bate would serve for the property of testators in all parts of the country?

to answer the question of an hon. Member for an Irish county, and then an anMR. SIDNEY HERBERT: Sir, I wish swer was reluctantly given to the remark to ask a question with reference to part of of the hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. the Speech on which no information has Hume), by the noble Lord the Chief Secreyet been given. The paragraph in the tary for Ireland. Being a very plain man Speech referring to the difficulties that himself, he understood plain English acarose during the last summer with re- cording to its ordinary sense and meaning, spect to our Colonial fisheries conveys an and when Her Majesty was advised by Her impression as to the origin of those diffi- Ministers to speak of " an unhappy spirit culties, and as to the course taken with re- of insubordination and turbulence which gard to them, and likewise as to the result produces many and aggravates all of the likely to ensue from the negotiations, at evils which afflict that portion of Her Mavariance, I think, with the public impres-jesty's dominions," he understood the sions on the subject. Of course, the in- Queen to mean, and he understood Her formation in the hands of the Government, Majesty's Ministers to mean, if they meant on the subject to which this paragraph anything, that there is now existing "an alludes, would, if produced at once, set unhappy spirit of insubordination and turat rest any doubts that exist on that bulence in that part of her dominions,' point. I gather from the conclusion of which seriously increases and aggravates the second paragraph that those negotia- the evils by which they are afflicted. tions are not yet terminated, and in that Now, they had no explanation of that case, of course, it would not be proper to language. Were the Members sent from press the Government to give any informa- Ireland to that House to understand that tion or lay any papers on the table of the it was not the intention of Ministers to House respecting them; but it is important propose any measure for the repression of we should know if there be a prospect of an existing "unhappy spirit of insubordinaan early settlement of the question, and at tion and turbulence?" He rather guessed what period the Government would be it from what had been said by the right enabled to lay on the table of the House hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney the papers and correspondence respecting General for Ireland; but the right hon. these negotiations. and learned Geutleman did not say it very distinctly, nor, indeed, had anything been said very distinctly by any hon. Gentleman who had spoken on the other side of the House. The only Member who spoke out on that side, was an hon. and learned Friend of his, the hon. and learned Gentleman who seconded the Address, and he did come out boldly and frankly with the declaration that he was for free trade. The hon. Gentlemen who came after him did not seem inclined to follow the lead, and they hemmed and hawed, and spoke in such a way that a new Member of the House could not, at all events, understand what they meant. After the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland had spoken, the noble Lord the Chief Secretary for Ireland stood up and expected them to MR. SHEE said, he was unacquainted believe that those words, "insubordinawith the course which was generally adopt- tion and turbulence," were only inserted ed by Government in answering questions in the Speech to make a rounded put to them by independent Members of period; and that the real purport of the House; but when questions were put the sentence was to inform the House in terms of courtesy to Her Majesty's that that which was not to be expected Ministers, he did not think they should from the hon. Gentlemen opposite-namegive such off-hand answers as had been ly, a course of generous and liberal meagiven that evening. First, they refused sures for Ireland-was all that was in

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, it will be quite impossible for Her Majesty's Government, in the present state of the question, to lay any papers on the table of the House. I can only repeat what I believe is mentioned in the Speech, that the Government of the United States has agreed to enter into negotiations with us in the most friendly spirit, and in such a way as to lead to inereased commercial relations between the two countries. The spirit in which the negotiations between the two Governments have taken place, has been of the most friendly character, and I think the result will prove very satisfactory; but, of course, under these circumstances the House cannot expect that the Government will lay any papers on the table on this subject.

141 Bills of Exchange and Notes {Nov. 12, 1852}

66

tended by this sentence in Her Majesty's clear. Still, however, he must say, that Speech. The right hon. and learned turbulence and insubordination to a cerAttorney General for Ireland and the noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland had both spoken; and he (Mr. Shee) now appealed to the candour of his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who was specially charged, as a Member of Her Majesty's Government, with the administration of the affairs of Ireland, and he asked him first, would he get up in that House and say that the words in Her Majesty's Speech to which attention had been called did not mean, yesterday, whatever they meant that day, an existing spirit of insubordination and turbulence in Ireland,' which it was the intention of Her Majesty's Ministers to repress? If they did not mean that yesterday, what did they mean? Did hon. Gentlemen opposite intend to tell that House that the Government had advised Her Majesty to insert words of mere insult in the Speech with reference to Her Majesty's subjects in Ireland? Her Majesty had visited that part of Her dominions but a short time ago, and was received in a manner in which She had never been received in this country, notwithstanding the attachment of the people of this country to Her person and family, and the loyalty they had always evinced. He asked his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department if yesterday (whatever they meant that day) those words did not mean that there was an existing spirit of insubordination and turbulence in Ireland, which it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to repress? He wished, secondly, to ask him to state distinctly that they might know the intentions of Government before the Motion of the hon. Member for Wolverhampton (Mr. C. Villiers) was submitted to the Housewhether Her Majesty's Government intend to propose any coercive measures of any kind, or any measures restrictive of the civil and religious liberties of Her Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects in Ireland?

