The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-15 00:00:00

MA Y 15, 1850.

flourish Manchester!" An immense mass of the rural
population were suffering acutely; and, therefore, he
was not surprised that they sometimes gave vent to
strong language. These' people were not naturally
disloyal or impatient of control; but they could not
understand, in the midst of their anxiety and inability
to obtain employment, why the foreigner should be fa-
voured whilst the loyal and industrious labourer was
neglected at home. These very natural feelings of the
rural population ought net to be overlooked by her
Majesty's Ministers; and he could state, as a practical
farmer, that the continuance of the free-trade system
must prove most injurious, if not ruinous, to the agri-
cultural interests of the country.
Mr. SLANEY held views rather differing from those
entertained by gentlemen on both sides of the House.
He thought it would have been better if a moderate fixed
duty on corn had been maintained, as an equivalent for
the undue burdens of local and general taxation borne
by agriculture. That would also have been a convenient
mode of raising a part of the revenue. But after the long
struggle and the ultimate settlement of the corn-law
that had taken place, he hold that the present experi-
ment ought to be tried for some time longer. He attri-
buted the present depression of agriculture to extraordi•
nary and transitory causes, such as a season of unpa-
ralleled productiveness throughout all the corn-growing
countries of Europe, which was not likely soon to occur
again. He was not over sanguine in his anticipa
tions; he believed there would yet be very great
distress throughout the country, and whether or not
the energies of the British people would carry
them over their difficulties without a return t a
protective policy, he was not able to predict. Yet
he advised the agricultural interest to lay aide their
agitation for protection, and endeavour to remove
the shackles and impediments to the success of their
industry and enterprise arising from the complexity of
title and the costliness of conveyance; and he was sure
if they looked to the amelioration of the social condition
of the mass of the people, they would find that if the
great cities of the country prospered, it was impossible
for the landed interest not to flourish also. He admitted
the prevalence of distress in some of the rural districts.
but thought very little of it extended to the peasantry.
—(Hear, hear.) Certainly, in some of the southern
counties where abuses of the poor-law used to obtain,
the distress had reached the labouring classes; but in
the northern counties wages had not been reduced in
proportion to the reduction in the price of the necessaries
of life, and he understood the peasantry were as well, it
not better off now than they used to be.—(Divide.) For
the reasons he had stated, in all sincerity, he did not be-
lieve the present causes of agricultural distress were of a
permanent character; but if that distress continued un-
abated until the next session, he for one should be pre-
pared to reconsider the present system of commercial
policy, with the view to establishing a fixed duty on corn
as an equivalent, but no more than an equivalent, for
what might be found, on inquiry, to be the peculiar
burdens on land.
The Marquis of GRANBY said he was not surprised
at the present motion, because there was a reaction of
feeling against free trade amongst persons of all classes
and professions in the country.—(Hear, hear.) The
tenantry of the country, one and all, declared that it
was impossible ti cultivate the land under the present
prices for agricultural produce. But if the case of the
farmers of England was bad that of the same class in
the sister island was still orse—(Eiear. hear)—and it
would have been much better if the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government, instead of lowering the
franchise to the level of the distressed condition of the
people, ha 1 endeavoured to raise the people to the level
of the franchise.—(Hear, hear.) But the evil was not
confined to the tenant-farmers. The agricultural labourers
came in for their share. It was no wonder, then, that
the labouring classes were beginning to feel the effect
of their free-trade measures, and to perceive that cheap-
ness did not always mean plenty, and that competition
did not mean prosperity.—(Hear.) He believed that the
labourers in the manufacturing districts were coming
round to the same opinion. The Hon. Gentleman who
last addressed the House said that the prosperity of the
landed interest depended on the prosperity of manufac-
tures. lie (the Marquis of Granby) admitted that, but
he maintained that the converse of that proposition was
equally true, that the prosperity of manufactures depended
on the prosperity cf agriculture. The manufacturers
were beginning to find that the home market was not
only the largest, but the most important and secure. It
was said that the price of corn was rising, and that a
better state of things might be expected. Why, it was
only in the Times of that day he read that the average
price of wheat for the week ending May the 4th was
only 365. el throughout the country.—(Hear.) Under
such a state of things, of what advantage was it to the
farmers of the country that the price rose sixpence one
week, and a shilling another?—(Hear.) But was it not
the object of free trade to make provisions as eheap as
possible?—(hear) The Noble Lord admitted the fact of
distress, but he led them to hope that at some distant and
imaginary period prices would rise; so that the defence
of free trade now set up by the Government was
that at some future day it would be inoperative.—(Hear,
heat.) His Hon. Friend had been tauntel for not bring-
ing forward this question himself; but from the present
spirit of the House of Commons, and from the tone and
temper of the Government since the commencement of
the session, when the first insult had been offered to the
agricultural interest to the moment when the Noble Lord
gave hie answer to the deputation which recently waited
upon him, his Hon. Friend had no right to suppose that
that House would sanction any alteration of the present
system, more especially when it was remembered bow
the moderate proposition of his Hon. Friend for'eharg-
ing the consolidated fund with a portion of the poor rate,
and that of the Hon. Member for Orrordshire (Mr.
