two rather contradictory decisions. Mr. Hume, not much accustomed to support pensions, moved, "That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased to grant such a pension as she shall think proper to the Right Honourable Sir Henry Pottinger, K.C.B., as a reward for his eminent public services, and especially for having, as her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China, brought war in that country to a conclusion, by a peace alike honourable and advantageous, and to assure her Majesty that this House will make good the same."
Mr. Hume, in speaking in support of his motion, said that "Sir H. Pottinger had done that which no man had ever done: he had established a friendly intercourse, and had concluded a treaty of commerce with the Chinese on terms of liberty that had astonished all Europe; & treaty which opened trade to every nation, not confining it to this country; a treaty which he believed stood alone in the annals of diplomacy." The motion for a pension one who had induced the Chinese government to adopt the principles of free trade with all nations was passed unanimously. The honourable House then proceeded to take into consideration Mr. Ward's motion for an inquiry into the peculiar burthens on land, these burthens being almost the only plea left for opposing a free trade in corn; and the same House that had voted a pension to the man who had induced the Chinese to adopt the principles of free trade, refused, by a majority of 182 to 109, that there should be any inquiry which might lead to an adoption of the same principles at home. No, there should be no inquiry, for the sun was shining and there might be another good harvest to keep up the boasted "prosperity." I find the "State of Trade" thus recorded in my paper of that week:—"In the general description of both cloth and yarn adapted for the East a good business has been doing at very firm rates, particularly for yarns. The wonderful improvement in the weather bas had a magical effect on vegetation, and, from
