The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-08 00:00:00

capital—that E. pretty well exploded. Even the highest
authority on this subject, Mr. fussy, says he has been at
work at high farming for several years, and that he never
could put on 6/. an acre. Therefore, all those stories, which
carried, in a great degree, the repeal of the corn laws, such
u that no farmer should have leas than 10/. an acre on his
farm, and that no farm in England had more than 51. an
acre, are put in limbo. (Laughter.) Those discussions of
1846 also hero very much cleared the reputation of the
farmers. We have had since then a great commer-
cial distress in 1817; and there was a committee
of the House of Commous appointed to inquire into
the cause of that commercial distress. I was a
member of that committee ; the gentleman who
might have been your chairman to-day was also a member.
We investigated that subject with our utmost efforts. I
supported those views which are popular among ourselves.
My friend, Mr. Labouchere, a free trader, took another
view of the general question ; but we all arrived at one
conclusion. It was the unanimous decision of that com-
mittee, which consisted of fixed duty men, free trailers,
protectionists, and Manchester men, that the commercial
distress was principally occasioned by commercial men
carrying on their business without capital. (Laugh-
ter and cheers.) I really think that is the
best vindication of the farmers of Great Britain that
has yet been made. Tne year after they repealed the corn
laws this distress occured, and we came to the unanimous
conclusion that the principal cause of the commercial dis-
tress was men trading without capital. But I am reminded
of another circumstance. It was always said that one
reason why the farmers could not carry on their busi-
ness to advantage was that they could nut keep accounts.
Now, a great mower my friends who arc farmers keep ne-
wsman ; Ise pro Wickham market sad buy a farmer's s4S-
count book which might compete with many of the ledgers
of commercial men. But since that was said, since
every leading member of the Manchester school—(a laugh)
—held up the farmers of Great Britain as men who could
not keep accounts, there has been an immense investment
of capital—no less than 200,000,0001.—by commercial men
and the middle and trailing classes, it, the construction of
railroads. Very few of those speculations have turned out
so satisfactorily as was expected; and committees of inves-
tigation have been formed to inquire into the reasons why
they have not yielded what my friend has called remune-
rative prices, which committees have all come to the con•
design that this 200,000,0001. has been invested by cow
mercial men who cannot keep accounts. (Laughter and
cheers.) I really think that these aro circumstances
which tell on :he minds of the people of the country; and
year after year, as these things transpire, there
is a general impression in this country that the farmers of
this country hove not had justice done them, and that even
if the change which took place in 1816 was beneficial, as man)
supposed, it was obtained by false pretences. Therefore I
think there is a general disposition on the part of the
public opinion. of this country to view what is called the
agricultural question in a temperate and moderate spirit—
(hear, hear)—and I believe there is an anxiety to come to
some arrangement which, without mainly interfering with
those hutment, principles prevalent in this country, would
make the position' of the cultivator of the soil easier by re-
ducing the out of his manufacture. If you see those
tendencies, is it not extremely politic and expedient
that the agriculturists should put their case in a form in
which all classes can sympathise ? I ask no man to give up
his opinion. You may believe that what is called protec-
tion is the only thing that can secure you remunerating
prices ; but it you believe that at the present moment you
cannot have buck protection, and if you feel that at the pre-
sent moment you are suffering, is it not the wisest course to
ask for that which in the name of justice taunt be denied,
and which is in the way of securing you aid and assistance,
and which you have every chance and every certainty, if'
united, of obtaining 1 (Cheers.) I have trespassed much
longer on your attention than I ought to hare dour. (No.)
