The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-10 00:00:00

eminent talents had been applied to the consideration of
the sehject.of Reform, and heexpected from him and from
Iris colle,agnis each a plan of Ileforrn as would satisfy the
hopes of the people, and 'at the same . time secure the
VAJOlttry froM the danger el revolntitin. As to the pledgee
that the Ministers hadbeld out respecting economy and
retrenchment, he very much feared that this would wily
excite very delusive hopes in others, and that the Noble
Earl at the heed of the Administration laboured under
great delusion himself, if he expected that any sensinte
relief would be afforded existing distresses from thi.
source. But the measure of retrenchment was in itself
a correct one. As to the miestion of the Currency,
the Ministers were aware of hie opinions, and they•
ought not to disguise from themselves the situation
in which they stood with reference to this question.
it could not be denied that they had but two alter-
nativre, both of which were difficult, but from which
they could not escape. The one alternative was, by
a return to a paper circulation, to raise prices ; or if they
rejected that, and persevered in supporting the present
currency, then the only other alternative was, to reduce
all payments to the seine scale. If they maintained the,
metallic currency, they must diminish all payments in the
debt, and all the establishment* to the scale at which they
stood in 1792 ; and then they must consider the conet--
quences, for the thing could not be done without a con.
vulsion. As to the corn laws, his opinion remained un-
changed; but if it was considered so very desirable to re-
peal the corn laws, and allow the importation of foreign
corn at all times, and without duty, he would have no ob-
jection to consent to that on certain conditions, which be
would mention. He who looked at the end must look at
the means. He must enable the agriculturist of this
country to compete with the foreign agriculturist. The
land tax must be abolished. The poor rates now chatged
tea the laud must be charged on the funds, on mer-
chandise, manufactures, and all species of property.
If the Ministry would consent to these conditions, be
would support them in the abolition of the system
of the corn laws. Did their Lordships think with the
Political Economists, that this country ought to be
left to depend on foreigners without conditions? It
Irad been said that there was no occasion for this Commit-
tee, as a Committee of Inquiry on the subject of the ad-
ministration of the poor laws lied been granted at the int
stance of a Noble Marquis (Salisbury). But that was nut
*efficient. It was necessary that there should be a Com-
smite& of Inquiry on a much more extended scale. They
had it on the highest authority—that of Holy Writ—" That
the labourer was worthy of his hire." But the labourer
could not get his hire es long as there remained so many
burdens on the land without adequate protection. Like
results of the measures of 1819 and 1828 were equivalent
to edicts of confiscatiou, or commissions of bankruptcy
with respect to all agricultural industry. Inquiry was
necessary, no less from the variety of causes which com-
bined to produce the distress, than frcen the particular state
of the public mind, founded upon the lamentable cone-
motions which laid waste the country. One thing he
was determined on, whatever others might do, lie should
feel it his duty to lay aside those new machines which
threw out of employment such numbers of the labouring
poor. To the ancient machinery lie bad no objection ;
but he really did think some limit should be put to
the use of those modern inventions, which displaced so
wet a quantity of manual labour.
The Earl of ROSEBERRY explained.
The Earl of ELDON also said a few words in explana-
tion, which were not audible below the bar.
The Earl of RADNOR said, that as he had voted for
inqtary lot session, and was now about to vote against
it, perhaps it might be necessary for him to make a few
observations in explanation of a line of proceeding which
might, if be did not, wear the appearance of inconatat-
eacy. In feet he always had, upon principle, an aversion
to Committees of Inquiry (which, m his opinion, were
of late years touch toe frequent), because he considered
that they tended, in many eases, to take the Government
of the country nut of the handy of his Majesty's servants,
where it ought to be placed, and to relieve Ministers from
a large portion of that responsibility which they were
coevututionelly bound to bear. Situated as he now was,
be avowed himself, upon principle, averse to inquiry; but
if be happened to be in the other House, where he had
passed the greater part of his life, he should, most pro-
bably, be a friend the iliquiryt but it would be with a view,
to impesehment. Far he really thought it was a thing not
to be silently endured, that the late Administration should
leave the crountry tee their CleCOShOri in a state of utter coo-
fusion and diaeolUtion of society; without having vengeance
taken on them.

'Steers) o e Lyrae order,
rose to
Lord TVINHAIR having riven first, wee heard. lie
put R their Lordship" if the Noble Led had not trams-
gresesil the retire of that Heusi, by tieing such a term at
vengeance in reference to any Noble Lord?
