y received, on
the 10th of August, the royal assent.

On the 14th of February Mr. Labouchere moved the second reading of the
importation of flour info Ireland bill, which, after some opposition
offered by Mr. E. Tennent, was carried by a majority of one hundred and
fifty-four against one hundred and two.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT, ETC.

The ministerial budget was brought forward on the 15th day of May. The
total income of the year 1840 amounted to L47,685,000, and the total
expenditure L49,300,000; leaving a deficiency of L1,457,000. With a
view of meeting this deficiency, however, a vote of L1,000,000 of
exchequer-bills had been taken, which reduced the balance to L457,000.
Mr. Baring calculated the expenditure of the current financial year to
be L49,432,000, and the income L46,700,000. To meet the deficiency he
proposed to increase the assessed taxes fen per cent.; the customs and
excise five per cent.; to lay an additional duty of fourpence per gallon
on all spirits, British, colonial, and foreign; and to take a vote of
credit of L395,000. He, expected, also, that by a more strict collection
of the assessed taxes he should obtain L150,000. His income and
expenditure would thus be made equal; but as the increase to be derived
from raising the duties would not be available to the full extent this
year, he thought it would be necessary to take a vote of credit for
L350,000. He concluded by moving resolutions authorizing him to make the
proposed additions to the taxes.

THE UNION OF THE CANADAS.

On the 23rd of March Lord John Russell moved for leave to bring in
a bill for the union of the Canadas. His lordship said, that he had
allowed no time to elapse since the arrival of the propositions from
the governor-general of Canada, who had taken the greatest pains to
ascertain the sentiments of the people in that colony upon the measure
he was about to introduce. In his opinion the union would not have
been expedient, had it been repugnant to the feelings of the Canadians
themselves. "But," continued his lordship, "the council of Lower Canada
have been called together, and have passed resolutions agreeing to
the principle of an union, but leaving the details to the imperial
parliament. In Upper Canada, the measure has been much discussed,
both in the assembly and the legislative council; and, after a full
consideration of the whole question, a resolution in favour of the union
was passed, unfettered by any restr