Henley) had been received.—(Hear, hear.) He rested
his reliance for the reversal of their present policy not on
the decision of that House, but on the force of public
opinion out of doors.—(Hear.)
Sir B. HALL said, if it were possible to suppose that
a person, nut a Member of that Houle, could come there
that evening and ask what the subject under discussion was,
and be told it was the great anti important question of
the corn-laws, about which so much had been heard and
said outside that House, he (Sir B. Hall) thought that
individual would be very much astonished at the little
interest manifested within these walls on the subject;
and probably if that same stranger—whom it was impos-
sible to suppose present—should be asked on which side
the Protectionist Members sat, he might, drawing his
own conclusions, reply that they sat on the right of the
' chair and not on the left.—(Laughter.) The majority
in the House that evening sat on the right of the
chair; and therefore it might be supposed that
those who took an interest in the matter had come
down in large numbers to support tho agricultural in-
terest, then more or less involved in the motion before
them, and which emanated from that side of the House
also.—(hear, hear.) But let them go further. He (Sir
B. Hall) had sat there during the whole of the debate; and
observed that during the addresses of the three last
speakers—particularly that of the Noble Marquis who
represented to a great extent the agricultural interest in
the midland counties—the largest number at the oppo-
sition side of the House amounted to 27, and fluctuated
between that and 17.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore was it
net a perfect farce for these lion. Gentlemen during, the
recess to go amongst their constituents, stimulating them
to opposition, and styling themselves "the farmers'
friends," yet, when the question came to be decided
within the walls of Parliament, out of a body of be-
tween 200 and 300 Protectionist Members who
affaeted to advocate the interests of their deluded
followers—(llear, hear)—not more than from 17 to 27
lion. Gentlemen were found in their places.—(Hear,
hear.) If the Members of the Manchester school had
adopted that course out of the Howe, and had not the
moral courage to bring forward their propositions and
take the sense of Parliament on them; they (the Pro-
tectionist Members) would have lavished their censure
on them, and demanded of them why they went abroad
stimulating the minds of the public, making them dis-
satisfied, and yet, though affecting to be the friends of
the people, fearing to bring the question at issue before
the sense of Parliament.—(Hear.) The Noble Marquis
who had just addressed the House expressed his gratifi-
cation at the fact that the first political wave broke from
the Ministerial side of the House. Well, the farmers
out of doors had long been looking for the bursting
of a wave from the opposite aide, but could never
succeed in seeing even a ripple, so that they should
hold themselves indebted to an lion. Member on
the Ministerial side fur ,;,frording an opportunity to bring
forward the question.—(Hear, hear.) What he (Sir B.
Hall) then said he spoke not alone for the House, but
also for those outside its walls; because he considered it
a farce and a mummery for Hon. Gentlemen to go
amongst their constituents and get up a clamour, and
then allow three years of a Parliament to pass over
without ever endeavouring to bring forward the ques-
tion.—(Hear, hear.) Ho thought a man making an as-
sertion outside that House should at least have the
moral conrage to fulfil his word.—(Hear, hear.) Now,
let them look at the position of the metropolitan Mem-
bers, who, being anxious to repeal the window-tax, con-
sequently brought forward a motion to that effect every
session.—(Hear.) The Protectionist Members, on the
contrary, went amongst their friends and supporters as-
suring them they would advocate the renewal of the corn-
laws. Yet session after session went over, and the ques-
tion was never brought forward. The case of the Hon.
Gentleman was somewhat similar to that of the re-
peelers of the legislative union, in fact, pari passe. The
repeaters of the legislative union professed that repeal
was everything with them; but yet, strange to say, they
never brought it forward.—(Hear. hear.) In 1833 it
certainly had been brought forward; but, between that
period and 1848, there was a single Conciliation Hall
Member found to bring it forward?—(Hear, hear.) In
11148 the question of repeal: was brought on by a gen-
tleman representing an English borough, and who was
at perfect variance with the repealer'. The case of the
Protectionist gentleman was precisely similar.—(, No,
no," from the Opposition benches.) Well, what had
they done? Would they rouse the people without an
object, a definite object?—(Hear, hear.) What was that
object but to amend the laws?—(Hear, hear.) Where
could they be amended sinless on the floor of that House
by argument and plain speaking; and if they intended to
amend them otherwise why not say so? That House
was the proper place for discussion; and the question
was then brought on for discussion, not by the consent
of lion. Gentlemen opposite, but because it was forced
upon them from the Ministerial side of the House.—
(Hear, hoar, and No, no.) Now they could not
deny this fact, that when the question was brought for-
ward that evening they could not muster more than
twenty-seven Members; and if Hon. Meml era on his
(Sir B. Hall's) side of the House chose to walk out, lion.
Members opposite would have the House counted, so
that they should be thankful to gentlemen Bitting on the
Ministerial benches for keeping a House for them,—
(Laughter, and " Hear, hear.") He would not then
enter into the question beyond saying that they would
have an opportunity of testing the votes of Hon. Gentle-
men opposite; and he hoped when these gentlemen
would tell their constituents in future that they were
prepared to bring forward this great and important

question they would do so in reeity, and not. leave to an
Hon. Member on the Ministerial benches the perform.
ance of so important a duty.—(Hear, ar.)
