The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-27 00:00:00

TURNPIKE TOLLS.

Colonel WOOD moved for leave to bring in a Bill to
exempt from toll lime conveyed on any turnpike road in
the Principality of Wales.- In stating the nature of the
measure he should not detain the House at any length.
He wished the Bill to stand on its own intrinsic merits.
Every description of manure, excepting lime, was ex-
empted from toll. In some districts the amount of toll
was double the cost price of the lime. It was argued, in
favour of the toll, that without it many roads could not
be sustained. By Act of Parliament every description
of Manure, except lime was exempted from toll. Ho
considered that every road was a parish road, and being
such, he considered it ought to be kept up by the parish.
He thought he should be able to show that roads
might be kept , up -without a toll upon lime.
The Commissioners admitted that in England manure
was exempt from toll, and the reason they gave for such
exemption was, that the great proportion of articles
used as manure were seldom transported to any dis-
tance ; that they were most, frequently merely taken
from one portion of a farm to the other. y
that--was- -the- only reason the Commissioners
could find for this exemption they took a very
short-sighted view of the matter. Lime, the
Commissioners stated, was of a different character ;
it was very valuable, and could be profitably transported
to great distances. NoW they had heard a great deal
of guano; that was brought from a great distance; and was
very valuable, so was Aberdeen waste, so was coal-dust,
and yet all these were exempt .from toll under the prp-
visions of the ' General Turnpike Act. Lime was -the
only manure subject to toll, and lime was the
only manure within - the reach of the Welsh farmer.
He entreated the Government to concede the boon of
exemption of lime from tolt—a measure which more than
any other would secure the tranquillity of the country.
Colonel POWELL seconded the motion.
Mr. HUME rose for the purpose of opposing the
Bill. He dissented ' from the principle of allowing
such exemptions at all. They had been made
from time to time in consequence of the House being
composed of agriculturists; such 'exemptions ought not
to exist. Whatever they' might' exempt was a relief to
the farper ; whatever was a relief to the • farmer
was • a benefit- to 'iVe. ' He''' did
not see why they should be relieved from

what other people were obliged to pay. The
turnpikes had been established, and their own Commis-
sioners told them that the money that had been embarked
in them could not be repaid unless the tolls were exacted.
He objected to the Bill, therefore, in both points of view,
but his chief objection was the one of principle. He did
not see why the landlords should enjoy these ex-
emptions.
Mr. MANNERS SUTTON supported the Bill.
Mr. Ald. THOMPSON said that the whole system
of local administration in Wales required amend-
ment. He had hoped the Government would come forward
with some comprehensive and adequate measure to relieve
those grievances' of which the people of Wales
so justly complained. If the Bill proposed by
the Hon. and Gallant Member was to be
the only panacea, he (Colonel Wood) hoped
the House would reject it. For his part, he would op-
pose it to the utmost of his power, unless it was in-
tended to be accompanied by some more extensive mea-
sure on the part of the Government.(Hear, hear.)
Sir CHARLES MORGAN believed that however
desirable it would be to relieve farmers from the pay-
ment of toll upon lime, yet in several dis-
tricts it would be found impossible to do so
without abandoning the road. The Commission issued
by the Government had had a great effect in calming
the minds of the people ; and as he hoped that some sa-
tisfactory measure would be proposed by the Govern-
ment, founded upon the report of the Commissioners, he
would recommend that a partial measure, such as that
of the Gallant Officer, should not be persisted in.
He was very much afraid that the Bill would go down
to Wales; it would be known that the Gallant Officer
had brought it in, but he was afraid the course the Go-
vernment intended to adopt with respect to it would
not be equally well known. Why, what had the Hon.
Under-Secretary declared? That though the Govern-
ment would consent to the introduction of the Bill, the
Gallant Member must expect no further support from
the Government. If such were the determination of
the Government, he thought the House would do no
good by assenting to the introduction of the Bill. He
thought it would not be right to exempt lime entirely
from toll, but unless something further was stated of
the intentions of the Government on this subject, he
should most certainly feel inclined to oppose the intro-
duction of the Bill.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM was decidedly opposed to
the exemption altogether of the toll upon lime. If,
however, he was asked whether Ministers would sup-
port the Bill in its future stages, he must certainly say
they would not. He, however, thought it would be
hardly just to his Gallant Friend who had proposed the
introduction of the. Bill, not to allow it to be introduced
and printed, and sent to the Principality, in order to
know their opinion upon the subject.
Mr. F. T. BARING was of opinion that the statement
of the Right Hon. Gentleman had not justified the course
which the Government proposed to adopt. He admit-
ted that in a common case it might be reasonable to al-
low. a Bill to be brought, in ; but in what state was the
Principality of Wales at the present moment ?—(Cheers.)
What unfounded expectations were they not raising of
permitting this Bill to be brought in ?—(Cheers.) They
admitted that the question of these tolls was exciting the
greatest interest in. the Principality, yet they permitteda
Bill to be brought which they themselves declared they
would put an end to on the second stage. Now, at all
events, this could not be considered as a wise mode of
dealing with the question.—(Hear, hear.) The report
of the Commissioners was no doubt at present under the
consideration of the Government ; and yet, while it was
still under their consideration, they allowed a Bill to be
brought in relating to a small portion of that report, and
which went distinctly to reverse the recommendation of
the Commissioners.
Mr. MORRIS would not oppose the introduction of
the Bill ; but although he was willing to support every
measure for the relief of the inhabitants of Wales, he
could not consent to do injustice to a large class of per-
' sons. The revenues of the trustees of the roads would
be largely reduced by the abolition of the toll on lime ;
and they were indebted in a considerable sum to the
Exchequer for money advanced by way of loan. He
trusted that on the second reading the Hon. and Gallant
Member would be prepared to propose some scheme for
granting compensation to those persons, and also that he
would use his best endeavours to induce the Chancellor
of the Exchequer to forego the repayment of these loans.
He was glad that, during the course of the debate,
justice had been done to a large class of persons who
had been most unjustly charged with fomenting the
recent disturbances in Wales—he meant the Dissenting
ministers.—(Hear, hear.) Those persons were remark-
able for their peaceable demeanour, and for the respect
which they invariably paid to the laws.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir W. JOLIFFE said that lime was only partially
exempt from toll in England. Ho knew a part of the
country that suffered materially in consequence of the
toll upon lime. There were three small trusts, in all of
which tolls were levied on lime, and the consequence
was that, although lime was the manure the most easily
procurable by the inhabitants of that district, and the
best suited to the soil, yet they were precluded from
using it. He regretted that the Right Hon. Gentleman
had not stated his intention of doing something with
regard to the General Turnpike Act. A large measure
of reform was wanted to remedy these evils. IA one
locality with which he was acquainted, the mortgagee
had seized the gates, and collected the tolls to pay the
interest of his money, while the parishes had to main-
tain the roads. There was little traffic there, and con-
sequently those persons who paid for maintaining the
roads had also to pay the tolls. He could assure the
House that, unless these grievances were remedied, the
discontent which had disturbed England and Wales
would extend to other parts of the country.
Mr. DARBY thought that the grievances complained
of ought to be remedied rather by a General Turnpike
Act than by such a measure as that which the Hon. and
Gallant Member wished to introduce. He knew there
was a great feeling on the lime question; but they ought
not to deal hastily with the question, involving, as it did,
so many important interests.
Mr. G. R. TREVOR said, the greatest difficulty he
had in dealing with this qnestion was the necessity there
existed for improving the roads in that part of the
country in which he resided. A great deal of the in-
terest of the money borrowed for the purpose of im-
proving the roads was paid by the tolls on lime, and
very little of that interest could be paid if the whole toll
on lime were abrogated. He thought it would be better that
his Hon. and Gallant Friend should abstain from bring-
ing in the Bill. He did not believes that this toll upon lime
had anything whatever to do with the commencement of
the struggles in South Wales ; for the gates through
which most lime was carried, and nearest to the lime
districts, were the last attacked. He should not oppose
the bringing in of the Bill, though, as at present advised,
he would vote against the second reading.
Lord EBRINGTON' said he thought it was a great
grievance, and very unfair to the Welsh people, that the
mail coaches should be exempted from all toll. This ex-
emption very much diminished the funds at'the disposal
of the trust, and made the imposition of other taxes ne-
cessary. He should feel it his duty to oppose the bring-
ing in of the Bill.
After a few words from Mr. VIVIAN, in support of
the Bill,
Mr. SAUNDERS DAVIES said he would support
the introduction of the Bill.
Colonel WOOD said that, in answer to the Honour-
able Member for Cumberland,' he begged leave to say
that Government were in no way connected with the in-
troduction of the present Bill.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the introduction of' the Bill . ..... . 68
Against it a 42
Majority
Leave was accordingly given to bring in the Bill.
CORN-LAWS.
- - -

