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London, England, 1826-05-03 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

of two dittica—a duty of 12s. and a duty of 55... in all a duty of
Us. if, at the end of tip^ first six weeks, corn was found still ris.
i'tg, the ss. was to he taken off, and the 12s. to remain fur the
other six weeks. This arrangement was intended to prevent a glut
in the market. _ _

Mr. 11USISISSON observed, that the operation of the duty of
1 ss. continued during three months, and not six weeks, as stated by
the lion. Gentleman.
Colonel WOOD resumed—He had understood that six weeks
was the appointed period. The present law, however, had not
crime into operation. nor would not, until the ports opened.
Eighty shillings had been fixed on at a season of calamity. when
the agricultural interest was in distress. Some Hon. Gentleman
thought 70s. would have been sufficient, hut 80s. was settled upon
to
asis
could . however, was now extricated from its difficulties. Ton much
praise
ndoitstrbeessegd agriculturists. Thr agricultural interest,
given for the perseverance with which they
id it was a fa that they were on their
struggled in dialect's ; b ct
kgs again. The average price of wheat during the last five yeats
st the
was little under Ws. Now he (Col. Wood) would say he had no
• objection to opening the ports at firm The agricultural hums.
he thought, would be contented with this, for the agriculturists
did not wish ten high a price; they only wanted a remuneratirg
, price. The duty, however, might be abandoned ; if corn ever rose
to what was called a scarcity price, the duty must be abandoned.
Corn was different from any other article of commerce, and he was
one of those who had no wish for foreign importation. We were now
at peace, hut a different state of things might arise, and involve us in
serioue difficulties' If we depended upon foreigners fot *supply ofcorn.
Lie had never read Mr. Jacob's Report, nor seen it until he had
seen it in that House, but he thought it would have been much
better had Mr. Jacohe been sent to Ireland instead of to Poland,
' to observe the capabilities of that country, which laboured under
great disadvantages, but was gradually improving in agriculture, in
ceneemusece of the privileges she enjnyed. In conclusion, his opi.
ohm was, that if a Cepmnottee sat, the result of their labours ought
to he a proposition to admit foreign corn duty free, and that the
ports should open when the price was fiefs a quarter.
Lord MILTON said, that as the speech of the Honourable
Gentleman who had just sat down ought to have been spoken on
Tuesday the 18th of April instead of Tuesday the 2d of May, he
would not enter into the Honourable Member's arguments. But
he could not help regretting the course adopted by Ministers.
, Since the rising of the House on Friday until its sitting last even-
ing. every person was anticipating a communication from Minister*.
Different persons had different expectations of the course about to
he pursued, but he believed no persons but his Majesty's 31inisters,
and the Honourable Member for Bridgenorth (Mr. Whitmore.)
thought that the existing distress was to be met by such mea-
sures as were propounded by his Majesty'n Ministers. He did not
mean to enter into common-places upon the adaptation of remedies
to diticasett, but he Felt that the proposed remedy had no connexion
with the disease. (Hear.) The Secretary for Foreign rlfteirs said
he did not intend to tamper with the Corn Laws, and whilst litakin4
this declaration, he called upon the House to allow the admission
of bonded corn, and to invest Ministers with a power with which
they ought not to be invested under any circumstances, and cer-
tainly not under the present. If the population of the manufac-
turing districts were 'about ing under the want of that most neces-
sary article of subsistence, corn, and that large quantities were
locked up in the warehouses of London, Liverpool, and Hull, he
could understand the proposition that those warehouses should be
opened, and the people suppled with food. But it was evident
that the want of food was not now the grievance under which
the distressed districts were labouring. (Ilier, hear, hear.)_
It was his lirm conviction that the manufarturers were now suffer.
ing the extremity of that distress which first affected the ammeter.
cent interests. They were now feeling the effects of that embarrass.
merit under which so many great commercial houses fell about six
months ago. It was not food that was now wanted, nor was it
capital ; it was neither manufacturing nor agricultural capital. It
was the want of credit was the present complaint. But the mea-
sures of his Majesty's Ministers, instead of reviving and maintain.
ing, had a tendency to destroy the remaining credit, and to prevent
its revival. It was most important that the House, and persons
out of the House, should comprehend that the proposed rues.
sures could not remedy the evils tinder which the manufacturers of
Lancashire were groaning. Even in the opinion of the Right
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning) the proposed measure was not
intended so much to remedy the present evil as to prevent those
which might occur. It was said that those evils might arise after
Parliament had been dissolved ; but what necessity was there that
the country should be left without a Parliament, if the di.-
' tress continued ? If Ministers counciled the ('rown to
dissolve Parliament under such cirtumstanege in his (Lord
Milton's) opinion, they would incur a fearful responsibility.
