The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-11 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS • The SPEAKEV. read th jests' to the addres and Lord LINCOL address to his Royal 1 birth of a Prince of In reply to it question from Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, Law Commission Bill would t and it was the intention of ti and in that bill to introduce poor law a the time n trodu finptrial )NDAY ieiris answer of gress of other measur would say, that at pre duced until a bill would be intr.( previous law would t labour of children bl defined by law. It r Easter the regulations res 13 and 18, but not namely, to limit to Lord ASHLEY asked wheth same as were recommended wished to know whett in the hours of labour years of age? Sir J. GRAHAM Into the details of t' ations of mittee of 1840 n would be pn expedient to enter then ,htemnlation. but it was between 13 and 18 years of age. n from Mr. J. O'CoNNELL, young persons In reply to a qut Lord ELIOT said the the practice of maintaining lin, had led to the crime of 'Vas too much reason to fear that -itnes6es at the castle, in Dub - "ntorit Delakunt had he was not prepared to say that the practice should oe wholly discontinued in the present state of Ireland, where in many s provided for ° safe in n Mr. C there w no intention to propo, t the Privy Council, and the report 1 intention, were without MONS- . •TUESD4 y - that hen vnoved for leave cases witnesses woul In reply to a quest Sir R. PEET any new judicial off to the effect that there Was suet. foundation. On the motion itself into a committee on the copyright of designs, and on the house resuming leave was given to bring in the bill, which proposed to extend the copyright to nine months. Adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS Lord BROUGHAM prt lately held at kdinburgt various dissenting.congr ing for a total repeal of I both to the. sliding scale duty of Lord John Russ TITCSDAY ..,o, pray 'rhey were opposed 4ixed a Robert Peel, tyr, an equal , as be He (Lord food upon all projects for t principles of religion, and injurious. to the hest interests of Brougham) entirely differed from the petitio,. first grounds of their objection, but he thought . great deal of truth in the assertion, that the best intt. society required the repeal of those laws. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE called the attention of the house to the petition he had presented on a former from the woollen-manufacturers of the west .of Eng.. stating that it was the opinion of the petitioners that them " - " ,, re in the woollen trade, and that and neutralised contrary to the precepts of m there was a ccasion int], was now a considerable tai the restrictions upon prov trade, and pauperised the produced by part stated, by reason ( tition further stal duties on provisions were most prejudicial to the interests o all classes of the community, and that all duties intender for the protection of British manufactures should be repealed His lordship proceeded to comment at some length on tlu impolicy of the corn laws. Lord ASIi 41IIITON said be could not permit such state ments as thaw', made by the petitioners without entering his protest against the conclusions to which they had come. He entertained no doubt whatever of the existence of great distress prevailing amongst the woollen manufacturers ; but be doubted whether there was not some exaggeration in the statement that the nurr ployed in the partieulal this were, however so, it was pr clear that such a declen- siOntnuA be owing to something more than the petitioners bad described. The principle against which he had entered his protest was this, that distress experienced in any one branch of trade, or even in agriculture itself, however impor tant that interest, or however great the number of persons whose labour was absorbed in that pursuit, was no reason, and should be no reason, to induce the ministry of the period to propose, or the legislature to adopt, propositions which. would upset and shake the whole commercial system of the nation. Lord CLIFFORD of CHIIDLEIGH again brought forward the claims of the Portuguese government of Goa to appoint Roman Catholic priests in certain districts of India, and asked if any reply had been received by the Board of Control to the letter of Lord Ellenhorough, written on the 4th of Uctober last, to the governor-general of India on the subject ? Lord FITZGERALD said that no communication had been received until the arrival of the Indian mail, on the receipt of which he learned that a private communication from Mr. Blackburn to Lord Auckland was contained in the papers received by the governor-general; that communication he had been given to understand was considered as anything but satisfactory by the person through whom it had been commu nicated. Lord CLIFFORD said the difficulty arose from the (Hire rence in the laws of t cies, as to who was a priest qualified to officiate) Thei - r lordships t HOUSE OF CON Lord PA LMERSTON asked a question relative to the treaty for the suppression of the slave trade, recently agreed to by the five great European powers. There had been a confe rence at the Foreign-office, in December, 1838, respecting this matter, and he had to observe, that though at the treaty of Vienna EnglAnd stood almost alone in her efforts to put - 1838, 17rance an end to th a plan was proposed tc ammer, the some eorresponden been agreed to by the other matter stood the trea three gre settled. Lt power He now bad been mad it had been yet in that treaty, ratified, and wh, ,her such ratifications had been• received an exchanged. Sir R. PEEL said he had no difficulty in confirming the accuracy of the statements made by the noble lord. The treaty had been signed by the five powers subsequent to the accession of the present government to office, but he must say that though there had been some alterations in the treaty, there were none that could be deemed important. The rati fications had not yet been exchanged, but the time for ex changing them would not expire until the 20th of this month. In the meantime, however, some of them had been received. Lord STANLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the 6th Geo. IV., c. 88, for rnakingprovision for the salaries of certain bishops and other ecclesiastical dignitaries and ministers in the diocese of Jamaica, Barbadoes, and the Lee, ward Islands, and to enable her Majesty to separate such diocese. The noble lord said that the proposed changes and separation of the diocese would lead to no incresse of expense, Mr. GLADSTONE having moved that the house should re solve itself into a committee of the whole house upon our colonial duties. stated the course which government meant to propose with respect to them. His measure, with the exception of a few alterations, was the same as that the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Labouchere) had brought forward the last session of parliament. The right hon. gentleman en tered into a lengthened statement, to show that the high re strictive duties on the importation of articles into our West India colonies were unnecessary, and then proceeded to state the alterations he proposed to effect. The first resolution he would submit to the committee was, that it was expedient to repeal all existing duties on imports into the West Indies and our British North American colonies; secondly, that new duties should be established in their room ; thirdly, that those duties should be in addition to any duties levied b? the colonial legislatures ; fourthly, that there should be an ex emption in favour of all articles required for the use of the British fisheries ; sixthly, that the produce of the channel islands should be placed' 'on the same footing as that which was strictly British produce, and be admitted free of duty ; and, lastly, that all measures upon the subject of these; duties should be consolidated. He should propose that wood Should be admitted into the West Indies free of duty; for the tax ou wood was indirectly a tax upon the consumer in this coun try. He did not propose to abolish altogether the duty on provisions, and it would be seen by the schedule, that he pro posed that after a fixed day there should be a duty imposed on the importation of wheat and flour of 3s. per quarter, of 2s. per cwt. on salt fish, and of 4s. a barrel on pickled fish. He proposed a duty of Bs. per cwt. on butter, and ss. per cwt. on cheese. With respect to coffee, cocoa, molasses, and unrefined sugar, he proposed to re-enact the same duties as " - • at present. On tea, unless imported direct from China or from the British dominions, he proposed to place a duty of one penny per lb. He should leave the duty on foreign spi rits as it now stood ; but• on British spirits he proposed to abolish all duty. With respect to refined sugar, he proposed that there should be an ad valorem duty on that of British manufacture of ten cent per cent ind on foreign of twenty per lie also proposed an ad valorem duty of seven pel cent. on wine, bottled or not, on manufactured cotton, slik, linen, woollen, glass, paper, soar, cordage, oakum, pitch, tar, turpentine, &c. ; while on oil, blubber, &c., he proposed to remove all existing prohibitions, and impose an ad valorem ut his _..ty of seventeen pe r Cent. The hon. gentleman moved Tesolntions without intending to press them to a discussion until a future opportunity, • Mr. La.auncutenz said he had listened to the speech of the hon. gentleman with unalloyed satisfaction, b ecau se he was proceeding upon the same princ i ples w hi c h he (Mr. had laid down in the course of last session, and any assist ance he could eive isin, • •-- into effect would be—mo w hich had been made, he stcliee ' r ' fa c l ' i t y c Y a i lf n :rd i e i d. I "..9".n r y — alterations of last year, were, by the hon. gen tl e man in his own bill hon. gentlemen Opposite liesed, improvements ; and as right sawreason to adopt the views of the late government in this respect, he hop e d t h a t having done justice to the colonies, they would now do justice to Great B r itain, by reducing the duties which consumers at borne were compelled to pay. IVIr. G. PALMER hoped the government would pause be fore they adop ted the measur e of the late government. lie made the rem ark because the measure ow brought forward was one of tho se measures which turned the late ministry out of office. Lord 5. RUSSELL hoped that no duties would be placed ° flour and wheat p assing from the United States into Canada, for any such duti es would, he feared, materially interru p t the, growing prosperity of Canada. Sir C. DOUGLAS said that many hon. members on the go_ tvernment side of the house had during last session supported the present measure when produced by the late government. Sir R. Pero, entreated that the hous ferences of the future government from the .