The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-22 00:00:00

TEN HOURS' BILL.
Mr. S. CRAWF9RDet presented
in favour of the
Ten Hours' . a petition from thir-
teen medical practitionersill
andcaracterising the present system
att the painful Bill,
cause of much misery and suffering.
RATES REFORM ACT.
Mr. DUNCOMBE hegavleenvneottioceurtihogatinaßill for the
would, on
for
Thursday next, move
abolition of the rate-paying c3lauNsiessiirliAtihEeNßeform Act.
u
CORPORAL 1
Dr. BOWRING said that he
questions to the
would to-morrow take
the opportunity of putting so
Secretary at War, respecting tlto
the mode
ode of corporal
Punishment administered at Hon
MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES.
oTtATpEnSt.
two
Mr. ROEBUCK said that h
questions to the Secretary fore w
Foreign Affairs,
hemaandde
)3e would not be able to do so n
a short preface,
might be the better abilne to understand
thataederstand the usethem.—(lLear,
hear.) It was said that an agentfrom England, the Government
where
of Mexico had established an offi .e in ...
be gave to iuch persons as were desirous letters
lettersletters of of
Marque against the United States, and also
naturalization as Mexicans, to protect such per-
-3 who should be found fighting "under those letters.
attety
rjs.
These two questions were—first, whether or not
notice had been taken of this Office on the appear-
ance of such au agent by her Majesty's. Ministry
or the Government of the United States, and
Whether the Government of the United States had
entnmunicated with the Ministry of this country,. and
what answer had been returned to that communication?
Vie next question was of a more complicated nature.
sx:apietersdons were found, having those acts of naturaliz%-
wan fi , .
-r, ~ guting under the letters
of marque, by ton
,e States, there was a determination on
~., Part el the United States to hang those persons,h nut
he their acts of naturalization ; and t eretore
,8 r. Roebuck) wanted to know if any precaution
uad been taken by her Majesty's Government to prevent
hau,eh, a disaster—for he could cal it no less— to any
—"tish subject,and, 'f so, what lcorrespondence had
taker, piacc? i
firtord PALMERSTON said that, with regard to the
, st question, her Majesty's Government had no know-
led
ti ge of the facts to which the Hon. and Learned Gen-
.,etna.
, n hakdnblyouwsttlheeedalled the attention of the House. They
authorised
that
marque and acts
knowledge
Mexican that
Governmentsuch an a g
teon t i s
shuaed l e
tbeenletters
.. at an advertisement had been tendered to the Times
of naturalization. He was aware
itee_wspaper, and he believed it had been refused. Ad
to iter had been also sent by a Mr. Marr, who wanted
To make known that there was a shop opened
.on
sh wer'hill, in which might be obtained information
the()!lng that the Mexican Government had authorised
pf tibluing of those letters of marque. He (the writer
Tower- e letter) did not know whether the person on
tohill was authorised by the Mexican Government
pe:ssue those letters, in fact he did not know that any
takria was authorised to do so. A correspondence had
,_, a place between the United States' Government
f7roher
4k
veg place
Majesty's Government, and the Minister of the
.",
in
country had alluded to something of this sort
; and he expressed a hope that the
.British
Gov
meat would not allow such a proceeding. in the
tsent state of affairs between Mexico and the
aired .
_A —_ . otates.—(Rear, hear.) He assured . the
-;-_:-,erican Minister that he was unacquainted
With the circumstances to which he had adverted, and
,414_t, as far as the law of the land furnished, he would
qz:, such measures as he might think the occasion re-
% u cl• no might add, that be thought it right to put
.418 estlon to the law officers of the Crown whether,
if such letters of marque had been issued, what step
aill :British Government should take, in order to prevent
LuePetre. With respect to the other question, it was_e
Let. y,true that some time ago notice was issued to the
...1."8.1 States, that any foreigner found on board Mext pshalsirptsoshould be summarily dealt with, and he (Lord
expectation)sn had communicated with Mr. Pakenham his
11... that the United States Government would
eeieshreedia
B
-Li BONY RING w
applyu.,l..
.. to British subjects the execution of that law.
atter ()I
tet
Channelthe I s la Homen
Secretary, know
troy, from the RightHond.
whether the report from
whether, and .--oratnissi had been received, and
Souse. When, it °n
would be laid on thetable
Sir G. GREY re
of the
Mak d• plied that there had been no time to
e a digs-st of the report soon as that
but as
could be done it would be laid upon the table.
SeotT. HUME wished to ask the Lord-Advocate of
_ .at and what measures were intended to be brought in
felrontivee to the law of Scotland, in consequence of the re-
'on.,‘
endation of previous commissions.
