The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-19 00:00:00

TUE- BRITISH PRESS.

free track to the article of corn. He thought Mlnietem were
equally pledged. Timm who voted for the silk question had
pledged themselves to that line of policy wnich it was his wish to
apply to the corn trade. Ile vault, ask, how could these persons
now turn round and say, we have given sanction to the principle in
that instance. but we will not extend it to the corn trade? Ile was
Ilernvinced that the extension of the principle would be attended
;midi great advantages to the country. Foregoer' would lie inthaced
s follow the Literal example of this country, and the principle of
tociprocity would be perfectly established. It they looked to the
*rim of reciprocity, as now coothlisheil, they would find it was
confined to one or two trades. That wee not the system of recipro-
city which he approved, and which he wee anoint'. to see establish-
ed. Hedid not wish tome that principle of reciprocity adopted which
Ilowed from a treaty of commerce, hut that which sprung from true
wlnciples of free trade. in consequence of the system this country
hid 'mowed, loreigners had been obliged to enact restrictive laws.
Spain anti Portugal had passed prehibitoty laws. Ile could not cep.
prove of it partial adoption of the principles of free trade. It was
quite clear, that it they adopted the principles of free trade iu Eng.
land, foreigners would be induced to follow their example. There
was no subject in which foreigners were more interested than in that
question The Corn Laws of 1815 had inflicted iocalculahle injury
upon Poland, Flanders. and America. (Hear, hear.) Those laws
had done snore mischief and injury to those countries than
the antisocial policy of Bonaparte. (Hear, hear.) He stated
that opinion from the authority of a perms who had been
sent out by this country, and had travelled through those coup.
tries for the purpose of procuring infermatior, and who had evi-
dently availed himself of every means of arriving at a knowledge of
the situation of those countries. It was extraordinary that they
should profess to carry the principles of free trade into effect, and
' Mt had indicted more injury than had been done by the Berlin and
ilan decrees. lie would establish that, by reference to the au-
thority to which he had before referred, and as the report of Mr.
Jacobs, (who was the individual to whom he alluded,) was not in
the.hande of Honourable Members. he would read an extract from
that report which bore upon the subject. Ile regretted the report
' was not in the possession of Honourable Gentlemen, and if he could
have pompon& his motion until that report was printed, he would
moat willingly have done so. But he could not defer it any longer.
The find passage to which he emultbrefer teem one which related to
the state of agriculture in PoWsnA, The Horiourahle Gentleman
then proceedild to read a pass fermi the report, which bad been
the result of Mr. Jacobs's observation, in Poland last summer. It
stated that Mr. Jacobs had hefted stalhlaints from the farmers and
landed proprietors of being in a Male of dieter's inconsistent with
the value of their property. He said that Mr. Jacobs had an oppor-
tunity of knowing the sentiments of them persons generally, from
the route he had taken. He had travelled through Dentine, %Var.
saw and Cracow, to France. He had heard complaints from agri•
culturlsts and corn merchants. The line of conduct which had
been pursued for the Imo three years proead these complaints were
just. He would read another extract from the same report, to chew
that he wan borne nut by the observations of Mr. Jacobs in the
view he had taken of the subject, and that he was supported by
that report in saying that the restrictive enactments of this country
had been injurious to those nations on the continent to which he
had before adverted. The Honourable3lember then mad the pas-
sage alluded to, which stated this there had been a falling ()filo the
produce of corn, for those who possessed capital found it their inte-
rest, in consequence of the decreased demand for corn, to apply their
lands to pasture, and to devote their capital to the feeding of sheep ;
the farmer had declined to cultivate corn. There was an instance
of one nobleman who cultivated an estate of 26,000 acres in the
production of wheat, who in consequence of the ports being closed
turned his property to immure and to the production of tine wool.
