The Sun. — London, England, 1842-02-26 00:00:00

6 ✓~ from Dantzie ,and proposition. lle. fo ge price in England , 1 a4ePort of a sou gh ironet the Secretary f nember, the average 'ar was 30s. 'That 01 port., Now the dit! t Honourable Ba ronil ad, by adding 1115 have a sum Alf 6 t tzic wheat could this country. Ile 'c l " under 60s. there we / r in question under the The average price ill Bs. ; the average Pr ict the duty and ti •ei g bt, !El into this country, t°, e importer could ir li the English .gtower' nglish wheat was as 305., w hich. 11 ,`1, Id make 58s. 'lad already said, o' 3 extremely low in h°„,t/i England having b 7, intzic having been 3":, Dantzic wheat in 1) 1 the price of it irelVrt e l r and the duty %coy.) .835 the averit , e r lee . g Jitzic 295. ,• sc 7 * that not have beet: 501°0( an 595., whi ch, het i • markets, aloe 48s. 6d. the Pri ce ,h s 6 e duty of 205.- W only be ad t was selling ta„ i „L" -5. gland was 555. -iv- I s. 40., the duty 1731 come into the mare` very close in tbst ites that there were in tilt Ountry, and tha ttbor e es which would re' 'IV. The Right lII' the Board of "frauhee with a return of h m t ; f l tities • of. grai n narket. That retail ertaining the price o England lie f°ll° ci riffing. In the Ye gi , , as undoubtedly 0:13, but if Hon• G eA ' ao had been plac e ild see that there this country unere, as 20s. 8d tile ° be between b he 20s. Bd. 1/13iel duty, and that g of duty at 455.4:,',„ his mind, that fro , • ?'n no extensive Or 455 . Bd. Ilia ad gone througll47; conclusion that ', that was about tll b is. From their oo e price of whea t o f t Jersey the priceer, 48s. a qu art 1,1 importance scornll4)° n I, price 0 D c . s a remarkable r islands were Il t .' je bs ulation. • 'The Pg e of Elsinore. .11, ;n corn might be at which it could d Elon. Baronet stet re ge price at Elsie t membered that thil'it nark. One raige 1 ill Russia bY i 'd L by the P r ' e bc t Elsinore for ;e price means tb'e, But what & fi t of the Right rio-I, f the House look fit'a nn. Members 1 011 0 from 1828 door° carter, and n ot ~ 2, 1 3 aronet had ' il ,c .egor stated w e re the " . of re the prices 4.1 is admitted that ti'r, d 365, a que,„„riei., the prices at at 28s. a burl,. ror—(Latigilte r7 `,. a merchant to 11: at 365. a quartergt isura n ce upon it . o f line description re.—(hear , De6r: I •'r erage price of 1.5 at Elsinore an 11: i fficient to fa rns ' landed interest"' )xceeded even th e n, becausa °a the n, the table , across rrat )enmark an 111.-"' Gentleman for` he h he referre d [ea. But heath imself to say ble' i and of cul tiva t land, if the trade g ht Hon. Bar oset rehension arisig '—(Hear.) 'O s '? ference to whee, I oats to be 0100 ment that all the the cultivation of e Gentleman wile •esources of Deoci rn , currency, gild kent.—(ller, 'll 700,000 quartclg e. But the Act' )n the authori q utmos t that 04, )00 quarters, xi!: go od wheat w"" great bugb ear ttr, h e ar),--o u milers to s iva 'd Hon. Genti he t o regulat e )ns of people."' n, in conc lusiab upon the IlotisA tale. r t o d endeavo u so t io had just t he , ere.i upon r Right 1-1011.0dils, Lsoning in " ne) would c the Foos% entan said o • proposed DY ma terialli n , re e red, to a detihnt n. heard ja when ho P. ng of Trade g iv e 01 3 act prod,ufehe U v m , woula,!;',"l-• Ile (Mr. 11 , 7 0 1; ) of the 'Opr? the „ o p men. to the. -,lonunittee t.t t f the Vig" o to re suggeatii en r, n tion.---( Ito this (1 1 : it h mixed up ronet had .• serious efi-!;:i 'hich were 11 1, 1 0 n wou ld,,t!' of ffeet.—(llc n, the NOD . 9 t e he . ;Won th , " extent of l that eotye, fire d to ly se a , and re, calculation ••_ L of the toviao,' f asee'rtain int ' . Lb t h° : Wr,s, NVI 0 0, of 2, 500,0 0 g, pu l a tion la n 3,982,0;111 table, ha" round Pan..s not P" e l l l e )menty all _ O n dd hal e rse of prep . he hoped Dia e advari,r o , by the 311pported 1.),Y ) testthe.o": tarte r to t o ' r , her wa s ma tter ; bef nse i eu tte,o •n t nent in ;1 9 crest as .)ni end rare r ..;; e c tion 0 10 7, II ! hought €' 9 ,l/1;', 5 1,6 00 9 049U' " 14 , new towns d not prol:Q..l.+; v t0wn!,:,,1,30!, l r d take head st* r one cOtl' , , in „h aLA. rate. • ' lr 1: 4 follows, 1 • average to t was pro"- lowe r , to ‘ insert, the average price of wheat must be I No trade in corn worth having could be carried on every a price .• 7s. a quarter, country. was s. reason hear.) 1% as there any man in the Committee, than in the old ones.-(Hear, under 60s. a quarter, in this would trot • li ke , b up and say that be believed this was w h o ; to believe that certain qualities might be sold at e3s. or 545. a quant . i : varter, and rising from that to 60s. But the Right Hon. ineti ier e to he tile ettise? It was a mere matter of arith- i entlemenl i referreeddttoo rest t at had been the case under the former gottrtei)s, If the new towns were as two to five; and if the i law. upon the circumstance that in the t. ,ovfhiecho,risa a s s old ah i o r iit th t e h o e ld p t in o n w t n it s y w g a i s v ofe appear 4,000,000 I course i last year no T corn paid . more than 20s. Bd. considering beyond . BARING.-No importation worth corn ins ‘ en by the ; 4 205. Bd. was to pcctors return,. and if two fifths of that quantity I Mr.- GLADSTONE went on to ask-Would all those Hon. be added 1 • * the of' Gentlemen who t „, O . . , arm i f th e return upon sum these , had told them so much about the vicious ope ie..e lowed that was 5,600,000 quarters, . then it fol- I ration of the old Corn-law, in inducing merchants to hold , , ' 4 "" (1 that before the average could be lowered 25., back corn to obt a i n a high price -would they come forward quarter, quarter ion the wh o l e, i t must b e lowered 7s: a I now w i t h the argument t h at no foreign corn was intro- and did n the new towns compared with the • old ; )-that be = at a point of price less than 60e-( Hear - vv ° ll kl b any one in the Committee believe that this cause increase of the consumption of corn took no , lace at a duty over 20s. 84., therefore no considerable in. e . e ie e e the case?-(Hear, hear.) ' This, it should be P elkobserved ' in crease could take place at a net price to the importer of 40s. ? the H 11 , %as reference to the qualified estimate of If such were the argument of the Right Hon. G&itlernan in *.l.l .. apply 0 . Member for Lincolnshire, but how would it stead of denouncing the old corn land, he ought to support it tc.. n o rg to the estimate of the late President of the Board strenuously. He (Mr. Gladstone) denied the value as to de -1.5-#: l ow _ a de? Now, if this calculation were true, it fol- , teils or particulars of any estimates which even the most able • eeE must Meet the average price of wheat in the new towns gentlemen, using whatever information they might, could ''''.• et . tb e 10 s. or 1 9 s. more than 9ei the old towns-a make as to precise prices and quantities at which importations He he that convicted iteelf. But now he called upon into this country might be expected to talelplacet. value m us th e e R el i g h t Hon. Gentleman, who was so severe upon confess that in matters of this kind he f woud put business more than upon t e -o vernment, to go to the bottom of this matter. upon the e calculations f e o m f practical o i, a men ai e o n t , or Members of the • a _ calledo_( upon the late Chancellor of the Exchequer as t) t Go e ve a rnm u e a n u t o , n h a oetver able or well informed the) might be. •ee:e te reasonableness of the art of figures-(Laughter) -to show It could not be denied that there was a general feeling in the . Oeo ,e7etseasonablenees of the estimate that the averaev (e country that the trade in corn would be-he should not say ',..". € hi the new towns would be ~7s. less than in the constantly open to the admission of quantities of grain that present lit. In looking over the new towns it would • would greatly affect the consumption or price -but that by markets, that they had not included the largest the present measure of the Government, the trade in eta, because those towns had already furnished the corn would be open to a very considerable degree. ofaverages, but they had taken the next greatest, as centres On this subject he might be allo wed lass ofto refer men to th t e he m testimony a , 0 13 °P n lation and consumption, and had made, at least, numerousofHaeariar and Tii e influentialeerta certainly were e ly not, as a class, universally ersd. a rernelrnarative estimate a their sales. They had made 'iivoura , bl e e to the pre y sent Corn-laws ; and, for several weeks 'it t eentr e "" to London and Yorkshire, as The two greatest Past, they had been sufficiently urgent in their applications to Nil Th e „ . , 8 of consumptite, population, and speculation, and the Board of Trade, and in those applications, they had p:eaded le, g e h . ' luund that in the be Matti of the year 1839, sin- with great ability, and.had displayed an ingenuity he hardly k . by I t r bY e nough, the prices of wheat, as returned ever saw surpassed. Many of these gentlemen had been toe, et . e "e corn inspectors, were actually less than the leaders in the present movement against the Corn-laws, yet -Al :1 tte ra ges of the rest of the kingdom ; and that in the they, one and all, held the doctrine that the trade, under the ' s ii., et a - Part of that year the London and Yorkshire aver- - new law, would be opened, not permanently, perhaps, but to Th e rose to 6s. 11d. above the rest of the country. such an extent, and at such prices, that the importation would • et t ' 3 l , II °n• Gentleman then proceeded to read an account be almost constant, and not hampered, te as it h h a e d tte b r ee so m t u sfi nd e e d r peel s, prices of corn in the London and Yorkshire mar- the old law; and, he in should also ' 3 as compared with the prices in other parts of the Those gentlemen,haj4 receiv. 4 great support ki ngdo m d • . . in and countenance from a large body of Members of Parliament, Wei le ,tiring different weeks the years 1839, 1840, net exclusively of that side of the House, but of the other, soillill, showing that the prices were sometimes higher. and from gentlemen who were themselves opposed to the Corn were soi ls dues lower, in one than the other, and sometimes laws. He would not detain the House at further length ; he L ed t i 2e same ; from this he argued, that if any man had endeavoured to show that the effect of the new mode of e ver ut :eir so credulous as to believe that the taking the averages, even according to the estimate of the l ow age price of wheat was in one set of towns 7s. Member for Lincolnshire, and much more, according to the h a ," than in another set of towns, he hoped he estimate of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, had been ne ' laid enough-before the House to undeceive such a greatly and grievously, exaggerated. He believed he had also (j r , ; The Right Hon. Gentlemen then went on to allude given some evidence to Me Commit t t o ee th wit o h re!p n e g ct of to th th e e tr i a in d - e ee r ma of great exultation to a proposition that he referredPortatiornabofaseworooll;ashteohthaodse of entlemeen opinions meet opposed in it_24!adstone) had the honour of stating to the House i d n ie ge w n h e ole system, and had proved, g so far as such a matter was fori:tung observations relating to the Colonial trade susceptible of proof at the present stage of the discussion, that . . ch ar Y i ng a duty of 3s on wheat in . Canada. Of the by the proposed plan the trade would be opened to a cons:der the Fes made against him there, however, he was not able degree--to such a degree as would facilitate the commerce tunede ashamed.-(Hear.) He certainly . was not of the country, and afford relief to sn extent considerably go in these matters, but he could • conceive nothing below the price non ed by the Right Hon. Gentleman. tzemonstrous in a country like England, as that an Mr. LABOUCHERE said, e a s s h h on e ld ha n d ot s h o a l v a e tel v y en a t d u d r r e e d sse t d o et er il tive having made a proposal should be expected to the House on this question, h L e to it whether it were right or wrong.referred to by the Hon. Gen address it now, had he not been 1„ 1 ° _' 11 JOHN RUSSELL-That's what you say. • tlernan who had just art down. In the first place, he must r • GI ADSTONE that was what they said, complain of the situation in which the House was placed with sad li eregard to the question of the averages by the conduct of the (a. laugh) Was not aware that they wished to' deny it.- Government. The Hon. Gentleman said tint it was tha in she The• Right Hon. Gentleman had adverted tention of the Government to lay before them information, of 1,,,i4e tilteration he Proposed in the sugar duties, and he w hich it was in possession, which would enable the House le i& ato have this considered as an analagous case. to form a judgment as to the manner in which . the averages 4 1, 1 ,e was no blame attributable to the Right Honour- would be affected by the proposal. He did think that, con to: Gentleman for seeing cause for an alteration in the sidering the time during which the Government had the vasduties, but what he was to blame for was, th a t it question under their attention, and as itwase a ar l tb e at an it d hat e 1 , 11 7: an alteration of a singular character, and one that t a e ls n o st ton i e n what ir i i n t to sai t t e itwouldo, instituted subject-he dia think ite close hardxly ...4oPosed before the House was aware of what it was, dealing fairly quy by the House not to have laid en the m a Cries of " Oh, oh.") It was printed on the very table that information, before they called on them, as ooh. l ug When the proposed discussion on the resolution Pile they had done to-ight, to decide on the scale and , nd the Member for Liverpool was to come on of duties proposed. It was very well for the Honourable h ands Was laid on the table so late, that it was not in the Gentleman to say, that if they proved that the averages would • i t e e „ s e of Members until a late , hour, and his Noble be affected by the scale in a way he had not intended, then he wh:?s it a ctually came into the Hous e witho u t k now i ng would reconsider the plan. It was not fair to ask the House, 110• s w.