various Members upon it-Strong opposition is declared by some of the

usual Supporters of the Government-Further discussion is adjourned to

the 9th of February-Mr. P. Miles moves an Amendment that the House

go into Committee on that Day Six Months, which is seconded by Sir W.

Heathcote The Debate is carried on by repeated Adjournments for

Twelve Nights-Forty-eight Members speak in favour of Free Trade, and

Fifty-five on the side of Protection-Speeches of Lord Sandon, Lord John

Russell, Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Stafford O'Brien, Mr.

Sharman Crawford, the Marquis of Granby, Lord Worsley, Sir James

Graham, Mr. Thomas Baring, Viscount Morpeth, Mr. M. Gaskell, Mr. Roe-

buck, Sir Howard Douglas, Mr. W. Miles, Sir Robert Peel, Lord John

Manners, Mr. Bright, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Thomas Duncombe,

Sir Thomas Acland, Sir George Clerk, Mr. Beckett Denison, Mr. Villiers,

Mr. Cobden, and Lord George Bentinck-On a Division the Motion of Sir

Robert Peel is carried, the Amendment of Mr. P. Miles being rejected by

337 against 240

[29

CHAPTER III.

The House of Commons goes into Committee on Sir Robert Peel's Resolutions

on the 2nd of March-Mr. Villiers moves as an Amendment, That all

Duties on Imported Corn should cease-Division of Parties on this Pro-

position-Speeches of Sir Robert Peel and Lord John Russell - The

Amendment is lost by a Majority of 187-Debate on the Second Reading

of the Corn Bill continued by adjournment for four nights-Mr. E. Yorke,

seconded by Sir John Yarde Buller, moves an Amendment for the rejection

of the Bill-Speech of Sir Robert Peel in answer to the Attacks made upon

him-The Amendment is lost, and the Second Reading is carried by a

Majority of 88-Further Debates on the Corn Bill in the House of Com-

mons-The Third Reading is moved on the 11th of May by Sir James

Graham, and is carried by 327 to 229, after an animated Debate-The

Corn Bill is discussed in the House of Lords, on the Motion for a Second

Reading, on the 25th of May-Speeches of the Earl of Ripon, the Duke of

Richmond, Earl Fitzwilliam, the Duke of Cleveland, the Marquis of Lon-

donderry, Lord Stanley, Lord Brougham, the Earl of Wilton, the Duke of

Cambridge, the Marquis of Normanby, Earl Grey, Marquis of Lansdowne,

the Earls of Dalhousie, Clarendon, Carnarvon, Haddington, Hardwicke,

and the Duke of Wellington-On a Division there appear for the Second

Reading (including Proxies) 211; against it, 164; Majority, 47-Various

Amendments are moved in Committee, by the Duke of Buckingham, the

Earl of Wicklow, and Lord Ashburton, which, after much discussion, are

rejected by considerable Majorities—The Duke of Richmond opposes the

Third Reading by an Amendment, which is subsequently withdrawn, and

the Bill is passed

[69

CHAPTER IV.

Customs Bill-Discussions in the House of Commons upon various Articles

in the New Tariff-Mr. Plumptre opposes the Reduction of Duty on Hops

-After some Debate, his Motion is negatived by a Majority of 47-Mr.

George Bankes moves the omission of articles of Silk Manufacture —

Remarks of Mr. W. Ellis, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Hawes, Lord George Ben-

tinck, Sir Robert Peel, and Mr. Disraeli-Mr. Bankes's Motion is rejected

by 220 to 114-Mr. W. Thompson opposes the Reduction on Foreign

Spirits After a short Discussion, the Amendment is negatived—Mr. W.

Miles moves an Amendment for exempting Live Animals from Reduction

of Duty-A desultory Debate takes place, which ends in a Division in

favour of the Government by a Majority of 39-Timber Duties-The

Marquis of Worcester leads the opposition against the proposed Scale-

Remarks of Mr. H. Hinde, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. A. Chapman, Mr. G. Palmer,

Mr. Warburton, Mr. Hume, Lord George Bentinck, Sir George Clerk, and

Mr. C. Buller-The Resolution is affirmed on a Division, by a Majority of

123-On the Third Reading of the Customs Bill being moved, Lord George

Bentinck moves that it be read a third time on that day six months-He

is answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speeches of Mr. G.

