The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-24 00:00:00

CONTRIBUTIONS HILL.

Thaw bah wer;;;;Zireilisilifuri time and puss&
ALTERATIONS IN PLEADINGS BILL.

Lord Cd.YPBELL moral eM M c,ad nadiagof this bill
for the ametuisent of spacial plesdlac M civil gaits; mid he
was it ttppy to ay the measure was highly approved of by all
the. ju3 ms, mid there could be ao doubt that it would lead
to beneticfsl results. Tele was a fresh nroof that there was
no deuachootion on the part of lawyers to any reforms which
would he likely to bmedt suitors.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered is be
committed.
TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS

SCOTLAND) DILL.
The Marquis of BREADALBANE =MA the emend
reeding of this bill. He hoped the noble sad (Aberdeen)
oppoiite would not object to the bill this sdnion' as it WaS
admitted on all hands thick would be an amendment of the
existing law.
The Eat of ABERDEEN objected to proceed with the
measure last year, betimes it was introdtt:ed at so late a
perbd tithe session. Trim was no reasonable objection,
however, to the bill, sad he should not now epp.se it.
The bill wa. then read a second time, and ordtred to be
committed.
CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

Lard CAMPBELL laid on the table a bill for the La-
remainc of the administration of trusties' justice. Its
Wet object was to remove roan, of the tecneicalines which
se sten deiced the purpose or justice.
The bill wee mad a tint time.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

The Earl of HARD WILKE, pineuant to notice, pre-
sented several petitions from the county of Cambridge, ems.
pinning of agricultural distress. Toe p.titioners said they
were now suffering tinware distress, and bad bettors them
the prospect of enduring mote. They could not compete with '
belies grain, sod nothing but utter ruin was stasing them
in the ;we. They were, in fact, ready to do anything
which desperate men were likely to do. It wig now proved
that the experiment of free trade which bad been tried had
hitherto mow entirely failed, sad the house would be obltged
to give Witt to the agricultural interest be long ;
mean-
while, however, a great number of worthy men would be
ruined. He knew that he should be told of the emission of
taxes—that commerce had improved—that farms might
easily be let—that aerkultural pr:ces were as low in 1615 as
they are now. He should be told also, he supposed, that the
income te: had increased; but all these facts could not
prove that the agriculturists were not safferiag
Brest distress sad on the verge of absolata ruin.
(Hear, hear.) they would be placed on the horns
of this dilemma—they must either go beck, they mast
retrace their steps, or the people would ne looser pay the taus.
Tial, COON no: go on without involving the ruin not only of
the agricultural hat of the poorer classes of society. He be.
keyed, however, that the agricultural classes cool not des-
pair; for the of that evil was so rapid that the we
could not be ar distant. The time would soon arrive for
the
Scal agricultural Sitarist to obtain relief from its present dif-
ds&

