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THE

ANNUAL REGISTER,

For the Year 1823.

THE

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Internal prosperity of the Country-Complaints of the Agricul turists-County Meetings-Petition of the County of Norfolk -Increased Popularity of the Ministry-Official Changes-Meeting of Parliament-Speech from the Throne-Address moved in the House of Lords: Amendment proposed by Lord Stanhope : the course of Observation followed by Lord Lansdown and Lord Liverpool Address moved in the House of Commons: Mr. Brougham's Dissection of the Diplomatic Notes of the Allied Sovereigns, and his invective against them and their Policy: Mr. Peel's Remarks-Effect of the Disposition and Temper exhibited by Parliament.

HE country, in the beginning

present year, exhibited the most unequivocal marks of a steady and progressive prosperity. Every branch of manufacturing industry, was in a flourishing state. The cotton wool, wrought up in 1822, exceeded the consumption of the preceding year, by one-fifth; there was a considerable increase in the quantity of silks and woollen-cloths manufactured; and, in conse◄ VOL. LXV.

quence of augmenting exportation,

and cutlery, was reviving from the state of stagnation in which it had been since the conclusion of the war. The shipping interest, too, which had experienced more than a proportional share of the late depression and embarrassments, participated in the general improvement. Not only was there employment for the good vessels that were in the docks, but the ship[B]

builders yards began, again, to present a scene of busy industry.

The agricultural distress had diminished in the course of the former year; but the effects of the by-gone change in the circumstances of many owners and cultivators of the soil were still felt in a degree strong enough to give a plausible pretext for complaint. These complaints were uttered most loudly in various countymeetings, held immediately before, or shortly after, the meeting of parliament; at which, under pretext of assigning the causes or suggesting remedies of the agricultural distress, the necessity of diminishing the taxes, of reforming the constitution of the legislature, and frequently of plundering the church, and the public creditor, was sometimes insinuated, and sometimes boldly avowed. Among the counties which voted petitions on this subject to the House of Commons, were Norfolk, Somerset, York, Berks, Hereford, Middlesex, and Surrey. In the meeting held at Norwich, on the 3rd of January, the Whigs, who had convened it and meant it to be a vehicle for their own opinions, were completely defeated by the unexpected appearance of Mr. Cobbett, on the stage; who, after having exposed the fallacy and incoherence of the resolutions proposed by them, moved an address of his own, which was carried triumphantly by the acclamations of the assembled mob, or at least of that part of it, which was nearest to the hustings. This petition, after the usual complaints against sinecures, taxes, the church, and the national debt, prayed an efficient reform of parliament, in order that such parliament might adopt the measures necessary to effect the following

purposes:-1. An appropriation of a part of the property of the church to the liquidation of the debt: 2. A reduction of the standing army, including staff, barracks and colleges, to a scale of expense as low as that of the army before the last war: 3. A total abolition of all sinecures, pensions, grants, and emoluments, not merited by public services: 4. A sale of the crown lands, and an application of the money towards the liquidation of the debt: 5. An equitable adjustment with regard to the public debt, and also with regard to all debts and contracts between man and man. But, as to effect these purposes might require a lapse of months, the petitioners further prayed, that parliament, in order to afford immediate protection against ruin, would be pleased, 1. To suspend, by law, for one year, all distresses for rent, and to cause distresses already issued to be set aside; 2. To suspend all process for tithes, for the same period; 3. To suspend, for the same period, all processes arising out of mortgage, bond, annuity, or other contract affecting house or land; 4. To repeal the whole of the taxes on malt, hops, leather, soap, and candles.

The Whig aristocracy of Norfolk, indignant that such principles should be supposed to emanate from their county, caused petitions to be prepared and numerously signed in distinct hundreds, reprobating the petition adopted at Norwich, but complaining bitterly of agricultural distress, and calling loudly for parliamentary reform. The original petition and also the counter petitions were presented to the House of Commons, by Mr. Coke, who, on that occasion, declared his dissent from Mr. Cob

bett's conclusions, and ascribed that gentleman's triumph to the confusion of the meeting, and to the ignorance, in which the individuals composing it were, of what was really said by the speakers. Mr. James was the only member of Opposition, who expressed any approbation of the doctrines adopted at Norwich. Yet the only essential difference between Mr. Cobbett and his adversaries, appears to have been, that, both setting out from the same assumptions, Mr. Cobbett pushed his premises to their utmost consequences, while Mr. Coke and party, preferring prudence to logic, adopted the principles acceptable to their querulousness, and yet disavowed the inferences to which these principles, if fairly followed up, necessarily led. Mr. Cobbett's success at Norwich, induced him to attempt to play the same part at Hereford: but there the country-gentlemen were prepared to meet their antagonist; and instead of carrying his point, the assembly would scarcely deign even to hear him.