Bankes, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Plumptre, Mr. Hudson, and other members-

Lord George Bentinck withdraws his Amendment, and the Bill is passed

-Debate on the Second Reading in the House of Lords on the 4th of

June-Lord Dalhousie introduces the measure-The Duke of Richmond

moves that it be read a second time on that day six months-Speeches of

the Earl of Wicklow, Lord Ashburton, and Lord Monteagle, after which

the Bill is read a second time without a Division-The Duke of Richmond,

on going into Committee, moves that Counsel be heard against the

Reduction of the Silk Duties-The Earl of Dalhousie opposes the motion,

seconded by Lord Ellenborough and the Duke of Wellington Lord

Brougham supports it-It is negatived by 78 to 74-Lord Stanley

opposes the Reduction of the Timber Duties, but without success-Other

Amendments are proposed and negatived-The Bill is read a third time,

after an ineffectual opposition by the Duke of Richmond-The Budget—

The Chancellor of the Exchequer makes his Financial Statement on the

29th of May-Various Comments upon it by Lord George Bentinck, Mr.

Charles Wood, Mr. Hume, Mr. Hudson, and other members .
[99

-

CHAPTER V.

Ireland-Prevalence of Assassination and Outrages in that country-Lord

St. Germans introduces a Bill in the House of Lords for the Protection of

Life in Ireland-His Specch on moving the second reading-Speeches of

the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Brougham, the Marquis of Clanricarde,

and other Peers-The Bill is read a second time, and amended in Com-

mittee-It is introduced in the House of Commons by Sir James Graham

on the 30th of March-It is vigorously opposed on the Motion for the first

reading-Speeches of Sir W. Somerville, Mr. Smith O'Brien, Mr. Shaw,

Mr. O'Connell, and Lord George Bentinck-Sir James Graham states the

nature and objects of the Measure-The Debate is prolonged by the

opposition of Irish and other Members, and is repeatedly adjourned-

Speeches of various Members for and against the Bill-A Division at

length takes place, and the Bill is read a first time by 274 to 125-The

contest is renewed on the Motion for the second reading, which is moved

on the 9th of June-Reasons of the delay-The discussion is continued by

numerous Adjournments, from the 9th to the 25th of June-Selections

from various Speeches-Sir W. Somerville moves an Amendment that the

Bill be read a second time that day six months-Mr. Bernal seconds the

Amendment-Speeches of the Earl of Lincoln, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, Lord

George Bentinck, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Hawes, Lord F. Egerton, Mr.

Colquhoun, Lord John Russell, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Roebuck, Lord J.

Manners, Sir James Graham, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Stafford O'Brien, Lord

Newport, Mr. Hume, Mr. Shiel, the Solicitor-General, the Marquis of

Chandos, Mr. Newdegate, and Mr. Cobden-On a Division, 292 vote

against the second reading and 219 for it-Coincidence of the defeat of

Ministers, and the passing of the Corn Bill in the House of Lords-

News arrives from America of the Settlement of the Oregon Question

-Resignation of Sir Robert Peel's Cabinet-The announcement is made

by the Duke of Wellington in the House of Lords on the 29th of June

-Lord Brougham adverts to the Oregon Question-Statement of the

Earl of Aberdeen - On the same evening Sir Robert Peel declares his

Resignation of Office in the House of Commons - His Speech on that

occasion-Remarks of Lord Palmerston and Mr. Hume
[123

--

CHAPTER VI.

-

-

Formation of Lord John Russell's Administration-Programme of the prin-

cipal Offices-The new Ministers vacate their seats, and are elected with

scarcely any opposition-Debate in the House of Commons on the policy

of the new Government-Observations of Mr. Evelyn Denison upon its

construction-Mr. T. Duncombe urges Lord John Russell to make an ex-

plicit statement of the principles on which he is prepared to act

Speech of Lord John Russell in answer- Remarks of Mr. B. Osborne,

Mr. B. Escott, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Ward, Mr. Horsman,

and other Members-The Sugar Duties-Temporary Bills for their con-

tinuance Lord John Russell proposes Resolutions for a permanent

Settlement of the Question on the 20th of July-Details of his plan—

Remarks of Mr. Goulburn, Lord George Bentinck, and Mr. Hume-The

Debate is adjourned to the 27th of July — On the Motion that the

House go into Committee on the Resolutions, Lord George Bentinck

proposes an Amendment hostile to the Ministerial Scheme-Speeches

of Lord George Bentinck, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Robert