Mr. MILES said the Hon. Baronet who had just sat
down assumed much to himself, and pleased to draw a
compariso❑ between Hon. Members who advocated pro-
tection and those who supported a repeal of the legisla-
tive union. Now, he wished to know why the Hon. Ba-
ronet had never attacked the repeal question until after
the originator of that question had been removed from
the House of Commons?—(" Hear, hear," frcm the Ode
position benches.) No, the Hon. Baronet preferred wait-
ing until the originator of that question had succumbed
to disease and ceased to be a Member of that House;
and then it was that he stepped in and derided Hon.
Members for Ireland for not having brought forward
the question.—(Hear, hear.) The question of the
corn-laws was argued in 1846, since when a ❑ew Par-
liament had been returned in fevour, he would admit.
of free-trade principles.—(" Hear, hear," from the Mi•
niaterial benches.) There was no doubt that the
decision of the country was in favour of free trade—
(Hear, hear)— but they shiauld wait for a re-action, and
it was quickly coming.—(Oh oh, and Hear, hear )
The Hon. Baronet had taunted the opposite side of the
House because no proposition had etuanwed from it for
a restoration of pro ection to agriculture; but he could
tell him that whenever a motion should emaciate from
that side of the House it w :uld include a recurrence to
the full and entire system of protective duties, which
he and Hon. Gentlemen on his side believed to be nor
alone advantageous, but absolutely necessary to the wel-
fare of the British people.—( Hear, hear.) The time
was not distant when the watchword would be, " Bide
your time, and trust in ut"—(Laughter)—and he
doubted not that in the next Parliament they would
come forward with an amended ciinstituency a, well as
a large majority in that Howe to re-adjust the dis-
organised and disrupted interests of the country.
Mr. MITCHELL said the best proof that could be
given of the well working of the corn-law repeal was
the benefit that the operative classes experienced by the
change.—(Hear, hear.) The consumption of bread
stuffs had increased one-third; and if wages fell in pro-
portion to the price of food, who consumed the increase?
By the repeal of the corn-laws they had enabled the
working people to consume ono•tbird more bread than
heretofore, and so far the working cusses were per-
manently benefited.—(Hear, hear.) Now he thought
that was the very highest tribute that could ba paid
free trade; and he believed it was one of the causes that
kept England tranquil during the late continental out-
breaks.—(Rear, hear.) In the corn trade he had heard
of attempts made to induce the farmers to sacrifice their
property : and in several cases they had submitted to
low prices, for which they might thank the language
employed by their organ (the Marh-lane Express)
and the harangues and incentives of the leaders of their
party.—(Hear, hear.) He was certain that these
gentlemen had induced the farmers to part with their
grain some 3s. or 4s. a quarter less than it would bring
within the last fortnight, in which time he had observed
an increase of some ss. per quarter had taken place. His
own impression was, that instead of a re-adieu taking
place, the prices, as the weather improved, would ad-
vance to 455. a quarter for wheat, which was an excel-
lent price for farmers to sell at.—(Hear, hear, and
No, no.) Indeed, he had no doubt that 455. per
quarter were equal to 60a. per quarter in former days,
considering the altered prices in other ex.: ides of con-
sumption—meat, sugar, and so forth.—(Hear, hear.)
He was glad to see the Hon. Member for Wakefield in
his place, as he wished to allude to a matter that had
reference to him. He understood that Hun. Gentleman
had purchased 1,000 quarters of wheat, which he said
was Stettin, at a certain price which appeared to be ex-
ceedingly low for such an article. Now he (Mr. Mitchell)
understood that it was not Stettin wheat but Pomeranian
or e,icilian, which accounted for the low cost of the arti-
cle, including shipment to this country.—(Laueliter.)
Mr. G. SANDARS, who rose amid teseewed laughter,
said the Hon. Gentleman opposite had charged him with
having by his statements caused an undue depreciation
i❑ the prices of corn in the agricultural districts of the
country. He said then as he said formerly, that his only
object was to give information to that House, and to lay
a true statement of the facts before the House and the
country. The Hon. Gentleman had referred to a pur-
chase of Stettin wheat, and alluded to it as though it
were a single and solitary transaction. But if he looked
to the correspondence in the various newspapers of the
period he would find not only was it not a solitary tran-
saction, but that several merchants of Mark-lene bought
at the same and even at lower prices than he did.—
(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman had also referred
to the grain as being of inferior quality. He believed
the Hon. Gentleman did not deal extensively in corn,
or that ho could tell the difference between Silesian
and Pomeranian wheat if placed before him.—
(Laughter, and Oh, oh.) The order which he (Mr.
Sanders) sent out, was for the best Stettin wheat,
of 61 to 621bs. to the bushel, and he would leave it to
Honourable Gentlemen to say if that description should
not be regarded as the very best. The order was ex-
ecuted with great satiefaction, and the prices at Wake-
field market, about the period of the arrival of that corn,
were from 375. to 38s. But the Hon. Gentleman had
said that in consequence of the policy of tree trade being
carried out consumption had increased by one-third.
