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ye without directly encouraging the smtigg'er, With all these
asalerations betere them, he hoped the House would go into an
i:St. my with a view to prevent distress. If they turned their eyes
cn•the `ones they wimld see two-thirds of the manulac-
turned nut of el7lOillyOAnt, and the remaining one-third
mire. d.,ng the same fate. This was in some measure the consequence
h the trade before prices were brought to the state
ice ha..! bier:. at least before the introduction of a paper
He would read from the 31accleslield Paper a cutups-
e of labourers in the year 17117 and at the pre-
; the rice tit dour was raised from Is. rid. to 30. Rd.;
nett. to 7d. or Rd., and rent halm 21. 10s. to 5/. or
.s:tles. to how much distressiMthe labourer expoeed (ruin
seen of wages and the nece--saries of life; so situated, the
t'us country must necessarily view foreign competition
: ought we to have recourse to the poor-rates ? or
w xdo mu landed interest tat e the manufacturers off the hands of
Hoe. Ge-tlernan ? If the Right Honourable Gentle-
ntan you:d say that thirty per cent. was sufficient to protect the
~ then In had a case; ha:, from all the information that he
Ellice) had been sitar to collect, it did not appear possibl.
t...e the trade could be carried on under existing circumatanceae
lJ : again asked the flritise whether, if those who supported this
th,asute on the evidence of Mr. Hale, on that also of some foreign
steeticmcn, and on the opinion expressed by some fflanchester ma-
nu:acturert, who said, if two years were given them they should
be alse in camnete with the foreign market—he asked the House
and me itig:v. *lion. Gentleman opposite whether, supposing those
who gave this evitlenee in 11124 now ready to come forward and say
at the bar it the House that their experience had been in direct op.
posii,on to that evidence, the House would not Pay, under such
ri.:tinistances, that a Conmittee ought to be appointed to inquire
into the nature of thew important facts ? That Manchester had
undergo:pc this chauge or opinion he was well informed. He
v'u!.: candidly comes. that his own expecta;ions had been coniii-
deral.dy :aiscsi when he heard the Manchester manufacturers conic
boldly forward and assert that old people, those of the more ancient
siusa„ kr.ow nuthing of the means, of the power we now possess.
•• Give us two years." said they, " and we will show you what
we can st: will let you see that the machinery we possess will
enab:e us to compete successfully with the foreign market." He
repeated, when this was uttered, be for one had his reason wiled
away by the promise it held out, lie had heard it said out of
:Goes that the distress which was now felt was the result of over-
trading. Suppose it was: what led to the evil ? With whom had
is r^gi :atcd ? He would answer these questions—the Hank and
Let the House remember the necessity there was
rcdm•eg nineteen millions of paper currency to nine before the
Bank t. old resume cash payments. There was no doubt but that
t,.ta 1,11 to the whole di the country's difficulties. But shy
sr.c iii pear people, whom he wished it to be understood he re.
pre...e,ie,l on the present occasion, to be the sufferers, the victims
od t'..,se n.easures ? Thee had led to to high wages, and a state
approaching to famine. 'He coupled high wages with famine t
le: he contended that they might be considered the greatest mis-
blare that coukl befal any class of men. Was it proper, then,
at this moment, when trade had been extended by the stimulus it
hai received from Alfilisters, that they should turn a dent ear to
t:;eir miseries, instead of favouring their petition ? The Govern-
ment had but very lately talked of the prosperity of the country, and
then saw no reason why that pmsperity should not be permanent.
Surely their it was nut to be wondered at if these poor people fell
into the same mistake—if they. like Government, borrowed more
money than they were able to pay. He should like to know of the
Right lion. Gentleman opposite if„ during the experience of the
last two years, there had been any reciprocal advantage enjoyed
by this country as an equivalent for the sacrifices it had made ?
lie wouhl not go so far as to say that a part, or even • considers-
bit. part of the people were not to have a certain amount of tempo.
ray suMring thrown upon them—were not to be called upon to

1,41.•1. I
a. hi, r.

r.ike a certain sacrifice, if ultimate extensive benefit was to re-
: nit ; and he did not therefore say, that 3linisters were not to
take off the present restrictions with a view to public benefit but
t:•ea t i shouli be sonic return; and what return was there hem?
ohj, et in obtaining the Committee was to gain time. Suppose
he couY i!1 the t.'otrn,ittee establish his case, was it not possible
that i,ister: might do good by ascertaining the bad policy Oa-
. theirmeasures ? Ile wished once again to impress upon
the necessity for i's considering the present state Odic.

