The Sun. — London, England, 1842-02-16 00:00:00

know. however, that the United States el had taken place acrosO! of that distress. If. lties would SOOll ceaSet with them, and that .o countries would be must be the desirene of The Hon. Gtle- In not perceive ant, i terests, or why tat. at all. Surely • this, many burthens oath!: ;qualifi ca tions, and the.. laboured, among the the cultivation f t 0•,%. the step of r em r ang, t o answer for th e ge Cell lsit ion benches.) with a farmer in V, man in his way thinking about the Is, I think I shsuld like prised him ry much!.: him say ove befor.e.:, d cries of " Oh, oh t ; mut I think I'm righ ve the Corn-laws re. in one conditiour thirst to sell all my so c " by till we can see th the. :natchbull) said he farmer, think t A ain as they ar e. off corn, what wour s of land in the Ito. hem would be sent le. told only cause tnpre exists at present.! the Speech made 14 (Sir E. Knatchbultlei part which insina,_ csted motives. OCP bs, the minds of m en h er e and who stood trlie He sir own interest. r to consider this qe e ': ned by any one r; neficial in his opo' fish manufacturer; that the majorityl ent, were well OA e Right Hon. Bacei:11:. only of the eg ri hs S a United Empire t d be continued . ;) in representing t;„' said that out of w, certainly if they itch was bad e11°4,.e.: hose whom they regn.' ,on. Baronet then 4 atement s of Mr. " me of voice as to be r e lerstood it to b e to n e, favour of a protecinso t went on to say, i 11.4 r. Huskisson in 1,1 1 , ms the present w as; e'o 'ood at any one Mo u rne in the e°,°,4, ns he had e ntertil, lo the subject, wol') tient that eers had been introduced.-(Cheers.) Cheers. ) As for those nutnerous classes w system,ho had so long suffered under the existing theherew )othing in the Rut before way ofertin practicag- to theb sl ene liding socfit wuld result.- a nothing in detail, to „ii re. Important preliminary part to which he first desired undoubteedrl been adv tea t'et old dt joonneo,f the House, the more so as it had not yet reset with that°. On comparing the scale of the Right Hon. Ilia- considerable diminution of duties must Mind on thY be acknowledged. lint, before he made up his Minor ea_ t',Point, he (611 r. Laboachere) must attend to a few Hon tarsolderations. In proposing the new scale, the Right tile.avera net proposed several other alterations in taking from whi(gleisi by adding no less than 156 towns to the 150 the duty 'f the averages were already taken, and by taking laspectorse making th averages out of the hands of the corn officers. ',__ who had it now, and entrusting it to the Excise and, when these 156 many were small agricultural towns, ellsde a,raa added to the 'present 150, the aggregate would in-. ehangelw st all the large towns in the country. Now this might alt:o l d effect the averages, as hitherto advertised, and had made the whole scheme of duties. The corn inspectors but the Fir UP the returns in a very careless manner. this ..._ would officers would do the bnsiness carefully; so far Zan ':?,114-1 lie an improvensent, though, doubtless, the Right the eentleman had no intention to affect the•averages. Put from to opinions of practical and experienced men, he was which he would Say, that the effect of those alterations, and of others prac tical reduu9uld immediately advert to, would be to cause a prac ter, The ton in the advertised average of no less than ss. a guar alleged averages, Right lion. Gentleman said that he had examined the fere rages, and that so far as he could make out, the ilif rice of price -and general avera es between the London averaees the haul_ of the country was very small. Now he (Ur. La `eudetre), after referrine to the documents that had been fur. itch, that House, dicr not think that that statement of the height„itch. Baronet could be borne nut. On the contrary, he should it Was clear from the papers to which Yea i d Presently advert, that the London averages in the r 841 b . (dice which he <lid not 841 S means of fictitious sales-a pra ti__, e_mean t° defend, but which, nevertheless, had the prac -4 fleet of lowering theprices-it appeared that the London uh ages were affected by ctitious sales, made by speculators theaatelnaged to make a difference of no less than 4s. between of averages oT the country, excluding London, and the averages Aetitias the which governed the price. Then, as to the the " nature of those sales-that was sufficiently proved by quantity Chat sub sold. Those were the facts which appeared upon 1830, 2,teet. In the six weeks ending the 27th of August, market I'63°, quarter of wheat had been sold in the London there h' while, in tbrcorresponding period cf the year 1840, ' the speadr been sold fl,ooo quarters. In the former period, an thienee a the average price in the London market, and the letterer markets in England and Wales, was 2s. 9d. ; in Ist. ~.• priod there was a va iation of from 6s. Bd. to tu Tte ;de: tit there was, of course, a corresponding difference think, therefuoPon wheat during the two periods. He did in potting a st re. that the Right Hon. Baronet succeeded he made t'tiPs to those speculations as he expected; and if IL6 new towns -e scsle more extensive, by the introduction of ter than the „'r "'ft if the Excise officers did their duty bet eight in thems 1 ea ntsPectors these things might be perfectly he did think e ys ''t was notthat ' h was Disputing, but to the , ht Is point e ar that the result on. Baronet need not be startled to be to produce a; of the three causes, taken together, would (Hear, beam .flerease of not less than ss. in the averages. .) If L the,ohjest of , that were the case, 'it was obvious that some respects ioe whole scheme would be defeated, and, in the Right Ho' they should be worse off under the measure of lave sup os n. Baronet, than under the present system. Let was ,i7),sed, for instance, that the price under the pre:ent Under s., the equivalent average under the scheme of the Honourablethat Baronet would be 725., and the duty 'l°", be 0 I scheme would be 225., while it would to Wears ts_n,Y. 0218._( Hear, hear.) He did not wish the ssatel,„l 'luse with details ; but if there was any truth in tions of ,",'nts he had made they would derange naling of tii`eue Right Hon. Baronet, and with a nom lower 911e of the scale they would have in reality, a higher duty. taistin evils that had been most complained of under the it had sYstein was, the evil of thefluctuations of prices which kiwi, denulel. In former debates he had heard that defect Sesse,_,eo • Ile did not believe, however, that on the pre coeed-rsfl n any ,Ilon. Gentleman had ventured in the same the fin manner to deny that fluctuations had been caused by "Y that atiasta)/ls of the present system. It was no answer to tical* we "e might be countries in the world where flucSua potiti.... _ still greater than here. Looking to the geographical tapir England, and to her immense commercial advan of carse.,nad no hesitation would, that under a sound system try of t't la,ws this country be', he would not say the coun of the "%lowest prices, but certainly it would be the country sisas ssttinadiest prices in the world.-( Hear, hear.) That atui ttne I rnense advantage which this country might enjoy ; Bartl'aistissY c°,uld not affereto throw away that or any other ad. et which Providence had given them. 'I he Right Hon. ailltliat-ensileill4 instance of rye in Prussia, as sieproof that finteti(aeoftitY,the-fe.od'f the peoplelad been .subject to equal oot of Zseeir greater ' fluctuaticins, than those in the le ealea;°, people' of • this 'country. He.- wondered that, hot occur t° these fluctuations in rye in Prussia, it did 'tires% trt° the Right Hon. Baronet that they could be it of the aced to the operation of our own Corn-laws. The lt also ,(ople of Prussia consisted principally of rye, but to sor fessisteil a good deal of wheat • and was it not obvious Wheat Y gentleman that this countr , b drawn's. to it the wile at, es.f, l'russ•a greatly raisedy the price" of that result milich the.n. became scarce, of course, and the talfilo as a:ss. that the of rye' rosen the same the IC ""e Price price . . • ight Hs of wheat He should say that argument of one, Th nßaronet appeared to him to be a very strange "°Ped ts, e Right Hon. Baronet also said that he confidently vent eat the alteration he proposed to introduce would pre the ,sse gr(at fl • h• hh d h•sh t t ken place in e,ossees s uctuations w lc a is er o a Ls-mud that °I wheat in this country, because, as he said, he Cl's a d sa,smore gradual scale in the duty on barley, peas, I,ettl'arao,... "'uer articles had been produced, as he thought, by ~-"neherie-i's in the price of those articles. Now he (Mr. La ;,_raPre-t's,was surprised to hear the Right Hon. Baronet asMthe 1,-;:io things that did not admit of comparison. Wheat Cr", NA' food of this country, whereas those other Leese a elluld be • for the other. Besides, lb Were substituted the one erefo not objects of the same pressing necessity, and tit), d re., it sN • J . th • egree as Impossible to compare those two things with tere Was Of Propriety with such an article as wheat, for which 11ktliad. •ata Pressing and urgent demand, and which must eta. .tlie e any price.-( Hear. He could not make out s terial sew scheme of the Right Hon. Baronet would in any sae ueeree. latsioeisee se.. remove or mitigate those evils which a sad ,strut eedproved to attach to the present system of Corn fatip° eirs hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet laid great ci' ts n the valise of the American market, and he ex 'bat "at adv 1, eaturtr antages would be gained for our commerce with sibPortane Y by Isis measure. He also seemcd aware of the go til f 0 .e of not having very wide field for ibis country to a . 'lliglit r its s 1 tit 0,. lion. ..!"13P yof such an article as. corn. Bultddeidnatbhlee 444:al wiisaronet really believe that his scale would eb,d_ , kale ll,....America for flour and wheat, any more than the t •-9-a. 'mil? fie did not believe that he could labour • need . . tech delu ' (H h )He saw his Noble s 1104: losite "an.- ear, ear. at. le, ea., , the Member for Liverpool (Lord Sandon), -',Aartuleherssu, and seemed to contradict that ; but he (Mr. latul .i peelairas surprised to receive a contradiction, and he ,• it doeurnYenfrom his Noble Friend. He held in his ealletra'd s„ t of far more value than anything. which chi the a•i',_ e,Poti that subject, ,hand to which he Jipt,,,....he shau,Sention of the House with a confidence prtsiktioni of his hot have ventured to put forward for any ob- Li -`nted that,' not He held in his hand a copy of a petition ett'auerliool t 0 the night by his Noble Friend the Member for ,Agri taerei Rouse, coming from no less important a body' Whote:;• Re ants of Liverpool, engaged in the trade with it, butould not trouble the House by reading the Neshe e wai, ' It that' was sure it would allow him to read some onitilossure tha:" a moderate and ably drawn up petition, and great !les ofs0e1:- the House would agree with him, that the Aesesiean.tsiderat,•"o,entleroen upltm the subject were entitled to D;rotri,:'llosire-s". They said that " she United States of our, b•-: e Rl:under great disadvantages as compared with operateri toe 1,0 oae, in respect to the trade in wheat and .that th the ,44.1 of the sliding scale of duties, which 4aced seY Isse7Judice of every country in proportion, and hey went"Pri a hot in fact, but only nominally, and ourhon to f°oting with more favoured nations." tts week 'a, that ~ fixed I wheat oe, Not, at a moderates ury upon IN untri to an ese...cci materially benefit the trade between the dornesti eltensior, eers from the Opposition)-and would created , reannfaeto-, "the exports of our industry ; that the Attrib daring th -;es of the United States had eatl in hes, uted to e last few years,which they in great part sged ti our ow_ ..so Ts ,e partiss, n restrictive policy.-( Hear, hear.) He .eve of nt the wh'..Tar attention of the House to what followed : that ueing diaeuulessubject of the American tariff was on the flj2iputnltss we ssed,in Congress, when it was to be feared Wm'. be edoptisdzeiaxed our system relative measures ,Sttastl' of that great ( Heat, hear.) These were the seri i'll ie'llti'M ill Liver and, important body of British merchants, •Positevaltled the .npooi who traded with America ; and highly ,ioe„1. he shouldQLinfl°" "d authority of his Noble Friend op . llare4,st° Prefer theinnions of those British merchants.- ease_ Board of Trod L Right Hon, Gentleman the President star he L__ e. mid made use of an argument which he 11 eof ~ 'ward with some surprise. He had alluded to the 'greats •"r consmerc • new Ileig us ...,... e with Russia, and he said Russia was as a elists,d rivutti a tariff even more hostile than that which Iss 'gems • 14 Right Bon. Gentleman had used that as ow h nt in sa.„o sdrat'll ; (Mr' tai.: ur of retaining the sliding scale of duty. serfee Men ts_ 1 uchere) confessed. that he should have were Iv diffesue s atemept of the Right Gentleman .a # rt' our tree......._rnt conclusion. Ile should have said, that if it noo quar.e , rets,,eatriet;", he believed it was true-that, mainly owing to , th rots,, sirloin ' e policy, Russia and other countries were using sheaf e stralneasures against our manufactures, he found in s,,,,adont tt,g reason to induce this country to take care how "ld her,eu, any system of Corn. laws the effect of wh sh '°iinsit our trade with other nations. He should say ' s meet that was to take care to adopt -id include in our corn trade (Cries of " Hear, hear.") seal and only way to ssontry, with ' our latex is. tions should n,.. net his support.-(e.,.., fess, that it was with the deep, erred to the details of the Right ho.. lie had no doubt but that it would become and he hoped it might work well and justify the a.,_ of the Right Honourable Baronet. He (Mr. Laboucee. . must, however, confess, that he could entertain no such ex- es I,ec tations. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by thank- itig on 1.... ss mg the House for the patience with which they had listened to circumstances e. him, and stated that he felt it his duty to vote for the proposi- Could any lion. be.. tion of his Noble Friend the Member for London.