In his opinion individuals ought not to be called on to subscribe
for the relief of the present clistrmes. This country ordered that
the poor ought to be supported by parochial aid, and to but it ap-
peared that the distressed manufacturers might be considered as the
poor, and the ()wish to which they belonged was the state. In this
opinion he was confirmed by the consideration that the conduct of
the House had tended to groduce or to increase those calamities,
in refusing nr neglecting to supprese the spirit of over-speculation.
Mr. PIIIIoLIPS approved entirely of the views and conduct of
Ministers, and said he should lament if the measures proposed by
the Right Hon. Gentleman wete not completely successful. He
believed that the impartation of foteign corn would be of great int.
portance to the manufacturers, although they were not generally
deluded into the opinion, es was believed, that their distresses were
wholly attributable to the corn law.. There were many of the lower
classes, who, if admitted into that House, would puzzle many of
the lion. Gentlemen; at public nieetings, at Manchester, many
moderate and sensible speeches were made by Artisan.. He trusted
that what had occurred to-day would have it good effect among the
manufacturers; the liberal subscriptions made u:nong all classes
for the relief of die distress would have the t fllrct of uniting and
conciliating all parties. There was no doubt that employment
would return ; the great object, therefore, ought to be to find im-
mediate support for the distress ed.
Mr CALCRA IT wished he could agree with the Right lion.
Gentleman that the proposed measures were calculated to introduce
union and cordiality among the various classes of the kingdom. He
believed rise the question, as brought forward by the Right Hon.
Gentleman, was more likely to produce dissatisfaction and disunion.
He had been persuaded by the arguments of his Majesty's Minis-
ters that it was more expedient to postpone the discussion of this
question, and he had voted accordingly ; but what was hissurprise to
hod that the reasons then alleged for its postponement were now
alleged for bringing it forward. (Hear.) A few days ago the
intention
of Member for Shaftesbury asked whether it was the
of Ministers to let out the bonded corn, and lie was answered In
the negative ; but what changes bad since taken place in the pricer
of corn or in the circumstances of the country, to justify such a
change in the policy of Government ? As to letting cut the bonded
corn, if that could afford relief to any one, he would not object to
it ; but with respect to the second proposition, he dill not think i:
prudent to entrust a discretionary power with vacilating gentle-
men who did not know their ewn intentions. Although he were
ever so willing to give his vote to Ministers, yet he
could not do it on account of their vacilatiotis. Ile ap.
pealed to all, whether there had ever been a Ministry of more
unfixed and vacilating counsels ; but lie objected to the manner
in which the question had been introduced. The artisan in Lan-
cashire would have to bay that he had triumphed over the landed
interest, not by petitions, while the loaded Interest would feel that
they had been deluded out of a law which the Ministers tied refused
to discuss wi.h the usual solemnity. Such a proceeding was not
calculated to promote a good understanding between those classes.
(Hear.) But what would the Irish proprietors say to this mea.
sure, or what would the Canatias say ? These parties had very
serious interests in the decision, and they ought to be consultem
His principal objection was to the manner in which the measure
was brought forward. It woe:ld be better if Ministers would say—
Circumstances, have induced us to alter our sentiments, and we will
take the question into solemn considetation. Whatever might be
the result of such a solemn discussion, 110 dissatisfaction would en-
sue. But the method of proceeding which Ministers had adopted
was in every respect unsatisfactory. We heard much of the dis-
tress of foreign agriculture, lout nothing of the means of restoting
prices at home. But what could supplies from abroad avail us
at an indemnifying price of sixty shillings, when the average
price of borne-grown wheat, for the last seven years, was only
e. 7 ? The benefit derived to the distressed population from
letting out the bonded corn would be next to no When this
country had contributed so amply to the relict of the suffering
Russians and liantiverians, it would be strange it' exertions were
not mede to alleviate the calamities of our fellow-subjects. If some
measure to this effect were not brought forward in the House, he
would do it himself; but lie hoped the Right Hon. Gentletnan
would proense a vote of public money for the relief of those
wretched and unfortunate creatures.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT objected to the doctrine of the Hon.
