CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.-The Session of 1857-8 resumed after the

Adjournment on the 4th of February-The Earl of Derby in the House

of Lords expresses his surprise at the omission of any Ministerial state-

ment, and refers at some length to the State of Public Affairs, especially

to the Mutiny in India, the War with China, and the Relations of this

Country with France-He is answered by Earl Granville-Remarks of

Lord Panmure and Earl Grey on Military Arrangements, and of Lords

Brougham and Campbell on the Laws affecting Foreign Conspirators in

England-Lord Palmerston gives notice of a Bill to amend the Law of

Conspiracy-Marriage of the Princess Royal-Addresses of congratula-

tion to Her Majesty on this event are moved in both Houses, and carried,

nem. con.-LEGISLATION FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA-The President

of the Board of Control moves for leave to bring in a Bill to enable the

East India Company to borrow Ten Millions for the service of the Govern-

ment-Remarks of Mr. T. Baring, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr.

Cardwell, Mr. Disraeli, Sir F. Baring, and other Members-Leave given―

The amount authorized being afterwards reduced to Eight Millions, the

Bill is passed-Thanks of Parliament to the Civil and Military Officers

and Servants in India-The Motion is made in the House of Lords by Lord

Panmure-His speech-Lord Derby takes exception to Lord Canning's

name being included in the vote-Speeches of the Duke of Argyll, the

Duke of Cambridge, and Lord Falkland-The Resolutions are agreed to-

In the House of Commons, after an objection from Mr. Disraeli on a point

of form which is overruled, Lord Palmerston moves the Thanks of the

House-Mr. Disraeli objects to including Lord Canning's name until the

House is in a condition to pronounce upon his policy, and he moves the

previous question-Speeches of Mr. Labouchere, Sir John Pakington, Mr.

Mangles, Colonel Sykes, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Drummond, and Mr. Henley-

Lord Palmerston disclaims binding the House by this vote to approve

Lord Canning's policy, and Mr. Disraeli withdraws his opposition-Annuity

to the Widow and Son of General Havelock-The Bill is passed without

opposition-Petition of the East India Company against the transfer of

the Government of India to the Crown-Presented by Earl Grey in the

House of Lords-Discussion on that occasion-Mr. T. Baring presents the

Petition to the Commons-On the 12th February, Lord Palmerston moves

for leave to bring in a Bill to transfer India to the Government of the

Crown-Summary of his Speech-Mr. T. Baring moves an Amendment

declaring legislation at the present time to be inexpedient-The Chan-

cellor of the Exchequer dissects the Petition of the Company, and con-

troverts its statements in an able Speech-The Debate is prolonged for

three nights by Adjournment-Speeches of Mr. Mangles, Mr. Roebuck,

Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Crawford, Sir Henry Rawlinson, Sir John

Walsh, Mr. A. Mills. Mr. Seymour, Colonel Sykes, Sir Charles Wood,

Mr. Willoughby, Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Lord John Russell, Mr. Disraeli,

and other Members-On a division, the House decides in favour of intro-

ducing the Bill by 318 to 173
[Page 1

CHAPTER II.

The Conspiracy against the life of the Emperor of the French-Consequences

of that event upon our relations with France-State of public opinion in

the two countries-Mr. Roebuck animadverts in the House of Commons on

the language of some of the Addresses to the Emperor-Answer of Lord

Palmerston-Bill to amend the Law of Conspiracy introduced by the

Prime Minister-Debate on the Motion for leave to bring it in-Speech

of Lord Palmerston-Mr. Kinglake moves an Amendment declaring it in-

expedient to legislate on the subject under the present circumstances-

Mr. Horsman seconds the Amendment-Arguments urged against the Bill

by the opponents-Mr. Roebuck denounces the Measure with great energy

-Speeches of Sir George Grey, Mr. Collier, Mr. Napier, and the Solicitor-

General for the Bill, and of Mr. Bovill, Mr. Hope, Mr. Warren, Lord John

Russell against Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Sidney Herbert offer a qualified

