The Sun. — London, England, 1846-01-28 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENINCir, JANUARY 28, 1846. IMP L PARLIAMENT. I hope this will not be rendered necessary, either on account of any measures I may have to propose, or you may have to adopt; above all, I hope that the confidently expressed opinion of her Majesty, that this great subject will receive the deliberate and dispassionate consideration of the House of Commons, may be realised. I have already said, in reply to a question put by an Hen. Gentleman, that I do not contemplate asking the House of Commons to pronounce to-night any opinion upon the entire, or a component, part of the measures to be submitted for your consideration; but that, on the contrary, it is the wish of the Government the questions shall be dealt with by you in a calm and dispassionate manner. — (Hear, hear.) It may be possible, that as I am about to propose so many reductions, some Hon. Gentleman may denounce me as rash and improvident, and de clare that my measures ought on that account to be rejected by this House. If such should be the prevailing impression among those who are favourable to protec tion, nothing can be more easy than that, on the day when they are called upon to consider those great and momentous questions, I should be permitted to ask toe House to put upon record a counter principle.— (Cheers.) My motion will be some such resolution as this ; not that any protection on any particular branch of trade is advisable, but that there should be a comprehensive system of protection for all articles of domestic in dustry, believing, as I do, that it will be for the good of the country that our native in dustry should be protected.—(Hear, hear.) I think that that principle ought to be sanctioned.—(Hear, hear.) It may be, on the other hand, that the House and this country, considering the great difficulties of this question—considering the variety of opinions HOUSE OF'iORD— S, Tuesday, Jan, 27. Their. Lordships-Mit to-day at Five o'clock. The Duke of IIQMOND laid upon their Lord „ ships' table a Bill to prevent the sale of spirits at toll ' bars in Scotland. .:', , The Earl - of !UMW presented petitions from various V- g e ptjai4bVitavour of a total and immediate o 1 fAi Corn±. - 1 - aw s. E4rl of STRA.M.ROKE presented 37 petitions from places itil Suffolk favour of the present system of protection. The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions from Ross against any alteration in the corn-laws. He would take this opportunity of stating that a person of the name of Feargus O'Connor had asserted that he had received a proposal from him (the Duke of Richmond) to induce him to desert his pre sent principles, and advocate those entertained in favour of the corn-laws. Now he begged to say that he had never directly or indirectly had any communication with that individual, that he had never attempted to buy any body, and never would, because he believed that if men would take money to abandon a cause, they were not to be trusted. - Earl GREY presented a petition from Forress in favour of the repeal of the corn-laws. THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the re-ap pointment of the Committee with respect to the building of the new Howes of Parliament.—Ordered. RAILWAYS. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE wished to ask the Noble Earl at the head of the Board of Trade a ques tion with reference to the progress of railway Bills in that House. Ho understood that in the House of Commons a Committee had been moved for with respect to railways. Now he thought that a bad mode of pro ceeding, and one altogether unworthy of the Govern ment of the country, because it was in fact shifting the responsibility of the Government. The labours of the Committee of the Board of Trade last session had done little or no good, because instead of reducing the evil othe gambling system it had imcreased it.— (Hear, IMr.) Now, what he wanted to know was whe ther any distinction would be made with respect to Irish railways? If the Government were desirous of providing employment in Ireland they could not do so better than by aiding and expediting the completion of such works as Parliament should think it proper to sanction. He wished to know whether the appointment of the Committee would cause any delay in the intro duction of Irish railways? The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that the appointment of that Committee would not cause any delay either to the Irish or Scotch railways. He would not enter into the question now, as it was his intention, on Thursday next to bring the whole question before the House. The Noble Earl then gave notice that he should, on Thursday next, bring before their Lordships the whole question as to the manner in which that House would consider the different railway Bills that should come before It. On the motion of the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, re turns were ordered relative to the Dublin metropolitan police. —considering the nature of the contest, which has long existed, and which I fear will long continue, unless there be a satisfactory and early adjustment of this question—(Hear, hear) — it may be that even those who may dissent from par ticular parts of the great scheme which I am about to propose to the consideration of this House may be disposed to accept this proposal as an entire settlement of the question, and that the voice of the country may pronounce upon it as such. This were an unjust thing. An inequitable or unwise adjustment, it may be considered, would be preferable to the perpetual conflict in which we are in volved ; and if that be the position which the general opinion of the reasonable and intelligent of all classes shall take, in that case I shall have confidence of ultimate success. On the other hand, as I said before, if I touch so many interests by the application of that great principle, that protective duties are not in them selves abstractedly, and ought to be relinquished; in that case another fate will await my proposal, and the sooner it is disposed of the better will it be for the public good. Sir, that principle to which I have referred, namely, the relaxation of the protective duties, I am not about to apply to any one particular class of trade.—(Cheers.) I am not about to select that great interest connected with the agriculture of this country, and call upon them to relinquish protection, and at the same time forbear to call upon other interests to relinquish their privileges. I shall make no isolated proposal. The principle for which I shall contend is a just and a wise one—l shall ask all classes to give up their protective privileges—(Cheers)—and to make the sacrifice, if it be a sacrifice, which that application shall POOR (IRELAND). The Earl of CLANCARTY gave notice of his inten tion, on Thursday, the sth of February, to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the laws with respect to the destitute and sick poor in Ireland. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Tuesday, Jan. 27. The SPEAKER took the Chair precisely at Four o'clock. Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition for leave to in troduce a Bill for the Rochester, Canterbury, and Dover Railway. Petitions, numerously signed, were presented from the inhabitants of Tring , Coventry, Walsall, Salford, and Kettering, for the total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the towns people of Arbroath and Dundee for the immediate re peal of the corn-laws. At half-past four o'clock his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Earl of _Jersey, entered the and took his seat on the cross benches imme diately behind the Sergeant at-Arms. HONGKONG. Dr. BiWRING gave notice, that on Thursday, he should snore for a return of the expenditure of the co 'oily of Hong-Kong. ISLE OF MAN. Dr. BOWRIN't postponed his motion for corres pondenee, or extracts of correspondence, on the subject of the House of Keys, in the Isle of Man, till Thursday next. cause.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, the House is aware that during the last three years, what is called " the Customs' Duties Act" was amended ; at that time the Customs' duties were submitted to the feview and consideration of this House. In 1842 it was my duty, as the head of the Government, to propose a great change in the then Custom's duties. The general principle of the plan under which I then acted was to remit the duties upon arti- COLONIAL ACCOUNTS. Dr. BOWRING then moved that the resolutions of the last session on Colonial ao2ounts should be read by the Clerk at thy table and confirmed. The re-solutkus were then read at length by the Clerk, and agreed to. Mr. M. PHILLIPS presented a petition, signed by 52,579 inhabitants of Manchester, praying for the total, immediate, and unconditional repeal of the corn and provision laws: On the motion being put that the Speaker do leave the chair, Mr. MILES rose, and said he wished to ask the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Government a question before they resolved themselves into a Committee of the: whole House, and he was sure, f r om the well-known courtesy of the Right lion. Baronet, that he would answer his question if it was in his power to do so. He understood that the Hon. Baronet was now about to make his financial statement, and he wished to know whether it was his intention to take any vote that evening upon the Question? And if it was, he should be glad to know if the Right Hon. Baronet was prepared to press for the decision of the House upon his financial proposition before the ,country bad had time to express its opi nion upon it. He hoped that previous to their coming to any decision upon the question, time would be atlowed for duly and properly considering it in all its branches; but, at all events, whether the Right Hon. Baronet answered the question in the affirmative or the negative, he would afford ample time to the counties to state what their opinions might be upon it.—(Hear.) Sir R. PEEL—The statement which I shall make to night will be more a commercial than a financial statement, and, therefoue, I do not intend to take any money vote ;n the Committee of the whole House.