Member for Somerset, but he agreed that it would be advisable to
give instructior.• for a Committee above stairs, to consider in the
Met instance the poifey of admitting foreign corn, and then to pro-
ceed to contingent measures. He thought there ought to be an ad.
vance of public money, and he did nut think that any measures
could prove beneficial without it.
Lord JOHN RUSSEL!. began by observing, that on a former
occasion the Chancellor of the Exchequer had refused to g rant
money fig the relief of public distress, because it was a bad
pre-
cedent t; but he wou ask how tat argument
tre
being d could
ssedapply to the
Corn Laws ? A number of phersons, is, became
riotous and tumultuous ; the Corn Laws were made the object of
their odium, and they were attempted to be relieved by a partial
abrogation of those laws. The next time that those persons felt the
evils of distress and insubordination, they would come again and
any, it has been admitted that the Corn Laws are the source of our
distress, and we expect front their repeal to experience fresh relief.
The landed proprietors were held out as the persons who withheld
bread front the people. The Right lion. Gentleman had wished to
make the question relate to the distress rather than to the Coin
Laws, but that was impossible. Wish
respect to letting out the
bonded corn, the efflect of it would depend on the stock of corn in
the country ; and he believed the only of It wes likely to have
would be to prevent any rise, not to cause any deereeeien of prices. .
But why had not that question been taken into consideration before
by the President oldie Board of Trade? (Hear.) As to the measure of relict, the Right Hon. Gentleman had said that those store-
houses of corn were all in die neighbourhood of the dietrtsi.ed corn-
niunity. If those storehouses were to be thrown open to the people,
dint circumstance might be of some importance; but if the corn were to be purchased, and retailed by dealers at a price moderately, ,
if at all, reduced, he could not see the great benefit to he derived from so small a supply. Ile objected wholly to the second propo-
shawl, which went to vest a discretionary power in itliteisters.
Ile (Lord J. Russell) would say, that if the corn visa to be ad- ridded at too low a price, it would be most unjust to the man u-
factoring interests. What was the natural course that ought to
have been pursued T. Why, the Ministers ought to have come
clown to that House, anti have shown the general heeding of the I
question, so as to secure the safety of tile country ; to leave looked

use to
yn_wrehipeheu:le,l:ll,:tritt.utnliens.;.
•at It as repented the manufacturing and agricultural intense' eee
to here devised the best meatus fur making an alteration, and i'
aat
tldi
le:
icy
:a hadbe
rgi grossly:ipoweri
ng
oruallpobluanse that
ttt the
ipendrtuijodot
comegive
iiengodownsthem ver. hail inn been their line of comlect ; they eel n;"'
was not likely to last more than a tortuight, and ask the 11,,INme '
lul of all questions, the subsistence of the pestle. (11 right.
ear.) j f
such was the result, and if hia Majesty. Ministers shoolit refuse Select Corm:dote, be would gladly seize the opportunity e j,n
n
ing out tor Rome better guides than the Hon. Gentlemen opp
At the same time he must say he had voted with them, and
do so again, if there was any apparent wisdom in the conduct:hi:cid
they purposed to pursue. It had been said that the cause of thil
present distress arose frown the want of credit. If such was eine
tact, that the mischief did arise from that source, then an advance —e of public money might be of great benefit. An increased r ear
would, under these circumstances, impart capital to the mane. lecturers to employ workmen, and the increatied demandn.
tee occasioned would set them to work. But on the oth
hand, if the supply was too great, and that there was ue
wat.t of demand, then a grant of money would be int%c 'ent.