Never was there a more preposterous statement made.
He should like to ask the Hon. Gentleman from *hence
this extra one-third had come? It wa• tree that in
1849 we imported largely—we imported 5,600,000 quar-
ters of wheat; but the Hon. Gentleman forgot tha„ the
harvest of 1848 was unusually defective, and it would
requ►re two or three millions of quarters at least to
make up the deficiency; and if they took into conside-
ration the large quantity exported to Ireland that year,
instead of our importing from that country as usual,
another million of quarters might be accounted for; and
to this the wheat brought into consumption in conse-
quence of the failure of the potato crop, and the whole
five or six millions was made up.— (Cheers from the
Free-trade party.) We imported this large etnount of
wheat not to supply extra consumption, but t i make
up the deficiency which had arisen from these
causes.---(" Hear, hear," from the same Reny.)
The I-ion. Gentleman then proceeded to quote returns of
the price of wheat at the various Europea❑ and Ameri-
can cor❑ exporting ports, to show that the average price
at which corn could be shipped abroad was much lower
than had been stated by the previous speaker (Mr. Mit-
chell). An authority which was regarded as a text
book by the Free-traders, had stated that 525. 2d. was
the just average price of wheat, and what the farmer
got more than that was so much gain to him, and what
be got less so much loss.—(Herr, hear.) The Hon.
Gentleman to whom he alluded (Mr. Wilson) also said
that it was quite erroneous to suppose that free trade
would reduce the price of food, but, on the contrary,
would tend rather to increase it by raising the prosperity
of the country and increasing the demand; but there was
no symptom of that prediction being verified. With re-
spect to the motion before the Reuse, he was iu some
.difficulty what course to take. He could not agree that
it was wise to bring on the question at this tme for dia
cussion.—(Hear.) He understood the Hon. Mover (Mr.
G. Berkeley) to say that free trade had now been tried
three years, and that that was sullicient to test its-suc-
cess or failure. The Hon. Gentleman mast, however,
remember that although the Act passed in 1846 it did
-not come into operation until 1849.—(Heir.) lip to
that time the law was a sliding scale, ranging from 10s.
downwards; so that instead of three years, the present
law had only been in operation fifteen mouths. He ad-
mitted that he had promised at the hustings to give
free trade a fair trial, and as he could not consider that
such fair trial hal yet been allowed, he did not see how
he could vote for this motion. Much had been said in
the course of the debate of the low prices of 1833; but
there was this great and wide difference between that
year and the present—it was-true the price of wheat did
not vary much in the two years, but in all other agri-
cultural produce there was a wide difference-in favour of
the year 1635. The average price c-f wheat in 1835 was
395. 4d. The present average—that was the average of
the last six weeks—was 375. Bd.; but of barley the aver-
age in 1835 was 295. l Id. against 225. 9d. now.—(" Hear"
from the agriculturists.) The price of ea's in 1835 was
225. ld.; it was now 15a. In rye, peas, beans, and other
produce, there was a similar falling off in the present
prices as compared with those of 1835. Again, it muss be
recollected that the year preceding 1835 had been one
of general abundance, and the low prices were conse-
quent on that abundance—but now we had low prices
following deficient harvests. With regard to the price o -
Stettin whet, he could tell the lion. Member for Britt

port that purchases had been made at a lower rate than
that which had been quoted. The Hun. Gentleman then
quoted a latter from a Free-trader, stating that a ss.
fixed duty would be fair to the farmer, and would not

press more heavily on the consumer than the present
nominal duty of Is. He was anxious the House should
consider what might be the result of free trade with a
deficient harvest, when we might have to look to foreign
countries for, perhaps, one-third of our whole supplie,.
Four-fifths of all our imports last year came from Euro-
pean ports, and let it once bo known that we were wholly
dependent upon them fur so large a proportion of the
food of our people, and they would take care that we
paid high enough for it.—(Hear, hear.) He would sew
goat that some alteration should be made in the mode of
taking the averages. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by
quoting a return, showing that under the sch and 6th of
Victoria, we imported in two years 400,000 vartera of
wheat which paid 20s. duty. and that the average price
must then have been about 50s. per quarter.
Mr. WILSON remarked that the Hun. Gentleman
who had just sat down had done him the honour to refer
to the opinion he had expressed in 1840 with respect to
a 525. average as the average price for seven year 4 pre-
ceding. Now, it would not have been fair in 1835 to
have quoted the price of that year as an average. I.
the year 1835, the price of wheat was under 40s. for 36
weeks, and the average price of wheat under 40s in
1849, was but for •16 weeks. The present time must,
however, be considered an exceptional period, and the
price of corn for the last few months could not be, there-
fore, taken as the probable average price for any length-
ened space. The Hon. Gentleman fat quoted from
several letters to prove that the price of corn ranged
lower now than at any period preceding; but he (Mr.
