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

avienibtr for Buckinghamshire said that though e e hod` land, aed 42 in Wales, on the Ist January, 1849, question as irrevocably fixed. Theeir
sera cutlegisle ,tion for the
3 et the p,,,,5
a great amount e f goods from this country, 987,164 persons; and on the let January, 1850, the last 20 ea ars was exreriu eatal. Ifs sus not ,soto be re-
' fitted . had fallen so much that we had seen- number relieved was 923,167, being a diminution of gar& d because it had the deliberate ear' 'Jtion ( f,.bo.th
lust
a vast amount of Bt .t sh industry by t.e 63,997 persons, or 6 4.10 per cent. The number of Houses of Parliamen'. Tt e Mernhes fer•th e West. holing
hir cparri:
-_'
c. which hid arisen from the f• e '-trade able-bodied persons relieved in 590 unions in England ' state I, in a spi esh i f his, that the may
Sri
tY-istwhthie
rlsl'!Ple. li . 'odd in his hand •' Burn's Circular," and Wales on the Ist January, 1849, was 201,644; and tied the repeal of the corn-laws, voted eget,
inoltlveirnhigg that the price of cotton goods exported was on the Ist Jaluary, 1830, the number was 170,562, being 1 vate convictions. In that sentin.eat he e ail sly concur
than the average prices which ruled in 1848 and a diminution of 31,142 persons, or 15 4-10 per cent, 1 red. It was well known that ;the deciei. in 1 gas against
1859. The price of every article of export was higher The statements he had made showed a diminution on the opinions of the majority cf tie coast ituen cies,t Who,
tatiliadti in 1848, Consequently there were increased price the expenditure of the poor-rate, in the number of poor 'ii was well known had returned Member s4O tba House,
yurti ety. His Bon Friend who bad moved the relieved, and also in the number of able-bodied persons he would not say pleds eI, but certainl:T with at.' under-
Address, and his Hon. Friend who had seconded the receiving I el, f —(Hear.) He would now state the total , standing that they would support protect ion.
motion, had gore into the question i f free trade and the number e f paupers relieved on the Ist January, 1850, as Mr. G. BERKELEY moved the sad:dournment e f the
repeal of the navigation-lawe. Then again "it as antic"- compared with the number relieved on the Ist Jennary, debate; but, finding that there was ss. general deeire
Pined tee • by ......se who were iLt2rested in this branch• of 1849. In fourteen counties there had been an incr. ate that the discussion should go on, Wind •ew his motion,
, productive industry, th•it the repeal of the navigation- but there had he-n a decrease in twenty-e.nht- [The •cand Proceeded to address the House. F.e. regretted that
Ins would utterly dest-oy our ship ing and our trade; Right Hon. Gentleman here read the names ( f the re- - one gr.( at. portion of the British empire hi td been Vitally
and next, that no foreign countries would meet us in a ale-give couutiee, and the proporteenal increase or de- ,1. ft out if consideratior, just as if the col cities of Greet
spirit.e of reciprocity. He put it to HOD. Gentlemen crease.] These twenty 'eight counties ineludel a ma- : Britain were no longer of importance to • :he State. A
,w,be It .r tl.e,e predictions La i not been falsified. With jority of the agricultural counties. The state a the 1 Right Hon. Gentleman, indeed, who ha d once held a
121ixeeption of one port alone, that of King's Lynn, case with respect to able-bodied paupers was all more I conspicuous place on the Treasury bench, had said, in a
.where there had been a diminution of this trade, in all important, for there were only seven counties in which speech he made at Manchester, that it would le a bless-
-I°)tehil l'. ship-building ports he believed that the ship • an increase had taken place, while there had been adi - ing to this country if the colonies of this mighty empire
Tlie( 1"g
trade was equal to what it had been previously, crease in no less arta 35 counties. There certainly was were swamped.—(Hear andH (Mr. Ber eloy) read thar.
re itateunt of shipping in the ports which e ere th .an increase in some of theeagriculturalecountieps, agricultural counties, but it statement with suprise; it was wi :h astonishment
tgiuntidt, emporiums of that branch of teaie—namely, was more than compensated by the decrease in others.— he found the lion. Member for the West Biding (Mr.
. rlasa, Liverpool, and in the ports on the and Clyde (Hear.) In the agricultural counties in the south there Cobden)—that disciple of pane—pre aching to the
worthy Sectlend—the work doing was far greater than was a diminution of able-bodied relief in every ease, people in (if words could be understood ) absolutely the
it hadin been for many years; and a fact which was The total diminution of relief of that description in Eng- words of revolution— (Cheers from the Opposition
• httn of ,attention was that they were now building land and Wales was 15 4-10 per cent,—(Hear.) Now benches.) Having turned his clot-pence, his "unadorned
e "1. elms t f ships, calculated fur the tong he would ask lion. Gentlemen whether agricultural eloquence," to almost the abolition of a standing army
.oyeee re
it ei• '1 * Honourable Gentlemen would recollect that labourers had mot eerivud equal benefit with other persons and navy, he could, when it suited his purpose, preach
be. its predicted the long voyage was where we were to from the cheapness ef food?—(Hear.) The best pod- up disaffection and war.—(Renewed eh cers from the Oe-
whicieu ed• There were two other remarkable facts sible test of the ameliora,ion of the condition of the la- position benches,) He talked of the dead body of pro-
were indisputable—first, that parties who has! bourers, was the diminution in the nunite- of persons faction being dug up and galvanized. 'The fact was tint
geneifro h.
they' In this country to the Baltic to ascertain whether relieved.—(Hear, hear.) On this state of facts, he con- the country, which had caused it to Lie exhumed, as he
could build ships cheaper there than in England, tended be was justified in coming to the conclusion that termed it, pronounced it to have been foully and most tie-
came. hick with '
eh: the conviction that they could build the cheapness of f cod had proved a signal benefit, and constitutionally murdered.—(Laughter.) It was said
Cli'de °caper hire than there; and next, that on the en that ground alone he was prepared t i say it was this was a question of rent; in his own country the far-
A) . 'they were building ships fir foreign countries, not expedient or wise to reconsider the recent legislative mer could not farm profitably now if they paid no rent.
An
,Ttirnivion had been made that foreign countries enactments. His lion. Friend had alluded to the num- (" Hear, hear,"from the Opposition.) It st.-as very well fur
07rula relax greatly their laws which militated against ber of persons receiving relief in Ireland. The num- the Manchester school to attempt to raise an ill-feeling
t.esa "nnnerce- Next, as to the admttted state of din- ber receiving in-door relief on the 30th December, between landlord and tenant; it was jitst as they did
amongst the agriculturists of the country. The 1848, was 192,009, and in December, 1849, the upon the game-law question.—(A laugh.) The mover
Wtphieostdiotn betwi en the advocates of free trade and those number was 194,323, showing a slight increase. But ot the Address had alluded to a tenant in .bia (Mr. Ber-
show +mended protection was only one of degree. He the number receiving out-door relief at the same pe- keley's) own county; and who was this model of Glo-
_ d incleed deceive the House if he did not admit that riods had decreased from 393,421 to 95,403, showing oestershire farmers? Mr. Josiah Hunt, a Quaker—(A
iluoilert ti i f the country, to some extent, amongst the a diminution of more than 297,000.—(Htar, hear.) He laugh)—wbose word was not valued at a Earthing. He
esi tern of land, a considerable degree of distress did was happy to find from the statement of the Earl cf was employed at the last election to bribe voters against
Ilona The statement which had been made by his Chichester that greater activity was beginning to pre. him (Mr. Berkeley)—(Loud laughter)—by a rich man,
the The
the Member for Warwickshire was, that vail in many portions of the agricultural districts, not who now could get no account ef the money-he intrusted
'e Government did not admit the existence of this die- only on the tart of the owr. ers, but of the occupiers, in to him to bribe with. He (Mr. Berkeley) had never
tress. /NI
"w* the course to be taken as to that distress draining and other improvements, with a view to the in- read such intolerent speeches as had lately been
'.wilans the only difference between them. Now, he 'denied crease of production; and be never entertained the least addressed to the public; he referred particularly to the
tent,
, . the expediency or wisdom of retracing the steps apprehension that the British farmir would allow his speeches at Manchester. It seemed as if 'we had not
from had taken. He believed that to a certain ex- energies to be overcome, but felt confident that he would lefire learned the true meaning of the word. " tyranny."
arisen'
the change of the law, some difficulty had rise superior to any pressure under which he might la- —(Cheers.) Free trade had been hurried upon the
farmer, but he relied upon the energy and skill of the bour.—(Hear, hear.) He was quite certain that the emu try, when it was no more in a fit state to receive it
L
he! to overcome that difficulty. The fa'l of prices agriculturists had nu reason to despair. As a test of than the colonies were to receive the abolition of sla-
iaole,:n surmounted by them in former years. He the prosperity of the country he might re'er to the in- very. The farmer ought to be relieved from the malt-
regr.utbeel the distress of the smaller holders of land—he creased consumption of various. articles. With the ex- tax and other burdens.—(Hear.) Let Hon. Members
laae that in some places a number of agricultural ception of coffee, tt e receipt e f revenue from almost divest their minds of fear of the threats held sect, that if