For that reason it was why he should consent to the proip non of the Honourable Baronet (Sir T. beitibridire). lyith'
respect to the Corn Laws, lie admitted to the Riese Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Canning) that the law might be eltered with great
benefit to the state. But if the Right Honourable t eentleman- w:
of opinion that he had come to that point at width an alters.
tion might be made, he ought to have proposed the eheration of The
law, and not by any other means. Ile wished the Right Honour.
able Gentleman to look at the anxious feeling that existed on the
subject. It was known to all, the odium to which the agriculturists
were exposed for their resistance to the alteration of the law. From
what he knew of the state of alarm that existed, from his own ob.
eavatiou, at.d from his communication among fanners, they be.
Hewed that the measure would be ruinous to them. He would ask his
Majesty's Ministers if that was a state in which the country ought
o be kept ? Ills objection to the measure was, that it was a piffe•
meal legislation, which ought to be viewed with the greatest jet'.
lousy. He did not vote against the Right Honourable Gentleman
the President of the Board of Trade, tot delaying the discussion o/
the question on s former occasion : at the same time he felt con.
winced, that if he had brought it on this year lie would have cat.
tied it through Parliament. The gentlemen of landed Interest did nut wish to consult their own views against that or tl:eir tel.
low-subjects, for their interests were essentially and indivisibly
connected, and could not be separated without a degree of suffering
to both.
Mr. III:SKISSON said that he had mad the greatest attention
to what had been offered by the Hon. Members, and he had not
heard any thing which had been offered that could alter his opinion.
Ile admitted out a former occasion that the present was not a fit
opportunity for going into the Cum Laws, and he must say that
since he had given that opinion in that discussion, he was con.
firmed diet he was right, and if anything further were wanting to
establish that opinion, the debate of that night would mutt eere
taint," do ea. Ile owned he was not a little surprised, that after
his !light Honourable Friend had stated last night his wish to
go into a Committee on the subject of the means of allevi dieg the
present distress, which proposal did appear to have met with the oat
cordial sanction,' and indeed with the unanimous concurrence of
that House—he must confess his surprise at the course which had,
been taken, and of which the Honourable frentleman opposite
must have taken a very different view than that which reticle his
mind. Those concurrent circumstances certainly tended to show to
the country that the House was disposed to entertain the question
of their distress, and that it was the wish of Government to& every
thing in its power. The concurrence so expressed was a happy
omen that they bad concluded so to act; but it seemed now Mat
new lights had arisen upon the subjece—whether they were net
concocted from another quarter—be would not stop to inquire,
but the object of which was to promulgate to the people and to the
country, that the present condition of the Corn Laws was the cause
of their distress. If it should be impossible to come down to the
House with a measure embracing the whole question of the C. rte
Laws, with all the alterations attaching to the law, and of witith
there were many, and that the only course to be pursued was to
let out the bonded corn, was it file to state on that account that
his Majesty's Ministers were the cause of the distress of the coun-
try ? He would ray that Ruch was not a logical or proper opinion to
be arrived at from the circumstances of the case. lie (31r. Ilus-
klsaon) denied, and had always done so, that the Corn Loss had
any thing to do with the distress of the country ; it was not a fide
and logical interence, that because his Majesty's Ministers intended.
to afford a means of' relief by the measuie in question, that
therefore the Corn Laws were the occasion of the distress. Ile
would ask what were the facts in respect to the state of the mane.
lecturing population at the same period of last yenr, looking at
them with respect to the state of the Corn laws ? font year, at
this nerjod, there was a most active trade, indeed—a system of
overtrading to an enormous extent, bad pervaded every deparunert
of manufactures; the credit was not adequate to it : and yet all
those circumstances were said to be brought about by the price of
torn; at that period the price of corn was 71. or its. a quar-
ter more than at present. At the present period, under such very
different circumstances, could such an enormous proposition be
maintained, that the Corn Laws were t se cause of the present dis.
tress? Corn was much lower at some periods than others, and it
must be Waned that it had no reference to the distress, seeing that
the diffeeeoce of price was in direct opposition to the principle so
laid down, which was apparent from the circumstance that last year
corn was Jo. or Ile. a quarter dearer than at present, teed other cons.
modifies were then at a proportionate dearer rate. This year
the state Of things was precisely altered, and therefore he must
think that it was a conclusion to which every gentleman must come,
that there must be a sensible difference between the value of laboue
when at 2s. lid. and the price of corn in return for that labour 6s.
and sire villa. The reasoning of such philosophers did not carry
conviction to Ids understanding. What were the two questions
which were to avoid the general discussion of the Cunt Laws?
