BRITISH AND FOREIGN HISTORY For the Year 1823. CHAPTER I. Opening of Parliament.-The King's Speech.-Address.--Irish Yeomanry.-Foreign Trade Committee.-Committee of Supply.-Austrian Loan.-Ordnance Department.-France and Spain.-Beer Licensing. Conquered Colonies.-State Prosecutions in Ireland.Orange Lodges.-Cash payments.-Corn Laws.-Weights and Measures, &c., &c.-Petitions against Marriage Act.-Debtors Act.-Agricultural Distress.-Taxes.--Jesuits.-Loss by Cash Payments, &c. &c. HOUSE of Lords, Feb. 4.-This being the day to which parliament was prorogued for the dispatch of business, it was opened by commission, at a quarter before three o'clock. The commissioners were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Earls of Harrowby, Westmoreland, and Shaftesbury. The usher of the black rod having been ordered to require the attendance of the house of commons, he withdrew, and in a few moments the speaker, accompanied by several members, appeared at the bar. The Lord Chancellor then read the speech, which was as follows: My lords, and gentlemen, "We are commanded by his majesty to inform you, that since he last met you in parliament, his majesty's efforts have been un remittingly exerted to preserve the peace of Europe. "Faithful to the principles which his majesty has promulgated to the world as constituting the rule of his conduct, his majesty declined being party to any proceedings at Verona which could be deemed an interference in the internal concerns of Spain on the part of foreign powers. And his majesty has since used, and continues to use, his most anxious endeavours and good offices to allay the irritation unhappily subsisting between the French and Spanish governments; and to avert, if possible, the calamity of war between France and Spain. "In the east of Europe his majesty flatters himself that peace will be preserved, and his majesty continues to receive from his allies, and generally from other powers, assurances of their unaltered disposition to cultivate with his majesty those friendly relations which it is equally his majesty's object on his part to maintain. "We are further commanded to apprise you, that discussions having long been pending with the court of Madrid, respecting depredations committed on the commerce of his majesty's subjects in the West Indian seas, and other grievances of which his majesty had been under the necessity of complaining, those discussions have terminated in an admission by the Spanish government of the justice of his majesty's complaints, and in an engagement for satisfactory reparation. "We are commanded to assure you, that his majesty has not been unmindful of the addresses presented to him by the two houses of parliament, with respect to the foreign slave-trade. provement of the revenue, has produced a surplus exceeding his majesty's expectation. His majesty trusts, therefore, that you will be able, after providing for the services of the year, and without affecting public credit, to make a farther considerable reduction in the burdens of his people. 66 My lords, and gentlemen, "His majesty has commanded us to state to you, that the manifestations of loyalty and attachment to his person and government, which his majesty received in his late visit to Scotland, have made the deepest impression upon his heart. "The provisions which you made in the last session of parliament for the relief of the distresses in considerable districts in Ireland, has been productive of the happiest effects; and his majesty recommends to your consideration such measures of internal regulation as may be calculated to promote and secure the tranquillity of that country, and to improve the habits and condition of the people. 66 Propositions for the more effectual suppression of that evil were brought forward by his majesty's plenipotentiary in the conferences at Verona, and there have been added to the treaties upon this subject, already concluded between his majesty and the governments of Spain and the Netherlands, articles which will extend the operation of those treaties, and greatly facilitate their execution. "Gentlemen of the house of condition of our commerce in most commons, "His majesty has directed the estimates of the current year to be laid before you. They have been framed with every attention to economy; and the total expenditure will be found to be materially below that of last year. This diminution of charge, combined with the progressive im Deeply as his majesty regrets the continued depression of the agricultural interest, the satisfaction with which his majesty contemplates the increasing activity which pervades the manufacturing districts, and the flourishing of its principal branches, is greatly After the speech was read, the Earl of Tankerville took the oaths and his seat; and the house adjourned to five o'clock. At a quarter past five, the house resumed. Lord Ellenborough gave notice of his intention to move an amendment to the marriage act passed last session. The king's speech having been again read over by the Lord Chancellor, and subsequently by the clerk, The Earl of Morley rose to move the address. In a speech of considerable length, he adverted to each point of his majesty's speech separately. The Earl of Mayo rose to second the address, and made a few observations. The Earl of Stanhope rose, and after remarking in detail upon the different circumstances of present distress, moved as an amendment, the following concluding paragraph." That this house views with the deepest regret and anxiety the severe and unexampled distress which now afflicts the country, and will immediately proceed to inquire and to examine into its causes, and also the results which have arisen from altering the value of the currency, and the means of administering speedy and effectual relief." The Marquis of Lansdown spoke in favour of the original address, as he conceived the subjects mentioned and discussed at so great length by his noble friend, must come shortly under the serious consideration of the house. He however remarked upon the slight manner in which the invasion of Spain was mentioned. The Earl of Liverpool spoke also in favour of the original address, upon the same principle as the noble marquis had done; but with regard to Spain he considered the question purely Spanish, and deprecated any movement which might disturb the peace of England. Lord Ellenborough commented upon that part of his majesty's speech which related to Spain, and thought the steps of ministers not so decided as they ought to have been. He thought this conduct by no means likely to be the means of preserving peace. The Earl of Darnley thought a more convenient opportunity might suggest itself for the discussion of the topics noticed in the amendment of his noble friend, which, therefore, he would not now sup-. port. The Earl of Liverpool, in answer to a question from Lord Darnley, then observed, that the consideration of the state of Ireland would be brought by his majesty's government under the attention of their lordships at as early a day as possible. Their lordships then divided on Lord Stanhope's amendment— Content, 3-Not Content, 62 Majority against it, 59. Adjourned. House of Commons, Feb.4.—The Speaker took the chair at about three o'clock, and was soon after summoned by the usher of the black rod to the house of peers. On his return he retired into his private room, and resumed the chair at about four o'clock. The Speaker stated to the house, that he had been directed to issue his warrants to the clerk of the crown of Ireland, for a new writ for the county of Sligo, in the room of Charles O'Hara, Esq., deceased; |