The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-24 00:00:00

PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE.

A meeting of landholders, tenant-farmers, and
others interested in agriculture in the county of York, was
held is the De Grey Rooms, York, yesterday.
The Earl of HaRnwOOD was called to the chair.
The noble CHAIRMAN, who was received with applause,
said that the present was a meeting of the landowners and
tenantdariners of the county, to take into consideration the
distressed state of agriculture in this county, and in England
generally. Six years ago he presided over a great meeting
in tots city, and be then stated that if freetrade were carried
a great deal of the b.d land of this country would be uncul-
tivated. This assertion was rapidly being brought to a pass.
TIM noble earl read lettere from L ird Faversham, Lord
Grande', end Sir Henry Boynton, expressive of their ap
prove' of the objects of the present meeting.
The Duke of CLEVELAND, who was received with
cheering, said, it was not denied that great and almost un-
paralelled distress existed among the tenant occupiers of
land. That this distress was not partial, and not confined
to a particular locality, but that it prevailed from one end of
the kingdom to the other, was also en indisputable sod un-
disputed fact. They (tge protestionists) declared that the
great distress and the low prices were caused by the cares-
sive and inordinate importation of foreign corn. (Cheers.)
The free-traders, on the other heed, said that was not the
cause, and referred to other periods of our agricultural his.
tory since the peace when, at various periods, distress had
existed ; and, as this had occurred when protection was at
its highest point, the free:radars asserted that the removal
of protection could not be the cause of the pre-
sent depression. The period of 1835 was frequently
referred to by the free-traders, and a comparison made
between that year and 1849. It was said that prices were
fully as low in 1835 as in 1849 ; and why should not the
same causes have operated to produse the same eistress ?
But it was clear to him that the causes of the distress
of these two years were diametrically opposed. He
would take the two years in each period, and would
begin with 1834 and 1835. Now, he would admit that
the average price of corn in 1835 was as low as in
1849; ,but what was the cause of the low price of
1835 ? Why, that the two seasons of 1834 and 1835 were the
best ever remembered. Never were there two more prolific
harvests than in 1834 and 1835, and so great was the abun-
dance that several farmers fed their pigs and cattle with
wheaten flour, a thing that bad n occurred before, and he
hoped would again. But the population in 1835 was
several millions less titanic 1849. Now, the s-ason of 1844
was a very bad one. The crop in many parts of England was
very thin, and it was very badly harvested. The yield was
' short, and oati-third was totally unfit to be made int. wheaten
flour. The crop et 1849 was more than an average crop,
bat he denied it was that superabundant crop that some
persons asserted. It wag, in fact, very little more than
an ge crop, taking it altogether. It could not
be then said' that the present prices were caused by
superabundance, or by anything, in feet, but an im-
mense and inordinate importation of corn. (Cheers.) What
had been the quantity of corn imported after the bad her
vest of 1848, and before the crop of 1849 The total amount
of all kinds of grain during the last nine months ending the
sth of September (and a gradual importation had been going
oa since that period, except during the last three weeks,
when the navigation had been suspended by the ice) was
9,870,8 a qrs.of grain all kinds. The quantity of wheat im-
ported was 3,821,292 en , and of wheaten flour 3,236,993
cwt. Was it possible to suppose that so great en importa-
tion as this could go on without exercising a very serious
effect upon prices at home And was it necessary to seek
any other cause of the prevailing distress? (Cheers.) He
i now came to the more serious question of what was to be
done ? They would naturally say, " Return to tome pro-
tective duty, as the only thing that can save us front im-
pending ruin." And so said he. (Loud cheers) But
would the legislature grant it ? If they asked aim for his
' real opinion, it was that, although he would recommend
them and the agriculturists of every other cowry to pe-
tition parliament, yet he was firmly convinced that no
alteration would be made in that fatal law of 1846.
He did all he could to oppose that measure.
(Cheers.) He spoke against it in Parliament, and toted
against it, but he was outvoted, and as it was the law
as a loyal subjea, so long as it continued upon the statute
book, he bowed with submission to the will of the Legisla-
ture. (Cheers.) But, though he said that there was nq pro-
bability that the House of Commons—for the House of Lords
was quite secondary in comparison in these things—would in
the present session, nor that the same party would in another
session repeal the law of 1846, yet he believed that when
another parliament came to be called they would take &very
dell few. He knew that if a dissolution took place
to-morrow several protectionist mei:there would take their
places on those very seats now occupied by free traders.