The one was to admit bonded corn at a duty, and the other
to allow the power of imponing more in ogee of necessity.
The-Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had said that the distress
was perhaps from a want of credit. No doubt the want of credit
was an evil of great magnitude. Ile knew no other means of
remed irg that than by an increase of soles; and theugh the Noble
Lord had mated the evil, he had not pointed out any means by
which it might be remedied. There was no doubt that credit would
revive when prices (coked up. The necessary circumstance of want
of credit, which grew out of want of demand, had the effect of
throiring out of employ a certain number of the manufacturing
classes. In whatever way they looked at the difficulty, they could
not say the Manufacturing classes were altogether out of employ,
because many of them were at low wages, and the object was to take
measures to prevent the price of corn from rising, and thereby to
mike the wages, more commensurate to sustain them : to do that
would be to do what policy had dictated, and what former Parlia-
ments heel 'done. It was admitted that front letting out the bonded
corn it would prevent corn from getting higher than it then was.
He could not suppose for a moment that It could be the wish of
any Honourable Mettler that the corn should be allowed to go to
decay in the warehouses, because he would object to tie measure
in principle, lie would beg to c... 11 the attention of the House, and
particularly teat of the lion. Member for Dorsetsbire (Mr. Bankes)
to what had taken place last year. He (Mr. Huekitoon) had
taken the opportunity of con:paring the prices of ecru for the
six last weeks, with the same period of 11125; and it appeared abut
the price for the six weeks, between the 19th April and die
231 June, was—first week, 68e.: second week, 61k. 93.;
third week, 69e. ; fourth week, 68e. ; little week, 67e. ; sixth
week, 665: 61.; so that it would be seen there was a d.c.ease
in the cerreepoading period of I st year -of two shillings per
quarter, and yet what did his AI. jestynt Ministers do? 11 It,'
they teL out 450,00 quoneis of bor.ded corn, not because it could
not pry the prjce, but because tit re was a feeling that the honest
ought be untoward; and these we e heroin des on which that ma-
sure was stipporied, and which he (Mr. Huokisson) had the honour
t :e to in r eluce to the House, ants which had been most cordially
a Int tern ll'as it to much, therefore, to ask the house do to that
in Debi which 'they had agreed was a proper measure in 1825, under
suit diffe-ent circumstances, and when such different interest*
were ernierned. He would ask what would be the feeling of thole
persons is they saw that 'there was a dienolitation to do that in
11126 which was done in 1825? Would they not look at Mech.
cumetancee and think it a great hardship, that then when cern ors
falling, the
rising they were not to have that advantage. In respect to the
average price% for the six weeks of the year 1316, it had gradually
increased from tiles. Ild. to 60e. Id. while there was a depression in
Ilse prices or every other article. surely, then, there was some reason
for the present meastee of letting out the bonded cora. hi eat then
eecame of the opinion, that this was endeavouring to attack the
Corn Lays by a side wind, and of not being able to look at it in
all its hearings? 'The measure had been adopted lao year, and
Mere was no material differencef at the present. The fact was.
that the whole objection arose out of imaginary evils out of
doors, and which heel unti rtur ately been introduced into that
House that night. He would conic now to the other part of the
measure, and to which there appeared a more determined obje.
t on. Ile was quite prepared to state dun he did not olt
to give any opinion as to the it te of the supply of nen it
the country. It would be highly improper so to do in t' e absence
of all statistical information and knowledge on the subject. it
wooed, tinnier, be very rash for any Member of Parliament so to
do, inure particularly in him, filling the situation he did,--and be
WAS particularly anxious not to be considered as giving any,—as to
whether the supply was or was nut equal to the subsistence of the
country until next harvest; but it behoved the Government always
to be on its guard. A gentleman of the Corn H: urn Office had
brought it under his (Mr. Huskitoon's) notice, that, taking all the
corn Insekete in England, thete had been a considerable detieorev
within theiast year—of several hundred thousand quarters. When
in 18,3 something like die present stagnation of credit tusk
place, tliere Ives a greater depression than at this moment,
and corn wits down to thirry.eight shillings. It' the price
of corn was looked at in 11W, it must be mien that there were
other elements in the question ; one was, that of the t
and there 'mint also be a state of' supply. Ile wiehe 'to press
upon the attention of diode who prosecuted the question of the
Corn Laws, what was (tic state of the case last year ? .7a 0.990 qv..