The Hon. Member mid, that mctwding to Mr. Jacobs the rent of
land in Poland was also evidence dr the distress which prevailed. '
The tenants of the crown lauds who paid a higher rent, because
they were not subject to so much taxation on their lands, and who
paid from 113 d. to 141. per acre, were in arrears, and unable to pay
their rents. There was one instance of a person who held 700.0110
acres (Aland at an annual rent of 838/., who in consequence of the de-
pression of prices lost his property, and this property was sub-
sequently taken by the same tenant at a reduced rent of 1701. per
annum, Ile was an advocate for extending the principle of free
trade to corn, because he thought it world be advantageous to the
country. The supply of fond to the people was of consequence,
and worth the attention of Ministers. He advocated the measure
us bearing on the principle of free trade. That principle had been
favourable to the country ; frotn 1773 to 1815 there was a free
trade ; during that period core was at 2a. 6.1. per quarter. If
Gentlemen would refbr to the wen laws they would find that the
effect of the restrictive laws were isjurittua. In 'the year 1791 the
duty was no more than 61, because In consequence of the low
prices the higher duty was never paid. Ile was satisfied 2s. hid. per
quarter was paid ; the law was changed in 11304, when the highest
price was 13s. Itiiien it came to that, importation WWI allowed :
whenever there was a free trade it was advantageous to the
country. Ile was convinced there was no period at which larger
properties were accumulated than when there was a free trade in
Corn. It was said that the effect of these laws would be to throw
the poor land nut of cultivation. That objection could not be sus-
tained. for those lauds were in cultivation when the country had
a free trade. There was a potqa to which he had to draw their at-
tention, which he confessed he approached with considerable reluc-
tance, which was that the Corn Laws not only injured their foreign
trade in corn, but gave a blow to the internal trade of the country
in that article. If the present system condoned, he should assert
what he ha 4 said in that Hausa *Ole year 1823. that at some period
—he would not say when. (Cheering.) If Hon. Gentlenoin
would allow him to finish his sentence, they would not find occasion
fur those cheers. If that system continued, a dearth he felt confi-
dent would be the consequence, at some period which he could not
riot out. In 1823 he thought it would have occurred sooner.
(here should be a stock of con for three years In store. There
should be twelve millions of quarters, one million for seed. That
stock might be reduced ; but them should be an average stock of
three millions for each year. If such a plan was adopted it would
prevent any such evil, by making a provision, and thus anticipating
a demand. The corn dealers would buy in corn when it was cheap,
store it, and of course sell it at an improved price. Those were the
view, so eloquently described by Adam Smith, In his Wealth of
Notions. The prices during the agricultural distress fell consider.
ably. In the year 1817 the price wheat was 84s. per quarter; in
11121, it was 54.. 2d. ; in 1822, t was 43'.. 3d. ; the price of corn
ig
continued falling fur theme year., and the farmers suffered constant
losses front the year 1822 to the present period. The Impression
made on his mind was, that there was a necessity for a charge. Ile
never conceived—the farmers nevet conceived, that Ministers would
establish a tree trade without extending the principle to corn. The
present system was the cause of great discrepancies. It was quite
evident that if English corn was sold at 50a. or 60s. per quarter, the
corn-merchant would rather speculate in foreign corn, which was
sold at 21.15. or 30s. per qu trter, in contemplation of a change in the
law, so that the foreign trade in corn would not only be injured,
but the internal trade of the country in that article ; or a period may
come when they would not have sufficient food Mr the people.ffe '
did not mean to predict when that time might come ; tt would not
appear ridiculous if they attended to the statements of the corn.
dealers. He would not venture to define the time it might happen.
He hoped they might have a productive harvest next year. It they
were blessed with a productive crellt. he would not fear such a cala.
mitt' ; but to be in such a position as to fear such an evil as a dearth
was painful—it was living from hand to month. They were them-
fore in his opinion in great peril. Every year they passed without
making a change in the present system, they added an additional
calamity to the country. It tam morally impossible to perseverein
such a system without doing a serious injury to foreign countries.
