The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-03-09 00:00:00

arrt iety created by this hurry—soch the apprehen tion out of donee that euflicient time would not be allowed for considering the subject, that not unite quently half a pamphlet was advertised through the c ountry, promi‘ing the other half if it could be t ro ueht out in ;-ime before the Bill was passed. But tae advocates of this measure seemed resolved to pre via the fulfilment of these promises, and were j; tt ,ali ) ig a race with all the printers' devils of the country. -[A Mug-h, and hear!]—That this measure had had plenty of diecuesion in that House be was ready to admit, but he denied that the country l o d had a sufficient opportunity of considering it, 0 ,1 therefore he should propose to postpone the farther consideration of the Report until the first Moods,' after the Easter recess. If, however, he shoed fail in his motion, and that the measure should st;llhe hurried, it would not be his fault if the Bill 1.1,1 not that title annexed to it which it deserved. The Honourable Member adverted to the diffelence d o pinion as to the amount of the import price, which was evinced ane , ng the meeting at Lord Liverpool's, and which difference also prevailed in that House. This difference ss as indeed such, that if Gentlemen would vote only as they spoke, without as well as within the House, a decisive majority would appear spinst 80s. But some Gentlemen seemed to act on t his question as Members of a political party were m,crimes understood to argue, namely, " let us go eboot our ft lends, a ,d not split hands to divide our party." It was evident he thought that this must be an inei , rting count' 1.. For the last 20 years we had let. ited runt, and if our manufactures did not decline we should continue to import it. But, said come agr i cu lturists, who supported the measure, let us have the monopoly of the home market, and we will suep'y you with sufficient corn. But to those Gen tlemen he would answer, that they with that mono poly could not afford to supply the market e less than double the price—that is at 80s. while corn was to be had elsewhere at 40s. As to the capacity, however, of those Gentlemen to supply the home-1 mallet, he must be allowed to doubt it. For he 1 (fluid not help preferring experience and evidence to coejerture and speculation, and hence he was led to conclude that we should continue to import corn.— Havii that prospect then before us, he considered the present measure as peculiarly objectionable, and getting aside the question as to the interest of our manufacturers altogether, he would pat it to Gen tlemen, whether if the case of any third country were under consideration it would preclude that country from buying food from any other nation, al th.,ugh it could obtain that food at half the price that it could afford to grow it ?—[l.fear, hear!] — As to the case of Ireland, he thought that question disposed of by the admission on the other side. Fur the Irish being free from poor's rates and other bur• dens to' which the agriculturists of this country were subject, and of course that price which would afford protection to the latter must amply secure the for mer. The Irish growers were therefore quite safe, which gave him the utmost satisfaction, feeling, as tw did, a lively solicitude for the interests of that country. The lion. Gentleman's motion being read, W. ROBINSON rose to observe, that he had al ready suffered so much from the consequences of misconception and misrepresentation, that he was the less inclined to allow any opportunity of now passing when he was so assailed, without meeting it as be conceived he was entitled to do.—[Loud cries of Hear!]-- With this feeling, therefore, he desired to know, what the Honourable Gentleman meant when he asserted that he (Mr. Robinson) had, for the sake of catching at popularity, consented to sacrifice, in the choice of the present measure, sv'tat. be (Mr. Ft.) knew was for the best interests of the country? He did not believe an import duty would be for the be. nefit of the country; on the coutrary, he bad ex pressed himself quite of a different opinion—and he was at a loss to know what the Hon. Gentleman had seen in his public life to warrant him in supposing he could act with such duplicity, or what right he had to suppose that he would condescend to lend himself to such a line of conduct.—[Loud cries of Hear!] Mr. BARING disavowed any personal allusion to the Right Honourable Gentleman in what he had said—on the contrary, he had uniformly expressed his approbation of the manner in which the Right Von. Gentleman introduced the discussion before the House. What he stated in general argument was, that his own' and the prevailing opinion was in favour of a duty, and that his Majesty's Ministers, in his apprehension, must have held a similar opinion, and only abandoned it from the great& unpopularity it would engender. He disclaimed any personal or mahecoming accusation against the Right Hon. Gen. tietnatt.