of corn came into the market between June and harvest, a, 't Ito
happy ned that the hareem was one of the earliest and nln.; abueda t
ever known, and therefore the cons was available for mmedia c
consumption. That bonded corn going then into the market, a' fl
an early harvest taking place, occasioned the advantage of the por s
not betng Opened ; if they had, the price would hare exceeded
at d he would isle it that would have been IA desireble measure, and
whether—looking at the price of labotu and the glue of money--
tale. was a price that could not have been paid, and whether it
an Id not-have gone to the shaking of even society itself, as sell
as every element of property in the country % Rut was that all
that would be :faked ? And what would be the consequence of the

lotion of the country, if they did not proceed to act between the
1-..iti 31sy and the I roll August? The law did not nllow the poets
:',-be anro till *her lath August, even if corn was at itok„ a quarter.
liet it the average of six weeks, ending I 5111 August, and
co or ports could not be opened until after that time, even
t.hheZei lacer was stalking through the land. It might be, there.
' 7hs. corn should hare reached the price of Mt., or any other
to 'tin()
yet, according to the law. they would trnt have the
lift sum
aeoitening the ports until after the 13th Aug. The Noble
rod ;lA. J. Russell), or the Right Hon. Hart. (Sir 3. Newport)
had fold that it w,uld be better to throw open the ports, arid then
come to Parliament for indemnity. He (Mr. H.) however,
:n;(4 the policy of such a principle, and would resist the idea that
pith a power should be placed in the hands of Goverment. Such
a 'one of conduct had been timidity adopted, but the present laws
hate of modern existence, and no necroti), (Or such a proceeding
hai warred. Ile would ask the Hon. Baronet (Sir Thomas Leth.
tolee) If the Crown could impose • protecting duty of seventeen
odhro, for instance, in ouch a use ? The duty must be cumin.
hot on the price, and could only be imposed by the discretion of
Parliament. He would ask what objection there could be to grant.
1,, the power of opening the ports, Parliement taking upon
es7.g to place any limits or restrictions it might think proper? If the
floUse had connoted to have gone into the Committer, he should
.Nett ttsve stated that it was not the intention of the Government
to open the ports unless it became positively' necessary from the
eftrumstances of the country. A Gallant Officer had suggested
that the ports shoulda not be opened under I;a4. His Right Hon.
frund and himself would be thankful for any such restriction. All
he had to my was. that let Parliament declare whether they would
lock up the own under rising prices, when uoder diffeeent circum-
stances they had liberated so large a quantity. He wished to have
the power of proving to the people of the country, that if corn
'build get to an increased price, that the evil should be remedied by
ripply : but lie must protest against the consequences that might
Due, if two, three. or four months could pass away, in a time of
rarely, without being able to import faults corn. He trusted that
this measure would not be necessary, but if it was sanctioned, it
might he the means of averting great calamity. There was no
doubt but that the state of the foreign markets were equally
depressed with those of England. He did not nuan to say that
Other the first or second measure would give hnmediste relief, be.
Mae he knew the difficulties did not arise from such a cause. If
tee corn was taken out of bond, it would be the means of throwing '
etch capital Into the market. With respect to the local situation
et the present distress, be would observe, that it iris among inanu.
lecturers of cotton, an article of which two-thirds wait for foreign
derailed. and wet not affected by any of the recent enactments. The
clinic of the distress arose from overorading, and from want of
mole; and the measure proposed would have a tendency to revive
demand. Ile begged pardon fur detaining the House (Hear, hear,
bean, but he wisiol to make one observation as to what had fallen
from toe Gm. 31entber for Wareham (Mr. (talculi's). That Hon.