„:. , ee• With regard to this question n o one i n th e to p l e d ge i tse l f to a scale of duty, with the understanding that .4 1 . , he thought, would contend that, with respect to afterwards they should receive such information as should . be ae. i 'ea, any proposition should be brought forward laid on the table. This was not a logical mode of proceeding. 'est w The Right Honourable Gentleman said it was a very great th in would raise a barrier between that country and g at• n, when he (Mr. Labouchere) said, not positively, nominal f Parliament should choose to lay a purely exaggeration, i g n e t r he m absence of bet ' ter . information, that, ' as he now re . h e 1 , duty on the importation from Canada, peated, practical men were persuaded that ' the threefold ope woldria not venture to pledge himself that it ration of the Government scale, first adding 150 towns to d nt , not be thought right to adhere to the the list from which the averages were to be taken, next 1..4 Proposed in his resolution. As questions had been taking the making of these returns out of the hands of the corn t emi 'd as to the constitutional rights of the House to inspectors, and putting it into the bands of the Excise, and lastly be a tax on colonial produce, he might say that a preventing, in a very great degree, the practice of speculation b e J upon American flour from Canada was intended to and fraudulent sales (a very great merit indeed), would affect idepPosed; The Right Hon. Gentleman, after having the advertised averages not less than ss. a week. I . l h is ed ea n le d u v l o a c t a io te n s eil eci to those collateral merits of the great measure, wgs h s e tre l ng d th e re i d , by th t e a n d o mi d ss e i n l e i d of ti ldis r ti o n h g a m ity . of a ss. e e l ee ' e on to discuss the merits of the sliding scale. He of ha t n e landed sa u id ere he w believed an alteration P to the amount th ie ,,,` 5 1 1 , as the objects of his sarcasm, the rests intro- change, 2 g s: would take place. But then those two shillii ge t eari v u) I the Ministerial seek. The Right Hon. Gentle- were attributed to one cause alone. It was riot unreasonable ie ~`"d not seem to attach much importance to the level to suppose that the other two causes would have an effect of thi,:,"e first part of that scale ; but he appeared to 3s. more. He was sure the Right Hon. Gentleman would . re of '''' that he could make a very strong case out deem the pledge he gave, that he would make th e a proportionate shoe.level at the other end of the scale. He allowance in his sliding scale if it were proved . to him that the browed that, at the -very point at which the measure averages would he considerably affected by his plan.-( Hear, le i ll ' as ed by the Noble Lord and his colleagues hear.) But he (Mr: L. ) was unwilling to go into the details of 828 this part of the subject until the House had been in possession rieni. created a rapid descent in the duty, the present of ,t, . sewo t that had been moved for, and also the informs '. old create a level. But what was the effect of t . ..e returns urns papers which the Government had promised to lay . opiniormer accelerated rate of descent in the general t b i ef u or a e u them In the meantime he would read to the House a o nvi c 'u. of the country ? It had been t according to the few figures Which a friend had procured for him from. the I,eniections of every one, attended with the greatest incon- library, respecting the effect of the London averages on the ge- N'er tire riee s• But was it an unnatural course that the Go- [wet averages ' of the county, and he need not repeat that the ni e ,ent should attempt to put an end to these inconve- addition of 150 towns, would geatly affect the London averages. Te G ee p s by removing the cause of them ?-(Hear, hear.) On the 25th of June last the general average was 635. ; the nie w t ight Hon. Gentleman had asked what was the London average was 68s. 3d ; the average at Bristol was 60s. in had When they thus saw the effect of the London average on the k 1 0,,, g of the principle which the Government . . be ( ;i ) e l anon this subject. Why, the object must surely general of 150 market average, he thought the addition io th e ~,,v us enough. heT object was, when the state of might ,material extent. affect the general average to a very ~,..'" rkets indicated an approach to rise to inducethe • laverage 725. In London the 15th of August genera was ' 14 ' - "le a • ' the average was 76a. 9d. He thought these figures proved the , ilii n ,,, , if possible, to diminish such an inconvenience by e effect of te London average on the general average bos om g corn into market which" they might otherwise ofini important e rt c a o n u t ntr ( Hoar, hear.) And how great meet be the li e d r u Pted to keep hack. The Right Hon. Gentleman result, if they: diminished the effect of London, by adding so eTilid that he aimed at that level as indicating an ap- many towns to the list? He confessed, from the perusal he ' (Ite et i tia a fixed duty. But the Right Honourable gave the towns, it appeared to him the Government acted with th e et nan should have remembered that the Noble Lord great haste and peecipitation in their selection of the towns.- th at Al tither for London, had declared his belief (Hear.) He would mention two instances of such haste. In te an a u xed duty should be abandoned when prices rose thelist th t e name f of Nonw the whic hnot atet na p erely a v g dlage.-(Laughter.) the j. , their ears, he (Mr. Gladstone) thought . that f The town of New Romney was also set down ; and as it was fro Li ght Hon. Gentleman should have abstained 111 t he in Kent, the Hon, Member for that place would perhaps or tliet 0 sarcasms in which he had indulged on rect him, and inform him if there was such a market at all.- attbje et. F. - t , ( Hear.) When he found such marks of haste on the part of confidence he t hee' °lnnie ueofthe ? er e. „. ement `tleman that he did n t intend his new mode sh mid affect the I.6.kiLADSTONE said that at the commencement but he (Mr. Labouchere) thought that if he consi teede'v scale the Right Hon. Gentleman himself had ,averages; derehesubject more, he would agree with him and the Hon. I '' it very little of the proposed level ; but he referred Member for Lincolnshire that the result would be that the ave tient len when he found that he had got an inconve- rages, and consequently the duties, would be mate- Itte g h t nalver in the other case.-(Hear, hear, and rially affected by the manner in which he proposed to Whi eh on the Ministerial Benches.) But th e answer take them. The Right Hon. Gentleman the 'N' ice7Presi the .h 0 (Mr. Gladstone) would give to the objections of dent of the Board of Trade thought be gave a conclusive an of t h e 'gilt m u. Gentleman to the level at the commencement sorer to his Right Hon. Friend, when he stated the popula kin_, !eale was, that if that scale applied rationally to the Lion of the towns, but the population of the small towns was tk e r . it ~ R , was but right to establish it • and if it were not right, sought.no eans a proof of what the Right Hon. Gentleman tiot i. %et Hon. Gentleman should first have proved that posi- to prove by it. He heard with regret the announce- Nild T he Right Hon. Gentleman had said that foreign corn merit made by the Right Hon. Gentleman with • - reard to the try ; not be imported until the price reached 695. in this coon- intention of Government upon the point they had so long la, ( 1::hile the Right Hon. Gentleman stated that his ,(Mr. considered of imposing duties on flour to be imported from the e arrre;"e) Right Hon. Friend hail proposed to secure to the United States into Canada. He would not enter into the ;Ise t a Price not exceeding from 54s to 58s. Now he (Mr. constitutional point, but he heard the Right Hon. Gentleman '`" • ''''''') w • d findthat . such • h had bsay, I meld understand tina, that while he gave re ad . was astonished to a wish beer, as well as Ile c l▪ l y 10 his Right Hon. Friend, who had before emphiti- his reasons for retaining the duties on the importation of ta h i "ntradicted the assertion that such a wish was entertained flour from America acrossthe borders he considered such a coune t r iee:, l , 4ll ,• His Right Hon. Friend had merely said that if would be a constitutional one.-(" No," from Mr. Gladstone.) e l b 'And be made to range generally between 545. and 585., He thought it a strained construction to say it was compe th °u'htthe satisfied but he • d House of Commons to levy such dut y . He ,at 3ts 6 farmer would be ; accompan ied tent for the - doubted whether they were not violating the spirit of the De gee * e Ge nt l ex an •particularprice. According to the Right elaratory Act, in proposing a duty of that kind. He begged to ) , e ,, • li tel theinan opposite they would have no trade in corn ask for what reason, and for whose benefit that duty was pro ee e niece reached eas. Now he (Mr. G.) did not know posed? He meant to make the widest distinction between those 4'4 ther he would be justified in detaining the Committee by duties and other colonial duties. He believed the avowed aim Pen "leculations, vague as they; necessarily must be, and object of the duty was to protect the landowners of Eng tpe,ehtliat subject. The Right Hon. Gentleman in his land, and he would say, on the part of the colony, that . though t ae 4 ' the Hari given them a certain set of figures, it might not be beyond the power of the Imperial Legislature, ( ir,t - ,.,.- ,, n. Member for Lincolnshire had given them another yet, looking at the Declaratory Act, he believed they would be di,. 'es, each, no doubt, very plausible, but each contra- violating it. He would not follow the Right Hon. Gentleman 44 the te al. _ , other.-( Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman in all the calculations he had made in answer Portsmouth e‘ c ore , a re vn to demonstrate that they could have no trade in •o his Right Honourable Friend the Member for . e ' e r fu icrl the price was under 605., while the Hoe. Mem. He found that the papers laid on the table were at variance with e ci 'Y 174 cobishire had attempted to show that it would go his own statements, and he therefore threw over the whole 1,. bard with the farmers when prices ranged from 50s. to mass of evidence. He stated that he had consulted d . .s . tin- Ts • ••e t i etv, look briefly into ofthe facts ofthe •h d and he found they were of a contrary opinion, some 'ef °ein e • he different le ° N e ents which presented them with the most valuable and that he personas, theigstatements tothose of t .t i °le ah _i"n as to the prices at which wheat could be imported Consuls that had been mentioned. He did not think 1 neces n te,r'oad were the statements ofthe Consuls, which appeared nary to trouble the Committee at any greater length, but he ki ßhti!Pert *of Mr. Meek. According to that summary they could not sit down without expressing his surprise that the kiplrketetporte i: -,200 ,000 quarters annually from the Continent, at Right Hon. Gentleman should have omitted to address himself 4 viii,b tip in bond of 375. There were three places, however, at all to the question brought before the House by the Hon. t'ltwere Prices were higher ; namely, Riga, Rotterdam, and Member for Lincolnshire.-( Hear, hear.) lie thought, d heeocnn e•eee p l; 1 3 ut • the quantity which might be imported from sidering the manner in which the agriculturists had t i tt ,aler s ' Ace !. did not enter into the aggregate of 2,200,000 treated by the Government, they %sere in a sorry plight. _ 1 e • ' , ow they might show thatsuch queu e r th at ey certainly no . He had the greatest respect fur the Hop. Gentleman, but he Bill of the ,fttsiteeto,6cnosuld be imported, in all probability, when the price must say that his manifestation of hostility s(rioos to (f t i b e e ar ß , tear,am.. e e . 4 ir epor u • , after they bad made a fair allowance for the profit Right Hon. T Bai one was not very made serious. -(Hear, speech, and s'atis „l,4"l,ol. ea importer But small quantities of foreign corn might a laugh.) . he Hon. Gentleman • ld lki .'s f (e t , 4 - at a much lower price. Let them take the two fled his constituents in a manner which no . doubt . they would 4Cere° pd and Elsinore, d they would find from the appreciate ; but clearly he had no serious intention of pressing tii•,h t 'rit of an. 1 6 6 b e .._ Our Consul a' Elsinore, that . i , 1 - 5 000 quarters his motion upon the House, and in that he ex•rcised a very • • ( Cheers and laughter. ) 4 0 200 4 ,, l mPorted from that port at a price of 335. ; and sound discretion.