—[ilear, hear I] Mr. ROBINSON explained, that he was obliged, for many considerations, to seek this explanation, and the reason whylit became incumbent upon him ' Was, that he understood the Honourable Gentleman to has. said that he (Mr. R.) abandoned a measure ss hid) he knew would be better, for tanotber of a mote injurious charaCter. As the Hon. Gentlenian had, however, disavowed this meaning to his expres simt,, he, of course, had nothing more to say on the subject. Mr. BARING had the least possible wish to mis represent the Right Hon. Gentleman. his allusion went to show, that Ministers, however much they condemned the attempt to become popular among others, had, as he believed, refrained from imposing the duty in question, to seek popularity for them selves.--[A laugh.] The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and said, that whenever he heard that House or Ministers censured with precipitating this measure, he should repel the charge with the indignation it merited ; and he hoped that the House would not suffer itself to be taunted with the imputation of cowardice, fir not giving an unnecessary delay to the present measure • nor could he approve of any protraction of a su bject so generally interesting to the feelings of the lower classes at the community, when no possibility existed of rendering the argu ments clear to their understandings. With respect to the cowardice imputed to the advocates of the Rill for not postponing the consideration of the goes 'ion, he conceived that more real cowardice would be .frineed in giving war to threatening riots; and he rhat the House would not transfer the leg)- . 41i. n of the country from its constitutional posses ' a licentious mos—ELoad eritl rf Mar, 1•t; 7 of the II idsoc I must now say s gir l •a •of Ntis4 thrill deter me this nigilt, awl tin 0 rry otnrr uppbra Nulty, til, the last moment that this mottc , •re is be fore tr., from disrus.ing ifs merits, and offering, its conformity with the r"guktions of the House, such arguments and observations as I may think [Loud cheers.] The conversation here dropped, and the House proceeded to the other Orders of Day. Lord PALMERSTON brought up tile Report of the Mutiny Bill. Sir S. ROMILLY proposed a claUse to prevent Courts. Martial from seetenci►►g offenders to more than LOU lashes. After some observations from Mr. Manners Sot. ton, Mr. Whitbread, and Mr. W. Wynn, Sir S. Romilly agreed to withdraw the clause, until a future period. The Report was then agreed to, and the Bill or• dered to he read the third time tomorrow. The House adjourned at Half-past One o'clock. OUTRAGES LAST NIWIT. The riots continue. The mischief again ecnnmitted last night was considerable. There is no such thing as giving a regular detail of such irregular proceed ings as now nightly involve the Metropolis in tu mult and individuals in dismay; bat we shall perform the disagreeable duty imposed on us in this respect as satisfactorily as we can. We shall begirt with the attack made on the Office of the Herald Newspaper, which " the mob" by no means regard among the list of their friends. And here that Gavtte of truth fortunately steps in to our aid with an account of the attack and heroic defence, which is worthy of all acceptation, and we according) ; give it in the words of our valiant brethren of the slick and quill.— " Soon after ten o'clock,. last night, a web, which had rendezvoused before Drury-lane Theatre, uttering yells which should have drawn some observation from those appointed to keep the peace, proc'eded very leisurely down Catharine-street, Ned marshalled themselves before our office. They we: 2 provided with stones, of various weights, from a pound upwards, and they soon began their inf a m ous w o .k. The lights in our first door informed them where they might have a chance of doing more mischief than the mere llreak. big of windows, and a shower of stones soon came through Ahem, but fortunately did not strike any one. Almost every pane of glass was broken, and the room covered with mud, broken glass, and stones.-- Amon other things thrown was nn iron bar, some what sharpened at the end, Such as paviours use to raise fist stones with. This weapon of a savage is in our possession. There was not a moment's hesita tion from any want of instruments of mischief, for the outrage was planned, and it was in cousequeoce of its being so, that we were prepared to keep the ruffians out of the house, and to give then; a proper reception if they had got lista it. A faithful servant of the Paper had Information of the design given to him, in Westminster, and arrived in time to put us on our guard against every thing but windrow-breaking. Some of the rabble might easily hasis been demolished with one of their own waepodlt, for they threw, through the fan-tight of the hotise.door a 'erne stone loosened from the pavement, and we might have returned this to there from the top of the house! We resolved, however, to do nothing unless they should force their way in, which they showed some inclination to do, It may be supposed; that we had ilso some expectation of relief from the chief Office of the Westminster Police, which is within a few hundred •• yards of us ; but, although the attack lasted nearly a quarter of an hour, we received none. The Magistrates, was must suppose, could not spare any part of their force. Indeed that answer was given to a friend, who, with. out our knowledge, went to Bow-street ti et the very commencement of the 'linkmen," and; as soon as he was permitted to have au audience, requested some exertion in our defence. The explosion of a detona.i . 