Mr. HUTT presented petitions from merchants of the
city of London, and from other places, in favour of the
introduction of corn from.' the . British possessions in
South Africa and Australasia at the same duty as corn
imported from Canada.' The Hon. Member then moved
" That this House resolve itself into a 'Committee of
the whole House on the Corn-laws, for the purpose of
considering the following resolutioh—That it is expe-
dient that corn imported into the United Kingdom from
the British possessions in South Africa, India, and Aus-
tralasia, be made subject to the same duty whiCh is
levied on corn imported into the United Kingdom from
Canada." He would lay before the House, in as few
words as he could, what he considered to be a great
grievance. In the course of the last session a Bill had
been introduced by the Government,by which certain du tie
were taken off corn imported from Canada to this country.
The subject was very fully discussed, and received from
the ordinary supporters of the Government a good deal
of censure. The supporters of her Majesty's Govern-
ment being chiefly attached to the sliding scale, coin-
cided with their leaders on that principle, and attempted
to lay down the proposition that it was the duty of the
Government to make the colonies entirely and solely sub-
servient to our own advantage. The Right Hon. Bart. '
at the head of the Government wisely rejected such
a wild and impolitic- notion.- The measure the Rt. Hon.
said would give great encouragement to the agricultu-
rists of Canada, and tend to cement the' union between
the colony- and, the mother country. It was precisely
upon those grounds that he (Mr. 'Hutt) now came for•,
ward to ask, for a further relaxation of the corn-laws in

regard to onr-'-cOlonie;Tn SCUthern Africa, India, and
Australasia;, and he would show the House that these
colonies had still stronger claims on our sympathy and
indulgence than even Canada itself.• They were at a
greater distance' from England, and consequently more
exposed to the- dangers which the vicissitudes of the
sliding-scale occasioned. Again, they were farther from
any-corn-consumir!g country ; but the great argument
was that. the Legislature had already, applied the prin-
ciples of free trade to a portion of our colonial empire,
and why should not thOse principles be applied to the
_C.apo--of-- Good llope and ta, Australasia ?—(Hear.)
Why should not the inhabitants of those colonies
participate in those advantages of a liberal legislation?
It was true these colonists had never risen against our
authority as was the case in Canada ; they were mem-
bers of the same community—subjects of the same
Crown, and obedient and loyal to their Sovereign, and
why •should they not receive as great favour as the
Canadians? The case of these colonies was not like
Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, which the Government
+laid should be excluded from the Bill regarding Canada,
because they never produced sufficient corn for their
own subsistence. The Right Hon. Gentleman at the
head of the Government said that Canada was a corn-

producing country, and could export it. He thought he
would be able to prove to the House that the colonies to
which he referred were in the tame position. Australia,
though the country abOut Sydney might be an excep-
tion, seemed to be very well adapted for the production
of corn. In the southern districts, and about Port
Philip, corn had been grown in great abundance,
and at a trifling cost. But the great granary
of the Southern Ocean was. Van Diemen's Land.
It appeared from a• return laid upon the table of the
House, upon a motion of his;,-that a considerable quan-
tity of wheat was imported last year into this country

