DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16605#0005
—♦—
VOLUME XVIII.-JANUARY TO JUNE, 1850.
THE EUSSELL CABINET.—1850.
First Lord of the Treasury....... ... Lord John Russell.
Lord Chancellor ... . . ........ Lord Cottenham.
Chancellor of the Exchequer........... Sir. C. Wood.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ........ . Lord Campbell.
President of the Council............ Marquis of Lansdowne.
Lord Privy Seal............. Earl op Minto.
Home Office.............. Sir George Grey.
Foreign Office............. Viscount Palmerston.
Colonial Office . .'........... Earl Grey.
Admiralty.............. Sir Francis Thornhill Baring.
Board of Trade............. . Mr. H. Labouchere.
Board of Control ............. Sir John Cam Hobhouse.
Postmaster-General......'....... Marquis of Clanricarde.
Woods and Forests........... Earl of Carlisle.
POLITICAL
AGE
A T the commencement of 1850 the excess of income over
expenditure was announced to be two millions, and the
25 increase of exports in 1849 above those of 1848 was nearly ten
millions. A diminution of pauperism, an increased facility of
subsistence and a larger command of the comforts of life on
the part of the labouring population, gave sure indications that
the Free Trade policy had worked beneficially for the country
at large, although the depressed condition of the classes con-
nected with agriculture was generally acknowledged and
loudly expressed by the sufferers. A return to protective
duties or a remission of financial burdens were among the
remedial measures suggested, and few persons denied that the
landed interest had a fair claim to any relief that did not
interfere with the interests of other classes of the community.
Some very violent language was used at some of the Protec-
tionist meetings, and provoked the reprehension of Mr. Fundi.
Parliament assembled on the 31st of January, and the Queen's
Speech was expressive of the general prosperity of the country.
Amendments to the Address were moved in both Houses by
the country party, and lost by very considerable majorities,
and other retrogressive measures met with the same fate.
Mr. Hume proposed a Evolution for the extension of the
franchise, which received the support of Feargus O'Connor,
Sir Joshua Walmsley, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. B. Osborne,
and Mr. Locke King, but being opposed by Sir George
Grey and Lord John Bussell, Mr. Hume's proposition
was negatived by 242 to 96.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced his Budget
on the 15th of March, and showed a favourable balance of two
millions. A reduction of the Stamp Duties and a repeal of
SUMMAEY.
the Brick Tax were proposed, and the Government were de-
feated on an Amendment moved by Sir H. Willoughby ;
but the Brick Duties Repeal and the Stamp Duties Reduction
Bills ultimately passed.
Motions in favour of retrenchment were brought forward by
Mr. Cobden and Mr. Henry Drummond, but negatived by
the House, and others were anticipated by Lord John Rus-
sell proposing the appointment of a Select Committee for the
same object. The Repeal of the window duty was also pro-
posed by Lord Duncan, and only defeated by a majority
of 3. The proposed repeal of the Malt Tax was rejected by
247 to 123.
Much discussion arose in both Houses on the extension of
the Irish parliamentary franchise, with occasional majorities
against Ministers; but Lord John Russell moved the House
to accept of a £12 franchise as a compromise between con-
flicting opinions, and the Bill passed.
The Irish party was greatly excited by a proposition of Lord
John Russell to abolish the office of Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, and the Second Reading, after a strong debate, was
carried by a majority of 225, but the measure was ultimately
thrown over to the following Session.
The most interesting debates of the Session arose out of
causes apparently trivial in themselves, but which nearly pro-
duced the dissolution of the Ministry and a rupture with
France. It appeared that the Greek Government had broicen
faith with England, and had put us off with one evasion after
another, and had at last given a flat denial of the redress to
which we were entitled. Admiral Sir William Pakker
had been sent therefore to the Greek waters and blockaded the
VOLUME XVIII.-JANUARY TO JUNE, 1850.
THE EUSSELL CABINET.—1850.
First Lord of the Treasury....... ... Lord John Russell.
Lord Chancellor ... . . ........ Lord Cottenham.
Chancellor of the Exchequer........... Sir. C. Wood.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ........ . Lord Campbell.
President of the Council............ Marquis of Lansdowne.
Lord Privy Seal............. Earl op Minto.
Home Office.............. Sir George Grey.
Foreign Office............. Viscount Palmerston.
Colonial Office . .'........... Earl Grey.
Admiralty.............. Sir Francis Thornhill Baring.
Board of Trade............. . Mr. H. Labouchere.
Board of Control ............. Sir John Cam Hobhouse.
Postmaster-General......'....... Marquis of Clanricarde.
Woods and Forests........... Earl of Carlisle.
POLITICAL
AGE
A T the commencement of 1850 the excess of income over
expenditure was announced to be two millions, and the
25 increase of exports in 1849 above those of 1848 was nearly ten
millions. A diminution of pauperism, an increased facility of
subsistence and a larger command of the comforts of life on
the part of the labouring population, gave sure indications that
the Free Trade policy had worked beneficially for the country
at large, although the depressed condition of the classes con-
nected with agriculture was generally acknowledged and
loudly expressed by the sufferers. A return to protective
duties or a remission of financial burdens were among the
remedial measures suggested, and few persons denied that the
landed interest had a fair claim to any relief that did not
interfere with the interests of other classes of the community.
Some very violent language was used at some of the Protec-
tionist meetings, and provoked the reprehension of Mr. Fundi.
Parliament assembled on the 31st of January, and the Queen's
Speech was expressive of the general prosperity of the country.
Amendments to the Address were moved in both Houses by
the country party, and lost by very considerable majorities,
and other retrogressive measures met with the same fate.
Mr. Hume proposed a Evolution for the extension of the
franchise, which received the support of Feargus O'Connor,
Sir Joshua Walmsley, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. B. Osborne,
and Mr. Locke King, but being opposed by Sir George
Grey and Lord John Bussell, Mr. Hume's proposition
was negatived by 242 to 96.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced his Budget
on the 15th of March, and showed a favourable balance of two
millions. A reduction of the Stamp Duties and a repeal of
SUMMAEY.
the Brick Tax were proposed, and the Government were de-
feated on an Amendment moved by Sir H. Willoughby ;
but the Brick Duties Repeal and the Stamp Duties Reduction
Bills ultimately passed.
Motions in favour of retrenchment were brought forward by
Mr. Cobden and Mr. Henry Drummond, but negatived by
the House, and others were anticipated by Lord John Rus-
sell proposing the appointment of a Select Committee for the
same object. The Repeal of the window duty was also pro-
posed by Lord Duncan, and only defeated by a majority
of 3. The proposed repeal of the Malt Tax was rejected by
247 to 123.
Much discussion arose in both Houses on the extension of
the Irish parliamentary franchise, with occasional majorities
against Ministers; but Lord John Russell moved the House
to accept of a £12 franchise as a compromise between con-
flicting opinions, and the Bill passed.
The Irish party was greatly excited by a proposition of Lord
John Russell to abolish the office of Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, and the Second Reading, after a strong debate, was
carried by a majority of 225, but the measure was ultimately
thrown over to the following Session.
The most interesting debates of the Session arose out of
causes apparently trivial in themselves, but which nearly pro-
duced the dissolution of the Ministry and a rupture with
France. It appeared that the Greek Government had broicen
faith with England, and had put us off with one evasion after
another, and had at last given a flat denial of the redress to
which we were entitled. Admiral Sir William Pakker
had been sent therefore to the Greek waters and blockaded the