(Lead cheers.) The present parliament a bathed that there
was a great deal of distress among the tenant farmers, but
that it had only existed for °Le year, and they would say
that It did not proceed solely from the importation of trireme
grain. So they would declare that Ire, trade must have a
further trial, and that they must see matters much worse
lectors they could do anything. It would also be said that
the distress had not yet reached the landlords; but everyone
knew it to be impossible that the tenant farmer should go I
on suffering, and that the distress should net reach the land-
owners. It was absurd to expect a tenant with low priors to
farm very highly. Toe farmer did not, like many
landowner', farm for amusement, but for a profit, and
for his livelihood. (Cheers.) The noble duke adverted .0
the paper in Blackwood's' Maquoine, which proved that
precious to 1846 some highly-cultivated farms in the Lothiens
were farmed to a small profit, but now that protection was
gone these faring c old not be carried on upon the same eye.
tem, except at a low of several hundreds a year. (Hear.)
If high farming, then, would not do for the farmer when
prices were h,gh, depend upon it it would never do when
nor any future parliament would ever reverse the law of
1846. But how could that right hon. baronet say with cm
aptraiteced. his Were
lull convictioniuw l'ir Rarest
to e Peel,the neither In
a recentthe present
that a law which had born paw, d by one parlismont should
not be reversed by another? (Cheers.) H, (the noble duke)
very much feared that the present parliament would not
firmly of
therefore
i
opinion t ssoonerthey got another parliament the better. (Loud cheers.) His
would do so, and
grace concluded by neo, leg—
cere
epedai t
en that
parliament law, bat u t
wo h
ue was
" That the partial system of free trade at present in ope
, ration in this country is caucng • ruinous sacrifice of the
capital engaged in the cultivation of the land, snd prouuchig
severe dir eras amongst the tenant-farmers. their tradesm n
and labourers. and must, if pewees., d in, infliet similar in-
. jury on the other great branches of native industry.
Mr. MILNES (father of the hon. member for Ponteftset)
' seconded the resolution. Six years ag t, on the occasion al-
hatted to by the noble chairman, his voice had been hoard
in that hall on the question of the corn law. He saw then,
and he also saw now, that this question, although it had an
limmediate determination of evil to the agricultural interests
had behind this consequences still more momentous (cheers);
and that its certain effect was to change this countr) from

something she had been—this country with whose happiness
end greatness he for one was contented.
The resolution was curled unanimously.
Mr 0. DUNCOME, M. P. pr.,peeee
" That the earliest opportunity should be taken of bring-
ing the subject before perineum, and urging the necessity
for placing a moderate import duty on corn and all other
articles In the production or manwacture of which British
labour is largely employed."
Mr. LISTER seconded the resolution, which wu carried
with only one dissentient.
Mr. CAYLEY, M.P., proposed the third resolution:
" That the advantage of such a measure would be two-
fold, insomuch Is it would enable the heavily-taxed industry
of his kingdom to meet foreign competition on equitable
terms, and would also, by increasing the rev afford the
means of reduciog the duty on such sedan of general con-
sumption as do not interfere with the labour.market of this
country."
The hon. member said he was glad to find opinions rapidly
shingles respecting the object of their present meeting.
He bad met many_of his old whin friends there to-day.
To one he said, "oa, what you here ?" " Why," was
the reply, "it is becoming rather 'serious!" " Weal, you
here, too?" he exclaimed to another. '• Why, it's becoming
co joke!" (A laugh.) And so one by one, se the shoe
pinched, they were coming round.
Mr. FERRAND was received with deafening and pro-
tracted cheering. He said—We have bun told that we are
a set of madmen, but I think we have proved to-day that we
have method in our madness—that we have justice in our
cause, and a firm resoluTion 'o assert our rights. Our op-
ponents, on the other hand, have tried arguments and been
defeated; they have tried ridicule, and it hes recoiled on
their heads ; and they are now trying the last arguments
of a beaten faction, for they are resorting to bludgeons
and brickbats. We may be told that we are cowards
for not holding an open meeting to day ; but the reason
why wa du so is precisely because our arpuments are not
bludgeons, but common reason and common sense. They
(our opponents) are the men who, being defeated in argu-
ment, resort to physical force. How did the free-traders
treat the manufacturing operatives of Manchester ? They
got 1,500 Irishmen armed with bludgeons, and when the
tactory operatives went to St. Peter's .square to discuss the
Cornw and Factory Bill they set the Irish rabb!e upon them
and drove them nut of the squire. Now, let us °my hive a
good flag, a fair field, and ne favour in the town of Man-
chester, and I would not be afraid to meet the millowners
even there. (Cheers.) How were the corn laws repealed, I
en II ask you 1 Sir R. Peel, in his Temworth manifesto in
1811, said that the tanner ought to have teem 60s. to 664. a
quarter for his wheat, and he spoke the truth. Sir R. Peel
threw out the wide ministry upon that question ; he was
cionvisoed then that wheat could not be grown for lees, and
he stall remains of that opinion up to the present moment.
