Star. — London, England, 1827-04-03 00:00:00

(Mr. R. Grant) to with nother , ... ..„..... a.. A then be presented, if tteall=ried, tends proof of bribery at th ate election. The Petition then broughmtSpVilk4i ,: c;F i On the tion iliat it e laid on the table, ~ taigklkk NN said he was of opinion that tinitifies`weri en 'tied to give evidence of bribery . past of Mr. Palmer. But here was a decision of a miuee, decreeing him duly elected, and he saw no by *bleb it could be reversed. Et was iminateri; dear the Petition was laid upon the table or..v should encontrnend that it be withdrawn. Mr. S. RICE said t h at if the Petition was received, they should have similar Petitions every day in ale year. He should not object to a Petition bearing on the state of the law.—The Petition was withdrawn. AIIIIICOLTVILL mr. BURRELL presented two Petitions from Hundreds in 'Susie:, praying protection for the Agricultural interests. Sir O. CLERK presented a Petition from Edinburgb,approving of the proposed Duties on Corn. but praying that these duties be -rid upon landing the Corn, and that no bonding be allowed. Mr. WODEHOUSE presented a Petition from Ellesford, In Norfolk, praying further protection for the Agricultural interests. was ordered to be printed. -Eir J. NEWPORT presented a Petition from the Agriculturists of the County of Westmeath, praying for further protection to ihe Agricultural interest. Mr. C. CHAPLAINE presented a Petition from the Owners and Otespiras of Land at Stamford, in Lincolnshire, praying for tfortherprotection to the Agricultural interest. . /111/111111.0 !LADS. Sir 'ARCHIBALD C hiPBELL presented a Petition from Ithe Shipowners of the Port of Glasgow, praying for further , teedon to be afforded to the Shipping Trade. MMUS SAADI. Mr. BROWNLOW presented a Petition from the Twiner's and -othersreniceted with the Leather Trade In the Town of Newry, praylegfer antra! of the Duty on Leather. 411.1.11 C 00100. Mr. ESTCOORTp - ostponed his motion regarding the Licensing of PuMit llooesta ao Mon4y neat. ooze LAWS. Mr. DOLES GILBERT resented a Petkien ?ran a Parish in the County of Sasses, against any alteration in the Corn Laws. nostano mem Mr. C. MAXWELL presented a Petition from the Land- Owners, Commissioners of Supply, and Heritors of the County of Lanark, against the Bonding System. LANDND INTIRIAT • Mr. WESTERN presented a Petition from Witham, in the 'County of Essex, preying that further Protection might be afforded to the Landed Interest. • COW r S KNATCHBULL presented Petitions from certain per. Abe living in the Western parts of Kent, from Maidstone, from. llockleigh, from Romney Mani, from Deahant, and from Ash • ford, all against any further alteration in the Corn Laws. IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said, that in rising to present a Petition from the Sailors of the port of New ,castle, against the continuance of the present system of -Impressment, be felt the subject was of such a nature that he should not be treating it fairly if he did not say that it was one which was calculated to call forth all •our sympathies. The Petitioners complained of the hardships witch they suffered from being liable to be pressed, anerthey prayed that some measures might be adopted to save them from the miseries of such a sys tem. They thought, t00014t.. their prayer might be granted, and that some course might be adopted which would .greatly benefit them, and wankel not be so bur densome to the public. He agreed with the statement their * Petition, a.ucf he should take die earliest oppor 'tinily after the kolislays.to bring the Osier.; before the HMO% 'and to , palm. oot a modes which •be thought wroslall be at least as effective asthe presentfor manning 4iiilsavy.—Ordered tote on the tale, . for _ tions in the Corn Trade—for the more repro of the growth of Corn in England, ind for More effec tually increasing the growth of grain in foreign can.' tries, for the supply of the British Market"—(Hear and a laugh). He thought that was a full, fair, and emirate description of the Bill, and for that reason he should oppose its.forther progress in the House. He was opinion, that we were making too many sacrifices the principle of free trade, and that we ought to look to the conduct of other countries upon that matter, and I to observe whether in them we could find any proof of lit: access. If we did look to them we should find, that instead of there being any general law in favour of free trade; the whole matter wall lelt to the exercise of the Kingly power. The Landed Interest of this country