Star. — London, England, 1825-04-29 00:00:00

ie their accumnlations upon us. T. is was a circum stance which, for the sake of the country,. ought to be guarded against. He 'would therefore take an early ' opportunity of submitting a proposition to the House, of opening the stores here, and allowing the bonded cote t come into the market; and after the admission of thellem. Member, that 60s. would be a fair remuneration to thf farmer, he thought that to this proposition there could be no objection. The quantity of foreign corn at pre sent in bond in this country was not so great as wise imagined. It war estimated at 394,000 quarters of wheat, and a very.senall quantity of other kinds of grain. The proposal which he should hereafter make to the House would be this—that the corn now in bond should tome out at 70s. per quarter, Now the averaes it the end of March, before this question began to be agitated, were 695. per quartet, and before this time would have reached' :fats. per quarter, had it not been for its agitation.-4 He thought, that when the price of corn reached thee sum, the House would not object to the admission of bonded corn into the market, on payment of a duty of Ss. or 10s. a quarter, especially as it would still leave the owners of it liable to a very considerable loss. They would not be at liberty to take it out'of bond all at once; but as four months must elapse before the com mencement of next harvest, they would be at liberty to take it cut in four quarterly portions, pi ovidei that if the whole of it were not withdrawn by the 15th of next August, the owners of it should be liable to all the con ditions upon which it was In iginally imported. He thought that by such a system tl:e country would be saved from that revulsion which might otherwise take place, should a large importation of foreign corn take place before the month cf August next ensuing. Ano ther advantage which would arise from it would: be this—that much of the accumulated corn in this coup• Xry would be disposed of before the arrival of the pe riod when the co n laws must come under the revision 'of Porli meat. He therefore thought that there could be no rational obj 'ction to the details of the measure which he had just mentioned; he should bring it for-' ward on an early day, and he trusted that he should then be able to convince the House thaia duty of Bs. or 10s. per quarter would be suffic'ent for the protection of the interests of all pat ties concerned in this great question. He could not refrain from dissenting from the language which had fallen from his Hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, who had modestly asked, 14 Why not let well alone ?"—(Hear. hear). The prevent law," his Hon. Friend said, Ig worked well." He (Mr. Hinkisson) had always understood that the great desideratum in this important question was to provide, for a steadiness of price, and to guard against excessive fluctuations in it from the vicissitude, of trade. To say of a system which affected the price of labour and the comforts of the labourer, and which cramped the resources not oaly of the manufacturer, but also of the farmer him self—to say of such a system that it [corked well, was so completely refuted by the Report of 1821, that he was surprised that any man should be bold enough oo make it. What did they think of its working well in 1822, when corn was as low as 38s. per quarter?— (Hear, hear)—when - Gentlemen came down to the House nightly to talk of a national bankruptcy, and to propose the most extraordinary changes in the currency --(Hear)? At the present moment it might work well; but had the Country Gentlemen forgotten their own misfortunes, their former predictons of ruin to the •country,—nap, their repeated ri quests that :his sys• tent, which now worked so well, should be instantly altered ?—(1-leto , hear). la two years, the price of corn had varied horn 112 s. to 38s. per qr. Such a fluc tuation in price deprived the business of the farmer of all' security, and converted it into a business of gambling. The bubbles in the shares of mines could not produce more gambling than that to which such fluctuations must necessarily lead. The man who engaged in a long lease, could not at present be aware of the Coo. ditions upon which he was taking it, or of the results which it might produce upon his family arrangements. After illustrating this point at considerable length, and shoving that it was a monstrous fallacy to suppose that this system worked well, he proceeded to notice an assertion which had been made in the - course of the debate, that if the prices did fluctuate excessively, they still produced a fair average price. A fair ave rage price ! He wondered what this phrase meant, when applied to the provisions of the people. He should like to know how any Gentleman, who was ac• customed to eat a good dinner every day, would like to be kept one week without food, and to be supplied the next with twice as much as he wanted ? Would he feel satisfied at being told that he had got a fair average quantity of provisions for each day in the two Weeks ?