The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-01 00:00:00

THE SUN,

land, and 42 in Wales, on the Ist January, 1849,
937,164 persons; anal on the let. Jan'iary, 1850, the
number rklieved was 923,167, b ing a.diminu.ion of
63,997 persons, or 6 4.10 re: cent. The Lumber of
able-bodied persons relieved in 590 unions in England
and \Vales on the Ist January, 1349, was 201,644; end
on the let Ja,•tuary, 1850, the number e:•as 170,562, being
a diminution of 31,142 persons, or 15 4-10 per cent.
The stete.ments he had made' showed a dirniou'ion cn
tee expenditure of the poor-rate, in the number of poor
relieved, and also in the number of ab'e bodied prsons
recd ivitig to'n f --(Hear.) lie would now e(fit,..e the total
number if paupers relieved on the Ist Jam a-y, 1850,as
compared with the number relieved on the Ist Janntiay,
1849. In fourteen counties there had be: nan inert a-,e,
but there had I em. a decrease in twenty-e'ght. [The
Right II in. Gentleman here reed the names o.f the se-
e ccuntie, and the propoitional increase or de-
crease.] These twenty-eight counties include! a me-
jnri:y of the agricultural counties. The statz f the
el ),e with respect to abli-bodied paupers was All more
important, for there were only seven counties in which
an increase Led tdcen place, while there had been a do -
crease in no less than 35 counties. There certainly was
an increase in some of the agr:cultural counties, hut it
was more than compensated by the decrease in others.—
(Hear.) In the agricultural counties in the south there
was a diminution of able-budied relief in every ccse.
The total diminution of relief of that description in Eng-
land and \Vales was 15 4-10 per c►nr.—(hear.) Now
he would ask Hoe. Gentlemen whether agricultural •
labourers had not eerived equal benefit wit') other persons
from the cheapness of food?—(Boar.) The beat pos-
sible test of the amelioration of the condition of the la,
tourers, was the diminution in the nuraer of persons
relieved.—(a. ar, hear.) On this state of fact-, he COD •
tended he was justified in coming to the conchnnon that
the cheapness of f ,od had proved a signal benefit, and
en that ground alone i•e was prepared t ) say it was
not expedient or wi,o to reconsider the recent legislative
enactments. • His lion. Friend had alluded to the num-
ber of persons receiving relief in Ireland. The num-
ber receiving in—loor relief on the 30th 13. camber,
1848, was 192,009, end in December, 1849, the
number was 194,323, showing a slight ineren.e. But

. -
the number :receiving out-door relief at the same pe-
riods had decreased from 393 421 to 95,403, showing
a diminution of more than 297,000--(lIt ar, hear.) Ile
was happy to find from the statement ef the Earl c f
Chichester that greater activity was beginning to pre-
vail in many portions of the egrieultural districts, not
only on tho ieart of the owners, -but a the,occUpiers, in
draining and other improvcments,evith 'a- view te the in-
crease of preiduction; and he never enterta'ned the Iraq
apprehension that the British farmer would allow his
energies to be overcome, but felt confident that he Would
rise superiors to any pressure under which he might la-
bour.—(bleta`r, hear.) He was quite...certain • thet the
agriculturists had no reason to despair,-:. Ar a test of
the prosperity of the eoutt-y he might rer'er t) the in-
creased consumption of various articles... With the ex-
ception of cciffee, the receipt t f revenue from almost
every !track') of consumption' had increased. The cor.-
semption of cocoa had increased from 2,93e,0001b5. to
3,200,0001 bi. The consumption of brandy had increased
from 1,600,030 to 2,187,000 gallon'. There had also
em an increase in the consumption of provisions, such
as salt beef and pork. He would now refer to another
article, the importation of which had proved in a
remarkable manner the failure of many predictions
which Lad been uttered on the subject—he meant the
article of sugar. Aiteough it had fallen off to some
extent, the difference was owing to an extraordinary
impost Ilion during fit e days in the preceding year. The
import of sugar from the West Indies bad increased from
2,771,000 cwt. to 3.070,000 cwt.; the import from Ma-
nilla had increased from 812,000 cwt. ta 997,000 ewe;
and from the East Indies the import had then from
1,352,000 cwt. to 1,356,000 cwt.; whilst the import of
fireign sugar had &creased from 1,200,000 cwt. to
497,000 cwt.—(Hear, 1. ear.) Ile held in his Land co:-
tain returns relative to the raw material used in various
trades, in every one of which an increase had teken place.
