventadisBeremDoe: it was Lord Ellenborongh.
required only to prevent efforts at The Earl of Glengall paid a
diaeevermncd, which, though they tribute to the peaceable and tem-
nnist end in the dtacomfltnre of perate conduct of the Roman
the rebels, woald be made in all Catholic priesthood during the
the horrors of bloodshed and con- pending crisis, and to their ex-
fusion, and would fall heaviest on ertions in the cause of order,
the innocent and peaceable. He The Bill was theo passed nem.
observed that one of the worst of du. through all its stages,
the papers which had been read to Not many days afterwards a
the House was the productioD of a general debate on the state and
Con now m prison for seditioo. prospects of Ireland took place in
hoped there was taw to prevent the House <^ Commons, upon the
this, and that it would be made im- occasion of a resolution proposed
possible to convert prisons into by Mr. Sbarman Crawford, pre-
places whence new declarations of vions to going into Committee of
treason might be made, and sedition Supply, to the following effect : —
be sowed broadcast among the "That the present distracted
pe^le. state of Ireland demands the in-
The Earl of Wicklow insisted stant attention of Parliament, with
much upon the same point. a view to the speedy enactment of
Lord Lansdowne explained that such measures as may be necessary
inquiry had already been made, to improve the condition, redress
and there was good reason to be- the grievances, and establish the
lieve that the writings professing just rights of the Irish people, and
to issue frnm Nei^ate Prison had thereby promote the good order
not really been composed there, and prosperity of that portion of
but I7' persons Still at large, in the United I^gdom, ana give in-
110] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
creased eecurity to Her Majes^'s week, aa a declaration of war. If it
Crown and Goveniment," were so, then Ireland most be re-
After reading the terms of it, he conquered, and, when reconquered,
observed that.ifitshouldbecarried, must be governed by the sword,
he should follow it ap b; moving The oonsequencee of such a s^tem
the seme resolution which Lord must be fatal to both countries,
J. Russell had moved in 1844 — unless remedial measures were in-
namelf, that the whole subject of txoduced for the grievances of Ire-
Irish grievances should be referred land. If Lord J. Russell should
totbeconsiderationofaSelectCom- say that there was not time for
mitteeof the whole House. In sup- passing, or that there was an
portofbispropoaitionMr. Crawford obstructive majority in the House
entered into a history of the social which would prevent him from
and political grievances of Ireland, passing such measures, then he
both prior and subsequent to the would ask hia Lordship how could
Legislative Union with England, the demand for Repeal hereafter
dwelling particularly on the abor- be resisted ? He intended to pro-
tive measures which had been pro- ceed forthwith to Ireland, and to
posed of late years by the Govern- use there any influence he might
menta of Sir R. Peel and Lord J. possess in the preservation of
Russell, to reform the Irish Church, peace. He wanted, however, to
to mitigate the pressure of the tithe carry with him a message of peace,
system, to introduce a good Poor and at present he saw no chance
liftw, to improve and extend the of doing so. He should there-
franchise, to regulate the municipal fore return home with pain and
institutions, to place the law of sorrow, although he most strongly
landlord and tenant on a proper repudiated the principles and prac-
footing, and to reclaim the waste ticsa of those who were now dis-
landa, which would render any turbing the peace of Ireland.
system of emigration unnecessary Lord J. Russell, a^r paying a
in Ireland. The last measure deserved compliment to Mr. S.
which the Oovemment had intra- Crawford for the temperate lan-
duced for the pacification of hia Kuage in which he had expressed
unhappy countiy was a Coercion his opinions, and adducing eiam-
Bill, which had been passed with pies of the delay which always
breathless haste and unprecedented attended the passing of great mea-
rapidity. No other measure for the aures, to prove that Ireland was no
amehoration of Ireland was likely exception, read extracts from a
to paas this Session. Even if the pamphlet published in Dublin in
Encumbered Estates Bill should 1796, to show that the state of
pass, it would be of no use unless Ireland was at least as bad then
it were accompanied with a proper as at present. He attributed the
law of landlord and tenant, and be evils of Ireland principally to the
was sorry to say that the Bill intro- practice of early marriages, and
duced on that subject by the to the improvident habits of the
Government deserved any other people ; but attached some weight,
title save that of a proper measure, also, to the bigotry of the 17th,
He looked upon the law for the and the illiberal commercial policy
suspension of the Habeas Corpus of the 18th, ceaturi^ ; and then
Act, which had been passed that proceeded to comment upon the
EngUmd.}
HISTORY.
[Ill
subject of eacb of Mr. Crawford's
complaiatB — the delay of the Eman-
cipation Bill, tbe tithe syBtem, the
imperfection of the Irish Reform
Act, tlie law of juries, the state of
the franchise, the relations between
landlord and tenant, and Mr. Craw-
ford's proposed extension of tenant
right. Upon this last subject, and
upon the working of the Insb Poor
Law, he spoke at considerable
length, and then passed to the
consideration of the Encumbered
Estates' Bill, firom the operation of
which he expected much of that
division of property which Mr.
Crawford desu^, end the Evicted
Tenants' Bill, which had been, as
he thought, most anfortonately re-
jected by the House of Lords-
After noticing the grand jury laws,
the projects for reclaming waste
lands, and the applications for
Government assistance for the
Irish railroads, he came at last to
the position of the Established
CboTch in Ireland, which, he said,
was tar from satiafactoty ; but after
discussing the various schemes for
remedying the manifest evil of an
appropriation of the ecclesiastical
revenue to the church of the mi-
nority — from his own proposition
for a small apprmciriation of its
fimds, to Mr. Bhght's for a total
abolition of the church — be de-
clared that he thought the Pro-
testants had a fair claim to an
establisbmentibrtheir church, and
that there was no great excess
in the revenues now allotted to it.
Lord John Russell then described
tbe difficulties ia the way of a
Roman Catholic establishment ; and
having deprecated any attempt to
cope with them at present, con-
cluded a speech in which almost
every subject in the wide field of
Irish policies was discussed, by
asldng the House not to assent to
the im|)0SBible task that Mr. Craw-
ford wished to impose upon it, but
to proceed calmly and gradually to
amend the grievances of Ireland,
and to recollect that it was by
peaceable measorss and Parlia-
mentary discussion that redress
must be obtained, and that a
resort to arms, and to rebellion,
could but lead to an aggravation
of all the misfortunes of Ireland,
and to tbe speedy dissipation and
destruction of tdl its resources,
great and unparalleled as they
were.
Mr. H. Herbert thought that no
practical good could be effected by
now acceding to Mr. Crawford's
motion. He should, however, vote
for it, because he thought that no
BufBcient progress had been made
in the present Session in producing
healing measures for Ireland.
Mr. Fagan contended that the
speech of Lord John Russell, coo-
ciliatOTy as its tone was. could not
be received in Ireland as a message
of peace. The Minister had ad-
mitted the grievances of Ireland,
but had proposed no adequate
remedy for them.
Mr. Monsell could not express
any opinion whether the time
chosen for this motion were judi-
cious or not ; but as it had been
brought forward, feeling as be did
for the preaeut wretched condition
of Ireland, he muat give bis vote
in its favour. He called on Lord
John Russell to reconsider his de-
cision respecting the Irish Church,
assuring him that by so doing be
would take the wisest step that
could be adopted for pacifying Ire-
land.
Mr. Osborne said, that on that
very day, 46 years ago, the House
was engaged in suspending the
Habeas Corpus Act on account of
a rebellion which was apprehended
112] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
in Ireland. He wiabed to know mmld place the Irish Roman Cb-
vh&t had been done in the iiit«rval tbolic uid the Irish Protestant on
for the pacificatioD of that country? a footing of complete equality. He
Nothing, absolutely nothing. The also proposed to turn orer to the
GoTerament bad again suspended oonsoUdated fund the eurplue re-
the Habeas GorpiB Act for li«- Tenues of the Irish Chnroh, as
land, and yet did not come forward proposed by Lord Melbotune in
with any other plan for ita amalio- 1885 ; and farther contended that
ration. He then proceeded (o con- until that was done nothine like a
demn in the stron^eM terms the permanent setUement could be ez-
condnct of the English Pailiament pected in Ireland. After quoting
to Ireland, contending that it had the epeechee of Mr. Ward, Mr. V.
never made a concession to that Smith, Mr. M&caulay, and Lord J,
country which was not extorted by Russell, in 1886, and subBequent
fear, and withheld until it naa re- years, in support of the reduction
ceived with scorn and contempt, of the Irish Chiuch, Mr. Osborne
He then made a severe onslaught stated his opinion that language
on the Whigs for having qeoted more strong and argument more
Sir B. Peel from office on m Goei^ conclusive could not be urged in de-
cion Bill, and for havii^ failed ft fence of the proposition which he
performany of the mighty promises had just announced. He thenadvo-
in which they hod indulged on cated the throwing opra of Trinity
their accession to power. He next College, Dublin, tothe Roman Ca-
entered upon the question of the tholics, insisting that there would
Irish ChoTcfa, insisting that it was be no equality in Ireland until they
the cause of all the dissension and were permitted to aspire to Soho-
heartbuming which prevailed in laishtps and Fellowships as well
Ireland. It was at the root of all as Protestants. He denounced the
the discord of that country, and Irish Poor Law, and recommended
there would be no peace there un- systematic colonization as the best
til it was reduced to its proper di- means of relieving Irish distress
meneioDS. He referred at some and destitution. He complained
length to one of the old plana of that Ireland was governed like a
Lord J. Russell for putting the colony. It had a mock Sovereign,
Irish Church on a proper footing, a Brummagem Court, and a pinch-
aad defended it by extracts from beck Executive. The Home Secre-
the report of the Committee of taiy waa its real governor ; and the
1834 on the revenues of the result was, that from the repeated
church' of Ireland, and from the dionge of that high offioer of state
speech delivered by Lord Morpeth there was no consistent policy pur-
in 1830 in defence of it He ad- sued in that country. He recom-
mitted that there were insuperable mended the abolition of the office
objections to allowing the bishops of Lord Lieutenant, and the esta-
of thelrishRomanCatholicChurch blisbment of a fourth Secretary of
to sit in the House of Lords, but State for the government of that
he saw no objection to removing ooantry. He likewise suggested
the Irish Protestant bishops from that from time to time the Partia-
that House, as such a measure ment should sit in Dublin, and
would conduce tothe respectability that Her M^esty should pay a visit
of the Protestant Church, and to that country once a year. Such
EngUuui.] HISTORY. [113
A nsit would aooii make the star of epokea in believing that the
the fOng of Munster "pale its in- tune of the Ministry \Tould come
efEecioal fire." (and I care not what Ministry it
The debate was then wyourned, maj bo) when public opinion in
and was renewed at considerable this country, having altered through
length on Qie following da;. Little longer experience, will enable a
matter ofnovelty.however, was con- matured and well-considered plan
Uined in the speeches on either to be brought forward by such
side. The most remarkable fear Ministry, and to receive the sanc-
tnrea of the debate were the de- tjon of Parliament. I hope we
claratiouB made by the Home Se- are not too sanguine in the expec-
cretai7, andbytheSecretaryforIre- tation that that time is not &r
land, on the Irish Church question, distant : J for one shall hail its
Sir Geoive Grey said, '■ I am arrival, and, whether in office or
not prepared to deny, but affirm, out of office, no one will be more
that the existence of an exclusive ready than myself to conciu: in
Protestant church in Ireland (the any practical plan for the accmn-
Protestant Episcopalians being a plishment of what I believe would
small minority only of the popula- be a great benefit to Ireland."
ti(»t) is an anomaly which I think Sir William Somerville agreed
unjustifiable in its origin, and inde- with Sir George Grey, both as to
fensible now. I know no other what it was desiiable to do, and
country in Europe in which the as to the difficulty of doing it.
same experiment has been made — Whenever a plan should be
in which the same attempt has brought forward for putting the
been carried out ; and I am quite Establishment in Ireland on a pro-
prepared to say that the wisdom per footing, he would give his
aitd policy of the attempt in Ire- support to the motion by whom-
land might be judged of by its re- soever it was proposed. The task
suits. I think it an unfortunate of those who devised such a plan
dronmstance, materially afiecting should be, not to demolish, but to
the peace of Ireland and the iacility construct What was wanted was,
with which the Government can be that all classes should be put on a
carried on there, that the Roman footing of equality, and that no
Catholic clergy of the people of heartburnings or Jealousies should
Ireland are dependent for sub- be allowed to exist. Whenever
sistence on the precarious con- that task was undertaken, it ought
tributions of their flocks. I to be undertaken in a confiding
supported the Maynooth Bill not spirit. There should be no corn-
only because the principle was just promising, no bargaining, but right
on which it vras founded, for im- should be done ; and ne agreed
proving the means of education for with those who thought that, when
the Roman Catholic clergy, but be- right was done in this matter, more
cause it involved the first recogni- would be effected towards laying the
tion of the Roman Catholic church foundations of peace, happiness, and
in Ireland, and because I had tranquillity in Ireland, than could
hoped that it would lead to further be done by any other measure,
measures." ... "I very much Lord John Russell also, in an-
Bgree with some Members wbo have swer to some remarks made by Mr.
Voi. XC. [I]
114] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEnghmd.
NflwdegaU, expressed his views to &voar of the principle of ererj
the same effect In reference to man p&fing his own clergyman,
some misinterpretation vhich bad jiist as he paid his own doctor. Mr.
been pot upon his langoage, he Grace waa sorry tliat the Gorem-
aaid that he had never stated that ment should have raised bo manT
he oonsidered the Established hopes, and done so tittle to satisfy
Chorch in Ireland as a national them. After a short speech from
grievance. What he had stated Mr. Qrattan, the House divided.
was, that he thought the endow-
ment of the clergy of a minori^ of
the people, where there was no en-
dowment of the clergy of the ma-
jority, was a just subject of com-
plaint to the people of Ireland.
The motion was opposed by Mar
jor Blackall and by Mr. Clements,
though the latter felt for many
reasons inclined to support it.
when there appeared—
For Mr. S. Crawford's
Resolution . . . . iU
Against it 100
Mtyority against the Motion 76
We referred, at the oommenoe-
ment of this chapter, to the bill
Mr. M. J. O'Oonnell made a con- for facilitating the transfer of I
ciliatoiy speech, but said he would cumbered Estates, a measure of
vote for the mo^on, as a proper re- which the object was uniTersally
buke to the GoTemment and the admitted to be most denrable.
X Scrope chineiT to the desired result 1
quoted passages from some of the been deemed questionable. It was
organs of the Repeal party to show originally introduced in the House
that the Landlord and Tenant of Lords by the Lord Chancellor,
question was the root of all Irish at an early period of the Session,
discontent. He advocated a scheme and the second reading was moved
for the reclamatjon of waste lands, on the 24th February. In re-
Colonel Donne approved of the commending the measure to the
spirit of the motion, but could not House, the noble and learned Lord
consent at this juncture to press observed that, unfortunately for
on Government the oonsideradon Ireland, the Ivided property there,
of all the remedies suggested. to a large extant, was in a aitua-
Sir Denham Norreys expressed tion not only detrimental to those
disappointment at the speech of who bad an interest in land, but
Lord John Russell. That of Sir also most injurious to the commu-
George Grey held out more hope nity at large; and, therefore, the
of a settlement of the Church importaooe of any measure in-
question, Mr. Feargos O'Connor tended to remedy acknowledged
censured the Irish landlords for evils in respeot to this matter
pusillanimity, and contended that, if would be admitted. The great
they did their duty, they might pat evil with respect to landed pro-
anend toalt themiseriesof Irelsnd. perty in Irehuid was, that a very
Mr. Newdegate and Mr. Stafford large portion of it was heavily
criticized the Ministerial declara* encumbered by mortgages, charges,
tioDs respecting the Irish Church, and other interests, so that the
Mr. Reynolds avowed himself in ostensible owner in some oases
^-f^^A] HISTORY. [115
eonld faardlj be aaid to faave any purchasing land without poaseBung
estate in the land at all. He con- capital Euifficient for its improTS-
seqnently was not in a oonditjon meat, and, under the altered oon-
to improTe the estate b; finding dition of the relations of landed
employment at the eame time for proprietors towards their tenants,
the population. It ma impoe- towards each other, and towards
ubie for a landlord whose income the community at large, thej
•rising from his landed estate was would be presented with every
intercepted by mortgages and temptation to improve the oon-
other chaises to perform those dition of tlieir estates. Although
doties which a landlord shoold these olgeots were of great and
discharge. This was a most in> paramount importance, yet he was
jnrious state of things for all as iiillj aware as anj noble lord
classes, and the existing state of in that House could be, that it
the law afforded no sufficient wonid be impossible to e&iect the
means for removing the difficulty, proposed alteration of the law
Scarcely any one who had at any without doing much that might be
time turned his attention to aub- considered inconsiBteat with the
C) of this nature would fail to rights of property. But he would
w that the interest paid for a^, why should the interests of
money invested in land could not the community at large, as well as
be compared with the interest the interests of indifidusls, be
derived from capital engaged in disregarded for the sake of main-
other punuita; and it was equally taining mere abstract rights,
well hnown that from many estates which in the existing state of so-
in Ireland no income whatever ciety in Ireland led to great prao-
was derived — that was to say, the tical iqjnstice? In the case of
whole proceeds of the estate were land purchased for the use of rail-
■beorfoed by the incumbrancee ; ways no such hesitation was felt^
yet, if the owners of those estates no such injustice was made the
were enabled to convert them into subject of complaint. He admit-
money, the balance, or residue, ted there was extreme difficulty in
coming to such owners would often carrying into effect all the objects
be of considerable amount, and which the framera of the Bill pro-
would, if prudently invested, yield posed to accompliah. It was true
handsome incomes. Of course, no tliat in the simple case of mort-
one would wish to see the mort- gagor and mortgagee nothing re-
gagora loee their estates; on die mained to be done but to sell the
conlrBiy, the purpose of the Bill land, pay the mortgagee, and let
was to eiuthle the owners of in- the owner of the estato receive
cumbered estates to dispose of the surplus of the purchase-
them to advantage, and to invest money. But such a condition of
the proceeds of those estates in a affairs formed the exception, not
beneficial manner. By changes the rale ; generally, the condition
of that kind persona of no capital of an estate presented more corn-
would cease to be the nominal plexity; hence extreme difficulty
proprietors of land, and the real and embarrassment arose in deal-
masters of the soil would then ing with the conflicting claims of
become the ostensible owners, the various parties interested. In
Such persuDB would not think of framing the Bill every possible
[I 2] , .
116] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
core was taken to guard agUDSt expectationa of the effects of the
what might be called the absence measure. The nnmber of cases in
of parties ; and in eveiy possible which its operation would be felt
case provision was made that every he thought wonld be small ; firat,
person interested in an estate because its proTisions were to be
should be entitled to notice re- carried out by the Court of Ghan-
spectJng any steps that m^ht be cer^r ; next, because persons were
taken with a Tiew to its sale, the apt to be slow in coming to a con-
oonduct of the affiiir being placed victjon of the necessity of parting
in the hands of a Uaster in Chan- with their estates,
oery, assisted by a jperson who Lord Stanley concurred with
should be appointed for that pur- those who thought the evil to be
poae by the Attorney- General ; remedied one of great and over-
and, as he had already said, no- whelming magnitude in Ireland,
thing would be done without full The position of those landlords
notice to every one ooncemed, the in Ireland who nominally bad
Master in Gumceiy and the per- 10,000/. or 12,0001. a year, while
son ^ipointed by the Attorney- they did not really possess more
Oenetal being bound to watch than so many hundreds, was very
over the interests of all parties, inoonvenient. In consequence oF
He wonld repeat that every pos- the inability of those proprietoia
rible guard had been introduced to perform their duties, very erro-
into the Bill to render it next to neous ideas had been formed of
impossible that the money paid their disposition to do it. He was
into Court should ever go into not personally interested in the
wrong hands. The noble and measure — {A laugh) — but he anti-
leamed lord then concluded by cipated considerable difficulties in
moving that the Bill be read a carrying port of it into effect. The
second time. noble and learned lord had doubt-
The Eari of Roden expressed less paid great attention to the
his approval of the Bill. The land provisions by which the powers of
of Indaud never oould support its the Bill were guarded ; and he
poor unless the owners of the soil hoped some time would be allowed
were placed in the position of to elapse before they were called
being masters of their own pro- on to agree to the details. There
perty. He trusted such a mea- would be great difGculty in dealing
sure would be passed as would with estates that were divided,
enable persons to sell their estates. Incumbrances on Irish estates
creating a class of real owners in- were often created without the
stead of men nominally possessing consent of the owner ; all these
thousands a year, while they were incumbrances were to be referred
in reality almoat paupers. to the Master; the expense was
Earl Fitzwiltiam did not mean not thrown on the parties demand-
to express disapprobation of the iug the proceedings, but on the
Bill. Indeed he could not see estate itself.
any reason why it should be li- Lord Campbell said the great
mitsd to Ireland. At the same object of the Bill was to cheapen
time he thought it right to guard and shorten the proceedings in the
the House and the country Court of Chancery. One of the
against entartaining exaggerated sections gave a sort of Parliament-
Eitffland]
HISTORY.
[117
aiy title to purchasers of eetatee.
TiOoa in Ireland were in a most
deplorable condition. There vas
not tliere, as in England, a set of
laivvera who devoted themaelvea
b> the law of real property. Most
able lawyera there were in Ireland,
but no couTByancers, who looked
specially^ into titles. Although he
yns a creat ^end to registration,
in Ireland the registers were ex-
ceedingly bad, and, instead of
cleariug up titles and making
them more certain, often inTolved
them in inextricable confusion.
This Bill would give titles that
would be good agcunst all the
world, and the purchasers of
estates under it would have a
title vhich notLing could affect.
He hoped the Bill would meet
with their lordships' approbation,
lor he was satisfied that it would
prove of ^eet benefit to the part
of the United Kingdom for which
it was intended.
Lord Uonteagle sold, that, so far
from the principle of this Bill being
objected to by the landed proprie-
tors in Ireland, it met vriui their
entire approval. But there vras an
inconvenience which would arise
bom the Bill in its present state
which, he thought, required coo-
radenttion, and might be remedied
without violating the principle of
die measure. It did not prevent a
middleman who held land with a
condition against sub-letting or di-
viding the land, putting a charge
upon it for children, and upon hia
death the children became incum'
braucers, and the result might be
that the middleman's interest
would be split into parts, und the
object of the Bill defeated. He was
glad to learn Uiat the object of the
Bill was to cheapen and curtail pro-
ceedings in Chancery ; but, unless
something was done to reform the
proceedings in the Alaater's office,
sufficient relief would not be af-
forded.
The Bill was then read a second
time, and passed the Lords with
little further discussion. In the
House of Commons, however, it un-
derwent considerable debate and
some material alteration in its pro-
visions. After long delay it came
on for discussion in Committee on
the 4th July. Sir Lucius O'Brien
moved that it be an instruction to
the Committee to extend the ope-
ration of the Bill to England end
Scotland. He complained of the
conduct of the Government in re-
ference to the Bill, and of some of
the provisions of the measure itMlf.
The Bill proposed to invest cre-
ditors who held security over Irish
estates with powers over those
estates which creditors did not poe-
sess in England or Scotland. Pro-
perly modified, the Irish landlords
would accept it; but they would
not do so in its present shape ; and,
in order to teat its goodness for
Ireland, he proposed its application
also to England and Scotland, as it
must be equally good for them if
good at all. At present it was
founded on the most unconstitu-
tional principles. Clause 30 would
enable a tenant for life, without
reference to the extent of his en-
cumbmnce, and behind the back of
any person entitled in remainder, to
sell the whole ancient family man-
sion and appurtenances ; to do this
for an inadequate price ; and to ob-
tain the purchase- money from the
Bank of Ireland at his pleasure.
It in fact repealed the law of entail ;
which, whethera rightlaw or wrong
law, was one incorporated with all
thepresentsystem. and was the basis
of Uie titles and honours that one
generation transmitted to another.
By clause 3, every creditor — no
118]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[England.
matter the amount of fais claim —
oould force the land of his debtor
into the market.
In passing, Sir Lucius stood
forward as the apologist of Irish
landlords — a much •calumniated
race. None were better educated,
more capable of tranaacdng bosi-
ness, or more intent on doing their
duty. But tlie state of the law was
such Bs to drive them to measures
of apparent hardship. Sir Lucius
spoke from experience, and after
losing hundreds of pounds. If he
built a house in a Triage and put a
man into it te live there comfort-
ably, it might be two or three jean
before he got that house again inte
his possession, though the tenant
would pay no rent. Three or four
years would elapse before one could
get quit of a panper : instead of a
oomnirtable cottage such as it
waa at first, the cottage came back
in a Tery different condition ; and,
were such a case to occur on his
property, in that House he should
have his £ur name taralshed. Until
adequate power were given to the
landlords m such cases, the country
would continue to present such bar-
barous scenes as it now exhibited.
The Solicitor General vindicated
the measure. He said the object of
the Bill was to make land a market-
able commodity in Ireland. From
various returns which had been
made, it appeared that there was
an abundance of capital in Ireland,
and that even during the late
, &mine capital was constantly coming
thence for profitable inveBtment in
this country, Government had the
admiHsion of all parties to the fact
as unquestionable, that iiland could
be sold in reasonably small pieces
in Ireland, there waa abundance of
capital which would be applied in
making such purchases. The pre-
sent Bill aimed at facilitating such
investments and purchaaes. The
Solicitor-General explained in some
detail the complex and coetly but
etilt ine£Bcient system of registra-
tion of encumbrances now in force
in Ireland. It was proposed to ena-
ble owners of encumbered eatetes
to sell their land and subatituU
money in place of it, sul^ect to all
the interests and encumbrances
that previouly affected the laud.
This waa provided forin two ways :
by a compulsory sale made under
the order of the Irish Court of
Ghanociy — a power being given to
the Court to deal with sudi cases
by referring them to a Master and
afterwards summarily directing the
sale ; and by empowering owners
of encumbered land to sell that
land, and give with it a Parliamen-
tary title. In addition, a third
mode had been added-— that of a
sate by "consent;" which, as the
Bill provided, might take placsin all
cases where all the persons inte-
rested in the estate consented to its
sale and had given proper notices.
Tbe parties receiving notice of sale
would be enabled, by application to
the Court, to show sufficient cause
for forbidding the sale ; and. in fur-
ther precaution, no Parliamentary
title madebythe Bill would be inde-
feasible till the lapse of five years
after the sale : during those five
years the proof of fraud or colln-
sion would make the sale vuid as
against all persons connected with
the fraud.
The present measure was not in-
tended to interfere with variouB
other measures for the relief of
Ireland, and would not be incorpo-
rated with any measure on Uie
question of landlord and tenant
Mr. Napier urged objections to
the Bill, us altered from the shape
in which it left the House of
Lords.
^naiMMd.-]
HISTORY,
[119
Th« encambnucer he said, ma
duly cared for hj its proTisioas,
bat the remainder- man under ikmilj
MtUementa would be improteoted ;
for his onlj remedy agsioat fraud
or a depietdatJOD of the value
of hie interest woold be a suit
in equity. Ab to the new mode
of sale, without the i«iet of the
Court of Chaucen after uotioee in
the Gazette and daewhere, nobody
read the noticee in the Gazette,
and the party really entitled might
be an absentee, ui infant, or erwi
an oobom child, and yet the title
vaa to be indoTeaaibte after five
years.
Mr. Monsell supported the mea-
sure as the only hope for the mise-
rable tenants of encumbered estates
in Ireland. He entreated the
House to carry it into a law with
all convenient speed. Mr. Osborne
characterized the amendment as a
poi^ subterfuge to defeat a use-
nil and practical measure. He
warmly supported the bill, as cal-
culated to luse the Tolue of land
in Ireland, and, what was of much
greater consequence, to increase
the cereal produce in that countiy.
He criticised, bovever, some parts
of the mschinery of the measure,
paitdcuUrlj the repeated references
which it required to the Master's
office in the Irish Court of Chan-
cery—the delay, expense, and chi-
canery of which were such that no
man would desire to see its buai-
neas increased. Mr. Osborne
stated his opinion that nothing
would attain the desired end but
the^pointmentof CotnmissioneiB)
with all necesaaiy powers to cany
out the Bill. He had employed
two legal gentlemen, one of them
an eminent conveyancer, to look
into the Bill ; and they held out no
bopee to him that die transfer of
the land could be made more
cheaply under its prov idons. On
the genera] polioy of the Bill Mr.
Osborne spoke in much more fa-
vourable terms. Eveiy day's expe-
rience convinced him, that if they
wished to save Ireland they must do
someii^nstioetoeffectagreatdealof
public good; and, unless they altered
the laws affecting property in Ire-
land and that too in a very summaiy
way, they would have no properly
left in that oountrj. By the pre*
sent operation of the Stamp Duties,
small puichaBes of land could not
be effected in Ireland ; and, if they
wished (o encourage small pur-
chases oi land, they most first idter
their Stamp Duties. It was no-
toiions that the state of society in
Ireland was diseased, and that the
laws respecting land were at the
bottem of the mischief. The resi-
dent aiistooraoy, whose estates wwe
heavily mortgaged, were obliged by
their position to do harsh and selfish
acts; and the greatest boon to them
would be a Bill enabling them to
sell the whole or a portion of their
estates, for they could not possibly
discharge the dtitaes o! their pre-
sent situation.
Mr. Sadleir approved of the just
and valuable principle of the Bill ;
that it oonferred on the tenant for
life a power to dispose of the in-
heritance in satisfaction of debts
and incumtxanoes ; but he gave a
qualified oppositioD to its details
and machinery, and offered some
suggestions of his own for efEsctiiig
its olyeots more perfectly.
Sir James Graham expressed
his gratitude to the Solicitor Gene-
ral f<:« his valuable exertions in
perfecting the details of this mea-
sure. Hia dread bad been that
l^al Bcruples and pnijudicee would
be too much considered in the
amending of the Bill, and that too
little regard would be paid to the
120] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
"peculiar circa meUnCBS existing the balance of the sale of the
in Ireland." But he heard with esl&tes. For unquestioRabl; their
great pleasure a speech from a gen- estates ought at once to be brought
ueman bearing the name of Ro- to market * * » I consider thebill,
millj — worthj of a lawyer, but not asamendedby the Solicitor General,
exclusively of a lawyer — a speech well adapted to secure the interests
combining with extensive legal of the owner in poseesaion, the heirs,
knowledge large political views the remainder men, and the credi-
well worthj of the sul^ect han- tors. If there should be any im-
dled. perfection in the measure, espe-
Od the broad principleand policy cially as to securing the sale of the
of the measure Sir James made property at its full value, I shall
this declaration amidst general be ready to remove that imperfeo-
cheering—" I think it is absolutely tion. I am most anxioos that the
necessary that every encourage- full value of the property should
ment and facility should be given be secured; that no sudden orpre-
b> the subdivision of land in Ire- dpitate sale should be forced on,
land ; and that the opportunity so that the value of the land should
most favourable for eSbcbng this is be depreciated by a larger qaantity
when land is brought to sale. I am being brought eimultaneously into
most anxious to reunite to the soil the market than the demand re-
of Ireland the Roman GathoUo quires. I am also, for the sake of
nulatdon of that cotmtry. That Uie tenants in possession, desirous
elieve to be one of the most that care be taken that there shall
efficacious means of insuring the not be a mortgagee panic, which
safety of Ireland, and of forming would be fatal to the measure,
and strengthening the bond of But, under the present circum-
nnion between the two oountriss. stances of Ireland, you must not
During a long period of exclusion be guided by caution only ; you
and inequality of rights, the Roman must not take your steps timidly,
CathoUcs of Ireland have by iudns- but boldly, at ue same time pm-
try accumulated capital, which I dently : for the period has arrived
believe they are not trnwilliog to when witli respect to this sub-
invest in the purchase of the land ject something decisive must be
of Ireland. Unfortunatetyi the done."
laige estates held by right of con> The Bill did not pass diioagh its
fisration, in the bands of Protes- ulteriorstages without encountering
tanta, have become deeply eucum- some further criticism and hostility,
bered. By reason of these encum- Mr. N^ier moved that it be re-
brances, the nominal owners of the committed for the purpose of strik-
eetates cannot in ^1 instances ing out all the clauses added by
do that which it is their wish the Solicitor General since it came
and their duty to do. I would down from the Lords. The Soli-
relieve them from the painful citor General vindicated the provi-
posiUon in whkh they stand, and sions which Mr. Napier had ob-
would give them every facility jected to, and the general policy of
to release themselves from their the Bill.
debts. Their creditors should in He maintained, in the first place,
the first place be secured, and then that the peculiar position of pro-
their families provided for out of perty iu Iceland justified the resort
prac
Eniil^.-\ HISTOEY. [121
to proTisions vhich at first eight agreeing in substance with Mr.
might seem sarprisiug ; but, on Henlej as to the principle of the
the other hand, there was not a Bill.
provision in the present Bill that Mr. Monsell sCrongly Bupported
was not justified b; precedent in the Bill. He said it would be ab-
thia country as well as the sound- surd to stick at technicalities in
eat policy. In this country the the present wretched condition of
iracCical result under every well- the tenants of encumbered eatatee.
1 settlement was, that the The Bill was also supported hj Mr.
it for life could sell an encum- P. Wood, Mr. Fagan, and Mr. C.
bered estate : this Bill gave that Villiera. Opposed by Mr. New-
power in Ireland, but under the degate and M^jor Blackall. On a
guard that the tenant could not division the amendmeut was nega-
make encumbrances to bring about tived by 197 to 5S. It was then
a sale — for he could not sell on ac- read a third time,
count of his own encumbrancee — The amendments made in the
and that the title was not tube inde- House of Commons having been
liMsible till after five years. This remitted for consideration to the
term of limitation had a precedent House of Lorde, the Lord Cban-
iD the Land Clauses Consolidation cellor, on the 31st July, proposed
Act. He proposed to add a pro- the adoption of them, as materially
vision that every person interested conducing to the efflcieocy of the
in remainder under settlement measure. He expressed his opi-
should have personal notice of sale, nion of the proceedings in Courts
He also proposed to provide that of £quity in significant terms.
the Lord-Lieutenant should have He entertained great respect for
power to appoint serveyors to esti- the Court of Chancery, but would
mate estates sold under the Bill, not willingly enter that Court as a
and to see that proper prices were suitor, nor advise his friend to do
paid. so j in his opinion, therefore, the
Sir John Roinilly ended bjr ob' power of sale without the inter*
serving that the creation of a middle veution of the Court of Chancery
classinlrelandoouldnotbeeffected was a Valuable addition to the
till land in portions of 100 acres Bill.
each was mode easily purchaseable. Lord Stanley entered into a de-
He would not be indisposed to ek- tailed examination of the additions
tend a similar Bill to England. that had been made to the Bill, and
Mr. Sadleir supported the amend- condemned them as constituting, in
ment. Colonel Dunne added fact, a new measure since the Bill
some objectdons to those uned by was last in that House. He would
the other opponents. Mr. Henley move, if any one would support
thought tluit the Bill struck at him, that the Bill be referred hack
the root of all property i the ma' to a Select Committee. Lord
duDsry must be either unjust or Monteagle expressed hia reluctance
nogatoi;. The best way to im' to oppose the Bill ; but it was so
prove Ireland was to give increased completely altered by the Oom-
security to life and property. mens, that he concurred in the de-
Mr. Stuart entered into a de- sire for a reference to a Select
tuled legal criticism of the clauses, Committee, in order to procure the
122]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
opinions of Irish lawyers on the smendmenta. On a diTision the
new claufies. The Earls of Ellen- House resolved, by 97 to 1 0, to
borough and Gtengall concurred, consider the amendments: and
The Earla of Wicklow and Devon, they were agreed to without fut^
the Marquis of Laosdowne and iherco&teat.
Xjord Langdale 3a|>ported the
;«.i,:sa:,G00gIc
SngbE^d.] HISTORY. [123
CHAPTER V.
DoKEsno AryMBS — Extraordinary TrtmquiUity of thi* Country
' dunnjf the Contmental Btvolutiom — Attaitpti made by the Chartut*
to disturb the Peact—Demonttration of the lOth of April, and iti
hamdeu ReeuU—EseceUeTit moral Effect produced thirAy — Ditor-
derly Auembiiet atid uditiou* Speechet tn the Metropoli* and other
Placet — Msaturet adopted by the Qwemment — The great Chartitt
Petition to Parliament, and Proeeedingt reacting it—Report of the
Committee on Public Petitiont expating the Mitrepreeentatumt at to
the Signaturet — Personal IHtpute tn the Houte betxeeen Mr. CHppe
and Mr, Feargut O'CtmTwr. — Interference of the Speaker and Ei^^a-
natUme of the Partiet. — Cbowh and Govbrmiunt SEouritt Biu. in-
traduced by the Home Secretary— Object* of the Meaeure — Speech of
Sir Oeorge Grey — Obtervaiiont of Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. F.
O'ConnoTt and other Memben — The BiU it brought in — Lord John
RutteU movet the Second Beading on the 10th of April — Mr. SmiA
O'Brien appeart in Parliament for Ae last Time, and jp^ofa againet
the Bill — Sir Qeorge Orey antwen htm in an animeUed Speech —
Speeches of Mr. Thompson, Sir R. Irtglit, and other Membere — The
Second Reading it carried by 4GS to 35 — The Clauee nuMng " Open
and Advised Speaking " qf treasonable Matter Feloniout ie much ob-
jected to in Committee — Mr. 8. Martin, Mr. Hortman, Mr. Hume,
Mr. Osborne and other Members strongly oppoeed to it— Speech of Sir B.
Peel with reference to EvenU in France. — The BiU panes the Third
Beading by a great Me^oriti^^-Dehate upon the Second Reading in tJie
Houte of Lords— Speechet of Lord Stanley, Lord Brougham, Lord
Campbell, the Duke of WelUngtort, Lord Denman, and other Peers.
Aliens Rsmovai. Biu. tiUroduced by the Margie of Lamdovme —
Explanationt and Debate on the Second Beading — Iti the Houte of
Commont the BUI it opposed by Sir W. Moleevorth-Bemarke of
Lord Dudley i^uart, the Attorney-General, Mr. Urguhart, Dr. Bom-
ring, and other Members — The Second Beading ti carried by a
Minority q^ 119. Exiehsiok of the Elkctitk Frahcbibe — i^u-
lar Movement on thi* Sulgect and Eixertion* of Mr, Hume— A Beta-
Itftton tn favour of further Reform in Parliament it propoted by that
Gentleman on the 31*( of June — His Speech on that oceaeion—He t*
antvered by Lord John B.u»*eli, who oppotes the Motitm — Speeehe* of
Mr. H. Drummond, Mr. Fox. and Mr. Di*raeli — The Debate it ad-
journed and returned ontheGlhof July — Speeches of Mr. B. Oibonte,
124] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Enghnd.
Mr. Sergeant Tal/ourd, Mr. Cobdm, Mr. F. O'Connor, Mr. Milnet,
Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Muntz, and Mr. C. ViiUen—On a Di-
vwion Mr. Hwtne't Motion it rejected by 361 to 84.
THE eecurity wbicb under the well-tried inatitutiona, proves a
protection of Providence this sure bulwark in the hour of trial
country derives from its free and against the macbinatione of con-
popular constitQtion was never BpiratorBBudanarcfaiets. Such was
more signollj exemplified than the lesson exhibited by England
during the year of political agita- in the revolutionary era of 1848.
tdon and disorder of which the The agitation ivhich derived it£ im-
memorable events are commetno- pulse irom the convulsions of the
rated in this volume. While al- ContJoent prevailed only bo far as
most every throne on the Conti- to disturb for a moment the serenity
nent was emptied or shaken by re- of her political atmosphere. Awed
volution, the English monarchy, by the overwhelming strength and
strong in the loyal attachment imposing attitude of the friends of
of the people, not only stood order.the mischief subsided almost
firm in the tempest, but appeared as soon as it appeared, and the
even to derive increased 8ta> cauee of rational freedom was mo-
bility from the events that con- teiially strengthened by the futile
Ttileed foreign kingdoms. In the efforts made to ondermine it.
most perfect constitution of society When a knot of obscure and ill-
indeed, as it is impossible to extir- disposed malcontents would &in
pate the passions and vices of our have played off in our metropolis
common mUure, disaffection, in a the scenes which had been enact«d
more or less degree. Is always la- with such sanguinary effects in
tent; and, as often as circum- Paris and Vienna, their insignifi-
stances present the occasiotiB of cance was demonstrated, and their
disorder, there will be found no menaces rendered impotent by the
lack of turbulent and unruly spirits firm and imposing attitude of the
to take advantage of them. It is loyal and well-affected inhabitants
at such periods that the sound- arrayed in the defence of peace,
ness of a nation's political senti- property, and order.
ments and the reality of its attach- The 10th of April was the day
ment to ^e constituted authorities which the disciples of physical
is brot^ht to a searching trial. A force, organized under the banner
system which has been supported of Chartism, had announced for a
only by the strong hand of power, grand display of their strength and
or by that allegiance which is the numbers; a demonstration by which
creature of habit rather than of re- it was Intended to overawe the
flection,isunabIeto withstand that Government into a concession of
contagiousfeverofinnoVationwhich their demands, as the only means
spreads from country to country, of averting a violent revolution,
imder ihe impulse of any eitraor- But the day which was to have
dinaiy movement in the human been signalized by the jubilee of
mind. On the other hand, a loy democratic licence terminated in
alty. based on reason and convio- the most decisive triumph of the
tion, end an enlightened apnrecia- Throne and Constitution. Without
tion of the benefits derivea from the slightest collision between the
EnsUmd.^ HISTORY. [125
andioiitieB and the people, withoat mobs, it was not always iu ite
a blow struck, or a. drop of blood power to prevent the destruction
ihed, nay without the appearance of propertj, and the suspension of
of a single soldier in the streets of busuiess, occasioned by soch dis-
LondoD, onintemiptad peace and turbances, while the necessitj of
order were mainl&iiied, and the constant vigilance in several quar-
vauntod demonstration passed off ters of the metropolis at once
qoietlj and safely. The result moved very harassing to the police,
was not only to reassure all those The contagion spread to seme of
peiBons who had trembled for the larae manufacturing towns
the stability of the social fabric both in England and Scotland, and
at home, but to strengthen the in some parts of the country the
cause of constdtutional Uberty all Chartist gatherings and demonstra-
over the world, and to accelerate tions created a good deal of appro-
that reaction in favour of moderate henaion. Happily, however, all
and sober counsels, which natu- these commotions passed off with*
rally succeeds to a revolutionary out any serious explosion. The
eballition. But, although all danger Govermnent meanwhile kept a
to the institutioos of this couotiy careful watch upon the progress of
was ahown to be at an end, it was the movement A Caw of the more
in the power of the mischievous and violent leaders and speech-makers
ill-dispoeed, availing themselves of were arrested and oommitted for
the general excitement of the trial, and every preparation was
times, to give some trouble and made for vigorous action in the
annoyance to the Government, event of an outbreak taking place.
Meetings were held for the promo- The transactions that were occur-
tion of the so-called People's ing out of doors became the sulgect
Charter, at which a great deal of of occasional discussion in Parlia-
seditlous and revolutionary Ian- ment, and led to the introduction
guage was spoken; and, if these of some new legal securities for
efforts to excite the ignorant and strengthening the hands of Govem-
misguided failed of their effect, it ment and enabling them to deal
was certainly not from any want of more effectually with persons en-
will iu the turbulent demagogues gaging in designs against the pub-
who took the part of leaders, nor lie peace. We shall notice in this
s the mischief confined to mere chapter some of the more promi-
conaiating for the most part of the On the 10th of April, the day
refuse of a crowded city, thieves, on which the Chartist procession
jrickpockets, and other disorderly to Kennington Common took place,
characters, took place in some parts Mr. Feargua O'Connor presented
of the metropolis ; windows were to the House of Commons a peti-
broken, some shops plundered, the tion signed, as he alleged, by
police were assmled with abuse, 5,706,000 persons, and another
stones and missiles, and the peace- supplementary petition signed by
able inhabitants put in terror for 80,000, praying for the enactment
their safety. Although the civil of what were called the Five Points
force always proved a more than of the Charter ; namely, Annual
sufficient match for these riotous Parliaments, UniverBsl Suffirage,
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
Equal Electoral Districts, no Fro-
pertj Qualification, and Payment
of Members. He mored that the
prajer be read bv the clerk.
The petition la; on the floor of
the Kouae in five large divisions.
The first sheet was detached and
the prayer read. The messengers
of the House then rolled the im-
mense masses of parchment to the
table.
A day had been specially ap-
pointed by the Oovemment to take
the subject of this extraordinary
petition into consideration. But
in the meantime sn inTsstigauon
into its contents brought some
curious facts to light. On the
18th Mr. Thomely brought up a
special report from the Select
Committee on Public Petitions,
which was read by the clerk at the
table, as follows : —
" The Committee on Public Pe-
titions, in oonformil; with the ia-
Btniotions of the House of the
'Mlb day of November last, ' in all
cases to set forth the number of
signatures to each petition,' and
also having regard to the power at
the same time dalegated to them
' to report their opinion and ob-
servations thereupon to the House,'
have agreed to the following special
report —
"That, OD the 10th day of April
instant, a petition for 'Universal
Suffrage, £c. from inhabitants of
the British Isles uid subjects of
tlie Britiah Crown' was presented
to the House.
" Your Conunitteo strongly feel
the value of the right of petition ;
consider the exercise of it as one
of the most important privileges
of the subjects of the realm ; and
feel the necessity of preserving
the exercise of siuh privilege from
abuse.
" And, having also a due regard
to the importance of the veij
numerously signed petition form-
ing the subject of the present re-
port, thej feel bound to represent
to the House, that in the matter
of signatures there has been, in
their opinion, a gross abuse of that
privilege.
"The honourable Member for
Nottingham stated, on presenting
the petition in question to the
House, that 6,706,000 signatures
were attached to it Upon a most
careful examination of Uie number
of signatures in the Committee-
room, in which examination thir-
teen law-stationer's clerks were en-
gaged for upwards of seventeen
hours, together with the person or-
dinarily employed in counting the
signatures appended to petitions,
under the superintendence of the
clerk of your Committee, the num-
ber of signatures has been ascer-
taiiiedtobel,076,49e. Itisfurlher
evident to your Committee, that on
numerous consecutive sheets the
signatures are in one and the same
handwriting.
" Tour Committee have also ob-
served the names of distij^tshed
individuals attached to the petition,
who cannot be supposed to have
concurred in ita prayer, and as
little to have subscribed it :
amongst such occur the names of
Her Mfyesty in one place, as Vic-
toria Rex, April 1 ; the Duke of
Wellington, E.G.; Sir Robert
Peel, &c.,&c., &c.
" In addition to this species of
abuse, your Committee have oh
served another equally in derogi-
ti<m of the just value of petitions,
— namely, Uie insertion of names
which are obviously altogether fic-
titious, such as 'NoGheeee,' 'Fug-
nose,' ' Flatnoee,' Ac.
" There are other words and
phrases which, though written in
EmgUmd.^ HISTORY. [127
the fimn of signatane, and in- tioa retiirna and Ibimd that the
daded in the number reported, pedtioii could not hare been signed
TOUT Committee will not hazard b; 6,700,000 adult males. It had
ofieading the House, and the dig- b«ea mbsequentl; discoTered, how-
nity uid deoenoj of their own pro- ever, that the aignatoree bj women
eeediogB. by reporting ; though it were in the proportion of 6 to 100.
may b« added, that they are ob- Mr. Grippe declared, in rather
Tiooal; eignatures belongiag U> etrone tonns. the distrust that he
no hnnuui being." ahoola henceforth feel for state-
This report having been read, ments emanating from Mr. F.
Mr. F. O'Coanor said he would not O'Connor. A warm personal
undertake to ny that the numbers altercation bettreen the two ho-
stktad by him were correct ; certain nouraUe Members ensued, after
pnetices mi^t have been resorted whidi Mr. O'Connor left the House.
to. It waa an old saying, that those The interferenae of the Speaker
who hide may find ; uid perhaps wis then called for, who expressed
somatbing of the spy system had his hope that Mr. Crippe would
been resorlfd to with regard to this lisclaim any intention of persoDat
great national undertaking. He offence. Mr. Cripps, thus appealed
had letters which showed that the to, readily made the disclaimer
munber of real signatures affixed required. Lord John Russell then
to tbe petition, in England, Scot- moved thalMr. O'Connor be taken
land, and Wales, was 4,800,000. into the custody of the Seijeant-at>
As to the computation, he main- Arms. Mr. O'Connor, at a later
tained that thirteen clerks could hour in the erening, was brought
not ooont 1,900,000 signatoree in to the bar, and after reciprocal ex-
aerenteen horns ; nor could twenty planations had been gtven, and _
do it. each of the Members concerned
Mr. Thomely insisted that the had expressed himself satisfied,
utmost care had been used in the the matter dropped. In the coarse
examination of the petition. The of the discussioD which preceded
CommitteehadeTenhaditweighed this afiair, Mr. John Abd Smith
in coDsequenoe of a statement made stated the estimate which had been
by Mr. O'Connor on that head. It formed &om careful observation of
was found to weigh, not five tons, the numbers present on Eenning-
as stated, but five hundredweight ten Common, having been himself
and three quarters. a spectator of the meetiog.
Lord John Bnssell repudiated He said : I have reason to
the insinuation that the " spy know, that previously to the meet-
system" had had anything to do ing means were taken to ascer-
with the petition. The Earl of tain the whole number of persons
Anindel and Surrey remarked that which could be present if the Com-
the Chartists had issued an ad- mon were entirelv covered. The
Tortisement, stating that 500,000 whole space, closely packed, would
persons had assembled on Ken- not hold more than 90,000 ; and
nington Common on the 10th. at no time was there more than a
The highest estimate was &S,000. quarter of the space occupied. I
Mr. Cripps (a member of the have further to state, that I am
Committee on PetitionB) stated convinced I exaggerate them when
that he had examined the popula- I say that the numbers id the pro-
128]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[En^nd.
oeasioD were ander 8000. I will
oalj add, that the honourable
Member for NottiDRhain, in my
presence on Mondaj evening,
stated the numbers present on
Kenninffton Common as exceed-
ing half a^ million." (Chsen and
laugkUr).
Colonel Sibtborp related an anec-
dote which afibrded some enter-
tainment.
"On Monda; nigbt, when the
honourable and learned Member
for Notdngham, addressing me at
the door of the House, said, ' I am
gtad all want off peaceably,' I said,
' I have oul; one r«gret that it did.'
'Why?' he asked. 'Because,' I
replied, 'if you had attempted to
come over the bridge, you would
bave got the soundest thrashing
mortal man ever rectiived.' " {Loud
ehetrt and laughUr).
At this period of the Session a
Bill was introduoed by Sir Oeor^e
Grey for the more effectual repres-
sion of seditious and treasonable
proceeding. Although the mea.
sure was intended to be applied to
the whole of the United Kingdom,
the peculiar predicament of affiiirs
in Ireland, in which agitation was
U that lime carried to its utmost
length, led the Minister to advert
more particularly to the circum-
Btancea of that country, and gave the
same turn to almost all the dis-
euasions which arose upon the Bill.
In moving for leave to bring in his
Bill for the better security of tlie
Crown and Qovemment of the
kingdom, the Secretary for the
Home Department regretted deeply
that the seditious and treasonable
designs entertained by certain par-
ties in different parts of the United
Kingdom, and the encour^ement
given by them to open insurrection
and to the subversion of our nar
tional institutionB rendentd it in-
cnmbent upon the Government to
ask for an alteration of the law
applicable to such practices. Go-
vernment hod no intention of im-
posing any new restriction on the
right of the people, either to meet
or to discuss public af&iirs or to
petition for the redress of griev-
ances. There were, however, limits
to the exercise of these constitu-
tional rights. Thoee limits bad
been recently transgressed, and
l anguage had been used in various
parts of the United Kingdom,
which, if it were not treason itself,
was certainly highly treasonable.
In one part of the empire the law
was utterly insufficient to meet this
great and crying evil. The lan-
guage used in Ireland was incom-
patible with established Govern-
ment, with the maintenance of or-
der, and with those existing institu-
tions under which the British people
enjoyed more constitutional fiber^
than any other people in the world.
Lord Clarendon had instituted one,
and only one prosecution, with the
hope of putting down such lan-
guage ; but he had been met, not
with any desire on the part of those
who had used it to confbim to the
law, but with a declaration that, if
they had hitherto knowingly spoken
sedition, they would in future avow
their intention to commit high
treason. He was not prepared to
say that they had hitherto com-
mitted any action which brought
them within the penalties of high
treason ; but he warned them that
their future actions, by a retro-
spective reference to their former
speeches, might even yet bring
them into that predicament. He
then referred to various artides
Eublished in the Unitad Irakman
y Mr. Mitchell, to the speeches
of Mr. Me(^;her, and to a recent
harangue of Mr. Dufff, on an-
Smgi^.] HISTORY. [129
ooDDcing bi his cooDtiymeti that affect offences against the person
60,000 Frencbmen were ready to of the Sovereign, and then to re-
support them in subverting the enact it so as to make the offenoss
mooarchj and in esteblisbuig a contained in it not punishable b;
HpanU« and independent Bepublio death, but by transportatioQ for
in Ireland — -as specimens of the life or for any period not less than
eril of which he complained. In seven years. The clause for the
defence of the loyal miqon^ of punishment of the offence of com-
Her Miyesty's subjects in Ireland, passing, imagining, or levying war
Government now came to Farlia- against Her Majesty, and of in-
ntent and asked for such an altera- citing and stimng foreigners to
tion of the law as would enable it invade this realm, was one ren-
te deal satisfactorily with fevers of dered necessary by the conduct of
this kind, which occurred from many persons now actively engaged
time to time in the history of in agitating the two countries. As
nations, and which were now strik- the law stood at present, any pei^
ins terror into large masses of the son having gone to a foreign coun-
inbabitants of this empire. He try, or having incited by speech,
then stated what the law was at and not by writing, others to go
wesent as to offences of this kind, there for such a purpose, was ex-
The law of treason was not iden- empt from any penalty save that
tical in England and Ireland, as attached to seiUtion. In extending
he showed in some detail. There that clause to Ireland, the Govern-
was no reason for that differ- ment was bound to see that those
enee, and every reason for ge^ gentlemen who were now insti>
ting rid of it, as it paralyzed gating others by speeches and
the action of the law in Ireland at writings to the offeuces which it
the present moment. It had been was intended to check, should have
proposed to enforce the same law no loophole for escape. He there-
in every portion of the United fore proposed to apply the penal-
Kingdom ; but it was undeniable ties of this clause to all persons
that the law of treason in England, who, by "publishing or printing
under the act of the 86th of any writing, or by open and avowed
George III., which did not extend speaking," should seek to compass,
to Ireland, was a law of veiy great imagine, and levy war agunst the
severity, and therefore, in con- Sovereign. Such was the sub-
fbnnity with the spirit of our stance of the Bill which he pro-
recent legislation, he proposed to posed to lay on the table. Without
modify it, and to apply it so modi- it Lord Clarendon stated that he
Sed to every portion of the empire, should be unable to stem the tide
He did not propose to repeal any of sedition and treason swelling
of the pen^ties for the offence around him on every side; with it
of oompassii^ the death of the he beUeved be should be enabled
Sovereign, or of restraining or to deal with those persona who
imprisoning the person of the defied him, and defied him safely.
Sovereign. That offence would be to do bis worst. He did not say
still high treason: but vrith regard that this was the only measure
to the other offences contained in necessary for the pac^cation of
SSth George III., he proposed to Ireland, but this vras a law which
repeal so much of it as did not would be extended to all portions
Vol. XC. [K]
130]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [E»gi<«^.
at the United Eingdom, The
other measures which he ehould
have to introduce vould partake
more of the character of police
fegulationB, and he vould, there-
fore. Dot mix them up with a Bill
which he propoBed as a permanent
alteratioD and amelioiation of tLe
law of treason.
Mr. J. O'Conneli concurred in
execrating many of the speeches
recently made in Ireland, and in
condemning the insane criminality
of those who were exciting that
country to rebellion. He did not
oppose this Bill from any sympathy
with that party, but from a con-
viction that it was not necessary,
and that the ordinary law was quite
adequate to its objects.
Mr. Hume thought that the
Btatules relating to treason should
be revised ana formed into one
clear and intelligible code. He
protested against the clause in the
proposed Bill for punishing " open
and advised speaking," which he
denominated an oppressive and
" gagging clause." Mr. W. J. Fox
objected to the same section, and
enlarged on the monstrous con-
nuences which might result from
nrced oonstruclion of die pro-
vision in question.
Mr. F. O'Connor declared his
determination to resist the Bill to
the utmost, even if he stood alone.
Mr. H. Gratlan, Lord Dudley Stu-
art, and Mr. Beynolds enpresaed
their dissatisfaction. Mr. M. J.
O'Conneli declared his intention
of supporting the measure as ne-
cessary for the preservation of
peace in Ireland.
Lord John Russell regretted that
Mr. Fox had not waited to see this
Bill before he had expressed such
unsparing condemnation of that
clause of it which affected spoken
words. The clause was intended
to punish those who spoke openly
and advisedly for the purpose of
exciting to the levy of war against
the Sovereign; and did Mr. Fox
object to such an enactment? He
then justified the various clauses
of the Bill, and contended that
there was not a single syllable in
it which could be justly said to
impair the right of free discussion.
The House then divided, when
the numbers were —
For the first reading of
the Bill 283
Against it 34
M^ority in ita favour . 259
Lord John Bussell having moved
the second reading on the 10th of
April, an animated debate took
place. Mr. Smith O'Brien ap-
peared in his place for the last
time before assuming the charac-
ter of an avowed rebel, to protest
against the measure. He said
that he was not to be put down by
the proceedings which Lord John
Bussell had directed against him,
nor would the Oovemment extin-
guish national feeling in Ireland
by wholesale prosecutions. He
bad in his absence been called a
traitor. [The cheers of the House
intimated an opinion that the de-
signation was not altogether an
unfit one.] He was there to avow
what he had spoken and done. He
professed bis loyslty to the Queen,
but not to the Government or to
the Imperial Parliament; on the
contrary, he would do all in his
power to overthrow the one and to
dissever the other. He then re-
ferred to his mission to Paris^.and
by so doing again roused indignant
sboute of disapprobation from all
sides of the House. He also at-
tempted to vindicate the conduct
England.} HISTORY. [131
of his political ossodatoe, and read Temment of Great Bribun and the
a resoiation from the records of people of Ireland must bo uncer-
the last meetJng of the Irish Con- tain — that it might be diaaatrous—
federation to show that their Ao- that if England failed, she irould
signa had never been kept secret stand alone — and that her positioA
— that the; irere not seeking social would be very precarious, with the
disorder and a violent separation independent republic of France on
from Great Britain — but t^t Uieir one side of her and another in-
only desire was to obtain a repeal dependent repablic on the other,
of the Union, if possible, without He therefore called upon the Go-
dvil war. They had also recom- vemmeut, before it was too late,
mended their oountrymen to send to grant to his couutr^en those
SOO del^ates to Dublin to form a national privileges which, by everj
national council ; and the; had right, human and divine, they were
done this because there was at entitled to claim. When t^e noble
present no exponent of the feelings Lord told him that he was a traitor
of the Irish nation. The Irish to the Crown, he repelled the
members did not represent the charge, and retorted it on the head
Iriab nation ; and be recommended of him who made it. If his Lord-
Lord John Russell to enter into ship should attempt to crush all
n^otiation with that council as the rights of the democracy in
soon SB it should be formed. England, and if be should persist
[Much lentghur.) He was quite in refusing to Ireland its just de-
prepared for the insulting sneers mand for self-government, and if
which that advice had called forth ; he were determined to play the
bat he felt quite convinced that he part of Guizot in crushing public
should be ultimately successful in liberty, his Lordship and hu col-
the efforts which he and bis friends leagues would be traitors to both
were then making for the repeal countries. The honourable Mem-
of tbe Union. The only thing her then sat down amid such ex
which could defeat the object preseiona of disapprobation as have
which he and his associates had in seldom greeted any Member of Par-
view was precipitation ; and he liament for many years.
now warned the people of Ireland Sir G. Grey rose amid the most
that if any of them lent them- vociferous cheering, and observed,
selves to the plans of Government, that, after the long absence of Mr.
they would have their emancipa- S. O'Brien, he had entertained
tion indefinitely postponed. He some hope, albeit it was a faint
then proceeded to contend that one, that he would disavow, with
without packed juries the Govern- that indignation which a loyal aub-
ment would never be able to get ject ought to feel, the imputation
a verdict against him — that the east upon bi^ loyalty, and that he
Irish aristocracy bad no influence would, with that fervid eloquence
in Ireland — that the Orangemen which characterized his harangues
were exceedingly discontented — elsewhere, though not in that
and that no reliance was to be House, have disclaimed those aenti-
placed on either the police force ments which had been imputed to
or tbe army in Ireland. The ob- him, if from no better feeling, at
ject of his aigumont was to show least from a regard to that oath of
that any collision between the Go- allegiance which be had repeatedly
132]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Kngtand.
taken bo the Sovereign of England.
What, then, waa his pain and ra-
grot when he found Mr. S. O'Brien
profeasing with Up-eervice alle-
•giance to his Sovereign, and yet
glorying in the impntatione which
had been cast upon him, and
charging the Premier himself with
high treason? He (Sir G. Grey)
bad never called Mr. S. O'Brien a
traitor in his absence. For that
sbaence he was not responsible, and
the cause of that absence Mr. S.
O'Brien could best explain. He
had not, he repeated, cdled Mr. S.
O'Brien a traitor; but he bad read
to the House the message which
that gentleman hod sent from
Paris to Mr. Duffy, as to France
being able and willing to send
60,000 of ber bravest citizens to
fight for the emancipation of Ire-
land. He asked Mr. S. O'Brien
distinctly whether he was prepared
or not to disavow that message!
The House had drawn its inference
from it, and what that inference
was Mr. S. O'Brien might read in
the cheers with which the House
was ringing. He denied the right
of Mr. 8. O'Brien to. represent
himself as the exponent of loyalty
in Ireland, and, in reply to his ex-
travagant assertions, insisted thata
large proportion of the inhabitants
of Ireland, of all creeds and of all
classes, were unalienably attached
to the Crown of England, and he
was sure that tbey would all in-
dignantly deny the right of Mr. 8.
O'Brien to expound tbeir feelings.
Mr. S. O'Brien had ^declared that
the Chartists were with him to a
man. He (Sir G. Grey) utterly
disbelieved it. Mr. S. O'Brien
had also declared himself the friend
of his country, whose sympathiea
were with him. He believed that
in that point Mr. 8. 03rien would
find himself miserably disappointed,
and that there was a spirit both
in England and in Ireland which
would rise up indignantly against
that declaration. He denied that
the Government was influenced by
any feeling of de&ance towards
Iroland. The Government wished
to see Ireland rich, happy, pros-
perous, and in full enjoyment of
constitutional independence. He
rejoiced to think that, in opposing
the mischievous designs of Mr. 3.
O'Brien and bis associates, the
Government was doing its best to
unite all honest men in the search
of the true and lasting interests
of the people of Ireland. Sir G.
Grey then sat down amidst loud
cheers.
Mr. F. O'Connor observed that
be, loo, had taken the oatb of
allegiance to Her Majesty, and his
construction of that oath led him
to defend Her Miyesty's Uirono
i^inst the machinations of Her
Mi^esty's Government. He then
ropeated the arguments which he
hsid used on a former occasion
against this Bill, abused the
Government in vehement terms,
and concluded by moving the second
reading of the Bill that day six
months.
Mr. G. Thompson, in a dis-
cursive speech, in whi<^ he ex-
pressed the greatest distrust of the
Government, and protested in the
strongest terms against the pro-
posal to make "speaking openly
and advisedly " on political ques-
tions a felony, seconded Mr.
O'Connor's amendment. Sir B.
Hall gave his support to tbe Bill.
Mr. Hume repeated his otgectioaB
to the " gagging clause."
The Solicitor-General explained
the true meanii^ of the clause to
which Mr. G. Thompson and Mr.
Hume bad objected, and showed
very clearly that neither gentleman
England.]
HISTORY.
[133
imdentood it. It was not in-
tended to repress priTate speaking,
bot only " open and adTJaed speak-
ing," recommending the levy of
war upon Her Majestj. As per-
sonal notorietj was one of tbe
atrmigest motiTea for these treason-
able exhibitiotis, be thought that
tttis Bill vonld pot a stop to them;
Ibr tbe man who mignt reckon
upon sjmpftthy as s traitor, was
not Bare of meeting it as a felon.
Sir R. Infflis snpported tbe Bill
even with ute fire words in it to
which Mr. Hnme had objected. It
was neceesaiy for tbe punishment
of those overtures of a treasonable
recently heard of, and which would
not be snSiared br any republic in
the world. He then expressed hta
gratjtode to the editors of the
leading pablic journals, for the
encourage inent which they had
recently given to the cause of good
order gainst the systematic dis-
turbers of it. He thought that the
Government was rather wanting
than exceedmg in vigour in pro-
dncing this Bill. He then gave
Mr. 8. O'Brien, whom he described
as speaking with a halter round
his neck, a severe lecture for the
■mbloshing manner in which he
had defied the opinion of the
House and the country in his
speech of that evening. Though
he should have liked this Bill better
with other provisions, be would
Btill support it if Oovemment
would maintain its present posi-
tioD.