—(Hear.) It is not my intention to ask the House to express an opinion to-night upon an' part toe he statement, because it is my earnest wish that the proposal I shall make should be maturely and deliberately considered by the House before they come to any decision upon it.—(Cheers.) For this there are sufficient reasons. I believe that the task which is imposed upon the is such that the House will be content to take a candid and indulgent consi deration of the position which I hold, and whatever run' be the opinion entertained, I have no doubt in ray own mind as to the result at which we shall arrive ; but I trust in the mean time that the matter will be dis sussed in et candid and impartial spirit. The SPEAKER —The subject for consideration is the alteration to be made in the corn-laws, and the altera tions- which have lately taken place.—[The Speaker then referred to the Queen's reply to the Address, part of which he read, and the whole of which has appeared in the columns of The Sun.]—The question now is that I have the Chair. The House then resolved itself into a general Com mittee, and Mr. Greene took the chair. THE PREMIER'S STATEMBNT. Sir ROBERT PEEL then rose and said—Sir, what ever opinion may be ultimately formed with regardart to the merits of the prop osal which I am about, On the p of her Majesty's Government, to submit this night to ;;: , e consideration of the House, I am convinced that the ex treme difficulty of the task which devolves upon me to perform, and a consideration of the magnitude and ex tent of the interests involved in the questions with which I have to deal, will insure for me from the House that patient and intelligent attention without which it would be wholly out of my power, either with satisfaction to Inyself or utility to the public interests, to discharge my duty.--(Hear, hear.) I am about, in pursuance of the recommendation contained in her Majesty's Speech, and evhich recommendations were advised by her responsible ser yants—l am about to review the duties which apply to many articles the produce and manufacture of other countries. I am about to proceed on the assumption adopted in the Speech from the throne, that the repeal of the prohibitory and the relaxation of protective duties AS in itself a wise course to be pursued—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," from the Opposition benches) —and I am abort to proceed upon the assumption that protective duties, abstractedly and in principle, are open to objection, and that the policy of maintaining them may be defended, but that there must be special congLerations, iither of public policy or of justice, t o vindicate th e i r ma i ntenance . am about to act *Von this assumption. During the period of the last three years there has been in this country r an increased production of notwithstanding t h a t there has been a remission evnu o e fm e, any hea r vy taxes — that there h as been an increased demand fo t labour— that r t h a t there has be en an increase of commerce , n t h e re has bee n increased comfort, happiness , and e tentment in this country.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) d o not say that these blessings have ne. ises.sarily been caused by any particular policy you have Adopted, but this I say, the enjoyment of them has covfirmed by your measures—that these blessings been have beert sanctioned by the House of Commons — the pro hibitory and reducing policy of repea lin g no t now, then, by praising pro t ec tive duties. I am that policy, about to call upon the House to secede from any cou rse that h a s been pursued >s course which has been sanctioned by e the HOMO of Commons, and which , as productivof public good, ought, with regard to consistency, to be persevered )Ti.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, I am a t the same time, in advising the continued application of these principles, not about to discard the other recommenda tions contained in her Majesty's Speech , namely, that tb a d o pti on of good principles should not be en t h e means of gering the public credit, or o f causing any permanent elanNeither,halvoess in the revenue of a le co:intry. I lost sight of the O other recomendation—namely, that in Proposing sound we should act with principis u •s • sober forbesr , ante, an,i not prejudice any great a t ititaju scheme before you draw inferences as to any part of it. I do not wish you to suspend your judg ment for a year. I merely desire that you refrain from forming conclusions till I continue the details of what I propose.—(llear, hear, and cheers.) I am the more anxious to call upon the manufacturers to relinquish these duties, because, according to high authority it was not the agriculturists but the manu facturers who first called upon the Legislature for the imposition of protective duties.—(Cheers.) I doubt not, therefore, but they will now come forward and set the first example in giving them up.—(Cheers.) Adam Smith, a great authority, says—" That farmers and gentlemen connnected with agriculture were, of all persons in the community, the least subject to the wretched spirit of monopoly."—(Great laughter and cheers.) He also said, " that it was not the agriculturists, but the manufacturers, who had first appealed for the protection of the restrictive system.—(Loud cheers.) They are always ready to call out against the restrictions on all other articles but that which pressed heaviest upon their countrymen. They may be said to be the original inventors of all monopoly."— (Laughter). Hon. Gentlemen may have cause for laughter, by the reading of this extract, but it is perfectly true. I propose that the duties on the coarser • articles of manufacture shall be materially reduced, and which will have a material effect on the manufacturing inte rests of this country, but not to the great injury of the manufacturing interests. I propose that the made up woollen goods shall also be reduced in duty to the same amount, namely, a reduction of from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) I stated the other night that flax was a very important and a staple article of our manufactures, and also that although there was no duty on that article, that its great import was not injurious to our growers of that article, and I believe that has not been contradicted. The duty on linen goods varies according to their quality; but the reduction of duties on those articles cannot be so injurious to our manufacturing interests as may at first be imagined, for I am of opinion that the improve ments made by our own workmen will always keep up the market in their favour. I now come to another very important article of our imports. I mean the silk trade.—(Hear.) Now, don't let us suppose:that the existing duty on silks operates as a protection to the domestic manufacture of that article.— (Hear.) You have a duty which you call 30 per cent., but which with respect to many articles is a great deal higher; and as a false reliaucc I. placed ou tins, ds v, its being a protection to domestic manufacture, I think it proper to state that there are many houses in Paris, and on the continent, which will guarantee to deliver goods in London at half the duty at present levied. — (Hear, hear.) It is therefore a mistake to imagine that the duty affords the protection which is stated. In the first place it appears that it is an encouragement to smuggling, as the article may be frequently purchased from those engaged in this traffic for a small sum, com pared with that which it will realise in the legitimate course of business. I conceive, therefore, that by a new arrangement with respect to the silk duties —in fact, that a reduction of these duties which are not interfering with any domestic manufacture, will, at the same time, diminish the profit of the smuggler, and encourage a lawful and wholesome trade.—(Hear, hear.) Now, the general impression is, that there is a duty of thirty per cent. on silk manufacture. I hold in my band an account of the duties upon the silk manu facture as at present levied ; and, although, in respect to some it may not exceed thirty per cent., and in others less than ten per cent., yet there are many articles comprised under this definition with respect to which the duty is much higher than this. In the case of crape the duty is not less than 40 or 50 per cent. ; on fancy silk the duty is not less than from 301. to 38/ per cent. ; on silk bonnets not less than 1451. per cent ; in the case of turbans it is at least as much. Does any man, therefore, believe foreign turbans, bonnets, and hats, pay a duty of 145 1 . per cent. It is no such thing. The article is in common use here, but its value is reduced by the common smuggler. Now I propose a new arrangement with respect to silk, but I must not now enter too much into details, as the whole of my statement will be subject to correction after it has appeared to-morrow morning. I now wish to introduce a new principal, based on a gene ral scale which shall enumerate each species of silk, and the amount per pound at which it will be ad mitted, with an option to the Custom-house officer to levy a sum on every quantity of silk of the value of 1001. a duty not exceeding fifteen per cent. The general principle, therefore, shall be a reduc tion of 15 per cent. on this article, which, heretofore, had been, at the lowest, 30 per cent. on such articles ; but in reality it was greater on some articles and less on others. There is another article of manufacture which I think may be fairly permitted to enter into com petition with the same article in this country, for I do think it would have the effect of stimulating that trade to greater industry and exertion ; I speak of the article of paper—(Hear)—that is paper hangings. At present there is a duty upon all foreign paper-hengings imported into this country of one shilling per square-yard ; and this applies to all descriptions of paper-hangings. Now, I believe it is possible for some descriptions of this article to be manufactured and sold at the rate of one farthiag the square yard. Of course the very fine descriptions, such as those with gold bordering; may still be liable to the duty of one shilling; but I do think that a shilling per square yard duty upon paper which can be made for one farthing per square yard is exorbitant, and therefore I propose to reduce that duty on certain de scriptions from one shilling to twopence the square yard, upon paper hangings coming from abroad.