The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-17 00:00:00

THIR gUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENT G; J'-UNE IV, MO.'

not be virtually proceeded with until there was an oppor-
tunity given to the shareholders to decide whether it
would be advisable to make the line or not. The
line was 123 miles in length, and of a very expensive nature.
The next Bill submitted was that of a Bill to authorise
certain alterations in the line of the Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton Railway, and to amend the Act relating
thereto. _

~Also; a Bill for making a railway from Birmingham to join.
the lines of the proposed Oxford and Rugby, and Oxford, Wor-
cester, and Wolverhampton Railways, to be called the Bir-
mingham and Oxford Junction Beilway.
The proprietors having sanctioned these and some other
minor Bills, the meeting separated.

LEICESTER AND BEDFORD
RAILWAY.
The adjourned meeting of scripholders in this Company
was held yesterday, at the London Tavern ; Wynn Ellis, Esq.,
M.P., in the chair.
The SOLICITOR having read the Bill,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the amount cf scrip votes re-
corded at the last meeting was 22,248, and the numlin re-
quired in the terms of the sessional orders being 25,000, they
were consequently obliged to adjourn the meeting to this
day. The directors had since beenr entrusted with 6,522 all
in favour of proceeding with the scheme, so that there were
28,778 scrip votes in favour of going to Parliament and not
one dissentient.—(Cheers.)
A resolution was then proposed by the Chairman in the
usual form to authorise the directors in proceeding with the
Bill, which was unanimously adopted and the meeting sepa-
rated.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, June 15.
(Sittings at Nisi Prius.)
(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON and Special Juries.)
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. ALLEN.

Mr. Jervis, with whom was Mr. Wilde, appeared for the
crown, and Mr. Humphreys for the defendant.
This was an information filed by the Attorney-General, to
recover penalties for a breach of the Excise laws by defendant,
who was a soap-manufacturer.
There were several counts in the indictment, each varying
the offence, which, however, was in substance, that the de-
fendant did sell and send out a quantity of soap from his
premises which was not of the form required by law.
Mr. HU3IPIIREYS, on the part of the defendant, consented
that a verdict should betaken for the Crown for two penal-
ties for 100/. each.
Verdict accordingly.

TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, JUNE 12, 1846.
Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint Keppel Robert Edward
Foote, Esq., in the room of Charles Pettingal, Esq., deceased, to be
Arbitrator on the part of her Majesty in the Mixed British and Por-
tuguese Commission established at Boa Vista, in the Cape Verde
Islands, under the treaty of the 3d of June, 1842, between Great
Britain and Portugal for the Suppression of the Slave Trade.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, JUNE 12.
Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint Thomas Crowley Weston,
Esq., in the room of Charles Brooke Bidwell, Eq., deceased, to be
Registrar to the several Courts of Mixed Commission established at
Sierra Leone, under treaties with Foreign Powers for the Suppres-
sion of the Slave Trade.

