The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-28 00:00:00

FEBRUARY -28, 1846.

cently. They made an appeal to the Sovereign, and what was
the result of that appeal ?—they obtained a majority of 90.
Now the great leader of the principle of protection
has changed his opinions, and his colleagues have
changed theirs also. When persons of well-known
integrity and character came to that House and said
that they had changed their opinions, it followed as a necessary
consequence that they must carry a great weight with them.
Such a circumstance might change the opinion of that House,
but before they changed the line of conduct they had main-
tained so long they should be certain whether it was confined
to the Minister and his friends, or whether the great body of the
nation sympathised in the alteration.—(" Hear, hear" from the
Ministerial side.) If they were so convinced, they would be
guiltless as to the result. They say the people were to be
represented in that House. The people should have been con-
sulted as to whether they approved of the change in their con-
duct, or whether they had also changed, and were willing to
sell that for which they had straggled so intensely, and had
maintained so long and so happily. It was not his
intention to enter at great length into that dis-
cussion. Many reasons prevented him, especially as the
[louse had expressed its intention to divide that night. As
long as he had held the situation which he had fulfilled in that
House, he had never gone against its sense, and he was ass are
that other Members wished to address the [louse, therefore he
would not detain them any longer than was necessary to ex-
press the reasons which induced him to give his vote in favour
of the amendment proposed by his Hon. Friend the Member
for Bristol, to whom he would address himself for a few mi-
nutes. His Hon. Friend had made a statement bordering
closely on an accusation. He charged them with having fol.
lowers who refused to enter into the question with them, and
who were desirous of stifling the inquiry. He also said that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer had followed in the same
train. He did not accuse him of having broken
his pledges, but said that he flinched from inquiry.
—(Hear.) He wondered that his Hon. Friend should have
m We such a charge, for he would say, that when a Committee
was proposed for the express parpose of enabling the proposi-
tion to be brought before the House, they had no objection to
each a splurge. His Right Hon. Friend had changed his
opinion, and called upon them to folios- him. He was not
very often in the habit of troubling the House —(Hear, hear)
—but when he did take that liberty he endeavoured to express
his opinion thoroughly. Had the Right Hon. Baronet pro-
posed going into a Committee on the corn-laws with a view to
their modification, he (Mr. Spooner) would have given h s un-
qualified assert to that proposition. He never did approve of
the present system of corn-laws. He thought the sliding scale
was some improvement, but a fixed duty was the only principle,
and the only rational proposition. He defined protection to
be the principle which induced them to take care, while
native industry was burdened by the taxation necessary for the
preservation of the State, that no foreign produce should be
admitted to compete with our own taxed produce,
without incurring an equal share of expense—(Cheers from the
Ministerial side)—that was the principle of protect ion, and that
principle should be applied to every class of industry, and not
more to agriculture than to any other. Whatever tax was imposed
upon the country was an additional reason why the labourer
should be protected from foreign untaxed produce.—(Cries of
" Oh! oh !" from the Opposition side.) He could assure
them that he had not willingly entered on this subject; but,
representing, as he did, a large constituency, he felt it neces-
sary to enter upon their defence in an effectual manner. The
Hon. Member for Shropshire had said that he was very happy
that some of them had read Adam Smith, and he wished that
a great many more had done so, as political economy was now
assuming an important aspect. He would read something
fr )m the works of the Noble Lord, as he considered him a
high authority—and he said that sincerely, for he was
high both as a statesman and as an author. He would
now proceed to call the attention of the House to a passage.
—(" Oh, oh" ! from the Opposition.) He would read it.—
(Laughter.) The Noble Lord said " That nearly all writers
on political economy fell into the same mistake ; nations were
subject to fluctuations in their seasons of prosperity, and they
naturally looked to those persons who had studied the wealth
of nations for a remedy. Those writers had occupied them-
selves with original truths without entering upon particular cases."
The Hon. Gentleman went on to read from the pamphlet in
question, amidst every manifestation of impatience by the
House; the extract, as far as could be collected from the
noise that prevailed, being to the effect that there were certain
circumstances connected with the industry of the country which
rendered, in many instances, the application of the strict rule
of political economy inexpedient and impracticable. This was
the doctrine laid down by the Noble Lord, which be (Mr.
Spooner) coincided in, and to this he would call the attention
of the Hon. Member for Stockport. The Hon. Member for
Wolverhampton (Mr. Villiers) last night gave a statement of
figures which went to show that we might have
a considerable importation of corn, and at the same
time have an increase of gold, and he referred to several years
in support of the view which he advanced.—(The lion.
Member here proceeded to read some figures in relation to
this topic; but from the noise and confusion that prevailed, it
was impossible to understand their real purport. As far,
however, as their application could be ascertained, they were
to the cff,tet that the increase of bullion towards the latter end
of a period of four years—that is, from 1833, during which
there was a considerable importation of grain—arose
from peculiar circumstances in our relations with America.
He could well understand this expression of the feelings of the
House—(Cheers)— and he knew too well the utter uselessness
of any individual attempting to address the House—(Reiter-
ated cheering)—unless the House were willing to hear him.—
( Hear, hear.) He respected the good opinion of the House
too well—(Cheers)—to force himself upon its notice.—( Great
cheering.) If it was therefore the pleasure of Hon. Mem-
bers that he should defer his remarks—(Cheers)—to some
future time—(Cheers)—he would do so.—(Tremendous
cheering.) He would do so in all sincerity—( Cheering)—but
he would do so, at the same time, in the hope that at some
future time he would be listened to with greater indulgence.—
(The Honourable Gentleman sat down amidst much con-
fusion, which was very considerably increased.)
Mr. P. BORTHWICK rose—The Honourable Gentleman

