pose of checking the course of the had hitherto expressed certain preachers of sedition. Some of opinions on the subject; but it them had already expired by the was expecting too much to suplapse of time; but one of them, pose, that he was now to vote for which subjected to a stamp duty the repeal of this bill merely bethose cheap periodical tracts that cause he had happened, ten years formed the most powerful instru- ago, to complain of part of its ments of unprincipled agitators, enactments. The House must be still remained in force. Mr. well aware, that, in legislating for

, Hume, who had not joined in the the good of the country, it was migration of his brethren to the necessary to look at a subject in ministerial benches, brought for- all its bearings, and not rashly ward (31st May) a motion for the revoke a measure, the practical repeal of this statute, which, with effects of which had been tried all the others, had received the and approved. When he looked strenuous support of Mr. Canning, at this bill, its various bearings, and had been resisted and con- and the objects for which it was demned by the opposition as a designed, he could never consent tyrannical and unwarrantable at- to its entire repeal. It merely tack against the liberty of the put periodical pamphlets and papers press, and as a new attempt to crush on the same footing with newsthe public execration of him and papers, in regard to paying a duty, of his compeers. Mr. Hume said, and as such publications might that he had intended to have made contain all that was most interestthe same motion during the pre- ing in a newspaper, he saw no ceding session ; but he now con- reason why it should be othergratulated himself upon the delay, wise. It compelled the proprietors as the changes, which had in the of them likewise to enter their interim taken place in the govern- names at the Stamp-office : this, ment, must have made it a fortu- too, was good; he knew that it nate delay for the question he now had produced great benefit in advocated. But Mr. Hume greatly many cases of libel where the deceived himself. Mr. Tierney, suffering parties, but for this arMr. Abercrombie, sir James Mac- rangement, would have been left intosh, and Mr. Brougham, were without an attainable remedy. absent on the occasion : lord There were one or two clauses of Milton declared it to be a matter the act which he might wish to of so little moment, that he was see altered or expunged; but he not sure whether he would remain was not, therefore, of opinion that in the House to the division; sir it ought to be repealed altogether. James Scarlett and sir Robert If he had formerly opposed the Wilson manfully joined Mr. Can- enactment of this measure upon ning in resisting the motion, and speculative grounds, and now abusing and ridiculing their as- found that a beneficial practical tonished mate, the member for effect had flowed from it, he felt Aberdeen. The attorney-general himself bound to take advantage (sir James Scarlett ) said, that the of the benefit which experience mover of the present motion seemed had afforded him, and should deem to expect his concurrence in it, for it a dereliction of duty to adhere no other reason than because he to the speculative opinions which time had proved to be erroneous. tory to him, who in 1819 had As no practical evil arising from supported this measure, and who, the act had been pointed out, he in common with those who had could not consent to the repeal. introduced it from a sense of duty, With all the obligations which he had been subjected to a great and felt to be due to the member for undeserved load of obloquy, to Aberdeen for the good which he hear the correctness of that policy had effected for the country in now maintained by the hon. and other respects, he was not inclined learned gentleman, who had forto take him as a model in matters merly been among the foremost to of general legislation, and would arraign it. It was highly satismeet the motion with a direct factory, he repeated, for him to negative, however kindly it might see a tardy justice at last performbe meant to the new administra- ed to the memory of a noble friend tion.

of his, who had been more foully Mr. Peel said, that the straight- calumniated than any individual forward course which the attorney, with whom he had ever been acgeneral had adopted, was infinitely quainted. His majesty's attorneymore manly than the insidious general was wrong, very wrong, line of conduct followed by other in stating that this particular bill honourable and learned gentle- met with but slight opposition. men, who had absented themselves Not one of the Six-acts was more from their places, because they had pertinaciously resisted than this resisted, in 1819, the enactment of very act; it was resisted on its the bill which was now sought to third reading, and even at the be repealed. He honoured the last stage and indeed in every attorney-general more than ever, shape in which the forms of the for the manliness with which he House would allow any opposition had declared, that he would not to be made to it. The open and sanction the repeal of this bill, manly course which the attorbecause he had originally resisted ney-general had that night purits enactment, without inquiry into sued, in recording his approbation, its practical results. If all the gen- in 1827, of the measure against tlemen, who had recently joined which he had divided in 1819, his majesty's administration, had was a full justification of those pursued a similar line of conduct, who had introduced it. He and had stated their reasons for hoped that the House would pernot adhering to the opinions which mit him, in justice to the methey had formerly expressed, they mory of his noble friend the would have done themselves more late marquis of Londonderry, to honour than they now did by stay- take advantage of the admission ing away from the debate, and made. The vindication withholding from the public the which his majesty's attorney-genesentiments they entertained upon ral had that night offered for it. At the same time he would his own conduct, rendered the not say, that the grounds, on which vindication of his noble friend's his majesty's attorney-general had political conduct in 1819, comresisted the repeal of this act, were plete and unassailable. If it altogether such as he approved. were right now, in times of com It was, however, highly satisface parative quiet and tranquillity,

