The National Register. — London, England, 1815-03-05 00:00:00

148 IMPERIA. I4M MARCH 5. ,• bushels of wheat u•ere equal t ..0 a sack of flour _ , price at 80s. the qeartern loaf woidd he at one shilling, and no more. Reports bad been spread in the country of the certainty of a great rise of price, front some differences imagined in the price of wheat. They must not lose sight of the positive effect of the proposed measure. He concluded by moving I s re turns of the average prices of wheat per quarter, distinguishes the variations, from the Corn Exchange, with the prices also of flour per sack from 1759 to 181'4. Sir JAMES SHAW was not SWAM of the pi iLeiples on which the Hon. Member proceeded ; but he thought facts were always better Awn theories ; and lie should state facts to thy Howe. For tern years, 1804 to 1813. inclusive, the average of wheat ill Loudon w a 18s. Bd. ; of Amur, 611. 51d ; and of the 91141 tern loaf. is. tf 4 'd. At lhis rate the inhabitants of London, for so long a time, paol for • bread. This fact he derived from the best iutermation he could procure respecting the corn trade. He also learned from those ac quainted with the subject, that if the average prick; of England came to rids , tine wheat in London, to be made into bread, would be at 9.5 sltillieg‘. • Mr. RonINSON said, the tendency of this argument was to say, that under a new measnrelty which wheat would not rise above ho shillings, we were to final it nmouut to 95 shillings. This was like an attempt to stultify the understandings of the House. Mr. Rant tec maintained, that if the rate should be under 60 shil lings, the measure was calculated to raise it above that price. He wished to say nothing to inflame the public mind ; but he knew of no way in which he could argue the question, if he did not as that he thought the measnre was an attempt to enhance the pike of bread, and to procure a bouaty for the growers of corn. Fail iy lie could not argue it, without looking on (hit as its rt snit. Mr. Bum) observed, that those hot particularly conversant with I the subject, treated the question respeceing the last crop, as if the Mildewed wheat contained somethins: noxious. The fact was, that the flour was of very good quality ; the evil lay in the lesser quantity iteldeil. He had made purchases from some of the worst samples in two or three markets within 30 miles of London, some as low as fire shillings a bushel. That wheat had cot produced flour enough, proportionate to the quantity, but the flour was good, and the bread without any improvements whatever, was &mid as good as any that could be made, and might be sold at ninepence and a ft action, after making all allowaticea. It must be found, on due enquiry, that some gross deception and abuse existed in the corn arrangements in the City of London among inspectors, speculators, mea!meti, or others. lie contended against the notion of bread rising to is. 4d. 'by this measure If the 'question was fully investigated, it u °old i l appear, that with wheat at 80 shilliugs, bread would not be utoLe than one shilling. The object was to preclude bread permaiiently from exceeding one shilling, and to give protection and confidence to our agriculture. Alderman ATKINS observed, that the official return bad made the average 61s. 6d. when the prime wheat Was selling in Londou at trout 74 to 76 shillings. Use, was it unreasonable to suppose web a difference to arise wheat the rate was 60 shillings ? There were great differences in the district averages. In the first district, Weil it was 6'21. id. it was ts Is. dd. in the second, and in Wales, 7.k. ed. It seemed then too much to say that it was not possible for impellers and others to combine. or keep up a high average ter some time. The average in London scarcely differed 2s. for six weeks; white in wane districts. there was a ditieretice of 21s. If a fair avera&e was F taken, the price of bread might perhaps be reduced. Mr. MAMMAS' Said, it was well ascertained that if the average price of wheat were at 635. thequartern loaf would he at I lid. and if the price of tio,.. the same (oaf would bets. 3d. He hoped, thorr• fore, the House would suspend their judgment, till such time as they could reconcile and fix the averages with a view Lo the general