ENGLISH SUMMARY.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 783, 15 October 1853, Page 3

ENGLISH SUMMARY.

(From the “ Home Ncics," July 8.) The discussion on the second reading of the India Rill, closed on Thursday, the 50th ultimo. Every conceivable argument and illustration had been explored and exhausted in the course of the debate; political pamphlets, newspapers, and forgotten histories had been ransacked for facts and topics ; the stale of India, existent and traditional, had been examined and exposed in detail; caricature and vituperation, sound sense and fustian, poetical exaggeration and prosaic analysis had run out their resources on both sides, to give pungency and variety to thp

contest; Mr, Disraeli, wounded at the defection of some of his most constant allies, condescended to mimic the voice and features of Mr. Herries, in despair of otherwise sustaining the fading attention of his audience. Mr. Macaulay delivered one of his most brilliant orations, worthy of the noblest times of Parliamentary eloquence, and replete with scholarly effects and luminous views of the conditions of oriental life; Sir C. Wood dissipated by clear statements of facts, (he misty speculations of sundry Manchester philosophers and chimerical reformers ; Mr. Danby Seymour delivered one of his phosphoric rhapsodies, which no sooner illuminate the surrounding space by their rapid corruscalions than they go out into utter darkness; and Lord John Russell wound up the protracted debate by one of those quiet, rational, and constitutional speeches for which he has acquired a sort of special reputation, hut which it must he fairly admitted he docs not always deliver with such perfect success. The House was beginning to get weary of hearing the same points reiterated over and over again. It was fell that the subject had been thoroughly sifted of its grains, and that nothing remained hut chaff. A sense of monotony was setting in rapidly upon the assembly, when, amidst the impatience and expectations of one of the fullest houses of lire Session, the Commons came to a division on Friday morning. The result could securely have been anticipated by the Government themselves, and when the second reading of (he Bill was announced to he carried by a majority of 182, the cheers that followed attested the satisfaction of those at least by whose votes the result was accomplished. The numbers were —ayes 522, nocs 140.

This great majority may be said to have been created by the Opposition themselves. The attempts made to damage the Bill have betrayed too much of a factious spirit lo produce any other effect upon the independent section of the House than that of a determination to support the Government. If any arguments of sufficient cogency to justify delay had been brought forward, the majority must have been reduced ; hut (he whole scope and tenor of Hie arguments of Hie Opposition inevitably led lo conclusions which sustained and fortified the position taken up by Ministers. In fact the weakness of the resistance, (he unsoundness of the logic, ami the untenable character of most of the facts alleged on (he Opposition side of the House, served lo unfold additional reasons, beyond those urged by Ministers themselves, for supporting the Government measure. The great saving point was (tic indefinite duration of (lie Bill, which still leaves open to future legislation every question with which political sagacity or even party policy may hereafter consider it desirable to deal. The changes introduced by the Bill, if they did not go far enough lo satisfy the demands of extreme reformers, at least recognised the principle of reform, while (lie settlement of a Government for India at once, without wailing for experiments and leaving millions of onr Hindoo subjects in a state of uncertainly and discontent, is a course which experience and wisdom, liberated from local interests and political prejudices, must sanction and approve.

This vole of (he Commons determines the fate of the Bill so far as that House is concerned. Of its reception in the Lords we imagine no reasonable doubt can exist. We believe that, whether the majority in that Chamber be more or less weighty, it will be equally decisive of the issue.

The case of Jamaica has been brought before Ihc House of Lords in a lucid statement by (he Duke of Newcastle. The situation of Jamaica is new and anomalous. With a race recently liberated from slavery, and enjoying the franchise before they Have arrived at a condition of civilization by which they would be enabled to exercise it judiciously, there is considerable difficulty in the establishment of a responsible Government. The Duke of Newcastle, however, does not despair of accomplishing (hat object at least, but before be enters upon the consideration of constitutional reforms, be wisely proposes to relieve the island from its financial embarrassments, Jamaica is immersed in debt, arising from the gradual decline of its resources, and the refusal of the Representative Assembly to co-operate with the Governor and Council in such retrenchments and revisions of the expenditure as the case demands. To remedy these increasing evils the Duke of Newcastle makes a fair offer to the Assembly, and, on condition (hat they will concur with the Government in measures for placing the finances on a regular fooling, he undertakes to guarantee loans, to he raised in this country, of about 300,000 L if the Assembly accept this proposal, a reasonable prospect of improvement, through immigration, the abolition of profitless offices, and the general strengthening of (he whole system, may he looked for; but, if it he rejected, it is difficult to foresee the issue of the present disorderly slate of things. The income-tax Bill has passed the House of Lords. There was nothing very remarkable In the debate, if we except (he objections of Lord Brougham to all taxes on capital before it has realised income—objections, however, which did not amount to a direct opposition to Ihc Ministerial measure. The Derby party absented themselves on I his occasion, which is accepted as a submission to Ihe policy of (he Chancellor of Ibc Exchequer. It is, therefore, anticipated that the remainder of his financial plan will be carried without much obstruction in the Upper House.

