they acted solely and only for the public weal. | and that he ought to wait a little, when he Should they so act, he awaited confidently would see that his coats and shoes, gloves, the result of their deliberations. He truly and so forth, would be much cheaper; and believed that if they adopted this measure, moreover to rest satisfied that corn would they would, ere long, look back with mar- never be touched. He could not, however, vel at the time when they doubted what discover that any of these things were any would be its effects; and he was equally cheaper. His noble Friend had stated in certain they would look back with satis- the course of his speech, that this was not faction to the assent which they had given. a tenants' but a landlords' question; but They would look back with satisfaction, be- on this head, he wished to state a fact or cause they would then feel they had done all two personal to himself. He happened to that in them lay to remove a reproach from possess an estate in Wales, of which the the legislation of their country-the re- rental was about 4,000l. a year, and upon proach that it added bitterness to the bitter which there were eighty tenants. Their cup of adversity. They would feel that Lordships would therefore at once perceive they had done all that in them lay to that their holdings must of necessity be smooth for the poor their rugged path; small, and that if this measure passed into that they had done all that in them lay a law, these tenants must descend to the to mitigate the primeval curse, and to lowest state of labourers. He should, no soothe the fate of those whose hard lot it doubt, be told to throw his farms together was to earn their bread in the sweat of and let them in a different manner and in their brow. larger portions; "but," my Lords (said the noble Duke), "these tenants and their forefathers have lived under my ancestors and myself for many generations. I have, in one parish on this estate, two small farms which are let to one family, members of which have held under my own for no less than 350 years-and another family has held under us for 450 years. And can I send these men to foreign countries-or turn them out to become manufacturersor to seek their living in the best way they can? My Lords, I had rather cut off my right arm than do any of these things; and proud as I may be of any honours I may possess as a Member of your Lordships' House, of that tenantry I am prouder still. And yet, my Lords, if this Bill passes into a law, this body of men are to be got rid of, and in the same manner would it act upon the 600,000 small farmers in England, and on nearly the same numbers in Ireland." He was sure that the noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Clarendon) was too proud of the name he bore-too proud of the memory of his distinguished ancestors-to be capable of wishing anything of this sort. He could not, however, say the same of others, he feared-at least so far as was to be judged by what they themselves said. One word more before he sat down, as to why he considered this was a tenants' question; and not only that, but why he also thought the tenant farmers themselves so considered it. His noble and learned Friend (Lord Brougham) did not think so; and, though he much admired his eloquence-for nikil tetigit quod non ornavit-he could not

The DUKE of BEAUFORT rose amid loud cries for a division, and said he felt some apology was necessary for rising to address their Lordships at so late an hour of the night. He would not detain them long; but at the same time he felt that he would not be discharging his duty if he did not detain them a few moments while he answered some of the arguments that had been adduced in favour of the measure. He objected to this measure, principally on two grounds. In the first place, he objected to it because it was an impolitic measure, and because it was an unjust measure-as he could not consent to see this country left dependent for its supply of food upon foreign nations. And, in the second place, he saw great objections to it, on account of the quarter from which it emanated. If the measure had been brought forward by noble Lords who sat on the other side of the House, his objections to it would not have been quite so great as they were. The noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Clarendon), to whose ability he was ready to pay every tribute, and whom he always listened to with respect, had said, "Did they suppose that corn was to be the only thing which the Prime Minister was not to touch?" To this he could only reply, that they had always had an assurance that corn should not be touched. He perfectly well remembered that he had, when the Tariff Bill of a former Session was introduced, entertained serious objections to that measure, and gone so far as to remonstrate against it; but he was told at the same time that he knew nothing at all about it