•. - formerly stated that, notuith- present measure lie late government on other 4tandinz the differences WI ionfd have h measures, yet upon this on the grounds of policy an( e I Of justice to our coloni are no r opportunity of stating t feared the harmony whi be somewhat disturbed would no longer be a views. After a fewebser STOVE movedthatti;CY; ask leave to sit again Mr. Gr. for the better ri ;new was tne oeLter protectio n of the public from acclue , on railways, and for this Pu rpose he propose d to have In efficient powers pfinspection of new railways, and pc" also to suspend their openiniifneC; larger power of obtainiitg7reiu.jrns. At present they could only require - a return of such us. is had led to the loss of life or limb ; but it• was etitta , .tessary' to have a return of all accide, its, as thereinight be much negligeti, also pro not be across the one case as t rePa, occupation-gates opening on, railways should be ke i — Mr. WA KLEY thought the bill would not effect the o:„ of the hon. mover. It was not stringent enough, and, be feared, if it was sufficiently stringent, the proprietors of the kt locked id not this railways had sufficient influence in that house to prevent passing. Nothing effectual would t lords were killed in one of th ber str be done until tv vex i)y the case of the accident' ieved t that nec kfter a ft s from Alr. HARDY Sir R. PEI Was justified in legi dents. He did tic house should presc would be to r sibility, and ways an accide all vigilance on the The motion Mr. WALL) CE moved an addre be pleased to dire en t inquiry on tt misery and destitu D the nature and extent of the • which the inhabitants of Pais• ley arid oth 3 suffer till enclurin man drew - a fee' ling picture of the distres spot, as being the districts, and suggested an inquiry on t most efficient and least liable to delay. Sir J. GRAHAM said be believed the distress prevailing in those districts to be very great, but he objected to any such inquiry, because it would lead to unfounded hopes and ex npf4,,tinns. If the hon. rentleman desired to have the special Circumstances which led to the distress in Paisley investi gated, the better way would be by a committee of the house, before whom a few competent witnesses might be examined. If the hon. gentleman thought this course satisfactory, he should not object to it, but it he divided on the present mo- tion he must oppose it Sir R. FEEL sans tnat such an inquiry wuum oF, diminish local exertions, while it could lead to no ultimate benefit to the unhappy sufferers. He therefore expressed a hope that the hon. member would not press his motion to a division I the motion was withdrawn Mr. WALLACE assented, accordingly. Mr. GlasoN obtained leave to bring in a bill to secure (not to extend) copyright in books by having the original right. and all assignments of it registered in the Court of Chancery. house having resolved itself into a committee , of sup )ly, on a motion that a supply be granted to her Majesty, V AKLF royal S ;enseless, f ?I. CLERK The of adjourned on the f next July, strong rthy of being considered as stat nd useless production. said, that the preceding Thursday would s then ag dto,andt HOUSE OF COMMONS.-1 Sir H. DOUGLAS took the oaths and h is seat for Liverpool: introduced by Sir R. Inglis and Lord The hon. member Smultm. The • house shortly after went into a committee of the whole house; to consider the laws relating to the importation of forei Sir R. PEEI —Sir, I rise in pursuance of the notice which. .ven to submit to the house the vie% jesty's 'government with respect . to the modification and amendment of those laws which regulate the import of foreign I should consider i reflection upon t Ted 'any claim upon its pa Whatever may be the demands which I have to prefer, and however ill qualified I of detail, necessarily yet I am convinced that the paramours subject will induce the house to lend tion to which under other circumstanc Aieve a subject necessaril) anv illustrations of fancy, 4 - importance of flu that patient atten- I might have deemed Sir, her Majest--' it necessary to prefer a claim s govern- ment haveCons'idered it to be their duty to consider the corn-. laws with a view to their modification and revision. (Cheers.) They undertook the consideration of the question at a period when there was great commercial distress—great suffering and privation connected with that distress. But, sir, I con sider it to Wray duty in the first place to declare that, after having given to the subject the fullest consideration which I can, I canna recommend the proposal which I have to make by exciting the hope that it will tend materially and immediately to the mitigation of that commercial distress. (Hear.) My belief, sir, is, while I admit the distress—while I deplore the suffering and sympathise with those who are undergoing it, yet I feel bound to admit that I cannot attri bute that distress in any degree, such as has been supposed by some, to the operation of the corn-laws. (Cheers.) Sir, I do not view with those feelings of despondency, which some are inclined to do, the commercial distress now prevail ing in the country. I do not believe that the elements or sources of our commercial and manufacturing prosperity are driqd up. (Hear.) Ido see a combination of causes acting concurrently and simultaneous!, account, in a great degree, for that depression w y, suffic at in in pinion to :h unfor- tunately prevails in our commercial and manufacturing sys tem ; and I, have that confidence in the native energies of this counay;and I have had such frequent opportunities of perceiving depression, and of revival almost as sudden and extraordinary as that depression, that I do entertain the confident hope and belief, that we may still look for ward, by the operation of natural causes, to a revival of our national prosperity. (Cheers.) Sir, it is impossible, I think, to take a review of those causes which have affected our in dustry, and, therefore, which have affected our commercial prosperity greatly, without perceiving that they have been in operation during the last four or five years. There have beer sever - , ises, the separate effect of which would h.— 1- al ( considerable, but the concu sufficient to stimulus which was given partic lities of credit to great undertakings, in the years 1837 and 1838, to the connection which existed between the companies and the directors concerned in joint stock banks and in ma nufacturing establishments ;—if I look to the immense efforts which have been made for the increase of our manufactures — for the building of houses for the reception of those indivi- duals labouring in those manufactures, the emigration of bourers from rural districts into oar colonies, &c., the im- :hanical power wl- was likel perate le causes which were in ope tion in ihe.l I States of America have resulted same consequences which, in a gr in that country, the derangement of the monetary affairs of the United States, have acted powerfully upon the demand for the manufactures of other countries; and, Sir, concur rently with Plat excitement and stimulus, and the depression which, followed from it, has been the effect of the. same causes it the United States—the diminished demand tbr our mann- factures. There has been at the same time an interruption of our amicable relations with China, which has caused a considerable deficiency in the exportS of our manufactures which had been going on in recent periods, as compared with former periods of our intercourse with that country. There has also been, during a considerable portion of that time, the alarm of war, and with that fact, the necessary stagnation, of our commerce in some degree, as compared with former periods. The united effect of those causes will, in my opi nion, go far to account for the diminution of our prosperity. Sir, I am admitting the extent of the depression in trade. but I am equally disposed to admit the extent of privatiOn and suffering which prevails ; but here again I am bound to say that I cannot recommend the measure which I am about to propose with any hope that any alteration of the corn laws will be a remedy for some of the evils, which In a great manufacturing country like this seem to be insepara ble from such commercial institutions. Extend your foreign commerce as yon may, depend on it it is not a necessary con sequence that the means of employment for manual labour will be proportionate to that prosperity. (Hear.) Speaking of particular districts, whatever may be the extent of your commercial prosperity, or the demand for manufactures, it is impossible not to sec that the working classes must be sub jected to the severest privations. It was so at the period of the greatest manufacturing prosperity, and it is the necessary consequence of a sudden improvement in machinery, which ruins the demand for manual labour,•andexposes those de- pendant on it to the greatest privations. (Hear, hear.) You find hundreds of persons employed in a great manufacturing ying for sust exercise of incenuity, or some improvement in machinery which is copied by others, they are thrown entirely out of employment, and deprived of the means of support. This has been the case with the hand-loom weavers in England, and with many other classes of persons engaged in works of manual labour, and I admit that it is a hard oindition of manufacturing success that such should be the case. (Hear, hear.) But it is no impeachment of manufactures that such great privations exist. (Hear, hear.) Let it not be supposed that I am deprecating the improvement in skillin machinery, which is everywhere progressing. It would be madness to attempt it. (Cheers from the opposition.) It would be folly to deny that, in the aggregate, this country has derived its fwnws thoca i•actstlrosa (ChPPrs from greatness ann. ILLS roc-el.". as vtal ...mot. •••••••••• • • ••••• the same quarter.) I know that to have attempted to obstruct have been only to encourage rivals already ~,ear.) In proportion to manufacturing im provement, in proportion to the stimuli to which I have re ferred—to the stimuli of speculation, and the facilities of-un it by undue advantage, and also the facilities of toopowerfui . . in certain classes pri looking at the general state of the commerce of this country I must confess I cannot see the grounds for the despondency with which some are apt to view it, nor can I see any grounds for imputing At to LEOLOpultsipilt tit we u.u. those laws have any material. share in creating the various evils which are so loudly complaied'of in this respect. ([;tear. hear, from the ministerial benches.) It appears by this paper— but we are too apt to think that there must be ,ft constant and rapid increase in our exports to other countries, and that we are too apt to despair when any occasional check is given to our commercial prospects in this regard. We are used to compare the extent of our commpr... generally insist on comparing it with some year im mediately preceding, and if we find any decline in that extent, we are apt to suppose that the sources of our prosperity are declining. Sir, as I was about to observe, it appears from this paper which I hold in my hand, that in the last year, or rather the latest period to which the returns have been made -T mean the year .1840—on comparing the state of trade and during the ; with - that of the year preceding, -laws, I can see no groan(' for the infe• netimes drawn, that the corn-laws haw rences winc r misfortunes, or that the repeal of those ,uld afford any immediate relief. In 1810, the exports of British produce in manufactures—that is the declared value—to all parts of the world, exceed the exports of 1837 by £9,355,000, and exceed. those of 18,3$ by £3,315,000, but fall short of the exports of 1838 by £1,327,000—a falling off sufficient to create anxiety. But the cause of that fa,llipg off will be amply accounted for if you will refer to the stato nf our commercial transactions with the United. States of Acne- laws w rica—with that cot with whose prospeeity our own is so immediately interwoven ; for in the" United 'States, during that period, there were causes arising from monetary affairs . _ _ ......, ~..... „ ... . which operated very considerably on our commercial exports. girt in 1839 our exports with the United States amounted to £8,839,00, whereas i n 1840 they were only £5,283,000, leaving a defici enc y , :e . 