Speeches were made in favour
of the Bill by Mr. C. Anstey, Mr.
Aglionby, Lord Nugent, Capt.
Anchdall, Mr. P. Wood, and Mr.
H. Dtummond; and on the opposite
side hy Mr. Bright, Dr. Bowring,
Mr. John O'Connell, Mr. S.
Crawford, Mr. Osboriie, and Mr.
Wakley.
Lord John Russell recapitulated
the present state of the law and the
proposed enactments of tbe Bill.
" By the 36th George III.," said
the noble Lord, "you have the
penalties of high treason attached
to more than three kinds of offences,
but to three offences certainly, in
regard to whit^ alterations are
proposed by the preeeut Bill. You
have the penalties of high treason
applied to those who intend or
compose the deposition of the
Sovereign ; you have the penalties
of high treason applied to those
who intend or are compassing to
levy war against the Sovereign ;
and you have the penalties of high
treason applied to those who seek
for foreign aid, or seek to bnng a
foreign foe into this country. Such
is tbe slate of die law at present.
With respect to those offences
which some honourable gentlemen
think it cruel to punish by trans-
portation, you have now applied
the penalties of high treason.
What we now propose is, that those
offences be declared felony, and
that persons who are guilty of them
be liable to transportation. As the
law at present stands, those who
commit such offences by publishing
any writings may be found guilty,
and be amenable to the punish-
ment attached to them. We pro-
pose to carry that provision fur^r,
by declaring that those who commit
the offences specified — namely, of
declaring their purpose or intent
of deposmg the Govemment ; levy-
ing war upon the Sovereign; or
inviting a foreign force to invade
this countty, by open and advised
speaking — shall he liable to the
funishment applicable to felony,
am not now going to defend that
particular clause which has been
134]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
animadverted upon. I have before
stated the reasoua for that clause,
and mj honourable and learned
friend the Solicitor- General has
most clearly explained iCe purport;
and I will not now argue it, know-
ing that the words will be agtua
otnected to in Committee on the
Bill. The other altaratiou Jn the
law which we propMe to make is,
that it be ext«nded to Ireland. I
do not think — omitting for the
moment reference to any course of
argument as to the extending the
punishment to spoken words — that
this proposal is one to which anj
reasonable objection can be made,
either as regards diminishing the
fenalties or extending the Act to
reland."
It was to maintain peace and
Becurfty here and in Ireland — to
show that offenders could no longer
hope te escape ajust punishment
under the grand name of martyr
to the law of high treason— tlut
this Bill had been brought m.
Under it the people's present power
of discussion through the press, or
through public meetings, would
remain as full as ever before, while
some reckless persons would be
checked in their career of excite-
ment; and those who should incite
to rising, as well as those who
shonld rise in arms, would no
longer perpetrate their offences
with impunity.
After some further disoussion
the House divided. When there ap-
peared for the second reading —
M^ority . . . 417
Upon the Bill going into Com-
mittee, it encountered a somewhat
pertinacious opposition, especially
that part of it which attached tha
penalties of felony to treasonable
speaking. Upon the order of the
day being read—
Mr. G. Thompson contended
that sufGcient time bad not been
given for the consideration of so
important a measure. He denied
that any case had been made out
for this Bill, which cast a suspicion
upon the loyalty of the people of
this country. He passed a warm
euloginm upon the Chartists, and
complained that the Government
had branded them ui^ustly with
disloyalty. Ministers were sowing
the wind to reap the whirlwind,
Mr. Osborne followed on the
same side, merely repeating in
varied terms one of hie former
speeches on this subject He ap-
plied to this Bill the lasgut^e
used by Mr. Fox respecting a
similar but milder measure intro-
duced in 1706— namely, that "r»-
sistance to it, if passed, would be
merely a question of prudence."
Mr. O'Connor said, that if the
House passed this Bill there would
be no safety for the established
institulions of this country. The
Bill was nothing less than a piece
of Ministerial treason against the
Crown,
Mr. Reynolds could not under-
stand how the Government could
persevere in passing the present
" Algerine Act," after the appeal
made by Mr. Osborne to the prin-
ciples of Mr. Fox. He implored
the Government to modify the
measure.
Lord John Etuasell observed that
we were living in extraordinary
times, when persons deemed it con-
sistent with their duty to call to-
gether councils and confederations
for the purpose of declaring war
against the Sovereign, for seducing
or bribing the armed forces of the
England.] HISTORY. [136
SorereigD, and for opposing them hand writers, his experience pre-
in arma in case seduction and sented cases over and over again
bribery should not succeed. He be- wherein persons liad been misre-
lieyed that the general opinion of presented by short-hand writers.
the country was not that Ministers Judge after judge had made the
liad intetfered int^mperately and same complaint ; and one of the
hastily, but that they had waited ablest of tnose now on the bench
loo king. Considering the designs had avowedly objected to short-hand
which traitore had avowed, he writers' notes of legal proceedings,
should be ashamed of himself if, because of the frequency with which
eeeingdangerathand,hehadbeen hie chargesto juries had been mis-
Bo awed by the authority of Mr. reported. If this were the case in
Fox as to forbear from taking those the atillneas of a law court, what
measures of pre«anlion which he might be expected in the con<
believed to be necessary. After fusion and excitement of a publio
pointing out the difference between meeting? With regard, also, to
this Bill and that under which the discrimination of juries, he
Muir and Palmerfaad been formerly entertained a high opinion of that
convicted, he added that, while he tribunal for the determination of
retained all the other parts of the matters of fact under ordinary cir-
Bill, he was ready to limit the cumstances, but had no reliance on
operation of that part of it which a panic-stricken jury. He should
related to "open and advised have been sorry to trust a juiy
speaking," to a period of two years, empanelled on the 10th of April.
The measures which the Oovem- He thought that the Government
ment had introduced were pro- were justified in all the precau-
poeed by them under the deep tions they took on that day; but
conviction that the peace of this he would as soon have asked for
country was worth preserving. The the opinion of a parcel of insane
trust of preserving the institutions men as have taken the verdict of a
of this country, its monarchy, and jury at such a moment upon words
its constitution, was in the hands spokeu.
of the Administration, and it would He proposed a clause— that if
be its constant endeavour to pre- any person, at any assembly of
serve them. The noble Lord's twenty persons or more, should by
speech vras much cheered through- public and advised speaking sug-
'•-• gest, advocate, or advise the three
matters in the third section of the
Bill, it should be made a misde-
words"openandadvisedspesking." meanour: this was alreodyso at
Mr. Samuel Martin said he would common law, but it would be use-
take the decision of the House on ful to define the offence porticu-
the question, that these words be larly, for the guidance of parties
struck out. He went at much length liable to commit it. He would
into the legal bearings of the ques- also agree to a clause prohibiting
tion turning on these words; and bail in those particular cases, u
gave hb professional opinion that there were also a provision that a
no confidence whatever should be trial should take place — by Special
nut in accounts of conversations Commiseions.ifneceesaiy— within
neard. Even in the case of short- a month after arrest. Thus, the
186] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
old Common Lav distinction be- terms the praiseworthy oondnct of
tneen words spoken and writUn the inhabitants of the metropolis,
would not be broken down. He He said their spirit bad pro-
felt strongly on this point; and duced the most salutaiy effect
would, in relation to it, ask Lord throughout the countiT. What
John Rueeell to do for his sincere had. occurred had produced the
friends what Mr. Pitt had, in beet possible result in the great
1795, done for his opponents. towns of the couatfy, and would '
The Attorney- General and Sir unquestionably bate its effect
F. Thesiger replied to Mr. Mar- throughout Europe,
tin's le^ arguments; and Mr. The motion for the third read-
W. P. Wood added a few words, ing came on upon the 18th, when
expressive of his views aa to Mr. Hume moved that the Bill be
the mode of dealing with popular reed a third time on that day six
discontents. He hoped the day months. This amendment nas
was at hand when Parliament supported by Mr. F. O'Connor,
would no longer treat the symp- Mr. Bright, and Mr. Muntz.
toms only of prevailing disease, Mr. W. P. Wood made a final
but the disease itself; that lai^ prol«8t agiuDst what he conceived
remedial meaaures would be in* to be a direct invasion (tf those
troduced for Ireland ; and that the principles of constitutional law
meetings of Chartists, and the which had existed for five hun-
wretched and ferocious stuff there dred years — since the reign of
spoken, would be put down by ex- Edward the Third, and to which
tending the franchise, and giving the country was indebted for ite
the working classes the occupation happiness and prosperity, fie
of choosing Members of Parlia- acknowledged that the Bill was
ment, instead of members of a less objectionable as a temporary
National Convention. measure ; but in any ahape the
After a good deal of rather precedent was bad, and might
warm discussion, extending over a hereafter be revived with most
second 'evening, the proposition to pernicious effect,
omit the words objected to, making Mr. Horsmon said that the Bill
treasonable speaking felonious, was unconstitutional; but Govem-
was rqected by 18B to 79. Seve> ment was called on to violate con-
ntl other divisions took place, the stitutional principles in great
opposing Members offering a de- emergencies. He thought the
termined resistance, and moving Boman Catholic population of Ire-
several amendments ; but the Go- land was, in a certain sense of the
vemment were backed by very phrase, one great conapinuy. The
strong majorities, and the Bill cure vrould not be found in this
passed through Committee. In Bill only. In the two years of its
the course of the discussion, seve- operative force, the Ooveroment
ral Members expressed their co^ must enter upon great measures of
dial thanks to the Government for improvement. If this were not
their energetic measures for pre- doue, the Irish Members would
serving the public peace on the not stand alone in voting for a
day of the Chartist demonstration, repeal of the Union. If it were
Sir George Grey took the oppor- intended to rely on this Bill to
timity to eulogise in eloquent suppress tiie public opinion of Ire-
1 HISTORY. [137
land, he solemnly believed that existing Govemment depends
things would soon arrive at a state apon rigid abstinence from any
compared with which the present interference with what is passing
would be but the beginning of the in France. We may maintain our
end. own opinions on tluit subject. I
The SoUdtor-General, in an have mine. But! believe it to be
able ^>eech, combated the ai^- essential to the peace of the world
menta of Mr. W. P. Wood, upon and to the stability of Govem-
legal aod historical groonds. meht, that the experiment now
Sir R. Feel said he could not making in France eha]! have a
allow the Bill to pass without dis- fair trial, withont being embar-
tinctly Avowing his approval of its raseed or disturbed by extrinsic
proviaions. He thought it right intervention. {Ix>ud ehien.) But,
that Tuen who had not the dignity at the same time, with respect to
of tniton should be reduced to social principles, I must say this,
the poaitioa of felons. He would that I hope the working clasaes of
pnt a stop to those frogs that were this country will not be deluded
croaking sedition in the mushes, by the doctrines that are held
and woold not allow them to pu£F upon that subject which inti-
tbemaelves into the dimensions of mately concema their labour and
the nobler animals that bellowsd the wages of labour. If the doc-
treason. He warned iXr. O'Gon- trines that are tliere maintained
nor that those who drew 100,000 be true — if there be indeed an
pereoDS together could not foresee antagonism between capital and
what might be the consequences, lattour — if it be true that all men.
After showing that that gentle- without rderence to their differ-
m&n's declarations of loyalty were ent cambilitJes, difierent strength,
not very satiafoctory, he said, that and difierent qualifications, are
in what he (Sir Robert) had read to have some iron formula applied
and witnessed in the last ten days, to them, and ore all to receive
he saw proof that there was good the same daily wages, — if these
reason for strengthening for a things be true, then all the expe-
time the hands of Her Majesty's rience and all the lights of ibe
Government. He referred to last hundred aad fifty years have
the magnificent demonetration of existed in vain. Let us bum the
loyalty recently made in the me- works of Turgot, Bay, and Adam
tiDpolis, and exhorted the Govern* Smith. Let us establish in tn-
meat and the Legislature to en- umph the doctrines of the Missia-
conrage those whose exertions had sippi scheme, and the principles of
been so admirable, in the good thatl^w whowa»supposed to have
ooniae on which they had entered, involved France in misery and con-
by ibowing their united determi- fusion. Let us waltfor the results
nation to uphold the institutions of this experiment. Letuscalmly
of the country in all their leading contemplate whether it is possible
principles, and on their ancient that executive governments can be
foundations. He then referred to great manu&cturers, whether it be
the condition of France, and to the possible for them to force capital
wild and visionary doctrines current to employ industry — whether they
in that nation. He said, " My firm can contravene the decrees of Pro-
belief is, that the security of every vidence, and reduce all men, with-
138]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngUmd.
oat reference to habits or streDRth,
to receive the same wage§. For
Ood's sake, give that eocial prin-
ciple the same fair trial as 70a
are about to see given to the poli-
tical principle. (Ckeert.) But I
do earnestly trust — I have that
confidence in the good sense of
the working classes of this counti;
— that they will believe that no
fiilse delusion of the compulsoi;
sharing of profits, no enmitj di-
rected againat capital, no extinc-
tion of competition sniong in-
dividuals, no overpovcering of
private enterprise by Govern-
ment undertakings at the public
expense, can possibly be for the
benefit of the working classes, or
have any other ultimate result
than involving tbem in misery and
ruin." {Loud arid continued cheer-
ing.)
Mr. Muntz and Mr. Bright
having reiterated their objections
to the measure, and Mr. Adderley
having given it his cordial sup-
port.
Lord J. Russell briefly adverted
to the different objections ui^ed
by different Membere against the
Bill, which, he belie vedt would
tend much to the security and
peace of the empire. He then
referred to the exciting and in-
ffammatory language used in Dub-
lin and other parts of Ireland,
observing that it might lead in
some parts of the country to out-
rage and insurrection ; but that
outrage and that insurrection
would be put down, because the
Government had the means of so
doing at its disposal in the loyalty
and affection of the people, and in
the force of the army, whose fide-
lity had been most foully belied in
various ways, both in and out of
that House. He then proceeded
to stale that, immediately after
Easter, the Honse would proceed
to the discussion of measures
which related to the political state
of the Irish population. Referring
to Mr. J. O'Connell's announced
motion for the Repeal of the
Union, he showed that all the griev-
ances of which the late Mr. G rattan
had complained In the Irish Par-
liament, and which remained un-
redressed by that Parliament, had
been redressed by a Parliament of
the United Kingdom. He de-
clared his readiness to listen to
any proposition supported by the
great m^ority of Irish members,
having for its object the improve-
ment of the laws and condition of
that country ; but by discussion (if
the choice should be for argument),
and by force (if recourse were had
to arms), he was determined, as
long as there was breath and life
in Dim, to oppose the repeal of
the legislative Union. The noble
Lord then resumed his seat amid
the loudest cheers.
The House then divided, when
there appeared —
For the third reading S95
A^inst it ... . 40
Minority 265
The Bill was then read a third
time and passed, amidst much
cheering.
In the House of Lords it met
with much less discussion. The
Lord Chancellor having moved the
second reading on the 19th in a
brief explanatory speech.
Lord Stanley said he did not in-
tend to throw any impediment in
the way of passing the Bill, but he
called attention to some points
that hod occurred to him on perus-
ing it. He confessed, looking to the
importance of the alteration of the
£nglimd.']
HISTORY.
[139
Isw proposed by the Bill, he §bould
have been better pleased if more
than twenty-four or fort^-eight
hours' notice had been ^veu to that
House to rorm its decision — espe-
cially as the law was founded only
on temporary causes. Might not
the GoTemment have been con-
tented with the powers given them
in the seventh dause, of prosecut-
ing for felony in certain cBfies, al-
though the tacts proved might
amount to treason ? He conld not
see the beuefit of a distinction be-
tween compassing the imprison-
ment and restraint of the Sovereign
and compassing bis deposition-^the
first crime being evidenced by
printing or writing, and the second
not. He was also under an appre-
hension thati as felonies were now
first merged in treasons, so misde-
meanours would be merged in felo-
nies : if that were so, cases would
very likely occur in Ireland where
it would be moet inconvenient to
prosecute offenders for felonies, but
where prosecution for misdemea-
nonr might have answered all pur-
Lord Brougham threw ont some
sot unfriendly criticisms. If this
Bill were extended in it* opera-
tion t« Scotland, a prisoner there
would, for the first time, be de-
prived of his right to a list of the
jury and a list of the witnesses
gainst him. He had always un-
derstood levying war to bo a sub-
stantive offence ; but under the
Bill it seemed to be no offence
until levied " in order by force or
constraint to compel " the Crown
"to change its measures or coon-
sels." He gave a wamii^ to the pub-
lic press, that though Parliament
protected its own Members in the
use of language that might be se-
ditious or treasonable, yet the pub-
lication of such language by the
firess ioade the printer and pub-
isher liable, as though it were Uieir
own original langut^.
Lord Campbell admitted that
the law would not reach Mr. Smith
O'Brien for his language in the
other House, but neither would it
reach the editors or reporters of
newspapers for reporting Mr.
O'Brien 'a language. With r^ard
to reporting speeches, he would
be the last man to punish faith-
fill reports. He had, indeed,
some years a^, introduced a Bill
one clause of which provided that
no person who gave a bon^ fid*
and honest report of what passed
in either House of Parliament
should be liable to punishment.
That Bill was seconded by Lord
Brougham himself, and had met
with the entire approval of the
Lord Chief Justice.
Lord Campbell went at length
into the general doctrine of the
law on the question of " open and
advised speaking," and showed that
the Bill introduced no new invasion
of liberty.
The Duke of Wellington highly
^proved of the objects of the Bill.
Be considered it absolutely neces-
sary to apply some efficient check
to the evils consequent on the gi-
gantic meetings by which this and
the sister country had been dis-
turbed. Matters had come to that
pass that the law was an object of
contempt to every one of the per-
sons who broke it. When proceed-
ings had been commenced against
three persons, and after they had
been brought before the Magis-
trates, and bail hod been taken for
their coming to trial, one of them
repeated the offence with which he
was charged ; and the other two
carried out their attempts in an
140] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England,,
misdetneanoare, and might always
be put down bj the existing lawa.
With respect to one point of the
Bill — the privilege of umlleoge pos-
sessed by prisoners — he shonld be
Borry to see prisoners in Ireland
deprived of that priTilege.
Earl St. Germains gave the Bill
a quaUfied support; and it was
read a second time, and on the
following evening passed through
its remaining stages without oppo'
Another measure which derived
its origin from the occurrences of
this eventful crisis, was a Bill for
enabling the Government to com-
pel the departure of aliens from
this country in oertun cases. The
subject was fitst moated on the
lltb April, when the Duke of
Beaufort called the attention of the
House of Lords to the number of
fore^ers seen in the streets of the
metropolis, and inquired if Govern-
ment intended t« apply to the
Legislature for powers to remove
aliens?
The Marquis of Lanadovrae said
he held in bis band a Bill for
ferring on Ministers ample powers,
to be exercised upon thair responsi-
bility, for a. limited time, and in
certain coses, to compel the depar-
ture of persons coming here not
from the Bcoostomed motives ol
business and pleasure. Crowds
foreigners were resorting to tiiia
countiy whose olgeot could not
be ascertained, and Government
thought it their duty to stand pre-
pared against eveiy contingency.
A day or two afterwards the noble
Lord moved the second reading of
this Bill.vrith some further explana-
tions. He said it had been found
necessary that such a power as that
to be conferred by the Bill should
be lodged somewhere. The Bsecu-
ofFensive mission to another coun-
tiy. What ware those but aggra-
vations of the offences already com-
mitted, and a throwing of contempt
on the law? Through this con-
tempt of the law, there would soon
be no authority but itiat of phy-
dcal force. In 1881, there were
extraordinary riots at Bristol, and
also at Lyons : at Bristol, Cdonel
Brereton saved the town from en-
tire conBagmtion, and restored
order, with one squadron of dra-
rions; at LyotiB, a Marshal of
ranee needed 60,000 men to save
the town from destroctioo. Such in
1831 was the respect for the law
in Bristol. But where vras the
respect for the law in London now,
when hundreds of thousands of
citizena and thousands of armed
troops were found necessary to pre-
serve the peace? The tranaao-
tions in Ireland during the last few
years hod been the cause of this
altered stat« of public feeling. A
messure was necessary which should
apply to such transactions. He did
not want to put down discussion,
and hoped it would olnavB be al-
lowed on every subject whereon it
could be wished: but let it be at
meetings of such numbers only as
oould hear what was said ; and let
not the meetings, under the pre-
tence of discussion, be made sssem-
■ blages to create terror and over-
awe the Government.
Lord Denman ^eed that in
certain quarters there was an in-
creased contempt for the law ; but
he thought that the feeling was over-
rated. Indeed, the spectacle which
had lately been exhibited was proof
of the estimation in which nun-
dreds of thousands of citizens held
that law which they met to uphold.
With regard to monster meetings,
he thought they were themselves
EngUmd.]
HISTORY.
[141
tire would be enabled to exerrase
diacretion in the removal of fo-
reigners from this conntiy ; acdng
not with reference to the conduct of
tbe indiTiduftls elsewhere, but with
reference to their conduct here.
The power would be exercised hj
the Home Secretatr.
The Earl of Ellenbonragb only
(^gocted to the Bill that it did not
go BO &r as the last Alien Act.
AlieuB were required to present
■ passport, and make a decuration
under the Act of 1896 ; the only
penalty if they failed to do so being
a fiue of 40«. But there would be
Bo means of executing this mea-
sure, unless the most stringent
proyisione were introduced in refe-
rence to passports and registration.
Under the last Alien Act, tbe arms
of aliens might be seized ; aliens
might be directed to land at par-
ticular places ; passports might be
refoeed ; aliens might be commit'
ted ; magistrates might require pro-
duction of passports. What the
noble Lord proposed was but a frac-
tional part of that Act The Bill
would be utterly inoperative unless
the number of aliens oould be
ascertained.
Earl Grey admitted that the
present measure would not secure
a complete register of all foreign-
MB ; but he feared that a system of
T^[istration could not be devised
whii^ riiould be complete and yet
not interfere with the ordinary
sfiaiis of life and the ordinary pur-
suits of persons who had no crimi-
nal intentions. He believed, how-
srer, that the Bill wonld give quite
lofficient power to protect the coun-
tiy from the abuse of hospitality by
foreigners who might enaeavour to
Btir up civil strife.
The Bill was supported by Lord
Stsnley and tbe Duke cJ Richmond,
who regretted at the same time
that it was not more atringent.
Lord Denman also approved of it,
but expressed his oouoem that it
should be necessary. He must,
however, say that in his humble
opinion none of these Bills ought
to be dealt with in periods of ex-
citement, disturbance, and alarm ;
but that, in timesof peace, the Go-
Ternment and Parliament ought to
consider what was the best mode
of governing the country when any
outbreak should occur. The BiU
was then read a second time.
The principle of this Bill en-
countered, some degree of opposi-
tion in the House of Commons.
Sir George Grey having moved the
second reading on the Ist May, with
a brief explanation of its objects,
Sir William Molesworth strenu-
ously opposed the measure, moving
that the second reading be on that
day sis mouths. So for as it
r^rded aliens. It was analogous
in principle to the famous law
of suspected persons of the 17tb
September, 1TQ3, one of the most
accursed laws of the Reign of
Terror. It was a repetition al-
most word for word oi the Idth,
16th, and 17th sections of the Alien
Act of 179S— on Act which, like
this, was proposed as a temporary
law, but which had been continued
from year to year for thirty-three
years, before the opposition to it
from eveiy man of note in the
Liberal party was successful. Lord
John Russell himself made his
maiden speech agtunst that Bill in
1814. In 1824, Lord John and
Hfr. Denman were tbe tellers
against the Bill. Od the last occa-
aion, (alas for human s^acity and
forethought!) Lord John expressed
his hope that that would be the
last tjme he should raise his voice
on the subject; as be was con-
\-inoed that, after the expiration of
142]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[England.
the Act, tbe House would look book
on it ss a meaaare which ought
nerer to have been sanctioned. The
present measure was directed espe-
ciallj against Frenchmen, and was
oSianBiTe and impolitic. It more-
over paid but an ill compliment to
the feelinge of our own people.
The score of desperate characters
now in London, gainst whose ma-
chinations the Bil] was to guard,
would be harmless in this country
though dangerous in their own;
for here they would find neither a
Monarch self-seeking and hated,
a Ministi7 comipt, an upper class
profligate and despised, nor a mid-
dle class indifferent to the institu-
tions of their country. Sir Wil-
liam Molesworth would not, because
he had confidence in the Ministry,
give them powers which every per-
son on their side of the House
would have refused to Sir Robert
Feel if he had asked for them.
Lord Dudley Stuart remarked,
that under this fiill a Secretary of
State need not, in some cases, have
actoal " information " against, but
only "apprehensions" concerning
an alien, to justify seizing him and
expelling him from the country.
The Attorney- General corrected
some misapprehensions which had
been expressed as to the law. In
1703, foreigners had almost insu-
perable obstacles placed in the way
of their becoming naturalized sub-
jects. The law was no longer in that
State. The difficulty and the ex-
pense of being natundized were now
nominal ; and any person wishing
to reside here permanently might
become naturalized, on proof that
he had no designs against the peace
or institutions of the country ; and
on becoming naturalized, would be
immediately exempted from the
operation of the Bill. Under the
Bill, too, the Government could
only act od information which the
Secretary of State would be bound
The other speakers were — for
the Bill, the Earl of Arundel and
Surrey, Mr. Henry Drummond,
and Captain Harris. Against it,
Mr. W. J. Fox, Mr. Hume, Mr.
Ewart, and Mr. Urquhart, who
quoted Leviticns xxiv. 33, and
Numbers ix. 14, that there should
be but " one ordinance both for the
stranger and for him that was bom
in the land." Dr. Bowting ob-
served that al) men are Propagand-
ists, so far as they are able ; but he
had faith that all our institutions
which were of real value would be
maintained by the good opinion of
those interested in them.
On a division, the second reading
was carried by Ul to 92.
It was the opinion of a certain
class of politicians, at this crisis,
that the true remedy for the dan-
gers and discontents which pre-
vuled was U> be found in a larger
concession of popular claims, and
that the constitution would be
most effectually strengthened by
widening the basis of representa-
tion in Parliament. The veteran
Keformer, once Member for Mid-
dlesex and now for Montrose, Mr.
Joseph Hume, took the lead in this
new movement, and at some large
public meetings, which took place
about this time, he expressed in
strong terms his sense of the expe-
diency of a wide extension of the
elective franchise. Associations
were formed and meetings held in
various parts of the kingdom for
the promotion of this object, and
Mr. Hume undertook to bring the
question to a teat by a formal mo-
tion in the House of Commons.
The day fixed for the debate was
the Slst June, when, after several
nnmerously signed petitions hod
BngtandJ]
HISTORY.
been presented in favoar of Mr.
Home's object, that gentlenuQ rose
to more a reeolation in die follow-
ing terms t—
" That this House, as at present
Gonatitoted, does not fairly repre-
Bent the population, the property,
or the industry of the country;
whence has arisen great and in-
creasing discontent in the minds of
a large portion of the people : and
it is therefore expedient, with a
view to amend the national repre-
sentation, that the elective fran-
chise shall be so extended as to in-
clude all householders ; that votes
shall be taken by ballot ; that the
duration of Parliaments shall not
exceed three years ; and that the
apportionment of Members to po-
pulation shall be made more
equal."
Mr. Hume began 1^ referring
to the numerous petitions which
had been presentea upon that and
previous days, denying that they
bad been coococted by any undue
inSuence or organized confede-
He glanced at the state of
public feeling in this country —
the general disposition, amid the
disturbance of Europe, to main-
tain order, and especially the
maintenance of peace on the lOih
of April last. It was for the
Hoose, however, to consider whe-
ther those who had manifested at
that crisis such a determination to
obtain an extension of the snffrage,
had just cause of complaint. He
believed that if the Reform Bill
had not been granted, much more
Berions distnrbances would have
happened- Our position, however,
had materially dtered within the
last three or four years ; events bad
changed the condition and relative
situation of the working classes
with other classes io this countiy.
[US
We formerly boasted, that, while
in other countries despots main-
tained themselves by large armies,
we could mainttun the peace and
welfare of the country by the
agency of Parliament, without the
aid of military measures. But
whereas we were formerly a civil
nation, we had now become a
military nation, with a great ex-
penditure; and the discontent in
the oountiy had become general.
It was upon that ground that he
felt it to be his duty to submit to
the House what he thought would
be a remedy for existing evils.
Reverting to the Reform Act of
18Sa, he contended that it had
failed to answer all the purposes
for which it was intended. " Par-
liament purports to be an engine
for governing a constitutional
country, all classes being repre-
sented ; is that so now? Taxation
and representation should go to-
gether. Eveiy man should have
his share in eauctioning the
laws by which be is governed —
the sole difTcrence between a free-
man and a slave. The Crown,
Lords, and Commons, form the
best method of giving effect to
that constitutional government :
the House of Commons, therefore,
ought to be invested with the
highest authority and influence in
the country; no act of the Crown
oi^t to be valid n-itbout its sanc-
tion ; and the large classes of the
community ought to be repre-
sented. But what is the fact?
Five out of every six male adults
in this country are without any
voice in the election of the repre-
sentatives to that House. The
population of Great Britain was
18,500,0nn in 1841 ; out of the
male adults above twenty- one,
taking the average — some indi-
vidoals being r^stered for three.
144] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [B«jj/and.
four, or five different places — the lets, with ft popnUtioti of 400,000,
number of registered electors does were neutralized by Harwich, with
not amount to more than from a population of 3,700, Some large
800,000 to 8&0,000. The rest of towns had no representatives,
the 5.000,000 or 6,000,000 adalta Mr. Hume cit«d statistics ad-
who have not this privilege are duced by the late Ur. O'Connell,
placed in an inferior situation, showing the scant; representation
snd deprived of that riffht which of Ireland; and othera from a
hj the constitutioQ they are en- pamphlet recently published, illus-
titled to enjoy. At eighteen, or trating the general inequality. To
even sixteen years of age, a man prove how unequally different in-
can be drawn for the militia and terests and populations are balanced
called out to quell riots. Yet in the House of Commons, betook
classes of workmen distinguished twenty-two boroughs, the aggre>
for their industry, intelligence, gate population of which wasbnt
and ability, are excluded irom the a fraction above 100,000, and
fhmchise." Mr. Hume cited the found that they had 42 repre-
oath taken by Cabinet Ministers to sentatives in the House of Corn-
maintain the peace of the country, mons, — that is to aay, one Member
and, quoting the words of Earl for every ^,390 persons; while
Grey when introducing the Reform twenty other cities and boroughs.
Bill in 1831, maintained that the with an aggregate population of
vay to do so is by ^ving to the 8,780,000, dso returned iil Mem-
people " a full, vigorous, and effi- hers, being one Member for about
cient" representation. every 90,000 persons. The Me-
He quoted various definitions of tropolis, including all its Farlia-
liousehold suffrage; Sir Thomas mentary districts, with a popular
Smith's dictum, in the time of tion of S.OOO.OOO, was represented
Elizabeth, that in one way or by 16 Members in ParliamenL
other " every Englishman is in- The eight boroughs of Bridge-
tended to be present in Parlia- north, Honiton, Harwich, Thet-
ment, either in person or hj pro- ford, Richmond (Yorkshire), Tot-
curation," &c. ; the declaration of nese, Stafford, andLymington, with
the Hampden Club, in 1814, that an aggregate population falling
every adult male who paid taxes short of 40,000, returned the same
bad a right to vote for Members number of Members,
of Parliament ; with other declora- Another evil was the great dtver-
tione of a similar kind. He then sity of the franchise. Althoi^h the
3uot«d a number of statistical ten-pound rental was the standard
etails from various sources, show- for boroughs, and the forty-shilling
ing how partially and imequally freehold the standard for counties,
the franchise is distributed. Hunt- there were, in truth, no fewer than
ingdoQ, Westmoreland, and Rut- eighty-five different kinds of fran-
land, with 36,000 adult males and chise. It was scarcely possible to
9,000 electors, returned 6Members, appreciate the confusion, the delay,
and thus neutralized the 6 Mem- and the expense that such a system
bersof Middlesex, West Yorkshire, produces. What the House ought
and South Lancashire, with a popn- to do, was to render the sufirage as
lation of 316,000 adult males and simple, as general, as easily ob-
73,000 electors. The Tower Ham- tained, and as easily d ' ' '
EngUmd.] HISTORY. [145
poaaibla. Mr. Hume enumerated the disdaodon between personal
maaj mietiet of the fmnchlBe, — rights and pn^>ert7. He did not
hj estate in fee, occupation, mar- wish to draw that distinction too
nage settlement, joint tenancy, tight; but be mnat say, that br
promotion to a benefice, lease- Uie Uw as it stood too mucn
iwlding, corporate right, &c. attention had been paid to bricks
He argued that want of con- and mortar and too little to br&ins,
fidence in the rwresentation mads and the time has now come when
tbfl people indifferent to the acts common sense should prevail,
of the Legislature; and with that Mr. Hume then went over all
indifierence the public expenditure the several parts of his proposition,
ms increasing. maintaining that each was proper
He then explained, that in and expedient Not desiring
liis notice the word " all " was un- change for the sake of change, he
intentJonally omitted; and he now would not cut np the country into
supplied tluB definition of bouse- electoral districts, and he would
bold BDffi:sge — " That every such sot disturb the distribution of
person of faU age, and not subject Membvs for Enoland. Ireland,
to any mental or l^al incapaoity, and Scotland. He thought tliat the
who shall have occupied a house, duration of Parliaments for three
or part of a house, for twelve years would afibrd sufficient con-
months, and shall have been rated trol over Members. There vres no
to the poor for that period, ehall property qualification in Scotland,
be renstered as an elector ; and and he did not see any reason why
eveiy lodger shall have the right England and Ireland should not
to daim to be rated to the poor, be put on the same footing. He
and after such rating and resid- quoted copiously from Lorn John
enoe for twelve months be shall Kussell's speech on the 1st of
be registered as an elector." There March, 1881, introducing the Re-
woola bo no difflcnll? in cerryina form Bill. Lord John then held
out this object. The apparatus all that it was necessary to re-establish
existed. By the present laiv, every confidence and sympathy between
house waa rated to the poor; and the House and its constituents;
the Act conferring this sufErage not wishing to encumber that par-
would provide that every man who tioular measure with other matters,
so desired might, upon entering he left such questions as ballot and
upon the occupation of part of the duration of Parliaments to
a house, have a right to be future consideration; and he closed
nUed for a portion, whatever it his speech with this declaration —
might be, of Uie poor rate assessed " It is the only way calculated to
upon that house. Thus registra- insure permanency to that consti-
tion and resideitce, both of which tution which has so long been the
irare important, would be secured, admiration of foreign nadons, on
and a line would be drawn between account of its popukr spirit ; but
the mere vagrant and the worthy that admiration cannot condnue to
and educated man who was now ex- exist much longer, unless, by an in-
cluded firom the sufi'rage merely on fusion of new popular spirit, you
account of the nature of his occu- show that you are determined not
pation. It might be argued that to be the repreeentadves of small
this proposal would not keep np dassee or particular inlereste, but
Vol. XC. [L]
146]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
■ ibaX you will foria a body whicb,
repreeeDting die people — which,
springing from the people — which,
sympathizing with the people — can
&irly call upon the people to sup-
port any future burdens, and to
struggle with any future difficulties
you may hare to encounter, coufidsnt
that those who ask them bo to do
are united heart and hand with
them, and look only, like them-
aelres, to the glory and wel&re of
England."
&Jr. Hume concluded by urging
upon the House that the time was
come for one of two alteraatiTes —
either to coerce the people, or to
grant them new civil rights. This
ooimtry had incurred a debt of
eOO.OOO.OOOZ. hy the late war to
atem the demand for popular in-,
atitutions — a weight dT taxation
that would have been avoided if
Parliamentary Reform had been
granted, before 1793, by Mr. Pitt.
In conclusion, he promised that,
if he were perautted to bring in a
Bill, he would willingly submit it
to revision in details.
Dr. Bowring seconded the motion.
Mr. Heniy Drummond assented
to much that had follen from Mr.
Hume ; the subject now before the
House had occupied much of his own
attention many years since, and he
had published a pamphlet upon it
in 1839. He observed, however,
opoQ the inconsistencies involved
in Mr. Hume's argument. Some-
times he had seemed to regard
the Parliament as the Xi^islature ;
at other times as the Executive
body; he seemed, at one time, to
regard the franchise as a trust, at
another as a right. He wished to
know who the parties were who
were now making the demands
which Mr. Hume advocated.
They were men who from various
causes were suffering great dis-
tress, and were, therefore, not the
parties to argue any question
coolly; they were intellectual spe-
culators — lawyers without clients,
doctors without patients, dreamers
of every kind — in a word, they
were men ready to throw the
world again back into chaos, in
the hope that they should be able
to denve some benefit to them-
selves out of the general confu-
sion. He read some of the docu-
ments issued by these parties, for
the piuposa of showing the strange
ideas which they entertained of the
purposes of Government. Accord-
mg to their ideas, the Throne and
the Peerage were evils to be en-
dured only till they could he
quietly got rid of. Be had been
no party to the Beform Bill ; be
hated it when it was first passed ;
he hated it still ; but he was living
under it He thought, however,
that those who spoke of it as a
final measure must have had little
foresight if they did not see that
it was only the first step to many
larger and more extensive mea-
sures. He regarded the extension
of the franchise as a necessary con-
sequence of the Reform Act ; bat, if
men were to be discontented be-
cause they were not in a state of
equality, discontented they must
remain to all etemi^. As to the
duration of Parliaments, be had no
objection to triennial or to annual
ones. Septennial Parliaments were
a Whig invention, and be disliked
them. A quinquennial election was
a novel^, and as such objection-
able. Mr. Drummoud ridiculed the
idea of the representation of parti-
cular classes; the absurdity of it
would appear as soon as it wa&
attempted to carry it out into prac-
tice. He suggested the extension
of the BufTrage to every possessor
of any definable sort of property.'
£>i;faxl.]
HISTORY.
[147
There was no principle in fixing an
arbitrary amount — uone in a 101.
franchise that was not found in a
fomchisa of 9/. 19*. Gd.
Lord John Roesell rose early in
the debate, because be thought tbe
House was entitled to an early ex-
planation of his Tiews, not only
with regard to tbia moticm, but to
other qneetions atdn to it After
referring briefly to the petitions
which had been presented, and vin-
dicating some expressions recently
used by himself, which hod been
perverted by speakers at public
meetings into a declaration of his
belief that the people desired no
further reforms, the noble Lord
proceeded to combat the riews ad-
vocated by the mover of the reso-
lotioQ. He accepted Mr. Hume's
admisBJon that tbe Reform Act
bad been mainly instrumental in
maintaining the peace of the coun-
tiy during the recent excitement
as a proof that it had averted dis-
order and conferred benefit on the
country. If Mr. Hume's asser-
tion were correct, that every mati
who contributed to the taxes had
a right to a vote, there was an eud
to tbe question, and there was no
occasion for tbe restrictions and
qualifications with which Mr. Hume
was now going to encumber that
pretended right. Ifevery manhad
that right. ■ what did Mr. Hume
mean by now restricting it to all
householders? Even under his de-
finition of household suffrage some
two or three millions of adult males
would be excluded from the repre-
sentation, and thus tbe universal
content which be wished to intro-
duce would not be obtained. . He
difiered &om Mr. Hume as to the
basis of his proposed represento-
tioD. That which every man of
fiill age bad a right to was the best
poBsible government and tbe beet
representative system which the
Legislattire conld form. If uni-
versal sufErage would give tbe best
representative system, the best
laws, and the best government,
the people would have a right to
it ; but, if universal stifirage would
not give this, then it was mere idle
pedejitry to say that every man
hod a right to a vote and was en-
titled to share in legislation. In
considering this question, he could
not but recollect that oura vws a
mixed constitution, that we bad a
Sovereign and a House of Lords,
and that they were not evils to be
endured, but institutions to be
proud of. Tacitus had said that
every goTemment was formed of
monarchy, aristocracy, or demo-
cracy — that a government formed
out of the three might he easily
conceived, but could not easily be
brought to pass, and that, if it could
be brought to pass, it could not be
durable. That sentiment had been
justified by the experience of all
the modem nations of the world,
save one, and that one was Eng-
land. We, therefore, ought to ap-
ply ourselves with the greatestcau-
tion and anxiety to any plan which
vrould alter in any way the adjust:
ment of the different powers of the
constitution, as this plan would do
in regard to our whole representa-
tive system. The noble Lord then
entered into a long argument to
Erove that a Parliament elected by
ousebolders and lodgers would not
be a better Parliament than the
present. If such a representative
system were adopted, it would ren-
der it necessary to adopt such a
division of the country into elec-
toral districts as was contemplated
in the so - called People's Char-
ter. Having shown that such a
division would not be conducive to
tbe interests of Ute people, he next
[L2]
^,
148] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
proceeded to argue thftt the appor- electors of Stroad, in 1880, either
tionmeiit of the representation to to diafranchiBe the freemen or to
the population would lead to such make them the representatiTes of
oollisioDs of opinion between the the industrious mechanics in our
representatives of the town and large manufacturing towns who
country districts as would be in- were not entitled to vote at pre-
jiuioaB to its fiiture tnnquillity. sent. He had also said that the
He declined to enter into any long 101. franchise was too much fet-
argument as to the vote by ballot, tered by restriction, and that the
though he was of opinion that it system of registration was compli-
would he no remedy against inti- cated and vexatious. From 1639
midation. He also declared him- to the present day neither Mr.
self satisfied with the present du- Hume nor his colleagues bad
ration of Parliament, and should brought forward any proposition
not give his vote for any change in for the reconstruction of the House
it. He then proceeded to defend of Commons. Nor had he (Lord
the ileform Act, by showing that J. Rusaell). Yet it appeared to
since it was passed ibe House had him that the public mind was now
not been the mere servant of the turned to the subject, and that the
aristocracy, or the bigoted oppo- time was at hand, if it had not
nent of all plans at ameliora- already come, when some reforms
tion. No one who considered the of the nature to which be hod just
changes which bad been made alluded must be made in the repre-
Bince 1832 could say that the sentative system. The inquiries
House of Commons bad not re- which the House was then making
sponded quickly and readily to into the proceedings of some cor-
iiublic opinion. He then recapitu- nipt boroughs would give it further
ated the great measures which it iniormaiion, and then it would
had passed in that interval, as, for know whether it should disfran-
instance, the abolition of slavery, chise those borou^s or only the
the opening of the China trade, the freemen of them. The great de-
commutation of tithes, the remedy feet in the Reform Act appeared to
of the grievances of Dissenters as him to be that it had reduced too
to births and marriages, the reform much the varieties of the right of
of the municipal corporations in voting under the old constitution.
England, Scotland, and Ireland, He thought that by some variety
the alterations in the tariff, the of suffrage, such as by making th'e
alterations in the postage system, freemen the representatives of our
and, lastly, the total repeal of the industrial classesinthelargetowns.
Com Laws, which proved that the orby making the right depend upon
House was not under the rule and accumulationsinthesavings'banka,
dominion of the landed aristocracy, or by some other mode of the same
Thinking as he did that the Bo- kind, we might extend the fron-
form Act was an improvement on chise without injuring the basis of
our old representative system, still our representation. He was. there-
he had always been of opinion that fore, not disposed to say tiiat you
it would admit of improvement could not beneficially alter or im-
from time to time. When he had prove the Reform Act ; but he was
been most attacked for finality, he not prepared at present to intro-
bad proposed, -in his letter to the duce Bills to cany the amendments
f] HISTORY. [140
trtiich hfi had mentioned into effect, bred thom, and having no concern
This «u not the moment, nhen wilh the laws except to obey them.
Boch dangeroasopinioiiBreepectuig He then proceeded, in a highly
Mpital, and wagea, and labour were rhetorical Hpeech, to contend that
■float, to make great and extenaive this state of things was uqjtist to
changes in the construction of the the unenfranchised and iqjurious
House of Commons, which, h« to the whole community ; and he
believed, represented the nation proved at some leiwth, that all the
fiurly. The advantages of our consli- reasons which Lord John Russell
tation were to ourselves iovalnable. had urged firet in 16SQ, and after-
The stability of our institutions wards in 188S, existed in still
amid the existing convnlaions of greater force at tlie present time,
tbe world had excit«d the admira> He therefore implored the House
tion of eveiy lover of peace and to emancimte its serfs, and so to
order in every nation, and there- make of Englishmen a united nar
fore he hoped that the House would tion. If it did so, it might arm
do nothing to dimioish that admi- the whole population in the full
lation or forfeit that respect. He confidence that, if war should betide
tnisted that the House vrould not us, it would be rolled back to the
■elect the present as the time for terror and confusion of our enemies,
making a reform, which stopped, Mr. Disraeli opposed the motion
indeed, abort of the Charter, but in a speech of very felicitous effect,
which must ultimately terminate He desired to know how it was that
in it: but that it would think it the topic of Government expendi-
dne to the other branches of the ture and extravagance, which had
Legislature and to that great people been so prominently urged at the
of which it was the representaUve, public meetings, had been so little
to give a decided negative to thia referred to in the speeches of Mr.
resolution. Hume and ill- Fox.
Mr. W. J. Fox would have been "TbecountiyhasforfonrDiontbs
better pleased if Lord John Rus- been told that an enormous in-
■ell had declared more explicitly crease of taxation and in* the ex-
the extent of the reforms which he penditure of the Government are
had in contemplation, and the re- the growing abuses of late years,
■nits which he anticipated firom What are tbe beta? Tbe ordi-
them. He also regretted that nary revenue of 18S8 was forty-
Lord John Russell had scarcely nine millions; that of 1848, but
leached on the question whether forty-seven millions: moreover, tbe
particnlarclassesof the community revenue of 1838 waa raised from
were properly represented in that a population of less than twenty-
House. Now the question at pre- three millions, and that of 1848
sent before Parliament was this: from one of thirty millions.
"Are the working classes of this Taking the taxation at a sum per
country represented as they ought head, the pressure of 1838 was
to be; and if not, can they be so 2^ 13«. M. on each person, and
repreeented without danger to our thatof 1846 XL lOt. and a fraction
institntions ?" He (Mr. Fox) do- per head : but, agun, the wealth of
dared that they were not repre- each person is greater individually
sented ; that they were like helota now than it was in 1838. What
in the land, ser& on the soil which becomes of the fiscal plea for politi-
160]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEngUmd.
cal change in preeeoce of these
&cte?"
Mr. Hume's advocacy' of his new
franchise went to the extent of
uniTBrwl suffice. Every Eng-
lishman had a right to vote, as Mr.
Hume contended ; if so, whj was
he to b« required to live in a
house to exercise that right? If
in any one point more than
another the act of 1832 was o1>-
jectianable, it was in its too rigid
adoption of the qualification from
proper^; but the proposed fran-
ebise reoognised property alone as
its basis. The second point — the
Totinfl by ballot— could not be ef-
fected except by makio g or following
R complete change of the character
and habits of the people ; sufficient
reasons against it on this occasion.
The third point — the legal dura-
tion of Parliament — was taken
from the old Tory creed and system,
which Mr. Disraeli had ever sup-
ported : he would support it him-
self if any manifest benefit could
be adduced ; but no sensible man
could believe that the policy or
iMielation of Parliament would be
aflected by such a change if it were
now made. The fourtn point was
one tliat based the representation
of England solely on population.
(PiiMnt from Mr. Hum».) Mr.
Disraeli went into a detailed deve-
lopment of the workino of this
plan, taking Buckinghaioshire,
London, Glasgow, Dublin, and
other leading instances as his illus-
trations, and making dexterous
use of the results. On a popula-
tion heeia, London would have as
many members as all Scotland.
He humorously sketched the
origin of Mr. Hume's Reform
movement, from the day of the
meeting of a few veteran Leagne
agitators at their rooms — never
-pennanently deserted — in Newall's
Buildings, Manchester. We hod
lived to see the ori^ of a new
profession in England. " An
honourable gentleman the other
night said that diplomacy was going
oat of fiishion. Possibly it may
he; many people think lawyers use-
less — they make their own wills
and die; there are those who
think doctors good for oothii^ —
they take quack medicines, and
die also; and there may be Mi-
nisters of State who think diat
they can dispense with the ser-
vices of ambassadors and envoys.
But those who are interested in
finding employment for the rising
generation will be glad to learn
that a new profession has been dis-
covered, and that is the profession
of aoitation. {Cheen and laughter.)
Well, Sir, when honourable gen-
tlemen cheer, do they deny my
assertion ? Do tbey recollect the
observation —
mattulituliios.
Gruniiut[cui, rhetor, geometrei, pictor,
aliptM,
Augur, utoBnobdM, medicUi, nu|^,
Grecului ewnene id cmlum, juaieiu,
ibit." "
Completing his sketch of the
movement to the present time, Mr.
Disraeli observed—" The remark-
able circumstance is this, that the
present movement has not in the
slightest degree originated in any
class of the people, even if the 3W0-
ple had been misled. It is possible
that there might be a popular move-
ment and yet erroneous ; but this
is erroneous and yet not popular.
{Cheen and laitgkter.) But the
moisl I draw from all this — ^from
observing this system of oi^anized
agitation, this playing andpolter-
ing with popular passions lor the
aggrandizement of one too am-
bitious class — the moral I draw
] H I S T E Y. [151
and the qoeBtion I ask is thie— by decUring that he abonld vote
why are the people of England with Mr. Hume.
ioTced to find leaderB among these Mr. Seijeant Talfonrd objected
persons ? Their proper teadera are to fnrtber railroad progress in the
the gentry of England ; and if they path of reform, and, after an able
are not the leaders of the people, analysis of Mr. Hume's propod-
it is because the gentlemen of tion, declared that, either as a
England bare been so negligent settlement or an instalment, it
of their duties and so unmindful would be equally unsatis^toiy.
of their station, that this system of It was founded on no principle, at-
profeesionol agitation, so ruinous tained no end. and was but an in-
to the beat interests of the conntiy, stance of deluaire and miacbie'roas
has arisen in England." quackery.
The debate was then adjourned. Mr. Cobden said, the division
It was resumed on the 6th July, in favour of this motion might not
the first speaker beiug Mr. B. Os- be large, but the list would show
borne, who advocated a residential that all those Members who re[Hre-
test as a means of enfranchising sented large 10/. constituenoies,
the best educated mechanics. The where the people had the free
claims of this class had, be showed, povrer of giving their votes, would
been supported by statesmen of be in the number of those who
every age, from Serjeant Glanville, supported the motbu. He sp-
in the time of Charles I., to Sir J. p«ued to that fact as a proof that
Hobbouse, a member of the present the middle classes were anzions to
Government The ezisUr^ fran- open the portals of the constitu-
duae was, be contended, neither a tion to those who were anxious to
right nor a privilege, but a perqui- come within them. There had as
site, which would not be perverted yet been no organization in favour
if extended ti} the householders of of this movement, but it had al-
the country. He remarked upon ready made great way; 130 meet-
the anomalies which the smalt ings had been held in its fa-
boroughs presented, with the view vour within the last five weeks,
of showing the advantages of eleo- and it had already excited as much
toral districts ; advocated the praC' feeling in its support as had been
tice of voting by ballot, and snortr acquired by the Com Law League
.ening the duration of Parliaments; after five years' agitation. The
and quoted Dod's Parliamentary present representative system was
Companion in reply to Lord John a Bham, but, if it were amended as
Bussell's assertion that the House Mr. Hume proposed, it would once
of Commons was not an aristocratic more be a r«ility. He defended, at
institution, and that Government some length, Mr. Hume's scheme
was not carried on for the benefit of household sufflvge, contending
of the aristocracy. The Rossells, that it vrould not create a change
theGreys, and other scions of great in the Government, but would
fiunilies, monopolized every ^ace, only bring the Legislature into
to the exclusion of men of practical hannony witb the wants of the
experience, who would do the busi- people. He also advocated- it, as
nesB of the conntry.much better, likely to produce economy and re-
He upheld the middle classes trenchment, and a foir and equi-
against the gentry, and concluded table appropriation and im{iosition
152] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. {.EngUmd.
of the public taxation. He then Aot as a bastard agitatioD when
defended the proposed plan for a compared with that which pre-
new diviaion of electoral districts, ceded it, moved as an amendment,
The constitueDcies of London were that " experience hod shown that
as mnch too Ut^e as the conati* change in the constitution of Par-
tuencies of the country were too liament bad failed to obtain the
small. He thought it would be ends for which it was desirable,
better to divide such constituencies and with which it was origindly
into wards, and to give each of coinoined, viz., non-interference
them the power of electing a Mem- and retrenchment."
her, iuat^d of giving all of them Afr. C. Anstej seconded the
the power of electing a great amendment,
number. He was coDviocod that Ur. Locke King said that what-
this country could not be governed ever groiinds for complaint existed
peaceably, whilst the bulk of the in 1833 existed at present in as
people WHS excluded from the re- great force. We had profited by
presentation. He did not want to the French Revolution of 1630, and
mcreaae the numberof represent- had gained the Reform Act of 1833,
atives in that House ; but, if this and other great and beneficial mea-
Uotion were assented to, they aures. France bad then made a
must increase the number of repre- great change in its ooverament
senUttives in some districts, and which had proved merely nominal,
must diminish it in others. He It had been statJonary, whilst we
would not say much on the ballot, had been safely and steadily pro-
for it was one of those questiona grossing. Again we must make a
which had the greatest strength in step in advance, and that step must
that House, and among the middling be by adding another Schedule A
classes. The farmers, to a man, to another Reform Bill.
were in favour of it Having do- Mr. O'Connor denied that the
clared himself fiivourable to tri- principle of Mr. Hume's motion
ennial Parliaments, be reoom- had ever been adopted by a nuyo-
mended the House, if it wanted rity of the working olasaea. Tbey
to put an end to agitation, to al< were in &voar of the principles
low the power of the people to be of the People's Obarter, and would
felt within it. He wished to not be content with less. He ex-
bring the virtues, and talents, and pressed himself strongly in aup-
frugali^ of the industrial classes port of annual Parliamenta, and
into the publio service ; for he told said that he would rather have
those who talked of the aristocrat^ household suffrage with annual,
and traditionary influences, that it than universal sufirage with sep-
was not to the gentry, but to the tennial Parliaments. He was glad
middle classes, that all the great to find that Lord J. Russell pre-
triumphs of the Sritieh name, all ferred the People'a Charter to
its improvements in arts, litera- Mr. Hume's noetrum of reform,
ture, manafocturea, and commerce. He would vote, however, for that
were mainly attributable. nostrum as the least of the two
Mr. Urquhart, after dilating on evils which Mr. Hume and Mr.
the failure of the Reform Act, and Urquhart had conjointly brought
after denouncing the present agita- before the House. If the Motion
tion in favour of a new Reform were passed, it would not be a
a^iani.] HISTORY. [158
setUemeDt of the question ; for lie rerae. The resalt was sem io the
should argue as energeticatlT, as inorease of its standing anny, b^
enthusiastically, and aa forcibly for fore too large — in the increase of
the People's Ghajrter as he had its taxation — in the domination of
done before. a many-headed tyranny — and in
Mr. U. Millies did not think an immense increase of secret ser-
that tho ballot would produce any vice money. Such being the cass
great change in the composition of in Prasaia, as well as in France,
that House; but the division of he felt himself justified in de-
Great Britun into new electoral daring that, if the Members of
districts would introduce a very the House of Commons performed
portentous change. It would sub- their duties, there was nothing in
tract from the influence of the their principles or their practice
oonntiy, and add to the influence to depriTO them of the respect of
of the towns; and at present the their country. In some instances
towns had no right to complain of their coarse of late had not been
iheir want of influence, as they such as to conciliate public estima-
had carried Free Trade and the tion, and the cause of it was their
Repeal of the Com Lawa against inlonsistenoy in regard to cases of
the wishes and the resistance of the corruption, their incapacity to get
agricultural interest. He should, rapidly through business from their
therefore, TOt« against the motion, indulgence in unnecessary discos-
There was no immediate grievance sion, and their dealing in nn-
which called for it ; but the great generous and unhandsome imputa-
events which had recently occurred tions on each other. These were
in Europe must naturally find an fiiults which might be easily
echo here. If every Frenchman, amended, and, when that was
German, and Italian had hu share done, the amendment would cause
in the political arrangements of the House to stand higher in
his countiy, a claim for similar public estimation,
power would be heard here, and Lord D.Stuart, in ashort speech,
we must be prepared to meet it. declared himself friendly to the
Mr. S. Herbert did not think motion,
the present scheme of representa- Mr. Mnntz observed, that the
tion to be perfect, and was there- real question before the House
fore delighted to hear that Lord had been completely shirked by all
John Russell had given up the parties who had spoken that even-
doctrine of finality. He had like- ing. The qnestion was — first,
wise heard with pleasars his lord- did the House fairly represent the
ship's admission that the uniform- country; and, secondly, if it did
ity of the franchise established by not, was Mr. Hume's plan the
the Reform Act was one of its best mode of remedying the de-
greatest &ults. Mr. Cobden had fects in its composition? Now,
said that a reform of Parliament the people were of opinion that
would bring in its train a redaction the House did not fairly repre-
of establishments and taxation; but sent the country, and had formed
had that been the result of the la- that opinion in consequence of
boors of the representative body re- the conduct of the House this
cently elected in France under uni- aeasion on the property-tax, the
versa! eaffi»ge7 Qnite the re- "gating" Bill, and the currency;
1641 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [^«?fi»«d.
uid be mis inclined to think that legisUtion had been much altered
the lemeAy of Mr. Hume, if it did since the Reform Act, and he
not eradicate, would at least mid- firmly believed that it would not
gate all the evils of the present be much altered by the reform
system. nowpropoaed.
Mr. C, Villiera briefly explained After a brief reply from Mr.
the reasons why he supported the Hume, who explained and enforced
motion of Mr. Hume, though he his former statements, the House
did not agree in all the propoai- divided, when the numbers were —
tions contained in it. Hia main
reason was, that it recognised the For Mr. Hume's motion 84
policy of extending the basis of Against it 351
the representation. He did not
believe that the character of our Uqority against it . . S67
b,GoogIc
Snfflana.] HISTORY. [156
CHAPTER VI.
FoBBiON AwAiBo :~Dtpio»uit»c Bslatiotu wOh Roms — Negotiation*
optntd at Borne by the Earl of Mintofor ihit object — Bill brought in
In/ the Mar^utM of Laiudowne to legalue tueh relatioTU — Debate on the
Second Beading — Ot^ectiont raited by the Duke of Newcanle, the
Bishop of Winchetler, the Bithop of Exeter, and the Earl of Eldon —
The BiAop of St. David't, Earl St. Germane, Earl Orey, and Lord
■ Stanley tiq>port the Second Beading, «>hich it carried — Amendmente
. are made in the Bill in Committee — The Second Reading it moved by
■ Lord Faimenum in the House of Commone, on the nth of Aaguit —
Mr. C. Anitey, Mr. Urquhart, Sir Robert Inglit, Mr. Law, Mr. B.
Palmer, Mr. Napier, and Mr. Newdegate oppose the Second Beading,
which it tupported by Lord John RutteU, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, Mr.
M. J. O'ConneU, the Earl of Arundel, Mr. Moore, and other Mem-
bers — The fitU is read a Second Time, a majority of 79 voting m itt
■ favour — Further oppotititm in Committee, and on the Third Reading
— The Bill it patted. Affairs of Itu^t akd Sioilt : — Lord Stanley
brings forvard a Motion in th* House of Lordt retpectmg the inter-
vention of the British QovemmeTit in the Sicilian Inturrtclion — 3%«
Marqui* of Lansdovme ansieert the charge on the part of the Govern-
iMRt — Observations of the Earl of Minto, the Duke of Argyle, Earl of
Malme^ntry, and other Peers — Proceedings on the same su^ect in the
House of Common* — Declaration of Lord Paltnenton retpeetiag the
Intervention of England~-Mr. Disraeli, on the Itth August, enters itOo
afuU revieiB of the whole fidd of Italian Polities and Brilith Inter-
vention — Remiorkt upon Lord Minto's Mission and the real objects of
Lord Palmerston's Mediation* — ZiOrd Palmertton vindicates hit own
conduct and policy at great length. Affaibs of Spain ; — Abrupt tfu-
mitsal of Sir H. Bulwer, the British Ambassador — Cireumstanees
which led to this event — The subject is brought before the House of
Lords by Lord Stanley — Hi* Speech — Answer of the Marquii of
Lcmtdowne — Remarla of Lord Brougham, the Earl of Aberdeen, and
other Peer* — Mr, Banket brings the matter before the House of Com-
wiont by a Betolu^on disapproving of the Policy of our Government —
Speeches of Mr. Shiel, iMrd Mahon, Mr. Disraeli, Lord John RutteU,
Sir R. Peel, and Lord PalmeTSton-—The Motion is ultimately witii-
drawn — Chie of the Settion : — Mr. Disraeli, on .the SO(A August,
reviews the event* of the expiring Session in an animated and humorous
156] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEn^Uind.
Bpeeeh, taHriMing th«faUvra and divgipointmenU of the Oovemmmt
— Lord John RuutU parriet tht attack mtk much dtxtsrity — lUynarkt
of Mr, B. Oiborru and Mr, Hume — Prorogation of Parliament by
Ae Queen in person, on the 6th of September — Addreu of the Speaker
to the Throne — Her Mt^ttty't Speech — Clote of the Seeiion.
ONE of the most important c. 3.) contained words nhich pn>-
metuures that has been in- hibited diplomatic intercourse be-
troduced of late years affecting our tween this country and Borne. He
foreign relations, was a Bill em a- considered those Acta to be some of
nating from the Goremment, to the safeguards and defences of the
enable Her Uejesty to open and Constitution. The true spirit of
carry on diplomatic relations with those laws he would be the last
tbe Court of Bome. Negotiations man to desire to impair; and hs
with that Court had been com- trusted that their tme oi^ect
menced in the preceding antomn would continue to be maintained,
by the Earl of Minto, whose special But hie opinion was, that neither
mission to Italy we shall presently of those Acts prohibited such re-
have occasion to advert to. The lations ; their real object being to
feeling of the Papal Court being prevent the holding spiritual corn-
ascertained Vo be favourable to an munion with the Church of Rome,
amusement, the convenience of not to debar the Protestant Sove-
whicb appeared to our own Oo- reign of this country from esta-
vemment much to outweigh any blishing those relations with the
Cible danger that could result Court of Borne which were found
I it, tbe Marquis of Lans- so neceraary and beneficial with
downe, very early in the present other states. After referring to
Session, presented a Bill for le- the case of the Earl of Castle-
galising a diplomatic intercourse maine, and the opinions of Bishop
with Rome. Some indtcatioDB Burnett and Sir James Mackin-
were given, on the first reading of tosh upon that case, his Lordship
the Bill, of a modified opposition took an historical view of our in-
on the part of several Peers, but tercourse with Rome. Sir Robert
Lord Lansdowne undertook to Walpole was ia repeated commu-
prove that the proposition to which nication with the Pope; he em-
be asked their consent would in- ployed his brother Horace for that
volve no possible danger to the purpose, and the Pope omitted no
Protestant religion in this country, opportunity of testifying his regard
On the 17th of February, the same for the British Minister. When
noble Lord moved the second Hanover became connected with this
reading of the Bill. He began kingdom, it was a partof our policy
by explaining the reasons for its in- to keep up a good understanding
troduction, and the circumstances with tbe Court of Rome. During
out of which the doubt which it the French Revolution, and at tbe
was proposed to remove bad commencement of the French war,
arisen. It had been supposed Sir John Cox Hippesley, Lord
that the Bill of Rights (I William Hood, when he commanded in the
and Mary, s. 3, c. 2), and the Act Mediterranean, and, more recently,
for the further limitation of the the late Duke of Portland, had
Crown (13 and 13 William III., opened an intercourse with the
England.] HISTORY. [157
Pope. H&fing shown the neces- The Bishop of Winchester qnes-
sity of eatablishing diplomatio re- tioned the reasons upon which ths
lationswitbtheCourt of Borne, his noble Marquis had founded the
Ijordship proceeded to reply to the Bill. The chief reason was the
queBtionawhy.forthefirsttime.the inconvenience attending an indi-
Pope was to bo acknowledged by rect communication with the Court
ns, and whether the Pope had ever of Rome. But, whenever such
rect^niaed the sovereign of this communication was called for,
country ? He should be surprised means were readily found to effect
if these questions, though agitated it. He found that by this Bill
out of doors, were asked in that Her M^esty was authorized to re-
Hoose. Recognise the Pope! ceive a diplomatic agent "accre-
Why, what was the Treaty of dited by Uie Soverei^ Pontiff."