But no sooner was Sir R. Peel in power than the frectraders
went to him and told him, " if you don't repeal the corn laws
we will .top the mills, turn ow hands adrift, ace: burn every
house in the country." Bat Sir R. Peel stood firm. They
then, at their public meetings, threatened i.im with s Meet-
nation, if he did not repeal the corn law. The hint thrown
out at Sheffield was adopted by a halecrszsd Scott:llmm in
Landes, and his private secretary was assassinated under the
impression that it was Sir It. Peel himself. Deily the pest
brought anonymous letters threatening Lim with assassina-
tion. If we dare to ask for our rights, we are threatened
with another rebellion. Mr. Cobden, at Leeds, said this.
He knew the state of the menu'acturing districts. Why, the
cotton spinners of Lancashire are resting upon a eidetic%
and if it should explode they will be ruined. Who are now
sitting in conclave in Manchester?—the united delegates
from Lancashire and Yorkshire, who complain that the mill-
owoen have violated the Ten HOUtte. nil:, and are trea ling
the law under Men They have sat upon the justice
bench and decided the law against themselves. And the
work ng men hive told these millowners that if they
cannot have protection by act of parliament they will take
their affairs into their own hands. Are thew we lava to
fight for their oppressors, and to be marshalled into Mr.
Cobden's rebel army ? (Cheers.) Why, the first shot fired
from such ranks would be through his own skull. (Cheers
and laughter.) Why, parliament bad been obliged to step
in to prevent the women empler din mills from being beaten
with bludgeons, and to prevent children from being put into
tabeof water to rouse them from the torpor causea by ex-
cessive labour. Would the tethers of these children fight
with the millownen against the landed interest, whou motto
had always been " Len and let live ?" No; if aver use
heetraden muster their forces there will be a uggtd crew.
There will be Mr. CottonOcoeral Bright, at the head
of his peace Society, and Mr. Cotton-General Cobden,
at the head of his armed bludgeonmen from Stafford, Liu-
coin, and otter places. They shall have Sir Robert Pe<l as
commander-in-chief, mounted on his Tamwerth bull. Then
Sir Robert Peel will sly, "Cotton-General Cobden and
Cotton-Generel Bright, we have three courses to pursue.
One course, but to that I should decidedly object, is to
stud our ?round and fight our opponents. Ihe second
bourse, and to that I should also object, is to ley down our
arms and surrender ourselves; as prison.. rs of war.
The third course, and that I approve of, and
shall certainly adopt, is taking to our heels and running
away." (Much laughter.) Why I give Mr. Cobden fair
notice, after all his wretched bluster, that if 1 am one of the
phalanx, and catch him, I will not allow him to compound
for his existence, as he tells us he shall make us do, tor he
shall be hanged upon the first tree I come to. (Great
cheering and taught r.) And Cotton-General Bright, I also
give him notice, shall only ceupound for his existence by
performing the office of Jack Ketch for his friends in the
rebel army. (Immense cheering and laughter.) But Mr.
Cobden is nob' dy it he is not patted on the bock by men in
high places. Mr. Cobden says the manutaeture rs require to
assistance or protectim is their cotton trade. But look at
their advantages, to begin with. The cotton 'planare re-
quire little espial is their trade. Mr. Bright made an ad-
mission the other day in Manchester, for which I thank him.
He said that many of the cotton spinners in Luicashire
were once labourers. Now, if so, they must have com-
menced with very little capital. They have machinery
famish in Lancashire alone to supply the whole world.
They have one weaving shed in Manchester which turns out
3,090,000 yards of cotton every week. They have also
combing machines, into which wool is put in rough at one
end, and comes out ready for spinning at the ether.
