The National Register.
London, England, 1822-03-10 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

Mr. LOCKH ART presented a petition from Whitney.
Oxfordshire, complaining of agricultural distress. The
petitioners represented that they could not pay their
rents, except by encroaching on their capital. He begged
the serious attention of the House to this subject, espe-
cially after what he had heard of the proceedings of the
labouring unemployed men in Norfolk and Suffolk having
risen in alarming bodies, and having destroyed and burnt
corn ricks, &c.—Ordered to be printed, after some re-
marks from \le. Gooch, Arc.
Mr. GOOCH presented a petition from the county of
Suffolk. agreed at a public meeting, held at Stowe-market,
complaining of agrirtiltnral distress, and praying for re-
form. He was favourable to the trorrectiou of abases,
but he was not the friend of what was called Parhamen-
tary reform.
Mr. COKE had noshope that any petitions would have
any effort. He was rather sorry than otherwise that peo-
ple should continue to petition that House, after all the
insults that had been offered to the petitions. He de-
clared that there was no hope but in a reform of that
House. lie wished the noble Marquis and his friends
had been with him at Mark-lane, and had seen how the
Noble Lord's resolution was received.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY expressed the
opinion, that they ought not to consider the whole collec-
tive wisdom of the country was assembled at county
meetings, though he admitted their petitions ought to be
received with considerable attention. He thought that
the hon. member who had lust spoken h.itl not recently
very closely attended to the arguments in that !loose;
perhaps he had been otherwise too much engaged, and
bad been in better itands.--(Cheers and laughter.)
Petition read.

Mr. 11.1.:`N 1It1) spoke in support of the peiition. It
prayed for II form, he was clad to ely; and lie trusted
that it would Lea wasoing to all tutothers, except the

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representatives of venal places, or those under private
controul. It allowed members that the anass of the peo.
ple now began to perceive that reform alone could save
them. _ _ _

Mr. MACDONALD censured what the noble Lord
might deem well-timed pleasantry ; it would be viewed in
a very different light by the country. When a petition
of so inelauelioly a character came before them, was that
a time for pleasantry ? The lion. and excellent member
for Norfolk had not suffered any domestic comforts to in•
terfere with his public duties ; and that worthy member
possessed the confidence and esteem of the country...-
The noble Lard might envy him those advantages; he
could not deprive him of them.—(Cheers.) As to the
character of the fleeting, he was present at it, and he
declared it was most respectable. If it were not mare
numerous, it was perhaps in consequence of the prevail-
ing opinion ont of doors that to petition that House was
useless; that it was not worth any yeoman's attention to
go one hundred yards fur the purpose of accomplishing
such object.—j Hear, hear.) As to the member for Suffolk
(Mr. Gooch), lie was quite astouislied at what he was in
the habit of hearing in that House. Hid for the evidence
of his eyes and ears, lie could not believe what took place.
There seemed to be something in the atmosphere of that
place, that acted like ■ spell on the " leading country
gentlemen," for their speeches in that House and their
promises on the hustings were at complete variance.—
(Hear.) It was curious that the vote of such hon. member
(Mr. 0.) and that of another, might he considered as
having decided the question against the repeal of the salt
tax ; yet on the hustings they had belaboured that tax
most somlly.—(Cheers.) He contended for the neces-
sity of ample reduction of expenditure and taxes. All
their distresses lie attributed to the Bank Restriction Act
of 17,47. It had given rise to boundless extravagance,
and to the utter regardlessness of the public means. He
denied that the Sinking Fund at all contributed to the
maintenance of public credit.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY, by any transient
and haling gaiety, had not meant to insinuate that the
petition was not meriting the serious attention of the
House.
Mr. GOOCH denied that he had promised to support the
repeal of the salt tax ; he was desirous certainly of seeing as
much reduction of taxatiou as possible. He denied that the
cry for reform was prevalent; the populace, misled by
speeches, culled for it; but the people of England, the
thinking portions of the community. did not require it.—As
for himself he should perform his duty withuet regard to
party or faction.
The petition was ordered to he printed.
Mr. HUME brought forward his motion on the subject of
the post-nfii••e. It was au establishment that cost the
eau• try 617,0001. There had been no regular papers since
1197. The revenue of the office was about 4512,0001.---
There was much difference between the expense °recollecting
this revenue in England and in Ireland. The establiohniest
required considerable revision. He complained of the
number of postmasters. He also complained of the expence
charged on newspapers sent abroad. They were sent free
of postage in this country, but for papers scut to the role.
nits, there was a charge per year of five guineas for a daily
paper, tour guineas for a three times a week paper, and two
guineas for weekly papers. These receipts were applied to
pay the establishment. Ile objected to this mode of remiss
aerating the etc. ks, Etc.; and the restriction thus put on the
circulation of newspapers cunsi.lerably injured the revmue.
It was also unf iirly taxing the circulation of knowledge.—
The mode of imposing charges on magazines, foreign news-
papers, &c. was equally exposed to reprobation. He coo.
eluded with moviutg for a long series of accounts, iHustrative
of the post-tithee establishment, its receipts and expeudi•
tare, fee.
Papersordered ; as were like accounts for the pest-offices
of Ireland and Scotland. Accounts of newspapers seat
abroad, magazines, &c. were also ordered.
Mr. HUM E moved for accounts of the expenses of the
new colonies of Ceylon, the Mauritius, &c. and fur an se.
count of the lonian Islands, &c. Ordered.