Ras should be placed in that distress, but still he every article of consumption had increased. The con- they attempted to go back 'to protection, or remedy the
"aa glad to think I, impro
hi,, ',red by the reduction of prices, He admitted with 3,200,0001b5. The consumption of brandy had increased pect the most serious riots. The threats were such that
„.. . lon. Friend, that in Lincolnshire there had been from 1,600,000 to 2,187,000 gallons. There had also it seemed we might look upon ourselves as almost on the
'fia-ocrease in the poor-rates; but, taking the majority teen an increase in the consumption of provision., such eve of a civil war.—(Hear, hear.) lie must say he
dish! agricultural counties, there was a diminution of as salt beef and pork. He would now refer to another thought the country was now threatened witLt more se
ahoup--
portieo Prevail, he had never thought or said that some remarkable manner the failure of many predictions (Opposition cheers.) The tenant-farmers could not
ehau -"cif the community would not be affected by the which bad been uttered on the subject—he meant the even meet in peace to discuss a constitutional, question
k„n_ge which had been made in the law. He had never article of sugar. Although it had fallen off to some without the interference of free-traderea—(Hear,
ea'e of any great improvement being made in trade or extent, the difference was owing to an extraordinary hear.) People were sent in. paid and bribed,—(Hear,
hear.) In many places, as at Bedford, a mob was sent
41:fnerce, or in any branch whatever, where they did eat importation during file days in the preceding year. The
in composed of persons with no stake in the country, to
tp:itiMlately find it cause difficulty or pressure in some import of sugar from the West Indies had increased from
it biter,., or were it did not cause partial suffering; but 2,771,000 cwt. to 3,070,000 cwt.; the import from Ma- interfere with the meeting, and then we were told that
nano means followed that therefire such improvement nilla had increased from 812,000 cwt. to 997,000 cwt.; it had been constitutionally disturbed by that rabble.—
Hear.) Tbe agriculturists, from whom our chief pros-
tnigentnot totake place. The Government and theLegisla. and from the East Indies the import had risen from (
had sprung, had been ill-used. For nearly seven-
*or_ were bound to relieve the distress of as many as they 1,352,000 cwt. to 1,356,000 cwt.; whilst the import of perity
in
tieliable to succour, but at the same time, he thought foreign sugar had decreased from 1,200,000 cwt. to teen years be had been a supporter of the present Mi-
tt' inlealle fir more was to be done through the efforts 497,000 cwt.—(Hear, bear.) He held in his hand car- sisters, but he felt bound ,to say that "free trade," as
itt,,_
,p.tviduals than any legislation could effect. He fain returns relative to the raw material used in various it now stood, was a most faulty and disgraceful measure.
—(" Hear, hear," from the Prot( ctioeiste.) It had le m
thuileht that the alarm which had been raised among trades, in every one of which an increase had taken place.
a wrong footing. There had been too much
pi:capgrieulturists was not warranted by what had taken The consumption of indigo had increased from 56,000 placed upon
haste used ; and, unless something was done for the
prices . Ile Hon. Gentleman bad referred to the fall of Cwt. to 79,000 cwt.; of hemp, from 698,000 cwt. to
agricultural interest, the tenant-farmers must go to
taro,
,M former years in this country, and he had pic- 911,000 cwt.; of raw silk, from 3,645,000 lbs. to
hit -u- Pl° distress of his own neighbourhood in a manner 4,303,000 lbe. And although it was said that the alte- ruin,—(Hear, hear.) Let the House do justice to that
he_v.zeeeding anything else which had been stated. The ration ot the copper duty would operate injuriously, long oppressed and too quiet interest.—(Laughter.)
On the motion of the Marquis Of GRANI3Y the wii'eun
_ti.entlernan had reFerred to the year 1822, a period the fact was that the state of the mining districts of
whichineY were under the operation of the corn-law, Cornwall was most satisfactory, there being plenty of bate was then adjourned to the next (this) day.
de-
In 18 Ras intended to keep wheat at 80s. a quarter. employment and high wage., and the export of Bri- Lord J. RUSSELL hoped it would be understood by
tell
107, corn was 96a. 111, and for five or ton years it fish copper had increased from 85,000 cwt. to the House that the debate would be concluded to mor-
. per e'2. a quarter. In 1822, it bad fallen more than 50 153,000 cwtr. The export of wrought copper had in- row (this day).—(Cries of " Hear, bear;" but one or
the ;int., and under a corn-law the average price of creased from 5,000 cwt. to 17,000 cwt.; and the export two gentlemen on the Opposition side exclaimed, " No;
wesJtehtr was 44a 7d. The Hon. Gentleman said there of brass manufactured bad risen from 13,000 cwt. to no understanding.") Perhaps the Hon. Gentleman
the prices 11 hope in the country that they would return to 23,000 cwt. There was hardly an item of any one opposite (Mr. Disraeli) could state that as the under-
t, the ces which the Legislature had proposed to insure sort or description with respect to which ruin and din- standing.
le 1829riculturist., but no such return had taken place. tress had been predicted from the importation of foreign Mr. DISRAELI hoped himself, and expected, that
.
fromttle a corn-law was passed with some opposition manufactures, which had not' been utterly falsified by the division would be taken to-morrow (this day); but
the, agriculturists—and, indeed, great opposition— the increase of production at home, and the increase of he could not have the presumption to give any pledge to
' tlearte"ed object of which was to insure 645, per employment amongst the labouring population.—(Hear, that extent. It must depend not only upon gentlemen
that .r to the agriculturists. What happened under hear.) The statements with respect ti the shipping in- who sat on his aide of the House, but on gentlemen on
if
"393 In the other; and he was sorry to say he had found from
-t se " lB3l the price was 665. 4d.; in 1835 terest affordel testimony of the same description. The
et fn . 4d. It fell at the rate of 6s. 9d. per annum aumber of ships entered inwards in the year ending experience that the Noble Lord had not been able to
Wet 70"nr consecutive year?. In 1839 the price December 1848, was 24,959, the tonnage being ex, rcise that influence upon his own side which he now
fessie 11- 81.; in 1845, 50e. 10(1.; still under a law pro- 5,095,000 •; the returns fur the corresponding period in wished him (Mr. Disraeli) to exercise upon his.
69.. 9g,. to secure them 84s- In 1847 the price was 1849 showed the number of ships to be 28,946, and the The House then, shortly after Twelve o'clock, ad
tonnage 5,678,000. The ncmbor cf ships cleared out-
fee., f, , a price not greater than they had had hereto•
recover which, by industry and energy, the farmers wards in 1848 Has 23,394, and the tonnage 4,678,000 ; journed.
ladle red and were no wort° off- It did not necessarily in 1849 the number of ships had increased to 25,665,
re °vr that the :. the ..
tiered enrn law solely; he believed it was not. He be- hear.") With respect to the revenue, he was happy to
but to) had had a large harvest at home. It was not say that the improvement in every branch had been
-at he L know what was the produce of different years, greater than he expected. The result for the year
Vet) wrew one of the greatest cornfactors in Liver- (partly caused by the increased revenue, and partly by
° took great pains to ascertain the result of the reduced expenditure) would have an excess of income
beenlrvest 3„8, had stated the'. the produce of this. year had over expenditure on the sth January of 2,098,000/.
• roust u Per cent, m ire tb-an that if lust year, and that (Hear, hear.) It had been said that a large importation
oeighie3nntribute t i reduce the price of corn. But in a of corn would invariably cause a diminution of the pre-
-110 re°nring country (France), where there had been cious metals, but the amount of bullion in the Bank was
tier h,,Pf-al t•f the corn-law, they hail the benefit of a sufficient answer to that assertion.—(Hear.) Be
Pee, insveat, and yet the prices had fallen more. The trusted tbat the result of the measures now under dis-
-4,694.7d this country in 1847. was 695. 9ft., in France cussion would be the improvement of the condition of
tali in *, lliey had sent us 700,000 quarters, and yet the the country, and that Parliament would not, by any rash
cottrer,!," Price of wheat had been more than in this legislation, disturb the present improving condition of
T
The quantity i f corn catered for home con- affairs. He believed the country bad now entered on. a
Ale t'i for the year exce-de 1 the quantity import id. steady course of improvement, and his firm conviction
in 1 rlttintity c.
~, e 4dt, f ail kinds f grain importedlast,
i
neredeg wheat and barley, eels 5,673,040; meal im- terest would participate in the general irnprovetnena He
for 110 of- all kinds, 3,703,000; the qualtity entered trusted that when it did arise from the stet I of partial
aZirsk-irre consumptio was upwards of 4,000,000. The distress under which it was now labouring, it would be
Cientlee Express, which would I e relied on by Hon, based not on the delusive foundation of protection, but
Ports „nln Opposite at ited that prices I f the Baltic on a solid foundation which could never tail.—((sheers.)
Pain t'lrte so high that it would rit,t pay to send Mr. HERBERT expressed his satisfaction that the
rarto,ll,lnis country; and he di I not think that the Honourable Member fur Wolverhampton had said very
Pri,„B had le ason to fear that ruin which his Hon. little about Ireland, and what he had said indicated the
Price Wethought inevitable at 403. a quarter. What the fact that he really knew very little of that country. It
But it was
-ticipa.eld be hei e titer it would be rash in him to an- had been said that the number of persons applying fur