-( Cheers ) ther Mr. Huskisson was Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL explained. The Right sliding scale, which was his on. Hon. Gentleman had entirely misunderstood what had fallen Now, the Hon. Alember for Sheffield had es. from him ( Sir E. Knatchbuil.) He had not said a single be the effect of the plan proposed by the Right hos,. word about raising rent or maintaining the value of farms. He on the price of provisions ? To answer that question, .. was desirous of correcting the misapprehension into which the thought it was necessary, in the first instance, to come to an I a „,,,s_ Right Hon. Gentleman had, evidently unintentionally fallen. understanding as to what, in common years, would be the r to his interes., What be (Sir Edward Knatchbull) had said, when speaking of price at which foreign wheat could be landed and placed in large. lie was cons.- 1 the whole class of persons connected with the agricultural in- bond, with all charges paid, in the British market. If that of securing the most perm.. tprest, as contra-distinguished from those connected with the question could be settled, or placed on any thing like a fixed an increa-ed supply of home-gr"- menufacturing interest, referring to landlords, tenants, and la- foundation, there would be no difficulty in giving the Right it could be procured from ether countries-; hourers alike, was that it was important that they should be at'l© Hon. Gentleman an explanation. To do this, he should not it to a fixed duty, which he looked Upon as 05,.. to occupy the stations which they at present maintained in the rely on any evidence taken from their side of the House; but extreme to the best interests of the country—r k Cheet a. / theny, and that they should be secured in the enjoyment of he should rely on the evidence produced by the Noble Lord Oil the motion of an HON. NIE MUER, whose name we could property they time slue con- the Member for Tiverton-namely, the Consular returns. If 1 h d bate then odjourned. posaessed but that at the same strike not earn, te , was sideratio they would take the column of prices in that return, and n ought to be paid to the manufacturing interest. The other Orders of the Day were then ii; -sposed Qt, and ANT lA, ... Sir JAMES GRAHAM would not have risen at that late out of it only the two items which he should name, the price of adjournedat 0 the House The Executive Com.- hour to occupy the attention of- the House had it not been for corn at Rotterdam and at Antwerp, which were almost goof , eseiessisiesiseseeesseseseense close of its sittings on sates. Might passages towards the conclusion of the speech of the nal prices, inasmuch as they were not port* from whence any „ Brown's Hotel, Palace-yard. Several,- flight Honourable gentleman, in which he had tuuolied great supply for England was drawn. If any gentleman wouldlSE 1 0 IS VT STRIKE wHitg T.• 11 I'l - - ...OT •L-All municated intelligence of the feeling of indigna.. agog certain topics in such a manner that to use strike out these two items, which were both 555. a quarter, then friends to tho pk,,,k, should observe this. Doubtless there are which the Government measures were received in the ~... his own expression, flesh and biottj id t•t. 1 Laughter.) he believed that the average price, according to those returns, 's- t*" g 't• '' ,ortance, but the Com; i., the determination of the people, nth the various localties And here he must say that altho°u" h nillse resis - s 1 y felt the pro- would be found to be 365. ; he therefore assgreed that is be should 1140 i 'm'ad t" 0 tisin of questions. The maw '"w upon the recommendation of e Conference. It was foondest respect fur the orders of the Hous a "anadsfor the man- the price of foreign corn. Then he L tilee the. column of the heselbvesdoeme etillee qittoes yield something, and unleosnopolists fee. a resolved that the Committee should hold an open meeting nee in which the Speaker enoined obediencee to those orders, rate 3 of freight, 4nti if, in Ow sal-ile manner they struck out the ms as be macdoernup on them, and that by the lA;iivca,AiS vac.i.ar goef dole; a alsot twelve o'clock to-day, and each succeeding morning for set he thought thp present debate exem idled in a striking ireighte from ports at a groat distance, such as Palermo and : that something will be pseeiciis littlo. All classeseeshould the transaction of the impai taut business, which must of necessit This was an action in ...- manner the danger pf departin H€ 'IP- 1 ' ' the molt Odessa, from whence no great supply was drawn, they would People, • : - .. 0 Away with the C .. seemingly unimportant matt g 'min 1 iose re ey IP cry out wsth one onseersal vete , 0rn.1aw5!,,..... occupy , great queetion sl find that, instead of there being an average of 4s. 6d. per er. Here they were in the secon n in the Muse of Commons. As the press will have an opeartu,nity part of the price paid for eighteen do.. night of this debate, and what, he - arter it would be reduced to between 31. od. and ,Ps sol4lglos other se. would ask could be more qu 1 . • of the Royal f g attending these meetings, reports of the pros ,8s will no the defendant to the plaintiff; the illogical than the coursk they were ursui ig?' A ver 1 4s. a quarter. On this evidence, y arge therefore, he as. I One of the keepers . orest of La • • doubt appear in all the Liberal daily papers, bottles returned, for which, as agreed at at the purcha..., body of those the hg.d spoken en this b•I - •,...• ^f ein brough t, to England towas returning to Brass at, Blanque, near Montpellier, . , . wi. sast a sow days ----________„........,_ lowance was to be made. The case of the plaintiff (a booksen..., of opinion that no protesiFien i'hats su 4ect, were , . s er shoe hl ne yep to the tie somewhere about 40s. Now, he would just show what would ago, when he met five men carrying nillfloks, 1‘ -i -d ,_\X,is.. they had un- _____________________--- • was, that the wines were inferior to the quality which was paid for, landed interest, and their argurne ' beffect of the measure proposed by her Majesty'sll' lawfully cut in the forest. flav,i,ni 416•0 tliwil them to lay down The Caen papers statsi that the in quiry set on foot and at which they were warranted; and several witnesses, wine. sensed, nts went to show that any e the t I is dby a blow b ukti of the la 100 f. for a bi.. protection, even to the least possible amount was un- nisters. He should show conclusively that the practical effect their loads, he was hzietsistisy siaggere ow from a largo with regard to th? Ssr g house of detention at Beaulieu dealers and others, gave their opinion to that effect. The e. only deposio just, and ought to he immediately withdraw (Loud cheers.) of the measure would be to protect the English farmer up to stun= , stilh-MAiii4i.i.ll iv one, and then struck down, and severely shows it to. k1,411e atilell horn the imprudence of one of the officers defence was, first, that the wines had been several years mono:gesso of the Gov.. But what was the question which was nownu.-nderod' • ior7 the price of 665, a quarter, because below that p ,e' a foe ins- svosinuou by another with a hatchet. Being left for dead, he lay vmpSoyed in the establishment. This person accidentally let a in the plaintiff 's cellars, and had deteriorated ; and propagation "One is what can have bete -Ihe motion of the Noble Lord was not for withd=g all porter could not, if the duty is a.iden, import'absnr V.ithout in. an night on the ground, but was found next morning an 4, writid poilde fall in one of the workshops, and the inflammable materials, as to the bottles, that they had not been received back, In support every hat things will turn out better than is exists_ protection from the landed interest. The motion distinstly ,orsing a lose. • , 'Bearing lilt need~ the fact he had stated, that to the hospital of St. Pons, where he still. is iin a oii,,,,i.eaauuta., I,w, having instantly broken out into a blase, hebehest his presence of of the latter, witnesses were called that the signature of the re which the Island will not soon recover.-Romph, I admitted the necessity, L.nd the question tl- d' i • ‘ • f heat in common years would be Qs, in bond he sey were mu thug the price 0 W 1 men are in custody on susvicien, mind, and did not give the alarm till It was too late, ceipts given for the bottles on their being returned, was in the 7-...._ ..... . .. ' ' i . - .• luse. IRO rder, order, 8 6 4 3 , at when he (pr. • ad in reading flOl ands, said that Olio employed. H e e mt ell he House, and nod d the previous eveaori, occurring in th e he transcriber. 0• tirty mills were 1,1;b0 •ds, "or working arelessness omitte bt House. If the %) hen he ( Dr. newrijoi expressions that tight Hon. Gentlee -101 time thediscuss ion ave given a silents'; ead (Lord JO%O upon the toga - , ot d ,and those who no he k Mr. L'..) "' cu d sedan offiela e in ie commercial interllY „ e it to his sense of oce [east to express his t ffected them. 13 ,?, it for that p ats e him to express. 0 should endeavoarbip ervations as yeech of the b , ( I sat down. ° e the be in that HeneetiriOr n to the agricti the that the speech .I,IIP the Crown , ell I which he' (F;so 3r places, speel ° ' the re) rejoiced tat [et /That they had nd orTir at the object tow ripe osition cheersi moot oa plain and en ) !st e object of the Pe-, is tates of the -ilt* re that interest 100,0 from the M inisterial gi ear übject, the fligigiiP• second tiat e %i s ,`4ted t A ° ent iments pr C 6 17, to say) - I. 'ow the House tua ,10r, onet. Now' he , 11 ect of a Corn 1 3111 , 1 :e 3 eived that the b i tt i f vat iou3 classes °,l,Ajl assing a Corn be ford as should be for turnunity.—(Chees. of so valuable s Hear, hear )- -- h u . t4 ; to regard and pr.* portance than te.5.1 interFsts74 his country.••""behlkWY .abouchere) ill—( Cheerst Id 4 r ememberinl Right Hon. P er , .abouchere) Dcated in some 4 , 0 7 ,' rare very differea'., he brought forl ,re) did agree a unbecoming a",0!,1 of this me asure c i oo., to enable o °l 6 o stations irt sorry as any zn er ise ,ment of th ee , t§ neant that Vin or erned tho breatirdi, n t ere sts of theleatte Baronet in W ry , of awful imp° 101 in any coun tr y' 5 f ist be a measur.te many coosidemoip iety in this ete r) pply of corn vai; !ar. ) Before .pev se would briedltiO etl state of the supply of ceel l ,:a g t pit 1 that it was tr". - 60. krt large Ve i nt e itA• asons we 10 "" • 0 0 10 real questio average Pr e ifieg. the people." ars, we watt,t OS 'sons we ha a s fi u pl duce, there 'l.O )n. Baronet; ,„;eoc; delr'or an average . 0 e .4 troughout as 01 nd increasing 1041 use returns to a rOtUrni 'lo r of atrial wheat T o le Years front t THE SUN, LONDON, TIASDAY MORNING, FEMVU - AnY 16, 1842. • was an iota- st to which great importance had been most pro ( eerly attached by the other side of the House. Now, he would call the attention of the House to the effect of the present Corn-law on shipping ; its effect was to throw the va'uable triffic in corn into the hands of foreigners.—( Hear, hear. ) Three-fourths of it was, in fact, carried in Prussian vessels, and one-fourth English ; and, owing to these circumstances, the corn trade was, in fact, a perfect scramble.—( Hear, hear. ) He found upon this part of the subject a most valuable and important testimony in those papers wh ch the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite had recently laid on the table; lie alluded to the opinion of a gentleman who was one of the most competent witnesses on the subject , he alluded to the opinion of Mr. M`Gregor, the Consul at Elsinore, a gentleman to whom the country was greatly indebted for his negotiations with respect to the Sound Duties. What Mr. M`Gregor said was in answer to Mr. Meek ; he had watched the effect of the sliding scale on the shipping interest, and had thus stated it:—"lf the trade in corn was made con stantly open in England, the natural consequence would be, that the British merchant would tecome the agent for the supply of corn, and British shipping would be improved to a much greater extent than it was at present. The English Corn-law has a tendency to disturb trade, and in this coun t, y ( Denmark) it has made the Government persevere in high duties ; and, secondly, to throw its trade unto the hands of the Hanse Towns. Ham burgh had become more and more the centre of trade, and the Dantzie Corn-market is now more glutted than ever."—( Hear.) He (Mr. Labouchere) was convinced if a sound Corn-law was established, London would become the great depot for corn for the general supply of the whole country. He need not say how much employment and activity that would give.--( Hear, hear.) it was not true, as had been stated on the p: esent occasion, that. the mere ques tion was to be decided on the merits of' the sliding scale or a fixed duty. The question which they had to decide that night was whether they should adopt that which he held to be vicious, a system of Corn-laws founded on the sliding scale.