DOWNING-STREET, JUNE 12.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint Thomas O'Brien, Esq., to be
Colontat Secretary for Sierra Leone.
Commission signed by the Queen.
Royal Perthshire Militia—Captain G. D. Paterson to be Adjutant,
vice Gibbons, who retires, March 21.
Commission signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the Ceunty of Perth.
Royal Perthshire Militia —Adjutant G. D. Paterson to have the
rank of Captain, May 11.
Commissions signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cromarty.
J. A. S. Mackenzie, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant; R. Mackenzie,
Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant; A. Matheson, Esq., to be Deputy
Lieutenant; H. M. Fowler, Esq., to be Dequty Lieutenant; C. L.
Mackenzie, Esq , to be Deputy p .ieutenant, April 20.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.
Sir H. E. L. Dryden, Bart., to be Deputy Lieutenant.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire.
The Hon. G. R. Trevor to be Vice-Lieutenant, vice D. A. S. Davies,
Esq., resigned.
Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Carnarvon.
W. L. G. Wardle, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, August 5, 1831.
The Right lion. S. B. Lord Newborough to be Deputy Lieutenant ;
The Hon, E. G. D. Pennant, M.l'., to be Deputy Lieutenant; M‘ijor
General Sir C. F. Smith, K.C.8., to be Deputy Lieutenant; T. A.
Smith, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; R. L. Edwards, Esq., to be
Deputy Lieutenant ; J. G. Griffith, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ;
S. 0. Priestly, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant; G. A. Iluddart, Esq.
to be Deputy Lieutenant ; J. H Ford, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant,
J. Rowlands, Esq. to be Deputy Lieutenant ; F. J. W. Jones, Esq.,
to be Deputy Lieutenant ; J. Morgan, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant;
D. W. Griffith, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; J. W. Watling, Esq.,
R.N., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; H. W. Aciand, Esq., to be Deputy
Lieutenant, June 1.
Commissions by his Royal Highness the Lord Warden of the
Stannaries.
The Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Regiment of Militia—P. S.
Tom, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, Jan. 6 ; R. Edyvean, Gent., to
be Second Lieutenant, Feb. 25; W. H. Bulimore, Gent., to be Sur-
geon, vice Potts, resigned, March 1.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER.—TRINITY TERM, 9TH VICTORIA.
FRIDAY, JUSE 12, 1846.
This Court will, on Wednesday, the 24th day of June instant, or
on one or more of the subsequent days already appointed by Rule of
Court for the sittings of this Court after the present term, proceed to
give judgment on the several rules to show cause now standing for
judgment. By the Court.
June 12, 1846. Bead in open Court.—T. Dax.
WHITEHALL, MAT 8.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed John Frederick Reeves, of
Taunton, in the county of Somerset, Gent., to be a Master Extraor-
dinary in the lligh Court of Chancery.
WHITEHALL, MAY 23.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Henry Charming, of Taunton,
in the county of Somerset, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in
the High Court of Chancery.
BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
William White, tailor, Tavistock, Devonshire.
Richard Harvey, grocer, Chaeewater, Cornwall.
BANKRUPTS.
James Bickerton, hat manufacturer, Castle-street, Southwark, to
surrender Juno 26, at balt-past one, and July 28, at eleven, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ;
Fox, Finsbury-circus.
Henry Elphick, licensed victualler, Wardour-street, St. James's,
June 23, at half-past one, and July 28, at eleven, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee, Buchanan, Basinghall-street.
William Filbey, coach-maker. Wryadisbury, Buckinghamshire,
June 23, and July 20, at half-past ten,• at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Hamel], official assignee; Lloyd. Milk-street, Cheapside.
Edward Gardner, manufacturing chemist, Fieldgate•street, White-
chapel, June 23, at twelve, and July 21, at one, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Ahlerrnanbury; Spillan, Ca-
monille-street.
John Collins Staines, tailor, Ouadle, Northamptonshire, June 30,
at one, and July 25, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom,
official assignee, Abehurch-lane ; Wood and Fraser, Dean-street,
Soho.

Thomas Pilbeam, coachsmith, Parker-street. Drury-lane, .Tune 26,
at two, and July 21, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bank.
ruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry;
Goren, South Molton-etreet, Oxford-street.
John Boulton, carrier, Ashton-under-Lyne, June 26, and July 17,
at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official as4g-
nee, Manchester ; Reed and Langford, Friday-street, Cheapside,
London ; gale, Worthington. and Shipman, Manchester.;
William Kirby, hotel keeper, Liverpool, June 23, at twelve, and
July 21, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official
assignee, Liverpool; Holme and Co., New Inn, London ; Yates, jun.,
Liverpool.
Joseph Greaves Smith, grocer, Liverpool, June 2! and July 21, at
twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liver-
pool; Keightley, Cunliffe, and Beaumont, Chancery-lane, London;
Hetherington, Woods, and Woodburn, Liverpool.
Patrick llare, tallow chandler, Liverpool, June 29 anffJuly 21, at
twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee,
Liverpool; Norris anti Co., Bartlett's- buildings, London ; Avison and
Pritt, Liverpool.
Waller Bates, stock-broker, Manchester, June 29 and July 22, at
twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee,
Manchester; Cooper, Manchester ; Gregory, Faulkner, Gregory, and
Skirrow, Bedford-row, London.
George Barton and John Barton, copper roller manufacturers,
Manchester, June 30 and July 20, at eleven, at the Manchester Dis-
trict Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Slater and Ileells,
Manchester ; Milne, Parry, Milne, and Morris, Temple, London.
Sidney Smith, grocer, Bristol, July 2, at one, and August 3, at
eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol;
Perkins, Bristol.
William Henry Smith, printer, Swansea, Glamorganshire, July 2
and August 3, at one, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official
assignee, Bristol; Strick, Doughty-street, London.
[Dividends, &c., in our next.]

