The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-07 00:00:00

affect the agricultural interest. He understood the Hon. Baronet to
say that they would take a vote that night on the shilling duty, and
if so, he for one was prepared to vote against it. If the Government
on their own responsibility hurried forward the measure without
having any discussion on it, it could not be supposed that the ques-
tion would be settled. Notwithstanding that the famine was made a
sort of stalking-horse for the Government, he begged leave to say
that It would not have the desired effect, and that the agricultural
Members had not the slightest confidence in those who would make
use of such argument to carry their propositions. He could not con-
ceive on what principles he brought forward his measure, for it was
clear that maize would come into competition with wheat, barley,
and oats ; therefore, he thought a discussion should come on at
some period when his Hon. Friends would be able to state their
opinions. When they had talked of wheat, let it be remembered that
America produced 700 million quarters of maize—(Cries of " Oh,
oh") —he meant 700 million bushels.—(Cheers and laughter.) The
product was so enormous—so much so that last year we consumed, on
an average one quarter, while the consumption in the United States
was estimated at three and a half bushels, which he thought
showed pretty clearly that Indian corn did come into competition
with the corn of this country. All he would say was, that if it were
determined to take those resolutions, he should vote against them.
Sir ROBERT PEEL begged to call the attentioa of his Hon.
Friend to the fact that the Government would proceed on Monday
with the first reading, when an opportunity would be given
for discussion; at the same time he hoped it would
be remembered that great distress was prevailing
in Ireland, which they had taken the responsibility on themselves
of meeting, by ordering in a very large quantity of Indian corn, and
they had reason to believe that many were now depending on it as
their chief means of support, and were anxiously looking out for it.
There were considerable stuns expenAel in tile purchase of Indian
corn, and he admitted, if it was properly prepared, it would make ex-
cellentl food ; at the same time, considering the great advantage it
would be to Ireland to have it, he hoped the Hon. Member would not
oppose its introduction, as the Hon. Member (Mr. Miles) could make
his objection on Monday next.
Mr. BRIGHT thought that the Hon. Gentleman would be ad-
vancing the interests of the agriculturists by acceding to the propcsi-
nstini
wellni
tebr objection
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Indian
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proposi-
tion of the Right Hon. Baronet. He had every reason to believe that
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ut el
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ht
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oc opinion
t tnofa
as
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of Ireland, he did ask the Hon. Gentleman to withdraw the opposition
which he was giving to the B.

Mr. MILES objected to the course whlch they were pursuing, tut
he was perfectly unprepared to enter into the discussion at all, but he
thought it his duty to state what had occurred in the country, and
an Hon. Gentleman, in the discharge of his duty, should not be
taanted,especially as he gave credit to the lion. Gentleman opposite—
(Sir. Bright)--for sincerity when he brought forward his measure.
At any rate his motives were supposed to be good, as he was not
stating his own individual views, and he considered he was not to be
held up to a public reprobation. He thought the Government had
acted very properly in importing a large quantity of Indian cern
under the present circumstances for the consumption of the Irish
people ; but he thought that before the famine occurred, the Go-
vernment should itself take the Indian corn out of bond, free of all
duty; but when it came to be in the market in vast quantities, and
publicly sold, it was a very different question. In taking it out
free of all duty for the supply of Ireland, there would be no objec-
tion to, and he considered that whatever opposition he might offer,
his motives and conduct were not to be impugned by the Hon. Gen-
tleman opposite (Mr. Bright).
Lord G. BENTINCK perfectly concurred with the observations of
his Noble Friend, but he could not conceive the difference whether
the Government paid the duty or let it in free. He did not see any
necessity for the discussion which had taken place respecting the
article called Indian corn. He was strongly of opinion that the
proper way to benefit Ireland was to purchase Irish oats in the
locality in which the potato disease prevailed. He had every reason
to think that purchasing Irish oats on the spot would be very little
more expensive than feeding them on Indian meal. If the Govern-
ment had purchased their oats, it would have been far better.
He was not an Irishman, but he believed that every
Irishman bad' a few oats, which they generally sold to procure the
other necessaries of life. He was, therefore, strongly of opinion that
the Government had committed a gr( a: mistake in the purchasing of
maize instead of purchasing Irish oats, which the people would much
prefer. He believed the Irish would prefer to be fed on oatmeal than
upon that for which their tastes were not adapted. By sending money
for Indian maize they would injure the price of oats in Ireland. He
could not see why they should introduce maize when there was the
option of Lrisla oats.
Sir /10BERT PEEL said he proposed that that part of the mea-
sure which applied to wheat, barley, and oats, should have its first
reading on Monday, and that it should be reported on Monday week,
at which time the discussion could be taken on it. He proposed
that that part which applied to maize and buck wheat shoul•I go
through that evening, and that it should have its first reading on
Monday next, when the discussion could be taken upon that. He
had an objection to the view taken by the Noble Lord who had
spoken last with regard to the purchase of oats. He begged to in-
form the House that the manufacturing portion of the inhabitants of
the west of Scotland and the west of England principally depended
for support upon oatmeal, and that was principally purchased of Ire-
land. If the oats were to be substituted for maize in Ireland, it