—( Hear, hear.) He did not say this to conceal his own opinions ; for when he was a servant of the Crown, he joined in the proposal which he thought calculated to sett',e this great question upon fair and reasonable grounds, and, at the same time, upon a principle which he believed would not have been inconsistent with the prosperity of the commerce of the country. He did not wish to conceal from the House that he was against throw ing open the trade in corn ; they had tried the sliding scale and se n how it worked, and he believed it would be admitted by all, even by its mest strenuous supporters, that acme altera tion was required, and that he considered was a substantial argumeat for trying the fixed duty. But before he came to deal with the objection to the sliding scale, he would say a few words with respect to those who had, and who had not, sup ported it. They had heard of the names of Ricardo and others, who were in favour of the plan they proposed, while Mr. Hus kisson had been quoted against them, and part of his speeches had been alluded to, for the purpose of showing that such were his opinions. Now, it was a most remarkable thing to those who, like himself, were acquainted witb Mr. Huskisson, and who had closely wa.ched him, to see how the mind of that great statesman was inclined on this subject—the opi nions of Mr. Huskisson were far more favourable in his last year than his first. He was quoted as the advocate of the present system of Corn-laws, or something like them. Now, all he could say was, that on the last occasion on which Mr. Huskisson addressed the House on the Corn-law, he found that he stated it was his unalterable conviction that they could not uphold the Corn-law with the present taxation, and at the same time increase national prosperity, and preserve public order. He might be told that although this was an emphatic condemnation by Mr. Huskisson of the present Corn-law, yet still it was not to be said that he would not suppot t the present plan. To those who used such an argument he would say, did they think after the statement he had read, which had been made by Mr. Huskisson, that he would support a mea sure which contained such slight modifications of the system ? He did not mean to say that he had a right to claim Mr. Huskisson as an advocate for an absolute fixed duty ; but he had a right to say that Mr. Huskisson totally/ condemned the system of Corn-laws under which we now live ; and that if not an advocate for a total repeal of those laws, he had a decided bearing towards the principle of a fixed duty.—(Cheers.) But having quoted the authority of a great statesman, whom they had no lot,ger among them, he was about to quote the opinion of one who was, fortunately, still with them to afford the benefit of his advice --( Hear.) Now, he was not, gene rally, fond of bandying personal attacks across the table of that House, but there really were some temptations which it was quite difficult for flesh and blood to endure,--( Hear, hear, hear.) When he read that memorable speech, which was addressed by the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies to his constituents at Lancashire, he could not help asking him self whether this was really the same Mr. Stanley whom he recollected in his earlier days, whom he had the honour and the happiness to sit with in that House—whether this was really the same Mr. Stanley who in 1828 had expressed such a different opinion on that subject. But he was afraid that there was. no doubt: of the identity.e4 Laughter-) He found that in 1828, upon the. occasion when the present Corn-laws were passed, Mr. Stanley said that " he had yet to learn the reason which had induced the Right Hon. Baronet to propose the measure. He was certainly inclined to the opinion of those who abstractedly supported a fixed permanent duty ; but, feeling that it was impracticable to carry out such a measure— ( Hear, hear, from the Ministerial Benches)—he felt that the next best plan would be to adopt such a scale of duties as would keep the price of corn as low as possible, at the same time giving the agriculturists a fair protection.—( Cheers and laughter from the Ministerial benches.) He was quite at a loss to understand the mirth of Hon. Gentlemen opposite.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord said that he abstractedly preferred a fixed duty, and that the only reason why he did not then support it was, that be was afraid there were not the means of carrying his own opinions. But now circumstances had altered,— Turne, quod optanti divum promittere nemo Auderet, volt enda dies en ! attulit ultro. He really should not despair if the Noble Lord were to join his efforts to theirs, in defeating this measure of the Right Hon. Baronet; and if the House were to come to the conclusion that at any rate they could not give protection to agriculturists in the shape of a sliding- scale, he should not despair of finding the Noble Lord, in the next discussion that took place, en deavouring to carry that principle which he had then sighed over and had abandoned, only because it was not le acticable.-- (Ironical cries of " Hear, hear," from the Ministerial benches. ) They were told that, however fair the principle of a fixed duty might at first appear, yet there were grave objections which counterbalanced its advantages. These objections resolved themselves into two main ones. It was said, that in times of p'enty, it would be ruinous to the agriculturist ; his answer to that was, that in times of plenty, the agriculturist would find a compensation in the quanity of his produce for the di-. minished price which he could ohtain for it. There was another abjection, upon which greater stress had been laid. They were told, that in times of scarcity and high price a fixed duty would be grievous to the consumer, and that it could not be retained. He did not believe that under ordi nary circumstances there would be the least difficulty in main taining the duty, or that it would operate injuriously to the community ; and he thought, that in extraordinary cases, they might abandon the duty, and that the only effect of that would be, to make a present of it to the country. On that subject he was perfectly prepared to take the same view as his Noble Friend. That if these fears were the only ground for opposing a fixed duty, that duty might ; in particular cases, be made to vanish ; and that it would.be worth while to pur chase an important improvement in our commerce at such a rate. The Executive Government might be left to act upon its own responsibility. The Executive Government of this country had frequently been obliged to make special provision for special circumstances. It had done so with regard to the articles of grain and sugar within the last few years ; and it must happen in questions of trade, that the Government was called upon to set aside the law for a special purpose. His be. lief, therefore was, that they might, with perfect safety, pass a fixed duty, and leave it to the „Government, under circum stances of rare and unusual occurrence, to make a present of it to the country.--( Hear.) He was unwilling at that late hour of the night to detain the House at a iy length. He would only say, that, important as he considered the question of the Corn-laws, there was one consideration which gave them addi tional importance on the present occasion. The Right Hon. Gentleman had announced to the House and the country, that in agreeing in that respect with the late Government, he was not bringing ferward the question of the Corn-laws as an insu lated measure, but that he was prepared to follow it up by a general revision of the tariff, with a view to ascertain whether the protection v.hich had hitherto been givin to particular in terests was consistent with the general welfare and prosperity ot the country.—( Ilear.) He (Mr. Labouchere) had always felt that some adjustment of the Corn-laws was necessary be fore this revision could take place. He had felt that they could not make that revision with any . justice—he had almost said with any decency, unless they carried out the same prin ciple, dealing with the landed interest. He must say that the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman, with regard to the Corn-laws, had excited a feeling of dis trust in his (Mr. Labouchere's) mind that one of two things would happen—either that the other measures of the Right Hon. Gentleman would be of the same unsatis factory nature, or else, that as he had determined to carry out the principle of recision freely and fairly with regard to the other articles of trade, while he had dealt timidly with the question of the Corn-laws, a suspicion might be created in the public_ mind that the different policy pursued by the Ri g ht Ho n. Baronet in the two instances was attributable to the one inte rest being possessed of more political power than the other.— ( Loud cheers.) He was the last person to become an alarmist, but he saw a state of things fast approaching, of all others the most dangerous to the country.—( Hear, hear.) Englishmen were now arrayed against each other, not on account of those mere differences of opinion which must always exist in every free country, and which, within certain bounds, tended to preserve the health and well-being of the political commu nity, but now factions were banded together, men were arrayed against each other in a contest of classes.—( Hear,) There was nothing he deprecated so much as such a contest, and' he could say for himself and the Members of the late Go vernment, that in bringing forward the measure on this sub ject which they had proposed, there was no one thing they had more at heart than, if possible, by a fair and reasonable compromise, fo stay the progress of this contest.—(Cheers. ) lie would say that if the Right Hon. Baronet had proposed a measure which he (Mr. Labouchere) had considered calcu lated to attain that great object, no party orlprivate considera tions should have prevented his giving the Right Hon. Baro net his support.—(Loud cheers.) He must, however, con • fess, that it was with the deepest disappointment he had list ened to the details of the Right Hon. Baronet's proposition. He had no doubt but that it would become the law of the land, and he hoped it might work well and justify the anticipations of the Right Honourable Baronet. He (Mr. Labouchere) must, however, confess, that he could entertain no such ex pectations. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by thank ing the House for the patience with which they had listened to him, and stated that he felt it his duty to vote for the proposi tion of his Noble Friend the Member for London.—( Cheers.) Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL expl a in e d. Th e Ri g h t Hon. G en tl eman h a d ent i re l y m i sun d erstoo d w h a t h a d f al l en from him ( Sir E. Knatchbuil. ) He had not said a single word about raising rent or maintaining the value of farms. He was desirous of correcting the misapprehension into which the Right a Hon. Gentleman had, evidently unintentionally fallen. m en ufaa ct s tu e iZ tr i a ni cl e i r s e t s i tpreat W the h t be ( Sir Edward Knatchbull) had said, when speaking of whole class of persons connected with the agricultural in to occupy the country, and that the la bourers alike, was that it was important that they should be able ou ht stat ions t tl w , g r h u e i i f s e e h h r e r t d i referring fromtothose landlords , connected tenants, andith thea ley at present maintained in the the property Sir lAII4 GI/ they y should be secured in the enjoyment of tep.ll:3essed, but that at the same time due con siderationpaid to the manufacturing interest. some passages tow Bight Hortourwe al. o s e the i.tiAiu would not have risen at that late hour to occup y attention d of the House, had it not been for the conclusion of the speech of the his own expression, flesh upon certain te l pi e , And here he must say t.ttleman, in which ho had touched in such a manner that to use foendest respect eforsthatorders although he always felt the pro and blooe could not resist. —( Laughter.) peeakerders the House, and for the man ner in which th prese tendoined obedience to those orders. opaer ): were seemingly unimportant mattr y he thoeght th manner the danger of departing'ehate c.3ettiplifif f l in striking illogical than the courak the what, he no protee4iOri from thoee rides in the most pursuing?u as , could A ve Avery y e night of this debate, and Here they were in the second h9 and their argumentsl went to show that any I h tiat o d di e ‘ o t ni i h t o dt s rh e irt u , ateyee 7: this sublect, were decidedly ; r oue! ne gieen to the protection, even to the least just, and ought to be immediately possible large re amount was un- But what was the question whiet, withdrawn,—( Loud cheers.) as now u n d er di scuss i on ? 'I he motion of the Noble Lord was not fo r w i t hd raw i ng a ll protection from the landed int erest. admitted the necessity, end question the • The moti on di s tiVl y n they were discuiteng as as as to the mode in which that protection should be granted, and the amount of that protection; and this question they were discussing before they had decided the preliminary ques tion whether any protection at all should be granted or not.— ( fit ar. ) The Right Hon. Gentleman had alluded to the present dangerous state of affairs, and to the fact of men being banded against one another in classes. Allow him (Sir J. Graham) to ask, who was really responsible for this state of affairs?— ( Loud cheers.) When the Government of which that Right Hon. Gentleman was a Member came down to that House in the month of June last, and announced to the people of this country that the time had arrived, in their opinion, when it was necessary that the Corn-laws should be revised ; when the people were appealed to on the question by a general election, was it possible to imagine that the question would not be agitated from cne end of the country to the other? Was it not impossible, to use the words ef the Noble Viscount, the head of that Government, to suppose but that the very foundation of the island would be shaken by such a proposition from such a quarter?—(Cheers.) The Right lion. Gentleman said, that he and his colleagues, when they brought forward their measure upon this subject, were desirous of staying the further progress of this evil by proposing their measure as a fair anti reasonable compro mise ; and he ( Sir James Graham) would say that that was preesely the nature of the proposition of his Right Hon. Friend. The Right Hon. Gentleman had asked what was the object of the present motion. His Right Hon. Friead, in bringing forward his motion had said that the object of it was not the injury of some particular class, but that he and his colleagues would not have brought it forward if they hid not felt convinced that it was for the good of the corn nunity at large. He adopted the language of his Noble Friend, the Colonial Secretary, as it had been quoted by the Right Hon. Gentleman, that evening. He (Sir L. Graham) wuuld adopt the view which he ( Lord Stanley) then took, and would p. oduce this measure as the lowest amount of duty they thought consis ent with adequate protection to native industry. The Noble Lord who had brought forward this motion, ar.d who delighted in the use of antithesis—and, generally speaking, no one used that figure of rhetoric more than the Noble Lord—had cha racterised the measure of his ( Sir J. Graham's) Right Hon. Friend as one which wouli concede yet not conciliate, would disturb yet fail to settle. He ( Sir J. Graham) thought the description more applicable to the fixed duty, of which the Noble Lord was the advocate.