The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-11 00:00:00

consequence was, that a finer quality of grain was produced, the husks were finer and yielded a ' , ratter quantity of flour. Thus the advantage to the foreigner, over the wheat of this country, was not less than 201. per cent. Now, when he considered the diffe rence in the rate of wages, he confessed that it was not without uneasiness that he contemplated the com petition which could not fail to come, if the propositions of the Government were adopted. It seamed natural to conclude that a portion, at least, of the wheat lands of this country would be thrown out of cultivation on account of the impetus which would be given to the cultivation of wheat on the continent.—(llear.) The question then arose—would it be a desirabe competi tion, and one which they ought to encourage ? It might perhaps be admitted. that it would be more advan tageous to the people of this country to turn a certain portion of their wheat land into pasture, and to purchase a great quantity of grain from foreign countries, But this was not a question of p. Ltical economy, it was a question of national importance. It involved their de pendence on foreign countries.—(Cheers.) He repeated that it remained to be seen whether they would depend on foreign countries for a large proportion of the food required for their own people. He adm tted at once, that a large supply came from Poland and the south of Germany. These countries were enabled to give them food ae they required it ; but would it be wise or prudent for the Ministers of England to place themselves in the power of those countries, so that they might step their supplies by pro hibiting the exportation of gra . n ? (Cries or " Hear, hear.") They had had examples in the present year from which they might draw en inference as to the consequences of trusting a Polish harvest. They had seen that the Ruseian Government had prohi bited the exportation of the inferior grains, which consti tuted the food of their own people, to this country ; and they found that Belgium also had within a v er y short p eriod prohibited the exportation of wheat. There could be no doubt that if the Government of this cuuntry had • found it necessary to open the ports, neighbouring countries—France, for instance—would have shut theirs, as a matter of protection to them selves, and this would very materially have compelled this country to depend upon their own resources. He had endeavoured to show that free trade had the dark as well as the bright side.—(Hear, hear.) And he trusted they would take into consideration, before coming to a decision on this question, its magnitude and importance, so that at once they would have all the circumstances before them in deciding upon the question. It would be necessary to take into consideration th e serious evil that would ensue if a 1 nig and protracted struggle were maintained on this question, on which the interests of the great mass of the people were opposed to those of the nobility and gentry of the country. They must also take into consideration the actual posi tion of the question, not only in the country, but in that House. In the country they would find the community divided into two classes, who differed materially. One class resolved to have the repeal of all pro- teetive duties, and the other class'resolved to maintain those duties in existence. What was the position of the question. as it stood in that House ? All the great and leang statesmen on both sides—men of every party—were of opinion that some alteration in the existing law was ne cessary. Those who were anxious to maintain the sys tem of protection were avowedly unable to form an Ad ministration at all likely to have the confidence of the coun try. In this case they had no choice between two alterna tives—either to give support to the measure before the House, or to throw out the Government which now existed, and to make way for the Government of the _Honourable Gentlemen opposite.—(Hear, hear.) What would they gain by making such a change ? nothing and, therefore, he for one should give his support to the motion before the House, as he believed that in so doing he pursued the course better calculated ultimately to promote the interests of the country. Many Members opposed the measure either from a sense of duty or from a sense of consistency, but resistance would ulti mately tend to bring still greater misery on the country, without attaining the object they had in view. Mr. LEFROY said he proposed addressing the House less generally than the Hon. Member who had just sat down, but be did not consider that this measure would have the effect of improving the condition of the poorer classes, or give satisfaction to the landed proprietors. A number of Bills bad been introduced by the Hon. Baronet, by which a large sum of money could be borrowed, and to carry on great public works, with a view to giving the people extensive employment. But he did not think they would have that effect. In the north of Ireland the people had contrived to secure a large amount of employ ment by the manufactures carried on there, though he could not say as much for other parts of that country. Ho would now state his reasons, as an Irish represen tative, why it was that ho would give his vote in oppo sition to the Government measure ; and in doing so he would say, that upon so important a measure as this no Irish county Member should hesitate to state his reasons, lest it might go forth that they bad been led to their decisions by party influences. He had seen the announcement of the resignation of several Honourable Members of that House, and in particular one Noble Lord, who made this sacrifice rather than vote for a measure which they could not conscientiously believe would benefit the country. There were so many things, however, in favour of the measure proposed to be brought forward by the Right Hon. Baronet, that be shrunk from taking any steps in opposition. He felt it was a measure of such vital im pertance, that the question which was forced home to the breast of every one must be, was it for the good of the country ?--(Hear, hear.) It was not his inclination, nor did he feel it to be his duty, to go into the subject in all its bearings. Others were better qualified to do so than he was. He could not, however, refrain from referring to the injurious effects which must accrue to Ireland if it were carried into effect. They had no manu factures there. Would that measure introduce manu factures into that country ? He thought that no man would be found who would venture to make such an assertion.—(Hear.) He would not trouble the House with the details of the imports into that country,but if the consequence of the measure should be a diminution of them, it could not but have a most injurious effect. If it should turn a great quantity of the land:which was at present cultivated, and was abundantly productive, into pasture land, would not such a result be ruinous? Would not that state of Ireland, which was so elo quently referred to in that House by the Hon. Member for Rochdale—a state of trouble, and sorrow, and desti tution—be the inevitable accompaniment? — (Hear.) lle thought it a most hazardous experiment.—(llear, hear.) He had never followed a Minister, or given a vote upon any question which he could not. reconcile with his conscience. (Hear, hear.) These were questions far above his comprehension, and others, who, like himself, had not either the talent or opportunities of investigating measures calculated to pro mote the good of the country. It became him, therefore, after having watched the conduct of those public men who had, brought forward salutary measures for the benefit of his country to follow that leader who had thus acted. Upon this ground he should not give his support to the measures brought forward by the Right Honourable Baronet ; and in so doing, whatever opinions might be formed as to the. " fool's paradise," or anything else, he trusted that he would not be con sidered as one of those foolish birds who would be snared by the whistle of the betrayer. If the Right Hon. Baronet informed him that he had changed his opinions he con sidered it right that he should be informed of the reasons of that change of opinion. —(Hear, hear.) Under ore sent circumstances he earnestly hoped that the advice of the Right Hon. Baronet would be found perfectly safe. He trusted that the measures introduced by the' Right Honourable Baronet would be productive of be liars to his country. Ile could only say respecting the measure, that, should it pass, he would be willing to submit to it, but he would not by a vote take upon himself the responsibility of its enactment. And if it was proved in course of time that it was dangerous and destructive in its operation, he would feel satisfied of having entered his protest against it, deeply impressed with the convic tion that the measure must prove fatal to the best inter ests of the country.—(Hear.) Lord CLEMENTS said that the Honourable Mem ber who had just sat down complained that the measure would prove injurious to the landlords of Ireland. He (Lord Clements) had no objection to meet the challenge thrown out by that Hon. Gentleman, respecting the matter under the consideration of the House. In doing so he did not profess to be more of a farmer's friend than those on the opposite side of the House. During the last six years he had done his best to improve the agricul ture of the county which he represented, and he con fessed he had no fears of the measure under the con sideration of the House.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) When he heard the arguments of his Hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Stafford O'Brien) hee was much startled at them. In pro fessing so much sympathy for • the cotton spinners and paper-stainers, whom be represented, as likely to be ruined, he might have turned his attention to the condition of the labouring classes of Ireland. If he looked at them be would see enough to excite his• commisseration without going else where; set these had and yet to been living under a prot ec tive sys tem,ruin tem further would b e i m p o s s ible. He consider e d that these the chang es were we ll wort h y o f the consideration of landed int eres t o f t h e H ouse . He knew not w h at the and the Lords m feelings of th e C ommons but of this he was certain, th at ighutnie unless be, p e i n o t p e l l e n loedf Ire lan d, the general advantage h of they land, they had better let this mattteeratoue. Yet he uno g was oug ht to say that he was of opinion that thin likely to advance the condition of the Fri do ;tot go to the root of t h e evil. i vla ew te a o: which that the measure which lie was intending to _aware advoca.e would not be favourably received by the public. lie knew there was not only a deprivation of th e necessaries of life, but that there was t total destitution, which existed not only in one house, but throughout the length and breadth of the laud. He believed that this report of deficiency was not over-stated. By the report that had been made by Lord Devon and the commissioners under him a commission which had his most hearty con currence there was an evident case made out for the consideration of the Government. It appeared by this report of ,John Duke, Eel , that the effects of this Commission had not been at all in proportion to the anticipation of its advisers. There were some facts which rendered its report nugatory. It ap peared by that report that there had been no returns respecting the state of the people within 12 miles of our district. He was aware that he was one of the parties who had been instrumental in effecting a change in the commercial position of the country, but he felt that that ought to be no re st r iction on his proceeding on this question. The Ho nourable ra Gentleman then proceeded to read some extracts from Lord Devon's report taken at Boyle. 