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tinued neglect by the colonial secretaries of the obvious expedient of always mingling, in due proportion, the streams of gratuitous government, with forced penal emigration, the coun

dently making by the Continental powers, to stifle the growth of freedom, and overturn constitutional monarchies in all the lesser states around them. Ministers resisted the motion, but declared at the same time that the Eng-try has in a great measure lost the lish Government were no parties to these congresses, and that they had officially notified to the powers there assembled their dissent from the principles and right of interference there advanced. It was known that this statement was well founded, and Parliament, satisfied with having obtained such an assurance from the Government, and with the strong declaration of English feeling from the Opposition, supported Ministers in both Houses by large majorities.

immense advantage it might otherwise have derived from the possession of such outlets for its surplus population and dangerous crime; and that the colonies have been led to regard with horror, and strive to avert, a stream which, duly regulated, might, and certainly would, have been hailed as the greatest possible blessing.

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95. Mr Plunkett, on the 28th February, brought forward a motion regarding Roman Catholic Emancipation, and it soon became evident, that 94. Sir James Mackintosh continued if the mantle of Romilly had descended in this Parliament, as he had done in on Mackintosh, that of Grattan had the last, his able and indefatigable fallen on the shoulders of Plunkett. efforts to obtain a relaxation of the As this subject will be fully discussed monstrous severities and anomalies of in a subsequent part of this History, the English criminal code. His in- when the passing of Catholic Emancicreasing success, though not unmixed pation is narrated, it would be superwith checks, demonstrated that public fluous to give the arguments advanced opinion was rapidly changing on this on both sides; but there is one speech important subject, and that the time in the Commons, and one in the Lords, was not far distant when, practically from which brief extracts must be speaking, the punishment of death given, from the importance of the senwould not be inflicted in any case ex-timents which they conveyed. Mr cept deliberate murder, in which, both Canning was the most eloquent supon the authority of the Divine law and porter, Mr Peel the most determined every consideration of human justice, opponent, of the measure. "We are,' it never should be abrogated. As said the former, "in the enjoyment of this blessed change has now (1853) for a peace achieved in a great degree by above ten years been practically in Catholic arms, and cemented by Caoperation, it is superfluous to enumer- tholic blood. For three centuries we ate all the steps by which it was effect- have been erecting mounds, not to ased. Suffice it to say, therefore, that sist or improve, but to thwart nature; it was by the efforts of Sir Samuel we have raised them high above the Romilly, and after him of Sir James waters, where they have stood for many Mackintosh, that the necessity of this a year frowning proud defiance on all great reform was first impressed on who attempted to cross them; but, in the public mind, and by the adoption the course of ages, even they have been of their principles by Sir Robert Peel nearly broken down, and the narrow when he became Home Secretary, that isthmus now formed between them it was on a large scale carried into stands between effect. The only thing to be regretted is, that when the penalty of death was so justly taken away for so many offences, care was not taken at the same Shall we, then, fortify the mounds which time to increase the certainty and en- are almost in ruins? or shall we leave large the efficiency of secondary pun- them to moulder away by time or acciishments; and that from the long-con- | dent?-an event which, though distant,

"Two kindred seas,

Which, mounting, viewed each other from afar,
And longed to meet.'

must happen, and which, when it does,
will only confer a thankless favour
or shall we at once cut away the isth-
mus that remains, and float on the
mingling waves the ark of our com-
mon constitution?"

97. This debate is memorable for one circumstance-it was the first occasion on which a majority was obtained for Catholic Emancipation. The second reading was carried by a majority of 11, the numbers being 254 to 96. On the other hand, it was argu- 243; and this majority was increased, ed by Mr Peel, in words which subse- on the third reading, to 19, the numquent events have rendered prophetic: bers being 216 to 197. The bill, ac"I do not concur in the anticipation cordingly, went into committee, and that the emancipation of the Catholics passed the Commons; but it was thrown would tend to re-establish harmony in out, on the second reading, by a mathe State, or smooth down conflicting jority of 39 in the House of Lords, the feelings. I do not wish to touch pro- numbers being 159 to 120. On this spectively upon the consequences of occasion the Duke of York made a intemperate struggles for power. I do memorable declaration of his opinion not wish to use language which may on this subject. "Educated,” said his be construed into a harsh interpreta- Royal Highness, "in the principles of tion of the acts and objects of men who the Established Church, I am persuadproceed in the career of ambition. But ed that her interests are inseparable I must say this much, that if Parlia- from those of the constitution. I conment admits an equal capacity for the sider it as an integral part of the conpossession of power between Protestant stitution. The more I hear the suband Catholic in this respect, they will ject discussed, the more am I confirmhave no means of considering the state ed in the opinion I now express. Let of the population, of securing that it not be supposed, however, that I am equal division of power which is, in an enemy to toleration. I should wish my opinion, essential to the stability of that every sect should have the free the existing form of government. The exercise of its religion, so long as it struggle between the Catholic and does not affect the security of the esProtestant will be violent, and the tablished, and as long as its members issue doubtful. If they were to be remained loyal subjects. But there is sent forth together as rival candidates, a great difference between allowing the with an equal capacity for direct par-free exercise of religion and the grantliamentary representation, so far from ing of political power. My opposition seeing any prospect of the alleviation to this bill arises from principles which of points of political differences, I can only anticipate the revival of animosities now happily extinct, and the continuance, in an aggravated form, of angry discussions, now happily gliding into decay and disuse. If, in consequence of this alteration of the constitution, the duration of Parliament should be reduced from seven to three years, then will the frequent collision of Catholic and Protestant furnish a still greater accession of violent matter to keep alive domestic dissension in every form in which it can be arrayed, against the internal peace and concord of the empire. These are my honest sentiments upon this all-important question, uninfluenced by any motive but an ardent anxiety for the durability of our happy constitution."

