The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-03 00:00:00

have had 12,000 tons available for these purposes.
63.555 is the amount of tonnage which foreign ships have
introduced into this country, and which could not have
been introduced except by a suspension of the navigation-
laws, and they have left you to have the employment of
these ships for any other purposes you might require.
The Noble Lord bats introduced an assertion in his
speech which has nothing at all to do with the present
discussion—namely, the policy pursued in Portugal.
That has nothing whatever to do with this subject, be*
cause if these ships had not been in Portugal they would
have been in the Mediterranean. They are part of the
military marine of the country, and are the
kind of force on which this country must rely
in case of any sudden danger. But these foreign ships
have done all this work—they have done five times as
much as these vessels could have done for the benefit of
the country, and without the expense. They have sent
these ships, and they have done it without any expense
further than the natural payment or profit chargos
which are paid and expected by merchants. Therefore
I entirely dissent, as I said at the beginning of this
session, from this plan. I disagree with the plan of
bringing out a corps of line-of-battle ships for the pur-
pose of bringing foreign corn into this country. But
beyond this, let this House consider for one moment
this question apart from the question of the navi-
gation-laws. What has been the immense impor-
tation of corn which has been carried on by the trade
of this country for the purpose of supplying the United
Kingdom with food. 'Ye have had, as I shall presently
show, an unprecedented high price in corn, but at the
sarre time the efforts which have been made by the trade
of this country have been carried on to an enormous ex-
tent. Some time ago the importation of corn was at the
rate of nine millions of quarters, but during the last
month, and indeed latterly, at the rate of twelve million,
of quarters in the year, and in some particular weeks it
has exceeded that amount; but altogether, Ibelieve, when
the accounts are made out, that there has been an im-
mense importation—a greater importation than ever was
known, and I should say that not less than six millions
of our people may have been fed during the present year
by that importation from foreign countries. Compare
that with with any effort which could have been made
by line. of-battle ships. Compare this immense amount
of corn and shipping, owing solely to the enterprise of
merchants and importers. Compare these with any
efforts the Government could make, and then you may
estimate the fact that, by throwing open the ports,
and giving the intercourse with foreign countries,
you have saved the people from suffering
from want of food. But the Noble Lord seems to think
that this must be a repeal of the navigation-laws, because
there are no extraordinary circumstance—that the neces-
sity has passed. He says that there are no circumstances
which require this.

Lord G. BENTINCK—I said that the necessity would
have passed away by the Ist of September.
Lord J. RUSSELL—Now let me ask the attention of
on cvceurryr ed i
great
e an t t
fhaei luarset
of
vtmbeonethrnsp.
sT.helrtewhaas been
sest in France
t
the House to the extraordinary circumstances which have
France at one time had only 18 days' consumption, at an-
other 25 days ; and some went so high as to say that 40
days' consumption of food was wanting—that the supply
was to thatextent deficient. That deficiency extended to
Germany to a very great extent, so much so, that corn
upon the Rhine had risen at one time to 90s. per quar-
ter, and the peace of the country was disturbed in Prus-
sia, and in other parts, owing to the extraordinary rise
in provisions. This has called for importation from all
parts of Europe and America from which any supply
was to be had. There has been an extraordinary supply
from America, and there has been, as I have stated, a
very great importation to this country. France had re-
quiredShaear; esatnidn rantn
cc
eo n
wouldw hi c
bh
vief tbheeerne
bbrandu
gbbe et
here, a gdsoboa
a great part of the importation from the Black
been taken to France for the consumption of that country.
In the month of January we thought the case so urgent,
that we proposed a suspension of the corn duty and the
navigation-laws, and that suspension was at once agreed
to. The average price for the preceding six weeks to
that time was 635. 10d. per quarter, and in one week
preceding the price was so high as 70s. 10d. per quarter.
Under these circumstances, the House agreed una- 1
nimously to the suspension of these laws. Since that
time there has been a most extraordinary rise in the
price of corn, and we have seen corn in Mark-lane rise
to 100 s., 1085..;i- 4'14. on one day, I believe 115 s. per
quarter.-!---(lloWheek..) The price has again fallen, but
the average fAiti last six weeks, by the London
Gazette, is' 94'9: rd. per quarter.—(Hear, hear.) The
price of corn, let me repeat, when the House consented
unanimously to the suspension of the navigation-laws,
was 63a. 10d. per quarter ; and now, when the price is
945. 10d. per quarter, I am told that it is unreasonable
in me to ask that suspension to be continued. The
Noble Lord says that, upon the Ist of September, the
necessity will have passed away. Who can tell that for
this coantry the necessity will have passed away?
Lord G. BENTINCK—I said the necessity for ships;
that is the whole question.
Lord J. RUSSELL—The necessity for ships will not
have passed away—that is my whole argument; if we
have a necessity for corn there is a necessity for ships to
bring it. My argument is that it you have a ship which
brings corn to you, you ought not to say " this is
American corn, it has been taken from on board;
it has been landed at Havre, and brought again
here. I will not admit it—you must take it back
again." My argument is that if you admit corn
—if you have a necessity for the admission of corn, it
ought to be admitted in whatever ships it may come.