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
(From the London New Price Current of June 16.)

Snoaa.—To-day the market for West India Sugar presented a
firm appearance ; there was a good business transacted in all descrip-
tions at prices fully equal to those of Frill ay ; indeed in some t aces
grey and bright yellow descriptions brou.,rht a small advance.
REFINYD.—To-day Refined goods were much wanted by the home
trade, but few parcels of any kind could be obtained, and prices are
still on the advance. Bonded Crushed Sugar is wanted, and prices
are firm.

Mauurrins.—This afternoon several inquiries existed privately
and the parcels sold were at rather higher rates ; indeed the supply
at market is getting insufficient for the demand.

EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there was a good demand for Bengal
Sugar, and 1,724 bags at public auction sold 6d per cwt above former
rates.

SPIEITS.—To-day the demand was good for all kinds of Ruin and
prices are rising; proof Leewards selling at 2s 3d to 2s 33d, Cal-
cutta is lly2d to 2s proof, and common to fine Jamaica at 3s 3d to
4s Gd per gallon ; the market has decidedly an improving appearance.
FortEIGN.—To-day the market was much better supplied with all
descriptions of Brazil Sugar, but business was checked by the stiff
rates hoisted upon. At public sale 559 cases 21 boxes 44 brls of
white, and 185 cases 66 boxes 48 brls of brown Bahia were offered,
and nearly all taken in 6d to Is per cwt above the value.
TEA.—To-day there was little desire evinced to operate in black or
green Tea at the public sale, low as prices are ; although there was a
good attendance of the trade, and merchants generally disposed to
make some concession in priees. The quantity offered was larger
than has been the case for some time, and amounted to 31,616 pkgs.
The biddings were extremely limited for all kinds, and of the total
quantity passes the chair, amnonting to 13,000 pkgs, the small por-
tion of only 1,500 pkgs actually found buyers upon rather lower terms.
COFFEE.—This afternoon there was little desire evinced to operate
in Rio Coffee, and 20 casks 806 barrels and 336 bags at auction were
taken in at moderate rates. In Ceylon there was little passing pri-
vately in any kind, and holders experienced difficulty in getting 42s
to 43s for small parcels of good ordinary pale native. None was
offered at auction. Mocha met with attention.

SVICES.—To-day Black Pepper was only in limited demand, and
458 bags 347 pockets at auction sold at rather lower rates.

Itici—To-day Bengal Rice met with less attention, and the par-
cels offered at auction, amounting to 6,65 S bags, were only In part
sold at former rates.

TALLOW.—Although there are sellers of Russian on the spot upon
lower terms, still the purchases made by soap makers and chandlers
have been extremely limited, and 42s to 42s 3d per cwt are the rates
taken for tine Petersburgh yellow Candle duty paid, but Russian is
still higher in price than other descriptions, especially home made.
For deliver} in the last three months of the year there are sellers of
P. Y. Candle at 41s to 41s 3d in bond—still few buyers are to be
met with.