—(Hear, hear.) I now approach those de scriptions of manufactures which are connected with metals.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) It is impossible that I can go through its detail without entering into minute details, and therefore I do hope that the House will hear me with patience.—(Hear, hear.) We have already reduced the duty upon foreign ores ; and I do think that if there be any articles of manufacture in this country which more than another, can bear competition it is that description connected with metals. The manu facture of metals (I do not mean to particularise them), are now chargeable with a duty of 15 per cent. I pro pose with regard to them, and I include all descriptions, which I do not now mention; but I say, as a general rule, that this duty shall not exceed 10 per cent.— That is the maximum duty which I now propose on those articles, without enumerating them. I have made an exception with regard to paper-hangings, for the reason I have already stated ; but the duty of ten per cent. on metals shall be without any exception. With regard to the duty of 10 per cent. on all such ' manufactures as umber -lead, and also hardware and other articles, such duty can be considerably reduced; as also on all manufactures of hair. At present there is a duty of 20 per cent. on the import of foreign carriages, which I propose to reduce. That will be giving an im mense advantage to the consumers of this country, as no article is so very dear as a carriage and equipment. —(Hear, hear.) Look at the carriages made in Brussels, and also in Edinburgh. The price there is considerably below the London price, and I see no reason why foreign carriages should be subjected to a duty of 20 per cent.; and I propose therefore to encourage a wholesome competition in this country by permitting foreign carriages to come in at a duty of 10 per cent. There is also another manufacture in respect of which I propose a considerable reduction— I propose to reduce the duty on canvas. As I have reduced the duty on spermaceti, I this night propose a reduction of the duty on candles to about one half ; and I also propose a reduction of the duty on foreign soap to one-half. In the case of hard soap, now subjected to a duty of 305., it shall be reduced to 205., and in the case of soft soap, now subjected to a duty of 205., it shall be reduced to 14s. There are a great many articles besides on which the duty is so slight that I propose to remit them alto gether.—(Hear, hear.) In 1242 the tariff which I pro posed contained the names of nearly 1,100 articles. Those names still remain on the tariff, because it is con venient to the Custom-house officers to run their eyes down the alphabetical list to see what articles are free from duty, but in the case of more than 500 of them, the duty will be either reduced or omitted. These articles I have no objection to state to the House, should it require it.—(Cries of" No, no.") Well, then, [ will proceed to the other proposal I have to make. There are still some manufactured articles on which I deem it advisable to reduce the duty to 10 per cent. Respecting the article of gloves already a great reduction has taken place. I now come to an important article of consumption, namely, that of boots and shoes, on the raw material of which I propose to reduce the duty.—(Hear, hear.) On a former occasion an altera tion was made is the duty on the material which en tered into the composition of these articles, but the duty on raw bides was still retained. I now propose that raw hides shall enter duty free.—(Hear, hear.) When the tariff was formerly altered, I retained the duty on all articles that were imported for the purposes of tanning, but now I propose to remit the duty altogether. There is one article to which I will refer which does not take the character of raw material, but which is of the greatest importance to the working classes—l mean the article of dressed hides. As this article extends largely into boots and shoes, and is of great importance to the people, I propose to take the duty altogether off dressed hides. Having explained what I mean to do with this article. I will now proceed to state what amount of duty I mean to propose on articles made up of these dressed hides, to which I have re ferred. I intend to diminish the duty on foreign boots and shoes, a step which I am persuaded will be a great benefit. Having taken the duty off the raw material, I propose reducing the duty on small boot and shce-fronts, from three shillings and sixpenc to ls. 9d. per dozen; on large boot fronts from ss. 6d. to 2s. 9d. per dozen; on boots from 11. Bs. to 14s, peedoleni . on shoes from 14s. to 7s. per dozen; other articles or this kind to be reduced in the same proportion. There is another reduction I mean to propose, which was omitted in 1842, but which 1 regret was not then car ried into effect, I mean the duty op the apticle pf straw plait. On this article I propose that the duty shall be reduced from 7s. fid to 4s. i and on straw hats, from Bs. 6d. to ss. per do yen. I ornittgfl to state that there is another article con nected with the silk Maragacture that I propose to reduce the duty on—l mean the article of dyed thrown a sil t k il . l, I hope I am convincing the House believe I di h s a p e se gr d eeezdn to act fairly and impartially in re spectt4ell u er c aapplication generally l‘l yiti4ts o t; f 7dl es. those :y ie al haveor tt clothing, g t duties.—(Cheers.) whiche showns . — a n ( dy C oc h ua e t n e hl r ho sbsa. be called an article of manufaoture, 43 tie word T a iit nu t f e4 ac ci ture o is tbi ni o genertlly in use as arti tt e 4 les em o ? gumption, ap,qi - tke 1 -10 1 : .? wir, 1 ft to ePo t e h nr e -- ce t yv o a t I bis,ve _Key qric i y 1 general iir!!icil4o .il " I P 4 - CT li WAS' ep= ...... m,-... „ , ,........ ii, ji ,:,,, . ' - des and raw material constituting the element of manufac turing industry. The plan then submitted to the House was to subject the general manufacturing articles of labour in other countries to duties not exceeding 201. per cent. The House adopted the principle upon which he had acted in 1842. In that year he selected a number of the raw articles for the remission of the duty. In 1844 we reduced altogether the duty upon wool. In the year 1845 we reduced alto gether the duty upon cotton. There is hardly a raw material remaining for import into this country upon which the duty has not been either entirely abolished, or considerably diminished. The manufacturers of the country, therefore, now have an advantage which they did not possess hitherto. They have free access to the raw n.aterial which constitutes the fabric of their articles of manufacture, and I consider that I am therefore entitled to call upon the manufacturers to relinquish that amount of protection which they now have.—(Hear, hear.) The manufacturer has now an advantage which he has not had before. There might have been great doubt as to whether you might have continued to derive the same amount of revenue from the importation of cotton wool which existed in 1844. But the House disregarded the amount of 600,0001. or 700,0001. of revenue derived from such a source. They wished to establish the stability of the manufacture of articles from sheep and cotton wool, and to place it upon a sure and certain foundation. They were willing, therefore, and consented, to forego this amount, so easily levied, and which caused so little complaint from the great body of the people. In order to remove this duty, not only upon sheep, but also upon cotton wool, this House submitted itself to the imposition of the income-tax, in consideration of the removal of the duties upon these raw materials. I propose, Sir, in reviewing those articles upon which there at present exist duties, I propose to take first those articles of raw material which still remain subject to a duty ; and in dealing with these articles, I beg to call upon the manufacturers to relinquish that amount of duty which they now pos sess. Sir, I hardly know any articles of the nature of raw materials subject to duty except tallow and timber.—(Laughter.) Tallow is an article of very great importance to the community, and the people at large, it being used in the manufacture of soap, candles, and also for the purpose of dressing leather. I propose to make a reduction in this article from the amount of duty now levied. With respect to the duty on tallow from the United States, the duty on which was 3s. 2d., I will, purely for the purpose of encouraging that produce, which was now chiefly procured from Russia, propose a re laxation in that duty, with the hope that it would ulti mately procure a reciprocal reduction on their part with respect to the produce of this country. I will, therefore, for that purpose, propose to reduce the duty on tallow, which now is 3s. 2d. to Is. Bd. I am taking the articles of raw material first, and shall now come to timber, the produce of our own colonies. timber is the only article which I cannot definitely give an explanation of, as the reduction which I am dis posed to make must depend on the manner in which I am m( t by other :states on that article. The course Iher ;:_liesty's Government intends to pursue will be a gra d:yfl reduction, to a certain sum, of the existing duties on timber. — (Hea r, hear. ) The reduction will be app;rtioned, if possible, so as to cause no derangement of the duties on timber from the Baltic. But at a very ea rl y p eriod it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to make known their ar rangements with respect to timber, on which it was difficult to get that information which was necessary. And now, after having made all these reductions, I hardly know a single raw material which has a protec tive duty imposed upon it. After having taken this course after having afforded the manufac turer every facility—after having given him a free command of the raw material—l will call on the manufacturers of the three great articles which enter into the consumption of the great body of the people, I will ask them to give that proof, which I am sure they will—(llear, hear)—of the sincerity of their convictions as to the impolicy of protection, .by consenting to relinquish the protection on corn.