Five Pen CENTS.-Mr P. GRFNFELL enquired,
whether, after the report on the subject of reducing the Five
per Cents. had been presented, there was to be any chnitos
of the mode of remunerating the Bank—whether there was
to lie remuneration for receiving the dissent►?
Mr. LUSIIINGTON replied, that there would be a
remuneraliou to the customary amount fur receivieg the

dissents.
Mr. P. GREN er.u. said he should deem it his duty to
resist all re ttttt aeration to the Bank for such business.
Pun Li Orricusi.—Mr. LUSH I N GTON owinz to
the cnutiuued intli,poshion of the Chancellor of the Eirche-
burr, it was neCewary to potilptole the MOttoU to 410t,11d the
superannuation act.
The r. emitting orders and business having been disposed
of, the Iluuse Bottum ated.
ritlnt T. ?a Alma 8. . _

Lord STANLEY prerriited a petition, complaining of
agricultural disters., from Nlnulilerarss, L.teicashore.
En:NM/RC:li rOLICE —Mr.A BOW Fio M RI R prevented
a petition from lidinhilf)(ll, Ili:tted by upourds of 5,000
per.uns,agaiu•t the Ettaiburgh police hill. The bnoowuble
member a whet the subject to be ►cut to a committee above
stairs.

_ .....
Petition rend. Ordi•red to lie oa the tahle,after some re-
marks from Mr. W. l)undas.
Mr. ABEIt(ItO %IMF. presented a petition from the
corporate body of merchants, amount log to whom 900. It sins
also against the bill. Ile was prepared to prove the twat
of the .everal of the petitions.
Mr. W. HON I) IS espre,ved liem.elf in favour of his hill.
It was impported by all t he respectable tolsthitants of Ldio-
burgh, except the " genii men radieals."—(Cheers.)
Mr. HUME •poke against the bid. He would rather
another himself 111111011g91 the "gentlemen radicals." thaw
the " geollentim corruptioni.t.."---( Loud cheers)--Tae
Latter were those w lio desired to live fill the public means g
the former were atom w tin w i-lied the public mow, w be
applied to the piiriiii-e. for w Melt it wilS intended..--( liver.)
Mr. Alit:llCM) SI contended that it became the
Ilmose to institute an rnqu•rs iu beh.ilf of the injured indivi-
duals who complained of tile hi.l. He moved that the pea.
lion. he referred to the committee on the bid. .

. .....
Mr. S. WOlt 'mid, Mot great irritation had been
produced in Liliiittor:.l., iu ronvequenge of retaintas Capt.
Brown na 1411itel I:dead:tt of the Edinburgh pollee; and he
therefore el .ht it very udviseable that he ►hould be re-
moved. (Ice.
Mr. KENNEDY observed. that there was a strong and
well founded feeling agninat the hill, and he trusted that tie
Mose would ((wider the petition.—Motion arreed to.
Mr. KENNEDY Cleo presenred a petit from (be i.
(Ft• etmtertudtivos see pale TIS.

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