I have embraced ever since I have been able to judge for myself, and which I hope I shall cherish to the last hour of my life." This decisive declaration on the part of the heir apparent of the throne, whose early accession seemed likely from the health of the reigning Sovereign, produced a very great impression, and carried the popularity of his Royal Highness to the highest point. He became the object of enthusiastic applause at all the political meetings of persons attached to the Established Church, at which the singular coincidence in number of the thirty-nine peers who threw out the bill and the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England, never failed to be observed on, and elicit unbounded applause.

98. Lord John Russell, about the | On the article of wheat alone, the agrisame time, brought forward a bill for cultural interest has lost £15,000,000, a gradual and safe system of Parlia- and on barley and oats £15,000,000 mentary Reform. It was founded on more. In addition to this, the value resolutions, that there were great com- of farming stock has been diminished plaints on the subject of the represen- by £10,000,000; so that in England tation of the people in Parliament; that alone there has been a diminution of it was expedient to give such places as £40,000,000 a-year. The diminution had greatly increased in wealth and on the value of agricultural produce population, and at present were un- in Scotland and Ireland cannot be less represented, the right of sending mem- than £15,000,000; so that the total bers to serve in Parliament; and that loss to the agriculturists of the two it should be referred to a committee to islands cannot be taken at less than consider how this could be done, with- £55,000,000. This is probably a quarout an inconvenient addition to the ter of the whole value of their pronumber of the House of Commons; ductions; and as their taxation reand that all charges of bribery should mains the same, it has, practically be effectually inquired into, and, if speaking, been increased twenty-six proved, such boroughs should be dis- per cent also." The truth of these franchised. The motion was rejected statements, how startling soever, was by a majority of 31, the numbers being so generally known, that Government 156 to 125; but the increasing strength yielded; and a committee was appointof the minority, as well as weight of ed to inquire into the causes of agrithe names of which it was composed, cultural distress, which made a most indicated the change of general opinion valuable report in the next session of on the subject, and might have warned Parliament. the supporters of the existing system of the necessity of consenting to a safe and prudent reform, if anything could convince men who are mainly actuated by the desire to retain, or the thirst to obtain, political power.

99. The various branches of manufactures, during this year, exhibited a marked and gratifying improvement; but in agriculture the prevailing distress was not only unabated, but had become greater than ever, and, in truth, had now risen to such a height that it could no longer be passed over in silence. On 7th March, Mr Gooch brought forward a motion for the appointment of a committee to inquire into agricultural distress; and in the course of the debate, Mr Curwen observed: “In the flourishing days of the empire, the income of the nation was £400,000,000, and the taxation was £80,000,000 annually. At present the income is only £300,000,000, yet the taxation is nearly the same. In what situation is the farmer? The average of wheat, if properly taken, is not more than 62s. a quarter; the consequence of which is, that the farmer loses 3s. by every quarter of wheat which he grows.

100. Great light was thrown upon the causes of this distress in a debate which took place, shortly after, on a bill of little importance, introduced by Government, authorising the Bank, if they chose, to resume cash payments on 1st May 1821, instead of May 1822, as had been provided by the bill of 1819. The reason assigned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for giving the Bank this option was, that they had, at a very heavy expense to themselves, accumulated a large treasure, and that the paper circulation of the country had been so much contracted that cash payments might be resumed with safety. He stated that, "in June 1819, the issues of the Bank amounted to £25,600,000; and they had been progressively diminished, till now they were only £24,000,000. The country bankers had drawn in their notes in a still greater proportion. Above four millions had been withdrawn from the circulation in less than two years a state of things which amply justifies the present proposal to give the Bank the option of issuing gold coin, if they thought fit, a year sooner than by law provided.'