3 in respect to our exports with the United Stata . (if X 4 ,090. Now, this fact showed that there had been a falling c nt of our exports to the United of 1839 The differ- Mates in 1840 as cninpaTe4;iill—th-o- 1 ence, ports with our c ,s been made up by the amount of our ar, :t vas satisfactor amount of on i 1838 it had risen to . i (Hear, hear,. hear.) Let us then t our commercial transactions with those untries on the Continent in r 1..280,0( 5,4137.00 i )sed we had most to dread alsetures. Let whop► it was s regards rivalry with our ma- s see what was the state of our, exports nand, and Belgium. In 1837 the amount £8,742,000 ; in 1838, £9,000,000 ; iii 1839, ►nus showing in the pectto those countries which c rmidable competit ect to our In anufacwres, .our exports increased within the last tear years. a pervading feeling tnau Inn vo a:st, wild advantage: :(Cheers.) So far as I can collect from the com munications inade to me, I think that the great body of the agrialturai class are in favour of a aLodcation of those laws, (Hear, hear.) There are othqrs, on the contrary, establishment of manufactures; and the inference is hastily I and unwisely drawn, that the people of this country must necessarily be placed on an inferior footing to what they would be if the price of food underwent a corresponding 're duction, and was equalised with what exists there. Now, sir, I apprehend the question is not what the price of food is, but what the labouring classes have over the means of procuring it. (Cheers from the ministerial benches.) Under the opera tion of the corn laws . let us compare the condition of the labouring classes in this country with the condition of the labouring classes of those countries in which I admit the price of provisions is greatly less. There is nothing to im pede the cultivation of. corn in the Prussian states, and the price of corn is greatly less than it is in this country ; but can it be from thence inferred that the condition of the people in the Prussian states is preferable to the condition of the people of this country—(hear, hear)?—or that the con sequence of an immense reduction in the price of the various articles of consumption, and particularly in the price of food, must necessarily lead to a great influx in the comforts and enjoyments of the labouring claSses - of: the community? . Sir, these are the means, from sources of unqueStionable authority, of forming a judgment as to the degree of com parative comfort of the people of the two countries I have mentioned. And- before you determine that a low price of provisions isoaecessarily essential to the manufacturing in dustry, to thp general consumption, or to the comforts and enjoyment of.the people, it would be well to weigh the de tails of the materials of which you are possessed tor drawing a safe conclusion from them. (Hear, hear.). In the report of the committee which sat upon the import duties, there is evidence upon this point—evidence given by the honourable member for Bolton, whose attention has been directed to this subject— —who has collected materials of information and .:omparison, and who, before the committee, and in the re port he made upon the Prussian league, and the state of our commercial relations with the Prussian states, and the laws which exist in Prussia with respect to commerce, haS given information on the comparative consumption of the people of this country; and of the inhabitants of the Prussian states. Let no look at the great articles of consumption, and we find that meat is dearer, and corn is dearer, and the great bulk of all articles which constitute the subsistence of the people, and administer to their comforts, are dearer in this country. But, as I said before, the - tine test is not the comparative lowness of price, but the command the people have over that which constitutes the comforts and enjoyments of the great bulk of the people. I shall begin with meat, and I shall quote an authority which cannot bp disputed. I shall take my in formation from a perfectly unsucpicious source ; it is that of a gentleman who differs from me as to the operation of. the corn-laws, and who is a decided advocate for their repeal. Dr. Bowring's calculations with respect to meal . are these, and his evidence ,is given in. 1840. He is speaking of a period when the corn-laws were in operation thirty years, and afford ing, as they must have done, if it is their tendency to afford, the comforts, and, consequently, the means of consumption of the people. What is the report of the hon. gentleman. He says in Prussia, and in that country there are means of ascertaining its exact amount, 14 millions of persons consume 485 millions of lb. of meat, that is, 351 b. per head during the year for the whole of the inhabitants of Prussia. But the hon. gentleman says there are 25 millions of persons in this country who consume 501 b. per head per annum, and it can not be less than that. It has been frequently stated at double that amount, but I will take it at the lowest, and it will ap pear that whereas the inhabitants of Prussia consume, ac cording to that statement, 351 b. a head, the people of 'this country consume, at the lowest, 501 b. per head for each of the population... Now, sir, I will take the article of sugar — but observe, ram not at all denying the severe distress which prevails--I was present at the debate last nightrespect ing the distress now prevailing at Paisley, and I cannot but feel a perfect conviction that in many parts of this country there is much and severe distress. I, therefore, do not mean to say that the 17,000 persons in Paisley who are supplied with a livelihood by charitable means consume so much meat—not I. But it is impossible to argue such a question without drawing inferences from general facts. (hear.) I must not be taunted by the remark, that in Paisley, in Stock port, or some other places ; there is an amount of population which does not add to the consumption. I admit there is no such consumption ; but 1 am compelled to draw general conclusions from general facts. In respect to legislation, you have no other alternative ; you must deal with general averages and results. Well, I will now come to the article of sugar, and I call upon you to pause before yon come to the determination that high prices are necessarily an evil. I rely upon the authority of the honourable members opposite. In France the consumption I take at 51b. ; the hon. gent gives it , 11b. 30z., but calculating that there may have been some consumption of sugar made from beet-root, of which he has no notice, I take it at the highest calculation, viz., 511- r annum. In the German states he , .sumption at 41h. per head, other places in Eurqpe .file the Conpumption of Great Britain is calculated by At 171 b. per head per annum. (Loud .cheers.) I will now take the consumption of corn, of the very article now under consideration. (Hear.) Mr. Deacon Hume, whose loss we must all regret,—(hear)--calculated the consumption of the people of this country at one quarter of wheat for each per son ; he calculated the consumption at 25,000,000 of quar ters, being ope quarter per head per annum. The honoura ble gentleman opposite makes his calculation thus, 21 mil lions.of population, and the consumption bf grain 45 millions of quarters, that is of grain of all kinds. Now, I beg the house to bear in mind that with reference to the consump tion of corn, we have the estimate of consumption of two geutlewen the best qualified to form a judgment, gentlemen whose moderation in politics' them above all suspicion. . , They compared the consumption of this country with that of other countries in which corn was cheaper. The honourable gentleman opposite gave a total of 24 millions, and a con sumption of . 45 millions of grain—not far from two quarters from each individual. The gentleman to whom I allude gave the' consumption of the Prussian states ; there were there 14 millions of inhabitants, and the consumption of wheat was not more than thirteen millions of quarters ; observe, that is less that one quarter per head. (Hear.) But while Mr. Hume calculates the consumption of wheat at a quarter in England. and nearly so in Prussia, it niu4 be borne in mind that of all the grain used in that country nearly three-fourths are rye. The hon. gentleman says that in the States the consumption of rye to wheat is in the proportion of three and four to one. He says that the consumption of 1241bs give a consumption of 651bs of wheat and 2411bs of rye to each individual. That is to say, that in the 1241b5, the consumption of each indivi dual is little more than one bushel instead of one quarter. The hon, gentleman then goes on to say that in . England the consumption of tea is as one pound to each person, whereas in Prussia it is only one quarter of a pound; that in the article of salt the consumption in Prussia is Ifillbs per head, where as in England it is 221bs. Of cotton goods it appears that the annual consumption in Prussia is as 4 1-3 d to each person, or about one-half of what is used in England. In woollen cloths, in Prussia, the consumption'to each individual is in the proportion of two ells and 1-6th ; in Great Britain it is five ells and 3 -sths. It appears, in fact, that the consump tion is greater in England than in Prussia ;—in tobacco there it is 31bs : it is only one pound in England. In Prussia the consumption of butter is 2lbs ; in England llb. But now let us take other great articles of consumption, simultaneously going on ; with respect to cotton goods, woollen cloths, salt, tea, meat, and sugar. Then corn, the consumption of each individual in each country, as estimated in 1810, though corn was then high, exceedingly ,high, as compared with the prices in. Prussia. If I look to the share or com mand which the industrious classes of this country have over the comforts ollife, that command far exceeds that enjoyed by the same daises in those countries where the prices of grain exceed so much those of this country. Ido not wisfi to push this branch of.my argument against our giving an increased demand over the comforts of life to the industrious classes,—:not in the least. But, sir, it is an argument to show that it,is not fair to point at the diminished price of food in another country as compared with this, and to infer froth that fact, that there is an inereased comfort thereby secured; and that, to that extent the people of other countries