would be depriving the whole population of the west of England and
the west of Scotland of the food which they had been used to, and
raise the price of oats in Ireland. This was one of the first points
which caused her Majesty's Ministers to consider the substitution of
maize, which would prevent oats being greatly raised in price.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD felt that the Government had exercised a
very wise discretion in this matter.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that no one would accuse the Hon.
• _ _

!-- - -...------ --- —...
Member for SomersetshireTnoTany other Hon. Member in that
House, of inbumanity.—(Hear, hear.) He thought the question
would be discussed better on Monday, and that sufficient notice had
been given of the introduction of maize. He also considered that
the Goverement had used a sound discretion in proposing to b:lng in
maize, for that would prevent the raising of the price of Irish oats.
The discussion on the other part of the Bill should be taken at the
time of bringing up the report.—(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of MARCH said that he hoped, after what had fallen
from the Noble Lord the Member for Lonihn, there would be no
opposition to the discussion being entered upon on Monday next.
Mr. FINCH did not consider it fair that the maize or Indian corn
should be brought into the market without limit.
Mr. JAMES said that the Indian corn was most excellent for
feeding cattle, and he was sure it could not be injurious to the farmers
of England, inasmuch as it could not be grown in th's country to any
considerable extent.

Mr. DISRAELI wished to put a question to the Right Hon.
Baronet. He wished to learn what quantity of maize had been pur-
chased by the Government for consumption in Ireland?
Sir It. PEEL—The Government had certainly purchased maize for
consumption in Ireland, but he was unable to inform the Hon. Mem-
ber as to the quantity introduced into that country. Be could, how-
ever, inform the Hon. Member that the sum expended in that purchase
did not exceed 100,( 00/.
Colonel SIBTBORP could not understand why the Hon. Member
for Durham should charge any Hon. Member on his side of the House
with inhumanity; he would have had better grounds for such a
charge had he spent that 50,0001. of the Anti-Corn-law League in re-
lieving the distress of the people of Iceland. This he had not done,
nor had the Anti-Cern-law League given one pound towards that
object. He (Colonel Sibthorp) would have given them some pecu-
niary assistance. He would have give,' his money witi.out any hope
or expectation of seeing it returned, in order that some assistance
might be rendered to a suffering people.

Mr. MILES said that he was 'willing to propose a resolution giving
to Government the power, after the expiration of three months, of
taking corn and maize out of bond, and of importing it free of duty.
Mr. MITCHELL said that he did not see why the business of the
evening should not be proceeded with before any other question was
raised.