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheering from the Opposition benches.) The three branches of manufacture of which I speak are those which give clothes to the great body of the people—l mean those of linen, woollen, and cotton. I will ask them to set the example to others by relinquish ing at once, cheerfully, the protection on eorn.—(Hear, Lear.) My Honourable Friend the Member for Dorsetshire (Lord Ashley)—and I call ,bim my Honourable Friend, for it shall not be my fault if these unfortunate political diarem es interfere with private friLndship and regard—l will call him et once my Hon. Friend—expressed a hope, being jealous of au ex pression which occurred in heeMajesty's Speech, that the small interests of the country should nut 4p visited injuri ously:l will tali him that those interests will meet with the especial care of the Government, I do not purpose in this review of th e t ar iff to subject myself to the impu tation of eoneealing my int en ti o . I declare it now, that I mean to effect great interests and H p cz o u i t b , i e these vrin 1 4 sma ll will, such il, protect, as much as interests alluded . to. My therefore be gratified in his expectation.—(lieef. hea r. ) I shall propose, with regard to cotton manufacturd goods, including the great mass of heavy goods, as calicoes, prints, &c., to make an alteration, Manu factured goods were pow subject to a duty of 10 per cent. TheSe I propose to ga*ko duty free ; and those articles which are c harged '*o per ,cent., I propost A . enr, hear, w a great atendreehdeuecresoto ThelO paerraccl eesnt.:(hichilcesonslittite measure the clothing materials of the great bulk ®f and f the people I propose to make duty free.—(Loud cheers interruption.) Allow me to state the whole of my ning. I shall call your attention now to another article of great importance, which, although it may be included among manufactures, yet, in com mon parlance, does not come within the denomination of m mucacture. It is an article on which reduction seems at the present time to be peculiarly required. I propose to reduce the duty on brandy, and other foreign spirits. (Great cheering.) The present duty upon brandy is not less than 225. 10d. per gallon, and this high duty has, I believe, prevented any increase in the importation of the article.—(Hear.) At the present moment, I think the con sumption of foreign brandy is not so great—certainly not greater than it was at the latter end of the 17th century.— (Hear.) This, I repeat, is mainly attributable to the fact of the present high duty. There is no article in respect to which smuggling so much prevails as in the article of foreign spirits. A diminution of the duty is not, there fore, less protective to the home manufacture than if the high duty were continued. The reduced duty, I have every reason to believe, will have the effect of converting an unlawful into a lawful traffic, by the increased demand for the article consequent upon that reduction. I propose, therefore, that the present duty on brandy and foreign spirits shall be reduced from 225. 101. to 15s. per gallon. Sir, there remains but one article to which I will revert, in respect to which an arrangement was made as late as the last year, but which I now intend to reduce Full further—l mean the reduction of the protective duties on sugar.—(lmmense cheering.) It is quite impossible, in respect to this article, consider ing that prolonged discussions will take place concerning it, it is quite impossible that I can enter i nto the details of the arrangement which I shall propose. I submit to the House, on the prese.it occasion, the inten tion of her Majesty's Government, avoiding any details. I am very much afraid that the proposal I have to make will not at all meet with the approbation and the concurrence of those who raised those cheers at the mention of the article sugar. I may, however, generally state, on the present occasion, tke proposal which her Majesty's Government have undertaken to make. Now, in the last year I estimated the pro bable amount of increased consumption of sugar, in con sequence of the reduction in the duty, at not less than 50,000 tons a year. Up to the last return, the increase in the consumption had already reached 38,000 tons, and whether or no during the remaining period my estimate has been borne out, I cannot undertake to say, as it would be exceedingly difficult to calcutate, unless I had the total amount of increase up to the present time. Still there cannot be a doubt that there will be a very considerable increase in the consumption of sugar. The amount of free-labour sugar brought into competi tion with British colonial sugar has not equalled my ex pectations. 1 calculated that the amount of free-labour sugar would be 25,000 tons. The amount which has been actually brought into home consumption has fallen very short of that, but I believe that this may be accounted for by the failure in the crop at Cuba, and by the increased consumption in other parts of Eu rope. This, of course, caused a deficient supply to this country from those parts of the world in which free labour is employed. Although this will in agrrat measure account for the reduced supply, yet I am bound to say that I think the British Colonial sugar can bear in creased competition with foreign sugar, the pro duce of free labour. I am not prepared to make any relaxation in our principles with respect to the admission of sugar the produce of countries carrying on the slave-trade. We shall adhere to those principles but with respect to sugar, the pro duce of free labour, while the consumption of that sugar is so limited, and her Majesty's Government have not thought it right to exempt that sugar from the operation of the general principles which I have stated. We pro pose, therefore—assuming that the population is to use foreign sugar the produce of free labour—we propose to deduct 3s. 6d. from the amount of the present dif ferential duty. In the case of muscovado sugar the amount of differential duty is, I think, 9s. 4d., and in the case 1" of clayed sugar, the amount of the differential duty is 1 ls. Bd. We propose to deduct from the amount of differential duty on each descrip tion 3s. Gd., leaving the amount of differential duty in favour of British colonial sugar, competing with sugar the produce of free labour, ss. 10d. ; and in the case of the finer sugars, clayed, the diffe rential duty will be reduced from I Is. Bd. to Bs. Now I come to those import duties which have a decided influence on agriculture. I would not only say those which have an immediate effect, but those which are con nected with agriculture.—(Great cheering.) I think that I am perfectly justified in alluding to their interests, and in considering those who are intimately affected by it ; for there are great properties which are concerned in the matter, and of which the best judges are desirous of obtaining a definite result. I would allude then to the article of tobacco, an article which, although it may be considered as a matter of luxury by the higher classes is felt to be a necessity by the poor. In making this allusion, however, I do not expect that, because it is an expensive article, it should be left out of the account.—(Hear, hear.) But in making these re marks, I do hope that the House will not leave out of their calculation the consideration of revenue.— (Cheers.) We must not forget that we 'ought not to dc press the revenue of the country, for upon that depends all our means of doing any good to the public, and the opportunity of reducing the impositions upon those commodities which are absolutely needed by the people. I, therefore, propose that all those duties should be reduced as far as possible, but yet it should be recollected that a revenue must he raised, not for the purpose of hostile aggression, but fur the sake of national defence. I would, therefore, propose that a revenue should be raised fur the object of national defence. You must, therefore, keep that consideration in mind, and believe that, while I am proposing this reduction of the import duties that I am not at all unmindful of the necessities which exist in consequence of the obligations into which the agriculturist has entered; for I re collect that there are certain duties which cannot be obviated. It is our business to provide for them. I am aware that some of the duties imposed upon agricultural produce are extremely high ; and as my object is to relieve that interest from as many of its burdens as I can, I would attempt a reduction similar to that which I proposed on manu factures during the last session. Now, the duty on grass seeds can affect nobody, while its remission may be of service to the country. I propose to reduce that duty. In the year 1842, it produced 144,000/. By the remission of the duty the country will be largely served, whilst no injury will affect the revenue. I believe that the producers of clover in this country look upon the duty levied upon the im portation of clover seed rather as a heavy tax upon themselves than as a protection.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the removal of the duties imposed on agricultural seeds generally, then, it will not be so much a removal of protection, as conferring a benefit on agriculture ; and I intend so to reduce the duty on seeds as to make it less than nominal.—(Hear, hear.) It was reduced one-half in 1842, and it subsequently underwent a still further reduction, and I now intend to simplify the duty imposed on seeds in the same way that I have pro posed to simplify the duty on articles of manufacture. The uniform duty on munufactures I have fixed at 10 per cent., and I propose that the duties on seeds shall not exceed ss. per cwt.; hitherto in some cases, such fur instance as onion seed, the duty has not been less than 125. per cwt.; but now with respect to all seeds I propose that the maximum duty shall be ss. per cwt. I have already spoken of some other articles, which aro of the utmost importance to agriculture, namely those used for the fattening of cattle. I believe it is impossible to over-estimate the importance of pro moting the fattening of cattle, because it tends to advance an improved system of agriculture.