—...-..„---------P
from Van Diemen's Land. It had been in' :in tbe
large quantities to the neighbouring colonies:ood
Eastern Seas ; and, notwithstanding the Iluettdinto
the sliding-scale, 1,300 quarters of it were illiP",;„ the
this country. This was the first time that "1! to ibil
produce of Van Diemen's Land was brought.ligodisr
country; and considering the distance, and th,e :ctersble
tages in its way, 1,300 quarters was no ineum-___„oicsbll
quantity. It came into the country_ also in a rTfieteti
fine condition ; and after paying all the costs ot_tiielny
and the duty of 55., it left a handsome profit,t°
with tbis
porters. There would be an extended trade witbe WI
country if the restrictions at present existing °pie lis'
portation of corn were removed.—(Cheers`
never seen corn equal in weight, and in 'l',, ",
ness of the skin to that which was , ,-,,,5'
from Van Diemen's Land. It was • „%tetOr
a price varying between 625. and 705., when the ,pr
price in England was only 565. It appeared, frei'l7d Co,
per which he had received from Messrs. Bueldeniesso's
of Mark-lane, that the price of wheat in Van 'lop the
Land was 385., the charges for freight were ogler'
duty was 55., and other charges were ss• a, ogler'
making a total of 58s. a quarter when importeat 000
country. It sold at between 625. and 655. This tSchige
6th of October, 1843. He was informed that oir
of 10s. for freight was too low, and that toe glO
owners could have but little remuneration. pe 4tb
to find that there was a reduction of duty on %co*
articles which entered into the composition of :.,, tbe
and he hoped the day was not far distant Ire',-,01.
shipping interest would recover from its present ve
sion. With regard to Australia, he had a let,,,ter k.lsae;
him from Mr. Charles James Stephens, of soar re,
which stated that the wheat produced there Weild OP
to the best wheat produced in Essex and Kent/ Ti- 0,
owing to the dryness of the country, ~,. gs!)"
very fit for exportation, and almost 1,140
when landed in this country as when' gret
shipped. He had other testimony to the sawiettc.7
and various parties connected with Australia
that if the duty was reduced to Is. it wouki ...b' r lig
40
the settlers for the cost of increased produca.,' el
then, was the case:with Van Diemen's Land. It,„fi
with all the conditions which the Right lion. rid Wit
said that Canada possessed. Now with regam_as kV'
Australia, which was founded about six years a 7„, beteg
ago, and which before that time was merely a qt. or
wilderness," inhabited by wandering savages,rojaAs
sessed all the opportunities of carrying O°P. shit
industry. He referred with the greater pleas`rer'o,,h,te,
because he took an active part in the Bill ilwr,, zetlT,
the colony was founded, and had acted ailifg Or'
Commissioners afterwards. The corn preniieo3oll.l/
was even superior to that produced in van 'sole
Land. It sold at 725. in this country, when the fitob
price there was below 465. It would afford agog ti,e
trade with this country, if he succeeded in in ~.„;.-0, Geri
Legislature to agree to his proposition. The",;;Joiliik
tleman then read an extract from the South 43 ore
Observer, for the purpose of showing the. 01,004
ducing powers of the country, and that it Pi,. AP,
more than was sufficient for its own consumPtir, tr
the settlers wanted was to discover places wheooool4.
might export their superabundant corn. The ter.
able Gentleman then read extracts from tel(l(Ve
from South Australia, dated the 27th of AfailiTi sr;
28th of June, 1843, to the same effect. Ile sv„s° lye
refer to the case of South Africa, and the oire'-frOei,
_iv
of the colony were not in any way dissimilar 0,007:e
other colonies he had spoken of, except that: mil re
sionally suffered .from want of irrrigation. "-pito
colony at the Cape exported corn. He now (Wee- !,,
case of India ; and if the case was strong with re ' ,`IA
the other colonies, it was much stronger nith re._.,,litv
India. The agriculture of India had advanced wi;retslt
since their possession of that country, and its Luset_axic7,
once so celebrated throughout the world, Were 7010
by the commercial and fiscal regulations of thi3:oo AO°
It was strange that the advocates of prOteCi.t/. pipit
quite silent with respect to India, and that t"; 410. el
who would most oppose his motion were those orit%
tinually raised at home the cry of protection rti b 9 II
industry. It might be said that India 1011,titsla:$
little by the measurebeproposed, inasmuch tow" PLI
t dea
quantity of her corn would reach this coat dy.-_„1
those who from close observation were well' aclfer,"
with the internal position of India, were of 0 iiiostr,
opinion, and the press of that country were ttlied o,n
ing a similar measure for India to that gran' I,nteb
nada. There were large districts in the neiFilu" le;
of the Ganges as large in extent as Great Britilith„ he,Peia
were entirely a wheat-growing country, 1°41014
informed persons on ft:subject stated that /1•"..od 14
be shipped from the-Wanges at between 1fi5..,,':4 Al,'
per quarter. But wheat alone was not the art: 0, e 7-4
respect to which his measure would benefit Inli Skt;
was an article that was imported into this entllloool,P.,
India inconsiderable quantities. There was lie! • iii ''of
speellte-house in the City engaged extensiv Zoe
impoi .ii :ion of flour from India—he meant the 'ea ref
Lawson,.Norton, and Co., from whom he leartige:
not less than between two and three thousan. josi
flour itte ' 'annually imported by them &On! re
• 1100
and that there was another house la, 1 the
also extensively engaged in the nno, vs
of that article from India. He called e 1
Government then to concede what he asY_e d,j
y01c) 1,
thought he had shown them that all the coloniesle
he had mentioned had fulfilled the conditionS raft
they had consented to give to Canada the 14 de
which he now asked for those dependencies of nofeif
pire. He knew that the great difficulty of the,
,01
ment was that there were certain influential T_Lidt,e;t
property in that House and in the countrY7l4..
~'
