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

without delay. He intended to propose the first reading on
Mon,lay, and the second reading on Monday week, when any
further discussion could be taken. To attempt giving a ques-
tion, as to the probable price of wheat, would be unwise
on his part. He found that in 1835 she price of wheat was at
as low a point as 355. a quarter, and the average price for the
year was 395. This was under the high rate of protection.
Subsequently the price—just before the passing of the previous
corn Bill—that is, in 1841, was 40s. This showed that a high
rate of protection did not keep up a high rate of price, as he
had already shown that in the three years after the passing of the
previous Bill, the price of wheat was 515., and in 1842 as high as
675. It was because protection had failed te regulate the price
that be proposed the present measure. If under a system of high
protection, the price of wheat had been 395.; it would not
follow, if after the adoption of the present measure the price
of wheat fell neat year to 395. or 405., that therefore the v.-
eluction in price was occasioned by the absence of protection.—
( Hear, hear.) He begged to impress on the House, that
agricultural prosperity did not depend on the price cf wheat, or
the amount of protection. Nor d:d the farmers, judg-
ing from recent evtnts, think so. He knew of eleven farms in
"Warwickshire, in which a valuation had been made in Octo-
ber last, and those farms had been taken within the last fort-
night, when the prepositions before the House were well
' known, at a higher rate than the valuation previously made.—
.( Hear, hear.) He knew of five other farm; in Lincolnshire,
which, since the intentions of Government were known, had
been let out at a higher rent than they were let for before.—
(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") These were important facts,
and bore him out in saying that agricultural prosperity did
not arise from protection, but was dependent on, and inter-
woven with, the prosperity of all the other great interests of
the country.-
Mr. DISRAELI said, he wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet
whether he had had an opportunity of forming an opinion during the
last six years, as to what might bo the probable price of corn after
his present measure had come into operation ? What his Noble Friend
(Lord George Bentinck) had said, with respect to the opinions of the
Right Hon. Gentleman and his colleagues some years ago was merely
collateral to that which he had introduced in his observations. He
(Mr Disraeli) thought that during a discussion like this, and when it
was proposed to read this Bill a second time in a week or
Noble Friend had a perfect right to ask the Government w
whether
they had formed any opinion as the result of this most
importantt
proposal ?—(Hear and cheers.) He thought that his Noble Friend
and the Government were entitled to the information, if the Govern-
ment were possessed of any, on this point.—(Hear, hear.) But the
question of his Noble Friend had no bearing at all upon the merits or
demerits of the proposal ; the question was entirely confined to the
price of corn subsequent to the passing of the present Government
'measure. He (Mr. Disraeli) had nothing to say after what the right
Hon. Gentleman bad said upon the general question ; it appeared
that the Right Hon. Baronet had proposed his present plan without
seeking for any authentic information on the subject. And he was
glad to hear that it would now be of no use to quote Hansard in the
House.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Sir R. PEEL said, in answer to the Noble Lord, he had already
stated that it was utterly impossible for him to state what the price
of corn would be if the present measure should pass into a law. The
price would of course depend upon various circumstances and
seasons.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FINCH said that it had been Stated by the Right Honourable
Baronet, that those who had advocated the repeal of the corn-laws
should be responsible for au answer to the question. The Right Hon.
Gentleman had said that he would not rob those gentlemen of the
merit which they seemed to have gained in the eyes of the country.
He (Mr. Finch) was sorry to say that a more unsatisfactory answer
than that given by the Right lion. Gentleman in reply to the Noble
Lord had never been given by any Hon. Hember in that House.
—(Hear, hear)—because every one knew that the price of wheat
varied with circumstances—(Laughter)—and with the seasons.
But still they might have taken the average ; in some years it
was as low as 395. per quarter, and in others it had risen to 665., all
of which was of course owing to the seasons.—(Hear, hear.) A
farmer of course took " all these circumstances and seasons" into
consideration when he was about to take the average price of corn.
But there were other circumstances which affected the price of
wheat, all of which might, and should have been ascertained by the
Government. He should have thought that the Government, before
they proposed this measure, which would affect the interests of one-
half at least of the people of the United Kingdom, would have taken
the trouble of fully informing themselves of the consequences of this
measure. The Right Hon. Baronet had said that he was anxious to
give three years' breathing time to the landlords, for the purpose of
entering into arrangements with their tenants ; but how was ft pos-
sible for them to make any such arrangements, when the Right
Hon. Baronet himself confessed his ignorance of the results of his
measures ? And as the Right Hon. Gentleman was in ignorance
upon this point, he begged leave to ask the Hon. Member for Stock-
port (Mr. Cobden) what his opinions were as to the average prire of
corn after the passing of the Ministerial measure?—(hear: hear.)
Several Hen. Members now cried out " Cobden, Cobden," but that
Hon. Member not rising,
Lord G. BENTINCK rose, and said that the Right Hon. Baronet
had misunderstood his question. He (Lord G. Bentinck) conceived
that he had a right to ask the First Minister of the Crown the ques-
tion which he had proposed, and he also thought the country was
entitled to an answer before the Bill went to a second reading.—
(Cries of " Oh, oh," from the Opposition.) Yes, he repeated, that
the country was entitled to an answer as to what would be the
average price of corn in the event of the Bill passing into a law.
Mr. CURTEIS— I wish to ask—(Order, order)—if there is any
question before the House?
The SPEAKER—Yes, there is a question before the House, of
which a regular notice has been given.
Lord G. BENTINCK continued to say that the First Minister of
the Crown was bound to give as answer to the question which he
proposed. He would take, fur example, such a year as 1836, to
Which his Right Hon. Friend had adverted, when the price of wheat
was at 395., and he would now ask whether, in such a year, after
the removal of protection, the price would be 55., 103., or 15s ? lie
thought that the question was perfectly clear, and it was one, too,
which his Right lion. Friend was not afraid to answer in the year
1842,—(Cries of " Hear, hear," and laughter from the protectionists.)
Sir R. PEEL said that it was impossible for him to give any gua-
rantee for the prince of wheat in the event of the Bill being passed.
No act of the Legislature could give any such guarantee ; nor had
he attempted to give any such guarantee in the year 1842. He
thought it was highly probable that after the withdrawal of protec-
tion there would be a succession of lower markets than any which
we had had in former years. He was not at all prepared to admit
that the average price of corn would be lower than 395., but it was
very difficult, as he said before, to make any correct calculations on
that subject.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. VILLIERS—The lion. Gentleman seems to think that the re-
sponsibility of this corn question attaches to us.
An HON. alimarn—Yes, the Right Hon. Baronet has told us so.
lefr. VILLIERS—And he wishes to know what will be the effect of
the withdrme al of protection. Now, I will illustrate the question by
a case that is somewhat analogous to the present. A person that
had once given alms to a beggar—(Laughter)—who had persecuted
him in soliciting them ; after he had given them, asked the beggar
what he should have done if he had riot givenlim the alms ? " Why,"
he said, " I should have been obliged to work."—(Cheers, and laugh-
ter.) Now, the Hon. Gentleman wants to know what will become
of him if protection is withdrawn.--(Hear, hear.) Why he will be
obliged to look after his own property, and cultivate it much better,
and perhaps he will be a richer and a happier man.—(Laughter,
and cheers.)
Mr. FINCH said, it would be found that the agriculturists had
worked a great deal harder.—(clear, hear.)
Colonel SIBTIIORP said, it was totally impossible for him to
support her Majesty's Government or the lion. Gentlemen opposite.
He had ventured two or three nights ago to express his astonishment
with regard to the conduct of the present Government, and the
lamentable state of the Treasury benches. The Right lion.
Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, hod treated him in the
way that he generally did—with silence. The Right Hon. Baronet
time Secretary of State for the Home Department had treated him in