—(Hear, hear.) It has tended to restore the fertility of many soils more, I believe, than any of the artificial means which are sometimes resorted to, and, I am sure the House will see that any measure which will promote the fattening of cattle must prove highly beneficial to the country.—(Hear, hear.) I believe there is nu manure so valuable as that which is directly derivable from the soil itself, and nothing, I am con vinced of it, will lead more to the improvement of agriculture than by encouraging the fat tening of cattle on the land itself, and thus promoting the acquisition of manure for e.gricul teral purposes.—(Hear, hear.) I propose, therefore, that the article of grains, which I believe would be much employed for the fattening of cattle, shall be here after imported duty free. There is another article which might be applied with great advantage to the fattening of cattle—namely, Indian corn—which I als9 propose shall be introduced duty free.—(Cheers.) By removing the duty upon grain I do not consider that I am de- priving agriculture of protection, but rather conferring a benefit upon it.—(Hear, hear.) Maize is an article that is much used abroad for human food, and I believe its utility for this purpose has been much disregarded in Europe, and in no place more so than in this country. It is used, if I am not mist , ken, for human food in Italy, America, and many parts of France, and look • ing at its utility for the fattening of cattle, I think, with respect to this article also, I am conferring a benefit on, rather than impeding the progress of, agriculture in this country, by removing the restrictions imposed on its i m portation.—(Cheers.) I also propose that an article called buck-wheat should be subject to the same rule ; that is, that it be admitted at a mere nominal duty. I propose that the meal or flour should be admitted on an equal footing with Indian corn. If any gentleman will ascertain the very large sums paid annually by the best farmers through out Great Britain in the purchase of linseed cake and rape, be will agree with me that an increased facility for the ad m i ss i on of articles that can be used for the fattening of ca ttl e w ill be of no disservice.—(Hear, hear.) The d eman d f o r the articles I have last named is very con s id era bl e , and the consumptio n b y some farmers being very great, if I am informed correctly, the chief object upon some famine is to provide an ade quate quantity of manure for the purpose of improving the soil. The prices of linseed and rape-cake has been gradually rising of late years. In the y e ar frm 184 to 3, linseed eake frpm to 10/ ; in 1 8 4 4, 11/, 121. ; and in 1846, from 121. to 15!. Thp PriPe of raPe" cake was in 1843, 41. ss. ; in 1844, 41. 10s. to 51. 10s. ; and in January, 1846, the price rose to 61. I hold now in my hand a letter from a merchan t, a resident of the l.fnite4 Seges t who reporpipendg that there should be free importation pf all the articles ustid t1:11 1 4en COUP lie recommended e§pecially for the phrpop an article t erme d rice-meal. Wow surely a chi supply o f t h at ar ticle is very desirable. It is the r e Loa of rice ground up, and is much less costly than pil e cake or the other descriptions of artificial food now used by farmers, and therefore, is admirably fitted for the feeding of cattle. The admission of such an article would, in my opinion, be so far fro m a disservice, Q. r.sitrarp advantage.--(Hear, hear. ) I come now Sir; to' the consid'eration':of those arti cles 'immediately connected with the food of the Biggar,people.— .htear, and cheers from all parts of the House.) et,innceroo-f ducin this question I anticipate the greatest difference nte delay are 4 no • qualification, ' ancl I !lave al s o t ? Te et ,4. ,•,, ••• • Ppini.on.—(}year, hear.) I have those to meet who r want those who insist upon it that there shall be no relaxa tion of, or reduction in, the present amount of protection. —(Heer, hear.) Sir, my object will be, if possible, to make some adjustment of this important question. I know that nobody will approve of my plan— (Great laughter)—but our desire is, without favour or undue partiallity towards any class, to suggest that which we believe to be just, and calculated to ter minated that conflict the continuance of which might be fatal to the country.--(Hear, hear.) Ido trust that by the plan which I have proposed the jealousy and dis sension between the different classes of her Majesty's subjects may be removed without any injury to any par ticular class, and thus, it is to be hoped, that we shall promote the general interest of the countr y . I consider that it is for the public a dvanta g e that this subject should meet with a final settlement.—(Cheers.) I am not about to propose an immediate repeal of the duties which are imposed upon corn. What I have to propose is an earnest of the principle upon which I shall act. lam induced to propose an immediate reduction upon many articles of primary importance, and which constituted a principle portion of the food of the people ; but I must state this in respect to the plan which I shall propose, that there shall be an immediate reduction of the duties on those articles on which I do not propose an immediate and total repeal. I propose that the duties—speaking of the articles of consumption—l propose to take that extensive review of the articles included in the tariff relating to the articles constituting the food of the country. I propose to make a reduction —an immediate re. uctien—upon the duties of the whole of there. I propose, on the part of her Majesty's Government, that the duties should be immediately reduced upon butter from 1/. to 10s. per cwt.; upon cheese from 10s. per cwt. to 55. per cwt.; and upon hops from 4/. 10s. to 21. ss. I will now mention the articles of agricultural produce upon which I propose an immediate repeal. With respect, then, to those articles of general consump tion, upon which the reduction will be total and imme diate, I propose to abolish entirely the duties upon bacon, also upon fresh beef and salted beef, upon salt pork and fresh pork, and all other arti cles of animal food enumerated in the last tariff—these I propose to be admitted duty free. With reference to potatoes and other articles enumerated under the head of vegetables, and which form articles of general con sumption, I propose that the whole of the duties shall be totally and immediately repealed. Everything, then, in cluded under the heads of vegetable and animal food will be admitted duty free. In thus acting, observe that I have dealt equally with the agricultural and the manu facturing interests. To the agricultural interest I give increased facilities, by removing the duties now levied on seeds and other articles. The reduction in bacon, butter, and other articles of food, will also benefit the manufacturers. I believe that the growing and increasing skill of the country, and the stimulus that will be afforded them by competition, will give them an increased advantage over foreign countries. Then, having removed the dunes from all articles of food, I propose also to remove at once all the duties upon the importation of cattle.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) In short, I propose that all cattle imported into this country shall be admitted duty free.—(Hear, hear.) There is no necessity for mentioning the amount of duties now levied upon cattle, still less occasion have I to mention the several amounts o duties upon other animals mentioned in the late tariff. I will now propose the reduction of all duty on cattle. both lean and fat. The increased facility for getting the lean cattle will, I hope, be some :compensation to the agriculturists for doing away with the duty on all animals.—(Laughter.) Those who may be disposed to find fault with this measure, will, I hope, bear in mind that I have proposed, the removal of protective duties from some of the great articles of manufacture. But I call on the manufacturers to show the first ex ample. I now come to the proposal which I intend to make with respect to corn.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) We propo-e at once to remove the duties upon all ani mals enumerated in the tariff ; and I propose, Sir, as a proof of an adherence to these principles, that the duties upon animal and vegetable food, and also upon cattle and other animals, shall at once cease. I do not propose an immediate repeal of the duty on thst article, but to come to a gradual repeal, in order to give time for the adjustment of agricultural interests. I think it would be out of my power to sug gest any modification of the existing corn-laws, which would meet with the approbation of the country, and I will not, in consequence, propose such a measure. Some persons have complained of the manner in which the duty upon foreign cattle is now levied, these duties will now be entirely abolished.—(Hear, hear.) I propose that a very considerable reduction should be made on corn, and that the reduction shall be limited to a period of three years.—(Loud cheers from the Opposi tion benches.) My measure shall contain a provision that at that period of the year, namely on the Ist of February, 1849, oats, barley, and wheat, shall be subject to a nominal rate of duty, which I have already proposed to affix to Indian corn.