The Sun.
London, England, 1804-06-21 00:00:00

CORN LAWS.

The House then went into a Committee on the
Bill for the alteration of the Corn Laws, Sir
CHARLES BUNBURY in the Chair.

Mr. WESTERN stated the, grounds on which the
alteration was proposed in the Committee to which
it was referred. He said, that since 179 r, when
the Bounty was regulated,. matters were greatly
changed ; that the charges in Agriculture had pro.
digiously increased, and that labour was one.third
dearer. The difference in the Poor Rates was ano.
ther motive. In 5790, they were 2,129,0001.: in
1803, they were 5,128,0001. The alterations the
Committee have recommended were put into the
form of Resolutions,_ and it was recommended that
the Bounty on the Importation of Grain and Flour
should. be regulated by the average price in the
twelve Maritime Counties of England, and the four
Maritime Counties of Scotland.

Mr. P ATIESQN entered much at large into the
subjed of these Resolutions. He said that the argil.:
ment drawn from the increased price of labour was
only temporary in its application. The numerous en."
closures, and the men at this titne employed in
the public service, occasioned an accidenal increase,
which, however, should not affed an'y permanent re-
gulation. He applied a similar principle to the pre-
sent magnitude of the Poor.rates, and of the price of
Stock and Utensils. Grain was not the only objed,
Pasture was a very in-iportant one ; and while we
were enlarging the Bounty, we were enabling fo-
feigners to eat our Corn at a cheap rate, and render-
ing some of the most essential articles of subsistence
dear in our own Country. He then supported this
argument by calculation. Mutton, which was before
at +d. was now at Bd. ; butter at 365. a firkin, was
now at 685.; arid chFse had increased to the enor-
mous price of r cos. to t6oL, The Hon. Member
then entered into a comparative view of the price
of wheat for the last sa. years, and said, that the
depression of the price implied in the Resolutions
was not correct. He t• xt adverted to the miscon-
ception arising from the assertion, that within a
few years 30,000,0001. had been paid for Corn im-
ported. The fad was, that in favourable years
the exportation amounted to 600,0001. or 700,000!.
in value. He explained that the increased popula-
tion, by occasioning a greater interior demand, had
lessened the exportation. Our potteries in Stafford.
shire, our steel manufadories, our immense cotton
establit,oments, and our vast trading and commercial
concerns in various ways, multiplied and. magnified
since the year 1765, had found ample and profitable
employment fur this increased population, so that
the diminution of the export from this cause was not
to be regretted.
Sir JOHNWRoTTESLEY justified several of the Re-
solutions in the Report ; adverted to Ireland, as af.
feted by them, and said, that, the object was not to
make new laws, but merely to vary those already in
existence.

Mr. STANHOPE ohjeded to an average of all
the districts becoming the criterion of the price of
Export; and thought it should be regulated by the
price of particular districts, for such distrids.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did
not think it necessary, in the present state of the
question, to entei into any minute discussion. The
point, however, last adverted to, deserved immediate
notice. The general object was to equalize the price
of Corn, and this was now more easily and more
cotnpletely effeaed than at former periods. Within
the last twenty years the great facility of communi-
cation by the canals, which intersected the whOle
CoolltrYs was not to be forgotten ; and if Lanca-
Shi`C) Of aay other County, rcquiled supply by

this vast national improvement, it was to be readily
afforded. No Gentleman could doubt that it was
much preferable 'to supply a deficient Province by
this expedient from the internal resources than iron
foreign markets. On the plan adverted to, ofdiffereot
ratios for the bounty in difft.rent districts, it might
be the unfortunate effect, that we may be import-
ing in one distrid when we should be exporting in
another. The design of these Regulations was, that
scarcity should be avoided, and for this p-urpose it
was provided, that Corn should constantly acquire,
such.a price as would be a sufficient encouragement
to promote its .growth. We had lately seen the
.value at 1181. and this arose from the aeficiency ;
ht4.thebest 'means. to avoid the dekeir waswasby'rieyer
admitting this department 'avicidture CO remain
without a sufficient .compensation.
:Sir ,ROB E CZT 'DUX TON sail; tie growth of
barley-world be stopped by the reducituo of the
price, and-that some 'indulgence should therefore be
given.to thisirtipOttant, connnoLlity. • .
Mr. ,FULLER deemed it • impolitic to faro"
'grain at the expence of all the Other articles'ol-P2'
duce of equal importance.,
Sir JOHN 1 V EIVPO stated the question.to he.
by what meat* the Farmer. would receive a fair
emolurnent? were C'orre6ily
le
would consider ..for himself whether Fr„...c
most advantageously devoted to.,patture..orgr,al':c.
and, rc., promote. his own interest, wo,Pejil7c.-
successiully to conduce to the interest?9jr thet
• Mr.. Wm. SMItH said a .few words, diet
the Resnintions were agreed to
The House is,to be resolved into a Cuinalittee
Supply on Friday.—Adjourned.
and reporteu.

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