-( .. upon the 1 D 7„ 011 e Z rt ers l at a price of 265. 6d., might be imported Sir J. TYRRELL wished to explain his own views r ." th s-- 1 %1 M -11 t his information, ef course, question before the House, as Hon. Members on his side of Net, e C,„ su , r• eek co critic k tf , .of dot . . 3 , and it was ulous to suppose that on the House were taunted with being attached to the silent sys e etilibi aii an fto regarded as tern -(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He could not retort the per e. el y 0 those gentlemen were be • 'tun t e was firmly persuaded that was about the pro- compliment, for in the seven nights' debate there had been on Iv othi ee °be p a i 1 . Bs. age . 4 t° ' for freight. Persons who had everymotive for the other side a great deal of sound and very little argument - t o i pe e. ,ii,extendL the foreign trade, agreed that Bs.was a fair aver- (Hear, hear,. and laughter.) Two Hon. Gentlemen had spoken . el t ,° be st _ileY must not forget, that for Bs. the corn was brought on each side of the House this evening, but they had not said ;b pi [ta ter giarkets in England, whilst out of the price which one word that touched the - proposition of his Hon. Friend, the 4:. °gin e ~ clinained for his corn, he had to PaY the cost of Member for Lincolnshire. -( Hear, hear.) But he could :ee it to market. In this way there was deducted 2s. or say that his prejudices and partiality induced him lie le l e r P. r ,j s i n t he profit of the British grower. If they took to hope that these calculations might be correct. s ae. , ex peon ore, and 10s. for Odessa, not as comprsing the He considered that from the peculiar circumstances of the hi e- t•kp ens e, but the whole excess of expense over the aee- great talents, from the high character, the confidence of that quotan til e to which the British grower was put in bringing House and of the country in the Right Hon. Baronet the 3) s r 3 e e 211arket the result was, that there were 154,000 Member for Tamworth, it would be conceded on both sides of kin 6d ., an'ytett...t brought from Odessa into this country at the House that the Right Hon. Baronet and the Government pr o ` e s'i 40, , 115,0 00 quarters at 38s. That would give a by which he seas supported were in a condition to deal with te,"'ded ti * for 32 5,000 quarters of wheat. Now', he had the question more immediately before the House in any manner Y t tan l ia .,P° ll the evidence to which the Right Hon. Gen- they might think fit. He had no hesitation in saying that Ppeetie_o‘:eferred him. -(Cries of "No, no," from the there was but one feeling throughout the country, a nd that te... r! - !,,,, t . 44 riches) Yes, this was their evidence -(Hear.) was a feeling of contempt for the proposition of the Noble t i ' 44 lt e d b a un dertone some correction, but it was evidence Lord on the other side of the House.-(Loud 'cheers fom the C'"ere e ,,, e 3; Cocsuls who were under the sway of the late Ministerial benches.) He believed that the Hon. Member b p ^ :tin.„ , 1 7: 8t It appeared, then, upon the authority of the for Lincolnshire was a better friend to the agriculturl titl 4 l gh t into they might have 300,000 quarters . of wheat interest than many of those by whom . he . was sur '•nei. a e(tit ngland at 40s. a quarter, showing,. that rounded. With regard to the large majority of 300 li e lip roar- 0 3 , ' . f 16s. it might be sold at 565. in the against the motion of the Hon. Member for rolverhamp.oe, l iel i i i. q P e d the' ' .z , But what was the fact with respect to Dantzie? he remembered . when last he introduced hi. measure, the ilh i3 ,, ard , , , t 4llt Hon. Gentleman would not disown Mr. .House was in an extraordinary state. There was no person it hear autnori kit_ aY, a gentleman of his own choice, • and one :n the Gallery and only two policemen in the kbby, and lie , .ear vin the greatest industry and discrimination. - thought that if he had taken a show of hands amongst the cab writ e . . IN, iit at ti, i ,. • , -nd that gentleman quoted, the average men in Palace-yard, the decision would have been giver, e et. fire: ( zie, for ten years as 375. 74. - If they took the against him. lie must confess that placing that great confi i'" 0 14 irght, 8,,, t ,_. , . I ~ aritzie •., a ab., that would raise the pile'. ' . to 42a• • deuce in the Right Hon Gentleman which he (lid, which con e\sheafco Id It o toe Is r i ti i • u pay a duty of 155., and yeet come fidence was felt by the country, that he as an humble individual ;,. n, G e ,,, s I market at 575.-( Hear, hear.) The Rip* should not be doing his duty if he did not vote for the propo 0 1 1 ' t o otto man ''""!rnan had taunted them (the Ministerial side) „ position to with sition before the House. i ti ute p et , _ refer to the information furni•hedbytheagente Mr. HQRSMAN said that the Hon. Member for Lin eek. 7tit Governme t qu 'tat• i tte Hon n , and particularly to the report of Mr. coinshire camiie forward as the represereative of a great Ctuene a d h* • • • • ' I t h,. lo ts 0 ,.. „, - Gentleman had been careful in his own eons i Gen r is opinion derived importance irr,m 1'4 1 .`! . taid th ' •alr. Meek, when he taunted those Gentlemen the Hon. tleman being one of a large claws wh , i 11i e ,at corn was no more -. 'tl.l ti 25 Mee said that the . has} ".Be, at Elsinore ; .. for entertained the same opinion as the Hon. Gentleman. He °I Yea " had b average price of coin wheat gt Denim. (Mr. Hors Horeman) was prepared to prove, from the Hon. Gen . the tt steadier been 28s. ; but he considered that the prospect tleman's own words, that he had pursued two lines of conduct ; if 11 1 1 "d e withrnt".ket for continental corn, by the opening of further, thet h . e had set down statements which he had contra s ot ey took hati country, would raise the price to 30s. Now dieted; and given positive pledges which he had since broken t e. ( te st 0 , . ealeulation, and added to it ss. per quarter Fi r st, he had stated that he weuld not listen to any proposal for -.4 ' iat importation a;b , Dantzic wheat could be landed in Flap guy alteration whatever in the l'orn,law; - (11. B '. and - and in the next place i t , - -ear h , Paying a duty of 18s., could be sold at 535• he had stated that he would not oppose protecti on , but that he •Itean'titieestr He that admitted th a t t hi s would not be would oppose every a tt em pt t o l ower that protection. With would Anaturiall affee British prices. regard to the first statement, he (Mr. Herman) would quote , THE KIN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26,A842 from the words of the Hon. Gentleman himself, delivered on the hustings on the day of nomination, when he had stated that he would oppose every proposition which gave less protection to the agriculturists than they then had. Having stated that, a few months afterwards the Hon. Gentleman took rather a different line, for he stated that the present scale was too stringent, and caused a great deal of obloquy ; for when the price was down at 365. the duty was 535. Bd., being more than the price of the corn, thus rendering them liable to this obloquy, without any benefit being derived to the agriculturists. He left it to the House to judge of the value of these two statements. It was Most remarkable, that the Hon. Member had pledged himself to oppose any measure that would give less protection, yet he himself brought forward a measure for reducing protection. He would now come to the second part, ar.d let them put the Honourable Gentleman's two statements, relative to these laws, in juxta-position one with the other. The Honourable Gentlemen stated, that it admitted, on all hands, that the present system of taking the averages gave very great encou .agement to sin culators and persons of dishonest habits, whilst the farmer derived little benefit from the high prices, awl got all the odium. He (Mr. Christopher) also said that under the present system of taking the averages the corn trade was completely in the hands of speculators. the Hon. Gentleman had told his constituents that he had always ex pressed his present opinions in the House of Commons with respect to the Corn-laws, and that he would rather adhere to the law as it th en s t oo d than attempt any experiment in the way of legislation. This was on the 25th of June. On the 25th of October—( The Hononourable Gentleman was about to read an extract from Mr. Christopher's speech, but was met with loud cries of " Question, ques ion.") It might be convenient for Hon. Gentlemen opposite to call Question, but he (Mr. Horsman) wished to show them how one state :nent of the Ho-s. Gentleman was opposed to the other, and how, for some purposes of his own, he bad recommended to the country measures proposed by one Government which he supported, and opposed the same measure when introduced by a different Government.—( The Hone Gentleman again read an extract from the speech of Mr. Christopher, but amidst loud cries of "Question, question," and " Divide.") The Honourable Gentleman having stated so distinctly that he would not support any proposition for the reduction of protection, on the question of a fixed duty being proposed, he was ready to a sent to a modification of the scale, and it must be remembered that he was entirely, opposed to any alteration in the law, because, he thought it. would be of no benefit to the community at large, and he, therefore, determined to adhere to the law in all its bearings. He (Mr. Horsman) was justified in considering these statements as contradictions. He ( Mr. Chris topher) had given a pledge to his constituents, that if the Right Hon. Baronet attempted to meddle with the Corn-laws, he should withdraw his confidence from him, and he (Mr. Horsman) left it to the House to judge whether that pledge should be kept or not. Mr. BANKS commenced by saying flea if any Hon. Mem ber had needed an apology it was certainly the Right Hon. Member for Portsmouth. The Right Hon. Gentleman had stated that what he styled the agricultural Members had been called upon to fulfil their promises and pledges given on the hustings. His (Mr. Banks') answer was short and clear— he had fulfilled his rrledge, and that pledge was to contribute by every means in his power to the removal of the Govern ment which then misgoverned the country.—(Loud cheers from the Ministerial benches.) That Government which had proposed financial measures only calculated to excite the ridi cule of every man of sense in the country. Those measure's which no man could believe were seriously proposed with a view to their being carried, but solely for the purpose of em ber! assing those who were to succeed them.—( Cheers. ) The agricultural Members, as they had been called, did not get up night after night expressing the same opinions ; one after an other, fatiguing the House and disgusting the country.—(Loud sheers.) A course calculated to lower the character of Parlia ment ; and bring it down to the footing of those debating so cieties held out of doors. He di , ' not mean to say the discus • sion was not useful when raised, but he did venture to declare that superfluous discussion was not only not useful, but it was injurious to the country, inasmuch as it impeded public busi. ness. These were the sentiments of the agricultural labourers. He referred to the poorer classes of his constituents when he •aid they were perfectly satisfied with the Ministerial mea sure. The merchants, the traders, and petty or small re tailers whom he represented were most satisfied with the propo sition of the Right Hon. Baronet. —( Hear, hear.) That proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet was called a mite by some Hon. Gentlemen opposite—others called it a mouse (Laughter.) But their description of it should not be taken to be the opinion of the people, and the merchants or traders of the country. He believed that all the people, bath small and great, were not only satisfied with the measure, but they looked upon it as not only much more than they expected, but as much as they required. He would not hesitate to say he should prefer the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member for Lincolnshire (Mr. Christopher) to the plan which had been suggested by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of of her Majesty's Government ; having opposed the Ministerial scheme he was told the only course left for him was either to Support the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member for Lincolnshire, or vote for the measures of the Hon. Gentlemen opposite ; but he would rather do anything than that. Lord WORSLEY next addressed the House, but he was perfectly inaudible in the reporter's gallery. The Noble Lord was understood to say, he was determined to reerst the Minis terial measure, and that be was surprised Hon. Gentlemen on the other (the Ministerial) side of the House, representing agricultural interests, had cot supported the proposition of his colleague (Mr. Christopher). 'the country saw that what ever party was in power an alteration in the Corn-laws would take place. The question with the country was, whether they should accept the measure which had been men tioned by the Noble Lord, or that which had. been proposed by the Right Honourable Baronet. Had not the country most decidedly answered the question ? He thought they had by the Gentlemen they had sent to represent them in that House—(Hear, hear)—and he would put it to his Hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln whether it would be better that he should sacrifice his own opinion for the sake of unanimity ?