Member had said that he (Mr. Huskisson) had six Joys ago in.
formed hint that it was not his intention to liberate the
bonded corn. The feet was, that upon his (Mr. Calcraft) pre-
toying atone petition. he had asked what it was his (Mr. Huskis-
ton's) intention, rue paspent, as it were, as to the liberation of bonded
run. wet he had said that it was not intended to into the sob.
.at of the Corn Laws this session. (Hear, hear. It might have
been not a very judicious answer, but what wool the Honourable
Gentleman have thought of his discretion ? if be had said at
rote that the measure for liberation was then under discussion.
Bat i: was quite immaterial to the present question wnat had been
his declaration on that occasion. rhe immediate subject for the
tonsidenition of the House was the best mode of relieving the di.i.
item shich prevailed in thaeountry, and upon that point he looked
for the moo effectual relief from the Poor haws, the advantages of
which went very far to reconcile him to the objections and difficul-
ties which surrounded them. That system was calculated to ode.
viate distress, without having recourse to the benevolence of the
puhlie; and he therefore looked Mrward to the Poor Laws.
Mr. WHIT3IORE wished the House to understand that he
had never stated the supple of corn was insufficient for the con-
sumption of the country.
Mr. J. W ILL I A 3IS rose amidst cries of " Question, question."
We understood the Hon. Member to say, that with every anxiety
anti sympathy for the unfortunate sufferers, he doubted the prac-
ticability of the measures which were before the Ilona.. In Ida
orinton the Home would be placed in an donning predicament by
roovniting to them. Ile had heard nothing of an intention to este-
bleat permanent meseurea ; roc dirt the discussion turn upon relief
to the distressed, but upon the Corn Laws. (Here considerable
impatietlce was manifested by the House.) He had no intention of
mouding at any length. The Right Hon. Gentleman at the bead
of the Board of Trade had, about a fortnight since, said that he
Brought it imprudent to give any opinion, or to provoke any dia.
commit. on the ('ern Laws. If it was imptudent to give any opt.
en' at that time, ir was equally imprudent to give any opinion at
tie resent moment; and it was still mon imprudent to invest
I:-vevrtiect with a discretionary power to regulate the admission
rt cur.. Such a power would leave the rental of every gentleman
a' time !DM,' of Government. He would not wish to oppose any
ecoure, however inconsistent with general principles. that went to
o'er, the distresses of the community. He was desirous to have
in inquiry, and would therefore vote fur the amendment of toe
Roc. Itaronet.

31r S% 43E/lOUSE aaid that he was one of those who never

t:r.;pl,4 to give his opinion that Parliament should not separate
adopting loom measure to prevent the price of corn from
Long to ;ht.., a price •hick ender present circumstances. could
en( be considered but as a famine price. With respect to the 111,.
rmort 31r. Jacobs, he thought it gave but a superficial view of
the subizct *hie!' 4 was intended to embrace. and he thought it
!is duty to offer his strongest opposition to a measure which he was
sure could not reach the present evil.
Sir T. LE f said that he had a few verbal altars.
lions to make In hisamen.irstent, which he then introduced.

Af:er which the House dividid. when there appeared—
For the amendment, 132—For the original resolution, 214—Ma.
jersy. 132. .. . . .

our re•admhaioo into the gallery the Ilouse was in Corn.

'it JOHN SEBRIGIIT objected to the manner in which the
eleasure was brought forward. The present distress bad been
tiLtattl to, and the .diatress and riots were made an excuse for
bri•.ging the Corn Laws under discussion : they were not only
but decided upon, ard he thought it unfair to get rid of
Imi•WMllt a question in an indirect manner.
su T. LETUBRLDGI; did wit wish to detain the !douse, but
Le 11.10.1Cil 10 suggest to the Right lion. Secretary who had Imm-
o:sr:a Ire measure the propriety of adding tire shillings to the duty
at mare which had been proposed. (Cries of " No, no.") The
Galion would not mar his suggestion, as the Sense of the
Haute 3;.pearril so strongly against it. Ile was ready to accede to
rir wica.c of bonded corn, beciuse it would act as a palliative in
the prm•it disitnised state of the manufacturers ; but, with regard
. .