The consumption of indigo had increased from 55,000
cet. to 79,000 cwt.; of hemp, from 698,000 cat. to
911,000 cwt.; of raw silk, from 3,645,000 lbs. to
4,303,000 lb-. And although it was said that the alte-
ration of the copper duty would operate injuriously,
the fact was that the state of the mining districts of
Cornwall was most satisfactory, there being plenty of
employment and high -wage=, and the export of Bri-
tish copper had increased from 85,000 cwt. to
153,000 cats. The export of wrought copper h. -,cl in-
creased from 5,000 cwt. to 17,000 ca t.; and the export
of brass manufactured had risen from 13,000 cwt. to
23,000 cwt.' There was hardly an item of any one
sort or description with respect to which ruin and die-
tress had been predicted from the importation of foreign
manufactures, which had not been utterly falsified by
the increase of production at home, and the increase of
employment amongst the labouring population.—(Hear,
ecar.) The statements with respect t ) the shipping in,
terest afforded testimony of the same description. The
cumber of ships entered inwards in the year ending
December 1848, was 24,959, the tonnage being
5.095,000 ; the returns for the corresponding period in
1849 showed the number of ships to he 28,046, and the
t 5,678,000. The number cf ships cleared out-
wards
in 1848 was 23,394, and the tonnage 4,678,000 ;
in 1349 the number of ships had increased to 25,665,
and the to innage s,l2o,ooo.—(Cries of " Hear,
hear.") With respect to the revenue, he was happy te
say that the improvement in every branch had been
greeter than he expected. The result for the year
(partly caused by the increased- revenue, and partly by
reclueed expenditure) would . have an excess cf income
over expenditure on the sth January of 2,098,000/.-
01,ar, hear.) It had been said that a large importation
of corn would invariably cause a diminution of the pre-
cious metals, but the amount of bullion in the Bank was
a sufficient answer to that assertion.—(Hear.) He
trusted that the result of the measures now under dis-
cussion would be the improvement of the condition of
the country, and that Parliament would not, by any rash
legislation, disturb the present improving condition of
affairs. He believed the country had now entered on a
stet.dy course of improvement, and, his firm conviction
was that it would continue, and that the agricultural in-
terest would participate in the generalimprovereent. He
trusted that when it did arise from the stets of -partial
Distress tinder which it was now labouring, it would be
based not on the delusive foundation of protection, but
on a so!id foundation which could never fail.---(Chrus.).
Mr. I1:510E11T expressed his satiefection that the
Honourable Member for Wolverhampton had said very
little about Ireland, and what he had said indicated the
fact that he veally knew very little of that country. It
had been said !hat the number of persons applying for
relief in Ireland b. 7.11 very much decreased of late, and it
W 2-3 argued that this showed an improved state in re-
spect to the condition car the poor in that country. Now
while he admitted the fact that the number of persons
applying for relief had decreased, he yet denied that
this was a proof of an improvement c f the condition of
the people. The fact was, that i.!-4s result arose from
various causes. First, many sad been struck off the
list who had no right to poor relief. NeZt, many of the
Irish poor had come over to this country, and were to
be found in its highways and byeways ;
death had done its work in Ireland, and manyand lastly,
portions
of that country were depopulated. The liono:leable
Gentleman than referred to the speech cf the Right
Honourable Member for Tamworth, which he ad-
dressed to the House last year in reference to Ireland,
and he contended that this speech, by which the Houses
had been led away, was not justified by the then state
of Ireland, and only indicated the way in which that
House was influenced as regarded Ireland generally. lie
contended that the whole policy of this country was cal-
culated to injure Ireland, and therefore damage the in-
tercets of the empire generally.
Mr. W. FAGAN said, that although the Mende of
protection had claimed that the cause of Ireland was the
cause of protection, he would challenge them to say
what would have become of that unfortunate country if
measte es of free trade had not been introduced, and to
disprove, it they could disprove it, that protection was
the cause of many of the evils which afflicted her. He
denied that the fact of his Hon. Colleague having been
selected to second the amendment was to be taken as an
indication that his constituents were favourable to pro-
tection. The election of his Hon. and Gallant colleague
was not in any degree owing to protection. Indeed he
might say that it was owing rather to the influential
labours of a free trade member of his com-
mittee. The tenant farmers of Ireland had taken a
totally different view of the question from that which
it had obtained amongst the tenant-farmers of
England. They were most anxious for it, but were
more inclined for the free-trade system ; and he con-
scientiously believed that if it had a fair trial in Ireland,
it would du much towards paving the way for a re-ad-
justment of the relations between landlord and tenant.