Vienna? Great Britain was a This was the ff ret time since the Re-
eontracting parQr to that treaty, formation that this expression bad
which not only secnred to the Pope been admitted into any Act of Par-
the possessions be eqjoyed at tl»t liament. The head of the Romish
time, but additional territories in Church had hitherto been termed
other parts of Italy. And who " Bishop of Rome," or " Bishop of
put the Great Seal to that treaty ? Rome, otherwise called the Pope;"
Lord Chancellor Eldon, who of all and the right rev. prelate read an
public men of the time was the opinion of the law officers of the
most averse to Romish ascend- Grown, which bore the signature
ani^. Besides other acknow- of Mr. Serjeant Copley, which
ledgments, £ing Geoi^ IV. re- showed that the Legislature had
eeived a letter from the Pope advisedly avoided the title of " So-
ooDgratolating him upon hie ac- vereign Pontiff."
cession ; and His Mfgesty wrote The Bisht^ of St. David's snp-
a reply to the Pontiff; but it ported the Bill, which he consi-
being suggested to him, aher it was dered to be no innovation or sub-
sent off, that he might thereby have stantial interference with the ex-
forfeited his crown, a messenger isting law. The measure was jus-
was despatched to Italy to re^l tifiable on political groundB) and,
the letter, but it was too late ; and, although it had a religious aspect,
quoad that letter. King Geoi^ he was at a loss to understand how
IV., according to the hypothesis, the interests of religion or of Pro-
had forfeited his crown. But we testantism could be affected by .
bad, in fact, on numerous occasions, the Bill. The right rev. prelat«,
acknowledged the Pope, who had, whilst he did not concur in the
over and over again, acknowledged objections of the Bishop of Win-
the Sovereign of this country. Chester, thought that due respect
The Duke of Newcastle opposed should be paid to the opinions of
the Bill as unnecessary, and there- a large class of persons in this
fore a superfluous act of legisla- country who appeared to view
tion ; or, if necessaiy on account this measure with much jealousy,
of an actual subsisting prohibition. Upon the whole, he expressed hia
it was ohjectionable as removing conviction that it was a measure
a constitutional safeguard. His essential to the politioal interests
grace moved that the Bill be read of the country, and one which
a second time that day six months, m^ht be adopted vrithout any
158] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngU^.
danger to the established religion the Roman state, and recommended
of the country. their Lordships to consent to the
The Bishop of Exeter considered second reading of the Bill.
that the noble Marquis bod failed Lord Stanley said, if be thought
to make out a case of necessity for the Bill vaa at variance with the
this measure, and the doubt aris- spirit and principle of the Bill of
ing from the word " commnnion," Rights ana Act of Settlement, or
in the Act 13 and 13 William III., even that it in the slightest degree
— which obrioasly meant comniuni- recognised, or strengthened, or sup-
can in taerU — was no reason for ported any claim or pretence to
■itowAiiaBg so important a change spiritual power on the part of the
as this, iraught with itm^/a, and Sovereign of the Roman State in
which would spread alarm in everjr this country, he shoufd vote for
port of the country. Why were the amendBient But he could
not the judges of Lbe land called not take such a vt«w of it. At the
upon to say whether there was same time be looked upon it aa a
any doubt ? If they declared that measure of grave and weighs po-
no law forbade Her M^esty from lit^, and one which ought to be
carrying on diplomatic relations approached with the respect due
with Rome, then let Her Majesty's to a deep religious feeling in this
Ministers, on their own responsi- countiy adverse to the Bill, which
bility, advise her to open those re- was contrary to the interpretation
latione, and not come to Parlia- put upon the law for the last 100
ment to give them authority. The years. He was quite sensible that
right rev. prelate supported the there might be conveniences and
amendment. advantages attending a direct in-
The Duke of Wellington con- tercourse with the Court of Rome ;
fessed that, when be first heard of but he concurred with those who
this measure, he considered it with thought that it was the duty of the
some degree of anxiety. It had Government and Parliament to
been the policy of our laws since conaiderwhethertherewerenotcol-
(he Reformation that there should lateral disadvantages. He was not
be no communication, political or of opinion that this meaaure would
otherwise, between diis country tend to uphold the spiritual power
and the Severe^ of the Roman and authority of the Pope, which
States. A great alteration had, could not be enforced in this coun-
however, been made in the law by try, for our own courts of law would
the Act introduced by Lord Lvnd- set at nought the authority of the
hurst ; he (the Duke of WelUng- Pope. The noble Lord adverted
ton}hadcon8ideredtheefrectwhich to the character of the present
this Bill would have upon that Act, Pope, and to the effect which the
and he intended to move a provision representations of a Protestant
in the committee, declaratory of Minister from this countiy might
the title of the Sovereign of this have at the Court of Rome, and
country to he supreme head and warned their Lordships of the evils
governor in all matters ecclesiasti- which might spring from the anta-
cal and civil. Upon the whole, he goniam of the two religious prin-
considered that it was convenient ciplee thus brought into contact,
and advantageous to have regular In conclusion, the noble Lord de-
and direct diplomatic relations with clared faia intention, in Toting for
England.-] HISTORY. [159
the second reading, to reserve his if the Duke of Nevcutle pressed his
final opinion upon the nhole Bill amendment to & division, he should
until it should havs passed the vote with him against the Bill.
Committee. With regkrd to the The Earl of St. Oermans sup-
Mesence of an accredited agent at ported the Bill, and shoved that
Borne, the conveniences and in- the apprehensions entertained by
conveniencee might be nicelj ba- the Bishops of Winchester KudExB'
lanced ; but the residence of a ter were chimerical or exaggerated.'
Papal envoy here, without restrlc- This Bill did not compel Her
tion, espec^lly if he combined a M^esty to appoint a Uinister at
spiritual with a diplomatic charoc- Rome ; and, if there should be a
ter, might be mischievous. Pope disposed to abuse ito fmwi-
Earl Qrey drew an inference fft- siona, our Gonnmient miffht re-
vourable to the measure from the fuse ta keep relations with him,
veiy mitigated opposition of Lord md we should be in the same po-
Stanlej. The Marquis of Tmm sition towards Bome as at preeent.
downe had laid the cas« ihlly and He did not participate in Lord
fairly before the Hooee, establish- Stanley's repugnance to the recep-
ing the policy and necessity of the tion of an ecclesiastic as a papal
Bill ; and the minute criticism of envoy £rom Rome.
Lord Stanley upon its form and the Lord Redesdale gave notice of a
SMnuer in which it had been in- clause he should propose in the
tiodnced, left the merits of the Committee, providingthatitsbould
measure untouched. The noble not be lawful for Her M^esty to
Earl vindicated the consistency of receive any ambassador from the
the Government with reference to Court of Rome until the Pope had
the mission of Lord Uinto, who diaclaimed all temporal and civil
bad no formal letters of credence authority in this realm,
to the Court of Rome, and it vnts The Marqub of Lansdowne, in
an evil, which this Bill went to his reply, declared that no inatruc-
Tomedy, that he had no regular tions had been given to Lord
authority to act as our Ministor Uinto, and no act had been done
there. He agreed with Lord by that nobleman, at Rome or
Stanley that the amendment pro- elsewhere, which he (Lord Lans-
posed by the Duke of Wellington downe) waa not prepared to defend
WIS a decided improvement In the as for the advantage and interest of
Bill, which would make assurance this countir. The noble Earl had
doubly sure, and would tranquillize been accrouted to Switzerland, and
alarm; and he was glad to know that he was now accredited to Naples,
Lord Lansdowne had consented to and his not being accredited to
the noble Duke's amendment. Rome, where consequently ha
The Duke of Richmond would could not appear in an official ca-
itot vote agunst the second read- pacify, afforded the best illustra-
ing of the Bill, but he ut^ed, as Uon of the state of the law and
Lord Stanley had done, that a suf-- the necessity of this measure.
fioient interval should beallowed Their Lordships were about to
for the expression of the opinion divide, when the Dnke of New-
of the country upon the measure. castle withdrew his amendment.
The Eari of Eldon declared that, and the bill was read a second time.
, ..ooglc
160]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
Dpoii the committal of the Bill
a ratlier important verbal aiteradon
was introduced on the propoeitioa
of the Duke of Wellington, the
title of " Sovereign of the Roman
States" being substituted for the
words " Sovereign Pontiff" as the
deaignatioD of the Pope. An ani-
mated discussion aftarvards took
Elece on an amendment pntpoaed
J the Earl of E^intoon, pro-
hibiting the reception of an; eccle-
Biastio as the accredited minister
of the Pope in this conntrj'. The
Marqais of Lansdowne thought
that the right to refuse anj Minis-
ter who might be distasteful to
the Crown ought to be left, in the
case of the Pope as in that of any
other foreign Sovereign, to Her
Uajeetj ana the Government.
The Earl of Aberdeen said (hat
the amendmeat could not be re-
jected without incurring the danger
of grave consequencaa, and depre-
cated the presence of an eccleaiastic
as the Pope's Nuncio in this
country.
The Dukeof Wellington thought
the diSEiculty would be met by
simply substituting the words
" establish diplomatic relations,"
for the words in the Bill which
pointed out the persons of different
ranks whom Her Mi^esty was to be
authorized to receive.
Lord Beaumont was surprised
at what had fallen from Lord
Aberdeen, and complained that he
had mistaken the fiinctions of
le^tee and nuncios.
The Earl of Shrewsbury said,
that the Earl of Eglintoun and his
supporters seemed to have foraotten
that diplomatic relations could not
be established with any state ex-
cept on terms of perfect reci-
procity. If Her Mtyesty refused
to receive on aodesiaslic as Minis-
ter from Bome, the Pope in his
turn might fairly refuse to receive
a Protestant as the repreeeniatiTe
of England, — which was jnst the
position at present of the diplo-
matic relations between Prussia
and the Holy See.
Lord Stanley deemed it highly
important that the amendment
should be carried. While he had
no objection to seeing England
properly represented at Rome, he
could never sanction the trans-
planting of the Vatican to London.
After some further discussion,
their Lordships dirided on the
amendment, when the numbers
For the amendment . . 67
Against it fl4
A considerable delay t4Mk place
before this meaaare found its w^
into the lower House. It was not
till the ITth of August that the
second reading was moved by Lord
Palmerston in a veiy oonoise"
speech. The noble lord observed,
that the grounds for this measure
were so simple, and were so much
upon the sur6u3e, that it wss not
requisite for him to enter into any
abstruse or refined argument to
show ite necessity. Doubts had
existed, whether, by the inters
pretation of certain old Acts of
Parliament, it was lawful for the
Government of this country to
hold diplomatic iuteroourse with
the Court of Bome. Those doubts
arose on the interpretation of the
word "communion," but it ap-
peared to him that the meaning
of the law prohibiting any " com-
munion " of the Sovereign with Hie
.,C;>Hwle
fivi««f] HISTORY. [161
Court of Borne was simpl; this — fesaed to be a Bill to enable Her .
that the Sovere^ of England M^esty to hold diplomatic inter-
muat be a Frotestant. The "com- course with the Court of fiome.
munion" prohibited was only apiri- Now, there were two Courts of
tnal communion, and was not the Borne — the temporal court aod
interchange of political and diplo- the spiritual oourt. With the
matlcalcommunications. Asdoubts, first, Her Uajesty waa l^ally en-
however, were entertained on that titled to hold diplomatic corn-
point, it was deemed necessary to muuication without any Bill to en-
mtroduce a Bill authorising diplo- able her; but, with the second, he
matjo intercourse and communica- main t ain ed that Her Mtgesty could
tkm with the Court of Rome. He not legally hold intercoiuree; and
then proceeded to obviate the ob- he hoped that ao Bill would ever
jections laised against it, and to be passed to place the Court of
explain the adfaniagea which were St. James's and the Courtof Bome
likely to accrue &om passing it. in eo delicate a position as would
After showing that the presence of enable the latter to aurrender to the
an English ambasBador at the former the peculiar influence which
Court of Bome, and of a Roman the Court of Rome exercised by its
■mbassador at the Court of St spiritual power over all priests and
James's, could not injure the faith bishops subject to its ecclesiastical
of our Sovereign, he proceeded to Jurisdiction. He then proceeded
demonstrate that the want of in- to argue with great piouxity that
tercouree with the Court of Bome if this Bill passed it would operate
was injurious to our interests; for most iqjunously on the independ-
we could not make any commercial ence of the Roman Catholic Church
treaty vitb the Court of Rome to in Ireland, and would ultimately
obtain for our merchants and make the Pope himself a slave to
manubctureiB those advantaffee British policy. After pinnting out
which commercial treaties afforded the indirect manner in which the
lo them in every other part of Bill interfered wilh the prerogative
the world. As no constitutional of the Crovm, and after analyzing
danger could arise from the enact- the measure clause by clause, and
ment of this measure, and as great condemning them all one after an-
commercial advantages would flow other, the taon. Member concluded
from passing it iato law, be bad no by moving tht the Bill be read a
hesitation in recommending it to second time that day six months,
the support of the House. Mr. Urquhart seconded the
Mr. C. Anatey had expected to amendment,
hear some explanation of the Bill Sir R. Inglis complained, like
'itself and of the objects which it Mr. Anstey, of the insufficiency of
was to accomplish ; but not a word the speech which Lord Palmerston
on either of those points had the had made that evening for the in-
noble Lord uttered. He was, there- troduction of so important a change
Jbre, compelled to answer, not the into the Constitution of England,
speech of Lord Palmerston, but and also pitied his lordship for
the speeches made in another having been reduced to the painful
place. Having done this to a very necessity of pleading as his reason
considerable extent, he commented for this Bill the importance ot con-
Dn the title of this Bill, which pro- suiting the commercial interests of
Vol- XC. [M]
162] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
Englaod in Ital^, and the in- sis, with the Pope, was not so
creased facilitj which it would give aatie&cWrf as to induce us to
to British subjects to obtain the establish such commuaication be-
oonBtructioQ of a railroad over the tween the Queen of England and
Pontine marahra for abridging their the Bishop of Borne. In concln-
Gommunications willi Inoift. He sion, he put three questions to
called on the House to reflect at Lord J. Russell— whether he had
what time this Bill was brought in, heard of any project of the Pope
who was Pope, and what the Court to divide England into dioceses,
of Rome now was. The Bill was and to appoint an Archbishop of
introduced into this House on the Westminstor, and whether he had
16th August, at a time when the given his assent to anj soch prO'
Pope bad violated all bis obliga- ject? Next, he asked whether his
tions to Austria, the chief bene- lordehip had any objection to laj
fitctor of the Papacy, — when the on the table such communications.
Pope bad been nnable to protect whatever they might be, as bad
the Austrian ambassador from the been addressed by the Earl of
attacks of the rabble of Rome, and Clarendon to Earl Grey, whereby
when he had absolutely blessed the Earl Orey had ^ven to the Roman
arms of the soldiery whom he sent Catholic Bishops titles which
to attack the Austrian forces ; and neither the Queen nor any Act of
all this, too, at atttriod whenEng- Parliament bad given them?
land was more (uive than ever to Lastly, he asked his lordship
the rampant and aggreesive cha- whether he had any objection to
racUr of the Church of Rome lay on the table the cow of a
a^nst the Protestantism of the latter addressed by the Earl of
world. He did not ol^ect to enter Clarendon, on the 10th of March
into negotiations with the temporal last, to Archbishop Murray, in
Sovereign of Rome, no matter what nhich letter Lord Clarendon, witb-
his religion might be. He did not out waiting for the passing of this
object to recognise the civil governor Bill, communicated distinctly to
of Rome, even though he should be the Pope the statutes of the new
another lUenzi; but he did object to Irish Colleges through the instru-
recc^ise the spiritual governor of mentally of Archbishop Murray?
BomeandofalltbeBomanCatbolic Mr. Moore observed that the ar-
population of the world. The Pope guments of Sir R. Inglis had oom-
had millions of subjects in this pletoly convinced him of the pro-
country, and he would not give to priety of voting in support of this
the Pope thedirectmeansofissuing Bill. Sir R. Inglis iuid no objec-
his powerful edicts to them with- tion to deal with the civil governor
out any restraint. He had another of Rome, or to entor into consular
objection to this Bill — it neither relations even with the Pope him-
conciliated the afieotions of the self. In making that declaration,
Protestants norsatisfied the wishes the honourable fiaronet had given
of the Roman Catholics, who, in up the whole subject in dispute,
March last, had denounced it to and, as he (Mr. Moore) preferred
the Pope in the strongest language, a straightforward to a tortuous
Beaides, the result of the diplo- eourse, he should give his vote in
matic communications of other &vour of a measure which enabled
Protestant states, especially Prus- us to do openly and directly what
England.] HISTORY, [163
for yean back we had been doing mise or coDoordat with His Holi-
secretly and indirectly. ness. If, then, we refused all
Lord J. Ruflsell, after some re- commiuiication with hiin, we left
marks on tbe singular position in his spiritual infiuence unfettered ;
which Sir R. Inglis stood, as being for we could not bind it without
diasatisfied both with Lord Pal- some agreement with him who held
merston's reasons for supporting, it He then told Sir R. Inglis
and with Mr. Anstey'a arguments that no official letter bad passed be-
for opposing this Bill, denied that tween Lords Clarendon and Ore;
it made either a fundamental change on the titles to be given in the
in the Constitution, or was the first colonies to the Roman Catholic
etep to a reconciliation with Home. Bishops ; but that a prirate letter
Sir R. Inglis had declared that he had passed between them, in which
had no objection to enable a consul Lord Grej had issued his drcular
to can; on commercial relations to the Colonial Governors. He
with thatCourt; and, that being the likewise referred Sir Robert to the
case, he must saj that it was with explanation which he had given, on
the appearance and not with the a former evening, of the private
bet that Sir Robert Inglis quar- letter which Lo^ Clarendon had
relied. He (Lord John Russell) written to Archbishop Murray on
should be much more afraid of the the subject of the Irish Colleges,
Roman Catholic religion than be and entered into a full justification
was, if he could bring himself to be- of it, as written for (he express
lieve that these foolish and obsolete purpose of convincing the Pope
restrictions were really the securi- that the Irish Colleges were not
ties on which Protestantism rested, of thai irreligious character which
Heshowedthattheywereproductire some Roman Catholic prelates had
of daily inconvenience to our com- represented them to be. He con-
mercial interests, and repeated the eluded an able speech by express-
arguments of Lord Palmerston to ing a confident hope that the
prove that their removal wonld be House, seeing the Bill to be only
Eroductive of great general benefit a mode of making the law agree
oth to ourselves and the different with the fact, would have no o^ec-
nations of Italy. With respect to tion to sanction it.
the questions put to him by Sir R Mr. Law made a resolute stand
Inglis, he replied that he did not against the Bill, and particotarly
know that the Pope bad authorized complained of the falsehood of its
the creation of bishoprics or arch- preamble, in which it was asserted
bishoprics in England. He would, that there were doubts whether Her
however, comfort Sir R Inglis by Majesty could or could not main-
assuring him that he (Lord J. Rus- tain diplomatic interoourse with
sell) should not give his assent to the Court of Rome. He could not
the formation of any such dioceses concur in the construction which
in the Queen's dominions. He Lord Palmerston and Lord John
most, nevertheless, remind Sir Russell bad put upon the law, and
Robert, that if he looked to the he entered into a long argument to
other states of Enrope, he would prove that their lordships had not
■ee that any control over the spin- the slightest grounds for asserting
tual influence of the Pope could that the Crown could legally hold
only be guned by some compro- intercoutseatpreeentwiththePope
[M2]
164] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. \EngU»d.
of Rome Bs the bead of the Boman stant train of Acts of Pariument
Oatholic Church. controlling the encroachtnenta of
ilr. H. Dmmmond obserred the Fope, bo there would be in
that, if he could believe the asser- future a oonatant necessity of enact-
tion of Ur. C. Anstey, that the ob- ing auoh laws, if this Bill obtained
ject of the Bill waa to enable the the aanction of the Houae. Eng-
Qoeen to govern her Roman Ca- land had hitherto excluded the
tbolio snhjeota through the agency aupremacy of the Fope, and ia eo
of the Fope, he should certainly excluding it vas mftintaining k
oppooe it; for he could not aup- prindple of great importanoe, not
port any measure which aaBumrn only to itoelf, but alao to the whole
that Her Mqeaty had not means civ^ized world. He warned the
of her own to gDvem her own sub- House not to abandon its old poUcj,
jecta. He waa prepared to sup- which had produced peace and pro-
port an; measure which was likely aperity and loyal^ in Ireland, and
to eetde the peace of Chmtondom, to adopt a policy which muat ter-
and put an end to sectarian dis- minate in very contrary results,
pntea, and this Bill he considered He renunded the House that the
to fall within that cat«goi7. He Froteatants of Ireland had alvrays
then entered into a very able ai^- been quiet and loyal. Could the
ment to allay the fears which ei- same be predicated of the Roman
isted in more quarters than one. Catholic population? Three pro-
reapecting the power and influence vinoes of Ireland were now ripe
of Uw Pope. Ue looked upon this for insurrection ; were those the
Bill as a measure enabling Minis- provinces in which Protestantism
ten to do openly what they far^ prevailed ? Certainly not. He
merly were accustomed to do se- therefore implored the Houae not
cretlr and clandestinely, and he to irritate the feeUngs of the Pro-
should therefore support it. testants in Ireland, by passing a
Ur. Napier observed that, if Billof which the olyect was almost
it was the intention of Uinistera universally believed to be the go-
to govern the people of Ireland veniment of Ireland through the
throngfa the influence of the Fope, medium of the Pope,
he would most certainly oppose Mr. Boundell Palmer observed,
the Bill. It was, therefore, a ques- that the Houae would he deceiving
tion which the House ought at itself and the country if it did not
once to determine, whether the deal with this question as one of
genuine object — ho did not aay the highest importanoe. If he
the ostensible object — of Minis- thought that this Bill rested on
ters, in proposing this measure, such gronnda merely as those
was not to use the influence of the which had been stated by Lord
Fope for the government of Ire- Palmerston and Lord J. Russell,
land. He then proceeded to show he should say, even though he dif-
ihat this was the object of Minis- fered not £rom the principle, that
ters from their own declarations, it could not be of that pressing
He next appealed to the laws importance which required it to be
passed in England befbre the Re- forced on at this late period of the
formation for the purpose of im- session. He called on the House
pressing on the House, that as to consider whether this was a
there had been in past times a oon- measure likely to be used for other.
a(*>Ki ) HISTORY. ties
than di^mado pojpoees is order bnlt with him tor exenamig, aa be
to forward the policy of this pleased, his spiritual jurisdictioii.
ootmtry. BeUering that it would He thought, however, that the
be BO used, he maint«ined that the pn^ect of the P(^, to exeroise
Hoose ought not to agree to the his spiritoal jurisdictioii in the
Bill in its present shape, unless it creation of English dioceses, was
was prepared to adopt a different equally contrary to the feelings of
policy with respect to tbe relations the people, and the law of the
of the Protestant and the Boman land. He thought it would have
Ootholk church of Ireland. He been much wiser had the Govem-
was therefore unwilling to vote at ment postponed this measure to
this pwiod for the second reading another session; hot, nevertbe-
of the Bill, as it coald not receive leie, he could not oonsent to any*
that deliberation which the im- thing likely to blink the main
porlaoce of ila collateral conside- principle of it. He believed that
rations required. there was an inevitable necessity
Mr. Pagan felt so strongly the for a Bill of this kind. The en-
insult offOTed to the Pope, in the octment of tbe Irish Colleges Bill
second clause of the Bill, that he bad rendered it absolutely neces-
was coerced to vote i^nst its sary for the Government to oon-
eeoond reading altf^ther. suit with the Roman Catholic sa-
Mr. M. J. O. Connell felt ob- thoritiea as to the statutes Inr
liged to vote for the second read- which they were to be governed,
ing, as he intended to support Now, if we had to commtmicate
Lord Arundel's motion, in the with the Boman Catholic authori-
Commitlee, to strike out of it the ties, we must have to oommuni-
secood olanse. He rebuked Mr. oate with the P(H>e, for yon could
Napier fiir claiming exclusive not make a valid obl^ation with
loyalfy for the Protestants of Ire- the Court of Boms without com-
lutd. munication with the Pope lum-
Hr. W, E. Gladstone observed, self. There was, therefore, an
that there were several circum- inevitable necessity for this Bill ;
Mancee which rendered it painful and he should therefore support
to him to give his rote in favour it, on the ground that it was bet-
of the principle of this Bill. He ter that our communication with
thought it unfortunate that the Borne should be direct and avowed
House should be called on at so late than furtive and clandestine,
a period of the seseion to discosa a Mr. Newdegate dedared his in-
measure of such hi^ importance, tention of voting against the Bill.
It was also most unfbrtunate that Lord Arundel voted for the se-
the House bad to discuss it at a cond reading of the Bill ; but it
period when it scarce^ knew woold depend on the way in which
whether there was a Pope or the House dealt with tbe second
not; and when it was left in ig^ clauseofitinCommittee.whetherbe
norance as to whether he had, or should support the third reading,
bad not, ventured to divide £ng- Mr. Goulbum observed that, if
land by bis own autbori^ into he voted t^nst the second read-
eccleMastica] dioeeaea. If we do- ing of this Bill, it was owing to
clined ell communication with the late period of the session at
tbe Pope, we could not justly find which it had been proposed.
166 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
After a few words from Colonel Mr. Napier's amendment was
.Vomer in support of the argument negatived, on a division, b^ 88 to
of Ur. Napier, the House divided. SO. and the Bill was read a third
when the numbers were, for the time and paeeed.
second reading— The state of our relations with
. .„, the es-Eing of the Two Sicilies
■f/ .~ became the suhject of discussion
"***' _ in the House of Lords, on the 8th
"*"'? " tr4'?or.;'s;"„V°tS
The principle of the Bill was Crown for copies of all the corre-
thos carried bj a largemajority, but epoodence upon the subject, pro-
its progress was stoutly opposed vided that the papers could be
in Committee bj some of the same produced without an; detriment
Members who bod spoken against to the public service,
the second reading. Several Lord Stanley opened the state-
amendments were moved by the ment with which he prefaced his
dissentient party, but without sue- remarks by urging the importance
cess. Upon the third reading of the maxim, that, in the event of
being moved, on the SOth August, a civil contest going on in an in-
Mr. Napier, who was supported by dependent state, it is the para-
Ur. C. Anstoy and a few other mount duty of eveiy foreign power
Members, again attempted to de- to maintain a strict and absolute
feat the measure, by moving that neutrality. On that principle we
it be read a third time that day had uniformly repressed here the
three months. The only speech manifestation of pablic feeling
containing any novelty was made on the sanguinary contests be-
hy Mr. Shiel, who reminded the tween Russia and Poland ; had
House that, by the treaty of abstained from intervention he-
Vienna, the rights of the "Holy tween Austria and her revolted
See" were defined and secured, provinces; bad condemned in-
£n gland was a party to that tervention by Prussia in the
treaty; it was signed by her re- Schleswig-Holstein affair; had re-
fresentative ; it was laid before monstrated with King Charles
arliameut ; there was no remon- Albert on his invasion of Lom-
Btrance against it. Was it not bardy ; and had cordially ap-
preposterous that England should proved the answer given to mis-
have secured the Pope in the en- guided men from Ireland by the
joyment of a portion of his do- Provbional Govemmentof France,
minions, and yet be denied the Ifthere was any nation in the world
right of holding diplomatic inter- on whom the strict observance of
course with him, who was thus, this doctrine was incumbent, it was
in effect, under her protection? England— England, with Ireland
While Italy was giving birth to at its side, and a large proportion
portentous events, and the Pope of the inhabitants of that island too
himself called for our interposi- happy to shake off what they have
tjon, it was absurd to refuse to put been taught to consider the baneful
an end to a system of surreptitious domination of the mother-country,
intercourse, and openly establbh Lord Stanley sketched the or
diplomatic relations with Rome. der of eveaU in Sicily during the
Bngland.] HISTORY. [167
reroldtioii : the outbreak, at a this or aaj interference with the
time when our Minieter (Lord authority of the King ?
Palmerstou's brother) had left his The Marquis of Lansdowne de-
most comfortable poet at a most clared himself quite willing to af-
laxurious capital; the acddenlal ford general information upon the
presence at Rome of Earl Minto, character of our interference, if
then on his roving commission euch it could be called, betweeo
of Minister- Oeneral to every state the King of Naples and a portion
in the sooth of Europe; his in- of his sul)jects. Throughout the
vitation by the King of Naples; intervention, a position of ami^
Lord Minta's journey to Naples, towards Naples hod been main-
hie advice, and the rejection of his tained; and the whole object of
advice; the success of the Sici- the mission of Lord Uinto to
liana, and tbeir election of the Naples — undertaken at the solici-
Dnke of Genoa to be their King, tation of the King himself — was
Lord Stanley bad been credibly to produce and promote the adop-
informed that, immediately before tion of heaUng measures ; and, if
the final decision of the A^mbly Naples had subscribed to hia ad-
«t Sicdly to offer the crown of the vice, she might have still re-
country to the eon of the King of tained her power over Sicily.
Sardinia, the Porcupine was aes- But changes took place in her
patched from the British Em- councils, followed hy the almost
MBsy at Naples, having on board complete success of the Sicilian
a gentleman attached to the mis- arms. Mr. Temple's absence from
sion at Naples, named Fagan, who his post at Naples was uncon-
was instructed to state the plea- nected with these circumstances ;
sure of England that they should and no country was ever repre-
choose, not a Bepublican, but a sented at Naples with more ability,
Uonarchical form of Government, assiduity, and skill, than this conn-
aod as the head of that govern- tiy had been by Lord Napier,
ment should select the son of the At first the British representa-
■ Eing of Sardinia. Lord Stanley tive tried to maintain the union of
asked whether it was true that the two Sicilies. But the time
Mr. Fagan had received and ful- came when it was manifest that
filled such instructions ? Sicily would no Itmger remain
He also found it reported that, part of the kingdom of Naples ;
while the Eing of Naples was pre- and it afterwards became sdll
paring a force in the Bay of Na- more manifest that the union of
pies for the reduction of Sicily to all classes and orders of her peo-
ms authority. Her M^esty's fleet pie was so perfect, and her mili>
in the Mediterranean, in the exe- tary power and skill so great, that
cation of orders, bad appeared she could maintain the independ-
there ; that they surroonded the ence she had declared. In this
vessels which were being prepared new state of thii^ a new step
to transport the Neapolitan troops was to be taken by us ; and this
to Sicily ; and that, althot^h there country successfully endeavoured
had been no intimation given of to promote the institution of UoU'
an intentdon to prevent the enter- arcny rather than Bepublicanism,
prise, the British fleet held a me- and to direct the choice of the
nacing position. Had there been Sicilians in electing a sovereign
168] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
for their island, first to b prince aocesa to them was refused to the
of the bouae of Naples, and aft«T- admiral, who wished to know
words to some prince from some what their ground of complaint
other of the Italian States. But wss, there could be no doubt but
advice was the whole influence that a sufficient ground existed to
employed ; and it was nnsccom- jnstify a ver; peremptoiy demand
ponied b; anything like a condi- on the part of this country.
tion, or ■ threat, or the semblance Lord Uinto assiirsd the House
of a threat ; and no assurance had that his object throi^hout his mia-
heen required that the Duke of sion to Naples had been to main-
Genoa should be chosen. tain the connexion between the
With regard to the proceedings two kingdoms ; but he had felt
of Sir William Parker at Naples, that the connexion ought not to
Lord Lonsdowne oseured Lord rest solely with the Neapolitan
Stanley that they had no reference Oovemment. who offered terms
to the circumstances alluded to, which they shortly ofterwards
but referred to an entirely differ- withdrew from. He agreed with
ent subject. He hoped the mo- Lord Stanley as to the general
tion would not be pressed. principle of non-interference ; but
Lord Stanley, thought the on- he could not agree in thinkii^
Bwer given by no means satiaiac- that there were no circumstances
tory, thoogh he was aware that in the previous connexion between
Sir W. Parker's fleet bad appeared this country and Sicily wbicb im-
in the Boy of Naples in conse- posed npon England very serious
quence of o ground of complaint obligations towards that country,
against a NeapoUton vessel. The On a fitting occasion he should be
Bole cause of the offence which hod perfectly prepared to enter folly
led to the appearance there of a mto this question.
British fleet was, that, in the open The Duke of Argyle regretted
sea, a Neapolitan vessel chased a the haste shown in rect^ising
Sicilian vessel, and, for the pur- the independence of Sicily, he
pose of coming within distance, felt strongly that the true ints-.
she hoisted British colours ; but rests of Italy lay rather in a con-
previously to firing she lowered solidation than a division of her
the British colours, and hoisted power.
the NeapoUton. No doubt, such The Earl of Ualmesbury rei-
a matter properly called for di- terated in plain English a plain
plomatio oorreapondenco and ex- question which hod never yet been
planations; but it was wholly im- answered. Was the fleet of Ad-
proper and unbecoming to permit mirat Parker to interfere or not
the intervention of a powerful with any expedition tliat the King
squadron concerning it. of Naples might send against his
The Earl of Minto corrected revolted subjects in Sicily?
Iiord Stanley's statement. The The Marquis of Lansdowne said
Neapolitan vessel bad hoisted Bri- he had already slated that it would
tiah colours, not in the open sea, not be consistent with the publio
but in the waters of Corfu, where interests to give an answer to this
a number of Sicilian refugees question.
were taken on board. They were Tlie general subjeot of Italian
brought over to Naples; and, as politics, and the part taken by this
England.] HISTORY. [169
ootmUy, both in reference to the Italy in the preceding Batumn,
mptare between Austria and Sar- which Mr. Disraeli deKnibed as a
dinia, and b]bo to the revolationary " ronng mission to teach poli-
movement among the Sicilian sub' tioa to the countij in ii4iich Ho-
jects of the Ki^ of Naples, was ohiaTelli was bom." Itwascnrioua
brought under the no^ce of the to compare the objects of this mia-
House of Commons by Mr. Dis- eion with its results. Lord Minto
raeli, a few days after the discus- was to induce Austria to abstain
sion just reconled. The intonded from invading the Sardinian domi-
mediation of our own Government nioua. In this ha was qnita sno-
between the disaentieDt powers in oessful, for it was Sardinia that
the north of Italy had been fonn- iDvaded Austria. The nest olgect
ally annonoced by Lord Palmer- of this official mediator was to ne-
ston, on the fltb of August, in tbo gotiste with the Pope for the poi^
following (erms, in answer to a pose of establishing diplomatic re-
question addressed to him by Mr. ladons with this country. Unfop-
Philip Howard : ~" I can assure tunately, at the very moment that
my honourable friend," said the effect was about to be given to this
noble Lord, "that Her Majesty's negotiation by an Act of Parlia-
tiovemment are deeply sensible of ment, brought in with breathlesa
the great importance of seeing a haste by the Government, the
tenninatioD put to that unfortn- Pope ceased to exist as a temporal
Date warfare which is now waged prince, and the measure was sns-
in the north of Italy ; and, though pended. Probably now the bolle-
I have, perhaps, no right to spewk tins were a little more &voarabIe,
for other Governments, yet I may for now, just at the end of the
assure the House that that desire Seaaion, the measure introduced
is equally shared by the Govern- into the Hoose of Lords in Fo-
ment of France. {Ckaart.) Her bruary was beginning to steal
Migesty's Government are there- again into legt^stive life. The
fore about to engage — indeed, I King of the Two Sicilies then io-
may say are ali^dy engaged — vited Lord Uinto into his domt-
or at all events are about to take nions. He accepted the invitation,
steps, in coiguiiction. I trust, with and had laboured hard to support
the Goverament.of France, to en- tbo le^Iative union between the
deavour by amicable n^otiation to Two Sidliee. His labours ended
bring the present warfare to an in severing tho political connexion,
end." Not being able to profit t^ thia
Hr. Disraeli promptly embraced experience. Lord Palmorston was
the of^rtunity to bring this sub- now about to try his hand on a
ject before the House of Commons mediation in Italy in conjunction
on the motion for going into a Com- with another country. "Now, I
mittee of Supply, on the 10th of think, "saidMr.Dieraeli,"Iambut
August, when be re vie wed thetrans- making a Intimate inqniiy of the
actions of the Fore^ Office in the noble Lord, if I ask him to in-
field of Italian politics in a tone of Cimn the Committee— first, what
lively and good-humoured sarcasm, is to be the prindpU of this medi-
He began by some jocose re- atiou? Secondly, what is to ha
marks upon the somewbat anoma- the nature of this mediation ?
loua eij^dition of Lord Minto to And, thirdly, what is the end to
170] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [B«?Ia»a.
be attained by tlus mediation 7 principle be is going to adriae the
la the principle to be political — Emperor of AuBtri& to Telinqoish
to Btop efiiiBiOQ of blood? or to his dominions in Lombardj, on
airest a state of things injurious what ground can be refiise to de-
to British merchants? Why, there velope the idea completely, and to
is no effusion of blood to stop, recommend his Imperial Mtyesty
and there are no commercial to reliaquiah his whole hold on the
interests which require defence. Venetian territory ? And how can
Uediatiou on a political principle the noble Lord be the preacher of
vill be an easy task: the noble the sentimental principle of na-
Lord will be guided by the doc- tionality in Lombudy, when in the
trines of the law of nations and North of Europe be is — as be is
the stipulations of existing trea- bound to do— defending the inter-
ties ; he will take down Vatul, and ests of Holland and Denmark
look to the treaties of Paris and against inTasion, founded upon and
Vienna; and, when he finds the justified by this reiy same prin-
Emperor of Austria in possession ciple of nationality? How would
and peaceable possession of the fae act if Hungary claimed media-
domioions wliich those treaties se- tion — with its four races, the Mag-
cured to him, and the King of yars, the Sclaves, the Germans, and
Sardinia also in possession of the Wallachs ? I wish to learn from
dominions which those treaties se- Her M^esty's Ministers what is to
cured to him — when he finds, aa be the principle of that mediation
regards these two powers, that — whether it is to be a political
there is no principle of public law principle, founded upon the law of
which is at all in controversy, the nations and the stipulations of
noble Lord may shut his books, treaties; or npon this modem,
and his mediation will be a nulli^. new-fangled, sentimental principle
"But it was inconceivable that so of nationality, which will lead to
able and experienced a statesman inextricable confusion, difficulty,
could adopt a course with such an and danger?
issue : was he going again to me- " What are the means by which
diate on the dangerous principle the mediation is to be carried into
with which he sometimes played — efifect? Is it to be an armed me-
the sentimental principle of na- diation? If so — ^Austria being in
tionality ? 3uch a course would be possession of her states, and Sar-
fnll of difficulties. " If it be ne- dinia of hers — war not being at
oessary, on the sentimental prin- this moment waged between the
ciple, that Lombardy should be in two sovereigns — an armed media-
the possession of the Lombards, tion would be an invasion; we
and that the presence of an Aua- sbonld be securing peace by be-
trian should not be tolerated there, ginning war. If it is only to be a
on what ground can you justify an mediation of good offices, with
arrangement by winch the Aus- what prospects of success shonld
trians ore to retain the whole of we, as friends of the Emperor, ask
Venetia, a territory as extensive as him to yield the dominions which
Lombardy, and far more import- he bos held for three centories,
ant? If .the noble Lord is the dis- which he baa regained by great
ciple and preacher of the principle sacrifices, and by the great valour
of nationality, and if upon uiat of bis troops, and which he per-
£.i,to»<l.] HISTORY. [171
haps nerer held nith a firmer gnup of Groinwell ; by Bolii^roke and
thanat this moment? Walpole. But a forced and unreal
"Ab to the end of mediation, what co-operation can lead to no results
is to be done if Lombard; be re- but disasters. Lord Palmerston
linqoished by Austria? Is it to tried the system — which he naa
be given to Charles Albert, in re- not to be taunted with, for it was
ward for his nocturnal attack on a the systsm of his predeceaaoia — in
neighbour ; or to be erected into a 18SU-3S, under far more &voar-
we«k independent state? Is it to able circumstances than the pra>
beakiagdom, orarepubUc?and,if sent, in co-operation with a Sove-
a republic, what sort of republic ? reign who, whsterer his errors, did
A BevolutionarT republic or a Con- succeed in bridling for aeTenteen
servative republic? a Red republic years the Jacobin tiger. Yet the
or a White republio — a republic system then ended in the tricoloiur
with a red cap, or a republic with fioatingoverAnoonaand Antwerp;
a white feather? in Spanish and Portuguese inva*
"Therealolgectoftfaemediation siona, and Grecian revolt; in South
is one that cannot be announced — American blockades, and the trou-
it is to prevent an invasion of bling of our commerce over all tba
Italy by France. That is an event Atl^tic and Pacific waters.
4a be deprecated; but is it pro- "The good coursA open to the
bable? France has no right to Foreign E^relair," aaid Mr. Dift>
interfere in Italy ; and in doing so raeli. " is one which his abilities,
she would viol^e every principle knowledge, and courage fully qua-
of public law, and eveiy Italiau lify him to adopt and succeed in — it
treaty. It is not her interest to istheconduct which every fingUsh'
interfere. It must be confessed man should adopt. LethimteUtha
that our ovrn conduct with regard world that, under his counsels,
to Naples would give France the England will maintain the princi-
colour and pretest of a precedent, pies of international law — will ob-
But France has not now the slight- serve the stipulations of existing
est wish to invade Italy. Her only treaties — will not sanction any out-
object is to force an occasion at rage of the rights of nations —will
giving to Europe an idea that there not counsel any of her allies to
is "cordial co-operation" between yield their legititoate interests in
the G^onets of Paris and St. order to groti^ the morbid vanity
James's. And the harmof this ia. of an ill-regulated society. — Then
that these ' forced occasions of co- would Lord Palmerston earn the
operation have always been at (he sympathy of sovereigns and the
expense of the rights of third par- trust of suffering nations, rather
ties and independent sovereigns, than by attempting to regulate the
A real concert between the two world in a forced concert with the
countries in European afl&ire is Jacobin system, which begins with
desirable, but not novel : for more fraternity and universal chari^,
than two-thirds of the past two and ends with assassination and
hundred and fifty years, a cordial spoliation."
understanding may have existed Lord Palmerston commenced his
between the Governments : it was answer by explaining the dncum-
saactioned by the sagacity of Eli- stances under which Lord Sfinto
zabeth; the prudence and wisdom bad been despatched upon bis Its*
172]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
Itan miseioti. In the preceding
summer, in consequence of the
altered polky of Uie new Pope,
principles of constitutional im-
provement bad be^n to spread
over the vrhole of Italj. It was
intimated to him (Lord Palmer-
Btoa) authentically, though not pub-
licly, that the Roman Oovemment
was anxious to hare a representa-
tive of this country, possessing the
fiiU confidence of its Government,
to whom recourse might be had for
advice and aseistanoe on occasions
of difficulty. A similar wish hav-
ing been expressed by other go-
vemments in Italy, Lord Minto,
being designated by the Ministry
for this purpose, carried letters
accrediting him to the Courts of
Turin and Florence on a special
mission. Hie advice was obtruded
upon no party, but was given only
when he was appealed to. At
Turin, Florence, and Rome he
had been eminently successful :
constitutional changes had been
brought about in those countries
without any civil rupture or con-
vulsion. It was, however, no part
(tf his mission to prevent Austria
from attaching Bfu^dtnia: but he
had dissuaded the King of Sardinia
from adopting offensive measures.
He had been {brmally invited to
Naples by the King, and had em-
ployed his most zmIoub efforts to
reconcile that monarch and bis
Sicilian subjects. But drcum-
stancee had conspired to thwart
his success. At a critical period
of his negotiations nevra of the
French revolution had reached
Palermo. Difficulties arose on the
one side that were not met by con-
cessions on the other. The Sici-
lians refused to acknowledge the
King of Naples sa tbeir Sovereign;
he declinea to assent to the crown
being given to one of his sons, to
whom it was offered. The nlti-
mate choice of another prince was
purely and solely the act of the
Sicilians themselves, though un-
doubtedly the British Government,
accepting aa they do facta and
events, had signified their inten-
tion to acknowledge the Sovereign
whom the Sicilians might choose
as he should be d» facto
nposaeesion
As to the
to the joint mediation with
France, so far from being intru-
sive, it was made on the earnest
application of all the parties con-
cerned. It was at the express de-
sire of Austria, of Sardinia, of
Borne, and of the people of Italy.
The Government of Austria at the
banning bad solicited onr good
offices, and ou two recent occa<
sions bad renewed the application.
It was objected that France had
no right to intermeddle ; but there
ooula be no question, whatever
might be the justice of interference,
that, ^en two nations were at war,
it was competent to a third to take
which side it pleased, if it chose to
engage in the conteet. At the be-
ginning of the late military events
in Italy, France was strongly
urged to give instant aid to the
It^ian cause. It was maintained
by Mr. Disraeli that cordial friend-
ship with France had been, and
eboold be, the standing role of
this country ; though his mode of
enforcing this doctrine was unfor-
tunate, as he oould scarcely — of
oourse without intention — have
thrown more hitter ingredients or
poisonous drugs into the caldron
of national animositiee. Bnt it was
a mistake to suppose that the pre-
sent condition of France made it
imposnble for her to take part in
any hostile operations Oiat might
engage the sympathies of her rulers
and people. Let not the House
SmfUmd.] HISTORY. [173
imsgiiie that Bay tkui phuitam had also, a frank, lojvi, biiii«Bt, and en-
enated oneaainess. The armed ltght«ned desire that the policy of
iuterferenoe of France in Italy France may find itaelf in nniBon
would be pregnant with all the with the policy of this coantry.
dangen whioh Mr. Disraeli had (Cheen.) I must also say, that
gn^ucally described. If France the events of the lost few months
sent an anny to Italy, she most show the extraordinary progresa
send another to the Rhine ; if which cirilization and enlishten-
Geraany then rose against her, ment hara made in Europe duriag
Bossia would rise behind her and the last half century. (Clutn.)
foUow in her track ; and the flame The same events which have lately
of war wonld be lighted np all over occurred on the Continent would,
Europe. But the French Govern- if they had taken place fifty years
meat said to us, " We are pressed ago, have involved the whole of
to interfere by arms in the cause Europe in a war of the bitterest
of Italy ; but we do not wish to in- nature and of long duration. Kow,
voire our country in a war : we are we see an enlight«ned and sincere
willing to endeavour to settle mat- desire for eitemal |>eace. The
ters I7 mediation, if you will assist French OoTemment is anxiously,
ua : it must be a joint effort ; that wisely, earnestly, and courageouuy
will remove all ground of jealousy, employed ic establishing order ; it
for no one can suppose that Eng- b working for the prosperity of
land entertains hostile views with the French nation, and oonsolidat>
respect to Austria ; whatever ing the liberties of that couotiy ;
Franca and England do in con- and I think such a course of con-
innotioD must be a work of peace ; duct does honour to the men who
It must have the termination of are engaged in it, whatever may
hostilities for its object : npon have been their previous opinions
these gromnds we hope you will in- or associationB. (Clutrt.) It is im-
terfere ooiyointly with us, and possible that two nations like Eng-
nntil we obtain vour answer we and and France should unite to-
will suspend our oecasion as to the gether for any purposes which can-
adoption of other measures." Ad- not be avowed in the face of all
dressed in such language, it would mankind. The purpose for which
have been most blam^Ie for us they are now acting together is ona
to reiuae to enter on a joint media- of that description ; and I trust in
tion. It was agreed that our Heaven their efforts may be sue
alliances with France should be ceesfhL At all events, our efibrta
the result of events, and that oc- will be steadily and zealously di-
easi<H» for co-operation should not reeled to that end ; and, whether
be invented. Had the mighty con- we succeed or &tl, I am persuaded,
Talajona at presmt agitating Europe that the deliberate judgment of
been invented for such an occasion? Parliament and the unanimoos
Is a co-operation under such cii^ opinion of the countrywill be, that
onmslancea a forced alliance ? we have acted right in making the
"There still exials," continued endeavour." (CAmti.)
the noble Lord, "on the part of After a few words from Mr.
those who govern Fraaoe, and, I fiankes, the discussion terminated.
■m happy to say, on the part of The remarkable event of the
the voa^mty of the Freitch nation abrupt dismissal of the British
174] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. {England.
Uinieter, Sir Henry Balwer, from bnt ceDSured hia morbid desire for
Madrid, which bwk place in the interferingand intermeddling with
earlT part of tbia year, excited the afiaira of other eoontries. How
mat astonishment and remark in had this conduct advanced British
fhia country. The Spanish Go- interests or British induence?
vemment, actuated by a feeling of Had it done so in Portugal --where
Strong resentment at certain ad- the Queen evaded the terms of the
vice tendered to their Government last convention V Had it done bo
with respect to the mode of con- in Italy — whither Lord Minto was
dacting their domestic policy, con- sent to " ride the whirlwind and
veyed notice in the most summary direct the storm " — where the two
and unceremonious manner to Sir Sicilies were separated — where Na-
Henry Bulwer, that he should be- pies refused to tolerate any but tbe
take himself out of the country Roman Catholic religion— where
with the least possible delay. The the Pope, the King of Sardinia,
insult thus offered to England in and the Grand Duke of Tuscany
the person of her ambassador pro- were eng^ed in an unprovoked
duoed a lively eentiment of indig- aggression on a friendly power ?
nation in this country. The mode Lord Stanley anticipated that Aua-
of proceeding adopted by the tria would temporarily regain her
Spanish Minister gave great of- influence, and that die Milanese
fence, as it appeared to oe quite would have recourse for assistance,
onwarranted by the established not to England, but to France,
usages and courtesies of diplomacy, who would outrun England in the
At the same time, many persons race of popularity. Irf>rd Stanley
attributed great blame to Uie con- read the three letters of the recent
duct of our own ambassador, or correspondence, with a running
rather to that of Lord Falmerston, commentary, pointing out the un-
under whose instructions be acted, becoming language of the two Eng-
and whose policy of interference lish letters, and the mortjlying re-
vritb the aflairs of foreign states buff which Mr. Bulwer had r»-
vaa the real origin of this unseemly ceived from the Spanish Minister.
quarrel. He asked whether the Order of the
The first reference made to thie Bath had been conferred on Mr.
Bubject in Parliament was in a Bulwer in consequence of that
discussion brought on by Lord correspondence ? (The Marqnia of
Stanley in the House of Lords, on I^nsdowne — " No, no.") The best
the 0th May, upon a motion for course for a great nation to take
the production of the correspond- would be, ta admit that the inter-
ence between Lord Palmerston, ference was unwarranted, and to
Mr. Bulwer, and the Duke of trttst to Castilian honour for the
Sotomayor. Lord Stanley on this withdrawal of all that was offensive
occasion delivered a veiy clear, in the Spanish Minister's reply,
impressive, and temperate speech The Marquis of Lansdowne an-
on the impolicy of intermeddling swered Lord Stanley. He es-
with the government of foreign plained how, in the publiehed vei^
countries, and especially with that sion of Lord Palmeraton's letter,
of Spain. words were omitted which left a
Personally he avowed respect discretion to Mr. Bulwer, as to the
and regard for Lord Palmerston, " opportnni^" of making the com-
Bwl"J-] HISTORY. [176
munioUion. So br as he was in- brought the subject forward, when
formed, Lord Lansdowne thought an interesting debate took place,
it a subject of much regret t£at Lord Stanley said he was now
Mr. Bulwer hod chosen to make Batiafiedthatthepoblicationofthese
his commomcation in the precise despatches had not occurred by the
terms of the despatch. But it ttssietance or with the knowledge
should be remembered, that Mr. of Mr. Bulwer; and he thought
Bulwer was intimatel; acquainted the Duke of Sotomayor himself
with the state of Spain, and that must lutTe become satisfied on
the communication wag made to a that point In the authentic docu-
Oovemment which had repeatedly menta lately given, Lord Palmer-
asked advice and assistance from aton's despatch commenced thus —
this country. " Sir, I have to instruct you to re-
. Lord Lansdowne took the op- commend earnestly to the Spanish
portunity of explaining a circnm- Government, and to the Queen-
stance not alluded to by Lord Mother, if yon have an opportuni^
Stanley, in connexion with the re- of doing so, the adopUon of a legal
cent departure of the Duke and and constitutional course of go-
Duchess of Montpensier from Eng- vemment in Spain." Now, Uie
land. A rumour had been in- "opportunity of^ doing so" dearly
dustrioosly circulated that soma applied to the Queen-Mother ; and
disreepecthadbeenahown to them. Lord Pal merston's instinctiona to
That was not the fact. The Duke Mr. Bulwer were to recommend a
and Dncheaa had called at Bucking- certain course to the Spanish Gto-
ham Palace to bid the Queen adieu ; vemment. and to the Queen-
but they had omitted the usual Mother also, if be had an oppratu-
etiqnette observed on the occasion nity of doing so. In transmitting
of all royal visits, and had not pre- a copy of the despatch to the
viously intimated their intention. Spanish GoTcmment, Mr. Bulwer
The Queen was desirous to have appeared to have omitted the pas-
the presence of Prince Albert and sa^ applying to the Queen-
Lora Palmerston on such an occo- Mother, and had given to the
sion: Lord Palmerston was sent Spanish Oovemment, with or with-
for ; but he was from home. out opportunity, the views of the
Lord Brougham, in a short Britisb Government. This, bow-
speech, excused Lord Palmerston, ever, was a minor point, and he
but strongly blamed the indiscre- did not attach to it me importance
tion of Mr. Bulwer for the time and that Iiord Lansdowne had done,
manner of fais communication to A far more important point was
the Spanish Minister. He sug- the agreement of opinion between
gested that the honorary distinc- the British Minister and the
tion lately oonferred on Mr. Bulwer, Secretory of Slate for Foreign
would have been better postponed Ai&iirs, on the one hand, and the
till a fitter season. wide and inexplicable difierence of
Lord Lansdowne having inti- opinion which appeared to exist
mated that the papers would be between the Secretary of State for
produced. Lord Stanley withdrew Foreign Affiurs and bis colleagues
his motion ; but, upon the corre- in the Government. Lord I^ns-
spondenoe being shortly afterwards downe had treated the despatch as
laid before the House, ha tgua an indefensible one to a foreign
176] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [England.
softer, and had deemed it a privaU deepatchof the 11th inBtant, with
letter not intended to be shown, its encloeures ; and I have to in-
" Lamented" was the word Lord struct ;ou to stat« to the Duke of
Lansdowne had need in comment- Botomajor that Her Mf^eetj'a Go-
ing on Mr. Bulwer's conduct It verament entirely approve the atep
now appeared that the conduct which you took in making your
which Lord Lansdowiie as a British communication of the Ttb instant.
Minister "lamented," the Score- and likewise of joux note of the
tary for Foreign Afbirs, on the 13th."
&oe of the documents since pub- In the same letter. Lord Falmer-
lished, had formallj and entirely ston went on to saj, that Her
a^roved, in the name of the Go- Mqes^ b OoTemment were not
Temment. Ur. Bulwer's first at all offended either at the re-
despatch to the Duke de Soto- tumof Mr. Bulwer's note or at the
major was dated on the 7th of tone of the Duke of Sotomayor's
April, and on the 19th Lord Pa2- letter. The Christian foi^veneea
mereton wrote to Mr. Bulwer— and meekness here exhibited might
" With reference to your despatch be vevy prabeworthj on the part
of the 10th instant, I have to in- of a prinite individual, but they
form you that Her Majesty's Go- werewhollyunwortbyofthedignity
Temment approve the language of the great power of which I^ord
which you held to Queen Christina Palmerston was the Minister. The
on the 1th instant, pointing out to noble Viscount had in the most ex-
her Majesty the importance of go- pljcit manner conveyed his sanc-
Toming Spain by constitutional tion of Mr. Bulwer's proceedings ;
means ; and that Her M^esty's and yet, when the despatches were
Govenunent likewise approve of returned, the noble Lord wrote to
the note which you addressed on tell Mr. Bulwer that he was "not
the Tth instant to the Spanish at all oEFended " at what the
Minister for Foreign Afifoirs, offer- Spanish Government had done.
in^ aimilar counsel to the present This was the most absurd tenninar
MinisteiB of Her Catholic M^esty." tion to the most inconceivably im-
Lord Stanley left it to the noble prudent step that he had ever
Mu^uia to explain the diaorepancy heard of. The noble Viscount was
which ezistea between the noble not offended at his despatches
Viscount, who spoke in the name being returned In himl In a space
of his colleagues in this despatch, of twenty-nine lines the noble
and the noble Marquis, who an- Viscount supposed oases which
peared to speak in the name of his had not occurred between Spain
oolleoguea on the present occasion, and England; and, instead of
But, in addition to this, there was taking the course which such an
RnoUier letter of Lord Falmerslon insulting return of his despatch
now published — the most extraor- demanded, the noble Visoount con-
dinary one it had ever been Lord eluded by reminding the Spanish
Stanley's fortune to read. It was Minister for Foreign Afiiurs, that
vriitsB on receipt of the Duke of under certain drcumstanoes, and
Botomajor's despatch of the 10th, unless Great Britain had inter-
ud began thus — fered to maintain the present
" Fon^ Office, AprU », 1B48. Queen of Spain upon the throne,
"Sir,— I have received your the Minister of Foreign A£&irs
OvUiul.]
HISTORY.
[ir?
in tbat coootTy might himself have
been a proscribed exile in a. foreign
country. This stroke of generositj,
he admitted, he bad reeid with the
greateet regret. He saw no pro-
spect of B, satis&otory issue on the
part of the noble Viscount to a
correspondence so conducted. He
believed it to be his duty to call
their Lordships' attenti«) to the
laota ai they existed on the face of
the documents Isid before Parlia-
ment; and he thought their Lord-
ships bad a right to know whether
the course and conduct of Mr.
Bolwer, in presenting this note,
were considered, as appeared by the
statement of the noble Marquis
the other night, an imprudent
coarse by her Majesty's Govern-
ment, or whether the noble Vis-
count was justified in stating that
it had the entire and cordial ap-
proval of his colleagues.
The Marquis of Luisdowne said
that the construction put upon the
iMiguage he had used on the
former occasion was hardly a fair
one. Judging of the case in thi$
country, he had certainly regretted
the communication ; but he had
particularly stated his confidence
that Mr. Bulwer, with hie know-
ledge of the country in which bo
resided, and his talents for public
business, had had reasons which
made the course he took impera-
tive on him. Unless Mr. Bulwer
had been afterwards instmcted to
state the approbedon of bis con-
duct by hia chief, it would have
been equal to aa expression of dis-
apIffDbatioD, and his recall mast
have followed ; a step which the Mi-
nbters were not prepared to take,
especially considering the language
of the Duke of Sotomayor's des-
patch. However, Lord I^ns-
downe was happy to say that an
amicaUe spirit, had since ari3en
Vol. XC.
between the parties, owing to the
conciliatory conduct which Mr. Bul-
wer had pursued. Hia recall was
not demanded ; and a renewal of
the coDtroverBy among their Lord-
ships would only end in unneces-
sary imputations.
The Earl of Aberdeen agreed
that it would have been most ud-
juat to recall Mr. Bulwer : for he
had certainly acted accordii^ to
the spirit of hia instmciions.
It was said that approbation of
Mr. Bulwer was necessarily con*
veyed to him in order that the
Duke of Sotomayor should have
no triumph. But the approbation
Duke's despatch; so the excosa
had no application.
He (Ijord Aberdeen) heard with
peculiar satisfaction that amicable
relations were renewed; but he
concurred in Lord Stanley's oen-
sures. " I was curious upon the
point when I saw these papers ;
and. although I fully expected to
hear tbat the renewal of friendly
communications had been brought
about, I certainly could not have
anticipated that it would have
taken place in the manner in
which it appears by tbese papers
to have occurred. For your Lord-
ships are perhaps scarcely aware
how perfectly unprecedented a pro-
ceeding this is which has taken
place. I have had some experience
in these matters. I h^ve bad cor-
respondence, occasionally more or
less angry, with foreign Govern-
ments, though not very often; but
tbat a despatch of a British
Secretary of State should be re-
turned by the Minister of a foreign
Government as unfit to be retained
or received, appears to me lo be a
thing quite unexampled. I never
could have supposed that such a
178] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEn^h^nd.
thing waa poeaibls. Not only in imperious temper — to propose to
mj experieoce have I never beard him to transfer the gOTemment to
of such a thing, but I will venture perwns who were at that moment
to sa^ that this is the firat time a aotuallj under an accusation of
British Miaist«r ever suffered such attempting a revolution in the
mu indignity." ata.te — seemed to be an act so ill
Lord Aberdeen condemned, as advised that it could only be re-
being indelicat« and in bad taste, ceived as it has been. Nobody
the allusion, in Mr. Bulwer's let- would have dreamt some time s^
ter, to the unfortunate King of the that a successful opposition could
French and his family,within a fort- have been made in Spain to revo-
night after his arrivu in this oouQ- luttonaiy attempts; but, such hav-
try, and tlie holding him up as a iiig been made, it was the interest
warning to the Spanish Govern- as well as the duty of Great Britain
ment. to give the Government every sup-
The course taken in regard to port in its power, instead of getting
the Spanish Prime Minister was up miaerable quarrels about more
most inopportune, and unlikely to or less infusion of Liberal persons
produce a sood effect. Unfortu- into that Government
iwtely, in tne case of Spain, ever Lord Brougham closed the de-
aince the correspondence took place bate by a few remarks. He sug-
which had been produced some gested that amity between the
time ago, in which the Spanish nations would be best promoted, if
Government was alluded to in no such discussions as the present
Tory measured terms, there had were abstained from,
existed a feeling of suspicion and In the House of Commons, the
hostility on their part which pre- some subject was debated on the
vented them from receiving any 6th of June, being introduced by
kind of advice from this country, Mr. George Bonkes, who moved,
however salutary, without a certain pursuant to notice, the following
degree of reluctance. The exist- resolution: —
ence of this feeling was well " That this House learns with
known ; and this made it only the deep regret, from a correspondence
more necessary, if we wished to between the British Goverament
act with them in a friendlv man- and the Government of Spain, now
ner, to approach them with all upon the table of thb House, that
that care, delicacy, and prepora- a proposed interference with the
tion, which might render it pes- internal concerns of the Spanish
sible to do away with that sus- Government, as conducted under
picion and hostility. But, made the authority and with the entire
as that communication was, it al- approval of Her M^esty's Mi-
most appeared to him (Lord Aber- nistera, has placed the British
deen) that, if not made purposely Government, and our representor
with the view of its not being tive at the Court of Madrid, in a
accepted, it must have been position humiliating in its cha-
made without the shadow of a locter, and which is calculated to
hope that it would be accepted, affect the friendly relations here-
To propose to such a Minister — tofore existing between the Courta
who, whatever his merits might of Great Britain and of Spain."
' be, was known to possess a most In the remarks with which he
Enghmd.] HISTORY. [179
prefaced hia motion, Mr. Bankes aoj reepect exceeded them. The
called attention, first, to the sin- Spanish OoTernment, however,
gular circumstance that, for the had exceeded its dutf when it not
first time in our bistory. a British only rejected the despatches of Sir
Minister had been expelled from H. Bulwer, but also directed him
the Conrt to which he had been to leave the capital within forty-
accredited, and had been com- eight hours. He then criticized
pelled to leave the country within the celebrated letter communicated
a very limited time; and, next, to by Sir H. Bulwer to the Duke de
the still more singular drcum- Sotomayor, contending that it was
stance, that the British Govern- an un<^led-for interference with
meot had hitherto observed the the afbira of a foreign Oovem-
most complaisant silence there- ment, which no Government calling
opon. He therefore felt it to be itself independent could vtewwitii-
hi3 duty to call on the Govern- out indignation, and which, in his
ment to give explanations, which opinion, was certain to disturb the
it had hitherto withheld from the ties of friendship which had so
House, on this subject. He hoped long existed between England and
that Lord Palmerslon would see Spain. He could not permit that
tbat the opportunity now given letter, and the other papers by
him for vindicating the conduct of which it was accompanied, to re-
the British Government and its main on the table of the House,
ambassador was not too late. Pre- either with the approbation of Far-
pared as he was to join with Her liament, or without a severe corn-
Majesty's Ministers to demand ment upon them. He expressed
reparation from the country which the deepest regret that those
haid insulted and iigured us, be papers existed; and he believed
thought that he should do this that every Member in the House
cause good by admitting the ehared in that regret He then
grievous error committed by the entered into a veiy minute ex-
British Cabinet in tiie first in- amination of them, contending
stance. It was essen^al that that they had been very cautiously
Parliament should know whether and cleverly selected for Lord
the charges brought against Sir Palmerston's purposes ; that they
H. Bulwer, in the papers already consisted of mere extracts, not
presented to it, were the only from the despatches of foreign
charges to be preferred against him. ministers, but from the despatches
If there were nothing more against of our own; and that they were
Sir H. Bulwer than the chaises filled with extracts from foreign
preferred in these papers, then, newspapers, which were not worth
though he must admit that they the paper on which they were
arose out of the most unhappy written. He conceived that they
diplomacy of Lord Palmerston, he were laid before Parliament for
certainly conld not admit that they the mere purpose of delay, and for
afforded any justification fbr the the sake of mystifying instead of
expulsion of our ambassador. He elucidating all the points at issue.
lamented that the instructions sent He then maintained that the laa-
out to Sir H. Bulwer had led to guage in which liord Palmerston
such results; but he could not had pressed adoption of a legal
allow that Sir H. Bulwer had in and consdtotional course upon tiie
rN9]
180] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Englattd.
