The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-27 00:00:00

EVEN] N'S, JANUARY 275 1846.

tion of fhe corn-law. I could not be otherwise. I did
it, and I knew it. —(Hear; hear.) So far, then, my
Lords, I have accounted for my own conduct. The pro-
position of my Right Hon. Friend, although it will involve
the material alteration of the corn-law, will be satisfac-
tory to the country, and satisfactory to the'friends of my
Right Hon. Friend, and will give such advantages to
the landed interest as the landed interest have a right to
expect in the general arrangements of the country. My
Lords, my Right Honourable Friend is a great landed
proprietor. His pursuits are those of agriculture: He
is connected by friendship and by associations with
most of your Lordships. I cannot suppose that he
would betray the interests of a body such as that of
the landed interests. No, my Lords, I entreat your
Lordships to wait until you see what the proposition is
that he will lay before you. He will bring his measure
before Parliament :in the course-of th-enext few days,
and then you will see whether or not he has betrayed
his duty either to your Lordships or the country. At
all events, my Lords, whatever that measure may be, I—
so highly rewarded as I have been by the people of Eng-
land—could not refuse to give my Sovereign all the
assistance in my power towards the formation of a Go-
vernment. I could not refuse this when I was called
upon, in order to enable her Majesty to me ,t Parliament
and carry on the business of' the country. On that
ground I have now presented myself before your Lord-
ships. I have no doubt that the measure to which I
have referred will give satisfaction to the agriculturists,
and will meet with general approbation.
After a pause of two or three minutes,
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE rose and said, he
wished to withdraw the motion of which he had last
session given notice, with respect to the London and
York Railway Bill.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM wished to know why
it was that the Noble Lord and his colleagues, who had
undertaken the task of forming a Government, had not
been successful in the attempt. He confessed the state-
ment just made by his Noble Friend was not satisfactory
to his mind. The present Government was almost en-
tirely a free trade one, and he therefore wished to know
why the Government, when it declined the task, and.
found Noble Lords ready to come forward to make a
Government—why, as they had altered their opinions
with respect to the question of free trade, they did not
join the new Government (if such it could be called)
that had, always advocated free trade conscientiously
and consistently?—(Hear, hear.) He begged to ask
the. Noble Lord (Lansdowne) why they had been unable
to form an Administration,—(Hear, hear.) He hoped
the measures to be brought forward on the following
evening in the HPuse of Commons, by the Right Hon.
Baronet at the head of the GoVernment, would be satis-
factory.—(Hear, hear.) For his oWri part he had not
the most. distant idea they could be satisfactory. to the,
country or to the agricultural interests. Believing that
the measures about to be proposed would be destructive
to the agricultural interests,' it would be his duty to
protect them as far as he was able, and to defeat any
measures that might be brought forward by this or any
other Government to introduce a free trade Legislature:
The Duke of WELLINGTON wished to knb* what
the _Noble Duke meant by' a free-trade Government.—
(Laughter.) He certainly was Staggeredat it.
The Duke 'of BUCKINGHAM- oleserved lie was
staggered to find the, Noble Duke now in the Cabinet,
proposing measures which he formerly so strongly ex-
pressed his disapproval of. The Noble Duke and his
friend upon a former occasion turned out the Govern-
ment, which attempted to support measures such as
those now about to be brought forward.—(Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had been upon a former
day perfectly prepared to state, at some length perhaps,
the circumstances under which be in common with the
Noble Lord, the Meinber for London, (Lord John Russell,)
and others, had been called upo'n to fei:m a Government,
upon which the Noble Duke (Buckingham) had called
" principles of, free-trade." All the circumstances, how-
ever, had been so fully stated to their Lordships, and to
the public, that he really did not .feel himself called
upon to relate all the •occurrences. that had passed,
He did not feel himself called upon to enter at any length
into an explanation of the reasons which induced him to
become a convert to free trade, because they bad been
fully stated in another place. After it had been stated
by so important a personage as the Right Honourable
Baronet at the head of the Government, that he would
'not consent to any, measure involvipg the principle of
a fixed duty, or any relaxation of the present corn-laws,
he felt he had no other alternative than to resort to free
trade principles ; guarding, at the same time, all the
legitimate claims of the landed interests, as well as the
other interests of the country. Had the proposition of
his Noble Friend, the Member for the City of London,
been adopted at the time when he proposed a fixed duty,
a stability would have been given to-trade, and the agi-
tations which followed would have been.prevented. He
had, nevertheless, never maintained the fixed duty on
principle, but he contended that while remissions were
made in other 'articles of commerce, it was absolutely
necessary; considering the circumstances of the country,
and, in particular, the failure of a material article of the
food of the people, it became impracticable to bring a
fixed duty .before Parliament, and, therefore, it was
necessary to resort to a free-trade measure. To continue
an evanescent duty would only be perputating uncertainty
and its attendant evils. The measure he and his Noble
Friends would have brought in would have relieved the
distess of the country, consistently with an alleviation,. as
far as consistent with justice, of the burdens bearing on
the landed proprietors and occupiers of land in this
