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Statement of the Year made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

on the 17th of February His Propositions respecting the Income

Tax, and Partial Repeal of the Window Tax-The Statement is very

unfavourably received by the House-Adverse Criticisms from various

Members. THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS-On the 20th of February the Re-

signation of Lord John Russell's Cabinet is announced in the Newspapers

-Reasons generally alleged for this step-On the meeting of the Houses

on the 21st, the Ministerial Leaders propose Adjournments till the 24th-

On the 24th Explanations are given in both Houses-Statement of the

Marquis of Lansdowne in the House of Lords-Remarks of Lord Stanley

—Similar Statement by Lord John Russell in the House of Commons-

Remarks of Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Roebuck-Further Adjournments till the

28th are proposed and agreed to-On that day the Marquis of Lansdowne,

in the Upper House, enters into a detailed account of the Negotiations

carried on for the reconstruction of the Ministry-He announces that the

Queen had had recourse to the Duke of Wellington for advice at this

juncture-Speeches of the Earl of Aberdeen and Lord Stanley relative to

the parts taken by them in the late transactions-In the Commons, on

the same evening, Lord John Russell enters into a full Statement of what

had occurred-Important Speech of Sir James Graham-Remarks of Mr.

Disraeli, Mr. Hume, Sir R. Inglis, and other Members-Ultimate adjust-

ment of the Ministerial Crisis, and Reinstalment of the late Cabinet

announced on the 3rd of March-Discussions in both Houses on this

occasion-Declarations by Irish Members of determined hostility to the

Ecclesiastical Titles Bill Remarks of Lord John Manners and Mr.

Wakley

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FINANCE.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer makes his second Financial

Statement for the Year, on the 5th of April-He explains at length the

motives which had influenced him in making his Propositions to the

House, and the subsequent modifications in his Plans-He proposes a total

Repeal of the Window Tax in lieu of the Alteration before propounded,

and retracts some of the boons to the Agricultural Interest which had

been ungraciously received-The Budget meets with a more favour-

able reception than the former one. THE INCOME TAX-Mr. Herries

moves a Resolution directed to an alleviation of that Impost-He is

answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speeches of Mr. Prinsep,

Mr. F. Peel, Mr. T. Baring, Mr. J. Wilson, Sir R. Inglis, and other Mem-

bers-Mr. Herries's Resolution is rejected on a division by 278 against

230-The Second Reading of the Income-Tax Bill is opposed by Mr.

Spooner and Mr. Muntz, but without effect-On the Bill going into Com-

mittee, Mr. Hume moves that the Grant be limited to one year, with the

object of having the whole subject considered in a Select Committee-

The Amendment is opposed by the Government, also by Mr. Cobden, and

Mr. Sidney Herbert-It is supported by Alderman Thompson, Mr. Miles,

and Mr. Disraeli, and is carried by 244 to 230, amidst great cheering from

the Opposition-A few days afterwards, Lord John Russell declares the

intention of the Government to acquiesce in the Amendment-Remarks

of Mr. Disraeli-Mr. Hume experiences much difficulty in nominating a

Select Committee on the Income Tax-Discussion as to the object of the

Amendment, and the motives of those who had supported it-Remarks of

Lord John Russell and Sir C. Wood-A Committee is at length nominated.

PROTECTIONIST FINANCE-On the 30th of June, Mr. Disraeli moves certain

Resolutions respecting the Financial Position and Prospects of the

Country, and the Policy of the Government-His Speech-He is answered

by the Chancellor of the Exchequer-Speeches of Mr. Newdegate, Mr.

Labouchere, Mr. Hume, and other Members-The Resolutions are ne-

gatived by a majority of 113. ALTERATION OF DUTIES ON COFFEE AND

TIMBER-The former opposed by Mr. E. H. Stanley, but agreed to by the

House-Mr. T. Baring moves a Resolution condemnatory of the Adul-

teration of Coffee by means of Chicory-The Motion is opposed by the

Chancellor of the Exchequer, and rejected after a Debate, by 5 votes only

-On a second attempt with the same view, Mr. T. Baring is outvoted by

199 to 122. MALT TAX-Repeal of that Duty moved by Mr. Cayley-

His Speech-He is supported by Mr. Disraeli and other Members of the

Agricultural Party-The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord John

Russell resist the Motion, which is rejected by 258 to 122-Mr. Bass after-

wards moves that the Malt Duty be reduced one-half-This also is ne-

gatived by the House-Mr. Frewen attempts a Repeal of the Hop Duty,

but without success-Lord Naas twice defeats the Government on his

Motion with respect to the mode of levying Duties on Home-made

Spirits in Bond; and Lord Robert Grosvenor once, upon a Proposi-

tion for repealing the Attorney's Certificate Duty-The Chancellor of

the Exchequer ultimately succeeds in reversing the decisions as to

both.

