The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-12 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

Earl DA RNLEY presented a petition from the Roman Catholics
of the town of Preston, Lancashire, preying for a removal of the
disabilities under which they laboured. His Lordship said, that be
did not know why he was selected to present the petition, sad
could only account for it by the absence of a Noble Friend, W
whose charge It might otherwise have been confided. Ile did net
wish to violate the general understanding which appeared to pre-
vail in that House and elsewhere, not to provoke any discussion of
the Catholic question during the present session of Parliament I
but as the petition hid been numerously and respectably signed,
he could not forbear from pressing the prayer of it upon their
Lordsh i pa' consideration.
Earl GREY said that he had a similar petition to present from
a respectable and important portion of the Catholic body. The
petition was signed by the Duke of Norfolk, and by other nobles.
men and gentlemen of that persuasion, praying for a repeal of the
disqualifying laws which affected them as Roman Catholics. He
concurred with the Noble Earl who had just sat down is
the propriety of abstaining from any discussion of the important
question which the petition involved, particularly at the present
period of distress in this country ; but thought it unfortunate for the
petitioners that all seasons were equally unfavourable to their
claims. Year after year had he been presenting similar petitions,
but without effect; and he thought that unless their Lordships
granted relief to the Catholics, the consequences, at one time or the
other, would be most lamentable. He thought that justice and
policy equally required the concession of those claims; and that
was his opinion in times of prosperity as well as of adversity. Re
wished to state that, nt the present period, when distress and dila.
culty added much to the danger, he hoped that the prayer of the
petitioners would be acceded to ; and that thereby the security of
this country would be estahlished._

CORN LAWS.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE presented a petition from Wood.
bridge, In Suffolk, against any alteration in the Corn Laws.
Lord KENYON presented a similar petition from a hundred in

Lord KING presented a petition from the journeymen cotton.
spinners of 3lanchester, praying their Lordships to release the
foreign corn now in bond, and also to give his Majesty's flovem-
ment a diseretionary power
.of art iitting foreign grain. His Lord-
ship said tit, " petitioners in thinking
measures

ment a niseretionary power of acimuting roreign grain. His Lora- thousand; a most extraordinary increase in the short space of ten The Earl of LIMERICK said that he could, with the most per.
ship said that he agreed with the petitioners in thinking that such years, It was evident, therefore, that we might now place on Ire- feet sincerity, say with the Noble Marquis that had just sat dbwo,
measures would lower the price of food, and that they would also land, as a source of supply, the same confidence which we should that he had given hie most zealous, but, he would add, not Ohi
create o,
a demand in foreign countries for the manufactures of Eng. have in the strength of a youth grown into s
roan. lie might be support, to his Majesty's filinisters ; in good fortune and Milk
land. His Lordship then presented a petition from the freemen of asked whether he would nut entrust the Noble Earl with the din- fortune he had stood by them ;of all he entertained the highe*
Worcester, praying for an alteration in the Corn Laws. cretionary power of admitting 500.1100 quarters of foreign corn ? Ile opinion of respect, and to many of them he had the highest personal
PROMISSORY NOTES. was convinced that no man had more the interest of the country at attachment, and nothing but the feeling of hie duty to Ireland,
Earl GROSVENOR rose for the mirpose of stating, that It heart titan the Noble Earl, but on a question in which he differed en- whose interests he conceived to beat stake, entail have induced bits was not his intention this Session to bring forward his promised tirely from him, he could not help feeling the want of inquiry. What to object to their conduct on the present otionsian. TM No*
measure for the more speedy recovery of Promissory Notes. At might not be the consequences of such a cloud as that weighing Earl ( Bathurst) had begun by stating, that if the in air weregpeo.
that late period of the Session it would not be convenient to enter
. over the Corn-market, where all depended on confidence between into, the length of time it would occupy would be ioconienistok
upon the subject ; but he had not altered his intention of bringing buyers and sellers ! Ile was convinced that if the Bill were passed Good God ! whose fault was that ? What was there peculiar ba
it before their Lordships, which be would do at a future period. no man could sell his corn a day after at a fair price; for the pur- the time ?It was the beginning of Val, and what more impel..