a similar manner. Those Right Hon. Gentlemen might perhaps con-
sider that he was without precedent, and that he had put some im-
pertinent question to them. He was not without precedent.—(Hear,
hear.) He would take the opportunity of quoting from two Parlia-
mentary recoreS, the accuracylof which could be vouched for, to show
that a similar question had been proposed to her Majesty's Govern-
ment by Lord Darlington, when the Noble Lord the Member fer
London was in office. The Hon. Member then proceeded, amidst
loud and repeated cries of " Order, order," and " Question question,"
to read the extracts in question, and interspersed the reading of them
with several observations, which created much laughter. At the
conclusion of the extracts, he proceeded to say that he was anxious
to know where was the Secretary for Ireland, the Secretary for the
Colonies, and many other Hon. Gentlemen who were Members of
the present Government, and who had not ...been able to obtain
seats in the House, and who, for his own part, he
should say had very little chance of ever being so fortunate. There
wai nothing that an Englishman disliked so much as tergiversation.
—(Much laughter.) John Bull, if he had known anything of him, was
a straightforward sort of a man ' • he could not submit to duplicity
or treachery—he could not, in fact, submit to that line of conduct
wh'e't had been adopted by the present Government ; he hated every-
thing that was sought to be done by unfair and unconstitutional
means. He once thought very different of the Right Hon. Baronet.
H. never thought that he should put any questi n to the Right
Hon. Baronet without receiving an honourable, straightforward
answer—(" Hear, hear," from Sir R. Peel) The Gannnt Member
caned considerable laughter by a contemptuous waive of the hand
at the cheer of the Right Hon, Baronet, and concluded his speech by
the ejaculation of " God deliver me from such company."
Sir ROBERT PEEL stated in reply to the Gallant Member,
that the vacancy in the office of the Chief Commissioners of Woods
and Forests would no doubt be filled up by Monday next. If the
_ _