44 re en 9. t. lid (U IJ iS If t it R it d d h 111 •• I f FIIE STATESMAN; •1 --- Alear I —The Honourable Gent Wean tMr. Baring)' for protection in rest tied (Sodden emergencies. lie hers 0.. • rted that Ministers have adopted the pre.. wished that an non. Gentleman belonging ttt that de ws( n. Ale of proceeding, in preference to that of • phetment (Mr. U. Addington) would inform the a:14201;4g a duty, from a desire of courting popula- House what tnelisuns of precaution had been t ken. riiy.l; how far they leave succeeded in obtaining that Mr. HILEY ADDINGTON was proceediug to obj.e.z, (-sold easily be seen; but he diacjahned for.. state in detail the different steps taken by that de theaa the. least intention of seeking it by any partment, when other) means than a faithful discharge of their pub- , Sir C. BURRELL spoke to order. He thought lie elute.- -[I/ear, hear !]-But, in reality, his that going into such a detail might have the effect of IV .jetty's Ministers de not entertain any such idea defeating what was the very object of those measures. as elh.st a duty on corn was preferable to a protecting Mr. WYNNE thought that the explanati. o could pr 'r... NO. this subject he had given his sentiments not be said to be disorderly, although it rested with to the House on a former occasion, and would not, the discretion of the Right Hon. Gentleman whether nos tnoub!. , them with a repetition ; for he did not he thought it prudent to proceed in such a statement. think it tee. suary, like other Gentlemen, to go over 1 Mr. H. ADDINGTON said, that he was ready the same stßech six different tirnes.—[Laughter, and to go on, if the House thought proper—(Loud cri -uj ist...r.)—As to the price of bread being raised cries of no, no.)—Seeing what was the sense of the by this Bill to 16d., to this opinion he could not sub. , House, he should only say, that if the question scribe, even though supported by the worthy Magi- came forward in the shape of a regular motion, he strafes of London; for by a reference to the common would pledge himself to prove that every possible rule of three, it would be sufficiently refuted. He precaution had been taken. would advise those Magistrates to call their thousands Mr. PONSONBY agreed with the Noble Lord and tens of thousands again to the Egyptian Hall, (Lord Castlereagh) that Government was right in and tell them that their arithmetic was false, and ordering the military and the police to use forbear their arguments unsound; and to send up their peti. ance. There was no subject upon which the people Lions on good grounds, or not at all.—[lleue !] were more naturally anxious, or upon which it was Sir J. SHAW said, that his former statement was easier for them to be misled. In a city of such given on mature deliberation ; and he feared, that if immense extent, it was evidently impossible for Police the Bill were passed, experience would confirm his 'Magistrates to be in every quarter. Ile trusted, that apprehensions. if lenity were ineffectual, and severity became or. Sir J. NEWPORT said, he should not have (roe- cessary, it would not be resorted to until the ne bied the House, but for something that had fallen cessity sh ou ld b e o b v i ous t o every man w h o regar d ed from an Hon. dentleman respecting the combination the laws, the constitution, and the peace of the. of the Irish Members ; bat of all sets of men, the country. English manufacturers had least right of complaint Lord CASTLEREAGH observed, that since the of the Irish Members encroaching on them. Ireland first day when the disturbances took place, he had wants only to have agriculture protected against that not heard of eny Members being insulted or molested of France and Poland. in their entrance to that House. Mr. WORTLEY thought, that in relation to all Mr. WHITBREAD could not avoid considering other articles, bread would not be extravagantly there had been some negligence in the beginning, for high if corn should be at 80s.; but he was convinced which those who were culpable deserved, at least, a the Bill would be attended with different cense. reprimand. He thought that if any severity should queitces, and that not only bread, but even rents hereafter become necessary, it was, in a great de. would fall. lie thoughtthat 765. would be a sufficient gree, owing to negligence and remissness in the first remunerating price, hut to enable the farmer to take instance. advantage of that, the importing price should be some. Mr. YORKE thought it quite nugatory to talk of thing higher. the Police of London, or any Police that could be Mr. W. SMITH opposed the Bill, and strangers sufficient to oppose such tumults. If the Govern. being ordered to withdraw, a division took place, ment and Patliament neglected to take proper mea. when there appeared. sures to repress them, it would be quite idle and ii- For the Ameedsseet . . 