0; dividingvrationer of that the system land, " that union said, respecting o f n rom two it was a common thing fur a man who to five Beres to subdivide it, - and that in e d . shore were Tory few large farmers in thanitiretneoer the country, and that they are now fifty per cent. worse than they were twenty years ago." Nothing, said he, can equal their wretched ness. On being asked what was the cause of their wretchedness, he said that commodities were so reduced in price, that they were not enabled to pay their rents in consequence. They lived in such a state that it could hardly be believed. They had no bedsteads; they lay generally on a small quantity of straw, with no eovei ing over them. Here a Member made an observation which we understood to be—Did he (Levi Clements) believe those statements? To which the Nolele Lord replied, that he could confirm every single statement that was made. He saw a mother with her four children lying on a floor with nothing but a thin rug to cover them. He had witnessed scenes of wretchedness and dis tress which required thestrongest nerves to be enabled to endure. The Noble Lord continued to read from the report before him, —"Many of the people would be disposed to emigrate if means were given them, the married as well as the unmarried." He then proceeded—Now that was a lamentable state of things; and he should say that he felt perfectly satisfied of the truth of every statement made in the report. Since he came to know the country, there scarcely passed a summer that great distress did not prevail. In the month of May last an extensive failure expected c w o a u s ntes sn . h u ; and ave h b c u e t n fo in r a th s e ta c te ou o n f ty th L e ei an tr o im st aw ful d , the a 1 st re i S. So constant had these failures become, that additional ground had to be broken in the last year; and it was difficult to ascer tain what quantity of ground was brought into cultivation. The Commission appointed by her Majesty to inquire into the state of the potato crop, he was happy to state, had one good object, namely, that it forewarned the people, and showed them that they had only to depend on themselves, and not on neigh bouring counties for assistance. In many instances those who could afford to do so laid in large stocks of eatmeal ; but how many thousands of the poorer classes were there who could not afford to provide themselves with that article.— ( Hear, hear.) These were awful considerations ; and he might then inquire what was the good of protection to agricul ture ?—( Hear, hear.) Had it been of the s!ightest service to the farmers, or had it provided food for the people ?—( Hear. ) Had it prevented the agricultural labourer from standing idle in the markets, as had been before asked by an Honourable Member, the Member for Northamptonshire ?—( Hear, hear.) To give the House a more concise idea of the state of the peo ple of Ireland, he would read the opinions of the trustees of a lease fund in one part of Ireland. The Noble Lord then read several documents to the effect, that there were several thou sands living in the most wretched hovels without the means of procuring food for themselves or their families. There were no less than 23,123 acres in the occupation of persons who could not pay any rent. He had been led to make these in quiries, end he now begged to refer them to the consideration of the Right Hon. Baronet. His convictions on the subject were very strong, and, as far as they were concerned, nothing could be more fair or more just than the measure proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet. In the inquiry which had been in stituted by Lord Devon es to the condition of the For in Ire land, a plan had been recommended which he (Lord Cle ments) thought could be partially adopted with advantage. It provided that certain establishments should be made by her Majesty's Government, for which the county should become responsible. He should certainly, in that case, make no ob jection, provided that the whole charge was annually brought before Parliament, and not be charged, as it at. present was, on the Consolidated Fund. Ile would further earnestly pray that, if any representations should be made from the magis tracy requesting an increase in the police force, the necessary increase should be instantly made. lie had watched with great anxiety the progress of the Bill, and be must say that, in most instances, the principal requirements were provided for. He now wished to call the attention of the House to the administration of affairs in the courts of assizes. If her Ma jesty's Government had investigated the matter, they could not but perceive that it was absolutely neces<ary for the security of life and property that the courts of assizes should be placed on a firmer basis. He would propose that efficient Crown officers should be appointed, who, from their abilities and standing in their profession, would be able to perform their duties in a proper manner, Many a criminal has escaped punishment in consequence of the ignorance or weakness of the Crown counsel. This was a shocking state of things. He (Lord Clements) knew personally of oue instance wherein the Crown council was unable to reply to a question of the judge, as to the particular Act under which a certain indictment was framed, arid the prisoner, in consequence escaped. He looked upon the Crown counsel as holding his office for the general protection of society, and if he were unable to perform his duties properly, society was in a measure unpro tected. It was impossible for one Crown counsel to attend in a satisfactory manner to the business of an entire circuit. One officer was not sufficient, and he trusted the Right Hon. Ba ronet would take into consideration the alteration he bad sug gested. He would beg, at the same time, while on this sub • ject, to call the attention of the Right Hon. Baronet, if it was in his power, as he was sure it was in his inclination, to contri bute some plan of relief of the agricultural population from the local taxation under which they laboured. From a return which he held in his hand it appeared that the taxation was most unequally distributed, and in many instances it fell directly upon the poorer classes. In the agricultural districts taxation was very severely felt, especially in a time of famine and distress. He (Lord Clements) was particularly anxious to press en the attention of the Right Hon. Baronet the charges which had been brought against the Irish poor, as to their antipathy to the poor-houses. He was perfectly ready to admit that much strong feeling existed on this subject. The poor-houses were not conducted in a proper manner ; much reform was needed, and it would, perhaps, be advisable to conduct their management in a different form. In doing this, however, many difficulties would have to be encountered and overcome. The funds for there alterations existed in various sources in Ireland, which-might easily be made available. From a return of the Irish Reductive Loan Fund to December, 1844, there appeared a revenue of 9,9001., which could be applied for the purposes at which he had hinted. The Noble Lord then adduced various other sources whence a sufficient revenue could be obtained, and went on to observe that at a time similar to the present a sum of 300,000/. had been subscribed from various parts cf the world to relieve the wants of the poor in Ireland. He would entreat the Right Honourable Baronet to see to the proper ap plication of the funds which he (Lord Clements) had shewn might be made available. There were numerous socie ties in Ireland, which he believed, if the house were to appoint a committee to inquire into, could be rendered of great benefit to the country. He would not detain the House any longer than to observe that he should vote for the measure which the Right Hon. Baronet had brought forward. ( Some confusion and much laughter occurred in the House at the conclusion of Lord Clements'speecb, in consequence of several Hon. Members essaying to speak before the Noble Lord had quite fini'hed.) The Marquis of GRANBY believed that the Right Hon. Baronet had been actuated by a feeling of the most candid nature in introducing the present measure. He would, however, say at the same time, that if the Right Honourable Gentleman had entertained his opinions of 1841, he would have proposed this measure to the House with all the energy and talent he possessed, and not with the authority of a petitioner. As far as was known of the feelings of the people of the country, those feelings were in favour of the proposed measure. He had some difficulty in dealing with the matter, because the arguments are so various in their different bearings and application. The argument which appeared to prevail the strongest in the country was, that the labourer, in case of a repeal of the corn-laws, would be supplied with cheaper bread. If it was true that the labourer, in case of the repeal of the law were enabled to buy his bread cheaper, there was some shadow of reason in supposing that the corn laws were unnecessary. But that was not the question. The question was, supposing that the corn-laws are repealed, would the labourer be able to eat more bread than he does under the present laws.—( Hear.) They had been told that an ex perience of three years fully justified the alterations which had been proposed to the House. He would admit that three year's experience might be sufficient to test the eligibility of remitting protection, with one or two exceptions, on general articles of import, but a great question like that of the corn laws, involving the consideration of so many arid so important interests ought not to be tested by an experience of so limited a period as a , few years. The arguments of the Anti-Corn law League were as though they should say, " We want to put a shilling into every roan's pocket, by taking two shillings out of the pocket of every farmer."—( Hear, hear.) Supposing the agriculturists of this country to be driven out of the market —was it to he supposed that foreigners would allow prices to continue low in this country? It was absurd to suppose that our foreign trade would be extended by the repeal of the corn laws. But even supposing that such an effect would be produced by such a cause, let them consider that the home consumption of our manufacturers amounted to 150,000,0001. a year, while the exports were only 51n0t,e0r0e0s,t to toooe,neafintd the e u s l m d aillter ? It was on thesethenbewisetoinjurgerothuendsa larger he should feel it his duty to oppose the measure of the Govern ment, and to supp or t t h at system wh i ch had produced the greatness, the wealth, and the independence of this country. He would beg of tho se H on . G ent l emen around him, who in tended tended to support the Gover nmen t, to pause before they plunged into the vortex of revolution. It might be said that protection was doomed, but his answer was that protection was just.—( Hear, hear.) He believed that posterity would thank those who hail struggled in the cause of protection. Mr. GREGORY would declare at once that it was his in tention to Rive his support to the measure. Three years age a Right Hon. Gentleman had declared that the principles of free trade were the principles of eommon sense. He confessed that he was struck with these words.—(Laughter.) The more he had reflected the more he believed that those words were the words of truth. On these grounds he had supported his Hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead last year, on his motion for the introduction of Australian corn. lie however confessed that ha did not think that a repeal of the corn-laws was so near. He had thought that it would have been better to impose a small duty on corn for revenue purposes, and a proposition of that sort would have his support. The present measure, however, had only come a little earlier than he might have anticipated, but that was no reason for his refusing it his support. He believed that agriculture had flourished not through protection but in spite of protection. It had b een said that if this Bill were to pass, from that moment they would become dependent upon foreigners. lie believed this to be a fallacious argument. Were they not in all times of scarcity indebted to the foreigner for supplies ? It was absurd to say that this measure was a concession to agitation. The Right Hon. Baronet might have had a large majority in favor of pro tection if be had appealed to the country ; and on the other hand the present measure could not be carried but by the as sistance of the Right Hon. Gentleman. How then could this be considered a concession to agitation ? It had been said by the Hon. Member for Inverness that the effect of this measure would be to throw land out of cultivation ; but he confessed past experience had not proved this, for on looking to the re • turns, he found that when the remunerating price of wheat was fixed at the lowest figure, the consumption of the country had greatly Increased. In 1815 the remunerating price was fixed at 805. per querter ; in 1827, 655.; and in 1842, 565.; and the average for the three years ending 1848 had been 525. Now what had been the sales of wheat in the country markets during these periods'? In 1839, the sales in the country markets were 3,174,680 quarters ; in 1842, they were 4,900,284; and in the year 1845, they were refutingprice, c e a , 6,470,460 quarters; and yet, with so great a reducti on i n th e average r a th u e in c e o n n t su th m a p t ti a o s n doubled,heaodrnmhoerceamtheaenheapev lland d fellthus out of cultivation.