PREFACE.

IN presenting to the world a collection of the Speeches of the late Mr. Huskisson, some explanation may be deemed necessary of the circumstances which have led to the publication.

Shortly after the lamented death of that distinguished Statesman, the desire that such a work should be undertaken appeared to be so general, that the Editor was induced to express, in the proper quarter, his wish to execute the task, and he accompanied the intimation with an outline of the plan upon which he proposed to proceed.

The proposition was received in the spirit by which it was prompted; and not only was he obligingly promised the loan of such Manuscripts as might be found, and which might render more

perfect any portion of the collection, but permitted to announce, that a Biographical Memoir, derived from authentic sources, would be supplied to him.

In addition to the whole of the Expositions made by Mr. Huskisson, on introducing his measures for the amelioration of the commercial and colonial policy of the country, and which, at the solicitation of his friends, he was induced to give to the public in a corrected shape, the present volumes will be found to contain nearly all the other Speeches delivered by him, during his long parliamentary life, on subjects connected with the improvement of the moral condition, and the security of the civil and religious rights, of the people. No pains have been spared to render this portion of the work as correct as possible; and so liberal has been the assistance afforded to him, that the Editor believes he may safely assert, that a collection of a similar description was scarcely ever offered to the public, with more claims to confidence on the score of fidelity, and that it will, indeed, be found to contain "a mass of the "most profound and valuable information, and "be considered by those who formerly assisted "Mr. Huskisson's labours, and now uphold his

principles, as forming a Manual for future ministers, on all questions of commercial and inter"national policy."

As so much had been said and written respecting the French Speech, delivered by Mr. Huskisson, in the year 1790, at the "Société de 1789," and as the object and character of that speech had been grossly misrepresented, it became desirable that it should have a place in this collection. Even the immediate friends of Mr. Huskisson did not, however, possess a copy; and it was only after a diligent search, that the Editor at length found it amongst the mass of tracts connected with the early period of the French revolution preserved in the British Museum. It is inserted, with the Prospectus of the Society, in the Appendix; together with some Speeches addressed by Mr. Huskisson to his Constituents at Liverpool and Chichester, and also one, which will be read with much interest, delivered by him at the Public Meeting for erecting a Monument to the late James Watt.

To Mr. Murray, who, with his wonted liberality, has allowed him to insert the Pamphlet, written in 1810, on the Currency Question, which forms an important commentary on Mr.