~.:1-s° LORD-ADVOCA.TE replied, that the subject
W under consideratin.
Mr. mop SUGAR DTIES.
dut FATT moved for U a
return of the amount of
theeceived on sugar from the sth day of April, to 5 1846,
received th day of January, 1847 ; specifying the amount
under the different rates of duty.—Agreed toa. 1
The RON. MEMBER also moved for a return of I
gagers that have been stopped for alleged inaccurate
betty at the Custom-houses of London and Liverpool,
ineeh sth April, 1846, and sth January, 1847; specify-
tht the number of packages in each parcel so detained,
.s respective dates of stoppage and release, and whe-
ther colonial or foreign sugar. Also, the amount of
money now held in the said Custom-houses as pad( un-
ser. protest upon disputed claims in regard to these
44„rs---Areed to.
; 'r• RANKES presented a pi tition from Landford,
di Dorsetshire, against the Poor Removal Bill.
OPENING THE PORTS.
On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the House
Went into Committee, to consider the propriety of tem-
porarily suspending the laws relating to the importation
Of corn ; Mr. GREENE in the chair.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—Mr. Greene, so favour-
able a feeling was shown
by the House onTuesday
'light to urge adopting the motion I am about to make,
that I will not trouble the House with anylengtheneddetail upon the subject. I will, hoe ever, state, as well
zt,si am able, what has heretofore been, and what is now
toe general prospect of the country with regard to a sup
Ply of food, and the reasons why I propose to advise the
House to suspend the corn-laws. The same reasons may
be urged with equal force for suspending the navigation
laws, the two subjects being closely connected together;
and immediately after Mr. Speaker resumes the chair it
is my intention to propose that the House do
resolve itself into a Committee of the whole
Rouse to enable me to move the suspension
of those laws. With the permission of the Committee, I
will now proceed to state what were the results of the
last harvest. Upon the termination of' the harvest state-
ments were made that the crop,.:vith regard to corn, would
be considerably below the average, while the produce in
barley and oats in parts of England was very deficient.
b g
kbut the greatest calamity with w hich we have been
visited was the failure of the potato crop, which has
IPlPert most considerable in extent in Scotland.
1P
has been stated to have extended to three-
fourths of the whole crop, but the exact amount
cannot be correctly ascertained, yet I have no doubt in
saying),Ying that it has extended to considerably more tha n
"Ilf of the whole produce of that country. Of course,
has this great and general failure of the potato crop
hada material influence upon the prices of food. It was
;impossible not to expect that the prices of corn required
by consumption in Ireland would be materially affected
hll this failure of the potato crop. But, on the other
and, there was, in the course of last year, a very large
iroPortation of foreign corn, and of corn and flour
r°lll the British dominions. The amount alto-
gether
is so imported appears, by a return which will
1/'3rtlY be in the possession of Honourable Mom
uer3, to amount to the large quantity of 4,800,000
cilarters. This is a very large supply, but it did
not for some time come into consumption, notwithstand-
i
,n
,ig the redaction of the duty to 4, on the passing of
'' a vont-law. It was for this reason that there
tvas
not a very considerable rite in price.e•

There was not a general apprehension that there would
be insufficiency of food. With respect to this country,
the prices in October and in the course of November did
not show any very considerable apprehension with
regard to the increase of the price of food,
as, the prices of corn in the first week
of October lte:t year was 545., in the second week
555. 10,11, is the third 595, 103., and in the fourth
; iicst w,.ek in N,)veinber the price
was 61s. 3d., in the third 595. Bd., and in the
fourth 595. This shows rather a decline than
an increase of prices from the middle of October to the
end of November; but, Sir, from that time there has been
a very censiderable rise in prices-a rise of prices very
considerable indeed, and of alarming character, when
the nature of the calamity is considered, coming,
as it did, immediately at the time of the har-
vest.-(Hear.) The trice of wheat in the month
of Auguee, I think, was 475.; on the Ist of September
it was 495.; but the price has risen in the course of the
present month-in the first week in January to 648.4 d.;
in the second week to 66a. 103., and the week's average,
to the 16th of the pros, nt month, was 70s. 3d.
The returns show that for some years past there has
been a great increase in the price of barley. In Janu-
ary, 1842, the price of barley was 295. 7d., in
1843, 265. 5d., in the first week of 1844, 325. 7d., 1845,
345. 2d., 1846. 31s. Ild ; in the first week of 1847, 445.