proceeded to address the House for at least a quarter of an
hoar, amidst mach confusion and noise, so loud and continuous,
that it was impossible to catch the purport of his observations.
He was understood, however, to contend, in defiance of
boisterous cries from both sides of the House of " Divide,
divide," " Question, question," " Bar, bar," and " Order,
order)"—that the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of
the Government was mistaken if he thought the present mea-
sure would secure his reputation with posterity, for the page
of history would exhibit him as struggling for a long
series of years to form a great party, and at the very
moment when he had succeeded in this apparently paramount
and all-absorbing topic of his life, as coming forward, and in
violation of all public faith and principle, and, with one daring
and reckless blow, breaking up and shivering to atoms that
great confederation, which himself had fostered and
created, and which would be known in future
years as the powerful Conservative party of England.
He might say to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the
Government, "Et to Brute."—(Laughter, and cries of
" Oh, oh.") If Cesar must fall—(Continued laughter)--
better that he fall not by his hands. It had been
better for the myriads yet to be born and go-
verned—better for the few who like him were by nature
and by God destined to govern—it had been better for the
peace which bound the masses of mankind together, ;and for
the confidence of private men—better for the human race—
(Cries of " Oh, oh," and laughter)—that this measure had
been proposed by some other hand than the one
which was nerved by its own strength, and
which was called into existence by its own will.
—(Loud laughter.) If the principles of free trade were
the principles of common sense, and if the circumstances of
this great country admitted the application of those principles
to our commercial policy, then he would say that thu measure
of the Right Hon. Gentleman was the grossest insult to com-
mon sense and to the principles of free-trade that could
be possibly brought before the country. The principle which
he advocated said that protection was the bane of agriculture,
and yet the Right Hon. Gentleman was prepared to admi-
nister to the country a draught of that very poison for the next
three years.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and great laughter.)
The Hon. Member went on to say, that Hon. Members opposite
had succeeded in obtaining the head of the Right Hon. Baronet,
but that they (the protectionists) still kept possession of his
heart. ( The Hon. Member then eat down amid great uproar
and confusion. )
Lord G. BENTINCK then rose and requested the attention
of the House for a short time while he endeavoured to answer
some of the arguments which had been used by Hon. Mem-
bers on the opposite sides of the House. There was no man
who felt more deeply than he did his unworthiness to ask that
indulgence. He had never, since he had a seat in
that House, ventured to trespass upon their atention upon
so important a subject as the present. They opposed
the Speaker leaving the chair, net only because they objected
to the great changes proposed with reference to the agricultural
interest, but also upon the whole measure.—( Hear, hear.)
They opposed the measure which proposed an alteration in
1,100 articles, because so great a commercial resolution as that

proposed, they did not consider was required by the exigencies
of the country. It was not only that they objected to the removal
of protection from the agricultural interest, but also a removal
of protection from the silk, shipping trade, and many other
interests concerned in the tariff. —( Hear, hear.) It had been

stated in the course of this debate that Hon. Members who

opposed this Bill would lose their character, station, and
iniuence with the country. He would willingly concede that
gentlemen who sat on the opposite side had not this fear before
their eyes. They had always been the consistent advocates of
free trade; they came to that House pledged to maintain those
principles for which they asked the suffrages of the people.
When he was told this was not a protection Parliament, he
would be glad to know on what principles it was
created. Why, was not the subject of free trade in
corn discussed over and over again when the dissolution
took place in the year 1841 ? Was it not then a
question whether we were not to have a protection of 83.
a quarter or a higher rate of protection? Her Majesty ap-
pea'ed to the people in 1841 ; and on that question of the corn-
laws— on that question he thought there could be no mistake.
The Right Hon. Gentleman now at the head of her Majesty's
Government was then the leader of the Opposition, and chal-
lenged his opponent to dissolve the Parliament. The
Secretary of State for the Home Department said it was mad-
ness to dissolve the Parliament, and he thought it was the
madness of the devil himself. He charged them with some-
thing more than the acts of the devil himself for
such a course of proceeding. His Right Honour-
able Friend raised the cry, " The Church. was in
danger ;" but was it not far more exciting to hear
the cry of cheap bread, and that cry raised from the
Treasury benches? He should like to know whether the cry
of cheap bread which they had heard had anything to do with the
landlord question. They said that was not a protection Parbs-
, merit, but what was it if it was not crested on protection prin-
ciples? The Noble Lord then at the head of the Administra.
tion, in 1841, found himself defeated by a vote of want of con-
fidence, when there appeared a majority against him of 311
against 317, and her Majesty immediatelyi
prorogued
the Parliament, with a view tots -nmediate dis-
solution. Her Majesty then . i
in her speech
that in the present state of public affairs she had cisme
to the determination of taking the sense of the public.
He was of opinion that the measure proposed by the Right
Hon. Baronet could net in honour b. e carried by the majority
of that House, returned on that dissolution.—(Hear, hear. )
They were told that a great change was to take place upon
the experience of the Right Hon. Baronet for the last
three years ; that the Right Hon. Gentleman
had been so satisfied with the result of
the reduction of duties for the last three years. He was
satisfied that the country would not be of the same opinion—
they would not be satisfied with any great change in the laws
upon a mere three years experience. The Right Hon. Baronet
said that there would be no material, in fact, no reduction at
all in the price of corn by the introduction of the
present measure. He groanded that opinion upon
what had taken place with regard to silk. He would
accept the challenge of the Right Honourable Gentleman
—he would meet him on the question of silk, and he would
also meet the Member for Sheffield on that of wool.
He would take care not to forget what had been said respect-
ing the timber duties.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then
proceeded to detail the price of wool per pound between the
years 1820 and 1824, hat in so low a tone of voice that not
a single word reached the gallery. He found from the price
of flour, as contracted for, not for one year, but for three years,
that the average price per stone in 1841, 1842, and 1843 was
3s. 7d. In 1846 3s. 2d. was the price, a price, in fact, lower
than what the average price hid been on the average of three
years before.—( Loud cries of " Divide, divide," and
manifestations of impatience.) This was a strong
point to show that under a protective system the
irregularity of price we. not such as bed been

