2nd, pledging the house to a bill in the next session,
altering the form of the oath. A debate ensued, which was confused and
desultory, and much opposition from both sides of the house was offered
to the resolutions, which were, however, eventually carried. The issue
was not satisfactory to the city of London, the members of the Jewish
persuasion, or the country.

FINANCE.

The financial campaign may be represented as having opened on the 8th of
March, when Mr. Cobden made a series of resolutions, pledging the house
to retrenchment. The basis of the honourable member's speech and
motion was, that warlike armaments were not necessary, there being no
likelihood of any nation going to war with us; and the costly character
of such armaments affecting the progress of commerce and civilization,
and depriving the people of comfort by an oppressive taxation. The
honourable member was of opinion that the differences between states did
not require a resort to arms, and that if our government only adopted
proper means to effect it, they would find it possible to adjust all
disputes with foreign countries by arbitration. The resolutions were
rejected by an overwhelming majority.

On the 13th, Mr. Drummond submitted to the house a resolution,
recommending economy in the public outlay. This was entertained as a
party resolution by the protectionists, who thus suddenly became
the professed advocates of economy for the purpose of allowing the
agricultural burdens to be relaxed. Being a party motion, it was well
supported, and the motion was rejected by a majority of less than fifty
members.

Various motions were made by individual members to give a new form to
the pressure of taxation, and to adjust in a different way the public
burdens. The chancellor of the exchequer, in his financial statement,
which is given at the close of this section, anticipated some of these
motions, and secured their defeat by his success in inducing the house
to acquiesce in his own budget. Others came on before the budget was
introduced, but all shared a like fate, as the financial policy of
the government received the decided support of the house. Some of the
financial motions of the session made by independent members attracted
much attention, and produced some impression in the house, being
supported by considerable minorities. Thus Lord Duncan moved for the
repeal of the window duty. There followed a debate of the most animated
character in