The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 9, 1846.

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the famine in Wexford and other counties.
justify him with regard to the statements he had madTehrees.rieocot.-.
alemeer for Armagh had stated that the price of potatoes in his Itieeard 1 im, he
his most
conclude by saying that he would give derstand what course the Noble Lord and, his party, under
year. He was rejoiced. hAirraahaeteo decided opposition in every stage. such a state of mind, proposed to take in order to relieve the
county was similar to the price of last
that desert},
to find that there was one place in Ireland where. e • ROEBUCK would not have spoken, had it not been condition of the people of Ireland.—( Hear, hear.) He would
reasonable price. He was far
• an observation
tion of food was to be had at a made by the Gentleman who had just sat not go further into tee question at that late hour of the even-
sorry,th-western and southern down. The
psatotpienctoe ot
however, to say that in the sou
extensive. He the present measure as being a motley crew, For his part he for
of Ireland the potato disease was very.
..
• Oxfordshire (Mr. Henley) had said that he considered the
parts
Member for Dorsetshire was_ thinking believed that this variety of political opinion—this new corn- ' course the
thought the Honourable Mem
inGovernment had taken was not compatible with
county when he binatioa of forces would never but from strong I
of the condition of the poor this . have taken place honour, far less calculated to obtain the end sought to Le
ed to Ireland. The poor in Dorsetshire were re- and urgent reasons.—( Hear, hear.) Ile had also accused obtained.
alluded to Ireland. The poor in Dorsetslsire were re- aud urgent reasons.—( Hear, hear.) lie had also accused obtained.
ceivin
only 7s. a week wages, nut of which they had them of being influenced by selfish motives, but he (Mr. Roe- Mr. HENLEY denied that he had accused the Government
to for rent. He ( Lord Lincoln) had received a letter buck) would retort the charge, and would ask what were the with acting dishonestly.
pay morning from Valentin, in Ireland, which principles which
only that influenced them. The real principle was Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT considered the observationso f
« d a supply of Indian corn or oatmeal to dispose of to self-interest. For what did they assemble night after night to , the Hon. Member were to thateffect. With
requested respect to the
the poor at cost . pr,ce • Such applications as these were evidence • make interminable speeches t For what did they meet there charges made against
that the distress in Ireland had not been overrated. The to obstruct the universally expressed demands of the ( Mr. S. Herbert) must say that difference
month of May, in Ireland, was that period of the year during public e He would say, fearless of contradiction, that it men in a private station there was a between
and those who were in office.
which employment was most prevalent. It was the seed time, was their self-interest, and their self-interest alone, He must say, that Hon. Gentlemen,
Go-
and the farmers occupied as many labourers as they needed, which spurred them on. First of all, they rested their vernment, should judge of the in dealing with eke Go-
and in consequence the demands on the public purse were not, case upon the tenant farmers, but now they fell placed; as to them wer„o position in which public men are
so numerous. The Right Hon. Baronet then read a letter back upon the labourers. He would only . say in reference to They should take all the circumstances committed great public interests.
from a proprietor in the county of Cavan, wherein great dis- the latter; let them (the protectionists) give them the means keep in view that they were bound into consideration, and
tress existed. His Hon. Friend had stated, that the result of of deciding the question, and he would not fear the result. But that policy which would best
to act in consonance with
the alarm that had been raised with respect to the farmer had before that, let them give them the right of stating their country.—( Hear, hear.)
Especiallyrvethe interests of their
been to raise the price of rotators. A supply of Indian corn opinions to that House, not only on the corn-laws, but on all no disgrace or dishonour could accrue they should consider that
pro-
had been furnished to numerous districts in Ireland for the other questions.—( Hear, hear.) The time was now come posed —the change of opinion referred—to when the scheme
double purpose of preventing starvation, and of hindering a when statistics were resorted to, and the Hon. Member for fiscal nature. There could be nocli was entirely of a
combination to raise the rice of food. What was the price of Shrewsbury had brought political economy into requisition for the object was to remove a great evairlge of dishonesty where,
—( hear, hear.) 'I o
potatoes previous to the issue of meal by the Government? the purpose of propping up their case. In doing so, however, those who denied the policy of the Government,
Why, in Limerick alone, the price was 74d. per stone, and it he had not left his cause to the strength of the facts and argu- full right of quarrel with that polic e he gave the
was utterly impassible for the poor to pay that price. When ments whirls he employed, but appeared to think that one the credit of acting for they. 11
hest
intentions,gaveeo every
the issue of meal was made by the Government, the price of his observations, however rapid, or however shallow, at the same time he must claim and
the same for
potatoes fell immediately from 71d. to sed. per stone. He if seasoned with a little personality, would be piquant and ir- himself. All he asked was the credit of having acted
did not intend to occupy the attention of the
House any longer. resistable. From the manner in which the Honourable from honest and upright motives, and with acting underth
He could, however, assure his Hon. Friend that the distress in Gentleman used quotations, it was very easy for him to acquire exigencies of the case for the welfare of the country.—
Ireland, though not universal, was general and extensive. a reputation for learning at a very small expense. He quoted ( Hear, hear.) Abuse he was prepared to meet, but at the
Mr. PLOVER thought if the Noble Lord was not prepared a work from a friend of his (Mr. Roebuck) of great respects- same time the parties who cheered: the Noble Lord (Lord
to stand by the quotations of the price of wages in Dorsetshire bility, and so great a respect did he entertain for him, that he George Bentinck), and who found fault with the Government,
contained in Mr. Sheridan's letter, he ought not to have ad- was orry to see his views wrested to the purposes of the Hon. —who charged them with having deserted their principles,
dressed the House. He (Mr. Flea er) was prepared to main- Member for Shrewsbury. That Hon. Gentleman quoted, a should; consider the position in which her Majesty's Miniaters