racterisi:
the liott

tre“ in which these poor people were involved.lThe metropolis was
sutil.rirg ciougli to winrant the present application, but in Mac.
they were still worse, most of the artisans being thrown
upon th. poor.rates, while in Coventry not above one-third of
then: could procure work, the remainder being reduced to the last
shill to exist rye. When large !wihes of people were
o ab.nlute want and wretchedness, he thought the
cel itself imperatively called upon to inquire into
erieranee, that it might adopt the most expedient

Ilcust

the war(

reinesy. lle suggested this. for it occurred to him thit they
might feel themselves necessitated to reverse their steps. He
fr-.red he had detained the House for a considerable time (Cries of
" No. no"). a: d had very imperfectly laid before them the nature
of the difficulties he was anxious to present to their consideration.
Ile e:e. !to: vise to commit Parliament to any particular measures;
whet Ire desired was. that they would inquire into the statements
he had tm.de, 31. d the prayer of the petitioners. The lion.
Gent)eman sat dewn movirg, " That the House should refer
to a Select t'ommittee all petitions against the importation of
foreign silks."
Mr. J. Id"ILEUMS rose en second the motion of his Honour-
eec Friend. He said he thought it worthy the consideration of
Minister* whether, at such a moment of distress pervading, not
a single class of indislduals, but the country at large, and the ma-
nufacturing e:itrics more especially, they would unsettle the let-
ter by continuing to subject them to severe aufferirgs. and obliging
them to charge their ocettrat ions to get a livelihood? The town of
elacciestind had hero till wird to by the lion. Gentleman. In the
s ;tar 17140 the whitle popula inn of that town (lid not exceed 4,000.
I. 1326 it amounted to 23.000. Out of this number 20,000 were
employed in the different breeches of the silk trade. 'rite House
would hear with regret teat in the course of half a year, by the ope.
mewl of these measures, there were 14,000 persons deprived of
employment. To give some idea of the distress occasioned, he
woelit inform them of the fact that not less than 1,6000 families
wire supported by voluntary contributions. Their prospect was
indeed C.:,..itry : all they had at present to look forward to was the
c‘i att,tut ef their fund and the absence of all work. Ile had
beta info-tired by the Mayor that the Poor laws, too, had been
let in tull force. That gentleman had signed eleven orders of re.
reovel, and had passod many to their parishes. The subscription
Le••iiit etthaustill, all that remained few them were the Poor laws
io.d the c. cumbered land. lithe, referred to Manchester, they
weld find that. in the spring of 182. i, 111,6146 looms were employed.
Now, in last January there were wily 4.100. • it would therefore
he seenplat there sere about 6,400 unemployed. If they referred
to London it would be seen that in Bethnal-green alone there were
1.000 stew:led by parish relief, they being incompetent to maintain
Om:selves. The argument which he established upon these state-
vtietits was—not that Ministers should, not persevere—he did not
say no. Though the greater start of the population was driven to
drspait..-though some of the largest manufacturing towns in the
country should suller—if the measures were caleulated to do
future good, let them proceed; but let the Ministers prove
this, and it they could not, he called on them to pause, to hesitate,
though it might be in opposition to the theoretical opinions which
had been formed, before 01 evils now In existence took a more
serious torn, and instead of mere distress, became absolute ruin. If
these doubtful measures were to be pursued in a time of such general
eistress, he feared the worst consequences would ensue. The Hoe.
t ierilemsn, he believed, attributed the misfortunes of this clan of
intik iduais to the very same principle that had operated to the
disadvantage of the country ; he await the speculations and the
iivertrading. He believed that was the Hun. Gentleman's theory.
lie mien expect then to be told that the Hon. tietitleman could
not consistently with his theory now interfere; that the mischief
ought to work its own correction ; that if it were left to its natural
operation, the ovntrading would he cured by the present distress,
by the manufacturer being compelled to sell at low and ruinous
prices, which operation would eventually restore the demand.
It became however a quetion, whether that relief which
would result front a fresh demand was not suspended
by this measure. If this could be established, he
apprehended the petitioners would make out a good ease. On
the subject of demand he would call the attention of the House to
two facts. The persons who had stock on hand were the ware.
housemen and the mercers. Nnw, at this season of the year there
et
was gen..lly the greatest demand; but at the present time both
the mercers sari warehousemen weer considerably' below par.
What then should be the general result P Upon the principle of
the Honinitable Gentleman, there should now be a demand on the
leenefacturer. but there was no such thing. This was one view of
rise. The other VON that they were looking forward to a sup.
I' trait the foreign market in the month of July. It was this that
de...toyed any demand upon the home manufacturer. The pries
labour must of course be a great end dependent on the price
of provision. What chance was there then of a fief competition
when at Lyons bread was only three sous rer pound. while in
England it was two-pence halfpenny, just double? That would
render the price of labour two to one in favour of the French
manufacturer. II Ministers thought of aplying any corrective
in the war of high duty they would only increase the smuggling
trade without benefiting the manufacturer. What he (Mr.
Williams) complained of was, that there was no reciprocity;
all the liberality was on the part of this country. 'l'he
Ministers had ineurreu a fearful responsibility, and they must
discharge themselves horn it faithfully by s due attention to
those who had a fair claim upon them. Ile trusted they would
not allow the happiness, the comforts ol' so many to be sacri-
:iced, merely that they might maintain a few poor abstract prin.
Ple% This would be exhibiting a degeneracy of beset,
which, as Burke had deathbed it, would resemble, in point of fact,
3 malignity and contempt fin all mankind, the devil himself.
The state of distress was tient 'peening, and he would ask whet
wait done for the purpose of relieving that distress ? It could not be
relieved by the discussion a general principles; he would recom-
mend to his Majesty's eliniaters to pause and heir facts. It was
trio seriims a subject to legislate upon without deep consideration.
it would be necessary to inquire whether there was a community of
helmets out of doors, and whether they went with Ministers in their
Present determination.
The SPEAK} R then read the motion " to refer to a select
e!enmittee all petitions against the iniporration of foreign silk."
"Übe question being put,
Hon.
He'SKISSGN ruse. He thought whatever influence the
ee • Member for Coventry might he wider from his connexion
wide.r tutu place, he did not mean to question his motives, nor did
to inquire into the motive of the lion. Seconder, although
he •
t'PPeated to labour under an infilience more recently formed
(J augh), perhaps may expect to succeed in becoming the
1111fra ague
of his g bat whatever were his motives he appeared
tn be el" • •
nip cautions in making any concessions; he would not ad-
• ani thing, but acted with all the caution of a lawyer at a Court 1