Potietnin, not a little remarkable that all those relief in Ireland had very much decreased of late, and it
14efe.. which were imp n-ting countries had hardly vas argued that this showed an improved state in re-
Arty ere their shipments upon the reduction of duty in spect to the condition of the poor in that country. Now
the
,ereat ..., 3
t.
..
al, ia,,.
n'iu n ales, from which, before the repeal of while he admitted the fact that the number of persons
erie bad" one anticipated great imports. His Hon. applying for relief had decreased, he yet denied that
le oat
b talked o'_ the average price of 44e. Now, he this was a proof of an improvement of the condition cf
°nee thotien,eve the agriculturists would be ruined. They the people. The fact was, that this result arose from
41/1,4 %tete got 80s, would be necessary until it went down various causes. First, many had been struck off the
eraze ined 84-s.; then the price came to 565., till the list who had no right to poor relief. Next, many of the
ellen fro the three years shoe ed a fall in the price of Irish poor had come over to this country, and were to
thad tall: 583. to 50s. In 1846 the price was 545. Bd. be found in its highways and byeways ; and lastly,
e am, gone out of cultivation since 1845? Were death had done its work in Ireland, and many portions
rtetther 11,iturists ruined? He would appeal to the Hon. of that country were depopulated. The Honourable
iillii te.ew tor South Lincolnshire, who had stated what Gentleman than referred to the speech of the Right
It e going on in that county. He would tell them Honourable Member for Tamworth, which he mi-
en, ea tin
h d
ated, , a been largely laid out, production was in- dressed to the House last year in reference to Ireland,
and wh:"" pasture had been ennrerted into wheat land. and he contended that this speech, by which the House
r 414'1 his Hon. Friend talked of abandoning the had been led away, was not justified by the then state
hilt,.nliOrt fro`t_ef the Incormat ix Bill, when the price had of Ireland, and only indicated the way in which that
re'reased, `_" 803. to 50e.. and that since 1815 rentals had douse was influenced as regarded Ireland generally. Ho
_at lowand that only in one county s f England was the contended that the whole policy of this country was cal-
"attsrn'htivr•than it ras in 1815, although the price of eulated to injure Ireland, and therefore damage the in-
ei,diel ranged from 80s. to 505.,—if the energy, skill, terests of the empire generally.
great
,pastry a the British farmer enabled him to pay Mr. W. FAGAN said, that although the friends of
Aria, • rent
at the price of 50s. than he did when the protection had claimed that the cause of Ireland was the
01711 e atifelatl pos., what was to prevent the same industry cause of protection, he would challenge them to say
• of
40a, or to Meet the demands upon him at the prices what would have become of that unfortunate country if'
tnes by inrs, they having overcome a fall of 305.? It measures of free trade had not been introduced, and to
aoulneat ther',"ed produce that he expected the farmer disprove, if' they could disprove it, that protection was
belirlttn. theecr ulty. He should be too glad to see this the cause of many cf the evils which afflicted her. He
a. t'vrd tt Populaion by home-grown corn. He denied that the fact of his Hon. Colleague having been
th•niets w; ,w(uld be most desirable to do so, if the selected to second the amendment was to be taken as an
toe cheapesntld do it. lle said the people had a right to indication that his constituents were favourable t) pro-
th_go to or,
rPassible food, and they had the best right teetion. The election of his Hon. and Gallant colleague
hir.tre,,,,a`ii,e_ countries for that which their comfort and was not in any degree owing to protection. Indeed he
arw? dei:,:Alt_y..of the country and their permagent sta- might say that it was owing rather to the influential
tha Nita], wa"e°• An increase of productive skill, energy, labours of a free trade member of bis corn-
ithis.yld. rust be brought into play, and applied to mittee. The tenant farmers of Ireland had taken a
141_4 try, la, nose who had not capital, or who had net totally different view of the question from that which
it the esignt suffer distress, and be unable to con- it had obtained amongst the tenant-farmers of
Ifilttatag
elir,7upatien of the land; but the welfare ef the England. They were most anxious for it, but were
heel when bas was not to be sacrifice lon this account. more inclined for the free-trade system ; and he con-.
lit,t" at those looked at the language which had been ecientiously believed that if it had a fair trial in Ireland,
tattda3tte tt : Meetings in the country, he had stated it would do much towards paving the way for a re-ad-
bs t) rent tit watt possible an attempt would be justment of the relations between landlord and tenant.
th„traised a w ,the demand for protection—it might The very agitation which was going forward- on this
the „ lihelled3 question of rect. Who was it subject would itself be of considerable advantage to the
Of rt;trties? 151733) landlor le cf England? Who were Irish people. He would ask in what condition Ireland
aatioth: agrien, t the Free-traders, but the leaders would have been during the past six months, if it had
"tlet,", who represent-ntur pty quest one meeting after not been for free trade? He would ask them what their ,
!WI,: of ret.d that qion as one of a re- rates and national burdens would have been, if it had
it‘latt tii. of 'Quin. Ile found by a northern paper on the not been for its opera-ion ? These were points which
;'1,4 bait rent
farms9e in Scotland, that it was not true ought to be considered in estimating the advantages or
lIN tonbeard th farms in Scotland had been reduced. disadvantages of a financial system ; and he was sure
tell belie e let mat offers were made t f farmhouses which that, with reference to such a test, the landlords of Ire-
,•.alt tte:N it t_ 4 higher rent than was formerly given. land would mistake their true interests if they were to
highe jaqns ?be true as a general position, that at decide against free trade.—(Hear, hear.)
autstas r.„1,11 Scotland which were out ot lease, let Sir J. WALSH said be quite admitted that protec-
Iltitli_dress tgae,ti.ti,"‘.l,Sl formerly. He saw a paper from a tion was essentially an Irish question, and he felt that
a:adram niate:ne High Sheriff of Norfolk, being an it was one of great importance. Ho thought it would
r,"'ertheiltges toents, which stated that in spite of the have been more fitting to the occasion if the House had
n2t ~,, ~., f,o_vshich his property was subject, he concurred in a loyal address to her Majesty, indepen-
Z'apatif his flud himself able to make a very good dently of those political considerations,: and bad after-
he fit; ;r1 588 a rill. He said that he held in his own wards proceeded to the consideration of moment-
a° lal 1:1, thoerea, ef which 100 acres yielded him no ous questions like the present. But if they were to
11 Jiro
rade up, ugh he estimated a loss at Michaelmas, go into the great points involved in this debate, they
telleraii`,'°ek, ,41,uhi rent, and had invested ten per cent. ought at lea t to be careful as to the exact effect of the
naot koort_ Istowl?n was more than was to be expected opinions the expressed. For his own part. he was at a
"a of ''' why ,tr one gentleman had done this, he did loss to lnn t„ ectum; enother should • eit4 " eeqb --on of rent,that discover all the prosperity which the Speech
not. But if it was a ques- from the Throne congratulated the House upon; but he
h 5 ‘,B; petiti___.
sti pee and h "n with the demalds of the labour:ng might materialy assist the successful operations of the
eer' ~,eleee the maintained that the labouring classes farmers. The' main argument of the Chancellor of the
4e R. most-
signal benefit from the present Exchequer rested upon improvements which might. be.
v ent --, 'Plat sr
"I"`e 'Wre ' 1101). Gentleman then aluded to the made in farming. H© was satisfied that farming in this
the t'' '4" `-'f Lord - R.._ a _ Chichester to the graud jury at country was capable of improvement. It was. a.mistake
nt';,....`" tf thin given by the Earl of Chichester of
- tea in g 4 i ,to represent the English farmer as deficient in industry
~,rho t, a ensim a bussex, no: call) as to the number and eat, rprise; but in order to effect these improve-
"srieu-enPierr, "Yed, but as to the exertions of
h g eli *andthose merits a large
es, ploy * wae most creditable to
?them, in pro- subsoilin, or manuring.—(Bear,
outlayan uri wasng._n(eiciesasra,r thee whethertr.
In ithe
c o drainingni p e.
..4
0,, _ . naant for h •
Y, is'. vnaintai. t eir labourers. Now, the ex- tition in which they were called upon to engage, they,
44id.) 18 and tas'ung the poor in the -ears endin Lad --
within apply all the resources of science, and to compete
11,11 say, i -49, was as fellows;—) In the yeargendirig
deer
, "ding Liii the amount was 6 180 0004 The ex- either science or captil. In this struggle the ins
Peer cese of 338 „Y'day, 1849, was e'e ' •
IN ior th mica, ,r, Jo 92,0001, being a dustry of the English farmer would be overburtheeed. It
et nns,. 4 half—, "e expense of maintaining the was assumed that this was a landlord's question and a
4%4.1 wile e 7,•i sr ending Michaelmas, 1848, in 558 landlord's atr'tetion. Such was not the case. The yec-
vras 1,6530"
Of g 741045.18419 "P'°°°l for ' ba'f-year ending Mi- men and middle-class formers, on the
at,it . 001.
acre not sufficiently energetic in ad-
-18445 its Abe nutuberof 01., making a diminution pheined that they contrary, corn-
I e ,., s., .gland , persons relieved in 538 vocating their cause. It was not a factitious agitation,
itt
414127f10:, ebteitdaonthe 1s
via Q 92,65 ' and 42 in Wales, on the Ist July, but one e ell founded, and one which would besersevered
t July, 1849, the num- in; so much soethat if they wish e 1 they could not avoid
uis b diminution of 65,505 ur 7 3-10 b iogiug this question were nui epeatedly,under the consideration
eyed in 860 unions in Eug- of the House. It was most unreasonable to regard this