tain that the condition of the labourers in Dorsetshire was few evenings ago, the opinions of Mr. John Mills, on the laws of had been placed, and the circumstances of the country__
never better than it was at present. He would, however, deny interchange in support of those opinions which he ( Hear, hear.) When the troops of the Noble Lord strained
that the rate of wages was so low as had been stated by the had with so much zeal, but with so little all their might against the Government—when illogical mysti-
Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland. He gave an unequivo- judgement, endeavoured to impress upon the House. fications were so frequently employed to support the cause of
cal denial, as the Member for Dorsetshire, against any insinue The Honourable Member (Mr. Disraeli) mistook his part. protection—when lung arithmetical calculations were peraded
ation of the low rate of wages in that county. He began his life by a mistake • he began as a Radical ; he to meet the case—when a great pressure of distress, a
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN corroborated the statement came out in tragedy, but he had since slided into genteel national exigency arose—and when, along with these,
of the Noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland-with reference to comedy.—(Great laughter.) He came out as the friend of they had the effects before them, of the partial relaxa-
the distress of Limerick, he thought it a wise precaution of the the Honourable and Learned Member for Cork; but he was tion of these laws respecting the importation of
Government to supply Indian corn to meet that dis- now against him, and the principles he then entertained. It food during the last seven years of reduced duty—
tress. He found, when he visited Limerick, that was well for the Hon. Gentleman to change one set of principles when they had all these, would it have been meet and proper
the vessels in the harbour were attacked by armed men ; and take to himself another—it was well to throw up one for the Government to stand still, and not make a provision
that the cattle were obliged to be guarded by soldiers. In party and join another for the purpose of gaining something by for the hunger and famine that threatened a great portion of
consequence of the measure the Government had adopted, the becoming the leader of a party, who might make it worth the the country ?—(Loud cries of" Hear, hear.") Yes, he said,
poor people were now employed : there was no fear of out- change of principle He could then turn round and attack the when famine and hunger threatened a large portion of the
break among them. Tranquillity still reigned in that country. Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of her Majesty's Ministers country, the Government had considered it their duty to pro-
He thought it was his duty, as a magistrates and a proprietor for changing his principles upon this question; but the Right. pose an alteration of those laws that restricted the importation
in that country to urge upon the Government the necessity of Hon. Baronet could afford to laugh at the'impotent insolence of food from foreign countries. Let it be understood he did
taking some active measures. He found the distress in his of those who chose thus to assail him. Now, as to the book not impute bad motives to any one, but he did think that the
own immediate vicinity very great. There was no seed for by Mr. John Mills, which the Hon. Gentleman had dipped charges against_ the Government were not fairly and candidly
the future, and no food for the present. He spoke only of that into—(Laughter)—he would read an extract or two. (The made. He thought that violent and sudden measures were to
part of the country with which he was acquainted. He Hon. Member then read at length from this work, to show be deprecated, but with regard to the present measure, it was
believed, that there was very severe distress throughout the that protection did not apply to the necessaries of not so, for the principle had be en tried already for some years
country—( Hear, hear.) He thought the Government had life, nor to that which would interfere with our exportations.) in which it had been completely successful. Every year, in
acted improperly in mixing up Irish grievances with this corn He hoped the Hon. Member, when next quoting works to this country, wheat had become cheaper in comparison to the
measure, and that they should propose a humane measure to support his arguments in favour of these laws, would select prices on the continent.—(Hear, hear.) He did say, that as
meet a temporary calamity. He maintained, and had done so something better than Mr. Mills's authority in support of his far as the state of parties were concerned—whether the
over and over again, that the distress in Ireland should be met principles. The Hon. Member again quoted, after which he League or the protection society had brought about the present
by the Irish landholders themselves.—(Hear, hear.) said that this was the argument which was selected to prove state of opinions—the present time was the proper one for its
Mr. LEFROY stated that the distress had not been so that they could not combat hostile tariffs by free trade. After settlement, without doing violence to any great interest, with-
general, and the number of cases of fever consequent thereon having said so much on this subject, he would not longer out physical force on the one hand, or the dread of the jail on
were not so numerous as the House had been led to expect. trouble the House._(Cries of " Oh, oh, oh.") He had no the other. He, ',therefore, trusted that the measure would
He was the first Irish Member who had ventured to state doubt the Hon. Members who cried in this way judged of psss, and that those in opposition would not oppose its further
that, so far as Ireland was concerned, the state of that country speeches by their length, but his intention was not to make a progress. He trusted that as he gave them credit for honest
did not warrant the adoption of such measures as those pro. long speech, but simply to deal with the points before the and conscientious motives, that they in return would extend
posed by Government. He thought it would be satisfactory House. the same indulgence to him—and concede, that in this
to the Government to know, upon authority not to be di,- Mr. me", and Mr. DisKAELI rose together, but the former particular measure the Government had in view the
puted, that the distress was not so general as had been feared. gave way, when great and valuable object of keeping down the price of food, so
With respect to the county of which he was a Member, he Mr. DISRAELI said he was extremely sorry that he felt as to place it within the reach of the poorer classes of the peo-
would read a letter from a gentleman well acquainted with that obliged to solicit the attention of the House for a short time, so pie ; and especially with granting relief to the distress and dif.
