The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-22 00:00:00

326

he should ,till have to learn bow that would lower the price of corn.
The customary answer was, that it Would he accompliihed by
drawing corn from countries where it could be groWn cheaper than
in thi' ; but still there must be a limit to that supply, and hi the.
cud the price would find its own level he was perfectly of opin-
ion, that no country was more competent to maintain its own po-
pulation without the aid of any foreign supply, than the united em-
pire. The real mode of obtaing low prices, was to put that im-
pediment in the 'way of introducing foreign corn, which would
Blois its supply. If they fixed the import price et what. was likely
to be its average price, they would check, not only the exertions
of the British grower, lint of the foreign also. He hoped the sub—
ject wonid undergo the fullest discussion. It would have been
better to avoid legislation upon it altogether, if possible ; and he
wa, particuiarly sorry that it should have taken place at moment
like the present, when the price of corn was low, because the pub-
lic would run away with the notion that it was the object of the
Legislature to heighten it.--(!fear!)—lt would have been much
better adapted for discussion last session, and he regretted that it
was not then brought forward, —((fear ! his opinion they had
too often legislated upon the subject. When the price of corn was
high, they legislated to lower it, and now that it was low, it would
be iouldit that they were legislating to make it higher. It was a
most injorions and a moat unfounded opinion, to imagine that it
was in the power of that House to fix the price of corn. The
principle which met his approbation was this, that importation
snood he distountenanced till there was likely to be a scarcity of
ellen; that then, end not till then. 'corn should be admitted, and
that duty free. He had .the honour of being a Member of the
Committee of last Session ; awl he continued of opinion, that the
nude recommended y that Committee, was time best mode of pro.
seeding on the subject of the Corn Laws,
Mr. HORNER Milli see no other efiect which these Resolutions
would have, except hi the first instance at least to raise the price
of viten to the CallSUlller, and thi-; not for a short period, but for
some time: although ultimately, it was said, it wonid lower it ; and
I.e further saw that this advance of price would ultimately be of
no advantage to the grower, as every thing else, whether corn was
clear or cite _.p. would ultimately fill its level with if.
Mr. BUANot knew the agriculturist could not do without the ma-
nfact err. nor time monufacturer without the agriculturist ; lint it the
latter were not particularly protected by some such measure as this
• proposed, there could be no security that sufficient grain would be
prodneed in the country to answer its consumption, if ever the
bony of need should again assail us.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE spoke at considerable length against the Re-
solutions.
Mr. Husxtssoss supported them, and strut:ly urged the neces-
sity and good policy .of rendering ourselves independent of foreign
countries. for a supply of corn.
Mr. M4Ha V ATT opposed the Resolutions. At this time, when
commodities of every description were failing-in price, he thought
the landed interest ought nut to be the only class exempted from
demi s,ion,
Mr. PROTtlEfilie. warmly opposed the Resolutions; he adverted
to and condenmed the Report of last Session on this siihject ;. the
avow ed of of which wits, he said; to raise the price of corn.
'hie Hoti,e then divided. For Lard A. Hatnilton's Amendment,
27 agaiust it, 14.1.—Majority, 117--The Amendment was there
lore negatived, and the resolution was ordered to be te-corumitted
next day.—Adjourned.
Mr. livsxissosi said, that he thought it dangerous to iurimate to
the that there was any intention on the part of the saw-
pot ters of that inet.tsure to enhance tie price of corn. He -did not
believe that the Hon: Gentleman (Mr. Protheroe) had any intention
of exciting an improper clamour against the measure ; but lie
thought he should have waited till the matter bad been fairly before
the House. and Theo have made any representatisurto his Consti-
twin*: lie might have thought proper.
MG IV TN IVE considered it improper that any enquiry tsliould
take plane on any cepresentation that Members might think fit to
mate to tuwir constituents.—The Petition was then read, and
ordered to ,lie on the table.
On the coalition for agreeing to time Report of the Committee on
the Resolutions respe.etiagilre Cambritiee Canal, the same was carried
Histevs:v proposed a clause
heir names from the subscription
to thcpeseiug of time Act.—This
ESTER N, and negatived without a
a third time, and passed.
Kalso against any alteration in

.

MAY 22.