—(Hear, hear, and a laugh). He thought that the Gentleman would not be satisfied—that he would find such an averaging system to be neither wholesome to his constitution, nor pleasant to his sto mach—(Heardrear). But it was said that to with draw our protection from the manufactures of the country, and to continue it to the cern, was act ing. upon an erroneous system. He denied this position entirely, and contended, that reasoning from analogy in a case like the present,_ must necessarily lead to an erroneous conclusion. —ln the first place, we could manufacture cheaper than every other country ; but every other country could grow corn cheaper than we could. In the next, we ex ported thirty millions of cottons annually,and not thirty bushels of corn. Then there was no accumulation of cotton of the Continent, but there was an accumulation of corn. When there was an accumulation of cotton,i the manufacturer could contract his supply; but could' a similar measure he adopted by the agriculturist, when there was an accumulation of corn? Besides these considerations, there were several others applying to agriculture, and not to manufactures, which were suf ficient to convince any impartial man that the argument founded upon this analogy was anything but logical- . Hear, hear).—He was not one of those who wished to lessen the rank which the agriculturists held in the country.. To be admitted into that class, ought to be the ambition of every man who by his industry and his talents had acquired a fortune for his family; but it was the duty of tl e House to watch the effect of the price of labour on the advantages we at present possessed ; and if Gentlemen reflected that it was to the capital 'and skill which our manufacturers posseised that the agricultural interest owed its present prosperity, they would see that if their capital add skill was removed from us, the agriculturists, in the long run must be the greatest sufferers. At this moment 'America, which procured the raw material more easily than we did, •was manufacturing cottons so cheaply os to be driving ours out of the market. At this momentot merican cotton goods were on their pos.srge to different ports in the oleditetracivan, and were selling there at a price at which we could not afErrol to furnish the rot to Orr , con • sumer. If capital lord n t a fair•tcmentr.rith foe, it 11. i would seek for it in America. To give it a fair remu neration, the price ofiabour mesa be kept down ; for if it were not kept down, the distreis it would occasion to the inarnufsiatbret would scion revert strishcsienfirldiatc* upon the agriculturist. An Hon. Meothiv'bed and almost as if it had Keit reproach to theirs, r,)Sat the wot lama of. London had roast beef and plods. pudding on Saturd a y, Su n d a y, M o nday, and Tuesday. He did . not mean to assert that they had it rtes :mid be had little doubt that they were .accostorneetoWsth such dainties down by large-dranghti of the ancient atia constitutional beverage of the nation, beer. Now he would wish the Hon.Member,the next time that he pre sided at the Farmers' Club', to ask the Members of it, whence. came the roast beef, the plum-pludding, and the beer, on which the . workmen banquetted ? The answer mast 'be; that they were all' the , production of the country ; and alit being the case, he would ask, what would be the condition of those who produced these articles, if the workmen could not prome money to purchase. them? Agriculture could not flourish, unless all other classes in the country were in prisspei ity. We had done a great deal already to promote the free dom of trade ; but everything could not be done at once. We had allowed the importation of wool, of iron, and of various articles which had formerly been prohibited ; and the effect of that measure had been to produce a large importation of the prohibited articles. Some diffi culty might arise, if we proceeded too far in such a sys tem ; and it was therefore prudent to wait awhile where %now were, to see whether such difficulty would arise ; and if it did arise, how was it to be obviated ? There were other considerations which de,erved the notice of Government. We knew that several foreign countries were in some distress owing to our exclusion of their corn, and that they had, in revenge, shut out our ma nufactures. It might be worth while to consider, whe t ther we did not hold in our hands at present the keys of unsulving atis difficulty—whether, to those who excluded our colonial product and our manu factures, we had not a right to say, " We will not ad mit you to the benefit of a free trade in cern, unless you will at the same time admit the free introduction of our