Ile thought they would have to regret the laws of 1815, which were
as absurd as were ever propounded to a legislative assembly. '
If they were blessed with abultlant season.' they might avert
the dangers which he had adverted to; but nothing but a complete
change of the laws could produce permanent good. He should
pass many topics to which he hail adverted last Session. If they
altered the Corn Laws, when the price was 555. the duty should be
Iffs. ; when from 555. to 50a. it should be 15a. ; front 505. to 451. it
should be 235. ; and when from 45a to 40s. it should be 25a. In
consequence of the system which had been pursued, Holland and
France had been obliged in sell-defence to pasalaws similar to those
passed in this country. It appeared to be thought that the effect of
the admission of foreign corn would be to deluge, to half feed Eng.
land with it, and that a most tremendous change would be the
result. He, however, would show by experience and tertian returns
that their was no sufficient reason Qtr imagining this. It would
be found, too, that this opinion, teas Strengthened by the ieforma.
Mion which 31e. Jacobs had Ems Astisttelt to obtain. Ile would
ilurge from a document which contained the average prices of corn
e years 1890 to 11120 inclusive, during which there had been no
less than five years of great importation, in consequence of the
scarcity. They were 1800, 1801, 111111, 11117, and 18111; during
width years the prices bud risen to an eetraordmary height :
a. d.
In 1801 the average prices had been 110 5 per quarter.
In 1891 . - 115 11
Ice 1810 - . 103 3
In 11117 . - - 94 0
In 1818 - - - 83 0
In those years, in consequence of the great scarcity, corn had
been drawn from all possible quarters. The amount of imports
had hero—
in 11100 - . . . 1,263,771 qrs.
1301 - . • - 1,424.241
1810 - . ' 1,439.615
.
1817 . . . 1,030,829
1418 - - . 1,586.030

The amount imported during those five years 6,744,4811
The whole amount imported during the whole twenty years, frnin
11100 to 1820, lied been 12.577,022 tourer*, of which more than
one-hall has been imported during the Wie years of scarcity above
stated, anti at a time when the high prices had drawn every portion
of corn from all parts of Europe and America where it could
have been procured. The average quantity of corn imported
during each year of those twenty years bad been 698,208 quar-
ters, anti the average price of those years Ws. lid, Since it was
evident that poorer countries must export corn to the richer
ones, he would take from official documents the amount of corn
annually exported from some of the former countries to this country.
Annual average imported from 1800 to 1820:
R - ussia - . 66,373qm
Sweden . - - - 12,273
Prussia, including Pobind - 204.6117
Centrality . . . 117,092
United Stata - .. - 87,376
l'Anatia . - - . 23,040
Holland - . - 40,1153
Flanders - . - - 29.530
France .. - . - 23,071
Denmark and Norway . - 18,90

There was another account of the exports of wheat from the porta
Dantzic and Elbing during nearly two centuries.
Annual export nt wheat from DaMseic and F:lhing :
From 1651 to 1675 . 61.775 qrs.
1676 to 1700 . 124.1197
17111 to 1725 . . 59.795
1726 to 1750 - - . 811.624
1751 to 1775 - . 141.080
1776 to 1600 - - 150 299 -
11101 to 1025 - - 200.3:10
__

The annual amount of export during the whole period, was 215.307
quarters of bread corn, sent front Dantzic and Elhing, where no
extraordinary dstnaltd had been caused. The annual average of
the exports of %Vilest and Dye. front the same Ports, fur each five'
years sipce 1780, was as follows :
For 5 years from 1791 to 17911 2110,131
For 3 years from 17146 to 11101 409.5101
For 6 years from 1800 to 1825 . 5.111 3115
And for 5 years front 11120 to 1823 - 83,513
The Cause of that difference was because where a demand was
crested from England, the county throughout furnished the moat
extenaive supplies. Corn was then brought from Hungary and
Croatia; the latter „ent its produce by water. ,The Vistula was
covered with bsrke, conveying corn to the port from Bohemia, Si-
lesia, and all the districts on its banks. The high prl&a exipted,
and the navigable rivers afforded factlities. From those MUtns it
would appear that if Foreign Corn should be imported into this
country, there was not any reason to apprehend that a greater
quantity could be imported while the price was at from 55., to 50s.
than about 400,000 quarters, and even if the price should be raised
higher there could not be note thus 500,000 imported, a small
quantity when compared with the consumption of this country,
which amounted to 13,000,000 quarters annually. From the
qoantity which might be imported there was therefore no cause
for alarm, and even the prices could not cause any apprehension,
as the prices at Warsaw prom'. From thelexisting system, if it
was continued, a derangement of the trade would necessarily re.
stilt ; It was necessary for the improve rent of the trade of
England that markets should be found for her commodities.
