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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Principal Subjects Of Public Interest In England At The Commence-

Ment Of The Year—Parliamentary Reform and the Relations of France,

Italy, and Austria—Agitation about Reform in some parts of the country

—Conspicuous part taken by Mr. Bright—The public generally show

little interest in the subject—Speculations on party politics—Anticipa-

tions of an eventful Session—The Queen opened Parliament in person on

the 3rd of February—The Speech from the Throne—Allusion to Parlia-

mentary Reform—In the House of Lords the Address is moved by the

Earl of Winchelsea, and seconded by Lord Ravensworth—The Earl of

Granville enters into a discussion of public affairs and Ministerial policy

—The latter is vindicated at some length by the Earl of Derby—His

emphatic declaration with regard to our relations with France and the

prospects of Peace—Remarks of Earl Grey, the Earls of Uardwicke and

Carlisle, and Lord Brougham—The Address agreed to nem. con.—It is

moved in the House of Commons by the Hon. C. H. Trefusis, seconded by

Mr. Beecroft—Viscount Palmerston follows with some remarks and in-

quiries upon foreign affairs — The Chancellor of the Exchequer enters

fully on the subject of our foreign relations, expresses great anxiety for

Peace, and for supporting the Alliance between France and England—

Lord John Russell follows on the same subject—Remarks upon the state

and prospects of Italian affairs—The Address is voted without a division.

Law Of Real Property—Simplification Of Titles—The Solicitor-

General introduces two Bills for this purpose, which are very favourably

received by the House of Commons—Lord St. Leonards expresses objec-

tions to the measures in the House of Lords—After some discussion in

Committee the Bills are unavoidably postponed. Foreign Affairs—

Lord Palmerston brings the state of our European relations before the

House of Commons and requests explanations—The Chancellor of the

Exchequer makes a statement respecting the French occupation of Rome

and the prospects of Europe—Lord John Russell remarks on the state of

things in Italy. The Case of the French ship Charlet-et-Qeorges—Debates

on this question in both Houses—Speeches of Lord Wodehouse, who
moves for papers in the House of Lords, of the Earl of Malmesbury,

Earl Granville, Lord Kingsdown, Earl Grey, Earl of Derby, and other

Peers The Motion is withdrawn—In the Lower House the question is

moved by Mr. A. W. Kinglake, who is answered by Mr. Seymour Fitz-

gerald—Speeches of Mr. Lowe, Mr. Bovill, the Solicitor-General, and

Lord John Russell—The Debate is adjourned, but not resumed—Discus-

sion in the House of Lords on the Right of Search—Explanation by the

Earl of Malmesbury of the negotiations between England and the United

States on this subject—Remarks of the Earls of Clarendon, Aberdeen,

Carlisle and Derby, and of Lord Brougham. [I

CHAPTER II.

Navy Estimates—Proposed measures to repair the deficiencies in the Naval

Force of the country—Statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty on

moving the Estimates—Comparison between the English and French

Navies—Remarks of Sir C. Wood, Sir C. Napier, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir

F. Baring, Mr. Lindsay, and other members. The Army Estimates—

Statement of General Peel, Secretary of State for War—Remarks of Sir

H. Willoughby, Sir W. Codrington, Mr. Sidney Herbert, and other mem-

bers. Indian Finance—Speech of Lord Stanley, Secretary for India, on

this Question—Exposition of the Debt, Revenues, and financial resources

of India—Lord 8tanley proposes a Loan of 7,000,000/. to the Indian

Government—Discussion in Committee—Speeches of Sir C. Wood, Sir

Erskine Perry, Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Lowe, and other

members—Bill to authorize the Indian Loan brought in—Debate on the

second reading, in which Sir George Lewis, Mr. Bright, Mr. Ayrton,

• Mr. Wilson, Lord Stanley, Sir E. Perry, and Mr. C. Bruce take part—The

second reading is carried—Observations by Lord Ellenborough on the

state of the Finances of India in the House of Lords—Remarks of the

Earl of Derby and other Peers—The Indian Loan Bill passed. Law Of

Marriage—Viscount Bury moves for leave to bring in a Bill to legalize

Marriage with the Deceased Wife's Sister—Mr. A. B. Hope opposes the

Motion, which is carried by a large majority—The Bill is passed with

little discussion in the House of Commons, the numbers on the third

reading being 137 against 89—It encounters great objection in the House

of Lords—Debate on the second reading moved by Lord Wodehouse—

Speeches of Lord Dungannon, Lord Albemarle, Lord St. Leonards, the

Bishops of Exeter, St. Asaph, Cork, St. David's, Oxford, and Carlisle, Lord

Lifford, and Lord Cranworth—The Bill is rejected by 49 to 39. Church

Rates—Sir John Trelawny renews his Bill for the abolition of the Rate

—The second reading is deferred till the Government have stated their

intentions—Mr. Walpole proposes on the 21st February a plan for the

settlement of the question—Remarks of Sir John Trelawny, Sir George

Grey, Sir Arthur Elton, Sir G. C. Lewis, Lord John Russell, and other

members—Leave is given to bring in a Bill—On the second reading