Queen-Motber, and the Spanish circulated the caluranj that Sir H.
Oovernment vtas bo rude and in- Bulner bad been abandoned for
Bolting that bis Lardship could his conduct by the British Govern-
not have adopted, if he baa wished, ment. Lord FalmerBton would
a more certain method of defeating rather give his office to the winds
his own ot^ect. He contrasted than treat Sir H. Bulwer in that
that insulting tone with the con- manner. Mr. Sbiel concluded bj
ciliUory language addressed hj pronouncing a. warm and eloquent
Lord Palmerston's ancestor, SirW. panegyric upon the Foreign Mi-
Temple, to one of our own ambae- niqter for the enlightened and
Bodot^ in the reign of Cbarles Tl., liberal spirit which characterised
who bad to make a. similar com- bis policy,
municalion in his day to a foreign Lord Mahon admitted that, usder
giwer. Ou the other hand, Mr. the circumstances stated by Mr.
anks ui^ed that the conduct of Shiel, Lord Palmerston bad a
Sir H.Bulwer required no defence, right to tender bis advice to the
He bad neither exceeded nor fallen Government of Spain; but he
short of bis instructions; but it could not concur in the scope of
was impossible to deny that, as that advice, or the terms in which
the instructions given to him in it had been conveyed. The papers
the first instance were the cause on the table at present were
of all the miaunderstanding, we too incomplete to eoable a matare
ought to admit oar error in that judgment to be formed with re-
respect before we vindicated the spect to the position in which this
insult which had been inflicted on country was placed towards Spain.
Ibis country by the expulsion of So far as those papers went,
our Minister. He thought there there was not in them even the
would be no difficulty in auch a ebadow of a justification for the
course, especially as Lord J. Rub- dismissal by tbe Spanish Oorem-
sell and Lord Palmerston had both ment of tie ambassador of a
belonged to Earl Grey's Ooveni- friendly power, to whom they were
meat, which took office on the indebted so deeply for co-operation
three principles of reform, re- and moral influence. He oould
trenchment, and non-interference not concur in the resolution of Ur.
with the aSaira of foreign states. Bankes, regarding it as a vote of
Mr. Shiel, in a speech of con- censure upon the Government, the
uderable length and ability, vin- consequenoee of which he was not
dicat^ Lord Palmerston's inter- prepared to incur at the present
vention in the o&irs of Spain, time.
which he described as being neces- Lord John Buasell, after oom-
saiy to prevent eveiy vestige of plimenting Lord M^on on the
freedom from being swept away in candour with which he had spokeo,
that country. The Spanish Go- thought that his Lordship would
vemment, forgetting the benefits, admit that one Government was
or rather resenting the obligations, at liberty and might even be bound
that it had received from Lord to give its advice to another on its
Palmerston, put upon him a oon- internal afjairs, provided its advice
tumely which could not humiliate was tendered in friendly language,
him, though it might be disgraceful It was but recently that the Mini-
to them. They had, moreover, sterof the Queen of ^>ain bad felt
£i^««t] HISTORY. [181
himBelfboundtoiDipFessontheGo- FalmenloD, tbe English Oovem-
TemmeatoftheKiugofNEipleBthe ment had to oonsider whether he
neceeshf of displajiitg clemenc}' b&d acted properly in preseiiUng it.
after the sueoesseB which he had It was their unanimone conclusion
gained over his insurgent Gulgects. that he had done so. It would
The same advice had been given at have been a gross ahandonment of
the same time by the Minister of chanuter if the Oovemment had
England, and jet it bad never oc- taken a technical Advantage of Sir
Guired to the Minister of Naples H. Bulwer, and had eaid, "Yon
to say that their interference was had no instructions to deliver that
ui^DBtifiable unless they intended note; and, as you have done so
that he should also interfere with without authority, we disavow you
the Governments of Spain and and your proceedings." The Go-
England. Jjord J. Russell then vemment, therefore, willingly in-
explained , in terms similar to those curred the whole responsibiUty for
employed by Mr. Shiel. the peeuliar Sir K. Bulwer'e conduct, and now
reasons which justified England in stood before the House to justify
givingadtioetotheQueenaf Spain, its policy; to be acquitted, if the
The events of the present year Honee ^eaaed to acquit it — to be
had been extraordinary. There censured, if the House pleased to
was no country which could be censure it — but not denying or
considered safe from those con- evading the responsibility properly
vnlsions which had upset thrones, belonging to it. Lord J. Russell
destmyed constittitioQa, and placed then proceeded to refute the argu-
large cafMtala in the ppwer of vio- ment that Lord Palmerston should
l^it mote; and, under such cir- have resented most deeply, and in
Gomstancea, how could the fate of the most pompous terms, the dis-
Spata £ail to attract painfully the courtesy of the Spanish Govem-
attention of Lord Falmeraton? ment in rqeclins his despatch. He
He then recapitulated the circum- thought that his Lordship had done
stances under which Lord Palmer- better in explaining that what we
Bton had written his celebrated had done was done in a friendly
despatch of March last, and pro- spirit; and that, if Spain chose to
ceeded to justify the advice which be angry, we did not intend to
his Lordship had given the Queen be offended. He censured Mr.
of Spain to form an Administration Bankes not only for asking for
out of the two great factions into further information whilst nego-
which the country was divided, as tiations were going on, but also
the best means of supporting her for moving a vote of oensure on
throne against all parties. Havine Ministers at present; for he was
received hia instructions from Lord quite convinced that, if the House
Palmerelon, Sir H. Bulwer saw were now to adopt such a vote, it
with alarm a law passed at Madrid would weaken the powers of the
suspending all the privileges of Queen's represuitatives, whoever
the Constitution, and also saw all they might be, in drananding re-
the leading Progreesislas seized paraiion from the Spanish Govem-
and imprisoned vrithont even the ment. With regard to our rela>
form of^ a trial. Under such cir- tious with Spain, he admitted that
cnmstances, after Sir H. Bulwer they were peculiar and delicate;
had presented to the Spanish hut, considering our power and
GqvfdmmBnt the note of Lord the weakness of Spun, he thought
1823
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. iEngland.
that ve were bound to treat her
with the utmost forbearanco. He
regretted the violent and peremp-
tory step tAken by the Spanish
Government towards Sir H. Bui-
wer, for which he could see no
iustificaticin ; but he assured the
House that, whilst the destinies of
Spain were placed in hands want-
ing in temper, discretion, and re-
gard for a generous ally, he would
not forget that the interests of the
Queen of Spain and of the gallant
Spanish nation ought to be re-
garded, for the Bak4 of old recol-
lections, with feelings of friend-
ship and amity on our part.
Mr. Disraeli considered that a
gross insult had been inflicted on
the dignity of the Queen and the
British Government, and asked
why a full satisfaction had not been
exacted from the ofiendiug Court,
The House knew from the Spanish
Government the reasons which had
induced it to dismiss Sir H Bul-
wer from Madrid. Would any man
venture to affirm that they formed
a saljs&ctory justification for so
unparalleled an outr^e? We were
powerful enough to submit to in-
sult for a time, provided it was
clear that an apology would ulti-
mately be offered ; but had the
Spanish Goverument shown any
readiness to apologize for the great
and unparalleled insult which
it had offered to tho Grown and
Ministry of Great Britain? No-
thing like it. After all the delay
which had taken place in the pro-
duction of these papers, be believed
that the Spanish Government had
no other charge to prefer against
Sir H. Bolwer than those ridi-
culous accusations which appeared
in them ; and, if so. next to the
outr^ which it had committed
against us in dismissing Sir H.
Bulwer was the outrage of daring
to send an envoy to explfdn it. If r.
Disraeli then entered into a long
examination of the foreign policy
of which Lord Palmerston had been
the exponent, for the purpose of
showing that it had laid the seeds
of infinite confusion in every
country with which he, a partizan
of noQ-int«nrention, had interfered.
Of late years the plot had thick-
ened, and our foreign policy had
been directed to finding not merely
constitutions for the acceptance of
independent states, but statesmen
to superintend their administra-
tion. The expulsion of the Eng-
lish Minister from Madrid was the
result of that pernicious system of
Liberalism which had prevailed so
long in that House; and, as a
check upon it, it was their first
duty to express their sense of the
unparalleled outrage committed
against the dignity of the Sove-
reign; their next, not to allow a
diplomatic servant of the country
to be made a scapegoat for Miuis-
tera ; and their third, to show that
this was not an attack on an indi-
vidual Minister, but on a system
which he bad too long been forced
to develope, but from which he
had departed in 1840, in obedi-
ence to the dictates of his own
genius, and had so conferred great
benefits on his coontiy.
Sir R. Inglb condemned the
dismissal of Sir H. Bulwer from
Madrid by the Spanish Govern-
ment as an unparalleled outr^e
on the dignity of Great Britain,
and, at the same time, considered
the interference of Lord Palmer-
ston in the aSairs of Spain as very
unjustifiable.
Sir R. Peel had heard with the
greatest SBtisfaction the determi-
nation of Government to adopt
the conduct of Sir H. Bulwer
as their own, and to assume the
full responsibility of it It was
but Just that they should do 90;
ZngUHd.} HISTORY. [183
one of the causes alleged for tfae caose he was imwilliog to place oa
removal of Sir H. Bulwer from record that hta country was in a
Madrid by the Bpaniah Govern' homiliating position. He also
ment was that public opinion was thought that the time of bringing
B*eiBe to faim, uot only in Spain it forward was premature ; for, 3
but also in England. He then the House needs most express an
alated that Sir H. Bulwer had opinion upon it, it would be better
been placed in his diplomatic aitua- to wait until the whole drama was
tion in Spain by the Earl of Aber- before it, and not to condemn the
deen, not from any political pre- first act without knowing how it
dilection or connexion, but from a might work upon the diwu«mMU.
convictioD of his superior skill and Because he Uiought the penalty
ability. Ixwking at these des' now proposed to be inflicted too
patches, he saw no ground for find* heavy for the ofTence, because it
u^ foult with his conduct at Ma- was unwise for the House of Com-
drid. The question then aroBCf mona to declare its own humilia*
bow the House was to dispose of tion, because such a declaration
this motion. Mr. Disraeli had would paralyse the arm of the
stated that there were three ob- Government, and would lead the
jects for which it had been brought Spanish Government to enter-
forward ; the first to manifest the tun false expectations of sup-
intention of the House to exempt port irom that House, he should
Sir H. Bulwer from blame; se- give on this occasion a vote
oondly, to maintain the honoiu: of which, tiiough it would not im-
England, which hod been out- ply censure on the Government,
ra^d by Spain; and, thirdly, not would enable the House to go
to condemn Lord Palmerston, but without delay into a Committee of
that system by which Liberalism Supply.
had been made triumphant. Now, Lord Palmerston, after showing
the resolution then before the the inexpediency of the motion at
Boose would not allow any of the present time, as affirmii^ the
those three objects to be aocom- hnmiliation of the country, pro-
plished, as he showed at consider- ceeded to declare that he and he
able length. Though he could alone was responsible for the com-
not concur in the resolution of Mr. munication of his approbation to
fionkes, which was a vole of con* Sir H. Bulwer as an agent in the
sure on the Government, he must department over which he had the
not be considered as giving bis honour to preside, and that, if any
foil approbation to the conduct of person were censurable for that
Lord Palmerston. He did not approbation, upon him, and upon
object to his Lordship's giving ad- him alone, that censure ought to
vice to the Spanish Government, fall. But he contended, that no
but to his mode of giving it. There censure ought to &11 even upon
was an assumption of superiority him, for Sir H. Bulwer had, in bis
inhiadespaUhwhichwascalculated opinion, behaved admirably, and
to give ofi'ence to a proud nation he bad felt it to be his duly to
like that of Spain. It contained a communicato to him that opinion.
reeordatio which was veiy like an At the same time, he most say that
exprobatio be7t«ficii, and which his (Lord Palmsreton's) despatoh
ought to have been avoided. He of the 16th of March was not writ*
olg^cted, however, to the vote, be- ten to be communicated to the
184] ANNUAL REGISTER, 184.8. [E«vfi»««n
Bpanieh Government. It was attempted to address the Heuse,
hardly oecessar; for him. after the but the clamour and interruption
epeech oF Sir R. Peel, to Justify ware bo great aa to prevent his ob-
hiraeetf for having tendered the taining a hearing. Mr. Baakes, in
advice of the British Oovemment reply, said that his object was at-
to the Queen of Spain ; but, as Sir tained by the discussion which had
Bobert had found fault with the been elicited, and allowed his re-
mode of conveying that advice, he solution to be negatired iritbont a
thought it right to say that, when division.
the Queen of Spain VB3 endeavour- On the 30th of August, Mr.
ing to establish in that country Disraeli revievied the transactions
the despotism which England had of the expiring Session in a speech
assisted her in overthrowing, vre distinguished by his usual caustic
had a right, arising out of the humour and felicitous illustration,
treaty by which we guaranteed her in which he rallied the Govern-
crown, to give our advice in the ment in a most entertaining man-
mostexplicittenns. Inwritingthe ner upon the abortive results of
despatch of the 16th of March he their measures, and dwelt with
did no more than the British Go- peculiar effect on the ioooneisten-
vemment had a right to do ; and. cies of their financial policy. He
when Sir R. Peel asserted that that began by some obeervations on the
despatch was not calculated to con- unexampled length of the present
ciliate or persuade, his (Lord Pal- Session. After having sat now
marston's) reply was that it was for nearly ten months, Parliament
a confidential despatch, not in> was about to be prorogued with a
tended for communication to the Tsst numberof importantBills not
Spanish Oovemment. He then only not passed, but also veiy little
vindicated himself with great force advanced. One of the most plau-
snd ability from the attacks of Mr. sible reasons assigned for that tin-
Bankes. and, after adverting to satisfactory state of a&irs was,
the dismissal of Sir H. Bnlwer that our system of government was
from Madrid, observed that com- inadequate to pass those measures
munications were now going on which were required for the public
with the Spanish Govemnent as welfare, or, in other words, that
to their reasons for sendingthat there was too mnch discussion and
gentleman his passports. When too much talk in the House of
Uie communications — for he could Commons. Another reason as-
not call them negotiations— were signed for it was that the forms of
concluded, he would communicate the House wera so cumbersome
to Parliament the correspondence; and antiquated as to offer a great
but, whilst they were in progress, it obstacle to the efficient and speedy
was impossible for him consistently transaction of public business. He
with public doty U> reveal what believed that this was the feeling
had passed, or to state their precise of the Government, and, as a proof
nature. of the oorrectness of his belief,
> Mr. Hume expressed his opinion quoted a newspaper paragraph, at^
that both Sir H. Bnlwer and Lord tributing the postponement of the
Pajroerston had been fully justified Ministerial whitebait dinner to the
intheconductpnrsuedbytbem.and "vexatious discussions" in the
he recommended Mr. Bankes to House of Commons. He denied
snthdrawhisMoticak Ur.Urquhart that therewasauyjustifiableGMise
[] HISTORY. [186
for sUribnting to either of these ing of the Hooae, after heanogtlMt
two cauees the fact Uiat the Legisla- budget, vim one of ooosiderable
tore, after having aat for nearly dissatisfaction; and, in the country,
ten months, had done very little, a menagerie before feeding-time
and that veiy little not very well, could alone give an idea of the
and he referred to the report of the unearthly yell with which it was
Committee on Public Business to received. On the S 1st of February,
show how much of the time of the with the view of lulling the storm.
Session had been occupied by the the Minister proposed the imme-
employment of Members in Public diate reference of the Array, Navy,
Committees, in Election Commit- and Ordnance Eatimates to a Select
tees, in Railway Committees, and Committee, and of the Miscellsno-
it) Committees on PrivatoBusiness. ous Estimates to a similar ordeal.
Mr. Disraeli, having finished his On the SSth of February, as the
etatement upon that point, pro- storm was still raging, and Mr.
ceeded to call die attention of the Home had given notice of a mo-
House to the circumstances under don for the reduction of expendi-
which this Parliament had assem- ture, the Chancellor of the £x>
bled. There was then buniae in chequer came down and presented
Ireland, and commerdal distress in the House with another budget.
but be thought that no man would diture and income to a balance
contend that, when the House met without doubling the Income Tar.
in November last, there was too On the SOth of June, in tlie midst
much discDssion on those subjects, of a Colonial debate, the Chan-
He contended that the motion of cellor of the Exchequer suddenly
Mr. Berries on the management threw a third budget on the table
and constitution of the Itank of of the House. They had, then,
England, and on the conduct of three budgets between the 16th of
HeFMiyesty'sMinistersduringthe Februaty and the period to which
criais of October, was neither of an be had traced the proceedings of
intnudve nor of an impertinent the Seeaion, and yet they did not
chainctor. After alluding to the advance one jot All this time, the
' unsatisfactory result of the Parlia- Estimates were before the Select
mentory discussions on banking, Committees up-stairs, which were
and expressing his belief that really Select Committees of Supply:
sounder principles could only bo and Ministers could do nothing but
established by another pressure obtain a vote on confidence to pay
and another panic, he referred to wages or dividends. They bad been
the discussions in the House on the treated with the greatest forbear-
financial question. On the 18th of anoe and indulgence; yet, from the
Februaiy, the first financial state- 18th of February to the 80th of
ment was made to the House, not June, all they did was to produce
bytheChanceilorof the Exchequer, three financial projects, all of which
but by the Premier himself. The were inefficient The Estimates
country was to be defended as well did not come down to the House till
as the taxes to be paid. There August; by which delay. Members
was to be an increase, not only of were deprived of their conatitu-
the Miscellaneous, but also of the tional privilege of discussing and
Military Estimates, and thelncome criticizing the Supply. "We have
Tax was to be doubled. The fe^ had three budgeta, two CcnsmiU^
186] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [KngUmd.
and BIZ months and a half wasted pelted. The viUagers, like the
br this Admiuistratioa — these men Opposition, were drawn out to re-
of boBinese — who were to give us a ceive him ; and Cerrantes tells us
satisfectiMT financial exposition that, although they were aware of
earl; in f«bniary ; and the Prime his weakness, they treated him
Minister, with that almost sublime with respect. (Great laughur.)
coolness which characterizes him, His immediate friends, the Barber,
announced, late in July, that his the Curate, and the Bachelor
right honourable friend the Chan- Sampson Carrasco — whose places
cellor of the Escbequer would take might be supplied in this House
an opportunity, before the House by the First Lord of the Treasury,
separated, of making another finan- the Secretary of State for Foreign
cial s(at«ment. Well, sir, we had Aflairs, and the President of t&e
at last the fourth budget. We had Board of Trade — were assembled;
some time ago the Government of and with demure reverence and
all the talents; this is the Govern- feignedsympatbyUiey greeted him,
ment of all the budgets. Alas for broken in spirit, and about for
this fourth budgetl it came late, ever to renounce those delightful
and at a moment when we wanted illuaionsnnderwhich he had sallied
glad tidings; but, unfortunately, it forth so triumphantly: but, just at
was not characterized by the sunny this moment, when everything was
aspect which was desired by its in the best taste, Sancho's wife
proposers. I shall never forget the rushee forward and exclaims,
scene. It was a very dreary me> ' Never mind your kicks and cuffs,
ment. There was a very thin so you 've brought home some
House — the thinnest, I suppose, money.' (Much laughter.) Bat
that ever attended a ceremony so that is jnat the thing that the
interesting to every country, and Chancellor of the Exchequer has
especially to a commercial and n"t brought. Such was the end of
financial country like England. I the fourth and final expedition,
oeversaw a budget brought forward and such is the result of the fourth
before an atteudance so gloomy and and final budget. The Chancellor
80 small. I was irresistibly re- oftbe Exchequer, duiing the whole
minded of a celebrated character. Session, haa been bringing home '
who, like the Chancellor of the barbers' basina instead of kuigfatly
Exchequer, had four trials in hia helms; and at the last moment,
time, and his last was his most un- true to his nature, to his vocation,
successful. I mean the great hero and to his career,he finds instead of
of Cervantes, when he returned a surplus a deficiency, and, instead
from his fourth and final espedl* of reducing taxation, he commemo-
tion. The great spirit of Quixote rates his second year of finance by
had subsided; all that aally of a second loan. Now, I ask honour-
financial chivalry which cut us able gentlemen to cast their eyes
down at the beginning of the Ses- over the period 1 have sketched,
sion, and which trampled and can- from the 1 8th of Februaiy to the
tored over us in the middle, was 35th of August —over the three
gone. Honour^le gentlemen will budgets, the unconstitutiona] Oom-
remember the chapter to which I mittees on the Estimates, and the
refer, which describes the period fourth and final budget — and then
when the kni^ht'a delusions on the I ask the House and the oomitiy
Butgeot of chivalry were to be dis- with confidence for tbeii verdict,
Englamt.] HISTORY. [187
that irhataver time has been intstecl, of June, involving a departure from
whatever delay has taken place, the principles of that Act, and the
has not been attributable to the twenty-three arithmetical blunders
discussions of Members, or to the detected in that Bill b; the pene-
forms of the House." tration of Lord Geoi^e Bentinck.
Mr. Disraeli proceeded in a The Bill was then withdrawn ; a so-
similar manner to show that it was cond Bill was introduced, in which
not the foalt of the House if they the twenty-three blunders were
had notobeyed Her M^esty'a com- dealt with ; seven were corrected,
mands, first, in passing measures but two new blunders were created,
for promoting the health of the me- The sooondBill was also withdrawn,
tropolis ; sod, secondly, in reform- and a third was introduced, inwbich
ing the Navigation Laws. He the Government confessed to six-
ridiculed with much effect the teen blunders, but did not correct
changes and transmutations which them. Sixdays'discussiontfaentook
the Public Health Bill had under- place in Committee on the Bill.oc-
Sone. He commented on the casionodsolelybythelmperfectpre-
ilatory and unbusin ess-like style paration of its clauses and its sche-
in which the Navigation Bill had doles. Hethenattudedtotheamaz-
been dealt with, attributing its ing quantity of timewhich had been
' postponement to Xiord J. Russetl's lost thb Session in moving writs
anxiety to carry through a Bill and dealing with delinquent bo-
wbich was not mentioned in Her roughs, and to the various Election
Majesty's Speech — the Jewish Bil^ introduced and withdrawn by
Disabilities Bill. Personalty, he Sir J. Hanmer, until he came at
approved of that measure, but he last to the Corrupt Practices at
thought the evils were great of a Elections Bill, subsequently intro-
Ministiy attempting to bring for- duced by the Government, and
ward a project of that nature unless passed through all its stages in that
they had strength to carry it. The House. After nineteen debates on
consequence of a failure was that thesubjectofissuingwrits, theCor-
the cause lost ground. Mr. Disraeli rupt Practices Bill was sent to the
then reviewed at much length, and Hooseof Lords, and then was with-
with pungent severity, the Minis- drawn by the noble Ijord who so
terial proceedings respecting the ably conducted the functions of
Sugar Duties. He recapitulated Government in that assembly. He
the &cts as they occurred from the had now placed the House in pos-
commencement of the Session — ' session of information which would
the compluntd that poured in from eDableittojudgewhethertbeblame
the West Indies — the exertions of of legislative failure in the present
Lord Geoi^ Benljnck in moving Session rested with the House of
for, and afterwards conducting, the Commons or the Government,
inquiries of, the Select Committee; During the ten months Parliament
the recommendation of that Com- had been sitting, there had been
mittee in favour of a differential sedition in England, insurrection in
duty of 10«. : the declaration of Ireland, and revolution in Europe,
Lord J. Russell on the 39th May, Had the Whigs been in opposition
annouocing his resolve to adhere with such advantages, twenty,
firmly to the Act of 1616; the and not ten months would have
aev Bill brought in on the 16th been fully expended, but for what
188] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [EngiMd.
object and with what results he seemed to imagine that be bad to
would not inquire. Calling the defend the House of Commons
attention of the Honse to the &ot from some charge which the Go-
that no great porUoa of its time vemment had made against it;
■ had been cooennied in discussing but, onthepartoftheGoTerament,
either the foreign policy of the be declared that no such charge
Counti7 or the condition of Eng- bad been made. He tboi^ht, bow-
land, be next proceeded to in- ever, that some alteratjou might
quire whether there had been any be made in the forms of the House
waste of time with reepect to Ire- without iojuiy to the easential
land. He contended that there rights of ^scuseion, and without
had not, and gsve as an instance impediment to the freedom of de-
the readiness with whieb the House bate. Mr. Disraeli hod remarked
had recently passed the Bill for re- that in this year there bad been
Bcinding all the civil liberties of sedition in England, rebellion ia
that country. On that occasion Ireland, and revolution in Europe.
Parliament had displayed a great Now, the Minielers of the Crown
example to Eorope, and had proved w«re chiefly appointed toadminjater
that ttw English Constitution oould the aSairs of the empire, and when
combine the energy of s despotism sedition bad been checked in Eng-
with the enthusiasm of a republic, land, and rebellion suppressed in
He then read what he called the Ireland, and foreign revolution pre-
bills of mortality for the Session of vented from shaking our inedtotions
1646, from which be proved that at home, he most say, as a member
forty-seven Bills had been aban- of the Government, that the ad-
doned, withdrawn, or postponed ministr^oa of the empire could
within the last six months. In bis not have been vety defective. It
opinion, it was not difficult to die- was not the duty of the members of
cover the causes of this mortali^. Government to introduce and osdj
The cause was to be found there through ParliamentagreatnumbOT
(pointing to the Treasuiy benches) of measures every Seeeion ; and
— in that Ministry which acceded three Idinist^rs who bad been sup-
to power without a Parlismentory ported by large majorities — he
majority, and which was therefore meant Sir B. Walpole, Lord Chat-
unable to propose measures with a ham, and Mr. Pitt — had neither
conviction that they would be car- proposed nor carried any great
ried. Their measuree were, in legislative enactments during the
conseqnence, altored, remodelled, whole of their Ministerial career,
patched, cobbled, paintod, and In times of great difficulty and
veneered, until no trace was left of pressure, the chief attention of
their original form, or they were Afintri«rs must be^given to tbosa
withdrawn in disgust by their questions of administration which
authors after long discussions in every day brings forth. Under such
that Honse. circumstances it was difficult to
Lord John Russell vindicated watoh the details of every measure
the Government of which he was submitted to Parliament, aad yet,
the head with much adroitness during the present Session. Mioia-
from the aspeFsions and ridi- ters had already passed 105 out of
cule of Mr Disraeli. He began the 125 bills which they had snb-
by observing that that gentleman mittod to Parliament Many of
SN9to>d.] HISTORY. [189
those Bills were of the utmost im- it ma not the duty of the Oovem-
poTtanea, as, for inatance, tbe ment to take the lead on such sub-
Crime and Outn^e (IrelKqd) Bill, jeota, and intimated that, if be
the Evicted Destitute Poor Bill, were inclined to complain of anj
and the measare for the sale of en- opposition during the present Ses-
cumbered estates in that coQntr7. sion, he should complain of tbo op-
Loid Jobn Bussell next proceeded positionofiered.in tbe first instance,
to rindtOBto tbe Administration fbr to tbe Bills of Sir J. Hanmer, and
its conduct towards the Bank of afterwards to the Corrupt Practices
England dnring die commercial at Elections Bill which tbe Oo-
crisis of 1847, sad he parried with Temment bad brought in. Mr.
considenUe address Mr. Disraeli's Dtsraeli had complained that
sarcaBmsaboatthefbtir budgets of there was at present no regular
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and oi^anized party in the House,
-passing lightly otst the financial He agreed with Mr. Disraeli as
ease which his iidveTsary bad made to the importance of party ; but, if
ont against the OoTemment. He Mr. Dismeli and Lord Q. Ben-
defended the appointnent of Be- tinck had not been able to form
lect Committees to inqnire into tbe a party and to array it against the
diSerent Estimates of tbe year, and OoTemment, that, at any rate, was
Kintad out the adrant^eB which not tbe fisnlt of GorommenL
d arisen firom their inquiries. Lord John Bnsseli then glanced
In reference to Mr. Disraeli's re- at the causes which bad occasioned
marks on tbe PobUo Health Bill, the prolongation of tbe Session,
betook pride to himself in being He then continued: — "Some of
a member of a Ministry which had them we may expect to be cor^
entered npon snoh an ontiodden reeled in a future Session. I think,
field of Ic^slation, and had pro- however, that it will be worth while
dnced a measure so likely to pro- for Members of this House to con-
dace great benefit to tbe empire, eider whether, while we preeerre
Oovemment had obtained the as- the Taluable rules of debate, it
sent (tf the House to tbe princi^de would not be desirable far some
inYoWed in the repeal of the Navi- Members to refrain from giving us
gatioa Laws, but had been pre- so mnch of their opinions, and so
Tented by other discossions from frequently, as they do at present,
going on with that measure. The (' Hear, bear! ' and lau^kttr.) It
noble Lord then repelled with would beinridiouBonmypartweree
neat vigour tbe attack which Mr. I to point out any honourable
JDisraeti bad made upon the Go- Members wbo might be considered
vemment on the subject of the obnoxious to ^s obeerratiun:
Sugar Duties Bill, admitting that when, faowerer, the bonoonble
that Bill bad taken up much time. Member eays that he comes here
and bad led to great debates, to defend the Hoose of Commons,
which were continued by Lord Q. I realty must say that the House
-Bentiock on other points not very of Commons is not tbe defending
closely connected with them. Re- but the complaining party. The
fening to Mr. Disraeli's comments House of Commons is tbe plain-
on the conduct of the House with tiff in the cause ; at least 4d-S0ths
respect to writs and eormpt prao- of the House complain of tbe other
tieea at Electaons, he asserted that fiaction of (he House, on account
190]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lEngiand.
of their being the caase of the de-
1^ which occurs in the transaction
of public business. I am quite
certain that, if the opinion of the
m^ority of the House could be
consulted, they would on certain
occasionB say, 'Here ie a speech
which might well be spared: we
have heard it five or six times be-
fore, and therefore we do not feel
it absolutely necessary that we
should hear it again.'" {Laughter.)
Lord John Russell recurred to his
position, that with sedition in Eng-
land, incipient rebellion in Ireland,
and convulsion in Europe, the
labour of administration was the
business that chieQy claimed the
care of Government "There
have been moments when every
one must have felt that a slight
indiscretion would have provoked
foreign nations; there have been
momenta when a slight wast of
watchfulness or care mi^t have
-given an inconsiderable number of
miscreants an opportunity of in-
volving the country in confusion.
Wishingto preserve the tranquillity
of Europe — valuing peace alwve all
price — and thinking that the war
of 17S3 was unnecessary for the
purpose for which it was set on
loot and maintained — we are never-
theless prepared to devote our beat
energies and our constant endear
• vours to the maintenance of ami-
.cable relations with foreign coun-
triee. Valuing, as 1 do, our insti-
tutions, and believing that they are
the beet adapted of any which ever
were framed for preserving the
liberty of the community, I trust
that whoever may succeed us in
the task of future legislation will
have to defend, and not to restore,
the constitution of this country."
{Chsen]
Mr. Hume said a few words, ex-
.pressing his satisfaction at the
breaking up of the great aristo-
cratic parties into whicn the House
vras formerly divided. Mr. B. Os-
borne remarked upon the unsatis-
&ctory nature of the encounter
which the House hod just wit-
nessed between two skilful combat-
ants. The debate had gone off like
many modem duels. Mr. Disraeli
had fired a very astounding broad-
side; the fire bad been reiomed
by Lord John Russell; and both
parties seemed equally satisfied.
But there was anodier party whom
neither represented ; and however
able the speech of Mr. Disraeli, or
however witty the speech of Lord
John Russell as to the i
of the Oovemment, that party —
namely, the people^would look
with indifference both on the at-
tack and the defence.
Mr. Disraeli had been conjuring
up the old iltoeion of traditionary
influence; but while popular pri-
vileges, like the right of discussing
grievances on reading the order of
the dav, were swept away, it was
precisely because the country
could forget its aristocratic pre-
judices that it was obliged to ac-
cept the present Government
He regretted that in this debate
the state of Ireland had been passed
over. The noble Lord was about
to visit that country. He trusted
that the visit would not be of the
usual character — a trumpet dinner
at theCastle in full uniform, and a
return home, knowing all about
Ireland. If the noble Lord went
merely to pay such a visit or con-
sult with the distinguished indi-
vidual at the head of affairs there,
he might have as much informa-
tion by post
The noble Lord would find that
a reaction would succeed the tem-
porary panic created by the arrest
of the Chartist leaders — mieer^
EnsUnd.} HISTORY. [191
able and misguided individuals.— fbl exaaunadoD of the Estimates
He alluded to those wrotched car- which by your Miyestj's commands
penten and tailors found plotting were laid before as, we have made
in pablic-houses. He warned the every practicable reduction in the
noble Lord, that a reaction would public expenditure : at the same
Huoceed, and that the people of tame that we have had regard to the
this country would not be satisfied financial atat« of prosperity of this
unless some larger and more com- countiy as affected by the com-
prehensive measures were resorted mercit^ embarrassments of the
to than the suspension of Uie past year, and by the intemiptioa
Habeas Corpus, or any of the of trade consequent upon the late
other miserable Downing Street political events.in Europe, we have
precedents for ruling a people. taken every precaution to secure
The debate then terminated. the efficiency of all departments of
At length, on the 6th of Sop- the public service,
tember, Uie end of this nnprece- " In obedience to your Majeaty's
dented session arrived. With the most gracious recommendation,
exception of the recess at Christ- which was communicated to as by
mas, and the short intervals at the Lords Commissioners at the
Easter and Whitsuntide, Parlia- commencement of the Session, onr
ment had been sitting continuouslv attention has been specially di-
for nearly ten months. Although reeled to measures relating to the
the l^idative results bore but a public health. It is impoasible to
very scanty proportion to this vast overrate the importance of a sub-
consumption of time, the labours ject so deeply affecting the comfort
which uie Membere of the House and happiness of the poorer classes;
of Commons had undergone had and we confidently hope that, if
been veiy severe, and the reUef the Bills which have been passed
afforded by the prortwation was are carried out in the same spirit
both a needful and a w^come one. in which they have been framed,
The long-desired event took place they will greatly tend to lessen the
on the day above mentioned. Her amount of human suffering, and
M^esty being present in person, to promote the moral improvement.
The magnificent new chamber of as well as contentment, of the la-
the Peers was crowded with per- faouring classes in dense and popu-
sons of distinction. Among the lous districts.
sptKStaton at the ceremony were " Not unmindful of the oon-
the Due de Nemours and the ditiou of Ireland, or of the dis-
Prince de Joinville. The Commons tressed state of the poor in that
being summoned, the Speaker ad- country, owing to the limited de-
dreased the Queen in the following mand for labour, we have pro-
terms : — vided additional funds, arising from
" Uost Gracious Sovereign — the repayment of additional loans,
We, your Majesty's faithful Com- to be expended in public works;
mons of the United Kingdom of and we have removed the impedi-
Oreat Britun and Ireland, attend ments to the sale of encumbered
your Mfgesty, aftel- a protracted estates, in order to encourage as
and laborious Session, with our last much as possible the application
Bilb of Supply. of capital to the improvement of
'* After a most patient and care- land.
192] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [E»?fi.«d.
" The spirit of ioanbordi nation atrocious murdeFeranbo had spread
which has prenuled in various terror through the country nere
parte of the coaatry, especially in appreheaded, tried, and convicted.
Inland, has farced upon our con- " The distress in Ireland, con-
flideraUon topics of a far more sequent upon successive failures in
nvve and anxious character. We the production of food, has been
nave cordially concurred in tboee mitigated by the application of the
meaaures which have been thought Ian for the relief of the poor, and
necessary to secure obedience to by the amount of charitable contri-
the laws, and to represa and to butions raised in other parte of the
prevent ontr^e and rebellion. United Kingdom.
" Deeply sensible of the value " On the other hand, organized
of those institutions nnder which confederacies took advantage of the
we have the happiness to live, no existing preaenre to excite my suf-
effort on our part has been want- feriug sutgects to rebellion. Hopes
ioR to preserve them from the of plunder and oonfiscation were
evil designs of misguided men, held out to tempt the distressed,
who, taking advantage of a season while the most visionary prospects
of temporaiy distrees, have endea- were exhibited to the ambitious,
voured to excite discontent and in- In this coi^nncture I applied to
Burrection. your loyalty and wisdom for in-
" We have witnessed with gra- creased powers ; and, strengthened
titode and proud satisfaction the by your prompt concurrence, my
ouequivocal expression, on the part Government was enabled to defeat
of the great mass of the people, of in a few days machinations which
those marks of attachment to their had been prepared during many
Sovereign and respect for the law ; months. The energy and decision
•nd we, as their representatives, shown by the Lord Lieutenant of
participaling to the fullest extent Ireland in this emergency deserve
in these feelings, now tender to my warmeet approbation,
your Mtgesty Uie sincere expres- " In the midst of these difGcul-
Sion of our devotion and loyalty." ties, you have continued your la-
Tbe Queen, after having myen hours for the improvement of the
the Royal Assent to some Bills laws. The Act for &eilitating the
presented by the Speaker, then Sale of Encumbered Estates wU),
read from the throne the following I trust, gradually remove an evil
^eech: — of great magnitude in the social
" My Lords and Oentlemen, — I state of IreWid.
un hwpy to be able to release you " The system of perpetual en-
from ue duties of a laboriona and tails of land established in Scot-
protracted Session. land produced rery serious evils
" The Act for the Prevention both to heirs of entail and to the
of Crime and Outrage in Ireland, community ; and I have had great
which received my assent at the satisfaction in seeing it amended
commencement of the Session, vras upon principles which have long
attended by the most beneficial ef- been found to operate beneficially
fecta. The open display of arms intfaispartof the United Kingdom,
intended for criminal purposes was " I have given my cordial assent
checked ; the course of justice was to the measures which have in view
no longer interrupted; and several tlie improvement of the public
England.] HISTORY. [103
health ; and I entertain an eameat peace encourages the hope that the
hope that a foundation has been nations of Europe may continue in
laid for continual advances in this the enjoyment of its blessings,
beneficial work. " Amidst these conTulsions, I
' have had the satisfaction of being
•' Gentlamm of the House of ^j^jg ^ preservo peace for my own
Commant — dominions, and to maintain our do-
" I have to thank you for the niestic tranquillity. The strength
readiness with which you have of our institutions has been tried,
Cted the Supplies necessary and has not been found wanting,
le public service. I shall avail I have studied to preserve the
myself of every opportunity which people committed to toy charge in
the esigencies of the State may the enjoyment of that temperate
allow for enforcing economy. freedom which they so justly value.
My people, on their side, feel too
" My Lord* and Qentltmen— gensibly the advantages of order
" I have renewed in a formal and security, to allow the pro-
manner my diplomatic relations moters of pillage and confusion any
with the Oovemment of France, chance of success in their wicked
The good understanding between designs.
the two countries has continued " I acknowledge with grateful
wiihoat the slightest interruption, feelings the many m&rks of loyalty
" Events of deep importance and attachment which I have re-
have disturbed the intomsl tran- ceived from all classes of my
quillity of many of Ibe states in people. It is my earnest hope
Europe, both in the north and in that by cultivating respect to the
the south. Those events have led law.and obedience to the preceptsof
to hostilities between neighbour- religion, the liberties of uiis people
ing countries. I am employing may, by the blessing of Almighty
my good offices, in concert with God, be perpetuated."
other friendly Powers, to bring to The Lord ChaDcellor then de-
an amicable settlement these dif- clared the FarliBment to be pro-
ferences; and I trust that our ef- rogued to the 2nd November, and
forts may be successful. the protracted Session of 1847-8
" I am rejoiced to think that an was at an end.
increasing sense of the valtie of
b,GoogIc
194] ANNUAL REGISTEK, 1848.
CHAPTER VII.
France. — PotUion ofths Ovixot Minittry — State of Partie* in France
— Unpopularity of th« King — Death oj Madams Adtlaidt, the King'*
Sister — Surrender of Abd-elrKader t» Algeria — Violation of th4 PrO'
mite made to him — Hit Letter at the end of the Year to Pnttee Louia
Napoleon — Explanation by M. Ovixot at to Foreign Policy of hit
&overmnent — Able Speech on the Neceititg of Reform, by M. Memard,
in the Chamber of Peert — Addrett at Voted by the Chamber of Peert
— Budget for Year 1848 — Diteuttion in Chamber of Peert on Affairs
of Switzerland — Eloquent Speech of Count de Montalembert — M.
Giiixot on the EngUth Alliance — Speech of Count d' Alton Shee on
the Queition of Reform of the Electoral Law—Diecutnon in the Cham-
ber of Deputies respecting the Sale of Officet by the Oovemment —
Speeches of MM. OdiUon Barrot and Guitot— Victory of Ministers in
the Chamber — Discussion on the Separate Paragraphs of the Address
— Speeches on Finance by MM. Dumon and Thiers — Speech of M.
Thiers on the Affairs of Italy— Reply by M. Guizot — Speeches of
MM. Thiert and Ouiaot on the Affairs of Suileerland — Declaration
of M. Duohatel condemning the Reform Banquets— Uproar in the
Chamber — Debate on Affairs oj Poland— Statement by M. Chiiiot
respecting Destination of Abd-el-Kader — Renetced Discussion on Re-
form Demonttrations, and Scene of Confutioa in the Chamber — The
Oppotitian refuse to Vote — Majority for Ministers — Debate on Elec-
toral Reform — Speeches of MM. Ouizot, Thiers, and others — The
Address voted in the Chamber of Deputiet — State of Public Feeting
at this time.
IF the annalist has had difGcullj world. The fountains of the great
in finding materials for foreign deep of political society have been
history during the last few years, suddenly and violently broken up,
owing to the tranquillity which has and the most portentous changes
elni03t,witboutexception,pen'aded have taken place in the different
Europe, and the absence of inci- conntries of Europe, the ultimate
dents calculated to interest attan- results of which it is impossible to
tion, be now feels himself almost predict or foresee. The year 1848
overwhelmed by the magnitude will be hereafter known as that
and variety of the events which of the great and general revolt of
have during the year now under re- nations against their rulers. With-
Tiewcrowded BO uistupon each other, in the short space of twelvemonths
and rendered it one of the most centuries seem to have rolled away,
remarkable in the annals of the Dynasties have been overthrowu
Franct.] HISTORY. [195
or shaken to their centre, Bsd the the; had pncticall; no voice in the
deposition and flight of moDarchs Legislature, and to insiBt upon an
have atteated the irresiatible extension of the franchise. There
eaerg; with which the people have was a deep-seated feeling that the
liseu to vindicate for themselves majority in the Chamber of Depu-
their real or fancied rights. We ties was purt^iased b; the corrupt
have not now to record the squab- exercise of patronage, and hence it
blea of a Chamber of Deputies, or was looked upon as no index of the
a Cortes, or to chronicle changes opinions of the French nation,
of Ministry hrought about by iac- But although it was very generally
tion and intrigue, and exercising thought that, on the death of Louis
no important influence upon the Philippe, some great political con-
world'a history, — but the com- vulsion would ensue, few, if any,
mencement and progress of mighty looked forward to such on event
revololioDB, which have swept away, during the lifetime of that monarch,
as with a flood, the landmarks of That there waa a Republican
andentinstitntions, and introduced party in France was well known,
a new era in the political condition but its numbers and influence were
of Europe. These changes have greatly underrated, and the abor-
happened with startling sudden- dve nature of the attempts which
neea, and we believe that no one at it had made to effect a change of
the close of the preceding year Government, on several previous
could have coiyeciured from the occasions since the accession of
aspect of afiairs on the Continent Louis Philippe to the throne, hod
the likehhood of their occiurrence. induced the belief that no serious
And yet the mine was ready laid, apprehension need be entertained
and nothing was wanting but the of it during his life,
match to produce the explosion. It was thought that the middle
This was supplied by France ; and classes in France were too much
to that country we must first turn, interested in the preservation of
and contemplate the events which order and tranquilli^ to embark
have produced such tremendous willingly in the vortex of a revolu-
coneequences, tion, and as the National Guard
The position of the Guizot was composed of citizens token
Ministry at the close of the year chiefly from that important body,
1847 was veiy anomalous. It pos- it woB looked to more than the
sessed a large majority in the army as aSbrding a guarantee for
Chambers, but was mistrusted and the maintenance of peace within
disliked by the nation. Owing to the kingdom. The Guizot Minis-
the oexrow basis of the electoral tiy had, however, become very un-
oon8titiien<7, and the enormous popular with the middle classes,
amount of patronage whereby the ana the King had so identified
Government was enabled to pur- himselfwithbie successive Govern-
chase the votes of that body, the ments, and it was so well known
Chamber of Deputies could hardly that he strongly influenced, if he
he called the representatives of did not altogether direct, the policy
the nation. The Minister relied of his Cabinet, contrary to the fa-
upon a m^ority there and in the vourite maxim of the Opposition in
Chamber of Peers ; but the people France, L« Eoi rigne. mai$ il nt
had begim loudly to coropkm that gountmt fat, that Uie hostility en-
[0 2]
196] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [F«.«c«.
tertained towards his Ministry ex- some of tbe highest officers of the
tended to himself, and became a State were open to a bribe,
feeling of dislike towards the Or- On the last day of the preceding
leans dynasty. There was a grow- year the King's sisUr, to whom he
ing conviction in France that the was tenderly attached, the Prin-
Kiag of the Barricadee had for- oeas Adelude of Orleans, died, in
gotten the principle on which his the 71at year of her age. This
throne was based — namely, that of threw a gloom over the Royal
a limited monarchy surrounded by circle, and prevented the usual
republican institutions. The nation festivities of the J"owr d« I'An from
saw Louis Philippe intent chiefly taking place. Nor was Louis Phi-
upon plans of umily i^grandise- lippe in his usual health — a fact
ment ; and the tortuous intrigaes which cansed considerable anxiety
which had bronghtaboutthe Spanish in the minds of those who believ^
marriages proved that he was pre- that the peace and tranquillity of
pared to brave any degree of odmm France were bound up with the
in order to advance that object, continuance of his life.
We must ever regard that step of The opening of the new year,
the aged monarch as not only re- however, was signalized by a fortu-
prehensible on the ground of mo- nate occurrence for the French
rality, but also false in point of arms. Intelligence arrived that
policy. To embitter the life of Abd-el-Kader, the brave, and
the Queen of Spun by forcing or hitherto indomitable, foe of France
c^ling her into a marriage with in Africa, bad at last yielded to the
an imbecile husband was a great superior power of the invaders of
sin, and the disgust which was felt his native soil, and that on the 33rd
throi^hout Europe rendered the of Decemberhesurrendered himself
French nation angry with the a prisoner to Oenoral LamoriciSre.
author of such a disgrace, rather This gratifying intelligence vras
than gntified at the prospect of announced by the young Duke
seeing a scion of their ovm House d'Aumale, the newly .appointed Oo-
of Bourbon upon the throne of vemor-General of Algeria, in a dee-
Spain, Nor was there any con- patch addressed by him to the
fidence felt in the purity of the Minister of War in the following
Government. Although the vim- terms : —
lence of faction never dared to "A great event has jnat been
breathe a whisper against the In- accomplished. Abd-el-Kader ia in
tegrity of M. Guizot. whose con- our camp. Beaten by the Kabyles
duct, except in the fatal instance of Morocco — driven from the plains
of the Spanish morriagea. seems to of the Moulouia by the troops of
have been perfectly open and Muley Abderrhaniann — abandoned
honourable — yet the syatem was by the greater part of his people,
known to be hollow and corrupt, who have sought refuge in our ter-
The Ministry commanded a ma- ritory, ho threw himself into the
jority in the Chamber of Deputies country of the Beni-Snassen, and
by patronage and favouritism, and endeavoured to gain the road to
the lamentable disclosures which the south, which the Emperor of
had taken place in the affair of Morocco bad left free: but, aur-
MM. Teste and Pellapra had re- rounded by our cavalry on that
vealed to the public the fact tbat aide, he trusted to the generosity
Frmd.J HISTORY. [197
of Franca, and surrendered on only desires to be conducted to
condition of being sent to Alex- Alexandria of St. Jean d'Acre
andria or St. Jean d'Aore." The convention, concluded ordlj
The Emir had on the night of at once, is soon after ratified in
the 11th of December eorpriaed writing bj General de Lamori-
the Moorish camps, and occasioned ci^re.
them great loss. But the num- " To-daj in the afternoon Abd-
bers were too formidable for him to el-Eader has been received at the
cope with, and, collecting his wives marabout of Sidi Brabim, b; Colo-
and personal baggage, he concen- nel de Montauban, who was re-
brated all his forces in the direc- joined shortly after bj Generals
tioii of the mottlh of the rivor de I^smorici^re and Cavaignac. —
Uoulouia. On the 31st he began Sidi Bmhim, the theatre of the
tocroes the stream, when the Moor- Emir's last success, and which
ish Kabyles fiercely attacked him. Providence seems to have designed
but he repelled them, and effected to be the theatre of the last and
his passage without loss. He then most signal of his reverses, as a
stood in the French territory, bat kind of expiation for the slaughter
he had no sooner reached it than of our unfortunate comrades,
he hastily abandoned it, and with " An hour afterwards Abd-el>
a email number of followers re- Kader was conducted to Nemours,
solved to pass through the country where I had arrived the same
of the Beni-Snassen to the south, morning. I ratified General La-
Bnt General Lamoticiere divined moridere'e promise, and I oonfi-
the scheme, and immediately took dently hope that the King's Go-
measures to prevent it. What fol- vemment will give its approval to
lowed may be told in the words of it. I announced to the Emir that
the Dab d'Aumale's despatch. he would have to embark for Oran
"Twenty spahis, commanded to-morrow with his fiimilj; to this
l^ an intelligent and trusty officer, he submitted) not without emo-
Lientenant Ben Khouia, hod been dou and repugnance. It was the
sent to the Col der Kherbous, on last drop of the cup of afiiic-
the evening of the Slst; the first tion."
news, shortjy after the reports of The promise, thus solemnly
the musketry, announced that an made and ratified, was not ftil-
BCtion had commenced in that di- filled, and Abd-el-Kader was eent
reotion. It was Abd*el-Kader who to France, where he was detained
engaged our spahis. General de a prisoner, first at Toulon, and
Lmioriciere, who during the night afterwards in the Ch&teau d'Am-
had pnt his column under arms, bobe, throughout the whole of the
advanced rapidly vrith his cavalry, present year. It was contended
The Emir had the advantage that General Lamorici^re had no
of the darkness and a diffic^t right or authority to make such a
country, traversed by roads nn- promise, and that he could not
known to our guides. He could bind the Government. It seems,
still have easily retreated. But however, to have been forgotten
two of bis cavalry, led by Ben that, even admitting the fact to be
Khonia himself, bring to the gene- so, the Governor-General of the
lal the intelligence Uiat he is de- province~-the King's eon— bad,
cided to surrender, and that he according to his own confesaioD,
1981
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[Frattee.
ratified that promise. When the
subject came before the Ohamber
of Peers, on the 17th of Jaouar}:,
M. Guizot said, that the King's
Govemment would know hov to
reconcile what was due to the
honour of an engagement entered
into with a Tanquiahed enemj,
with what the interests and secu-
rity of the country demanded.
That was the task to which it was
devoting itself; and when it had
been fulfilled every information
would be Kiven to the Chamber.
During a debate that took place
in the Chamber of Deputies on
the 3rd of February, General
Lamoriciere BGud, that all respon-
stbility had been taken off hia
shoulders as soon as the GoTenior-
Geaeral ratified the convention.
He could not, under the circnm-
sCaoces, have forced the Emir
to surrender unconditionally; he
might hare secured the tent, and
even the carpet of Abd el Kader;
but the Emir himself would have
been able to reach the Desert,
Before dismissing the subject
we may mention, that when Louis
Napoleon was installed President
of the French Bepublic. Abd-el-
Kader, on the 23rd of December,
addressed to him a letter contain-
ing the following passages, which
awaken a lively interest in the
fate of the fallen Emir.
" When, guided by my confi-
dence in the bravery and the pro-
mises of the French, I came to
place myself and mine under the
protection of France, by giving
myself up to General lAmOrioiere,
at that time Commandant of the
province of Oran, I received the
formal promise that I shonld be
sent to the noble land of France,
and be afterwards conveyed to
Egypt, and from thence to Syria,
near the sacred tomb of the Pro-
phet, that I might enlighten my-
self with new light, and my days
he wholly devoted to the happi-
ness of my family, and far from the
hazards of war, the theatre of which
I abandoned for ever to the domina-
tion of France, in execution of the
will of the Almighty, who lowers or
raises empires as he pleases. Far
from these sacred promises having
been fulfilled, I and mine have
been subjected to captivity, with-
out being able to cause justice to
be rendered to me. I demand of
the Chief of the French Govem-
ment to fulfil the promisee that
were made to me by the Genends
of Africa, and to accord me the
liberty of going on parole with my
family, into Syria, to fallow the
precepts of our religion. Grate-
ful for such an act of clemency
and justice, I would pray our God
to b^tow on France and her chiefe
all his great consolations and bless-
ings. I rely on the wisdom of tiio
President of the Bepublic and of
the National AsBembly."
It is remsrkahle that this ap-
peal shonld have been made to
bim who was once himself the
prisoner of Ham, but who was de-
tained in captivity on just grounds
— whereas tbe unfortunate Abd-el-
Kader seems to be imprisoned in
violation of solemn promisee, and
in direct breach of the condition
on which he surrendered himself.
May bis appeal to French honour
not be mode in vain I
Want of space compels ns to pre-
sent in a more abridged form than
usual the speeches that were de-
livered in the two Chunbers
during the discussion on the Ad-
dress. And this is the less to be
regretted, as, in comparison with
the astounding events which were
about to happen, the politkal dit-
Gusaions and opinions of the dif-
Frtinct.-] HISTORY. [199
ferant parties apon ordinaJ7 topics Depufr? having asked if it was true
of pabbc intereit sink into insig- iJiat the Auatrians had occupied
nificance. While reading the de- Parma and Modena, M. Guizot re-
bttt«8 that, took place in the Chun- plied that he was not aware of the
her of Peers or Deputies during entrance of the Aastiians into
the months of January and Fe- Panna ; they had entered Modena,
braaiy this year, with the con- at the request of the Duke, for the
Bdousness of the catastrophe be- purpose of restoring order ; but he
fore us, it seems as if we were had been assured that they would
gliding' down the stream of a immediately withdraw. Referring
peaceful river in the calm confi- next to the last paragraph of the
dence of security, though now and Address, M. Guizot observed that
then there falls upon the ear the the expression " hostile passions "
echo of the distant roar of some was not applied to any Member
mighty cataract. It is indeed of the Chamber ; thai the Cabinet
_ . . .. J . had used them to characterize pas-
^SIT" *"'^'''"" *™ '* ^ eions immiffil to the Charter W
to society itself, and that, perceiv-
We shall see that for the buret ing those symptoms of disorder, it
of feeling which revealed itself in was its duty to denounce them.
Paris, and taking the nation by In the Chamber of Peers the
surprise, paralyzed all opposition, general discussion on the Address
politicians of every class, except commenced, and closed on the 10th
that of the most extreme demo- of January. A very able speech
cracy.werentterlyunprepared; and was delivered by M. Mesnard,
even tkey had tnade no provision which was listened to with the
for a crisis which was the dierished most profound attention. It con-
dream of their fanaticism. It tained some sound truths, and it
came upon them like an avahinche, would have been well for M. Gtii-
Bweeping away the throne and the zot's Government and for France,
constitution; but they were able to if they had been not only admitted
torn it to account, and realize at hut promptly acted upon. The
last the vision of that Bepublic necessity for Beform was transpa-
which they rather ardently de- rent to all except those to whose
sired than believed to be possible, political existence it was most
On the 3rd of- January, in one of essential.
the bureauo! of the Chamber of M. Mesnaid said that, having
Deputies, M. Guizot, having been been for seventeen years connected
called upon hj M. Durand de So- from conviction with the Gonser-
morantin, explained some acts of vative party, he felt under obligar
his foreign policy. tions to the Ministry for having
With regard to Switzerland, he grouped aioond themselves a strong
had, he said, continued the poUcy majority ; but he was apprehensive
followed since 1833 towards that that at present they entertained
country. The Oovemment had erroneous notions relative to the
sold arms to the Soudorbuud from real state of public opinion. Were
a conviction that its cause was a he alone in that idea, he should
just one, and that the triumph of have hesitated to express it by a
the Catholic par^ would be favour- just distrust of himself ; but when
able to the interests of France. A he found that a very great number
200]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[F™
of cteajvheaded men entertained
the same dread, be considered it
his duty to come forward and pub-
licly expose hia way of thinking.
The Ministry was at present in a
less firm position than last year,
and the country was not so calm.
Last year the Session opened after
the happy conclusion of the
Spanish marriages, and the Minis-
ter of Foreign Affairs obtained be-
fore the Chambers one of those
splendid successes which suffice to
honour the career of a statesman.
Eveiythiag was possible for a Mi-
nistry in such a position, particu-
larly when, being strengthened by
the issue of the elections, it had no
longer any obstacles to fear in the
Chambers. The hour of progress
had certainly arrived, and the Go-
vernment could with success have
directed its attention to those great
moral interests which it had post
poned — nay, more, amongst the
Conservative party a general ex-
pectation prevailed that such would
have been the course which the
Ministry would think it necessary
to pursue. Yet notwithstanding
that fortunate position of the Mi-
nistry, and the hopes of the Con-
servative party, tne Session had
been completely barren. Much
had then to be done, and scarcely
anything was effected ! The con-
sequence was that serious embar-
rassments were at present menacing
the Governiuent, and the Minbtry
would certainly one day reproach
itself for having neglected so ex-
cellent an occasion. The Cabinet,
eveiy time that reforms were pro-
posed, declared that the time was
Inopportune and even dangerous.
In that respect he was of opinion
that the Ministry were qnite mis-
taken as to the real state of the
public mind. They seemed to
think that the question of reformsi
when brought forwiu^ by the Op-
position, was a piece of party tac-
tics ; audwhen mooted b; a Mem-
ber of the majority, as was the case
once last Session, they looked on
it as a sort of malcontent fancy,
which called for no especial atten-
tion. He firmly believed that
this was quite an error, and he
could affirm, with every feeling of
confidence in the truth of his as-
sertion, that the countiy felt
strongly on the subject, and ex-
pected to have some^ing done. It
was from the ranks of the Conser-
vative par^ that had escaped the
well-known phrase of " Nothing,
nothing! nothing!" It had be-
come a sort of parly cry, and that
"nothing "was now attempted to
he turned into something serious.
Such was the state of things, and
if the position of the Cabinet was
inferior to that of last year, its own
conducton the question just alluded
to must be considered as the cause
of the change. It had allowed the
opportunity to escape when the
country was tranquil, and in all
probability it would not he able to
find again so favourable a moment.
He did not mean to say that the
Qovemment ought to have carried
out last Session all the reforms
that were proposed — the country
did not ask for so much, nor ex-
pect it. It would have been suf-
ficient if the Oovemment had used
a different language, and given
reason to suppose that at no very
distant period what was demanded
Would be granted. The Cabinet
would have gained ila cause bad it,
by its assurantws, satisfied those
moderate men who were as strongly
opposed to wild and disorderly pro-
gress as they were to a complete
stand still — to a state of petrifac-
tion ; and that satisfaction was in
truth the only one that was possi-
ii™>».] HISTORY. [201
ble at the commencement ofa new spiritof order and tranquillity nhicli
Legislature. In the present situa- prevailed ; that state of the public
tion, perilous and embarrassing as mind was even the more dangeroue
it was, what ought to be the con- for the Ministry. He in conae-
ductof the Government ? When quence strongly recommended it
moral questions agitated a. people, to seize on the question of reform,
a wise Ministry would endeavour and bring it boldly before the Par-
te take the lead, and by that means liament. Let it do that, and it
direct the public mind in the pro- would see if the public would not
per couree ; but if it held back, applaud a line of conduct at once
and allowed the people to drag it eo adroit and bo courageous. There
on, it would, on the contraiy, be were demands to whidi it was pru-
compelled to submit to their most dent and even noble to yield; and
unreasonable exigencies. These the Government ought to make
truismH indicated, in his opinion, concessions to avoid having what
what the Government ought to do was called for forced from it. He
— namely, take the lead and direct should have been delighted had be
the movement. He was aware that found in the Address a single
a grave objection might be brought phrase which responded to the
forward against such a course ; that feeling that was now gaining ground
it mij^t be asked, was it a proper in favour of reform,
moment, when the public were The Address, as finally voted in
agitated and the most gloomy re- the Chamber of Peers on the 10th
minisceuces of the past appealed of January, was as jollows : —
to, to accede to a demand of reform,
thrown down as a sort of arrogant
Sire,-
challenge to the King? His un- Since our lost Session an abun-
besilating reply was, that such was dant crop has dissipated the fears
the conduct most likely to be of ad- and allayed the evils which af-
vantage to tite Ministry, to the fllcted our country. France, by
Conservative party, and to the her courage, deserved that blessing
public. Far from being an objec- of Heaven. Never, under similar
tion to reform, the present agita- circumstances, was public order so
tion of men's minds was, he con- generally maintained. The popu-
ceived, a great argument in its lation understood that the free-
fiivour. If the cry for reform was dom of commercial transactions
a mere party business, he should was the surest remedy to their suf-
be the first to say to the Ministry ferings. The inexhaustible zeal
— " Resist; do not yield an inch I" of private charity assisted the eo-
but the matter had taken &r crifices of the public Treasuiy.
deeper root — was the hourly sub- Our trade has been saved by its
ject of conversation and discus- prudence, if not from pamfol
sion—had become, in fact, with the losses, at least from the calamities
public a sort of necessity which it which have visited other states,
would be most dangerous to slight. We congratulate ourselves, with
There was, besides, no feverish your Majesty, on reaching the
agitataoD in the countiy— all was term of tboee trials, the recollec-
calm and orderly. Indeed, the tion of which will remain as a
manner it) which the deprivations, reassuring experiment and a salu-
incidental to the scarcity of food, tary caution,
had been borne was a proof of the Yon may rely on our ooH>peiv-
202] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Frano.
tion U> termiiiate the great public The relations of jour Govern-
works which ne have undertakea. meat with all the foreign Powers
It is important for the power and give you the confidence that the
Srosperity of the country, for the peace of the world is secured,
evelopment of our manu&ctures Like you, Sire, we hope that the
and the progress of igriealture, progress of civilization and liberty
that those great works be oom- may be everywhere accomplished,
pleted. fiut, at the same time without impairing either the in-
that we will apply to that object temal order, tlie independence, or
Bufficlent resoorces, we will watch the Friendly reluioue of stotea.
with the strictest economy to main- Our Byn^thtes and mahee accom-
tain in onr budgets that order on pony those Italian Sovereigns and
which depends the stability of our natioua who advance together in
fioancea, and to re-eelablish at last that new path with a provident
a complete and real balance be- .wisdom, of which the august chief
tween the receipts and espendi- of Chrietendom baa set them the
tore, which is the first condition affecting and magnanimous ex-
of the power and security of the ample.
state. Civil war has bndcen out in a
The project of law relative to ne^bouring and friendly country,
the reduction of the price of salt Your Government had oome to an
and of the postage of letters within understanding with the Govem-
the limits compatible witli the ments of England, Austria, Pros-
situation of our finance, will be the sia, and Hussia, in order to offer it
olfject of our solicitude and serious a friendly mediation. Switzerland
meditation. will recognise, we trust, that it is
We hope that this Session may by respecting the rights of all, and
be productive of useful and im- by muntaining the fundamental
portant results. Already have pro- bases of the Helvetic Gonfedeia-
jects of law on public mstruction, tion, that it con insure its hap|M-
on prison discipline, and on our nesa, and preserve the condition of
Customs' tariff, been submitted to security which Europe wished to
our deliberation. You announce guarantee to it.
to us other bills on various sub- Faithful to the cause of a gene-
jects not less worthy of esamina- rous nation, France recalls to En-
tion— on communal property, on rope the rights of Polish nationali^
the system of mortgages, the montt so formally stipulated by treaties.
de pitli, on the application of The Chamber hopes that the
the savings-banks to the relief of measures adopted by our Govera-
labourers in their old age. We ment, in accord with the Govern-
shall concur in the wish of your mentof theQueeoof OroatBrittun,
H^eety, by constantly endeavour- will re-estabUsh at lest onr com-
ing to alleviate the &te of those mercial relations on the bonks of
who possess no other resources La Plata.
than their labour. It is onr duty. We reap in Algeria the fruits of
at the same time, to caution them our perseverance, of the inde&liga-
withfirmuesa against the delusions bleaevotednesaof our8oldier8,and
of dangerous Utopias, and to pro- of a war glorionaly conducted I^
cure them all the material and an illustrious chief. The most
moral improvements which it is in dreaded adversary of our power
our power to realize. bos made his submission. That
France.]
HISTORY.
Caos
event, which promisea France the
proximate alleviatioii of a portion
of her burdens, prepares a aev era
for our African est(U>U6hment8 ;
jonr beloved son will becomingly
fblfit, we trust, his grand sad
glorious mission. Under the di-
rection of your OoTemmeDt, he
will consolidate our domination by
a r^ular and vigilant adminiatra-
tion. The blessings of peace must
now oontinne the conquest of that
land which tuts beoome French by
the power of our arms.