—(Hear, hear.) My impression as to the policy of providing immediate relief for a great portion of the people remains un changed. I cannot admit--and I sincerely regret it— but I cannot admit that I take an erroneous estimate of the pressure for relief which, before the arrival of the next harvest, may arise. I think, not only looking at the prospects of the next spring, but looking at the consequences of the deficiency in Ireland, that it is of the greatest importance, as far as legislation can take pre caution against the suffering, which it was painful to consider might prevail. Indeed, I wish it were possible to take advantage of these unhappy circumstances, and extract benefit from them, namely, by introducing in Ireland a taste for a higher description of food. The potato, in which there was such a deficiency and disease, is the food of millions of our fellow countrymen. We have, then, to consider what provision is to be made ; for we cannot make an immediate change in the tastes of the people. I propose to make such a reduction on the present duties as shall realize a great part of the advantages which would attend the opening of the ports. I pro pose that there should be a great reduction in the amount, and that amount so reduced should continue for a limited period, and afterwards be changed into a merely nominal duty. My colleagues and myself have addressed our selves to the subject with the greatest diligence and im partiality, and the result of that has been the law which we now propose to meet the present exigencies and great wants of the country. According to the present law, the rate of duty upon other de scriptions of grain has been regulated by the rate of duty on wheat. Now, with regard to barley, oats, peas, and other inferior grains, we propose that there shall be a reduction in the same ratio—a reduction of a corre sponding amount with the principle now stated. I pro pose, from the passing of this Act, that all colonial wheat shall be admitted at a merely nominal duty.—(Hear, hear, and cheers) I also propose that the duties on meal, the produce of the colonies, shall be removed.— (Cheers.) I can see no reason why they should be any longer retained. Thus, I offer to those who insist on the immediate and unconditional repeal of these laws— I offer the immediate admission, free of duty, of all kinds of colonial grain. —(Hear, hear, and cheers.) I propose to admit, as I said before, maize from the United States, duty free. Well, then, we now propose the following duties up to the Ist of February, 1849. That from the colonial possessions all corn shall be imported duty free. That from all foreign countries, that when corn shall be under 48s. there shall be a duty of 105.; above 495., it shall be 9s. ; and when at 505., 7s. ; at 515., 6s. • when at 525. and at 535., se. ; and when it shall exceed 545., it shall be at an invariable duty of 4s. With respect to wheat there shall be a duty of 4s. I think that after having laid before the House the general rates of duty, it will be better that I should not go more into the details as they will all appear in the morning in the printed papers. As I said before, there shall be a duty of 4s. on foreign wheat from the present date. This, then, is our proposition. We propose to accompany that arrangement with other provisions, calculated—l will not say to give compensa tion—but calculated, in my firm belief, materially to advance the interests of that portion of the community which, after the lapse of three years, will be called upon to relinquish that protection which has, up to this time, been extended to them. I believe that this is a just arrangement, and that whilst it will promote the interests of other portions of the country it will also lead to their own advantage. I thank them for the way in which they have borne their burdens, and to the example which they have thus set to other portions of the community. lam obliged to them for the forbearance which they have exercised. I will now state what are the measures with which we propose to accompany this present reduction and ultimately an extension of the measures which I believe will be of great advantage to that portion of the public, with whose welfare the interests of the whole country are bound up—the farmers. I am perfectly aware that there are burdens which press heavily upon them, some of' which are, in my opinion, capable of alleviation—not by putting them on other articles, but by introducing a reform in the administration of the local measures of which they have reason to complain. But first let me take the existing arrangement with respect to one great source of ex penditure—the one great burden which is constantly and justly complained of by those engaged in agri cultural pursuits I mean the amount of rates levied in connection with highways. (Hear.) Well, now, is it not possible, without subjecting other parties to the expense of supporting the highways, to introduce an useful reform into that expenditure, by which they would experience a great relief ? I believe it to be possible, Why, what is the practice with re. speot to the highways of this country ? There are 16,000 different local authorities, each of which have the charge of roads. Now, each of these highways becom ing of great importance, as railways advanced, turnpike roads and high ways now of little importance, will become of considerable value and importance. But what can be f i o t r i is t t n i s office oe s w such which more defective than the system that places a highway, st e e n m tir o e f ma_ which is a continuous channel of consmunicatie p n a , ri a s n h d , which passes through different parishes under the con trql pf different parishes and different local trustees. The result is, as have said, tbat the total number of persons who:have the management of the highways i n this country is not less than 16,000. It is the prectice of these tru stees $o appoint a kurvpypt ia eac h who knows nothing whatever about the matter ni 4 hat asao s gsqu e r eue n molqi et i fuee f dtin t hrut h ee di tones ety o oacos ffi et bnes c vseme e ea r rrmyyo d f o.af i r d bt eatl h rrdhoi i eae s dgi ael regulating Indeed, dtn , dteg:ers fee et stillaltered, defective ve es management e sn yt posi gthriaetvawnhceicaht h is at r a e s gu it la i t s e y d eie b o y m a ry n t A h e at t of re e m n et t 'yr: highwaysi is voluntary 'union for the purpose_ by which sever:a wl p o t; 8 t a h n e e s e o:this A 9 l car rigid into effect.—(Hear, hear.) 4ienri4gnii being i t t lo h c e o a n s r ta e: is the very reason m wh ed y 3 :h th er ls e , is wh hardly propose will not, onli Lave tbe'effect Now, in order to re (!f. att#4in, e o reti e) to frotA t he Itiideri . which this system imposes on them, but I also propose a local one, my firm belief is that the landed interest to alter this power from a voluntary to a compulsory would not benefit b y that course. I am notthep rent one, in order that the parish authorities may be cone- therefore, to suggest any amendment to polled to practiee this superintendence which is now but p rin c i p le. But I have always certainly felt th r a i() tt ea h sr i n t d e ; voluntary; and if you agree to that you will then have was a fair claim for direct relief from some fll Ic p e only 600 authorities instead of 16,000.—(Hear, hear.) Some of these burdens would probabl I would propose to make the guardians of the unions and from those land should be relieved. a I cannot the parties upon whom it would be compulsory mention any compensation, but I believe vemen . to appoint a competent surveyor to discharge the duties lay a foundation for a great essential improvement c. u t rg uh to which I have alluded. With regard to the system of taking upon the Government some of those the voluntary union of parishes, I will first read a state- which now bear upon land. Some of those' charges t oa h ni a f t l aulin w dd- e : ment I hold in my hand of the results of a different mode were brought under the notice of the House by the Hon. of management adopted in a district of the north of Member for Somersetshire last year. I was then obliged about about 70 miles in extent. (The Right Hon. Baronet to admit that the relief that we should devise for say's then read the document, in which it was agricultural interest would be but small, but I d stated that by a different mode of management now, when you are about to deprive land ultimately of the expenses had been reduced very materially. In protection, that I think the circumstances are x changed'e, one instance where the charge upon the parish for the and that we may relieve the land to a greate t in n s f_. maintenance of highways was from 6d. to 9d. in You have the opportunity of ascertainiug how this Y e the pound, while many was completely thrown away, be effected, and I would only take the cases of felony, th they now had better roads, and the tax was expenses of which are always thrown upon the land, reduced to from is. 2d. to 3d- in the pound, and in other and perhaps a still greater illustration, the exp districts the reduction was from 3 d. to 4 d. in the pound.( which arise from the offences which are classed as I now come to deal with a law which has for a long d. meanours. By these m eans the char g es that hr;' ve, time been very justly complained of by the agricul - hitherto been borne by the land ou g ht to be reni,e State, turists. I mean the law of settlement. — (Hear , hear.) and that t h o se ex p enses should be borne by the St There is one law, of which the agriculturists cone - so as to render them equal l y imposed on all cla_ to l s i se t s. plain, and very justly, and that is the Poor-law settle- of the community. I think, therefore, that t he ment. In the time of prosperity ma n y o f the p eo p l e necessar y for this p ur p ose ou g ht to be provided by are employed in manufacturing towns, and a great country, and that some provision should be matte r f_, portion of a man's life is often consumed as a the removal of these difficulties; and I sincerely t ro u_ . '," manufacturing labourer. The whole of his character that no unnecessary discussion will ensue on these p u for good conduct and industry is derived from the town sions. Now, with respect to these circumstances,it o g u ; in which he works. A revulsion in trade takes place, not to be forgotten that there is a material difference and then what is the course adopted ? The man and between England and Ireland. In Irelanddthteh: his family are sent back to the rural dis- are the peculiar land terms. In En trict from which they came. The man who has matter is different. We have here our accustomed spent his life as a manufacturer returns to the rural terms; but in Ireland they have no such advan gf e districts, his usual eecupations are interrupted, and he In Ireland a material benefit would be obtained by i ,, . ministration to trade the advantages which is quite unfitted for his new occupation. He is trans ferred to a new home, and separated from his con- to be enjoyed by the agricultural interests. The b flexions, and of course his moral feeling is destroyed. fits to be enjoyed by that interest are ilt; I will therefore propose, for the purpose of re- to be taken from the advantages enjoyed by a ,', 00 lieving the land from such a burden, and in order country. But in Ireland there is a consider_ll,_ to do justice to the labouring man, that an industrial of public convenience as well as profit, and it s hould, u .. 