part of the country. The Hon. Member then proceeded to as to reply to that part of the Hon. and Learned Member's ficulties of a large portion of their fellow-subjects in Ireland,
read the letter referred to ; also a letter from the agent of a speech, which personally reflected upon him (Mr. Disraeli).— who were suffering much from the circumstances in which they
large landed proprietor in Roscommon, both of which stated ( Hear, hear.) It was a long time since that they had the were at present unfortunately placed.
the distress not to be of so alarming an extent. He had honour of hearing the Hon. Member, and as for himself he Mr. HENLEY explained that he never said that the Go-
else accounts from Sligo, Armagh, and Down, was very glad to see him there once more, and to hear him vernmnnt had acted dishonourably. He said that two Cabinet
denying the prevalence of fever in those counties. speak in his usual characteristic manner.—(Laughter.) He Ministers had recommended a certain course to be taken which
He would read a letter to prove that even in the case of dis- had been very personal towards him in what he was pleased to he considered was not consistent with honour.—( Hear, hear.)
eased potatoes they were not unprofitable, and the House would call his speech upon this question, but he did not care for that. Lord G. BENTINCK, who was at the beginning of his
see form this that there were many useful and commoner pur. --(Hear hear, from the protection benches.) He was used to speech rather inaudibly heard in the gallery, said that the Right
poses to which potatoes in a disordered state could be applied. it from him, though he did not always think it necessary to Hon. the Secretary-at-War had charged him with having en-
-( Hear, hear.) (The Honourable Member having read this reply to such attacks—it was true he had done so once—he was deavoured to agitate the country in favour of protection. He
letter, went on to read a number of others, with the view of compelled to do so then—it was thrust upon him by charged him with having been unsuccessful in that course of
showing that the accounts of the suffering, disease, and distress the charges of the Hon. Member, which amounted to agitation. He (Lord G. Bentinck) had never attended public
prevalent in • Ireland was exaggerated.) He did not attempt to what he (Mr. Disraeli) believed to be language most meetings, he had never made any speeches to those meetings,
deny that there was great and pressing distress in many parts unparliamentary. The Honourable and Learned Member had nor had he written letters to any one.—( Cheers from the pro-
of Ireland, but it was occasienee, in his opinion, by a com- thought proper to speak upon his political conduct—he spoke, tectionists.) He had never said a word on the subject of pro-
bination amongst certain parties to raise the price of provisions. indeed, on a question which he knew nothing at all about, tection in public, until he felt that it was his duty to do so, and
—( Hear, hear.) Before he sat down there was another sub- Ile hoped he would not be charged with anything like egotism then he had addressed that House.—( Renewed cheering.)
ject to which he must allude. The Right Hon. Gentleman when he now attempted to defend himself, and to show that he If he had agitated the country, that agitation was restricted to
the Secretary of State for the Home Department had blamed was not chargeable with what the Hon. and Learned Member the speeches made in that House, and uttered to her Majesty's
the Irish gentry for not speedily availing themselves of the imputed to him. He was charged with following the Hon. and Ministers.—( Continued cheering.) But he was a little sur-
public grant which had been made for th purpose of public Learned Member for Kilkenny, or it may be the Hon. and prised to hear his Right Hon. Friend take this high tone, be-
works, but the grand juries in many parts of Ireland Learned Member for Dublin, for he did not remember what cause the party to which he (Lord G. Bentinck) belonged had
thought it would only have benefited the contractor, and not county that Hon. and Learned Gentleman represented at pre- been accustomed to regard his Right Hon. Friend as equal in
the tenantry, had they availed themselves of this money pre- sent. Well, he was charged with having followed the principles station, equal iu eloquence, and superior in honesty, to the pre-
vious to the last assizes, for at those assizes the ordinary road of that Hon. and Learned Member, but surely there was sent Prime Minister of this country.—(Loud cheering.) This
contracts were let, and that for a time gave sufficient em- nothing extraordinary in that—there was nothing so extraordi- was the agitator whom, in the month of December, when her
ployrnent to the people, without resorting to the reserve nary Majesty's in his having done so, when it was remembered that the Government was in a state of dissolution, and the
fund which Government had placed at their disposal.— Prime Minister of England had also done so.—(Cries whole agricultural mind of England expected that his Right
(Hear, hear.) Thanking the House for the attention they of " Hear, hear," and great cheering and counter. cheering.) Hon. Friend, and not he (Lord G. Bentinck), would be the
had given him, he resumed his seat, declaring his intention to He denied having changed his principles—he had the same leader of that party. But his Right Hon. Friend now stood
support the amendment.—( Hear.) principles now as he had then. He had nothing to change, up in this House, and held this high tone on the subject of
