atter of the
Oregon territory. The subject was introduced in the house of lords,
by Lord Clarendon, on the 4th of April, with a view to elicit from
government some information as to our relations with the United States
upon this question, and the course it was intended to pursue, in case
congress, acting upon the president's express opinion, should proceed to
take possession of the country. His lordship expressed an anxious hope,
that, while whatever could be justly claimed by the United States should
be readily conceded, government would not shrink from vindicating, if
necessary, the nation's honour, and upholding her interests. In reply,
Lord Aberdeen said that our position was precisely the same as it
had been for the last eighteen years, under the treaty of 1827. The
provisions of that treaty had been prolonged for an indefinite period,
subject to the right of either party to terminate it by giving a year's
notice. This could not be done without a vote of congress, and that body
would not assemble until December; so that sufficient time was still
left to bring the matters in dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.

The same subject was brought before the commons on the same day by Lord
John Russell.

The Oregon question was introduced into the discussions of the American
Senate on the 15th of December, by General Cass, who made a violent
speech in favour of President Polk's views of the subject. Referring to
the above debate in Parliament, and particularly to the speeches of Lord
John Russell and Sir Robert Peel, he dwelt strongly upon the rapacities
of England; and congratulated his country that it had secured Texas in
spite of her attempts to wrest it from America. The object of the speech
of General Cass was clearly to involve the United States in a war with
Great Britain; but there were men in the American senate who, conscious
of the weakness of their cause, stood in the breach. This year closed,
however, before the dispute was terminated: it was still left open to
arbitration.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES OF THE SESSION.

Early in the present session Lord-chancellor Lyndhurst introduced a bill
into the upper house, having for its object the relief of persons,
of the Jewish persuasion from certain tests which had previously been
required from them upon their election to municipal offices. The bill
was read a second time in the house of lords on the 10th of March,
without a division; and having passed through