Inglis, Lord Sandon, Mr. G. Berkeley, Sir J. Hogg, Sir Robert Peel, Sir

T. Acland, Mr. P. Miles, Mr. Borthwick, the Marquis of Granby, Mr.

Hume, Mr. Bernal, Mr. E. Denison, Mr. Barclay, Mr. Disraeli, and Lord

John Russell-The Amendment is rejected by 265 to 135-Various

Amendments on the Resolutions are proposed and withdrawn-The

Earl of Clarendon moves the First Reading of the Bill in the House

of Lords-Lord Stanley moves that the Bill be read a first time that day

three months-Lord Denman and Lord Brougham speak against the Bill

on Anti-Slavery grounds-The Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Grey, and

other noble Lords support it, and the First Reading is carried without

a Division-The Second Reading is opposed by the Bishop of Oxford,

who moves an Amendment, which is seconded by the Bishop of London

-The Marquis of Lansdowne vindicates the Measure, and the Bill is

affirmed on a Division by 28 to 10
[161

CHAPTER VII.

Miscellaneous Measures-The Government propose to renew the Irish

Arms Bill-Dissatisfaction excited by this announcement-Explanation

of the Secretary for Ireland-Debate on the Second Reading-Remarks

of Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Hume, Mr. B. Escott, Mr. B. Osborne, Mr. T.

Duncombe, and other Members-Lord Morpeth and Lord John Russell

intimate a willingness to make concessions-The Second Reading is car-

ried by a majority of 33-On a subsequent evening Lord John Russell

-

-

announces the determination of the Government to abandon the Measure

-Distress in Ireland occasioned by the recurring failure of the Potato

Crop Lord John Russell proposes a measure for the employment of

the population in Public Works-Explanation of the Ministerial Scheme

in detail Remarks of Mr. D. Browne, Mr. Williams, Mr. Labouchere,

the Earl of Lincoln, and other Members The Public Works Bill passes

the Commons, and is introduced in the House of Lords by the Marquis

of Lansdowne-Speeches of Lord Monteagle, the Earl of Wicklow, and

other Peers-Declaration of Lord Lansdowne respecting out-door relief—

Further discussions in Parliament respecting the impending scarcity in

Ireland-Speeches of the Earls of Roden and Clarendon, and of Mr. Dillon

Browne and Mr. Labouchere-Flogging in the Army and Military Reform

-Tendency of public opinion on this subject-Captain Layard moves an

Address to the Crown praying for an Inquiry, with a view to limiting the

period of enlistment His Speech on moving the Address-Speeches

of Mr. Fox Maule and other Members-The Motion is postponed-An

order is issued from the Commander-in-Chief limiting the Sentences of

Courts Martial to fifty lashes - Lord John Russell makes a statement

upon the subject Dr. Bowring moves a Resolution in favour of the

total abolition of flogging-Speeches of Captain Layard, Mr. B. Osborne,

Colonel Peel, Colonel Reid, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Fox Maule, and other Mem-

bers-Dr. Bowring's Motion is rejected by a large majority-Statement of

the Duke of Wellington in the House of Lords on the subject of the recent

order-Occupation of Cracow by the Austrian Government-Lord Beau-

mont moves for papers relating thereto-Speeches of the Marquis of Lans-

downe, Lord Kinnaird, and the Duke of Wellington-Mr. Hume makes a

similar Motion in the House of Commons-Speeches of Mr. Milnes and

of Lord Palmerston-Sees of St. Asaph and Bangor-Earl Powis brings

in a Bill to rescind the proposed union-Debate on the Second Reading

-Earl Grey and the Marquis of Lansdowne oppose the Bill, which is sup-

ported by the Bishops of Bangor and Oxford, and other Peers-The Bill

is carried, but withdrawn in the House of Commons by Lord Clive, upon

a statement of the intention of Government Debates on Poor Law

topics-Law of Settlement altered-The New Local Courts Bill-Parlia-

ment is prorogued by Commission on the 28th of August-The Royal

Speech-Reflections on the Session of 1846.
[193

-

CHAPTER VIII.

FRANCE.-Election of President and Vice-Presidents of the Chamber of

Deputies Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne in the Chamber

of Peers Discussion on the Address-Speeches of M. Charles Dupin, M.