Mr. COLLETT said that he understood that there was a duty on
potatoes. Ile did not see by the new tariff that the duty was re-
moved, and he wished to kn Av why it had not ? He was very de-
sirous of seeing potatoes adm tied duty free.
Mr. BRIGHT said that he wished to ask a question of the Right
Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government. Last session the
Right Hon. Baronet said that it was dealrable that several articles
which he mentioned should be admitted duty free, and anongst these
articles was cotton. The duty on Indian cern was Is. per quarter, or
about 5 per cent. on the cost in America. If the principle of re-
ducing the duties was to be carried out, why was not the duty on
Indian corn reduced to Id. a quarter? And if no duty was required,
why was it not admitted free ? He would ask the Right Hon. Baronet
whether such a measure had not been under the consideration of
Government ?

Sir IL PEEL said that the duty on many articles had been re-
moved, and greatly reduced on others ; and he, therefore, did hope
that-no further reduction would be locked for.
Several Hon. Members asked questions of Sir H. Peel, but neither
the questions nor the replies of the Right Hon. Baronet reached the
reporters' gallery.

The resolution, after a short discussion, WAS agreed to.
The House resumed, and the Chairman obtained leave to sit again
on Monday.

➢lr. S. HERBERT obtained leave to bring in two Bills, one a Bill
for regulating the payment of the cut-pensioners of Greenwich and
Chelsea Hospitals ; and the other a Bill to amend the Act for render-
ing effective the services of the Chelsea out-pensioners, and extend-
ing it to the out-pensioners of Greenwich Hospital.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House
adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve o'clock.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The Nobility, Gentry, Subscrihers to the Opera, and the Public are
respectfully informed, that THIS EVENING, will be performed
(for the Second Time in this Country) Verdi's celebrated Opera of
"NABUCO," under the title of

NINO.
With New Scenery, Dresses and Decorations.

Ninns, King of Assyria, SigUOr Fornasari ; Idaspe, Signor Corelli ;
Orotasphe (High Priest of the Temple of Isis), Signor Botelli ; Ab-
dello (an Officer of the King of Assyria), Signor Dail:lot.' ; Fenena
(daughter of Ninus), Madile. Corbari, her second appearance in this
country; Anna (sister of Orotasphe), Madame Bellini ; Abigail (a
slim, supposed to be the eldest daughter of Ninus), Madile. San-
Wolf, her second appearance in this country.
To conclude with an entirely new Grand Ballet, by M. Perrot.
In Fire Tableaux. The music by Signor Pugni. The Scenery by
Mr. C. Marshall. entitled,
CATARINA. ; or, LA FILLE DU BANDIT.

The principal parts by 3 Rine. Lucile Grahn, Madame Petit Stephan,
Moncelet, Cassell, Demelisse, and Madame Louise Taglioni,
(her second appearance in this country.) M.M. Gesselin, Bertrand,
Di larattla. and Perrot.

TM:AVM ROYAL, DRUICY-LANE.

TIIIS EVENING,
Will be performed a New Opera, entitled THE CRUSADERS.
The principal characters will be sustained by Messrs. W. Har-
rison, Roust'', Horncastle, S. Jones, Weiss, Stretton, D. W. King,
Miss Romer, and Miss Rainforth.
After whlch, a new Fairy Ballet, called THE ISLAND NYMPH.
In which Mons. Deeplaces, Males. Neodot, Louise, Adele, Mdme.
(Nubile!, &c., will appear.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYIKATucrT,
THIS EVENING

Will be performed the popular Comedy, entitled MONEY. Prin-
cipal characters by Messrs. Webster, Buckstone, H. Holl, Brindal,
Hu isor, Stuart, J. Bland, Mrs. Glover, Miss P. Horton, &c.
The Band will perform the Overture, " La Heine d'un Jour,"
Quadrille, "Le Rol d'Yvetot," "Czarina Mazourk," and the Waltz,
"Love's Serenade."
After which a New Com!c Drama, called THE IRISH POST.
Characters by Messrs. J. Bland, Tilbury, Mrs. Humby, &c.
To be followed by a New Farce, called LEND ME FIVE SHIL-
f,INGS. Mr. Gollghtly, Mr. Buckatone ; Capt. Phobbs, Mr. Tilbury;
Capt. Spruce. Mr. Brindal ; Mrs. Major Phobbs, Miss P. Horton.