Why should not she find s market for those of other nations P
It could not be injurious to the landholders, for it corn
did not pay they could cultivate rape, Has, Or hemp.
If America. Russia, or other countries declared they would not
take soy of the produce, the supplies would be letraenyd, to meet
the demand. In the case of corn it was different, mute time be-
ing necessary to stop the production. Ale Jacobs hid made •
calculation of the price for which Polish corn could be brought
into the English markets; he did not mean the interior species
of corn produced In sonic of the maritime provinces of Prussia.
and of which there was a considerable consumption in the towns of
their neighbourhood, and which might, according to the estintatia,
re sold for 435., but the Polish wheat, of good quality, which
would coat 18a. per quarter on importation into the port of London.
The estimate of Warsaw wheat was—
Cost of Wheat at Warsaw . . . -211 s. N. per Qr.
Conveyance in boats, loading,and stowing Os. 6th.
Freight to Dantzic . . tss. Od.
Loss by pilfering and damage - . 3.. 4.11.
Expense In drying and warehousing - 2s. 0,1.
Profit and commission in Dantzic - Is. tkl.
Freight to London . - . - IM. I.ld.

Amount on arriving in the English market 10s. Od.
One of those items required explaining, he meant that of pilfering
end damage. The conveyance of the wheat on the Vistula wits et-
fected in boats without covering, and of such construction that they
gut 'broken after • voyage. (here was therefore pilfering, and
much damage done to the wheat by its being exposed to rain and
wet. A large item was thereliire made Mr this loss, and the
amount of price on reaching the English markets was 48s. The
price of the best wheat from Cracow was somewhat lower. The
estimate was as follows :
Cost of wheat at Cracow . 425. 6,1. per qr.
Conveyance by boats, and loading Os. 6d.
Freight to Dastzic - . 7s. 6d.
Loss by pilfering and damage - 3N. 6d.
Expense at Ihntzic - . 2s. Od.
Profit on commirts'on . . h. 6d.
Freight to London .. . fis. Od.

45R. fid.
The expenses of the freight to London. at present effected in Baltic
vessels, might be lessened by their carrying corn in English vessels,
where the damage done to the grain would be much less. He would
proceed to read from Mr. Jacobs's report his recommendation for
imposing a small duty of ten or twelve shillings per quarter on to-
reign corn, in order to place that corn on an equality with the pro-
duce of this country. The recommendation was et the close of his
report. Mr. Jacobs had been sent out by the Lords of the Tree-
Fury, for the special purpose of investigating the subject fully, and
of making a report thereon.
" If a duty in this country of 10s. or 12s. per quarter was im-
posed, it would not allow of ;tech a profit, on the supposition of
the price being from 60 to 64, as to induce very peat exertion to
increase cultivation in the bordering districts on the Vistula.
The chance of a rise occasioned by war, or by a winter so severe
as to injure vegetation, or by a rainy season, might induce those
of a speculative turn to increase their growth of wheat, but those
who have that turn, and who have the means of indulging st, are
so few, that they would produce no sensible increase in the general
surplus.
" I see no reason to believe, that with such a duty as I have
mentioned for England, and a price from 60.. to 64,. and with some
similar regulation in France, that the surplus corn produced it;
Poland, including all the countries near enough to the Vistula, to
send their corn to that atream, would materially increase a common
season, or very much, if at all exceed, the average produce of that
country; the greater part of this might probably be wheat, and it
the duty were alike on all the qualities of that grain, none would
be sent here but that part which is the driest, heaviest, and whitest.