3d., second week, 465. 5d., third a eek, 50s. This .50s. did
not repressnt the true price at the present time. Sir, I have
said that this rise in the price has been in a great degree
unexpected by those who are engaged iu the trade. I
will draw attention also to the state of the grain market
in France. I hold in my hand the report of the Minister of
Agricultural Commerce in France. In last year there
was a restriction on the supply in the grain of that
country ; nor was it in these countries alone
that the deficiency in the supply of grain was
experienced, to which he would immediately refer.
I have mentioned that in various parts of Scotland and
Ireland there had been, as was well known, a great fail-
ure of the potato crop, which has given rise to that great
distress of which we have heard so much, and which we
all so deeply deplore. lam speaking now of the effect
which this great failure has produced upon the general
supply of food, and the want which it has caused of an
additional supply of corn and other grain in the country.
Various statements have been made as to the actual
amount of the loss occasioned by the failure of
the potato crop. In money value, however, I
think that the general average estimate is not less than
twelve millions sterling. I do not hesitate to say that
a less sum than from four to five millions
would be required for the purchase of food,
of one description or another, to supply the de-
ficiency. I have already stated, that during the
past year we have had a supply of 4,800,000 quarters of
corn from foreign c untries ; hut, with reference to the
supply that we may have to obtain during the
remainder of the year, and before the next harvest, it
is to be considered that there are but very few parts
of the world from whence that supply can come,
There has been a great deficiency in the harvest in
France, Germany, and a great part of the west of Eu-
rope. Measures have been taken in most of those courts
tries to supply that deficiency by the admission of corn
free of duty. A law has lately been passed iu France
by which the importation 'of wheat is allowed free of
duty, and also allowing all ships of foreign
nations to enter the ports of France. Similar measures
have been passed in other countries, and in others the
exportation of corn has been prohibited. The stock
on hand in this country was very low, and it
was naturally expected that prices would be
high. There are two quarters from which a
quantity of corn may be expected to this country ; one
of those is Odessa: A large supply has already
been sent to France from that port, in conse-
quence of the importation having been so
greatly encouraged. I cannot speak accurately
of the quantity which has been imported, but at least
700,000 quarters have been imported, and there is no
doubt that a further supply will be sent in the spring, and
made available to meet the deficiency of this and other
countries. There has been a pretty fair average crop in
America of all sorts of corn. The harvests of wheat have
been abundant, and the quantity of Indian corn grown
is, perhaps, the largest ever known ; but, at the same
time, we required a very great part of that
supply to be sent to this country. However,
ships have been sent from Liverpool and other
places over there with the intention of bring-
ing to this country that supply of Indian and other sorts
of corn. Now, it appeared to me that such being the
state of the supply to this country, and such being the
deficiency, it had been found that :we ought to remove
every impediment which was in the way of a supply to this
country from foreign ones. It appeared at first that the
duty of 4s. per quarter was not considered very large
and the importation of last year shows that it did ,
not prevent cote iderable importations of corn ; but
there are circumstances and cases in :which that
duty might, to a certain extent, limit the supply ,
brought to this country. For instance, it was for some
time a very nice balance between the prices of corn in ,
this country and France. For a short time, English
wheat was sent from the eastern counties of this country
to France, but that exportation lasted a very abort time,
as the prices rose, and the balance was the other way. ;
When p. ices rose in France corn in bond here rose_to
within ls. of 0-e price, so that the 4s. duty would mate-
rially alter the destination of many cargoes. For instance,
supposing the price at London to be 625., andl,*e price
at Havre to be 605., the price at.Alevre would make
it better worth the importer's whil"64lB-carry it there
than to bring it to London wit'a a duty;coLis. Supposing
that the same circumstances. *Mired inFrance, and a
similar duty existed, it wewlste hardly -prevent any
great quantity from being brdught 'to this country,
but at present the restriction imposed by the
4s. duty causes a considerable difference
in the quantities brought over into this country.
