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T the commencement of the year 1850, the domestic affairs of the British nation presented a tranquil and, with partial exceptions, a cheering aspect. The revenue, notwithstanding the recent reductions in the Customs duties, exhibited gratifying signs of buoyancy, the excess of income over expenditure when the year commenced being somewhat more than two millions. The foreign trade of the country had likewise greatly increased, the value of the exports having risen from about 48,000,000l. in 1848, to about 58,000,000l. in 1849. Concurrently with these facts, a diminution of pauperism, and an increased facility of subsistence, and larger command of the comforts of life on the part of the working-classes, afforded proof that the recent changes of commercial policy had not altogether disappointed the anticipations of their authors. The depressed condition of the classes connected with the cultivation of the soil, alone furnished an exception to the general well-being. The difficulties experienced by the farmers in adjusting their operations to the reduced prices occasioned by unfettered imports, appeared to be no nearer to a satisfactory solution than before. The dissatisfaction of this class of

the community with the circumstances in which the free-trade measures had placed them, was deeply felt and loudly expressed. As to the remedies applicable to the grievances of which they complained, a great diversity of opinion prevailed; some deeming that a return to a protective system could alone restore agriculture to a healthy state; others despairing of a reversal of the newly-adopted system, and preferring to seek relief through the remission of finan cial burdens. Few persons, however, ventured to deny that the embarrassed condition of the landed interest presented matter for grave consideration, and a fair claim for any relief that might not be inconsistent with the interests of the other classes of the community. With the exception of a partial excitement occasioned by the renewal from time to time of the still unsettled controversy of free trade, the country in general wore an appearance of perfect tranquillity and repose; nor was the reassembling of Parliament regarded with anything more than that natural interest which uniformly attends the commencement of a new session. This event took place on the 31st of January, when Parliament was opened by commission,

and the Lord Chancellor read the Royal Speech from the Throne, in the following terms :

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "We are commanded by Her Majesty to assure you that Her Majesty has great satisfaction in again having recourse to the advice and assistance of her Parliament.

"The decease of her Majesty Queen Adelaide has caused Her Majesty deep affliction. The extensive charity and exemplary virtues of her late Majesty will always render her memory dear to the

nation.

"Her Majesty happily continues in peace and amity with foreign powers.

"In the course of the autumn differences of a serious character arose between the Governments of Austria and Russia on the one hand, and the Sublime Porte on the other, in regard to the treatment of a considerable number of persons who, after the termination of the civil war in Hungary, had taken refuge in the Turkish territory.

"Explanations which took place between the Turkish and Imperial Governments have fortunately removed any danger to the peace of Europe which might have arisen out of these differences.

"Her Majesty, having been appealed to on this occasion by the Sultan, united her efforts with those of the Government of France, to which a similar appeal had been made, in order to assist, by the employment of her good offices, in effecting an amicable settlement of those differences in a manner consistent with the dignity and independence of the Porte.

"Her Majesty has been engaged in communications with foreign states upon the measures which

might be rendered necessary by the relaxation of the restrictions formerly imposed by the navigation laws of this country.

"The Governments of the United States of America and of Sweden have promptly taken steps to secure to British ships, in the ports of their respective countries, advantages similar to those which their own ships now enjoy in British ports.

"With regard to those foreign states whose navigation laws have hitherto been of a restrictive character, Her Majesty has received from nearly all of them assurances which induce her to hope that our example will speedily lead to a great and general diminution of those obstacles which previously existed to a free intercourse by sea between the nations of the world.

"In the summer and autumn of the past year the United Kingdom was again visited by the ravages of the cholera; but Almighty God, in His mercy, was pleased to arrest the progress of mortality, and to stay this fearful pestilence. Her Majesty is persuaded that we shall best evince our gratitude by vigilant precautions against the more obvious causes of sickness, and an enlightened consideration for those who are most exposed to its attacks.

"Her Majesty, in her late visit to Ireland, derived the highest gratification from the loyalty and attachment manifested by all classes of her subjects. Although the effects of former years of scarcity are painfully felt in that part of the United Kingdom, they are mitigated by the present abundance of food, and the tranquillity which prevails.

"Her Majesty has great satisfaction in congratulating you on

the improved condition of commerce and manufactures. It is with regret that Her Majesty has observed the complaints which in many parts of the kingdom have proceeded from the owners and occupiers of land. Her Majesty greatly laments that any portion of her subjects should be suffering distress; but it is a source of sincere gratification to Her Majesty to witness the increased enjoyment of the necessaries and comforts of life which cheapness and plenty have bestowed upon the great body of her people.

other matters of serious consequence, form the subjects of measures to be submitted for your consideration.

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Her Majesty has learned with satisfaction that the measures which have been already passed for the promotion of the public health are in a course of gradual adoption; and Her Majesty trusts that, both in the metropolis and in various parts of the United Kingdom, you will be enabled to make further progress in the removal of evils which affect the health and well-being of her subjects.

"The favour of Divine Provi

Commons,

"Her Majesty has directed the estimates for the year to be laid before you. They have been framed with a strict regard to economy, while the efficiency of the various branches of the public service has not been neglected.

"Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the present state of the

revenue.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"Some of the measures which were postponed at the end of the last Session for want of time for their consideration will be again laid before you. Among the most important of these is one for the better government of the Australian Colonies.

"Her Majesty has directed various measures to be prepared for the improvement of the condition of Ireland. The mischiefs arising from party processions, the defects of the laws regulating the relations of landlord and tenant, the imperfect state of the grand jury acts, and the diminished number of electors for members to serve in Parliament, will, together with

kingdom from the wars and convulsions which, during the last two years, have shaken so many of the states of the Continent of Europe.