were a body certainly deserving protection, yet so far from being protected by this Bill, they were left Without any protection whatever ; for, by its provisions ' , it was impossible that corn could ever rise to a higher price than from fifty to fifty-five shillings. Yet, in si lower price than that, it would be impartible Sae could obtain any protection. Even under .the 1815; the average pries did not exceed sixty sham "•• and no one could expect that the present Bill woe permit the average to go so high. There was, however another ground on which this Bill was objectionabier and that was the injury that would arise to trete • In the present state of that country, everything ought to be done that would encourage its national industry,. and find employment for the people ; and was there, he would ask, any 01111 thing that the House could do more' likely to produce such an effect than that of encou raging her agriculture? They ought to keep Ireland in the position in which she was at present, or, at leas • they ought not tout her in a deteriorated one. Surely, then, if they found, as he thought they must do, that their interference would affect the imerests of Ireland, by lessening her national productiveness, they would not interfere in the matter. Yet this Bill was calculated to produce that effect, and he viewed it in no other light than a temptation for all other parts of the world to bring their surplus produce here, to Ilse destruction of our own agriculture. He might, perhaps, be told, that not more than one or two millions of quarters would be introduced, and it might be said that that quantity was but a trifle compared to the gross amount of what was annually consumed in this country. That alight be true, but he should contend it was no trifle if r ia. times like these, it displaced the labour of a single man. He had made a calculation of the quantity of land that would be thrown out of cultivation by this measure, and he found that an importation of two mil lions of quarters, would throw out of cultivation, at four quarters per acre, five hundred thousand acres of land; and consequently would displace the labour of a proportionate number of persons. This was a most serious consideration, arid ought to be attended to. During the discus,ion of this questiOn on a for mer night, some Hqnourable Member had stated that the people of this country were taxed to the amount of 25,000,0001. per annum for the benefit bf the landed interest. He had made that calculation upon a consumption of 50,000,000 of quarters, and had supposed that ten shillings per quarter were added by the Corn Bill. Now, evert if tharcalculation was true as to. the amount; it was not true that all that money went into the pockets of the landed Gentlemen; some small portion went to them, but by far the greater part went into the pockets of the occupiers of land, corn dealers, agricultural labourers, and in short all those persons who co-operated in the production of grain. Abroad, generdlle, and particularly in France, the system of trade was one of general exclusion, and he saw no reason why the Br iiish Government, especially with respect to corn, should not follow the example. He maintained', first, that this Bill did what had never be; fore been done, and puts to hazard the prosperity and even the existence of the landed interest ; axed next, that if the object were to keep up the price of wheat at 60s. r quarter, it was not calculated to effect th st object. It would, besides, encout age speculation to a most mischie vous extent, and surely the country had recently had sue dent proof of the en omous evils of bubbles. He was quite sure that the promoters of the measure had no nation of the extent to.which it would encourage this danger ous spirit. As to the price of corn, recent inquiries chewed that wheat toeld be brought in from Odessa at IS.. per quarter, and from the United States at from Ins. to 15s. per quarter, exclusive of the duty. The effect of the Bill would be radically to alter the system of commerce under which this country had long' flourished, and by which the inhabitants were enabled to pay taxes for the maintenance of the huge fabric • the State. He called upon Ministers to reflect on the unshaken loyalty of the agricutturists, and he warned them not to cast away those, who in thesour of distress had proved themselves their best friends. If the Bill passed this House, it would perhaps meet such effectual resistance elsewhere, as to ien, , er all the labours of the House of Commons vain ; and he did not believe