The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-30 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT,

MONDAY, OF LORDS, MONDAY, APRIL 29.
t.,OP- ue Earl of LAUDERDALE presented a petition
Coro the Owners and Occupiers of Land of the
lief of Forfar, praying for Agricultural re-
-4.---Laid on the table.
r• BROODEw and others brought up from the Commons the
1.1; kat Ireland Bill, and the Dover Gas Light, and the Edin-
g.' Road Bills, which were read a first time.
The AGRICULTURE.
the ,0
arl of ALBEMARLE presented two petditions from
of Blow,
Add nriel% and Occupiers of Land in the HondrF
cult:xi:ld
,Wals. aro, in the County of Norfolk, praymgs for Agri-
en i'w-tief- His Lordship stated that these pen n
owners
unanimously; adopted, and were signed by. rionteibruests real
ee.
tab„ and occupiers of land, all people of the highest
_p _
th “ity.
Every individual in both Hundreds had subscribed
apectrica' astiorir difference of opinion existed on the necessity of the
Earl I.I4..V.A.LTIIORPE wished to confirm all that the
44d th"' said concerning the respectability of the petitioners,
Noble
laria. e reality of the distress experienced in that part of }Jag-
-1,,e This was the more afflicting, as those two Hundreds
far'rrel_rernarkable for the fertility of their soil, the skill of the
aarndi
opeir vicinity to excellent markets.
pe'rlf...er): ROSEBERRY also bore testimony to' the re;
tena,sinty of
the petitioners, some of whom were his own
Was ~.,t , arneuad7ost of the rest well' known to him.—The petition
and laid resent. table.
Q iertir 8 UFFIE L D' pd a similar Petition from the
the Cousadnty :.cupiers of land of the Hundred of Parham in
Norfolf— Laid'on the table.
TThe Earl DISTR.ESS IN IRELAND.
ik,o. of DARN LEY stated, that if the subject were dill* ;:'9rought forward by his Majesty's Ministers, he should
roost phis
duty to call the attention of the House to that
Lind. ..k 'l"tant object,' consideration of the affairs of !re-
tttry „,_ t nere was a degree of increasing distress in that coon-
ie """ukcc an amounting to famine, though he hoped and trusted
t10nit,...'4"3!" received Were exaggarata His object in men-
tllll,kizis
,this distress eras to obtain some assurance from his
,o.,c)._,,:abYecfsaiNcioitinelstve,,hr.ziehthalitetheee
uesudbjeepost
uhbedlyoccupied their atten-
entertain no d.oubt.
11'
"'Web had betn made in other times to discuss

such question did not now apply. The superabundance of
produce which occasioned distress in this country might be
rendered available to alleviate that which existed in Ireland.
At all events a good effect would result from an intimation, on
the part of Government, that the subject had attracted their
attention, and that they were ready to afford every kind of re-
lief in their power.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL admitted, that as far as infor-
mation had been received, it Was true that in some parts of Ire-
land great distress existed. That distress, however, had not
been overlooked by his Majesty's Government, and measures
had been taken to administer relief according to precedents,
which had proved successful. As to the general question of
interference, he thought that an extreme case alone could jus-
tify such' a step, and that nothing would be more likely to
create a famine than any interposition on the part of the Govern-
ment or the Legislature itt the subsistence of the country. It
was by the exertions of individuals that that subsistence was
best secured ; and when a foreigner expressed his surprise that
London should be supplied without any regulations, he was
justly answered that London Was so well supplied only because
there were no regulatio'ns. lie appealed to the Noble Peers,
who had lateeti from Xrdand, Whether they were not
satisfied that' whatever could be done to relieve the present dis-
tress would he done, and was doing ?
Lord STEWART presented a Petition from the Chamber of
Commerce of Belfast, 0414 for an additional duty on fo-
reign butter.—Laid on the table.
The Flax and Cotton, and the Summary Proceedings Bills,
went respectively through Committees, and were reported.—
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
This was the last day for receiving Private
Bills.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

A Petition was presented from the County of Wexford, com-
plaining of Agricultural Distress.—Laid on the table.
Mr. PELHAM presented a Petition of a similar nature from
Lincoln. The Petition stated that the present state of the
country threatened to overwhelm the whole Agricultural popu-
lation ; and expressed a belief that nothing but a reduction of
taxation can relieve them.

Sir R. HERON said, he feared.that his Majesty's Ministers,
and the majority of that House, did not seem yet to be aware of
the full, extent of the evils which oppressed the agricultural and
all the industrious classes ofthe nation.—The Petition was read,
and laid on the table. _

Mr. CURTE IS presented a similar Petition from the Eastern
part of the County of Sussex.—Laid on the table.
Mr. C. DUNDAS, presented several Petitions of a similar
nature, from owners and occupiers of land in the county of
Berks.—Laid on the table.