country. He had been called upon by the Noble Duke,
and he felt himself called upon to state the grounds which
had led him to concur in the general views of those with
whom he had consulted. These views he had stated to
her Majesty when he had been honoured by command
to attend her. fle had felt, however, that nothing good
could 'accrue from his Noble Friend, the Membr for
London or his colleagues, if they had not the influence
of Parliament. He felt that if he undertook, or contem-
plated, this duty, it would be, absurd, unless they pos-
sessed that confidenee. It ought to have been their first
duty to ascertain whether Sir Robert Peel could com-
mand the House, because, if he could, not, it would
have been an useless attempt to form an Administration.
He thought it. was unnecessary for him now to enter
into details upon the subject. They have been sufficiently
stated elsewhere, and your Lordships cannot but-be cog-
nisant of the statement which has already been made.
And I do hope, that for the future, no consideration,
on the part of their Lbrdships will prevent
an adjustment of this great question upon the
most satisfactory terms, in whateyer hands
the Government may be placed—and I, for one,
have no doubt that facility will be afforded
for speedy settlement of this question.—(Hear, hear.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON—My Lords, I wish
to state a few words in explanation relating to the pro-
position which had been made to me as to whether I
was willing to undertake the conduct -of the Govern-
ment. It is perfectly true what has been stated by the
Noble Marquis, that it had pleased her Majesty to ask
me if I was disposed to undertake' the formation of 4
Government upon the principle of maintaining the exist-
ing corn-laWs. My Lords, what others said I cannot
say. I answered immediately that I could not undertake
the conduct. of.a Government upon such principles.
But, my Lords, when I made that answer I did it not
only out of a feeling of diffidence in my own abilities,
but also from the feeling that it was utterly impossible,
according to my knowledge of the then state of affairs,
to form a Government in which my colleagues could
attain the full cenfidence of Parliament.
The Earl of RADNOR stated that there was one
point upon which he thought a little explanation was
due to the House. He alluded to the interval a hich had
elapsed since first her Majesty's Ministers had become
acquainted with the failure in the potato crop, they had
met, consulted, followed, separated, and left, and nothing
had been done for the people—for those millienis of whom
the Noble Duke had spoken and they have left them
in the same situation up to the present time. He for
one should be very glad to see an alteration in the 'corn-
lawo and the disease in, the potatoes would be found to
hasten that alteration. Ile would say one word--2he
could not see, although he had often heard of, the pe-
culiar burdens on land; but he hoped nothing would he
done without an inquiry into the subject.
The Duke -of WELLINGTON—My Lords, what I
stated to your Lordships, I think your Lordships will
consider has been fair instructions in respect to it, apd
if my memory serves me right, I think the Noble Lord
is mistaken.
The Duke of RICHMOND rose to present a petition
from Ware, against any alteration in the existing corn-
laws. He humbly hoped that before their Lordships
would pass any new plan, that they would have an in-
quiry, and he would then show his Noble Friends that
the farmer who paid a rent of 3001. a-year,.was liable to
treble the taxation that Mr. Cobden paid.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE—The Noble
Duke has named Mr. Cobden, and their Lordships may
recollect, that he moved for a Committee to inquire into
the peculiar burden on land ; and that as his arguments
had converted almost every one out of that House,
he hoped they would be successful in con-
vincing their Lordships also.—(Hear, hear.) He
could never see the peculiar burdens on land, al-
though he had often I- eard of them, both in and out of
that House. He never considered a quit-rent a burden
on land.—(Hear, hear) If that inquiry which was now
recommended could be made, he should have no objec-
tion to it, though it would cause delay. He could not
see why this Commission had not been favourably viewed
by the landed interest, when proposed some time ago.
he Duke of RICHMOND—There had been an at-
tack made upon the landlords of this country, and he
rose to answer it. The Noble Lord said that an in-
quiry had been proposed some time ago, but
that the landlords of the country bad refused to
sanction it. He also informed their Lordships that there
were no burdens on land. If high rates and poor-laws
were burdens, then, indeed, were there burdens on that
land; and he (the Duke of Richmond) was of opinion
that his own tenants paid more rates than all the Anti-
Corn-law League put together.—(Laughter.) His Noble
Friend hid said that the opinion of the country Was
well known upon the question of the corn-laws. This
he denied ; not, indeed, so far as their opinions were
formed, but in so far as that those opinions were not yet
taken. If the Noble Lord was of that opinion, he should
advise her Majesty's Government to at once appeal to
the country, and strengthen themselves by such a step.
Lord BEAUMONT—The Noble Marquis had, said.
that the landlords were inconsistent on the ,question of
an inquiry into the burdens on land. Ile xnust any this
—it was not inconsistent. At the time his Noble Friend
alluded to, an inquiry was certainly proposed, but then
That being the Cage, manyop-
that Commission of Inquiry did not propose tcoremove
d that such a prOCeeding would
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realised, and the' consequence would liave been
a general ' disappointriaent, engendering discontent.
-Change of opinion had occurred which threatened such
a dreadful revolution,,that he not only wished an in-
quiry to be instituted into. the burdens of land, but into
the operation of the poor-laws, and the commutation of
tithes. He did not, however, consider tithes a burden
on the land, as they were placed upon real property in