are better off. Sir, information has recently been laid on the table of this house with respect to the consumption of the working classes in Belgium. Look at the prices of wages in Belgium ! It is said there is a great manufacturing population there, and certainly there is. In this document I find the average prices of manufacturing and agricultural labour. Agricultu ral labour I find put down at Ild per day, and manufacturing labour at ls ; masons is 3d per day, locksmiths is 3d; ope-. ratives in. manufactures, is 31d; ditto in furnaces, &c. is 4d ; jewellers and goldsmiths Is Bd. Now in the last' . year I find the market price of wheat was at Ostend from 51i 9.c1 to _ _ 53s 4d, and at Antwerp from 51s to 56s 2d, and therefore it does appear to me, taking the averages of the price of corn in Belgium, and comparing them, with the wages, that notwith standing the manufacturing and agricultural prosperity the wages in that country do not give the same command over the enjoyments of lite as they do in this ,country. (Hear, hear, hear.) Sir, I refer to this for the purpose ofconfirming my impression that to look . for any rapid or great change in" the conditon of the people of this country from any change in the corn-laws, would only lie subjecting it to the greatest disappointment. (lleal., hear, .and cheers.) My firm belief is (I am speaking now of those who are in favour of the ab solute repeal of the duty on corn), that if this house were to consent to a total repeal, the effect would be, instead of miti gating,..even in the slightest degree, permanently at least, the manUfacturing distress, it would superadd to it by the se verest disappointment, (Cheers from the ministerial benches.) Any Such 'disturbance of the capital of agriculture would in evitably lead to fatal results, _toot only to agriculturists, but also to those other classes whose prosperity is essential to the welfare of the country. There is, however, another por tion of this house who advocate a material alteration in the corn-laws, and who do not go the length of advising a total arid absolute repeal, but merely the substitution of a fixed duty for the duty as at present imposed. With respect to these the ground is narrow which we occupy. They are in favour of a fixed duty on corn. They admit that agriculture is entitled to protection, and, therefore. would impose a duty invariable in amount on the importation of foreign corn. (Hear.) Now with.respect to this proposition it must be re membered that whatever odium attaches to a variable duty it must necessarily 'apply with equal force to the imposition of „. fi;:ed duty. (" No" from the opposition, and cheers from the ministgialpenohes.) lam sure the hon. gentifonan who says no does not prideystand me. lam not saying that the same objection applies to a fixed 44y 4s to a variable duty; I am only saying that as far as odium attaches to the imposition of a tax on the chief article of subsistence it ap plies equally to either proposition. (Cheers.) Both the one and the other assume that agriculture is entitled to protec tion, either on account of the burdens to which it is subject, on the ground of public policy; but on principle, the irn- Rion of the duty rests upon the same ground, and on the umetits. (Hear, hear.) After giving the fullest tion to the question of a fixed duty. I cannot realm .; an amendment to the present scale of duties. ' Hear, bear.") Ido not think that you can de rimount.of fixed duty during an average year of that would apply to all years (bear, hear), ideration the important question as ry being capable, from its own as it a: if ynn will take into to the probahlity of wants 'of ear owu poptdation. 1 am not prepared to admit that this country is not able to meet those wants. (Hear, hear.) At the same time I will admit that if we take the last four years into consideration it would be shown, that there was an average of foreign corn imported into this country of 2,300,000 quarters in each of these four years. (Hear, hear.) .if they also took the last twelve. or thirteen yelp it would be seen that the quantity of foreign corn imported into. this country during those years was from 12,000,000 to 13,0:10,000 of, quarters. (Hear.) 1:1,,,t is the fmant;r.. imnarrprl rinrine the entire of those growth of corn, of me 4 . - LI za yua,E6lLy !input - um This skiewn by a return which I hold in my hand, from which it appelzrs, ih4t from July, 18 28, to J une, 1841, th e quantities of. wheat . and-‘iheat flour imported into this country from foreign countries, amounted to i 3,475,909 has been a demand for foreign corn, but in six years out of the ten the productions of the country have been sufficient for the consumption of the people; and 1 am not, therefpre, prepared to admit the conclusions that there must ne cessarily be a periodical annual-importation of foreign Corn for the supply of this country. In determining, therefore, the duties which should he levied on corn, we should take care to provide for periods of comparative abundance and comparative scarcity, as well here us in other countries. .Six years of good harvests may occur in this country, when the produce would be amply sufficient for our own consumption ; if such should be the case, what he feared, supposing the enactment . of a fixed duty, would be the unlimited right of import, which would be given at a certain amount of duty, which could always be maintained, and which would sub ject the agricultural producers of our country to the great est distress and injury. (Hear,- hear, hear.) A similar result would be produced at periods of scarcity. when the greatest misery might prevail ampngst , the population. It has been observed by writers , of great .authority that favourable and unfavourable harvests recur' in certain cycles, and we shall find, if we look back at the protractions of former years, that though perhaps a year of -abundance followed a year of scarcity, yet we may 'find five or six years of comparative • abundance followed by five or six - years of comparative scar ; city ; and under such cieenmstances the effect of a fixed.duty on corn would be at all times, and under all circumstances, to admit of the importation of foreign corn in this country, and the inconvenience of such: a result may easily be seen. The periods of favourable harvests, it will be found, also generally correspond in this Country and in those countries from which we obtain, when we require it, the principal sup ply of our corn. The great producing countries of Europe lie under about the same latitude, and are affected generally by the same causes; and it is proved, for the most part, that an abundant harvest in this country is conteMporaneous with an abundant harvest abroad. The consequence is, that when there occurs a great abundance of corn, by a sudden addition to the quantity in this country, the price is affected very dif ferently from the degree which would be inferred from the a ctual amount in th country. (Hear, hear.) It is stated by Mr. Tooke, in his work " On Prices," that. "the price varies in its ratio very different IV from the variations in the quantity in the country, but the variation is greater in the price of corn than in other. articles of extensive consump tion." It is also remarked by the same author, that on a comparison between the deficiency and abundance of har vests in 4 this country and in others,:it will be seen that abun dance here is generally contemporaneous with abundance in those countiies from which we chiefly derive our supply; and the r consequence therefore would be, that in a time of sufficient production here by the imports from abroad there would be an increared discouragement and loss to the pro ducer of corn in this country. which he would consider and deprecate as a very great evil.. It is argued that the con- sequence of imposing a fixed duty would be the pre vention of those alterations ; that although it would be very difficult to maintain a fixed duty in a period of severe scarcity, yet that the tendency of that law would be to pre vent scarcity, arid a recurrence of those deficiencies, which we admit it is difficult to prevent. (Hear, hear, hear.) Now I must say that all experience appears to we to prove, that, with respect to corn, there are such fluctuations in its price, on account of the variations in the seasons, that it would bt impossible for you to take any precautions by legis lation against that alteration in price—(hear, hear, hear) ;-- that no law that you could pass permitting the free importa tion of corn at a fixed duty would, in case of a deficient har vest here and on the Continent, prevent the rise of price to Such a point that a fixed duty could not be maintained. Take the United States. They are not subject to the operation of the corn-laws, yet there you will find, on account of the fluctuations in the seasons, great fluctuations in price; fluc tuations as great as prevail in this country. (Hear, hear.) In Prussia you will find that with respect to rye, a species of grain not affected by the corn-laws, on account of the fluc tuation of the seasons, as great fluctuations in price as in the price of wheat in this country subject to the operation of the corn-laws: And in point of fact, that as the fluctuation in the price must necessarily depend so much on the vicissi tudes of the seasons that no laws you could pass, restricting comercial intercourse, could guard you against high prices in severe seasons. If there be that high price, will you be able to maintain your fixed duty ? (Hear, hear.) If the fixed duty be Bs. or 10s., and if your interposition by legislative enactment does not guard against the rise of price, if scar city takes place, and the averages rise to 80s. or 905., I retain the impression I stated in the course of last session, that no government could undertake at such a period to enforce a duty of Bs. (Hear, hear.) If that is admitted you must make some provision for the relaxation of that duty. If you entrust the power of relaxation to executive authority, you introduce uncertainty into, the operation of the law ;- yon give a power capable of being greatly abused—(cries of " hear, hear."—and you destroy altogether that confidence in the permanency of your arrangement, which you rely on, for the encouragement of commercialenterprise. Therefore, with reference to a fixed duty, both as applicable to a state of abundance FS to a state of scarcity, I have come to the conclusion - .