Mr. P. BORTH WICK expressed himself strongly op- he had no hereditary name to support, no high-born nobility the corn-laws. Ile would have the House to believe that the
posed to the passing of this measure, and blamed the Govern- ' o please. It may have been that when a young man he had way to improve the agriculture of the country, especially of
ment for having resorted to it to relieve the distress of Ireland, not adopted the best mode of carrying out those principles, but his own county of Wilts—where, as he informed them, agricul-
while they could have found a more easy and effective remedy he denied having changed them, for they were not formed sure was carried on in so slovenly a manner—that the
in appealing to the people for public and private subsciiP- upon light grounds, but they were principles adopted after a way to improve that country would be by repealing the corn-
tions to meet the temporary evil.—(Hear, hear.) Circum- careful reading; they were not hastily formed, but were the laws. It was only in June last that, in answer to the
stances, both in and out of the country, combined result of deep study, and were such as he could not change, Hon. Member for Sheffield, he called on the House, and the agrie
to prove that the corn-laws were politic, and it though he was charged to have done so by the Hon. and cultural interest out of the House, to resist the motion of his
would be unjust to abrogate them.—(Hear, hear.) lee Learned Member in his well-arranged impsomptu.—(Cheers eion. Friend, and to make a manful exertion to refuse the se-
admitted that what was politic last year might be impolitic and laughter.) The principles which he held at the time ductions of the Honourable Member for Stockport, who en-
this, but justice was eternal ; it never changed ; and to him alluded to by the Hon. and Learned Member deprecated the deavoured to convince the agricultural interest that the way to
it seemed rather strange, that the Right Hon. Baronet at the policy which regulated the legislation for Ireland, and those increase their profits was to reduce the value of their produce.
head of the Government should have been thirty years in dis- principles he still held, for he did maintain that —(Cheers ) His Right Hon. Friend had referred to the case
covering what was just and what was unjust.—(Protection Ireland had suffered by a factious legislation. And of Ireland, and, as one of her 'Majesty's Ministers had repeated
cheers.) How could this be? 'The fact was that the discovery he did believe that the great mistake made in governing the misrepresentations of the motions which ectuated the Hon.
was a sudden one. And why did the Right Hon. Baronet so Ireland was attempting to govern her by a faction—(llear) Members who sat around him in supporting the measures
often entertain them with speeches warmly supporting and that the real mode of Government that should be adopted which they were prepared to pass regarding Ireland, he would
protection, and in no less degree denouncing the Anti-Corn- towards that country should have been that adopted by certain trouble the House with one or two observations on this matter.
law League and its leaders ? It could nut be concealed, then,
great kings in former times.--(Hear, hear.) What, then, That Minister had stated that they on that side were pre-
that the w
discovery was a sudden one. And why as it cud- _was it because he sympathised with a man who had borne pared to suspend the corn-laws, for giving relief to that
den ? Why, the secret would be found in the simple fact that a great name as the advocate of the cause of his country, in country. How often had they stated, that though they con-
e general election was near at hand. But was it becoming in the feelings he entertained towards that country, that he was sewed to that measure, they did not believe that it would give
a great Minister, with a European reputation, to resort to to be thus assailed ?—(Hear, hear.) Those were the opinions reliefto Ireland? How often had they stated, that to no part of
so palpable an attack, with the view of securing popularity he had always expressed upon this subject, and to these the United Kingdom would so much injury be done by the re-
on the eve of a general election.—( Hear, hear.) opinions he still adhered.--( Hear, ]rear.) The Hon. and peal of the corn-laws as to Ireland. He would tell them why
A falser return than that which had been returned to the Learned Member had said that he (Mr. Disraeli) had had Ireland would be injured by the repeal of the corn-laws. From
French Parliament, of the number of agriculturists and manu- a quarrel with a party, and entered into some statement about what they heard of the doings in Ireland, there was every ap-
facturers, had never ben made ; for every village blacksmith, it. It was unfortunate that he had • it occurred at an election pearance of poverty increasing, and tilled land being converted
every village tailor, every man who fashioned the ploughshare when he was ' lstood • a very young man, and when re in oppo- into pasture land, because it was found now that it was more
or horseshoe, every sort of Wizen, had in fact been returned as sition to the son of a Whi Prime' Minister. But he did not profitable to rear cattle than to grow corn, and in process of
a manufacturer, and he was glad to find that M. Guizot was not e e
tuine that these g
.._• •
were matters justified the
Honourable time new evictions would take plate over the whole of Ireland.