—( Hear, hear.) All that they had to look for was that the plan agreed to should afford legitimate protec tion to the British market. He conceived that this would be most completely accomplished by the Tian laid down by the Right Honourable Baronet. A farmer, of great property, said that he could put corn free on board at Lubeck for 30s. per quarter ; the shipment and other charges from Lubeck to Hull ssould be ss. 4d., so that the corn of that country would come into the Hull market without the duty at about 345. I Id. ; add the duty, 165., to this, as d you have a price of 50s. 11d. Not withstanding this, he thought the British agriculturist had nothing to fear from the Danish market ; for, if they lost at about the middle of their prices they gained in their averages.— ( Loud cheers from the Opposition benches.) He would state the difference of price between the seven large markets and the 143 others : on the week ending Sept. 10, 1841, when the duty was brought down to Is. in the seven large markets, viz., London, Wakefield, Leeds, Hull, Liverpool, l‘eweastle, and Derby, 36,849 quarters were entered at an average price of 755., whilst in the remaining 143 places, where 36,066 quarters were entered,.the average price was only 675. 3i(1., which show e d the great benefit in his opinion of having 150 others placed amongst the towns from which the averages should be taken, as they would act as a check on the large markets. In conclusion, he was sure that though the Right Hon. Ba onet's measure might not meet the extreme views of any party, that moderate men, whether manufacturers or agriculturists, would think it such a measure as the exi gencies of the time, and the increasing population, demanded. He then should therefore support his scale as far as wheat was concerned, and he hoped that his Hon. Friend, seeing that it was impossible to carry his scale—(Hear, hear)—would give way in favour of the motion of the Right Honourable Baronet. Mr. WALLACE observed, that the Hon. Member for East Somerset did not prove, though he had asserted, that the pro pased measure of her Majesty's Government had done a great deal of good. In his belief, the great majority of the people looked upon it as a delusion —nay, an imposition.—(Cries of " No, no." and cheers.) H e ca ll ed i t a delusion upon the ig norant, and an imposition upon those who were well informed. --(Laughter.) He was a thoroughly convinced Member of that House in favour of the total repeal of the Corn-laws ; and, to further that object, he was much inclined to think that his best course would be to leave those Hon. Gentlemen opposite to adopt those measures which they thought fit to starve and op press the peOple.—(Cries of " Oh 1") The people had a strong suspicion that there was something in this motion that would appear in its effects, though it was not detected in the abstract; and, therefore, he hoped the Hon. Gentlemen who brought forward and supported the present amendment would vindicate by their votes their opinions in favour of higher rates of duty than those proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet. —( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Mover of the amendment was asking him if he would vote for it. He did not mean to do so, fur. perhaps, the Chairman might, in that case, make him a teller, and he was not to be caught by that sort of chaff.-- ( Laughter.) Throughout the length and breadth of the land, so far as he knew, there was one universal feeling of disgust and disapprobation of the sliding scale.—(No, no.) From letters which ke lad received, he believed that it would do little good to consumers, and to mercantile men and manufac turers no good at all. It was not denied that some email be befit might arise at times, but he believed that the scale was made purposely, carefully, and most judiciously, in or der that the better climates of England—the wheat-growing counties of England—should be well protected, because the greatest number of voters in that House were their proprietors. —(" Oh, oh !") They would find that true to the letter; if they look 100 miles north of London, they would see whether the scale applied to wheat did not suit their book unco.nmonly well.—(" Oh I") He might be wrong—(A laugh)—and, of course, was liable to be put to rights by public opinion, but not by the opinion of Honourable Gentlemen on the Opposition benches. He thought, decidedly, however much it might be the custom of the country to send gentlemen connected with the landed interest to that House, and he happened to be one of that class, that it was a dangerous principle for people to make laws for their own interest. He never forgot that he had a deep interest in the colonies while they were legislating for their colonies, and therefore he never uttered a word against the measures before the House, although he had great interests at stake, and had suffered severely by the passing of those measures. Humanity on the one hand, and a desire to pro mote.good government ; n the other, made him not only ac quiesce but vote in favour of the measures which were against his own interest.—(Hear, hear.) He thought himself enti tled to say, therefore, to Hon. Gentlemen on the opposite benches, that if they were not like Caesar's wife—(A% laugh) ay, he said, like Caesar's wife—above reproach, he called upon them to legislate for the good of the country and not for themselves. He would tell them they had been deluded if they believed that the working men of this country thought otherwise than that this measure, whether intentionally or no, was calculated to destroy their best interests. He :had not been prepared to hear that the Bank of England was about to reduce the rate of interest from five to four per cent. This • was another gleam of prosperity • and he would tell his famishing tountrymen at Paisley and elsewhere, that the time was arriving when they would get employment until the screw must be put on again. He believed the Bill would do no good ; but he would ask the Right Hon. Baronet, who had read a letter stating the rapi dity with which corn could be brought from America, when ordered, by post—( A laugh)—by mail-packet, and that was by post—which letter, if it meant anything, meant th st a trade in corn could be established between this country and America— he called upon tile Right Hon. Ba-onet, to verify that letter by establishing that trade.—( Hear.) He understood that some emigrants from Scotland to America had sent a gift of flour and pork to the starving people of Paisley ; but he was doubt ful a hether they could get the present unless the duty upon it was fist paid. The Hon. Member Concluded by stating that he was opposed to all duty upon corn and provisions. In that acceptation of the term he was a repealer. Mr. FLEMING said that as a friend of the agricultural interest, and as the representative of an agricultural district, he felt it his imperative duty to declare his entire approval of the measure introduced by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government. He had reason to believe from all the communications he had received upon the subject, that that measure had given universal satisfaction to the agricultural in terest throughout the country; and he could not therefore re f. ain from expressing a hope that the Hon. Member for Lin colnshire would withdraw the motion then before the House Mr. CHARLES WOOD said that he was exceedingly sorry that the Right Honourable Gentleman the . Vice-President of the Board of Trade had not been . in the House during the delivery of the speech of the Hon. Member for Sornersetshir e . That Hon. Gentle. man, n hose opinions upon the subject then under the con sideration of the Hose were entitled. to the greatest respect, from his connexion both with agriculture and with commerce, ad shown the arithmetical mistakes into which the Right lion. Gentleman had fallen. It appeared, from the speech of the Hon. Member for Somersetshire, that the difference o ccasion, amounted to as much as 7s. a iu to arte n r s . between the declared averages in different ha T d h , e o on e o ccasion, Rightrie Hon. the Vice-President of the Board of Trade had treated the idea of such a variation as an absurdity; but the Hon. Member for Somersetshire had distinctly stated that the dif ference in the declared averages in seven large towns and the remaining one hundred and forty-three towns, had amounted to no less than 7s a quarter in the month of September, 1841. The Right Hon. Baronet had introduced a great number of new towns in his Bill. But he had not given the House the reasons which guided him in the selection of these towns. Many were of opinion that the result of that change in the existing law would be considerably to diminish the averages, and thus to raise the duty; and .he (Mr. C. Wood) hoped, that if it appeared that such would be the result of that provi sion in the measure, the Right Hon. Baronet would either omit those towns, or that he would reduce the scale in propor tion. There was another part to which he wished to allude;' he meant the proposed duty upon wheat imported from the United States into Canada. He had understood the Right Ho nourable Gentlemen to state, that if the duty he proposed to impose upon wheat imported from Canada into this country, were assented to by the House, he should then be prepared to give up the 3s. duty, which he had intended to have levied upon wheat imported from the United States into Can ida. He hoped he had not misunderstood the statement of the Right Hun. Gentleman, and if he were wrong, he wished he might be corrected, as tt.e point vs as of considerable importance. With respect to the proposed levels in the scale of the Govern ment, he confessed that he could draw no other conclusion from the fact of their having been adopted, except that, at a certain point, at least, it was thought that a fixed duty would be of advantage to the agriculturist. What he conceived to be the real point under discussion, was the effect of that duty upon the price of corn in this country. He thought that the protection proposed by the Government was sufficient to keep the price up to 60s. He hoped that the Hon. Member for Essex would find that the Government was right, and he (Mr. C. Wood) was mistaken in that opinion. He knew not, however, upon what else they could proeeed but the official documents produced by the Government in support of their own measure, and he must say that thosepapers by no means tended to show the accuracy of the Right Hon. Gentleman's statement as to the price at which foreign corn could be imported into this country. In considering that question he thought the fairest test would be to take the ave rage prices at which corn could be laid down in our own coun try, because the natural question was at what price foreign corn could come into competition with English corn in the market. It was quite true, as had been stated, that it was impossible fur the Legislature to fix the p. ice of corn in this or in any other country, because an abundant harvest must necessarily have the effect of lowering the price ; but, on the other hand, it was not impossible for the Legislature to fix a maximum price by allowing foreign corn to come into competition eith Eng- leh corn in the market. He had been surpeised to hear the Right Hon. Gentleman declare that they could not be sure that the price would not exceed 56s.—he thought it had been assumed throughout the deha'e that that was the maximum price.—( Hear, hear.) If that were not so, he was utterly at at a loss to understand upon what they had. been debating. If that price, or any other price, were assumed, say 575. or 585., then the price at which any great quantity of foreign corn could be laid down in this country, became a most essential point of d scansion. Now, upon the whole, it appeared that 45c. was the average price at which two million quarters of wheet could be imported. All the returns gave 455. as the average price. The best test which could be applied to ascertain that was the price at which fo reign corn had been sold in this country. It appeared that no quantity of corn had ever been sold which would not pay to the foreign holder 455. If Hon. Gentlemen referred to any year since the pass ng of the present law, and on finding a great quantity of ccrn peeing a high duty, deducted that duty from the average price of wheat, the difference would, of course, be the price which it paid to the foreign holder. In 1839, there were 130,000 quarters, paying a duty of 20s. Bd., the average price throughout England was 675. ld., leaving a price to the importer of 475. 3d. In the year 1830, 127,000 quar ters paid '2os. Bd, the average price was 655. 4d., leaving to the holder of foreign corn a price of -.45. Bd. In the year 1831, about 7,000 quarters also paid as high a duty as 20s. Bd. ; the price then was 655., leaving to the holder of foreign corn a price of 455. In 1832, 150,000 quarters paid 20s. Bd., and then the price was 665. ; but the duty soon after wards rose considerably, so as almost to prohibit the importa tion of foreign corn. In 1833, 1834, 1835, and 1836, there was no corn imported. In 1837 a large quantity of corn came in, and the Tru ce paid to the holder was only 275. 