—(Hear, hear.) He wished now to say a few words with regard to Ireland, where the greatest appre hensions prevailed amongst the landed interest that this measure were entirelyy uVethem ; but, in his opinion, their ap prehensionswould bring without foundation. The commer cial prosperity of Ireland, and fret, there agricultural prosperity of e47 h e e x n isted preciselyan equally brisk Ireland were identical had a brisk pulsation in both interests. When demand for manufactures the demand for agricultural producey; had they could peasant he would prefer fresh i n l ets for theorecohmemeernee and lrish fresh markets her the industry of the cou n t ry to all the pro tection which the utmost stretch of a monopolising min ld suggest.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Now he had taken the greatest pains to ascertain the true bearing of this question, and he found that the greatest apprehension prevailed amongst those who traded in oats, live cattle, salt pork, butter, bacon and mutton, which were the staple exports of Ireland. Now, with regard to oats, the rem unerative p rice was fixed at 9s. 6d. p er barrel of 14 stone, and he den ied that the foreigner could un dersell them at this price. — ( Hear, hear.) In support of this opinion he would quote the price of oats at the principal places of foreign export, namely, St. Pete rsbur g h, Danzic, Hamburg, and Elsinore. Now, in Hamburgh the p rice of oats varied from 11s. to 16s. per quarter, and the frei g ht of the same article was from 2s. 6d. to ss. In Elsinore the p rice was from 12s. to 155., and freight from 3s. 6d. to 55. In Danzic the price was 1 2 2 e., and the freight was 36. 6d. to 4s. and at St. Petersburgh the price was 12s. 3d., and the freight 4s. t i With these prices ho could not see what chance the foreigner had of underselling the home producer. But let them see what bad been the amount of imports since the present tariff had come into ol•eration. Take the period from the 29th of April, 1842, to the 4th of January, 1845, and it would be found that 518,620 quarters of foreign and colonial oats were imported into this country at a duty of Is. 6d. per quarter, while, in the same time, Ireland sent 5,322,637 quarters.—( Hear, hear.) With these figures and these calculations, derived from men who had endeavoured to collect the best information on the subject, and whosa motives for doing so could not for a single moment be cal'ed in ques tion. before them, how could the House hesitate in the course they ought to adopt. The same results were shown by the re turns relating to the other articles he had enumerated; and he, for one, entreated the landed interest of Ireland to dismiss from their minds the foolish apprehension that the measure of the ' Government would prove destructive to their interests. The Hon. Gentleman, after some further remarks, which were wholly inaudible in the reporters' gallery, sat down amidst the cheers of the greater part of the Hon. Members on the Ministerial benches. Nearly a dozen Hon. Members on the Ministerial side rose simultaneously to address the House at the conclusion of Mr. Gregory's speech, but there being loud cries for " Brooke," Lord BROOKE accordingly rose, and said that he fully anticipated that the honest expressions of a man of unbias=ed opinions, and the representative of a large constituency would have their due weight with the House—( Hear, hear)— and with those feelings it was that he rose, not to enter iuto aily lengthened detail upon this most difficult question, but merely to glance at the general features of it, to state in fact the reasons which had induced him to give a vote on this occasion. He deeply regretted the course which had been taken by many of the Right Hon. Members of the Government on this question.--( Hear, bear ) He could assure the House that nothing wou'd have given bins greater satis faction than to have been able to tender his most hearty support to the present measure of the Right Hon. Baronet—( Hear, hear)—but the difference which had taken place in the views of the Right Hon. Baronet had induced him to withhold his support on the present occasion. —(Hear, hear.) He (Lord Brooke) felt convinced that that change was cha racterised by straightforwardness—( Hear, hear)—but yet it had been of such a nature as not to satisfy him of its cor reetness.—(llear, hear.) Although he was willing to give every credit to the Right Hon. Baronet, and to those who supported him, he did feel and think that many of his sup porters could not lay claim to that straightforwardness of ac tion which the Right Hon. Baronet had adopted —(Cheers crime the Ministerial side of the House.) The Right Hon. Baronet for several years past had been changing his pies, but he had taken care to reap from his own party, and from that House the fruits of those changes.—(Loud cheers.) Those who had followed him in that varying course. had followed him suddenly ; he might almost say miraculously—(Loud laughter and cheers)—and the House might be almost at a loss to conceive bow the Right lion. Baronet had induced so many lion. Members so suddenly to change their opinions, so as to chime with his own. Had they not heard the speech last night of the Noble Lord the Member for Liverpool ?—( Cheers and laughter.) The reasons of their sud den change, as stated by that Noble Lord, were because, if they did not approve of the measure of the Right Hon. Baronet, they would lose the benefit of his high talent and of his great genius in conducting the Government of this country.— ( Hear.) But he (Lord Brooke) felt that if a man was con vinced that a measure, which might be brought before the House was injurious or hurtful to the country, no personal or other consideration ought to induce that man to vote for such a measure contrary to the pledges which he had given to his con stituents.—(Cheers.) The only reason that he could discover why Hon. Members on that (the Ministerial) side of the House followed the Right Hon. Baronet, was because they were afraid of a dissolution of Parliament. Now they all knew that when a man arrived at a great age he lost his faculties— (Great laughter)—his memory failed him —(Continued lenghter)—and they had at the present moment a fine example of memory failing men.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) They found Hon. Members in this Parliament forgetting the pledges which they have given in their youth and manhood, and sinking in the decrepitude of old age.— ( Laughter.) In that state they were called upon by the Right Hon. Baronet to make their will.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) They were called upon to sign away their property land their possessions.—( Hear, hear.) They were called upon to sign away their rights and privileges to foreigners and aliens. He would not say that the course of the Right Hon. Baronet would be so tamely consented to by a new Parliament. —(Hear.) He felt that a Parliament returned fresh from the country would not be so easily led by the Prime Minister of the Crown.—( Hear, hear.) If famine had beers overhanging this country, there might then have been better reason for the introduction of the present measure, but such was not the case. If it had been so, he would most willingly have given the Right Hon. Baronet his cordial support.—( Hear, hear.) But he could not see any such danger as a famine befalling this country. The apprehended evil arising from the failure in the potato crop would be but casual, and it was also an evil which might have been remedied by the temporary opening of the ts.—( Hear, hear.) The House would find that great reductions had been recently made in the duties on different articles included in the tariff, and the conse quence was a great increase in the importation of those articles. Now, when corn was admitted free of duty into this country, he felt convinced that native industry would be materially injured unless our exports were equal to, if not greater, than the imports from abroad. There had been another subject brought before the House in the discus sion of this question, and that was the subject of the cultiva tion of the land. The Hon. Member who seconded the Ad dress said, that there was no limitation to the resources of this country. He (Lord Brooke) was aware that there were great portions of the land of this country which were not culti vated and left utterly unimproved; but he could not believe that that want of cultivation was so extensive as stated by the Hon. Member. He could not properly understand the Right for,. Gentleman, the Secretary for War, when he stated that there was no country which could successfully compete with this country. From the north of Europe, across France and Spain, and the whole of the other countries on all sides of Europe, if this measure were passed, we should be most successfully competed with.—(Hear, hear.) This country would then be in a most degrading posi tion ; we should be left to the generosity of foreigners, and that he conceived would be a situation which no Englishman could wish to see this country placed in.—(Cheers.) The Right Hon. Baronet had raid that this measure was one, not of justice, but of policy, and a matter which might be settled by compen sation. The only mention which he could find of remunera tion in the letter of the Noble Lord the Member for London to the citizens of London, was the adjustment which would follow the removal of agricultural protection. What that remunera tion was to be, he (Lord Brooke) could not see. As a Mem ber who was prepared to vote in favour of protection to agricul ture, he could not but deprecate the course of agitation which had been pursued by the Members of the Anti-Corn-law League. He felt that their aims and objects were far different from those who were members of the association for the protection of British industry.—(Hear.) The object of the Anti-Corn law Leaguers was to pull down and destroy.—(Cheers.) Whilst that of the protectionists was to conserve. If any one looked to the conduct of the League they would find that their measures were not in accordance with honesty and strict justice. He would not adduce particular cases, but if it were necessary, he was prepared to support his assertion. The way in which the Anti-Corn-law League had sought to extend the elective franchise was most unjustifiable.—(Loud cheers.) The agents of the League objected to an honest man's vote on the registration, and unless he came to defend his vote it was struck off the registry.—( Hear.) If a man, thereforeZdeter mined on defending his vote against the attempts of the League, he was subjected to much expense, for which the revising bar rister was not empowered to allow him compensation.— ( Hear, hear.) He would therefore say, that the condnct of the Anti-Corn-law League was such as no honest man should sanction.—(Hear, hear.) There was one other ques tion to which he wished to allude before he sat down. The Noble Lord the Member for the City of London, in his recent letter to his constituents, had stated that the system of agri cultural I rotection had produced much mortality. A pam phlet had, however, been put into his (Lord Brooke's) hands the previous day, which showed that the contrary was the fact. It was there distinctly proved that the system of high prices in corn tended to decrease the amount of mortality.