Gallant Member goes further, and asks when the other members of
the Cabinet will take their seats. I will tell him that I cannot give
him a positive answer. Bat one thing I can assure the Gallant

Member, that if he would vacate his seat, and accept the Chiltern
Hundreds, his Noble Friend, the Secretary for Ireland, would have

no objection to stand for the city of Lincoln.—(Laud cheering.)
Colonel SIBTHORP said, that he put no question to the Right
Hon. Baronet. But with reference to his accepting the office of the
stewardship of the Children Hundreds, he believed that the office
was in the power of the Government to bestow, upon application
made to the Government ?—(Addressing Sir Robert Peel) —" Am I
not right ?"
it ROBERT PEEL—Yes.
Colonel SIBTHORP—Then I'll never ask them.—(Great
laughter.) I will never nuke application to the Govern-
ment for any favour. I will not submit to the disgrace
of making an application to a treacherous Government which I hate.
I will tell him this, however, that I wish to dissolve the Parliament.
I don't care if the Right Hon. Baronet himself comes with all the
plausible expectation he holds out to the citizens of Lincoln.—(Re-
newed laughter,) I will tell the Right Ron. Baronet that I never
bribed any one. I stand upon mine own honour and integrity. I
have no treasury seats to offer. I have nothing to offir them but
my conduct, principle, and consistency.—(Cheers from the protec-
tionists.) I wish he would dissolve the Parliament. Let him then
send down whom he will, and I will stand the trial again for the
city of Lincoln, which I have had the honour to represent for the
last twenty years, and my ance,tors before me for a century and a
half.—(Renewed cheering.) I care net, either, for all the brrery of
the League.—(Loud laughter.) I defy them.—(Renewed laughter.)
I will stand upon my awn character; and now, sir, (alluding to Sir
R. Peel) send down yoar Secretary for Ireland, I will put you to
the trial, and you will find, when the day arrives, that you will re-
gret the day when you offered to contest with nee the city of Lincoln.
The electors of Lincoln, sir, are proof against your bribery and plau-
sible promises; they are guided by sound and conselentious prin-
ciples.
Mr. B. DISRAELI said that he thought the question of the
Gallant Member was rather out of place. The House had before it
a resolution submitted by the Ministers of the Crown. It is our duty
to inquire if they are responsible to both Houses of Parliament for
the introduction of these measures. The gallant officer had read to
the house come account of what had occurred in the year 1835,
which must be admitted as fact. The Noble Lords cannot deny their
own acts, ho has quoted them from authority, to which he was justly
entitled to refer. He would recall to the recollection of Ministers
another instance, which he thought would show them more directly
the bearings of the case in question. In the year 1835, when an
Hon. -Member, the Master General of the Board of Ordnance
atoteunded the cabinet Council, although he was not a Member of the
htLese, an Hon if he recollected right, put a question to
anol. Baronet at the head the Ministry. Sir Robert Peel
then. rose,' said that he had attended the Cabinet Councils. Now
in his (Mr. Diarael'a)- this was a great constitutional prin-
ciple, and he could
andno understand how Parliament could lose sight
of such a question, he did not see how the Secretary of the
Coloniet could taill, e
a seat in the Cabinet unless he had a seat in this
House.
Sir R. FEEL stated that Mr Gladstone had atteudeti a Cabinet
House of Comm
Council upon sevi eseral occasions: although he had not a seat in the
:

Mr. B. DISRAELI—Then the Bight Hon. Baronet proves by his
admission, that though it was wrong to attend the Council in the
year 1835 without being a Member or Parliament, but in the year
1846 it was not wrong.
Sir 11: PEEL aid not recollect stating that the reason of his Hon,
Friend, Sir George Murray, not taking his seat Was because he was
not Ulm Member of Ptryan.lFn.

Lord
POLLINGTON said, that as the Right Hon. Baroneotchthl
challenged the Hon. Member for Lincoln to take
Chiltern Hundreds, in order to allow Lord Lineolnttoheaetrridcefor
ght that
city as a freeholder of that county, ha would ask th
Baronet whether he thought the Members of his Cabinet had not en_
dived sufficient defeats at Nottingham.
Colonel SIB THORP said he would stand the best bottle of wine in
his own cellar If the Hon. Baronet, or any Member of his Cabinet,
would meet him at the Market-plaice of Lincoln and successfully
contest the representation of Lincoln with him.—(Loud laughter.)
Mr. GREET then rend the resolution of the Committee upon the
Corn Importation Act, after wii,oh,
Sir It..P "EL rose, and said that he would now propose to take
other articles of pi•ov;sioni: included in the measures of her
Majesty's Mlnist2rs, name, buckirheat, Indian corn, and rice.
Mr. M tLES should certainly oppose the free importation of buck-
wheat. -lb proposed to more an amendment on that question.
Sir It. 'PEEL sated, In reply to Mr. Miles, that he had taken the
art:ola of but:kwlamt from the other minellaneous articles in the

tariff, anal placed it with wheat. He had entered into an engage-
ment with the House, with reference to articles included in the new

eofn-law measnr.:s. lie would not, In consequence of that engage-
ment, exercise, on the part of the Treasury, the power usually_ex-

etclsed in remitting duties, and the duty would not, therefore,
be rexaled o:t those tirtkies nntil the bill had passed
through the sev.J.ll stages of that House, and the House of Lords,
and had received the ro;a1 assent. With reference to Indian corn,
it would be impossible, by a Treasury Order, to reduce the duty until
the question should be dually disposed of. He hoped the Hon.
:Member would not press his opposition.
Mr. O'CONNELL would say one word for Ireland. Much sym-
pathy had been expressed towards Ireland, the sincerity of which he
would not for a moment doubt. He would not ask. Hon. Members
opposite who were in favour of protection to do anything inconsistent
with their principles, but he really thought that the present measure
should be carried as soon as possible.—((sheers.)
Mr. MILES did not wish to do anything which might be Injurious to
the interests of Ireland. He had before stated, that if the Right lion.
Baroaot would introduce a short Bill to remedy the existing dir-
trees of .Ireland, he would give it his most cordial support.
But at the same time it was to be remembered that when they placed
hidden corn at tLe al.po3ul of the country at large,lt, must materially