—( Cheers.) The Right Hon. Gentleman opposite seemed to dissent. He knew not if that Right Hon. Gentleman had been present at the meeting which had been held at Leeds about a year ago, and at which these words were inscribed upon one of the banners—" A fixed duty is a fixed robbery upon the people."—( Hear, and cheers.) So much with regard to the principle which is to disturb, and yet to settle.—( Hear, hear.) He did not know what the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of Dublin might say to it, for that Iligi,t Hon. Member declared at a public meeting that the fixed duty of Bs. was desirable on this ground, that it was an instalment, which, if obtained, would lead then to the entire repeal in six months.—(Hear, hear.) So much for the fixed duty, which was to settle this matter.—( Hear.) In the ex perience of recent years, he (Sir James Graham) bad found finality, in the times in which we lived, was a mere phantom. He had been a fellow-student of. the Noble Lord in the finality-school—(Laughter)—and he thought he had some ex perience in that school.—( Laughter.) He thought he tad experience in bringing forward large measures—( Cheers and laughter)—and larger measures than were thought prudent or necessarv—( Hear, hear, and a laugh)—brit such as were bought forward merely to stay further demands.—( Hear, hear.) But he had profited by his experience. —(Cheers and laughter.) He had always endeavoured to fulfil faithfully the purpose with which those measures were brought forwai el. But he had not been one of those who, having declared for finality, brought forward again still larger measures—and measures larger than were considered necessary.—( Hear, hear.) In bringing forward the present measure with regard to the Corn-laws, it was not hoped to put an end to further dis cussions of the question, or to further agitation.—( Hear, hear.) But, throwing aside all views of finality, and all views of per manent conciliation, he should be prepared to support on this occasion the measure which would concede what was slue to the consumer on the one hand, and preserve what was necessary to the maintenance of the producer on the other.—( Cheers from the Ministerial benches.) The Noble Lord (Lord John l l , l r t e it te sel et l) had ion a an s ee n e l a t s h io a n t freedom alexee of exception n t t rde o a the w r a u s the le principle, . New,h a e nd had read a work from the pen of the Noble Lord, entitled "Memoirs of the Affairs of Europe since the Peace of Utrecht." In that book he found the Noble Lord's opinions expressed thus : " That the first rule was general freedom of trade, but it seemed clear that some exceptions must remain—that it was clear that when the production of a particular article was ne cessary to the security of a State—(Cheers)—and when a pare ticular branch of industry had been long protected, the pretec•.- tion must he taken away very gradually."—(Cheers.) The Hon. Members for Lambeth and Kendal cheered ; but he had thought that they were free trade a:—(Cheers and laughter, ) 'I he Noble Lord, ' however, said in his book, that he " thought the protection should be taken away 'very gradually, ' lest the people empitiyed in the protected branch of industry should be suddenly reduced to want."—(Cheers from the Tory benches.) The Noble Lcrd in his speech of last night, had not been satisfied with sneering at the principle thus laid down by himself in his own book ; but he thought it not beyond him to sneer at the great and " inimitable invention which was called the sliding scale," Now he ( Sir James Graham) had had lite honoor to serve with the Noble Lord in the Cabinet of Earl Grey •, and he had had the honour of voting with him in 18(13, in favour of that " inimitable invention."—( Hear and laughter.) 7 he Noble Lord ( Lord Palmerston) near him (Lord John Russell) said that there was something slippery in the sliding scale. But he (Sir J. Graham) would ask, was there not something of lubricity in this project of a fixed duty Tory cheers.) In his opinion there was, for, in June last, the late Government was distinctly pledged to a fixed duty of Ss. a qua-ter , and formed a final plan for fixing that duty, with a view of not disturbing, but of settling the question ; and it was brought forward as a measure on which the Government was prepared to stand.—( Hear, hear.) Did it not appear from that, that the Noble Lord, and the gentlemen wit.) were prepared to act with hint, were prepared to slide away from their former propositions —((lieert`t ) He thought that. the Hon. Member for the Totter Hamlets abso lutely disclaimed the Bs. ditty, and asserted that the Noble 6 - 1 41 was not bound to it. 'l he Noble Lord then had slipped away from that.—( Cheers and a laugh.) " The Noble Lord," said the Hon. Member for the Tower Hamlets " was at liberty to hichait a yti,h(tax d ,ierieit o .,:ehtg i p r ir t e s o u dn e p,u h rtiyte a heefi duty, upon hearing the el; pore, leo gid to be equivalent to the burthees of the agriculturists." Sq much for finality. The Noble Lord proposed that his duty was to be fixed wipe of corn rose to 735. or 745, a bushel. That was tp be the duty, I fixed, immutable and invariable. But yet, when the price mounted up beyond that, the Noble Lord thought that the (inty aught to drop to one shilling ; —(Hear, hear.) Vjsiniteveti might be said of the graduated gratis applied a faritori to that propos sition.—(llsar, hear,) He (Sir J. Graham had been very much struck with a pamphlet referred to by the Noble Lord, and written by a gesitlerOMl oanWel Hilbhaffir HP vfilleMbered discussing that pamphlet with his Right flee. Friend, and he remembered saying that he agreed with it op to the pint where the author coincided with the Noble Lord.— Hear, hear. ) Now, it was clear that this argument would be irresistible, if it could be clearly shown that no foreign corn would be brought into the home market till that point of price when the Sc. duty fell to is. should bp, attained ; The Hon. Mena: ber then read the following eistract. from the pamphlet of Mr. Hubbard, to which he had referred To eitablish a fixed duty, with a reduction to be made contingent en the averages reaching a certain price," the very proposal, be it observed, of the Noble Lori, " would be to foster a grasping spirit in the holders erinremi sst o e,oh. f nroes tcti?iroyl months warehouses r a t. oe s tshtheoe s ets r pece e r nars l i y ucwtse a eeh s r imte t ahh h ni eg e di oafs might‘rh‘ors, aat s osv ean t e vroet v ; abaaitry: reachedoun gA,O profitablyhl s; i oa t mf e igift might it quarter n n rt then e oola prices existing,rig but e t n i o because t ai. the l d r , r o e l d ie such a point that the the holders would ket p back their corn until an order in Council kindly remitted the duty in order that they might exact the utmost price." Now it would require no combination to effept this it might be certainly and absolutely effected by a linanitnify at feeling e bu tth ein b the dealers, would ,afio a infi n has d isl tsli onec o lpnoi l sonplftiapiem;_neoseirstwneyoss conclusivetwui ed l hm r e i e a on t t fh t i a ttas e hta h egpa t ard o liiinco t ose h wut e rseee tn edi4:cie f lhe o ietfe r rhtii i , it, of Thithe s ea?: responsibility certain amount, or that which permitted an order in Uouncil to urged that sales suprem o , : le o 4., ov a e n r d rus t i t e ia n t t, It e li o ad ov b e e r e n n . moat ought to exercise a dispensing power over the law, and satisfied dealtvi t t h h t a h te whoever questionon wouldits oven loo k at responsibility. the pa sL d e Now ba tes he on t was lie Corn-laws, though they would find a great differenoe the on other ldal Executiveau always be subjects, Government ,ov open n t ntteahr,ettyht ought. sg o uh u st l p d inc fl oi n d too a bfe g ha r ar e vm a i t necy u d niformity on this point. That thi ta s hn t e s w b w e i e th n il un u t ( l i n h ly a P li exercised w g ' h er t . If H o n; Gentleman d i e t n t t h l l e a a m l y e v d i e t o h u e:r : b v h e e a r . d n n Itoeoh referred, t lon i g t delayed, or too soon called into operation.—( Hear,) The ' i i i, t rr y o. „to HuskissonsAoloir.. e Huskissond,nobnt over this sr o ncituitiheosi question, f I In protectiont he last . speech itself acisf orsniun,bejihepeclet.certainly did appear to he thought with considerable boldness, to the disputed autho applied to corn.—( Hear. ) But he would call to the at s tendon of the House that the passage, if it , was rightly aui interference ohe re hft, eh' question i de e n j s zeu t sx o te n hes aat Executive all others o n wh i ch understood and taken in connection with the circumstances I of the ti me , they c ou ld h ave no doubt but Mr. Huskiesun r e . ferred to the preference he was disposed to give to the ori ginal proposal of Mr. Canning, Mr, Canning made two i propositions —one in 1827, the other in 1828, and he believed that Mr. Huskisson referred to the latter of these two plans, giving his decided preference to the original proposal of Mr. Can ning contrary to his plan of 1828. That, however, was a matter of surmise, and he would now read to the House the opinion of Mr. Huskisson, not taken at the distant period of 1814, but when the subject was under discussion for the last time, and I he believed during the period when he was a responsible Mi nister of the Crown. The House would find that on the 220 of April, 1828, Mr. Huskisson, not indirectly, but directly, dealt on the question of a fixed duty, and said, " One of the Hon. Gentlemen opposite had spoken in favour of a fixed duty ; now, abstractedly considered, this might be well enough, but when they regarded the circumstances of the country and the wants of the people, they would see the impos sibility of adopting such a principle. If a high and permanent duty were imposed, then in periods of scarcity the poor would be. exposed to suffering and misery which no claims of the home grower to protection could ever justify. When legislat ing on this subject, therefore, they were bound to consider the circumstances of the country and the wants of the people," Could any Hon. Gentleman, then, aft er this, doubt whe ther air. Huskisson was for a fixed duty or a sliding scale, which was his own invention?—( Hear. ) Now, the Hon. Member for Sheffield had asked what would be the effect of the plan proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet on the price of provisions ? To answer that question, he thought it was necessary, in the first instance, to come to an understanding as to what, in common years, would be the price at which foreign wheat could be landed and placed in bond, with all charges paid, in the British market. If that question could be settled, or placed on any thing like a fixed foundation, there would be no difficulty in giving the Right Hon. Gentleman an explanation. To do this, he should not rely on any evidence taken from their side of the House; but he should rely on the evidence produced by the Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton —namely, the Consular returns. If they would take the column of prices in that return, and strike out of it only the two items which he should name, the price of corn at Rotterdam and at Antwerp, which were almost nomi ern3r6sas,g. whiche; price,he %era:: therefore o na b g; nomi nal pricer, inasmuch as they were not ports from whence any k i s ist . oor ilacteoqt column returns,ro, of the t ih e h n eo great supply for England was drawn. If any gentleman would ose h s v strike out i o eb u ve t e fd t o n tu e loi s ad e t t tt s h v o o eb i ea t the price of foreign corn. Thep he rates of freight, and if, in the wipe wanner they struck out the freight§ from ports at a groat distance, such as Palermo and , Odessa, from whence no great supply was drawn, they would find that, instead of there being an average of 4s. 6d. per quarter, it would be reduced to between 31. 6d. and 4s. a quarter. On this evidence, he as. I seined ills Plifl; of cgnn brought . to England to 'Le somewhere about 40s. Now, he would just show what would be the effect of the measure proposed by her Majesty's Mi- , nisters. He should show conclusively that the practical effect of the measure would be to protect the English farmer up to the price of 665. a quarter, because below that pri4 f s ie porter could not, if the duty is ataletii, importtelnn isithout in. caking a tt Bearing niina the fact he had stated, that the price of wheat in common years would be 40s, in band s he , would at once show the H on . G ent l eman t h at b etween 51s. ! a d 575. foreign wheat will come into competition with the home market. At 58s. the duty proposed is 145., . and addieg 14s to 405., it would be found that tkis was the point at which foreign wheat would come in. o competition with that of the home pro• ducer. This he conceived to be a great concession made to the consumers, and' one to which they were entitled. —(Hear, hear ) Notwithstanding what had been said against the present system of the Corn-laws, he did consider that under the shelter of the protection afforded by them, the grower of home corn had, by the increase of his skill, the improvements in manure, and various other appliances, so im provedpowet of th e so il , t h at a l ower p r ice pricewould b e t h productive m e ore remunerative than it would be when the present law had passed, and he thought it a concession due to the con sumer to lower the duty, while it would not, at the same time, in the slightest degree endanger the home-grower.