The Earl of MALMESBURY said, that in passable of
the notice which be had given a few nights before, he bad M
move the billowing returns :—Return of the imports of
wheat and wheat bur, also of barley and oats, into the
United Kingdom, is sack week since the let of January.
Ifsith and of toe average prices of each week; and also,
return of the total amount imported within the same
prod, dick/is/Wag the countries from which imported.
He might be tad that the returns relating to trade and nevi-
plies would show how much foreign corn had been brought
into the eotsetry ; bat be thought it most impinge" that
they should know hem what countries importamoas had pro-
considering that they now arrived in the face of a
!Lisp market. He was aware that he needed indulgence
(Cr introducing a question so chin discussed and so little
attractive • but when he saw the dangerous, the deplorable
state M die agricultural interest at that moment, he thought
it his paramaaet duty to entreat their lordship to consider
the ect of the repeal of the eons law. At the beginning
of the amiss their lordships were assured that the eau of
the markets at that time would sot last. The state of the
markets had not lasted; for prices had falls* ocasiderably
sines that period. (Hess, Mail Tars were three parties
to the repeal of the cora law. Of these *se of the
most intelligent sad active was composed of those
who, disapproving of the constitutin as it stood,
had cot scrupled to declare publicly that they
considered that the repeal of the cons law would lead to the
establiensernt of a pars democracy. (" Hear, hem," from
Lord Stanley.) Tint clam believed whet woe prophesied on
that side of the house whoa the corn law was repealed, that
through the depreciation of the value of agricultural property,
there would bee loss of the politkel power and social maw
quince of west was called the agekultural body, including
not merely the nobility, but the whole of the landlords of the
country, who had always been the etrosgeat bulwarks of the
throne against democratic innovation. Another clam, pa-
sowing greet activity and abilities, assisted of the theoretical
economists, who, bounding their opium' on what they
termed reseal and normal troths, wholly laid aside all
those principles which were applicable to the state of
society is this eountry. These were men for wham he
entertained the high• et respect, believing them to be as
honest is their opinions as they wen seagaine la their
expectations ; but, like her Majesty's Secretary of Mate for
the Colonial Department, who had lately songratakted
their lordships on the effects ef free trade, they threw down
a principle like a piece of raw material, without coasidering
what would be the that of Imelda, it out. He did not
hope to make any impressioa on this ekes, but
he ark-e 1 them to look at the cora markets,
and to amidst whether they had net been
too sanguine. There was a third party ia that house
which had suoported the con laws—a party mastitating a
majority of their lordships, and whieh mastalways be
looked apes by the seastly with the deepest respect.
lie referred mow esposially to noble lords who sat on the
cross benches and ea kis right hand, from whom they
(the protectionists) had unfortunately been severed for some
time in 'that opiates. These noble lords no doubt
yieldithatag they were doing their duty to their coun-
try in eo what they regarded as a universal ary for the
abolition of the cola laws; they hoped rather then espeeted
that no such miechisf es bed bees prophesied would same,
sad that *genial stream, rather than an overwhelming
torrent, of food would flow into the country. In that este-
pory he placed the noble marquis opposite (the Marquis of
Lansdowne), who', at the beginning of the musks, teemed
the abrogation of the corn lairs an experiment. and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had reesatiy declared
that he had sot sametiM that the repeal would osseous
each low prices. He (the gee of Malmesibary) aosepted the
noble marquis's term experiment. He would always pre-
test against the language which had ban used, ant so meek
in that house as out of it, bylined* journals end by ma of
Lint and eloquence, that the law se it the* stood was tad.
(Hear, hear.) Ouch leaguers he masidered an insult te the
mamma sense and the good fleallog M the ematry. (Il_ ,eer
hear.) WM M to be told that a kw was haat
before it had been tried a year, Magas, tio, as it PM se a
fiscal sad financial question (Rear, kw.) Their
lordships might depend upon it, too, that priest weald be
still lower than they were. They had net yet meertaked
the prefect pat up to which the foreigners math afford to
export to this country profitably ; hat they were rapidly
ptomaine the &Mover,. I. the meantime What must be
the sate of mind of the farmer, as he saw the downward
prime f He knew that whatever capital and karlastry he
might apply to ,the cultivation of the lead, the foringam
would meet him. He knew that the core factor would shake
in his face • ample of corn when he watt° market, and tell
him that he could get cora like that at a fewer ppries
than he was offering to sell foe. lie (the Earl of
bury) had heard seek leaguer need in atry markets.
Both • state of Wags bad a natural Madeira to MIMI a
pion. Many farmers had late stocks on hand, having been
induced to hold them partly by what had been said by the
government, parhy by what had been said by the admeates
of tree trade ; sad what mast be their feelings, when, within
three maths of the inset. end with thaw
stocks on hand, they saw greater impoaaWns In the fees of
falling prices / If the large farmers endured this for a time,
how were the smell ones to do se ? They were constantly hear-
ing that timers who were not conversant with chemistry, and
Who did not possess 00%4 mart thin; and the was

said is a toss which implied that tblL:eilltl 4° °G.
Tkice wee an quad's whisk n W°l° 110-
ginnieg to eak, easiely, whether it wee kir Wadley ehould
pay du ease NW of blued lo lir pads enkfart se thee
had dead Mambo ssi who bed bees issermsess
tal la brieg~'y Mona the Of the sees bow wield do
wail to senile whether it was desirable that that question
▪ be arkiods_ (liser, bear.) The sidle weevils
opposite (the igropmpeemeaagossia) WEIS doped upon it
that this tostatey would sot be a oak phso kr prefeull to
xis in, mad would sat be savable of Wag maned with
bouts while sash grenade of ous;delat were naremoved.
(Hear. hear.)
The Deka of RICHMOND winlemed the assertion that
the distress of the agricaltoral body wee unexampled. He
adjured the house, the , sad the hadholdere not
to math too far the sf_ kids, whist sill existed
among the fanners 'WA at MU leader the despair
of an alleviation of their enissilise. • speedy return to a
"just end ads quite" kris of preteethra, he leobed fur
from the retarmag gad urn tithe senate,; and meantime
he exhorted the farmer, to poem their mingles so ter u
to seam
caodidateupon every menu the eludes of the protectioakt