I did nut come here to make a speech on any other subject
except that of proposing the health of one of her
Majesty's ministers' who I thought would have been
in the chair; and 1 have only spoken to you in
that confidential and conversational manner in which
it is my duty always to be ready as your member to
speak to you. Finding you here, and finding myself
hero at this critical moment of your fortunes, I am only
doing my duty in taking this opportunity, as I will take
every opportunity, of endeavouring to impress on your
nuncio what I think is essential to your benefit and advan-
tage. (Cheers.) That is the reason why, I have token the
liberty of making the observations which otherwise I would
not have done. l know very well the position of this district;
I know that you are men of great skill and capital, and I
know that the agriculture of South Bucks is such as you
need not be ashamed of; and therefore I know that when you
feel the pinch you come forward with advantages which
claimants who are not under such circumstances may not
urge ; but it is for that very reason that my sympathy is
still stronger in your favour. I know that when there are
great changes, such as we sue have occurred, painful as it
is, I know that the weak men are the victims; and. as in
the case of the handluom weavers, that no legislation in the
world can prevent inevitable doom. It is because I know
I am addressing men, who meeting the difficulties they
have had to encounter with every advantage which men
eau possess, know still how difficult it is to bear the
burden, that I wish to impress on them—men of substance
as well as men of sense—that the time is coin° that
they should unite to exercise their influence in obtaining
from the parliament of this country a practical end. That
practical end, I repeat, is to ask the legislature ofithis coun-
try to consider taxation with regard to its peculiar weight
and burden on the agricultural interest, nut to demand any
measure as a specific remedy, but to leave that to statesmen
and politicians ; to prefer your claims ; to proclaim your
sufferings ; and to ask that to which every class, weak or
powerful, is entitled, namely a satisfactory and speedy
remedy from the agriculture of the country. Now if you
do that, I think we shall meet in this room again with very
different feelings from what we do at present ; and,
though you may consider that but a limited remedy,
and the course which I iudicate too narrow, allow mu
to say that it is a practical course ; and in these days
of rapid events, you mast look to that which is practical.
You will find that the advantage of taking a practical
course is this, that you will gain that which now exists only
in theory. Take the case of a fixed duty on agricultural
produce; I give no opinion upon it, but I take it as a
remedy which is prevalent, not to say popular, among a
very powerful and influential class. Three years ago, if
you had asked for a fixed duty, those who had just gamed
the immense benefit which they did by the repeal of the
corn laws, at your cost, would say, of course, No, we
have gained only what was just; wo won't give you
a fixed duty." But the discussion of the last
three years, which has attracted public opinion
to the question of taxation, and which has
proved to the legislature of the country that there
is that undue weight of taxation and those undue restric-
thou weighing on the cultivation of the roil—those discus-
sions have opened the hearts of many people, and influ-
enced the minds of many people who were oppssed to a
fixed duty, and who Pay, after all, it is more convenient to
give a fixed duty to the cultivator of the soil, than to pay
uff the demands which he makes upon us. The hon gentle-
man, after a few further observations, concluded by pro-
posing the health of the chairman, and resumed his scat
amid loud cheers.
Several other toasts followed, and the company separated.

COMMERCIAL AND MARKET&
'INCING LANE.—THDI DAY.
SVOAR.—This article has gone off with more steadiness
to-day. Good and fin:: qualities of Porto Rico have sold in
public sale, at full prices; 900 boxes of Havannah also found
buyers at previous rates, 3-3 s. to 38s. 6d. duty paid. Re-
fined without alteration ; grocery lumps, 445. to 495.
CUFFEE.—This article has sold heavily in public sale, at
a shade lower prices; 700 bags good ordsnary native Ceylon,
40s. to 40s. Gd. Plantation sold at about Gd. to ls. decline.
COCOA.—Trinidad sold in public sale at 36e. to 475. Gd.;
Grenada bought in at Ks. to 41s.
TEA.—Tho public sales went off steadily at full prices,
and a larger portion than usual sold.
Pzerza.-1,400 bags sold in public sale, 31 to .31, which
were full prices.
Rice continues firm at the late advance.
Imnoo.—Thc sale is progressing without any material
alteration in prices.
Corms; continues dull of sale.
Sr I RlTS.—ltum and brandy continue dull of sale.
In other articles no material alteration.