10d., but that corn had been in the warehouse for four or five years, and was evidently sold from the impossibility of holding it any longer. The Right Hon. Gentleman would not contend e that that in the least affected the average price. It appeared, according to all the returns, that 455. was the average price, and that at less than that price it was not worth importing. A duty of I6s. added to 455., would bring the price to 61s. It was not till the price in the English ;market had reached 588., 595., or 605., that foreign corn came practically into competition with British corn. He wished before he proceeded to correct a misstatement of his Right Hon. Friend with re:peet to the ave rage price in Jersey. The average price therefor ten years, under a system of free trade, was 51s. 3d. It was not, however, alto gether a matter of price; quantity must be takeu into the cal culation. From the Consular returns it appeared that two millions of quarters was the average quantity, and that there was no probability at present of an increase. If that were so, it was impossible to suppose that the quantity of corn admitted for consumption in this ct.untry could materially a ff ec t th e price, and th e agr i cu lt ur ists might be sure that their interests would not be injured by the present or any other measure, if 60s. was the utmost to which they considered themselves enti tled. The question was a mere matter of figures, and though he knew how dull and tiresome it must be to the House, he was most anxious that it should be dispassionately discussed. It was the only way to come to a reasonable conclusion as to what the effect of the scale proposed was likely to be. There was no difficulty in making exciting speeches both on one side and the other, but he wished it to be treated as a matter of figures and of busines s , otherwise he perfectly agreed with the opinion that the credit of the House might suffer from such a discussion. He believed that the sale proposed would not benefit the consumer by admitting corn at low prices, but that it seemed was not the opinion of the Government; and he should be exceedingly glad, if it passed into a law, to find that he was, mistaken, that the Go vernment was right, and that the consumer had secured a benefit, which he confessed he did not anticipate. That such were the professions, and no doubt the purposes of the Govern ment, if they were carried out, he believed, though up to the present momeet it had not been shown that it was so.— (Question, question.) There was no other point in what had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman to which he thought it neces sary to advert, and though there were some other observations which he should have been glid to have addressed to the Committee, he knew how tiresome and dull a discussion of this sort must be, and he should refrain from doing so. Mr. GLADSTONE explained what had fallen from him in the early part of the debate as to the effect of the new towns oil the averages, which w as t o t h e e ff ect that to make a diffe rence of two shillings a quarter on the whole averages, the price of corn in the new towns must be 7s. a quarter less than the price in the other places. Mr. LABOUCHERE put a question to the Hon. Gentle man as to the intention s of the Government with respect to corn and flour imported from America into the Canadas and the British colonies in North America. Mr. GLADSTONE said, as soon as the House had agreed to i f i3 the E a r highestosaid, the resolution of th e Ri ght Hon. Baronet he would explain the course to be taken. H e stated that it was not intendedto levy any additional duty on w h eat imported from America into Canada; and with respect to fl our, which was at present absolutely pro hibited, intended t admit the importation it bein g into Canada taxed, on and the contrary same totermslaw , a i t t w which it was admitt e d i nto all the other colonies. (Both th e question and answer w ere almost inaudible.) Mr. . T a n D o DUN GentlemenC doubt O of what u a n id d , hiimmp, , h l , ,ad , just passed across th e t himself, had importance ;h unfortunately i been unable to hear a wo r d of it; ants he should not have ven tured to intrude h m se lf on the House, if, like his Honourable the table Hon. ws Friends, he had previously had the honour of addressing them two or three times on this important question. But as far as he was concerned, they should not be delayed from bringing this contemptible farce to a close—(Hear, hear)—by any lengthened observations from him. But he did think it was due to the great constituency, and the numerous and varied interests he had the honour to represent, that he should tell them what he thought, and, he believed, what they thought of the whole of these proceedings.—( Hear, hear. ) 'the Hon. Member who had introduced, what he, in his sim plicity as a eountry gentleman, thought was an amendment to the proposal of the Right Hon. Baronet, had laid his tariff on the table, and he wished to tell them what he thought of that also. His opinion was sot only formed from what he had seen and heard, but was also colleeted from the Wilk: prints in other places. On a former occasion the Noble Lord, the colleague of the Honourable Member fur North Lincolnshire, addressed the House, and alluded to some speech that had been made to the wiseacres of Lincolnshire, and had called on her Maje ty's Ministers— an appeal wheh to this moment had never been answered—had called on them to state whether they had consulted the Hon. Member with regard to the plan they had proposed. They had said they had never consulted him ; he said they had never availed themselves of his great ability--(Laughter)— with regard to the measure they intended to introduce. He was no pilot balloon.—( Laughter.) Some Hon. Gentlemen had accused the Hon. Member with being the pilot belloon of her Majesty's Ministers. The organ sof the party—the Tunes —also accused him of being the pilot balloon ; but he was not one. It would be an in sult to himself, and an insult to the wiseacres of North Lin colnsbire. The Hon. Member ought to recollect that many great men bad been in the habit of availing themselves of pilot balloons—geniuses as great as the Hon. Member himself, or the freeholders of North Lincolnshire.—( Great laughter.) He must know that Moliere kept an old woman—( Roars of laughter)—his, housekeep e r and to this old woman he used always to r ea d his comedies before they were introduced to the public—(Loud laughter) —and he used to say that he could always tea the impressions his pieces would make on the public by the impression which they made on his old woman.—(Cheers and laughter.) Another distin guished individual, a very lively and venerable authority—a Prebendary of St. Paul's, Sydney Smith, had said (he be lieved the advice was given to the Noble Lord, late the leader of that House, but it was equally applicable to the Right lion. Baronet), that every great man ought to keep a "foolometer." —(Great laughter.) Far be it from him to sly that the Mem ber for North Lincolnshire was the " foolometer " of the Right Hun. Baronet---( Laughter)—or that the freeholders of Lincolnshire were his foolometers," or the " fool ers " of the Right Honourable Gentleman himself.—(Laughter.) The Honourable Member had denied it, and he (Mr. D.) announced on his own authoritity, that he was not the Right Honourable Baronet's foolometer—that he was not his pilot balloon. He had, however, got up . a little balloon of his own, but it was one entirely of h 3 own inflation —( Laughter)—lie had got it up, but how it is to descend, the Honourable Gentleman did not seem to know ; he was at that moment in the agonies of descent, but whether it would alight on the table, or meter the table, or in the galleries, it was impossible to sty.-- (Great laughter.) All he (Mr. T. Duncombe) would say, was, that he should not resist him in giving him a safe descent—(Grest laughter)— but he would take care of this that he Should not delude the public. —( Cheers. ) They would certainly ascertain by a vote that night whether the BOIL Member was in earnest or not— (Cheers)--with regard to this question He had said in an early part of rho discussion, that he regretted the Bill of the Right Hon. Baronet was not laid on the table, because in Committee ho might move an alteration i n t h e scale of dut i es; and he found he was obliged to make that motion now. But those authorities to whom he had appealed had told him that he could not do it when the Bill was laid on the table, and they might also have told him that the first step to be taken was to reject the motion of the Right Honourable Baronet. But the Hon. Member was going to sit down without moving at a 11..--( Laughter.) He (Mr. Duncoml e) had said with others, "Move, move," and lie at last did .say that he proposed that a duty of 255. be inserted instead of 20e. As usual, that question was put, and the question was merely taken eye or no; fortunately the Hon. Gentleman, the late Chancellor of the Ex chequer rose before e no " was said, or they would never have heard any thing from the agricultural gentlemen, and though the Hon. Member for North Lincolnshire was note pilot balloon, though he was not the Right lion. Baronet's foolometer, though he was not in the situation of Moliere's old woman—( Laughter) —yet, he must sae , that this condugt was the most extranedi nary ever practised. Never was the agrieelteral intereet t if they were so sensible and intelligent as Hen. Geetleaian iii their orations represented them to be, so deceived. It was impossible that they could be' so imposed one' he was sure that the manufacturin4 interest and the people of thus country would net be' imps ou b 7 this tenionshine‘ nib? tion of the Member for North Lincolnshire. But if he was consietent with himself—if be (Mr. Duncombe) could believe the speech the Hon. Member had made at the last election, if the book he held in his hand containing a report of the last North Lincolnshire election, was correct, sikiees impossible that any ger.tlema n who had made such a speech to his constituents, could then come there and make such a humbugging speech and a still more humbugging motion.--(Order.) What did the Hon. Gentleman say in August last? "He was opposed to a friend ef the Anti-Corn-law League." Very good that. "He did not oppose the influence of Lord Worsley, but the worthless Government he supported." That's good too. (Laughter.) " The present contest was not one of party but of principle ; it was the ejection from office of a Government that would not only ruin the agricul tural but every other interest of the country. He therefore asked them to support his Hon. Friend as well as him self.—(Cries of We'll have him.') It had been said that he was a bigoted Tory and a blinded follower of Sir R. Peel, and that he would support that statesman let his mea sures be ever so injurious to the agricultural interest. A gen tleman had done him the honour of following him about, and had troubled himself to communicate to Lord Worsley all he (Mr. Christopher) had said ; hut he had perverted what he had said—namely, that he should give his confidence to Sir R. Peel, wbatever the tendency of his measures might be. Nor was his attachment to the agricultural interest so loose as that he would not adhere exclusively to the present Corn-law." That was very good.