EARL Al ALMESTIITRY'S MOTION.—CORN LAW'S; chaser would naturally say, I cannot give you what you ask ; five tent duty could they have than to renistn at their posts, and sal The Earl of MA lAIESBIJRY MN for the Purpose of moving hundred thousand quarters of wheat may be thrown to-morrow whether there was a chance of famine, and Woo, to prevent its rah,
the revolution of which he had given notice, and in doing so be into the market, and then my corn will have no value. Let 200.000 log place? His Majesty's S. ‘.etary of Sate (Load Battu:rig had
assured their Lordships that he adb undertaken the task with pair of shoes be imported from France, and placed at the disposal quarrelled with the ambiguity of the Noble Earl (Alalookury).
great pain and embarrassment. It was most painful to him to of the Noble Earl, to be given out as lie chose. The nest day the Ile (Lord Limerick) had never seen a clearer proposition. A a.
differ on that occasion from some Noble Friends, with whose shoemakers of London would be in a state of insurrection ; they biguity I What was the proposition ? 'Why, that the
opinions he had generally coincided, ands his embarrassment arose might be told that the quantity was not enough to glut consume. corn in the country should be liberated ; but that to gift his; '
from the necessity of discussing the imporant and delicate question lion, but they would lay that it was not its effect on consumption jesty's Ministers the discretionary power of imporuog Waist. of the Corn Laws, at a period irch as the present, when distress but its effect on the market which would injure them. Eight greatest quantity of foreign corn that had ever been *donut t
prevailed in the country. The magnitude of the interests involved hundred and twenty-eight thousand quarters of corn would have a power which ought not to be bestowed upon theta. Their
in the present inquiry required more time and deliberation than been thrown upon the country since the la of June laat, even if the ships had heard that the measure was to be justified, like ni
g
the difficulties of the country and the late period of the Sessions present measure were not passed. Let them go into the pro- othersonly by necessity ; and therefore It became dude Largish' .
afforded. He regretted that the subject had not been taken up by posed inquiry, and they might perhaps ascertain how his ob. to consider what that necessity woo. OD the pan of the some other Noble Lord of greater abilities) but what encouraged jections might be obviated. Ile hoped that they would accede motets of the measure buss said that as apprehension. lII' •
him to undertake the task was, the indulgence which he had ex. to Inquiry from a conviction that the landed interest had no- was eatertained. It became, therefore, neceroaey to Impala& y
perienced on • former occasion; but if he should not succeed in icing to be ashamed of: that all it wanted was an open muesli. was the prier of arm t and he thought the Noble Baal (liallimrai the duty which he had undertaken, he hoped the failure would not
be attributed to the cause, which he thought was that of justice, ation, and that it would conic out of it triumphantly. He bury), had entertained an erroneous opinion on that head, The bp
. t tad heard that particular motives had been imputed to him for had stated that sixty shillings well the pared !price; bat treat I
but to the inefficiency of the advocate. By some it might be
considered that the course which he was having brought on this motion. Ile had no other motive than the paper be held in his band. ha found that illiy-tiglit shillings orng
pursuing was an attempt good of the thee to which he belonged, which was that of the sixpence was the prlcg OP. Satanley last:
to prejudge the question i but in his own opinion it would be better community at large. The Noble Earl then moved a resolution to The Earl of IiALAHIBURY said that wee the average prier.
to display before the House the circumstances of any measure, the following effect t—•• That this House, although sincerely ~....., .
_. ....
before. It came in the shape of a Bill. Two measures weft then int I to contribute to the fullest extent of its power to the 4'w "1" °f IfinPRICS *WI if likdr.lconn steeds Ifni MP.
before the other House of Parliament—theone to admit hooded „lid oaf mewing dosses, Is nevertheless of opinion, that any nPlwohendlff•lJalitivldr the inallinti lowing P vil'el Wit/
corn to •be released. and the ether giving a discretion se ileverts. it ht, set expedoes to pus any measure for the alteration or was th""b"114 WOW of the Kid, widablf 01. ._eterlishinilles•
hew ape that oat pe,..0:471 dives Asada,. eft Of hooded elms
ment to admit the importation of grain, at a awed duty. If their immesh.. ar de systeoa of Corn I. rigor i e- - dkelfiellig glom! . , •
bordshipl were to make an alteration Is die my, hp usamteda
,efiai— -won, too n..llitill of su bOD alteration or Into th 6 Iltgalea Wes steady et ituras emintry, and
it must fall to the ground. (" Nos nes"Sreo Les* lavierpool.) Nil of Intich ey may pratouce on there. ...BuPPollid at Tat lorettia ee the One di*. of proteatimt 0
His Lordship then said he would not wise Ilwalwonelt of the " totorooto of dm ipoweos sod consumers or British corn." the vest of' lib beftivillity. TIM! retell Wenn. flamed she l:pa.
