LONDON:

PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER,

ANGEL COURT, SKINNER STREET.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY AND OF PUBLIC OPINION AT THE COMMENCEMENT

OF THE YEAR-Parliament opened on the 3rd of February by Commis-

sion-The Royal Speech-The Address to the Throne moved in the House

of Lords by the Earl of Cork, seconded by the Earl of Airlie-Speeches

of the Earls of Derby, Clarendon and Grey, Lords Granville and

Brougham, and the Lord Chancellor-An Amendment moved by Earl

Grey is negatived by 45 to 12-In the House of Commons, the Address

proposed by Sir John Ramsden is seconded by Sir Andrew Agnew-Mr.

Disraeli, in a long speech, comments severely on the Foreign Policy of the

Government, and on the state of the Finances-He is answered by the

Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speech of Mr. Gladstone-Lord Palmerston

vindicates the Foreign Policy of the Cabinet-Speeches of Lord John

Russell, Mr. Gibson and other Members-The Address is agreed to without

division-Expulsion of Mr. James Sadleir from the House of Commons

for frauds in the management of the Tipperary Joint-Stock Bank-LAW

REFORM-Announcement made by the Lord Chancellor on the first night

of the Session-Sir George Grey moves for leave to introduce a Bill to

regulate Transportation and Secondary Punishments-His Speech-

Observations of Sir John Pakington, Mr. Adderley, Sir J. Ramsden and

other Members-Leave given to bring in the Bill; also a Bill for establish-

ing Reformatory Schools-MINISTRY OF JUSTICE-Mr. Napier moves an

Address, praying for the appointment of a Law-Officer to preside over the

Department of Public Justice-Lord Palmerston assents to the Motion

with some qualifications, and it is carried-EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY

FRANCHISE-Motion by Mr. Locke King for this purpose; opposed by the

Government, supported by Lord John Russell and Sir James Graham;

rejected by 13 votes-ENDOWMENT OF MAYNOOTH-Mr. Spooner's sessional

Motion for repealing the Endowment negatived after a short debate by

167 to 159
[1

CHAPTER II.

FINANCE AND TAXATION-The Bank Charter Act-The Chancellor of the

Exchequer moves for a Select Committee to inquire into its operation-

A 2

Remarks of Mr. Glyn, Mr. Laing, Mr. Disraeli, Sir C. Wood, Mr. Spooner

and other Members-Committee of Inquiry appointed--THE INCOME TAX

-Great interest felt by the public respecting the cessation of the War In-

come Tax-The Chancellor of the Exchequer makes his Financial State-

ment on the 13th February-He announces the intention of reducing the

Income Tax for the next three years to 7d. in the pound-Observations of

Mr. Gladstone-On the 20th of February Mr. Disraeli moves a resolution

pledging the House to the total remission of the Income Tax in 1860-

His Speech-He comments with much severity on the calculations of the

Chancellor of the Exchequer, who vindicates his own statement of the

Finances-Mr. Gladstone supports the Motion, and strongly urges a re-

duction of the Estimates-Mr. Wilson replies to Mr. Gladstone-Lord

John Russell supports the financial views of the Government-Remarks

of Mr. Bentinck, Sir F. Baring, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Cardwell, Sir C. Wood

and other Members-The resolution is negatived on a division by 286 to

206-Mr. Gladstone opposes the propositions of the Chancellor of the

Exchequer on the Tea Duties, and advocates a further remission of the

duty-Speeches of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord John Russell,

Mr. Gibson and other Members-Mr. Gladstone's Amendment is rejected

by 187 to 125-The Bill is passed-Debates on the Income Tax-Sir

Fitzroy Kelly moves to reduce the tax to 5d. in the pound, but without

success- -Mr. Gladstone moves a resolution in favour of a reduction of

the Expenditure-He enters into a detailed statement, showing the rapid

increase of the National Expenditure within the last few years-The

Chancellor of the Exchequer justifies the conduct of the Government-

Debate in the House of Lords on the Second Reading of the Income Tax

Bill The Earl of Derby enters upon many topics of public interest with

reference to the impending Dissolution of Parliament-Ilis animadver-

sions upon the financial operations of the Government-He is answered

by Lord Granville-Strictures of Mr. Disraeli to the same effect in the

House of Commons-Lord Palmerston's reply-Remarks of Mr. Gladstone

on the connection between our Foreign Policy and the increase of the

Estimates
[25

CHAPTER III.

TRANSACTIONS IN CHINA-Consequences of the disturbances at Canton on

political affairs at home-Great debates in both Houses on these events-

The Earl of Derby moves in the House of Lords a resolution of Censure

on the Conduct of Dr. Bowring, and the British Government in supporting

him-His powerful Speech-He is answered by the Earl of Clarendon-

Speeches of Lord Lyndhurst, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Grey, the Earl of

Carnarvon, Lord St. Leonards, Lord Wensleydale, the Earls of Malmesbury,

Albemarle, Granville, and the Bishop of Oxford-Lord Derby's Motion is

negatived by a majority of 36-Concurrent debate in the House of Com-

mons on the Motion of Mr. Cobden-His Speech-Mr. Labouchere's

answer the debate continued three nights by adjournment-Speeches of

Sir Bulwer Lytton, Lord John Russell, the Lord Advocate, Sir James

Graham, Sir George Grey, Sir John Pakington, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Sidney

Herbert, the Attorney-General, Mr. Roundell Palmer, Mr. Roebuck, Mr.

