The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-22 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Mr. M ACLE AN then rose to ask the question of which
he had given notice with respect to Spain. He was sorry
that the Noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Depart.
ment was not present in consequence of indisposition ; but seeing
the Secretary for the Admiralty in his place, he thought he
might be enabled to answer the question. Accounts had
reached this country of a very sanguinary engagement that had
taken place on the North coast of Spain between the troops of
General Evans and Don Carlos. The account proceeded
to state, that after the engagement, which was of consi-
derable duration, General Evans retired to the fortress
of Saint Sebastian, with the troops under his command
in groat disorder, and with considerable loss of life.
The account then went on to state that the retreat
was covered by his Majesty's Marines, and further, that
Lord John Hay, and some of the Captains of his Majesty's
Navy, were present during the whole of the engagement.
He Mr. Maclean was anxious to know whether or not those ac-
counts were true—ii they were, he wish, dto know whether
his Majesty's forces had sustained any and what loss in the en-
gagement. He wished to know that with respect to both the
marine and artillery forces.
Mr. C. WOOD said no accounts were received at the Ad-
miralty of the affair alluded to, and Government had no means
of ascertaining the truth of the statements which appeared in
the Newspapers.
Mr. G. PRICE wished to know whether, if the British
Marines were so employed, they had raised the British flag, or
were under the supreme command of General Evans.

Mr. WOOD had only the same answer to give as that to
the question of the lion. Member for Oxford.

M.r. MACLEAN wished to know if any telegraphic dis-
patch had been received at the Admiralty, by way of Paris,
announcing the engagement.
Mr. WOOD said there had not, and the latest intelli-
gence received at the Admiralty was through an officer, who
left Bayonne on the Bth inst.

CORN LAWS.
Petitions were presented by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Hume, and
by Sir R. Vyvyan, praying the House to alter the existing state
of the law, which prohibits the manufacture of flour and meal
for exportation.
FOREIGN CORN IN BOND.
Mr. ROBINSON rose to bring forward the motion of
which he had given notice, that the laws which prohibit the
manufacture of foreign grain, flour, and meal in band for ex-
portation, arc injurious to the interests of British commerce
and navigation, and unjust in restricting the free employment
of capital and labour in the United Kingdom, while they
afford direct encouragement and undue advantage to the
foreigner in a valuable branch of trade, not only with
other States, but with our colonies, and that it is expedient to
alter and amend the same. In submitting that motion, he should
endeavour to detain the House as short a time as possible.
He would prove to the House that they might accede
to the resolution which he would propose, without its
doing the smallest injury to the landed interest, while it
would materially improve manufacturing and shipping interests.
What was the consequence of the present state of the law ?
If a man wanted to send a cargo of flour to the Brazils, he must
send it to Hamburgh or Dautzic to have it manufactured.
He admitted that the steps taken by the Government had done
much good ; but he thought they would do much more if they
granted that which he now asked. Last year there was more
than a million sterling lost to this country, which it might
have pined but for this prohibition, to say nothing of the em-
ployment it would have afforded to the labouring population,
besides many other advantages.
Mr. P. THOMSON—WiII my Hon, Friend state the sta-
tute of which he complains ?
Mr. ROBINSON complained of the general operation of
the Corn-laws, which prevented bonded corn from being ma-
nufactured until the duty was first paid. The objection to a
change in the system seemed to be that it might have the ef-
fect of encouraging fraud, but when the bulk of the article
was taken into consideration no such danger pould reasona-
bly be apprehended! Besides he (Mr. Robinson) offered,to
hiS Right Hon. Friend to agree to any penal enactments,
however severe, as a security against fraud or loos to the reve+
rale, tie could 119kve ‘S) 00C11Metitarx evidme In