possession of the landowner, whether a clergyman or
not. If. he wished an inquiry into the commutation of
tithes, it was for the purpose of treating those persons
who had in this care behaved with a sense of honour
highly to their credit—he meant the clergymen of the
Church of England, who had not tAvocated either
one side or the other of the great questions which at
present -occupied the public attention, as they had re-
fused to attend either, protection 'or free-trade meetings.
If the Noble Earl who sat bshind him (the Marquis of
Claoricarde) wished to know what were the b irdens on
land, he would refer him to two volumes now lying on
his table on the subject, and to that admirable volume
lately issued by the Commission of Local Taxation.
He would ask him to read that passage which stated
that 12,000,000/. were annually paid by the owners of
real property. Was not this sum a burden upon land ?
If they entered into this-ipquiry, they should ascertain
the distribution of these burdens, and the manner in
which the proprietors of land complained of the lame
amount received from them. Whilst he was speaking
on this point, he might be excused for offering a few-re-
marks with respect to the explanations which had
recently been made, as to the proceedings of the Govern-
ment. He must say, candidly, that the Noble Duke

had distinctly explained the part which he had taken
in these proceedings, but he thought curiosity
might be well excited as to the motives and
reasons which had influenced the other members
of the Government is the course they had
adopted with respect to the opinions of the Prime Mi
ulster. He thought their Lordships had a right to
know—he did not, however, say they had a right to de-
mand the information—but he must confess that his cu-
riosity, and the curiosity of others, had been excited to
know, what had induced the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty to support the views of the Government. The
same remark may apply with equal truth to the Noble-
man at the head of the Board of Control. He wanted
especially to know the reasons which had influenced the
conduct of that Noble Earl (the Earl of Ripon), as he
remembered the speech which he had addressed to their
Lordships last session in favour of protection. Again,
he wished to know why the Noble Earl the Minister for
Foreign Affairs (the Earl of Aberdeen)—(" Hear, hear,"
from Lord Brougham)—had consented to uphold the:opi-
nions of the Government, to the great danger of our rela-
dons on the other side of the Atlantic ? If they now
removed protection, would there not be found in Ireland
certain parties who would clamour for repeal of another
kind ?—(Hear, hear.) He mightgo farther, and look to
Canada. What would become of the Canada Corn Bill?
Repeal protection, another independence and another
annexation might arise in the west.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said, that though feeling
his situation in some degree different from that of his
colleagues, he still felt it necessary to explain somewhat
to the Noble Lord, in consequence of a question he had
put. It would be unnecessary for him to trouble their
Lordships with the reasons which had influenced him,
but he wished to state the fact to the Noble Lord, that
when his Right Hon. Friend communicated with him
and with her Majesty's Goverment, in the beginning of
November, he (the Earl of Aberdeen) gave to that pro-
posal his cordial and unhesitating assent. He repeated,
that he need not give his reasons, but such had been his
opinion then, and such was his opinion now.
The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday, Jan. 26.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock.
ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.

The SPEAKER—I have to inform this House that the
House waited upon her Majesty on Saturday last, when
she was pleased to return the following gracious
reply :
" I receive with satisfaction your loyal and dutiful
Address, and I rely with confidence on your support in
carrying out the measures about to be proposed to
promote the Welfare of my people."
NEW WRIT FOR THE BOROUGH OF RIPON.
Mr. YOUNG moved that a new writ be issued for
the borough of Ripon, in room of Mr. T. B. C. Smith,
ho had accepted the office of Master of the Rolls for
Ireland.
CORN-LAWS AND THE LEAGUE.

Mr. OCTAVIUS DUNCOMBE presented several
petitions from the North Riding of Yorkshire in favour
of protection to agriculture, and they prayed that some
means might be taken to prevent the wholesale manu-
facture of votes by the Anti-Corn-law League.
An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from 870 oc-
cupiers of land, to the amount of 104,674 acres, in the
county of Leicester, praying the House to' uphold the
corn-laws, or at least to apical to the opinions of the
country before adopting any system of free trade.
Mr. HO WARD ELPHINSTONE presented a pe-
tition, signed by upwards of 3,000 persons, from the
city of Westminster, against the corn-laws.
ASHBURTON AND DEVON RAILWAY.

An Hort. MEMBER presented a petition, praying for
leave to bring in a Bill to construct a railway from Ash-
burton to Devon.
MANCHESTER AND SALFORD WATER-
WORKS.

Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from the
Manchester and Salford Water-works Company, praying
for leave to bring in their Bill. . _ _

Mr. G. BANKES presented a petition, from the
borough and town of Wareham, and from the Isle of
Penbeck, in the county of Dorset, praying for a confirm•
ante of the present system of protection to agriculture.