The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-04 00:00:00

PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE.

Mr, 11. PALMER presented several petitions from Hants
and Berkshire against the measures of the Government relative
to the importation of foreign grain. He also presented one
from the borough of Newbury, complaining of the present mode
of raising the poor rates, and praying the House to take it into
its most serious consideration, with the view of devising a means
of abolishing the local rates, and meeting the expense out of
the public fonds, or some other such mode.
THE WEST RIDING UNION RAILWAY BILL.

Several petitions were presented from the inhabitants of dif-
ferent districts in Yorkshire, complaining of the injustice of
the decision of the Standing, Orders' Committee against the
above-named undertaking.
Captain BERKELEY said, that seeing that the Right Hon.
Baronet the President of the Board of Trade was in his place
he wished to ask him what was the intention of Go-
vernment with regard to the merchant seamen's fund. Was it
the intention of Government to mr.ke any inquiry into it ?
Petitiens of some consequence with regard to that subject had
been that day presented, from a body of no less than 3,000
seamen of the port of London.
Sir GEORGE CLERK said, it was desirable that some
alteration should be made in the system. The Government had
for some time been in communication with the Shipowners'
Society, and were in possession of every information, so that
an inquiry would not be necessary.
Mr. VILLIERS presented a petition from Bilstone for the
release of Frost, Williams, and Jones, and also a petition from
Chorley, for the better regulation of factory labour.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE gave notice that, on the 18th instant,
he should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the limitation
of labour in those factories where machinery was employed.
Mr. EWART gave notice that he should move for the aboli-
tion of duty on all foreign books.

OFFICIAL DESTRUCTION OF CORN.
Mr. VILLIERS, seeing the Right. Hon. Gentleman the Vic-
e of the Board of Trade in his place, wished to ask him
if any report had been made to the Government or to the Cus-
tom-house authorities, of the amount of wheat destroyed in this
country in consequence of the damage it had received at the
Custom-house, and the inability of the importer to pay the duty ?
He had understood that very recently a large quantity of wheat
had been destroyed, in consequence of the damage it received by
remaining in the Custom-house, the importer not being able,
in consequence of the. high rate of duty, to clear it from the
Custom-house. A merchant of the name of Philpotts, at the
port of Gloucester, was not able to pay the high duty of 17s.
per quarter; it was, therefore, thrown into the River Severn,
under the care of a vigilant Custom=house officer, who watched
it in the Severn till it became either mixed with the mud or was
by other means rendered unfit for use. He wished, therefore,
to ask if any report had been made to the Government of the
amount of wheat so destroyed in consequence of the inability
of the importer to pay the duty?
Sir GEORGE CLERK said he knew nothing of the case
to which the Hon. Member (Mr. Valle] s) had referred. He
believed, however, that the statement had appeared in a news-
paper, but the periodical reports furnished by the Board of
Customs to the Treasury and the Board of Trade contained
no mention of it. There could not, however, be any difficulty
in ascertaining whether the report was true or false, and if
true, under what circumstances the alleged destruction of grain
took place. -