about toe be misled by that return, or become a
Landisdciple of the Member in making those charges ; whichnd with those observations, His Noble Friend the Secretary for Ireland had told them that
Hon. Mmber for Stockport. The Noble behind him he (Mr. Disraeli) begged to a
say, he would never al- he was responsible for all the information that had been given
(Lord G. Bentinck) had made a speech on this question lode to them again. As to what the Hon. Member had said by Government in that House. He was afraid that his
during the previous stage of this measure, which was replete about his having gone over to the enemy's camp, why, he Noble Friend was a very credulous Minister. He did not
with arguments, to which it was impossible for the Government (Mr. Disraeli) did not know that he ever had a camp. charge his Noble Friend with misrepresenting facts—he
to reply. . The Hon. Member then proceeded to say, that the
—(Laughter). And now let him ask who were those who did not charge him with such wilful misrepresentations—with
alleged famine in Ireland was not of that alarmir.g character re- sympathised with the sentiments of the Hon. and Learned making a handle of that which he did not know to be true.
presented by the Commissioners of her Majesty 'e Government alember opposite ?—(Loud cheers.) What sentiments did he He would not charge him with wilful misrepresentation in
'I here had in point of fact been a decrease of about 100 cases of represent ?—( Renewed cheers.) The Hon. Member had order to advance his election at Falkirk, but he must say that
fever ins one district alone of that country in the present yhar, stated that there was no greater enemy to democracy than his Noble Friend was too ready to listen to every exaggerated
as compred with the corresponding portion of thc preceding modern liberalism—(Hear, hear)--and that liberal principles eaves-dropper that came near him, and this was simply the
year. He maintained that there was at the present momentth. were never more in danger than when advocated by po- reason why they had such exaggerated reports of the famine
in Ireland sufficient potatoes both for food and seed, notwi litical economists.—( Hear, hear.) But now, let him (Mr. in Ireland. There had never been that scarcity in that
standing the assertions of the Noble Lord the Secretarydefit for Disraeli) ask had he ever spoken in terms of dis- country to the extent stated in that House. True there bad
Ireland (Lord Lincoln). There was also not the least
But eency respect of the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork ? been some scarcity felt in some districts in Ireland, but he
of any other description of food in that country. . even ( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member then referred to the b'ook denied that a general famine existed. They had heard from
granting for a moment that there was a famine mlreland,from which the Hon. Member for Bath read some passages, his Hon. Friend the Member for Northampton the state of the
if this measure were an unjust one, which it had been and read an extract, in which the author expressed his opinions county of Limerick, and that statement was a corroboration of
proved to be, that famine could not surely form a upon the operations of the corn-laws, and concluded by saying, that made by the -Secretary for Ireland. He (Lord George
ground for the passing of such a measure as the present., he thought he had now shown the House that never had his Bentinck) happened to hold in his hand a return of the
The Right Hon. Baronet at the head .of her Majesty s misrepresentations been more apparent, or his attacks more produce which came into England in the course of
Government has said, that the people living eastward of an causeless, than the present upon his literary criticisms.— last month, and was sorry to find that the importation
imaginary line which he had drawn from Inverness to South- ( Hear, hear.) Of all the abortions he had ever heard of, ti. is from Ireland was greater than from any other
ampton, were careless whether this measure passed or not ;in was .he greatest—( Hear, hear)—and never was there a senator portion of Great Britain. Between the 25th of September
fact, that those who were skilful and wealthy farmers, would struck with stronger oratorical paralysis, and certainly never last, and the 24th of April this year, he found that 71,000
profit by the measure becoming a law. But the Right lion. was any attack mor malignant, or more perfectly futile. quarters of wheat, 6,000 quarters of barley, 268,000 quarters
Baronet had admitted that the remaining portion of our popu- Mr. S. HERBERT said, in rising to address a few oh. of oats, 55,000 cwt. of flour, 234,000 cwt. of oatmeal had
lation—the small farmers of England would be utterly ruined. servation to the House upon this subject, he could assure it been imported from Ireland, making a grand total of 346,069
And it was thus heartlessly that they were about to dispose of that he would avoid all expressions of a personal nature, or quarters of grain, 289,931 cwts of flour. He believed that we
those of whom they formerly boasted—" the bold peasantry, the any of those sarcasms which the House had been listening to had sent over 43,000 quarters of grain to assist the Irish
country's pride." But these laws, if they injured one class for the last few minutes, but he would endeavour to avoid people, while it was clearly evident that from this, which was
must injure all classes of farmers ;it was impossible that the all personalities. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the called a starving country, a greater quantity of grain was ex-
large farmers could be benefited by them, whilst the occu- discussions which had taken place upon the doctrines of this ported than from any other portion of the United
piers and cultivators of small portions of land weie injured. On Bill, he doubted that the Honourable Member opposite had Kingdom.—(Hear.) There was greater abundance in Ireland
the westward of the line which the Right Hon. Baronet had shown that Mr. Mills had convinced any one by his argu- than had ever been know in this country, and if her Majesty's
drawn, the very best of wheat was produced, and that in copious merits. He did not mean to go into the question now, as the Ministers undertook to purchase oatmeal to send to the assist-
quantities; and he contended that the producers of that ins- House understoodtime of the fll •ofof the Irish,itwould have been better to Ipurchased
very well
portent article of food, should not have been so lightly treated
money that had been so often alluded to. But some allusion it there, where it might have been done without any difficulty
as they had been by the Right Hon. Baronet. The Hon. had been made to expressions he had used during this debate. and where it would have been distributed at prime cost, and'
Member concluded, by quoting from Burke, for the purpose of
The Honourable Member for Oxfordshire had spoken of the without the expense of carriage. His Right Hon. Friend had
showing that it would be a very dangerous and unjust ste to inter.