benefit of the politic. Mr. VRANKLANP Ist:WIS. in explanation, .denied the statement, made by the Hos. Geutlernatt, and appealed to the Act of Parlia• meet for theeorrectness of whir he said. Ile then read a clause in , theellset, which enacted, that when the quarter of wheat was at 79.. Rd, the quarters loaf should be <fixed at is. Sir .law es SHAW, in-explanation, said it was in the power of the Magistrates to fix the assize either on the average of wheat or-floin. it had, however, been deemed by the Magistrates of the City of tondo's, the safeit way k fix it on the uverogeofflour, and that was the reason why the prices differed so Mat in the statements af the two last Speakera. Mr. Roar , said, that the aas!ze its London ditkred front every other part of the country, and the price of bread was invariaffy higher there than in any other part vf the kingdom nearly t!.'i per cent. There was something inexplicable in this., but every triad VI ustramel tare cauac of Attest proved vaiu and fruitless. NATIONAL REGISTER. - 4111 1 ■111 1 01111111MMINIMMOW 'L PARLUMENT. 1~ Six and t h r ee Twit! 1 so that taking the HOUSE OF LORDS. roury nA y, FLO. 27. Their Lord:ehiph proccedul in appeals, but truusacted nothing else of interest. • TUESD‘Y, FRP. '2B. The Hc!slope Votets'l3,ll, the Bank three Millions Loan Amend ment Bill, and Freehold Estates' Bill, were brought up from the Commons, and read a tirat The House went into a Committee o the Scotch -Trial by .Yttry Bill, %Oleo the Lord Chancellor propoJed i clawe that the Joey should bo no:minions ; this was a;reed to, and the Bill ottkicd to bu thcr couaidcred on Friday. WEDNE3DAY, MATtCIi 1. The Civil List Account Bills and Annual Indemnity Bill, were read a third time and passed. THUI2SIIIV, MARCH 2. C7RN The Marquis CAMDEN pre,en . cil petitions from the Owners and Occupiers of Land in the comities ot Kent and Southampton, iu fa vour of the proposed Corn It collations. Lord DARNLEY took occasion to narrate the cireanistatices which occurred passing the Kent petition, and alluded to the ex pression used by the Lord Mayor ot London lately, " that the pro posed Hill, it - passed, would raise bread to 16d. the quartern loaf." No- condemned Anch litnontge, as tending to inflame the people, and deified that the Bill could have such an effect. Lord STANHOPE said. the Lord Ma)or's expression was that of a sensible III:Ill—they all imist be aware of the denunciations of the proplid t Isaiah and others, against those who " grind the faces of the poor ;" and the proposed measure, taken along with the stupid re gillations now in progress on the subject of taxation, would in his have that effect. The bortlien of the intended taxes would 1411 heavily on the poorer agricultural classes. . Earl LAUDERD %LE spoke in favour of the Corn Bill ; and Earl VERPOOI. said, the new taxed were made to fall as lightly as‘pos sink on the powd r agricultural classes, and on the poor in general, as lie should be perfectly prepared to &hew when the•proper period arriited. The petition was then laid on the table.—Adjovrued. FRIDAY, MARCH 3. CORN PETITIONS. Lord STANiIoPE presented a Petititin against llecerriposed altera tion in the Coin Laws from the Parishes of Christ Churcb, Spitat fields and Bishapsgate.—Laid on the table. The Hank Loan Bill was read a third time endpoint'. Lord Stanhope then corrected some mi•representation made by a Noble Lord Lauderdale) with reference tidy sat he said oil Thursday Light, on the subject of the price of eon,. It was never his intention to propose a reduction of taxes to the iitjary of the public coeditor. Lord GRENVILLg prc•tntcd a PeritiOn from Woolwich. signed by 7 or 8011(1 perwas agdinst the mist/rad alteration of ittc Corn L.. • ifOUSE OF COMMONS. itioNDAT, FEB. Petitions from - Calue, Sheffield, and several crtlimillaces, were presented against tiro Corn The Melstone Election Rlll,anrlFreehold Ehtales Bill were read a third time and passed, and the Gaol Fees Aisoiition Bill went through a Committee. Conti L.lrra. Papersof average prices of Corn, Nllll of Importations 4rom Ire land, and *Aker onmdrits, were or!lered. . T`ll*. FRANKEV/0 LEWTS ob.aelliell, that Wheil lie wns 41 a COM mith C upon the altetadt6n or gm torice. the gnet , tian %‘,l diu:lis*ed.