Wilson) had also letters in his posses.ion which show« d
that in every great market on the continent of Europe
the price of wheat had risen within the last fortnight from
Is. to 2s. 6d. It was, however, a remarkable circum-

stance that the Honourable Gentleman had quoted prin-
cipally hom letters dated the 9th of April—trom none
Ist-r than th• 15th. Then, with respect to home
prices, the authorities and quotations of the Hon.
Gentleman were at least three weeks old. He (Mr.
Wilson) held in his hand a return received that day
from some of the largest markets in the kingdom for
the last four weeks, and they showed a different result.
At Canterbury, for instance, four weeks since wheat was
38s. 7d.; last week, however, it was 40s the quarter.
At Lincoln, four weeks ago, it was 375., while last week
it was 395. Bd.; and he bad in his possession a letter from
a large grower in Berkshire, in which it was stated that
a fortnight previously the writer could get no more than
40e. for his best wheat, whereas last week he easily ob-

---------—
tow
trailed 449. The Hon. Gentleman had alluded
I,
..,0,,
,node of taking the averages. It was, hovrevei.l;:ic
important to consider the great question under of
to its general teat ings than to consider it in its
selffL
dual action; and therefore he should confine bin ,Jet
that form of disco-sing it. He was made tcvottc
with the Hon. Gentleman opposite that there aa_stinefie
the country at this rnorneat that universal Pro kee
which every Hon. Member on either side of wee,' er
would wish ; but then the re was this worelcril 'tit
tinction between the suffering undergone D"' irrlf lr
underwent in former times—thet whereas form, oof `be
ruff ring was all cenfire d to the working porticoievel
population, the poor, at press nt it was felts 0 A
the higher and middle classes.—(Loud cries tOO 0
no," and "Hear, hear.") An Hon. Gen Beet
other side of the House said that the elee'trithe 09'1
all, would have to be settled on the ground To OW
rests of the working classes ; on that gretin".eitO
Wilson) was willing to meet it, and to ii!t. Is,
test of the condition of that class to its; settler:l,3;o,o;e
January last, long before the Hon. Member,:Gerefs'
shire had made his motion on the subject, 9
I in returs''
rnent had laid upon the toile of the /louse certsoisoe el
untryfut
showing the state of pauperism in the whole cr
the first week of the present year, in cernPs ore I
.he similar period in the three precedieg
oYeeer, thi,s,
Noble Lord in the other House suspecting, h°,,,le t° ,th"
rbese returns were of a nature too fae°ll:ddie of ef
Government, moved for returns for them `eafeeer °„
pest quarter. These returns showed the ;of le
paupers receiving out-door relief and .n'cloo end ill
England and Wales in the middle of Febriorl):'of the'
was the result. In the corresponding 'Yee
I.
years there were:—
tr, ts
Out-door Paupers. In-door PauPerg' 903.00
1847 ... 729,000 ~. 179,000 e* eese,,
1848 ... 824,000 169.000 ••• 943e'v"
1849 ... 784,000 ... 159,000 e• seleuv:,o
1850 ... 748,000 ... 142,000 e wheet "of
So that in the vaunted year of 1848, Vibe° Dumber ;00
1003. per quarter, there ware a far gresterd depreitei
paupers than in the present year of allege
otintreii,j
and distrese, and the total pauperism of ttleie a
otie °tt
been reduced from 993,000 to 890,000. .o°4 et toe
deny, therefore, that whoever were sufferleieee ill
moment from the change that had takes era cai,i.fl
commercial policy of this country, the Ptold bill
were not those persons. They had been the 09,4
Honourable Member (Mr. G. Berkeley) Ili: preiiict;:e
was disappointed of that immediate prnsPeiopoull, ,t
by the Free-traders.—(Hear.) Could ithiPte
Members overlook one of the great callseld they the
this moment affected the middle classes? CI 6 for as
discover one great cause iu the years et ottiee:oll
tier, and
mamischief.Ha had been told thc"."-, IT
ele O° ;WI
the rest Lincolnshire, tusl Well
not name a person who had not suffered pfd OA° 0
speculations.—(Oh, oh; no, no.). Mind 119 epe 010'4
rcshiairwgseystb;e agricultural classes with havitSgree liestesrfor
short all thheegwreaastatowwarnes tihnatthLe i vat
ho eviVreii;;l3:sooo
more, engaged in the same kind of 9el),e,et"-teeng",ool
were those in agricultural counties ! Beat
'Se
might be so, it was impossible to blind theillisbet I" 19
fist that this was one of the great causes of trade' er
ing which had been wholly charged to ithe'etec'iett
had been furnished by the Secretary of thers ,fe'
change with this statement :—ln 1840 r'eeeo 'lee
147,000 men employed on railroads. At Ere.(i reesee
were only 45,000 men—so they had 100''' tin. 0
employed now than before, owing the t'
r°
of the construction of railways £lon " d 4°ll
lire'
181
61,110°00,0
nine main lines, which had expended 51elrjt0 °lti4 I
which had an income of 2.700,0001. In 511850 tees
lines had expended 102,000,0004, and theifhpl--/ be ;to
2,200,0001., being 500 000/. less than when feh-e, eel" iota
expended 51,000,000/. Therefore it migbC ea* 0'
~i,"011 r,_ ,e ,
51.000,0001. had been recently expended "eel 0 P 6 -,1[33"
absolutely unproductive. This alone oeg"'eeeeitig"ll.o
clueive reason for a great portion of that In" The or
which the country was now labouring' inebee,o
Gentleman (Mr. Sanders) alluded to the drh Jest ille°
portation of grain in this 'ecmpared e4t-efie 4'oo
Nothing could more strikingly show the hene 'bets ill
trade. The lion. Member told the Ilcuspae eenAll
harvest was defective in 1838, and in COis—af f'reo
had an importation of 5,510.000 quarterstrde eel
corn. Why, what other object bad fee harte3,.