of Justice. What might be the Hon. lifember's object, he (Mr. R.)
felt no anger, nor dal he mean to use any declamation it, meeting
those charges which were brought forward, but he must observe
that he heard the new lights of the Hon. Member for Lincoln that
night for the tint time. That Hon. niernher, and his friends
around him, had claimed credit for their support of those principles
of free trade upon which Government had acted. and how could
they new reconcile their hoittiltty to those very measures? The
views of the Hon. Member for Coventry. and the statements of the
Alember fur Lincoln, coming as they did from a numerous body of
sufferers, were entitled to consideration (Hear); and when the
Jim. Member had insinuated that Ministers were indifferent to the
distresses of the people—
' Here Mr. IVILLIA3IS disclaimed any insinuation of the
kind.
Mr. lIUt4KISSON. in continuation, stoked what then was the
tenor of the Hon. Gentleman's arguments—what, he would ask,
was the object of his quotation, a quotation which should be met
with a feeling of contempt and From ( Hear.; heart, but he hoped
he could completely repel it. The Hon. I lentleman opposite had
argued as if this was the introduction of the measure instead of its
being an Act of Parliament paned through the House of Commons
unanimously. There were then no complaints by either of those
Geotlemen who wets now such strenuous advocates for opposite
doctrines. They wish now to break down the liberal system—to
abandop the system of reciprocity. The light in which the present
system should be 'hewed wan this_-SilOWiti the country retrace its
steps ? And it mon be considered that, if there be any departuit
from the principle In one instance, the House must retrace its stebe.
The question then was, will the country continua the enlarged po-
licy ? and he begged the House to look closely at the conduct of
Ministers, and, late as it was, he must refer to a petition from the
City of London, which was presented in May, 1820; in that peti-
tion the distresses of the country were trot attributed to " demons of
malignity," but to restrictions upon traria That petition expressed
so forcibly and so clearly the views which the merchants of the City
of London took of' dui commettial difficulties, that he would beg
leave to rend a few extracts front it. That petition prayed that foreign
commerce should be freed from all restraint, and that the people
might be afforded the opportunity of buying in the cheapest market
The floiree would recollect that those principles upon which Par-
liament had send woretwit the wild 'ahem:, of theorists, but were
sanctioned by the wealth and experience of the City of London.
Ile could not avoid laying great stressupon that petition for two
Tenons, first, because it slid not emanate front theorists; and
secondly, because the City of London frme whence it was sent was
the seat of wealth and commerce, and the petition represented the
opinions of the great trailing‘interotte. The first signature to it
was a gentleman whose name would protect hint from any impute,
lion of hardheartedons, a gentleman who had been Governor of
the Bank of England. Tnat gentleman WS? Mr. Samuel Thorne
ton; but he did not allude to the petition not to the respectability
or the signatures for the purpose of extenuating what was done.
He still continued to tionk as he had done formerly, that the
principle of free train was calculated to promote the best
interests of the country. And the writers who supported the
measures of tree trade had done service to their country ; he would
claim no credit for the Government more than was their due—they
followed public opinion. It sae their duty to be slow and to deli-
berate cautiously before they gave general effect to those opinions.
I Year after year had they been reminded of their slowness by those
very gentlemen who we'e row arrayed against them on the pre-
sent occasion. The lion. 51ember for Taunton had, in an elabo.
rate speech, maintained foreign trade, in order to bt profitable,
must be free from restraint, and he taxed his Majesty's Ministers
with indifference to the interests of the commercial community.
The Hon. Gentleman had complained that every country was de-
termined to live upon its own produce; and that if this country
persisted in its excluding system, the people must shut themselves
up in their own island a but let the ilouse look at what was the
state of Spain, with her exclusive system ; but he would allude
more particularly to some of the details of the lion. Member's
speech upon the occasion to which he alluded. The first measure
to which he referr ed was the restrictions upon exports from Eng-
land. The Government said, Let the duty be taken oft' all ex-
porn but the Hon. Gentleman said, Let the duty remain on
English wool. Government would not take one off without
the other. After years of trouble, 3lininers succeeded in abolishing
the restrictions; and what was the an-sequence? up to the present
time not more than 100.000 pounds e• wool had been exported,
whereas the country had imported 40,000.00 c paunds. There was
another subject, he meant the Revenue Laws, a subject which he
would not discuss at the present hour. Government had done all
in their power to correct whetncr evil might be complained of.
The cottemy in 11117, was not so great us in the subsequent years.
The various articles of trade were encreued in wool, in cotton, in
tallow, and various other branches of commerce—in tallow alone
there was an increase of 100 per cent. In silk, also, there was an
increase to a considerable extent, upon the whole, the advantages
of removing restrictions were to be perceived in all the branches of
trade. In 11317, that period of great pressure, the Bank had a large
stock of gold. They gave notice that they would pay all de-
mands in gold, and atter this announcement three was only 37,000!.
drawn out of the Bank. It was also proposed to repeal the Na-
vi,„mtion Laws. The Government did not go so far, they would
not go the wild length of the Honnurribie Gentlemen, but such
modifications had been enacted at tended vr'v much to extend
the commerce of Eugland all over the world. There were also the
remarks upon the Malik duties—it was his pleasing dutyao
in finni the House duo thaws *rut bees-Were away' with; Tirol
principal objection of the lion. Member for Taunton was,thiscoun-
try would not remove those restrictions which impeded the free inter- 1