(after ci41 3 4 1 considering this. subjectl that it is not advisable for parliament to alter these laws' on the principle of the application of a fixed duty. (Cheers.) The alteration of the law which I shalt propose will proceed on the principle of retaining a duty on corn, varying in amount with the price of that article in the home .market ; that is the yn-inpinh, of the existing law. The maintenance of that principle It is said there would be a great altogether the system .of averages. It is quite true that it might be competent for me to abandon the present system ; but with respect to the imposition of a duty on corn, you must maintain the system of averages—because the annual payment on account of tithe is founded on calculations con nected with it. It does, therefore, appear to me that, as averages must be maintained for. the purpose of tithe compo sition, it would not be expedient to adopt any other system of averages, materially varying in principle for determining the duty on corn ; and I say that if you determine th em of avers mount of duty by the system of averages, it.would be inconvenient; to have two systems prevailing at the same time with respect• to corn and tithe, while it would be unjust to depart materi ally from that system on which the averages with respect to tithe is founded. There is a very general impression through out the country that a great deal of fraud has taken place With respect to the averages. (Hear, hear.) There. is a very general impression, particularly on the part of the agricultu ral body, that there have been, either great frauds . with re spect to the averages, or very extensive cornbinations entered into for the. purpose of intluenping the averages, and pro curing the rates of corn to be made at a lower price than they ought. (Hear, hear.) lam not prepared to deny that such combinations may in some • eases have been entered-into, nor that in some cases such frauds have been committed ; but I very much doubt whether they have been practised to any extent, or to the amount that has been generally supposed. It has been supposed, that generally speaking the returns for London have unduly,,, influenced. the averages. It has been generally supposed that in Leeds, Wakefield, and in other.parts.of Yorkshire, great and successful combinations had been entered into to influence the averages. Sir, as I said before; these impressions may 'not be alto g ether w ith ou t foundation,- but I believe that they have been greatly exagge rated. If I take the averages.of the kingdom for six weeks in 18-10-.-7 if. I. take. the averages.of the kingdom for the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th of August , and the 3d and 10th of Sep tember, 1849, the average for the, whole of these six weeks was 735. Id. as the price of wheat. If, sir, I exclude the London market the aggregate general average would be 72s 8d in place of 73s Id. If I exclude York the general average would be 71s 10d. These are, sufficient, under particular circumstances, peculiarly to affect the case ; and it may pos sibly be argued that in London the prices may be mainly in fluenced. It is. difficult to estimate the effect upon other markets; it is extremely difficult to form conjectures on this subject, hut as far as we can judge frnm figures, 1 think that the apprehension that extensive frauds exist in respect to the working of . the averages, tbOugh not altogether unfounded, has been greatly exaggerated. (Hear, hear,) The difference of the aggregate average, excluding London would be is 3d; if London, Leeds, and Wakefield were excluded, there would be a difference of is 10d in the amount of average. That difference might affect the amount of duty ; but the price of corn in London is usually higher than elsewhere—therefore there would be no imputation, if I find this the case in Lon don, of fraud—it would afford no necessary inference of fraud. Then again, the London averag6s quantity exceed those.of the.country. For instance, in the year 1838, taking the weekly averages from the 13th of August to the 7th of September, the weekly average was .735. Exclusive of the London market there would be a further difference. In the year 1840 the aggregate averages bet Ween the 24th July and 20th August was 70s 2d ; the - average excluding London was 70s. 'lld t now _that. difference .makes a great .dl" rence in the amount of duty—the dots on the aggregate average of 70s 2d is 2s 8d; and the.avw4ge,ineluding-London, would raise the duty on the 'price of - corn to to Bd. ' But, as I said before, I do not infer fraud from excluding London. Various proposals have been made with respect to the amend ment of the law of. averages by various part and those proposals have received the utmost consideration from her Majesty's government. I think there will be a general agreement in this, that whatever system may be devised, fraud shoal:l;as far as possible, bc excluded.. It is advised by some that the returns should be made by the growers---, thatthey should make the returns connected with the aver ages a proposal has been made, that it is necessary the growers, and the growers only, should make these returns. Now, sir, it is impossible to adopt such a principle or system. At present Irish corn and Scotch corn are admitted into, the averages. It would be impossible, therefore, to exclude Irish and Scotch corn from the averages, because this would have a natural effect in raising the prices of corn. This, I must say, that I think we ought to guard as far as we can against fraud, but I do not think we ought to attempt to in crease protection by ,any indirect operation.• If, sir, I thought that a certain amount of protection was - requisite, I would make it directly and openly ; but it would not be fair to procure an indirect protection and encouragement for our domestic agriculturists by any-alteration with respect to the averages, except with a view to prevent fraud. Various al terations in the law might be made by which the averages might have the effect of rendering it impossible to guard against fraud ; but I say tbat for the purpose a granting any direct protection for the agricultural interest, I will not be a party to a proposal of any sideli nature. (Cheers.) It has been suggested by some, that the seller should be required, under a penalty, to make a return of the corn sold by him.. Sir, it is difficult to foresee what would be the effect of an enactment like that requiring .every farmer, under a penalty, to make a return of the quantity of corn sold by him, and its price, instead of its being made, as at present, by the factor. I conceive the great security and only effectual remedy is to bring the temptation so low as to give no colour for fraud by an. adjustment of the protection to be afforded. (Cheers.) The, pr oposal of her Majesty's govern ment, therefore, with respect to the taking of the averages, will be thus. They will propose to take the averages in the Prese4t made, fFOni the factPr, or the purchaser, the same party who now real es er return at the Obse of each market day of the whole of the purchases made by him dur ing the week. We see no advantage in departing from that principle, trusting that the alteration to be made in the mode of levying the duty will effectually prevent fraud. We shall propose that that the duty of, c ollecting the returns shall be devolved upOn the exc i se —a 'department which is perfectly competent to the. d ue di s charge of the duty. They have an officer employed in each market town—an officer perfectly qualified for the duty by being in the regular discharie of higher and more onerous. ones—qualified too by his general habits Of ba s iriiss, and the responsibility attaching to him by his ,being a public officer and thereby giving a greater security al matt support. on This D v the government;hut fnment, when I- the ho the cause a us in r ose had locuments .s being is house who entertain altogether a different opinion who will be con tented with no modification whatever, but will insist on the immediate and absolute repeal ot.the. corn-laws. It is im possible not to feel,that they who . advocate a total repeal. of the corn-lav}s;:am a removal of any imposition of any kind on the subSisxence of 'the people. - . are. enabled to appeal to topics which give them' great advantage • •n that there was a tax upon bread—a tax or ❑d counter-cheer to comp: be subsistence of t imposed for the particul the community. (Chee Doubtless arguments of this kind r great impression on in, dressed. - (Cheers and counter-cheering.) COmparisons arc made with facility and with efficiency respecting the cheap ness of food in this country and in other countries, and the inference is drlwn that the people of this country ought to be placed on the same footing respecting the articles of sub- sistence as that on which other countries are plaCed, and that their happiness and comfort would be promoted by the total abolition of any impost on the subsistence of the peopl Sir, I am persuaded that any conclusion arguments would he utterly fallacious. '1 you infer the comfort and ease of any cou be question is, can reference is of provisions made to the price of food in Gerrnan :o the facilities Ice give to the ,rice of (Hear.) Indeed, if you take clear that there will al way portation of foreign corn be so absolutely mischiey to clomestig tirodua But portant to apply c important fo to foreign coi occasior, t han to constitute a from what has taken place '.during ;hall of coin. dnr►ng t of an incr.( supplies o corn Why, that the produce durir , f its population, inasmuch havi years 18a 1. 1834 think, to infer t increased that we must abandon a hope of subsistence produce. Wit :hin the 1. population has, of course, exceeded any former ten the annals'of this country. During the last four yea hat - aria& dependent,in some tltgree, in consequence of the popuiation, on foreign countri ke the last tt is i the fact nriih respect to the first six of these ten beeh the case bi th 1836, arid 1837, it would be too the population has so rapidly r, I have ilTitry average of ten years, it o attempt to pass la means of Cheers years.. I s country Wn S against fraud than if the averages were taken by other per sons, as at present. We therefore propose that a should be taken as at present, but that t conceive that in ord f)etrat lop c which the IV den:the ran ade ; from that numb( if 150 many very cons act, which I le of corn. NV becom a the discr It of the iii. the bill which we shall propose, 'ery desi towns, now corn markets, which are excl It appears to me that the mor which von • get the returns th fluenced b% against theirhein hear.) I should propose to limit tl the number of towns from which the return still I shall propose that they should be con and `Vales. Lord J. RTT: . Sir R. PEEL. Lord J. Ito: Sir R. PEEL 11 be ❑arced in State the riumbe the discretion of ti mi widen the range trot yi;ti tat to Engla t present there are 150 towns named in to add to tl those towns to be added be named in a protections then, Sir, we propose to telt nunioer, not leaving it to v board, but that bill. The three against the enni. • _ _ mission of. frauds, are first, to widen the range from which the averages are to be taken ; secondly, to employ a respon sible - officer in the taking of them, one acting under the orders and superintendence of a public board; but the main security will clearly be such an alteration in the duty as shall diminish the temptation of fraud. (Cheers.) I trust I have made myself sufficiently clear upon this point. Sir, I row approach the more important part of the proposition which. her Majesty's government have to propose to the house. .;lard to the proposition which I am ,prepared to ..crore the house, I will just refer to the manner in which the duty is at •present imposed. I find that when the price of wheat is from 665. per quarter to 675. the duty is 20s. Bd. It then falls 2s. in price until corn is between 68s. and 695., when the dut- is 16s. Bd. At 70s. the duty is 