Gladstone, Lord Palmerston, Mr. Disraeli and several other Members-

The Motion is carried against the Government by 16 votes-Important

results of this division-The Ministers announce in both Houses the Disso-

lution of the Parliament-Discussion thereupon in the House of Commons

-Mr. Speaker Lefevre announces his intention to retire from the Chair-

Lord Palmerston expresses in warm terms the regret of the House at

losing his services-The next day Lord Palmerston moves the thanks of

the House to the Speaker in a laudatory speech-Mr. Disraeli and Lord

John Russell unite in expressing, in strong terms, the respect and grati-

tude of the House for his valuable services-The Motion carried nem.

con.-An Address voted to the Crown for some mark of Royal favour

to the retiring Speaker-An annuity of £4000 a year is voted nem. diss.

The title of Viscount subsequently conferred by the Crown-The re-

mainder of the Session occupied with financial arrangements, which are

proposed for one year only, and with incidental discussions on Foreign

Affairs-The Marquis of Clanricarde moves for papers to show the cost of

the Expedition to Persia-Discussion on this subject-Lord Ellenborough

introduces a debate on our relations with China, and offers suggestions as

to the conduct of operations in that country-The Prorogation of Parlia-

ment takes place on March 21st-Mr. Thomas Duncombe puts a question

touching our relations with Naples-Lord Palmerston's answer-The

Houses are prorogued to the 30th April by Commission-The Royal

Speech-Parliament dissolved the same day by Proclamation-Prepara-

tions for the Elections

[44

CHAPTER IV.

Result of the General Election-Increase of the Ministerial Majority-

Rejection of various Members of the Liberal and Peel parties-Parlia-

ment meets on the 30th April-Election of a Speaker-Lord Harry Vane

proposes and Mr. Thornely seconds the appointment of Mr. Evelyn

Denison-No opposition to the Motion-Mr. Denison takes the Chair, and

makes his acknowledgments to the House-Lord Palmerston congratulates

the new Speaker, and is followed by Mr. Walpole-The choice of the

Commons is confirmed by the Crown-Swearing in of the Members-The

Houses commence business on May 7-Royal Speech delivered by Com

mission-Address to the Crown in the Upper House moved by the Earl of

Portsmouth, seconded by the Marquis Townsend-Speeches of the Earl

of Malmesbury, Earl of Granville, Marquis of Clanricarde, Lord Panmure

and Earl Grey-In the Lower House, Mr. Dodson moves and Mr. W.

Buchanan seconds the Address-Speeches of Lord Robert Grosvenor,

General Thompson and Lord Palmerston-Mr. Roebuck extracts from the

latter speech a pledge of Parliamentary Reform-Announcement of in-

tended Marriage between the Prince of Prussia and the Princess Royal of

England-Message from the Crown-Address in answer agreed to by both

Houses-Proposed Settlement of Dowry and Annuity on the Princess

Royal-Opposition to this proposal in the House of Commons-Mr.

Roebuck objects to the settlement, but withdraws his Motion-Mr.

Coningham divides the House against the annuity, and Mr. Maguire

against the vote for the principal sum-Both are carried by large.

majorities-MAYNOOTH COLLEGE-Mr. Spooner moves his usual resolution

against aid from Government to the College-His Speech-The Motion is

rejected, after a short debate, by a majority of 34-Bill for the Abolition

of MINISTER'S MONEY in Ireland-It is brought in by Mr. Fagan; strongly

opposed by Mr. Disraeli; supported by the Government-Mr. Napier

moves the rejection of the Bill on the Second Reading-Speeches in favour

of the Bill from Sir George Grey, Mr. Horsman, Mr. Blake, Mr. J. D.

Fitzgerald, Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston; and against it from

Mr. Walpole, Mr. Whiteside and Sir F. Thesiger-The Second Reading is

carried by 313 to 174-In the Lords it is strongly opposed by the Earl

of Derby, supported by the Bishop of Kilmore, the Earl of Wicklow, and

Viscount Dungannon; the Earls of Harrowby, Ellenborough and Cork,

Lord Talbot de Malahide, the Duke of Newcastle and Earl Granville

support the measure-It is carried by 101 to 96—Another division on the

Third Reading gives a majority of 17 in favour of the Bill, and it is

passed

[83

CHAPTER V.

ADMISSION OF THE JEWS TO PARLIAMENT.-On the 15th May, Lord Pal-

merston moves for leave to bring in a Bill to alter the Oaths taken by

Members of the House of Commons-Iis Speech-Sir F. Thesiger

declares his opposition to the measure - Remarks of Lord John Russell,

Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Henley and other Members-The Bill brought in

and read a second time without discussion-On committal, Sir F. Thesiger

moves as an Amendment to retain the words, "on the true faith of a Chris-

tian"-Some of the Roman Catholic Members oppose the Bill, as retain-

ing the distinction between the Oath taken by them and by Protestants—

Speech of Mr. Deasy-Answer of Lord Palmerston to this objection-Sir

J. Pakington declares his adhesion to the Bill-Speeches of Mr. White-

side and Lord John Russell-After debate, Sir F. Thesiger's amendment,

as well as one moved by Mr. Roebuck, are negatived by large Majorities-

On the passing of the Bill a question is raised as to the eligibility of Jews

to high offices of State-Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald proposes a clause, dis-

qualifying them for the office of Lord Chancellor, Lord Lieutenant

of Ireland, and other high offices-Lord Palmerston assents to this

clause, which is inserted in the Bill-Strong protests are made against

the measure by Mr. Wigram, Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Bentinck and other

Members-The Third Reading is carried by 291 against 168-The Second

Reading is moved in the House of Lords on the 10th of July-Speeches

of Earl Granville, Lord Lyndhurst, the Duke of Norfolk, the Bishop of