—(Hear.) He thought the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down made a concession, showing that he felt such would be the case. He said that the reduction in the scale would have the result of affording a larger revenue to the State, and if that were so, it would bring more foreign corn to the market—(No)—it would bring it, when it wes most wanted; and also whereas, by the present law, a temptation was held out to re duce the duty, anti to throw it upon the market at the nominal duty, the present proposition would give a larger revenue ; and not only that, but by it foreign corn would be introduced gra dually, and not suddenly, as by the pre sent system —( Hear, hear.) That system had been much condemned lately, but it should be recollected that the harvests were extremely deficient during ti:e two or three last seasons. But so far from its being true that the production of the country was not equal to its consumption, from the year 18:12 to 1837, the country, year by year, produc d a larger quantity of corn than it was able to consume. The evidence of the last four years, he was aware, went to prove that a considerable quantity of foreign corn was wanted. That it had been obtained, and thrown upon the market at a high price, he admitted ; but that price lasted only for a short time, it had a very sudden fall ins mediately consequent upon its introduction ; and for the last three years nearly two millions of quarters were imported into the country.—( Hear, hear.) Some reference had been made to the Report drawn up by Mr. Huskisson in 1822, in advo cacv of the system of bonding corn, and he (Sir J. Graham) could perceive no greater advant age , t h an h av i ng a l arge quantity of corn in bond to meet the necessities'of the country. —( Hear, hear.—The Right Hon. Gentleman here quoted from the Report a passage, showing the great advantage of having a supply of corn always ready to meet their necessities, which would place them beyond the reach of foreign States, even if they wished to aggravate the pressure from any want of corn that might be felt at home.) The present system tiad that prac tical effect, and without creating any expense or loss to indi viduals, it combined all the advantages.—( Hear, hear.) A great deal hid been said of the speculating nature of the corn trade. If it turned out to be unfortunate, it was called gambling ; but if otherwise. it was considered a sign of pru dence and of foresight—yet the •speculation was the same, whether it was successful or unsuccessful. Neither did he see any unwillingness on the pa.t of individuals to engage in the corn trade. The trade in opium was also one which encouraged speculation, and yet he did not recollect to have heard any condemnation of that trade._( Hear, hear, hear.) Large profits had been made, and large losses had also followed the trade in opium ; and, in his opinion, something worse than losses had also been consequent upon it; while no opposition had been given to that trade by Hon. Gentlemen opposite. But against such a system he thought the present system would be a check, and that the foreign importer would bring his supply into the market rather than run the risk of holding over. On the other hand, it would have the effect of inducing him to import corn largely for the British mai ket.—( Hear, hear.) Before he should conclude, he would glance at the evils of a fixed duty. In years of abund ance such a duty would be inoperative, and there would be no need of protection ; and in years of scarcity, if the Govern ment levied the duty, what became of their cheap bread, what became of their protection ?—(Cheers. ) A high duty must be pro , their the steedieese of their When the price was mew, and when the tr • w h ie ili v‘ it a p s ry de igh y e e ap d, seasons, awl necessity of protection to the horneegrower was greatest, their protection failed, and the greatest confusion in their social arrangements must ensue.—( Hear, hear.) His Right Hon. Frieed the Paymaster of the Forces, was taunted as if he drew some distinction between the agricnltural classes and the rest of the WIT enity. Ile (Cs'ir J. Graham) h:a .l :- 4 .1)1 k them if the advantage of the He believed that a considerable majority e , whole comm - ( unity was not involved in the culture of the soil ? of the inhabitants of the United Kingdom were directly or in directly intefes!pd in the pelt ore of the 0011.--(cl iFier e) B ut it weFe net sit, he atilt eonteeded Ow no greater ea could take place than not taking care of the interests of agriculture, which, if they were net protected, would he fatal to the home market, and to matitifaetures. The Hop. Mperkbpr for Irieptial, ghee he thseeksed this ,sobjegt 944 • to it the 'exportteir. ber ' ed . in the year 183 whet 'e s He apumed the effects pf the Coin-lay from the deficiency of our exports. He re".e rn with reepeet to t h e exports were low, he discussed the 'quritl4fi, and Hen. elentleitiep conseihted to rep ea t' th e 9"cPollr.geo:.iattiteb,,,s4ustrit4ah'tehbaptt';'iSll il ce o 'P f irf c r p thi ! e •p en; , l o P o nfi ti ns i l d Y be losyereti, arid the effect would be to raise the general level of prices. Bht this was net Statistieill returns p rove d had inereesed, Th e that yt o h n ei l n y hp c oe o r n iil l a d d( r , t er re wt t . l ha o sa ri t . t oc 0 u S t i r e y attributed to the deficiency in &annul in the home market. A quotation had been made front Adam Smith ; if the Noble Lord would just reeelleet, the doctrine laid down by Adam Smith was, that the most valuable trade which could be carried (41 1 Was the trade carried on between tepee and emiptry. He lajd down theoctrine ti' the borne market was, after all, worth all the ee„, , e markets put together, Oir James G "aLoTis therefore • hoped that the Legislature would usethe utmost caution in taking any steps whatever in c h ang i ng so important a branch as the agri c ult ure o f thi s country. When a deficiencytook place in the home maelces.4 i 4 would aggravate that de ficiency by reietese t h e large branch es o f our productive i tot ry, Ile wee elmest ashamed et that hoiir to trouble the House with informatifiri in detail, yet he thought it was his duty vgry sl14 1 •1 1 Y 14 ieeell upon the point to which this knaresborourgh, with much pain, had voted to, viz., the effect of machinery in di4ikac' i ng as one of the causes which led ln i'ise pie sent dietrese of th e ' working classes,—( 11 \ le lgeld in Lis hand a re ;Jut, cßnte from inup t eeti ena ld e author i ty, and which he had laid fin the table “f the House in the coarte pf that day, It was the report of Mr. Horne, inspector of mine and sijk a nti woollen manufactures in the 'petmly of Lancaster, and the West Riding of Yerkshiee. I=o (Sir lames Graham). begged to call the aSterition of the Howie to certain facts con. taimil i ll it : 4n the first place, there were under hie inapeo eion 1,541 mills employed in the four branches of reenufectures, to w hi c h rte ( Sir James Graham) hail referred, Of these 1,541 mills, 87 per cent. Were werked e 79 per cent. were worked full time, and 10 per- Ciint, had a various amount of time for week ; and of the Whole number 1,541 in the four Irrepehes of trade, there were opt-, Now this Y 13 not at es - ork quantity would show the enormous increase which the power of machinery h in t oh , to the power of production. He I , eferqd th only to the article of cotton-hose merle far h o me consumption. In 1837 it erneuitteil to thirty-six million pounds wei ght I in 185,3 it was forty one milli ons ; i n 1839 it wee thirtyeight millions; in 1840 it was forty-five millions and in 1 . 8 e 4 1 1 it Was forty-three nsilVons of pounds, She consumption of 1841 was thus greater than that of 18:37 by • • seven millions of pounds, and it appeared that the total consumption of Great Britain in 181.1 at the close of the war was only seven millions; there fore, the quantity of manufactured cotton wool by mills in 1841 was greater than that which was produced even as lately as 1837, by an amount ceeetsili nis - the whole produce of all the cot • ton mills of OW Britain at th e c l ose of the war—that was, it had so joie eased within the last few ears, exceeding t h e w h o l e pro d uce o f the cotton mills at' the close of the rreneh war. He ( Sir James Qral t ews) would rot then go into the cause and effect, but In the last four years, under these Corn-laws, which were pick t he so fatal to the manufacturing interest, and to have taken place during four years of great trial, because those four years were four years of de6cieut liar ve•ts, and they well knew that no human power could avoid or prevent a bad haveit—( Cries of " hear")---he (Sir James Graham) had only looked at the increase in manufactures, but they (the Opposition) would say these were the old mills, and it was impossible that tile improvements should not increase. labour. But what would the Hen Gentlemen say when he (Sir James Graham) told them that since the year 1839, when there w: s a large impor tation upon the principle which was so objectionable, the gra duated scale, that within the last two years the new cotton mills were 110 lesll, than ninetv-one Those mills worked 3,331 horse-power, end eislculati n e flue persons to each horse-power it would give 16 ,751 persons. Had anything been dme to locreas. the old mills, he would ask ? He had no means of knowing the power of the old mills, but he knew that in one of the mills, in 1841, one person produced 2,700 pounds in a mill, while in the old mills it took six persons to make 900 pounds. Thus had manual labour been superseded in every department of cotton manufaoture by machinery. He would next refer to a large mill in Manchester. ( The Right Hon. Gentleman then read an extract from the report he held in his hand, but in so low a tone of voice as to be qu to inaudible in the Gallery.) He could read several more extracts, but he would content himself with reading to the House, one which was an extract taken from the .wages book of a l arge m ill . O n t h e 12th Jan., 1837, in th a t mill there were four hundred and eighty seven persons employed, who received in the course of the week, 330/. wages, and they wrought 2,313 lbs. weight of cloth per week ; on the 14th January, 1841, in that same mill, which continued to be the property of the same individuals, there were, instead of 487 persons, 354 persons employed there, and instead of 330/. paid an wages, there were only 227/., and instead of 2,313 lbs. weight of cloth, there were 2,339 lbs. weight wrought In 1841. Thus there were 133 fewer persons employed in that mill, and 1131. less paid in wages, while the produce of the mill was much larger. lie (Sir James Graham), was not one of those ++h° considered that improvement did not confer benefit upon the working classes, but he did contend that the effect of great improvement in machinery was a dis paragement to manual labour, particularly to that of adult labourers, and that that disparagement Inflicted a great hard ship upon the working_ c l asses of this count r y. Mr. BBOTHERTON wished to ask the Right Honourable Baronet (Sir James Graham) what were the usual number of hands employed foimetly—Mr. Horne h a d stated, in his report, that 91 mills had been erected, and in hi s statement he had given the full number of h ands employed, Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he did n o t k now, but he haul already read Mr. Horne's aecount to the H ouse. The Right Hon. Baronet then stated thatnheehfiad rrveln his suppo r t t o t h e proposed inepure becase, ih next s larCeac7; it gave a high scale of protection, and, u in t he t p , e conceived that it would diminish frauds in the agricultural productions of the country by the only mode by which It could be diminished. He thought that the measure proposed by her Majesty's Minis tern was consonant to the Wants and wish es of t ose persons who are opposed to the existing 1 Ws, and at the same time lie was convinced that tire proposed measure would g i ve such a protection to the home-grower, as would be not only con d uc i ve to his interest, but to the interes t and advantage ,es the nation at large. lie was convinced that that measure would have the effect of securing the most permanent advantages, and it would secure an increased supply of h o me-grown crrn at a cheaper rate than other countries; it could be procured from ehe therefore preferred it to a fixed duty, which he looked upon as of the country.—dangerous in the e extreme to the best interests kCheeis. ) On the motion of an HON. MEMBER, whose name we could not learn, the debate was then odjourned. The other Orders of the Day d isp ose d (I t , and the House adjourned at One o'clock . were then observe this. Doubtless there are f v r: a r e,thi c+. er y i e ld something, and unless a large with the the Corn.laws!"— ►STRIKE witu,g THF IRON IS HOT --All tqlTiertiot}:3ol4'll:tortance, but the Corn.law just now should be deemed the questiim of questions. The monopolists feg. themselves compelled to mand be made upon them, and that by he and voice of the people, that something will be recig 4 s litho, All classes should cry out with one wriversgl Wee, " Away TAf Mrgggio s . - - One of the k ee p e rs of the Royal f orest of La iu ... - . Blanque, near Montpelli e r, was returning to -.Faun, 4 44w Sys lawfully cut in the forest. 1 - Iv,i,nsC 4 A e r UPoll them to lay down ago, when he met five men carrying fagg a Oks 2_ , xv4i, , ,,,,,..i. their loads, lie was isz aiaggered by a blow from a large e l ii4litY tsiey had un :tone t.th - n4 of Efil by one, and then struck do wn, and severely skoMitiod by another with a hatchet. Being left for dead, he lay all night on the ground, but was found next morning and caAri f id to the hospital of St. Puns, where he still is 10 4 o ii , iiv a . , : a tatv., wwo men are in custody on sulti.AcAt PROVIDENT LIFE OFFICE. 1 A General Meeting of the Directors and Proprietors of the Provident Life Office was held on Friday at the Offices of the Company, Regent-street, for the purpose of receiving a state ment of the accounts, and of declaring a dividend. Sir JOHN OSBORN, Bart., was called to the Chair. The SECRETAR Y then read a statement of the accounts, from which it appeared that the balance from the last states ment, the interest upon stock and mortgages, &c., amounted in the whole to 1,130,920/. 