support of his views of the qUestion, bat he thought he ham
stated sufficient to induce the House to accede to the resolution
Mr. H UME seconded the motion, and expressed his opi
nion that the restriction on the manufacture of bonded con
was highly injurious to the trading interests of England, a
well as unjust towards her colonies.
Mr. P. THOMSON would have no difficulty in s.howie
that the resolution of his Hon. Friend was not calculated t
accomplish the object which ha sought. No one could b.
more ready to do. what the lion. Member wished, but the
truth was, no one had asked bins to do it. With regard to tb
resolution, there were no laws which stood in the way of the
which the Hon. Gentleman proposed. There certainly seer,
prohibitory laws and prohibitory duties respecting several ar
t.cles, and, amongst others, with respect to corn. 'Ter
were no laws prohibiting the manufacture of foreign corn ii
bond; neither were there laws to admit it—and the only wa;
in which the lion. Gentleman's object could be effected wa!
by the introduction of new laws. The proposition was calcu
leted to go beyond the object which the Hon. Gentleman ha,
hi view, and yet not to effect that object. It would have tin
effect of repealing the Corn Laws, yet that would not neces.
sarily allow the exportation of all foreign grain. The inotioi
was a mischievous one, and there were many persons favour.
able to the object which the lion. Gentleman had in view
yet who would not consent to a repeal of the Corn Laws
The Hon. Gentleman, as an excuse for not bringing in a 13i1
upon the subject, said he, as an individual Member, couli
not hope to do so with success, and that no Bill could hopi
to pass through the House which was not promoted by Go
vernment. The lion. Gentleman was bound, however, t.
show how the point lie had in view was to be reached, 11
(Mr. Thomson) was not bound to bring in a Bill for the
purpose of giving effect to the lion. Member's resolution—
an effect which was unattainable. Two plans had been pro
posed last year, for the purpose of effecting the object o
the resolution, but those plans depended upon equivalent
and calculations of exchanges which it would be utterle
im
possible to attempt to carry out without opening the door t.
serious frauds and inconveniences. When the subject wa
mooted last year lie (Mr. Thomson) proposed that a Bill
founded on the principle of the Sugar-refining Duties Act
should be brought forward, and he pledged himself to givi
it—he would most willingly give it—his support. That pro
position, however, had been refused, and yet the house has
heard of the complaints made with respect to restriction
against the employment of capital after the means were re
jetted by which alone capital could be employed in the man
nor proposed by the resolution. The proposition which hi
had made last session was a fair one, and it was to be ap•
prehendcd that those who were dissatisfied with that wantes
to obtain more than they would have it at first appear. I
great results were to be expected from allowing foreign
corn in bond to be ground for exportation the way to get
at them was, not to adopt the resolution of the lion. Ge
tleman, but to adopt a measure founded on the Bill t
which he had before alluded. The House he was sure veouli
not support a resolution which would not have the er,fect o
producing the result intended, and yet might go far 'Deyond,
more especially when Government was ready to yield edl which
with propriety, could be granted to effect the purpose,
Mr. T. BARING thought the agricultural ought to make
every concession it could to the commercial interest of the
country, provided they did not go to the extent of a repeal a
the Corn-laws. In his opinion, however, the adoption of the
principle which governed the Sugar Refin:mg Act would be
more difficult in practice than the plan of averages and calm'.
lations to which the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite ob-
jected. The process in Sugar relining was more nice, and,
therefore, more open to fraud. Averages and calculations
were not so difficult, as was found by a late trial in France,
and to show that they would be generally alike, it was only
necessary to state that the French average of 7$ per cent. feet
flour, and 22 per cent, for refuse, was about the same ca:icu.
lation which would be made in our Corn market. The reso-
lution before the House, if agreed to, would do no more thee
sanction the principle, and if the thing could be effected with•
out fraud, there was no doubt that it would considerably add
to the trade of the country. A saving would me made to our
colonial consumers at the same time that the comlnerce of the
country would be increased. He hoped the opposition to this
resolution was not for the purpose of increasing the hostility
against the Corn-laws, and making them appear in a more
odious light by holding them up as an obstacle to the commer-
cial interest of the country.
Mr. WARBURTON thought the difficulty between his
Right Hon. Friend (Mr. P. Thomson) and the Hon. Mem-
ber for Worcester might be got rid of by an amendment
which ho was about to move—namely, that the House should
resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to take
into consideration the laws relative to foreign grain, and whe-
ther it would be advisable to permit the manufacture of corn-
now in bond for exportation. This resolution would, perhaps-,
get rid of all difficulties.
Mr. G. F. YOUNG seconded the amendment, as a happy
mode of getting rid of all objections. As to the proposition
for bringing in a Bill at this period of the Session, it would
be quite nugatory unless Government took up the measure-
As the object of the Right Hon Gentleman opposite was not
that the result sought to be obtained would not prove a good•
but that there was no use in proposing to repeal laws which
did not exist, he seconded the amendment.
Mr. ROBINSON withdrew his proposition in favour of the
amendment, upon which he was satisfied to take the sense of