THEATRF. ROYAL, ADELPILT.
THIS EVENING
WIII be performed a New Drama, entitled THE MYSTERIOUS
STRANGER. Principal characters sustained by Madame Celeste,
Messrs. Wright, 0. Smith, Ezc.
To be followed by TAMING A TARTAR; or, Magic and MA-
zourlcapbol);a. In which Messrs. Paul Bedford and Wright, Miss
Woolgar, Madame Celeste, &c. will perform..
To condole with a New Farce, entitled THE PHANTOM
BREAKFAST. Supported by Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Wright, Miss
Woolgar, &C.
On Monday Next will be produced a New Drama, in Two Acts, called,
THE CABIN BOY.

PRINCESS'S
THIS THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
EVENiNo,
Will be perforated a New Comic Drama, entitled, A STRIKING
LIKENESS. Bazan de Courcy, Mr. Granby; Alfred, Mr. J.
Vining ; Coco, Mr. Compton ; Manette, Madame Vestris.
GE3
_MORNING.
c 7;
tab
rNyi ;et
ri
a.c.,
ic;i e
,yr
e,
After Which, the favourite Farce, called, HE WOULD BE AM
AcTolt. Motley, Mr. Charles Mathews; Griffith Morgan, Mr.
cit. Darling,bAy.
Harris
Der.at.r
Conic h
Beckyersr yce
Scene,
eM, 1 roc.r,g,Ci
ai Currant, a nmTits
8, MEr..
Stanley. . Smith;
4•Alra. Crlmries Matt • I Mr. ComWtOon IN
IHE
To conclude'
RUINS OF ATEIENs‘ew
t compantyh.e Tuhnietedwhoslter''onfgttlilie
que,pentitled THE
Dramatic, Operatic, and Bal.9firare:ll"tria(leinnegrvsasmanattie M".
composed by Beethoven. olitisth,ce

nirig—tlie Week,
NEW STETH, vritE
M. PIIILLIrPE'S SOlREESte:nsdoilitelkitlatt:!
of manly distlngtOshed
3 who fie 2k to
Two Morning Performances du S NrYSTERIELTS ES.
At the urgent and reiterated
families, and In order to accommodate the
attend his Morning Performances, M. PIIIIIrl°1;1
}rand Juvenile Entertainment every Weduesda E will give his
"toning, gt Two o'clock. Y and Saturday
M. phillippe's most Popular Deceptions and Peculiar Expel.:
_tuf its
will be repeated every Evening, varied by the Amu iii
formances of the Chiarini Family, and the astounding Foat:ofthe-
American Brothers.—Doors open at a quarter past Ses en, to corn_
mance at a quarter before Eight.
Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 25. ; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 6d. ; Prkvate Boxes,
11. IS., and 11. lls. 6d.

ASTLETS ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS.
THIS EVENING
Will be performed a New Drama, entitled THE RAJA OP
NAGPORE ; or, the Sacred Elephants of the Pagoda. In which the
whole of the extensive resources of the Establishment will be
brought into requisition.
Brilliant Scenes of the Circle, combining the unequalled Feats of
the British and Foreign Company.
The whole to conclude with the favourite Farce of ANIMAL
MAGIYETISX ; or, LOTe and Physic.

Just Published, in one vol. octavo, cloth boards, price 14s. bd
.IVES OF EMINENT ENGLISH JUDGES
.2.4 •of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. Edited lrW.
N. WELSBY, Esq., 31. A, Recorder of Chester. Containing the
Lives of Sir Mathew Hale, Lord Keeper Whiteloeke, Lord Notting-
ham, Sir John Holt, Lord Cowper, Lord Harcturt, ard Macclesfield,
Lord King, Lord Talbot, Lord liardwieke, Sir William Blackstone,
Lord Bathurst, Lord Mansfield, Lord Camden, Lord Thurlow, Lord
Ashburton.