Sire, by devoting yourself to the
service of our country with that
courage which nothing can subdue,
not even the afflictions that visit
you in your dearest afitetiotiB ; by
devoting your life and that of your
children to the care of our interests
and our digni^, yon strengthen
every day the edifice we have
founded together. Depend on
our support to assist you in de-
fending It. A^tations, excited by
hostile passions or blind delusions,
will vanish befure public reason,
enlightened byourfreedisoa8«ana,
and the maniiestation of all legiti-
mate opinions. In a consUtulJonal
monarchy the union of the great
powers of the State overcomes eveiy
obstacle, and enables Hie Govern-
ment to satisfy all the moral and
material interests of the country.
By that union. Sire, we will main-
tain social order and all its condi-
tions. We will guarantee public
liberties and all their development.
Our Charter of 1680, transmitted
by OS to future generations as an
inviolable deposit, will secure to
them the most valuable inherit-
ance which nations can receive—
the alliance of order uid liberty.
On the ladi of Janoaiy the bu-
rtmtai of the Chamber of Deputies
commenced their examination of
the budget for the year 1648, and
it may he interesting to give the
Estimates relating to the Army
and Navy.
The military budget presented
a decrease of about l.OOO.OOCi/*.,
compared with the year 1846. It
amounted to the sum total of
920,708,064/. It was proposed
that the effective of the army
should consist of S3S,610 men,
and 80,091 horses, of which foi<ce
56,720 men and 14,000 horses
were to be employed in Algeria.
In preceding years, the army in
Algeria amounted to nearly 100,000
men, including the paid native
troops.
The budget of the Navy es-
hibitedaeumtot^ of 130,300,608/.,
presenting a difference, as com-
pared with the budget of 1848, of
more than 3,000,000/ less. This
decrease had been effected in the
armaments and the naval crews.
It was proposed to reduce the
effective of the naval forces by
18 vessels and 1056 seamen ; and
it would in that case consist of
SOS vessels, vrith 27,873 seamen
on board*.
In the Chamber of Peers, daring
a discussion that took place on the
IDlh of January, relative to the
affairs of Switzerland, the Count
de Montalembert made a long and
eloquent speech, which, at the
time, was much applauded. The
Due de Broglie had defended the
polity of the French Qovemment
in co-(^ratinff with the other
great Powers for the settlement
of the Swiss question. He con-
cluded by saying that &at Go-
* The rollowing ii ■ reciptlulatioD of
ibe Tcnels in ■ctire Kmce >t lea, vii., 6
■hip* of tbe line, 7 frigatea, 15 eorrettea,
]6 brigi, XI ligbt teueU, W cniupoili,
51 Mumtn, anil 28 dilTeraiil >«wU for
tbe wot coul of Africa rtationiwhilit 13
Te«el> were lo renuun in harbour com-
miauoD, hicI 16 m port commiMioo.
204] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Frafue.
vemmeut had at various times, by wounds ; ihej are cured : but it is
simple recommeudationa, reminded not only religion which is attacked,
the Diet of respect due to treaties, it is also order and liberty, the
and it was tberefore not responsi- wounds of which are more deep
ble for what at last took place. If and dangerous. Were I able, I
it did not succeed in the work should like to show you what has
of pacification which it undertook, been done to give to Radicalism a
it at least laid down the bases citadel whence it might act, not
of a durable understanding be- on absolute monarchies, for the
tween the five great Powers, and Radicals will have nothing to do
of a common action between the with them, but on consdtutiotud
Powers on the frontier of Switzer- monarcbiesiforitisforthepurpose
land, who equally desire the re- of acting against the constitutional
establishment of moral order in Govemmeuta of Oermuiy that the
that country. " Let those per Radicals unite in Switzerland.
sons who attack us say what they You will call to miud that for a
would have done in our place, long time there was not a single
The French Government, I am cry in Switzerland against the
convinced, did better than they Jesuits ; certainly, when General
could have done themselves." Ramorino made his expedition into
Ou the following day Count de Piedmont, it was not for the ex-
Montalembert rose and addressed pulsion of that body. No, the
himself, at great length, to the Radicals did not wish to act agtunst
whole subject ; but we can give that order alone, but against
only a few extracts. While we Christianity in general ; they deny
admire his eloquence, and agree it, they wi^ to destroy it, striking
with many of his senlimenta, we at the same time against Catholic-
cannot but regret tliat the policy ism and against Protestantism. It
of Lord Palmerston has provoked is not only against the Jesuits that
such censure upon the conduct of the Swiss Radicals are hostile, but
England. the entire church and religion.
" Last year the question in But it is not only religion that is
agitation was the last remains of menaced; it is every kind of liberty.
Poland ; this year it is the cradle The Utterly of the press I It has
of Helvetic liberty. The crime is been stifled, and it has been even
the same; then, it was the act of Interdicted to publish any news
despotism ; now, it is the work of which is contrary to the views of
those who dream of overthrowing the Government The r^bt of
religious societies. But it is still petition has been g^ged ; the
tlie abuse of force in Switzerland liberty of elections haa been vio-
as in Poland ; it is the oppression lated in the most flagnuit manner,
of right by number and by violence. And this is not all; the rights of
And how is it that we luve every property have been invaded. Li-
year to denounce similar crimes ? berty is respect for man ; Radical-
How can we help being distressed ismiscontemptforman— contempt
at this apparent sterility of our the most arrogant. I consider
efforts ? 1 am not about to utter myself entitled more perhaps than
my complaints here as a Catholic, any other to speak in favour of
in the name of religion. It is the liberty. I have been deemed ex-
fate of religion to suffer Buch clusivelyderotedto religiousliberty
Fmnee.] HISTORY. [205
— but no, I am devoted to liberty the other side of the Jura, on tbe
of every description — to liberty in moat liberal frontiers of France,
its fullest sense. If the canse of and with tbe support of England ;
tbe Swiss Radicals were to triumph and, in France, yon now have,
in France, what should we have ? more than in 1833 and 1894, open
Disorder and anarchy — ^nay, worse sympathies, avowed by the Con-
than anarchy, for that et last be- Tention and the Mountain. I do
xtinguished of itself. We not ask, it may be well supposed.
should have oi^anized Radicalism, for any measures of exception; but
and yet the dynastic Opposition what I desire to witness is, that
applauds it. There have been GO well-disposed men may open their
or 60 banqnets given by tbe Oppo- eyes — may arm themselves with
sition ; they were organized for resolution. For me, tbe greatest
Sectoral reform, and yet at them of evils is fear. What, think you,
the guests drank to the success of has been tbe origin of all the cata-
Switzerland. But, since I have strophes which have desolated
thus denounced to you the crimes France? Tbe fear which the well-
whicb have been committed in disposed have felt of the vilest
Switzerland, whom do you imagine wretches. Let us not give up to
Iconsider as the principal offender? the wicked a monopoly of energy;
Tbe Foreign Secretaiy of State of let tbe right-miuded defend order
Her Britannic Mtyestyl When at borne end abroad, by teslifyin?
noble peers Bland up iu this tribune their horror and disgust for all
and speak what they think of the that resembles 17SS and 1703 ;
Emperor of Austria, and of Prince let tbe priociple of all men anxious
deMettemich, I may surely declare for what is right be the union of
my opinion of Lord Palmerston. liberty with order and peace ; let
It is he who, in my eyes, is the us comprehend, by what has just
executioner of the independence of passed at the other side of the
Switzerland ; it is he who, at tbe Jura, bow dangerous it is not to
moment of making a manifestation tolerate liberty even amongst those
in favour of tbe good right, insisted who do not think as we do. Let
onaprevious understandingamong ns not forget that liberty has just
tbe Cabinets, and so produced pro- been betrayed and immolated
crastinations, during which he through the agency of England.
Siressed on hostilities in Switzer- and that France is bonnd to be its
■nd. It ia not with impunity that rallving point and safeguard."
England will have followed her With reference to the Swiss
policy. The encouragement given question, M. Oiiizot. in tbe Cham-
to anarchy in Greece, in Switzer- ber of Peers, on the next day,
land, will not remain unpunished ; expressed himself in the following
tbe flames of that conflagration terms, which we quote as showing
will cross tbe Channel, and will the conviction of that eminent
show Ei^land that propriety, jus- statesman of the wisdom and policy
tic«, and liber^r, are not the privi- of cultivating friendship with Great
lege of one nation alone. The Britain. Very different has been
present situation may be thus the language and conduct of M.
brieSy summed up: theflagwbich, Thiers; andyetit must be borne
in 1839 and 1834, you vanquished in mind that M. Guizot himself,
at Lyons, has now risen again on in tbe affair ef the Spanish ma^
20«]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[Fra
rugea, was villing to peril At
good tmilerBtaadiiig between the
two countries in order to gmtifj
the ambitious desire of femilj
aggrandizement ia Louis Philippe.
He now said, " I considered it of
great importance to secure the co-
opeiKtion of Ei^land. From the
first moment I made sacrifices to
arrive at that result. I think I
have a right to aay that the inde-
pendence of our policy as respects
England is fully established. It
is now proved that whenever we
meet a great national interest
we do not hesitate to assert it bj
every means in our power. We
nevertheless continue, and will
still continue, to attach an extreme
importance to the maintenance of
friendly relations and of a good
understanding between England
and France. We will conUnue to
think tliat on important occasions,
when the cause of civilization and
justice is at stake, the common
action of England and France is
powerful, and salutary for the
peace of the world. The opinion
we entertained on the euligect a
year, two years, three years ago, is
not changed. At the same time
that we are fully determined to
maintain the independence of our
policy and the dignity of our
GountryandOovemment, whenever
an opportunity shall present itself
of combining Uie action of England
and France for the success of one
of the great causes I above alluded
to, we will exert ouiselves to pro-
cure that common action, even if
we were to be uneasy at the result
of our advances. In the question
now before the House, we bad
every reason to believe that the
common action of England with
the continental Powers would ex-
perience no serious difficulties.
That queetjon, the interests and
lights of cantonal sovereiguty, the
rdadona of the Helvetic Confe-
deration with Europe, were not
new topics, having already been
discussed in 1632 and 18S3, on
the occasion of the revision of tbe
Federal Compact."
On the 17di the question of the
Reform Banquets was brought into
discuasion in the Chamber of Peers ;
when Count d'Alton Bhea, well
known for hia extreme political
opinioue.aaid that he had never been
present at any of the banquets, nor
applauded them, but he could not
approve of the imprudent language
which the llinistry had put into
the King's mouth, or the still more
imprudent words which the com-
mittee had inserted in the Address.
He considered that a very inexact
epithet had been apphed to those
Befonn meetings; the ministry
might probably have wished that
those assemblages should have
degenerated into inwUet, but on
no occasion had any disorder taken
place. In 1698 a coalition had
been formed, under the direction
of Ueesra. Guizot, Thiers, Odillon
Barrot, Berryer, and Gamier-
Pages ; between these eminent
men there was but one point of
contact — to substitute a Parlia-
mentary for a personal Govern-
ment. Ten years have since passed
over, and the object still remained
the same, only the men were
changed. In 1636 the electoral
body ^proved of the Opposition,
and succees was only lost through
the treachery of the leaders. At
the present time, when after
several years' repose the public
mind was awakened, it would be
impossible, in presence of the
frightful progress of corruption, to
look for snccees in the electionB,
and it was necessaiy to resort to
other means to ensure the triumph
Fr«w.] HISTORY. [207
ti frtHb opinion. In the first establiahmeiit. There were men,
instuice on electoral reform bad he admitted, who went further
beendemanded.whichwDaldsbelter than they ought; but when public
the electors from the seductions of indiffnation hul been eo roused it
the Qovemment and from electoral would be childish U talk of any
mendicity ; and, afterwards, Par- order. Some looked to things,
hamorttioy reform had been asked othera to men. It was the fault
for, tila^ ^ould relieve the other of the Uinisters and of their man-
Chamber from the host of public ner of fforeming. The Address
functionaries with which it was also spoke of opinions subversive
encumbered. He was aware that of social order. He was aware
at the bmquets other subjecla had how the Conservatives, who were
been started besidee Refonn, and all-powerful, understood and inter
many other toasts bad been dmnk. prated liberty of opinion, but he
He should not speak of those did not bend before such a ten-
which, like that of " The Alliance dency; he did not respect it.
of the Peo[de," substituted for The Minister of the Interior,
" The AUianee of Kings." belonged M. Duchatel, said that fh>m the
to the discussion of foreign affairs, day that the Cbambers were in-
bnt of home questions. The firet vested in France with suflScient
important toast he met with was, powers to influence the political
" To the Organization of Labour." direction of the country, they had
What, be would ask, could be mora slways contained within tbemselTes
simple than that toast? Was a party attached to the views of
there any one in that essentially Ministers — that was invariably the
Conservative assembly that could practice both in England and in
deny the dn^ of labour and the France. There ought not conse-
rights of labour? The Govern- quently to be any reproach attached
ment itself, in its speech from to the existence of that great party
the Throne, bed announced Bills which acknowledged the Ministry
destined to ameliorate the condi- as their leaders, it being well un-
tion of the working classes. An- derstood that this quality of heads
other tosst had been given, " To of party did not involve any right
the Reform of the Army." It was of manifeetmg partiality in the
not sufficient to recall a few r^- Rdministration of afiairs. To be
menia from Africa, for if they were in such a position was to be the
kept armed in France no economy head of a party without any of the
would be effected. After SO years inconveniences attached to the
of peace it was but reasonable that post — it was, in fact, in his opinion,
they should reap some fruits from the verity of representative govem-
such a state. It was the reduotion ment. The last Sessioa was the
of 100,000 men that was called first of a new Legislature. They
for, which would effect a saving of found that the majority was the
100,000,000/., which there would sincera expression of the opinions
be no difficulty in finding a use of the country. Ought they to
for. Toasts had also been drunk have then touched the electoral
"To Probity" and "To Humanity;" law which bad given such a result?
bnt to these be shonld not further Ought they to have broken the
allude. The Address spoke of instrument which had given them
pSBsions inimical to dieir political a m^ori^ which they regarded as
208] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fra>u'-
satisfactory in principle? To touch change it immediatel;, but to an-
the electoral law would he to break nounee that it ought to be changed,
up the Chamber itself. That was without doing so, would be highly
why they had opposed electoral imprudent; it would be to shake
reform. Did it thence follow that the whole edifice of their legisla-
they had done nothing? He had tion. That the Government would
only to mention the numerous and not do ; it would not sacrifice the
important measures that they had laws of the country ; it would not
brought forward. The committees open a breach without knowing
of the Chunbers were still occu- how it could be filled up. On the
pied with the labours which the day when the Cbaiubers should
Government had given them ; and, entertain the idea that a reform
moreover, let the circumstances be was necessary, they would give the
remembered in which they had subject due attention ; for his part,
been placed. Before turning atten- he should never advise them to
tion to theoretical laws, it was enter on a dangerous reform. A
necessary to think of getting present chai^ of the electoral law
through in the beet mtmner a ter- would have the immediate effect
rible crisis arising from the scarcity of dissolving the Chamber of De-
of food. The English Parliament puties, and that, in the opinion of
during the last Session had not the Government, would be a very
done more than they had. Was it great inconvenience for the coun-
nothing to have passed through try.
such a difficult period without dis- On the Stst ef the same month,
orders, writhout dangers? They a singular and not very creditable
considered the reproaches addressed discussion took place in the Cham-
to them were unjust. The; were ber of Deputies respecting the sale
ready to change their ideas if it of offices in the patronage of Go-
could be proved that they were vemment It was commenced by
wrong. But what, be would ask, M. Odilloa Barrot, who ascended
had been proposed to them for the the tribune to address to the Minis-
benefit of the country? Nothing, tty interpellations relative to the
It was the Government whidi sale of an office in the Finance
might in their turn make use of Department. He said, that he had
that word. But what was meant verified the statement contained in
by the reforms demanded? The a memorial published by M. Petitj
Government did not consider an and he owed it to truth to declare;
electoral reform better this year that the documents adduced by
than they did the last But it him existed, and that the fiu;ta
had been said, " Give us at least were supported by authentic acts.
firomises." For hie part, he be' It appeared from them that, early
ieved promises more dangerous in November, 1641, M. Bertin de
than acts. To announce before- VauxcalledonM.Petit,andoS'ered
hand that the law of the country to procure for him the place of re-
would be changed, would be to ferendaiy of the second class in tfad
make an appeal to people's imagi- Court of Accounts, on condition
nations, and cause that law to be that he should purchase the resig-
suspected. If a wise and prudent nation of a referendary of the first
Government thought that the class, which the Government stood
electoral law was bad, it ought to in need of to satisfy a promise
Frmet.] HISTORY. [209
made by M. Onizot to U. Paasj. afhir. He did not make that re-
in a few days M. Petit bronght the mark from any idea of il inching
reaignadon of M. Uerout to M. from the disousaion, but the acca-
Gaizot, having paid for it a aum of satiouB and ineinuatioiis which had
30,00(y. In 1644, the same M. been brought before the Chamber
Petit was again employed bj M. were as he had designated them.
Qenie, private aecretoiy of U. It was, perhaps, thought that to
Ouizot, to n^otiate the resignation cover one abuse be should reveal
of an office in the same court which others, and make it a discussion of
H. Gnizot wanted for a friend of proper names; but he should do
U. Lacave Lapl^ne. M. Genie nothing of the sort, as he con-
had sent for M. Petit, and told him sidered it would he beneath the
that he could obtun the situation dignity of the Chamber and of the
of ctdlectoT of the taxes at Corbeil, Government,
if he could procure the resignation H. £. de Girardin observed,
of a referendary of the second class that the Minister did not act with
in the same court. H. Genie gave so much dignity when his affiiir
Mm a list of the conndUors of that was under discussion last year,
court, and, in the course of a few The President of the Council
days, he plaoed in the hands of M. did not intend to place on the fore-
Genie the resignation required, head of Government acatal<^e of
This was on the IQIh or 11th of its errors and of its malpractices.
December, and on the IStb, agree- It would be easy for him to enter
ably to M. Genie's promise, the into a discussion with those who
Royal Ordinances, appointing the thus interrupted him, but he
friend of M. Lacave Laplagne re- thought it would not be at all
ferendaryintheOourtof Accounts, pleasing to the Chamber. Hs
and U. Petit collector at Corbeil, should come to the fact itself— to
were signed. That resignation had a reeignation given for a sum of
cost H. Petit a aum of 15,000/'., money with the tolerance and the
and an engagement to pay the knowledge of the Government,
person who resigned that office a That fact had been often and for a
penaion of 6,000/. per annum, one- long time practised and tolerated,
naif of which was to revert to bis Others mi^t think proper to say
wife. M. Odillon Barrot, in con- that they were completely ignorant
doaion, declared that the nego- of it, but, for his part, he should
datioD took place in the cabinet of say no such thing. The first con>
the Uimater, with or without hia dition for the honour of the Cham-
knowledge, and that, in either case, her and of the Government was
be owed the country a signal re- sincerity, and it was not at a time
paration or a solemn expiation. when he rejected false aasertiona
The President of the Council that he should depart from the
■ud, that amongst the facta which truth. The fact complained of was
were just brought fonrard some of old standing; the practice was
were ulse and others very insigni- known and toletated. In 1645,
fieaot Explanationa would be the Court of Bordeaux declared
given by several pereons, and par- that the practice was legal, and had
ticniaiiy by U. Lacave Laplagne, nothing in it contrary to the laws
whose responsibili^ was identical or to morality. He should never
with that of the Ministry in this regret to see those old i^usea put
Vol. XC. [P]
210] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [France.
an end to — to find the public con* bequeathed to them. If it did not
science more tenacious, and impose feel a confidence tiiat the labours
on the Administration new duties of the Government were in con-
And more elevated sentiments of formitj with the wishes of the tna>
iehceisy (approbation); but he. at jority, let it be overthrown at once,
the same time, would be juat to- The Govemment, however, felt
wards the past aud the present, thai it had a right to inspire that
In such a state of things, what was confidence ; and, if it saw its power
the conduct to be pnrsued by the weakened and lessened in ite
Government? To put an end to hands, it would not retain it for a,
the abusea which haa been pointed single moment,
sue to it. For two jears past the M. Odillon Barrot said, that
abuse complained of had ceased, aftertfaeapeech whichthejhadjust
and such practices aa were now heard from the honourable Minis-
brought before the Chamber for- ter, the discussion could scarcely
bidden. Since that time he hsd be prolonged. He had long been
heard ofa great number of demands aware that they could not agree
and solicitations of the same uature, with regard to politics, bat he now
which had all fallen to the ground, found that they could not do so on
The Government had done more; questions of honour and morality,
it had proposed to substitute a He had brought forward facts in
formal law for a doubtfnl and un- such a manner, that he believed it
certain system. The Bill would impossible for the Goremment to
be discussed, and might be altered escape the altematife of either de.
if it were considered not severe clariug them false, or accepting the
enoiwh. What more could be de- responsibility attendant on them,
mauded? He should thus con- " But no." said the houourable
aider the quesliou as terminated, geatleman. turning towards M.
He had no right to demand justice Guizot, ''you call these foots
firom the Opposition. Parties could insignificant, — you, a political
notbe just towards one another, or man, raised to the Presidency of
demand perfect impartiality and the Council, representing the Go-
the absence of all passion. What, vemment in ite highest degree,
however, had now taken place went you dare to style insignificant
beyond the ordinary limits of at- the fact of having sought out a
tacks on justice and on truth. He third party, who would purchase
sought to express himself in the the resignation of which you stood
mildest and least offensive manner, in need, and of having repaid that
but he could not but repeat what third party with a place ia the
he had said. The Conservative Finance. Such a fact has taken
party ought, more than any other, place in your office, through the
to show itself vigilant in watching agency of him who represents you,
over public morality, the true basis and you think no more of it I The
of public order. He must, how- whole Chamber has been already
ever, remind it of one thing, that moved, not by an act of direct
the men whom it honoured with complicity, but by one of simple
its confidence had received a very tolerance, and when the act of
mingled inheritance from the past; complicity, which we nowdenonnce,
they had sought to regulate and is accomplished with your coucur-
purify that which bad been thus reuce, with your approbation, and
Franet.]
HISTORY.
[211
even at jour office, after the soleniti
discasaion which had takea place
in this Chamber, after the eolema
engagnmedt which that discussion
drew from you, what signifies the
Ungoage which you uae to-day?
The engagemenl which jou have
taken does not doubtless signify
that you will not participate in the
bargain ; one does not engage one*
self lo be an honest man and a
lo/al Minister. But the membera
of the Court of Accounts who have
accepted these bargains have not
participated in the pecuniary sacri-
fices which the movement has
caused. It is a third party who
paid for them, and that third party
has been repaid with a place which
should have been the legitimate
reward of old and honourable ser-
vices—and yet these you call in-
significant facts! Believe me, you
will require all your moral force in
order to withstand the trial that
awaits you. You intrench yourself
in your pride: but, when the Go-
vernment is concerned, set your
personal pride aside, for it has
nothing to do here. Permit me
to tell JOU that you put the ma-
jority tfl a very cruel trial. You
build on the confidence you luia-
gine you inspire; but that con-
fidence, allow me to tell jou, has
in it something very insolent. All
you do is to tnra towards jour
majoritj, and say, 'Continue to
vote for me as hitherto, and all will
be well!'"
Aa animated debate followed, in
the course of which M. Thiers, in
reply to some remarks by M. de
Peyramont. said that he did not
deny that the abuse spoken of bad
eusted under several Administra-
tions; be admitted it But what
he denied was, that either he or
any of hia colleagues had ever taken
part in such practices, or in any
way miied themselves up vith
them. If any one said tliat he
had ever taken part in such nego-
tiations, he should reply to him by
a contradiction as to a base ca-
lumiiiat«r.
Ultimately M. de Peyramont
proposed the following order of the
day : — '■ The Chamber, relying on
the wish expressed by the Govern-
ment, and on the efficacy of the
measures to he taken to put an
end to a long-standing and ob-
jectionable abuse, passes to the
order of the day."
M. Darblaj proposed a third
order of the day, as follows: —
'■ The Chamber, afflicted and dis-
satisfied, closes the debate on the
incident, and passes to the order
of the day."
The President of the Council
considered the order of the day
proposed hj M. Darblaj as implj-
iug censure, and opposed it.
M. E. de Girardin.— The Pre-
sident of the Council ought also to
declare his opinion relative to the
order of the daj of M. de Peyra-
mont, which contains a blame.
The President of the Council. —
If M. de Peymmontand his friends
attached to hia order of the day a
sense such as M. £. de Girardin
implies, I should rcgect iC also.
But it is evident to every man of
common sense, from the speech of
M. de Peyramont, that he wishes
to express his confidence in the
firm determination of the Govem-
meni to prevent the recurrence of
a highly objectionable abuse. That
not being in any reiipect contrary
to what I liave said, I accept it.
The President— The Chamber
will first decide on the order of the
day of M. Darblay. If it b ac-
cepted, all is finished; but. if not,
I shall then consult the Chamber
on that of M. de Peyramont.
[pa]
212] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [France.
The Chamber then proceeded to Address in tfa« Chamber of Depa-
vote on M. Darblaj's order of the ties closed on Saturday die S3nd
day, when the numbers were — of January, and on the following
Against it . . 226 Monday the debate on the separate
InitsfiiTour. ... 146 pft««n>pliB commenced. Dunng
the discussion on the first para-
;y . .. -Q graph an attack was made upon the
Majonty .... iv Ministry by M. Gauthier de Ru-
M. Barblay's order of the day milly, for not having taken the
was consequently rejected, and that proper measures to alleviate the
of M. de Peyramont was than calamities of the famine of last year,
adopted by a show t^ hands. He was followed by M. Cunia Ori-
We may mention that the same daine, the Minister of Agriculture,
subject had beau previously, on who vindicated the GovemmeDt
the 1 1 th of JanuEury, brought for- against the charge of not having
vard in the Chamber of Peers by tuen proper measures to avert
the Marquis de Boisey, who said the crisis of 1B46. In the spring
that the Ministry was the object of ofthatyeorhe had written to all the
universal reprobation and animad- prefects, to inform him regularly
version, and the same feeling, he of the progress of the crops. Their
was sorry to say, was shared by the appearance was at first most re-
army and navy, who, not witli stand- assuring, but the heat, usually so
ing the decorations and promotions beneficial, was attended with the
lavished upon them, were deeply contrary eSect. Had the Govem-
afBicted at the deplorable course ment manifested its fears as early
pnrsuedbytheGovemment. Eveiy as September, the price of grain
person enjoying its confidence was would have increased in all the
anobjectof distmst to thecountiy. principal markets and aggravated
The recent elections of the Na- the difficulty of procuring suppliea,
tional Ouard were a proof of it. When the Minister published the
all the Ministerial candidates circular alluded to by M. de Bn-
having been defeated. The senti- milly, it was known that a deficit
ment of opposition in the ranks of existed, but it was believed that
the armed citizens had reached 6,000,000 or 7,000,000 of bectoli-
Buch a pitch that the General-in- tree of foreign grain wonld amply
Chief of the Kational Guard was compensate it. Moat of the other
afraid to station a single legion on countries of Europe had sufiered
the passage of the King. Upon from the crisis, and in England it
this M. Guizot rose, and admitted had produced more serious conae-
Ihe abuse denounced by M. Boissy quences than in France. The de-
relative to the sale of an ofiice in ficit in the revenues of Great Bri-
ttle Court of Accounts. That prac- tain had amounted to 55,000,000^.,
tice, be said, had eiisted for many while the diminution in those of
years, and under all prerioos Ad- France did not exceed 2,600,000/'.
ministrations. The transaction, The Minister, in concluding, de-
be regretted to say, was even clared, that it was not the pnvi-
aulhorized by the law. He added, sion orisis that had brought about
however, that it bad now ceased to the commercial crisis, but the agi-
exist tation excited in the country by
The general discussion on the the Reform banquets.
Fran^.} HISTORY. [213
The second paragraph related to hope that that order would not be
the qaeslioa of finance, and the com- moch disturbed. The iimfM, which
pletioQof the public works theuin in 1647 had &llen in consequence
Sn^reas ; and in the conree of the of the food crisis, would recover in
iecnseiOB M. Dumon drew a com- 1848. There was nothing to lead
parison between the financial situs- to a dread of large extraordinary
tioB of France and England, and expenses. Africa bad been paoi-
said that the latter had never un- fied hy a glorious event which had
dertaken any great work without jnat taken place, and the prospect
having recoarse to loans or extra- of the future was ever; way cheer"
ordinary taxation, while France ing. Every confidence might be
during the last ten yeara effected felt in the continuance of peace,
great undertakings from the ordi- for unless the Government felt
uaryreeourcesof the oouDtiy. The that confidence, itwould not engage
reserves of the sinking fund ap- the countiy in great public works,
peared to be looked on as an extra- It was not sufficient to maintain
wdinary resource, but in fact they order, it was necessary also to en-
made part of the ordinary budget dow the country with something
(tf the Stale, and to have recoarse great and durable ; and to do that,
to them was to remain within the it was necessary to feel confident
ordinary limits of their reeonrces. of the duration of peace. A com-
During the last ten years enormous parison had been drawn between
works bad been accomplished ; the state of railways in France and
they had conquered and padfied other countries, and a complaint
Algeria without imposing fresh made that France was less ad-
tases or contracting a loan, and at vanced, while at the same time the
the end of the last financial year Government was accused of wasting
all the arreara had been covered the public money. The financial
by the ordinary resources, and the state of the country did not in any
budget, so to speak, brought into a way compromise future great pub-
stale of equilibrium. The Govern- lie woiis, for there remained yet
ment, in establishing the budget of to be ezecnted to the amonnt of
1849, had endeavoured to abstain 1,080,000,000/. About half that
&om any new expenses, and to sum had been realised, and to
secure the receipts without increos- complete it 560,000,000/'. would
ing the taxes, but also without be taken from the reserves of the
consenting to a reduction of taxes sinking fund, which there was
which would take 50,000,000/. every reason to hope would be able
from the Treasury, which no one in to furnish it. He had been re-
his situation would have dared to proaehed with contractiDg a loan
do. As to whether the budget without diminishing the floating
would remain in a state of equi- debt, but to this he shoold re-
Hbrium it was impoesible to say. ply by quoting the example of
No one could foresee two yeus England, who in contracting a
beforehand what extrsbrdinary loan had increased the rate of in-
expensea would be called for; the terest on Exchequer bills. He
Government had done all that lay should conclude by observing to
in its power at the present roo- certtun honourable gentlemen who
ment. It had presented an even were fond of asking what would
budget, and everything led to the hqipen if political events should
214]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[France,
entul fresh charges on the State,
that on that point the; might make
themselves perfectly easy ; for what
was apprehended had happened
eight years since ; political neces-
sUies had compelled an interrup-
tion to public works, but the policy
now followed hj the Oovemment
would never again impose such
necessity.
M. Thiers, who followed, de-
clared that he was not reassured
by the financial exposition of M.
Dumon. Facts, unfortunately, Ultle
justified the illusions of the Minis-
ter, and, in M. Thiers' opinion, if
a radical change were not intro-
duced into the system, a cata-
strophewas inevitable. Theaverage
annual deficit during the lost
five years had amounted to from
85,000.000/, to 70.000.000/. The
surplus during the same inten-al
had exceeded 30,000,00(1/., so that
the annual deiicit was reduced to
25,0u0,000/. The ordinary budget
inspired him with no apprehen-
sion, as the reserve of the Sink-
ing fund was always available.
The extraordinary budget, how*
ever, filled him vrith aneosiness.
Since 1H43, the Chambers had
voted 1.100,000,000/. for public
works, which was not all, for the
Government had entailed an ad-
ditional expense on private com-
panies of between 1.800.000.000/,,
and 1 .400.000,000/. more— in nil
9,600,000.000/. The ordinary
budget had reached in 1848 the
enormous sum of l,88si.000,000/'. ;
the extraordinaiy budget wae
185,000.000/., and with the deficit
of 60,000.000/ the whole of the
estimates would amount to about
1,600,000.000/., a sum which had
even been exceeded by 59.000,000/.
in 1847. Was the Minister of
Finance certain that that sum
would not be exceeded? He did
not think so, and he accordingly
considered himself justified in say-
ing that the finances were ad-
vancing towards the brink of an
abyss. M. Thiers did not believe
that 1848 would be the last cala-
mitous year, and that a new era
would commence in 1849, when
the reserve of the Sinking Fund
would be completely available.
Abbe Louis often told him that a
Government should always pay its
debts in time of peace, in order to
be able to borrow in time of war.
The present Ministers reversed
that axiom, and borrowed in time
of peace. M. Thiers next exa-
mined the question of the float-
ing debt, which now amounted to
880,000,000/. He contended that,
at the close of 1B48, the public
works, executed and due, would
amount to 676,000.000/., and that,
admitting that the loan would pro-
duce 140,000,000/. on the 7th of
December, 1846, and that the rail-
road companies would reimburse
63,000,000/. in the year, which
be did not believe, the floating
debt would be increased to about
800.000,000/., and at the end of
1840 it would not be under
700,000.000/. M. Thiers ab-
stained from characterizing such a
situation, aud contented himself
with observing that it was highly
imprudent. In conclusion, he
again expressed his fear that a
catastrophe was impending. Since
the conclusion of the Spanish mar-
riages, the Ministry, he said, could
no longer call itself a Ministry of
peace, and that impolitic act had
been the real and sole cause of the
present crisis.
The Minister of Fitunce pointed
out the ituucaracy of M. Thiers'
assertion, that the amount of float-
ing debt at the end of 1848
would be from 750,000,0iJQ/. to
Frame.] HISTORY. [215
800,000,000/'. That was an error them, so tiiat it waa impossible for
into nliioh lJi« honourable gentle- an independeat deputy to obtain a
man could not have fallen if be hearing. He concluded by de-
bad not assumed as expenses the daring that tbe Oovemmenl vas
credits which had been opened, fast proceeding towards a general
and if be had taken more into ac- monopoly, which was, in fact, 00*
GOtint the influence of the loan on thing but pure commuoism.
tbe floating debt The amount of On tbe 3 Ist of January, when the
the credita opened for the exe- subject of debate in tbe Chamber
cntion of the works Toted by of Deputies was the furagraph re-
the Bill of 1843 amounted to lating to foreign Powers, and
190,000,000/'., which brought the especially tbe amirs of Italy, M.
whole snm at tbe charge of the Toiers ascended the tribune, and
floatingdebttoHl&.OOO.UOl)/'. But, delivered a long and able speech
on the other hand, the reaonrces in favour of Italian independence,
were 190,000,000/. from the loan, Tbe fotlovring are a few extracts:
and 20,000,000/. from tbe railway — " When Italy now loolw forth for
companies, which together gave a bope, itis nottoFrancethatshe di>
sum of 810,000,000/'. ; thus re* rects ber regards — « misfortune
dncing the amount of the floating alikeforherandforiisl Andthere*
debt to 006.000.000/, It was, fore is it that I repeat that she ought
therefore, with good reason that be not to be allowed to entertain any
had asserted that the floating debt doabt of our feeling towards her.
at the end of 1848 would not ex- Let me, however, before I enter
oeed 630.000,000/'. on tbe question of our policy to-
M. Thiers repeated bis argn- wards that conntry, devote a few
menta in favour of the opinion that words to the cause of liberty. Yoa
tbe amount of the floatii^ debt all know what is passing at Pa-
wonld be from 760,000. OOOf. to lermo. A great city has been bom-
600,000,000/'. nntil such period barded for eight-and-forty bobrs —
when the public works were tsr- bombarded, not by foreigners, but
minated, and concluded thus: — by her own Government — bom-
" Your sitoation is so much tbe barded, not for injuries done, but
more grave that 7011 incessantly for having demanded rights. Yea,
are poetponing tbe means of extri- the inliabitants demanded, not an-
cating yourselves from it No very archJcal and dangerous liberties. bnt
extraordinary circnmstances are the most equitable and most natural
required to cause a Oovemment to rights — that of being judged by im-
have need of 100,000,000/. If partial magistrates — of controlling
to-morrow yon were in want of an the expenses of an Administration
issue of 100.000,000/. of Treasury which weighs them down with taxes
bonds, it would be impossible for ' — of baring certain municipal prj-
you to obtain that amount." vileges— in fine, they demanded a
In the cotirse of the debate M. constitution for Sicily. Such were
Loneau was proceeding to read the rights for demanding which
some passages from a pamphlet, Palermo was subjected to a forty-
btit cries of "Enough, enougbt" eight hours' bombardment! In the
drowned his voice. Ministers, name of humanity I here denounce
said the honourable deputy, had such acts. I do not here contest the
an army of SOO supporters behind rigblsaf established Goveraments:
216] ANNUAL REQISTBR, 1848. [*""«»«
they hare a right (o defend them- sublime ^talors of haman ideas,
selvea ; nben the aathohties are vilhout anv odier complicity on
attacked bj an armed force, the; our part Uian the taking of the
must naturally look to their de- Bastile, and the revolution of July
fence ; it is a hard extremity, but — nhen revolution ahall develope
it must Bometimes occur ; but itself it is sacred. It is sacred, and
against ino£FeDBiTe assemblages, no one should interfere with it;
when it is only necessary to re- to do so would be an attack against
press some innocuous ciies, it is nature and against humanity. We
repugnant to all the laws of hu> should not carry liberty into anj
manlty to have recourse to such ex- quarter, bat we ought not to suffer it
treme means. And since in de- to be molested when it comes
nouuNng some excesses, nhicb I spontaneously. No ; France must
deplore, such lively sympathies not suffer iL It is the prindpla
were called forth in another as- of our policy. You are aware of
sembly, you will not remain sUent what took place at Rome at the
and insensible in presence of those time of the nomination of the pre-
for which Italy groans. The noble sent Pontiff. Every one expected
Parliament of England, which ex- a long conclave, but it only tasted
amines, weighs, and judges eveiy three days. Count Boasi is as-
matter, has well examined and suredly a very clever man, but I
judged this serious question ; we do not think he contributed much
have also a tribune, let us use it to the elevation of Pius IX. How
in behalf of those who have none, was he elected ? By the oldest
There is a moral equilibrium to cardinals, from a sentiment of fear,
maintain. Yea, there are in Europe and they named a reforming Fon-
Absolntist ideas and Libei-al ideas, tiff in order to remove danger. At
The great equilibrium exercises Florence and at Turin the sove-
these two tendencies. I mean no- reigns yielded to the seductioiis of
thing offensive to any one. Let a people whom they loved. One
those people who like absolutism sovereign alone, that of Nicies,
live quietly beneath its yoke ; hut presented to the people, who with
what we must watch over is, that eagerness thronged around him, the
the just balance between the two pomt of his eword, at the risk of
lendencies is maintained. Evwy wounding himself with it But
time that France gets rid of an we had nothing to do with iL We
enemy she gains s friend. Is that are strangers to it all. Treaties
JL reason why we should go vio- have been spoken of — ^yes, they
lently and clandestinely to give must be observed, hut we cannot
liberty to countries which have it be prevented from detestit^ them.
not? Certainly not. To impose Others must be made to observe
liberty at the point of the bayonet them. You have not done in Italy
is violence; to impose it by propa- what yon might have done. Ihave
gandism would be perfidy. But admired with what address you
we have been just towards others, have dissembled the real question.
Jet us be BO to ourselves. Wheu llemodelling of territory is not the
liberty shall develope itself in any point at issue. We do not call on
quarter, vrithout any other parti- you to overturn Italy, but to cause
cipation on our part than Monies- treaties to be observed. Why are
quieu, Descartes, Pascal, those the Austrians at Modena? The
France.) HISTORY. [217
trcAtieB of 1815 forbid it Cbuh if thej bad imitod togedier to stop
them to be respected. You will the AustrianB, vhere any danger
tell me tbe Ituions will not find would have been ? England is
tbatenougb. Act always for jour- popnlac in Italy, beoanae it ia
selves, for your honour under pre- known that instead of oppotdug
sent curcuma tances. Oive hope to goveimneBtal modificationa atie has
those who ought to hope, ana in- always encontaoed them. I am
■pire fiear in those who ot^ht to aware that the Italians wish to go
apprebend it. Doubtless tlioBe who faster than is consistent with pni-
mfler demand more, but cause denoe : bnt where does the danger
treaties to be respected, for that lie under such drcomatances? "^le
will be Bometliing. At Turin, at danger is that princes do net re-
Florence, at Borne, where the ^e ooaceaaions, but make them
people, I moat aay, are not too ex- too late, or insufficiently, and that
acting, why do the aoveraigns eon- then tbe people, becoming impa-
oede BO little? Because they lire tient, sfaoald do at Florence and
in fear of the interrention of Aus- at Borne what has been done at
tria. It ia the sword of Damocles Palermo. What ought yon to do
suspended over Italy. I admit that in this case? Instead of your
hitherto liberty has been respected holding up the prinoea to the
atTurin, at Rome, and at Florence, people as enemies, they should
aad this fact constitutes a great be advised to wait, and be aSBured
danger (or Austria. But what is of obtaining the concessions which
the convention which the Absolute they demand. This is what has
and the Liberal Governments have not been done. The question is
entered into ? It ia to tolerate veiy simple. It does not oonoem
each other's vicinity — we sofqwrt the future fate of Italy, which X
that of absolutism, let them sup- hope will bs prosperous and glo-
rt that of liberty. Tee, it will nous ; it doea not relate to the re-
painful to the Auatrians to put modelling of Italy, to the question
np with the administrative reforms ef territories, but to the independ-
ef die Italian States ; but she must ence of the states in their present
support them, and, had it not been limits; and that independence it ia
for tbe enonnona fanlt which has our duty to guarantee, and to pro-
been committed, there would have teot as our own interest. If I were
been two nations together to make permitted to address myself to the
her do so — I allude to the ^Mmish Italians themselves, I should say
nuufiaoes. That question is not to them, ' Be united, Tuscans,
finished; the results are now bo- Homans, Genoese, Fiedmonlese,
ining to show themselves. Eng- snd Neapolitans, form yourselves
id has assumed a position whiui into one grest &mily. People and
advise you to adopt; she has re- princes be united. The altar of
quired a respect for the t«rriloriee the oountry should be at this mo-
and the prBrogatives of Govern- ment for the whole of Italy the
menta, and added that, if foioe altftr of concord, on which yon
were enq>loyed, shs could not took princes should place all that can
on srith indifierence. I ask you, no longer be reconciled with the
whether if France and England spirit of the age, and you people,
had eome to an understanding, if all your premature hopes. Wheu
they bad used the same language, you shaU thus understand each
gini
unt
218] ANNUAL REGISTEB, 1848. [Franw.
other, be utiited atate to etate, have gain strength — that nothiDg should
at Borne one Pontiff, let Charles be compromised in Europe, that I
Albert declare himself in Pied- have followed the policy which is
mont the champion of your inde- now attacked. I quite share, also,
pendence, and, if you are ever at- in the sentiments the honourable
tacked, reckon on France — whose gentleman has expressed relative
glory is of ancient date, but whose to what I shall call useless ex-
beart never grows old— on France, cesses ; but I must protest against
which is neither abased nor dege- the employment of such words
Derated. She has never degene- as he has adopted, as being
rated but in the hands of those neither useful nor suitable when
who have considered her made in applied to Governments which it
their own image. On that day is desired to recall to sentiments
France and England will speak in of moderation, liberalism, end
common ; they will forget all their clemency. I have, also, to clear
disaensioDs to utter together the up a point alluded to by the
language not only of liberty and honourable gentleman relative to
of humanity, but of treaties, and an application made by Atistria
on that day you will be saved.'" to the Cabinets of Europe.
M. Guizot then rose and said : Neither he nor I can produce the
" In U. Thiers' speech there are a despatches spoken of. I have
great variety of topics touched on* them not, neither probably has he ;
and on many of the most essential but if I had them in my posses-
we completely agree; when he ex- aion, I should not conceive myself
pressed his sympathy for Italy, he entitled to produce them here,
gave utterance to my sentiments What occurred was, that Austria,
as well as to his own. We also preoccupied with the danger
have the pretension of knowing all which the t«rritonal question was
the services that Italy has reu- raising up for her in Italy, ad*
dered to humanity, and we are dressed a note to the European
happy in paying to her, in that Governments to afBnu her right
respect, our share of gratitude, to maintain her Italian possessions
But it will not be considered according to the Urms of treaties,
strange that we, occupying as we and to demand their adhesion to
do the Ministerial bench, are her claim. That adhesion was
obliged to render to ourselves a formally given by the English
more exact account of our words Cabinet as well as by others. I
and of our acU than the honour- affirm to the Chamber that this is
able gentleman has occasion for, the sense, if not the very words, of
when speaking with his full liberty the despatch. That incident being
as a Deputy. Were that honour* disposed of, I now proceed to the
able gentleman in my place and I main question at present at issue,
in his, I am certain that be would M. Thiers has reduced the que»-
be as apprehensive as I that brute tion to two points: he says that we
force — or call it by its proper ought to maintain completely the
name, war — should step in to independence of the Italian States,
trouble the work now being ao- and to afford support to those who
complished in Italy. It is be- wish to encourage in these states
cause I am as desirous as K. internal reforms. On these two
Thiers that these reforms should points I am exactly of his opinion;
France.] HISTORY. [219
snd I affirm that such is not onlr The Prmident of the CouacU. —
our language at present, but such "Neitherdid we believethat, under
has been our rule of conduct existing circumstances, Mod ens
throughout. We do not think was equal to Rome, and that the
ouiselves called on to indicate of entrance of the Austrians into tbe
ouiselves, and from here, to each former state was of the same |m-
Govemment, what nature of re- portance as their enti? into the
form, and what degree of it, ought Papal States. I now come to the
to be proper to be effected. I second point alluded to by the
have for their independence the honourable geDtleman. He hna
feeling of respect to let them told us to encourage reforms. We
decide themselves what thej ought have done so ; the proof of this is
to do. I am quite of opinion, with to be found in the documents which
M. Thiers, that France ought to we have communicated to the
watch carefulljr over the mainte- Chamber, and in all our acts."
nance of that great balance of The King's OoTemment would,
power which is becoming dailj everywhere and always, maintain
more and more displaced to the the independence of the Italian
frofit of the free Governments, states. There was scarcely any*
believe that every absolute Go- thing which M. Thiers had men-
vemment which ceases ia a chance tioned but what the Government
gainedfor France— I believe that was ready to do. He felt bonud
every natorol attempt to recover to tell the Chamber that the ad-
libertf is of advantage to this vice given by the honourable
country ; but only on condition Deputy had been already acted
that such effort proves successful, upon. He might, perhaps, bo
and that from it issues a regular more popular in Italy; but the
and dnrable government. What conduct of the Government in the
is most dangerous for us is fruit- Italian states has been, on every
less, nnsuccwsful attempts. What point, in confonnity to the true
was there ever of greater nullit; interests of the country and tiiose
for Italy than the revolutions of of humanity.
IdSOand 18Q1 — those ill-digested. In discussing the paragraph of
badly-executed acts? I want to the address relating to the affairs
see efficient movements only, for of Switzerland, M. Thiers said
hj such only can her independ- that he would examine the ques-
ence be assured." tion with ell the moderation he
The President of the Council could command, and he would de-
then quot«d what M. Thiers him- serve much merit in doing so, for
self said in a pamphlet, published no act of the Cabinet had filled
in 1831. "TheGovemmentought him with more irritation than its
to call on the Austrians to with- conduct towards Switzerland. The
draw; but to intervene, in order Ministry viewed, in the triumph
to obtain that result, would be a of tbe Swiss Government, the Ui-
grave matter, which m^ht lead to umph of tbe Radicals and the pre-
war. France risked it for Bel- lude of fresh disorders and anarchy.
gum : but she ought not to do so U. Thiers, on the contrary, saw in
r Modena and Bologna." the present situation of Switser.
M. Thiers. — You have not then land, tbe revolution and the coun-
advanced a step for 17 years. ter-revolution ; and the Frenah
220] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [*•««-■
Oovemment, he wai son; to find, redouble iaj v^Iuioe against his
had espoused the cause of the lat- deteetable policy." He would not
ter. He then referred to the follow him in his historical disqtii-
events accomplished in Switzer- sition, nor indulge in recriminar
land durius the last 60 years, tion, but would at once proceed to
and oontenaed that the Treaty of examine the right of the Powers,
Vienna did not authorize the parties to the treaties of 1810, to
Powers of Europe, parties thereto, interfere in the question of the re-
to interfere with the Federal Pact Tision of the Federal Pact, which
Those Powers, in concluding that was contested by M. Thiers. Ttiia
treaty, had merely wished to esta- was an error, and a fundamental
blish the neutrality of Bwitzer- one. On the 6th of April, 1814,
land, and ensure her territorial the Diet deliberated with the
integrity. Austria alone asserted envoys of Austria, Frusaia, and
that Switzerland had not the right Russia, on the draught of the
to modify the Pact without the Federal Constitntion, and, on the
oonsent of the Powers, and France 18th of June, France joined the
had at all times entertained the conference. The article of the
contrary opinion. M. Thiers then ConTOntion of Paris positively
proceeded to justify the aggressions stated that France reoognieed and
committed by the m^ority of the would guarantee the politicBl con-
oantons against the minority, and stitotion of Switzerland, and au-
stated that these intended not only thority had been given to all the
to maintain the Jesuits, but to im- delegates of those powers to la-
pose them on the other cantons of bonr in conjunction with the Diet
the Confederation ; he then vindi- to frame that constitution. France,
cated the conquerors against the consequently, had a right to in-
chargea of exaction and oppree- quire into the events now passing
sion, and described their conduct in the country. M. Ouizot next
as perfectly legal, mond, and cited passages from a number of
moderate- documents to prove diat it was
M. Guizot replied in a most the cause of liberty he had de-
efTective speech. Be said, that if fended in Switzerland. Be then
the policy adopted by the Cabinet described the state of anarchy
towards Switzerland had caused which now prevailed there, and
M.. Thiers much irritation, he had, asked if that was the liberty de-
in his turn, ekperienced consider- sired by M. Thiers. There existed,
able pain in listening to the speech he said, no stru(^le ia Switzer-
of the honourable Member, and land between the revolution and
could not help regretting that so counter-revotutioD, any mofe than
eminent a man should suffer him- in France ; but there was in both
self to be so blinded by passion, countries a strife of the partisans
The more he reflected on the of disorder against regular Oovem-
opinions expressed by M. Thiers, ments. Under the inflnenoe of a
the more he deplored the situation party devoid of all morality, Swit-
in which he bad placed himself, serland mast become a focus of
" It has," exclaimed M. Guizot, disorder, and a refoge for all the
" inspired no irritation in me discontent«d of the neighbouring
against U. Thiers; but it will nations. M. Thiers, at another
have the effect <rf inducing me to period, had held in his despatches
Franc.] HISTORY. [221
precisely the eame Ungni^e he law in order to preTent siniilu
[ii. Guizot) held at that moment ; demonstrations. U. de UallevilU
and to demonstiate it, he qnoted here observed that he recc^nised
despatches, daUd 1SS6, writt«n by the right of the Ooremment to
il. Thiera, which folly bore out prohibit those r^utiMms in pobliA
his etatemmt. [M. Thiers hero places, but he oonU not grant it
interrupted M. Guizot, and said as respected pri*at« houses. The
that circumstances were not the Uinistor of the Interior thanked
same, and that, in all cases, he his opponent for that concession,
had not applied to U. Mett«mich, and maintained that the moment
but acted alone.] M. Guizot re- an appeal was addressed to the
plied, that circumstances were at public, and that the dinner was
present far more serions than in gi*en bj subscription, the Qorem-
1836; that it was the same anar- ment was justified in preventing
chical spirit which had then fiuled it, were it even to take place in a
to oTerthrow regular Oovemments private establishment. The Mi-
that again raised its head with re- niatei then proceeded to describe
doubled fiiry. the danger to public order attend-
After an animated debate, the ing such tivmona, which be oom-
paragnph of the Address, which pared to the clubs of the Frenah
had been warmly contested, was nevolution.
voted by a considerable mqiority. These statements by M. Dn-
On a scrutiny there appeared — ch&tel oocasioned great uproar and
confusion in the Chamber, and ft
For the paragraph . . S06 voice shouted out " C tit Charin
Against it .... 12S U Due teat pur." M. Cr^mieux
' exclaimed, amidst loud applanse,
H^oritf for Ministera 80 "There is blood in it!" and M.
Odillon Barrot told tb« Hinista^
Kest followed a debate on the that the moment was dangerous,
paiagraph referring to the Reform and that they might prepare for
Banquets, to which subsequent revolution,
events gave an interest and im- Onthelthof February thepsra-
portance which it would not others graph relatiTe to Poland gave rise
wise have possessed. M. de Mai- to an animated debate. M.Larabst
lerille contended that the citizens hoped that it would be unanimoosty
were legally entitled to hold such voted. M. Vavin expressed his
meetings, and that no court of warm sympathy for the Polish
justice in France would sanction cause, and bkmed the Ministry
the pretensions of the Ministry to for prohibiting a banquet which
prolubit them, founded on the law was to have been lately offered to
of 1700. The Minister of the In- Prince Czartoi^ski. M. Salrandy
tenor rose to reply to M. de Malle- contended that the Poles received a
ville, and said that he wondered at generous hospitality in France,
his questioning the l^ality of the and that a sum of l,500,000f. was
course pursued by £e Cabinet, annually divided amongst the emi-
when he himself, as Under-Secre- grants vrfao needed assistance. M.
tary of Sute of the Ministry of the L'Herbette asked M. Guizot if a
Interior, in the Administration of Russian subject had not been re-
M, Thiers, had iuvoked the same cently eipeUed from France for
222] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [F'onc.
proDOuaoing a speech hostile to A long snd vehement diecuBsion
the Emperor Nicholas. IJ. Gui- took place upon the paragraph
zot replied that the banquet at vbich attacked the Reform demon-
which the speech had been da- stratious throughout the couutiy,
livered bad been permitted b; the and eapeciall; upon the propriety
Government, and that that cJr- of the sentence stating that " the
cumstance had aggravated the of- agitation excited b; hostile pas-
fence of the speaker. After a few sions, or by blind delusion, will
vords from MM. L'Herbette and give way before the reason of the
Ohambolle, the paragraph was public, enlightened by our free
voted. diBCUBsioas."
On the following day, while the In the course of the debate the
paragraph relating to Algeria was Minister of the Interior again
under discussion, Marshal Bu- spoke against the Beform.banque>a,
geaud said, that the submiasion of declaring that they 'nere illegal,
Abd-el-Kader was a new guarantee and that the Government bad de-
in favour of the African pos- termined that no more meetings
aeuions of France ; but be was, of that kind should lake place,
nevertheless, of opinion that the Upon this M. Odillon Barrot
army should be reduced aa litile exclaimed, " You are worse than
as possible in presence of a warlike Polignac and Perronet!"
popalation of at least 4,0llU,000 Atremendoussceneofuproarnow
souls, who could, in six weeks, ensued. The Ministerial Members
turn into the field between 000,000 would not hear any more speeches,
and 600,000 combatants. and the Oppoaition quitting their
General Lamoriciere vindicated seate, the President pronounced
the Due d'Aumale against the the discussion to be at an end,
charge of levity which had been amidst much confusion, and mu-
directed against him on the occa^ tual recrimination,
sion of the submission of Abd-el- Ultimately, however, the Oppo-
Kader, and contended that any sition. as a body, refused to vote
other general in his place would at all, and the paragraph was car-
have acted as be did. ried by a majority of 305. The
M. Guizot, having been asked numbers were^
by M. Laroch^aquelin what the
Government intended to do with For the paragraph . . S33
Uie Emir, replied — " The promise Against it .... 18
made to bim shall be tulfilled.
We cannot, however, allow him to Next day (Feb. 19) the follow-
proceed to St. Jean d'Acre, be- ing amendment was moved, by M.
cause that fortress belongs to the Sallandrouze, to the lest paragraph
Porte, which has not yet recog- of the Address i —
nised our African possessious. If "Amidst those different mani-
Abd-el-Kader wishes to be con- festations. your Government will
veyed to the East, he shall be con- discriminate the real and legiti-
ducted to Alexandria. There, if mate wishes of the country. It
the Viceroy consents to receive will, we trust, assume the initiative
him, we will find guarantees and of the wise and moderate reforms
securities, which St. Jean dAcre claimed by public opinion, amongst
does not offer." which Parliamentary reform holds
Fnmes.] HISTORY. [223
tlie first place. In a constitDtional ferant fracdons vhicli oompoBed it.
Moturcby the union of the great He said, howoTer, that the ques-
powers of the Slate enables tbe tion Bfaould be carefully examined
GoTenment to pursoe, without during the present Farli&ment,
danger, a policy of prepress, and and declared that, if amtngements
to satisfy ail the moral and mate- among the Conserrativea were not
rial interests of the country." successful, the Cabinet would
He said, that it was not enough leave to others the care of pre-
to prohibit banquets, it was like- siding over the disoi^aoization of
wise indispensable to remove their the party and the ruin of its
cause, by granting certain reforms policy.
demanded by all parties. It was - M. Thiers then rose and said,
evident that something should be that the Chamber had not asked
done ; and, if the Government was for the promise of a discussion ;
really anxious to save the country that it could have without leave.
from anarchical doctrines, it had The question was, what is the
it in its power still te accomplish, opinion of the mffjority on the
with dignity, and within the limits two questions of Parliamentary
it might deem ext)edient, the bene- and Electoral Heform ? As to the
ficial measure claimed by public first branch, all were agreed that
opinion. Should it hesitate much two hundred employ^ ought not to
longer, it might be compelled, by sit in the Chamber, On the
circumstances, to make deplorable second branch all too were agreed,
concessions. M. Goulard, who fol- except the Government, which vas
lowed, said that the moment was divided. On a question which agi-
inopportune for Parliamentary re- tated France from one end to
form. He proceeded, amidst the the other, the Government had no
murmurs of the Opposition, to vin- fixed opinion, but was obliged to
dicate theexistingelectorallaw,aDd take its opinions from the Oppo-
Gontended that the Chamber could sition, whose ideas M. Guizot pre-
not alter it without committing tended to despise. The success of
suicide. M. Glapier, in the name the measure he was, however,
of part of the Conservative parly, happy to say vras certain, and it
demanded that a Bill for Farlia- was now a mere question of time.
mentaiy reform be presented thia M. Guizot repeated his former
year. M. de Momy, another Con- declaration, and was succeeded by
servative Member, after indulging M. Blanqui. who protested against
in some attacks against the Op- the distinction dravm by M. Guizot
position, declared that he would between the two parties into which
cease to support the Ministry if the Conservative majority was di-
it did not brmg forward such a law vided, one of which he had called
next Session. M. Guizot then rose truly Conservative, and the other
and said, that the Cabinet would hostile. M.d'Arblay.whofollowed,
do nothing this year. In the observed that M. Guizot had made
meantime, he refused to make any a similar promise last Session.
promise for the future, but added After a few words from M. R6>
that he and his colleagues would musat, the discussion was closed,
exert themselves in the interest of and the amendment of M. Saltan-
the Conservative party, to reunite, drouze was rejected by a nugorin-
17 a common compromise, the d if- of 333 to 189. The entire Ad-
224] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. IFrmet.
dresa nm afterwards adopted by tons must promise vb to lend t
341 to 3, tbe OppoBition still ab- firm Bupport to all those who do not
itaining froto yotiiig. wish tbese discussiona to remain
As a Bjmptom of what was pass- onfruitful. We have anired at
ing in men s tninda at this limoi one of those moments in which to
we transmbe a passage that ^ defend the Uberty of one's country
peared in the oolumns of the Na- is to defend one's honour. Paris,
tional, the editor of whioh, M. it'hich effected the revolution of
Armand Mairast, was afterwarda, July, in order to reabt Boyid ordi-
fbr a considerable period, PresI- nanoes, will not allow her rights
dent of the Nadonal Assembly, to be confiscated by a decree of the
and one of the most aotive pro- police. When force is beyond Ae
noters end supporters of the Re^ pole of the law, it is no longer
pnblio. anything but violence; and vio-
" The contest of words must bs lence has always entailed misfor-
. tnnsformed into one of aetions; tunea on those who have em-
aihitrary power mnst be faced by ployed it."
right and by courage ; good oiti-
b,GoogIc
HISTORY.
CHAPTER VIII.
Meetmff of thg Oppontion Member* — Armauneement of a Befonn
Banquet at Paris— The National Ovardt ealUd upon to appear in
uniform — Prohilrition of the Banquet by Minitten — /( m given up by
the Oppotititm — Addreu by Qmeral Jacqueminot to the National
Ovarde — Act of Impeachment of Minittert — Ditturbed elate of Parte
— Eeti^nation of M. Ouiaot and kit ColUayue» — ColUeione between
the popuieu:e and the military — Joy of the mob at the dotmfaU of the
Minittry — LameTttable ijtcident at the Hotel of the Miniiter dee
Affaire* Etrangirei — Cruel etratagem of Lagrange and the BeptAlican*
— It* momentout Contequence* — Barricades erected on the morning of
the 24tA of FAruary — Count MoU i* unable to form a Minietry —
if. Thiere tent for by the King — ProeUtmatian by M. Thiert and M.
Odillon Barrot—The mob tJireatent tke TuiUries — The National
Quarde and troop* of the line offer no reiitlance — Abdication of Louii
Philippe — Terrible teene in the Chamber of Deputies — The Duehe** of
Orleatu and the young Prince* enter the Chamber — Irruption of the
fflo6 — Demand of a Provisional Government by M. Marie — Speech <^
M. Odillon Barrot — Speeches of M. Ledrv, ItelUn and M. de Lamar'
tin* — The mob maeter* of the Chamber — Nomination of a Provitional
Qotemment — "To theHStelde YiUe!" — Scene of tumuUuov* violence
in the Chamber — Proclamation of the Repobuo at the HGtd de Ville
— Sanguinary contest at the Palais Royal— Escape of Lout* Philippe
and the Roy^ FamUy — The ex-King and Queen arrive in England-^
Farewell Addreu by the Due d'Aumale to the Army in Algeria — The
TuiUrie* in the hand* of the mob— Proclamation* of the Provieional
OovemmerU—Dietriiuiion of office* — All vesliye* of Monarchy swept
away — Abolition of title* of nobility — Reipeet shown for private pro-
perty in Parie — Devastation* in the provinces — Appointment of Barbie
a* Colonel in the National Ouard — The Populace and the Clergy —
Clamour* for the "Red Repiiblie " at the Httel de VUU — Courageous
firmne** <^ M. de Lamartine — Official Proclamation of the Bepf^lic—
Wa* France republican at heart? — Dtcree convoking a Cotutiluent
National Assembly — M. de Lamartine and the Foreign Policy of the
New Government — Hi* Manifesto to Europe — Alarming Circular*
i»tued by M. Ledru RolUn and M. Camot— Their Doctrine* disclaimed
by the Provieional Oovemment — Quarrel between the National Guard
and the Oovemment — The former obliged to give way — Appointment
of a Committee of Labour for the Operatives — National Workthop*
{atelier»)e*tdbliihed — HoitHityto Englith Workmen — Regulation* for
Vol. XC [Q]
226] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fr«n«.
payment of Taxet — FtTianciai potition of the Republie — Suspetuum of
Cath Payments by the Bank of France, and by Banks in the pro-
vinces— Louu Blane'i plan for the Organization of Labour The Com-
muniiti or Socialittt — Disturbance created by them on the Ifith of
ApiU— Election of Deputies for the National Assembly —Biota in
various placet — Views of the extrente Democrats.