strongly opposed to any change in the cOrn-lio'l., col'',
he asked Ministers if, in their government of. t,,,,' fer
nial empire, they would be guided by the visiotAwse.,l"
of a few men, who looked solely to their oWald o„,r
The measure that he now sought to have eti7ifi sht.
one which common justice and policy called fl Aid`,
lutely necessary. Let them govern the colew,osiol Po
view to their interests—with a view to fai_f;id • plo
dealing—and they might be assured they vmr.„4.l I
seek to sever themselves from the parent coini-t"distagi
let the Government neglect the interests of thleasst, ~,
settlements, and there was reason to an d.
the first convenient opportunity, they woulqi bag/
themselves for ever from the harsh rule of
Lg
Government.
Tao"
Mr. MANGLES seconded the motion. Doll
di
in a peculiar position, and had claims upon gi3
were possessed by none of our colonies. -O,Ld ta'rot
she support the army and navy, but she reolll7 4ja:/be
eountry four millions and a half annually. -11,00, 0
think that India paid too dearly for the advatWilaa
enjoyed ; but, in common justice, we were ' .„0
afford her every facility for paying it. `4 -',04
Mr. GLADSTONE said that, though Ile --f. thy.
accede to the motion, he was fully sensible 5 iiid
portance of the object the Hon. Gentleman ltisg, Abe
He had no wish to prevent experiments frouliiiii D.
40
with regard to the trade of India and .Aust.,ll".iik.ll/..r
did not think the duties complained of W''',/,,`,1106 tO
have that effect. The Hon. Gentleman foue,"o/60W
guments very much on the conduct of the ",noktso"-oe
with regard to Canada lastyear, and he und!'l, 414" e,
that the circumstances were analogous. Ile ',,t,hia_,Te
Hon. Gentleman had entirely failed to make °-tair' et
The proceedings of last year themselves GVloferliftecl
clearest indications of the intentions of the uotie°os,
with regard to a motion of this kind. Itthe 0:40
with plausibility against the Government, n' o;st tI 0 tot
sion on the Canada Corn Bill, that it Was,,rflost Ofrota
and impolitic to disturb a question of 111%000,,,,er
for the sake of any benefits which might xthea';:efe'
the extension of the trade with Canada • an" but 0 '6o'
to that was not a general denial of the'faetfbi: tbedo,
renee to the pledges which had been eel:1401'00'
vernment in a former year. The lictoll%,,- at th,,,,eoble
therefore, was not justified in expecting ""flis fAell
vernment would assent to this propesiti°ll' ' lee 1.- ir
Friend the Secretary for the Colonies,,Vot to jo,
whether it was the intention of the Govertkcel°ll, tbe
traduce similar measures respecting the e'-'',els' 0
said he did not scruple to declare that the vier
Government was, that such a question aa'Silitto -Woe
ought not lightly, and without grave cause' , the., iiiits
turbed. But were these colonies really_ "-gate., , be
position as Canada ? The Hon, Dielnuer, fi-; Irli-rpe"
there were petitions from these colonie 10001- e
did not apprehend that any of the° the 50
titioned in the same sense, or bin ', Of tbe
authentic organ, as Canada ha . d°4w;ities °i:eri
had petitioned by the highest public authoinf
tee,
colony for many years in succession, iiidieatnese,'„ti
strong and widely-spread feeling, wiiilst the id 0;44
tition emanated only from individuals elll67"rt or z.a as
The Hon. Gentleman spoke in his resointl°o poll- ca
the corn trade of these colonies on the stvo clit co'
that of Canada ; but he did not propose„to
titt,4 0 • ' ir
4
the importation of foreign corn into tiier,to ail , Ca'
acted in the case of Canada. Thus he 001",kirtl:4°. 05
tial part of the arrangement made with retpdtillbst
nada. The Hon. Gentleman asked wherefv ho! iiaed
to come from. He (Mr. Gladstone) aPP-ani. Algol,oo,
this 3s. might be highly inconvenient to maned '.•ol
Otte-
in the resolution. The Hon. Gentlemailbaralt„„tonY
exporting colonies, but he thought the ke the .4,--rsiip
them was entitled to that appellation. !ifs' elkitloood
of New South Wales. That was manifeiss"lc se notilit
and not an exporting, colony. Tue on OW '-
Hope was becoming more and InciArels'anc6o7o:bafer
and not an exporting, colony. The -Os a ra'A tracl°
fact, that in the case of Canada there w
~,,totif,;-a
or fi°.
xectation of establishing a trade of 50n1e.,,,' woeful tato
which, though it would not produce any P° of being ripg
o • los
lent effect in this country, was still wombs;ns of, as
„ore
into consideration as furnishing the, Tin:- Thereot to,
in the supply of the increasinityeritabe Goverinnoilea •
other reasons which had MOWS panic had PI ISA
propose a change in that n05e...'.1 tiye change.sLriditig
in Canada, on account of the iego a emon for PI". Ito"'
and this was now an important r bad the ~, itt
for the extension of its trade.
Gentleman a right to say that thlelloelvi:l°ffasilies.Peigirlerthift
the mass were exporting colonies r
they 110
67' tielfig
obvious from their circumstances that s
s*lfoFeetht).,
crd,
to calculate upon any
taken into account in dealing with th!_alese! the P jo the
Diemen's Land, and in New South W,
...,vviirds;_A OS
corn, in 1839, was 15s. a bushel a ;I,,,iet?i;ents Deuer;
year 1840, the price of corn in Van to 945• Per quart hi 4 in
from Bs. to 12s. a bushel, or from 645. roil tx,
in 1831, it was from 48s, to 80s. a
the colony which was the most favo_.
_., had ret,fo
portation of corn to this country.c
rn.leviiYnportedips
fa Durable
eto thitieis
which showed the total quantity of
Hon. Gentleman would examine he woulde sl' 1s of
all countries, from the year 1828° tolB4filna' , in
Hon.
first place, that they had actually sengtrteoaier
4,00010.1::tbAe
colonies from this country a much
icaosrtnstelrenn
3th.ceayrshoafd
trheecepievreidodfrtoomwthhiecT;haentatjareterreioi
they had received no amount whichy
of wheat, avf P
named. During the first seven
colonies exported 2,589 quarters evia•rassiw;.eth4.ll:satrobiteih_allet
second seven years,_ they exported 19
portedto this country. 7,6 6
8
quarpteurrsinogf
during the second seven thewh
efiarts ti
in
i.cuaa,,,,,,,,,,7:Lt—e"-•si:hi :19,,5;
years they lop rwu