—( Hear, hear.) " Now, he said nothing of the kind, but that he would adhere to that law, because he never heard of any measure sojust to the agricultural interest as it was. If any measure could be proposed that would give greater protection than the present he would support it ; but he would oppose any measure that would tend to diminish that protection. He looked upon Sir George (Murray) as ene of the most trimming, shuffling—(Hear, hear, and laughter)--- persons, and if Sir Robert Peel admitted him (Sir George) or his brother-in-law George Dawson, into the Administration, he would have no confidence in the Government. He never had professed opinions in one place and departed from them in another. He 'sever would desert the party to which he was attached, nor the principles which he professed, so long as that party adhered to those principles. He was the same now as lie had always been. The Noble Lord seemed too much shackled and controlled by the influence of party frames in favour of the present Government. He allowed those feelings to prevail to a baneful extent in influencing and controlling his judgment, and he would sacrifice his own feelings to support his party." Now, if his (Mr. Duncombe's) ears did no: deceive him, and he was sure the House too, he had heard the Hon. Gent., in answer to his Noble Friend, his colleague, say that he would propose a duty of 255. He said, that if it came to this, that the carrying of such a measure would throw out the present Government, he would propose it. He had, he said, so much confidence in the present Government, and so much dislike to the Whigs, that, of course, he should prefer the less of two evils, and should accept the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government. And yet, that Hon. Member claimed such independence of feeling, and he accused his Noble Friend of being so much addicted and attached to the party to which he belonged ! —(Hear, hear.) Why, the other evening he heard the Right Honourable Baronet's talents and abilities greatly praised, but. he (Mr. T. Duncombe) must say when he heard those quslites so praised, that they were praised at the expense of his political integrity. He (Mr Duncombe) would not pay the Right Hon. Baronet so-bad a compliment. He believed the Right Hon. Baronet to be sincere in the ma. time which he had introduced to the House, and laid upon the table for their adoption and approbation. He would be told that the Right Hon. Baronet was drawn back, that there was a drag behind him, and that he could not go so much in ad vance as his opinions and good sense inclined him to do. He (Mr. Duncombe) did not believe one word of it. He be lieved the Right Hon. Baronet had introduced the measure which he thought best for the benefit of the country. He differed with the Right Hon. Baronet, and thought that the measure was a perfectly delusive and useless one. In 1834, when the Right Hon. Baronet accepted office, he said upon that occasion (and he believed that that would equally apply throughout the whole of his political life), that he never would accept of office to be an apostate from his former prin ciples. The Right Hon. Baronet was not now an apostate from his former principles. He bad advocated the sliding scale, and he had given them the sliding scale now, but in an other form. He ( Mr. D.) was not one of those who were disappointed at the measure the Government proposed. He never expected from that Government anything better. He never expected any thing good from the Government, concurring as he now did, and as he had formerly done with the sentiments expressed of it by th e Ri g h t H un. Baronet at the h ea d of the Home Department, when in 1834 the Right Hon. Gentleman said that it was a Government com posed of men who spent all their lives in proposing bad measures and obstructing good ones. He (lid not know whether these were the precise terms used on that occasion by the Right Hon. Baronet, but the spirit of his observation , ' was such as he had given. He (Mr. Duncombe) must say that the Croveroment which they had now, was exactly of that description. How the Right Hon. Baronet, the Mem ber far Dorchester, could reconcile those sentiments with the measures of the present Government, or how he could reconcile his sitting in the same Cabinet which proposed the measure now introduced, it was not for him (Mr. D.) to say. But a more contemptible measure, or one less calculated to .neet the exigencies of the country never was introduced to that House. They had all heard of the man who held a farthing candle to the sun.—( Laughter.) Now, that was a great statesman—(Renewed laughter)—and it was much to be re. gretted that that individual was no where to be found, for in deed he ought to be a Member of the present Cabinet.-- ( Laughter.) However in his absence they certainly ought, as the best substitute, to place the Honourable Member for North Lincolnshire (Mr. Christopher) in the Ca binet. 'I here were one or two points that had been urged as arguments and objections on that (the Opposition) side of the House against the present Bill, that had. never up to the present moment been answe. ed. One of those points he took as the disadvantages arising to America from the sliding scale. The Right Hon. Baronet had the other evening stated that he knew nothing about America. America was not so far off as they seemed to think. The Hon. and Gallant Member for elarylebone ( Sir C. Napier) wanted to prove that it was further off by giving a notice for to-morrow of a motion re specting the rassuge of certain vessels to and from America. The Right Hon. Baronet said they were not so far off America, and they thought that within six weeks they could get flour from New York; that an order might be sent out by steam, and would be back within six weeks. Now was this commerce? Was it free trade upon a footing upon which the American corn trade ought to be carried on ? What the Americans wanted was a certain market to which they could bring their corn. They wanted a market to which they could bring their ships laden with the produce of their own country, to go back letters with the manufactures of this country, which they would obtain in exchange. To be sure they had given an answer to the American people upon this point, with regard to the advantages of the position in which they were placed. They now for the first time im posed a duty of 3s. upon any corn coming from Canada. Of course that was one of the advantages of their position. The Noble Lord the Member for Liverpool (Lord Sandon) had last night said that they had sent out, upon a special mis sion to America, a Noble Lord (Lord Ashburton), who was a Now he (Mr. Duncombe) had most courageous Nobleman. no doubt that that noble individual was a most amiable person in private lite, but that he was a courageous nobleman he had never heard before. In that House that Noble person had ever shown the greatest indecision of character, the greatest infirmity of purpose that was ever evinced on the part of any individual who addressed the House.—( Hear, hear, hear.) It was totally impossible after he had addressed the House to know what side he meant to take. Yet that individual was described as a most courageous nobleman.—( Hear, hear, much laughter, and cries of " Ques tion.") That was the question—it was the question last night, and was it not so now ? If he was a courageous nobleman last night, how had he lost his courage to-day ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) That noble individual had always been opposed to the popular interest. He had during the time of the Reform Bill, evinced the greatest dis trust of the popular interest.—( Hear, hear, and cries of " Question," and " Order, order.") They had talked of the special mission, and set they did not want to know what it it really was. Well, he would not tell them. —( Loud laughter,) The Americans would know it. Notwithstanding that that individual might be a courageous nobleman—notwiesstanding the compliments paid him by the Hon. Member for Liverpool, he (Mr. Duncombe) would tell them that he would not carry out with him the confidence of this country, and he would not carry back with him the confidence of America. No. If the Government would hold out to the country the chance of free trade—if they would only open their ports to the com merce and enterprise of America, they would then cement a union bstween the two countries--they would then have no boundaries about which to dispute—they would have no fortifica tions to raise, they would have no jealousies to allay.—( Cheers. ) If they only held out to that country the hand of free trade, hey would cement a union that would !redound to .hair own ho:iour, and promote the interests of mankind. Tire lion. Member for North Lincolnshire had stated that fourteen nights were uselessly wasted in that debate. He (Mr. Duncombe) was not aware that fourteen nights were so wasted. It was a calculation somewhat like what had been made with regard to wheat, he had no doubt.—( Hear, hear.) But if fourteen nights had been so consumed, they were con. sumed in asserting a principle which, they might depend on it, was acceptable to the great body of the people.—( Hear, hear. ) lint the last night's debate was worth the whole of the four teen. They had heard two speeches last night which would open the eyes of the people of England. They heard of the speech of the Hon. Member for Stockport, which had been listened to as if he was talking to the winds ; but the people of England would read it, and he hail no doubt, that from its ability, its argument, and its truth—(Cries of Oh, oh," from the Ministerial benches)—it would make-a deep impression upon the people. —( Hear, hear.) But there was another speech made by the Hon. member for Knaresborough, and the manner in which it had been received by the Conservative Tory party in House, and by the Ministers on the Treasury bench, would open the eyes of the people of England.—(Loud cheers from the Ministerial benches, and counter-cheers from the Opposi tion.) It would open the eyes of the manu f acturing intetest of the country.—( Hear, hear.) The manner in which that speech had been received showed that Gentlemen on the other side, and the great llinisterial majority which followed, had declared open war against the manufacturers.—( Cries of " No, no.") It was too late for them now to say " No, no."—( Cheers.) He could only say that that the grosser the insult, the louder were their cheers—the fouler the calumny, the more rapturous was their applause--( Cheers, and cries of " Order, order")—the intensity of the Ministerial exultation was only regulated by the malignity of the libel.—(oh, and cries of " Order, order.") Yes, he said they showed a feeling of exul tation. He saw the Right Hon. Baronet (the Secretary of State for the Home Department) chuckle.—(l.aughter.) He saw the Right Hon. Baronet (the Paymaster of the Forces) shake his portly sides—(Laughter) —when the Hon. Member for Knaresborough read to the House his foul and malignant communications—aye, and anonymous too.—(Cries of " No, no," from the Ministerial benches.) They might depend on it these doings would rot last. They had professed great sym pathy fur the distress of the people, but when, to wards the close of last Session, he (Mr. Duncombe) stated what the woes and sufferings of the people were, lie was told they were exaggerated, but they were saner , acknowledged and confirmed, and' the Hoa. Member or Leeds said that those representations were rather under than over rated.—( Hear.) But let him (Mr. Duncombe) tell them that the suffering people wanted something more substantial than their lip sympathy. They had been waiting with pa tience for four or five months to see how you would deal with their misfortunes—they wanted to see if you had the inge. nuity to untie, or the courage to cut, the Gordian knot, which a sordid aristocracy fastened, not only on the industry and labour of the people but on the comforts and ex istence of the poor. They find you deficient in those qualities, and the Mi n i s try might depend upon it they espuld Inc which induped thesis in these the hour a n d l amen t th e policy days of peace, and in the plenitude of their power, to regard with so little favour and so little indulgence that reotion sub mitted to them by the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton. (The Hon. Member resumed his seat in the midst of loud cheers. ) Mr. A. O'BRIEN said it was not his intention to allow the House to come to a division without stating his ol* , ,ion 00 the question before them. He also rose for the tinrpoia''of stating that it was very bard to remember tihat hid been said at the hustings.-4 Laughter.) He did not know how Hon. Gentle men who were' in the habit of haranguing public assemblies were accustomed to weigh their sentimeets, but he knew that when he spoke he spoke to honest men, nee linarstdod what t, ay honest, and lee .did not prebeedeen the plan or saying as as vossible.---(Lattghter,) 110 tou'cli anti meanin6 a~ little Noble Lord the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs and an other had stated that they received the announcement of the Right lion. Baronet in ominous silence, and such was the si tuation of the unfortunate country gentlemen, that on one side they were accused of saying too much, and on the other, of saying too little.—(Laughter.) He (Mr. O'Brien) did not cheer that announcement of the Right Hon. Baronet, but he employed the interval since, not in agitation, bet in ascertaining the sense of his constituents with regard to that announcement. He had consulted as many of them as he could, and he had to tell the House, that after weighing the proposition of the Government, and considering the circum stances of the case, they authorised him to support that propo sition.—(Loud cheers.) He should stop there. But he must say a few words in praise of that spirit of concession with which they met that proposal.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He thought that when that large majority which the landed interest was supposed to have, was taken into consideration, they must yield large praise to' the moderation and the concessions made by the landed interest.— ( Hear, hear.) If they chose to call them monopolists he must say that so far as their late debates proved, far from being monopolists they appeared to be very mode! ate.---( Laughter from the Opp .sition benches.) He did not consider that in acceding to that measure he bound himself at all to resist fur ther modifications if he considered them beneficial to the country.—( Hear, hear.) But locking - to the circumstances of the case, he did not believe that even a Member of the Anti- Corn-law League would be found those excepted who were determined on a total repeal, who would not recognise in that measure a settlement, as far as it was pos sible, and who would not desist from further agitation, and give it a full and fair and deliberate trial.