THE Ifinistty having gained fore, determined to prohibit the
their doubtful triumph in the banquet, and, on the evening of
Chamber, a large meeting of the Monday the Slst, the foUoning
MemberB of the Opposition took proclamation was issued and posted
place on the following day. to con- on the walls in different ports of
aider what course of policy they the city ; —
should adopt. The twelfth arron- . .
dissement of Paris had at the be- " ^"mianj,—
gituing of the year determined to " The Government had inter-
celebrate a Beform Banquet on the dieted the banquet of the liith
19th of Jauuair; but in conse- arrondissement. It was within its
quenceof opposition from the au- right in doing this, being authorized
thorities it was from time to time by the letter aod spirit of the law.
postponed, and it was ultimately Neverthalesa, in consequence of
fixed that it should take place on tlte diseusaion which took place in
Tuesday, the 22nd of February, the Chamber on this subject, think-
The intention of the Government ing that the Opposition was acting
was not to pravent the banquet by vrith good faith, it resolved to
force, but protest against the pro- afford it an opportunity for sub-
ceediugs, and afterwards try the mitting the question of the legali^
question of their legalil^ in a court of banquets to the appreciation of
of law. The Committee, how- the tribunals and the High Court
ever, appointed to organize the of Cassation. To do this, it had
public dmner, issued on Sunday resolved to authorize for to-morrow
the QOth an announcement, in tb6 entrance into the banquet-room,
which they prescribed the mode in hoping that the persons present at
which the parties intending to be the manifestation would have the
present were to assemble and pro- vrisdom to retire at the first sum-
ceed in procession along the streets mons. But, after the manifesto
to the banquet. At the same time, published thia morning, calling
the National Guards were called the public to a manifestation, oon-
upon to attend in uniform "for the vokii^ the National Guards, and
purpose of defending liberty, bv assigning them a place ranked by
joining the demonstration, and the legions, and ran^ng them in
protecting order and preventing line, a Government is raised in
all collision by their presence." opposition to the real Government,
This was clearly an illegal step — usurps the public power, and openly
for it was the attempt of a number violates the ChaJter. These are
of private individutus to usurp the acts which the Government cannot
Ainctions of the Executive, and by tolerate. In consequence, the
their own authority efiect a die- banquetof the IStharrendissement
pl^ of military force in tiie streets will not take place. Parisians!
of Paris. The Government, there- renitdn deaf to every excitement to
Fnww] HISTORY. [227
disorder. Do not, hy tumnltuous having betrayed abroad the honour
assemblages, afford grounds for a and the interest of France. 2. Of
repression which the Government having falsified the principles of
vould deplore." the conatitntion, violated the gua-
On the appearance of this pro- rantees of libertj, and attacked the
clamation a meeting of the opposi- rights of the people. 3. Ofhav-
tioa Deputies was held at the ing, L^r a sj^tematic corruption, at-
house of M. Odillon Barrot, and tempted to substitute for the free
it vae resolved to abandon ^e expression of public opinion the
banquet — Placards were posted on calculations of private interest, and
the walls, announcing their deter- thas perverted the representative
aaination, and hopes were enter- government. 4. Of having trufficked
tAined by the Ministry that no dis- for ministerial purposes in public
turbance would take place. In the offices, as well as in all the preroga-
order of the day issued by General tives and privileges of power. 5.
Jacqueminot, Commander-in-chief Of having, in the same interest,
of the National Guards, he said:— wasted the finances of the State,
"Fewamong you, without doubt, and thas compromised the forces
are disposed to allow yourselves to and the grandenr of the kingdom,
be led to a culpable step: but I 6. Of having violently despoiled
wish to spare them the error and the citizens of a right inherent to
the regret of showing their small every free coustitotion, and the
numberamongthe66,000 National exercise of which had been gna-
Guards of which your legions are ranteed to them by the charter, by
composed. It is, then, in the the laws, and by former prece-
name of the law that I conjure rou dents. T. Of having, in fine, by a
not to disappoint the confidence of policy overtly counter-re vol ution-
the conntn', which has confided to ary, placed in qaestion all the con-
youthedefenceoftheconstitutional quests of our two revolutions, and
royalty and legal order. You will throvm thecountryintoaprofound
not refuse to listen to the voice of ^tation."
your Commander-in-chief, who has The President, however, M.
never deceived you. I rely on your Sauzet, abruptly at^onmed the
prudence and patriotism, as yon Chamber without reading the
may always rely upon my probity paper,
and devotedness." In the meantime vast and
On the following day (Tuesday, tumultuous crowds were filling the
SSnd), the attendance of Members streets of Paris, and it became
in the Chamber of Deputies was more and more difficult to prevent
scanty, and a languid debate on a a collision between them and the
bill relative to the Bank of Bor- military. In the Kue St. Florentin
deanxvrasproceediDtr, when about and the Bne Marche St. Hoiior£,
five o'clock M. OdilToa Barrot ad- attempts were made to erect bar-
vanced to the table and laid upon ricades, but the troops tore down
it an act of impeachment of Minis- and removed the matfirials, and
ters, signed by filly-three Members di^rsed the mob.
of the Opposition. It was drawn The aspect of affturs, however,
np in the loUowing terms : — had now become most serious, and
"We propose to place the Minis- when the Chamber of Deputies
ter in accoBation as guilty— 1. Of met on Wednesday the 28rd, >"
[Q2J
228] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fr^ce-
miBwer to some questions pat b; uewe spread through Pans tiM
M. Vavin, M. Guizot rose and the Ministry had resigned. This
announced . the resignation of vae received with enUiuBiastic ex-
himself and his colleagues, saying, pressions of joy, and for a time it
that the King had sent for Count appeared as if ^1 further resistahce
Mole, in order to con6de to him vere at an end. Large bodies
the construction of a cabinet; and of the National Guards marched
that whilst the present Ministers through the streets, both ofBcers
remained in office they would cause and men crying, Vive la Btfome,
order to be respected. But this while the crowd that surrounded
was more difBcult than M. Guizot them kept up a vodferoas cheering,
imagined. The people had as- As the evening approached many
aembled in vast crowds early in the houses began to Hght up their
morning in the quarters St. Denis windows, and the mob with lond
and St. Martin, and at ten o'clock cries demanded a general illnmin-
they had succeeded in erecting ation.
hairicades at the Porte St. Denis, Abont seven o'clock, an immense
in the Rue de Clery, the Rue body of the working classes, headed
Neuve Saint Euatache, the Ruede bymenwhocarriedblazingtorcheB,
Codran, and the Rue du Petit- passed along the Boulevai^s. They
Oarreau. Firing took place at chanted, as they advanced, the two
some of these borricadeB between lines of the Girondist song, which
the populace and the Municipal was at this time the most popular
Guanls. Two young men were air in Paris,
killed, and apicquet of the Muni- .. Mourirpmirlipurie,
dpal Guards was disanned. . C'eit le lortle plui bcu, le ploi digrta
Throughout the day numerous d'envier'
collisions happened between the and ceased from it only to shout at
populace and the troops, but the intervals, d6(u Guizot. The Mar-
mob gave way whenever they were seUlaiM hymn was also frequently
charged, and very few lives were beard, mingled with cries of KiivM
lost. The most ominous circum- Reformt. At the hotel of the
stance . was the demeanour and Minister of Fore^ Affairs, which
conduct of the National Guards, abutted close upon the Boulevards.
who were obviously most unwilling there was posted a strong body of
to act against the people, and in troops, consisting of both infantry
some places prevented the Muni- and dragoons, who occupied the
cipal Guards from attacking the whole width of the Bonlevard, ex-
crowd. This was the more im- cept the pavement near the Rue
portant, as Marshal Bugeaud, tfae Basse du Rempart When the
veteran warrior of Algiers, had mob reached this spot, the torch-
been appointed by a royal ordi- bearers filed off past the troops by
nance Commander-in-chief of the the pavement, and the whole crowd
first military division, and of the followed, shouting d bai Ouixol!
National Guards of Paris, in place Vive la ligne! Here it was that
of General Jacqueminot The an event occurred, at a later
populace soon understood this feel- period of the evening, which may
u^ in their favour, and shouted be said to have determined the
loudly, Vivt la Qarde Nationale! future 0010*80 of the Revolution.
In the course of the afternoon, the The populace had collected in large
J»»~'l HISTORY. [228
numbers in the Ticinitj of M. fhoj reached the spot where the
Gnizot'B Hotel, ftiid were preBsing troops were drawn up. he delibe-
upon the military, when a naan rM«lf fired a pistol at the officer in
stepped forward, and present- command, in order to provoke the
ing a pistol at the head of the soldiers to fire upon the crowd ;
officer in command, shot him dead and thtrAy etmtre tha taerifice of
on the spot. The troojps then im- tomt innocent liven. We have
mediately fired with fatal effect, alreadjnarrated the result; but it
and several persons in the crowd remains to be told that the asso-
were killed. In an incrediblj ciates of Lagrange were ready in
short space of time a funeral pro- the a^joiniDc streets with their
cession was formed, the dead tumbrils for uie dead, whose bodies
bodies were placed npon a cart, they arranged in the most tragic
and by the glare of torch-light the form, to excite feelings of rage and
moving masses followed it towards horror, and paraded them through
the Plac« ds Baitile, uttering as the streets. During the night a
they went, in low monotonous quantity of bullock's blood naa
cadence, the words " Monrir pour brought and poured apon the pave-
la patrie," and demanding arms in ment where the firing had taken
order to avenge the slain. place ; and the credulous mob on
Such were the events as they the following day were too infu-
appeared on the sur&ce, and were riated to notice that it was impos-
narrated in all thejoumals of the pe- sible for the red gore which ex-
riod. Butwhatwastherealhistory cited their passion to have pro-
of the events of this fatal night? oeeded from the few victims who
There is too much reason to be- had fallen on the epot.
Keve that the French nation were The news of this unfortunate
tricked into a revolution by the occurrence spread rapidly through
denncable stratagem of one crazy Paris, and a general feeling of ex-
enttauaiast. That man was M. aeperation prevailed amongst the
L^range, who soon afterwards people, when they rose on the
went n^d; his brain being pro- morning of the following eventfnl
bably turned by the appalling sue- day. Their demands and attitude
eeas of his own ezporimenL The had undergone a serious change,
fact ia, that when the change of and it became evident that, unless
Ministry was announced, and the the troops and National Guards
popnlace knew that the King had were prepared to act with vigour
given way, they were disposed to and promptitude, the dynasty of
enjoy their triumph with good Louis Philippe was placed in im-
humour, and traversed the streets minent danger. More barricades
of Paris, exacting illuminations, were hastily erected in many of
and vociferating their noisy joy. the principal streets, especially
fiut Lagrange and a few desperate those in the neighbourhood of the
confederates were resolved to give, Boulevard des Italiens. and were
ifpoesible.adifTerenttumtoevents. conBtructed of overturned di1i-
He therefbte having made bis pre- gences, omnibuses, and other vehi-
paratio7is,joinedaband of citizens, cles, filled with heavy paving stones,
who proceeded along the Boule- and in some places the red flag
Tarda in the direction of the H6tel waved over them.
dat Affaire* EtTangirei, and when In the meantime Count M0I6
230] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fr«r««.
had found it impossible to form a called La Preue, hastened to the
Uinistiy, and M. Thiers was sent Palace, and representing the im-
for by the King in the course of tb^ minent danger in which the mo-
night of the 39rd, and he agreed narchy was placed, ui^ed that the
to accept the office of President of King should at once abdicate the
the Council, provided that he were crown in favour of his grandson
allowed to associate M. Odillon the Comte de Paris.
Barrot with him as Minister of In the course of the morning a
the Interior. The new Govern- large body of the populace pro-
ment immediately issued the fol- ceeded to the Champs Elysees,
lowing prociamatioD, which ap- where was stationed one of the
peared early on the morning of gaard-bouses of the Municipal
the 24th. Guard. A staff-oEQcer hurried past
^ . them, and addressing the soldiers,
• Ijttixens.— jq]j jjjgnj ^j jj ^^ ,^ (^ lesiit,
" Orders are given to slop the and adviaed them to comply with
firing. We have been charged by the wishes of the people. Their
the King with the formation of a arms were demanded, but they re-
Ministry. The Chamber is about fused to deliver them up, and fired
to be dissolved. General Lamori- a volley npon the crowd. The
dere is named Commander-in-Chief guard-house was then immediately
of the National Guards of Paris, taken by storm, and the soldiers
Messrs. Odillon Barrot, Thiers, were alt massacred on the spot.
Lamorici^re, and Duveivior de About the same time the following
Hauranne, are Ministers. Liberty! significant occurrence took place on
Order I Union I Beform! the Boiilevarddes Italiens. Seve-
" Odillon Barrot. ral regiments of infantry of the
" Thiers." line, precededbyabodyof National
M. Odillon Barrot proceeded Guards, a regiment of Cuirassiers,
himself on horseback through the three field pieces, and three cais-
streeta.whichweredenselycrowded, sons of ammunition, made their
announcing the change of Minis- appearance. They were stopped
try, and endeavouring to allay the by the people, who, with the most
excitement that prevailed. perfect coolness, seized the horses
But the character of the move- by the heads, broke open the cais-
ment became now apparent. The sons, and distributed the ammuni-
people refused to listen to Odillon tion without any resistance being
Barrot, and he was met with cries ofiered by the troops. The horses
of " We have been deceived too were unharnessed, and the cannon
often," aai " Vivt la Ripubliqiu ! " drawn away by the people, many
The proclamation was torn down, of whom rode upon the guns,
and the tumult increased evety Early in the afternoon the news
hour. The crowds began to press of the abdication of Louis PbiUppe
on towards the Tuileries, where was communicated to the inhabits
the Ministers were in earnest con. ants, by the following proclamation
sultation with the King. Another signed by M. Odillon Barrot, which
proclamation was issued by them, announced the accession to the
which was immediately destroyed, thrane of the Comte de Paris, and
and soon afterwards M. Emile de the Begency of the Duchess of
Qirardin, the editor of the journal Orleans.
Franei.] HISTORY. [231
„. , , „ . and tUs was the Bignal for the
■■ CKwct» 0/ Pant.— ^^^ appalling tumult The
" The King has abdicated. The Deputies and National Guards
crown, bestowed bj the revolution gathered rouud the Rojal Famil)'
of July, is now placed on the bead to shield them from violence, while
of a child, protected by his mother, the fearful drama was acted before
They are both under Uie safeguard tlieir eyes. M. Marie ascended
of the hononr and courage of the the tribune and demanded that a
Parisian population. All cause of Provisional GoTSmment should be
division amongst us has ceased to formed, " not to give institutions,
exist. Orders have been given lo but to consult wi£ the two Cham-
the troops of the line to return to bers on the necessity of satisfying
their respective quarters. Our the wishes of the country." M.
brave army con be better employed Cr^mieux followed and said, " We
than in shedding its blood in so cannot at the present moment do
deplorable a colhsion." more than establish a Provisional
But it was too late. The Bon r- Government. (Cri« 0/ 'No ! no!')
boa dynasty bad already ceased to I have the grcateet respect for the
rei^, and a terrible scene was Duchess of Orleans, and I just
takmg place at the Chamber of now conducted the Royal Family to
Depudes, which extinguished all thecarriagewhichborethemaway."
hopes of the continuance of mo- A Voice. — "Bon voyage!"
narchy in France. M.Cremieux. — The population of
At one o'clock, M. Sanzet took Faiis has shown the most profotmd
the President's chair, and about respect for the King's misfortunes ;
300 Depntiee were present. It but we who have been sent here
was sooQ announced that the Du- to enact laws cannot violate them,
chess ot Orleans and her two sons A law already voted disposes of the
had arrived, and desired to be ad- regency, and I cannot admit that
mitted into the Chamber. A door it can be abrogated at this mo-
was thrown open, and the Duchess ment. Since we have come to the
entered, accompanied by the young point of uudergoing a revolution.
Princes and faer brothers-in-law, let us confide ourselves to the coon-
the Dnca de Nemours and Mont^ try. I propose a Provisional Go-
pensier. She seated herself in an vemment of five Members,
arm chair in the semicircle, which The Abbe de Genoude sscended
was crowded with officers and sol- the tribune, and was about to ad-
diers of the National Guard. dress the Chamber when M. O.
Almost immediately afterwards Barrot entered. After a few words
a number of persons forced their from the Abb6 deGenoude,
way into the hall, and placed them- M. 0. Barrot rose and spoke as
selves under tho tribune. M, Du- follows: — "Neverhavewehadneed
pin then rose and announced that of more coolness and patriotisni.
the King had abdieated the crown May we be all united in one senti-
in favour of bis grandson the ment— that of saving our country
Comte de Paris, and appointed the from the most dreadful visitation,
DtKhesa of Orleans Regent during a civil war. Nations, I am aware,
his minority. A voice from the do not die, but tbey become weak
gallery shouted the ominous words, from intestine dissensions, and
" C'ett trap tard, " (it m (00 late); France never had xaon need than
282] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [France.
nowofallherforce— of theaidofoll cannot consent to assume the re-
her children. Our dut^ is clearly Bponeibility of any other situation,
traced out — it calls on us to unite Soon afterwards an immense
oDiselves to nbat is most geDerous crowd burst into the Chamber
in the heart of the nation. The armed with swords, and pikes, and
Crown of July reaU on the head of moskete. and bearing tri-coloured
a child and a womaii. [Great flags. The President put on his
tumult followed this announce- hat, but this oocaaioned a dreadful
ment.] It is a solemn appeal." uproar, and loud cnes were utterel
The Duchess of Orleans here of "Off with your hat, President!"
rose, and pronounced some inaudi- while several muskets were pointed
ble words. at his chair.
M.O.BarTotthencontinued:"It During this scene of violence,
is in the name of the political the Duchess of Orleans sat in calm
liberty existing in our countiy, of and dignified composure between
the necessities of order which have her two children, and her conduct
occurred to every one's mind, of seems to have been throughout
the union and accord which ought truly heroic M. Ledru RolUn at
to rei^ amongst all good citizens, last succeeded in making his
that I call on all my colleagues to voice heard above the tumult, and
support tbis double repieeentation be addressed the Assembly as
of the revolution of July, Can it follows: — "In the name of the
foe that any one can imagine that people, I protest gainst the kind
what was decided by the revolu- of Government which has just been
tion of July can be again oalled in proposed toyou. (Deafming thouU
question? (OVmt agitation.) Gen- o/tyjplauw.) This is not the first
Uemen, the work, I allow, is dif- time that I have thus protested;
fioult, but there are such dements already in 1843 I demanded the
of generosity, greatness, and good Constitution of 1 TQI. That Con-
dense in this country, that it suffices stitution declared Hiat it should be
to appeal to them to induce Uie necessary to make an appeal to the
whole population to rally round the people when a regency bill waa to
standard I display. Our duty is be passed. I protest, therefore,
simple — it is traced out by the agtunst the Government that it ia
laws and by honour. If we do not attempted to establish. I do so in
fulfil it with firmness I cannot say the name of the citizens whom I
what the consequences will be ; but see before me— who for the last
be certain of this, that whoever two days have been fighting, and
should dare to incur the res|ionsi- wbowiU,ifnecessary,againcombat
bility of a civil war would be m the tbis evening. [Arms were here
highest degree culpable towards brandished, and muskets raised to
his countiy. For my part, what I the shoulder, amidst a scene of in-
conoeive to be most fitting for the desoribable tumult.} I demand in
situation is this — the Regency of the name of the people that a Fro-
theDucheasof Orleans, a Ministry visional Government benamed."
chosen from the moat tried opi- M. de Lamartine next followed
nions, and an appeal to the country, andsud: — "Gentlemen, I share in
which will pronounce with full the sentiments of grief which just
liberty, to an extent sanctioned by now agitated this assembly in be-
law, Such is my opinion, and I holdingtbemostafSictingspectacle
Fronts.] HISTORY. [233
that human sunalB can present — anna in their hands ; several of
that of a Princess coming forward whom forced their wajr to the front
irith her innocent Bon.afterhaving seats, and pointed their mnsketa
quitted her deserted palace, to place at the Deputies below,
herself under the protection of the The Doohess of Orleans rose
nation. But if I shared in that from her seat, and, with her two
testimony of respect for a great sons, and the n>7al Dukee, quitted
misfbrtune, I also share in the the Chamber by a door on ^e left
solicitade-^n the admiration which hand. At the same time the Pre-
that peofde, now f^hting during aident left his chair ; the mob were
two days against a perfidious Go already maslera of the Chamber,
Temment for the purpose of re- and the triumph of Democracy
establiahiDg order and libert?, was complete,
ought to inspire. Xiet us not do- When silence was in Bome de-
ceive ourselves — let us not imagine gree restored, Af. Ledru Rollin
that an acclamation in this Cham- said, that he would read ont the
ber oan replaoe the co-opeiation of names of those whom he pn>-
35,000,000 of men. Whatever pmed should be members of the
Government be established in the Provisional Government. He them
country it must be cemented by announced the following ncunee:
solid definitive guarantees 1 How lUf . Dupont (de I'Eure), Arago,
will you find the conditions neces- De Lamartine, Ledru Rollin, Gar*
saiy for such a Government in the niar Pag^, Uarie, and Gr^miem;
midst of the Boating elements which were received with aoclama-
which atuTound us ? By descend- ticms by those who heard them ;
iugintotho veiy depth <n the coun- but the noise sod oonfusion were
try itself, boldly sounding the great sogteatthat the chief port of the
mystery of the rights of nations. In Assembly did not know what was
place of having recourse to these going an.
subterfuges, to these emotions, in or- Loud cries of " To the Hdt»l de
dor to roaintain one of those ficdona ViUe" were now heard, and the at»
which have no stability, 1 propose tention of the disorderly crowd
to you to form a Government, not b^ng directed to the picture re-
definite, but provisional — a Go- presentii^ the King swearing obe-
Tsrament chained, first of all, with dience to the Charter, which was
the task of stanching the blood placed behind the President's
which flows, of putting a stop to ehalr, they shouted out "Tear it
civil war; a G:Ovemment which we down!" A workman, armed with
awMnt without patting aside any- a double-barrelled fowling-piece,
thing of our resentments and oar who vras standing in the semicircle,
indignation ; and in the nextplace eriedout,''WaituntilIhaveaBhat
a Government on which we shall at Louis Philippe I " and at the
impose the duty of convoking and same moment both barrels were
consulldng the people in its totality discharged. Great uproar fallowed,
— all that possess in their title of and two men jamped on the chairs
man, the nghis of a citizen. behind the President's seat, and
A violent blocking was now heard prepared to cut the picture to
at the door of an upper tribune, pieces with their sabres; but aao-
whioh was not entir^y filled ; and ther workman ran up the st^M of
a number of men mshed in with the tribune, and exctaimed — " Re-
234} ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Frmcs.
spect public monuments! respect ^/m^tr«.'" and theimperiooB will
property 1 Why destroy the pic- of the mob prevailed. The Ee-
tures with balls ? We have shown public was proclaimed, and mo-
that the people will not allow itself narcby ceased to exist in France,
to be ill-governed ; letnsnowshow In the meantime a sanguinary
that it knows how to conduct itself contest had been going on at the
properly afler its vtctoiy." Palais Royal, which was occupied
M. DupoDt (de I'Eure) then took by a company of troops of the line.
poesession of the chair. M. de A large barricade was erected at
Lamartine and Ledm Rollin at- the comsr of the Rue de Valois,
tempted for some time to obtain a which crossed it and the Rue St.
hearing, but in vain. A cry, how- Honor£. Some shots were fired
ever, arose of "Let Lamartine at the windows of the Palace by
rtjtl" and his voice was heard the crowd below, and the soldiers
ve the tumult, excluming "A immediately opened their fire. For
Provisional Government will be at two hours the conflict raged with
once proclaimed." Shouts then great fury, and the National Guards
aroseof "Thenames! thenameBl" fought vigorously on the side of
and as the noise rendered hearing the people. The Place dn Palais
impossible, the names were written Royal was filled vrilh a tumultuous
down on a sheet of paper, which mass, upon which a shower of balls
was placed on the end oi a musket, was rained down from the windows
and so carried about the Chamber, by the soldiers. In the midst of
M. Ledru Rollin then rose and the engagement the royal carriages
said: — "AProvisional Government were brought by the populace from
cannot be organised in a light or the Tuileries to the Place, and an
careless manner. Ishall readover immense bonfire was kindled, in
the names aloud, and you will ap- which they were consumed. Re-
prove of them or reject them, as you hind this an incessant fire of
think fit." Ere this, however, nearly musketry was kept up against ths
all the Deputies had quitted the troops, and at last a body of the
Chamber, and after M. Ledm Rollin National Guards scaled the barri-
had read out the names amidst vio- cades, amongst whom Etienne
lent tumult, he sud— "We must Arago, the celebrated astronomer,
now close the sitting and piweed to was conspicuous, and, advancing to
the seat of Government " Upon the Palace, they carried it by
this shouts srose of "To the storm*.
Hotel de Ville! Viv« la R^pub- But what had become of the
iqM I " and the whole body rushed Royal Family at the Tuileries ?
to the Hotel de Ville. Hero oc- The King and Queen, with the
curred a scene of wild and tumult-
uous violence. The populace, hke ' The revolutimwM KcomplbM a
.. „ „f „ „„^„™ =_o fliioj ■ very imdl cott of ifc. Fromuiolsdal
the waves of a surgmg s^ filled ^,^^ .^ ^^ Moniu^r, it .pp™™! thu
the hall, and witn temho cnes ihe^ were carried to the hofpilda «fter
demanded the proclamation of a the nnaicti in the iCreeti, 6SS wounckd,
Repubhc. When any Member of of whom 91 ifterKinli died. The l»ller
the Provisional Government, who ""■"l>« ""oei noi bdude 65 penon.
. , f _ _j _.. "ho were found dead »nd buried U Ihe
was suspected of more moderate Qhiteta d' Eu, nor ihow who died on
views, attempted to speak, his the «pot where they fell These, how-
Toica was drovnied by shouts of " A over, were veiy few.
Franee.} HISTORY. [235
Duka and Duchess de Nemoors, plain clothes, who turned out to be
the Duke fmd Ducfaese de Mont- the son of Admiral Baadtn, on
pensier, and the Duke and Duchess horaeback, trott«d past ua at &
Auguste of Saie-Coburg, remained quick pace, crying out that Louis
in die Palace surrounded by a targe Philippe had abdicated, and re-
number of personal friends, among questing that the news might be
whom were tiie Due de Broglie circulated. A few instants after,
and several other Members of the at the Pont Toumant, we saw ap-
Chamber of Peers. M. Thiers and preach from the TuiJeriee a troop
man; of the principal Members of of National Guards on horaeback,
the Chamber of Deputies were also at a walking pace, funning the
preeent. The Due de Nemours head of a procession, and by ges-
had the command of the troops tures and cries inviting citizens to
which were drawn up in the court- abstain from every nnfavourable
yard of the Palace, and there is demonstration. At this moment
every reason to believe that they the expression 'agreatmiafortune'
were ready and willing to a«t was heard; and the King Louis
against the insurgent populace, Philippe, his right arm passed
which was rapidly advancing to- under the left arm of the Queen,
wards the Plae» du Carroutel. on whom he appeared to lean for
But the National Guards retired support, was seen to approach from
before the crowd, and when they the gate of the Tuileriea, in the
reached the Palace they cried out midst of the horsemen, and fol-
to the troops of the line not to fire lowed by about thirty persons in
upon the people. The Due de different unifonns. Tne Queen
Nemoors seems to have thought walked with a firm step, and cast
that resistance was hopeless, for be around looks of assurance and
made no attempt to check the pro- anger intermingled. The King
gress of the mob — not a shot was wore a black coat, with a common
fired — and the troops remained round hat, and wore no orders,
inactive while the people thronged The Queen was in full mourning,
the conrt-yaxd, and swarmed round A report was circulated that they
the entrance inlo the Palace. It were going to the Chamber of De-
was a second Tenth of August, and pnties to deposit the act of abdi-
it became necessary for the King cation. Criesof * Vive laB£formeI '
and the rest of the Royal Family 'Vive la France I' and even, by
to take instant measures for their twoorthreepersons, 'ViveleRoi!'
safety. The following interesting were heard. The procession had
account of their flight from the scarcely passed the Pont Toumant,
Palace Is taken from the narrative and arrived at the pavement suT-
of M. Maurice, the editor of one of rounding the Obelisk, when the
the Parisian journals, who was an King, ^e Queen, and the whole
eyewitness of the events he de- party, made a sudden halt, ap-
scribes — "About one o'clock in the parontly without any necessity,
afternoon, whilst in conversation In a moment they were surrounded
with the Colonel of the 31st Regt- by a crowd on foot and horseback,
ment of the line, who appeal^ and so crowded that they had no
well-disposed, and of which ne gave longer their freedom of motion,
proof in ordering his men to sheathe Louis Philippe appeared alarmed
their bayonets, a young man in at this sudden approach. In fact,
236]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[Fra
the spot foully cboSen hy an efTeot
of chance produced a stmnge feel-
ing; a few paces off a Bourbon
king, an innocent and resigned
victim, vonld have been happy to
have eiperienced no other treat-
ment Louis Philippe turned
quickly round, let go the Queen's
arm, took oS his hat, raised it in
the air, and cried out something
which the noise prevented my
hearing; in &ct, the cries and
piU-miU were general. The
Queen became alarmed at no
longer feeling the King's arm, and
turned round with extreme haste,
saying eomethii^ which I could
not catch.. At this moment I said,
'Madame, ne crmgnez lein; con-
tinuez, lee nmgs vont s'ouviir
devBut voua.' Whether her aniietjr
gave a false interpretation to my
intention or not I am ignorant,
but, pushing back my hand, she
exclaimed, 'Laissez moil ' with a
most irritated accent. She seized
hold of the King's arm, and they
both turned their steps towank
two small black carriages with one
horse each. In the first were two
joimg children. The King took
the left and the Queen the right,
and the children with their faces
dose to the glass of the vehicle,
looking at the crowd with the ut-
most curioei^: the coachman
whipped his horse violently — in
foct, with so much rapidity did it
take place that the coach appeared
rather carried than driven away;
it passed before me, surrounded by
the cavalry and National Guards
present, and Cuiiassiers and Dra-
goons. The second carriage, in
which were two ladies, followed
the other at the same pace; and
the eacort, which amounted to
about two hundred men, set off at
a full gaUop, taking the water-side
towaida St. Cloud.^
The rest of the adventures of
the royal pair are soon told.
They proceeded to Versailles,
where they hired a common car-
riage to convey them to Dreux,
and passed the night at the house
of a person on whose fidelity they
could rely. Here they procured
di^uises, and before daylight next
morning set forward on their
journey to the coast, travelling
chiefly by night. They reached
Honfleur eariy on the morning of
Saturday the 26lh of February,
where, after having in vain at-
tempted to embark from TrouvUle,
a short distance from the town,
and being prevented by the boiate-
ouB state of the weather, they re-
mained until the following Thurs-
day. In the meantime mforma-
tion was secretly conveyed to the
commander of the £'xpr«M steamer,
which plied between Havre and
Southampton, that she vrould be
required to convey a party from
Havre to England ; and on Thurs-
day afternoon the fu^tives got
into a French fishing-boat at Hon-
flenr, and reaching Havre that
evening went on hoBxA. of the Ex-
pT4u, which was lying vrith her
steam up ready for sea. She im-
mediately sailed, and the King
and Queen, together with Qenerals
Dumas and Rumigny, who had
accompanied them in their .flight,
were safely landed on the following
morning at Newhaven, on the
coast of Sussex*. The escape of
• Id order to bdliUe fail euape, the
ei-King unimed tbe nime of Smith,
and obtained a pauport under tlial terj
eeneral patronymic When he landed it
Newhaven, and ma mting: after hii
hAraranii; fali^ea at an inn tbere, aeveral
viiiton were introduced to him, one of
bore tlie name of Smith.
MajeBly being not perhape aware how ei-
teniivelf that appellation prevail! in Ens-
land, exclaimed, "Mr. Smith I that Ii
France.] HISTORY. [237
Looia Philippe from the Bhores of the occasioii were ignomnt of the
France relieved the Promional mission in which thej were en-
Govemmentfromagreatdifficult;; gaged. I was inTonned this in-
fer although we believe that tus stant t£ the ikct bj m peraon who
life was perfectly safe, except, per- usiBted in the embarkation,
hape, in case of some sndden " Health and fratsrui^,
hneuu of the populace, il would " P. Desohakps,
not have been easy to dispose of " EUnDnllnu^ Comminioear of the
hia pemn. No public feeUng of „„ ^"^ ^'"^" , ,. ,, ,
indiinatien was expressed agakst . ^^'^ ^^''^™ ?' the Eevolu-
himT and the people BeemeA to ^.T ''T'^'^ .^^J" ^^ ?•"
regard hia depaiturS with the most dAumale.immediately prepared to
pe^ect indifference. He left no <l'^\^^ province, and issued two
mrty behind him. and not a voice P^cl'^ations. one to the amy
braised to advocate the cause of f^ *>»« °^^'" *? *^^ colcnista.
the Orleans fcmily. ^he former was m the follovnng
The following was the official t«™8:—
GommunJcatioD, m true republican
style, which the Provbional Go-
vernment received of the King's " I had hoped to combat agoiD
escape:— with you for the country. Tint
•• Rouen, Hudi & honour is denied me ; hot, from
"CitizmMinuUr, the depth of exile, my heart
"The ex-King Louia Philippe, ^ f""°7 /o" wherever the na-
after remaining concealed during *»<»^ ^^ s**"!! <»" y<>o- ""d exult
several days m the environs of m your sucoeasj my moat ardent
Trouville, crossed at high water "«!'«« '^^ «'«/^ fw *« g'*'?
yesterday from Honfleur to Havre, "nd happiness of France,
bnd there embarked for England ^ ^he Pnnce and all the reat of
in the steamer ExpreH. The ^« ^'^ ^"y- "^^^l*^^ "^e^
preparations for his departure were ?<"> "^ ^« Duchess dOrlMiis and
^rifidly kept secret, Jmd the eajv J"" ''"Lr»»J.'^^ refage m Eng-
tains of the steamers employed on ^^- The Duchess withdrew into
. , , , ,..,.. Germany, where she remained
eunom, indeed, and rerj remartablo that j„ ■„ _ ,i,_ _„, „f .■l„ „,„_ ■ „
Smiih, (ince (be ummed name, wai State of privacy and sedusion.
■ Soiiih'b; irbicbleicapedlVomFruice) She behaved tdth heroic ooarage
ud, look, thii U my psMport made out in throughout the fearful soenes isiijch
%rwr/de?wol;™t^r^n" if . m. ««« '^^t ^f'^--^ ^ ?y" ™j^™-
BanOk hrf IKK been ihe fint penon la Ma wl^ch gave the death-blow to
wriDome him to EDoUiid. TbefoUonlng her expecUtions of seang the
li the deacrlption of ibe bllen mooarch's Comte de Paris Succeed peacefully
-idgreytrowen; on bii held a cloM example of the vanity of woridly
blue cloiheap, and round biinecJf a com. hopes. When she entered Franoe
mon red-and-whiie "comforter." Hii it ttaa aa the bride of the heir
J^""T^TCe^rl''r;ffl.dTn''a- re-t to the crown of that
iugt pl«d cloak, and (srefUllj concealed kuigdom, and in a few short years
ber feaiutei wiih a iliicJt Teil. she became a widow and aa exile.
238] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Franct.
The foUowiDg acconnt of what lies of wine protroded out of
followed the flight of the Bojal almost every pocket. Drunken
Family from the Tuileries when men fioarished about, amidst the
the mob invaded the Palace, is yelling crowd, with satin breeches,
taken from the work of an author they thought the King's, drawn
who was himself an eye-witness of over their greasy trouaers. Ragged
the scone* : — boys, en bloute, blackened by pow-
" See I how the people rash into der and smoke, with pistols in Uieir
the piincelj pile. From below to girdleo, and sabrea bnmdished in
aboTV— from ball to attics — it is tbeir heads, beetrode the stone
filled to overflowing : the people lions of the palace entrance as pa-
riols in its own sovereign-house ! triot sentinels. The rattling of
Devastation and destruction seem- the breaking windows, the crash of
ed at once the order of the day : the furniture hurled out of them,
plunder was at first not thought of, the running fire of the discharged
although afterwards, spite of what muskets, the crackling of the bon-
lying French Republican papers fire flames, — were all overwhelmed
may afGrm, it was carried on to an by the shouting and the frantic
immense extent The breve jMupftf singing of the 'Marseillaise.'
filled it« pockets. Before the very Within,— stranger, wilder pictures
eyes of him who writes were valua- still ! In the apartment of the
bles thrust into erery possible Duchess of Orleans, on the first
receptacle, — spoons, objects of art, floor, a more tranquil spirit was
cups, gold fringes, letters bycuiions shown than elsewhere. Tne crowd
autograph collectors. It was well in those royal rooms was great as
known, also, that jewels and bank- everywhere ; but it gazed only with
not«8,and other valuable property, curiosity, and touched nothing. In
were purloined, although, in some the talon was a blazing fire ; on
instances, the 'justice of the noble tbetable were several books, among
people,' as the phrase went, shot which were the Cmuu/at of Thiers,
down those detected in steialing, and the Alg&rie of Alexandre Da-
and sometimes for a mere trifle ; mas, the lattor turned down open
while other more flagrant plun- upon the tablecloth, as the unior-
derers escaped unscathed, under tunate Duchess had probably laid
the disguise of noisy patriotism, it down at the moment of disturb-
What pictures, indeed, did not ance. On the floor and on the
those scenes afiord ! Without, — 80& were rows of little card-paper
furniture, dresses, papers, curtains, soldiera on wooden stands, set out
were flying out of every broken as if for battle, with which her
window, and heaped upon bonfires two boys had probably been play-
made of the royal fourgont and ing when taken from their sports
carriages. Glare, flame, and smoke to quit tbeir home, and return to it
filled Uie great court Tom dresses, no more. Touching sight I A boy
the caps of the Princesses, strips took up one of the toys ; but an
of curtains, legs of mutton, loaves armed artizan, one of the rough,
of bread, were brandished aloft honest sort, covered with the sm^e
upon the points of bayonets : bot- of batUe, commanded him to lay
■ Picture, from RevoMon.ryP>ri^ it down again ■ Tis but a toy.'
Nov. 1848. By T. P»lgr»»e Simp- eipostulaUd the little fellow. 'But
•on, M.A. if you take a toy, others would
France.] HISTORY. [239
think they might take a treasnre,' folios, and papers : a few sturdj-
was the angry rejoinder of the looking men. with muskets, were
self-installed guard. In the bed- set to guard over what was now
room of the poor Duchess were the proclaimed ' national proper^.'
hat of her ill-fated husband, his Some rufGanlj-looking fellows were
epaulettes, and his whip, under a devouring, quietly seated, the un-
glass case. The crowd walked touched breakfast set out for the
round these ol^ects curiously, but fugitive King : in a great stal«
with respect Some women shed bed lay several men, quietly smok-
tears. Here was thrown a shawl ing their pipes : the cigars of the
in the drossing-room — there a silk Princes were fireely handed round
dress— signs of hasty and agitated to every mouth."
departure. EveiTwherestooasmall But to return to the Hdt«l de
objecta of value and taste ; but Ville. The first Praelamation
here no one touched them. What issued hj the Provisional Govem-
sad tokens were they of the cha- meat wsa the following: —
racter and domestic life of one bom " A retrt^rade Government has
to high destinies, and now a faa^ been overturned by the heroism of
tive! In the state apartmenta the the people of Paris. This Go-
scene was far oth^wisa. Here vemment has fled, leaving behind
were the wUdMt confusion and it traces of blood, which will for
disorder. The throne was early ever forbid its return,
pulled down and carried away: " The blood of the people has
the cortuos were torn to the flowed, as in July ; but, happily,
gaMmd — the lustres and candelabra it has not been shed in vain. It
■mashed — the busts broken — the has secured a national and po-
picturea riddled with balls; — every- pular Government, in accordance
where thronging, yelling, half- with the rights, the progress, and
intoxicated crowds. In the theatre the will of this great and generous
all was torn and broken ; the people people.
appeared to resent the past plea- " A Provisional Government, at
sores of the Royal Family. In the call of the people and some
the chapel the altar was respected. Deputies in the sitting of the Q4th
by the intervention of a young of February, is for the moment
ileve of the Polytechnic School, invested with the care of organizing
and the cross borne away by men, and securing the national victory,
thus animated to a sense of re- It is composed of MM. Dupont
ligioua deference, to the church of (do I'Eure), Lamartine, Cremieux,
St. Boch ; but all else was sbat- Arago, Ledru Boltin, and Gamier
tered. In the King's private Pag^. The Secretaries to this
rooms the scene was, if possible. Government are MM. Armaod
more disorderiy still. There eveir- Harrast, Louis Blanc, and Fer-
thing was recklessly destroyed: dinand Flocon. These citizens
papers were hurled about in show- have not hesitated for an instant
ers, like a snow-storm. In one toaccepttbepatriotiGmissionwhich
comer of a room was erected a has been imposed upon them by
sort of low screen, behind which the urgency of the occasion,
were bein^ flung, by some National " Frenchmen, give to the world
Guards, aided by a few workmen, the example Pans has given to
Articles of value, moneys, port* France. Prepare yourselves, by
240] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Frmee.
order and confidenoe in joarselvea, that ooncemod the direction of the
for the institutions which are abont £«aujt artt and the moseums,
to be given to yon. hitherto in the department of the
" The Provisional GoTernment Civil List, would constitute a new
desires a Republic, pending the division of the Ministary of the
ratiflcation of the French jpeople, Interior."
who are to be immediately con- But the decree moat signifioant
suited. Neitlier the people of of the nature and character of the
Paris nor the ProTisiontJ Govern- Revolntion which had just been ac-
ment desire to substitute their Gomplished, was the following ; —
opinion for the opbions of the "The Government of the French
citizens at large, upon the definite Republic engages to guarantee the
form of government which the na- subsistence of the workman hj his
tional sovereignty shall proclaim. labour. It mgagei to guarantee
" 'L'unitj de la nation,' formed work to oU eitieent. It recognises
henceforth of all classes of the the right of workmen to combine
people which compose it ; for the purpose of eiyoying the
" The government of the nation lawful proceisda of their l^ur.
by itself; The Provisional Government re*
" Liberty, equality, and frater- stores to the workmen, to whom it
nity for its principles ; belongi, the millbn of the Civil List
" The people to devise and to now due."
maintain order. Another proclamation declared
" Such is the Democratic Go- that —
vemment which France owes to "A National Assembly will be
herself, and which our efforts will convoked as soon as the Provisional
assure to her. Government shall have regulated
" Such are the first acta of the the measures of order and police
Provisional Government. necessary for the votes of aU the
" (Signed) Dupont (de I'Eure), citizens."
Ijtmartine, Ledru BoUin, The following distribution of
B£dean,llichelOoudchanx, offices was made amongst the
Ango, Bethmont Marie, Members of the Provisional Go-
Camot, Cavaignac, Gamier temment : —
PagJs. " M. Dupont (de ^ure) was
" The Munirapal Guard is dis- named Provisional President of
bonded. the Council, without portfolio; M.
" The protection of the <AVf of de lAmarline, Provisional Minister
i>afis ]§ confided to the National of Foreign Affairs ; M. Cr^mieux,
<luard, nnder the orders of M. Provisional Minister of Justice ;
Courtais." M. Ledru RoUin, Provisional Mi-
Proclamations were also issued, nister of the Interior; Michel
decreeing that the Chamber of Goudchaux, Provisional Minister
Deputies was dissolved, and that of Finance ; M. Francois Arago,
the meeting of the ne-Chamber of Provisional Minister ot Marine ;
Peers was interdicted. In order General B^eau, Provisional Mi-
to exhibit the anxiety of the new nister of War ; M. Camot, Pro-
Government to watch over tlie in- visional Minister of PubUc Instroc-
terests of the people, it was offi- tioD and Worship ; M. Bethmont,
dally announced that "everything Provisional Minister of Commerce ;
^«««] HISTORY. [241
M. Marie, Provisiooal Minister of after irhich the Colonel presented
Public Works ; General Cavaignac, himself at the balcony, and thus
Governor of Atgeria." addressed the people : —
M. Gamier P^^s was named ,
Mayor of Paris ; and to him were CUtzent,—
given as a^jointi, MM. Guinard "You ask for the arms of the
andRecurt; and M. Flotard was saudiuorderthattheymaybeglven
named Secretary-General. **• patriots. The 62nd are patriots
In a wonderfully short space of to a man. The53ndwaa among the
time all vestiges of monarchy in firstof the regiments which in 1830
France were made to disappear, joined the people. Tlie 62nd was
Thenamesof journals, streets, and •^^ first which in 1848 fraternized
public buildings, which had re- with the people. The 53nd is no
ferred to royalty, were iiumediat«ly OiOte. That which was the eSnd
changed, and there seemed to be ofthe line is now the first regiment
a universal desire to bury in ob- of t^ie Republic."
livion all traditions of the past. A Shouts of applause followed this
new nomenclature was everywhere adroit speech, and the populace left
adopted; thepalaceoftheTuileries, "i the hands of their republican
coneecrat«d as the residence of so brethren the arms which they bad
many kings, was converted into an determined to wrench from themas
asylum for invalid workmen ; and soldiers of the line.
the Chamber of the Throne at the W* royalty also disappeared all
Hfltel de Ville vraa named the Hall aristocratic distinctions ; for a pro-
of the Republic. clamation decreed that " All the
The following instance may be ancient titles of nobility are
given as an example of the rapid abolished; and the qualifications
mode in whidi such changes were which were attached thereto are
efi'ect^, and of the way in which prohibited. They cannot be used
the RepubUc was adopted by ac- publicly, or figure in any public
clamation: document whatever."*
On Friday, the SOth, a body of * Amidal the wild enthkuium for im-
Ihe people proceeded to the barrack powlble equality, il ii refreshing lo meet
in the Rue Pepiniere, in which "ith «,y mstoce of good «n« .mongM
.L «ii J >> .. * ..1, '"e populace. Thu mini be our eicuie
were the 52nd Regiment of the for .Wirg .he foibwirg -necdoie.
hue. They found m front of it a At » meeling of one of Ihe clubi at
battalion of the Ist Legion of Na- P»m. ■ violeni democrat declaimed,
tional Guards, one among whom ""'<''' *« appl»u»e of bis bearen, a^nst
i,.i .tiiTi, . J _ I o" i.'rv. the evils of property and the injustice of
a8ked,"Wlwtdoyouseek? -TTie |,„d,o,d.. and urgid confi^wiV He
armsofthe63nd. "Why? "Be- wu rocceeded by ■ cook, who Mated lua
cause we wbh to apply them lo the diiindinaiion to concur in Ihe recom-
defence of the OOUntlT." "Butare mendation of the orator. He endeavoured
they not in the hands of the 62nd, ^ '''™ "j^.'^'f .f^"B^if^"" ^'^t
_, ■" , , ^ -J ■.!. .L WM unjust, that there were many good u
who have fraternized vnth the wellaabad.and that it would be unftirto
people, and who are ready, wilhng, include all in one condemnation. " But
anacapableoffightingforFrance?" let ua," he added, "take another view of
The National Guard then proposed <he c«e- If jou confiwale their property
•k.» ., l^^A^.^r .u- ..^^l^ .t.»..lJ and give It Id olhen,«hal advantage would
that a leader of the people should ,^gy j j^^ e»,niple, am c«.k to a
accompany him to the Colonel of nntlemaD, who until the Uie reioluiioii
the &2nd. An interview took place, held the rank of Duke. Ha ii a kind
Vol. XC. [B]
242] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. IFrtmM.
A remarfcable feature in this Armand Bsrbes u Colonel of the
rcTotution, bb in that of 1830, was ISth Legion of the PariB National
the respect shown by the populace Guard. Barbes, vbo vita an avooat
of the capital, amidBt all the tumult bf profession, had attempted, on
and confusion, for private property, the 13th of Maj, 183S, at tiie
Whenever thieves were detected head of 300 or 400 Republioaas,
in the act of pilfering, tfaej were to overthrow ilie government and
shot dead od the spot. The people dynasty of Louis Philippe ; uid,
seemed to fear that crimes ot tLis after a conteet of some duration,
kind would sully the dignity of was oaptured, and, bang put upon
their position, and lower the cba- his trial before the Court of Peers,
racter of the struggle in which w«s condemned to death. The
they had been eng^ed. But in cApital sentence was, however.
Other parts of France the popular commuted to one of imprisonment
excitement found vent in various for life, and he wbb undergoing his
acts of outrage, and bands of men punishment at the time when the
traversed the country burning or revolution broke out In addition
laying waste, in many places, pri- to the military command wfaich was
vate houses ; destroying portions given to him, he was also appointed
of railroads at different points, in Governor of the Liaembmrg.
order to intercept communications, Another remarkable featnre ma
and setting fire to tbe stations, the respect which the people pro-
The royal ch&teau of Neuilly was fessed to entertain for the emblems
attacked by one of these mobs and of religion. When the Tuileiies
burned to the ground; and in Paris was taken by the mob, they found
the toll-house of the Pont Lmtit there a magnificent image of our
Philippe was set on fire, and, the Saviour. "My friends," exclaimed
fiames catching hold of the wood- a pupil of the Ecole Polyteohnique,
work of the bndge, it was precipi- " this is the Master of us all t "
tated into the Seine. The Throne The people immediately took off
also was carried from the Tuileries, their hats, and bore die figure in
and burned at the foot of the solemn proceemon te tiie cbtirch
Column of July. The Provisional of St. Roche, crying out as they
Government, however, set itself advanced, " Citizens, off vrith yoBC
r^roasly to work to put a stop hats. Salnte Christ." The Arch-
to these excesses, aud proclumed bishop of Paris addressed the fol-
that mobilized battalions would lomng letter to eadi ef the clei^
immediately march gainst the of the mty :—
lawless rabble. Here and there u- ■ , ^ t
eoUisiona did take place ; but wder " ^"juimr Is Curi,—
was soon reatofed. " In presence of ^be great event
Astrikinginstanceof thechange of which the capital hai just been
that had taken place in politics oo- the theatre, our first moveia«nt has
onfred in the ^pointment of M. been to weep fiv the fitte of dte
viotiBB whom death bus Btrock in
man. end Ktier«l to (bote who tors faim. such «a unforeseen msSDW. We
1 ™^.e from him good w^[e.s wd I ^eep for them all. because they
give htm \a returo good dimien. We ire „„ t,„, k^-.u- _ i-_.-. .>..»_
S>utuall7 •aiMt.Hl. \^e^ ih. order <rf "^ ""' brettoen ; we himeM thea,
thing! 1—1 riMuld be (oitr, genrtfloieii, (o >eca«se we have lesnrt onoe noi«
invheyauMdinoenafhraeookiBg." what disinterestedness, rsspettt for
FrmM.] HISTORY. [243
wnpegtj. and generoaB seotimflut Fioanc* u cbirged mth the tuk
SU the beurtB of the people of Paris, of providing for the npcnu whioh
" We must not confioe oufBelves tb« present decree will oecuion.~
to skedding tears: we will praj Anotfaer; "That the Tuileriee
for «U tbtHO who have f^ea in shall heaoeforrai^ serve as an
the struggle; we shall bese«(di Ood a^lun to invaded woritmen."
to open to them the place of light Another : " That t^ Nadowd
BndjMace." Guards, diaeolved by tlie forDaer Go-
3^ PnyvieionBl GoTemment Temment, are reorganized. Thejr
took cars b> eBooumos tiaa feeliog, mil iwmediUelf resume their duly
■ad IB one at its decre«e stated throughout the whole extent of tiM
that, beiac "flnoly resolved io Republic."
joif^ntffif tbfl free ezeicies of reli- Anotlier; " The c^dren of eiti-
gious worship, and wishing te as- zens killed are adopted by tlw
sodaUtfaacetsecratioiiQf religioas oountr^. The BepuUio charges
feeling with the ^eat act «f liberty itself with all asaietancs to be
■oquirad, it iantod the minieters giTen to tbs wounded, and to the
of all persuasions whe are in the wnilias of the Tiotims of the Hon-
territory U call dews dw Divine a#ebical Government"
blessing « the work of the peo- The f^hmng i^tpointmeats alto
fta, Ksa to invoka on it ib» spirit took plaee; —
of flnnness and rule which is at General Subervie, Uinister
the basis of «U inntitiUaaas.'' It 9f War; Gensnd B«leau, Oom-
also EefoastBd Iha Archlnahtfp of bukuIm- «f the First Military Di-
Paris. m flU the hisbt^ of the vision ; U. Edenne Arago, Di-
B^oMio. to substitute Cor (he <Ai reoto^OenerBl of the P«it Office :
fiun of ^^er the wards "DoawM, M. Outnvd, Chief of the SufT of
aohwa fue SemfmUkMH." And, the National Guard of Paris: U.
at A later period, a sort of naaia Buobez, Depul; to the Hajot ot
haring aaixad the Parisians £)r Paris ; M. Reeait, Prefect of
planting trees of liberty, these wen Police; Sfid General Duvivierwaa
acdtimuy bksaed hy th» paests, charged wiHi the organization of
«iw ^linfclad My water «ver the moveaUe Natioiul Guard, of
then, And pKHNnneed a formsl whom he was <q»p«iit(ed Com.
Iwaedklioa. Some idea oif their nutnder-in-ctuef-
nnmbar may be ooiyectured from Another deeree provided that
tbe&Qtithatiadkeeoiireeof afew " Civil, j ad ieisl, and aAminiatratire
dayBdMCur^ofScUedardUeBBed faBCtionMiea are released fma
iw less thasi tsrenty-oae of these their oath."
tnaa. Duiing the whole day the peoide
On the A6th eeveml decreee thronged, in auigiog sjulutudea,
•were issued by tfae Ptovisional G» ithe ]£u« er square in front «f the
'Mnmeat-^me of wfakb mm. ihat Hdtal do Ville, and five times was
" AU lal^sHo fdedged at the Mont- it- de Lamartiae oUiged to ad-
4s-Pi^, from Feb. 4, consistfaig of idteae them from the windows ; and
linen, clothea, and other smaU oc^ by the maffc of his doquenee be
tides on vdiieh not more than Urn succeeded ia pacifying their de-
iinnos haw been lent, shall lie ama6e, and cooierted ^ir hoarse
•gsnai bsck to the partiea (o vAnen mwm>v» into aboiMs of aociama-
tbey halmig. The ^niMer of .^oo- Vaioet were >eard in the
244] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Franct
crowd, clamorously demanding that mense crowd. M. da Lamortme,
the tricolour whidi waved over the attended by the other Members of
Hdtel de VUle should be replaced the Proviaional Government, de-
by a red flag, but this mis success- scended the steps of the g^-eat
fully resisted by De Lamartine. staircase, and thus addressed the
He harangued the tumultuous vast assemblage,
crowdwithadmirablecour^e.iathe _^ .
following heut-stirring appeal : — " (^**f>*f> —
" It la thus that you are led " The Provisional Uovemment
from calumny to calumny against of the Republic haa called upon
the men who have devoted them- the people to witness its gtaiitude
Belves, head, heart, and breast, to for the magnificent national co-
give you a real Bepublic — >the Re- operation which has just accepted
public of all rights, all interests, these new institutions,
and all the legitimate rights of " The Provisional Qovemment
the people. Yesterday you asked of the Republic has only joyful in-
us to usurp, in the name of the telligence to announce to the
people of Paris, the rights of people here assembled.
35,000.000 of men, to vote them " Royalty is abolished,
an absolute Republic, instead of a " The Republic is proclaimed.
Republic invested with the strength " The |)eopte will exercise their
of their consent: that is to say, political nghte.
to make that Republic, imposed " National workshops are open
and not consented to, the will of a for those who are without work,
part of the people, instead of the " The army is being reorganized,
will of the whole nation. To-day The National Guard indissolubly
you demand of us the red fl^ in- unites itself with the people, so as
stead of the tricolour one. Citi- to promptly restore order with the
zens ! for my part, I will never same hmd that had only the pre-
adopt the red flag ; and 1 will ez- ceding moment conquered our
plain in a word why I will oppose liberty.
it with all the strength of my pa- " Finally, gentlemen, the Pro-
triotism. It is, citizens, because visional Government was anziouB
the tricolour flag haa made the to be itself the bearer to you of the
tour of the world, under the Re- lest decree it has resolved on and
Eubhc and the empire, with our signed in this memorable sitting ;
berties and our glories, and that that is, the abolition of the penalty
the red flag has ouly made the of death for political matters,
tour of the Champ de Mars, " This is the noblest decree,
trained through torrents of the gentlemen, that has ever issued
blood of the people." from the mouths of a people the
The effect was electric. Loud day after their victoi?. It is the
cheering and clapping of hands character of the French nation
followed thiaaddress, and theorator which escapes in one spontaneous
was nearly suflbcated by the efforts cry from the soul of its Oovem-
of the multitude to shake hands ment. We have brought it with
with him and embrace him. us, and I will now read it to you.
On the 36th the Republic was There is not a more becoming
officially proclaimed at the HAtel homage to a people than the spee-
ds Ville, in the presence of an im- tacle of its own magnanimity."
Frmee.-] HISTORY. [245
" Liberty, equality, and fra- Berioualy to raise any other cry
ternity " was adopt«d as the motto than that of the Republic. And
of the new Bepublic ; and these yet, standing as we non do upon
words headed the numerous de- the vantage-ground of subsequent
ciees which were poured forth in experience, we may safely say that,
quick succession by the Provisional in the outburst of democratic fer-
Govemment at the H6tel de Ville. vour in February, " the semblance
One of those issued on the 26th did deceive the truth." The events
proclaimed the abolition of royalty in Paris stunned and paralyzed the
in the following terms : — nation, and the watchword that
_^ . was there raised was taken up and
" t^ttixent, re-echoed throughout France, be-
" Koyalty, under whatever form cause no one had the moral courage
it assumes, ia abolished. No to protest against the dictation of
more legitimacy — no more Bona- the capital. It seems, however,
pardsm — no regency. The Pro- certain that even at the first the
visional Government has taken all great bulk of the middle clasBea, if
the necessary measures to render they had given their deliberate
impossible the return of the an- opinion, would have pronounced
cient dynasty, or the advent of a against a Bepublic ; and afterwards,
new one. The Republic is pro- when commerce and trade were
claimed. The people are united, paralyzed, and bankruptoy and beg-
All the forts in the vicinity of the gaiy came home to the door of
capita] are ours." the shopkeeper, the artizan, and
On the following day (Sunday) the peasant, the great experiment
the Republic was again proclaimed, was universally confessed to be a
irom the stops of the Column of ftulure ; and in the . elevaljon of
July, by M. Arago. in the presence Louie Napoleon, by a minority of
of die whole of the National millions, to the presidency, the
Guards, and an immense multi- nation silently, but emphatically,
tnde, who devotod the day to re- declared against the Republic,
joidng, although the weather was The time had now come for the
most unlavourable, the rain pour- new Government to give proof that
ii^ down in torrento, accompanied it considered itself merely pro-
by a boisterous wind. When M. visional, by referring the question
Dupont (de I'Eure) presented him- of a constitotion to the nation at
self to the populace, M. Arago ex- large. On the 5th of March,
claimed, in a loud voice, *' Listen ' therefore, it published a decree, by
it is eighty years of a pure life which it fixed that the elections
that speaks to you." should take place on the 0th of
Ijet us here pause for a moment, April, and the constituent National
and ask the question, whether Assembly meet on the iiOth of
amidst all this apparent enlhu- April. At the same time it an-
siasm and unanimous zeal, the nounced the following as the ge-
French people was really . repub- neral principles of the decree
lican at heart? It may seem which it was about to issue ; —
strange that any doubt of such a " 1. That the National Assem-
fact should be suggested or im- bly shall decree the constitution,
plied, for not a single province or " 3. That the election shall have
town, or even individoal, attempted the population for its basis.
246J ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [P'«»««
*' S. That tiie representatives of Afterwardfi. henerer, the period
the people sball amoont to 900 in for the elections was changed to
UumW. Sunday, the 33rd of April, and
" 4. That the Suffrage shall be that for the meeting of the Na>
direct and uniTersal, without any tional AeBembly to the 4th of May.
limiUitiDD as to property. The position of ^e Repnblie
"0. That all Frenchmen of the with respect to foreign Powers
Bge of 31 years shall be eleotors, was a matter of grave anxiety.
And tbat all Frenchmen of S6 Hen oould not forget the crueade
years of age shall be eligible. against the rights of governments
" 6. That tbe ballot shall be upon which the only French Be-
eecret" public which was yet known had
The decree which followed this been so fiercely engaged ; and it
declaration contained some addi- was feared that llie necessity of
tional articles, the chief of which finding employment for the army
were tbe following : and the ardent population, of
" 1. All Frenchmen, SO years which so many thonsanda were
of age, and not judicially deprived thrown suddenly ont of work,
of or suspended in the exercise of might precipitate the nation into
their oivic righta, are eligible. an Enropean war. The danger of
" 2. All the electors shall vote attack from without was too slight
in tbe chief town of their district, to canse any real uneaainoss, al-
by ballot Each btdletin shall though in the first moments of ex-
conttun as many names as there citement troops had been marobed
khall be representatives to elect in towards the frontier to guard the
tbe department French soil against any attempt
" No man. can be tiamed a re- at invasion. In order to quiet tbe
toresentative of the people Unless apprehensions of foreign Govern-
be obtain 9000 suffr^es. ments and indicate the policy of
" d. Every representative of the tbe new Bepublic, M. de Lamai^
people shall receive an indemni^ of tine, in bis capacity of Minister of
S6/. per day during the Session."* Foreign AfKurs, iasned a veiy able
.„,„.„ J . , circular or manifesto to the diplo-
* Tlis faUoning litf wu imdo out b; *^
the Proviuoaal GoT«niment in order to et Cher, 6| L<nre, II ; Loire ( Upper))
regulatE tbe number of i^prettnUtivei, 8; Loire (Loner), 13; L<dret, 8; Lot,
•ocordlng to ik popaiaIion~4tMl i*, one 7; Lol et darotme, 0; Loi^, i; MaIm
repnuatathe hr every 4AO0O iahibil- et Loin, 1S| Muiche, 19; Heme, 9s
anU. Manie(Upper),fi Hajenne,e; Meurtbe,
<' The depBRment of the Aid to return 11 ( Meiue, 8; Morbiliui, 13 1 MoKlla,
9 tepreaentatitea; Aitna, H; Ailier.Sj 11; Ni^rre, 8; Nord, 28; Oiu, 10^
Alpi (Lower), 4; Alpa (Upper), 9; Ome, II; Pu de Cald>, 17; Pu; d
. .1 Arridge, 7) Dome, 15; Pfreneee (Loner), 11 ; Fy-
Aube, 7; Arevron, 10| Honthi of the TeDeee(UpiMr), 6| ISreaeeaf Beaten),
Rhone, 10; 6dv>dot. 13; Ciolel. 7; 6) Rhine (lower), U; IUaM(Upper!.
Cbarante, 9; Chvente (Loner), 12; 13; Rhone, 14; Saone (Upper), 9;
Cher,7; Connie, 8; tunica, 6; C^ Sabne et Loire, 14; Sarthe, 12: Seine,
d'Or, 10; Cotea du Nord, 16; Creuie, 34; Seine (Lotrer), 19; Seine et Mene,
7; Dordopie, 18) I>Mib>,7; Drome, B| 9; 8»i)e«t Oiie, 13; Sevraa (Two), 8|
Sure, 111 Eure el Loh«, 7; Finialero, Somme, 14; Tarn, 9; I^et Garonne,
15; G«d, 10; Oaronne (Upper), 12 1 6; Var, 9; Vaucluse, 6; Veadte, 9;
Oora, B; OiroDde, 15; Herault, 10; Hie Vienne, 9; Vlenne (Upper), 8; Voagee,
MVi1une,l4; tndre,7: Indre et Loire, It; Yonne,9— in all, 885; Algeria and
8; U^re, ISt Jun,8i Landea, 7; Loire the Cotonieet ■& Total, 900."
FroMe.^ HISTORY. [247
mBtic agents of France thntughout be to retr^nde with the advance
Eurrae. In tbis be said — of time. Tae revolution of jester-
"'DieprockmatioDoftheFTeDoh da; is a step in advance, and not
Bepublicisnotanactof ^[greasioD one backwards. The world and
against any form of government in ourselves Viish to march to fra-
tbe world. The forms of govern- temitj and peace."
ment have divereilies as legitimate After anuyzing the character of
aa the forms of character, the geo< the revolution of IT93, and con-
graphical situation, the intellectual, trasting it with that which had
moral, and material development just been accomplished, M. de
of nations. Nations, like indi- Lamartine proceeded: —
viduals, have different ages. The "Do not deceive jouraelves,
principles which govern them have nevertheless. Those ideas which
successive phases : monarchical, the Provisional Government
anstocratkal, constitutional, re- charges you to present to the
publican govemosents are the ex- Powers, as a pledge of European
pressiona of the different degrees safety, have not for their object
of the maturity of the genius of to obtain forgiveness to the lie-
Ihe diSerent nations. They de- public for having had the boldness
mand more liberty in proportion to create itself, and still less to
as they feel themselves capable of ask humbly the place of a great
supporting more. They demand right and a great people in Europe,
more equality and democracy in They have a more noble object:
proportion aa they are the more to make sovereigns and nations
inapired with the feeling of justice reSeot, and not to allow them to
aoa love for the people. It is a deceive themselves involuntarily
question of time. A nation goes as to the character of our revo-
astrsy in outrunning the hour of lution ; to give its true light and
that maturity, as it dishonours its just character to the event; in
itself in allowing it to escape with- short, to give pledgee to humanity
out seizing upon it. The monarchy before giving them to our right
and the republic are not, in the and to our honour, if they should
eyea of true statesmen, absolute be una<:knowIedged or threatened,
principles which are enemies to "The Freudi Republic will,
the death; they are facta which then, not make war on any one.
are contrasted to each other, and It has no occasion to say that, if
which can live face to face while conditions of war are laid down to
they understand and respect each the French people, it vrill accept
other. them. The thoughts of the men
" War, then, is not the prin- who at the present moment govern
dple of the French Bepublio, as France are these: it will be for-
it became the fatal and glorious tunate for France if war be de>
necessity of the Republic in 1793. dared against it, and if it be con-
Between 1793 and 1618 there is strainedthustoincreaseinBtrength
half a century. To return, after and in glory, in spite of its mode-
the lapse of half a centuiy, to the ration ; it vrill be a terrible re-
prindples of 179S, or to the prin- sponsibility for France if the Re-
ciples of conquest and of empire, public itself declare war without
would not be to advance ; it would beiug provoked to it."
248] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Prance.
Tha following passages were " The B«public, you see, b? its
more aminous, and suggested first step repudiates the nra of
grare reflections: — > proscriptions and of dictations.
"The Treaties of 1316 enist no She is decided never to veil liberty
longer as law in the eyes of the at home. She is equally decided
French Republic ; nevertheless, never to veil its democratic prin-
the territorial circumscriptions of ciple abroad. She will never per-
these treaties are a fact which it mit any one to interpose between
admits as a basis, and as a point the pacific radiation of its liberty
de dijmrt in its relations with and the regard of nations. She
other nations. proclaims herself the intellectual
" But if the Treaties of 1815 do and cordial ally of every right, of
not exist any longer excepting as every pn^ess, of every legitimate
facts to modify a common under- development of the institudona of
standing, and if the Republic nations which wish to live on the
declares openly that its right and some principle as hereelf. She
its mission is to arrive regularly will not endeavour any immoderate
and pacifically at these modifica- or incendiaty propogandism among
tioDS. the good sense, the modera- her neighbours. She knows that
tiou, the conscience, the prudence there is no durable freedom but
of the Republic exist, and are for that which grows of itself on its
Europe a better and more honour- own soil. But it will exercise by
able guarantee than the letter of the light of its ideas, by tha
those treaties, so often violated spectacle of order and of peace
and modified by Europe itself. which it hopes to give to tha
*' Thus, we declare it openly, if world, the sole and honest pro-
tha hour of the reconstruction of selytismofesteemandof sympathy,
some nationalities, oppressed ia That is not war — it is nature.
Europe or elsewhere, should ap- That is not the agitation of Europe
pear to us to have sounded in the — it Is life. That is not to embroil
decrees of Providence — if Switzer- the world — it is to shine from its
land, our faithful ally since the place on tha horizon of nations, to
timeofFrancisL.wereconstrained advance them, and to guide them
or threatened in the advance which at the same time. We desire, for
she is efiectiug in her government, humanity, that tha peace be pre-
in order to lend additional strength served. We even hope it. One
to the fascine of democratic govern- only question of war was mooted,
menta — if the independent states a year ago, between England and
of Italy vrere invaded — if any limits France. It was not Republican
or obstacles were imposed on their France which started that question
internal transformations — if the of war ; it was the dynasty. The
rightofallianoe among themselves, dynasty carries away with it that
in order to consolidate an Italian danger of war which it had given
nation, were contested by main rise to for Europe by the entirely
force — the French Republic would personal ambition of its family
believe itself entitled to arm itself alliances in Spain. Thus, that
in order to protect these legitimate domestic policy of the &llen
movements of the greatness and dynasty, which weighed for seven-
the nationality of states. teen years on our national dignity.
ifronw.] HISTORY. [249
weighed at the same time, b; its pose all political functions mast
pretensions to another crown at be allotCea to men sure, and of
Madrid, on our Liberal alliances Republican principles. Eveiy-
and on peace. The Republic has where the prefects and sub-pre-
no ambition. The Republic has fects ought to be changed. In
no nepotism. It inherits not the some loadiliea their continuance
pretensions of a family. Let Spain in office is demanded; it is joui
govern itself; let Spain be inde- duty to make the population pei^
pendent and free. France, for the ceive that those persons who
solidity of this natural alliance, served a power each act of which
counts more on the conformity of was a corruption cannot be pre-
principles than on the successions served. The nomination of snb-
of the House of Bourbon." commissioners to replace tbose
But, if the manifesto of the functionaries belongs to you ; and
Foreign Minister was upon the you can refer to me whenever you
whole satisfactory, a circular issued feel any hesitation. Choose in
soon afterwards by M. Ledru Rol- preference men belonging to the
lin, the Minister of the Interior, chief tovru. You are not to take
to the " Commissionera " of the them in the arrondissement itself.
Provisional Government through- unless you know them to be por-
out France, caused lively alarm In fectly free from all spirit of coterie.
the minds of the public, who saw Do not set young men aside, as
in it a spirit of propagandism of ardour and generosity are the pri-
the most dangerous nature. The vtlegeofthatage.and the Republic
following extracts will give some has need of those fine qualities,
idea of the mode of action which " 2. Your Relations with the
it inculcated ; — Officers in command of the Troops.
" 1. What ere your Powers. — — You are exercising the powers
They are unlimited. Agent of a of the executive authority, so that
revolutionary authority, yon are the armed force is under your
revolutionary also. The victory of orders. You can call it out, and
the people has imposed on you the put it in movement ; you can even,
duty of getting your work pro- in grave cases, suspend a corn-
claimed and consolidated. For the mending officer, referring the case
accomplishment of that task you immediately to me. But you ought
are invested vrith its sovereignty ; to show the greatest caution in ^is
you take orders only from your part of your functions."
conscience; you are to act as cir- But, vrith reference to the
cumstances may demand for the Elections, a still more pernicious
public safety. Thanks to our state doctrine was proclaimed by M.
of public morals, that mission is Caruot, the Minister of Public
not a very terrible one. Hitherto Instruction, iu a circular which he
you have not had to break down addressed to the Rectors of Aca-
any serious resistance, and you demies. It is difficult to imagine
have been able to remaiu calm in how any one could have dared to
your force ; you must not. how- insult the good sense of mankind
ever, deceive yourself as to the by such advice as the following: —
state of the country. Republican " The great error against which
sentiments ought to be strongly the inhabitants of our Agricultural
forwarded there, and for that pur- districts must be guarded is this
260] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. EF«««-
— that in order to be a repre- Tennent to expresa the consterna:-
sentative it is neeegaary either to tion which had been exotted bj the
eqjo; the advantages of education language of two t^ its Members,
or the gifts of fortuna As &t as they were received by the Foreign
education is concerned, it is dear Minister, who aasurod them that
that an honest peasant, possessed the Provisional Goverament had
of good sense and experience, will anthorized no one to speak to the
represent the int«reBts of his class nation in ita name, and eepeciallj
in the assembly of the nation in- to speak a language saperior to the
finitely better than a rich and laws. He declared that the Oo-
educated citizen having no ex- vemment, recognising freedom
perieoce of roral life or bhnded of opinion, repudiated that worst
by interests at vanance with those sort of corruption, intimidation —
of the bulk of the peasantry. As and had deliberately resolved not
to fortune, the remuneration which to interfere, as a Qoremment,
will be assigned to all the Members directly or indirectly in the elec-
of the Assembly will suffice for the tions. He said also that he hoped
maintenance of the very poorest " that public opinion would bo re-
" It most not be forgotten that, assured, and would not take in an
in a great asesmbly like that which alanning sense some words wrongly
is about to assemble, the m^ority intenreted in the documents of
of the Members fulfil the functions the Ministers, who attach their
of jurors. They decide offlrma* signatures often in haste."
tively or negatively whether the In order more completely to
measures proposed by the ilite of assure the public mind and restore
the members are good or bad. confidence, the Provisional Go-
They only require hones^ and Terutnent in a body, on the 1 Tlh of
good sense; they do not invent." March, published a proclamation
These sentiments, however, of to the French nation, in which
UM. Camot and Ledru Rollin, by they warmly eulc^ed the conduct
tiie dread which they inspu^d, of the people of Paris, and said —
threatened to produce a reaction in " They have, in a word, made the
&vonr of monarchical instltntiona, name of the people synonymous
and the Government hastened to with oourt^, clemency, and virtue,
disavow them. Indeed it was evi- We have but one won of instruc-
dent that the Cabinet already con- tion to give you. Be inspired by
tained two parties : the one devoted and imitate the people! Think,
to extreme ideasi and ready to carry feel, vote, and act like them 1 The
ont the doctrine of the " rights ckT Provisional Goverament will not
the people" to the most extrava^ imitate the Govemmente which
gant and impncticabls lengths; oeurptbesovereigntyof the people,
the other, sincerely Republican, which corrupted the electors, and
but more moderate in its views, and which purchased at an immo-
anxious chiefly for the preservation ral price the conscience of the
of order. Of these the former country. To what purpose is it
was supposed to be represented by that Governments should succeed
M. Ledm Hollin, the latter by M. each other if we are to reeembla
deLamartiOe. When a deputation them? To what purpose have we
from the ftepnblican Club of Paris created and adored the R^ublic if
waited upon the Provisional Go* the Republic is to be the first to
Fnww.] HISTORY. [251
«nter the atougb of rojttl^, which " Yon will feel that the new and
b ftboUelied? The Provisional Go- Btrong popular inslibilioiia which
remment considers it to be one of sre about to emanate from the
its dudes to ihed upon eleotond National Assembly will open to
OTOiKtioiu tbkt Ught which en- the army « career of deroledness
hgfatena oocsciences without fore- and service whtiA the national
ing them. It confineB itself to freedom will appreoitte and noom-
neatralising the hostile influence pense better aan kings. Tbs
of the late AdministiMJon, which tmil; of the armj' ana of the
has perverted and changed the petals, for a moment impaired,
naCora of elections. The Prori- most be reestablished. Swear love
aional aovsrament wishes that the to the people, among whom ars
pobtio coDScienoe should be p&ta- your falhera and brothers ! Swear
mount It does not dittorb itself fldeli^ to these new institutions,
with respect to andent parties, and everything wilt be loi^tten,
The old parties have Uvea a cen- save yoor cotirage and discipline,
tnry in three days I The Bepublio Liberty will ask no other services
wilt oonvcrt them to itself if it be bom yon than those before which
firm and just towards them. No- yon mil have to rqoice and glorify
oessity ia a great master. Ttis yonraleves bc&re its enemies."
Bepablic, be it observed, has the The army, however, gave no
gora fbrtaoe to be a Government tnmble to uie Oovermnent. Its
M necessity. Reflection is on our actioD had been panlyned at the
side. It is impossible to ascend oommenoement of the Revolutloo,
to monarchy. We cannot descend by the order prohibiting the troopa
to unknown anarchy. Everybody to Are upon the popnlace when
will be republioan through con- MU. Thiers and OditloD fiamt
r independence of suf- disposition to interfere with the
frags wliich you wish for youi^ course of events. At the important
selves. Regard not the name which fortressof Vinoennes, intheneigfa-
those you consider your enemies bonihood of Paris, and the forts
write upoo their nillot, and be around the city, which Louis Phi-
aasnr«d beforehand that they will Uppe had been so anxious to con-
wiits the only name irtiioh oan stmot, the garrisons with little
save themt that is, that of a Re- hesitatian declared for the Repub-
pablio, cifiable and honest" Uo. And, after the inaagnration of
Amidst the various dudss wliiafa the Frorisional Oovemment, one
pressed wiUi overwhelming foroe of the first officers who placed his
iqion the Members of the Provi- sword at its disposal was Marshal
sunal Ooremmant, they had to Bogeand, Dnke of Isly. The em-
dlrect immediate attention to the ploymmit of the woikmen of the
three important qaestions of the capital was not so easy ; bat a
army ; the support of the unem- National Guard mobUt was im-
ployed multitades of Paris; and mediately formed, on the pretext
the stats of the public finsnoes. that their services might be re- ,
To the aimy a proclamation was quired to march to the frontier,
addressed, nhicb contained the This was to oonsiat of S4 batta.
following passages : — lions of tOSS men each, and the
252j ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fra^.
pay of each private was fixed at out the ^rliole day, and antil late
30 sous per day. at night, the armed populace kept
A quarrel, however, took place posBeBsion of the streets, aaid did
between the National Guards and not separate until thej were fully
the GovenuDent which at first BAsured that no further attempt
threatened to be serioua, but ended would be made by the dissatiefied
in atrengtheoiug the hands of the companiee of the National Guard.
Utter. The grenadier and light Thua the people of Paris wer«
iofantTj companies of that body again victorious in the preeence of
consisted of men of more substance organized battalions of troops, and,
and station than tbereet of theforce; though on this occasion they rallied
and, as the SlUe of the corps, they to support the existing Govem-
were regarded with feelings of jea- ment, the display served as a proof
lousy and dislike by their comrades, how completely they were masters
In the spirit of Bepublican equality of the destinies of France,
the Minister of the Interior issued Orders were given to resume
an order for the dissolution of the public works which were in
these companies, and the fusion of progress at the outbreak of the
them with the others. This mea- Revolution ; and decrees full of
sure gave great offence to the dis- ciyoleiy and fiatteiy to the worii-
banded corps, and on the I6th of ing classea were issued from the
March a lai^e body of them pro- prolific mint of the Provisional
ceeded without arms to the Hotel Government. One of them ran as
de ViUe, and demanded a recall follows:—
of the obnoxious decree. The " From Wednesday March I,
Government stood firm, and the important works will be organized
National Guards retired, threaten- on different points. All workmen
ing to return on the morrow viih who wish to take part in them
arms in their hands to compel should apply to one of the mayors
compliance with their wishes. The of Paris, who will receive their ap-
populace, however, warmly sjinpa- plications, and direct them without
thizedwiththeactof the Minister; delay to the different work-yards,
and next morning they assembled _, , , r, ■
in vast crowds In frint of the " ^'»-knim of Pans.-
Hotel de Ville, and in all the " Tou wish to live honourably
Bvenues leading to it, fully deter- by labour ; all the efforts of the
mined to resist by force any at- Provision^ Government will, yon
tempt on the part of the discon- may rely on it, be directed to assist
tented Nation^ Guards to over- you in the accomplishment of that
awe the Provisional Government, vrish. The Republic has a right
When these troops appeared in the to expect, and it does expect, from
course of the day, and insisted the patriotism of all its citizens,
upon marching to the Hotel de that the example it givra may be
Ville, the multitude who occupied followed. In that manner the ex-
the quays and streets leading to tentof the works may be increased,
the Place de GrSve would not Let labour, therefore, eveiywhere
allow them to pass, and the de- resume its wonted activity. Work-
monstration vras so imposing that men, after victory, labour is a fine
the National Guards did not ven- example which you have to give
ture to force a passage. Through- to the world, and you will give it."
. -Ac
Franc,.] HISTORY. [263
Another vas stiil more explicit give tbem practical effect. Laroe
aod munificent in ita promises. bodies proceeded to the H6tel de
" Considering that the Revolu- Yille, and demanded that the
tion made by the people ought to period of labour should be reduced
be made /or them ; to ten hours a day; « minimum
" That it is time to put an end rate of wages establiahed; and the
to the long and iniquitous suffer- system of employing middlemen
ingB of wonimen ; abolished. And one of the first
" That the labour question is acts of the new Commission was
one of supreme importance ; to decree that,
" That there is no other more " Considering that the intention
tngb or more worthy of the conei- of the ProTisional Government,
deration of a Republican Govern- such as it appears from the very
ment : terms of the decree, has been to
" That it belongs to France to spare the strength of the opera-
stndy ardently, and to resolve a tives, and toleaveaportionof their
problem submitted at present to time for their intelligence;
all the industrial nations of Europe; "The duration of effective 1a-
" The Provisional Government boor in Parisand in the suburbs ia
of the Republic decrees a perma' fixed at ten hours, for all profes-
nent commission, which shall be sions."
named Communon da Qoutertu- In order to find occupation for
mtnt pour Ut TTavaUleurt, is about the dangerous class of unemployed
to be nominated, with the express workmen, nationalworkshopscalled
and special mission of occupying aUliert were opened by the Go-
themselves with their lot vernment, where two francs a day
" To show how much import- were paid to those who were en-
ance tfae Provisional Government gaged ; and, as it vras impossible to
of the Republio attaches to the employ all, who applied in crowds
solution of this great problem, it for admission, one iranc a day was
nominates President of the Com- in the mean time doled out to
miasion of Government for Work- thoee to whom work could not im-
men one of its members, M. Louis mediately be given. This, how-
Blanc, and for Vice-President an- ever, produced a very evil effect,
other of its members, M. Albert, The operatives preferred the
workman (ouvrUr*). smaller pay and idleness to higher
" Workmen will be invited to wages and work, and their minds
form mrtof the committee. had become so unsettled by the
" The seat of the committee events in which they had played
will be at the Palace of the Luzem- such a prominent part, that they
boorg." were dismdined to return to habits
These doctrines were of course of steady industiy. This produced
highly acceptable to the labouring a remonstrance from Marie, the
classes, and thhy determined to MinisterofPublioWoriiB,whothuB
addressed the ouvritrt of Paris.
tSxeA ID ill die proclunBtiom to H, " Citiz^tu, —
Albert'* nuDe. He wu, bowev^ not ui ■' You demanded that the terms
Tlie object of the addiUon kMifidenllj "» «1"C*> JO" ^^W"" ^""^^^ ^
obviam. ameliorated, and your demands
254] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. t^«««-
were eatiaSecL AH mtenB«diafie> more liberal ideas, should gire tbo
between the mttter sud operetire example of sending awajfbreigneiB
h*re b«eii maoved hj oommon far tbe simple reaeon l^ ther are
oooord. and the jperiod of tbe da^ 'a foTeigner§, we ehould, besidto a
woit has been fixed at ten hours, sbamerul violation of our pris-
NerertkdflW, fi>r some d^B pant ciples, be exposed to repriBafs on
the great workshops opened bj the toe part of foreign eonntries. Do
stAta or bj msaniaetureES, whom tou know bow many woriunan w«
the difficnlt; of cimunstances and have ia England? Then are
the financial crisis hare mA a mo- 23,000 ; in Spain there am
ment discouEBged, hare a^^ been I9ji00; at ACoDterideo, ]a,000.
yMndoned, or are menaced widi If jou dismiss fomimen, you do
being so. Oilizcgas, jou are men iigniy to yonr brethren abroad ;
of induetiy, and joa uv proud and the Government would bU
o£ jour eonditton — and ;ou aie in its moat rigarouB duty, tbat
right, for utdostrj ia ths ^e of protecting FroQchmen wbererm:
source of happLoess, ior mas. Bar ihey majr be, who woald cuse the
his fiunilj. and for all Bocaetj, for impnidence of the OtntKoweot if
in tlist aloDO consists tme iode- tbej were wtims."
pendence and true libertj. Be- It was calcnlated that the amount
turn, then, to your workshops, pe- of ready monej at the diapeesl of
sums that aetiTe and labcsioua life tlw 8t«i« «aa 860,000,000/., oi
vkioh is MB bwotir to you. and a wfaieb 836,OO0,OOQr', wmn da-
Buijectofliopefer the ooantiy." posited in Uie Bank of Fraaee, «ad
From tbe QontmenceBMnt of the b&.OOQJiOOf. in the Treasiuy.
Berdidaon the gmteet hostility One of the first earas of t^
had everywhere been displayed new Govenunent iffss to pronde
by d» piqnilaoe against Ute Eo^- for the due payment of the toxas:
Ix^ workmen amployed on the aaditpuhlialiedadecree.inwluctt,
M^roade, ami in tbe difiarant ma- after pnmusing a reriaen «f tbs
tiniao&iiiBg estaUishments, and syalem o£ taxalion and resaoval of
the oonse^HeoDe wsa titat their obnaXiMia imposts, it declared that
maatecs were c v eiyw hc rs obliged " the French Republic, altJboi^
to dncclas tbcv. Is naay places it ia tJtw Buceesmr of « Govem-
tlioy had to fly for tlteir lives, asd jment of prodigality and oorruption,
fsbiciied to England «4n>llTdeeti- accepts and wishes le fulfil all
tnte. At a latw psEwd, aittf the Migagements and resiain faithful
misc^aef wtss dena, and faw, if to all coaliBcta.
any, foreign Miqilei^ vera left in " Xbat, ia the ssidat of tniuient
FmncSifheGorenimentsuniMiMied difficnilties inseponbto to eveiy
B9 couia^ to declare that it nould great commotion, it would be highly
psDbsot thom, nd M. Uansat imprudent t* djminidi the re-
tliBs addieesed a dsptttadoo xriiich wouiees of the Trsasary.
prsiyad /or tlmr immediBte dis- " That it would thereby jaeor
"Hf ' the risk of suspendii^ or compro-
" The Republic desires liberty iBiatng tlw meat important ser-
for all, fraternity between dl men, ^icee, and be less able to think of
and an alliance between all na- making provisions against events
lions. 1£, uB&rtanately, lU^hli- Fnnee and Eun>pe may mt-
can FnncB, Mrhioh «u^it to bars neas.
..Coogic
*V«w] HISTORY. [255
" Prom these conaiderBtionB the uchj ibiorbed to make ench s
ProviaionalGoveminentdecreeB:— misOT^le use of it, it demaiMled
"Article I. All the tBxas, with- of all tai-pa^ere to p&^ the unooirt
OBt ezceptioo. shall contume to be of crae yew's tax m sdvKnee, to
eoUectod as before. enaUe it to relieve all pezsoni in
" Anide 3. Good eitiseDB are di flt r w , to restore Kctmty la all
mpieeted in the name o( patriot- transactioiu, and to difliue the ad-
ism not to delay the p a ynw n t of vantages of credit unongst all
their taxee. those who aagment the iiatioiiBl
" Article 3. The Provisional wealth by their labour,"
Government pledges itself to the But the oeoeseiQr of gralifyiug
Natiomd Assembly for a bodget, in the people bj the remissiMi of ob-
whkh the newspaper atamp tax, ncndoos taxes seemed likelj to
the active duties, the duties on creato much peooniaty embairase
salt, as well as a law to modify ment, and, inien it was proposed
matenatly tbe syrtem trf indirect hj Us oelleegaes to aboliBh the
taxation, shall ai^Mar." staam^dnty upon newspapers, U,
ProvisioB was also laode for the Gondchaux, the Minister of Fi-
exigenciee of trade, and it was de- nance, firmlyresistsd it. finding,
ereed that all cotatotmitl bills, &tl- bowerar, tl»t ho cqipositiDB was
ing doe between the iiSnd of Fe- unavailing, he detennined to i»-
brasry and tbe 3nd of Uarch in> sign bis office, and he was soo-
clnsive, should bav« ten additional eeedsd by IS. Qamier Pag^
days given Ifaem to nu, and that all One of tbe first acts of the new
protest and twcourBsn on guaian- Minister was to poblish a vny vo-
tees should be prorogued tor ton lominons Tepoit on tbe financial
iaffs. A Disoooot OGoe was also conditkon of tiie Bepublic. in wfaicfa
established, under the tiUe of he pavfesaed to tell "tbe entire
"Dolalioa for Small Traders." truth, without hatred, vritbout fear,
The eonsequenees of the ehot^ to but libowise witbont dissinmla-
public credit, however, begui soon Imb. " T%« follmni^ are some ai'
to nanifeet tbemeelres. Mod seve- tracto from this impectant doca-
ral bilnrea of banking and iser- ment
eantile houses aA&ed muck to the " On tbe 1st ef Janmoy, 1341,
embamsstnent of affidn. Amongst tbe oqntal of tie PiAlic Debt, tba
these one at tbe most conspicaous GhoTemment stock belonging to
was tbe fall of Ike banking &rm a! tbe Sinking Faad bwng -deduoted,
Oronn and Co. <SQCoesBorB to tbe was 4,267,9 16, 4 02<. On the 1st
6nn of Lafitto and Co.), in whose itf Janaary, IMS, it amounted to
bands great nombeis of tbe Pa- 6,179.e44,TS(y.
tisian tradesmeD bad d^ooita. ^ Tbe Imdgets {allowed tix pra-
It eeon became necessary to ap- gresrien of the debt
pealtothepatrieCiam of the^eopte " The entire of tbe credits phoed
m a my whioh pots that prmotple at the dl^XHtd of the Mien G«-
to tbe sevMVSt proof ; for the Pre- venunent totbeynr 1^47 anuranta
Tirional Oavemment passeda de- to 1,712,976,680/'., 62c. Notwitb-
oree, in which, sftor stating that standing tbe incoearave incraBse of -
" the Beprtdie, in order to aoeom- lite receipts, tbe budgets presented
pMsh gpent events, will net bmn each year a ioonsideiable deficst-
need of tbe meney irtiieb tbe Uen- Tbe espwises from 1846 to 184T
256] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [/>««*.
mcluBiTely, exceeded the receipts dnced by RotbI bonds, a loan, and
hj eo^.625,000/. The deficit cat- the eaTings' banka.
culated for the year 18^8 13 " With regard to the latter, the
48,000,000/., trithout coanting the Government of the ex-King ren-
additional chapter of the sapple- dered it impossible that it conld
mentary and extraordinan' crei&le, maiatain its engagements with the
which will raise the totu amount creditersef thesaviags'banks. The
of the budgets, to the charge pledge demandable at pleasure was
of the last Administration, to no longer &ee in tbeir bands.
663,000,000/. When I assumed the direction of
" The public works, heedlessly the finances of the Slate, on the
undertaken simultaneoasly at all afternoon of the 7th of March, the
points of the territory, to satisfy property of the depositora was
or toencoarageelectoral corruption, placed as follows : —
and not with that reserve which " In the Treasury at 4 percent.,
prudence so imperiously com- 65,708,630/'., 40e. ; in G per cent,
manded, have raised the credits to Government stock, 34,106, ISQf.,
1.081,000,000/. From this sum 25e.: in Government 4 percent
are to be deducted the sums reim- stock; 209,316,176/.; inSperoent.
bursed by the companies, amount- Government stock 84, 084,447/*. »
JDg to 160,000,000/. ; thelastloan, 93c.; in shares of the four canals,
83,000.000/., making together 14,069,130/.; in shares of the
349,000.000/., and leaving a ba- canals 4.818,3)8/., 76c., making
lance of 839,000,000/. Out of altogether 366,087,717/., 33c."
this sum 436.000/. has been ex- M. Gamier Pagds then an-
pended out of the resources of the nounced his intention to propose,
floating debt, and 404.000,000/. "I. That all deposits of 100/. and
still remain to be expended on the less shall be repaid in full in cash,
completion of the works. 3. That the deposits from 100/ to
"The floating debt increased in 1000/. shall be repaid as follows:—
proportions not less considerable, viz., 100/. in cash, one half of the
At the commencement of 1831 surplus in Treasury bonds at four
it reached an amount of about months' date, bearii^ interest at 6
350,000,000/. At the date of the per cent, and the other in 5 per
36Lh of Februaiy last, it exceeded cent Government stock at par.
670,000,000/, to which is to be 3. That those accounts which ex-
added the Government stock be- ceed 1000/. shall be repaid as fol-
longing to the savings' banks, lows: — viz., 1000/. incash, onehalf
302,000.000/, making altt^ether of the surplus in Treasury bonds,
873,000,000/. Under suchasys- atsixmonths'date.beoringintereBt
tem the position of the central at 6 per cent., and the remaining
office of the Treasury could not half in 5 per cent, stock at par."
often be brilliant. During the The general measures for re-
308 last days of its existence the trievii^ the position of the Ex-
fallen Government expended more chequer, which the Finance Minis-
than 294,800,000/. beyond its ordi- tor proposed to adopt, were the
nary resources, or 1,100,000/ per following: — 1. A reduction in the
day. In order to defray these ex- number of employit under Govem-
penses, the Government of the ex- meat. — 3. A sale of the crown
King drew from three sources, pro- diamonds, and a conversion into
FmM..] • . HISTORY. [257
coio of the sUtot plat« and ingots has prodnced, the mind stops short,
found at the Tiii]eriea, and in the disconcerted, before the enormous
other royal residences " allocated to disproportion of the means with the
the fallen dynasty by the law of results. But if the country itself
1633, regulating the civillist." — 3. is regarded, the aspect of what it
A disposal of the woods, lands, and can do resasurea. The English
property of the crown, comprised debt amounts to 30 miiliardi. It
in tne ancient Civil List ; but the rests on the manufacturing and
report stat«d, that "It is onder- commercial subjecUon of the world,
stood that the domain called ' pri- — a variable and fragile haais.
vste' is not comprised in this mea- Ours is only five miUiarda, and it
sore, and that it remains provi- has for its basis all the public and
sionally tinder sequestralJon, for private proper^ of France,— an
the disposal of the National As- immoveable basis, and every day
sembly. '—4. A better sdmimatra- stronger. A few years of a Re-
tion of the revenues of the state- publican Government, of a pm-
forests. — 5. A loan. The late Go- dent, firm, and loyal administra-
vermnent was authorized to raise tion, and the credit of France will
■ loan of 350,000,000/., of which not have any equal. What is
&50,000,000f. were subscribed on certain, what I affirm with all the
the lOth of November last, and of force of an enlightened and loyal
this the Treasury had received convictioii, is, that if the Orleans
83,000,000/'. Thereremainedthere- dynasty had reigned some time
fore to be raised 100,000,000/,, and longer, bankraptcy was inevitable,
this loan was to he contracted for Yes, citizens, letusproclaimitwith
under the title of the National pride and delight ; to all the tides
Loan. In exchange for their " of- which recommend the Republic to
feiings," the citizens were to re- the love of France, and to the
ceive each a coupon of S per cent, respect of the world, this must be
Government stock at par, even added, — the Republic has saved
though that stockshonld rise above France from bankruptcy!"
par, before the subscription list A Just test of the degree of con-
was filled. The last stipulation fidence felt in the state of public
might be made with great safe^, aHairs is supplied in modern times,
for there was little chance of a rise by the position of the funds and
in the value of the public stock I«nking establishments. In Paris
in the face of such a revolution es a panic seized the depositors with
was then convulsing France. M. the Bank of France, and the run
Gamier Paggs condoded his re- upon it was so extensive, that the
port by taking a hopeful view of applicants were obliged to place
the state of the finances. themselves en queue, and had the
" As to the general situation of greatest difficulty in presenting
the Republic under afinancial point themselves at the counter,
of view, I imi^ne that it no M. D'Argout, the governor, im-
longer shows anything alarming, mediately addressed an urgent let-
The national debt, deduction being ter to the Minister of Finance, in
made of the Rentes which belong which he stated that — " In the
to the sinking fund, amounts to interval between the S6th of Feb-
6,300,000,000/. If any one m- mary and the afternoon of the
quires what that mass of capital 14th of March, the cash in hand
Vol. XC. [S]
258] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Frmet.
diministied from 140,000,000/'. to leans, and made their notes a legal
70,000,000/'. This morning a panic tender within the boimdaries of
declared itself. The holders of their respective departments ; and
notes flocked in crowds to the their iseuea were limited hy a
Bank. Addititmal pay clerks were maximum in each case,
appointed to accelerate the service. In order more efleotuallj to re-
More than 10,000,000/. were paid cruit the lalling revenne of the
in cash. There remains this i^ter- Stale, and get possessioit of ready
noon only 59.000,000/ in the Paris money for immediate ez^ncies,
chest. The crowd mil be more the ProvisionBl Government oon-
oonsideiable to-morrow ; and, in ceived the project of taking into
the course of a few days, the Bank their own hands the man^ement
will be entirely exhausted of its of the difiierent railroads in France,
epecie." To put a stop to this. The first experiment was made
lAtich mnst have resulted in the upon the Parie and Orleans and
bankruptcy of the establishment. Centre linee, and the pretext aa-
the Provisional Government, on signed for this arbitraty measure
the 16thof Harch,issuedadecree, waa, that theCompaniea of those
whereby the notes of the Bank of two railroads did not possess suffi-
France were made a legal tender, dent authority to insure the regular
and the Bank was dispensed from communications. It therefore or-
the obligation of paymg its notes dained that the Paris and Orleans
in specie. It was also provided and Centre Railroads should be
that in no case the issue of the eequeetered, and should be ad-
Bank and its branch banks should ministered and worked under the
exceed 86 0,000 ,000/., and, in order direction of the Mioister of Public
to facilitate the circulation, it was Works. On the 18th of April
aatborized to isaue small notes, of M. Gamier Pag^, the Minister of
no lower denomination than 100/. Finance, received by appointment
An additional per centage was also a deputation from the different
laid upon the assessed taxes by Railway Companies, and, after de-
the following decree : — tailing the reasons which induced
" There shall be raised tern- him to make the proposition, one
porarily, and for the year 1848, 45 of which he said was the neoee-
centimes additional on the entire sity of finding work for the miem-
of the four direct contributions of ployed labourers, he said that it
that year. was the intention of the Govem-
" The centimes bearing on the ment to purchase the railways,
contribution levied off landed pro- and suggested a discussion as to
party shall be at the charge of the the most equitable mode of acoom-
proprietors alone, notwithstanding plishing this. He detailed several
any stipulation to the contrary plans for this purpose; one of which
contained in any lease or cod- was the conversion of the shares at
Tendon." the actual price of the day, and
This was followed at a later payable in money, Another, the
period by an order which ordained same principle <^ converaion. but
the suspension of cash payments payable in B«Um, at the same ac-
hy the banks of Lyoira, Rouen, tual price. A third, the oonver-
Bordeaax. Nantes, Lille, Mar- sion of the shares into Benttt, each
seilles, Havre, Toulouse, and Or- taken at the average market price
Fnmce.] HISTORY. [259
dnring the b!z months preceding fund, to be divided into four
the 16th of Februarj. The pro- parts —
poeal, however, caused great die- 1. A quarter for the sinking
aatis&etion, and it was found to fund of the capital belonging to the
be eo impracticsble that it wsa for proprietor with whom the State
the time abandoned. made the bargain.
Ab a spedmen of the viewe put it. A quarter for the establish-
forward and advocated bj those ment of a fund, to be set aside for
who professed to regenerete the the support of old men, the sick,
framework of society, bf the wounded, and infirm,
adoplioa of new relations between 8. A quarter to be divided
wonmen and their employers, we among the woritmen bj way of
give the following outline of the bonus.
plan for the organization of labour, 4. A quarter for the formation
which M. Louis Blanc laid before of a reserve fund,
the Commiaaion which sat at the Besides this, M. Louis Blanc
Palace of the Lu.iembourg; and declared that it would be necessary
which he proposed to sabmit to the to unite workshops belonging to
eoiuideration of the National As- the same branch of industty ; to
sembly. unite all the workshops of different
llie Covemment was to take branches of industry, but placed
poHsession, on its own account, of in the same condition ; and to
all establishments about to sns- guarantee the interests of the con-
pend their works ; the present snmer as regarded the quality and
proprietors preserving their rights, the lowest possible price of the
to be converted into bonds beuing produce.
interest, secured on the establish- " The plan is. that a Council of
ments, and reimbursable in money Administration should be placed
wlher by way of annuity or by at the head of all the atiUeri, in
a sinking fund. The persons em> whose hands would be united the
pkived in these establishments, guidance of all the industries, in
and of which the State was to be the same way that the direction of
the gtrtmt, to be pot on a new each particular industry would be
footing. The workpeople to form placed in the hands of an engineer,
an aseociauon; to elect the di- The State would arrive at the
rectors of the works, and them- realization of this plau by succes-
selves fix the amount of the wages, sive measures. No one b to have
or the share that labour is entiUed violence done to him. The State
to in the profits. The share being intends to establish a model, by
determined in a general manner, the side of which the private asso-
the collectiTe wages to be distri- dations and the present eoonotmcal
bnted among the workmen indi- system may bve."
vidually, by the Council of Tra- As a practical commentary np(m
vailleurs, according to proportions these doctrines, we may mention
open to discussion, but which the that the conductors of the Paris
Oovemment Commission thought omnibuses assembled, and ordered
ought to be in equal parts. The all the vehicles, without exception,
prodnce, after deduclioB of the to stop running : they sent i^ent
wages, to be formed into a general off their stands, forcibly stopped
[SSJ
260] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. lF""*ce.
them in the streete, and compelled the 16tli of April, without specify-
the pasaengers to evacuate them, ing the ohject for which tbe^ were
and carried awaj the wooden summoned. The Government,
houses (buHAur d« conlro/«) erected however, took the alarm, and on
on the Boulevards. The; thus that da; the rappel was beaten
forced the public to submit to a throughout Paris, and the streets
higher sate of feres. were filled with upwards of SOO.OOO
The case was taken into con- National Guards. The meeting
sideralion b; the conclave at the convened bj M. Blanqui was held,
Luxembourg, and M. Louis Blanc and, after some violent speeches,
fixed the salariea of the drivers the crowd, abont 6000 in number,
and conductors of omnibuses at resolved to march to the H6tel do
Sf. 60c. per da;. He also con- Ville, and demand the dismissal of
Btderablj reduced the amount of the more moderate Members of
the fines to which they were liable, the Provisional Government,
and decided that their proceeds When thej arrived at the Pont
should in future specially belong Neuf, tliey found the bridge occu-
to the conductors and drivers, and pied by troops, and cries of "A baa
form a fund for the benefit of the les Communistes !" "A has Blan-
Bick and wounded, their widows qui I "rent the air. Finding that the
and families. attempt to proceed was vain, and
Hitherto all had gone on that if they ventured to provoke a
smoothly, but there was an imder- collision they must be overpowered
current of discontent at work and destroyed, they at last dis-
which was destined to convulse handed and dispersed,
the capital, and endanger the ex- In the afternoon numerous depu-
istence of the Republic as it had tations waited on the Provisional
been accepted by the nation. Govemmenttocongratulateitonits
There was a dangerous class of escape, and testify their adhesion,
men called CommunitUs or So- In reply to one of these from the
daliau, in whose eyes the posses- National Guard, M. Lamartine
sion of property was a crime, and sud : —
whose untiring object it was, and "This day was aononnced to
still is, to overthrow all existing the Provisional Government as a
institutions, and establish the do- day of danger to the Republic ; we
minion of an unchecked and un- were sure heforoband that it would
bridled democracy in its wildest be a day of triumph for the
and most licentious fonn. This country and for its cbitdron. I
party had been gradually growing know by a recent trial, and I can
ui numbers and strongth, and to see it by the visage of many
them the Revolution seemed to be amongst you, and by the intrepid
only half accomplished, while the and moderate energy which fills
rights of property were respected, the heart of the armed citizens of
and a curb was placed upon disorder, the capital, that we, that France,
Those of their most prominent will not want any other guard, any
leaden were MM. Blanqui, Gabet, other army, than this civil, volun-
and Raspail, and the former had tary, spontaneous army, which has
convoked a meeting of his asso- been formed of itself, not at the
dates in the Champs Elys^es for first Up of the drum, for yon were
Fronts.']
HISTORY.
[261
armed before the call to ann was
beatea, but which is formed of it-
self at the first rumour of danger
for the oonntrj and for pabUo
order."
He admitted that attempts had
been made to aofi division in the
Provisional Government ; but he
said, —
" If some differences of opinion,
as ia natural to expect in the great
councils of a oountrj, are to be
seen in the Admiaistration, unity
exists in the patriotism, in the
same love for the Republic, in the
same devotedness which animates
tbem towards Paris and France.
This union is the symbol of that
of all the dtizens. Permit me to
colleagues, the deep-felt thanks,
not of the Provisional Government,
but of the whole of France, for
whom this would have been a day
of calamity and of civil war if the
Government had been divided;
and which, thanks to yonr energy,
will be for her the day of the de-
finitive and pacific triumph of our
new institutions, which we wish to
hand over entire and inviolate to
the National Assembly, which will
be the supreme unity of the
country."
The 23rd and 34th of April
were occupied by the elections of
Representatives to sit in the Na-
tional Assembly. The result was
looked forward to with much in-
terest; as in the composition of
that body would depend the future
character of the Republic. Future
events showed that the effect of
aniversal suffrage in France on
this occasion was to return a much
more Conservative and moderate
body than could have been hoped
for. But the truth is, that the
nation waa terrified at the doctrines
of the Communista and Red Re-
publicans, as they were called from
their adopting as their symbol a red
flag, the use of which ii. Lamar*
tine, as we have seen, so eloquently
denounced, when the attempt vras
made to substitute it for the tri-
color. The candidates, therefore,
who were known not to he men of
extreme views had most &vour,
and the issue of the electoral strug-
gle was satisfactory. The great
contest was in the department of
the Seine, which determined who .
were to be the representatives of
Paris ; and it was hailed as a most
cheering proof of the state of feel-
ing throughout France, that M. de
Lamartine's name appeared at the
head of the poll in uie capital, and
in eight other places he was also
amongst those who were returned.
The following is the list of success-
ful candidates for that depart-
ment, together with the number
of votes given to each. As the
first return of representatives of
the capital, and an index of popular
opinion, it is we think a most in-
teresting document.
1. M. de Lunutme, member
of the Praviuonal Goveni-
2. Dupont (de I'Eure}, idem
3. Frmcoii Anso, iilem
4. Gunier-Pigec, idem
5. MuTut, idem . .
6. Hirie, idem . . .
7. Crjmieui, idem . .
9. Carnot, Miouter of Public
asaeoo
245,063
243,640
10. Bethmoni^Miiiiileraf Agri-
culture and Comioerce . 180J2S2.
11. Duvivier, General Com-
muidanl of the Gude
Mobile 182,);&
12. Ferdiuwd de LMtejrie,
former D^nitj .... 10^156
la VtviD, Ibnner D^nity . . 151,103
14. CanigDac, Goveraor-Ge-
oerd of Algien . . , 144,187
15. Berger, formerlj Depury . 126,660
IS. Pignerre, SecreMry-Gene-
] ANNUAL REGISTER. 1848. [F"
™i of ibo Prorindd Go- lower orders of the popnlaoe when
17. Buche.. Adjincl to lt>« '^"' t»'«y./''"°'i "»» t^fir faTOurito
M«yor of P»ri» . . . 135^78 "•""'wtM m Bomfl places had not
1& Cormenin, Pmident of the )>fi^ BUCCeasM occaeionsd seriaoB
Council of SiBie . . , 135,050 riots ; and at Amiens, Rocbefort,
"*■ ^^^."TJr'-J^i^ Limoges, Houen. and other towns
lSJ>««r . 135.043 "listurbances took place, which wero
aa CaiuriSire, Prefect of Po- ' only quelled by armed force. At
lice 133,775 BouBn barricades were erected,
81. Alben,nieiDberoflbePio. and some severe fiehtinff took
iB. w:r;i'^=r;,-u,; '*°" pi-., Th.N^„^Gj,„j
Conterratoire de. Art. et especiallj the guards mobilet, vigo-
M£iien 132,383 rously exerted themselves to re-
. 2a Peupio, ounier horlogier . 181,969 store order and pot down the mob.
S4. Udni Rollio. member of It was clear, however, that there
S^t ""! "^i 131,587 ™'* already two paitiee in direct
25. J. P. Schmith, ouTrier. *. 1S4]383 opposition and ooIliBion with each
2S. Flocon, member of the Other, the Moderates and the Bod
ProTtnonal Gotemment . 121,865 Bepabllcans ; and we shall aoon
S &X°-i"a,Mk,.-, '"■'" ...U,..ft...™gU,bet,».th.»
of Pari, 118,075 ^^ destined to tenniuate in an
SB. Agricot Perdii^ieT, ouvrier appeal to physical force in Paris,
menuHier 117,290 and deluge the capital in blood.
try of Foreign Affy™ . 110,238 <« the f.treme democraU we give
81. Coquerel,Protert»i( deify- "^^ following placard, which was
m«n 109,ftS« signed by some of their leaders,
82. Garnon. fbrner D^uiy . 106,747 and amonffst others by Barb^, of
'"■ °S? S"Z' "lilt ''»» '• ^T -l^tir si"" •?"'
Guwd 106,283 *''<'<"»it, and posted everywhere
84. Abb£ LuDeoaui . . . 104^71 on the walls of the streets of Paris
on the 1st of May, bnt torn down
Amongst the unsncceseful can- by the order of the Provisional
didates were the following :-~-UM. GovenimeDt. It was headed —
Goudchaux, Courtais, Barb^, Vic- n .^ - . t^ ■ . ..r.
torHugo,Raspall,Arago.LeRoux, " ' SoctiU dtM Dnm d« IHtmmo
D'Alton Shee, NeydelaMoskowa. " «» CUoym.
Eagene Sue, Dupetit Tbotiars, and " This Society has for its object
£mile de Girardin. — first, to defend the rights of the
M. Thiers was a candidate for people, the exercise of which has
the department dt$ Bouckei du been restored to them by the Revo-
ii&(HM. but waa defeated. Amoi^t lution of February; secondly, to
the returns for the provinces were draw from this Revolution all its
the names of M. Dupin, M. de social oonsequenoes. As its point
TocquevilJe, M. Berryer, M. Leon of departure, the Society takes the
Faucher, M. Mauguin, M. Billault, declaration of the rights of maa
M. Duvergier de Haoranne, the as laid down in 1703 by Robes-
Bishop of Quimper, and the Bishop pierre. It ensues that, in a poll-
of Orleans. tical point of view, the Republic,
The disappointment felt by the one and indivisible, comprehends
Fnne:} HISTORY. [263
the inolienaUe laws of the people, lege and eajiUtUaHon ia post. In
In a social point of riew, the old the point of view of the ancient
constitntion is abolished ; and that Bocial form, if the privileges with
which is called to replace it mnat which you were invested were ac-
rest on equality and fraternity, quired in a legal manner, do not
the fiuidtunenul principles of avail yoonelves of them : these
the new social compact. Con- laws were your own work ; the im-
- sequently, the social revolution, menee mtyority of your brethren
now at its commencement, places were strangers to them, and, there-
itself between the Farias and fore, are not bound to respect them,
the Privileged of the ancient Rally, then, together, for you have
state of sode^. To the first it need of the panlon of those whom
says — Be united, but calm ; for in you have eo long sacrificed. If, in
this lies your strength. Your spite of this promise of pardon,
number is such that it must suEBce you persist in remaining isolated
to manifest your will, and make in order to defend the old social
yon obtain aU you deeire. It is form, you will find in the van-
also such that you cannot desire guard, on the day of conflict, our
anything but what is just. Your secdons oi^anized ; and your bre-
voice and your will are the voice thren will no longer hold towards
and the wiU of God. To the others you the language of pardon, but
it saya — The old aodai form has that of justioe."
dis^peaied. The reign of privi-
b,GoogIc
264] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fra«.;
CHAPTER IX.
Meeting of the National AisemUy on the ith of May—Addreu Uf M.
Ihtpont (de I'Eure) — Oath of AUegianee aioluhed — Proclamation of
the Sepvhlie in presence of th« People — Election of Officer* of the
Aaembly — Policy of Provitional Govemmsnt detailed t» Speech of
M. de Lamartine — Election of Memher* of Executive Committee —
domination of Ministert—Eormation of Clubs in Paris — The Astern-
bly invaded by tks Mob — Scene of Conftaion in the ChanAer — Af.
Htiiert declares that the National Assembly is dissolved — Suppreuion
of ths Inturrection — Conduct of Oeneral Cburtai* and M. Louis
Blanc — Defence made by M. Caussidiere of his Conduct — Address by
Executive Committee — Appointment of Committee to draie up Plan af
Constitution — Disturbances at l/yons — Decree of perpetual Baniehinent
pronoaneed against the ex-Boyal Family — Impeachment of Af. Louis
Blanc — Election of Prince Louie Napoleon Buonaparte as Deputy —
Discussion on this subject in the Assembly— The Prince declines to
take his Seat — Proof of Conservative Feeling in the Assembly — Attack
on the Ministry in the Assembly — Speech of General Cavaignac — De-
fence of the Executive Committee 6y M. De Lamartine — Debate respect-
ing Prince Louis Napoleon—Plan of the Conetitution — The National
Ateliers — Body of Provincial Workmen ordered to quit Paris — Com-
meiwement of Disturbances — The Genemle beaten — Barricades and
Inturrection — Desperate Combat in the Streets of Paris — Resignation
of the Executive Committee — General Cavaignac invested vith tig>reme
Authority— Succesus of the Military — Destructive use of Artillery —
Death of the Archbishop of Paris— Termination of the Struggle —
General Cavaignac appointed President of the Council — His Cabinet — •
Beport of Committee on the Insurrection — Leave given to the Attorney-
General to prosecUe MM. Ledru EoUin and Cauesidiire — General
Cavaignac and the National Workshops — Project of the Consttiution
— Speech of M. Thiers on the Second Article relating to Property and
Lahour — Louis Napoleon takes his Seat as Deputy for the Department
of the MoseUe—His first Speech — Important Debate on the Twentieth
Article, confining tke Legislative Potcer to one Assembly — Speeches
of MM. Lamartine, OdiUon Barrot, and Dupin — Mi^orUy in favour
of a tingle Chamber — Discussion on various Articles of the Constitu-
tion — ne Election of the President ti^imitted to the Votes of the
Fra»ct.] HISTORY. [265
PtofiU — RepubHcanima on the viane — Final adoption and Proclama-
tion of tA« Conititution — Chargt* brought againtt General Cavaignae
by M. Bartkelemy St. Hilan — Hie triumphant Defence — Election of
Prince Lome Napoleon at Preeident of the RopuMtc — Hit Addrest to
the Aieetnhly — Fomuition of a Cabinet — Beflectione on the rise and
fall of popular FavourUet in Franc».
ON the 4th of May the National Temment in the relatipng vhich
Assembly commenced its sit- the necessities of Isbom: establish
ting in a temporary wooden build- among all the citizens, and which
ing erected for the purpose, at the ought to have for its base the sacred
back of and communioatiug with laws of justice and fraternity,
the existing Chamber of Deputies, "In fine, the moment has ar-
and adapted to hold about 1700 rived for the Provisional Oovem-
peraons. When the Members of ment to resign into your hands
the Provisional Government had the unlimited power with which
arrived and taken their seats, M. the Revolution had invested iL
Pnraveau, the " doyen d'age," who You know that, with regard to oar-
occupied the chair, called upon M. selveB, this dictatorship was a mo-
Dnpont (de I'Enre) to address the ral power exercised in the midst
Assembly. He obeyed the sum- of the difficult circumstances we
mens, and read the following have passed through,
speech :— • " Faithful to ear origin and to
" Citizen Bepresentatives of the our personal couviotions, we have
People : — The Provisional Govern- not hesitAted to proclaim the infant
ment comes to bow before the na- Republic of Febiuaty.
tion, and render a signal homage " To-d^ we shall inaugurate the
to the supreme power with which labours of the National Assembly
you are invested. with the ciy which ought always
" Elect of the people, we wel- to salute it, ' Vive U B£pub>
come you to this great capital, lique.' "
where yonr presence excites a sen- This address was received with
timent of happiness and hope that the greatest enthusiasm. The
will not be deceived. first business transacted was &
"Depositories of the national verification of the returns, the
sovereignty, you are about to found whole Assembly being divided into
new institutions upon the broad eighteen bureauai or committees
basis of Democracy, and to give to for the puipose.
France the only constitution that By and by M. Ollivier rose and
can suit her — a Republican con- proposed, that after the admission
stitntion. [Here the whole asaem- of every Member, he should mount
bly roes, and with right hands the tribune, and there, in the pre-
raised, cried "Vive la Repub- sence of the Assembly, take the
lique!"] But after havinff pro- oath of allegiance to the Republic ;
claimed the great polidcal law but he vras interrupted by nnm-
which ifi about definifely to or- bers crying, "The oath is abo-
mnize the country, you, like us, lishedl" "By whom?" asked M.
Citizen Representatives, will pro- Ollivier. " By the Provisional
ceed to r^;u1ate the possible Government." " What!" conti-
and efficacious action of the Go- nued U. OUirier, " do you place ,
266] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [France.
the power of the ProTiBional Oo- ing the Uemben of the Nattonal
veninient above that of the Na- Aasembl; wish to uiiit« them-
tional Assembly?" {Criei, "The BeWes to the Representatives of
oath is abohshed, and for ever I ") the Seine.
M. Crcmieus, the Minister of M, Duconx. — I unreservedly ap-
JuBtice, then rose and said, that plaud the feeling which has dic-
the oath of allegiance had been tated the proclamation; and no
the occasion of so much scandal one more than myself was more
during the last 60 years, and had anxious to proclaim the Republic
excited such universal indignation, one and indivieible ; but permit me
that the Provisional Government to observe that it is not iu an in-
had thought proper to abolish it cidental manner that so important
"The oadi of eveiy true Repub- an act should be accomplished,
lican," added the Ministtir, " is in The Republic will be great and
his heart, and not on his lips." durable enough for oa to be able
The Assembly received that de- to proclaim it at a solemn mo-
claration of tbe Minister with great ment; let the incident which has
applause, and immediately ratified just taken place be therefore re-
the measure adopted by the Pro- garded as an expression of a move-
visional Oovemment, amidst cries ment which we could not contain ;
of "Vive la Republiquel" and but I demand that the democratic
" Vive le Gouvemement Pnivi- and fraternal Republic should be
Boire!" hereafter pMclaimed with all the
M. Berger afterwards ascended solemnity befitting such an im-
the tribune, and said — Citizens, portant act.
in tiie name of the deputies of the M. Barb^. — We have only to
Seine, I propose to the National proclaim the Bepublic after the
Assembly the solemn proclamation people. Let us all (^ "Long
of tbe Bepublic. Citizens, let livetheBepnblic— one, indivisible,
France, let the whole world know and social f "
that the Republic, solemnly pro- M. Trelat. — The Republic is a
claimed with enthusiasm, is and fact which has been preparing for
will remain the form of the go- many long years, a necessary, a
vemment of this countiy. Lotus scientific (!) fact Tbe proof of its
never forget tbis great day. In necessity is, that it is |iroclaimed
the name of the countiy, let men in this Chamber, aiiliouung the
of all opinions no longer form but other where it was combated two
one &mily, that this day may be months since. The greatest preof
truly the fiU of concord and of iS( that even those who then pro-
fratemily. tested against it do so no longer.
M. Clement Thomas — I de- If there are any citizens here who
mand that the proclamation which think of another form of govem-
has just been proposed should be ment — (" No( no 1 " " Vive la B^
made in the name of all the Repre- pubUque I ") The Republic, there-
sentatives. If we had been con- fore, is like the sun — blind Is he
suited beforehand we should all who does not see it
have approved of it; it should A Voice. — Let us all proolaiin
therefore be done in the name of l^e Republic,
the National Assembly. General Conrtais.— I come in
M. Berger.— 1 am happy in see* the name of the people of Paris.
Frmee.]
HISTORY.
[267
I reqawt the MembetB of the Fro-
linonal Ooveroment to come out
on the peristjrle of the building,
and the representativea of the peo-
ple to follow them, in order to
proclaim the Republic.
The Assembly then rose in a
body and proceeded to do homage
to the wishes of the sorereiga
people, who, with the National
Guards in full uniform, were im-
patiently waiting to nitnesa the
^tectade.
The Members of the Provisional
GoTommeDt stood on the top of
the flight of steps &cing the Font
de la Concorde, and the other
Deputies occupied the steps imme-
diately below them, while in front
the National Guards filled the
space between them and the liver.
A tremendous shont was soon
raised for the " colotua of the
armr," and they were brought for-
ward amidst the thunder of can-
non and the cheers of the multi-
tude, and unihried to the breeze.
The Republic was then proclaimed,
and, in the presence of 300,U00
citizens, solemnly accepted by the
National Assembly. To taetuy its
hear^ adoption of the principlea
of the Bevolntion, the following
proclamation was posted on the
walls.
" The National Assembly, the
faithful interpreter of the senti-
ments of the people, by whom it
has been eleotod, previous to com-
mencing its labours —
" Declares, in the name of the
French people, and in the &ce of
the entire world, that the Re^
public, proclaimed on the 34th of
February, 1848, is, and shall re-
main, the form of the Oovemment
of Fnnce.
"The Republic desired by France
has adopted the motto, 'Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity,'
" In the name of the country, the
National Assembly en treats French-
men of every political party to for-
get former feuds, and to form in
fiiture but one bmily. The day
on which the ropresentatives of
the people met is for all the citi-
zens the feast of concord and fra-
ternity. Vivt la BipubUqw ! "
The next day was devoted to the
election of officers of the As-
sembly. It was determined that
the chair of President should be
held for only a month at a time,
and M. Buchez had the honour of
being chosen the first occupier of
it,^ 383 votes.
The six Vice-Presidents chosen
were — M. Recurt, who obtained
633 votes; General Cavaignac,
675: M. Corbon, 897; M. Gui-
nard, 37S; M. Cormenin, 819;
and M. Seoard, S18.
The six Secretaries— UU. Pe-
puin, seS; Robert, 383; De-
georgea, 326; Felix Pyat, 832;
Lacrosse, 387 ; and Emily Pean,
363.
The three Qnestors— M. De-
gous£e, 4S9 votes ; H. Bursaux de
Pusy, 336 ; and General Negrier,
390.
The Uembeis of the Provisional
Government afterwards gave an
account of the acts done by them
in their respective departments;
but first a general statement of
the principlea which had guided
them in their policy was read by
M. de Lomartine. The following
are some extracts from this ora-
tion) the delivery of which excited
great enthusiasm in the Assembly.
" The Throne being overturned,
and the Dynasty having depart«d
into esile. the Provisional Govern-
ment simply recorded that Repub-
lic which was proclaimed by the
voice of the entire people. The
first task of the Government was
•268] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Prance.
the restoraUon of order in Paris, aod the Ffrenees; and the Nav;
The co-operation of the citizens was despatched to display the flag
made this a task of leas merit of the Republic to our brethren on
thaa otherwise it would have the Italian shores,
been : each citizen became at the " But In proclainung a Bepnblio
same time the soldier of peace France proclaimed a principle^
and the ToluDteer magistrate of the principle of equality by right,
order. The magnanimous aspect and fraternity by institutions. The
of the people, uieir heroism and revolution ought to be ot^anized
generosity, inspired the idea of for the profit of the people. To
tbe first decree publisbed in the suppress the servile name of 'pro-
name of the Republic — that which letaire,' and elevate the working
abolished the puulsbment of death man ; to elevate and enrich these
for political ottences. Europe saw without degrading or ii\juriiig
that the spirit of God was over the others ; to preserve property, and
crowd, and leanit to hope that a render it more fruitful, by multi-
revolution so magnanimous in its plying it, and dividing it amongst
inauguration would be pure and a greater number; to distribute
sacred in its success. taxes in such a way as to cause
' ' Regards were turned in aucces- the heaviest weight to fall on tbe
sion to the departments of France, strongest ; to create by the State
the Army, the Colonies, Algeria, the work which should happen to
and the nations of Europe. As fiiil by the fact of capitu being-
to the last, Europe waited imde- intimidated, ao that not a work-
cided the first word of the Re- man in France shonld remain
public. This first word was the without bread ; in fine, to examine
abolition, dt facto and de jure, of with the workmen themselves
the reactionaiy treaties of 1815; the practical and true phenomena
litferty restored to our foreign po- ofassociation, and thetheories, still
licy; the declaration of peace for problematical, of the various sys-
territories — of sympathy for na- tems, in order to discover the true
tions — of justice, good faith, and application, — such were the ideas
moderation for governments, of the Provisional Government in
Fnmce by that manifesto dis- all its decrees,
armed her ambition, but did not " In France, then, that Republic
disarm her ideas; she let her has been established which the
principle of action shine forth Oovemmenta of Europe declared
fully. Her war went no farther, could only be so on the condidoDS
The special ^port of the Minister of foreign and civil war, auarohy,
of Foreign Amiirs will show you prisons, and the scaffold: it is .
what this system of open diplo* shown to be compatible with peace
macy has produced for France, to all Europe and order at home,
and what it will in all likelihood with individual liberty, and even
still produce for France. The wilh gentleness, mildness and
Minister of War energetically re- puri^ of morals, in a people to
established the shaken discipline whom hatred is a torture and coo-
of the Army; a Council of De- cord a national instinct. I'orty-
fence was formed; four armies of five days have been passed through,
observation were established — in with no execuUve authority over
the North, on the Rhine, the Alps, the people but that moral ona
Frana.} HISTORY. [269
which the^r themselves were pleased tutelaiy iatervention of the State,
to acknowledge : the people con- We do not pretend that the State
sented to be governed by pereua- should become the only tntftutml
aive worda, by counsels, and by of the kingdom ; but we wish it to
generous inspindons. Through- be understood that the State has b.
out that time of crisu, cessation of great duly to fulfil in what regards
work, and misery — of political egi- those who suffer. What we wish
tation and social anguisn — 'property is, that the State shoald be the
was unviolated, and life unmenaced guardian of credit, giving credit not
by the people : nor has a single only to the rich but to the poor,
proscription or imprisonment, or " Aseociation is a noble and
a single drop of blood shed by the beautiful thing ; not because it
Government, cast a shade of sad- will displace riches, but becanee it
ness on the past. The Members will make them univerBal, by
of the Provisional Government making them fniitftil ; and because
may descend from their stations it will raise the level of the people
and re-mix with the people with- and humanity."
out any one being able to ask. The AssemblyaflerwardspoBsed
' As citizens, what nave been your an almost unanimous vote, that
deeds?'" the Provisional Government had
Id conclusion, M. de Lamaitine deserved well of the country. The
said — *' Our only ambition is to only Members who dissented were
re-enter the ranks of good citizens, the notorious M. Barbes and two
May the histoty of our beloved others.
country inscribe with indulgence, On the 8th of May, a Committee
below, fkr below, the groat deeds wasformedbychoosingonemember
which France has accomplished, from ecLch buroau, for the pur-
the recital of the three past months pose of drawing up a report upon
daring which we have crossed an the form of Interior Government,
abyss between a crashed Monarchy which ought to succeed the Pro-
and a Republic starting up in its visional Government; and next
place. And, instead of die obscure day it presented its proposal, that
and forgotten names of the men the Assembly should appoint nine
who had devoted themselves to Ministers with portfolio, and one
the public welfare, may history in- without portfolio, to act as Preai-
scribe on her pages only two dent. This had been adopted by
names— the name of the People a majori^ of 14 to i in the Com-
who have preserved all, and the mittee, in preference to a plan
name of the great God who has for allowing tlie National Assem-
poured his blessings on the foanda- bly to appoint an Executive Conn-
tions of the Republic." cil, who should have the nomina-
In giving an account of the la- tion of ihe Ministers. A debate
boors of his deportment, M. Louis arose upon the question in the
Blanc said, "The two fundamental Assembly, and the result was that
ideas of our work — whether it con- it adopted the latter proposition
cems commerce or agricultura, or by a majority of 36. The num-
the banks or the establishments here being, for the intervention of
of customs — the two fundamental an Executive Committee, 411: —
ideas are,, association and disinte- for the appointment of Ministers
rested intervention, the pacific and by the Assembly direct, 3S5.
270] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [F«««.
Od the foUoviDg Aaj, the eleo- ere, uid fuBctionariefi, who shall
tion of Membere of the Executive obey bis order, under the penalties
Committee took place. M. Du stipulated in the 234th ardole <^
pont (derEurejetat«d, that owing the Penal Code. The President
to hia great age he could not poa- may delegate faia power to tbe
aibly act as one of them even if questors, or one of them."
he were choeen, on annonncement Ou the llth, the following Mi-
which aeemed to be received with niatry wae appointed to take ohorge
great regret by the Assembly. A of tbe vaiions deportmeata of (he
ballot t£eD commenced, and the public service,
reault was that the following Mem- Gr^mieux . Justice,
hers were elected, (the total num- Bostide Foreign Afiain.
ber of votes being 704.) Cbarroa War.
Arago 736 Caay . . Marine.
Gamier Fag^ . . . 71(> Recurt . . Interior.
Marie 70!) Camot . . Public Inadtution.
Lomortine .... 643 Tr^lat . . Public Works.
Ledni Rollin . . . 458 Flooon . . Commerce.
M. Wollowski then ascended the Betbmont . Religion,
tribune, and proposed that the Duclero . Finance.