OILS.—Seal has met with little attention from the trade, but gene-
rally holders are unwilling to reduce their prices. Cod is held for
281. to 281. 10a., but the demand has been only for small parcels.
Southern is still in large supply, and a further decline has taken place.
Sperm is offered upon lower terms. nape Seed Oil can be obtained
upon lower terms. Olive has been purchased with caution and
prices are going down. Palm has been in excellent request, and
prices are going up. In Cocoa Nut several purchases have been made
privately, and 30s Gd to 33s 6d paid for low to fine. In consequence
of lower prices having been accepted for Linseed Oil on the spot a
MA business has been transacted.

object for which.eeelved the
League will assemble in d
--We understand that the members of
united has been
tClhtoeTr nisAnShtaglitildlC,lChaou'Enrnn7u:lwE.
royal assent, and will declare
announce no fOrther subscriptions orda
ctiloe afterhat the;i;
the
see
that
no
uf the Leaguiserusiandeedtieu.eirli
accomplished. They will then,
attempt are muired, and
nweivl l
er adjournare-establishappointeds
; but no
it attempt is made, theh
repeal
will be
oee t
againethc tei they
ix . I f
. emt optbrhl
Bill, or to
to defend what it has ls, it will immediately League will
be called to-
gether
therefore depend upon the alreadyconduct
t won. Its Ife or death
After the League has been solved, the
protectionists themselves.will
be called together, and steps will be takenhe friends of free trade will
exampled services of Mr. Cobden to the to acknowledge the un-
exampled
Lieerpool Times. CAUSO of commercial freedom.
THE REV. D. HEARNE, OF If ANCHESTER.—The
friends and admirers of the Rev. Daniel Hearne, Roman Catholic
Priest of St. Patrick's Chapel, Manchester, m
of that town on Thursday evening, for the purpose et in the Trustee' Hull
with a testimonial of their regard for the
manner in which lie had
of presenting him
discharged his duties since his appointment to the
office of Driest of
the chapel in 1825. The testimonial consisted of a splendid go-- 1,;
cross, gold watch and appendages, and 270 sovereigns.
A BODY FOUND IN TEE THAMES.—Yesterday morn-
ing the body of a female, unknown, and whose age appeared
to be
about twenty-five, was found (floating under one of the arches o e
Waterloo-bridge. An Inquest was opened last evening at the Essex
Head, Essex-street, Strand, by Mr. Higgs, who adjourned the inquiry
to afford an opportunity for deceased's friends to Identify the body,
which was respectably attired in half Mourning.
THE RAMBLER STEAMBOAT.—This ill-fated vessel,
on board of which so many persons perished at the time of the colli-
sion with the Sea Nymph, resumed her station between Liverpool
and Sligo on Saturday last. During her trip she ran upon the
Maiden Rock, near Belfast, and sunk. The crew and passengers were
saved. The vessel, we believe, L 5 a total wreck.

IMPERIAL P ARLIAMEN T.

HOUSE OF LORDS,.Tune 16.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY. in the absence of the Lord
Chancellor, took his seat upon the Woolsack at ten minutes
before Five o'clock.

Messengers from the House of Commons brought up several
Bills, and praying their Lordships' concurrence.
On the motion of Lord LYTTELTON, the Bill for Abo-
lishing the Office of Superintendent of Convicts to Bermuda
and other Islands was read a second time.

HARBOURS OF PORT PATRICK AND DONA

GLIADig:

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY, pursuant to a notice he
gave on a former evening, moved for the production of all re.
ports and documents connected with the harbours a'. Port
Patrick and Donaghadee, especially Sir J. Rennie's last report
on Captain Evan's rudiments, which had been
placed before the Admiralty. When he had last men-
tioned the subject he had stated that this was the
best communication, and that it had been approved of
by the Board of Admiralty of that time. It had also been ap-
proved of by the Trinity Board in 1819. In 1823 a Committee
of their Lordships' House had come to the same decision.
In 1830 a Committeee of the House of Commons had said the
same thing. and in 1843 the Admiralty had again approved of
it. The whole expense of this establishment appeared to be
800/. a-year. This money was spent simply to
direct the expenditure of a few thousands. Last year
the sum voted
.was 5,0001. of which only 3,000'.
were spent, so that 8001. were spent to direct the expenditure
of 3,0001. If he could show that there were better harbours
and better means of communication, he should assign a suffi-
cient reason for the retrenchment of the expense.
They had the opinions of Captain Leonard, Sir
John Rennie, and Captain Evans, in the report ;
by which it appeared that the present harbours would cost,
with their attendant expenses for steamers and management,
21,9001. a year ; while the harbours of Port Patrick and Da-
naghadee would be an expense of only 1,800/. a year.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH said he was not able to tell the
Noble Marquis what the Government were prepared to do with
respect to the harbour. The best thing the railway companies
interested in it could do would be to make some distinct repre-
sentation upon the subject.
PUBLIC-HOUSES (SCOTLAND).
The Earl of SELKIRK presented several petitions from va-
rious persons in Scotland, complaining of the state of public-
houses in Scotland, and the sale of spirituous liquors on the
Sabbath.