—( Cheers. ) Mr. CHRISTOPHER, in reply, stated that he should have been satisfied to have concluded the debate without making any observations, had it not been for the remarks - of the Hon. Member for Finsbury. He would not imitate that Hon. Member in the unparliamentary and improper manner in which that Hon. Gentleman was pleased, upon every occasion, to mis e-present the sentiments, the views, and the motives of those who conscientiously differed from him. The Hon. Member for Finsbury had been pleased to quote certain remarks im puted to him (Mr. Christopher), on the authority of a book published :by his (Mr. Christopher's) political opponents— ( Ilear)—observations which had never been submitted to hire behsre they were published, and which in the manner in which they were reported in that book, had not only not been uttered by him, but had never been even imagined or con ceived.—( Cheers from the Ministerial benches.) The Hon. Member for Finsbury had been pleased to taunt him (Mr. Christopher) with having propounded sentiments which six months ago he would not have ventured to utter. Were not, he would ask, time 3 and circumstances changed since that period?—( Cheers and laughter from the Opposition.) Was it a matter of no consequence to the agricultural interest to find then in power, two parties one cf which was for a low fixed duty upon corn, and the other for removing all protec tion? In such circumstances, of course, the agricultural hotly were hound to stand out for maintaining the law unaltered. Since then a material alteration had taken place.—(Cheers and laughter.) If it had been in his ( Mr. Christopher's) power to retain the existing law, he would do so rather than hazard the experiment of legislation; but both Houses of Par liament having unanimously declared their intention to revise and consider the Corn-laws, he thought he was only discharging his duty towards those he represented, by bringing the subject fully under their consideration —( Hear, hear.) In so doing he was only acting in accordance with the implied decision of Parliament, and endeavouring to secure, in any al teration of the law which might take place, that protection to which the agr i cu lt ura l i n t erest was f a i rly entitled, If it were in his power to take the opinion of the House, aye or ro, upon his resolution, he would do so. If lie could dis cover any method of enabling the friends of the agricultu ral interest in that House to vote upon his proposition, he should hays the greatest satisfaction in doing it ; but after all that had been said, seeing the crowded state of the benches opposite—(Cheers and laughter)—and seeing that the tactics of those opposite were not to affirm his proposition for a 255. duty—( Roars of laughter from the Op position)—but to embarrass the Goverment—( Cheering, and counter-cheering)—he had no hesitation in saying, that in spite of the taunts of the Hon. Member for Finsbury, he (Mr. Christopher) would not b- found going out into the lobby with that Honourable Gentleman, let the consequences be what they may.—(Cheering and laughter from the Opposition. ) But if any Member conversant with the forms of the House would put him in the way either then or on any future occa sion, he should be very happy to submit his resolution by a. sub stantive proposition to the consideration of the fiouse. Al though he could not hare the honour of voting with the Hon. tfember for Finsbury, he had the satisfaction of feeling he had discharged his duty to the House and to the country— ( A laugh ) —because it would have been impossible to adopt ally other course than the one he had done.—(Laughter from the Oppo -ition. ) Having said this much, he would conclude by assuring the Hon. Member for Finsbury, that its spite of the reproaches sod reflections of that gentleman, he (Mr. Christopher) would nut go out with him ( Mr. T. Duncombe) on the pre sent occasion. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE rose amidst loud cries of " Ques tion, question," " Divide, divide " Ile said that he only rose for the purpose of explaining and apologizing to the Hon. Gentleman, who had complained of having been treated with !justice. lie (Mr. T. Duncombe) in what he was about to , av would endeavour to do the Hon. Member justice.— ( Cheers and laughter.) The Hon. Gentleman stated that he ( Mr. T. Duncombe) stated that the motion was a moonshine motion.—( Hear, hear.) He had said so, and all that had fal:en from the Lion. Member had convinced and confirmed him in that opinion --(Cheers and laughter)—and if he had wanted any additional con firmation of the moonshine character of the motion he would go to the other side of the House for it.—(lmmense cheering and laughter.) He saw a report of a speech made by his Honourable and Gallant Friend opposite. That speeeh had been only made the day before yesterday, and -peaking of the motion of the Hon. Member for North Lin colnshire. he had said that that motion was never intended to be brought forward—(Cheers and laughter)—that it was not a bona fide motion.—(Loud cheers from the Opposition ) That the motion was merely meant to gull the farmers.— (''leers and laughter.) lie would quote the words. —( The lion. Member here produced a paper from which he occa sionally read certain passages of the speech alluded to, commenting on them as he went along.) The Duke of Buckingham was in the -chair. lie wouldgive them presently the Duke of Puckingham's opinion. —(Laughter.) His Hon. and Gallant Friend had said—" INoww in order that Mr. Christopher's amendment may be carried, it must be first put in the House of Commons."—( Hear, hear, and rows of laughter.) "H e b e li eve d i t would never be put ; because before that was put, Sir R. Peel's proposal must be negatived."—( Laughter.) His Gallant Friend was right; it had not been put.—(Continued laughter.) " Mr. Christopher's proposal being for a l ower ra t e of duty— (C r i es of a higher')—than Sir R. Peel's, the House must dispose of the motion for the lowest duty first, and it was only on that being negatived, that they could substitute the,proposition of Mr. Christopher, for that of Sir R. Peel." He then went on to say—(Cries of " Read, read ")—that he should give them the whole speech. —( Laughter.) The Hon. and Gallant Gentleman then said he regretted that Mr. Chris topher had made that speech to his constituents when that pilot balloon was sent up—(Laughter) —and he could not hut suspect that the Hon. Member for Lincolnshire was actuated by other considerations, apart from his desire to advance the interests' of the agriculturists, in taking that step. "—( Hear, hear.) Now he (Mr. D.) had said nothing so severe as that. —( Hear, hear, hear.) "As for hi mse lf, a l t h oug h i t h a d b een said (added the Hon. and Gallant Captain) that he was going to support a great reduction of duty in opposing the scale of the Hon. Member for Lincolnshire, his answer was, that with all respect for hii constituents, he would not vote for an amendment that was not of a bona fide character."—(Cheers. He (Mr. D.) was therefore right, and the speech of the Hon. Member for Lincolnshire proved that his scale was not a bona fide one.—( Hear, hear.) Now he would come to the Noble Member in the Chair—(Cries of '• Oh, oh.") What, would they not hear " the farmer's friend , ?"--(Cheers and laughter.) Was there any individual indebted for his seat to the Duke of Buckingham who would now refuse to hear the sentiments of that honest and independent man? The Noble Duke said" the Corn-laws are to be altered, and you are to give up half your protection. But we were told that this measure would not satisfy the opponents of the Corn-laws. Then what's the use of it ?"---( Cheers. ) Now this was what he (Mr. D. ) wanted to know.—( Hear, hear.) Neither, said the Duke, will it satisfy us. "If it were a motion for the repeal of the Corn laws I could understand it—but this will please neither the friends nor the enemies of the agriculturists. And, considering the berthens on land, the exigencies suffered by the farmers in former days, when wheat was 51. or 61. a load, is it fair to call on the farmer to make such a sacrifice for no other purpose than to make a new Corn-law Bill ? For year after year your oppo nents will demand further concessions."—(Hear, hear.) This was what the Noble Duke said, and it was quite true, for a 20% scale would satisfy no one, and it must he altered year after year. But the Honourable Member for Lincolnshire said he had not uttered the words attributed to him. This was most unfortunate; but he ought sooner to have taken an op. portunity to repudiate them, for the speech was printed in a Lincolnshire Tory paper, and thence transferred to the book now before the House ; so that the Hon. Gentleman had had time enough to correct his speech. —(Cries of " Question.") He ( Mr. Duncombe) was sorry he should not have the plea sure of going out into the lobby with the Hon. Gentleman; but he (Mr. Duncombe) having voted against any duty let eight, must nosy vote against a 255. duty. In doing so, he should vote in consistence with his former vote, and hi accord ance with millions of his countrymen.—( Cheers. ) Lord PALMERSTON wished to say a few words, as he had been referred to. He had first to thank the Honourable Member for Lincolnshire for relieving him from the embar rassment he should otherwise feel, by assuring the House that he ( Mr. Christopher) would vote with the Right Hon. Baronet, and therefore he would not be found in the lobby with those who were opposed to the scale ; otherwise he (Lord Palmer ston) should have to give an explanation; for he should be afraid, lest, in consequence of his going into the lobby with that lion. Gentleman, it might be supposed that he (Lord Palmerston) had a preference for the scale moved by the Hon. Member over that proposed by the bight Hon. Baronet, But it now appeared that the skirmishers who were sent out hail returned to the main body.—( Laughter.) The curtain was now drawn up, and now they were ready to meet their real opponents.—( Cheers. ) Ho (Lord Palmerston) also wished that it should be clearly understood that he opposed in the scale of the Right Honourable Baronet, not because he (Lord Palmerston) preferred the law as it atcod. Having voted against a sliding scale, and being opposed to one on principle, he felt that ho could not concur by his vole the scale now proposed. And though that scale might be better in some respects than the scale of the present law, and better also than the scale of the Hon. Member for Lin colnshire, still he (Lord Palmerston) would vote against the scale proposed as being defective in principle, and as being consistent with a higher duty than he thought ought to be imposed.—(Hear and Divide. ) Mr. AGLIONBY, fearing that he might be charged with inconsistency if he voted in silence, begged to say in reply , to the remark of th e H on . M em b er f or Fi ns b ury, that em one who voted the night before for the motion of the Hon. M em b er for Wolverhampton could now vote for the scale of the Itl g h t (ion. Baronet, that he (Mr. Aglionby) should always be the judge of hi s own consist enc y.-_( Hear, hear. ) H e wou ld wee for the Right Hon. Barooet, but he (Mr. Agli not submit to be told by a n y one there what me onby) wo u ld :le should pursue.—( Hear, hear.) lie voted with the Noble Lo r d f o e l a fixed duty, because he th oug h t it better than a slid ,, ,- ng sea l,. Ile voted the night before for a repeal of the orn-laws, be cause he thought that best for the eeint ry , for the scale of the Right Hon. Baronet, as it and now he would vote was the nearest measure to his own views he could now get. If he were to vote against this proposition and the larger duty should therefore he eereled, he should feel that he had net done his duty,—( Tory cheers and cries of " Hear, hear" from the Opposition.) He did not know very well how the cards ought to be shuffied.—(Cheers and laughter.) Perhaps he was wrong, but he was doing what he thought was best in his own conscience, and whether consistent or inconsistent, he would vote for the proposition of the Right Honourable Baronet. Sir H. PEEL thought that the, Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Aglionby) had takenmos(juilicious cou rse .—(Ch eers an d - lan 41 any question was before the House, it was but but' a duty of 20s and 255. Undoubtedly if the Hon. Member (Mr. Aglionby) voted at this stage in Wetly of a 20s, duty, he would at a future stage have an opportunity of oppNing the entire Bill, if he should find that 4 Vas rlo ituptuvement.—( Tory cheers, and c r i es of, 't Oh, eh" from the Oppositio n .) his party he (sir 1 1 : reel) had Ateght the contagion of the simile upotithe oth er s id e, when the =poise or ekirmishers being thrown:out, and being brought back to the main body. Now, he was not at all UPROARIOUS MEETING, (taut A tOKRESPONDENT.) Ctta;ts:as-sFRJ s'r `F ea. 25.