support to the Bill at the present stage-Mr. Kinglake's Amendment is

withdrawn, and leave given to bring in the Bill by 299 votes against 99-

Lord Palmerston moves the Second Reading on the 19th February—In-

creased unpopularity of the Measure since the former Debate-Mr. Milner

Gibson moves an Amendment expressing the abhorrence of the House at

the recent attempt in France, and its readiness to amend defects in its

Criminal Law, but censuring the Government for not replying to Count

Persigny's Despatch of the 20th January, 1858-A long and animated

Debate takes place-Speeches of Mr. Baines, Mr. Walpole, Sir George

Grey, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Henley, the Lord Advocate, Mr. Gladstone,

the Attorney-General, Mr. Disraeli, and Lord Palmerston's Reply-The

Division produces a majority of 234 to 215 against the Government-

Downfall of the Palmerston Administration in consequence of this defeat

-State of feeling in the country on this subject-Growing indifference to

party distinctions-Lord Palmerston in the House of Commons, and Earl

Granville in the Lords, announce the dissolution of the Cabinet-The Earl

of Derby undertakes to form a Government-Differences of opinion between

eminent Lawyers in the two Houses on the effect of the existing law of

Conspiracy-Animated controversy between Lords Lyndurst, Campbell,

and Brougham in the one House, and Sir Richard Bethell in the other-

In the House of Commons, after an adjournment of a few days, Writs are

moved for various places in consequence of the acceptance of office by the

new Ministers-On the 1st March, the Earl of Derby makes a full state-

ment of the views and intentions of the new Government with respect to

all the leading Questions of Public Interest, especially our relations with

France, the Government of India, the China War, and Parliamentary

Reform-On the latter subject he promises a Measure after due time for

consideration-Remarks of Earl Granville on these topics-The Earl of

Clarendon enters into a detailed Explanation and Defence of the proceed-

ings of the late Government with reference to our relations with France,

and the Conspiracy Bill

[31

Resolution is negatived by a majority of 9-In the House of Commons

a Debate is commenced on the 14th of May, and continued for several

nights by Adjournment-Speech of Mr. Cardwell in moving his Resolu-

tion-He is ably answered by the Solicitor-General-Speeches of Mr.

Lowe, Mr. V. Smith, Lord Stanley, Lord J. Russell, Mr. Roebuck, Sir C.

Wood, Mr. Hardy, Sir R. Peel, Sir George Lewis, Lord Goderich, Mr.

Bright, Sir James Graham, and numerous other Members-Pending the

Debate, which is protracted by various causes, information bearing on

the point under discussion arrives from India-Change produced thereby

in the feeling of the House-The combination opposed to the Govern-

ment shows signs of dissolution-On the last night of the Debate several

Members of the Liberal party urge Mr. Cardwell to withdraw his Reso-

lution-He at first declines, but eventually, being much pressed by the

House, and Lord Palmerston concurring, consents-Remarks of Mr. Glad-

stone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Bright on the with-

drawal of the motion-Effect of this result in strengthening the Govern-

ment The Debates on the India Bill are resumed-Mr. Gladstone

proposes a provisional arrangement for governing India by the existing

Court of Directors for one year-This proposal is opposed by Lord

Stanley, and rejected, after debate, by 285 to 110-Mr. Roebuck's motion

for dispensing with a Council is also negatived-Discussion of the several

Resolutions on India in Committee-Numerous Amendments are moved,

but opposed by Lord Stanley on the part of the Government, and rejected

in each instance by large majorities-Five of the Resolutions being

passed, Lord Stanley announces his intention to proceed no further with

the Resolutions, but at once to bring in the Bill-The second reading of

the "Government of India Bill, No. 3," is moved on the 24th of June-

Speech of Lord Stanley on moving it-Mr. Bright enters into a length-

ened statement of his views respecting the Government of India-After

speeches from Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. W. Smith, and other