this ? Then the Hon. Gentleman said the el e°-fril
year had been larger, and the importatioes free!!ire
quently fallen off. This was the very Ate,. ie,
'sought to accomplish—to equalise the scald ill f 41(
trade did that it attained the object it - fleeistedell
They had been asked what evidence Three 2,,00
increased consumption durin the list
,-61 t'lleS
He found during the last sixg months that 'fill
1,000,000 more quarters had been it°Pb°e. citiltl),,
in the corresponding period last Yesir'„,,,. pticgiAltir
idnuerrienags edt
h.O
iThesst
bix
months
of home-grown wheat taken into cons"- oboe'
quartersbe etiOte
been taken into consumption than during tiotle,to;
ponding six months of the previous year' enel s';,eeee
1in,26h9i5,0701(..i°139 ril°re
rlf
bers and other parties, from their own Pers—ereererilv
tions, and from inquiries of bakers, havee„a ples',ole,
th,d, a larger consumption of bread had tssae,--0,,,,,,,
year compared with former times. be, '',-ieb ',I!
man (Mr. Berkeley) had stated that the Diirolle,ll;heP
would be undermined by the United States' ae 01;4'
his hand an account of the sale of four carg%esec',isli
from America. The accounts were genuine trite ere"pi
not hypothetical calculations. The cargol, ,bel6'
51
bushels each; the loss on the voyage was 357ht1edi°.1111,4(
cost of bringing the wheat here and the lossaed Of 07
carsglf(rorn,d,uitwethsch,wii
tuuael
per quarter to the selling price. The reselt:dece",°e:
sthameper.icNeoatwkbeY the
'l4.-
'l4'
°'
York °,:rioV,ll,ls
t.beSsoo,letadding the cost of ;09; icieeiotel
per quarter. The caitrcaumpsrtoafinetebserhae alit'o°,,(°te:ri
sw6ostild account for the fact that at the Preile• Seeior'
fl. ur was no less than 30. per barrel dearer li°l etre,'
leans than at Liverpool. The four cargoes ti,3.eiiii,cel(lll4,
los*. One cergo the cost was 9351.; 03951'04v lit
714/ ; so the loss was 2211. The second i cAv oP;
4551.; the third 237/.; and the fourth 2SS'earl digest
Members must further bear in mind in t 9
Agra eel"
scii❑wheat.
infhneeeodaatrl nearly
States, tea
wheat was bought in America when prices:, feie ft
than now, and sold here at a time when, t"a-et siti'etcillj
4s. higher. If then, the present prices did e-ie etl7o`",
WAS his belief that we should see a considetvotehtere
of wheat shipped from Eng!and for the eOrif° Jengee'et
the people of the United States. (Roars °•0 siefite
Hon. Members laughed; but we hid done ~,"ere efel
though lion. Members did not seem to be 9d ol,),e0
fact. The Hon. Member (Mr. Saunders) „illee,,)ee:, 1
to taking the averages of the last ten or t"hon'to iv 1
He could not understand why this objection 6 bol - orl
arid why the Hon. Member should wish tog ° noll P.' 1
year 1825. The Hon. Member was. perhee'tfeee'crt
that the condition and character of the e°l-theninte;
very much changed of late years. 'ln the, ; eared E.,
winces, fur instance, which once produceu;n-orefP-Qt,":
CGTD, there was now no surplus, owing to —ijorPa r%
puldtion and increased menufacturea. Thee,3ool; Itj'e
tleman saie, under free trade we should st'eoliet" elf,-
duction, and so we should have increased sji`won'',6
abroad. If they gave higher prices thel,d ooqolehe
increased eireign cultivatione' but this Fps' the 9/Lefr,
if higher prices were not gion. Ifso, the"mtvor!,re,`/: '
the data on which he had based his eideticbiers'', tee.i'l
last ten or twelve 3 ears were correct; and rigiPo'',o
less you increased your prices, you had 13`,ci 009,00,„e
Feet increased importations. All he leewooO— P- of P-d,
was a most unfair, a most unwise thing for bad --0"
~,,i dr es
attempt to say that the experience we 1-00 'Vetere(
trade presented a satisfactory solution oft" to 'reef-,
He denied this was so. He was not conte°,ege,f,,lfsf
years 1848-49 as a fair criterion of the ave-nern`,-fer",
tiwnhhaelattnieny distress,
wte
future,nraet
at whenhf
the
wworking
y theyesr s
asgacolwa:_sse(wssili.et)kereleisiffijoeobeonee'o,v l'ioirie:s:ie,e;
bers did not pay regard to returns, he -- e test-, of d,
criterion by which the question could he re on'olfrif
returns from the poor-law unions, which:v:l.ol4f, te
control or influence of Government, ant! ^b r‘e 1.09 co
thorities, were the authorities on whic'em- be e P a." t.,!3„/
any better could be produced, hew o°'",reli -trje; r
adopt them; but till that was done he tausveteeefirlo
we had. *Whatever might be the defects e,;3 IV,: of 11
whatever the consequences which bed ticicr-a ofti`" l'e
prices—still he maintained lir3g P e 1)11'
the vror 1 0,
kingdom were better off in e et tic
very !lope fer
0 ° Os
were in former times. ' - A bee oL f
Mr. HERRIES said that the d hst- e tr°
eme
debate
,I come lif ed/
tile in admissions, he hoped they woul- son, f $1)1,
common agreement on the subject. The fete gfroteir'i
(Mr. Haetie) said that if the present so° 0 Or ,
continued for three years he would b,,,ec,° 610:1 etitia '
tionist, while another Hon. Member (fro f 0;40,4
he would have objected to the rePe,9`,eoseash,eero,.