Crown, and, in others, the zeal with which | Throne, and it has been passed by a maI have endeavoured to serve your Lord-jority of the House of Commons, consisting ships, to promote your Lordships' views, of more than half the Members of that and my desire to facilitate your business in House. But my noble Friend said that this House; and I shall lament the that vote is inconsistent with the original breaking up of that confidence in public vote given by the same House of Commons life. But, my Lords, I will not omit, on this same question, and inconsistent even on this night-probably the last on with the supposed views of the constituents which I shall ever venture to address to by whom they were elected. But, my you any advice again-I will not omit to Lords, I think that is not a subject give you my counsel with respect to the which this House can take into its consivote you ought to give on this occasion. deration-for, first, we can have no accuMy noble Friend (Lord Stanley), whose rate knowledge of the fact; and, secondly, absence on this occasion I much lament, whether it be the fact or not, this we urged you, and in the strongest manner, know, that it is the House of Commons to vote against this measure; and he told from which this Bill comes to us. We you, in terms which I cannot attempt to know by the Votes that it has been passed imitate, that it was your duty to step in by a majority of the House of Commons; and protect the people of this country from we know that is recommended by the rash and inconsiderate measures passed by Crown; and we know that, if we should the other House of Parliament, and which, reject this Bill, it is a Bill which in his opinion, were inconsistent with the has been agreed to by the other two views and opinions of the people them- branches of the Legislature; and that the selves. My Lords, there is no doubt what- House of Lords stands alone in rejecting ever that it is your duty to consider all the this measure. Now that, my Lords, is a measures which are brought before you, situation in which I beg to remind your and that it is your right to vote in regard Lordships, I have frequently stated you to those measures as you think proper; ought not to stand; it is a position in and, most particularly, it is your duty to which you cannot stand, because you are vote against those that appear to be rash entirely powerless; without the House of and inconsiderate; but, my Lords, I beg Commons and the Crown, the House of leave to point out to your Lordships that it Lords can do nothing. You have vast inis also your duty to consider well the con- fluence on public opinion; you may have sequences of any vote you give on any great confidence in your own principles; subject to consider well the situation in but without the Crown or the House of which you place this House-nay, my Commons you can do nothing-till the Lords, that it is the duty of every one of connexion with the Crown and the House you to place himself in the situation of of Commons is revived, there is an end of this House, to ponder well the conse- the functions of the House of Lords. But quences of his vote, and all the circum- I will take your Lordships a step further, stances attending it, and the situation I and let you see what will be the immedirepeat, in which this House would be ate consequences of rejecting this Bill. placed if it should adopt the vote which he It appears very clear, that whatever may himself is about to give. This, indeed, be the result of this Bill in this House, has been the line of conduct pursued by the object I had in view in resuming my this House before. I myself once pre- seat in Her Majesty's Councils will not be vailed upon this House to vote for a mea- attained. I conclude that another Governsure on which it had pronounced positive ment will be formed; but whether another opinions by former votes; and persuaded Government is formed or not, let me ask, it subsequently to take a course different do your Lordships uppose that you will from that which it had pursued on previous not have this ve measure brought occasions, upon the same subject. fore you by ⚫ Administration Lords, I now ask you to look a little i can be fort. d do your Lordmeasure in respect of which you a mean to reje asure a second to give your votes this night— Do you me "try to go on at the way in which it comes befor discussion of sure two or and to consider the consequences lik th longer follow your rejection

of this Bill. Thi

was recommended

do reject

Lor:

n th

'uke and
Iressed the
rliament

object of le Lords inst this resolved

Clarendon
Talbot
Fortescue
Liverpool
Meath
Besborough
Mornington
Courton
Charlemont

Clanwilliam
Clare
Leitrim
Bandon
Rosslyn
Craven

Romney
Chichester

--that the country should have the oppor- | Roseberry
tunity of considering the question, and of Glasgow
Cowper
returning other representatives; and that Radnor
it may be seen whether or not the new Spencer
House of Commons would agree to this mea- Bathurst
sure or not. Now, really if your Lordships
have so much confidence, as you appear to
have, in the result of other elections, and
in the exercise of public opinion on this
question, I think that you might venture
to rely upon the elections which must
occur, according to the common course of
law, in the course of a twelvemonth from
this time; and that you might leave it to
the Parliament thus elected to consider
the course which it will take on the expi-
ration of the term of the Bill now before
you; for that Bill is to last only till the
year 1849. I think your Lordships might
trust to that Parliament to take the mat-
ter into consideration at that time, with-
out interfering with the prerogative of the
Crown, by compelling the Queen to dis-
solve Parliament as the immediate conse-
quence of the rejection of the present
measure. Your Lordships, therefore, have
now the option of immediately accepting
this Bill, reserving it to another Parlia-
ment to pass or reject it again, if again
the question should be brought forward, or
of rejecting the Bill now, and obtaining a
fresh election, of which you are so desir-
ous: your Lordships have that choice
you may reject the Bill now, or you may
appeal again to the new Parliament to
confirm or reject it, at the time when its
operation will cease, in the year 1849.
The question was then put that “
stand part of the Motion?

now

Gosford
Grey
Minto
Verulam
St. Germans
Morley
Howe
Burlington
Ripon
Granville
Effingham
Lovelace

Zetland
Auckland

Ellenborough
Uxbridge
Bruce

VISCOUNTS.

Strathallan

Torrington
Sydney

Clifton
Hawarden
Canning

Norwich
Hereford

St. David's
Worcester
Lichfield
Oxford

Tuam

LORDS.

Dacre
Camoys
Byron

Rollo
Kinnaird
Montfort
Foley
Carteret
Suffield
Thurlow

Lyttelton

Calthorpe

Blayney

Gardner

Rivers

Sandys

Crewe

Churchill

Prudhoe

Howden

Glenlyon

Delamere

Forester Wharncliffe Brougham Dinorben Denman Carew

Hatherton

Strafford
Cottenham
Langdale
Lovat
Portman
De Mauley
Wrottesley
Sudeley
Leigh