The very agitation which was going forward on this
subject would itself be of considerable advantage to the
Irish people. He would ask in what condition Ireland
would have been during the past six months, if it had
not been for free trade? He would ask them what their
rates and naional burdens would have been, if it had
not been 'for its opera ion ? These were points which
ought to be considered in estimating the advantages or
disadvantages of a financial system ; and he was sure
!hat, with reference to such a test, the landlords of Ire-
land would mistake their true interests if they were to
decide against free trade.—(Hear, hear.)
S:r J. WALSH said lie quite admitted that protec-
tion was essentialiy «n Irish question, and he felt that
it was ono of great importance. He thought ie would
have been more fitting to the occasion if the House kad
ec:ncurred in a loyal address to her Majesty, indepen-
dently of those political considerations,, and had after-
wards proceeded to the consideration of moment-
ous questions like the resent. But if they were to
go iete the great points involved in this debate, they
ought at lca't to be careful as to the exact effect of the
opinions they expressed. For 'his own part he was at a
loss to discover all the prosperity wlich the Speech
from the Throne congratulated the House upon; but he
was quite willing to admit that science and intelligence
might niveridly assist the successful operations of the
farmers._ The main argument cf the Ctaecellor of the
Exchequer rested upon improve nents which might be
made in farming. He was satisfied that farming in this
country was capable cf improvement. It was a mistake
to
r.ellie.ent the English farmer as deficient in industry'
and a
largenterprese; but in order to efftct these improve-
ments
subsoiling, outlay was reecssaret, whether in draining
resourcee
with
it(h) eimiennng .wv,:h.hro.ameloat.rcriree_ (rime heir.) In ti.e compe-
tition
to appl lel
could cars
cwa
rerrye u
of science, and to compete
upon to engage, they,
Ethlgtltih_slcia:faPwr'tort's.le'r would be overburthererl. It
~heeiness without
either science on their
was net
dvuas:rnYmoufrntlel (el In this struegle tue -
contrary, emu.
aedlord's t. ;folio:. Such a landlord's queeetee awl a
e ere not suflie;:nttlhe
moo and niiddle--?as: farmers, the cle`'' The Y.:- •-
pleint.d that ey
vorating their It was not a f:te.
and one alich seecel'et"s
eut one oil feued_d, tatbin; so. much so,,that if ttey wisl.el they c).o7:l(:.o'taVet'di
ingteg this question I epeatedly under tie consideration
ItSQUttble to lc rd this
of the House, It was most Imre'

I;WkIDON,

question as ir evecably fixed. Th eir legislation for the
lest 20 years was exaerimentala 'lt was not so to he re-
aaread becrento it bad the de lib ?rate eanction e f Loth
Houses of Parliemeat. The Me tat er fer the West Riding
taste 1, in a sp ech cf his, that eae majority which car-
ried the repeal of the corn-lawe ;'voted against their pri-
vete convictions. In that sent ire eat be cetirely concur
red. It was well
,known that decision we.' aaliest
the opinions of the majority t f t 1 e constituencies,. w ho,
it was ael known bad returns d 310n:hers to that House,
he would not say pied. al, but ?rtainly with an under-
standing that they would suppe Xt erotection.
Mr. -G. BERKELEY move a -late adjournment of the
debate; but, finding that the fee wa; a general desire
that the discussion should go fin. withdrew his motion,
and proceeded to address the i ileease. Ho regretted that
can gre at portion of the Britis 11 empire had been t'ttally
1 ft out e f censidervtiop, just !ta if tho colonies of Great
Britain were no longer of iaipa lance to the State. A
Right Hon. Gentleman, ireitee , who bad once held a
conspicuous place on the Tr. e ry latch, had said, in a
speech ho made at Manchester, aaat it would to a bless-
ing to this country if the cola ales of this mighty enaphe
were sevatneed.—(hear) B r ((Mr. Berkeley) read that
etatteneet with suprise; and `it was . with astorishnlent
h e found the 1011.. Member fe'er the West Riding (Mr.