attributed by the ads 'ocates of fre e trade. He would refer
briefly to the subject cif the silk trade, on which the Right Hon.
Baronet had spoken, and which he alleged had thrived under
a free-trade system, i a oppositieei to what had been advanced
by the advocates of a protective system. The House ought to
be aware that there were three descriptions of silk : small
silk, which cost from 14s. to 20s. per lb. ; thrown
silk, from 20s. to 235. ; and waste or °fat
silk, that sold for about from 2d. to 10d. per lb.
He found, that in the periods of 1815,1816, 1817, the average
quantities of silk imported into the country was 1,095,000 lbs.,
and they found, that in a cori,esponding period, when the pro-
tection duty was in existence,, the importation was 1,970,000
ibs. showing a difference o 90 per cent. He found that the
duty averaged in the same period 750,0001.
Mr. Huskisson promised that he should place the silk trade
side by aide with the cottons trade. He was not able to take the
return of three clear years" but he would take such as would
give the most favoureole return to the supporters of the
Manchester school asad of the Right Honourable Baronet.
He now came to the operation of free trade as regarded the
silk-weavers. He woe:id refer to the evidence taken before
the Committee of 1`331. Mr. Grabb, a silk manufacturer,
was examined. U• 0 to 1824 the number of hands he em-
ployed was 3,3c.e4, and the wages averaged Bs. I ill.
per man. Ir. 1631 the number he employed had
fallen to 1,877, and the amount of wages to 3s. Bid.
But it vas not wages alone which had been reduced by the
chanege ; fer the same gentleman stated that a great number
et leands were diseharged in the time, some of whom had
emigrated, while others had gone to the workhouse, and the
majority of the females to prostitution. Now was not this evi-
dence conclusive enough, and ought it not to decide the House
in the course they ought to take with respect to this measure ?
hear.)f(eHwedaary,sajnee he
-a The Noble Lord then proceeded to say, that
presented to that House a petition from
some silk-weavers, in which they stated, that if the duties were
taken off earn, the only result would be the reduction of
their wages.—( Loud cries of " Divide, divide.") He
apologised to the House for the manner in which
he had trespassed upon their attention, but as he
stood there as the advocate of a great body, whose
interests kad been attacked, he hoped the House would' extend
to him their indulgence, although he was not able to address
them in th 3 same able manner which those who were accus-
tomed to address them were capable of doing.—( Cheers. ) The
Noble Lord then continued to say that silk weavers would be
reduced 3d. per yard if this measure passed, and he would ask
what reduction in the price of food would compensate those
poor men for that reduction in their wages ?—( Cheers. )
He believed that the labourer would be better off with his old
wages, and wheat at 70s. per:quarter, than with cheaper bread
and lower wages.—(lronical cheers.) He maintained,
despite the cheers of the Honourable Members opposite,
that ho would be better off with wheat at 455. per
quarter, and with his present wages, than the reduction
sought by the present measure, and the consequent
disproportion in the reduction of wages.—(Hear, hear.) He
recollected an address delivered by the Secretary of State for
the Home Department, though he had now changed his opinion‘,
in which he laid down the proposition not to be disputed, that
the rate of wages must sink with the reduction in the price of corn.
The Right Hon. Baronet tells them as a reason for introducing
the measure, that distress in Ireland was very great, where the
people were starving in the midst of a superabundance
of provisions.—( Cheers.) The farmer, he said, was
without a market, and the labourer was left destitute,
without employment. That was the picture drawn of the state
of Ireland by his Honourable Friend, showing that it
was truly destitute. During the three years, amidst the ruin
of manufacturers, the distress of landlords, the insurrection
of the populace, who were without employment and without
bread, as the Right Hon. Baronet said, the prosperity of the
country increased notwithstanding, and he (Lord Bentinek)
liked to see productive industry sacrificed to unpro-
ductive wealth as little as the Right Hon. Baronet. With
respect to the speech of his Honourable Friend the
Member for Wolverhampton, he should say it was
not a speech overflowing with professions of kindness.
They had been taunted on that side of the House that they
dealt in reviling phrases against Hon. Members who had de-
served them on the present occasion, and that they had ad-
duced no arguments in proof of the justness of the position
which they assumed. Now, after the speech of his Hon.
Friend who sat beside him, after that admirable speech, he
thought they might be exempted from so inapplicable
and undeserved a taunt.— (Cries of Hear, hear.")
(The Noble Lord was at this moment so inaudible that
not a word could be distinctly heard in the gallery.
The loud and repeated cries • for a division, varied
by the counter-cries for an adjournment, completely
drowned the Noble Lord's attempts to be heard.)
The Noble Lord continued to read extracts from returns he
held in his hand, in reference to the state of food in Scotland,
by which he contended it appeared that the people of many
districts in the neighbourhood of Glasgow had much improved
their condition, and had adopted the use of flour in many cases
for that of oatmeal. The Noble Lord representing the city
of London—(Cries of " Oh, eh 1" from the Ministerial side of
the House) —he had not offered to say anything to change
them (the Opposition)—he was going to show them that there
was no danger of a famine. He would refer them to Leith.
They would recollect that the authorities he was about to quote
were rather suspicious. They were the corn circulars sent
forth by the corn dealers for the benefit of the trade. The
circular he would refer to was dated the 17th December, 1845,
and was from Leith. It stated that as regarded the diseased
potatoes, if they were properly scored and dried they were not
unfit for human food ; and there was reason to believe that
the failure would not be so great as was apprehended.—(" Oh,
oh I" from the Opposition.) This was an important fact, as
in consequence of this rumoured scarcity, it was proposed to
change the commercial policy of this country. The circular
went on to say the corn crops were in general good, and the
failure of the potato crop had given such an impulse to the
market that they were se completely choked that room was
not to be found for any more grain, and a considerable portion
of the expected arrival of corn would have to be
sent to other ports.—(Cheers from the Ministerial benches.)
He had a letter from Liverpool which stated that the cry about
famine was all a mistake, for that at the time there were not
less than 200 warehouses in Liverpool which were as full of
grain as they could hold.—( He r, hear.) He would now go
to Ireland.—( Great manifestations of impatience, and cries
of Divide, divide.") He was going to show there were no
grounds for what had been stated in relation to the potato
crop. Five weeks ago the Hon. Member for Somerset
(Mr. W. Miles) moved for a return of the price of
potatoes in all parts of Ireland, and yet up to the present day
no return had been made.—( Hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet
had taunted them (the protectionists) as not liking the subject
of the potato failure in Ireland; but to that he would beg
leave to say, for the Hon. Friends around him, that what was
distasteful to them was not the Hon. Baronet's going into
details on that subject, but his not telling the whole
truth. That was what was distasteful to them.—(llear. )
They had been told of a certain merchant going down to the
country, surveying the crops, and reporting that the appear-
ance of the potatoos was black ; and they had heard of a letter
from a party in Yorkshire, named Wood, as to the state of
the crops there. On the latter point, if the fact was as stated,
it would not have been concealed from the Government, by
the Hon. Member for the West Riding, who seconded
the address to the Crown. But what had that Honour-
able Gentleman said, in the coarse of the present
debate ? He stated that there were no grounds
for stating that the potato crop had failed in Yorkshire.—(Hear,
hear.) He would now return to Ireland.—(Cries of " Divide,
divide.") The Right Hon. Baronet had read the accounts
respecting the potato disease from inspectors of police, and
others, in various parts of Ireland ; but why, he (Lord George
Bentinek) would like to know, did not the Right Hon. Baronet
receive reports from the lieutenants: of counties, especially
from the lieutenants of the counties of Down and Carlow ?
If his Hon. Friend, the Member for Derby, were in his place
he would ask him what communication he had made to
Government on the subject of the potatoes? And he would
refer to the opinions of a man whose testimony was extitled to
as much weight as any in England or Ireland—a man of
the most masculine understanding of the most
business habits—whose knowledge on every subject was
as extended as any authority he could refer to, and whose evi-
dence on this subject that side of the House would most wil-
lingly listen to—hetmeant Lord Besborough, who had taken the
greatest pains to ascertain what was really the truth
with regard to the disease of the potatoes in Ireland.
oa
ht reportm a h .
hadHe h(eLeaormi
adßee
tnetihnecek )msaihesoutyld likela
i s tteor s kbnyo w
that w
nobleman.
He (Lord Bentinck) could inform the Right Hon. Baronet
that what they on that side of the House were dissatisfied
with was that they had not been told both sides of the ques-
tion. He did not know what was the information the
Right Hon. Baronet had received, bnt he had himself taken
some pains to ascertain what was the real state of
things—and he saw in the House a short time ago the Hon.
Baronet the Member fur the county of Antrim, and he also
cou'd tell the House that he had taken great pains—and he
could assure the House that there was no danger of famine.—
( Hear, hear, and cheers from the protectionists.) He had
taken occasion to write to an Honourable Friend of his
in the county of Roscommon, to inquire into the result
of the inquiry instituted by Government, and he informed
tartaric
trittiatt that, after opening
him that after all the recommendations of all the
usingprofessors had
been tried, such as kiln-drying the
acid, and other experiments, they
the professors had con-
fidently promised to the pits, the potatoes,
cure, were all rotten—( Cheers from the
protectionists)—whilethose that had been placed
amid quick-lime were sound and healthy. He could assure
the House that there was no such thing as a
potato famine in the county of Roscommon.
In Tipperary there was not a single diseased potato, and in
Queen's County the potatoes were 2%d. per stone. Money,
after all was that which told the truth in this country.
He had had an opportunity of consulting the Marquis of
Clanri-
carde upon the subject of the potato disease, and that Nl
man assured him that it was greatly exaggerated. The Noble
Marquis himself had grown about 140 acres of potatoes,
which it was true were bad, but the disease could
told him, that
been tested. The Noble Marquis also not have been discovered in them had they not
the G overn-
half the mischief had been created
professors who were
Ireland, for they advised the lifting of the potatoes
sent over to
that corn=
resent Commissioners, and the various
before they were ripe, notwithstanding n sense must
have suggested to them that they would rot before they could
be used. They were told that there were 4,000,000 of the
Irish people on the brink of famine, and he wanted
to know what provision her Alajesty's Ministers had
made for the wants of these 4,000,000 of people ?
If report was true, there were no more than 100,000 quarters
of maize in Ireland, and that was food that was not fit for
people, but for cattle. The duty on wheat was 17s. per quarter.
He apprehended that the Right Hon. Gentleman never in-
tended to feed the people of Ireland upon wheat. He be-
lieved that 100,030 quarters of oats were imported from Ireland a
few months ago ; and he asked whether common sense would
not have dictated the purchase of Irish oats in Ireland for the
relief of the people? He found that the duty on oats, which
was six shillings per quarter on the 23d of October last,
had, in consequence of the false reports of famine,
slided down to three shillings on the 22d of November.
The Duke of Wellington stated in his place in the Upper
House, that when corn rose to a certain price there was a pro-
vision in the existing corn-laws under which the ports
would open themselves. He also admitted that there was
a great loss in the potato crop, but it could not be
said that there was a deficiency in the food of the
people of Ireland. He ( Lord Bentinck) believed that there
were oats enough in Ireland to feed the entire population of
that country. He considered that the accounts of the potato
crop had been greatly exaggerated, and he did not believe that
there was more than one-fifth of the potato crop in Ireland
destroyed ; and, under these circumstances, he did not con-
sider there was any necessity for an alteration in th existing
laws.—(" Hear, hear," from the protectionists.) He Weer knew
a Government who presumed to make such great changes, and
who gave so little reason for the adoption of those changes.
He had been 18 years in that House, and it was no pleasing
task to address it, and he did so on that occasion because
he considered it his imperative duty. With respect te
potatoes, he found that the average price for the last ten
years was not more than at present, and with that
?
fact, how could it be said that there was
famine, a famine
to
If it were necessary, in consequence of
they
be only taking
import wheat into Ireland, why did
the seventeen shillings duty, as it w
it with the other ?
that
asserted
no at once pay
t
it from one hand to receive
It was his intention to go into manyGo on")—he
other matters, but in
" ) —h e would pass
consequence of the hour—rat
they (Cries of
had been challenged to show
over some of them. eim. Bn
favour of protection, and he was pre-
panaryedargtoumsrow that the produce of the country had
outstripped its moundon ; ,be was prepared to show that by

een
evidence which could not be doubted. They had— b /la
told that protection was the bane of agrieuitsure;
was prepared to show that the contrary was the fact.
He (Lord G. Bentinek) was prepared to show by evidence laid
before that House, that up to the year 1831, the soil
of England only produced 17 litshela per acre.
Now there were three millions of acres of land in Ireland, and
fifteen millfuns in England, which could be brought inte%ifti-
vation, and that being the case, how could it be saidithat the
country was not capable of producing sufficient food for the
population. Was it not beyond all contradiction that
this country produced more corn for a far more
smaller population than France for a greater population?
He had shown that Frenchmen were capable of earning more
wages than Englishmen, and yet not do so much work. He
had shown also that the state of agricultural improvement in
this country was very superior to that of France, and yet
that France was able to compete with EngLvd ; and he had
likewise shown that even in America, with alrßrer disadvantages,
she was able to compete with England in the colonial market.
( Here the Noble Lord became inaudible for some time in con-
sequence of the loud cries of " Oh, oh," and gtoans from the
Opposition.; Ii they took 2.00,000 quarters of corn from
foreign countries instead of from our own country, the vault
would be that they would throw from 500,i)00 to 6%),000
persons out of employment.— (Prolonged cries of " Oh from
the Opposition.") The Right Hon. Baronet had said that the
inevitable result of the repeal of the corn-laws wougld be to
thiow from 500,000 to 800,000 persons out of employment. If
they applied the principle to the duties on tea and sugar,
they would then do good by admitting articles which
did not compete with any of our Imr: produce.
Why not import, for example, the produce of China in that
manner, instead of charging on tea at the rate of 250 per
cent, which tax was imposed on the labouting population
of this country. But the way they acted was to Place high
duties on the produce of those countries that encouraged
the manufacturers, and cringed and bowed to those
countries that took the gratest pains to exclude our manu-
factures. Do you, therefore, deserve any consideration info
course you have taken ?—( Loud cries of "-Divide, divide," and
great manifestations of impatience.) Certainly they were not.
When the Right Honourable Baronet came down to that
House to usher in the session, which, whether it
was to be for good or evil, had a tendeney, at least
in the estimation of the Honourable Members on
that side of the House, to transfer the profits of the mnnufae-
turing classes to foreign countries. When he wsheed
Hon. Members to come to this House, assuring
them that they had the confidence of the Crown,
they might at least be certain that ander such circumstances
they would vote as their duty to their consciences and their
constituents dictated. They had been told that they were a proud
aristocracy. They were proud, but they were only proud in this
chastity of their honour, and if they had turned out the Whig
Administration in 1841, they did it in highmindedness, and
with a pure desire to further the interests of the country.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Hansa
divided, when there appeared--
For the Motion
337
For the Amendment 240

MAJORITY FOR? A,
MINISTERS - -S
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed ef.
The House adjourned at a Quarter past Three.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON

GAZETTE OF FRIDAY.
ADMIRALTY, FEB. 27, 1846.
Dispatches were this day received at this office from Rear-
Admiral Ingletield, addressed to the Right Iron. IfenryT.L.
Gerry, of which the following are copies :
lI.M. Ship Vernon, off Monte Video,
Nov. 30, 1845.
Sir,—My letters of the 30th Octoker, No. 78, and
25th November, No. 85, will have inTorsned the LOrds
Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the French and
English combined expedition, consisting of the vessels
named in the margin,* respectively commanded by eaptain
Ilotham, of her Majesty's steam-flgate Gorgon, and
Captain Trehouart, of the French frigate Erigone,
had commenced the ascent of the river Parana,
agreeably to the decision cJme to by the Mediat-
ing Ministers at a Searce, held on the 9th of Oct,ober,
for the purpose of opening that channel of commerce; suc-
cessive strong gales, and various other circumstances, pre-
vented the expedition from assembling at the appointed
rendezvous off the Guassu (one of the mouths of the Parana)
so soon as it was intended, and consequently the entering the
river did not take place till the Bth instant, when it began
to'ascend, and on the 18th instant arrived within three ntiles
of the defences. General Rosas had caused to be
thrown up at Punta Obligado (on the, right bank of the
river, about 100 miles from the entrance, add 30 miles below
the city of San Nicolas), to oppose their passing, which it ap-
pears were constructed with great military skill,. and the
position of the batteries admirably selectee? on advantageous
ground, being supported by the presence of at least
3,500 troops of all arms, every appearance indicating a
determined resistance, which, however, did not deter the
gallant commanders of our little squadrons from deciding on
an immediate attack; and I have now the gratification of
transmitting to you, for their Lordships' information*. a copy
of the report I have received from Captain Hothasu, detailing
the successful issue of the conflict that ensued on the 20th,
ending in the complete destruction of the enemy's battpries ;
a schooner of war (mounting six guns), and twenty-four
vessels chained across the river, all the guns found on the
fortications, except ten brass guns, which were taken off to
the ships. . _ _

The judicious plan for the attack, sad the persevering
bravery displayed by all concerned in its execution, net-
wEhstanding the disadvantage some of the vessels were
under in not being able to attain their assigned positioni,
owing to the wind failing, and a strong adverse current
of three knots, and the landing of the little band of seamen
and royal marines, in the face of se large a force, will, I am
persuaded, call forth their Lordships' admiration of the skill
that directed, and the undaunted courage that acheived, this
brilliant exploit. Captain Hotham's letter brings the
merits of the contest so fully to the mind, that I feel it now
only remains for ma to expreis to their Lorfthips the high
sense I entertain of the gallantry, zeal, and ability which
animates that excellent officer, who has, on every occasion,
g.ven me perfect satisfaction in the performance of his various
duties ; and I beg to recommend his services most strongly
to their Lordships' favourable consideration, as also those
officers serving in command under his cutlers on this occasion,
which, I conceive, reflects so much honour and credit on
themselves and the service.

I am convinced their Lordships will experience as much
pleasure as I do, in learning from Captain Hotham that he
had great reason to be satisfied with the good conduct of ell
the officers, seamen, and royal marines engaged on ails
servi,:e; and I trust I may be permitted t) call their attention
to the circumstance of Captain Hope's cutting the barrier
chain, and to the merits of the officers and men ; Captain
Ilotham has specially brougslt to my notice (particularly
Commander Sulivan and Lieatenant Levinge), as also the
case of Mr. Andrews' family, who have lost, in him, their
main support.
I sincerely regret this gallant achievemerpt has been at-
tended with such a loss of life ; but, considering the strength
of the enemy's position, and the obstinacy with which it,Was
defended, we have reason to be thankful tq Divine Providence
that it was not greater. Among the killed is to be lamenteil
Lieutenant C. Brickdale, an officer of great promise.
It is very gratifying to me to add that a perfect
unanimity and cordial co-operation has subsisted
throughout between Captains Botha n and Trdhouart, sad
the vessels under their orders; and their Lordships will per-
ceive that the gallint bearing of the latter has called forth un-
qualified admiration from Capt. notham. I also beg to re-
mark the full confidence Capt. Ilotham felt in the support of
his French allies. The official report of Capt. Trdhouart to
Admiral Laine gives a lung list of the killed and wounded
(17 of the former and GO of the latter), sufficiently !moving
the share the French division took in the contest, and which
must have essentially contributed to the success of the day.
I inclose a copy of the return of the killed and wounded,
and an account of the damages sustained by the vessels en-
gaged, so fir as can be ol.itained from the logs and demands
I have received. A more detailed report I will transmit to
their Lordships when it reaches me.

Nothing pOsitive is known as the exact loss of the
enemy, but it must have been very great, froin the number
found dead in the batteries, estimated at several hundreds.—
I have the honour to be, &c.,

S. H. INGLEFIELD,
'Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Right Hon. H. T. L. Cony,
Secretary to the Admiralty.

Her Majesty's ship Gorgon, Obligado, Nov. 23, 1845.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that the combined
iglish and French force, under the comniand of Captain
7'cleirotiart and myself, anchored on the 18th instant, at ilia
distance of three miles from the batteries of Punta Obligade,
in the river Parana. At daylight the followitig rtioniing
we reconnoitred the position of the enemY, and
soon discovered that great military skill had been •
evinced, both in the ground chosen and the plea of
defence pumped. Four batteries had been erected
—two on heights sixty feet from the water-line, and two is
the intervening valley; the whole moiinting twenty-two
pieces of ordnance, 32, 28, 24, 18, aid 12-pounders, and,
with the exception of a small open space, were backed by
thick woods; three heavy chains, supported by twenty-four
vessels, were extended across from the main land to an
island ; astern of these lay ten fire-vessels, and the west end
of the chains were defended by an Argentine schooner-of-
war, carrying six guns. The river at this point is 800 yards
wide, and the current runs three miles per hour.
From various sources we learnt that 3,500 men, cavalry,
infantry, and artillery, were assembled ; in short, everything*
indicated a determined resistance. The reconnaisance being
completed, my colleague and myself resolved on the follow-
ing plan of attack
To form the ships into two divisions, the north under the
direction of Captain Trehouart, to be composed of San Mar-
tin, Captain Trehouart ; Comus, Acting Commander Ingle-
field; Pandour, Lieut. Du Pale.; Dolphin, Lieut. R. Levinge.
The south, under the direction of Commander Sulivaa, to
be composed of Philomel, Commander B. &Alvan, Ex-
peditive, Lieutenant de Miniac ; Fanny (hired armed), Lieut.
Key ; Procida, Lieut. Maria de la Riviere.
These divisions to be anchored on the north and south
shores, at a distance of 760 yards from No. 1 battery.
The steamers, Gorgon, Captain Charles Hotham ; Felton
Lieutenant Mazeres; Firebrand, Captain James Rope ,
to anchor at a distance of fifteen hundred yards
from the farthest battery; the morning of the 20th was foggy";
but about 8 A. 31, the weather cleared, and a southerly
breeze sprung up. At Bh. 45m. the southern diwsion
weighed, (and were afterwards followed by San Martin sad
Comus, Dolphin and Pandour having previously anchored
on the north shore.

About 9h. 50m., AM., the batteries opened fire on the
Philomel and southern division, on whieh Dolphin weighed
but as some of her sails were shot away before she reached
her appointed station, the current drove her astern, acid
obliged her to anchor; she was, however, admirably pissed;
the remaining ships of the north division were most arty led
by my brother officer in command, whose brig succeeded in
reaching her appointed station.
The general cannonading unfortunately caused the wind
to fall light, and the remaining ships of the north derision,
having to contend with the current of three knots per hour,
were obliged to anchor two cables short of their statibne.
At this period the fire vessels chained together wire cast
loose, and until they had drifted past, the steamers were
prevented from anchoring or opening their fire.
About 10h. 50m. the action became general,
eacii
nuenrastbtindntenhe
oefff :hest
gunnery of our was soon apparenttn the
enemy's fire; still they fought most stoutly. No sooner
were one set of men swept from the guns than they were
replaced; the enemy's cavalry hovered round the wood and
drove back those who attempted to quit their posts, At
12h. 301 n., the Republicano schooner blew up, and
(17 11Gat
lent Friend Captain James Hope volunteered to r
his boat andcut the chain; success attended his endeavours,
and a passage being
cleared, at one P.M. the -Fulton passed
through and flanked the batteries, and was seedily followed
by Gorgon and Firebrand.
But prior to this, the enemy's fire hat; told most fearfully
on the San Martin and Dolphin ; the c4ble of the former
being shot away she dropped astern, with upwards of 100
shot holes through her aide.
To assist the flanking fire of the steamers, the Ilse itive
and Coulus were ordered to place themselyes, Pecl
zitkin" musket

en4fce ths batteries. At 4b. P.M., finding that the batteries
nod only occasional shots, I made the signal for boats of
squadron, manned and armed, to rendezvous alongside Gor-
gon and Firebrand, and sent to propose to my colleague that
the remaining part of our plan should be carried into
execution; the officer bearing the message found Capt.
Trehouart occupied in moving the French squadron close in
to cover the landing; so, placing entire confidence in
the fire of his ships, and knowing full well that his
division of seamen would, as soon as possible, support us, at
5h.45m. landed with 180 seamen and 145 marmes, and giving
three cheers, formed on the beach ; the skirmishing party
and light company of seamen under the command of Com-
mander Sulivan led up the bill.
On reaching the crest they were received by a smart fire of
musketry, but the speedy arrival of the Marines, under the
command of Captain Thomas Hurdle, R.M., drove the enemy
back, and the light company of seamen, under the com-
mand of Lieutenant A. C. Key, completed the work, by
carrying and holding the wood, the key of the position.
Very shortly afterwards the French Brigade landed, and
the guns of Nos. 1,2, and 3 batteries were spiked and dis-
mantled. On the following morning the English and French
Brigades again landed, and completed the work of destruc-
tion ; carrying off all the brass guns, 10 in number, and re •
taming unmolested pa-ssessiim of the grounds and woods the
whole day.

It was not to be expected that a contest, lasting from 10
£5l. until nearly sunset, could do otherwise than cause the
,loss of several officers and men; and accordingly I have to
lament the death of Lieut. C. Brickdale, who fell early in
the day. He was an officer of great promise, and is ould
have been an ornament to his country had he lived. Mr.
George Andrews,:clerk-in-charge of the Dolphin, was also
killed whilst assisting the assistant-surgeon ; he was a
valuable officer, and one of a large family, who mainly de-
pended upon him, and I trust their case may be laid before
the Board of Admiralty.
Lieutenant Charles Doylet is, I fear, mortally wounded,
and ere many hours must terminate his existence. Although
suffering dreadfal agony from his wounds, his mind ap-
peared bent on the result of the action. Such a spirit must
necessarily carry the sympathies of all his brother officers.
Lieutenant Levinge reports most highly of the conduct of
Richard Rowe, gunner's-mate, and Walter Ross, caulker's-
mate, of the Dolphin ; although severely wounded, they re-
mained at their quarters until the day was won.
The aggregate bss of officers, petty officers, seamen, and
marines, amounts to
Officers. „ .... 2 killed ...
Seamen • 3 ~
Petty Officers.... 2 „
Marines none

6 wounded.
9 /)
6 II
1 ft

80y5..... 2 99 •• • 2 ,
The noble behaviour of my brother senior officer, Captain
Trehouart, excited the admiration of all on board ; it was
evident that his brig was especially selected for the enemy's
fire, and I consider myself fortunate in having such an officer
for my colleague.
I have great reason to be satisfied with the goodconduct of
all the officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron you did
me the honour to place under my orders.
I have already mentioned the services rendered by Cap-
tain Hope in cutting the chain,and I have to thank him for
acting as my aide-de-camp when on shore. I should be un-
mindfal of the ability and continued zeal of Commander B.
Sulivan, did I not bring him particularly to your notice ; by
his exertions we were furnished with a chart, which enabled
us to complete our arrangements for the attack.
First. Lieutenant J. E. W. Lawrence, R.M.A., also acted
as my. aide-de-camp, and has a strong claim on my gratitude ;
principally through his instrumentality a brigade of seamen
has been formed capable, I am quite satisfied, of resisting
cavalry.
It is impossible to conclude this dispatch without recom-
mending to your favourable consideration Lieut. Reginald
Levinge ; his little schooner occupied the berth better suited
to a frigate, and I sometimes trembled when I saw the
shower of shot, shell, grape, and rockets flying over her.
As soon as the damage sustained by the combined squa-
dron shall have been repaired, Captain Trehouart and myself
intend to proceed in the execution of our instructions, leav-
ing two vessels of war here to prevent the enemy offering
any further obstruction to the free navigation of the Parana.
I have, &e.
(Signed)

CHAS. HOTHAM,
Captain and Senior Officer.
Rear-Admiral S. H. Inglefield, C. 8.,
Commander-in-Chief, &c.

Report of casualties that cccurred in the Squadrdn under the
command of Captain Charles Hotham, while taking and
destroying the batteries, &c., at Point Obliged°, in the
River Parana, on the 20th November, 1845.
Officers' Names.
Lieut. C. Brickdale, H.M. sloop Comas, killed.
Mr. G. Andrews, Clerk-in-charge, H.M. brigantine Dolphin,
killed.
Lieut. C. Doyle, H.M. ship Philomel, very severely wounded.
Mr. R. Warren, Second Master, H.M. brigantine Dolphin,
slightly wounded.
Mr. J. Gallagher, Assistant-Surgeon, H.M. brigantine Dol-
phin, slightly wounded.
Mr. T. Ellstob, Assistant-Clerk, H.M. brigantine Dolphin,
slightly wounded.
Lieutenant A. C. Key, Fanny tender, slightly wounded.
Gorgon-1 seaman, 1 marine, 1 boy Ist class, slightly
wounded.
Firebrand-1 seaman, killed; 1 seaman, severely wounded.
Philomel-1 seaman, killed ; 2 seamen and 1 boy, severely
wounded; 2 seamen, slightly wounded.
Comus--1 boy, killed ; 2 seamen, slightly wounded.
Dolphin-3 seamen and 1 boy killed ; 6 seamen, severely
wounded ; and 2 seamen, slightly wounded.

Her Majesty's ship Vernon, Monte Video, Dec. 19, 1845.
inclose for the information of the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty a further report from Capt. Hotham,
detailing the proceedings of the sttuadron under his orders,
since the destruction of the batteries at Obligado, by which
their Lordships will learn that the Chacabuco has been
blown up, and the probability of our expedition meeting
no further resistance on its passage up the Parana.—l have
the honour to be, &c.

S. H. INGLEFIELD.
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in •Chief.
To the Right Honourable H. T. L. Corry,
M. P., Secretary of the Admiralty.

H. M. S. Gorgon, Rosario, December 4, 1845.
Sir,—Having received intelligence on which I could de-
pend, that the Chacabuco schooner and two gun-boats were
at anchor in the Arroyodel Pabon, I have the honour to in-
form you that Captain Trehouart and myself determined to
dispatch two vessels to destroy them; but, owing to there
being no French man-of-war at that moment ready for sea,
the execution of our plan was postponed until the 24th, when
the Firebrand took the Fulton in tow, and proceeded on that
service.
On arriving at the month of the Pabou, Captain Hope dis
covered that there was not sufficient water for his ship, so,
taking three boats and forty men, he started in pursuit ; most
fortunately they obtained more information from an intel-
ligent native, and learnt that the whole force accumulated
amounted to 250 men, that a chain was stretched across the
river, placing surprise out of the question. As any further
attempt would have been madness, be most properly re-
turned; actin& however, on kis suggestion, I had previously
dispatched Filebrand by another channel, to intercept the
schooner, and this mapceuvre had its desired effect.
The windings of the river enabled the enemy to descry
the approach of the Firthrand at a considerable distance.
Accordingly, they commenced hauling the Chacabuco up a
narrow creek, by means of warps, manual labour, and horses,
closely pursued by Firebrand. At the end of a chase of
sixty miles the steamer grounded, but the enemy had seen
enough : in the night a fire and explosion took place, and in
the morning no Chacabuco was visible.
The squadron re-assembled at Punta de las Siedras ; during
the night of the 2d the enemy brought down four field pieces,
which however did no injury, and on the 3d instant the
squadron passed ate strong point of the Rosario unmolested
by the enemy; a number of women and country people col-
lected on the beach to see the ships pass, not an armedirnan
was to be seen, hence it would appear that orders had been
given to offer no further resistance to our passage up the
Parana.—l have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES HOTHAM, Capt.
To Rear Admiral S. H. Inglefield, C. 8.,
Commander-in-Chief.
* French.
San Martin, 8 guns, Captain Trehouart.
Fulton, steam vessel, 2 guns, Lieutenant Mazeres.
Expeditive, 16 guns, 'lieutenant de Miniac.
"'endow., 10 guns, Lieutenant Du Paie.
Proceda, tender, 4 guns, Lieutenant de la Riviere.
English.
Gorgan, steam frigate, Captain C. Hotham.
Frebrand, steam frigate, Captain J. Hope.
Philomel, surveying brig, Commander B. J. Sulivan.
Comus, 18 guns, Acting Commander E.'A. Inglefield.
Dolphin, brigantine, Lieutenant R. Levinge.
Fanny, tender, Lieutenant A. C. Key.
1 December 17, 1845. Lieutenant Doyle has since arrived at
Monte Vide, and appears to be in a fair way of recovery. lle bas
lost au arm.