HOUSE OF LORDS, Jan. 31.

The eventful session of 1850 was opened to-day, not
by her Majesty i❑ person, but by her Royal Commission.
Long before the hour appointed fur opening the Com-
mission the House of Lords ana the strangers' gallery
was partly filled with ladies and visitors anxious to witness
the ceremony of the opening of the Great Council of the
nation. The assemb'age thus drasur together formed a
pleasing group, though its appearance faded into almost
insignificance, when put in comparison with the splendid
tout ensemble of the House of Lords when her Majesty is
present, and when the beauty, the noble, and wealthy of
the land ♦ie with each other in their endeavours to
show their loyalty to tFe!r Sovereign, by
being present when she ',nears in the upper
branch of the Legislature to open or prorogue her Par-
liament. Among the Peers present we noticed the Earl
of Sheffield, Viscount Strangford, Lord Colburne, Lord
Campbell, Earl Mountcashel, Lord Lucan, the Marquis
f Salisbury, the Bishop of Worcester, the Bishop cf
Hereford, Lord Say and Sele, Lord Monteagle, the Duke
of Wellington, the Duke cf Norfolk, and Viscount Bar-
dinge.

Shortly after two o'clock the Lord Chancellor, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, tl:e Marquis of Bread-
albanr, Earl Minto, and the Bishop of London,
robed as the Lords Commissioners for opening the Par-
liament, entered the House and took their seats below
the throne. Having done so, their Lordships coot-
wandel Mr. Pulman, the Yeoman Usher of the Black
Rod (who officiated in tE e unavoidable absence of Sir
Augustus Clifford), to summon the Commons to the bar,
to hear the Royal Commission read her Majesty's
most gracious Speech to both Houses on opening the
present session.

A Ler the lapse of a few minutes, the Speaker of the
Howe of Commons, attended by a great number of
Members, appeared at the Lae. Among the members
present we noticed Mr. Brotberton, Mr. Locke, Colocel
Thompsor, Mr. F. O'Connor, Mr, Spooner, Lord Dualey
Stuart, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Ellictt, and several others.
On the Speaker appearing at the bar the Commission
for opening the Parliament was read by Mr. Edmunds,
after which,

The LORD CHANCELLOR read, in a clear and
distinct voice her Majesty's most gracious Speech,
as follows:

"Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
" We are commanded by her Majesty to assure
you that her Majesty has great satisfaction in again
having recourse to the advice and assistance of
her Parliament.

" The decease of her Majesty Queen
Adelaide has caused her Majesty deep
affliction. The extensive charity and exem-
plary virtues of her late Majesty will always render
her memory dear to the nation.

" Her Majesty happily continues in peace and
amity with Foreign Powers.
" In the course of the autumn, differences of a
serious character arose between the Governments
of Austria and Russia on the one hand, and the
Sublime Porte on the
.other, in regard to the treat-
ment of a considerable number of persons who, after
the termination of the civil war in Hungary, had
taken refuge in the Turkish Territory.
" Explanations which took place between the
Turkish and Imperial Governments have fortunately
removed any danger to the Peace of Europe which
might have arisen out of these differences.
" Her Majesty having been appealed to on
this: occasion by the Sultan, united her efforts
with those of the Government of France, to which
a similar appeal had been made, in order to assist
by the employment of her good offices in effecting
an amicable settlement of those differences, in a
manner consistent with the dignity and indepen-
dence of the Porte.

" Her Majesty has been engaged in communica-
tions with Foreign States, upon the measures which
might be rendered necessary by the relaxation of the
restrictions formerly imposed by the navigation laws
of this country.

"The Governments of the United States of
America and of Sweden have promptly taken steps
to secure to British ships in the ports of their re-
spective countries, advantages similar to those which
their own ships now enjoy in British ports.
" With regard to those Foreign States whose
navigation laws have hitherto been of a restrictive
character, her 111.jesty has received from nearly all of
them assurances which induce her to hope that our

example will speedily lead to a great and general diqd-
nution of those obstacles which previously existed
to a free intercourse by sea between the nations
of the world.
"In the summer and autumn of the past year
the United Kingdom was again visited by the ravages
of the Cholera, but Almighty God, in His mercy,
was pleased to arrest the progress of mortality,
and to stay this fearful pestilence. Her Ma-
jesty is persuaded that we shall best evince
our gratitude, by vigilant precautions against the
more obvious causes of sickness, and an enlightened
consideration for those who are most exposed to its
attack!.