— ( Hear, hear.) The compiler of that pamphlet had no returns, but he took the averages; he commenced with the year 1780, and carried down his calculations to 1830, and he divided that period into ten portions. In the first period of tt n years, when the price of corn was high, the amount of mor tality was 152 less than that of a corresponding period when the price of corn was low ; in the next ten years it was 375; and in the third period 1,678; and down to 1809, the de crease in mortality in favour of high prices of corn, was 2,831. He had made these statements because he wished to show that he was about to give his vote on the question conseientiously. As the representative of a large constituency, he could not give a silent vote, and he would resume his seat in the belief and hope that be had honestly done his duty.—(Cheers.) Lord WORSLEY could assure the Noble Lord, who last spoke, that he was not aware that he was a new Member, or he would instantly have given up. He (Lord Wortley) was anxious to address the House upon the subject now under con sideration. It was a question that had frequently been brought before their notice, but it had never assumed such a shape as it had done at the present time. What was the actual state of the case? It was now brought forward and supported by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majes:y s Government upon grounds of expediency. He did not think they had brought forward the measure because they thought it right in itself, but on account of the peculiar situation of the country. The present Government had been elected in 1841, as the farmer's friend, and at the period of that general election there were no placards so prominent or nume rous as " Peel, the Farmer's Friend. "—( Hear, hear.) He well remembered the arguments used by Hon. Gentlemen op posite when the subject of the total repeal of the corn-laws was brought forward on a former occasion. It was then that they stated that the landed proprietors were not to be frightened out of their propriety by claims of a delusive character. The Noble Lord proceeded to read some extracts from the speeches of Sir R. Peel and Sir J. Graham on the subject of protec tion in the year 1841, the reading of which caused consider able laughter and cheering from both sides of the House. The Noble Lord went on to state that many Hon Members had gained their seats in that House by reason of their strenuous opposition to any change in the corn-laws. What had been the result? In 1842, the Right Hon. Baronet had proposed some considerable modification in the then existing corn-laws, and he• now came down to the House under the impression that he still had a right to go on in that direction, and there fore proposed the present measure, assuring the Hone at the same time, that he was encouraged to do so by the encouragement he had met with on former occasions. When the question of a total repeal of the corn-laws was brought forward, three years ago, this measure was success fully opposed by Hon. Gentlemen opposite. Upon that occa sion there was no compensation offered to the landed proprie tors for the total repeal of the corn-laws. The Right Hon. Baronet might perhaps say, in extenuation, that now he was prepared with a measure for the relief of the burdens which pressed upon agriculture. The Noble Lord did not think the present measure was likely to produce a permanent settlement of the question. Before the three years would have elapsed, there would be a general election ; and he believed that the farmers of England, who had been told that it was not dis creditable to tear a total repeal of the corn-laws, would upon that occasion ask their Members to endeavour to obtain for them a revision of the laws affecting the im portation hrfbrhso o aot ntea v tplhni e ir neaw r i tem n j :fat ur m ooees esrory e tensuti n h-ctstw t leeher o a. aaodew f rdudbah t el B h dyo, et e poyhhtue e ehews country seph u cl n n aheßr oto t i r maitt : teal i t ty n h i ‘fssrtHoi u tehoeit s tonmemt s t se:et o udwenhrG.rhdpe keep romon,fwoh, tiaftl surprising ehh a nhgmee l te i na v ayi portation of foreign corn. He thought it unwise for the threeen%veoidynu:l years the hrsheeas l i aahoilitedh questionect dor tnshuacstho country the languag elately,ss y tat nh a de s samel uHonourable time u r ah, that Baronetthere wa s s ho s u u l c d h danger to be apprehended office to out those very measures?— ( Hear.) take e asit, under such eagrrht cir cumstances, surprising that the Government l should find on this consideredaide of the tHousehat the e up ( Tr o r v t e e rn rs word the Government had h e a lgricultural interest who would not say one hard against deceived k,,ht Ho them G ? e t He e Gentle man, but this he might be allowed to say, that it wa n s . a serious thing for a person to be in the position o f t h e Ri ght Hon. Barenet.--( Hear, he ar .) He at one time said that the corn- laws were permanently settled, and that so late as the year 1842; but he now came down to the House to tell them it was necessary to do a great deal more. He (Lord W.) could not think that because there was temporary distress in the country, that the corn-laws ought to be repealed....- I (Hear, hear.) The Government may attempt to carry the measure, but, as he said before, it would never he considered a settlement of it by the farmers and landowners of this country. (Hear, bear.) In 1842 no one expected—no party whatever expecled, that they would propose an alteration again of those laws in 1845. In the year 1842, the Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary fur the Home Department. advocated protection to the agriculturists of this country, but he (Lord Worsley) did not know how he could reconcile his arguments then with the arguments which ho was using now.—( Hear, hear.) He did not know of any one who had spoken out so strongly as the Member for Canterbury against any altera tion of the corn-laws, and yet he had latterly taken office under the Right Hon. Baronet. He said in 1842, that if the Govern ment took the duty off corn, the property would be sacrificed of one-third of the population, and that such an act would be the scheme of a Minister of a party, hut could never be the mea sure of the Minister of a nation.--( Hear, hear, and cheers. ) It did appear to him, that if the Ministry did propose such a measure, there ought to be a dissolution in the first instance of the present Parliament, that the constituencies by which they were returned to office might again declare their sentiments. Upon ordinary occasions, it was true, the Parliament wit= elected fcr seven years, but when a subject came under it con sideration of such importance, he (Lord Worsley) considered that the country ought to be appealed to. After this Parlia ment was elected an eight shil l in g d uty was propose d, b ut un the present occasion it was a question with them of cern-laws or no corn-laws.—( Hear, hear.) There could he no doubt n hat ever ti.at there ought to be no alteration in the corn-laws before the constituencies of the couetry were appealed to. He (Lord Worsley) believed that if there was a dissolution now, some in their places in that House would not occupy them long.— ( Hear, hear.) He did not know whether it was in the recollection of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite the Secretary for the Colonies (who for some reason unknown to him was not in his place—(A laugh)—in that House,) that he stated in the year 1842, that the Parliament was pledged to protection. Here the Noble Lord read the speech of the Secretary far the Colonies, as reported in Hansard, on the sub - je,:t of the corn-laws. '1 he country fairly ask, as many have altered their opinions in this House, that an opportunity may be afforded the constituencies to see whether they had not altered their opinions also.—(Cheers.) He (Lord Worsley) had presented no fewer than fifty or sixty petitions against any alteration in the corn-laws, and also a petition praying that that House would place no confideace in her Majesty' Government. lie was never more surprised than on seeing the names of in dividuals to these petitions who refused him (Lord Worsley) their support, because he refused to place confidence in her Majesty's Government.—( Hear, hear.) But it did seem to him (Lord Worsley) extraordinary that these changes of her Majesty's Government were never suspected by any of their supporters. The Noble Lord the Member for the City of London (Russell) gave them warning in his answer to an when h e sa id, th a t " if t h e peop l e nld prevent them f rom re p ea li ng th e a w d e d r r e e u s s n f t t r e o d m , n Plymouth, u m w o e u r t h t:o corn-laws."—(Hear, hear.) (Here the Noble Lord (Worsley) read the answer of Lord John Russell to the inhabitants of Plymouth, wherein he alludes to the corn-laws.) His Noble Friend gave that warning to many opposite, but they did not profit by it, but on the contrary they still sup ported her Majesty's Government. He hoped the Right Hon. Baronet opposite would listen to the advice of some of his supporters, and take the sense of the country on his measures.— (Hear, hear.) At present there was an oppor tunity for the Irish producer to send over their supplies of corn to this country, but if the present measure passed into a I law, they would not make so much of their land as now.—( Hear, hear.) It was his intention to support the alteration proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet, with respect to timber, for when the landlord did not find the tenant timber, it was difficult for them to get good timber for trade. lie ( Lord Worsley) be lieved it would be for the advantage of the country generally to have cheap timber, but he believed it would be against the interest of the country generally to have any alteration in the corn laws, and he would consequently oppose that part of the Ministerial measure.—( Cheers.) ' Sir JAMES GRAHAM observed that he should be sorry if this question should be diverted into a mere political one, for he agreed with the Noble Lord that this was a question which should be regarded as being of the utmost national im portance—( Hear, hear)—and he hoped that it might not, therefore, be treated as an occasion for venting personalities. —( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Northampton • shire had challenged the Government, and said that, if they had changed their opinions, let them avow it. He would take up that challenge, and he would explicitly say that he had changed his opinions; and with that avowal he would dispose of all the speeches which had been made on both sides of the House.--t Loud and continued cheering.) And he would only ask their pa tience until he pointed out the reasons for that change.— ( Hear, hear.) He would, however, before he proceeded to that part of his subject, beg their attention to the tests by which public opinion ought to be guided respecting the changes of Honourable Gentlemen. And he would say that, in the case of a particular Member, the question stifled(' be asked, does the change of opinion promote his personal in fluence ? He, pet haps, might be permitted, from the tone which the debate bad taken, to glance at his own private affairs.—(Hear, hear.) He could assure the House, that all the influence he possessed was that only of a landlord, and he could confidently say that in his position of a landlord, he was exposed to as much risk by the passing of the present measure—if it was injurio s--as any other landed pro prietor..---( Hear, hear.) Now, as a Minister of the Crown, the question should be asked, does his change of opinion increase his strength or consolidate his power? Could there be a doubt, after the unhappy scenes which they witnessed on the Ministerial side of the House for the last two nights of the debate, that a Minister of vast talents ; the leader of a great party, whose confidence he possessed, bad risked all—had, as it was said by a Noble Member, almost dissolved that party, from the conduct which he, from a sense of duty, felt himself bound to adopt.