12s. Sd., and at 715., 104.1 ; it then falls 45., being 6s. 81. and at 735. at 735. and upwards, Is. only. Now a great en urged to this mode hi levying, on the of the duty was so rApid that it . At 60s. the fore leaving an Now with T lay it is 2s. Bd., aoC.. objection ha ground that t held out temptations to speculators in cor duty was 2Gs. Bd., and at 'i3s. only is., ther reduct increase of price of 135., and a decrease of duty of 255. btl., being an inducement to speculators to retain corn, or to com bine to influence the averages. At 665. the duty is 21/s. sd., and between 66s and 738. the rise in price, and ; be Between 70s nd 735. the difference was 3s, in price, and 9s. n point of duty, being an inducement to keep the price of , i;n at 70s. of 12 s injurious not only to the consumer of corn, but to the pro lueer and also to the revenue. It is said to be injurious to the consumer, because, when the price of corn was varying between G6s. and 70s. the great object of those who specu= lated in corn was to keep the price at the highest posgible point, in order that . they mig,ht, when necessary, pour 'in a quantity of foreign corn for-their own advantage. ([-Tear.) it is said to be injurious to the agricultural classes, because it induced them to keek back their corn until a period when, by the very operation to which I have already adverted, foreign corn could be admitted, and thus the protection which these classes had was taken away from them. (Hear, hear.) It is injurious to the revenue, because it enabled- parties to hold back corn until the shilling duty only was payable, and thus the revenue was defrauded of the amount which it was entitled to, between the ls. duty and that which would be the duty on foreign corn if it had been brought in when home grown corn was at the' lower amount to which I have ad verted. (Hear, hear.)• It is also said to be injurious to the speculator in corn, who, calculating upon corn remaining at a particular price, enters into a speculation, but finds upon returning to this country that the purpose of his speculation has been defeated by the altered amount of duty. (Hear.) These are the objections to the present scale of duty arising from its rapid fluctuations. Our object in applying a remedy to this system is to propose one that will diminish the temptations to fraud which at present exist. In the year 1838, the total amount of wheat taken for home consumption was 1,728,000 quarters in the course of the year, and of that amount 1,2G1,000 quarters were entered to come in at Is. duty. In the year 1840, the total amount of wheat entered for home consumption was 2,020,000 quarters, and of these 1,217,000 quarters were taken out at a duty of 2s. Bd. Now, the house will observe, that the rate of duty at NO - •►it in is not t' lv _„tp. ..aich this corn was broug,i.. .tie only importan, feature which attaches to these circumstances, but the period of ,the year at which it was released from bond is also a mat ter for very great consideration in dealing with this subject. In 1838 the corn taken out at a duty of Is. was so taken out in the week following the 13th of September, and in 1840 the corn taken out at a duty of 2s. Bd. was released after the 3d of September. Now, in each of those two years by far the greater part of the wheat taken out was taken out at a duty of ls. and 2s. Bd. ; but at the same time it must be borne in mind. that it was taken out at a most critical period—at a period when the farmers were thrashing their corn and pre paring it for consumption. At this time, therefore,. there was a great depression in the corn markets of this country. But the circumstances which I have just alluded to will tell with peculiar and unfavourable effect on the farmers of the north, whose harvest is generally late; inasmuch as they had to contend against a sudden influx of cern into our markets at the lowest rate of duty. (Hear, hear.) Now, this ought, and I am sure will, prevail with those who approve of protec• tion to agriculture, to listen with favour to a plan for the modification of the. existing system. (Hear, hear.) Si] with the permission of the house I will proceed, in the court of a few minutes, to read to the house the scale of dutie which we . propose to app 1 this respect,—(" Oh, oh !' —and, sir, t! , e scale of duties from the oitpoiition ben s devised with.tin igricultural intere e to of every protec , c 1 fcn the purr when foreign corn is required of facilitating, as far as p-ossi ble, commercial intercourse with respect to corn. Sir, nothing can be more difficult than to attempt to determine what is the amount of protection which is required for home consumption? A thousand circumstances should be taken into considera tion by any person who would undertake to determine what amount of duty should be imposed on foreign corn, so as-to establish sor -ere the two like a settled scale of MI persons T ng to protept darn Coniprehetisive view of the subject, tvii Igeient encouragement to the grower of ration was the pric a corn could I 'ought into this country int to gain any accurate conclusion re !cting a matter that depended on so many varying circumstances would be indeed fruitless. Respecting, however, the price of wheat in this Country there were. some- means of judging what its fair average-might he. If, for instance, I take the average of wheat accorditg to the commutation of tithes, the average of which that commutation depended, is about Feveil years ( 565. 10d. gain I take the average of corn for the last 10 $ the urn] erstooc But for - the last dire had been higher thtin I am convinced it v years in this cm 565. lld this countr generally desired that it should permanently remain —(loud cheers)—and I would say, for the agricultural classes, that if the oscillation of the price of wheat could be limited to. be tween 545. and 58s. a quarter, that it would not be the de sire, as I believe it would not be the interest of the agricul tural classes that it should be higher. (Cheers.) If I take the average•of seven years of the last ten years, and, exclu ding. those three years in which it reached an extreme price, I find that the average is about s(s, (Hear.) He could not see any great ainution of the price of wheat below that price. The variations of price it was impossible for any legislative enactments to remedy. In the year 1835, when there was a.neminal protection of G ls., then the price of wheat in this country was 395. It was impossible, in fact, to calculate from any amount of duty, the price at which fo- reign corn would be regulated. After these observations.. would proceed to read to the house the scale of duty which her Majesty's ministers meant to propose. When the price of corn was under 515., he proposed that the scale of duty should-be 20s. When the price of corn was from 51s. to 525., he proposed that the duty should be 193. Here he proposed to make what he might call a rest in the scale, and he pro posed that when the price of wheat should be from 525. to 555., the duty should remain uniformly at 18s. Then, when the price was from 555. to 565., he proposed the duty should he 17s. ; 565.. to 575., the duty should be 16s. ; when the price was frdm 575. to 585., the duty should be 15s. i from 58s. to 595. ' , the duty should be 14s. ; from 595. to 60s. the duty should be : l3s. ; from 60s. to 616., the duty should be 12s. ;, from 61s. to . 625., the duty should be Hs. ; from 625. to 63s, the duty should he 10s. ; from 635. to 645., the duty should be. 9s. ' • from 645,, to 655., the duty s,hould_ .be Ss. ; from 655. to 665., the duty should be 7s. Then when the price of wheat should be. from 666. to 693. - , the duty should remain at 65.; from 695. to 705., the duty should remain. at ss. ; from 70s. to 715., the duty should be • from 71s. t^ `tie duty should'- " - 7 9.5. to to 725., th. oe 3s. ; from i 4., the . duty should be 2s.,.and when the price of wheat should. ,be from 735.. .to. 745., the duty on its importation should be hut ls. When the latter price is, arrived at, I propose that the duty should cease altogether. (Hear, hear some .. .. . .. . . .. of the leading items again. .(Hear, hear, hear.) When . the. pri ce is tinder 51s. the quarter, 1 propose that the duty be 295:, never to be exceeded, . I. am quite satisfied that a larger amount will not be attempted; and what is meant is quite fair, and will secure fairness in the amplest sense. (1 - lear, hear.) It is not meant that any small amount viken out for home consumption shall be allowed to alter the returns. When the price is 565. to 575., then the duty to be 165.; when 60s. to 615., 12s. Thissae will have the effect of dimini;hing the temptation to practise on the ave rages. It'wotild not hold. out the.. temptation to hold :back for the sake of a lower duty'. 1 think the scale will be found to be so arranged as to guard against those evils that have been heretofore complained' of, by so arranging as that the diminishing duty shall act in concert with price, thus guard- ing again& contrary was the case ; there was the temptation to hold back until there was the lower duty ; and further, there was mo tive for 'greatly tampering with the averages. Those, evils wilt, I think. be effectually guarded against by the scale now proposed. 'Oat such was . ,the effect the returns have shown, fur a greatergamount of wheat was taken out than o f an y other grain . That was not the case with oats. I will enu merate what took place with respect to oats. There were 3,513,002 quarters only taken out_; of that quan tit y 248 , 000 qrs. were taken out at Is. 9d., 659,000 qrs. when the duty was 3s. 3d., 243,000 qrs. when it was 4s. 9d., and 940,000 qrs. when it was 6s. 3d. duty. That, sir, was the effect of a gradually falling duty of ls. 6d. Now, I propose in no case to exceed ls., and consequently I am.entitled to think that, by applying the duty to wheat, there is every prospect that wheht, like oats, will be taken out at a hiohp, rntp. of thaw— that the revenue will profit in a proportionate degree—and that the consumer and the agriculturist will be equally bene fited by wheat being taken out at a legitimate time, when the demand shall require it. With respect to other articles of grain, I propose to adopt the proportion which I find in the existing law. The proportions of the existing corn-law are that, valuing wheat at 100 s., the value of barley may be taken at 535. ; the value of oats 4 ; os.rye, peas . , and beaus at 483, If it be assumed that 565. being applied )r wheat, a duty of Ns. should apply ; that when barley is ought to apply ; that when oats are at ;.3d. ought to apply; that when rye, 325., a duty of 10s. 34d. ought to ap- .t 295., a duty of 25., a duty of at ,eas, and beans a ply. lam then not aware of any reason for an alteration of the proportions which are at present to be found in respect to other kinds of grain. And I propose, therefore, in adjust ing the duties applicable to other descriptions of grain, that the existing proportion of the corn laws should be applied. The scale of duties I should propose fur those several articles of consumption will correspond with the relation of t In the case of foreign oats, I propose.that the maximum duty of Bs. should be levied. It