57 ; diculous to continue talking in that House about the agairat it . . . • 206 1 rights and liberties of Englishmen, at a time that no Majority . . . —149 , man was safe in his own house. If such proceedings On our re-admission, we found the House discus- were allowed to Continue, there could be no Go sing the question of the average price of wheat, and vernment or Parliament in the country, unless the on this a second division took place t-- 7 1 Parliament was withdrawn from the metropolis, and When there appeared for 801. . . 184 I summoned to meet in some other city or town in the Aininki it . . 9 . 78 1 kingdom. lie trusted however, that those disgraceful -majority . . . —lO5 , The gallery scenes would be soon terminated. being re-opened, the question was Mr. Alderman ATK INS agreed l that the first next." To this M put " that the Bill BARING proposed an Amend- be read a third time or Friday object of the House ought to be to preside measures r. for the repression of the popular tumults. It was ment, that the words " Friday se'einight" be sob- hie opinion that his Majesty's Ministers would do stituted. On this a division took place, when there well to suspend the progress of the present Bill, its appeared— I order to bring in one that night, for the better pre. Fin. the Amendment • . 46 A g tett t • • . 220 i aervation of the peace in Palace.yard.—[4l laugh.] M aj o r i t y • . —174 f Mr. 11 USKISSON could not avoid taking the DISTURBANCES IN THE METROPOLIS. present opportunity of declaring in the strongest On our re-adinissiou into the Gallery, we fopnd nteauer, that the danger now threatening the metro:' Mr. 'NES IMAN justifying the propriety of call. polls had arisen out of the imputation of motives in ing out the military under the command of the Civil which some Gentlemen opposite had so liberally its. Magistrate. The protection of the Executive Govern- dulged. meat was due to the Members of that House in the: The SPEAKER. here interposed, and considered discharge of their duties. ' the reflection of the Right Hon. Member as trans ' Lord CASTLEREAGH was convinced that the retying the hound of Parliamentary licence. sentiments expressed by the Hon. Member were in Mr. BARING rose to espial°, and was inter. unison with the feelings of every man in the House, rutted by and of every man out of the House, who felt the Mr. FITZGERALD, who conceived that if value of our Constitution. if the Members of that any farther couversation was to be allowed, time House were not protected in I the discharge of their and indulgence should be afforded to an unfinished functions, and were not at liberty to legislate calm-1 speech. ly and deliberately from the best views they could' Mr. TIERNEY thought hii lion. Friend (Mr. take of the subject before them, the Government : Baring) had a peculiar tight to be heard, after the was gone, the Parliament was gone, the Coustito. I point eqntained in the observations of the Right Hon. 1 tion and the Liberties of Englishmen were gone.— Gent. (Mr. Huskisson). [Loud checring..]-1f those infatuated people w h o; The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER and _ . 1 h - • _,• , - • ting ball, or of a small pist o l, was the signal given And disturbed the peace of the metropolis could be. ; Mr. FITZGERAtirePoire te order. for the shower of etoues." liere that the Members of the Ilouse were so lost to I The SPEAKER observed that he had interrupted • .• 7 all sense of duty as to be overawed or . influenced in I Mr. Hoskisson, because he apprehended he was ex- The assailants having given this proof of their their decisions by those tumultuous proceedings, or 1 peeling the usual limits of debate • but in the present , re g ard for the poiitics of the Herald, next pro that those disgraceful riots could make them either re. !mate of the question, the most desirable course to ceeded, shouting and Mr. . Tooth kluging, to the house of nounce or relax in what they thought to be right, they ; be pursued was, perhaps, for Mr. •Huskisson to cop - ins, in Serie-street, Linc..dn's Inn-fields, little knew the character of British Representatives. ! dope, and Mr. Baring to answer folly. s Inn-sqoare, and demolished the Witeilithis Idcis Lin.;. where they broke several panes of glass ; they next They could effect nothing by their violence, but to Mr. HUSKISSON would not depart from his pre- demolished the house of Mr. Serjeant Bests bring disgrace and ruin upon themse ives, and cause aapressed opinion, that there was no foundation coliti some confusion in the country. While he, however, 1 whatever for the present sterns, except in the aniseed: frents pulled u p the irons rulings , and theew them coincided with the sentiments expressed by the Hon. I , Versions made in that House. into the area, together with the stone wept at the Gent. Gent. (Mr. Western) he did not think it right to take i Mr. BARING—" Permit me, Sir, to tell the door ; they Also broke some wind o ws at th e h ou se an aggerated view of those disturbances. Although 'Right Hon. Gentleman, that I have discharged my of Mr. Peacock, in the same square, but being lira! many thousands of people might be collected in the dusty in this Houle, as conschmtiously, and as much upon from the inside with blank cartridge,' they west streets, yet a very few wicked persons going about ,in concurrence with the dictates of my judgment, 'as off towards Bedford-square, hennaing 'end h u zzaiegi from street