that, at this moment, Ministers were united in opinion upon the subject: he challenged any Member of the Cabinet to rise in his place, and declared that there was no di vision in that body. Some of them were perhaps not immaterially alarmed, lest if the measure was made a law, they would be able to keep up their esta blishments. Not very long since their salaries had , been increased, in consequence of the increased price of provisions and other expenses: nevertheles he still thought the Great Officers of State ill paid ; but his argument was, that ere long they might not be paid at all. He begged Hon. Members on all sides, and from all parts of the kingdom, to think for themselves and to act for themselves—to recollect the duty they owed to the great body of the people—and be entreated the especial patrons, of this new scheme of legislation, to consider that the ruin of the landed in terest would be attended with the destruction of many collateral and dependent interests of the highest value to the welfare of the country. He hoped they would passe before they persevered in a Bill for the more ef fectual encouragement of speculations in grain—for the rapid diminution of the growth of grain in Ghat Bri tain and Ireland, and for the more speedy promotion of the growth of grails in foreign countries, for the supply of the British market. After repeatinghis con viction, that if the Bill were passed, ere long one of the Ministers would be obliged to come down to the House of the political economists, which were of a very dan gerous tendency. Theie was nothing whatever which those men touched that they did not destroy. Whatever might be proposed The them, he was determined con stantly to oppbse. The Bill before the House would have the effect of 'overthrowing the aristocracy, and through them the liberties of the country, and would ` once more compel us to revert to a paper currency. Mr. C. GRANT said. that the Hon. Member who had just addressed the House, carried his apprehension of the mischiefs likely to result from the Bill, even fur ther than the Mo. Baronet himself ; for he had added to the long catalogue of evils mentioned by the latter, the destruction of the aristocracy and the liberties of the country. Notwithstanding all the fetal prognostics it the Hoc. Members, however, he trusted that the Howe would not consider it presumptuous in him to oppose., their amendment. He agreed with the Hon. ISaronet, that the question which the measure involved was one affecting the dearest interests of the country ; and he joined with him in the appeal which he had made to the House to decide upon it with reference to its oWn merits alone, and not under the snaucece of parry or other considerations. He made this appeal in the full ' sense of the House would an- confidence good - iwev it.' In approaching a change of law *nuns 'namely, the trade in corn, there was one circumstance !which afforded him some gratification—there was no se- 1 falsity for combating ancient prejudices which always hung round the old law of the country. The Act which it was proposed to change had been in existence only eleven years, and therefore the House was at liberty to deal, with it on its own merits, without running the risk of shocking any old English feelings in its favour. The Hon. Baronet had asked why it was wished to change the existing law ? His answer to that question was this —because the existing law was, in his bumble opinion, erroneous, and had, morever, failed, grossly failed, in practice. What were the objects of the existing law ?—what did it profess to effect ? From the repeals of Committees of the House, at the period when it wag framed, from the debates in Parliament, and from ge. neral impression on the subj-st, he was justified in saying, that it was proposed to effect three objects, by the existing law—namely, uniformity of price, pro tection to rite farmer, and independence of foreign supply. Had the law answered for any one of those purposes ? It was notorious that it had not. —To chew that it had failed completely to produce steadiness of price, it was only necessary to refer to a statement before the Huse. It appeared from this docu ment, that in June, 1817, the price of Wheat was 112 s. whilst in Sept: Of the same year it was only 749. In April, 1818, the price was 91s. and in August of the same year it was 78s. The Right Hon. Gentleman, stated other instances of variation in price quite as' striking as those above mentioned in every year down to 1846. He aho stated that the variations •in price .with respecillb