the House.
Mr. CLAY thought that his Right lion. Friend did not
fairly encounter the question. Was it proper that one who,
filled the important station of the President of the Board 01
Trade should admit an advantage to be derived to commerce,
and yet shrink from it because of the difficulties of the case?
Mr. P. THOMSON did not say any such thing as great
advantages being derivable; but he had made a proposition
by which only the object could be effected, and those who
proposed to seek the object told him the proposition would b 0
of no advantage.
Mr, CLAY understood his Right Hon. Friend still to ad-
mit the advantages derivable from allowing foreign grain ill
bond to be exported, and, if so, why did not the Right 1100.
Gentleman endeavour to carry the measure into effect ? That
the advantages were admitted was proved by his Right Non'
Friend having made the proposition of last year. Why n°,t',
then, endeavour to secure them ?—( Hear, hear.) His Rig“'
Hon. Friend said no one asked biro to do so. That was 11°
reply, if the measure was a good one. Ile agreed with the
Hon. Member for Yarmouth, and differed from his 111"$
lion, Friend, in thinking that means could be devised to
avoid all frauds. It was the pressure of the agricultural ia•
terests on the commercial that prevented the adoption of sonl
measure on this subject. The bitterest enemy of that interest
could not urge a stronger argument against it than its protee.;
tion was to be afforded at the expense of our commerce.
country imported more from North and South America 81'
the West Indies than any other country in the world. What
our commerce most required in that trade was outward freight'
,
Thousands of vessels sailed across almost empty, and yet thei
were denied this source of traffic. If this trade were allows
or
to them they would undersell America and the shipowners
the north of Europe.
Lord SANDON we understood to agree to the observa-
tions of the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the Tower liattio-
lets (Mr. Clay.) He should be ashamed to see any differcli,c.4
on his side of the House to a measure which would be of su•
benefit to the mass of British shipping trading to the colon'ce
and the ports of the Baltic and the Atlantic.
Mr. MARK PHILIPS thought that the House oughtt°tbo,
accede to the amendment put in so tangible a shape by
Hon, Member for Bridpoi t (Mr. Warburton. )
After a remark from Sir E. CODRINGTON and Sir 13.
VE RE, inaudible in the gallery,
Mr. HAWES said that he thought it was a meaten, of
which the landed interest had no part. If the Presider'a ho
the Board of Trade had no objection to the grinding cur hog
bond, but would consent to such a plan, lie saw no use in g,ee,
into Committee, as it might be managed without the int'iey
ferenee of that House. lie wished to Citoer, however, if tie-
did go into Committee, what course the Right Hon. Gen
man intended to pursue ?
Captain GORDON, amid loud cries of " Divide,"isSeidj
that he had no objection to going into Committee, Pro' arid
the inquiry was limited to the grinding of corn in bond
the whole question of the Corn-laws was not opened.
arsue
T Mr. P. HOMSON said that the course he should je,,
would be to hear the plans of other lion. Gentlemen iil c, obe
tnittee for carrying the regulation into effect. He shouies
most glad to hear what they had to propose ; but as h w
e ..an,hif
present advised be did not think any plan would so ther°Thee
secure the necessary protection to the landed interest as, in
one lie had in view. If that were the case he should thc in
Committee, submit his plan for allowing corn to be gr°,e re-
bond, which he thought was the only way of securine, L_ "rest.
venue without invading the protection to the landed iti t: ~emit Sir H. KNATCHBULL thought if the house no. with
into Committee upon the subject it would pursue a e 001: 015
respect to the lauded interest almost unparalleled. 11e„se-
afield that the door would be opened for frauds, whiclionuAece
caution could prevent. He should, however, have'
_ot einv
tion to go into Committee, under protest, for he could ° ill
ceive that any plan could be propounded by the Rightecie`
Gentleman consistent with the due protection to e Ito see
interest. Ile should wait with considerable curiea'tYwere _
the plan, but he must say that he did not think there osier'
sufficient number of Members in the House for the disc
of the question.—( Hear, hear.) Meal'
Mr. ROBINSON entirely concurred with the 11°7:elee_a
tier for Bridport, whose amendment removed everyni°l7, t°
In reply to a question, as to the mode of proceedi
event of the ameedment being carried, that Id
Mr. WARBURTON said that he should propos:e shoe
chair be taken that night pro forma,
bee°
obtain leave to sit again on some day to be named;
a, d i;
Lord JOHN RUSSELL thought that after Sih
alathoe frtio,
said, the House would be placed in an awkward ail
ieral P ore
determined at once to go into Committee. The gene' room
ciple was admitted ; but he thought it would be ll
toieliothj
rational if the House were to go into Committeevvi,s a
this
and the Chairm
proposition was submitted in detail. He thoinsic,,.tainge in. day
and not by any means an usual course when a :t a euttsZoo•
law was proposed, to go into Committee,
and at
to that, plan
determine what the resolutions to be submitted
alorhai
irvere
mittee were to be. The much better and moresor.us.jois
would be to adjourn the debate until those re 1
as $6
prepared.
tothrtl'utri,,
Mr. P. THOMSON was then understood
emendment, that the debate be adjourned
,t_ov „OW
weeks, which being seconded by Sir E. 10,
the House divided, when there appeared—
.... 39
For the amendment .......................... or
Against it ..... .. .......................... . . A

Majority .............
SURVEY OF CHURCH LAN."—* for 'sot
Mr. HUAI E, the absence of the Hon. Meniber,lo.o4o,
bury, moved for " Copies of all the Parliamenta9r ;at Vas
Church lands preserved in the library of mannscriPLailialoc
both, and which re na d
Waqr Qrdiaance of