1; are 1 . ry . residence in any parish for five years without the corn- observed, in order to come to a correct conclusion , . t s n .; mission of any offence, shall give to the individual a set- the whole of the community are affected by the decf l _ o tlemement, and the power of removing him shall be taken at which you will arrive. Now, the burden . u ts away. In the case of such a man after having land materially affect that decision, and I think tha devoted five years to labour, his claim for support shall expenses imposed, in consequence of this source not be on the place of his original settlement, but shall national inquiry , ought t o be b o rn e b y the State rather be on the place where the price of his labour and in- than by the landed interest, and that if ought dustry has been bestowed. — (Loud cheers.) In 1842 , it should be imposed ge n era ll y , it , when great distress prevailed in the manufacturing not to bear heavily on this part of , h , districts, the practice was that the manufacturers who United Kingdom. Now , if we take a fair v iew ol e . had settlements in the agricultural districts burdens , and of the advantages which land has to suer were at once returned to their original settle- or enjoy, I believe that the benefits will be foune4 went. What I now propose will be a great im- preponderate, and that the labourer will enjoy 41 _ provement, and, therefore, after the passing of profits which is likely to accrue to the State at large: this law, no person who has resided for more than and particularly to this portion of the United Kingde ss five years in any parish shall be removed I believe this wi l l be the means of placing the pt: fro that parish. No residence in prison—in au lunatic force directly under the entire control of the Gofeffe asylum—in hospital—or in any poor-house, or receiving meat , and prevent the possibility of all inter ference the relief, to be counted as part of the time, and neither shall local interest.—(Hear, hear.) It will make ke it be reckoned as an interruption to the time. Not only st stem of p olic e as p e r f ect as y o u ca n p ossibl y ma ul this extend to the man, but to his children, and to it, and exclude all power of local knowledge, o r .l ens the children of his wife—legitimate or illegitimate, under interference. I p r opose , therefore , that the Executive us! the age of 16 years, and such children shall not be re - Government shall take under their entire contr ol therurl : moved where theremoval ofthepersonhimselfisforbidden. police of Ireland , and in order to make that c ontrol e ' f that there shall not be the power of separating the clail- complete as possible, I propose that the expense r• dren from their parents, and that every man shall have the force shall be paid out of the public Exchequeo the power, the right of requiring support, not from his In fact, as some return for the withdravvr_a: place of settlement, but birth. At present, immediately of protection, Government are disposed to lie upon the death of a labouring man in the manufacturing commend that the whole charge of the rural Por e , districts the widow of that man is removed. Now, we in Ireland shall be borne by the public. There is anoff'_, shall propose that no widow residing with her husband charge borne by the landed interest of this CO We at the time of his death shall be removable for try to which I wish to allude, and which w, s twelve months from the parish in which her propose to share with them. I allude to medical renf r " t husband resided. At present, when a man's —(Hear, hear.) If the performance of any one health is wasted by extreme labour he has no course of the functions of tke Poor-law Commissioners .n, to adopt but to leave work. Now, we propose that in given more satisfaction to the country than anoor o t sickness an asylum shall be found for him, and there it is the way in which they have administered wed' shall be no power of removal from the manufacturing to relief.--(Hear, hear.) And yet, I am sorry to ssl' the rural districts.—(Hear, hear.) This, I think, this description of relief has often been e s , will be considered an alteration of the law by tremely - defective, and. many distressing cases ha' s ( which great social advantages will be obtained, often been brought before our eyes in consequenc e and at the same time relief to the agricultural districts. this defect.—(Hear, hear). We propose, therefore , l e —(Hear, hear.) I now approach another matter in improve the medical relief afforded to w 0( respect to which lam prepared to advise that which, poor and destitute of the country.—(Cries _. O without loss to any other portion of the community, "Hear, hear.") Arid for the purpose of 0 1 3 will be a great advantage, not only to the the Executive greater control over the distributlo°„, agricultural, but all the best interests of the medical • relief in England and Scotland. I ti * , country. There is a dread of competition if the duty pose to take one-half' of the charge of the "l e is removed, but that competition may be met by skill medical relief of the country. Thus we shall 0 and industry, and in order that the English farmer may enabled to do away with the objections which have be e r , ° compete with the foreigner, we propose that the State shall urged by the guardians to the interference of the 1),,, encourage agricultural improvements. Now on that subject hoe Commissioners, in the matter of medical relief, bYf l ' h the evidence with respect to the entailed estates is fact that we contribute one-half of the expenses wb'eof most important, because it shows that, by means of im- the relief oceasions. I estimate that the amount provement, there is a means of greatly improving the charge will be not less than 100,0001. in I; produce of the land. It shows, also, that there land , and 15,0001 . in Scotland. In Ireland the e are immense districts in this country that might will be a separate law which passed this House be very greatly improved by means of draining. time ago, and which will occupy the attention of '„; The difficulty attending on any scheme of meeting the other House of Parliament in the course of the pros e ; defective system of draining is shown in the re- session. With respect to Scotland there is a separe l , port I have alluded to. There have been various schemes charge to which I wish to refer, and from which 1 thin 4 proposed, and some of them by an Honourable Friend Scotland ought not to be released. The expenses of of mine, to facilitate agricultural improvements, but maintaining a prison in Scotland I think °ug h " , they have been met with great difficulties in conse- to be borne by the public rather than by tor quence of the • interference of the farmers, landed interest ; and, for the satisfaction ss t The great difficulty has been the raising of money the Perthshire landlords, I may state 4 i e , on entailed estates, so us to afford satisfactory security the expense of maintaining that establishmeat is to those who might a d va nce it.—(Hear, hear.) To ob- removed from the landed interest, and thrown on W l ', viate this, 1 intend that the public credit shall be em- public. There is another subject, having referefl ployed in order to effect agricultural improvements, by to the union workhouses, to which wish to dif. e !, advancing sums of money on certain terms. Those the attention of the House. I mean the defect", sums of money I intend shall be advanced when system of education which exists in some of th ese application is made that improvements are to be establishments. I am anxious to avoid the 0 1 1; effected, accompanied with a statement and a proper ing of any religious question, but I thin s estimate of how it is to he expended.—(Hear, hear.) we may safely interfere in this matter Witlit Hitherto, if we made advances of Exchequer-bills, it doing so. We propose in no way to interfere with tR; was on a high rate of interest ; but in the present case, appointments of the officers, and to avoid, as I bil l ; in advising an application of the public credit to effect stated, the raising of any religiousquestion, the apPth e he agricultural improvements,l propose that the Exchequer- ment of the schoolmaster shall still rema i n with t°, bill Commissioners shall be empowered to make advances guardians, but still we shall be ready, if the guard isc a to the proprietors of estates at a moderate annual charge. cannot procure thern,Eto undertake the expense O p These grants, I propose, shall be made through duty of providing competent schoolmasters and schee ss the advice of a Board that is now in existence—l mean mistresses. If; however, the guardians claim the r i g,." B the Board of Inclosures. The Inclosure Commissioners of providing these officers themselves, we require that t r ", I propose shall make all inquiries respecting what parts officers shall possess ample qualification 4 , of the country should undergo i m p rovemen t ; the performance of the duties which shall devolfof they shall receive all applications for money, caleu- upon them. We shall claim the right a luting the value of the land, the improvements inspection, because, if the s c h oo l ma ster t proposed, and the amount of the expense they schoolmistresses shall be found incompetent, we shali"i will cost; which done, they shall report the result ready at the public charge to find corre c t,. in a circular to the Exchequer-bill Commissioners who and respectable persors to supply their p late in that case shall on their advice make the advances re- It is our intention as well to undertake the duty 0 c ommended, it being arranged that the money so ad- educating the children of the destitute 1 ) ; vanced shall have paid on it an annual rate and it shall be our c a r e t o provide propene of interest, and also that the principal shall be re- and competent masters and mistresses '- paid in regular yearly instalments.