"It is Her Majesty's hope and belief, that by combining liberty with order, by preserving what is valuable, and amending what is defective, you will sustain the fabric of our institutions as the abode and the shelter of a free and happy people."

After the delivery of the Royal Speech the two Houses adjourned, and having again met at a late hour in the evening, the Earl of Essex rose to move the Address, and after an appropriate speech, in the course of which he paid a high compliment to the public press for its exertions in the cause of order, and expressed his conviction that the distress under which the agricultural portion of the community at present laboured was of a temporary nature, the noble Lord moved the Address, which was an echo of the sentiments contained in the Speech

Lord Methuen seconded the Address, and was followed by

The Earl of Stradbroke, who

declared that, so far as his experience of free trade went, the present agricultural pressure seemed likely to be permanent. If the history of the Corn Laws were reviewed, it would be found that though low prices had occasionally occurred, they were entirely different, both in cause and effect, from the low rates which at present prevailed. Upon this point, therefore, he ventured to move the insertion of the following paragraph, after the words "commerce and manufactures:"-" That we regret, however, to be compelled humbly to represent to your Majesty that in many parts of the United Kingdom, and especially in Ireland, the various classes of your Majesty's subjects connected with the cultivation of the soil are labouring under severe distress, mainly ap plicable, in our opinion, to recent legislative enactments, aggravated by the pressure of local taxation."

The Earl of Desart seconded the amendment, because he felt convinced that the interests of the landlord, labourer, and tenant in Ireland were fast tending to a state of utter annihilation and ruin.

The Earl of Carlisle saw no great difference between the Address and the amendment, and he, for one, deriving as he did all his income from land, entered most fully into that part of her Majesty's Speech in which she lamented that the owners and occupiers of land were subject to distress. Still no contradiction had been given, nor, in his opinion, could be given, to that part of the Speech which congratulated the country on the im-proved condition of commerce and manufactures. Still less could the existing distress in Ireland be alleged as an answer to that sentence

which expressed Her Majesty's gratification at the increased enjoyment of the necessaries and comforts of life which low prices had bestowed on the nation at large. From returns in their possession the Government were able to state that, comparing the 1st of January, 1849, with the 1st of January, 1850, there had been in England a decrease of above 7 per cent. on the persons maintained out of the funds for the relief of the poor; while in Ireland the cost of supporting the poor in the workhouse had fallen from 28. 1d. to 1s. 1d. per head. Though the agricultural horizon might be gloomy and lowering, he was not prepared to contemplate under any circumstances a return to protection, and for his part, rather than consent to any measure which would check the importation of the necessaries of life, he would resign his office and his rank. He therefore called upon their Lordships to affirm, by a decisive majority, their unwillingness to reverse the policy which they had so recently sanctioned.

Richmond

The Duke of warned the last speaker that the time might come when it would be fortunate for him to be shorn of

his honours. To speak plainly, he thought the agricultural interest had been slighted in the Speech from the Throne, which, as he understood it, did not even admit that the agriculturists were suffering from distress. The noble Earl had talked of the cheapness of provisions, but had omitted to say anything about wages, which had fallen excessively in some districts, in which hundreds of labourers were out of work. It was surprising to hear the noble Lord talk of the courage which their Lordshi·

displayed in passing the free-trade measures. It was notorious that their lordships were influenced by an opposite motive-they yielded to the pressure from without. Let it not be supposed that agricultural agitation would terminate with the year 1850. The farmers were men who, when once aroused, would never cease exerting them selves until they obtained redress for their injuries. Every hustings in the country would be made a battle-field, on which they would steadily, but without violence of language, state their grievances and demand justice.

Earl Fitzwilliam contended that agriculture had never benefited by protection, and trusted their Lordships would not consent to insert in the Address any words calculated to inspire delusive hopes.

The Earl of Winchilsea thought it impossible for the English grower to compete at present prices with the Americans, and was determined never to rest till England had recovered that fair protection which had been taken from her. He had no hesitation in saying that he would agitate by every means in his power.

Earl Granville rejoiced to find a great difference between the language held in the House and that reported to have been used at Protectionist meetings. At those meetings it had been affirmed that distress was universal, while in the speeches they had just heard, it was admitted that depression was confined to the classes immediately interested in agriculture. With respect to the farmer, there was no doubt that he was now passing through a state of transition; and it could not be asserted that he was unable to compete with foreigners till it was seen what he

was able to produce under a better system of agriculture. He thought there were many reasons for the present low price of corn, without attributing it entirely to free trade.

Lord Brougham, though he did not think agricultural distress at all exaggerated, disapproved in the strongest manner of the language that had been used at certain Protectionist meetings. A great deal had also been said as to the distress existing in certain classes of the community, and emigration had been proposed as a means of alleviating it, though he did not think it would be attended with the anticipated result. The noble and learned Lord concluded by stating that, having seen no cause why they should retrace their steps, he was unable to vote for the amendment proposed by the noble Earl.

Lord Stanley, having remarked on the cordial assent which certain portions of the Speech would meet with from all classes of the community, and especially those portions which related to the death of the Queen Dowager and to the visitation of the cholera, turned to those sentiments which did not meet with his approbation. Considering the coolness which had arisen between England and Russia on the Turkish question, he was surprised that Her Majesty had been made to say that she was at peace and amity with all other nations; and with regard to agricultural distress, he was convinced that it could only be alleviated by a return to moderate protection. He and his friends had been invited to say what they desired, and he made no secret of his own views. He be-. lieved a moderate protecting duty would be advantageous to agricul ture and to the revenue, while it