course between England and France. Propermeasurn hatibetn taken',
on that subject, and France bad been invited to establish the inter,
course of trade betwen the two countries upon a footing of equality. '
Then with respect to the conventon with, and es to the udders issued
by. France in respect of the trade of Asia, Africa, and America.
France was entidcd to make her own regulations, but England
considered it necessary to insist that if she relaxed her principles es
to other pans of the world, they should be relaxed as to Bri-
tish ships as well as those of France—that his Majesty's Govern-
ment did, and that was all they had a right to do; what remained
to be done must be left to time and public opinion. It had been
also said by his Hon. Friend that the trade with British India
should be thrown opon ; he (31r. flushlsoon) roust say one *hie
subject as he had done with respect to the Bank of England
and the Joint Stock Companies that they bad endeavoured
to press on the India Company thel prudence of extending the
trade; at the same time his Majesty's Government were bound to
protect vested rights. Those were the main points of his Hor.'
Friend's recommendations on a former occasion; and he (Mr. Hut-
kotson) must say that he had alluded to them all and accepted
them all. His Hon. Friend (Mr. Baring) had charged that nothing
had been done. The Hon. Gentlemen said he would ask what was
the principle on which the Committee of Foreign Trade was formed
in the other Howie of Parliament? Would it be said that the
Noble Marquis, the Chairman of tint Committee, had changed his
ideas, like the grasshopper blown aiwut on the top of the Royal
Exchange by every wind ? That Committee sat, and having borne
in mind the smuggling in the silk trade, they inquired into the
state of the silk trade by evidence and whnesue, and they took it
upon oath, and the report stated that there were no bounds to
smuggling under the prohibition. He (Mr. Iluskisson) could not
but mention a circumstance that had occurred, of two foreign mer-
chants coming to England lee the purpose of purchasing silk
goods, and certainly they could have no interest but in stating the
truth : on the other hand, as regarded the opinion of the manufac-
turers, it must of necessity have a bias; yet one of those gentle-
men stated that the difference between the price of silk articles in
' France and England was from 21 to 25 per cent., and in the opinion
of the other 20 per cent., while they preferred the English silk
hosiery, as better and cheaper than that of France. , In 1823, as
the !House of Leeds could not give effect to their own report, a
measure was put forward in that Howie, upon which occasion the
Hon. Member for the City of London (Mr. Wilson) came down
with a petition from the masters and manufacturers of Spitalfiilde '
they wanted to do away a law that protected the workmen; and he
(Mr. Huskiseon) was quite eatisiied, that if it had been said to
them at that time that they could not hare both measures—that
they could not have the prohibition and the Act—they would have
said, let us have the Act, and let she prohibition go to the winds.
The Hon. Gentleman here read extracts from the former proceed-
ings of Parliament on the subject of the silk trade, and said that it
was in consequence of appeals that had been made to them that his
Majesty's Government. In cennequenee•of his Right lion. Friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer having come down to the House
and stated that he could give up that duty to the public, had pro-
posed the termination of the prohibition, and substituted a protect.
mg duty instead. When it fell to his lot to open the details on
that occasion, he heard a serious opposition from the fientlledber
for Coventry, who stereo:ly urged the necesairy of gime, some
time, in order to prepare for the chaege—at Last e period of two
, years: during that period the Hon. Member hal saidthat month by
.• month, and day by day, the capitals of all persons of property
would be resent, and ruin would ensue. (Hear, hear, from the
Opposition benches.) He could rot but mention a ease in which i ,
highly-respected individual hart coneeponeed with him on thesub-
eject, and that individual thought the if he should be overwhelmed
by foreign competition, he abould he entitled to a compensa-
tom ; bun the fact was, that so far from the fears baying being
• realised, that in point of fact he had assured kiln (Mr. Iluakieson)
that he had not suffered st all, and that Bill parsed in the spring of
1824. In 1824 the silk trade went on with unparalleled success; but
in DM ouch an excitement, inch speouletiturs were set on toot as
no person could believe possible ; old ntablishrtsents and old loom;
would no longer answer the purpose, and there were at that moment
buildings erected and machinery put up, although not completed,
which had cost ten and fifteen thousand pounds; never in the most
s times had such a state of things existed. The Hon.
rlnentn=n(Mr. Ellice) had given a description of the state of Mac-
clesfield; but he (Mr. Iluskinon) regretted that the wlwle of the
facts as regarded that town were not stated. Ile must say that
speculation was never carried to such an excess as in that town.
The last census was taken in 1821, and the population amoented to
17.746, and he would suppose that between the years 1821 and
1825 it might have iocrearted to t. 10,1100. What, however, would
the House suppose was the state of that ruined trade ? They
' would find what it was from the circumstance he was about
to mention. In the Macclesfield paper of the 19th February
lan appeared a -notice to the following effect, addressed to over-
seers and guardians of the poor, who were desirous of ending
persons in work in Macclesfield -Abu from four to five thousand
paean were wanted. (Neer, hear.) And he begged the atten-
tion of the donee to the following fact, that they were to be
from seven to tweet years of. age, and to be employed in throw.
ing and mane silk, the great increase of trade Noting
cooed a scarcity in number of hands. ((dears, bear.) It
was also seated thee one hundred houses to lodge thaw peewee
in, end this Ina stated from a place which was to be ruined by
the aliseides In July NIL Was it possible, therefore, to rely
on soy statamost wallaby that trade, that it would be ruined, and
Mel alleged's: ? and aft oath inhuman conditionasibose which