The inferior descriptions would not pay for inipurtation unless the
average in England was much more than 645."
This then was the opinion—and it was opinion alone that could be
given on this subject—of an individual who had come to these con-
clusions after the most assiduous attention, and the greatest possible
research. It was the opinion, too, of an individual who, in 1814,
published a work in favour of the corn laws. and who, in his testi-
mony before the Committee, formed in 1321, stated it to he his
conviction that the result would be essentially different. He had
considered the Rtibject deeply and fully, and he found the results
differed from what he had originally supposed them. It was there-
fore he (Mr. Whitmore) would say that they were entitled to have
some weight attached to them. The House was bound to place
considerable reliance on this individual's statements : and if they
were found true, it was their decided duty at this moment to put an
end to the system at present in existence. Why they should not
do so there was no reason to imagine. The individual before re.
leered to was of opinion if they could get corn to the average price
of Ms. there was no agriculturist in the whole world who would
not regard the situation of an agriculturist and land proprietors as
most enviable. looking at the agriculturists; with respect to the
profits on agriculture in this country, who would have reason to
complain ? The land proprietors considered their interest would
be most affected : but if they got corn at as., or the better • its at
five or ten shillinge a quarter beyond that, though they should re.
eeive a lower rate of rent then at present, was it not clear as the
prices declined, they would, in common with others, derive ad-
vantage from it ? If they received high rent, they must have at
the same time high prices ; and they might be said, under the pre.
sent system, to be only receiving with the right hand what they had
to pay sway with the left. If they looked fairly to the result ; if
they referred to the balance sheet, they would find little difference
existing. The prices of labour were dependant or. those of bread ;
anti if therefore they valued the existence of the ;prosperity of the
county, he implored them to reflect tin the instability ti;" the present
system. Whether they considered the advantages which would be
derived by the manufacturing districts from a reduced price of corn,
or the moral effect which it would have ; in every way that they
looked at the question, it was one of the greatest importance.
Those who were opposed to the reduced prices, should consider
whether their objections were of such a, nature as to balance the
evils of a most frightful magnitude, which must result from high
prices. lie feared he had stated imperfectly the view he hail of the
question. (Hear, hear.) The reason of his having introduced the
subject during this Session, and the reason also why he might
have dwelt longer on it than the House would deem eitesosbte, was
becaaesrit was a question on which he hod deep feeling. Ile could
sot say the mune Ministers would pursue t but whatever it might
be, so long as he had a scat in that House, so long would he con-
tinue his endeavours to prevail on Government to take this most
important subject into consideration. If they did not place the
trade of corn on the same free principle which characterised other
trade, they would at one time be subject to all the horrors of
dearth, and at another the severest possible agricultural distress.
If they pursued this system of extravagant rents, the taxes, tithes.
inc poor-rates, must be given up. Ile implored every man who
had the good of his country at heart, who was interested in its com-
mercial, manufacturing or agricultural prosperity, to give title
subject a consideration proportionate to its importance ; and if after
taking a fair and impartial view of It, they did not come to an
opinion opposed to the system now existing, they must be dif-
ferently constituted from him (Mr. Whitmore). lie could not, in
fart, believe that a person possessing common sense, or judgment,
nr feeling, or even honesty, could come to a different conclusion.
He should conclude with moving, that the House should resolve
Itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into, its con-
sideration the corn laws. The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst
loud cheering. •
Mr.PHILLIPS said he thought there was strong reason why'the
doctrine of free trade should be applied to corn rather than any
other article of consumption. Those which contributed to our
luxuries might be entirely dispensed with, hut wheat was a neces.
sary of lift. lie would even go further. The high price of a ma.
nufactured commodity might exist fora long time without produc-
ing any great effect on the people,. but the high price of corn was
felt by all el . Immediately. One of the arguments used was,
that agriculturists were liable to heavy taxation. But were they
the only bodies so liable? lie apprehended not. The continer.