ads and Barley during the same period, were- not hos venterkable thaw thbse which bad occurred as to the arti.;:le of Whestk. With' respect to the protec tion to be afforded by' ttie farmer, be had the shew. hag of the.agriculturists themselves as to what had been the effect of the existing law. Before the Committee of 1821, they one acid all declared that the Act of 1815 had produced nothing but distress. This was the language of the most eminent agricul turists before the Committee. Amongst others, Mr. Webb Hall and Mr. Wakefield said, that the Act of 1815 had produced no good, and that they had not ex pected any from it. What hid been the case since 1822? On this point he would again appeal to the evidence of the agriculturists. From the general state ments contained in periodical publications, which were understood to be under tine influence of the landed in terest, it appeared that the depression under which that body laboured in 1821 had continued to a cer tain degree up to the present period. Now, how did the case stand with respect to independence of foreign supply, which he remembered was the main point urged in discussing the Bill of 1815 ? The amount of foreign wheat imported in 1817 was 2,325,000 quarters, being only 100,000 quarters less than were imported during 1801 and 1802, which were years of great scarcity. In the same year, 1817, 700.000 quarters of barley were imported, although barley was an artie de very rarely imported; and the amount of oats ported in 1817 was 930,000 quarters, which was mote than had been imported at any previous period. Had we been independent or foreign supply since 1822? Certainly not. It was necessary for him to remind the House, that the Legislature had been obliged to inter. pose to allow of the importation of foreign grain. A de claution had been t ut forth by certain delegates of the agriculturists, in which the question was at ked.B4 Why di I the agriculturists support a law which it wW 'admitted had afforded them no protection r answer riven to . this inquiry was, that eircumstanus bad occurred to obstruct Cap operation of the law, which were now removed. The circumstances here pointed at, were the opening of communication with the Continent on the close of the war, and the change which had taken place with respect to the ctn. Irency. The answer which he would make to this dr gument of the agriculturists was, that the existing law was framed in contemplation of those very events. The framers of that law, in attempting to keep the price corn in this country higher than it war in forei countries, had proceeded on the erroneous assumpt. tbat we could exclude the world from one great bk of commercial intercourse with impuntty--thit without injury to our commerce, external and int The principles of the present question had been ably developed before the Committee of 1821, that s very few words further on his (Mr. C. Grant's) part would be sufficient. The dangers to whi our agriculture in this country was exposed were two —a considerable excess of supply, or a considerable deficiency. Now, did the existing law protect the Country against these dangers ? It did not. In case a deficiency, the high mark at which the importati price was fixed, and the length of time which clap betweers the periods of *erelong the averages, ex both the farmers and the public to the hazard of r speculation and monopoly in the interim ; while, In the event of an excess, it was necessary that price ,should sialefar lower than under an unrestricted state that the i t nee d Wore he was in a state by importattoo. Do as we might, i independent of importation. u p we had been an exporting count, was not an instance in which fire • without an importation; it was b e t ter, we should adogt sects a coarse as woew grower ocesaliy to contemplat e ,' . . . . ....vs', write oat vsee n ,; price necessarily c ot , , to meet the adeanced lecent ..in oar applying to sources not duly Prepa re d (esnish us. Honourable Gentlemen had seemed it .'s considerable apprefreesimi of the effect t h at . ' trade in corn would hare upon the exchanges • country. He denied that, under the law p rop° , danger of that nature was to be apprehended. OMlTssw now stood, he agreed that inconvenience • arix. When corn came into the country. • suddenly and in rest masses, because the witting it was limited. A short period, sr ie ports probably were again shut. But it otherwise when the demand was regular and There was one way, certaioly, in which the currenct the country would be affected by the regulation r trade in corn. Any