subject, but he would take a shoat pilaw' of wise hod tome done cl pal resolve**. Met 010111101 and Otero who 111 t Two*, s.
respecting tire Corn libeil within As he var.!ko resident of Zed BATHURST did oat see how sash a motion tallied whit diem. *Ma he *wit derail US 'it . at lures**. Ifs
the Boo" Of zOO% on his spew& ft Mlreirring, when be wog th;s6l adosiselso dist des pissed was mot shworopoe time for consittorod dm hair of irillinle* deideale a 'f f iher watab
se podiososw; his mho., of , bad NOW We die titntweelha at .i be Oliimrs. its
°Noble Burl one eitsfrrill Thlf-addllawle• WIN shell*
is hi. *stop existing OM Ladle be rotes* dot lalmaiK•ff al . as ."s yeasv-Ida law m abject *al ite limy tentsitinie.tellb.
distil* 11, 60.1011 k Of 0181080640 is* (01006 m *a midi a mate., *fa vtiafffar 1.511 hareasjilanliell ad dee bloc irdi 111111 Pi id P . Ostai:4*-Plitillialk
any. newmpoi two _mile Ayr that daellisueled, sdb)est della Genalamm weelli bimiiiiii‘o Willrilli. di*. theel. bed . ' , 11M1 . . rbelitil
weft 10• teebibree istfaihesed .111110=1, by tie est sitseaksing mere dna cis viteseses. lot the_ ass , and • wiz: IP • of' • :
"INN quotes of bomb/ on Sloe Ilieenalto de wiwwwyrdlei silty would tabs paggikaii use yin gm, , ~,,,o„,
Noble ir *iv PI!
' leellhaaed by firs/hatide,
1 bias eshomenotiont Vibe -.steed One vie ow . :NT— goodie did set WI foe merahellatta. hen
Con Bill, by wig* the Aweless Colonies wield be *sod ew o His Ws Friend wilted the disuse to casts to a &demi= af is dairy. gin Idajletee ilialesees bed naneed as inquiry into the

circulation pardon- notes in England, Scotland and brelaird. No.
he begged they had emoted an inquiry only into Seotland
and Ireland ; and there were nothing but anomalies at the present
day—for in Scotland and Ireland they had inquired without
*mg, and in England they had legislated without inquiry. It
was required that the question should be left to the discrimina-
tion of %blunter. ; lie had ito doubt they would exercise a mond
discretion ; but it was a circumstance that he would watch very
closely, tor arra did they mit for? To have the power of import.
ing tire hundred thousand quarters. of foreign corn. And what
would the firmer. pay ? They would naturally say. that there
was an idea they were making too touch money. They would I
say, this will never do. we Allan be ruined : and they would run
to the market. and get out of the difficulty as soon as possible.
The would have a sort of Dutch auction, and sell at any rate.
With respect to the case mated, of what had taken place in the
year 1764, he most observe, that at that period there were two
contending patties in the State, but that was not the ease at
present. He was sure that the Noble Earl (Liverpool) had no fears
to apprehend from the Opposition of the present dny. It was only
foe the Noble Earl to call in the aid of the honaehold troops, to
which he (the Earl of Limerick) himself belonged (3 laugh). if such
wee apprehended ; but he believed the Opptwition ul IVA turned
out to be only a six weeks' tyranny.-With respect to a report which
be had near hint—that of a highly-respectable individual, no doubt
Jecob)—he must say it was a moat extraordinary document.
He had run all over Europe In about six months, and had examined
the state of the land and agriculture in all ies hearings; but he must
say that he saw sotnething in the preface of that report which ap-
peared to be advice to him as to the opinion he was to give. But
fist gentleman had not gone into South Russia, the Ukraine. or
Sicily, which were most important places to have visited. Ilia
Lordship then commented at some length on the report, and con-
cluded by claiming inquiry on behalf of Ireland.

- .