i

.gto°3
piaoan, aid
00Ifoo
t°
:be
1116--d to
boiled

1)

Intrters of wheat in the form of flour. This proved
rnt the change had been precisely iii the opposite diree-
to that which the lion. Genthumn assumed. Ob-
rese"ns might be taken to the terms of the lion. Gen 7
haviant motion, -but his great argument was, that
ng dealt with the produce of a particular colony in
the particular
manner, they ought to curry out
,t 4. sPint of that particular enactment throughout
that colonial system. He ventured to say
104 by his proposal the Hon. Gentleman would make
t„...nr! anOntalies than he would remove. If he were
b:::“.0__ Its to make the system uniform, why had he not
applyino. to Canada herself the remission of
,wheadtu?ties eructed with respect to grain other than
the Perhaps he would say that they were insigni-
thent; Brut he apprehended that that was no answer to
.wo °,,liection. Now, there were other parts which it
till.l,l)e well to take into their consideration. The
—"llan colonies had the East Indies and the Mauri-
ua for their markets ; with the Mauritius they had a
very close commercial intercourse; and with the nearer
asrkets requiring the occasional relief of scarcity, he
izght there was no probability that any extensive
46! in corn would be established between Australia and
eiht country. The Hon. Gentleman referred to the
per °f• Good Hope. The Cape of Good Hope, with
th erence to this country, was not an exporting colony,
go(kgh it occasionally exported small quantities both of
jrthnr andwheat, as fine as that of any other colony.
as.Telion. Gentleman looked to the returns, he would
portitnhat those colonies were more importing than ex-
' whi kg countries. lie would find that the statements
44n:represented them as exporting places were origi-
Whe,,,i3Y mere fussy, fidgetty persons, who spoke of
f" LaeY did not understand The Hon. Gentleman
see' °dad all those colonies which were mere. importing
ittlntliet- But he omitted that one which was in reality
wiexkPorting country—he meant Prince Edward's Island.
tht,tl," respect to India, he must say that lie agreed with
ke„4-4, On- Gentleman in thinking that every encourage-
. .„..."onght to be given to that portion of the empire. As
4th as the price of wheat in this country rose to 585.,
t,„„"heitt
_lndia was admissible at a duty of Is. a
?•hformter. There was great difficulty in bringing we
heat
th ' of flour, from so great a distance, and under
...0
aver changes of climate. Yet, in 1841 and 1842, the
o„"o' of wheat imported in the state of flour was
quarters. In 1843 the quantity imported
the b.„na - more than 4,800 quarters. Looking at
.;:altt,""°le question, he believed that he had answered
arguments of the Hon. Gentleman ; and he did
110,'"ectre that there was any ground upon which the
ootild'agree to the motion.
or Parliament the
had resisted in the last session
esp;,4lllament the policy of the Government as to the
Deatrade of Canada. lle regretted the interference
oen:°'Legislature in the trade of the colonies. But if
111,,--v,stlons were made in favour of one colony, why
Rtdnot the boon be extended to all others? What
aged the Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite was the
. the w!lich the success of the motion would have upon
tol agricultural interest.—(Hear, hear.) The House was
11,4 t at the motion, if carried, would create a panic.
er3°) the strength of the agricultural nerves must be
1%.! Weak. If the boon which was given to Canada
04; t° be maintained, it ought to be extended to all
4' of the colonies. He asked them how they were
separate the case of Prince Edward's Island, Van
of eft,;!en't Land, India, and New South Wales, from that
la,4llada? He did not think that-they would be act-
, '
_tlY to the other colonies if they did not place
lie 741 n the same position as Canada. On these grounds
Z°llld support the motion.
kob,IIISTANLEY would only detain the House a few
40;er4s, for the subject had been so often before the
tele, and had been so ably treated by his Right Hon.
4,_'l4l.that,it had been completely exhausted as far as
perent was necessary. His Right Hon. Friend op-
oiltelad commented upon the inconsistency of the
lie a_lie taken by his Right Hon. Friend to the left, awl
that he believed if the subject was not properly
Pered, it would create great panic and alarm. Now,
tt ilk,ord tanl believed that to accede o the motion
nonS. Member would create far greatt er panic than
kft,7"..°Ption of any other course. • The proposition to
kit ,lfree of duty, the produce of all the colonies in the
tri7B"'"empire, including the Indian possessions, would
kie. the greatest alarm among the agriculturists,
Ilia ',mild create great confusion and uncertainty.
Rid - • -night Honourable Friend opposite had
that the Government had been guilty of
VihpaLt of foresight last year, in not being aware that,
laii;';'lley granted a boon to one colony, others would
' °Tr having a similar one. Now the fact was that
iatr,().,,rntatmt did foresee that, and when he(Lord Stanley)
tlWut4corl the' Canada Corn last year, he stated
thitt7 That he introduced it in conformity with a pledge
conntry had entered into with Canada, and that
cith-Lero •ore, must be considered an. insulated • case for
0b,.--411t, alone. On that occasion, he. stated that 'the
thrgentent was with Canada, and that only, and that
`4orernment had no intention whatever of disturbing
Vkisting corn-laws with respect to other colonies.
tt43.,,Alght Hon. Gentleman opposite then asked if it
I;,:Ateed to apply- to Prince FAward's and, other
,atd he (Lord Stanley) then distinctly stated
tos&"eeburse the Government had• taken was in ac-
it 'nee with the engagements entered into. Now, was
or would.ask to disturb an extensive settlement
11104' "ingement for so unimportant an object as the
DDTsof 'the Hon. Member for Gateshead ? When
ol ranged high, the object of the Hon. Member
1111tv." be obtained, because, if the price rose to 575., the
fierl„woUld then amount to that sum which the Hon.
• 11;t?1,elnan - wished. He would not now enter further
Ifittoe subject. It was a small and immaterial point.
ts-i.ec!ttld be proved that from the colonies they could
litiv:?,l) the deficiency . of wheat at home, he should
htn7:"011, ght he had made seine case 'fbr his motion
kiicie'3' was,
he thought a weaker ease had not been
kr Cnit by any lion. Member.
ton. HAWES considered that the weakness of his
ieFiend's lend's ease was its strength. The Noble Lord
tritet,-,47 to have completely overlooked the object of his
Itieb.,--1""uld the justice of his question. He should re-
ttlbj-Zeor that all he 441 required was a Committee, on the
t.t, and considering, as he did, that that was essen-
• b
-• c-"thould vote for •the motion.
WART felt convinced that no alteration could
*OOl , `4,e in the corn-law until some emergency arose that
oe most injurious to the agriculturists. Bethought
4114,;• /refe hound' to do what they could to promote the
thitiVta of India ; and he also was of opinion that some-
• should be done for the trade in general.
imbued,
felt
43' tii-eW that the country had been too strongly
at band of philosophers the Anti-Corn-law League
It'lthter)—to be content with the motion of his
N;K-e'riend the Member for Gateshead.--(Laughter)
410C,°aght they ought to follow up the raotion- of his
illt%:„riend by demanding a repeal of the corn-laws
rner.
th;II,UTT replied, alluding to the arguments used
ttitaident of the Board of Trade, the Right Hon.
illy‘,llllll had stated that only a " microscopic quan •
'44, .I'. corn" could he imported from the colonies.
‘111.14- "e thought there was the less ground for alarm
Part of the agricultural supporters of the Govern-
'. with respect to the assertion that no corn was
it.' to be imported from Aistralia, it should be re-
ZNt';,....1 ad that not many years ago it was said
L'Atat,-"Q- wool was likely to be imported into this
.-Jth. from that colony, divided from us by fif-
_tt- -ensand miles of ocean ; yet this country
„ltii's/Zr imported from that country no less
tirieoo,6oolbs. of wool. But what were they to think
taa4rrasident of the Board of Trade who undertook to
ST.4 lila, its to human industry ?—(Hear hear.) All
414taitaked was that the Government would give the
w_tittlaig an opportunity of extending their sphere of
4t• e se. It -was- their duty to legislate for the colonies
n
this country, and it was therefore he coca-
ilttt I%.7;that the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colo-
Lk0447,,,q treated this subject entirely as nn English ques-
1.L104,-(te President. of the Board of Trade said that the
nrtm 'e',...”'rere not always in circumstances to be able to ex-
Zrta:.t‘, l.no country on earth was so ; no country could
ns'.B '''nblessed With plenty. But he maintained that
atal;ttantpeaking they were exporting countries. Colo-
it infant state must of necessity import rather
illltiv.`4Part. Canada itself, from which so large a
141114 was derived, was once an importing colony.
titjer might be their decision, certain it was the
,could not end here, and - they would at some .
410t.ea,maY regret their refusal in the latter hour of un-
fits 4 repentance.g.ers were ordered to withdraw, and the House
When there appeared—
' For the motion 47
tit}' against
it . , 117
"c''k against the motion —7o
b_ FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS.
il (.ail of LINCOLN moved for leave to bring in
Ipitititi-J" the better prevention of damage by fire. The
tOotrn-' Merely moved for leave to introduce it
ck stating the provisions,which would come before
ih the future steps of the Bill.—Leave given.
414ir.4:%1Y.A—THE LATE DR. MORRISON.
143:04 *TAUNTON. rose fur the purpose of submit-
-044. Motion of which he had given notice—" That
I,;;'‘kes,n.-will, on an early day; resolve itself into a
i% of the whole House to consider of the fol-
Obr„:``Liciress to her Majesty'; that is to say, than an
1441.,dress be presented, to her Majesty, praying
*Ott -"ma' the .late Rev... Doctor Morrison, and his
Cf.
,tliam°n) the late Jelin Robert Morrison, rendered
i4ntMllie services in China, the former for a period
ttr,"s, aY.734 years, and the latter for a period of nine
),-i•otla:•"!1d successively -fell a sacrifice to their severe ex-
Vet ei,...lllthe • performance of their public duties ; and
death of the latter individual was pronounced
tOniket:elleney Sir .Henry Pottinger, her Majesty's
qbeeaainotla7 in China, in a public proclamation on
)ttaie„,n of his decease, ' a positive national calamity,'
I.),"vitit;;-',Y be graciously pleased to direct a suitable
he r kto-'rr.bc made fur the widow of the late Icier..
or of b. Ilion, and fur the other surviving m m
Its • 13 family; and to assure her Majesty,
tm.taia he House will make 'good the same.
iOtitilite Was very sensible that lie incurred great re-
is,7 4/NJ in making this appeal to the House. He
4,ltfctitai that such an appeal in favour of a private
the tthe house
not to be lightly hazarded. He could
irtiouse that lie would not have undertaken
he had not the strongest conviction that this
tii•Teetoif strop a character, that it could not be
tes.n'ttion.7ltout reflecting dishonour and discredit on
vv„,ltion, could speak from his own personal ob-
titind k, While serving in China, of the facts, which it
1111;41 4 cliis duty to submit to the liouse. The propo-
hovlWith ad to bring forward was strictly in accord:.
it b:d riot oatilie best precedents of their history. He
opiptt• heeiT,nee any of those precedents to show that
es toe •
sQz. ._ policy of this country, when great and
hat'Ned lice* bad been performed, when those who
the es Who'n,ein had sacrificed their lives to give the fa-
burvived them a claim on the gratitude of
th two
dirt'Re would shortly state, the history of
ino't brotighto,g_uisvhed individuit s whose case he
briginallurlaard. Morrison went to
-actno
.8 a -minister of the Gospel.
" 'er-destret.(l44kolauinent—or,employ-.