called upon the childless, the helpless, and the &ethnic, to be
turned off. according to the statement made, in a few oaths, in' a
state of aggravated distress. tpon the point of order for removal,
which had been an expatiated upon by the Honourable Gentleman
(Mr. Ellice) what turned out to be the fact? 'Why. dtat only
eleven persons had been so removed. (Hear, hear.) He was cer-
tain that he could while the House that if there trasallatrese In
Spitalhelda it arose from the causes be had stated. The same
observation applied to Sudbury, Manchester, Stockport, and many
other places, but Spitalfields had made greater progress than at any
other time in the creation of manufscturies ; and from those cir-
cumstance, it was that the House must suppose the Silk Trade
did not form an exception to the general distress. In the follow-
ing Session, at the recomrnendadmi of the Crown, and in accord.
*nee with the appeal of Parliament, he (Mr. Huskissoa) brought
forward trice/lures changing the civil policy and commercial
system. The alteration in , the colonial policy became ne'd
celeutry in consequence of changes that were taking place else-
where, which called for such alterations on the part of England.
On the subject of the commercial system a paper was in a state of
forwardness which would be put into the hands of gentlemen within
twenty-four hours, showing 'What had been imported in every ah-
tide on which duties had been curtailed. In the article of wine,
from the increased coosumption, the duty was still increasing, mat
on that of coffee it had doubled without affecting •the cone)
sumption of tea. The Right lion. Gentleman said he came
but he had to bog pardon to the House for the length to Which hel
had gone—he cam mow to "what, in point of fact, was OW only
question that remained between him and his Honourable Friend
(Mr. Baring) which was, that the article of silk was ea.
sily smuggled, yet smuggling wee not prevented by prohibition ;
it had existed at all times and under all circumstances. The
argument in favour of prohibition was, that when once the
goods were landed and forwarded they could be followed
into the pockets of the manufacturer upon the oath of the informer.
That the ton. Gentleman (Mr. Ellice) should stand up in favour
of that system was not the least extraordinary among these eiredm.
stance* which it had been his duty to point out to the House.
According to the principle just mentioned, what would be the
case an to Bandanna handkerchiefs? Why, that from the peasant
to the Peer their home, might be
they D'e tart' all
Bandanna handkerchiefs, was, the 'they were hugely imp it
sold for foreign consumption ; 1,0P0,900 handkerchiefs were told'
yearly at 45.. they were then shipped for Amsterdam, Rotterdam;
Guernsey, and various other places, and were smuggled back again
into I:nglead and sold at the price of Rs., being a elate additional
expense, of no advantage to the State. of 4s. on each handkerchief.
In France silk handkerchiefs were not used ; it was a comoion
practice at the French theatres to take out the handkerchief and
place it on the seat, and it would be always found of cotton manu-
facture. There would be little doubt that if, under the system
alluded to, an informer went before a magistrate to lodge an in.
formation, be would have one equally liable round his own
neck, and in all human probability the magistrate would have
one in his pocket. (1. iughter, and cries of hear, hear, hear.)
And the truth was that prohibition so operated. Define the law
was altered there was a person of great experience (a foreigner),
who considered that he amid not do better with his property
than establish looms in Etiglaed ; he did so, and (detained
his patterns and workmen ; he excited the jealousy and drew
upon himself the uumerited persecution of the British manu.
lecturers. They made a charge against him for smuggling, and
in consequence of a report appearing in the public wipers, his
Right lion. Friend (the Secretary of State for the Home Depart.
nient) sent for ail the parties. The charge of the British manu-
facturers was heard first : the other parties were then called in, and
the manteacturers said if they could get a sight of his books that
they could prove the act of smuggling. The person charged said
that he had a capital of 40,0001. and was perfectly willing that they