now

when there was little sedition and would let it alone, if the attorneyblasphemy abroad, and when those general asked him to do so. Mr. who attempted to corrupt the Hume replied, that this was not public mind by such publications true; that he had written to the were comparatively insignificant attorney-general, stating, that he in number-if it were right now would not stir the matter, if the to resist the repeal of this act, was attorney-general himself would not his noble friend justified in undertake to move the repeal in 1819, when assiduous attempts the course of next session. This were making in all quarters to the attorney-general would not do, poison the mind of the lower and he had therefore nothing left classes, in proposing a measure, of but to bring it forward himself, which the practical operation was for he was so unfortunate as not now admitted to be as beneficial to be able to change his opinions, as his noble friend had anticipated which, however, sir R. Wilson that it would be ?

certainly had a right to do, if he Sir Robert Wilson manfully de- pleased. On a division, the mo-' clared that he would vote against tion was lost by a majority of 120 the motion, because it was an in- against 10. convenient motion for the ministry. In the mean time, a portion, at He said, that he had come to the least, of the members of the oppoministerial side of the House, not sition were introduced into subora by that circuitous path generally dinate offices, though none of them followed in moving from one side had as yet been elevated to any to the other, but boldly and un- station of high and direct inblushingly, because he had come fluence. The marquis of Lanswith the colours of liberal princi- downe accepted of a seat in the ples flying, to support a ministry cabinet, to which were soon added which was formed for the avowed the seals of the home department. purpose of uniting the prerogative The mastership of the mint, which of the king with the liberty of the had been vacated by Mr. Wallace, people. He came to the House was conferred upon Mr. Tierney ; prepared to defend the govern- Mr. Abercromby became judgement, either from open assault, or advocate, and sir J. M‘Donald one invidious attacks, which were cale of the commissioners for India afculated to prejudice its character, fairs. Mr. Brougham had no and to produce a schisni among its share of the spoil : he declared in supporters, which could not fail to the House of Commons, that, be injurious to the best interests of finding that his taking of office the country.

He accused Mr. would have prevented the junction Hume of a breach of faith in of the two parties, he had volunhaving brought forward the mo- tarily resigned all claims of his own tion, after a pledge given to him that could be held to stand in the (sir R. Wilson) in private, that he way."

CHAP. V.

The Corn Bill introduced in the House of Lords-Debate on the Second

Reading—Amendment of the Duke of Wellington carried against the
Ministry in the Committee, and confirmed on the bringing up of the
Report-Ministers withdraw the Bill-Attack of Mr. Canning on
the Duke of Wellington—

Proposal to give effect to the Corn Act of 1822-Temporary Corn Bill brought in and passed-Discussion in the House of Lords on the Language used concerning them in the House of Commons-Discussion with respect to the State of the Shipping Interest.

S
UCH was the state of par- itself, to which they were hos-

ties such the dislocation tile, was about to be introduced, and embarrassment of the govern- and would furnish an opportunity ment, when the Corn-bill, which for a more effective expression of had passed the House of Commons sentiment. The bill having been on the last day before the recess, read a first and second time, the was brought up to the House of debate took place (May 25) on the Lords. While it was still pende motion for referring it to a coming in the lower House, the peers, mittee. Lord Malmesbury moved on the motion of lord Lauderdale, as an amendment, that it should had appointed a committee to in- be committed that day three quire into the prices at which corn months. The duke of Somerset, could be imported into this coun- the marquis of Lansdowne, the try from the continent-a question earls of Roseberry, Carnarvon, and concerning which very discordant Darnley, viscount Goderich, and and contradictory statements had lord Bexley, spoke in favour of the been made in the debate in the original motion; the marquis of Commons. An address to the Salisbury, the earl of Mansfield, Crown had likewise been voted, the earl of Rosslyn, earl Stanhope,

aying his majesty to take mea- and lord Redesdale, supported the sures for obtaining from our minis- amendment. Lord Ellenborough ters and consuls abroad information said, that he would not resist the regarding the corn trade in the sending of the bill to a committee; countries round the Black Sea; but unless very great improveand lord Redesdale raised a pre- ments were made upon it in the liminary discussion (May 15), by committee, it should have his most proposing certain resolutions, which determined opposition. It would went to assert the reasonableness be superfluous to repeat the arguand expediency of the principlesments which were used by each on which the existing Corn-laws party in support of its views, for had been established.

These reso

they were in substance the same lutions, however, were not per

with those which have been alsisted in, because the new bill ready brought before the reader as