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Select Committee be appointed with the same object-Speeches of Mr.

Vernon Smith, Mr. F. Scott, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Labouchere,

Mr. Sidney Herbert, and other Members-The Amendment is carried by

128 to 60-Further Discussions in the House of Lords, and in the House

of Commons, on the vote being proposed for the Expenses of the Kafir

War in Committee of Supply-Important Debate on the Political Griev-

ances of the Cape Colony in the House of Lords, on the Motion of the

Earl of Derby-He enters fully into the subjects of the Postponement of

the promised Constitution, and the sending of Convicts to the Cape-Earl

Grey defends his own Policy-The Earl of Malmesbury, Lord Lyndhurst,

Lord Cranworth, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyll, and the Duke

of Newcastle, take part in the Discussion-Lord Derby's Motion for a

Select Committee of Inquiry is negatived by 74 to 68. SIR JAMES BROOKE

--Mr. Hume moves for an Inquiry into the Conduct of this Officer in

reference to some of his operations against the Dyak Tribes for alleged

Piracy-Mr. Headlam, Mr. H. Drummond, Mr. Milnes, and Lord Palmer-

ston vindicate Sir J. Brooke's Character-Mr. Cobden supports the Motion

-Mr. Gladstone discredits the personal Charges, but is in favour of In-

quiry-On a Division, the Motion is defeated by 230 to 19. THE SLAVE

TRADE-Interesting Statement made by Lord Palmerston respecting the

progress made towards its Suppression-Remarks of Sir John Pakington

and Mr. Hutt. STATE PROSECUTIONS OF THE NEAPOLITAN GOVERNMENT-

Publication of Mr. Gladstone's Letters to the Earl of Aberdeen-Strong

public interest and sympathy excited by these disclosures-Sir De Lacy

Evans questions the Government on the subject in the House of Commons

-Answer of Lord Palmerston, and steps taken by him in reference to

Mr. Gladstone's Pamphlet.
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and Mr. Disraeli-On a Division the Bill is lost by 299 to 83-Motion by

Mr. Henry Berkeley in favour of the Ballot supported by Mr. Hume and

Captain Scobell, and carried against the Ministers by 87 to 50-The

Motion, however, produces no further result. ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION—

Gross Bribery alleged to have been practised at that Borough-Bill pro-

posed and carried for appointing Commissioners to investigate the mode

in which the Election had been conducted. PEACE POLICY-Mr. Cobden's

Proposition in favour of a reciprocal National Disarmament-Speeches of

Mr. Cobden, Mr. Mackinnon, Lord Palmerston, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Hume,

and other Members-Several Members advise the withdrawal of the

Motion in consequence of the language held by the Secretary for Foreign

Affairs-Mr. Cobden accedes to that suggestion. MARRIAGES OF AFFINITY

-The Bill rejected in the preceding Year for legalizing Marriages with a

deceased Wife's Sister is again introduced in the House of Lords—Earl

St. Germans proposes and argues in favour of the Measure-The Arch-

bishop of Canterbury declares himself opposed to the principle of the

Bill, and moves its postponement for Six Months-The Bishops of Exeter,

St. David's, and Norwich, support the Amendment- Lord Campbell

argues forcibly against the Bill-Lord Gage supports the Measure-On a

Division the Amendment is carried by a Majority of 34. THE CHURCH

OF ENGLAND AND CONVOCATION-Discussion in the House of Lords on the

Motion of Lord Redesdale on this subject-The Archbishop of Canterbury

argues with much force against the revival of Convocation-Important

Speeches of Lord Lyttelton, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Bishop of

London, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Duke of Argyll, and the Bishop

of Oxford
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