manufactures?' This was one of the principal reasons why he thought that this question might be permitted CO stand over to a mote convenient period. He was judging from all the circumstances of the case when he said that at precept he thought it right to postpone the discussion on the Corn Laws to another Session. He complained of the excessive speculation which was now going forward, not only in Shares and Companies, but also in foreign merchandise. Such speculation was the offspring of unnatural excitement ; and in the body mercantile, as well as in the body phy sical, such excitement was generally followed by de pression and exhaustion. He called upon those who, to a certain degree, were the controtilers of the cur• rency, to watch with care and diligence over the fo reign exchanges; and implored the country banks not to lend their money to the encouragement of crude and hasty speculations. One of his great reasons fir not letting the Corn Laws loose at present war, the exces sive speculation which was now so prevalent. It had already deranged the foreign exchanges, and he wished not to derange them further by opening the door to similar speculation , in foreign corn. The Right Hon. Gentleman, after shaky recapitulating his former arguments, sat down amid considerable cheering. Mr. BARING said, if the country suffered by the present state of the Corn Laws, the Right Hon. Gentle man ought to take some blame. The Hon. Gentle man's thunder this night was new. After that which had been said it'was proper that Parliament should at least let the country know whet they intended to do. Certainly the argument of the Right Honourable Gen tleman had furnished ground for immediate inquiry. In the present state of calm and quiet interest, they could discuss the subject better than at any other time. If they left the question undetermined, they would leave the Agriculturist in a state of doubt and hesita tion. When Gentlemen who presented Petitions were asked by their Constituents, what was the intention of his Majesty's Government with respect to the Corn Laws ? not one could say what was going to happen. There was a strong feeling to avert from the Landed' Interest the losses they might sustain. He thought they were entitled to protection, but it must be limited. If the time should come that the manufacturer could not bear the protection given to the landed interest, the loss .would fall on the agriculturist. From the moment ar tificial industry is stopped, it falls fatal on the landed proprietor. No one had shewn more indepeadence of mind than the Right Honourable Gentleman, but libe rality sbcula not carry him too far. Treating the ques tion fairly, he could not see how the views of the Right Honourable Gentleman would be supported without a reduction in the price of the produce of the land. The argument why the inquiry should not be put off to another year appeared to rest on this. In the ports of the Continent there was a great accuninlation of grain, and there was a necessity to see what became of it. What reason was there to suppose the accumulation of Corn might not continue next year ? The Hon. Member saw no reason for putting off the subject to next year. The Right Hon. Gentleman had proposed to let in the corn in bond. He could see no reason why such corn should not pay like all other corn. When they fixed their duty, they did no injury to those who possessed the corn. They were not obliged to sell it. There were 200,000 quarters of Corn. At Dantzic it would be worth 28s. and 80s. here. If it were sold and re placed by Corn from Dantzic, the tain would be enor mous. He would give a temptation to bring it into the market, but certainly not at a bounty of eight or ten shillings. The corn could at any time be re placed by importations from Dantzic. If the Right Honourable Gentleman gave eight or ten shil lings he would find he had given too much. With re spect to the protection to be given to the Agriculturists, he should recommend sixty shillings. It had been said that the notice of a Member of that House respecting the Corn Laws, bad set the whole country ire a flame; but what was the notice of any Member, to the declara tion of a Cabinet Minister? What was to be done? No one could tell. If a new Parliament was to be chosen next summer, the state of the land-owner and farmer with respect to this question would be still more doubt ful. He thought something more explicit ought to be stated by the Right Hon. Gentleman. Mr. HUSKISSON in explanation said, the whe t in hood was privileged, and wheat imported from Dantsic would be liable to 'a duty of 17s. Mr. PHILLIPS thought the reason of the Right Hon. Gentleman for doing nothing this Session would equAly apply to next Session. The policy of the Right Hon. Gentleman had hitherto been to improve the caps tat of the country. Now, the 'flight Hon. Gentleman said hit object was not to increase the riches of the country, but 0 h industry of its manufacturers. • . . Colonel 'WOOD said, the spurn intJereibiek Gem e; a..t....,ava 4 c4 7 .