cial world had to pay stamp &vies, rates of insttrance, and
were subjected to other burdens that did not at all press on the
agricultural classes. It was said that a greater quantity of labour
was employed by the agricultural interest by the manufacturing;
and when this statement was originally made he was led away by
it : but lie had since come to a different conclusion and he should
select a few facts to illustrate his view of the subject. The Ho-
tiourahle Member for Cumberland (Mr. Curwen) had paid great
attention to this subject ; and according to his calculations, the la-
bour employed in agriculture amounted to 20 or 25 per cent, Now,
to speak in round numbers, the manufacture of cotton was to the
amount of 24.000.000(. The raw materials cost 6,000,000, out of
.14,000,1100/. The expense of dying, clearing, and bleaching, and
the wear and tear of the machinery, and the interest on the capital

tot,,tir ployed in the
employed 4.000.0811m0re, which, with the former, made 141 ati.ool.g.
The remaining 10,010.0001 „theretore, went to the laliottrempin,ed
mahe
nufacture faancut rrilret of fre• It
cotton aarinpt enaurne; 'di .t ante :11h an. 241 to GO per cent. The
great object of I, gislation. however, was to provir!e lood end cloth.
log tote tin little labour Ito possible. A ccorthog to the statement he
had joint made. there were 14 101.0001, paid to the labourer, st,,,
supposing out of this, 4 OM WM went in purchasiog furpiture sod
other menden, there were ID 000.11001 expended in fond, not at which
',MOAN. went as a tax for the advantage or tit- landed interest
What he had skied on the subrect wan perlecily correct. It ties
mo true, howeeer Honourable fientlesnen may laugh, that 21i O,il.
lioos were found necessary in fact to hr paid by the rest of theme).
',White tor the protection of the agricultural interert„.
eleedly of opinion, that those p tarots whose prejudices booed them
to the continuance of the existing restrictive system, considerably
exaggerated the ill effects which they apprehended must result from
any alteration that would approximate to a Lee trade. On the
other hand, he believed that those who advocated thecontrarp
trine, would not find their sanguine expectation,' realised to tl)egg,,
tent nn which they calculated. Aggravation of c0n5eqh,,,,,,,,
as natural to the one prmaion as to the other, and he felt corittineZ
when the system should be adoprrd, that the experio•eat sixad
prove- that the hopes of the Imre de-irons
•-•-•1 the morrow/ilia, bet•efits to hut Vnvut, it ,0... t
• be
fears of the when. who abhorred the nitration, Mitt.
ger. He recollected when he asked Air. Jstrob 14i , •

iuthority on the subject) that gentleman rrtentm.,ed tL
tural system on the Contim nt uecupiati four-hhtu

,
tion, and that in England hair the people emote
cultural occupation., lie (M r. Phillips) ,hough,
tion should be reduced, and he beiieved that • • ' -
third of the people of England won cretet re-a , .
meets. He would then ask, why shovel t not
to compete-with the Continent when the CUlCtibe
was so much in her favour. On this pone to , • •
curacy as possible, he had, in the year 11114 rev. . .
„;
the poor rates in the different monies of Enolaeo ,
now mean to contend for the initlUb:lity of lath 7 j ,f 1
ground.mark for fronting a entree. derision— Ifa die
was aware that they were not certain test. foe
tll3l state of the fact, but torn tee, afforded sometesiajaeo. l
matinee, the retoros on the occasion to rl.Leh !is hie atter,: ;„;,,
40. in Lancashire. whale at die &sane gm. they anaoOtned to no, a
Susses. Thuetwae, howeiere s chs hi "pink.
thin subjel Ha a gratifying; na
• a a
Sated in•the:Ressione of 11114.46. peel, ..tecl . .