fere with the capital of the farmer its the manner P proposed by labouring population in the Southern counties last year, and considerable interest in the county of Wilts, and had referred to
this measure. Now, the Right Hon. Baronet fouded on that crime had increased beyond the population. Now he the low rate of wages given to the labourers there. He (Lord
statements the argument, What has protection done for (Mr. Sydney Herbert) begged to sae that there had been a G. Bentinck) had no property in Wilts, but he was a tenant-
suchmarked diminution in crime in this country within the last three farmer on its borders. He believed that he employed .more
you? He might as welt ask, in respect to the state of manu-
factures in Ireland, What has free trade done for that coup- or four years. The Honourable Member had also said that labourers, and paid more labourers too, than his Hon. Friend
try ? He said that he was in those measures going to found a there was a great deal of suffering in the part of the had ever done,.daennd thehe ' had stated were not those
the borders
permanent system of trade; but this was, in the very nature cour.try that he (Mr. Sydney_ Herbert) lived in, and which. were paid
of things, impossible. The world had existed some six thou- that wages were low there. Now, no person could their wages wells, a. 9 a week, but when the ofwheat 1837,
price
. rose
their
regret more than he did the lowness of wages; but it would not some Bs. or Os.. a quarter,wages were . raised one
sand years, and the Right Hon. Baronet could not show them
be useful to give higher wages in a certain part of the country, shilling a week.; and if they were again lowered
any nation that had ever existed that maintained its prosperity.
than was given in the market. The greatest possible alarm in Wilts, of this fact he was perfectly assured,
Why, commercial prosperity was as variable as the winds and existed formerly with respect to the importation of foreign that he was still paying in his neighbourhood the same 10s. ;
waves that wafted their traffic from shore to shore.—( Laugh-
cattle, and many gentlemen in that House had stated that it and, therefore, he thought there was the same little exaggera-
ter. ) In all the speeches made by the Right Hon. Baronet
would be ruinous to the farmer ; but on the contrary it was tion here as had taken place in Ireland. He had said before,
he went into no argumenh—he dealt only in assertions—he but
afterwards found that the farmer was benefited by it.—(Oh, and he said again, that he charged her Majesty's Ministers
repeated the creed of the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton.
oh.) He could assure Hon. Gentlemen that a great deal of with that wilful exaggeration. He was there to speak the
TLe Noble Lord the Member for London had asked the people
the farmer's difficulties were owing to the high price of stock in truth, and he charged her Majesty's Ministers with wilful ex-
to pour in petitions, and to give the Right Hon. Baronet an cx- England, and it might be very well for Hoa. Members to say aggeration with regard to the famine in Ireland. He wanted
case for repealing the corn-laws. But the people had done no
that that line of argument was disposed of—it was still the fact, to see the reports which he was aware the Ministry were in
such thing. They had proved, by the elections which had The farmer objected to the repeal of the eorn-laws, and yet he possession of. He should like to see the report of the Poor-
taken place in all parts of the country, that they were deter- said that he could not cultivate his farm, in consequence of the law Commissioners. He should like to see the report of the
missed to uphold the constitutional principles of England. The high price of stock. All the agitation that had hitherto taken Inspector of Prisons. He knew something of these reports,
Hon. Member for Stockport and the Hight Hon. Baronet at place- had only served very much to conciliate the minds of the and he knew that they differed very materially from the reports
the head of the Government, like Hermia and Helena in the aericulturists to the change which was about to take place. He that were laid on the table. He held in his hand a letter
poem, though with two seeming bodies, had but one heart; was aware that the Hon. Member for Lynn was a master of a corn-factor at Youghal, in the count from
y of Cork, and he
but, if their measures were carried, they would, however bone- the science of agitation—( Hear, hear)—and hadapplied the denied that famine to theextent
ficial they might be to foreign countries, entail ruin and degra- Easter recess to the purposes of agitation, as it was
dation on this.of by Hon. Members a (The Noble Lord referred to other documents fi •
con ruling
always taken advantage - this statement.) It had been said that they had • Mr. HENLEY would not trouble the House with any pose, Public meetings had been summoned in imported their
lengthened remarks, but he could not allow the report to be I led
arts of the country, and the state most system of political economy the
House from France, but he would inform
received without making one or two observations, and as they bneteeor e
ina d
ep
before Easter were repeated. Itments which had the that they had Pitt, and Fox, and Canning, and
would be of a character which had not been often referred to in corn would be imported at 255. a quarter, and
sstated that Huskisson as advocates of these opinions ; and, looking to a
the debate, he trusted the House would bear with him while he one heard the assertion, it did not excite any very though every period somewhat more ancient, they found Chetwell support-
made them. And first, he would refer to the social condition for the farmers were a much more reasonable and greati alarm ; ing the same economy. There were besides very Ministers
of the country, and if they looked to the last four years they of men than they were described. If they wood shrewd race who were now sitting on the Treasury Benches ; those two
would find a pleasing decrease in the amount of crimes—a de- statement of a gentleman not :nixed up with credit the Right Hon. Baronets supported them as long as they continued
crease of nearly one-fourth. The Right Hon. Baronet, how- in that House, they would find that party politics in the vigour of their intellects, and now it was only after
ever, attributed this improvement in morals to the relaxation men were engaged in ascertaining whether they man more forty years political experience that they came forward, for
made in restrictive duties. But let them look if there were nu increased exertion of skill, cope with the foreign lt could, by an the first time, to make a new experiment on the
other causes for this improved state of things. Was there no in- thought would be brought into the foreign market
tt
thanthey principlesil of commerce and in favour of . free trade.