Assembly should invite the Execu- Marrast . Mayor of Paris,
tive Committee to take into con- Caussididre Prefect of Paha,
aideration the prayer of the PoJiah On the IStb,_Bome farther regu-
delegates, in which they demanded latione were determined upon, Uie
the assurance of France to restore principal of which was, " the Na-
their nation to independence. tional Assembly shall be divided
A Committee was afterwards into 16 committees, each composed
appointed to propose a plan for the of 60 members, viz.— 1, a Com-
internal regulation of the mode of mittee of Justice; 3, Public Wop
oondncting the business of the ship; 9, Foreign Afhin ; 4, Pub-
Assembly, and they proposed the lie Instruction; 6, Interior; A,
following resolutions, which, after Departmental and Conunnnal Ad-
some discussion, nere adopted. ministration ; 7, Commerce and
" No stranger is to enter, under Industry ; 8, Agriculture andCredit
any pretext, Uie hall of the Assem- relating to Property; 0, Marine;
biy. Persons admitted into the 10, War; 11, Algeria; 13, Colo-
public galleries shall remain seated, nies; 13, Finance; 14, Public
uncovered, and silent. Any in- Works; 16, Civil and Criminal
dividual giving marks of approba- Legislation ; and 16, of labour."
tion or disapprobation is to be im- But sigaificant systems of die-
mediately excluded by the officers content out of doors now began la
of the House, and should they dis^ appear. Imitating the example
turb the deliberations they are to be of the Terrorists under the first
tried by the competent authorities. Revolution of 1769, clubs were
Tbe President will watch over the actively at work, inflaming the
internal and external security of minds and passions of the popn-
the National Assembly, and, to lace, and erecting that mjMrittmm
that effect, he will have a right to imperio which is so fatil to tbe
require tbe assistance of tbe armed existence of tranquillity. A great
force, and of all officers, command- feast of fraternity was in prepara-
F»ww.] HISTORY. [271
tion, at which all the citizens of Aseemblj, in front of whkb, and
Paris vere invited U> attend, but, in the court-yard, was drawn up
on the llth of May. there ap- abody of about 1000 troop§ of the
peared on the nalb of the dty a Garde Mobile, but these did not
placard, in which, after quoting offer the least resistance, and the
Terbatim the proclamation of the people then mshed into the gal-
FrOTiaional Goienuuent, dated leries as above mentioned.
i)6th of February, in which it " un- A great eensation was as might
dertook to guarantee labour to all be expected produced in the As-
dtizens," it announced that "The aembly, which was increased by
promises made on the barricades the declamtion of U. Degoiste.
not having been fulfilled, and the who mounted the tribune and said,
National Assembly having refused, that, contrary to the express orders
in its sitting on the 10^ of May, of the qooBtore, General Conrtais,
to constitute a Ministry of labour, the Commander-in-chief of the
the delegates of the Luxemboura National Guards, had directed the
decline to assbt at the Jiu called soldiers of the Garde Mobile, on
I>» la Concorde." duty at the Chamber, to take off
We have mentioned the prom- their bayonets snd sheathe them in
sition made by M. Wollowski with their scabbards,
r^&rd to Poland, because that A scene of disorder now ensned
subject was seized upon as the somewhat similar to that which
pretext for a scene of tumultuous occurred at the lost sitting of the
violence, which, at one time. Chamber of Deputies when the
threatened to overthrow the Go- Monarchy was overthrown. M.
vemment, and deliver Paris into Barbes rushed to the tribune, but
the hands of the extreme demo- was by main force preveuted by
crats. On the 15th of May, M. some of the Members from ad-
Wollowski had again ascended the dressing the Assembly. The Pre-
tribone for the purpose of speakiag sident put on his hat, and the
on the question of Poland, when Members of the Executive Gom-
lond cries were heard outside the mittee left the hall. At this mo-
Ohambers, and shortly afterwards ment a shot was fired on the out-
a body of men rushed into the side, which produced a temporary
galleries, canying banners in their pause; but the mob soon burst in
haodst and shouting Vive la Po- through the doors and filled the
togne ! An immense number of interior of the building,
workmen had, after marching along Shortly afterwards M. Buchez,
the Boulevards, approached in the President, re-entered the hall,
a dense mass the Pont de la accompanied by the Prefect of
Concorde. Here was stationed a Police and the Members of the
small detachment of Kstionsl Executive Committee. M. Barb^
Guards, who were quite inadequate requested the people to be silent,
to resist the passage of the crowd, in order that the Assembly might
which pressed forward and dis- hear the petition which a man
armed them, unscrewing without standing near him held in his
oppoeition the bayonets from off hand. No attention, however, was
their muskets. They then rapidly paid to his suggestion, and the
advanced towards the hall of the petition was read amidst the ut-
272] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. t^^«««-
most tnmult. General Conrtais, and cried out, " CitisenB, I pro-
MM. Baspail, Blanqui, Barbds, claim in the name of tbe aoTereign
and men dressed in blouses and in people of France, that the Nationid
their sbirta, occupied tbe tribune, Assembly ie diaeolved."
all vociferating together. M.Louis But the beating of the rappd
Blanc then app«ired by the side was now heard, and the columns
of the President, and vas hailed of the National Ouards were
with loud cheera by tiie mob. marching in imposing forco to-
Siience being restored, U. Louis wards the hall. *A shout was
Blano requested the people to be raised of " A I'Hdtel de Ville I "
silent, in order that the petition and most of Uie leaders of the
might be read and freely discussed clubs attended by their follower
by the National Assembly. The left tbe Assembly. The National
right of petition should be sacred, Guards entered the building, and
and the people should prove itself by main, force expelled all who
calm in its force and moderation, were not representatives of the
The petition was again read by a people, upon which the sitting was
delegate of the clubs, who con- re-commenced, and the Assembly
eluded by demanding that the declared itself to be en j)«raMn«nc«.
Assembly should decree irutanter In the meantime, M. fiarb^,
that a friendly request should be with Albert, There, and other
addressed to tne Northern Powers leaders of the mob, arrived at the
to re-establish old Poland, and that H6tel de Ville. The gusrd was
a French army be held ready to unable to prevent the entrance of
cross the Rhine and march to the crowd which accompanied them.
Poland, should the ultimatum be The iron gates were forced, and tbe
rejected. people entered. A Provisional Go-
The President next rose and vemment was proclaimed, consist-
observed, that the Assembly bad ing of Ledru Rollin, Louis Blanc,
heard their petition, and that if Albert, Caussidiere, Sobrier, Hu-
they wished it to deliberate upon bert, Thor6, Froudhon, Pierre
it, they should retire. M. Barbds Leronx, Gabet, Raspml, and Blan-
joined in the recommendation, qui. The name of U. Flocon was
One of the presidents of the clubs r^eoted. That of Ledru Bollin
here rose, and asked leave to ex- was objected to, but at last re-
ploin the petition. This be did at ceived. M. Barb^ wrote ont a
some length, and afterwards M. list of the new Provisional Govem-
Ledru Rollin ascended the tribune ; ment, and threw it out of the
but when he called upon the people window to the people ; bnt it was
to withdraw in order to enable the seized and torn to pieces by the
Assembly to deliberate, a tremen- few National Guards who were
dous uproar arose. M. Barb^ present At last M. Lamartine
elevated his voice to the hidiest arrived about six o'clock, acoom-
pitch, and was beard to exclaim, panied by a strong body of National
"a fixed tax of a milliard shall be Guards, who occupied all the pas-
levied ou the rich to carry on war sages leading to the Hotel de Ville,
for Poland." This was received and,forcingtheirway intothe build-
with vociferous cheering ; and not ing,arreeted M. Barbds, M. Albert,
long afterwords, M. Hubert rose and their colleagues, in the room
fVono.] HISTORY. [273
where they were orgtiniziiig their his hand. An instant after, h«
new goTenimeiit and preparing was driven from the Aasemblj
procIamatioriB to the people. • with cries of " Down with the
The timelj assistance afforded traitor!"
hj the National Guard iras due to When M. Loois Blano entered
the active measares taken by MU. the Chamber widi hia dothes torn.
Gamier Faees and Arago, who, as he was met with contemptooua
Members of the Ezecutive Com- shouts, as be was suspected of being
auttee, were engaged at the Pakce privy to the attempted insuireo-
of the Luxembourg, and, whenever tion, and on his exchdming, " I
thej leomt that the hall of the swear to you on my honour that I
Assembly had been invaded by the had nothing to do with the scenes
populace, they issued orders to the of this day, and that I even ex-
troops to march instantly to the pressed my diaMiprobation," he
rescue. After the mob had been was driven by denuve cries from
compelled to withdraw, M. Clement the tribune. The Assembly after-
Thomas said that, during the wards adjourned,
tumult, the President of the Na- The coon ter-re volution was thus
tiona] Assembly had placed him promptly and efTectually sup-
^ravisionBlly in command of the pressed, and in a wonder&lly short
[ational Guard in order to protect space of time qniet was restored to
the capital from anarchy, and that the capital. MM. Barbds, Blan-
he now begged to resign the autho- oni, Albert, Sobrier, and Raspail,
ritj with which he had been tempo- tbe leaders of the movement, were
rarity invested. M. Gamier Pag^, thrown into prison in the Castle
however, immediately rose and pro- of Viucennes, and the National
posed the following decree, which Guards, togedier with some regi-
W88 adopted by aociamstion: — mentaof tbe line, which now began
" In the name of the French to make their appeanmoo in Paris,
pemie and of the National As- held themselves ready to act at a
sembly, the Executive Committee moment's notice to prevent any
declares that Citizen Clement Ireeh outbreak.
Thomas is nominated Commander- On tbe following day, when the
in-Chief of tbe National Guards of Assembly met, the President at-
Paris." tempted to explain a part of his
Against General Courtais, as conduct which had caused great
having betrayed his trast, the indignation. He had written to
strongest feeling of indwnation the officer in command of the Na-
was eipreased. He wished to ad- tional Guards to prevent the rappd
dreas the Chamber, and having from being beaten. This he said
exclaimed, " In tbe name of the he had done in order not to excite
pei^le order the Nataonal Guard still more the anger of the people!
to withdraw," one of that body Upon which the Members almost
criedout, "General of the Nation^ unanimously exclaimed, "You were
Guard, you are a general no wrong." M. Gamier Pagte ihea
longer. You are a traitor. I de- spoke, and stated that tbe Bxe-
grade yon!" At these words he oative Committee had intrusted the
palled off his epaulettes, while command of the National Guard
another wrenched from him bis to Colonel Thomas, and of the
tmord, opon which be bad laid army in. Paris to General Bedeau,'
Vol. XC. (TJ
274] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Frmet.
and that " the brave and glorioos this vu a fear lest too great an
army with which the Members of importance should seem to be
the Committee had fralemized " attached to that individual, and
had been called to Paris. ^t, as the Provisioiud Govem-
We may here uention that ment vere then on the point of
General Gavaignac was about this resigning their powers, tbey did
time appointed Minister of War. not like to adopt any rigorous
M. Boiyeaa aftenTards attacked measures. After tome further
a. Caussidiere, the Prefect of desultory speeches, the Assembly
Paris, for haviugillegallyorganized passed to the order of the day.
a Republican Guard, some of whom
he said be saw heading the mob One of the significaat OTmptoms
during the preceding day. M. of the tenure on which the newly
Caussidiere, in his defence, said created goremmeat held the reins
that nobody deplored the scenes of of power waa the fulsome toae of
the preceding day more smcerely flattery which it felt itself con-
than he. Nominated by the com- strained to adopt in its addresses
batants of the barricades, he hod to the people. Thus, after the
maintained the peace of the city insurreotion had been quelled, a
during two montlis and a half. In proclamation afweared, issued by
less than three days all the streets the members of the Executive
had been repaired, and the circu- Committee, in which they aaid :
lation restored. Six days after " Citizens, the Assembly, dis-
the Revolution, the price of bread turbed for a moment, has resumed
had dimiBisbed, in consequenee of i,ts labours. It sits in the midst
the measures he bad adopted. He of you, always great, always strong,
had established an effectual police, always ready to assura the triumph
and was aware of every movement of the Republic and to realize the
of the enemies of the Republic. Just hopes which the revcdution
Hie object had been to maintain a has raised in the minds of the
balance between parties. A com- operatives.
bination among the journeymen " This day crime haa been vao-
bakers. 5000 in number, had nearly quished.
deprived Paris of bread,aiid it was "The National Guard.tiieGarde
through his interference that the Mobile, all the forces in Paris and
catastrophe had been obviated, in the neighbourhood, have driven
Alarmed at the machinations of before them the insane conspirators
Citizen Blanqui, whom ha regarded who oonceived their plots against
as one of the greatest enemies of liberty under the name of Poland,
the Republican party, he had i^ " Citizens, your victory has been
plied for a warrant to arrest him ; holy, for the blood of your brothers
which had betn refuted. He might has not been shed. Bemainpre-
have executed the warrant at six pared, remain armed to defend, as
o'clock on the previous morning, you have shown yourself so com-
and thus obviated the deplorable petent to do, the Republic against
scenes of that day. anarchy."
With reference to the rsfiisal to On the 17th of May, the
grant a warrant for the arrest of Hinisler of Finance presented to
Blanqui, M. Cr6mieux, Minister the Assembly a prtget du lot,
of Juatice, said that the reason of relative to the purchaoe of railway*
France.] HISTORY. [275
by the State. He divided them M&rtin (of S(nshurg), Voirhayo,
into two categories, and, with re- Coquerel (Protestant Miniater),
gard to the firat, made the follow- Corbon. Tourret (de I'AlUer),
ing proportion : — Gustave de Beaumont, Dupin,
"The value of those different Vanlabelle, Odillon Barrot, Pagte
linee ahall be fixed, according to (de I'Aridge), Dom^, and Con-
the average price of their re- aiderant.
apective shatva on the Pans On Sunday, the 3 let of Mav, a
Bourse daring the eix montha grand /He de eoneorde took place
that preceded the revolution of at Paris, whii^ passed off without
the iUth of Febmaiy, (from the the ali^test attempt at disturb-
fi4th of August, 1647, to the 24th ance. The people seemed to be
of Februaiy, 1848). In exchange in the best possible humour, and
for the shares the holders shall to have buried in oblivion the
receive coupons of renta five per evente of the preceding week. In
cent, price for price, according to the meantime, however, some
the average pnce of the Paris deplorable scenes were acted at
Bourse during the six months Lyons, where bands of ruffians,
above mentioned." ccjling themselves voraeei, made
With r^ard to the second, the themselves for a time masters of
Uinister wss to be authorized to the city, and caused tbe utmost
treat with each company sepsr alarm. Barricades were erected
ratel J. The shareholders of these and the red flag hoisted. In con-
companies were to have the power sequence of this, the Groix-Bousse,
at a general meeting to accept, by where the insurgents had esta-
a m^)ori^ of votee, the conditions bliehed their head-quarters, wss
proposed by tbe Minister of Fir declared to be in a state of siege,
nonce, and thus contract for the and the National Guards were
universality of their shareholders, obliged to act with energy and
" A sum of rmtei equal to the firmness to put down the insur-
estimated value of the railroads rection. This, however, they sue-
redeemed shsll be inscribed on the ceeded in doing, and tranquilli^
Grand Book of the Public Debt, was restored,
and the Btote, assuming the place We now turn to the proceed
of the companies, shall reimburse ings of the National Assembly,
their obligations and loans on the Our limits of course prevent us
terms stipulated with the lenders." from giving anything like a de-
A sub-committ«e was afterwards tailed account of the debates which
appointed to draw up a report on there took place ; nor indeed were
toe proposed measure. they of sufficient interest to justify
"a die foU ■ ' - ■ .... . _ . A
J following day, tbe As- a lengthened narrative. We shall
sembly appointed by ballot a Com- thermore confine ourselves to the
mitt«e, consisting of 16 Members, more prominent and important
te accomplish the important task topics of discussion,
of drawing up the plan of a Con- . On the Q4th of May. M. Dom^s,
sdtution. The following names the reporter of the Committee to
were chosen: — MM. Cormenin, which the question of preparing a
Annand ManBSt, Lamennois, Bill relative to the Orleans family
Vivien, Tooqueville, Dufaure, had been referred, stated that
[T2]
276] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [FrMct.
they proposed that the Assembly repelled the charge of havuig vio-
sbould adopt the following de- lated the principle of the nuionol
eree: — eovereigiift, vhioh he had advo-
" The Nationai ABBembij de- cated dl his life, and considered
crees that the entrance of the the greateat of crimee. The Pre-
French territory, denied to the sident, he mumtained, had autlw-
Bourbone of the elder branch by rizod him to speak to the people,
the law of the 10th of April, 1683, and at the moment Hubert pro-
shall be likewise denied to Lotus nounced the dissolution of the As-
Philippe and bis family." sembly he was at his seat, engaged
On the li6th, a debate took place in wiiting tboea words : — " In the
upon this question, and the result name of the people and of your
was that a decree for the perpetual own sovereignty, I entreat you to
baniabment of Lonis Philippe and retire."
his family was carried by a ma- The Assembly, after a short dia-
jority of fl95 to AS. Amongst cnsaion, decided that the qoesUoa
those who voted in the affirmative, of impeachment should be referred
was M. Duvergisr de Hauranne, to a Committee to bo appointed by
who had been a minister under the different bureaux, and one was
the ex-King. immediately nominated for that
At the sitting on the Slst, the purpme.
President announced to the As- On the Snd of June, M. Jules
sembly, that M. , Portalis, the Favre, the reporter of the Com-
Procureor-Oeneral of the Conrt of mittee, stated that they had de-
Appeal of Paris, demanded per- tennined, by a nuyoritrof IS to 8,
mission to praeecute M. Louis to propose to the Assembly that a
Blanc, on the ^ond that he was prosecution should be instituted
seriously implicated in the law- against M. Louis Blaua The fol-
leee proceedings which had taken lowing day was app^uted for tin
place on the I6th of May. M. discussion to take idaee on this
Louis Blano then ascended the recommendation, when, after <t
tribune, and said that he did not stormy debate, in v^di it turned
come forward to defend himself as out that M. Cremieoz, Minister of
aman, but as a represmtative of Justice, hadinapreviousoommuni-
th« people, and a member of that cation with the law officers agreed
Oovemment which had inaugu- to the impeachment, althou^ he
rated the era of the Bepublic by now opposed it, the AasemUy
proclaiming justice and clemency, divided upon the question, v^n
and the abolition of capital punish- tliere appeiared
ments. He little espeet«d that
anch would be the recompense For the Requisition of the
reserved to him for wishing to Attorney-General . . S37
establish a great and prions Re- Against it S60
public free from all excesses. He .
entreated his colleagues to abstain Mqority against the Be-
from all acta tending to recall the quiaition . . - . . . &ii •
Ksiga of terror, far such arms mi^t
at a future day be turned against All the Ministers, with one ex-
tbemsalYse. He then indignantly oeption, M. Bastide, voted in the
ChxwIc
Fnmee.] HISTORY. [277
m^oritf, and as M. Cr^mieiix'fl M. Pierre Buonaparte and M.
oondoct exposed him to the charge Napoleon Buonaparte declared that
UT inconsistency, for which he ma they were afiOicted at what had
■bleto giTenoBatis&ctor^acGonnt, taken place; and that thej would
tie aftenrards rested his post, be found in the first ranks of the
and was succeeded hj M. Beth- defenders of the Republic — to give
Diont. At the same lime M. tbeir blood and their livee in its
Portalis, the Proonreur-Oeneral, preservation. Bat they appealed
resigned office, and waa replaced tn reason, and said it was a terrible
by M. Martin (of Strasbui^). moment to propose a proscription
On the 6th of June M. Buches reaolved on beforehand, and in a
quitted the President's chair, which time of reSection. It wonid hence*
he had occupied for one month, forward be euoi^h for any wretches
the ]>eriod limited by the rules of to nse a name criminallj, and it«
the Assembly, and M. Senard was bearer would be compromised,
elected as his successor. The Empire was a chimera: who
About tlna tame an incident oo- wished for it ? it could never be
cnrred which occasioned some per- revived.
plexi^ to the Chamber, and waa Next day the question of the
regarded as an inauspidons omen exclusion of Loais Niqwleon was
of fresh troubles. Louis Napoleon again brongfat forward by M. Jules
Buonaparte, who a^r his escape Favtc, on ^e report of thedeoision
from (he foTtresB of Ham, as has of one of tlje bureaux;.^ the
been related in a preoedii^ volume, effect that be onght to be admitted
bad resided in Et^land, came over to take hb seat as member for the
to Paris when the Republic waa department of the Lower Cha-
proclaimed, bnt, acting upon the rente. A warm debate followed,
advice of the Provisional Govern- in which M. Louis Blanc declared
ment, quietly retired from France, himself in fovour of the admission
He was now elected as a member of Louis Napoleon ; and ii. Ledm
of the National Assembly by no Rollin opposed it. He said, " la
lees than four constituencies, and the Assembly ignorant of events?
moch difference of opinion pre- A judicial investigation- has just
vailed as to the course which commenced, and it has been die-
ought to be adopted towards him. covered that money has been dis-
A vehement and angry discus- tributed, and the house from which
eion took place in the Assembly, that money has come is known;
in the course of which Id. de La- wine has also been distributed (
martine. alluding to the charge cries of 'Vive Napoleon I' have re>
against him of having acted in nni- sounded in our ears, and the vralia
son withMM. BlanquiandBarb^, hare been covared vrith aeditioaB
said — " If I have con^ired with placards. IffSftiin four days three
those men, it was when they had Napoleonist.. ienniala were esta*
not been unmasked. I conspired blished, preparing the way for the
with them as the lightning-con- oaodidateship of Louis Napoleon
ductor conspires with the thunder- as President. If the National
aterm. I for a long time withstood Assembly thinks that no measures
diose men." This was applauded should be taken in the face of such
by several voices, which eiaaimed, facta, let it declare ita opinion:
" That is true." the Executive Committee ooes its
278] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fr«.«.
duty, )et the National Assemblj do and intelligent; and, eince in*
theira." voluntarily I EaTour diaordar, I
In the roEiult it waa decided by beg leave, tbouffh not without
a great majori^ of the Aesembly, deep regret, to place my redgna-
the votes being taken by members tion in your hanaa.
rising and sitting in their places, " Tranquillilj, I trust, will now
that Louis Napoleon should be ad- be restored, and enable me to re-
mitted to take his seat as a repre- turn to France as the humblest at
sentativB of the people. citizens, but also as one of the
Almost immediately afterwards most devoted to the repose and
the President of the Assembly re- prosperity of hie country. "
ceived a letter from Louis Napo- A proof of the aniions desire
leon. dated London, June 14, in felt by the repreeentatives of
which he said — " I was about to France to put an end to popular
set off in order to appear at my disturbances vras afforded by the
post, when I leamt that my elec- large m^ority which voted in fa-
Uon had been made the pretext vour of a bill for preventing tn-
fbr disorders and disastrous errors, multuotis assemblages in the public
I repudiate all the saspicions of streets. It was brought forward
which I have been the object ; for on the Tth of June, and was, after
I aeek not for power. If tht peo- an animated discussion, carried by
pU impoK dvtiet on me, / thall a m^oritj of 478 to 82. The first
know haic to fidJU^tkan; bat I two articles provided that, —
disavow all those who have made " All assemblage of armed in-
use of my name to excite dis- dividualsiuthepublicetreetaispro-
turbanoe. The name which I bear faibited, as well as all assemblages
is above all a symbol of order, of of unarmed men calculated to dis-
nationality, of glory; and, rather turb public tranquillity."
than be the subject of disorder and " An armed assemblage consti-
of anaichy, I should prefer remain- tutes a crime, if it does not disperse
Jngin exile." at the first summons. It only con-
The reading of this letter caused stitutes an offence, if, at the first
the greatest excitement in the summons, it disperses without re-
Chamber, which interpreted the sistance."
passage marked in italics as a sig- And after detailing the nature
nificant hint te the nation that of the punishment to be inflicted,
the author vras ready to co-operate according te the degree and cha-
in an attempt to found a Buona- racter of the offence, the Bilt
parte dynasty. An angry debate enacted that " in all cases the de-
ensued, which was adjourned to linquente shall be deprived of their
the following day, when the cause dvil r^bts."
of disquiet was unexpectedly re- It was evident that out of doon
moved by the reading of a second a party was formed whose inten-
letter from Louis Napoleon, which tion it was to use the name of
was placed in the hands of the Napoleon as a pretext for dis-
President during the sitting of the tnrbance, and the thoughtless mu!-
Assembly. and which contained the titude were ready to adopt the cry
following passages : — as the watchwoij of change from
" I desire order and the main- the existing state of thi^, of
teoance of a Bepnblic, wise, grand, which they had already begun to
HISTORY.
be impadent The conduct of the
OoTenim«it vith reference to the
Suestion of the impeachment of
(. Louis Btanc baa given great
offence to the Uodentte putj.
Thej had exhibited a mmt of
firmness and a disposition to
tmckle to the extreme democrats,
which bad shaken confidence in
their policy. A meeting of 400
members of the ModftH was held
in the Salle des Conferences on
the lOtb of June, and it was then
resolved that an active opposition
should be oTVanized in the Assem-
bly. On Ue following daj M.
L^ Fancher, in the first bureau,
attacked the Idiuistry, and pro-
posed that the grant of 100,00(y.
per month for its expenses abould
be refused, but that the salaries
of the Executive Committee should
be sJlowsd. He said, — " France
needs a Government. It will not
retara to its industries without
order, secaritj, and confidence ;
for which she has in rain waited
for four months. France, which
mil be governed, when it no longer
feels the hand of a government
will throw itself into the arms of a
dictator. Tliis dictator I see al-
ready in the distance. A name
hss been pronounced and adopted
in the elections — a name which is
a talisman against which we cannot
too much stm^e for libsr^, allied
to order. I will, if I can, save
the Republic. I therefore refuse
this grant."
Afterwards, in the Assembly, in
tbemidstofanunintereating debate,
JA. Heckeres ascended the tribune,
and with marks of great excitement
exclaimed, — " Letters which have
been received from Troyss etate
that, at the moment when- a regi-
ment of the line was entering
that tovm, the National Guard
went ont to welcome the new
[279
comers, and that, when the National
Guard cried out, ' Vive la R£pub-
lique,' the Regiment replied, 'Vive
Napolfon Louis.'"
This statement occasioned ntuch
agitation in the Chamber; but Ge-
neral Cavaignac, the Minuter of
War, declared that, as do such re-
port had been communicated to
the Government, he believed it to
be false and calumnious; and be
added —
" Since an opportunity offers
itself, I will speak my mind. I
have no intention of (Erecting an
Bccusstion against any of my fellow-
citiaens, nor have I the right to
question tbe innocence of the man
whose name is so unfortunately
put forward in this way: but I
cannot help delivering over to
public execration whoever sbalt lay
a sacrilegious hand on the publie
liberties.
The whole Assembly here rose,
vrith cries of " Vive la Repub-
lique I " When the enthusiasm
had subsided, General Cavaignao
proceeded : " Honour and glory to
tbe citizen faithful to his duties,
who devotes bis blood, fortune,
talent, and intellectual f^ulties, to
tbe happiness and service of his
countiyr but shame and woe to
him who would dare to speculate
on the difficulties of the times,
and the sufferings of his native
land, and who would turn a glo-
rious name to the account of bis
personsl ambition 1 "
Subsequent events, as we shall
see, invested the opinions of this
officer with great importanee.
This occurred on Saturday, the
16th, and on the following Monday
there was much excitement exhi-
bited in the etreets of Paria, from a
general belief that Louis Napoleon
would make his entrance into the
capital on that day. Were not the
280 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [P'o-e4.
veisatile chancUr of the Pariaian of the Treasury, in which he esid
populace eo well known, it would that it was in an improTing stats,
be difficult to believe that the hero The deficit on the first of March
of the Straeburg SmmOe, the Bou- was foarteen tnillione of francs ; in
logue invasion, and the tame April it was aeventeen millions;
eagle * could have excited any in Uaj it had only been eleven
fediog of enthusiasm in France. millionB, with a promise of even a
The National Guards, however, better month in June. The bank
paraded the atreete, and, by their was to advance another loan of
determined conduct, prevented any 100,000,000 francs i seventy-five
disturbance. millions in 1848, and sevenly-five
In the Assembly, M. Jerome more in 1849. He proposed that
Buonaparte rose, and said, with 100,000 franca per month should
reference to the speech of Ge- be voted for the expenses of the
nend Cavaignao, that, although Bzecutive Committee,
be was no partisan of his rek- In the course of the debate
tion and friend Louis Napo- which followed, M. de Lamar-
leon, and disapproved of some tine s^d. in answer to the at-
parts of his past conduct, be tacks which were made upon the
claimed justice on his behall He Government, that he denied that
gave a hietoir of his proceedings the Executive Committ«e vras
on the first days of the Republic torn by divisions, or restricted
in March, and demanded that he by opinions from a free course
should either be publicly de- of action. During the existence
Dounced, or no longw aocused of of the Provisional Government,
acting improperly. On the pre- formed as was that of the 24th
ceding night, hearingi it was the of February, there were many
intention of Government to intro- anomslies, many errors, and many
duce a measure of exclusion against mysterieB, which would one day
M. Louis Napoleon, he had waited be cleared up ; but the Assem-
on the Minister of the Interior, bly could not be made ao-
and teamt from him explicitly that quainted with them all at onoe,
DO such intention existed. He and certain doubts and mistrust
was now astonished to hear &om must necessarily remain for a time
Members of the Assembly that in the mibds of many. He alluded
they were about to bring in such to the results of the foreign policy
a measure. which had been pursued. With-
M. Flooon admitted that it was out a struKle, or a single blow,
intended to propose a decree to France stoM higher in the opinion
that effect, but put it to the As- of the world, and hsr influence was
sembly whether it would then take greater, than ever it was before or
the matter into oonsideraUon, or after the greatest victories she
first decide the financial proposi- had gained. Eun^ judged the
tion of the Oovemment The efforts of the Executive mora
Chamber determined to give pre- generously than they were judged
oedence to the latter, and M. Du- at home.
clerc, the Minister of Finance, M. de LamartJne hero sat down
made a statement of the position from fatigue, and the Assembly
adjourned for a short time, and
■ See voL IxuiL p. 178. during the interval it happened
Prime$.}
HISTORY.
that K piBtol, in the pocket of an
officer nbo was doing out; amongst
tbe crowd aeeembled around the
hall, accidonUllj went off, and in
the feverish state of the pnblio
mind this trifling incident caused
much confusion and alarm. The
exaggemted importance attributed
to it will be seen from the follow-
ing remarks of M. da Lomartine
when be resumed his speech.
" Oeutlemen, a &tal circum-
Btaooe occurred when I was ad-
dressing the ABsambly. While I
was ipeakiug on the condttioDB of
the re-establishment of order, se-
veral shots were fired, one at the
commandant of the National
Guard, another at an officer of the
army, and a third at a Nalioual
Oniurd ; and this was done to the
My of 'Vi»e TEmpereur Napo-
Itenl' This is the first drop of
blood that has stained our re*blu>
taoo ; and, if blood has now been
shed, it luis not been for liberty,
but 1^ military tuisticiBm, and in
the name of aa ambition sadly, if
not Toluutarily, mixed up with
guilty manOBUvree. In deploring
with you this unfortunate collision,
the OoTemment has not to be
Uaaied for not having been pre-
pared for these sad eventualities.
This very morning, an hour before
t^ sitting of the Assembly, we
had prepared a declaration, which
events have compelled us ti> read
to yon immediately. When con-
spiracy is taken t» flagrante dt-
Ueto, with its hand dyed in French
blood, the law should be voted by
acelamatioD."
U. Larabit. — "Let us have no
vote by actdamatiou."
M. de Xismartine then read
aloud the decree provisionally
made against Louis Ncqxileon. It
Alluded to his twice coming for-
[281
ward as a pretender; avowed fears
that he might compromise the lie-
public; and concluded with a de-
claration that the Govenim«nt
should " cause the law of 1683 to
be executed against Louis Napo-
leon Bonaparte until such time aa
the National Assembly shall de-
cide otherwise."
Immediately upon this the whole
Assembly rose in a body, and witli
the greateet enthusiaBm, shouted,
"Vive la Repubhque!" but M.
Larabit added, in a loud voice—
" Vive la Repnblique ; but no pro-
soriptions."
On the 19th of June, M. At*
mand Marrast, who had been ap-
pointed reporter of the committee
to which nad been confided the
task of drawing up the plan of a
constitution, ascended the tribune,
and read the report which he and
his colleagues had agreed to adopt.
The following is a uiort pr&iii of
this important document:—
There was to be one Pre-
sident, to be elected by universal
suffrage for a period of four years.
Any person, bmng a French citizen,
30 years of age, and of good cha'
racter, was to be eligiMe to the
office. A Vice-Freeident was to
be elected by the National As-
sembly, whuw was to consist of
760 members, there being no other
chamber. The Ministers to be
nominated by the President, and
dismissed according to his will and
pleasure. A Council of Sute to
be appointed out of the members
of the Assembly, to consist of 40
persons at least, and chosen by the
Assembly itself, the office of that
body being to consider and draw
up the laws which may be deemed
by the Government advisable to
bring in. The punishment of
death was interdicted for political
S82j ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fra^.
oBencee. Slareiy tbs abolished Works, bat iDsiated that in Aitai^
in all the Frencti coloniea ; the no credit should be demanded for
press to be free, and every mem to the aame purpose exceeding a mil-
nave a right to print, and cause to lion of francs,
print, wluteverne pleased, subject iS.. Trelat, Minister of Publio
to such guarantees to the State as Works, said that many labooFerB
may he deemed uecessaty. All had already been formed into
reh^ons to he allowed in Prance, brigadee, and would leave in a few
and the Tarious ministers to be days for the canal of the Mame,
paid by the State. Publio instmc- the Upper Mame, the Upper
tion to be free, but sabject to the Seine, and the Tours and Nantes
superintendence of the State. Sub- Railroad. Their number was about
stitutes to be interdicted in the U,000. M. Tr61at regretted the
army and navy. The national anxie^ evinced by the committee
debt was declared sacred. Pro- of the Assembly to destroy these
perty was inviolable. Gratnitona workshops. For his part he
education to be given to the work- would never consent to it, nor
ing classes, so as to prepare them would he adopt hasty measures
for their different callings. Algeria when the intereeta of his fellow-
was declared an integral part of creatures were at stake. He could
the French soil, and to be admi- understand the surprise of the
nistered by laws pecoliar to itself. Assembly at finding that the work-
The same to t^e place in the ing of mese establishments con-
other French colonies. Trials to tinned the same, notwithstanding
be public ; the judges when once all the activity and eeal he had
appointed to be permanent die^yed to reform the abuse.
At the same sitting M. Falloux This question of the removal of
presented a i^nrt on the demand the workmen became the pretext
of 8,000,000/ for the national for a terrible explosion, and re-
atdUn. The oommitt«e t« which vealed the existence of a dark and
it had been referred had, he said, deep-seated conspiracy to deliver
seen with pain that a former sum up the capital and France to alt
(tf three millions had been already the horrors of anarchy, by esta-
expended on the day it was claimed, blishing the triumph of the Red
Such an infraction, justified by the Repubhcans.
Minister of Finance, by the ex- Themaaseaof unemplcyedwork-
hibition of an order of the Ex- men in Paris, who must either
ecutive Committee, was so con- support themselves on the pittance
tnury to all rules, that the com- doled out in the ^teli^n^otidnatM;
mittee trusted that it would never or starve, were ripe for a revolt;
be repeated. It had also seen and the specious doctrines o£ the
with r^pvt that its first decree Communists and Socialists, who
had not been oiecuted, and that were actively employed in dis-
the census of the labourers em- seminoting them, found a ready
ployed in those establishments had reception with them, while they
not yet been received. The com- were in a state of idleness and
mittee, nevertheless, recommended hunger. During the few days be-
the grant of three millions re- fore the eventful Q3rd of June, the
qidred by die Minister of Publio condition of the lower classes had
Fnmee.} HISTORY. " [283
been die subject of frequent com- agtunst fainilf and proper^, tbe
ment in tbe National Assembly, basis of all society.
M. Victor Hugo, the well-knonn M. Leon Faucher, complained of
novelist, said with reference to the the little attention paid b; the
(ii«[tan, that he admitted that those Government to the question of the
establishments had been at first a national woriuhops, and of its
necessity, but it was now full time allowing thennmbeisof indivduals
to remedy an evil of which the employed in them to increase from
least inconvenience was to squander 13,000 to 190,000. Misery, he
uselessly the resources of the coun- msintained, was extending to all
try. What, be asked, had they classes of society. Vety aoon not
produced in the course of four a single manufacture would be in
months ? Nothing. They had de- operation in Paris ; the shops would
graded the vigorous children of by degrees be closed, and the oon-
Ubour, deprived them of all taste tagion soon reach the provinces,
for labonr, and demoralized them M. Faucher felt fully justified in
to such a d^ree that they no stating that one half of Paris was
longer blushed to beg in the relieved by the other half. It
streets. The Monarchy had its would be fiu* preferable to destroy
idlers ; the Republic its vagabonds, those natdonal workshops alto-
He thought, however, that the sether, and to employ the funds in
enemiee of the country would not distributing alms to the indigent,
succeed in converting the Parisian In order to diminish the dwiger
labourers, formerly so virtuous, which threatened the peace of the
into lazzoroni and janissaries, or metropolis, the Government deter-
pnetoiians of fiTMuto, at the service minea to reduce the number of
of a dictatorship. U. Hugo then ouvritn who were receiving relief
drew a gloomy picture of the finan- there, and on the 32nd of June an
cjal and commercial situation of order was issued that 8000 of
France, and, appealing to the those who came &om the provinces
Socialista, be summoned them in should quit Paris, and return to
the name of humanity to cease to their respective homes. They were
preach their anarchical doctrines, supplied with money, and tickets.
At the moment that Paris struggled to enable tbem to procure provi-
in a paroiysm which was re^uued sions and lodgings on the road,
by its neighbonra as an agony, Lon- They left the capital in sullen dis-
don, he said, rqoiced, and its in- content, but halted after they had
dustry and commerce had trebled, passed the barriers, and a body of
Those who excited the people to 400 of them returned, under a
revolt were most culpable, for they pretext of wishing to have an inter-
created distrust, and obliged capitid view with tbe Executive Com-
lo fly. When they agitated Paris, mittee, at the palace of Luxem-
they asserted the power, grandeur, bourg. A deputation of four was
wedth, prosperity, and preponde- admitted to the presence of M.
ronce of England. The misery of Marie, to whom they detailed their
the rich constituted at no time the grievances. Some expressions of
weolthof the poor. The Socialists his were misinterpreted, and, on
should consider that civil war was the return of the delegates to dieir
a servile war ; and he entreated oomrades, they marched along the
them to suspend their declamations streets, shouting, " Down with the
284] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [f^cs.
Execndve Gommissionl" "Down some lives ware Imt, that the
with the Aesembly!" Their nuin* barricade wbs carried. A aimilor
bers rapidilj increased, and dif- contest took phue at the Porte 3t.
(erestdmsionB of workmen poured Martin, with a like resnlt, and
through the etreeCs convernng on man; barricades were taken in the
the H6tel de ViUe, where the; as- , course of the daj. The plan of
I jem bled in a tumaltnons crowd, the inanrgents seemed to be to de-
iTq act of rioleooe however yet fend desperately theBe barricades
took place, and they separated in as long as they were tenable, and
the direction of the different Fan- then suddenly abandoning them
bonrgs, where the plan of insurrec- to fall back upon other posiiiona,
tion was already fully oi^nized. fortified in the same' rapid and ez-
In the meantime the OoTem- tempore manner. But as soon as
ment was not idle, and large the poet waa taken by the troope,
bodies of troops were concentrated and they attempted to foUow the
upon the different points «^ere rebels ttirough the streets, they
it was thought probable that were receiveaby a galling fire from
attacks might be made. Some the houses, which were prepared in
oompaniee of the line and National a manner that praved how skilfully
Guards bivouacked in the Place and deliberately the revolt had
de Qreve, and the Hall of the As- been concerted. They were pierced
sembly waa filled with troops. Al- widi loop-holes, and passages were
though noisy and disorderly crowds cut through the psity walls, so
of workmen congregated in differ- that as &st as one was taken the
ent parts until tat« in the evening, inmates retired to the next house,
no collision happened, and the and there continued their unfalter-
night was passed in unea^ ex- ing resistance. In fiut, in some
pectation of the struwle which quarters the houses might be oom-
iuemed inevitable on the morrow, pored to a rabbit warren, full of
In the morning, the sound of the holes and galleries, through which
rapptl was everywhere heard, but the Natdonal Guards had to pursue
this was soon changed for the more an invisible but deadly foe. Mat-
ominous beat of the giniraU, and tresses were placed against the
the National Guard appeared in windows, behind which mailmen
great force in the streets. About were posted, who could thus take
9 o'clock the insurgents began to secure aim ; and women were ac-
eiect barricades at the Porte St. tively employed in casting bullets,
DenisandthePorteSt.Martin.and supplying arms, and tending to
in those Fanbourgs, as well in the the wounded. The Oarde Mobile
notorious Faubourg St Antoine, so behaved admirably. Doubts of its
famous in the history of Parisian fidelity were entertained, as its
distorlwiioss. The conflict first ranks were composed of the same
commencedat the Porte St. Denis, class as the men against whom it
Here a small party of National was employed ; but it displayed the
Guards was stopped by the bar^ most brilliant courage, and fought
ricade, and immediately attacked with determined seel by the side
it; bat the resistance was obstinate, of the troops of the line and the
aud it waa only after a severe National Gnards. In the oourse
struggle, in which the aesailanta of theaftemoon General Cavaignac,
were obliged twice to retreat, and the Minister of War^ was invested
Fraw..] HISTORY. [28&
wiUi Uie comauud of the whole of tboee of the South ia the Psn-
the armed force at the dispoeaJ of theon and Church of St. 8€v6na ;
the Qorenunent in Paris, and the the oommsnd in chief wse in the
roAi of oannoD was heard in the centnl point of the Cite, whet«
streets before night&U, as it vsa the Hotpital of the H6tel Dieir
found impossible to penetrate some vss seized, and converted into the
of the bamcadea wiuiout artillBi^, bureau of the leaders of the insnr-
Over all these formidable atmo- rection.
tores, behind which the insurgents In the coune of the mominff
had intrenched themselves, the the Executtve Committee resigned
red flag waved, and he^ of dead their fonelions, and the National
bodies Uiy by their side atteellng Assembly voted a decree, wherel^
the fierce natore of the strife which Paris was declared to be in a state
was raging. of siege, and all the Execotive
But the following morning dis- powers were delegated to General'
cloeed more full; Uie extent and Cavttignac. Thus was the nsnal
formidable character of this bold destiny of popular revolutions ac-
attempt at revolution. Many of complished, and France saw itself
the barricadee which had been once more under the sway of a
levelled on the preceding day were military dictaUr. In the meantime
erected again duiing the night, immense numbers of Provincial
and taking the island in the Seine National Guards had poured inti>
aa a centre point, and bottom of Paris from Rouen, Amiens. Boaa-
the basin in which Paris lies, a vsis, Ctennont, Poissy, Cbaton,
formidable line of rude but strong Carriere, Mendon, Senhe, Meaox,
fortifications had been thrown up Metun, and otbw places ; but the
oa both sides, right and left, so as rebels had made themselves mas-
to embrace a very laroe portion of ten of fonr pieces of artillery on.
the capital. The following will their way from Vincennes, and
give some idea of the extent of General Oavaignac issued the Ibl-
the operations :— The Porte St. lowing notice : —
Denis and Porte St. Martin had " If at noon the barricades are
been taken and refortdfied ; the not removed, mortars and howit-
wbole of the district between them zers will be broaghl, by whicb
and the Temple ; theTempleitaelf; shells will be thrown, which will
the district Popincourt ; and the explode behind the barricades and
whole of the Faubourg St-Antoine in the apartments of the houses'
towards the river, mahing one oocupied by the inBhrgents."
rt segment of a circle. Also This threat, however, had no ef-
whole of the district lying be* feet, and is the afternoon the roar
tveen the two streets of St. Denis of cannon uinonnoed that the com-:
and St. Hartin to the bridges ; the bat was maintuned with undiroi^
bridges themselves ; the Cite ; the nished vigour. Many of the Mem-
Bae de la Harpe, Rne St. Jacques, bers of the National Assembly'
and all tlie Quartier St. Jacques ; distinguished themselves by the
■nd the Fauboorg St. Marceau, courage with which they ap-
The insurgests hM regular com- prtudied the barricades, and, aftec
mandante and organized districts in vain endeavooring to induce tho
of oommand, The head-quarters misguided multitude to yield,-
of the Nwth were in the Temple, fought gallantly vrith the treops.-
286J ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Franci.
During the da; M. Bizio, a repre- devoted city, where all ihe horron
sentatiTe, vraa killed, and GeDentl and many of the ferocities of war
B^deaux, M. Clement Thomas, were seen in this unnatural stnig-
ond M. Dornds were aererely gle. But the militar? forces made
wounded. In the evening the great progress during the day, and
President gave, in the Natdooal droTO their opponents from most
Assembly, an account of die pro- of their fastnesaes. The attack
ceedings of the day. He saia : — commencedatanearlyhouragainst
"Ton are aware that the com- the Fanhonrgs du Temple, St
mands were divided into three : Antoine, St. Denis, and the streets
the plan adopted has been to send du Tempo and SL Martin. The
large forces on certain points, Rue du Temple was first cleared,
leaving others nnattaoked tor the but the insurgents who were driven
mommt In the Faubourg St from it intrenched themselves in
Jaoqnee, where the insurgents had the Faubourg of the same name,
ooncentcBled a great part of their tawarda the Rue Saint-Maur, and
forces, the barricades were forced; joined their comrades in 1a Vil-
and that district is now completely lette and La Charlie. The left
or nearly disengaged. The Fau- bank of the Seine came com-
bour^ Sl Moroeau resisted a longer pletely into the possession of the
time ; but Oeueral B^deau at last National Guard and of the troops
obtained a like auocess, and carried of the line. Some attempts were
the barricades of the Hue Monf- made during the day to erect bar-
fetard as far as the Jardin dee ricadee on the left bank of the
Flantes. At the H6tel de Tille Seine, bat they were instantly
General Duvivier has not as yet destroyed by the troops, who re-
obtuned all the suocess which he mained masters of every point. On
ooald have hoped fbr, owing to the the right bank the contest was
difficulties of the qoarter : De has, prolonged, but several of the bai<-
however, driven the insurgents far ricades in tlte Rue St Antoine
from the H6tel de Ville, which is were carried, and the insurgents
now disengaged. General Lamori- constantly lost ground. They in-
diie has met the greatest diffi- trenched themselves, however, on
culties ; but the Fanboni^ St other points, and forced their way
Denis, St, Martin, and Poiason> into several houses, &om whence
nidre, are cleared to the barriers, they fired on the troops. This oc-
and the dronlaUon has been re- onrred in the Place du Chatelet
established. A point remains on the Quay of the Megiaserie, and in
which nothing has been done — the several acljoi°™S streets. Some
Clos Bt Lazaro, where the in- battalions of the National Guards
BUi^ents have intrenched them- of the departments, which were
aeWee in the Hospital Louis marching on tJie Quay de la
Philippe. Genera] Lamorici^ Megisserie, received several dia-
deolt^es that to-morrow he will charges, which caused them a ee-
ftrce it" vere loss. A similar occurrence
The morrow— Sunday — came, t«ok place at the Place du Oha-
W brought no cassation of the telet, and in the small streets
Gonfiict It would be tedious to in the neighboni^ood, where the
give minute details of the ean- insni^enls endeavoured to form
guinaiy strife which raged In the bairiMdeB without sneoess. En-
Fnmce.-] HISTORY. [287
gineen and firemen were em- <mrd, and, lifting him from the
^ojed b) dislodge those intrenched ground, carried him to a house
m the honaea, which were pierced within their barricade, where, after
in the rear or in the roof, a pa»- receivinff extreme uuotion, he soon
sage having been first effected breathed his laat. When told that
tfarongh the adjoining honaea. In he waa in great danger, he said, —
the evening the President aaid " Well, then, let Ood be praised,
that the troops (^ the Be- and may He accept the sacrifice
public were in posaeBSion of the which I again offer tiim for the
greater part of the atrongholds of aalvation of this mis^ded people,
the insui:gent8; the Ninth Marie Maj m.v death expiate the sins
lud been taken, and the other which I have committed daring
points towarda the Fanbourg St. my episcopacy." General Negrier,
Antoine, but at an immense loss of also an officer of distinguished
blood. Never had anything like merit in the Algerine campaign,
it been seen in Paris. The Cloa was killed during the day, and
8l Lazare waa in posaassion of the likewiae General Brea and Da-
troops, and only a few dropping mesure.
shots were now heard. All would On Monday morning, the S6tb,
that night he hoped be finished, the operations of the rebels were
The troops had behaved most ad- confined chie&y to the FBuhoui;g
Durably. The Eighth Marie, the St Antoine, and the east side <u
last atronghohl of the insurgenta, the Canal Martin and the Clos Sl
was then being attacked. Lazare. This latter quarter seems
The day had been signalized by to have been the moat strongly
the death of the Ardibisbop of barricaded, and to have been de-
Paiia. This excellent Prelate was fended wi^ the most obaduate de-
determined to try whether the in- termination. The following is the
Borgents would listen to his voice, account of an eye-witness : —
and allow him to act as mediator " The barrit^des in advance of
between the eombatanta. He pro- the barriers were as formidable as
oeeded therefore, clad in his sacred tegular engineers could have con-
vestments, and attended by his two structed, and were built of paving-
grand Vicars, towards the Faubourg stones of a hundred-weight each,
St. Antoine, but stopped at the and blocks of building-stone cat
foot of the column of^ the Bastile, for building a hospital, and weigh-
where a strong barricade bad been ing tons. The houses covering
erected, and firing was actively them were occupied. The toll-
goirkg on. This cMS^d as soon aa houses at the barriers were occu-
the Archbishop was rect^nised, pied, and the windows removed,
and he bnvely mounted the bar- The houses on the opposite side
ricade and addressed the insurgents of the Boulevard were, more-
en the other side. His words over, in the poeseeeion of the
seemed to produce some effect, rebels, and manned with marka-
when Buddenly a dmm-roU was men. What formed, however, the
heard, and a shot was fired. The strength of their position was the
contest was immediately renewed, perforation of the wall of the city,
and the venerable Archbishop was which is twelve or fourteen feet
struck by a ball in the loins, and high, at intervals of eight or ten
fell. The insurgents rushed for- yards, for a mite in length, with
288] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fn/m^.
several hondred loop-boles of slwnt negotiation nas opeoed, and the
six inches diameter. During Faubourg finally capitulMed, and
all Saturday and Sunday a oon- was, trithoat any further resistance,
stant and deadly fire was kept op taken possession of by the troops,
from these loop-holes, on troops About the hour of noon the fot-
«ho could haixlly see their op- lowing letter from Oen. CaTS^ao
panenta. The defenders ran from announced to the Natioiml As-
loop-hole to loop-hole with the egi- aembly the final suppreeaion of the
lity of monkeys. They only left the insurrectba : —
cover of the high wall to seek am- ../>-■ o j
munition, of wuoh they had only a " '-•'•*''• Pretident, —
scanty and precarious supply." " Thanks to the attitude of the
Qeneral Lamorici^re, who di- National Assembly, and the devo-
rected in person the operations of tion and coarage of the National
the troops, ordered cannon and Onard and army, the revolt has
mottars to be brought ud, and been suppressed. The strt^le
after the heavy artillery had made haa completely ceased in Paris.
B. clear breach through the for- The moment I am assured that
midable barrier, and reduced many the powers confided to me by the
ci the a^acent houses to a heap National Assembly are no longer
of ruins, the soldiers rushed in necessary for the salvation of the
and put to tlie sword all whom Republic, I will respectfully resign
they found with arms in their them into its hands."
hands on the other side. The General Cavaignac fulfilled his
next point of attack was the promise, and, when tranquillity was
Faubourg St. Antoine, which was restored in the capital, be resigned
surrounded by troops on all sides his dictatorahip. But his services
within the city, and it was thought were too important, and the neoes-
that this focus and stronghold of slty of his influence too urgent, to
revolutionary fury would only yield permit his retirement from power,
after a severe bombardment. The and he was almost unanimously
artillery was placed in position, invested by the National Assembly
and General Lamoriciere was with the cSce of President of the
about to begin the cannonade. Council. Accordingly, on the 38th
when Oenersl Cavaignac ordered of June, he announced that, as su.
that a summons should be sent premeheodoftheExecutivePower,
to the infatuated inhabitants to be had formed the following Ga-
Burrender before opening the fire, biuet: —
A certain time was given, and M. Senard, Uiniater of the Inte-
when this had passed the attack rior.
began. Soon, however, an indi- U. Bastide, Minister for Foreign
vidnal appeared with a flag of A&irs.
truce, and stated to General La- M. Goudohsux, of Finance,
moriciere, on behalf of the in- M. Bethmont, of Justice.
Burgents, that they were willing to Qeneral Lamoriciere, of War,
surrender on the terms proposed U. Camot, of Public InBtruction.
by General Oavaignao. Some M. Touret, of Agriculture and
del^ and misunderatanding at Commerce,
first took pkce, and the oombat Id. fiecurt, of Public Wortra.
was partialljirenewed^buLa second Admihd Lebknc, of Maiinel
, ..ooglc
FfMct.-} HISTORY. [289
When M. Camot's name \*aB dissensions on exterior policy in
pronounced, an explosion of disap- the Government itself. But in
probation aroee in Uie hall, followed particular a most poisoDous inSu-
with exclamations of " Shame I ence was exercised by the addresses
shame!" and principles eptdcen and pn>>
Shortly afterwards, at a subse- mulgated in the Luxemboui^ bj
qaeat sitting. General Cavaignac M. Louis Blanc among the work-
informed the Assembly that, Ad- men there assembled,
miral Leblanc having refused to " There is abundant proof that
accept the Ministt; of Marine, U, M. Louis Blanc and M. Caussi-
Bastjde had been transferred to difire were no strangers to the
that department, and General Be- organization of the movement
deau appointed Minister for Fo- of May, with Barbte, Blanqui,
reign A&irs. and Ledru-RoUin. The cause of
Early in August the report of anarchy was never discouraged,
the Committee E^pointed to in- though on that occasion, furtu*
quire into the insurrections that natelj, conquered. It resisted the
took place in the months of May first checks given it, and resumed
and Jtme was read in the National a greater strength. Indeed, new
Assembly. It was a lengthy docu- assistance came to its aid : anar-
ment, and the following is the sub- chical speeches were sent in par-
stance of many of the most im- eels, free of charge, to the depart-
portant passages : — ments ; the fury of the Clubs was
" The principal object of the fomented, their organization as-
manifestation of May was to dis- sisted, and power increased ; noc-
eolve the Assembly and establish tunial meetings in the closet of
a Committee of Public Safel? : the Ministry of the Interior w«re
that crisis had more of a political held, at which projects were formed
than of a social character. The for centralizing the Clubs and do-
insurrection of June had nomi- minating the elections; and after-
nally the object of establishing a wards for annulling those elections
Democratic and Social Bepublic; which were hostile to the Govem-
bat in reality its olgect was pillage ment. The Club of Clubs, under
and mnrder. The causes of both M. Sobrier, accumulated 30,000
movements were, however, analo- cartridges and hundreds of mus-
gons. Documents issued in the kets; (he Club of the Rights of
provinces by Government agents ; Man, composed of 14,000 men in
machinations of influential mem- Paris and 30,000 in the provinces,
hers of clubs sent to the provinces established manufactories of arms,
with mone^ taken from uie funds and prepared for war.
of theMiniBtryoftheIuterior;and "The attempt of Maywasoon-
hulletins — prepared, singnlar to summated, ana on whom ought to
aay, by a woman of eminent lite- fall ita responsibility ? The Exe-
laiy talent (George Sand), and cutive power answers, that orders
methodically reduced by her to were ^ven and disobeyed; and
official shape—of most alarming that no Oovemment, perhaps, can
tendency, addressed to the electors be exempt from mistAea or from
at the eve of the elections for the treason. The Commander-in-Chief
Assembly, hod each its fatal effect of the National Guard says, that
In addition, there existed profound orders were given to the Fourth
VoL-XC. \V^
290]
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848.
[Fra
Legion to assemble on the bridge,
but that the President of the As-
sembly gave orders that they
should only occupy the footpave-
ments, and that, if the Garde
Uobile offered no resistance, it
was because General Tempoure,
who commanded them, left his
post that he might be a spectator
of what was going on in the As-
sembly. On his side the General
of Division replies that be removed
the troops by the order of the Com-
mander-in-Chief. Neither in the
report nor in the papers of the
Executive power is anything found
which proves that genend oom-
msud was formally intrusted to
any person.
" Between May and June a
more favourable state of things
had arisen. Troops were ool-
lected, laws to sustain order were
passed, and the men in power
were more vigilant: how, then,
did hew disasters ensue? The
same spirit of infiurrection still
survived ; the same organization
in its support still existed ; the
same head remained in a station
of power. It was the excitation
of the Clubs, in the opinion of U.
Arogo, that caused the civil war of
June. The same progress of pre-
paration, but on a fiu- more exten>
sive scale, went on for the strug-
gle; Bud yet the police remained
apparently ignorant of all. The
insurrection had its manufactories
of powder and arms, its military
organization, and its chie&: and
yet the police were passive. The
insurrection broke out, and was a
savage war carried on with poi-
soned balls. Many witnesses heard
the inaureents discuss the absence
of Caussidi^re, and complain that
they knew not what to do without
his orders ; others saw him behind
the barricades; and more heard
him defend the tnsorrection. M.
Proudhoun was also seen among
the barricades by more than one
of the Members of the Assembly ;
and his only explanation is, that
be remained two boure in admira-
tion of the sublime horror of the
cannonade."
On the S6th of August MM.
Ledm BoUin, Louis Blano, and
Caosaidi^re, each made a long de-
fence, in the National Assembly,
of his conduct in connection with
the two inBurrections ; but the re-
sult was that the Procureur- Gene-
ral presented a formal demand for
authority to prosecute the two lat-
ter persons as having been partici-
pators in the treasonable eveute of
May the 15th and June the 2Srd.
The required permission was given,
but Louis Blanc and Canssidiere
thought it prudent in the mean
time to fly from France, and they
both escaped and found refuge in
England. The trial of the other
parties implicated in the late dis-
turbances nad not taken place at
the close of the present year, but
the Government persisted in its
determination to bring them even-
tually to justice.
On the 3rd of July an import-
ant statement was made in tb^
Assembly respecting those fertile
sources of disquietude and per
plexity — The national woritsbops.
General Gavaignoc ascended the
tribune, and said that those esta-
blishments preeented a formidable
oi^nization. The idea of their
institution was good and equitable;
but, in the course of time, they
had become menacing to libenj
and the Hepublic. That fact was
obvious before his accession to
power, and measures were con-
templated for suppressing them.
Their organization was completely
distinct, lud escaped the surveil-
Prmee.-} HISTORY. [2fil
lance of tlis Administndon, and the Assembly. The leading fea-
tfae eSoTts made to efiect their die- tores were these,
wlaiioa had proved unavailable. There was to be one President,
He (General Oavaignac) had paid to be aelected bj universal suf-
tke most serious attention to the frage for a period of four years,
matter, and aonu to Ae rmolution Any penon being a French dti'
of M^prsinng them oHogethtr. zen, thirty years of age, snd of
Since the late insurreotion be had good character, to be eligible to
interrogated several persons re- the office. A Vice-President, to
spoeling the Dnmber of individuals be elected by the National As-
mu had partidpated in it, and the sembly. The Assembly to con-
highest number he had heard men- sist of 750 Members, there being
tioned by the moet competent to no other chamber. The Hinistera
know the truth did not exceed to be nominated by the President,
SO.OOO. Now, the effective num- and diamiased according to his will
ber of operatives inscribed on the and pleasure. A Council of State
registers of the national workshops to be appointed out of the Mem-
amounted to between 105,000 and here of the Assembly, to consist of
106,000, so that the combatants forty persons at least, and chosen
belonging to them were in a mi- by the Assembly itself; that body
nority. This &ct was proved by to consider and draw up the laws
the arrests subeequently made, which the Government might
On being invested with full power deem it advisable to bring in.
by the Natiimal Assembly, he had The punishment of death inter-
not thought proper to suspend the dieted for political offences. Slavery
payment of the sums awarded ta abolished in all the French colo
thewoil«hope, as many advised, for nies. The press to be free; and
fear of increasing thereby the every man to print, and cause to be
number of oombatonts, but after printed, whatever he pleased, sub
the collision he had not hesitated ject to such guarantees to the
to suppress them, at the same time State as might be deemed neces-
that be had ordered that rehef sary. All religions to be allowed
should be granted to the opent- in France; and the various re-
tires who stood in need of it. ligious ministeis to be paid by the
The Geneml, in conclusion, stated Stale. Public instruction to be
that the Minister of Finance would free, but subject to ^e superin-
lay before the Assembly a series tendence of the State. Snbsti-
of decrees, some of whidi were in- tutes to be interdicted in the army
tended to restore oon£denoe by snd navy. The national debt de-
ehowing the sincerity of the Go- olared sacred. Property inviolable,
vemment to fiilfil all its engage- Gratuitoue education to be given
ments, and others to afford labour to the working classes, so aMo pre-
to the operative classes. pars them for their different call-
We now revert to suljects of a ii^. Algeria declared an inte-
lees eiciling but almost equally gral part of the French soil, but
important nature. In the monUi to be administered by laws pecu-
of June the Committee employed Uar tp itself. The same to be
in drawing np a form of Gonstitn- the ease with the other French
tion had presented their project to colonies. Trials to be public ;
[u a]
2&2] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1848. [Fram^.
and the jndgoB. once appointed, to reside ftt the Beat of the National'
be permanent. Aasembl;, and (o receive a salary
Snbsequentlj', however, thia pro- of 600,000/. per annum. The
jet underwent considerable revi- Vice-PrtHident to be appointed
aion, and on the 39th of August for four years b; the National
the amended plan was read from Aasemblj, on the presentation of
the tribune hj M. Woiriiaje to the the President, during the month
National Assembj. It was in aub- that followa his election. In the
stance as follows : France, bj absence of President, he was to
adopting the Republican form of replace bim and exercise his func-
QoTemment, was declared to have tiona ; but, in case of his decease
assamed, in the face of the world, or resignation, a new President
the initJatiTe of progress and civi- must be elected within a month,
lization. The right to labour was The chapters relative to the Minis-
Buppreesed, and replaced bj an terial department, the Council of
article providing that the State Stale, the intemd adminiatration,
should procure labour to unem- the judiciary power, had undei^
ployed workmen, within the limits gone no material atteistion. Jus-
of its reeourcee. Capital punish- tice was to be rendered gratuit-
menta were abolished for political ouslj, in the name of the French
offences. Slavery was not to exist people, and all political offences to
in any part of the French do- be tried by a Jury, who, in fu-
minioQB. The right of aasociadon ture, were to fix the amount of the
and meeting was guaranteed. The fine or damages incurred by the
censorship M the press would not be offender. The Judges of the Court
re-established. The election of re- of Cassation, appointed by the
presentativee to have for its basia National Assembly, of the Supreme
the population. Universal suffr^e Tribunal of Administration, and
and secret ballot were maintained, of the Court of Accounts, were to
The representatives were to be al- fill their functions for life. Jus-
waya re-eligible. The President tioes of the peace who, in the first
to be a French citizen, 30 years of prqeci, were to be elected by the
age, and he must not have lost, on citizens, in their respective dis-
any occasion, his quality of French tricts. were now to be appointed
citizen. He was to be elected for by the President. Military sub-
four years, by universal and direct etitutea were prohibited. The pub-
Buffrage, and by the absolute ma- lie force being essentially obedient,
jority of the voters. The ballots it was declared that no armed corps
to be immediately forwarded to tbe could deliberate. The territory
National Assembly, which waa to of Algeria and the colonies waa
decide on the validity of the elec- declared a French territory, to be
tion aAd proclaim the President ruled by special laws. The Le-
Should none of the candidates gion of Honour was maintained,
have obtained the absolute ma- but its statutes to be revised and
jority, the Assembly to choose the placed in harmony with the demo*
President among the five candi- cratic and republican principle,
dates highest on the list. The The present National Assembly
President was re-eligible after an was to frame the organic laws, and
interval of four years. He was to the President of the Republic
FrMue.]
HISTORY.
[293
to be elected immediately after
the adoption of the Constitution.
Want of space precludes the pos-
sibility of oar giving any detailed
account of the long and tedious dis-
cnssious which took place in the
Assembly upon the various articles
of this new Constitution. They
commeTMed on the 3nd of July,
and were exteoded over a period of
four months, at the end of which
the Gonstilution was final 1; adopted .
Nor would it be very profitable to
record the vapid generalities of
speakera debating the first prin-
ciples of Govenunent in the nine-
teenth century, and attempting
definitions of liberty, equality, and
rigfats, which tend only to mislead,
whenever an attempt is made to
give them a practical application.
We will, however, quote a few pas*
sages from a speech delivered by U.
Tiuera, in one of the Bureaux, at
the outset of the diecuasion. It waa
upon the text of the !)nd Article.
" Hie Constitution gnaranteea
to all citizens — liberty, equality*
safety, instruction, labour, proper^,
relief,'
M Thiers said, " In principle
I am mncb attached to what is
simple and positive ; I have there-
fore little taste for the vague and
general declarations, always some-
what declamatory, bj which the
nuyority of French constitutions
were preceded. The example of
our ancient rerolutionary assem-
bliee aflects me but slightly.
Those assembUes have been con-
spicuous for patriotism and talent,
hut Ear less for political experience.
I consider that it is of the greatest
utility, in the midst of &e sub-
versive ideas now diffused abroad,
lo proclaim at the head of our con-
stitution the twofold principle of
property and family. But it has
been thought impossible to avoid
adding two other principles — the
right of man to receive assistance,
and his right to labour. I am of
opinion that everything must be
done for the people that it is pos-
sible to do without omitting or
neglecting any available means;
but I am ^so of opinion that it is
inexpedient to promise more than
can be f)erformed. To promise
what is impossible is to deceive
the people, and to expose them to
deceptions which they will after-
wards revenge with their muskets.
I see no great danger in proclaim-
ing the right to receive assistance;
for vrith well-extended and more
vridely developed establishments
of beneficence — better endowed
iJian thoee existing — this promise
may to a certain extent be ful-
filled. Besides, a society hooonra
itself by entering into an absolute
engagement to succour old a^,
disease, and all the infirmities
which render labour impoesible to
man. But to proclaim the right
of man to labour — is not this en-
tering into an absolute engage-
ment to furnish work to those v^o
are unemployed, at all times and
on all occasions ? If this engage-
ment can be fulfilled, I do not op-
pose it; hut who here will venture
to affirm the possibility? I have
reflected much o 
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