-'..4 was excluded, Was recommended by the Report of a Comrniuee.in 1822. Clrn was to be imported, Pe , Y iE !Si iitny Mit Mtsi :tined systeM, •and did net eak l nte Oft 4 itiiiosiibith bad been.astattell -The i r alia her vi th rhe en 204 C.11 . 1 , was to open ahe,posta at 706.1 at ,He , seal dffsirous of•openiug the .ports] at 705. Parlament ought , not to separate before the system of] averages was mended. • ' • • Lord ALTHORP' wished tb state the ground owwhiciel be gave, his vote. •He had wished, to : hear the mason for' not bringing the question forward this Session. . , It . was minuet for a Minister to state that a change was to be made in a system clfgreat 'lleporianCe to the country, without stating his reasons for that change. It was de sirable to have a fixed price. The duty proposed by his Honourable Friend the Member for Bridgenorth, appeared to be • the most effectual. lie should 'support the motion for going into J a Committee. Mr. S. WORTLEY *as - eonvinced a great majority Of the country were desirous - of an immediate change in the Corn Ltws, but still recommended the Honourable, Member for Bridgenorth not to divide the House. ,His' hare was, that the question would be taken up early next Session. r. WODEHOUSE said, if the averages were conducted upon *spirit of fairness, the Country Gentlemen would over no appeal , don. Those averages bad not been fairly taken. Mr. CALCRArr thought as there was an impatience to adjourn, the House should either give up the discus siou for the night or go on without interruption. He was ready to offer his sentiments if the House would hear him. He greatly regretted that the Government bad not done something on the subject, after the most unsatisfactory and alarming speech which had been made by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.. Huskisson). Circumstances required that the matter should be con sidered during the present Session, as circumstances - rnipt occur before the next Session which it would not be in the power of the Right Hon. Gentleman to con troul. In the next Sessinh the House might be forced into the discussion under the most unfavourable circum stances. It was nonsense to talk of its •being too late in the Session to consider the question. If Ministers would take any step now, he should object to any divi sion on the question before the House ; but if they would not, he should press for a division. The speech of the Right Hon, Gentleman (Mr. Huskisson) was cal culated to carry dismay into every part of the country, and to unsetttle all the concerns of ordinary life. He was certainly himself very glad to see that many Gentlemen who supported the Corn Laws in 1815 were now ready to Consent to some alteration in them. So if there should be a minority on the division to-night, that minority would in the course of a short time be. come a majority. He thought this a peculiarly good opportunity for considering the question, because the House was in a good temper, and all the different interests of the country appeared to be ,satisfied. He did not, however, mean to say that the existing laws were an unmitigated - evil. Under all the ciicumstances they had worked well for the country. As to the ine qualities of price, it was ridiculous to suppose that cli mate, and a thousand other circumstances, could be con trouled by law. Since the Corn LAWS, corn had been supplied at as cheap a rate as could have been expected. Still he wished for some change, though he was not prepared to state the nature of that change. After the agitation which had been excited, after the Petitions .which had been presented, and above all, after the alarming and unintelligible speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he could not rest satisfied with things as they were. It became that Right Hon. Gentleman to remember that he was a Cabinet Minister, and that his opinion went forth to the world with great authority. 'He would advise, therefore, under all circumstances, that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr.W.Whitmore), should take the sense of the House—(Hear The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would not have troubled the House, but for the very severe, and he thought undeserved attack made upon the Go vernment by some Gentlemen in the course of the de bate. The Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Calcraft) had, however, furnished them with an excuse, when said that the present system had d 4 worked well." Ought `Government, then, to have been very forward in pro posing any alteration of the system ? He was perfectly ready to admit, that there were many great and serious objections to the existing laws, but he was himself io favour of delay. As to the alarm