whole that were under the Poor-law Commissior, and
which were bound to send returns to that board. He
wished, however, to say that he did not desire to carry
the inference from the frets of that return too far. lie
was well aware that, notwithstanding the difficulties
with which many proprietors of the lund had to struggle,
they had most laudably and nobly exerted ttemselves
for the purpose of giving employment t i the labourers,
who might otherwise have been thrown upon the rates.
He was bound to do them this justice; but still, looking
at the whole country, he thought he had a right to say
that the average amount of pauperism bad been
considerably diminished. Taking, thee, the 602
unions and parishes in England, and cowering the
number of paupers who were maintained from the
funds raised for the relief a the poor on the let
of January, 1849, and the Ist of January, 1850, he
found the re was a decrease of above 7 per cent. as com-
pared with 1849. That, perhaps, was not so great a de-
crease as be should like to see, but still it was a very
decided improvement. Nor was it confined to the ma-
nuf suturing districts or towns. He admitted that these
towns and their neighbourhoods had most largely bene-
fitted, but even in the agricultural districts there was a
decrease. In Bedfordshire the decrease was 11 per cent.
Even in purely egricultural
,Backinel-arnshire the de-
crease was more than 6 per cent. In Cumberland 11
per cent., and in Derbyshire, which had oft,en been
pointed to at one of our worst rural districts, there was
an improvement of 6 per cent. In Durham alone,
from peculiar causer, there had been no decrease. In
the East Riding of Yorkshire, which was an agricul-
tural district, there was a diminution of 7 per cent.,
and in Nottingham, •which was a mixed district, the
reduction was 13 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) With
respect to Ireland, though they could not congratulate
themselves on any material reduction of ,the dis-
tress in that= country, there were many symrtoms of
improvement making their appearance, and the cost of
maintaining these who were in the workhouses had been
reduced from 2s. Id. a head per week to Is. Id. per week,
in consequence of the cheapness of provisions. He said
then in the face of such facts as these, the general pros-
perity which marked our manufactures and our corn merce, the great and increasing command over the com-
forts and the necessaries of lire, and the decrease of
paupers in the agricultural districts themselves, he was
Justified in repeating his belief that we were not in a
situation to return to protection. Nay further, his de-
termination was under no circumstances to do so. Eves
were the prospects of agriculture worse than he admitted
them to be, he could not be a party to any measure for
taxing the great article of human subsistence. Af er
all, when the complaints of the Protectionists against
cheapness were reduced to their real elements,
they simply resolved themselves into this, that there
was too much to eat in this country.—(lronical
Opposifon cheers.) Why, if they did not mean
that, what was it they complained of ? They com-
plained that the increase cf exports cheapened their
produce, and they claimed that these exports should be
checked, in order that they might get higher prices, at
the cost ef decreasing our trade, and lessening our
leaves.—(Hear, hear.) It was sometimes said that free
trade would have the tendency to throw the land out of
cultivation, and that with the imports from abroad we
should not have more to eat at home. But Noble Lords
opposite could net say this at present. On the contrary,
he was informed that there had this year been a greater
breadth of wheat sown than in any former year.—(liear,
hear.) Besides this, they had already seventy-two al -
plications for enclosures—a greater number than had be-
fore been made at one time—thus showing that although
the demand for corn grown at home was not diminished,
their predictions as to the result of free trade had not
been verified. Manufactures had increased, pauperisn
had diminished, and the bullion had not been taken out of
the country to pay for foreign imports. He said, there-
fore, they ought not to change a policy which Lai worked
so advantageously. He did not charge the landed pro-
prietors with any selfish motives in raising this com-
plaint of there being too much to eat. There might be
abundance on the well-managed estates cf their Lord-
ships, and in the well-ordered villages under their care,
but in the by-lanes of the country, and in the courts and
alleys of our towns—even in the immediate neighbour-
hood of that gorgeous chamber, there were to be found
hundreds of persons living in a state of misery which
gave the most flat denial to such an assumption. Sooner
than he would be a party to any proposition to restore
taxation upon the food of the people, he would rather
forfeit his position and estates, and the honour he en-
joyed in their Lordships' House. He believed and hoped,
however, that their Lordships would not reverse their
policy, but that on the.contrary, they would, by a large
and overwhelming majority, give a decided refusal to the
amendment.—(Cheers.)
The Duke of RICHMOND offered the Noble Earl
opposite his hearty thanks for the admission he had
made, as to the motives and objects of the free-traders.
He understood formerly, that free trade was founded
on the principle that it would promote the interests
of all classes, but now it was avowed that the agri-
cultural interest must be sacrificed to maintain it.
The Noble Lord told them that he was prepared to
give up his rank, his estates, and the office he held,
rather than go back to protection. He would tell his
Noble Friend, that if he persisted in free trade, it was
the best chance for him to get rid a all he possessed.—
(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord did not care whether
this measure entsi!ed misery and ruin upon thousands
of farmers, so long as the manufacturers filled their
pockets with money, and the Member for the West
Meting was satisfied. lie consid, red the sentence in
the Queen's Speech, with reference to the complaints
from the owners and occupiers of land, as a direct insult
to the agricultural community. The Noble Earl had
brought forward returns to prove that, comparing one
day with another, there ear h ss pauperism in the coun-
try. But it a-a.t worse than idle to compare one day
with another in this nay, when suck vast interests were
at st tke.—(llear.) The Noble Earl talked of cheap-
ness and plenty, but he had not tcld them one word about
wages. lie did nn t tell them that the honest hard-
working labourers were reduced to maintain them-
sites and families upon 65., is., and Bs. a week. Of
hat use aa, cheapness and plei,ty to t/ k.n? Besides,
with reference to the returns as to !sag erism, it was
well known that the overseers in many cases went t) tl e
way-wardens, and induced them to give men work on
the roads rather than take them into the workhouse;
and the farmers instead of employing them the whole
week gave them two or three days' work, sufficient to
prevent them from going Wore the guardians. The
Noble Mover of the Address told them that it was rot
the abundance of foreign imports, but the r anic which
had paralysed the'energies of the farmers; but in ano-
ther part of his speech he took credit to free trade for
lowering the prices. lie was not surprisei that the
Noble Lord had contradicted himself, and spoken on
both sides of the question, because he had sat on
both sides of the House—(A laugh). The Noble
Lord had rebuked the protectionist agitation. He
objected to these meetings and the exciting speeches
that were delivered at them. Why, who set the
example of agitsfon? He told the Noble Lord that he
would never cease to urge the farmers of England to
avail themselves of their constitutional privileges. as
Englishmen to meet and demand redress c f their griev-
ances. Ile would advise them to make every town-hall
and hustings their battle-field, and never cease till they
had obtai: od a kr, t protection. The Noble Duke, after
repeating his determination never to rest satisfied until
the farmers of the country regained that protection ef
which they had been unjustly deprived, in conclusion
begged to express his gratification at tearing the manu-
facturing districts were in a fl mrishing condition, as it
must ever be a sourer) of pleasure to the farmer to know
that those who were their great consumers were well 4f.
The Err! f ESSEX explained. He repudiated the
idea that his vote on the subject cf protection bad been
other than a sincere and conscientious one, the result of
a sincere conviction r f the error of his former opinions.
Earl FITZWILLIAM commenced by taking a re-
view of the circumstances under which the corn-law of
1815 was passed, and of the alterations which took
place in subsequent enactments, but the Noble Earl
was throughout very indistinctly heard in the
gallery. He begged to remind their Lordships that
all the great manufscturing interests were exposed
to very great competition. For himself lie felt no
despondency whatever with reference to the agricultural
interest. His Noble Friend at the head of the Woods
and Forests had referred to a paper, showing the stet)
of the unions throughout England, on the Ist of January,
1849, as compared with the let of January. 1850. It
bad been complained of on the opposite side, that his
Noble Friend had selected that particular day, the Ist of
January; but he (Earl Fitzwilliam) could not perceive
that it made the slightest difference whether his Noble
Friend selected the first of the montb, any more than if
he had fixed upon the second. It appeared from the do-
cument so quoted, that there had been a degrease
throughout the unions in England, not only as regarded
the manufacturing, but also as regarded the agricultural
districts. This being the case, he could not agree with
Noble Lords who drew such a picture of the state of the
agricultural interest throughout England. He was not
aware of any district in the North of England in which
there was any reason to fear an abandonment of land.
He would ask them to look to the effect of Sir Robert
Peel's law of 1842. The argument used by the Right
Hon. Baronet in introducing the measure was, that
ho wished to take off the superfluity of protection. The
price of corn was then above 565. per quarter, and it
was perfectly true that if in the bargains made be tween
landlords and tenants, from the years 1142 to 1846, a
price of 56.. per quarter was assumed as a basis for
rents, and if the prices be now reduced, they must com-
pound for the difference. The present price cf grain
was owing to a variety cf circumstances, among others
to a superabundant harvest.
The Duke of CLEVELAND—Not an average. _
Earl FITZWILLIAM could refer to cases in proof of
his statement. In one particular parish,
as
'tans informedinsa
in answer to inquiries he had trade, h
that the produce last year bad been quartersfiovew
acre, whereas in the year preceding it had been only
three quarters.
marks ar-
said, his re
The Duke of CLEVELAND per
plied to an entire county. In the county of Durham
been three-quarters to
ULM still considered be was justi-
Earl FITZWILLIAM the Average had only
tthheisa)C.erea.",
creased importation, caused to a great eater t
doubt an n
Fed in the statement he had mad'. There had been no
i
by the
greicDutietrutrattinieidnte a
interest,
to
the condition
distress which prevailed three years ago. How-
ever
d tdifferencesion al.) ofd
prospects opinion
f
might
obe
the o
he would counsel them not to endeavour again to deceive
the agricultural interest by attempting to carry arrange-
ments into effect which could not be sustained, because
by passing protective laws already the agricultural in-
terests had been deceived into arrangements which they
now found could not be sustained. Therefore, he hoped
they would not in, roducelany words into the Address
which would be calculated to excite delusive hopes.
They might be assured, that in the present state of pub-
lic opinion it would be impossible to return t a protec-
tive law in favour, as people understood it, of the gen-
tlemen of England, for he believed it would be in vain
for them to attempt 19 make the people of X 414144