to street might be sufficient to do all the : he sir any other Right Hon. Gentlemen who new , as they _ne wen t , out the .private house of Mr. H. Meov i along.' Their 'inject here, it appea r edi . mischief. We were not to suppose that we lived in a • hairs me; and, therefore, when he or his friends ; was to fi n d great snetropolis,where the majority of the population i 'peeked' persons insulting the Membersof that House, . No. 28 being pointed oat, they proceeded. to break , had so forgotten their allegiance and the character of , aod:cessasitting every species of atrocity, and I of- the windows, but seeing bills for the house t o let, their coontry, as to participate in or u they were for some time at a loss to fi n d ou t the tealnction' those ; terwards see him get up, and by implication attribute disgraceful and wicked proceedings. Those who ; these menses to any thing said by me, 1 feel it-due object, when a party of cohstables and several li g ht ' . were disposed to turbulence and riot should know , to myself and to the House, to' repel the Wanda, liorgenten appeared, rind tetally 'dispersed' themo that the Executive Government wad vigilant, al..' trios. [Hear, hear!]- 4 dadt► that any thing I haste. ' A small party also of the populace Made a slight though it was merciful. It would be false mercy, t, said could have such an effect—l did nothing mare , attack upon LordCestlereagh's house, 'iii Ss. James's. however, to allow those shameful proceedings to than make a fair and honest atatament of my senti. ' square, bat they bad only broken a few window* go to any greater length. As to the conduct of the , meats. When the Kt. Hon , Getit• and his friends when the cavalry arrived,.aud they dispersed. They police, it could be hardly expected that they were so ; tell us, that we are not to be awed by popilar next prqceeded te-Mr. Ponsouby's house, In Cur. well premed on the first of those riots as they are I clamour of any description, was this to. be ; dad-street, Mayfair, witle.fiieir numbers increasing at present. The House and the - country, however, I applied only . to. the. supporters of the BIIU lon their way.-00 their ifirral it Mr. Ponsonby's,. might be well moored, that the Executive Govern. I —Am 1, and others, to be awed from declaring.iaat 1 , they presented a very formidable force. They Ina meet would stand by the' Legislative, the laws, and opinions, because a rabble are at the doors of the I sandy commenced a furious attack upon the Iloose l i.` liberties of the coontry.—(Loud cheering.] Rouse, and Ike Magistrates have not done their duti ; demolished the windows,•and broke the iron palisade Mr. WHITBREAD said,.that every man mutt to disppne them ?-[,Hear, hear !]-I say, in my 'Jo front. During this, some firing took place, bu allow, that the proceedings of Parliament should not opinion, there wasno dinger.—[Heer, liew!).4 ‘v, have not heard that any person was hurt. ie., in any degreelbe influenced by the menaces of Older& think there was noise—mine that ought to have pre:. few minutes the cavalry Made their appearance, end In fact, such proceeding" could have no effect upon cipitated the passing of the Corn Bill—none to rel. I thd populace, according to their usual custom, im.i their decision, except it was an effect prejudicial to vent this House from proceeding in its regular and; mediately'dispersed in various directions. They had the wishes of those persons. He really beffeied that dignified course on the subject.—[Hear, hear!],--1 with thebs a sort of born, which was occeolonany they had induced tOme•Gentlenien to vote in hither; That was all that I said err Maintained.—[Cribof . blown,and makes a dismal sound. It was sup. potted .to be for the purpose of manceuvring their of the measure , that would otherwise not bate voted. j No t '' oil—After all the ftetillrielch have been stated In the glut of dispersion they frequently shout- He approved of what the Noble Lord had said aboet ito the House--after all the eastrationt of riot and' Wet. 0 4 a , Fop_ i _, .....pw„ii l w• with the Corn Bill—down with lenity and forbearance, but he mild not believe bet ' disturbance—there was net, unary mind,. any that there was negligence in some quarter or another, ) circeimstance that ought to hage induced the Multi ihr. ' 47P+Hgatirr'. which had allowed the tumult to proceed to such ato recede a single line. from its erdinary course.- 7 - . 1 " . Ski' •not 'heard of any further occorrences length. Hi thought itevident that some persons who kr, keerl3—iThe Right Honourable Gentlentioi Werthy'ef'smentiod attending the steps of the roam onght to have taken timely measure. to prevent those • ..iwa manlier, ehargelme with imputing.irepro s ttimseseblegett hist night, , but a variety of partici. excesses, must hive failed in their duty.' It was to; per motives to those who have supported the Bill.— n 'files proceedings of former evenings w ill be the Secretary of State for the Home Depa r tment ; If, Sir, this were the case, he' ought to, hese stopped ' feeeddothe Polies futelligenze, which will befouud that the Hone and the' conetet rithetipally looked me at the moment wheat often* Winn the Wert istilit(loo4lll4'9l our -1411Nr. . 1''.7%. , _10.1.;: . • ; 3 / 4 1 I