• The arquis of LANBDOWNZ said be was sot about to
eater into the discussion whitda bad been introduced by the
noble earl, and continued by the noble dale*, as he thought
the !Whig opportunity for considering whether the
experiment hail been sufficiently tried would arise
whesever a distinct pronoeitioa founded on the re-
turns should be brevets forward. He was net pre-
pared to say that a state of things had arisen by which pm-
liansinit was called upon to reversejtesslistern which it bad
adopted; sad whenever it was pro to do so he should
state the grounds of his opinion. H. should offer no oppo-
sition to the notion' but in order to make the information
complete, he would propose that in addition to the returns
already moved fur, there should be a return of the quaatlty
of wheat, barley, and oats sold in England and Wales in
each week of each year ef the five years (as was understood)
I ending Jan 1, 18150. and in each week since that date.
TIN Duke of RICH POND said he did not believe one
single syllable of what was retuned by the corn inspector,
and any owe who was at all acquainted with the subject
mu.t know that to these returns farmers generally attached
nu Ilaitte.

Lord STANLEY said that, without going so far as to say
that be did not believe one syllable of the returns of the corn
Inspectors, he felt that the addition to his nob:* friend's
motion would not add much to its value. It was
notorious that these ?nuns left unrepresented a very
large proporticn of the corn sold in this country,
►nd therefore he did not think they would famish their
lordship, with much aristance in the consideration of the
question. Be was glid to find the noble marquis rope sting
his expectation that the quation had, at no very distant
period. t 3 be &rata discussed and decided. (Hear, heir.)
Ho collected also from the noble marquis—and he hailed
this adminion also with satisfaction—that the pneent prices
were too low.

Tree Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, what he meant
was that the present rate of things was exceptional.
Lard STANLEY said, be might, then, assume, and he
rejoiced in being able to assume, that the noble marquis
thought that ansitieatedle low prices were not an 'dean-
tado to the country. (Hear, hear.) He collected from
him that the present low prices were not prices
which the government desired to see—(bear, hear)—
and that they looked forward to • rise. (Hear. hear.)
They were carrying on an sap, riment, and that experiment
had not produced the effects which the government eaten
Isted. (Hear.) It was then the natural consequence—if
that state of prices continued—that the present state of
was not exceptioael, because there was no tendency in priors
to rice, but, on the contrary, a permanent cause to lead to
lower prices; and in that case he accepted the admission of
ministers that the repeal of the am laws was merely en ex-
periment, and further, that it would soon become necessery
that they should retrace their steps. (Hear) But how long
was that her trade experiment to lest? (Hear) How many
more hundreds of their unfortunate countrymen were to he
ruined? (Hear.) How much more of nee, say and useful
°vital was to be sacrificed before any step was taken to
recover the national property ? (Hear, bear) He was
willing to give her Majesty's ministers lull dais for consi-
deration but then there should bosoms limitation to the
experiment. (Hear, hear.) At the commencement of the
session they were assured by the noble marquis opposite (the
Marquis of Lansdowne) that all would be right. It was arid
wait awhile, only wait • month, or site weeks, or two months.
The month of March was looked forward to es the period
when it was expected that averages should rise and prices
improve. But the ides of March as also of April had come
and pa-sed ; and its his noble friend (the Eal of Malmesbury)
had remarked, within three months of the new harvest, im-
ports were sot diminishing but increasing, and prices
not tibias but telling. (Hear, hoar.) He (Lori Stanley)
considered it of great importance that his noble Maio*.
mo.ion should be agreed to, that it might be seen
from what countries the importations took place.
Because, if it should appear that these imports
were not from di-tact pore, but from pone always
in sight 01%11(.4 own, having daily accounts of the priers and
%rate of the English market', the prices daily decreasing, mid
all that, then it could not with reason be said that, owine to
increased exportation from these ports, home prices would
not fall still lower. (Hear' hear.) He begged to instance
the article of cotton, sad its consumption within the last
fifteen years, in which period it increased fifty fold. But
what was the peke of the article ? Did it rise in consequence
of the greatly increased demand? (lieu.) Sr tar from
lt, the demand had not stimulated WI Lamm in price,
which constantly redwood ; sad the WWI might be said of
the 'that, of tea, sod every other commodity. (Hear,
hear.) Larder quantities of corn could only be grown by
increased outlay and further ispendi.ure of capital; but
then, were not prices to be consulted ? (Hear, hear.) He
asked the farmer of the Lothians—the garden of Scotland—
when cultivation was carried to perfection, and where any ad-
ditiosal outlay cf capital could net be Weeded with increased
productive/ma—what wise to become of them? (Mear,heer.)
The Margins of LANSDOWNE (who wee frequently
inaudible in the gallery) complained of the course taken by
the noble lord (Lord Stanley) is drawing deductions from
orders then only moved for and about to be puiduced,
sad inviting anemia' to the results of curtain papers not
yet laid upon the table. (Hear, hear.) The disposition
evinced by the noble lord in so doing argued in his (the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne's) mind • doubt of the intention of the
noble lord to bring forward the subset on which be had
been addressing their lordships in a plain an I tangible form
for consideration. He (the Marquis of Lansdowne) was not
then about to enter on the subject, because he conceive lit
would be Irregular to du so; but he could not help alluding
to the assertions of the noble lord in ref rence to alleged ad-
missions by him as to the result of free trade measures.
(Hear, hear.) He bad never stated, at present or at any
former time, that that house would be boned at no distant
period to return ti prineeli)u.
L'rd STANLEY—I did nut say so.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE understood thit to be
the substance of the noble lord's assertion.

