IAMENTARY HISTORY OF 1849--OPENING OF THE SESSION.

On the second of February the queen in person opened a new session. Her
majesty's speech referred to most great matters which had occurred in
the latter part of 1848, and to such subjects as formed the leading
features of the policy of the ministry for 1849. Her majesty especially
recommended an alteration in the navigation laws, and she asked for
further administrative power to preserve order in Ireland. The general
tone and tenor of the speech were congratulatory. Lord Stanley, in the
lords, moved an amendment to the usual address, which represented that
the state of the country was not such as to call for or justify an
address pervaded by a spirit of gratulation. The amendment was rejected,
but only by a majority of two. In the commons Mr. Disraeli moved an
amendment upon the address, similar to that which Lord Stanley had
proposed in the lords, and with no better success. Mr. Disraeli
especially contended for keeping up a much larger fleet and army than
the government proposed. His arguments were singularly opposed to those
which, without any professed change of principle, he used eight years
afterwards, against the government of Lord Palmerston, for refusing to
reduce the army and navy when serious perils demanded their increase in
the judgment of that astute and experienced minister. Mr. Grattan, son
of the distinguished Irishman who assisted Irish independence in 1782,
proposed an amendment adverse to the ministerial policy for Ireland, but
it was rejected in a very decisive manner. The temper of the house, as
displayed towards Mr. Grattan, was harsh, invidiously national on all
sides, and especially offensive to the popular party in Ireland.

REPEAL OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS.

On the 14th of February Mr. Labouchere renewed the motion for the repeal
of the navigation laws, which had been defeated the previous year by the
agitation of the shipowners and sailors, particularly those of the Tyne,
under the leadership of James Mather, Esq., of South Shields. On the
9th of March the second reading came on, and was met by an amendment
proposed by Mr. Hemes, such as is usually offered in order to defeat
a bill. This amendment was negatived, in a house of four hundred and
seventy-six members, by a majority of fifty-six. The government was much
mortified that the minority was so very considerable. In committee Mr.
Labouchere modified the bill in a manner which proved