The Earl of H A REWOOD said that he did not think the ques-
tion was so disadvantageous to the landed interest as had been re.
presented, but he should belie his own opinion if he did not stale
that he thought It would have been better it the question had not
been agitated at all ; hut, as it had been, it behoved those who lied
the interest of the public at bean to do what they thought least
injurious. Ile considered that those who objected to the ern elide
Would also object to that of liberating the bonded corn ; but such
usenet the case. With respect to the landed interest. he was
bound to say that be did not think that, at any tinte, a boon had
bean given them, and therefore he did not see that any ought to be
asked. He did not wish however to go invidiously into the ques.
time, btit he should belie his feelings if he did not state hieponeietion
that the interests of the manufacturing community and those of agri.
sultan* were inseparable. The late state of trade he thought to have
been of • very morbid nature, and pregnant with dangee to the
principles by which it ought to he regulated; and he should wish
tone It return to that state at which it was at the earlier period of
hie life. Whatever might be the prospect of the harvest, he was
afraid that a/theugh trade might improve, still there would be •
. large proportion of persons working at low wages, and if relief
mild be afforded to them. he should be happy to see it. Looking
en he did at the evil tinder all the circumstances, sod considering
that the proposition for admitting the warehoused corn into the
market would do a great deal of good, be fat bound to vete fat the
adjournment.
The Earl of ROSERERY said, that after what had taken
place on the subject of the Corn Lewis during the last and err/eat
c=ession of Parliament, he had heard the proposition of his Major.
ity'a Ministers with something like dismay and utoliehment. He
felt astoidslintent at the power which was claimed, to give the Go.
vernment the diarretitni of admitting fereign corn, after the presto.
.ration of Parliament, because it was not a slight or trivial innova.
non, hut one that they ought not ae have asked without antecedent
inquiry ; and he felt dismay, because It was the fine belief on his
mind that it would not afford substantial relief to those whose prf.
rations and distresses were so sensibly felt and deplored. At the
atone time that it went to excite apprehension and alarm to the only
sound claps of the community, it would not alleviate the distress of
the manufacturing community, but on the contrary. If the project
of his Majesty's Ministers had been confined to the lett;ng out the
bonded corn, he would have given that measure his support, and be
should still do so, but with the perfect belief that it would not
prove any alleviation to the manufacturer, but because it would go
to the removal of a prejudice they had imbibed. If prices were to
be the criterion by which the question was to he tried, then his
Majesty's Ministers would have been more entitled to ask for the
power they now sought last year than in the present, for corn was
theft 7s. higher than row, lie was afraid that the proposition of
het Majesty's Government gave encouragement to the Idea that
titmice prices might arrive, and he thought that a subject veil worth
their Lordships attention. (hie view which might be taken of the
measure was certainly that it was an expedient to alleviate the
distress under which the country was at present labouring. If
sisters considered it only in this light—if they intended it as a mea-
sure only of temporary and contingent operation, they would be re.
dueed even in that case to a dilemma; for either this distress which
it was proposed to remedy was the consequence of the Corn Laws,
ar it was not se. For his part he did not consider It as attributable,
scan in the slightest degree, to the Corn Laws. It was not the
dearness of corn— it was not the scarcity of the necessaries of life—
it was the want of employment alone that had produced the distress
at present undoubtedly existing among the manufacturing elapse,
ot this country. Should the price of corn be reduced even far be.
low its present level, if no means could be discovered for procur.
e"g employment, no benefit would arise to the manu.acturing popu-
lation from any measures that might be adopted far that purpose.
It was the duty of Ilia Majesty's Government at least to inquire
whether there was any ground for such resolutions, before deter.
mining on measures so decidedly prejudicial to the larded interest—
att interest which must ever be looked upon as one of the utmost
importance—one with which the welfare of the country was Intl.
enstely and inseparably connected. The idea of lowering
the price of corn was liable, therefore, to the most es_
menial and radial objections ; since It tended to compromise the
well-being of so important a branch of the commonwealth. He,
for one, was no favourer of the Corn Laws by any means. Ile
thought undoubtedly they ought to be revised and altered . • but he
was not prepared to say what was the best mode in whith this re-
vision and alteration should take place. For this reason he con.
cured that an inquiry was absolutely necessary ; and as he believed
an alteration to be inevitable, he wished that the opponents of such
• measures, instead of employing themselves ineffectually in consi.
dieing the means of entirely averting such a change, would rather
tarn their thoughts todiecover the best and safest plan for effecting it.