is, probabl for me to read the whole of the detail duty should fall with tl carcely necessu; propose t6.4,t fli cf price,' to 85. to 75., an, theit that it should ootitilitle at 65., for .th price d 21 235. ; that on it of ss. should continue. and that le three items of .ching 2-19., a duty that the extremes of grads . and ls., the duty of Is. being the minimum rate, and continuing at that rate when the price of oats should not exceed 28s. In the case of barley, I propose that under 265. there should be a duty on every quarter of I Is., that being the maximum ; that between 265._ and 275. , with the decline of price, , it should be increased byls. ; tion of duty would be the 'duty shotid be 10s. ; between 275. and under 30s. it should continue at 9s. ; between 30s. and 31s. it should be at Bs., and so on ; and that at 375. we should reduce the duty to ls., that being the lowest amount of duty. I should propose and under 575., 35.; when 575. and under 585., 2s. ; and when 58s. and upwards, that it shall be Is. This regulation is to take away the sudden fall which occurs under the ex isting law. With respect to flour I propose to retain the same calculation which exists with respect to wheat, and to permit flour to be imported on the • same relative terms. Now I believe I have put the house in full possession of the nature of the proposal which it is the intention of her Majesty's government to subMit. If you compare the reduction in the amount of the duty with the existing duty, you will find that it is very considerable ; and those who have appettred CO think that the modification which I propose to make in the existing law is of no importance, I shall ask them to compare my scale of duties on the admission of foreign corn with the existing scale. (Hear, hear, hear.) When corn is at 50s. to 605., the present duty is 275. Bd. the duty. What I propose at this price is 13s. At 50s. the existing duty is 365. Bd., increasing as corn falls. Instead of 365. Bd. I propose in this case a duty of 20s. without in crease. At 565. I propose to fix a duty of 16s.—the existing duty is 30s. Bd. ; at 60s the existing duty is 265. Bd.—the duty I propose is 12s. At 635. the duty I propose is Os. ; the exist ing duty is 235. Bd. At 6 , 15. the duty I propose is Bs. ; the present duty is 225. Bd. At 70s. the existing duty is 10s. Sd. ; the duty I propose is 55., and so on to be reduced •as I have already stated, until it reaches one shilling. Therefore it is impossible to dgny, on comparing the duty as at present imposed .with, the dtify which I prOpose, that there is a very considerable decrease in the protective duty on corn. It is a decrease of protection which, in my opinion, can be made consistent with justice to all interests in the country. lithe agriculturists compare the nominal amount of duty that exists with my proposition, they will find reason for allaying their apprehensions ; but lam . bound to say that I think the agri cultural interest of this country can afford to part with a portion of that protection which in my opinion it is perfectly just should he diminished: (Cheers from 'the , opposition.) I also consider that whatever arrangements can be made, tending to facilitate the introduction of foreign corn, when our necessities require it, consistent with a due regard to our commercial intercourse, should be carried into effect. The protection which I retain for domestic produce is not a pro tection for any particular class, for I ant of opinion that such a,protection cannot r be vindicated on any other ground than that of the interests of all classes. (Loud cheering.) This is,my opinion —the only protection that can properly he en forced is that which is consistent with the general interests of all classes. (Renewed opposition cheering.) 1 should not be a friend of agriculture if I asked for protection for the purpose of propping up or defending their interests as a particular class. •Such a motive as this I disclaim alto gether ; but it is my belief, and it is also the belief of my colleagues, that it is of the greatest importance to the welfare of all classes in this country, that precautions should be take❑ that the main sources of our supply should be derived from domestic produce, hut that any additional price paid for this purpose is an addition that cannot be vin dicated. At the same time we are entitled to place such a duty on foreign corn as is equivalent to the public burdens which agriculture bears in this country, and any addition to this can only be vindicated on the ground that it is for the general interests of all classes; but I do consider that it is for the general interests of all classes that a small amount should be imposed in way of duty, in order to guard against any calamity that would ensue if we were left dependant in part, or altogether, on a foreign supply of corn. (Cheers.) It is my belief that the alternation of the seasons mast form a prominent feature of consideration. You must expect that at some time or other when you have a deficient harvest in this country, such a visitation will be felt abroad also, it is ineuitable ; should you then find yourselves dependant upon foreign countries for four or five millions of quarters of wheat, and the calamity of a scarcity be a general one, in that case you may depend upon it that the interests of sett-presei would prevail in those countries, some impediments would be thrown in the way of exports in grain, and their produce be employed for the sustenance of their own population. Sir, 1 need not he a party, not on account of the special interests of the agriculturists, but on account of all the most compre hensive interests of the country. I could not be a party to any law that would render this country dependant upon foreign countries for any very considerable por tion of our subsistence: That we have been dependant for a portion of our supply for a series of years 1 cannot deny. In years of scarcity we must, to a certain extent be dependant upon a foreign supply; but I can not abandon the hope that in average years we may be able to supply our whole population. But, sir, even if you should he disappointed in that hope, and you must resort to difference between a supply that is 'casual and limited in quantity, brought in for repairing an accidental and slight de ficiency, and a supply that would be permanent and extensive. Sir, that is the proposition that I am authorised to make on the part of her majesty's government. It is a proposal which they deem, upon the whole, adverting to the extent of pro tection which for a long series of years past the laws of this yen to the land, as worthy of the considera- That is their proposal, prompted by no r reason and sense of justice, to which ,y have been driven by no pressure but their own judgment. country ha% tion of parliamet (Cheers.) It is the Proposal which her majesty's government think necessary, and most for the interests of the country, should it meet with the sanction of the' legislature. This, then, I conceive is not an unfavourable time for the adjust ment of this great and important question ; and here I may be allowed to say, that during . the period that this subject has been under consideration, and notwastanding that the great est commercial distress had prevailed, still the 'question has been considered with ;n4 much inoilerat and as much calm ness as it was possible, that such a question could be consi- dered.' There ►:►ay have been great excitement, and there may have been great endeavours to excite agitation, but I must Say, that the general demeanour of the great body of the peo ple, and of those particularly who are most exposed to suffe ring in the n►anufacturing districts, deserves our best sympa thy and consideration. .(Hear.) It 'snow open to parliament to settle this great question. I hope that the result of the proposal submitted to parliament by her Majesty's govern ment will lead to some favourable adjustment of this great question. The proposal which we have made for that pur pose is one which we think will he most consistent with a due consideration of the interests of all the parties in the country. It it is the pleasure of parliament to assent to this proposal, it will of course pass into a law; but if parliament - - will be adjusted with a view to the interests of those parties to which I have already referred : and I conclude by ex pressing a hope that whatever arrangement may be come to, it will be most consistent with the interests of all classes, whether manufacturing, commercial, or agricultural, of this great empire. (Loud and continued cheering.) Sir It. PEEL moved that the Chairman do report progress, and ask leave to sit again on Monday nest. Lord J. RUSSELL then said •that after what he bad stated the other evening in reference to the proposition of the right h. AL-1 ;,,rpnci to enter upon any dis- cussion of the - plan which had lust been submitted to the house. But in older that they might come to the discussion of it with as much information as possible—he did not mean statistical information—but information with respect to the plan .itself, it seemed to him not only advisable but abso lutely necessary that they should have a list of the towns bart. - nt to ' -de in the averages ..n the r.„.it n. .... meant to _ (hear, hear,) and he hoped that the right hon. hart. would be prepared to lay such a list on the - table of the house to morrow. (H ear, hear.) Sir R. PEEL did not think he would be called upon for such a list, but he would endeavour to prepare a list of the large towns which would be affected, and to lay it before the house on Friday next, Mr. CoBOEN then rose. He was understood to say that he did not expect from the present government any measure' which would afford any relief to the people connected with commerce, who were at the present moment in such deep distress; and it was not, therefore, with surprise he heard the present proposition. He must condemn it as most un feeling towards the people, and most unjust towards the best interests of the country. After what had taken place on a former night, after the general understanding on the subject, he should not now enter into a discussion of the measure proposed. The motion was then put and carried. Adjourned at eight o'clock until Thursday. Sir Robert Peel completed the 54th year of his age on Saturday last. The Lords' Cornt ioners of the Admiralty have ordered that in future all steam-vessels built for her majesty's navy are to be fitted with • Captain Smith's inyentiou of boats placed above the DEATH OF " INDEPEN4N%E. "— This famous old horse. formerly the property of the late Mr. Beardsworth, died on Sunday week ut friedriesford, aged twenty-six years. -wheel The 111 r of Walsall has refused to convene a public meeting to deliberate upon the propriety of presenting a pe tition to parliament for the total abolition of the corn-laws. ARREST OF THREE SUSPECTED ITIGHWAYMEN.—Three desperate characters were arrested by the police, atClitheroe, on Friday night, in a lodging-house of , badrepute. When taken into custody, they were, found to be severally armed with a - brace of loaded . pistols:• THE DUKK.