—(Loud cheers.) Had the Minister then, by his change, acted unfairly towards his political adver saries? Ile felt bound to say not. He had tendered his re signation frankly to his Sovereign—that resignation was not ac cepted. He (Sir J. Graham) entirely concurred in that re signation, for it was his earnest wish that this mea sure should have been brought forward by the Noble Lord on the opposite benches. He thought that if it was so, he would have been more properly placed. After all that had occurred, it would have been better—better for the public—better for the public men —(Cheering from both sides of the House.) Yea, be considered it would have been for the public advantage that the present measure should not have been proposed as the Government felt it their duty to propose it. He was sure the Noble Lord would bear testimony to the truth of his statement that he offered as a private Member of Parlia. meat, to give his support to the measure as much as if he was a member of the Government.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) (Lord John Russell bent his head in token of acquiescence). Having disposed of these matters, which were personal to him self, he would answer the question hut by the Member for North amptonshire ; whether these measures were brought forward merely because they thought it expedient? Now the Government had brought it forward, not only because they thought it ex pedient, but because they thought it right and necessary for the general interests of the country. —( Hear, hear.) It was also observed that the time bad arrived when the question should be finally settled; that settlement met his hearty con currence.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. 111tmber for North. amptonshire put the question justly and fairly; he said the point to be decided was, whether the abolition of the protec tive duties would be averse to the poor. The Noble Lord the Member for Stamford put it on terms equally distinct. He said, will the alteration in the corn law not only give cheap bread, but give a greater qua n tity of cheap bread to the poor operative ?—(Hear.) He did dis tinctly say that was really the great question. Was the main tenance of the present corn-law most conducive to the interests of the larger number of the community ? lie would read an extract from a speech made by his Right lion. Friend in 1839, to which frequent reference had been made during that debate. My Right Hon. Friend then stated " that he had no hesitation in stating that if the then existing' corn-law could be shown to be inconsistent mil the prosperity of the agricultural labour, but also inconsistent with the ge neral interests of the country, the corn-laws ought to be re pealed."—( Hear.) He might, perhaps, be deemed presump tuous if he quoted a sentence which had also fallen from him self; but he might be permitted, when they considered the course which had beers taken.—(Hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet read an extract from his speech, in which he had stated that, in his opinion, the prosperity of the agriculturist very much depended en the public prosperity, and that it would be expedient to gradually bring their trade in corn to a nearer relationship wit their manufacturing interest. He also then stated " that he was not satisfied with the plan of setting up a separate in terest for the landlord from that of the farmer. He believed that their prosperity would, on the main, be found to depend on the welfare and comfort of the working classes, and upon the abundance and cheapness of their food."—( Hear, hear.) With regard to the harvest of last year it was of a most peculiar character ; it was not deficient in quantity, but in point of qua.ity it was of exceeding variety. The alteration of the law in 1842 had a very adverse effect, as far as regarded the averages, and his real opinion of the law of 1842 was, that it had the effect of rendering protection more stringent than the antecedent law.—( Hear, hear.) That was demonstrated by the three last harvests, during which the:privs rose, and a duty of 14s. to 15s. followed un ter the sliding scale. ' A strange coincidence was pointed out by Adam Smith, and which occurred from the year 1773 to 1792, when a great start bad taken place in their commercial industry and manteac turing prosperity. The law, however, of 1815, was altered five or six times.—(Hear.) Now, together with the imper fect operation of the sliding scale, which followed the recent change, there was in addition the failure of the potato crop throughout the United Kingdom. That was not confine I to Ireland, as had been supposed by some. The failure extended to the south of England, and he believed it was even greater there than in'lreland. The working population there might not be dependent so much on that article of food. But the failure deprived them of a considerable portion of what they looked forward to for their maintenance. In Scotland also the failure existed to a very great extent. From the parochial returns which they received on the subject, it appeared that one-third of the potato crop was destroyed there as early as November last. He would not go through the various details on the subject, but from the report of Mr. Lindley and Mr. Playfair, a great portion of the potato crop was destroyed ; and they also recommended that an expedient should be adopted by which one-eighth of the whole cress of the present year should be kept for Reid year. Under these circumstances, last autumn, while he was resident in the north of England, it appeared to him that the question of the coming scarcity, which it was apprehended would result in a famine in Ireland, bore an indissoluble connexion with the existing corn laws.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord, the Member for Liverpool, said that he did not see that conuexion ; and the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire had given expression to a similar opinion.—(Hear, hear.) He would ask the House then to be allowed to state the impressions which the cir cumstances he alluded to had caused in his mind, and the reason of the connexion which he was of odinion they bore to the question of agricultural protection.—( Hear, hear. ) It struck him that to apply the money of the public purse to meet the calamity, was neither a statesmanlike, nor a prudent mode of dealing with it. Some money lad been already granted for that purpose ; and he greatly feared that more would be necessary. He would ask, therefore , could any ministry, with the responsibility of office, advise public money to be expended for the purpose of enabling the great bulk of the people to procure subsistence, while those laws that had for their object the raring of the price of corn in an artificial manner, should be left on the statute-book without alteration ?—( Hear, hear.) Other persons might be bold enough to propose such an appropriation from the public purse, but he confessed that no power on earth, under such circum stances, could induce him to do so. He, therefore, stated to his Right lion. Friend (Sir R. Peel) that he would at once sup port him in the susnernion of those restrictive laws, and he was happy to find that such a suspension was strongly approved of by a great many gentlemen on that (the Ministerial) side of the House.--( Hear, hear, and laughter.) lie was surelhat the landed gentry of England would not tolerate for a moment the existence of such a state of things as was appre hended, when it could be greatly alleviated, if not entirely re moved, by the abolition of those protective laws. To propose some small amendments in the existing laws, or some small measure which would not materially affect their operation, would be a course unworthy of the high character of those gentlemen, and unworthy of the great emergency which d emanded an alteratier. Under such circumstances, he ( Sir James Graham) saw the necessity not merely of so . pending, but of abolishing the laws altogether. 1 t might be asked, then, what reason he had to , e',a-L . . 1 ' which he entertained in 1042, the time ,-,nsti the last altera tion had been made? He might be asked, was not his expe rience binet) that time, of the eperatiou of the *lnge, favour. TILE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARI 11 5 i 8 4 .6 PARMA 11 EN TA R Y BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) MONDAY, FEB. 9. The following Petitions for Railways were reported, and the Bills ordered to he brought in ty the undernamed Ron. Members : North Staffordshire (ilareeastle to Sandbach)—Mr. Adderley and Mr. Ricardo. Ashburton, Newton, and South Devon—Sir J. Buller, Mr. Gill, and Mr. Matheson. Blackburn and Preston—Mr. Patten, Mr. Feilden, and Mr. Hornby. Irish Great Western —Mr. French and Mr. Itedington. Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston— Mr. Patten, .:qr. Chilon, Mr. Entwisle, and Mr. Feilden. North Kent—Mr. Him and sir. Smythe. North Kent (City Extension)—Mr. Rice and Mr. Smythe. York and North Midland (Whitby and Pickering Extension)—Mr. 0. Duncombe, Mr. A. Chapman, and Mr. Hudson. London and South-Western (Epsom Branch)—Mr. Kemble and Sir J. Easthope. North Staffordshire (Churnet Valley Line)—Mr. As - Marley and Mr. Ricardo. The following Railway Bills were presented, read a Ant time, and ordered to be read a second time : . _ _ London and South-Western (Hampton Court Branch)—" to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to make a Branch Railway to Hampton Court Bridge, in the county of Surrey." London and South-Western (London-bridge Extension)—" to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to extend their Railway to the High-street, Southwark, and to the Thames, near London-bridge, all in the county of Surrey." London and South-Western (Chertsey and Egham Branch)—" to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to make a Branch Railway to Chertsey and Egham, in the county of Surrey." Blackburn, Chorley, and Liverpool—" for making a Railway from the Blackburn, Damen, and Bolton Railway, to the Liverpool and Bury Railway, with certain Branches therefrom, all in the county of Lancaster, to be called The Blackburn, Chorley, and Liverpool " Staines and Richmond Junction—" for making a Railway front Richmond to Staines, to be (failed The Staines and Richmond Junc tion Railway.'" able to it ? He had to say, in reply to that, that his ex- Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Amendment. perience was not only not favourable, but directly the R e u , n y t e er , , , ttJ c , Donne, and ect Glasgow. reverse ; and his experience since that time was a lamentable .1 ` Great sxritn - I,oy, n S . oiti ' ll ' florneas r tle, ' Lino , ll:, and lan Junction. one. Since that law passed the greatest dangers to the public Oxford, Coventry, and Burto.i.on-Trent. safety and general tranquillity had resulted. He had the ex- Launceston and South Devon. perience of great distress to bring forward as his reply, and as Eastern Counties (Lincoln to Milford). the time was now passed e he might also add it was a time of the Leeds and Thirsk (St. Helen's Branch Deviation). Leeds and Thusk (Nordt-Eastern Extension, Wath to Hartlepool) most imminent danger. —( Hear, hear.) What were the cir- Leeds and Think (linaresborough Branch Extension). cumstances of the case? For about three weeks at the period Edinburgh and Glasgow and Scottish Central Amalgamation. he referred to, there were assemblsd in different parts of the Mallow and Fermoy. country immense masses of the people, wile under the influence Mankland and Kirtintillock. of the want of employment—from a deficiency in the East and West of England Junction. staple manufacture were meditating the mst dan- Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin. WE.DNESDAY, FEB. 18. gerous projects, and contributed very much to excite . Horonry Bridge and Calder Railway. Y> feeling of universal alarm throughout the country. FRIDAY. FEB. 20. A few years ago her Majesty's Ministers were continually Dublin and Sandymount (Atmospheric) called upon to use every exertion to keep the public peace; and he could say, without fear of contradiction, that durirg that period, when large masses of the people were going about the streets, for three months the anxiety of himself and his colleagues was greater than at any other period of the Admi nistration. All that anxiety was occasioned through the fear of the public peace being broken. Now, that agitation was occasioned by the scarcity of employment and the general depression of trade.