should see his books, if an officer would go for them ; the officer
did go, and the books were brought; every thing was regularly
entered, and upon being examined by the revenue officer, he found
the names of the persons employed ; they went to the manufactory
and found man for man at work upon the particular pieces de-
scribed ageing their names. (Hear, hear.) The British manufac-
turers still pereevered, and said that among some of the silk
there were parcels that were foreign ; upon that statement the
Treasury determined to prosecute. They called upon the manu.
factarers making the charge to send some person of skill
down, and select from Hid pieces such as were considered
French. That person selected ti pieces, and they were seized,
but the foreign merchant brought up Rom Manchester the menewho
had made them, anti it was proved on oath that they all had been
made there. It was with disgust that he tingle this statement, but
it was an important one. The Hon. Gentleman said he had been
told there were 500,1100 persons engaged in the silk trade in France,
and he had asked what might be the average wages? Whether as
low as on shillings a week ? Whether children might earn Is. Gd.
a week there, and work from nine in the morning until nine in
the evening; he did not know. It' they one with another cern ten
shillings, there would be 13,000,000 in wages, and the interest on
capital would mike it eighteen or twenty millions. The Lord':
Commi• tee took it at tea millions, but he (Mr. Li uskisson) would
take it at twelve or fourteen stallions. It the manufactories of Eng.
land were totally annihilated, and fourteen minims of silk goods
should be imported, it would give four millions of duty, while the
whole consumption or France was nut equal to that of England.
The Noble Lord, the Chairman of the Committee in the House of
Grade, a Noblernau_pf the acurittessintiguient. Ai/am evidence-eve
oatli,liad decided that 15 eer cent. Would be. an ndequate protec-
tion ; but in order to meet the question fairly, by erring on the
right aide, raid the protecting duty had been put at double that
amount; and since t he report to which he had Mluded had been made,
a reduction had taken placv in taxation amounting to 20,000,600/.
The proposed measure had been, treated as one only adapted
for the Island of Latium ; but when the Hun. Baronet ventured to
state his own views of the measures which he considered advan-
tageous for the country in its present circumstances, when he wished
to elevate bins to the treasury bench of that celebrated island, he
could pot help asking in his own mind what recommendation lie
should carry to its inhabitinta ; certainly not a letter from the lion.
Baronet, who had given the clearest proof*, by his conduct on tiff-
fetent occasions as well as die present, that he was In reality a
Brobdignagian. (Laughter.) During the that contest on the
bullion question the point in dispute was about the nature of the
standard of value. Mr. Ilaskisaon and his trio:eels said as their
forefathers hul said, that gold and silver formed that standard. If
practical men had agreed on this simple conclusion, the question
about the depreciation of the currency would have been settled at
once ;. but this proposition did not suit mute other (lentlemen. At
least a hundred pamphlets, quartet, octavo, &c. had been written to
prove that geld and diver were not the standeeds of value, and to
give the new rimers which the different writers entertained of the
nature of that standurd. Taking someinterest at the time in these
disputes about the doctrines of their thettiathers, the Right Hon.
Gentleman had the curiosity to extract from these voluminous re.
cud', fifteen definitions of that standard ; and what was then but
a matter of curiosity, would in the present juncture become of con-
siderable value. (inc of the most favourite definitions was, that
the abstract pound sterling was the real anti only standard—a doc-
trine which found numerous partisans in the City, till it was ex-
ploded soon after, by the discovery that a unit was the true standard
value. This hypothesis lived a few munths, and it was then found
that a sense of value in paper money, with reference to commodities
wan the grand arcanuni, the salt source and standard source of value.
If lie were banithed to the island of Laputa, as proposed by the