The Earl of ABERDEEN said he considered the landholders,
yeomanry, and peasantry, not only as an important part of the po.
pulat ion of the country, but as the most important part of it ; hut
he wrs convinced that the measure now proposed implied no such
danger to this important class as the Noble Lords who had spoken
in opposition to the messute seemed to apprehend. The agitation
of such questions in any shape was mach to be lamented. The
Noble Earl who had introduced the discussion had been taunted
with inconsistency—had been accused of forfeiting the pledge which
he had given that he would not enter into any inquiry on the Corn
Laws during the present Session ; but it was clear that he did not
consider the present measure as connected with the general ques.
non, or as calling upon hint at el to enter into that question.
These Noble Lords had recommended inquiry before adopting the
manure. They forgot that they had actually agreed last yesr to a
measure of a similar nature, which Ministers had found it neees-
sezy, on their own responsibility, to adopt, in circumstances of
argent necessity. They had agreed roan actual and unauthorized
Interference in that case, and could they now refuse to permit such
on interference in a ease which was only contingent and might never
occur? He would feel inclined to place a conlidence of that sort
an any government, permitting them to use a remedy only in cases
in which there was no possibility of procuring any other, and li-
miting the power conferred upon them to the mere application of
that remedy. Perhaps it would be well if such a power were per-
manently conferred upon the Government. It was very true that
die agricultural and manufacturing interests were connected loge-
ther, and that the one could not flourish when the other decayed ;
but notwithstanding this there was a sparrow-minded feeling in the
parties connected with these branches, which did not permit them
to take an extended stew of the more distant bearings of such ques-
tions, and which rendered their interests in their minds apparently
distinct, and even opposite. It was proper in such a ease as this
Mat there should be an impartial power capable of controlling their
entire and correcting their views. When die Noble Lord (Rose.
bitty) ed that the dearness of provisions had no effect in pro.
during the distress of the country, or, in odor words, that it was
cite same thing for the consumer whether corn was at 60a. or
Ms. a quarter, his Lordship seemed, in his opinion, to ap-
proach very near something like an absurdity. But this mei.
sure was net to be considered as a measure of relief for any
distress at present existing. It was in fact only adopted as
a preventive of future and possible evil. He could not say what
that evil was, but this he knew that it was the duty of Government
to Inquire into the nature of such an evil, and he was persuaded
that Government had seen enough ir„ the spirit of that House, and
in the general spirit of the agricultural interest, rot to hazard any
measure of this sort lightly. There was another consideration
which ought to weigh strongly with their Lordships to induce them
to adopt the present measure. It was derived from the constitution
of this House, which, by rendering it independent of popular
elections, had removed it, in the eyes of some, fiem all ennnexion
and fellow-feeling with the great body of the ;public. This had
how supposed to be the e ase in the present question in particular,
and it was necessary in do something to refute curb a calumny.
This House enjoyed as-fully the love and the respect of the public
ea that other branch of the Legislature which wan more popular in its
constitutions and formation. It was placed, by the permanent
incurs of the seats held by its Member., in a situation which enabled
tt to look ntladily at the real interest of the state without heeding the
posting clamour frown without ; but this should not be considered
as dispensing them from all attention to the general wish, and it
was necessary to prove that they were not led away by any interested
views on this subject. Even should the measure fail in operating
any relief, it would at least 'hew that they entertained entre degree
or sympathy with the other classes of the community ; it would re-
move the possibility of any suck odium being cast upon them.
The measure was innocent in itself, he added, and that the manner
in which it was proposed was etrictly cons..tutional could not be
doubted. If Ministers in a ease et necessity had adopted such a
measure, their Lordships would have been deposed to grant them
an indemnity, and it was still more constitutional to demand such
an indemnity beforehand, If such a necessity should occur. lithe
rope should fail, GletertMellt would not hesitate to increase the
quantity of the novo which they would permit to be sold ; ea that
their demand was at once limited-and contingent. Though he re-
wetted the nemissity which had been said to exist by the Noble
Lords opposed to the measure of revising the system of the Coro
LOWil, still he thought the present measure might st.tl ought to be
kept separate and distinct from the revision of those laws, and by
voting for it he by no menus considered himself as prejudging any
part of that question.

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