Mend. Mr. Horner, remarked the di tom,
wit
House experienced in procuring a pandit rlaer roan, arguments
which they thought proper to advance on the quatoffm. But the
times in that motet were rough changed for thelettee, At
the
former period people thought that no man was competent to mom
his sentiment& on any measures' connected with the Corn Laws,
unless he possetwed landed property. Letterly, however, amu
was :flowed to judge of the tendency of those laws without the ne.
cesetty of that quelification originally deemed indispensible to a
due uederetanding of the subject. He was himseit a landed pro.
prieter, end must therefore be supposed to be alive to any real dart.
gent which threatened the destruction of the agricultural interest;
but so little did he apprehend any results of that description to
occur, thai he hesitated not to expects his onnviction, that an
classes of the community would derive great advantages from an
aperoximation of the Corn Laws to the system of tree ;rade. It
was the nature of the pewees that the henefi s pf such e liberal spa.
tem shoold diffuse thentselsee through all branches of the countsy.
The merchant, the mechanic, and the agriettf urnt, must all even.
tunny participate in the effects of tort prosperity. which in the
first instance might appear to be pecelier to an individual class. If
the mercatile wealth were increased, the process 'night cause a
shock to the agricultural department ; but that wealth would spread
and produae an augmentation of Ills mtpulatioe, which in its turn
would promote the agricultural interest. At the present period
land is considered in many parts of the country to he too valuable
except fur the purpose of cultivation ; but it there wan an sp.
proximation in the Corn Laws to the free trade system, the tones
land would he coeverted to meadows in numerous places An
adoption of the liberal principles which had hen acted on in other
respects, would prevent those injurious fluctuations which woo
deprecated as so injurious to the prosperity of the country. If that
mode were adopted there would be no increase of prices on the
Continent, which would be assimilated to England. That would
also produce an end of those invidious Peelings and bickere(ps,
which, under the operation of the restrictions which prevailed
enlist's; the agricultural and the other classes of the commernty.
There would likewise be a great improvement thereby effected in the
foreign commerce of the country. Ile hoped that the motion of
his Ilintourable Friend (Mr. Whitmore) would meet with the ap.
prove! of the House; but if the contrary should occur, he trusted
that the Right Honourable Member (Mr. fluskisson) wmild re-
deem next Parliament the pledge which he had given last Session.
of extending the system of tree trade to the Corn Laws. He
would with great pleasure second the motion which had been made,
though it did not go *0 far as he desired. lie was a.,xiocathat the
averages should be Known, and he also wished that there should be
a protecting duty of 10s. On this point he had compiled a calculi.
tion, which he had compared with that of Mr. Tooke and of Mr.
Blake--indeed, with the latter gentleman he had gone over ho
items. Both of the gentlemen whoa he had just named coincided
in the result of their calculations, though they hail been taken
without consultation. They agreed that 7s• 6J. duty would be
sufficient to competheare the egricolturist for the land lax, the poor
rates, and all other grievances which were alleged so oppress the
landed interest. He thought Ills. would be an adequate remunera.
lion, but he was not unwilling to enlarge that animate a little, if it
was deemed requisite, to meet the opinions of the House. for if s
mistake were made on the occasion, it would be better that it should
lie on the protecting than on the other side.
Mr. lILISKISSON said thee in addressing himself to the notice
of the House, he felt great difficulty in following the lion. Mover
and Seconder of the motion. He did not indeed rise for the purpose
of going through the detaile which the Hon. Member fur Bridgnorth
' (Mr. Whitmore) hail given to the House. He did not, however,
mean to say that the points on which that Hon. Member had
spoken were not of great importance and ably treated. However,
wi-h every feeling of' respect for the manner in which the subject
had been discussed, he felt it hie duty, at the present period, to
rise, not for the purpose of debating the matters introduced, how.
ever important. His object was to prevent the House from engag-
ing in the discussion (hear, hear,) because the discussion at that
moment could only tend to promote difficulty and inconvenience.