in
consequence.—(flear.) It was setisfactory t know
that the measures which had last session teen passed
with regard to Ireland, more particularly the &mute-
bored Estates Bill, bad worked well. No one could
regret more than he did the distress under which
the agricultural interests here euff.ring, but he
was couvioced it was of a temporary nature.—(Cheering
and counte -sheering.) He believed that those who bad
kept up a protectionist agitatior,
,who called themselves
farmers' friende, had acted most unwisely.—(Cheers and
counter-cheers.) He had received a statement from the
vestry-clerk cf Marylebone parish, terteirg that there
had been a saving of 11,0001. in the retee, in
consequence cf the cheapness of food; in another me-
tropolitan pariah the saving had been 7,0001., and
the rates had been reduced 2d. in the pound.--(Loud
cheers.) The repeal of the t avigation-laws had
been followed by the most happy effects,. Shipbuilding
had increased, and the re were now orders from f 'reign
countries for the building of ships in this country.--
(Hear.) lie knew not whet might be the measure to be proposed with regard to the Auct-alian cote - nice, but he hoped that the tin e was not f.r dis-
tant when more I:liney as regards internal legislation
would be g rested to all our colonies. The Noble Eerl
thanked their Lordships for the j at'eet manner in
which they had heard him, and concluded by moving
the address, which was an eeho to tie Speech.
Lord METHUEN, in seconding the address, said it
must be matter of cengrs tilation to see that the efforts of
the Government to prevent the occurrence t f
hoe tilities between Russia and Turkey had been
&articled with success. It was also meter of
congratulation that the manufacturing and commercial
interests we-c in a state of prosperity. He regretted
that he could not say the MIDI* as regarded the agricul-
tural interest; that interest was suffering from panic on
panic, excited by the Protectionist agitation. But it
should be recollected that under protection, in 1822, the
price of corn had been lower than it was at present, in
consequence, he believed, of the want of money
occasioned by the resumption of cash pay-
ments, and again in 1835. It should be
recollected that a scarcity of money ex-
isted in consequence cf the immense sums locked
up in railways. He could not, however, but depre-
cate the violence of language of those who endeavoured
to set class against class, and who pandered to the worst
feelings cf the multitude. The Noble Lord concluded
by formally seconding the motion.
The Earl of STRADBROOKE felt that he should be
wanting in his duty, if he abstained from embracing
this, the earliest opportunity, of declaring to their Lord-
ships the existence of deep and great agricultural dis-
tress, the existence of which was admitted in the Speech
from the Throne, but which, as he gathered from
the speech of the mover of the address',
was merely of a temporary nature.—(Hear, hear.)
He believed that the distress would be permanent
so long as the present system of legislation should con-
tinue. In 1815 it was considered that the British agri-
culturist would be swamped by foreign importation, un-
less he had protection. Such was the opinion of Mr. Coke,
and in consequence the corn-law measure of 1815 was in-
troduced. He admitted that under the protection corn
fell in 1822. The Noble Earl concluded by moving the
following amendment:—" That we regret that in many
parts of the United Kingdom, but especially in Ireland,
various classes connected with the cultivation of land,are
labouring under severe distress in consequence of recent
legislative enactments, the operation of which is aggra-
vated by excessive local taxation."
The Earl of DESART said that as the agricultural
interest had been passed over with so much apparent
cot tempt in the Speech of her Majesty, and as their fore-
fathers always considered that interest the greatest and
the most important, and the one on which, more than
any other, the prosperity of the country depended,
he would most cordially second the amendment.—
(Hear, hear.) He had been for .some time in Ire-
land, and as chairman of the board of guardians of
the Union of Callan, in which he resided, he bad
had an opportunity of looking at the condition
of the poorer and farming classes, and on that ac-
count was able to say that that class was, in consequence
of their laws, going to utter annihilation. It was said
that in order to meet f reign competition, it was neces-
sary to expend capital on the land, but he should say
there was little inducement to do so under present cir-
cumstances. It could not be done even in England; for
although the farmers were possibly able to weather the
storm, it was not so in Ireland, of which so many me-
lancholy pictures were already drawn. Now, even as
regarded the manufactures of England, see what the
result was, by comparing them-within the last five years.
In 1837, the consumption of English manufactures was
three hundred millions, while in 1848 they were five
hundred and sixty-six millions, but this should be borne
in mind, that while that consumption had increased
under restriction 38 per cent., they had cnly increased
13 per cent. under free trade.—(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of CARLISLE was willing to admit the
considerate and able manner in which the amendment
was brought forward by the Noble Earl. The question
be f ire their Lordships was, whether they would alter
the Address which had been so ab'y moved by his Noble
Friend behind him, and adopt an amendment which
did not even in terms controver the words used in her
Majesty's Speech. Her Majesty congratulated her
people on the improving state cif commerce and maul-
Isetures, which as the Noble Earl who had just sat down
would admit, was connected with the most enduring in-
terests of this mighty empire. TI e Speech of her Ma-
jery admits the distress which the Noble Earl allte'e i
to as existing among the agricultural classes. That
distress existed her Majesty did nut deny, and then fore
there was no great cliff: twice between the amendment
3rd the Address proposed for the adoption of their
Lordships. The amendment no doubt na .de :elusion
to local burthen., but only as a re.lommendation, and
their Lordships well knew that such bunt', ns can only
he conveniently considered when tho question came
properly be fire their Lordships' House.—(bear, hear.)
Braider, it P as an et:erly mistaken and di•seerous con-
clusion to arrive at, that the country was prepared to
reconsider the question of protection; such an idea only
.gave rise t ) a delusion, which was most disastrous to the
parties more immediately concerned. He did not un-
derrate, tar be it from him, the distress which prevailed
throughout the United Kingdom, particularly in Ireland;
but the horrible state c f destitution in that country was
principally get through by the plenty an i cheapness of
corn from abroad.—(Elear, hear.) They could not,
therefore, condemn free trade, in connexion with
that country. Ho (the Earl of Carlisle) would not
follow the Noble Earl who moved the amendment in
the historical review he gave of the corn-law, but
he would remind him, that in 1815, as well as in
1828, when corn was protected arid ranged at a
very high price, the same forebodings of distress were
indulged in, as the present day. A great deal of nice
calculation had been entered into, as to what corn could
, be grown at, and at how much remunerative prices lend
I could be cultivated. Like most of their Lordships, moat
he possessed in the world was derived from laid, and he
therefore could hardly be expected to be insensible or in-
different to the sufferings which that interest now la-
boured under. Agriculture was only undergoing-, with
every other pursuit, profession, or branch of industry,
that change which the laws of the universe imposed on
all, and from which, whether unprotected or not, it could
never to exempt. When the agriculturists were basking
under the sunshine of protection, in 1835, they com-
plained c f their distress. That which then existed arose
from a too great abundance—(Loud cries of
" Hear, hear ")—and if ho referred to the speeches
then made in Parliament by Noble Lords op-
posite, he would find them fillel with similar lamen-
t &lions to those they now heard. What ho wanted their
Lordships to recollect was, that considering they bad,
after serious discussion, adopted the present commercial
policy by way of experiment, they ought to give it a
fair trial, and in that conclusion all parties agreed. It
had been now in operation not one whole year, and there
never was a period in the history of the world in which
so many extraordinary causes were leagued together, to
prevent its fair development. There was the famine in
Ireland, the extensive failure of the potato crop, and a
series of revolutions on the continent of Europe, which
were without a parallel. He said, therefore, that in our
present situation, we were not in a position to say what
would be the permanent result of that great experiment.
It n as impossible to say at what price corn could be per-
manently produced in this country, or imported into it
from abroad. His own feeling on the subject was, not that
f despondency, though he was not prepared to give a
positive opinion on these points. But he would not be
acting honestly if he did not tell their Lordships that
he did not stop there. He was bound to state to their
Lordships, that even if he was convinced that
the price of corn would never ascend higher
than it now was, he was not prepared to revert to the
system of protection, and he would state the reason
why. It seemed to him that any attempt to square such
matters by any fixed and uniform plan would be falla-
cious. Every case must stand on its own merits. Every
farm must be a specialty. Its situation, its peculiar soil,
the amount of skill and capital applied to it, and the in-
finite variety of circumstances which marked the rela-
tions of landlords and their tenantry, must always be
taken into consideration.—(Hear, hear.) If these cir-
cumstances should in future be found to be of such a
character as to prescribe and require a different arrange-
ment Letween landlords and tenants, it was between
themselves that such differences must be adjusted. The
sentence of her Majesty's Speech in which she lamented
the distress which existed in some parts of the country,
and especially referred to the complaints of the owners
and occupiers, was followed by another, in which her
Majesty expressed the satisfaction with which she wit-
nessed tie comfort which cheapness and plenty had
besteived on the great body of her people. Landlords
and farmers might recognize in that sentence the ex-
istence of a far higher, extensive, and more important
interest than their own—an interest to which all others
must bow—namely, the great body of the people. The
Speech of her Majesty assumed, and he thought rightly,
the superior importance of the general diffusion of em-
ployment and comfort caused by cheapness and plenty,
and he fiarlessly asserted the truth of that assumption.—
(Hear.) Her Majesty's Ministers had received accounts
from all parts of the country showing the advantage
arising from the increased import of articles required fur
the comforts and necessaries of life. These accounts
came not only from the great marts of industry and
commerce, from which they were naturally to be ex•
pected, but also from quarters not to be anticipated. In
acme of these marts, indeed, peculiar causes had led to
tt e supposition that a permanent decline had taken place.hef_.
He might mention the great towns of Leeds and
field, which from some cause had lost their former prospe.
rity,;but from which they now had accounts of
greater
But as
improvement than bad been known for many years.
he bad said it was not only from these crowded marts of
industry that they had these accounts; her Majesty,s
Ministers had procured a return showing the number of
paupers of all classes receiving relief on the Ist of
January, 1850, as compared with the number who were
receiving relief on the Ist cf January, 1849. These re-
single parishes—the
turns were from 602 unious and