TUESDAY. MAY 17.
Mr. LOCKHART presented a petition from the Journeyman Me- •
chalks of LORdOII aod Westminster against the Apprentice Bill.
—Ordered to lie on the table.
The Local Poor Bill was read a third time and passed,
Mr. CRKEVEY moved for the production of a copy of a letter •
from the Earl of Buckinghamshire, President of the Board f
Controul, to R. Thornton, E,q. Chairman of the East lodia Com.
puny, on the subject of continuing the pensions granted doting the
continuance of the late act, which letter he conceived to be a gross
violation of duty on the part of the noble Earl.
After some debate, in which Mr. Wallace, Sir M. Wood. Mr.
Conrtenay, Lord A. Hamilton, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Whitbread
took part, the 'louse divided—for the motion 23, against it 6'2.
Mr. W. SMITH obtained leave to bring in a bill for punishing a°
crime of child-stealing, which was brought up.

ROMAN C4THOLICS.
Sir J. C. HIPPESLEY moved, pursuant to notice, for the produc-
tion of papers which he said would inform the House of the re-gola-
tions adopted in foreign countries, respecting the Catholic Clergy,
and would give them a more accurate idea of the practice of the Ca-
tholic Church than could be obtained from the varying and contra-
dictory rescripts of the Papal See. The Honourable Baronet after
recommending the difference between the Prelates and the Cathohc
Clergy to the attention of the Irish Government, concluded by mo-
ving that the 42d and 4,3 d paragraphs 01 the instructions to Sir G.
Prevost the Governor of Lower Canada of the i!‘ld October, 1811,
presented to the House of Commons in July 1813 be laid betore the
Howe.
After some discussion, in which Sir H. Parnell, Mr. Peek, and
Sir J. Newport, participated, the motion ww, agreed to, and
p.-
pers presented to the house in May last, with regard to the catholics
were, on the motion on Sir C Hippesley, ordered to be re-printed,
,

APPRENTICESHIPS.
On the motion of Mr. Scrjeant ONsLow, the home resolved into a
Coniniittee upon the Rill for repealing the Act of Elizabeth, and a
clause was added upon the motion of Mr. Alderman Coombe. The
House resumed, and the report :vas received; the bill was ordered
to be printed.
CORN LAWS.
• A long ttiscussion took place on the motion of Mr. Foster for ac
re committal of the report.
Mr. FOSTER proposed an amendment to the following effect,
That it was expedient that the several duties in existence should
cease, aid that iinportation should be prohibited whenever the priers
Should be inider 100 s. per quarter of wheat ; 665. per quarter of bar-
ley and rye; 50s. per quarter of big or bear : and 335, 6d. pt r
quarter of oats, except corn coming from onr American colonies, tic.
Mr. VANSITTART wished to postpone the flintier consideration of
this part of the subject to next session.
Mr. J. P. GRANT gave his most cordial support-to the proposition
of the Riglit Honourable fientleman.
Mr,, F. Lewis opposed the resolution.
Mr. W. LONG supported it.
.Mr. licsipssors hoped that the Committee would adopt the gra.
&toted scale, as it would do enough ,and not do more than was ne.
cessayy.
After a few words from Mr. D. Giddy, Mr. Foster, Mr. Vansit.
tart, Lord Milton, Mr. Canning, Sir J. Newport, Messrs. %V est, —,
Thiskiison, H. Thornton, the House divided--For Mr. Forsteirs
Amendment, 60, against it, 83.:-Iflice report was ordered- W he re, •
bu Wednesday.—Adjonraed.

WEDNESDAY) rtrAv 18.
On the question that the amendment au the resolutions on the
Corn Laws be read a second time,
Mr. CALtRAFT said, he had In some denrenassented last night to
the graduated scale : but he thought much more. information neces-
sary, in order that the subject might be properly understood., and •
the pillihr satisfied with the final determination of the House.
Mr. Aldermim ATKINs thought the present measure would bring
the price of corn nv. to.a price which the country could not bear.
He was•of ()Pinion it oiv2ht not to be raised• higher than 80s. He
would be willing to allow at 6.55. the sum of 1.5:4.; at 70s. 1024 ; at
ms. and at 80s. nothing.

Mr. P. CAREW was in fa; mu. of the protecting duty.
Mr.,BANKEs thought another Committee should be appointed he,
fore the seennd reading al the Bill, which should snore particularly
seek l'or information froni legal evidence, as to Alit present prices in
the differentmarketa at home and a,broad,
Genend QAscoTiqg !was in favour of another CoWnittce, and

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