you to the head of the profession if suce,cssful, or damn you at
once if they should provP fatal to my health."—(Laughter. )
The Duke of RICHMOND would answer the question
himself. Mr. Gladsione had stated in his dispa.ch to Canada
that prices would be 535. and 51s pi-At quarter. It was strange
that that dispatch had been published in iarli.iment long before
it could reach the hands of the party for whom it was inten'ied,
and whatever might be the effect of a change in price; it was
the dispatch of a Cabinet Minister who was not in ParLammt.
Perhaps that was no matter as things went now. If there were
to be no change in prices, why had the Government raised such
an agitation throughout the country? And all he could say
with regard to the dispatch was, that if he were Governor-
General of Canada he should have felt it as a gross insult to
read his instructions first in the newspapers.
Earl STANHOPE wished to ask whether it was the inten-
tion of Ministers to raise prices, to lower them, or to leave them
as they were? He did not expect the Noble Earl to state what
decision he had himself come to, but perhaps the great autocrat
of the Cabinet had expressed his own determination—not that
that was his usual custom, but from necessity—and he should
now be glad to have an answer.

The Earl of RIPON—The question has already been asked.
Earl STANHOPE—So, because a question has been al-
ready asked before, and not answered, it was a sufficient reason
why it should not be answered at all.
The Earl of RIPON thought that he had given a sufficient
reason for not replying, in statirg that he should shortly give a
full explanation of the course which the Government intended
to pursue; and he would not be compelled to divulge wl.at it
was at present proper to conceal, nor would he permit himself
to be charged by any man with what was termed a suspicions
silence.

The Earl of STANHOPE had no intention to impute im-
proper motives to the Noble Earl, but he thought the course
pursued, in his declining to answer the question put to him,
was a suspicious one.

Earl GREY said, that the object of the Bill was not to
secure prices at 80s. COs. or 555., but to bring price to its na-
tural level. That was the object of the proposed measure, and
he did not think the advocates of the Bill should be called
upon to say what the price of corn would be when it came into
operation. They might be as well called upon to say what. the
price of tea, cotton, or any other commodity would be in the
event of modifications of the duty on those articles. The result
of all predictions as to price he found to be erroneous ; and he
therefore considered that it was unfair that they should be
called upon to state what would be the price of corn consequent
on these changes.
The Duke of WELLINGTON rose to order. This de-
sultory discussion was entirely contrary to rule. It was not
competent for them to go into the general question then, but
when the Bill went into Committee they might do so.
After a few words from the Earl of STRADBROKE and the
Earl FITZWILLIA

The Earl of RIPON moved the order of the day for going
into Committee on the Corn Importation Bill.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that before going into
Committee, he wished to give notice, that when the second
reading of the Superintendent Convicts Bill came on, he
wruld move an amendment against it.
It was here intimated to the Noble Duke that the Bill was
read a second time.
The Duke of RICHMOND—Then I think some one con-
nected with the Government ought to have made a statement
in reference to it. It was a Bill which required some ex-
planation.
he Duke of WELLINGTON said that his Noble Friend
the Under-Secretary for the Colonies had not made a long
speech, but ho had made a few observations in support of the
Bill.