. "Her Majesty in her late visit to Ireland de-
rived the highest gratification from the loyalty and
attachment manifested by all classes of her subjects.
Although the effect: of former years of scarcity are
painfully felt in that part of the United Kingdom
they are mitigated by the present abundance of food.
and the tranquillity Which prevails.
"Her Majesty has great satisfaction in con-
gratulating you on the improved condition cf com-
merce and manteactures. It is with regret that
her Tfajesty has observed the complaints which
in many parts of the kingdom have proceeded from
the owners and occupiers of land. Her
Majesty greatly laments that any portion of her sub-
jects should be suffering distress. But it is a
source of sincere gratification to her Majesty
to witness the increased enjoyment of the necessa-
ries and comforts of life, which cheapness and plenty
have bestowed upon the great body of her people.
" GENTLEMEN OF THE HOME or COMMONS,
"Her Majesty has directed the Estimates for
the year to be laid before you. They have been
framed with a strict regard to Economy,
while the efficiency of the various branches of the
Public Service has not been neglected.
" Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the
present state of the Revenue.
" MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

" Some of the measures which were postponed
at the end of the last session, for want of time for

their consideration, will be again laid before you.
Among the most important of these is one for the
better Government of the Australian Colonies.
" Her Alajesty has directed various measures to
be prepared for the improvement of the condition of
Ireland. The mischiefs arising from party processions;
the defects of the laws regulating the relations of
landlord and tenant; the imperfect state of the Grand
Jury Acts ; and the diminished number of elec-
tors for Members to serve in Parliament -
will, together with other matters of serious conse-
quence, form the subjects of measures to be sub.
mitted for your consideration.
" Her Majesty has learnt with satisfaction, that
the measures which have been already passed for the
promotion cf the public health are in a course of
gradual adoption ; and her Majesty trusts that
both in the metropolis and in various parts of the
United Kingdom, you will be enabled to make
further progress in the removal of evils which affect
the health and well-being of her subjects.
" The favour of Divine Providence has hitherto
preserved this kingdom from the wars and convulsions
which during the last two years have shaken so many
of the States of the Continent of Europe. It is her
Majesty's hope and belief that by combining liberty ,
with order, by preserving what is valuable, and
amending what is defective, you will sustain the
fabric of our institution', as the abode and the shelter
of a free and happy people."
At the conclusion of the reading of the Speech, the
Lords Commi,sioners and the Speaker and Members of
Vie House of Commons retiredruud their Lordships ad-
journed to Five o'clock.

In the gallery deco el to Members of the House el
Commons we noticed Sir James Graham, Mr. W
Brown, Thornely, Mr. F. French, Mr. J. Wilson,
Mr. B. Den:son, Mr. Greene, and several other lion
Members.
Their Lordships adjourned during pleasure.

Their Lordships re-assembled at Five o'clock.
LAW OF BANKRUPTCY.
Lord BROUGHAM introduced a Bill to
amend the Law of Bankruptcy.
SCOTCH REPRESENTATIVE PEERS.
The Duke of RICHMOND drew the atten-
tion of their Lordships to the fact that there were
two vacancies in the Scotch R'presentative Peers.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was un-
derstood to say that he was not responsible for the
vacancies not being filled up.
The Earl of EGLINTON said it was evident that
the Government could not be ignorant of the exist-
ence of the vacancies. They had appointed a new
Lord-Lieutenant of Forfarshire, in the room of Lord
Airlie, and promotions had taken place in the navy in
consequence of the death of Lord Colville, and there-
fore there was no excuse for not summoning the Peers
of Scotland to fill up the vacancies.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE explained that
the Governmant had no official information of the
vacancies.
The Duke of BUCCLEUGIT said that the con-
tinuance of these vacancies was a grievance to the
Scotch Peers.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was
a grievance which the Noble Duke might have re-
a representation by two Scotch
medied, because, on
Peers, the writ for the election would have issued.
The Duke of ARGYLE asked if there was any
rule binding the Scotch Peers to make the requisition ?
Lord STANLEY denied that there was any ana-
logy between the rules of the House of Commons
and those of this House in such cases. He acquitted
the Noble Marquis of any intention to keep the
Scotch Peers from their rights, but he considered
that the Government should have issued the writ
without waiting for any requisition from Scotch
Peers, or for any notification from the representa-
tives of the Peers deceased.
After some remarks from the Marquis of LANS-
DOWNE and Lord REDESDALP, the subject dropped.
SELECT VESTRIES.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE introduced a
Bill for regulating select vestries.
TIIE ADDRESS.
The Royal Speech having been read in the usual
form,

The Earl cf ESSEX rose to move the Address
The Noble Earl claimed the indulgence of the House
as he had very seldom had the honour of addressing
their Lordships. Since they had met last the coun-
try had had the misfortune to lose the Dowager
Queen Adelaide, and he was sure their Lordships,
would sympathise with her Majesty in the grief.
which she felt for that great loss, for never had any
foreign Princess secured the good opinion of this
country to a greater degree than Queen Adelaide.
The interference of her Majesty's Government on
behalf of Turkey, in the differences which had arisen
between that country and Russia, was a legitimate
exercise of the influence of this country, and had been
attended with the most happy effects. He could not
but recollect that during the last two years the whole
of Europe had been in a state of disorder ;
scarcely a post arrived that did not bring the intel-
ligence of the overthrow of some ancient dynasty.
During the whole of these convulsions this country
had remained undisturbed, and he attributed that
state of tranquillity mainly to the manner in which
the Legislature had given way to public opinion.
The artisan and operative clas.e3 had to their honour
shown themselves superior to the temptations held out
to them.. A tribute of gratitude was due to the
public press, the members of which, however they
might differ as to the means, had but one
object in view, to secure the prosperity and the
tranquillity of the country._(Bear,
hear.)
When he looked back to the events of the last few years,
he could not but consider that it was a most fortunate
circumstance that they had had at the head of anirs,
:uring the time which preceded the Continental revolu-
tion., men who had had the sagacity to repeal the laws
which prohibi,ed the importation of food. Of all the votes
he had ever given, there was none to Which he looked
hitAt with greater satis`a ton, than to the vote he had
given in favour of the repel of the laws preventing the
frr e importation of food. The late pestilence bad drawn
the attention of the public to the state of the sanitary-
laws, and every one was convinced that those laws must
be amended. The improved state of the commerce and
trade of the country proved the soundness of the alterations
which had recently been made in the laws regulatir.g the
imports of this country, and completely fal,ified the
predictions of those who bad foretold that loss of re-
venue would be the constqueneo of the alterations.
Duri❑g the last year the import of food and the export
of manufactures had Lean greater than had ever been
known--(Hoar, hear)—aud the revenue bad prospered