Mr. TRE.MAYNE presented. a Petition complaining of
Agricultural Distress, from the county of Cornwall.—Laid on
the table. _ _ _

Mr. GOOCH presented a Petition from several considerable
land owners of Foxley, in Suffolk, complaining of Agricul-
tural Distress. The Petitioners prayed that such a reduction
of public expenditure might be effected as would justify a fur-
ther reduction of taxation, but they expressed an apprehen.
sion that no immediate relief could be derived from that
source. He viewed with great dismay the distressed state
of the Agriculturists. A renussion of taxation he knew would
assist them; and as far as a reduction of establishments could
enable that to be done, he would do it. Ile had felt it his duty
to move, in the last Session, that seine notice should be taken of
the numerous agricultural petitions on the table of the House.
In the Committee which was appointed he was nominated
Chairman, and he would not flinch from any of the responsibi-
lity that might attach to him on that account. It had been
thought proper that that Committee should be re-appointed this
year, but he was sorry to say that their report contained no-
thing satisfactory to the country. It proposed no measures
calculated to aflbrd immediate adequate relief. It should,
however, be borne in mind how difficult it was to discover any
such remedy for the present evils. The markets were glutted
to the extreme, and corn must either be removed from the
market, or more money must be brought into it for that purer
pose. A prohibitory duty on the importation of corn was what
would be most beneficial to the farmer. 'When the ports were
opened in MO, by means of a fraud, seven hundred thousand
quarters of oats were admitted ; and with an average consump-
tion of thirty thousand quarters a year, it was surprising the
effect which that importation had in lowering the prices. lie
agreed in the system of duties, but not as to the quantum: the
duties recommended by the Report were not sufficient- This
country could not maintain her station in Europe if its
agriculture were allowed to sink. The Petitioners; amongst
other remedies, prayed for a Reform in Parliament. In
this he did not agree with them, being satisfied that Re-
form would not put one shilling into the pocket of the Bri-
tish farmer.

Mr. HUME observed, that this was, not the first, second,
nor third time that the Hon. Member Who had just sat down
had expressed his anxiety to relieve the distress of the agricul-
turist. In the numerous motions, however, which had been
made for the remission of taxes, and the reduction of expendi-
ture, he did not reccillect having had the pleasure of having the
Honourable Member in the mini:Why. What was the use then
of presenting petitions of this kind, and talking about raising
the price of corn, if he did not assist in lowering and abolish=
ing useless establishments, in order to effect that which he ac•
knowledged to be the only rem:dy ? The only way to relieve
the country was to reduce the price of production, and to ex.,
port the surplus corn to other countries. To the year 1760 and
1770 this ,V an exporting country. He hoped the lion. Mem=
ber, by his future conduct, would make up for his past onus-
sions.—The Pet►tion was read and laid on the table.

LEATHER TAX.
Mr. LOCXHART presented a Petition from the Tanners
of the County of Oxford, praying for a remission of the Leather
Tax, in consequence of the increased Talue of ruoney.—Laid
on the table.

.... ..... ______
Sir R. WILLIA3IS presented a Petition from the Tanners
of Carnarvon, praying for a repeal of the Leather Tax.—Laid
on the table.
SCOTCH WHISKEY.

An Hon. Member, whose name could not be learnt, pre-
sented a Petition from certaifrgrowers of grain in the Counties
of Stirling and Perth, whop had suffered by agricultural dis-
tress, praying that the restrictions on the exportation of Scotch
Whiskey might be removed. The Hon. Member stated (that
neither in policy nor justice were these restrictions warranted.
Mr. S. WORTLEY thought this was a subject well worthy
the consideration of his Majesty's Mintste:s.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE had long considered the subject,
and certainly thought that the restrictions on Scotch Spirits
ought to be taken off.—The Petition was ordered to be 'orbited.
Mr. BUCHANAN presented a similar Petition from the
County of Dumbarton.—Laid ori the table.
Similar Petitions were presented from the Counties of Aber-
deen and Banff.---Laid on the table.
WOOL TRADE.
Mr. S. WORTLEY presented Petitions from several Wool-
staplers of the West Riding of the County of York, and from
Halifax, against a Bill pending in the House for the admission
of Foreign Wool, duty free.—Laid on the table.
The Hon. MEMBER presented a similar Petition from cer-
tain Ship Owners in the ports of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
The Hon. MEMBER also presented Petitions from Hudders-
field and the West Riding of Yorkshire, in favour of the York-
shire Poll I3lll.—Laid on the table.
On the motion of the Hon. Gentleman, the second reading
of the said Bill was then postponed to Friday next.
Lord NORMANDY presented a Petition from Whitby, York-
shire against the Yorkshire Poll Bill-
Mil. G. W. BEAUMONT seconded the prayer of the Peti-
tion.--Laid on the table.
AMERICAN TRADE BILL, &c.
Mr. CHETWYND presented a Petition from the Mer-
chants of London interested in the trade with the British North
American Colonies, praying that the Bill pending In Parlia-
ment for the regulation of that trade might not pass into a law,
and that they might be heard against it by Counsel.—Laid on
the table.

31i. 'l'. WILSON presented a Petition from the Merchants
and Woollen Drapers of the City of London against the Ame-
rican and West India Trade on the table.

Sir W. CURTIS presented a Petition from the Ship Owners
of the Port of London, and others, against the American and
West India Bill.—Laid on the table.
LONDON BRIDGE.

Sir 'W. CURTIS presented a Petition from certain Coal
Merchants of the City of praying .that the Muse
would not sanction any Bill for imposing a toll on all barges