and judgment in endeavouring to supply the people with food.
A sesoulent had been applied to the resources of the country
in providing labour for the poor. But then what had that to
do with the measure of free trade? They had beard in the
course of this discussion of the great wisdom, and zeal, and
honesty, and he knew not what, in fact, of the virtues of the
Prime Minister. It had been said that Sir Pobert Peel was
the greatest Minister to be found in the history of this coun-
try. Good God ! were they to say all this of a Minister that
had acted the part of Sir Robert Peel—a man who confessed
that for the greatest part ()Mit life his judgment was erro-
neous, and that his political ceenduct was not in unison with
sound principles?—( Hear, hear.) Was a man, because he
confessed that he had been in error during the greater part of
his life, to be lauded beyond measure ? He (the Marquis of
Clanricarde) could not listen to such a proposition. And
more than that, when they were called upon to
scrutinise the whole of such a Minister's conduct,
they would find that there was nothing extraordinary
as regarded his honesty to a great party. The Minister had
sacrificed a great party. But he (the Marquis of Clanricarde)
had not the slightest conception in his mind, nor could he, by
any exertion of his intellect, bring himself to see, how Sir
Robert Peel, in changing his opinions, and avowing
that change, had entitled himself to laudation usque ad
nauseam.—( Hear, hear.) It had been said that Sir Robert
Peel intended, when this Bill was passed, to relinquish office
and power. Now he (the Marquis of Clanricarde) believed in
no such rumour.—( Hear, hear.) Let their Lordships look to
his speeches, and they would find no admission of that sort.
If they read his speeches, they 'would find that, in answer to the
addresses of the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton, in suimort
of a repeal of the corn-laws, he stated a few years ago, that he
was convinced that the continuance of a sliding-scale was
neceasary for the maintenance of British prosperity.
Now 'he did not think that so sudden a change
as had taken place in the mind of the Prime Minister redounded
to his credit in the slightest degree. And then they heard him
talking of the difficulties of reconciling the interests of an
ancient Monarchy, a proud aristocracy, and a reformed House
of Commons. He (the Marquis of Clanricarde) took leave to
say, that more injury than by such practices could not be in-
flicted on this country by a man occupying a high station.—
( Hear.) More injury was thus done to the aristocracy, more
injury was done to the Monarchy than any other course could
do.---( Hear, hear.) He admitted that he could have wished
that this question should have been submitted to another Par-
liament; he saw no reason why an appeal should not have
been made to the country.—(Hear, hear.) Sir Robert Peel
had every opportunity of doing so. Parliament was dissolved
in 1841 upon this question, but under totally different circum-
stances. Parliament was then dissolved because the
Government of the country had not a majority to
carry their measures. They did that which it became the
Ministers of the Crown to do. When they thought they had
reasonable grounds to expect the support of the country they
appealed to the country. There was no prospect of Sir Robert
Peel's getting that support. Did the Cabinet propose any
temporary settlement for a temporary distress ? No, the pro-
position was to open the ports. He referred to these matters
because of the monstrous and extravagant laudation of Sir
Robert Peel in regard to this Bill. He did not mean to sus-
pect his motives ; he admired Sir Robert Peel as much as
any other man—( Hear, hear, and laughter)—he considered
him to be a man of great talents, but he did not consider him
a man of great force. His invariable principle was to
surrender to the pressure from without, and he would not
call a man who did that a great Minister.—(Hear, .hear. )
His changes had ever been with the current of the moment,
and it was a little too much for them to be told that they were
to carry by acclamation the Bill before them, in admiration of
the Minister who proposed it.—( Hear, hear.) He (the Mar-
quis of Clanricarde) was perfectly unbiassed in this matter.
He could assure their Lordships that he now entertained,
honestly and conscientiously, every one of those principles and
opinions which he entertained on the subject of the corn-laws
in 1841. It was impossible for him not to look at the conse-
quences which would follow his vote on this question, and, en-
tertaining the principles which he did, he felt himself obliged
to say " not content" to the amendment.
The Earl of CARNA R VON said the subject had been so
much investigated that he should be unwilling to trespass
upon their attention. He really believed that the result of
this Bill would be to throw the land of this country