laws, on the ground that aprotective uo'i of Woo 0
for the agricultural interest, by roast, 1004,01
burdens to which it was subjected. ViluYeet e. reel
very essence of protection.—(Cheere.) i the,eeei
the climed, namely an indemnification ° lest 'oosse
k It
burdens
The Hon. Gentleman who sr-tbeet,9orehe re
into a very elaborate statement to 811°11rwoultpd es thY
the t4,mes were now depressed, the'', i,. red ceiof
better', by which he meant better Prike,:ayea ,00401
ever such inconsistency, seeing that t,"„" eorafern!",eo
of those who advocated a free trade "4,0 o°„'ool'air
prices and abundance of food. That "be peer
411
should withhold their consent to tea e'er')
before ~the House, he confessed e'S fern; 1,1,0 t
prised, reeollecting as he did that ()n al 1110, 05
morable occasion the Noble Lord of 6.
v)ir,
del fjord I
of the Government proposed a fixed f 4, 01
gob e his
1,0
answer given upon the subject by the -we Vnble' 11, r
delegates. who recently waited on him ill; P.:"o#, ire
Herries'e) opinion, wholly inconclusive.
oicierata,l oeleee
said that witheut going into other e°11„, that "I„,heir`ee
posing the price of corn to he 585., a la tatten;„ 0 ,ie;
duce the average to 50e. would be we'eld reis"red the,
if the price were 429., the law which wo-oeobeciati re
425. to 50s. would be ill taken. But he
ed r
ou 10' folr elf
the Noble Lord at the time he proposonly 000 °lice
mitted his opinion to be that 565. ,W ilttir i6t3l3obi IC /1
muuerating price for corn. The agrlee be oe tent ilis
demanded 503. Why then should they
tot 00,0 tit r?
to relieve the agricultural interest t° bajoe the
raise the price of corn to 505., being 63' As Or 00°0°
Noble Lord admitted was a fair price. ,otelle eat es
seet law being only an experiment, he
the' tonibeesti.
from this propoeition. Almost froen eats rd
Act
e es, sr
Act came into force its deplorable
_, the 'bee;
visible upon the agricultural ieterestste' :rieiteotoev,
woof
o 1 e
All that was now done wee, teture,,, 0 ,
to confide in the prophecies 0, A to u.,',01,b.,,r
but he, for oue, was certainly indispose' , too de le
nark,' e 1
cause the vast prophecies of the same e_oo marshes ite
fulfilled. He believed there were n°core ) o;
in oor , 1
pointed with the results of tree trade
e._...( 9 r on.;
advocates , f the measures theenselv - 0 in ° ot ' el'
a perm)
~freete ,ielt of
believed also that 'hoe was "t
office who, if he could have foreseen tee
_l. the `;_,o4
ourage, or .., r 00;
measure, would have had the c seor, e ee,",
: the redo 00
ncNe, to have supported it. W
r.,0
its operation the prices of egriculeur% 0p 4
ore WS
fallen 20, 25, aye, 30 per cent.

---------•
—.--,e
had alluded toll°
1 W 35,. however, Or!
non under nisenoit
'jeer it in its Wile'
ld confine himself 14
was rcady to ploi
that there MIS DO.it
universal prosper!
er skit' ofthe l-10110
this wonderful 3,1'
!rgone now and
rlyf ii
tbi;
berets forme'/
)rking portion o
)
it was felt soley!
'Loud cries if "Y.
i. Gentleman on ib
the questions or
e ground of tbe irle'
hat ground be (fir'
and to sprlll',''
O its settlemint. J!
I. 31ember for Bela.
I, the Gore
louse• certain returs,
be whole country fir
in comparison oilli
)recedisg yetiro. Al
'cling, nowever, 001
00 favoursble to the
or them iddle of IV,
ved the nutsber 01
nd in-door rklitf ig ,
f February, and Ibil
ding week of tboe

Do!'