Eat STANHOPE read a pale* besting upon the sub-
ject froM the Order Book.
Earl RADNOR resumed, Ile did not mean to allude
personally to any Noble Lard. lie spoke mcrely of the
late Adminirtration. He retracted the term vengeance,
and was sorry he bad used it; but their Lordships must
have observed that words did net come very freely to him.
To the opining, however, he adhered, that there should be
soma examination with a view to, the punishment of dome
who had brought the country inter its prebent state. To
return to the question moved by the Noble and Learned
Lurd—hCifrOuld not now sate fur A Committee of Inquiry,
although he had done so last Seasioo, because he thought
circumstances were most materially changed. The pre-
snit Administration' bad only been three weeks in office.,
and on the first day of their accession, the Noble
Earl had taken occasion to deedere that he would
take the state of the country into his earliest con-
sideration, and that be would as speedily as re-
wade propose some remedy. lie was, therefore, justio
tied in maintaining that they were in totally a different state
Crow that of last year, when all inquiry was refused. In
saying this, however, he begged to be underetood as having
no blind confidence in the Government ; be would watch
their measures, though he was anxious at all times to give!
them his support. There was yet another objection to a
Committee being voted at present. Parliament was likely
to be adjourned in a few days (indeed ho might observe in-
eidentally that it was a great hardship that Government
could not have adjourned it at once, for its sitting must he
a great cause of distraction to them, from the anxious at-
tention they were required to devote to the state of affairs.
arising frotuthe lamentable condition in which the country
had been left by their predecessors), and from their only tide
jouroutent the Committee could only sit one or two days ;
mill he was convinced each Noble Lord would do better
service by going down to their estates and mixing with their
tenantry, than by sitting there and examining witneaks
upon things which they could learn better by personal oh-
rervation. He ridiculed the ides of fixing a limit either us
regarded machinery or the currency. If the Noble Lerl did
not redeem his pledges after Christmas, it would then be,
time enough for the Noble and Learned Lord to bring
forward a motion. He regretted to observe that the
links which bound society together were broken. The
whole State was sore,' and its wound,' required to be
treated with a healing hand. He trusted they would be
so treated, although some strokes of severity would, he
lamented to think, be necessary at first. For fifty years
the people bad been treated by the Government of this
country, not as the children who were to he loved and
cherished, but as enemies who were to be kept at a dia.
lance. The Noble and Learned Rirl well knew this was
the wen It was urged by Noble Lords that the dis-
tressed people thould have pursued another course—that
they should have petitioned; but did they not petition,
and were not their petitions disregarded? Fur ten year.
they bad petitioned for some Reform in Parliament ; hut
their petitions Were not even read. Atter this long en.
durance of evil, it was not to be wondered that they
were disturbed. Of his own knowledge ha could de-
dare the distress was frightful. An ohle-bedied and
industrious young num in the parish with which he
Was connected bad in vain applied fur work. His
allowance front the parish was es. hid. a week.
Could he subsist on this ? What was he to do ? The
condition of the country was lamentable t but he hoped
front the zeal and talents of the Administration, that
they would be able to establish peace. He trusted they
might go on and prosper. The last thing in his desires
would be to embarrass the present Government.
The Duke of 'WELLINGTON—itIy Lords, having'
voted against a reineilar motion in the last Session, it is
not my Intention to vote for the inquiry now proposed by
the Nelda and Learned Lord. I um perfectly *were of
the difficulties and dangers in which the country is placed.
It is not my inteution, and it never hes been my desire,
to extenuate any of them ; but I challenge the Noble Earl
who ercusee the late Administration to come to an inquiry
upon any part of the conduct of that Adroinietration,
Ins attributes the ditfienitiese and dangers of the
country, and from which he declares thrit they proceed. 1
object to the inquiry in this fieassion, as I did in the last
Yu'r) for Precisely thus Mule reasons, and for the very res-
tam stited by the Noble gdel.' This emptily, as proposed
by tht Noble and Leartted Lord, is to extend to the tinsuces
of the gauntry—m.oM evident of ,eihninistering and ett,
eating the 1awe.....t0 the *tats of the commercial and ma-
nufacturing intereets—and, tu, 0, Noble Eni
observed,
,avert to machinery. Now, my birds, it is impossible
you can have au inquiry 00 aft theie
without ex.
citing expo:cerium, end invelviog the country in tlinioul.,
tioi and dangers ten times greater' than those under which