—The Herald, in describing the ceremony of opening parliament; observes " We cannot close our account without ^t expressing our regret at ne infirm appearance of the grpat duke.' His grace looked pale, and walked with a feeble step A Hindostanee Prince, dressed in a suit of royal purple velvet, and glittering with geld and brilliants, occupied a seat in the northern gallery of the House of Lords, at the open ing of parliament, 'and appeared much interested with the scene. Mr. Heron, a minister, had a large family of children. When dying, his weeping wife said, " Alas! what will be come of all these Children ?" He pleasantly . replied, Never fear : he that feeds the young ravens won't starve the young Herons." . AN EAGLE.—On Thursday last Hugh Menzies, one of Lord Ward's gamekeepers, captured a splendid golden eagle upon one of the Glengarry hills.. This unruly denizen of the wilds has been for years known to the shepherds in the dis trict of Glengarry, and was much remarked, as well for his size as for his destruction of game and flocks. He measures, between the tips of the wings when extended, 8 feet 3 inches, and ,from the pCiRt of the tail. to .tip( He suffered littlu or no injury in the capture SINGULAR COINCIDENCE.—A HARD RACE.—Mr. David Hincliffe, an operative fancy weaver, residing at Mold Green, Huddersfield, was married upon the same day our gracious Queen was united to Prince Albert; his wife was delivered of a daughter, the same doy the Princess Royal was born ; and she also gave • birth to a son the same day the Prince of IVales came into the world ! Hitherto the race has been equal ; but in the event of Mri. Ilincliffe passing or rather surpassing her illustrious rival—as some of her neigh bours venture to predict is hoped her Majesty eknowledge her supremacy, by sending her a beak, 3 fe wilt general handsome present I . 4 9l:Alry.—A grocer, residing in Bir- L ,- - -urn , follo,wing the example so generally set by the in l'"Atan.ts; closed his shop on the occasion of the christening of the Prince of Wales, but for fear lie should seem too loyal or too religious, placarded in large characters the following notice upon his shutters :: 7 -" Closed for recreation, not to sanction an unscriptural ceremony." , ME QUEEN'S SITAI4LS.—A letter was received in town on Monday, from Windsor, acknowledging the. receipt of the shawls sent up last week. Her Majesty expressed much gratification on witnessing such beautiful specimens of - Pais ley mandfacture, and made a selection from the several par cels. As an indication that the choice of her qajesty will not be without its effects, we are happy to add that applica tions, b- Glasgow and Edinbiir,i, A. DISSEN Joth from "" '''' ""g ll , n4ve been received Q during the week for shawls of the ueen's choi ce . W e h o p e to hear of similar orders. (row 'many other quarters.—Paisley Advertiser BY DESIRE OF SEVERAL FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS, A MORNING PERFORMANCE Will be given, being THE LAST THIVEASON. iii r rr HIS present FRIDAY EVENIN the 11th i ns tant, -1. and TO-MORROW (Saturda , ,to 12th instant, will be produced the mugnificent . Leqen ; Spectacle, entitled ST: GEORGE AND TIOrDIi.,tiGON ; . OR, THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS 7 ON CHRISTENDOM. St. George of England, Mr. W. I). Broadfoot ; Torn of Coventry, Mr. H. Beverly ; Kalaba, Mrs. Nunn. "To be followed1;y an entire Change of DUCROWS SCENES OF THE CIRCLE ! To ?!oiielude with the Drama of THE FUGITIVE OF THE TORZA ; Or, The Mill of Keben. On MONDAY next, a Grand Equestrian Fete, for the BENEFIT of SIGNOR HILLIER. Private Roses may be obtained nightly for Families on ap plication to Mr. F. CARMAN, at the Box-office, from Eleven "• ' • Prices of Admission :—Centre Dress Boxes, 35.; Side Gd. ; Pit, ls. Gd. ; Lower Gallery, Is. ; Upper Second Price at Nine.o'clock :—Centre Dress Side Boxes, Is. Gil.; Pit. Is.; ' Gallery, Gallery, Gd Boxes, 2s. Lower . Secc )nd Price of age to the in the case of rye, peas, and beans, that the same proportion should be observed. I now feel it necessary to enter into a short explanation in respect to the subject of colonial duties. ails on this branch, as the proposition is founded on the same principle. Now the law which regulates the import of British colonial wheat at present is, I think, to this effect—That British colonial wheat and flour shall be imported into this at a duty of 55., when the price of British wheat is that when the price of British wheat exceeds countr 675., colonial wheat shall he 'admissible at a duty of Gd. I propose to give the same advantage to colonial wheat, with respect to the reduction of the price at which it is admissi ble, as to anv other description of wheat ; but considering that the sudden fall. in price from ss. to Gd., on account of a difference of ls. in price is at variance with the principle of the law, which seeks to establish an equitable reduction in duty, we propose to make this alteration with respect to colonial wheat, that when the price of British wheat shall be 555., the duty an every quarter shall be ss: ; that when it is 555, and under 565., the duty shall be 4s._; when 565. ROYAL LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH• STREET, LIVERPOOL BRCUGH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR And Last Night but One of his appearance rfflHIS present FIiIDAY, February 11.1312, the Even ing's Entertainment will commence with U BERT!. 770 which will be added, the SERGEANT OF MUSS I.S. To be follo we d by th e a d m i re d D ram a, n acted here these Four years, entitled - LUKE THE LA BO ER. The whole to conclude y, t a Grand L DISP,AY OF FI EWORKS! yt TO-MORROW Evening, (S t rday,) a variety ofiEnter tainmentS, being the Last Ni g ht Mr. BROUGH . On MONDAY next, Item,. I , the 'celebrated and fasci nating- Madetnoisele CELESTE will make her first appear ance this season:, Tickets and places for the Public Boxes to be had of Mr. J. FOGG, at the Box Office, from Eleven till Three; also for the Private Boxes for Pull Dress Parties. Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 25.: Gallery, 63. (to which the number will be limited). Second Price.—Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. Doors to open at Half-past Six. Performance to begin at Seven. Second Price at Half-past Eight. OYAL AMPHITHEATRE, GREAT CHARLOTTE-STREET, LIVERPOOL FAREWELL NIGHTS OF DUCROW'S NATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT IN LIVERPOOL! THIS DAY (Friday), 6d. No Second Pric& to the Upper Gallery will be taken for Children under Twelve yea►, Boxes only Dorss to he opened at Half-past Six, and the Performance to commence at Seven o'clock precisely. TO CORRESPONDENTS • is unavoidably postponed until Tuesday. We are reluctantly compelled, by a pressure upon our space, to withdraw a notice of the measure 'nought forward on Tuesday, by Mr. W. 'E. Gladstone, to amend and consoli date the import duties upon merchandize and produce en tering our colonial possessions. The same reason also prevents us from returning a little clean water in exchange for the mud showered by the scavenger of the, Reform Association—Mr. William Rathbone—upon the freemen of Liverpool. ,I C.ll We are also compelled to withdraw a notice of Miss Stott's concert, which shall appear in our next. LI) Lthrrpuol ;:Z;,talfaarb. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 11, 1842 The admirable address of Sir Robert • Peel, in bringing before the House, of Commons his proposed measure for the settlement of the Corn Laws, will be found reported verbatim in our columns this day; and we entreat for it the careful and attentive perusal of our readers. A more luminous and convincing expo sition of the real bearings of this momentous question upon the present condition of the country we have never met with ; and to the factious outcry which attributes every evil, under which the commerce and the industry of the country languish, to the operation of the Corn Laws alone, it furnishes a complete and satisfactory refutation. It deals in no vague gene ralities; it contains no appeal to the passions or the prejudices of any party; but is throughout a clear and intelligible (levelopement of the views of the minister and the cabinet, illustrated and fortified with statistical details, and worthy of the best days of British states- manship To enable our readers the more easily to arrive `at the principal features of Sir Robert Peel's proposition, we shall endeavour to place it before them in a form which will render it more intelligible, in itself, than as delivered by the Right Honourable Baronet, and more easy or .omparison with the existing system, The proposition of Sir Robert is to fix the maximum duty upon wheat at 20s. when the average price in Great: Britain is under 518. .per quarter. Above 51s. and under 525. the duty is 19s. Above 525. and up to 555.. the duty is Hs. From this point the duty diminishes: is. for every increase of Is. in the average up to 665., When "a rest" occurs, the duty being 6s. from that. price up to 695. From Gs. it diminishes is. with every increase of Is. in Price to 745., after which the duty ceases entirely. The following tables, however, which have been drawn up with the assistance of an intelligent Liverpool corn merchant, will better enable our readers to judge of the operation of the proposed system : WHEAT AND FLOUR. WHEAT FLOUR When average's I Existing I Proposed I Existing I Proposed under duty. f duty. I duty. duty. 51 and under 52 s. d. 36 8 35 8 34 8 33 8 32 8 31 8 31) 8 .. 20 .. 19 118 t 53 t •, 54 S. d. 21 10 21 5 20 10 20 3 19 8 19 1 18 5 55 „ 5G ..,,_ 7, 110 10, 57 58 91 59 60 lt 61 „ 62 10 3 9 8 9 0 8 5. 7 73 74 74 and upwards BARLEY OATS. r. WHEAT Proposed duty. .. 4 10 1 4 3: 3 .7; 5 4 , 0 1 7 o 7 0 7 1 10' 1 3: 0 7 0 0 I Existing duty. I Propsd. duty . 21s. 10d 20 4 18 10 17 4 16 10 15 4 13 10 12 4 10 10 9 4 7 10 6 4 4 10 3 4 1 10 1 0 ling Duty. I Props r. Thlty, 18s. 3d 16 9 15 3 13 9 12 3 10 9 7 9 6 3 4 9 3 3 1 9 1 0 . 7 : 16 AND FLOUR FLOUR, Existing Proposed duty. 3s Od 2s 5d is 10d is 3d Os 71d Average 25F. and under 26s 26 „ 27 27 „ 28 28 29 29 30 30 „ 31 31 ~ 32 32 tf 33 33 ft 34 31 ft 35 37 „ 38 38 „ 39 39 „ 40 41 and upwards When Average is J Exis 19s. and under 20s 20 „ 21 21 22 26 27 27 „ 28 28 ~ 29 29 ~ 30 30 ~ 31 31 and upwards COLONIA Ave- Exist ing rage. I aqtt. a•LF-i CD g f. 71' > - • z - rF 4 . The duties upon Barley, Oats, and other grain, are reduced in a ratio similar to that upon which the ex isting duties are regulated—for instance, If Wheat is at...... Barley would be valued at Rye, Beans and Peas sBs. and the reduction of duties operate accordingly.. From the above tables it will easily he seen—and must be admitted by the most virulent of the oppo nents of agricultural protection—that the proposition of Sir Robert Peel is, at all events, a large and liberal modification of the existing law. Adhering, as we always have done, to the principle of a sliding scale, we have never concealed our dislike to the abrupt changes in'the scale at present in operation. From that source, we think, has arisen a great portion of the 'frauds con nected with its working ; and by the substitution of the present graduated scale, we feel confident that the two•great objects to be desired—viz., an adequate pro- .. 7 }6