monopoly in that article, into actual play by a deficiency, must omits , der an additional quantity of circulating ca r . sary to the country. The trade its corn was so , that an addition of lOs. or lie. a quarter to would increase the amount of capital necessary on the trade more than 1,000,000. But from, lated importation of corn from abroad no incur:n.ll46 to the exchanges could,be apprehended, and he prove this by reference to the case of Ireland. inconrenienee to the exchanges bad arisen ' annual Importations from that country ? O, effect of the maintaining a high price in corn r the manufacturer abroad, or to enable the foreigner undersell him in the home market. We might - the wages of the labourer, and bring him diet of corn down to potatoes—it was hoped that we had not made some advances that state already; but eves that reseal( have its termination; sad the result Mast ' _-..reent of manufacture, or a weaver WIN hardly to be expected) of all profit and • iiaanufacturing capital. But it could hardly . wiry for him to use any further arguments as pediency of a change in the existing law 'thought that there Could be no comparison, :Cage, between a scale of dwies, even supposing 'be in some cases prohibitoey, and an absolute tion. When be was told that corn could not' upon the terms proposed, he took leave to ... fact a little. A good deal of the calculation taken upon arbitrary estimate; and besides,'' isting state of things disproved the assertion. average price of corn assumed by the new 60s. - How, the fact was, that for the last ei I the average price bad been under 575. He that the agricultural interest had been in comparative depression during that time thought that during the. last year or tc been rallying. In fact, a stronger proof not be given that agriculture was worth follow the present time, than that capital was investinr A great deal of money had lately bees laid oat Is the '- of under-drainiag; sod the importations of manure w every year. A few examples of this last fact might mate value. In the article of boots, our importatiem Odin in January, 1124, had beers to the amount of, .4 the year MIS, tt was ‘44,00P ; ht. the. seat yea,, it lammed illn,000; Intim the keine It statemenid to 4.r. In r article of osaware, wodko'rare one Impaintiple lb ihd was sna teen In the nestle, woo Set tow le the • lea. 411 toes • antis the last rear, Ogee /q is the , add linseed c ake; in the year pogimrJesuiery, ist4, ‘ 170,500 cwt.. In the nest year, 495,700. In the nen, v. and in the last year 591,60 G. The Right Hos. Gentleman corded to segue, that it by oo deans followedtbat the impw at corn from abroad should materially diminish the sales din agriculturist; for that the additional spar given to manuf Would have the elect of 'naiads( the demand. To ear the case of Ireland; the 400,000. quarters of wheat whi nuaUy imported from that country, must neeeserily much corn grown In Great Britain; yet it was net found t mined any injury, for the stimulus gives to oar mandfretaren increased oar consumption, sod with it of course our d. - the quantity which we might be expected to import ' law, some idea of that might be formed (coal the we had imported. In the ne yens ending is the total impetration bad bees 11,000.000 of quarters; three years bad been years of scarcity, which had million patters out of the moompon. In Barley . importation bad been very trilling indeed; and in Wheat, the main ankle of coesideroticas, it might bktly be , oar yeasty importations wash' am exesod, upon an . yew with soother, 000.000 quarters. The Lee . Gendessen wee ma to thew, by ealcoladoos takes r. Repast, that there was so jest grated for apprehtuneato the importation of foreign grain. The defect in tt of those iloncosrable Gestiessea who were hostile sere, ley in this. They reneged es if, with the &passim in the price el grain, the prices of all dittos, freight, navigation. mad ail other charges, the sane; the y supposed two things which were lean -a ssersoist whet, and high penes. But an infallible - prices again would be that of Arming the prices of t esedition Mr. Jacob had shewn several instances of a demand is raising prices abroad, and tiny ware such allay all a of the evils so Much dreaded I oelltniel • from that frightful pert of the word, lira, that -deuces of the phantoms which seemed 9 hevrlider the whole. of the landed interest. M. dense hid = tlgt (actress, by proving Cleat 1 dew will leave Weems Ode* pilerises no lei= ix Aims be dsitsseed.. ae bass than 445. inthrthigiii, ef . the *Ai, whom! be. BY ihe