—(llear, hear.) It would be remem bered that during that turbulence high prices pre vailed. Ile had passed the Horse Guards for the last twelve months with great satisfaction at finding the country so quiet. —( Hear, hear, and laughter.) He was happy to say that for some time the country had been in a perfect state of quiet, rot withstanding the great scarcity in the supply of the com modities so necessary to ensure the content of the working po. pulation. He had taken the returns of persons who had been committed in the several counties for the last five years, and he found that as the price of food had risen, so did crime increase in proportion. He took Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Cheshire. In the year 1840 there were committed 1,011; in 1841, 1,046 ; in 1842, 1,013 ; in 1843, 8,094 ; in 1844, 7,0€9; making a reduction in favour of the periods when low prices prevailed of 11 per cent. In Gloucestershire it was 1,045, 1,236, 1,252, 929, making a reduction of 9 per cent. In Cheshire it was 1,042, 943, 1,086, 1,118, 797, 688, making a reduction in favour of low prices of 19 per cent. on the whole. This was a proof that the lower the price of corn the better provided were the people, and the more peaceable did they conduct themselves. He was able to state, from informa tion which he had received, that wages did not rise with the price of corn. —( Cries of " Hear, hear.") This should not be the case. It was true that at times this case varied, but he would contend that the price of corn had not always a favour able influence on the wages of the working clases. It ought to be concurrent that wages should rise as corn advanced in price. This he stated on the authority of Sir T. Waisham. He says that as the price of corn rose, wagei invariably fell. —( Hear, hear.) It was said that this country would not benefit by the exchange of other countries for our manufactures, but it must be admitted that such exchange must take place. Now, directly or indirectly, there must be an exchange of commodities between this country and foreign countries, and the result would be an amount of mutual imports and exports, thus extending the general sphere of their commerce. His Noble Friend had dilated in very pathetic terms upon the condition of the farmers of this country, whom he supposed to be about to be expelled in consequence of the operation of this law in its changed state.—( Cries of " No, no.") He was now alluding to the speeeh of his Noble Friend the Member for Liverpool. The Noble Lord had stated that the result of this change would be to place the tenant-farmer in such a position as to render him utterly unable to continue his engagement to his landlord.—( Cries of " No, no.") He would contend for it that he had beard ex pressions to that effect made use of by the Noble Lord from the very spot on which he now stood. However, he ( Sir J. Graham) had no apprehension whatever upon this subject. The Hon. Member for Lincoln had spoken of the settlement of this question as one of great importance, but he ( Sir J. mes Graham) was of opinion that there was but one mode of settling it. He would not now dwell upon the proceedings of the meeting that had taken place in Wiltshire; he would pass from it at once, and call the attention of the House to 'he sub ject now before it. There could be no doubt but that there were many Members of that House who entertained a strung opinion upon the question who had been obliged to change their ~pinion, by reason of their experience of the events of the last three years, and he trusted that that experience had not been thrown away.—( Hear, hear.) He was ready to admit that t:e agreed with the Hun. Member for Durham, that the happiest time that eser dawned upon England would be that period which should witness the a 'justment of this question by mutual understanding aid without any legislative measure, but such an arrangement, he feared, was not to be hoped for. He was glad to have read the sentiments of the Noble Lord the Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire upon this question, and he could assure that Noble Lord that he was happy again to see him in that House after a short ass-ence, and under circumstances which enabled him (Sir James Graham) to say that his Noble Friend had given utteranc • to sentiments so much in accordance with his own, but which he had endeavoured but feebly to give ex pression to.— ( Hear, hear.) Let the question at once be settled, and he had no doubt the result would be the fullest enjoyment of the advantages he expected, without any of the jealousies or ill-feeling at which so much alarm had been ex pressed. He had not the least doubt but the landlords of the country—and he now spoke as a hoellosd himself—would rot have to make any great sacrifice ; but even if they had, he, for one, would say, that he would rather make ten times as great a sacrifice, than permit it to be said that, by not doing so, he had contributed to increase distress, or had not lent his aid to increase the happiness of the great bulk of the community, and afford sufficient food for the people.—(Cheers.) It had been ea d by Hon. Members that the result of this measure would be that a great party would be broken, that certain ties would be severed, and that the Administration of the country would be dismembered—( Hear, hear)—but he begged to tell the House that in his conscience he believed that the result of this proposition would be to save this great nation from misery, anarchy, and ruin.—( Loud cheers.) Lord CLIVE said he assured the House that he would not, at that late hour of the night, attempt to trespass upon its sttention but for a very short time ; but he woult beg leave to say, that from the circumstances thathad occurred, it did ap pear to him, from the short time that had elapsed, it would be impossible for the country to have had an oppor tunity of coming to a correct decision upon this question. His Right Hon. Friend, the Secretary-at-War, stated his full and sincere conviction in the speech which he delivered, and in which he vindicated the course which he felt it his duty to pursue. He had stated his conviction that, if it were shown to the gentlemen of England interested in agricultural affairs that by the abolition of the corn-laws they would be minister ing to the wants and necessities of their fellow -creatures, that they would cheerfully accede to the adoption of such a mea sure. That was the ground on which he (the Noble Lord) stood.—( Hear, hear, from the Ministerial benches.) If the Government could show, as they stated they could, the overwhelming necessity ; if they were at present impressed with the conviction that their new plan was not as futile and leaseless as their former, they would give the agriculturists of the country an opportunity of proving whether or nut the matter was conceded to the wants and necessities of their fellow-sub jects, or whether it had been forced upon them by the dexte rity of two discordant cabinets.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was aware that by a dissolution on the present question great excitement would be engendered, and great strug gles between classes would follow ; but these evils, bad as they were, would pass away, and would be less enduring than the anarchy and confusion which he believed would ensue from the course which her Majesty's Ministers were at present pursuing, and which, he believed, would be far more pregnant with evil.—(Hear, hear, from the Ministerial benches.) There fore, being apprehensive of such an evil, though many sur rounded the question, he should feel it his duty to vote for the motion of the Hon. Member for Bristol.—(Cheers.) In doing so he would have the satisfaction of experiencing, when he should come before his constituents a different reception from that with which the Right Honour able Baronet at the head of her Nlajesty's Government taunted the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Edinburgh. in the year 1840, that he had been deservedly treated by his clas sical constituents.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) Several Hon. Gentlemen rose, but were met with loud cries of " A•ljourn, adjourn," and " No, no," amid which Sir R. PEEL rose, and was understood to say (the con fusion at the moment being very great) that he thought the best course to be adopted was to adjourn the further considera tion of the question to Thursday.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. COLQUHOUN agreed entirely with the Right Hon. Baronet, but he should at the same time say that if any Hon. Gentleman wished to address the House, he thought he should be beard.—(Loud cries of " Adjourn.") The debate was then adjourned. DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. The House went into Committee on the Drainage (Ireland) Bill; and, after a few observations, clauses from 1 to :).0 were agreed to. The other clauses of the Bill were then agreed to, and the House having resumed, the Chairman reported progress, and the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow (Thursday). The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at five minutes to One o'clock till Twelve o'clock this day. LAW LiTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORD.:;. Feb. 10. THE CORPORATION UP GUIUCESTEN. V. 0.:1301:N AND SURMAN. The House sat to-d ,y, at ten o'clock, for the purpt , sts of herring the further arginnent in tilt. part-heard vi,peal wilt respect to the will of Mr. J,ones W,:od, the 1:;t:: eminent banker cf Gloucester. Ties Peers rittenthmee were the Lord Chancellor, Lc (I . C - ttenna.n. anti Lord Carnpbell, The arguments k cc inied their Lot dship- thew hole morning. CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS, Lord Granville Somerset, Sir George Grey, Viscount Sandon, Mr. Patten, and The O'Conor DOll, being five of the Members appointed by the Speaker to serve on the General Committee of Elections, and not objected to by the house, severally took the following oath : " I do swear that I will truly and faithfully perform the duties be longing to a Member of the General Committee of Elections, without fear or favour, to the best of my judgment and ability. So help toe God." Ordered—That the petition of Thomas Cook and Thomas Wall, complaining of an undue election and return for the borough of Wigan, be referred to the General Committee of Elections. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. MONDAY, FEB. 9. North Staffordshire (Potteries Line) Railway—Committee on Peti tion adjourned till Friday. Feb. 13. Wakefield, Pontefract and Goole Railway (Methley, Askern, and Oakenshaw Branches)—Second reacting, Friday, Feb. 13. Sheffield, Rotherham, Barniley, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and Goole Mdlway—Second reading, Friday, Feb. 13. Leeds and Bradford Railway (Alteration of Levels in Bingley)— Second reading, Friday, Feb. 13. COMMITTEES ON PETITIONS FOR RAILWAY BILLS. TUESDAY, FEB. 17. Forth and Clyde Junction. Kilmarnock and Ayr Dlrect St. Alban's, Luton, and Dunsta'Ae. Kilmarnock and Troon. Goole and Doncaster. South Yorkshire Coal. Templemore and Nenagb. Groat Lei: r and ;Munster (lco. 1). North of Jrtoik. Eut Ikieharn and Norwich. Scancrott, amt sQutitampton. PRIVY CO I It, Feb. 10 . The JudicialConnliLteeUf the Privy Council sat to day at the Council Chami)er, Whitehall. 'P'eLoids present were the Lord President (the Dukeuf Raceleach), Lord Biougham, the Vice-Chancellor .Knight Bruce, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall (Mr. Pemberton Leigh), the Judge of the Admiralty Court (the Right Hon. Dr. Lushingtcn), Sir A. East, and Sir ELlw..trd Ryan. ARBUTHNOT V. NORTON. In this appeal from Madras their Lordships reversed the judgment of the Court below. Colonial appeals of no general interest occupied their Lord ships the remainder of the morning. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT. NORTH WALES RAILWAY COMPANY v. ARCHER PORTO YNLI.,AF.N HARBOUR. This case, which has excited consida - able interest, has been decided in favour' of the defendant, counsel on behalf of the Company having mentioned to the Court on Saturday last that they would consent to allow the injunction to be eissolved. By this move on the part of the plaintiffs, any expression of opinion by the Court upon the conduct of the parties will be avoided. It will be recollected, that after the defendant's counsel had addre sed the Court in support of the motion to dissolve the injunction, the matter stood over in consequence of the Vice-Chancellor desiring to see a case that the plaintiffs thought proper to keep back from him when they applied mt . their Injunction, and which it appears by the defendant's answer was laid before Mr. Lloyd, the barrister, on his behalf, in March last, by Mr. David Williams, the solicitor of the Company, and in which it was expressly stated that the har bour of Portdynllaen was purchased by the defendant for himself, while no mention, or reference of any kind, was made therein to the North Wales Railway - Company, nor was anything stated that could be strained to justify their recent attempt to claim the benefit of the purchase, and which it appears, moreover, was made seine months before the Company was thought of or formed. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Feb. 10. (Before Mr. Justice WIGIITMAN.) At the sitting of the Court this day, a case was called on which is not likely to conclude before the rising of the Court. It is an action arising out of a dispute between two Frenchmen, one of whom (the plaintiff) alleged that he bad invented a filter, fer which he was to receive a certain sum from his partner (the defendant), who denied the claim. The cake is of no interest to the public. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 10. (Post Ter►ninal Sittings at Nisi Prius, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a Special Jury.) THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. THE CfoLDS3IITII ' S' - COMPAN Y OF CIIESTEr. This was an information, filed by the Attorney-General against the defendants, for the recovery of penalties alleged to have been incurred by them in cunsPquenee of stamping cera:n gold wat.th essai wiih the ,tanclard assay marl: wl:en the quaJity of the gold wa's if less value than eigideen carats, theth:eness which tlz-, statute requires for such articles The Arr RNLY•GENEitAL siattd the facts of the case, in corroboration of which he called the following witnesses:— Mr. T. Kaye deposed that he was in the employment of Rcskil and son, Liverpool, at the time when the occurrence took place. First received the watch case numbered 49,941 from Mr. Jones on the 18th Jan:laq, 1845. It was then in the rough state. to have the movements fitted. When it was returned to Mr. Jones, on the 19th January, it had the number upin it. That watch case was omorign the number of watch cases then before him, as was also the others men tioned in the information. Mr. Christ , p;:er Jones, a watch case maker, John Munro; a shopman, and John Taylor, a carrier, were examined f r the purpose of proving thai the waiches in question wale those which were sent to the company to be assayed. Mr. Harding, a d!awer in Cite assay-etfiee in London, d•- posed to tits mode ,of ploceedinn wfopted with regard to assa;..s. They sometimes assayed the ewes by themselves and sometimes the wires, or in any (Aker way they thought it most likely to detect any error. Mr. Jeremiah Fuller examined—Was the a-sayer for fifteen years of the GoAlsmithe Company of Lo dm. lie uscd his own weights in assaying. Received drae .ngs of the watches from Mr. Sharpy, the deputy-warden, and made a careful assay of those portitus of watches. In one Ultimo there was one grain and seven-eighths of a grain below the standard ; that was a grain of a pound tvy. There was a wire 1 carat and 1% grains below the stauchrd. other wires and bottom. were also below the standard. The difference, on an average, would be 4s. 4d. an ounce. A graln of i ;old, according to the Mint value of gold, W:.B of the value of 2d. Acccroin to that calculation the deficiency in one of the cases would be Is. 2d. This closed the case for the Crown. Mr. MARTIN then addressed the jury for the defence. He apprehended that he would' be able to establish beyond a d .utit that the conduct of his clients in the matter was most proper, and he was fully confident that he would by the evidence he would bring forward obtain their verdict. The Company at Chester were a very old established Com pany, having been established since the time of William 111., and in core equetice of some circumstances, which he detailed, it was stated that the object of that prosecution was the removal of the assay-office from Chester to Liverpool. He proceeded to say that gold from which cases of watches were made was in the proportion of of pure gold and of alloy, or 18 carats fine, and to ascertain that articles were made of that standard assayists were appointed. Hs stood upon the evidence then of Mr. Jones alone, who was brought forward on behalf of the prosecution, and he would prove from his evidence that there was nothing whatever in the whole transaction derogatory to the character of his clients. He would, besides, have the evidence of Duke and the evidence of Roe, that the wires and bottoms were originally assayed and found not to be below the standard. and he would contrast their evidence with that of Mr. Fuller, on the part of the prosecution, being perfectly confident that, even if a trifling mistake were made, it would be one which under the circumstances could not re flect any discredit on his clients. After a brief discussion, at this stage of the proceedings, between the Attorney-General and Mr. Martin, it was eventually agreed to submit the whole case to be disposed of by the Board of Trade, and the record was accordingly withdrawn. The Court then rose, the case having occupied the whelp day. CENTRAL CRII}►FINAL COURT. 01.1) COURT—. (Before the COMMON-SERGEANT. ) William Plowman, Edward Plowman, brothers, were in dicted for stealing a quantity of plate, ;he propeny of a gentleman named Gremble, the master of the last-mentioned prisoner. Mr. Ballentine, and Mr. Wilde, were for the prosecution, and Mr. Prendergast, and Mr. Clarkson defended the son ers. As the case was very recently detailed in the police reports, it will -be unnecessary to report the facts on the present oc casion. _ _ The jury found both prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to be tram:ported for seven years. The Court adjourned at its rising, to Monday, Feb. 23. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANS+, YIV-130CSR. A young man, named Louis Phillips, who was stated to beeknown in very respectable society, was brought before Alderman Farehrother, charged with having forged the ac ceptance to a bill of exchange for 97/. Mr. 'Mullen:, of the firm of Bush and Mullins, solicitors to the Committee of Bankers for Pro! ection against Fer t ,eries and Frauds, attended for the pr sedition. Mr. F. Boston, clerk to Messrs. Prescott and Grote, bankers, produced the bill of exchange, which purported to be the acceptance of Messrs Grayburst and Co., of 128, 11e , gent-street, and stated that Mr. Prescott discounted it for Mr. Aaron Lyon Michael, a gentleman who cashed at the house. The bill appeared noted, and was marked as a forgery. It was drawn by the prisoner. Mr. A. L. Michael stated that the prisoner gave him the bi".l, and that it was discounted at the banking-house; that he had seen the prisoner write, and was convi:ared that the name of the drawer was written by the prisoner. Mr. James Harvey, the younger, of the firm of Harvey and Co., goldsmiths, of No 128, Regent-street, stated that the firm was formerly Graychurst, Harvey, and Co.. but it was now Harvey and Co., and there was no longer such a firm as the former; that on Saturday last the bill was presented for payment, and pronounced to be a forgery, not being the ac• ceptance of any member of the firm, and that he did not be lieve there was any other fiem of the name in Regent. street. Mr. Mullens produced a second bill of exchange, which was also pronounced to be a forgery. It was for 50/., pur ported to be the acceptance of Mr. Clark, pawnbroker, of Long-acre, and was received frail the prisoner by Mr. Aaron Lyon, merchat t, for whom it was discounted at Messrs. Prescott and Grote's banking-house. Mr. Clark, of Long-acre. pawnbroker, stated that he knew nothing of the acceptances, and had never authorised the prisoner to accept the bill in his name, neither had he ever accepted a bill for the prisoner. Mr. Yates, a solicitor, asked Mr. Clark whether he did not know that the prisoner moved in a respectable rank in life? Mr. Clark —Certainly. Mr. Mathews produced a third bill, which was likewise pronounced to be a forgery. It purported to be accepted by Mr. Clark, whose name was forged upon the last bill, was for 501., and had been cashed at the same banking-house for Mr. Aaron Lyon, merchant. Mr. Yates said that his client was very respectable, and that his friends hoped the Alderman would accept bail, which could be given to any amount, for his appearance to answer the charges. Alderman FAREBROTHER said he could not think of taking bail for a person, however respectable he might have been, against whom there were such accusations. The prisoner, against whom, it was stated, there were charges of having obtained valuable goods at the west end of the town, and pawned them immediately afterwards, was then remanded till, this day week. SINGULAR Cask OF INSANITY.--A young woman, named Louisa Turner, who has been frequently within the last four or five years sent to prison for various pcliods for having broken the windows of a very industrious old couple (Mr. Prentis and his wife), and threatened to destroy them, was for the seventh time brought up. Alderman FAUEBROTHER — So you are here again ? Why do you persecute this gentleman and his wife? Defendant (laughing)—Why do they lock me up? I'd be glad to know that. Alderman FAREBROTHER—If you proceed in this way you will be sent to prison. Mr. Preutis—She comes to me the moment she leaves prison, breaks my window:, and thr.arens to destroy me and my wife, so that we are sure our lives are in imminent danger from her. Alderman FAREBROTIIMI—Has there been any cause for all this? Mr. Prentis—Not the least; she does not even know me. lam sure she could not pick me out of a dozen strangers. The defendant here burst into laughter, and said she would give it to the complainant and his wife, and no instali, whatevar. She world Lt"~e 1 L 1 ourl,,w in put her ;:lip Dlr. Prentis—i. have lived in my hot's:, ilieso thirty years, and I never received the least annoyance from any one ex cept this woman, and I never dreamt of doing her an injury. The defendant-4Th, wont I give it you when I comelloVri out. I am only sorry your windinv was not ittate-glas,, old tel Oh ,w:tuttlo't I ,ititt'er it. Alderman FAIZEB.RoTHER—You must go hickto prison. The defendant—l'll do for theta as sure 1:s ever they were born. Alde r man FAREBROTHER—You must p rocure goo more to d ba thent.—Con , nitted. The unfortunate woman went away lau g hing. Cl .FR it ‘ ,l .I- . • .rohniv a iderv, a stout fel.ow. was placed at the ba. cLare before you hlve the opportunity of doing anyth in g by . .Ir. Howard, lati!der, of Charles . s treet, • St. Luke's, lO U ate: ling 801bs. of leaden pipe. I appeared in evidei.cq,i bat, on tbe night of the Ist inst., abo it eleven o'clock, the prisoner was seen, tic police -co' car: stable Edward's, 32 C, in St John-stri et, .lerke!tvall, rying the property. On questioning h im as to is P".stel'l-0 aim of it, he said he had brow•ht it a ioi:g dista h n ce ' itt leye request of a man, who was to pay him fOr his troub. .._ took the prisoner into cu.tody, On w hich he triKed pn, (t e cur:stab th le) up, and en ,avoured to th! ow the rl•s upon him. Witne.'s succeeded in agai ,a seizin 4 11!'"' b il l Vie prP m oner ccrneoced a violent at!ack u p on liim b.: cL W I:id he was so severely injured i hat he ha d been e'er si of up until f,r duty. Inquiries were made, and the Mr. Howard were traced to hive ' besot plundered. foreman to Mr. 11 ...._oward, i-lentithq: the To,' roe , • ,„. f u lly Th- • - pri-oner . aid nothing in his defence, and he 1%.. currumittee for tatil. premises v MARKET .NE s— V in)A ) imr 3tj T! ditto. 