Their power-looms have destroyed hundreds of poor hand-
loom weavers here, and thousands in Incite. Why, they are
assisted and protected by machinery. But, when the markets
are glut.*d, are they not also protected ? They all a meeting
,of toe Peace Society to discu s the present state of the
market. " Oh! " says oae," iet us stir up an opium war, and
insist upon the government opening the Chinese ports." Oar
of the most cruel, unjus:, and iniquitous ware in which we
were ever engeged was undertaken to open the ports of
China to the Lancashire cotton spinier. We have heard
Mr. Cobden Tattering all kinds of anathemas upon the
Emperor of Austria for his cruelty to the Magyars. Lot
neither the Russian nor the Austrieu army were ever
guilty of such cruelties as those comma led by Briti-h
troops upon the unoffenoing Chinese people. I read tile
letter signed " Whereat& ' the other day with amaze-
ment. I said " Can this be the Stuart Wortley who can-
vassed the West Riding in 1831, 1837, and ia 1841, as the
champion of the agricultural interest? (Cheers, sad a
voice—" He is a traitor!") Can this be the Stuart Wortley
who took for his text the Tamworth manifesto. and proved
that you must be protected—who went into parliament to
take his place as the representative of the West Riding amid
the cheers of the farmers and farm labourers, and who
moved the amendment to the address in opposition to the
Bs. duty, which was the means of turning oat tie whig
government ?" But there is another person to whom 1
will allude, viz., Mr. Sydney Herbert, who was an
honourable man until he became coutaminated by Sir it.
Peel. (Cheers.) He declared the last time that he appeared
before sir constituents—bacon being • cabinet =ruiner—
that he would be the last man to joie Sir It. Peel it he sup-
posed that he would betray the landed interest. He aid
join eim, anti assisted him in betraying them, and he is now
employed in transporting the wretched starving female vic-
tims of his own policy to the colonies. (Mr. Fecund re-
sumed his rest amid the same tumultuous cheering which
had greeted him on his appearance.)
Toe resolution was then put from the chair, and canled
unanimously.
Mr. J. G. SMYTH, Esq., 11. P., moved the adopti•n of
the fourth resolution, for the appointment of a coadr.ittee to
take all necessary steps for procuring *lguana,' to a petition
to parliament embodying the substeece of the resolutions
adopted by the meeting. The committee were also em-
powered to disseminate information on the subject at pro-
tection to British industry, and to receive urinal iptions with
this view. Mr. Smyth stated that there was one silversmith
in the city of York who had, within the last few months,
bought 1001. worth of silver cups and prizes front agricul-
turists, who were compelled by distress meet reluctantly to
ddedlitohneo
mitre honourably stioenm. u.
nirdeetthper eeeumentt
ing(pliahlretub.wl.lo.)ikthoHotAhpNeworteAhatllutordselytettiootal
oostaiotoot
to
the
chair.

A HINT TO MaDICAL MEN.—To THS EDITOR
OF THS bcirreaaN.—Sir,-1 beg to call your ic motion to a
dries of hardships we of the retail drug trade are oblig. d to
labour under, brought about unintentionally, through the
bid handwriting of many of our medical men—some"( them
the met eminent in the yrofession. I call it a hardship, be-
cause they might with a little care or patience very eutily
write a readable hand, instead of their present ulnae ming
'crannies. There are many of my old 'hornet*, who could
testify by their past experience to the sore grievances at-
tscheii to the trade. Hew frequently bas the perplexed
asaismnt (in order to keep the customer from suspeetin
the bare possibility of being poisoned by a fatal mistake)
to make a dive into the back shop, with the enigmatic+,
presc-iollun, and there consult others, or turn up
b ki and rack his brains for a solution of the riddle.
It was but to-day a receipt, wri•zen by an Edinburgh physi-
cian, came under my twice, and in it was a word that would
have bothered many a decipherer of Egyptian hiereglyphica
I believe it would have puzzled the eminent gentleman
himself to make out its meaning. Then, again, tie poor
....want has either to submit to the black looks of his
mast. r or take his discharge, with the stwma of a lazy,
ignorant usistant ; when in reality it is through the horrid,
uniatelligtble scribble of the doctors that his disgrace is
brought about. Medical men expect every assistant to be
competent to make up their prescript one, and would wish
them 41.0 to do it carefully, as they are writ aware the pa-
w n•'.. life frequently depenis upon the assistant'.
. accuracy;
—eiveanmi'nago.,PArODrelteß rent'.
and vet they send forth rev.ry day a handwriting that a
Leed omtf.
s crowded audience, who were much intero4cil wi'h the
professor', details of the horrors of slavery, and its influence
ld
thliseahla'rug'euechl Ooob'lririL,mUoBf dur.rieiv;Zndsapel,'cll'laTeckofnriasrlsa-vr:aryil: item
0 booby
s c
1•8 litihn6""ol Ntew: Su bMa 1T11.17
u, on education in the southern states. At the concluaien of
th• lecture a resolution was carried expressive of the thanks
of the meeting to Professor Mahan.