—There was a large meeting on Wednesday, Peb. 23, at the Egyptian Ball, Piccadilly, of the rstb-payer:, of St. James, Westminster, to take into con • lideration the subject of a Repeal of the Corn-laws, the pro ceedings of have not appeared in your paper, nor of any oiler that I have seen. I have merely to say that there was a large number of Tories, Whigs, Radicals, Chartists, &c., combined—there was a Churchwarden or Churchwardens— there was General Evans, who was greeted welcomely—there was also Captain Vous, one of the Representatives of West minster, whose voice was inaudible the whole time, from the' noise which assailed him respecting his late classic and Parba mentary speech of " A suck at the pump," &e, The nni , et continued the whole time. Captain Rous desisted, Colonel Evans followed. Resolutions were moved, amendments were made, and while I was there ( an h our ) t h e uproar that prevailed prevented a ny person at a di3tance from the platform from under3tan(4g what was said; h an d s were h old up for anything . and ''every thing; many, afte r th ay b a d held up their hinds , mic . eu• lh persons nearest.the m w h at was t h e re s olutionora any amendment c4a me lle The confusion an d uproar cont i nu i ng , without subsiding, I l e ft. mdi puozf Mr. Roebuck's name i snot in the Division Lists o n Mr. Villiei•s' motion ; n either is Mr. Macaulay's. The latter o nag. : 4 si c% we expecte d, the former we did not. Mr. C. Buller, we see voted for carvation. The people seem to u s t o be oppressed h their enemies, and betrayed by their pretend e d f r i ends, y sorry for the lessonswhich had been read to his Hon. Friend the Member for North Lincolnshire—( Great cheet ing and laughter from the Opposition)—and he hoped his Hon. Friend and other Gentlemen on that side of the House would profit by it.— (Laughter and cheers from the Opposition:) Their sin uld learn that they were sending up pilot balloons which served no other purpose but to indicate the course Which thy were very likely to take.—( Great cheering and laughter. ) He thought it was sufficient for the justification of his Hon. Friend that the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Palmerston) would be compelled to vote with him.—( Great cheers and laughter.) Whatever might be the feelings of the Noble Lord in going out in the company of his lion. Friend, he could well con ceive the feelings of his Hon. Friend in finding himself alone in such company.—(Cheers and laughter.) Haring spoken three times on this question, and having explained the principles on which he meant to act—first of all, that there should be a g raduated duty ; and then, a s t o t h e scale which the present Government 1 roposed, he thought it was unne cessary for him, at twelve o'clock at night, to go again into a general discussion of the question. The Honourable Member for Finsbury had cone him no more than just,ce, in supposing that the course which he had proposed was that which he considered the fairest to all parties, and the most useful to the-ccuntry.—( Hear, hear.) But if there were suf ficient strength to carry the proposition of his Hon. Fri en d, he ( Sir Rob er t P ee l) cou ld not b e a party to an increase of duty. He thought it was for the public advantage that there should be no apprehension respecting the continu ance of protection to agriculture.—(Tory cheers.) But at the same time he thought that protection which he purposed to afford was amply sufficient. With respect to the manner of taking the averages, he thought that the mode which he proposed would diminish the facilities of fraud, but if he found upon further exam nation that it would have a tendency to en crease the amount of protection, he would adopt some means (as we understoo i) of obviating that tendency.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that in preparing a measure of this sort, it was ne cessary for a Minister to be secret until he had made up his mind as to the exact course he should pursue —(Laughter.) There was only one other point on which he wished to trouble the House. It vial admitted by Honourable Gentlemen en the opposite side, that the price of corn would be greatly re • duced by this measure. They bad shown that two million quarters might be imported at 455., and that a demand of one million would ensure an equivalent importation at a. low rate. Honourable Gentlemen had shown that from 1,500 to 2,000,000 could Le imported at the price.—( Hear, hear.) After a few words from Mr. C. WOOD, in explanation, Sir R. PEEL said that he had taken dawn the numbers immediately, ane he certainly thought he hai so stated them. It really was very uifficult t o d raw i n f erences f rom opinions he received as to what the (elect of the measure might be, but he only asked Gentleman on the other side, new that the heat of the debate wa, over, to apply to the consideration of the details of the npasute. lie asked Hon. Gentlemen who -were dis satisfied to ren ember that in making so great an alteration— an alteration that greatly affected the agricultural interest—it was impossible to please all parties. The miller came to him and complained that the measure he had proposed would cause a great importation of f.treigit corn, and would be an increased inducement to parties to introduce flour instead of wheat. The bailey growers said he was about to injure them, and thegrowers of cats also ea m laire , d; he trusted, however, that they would bear with hitn a little, anti if they did, he felt no doubt that he should bo able to vindicate the scale he had ' proposed. He believed the measure he had- proposed would have the effect of regulating trade, and from the com munications he hail received, lie was strongly inclined to think that ultimately the moderation and good sense of the agricul tural interest would prevail, and it would be admitted that his proposition was a ;peat improvement on the existing law, and would meet with very general support.—(hear, hear.) He would conclude by cap - easing again a hope that in discussing the details of the plan Ee had proposed they would lay aside all party aQperities. Sir D. ROCHE made a few ebservatione, which were in audible in the Gallery ; after which the Committee divided, when there appeared— Fur the original Motion ........ 306 Against it lO4 Majority --202 On oar return to the gallery, we found Mr. HULLER abo .t to submit his amendment to the Committee. Sir R. PEEL said the lion. Gentleman was in a pdsition to propose a reduction of duty, but no increase of duty then. Mr. HAWES said he hoped . his Hon. Friend would not press his motion. It was quite clear that there was a decided majority ag.inst any a'teration of this scale—( Hear, hear) — and he therefore thLu . .;lit it would be utterly vain to press the - mot ion. Mr. BULLER slid if it was the desire of the House, he would not press his motion. It seemed to be the wish of the other side of the House.—(No, no.) He would there fore postpone 11;s ino:ion, and bring it forward at some future day. After a slight conversation between Sir R. PEEL snd Mr. BULLER( the motion was postponed. The House then resumed. The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. The other orders being then disposed of, the House ad journed at One o'Clock, till Monda. COVENT GARDEN THE A.TRE. A new comedy in five acts, under the title of Bubbles of the Day, was brought out last night at this theatre. It is from the practised pen of Mr. Douglas Jerrold, and hears tokens of its paternity in every scene. The plot, as is generally the case with this gentleman's dramas, is exceedingly oomph. cased, and it is difficult to follow its numeroas turns and wind ings ; so far. however, as we could ascertain. it is something to the billowing Get. Mr. Spreashaeas ( Bart!ey), a rich ohl lamas, who has risen from small beginnings to a station of considerable respectability, pays a visit to the chamber of a briefless young barrister, by name Melon ( Walter Lacy), who has been betrothed from early childhood to Isis daughter, Pamela (Mrs. Ni-bett). hae waiting at his intended son.. in-law's chambets, SI readweasel unexpectedly falls. in uith Lard Skindeep, M. P, ( Air. Farren), who after having some coo versation with him, and heating front another party that the dld fellow is rich, invites him to his house to darer—an invitation which Spreadweasel cordially accepts, having a high idea of the honour of an acquaintance with a Lord. A sense of mutual interest inerea , e4 the iiizitnaey ketwten the parties, and ulti mately Lord Skuideep is induced to, offer, hims.lf as a son-in law to the old mass. This offeris g4tily accvphad.;.-but. as his Lordship, knowing Spria.dweasel'a, inatter-of-fatt rittiOns- of business, is af'aid of bein g asked awkward questious touchir g his fortune, jointure, and s r forth, he endeavours to prevail on Pamela -to elope with him in a carriage and four. . The shrewd girl consents a, parently to this proposal, though she has no intention of carrying out the project, being attached, to a young M.P., Chath am B rown (J. Visaing). The schemes is theiefore artfullj, though as if accidentally, frustrated, and while his Lo.dship is lamenting his disappoiritment, he 1 arns that P ame l a h as united herself to the M.P. ; and that Melon has taken, fur better for worse, Florentia (Mrs. Walter Lacy) the neice of a conceited authoress, Mrs. Quarto W. West), who is distantly related to Lord Skindeep. 'Jo its crease the vexation bids of his Lordship and Spreadweasel at this sudden frustration of their schemes, the for mer disc o VC: s a l ong -neglected son in the person of a clever, scheming, London adventurer, tilaptain Smoke (C. Matthews), whom he is compelled publicly to se , - knowledge as his natural cl.ild ; and Spreadweasel at the same time makes the discovery that the girl whom Lord Skindeep had seduced and deserted years before, is no other than his own sister, wh• had died under the roof of a heartless miser, Mahn-- sey Shark (Meadows), by whose means these strange dityso vales are brought to tight. Ultimately, all parties are neon. eiled, and at the fall of the curtain they are—to use a liacknied expression--" as well as can be expected." Such is a sight hasty sketch of a plot, which it certainly by no means remarkable either for simplicity, or clearness of construction, or skill of development, By way of episode, we have certain love-passages between Sir Phoenix Clcareake (Harley), Alderman of the City of London, and Florentia, tea whom he was betrothed, but who resolves to have nothing to do with hint, her resolution being quickened, not only by her attachment to Melon, but also by her having found out that, under the alias of Major Loo, the Alderman had endeavoured to corrupt the virtue of her own lad 's -maid (Mrs. Orger) when she was residing at a finishing ac dotty •at Brixton. The characters of the comedy are cleverly and broadly defined —especially those of Skindeep, Spread; weasel, and Malmsey Shark. The first is a mock-philanthre-. pist, one who is always canting ab ou t hi s b enevolence and his " love of his species,'' while at heart he is the most selfish and egotistical of beings. In working out this portrait, Mr. Jer rold made several bitter,sareastic hits at thatspurious humanity and maudlin tenderness, which are so often mistaken for real philanthropy. Spreadweasel is a shrewd, ordinary man of business ; and here, too, the author was very effective in his delineation. But Malmsey Shark, the usurer, he has pourtrayed to the life. A truer, more spirited, or more caustic sketch than this, exists not m the modern drama. Not a feature in the portrait but seemed as though it were copied direct from sonic living original. As regards the females, Pamela is a clever, lively girl, with a dash of the hoyden about her, Mrs. Quarto a tiresome she-pedant, and Florentia a mere boarding -school Miss. The wit of the play is excellent. Indeed the comedy is studded with it, like Harlequin's dress with spangles. There is not, to be sure, the light, buoyant anima! spirits that dance through London Aux,. once : but there is far more trength and nerve in the dialogue._. more meaning and caustic practical shrewdness and point, in the constant play of the satire. Indeed we know of no living dra matist who throws so much significance —w e might almost say,, wisdom into his wit and sarcasm as Mr. Jerrold. Some of bee jokes remind us of the cynical, sententious aphorisma of Rona. foucault. 't hey will bear consideration, and not only tickle the midriff, but make an irresistible appeal to the .unsterstand. ing. The acting was admirable, with scarcely excep tion, unless it be that Mrs. West as Mrs. Quarto was rather tco boisterous in her vivacity, and scattered about her pearls with too much em, hasis of manner. Mrs. Nisbet kept the house in a state of uproarious laugbtur while she was describ ing the humours Of an electiOr for the town of Longborough; and Mathews evinced I r.6re ease, and tact, and self-posses:don than he has yct }?;own. Farren played wi h his usual skill and. care, and enunciated his Joseph Surface•like sentiments with exceeding unction. Harley made the most of an indifferent part, and Bartley made an unimpeachable man of business, ex hibitlngjust as touch heart as usually falls to the'lot of your dry, hard, grasping old codgers, who feel persuaded that they are sent into the world for no higher or worthier ob ject than to scrape together no matter by what means—as much money as they possibly can. The scenery was. in excellent taste; and the play was announced for repetition, amid deafening aeclatuatiens from all parts of the house. It cer tainly requires curtailment ; and when this is judiciously ef fected, we have no doubt that it will have a run. At the cksse of the comedy, Mr. Jerrold was loudly called for, and made his appearance on the stage, in an evident flutter of excitement. The audience welcomed him with shouts of applause —a tribute of respect, which is no more than his due, for his Comedy is a production which the ablest dramatist of the age might be Proud to acknowlecge. -..,--