crease of prosperity by the railway movement, wren at leastWaa were intent on the passing of this Bill. tir idcabeen the doctrine of their great masters before them,
His Hon. Friend 11
.20,000,0e01. a year was expended among the people?h to b the Member for Dorsetshire, had alluded to the question' cheap. corn
and Dl r. Huskisson, that they cared not how
there not.. an improved poor-law ? Was not ir:ez
Coe which hod beets put, as to whether any measure, such as They
reofronsewdatso,
have
leongas that cheap corn was grown at home.
attributed to the last. religious movement ae rue those proposed by Government, were applicable to the state of foreigner in substitution acheap corn that was bought from the
mercial restriction had, for the last thirty years, been things in Ireland? And the Hon. Member was answered that they were endeavouring of our own. He denied altogether
diminishing, and he asked—Was the country in a better posi- very explicitly by the Noble Lord, with respect to the state had never said to serve any selfish interest. He
tion than it was before ? If lee could shoo that trade had in- a word against
in which he found Ireland. His Hon. Friend, who had lived had always thoughtthat- the manufacturing interest. He
creased, that prices hal become lower, and that employment in that country, admitted that the Noble Lord had given an the marufacsu
had become general within the last thirty years, would they account of the state of Ireland, and one which could neither that the' manuf
raeerts were bound up together; but he believed
Rot be ready to admit that crime should have dim:a:shed, for be doubted nor impugned and that account surely urged the of the agriculturalurers were more dependent upon the success
that was the principle on which they advocated the repeal of necessity of making some measures for the purpose if'l better- the manufacture interest than the agriceeltuists were upon
the corn laws? If they took the test of the population, they ing
and ameliorating the state of that country. The Hon. their old customersrs,f The manufacturers wanted to change
weuld find that, in 1821, the population of Great Britain, he Member (Lord G. Bentinck) said that they would apply a new ones would
be
better
new ones, but were they sure that their
did not include Ireland, amounted to 14,400,000; in 1831,
(It permanent remedy for a temporary evil. Were they doing the manufacturers than their old? The arguments
take
amounted to 16,342,000 ;in 1841, it amounted to 18,431,00 . so? The Hon. Gentleman said that this was a temporary corn from abroad,'vere, that if they were allowed to
use the expression, it evil; if that were true, they were founding a the foreigners would sell us corn, and would
So that, if he might be allowed to .
that was, it med to prevent the evil itself from - take our manufactures in return. That did not appear to be
was increasing in a diminishing ratio
ortion than they said that the repeal of the corn l becoming permanent. If the case now. This country took mere of foreign pro-
should have increased in a far greater e rop_
d the benefit oh) did they consent to ato gorses s - aws was no remedy, duce than foreigners took of our manufactures. He
it had done—( Hear, hear)—and if they comeare
the inhalai- The Noble Lord (George Bentinek)Y wasuspension of the law. knew that the agriculturists were benefited by the prosperity of
of agricultural and manufacturing pursuits upon
hownot a believer in the manufacturers ; but the agriculturists, when they were
Irish distress. He did not admit rho t
show them o existence of the productions of the
tants of their respective districts, he would potato prosperous, purchased more extensively the
In Lan- disease. lie was satisfied that nothing was the proposed
immensely the former was superior to the latter. wrong with them ; manufacturers. Was this the time to make proposed
1 one but he was satisfied, he said, should the granaries were fuller than
cashire the deaths were one in thirty-four ;in Liverpoolinpeople of Ireland change in the corn-laws, when their
think the measure necessary for their welfare,her countr was
in twqritysnine ; in Salford, one in thirty-four ; and
meet their resent exigencies, that there hadeer leentt and this was
London, one in thirty-eight. He wculd now read to them to p
•should be a suspen- suffering from scarcity, this country p y, . .
forty- sion of the corn-laws. He would give his sanction to this selected to make an alteration in the
those of the agricultural districts—ln Wiltshire, one ins - the time which they had
he persuaded
pension, though wasthe measure letter from Liverpool, which stated
nine ;in Surrey, one in fifty-two ; in Hampshire, one in would be an law. He had received a
of a benefit, to theof food locked up in Ireland, which
fifty-six. Well, and if they would say that they had injury, instead . people of Ireland.—( Hear.) that there was abundance .
the Noble in consequence of the scarcity that
short and merry lives, he would say, let them read Such was the policy of Lord. He admitted the ex- had been purposely concealed
Ireland h disputed . ' dat the commencement of the session.
the factory returns, ill which they would Peg that pome- istence of distress in ' though —e the extent of was so confidently predicted

His Right Hon. Friend the Secretary-at-War had stated that,
notwithstanding all the alarming statements which had been
made, there had been no county meetings. He (Lord G.