' merit; all he desired was, that he might be permitted to
exercise his sacred functions without interruption. But
he soon possessed himself of information highly im-
portant to the East India Company, which he served
most zealously for twenty-five years. At the same time,
he made no mercenary compromise with his own princi-
ples. He did not abandon the sacred profession to
which he had devoted his life, but continued, to his last
moments, as he had begun—a minister of the Gospel.
He united to the most ardent religious zeal the still
more rare quality of sound sense and discretion; so
much so, that he was enabled to exercise these two
offices without any detriment being sustained by either
of them. He had accompanied the Embassy of Lord.
Amherst to Pekin as interpreter, without receiving any
special remuneration for his services. Dr. Morrison
had accomplished two great literary works, to which he
would shortly direct the attention of the House. The
first was a most elaborate work. It was a Chinese and
English Dictionary.—(Hear, hear.) The East India
Company had considered these works of so much im-
portance, that they had granted a sum oflo,ooo/. towards
defraying the expenses of printing it in China. If it was
of so much importance at the time that only one port
was open to us in China, it became of tenfold importance
when we had four new ports opened to our commerce
and our enterprise, and that work was now in the hands
of every individual who was desirous of availing himself
of the improved state of our commercial relations with
China. That alone gave him a strong claim upon the
gratitude of his country.—(Cheers.) The other was a
work, the value of which could not be estimated in a
pecuniary or a commercial point of view, but it was a
work which had acquired for Dr. Morrison great celebrity
throughout Europe, and had earned for him the heartfelt
gratitude and admiration of a great body of persons in
this country—he meant the translation of the Holy
Scriptures into the Chinese language.—(Cheers.) This
work, he trusted, would, through the blessing of Provi-
dence, lay the foundation of the introduction of the bles-
sings of Christianity and civilisation into that immense
territory, by enabling its inhabitants--constituting, as
they did, one-third of the population of the world—to
read the word of God in theirown language.—(Cheers.)
At the end of 25 years after Dr. Morrison had entered
the service of the East India Company, their charter
expired, and Dr. Morrison would have been justified in
retiring when he would have been entitled to a pension;
there was at that time a fund from which that pension
would have been payable ; and if he had died in their
service his widow would have been entitled to a pension.
At that critical moment, however, his services were
considered indispensable, and be consented to transfer
those services from the East India Company to the
Crown without making any stipulations for himself
whatever. The first act of Lord Napier, on his arrival
in China, was to order Dr. Morrison to Canton, at an
unhealthy season of the year, and when the Doctor was
suffering from illness, to conduct that ill-advised nego-
tiation, to which he would not further allude. Dr. Mor-
rison ell a victim to the unhealthiness of the season in
the course of a few days. Lord Napier followed him to
the grave in about two months afterwards. He died in
the performance of his public duties. •He had lost his
claim on the East India Company by the trans-
fer of his services to the Crown ; and by the abo-
lition of the fund from which that pension would
have been paid. - -No specific allowance was made
by the Government to his widow and family,
but they did that which was equivalent to the granting
of pensions ; at least it would have ben so, had Provi-
dence spared the life of the son, whom they appointed
to the situation which had been held by his highly-gifted
father. This young 'man; although at that time only
twenty years of age, performed the duties which de-
volved upon him with singular ability and great zeal, but
hiS bodily Strength was not equal to the strength of his
mind, and he had obtained leave of absenee,-for the pur-
pose of- returning to England to recruit his health, when
the seizure of the opium placed us in hostility with the
Chinese, and, in consequence of the extraordinary crisis
which then arose with regard to our relations with the
Chinese, Dr. Morrison • felt it his duty to forego his
leave, and to remain in China. The war broke
out, and the necessity of having on the spot a secre-
tary who was acquainted, not only with the
language, but with, the habits and manners
of the Chinese, became every day more important. Dr.
Morrison, unfortunately for himself, but fortunately for
his fame, and fortunately for the benefit of the English
nation, remained. He lived to take an important part
in the negotiations for the treaty of Nankin; and when
it was recollected that Sir Henry Pottinger, although it
man of great ability, was ignorant of the Chinese lan-
guage, the necessity of having by 'his side. a man like
Dr. Morrison would be quite evident. When the treaty
was concluded, there was a general feeling throughout
the whole of the Anglo,Chinese community that some
honours and favours ought to be conferred on Dr. Mor-
rison; and Sir Henry Pottinger accordingly appointed
him one of the Legislative Council of Hong-Kong. He
was thus placed in a situation which would have enabled
him to assist his father's family. He had while he lived
remitted to them various small sums, and had given up
the whole of his share of his father's patrimony to
his sister. But while his family in England
were congrattilating themselves on his success, the cup
of- prosperity has suddenly dashed from their lips ; for,
a few days after his appointment, he was seized with the
fever of Hong-Kong, and fell a sacrifice to • it.—(Hear,
hear.) Sir Henry Pottinger had stated, in a proclama-
tion, that the loss of Dr. Morrison was a public and na-
tional calamity, and he trusted that it would be so felt
by his Sovereign and his country; and in a private letter
to him (Sir G. Staunton), Sir Henry Pottinger had said,
speaking of Dr. Morrison, that no man living could sup-
ply his place.—(Cheers.) He submitted that ho had
made out a case for the consideration of the House.
They were two iiidividuals, who had performed eminent
services, who had sacrificed their lives in the cause of
their country, and whose families, therefore, had a
claim upon that country.—(Cheers.) He did not bring
forward the case as one of destitution, except as far as
regarded the sister of Dr. Morrison, who was residing
at Newcastle, and who he understood was in a destitute i
state ; but with regard to the rest of the family,
although not in a state of destitution, he considered
that their means were totally inadequate to maintain
them in the station which they ought to occupy.—(Cheers.)
The. Hon. Gentleman ,concluded by moving his resolu-
tion.