MR. WALPOLE said, that his hon. and learned Friend having pointedly referred to him, he rose to answer the question. He understood his hon. and learned Friend to ask whether by the latter words of the Address the Government meant to say that they intended to bring in any measure to repress the turbulence and insubordination there alluded to. His answer was, that the Government did not, and he hoped that answer was distinct and

tain extent did unquestionably exist in Ireland. He did not wish to provoke discussion, yet everybody must be aware that one of the last things which it was necessary for the Government to do before the dissolution of the late Parliament was to renew a Bill for one year for proclaiming certain districts in Ireland, in consequence of there then being counties in Ireland exposed to what might be called turbulence and insubordination, which rendered that Act necessary. In some counties it was still necessary to continue the operation of that Act. But he, for one, should be glad to find that the generous and liberal policy alluded to in the same paragraph of the Queen's Speech, and more pointedly alluded to than the turbulence and insubordination, might have the effect of removing all necessity at no distant period for any of those measures which had peculiarly affected Ireland in consequence of the turbulence and insubordination which had prevailed there. The meaning of the paragraph in the Queen's Speech was both general and particular: general, inasmuch as the Government did not intend to do anything in respect to Ireland of any sort or kind which could be construed as contrary to a generous and liberal policy, taken in the largest sense of the word; and particular, inasmuch as it was intended in the course of the Session to bring in certain measures of a liberal and generous policy towards Ireland, and, among them, a settlement of the whole relations between landlord and tenant, including in that settlement the much-vexed question which was now anxiously discussed in Irelandnamely, compensation for unexhausted improvements. This was the policy which they intended to pursue, and he trusted that it would be responded to by the people of Ireland in the spirit in which it was offered. Report agreed to.

BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND NOTES

(METROPOLIS) BILL.

MR. WALPOLE said, he begged to give notice of his intention to bring in a Bill, which would require the suspension of all the Standing Orders, in order that it might pass through the House on Monday next. The object of the Bill would be to declare that the day appointed for the funeral of the Duke of Wellington should, as regards the payment of bills of exchange and promissory notes, be

treated as the "Lord's-day," commonly | rence of your Lordships. And if I had called Sunday. From all he could hear, not been convinced of this before, the lanhe believed that if some such provision guage of general eulogy which I heard in were not made, great inconvenience would this House a few days ago would have rebe experienced by the commercial and lieved me from the necessity of addressing banking classes. your Lordships at any length, and would have made me perfectly certain that you would have but one feeling as to the propriety of doing all that you at present can to honour the memory of the late Duke of Wellington in that public funeral which Her Majesty, in anticipation of the wishes of Parliament and the country, has already

The House adjourned at Six o'clock.

mmmmm

HOUSE OF LORDS,

Monday, November 15, 1852.

MINUTES.] Took the Oaths.-Several Lords.
Sat First in Parliament.-The Lord Panmure, directed. I beg therefore to move-
after the Death of his Father.

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S FUNERAL (BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND NOTES) BILL.

The EARL of DERBY: My Lords, I have to move the First Reading of a Bill which has been passed by the other House of Parliament under rather peculiar circumstances, which make it necessary that I should ask your Lordships to dispense with your Standing Orders in order that it might be passed as speedily as possible. The Government has received representations on the part of a great number of merchants and commercial men of the city of London, with respect to the great inconvenience that will arise in connexion with the presentation and payment of bills falling due on Thursday next, the day of the Duke of Wellington's funeral, unless some arrangements be made by Parliament. It is proposed, therefore, to enact that Thursday next shall be considered a dies non; and that all bills falling due on that day shall be presented and be payable on Wednesday; but that if these bills are paid before two o'clock on Friday, the parties shall be subjected to no notarial charges arising from the delay.

Bill read 1; to be printed; and to be read 2a To-morrow. And Standing Orders Nos. 37 and 38, to be considered, in order to their being dispensed with.

MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN-FUNERAL

OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. The Queen's Message considered. The EARL of DERBY again rose and said: I have now to ask your Lordships to agree to an Address to Her Majesty in answer to Her Majesty's gracious Message of Friday last, in reference to which I am sure that it is quite unnecessary for me to say a single word, because I am convinced that it will meet with the universal concur

"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to express to Her Majesty the Thanks of this House for Her Majesty's most Gracious Message of Friday last, humbly to thank Her Majesty for having given Directions for the Public Interment of the mortal Remains of His Grace The Duke of Wellington in the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, and to assure Her Majesty of the cordial Aid and Concurrence of this House in giving to the Ceremony a fitting Degree of Solemnity and Importance.'

On Question, agreed to, Nemine Dissentiente.

The EARL of DERBY then said: I have now to move the following Resolution:

of the Funeral of Arthur Duke of Wellington in "That this House will attend at the Solemnity the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on Thursday next."

On Question, agreed to, Nemine Dissentiente.

It was also moved—

"That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the Circumstances relating to the Attend

ance of this House and their Place at the Solem

nity of the Funeral of Field Marshal the late Duke of Wellington."

The DUKE of CLEVELAND said, that he wished to suggest to the First Lord of the Treasury the propriety of giving facilities for the departure and return from the cathedral of St. Paul of those persons who had been officially engaged in the procession and solemnity. He thought it was but reasonable that if those persons were not to return in procession, they should have some priority of departure over those who were present merely as spectators.

The EARL of DERBY said, he need hardly assure the noble Duke that the question of the whole of the arrangements connected with the funeral had been a matter of very anxious consideration on the part of the Government, and of those connected with the responsibility (for such it was) of conducting a ceremony of such magnitude; and he had no doubt that pro

and members of the commercial interest as to the great inconvenience that would arise from having bills of exchange payable on a day when the streets would be filled with the dense crowds that might be expected to assemble on that occasion, and which would render it impossible for sons engaged in business to pass from place to place. The Bill would provide that bills of exchange and notes falling due on the day of the funeral should be payable on the day before. It was evident that this arrangement could not be injurious to the holders of bills, while the only inconvenience which could result to payers would be, that in the event of their not being prepared to take up their acceptances on the day before their funeral, they would incur certain notarial charges on account of the noting of bills. To obviate this inconvenience, he proposed that the payers of bills of exchange should not be liable to notarial charges, provided their bills should be paid by two o'clock on Friday, the day following the funeral.