out of cultivation. Employment would be decreased,
and what the poor man would gain on one hand he
would more than lose on the other.—( Hear, hear.)
It was the great increase of the circulation of capital which
produced the beneficial effects alluded 'to ; and that might
slacken, and at a time when there was a great abundance of
corn in the market ; and there might come that deep distress
upon the tenant-farmer which his heart bled to think of. He
considered that their Lordships should legislate as much for
little men—( Hear, hear)—as for great proprietors. If they
passed the present measure they would have to sacrifice that
principle of evenhanded justice which had ever distinguished
their Lordships, for they would have to sacrifice the tenant-
farmer to the interest of the manufacturer.—( Hear, hear. )
The House was so very wearied with these discussions, that he
would not detain them longer, but he could not think it was
right in them however to throw away the revenue which pro-
tection had afforded the Crown. If that revenue did not pro-
ceed from indirect sources, they should raise it by direct
taxation. He would conjure them to weigh well the vote they
were about to give upon the present question, for if they mis-
conceived its bearings it would not be any single
man, but it would be the whole country, which
would have to pay the penalty. ( Hear, hear)—
and he did not conceive that they should legislate upon this
subject without having reference to the real opinion of the
great constitutional bodies in the country. A Minister was not
to overbear the countryeor the expression of opinion ; if such
were to be the case, they would not be living under a mixed
Government, but under a despotism under the name of the
Kings, Lords, and Commons—a despotism which would be of
the worst description, as it would be under the semblance of
liberty and the constitution. He could not understand why it
was that their Lordships refused to sanction an amendment.
Why were they not to interfere in thedetails of the Bill avid modify
it in such particulars as they might consider necessary? If they
were not to do so, their Lordships' House would become a nul
lity—they would be virtually dead, and thenceforward they
might amuse themselves with railway legislation.—( Hear,
hear.) The argument against appeals to the people upon the
present question was, that they would raise a tumult at the
elections, but let them not be deceived; when an election came
there would still be a strong feeling in favour of such a po-
pillar subject as protection.—( Hear.) He would sit down by
saying, if they did not wish to array class against class—manu-
facturer against farmer—let them accept the amendment, and
at once put an end to the agitation.
Lord DE MA ULEY said that he had always been opposed
to the corn-laws, and therefore had no difficulty in giving his
vote upon the present occasion in favour of the Bill. He
should vote, however, fur the amendment proposed, believing,
as he did, that if it were adopted, the Right Hon. Gentleman
who brought forward the measure would soon bring forward
another in favour of the present amendment. He would sup-
port the amendment.
Lord CLONCURRY said that it had been stated that the
corn-laws were of great advantage to Ireland, but he denied
that such was the case, for distress existed at intervals in that
country which did not prevail in any other part of the world.
He would support the Government in passing the measure, as
he believed it would be productive of the greatest good to
the country.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA would vote for the amend-
ment, in the hope that a better measure would be brought for-
ward through an appeal to the country. It was a most uncon-
stitutional course for Parliament to take to pledge the repre-
sentatives of the country three years hence to a particular
course of policy. Suppose at the expiration of that time the
representatives of the people affirmed the present system of
rotection, where would their Lordships be ?—( Hear, hear. )
Whatever affected the parochial clergy he could tell them
would affect the moral and religious condition of the people of
this country; and believing, as he did, that this Bill would cur-
tail their means of subsistence, he would reject it. It was a
wrong principle that public men should change their opinions
on great questions without torfeiting public confidence, even
after they had attained the position they held in consequence of
their support and advocacy of a policy directly the re-
verse. He could tell them that if the present Bill were
carried the matter would not rest there, for he would agitate
all the counties, where he had the slightest influence, to reverse
that decision. He would support the amendment brought for-
ward by the Noble Earl, small though the protection was which
it gave.
Lord POLWARTH said that he had presented many peti-
tions on this question from Roxburgh, and other places, and he