excited, Government were not to blame, but the Honourable Mover himself, who had so often postponed his motion. He was ready to admit the good temper of the House, and the general satisfaction of the country ; yet, if the Government should enter upon the discussion now, that good temper and that satisfaction would speedily disappear. He believed that his Right Honourable Friend had been 'perfectly right in not beginning with:the Corn Trade, lit his improvement of the commercial policy of the country. He hoped that greater benefit would arise from our setting a good example to others, than from our entering into Commercial Treaties, in which one relaxation was to be bartered for another. Any pre mature alteration of the system would deprive us of that advantage. He did not mean to trouble the House with any argument on the general principle of the Corn Laws. If any one was to blame concerning them, it would be himself, who introduced them in IRIS ; but it must be recollected, that he introduced them not as a choice of difficulties, but as a choiCe of evils. He had concurred with the Committees of 1821-and 1822, in condemning them, and he was not ashamed of doing so. In these times of change, one event succeeded another so rapidly, 'that all calculations ware overturned, and the ordinary current of things completely reversed.— With regard to any change, Government ought not to be too forward, but should Wait until there was some 'reasonable chance of success. Nor ought they tote goaded on now beyond the necessities of the times. 'However much Government might be blamed for their 'delay, and however his Right Honourable Friend might be blamed for not having earlier stated his intentions, still he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) believed that they had pursued the most 'prudent course. The pre sent was not the properest time for proposing any per manent measure. He should vote against the motion, althotigl l / 4 his opinions on the general principle did not greatly differ fr those of the Honourable Mover—( Hear). Mr. BRIGHT said the eircutostances•in which the country Mei placed required that the Government should do something, ((.Irlin of Quesdea). The Honourable Member said that the Corp Law* might so Mee first received the attention of Government, and hp hosed that the Mouse and the country would soon compel them to see the qouitiou at rost,—(Loud cries of " Question," and" With. driw.") Colonel JOHNSON moved an adjournment of the question on 'this day se'onight--(Cries of " Go 'on"). Mr. Secrets PE EL objected to any .adjournment, ant! smart to so a suspension as orie week. li tgotl JOHN Of withdrew his motion. • Mr. T. WILSON thought that the present syssem was vay Mr" Sod shit the MIDIMet was the most Fort for taking into ,ThogH note had dll the information *beck dead be at any Aso piensted. He wool& urge the Homo the nelliolty *tittering*, se oat. Me. WHITMORIO briefly replied; and vindioltind . _.L 6 . 1414•64 C ben itsrbilibaintikbet td the bequest peognolMoulihdff4.*, - • °'f' ~, x • , ulna —..ttispandei k misitsdilwrisininTwoqiCsbart, • ..rtu!. sz-u:) sdt riri w • urn . ..r • el; eigTe=g=jr2a.Malatiftlf . 7 . ! : 1 Lr Btriisref, .giukivat i rc c , • • • • 8111 p &NV& I 7.Ldrafe.: - t ..• At.' • . TO TELE SUITOR OF SUL,- lrti • SIR—sI pledge snyeef: ha Tthe most snqualifiethvinni nee, to prove to .the satisfaction of . any *Maisano who may favour me with a.call, that unless -tit—Can► tract entered into lay subsitibers, is so frsisned as to bind them, their heirs, executors, and administrutor-, for all the instalments of tbeii : slieres, notwithitindirg a transfer of them, help:m*o/1101e of' the calls due thereon shall have been made, such contract is nut a compliance with the Standing Order of the House of Lords ] No. 192. It is unnecessary tn controvert the opinions of the Attorney-General, and the other Bar• rimers consulted by Messrs. KING and LUE,N, so jilt' ee they go, and I should not presume to do it; bat St it quite clear that the Howe of Lords will (if Sheri& low the present contract to stand, and its effect be as contended foe) insist upon the insertion of a Clause in the Bill, render' log the Contractors permanently liable; and whether such Contractors are liable, as the Deed is at present framed, is of little coustqtante, because they will undoubtedly be sb when the Bill passes into. a law. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Green's Hotel, Lincoln's-inn-fields, N [CIL BRO A D EAD. April :18, 1825. • COVENT-G AUDEN 111E4TRE. * WEBER'S Preciosa, in an English dress, was brought out last night at this Theatre, but was 1., ill received, that the Managers, in deference to the decided opinion of the audience, have determined to withdraw the Piece. The sloty is borrowed, in its principal incidents, from the Spanish Gipsy of MturiurroN and Itowi l ten. Preciosa is the daughter of a kipanitis Nobleman, ba. nished and deprived of his estates for having ki led Ms antagonist in a duel, and who Ends concealment and safety for both by associating with a tribe of gipsies. Their adventures end in the Nobleman's obtaintag his pardon and former rank, and the Lady a lover. Tile music is pretty and characteristic ; more light in its structure than most of his other compositions, but not unworthy of his reputation. There is but one song in the Opera, sung by Miss PATON, who le,rresented Pre ciosa ; the rest of the music is dev( ted to ehorusses and descriptive pieces. An attempt to give effect to simple recitation by musical accompaniment, is made in the first acr, where Preciosa " improvisauices". before' party of Spanish Grandees,. hut it was not successful. One scene of great beauty was introduced, representing the encampment of the gipsies by moonlight, in the neighbourhood of Madrid. The whole effect, the stage being filled with groups of figures indifferent position% was highly picturesque. The Theatre was crowdee. 1•••••=••••=•••••••11•11• ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. The friends and supporters of this excellent Institts. don held on Wednesday titer 19th Anniversary, at the City of London Tavern. His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester presided for the 18th time, sup ported by Sir Thomas Turton, S t Wan. Athburnham, Sir Claudius Hunter, and many others of the first and fast friends of this Charity. The Canadian Chiefs were als) present, and were objects of much anio.ity from the peculiarity of their dress and appearance. They conversed very fluently in French, and were exceedingly communicative with all who were disposed to address them. After dinner the usual toasts were given, and the report was read by the Secretary, which, notwith standing a considerable increase of subscribers, stated the funds to be inadequate to the relief of more than one-half of the claimants for a pal ticipation in the bee nefits of the charity. The sums collected by dont' kite amounted to 68W. The children, male and female, were in the course , of the evening paraded through the room, exhibiting their vat ions performances itrknitt arithmetic, and penmanship. The spectacle WAS real.) , a most interesting one. 13it the advantages' of the In stitution were chiefly developed by the delivery of some verses by one of its objects who bad been taught to speak, and whose manner and action mere very int pressive.. In the course of the evening the healthof the Canadian Chiefs was drank, who apologised for not returning their thanks by their ignorance of the ler• page, but who volunteered to cortunate It by lino* . their National War-Song, which they entituted tith to the amusement of the company. At tea tiielock his Royal Highness retired, but the company did not break up till a late hour. The Duke of Gloucester's , military band attended, and contributed greatly to the entertainment of the evening. LAW itEPuRh COURT OF COMMON PLRAS, APRIL fa. norms v. *notarise. This was an action tried last week ; the subject wa pt libel on the plaintiff, but the. Jury found , a tetdici frar the defendant. Mr. Sarjeant VAOOrt Aft tiOVr meted fora rate falai' 'cause why thi ierdiet sheald ndt be 'set asidkrirlati new trial giaitedi on the ground of misitppreheasioo the part olthe Learned Judge in charging the Jory ; and that the verdict ought to have been for the plain tiff, with what damages the Jurj think proper. The plaintiff iii a surgeon, MA kept Art liiittibttM\ fit Regent•str*et, ftegent•itteet, called the Atireitan; mid hail preterite. a Petition to Parllament - for the nappies:tiara of quitakeets and quack Medicines. The defendant, a.bookseller. is Smithfield, published a criticism on this Petition, in* publication called the Family Adviser, renectinjr:oit the plaintiff's chataiter in hti pfbfeskiot of Me m. • t imputed gross ignorance tb the falait , tiff aft' dIdIIP knowledge, &c. The MIMEO' Set rant went on re marking on the itividlnut riatedto of the titsdiolnditiri4* that the Court *Mid teeth the Motion. the Cater Juscste cald e that lie had I.lk the amtlitt foray to the dory. It was for . them- ' 0 atiery.ltas any malice in the : def e ndant sfritici.sna rr: whether it w,as a fair commentary oft the Pitiqon file The Air, seedi‘f 1000 telOittirbit radii dad lied eery eittlfci fhetiefeirditifr Tht Lojeriva Setjetiat had as all the canna ip she dada. rata bare had wifely omitted to week 9f, the sp. l 4. ! that the plaintiff had been injured in his professing. • Lordship then read the evidence, end concluded 14 'CV fti*Nti Aft bt *might utgn s 5,1.;:i Y :I".A' motion, which had been occasioned by others, ail Lad not arisen from any-fault (ibis own. :=ki cet * l "tl /ItetsSil4V • w 4511 'olftiostulit !:Plitt :11)./furq lot f*Paital4l. - SU 44711;014111 at lawijsy Ims• iMeithrosilik, obi die I r •.y, F l ■