—(Hear.) But in that purpose. Then, again, with respect to auditr . h s ; this course I propose that in all cases where there are the amount of remuneration to be ,riven to them sha l 'b.. heavy burdens on land—where there are prior claims to the same as that of the Commissioners, Now , " s a meet by advances on mortgage or otherwise —that no serve, in almost every case in which I have propos e , advances shall be made by the Exchequer-bill Commis- any remission of the burdens on land, at the si t sioners without the consent of the party having t h e li en , time I p ro p ose t h e attainment of some great objsslsi In all such cases, however, I apprehend par - con nected with the public good.—(Hear.) If this get ties will perceive it to be their interest scheme will meet with the approval of the great to consent to such advances, as they will of men, at a very early period all restrictions nr.'",b lead to great improvements in the land, and do much to food will be removed, and instantly other duties Ifb l y s enhance their interests in the property. I believe apply to the importation of food. With resPe c e e st an arrangement of this kind will be found a great clothin g there wil l he liberty to purchase in the cheat benefit ; that the objections to it on the market. With re spect to medical matters there 111 , 11 ground of entailed estates may be obviated, and the also be a great improvement.—(Hear.) Id o h o pe b 0 : 0 expenses so applied, I am certain, as to advance th e parties will reflect, that instantly, with retpeet interests of all proprietors, and lead to great agri- many articles of food there will be a free importa i t t " cultural improvements in the country. — (Hear, hear.) — with respect to all a free import at i on at an early ur": . Ido not limit the amount of improvements to these Whether the measures I h ave p ropose d w ill b e e effiet e 4 merely local advantages. I believe that the spirit of to satisfy both parties I caneot say, but I sincere improvement generated by this plan will go on pro- hope the entire scheme will be fairly % and debu i :ll gressively. I believe that every proprietor of land o ill rarely considered by both sides, and that you / 1 " follow the example set him by scientific men, and reflect upon the consquences likely to result fro° tea strive to improve his estate, and that this inneva- immediate rejection of these measures.—(Hear,l o l 4 l% Lion on the part of the Government will lead to an ex- Ido not ask for an immediate expression of opiol" tended spirit of agricultural improvement over the country. at this moment, but, after the inter v al of n° —(Hear, hear.) W e ll, t h at i s anot h er mo d e in s h or t ti me I hope you will p ay which we propose to enable the agricultural interest to to my proposal. Permit me now, Sir, to conclude meet the competiti on w i t h w hi c h t h ey may b e t h reatene d two observations—one u p on foreign policy and o ur cf' sr , on the withdrawal of th e d u ty. N ow , w ith res p ec t t o th e mercial interests, and one h av i ng re f erence to ou r 0 0% direct local burden s , I h ave g i ven th e mos t ser i ous domestic concerns. Sir, I f a i r l y avow that in 1325;10_0 consideration to this subject, and I cannot advise any these great reductions on th e p ro d uce o f fore'' ir material alteration of the system on which the countries, I have no guar an t ee t h a t °t he' assessments take place. There is no doubt that countries will immediately follow our WO a sum is levied under the name of poor Wearied by our long enduring efforts—(Hear, rate, which is employed partly for the we have resolved to consult our own immediate inter e ; ,ll purpose of relieving the poor, and partly for other ob- — (Loud cheers from all parts of the H ouse .) We• jects. It is said, and said with some apparent justice, not to oppress other countries, or ourse l ves , by e " - ef that this is a charge upon land, and that, therefore, there tinuing excessive duties and the encouragenier l ye ought to be a very great alteration in the principle on unlawful taxation.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) ltb which levies of that kind'were made. Now, in point of have no communication, therefore, whatever fact, this charge is not a charge upon land.—(Hear, any other Government in making the proposals hear.) As far as this charge is concerned, the oppo - we have submitted. I cannot promise yei bet sition is not one between the country and France will make any c ons id era bl e a l terat i on it 1 the towns—the opposition is not one between tariff in consequence of our proposed alterations'o land and other interests, the opposition is one that arises cannot promise you that Rtasia will prove r v e between real and personal property. But it must be gratitude to us for our reduction upon te;:to remembered that real property includes mines, houses, You may tax your articles, therefore, in opPos ; ;": 1 , - otf and manufactures, and it is such real property as this our present plan, to meet their ingratitude, hot that is subject to this assessment. It might possibly be will exact nothing thereby. I may, perhaps, b e at j t° o considered just, and it might perhaps be advantageous, that in many foreign countries, since the relal - eid to make personal property subject to a charge for of our duties, the people hare been benefited,. -00 the maintenance of the poor, but you must yet they have not followeel our example recollect that the charge is a local char ge , only have not followed our example, but have aelcie, and not a general tax. The land could, however, gain highered the . deities on the - admission of eur li nothing by making personal property liable from r this tured goods into their countries.—(Hear.) I c l ul a rate. It will be no advantage to the land if t h e same M i t t h at f act. I g i ve the whole benefit of tha t of were carried out in Manchester, Stockport, ment. I rely upon that f ee t as a positive prOff'tb-s$ and other manufacturing towns. It would be only a dif- present policy of for e i gn countr i es. It i s a fart t eet ferent distribution of the burd en within that l oca lity, other countries have not f o ll owe d our example, rlll/111)°° You may say, subject pe rsona l property to the change, they have. in fact, in some cases hi g h ere d the duties the but if you do you must also subject personal the a - . .dialission of our goods. But what has bee L i rts r e property in the rural districts;m. Hear, hear.) Bid result of that policy upon the amount of your exp o s es now how will you levy small charges on houses S It is —(Hear, hear.) You have defied the regulau lonic possible to levy a charge for the general purposes of the other countries.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") de country, but if you mine to levy an amount small as export has greatly increased.—(Hear.) The tea of this on personal ueoc e • property,. you . may depend on it the smuggler has been in operation in conseq _ O O9 that this sort of inquisition will not be tolerated. the policy of other countries with respect to the "its So far from it being a benefit to the land—considering sion and exportation of articles of manufacture clnetles, that the charge is always a local one—so far from it being the strict regulations of continental coun tries' a benefit to the land to raise the amount by means of an Your exports, whatever be the tariffs of other co te ste el inquisition instituted by mere parochial authorities, it or the apparent ingratitude with which they ha,"7 - , se"' would be a burden to the land. Now lam quite you--your export trade, I say, great)}' ' l rj o le t. to admit that there might be parishes in which there may By the remission of duties sa- 4on as raw neatens' be a large rural and a large manufacturing population. have been able to exceed the amount of tr, - 0 . - th° Well, in parishes so situated, then, I do admit revenues of the country. And, notwithstau ctive 'val° that I think the assessment an unjust one. existence of hostile tariffs, the declare il d, tbe` I am not prepared to suggest any mode of British exports has exceeded,' by 10,000et"hostile of removing that evil, but I cannot think amount of the last three years. I say, then, t", a . ." r ka°: that there would b e an y advantage whatever tari,Sco so far from being an argument a gainst tu - nt to to the land, considering that the charge is a lace), ere, val of restrictive duties, furnishes a strong argf•W' h e orb' in the establishment of an institution foe Gee purpose favour ; and depend upon it, that alt, ll f g- you of making inquires as to, Ilia utootini to be raised. nations may not at' first join with ;; 1 s e ; If you do eo s Soil Mast inquire into the profits the removat these d tritely, and" he pro fi ts o f th e farmer might also be that you r . exale will ultimate& P o r u e lY lit) depend ur n made the subject of inquiry. You certainly have (War, hear.) When your example c fal'ee e. e t an there 'quoted in favour of restrictions it - was been charged upon personal property. Bite, exceptions were taken—(The rest of the, sentence was , Arid when your example can be quoted in f"...i1l e ° lar ,, ge o , J t : r of r e; lost, in consequence ttie eight Lion. .rmeet at the laaelion, as being conducive to your interests'tpote ut firl momeot torntog his beicic to' the gallery.) _l . m ay not x 0 IQ have its proper weight. It ! erg aware Nil tiia(the' in s ight ta:ke upon i.tectc ttosi 44 ,t otoliamoe t(ie poor ; but lam cure thfira would be the I :eceived by Governments, or foreign buss but etensi 'l, • 9a4ecti9A4 tct anti whiltt the cep.'— , s reatest I upon it that the exercise of reaeole s .„ nd ; Il a dttee --.6e continues to be deration of the common interest ~Wll4. NINNIMMI