Dr. Bowring and Sir John Hobhouse rose at the same
time, . for the purpose of seconding it. Dr. Bowring,
however, gave way.

Sir JOHN lI6BHOUSE did not. know if the forms
of the House would permit the motion of the Hon. Ba-'
ronet to be put without the consent of the Government.
If they would, he begged to second the motion, for he
could bear his testimony to the great and extraordinary
services of Dr. Morrison.—(Cheers.) They had heard
a statement of those services from the Hon. Baronet
who bad just sat down • and, if there was any one gen •
tleman in that House, who more than another was capa-
ble of justly appreciating those services, it
was the Hon. Baronet.—(Loud • cheers.) He had
hoped that thb Government would have found
some way of expressing their opinion of the eminent
sevices of these gentlemen. After what had fallen from
the Hon. Baronet,, he would not add one word more to
the nature of those services ; but if any one had read the
beautiful memoirs of Dr. Morrison, he would there see
the considerations which had induced him to continue in
his useful—his charitable—he might add, his Christian
career. The mantle of the father had descended on the
son ; and if the forms of the House would permit of it he
hoped that the appeal which had been made to the Right
Hon. Baronet opposite, to the Government, and to the
House, would not be made in vain.—(Cheers.)
Sir ROBERT PEEL must, in the first place, admit,
and he did so with the greatest pleasure, the justice of
the eulogium which had been pronounced by the Right
Hon. Baronet, and by the Hon. Gentleinan, on the cha-
racters of Dr. Morrison and his son. They had
both rendered eminent public services.—(Cheers.) They
had both been remarkable for the fidelity with which
they had performed their duties—(Cheers)—and those
two literary works of Dr. Morrisoh, the father, to which
the HOn. Gentleman had alluded, were Works, he must
say, which in the highest degree merited the public ap-
probation.—(Cheers.) Nothing could have been more
agreeable to his own personal feelings than to have ac-
ceded to the motion ; but there were• duties imposed
-upon public men, from the performance of which, they
must not shrink ; and he would ask ahem to consider
what must be the consequence of the interference of the
House with the granting of pensions to public ser-
vants. It had been the custom some years since, to al-
low pensions to the widows and,female relatives of those
civil servants of the Crown, who had died in the per-
formance of a public duty, but that custom had,for some
years past, been very properly discontinued.. No man
could fill the situation which he, Sir R. Peel, filled
without being aware how many cases were constantly
pressed by the widows and relatives of public servants
of the highest merit" and distinction, whose petitions it
was impossible to grant. In the whOle range of re-
venue services no pension was allowed to the widow or
relative of the deceaspd officer, even though .he died in
the service of his country. In the case .of a, clerk in a
public office, a man who had discharged his diity faith-
fully and assiduously for forty or fifty yettrs, and who
might die from over exertion in the discharge of
these duties, notwithstanding these claims not
a single farthing was allowed for his widow or rela-
tive. Parliament did not allow any provision' for such
persons. In the case of the army and navy the pension
granted to officers who died in the public service was
indeed very small, and the power very limited. Flag-
officers of the navy, after discharging their duty for
, many years, and who might have died in the service of
their country, could only hope for a pension not exceed-
ing 1201. dyear for their widows. In the case of a cap-
tain in the Marines who might die in action, the provi-
sion for his widow was limited to 2001 a year. In the
civil service the clerks got liberal salaries, but it was
expected they would themselves make provision for their
widows and families. If the House once departed from
the course hitherto acted upon, and established a pre-
cedent such as the present motion, if carried out, would
involve, they might depend upon it that they
would find
it very difficult to resist the numerous and powerful ap-
plications which would be constantly poured in upon
them. The House must take a comprehensive view of
the question and must look to the future. It became his
state to the House the circumstances of
dutythe
.to
present case, and if there were anything
' to warrant them in departing from the ordi-
nary usage. The Crown was not allowed more
than 1,2001. a-year at present for the purpose of granting
pensions, which was conferred on literary and scientific
men, and with the greatest possible regard to real
merit. He (Sir R. Peel) considered_tsarelalomweannt
allowance
scanty, but it was the allowance of
_l7l. lit.
Dr. Morrison,
hear.) Mrs. Morrison was the widow of
Crown, after mature and serious deliberation.—(Hear,
who died in 1834. She was not the mother of Dr. Mor-
rison who lately died in the performance of public duty
in China. The only immediate relative was the sister,
to whom the Hon. Gentleman had referred. Mrs. Mor-
rison was the widow of the father—the late Mr. Morri-
.
wai the son of a fOrOM tgokrocua -was

