a thin house, various leading men opposing the government.
On a division, the motion was rejected by only a majority of three,
there having been eighty to seventy-seven. This was the narrowest escape
in the commons which the government experienced in the session.

Mr. Cayley was recognised as the champion of the favourite financial
measure with the protectionists, the repeal of the malt duty. He
accordingly introduced that subject by motion, which was seconded by
Mr. Christopher, another champion "of the agricultural interest." It was
warmly supported by several of the leading Conservatives; but Lord
John Russell, Mr. James Wilson, and the chancellor of the exchequer,
delivered powerful speeches against it. Mr. Milner Gibson, always
intelligent on economical questions, made a very able speech against the
repeal of the tax. The motion was lost, a large majority being against
it.

On the 15th of March, the chancellor of the exchequer made his financial
statement, which was eagerly looked forward to by both sides of the
house, and by the country, as it was supposed that a vigorous effort
to defeat the ministry on that point would be made. The minister was
determined, if possible, to meet the ideas of all parties, and he hit
upon the expedient of relieving the agricultural interest by reducing
the duty on bricks. Neither the ministers nor their supporters were very
sanguine that this would give satisfaction, but it met with very general
approval, the trading, tenant, and agricultural interests all felt
concerned in the cheapness of this useful material, then heavily taxed;
and the result was unanimity in the favourable reception given to the
chancellor's proposal. The following correctly describes the ministerial
scheme.

THE BUDGET.

The house having resolved itself into a committee of ways and
means,--The chancellor of the exchequer proceeded to lay before it the
financial statement for the ensuing year. He had to lay before the house
two estimates--one, that up to the 5th of April next, and the other up
to the 5th of April, 1851. He had estimated the income for this year at
L52,262,000; but he was happy to say that it would probably amount to
L52,874,000. He could not, however, take the estimate for next year so
high, as, during the last quarter, the returns bad not been so good.
He would, however, take them at L52,785,500. He had estimated the
expenditure of last year at L50,853,622, but it amounted only to
L