Hon. Gentleman, he would only take with Min the dictionary of
these definitions; and he was sure that no philoscplier in these
celebrated islands would dispute the palm of wiedom with ene, fur-
nished with such credentials. The whole finances of the country
would at once be put undeeltis superintendence, and all the coun-
try banks of Laputs would be placed under hte management. Un-
less philosophy had made a very astonishing progress since the last
century. the period at which we received the last authentic ac.
counts from Irsputa, no one there could compete with him in eh-
straction. metaphysic, or absurdity. (Laughter.) If the expo.
rienee which they had recently hail should ituluce the House to
revert to the old doctrine and maxima, he should submit to a guide
so infallible ; but lie hoped that an imperfect trial would not be
considered as canclusive on a point of /inch moment. Nutbing hid
het led him to doubt the wisdom of the measure. (Hear.) On
such a measure it is perhaps too much for fallible Man to pro-
nounce whether the work will eventually prove to be good or bad
(Ileac, hear.) 1k stated it, whatever the Hata tientlenian might
say, without any obstinate adherence to Consistency—he stated it'
herein the Houser and before the public, the charges which
were brought agaiesa him out of doors were as paltifol
to Ida faelinp an they were unjust. (Hear, hear, beet.)
fie was ailed mein to retract his measures—he was treated as a
nian who ought to be overwhelmed with compunction and remorse
for having entailed so much voily upon individuals. Could any
one bemuse that he wet more itM,rarble than others to the distress
which pervaded...not this beam* of manufactures only, but every
other brunch of inenufacumps "rand commerce in the kinedom
But whilst he had the, feeling* of a man, be had the duty of
d Minister to perform. He had a painful office to discharge :
he must put all persocal considerations aside, aged, must ask
himself the simple question, whether the course mcommended
was likely to assist theme unleippy persons—whether it would
restore teem to a more emilottable aituetion— whence his
reeentance wouhl prevent the recurrence of such calamities,
Under all the circumstances he would conclude in adhere to that
system which he thought minutia! to the intervals of the country,
essential to guard le against tell the hazards of fluctuation and in-
security of property, essential fur the safety of the enste, and for
the preservation of public prosperity. Ere very long we should
have to protect the security and stability of our commerce against
the most powerful competition from foreign countries. kkieb
countries were not wanting so Europe as well as on the other side of
the Atlantic, and this was an inaportaat circumstance robe considered
whenever we speak of man mere. or Mantlfacroren. He was not wiry
that these statements had been made in the face of this House; be-
cause it was the only place where he could reply to such unwarranted
and he would say unmanly appeals to public feeling. He looked
with cheerful hope to a better state of things. He
out that there
was nothing in the situation ef the country which ght wins.
nently to excite our fairs; for be sew our power still rest on its
ancient and secure foundation. The springs of the machine had
been too much prtesed and had. become unable for awhile to per.
term their fu ; but the carob, would won revert so ;bat
state of confidence and friend', thlacouteese h"faleh every man in-
stead of mistrusting: his neignhoul winuu hid and support hatt ih
the pursuit of hie inter ata whilst he should labour at the
same time for his owe. Tbin. wire rue!?7 itedividttaL, bode
in this House and oat of doll% wb•sua molder die paths
-weigh he, bad Famed fee dim wain were tea adapted
to the actual rireamoisiroN- eh‘lowore7. wits use,the'eldy
einvolatien 'which: ire • &Omit ele .sapecssd under the eits
jogs,
irritipsa WWI bias and upon himself, sesieafe
he did al by the owe of Parliament, sad dist
it wad thnatety waUl le the "C9rlSl sed bast !Mats 0
as country.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
To-morrow Evening, SATI.:II9 A Y, Feb. atp, will be performed
FAUSTUS.
The printipel Character, by Mei.m. %Toflack, Harley, 14 J ,
Moses Sleplvene, 1. Paton, and Puvey.
After ‘9lkb Gyinuaetic Exerclem by 11 Moroi., Antonio.
To conclude with
_ _ _ DF.R. FRE ISCHII rz.