Cobden)—that disciple of
,geace—preachirg to the
people in (if words could be a inderstood) absolutely the
words of revolution.—(Ch e -s from the Opposition
benches.) Having turned hie el °queue, his " unadorned
elequerce," to almost the ale )1i lion of a etandieg army
and navy, he ceuld, when it led his purpose, preach
up disaffection and war.—(RE ne wed cheers from the Op-
position benches,) He take .1 of the dead body of pro-
te.ciion heir% dug up and gale n 'zed. The fact was that
the country, which had catise Halt to be exhumed, as he
termed it, pronounced it to ha to been foully and most un-
eonetitutionally murdered.--e laughtert) It was said
this was a question of relit; i his own country the far-
mer could not farm profitably ' :now if they paid no reat.
(" Hear, hear," from the Opposi t op.) It was very, well fur
the Manchester school to eta apt to raise an ill-feeling
between landlord and tenant; it was just as they did
upon the game-law question.- 'ea ',A laugh.) The mover
of the Address had alluded to tenant in his (Mr. Ber-
keley's) own county; and who was this model of Gla-
cestershire f ermere? Mr. JOE s 11 Hunt, a Quaker—(A
laugh)—whose word was nut ea hied at a farthing. He
was employed at the lest elect icon. to bribe voters against
him (Mr. Berkeley)—(Loud ta.ughter)—by a rich man,
who now could get no account Fri the money he intrusted
to him to bribe with. He Air. Berkeley) hed never
read such intulerent epee& les as had lately been
addressed to the public; het aererred particulaely to the
speeches- at getaaltestee.eart. -p:eatued as if. we had not
tef ac learned the true meati df the word " tyranny."
-(Cheers.) - Free trade had th. been hurried upon the
cow try, when it was no more tan a fit state to receive it.
than the colonies were to re taive the abolition of sla-
very. The farmer ought to b I:relieved from the malt-
tax and other burdens.—(H, !,,a. r.) Let Hon. Members
divest their minds of fear of th e threats held out, that if
they attempted to go back 'to p rotection, or remedy the •
grievances of the agriculturist la the country might ex-
pect the most serious riots. 'I le e threats were such flat
it seemed we might look upon au resolves as almost on the
eve of a civil war.—(Hear, pear.) Ile must say he
thought the country was now -eireatened with more se
riot's disturbances tban ever i a ibis recollection before.—
(Opposition cheers.) The reanan:-farrners could not
even meet in peace -to cliscer; as constitutional question
without the interference eof free-traders.—(Hear,
liter.) People were sent in. p aid and bribed.—(Hear,
hear.) In many places, as at B 'dford, a mob was sent
in composed of persons with no e s take in the countey, to,
interfere with the meeting, an d then we were told that
it had been constitutionally di, au rbed by that rabble.—
(Hear.) The agriculturists, f rot n whom our chief pros-
perity had sprung, had been ill -u ied. Far nearly seven-
teen years be had been a supp or ter of the present Mi-
nisters, but he felt bound to that " free trade," as
it now stood, was a most faulty a nd disgraceful measure.
—(" Hear, hear," fieen the Pr ate ctior•ists.) It had t e-n
placed upon a wrong footing. Irt:ere had been too much
haste used ; and, unless some thing was done for the
agricultural interest, the tee stnt-farmers must go to
ruir,—(Hear, hear.) Let the 1"Iouse do justice to that
long oppressed and too quiet it its rest—(Laughter.)
On the motion of the Marc ui a of GRANBY the de-
bate was then adjourned to the zy x t (this) day.
Lord J. RUSSELL hoped it e (mild be understood by
the House that the debate wool d be concluded to 'sor-
row (this day).—(Cries cf " car, hear;" but one or
two gentlemen on the Oppositic a side exclaimed, " Ne;
no uederstandiug.") Perhap s the Hen. Gentleman
opposite (Mr. Dieree'i) could ;at ste that as the under-
standing.
Mr. DISRAELI hoped him and expected, that
the division would be taken to- lorrow (this day); but
he could not have the presurnpt ion to give any pledge to
that extent. It must depend to it only upon gentlemen
who sat on his side cf Cie Hoe at , but on gentlemen on
the other; and he was sorry to , t ay he had found from
experience that the Noble Lot it had not been able to
xerciee that influence upon his own side which he now
wished him (Mr. Disraeli) to c raise upon his.
. TFe House then, shortly t Igor Twelve o'clock, se,
journed.