islands of Chusan and
Kolang-soo should be held by the British until the money payments were
made and arrangements for opening the ports completed.

CHAPTER LIV.

{VICTORIA. 1843--1844}

State of the Country..... Meeting of Parliament.....
National Distress..... The Corn-law Question..... Address to
the Crown on the Subject of Education..... Affairs of India,
&c...... The Corn-law Question resumed..... Irish
Affairs..... Financial Statements, &c......
Education..... Church Extension, &c...... Law Reform.....
Prorogation of Parliament..... Agitation; Ireland.....
Formation of the Free Church in Scotland..... The State of
India..... Continental Affairs.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

{A.D. 1843}

AT the opening of this year the aspect of public affairs was such as to
create disquietude and anxiety. In every branch of trade and industry
there was great depression, which was by some attributed to the workings
of the new tariff, and by others to a groundless panic occasioned by
that measure. Whatever it arose from it certainly existed; and the fact
of its existence was clearly proved by the diminished consumption of
those articles which contribute in so large a proportion to the public
revenue. The total decrease in the excise, stamps, customs, and taxes
on the quarter was L1,379,057, which was equivalent to a total yearly
deficiency of L5,516,222. The distress which prevailed naturally
give rise to various opinions as to the remedies to be applied. Some
suggested and advocated the repeal of the corn-laws; others threw the
blame upon the income-tax, and the other financial measures of Sir
Robert Peel's government; some attributed the distress to the poor-laws;
and others pointed to emigration as the natural safety-valve and outlet
for the pressure of a too rapidly increasing population. All these
subjects were discussed at length in both houses of parliament; but few
practical results arose from these discussions.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was opened by commission on the 2nd of February. The speech,
read by the lord-chancellor, referred to a treaty which had been
concluded with the United States of America and the adjustment of
differences which, from their long continuance had endangered the
preservation of peace. Allusion was also made to the termination of
hostilities in China; and a hope expressed "that, by the free access
which would