The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-06-14 00:00:00

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mitted 'for the purpose of being rectified, without thee* being dye
investigation and inquiry had =the subject, with a view to ethic%
he was of opinion that a Commission ought to be appointed. He
wished not to be understood as settling the agricultural interests
of the Colonies in opposition to those of the mother country. He
concluded by moving, that rum should not be included amongst
the other spirits nutted in the subsequent clause.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER confessed that
he had not been prepared to expect such an unfounded alarm on
this subject. Last Session he had alluded to the case of ruin
&a to the distress of the Colonies. and he thought it was not
any thing unreasonable to place the duty upon rum and upon
British spirits on a footing of equality. He trusted that it no
distant period The effect of the measures then in operation would be
to substitute British spirits for smuggled rum and gin. Certain
documents of his had been read by persons who either had mis-
represented or misunderstood them, and who had laid this at his
door; namely, that he considered 24e. would be a good remur.e-
rating price to the growers of barley, and that therefore he intended
to introduce some measure; for his part he knew not what should
have the effect of doing away with the Corn Laws. Now nothing
was further from his intention. What he had said was this : find-
ing that the average price of barley for the last eight years had been
30s. a quarter, be formed his coaclusion that if there was no duty
whatever on corn, he anticipated the price would be about 241. a
quarter. That was all he had said about 245.; but it had never
catered into his thoughts to propose the repeal of the Corn Laws,
which had beets attributed to him. Upon what ground was It that
Gentlemen thought the proposition made by him was calculated to
produce such results is had been represented ? He apprehended
that there was a very large quantity of barley grown in England
that was consumed in Scotland, and he believed that if they were
to reduce the duty on rum in Scotland, It would cause great benefit
to the agricultural counties here. The process of converting rum
into gin was not so easy as people might imagine. There was an
essential oil in good rum, which had a very peculiar fiavour, and
very able chemists had found it very difficult to remove that flavour;
there was certainly a chemical process that would dose ; but it was
by no means done so easily, as the right smack of gin could be ob-
tained from other raw materials. He owned, upon general prin-
ciples, he had from the commencement of his connection with the
Colonies thought a better course ought to be pursued towards
them. We had not acted like a Mother Country, but rather too
like a step-mother to those Colonies. During the war it was im-
possible to *et upon the principles he advocated ; but when war
ceased it was his anxious wish to treat all our Colonies upon the
very freest principles. The more we did so the more should we be
adding to the prosperity, security, and advantage of that very
class of individuals who now seemed so much alarmed at the bare
mention of the proposition, (Hear, hear.) He could not bring his
minteho the supposition that in proposing
.this measure to the
House, he was doing anything that could injure the interests of
those who affected to he so much alarmed ; and where he could not
perceive any danger in the adoption of a measure which was calcu-
lated to entoree those principles of free trade that were admitted to
be the basis of commercial prosperity, he felt it to be hit duty to
submit it to the consideration of .Parliament for their adoption, and
'therefore opposed the amendment.
Mr. W. S3IITH. said, the distillers were as much alarmed at
the proposition of the Right Hon. Gentleman now as they were last
year. The whole weight of the measure would tall tin the English
distillers. Not a gallon of the rum which was to be distilled would
go either to Ireland or Scotland ; and the rum to be introduced for
that purpose would displace a much greater quantity of corn spirit
than the interests of the English landholder could admit of. From
hint the whole was to be taken, and upon him the-whole of the ex.
pence would fall. With regard to the English distiller,hisaupply
was reduced to two-thirds of what it formerly was, and if the pro.
position of the Right Hon. Gentleman should be carried, it would
be reduced considerably more. He should certainly appose the
proposition.
Mr. ROSE ELLICE spoke in favour of the proposition of the
Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer). The
produce of the West India colonies was not above one-fifth of what
it was ; the price which it brought would hardly pay the expense
of bringing it to this country.
Mr. U WHITMORL considered the proposition to he con-
trary to the principles of free trade, and lie should therefore, con.
trary to his usual course, oppose the Right lion. Gentleman.
Pile. COKE also opposed the clause.
Mr. MONCK thought the Right lion. Gentleman had made out
a very good case, and he should therefore give him bin support.
After a few words from Captain M ABERLLT,
Mr. BENETT (Wiltshire) said it was most unfair that such
insidious attacks on the landed interest as the present should be
brought forward at so late a period of the Session, when those most
interested were absent.
Mr. H. SUMNER said the country had been in a state of great
excitement and alarm for the last eight or ten weeks, in conse-
quence of the announcement of the President of the Board of Trade
that a revision of the Corn Laws would take place next Session.
-Great uncertainty prevailed as to the ultimate determination of the
Government. Though the landed interest might have been a little
quieted by the rejection lately brought forward for a general reel-
sion of the Corn laws--though they might feel that a sweeping
attack was notimmediately made against them, they could not but
perceive that Government adopted another, and not less destructive
mode of dealing with the subject, in setting up a series of measures,
such as the Canadian Corn Bill, and that for letting into the market
warehoused corn. The landed proprietors saw and felt the injury
which such insidious measures as these were likely to inflict on
their interests, and naturally enough say, Let these be reserved
until the next Session. When the entire question is to be dis-
cussed, and if we are to have them, let them all come together.--
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUSKISSON said there were no grounds for charging Mi-
nisters with bringing forward any insidious attacks on the landed
interest at a late period of the Seasioo (hear, hear.) With respect
to the Canadian. Corn Bill, which had been mentioned as an in-
stance of such conduct, he begged to remind the House, that so
early as the Ist of March he anrounced his intention of bringing
that measure forward. The Bill was brought in immediately
after Easter. If the Government were to be attacked for