The language held at most of these meetings was violent in the extreme; but it was regarded by sober-minded men, as the effusion of party spirit, and as being neither in unison with the sentiments, nor suitable to the actual circumstances of the nation. The people saw and felt, that many classes in the community were in a thriving state; and that the embarrassments, even of the agriculturists, were becoming every day less. A general opinion prevailed, that, on subjects of internal legislation, the ministry had shown more just and more enlarged views than their opponents: and the avowed dissent of Mr. Canning from the proceedings of the continental monarchs, won to him and

to his colleagues a large portion of esteem and confidence from many, who had till now been more inclined to throw upon him blame than to yield him their applause. The Spanish question was the great topic of public anxiety; and upon it there was a complete sympathy between the government and the country. For though there were men who, actuated by a generous but unwise impulse, thought that our ministers ought to do more than declare their condemnation of the French aggression against Spain, and that, instead of remaining neutral, they should become principals in the war, and pledge the prosperity and constitution of England for the dominion of the Cortes; yet these quixotic schemes were confined to a few. To condemn the conduct of France and the Holy Alliance; to wish success to Spain; to abstain from war ourselves and consequently from all menaces of war; such was the line of conduct which was generally believed to be most consonant to the principles and interests of England; and it was in this course of policy that Mr. Canning had hitherto walked, and was still walking.

The changes, which took place in some important offices, were calculated to strengthen the ministry in the public opinion. Mr. Vansittart, who had always gained more respect by his virtues than admiration by his talents, retreated from the fatigues of finance to the chancellorship of the duchy of Lancaster, and was raised to the peerage by the title of lord Bexley. Mr. Robinson succeeded him as chancellor of the Exchequer; Mr. Huskisson was appointed president of the Board of Trade; and in his stead Mr. Arbuthnot became first

commissioner of the Land Revenue. position to cultivate with his ma

The promotion of Mr. Robinson and Mr. Huskisson was exceedingly acceptable, especially to the commercial part of the community; for both these gentlemen were known to possess a manly sense, and a liberality of opinion, from which great benefits in commercial and financial administration might be expected.

On the 4th of February the session of parliament was opened by commission; his majesty being prevented by indisposition from attending in person. After the royal commission had been read, the lord chancellor, on behalf of the other commissioners, read the following speech:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"We are commanded by his majesty to inform you, that since he last met you in parliament, his majesty's efforts have been unremittingly exerted to preserve the peace of Europe.

"Faithful to the principles which his majesty has promulgated to the world, as constituting the rule of his conduct, his majesty declined being a party to any proceedings at Verona, which could be deemed an interference in the internal concerns of Spain on the part of foreign powers. And his majesty has since used, and continues to use, his most anxious endeavours and good offices to allay the irritation unhappily subsisting between the French and Spanish governments and to avert, if possible, the calamity of war between France and Spain.

"In the east of Europe his majesty flatters himself that peace will be preserved, and his majesty continues to receive from his allies, and generally from other powers, assurances of their unaltered dis

jesty those friendly relations which it is equally his majesty's object on his part to maintain.

"We are further commanded to apprize you, that discussions having long been pending with the court of Madrid, respecting depredations committed on the commerce of his majesty's subjects in the West Indian Seas, and other grievances of which his majesty had been under the necessity of complaining, those discussions have terminated in an admission by the Spanish government of the justice of his majesty's complaints, and in an engagement for satisfactory reparation.

"We are commanded to assure you, that his majesty has not been unmindful of the addresses presented to him by the two Houses of Parliament with respect to the foreign slave trade.

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Propositions for the more effectual suppression of that evil were brought forward by his majesty's plenipotentiary in the conferences at Verona, and there have been added to the treaties upon this subject already concluded between his majesty and the governments of Spain and the Netherlands, articles which will extend the operation of those treaties, and greatly facilitate their execution.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"His majesty has directed the estimates of the current year to be laid before you. They have been framed with every attention to economy; and the total expenditure will be found to be materially below that of last year.

"This diminution of charge, combined with the progressive improvement of the revenue, has produced a surplus exceeding his ma

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