The National Register.
London, England, 1815-03-19 00:00:00

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THE NATI(

THURSDAY, MARCII 16.

%s hot is extended to another, would be outrageous injustice ; and to
withdraw restrictions altogether, would be to alter the whole sys-
tem of our ceminercial and 'edified economy. It was far from his
desire to overlook or depreciate the interests of the manufactures,
bronaht ins as he had been, in the school where those interests had
been cordially and assidnously attended to. lint with all his predi
lections far that useful and tneritorioas class of men he did not hesi-
tate to say,, that next to navigation, the agricultural interest was-the
tnost important concern of all to the public. It had always been a
Wain object of the Goverunient of this country: In 1766, this
emintry not only raised corn enough for the home consumption, but
exported that article, and continued so to do till 1769. Experience
Irove(' that the policy of protecting agriculture was by no means
ncompatible with the interests of the manufacturers. It bad been
objected to the Bill, that it would raise the price of bread ; cer-
tainly ; and any regulation whatever might be attended with that
effect. As to the protecting rate of 804. to which a Noble Lord
had objected, there certainly had been a difference of opinion
a 'tong those who had been examined at the bar, who had fluctuated
at swim's points between 76s..and 90+. lint lie believed the-aver-
age ar those opinion was about 83% or e 4,. He could not help ad-
verting to the extraordinary statement which had been made, that
nne wanlii raise the price of the quartern loaf to. 16d. when it was
manifest that llSrk would be the utmost to which the loaf would na-
turally rise at the proposed rate. The object of the Bill was not
to set the English agriculturist at variance with the Irish, but to
voile them both together with the manufacturing interests and the
irtcrests of all classes of the community. His Lordship entered
into several arguments to prove that the regulation in question
would not raise the price of corn; on the contrary, it was Isis flint
ielief, that by fixing the price so high as 80s. the effect would be
to make the price of corn much lower, on account of the stimulus
awl encouragement it would give to agriculture. With respect to
snanntactares, he believed it was not the cheapness of labour that
ever made them flourish ; it was the plenty of fuel, of capital, and
the power of machinery, which promoted manufactures, and not the
cheapness of provisions, which were always dearer in manufacturing
districts than in other places. The price of grain in England was
tottigher now than that of grain in France, in proportion to the
dilferences of prices, 15 years ago. And all that time our manu-
facturers contrived to maintain a superiority in foreign markets.
lie was convinced, that if this hill was not passed, a most serious
-stistigas would tall upon all the labouring poor, and particularly
qui the agricultural labonrers of the country. The latter would
losconich more by a fallin the price of bread. The policy of allow-
ing a free importation would he, to have a glut at one time, and a
jjreat scarcity atatiother; and this was a state which no man could
wish to free the country placed in. He asked for nothing but equal
iirstice and equal law ; and for all these reasons lie would give the
measure his warmest support.
The Earl of Cartel see was adverse to the Bill.

GRENVJLLE argued at much length against the Bill. He
lhad dot day presented a petition from the City of London, in which
the petitioners desired to be allowed to prove at the Bar, the effect
this measure would have on the price of bread. This, he thought,
thculd be of itself sufficient to induce farther inquiry, and, he trust-
the justice of their Lordships would forbid them to decide on a
question so important, till both sides of it had been fully examined.
t was impossitle for them to dispose of it satisfactorily at present,
when not a single manufacturer had been called to their Bar to speak
to the effect of such a measure on the price of labour, and conse-
-cpnutly on the price.-4 of our mantihctures. He strongly -objected to
he measure, as tending to enhance the prices of labour, and maim-
C.ettires, and ultimately to cause the emigration of those who em-
ployed labour, and who ronsnmed the produce of our manufactures.
Louis LAUDLRDALE and SELKIRK supported the Bill.--A divi-
&ie.. took place.
Content.—Present, 92; Proxies, 52-144. Non -Contents—Pre-
rem, 15 : Proxies. —l7. Majority, 127.
The Bill was then ordered to he committed on Friday.—Adjourn-
-cd et two o'clock.

'The Bank Restriction Hill passed throngli a Committee.
Tile 7 rcaty wills America was laid on the table; to be taken into
vonsider4tion on Wednesday.

Lord. ST 414410 PR. piliViar-it to notice, moved a Resolution to the
effect, " that edeontagernent oitg,lit to be given to agr►culture, and
14 ith this view, that taxation on the farmer and labourer ought to be
diminished as tar as war consistent with the faith due to the public
creditor and the maintenance of a requiFite peace establishment."
flhe Earl of LtvERPoOL dad not see that any practical good could

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