announcing a measure early in March, and subsequently intro-
ducing it at Easter, he hoped the lion. Member for Wiltshire
(Mr. Benett) would tell him at what period Government ought to
bring forward a measure so as to escape the imputation of delaying
until nearly the end of the Session. (Hear, hear.) The Right
lion. Gentleman went on to say that the duty on British spirits by
his Right Hon. Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) with a
view to put down smuggling, for every one knew that it was
carried to a greater extent in spirits than in any other. ( Hear,
hear.) Indeed, it proceeded to such an extent as to be extremely
injurious to the corn grower of this country. After some observa-
tions as to the quantity of rum likely to come in ander the proposed
regulation, he said that people would not be disposed to use rum
In preference to British spirits, and that the quantity of rum COD.
sumed would not more than cover the quantity hitherto smuggled
into the country. (Hear.) Indeed he heard from the highest
authority that no matter what commercial advantages this country
might confer on France, she could never compensate for the
death-blow liven to France ou putting down, by the reduc.
tion of the spirit duties, the contraband trade which had hitherto
been carried on between the two countries—(hear, hear)—a cir-
cumstance which, by increasing the consumption of British spirits,
must materially serve the corn grower of this country; he there.
fore hoped that no confederacy, such as that talked of, would be
formed amongst the landed proprietors, and he was sure that the
Hon. Member for Norfolk (Mr. Coke), would, notwithstanding
the adoption of the present measure, see the county of Norfolf
flourishing and abounding as much in the growth of barley as ever.
In conclusion, the Right Hon. Gentleman said, he had thrown out
nothing which ought to alarm the landed interest. (Hear, hear.)
Mr-BENETI (Wiltshire) said a few words.
Sir R. FERGUSON said that from all lie had heard he believed
the landed proprietors were too much alarmed. Indeed, he and
his Honourable Friends near him were like those interested in the
linen or other trades—they admired the liberal policy of Govern.
ment so long as their own particular interests were not interfered
with. The landed proprietors were now, be thought, fighting their
own shadow, as he was convinced that the quantity of rum im-
ported could not in the least effect the British corn growers. (Hear,
hear.) In the same manner he looked on it as a mere chimera to
apprehend any thing from the probable importation of about
100,000 quarters of wheat front Canada. For these reasons he
should oppose the amendment.
An Hon. MEMBER, whose name we could not ascertain, made
a few observations. . . .

Mr. T. WILSON thought there were no grounds for saying that
any peculiar favour had been shown to the West India Colonies.
A heavy duty had always been imposed on their sugar, and he was
convinced that if the duty were lower, the comsumption would be
muck roster. A great falling off bad taken place to the price of
West India sugar; that which once produced 455. now brought
but 231.
After • few words from Mr. 'WESTER'S', the House divided,
when there appeared, for the amendment,
Ayes, - 431 Noes, - 81
Majority in favour of the original Resolution, 38
The House then resumed, and the Report was ordered to be
brought up to-morrow.
COBB AT LYME REGIS.
Mr. BROGDEN brought up the Report of the Committee of
Supply on the question that 32,0081. be granted for the repair of the
Cobb at Lyme Regis.
Mr. HUME moved as an amendment, that before any addi.
timid sum be granted for that purpose, an humble address be pre-
sented to his Majesty, praying that he issue'a Commission to in-
quire into the expediency of the grant, also to ascertain how far
the public money hitherto expended on that harbour has been
useful.

This amendment was negatived without a division.
Two other Resolutions of the Committee were agreed to.
EMIGRATION FROM IRELAND.
-

.
On the question that a sum not exceeding 30,0001. be granted to
facilitate eutlgration from Ireland to Cauitda,
Ale. HUM E opposed th'c grant. He did not think it fair that
England and. Scotland should be taxed to enable the Irish poor to
emigrate, particularly when the grant was applied to a few
favoured districts. The Honourable Member moved, as an amend.
ment, that previous to any additional grant being madefor that pur.
pose, a Select Committee be appointed to see how far the grants
hitherto mado'have been productive of beneficial results ; and also
which wan the moat advantageous place to promote emigration.
Mr. W. fIOICFON defended the grant. If the Honourable
Member knew the number of applications from Ireland, he would
not oppose the grant.
Mr. CA LCRA FT thought the more encouragement was given to
emigranta,the more candidates there would be for it. For his own part
he disliked emigratiaa, inasmuch as it deprived the country of what