What are the prospects for the next year? Who can
tell, however sanguine may be the expectation at
the present moment, the weather of the next six weeks
will give us a bountiful and abundant harvest ? Who
can tell whether the harvest of the continent of Europe
will be bountiful? Who can tell whether the great
abundance with which America has been blessed during
the past year will be continued in the present year,
and that we may not have at another time, not only the
difficulty of getting supplies of
corn in England,
and Europe, but the difficulty of having the large sup
plies we have had in the present year from America?
Let us not forget, with regard to this subject, that the
price of corn has lately been as high, taking into consi-
deration the depreciation of the currency, as it was at
any period of the past year ; and let us not forget what
is the most remarkable part of the present subject—that
there is an extraordinary consumption. But there have
been very
large imports from the seats of foreign
trade, and there have been a very great nutn
ber of railway works • and I believe that they
have in many respects 'diminished or alleviated the
calamities under which we are suffering by causing a
considerable demand for labour. But, at the same time,
when I look to the amount of calls upon railways from
January to this time, and I fled that there has been em-
ployed twenty-one millions, of which somewhat more
than eighteen millions are required for the United King-
dom, it is impossible not to see that the expenditure of a
very large portion of this sum must
have led to a con-
siderable consumption which would not have taken
place if there had not been so extraordinary
an expenditure. That consumption again leads to
an increased price, and of course leaves less of the
for I believe that they he"
whole amount of food to be divided amongst the
people of this country. But the construction of railways
has in one sense tended to the augmentation of the ditli-
culty,mainly caused the
consumption which is so much greater than has ever
for this extraordinary consumption must tend to make
before taken place with so high a price of provisions—
the quantity of food in the country last for a shorter
period than it would otherwise do. Taking all these
circumstances into consideration, the general result is
the ports as widely as piofssyi
that the policy of Parliament ought to be to throw open
food, and to take away
upwaht ill
on
of corn from
would prevent one single
p.eople, and., lastly,
coming into this country,
the good condition of the labouring
if you look to the state of the revenue In connexion with
win find the! you ought to
all these circumstances, you obe
ul ve e
meanr fory r theets
ot
keep
admissionc
et :op
pursue the policy of free and indiscriminate admission
general conclusion, I
for corn. Having come to this
Noble Lord, and again re
again refer to the plan of the
pest that we will not on this question, discussi the
getion• aw . That pro-
prietysub-
of the existence of theuavi
rought under the con-
pot will most probably be h
Abe evidence which has
sideratioe of Parliament when has
been taken by the Committee has been considered, and
pay serious attentiond to that
for my part I promibe to
roduee . I think that
evideuce whenever it shall be p
there is no question which has 60 many various sub-
jects—as relates to our commercial marine—as relates
to the state of our naval power, and as relates likewise
to the general principle of treedom of intercourse—there
is in fact no question which can be put on so many
various bases as the -
navieation-laws. I am most
unwilling to discuss such a subject towards the close
of the session with the
.Committee sitting—(Hear)—i
and taking evidence upon it,
and Ishould not be justified
in proposing any determination to be taken upon such a
subject. I shall be ready to consider any determination
to be taken with reference te the general principle of
commercial policy reference
reference to the effect of these
to the altered state of the
laws upon it—wit"
world—and with reference, lastly and chiefly, to the
naval force and naval supremacy of this country.
Mr. RICARDO said that he did not think the general
question of the navigation-laws at all involved in this dis-
cussion. He was surprised that the Noble Lord the Member
for Lynn bad made a charge against the Government that
they were seeking to undtaanine the shipping interest of
the country, and he 1
cou d not help thinking that in
opposing
• this measure the Noble Lord had some
manses The
vie
electioneering vir- The measure in his
opinion hey
interest,
but t adopted the suggestion of
the Noble Lord to bring line-of-battle ships into
competition with the merchant-traders, it would be in-
flicting an irreparable injury upon the free commerce of
the country.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped the time was
coming when the good old days would be revived, and
when they should ewe English and American ships
crossing.theAtlantie with ballast and returning laden with
goods or corn. The period was fast approaching when,
in his opinion, these laws must be altogether abolished;
and he thought, when the House was put in possession
of the evidence taken before the Navigation Committee,
it would be inclined to agree with him.—(Hear.)
Mr. LIDDELL said the present was not a fitting op-
portunity to enter upon a discussion of the merits of the
navigation-laws, and he should, therefore, confine his
observations to the
Bill before the House.
It did not follow that because his Noble Friend,
the Member for Lynn had consented to a
further suspension of the corn-laws, he ought to agree
to this measure. The navigation laws had already been
suspended for a sufficient length of time, and he could
not see what advantage was to be derived from con-
tinuing the suspension during a period when the
trade of many countries wag shut up by national
causes. The Honourble Gentleman who last addressed
the House ridiculed the idea of bringing line-of.
battle ships into competition with merchant traders, but
he (lair. Liddell) thought the Hon. Gentleman had wis-
underatood the remuks of
the AMMO Lord the ...ember