to tbe prolunition. he thought it unit only getting rid of the
C 33 Lir% by 3 side wind ; and, if the (louse eonsenied to it, the
yn% mug be og.n et all future slates to the importatioa acorn at
Lot), or twelve shilling... Ile called upon the Committee to give
'4.e.±tuoijcet their 1114 M roriou‘con.ideration.

Secretary CANNING then rose and said, that. in answer
',the Mon. Ilsronet (Sir T. Lethbridge), as to the principle upon
ci'di the duty nf 51, had been imposed, Ir. the course of last
st.iso of Parhaotent this duty was proposed expressly for the pur-
rA.- of preventing the unlimited introduction of corn upon the
t ing of the ports. it was necessary to have .time such duty to
the itnnortatittn ; hot now that the extent of bonded Win
POVASSini of the country was known, the application of that
was no longer necessary. Tie duty upon the importation of
too Otorasetl•last pent was only 101., hut it was deemed advisable
L'oti.c it to 12.. in malt r to contortn to the regulations of the exist-
ig Act td Parliament. The ma at present in 1).10 had been
binned btfore the Act earns into operation, and it ought be said
tat it had a right to come nut even without any duty at all. Ile
• assurrthe Mouse tkat hi* Majesty's Ministers had no objec-
imi to be limited in the price, at which their discretionary power
lloold commence, and if the price of 15s. would meet with the "p-
-robation of the Mo use. he hol no objection that their dittere-
'onatit poser should only commence when corn reached that price.
,'
" flitting that sum he had not the slightest intention that
.:: Any
b,r !WK should be drawn from It in the discassiott of the general
RI I future petted.
31t. RENETT acid that the holders of bonded corn snpposed
that they ware liable to a duty of 17.. duty 5w..1,1 give
It' an etvinnotta profit t but fa addition to that, it appeared
trY sere to receive the differe-se between that sum and 12s. per
11t atter. the duty new to be imposed. Ile thought they ought to
• etude in pay the whole amount of and then let his 3la-
kity's 31iniiiterit appropriate the money as they deemed proper. If
Coe House wi re di posed to grant to Ministers the power prayed
for, he suuld prefer that It should be given them without artyiiirmation to Wis., because at • future time that sum would be
*ton as a precedent for the permanent importation price.
~”T Secretary C.INNI NO said, that th^ rerun assigned by the
ilex. Member was the very one which had irdaced Ministers not
say anything as to limitation in the first instance, lest any in-
lttenre should he drawn front any sum they piight fir upon.
t Atone! WOt /11 thought the reasons assipeal for not resorting to
tiv additional duty of tn. perfectly conclusive.
.1;r. 111:SKISSON rese amidst cries of "Adjourn, adjourn,"
' "Go on, go on." lie t•alzl that it might he a question whe-
it was convenient to nearest with the Itesalution then ; but
'l'si reference to the conditions and limitaticsa under which the
lxiirer was to be irrant•sl, it was impossible to discuss them upon
it ,mestioti as to the Resolution.
first Resolution was then "greed to.
I:Pna the second Resolution being put, " That It Is the opinion
t;theConamittice that it would be proper to empower his Majesty
u permit the importation of foreign coin under certain limitations
ring die ensuing recess."
_,Larch 3111;10N expressed his dlsstisfaellon !hat the Resolutionraid pass under the present circumstances; and he would there.
ktv more as aa amendment, that the Chairman should reps rt pro-
ttrat, and ask leave to sit again.
The gantry was then cleared fur a division, when the numbers
Item_

lerthe Amendment . fin I Against it - 101 3lajori.y - 49
(hi our re-admi•sion to the gallery, we found the House still
dhicssatng the nuation of adjournment. The gallery was again
fl'ind for a Lit/talon on the question that the Chairman do now
'II,C the chair, when Chas were tor the motion—
.

Ayes 121 Noes 122 I Majority 77.
On our return to the gallery.
RENETT urged the propriety of not pressing the second
trattion.

dir.aNNING observed, that it Wni re-ttortable that the
use 4hettld not proceed with the 'talker di,clistion or the second
trt..lution that night.
The motion that the Chairman report progrest, with leave to sit
again on Thu!sday next, was then put and azrect: