The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-18 00:00:00

EVENING, JUNE 18, 1851.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
(From the London New Price Current, June 17.)
SUGAR.-To-day the rates obtained for West India were
equal to those of Friday both for grocery and refining quali-
ties, and a good home trade demand was also experienced.
The purchases are 760 hhds, &c., including at auction 218
hhds 21 trcs and 250 brls Barbadoes, which realised full
terms, fine yellow selling at 40s to 425, low to good 36s to
39s 6d, and 22 trcs crystalised Demerara, mid to good yel-
low 40s to 443 6d per cwt. There were many buyers of
West India at a small reduction.
RFFLNED.-To-day there was a fair home trade demand
for Refined Sugar. Prices are, however, not better, and
rule at 46s to 47s for brown lumps. There was not much
doing in Crushed Sugar, still last week's rates are demanded.
MAunrrius.-This afternoon there was not much inquiry
after Mauritius Sugar, but holders refused to sell under last
week's rates. At auction 1,043 bags were in part disposed
of, ord and mid grainy yellow at 37s to 38s 6d, good 39s to
40s, brown ditto 33s to 345, good to fine yellow grocery 39s
to 41s per cwt.
EAST ha:ea.-This afternoon the public sales of 2,305 bags
Bengal Sugar went off well and realized rates fully equal to
last week, fine white Benares selling at 42s to 435, mid to
good 40s to 41 s 6d, ord 38s 6d to 39s 6d, and fine grainy
yellow 43s to 44s per cwt. The soft kinds of Madras were
sold to a fair extent privately at 29s to 33s per cwt.
FOREIC.N.-Since Friday there has been a large export de-
mand for Foreign Sugar, and the private operations have
been three cargoes yellow Havannah at 21s 3d, equal to
number 12, one of fine quality at 22s 6d. A cargo of white
Bahia at 225, two of brown Brazil at 17s 6d to 18s, and 1,000
chests middling yellow Havannah at 383 duty paid, besides
some parcels of other sorts, the particulars of which have not
transpired.
MoLAssEs.-The rates demanded for West India are 13s 6cl
to 16s for low to fine; Cuba and Porto Rico 14s 6d to 15s 6d ;
Bengal and Mauritius 12s to 12s 6d per cwt, but a better
demand is expected to take place shortly, there being a fair
consumption. Prices have again declined for honey, and now
rule at from 25s to 55s as to quality.
COFFEE.-This afternoon prices again declined for Mocha;
a public sale of 84 bales went at 58s 6d to 61s 6d for
middling greenish, and triage 29s 61 to 425. In Native
Ceylon the business concluded privately was trifling
at 36s 6d to 37s for good ordinary. Plantation was operated
in with caution, and of 98 casks 114 bags at auction a part
only sold at easier rates; middling went at 49s to 51a, low
middling 46s to 48s, fine to fine fine ordinary 42s to 45s 6d,
other sorts of Coffee 355 to 413, and middling pea berry
54s to 565.
Cocoa.-There is no improvement in the demand for Fo-
reign, although prices rule moderate ; Bahia and Para can be
obtained at 263 to 28s, and Guayaquil at 308 per cwt. For
British Plantation the demand is on the increase, and prices
have assumed en upward tendency, the supply being limited.
Trinidad red has realised 41s to 47s for low to fine, grey 37s
to 40s, and Grenada 35s to 4°B per cwt.
TEA.-Importers of Congou continue free sellers, and
prices have further given way 1/2d por lb; there has in con-
sequence been a good home trade demand for ord and good
common at 91/1d to 103, and for meaium to rather strong
blackish leaf 101,4 d to Is; of tne former several parcels have
been taken for the Continental markets. In good to
fine Congou, however, little has been done, and Is 01/id
to Is 63 is the value; indeed for the latter rates are
little better than nominal, as supply far exceeds consumption.
Pouchong is dull of sale at from 9d to Is, and Oolong 1 id to
13 7d. Green Tea is still operated in with reluctance for all
purposes, and large parcels having been brought forward a
reduction has taken place of ld per lb, the lower
qualities being least in request. Of Scented and Pekoe sorts
there is an increased supply and the rates taken are lAd to
Id ender those current a week back, yet only a moderate
business has been done. To-day there was a good deal done
in low and fair common Congou lea at 91/2d to 10d per lb,
whilst other descriptions were in better demand, at the rates
of yesterday.
Tics:. --To-day holders of East India Rice demanding rates
equal to those of last week checked business. Of 3,798 bags,
1,000 pckgs at auction, a small part only sold ; good mid
and good white at Os 6d to lOs, mid 93, broken 8s to 8s Gd,
and damaged is to 9s per cwt. The sound was chiefly taken
in at 9s 6d to lOs for mid and good. Of Carolina 102 casks
American dressed realized 17s for good white. Sago is in
wb eht
itteer
;doermd aanndd, amn
d 621
sc a6sde st
os t 24sR6dio tToap2isosc a for4o bfirni es
were taken in at 23 to 2:hd for ord ; 1514 brls Bermuda
Arrowroot is to is o%d; 15 casks Farina 18, per cwt.
S PIeC .
re -
takenT O-
in
dayataztospluobrlic
mid.s
sale 50 bags African Pod Pep-
per w
SPIRITS.-Operations in Brandy have been upon a limited
scale during the last few days. The rates current are for
Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1850 4s 4d to 4s
6d, 1849 ditto 4s 7d to 4s 9d, 1848, ditto 4s lld to 5s
Id, 1847 ditto 5s 4d to 5s 6d, older 5s 9d to 75,1 inferior
2s 6d to 3s 10d; and Bordeaux 2s 211 to 2s 3d. Geneva re-
mains quoted at is 7d to is Bd, and fine is 2d to 2s;
few buyers are, however, to be met with. British made
Spirit has been purchased with caution at 9s 5d to 9s 6d;
and Gin at 8s 2d to 8s 3d for 22 per cent under proof. To-
day there was more activity in the Rum market, and several
I parcels were sold, East India at is 3d to is 314 d proof, Lee-
ward Island Is 5d to Is 6d, Demerara, 33 to 40 per cent over
proof 2s to 2s 3d, and low to mid Jamaica 30 to 36 over 2s
4d to 3s 4d, fine 35 to 38 over 3s 5d to 4s 4d.
SALTPETRE.-To-day there was a brisk demand for Salt-
petre, and prices advanced 6d per cwt for rough. At auction
1,237 bags Calcutta were disposed of; refraction Si to 4i per
cent. refraction realised 28s, and 7 ditto 26s to 27s ; and a few
lots damaged 25s to 26s per cwt.
TALLow.-The transactions in Russian on the spot have
been small, and rates are on the decline, there being
sellers of fine Y. C. at 37s to 375 6d. For delivery
in last three months of the year little has been
done, and there are sellers at 88s 6d to 395. Home
melted is quoted at 35s to 36s net cash, and only limited
sales have been made. Of Australian 653 casks at auction
mostly sold at 33s 3d to 35s 6d for beef, 33s 6d to 368 9d for
sheep; 85 pkgs East India 353 t 0.393, and 12 casks Ber-
muda 31s 9d to 34s 3d. For auction 900 casks are declared.
Olt-C.-There is a plentiful supply of Sperm, and lower
rates have been taken, whilst of 150 tuns at auction, a part
only sold at 831 to 84/ 5s for Colonial, mid
791 IN to 80/ 105, and Headmatter 891 to 90/.
The price of pale Seal Oil has fallen to 304
there having been several arrivals, but at this rate a fair
business has been concluded. Prices for other sorts vary at
from 28/ to 291. In consequence of a limited supply of
Southern an advance has taken place, yet dealers are not
much disposed to do business. At auction 30 tuns sold at
291 103 to 32155.

ISLEWORTH REGATTA.
This regatta, under the immediate patronage of his
Grace the Duke of Northumberland, came off last Satur-
day, and was most fashionably and numerously attended.
His Grace and the Duchess entered the pavilion facing
the river at three o'clock, and were received by the
band playing " Rule Britannia;" a salute of guns, a
peal of bells from the ivy-mantled tower of Islewerth,
and the hearty cheers of a vast assemblage on board two
steamers engaged for the occasion, and the beautiful
State barge of Styles's late of the Goldsmiths' Company.
The races were started with great punctuality, and gave
the utmost satisfaction. Bands of music played in every
direction, and everything around presented a gay and
animated appearance.
The Amateur. Scullers' Match was won by G. P. Ed.
' wards. The Junior Scullers' Match was won by Mr.
Cadogan. The Four-oared Match by the Petrel Club.
The Double-acullers' Prizes—a number of purses given
by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland—by Smith
and Marriner, Turner and Gadney, T. Mackinney and
Higley, and Platt and Coxon, who severally belonged to
four different districts; and a race succeeded amongst
the above-nained, as the respective winners, for another
purse, which was wen by Thomas Mackinney and his
partner. The Apprentices' Match, for a very excellent
new wherry, built by Wentzell, of the Ship, Fore-street,
Lambeth, also generously presented by his Grace the
Duke of Northumberland, was won by Frederick Styles,
of Isleworth, after some very capital rowing.
The prizes were presented by his Grace the Duke of
Northumberland, with appropriate addresses, to each
winner, in the prezence of a number of distinguished
guests entertained by his Grace, who witnessed the sport
from the pavilion, and appeared highly gratified with it.
The committee of management deserves every encomium
for their exertions on this occasion, which were duly
appreciated by all concerned. Everything passed off
very agreeably, and there was a vast assemblage of
company present at the Noble Duke's, on the river, and
on shore.

go,ft
Junehis dlecrleBry
1 s:
TIIE EXETER SYNOD.
The Rev. G. C. Gorham has addressed the fallow-
ng leTttheer
vtojetehreagre7
Berreanindp;o‘
rßdusrpael'k'
Rev. Sir,—You inform me that a meeting of the ru.ri-
decanal chapter of Cadbury, will be held at Cadbury on
Thursday, the 12th inst., " to deliberate on the matters
to be considered at the diocesan synod, and to elect two
representatives at the synod from this deanery."
Even were that synod legal and expedient (on both of
which points I entertain serious doubts), there does not
exist any precedent for constituting that body an dec-
five, and consequently, a representative assembly, so far
as I am aware, and I have looked into the subject with
some carefulness.
With this view of the assumed authority which you,
and the clergymen who may meet together at Cadbury,
propose to exercise, I must not only decline, as a bene-
ficed presbyter of this • diocese, attending your ruri-
decanal chapter to vote for representatives, but I must
solemnly protest against such a proceeding, as tending
to subvert ecclesiastical order, and to create division and
discord at a period when union and harmony are pecu-
liarly desirable. —4 am, Sir, yours faithfully,
G. C. GonHear.
The Rev. N. F. Lightfoot, Dean Rural, Cadbury.
--Western Times.

Notwithstanding the magnificent subscription raised
by the vicar of Rochdale, the loss of the depositors in the
savings bank in twat town, by the rascality of the defaulter
Howarth, will anaount to more than 38,0004 the claims
on the bank, when stopped, were 100,5034—Manchester
Courier

A few days sin ce at ingatestone, a man was digging
in the garden of tore old workhouse, near the church, at the
depth of four feat, ovhen he stubbed on to what appeared an
old barrel drain, btra: which on clearing away proved to be a
coffin made of cane nt ; it contained the remains of a man of
gigantic stature, ti`os thigh bone (now in possession of John
Disney, Esq.) lad nig upwards of two feet in length: the
blade bone was also- :found. From the coffin, which it is con-
jectnred has lain tt let e upwards of I,poo years, 17 bushels cof I
lime were taken... latelrnifird Chronicle.

,of our tonnage; and that the number of her vessels above
1 feet) tons had also decreased during the same period, these
ROUSE OP LORDS June 17. acts, he thought, must show that protection alone was not
sufficient to give encouragement to the mercantile marine of
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool- country. If she still continued to impose protective
that
sack at Five o'clock.
ENCUSIBERED ESTATES IRELAND. duties on raw material and finished articles—if she did not
avail herself of her mineral wealth and of her skill in ship-
The Earl of GLENGALL moved for certain returns build' • g henwoturladdestillf be practically excluded from the
relivin,g to the working of the Encumbered Estates generianic, arsrv*lff
on]
sao tttavrorld. With regard to Po -
Commission in Ireland, and in so doing he would com- tugal, ho would
Bu the case of Spainywasyof
morenNotiattions wee going on.
went upon certain returns which had been recently made.
cation had lately been received from Spain;
The Noble Earl then went into a lone statement, in theuniii
that some satisfactory arrangement would be
it amsrah
Course of which he complained of the practice of that
be comew to. oP:le
court as tending to favouritism, to the disadvantage of agreed that it would be beneficial to Spain to get rid of her
those whose estates were for sale.
restrictive duties, ,which were only of advantage to the
The LORD CH kNCELLOR defended the practice smuggler ; but Spain, by a late revision of her
il
of the Court of Encumbered Estates, which was in con- tariff, had reduced her differential duties from one-third to 1
one-fifth. Spain was a country
sonance with the practice of every ether court in theslow of movement; but it
United Kingdom. In the Court of Ch it could not be acted upon by us without consulting existing
Chancery was the treaties. He now came to the United States, the only
constant practice to give short causesprecedence,and country'
v_
_c
every court took causes in the order hi hto the Court matters; and with respect to its commercial navy, he did
seemed fit.
not deny that it was a disadvantage to us that we were ex-
The Earl of GLENGALL explained. eluded on the long voyage between the western ports of
The motion was then agreed to. America and California; but we were not excluded b the
PETITIONS, repeal of the navigation-laws, and the repeal of these laws
The Earl of LONSDALE presented had opened to us an indirect foreign trade with
a petition from
California.ioria
the shipowners of Whitehaven c 1 • •of There was no doubt that the United States were technically
, Cog the re- right in treating their • •
peal of the nayig,ation-lavvs.
trade with Clifornia as a coasting
The Earl of CARDIGAN presereed apetition trade, as the latter country formed
an integral portion of the
pray- Uuited States. There ing for the repeal of the duty on assent
nces. the repeal of the navigation-laws which had not been
Lord STANLEY presented • •
a petition from certain mentioned—those, for instance,
which enabled our vessels to
attorneys against the Registration of Assurances Bill. carry sorted or mixed ed
carreeisi,aadnndowbich had given rise to
NAVIGATION-LAWS. a new branch of trade. dealtt with the question
Lord STANLEY then presented tie etition of which of reciprocity, and had shown that withw exception of six
he had given notice, from the Shia or P ,
A:Bs . t. n or seven countries we had reciprocity; thate with respect
of the Port of Liverpool, complainit liitoefrtahe evilo cia o
effects to Sweden and Holland we had pefect reciprocity
of the repeal of the navigation-laysg. The petitioners and that with regard to the United States we haci
complained that they were sufferinggreatly from the re- that technical reciprocity which we had a right to claim.
peal of those laws, and that all .injurious The whole question was one of great difficulty, but still
there
,he conse- could be no doubt that if
negotiations failed with the three
quences which they had anticipated had been more than countries to which w he had referred, it would be a matter of
realie d. They did not assert tint the foreign trade consideration
with her Majesty's Government whether they
had not been increased, but the advanta g -
advantage of that in- would not, even at some self-sacrifice, make use of those
crease had been reaped much more oy the foreigner than Powers which Parliament had confided to th I great
by the British shipowner in consecuence of the great commercial country, however, like this them' a a
decrease which had taken place in .he rate of freights, so important as to combine together simplicity
earendwuasnrthi.ng
which to the British shipowner wire now scarcely re- iu all their regulations respecting trade.—e ealjrmity
munerativo. The Noble Lord then entered into when the Noble Lord insinuated that her Majesty's Govern- ,
minute statistical details for the purpose of showing •
ewentet bhad neglectedl entering into negotiations on this sub-
that while the foreign trade had increased the rate of jest,
deifguultdiensottivoid reminding the Noble Lord that there
throwni in thel way of the Government by
freight, and therefore the profit or the shipowner had the example that was
decreased, and that the share if the foreign ship- those who acted with him.—(Hear, Jitehare Nhoble Lord himself, and
owner of the increase had been :rester than the share possible but that foreign Governmen'ts hear.) For
thFor it was ini-
which had accrued to the British shipowner, who had at and powerful party, led by one so disinguishecleyb saitlyi
sa &lilt
first indeed suffered a decrease, &though latterly he had ties as the Noble Lord himself', and heard then?' declaring-
had an increase. They also com)lained of the peculiar that every interest was going to ruin in consequence of the
changes that had been made—it was impossible, he said, for
burdens to which they were subjelted; among these was foreign Governments to hear such statements made without
the stamp duty on marine assurances, which he thought an impressionhf being proeuced upon them.—(l.lear.) And
ought to be removed, as it drov) merchants to insure abroad ; another burden was the extravagant fee
reeveeonuetileousguhehorsetifftneinGeofrni?tellitsthmight find it difficult to
charged by British consuls in foreign ports. They also perity that England enjoyed,w and with
notorietyfextension
e of
frhista-
complained that officers in ;the navy were authorised commerce, which they themselves witnessed, still these
to receive a pecuniary reward fee the salvage of mer- statements must iefluence them, must make them slower to
chant vessels, and also to the elcouragement given to enter into new arrangements, because they did not first know
seamen to enter from the march:int ships into her Ma- what changes might be made in the commercial policy of
jesty's service. They also complained that while the this country, when the party from whom such statements
emanated came into power.—(Cheers.) As to the United
vessels of Spain, France, and ;ho United States were
had been
and he charges in their tariff to which reference
admitted to rho ports of this country on the same
footing as British ships, our ships were not
that it wasthmatu
unitbedensmtaatese,ahheowcoeudld only say what occurredf in the
admitted to the ports of Spain, France, and the United when in opposition to embarrass seise-trade
etieGrovoreranuipaernt
States on the some footing. an advertisement issued than to re-enact protective duties when it came itself into
during the past week by a steart-packet company trading power.--(Cheers and laughter.) He referred to several
to Antwerp placed this matter in its true light. This returns to show that their shipping trade had increased
advertisement said— " Shippers are respectfully informed in every way, and pointed to the example of such men
that as this vessel is under a Belgian flag, they will have as Mr. Lindsay, of Liverpool, Mr. Duncan, of
()Taber, and Mr. Wigram, who had predicted the most
an advantage of 15 per cent. of the duties levied in Bel-
glum by shipping on board this vessel." Thus shipper*
option
nus laws,con s consequences
htaod themselvesi
i
were induced to repudiate the British flag, to deny their I
opened new branches of csonmcme
ereeen.ineiasase their trade, and
He also referred to the
nationality, and to accept the Belgian flag. What had great increase in the buildidg of iron ships in the Thames,
Spain done? Why, the table of duties levied by the the Clyde, and the Mersey, and to the statement madeb
Span;sh tariff of 1849 actually imposed differential duties 11r. Anderson before a Committee of the other House, that
ou produce brought by all foreign vessels, British in- .itch was the prosperity of the shipwrights that it would be
eluded, of from 50 to 100 pet cent. But France was impossible to procure any one engaged in the trade to bind
ehnself by contract to have an iron vessel built within a
even worse, for she strictly adhered to her old restrictiv
system as rigorously as we ourselves did befero 1849 certain. period. The Legislature, he said, must go on in the 'd Fro o course it had commenced—thet ofencoura n the r ,
i bulk
Consequently, while from any ?art of the wort a • ,
,f the community, and not particular gg
He eat
vessels could bring any goods to this country on *Kluft)
to show that mor British shipping was classes.owm l wase able
terms with our own vessels, to British ship was per. serrnerly that there was a greater demand forpoldr than
witted to take into the port of France a single ton of ping; that the shipowners ship.me
foreign goods, except from the country in which the 3 out that the shipwrights were in a singularly prosperous con-
were produced, or rather he believed they were not per- atiou. It was no answer to him to tell him that the freights
mitted to introduce any foreige produce whatever. 1-1, •iad been lowered, for that was part ot his case. Meer.)
knew one instance where a British merchant, at Lb. He did not think either that it was an answer to him
Brazils, had a cargo of hides to send to France. He hue t U tell him that the shipowners were complaining of great
tietress. No one had a greater respect than he lead for the
a British yew' iu the port belmging to the house wilt
hippeintg interest,er but still he said that in adopting such lan-
which he was connected, and which would have takes •
the cargo for twenty ti ht Ili o g s a toil less than the Frenct.
etumagmonhezitwh
eeveursyinfthaecronoveeeuntisotnfoanl term—that which was
vessels in the port were demanding, but in cons,.
porous. He rejoiced, therefore,) that' tehivsendetf!iaetemhost pros-
taken
quence of the French navigation-laws, he was cone place, and he rejoiced in it the more because the Noble pelted to ship the cargo in a French vessel at the higher in presenting the petition laid before them had not e Lord
allowed
rate of freight, although the cargo was his own, and a word to fall from him which could lead the shi i
the vessel was his own, and although a French yes- terest to hope that there was the slightest chanceonig thissel could have taken a similar cargo to Englane country ever going back to the pernicious delusion of
the
without any obstacle. Was that the amount of recipro- navigation-laws.—(Cheers.)
The Earl of HARDIVICKE had, he said,
city they had a right to expect, and which they were
been entrusted
told they should obtain if they passed the Act of 1849? with petitions from the shipowners of several ports—from
But it was said there was one country which had give!,
Dartmouth,e
et London,
effect and sod e Sunderland, which were to the
us full reciprocity. The law of the United States samead-
their Lordships. upon.He did notsame subject that was now before
mitted the ships of any country on exactly the same
petitions,
the details of thesefeel it necessary to enter into
as they were the same in sub-
terms on which United States vessels were received in stance with that presented by his Nobls
the ports of each country. He admitted that as far as endeavour to make Some reply to
the Friend. He would
admirable speech
the letter went they had received perfect reciprocity which had been made by the , oble Lord orpposite. He did
from the United States. But we had thrown open to not think, from the speech of the Noble Lo
them the trade with our colonies, for which they had owners could hope that her Majesty's Governmentdthat the ship-
given us no reciprocal advantage. It might be said the make use, in dealing with the question of reeroe .wt would
United States had no colonies, but at least they had one those powers that the Act of Parliament had t'onnideYa toot.
distant possession which virtually stood in the position them. He had never heard a speech less calculated to raise
of a colony. Instead, however, of acting up to the the spirits of a drooping interest than that which bad been
spirit of the law, they insisted that the trade between delivered by the Noble Lord.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble
California and the Atlantic ports of the union was a Lord had told them that the Government was endeavouring
coasting trade, and that as we had retained our coasting
ttott.iengothiaateifwith foreign powers, but he held out no expec-
trade it was only fair that they should retain theirs, thainiog
fort tale thesesh negotiations should fail he would do any-
Now what was a coasting trade? It was trade between experiment—a dainiDgPelaroguslate
interest.—(Hear,
ashear.LeHerieth an
port and port of the same country performed entirely great and a wealthy country,P which would mhave wbroken
through the waters belonging to that country. The down a country if weak, or poor, or embarrassed. It wan
Atlantic seaboard of the United States was far like taking a large handful of gold from a huge mass—the
larger than ours, but perfect reciprocity was main- loss was not immediately perceived, as it would be if the
twined, although they retained the trade between same amount had been taken from a small hoard of treasure.
Boston and New Orleans as much as when we Let them compare what had occurred with other countries
retained the trade between Leith and London. in consequence of the change that had been made. Taking
But they Could by no principle of interpretation tthhee three months osiths.ending in May for
had increased
rl Beseln,
cent.,
e wfohufnl found
call the trade with California a coasting trade
. France had hdrielasnged 19 per gent. onlyln the') outwar'd trade
where the voyage was of four or five months duration, during the same period the increase of British shipping was
and passed through waters which not even American 8 per cent., Franca 13 per cent. The increase in the inward
pretensions could claim as belonging to the United trade (as we understood) was British 21, Russia 340, Sweden
States. But that was not the only point in which the 192, Norway 119, Prussia 141. Outward, British 8, Norway
United States withheld reciprocity. American built yes- 127, Holland 111, and so it was with every other nation.
sels were allowed to obtain English registers, but the
They had increased their clearances in an infinitely greater
United States would not allow a vessel built at Liverpool, ratio than England lead.—(HeErt, hear.)nda W hat was their
or at Halifax, or Quebec, to receive a United States re- position inf reiefspehcet tnoavtlrattrfoandelwawah?l
Why, andC
the hwinhaolprior to
gister. The Noble Lord then proceeded to contend that might
hrtepea t
be said to be entirely in their own hands. ue ttrat g
the
under the existing arrangements, American vessels were g
of those laws enabled America to do what she could
enabled to pass from California to East India or China, repeal
never do before. She carried on an enormous trade—first,
and thence to Liverpool with a cargo, and afterwards to between New York and California— then, between Cali-
New York; and the result was that the American vessels, fornia to China—and then between China and Liver-
having entered into competition with the British vessels, pool. The freight she obtained from New York to Cali-
were enabled to make three distinct voyages for two fornia paid the whole expense of
the
ship, the cost of
taken by the British vessel. He was told that freight building, and the equipmenthenea osfhethweaysoeynaagheied She then
had fallen to an enormous extent in consequence of this started
low
China,fromand
)endedw them at Liverpool;to being
unfair competition. They had the power under the 10
enabled
freight,wtorce the British shipping out of this eneolir:
and 11 clauses of the 12th and 13th of the Queen, to ti'
mous trade. The American ships could obtain at that mo-
impose duties on the ships of such foreign countries as meet from 6/. to 10/. a ton freight fiorn New York to Cali-
, did not reciprocate with them in respect to the commer fornia, while the British ship in her voyage from Liverpool
cial policy pursued by this country. They had now an ex- to California and India could only obtain from 20s. to 255. a
Noble Friend said that the repeal of the na-
perience of the effect of the alteration of the navigation- ton. When his
laws for the last 18 months, and he wished to ask the vigation-laws had not improved the American shipping he
Government what they had done in the way of taking (lid not seem to be aware of what was going on in Arne-
'
advaetage of the in reference to the extraordinary trade with California powers which they possessed by the rice
Act to which he referred, to oblige foreign nations to The stimulush
given to the building trade of America
as to thus
astonish every one. When first the trade
reciprocate with them in their commercial policy? fle
ewiatsh San Francisco was opened the American ship-holders
heard that morning that within the last three or four
days an American vessel, on reaching Liverpool, was employed nearly the whole of their ships by freighting
them to San Francisco. At present there were 600 of their
informed by the authorities of the Custom-house that ships at California. and 600 mere were employed in the
20 per cent. differeutial duties would be imposed upon whaling and coasting trades. The year before last the
built about 1,100 ships, and there were in the
her. Now, he should be glad to know what instruc Americans
required last year 1,100 on the stocks. This great increase in . the
Lions had been given? Tne Act of Parliament
by the combined
that notification should be given in two successive shipping trade ofAmerica. as occasioned
in council should be action of the Californian trade and the enormous advantages
London Gazettes, and that the order
laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament. The co iferred upon them by the repeal of the navigation laws.
name of the vessel which he was referring to was the It was impossible that the British shipping could long
Hortense. He thought there must be some mistake, buy against such a state of things. By a documentbuy
he had no doubt, now that he had mentioned the case, which he held in his hand it appeared the outfit of a British
ship for a long voyage amounted to 2,174 L, and the amount
the Noble Earl (Granville) would make inquiries as to of its outward trade only to 7941., leaving a balance of about
1,300/, against her. Such a state of things if permitted to
the accuracy of the information which he had received.
continue would assuredly involve this country in difficulties
His object in ceiling attention to this subject was to
show to the House the enormous disadvantage to which much more
in serious than ever it was in before . It was al-
the British commercial marine was subjected e con-e- ways the opinion of their ancestors that these laws were of a
quence of the absence of reciprocity on the part of for- defensive character, and the repeal of them they very well
reign powers, and also for the purpose of asking her knew was unsought for and unasked by the people of this
Majesty's Government how long they intended this country.
_
state of things to continue, and whether they intended Earl GREY could not help congratulating the Noble
to impose on foreign powers such restrictions as would
Earl opposite upon the admission that the alteration of
compel them to do justice, nothing more than justice, the navigation laws was calculated to give a great
Stimulus to the commerce of the world. If it had done that, he
and to enable this country to obtain fair competition, and
nothing more, between foreign vessels and the vessels of
thought it followed pretty clearly that the first commercial
his count r nation in the world could not fail to receive its full share of
y.—(llear.)
the traffic. Individual cases of great difficulty and ember-
rassment might no doubt be found; but upon a rest Earl GRANVILLE said that the petition which had just
tion of that kind, they must look to the general result
show
q -aes
been presented by the Noble Lord stated that the shipping
fththaet
interest of this country the shipowners generally were not extending their business.
was not able, without protection, to
whole. The Noble Earl, then, did not attempt to
compete with the foreigner ; and that their difficulties were As it had been truly stated by his Noble Friend, there was
much increased by the want of reciprocity on the part of one shipownteor
thaleonneumwbheor
usually
din a single year added nine
foreign powers. But as the NoblelLord had laid most stress n.aorrle shipsha spoken of the employed,extraordinary
The Noble
results in
upon the question of reciprocity he (Earl Granville) would 1
the trade of the world by the • opening of and
take that first ; and he would begin by reminding their Lord- by the sudden creation of a large community in California,thatpart
ships that when the navigation-laws were repealed 2 years
of the world. No doubt very great effects had be
pro-
ago the Legislature did not repeal a law which was common duced by this Califbrnian trade, and America of course,
to all countries, bust one which, with constant modification, reaped the first advantages by the increase of their freightst
had been first instituted in this country about two hundred to that part of the world. In the eculiar •tu nation in
years ago, and that the example of this country had, to a which she was placed in reference to California,t was no
greater or lesser extent, been followed by seven other nations.h
doubt most difficult for any other countr
Y to compete with
As soon as that law was repealed it became the duty of er
her in that trade. But he was unable to understand
Majesty's Government to communicate with Sweden, Hol- that circumstance affected the question of the nevi-
land, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and the United
gation laws. He (Earl Gre -), h , believed that this
States of America, upon the question. In the case of Sweden
country had shared in the le) owever
enefits of the Californian trade.
she at once consented to remove the restrictions upon our na-
If they could believe the ordi
nary information which they
vigation, and Holland, too, proposed to meet us in a liberal
received, no inconsiderable number of English vessels had
spirit ; but negotiations went off because she was anxious to
gone to California. It appeared
by the last accounts re-
retain certain privileges with regard to her colonial trade.
ceived from that place,
,that.. out of 8,300 tons of shipping
He was happy to state, however, that within the last fort- that had recently beenalf to California, no less than B,aoo were
night communication had been received (rein that country
British, and one-h of the remainder were American.
to the effect, that reserving her coasting trade she was ready .
There was no doubt that America had a superior advantage
to admit our vessels to an equal participation in her foreign
over British ships in
the trade with California, but in cense-
and colonial trade.--(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord referred
quence of that trade she withdrew a large portion of the
to that excellent work, " Bradshaw." He (Earl Granville)
shins which had been previously employed in the Brazils,
remembered hearing an old lady had once advised her son to New s
a.
pun'i and other countries, and their places were imme-
read " Bradshaw" at Oxford instead of the first six books of
diatel
Euclid.—(A laugh.) It was quite true that English goods
regulations
by British ships. He at once admitted that
ations maintained both by France and Spain were
carried by Belgian vessels into Belgian ports paid a duty not thecontragr
of 15 but of 10 per cent., but it was equady true that we contrary
hado every principle of fairness,. and of which this
country a great. right to complain. lie thought, too,
levied 20 per cent, on Belgian vessels carrying Belgian goods
that te
entering our ports. He next came to France. That country
.._.h
their were entitled to adopt say measure consistent
interest in order to meet these unjust ever since the time of Louis XIV. had protected its mer- with
ceedings- With regard to these regulations, they
pro-
cantile marine. But though the /Preach Government were
. . were not only to consider whether France and Spain had
so hampered with protective duties and commercial re-
acted fairly but also whether they affected
towards them,
striction they bad assured her Majesty's Government that
this country as much as they a eff cted the countries that had
they would meet our a ivances in the most liberal
hand
adopted them. And on the otherhey were called
spirit. The last communication received
from France
whether they would, by ret 1.
liven to consider
a ratory
offered some considerable concessions, and negotiations on
ourselves than t
measures, do more harm to .
to
those coun-
this subject wre still pending. If they considered the
trues. The Noble Lord opposite said thatwhen the r •
harbours
extent and riches of France—the excellent bar she
tor• t / duced into the Bill, it etalia-
possessed—the scientific skill of her people in building y clause were in re) Was with the
t the Government were to
vessels, and the general intelligence of her inhabitants— (.1
uhersandingtha
given them in epposi i have made use
o to
that for the last 2)0 years she had been protecting ner mer- t the
e ipowerfhe (thus Earl Grey) remembered right such regula-
cantile marine; then if we looked a, her official reports, and distinctlylions.
that these clauses were intro, it was stated
duced • h h
saw that within the last 15 years the increase in her vessels ..
if .
le t that it were found that *4911 211. with LAS
under 200 t 903 had not been the 176th part et the iuoreese w- c-- -
Ts Were really

suffering in the competition with the ships of other coun-
tries, in consequence of the adoption by them of such re-
gulations, those powers were to be employed. They merely
reserved to themselves the power, in case they found it
advantageous to themselves, to give effect to those retaliatory
clauses against foreign nations. With regard to Spain, the
grievance was that high differential duties were imposed
upon the importation of all commodities, if imported in
British ships, instead of their own national ships. The effect
of such a regulation was, no doubt, highly injurious to
trade. But to whom was it injurious? The British ship-
owner now and again, perhaps, lost a good voyage; but, as
the Noble Lord stated, the whole trade of Spain was, after
all, so inconsiderable, that it was really a matter of very
little consequence to the shipping interest of Great Britain.
Thanks to her restrictive system that Spain carried on such
a petty and insignificant trade with all the world. But what
could this country do? They might interpose countervailing
duties upon goods going to Spain from this country in
Spanish ships. What would be the result of such a course?
Why, they would simply put an end to trading between the
two countries altogether, which would be a serious injury to
our own manufacturers and merchants, and stimulate the
trade of the smuggler to a great extent. France maintained
absurd restrictions. She refused to receive even the produce
of her own colonies if iaported in English ships. The prac-
tical operation of this was, that the French merchant
and manufacturer, if afforded every opportunity of buy-
ing cheap cotton and indigo in London, were prevented
from doing so if he was compelled to ship it on board
an English ship. If there was an English ship lying
in the Baltic, and that a cheap cargo of timber and
hemp could be then obtained, the French ship-builders could
not take advantage of the circumstance, to the serious injury
of the latter. The loss to the English shipowner was the
loss of an occasional voyage; but the loss to the French was
the deprivation of the enormous advantage of obtaining the
raw material for carrying on their trade in the best and the
cheapest manner. In the same way as regarded the colonial
trade. It was not permitted by the French law to carry any
commodities between France and their colonies, nor from
other countries into the French colonies in British ships.
The effect was that the few French colonies, in spite of
their enormous expenditure to bolster them up, were drag-
ging on a miserable existence. There was Algeria, for
instance—a territory highly endowed by nature, upon which
millions had been expended by France. Every year it was
the source of an enormous expenditure. That country that
was great in the time of the Roman empire, and was one of
the most productive portions of the civilized world—that
enormous territory, instead of making any progress like our
own colonies, was but a source of expense to France. Were
they then to punish France by saying that French vessels
should not carry any commodities into our own colonies?
This would be but a trifling injury to the French shipowner
because he was already excluded by a competition against
which he could not make head, in the carrying trade to our
colonies ; but it would be, so far as our colonies were con-
cerned, to deprive them occasionally of the opportunity of
obtaining at the cheapest rate commodities which a French
ship, under accidental circumstances, might be enabled
to convey. The competition between the British
shipowner and the French and Spanish shipowners
might be compared to a race between the hare and the
tortoise. He found by a reference to the official accounts
that the French mercantile and commercial navy in 1839
numbered only one ship exceeding 800 tons burden. In
1849, that one solitary 800-ton ship had disappeared from
the list of the French commercial navy. In that year
France possessed altogether five ships exceeding GOO tons,
and carrying a collective tonnage of 3,760 tons. In 1850
this French navy possessed still those five Ships exceeding
600 ton burdens, but they then only carried 3,609 tons, being
a diminution of nearly 160 tons. His Noble Friend had re-
ferred to the case of Mr. Lindsay, who had added nine ships
to the number he had usually employed. Why this one gen-
tleman possessed in one year nearly three times as many first
class ships as the French possessed altogether. Such
being the case, to talk of competition between the English
and the French mercantile marine in the general trade of
the world was most absurd. With regard to the direct trade
between France and England, retaliatory measures could
have no effect. If they were to imitate France, and to es-
tablish the same sort of restrictions in trade, they would de-
stroy all legitimate trade with France, but no advaii tage
would be gained thereby to our own shipowners. He thought
it would be much better to follow that wise policy which e
had adopted in respect to other commercial matters. Ott lh ate y years they had altered the duties payable by foreign countries
for foreign produce in reference to our own interest exclu-
sively. It was generally received as an axiom that none of
our restrictions could be removed until a pledge had been
given to this country that a similar course would be pursued
by other countries. That impressioe, however, must have
been removed when an Hon. Friend of his - he meant Mr.
Ricardo—had brought forward a motion in the House of
Commons on two occasions, for the removal or these
restrictions, without reference to anything that any other
nation would do. That lion. Member had then
exposed, with the greatest success, the fallacy of the motion
upon which it was supposed these Bills were founded.
He certainly did not succeed in inducing the other House
to lay down any formal resolution; but he bad ft., ns that
time removed such an impression from the public mind by
showing that in the administration of the late Sir H. Peel,
that Eight Hon. Baronet had acted more upon the principle
of making our own relaxation of duties utterly irrespective
of what any foreign nation did in this respect. The result of
these measures had been beyond measure most successful.
For a quarter of a century before this country was engaged
in endless negotiations with other countries in order to rid of restrictions upon trade that were injurious to get
both.