Bentinck) thought that, sitting by his Noble Friend the Secre-
tary for Ire d, that would have been a very delicate subject.
Until last year his Noble Friend had all Nottingham at his
back—there was scarcely a man in Nottinghamshire that would
not have followed him. Who carried that election? Was it
not the tenant-farmers?—( Hear, hear.) Oh, the money that
was spent in Nottingham by his Noble Friend (the Earl of
Lincoln). He was not going to charge the Noble Lord with
bribery, but did the Noble Lord deny that it was a most ex-
pensive election ?—(Cheers and laughter,) He had no doubt
the House would allow the Noble Lord to get up and make his
own explanation of the affair.—( Hear, hear.) But did they
not know that every agent in Nottingham was engaged?—
(Hear and cheers.) Nottinghamshire was taken by sur-
prise, but the tenant-farmers of Nettinghamshire carried the
county against his Noble Friend by a majority of between 600
and 700—(Cheers)—and were they to have it said that it was
his majority in the borough of Hamilton that had swamped the
constituencies of all other boroughs in that district ? Did North
Nottinghamshire follow the example of South Nottingham-
shire ?—(Hear, hear.) Did South Gloucestershire or Dorset-
shire?—( Hear, hear.) Who was better entitled to have a seat
in that House than his Noble Friend Lord Ashley ?—(Hear,
hear.) He, too, would have been at the head of the poll in
Dorsetshire, if he had maintained his principles.—( Hear, hear. )
But Englishmen were true at heart—(Hear,hear)—they hated
tergiversation—(Load cheers from the Hon. Member for Lin-
coln)—they detested all breakers of pledges and good faith—
( Hear, hear)—they did not like to be betrayed.—( Hear, hear.)
When he recollected that his Noble Friend at his last election
for South Nottinghamshire, when he last stood unon the
hustings, congratulated the electors of Nottinghamshire on
their having refused to be cajoled by the latest fabrication
from the workshop of delusien—( Hear, hear)—that they were
independent and clear-sighted enough to scout the cry of
cheap bread—( Hear, hear)—and that they had refused to be
caught by the last fugitive humbug of a dying faction.—
( Loud cheers.) Why, it was not the protectionists that had
agitated the country.—(Hear, hear.) Was it they who had
drilled the public mind and taught them that cheap bread was
a fallacy, and fraught with delusion to the country.—( Hear,
hear.) He rejoined that the British people had shown them-
selves true to themselves. They had shown
t their aversion to
political inconsistency, vascillation and tergiversation. He
thought, in the language of a modern writer,eio,rg that the man
who was fit for the representative of apgilrlearat osliee
state,
be
a man of a stable mind, fit to be the
not a weathercock—( Hear, hear)—at the top of the building,
whose only quality was its versatility and power to show. the
last shifting of the passing gale.—( Loud cheering.)
Lord LINCOLN was aware that he was acting irregularly
in speaking a second time during one debate, but he trusted,
after the elaborate attack which had been made upon him by
the Noble Lord, who had kept back his store of envenomed
bitterness—(Cheers)—to the present moment—( Loud cheers)
—that the House would allow him a few moments to reply to
the charge brought against him by the Noble Lord. He would
not enter into any particulars, or explain any of his hustings'
speeches—(Hear, hear)—which he was quite prepared to do
on a proper occasion.—(Cheers.) With reference to the
charges of bribery made against him, he simply denied it, and
challenged him to the proofs.—(Loud cheers.) He had not
expended one farthing in bribery. It was stated to be an
expensive election, but it was not more expensive than
county elections generally, were. (Hear, hear.) It had
been said that he took the county by surprise ; the fact was
that the county was taken by snprise, but not by
him. The Hon. Member for South Nottingham had canvassed
the country before he had resigned his seat, he was therefore
eempelled to employ a great number of agents.—( Hear, hear.)
The Noble Lord would have shown more discretion had he
refrained from alluding to the question of expense during the
election, because he knew or ought to have known that a noble
relation of his had paid a large sum—ha could name that sum
if he pleased—towards the election expenses. Having thus
contradicted the statements of the Noble Lord, he then threw
out the same challenge as he had given to his Friend the Mem-
ber for South Notts. —( Tremendous cheering.)
Lord G. BENTINCK said that he was quite ready to divide,
though a great many of his party had withdrawn, under the
impression that no division would take place.
After a discussion in which Mr. Miles and Mr. Young took
part -

Mr. LAW moved the adjournment of the House.
Mr. HUDSON seconded the motion.
Sir R. PEEL said that he would advise the House not to
press a division, as there seemed to be an understanding that
no division should take place
Mr. LAW then withdrew his amendment, which he said he
only made in order to place the parties on a state of equality.
'The amendment of Sir Charles Burrell was then withdrawn,
the report was brought up and agreed to, and the Bill was or-
dered to be read a third time on Monday next.