believe that a protective law would Le benefit of the farmers and labourers mused for a
f Ennd. The Earl of WINCHILSEA supported gthe amen(
meat. In consequence of the operation of hoe tried
there had been more corn imported into this
ceuntr
than ever there had been at any former period, and h
felt very little hesitation in declaring that if matter
went on as they are now doing next year corn would le
imported from America at 30s. per quarter—(Hear
hear)—and in such a case how was it possible for the
English agriculturist to compete? Nothing could be
Tuitaomfho
eryteh uhi
this
fdea
oi ru
laidntht
r(ay, nu t t„111 i,hee
their
piero srei
placedioonn eyi nbuyv vphot ihncohts
the
hefe
rues
neg
tr
eri
rao
tesl t
nul
dar
ws.
ns
fot
obri a.ththetahhteaydp wrnoeotr
protection
hesitationtt
io receiven
w a s
ai
nnp rsaoac:
ttlienotgri 0 Itch,
that
tngd
atr t deprivehs et ip j
ue
prices
sthi :hem
°.
bnaodt
restored
of Englishcon-
tenttermercould
i vta)tehim
i n
thatthis
h
gteon
erwal cnht,
rhe
set
owfasthiesnetiotulendt,ryahnod
allhholuChldithwaayse.f4
of thinhear.) Under the present state
gs, should it so happen that Providence w
a dearth throughout the world,
be
g posi-
tionebcyt h. e n?
As
t'to%,
the
et
questionwould
rme:e. :Ito: ft h then,e cowouldu
theirld ptat, sa
speak
nir with
experience. Ile let out his land, and IT-
tottlly dependent ou other countries in such aenyemer-
considerable ex
ceitel his own rents tinned; and he could affirm that
if any one took the troub!e to look at the rent received
from land, as compared with the money invested in it
such an one would find that that individual was exceed-
ingly fortunate who got three per cer.t, rental f r his
money so invested.—(llear, hear.) Wae that the care
with the manufacturers?—(ll• ar, bear.) Certainty not.
They took care that they wore belt .1- lernunerated. If,
then, that rate of rental was reduced, how could the
landlords be able to employ labourers to improve their
properties, or even to pay interest on mortga;es? Ile
would contend, however, that no Government had any
right to pass laws which reduced to misery a large por-
tion of the population, and he could tell the present
Government that the time was come when the Saxon
blood would show itself in the English peasant,
who would not much longer submit to be trampled
upon.—(Cheers)
Earl GRANVILLE said it appeared to him, that the
language which had been held in that House in the
course of the debate differed considerably from that which
had been held of late out of doors, in reference to this
subject. At all the public meetings, called upon the
subject it had been held that free trade had produced
general depression; but to-night, and in the amend-
ment proposed, which he confessed was somewhat vague,
as it mentioned no measures necessary for bringing
about a better state of things, it was those connected
with agriculture that were specially alluded to. Those
classes were the landowners, the occupying tenants, la-
bourers engaged in agricultural pursuits, and some
smaller towns situated in agricultural districts. In the
latter he had no doubt that some distress existed. He
did not wonder that some apprehensions should exist in
there, when the shopkeepers were assured by the far-
mers, that they were on the brink of ruin; but what
he was informed was, the greater complaint on the part
of these was, that now the farmer came and bought
what he wanted, and then went away ; where as
formerly, when times were better, he stopped and
spent the evening amongst them. Now he held that to
be one of those instances cf economy which free trade
inculcated, and which, if practised, would in the long
run be far from detrimental t the agricultural interest.
But to come to the most important part of the questiov,
viz., that affecting labour. It was right and proper every
one admitted that the labourer should have food and
clothing, and other comfort., as cheap as possible, but
then it was said by the Protectionist party, what is the
use of all these being cheap if you give the labourer no
wages to purchase them? There was one fact which
ought not to be lost sight of, and it was this, that the
increase of population in the agricultural districts was
greater than the number employed in agricultural pur-
suits, and hence the influx of those into the manufac-
turing districts. That being the case, therefore, any step
taken to injure those large manufacturing interests must
bear upon the labourer. With regard to the farmer, no
doubt the present in respect to him was a moment of tran-
sition. A change was going on, and a stimulus was
being applied, and should he take advantage of the lat-
ter, he would be the more able to stand his ground.
No one could say that the state of agriculture at the
present time, by many degrees approximated to per fee-
tion ; and in his opinion the stimulus now being applied
would make the farmer exert himself so as to work
his farm cheaper, and to 'rester advantage. As to
the agitation ;which the landlords were at present
carrying on, ho did not wish to quarrel with them
so far as their right to agitate was concerned. That
right no one would deny them. The only
question was, whether their meeting together has
be en for the purpose of obtaining a practical object, or
whether they were not following a course discouraging
to the farmer, and calculated to prevent him from mak-
ing those efforts which it is most desirable he should
do. Ile considered that the land at present was
over-rented, and that there was no cause for a re-
duction. Since 1815 the general land rental of the
country lad been raised about five millions in value.
The remuneration price settled at that time for the ad-
mission of foreign corn was 80s. At the change in the
law in 1822 it was 705.; and in 1842 it was redlle.d to
545., while he believed under the operation of II at law it
never averaged 50t. If, then, the rental had risen five
millions, he did not think the fall in price was so great
as to justify any charge of unreasoneb!enrss so far as
rent was concerned, lie believed taat 40e. was at that
moment en unnaturally low price of corn, but that low-
ness did not arise entirely from tree trade. %Vile n
lately in France bee had seen some e f tt e farmers there,
and they were suffering tar vrorre than those (.1 this
country, a:though they had a protective duty f 4'.
per quarter. It could not there f ,re be free trade that
had done all the evil; and although Noble Lords coming
up from the country, from amongst their-tenants, seeing
the distress which in several districts existed, might feel
warm on the subject, and press on Government t apply
a remedy, yet he thought on re fluctien they would find
it the better course to give this free trade a fair t' la%
They could not judge of its c fleet from its of eration
during one year; but he had a sanguine hope that it
would be the means of ultimately benefiting the general
community. Hardware was 50 per cent. lees in Inc.i
now than it was in 1815, and cotton yarn was one-filth
less; yet thero bad not been one of these productions
which bad been cheapened by compet tton, hut of which
the trade had been immensely increased.—(Hear, hear.)
Ho firmly believed it would be the same with land.
Lord BROUGHAM said he would not delay the
House long, but there were a few points to which he
mast refer. That a very great amount of distress existed
at the present time among the agricultural classes of the
community he took to be a proposition too clear to adm't
of doubt; and he was one of those who would not
ascribe that distress to agitation, on. the part of ono
party or another, or to a panic created by one party or
another. He should, therefore, to most slow to deny
the existence of this distress, or to diminish its amount,
for the reason tl te% he knew from long experience that
there was no one thing gave greater offence and real
ra'n, than to endeavour to persuade anybody that he a as
less ill off tlan he was, or any class of the community
that they were less ill off or better off thee they were.
No doubt, then, distress did exist, and in defence of his
own doctrine he felt called upon to examine into its
cause. The change which had taken ;place was an
experiment, as all great changes were. If the experi-
meat failed, no doubt those who tried it would be
ready to retrace their steps, butt f himself he must
say that ho had seen no reason to alter his
opinions ; and that ho held as firmly the doc-
trines of free-trade now, as ho did in 1846.
This distress, complained of by some of their Lord hip',
was by no me ans confined within the limits of this island.
He spoke with confidence, because ho spoke with know-
ledge, when be said that in their great neighbouring
country—in France—with a populatien 4 f 33,090,000,
for the most part agricultural, tt e very class who werep
now most complaining in this country, though resmal
class as compared with tt :e re. tof the population—he
spoke a fact which came within his own knowledge
when he said they were suffering ar that hour, and had
been for months past suffering a deep distress, as much
as ever this country had suffered in its worst moment,
and very considerably more than we were suffering now.
The Noble and Learned Lord then proceeded to etete
that he would give them the results of his inquiry and
knowledge as to agricultural districts in a corn growing
region of France. lie might most truly say that it was
now in the most complete state of agricultural suffering;
the rents were reduced, but none were paid; the farms
were being thrown up conetently, and there was no
possibility of even finding successors to outgoing
tenant, and the labourers, of course, in very many
instances, remained unemployed, without the auxiliary
aid of a poor-law to fall back upon. Now, to show them
the cause of this, he might state to them that seeing corn
down and inquired whether they ever impo!te., any went
at the port one day near his residence, hedwent
corn from Odessa, the granary (f
the
Ef
mcefrenrorthere Oh,
could not bring
them if they chose, no doubt,
but
theya rotected country,
no," said they; " there was
it into the country." France In
trade,Pand yet distress,
and had nothing to do with free
plenty o
Lord then stated that, desirous of
The Noble
quarter.
satisfactory information of the con-
ditionibtihmbsei .n2f under the
rtehfuelltyutor
obtaining the most
f French people, and the amount of their bur-
agricultural distress, was found prevailing in every
o the
of an inspector of revenue for a district near Paris,
age
panladcewd
containing
in-
spected the tax books and the last year's receipts. Of
these 10,000 there were 2,600 proprietors of land, which
dens to thelsota.oteo,obseohualsd,
they called their estates, submitting to the evils of sub-
division for the fiction which they hugged under the
cause of " equality."—(Laughter.) The direct taxes
were leve 1 in these cases on the rental; but as every
proprietor w s his own tenant, the tax rens levied en the
actual value of the laed. The land was valued on the
books which he inspected at 136,000 f., yearly value, end
the inspect >r showed him the receipts of last year for
40,000 f.; that was more than one-fourth, rend nearly
one-third of the actual value t f the land. There was 11
per cent, of direct land-tax, 8 per cent, upon the doors
and windows, and 8 per cent, on what was a curious
speculation of the financial mind, on the amount f rent,
be that rent r calved from the house or net for the tax..
gatherer said they ought to receive it.—(Laughter.) In
other word, supposing the yearly valve of an estate to
be 3,8001., 2,7001. au the amount which had to he paid.
It was in the proportion of 12 to 19; so that if any one
of their Lordships should have an estate cf 19,000/. a
year, as many of them had estates worth tea times that
amount, or bad tetore this distress—(Laughter)—
then they would have to pay 12,0001. for the sup-
port of Government. The French people, • however,
were quit., content to pay that amount, so that they
were allowed to have liberty, equality, and frater-
nity.—(Laughter.) In Germany the taxes amounted
to 25 per cent.; and people who pointed to the United
States es an exception seemed to forget that they
died the texsll9laof Olt NMI G9Ternatnie 6174