Dubouchage, Marquis de Boissy, and M. Guizot-Address carried in the

Chamber of Peers-Answer from the King-Address in the Chamber of

Deputies-Debate thereon-Speeches of MM. Corne, Peyramont, Duchâtel

Duvergier d'Hauranne, Gasparin, Thiers, and Guizot-Discussion on the

separate paragraphs-Amendment proposed by M. Isambert rejected-

Amendment of M. Berryer-Speeches of M. Berryer and M. Guizot-

Amendment lost-Amendment proposed by M. de Remusat-Speeches of

M. de Remusat, M. Thiers, and M. Guizot-Amendment rejected-Amend-

ment of M. Billault-Speeches of M. Billault and M. Peyramont—Amend-

ment lost-Amendments proposed by MM. Aylies, Dangeville, and

Billault-Speeches thereon, and adoption of the two latter-Paragraph

relating to Poland-Speeches of M. Lamartine and M. Guizot-Address

carried in the Chamber of Deputies-Answer from the King to the

Address

[220

Mexico History of the Annexation of Texas to the States of the Union-

Causes which led to the declaration of war against Mexico-Narrative of

the successes of the American army-Question of letters of marque and

reprisal issued by the Mexican Government-Spanish privateers to be

treated as pirates-Report of the Secretary of the Treasury-Proposed

Loan-New Tariff Bill-Question of Protection Duties-Act for the

"better organization of the Treasury"-Government of the Oregon

territory-Report of the Secretary of the Navy-Report of the Postmaster

General. MEXICO.-Revolution and overthrow of General Herrera-

General Paredes becomes President of the Republic-Refusal of the

Mexican Government to receive the American Minister-The latter de-

mands his passport-War between Mexico and the United States-Santa

Anna-General Taylor advances against Matamoras-Battles of Pala

Alto, and Resaca de la Palma-Matamoras evacuated by the Mexican

troops under General Arista- Blockade of the Mexican coast by the

American fleet-Advance of the American forces into the Interior-

Appearance of Santa Anna in Mexico-Revolution and overthrow of

General Paredes-Manifesto by Santa Anna-Capture of the city of

Monterey by the American army under General Taylor-Surrender of

Tampico. THE BRAZILS.-Opening of the Legislative Chambers, and

Speech of the Emperor. RIO DE LA PLATA.-Despatch from M. Guizot

detailing grounds for English and French interference in the war against

Monte Video-Combined operations of English and French against

General Rosas, and gallant action in forcing the passage of the river

Parana in November 1845-Continuance of the siege of Monte Video [330

CHAPTER XIV.

INDIA. Retreat of the Sikhs accross the Sutlej-Proclamation by the

Governor-General-The Sikhs again cross the Sutlej-Manœuvres of the

Troops under the command of Sir Harry Smith-Battle of Aliwal-

General order issued by Sir Henry Hardinge-Fortified entrenchments of

the Sikhs at Sobraon-Attack by the British Forces, and battle of Sobraon

-Decisive victory gained over the Sikhs-Our Troops cross the Sutlej,

and advance towards Lahore-Proclamation issued by the Governor-

General at Kussoor-Proceedings of the Lahore Durbar-Interview

between Sir Henry Hardinge and the Sirdars deputed from the Durbar—

Terms of Peace agreed upon-Meeting between the Maharajah and Sir

Henry Hardinge at Lulleeana-The British Troops arrive at the Capital-

Occupation of the Citadel-General Order issued by Sir Henry Hardinge-

Treaty of Peace between the British and Lahore Governments, signed on

the 8th of March-Independent Sovereignty created for Rajah Gholab

Singh-Separate Treaty with him-Terms of Occupation of Lahore by

British Troops-Reflections on the close of the Campaign-Refusal of

Sheik Enam-ood-deen to acknowledge the supremacy of Rajah Gholab

Singh-Movements in consequence, and intervention of a British Force-

Disclosures made by Enam-ood-deen-Deposition and expulsion of Rajah

Gholab Singh from the Punjaub-Application from the Lahore Durbar for

British protection-Articles of Agreement
[355

CHAPTER XV.

CANADA. Opening of the Session of the Canadian Parliament by the Earl
of Cathcart-His Speech on the occasion-Address moved in the Legis-