lAA owning a publte meeting took pima at dm
Leedom Coffee-boner, Ludgate-h 11, foe the pawpaws of ge-
plante/ the mints and principles of the Notional Conesey
Het.ern A.. e i ,isen.
Ur. . UENNOZ 11, president of the aseociatims, took the
Ask, end said it was one of the advantages of this emetry
that stray UM and every emaciation of VIM were
to is lanatiall like the present with kindness and osesfinek,
SON rivals/1y when they mime forward to propose alum
eerie toldolt the nifferines of mankind might be amello-
rated. sad the tatemses of all asses of the foommarof
geseta4 barons:O. It WAS with the view Of
such musses ae these that the prwent a, societies Li=
established ; he was quite sore. that in a very few lean
purer priWh ancio.l would be
present
ten throughout the em-
.ate et be r might the prt tending of Memo-
merec of this country, •rorm would ere bog arisewahmegew
monetary system were placed moos a een sad permaavat
belie. TM boa. plaints* this went ea to contend WM
all panics were tole result of fear and disinter, rather Mae of
neeessim. Tie last pane was gaped by confidence Why
natured, th:ugh the fact misted. The scarcity of rid re-
mained, though Ike fever elude/sod. Too run upon the
Bank of Eosins.' bad demised it. bullion to such an extent,
that there nm Jan oily 700.0001. in the banking depart-
ment to meet 14,000.0001. of deposits. The difficulty in
which the Bank was thin Owed was only removed ley a
letter from the Treasury releasing it from its onligatioa to
circulate mess barked by and based upon gold. No sooner
was ibis step taken by government, than the money which
had bees boardea by country bukars returned to the Bank
of Englond, and cmfidence was once more restored, and
rosperi'y Divot Dilicultree such as he had described arose
from a eieScidery of gold, and the present society had
been eitablehed for the purpose of showing the clanger
of having too much gold. They had pressed upon the go-
vernment the ily for an inquiry into this imports
question, and the House of Comm ins appointed a select coos'
mutter, cinsisting of the friends of bullionism. Though It
wen a puked entrain.* they were only able to prevent the
bill of 1841 being rejected by • enjority of 2. While, by a
committee of the ROW of Lords, it was nnequivocdly con-
demned, end a tarot was drawn up showing that bills of
exchange payable on demand bait greatly aggravated the
dieters, of the c ninny. (Hear.) In his opinion nothing
more hallow or dreeptive had ever been brought before a
reasoned* eornecunity than the system of protection by
avoids Mr. Darnell prop-Awl that a sinking fund of five
millions shauld be raised (or the purpose of en.bling land-
lords to limo a money to improve their land. By his plan
bc pretended to be able to remove ell the distrees.s by
which the farmers were surrounded. He would alleviate
distress by imposing more times! They had heard of wi.
raids and bar equine changing things into gold by the ma-
gic of th.ir w ends, but h• thought Mr. Disraeli was the
great necrom.ncer of the age. What the country wanted
was a charge in the present system of currency,
and it was the duty of government to find a
proper and effect it means of producing this change. This
association was wit originated for any political purpose ;
they desired only to promote the general progress of civili•
anion and the general advanc mint at the people. By car
Tying out their objects they believed that trade would be
fostered Aid pencil to its utmost legitimate extent, whilst
inorlinatespecalotion would be suppressed, or at all events
greatly diminished.
tee. JONATHAN DUNCAN, secretary to the associa-
tion, then addressed the meeting, contending than money
ought not to possess an intrinsic value in this country ; that
taking the whcle duration of this monarchy they had osly
used gold as money for a very limited period,
Ind that during that p rind they had incurred the most
tremendous en.rcitutile disasters; whereas, when they re
lessen themselves from the foolish superstition, they had
enjoyed un':ounded prosperity. The beet means of avert-
ing the engin to which the present system of currency
gave rise wendl be to adopt the principles of this aucciatioo,
and allow fro. wade in money to be a nectuary consequence
of free trade in commodities.
The CHAIRMAN then announced that, at tie doe of
the evening, gentlemen would be in attendance to receive
subscriptiors from such persons as might be disposed to con-
tribute to their funds.
• Mr. TWELLd and other gentlemen having addressed the
m--nips in farlierance of the object of the association,
a nits of thanks ass pawl to the chairman, and the
naming separated.