:: CHAPTER 1. ,
ASPECT of Public Affairs at the commencement of the year 1850—Im-
provement of Trade and Revenue, and. diminution of Pauperism-Con-
tinued Depression of the Agricultural Interest-Parliament is opened by
Commission on 31st January--The Queen's Speech-Debates on the
Address—In the House of Lords, it is moved by the Earl of Essex,
seconded by Lord Methuen—The Earl of Stradbroke moves an Amend-
ment, setting forth the distressed state of the Agricultural Classes, which
is seconded by the Earl of Desart-The Amendment is supported by the
Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Winchilsea, the Duke of Beaufort and
Lord Stanley; the Earls of Carlisle, Granville, and Fitzwilliam, the
Marguess of Lansdowne, and Lord Brougham, vindicate the Address,
which is carried by a majority of 49_In the House of Commons, Mr.
C. Villiers moves, and Sir James Duke seconds, a similar Address-Sir
John Trollope moves an Amendment, embodying the complaints of the
Owners and Occupiers of Land, which is seconded by Colonel Chatterton
-The Chancellor of the Exchequer enters into statistical details, showing
the increased Trade and Revenue of the Country, and the Reduction of
Parochial Burdens—The Debate is continued for two nights by adjourn-
ment-Speeches of Mr. H. Herbert, Mr. W. Fagan, Sir John Walsh, Mr.
Grantley Berkeley, the Marquess of Granby, Mr. Christopher, Mr. Robert
Palmer, Mr. Muntz, Mr. Herries, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Disraeli, Lord John
Russell, and Mr. Cobden-On a Division, the Address is carried by 311
against 192. LOCAL BURDENS ON LAND—Mr. Disraeli moves on the 19th
Feb. for a Committee of the whole House, to consider a Revision of
Poor-Law BurdensHis Speech-He is answered at length by Sir
George Grey--The Motion is supported, during a protracted Debate of
two nights, by Mr. Seymer, Sir John Tyrrell, Lord John Manners, Mr.
Stafford, and Mr. Gladstone, and opposed by Mr. Bright, Mr. Hobhouse,
Mr. Wilson, Sir James Graham, and Sir Robert Peel-On a Division, the
Motion is negatived by a Majority of 21 votes. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM
-Mr. Hume proposes, on the 28th Feb., a Resolution for the Extension
of the Franchise-Thé Motion is seconded by Sir Joshua Walmsley, and
advocated by Mr. Feargus O'Connor, Mr. W. P. Wood, Mr. Roebuck, Mr.
B. Osborne, and Mr. Locke King-Sir George Grey, Mr. Henry Drum-
mond, and Lord John Russell address the House on the other side-Mr.
Hume's proposition is negatived by 242 to 96 . . . . Page [1