Instead of making any progress towards that end by those
negotiations, these restrictions were rather multiplied. Since
that time had not their commerce made great and un-
paralleled advances, such as it had never before made? but
more than that, foreign nations were beginning to
follow in their footsteps All foreign countries
were tending to the reduction of those duties which
were destructive of their trade. The alternative presenting
itself to those nations which refuse to follow in that
course is, to be left far behind in the general race of
competition of the nations of the civilized world d tat
consideration, they might depend on it, would produces ts
natural result with the nations. No doubt, in
France, public opinion had hitherto been averse to making
changes of that description ; but they must remember that
their navigation restrictions are so intimately connected with
their general commercial restrictions—the system was so in-
geniously absurd, and at the same time so complicated,
that it was impossible to touch one part of it without the
whole fabric falling to the ground. Was it possible that a
people like the French would not open their eyes to what
was going on around them, and, comparing the progress of
their country with that of their neighbours,
flourishing mercantile marine perceive that acan only be formed on the
basis of a flourishing commerce, the state of the one being
the natural result of the state of the other. The whole com-
merce of France was languishing under the present restric-
tive system. Let them test it by the amount of tonnage
of all ships, foreign and national, coming from foreign
ports into France during a given period, and let them
apply the same test to England to see the progress
made in each country during the last few years. He
would commence with 1842, the first year in which we
began to relax our restrictive system, and end with 1843, the
last year that he had the opportunity of making the com-
parison. In France, then, the total amount cleared out-
wards in 1842 was 3,247,003 tons ; in 1849 it was 3,375,4 00
tons, being an increase of only 128,000 tons, or not quite
4 per cent. in seven years. In England, in 1842, the total
was 7,347,000 tons ; and in 1849 it was 12,620,000 tons, the
increase being 5,273,000 tons, or 71 per cent. within those
seven years. [A NoBLE LORD - "There was no revolu-
tion here.") fiNo; but the year 149 showed rather
favourably for France, for after the erection of the
President of the Republic confidence was restored, and
trade made a great spring in that year ; but in and
the year 1849 was not so favourable either as the year
1850 or as the present year. The results of the famine in
Ireland and of the railway The results
in England had not
yet cleared away, and 1849 could not be considered a pros-
perous year in this country. But let them apply the test
of the state of the manufactures of the courtry In England
every description of manufactures was busily and rapidly
progressing; their railway conemunications were heMg
speedily completed upon a gigantic scale of construction,
and
fixed capital was invested in public works of immense im-
portance. In France, on the other hand, they had nothing
but stagnation ; railway communication was advancing but
slowly to completion, and that slow advance was mainly es-
sisted by the state; no public works were carried on by
private companies, and stagnation was pervadinvery
branch of industry. ores that a state of things that France
was likely long to submit to? Would her people not inquire
into the causes of it, and trace it tu the restrictions pieced on
her cominerce? Though in the home markets the manufac-
turer might be compensated for the restrictions imposed on
him by protective duties, there was no means of protecting
the manufacturer of Lyons silks, or the aisle grower of Bor •
deaux, from the competition ,o' the foreign producer of cor-
er-fides, in the markets of the world. Tee
responding
English manufacturer reaped the advantage of the restric-
tions imposed on the Fre ch pr ducer by his own Govern-
ment, which enhanced to hint the cost of his motive steam
power, his iron, indigo, and other raw materials, the in-
creased cost of which was so far an injury to the
French producer to which the English manufacturer
was not subjected. Those were facts which would sooner or
later be understood by Ste people of France; and it was not
by following the present erroneous example of that country
that they could induce her to remove those res
which did most injury to her own manufacturestrictions .
If h
wished to retard the progress of France he would desire the
continuance of those commercial restrictions; but he dil not
look upon that country with an eye of commercial Jealousy;
he knew that in the markets of the world there was sufficient
demand for the produce of both
countries and certain he
was that it was a wise policy in us to wait with nc
until a change of views took place in France on
those t
m ieate
-
ters, and to abstain from any measure of retaliation until we
saw practically that we were suffering from the competition
of that country, and that the retaliatory measures they
might adopt would be calculated to relieve their own fellow_
subjects from any disadvantages to which they might have
been unfairly exposed.
The Ea-1 of COLCHESTER said that as both the Noble
Lords (Granville and Grey) admitted that the vexatious
character of the restrictions existing ia France arose from
want of reciprocity, he hoped when the proper time arrived
they would be prepared to act up to that opinion.
The subject then dropped.
On the mot en of the Marquis of LANSDOWN
Schools' Sites Act Amendment Bill was read a secon E, the
d titne
Adjourned.

THE BALLOT.
subjectM r ilo
f.' the
N S.
BERKELEYbilotuntilpTosutepsodnaeyd,
thheisBtmhootfiodnul7 the
Mr. HERRIES gave notice thet on Tuesday hehzetr he
should move an address to her Majesty, Prayings
would
take such measures with regard to foreign ports a
of
be most fitting to carrying into effect the provisions v the navigation-laws.
HARWICH ELECTION.
Mr. BA.NKES moved that the petition which he had..h
w
presented on the subject
of this election be printed It the votes.
qSuotedir DEt LACY EVANS opposed the motion,
end
he speech of Sir Robert Peel on a similar that
occa-
sion, who 'bad objew•ed to this course on the ground
Ilse minds of Floe. Members appointed to try the ques-
tion
in Co mrnittee would be prejudiced,
of
...inti-
midation Mr. 1141,Y I'ER said the petition complained
at the election, and was very much
of 1 nature of an election petition.
Mr. BiIsNKES should press his motion to a
division.
The CIitINCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER appre-
hended hended that there would be no objection to printing
petition if it were not intended to take any
further dis-
cussion ou it.
An HO N. MEMBER put it to the S )esker to say whe-
ther it wets right to receive thiq petition.
'
Mr. BiLNKES said it had already been received.
Mr. Mr. EII:TME suggested that the
matter had better u
referred t o a Committee.
Mr. V. SMITE could not understand what necessity
a
there was for printing the petition, it it was not intended
to take ary further discussion upon it.
Mr. BA.NKES said the petition imputed misconduct
to the Government, and it ought to be p rinted.
Sir G. GREY did not think the House could. allow the petition to printed if it were not intended
to found a motion upon it.
questionM
rßjl3;hiaGt liwras
said the
the heHocuosnesicdoeuraldtionn of
otdiasccusos:
mittee. Now, the election referred to in this p w
etition
_e
was now before a Committee; and what, therefore, hi
the use of printing the petition?
the llicro.bDe
ili,erNr
aCt
iAo
n of saidNtbo
the
General t it ion
Committeewo uld comeof un d.er
Elections
to-morroi v, and no doubt it would be ordered tobe
printed.
Mr. n
B. i.
pressN l i E
his 3 said,mioun ondtera
The mutton was accordingly withdrawn.
ST. ALBANS ELECTION.
thesedivisiocni. reumstannes be
would
Mr. Id EADLAbd presented a petition from William
Prescott, an elector of the borough of St.
praying the House not to discharge Henry Edwards
1 from custody until he had been subjected to an examine'
tion such as should be sufficient to disclose the extensive
system of bribery which had long prevailed in elections
at St. Alb<ans.