Ortocar, Mr. Mercer; Caved.. Mr. Morn ; Adolfh, Mr. T. Cooke. Undo,
Miss grarklon ; Itooe, Nvey.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

GRAND PERFORMANCY OF ANCIENT AND MODERN MUSIC,

UNDER 1 mANAnsaaire? or *IR 019 ROS

Th Evening, FRIDAY, Feb. 24,- will be performed (second time/ •
now (MS., ()retort°. In Two Peat, entitled
'THANKSGIVING.
Hy Sir J. A. Stevenson _Mn,.Doe.
. .

End of Part 1. a Ftintsvla •on the French 'Horn by Mr. Sehunke.
Pat M. A Grand Miteellaneout Aet, including Selecttotes from Ram-
berg, Moore, Parr, Ro,,•ini, Arne, Braharn, and Bishop.
Prtnelpal Vocal Performers—Mevsra. iirahatn, }forecastle. Phillip,
Rohintkm, and Tinney ; Mawr Barker and Longhnrst ; &hunk 11. Cawse,
Farrar, Coward, Love, Paton, and Stephens; and Madame Tastily.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

To-morrow Evening, sATu Fe:). 25, will he perfnmed the Opera of

ARTAXERRES.
Arbace4, Mr. Brabant; Rimenes, Mr. Henry; Artabano, Mr. Phlllipa
Artaxerxes, Madame Ve4rts ; Mandan', Mt Paton.
After which the Farr' of
A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER.

Si: Mark Chase, Mr. Fawcett ; Alfred Hlghflyer, Mr. -fore;; Fiattue,
Mr. Rayner. Maria Darlington, Mad.une Veatria.
To conclude with
CHARLES THE SECOND; Or, THE. MERRY MONARCH.
King Charles the Second. Mr. C. limble ; Lord Roche ter, Mr. Jone 4
Captain Copp, Mr. Fawcett. Lady Clara, Mrs. Faucit.

ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE,
Oppodte Waterloo-bridge.
Tido Eveolog, FRIDAY, Feb. 24, and WEDNF:SLAY. March I.
LECTURE .ON ASTRONOMY ANI) THE PHENOMENA OF THE
HEAVENS AND OF THE EARTH,
To be Delivered by Mr. BARTLEY, oft the Wedoeldayt nod Friday,
daring Lem.
Beghtsat Seven—Conclude, at Ten.

TM Styria■ Puss commenced pribll.hint yesterday morning at a

quarter put tire u'el4k.

LONDON. FRIDAY, Fcasu•RY 24, 1826.

The principal circumstance of importance contained in
the French Papers received last night is the debate in the
Chamber of lkputies on the complaint of M. Dr. eai.a.
Basal- against the Editor of the Journal du Commerce, for
an article published in that paper on the 7th December
1823, containing reflections upon the Chamber of Deputies.
M. Dr SALADERRY, on making the complaint, observed
that such a case would soon be disposed of in England,
and moved that the Editor should be cited to appear be-
fore them, and subjected to the maximum of the punish-
tnent appointed in such cases.

(From the Doile dated %Vednesday, Feb. 22.)
The firt:t two pages and a half of the Emile are occupied with
the debates in the Chamber of Deputies, coinciding with the other
journals, hut it has besides