Lord STANLEY—I yoke of the thing not u a fait
acconspli. I said the preeent state of pricks was regarded
by ministers as exceptMaal, and not lasting ; and the in-
ference I drew from that was that present prices are not each
as were contemplated as the result of the expaimeat. Mew,

Ti. Marquis of LANSDOWNE should deny that at any
time he expreend ma opinion as to the period when the ex-
periment of free trade might be said tot to have succeeded.
(Hear, hear.) If the noble lord thought the state of things
so exceptional as to make it expedient for parliament to re-
tries the policy ft had previously punted, the matter was
open to the consideration of the noble lord to amend it; and
when he should introduce the question in a substantive
manner to their lordship, he (the Marquis of Lansdowne)
would &impend to most him. (Hear, hear.)
Lord STANLEY—The noble marquis may regard the
existing state of prices as exceptional, bat I do not, as I
feel they will continue. (Hear, hear.) As regards the in.
trodurnioa of the question of free trade before your lordships,
I em not sow prepared to bring forward say distinct pro-
position on the subject. Bat I will exercise my own discre-
tion as to the period whet I will bring it forward, and alto
as to the opportunities I may take to express my opinions as
regards the proems, or otherwise, of free trade or any other
maser& (Hew, hear.)
Earl GREY said that if sable lords opposite entertained a
strong opinion on the question offress trade, as they appeared
to do, they ought to bring it forward is a substantive manner,
and let the decision of the home be taloa upou it. Fur his
own part he could tot sae the possible good of discussions
which had no end, aim or object. (Hear, hear.) Is such
disourteras they were left to fight with shadows. (Hear,
hoar.) lie should deny that parliament coold or ought to
maks itself reeponsible for the state of prices. (Hear, lam.)
Tice noble lord opposite (Lord Stanley) soused to think the
immure of free trade had failed because the prim of wheat
were low. Now, he (Karl Orly) heard honourable gentle-
mes In the House of Commons, men of greater benevolence
than judgment, amongst the rest he believed the noble lord
himself when in the ministry, deny that the house should
interfere to relieve the hand-loom weavers, who complained
of distress and insufficient wages, and endeavour to show that
It was not within the power of parliament to determine rates
of wages. (Hear, hear.) In like manner he believed it was
not in the power of parliament to determine what should be
the rings of prices. Meat, hear.) He thought nothing had
occurred in this country caledated to shahs the views enter-
tenth on the great measures of free trade. (Hear, hear.)
Lord BEAUMONT conceived with his noble friend the
Earl of Malinesbury, in moving for these returns, Manse
they wen is this peculiar position that they should meads
the foreigner was willing to import grain into this matry
In groat quantities at consist loss or else the pretest low
lain. should be permanent. (Hear, hear.) They could
not imagine the foreigner would continue to import such ha-
wse quattitim, at certain loss; and if they believed that,
they should Pm to the 'Quinlan that the present was set
en exceptional etate of prim, but one that would costume
(Hear, hear.) On that account he thought the returni
would be useful, as by them would be seen which of the
two ewe was the trues one; and they would also knew freak
what countries and states the imports came. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of MALMBABURY having replied in a Sew
words, begged to ask the noble marquis opposite when be
thought it probable the returns could be bad ?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNIketated in reply that they
would be forthemMg
soorcaresible.
The returns as an
The Hake of RICHMOND gave notice that, on Friday
• he would present 40 petitions to their lordships
at free trade, and praying for a return to probes:
tioseaughtar, and " hear, hear.")
Earl PL URAL' TIES.
FOWLS wished to ask the noble marquis if it were
los!nention to suggest to the noble lord at the head of her
Majesty's government the expediency of introducing a clam
into the bill affecting the holding of benefices by deans,
which benefice, were more than three miles distant from
their cure of ends, In NM where the deans were heads of
Kilian