lope' sow. km. law Ye*, epos wheat breters lbsibb munitions uesild a des. per immembo§ the dump. This Wes sullieleat thee 11 eleedimilders mined ha oho mild. It eras druid emortuleed by the agskultedmeseteousakeistaupi, by the lempenotion of bigots wow All elmolMillially • mar Poey roWtton osulineedtelpeusesmot Jacob's report, which na far hit steed withe..lig apil hsil me ar Midi &abr. He japed that sits of the Hos. Goodman. (lee of tit,pta l t Wee k shad at present was, that it eentrilmated to et . ;sad es the ether. .He had would have well ounidered the law, which* while k failed of that rei .ler whir it had been enacted, had attained to that west a elm et sewing division hennas them mud the other la %bind.... He took leave to my, that the lieseletioes real Mile House would give those Hen. Gentlemen' Pity of Rumouring that ardsoodty which was socked immerses. The country was generally misled Wel t den; there was very little of popular foals era b. Enid proceed. the eki objection would be bled to 11 wail sees he as tam bleed et those dletresibig eh ti_„_ ellehett the Crag% itieerea. • Be entrualeit a ll erleettetilty. Ssiir NOR to be awe. *A giremeesif midi abaft OS* eight some a /Able ill 11011111110111611.111b0 es vise as to the rate sad mollet , thllithille'rella. There alight ease a time of. er wWik . lilawillillapat would lied itself conetroksed to *plating eta lean*: pipidadss. whets the pleas , =me wadi beam all powerful. They were eels . is smileda radio of*ep7taot mature. , t i ll ia litee ed the es% )tea stied • and the pane el el rem. and I wiplas V they weald psi lad thwart ver Were I seeeedly el viewing' l o os regard only' to the real questioa—(Ltied and repeated cheers.) ...e i Mr. WESTERN conteaded i tbat but fit _. _ ___. ____ .~' . , ~ Iterititlit _portant infbrination had been received. At all events, in baste to require its.suddeo 'reptal, the Ihowerable of things it tandeting he was convinced this sweeps we,. t such eit , -• •by mov ing , . , . 0 . 0 , , • himself by - ... -- ti - 4. -- A never be i titian tiros Londed Interest .to adkCe tOy , , ially mites a 4 .- . ....k.., 4 . • • this day biz wire ttoill Leslie* u to l i r ate arf most import- ... • 4 1,1 S year 1770, ant Questialp, 04 del . ive. )(lento.- e tfiousht this tkit .. elsec dons 'us t eill l :f Il i let t h ere a t the Pei.. be * truOinvil kir eppostig the BAUM freskiple. I* . •• additional fo . 7 ,enhe - psed witl ry on the objected to thenill, because he deed& it destructive of the • was gtelieria a then - iil ' ch (ore, that w of a Com- the Lauded Interest, and if he were asked to describe it, wools/ •atinihilate it. On al -. si es the agriculturists the foreign no power he should say, that instead of being called a Bill to fir complained 'that the Bill afforded them no adequate ply of ottr r !rig whe• certain duties on Corn, it ought to be described as I , a part-Omit Tbe Bill of i 822 had been condemned, occurred, u not. He Bill for the more effectual encouragement of specula. unheard as it *ere, for it had never come into operation. qoent on of - . - - -.....ffr-...---:_- irk...... ...Am*. 1,6 .1,...k• ...... not tit the deLZtriftpt finnish et. • to relieve see should ere Jp to the tin retry ; and years had 4119 tier, there. 'o led allow dethe sup. nal It access' lolly come. 411 4 stepared to INN ed to enter. 11 1 0 that an im. ;changes of vii Prupose4, ende d. As 041 'eoce mi g h t • ry. it To ~t the time for 'a de and th e Would hi IA I tempera e, currency of KI ation of the mon le, brough t 'starchy res. 'Oal nece mkt o enormous, to its price • wiry to tinny nom a Ng& rid he might and. Wh at rev from our foe 0.. e certain was to drive foreigner to essi bight reduce via him from a sal only to be aces towards ounce must t be a total we ever (which of' I return upon lii be netts. as to the ea. aw ; and be 1, in odes's. 60 . 4 ming them to /II slate prohibi. e_„ 3111 not be gross W 0 to doubt that des :elation was P' rides, the es. NW; ertioa. Elbe 1 ew law war t eight years, He admitted, its a state d 01 tae ; but be 1 two it had proof could following at ✓esting iu it. he improves/rat weed iacttaieg it pother lure 1 time In the ye.: 1, 4,000. la , k kennel* ' to aawbe 3 ilid yew twit bestir lan, m hp article of rape deore in,purtei e nen, ii 6.1163; • . Geathisaa pro. the imp-Nuke sales of the keen V o manufactasers *o instance again t which we as. lay displace w the Nod that wens. ustifactaren hid P t • it demand. For slea tt under ilse mew eah Turk) , which year 1115, ear lei ; and of teat s emitted ivy y and tarts