would therefore lay what information he had acquired upon the
subject before *their Lordships. It had been stated by those
Noble Lords who were in support of this Bill, that land was let,
and that very recently, at an increased rental. This was to be
accounted for by the fact that the land was taken without any
expectation of the present measure being brought in to take off
that protection which made land secure as an investment. In
1842, when many of those farms Were let, they were let on the
faith of the laws then passed with regard to corn. The present
measure was one which would greatly injure agriculture, and
for that reason he would oppose it.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM said that the Noble Lord who had
last addressed the House charged the supporters of the present
measure with exciting expectations which could not be realised.
Now no such expectations had been held out. Another Noble
Lord'had charged the Ministry with a want of political honesty
in not appealing to the voice of the country. Thete was
nothing more dangerous than in appealing to the country upon
the question of cheap food.—( Hear, hear.) He did not defend
her Majesty's Ministers or their conduct with respect to the
present measure: He complained of their not having allowed
that House a voice in the introduction of this measure. Why
did they not appeal to that House and ask its assistance in the
emergency ? By doing so they would have acted in strict con-
formity with the usual practice on great occasions.—(Hear. )
He contended that that House was also a portion of the demo-
cracyor i6e country, and a 5 suoh it was as right to appeal to
their Lordships as to any other part of the community. He
had no hesitation in saying that her Majesty's Ministers had
forfeited all confidence with their Lordships, by the course they
had pursued in introducing the present measure.
rhnernsearaw:_onudl(dtHhbaeetaclrleialashsswteeoasaurdo.!;)
( Cheering.) In 18.33 he brought forward his motion for free
trade in corn, and he was almost isolated in that proposition.
He was not supported by Hon. Members on his side of the
House—yet, if free trade was to be considered good now, it
was equally good then.—( Hear, hear.) In 1839 and 1840 he
proposed similar propositions, and he received little sta,pport
from those who were so anxious in favour of free trade now ;
yet he should be very glad to bear the reasons why that which
was good in 1845 should be considered as bad in 1840.—( Hear,
hear.) But mark what had happened in 1840. Two of the
leaders of the parties of the House of Commons had agreed to
the carrying of the present measure, and that House had
agreed to it by a majority of 100. In the present House
the main question had been affirmed by a majority of 47, anti
the amendment of the Noble Duke last night had also
motionbc was
de-
feated by a majority of 33.—( Hear, hear ) Thati.us
which he
practically the same as the one before the
r
eh'sethGmel:o3:ieetmend for mheaanlimufuasetturviontge
hi p eagd
agreeing
nld
to
oe
that
to
amendment,
rejected.
nee
icouldthe could
i dr risk
ee
itthieselmeasureteed Bw aißill
by a dissolution of Parliament, and
the sentiment of her Majreoeefatset
a. great
,:Vehelanwhweitshaiwn thes
seven
vme
ne adsauyrse, a withinn da
eenefit to the country generally, be malstsuhugsaitasswuj‘,lumi
would
tbe to
toHadisvacnocne.
ext ion was that
wt hoe. resultwould
increase
tgriculture, especially in the deeinsteerriiraccitiusymsbenefitingt
anwherece si t was
vanced—that it
otfhgs
had listened to two or three
dile speeches that night, but not the nearest approach had been
rstahebeaLoi
onuers t andßh eßamendmentobeutGthe
H AUr nellad beforensasd
they
h theey
madeouse to the question of a fixed duty which was now before the
H. He had heard these speeches
nst the second reading of the
Bill—able,
lbi I,e b
us pt eneoc ebse—arai
ntig-
*inrestsheed
question of a fixed duty, which was the real question
;Jefore them. These speeches bad been made by a professed
,upporter of the measure, and they drew forth as exciting
plaudits as if they had been protection speeches directed
against the second reading of the Bill. They displayed the
same music—they were attuned to the same gamut—they were
precisely in harmony with the concert, which, however highly
gratifying to the proprietors to whom the chorus was directed,
was to him at that advanced period, and in that heated atmos-
phere and crowded House, anything but acceptable.
(Laughter, and cheers.) Yet he had been forced to
endure these choral symphonies for four long nights,
to an extent that increased, in a most intolerable degree all
he effects of heat, bad air, and a crowded and inconvenient
house—aggravating all the miseries that were usually felt at
public dinners, where the music with which they were regaled
cheered those around the table, though it tended to per-
petuate the revels in a heated and impure atmosphere,,.