41 9 Stamm - A.D.— Meadow Thy, 3/ Ss to 41 5s ; Clover I/156 ids; Oat Straw, 11 Ila to 11 13s ; 41 g° p tO er load. Trade, nil,at bare] •1 *4 *k.'s prices. y a w. Clover d itto, is CUibEIERLAND. - Meadow Bay, 3/ 5s to 41 85; lll3s to 1 to 5/ 10s ; Oat Straw, 1/ 10s to a l/ 12s ; Wheat Straw. per 1... ad. Supply but moderate, and trade soniewhat heft" I ** ,,, 4 19 WoiTECEApEL.—Meadow Hay, 31 3s to 4/ 8s ; II 14° to 512 s Gd; Oat Straw, 11 10s to 1/ 12s , w StraW, 1/ Wheat Straw , 1 1 I . ° per load. Trade . dull, at our quotations. 15 , mo t ONIZ.L. o , Sousa.—The market fo u r British P l an t a tion is bee' , vc 'o n w, P dei 7 1 9 60 'dub having been sold at previous rates . Mauritius; have consisted principally of 3,841 bags 3 1 casks w.OOll bags Bengal; 1,450 bags Madras. and 1,50 9 b °s " es Yellow Havannalt. AU the Suvar admissible f or home ° Si d found buyers at previous prices ; good brown to ling e! Ye',4,485 ritius brought 40s 6d to 535; good to fine soft yelloW ,!id to 50s ; low to good brown K.hanr, ditt4., 37S to 38s, and fti 2130 to fine yellow, 42s to 525. • The naval:nab was all tal c , s er ., i it nelt 5 1 . 1 d 2Ss for low brown to good g eyish yellow, being 01,1e '' o nly the value. 242 puns 4', eat India Molasses at anc hor found buyers at 2es for good Berbice. COFFEE is dull. ROlLdemand —There has been very little for this a rticle*. to 16 4 RICE.— 676 bags of Bengal were all t a ken in at I,s for small broken to mid white, being above the value. in ut OS 6d S-A.LTI.ETRE.-2,376 bags Bengal were mostly talie° 13 to 13 3 / per cent refraction, which is above the v ratter" „td portion sold at 2t's 6d for W. per cent refraction, „, bel o g to 64s SPICES.-145 chests Cassia Lignea sold readily at 0 , 110 4 i' to good quality, which are fully previous prices. file SP° Tem,ow.—P.Y.C. is 42s 6d to 42s fid per cwt 0- n town 45s 6d. • TEA.-The market is dull, but the deliveries are ge o4 ' „ Feb. l h) d (From the London New Price Current of ite4e bu t SUGAR.-To-day there was little desire niori grocers and refiners to purchase West Indian the quantity en show being scanty, mercha nts ere - e 113b . i i i to obtain former rates. as 1:f REFINED.-To-day Refined goods were Pure a tes t' o e caution by the home trade, 63s 6d to 645 were the at e '. 131. et for Standard Lumps, and 62s to 63s per el; t is d'fh Lumps. Bonded crushed Sugar is wanted, ao' lib to purchase first quality under 348 per cwt. , r eet 3 1 Maunrrius.-This afternoon - Mauritius Sag 4; elr` bo t attention, and 7,347 bags 313 caskes atle, t l r at e:' sold; the sorts under 50s per cwt brought 1 " those above that price went a little cheaper . gel d tleta s i g EAST INDIA.-This afternoon Bengal was in e ee to 2 ' and three parcels offered at public sale aneountl"'" Gt r bag rrs, were sold at full rates. se e ie• FOREIGN.-llolderS of yellow and brown pa C-- t be b0, 51t 0 4 are a ) 1 . inclined to further reduce their price, bn'iireitem transacted by private treaty has been extrelne ', 9„ eel c t lee at suction 1,509 boxes were taken in rat her ah'''.lls ef . ' MoeessEs-e-Prices are firm for all desc ri p ta) Ineia, aod a fair businees has been tiensecteil. eeittrer CoerEE.---This afterno, n 413 bags of Salta On: P" , 10 lie sale were offered, the sound war. nearly ed Cl / cl above t e value. For good ordinary native ,eas' 49s rer cwt are the rates asked, but little Ints i°3' trarisacted. A 01 0 telf T ic t. a fair business was trauseetee I u ee Tea, but net at better prices. ~..ter r eq SPlci.s -This afteruooti Nutmegs were in "'"' 00' e ' „-Ot and at public sale 7 cases were sold on en advance rates cf 2d to 3d per lb. for it SPIRITS.-To-day a brisk demand sprung up `m teb a d principally for arrival. Cognac best brands of the, d p er- e o 1842 brought ss. 10d to 6s, and 1844, 4s 4d to 4 lea' lon. In East and Wert India Rum, only a li n ite e tee b ut watt trnn -acted, but holders would not take lower r d te a, RICE.-Tile demand has been good for clor . :, ', ol ,sr no adv.nce in the value has taken place. 511°1. '1 ; i 5 ‘,l l ll O Tee value of Java is 15s to 17s 6d, but the In.' t 3 1)- We - supplied. Beneal has been in good r poe t percels sold privately were up , ll former terros. ,seote'oe Oiee-Ttnee has been a limited busieese t ry ds O:iv' Oil, although the rates taken have be ,ll r a „i r r, . I tl those previ , ,uslv quoted. Prices rule ti; m ,u for i 3 '; e ed good demand has been experi , ,nced. Cocoa waned, arid is offered upon lower tau fl-. the ApV Oil has been in extensive revest , r at.d prices are still on the advance. tn. i ete delivery many contracts have been entered I !i i i eca t e Seed is little wanted, and the stock b u n el, lating. In Cod a good business has been traaSse," f o r low rates. For Seal the demand has been oti l b s. ,val u ft tli parcels, and the prices are rather lower. t ei e is '9b tiouthern little variation has occurred. SP,C 4 ',;: r el 3 '' wanted, and 7CI to 781 is the value of good an d Lard Oil is heavy of disposal at 391 too 01 per ta ll ' rt. A MAIN SHOT AT ANDO , ete' FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) of e' l , - ,t,e t ANDOVER, FEB. 7.-An extraordinary degre.,;, 111. 4 meat has been witnessed here this t;av, whilst tw'd tiA; e , was being held, intelligence having been recei re etd r , r e s person named Brierly (employed as timekeeper a, t 8 00 1 .4 , 1 ' the mansion of the Rev. Mr. Best) had been W 41 , 1 ' 1 0' 0 ,70 person , also employed on the works. From the br ,..31r.',;1 11 tion we could obtain, it appeared that the assei la , n eseniett' Shurmur, who was formerly in business in t hJa k, of IP architect, had been engaged by Mr. Baverstace aj el borough, contractor, for extensive improvetnea's,,OUr tions to the present mansion at Rednce. seal To 1 , 0 , was to direct the workmen and pay their wages'. of vidual so seriously injured lodged at the Iln us : e , of D t d sailant, in Andover, and a dispute arose as to a low r ooi, missing, and which Mr. Shurmur accused ' e n '; est ° l eo taking, but who denied having done so. ;;;" to , di morning Shurmur called upon a gunsmith in ~ larges t e h l e cc p t r e e d ge a nceof thhoerse-pistol. guumaker,T a h n is d h t e he lo n ad a e s d ke 7i o e i, 9 r s i iiies o; which, having obtained, he placed it in the P i e t e llor'',fib e claimed, " I intend with this to well frighten n ee' e f ee' then proceeded by the Magnet coach, whicb g h " e " eoa il 'ee ti works, to Reclriee, and calling Brierly into tniet..ey. house, locked the door, placing the key in his l' ec o f O w ", after, the report of a pistol was heard, and a er.ceb 15 . e,, The other workmen hastened to the spot, and' a te beer bar, wrenched open the door, when the unfortu ll t te t ee . into their arms, having received the ball O A tber leis just below the eye. The ball passed n eu e e ttelt °ee l fortunate man's ear and came out at th e r e objeetir head. Surgical assistance was ineedia t !' - ,. ea P ia and we are glad to learn he is at present fee'', l SeiV ef e e r• ably, aid unless lock-jaw or mortification sb oo ' o ,oeir s its , le v it is the opinion of the medical attencant he cog ' 0 , Shurmur was immediately secured, and, the 1 0 10 being then sitting, was taken before them, en until Monday next, the 9th inst., at ten o'clnin'e or" i' el l ' The bankrurney of the hilluential hOtts e - r est e ,t . er - , § Brothers, of Hatiever.square, which recently tbr e i . general surprise in the gold and ailvrr trade so much calamitous distress to meny of its men i ;tirl . ;pilf' ? confidently reported, likely to 1' ' - that ise t eeent , ee e 4 Mr. Joel Emanuel, the father of the bankrupts-i%cer P P • tion for evealth is akin to that for his benevelcettell, O are informed, Most handsomely intimated b il l 00 9 ; t 1;0 ° giving a sum that will preve t the ruin thlt attended the maj ,, rity of the creditors, $ ,4 14 ' men, in the absence of such well-timed kindnes9 o e „ell s [ADVERTISEMENT.] -I)EFEC T I VE 'LS / 6 5 eil' „, i y• la ; HEARING RELIEVED. Instruments and Speetacl et country by post, 39, Albemarle -street, fi ce sohltp e i.; oo t i t , vented gi ectacles, Powerful Telescopes, Ope ra ° ,O ' o b f scopes, &c.-Patronized by his Majesty the K i '4,G t e ° ,;l ° ,o her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Bedford , th eP t ,e ecteo - of Canterbury, York, and Dublin, tllso Dev .I,ibire, Norfolk, Argyle, Marlborough, at "_ed Bishops of Exeter, Lincoln, Cork, Elpbin v, 01' 0 ,0 4 r , Alessrs. S. and B. Solumons, Oculists ;1 1 ' 0 °of:0 have invented Spectacle Lenses upon a W o e e t tion. Immediately they are placed P' I,eht'st rte sect ei-ion, either by day or eau/ I t is 0 , V it , mist and dullness wh;eh appear )refire the Cte' t i o et•4ll l ,s' o s removed, and every object becomes clear and di' the most aged defective sight becomes bright .iftsiosoi and is brought to iti youthful, natural, and °rip i„fit,,rs 4 0e 0, the most Powerful Achromatic Telescopes , Microscopes, Invisible and all kinds of Acon et' o,ed st' o ei fm relief of extreme deafness. Caution-M e ' l n ecSurrlo Sclomons, Opticians, are not in any way c os :ifll'loo et, person of the same name in their immediate a `oos,e,otetie ner in any part of the country. To prevenx cif (envious, and observe-Only to lie had at 39, AlPsolit) o r Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel, and 2 5, <fs' sl °l street, Edinbur, h. 0 'l 4 / 1 1 , [AI)VERTISEMENT.] -ASTHMA, Sn 111 ,„ oWeslo- BREATH, COUGHS, AND COLDS....-A Tau f*. de nt 04, 0' CASE.-The Rev. David William., the re 5 ' o , I ta fe c° ,o minist, rat Bcaumaris, in the island of Aug' e se ,i fi e o f 14 tof letter, slated the 14th of January, 1845, rh,Ouirses. a au be mended Holloway's Pus to a poor man of the , l et faoteo r ,l, Davies, who at the time was almost unable to O'd i yi a pat e u r ol breath, that he had only- taken them a few O,O.CLIOr apt eared quite another man-his breath was pr of_cr t and he was increasing daily in strength." bY etseeo' Pills will cure any cough, cold, or asthma. Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand 1 and, 'I! s l cart "'" rlz ou t the cLa , - BIRTHS. of ° e ° • ef On the 7th inst., Mrs. John G. Perkins, ad •itli 0 , Ar o th l u t r he Pb 7 i t l h lo i t n t! t E ' s i q n ., W of fm a On the 7th inst., at Tulse-bill, Brixton, c , it c ot,. On the sth inst., at Exeter, the lady of Captain joeldbbtotto, Guards, of a daughter. nd„Ei On the sth inst., Mrs. John Clark, of Ponde!'„ ece. Ea . t v psoonle.-street, Cavendish-Keil* 00..0 On the 6th inst., at the Royal Military cue , wee Paton, of Grandhome, of a daughter. f• elO b te l ten-grove, near Liverpool. a dail2 CD et dt , On the 7th inst., Mrs. Samuel Woods, inn., .6f.ARRIE D • _ u oy Trbsit On the 7th Inst., at the Church of the to 0 14 ' 6 ...- CI ton. of W. F. Stallard, Esq., of Upper sP ofto ct WED- L ase, 1;1 0c On the 24th lilt., Winterbourno 1ib1)899 of Henry Sherrin, jun., Esq. stephan, Sou ,c, e, • On the Ist hist, at the Grove, Llan mi . o . re, w o ;p W. Ihl in the East Indies, Esqds : 11 1' 41 5 Geo On the sth inst., at Woodford, n, o f Em Os ily th A e m s li t e l: Richar Lee, itebee c .ed 6rse the aigiu e dt , d , a s u j4 g o. li hn ter G o ra f ti Cl i t i p li t , ain ,,, a i n a , u na oo,t ne: nington-road, of Richard Ileatley, Esq. On the Gth inst., at Cornwall-terr_aeF: ues• "; late Captain Anthony Ludlam, aged , Jag .c0t 4 :5 0 c °1 1 , "" si• et, of gi"" - ' - e c ef Or' On di 7th inst., 3lr. David Leg, ~ e_ . doo to ThOOonlin' tt.lislieT66ttithl:enkst, . E , sq. , of ta r riel niel Cowles, Esq. Deal, the On the sth inst., Mary Eliza On the 7+ nn sstt.. cu u e r v - , :j l e a : :Lac West `7 1 " 4 " 0 /0: 4 Baylis, of Botolph-lane. wife of w i t late uitngt°%l On the 80 the house, Maidenhead, Berks. .1 - : 4 0,, On Cl ttre Ltli gist., , Vilacc9arigi c e a l t ‘ l 7' l .l : i •- • ,) ,bo. • Le 'I Cig : • ' • iyo.l 4o ` . Straw', Primer, at xi adie› of the savoy, la file Count) v • e,e-eut. retard, t: 11, 1840. '`~-~ ~.-