At a moment when Europe seems to he on the eve of a war, it cannot excite much wonder that there should ho rumours of Ministerial changes. A skilful Opposition will always avail itself of such favourable opportunities to disturb the public mind, and to create dissentions if it can w'hore no rational cause for them exists. On the present occasion the reports that arc in circulation possesses the unusual qualities of inconsistency and improbability. It is clearly impossible that they can all be (rue; hut they form a current subject of conversation, and must be jotted down in our chronicle as they have arisen.

The approaching reliremcnt of Lord Aberdeen is necessary as (lie preliminary condition (o all (he rest. It will he remembered that when Lord Aberdeen look office., he was on (he point of deparlurc for (he Continent on account of the slate of his health, and it was (hen understood that his lordship would not long continue to undergo the fatigues of a position which has become much more harrassing of late than it was when he entered upon it. Should Lord Aberdeen retire, which we think unlikely under the existing circumstances, it certainly will not arise from any divisions or difficulties in the Cabinet. The results which are to follow contain all the apochryphal matter. Lord Palmerston is to be Premier, and to lead the Commons; Lord John Russell is to go to the Upper House without office; Lord Stanley, as the young representative of the Derby party, is to join the new Government; and Mr. Disraeli is to he sent abroad on an embassy. This vision of coalition may he left like other dreams to dissolve into the empty air out of which it was originally conjured. If wo may trust to the recent debates, the gulf between the members of the late and present Government is wider than ever, and cannot be bridged over by an accommodation which would be equally discreditable to both parties. So far as (be administration is concerned, it docs not stand in need of any help from the opposition. It has beaten them at all points, Mr. Gladstone has carried, or is carrying, all his measures. The India Rill, upon which the great stand was made, and upon which an unnatural

junction was got up between the Manchester party and the Derbyiles, has passed the second reading with a crushing majority. The abolition of the transportation system, the extension of constitutional rights to the colonies, and a variety of small reforms,have borne the lest of resistance in detail, and exhibit in their successful results the growing strength of the Ministry. With such support in-doors, and assured as they are that they are sustained by the good sense and patriotism of the people out of doors, it is purely chimerical to suppose that Ministers would endanger their popularity or power by taking into their councils the leaders of a parly who in office sacrificed their own followers, and disappointed the expectations of the country.

The real source of these rumours seems, to be, not a division in the Cabinet, but a division in the opposite camp. It is said that a large and influential section of the Conservatives have resolved to be led no longer by Mr. Disraeli—why, we know not, for, with a hundred faults of temperament, he is the ablest man they have. The fact is explicitly stated by the Examiner and the reason why certain Conservatives voted against Lord Stanley’s amendment on the India Bill, is further asserted by the same authority to he explained by the circumstance that the said amendment was supported by Mr. Disraeli. If this be true, it discovers a very singularphaso in parly tactics ! and implacable must be the jealousies and resentments which induce public men to vole in favour of a Government to whose whole policy they are strenuously opposed, rattier than vote on the same side with a particular individual of their own parly, against whom they happen to have conceived a sudden aversion.