ism lira, which was e calculated that t average et me cs Ow Homan* taken fres the . P O , ebeatioas, at ta s tee at:lml° tile to the lOW _ ! most Omer .4 7 II other comore b world mein vi al iseampatiblo—s le melt el Ms at all ethers:ow s of the Am tf web as sosigto lesl by the re* 76Hettimil li al : st . cors71 1J iate l a g eob rtsdi ttei b : eipoorii:e•at :Ibi s siwo r s : Bekat to pores is *ewe • chi limpereiti4 ol, Slay 11 1 * - sessresx of Mr. led use been so. read °ppm d e great evih of tho 11 to excite mi. ft hod !Med chit el mid this • rho sis lot I'm Pur se e l own soweitave cher losersas hit3ool DOW ores is opportio ad splint tie • she mats test. it. It the IS r deep, tad teem mad angry co n ' tea them set to thee he does ti la wilds there mow of Wel!. sztrookl9 • to mead gip * kess of hessaerf rs aloe bated • , mare, the pot- . 4 the satires ] Its was go** hog war ill a *sue a the N the nage ' • t i .‘,. 41:47 CORN LA W 3. bk GRANTsard he hid a Petition to present from the Laridovinert, the Commissioners' of SuPply, the He shoes, and Justice* of the Peace of the County of laver. setts, 'paying that further protection might be afforded to the Agricultural Interest their was granted to them by the Resolutions now in progreis thiough the House. He observed, that although he:felt it hisdutpto present their Petition, he could not avoid saying that heentirely differed from them as to its prayer. At the same time, Ise must do them the justice to state, that the Petition was very respectably as well as numerously 4gned.— Ordered to lie an the table. Mr. C: GRANT then moved the Order of the Day , for the second reading of the Corn Duties Bill. Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE wished, before this question was brought under discussion, to ast the Right Honourable Gentleman whether, under all the circum stances of the case, and all the difficulties attending the discussion of so important a measure, not only in that House but elsewhere, he would not do the Agricul turists—or rather he (Sir Thomas Lethbridge) should say, do him—the favour of putting off the question till after the Holidays; or to fix a definite time, the 3d of May ?—(A Mr.C.GRANT answered, that as far as his personal convenience was concerned, he should be very happy to accommodate the Honourable Baronet; but though -such a postponement might be a favour to the Hooour -4ble Baronet, it aas much to be doubted whether it would be a great favour to the House—(Hear, hear), — +especially when other circumstanced were taken into consideration. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE then said, that he should 'oppose the second reading of the Bill ; for although it was said to be brought before the House after baviag' been the subject of due deliberation on the part of the Government, he could not but think that it was fraught with considerable danger to the L..nsied Interest of the Empire. He trusted that in discussing this question the Landed Gentlemen would not permit themselves to be led away by the impression which had, no doubt, been made on them when the proposition was first introduced by the Right Honourable Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in consequence of the manner in which he had brought it under their notice. He (Sir. T. L.) had heard, and, as he believed, from good authority, that this wa ttage, though professing to be one proposed by the Noble Earl, whose illness they all deplored, was, in fact, not his proposition, nor did he intend to. claim it; but that if helad brought it forward as he intended to havedone in the House of Lords, he would have proposed it as a measure emanating from the Government, but not from Birnself individually. There were some circumstances attending the measure which seemed to confirm that report. *When it was first alluded to in another place, a desire was expressed, and that desire was gratified by the appointment of a Committee, to make further in quiries upon the subject.. In this House, however, the same course had not been pursued, for when the Bill was first introduced, he had taken the liberty of throw. ing out a hint that it would be both wise and expedient' to appoint a Committee to make some further inquiries before the House entered upon the discussion of the Bill. The House, however, did not soma to have the same 'opinion as himself, and they had,not encouraged him to persevere in his object. He was still of opinion that an inquiry ought to have been granted, and he believed that :Mei the measure was first introduced, some im •_,‘, :-,