Mr. SPOONER, in rising to make the motion of
_
which he bad given notice to discharge Henry Edwards
from Newgate, adverted to his petition as being maul: ported by evidence, and not deserving of having
Mu
cient weight attached to it to prevent the re-
lease of Henry Edwards. That gentleman now came
before the House in a position of contrition, he acknow-
ledged his participation in the original offence of with-
drawing
the witnesses from the Committee, buthe
maintained he had no share in keeping them
away from this country. He had been in prison nine
weeks, and his affairs were getting into the greatest dis-
order, and under those circumstances, though he (Mr'
Spooner) would be the last man to defend the practices
of Mr. Edwards, yet he thought he had suffered enough
to expiate his offence.
Mr. FORBES seconded the motion.
In answer to a question from Mr. BANKES,
The SPEAKER said It would not be competent for
any Hon. Member to put a question to Mr. Edwards
wte n brought before the bar. Mr. MIME said that a Bill being under the con-
sideration of the House for the investigation of the case
of bribery at St. Albans, he thought it was premature
of
to ask for the discharge Mr. Edwards.
The
House that its authority had been set at nought
by the agency or Mr. Edwardi. The witnesses
who had been taken away were still living at
Boulogne, and that too with a person named Edwards
and he should liko to know whether that gentleman was
any relation of the Mr. Edwards now in eustely.
Afer a few words from Sir G. GREY and Mr. Ax-
STET the House divided, when there appsared—
For the motion... ••• •••
Against it ... •••
Majority against the motion
CEYLON.
Mr. FIUME wished to esk th e Under-Secretary for the
Coleniei when the proceedings sent by mistake from Ceylon,
and connected with the court,-martial, would b alaid on th
table?r. HAWES said the reports of the Commissioners ap-
pointed to inquire into the allegations in the Affidavits 124t1
been laid on the table. but the evidence on which
p,,rts were founded had not yet been roduced,bectahuosseetrhee-
p roilcrer.e dßi nAgisLhLaidEneostk)e'de t
While
ye been
hey returned.
had
produced,
been returned, and
when the Ilon. Gentleman expected to rielcbeive them?
ampton bad not yet arrived, by which, in all
Mr. HAWES said that the Indian ma
bbrilAngLfoTr TAX. y way of South-
proceedings bad been sent. probability, the
Mr. BASS then rosTentoE
he had given notice, for tehevrepeal
bOacrtloeybearnldo,thleBeso2e,ewelitehr
of
fabieez woafrdhathlfetmheotimonelot-ftawxhiocnh
to relieve the producer of
that his proposal would not interfelsr.
mate loss to the revenue. iethwolutth mthaeterfiianlanacnidalularti..-
e said the House would perceive
rangements of the present year. In bringing that proposal
bbaetrbraressththe
Government had himself
ellGeoTearibtzanstr.fotThhies intention in any way tofemh-
the reduction of the malt-tax, reduction of the
of
expressed an opinion in favour
Noble Lord. at the head of the
to the opinions f tax. The Hon. Member then referred
o several lion. Members on the subject of
Member for the West Riding, as the head of the Free-
traders to and appealed to the Hon.
, say whether it was consistent with free trade
to dive relief to foreign producers and at the same time
obstinately to resist. the reduction of the duty on an
article of the North R dom
Memberestic production. The Hon. ember for.
had stated that iding had informed them that Sir Robert Peet
whenever the corn- shoul be reat
it would be the duty of the House to
remove also
3the pmealeta_
tax. A remarkable pamphlet was published in 186
imme-
diately after the celebrated Comrnitteeonagricultural distress,
and one of the assertions in it was that the enormous amount
for protection
of the duty on malt was one of the principal grounds upon
which agriculturists could rest their
claini
had, how-.
that. he be-
against foreign competition. That protection sat that sv
ever, been abolished. He , had been told t as a
mere brewers' motion. Now, he could say
lieved the few brewers who had expressed an opinion upon
it were opposed to it ; and he had received various coat-
munications from maltsters who were decidedly against i
hl t to t.
There was another part cf that pamphlet
statede Which
he
had already referred, in which it i.that "it
was impossible not to admit that the reduction of the
malt duty would cause an increased demand fur barley, and
would operate most beneficially for the
culturists." That assertion was as true now as it was at the
time at which it had been made. He might be met with
statements that the reduction of the malt tax would not be
productive of so many benefits as it might be supposed.
The lion. Member for North Warwickshire, however, had,
he thought, answered that assertion, for he had shown that
all the variations in the consumption of malt had originated
in bad harvests, general distress throughout the country, and
other causes, which he would not then enumerate.
There
was as great a disposition to consume beer in this country
now as ever there had been. The consumption, indeed, had
decreased somewhat for some years after 1836, because other
articles had been brought into competition with it ; but in
the middle of the last decennial period a considerable in-
crease had again occurred. In 1847 the amount of malt
consumed bad been 4,385,000 quarters, while last year it
had reached 5,350,0(10. There was a great alte-
ration, moreover, in the tatty of the public of late which
did not tend to increase the consumption, for in gene-
ral light descriptions of beer were preferred to that
more solid and intc.xicating beverage which was formerly
popular. There was a decline also in the price of articles
which entered into competition with beer, while in its price

ROUSE OF COMMONS, June 17,
ST. ALBAN'S BRIBERY COMMISSION BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday)
On our return to the gallery,
Mr. MILES was objecting to the provision confer-
ring upon the Lord Chief Justice the power of as
the commissioners.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL utplained that the
precedent of the Sudbury case had been followed.
Mr. BANKES did not think this was a satisfactory
principle. The case of St. Albans would htereafter be-
come a precedent, as the Sudbury eiection was, and thus
they would go on increasing the number of bad prece-
dents.
Mr. STUART objected to the powers given to the
Commissioners, which made them both prosecutors and
judges. The rights and privileges of the electors were
disregarded; and the Attorney and Solicitor-General in
supporting the Bill were acting in a manner utterly op-
posed to the opinions of Lord Denman and Sir R. Peel,
as expressed upon similar occasions. All he wished for
was fair play, and an assurance that none but guilty
persons should suffer and that every person should have
the opportunity of defending himself.
The clause was then rgreed to.
Clauses
agreed t 0.3, 4,5, 6,7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, were then
The remainin
preamble g clauses were also agreed to, and
tbes
having been assented to, the Chairman was
directed to retort the Bill to the House.
The /louse resumed, and th,, Chairman repor. s
tcad
am mded.
ac he
and the Bill was ordered to be printed

4
... 133

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