We cannot venture from our own knowledge to endorse this report; hut there is no doubt that it is curiously illustrated by the conduct of Sir Robert Inglis, Mr, Herries, and Mr. Thomas Baring, on the Indian debate, and by the caustic commentaries of Mr. Disraeli, who actually went so far in speaking of Mr. Herries’ vole against Lord Stanley’s Amendment as lo mimic the wellknown manner of thalgeutleman. Whatever the cause may he, (here appears on the circumstances presumptive evidence that there are serious dissensions among the Conservatives ; and from this very evidence we infer that the reports of a probable junction with the Government are utterly groundless. The weakness of the Opposition is Hie strength of the Ministry, and we presume Lord Aberdeen is not so ill-advised as to abandon the advantages of his position by going over lo a falling house.

The Turkish difficulty has laken a more decided shape since our last, and at the very instant when most of the journals of Europe were congratulating the world on the probable prospect of peace, the Russians, to the number it is said of 12,000, were crossing the Pruth, and taking the initiative in a course of unwarrantable hostility. The circumstances which led to this result may be briefly stated, although the future consequences arc of incalculable importance. Upon the return of Prince Menschikoff to StPetersburg from his fruitless mission, (he Emperor resolved to make one attempt more upon the fears of Turkey, and despatched a courier to Constantinople with a final ultimatum, in which the demands already rejected were formaly repealed. The answer of I Ire Sultan was prompt and conclusive. The ultimatum was again refused with firmness and dignity. The notes that passed between Count Nesselrode and Rcdschid Pasha on Ibis occasion have since been published, and are as creditable to the moderation, good sense, and integrity, of the Turkish Minister as (hoy are illustrative to thearrogance, injustice, and false reasoning of his correspondent Having received his answer, (he Russian courier took his departure, and was followed by the train of Russian officials that had up to (his time remained in Constantinople. The archives of the legation were removed, and all diplomatic intercourse ceased. On the Return of the courier to St. Petcrshurgh, a council was held at the Palace of Peterhofl*, when it was resolved that the army of the Danube should be put in motion, and the provinces lying on its borders should he invested. Orders wore accordingly issued to that effect, and the last telegraphic despatch which has reached us up to this lime announces the passage of the Pruth.

In the meanwhile (ho French and English navy have concentrated their strength, and are preparing for action under the command of Admiral Dundas. The ambassador from Austria has given assurance to the Sultan of the support of his master; all Turkey is arming; and preparations are making on both sides for a war which appears as inevitable, as it is incredible. Russia still maintains lha tin crossing (he Pruth she does not furnish a casus belli. England, France, and Austria hold a contrary doctrine; and unless at the eleventh hour some uulookcd for pause affords the means of adjustment, it is impossible l at this distance from the scene to comprehend how either party can retreat from (he position in which both are now implicated: The first shot tired will he the signal of general hostilities.

The quarterly returns of the revenue (o the 3lh instant have been published, and may be described as the most remarkable table of its class (bat has ever emanated from the Exchequer of this kingdom. The comparison of the quarter with the corresponding quarter of last year, which was itself a quarter of almost unparalleled productiveness, presents a total increase of 1,262,232k, while the total increase on the year just expired as compared with the year preceding amounts to. 2,125,452/. The only items of decrease are, on the quarter a trilling falling otf in that most fluctuating of all sources of income, the Property-tax, amounting to 3,904/. and a decline under the Miscellaneous head of M 1,632/. and on the year a decrease in the Customs to the small amount of 57,412/., and in the Miscellaneous of 145,086/. While these instances of decrease arc really so insignificant as to be of no importance whatever, the items of increase supply evidences of improvement which are calculated to excite surpiise from the changes which have lately taken place in the Tariff, and the numerous hindrances that were thrown in the way of business by the protracted struggle of parties, and the suspense to which (he country was subjected under the regime of a wavering and experimental ministry last year. In the Customs the increase on the quarter is 441,175/., and in the Excise 552,101 /.. The increase on the years in the Excise is 551,195/,, in (lie stamps 474,487/., and in (he Properly-tax, 225,169/. In whatever point of view' w'e examine this gratifying Return, whether in reference to our imports or our home c< nsnmplion, the testimony it bears to the improved and improving condition of all classes of the community is equally satisfactory, there is no doubt that some part, and by no means a slight part, of this happy stale of tilings is attributable to the gold discoveries of Australia, and the relief felt in England by the consequent reduction of the pressure on her resources; but it must not be forgotten that we arc also largely indebted to the adoption of the principles of Free Trade, under the immediate action and influence of which we have r. adied this unexampled height of prosperity.