already in the receipt of a pension of 2001. a-year, which
had been conferred on her when the power of the Chi-nese establishment had been transferred from the East
India Company to the Imperial Government. She had
been previously in the receipt of 125/. a-year from the
East India Company. She was alloWed 251. a-year each
for the maintenance of her five children, which pension
of 251. a-year would continue until these children
reached the age of eighteen years. The salary of the
elder Dr. Morrison was 1,300/. a-year, and the
salary of his son, who had lately died, 1,200/.
a year, bat the East India Company and the Govern-
ment were of opinion, that the eminent services of
those distinguished individuals, entitled their relatives to
a liberal allowance. Mrs. Morrison was now in the re-
ceipt of 2001. a year herself, and 251. a year for each of
her five children. Nor had the case of her family been
overlooked by the Government. The Earl of Aberdeen
had appointed her eldest son to an Assistant-Secretary-
ship in China, of 162/. a year, lately increased to 300/.,
a year, and with a prospect of increase to 600/. a year.
—(Hear.) Lord Aberdeen signified to Mrs. Morrison,
that as soon as her second eldest son was fit
for a situation he would be forthwith appointed to
one with a competent salary. He thought he had con-
clusively shown that the Crown had not been in any
way indifferent to the interests of the family of Dr. Mor-
rison, and he believed that if the rejected claims of the
widows and relatives of several distinguished public ser-
vants were brought into comparison with the treatment
of the family of Dr. Morrison, the contrast would be
very favourable to the latter. The Government were
anxious to assist the family of the late lamented gentle-
man to the best of their ability, but, notwithstanding
that it gave him much pain to resist the motion, not only
on the ground of a personal respect for the character of
the lamented deceased; but of the eminent public ser-
vices he had rendered, still, filling the office he did, and
recollecting the pernicious and troublesome precedent
such a concession would establish, he must resist the
motion.

Mr. LYNDSAY was understood to say that he would
support the motion. Dr. Morrison was not only a bene-
factor to his country but to humanity, and after his
immediate wants had been provided for by the East
India Company, he established a college in Malacca, for
the instruction of foreigners in the Chinese language.
At the ago of eighteen Dr. Morrison was appointed to
act as interpreter to the East India Company, and most
ably did he perform the duties of that situation. Few
men possessed not only so good a knowledge of the
Chinese language, but few were so thoroughly ac-
quainted with the feelings and habits of the Chinese
people. He not not only acted as interpreter, but as the
confidential friend of Sir H. Pottinger, and he hoped the
Goverhment would not overlook - the claims of his
widow.
Sir G. STAUNTON replied. The only pro'rision
which Mrs. Morrison at present enjoyed was 2001. a year.
This was irrespective of the salary of the son. He
believed that the health of the son had suffered
in China, and it was probable he was now on his
way to this country. The prospect from this source
was, therefore, not very cheering. He would how-
ever leave the subject in the hands of the Govern-
ment, confident that the Right Hon. Gentleman would
do what was right. He would not press his motion to a
division.

Sir R. PEEL said that there were before him, at
present, 100 cases of other widows, whose relatives
performed important services to the country. Justice
should be done to all parties as far as it was in their
power. _ _

Mr. HINDLEY wished to know whether any lands
would be appropriated by the Government for the Morri-
son College.

Lord STANLEY said the subject was at present in
the hands, of the Governor of Hong-Kong, and till he
received his report he could not say anything upon it.
The motion was then withdrawn.
CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.

On the motion of Sir R. PEEL, the following Mem-
bers were nominated as the Select Committee on Con-
troverted Elections:—Lord John Russell, Lord Gran-
ville Somerset, Mr. Charles Buller, Mr. Wilson Patten,
Sir George Grey, Viscount Sandon, The O'Conor Don,
Mr. Pakington, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Charles
Wood, Sir William Heathcote, Mr. Loch, Mr. Wynn
and Sir Thdmas Fremantle.

The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at Eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
ST. JAMES'S PALACE, MAnex 22.

The Queen has been pleased, on 'the nomination of Lord
Forester, to appoint Edward Turst Carver, Esq., as one of her
Majesty's lion. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, vice Hamilton,
who retires.