Paupers. 900°1)
000
995,,
)o 945,uvv
Jo 890,
cumber of
s, when umber,
greater,
°e,.,resO:
f allegea utiortry yid
n of the a
be cs
No 0 I pia
900. • to
Suffer„a°
.0
„lace ~.01
takellc,forer CIP
the P told bloirf
ad beeat licled
ley) thits, pre „D:e
prosy 110000 11000o;at
Could
a, !chic 0
at cats:ald 111 :11°
see? 45 6fo
Ara 18. 000 01,11
d that nit
1° ilOl
tlll.OO 0° 011
iff ereu bol dit
find be eel° r
havieF,PP„chesle,.'g
ow
pool, tsg or
th were 010 n 00
of EFueut theegpo 110
Rd,u_roelrell6er
tngeof Sc
shitjej,
ause._,,e to
to ScOP fief°
y Of LP tbell Ibel
A ..ege
pllit e
1848 10
t en e
L
0
d 1°100
,c 0001)
) the 6" tber°,
n 184 00,00°°1
A 51,0 ro the 00
In 18'). If
ales bey to, i
when on' jot;
t migb,ft
to
eo
;mti rem et
ded s
u
ojd
oug"oriet; 14.0
thia 1111 The is'
) the 11;1:ri itt9tiprO
et he bee
the Ile", 00
le n 0003 „ono
cense4of fjr4
„
quart*: trade
4110
d frev wage oe'
aid the, had
'toie
rtati.o.tic
et free
b„
tut 4 P;%tste'oti
idence bre° )'OO
listthat th°oo
en '
wthi
:00 a°laa
,be 9 0 b
year, ow Alp;
cons e boo Vs
°aes. ion s ,core fir
rter° oo°
qua. •
tbe 0,
during tioe',,,etll;
per eßocerl:ol
;111
have
hadhen Geo
The x 1 bl'd~
01 0, 0
the D'l'kle 1'; tfl'
States. „grit
tv.,
ir ea' "v.oo°)
4,32..,
mule° wet° 17
ear g'°°°,,obein6;,°'
-as 35' ,ded
be(
.05 of t 000 i
reStilt lot 0CC44,i1
'Y the 00 at
,w 'for rrio•
ost et ,Calb
r lel!otti
t be& I,o'oo
ceS heat 01°4 Of:,
be preliv" .' or'
dearer
00 I
ja `4
01°1 0
argues rodsc IF
06°40°'
,eoond -;1111(
2354;i1d
I in °l'were,,,
priCe3to prirter,:,
rherl.l not opii
es ch" hie o°,oo
asicle
ot',,jover''
;he Cof lefreodi;
)ars so A
of,
re
tad
to be ;id 01,e0•
.0;
Jers),ficite,3 oslo
or
.1, 5100'1, to Ire
;coop _ bsc
,h tog° 00g 't ad
pethllsl;,ie:3o reef
the c Tzbee' iof
the ' 6ooPj r''
nee ° .5e
00 ,
to 11J00'. rrj,,
The ];late
11d stitrepiiri
sed 9 Sot b of
the?fci eot
t octhe sfiotl;, 1
theeisr'se'•
for
,a.e-
,be re esis
arid figo 0.0.0
1 DO
would aaY
:f i•
re
rotas viioof
~, P it.
'0 06 of
01 ; $0 t rie,e
ente:„Oge!ei 01f
~r
tefer :of be''llie'4er
,re If civ
) w tba
kne seed,
p of
beere oeP s
qw
~
,iffro-
refio-
- Le f
eh °,,dor`O`
oo
)0' t tell troodic
free,
es 0, frow
0a yle v IV)
jog 000
or,
ct °
.01)
a beet° lovt
onle tteol 4
aid joe o,',
'be ,„,te
3t 0 0 ft's) •
beo°—sions; coref
rgt• tbe
of reccoir
'I. 0° 0 111°
lel of $13,0 goo #ll
00 how A
tf-Fee;
til
° heir B,ceido
p. ot •00
ice lit 013.1
4,01, ocr,.
„id IP,eol
wo
ded obi l(
jog.. „or-,1,„,
gr. fer gy
he to o°ll,oo
• e°o of sr °il
the .1.01) 011,
the rog 011,1
be f°ros,
in ° the Tta
et of 13°0;if•
lull fior •
loble , 1114(
wag, )Ioole Q,
• erstioeiij tN
siciljeot 'f°ti bet'
Iken; fc,ol
gise • 3', j,
;Id r bete ti e,
'enie
I o°, ,00
ll
eau tiO
tar
;60 0 bye /1/
be 01:00,
that tb
boo r°,
,t
ad
rfijoe"'o,
~ofo 11Yortiens 01°
" otree° bon°o trill
the c 0;
of iroite
00ce1,
re of ell
01 o P b
tod doo-L , Ar
0
rtYo° reea° 0 I
t
collear.joo/ I
or 1 cpj,
rie
oleo
vOlici,
ei
or thteperiadpo!
shot vce
Prf,7.
01411
if a S'