The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-15 00:00:00

...nceivt(l there was no ground svlhitcvet ior guitz
Mtn n eftlnillitter•

Mr. 11. SUMMER it would be most un-
jtvmt to the wool-growers if the 'object were not
examined. In the Committee of 1816, to which
the Noble Lord alluded, the proceedings were hur•
bed forward in the most summary in:rimer. A
number of individuals had cumnplaiimed to him,
that, in consequence of the suinatary manner m
which the business was conducted, they hail not
had an opportuaity of expressing their sentiments.
Ile slid not believe that the statement of time Noble
I.ord was correct, when lie said, that, in proportion
11'4 ore spa mil wool was encouraged, another
must lie depreciated. 'r.ere were two descriptions
of laud applicable to the growth of different kinds
or wool--.nod, in consequence of the alteration of
the times, considerable quantities of each species
of laud would be thrown out of coltiyattoo, and
‘iould, of course, be employed in pasture. He
could tint conceive that ally mi.chief could ensue
from the publication of a Report on a subject
nearly connected with the agricultural and MIMI.
factoring interests. Ile should therefore vote for
time Committee, though hr would not pledge him-
self to agree in any plan that might be founded on
their lalwors.

Mr. Alderman ATKINS said, it was evident the
object of the Honourable Gentleman was, to ad-
mit the exportation of a parricidar sort of wool.
If it were allowed, there would be such a fluctu-
ation in price us must materially atter, the manufac-
turers. It appeared to lion, that if the inquiry
were agreed to, it would check the importation of
wool hum abroad. This would narrow the amount
of mattufactuies—a circumstance which he con-
entered exttertirly dangerous at this
Sir J. CatAHall said, the tole.• of wool had con-
sidersbly increased Wave this time last year. No
new Petitions (tad been presented. Instead of har-
ing the table covered with them, only one had been
broirgh: up. Udder these circumstances, would
they throw the inaitufacturing districts into con-
tusion and slur ni, by entering on such an inquiry ?
II Gentlemen looked to the end of the American
oar, they would Lind that the present prices of
wool were five, six, or seven times as great as they
then weir. He could out consent that a system
which had existed for near two hundred years, and
which lid been an advitotagrous to our usanufac-
tures, :Look' be disturbed—and he hoped the
Hon-e wont,' pause before they took the first step
for that purpose.
Mr. F. LEWIS said, the fact stated by the No.
ble Lord, that, two years ago, t Committee was
appointed to inquire, who did not inquire, was
:done soiNctrut, other remost existed, to in-
duce the House to apt ta C •ltee on the
first favouruble opportunity. Last Sesaion the
tabl- au, crowded with Petitions, but the frieitils of
the grow..l* .ad abstained from bringing the business
forward, on account of the state of the country,
winch IlidhCtti thew to forbear from introducing
such topics to the attention of the Legislature.
'(slit %e trio-will had passed away—and it Cotthl not
hr dehied that the present was a good tone to in-
vestigate the questiosi. Ile trusted the House
wooed ant dispose of the ;notion 411 grounds so
wholly i,stifficient to, liaise advanced by its oppo-
nents. 11 was said, that the price of wool had risen
very considerably. But the question was, not
*bat tar laic,- of wool might have basso ten or twenty
year* w4,)—but What it was proper for the Legisla-
ture to do, with respect to a pritiviple of policy ap-
plied to wool, and to wool only. The policy,
with respect to merchants getier.il, was, to suffer
them to export as much as possible. The Legis-
Idiom permitted the exportation of corn, the first
necessary of life—dud yet, notwithstatitling this,
they prohibited the exportatiou of wool, at all time',
and under all circumstances. This was a principle
au which the sale of no other production was regu-
lated. The grower was to sell his coluitiodoy to no
other persons but the manufacturers. lit retort',
the grower was obliged to ',mellow the cloth of the
manufacturer, whole the latter had an opportunity,
it lie pleased, to buy Ins wool elsewhere. %Vas it
tar fur one class to have all the advantage, and
another all the disadvantage!? The manufacturers
neae boom' to 'hew the ati.olitte ilecessity of con-
t.nuing this system. Now, if the Hume granted
I:ie motion for a Committee, lie would sheer that
tie grounds on which this policy was founded. in
Wtio, were utterly futile nod untenable. The idea
t. ,-, that foreigners could not make good cloth
without English wool. It was rim this alone that
Vie policy was founded. But the manufacturers
had a right to point out some true and reasonable
ground in support of their case. It was well-known
that the woollen trade was comparatively better
before exportation of wool was prohibited, than it
war at present. In his opinion, it would be bene-
ticial to the country to allow the exportation of this
article, trout winch such u revenue might be raised
as would enable 11inisters to commute the Leather
Tex.

The flott%e then divided—
Fur the Motion Re
Agaiusi it es

Majority 3