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101. The effects of the contraction | mines of Mexico and Peru. The misof the currency, thus made the subject fortune is, in reference to agriculture, of boast by the Chancellor of the Ex- that what is a remunerating price at chequer, were thus stated by Mr Bar- one time becomes quite the reverse at ing in the same debate: "In looking another. Formerly it was thought at this question, it is very material to that 56s. a quarter was a remuneratconsider what is the state of the coun- ing price, but that is not the case now. try in this the sixth year of peace. What is the reason of that? It is ocPetitions are coming in from all quar- casioned by the altered currency, and ters, remonstrating against the state of by the produce of this country comsuffering in which so many classes are ing into contact with the commodities unhappily involved, and none more from all parts of the world, at a time than the agricultural class. When when the taxes, debts, and charges such is the state of the country in the which the farmer has to meet have sixth year of peace, and when all the undergone no alteration. His products idle stories about over-production and did not bring their former price, while under-consumption, and suchlike trash, his private debts remained at their have been swept away, it is natural to original amount. Besides this, there inquire into the state of a country is the great mortgage of the National placed in a situation without a paral- Debt, which sweeps over the whole Tel in any other nation or time. No country, and renders it impossible for country before ever presented the con- the farmer to live on prices which for tinuance of so extraordinary a spec-merly were considered a fair remunetacle as that of living under a progressive increase in the value of money, and decrease in the value of the productions of the people. It appears clear that, from the operations of the altered currency, we have loaded ourselves, not only with an immense public debt, but also with an increased debt between individual and individual, the weight of which continues to press upon the country, and to the continuance of which pressure no end can be seen.

ration. The difficulties of the country, then, arise from this, that you have brought back your currency to its former value, so far as regards your income; but it remains at its former value, so far as regards your expenditure." Weighty, indeed, are these remarks, which subsequent events have so fully confirmed, and which came then from the first merchant in the world, who afterwards conferred honour on, instead of receiving it from, the title of Ashburton.

102. "The real difficulty is to meet the increased amount of debts of every 103. The increased weight of debts sort, public and private, produced by and taxes, coinciding with the dimithe late change in the currency. It is nished incomes arising from the conan observation than which nothing can tracted currency, produced its natural be more true, that an alteration in the and usual effect in inducing an addivalue of the currency is what nobody, tional pressure on Government for the not even the wisest, generally perceive. reduction of taxation. Mr Hume They talk of alteration in the price of brought this subject before the House bread and provisions, never reflecting of Commons, and the whole finances of that the alteration is not in the value the country underwent a more thoof these articles, but in that of the rough investigation than they had ever currency in which they are paid. To previously done. His labours embraced talk of the alteration of the value of chiefly the expenses of the offices conmoney being three, five, or six per cent, nected with the army, navy, and ordis mere trifling. What we now are wit-nance departments; and there can be nessing is the exact converse of what no doubt that he rendered good seroccurred during the war, from the en-vice by exposing many abuses that exlarged issue of paper, and over the isted in these departments; and a comwhole world from the discovery of the mittee was appointed to inquire into

the subject. In consequence of the universal complaint of agricultural distress, Mr Western brought forward a bill to repeal the malt duties, which was carried, on the first reading, by a majority of 24, the numbers being 149 to 125. It was thrown out, however, on the second reading; and so productive is this tax, and so widely is its weight diffused over the community, that its repeal has never yet been carried. The majority on the leave to bring in the bill, however, was an ominous circumstance, characteristic of the depression of the agricultural interest; and Ministers were so impressed with it that they deemed it expedient to yield on a subordinate point, and the agricultural horse-tax was accordingly repealed this session.

104. The committee on agricultural distress presented their report on 18th June. It was a most elaborate and valuable document, as it bore testimony to the fact established before the committee, that "the complaints of the petitioners were founded in fact, in so far as they represented that, at the present price of corn, the returns to the owners of occupied land, after allowing growers the interest of investments, were by no means adequate to the charges and outgoings; but that the committee, after a long and anxious inquiry, had not been able to discover any means calculated immediately to relieve the present distress."+ It is by no means surprising that it was so; for as their difficulties all arose from the contraction of the cur

*The returns obtained by Mr Hume presented the following comparative statement of the British army, exclusive of the troops in India, in 1792 and 1821 respectively, viz. :—

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"So far as the pressure arises from superabundant harvests, it is beyond the application of any legislative provision: so far as it is the result of the increased value of money, it is not one peculiar to the farmer, but extends to many other classes. That result, however, is the more severely felt by the tenant, in consequence of its coincidence with an overstocked market. The departure from our ancient standard, in proportion as it was prejudicial to all creditors of money, and persons dependent on a fixed income, was a benefit to the active capital of the country; and the same classes have been oppositely affected by a return to that standard. The restoration of it has also embarrassed the landholder, in proportion as his estate has been encumbered with mortgages, and other fixed payments assigned on it during the depreciation of the currency. The only alleviation for this evil is to be looked for in such a gradual reduction of the rate of interest as may lighten the burdens on the landed interest. At present the annual produce of corn, the growth of the United Kingdom, is, upon an average crop, equal to our present consumption, and that, with such an average crop, the present import prices, below which foreign corn is by law altogether excluded, are fully sufficient, more especially since the change in the currency, to secure to the British farmer the complete monopoly of the home market. The change in the

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