11 s. 2d. As soon as the various items of the account had been gone through, JOHN AUGUSTUS BEA UMONT, Esq., the Managing Direc tor, rose and said--Having so recently laid before you the statements of our accounts upon the last septennial division, it may appear to be unnecessary that I should trouble you with many remarks upon the present occasion. But 1 am gratified to be able to state that, although only six months have elapsed since our last meeting, the fact of our having on that occasion, not only continued to declare a bonus to the insured, but to preserve the same progressive increase in its amount, as on the four previous divisions, has made its due impression on the public, and our business has proportionally increased. The extent to which life assurance business is now entered into by the public, and the immense interests which are at stake in the profession, render it incumbent upon an office which like this carries on its operations solely for the benefit of its policy holders, not only to declare in general terms the state of its accounts, but to render that statement, as far as can be, intelli gible to all parties interested in its welfare. This principle must be my excuse for endeavouring to show by a comparison with other offices what we have effected. '1 hat comparison has within the last few weeks been called for by the Secretary to the Norwieh Union, at the recent annual meeting of that Company. It will be in the recollection of the present meeting that that office in the year 18 0 9, having a surplus profit of only 44,000/. declared a bonus of 300,000/., and that upon the following sep tennial meeting in 1836, their surplus was, as might have been expected, so trifling, that they were unable to declare any bonus at all. An equally surprising fact was the admission that 7,000/. per annum might be saved in the future manage ment of the office. The implied unnecessary expenditure to so large an amount for a number of years upon a single item of the a ccount, naturally gave rise to serious alarm. It now appears they are about to declare a bonus upon the last rive years' transactions, which has doubtless been arrived at with a stricter regard to correctness than that of the year 1829. I will now state the effects of V.,e comparison between ourselves and that office. The amount of their fund in hand, is barely equal to half of our similar fund, in pro portion to . our respective liabilities. This is the point to be borne in mind, in estimating the prosperity of a life office.—(Hear, hear.) As to the gains of each office no one has ever disputed the large amount realized by the ' Norwich Union ; they have probably been of an amount eon ' responding to the . vast business which was formerly secured by the active exertions of the Managers, but the complaint has been that those gaiins, arising from the extensive confi dence originally beets - owed egssai the office in question by the public, have not realised that benefit to the policy-holders hich they were entitled to expect. With respect to our divisions of profit among our policy-holders, we need only reler to the fact of our having from the Arst esta blishment to the present time secured a bonus of no inconsi derable amount at each of the five septennial periods, while the Norwich Union has made threw only, (if we except one, of which at the time of its boing made they had barely a seventh part of the amount in hand.) Our surplus profit was on the first division, in 1e.13, 20,000/. At the second division, in 18 9 0, it was upwards of 90,000/. Upon the third division, in 1127, it was 215,000/. Upon the fourth division, in 1834, apeards of 300,0001., and at the recent division, being tte fifth, 415,0001. We have no means of showing the amounts of the similar items in the Norwich, excepting for the years 1829 and 1836. Their surplus profit at the first of these periods was 44,0001. ; at the second, 14,00 N.„ c i s was proved upon a strict examination into the affairs of the offiee, instituted by the poliey-helders, the result' of which was published on tlip 6th '1"19,Y60.6. : 101. 1 state these facts only in answer to the questions contained in the speech of their Secretary at their late general meeting, and 1 think it doe to the memory of our late Managing Director, fhii V s susider of this Office, that such a statement of factsihenld he made on the present occasion. The 9op , ,,parison might be carried ou t to other poin, etild tt4l 10treeilve 'lesson to the public d er i ve d fromti t e p', - oc.eedings of the office in qtteetion as detailed in their printed Report, and at their late General Mut;r.,i, but I fear to trespass too far upon your atteistisp. lam enabled to state that bonuses declared by two oiher offices, viz., the Hope anti the Eagle, o4.cei are of similar date with ourselves, 4-whi'eli failed to declare a bonus in the sessr iisi33, are ail times less than those shichhave been clecl a reny this office. —( Hear.) 'I hese facts I sujl,lo warrant me in congratulating the members of nn the success which . has attended us, aiiti in 14ing before the public our clainss," to, their confi denee. I may assert, with ou t f ear a eonteadietion s that no office can have realised g - seater henefits to the ins4ted titan our selves. Tt,a 4901,419,N, though they in , e liable for a ca pit a l ttl thp amount of 25 0,000{., have subscribed 0, tenth part only, and the profits taken by them are confined to the interest won chg seh,scrilied ailment, the whole profit of the be s i i -le s s Wang divided mots the policy-holders, and all the expenses of the (lake being kept upon the lowest possible scale.—( Hear, hear.) The accounts you have just heard • have been carefully considered, and upon them • will be submitted to the meeting. The - resolutioa lend to the Sh are h o ld ers mas then P .- .semi ion of a divi- Three geetlsisyks, were iv. r • 4 and carried. of tlifteLlirectors, elected Dire c t ors , i n th e room H . B. ....n Kent out by ro t a ti on , L Esq , was elected Auditor in the room of Esq. Alr. Cit Wit:BILL, in returning thank., said that the affairs of that office were conducted in snob a manner as to render the office of auditor almost a sinecure. There was one point to Which he, as a member of the legal profession, would allude, and that was with regard to the law expenses of the office. The amount for law expenses for the past year was per haps less than in any other Insurance-office. It only amounted to 7:3/. This evidently showed that great care was taken to avoid disputes by the parties connected with this establishment. lie most heartily thanked them for thehonour they had done him. sVsiDitew Maciew, Esq., proposed a vote of thanks to the Managing Director, Mr. Beaumont, and at the same time passed a warm eulop,Mai upon the talents an d i n t egr it y o f the late M anag 'ing Director, whose constant exertions were directed to the welfare of all parties who had identified theseselves with the Office which he had conducted with so much success. Mr. lAEA U 3 IONT,iu returning thanks, said he was extremely proud of the confidence paced in him, that he considered the ,ffice of _Manager of a prosperous Life office one of the highest honour, seeing that the interests of so large a portion of the community are entrusted to his care, and that he should ever feel most deeply interested in the suocess of an establishment %%inch owed its origin and prosperity to the exertions and pru dent measures of his lamented father. He begged leave to take that opportunity of expressing his thanks to the Di rectors, who had rendered great service to the Office by their constant attention to its affairs. The meeting thee separated, after expressing their thanks to the Chairman for kis attention to the busing of :he day. THOUGHTS AND DETAILS ON LIFE IN SURANCE OFICES. By .I. A. Beaumont. This little publication, which is addressed in the shape of a letter to the Shareholders and Insured in the Provident Life-office, Regent-street, contains a great deal of useful information on subjects which interest a large portion of the community, and many hundreds will regret that it was not published some five years ago. Had the fitithful warning which it conveys been coin municated in time, the West-Middlesex Insurance Com pany, and another Company little less flagitioUs, though less injurious, wouid not have thrown so many families into distress and hopeless ruin. One observation in the pamphlet ought to make a deep impression on persons who wish to guard against the insolvency of Assurance offices, namely, that the period which tests the soundness of the principles upon which an Insurance-office is con ducted, is front twenty-five to thirty years after its es tablishment. No office, the author considers safe, unless it hits been subjected to this term of probation, and he thus snakes out his argument : There is no Life Insurance Company, on whatever principles it may he constituted, that may not buoy itself up with every external show of prosperity for at least the first twenty years. If by repre sentations, however delusive, it can succeed in getting business, it may during that period declare handsome bonuses, and even pay them, and thus strengthen its apparent claim to public favour. The policies of the few that may annually drop off', may be punctually paid to the surviving claimants out of the accumulated and incom. ing funds, The very claims thus arising, enable them to sustain and strengthen their teputation, as the prompt discharge of them is thus turned to good account.. But, in the progress of time, a period arrives which wholly alters this state of affairs. The lapse of between twenty and thirty years has brought those early insured, then In middle age, to a somewhat advanced period of life. The candles have been all burning together, and they consequently go out at no distant intervals. The deaths begin to multiphy fast, and the claims to press rapidly on each other. It is now that the rough current sets in, and it is this crisis which tries the solidity of the concern. If the system is one of collusion, its whole machinery will be brought to a stop; the Company will now be broken up, and the proprietors will decamp with the funds, setting the claimants and the law at defiance. If, on the contrary, an establishment at the end of this period of pro bation remains still solvent and trustworthy, discharging all its claims with the same exactness and promptitude as at first, it has given the best grounds for presuming favourably both as to the in tegrity of its dealings, and the stability of its funds. The evi dence is not in all cases conclusive; but better ground of reliance can hardly be desired, and the moat cautious may prudently act upon it as the best that cau be obtained. It has the great advan tage, too, of being - mealy procured, nothing more being necessary than to refer to the date of the establishment of th a office." This statement is fully borne out by the history of the Provident Life Office. During the first seven years, says Mr. Beaumont, the gai n was very considerable ; the receipts exceeded the claims by 70 per cent., but towards the end of twenty-eight years the claims multiplied so rapidly as to leave but few lives on the list of those early insured. " This effectually tried our strength." This account is so consistent with truth and experience, that we should look u p on every periron as mad who insured in a new office (unless under good guarantees) if it were not a well-known fact, that one half of man kind daily commit acts which the other half re gard as decided proofs of insanity. The publi cation then refers to the different companies es tablished for life insurance, and of course the author prefers his own, but of that the reader can judge fi)r himself. "My only object," he says in conclusion, "has been to prevent, or rather to assist in preventing, the recurrence of irreparable misfortunes, by furnishing such materials for consideration as may put the inexperienced on their guard, and I would fain hope that they may not be wholly unprofitable. Those only who are prac tically acquainted with the subject have the means of doing this. In my present attempt to effect . I have only carried out—l feel how imperfectly—the intention of our deceased founder., to whose office I succeed, and whose loss, unaided by his guidance as I now am, I:have daily occitaion to deplore." ANTI-CORN LAW CONFERENCE The Executive Committee appoir4l by the Conference, at the close of its sittings on Saturday last, assembled yesterday at Brown's Hotel, Palace-yard. Several of the Deputies present com. municated intelligence of the feeling of indignation and disgust with which the Government measures were received in the country, and the determination of the people, in the ♦arious localties to 1 ,,;,1 upon the recommendation of the Conference. It was also resolved that the Committee should hold an open meeting at twelve o'clock to.day, and each succeeding morning for the transaction of the impoi taut business, which must of necessitl , occupy their atteutica during the discussion of the, great question in the ii, A use of Commons. As the press will have an owortunity o' attending these meetings, reports of the procc.44ings will no doubt appear in all the Liberal daily papers, The Caen papers state that the inquiry set on foot with regard to the bytii,ng of the house of detention at Beaulieu shows it to I,iiye 4i;iwn from the imprudence of one of the officers iP l Pifle4 in the establishment. This person accidentally let a ,-;. 3 . 4 40 fail in one of the workshops, and the inflammable materials, bayi n g instantly broken out into a blase, he I ost his presence of mind, and did not give the alma till it was too late, LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 15. Their Lordships sat at ten o'clock this morning, for the first time in the present Session, to hear appeals. The Lords present were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Brougham, Lord Cottenham, and Lord Campbell. HORNE V. TUE EARL OF LAUDERDALE. This case came before their Lordships, upon appeal, from the de cision of the Court of Session in Scotland. The principal question in the case was whether certain lands in Scotland were disposed of, subject to the payment of_ certain ministers' stipends. The Court of Session decided that they were subject to such payments, and from that decision the appellant, who was at present in possession of the land, appealed to the House. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL and Mr. JAMES IiCsSELL appeared on behalf of the appellant, and Mr. PEMBERTON and Mr. ANDERSON were Counsel for the respondent. Mr. J. Russsu., in the absence of the Solicitor. General, who was engaged in the Court of Exchequer, proceeded to address their Lord hirs, and had not concluded when the Court rose. ROLLS' COURT, Feb. 15. His Lordship was engaged up to a late hour of the day in hear. ing petitions any short causes, which were generally devoid of the slightest interest. MERRY V ECLES. This was a creditor's suit, instituted by the plaintiff, who was a bond creditor, ou behalf of himself and other creditors. The bond was dated the 10th of December, 1827, and the testator died in April last. The defendant was the testator's administratrix. The object of the present application was to obtain the ordinary decree in a creditor's suit, and to have an account taken of the testator's estate. Lord LANGDALE—Take the order. GORI)ON v. THE CHELTENHAM ♦NO GRRAT WESTERN RAILWAY CON. PANS". In this part-heard cause, which came before the Court on de. murrer, Mr. Kindersley was heard on behalf of the plaintiff; Mr. Turner appeared for the defendants. llis 1,011.1)6111P intimated to Counsel that it would be advisable to see if they could agree as to the state of facts, if they could so agree the only question then would be as to whether the acts done did, by themselves, constitute a violation of the Act of Parliament applicable to the case. Counsel concurred in the justness of his Lnrdship's view, and tho cause was ordered to stand over till to-morrow. KIRKMAN V. ANDREWS. The object of the bill filed in this cause was to have it declared by the Court that the plaintiff, who had been removed from the office of Resident Manager of a Life Insurance Company, was en titled, under the resolutions and articles of partnership, entered into with him by the defendant, and other members of the Com pany, to receive from the Company a sum of 3,500/. with the interest thereon from February, 1840, the time of his removal from office, which was a suns equivalent to seven years' purchase of a salary of 5001., or that an equivalent annuity should be secured to the plaintiff out of the assets of the Company ; also that the Company should be declared liable to the debts incurred on their behalf by the plaintiff, and unless assets were s.dmitted on their part that an account should be taken. In the articles of partnership it had been resolved that the Wain. tiff, who was one of the principal projectors of the Company, should not be removed from his office of resident manager, unless for Ina/ versation or gross incapacity; and hence the ground of • sent claim. - al. pre- l'he plea put in by the defendants St's- ... twice become bankrupt ; and th.• ed that the pl a i n tiff h a d not paid I ss. in the 0.,- on his second b a nk rup t cy h e b ad " -.id, which, being the c ase , it was contended by Mr. Turiu that, under the Commission of Bankruptcy, all the property became vested in the assignees, and that no un. certificated bankrupt could ever sue without his assignees being made parties to the suit. Ibis I:oancntt• thought that according to the authorities on the subject, he should overrule the plea. However, until he should look over these authorities, and satisfy himself on the various points which had been so ably advanced in argument by Counsel on either side, he should postpone his decision for the present. VICE-CHANCELLORY COURT, Feb. 15. (Before the Vice.CuaseeLLoa OE ENGLAND.) IN RE TUR NORTH UNION AND CLARENCE RAILWAY COMPANY. This case came before his Honour upon motion to dissolve an in junction, which had been obtained during the last long vacation, re. straining the Clarence Railway Company from carrying their rail. way across the Sherborne branch of the plaintiffs' railway, in the township of Crislipgton. The Care appears likely to occupy the Court several days. (Before Vice-Chancellor WIGRANI.) THE ATTORNEY -GENERAL V TILE CORPORATION OF NEWARK. In this case the bill was filed by the Attorney. General, at the instance of the Charity Commissioners. Mr. Spence and Mr. Blunt appeared for the relators; Mr. Skirrow for the Trustees under the Municipal Corporations Act • and' Mr. Birtfor 'the Corporation. Th.., original information sought an account of tb ' of certain charity estates, supposed to be v' management ' ants. It came on f or h ear i ng r ...red in the defend the year 1830 -wore Sir John Leach in. On that - ~ecasion it was referred to the Master. to take an acco -IS-242: and the y of the rents and profits since September had any l was also to inquire whether the defendants p r , -.us, or other property, to answer what might be due them. Lord Cottenham subsequently decided that the Court had no power to direct an inquiry as to the assets of a corporation with a view to charging them with costs, but that their funds might be proceeded against by means of a distringas. It appeared that the charity property, consisting of houses, was sold in four lots. On the passing of the Municipal Corporations Act, a supplemental information was tiled for the purpose of bringing before the Court the ex.cor. ',orators, and also the trustees under the Act. Whilst this suit was pending it was discovered that the property had been held on charitable trusts, having been devised to the Corporation by Anthony Collingwood, for the use of the poor, and that it could nut therefore be brought within the scope of Sir John Leach's order. Mr. Knight, one of the purchasers, applied in May, 1836, to be discharged from his purchase; whilst Mr. Massey, the other purchaser, abided by his purchase, and paid the purchase-money into Court. The present information prayed a reference to the Mastde; to inquire and state whether it would be for the benefit of the Anthony Collingwood Charity that that part of the property for the purchase of which Wright sought to be discharged, should be re. sold, and that the sale to Mr. Massey should be upheld. Bier, on the part of the corporation, censented to the in. quiry on the ground that it would be beneficial to the charity. Mr. SKlanow, fur the new trustees, resisted the prayer, his clients refusing to sanction the proceedings under the sale. The case was part heard yesterday. Ills HoNouß pronounced judgment this morn' lig. Lord Cotten. ham had clearly disapproved of this decree directing a sale of the property ; but as there had been a sale under that decree, the pur chasers were entitled to the benefit of it. By arrangement there might possibly be a stay of proceedings. That, however, was only a question of form. The question of substance was whether he should direct an inquiry before the Master, whether it would be for the benefit of Anthony Collingwood's Charity that these sales should he completed. Such a reference assumed that it was proper fur the Court to sell charity lands. The only case in which he had ever known it to be done, in the course of twenty-one years experience at the bar, was the case of the Attorney-General v. Netbercott. The result was, that fourteen cottages of which the South Molton Charity consisted were sold in fourteen lots, and the expenses of the sale had swallowed up the charity property. He had been in formed by a gentleman, who was acquainted with that part of the country, that the charity had, in fact, wholly disappeared. That was certainly a caution against selling charity lands with the idea of benefiting the charity. In a case head before Lord Eldon, his Lordship said that an Act of Parliament was the only authority which could properly direct the sale of charity lands. The rule in such cases was that, when a trust had been fixed upon the property, the Court had no right to change the nature of that trust. It had been decided in several cases that even grammar-schools could not be altered, and it was not until the case of the Attorney-General rt. the Ha berdashers' Company it was decreed, on the principle that they would accelerate the learning of Latin and Greek, that reading and writing might be introduced into those schools. It could not, therefore be a matter of course that he should direct the inquiry sought by the bill. But it had been stated, that that inquiry might be directed in certain cases, and the question was, whether this was a proper case ? Now the proceeding had not been originally instituted on behalf of the Collingwood Charity. In the course of the proceedings there had been a sale of the lands belonging to that Charity ; then an information had been filed for the purpose of bringing before the Court the trustees, the object still being to benefit other charities. Failing on these grounds, it was then suggested that the inquiry might be for the benefit of this par. titular charity. The Court would not direct the inquiry unless a very special case were made out. In this case the principal ob. jeet was to carry on the old information. His Honour said he must therefore dismiss the information, so far as it sought to con firm the sale of lands. The plantiff might take the usual decree in a supplemental suit. COURT OF Q UEEN'S BENCH, Feb. It. BLACKBURN 10. LLOYD. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a dissenting minis ter, to recover damages from the defendant, an engineer, fur an assault. The defendant pleaded that at the time of the commission of the assault complained of the p!aintiff was on his (defendant's) premises ; that defendant had ordered him to leave ; that plaintiff had refused ; and that defendant had not used more violence than was necessary. Mr. TriII:SWELL stated the case to the Jury, and from his state ment it appeared that plaintiff's son had been apprenticed to de. Fondant; that being ill, the youth had gone home to his father, and that during the father's absence the boy's friends had sent him a voyage to Jersey for the benefit of his health, without In forming Mr. Lloyd of what they had done. On his return Mr. Lloyd refused to receive him back. The plaintiff called frequently at Mr. Lloyd's house, in order to explain to him the circumstances of the case, without being able to see him. At length, on the nth November, plaintiff' found defendant at home, and, atter a short conversation, defendant committed the assault which was the subject of the present action. An action had also been brought on the subject of the refusal to take back s the ap_ Prentice, which had been referred to Sir John Bayley. Mr. Justice WIGIITNILN—As the present action arises out of the same transaction, had you not better refer this also. Mr. TilkSIGaR, after consulting with his client, acceded to Ina Lordship's suggestion, and a verdict for the plaintitt' was taken by consent, subject to the reference. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 15. (Sittings at Guildhall ) COOPliit V. LIOLLAII. This was an action to recover compensotion in damages for losses sustained by the alleged illegal distress of 133 sheep, the plaintiffs property, impounded for ten days by the defend , ant, for trespassing on his lands, and ten of which bad died from alleged over-driving. It appeared that the plain tiff's and the defendant's premises were adjoining each ether, and that the sheep had strayed into the defendant's close through a defect of the dense which bounded the premises. The material issue in the case was, who was bound to repair that fence. For the plaintiff, it was contended that the defendant was obliged to do so ; and for that purpose examined several witnesses to prove con. Sinuous acts of repairs of the fence dune by the defendant for several years, and by his predecessors in the occupation of the lands. The plaintiff also proved the excessive driving of ten of the sheep which had died. For the defendant it was maintained that he was not obliged to keep the fence in repair, and that he was justified in impounding the sheep when found tresspassing on his close. Lord MUNGER told the Jury that according to the established law upon the subject where a ditch was on the Outside of a fence, the presumption of law was, that the ditch and the fence belonged to the party on whose lands the fence was situate; therefore, if the defendant had a right to the hedge he wasbound to keep it in repair; however, if a different usage had taken place, it would be sufficient to show which of the parties was bound to repair the hedge; the evidence of usage in this ease was not sufficient for it was not proved to have existed for twenty years. The evidence only covered a period at tne utmost of seventeen years, and that was not sufficient to counteract the presumption of law. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 10/., the value of the ten sheep which had died front excessive driving; and upon the Issue as to the liability to repair the fence, they found verdict for the defendant. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Feb. 15. (Sittings in London at Nisi Prius.) MOORE V. WOOD. This was an action in this case, to recover from a wine merchant the suns of 611., the amount of two claims—one for a return in part of the price paid for eighteen dozen of wine, supplied by the defendant to the plaintiff; the other for the value of the bottles returned, for which, as agreed at at the purchase, a full al. lowance was to be made. The case of the plaintiff (a bookseller) was, that the wines were inferior to the quality which was paid for, and at which they were warranted; and several witnesses, wine. dealers and others, gave their opinion to that effect. The defence was, first, that the wines had been several years in the plaintiffs cellars, and had deteriorated; and as to the bottles, that they had not been received back, In support of the latter, witnesses were called that the signature of the re ceipts given for the bottles on their being returned, was in the name of a person who was never in the eamloyment of the de. fondant_ The defendant also pleaded a set off of 591., a book ac count, and paid 21. into Court. The Jury found for the defendant on the set-off. BOTIBEL V. WILSON.. This was an actio n for false imprisonment. It appeared that the plaintiff and his brother in March, 1840, took apartments from the defendant, a grocer, in Old 'Change, for the purpose of carrying on the business ofplumasiers and artificial florists. In March, 1841, the defendant distrained for rent due, and again in June following, for a further arrear. In the first instance, the rent was paid ; in the latter there was not sufficient property to pay, and the goods distrained were bought in upon a valuation. In the mean time differences had arisen between the parties respecting the fastening of the door, the defendant refusing to give the tenants a key for the street-door, because he had recently been robbed to an amount by which he would have been ruined but for the assistance rendered him by the contri butions of his neighbours. At length the plaintiff's brother had the lock of the hall-door taken off by a locksmith, and carried away to have a key made. The defendant, on discovering this, called in a policeman, and gave into custody the plaintiff', whom alone he found in the apartments. On taking him before the Lord Mayor; upon a charge of felony, the case was immediately dismissed and for this the acton was brought. The plaintiff's brother swore that he himself was a traveller in the employment of his daughters, mut:c hat the plaintiff was an assistant in the business which belonged solely to the young women. But in his cross-examination, he admitted that when lie and his brother took the premises from defendant, the eldest girl was not nineteen, and the youngest not seventeen. Ile had transferred the business to his daughter because he had been unfortunate in business, and made a compromise with his creditors, but could not go into business i n his own name. It was by him the lock was taken off, and nr.t by plaintief who knew nothing about it. The whole family, his son, brother, and his daughters lived on the profits of the business at his dwelling.house in the City-road. The manufacture was carried. on in Old t Change. Witnesses for the defendant swore positively that the apartments. were taken by the plaintiff and his brother in their own natn' s ; cbountctelriant, whenipeolaiindteiffc,alletv.htoo bweapsaidalfwora the always t s t e f n u d r i n nv i s ! ' to the business of the father of the girls, 81:27c0n7.'.'s brother, who d uor n s o , ag tl a ,i i s i t ist in w t hm h o e and 'ravelling for orders, would refe r th e creditors to h said that the b us i ness belonged tO his daughter, and distressg s r e ui i 1 p e h r e a t i s v a e w . The te d t b e e f e ' e n d w a e n r t e m d plaintiff carrying away the tables and chairs, a discovery which he did not make until after the whole of what was valuable had been removed. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said, that there was no ever for a charge: of , f e l ony, and the Jury n 1: - .oound what t find for th e plaintiff, in such re asona bl e damages as s . l ..ey might consider ade quate under the cir cumstances of Os . , Case. The Jury, after deliberati.,g about half an h our, f oun d for the plaintiff, Damages, 40s. 1.42,L1CE INTELLIGENCE. UNION -HALL. bult" T HR 3 uun FUiIIOUS RIDING.— A middle.aged gentleman, named John Foit,,cs, a glove-manufacturer, residing in Tavistoek street, or, cut -garden, was b roug ht before Mr. Trail, charged with r , • „frig over and causing the death of Mrs. Gunton, the wife of am oil and colour-man, residing in Church-street, Mile-end. 154 M stated that be was on duty on Monday near the Victoria Theatre, and at five minutes past 11 o'clock he saw the prisoner riding furiously past the Theatre, and saw the horse knock de. ceased down, the horse partly stopped, but the defendant urged it on. He Immediately took the lady to Dr. Sewell's, where she expired. L said that he stopped the horse in Oakley-street, and limb s _ diately afterwards the defendant and a gentleman came up, Covered with dirt ; the horse was much injured, and very irritable, He took the defendant and the horse to the station-house. The defendant, who was attended by a solicitor, stated that the horse was frightened by a boy, just before the fatal accident ; it was impossible for him to stop it; he was thrown off and very much hurt himself ; was not aware cf the accident until after he was thrown off his horse in Oakley-street. The MAGISTRATE said he should require the defendant to tin di sureties of 501. each, and himself in 2001., to appear again on Fr._ day next. --- DOUBLE SPEECII—WEEL's AVEHA TO THE ED l7 ' Ol OF THE SUN, pretence of having th e averages Sin,—Sir Robert Peel, untl:„. th e taken more fairly, prop: ~scs to add more country towns to the list at present contributi:,g, to the averages, the real object of which is to destroy t h e uence of London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glouces ter,istol, &c. Just ob ierve if th ose fi ve show a return of 50,000 quarters at 606., and the t th er t owns s h ow the like number at stls., the average will be 585., but if other towns be added, making the same return at 565., the average will be found to be 575. 4d. per quarter, thus, the only benefit of the addition, will be to swamp the influence of the large towns, keeping down the averages, and keeping up the duty. So much for making the addition of inure country towns, in order to destroy the working upon the averages. I have no doubt that the addition of the new towns will be equal to a reduction in the averages of 3s. per quarter, so that Peel might as well keep to the o'd list of towns, and propose that wheat shall not be admitted at Is. per quarter duty, until it reaches the average of 765. We have all read of " Single-speech Hamilton,'' we may now point out " Double-speech l'eel ;'' there is more Jesuitism in the new preposition for taking the averages than in the whole schertie besides. I am, Sir, yours, Sic. Ilfracombe, Feb. 14, 1842. R. W. D. PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. PRIVATE BILLS. 1. Resolved--That with respect to all petitions for Private Bills presented in the present Session which proceed from the same parties, or some of them, and which are substantially for the same objects as were sought by any Bills which had passed the second reading in the last Session of the last Parliament, and wero pending at the dissolution of that Parliament, a compliance with the requi site Standing Orders preparatory to the introduction of such Bills in that Session, be deemed a sufficient compliance with the Standing Orders of this 'Luse, so as to authorise the introduction of such Bills in the present Session, provided it shall be proved that Notices. of the intended application to introduce such Bills shall have beets given in the London, Edinburgh, or Dublin Gazette, as the case may be, and in some newspaper of the county or districts to which such Bills relate respectively, in the months of October or No vember last. 2. Resolved—That with respect to such Petilit ns the Minutes of the Proceedings of, or the Minutes of Evidence taken by, the Com mittee on Petitions for Private Bills in the last Session of the last Parliament, be taken by the Committee on Petitions for Private Bills in the present Session, as evidence of the compliance with the said Standing Orders; but such Committee may call for further evidence, if in any case they may deem it necessary. 3. Resolved— That the Committee upon any Private Bill do examioe, in the first place, whether the said Bill be for the same purpose as any Bill which was presented in the last Session of the last Parliament, and Contain the same clauses and provisions as were contained in such former Bill in the last stage of its proceed.. ing, and whereupon any proceedings were pending on the dissolts. tion of the last Parliament ; and in such case, that all Minutes of Evidence, together with any documents therein referred to, which were taken before the former Committee on such Bill be received in evidence of the allegations therein contained. 4. Resolved—That, to enable the parties promoting any such. Bill to avail themselves of the last.mentioned resolution, they hall, after the introduction of such Bill, and previously to the second reading thereof, give notice, once in the I.olldoh, Edinblisk or Dublin Gazelle, as the case may be, and eace in some newspaper usually circulated in the district or districts to which the Bill spe_ daily relates, that it is their intention to proceed with the Bill, and to avail themselves of the above resolution ; and that the Cont. tnittee on the Bill do examine how tar such resolution has been complied with, and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill.—(Lord Granville Somerset.) SURREY THEATRE. A new drama, under the title of Baby Ruins; or, The Mother's Statue, from the pen of George Soane, Esq., appeared at this theatre on Monday, and met with the success which its merits de manded. The heroine of the piece is Fanny (Mrs. H. Hughes), to whom Edwin, a young sculptor (Mrs. Vining), is deeply attached, and whose love is reciprocated, but that a bar to their union exists on the part of her father, Sampson Field (Mr. Heslop), who finds a harsh landlord in tho person of Silas Sykes (Mr. Lewis), and who also stands as rival to Edwin, consenting to forego his rent, amounting to one hundred pounds, if favoured with the hand of his daughter. The struggle hem commences Edwin procures the necessary sum, but at the moment that it should be applied to its happy use, Morgan, hit brother (Mr. N. T. Hicks), a reckless and dissolute sailor, deprives him of his money by stealth to pay as hush.money to some fellow-seamen, who threaten to denounce hint to the authorities. Remorse afterwards overtakes Morgan ; he proceeds to Raby Ruins, where, according to popular belief, large sums of gold were secreted ; he here meets with a body of smugglers, and offers to become their leader, if one hundred pounds be supplied hint. Meanwhile the military and the frigate's men arrive, a conflict ensues, in which Morgan is mos. tally wounded, and in his dying moments puts into the hands of his brother the sum necessary to secure the marriage of the lovers. An under vein of light humour runs through the whole, an car ried off the more melodramatic parts with ease and pleasantness.. By the applause that was awarded it promises a good run. VICTORIA THEATRE. Mary While, or the Murder of the Old Tabbard, a tl - .ree.act drama, founded on laeta of actual occurrence in the year 1543, added another novelty on Monday to the attractions already put forth this season at the Victoria. The scene is laid in the Old Tabbard Inn, at Southwark, and the heroine (Miss Vincent) is both an orphan girl and barmaid. Her lovers are Sir Lionel Lenmore (Mr. C. Williams), and Edward Allworth (Mr. Seaman), a poldsmith's apprentice, the latter of whom is the favoured party. A series of rapid transitions ensue, in which a mixture of characters figure, among whom Baynard appeals in the light of Sir Lionel's murderer, and the assassinator of old Dove, and who accuses Mary of the latter murder, of which, upon the circumstantial evidence of the trial, she is found guilty. Savage Sam (Mr. Saville), however, the chief of a gang of cadgers, who had been bought over by Baynard, vows ultimate revenge agaisud him, and finally drags the miscreant to Smithfield, where Mary was on the point of execution, and forces him to coefess his atro cities. The characters of the piece, which is very effective, were well sustained, and its announcement for repetition was received with much applause. COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION.--The enact. mcnts proposed by Mr. Godson and Mr. Bulkeley Hughes, who have succeeded Sergeant Talfourd in the management of the Copy. right question, are as follow :—That all works published after a certain date be registered by memorials in the Court of Chancery, and a sealed certificate be delivered to the author on payment of a fee of I Os. ; this memorial requiring the attestation of at least one witness. All assignments to be memorialized and certificated in like manner on payment of a fee of ss. Re . assigninesits, by way of mortgage or security, to be accepted by priority of registration. A register.index to ►se kept, and liberty of searching fixed at le. These measures the framers expect will give authors of printed publications greater security in the property of their copyrights, and afford the public all requisite knowledge of assignments and in. cumbrances affecting such works. BILL FOR THE BETTER REGULATION OF ItaiLways,—This Bill, brought in and prepared by Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Manners Sutton, and Sir Thomas Fremantle, proposes to make further provision for the supervision of railways, rendering it imperative on the part of the Company, to give notice of intended opening of any line by the clear space of one calendar month, to the Board of Trade, and an additional ten days notice at the time of completion, with a forfeiture of 201. in case of non -observance: Other provisions relate to prec a uti ons respect i ng railway49tes, an d crossings, for the future preventi on o f acc id en t s; an d the appoint ment of arbitrators is regulated in all necessary cases. BA NlZ.—Words cannot descrihe the distressed state o t_hk egini. THE FAILURE OF MESSRS. KIRKPATRIC IC ' S inha bitants of this town are now in, through the failu r e f quarter of the Kirkpatricks, bankers; to enumerate but what has great cases would be too tedious--both rich t a h n o d t pa e n r are suf ferers, and scarcely an Institution in . , The greatest cost lost the whole of their funds for this y a t n a d . the failure surprises,' fidence was placed in these bankers , ca d,. The late respectet 5, Wm. Moore), has lost all he' pos some that lave lost all they pos.sessedt. everyse veral o t n o e . t h elVe amountl i ear o off s minister of Ryde (the Rev . for the New Ch h - - w tire , au& 100/. for a Burial Ground. There was also a large stun of: daysago, for deposited a few the Society for the money only Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Per • Farts. File wonder of - teased, including • what can ave become of the H.amphireAdvertiser. every one is N9Ol. subscribed money ; we trust that things will turn out better than is expected, for it is a blow which the Island will not soon recover.—