essity of maintaining a force adequate to the
protection of our extensive possessions, have made it necessary to
consider the means of increasing the public revenue. Her majesty
is anxious that this object should be effected in the manner least
burdensome to her people: and it has appeared to her majesty, after
full deliberation, that you may at this juncture properly direct your
attention to the revision of duties affecting the productions of foreign
countries. It will be for you to consider whether some of these duties
are not so trifling in amount as to be unproductive to the revenue,
while they are vexatious to commerce. You may further examine whether
the principle of protection upon which others of these duties are
founded be not carried to an extent injurious alike to the income of the
state and the interests of the people. Her majesty is desirous that you
should consider the laws which regulate the trade in corn. It will be
for you to determine whether these laws do not aggravate the natural
fluctuation of supply--whether they do not embarrass trade, derange the
currency, and by their operation diminish the comfort and increase the
privations of the great body of the community." In the house of lords
the address was moved by Earl Spencer, and seconded by the Marquess of
Clanricarde, both of whom in their speeches vindicated the conduct of
government, and advocated the repeal of the corn-laws. The address was
opposed by the Earl of Ripon, who arraigned government on many points,
more especially on their financial operations. He concluded a long and
able speech by proposing as an amendment, that an address be presented
to her majesty, "humbly to represent to her majesty, that we observe
with great concern that the public expenditure has of late, in each of
several years, exceeded the annual income, and that we are convinced of
the necessity of adopting measures for the purpose of remedying so
great an evil: To assure her majesty that we are deeply sensible of
the importance of those considerations, to which her majesty has been
graciously pleased to direct our attention in reference to the commerce
and revenue of the country, and to the laws which regulate the trade in
corn: That in deciding the course which it may be advisable to pursue
with reference to such matters, it will be our earnest desire to consult
the interest and promote the welfare of all classes of her majesty's
subjects: That we feel it, however, to