(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Seconder of the motion alleged that dun
ring the last Session, he (Mr. Hnskisaon) had promised to extend
the system of tree trade to the Corn Laws. He was surprised that
such an 'meetly' should be made, for since the opening of the pre•
sent Session he thought there was an understanding at both sides
of the House (murmur!' of dissent ) that on great and important
questions there should not be any discussion. (Hear, hear) He
would repeat, that such was the understanding and the feeling on
which it was founded was a regard the public convenience and the
circumstatfees by which the country was involved. It was there-
fore deemed proper that all such questions should be left in a kind
of abeyance until a new Parliament should be assembled. Ile re.
collected that the understanding originated with the opposite side
of the House. An honourable Member, from that part, on the
first or second night of the present Session, said, on the post-
ponement of a motion, that it was not a fit time for its introduc-
tion. stud the Right Honourable Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in
conformity with the principle which was thus suggested, said that
it was not intended that the question of the Corn Laws should be
discussed during the present present session. He (Mr. Huskis.
son) therefore supposed that the subject would not be introduced
during the present session, and he did not intend to discuss the
various topics which were introduced to the atteution of the House
in the speech of the Hon. Member for Bridgenorth. Thee was
one argument which had been urged by that lion. Gentleman,
which, it' he would allow the expression, he (Mr. flualrisson)
would designate as exhibiting more of refinement than of eolidity.
The Hon. Member asserted that the expectation held eat by the
pledge given in the last session prevented the usual speculations in
corn, which was a matter of great injury. Now, after the intlinno
thins given in the coinmeneement of the session, it would be ne-
oteeissaterrsYoTretae thancethee erieLbaurureassmou
tchnetalurtfiturntheeniCe'otr_
in the session of 1132 n. If the dealers in corn were precluded by
such a amp from purewevile- the usual crime, at apPeared
to him that they were refitting too much. There was CO
subject more difficult and momentous to
the present period than that of the Corn Laws beeaus it con-
nected itself with the most important part of the community, a
class of people which must be considered of great consequence e!
ntheTpruomde promise nude
in
possessing property in the soil of the country. Bet when he said
t
it wan a eilfieult and momentous question he (lid not forget that
there were chang, effected in the country by the introdoctio of
the aysteen of foe trade. His lion. Friend opposite had admitted
that the alteration thus effected had caused a great dittareate in the
go through with at
present, compared with the preceding periods. It should be con-
sidered that at the present period of the Sessions it was no oily
matter to apjust the compensation and protenion which should be
extended to thoa persons who might be presumed to suffer by _
immediate adoption of the filmset system in respect to the Corn,ulaiu
thee
lie had no hesitation in saying, as he had mid elsewhere, at
was his opinion that the system of restriction was of vicious import.
(Hear, hear.) He said that they ought to retrace their steps, and
he thought such proceedings would be beneficial not only to tilt. .
who objected to the continuance of the restriction, hut also to, ne
agricultural community ; but some conerderalion should be given
to the auddeo introduction of any measure whirls tended to alter theu
nature of int umbrances on law, and of lessee and such Wite be
were of a permanent kind. Otherwise much mischief' would _
produced. Those general reasons were sufficient to caunettl
matter to be deferred. He wished to advert to an arguenht .n u `Fd
by the Hon. Gentlemen opposite as to the growth of cornthe
northern parts of Europe. On that subject he should say that ne_.
conceived it his duty after the last Sessian of Parliament to ins,ru
Mr. Jacobson, who gave the Report, to proceed to those cool:lira
That Report might nor be nuite perfect, bat it was a great "
to the information possessed in this country on thesubject. He
thought the House would act well in not entering on the qisute,r7,u_
before that paper was read. He had an opportunity
that excellent report which other Gentlemen did not possess., and r!
strongly recommended it to their perusal before any doe
_stow.:
of the present subject. There was also a valuable
He war sure that the effect of reading those documents woolor,d!,::
lead toe House to adopt most salutary alterations. fhe
,qoute;rfr
of the price had been omitted, and that seemed to him to be pct. !Till
In the present state of Atom, when Committees were sfi I g
to pre'
both Houses on the state of the currency, it was imprudent
u.
teed with the subject, while the currency which was its_ Ig22l'n
essence, was in so much uncertainty. Ile though, he
.I!age.i,Ted
enough of general reasoning for deli. ring the subject, end n
d time ho
that the' House should consider that it was an awkward of col
nitt.e_
press the matter, when the Session was so fir advanced, sod ""