It is hardly in my power to say what quantity may
possibly come into this country through the suspension
of the present duty, but, whatever the quantity
may be, if it adds to the stock of food for the
consumption, it is worth our while to legislate
for it. Sir, in order to afford every facility for the in-
troduction
of foreign grain, we propose that in regard
to corn the duty at present levied shall be suspended till
the Ist of September in the present year. That is the
proposition of her Majesty's Government. We shall '
leave to Parliament afterwards to consider whether it is
expedient to continue the suspension, or to revert to
the law which is at present in operation. Ido not think
that any party in this House should oppose the proposi-
tion we have made.-(Hear, hear.) In regard
to the advocates of the corn-laws, it has never
been contended by them it was not admissible to suspend
the principle when great emergencies arose. In 1756,
in 1766, in 1790, in 1791, and in 1800, these laws were
suspended, and yet the Governments of those times
were advocates of protective principles. With regard to
those who are opposed to restriction, and who have
argued that in February, 1849, the duty shall be
reduced to ls., they can have no difficulty
in relation to this proposed suspension, because they
cannot hold that that which they consider a bad law,
even in times of good harvests and abundance, should be
a good law now, when there is a great pressure, and a
lamentable deficiency of food.-(Hear, hear.) Sir,
I now pass to another subject intimately connected
with the present question-I mean the navigation
laws. With respect to those laws considerable difficulty
has been found in procuring vessels for the purpose of
importing grain into this country, arising from the high
rate of freights in the United States of America. This
difficulty has been enhanced by the demands of the Ame
rican Governmentfor vessels to transport troops and muni-
tions of war to the coast of America, considering the num-
ber of vessels that is necessary to supply carges of corn
sufficient to meet the demands of this country for provi-
sion. The rate of freights has been greatly raised.
What is the ordinary rate of freight compared with what
it is new The ordinary rate of freights at
Datozic is 10s. per quarter; at present the charge is from
16s. 6d. to 17s. The ordinary rate at Odessa is Bs. ; it is
at present 13s. In the United States of Ann rice the ordi-
nary rate is 55.; at the present time it is from 12s. 6d. to 13s.
From the Baltic the freight is 3s. 9d. to 4s. 6d.
There are some instances of freight still more remark-
able and still more affecting the supply of corn to Ire-
land from foreign countries. I shall quote one
instance ; the freight of a quarter of wheat from Lon-
don to Cork varies generally from Is. to Is. 2d
per quarter, at the present moment it averaged from 3s.
to 3s. 6d., and there is considerable difficulty in finding
vessels for the purpose of exportation. By a lower rate
of freightage we shall be able to employ some more of
our vessels, from whence we antieip!ito nau(.ll good to
result.-(Hear, hear.) When we reflect upon these
facts, and- con:ider the whole of the circumstances,
I am sure that the House will join with me in thinking
that these restrictions should not exist. I shall, there-
fore, propose a suspension of these laws. With respect
to the present state of the law, it is not my inten-
tion to say what alterations, if any, ought
to be introduced ; for I think that all parties
will consider that this is an occasion when such restric-
tions ought me to exist.-(Bear, hear.) Ido not mean
to enter into any unnecessary araument, or to pro-
voke any hostility by any observations of mine, and
I will therefore conclude by moving that the Chairman
-propose the necessary resolution, which will enable me
to propose a suspension of tile corn and navigation laws.
Mr. BANKES said he felt no difficulty in rising to
second the resolution. The Noble Lord had stated, that
upon this suspension of the corn-laws he anticipated no
discussion. He was not wrong in his anticipitation, but
itpn passing
ts
swiraxgs p
of this
ti s ome pheii i a
hs opinion
nr
ee
"ott ht
ha
set
hr
ow
uti
lhs
dee
hPaNer
lo bad l
mee
rei
nv Let
dowr
fd)
ru
ol
nc d
o ul d
the
have
been called together at an earlier period.- (Hear, hear.)
hu t
it
te
The Prime Minister could
not
awhaarvee th
in the course of his duty' thought
Laneegh a
together-itislatueroeursewoodh
might,
been inconvenient to indeed, be
e
expedienttruec aalthat
eoi
called
passhh
thatte,
the
such a measure, it was in his power to
the Irish
to
the l
proposition, aemberstisin-übu, orany Members-but English representatives
wbßeouetttnl dhpehraotvvhee,
d, at t
thought
oncet
tth
hecemh eNewrofabusl t lely consented on the behalf of
Ireland
other, which woula have
the benefit of Ireland.
Irthoerrd. a had lass
earleiexrcupseeritir
not calling Parliament together
for an alteration in the
le en told that there was plenty'gar" laws.
They had
different parts of the world, tido grain to be found in
difficulty that was to be met witheens' consequently
the only
means of conveyance, and that diffiwcausl a want of the
difficulty could only be
obviated by the sus peusion of the navigation
Ministry might have obviated that inhh laws. The
calling Parlinent together shortly afteertvheenipi7 ga-
bY
w
lion last year; and, as he had before observed, ifr it had
been inconvenient for the Irish Members to attend, the
English Members were ready, on the cart o.f
Ireland, to atte id for the .sanction of the sus-
,.l the reavieation - laws. His information
duff-red from that of the Noble Lord with respect to the
last harvest. lie believed that there was more than an