Members, the Bill is read a second time without a division-Numerous

Amendments are moved in Committee by Lord Palmerston, Lord John

Russell, and other Members, but the propositions of the Government are

in each case supported by the House-Some new clauses added-Lord

Palmerston's Amendment to limit the continuance of the new scheme of

Government to five years, is negatived by 149 to 115-The Bill passes

the House of Commons with various comments upon it from some lead-

ing Members-The second reading of the Bill is moved by Lord Derby in

the House of Lords on the 15th July-Earl Granville criticises the

measure in some respects, but declines to oppose it-Lord Ellenborough

expresses strong objections to some features of the Bill, especially the

constitution of the Council and the competitive examinations for En-

gineer Officers-Debate in Committee on the proposed Council for India

-The Duke of Somerset, Lord Broughton, Lord Wodehouse, and other

Peers object to a Council altogether-The clause is eventually carried-

Various amendments opposed by the Government are rejected—Ani-

mated discussion between Lord Ellenborough and Lord Derby on com-

petitive examinations-Lord Derby carries his clause-On the motion

that the Bill do pass, the Archbishop of Canterbury makes some remarks

on the duty of the British Government towards India in regard to re-

ligion-Observations of Lord Derby in answer, and of the Bishops of

London and Oxford-Discussion between the two Houses on the Amend-

ments made by the Lords and objected to by the Commons-The question

of competitive examination for the Army is much debated, and ulti-

mately the Lords succeed in retaining their amendment-The Bill re-

ceives the Royal Assent on the last day of the Session

· [90

CHAPTER V.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.-State of the Income and Expenditure of the country

at the commencement of the Session-General apprehension of a Deficit

-The Budget-Mr. Disraeli, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer,

makes his Financial Statement on the 19th of April-He states his views

of the condition of the country-Proposes to postpone the re-payment of

the Exchequer Bonds, to equalize the Spirit Duties, and lay a Tax on

Bankers' Cheques-The reception of the Budget is generally favourable

-Remarks of Mr. Gladstone, Sir G. Lewis, Lord J. Russell, Mr. Cardwell,

and other Members-The various Bills for giving effect to the financial

arrangements are passed with little opposition-Sir G. C. Lewis, the ex-

Chancellor of the Exchequer, vindicates his own financial administration,

and impugns the policy of postponing the Exchequer Bonds and Sinking

Fund-Speeches of Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Bright, and the

Chancellor of the Exchequer-The Bankers' Cheques Bill is passed after

a short discussion-Mr. James Wilson moves a Resolution, affirming that

loans of money for war purposes ought to be for a limited term, or other-

wise provided for by gradual repayment out of surplus revenue-The

Chancellor of the Exchequer opposes the Motion, which is also dis-

approved by Mr. Gladstone, Sir G. Lewis, Mr. Cardwell, and Lord J. Rus-

sell, and is negatived by the House-The Paper Duty-Mr. Milner

Gibson moves a Resolution condemnatory of this Tax-The Chancellor

of the Exchequer gives a qualified opposition to the Resolution, but is

willing to assent to so much of it as condemns the permanent con-

tinuance of the Duty-Speeches of Mr. Bright, Sir G. Lewis, Mr. Drum-

mond, and Lord J. Russell-Mr. Gibson consents to give up the latter

clause of his Resolution and the former part is agreed to-The Naval

Estimates and State of the Naval Defences-Sir John Pakington moves

the Estimates on the 12th of April, announcing some reductions upon

those prepared by the late Ministers-Sir Charles Napier praises the First

Lord's statement, but desires further improvements in order to render the

service more efficient-Sir Charles Wood vindicates his own adminis-

tration of the Admiralty-Speeches of Admiral Walcott, Lord Clarence

Paget, Lord Palmerston, and Mr. Horsman-The Votes are agreed to-

Manning the Navy-Sir Charles Napier proposes a Motion for issuing a

Royal Commission to enquire into this subject-His Speech-Answer of

Sir J. Pakington, who assents to the Commission, with some reservations

-Observations of Admiral Walcott, Lord Clarence Paget, Mr. Lindsay,

Mr. Bentinck, and other Members-On Lord Palmerston's recommen-

dation, Sir Charles Napier assents to the suggestion of the Government

-A Commission is issued accordingly

. [131

CHAPTER VI.

RELIGIOUS AND ECCLESIASTICAL QUESTIONS. Admission of Jews to Parlia-

ment. Lord John Russell brings in a Bill to alter the Oaths of Allegiance

and Supremacy, and to relieve Jews from the necessity of using certain

words in the Oath-The Bill is read a second time unopposed-Discussions

in Committee-Mr. Newdegate moves the amendment of Section 5, con-

taining the relaxation in favour of Jews-Speeches of Mr. Walpole, Mr.

Roebuck, Lord John Russell, Sir R. Bethell, and other Members-The