The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-13 00:00:00

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the London New Price Current, March 12.)
SUGAR.—To-Jay importers of West India sugar were
for the most part disinclined to make any further con-
cession in the value, still refiners and grocers operated
with much caution. The private purchases were only
350 hhds, &c., and none was offered at public sale; for
low to fine brown the value is from 33s 6d to 35s 6d,
3 ellow 353 6d to 40s, and grey 34s to 38s per cwt.
REPINED.—Today there was greater dulness in the
market for Refined Sugar, and prices declined; brown
Lumps were sold at 47s 61 to 483, and fair to good
grocery 4Ss 6d to 50!. There are free sellers of Crushed
Sugar at the rates quoted, but few buyers are to be met
with.
MAURITIUS.—This afternoon the demand for Mauri-
tius Sugar was not more active, The public sales of
5,360 bags v, eat at a reduction on Friday's rates of 61
p,r cwt, but all sold; fine yellow avert at 38s 6d, mid-
dling and good 36s 6d to 38s, low 35s to 3.63, brown 283
63, better sort 33s to 345, an 3 refining kinds 34s to 38a
per cwt. •
EAST INDIA.—This a'''ernoon there was little desire
to operate in Bengal Sugar, and at public sale cf 4,886
bags not above half sold at rather lower rates; low to mid
white Benares went at 37s to 38s, better sort 38s 6d to 419,
low and mid yellow, like Mauritius, 33s to 363 6cl, and
Khaur 283 to 28s 6d. Of Madras 6,503 bags were of-
fired, and went at easier price,, but the chid' part sold;
good and fine Ltrong white 42s to 43s 6d, scf; yellow
33s to 353 63, ord 31s to 32r, and brown 283 to 30s
per cwt. _ _

FoaEIGN.—Tc-day there was no public sale of Foreign
Sugar, but by private treaty 11,000 bags of greyish Ma-
nilla were sold at 193 per cwt in bend. The market has
a quiet appearance, and prices tend downwards.
Cocoa.—West India continues to be dealt is with
caution, and there are sellers rather under former rates.
There are few buyers of Foreign, and 30s to 31s per cwt
is the nearest value.

TEA.—Prices have not improved for common Congou,
still the demand has been more active, at 91d to 10J.
In medium kinds a fair business has been concluded at
11 d to ls 2d, and the market is firm. There are still few
buyers of good and da e sorts, whilst a desire is evinced to

sell at from is 3d to is 91. Some parcels of low sorts were
again taken by shippers. Fine and good kinds of Green
sell well at fully former terms, but there are now few
buyers of low and middling, still holders are not disposed
to press sales. For Scented Caper and Pekoe Tea a more
active demand exists, and late rates are well supported.
MOLASSES.—In West India few sales have been made
by private treaty. At auction 600 puns Barbadoes were
taken in at 17s 61, but a small Fared of St. Vincents
found buyers at 16s. There is a dull sale for East India
at 13s to 14s.
COFFEE.—To-day there was much inactivity in the
CofFea market, and for all purposes the private opera-
tions are trifling, whilst none of any kind was offered at
public sale; prices were again depressed, and the latest
operations in good ord Native Ceylon went at 54s to 55s
pa:- cwt.
RICE.—The quantity of East India declared for auc •
tion on Thursday and Friday amounts to 3,400 bags and
815 pkts. There are sellers of inferior sorts by
private treaty at a further reduction, yet all
parties continue to operate: with much caution; for
superior white full terms are asked, still few
buyers are to be met with. At auction 1,200 bags
of Penang were taken in, but sold afterwards at
the low rates of 6s 6d to 7s for ord and cargo mixed.
The ♦alue of good mid to fine white Bengal is
9s 6d to 11a mid, and inferior 8s to 9s, cargo
7s to 7s 6d, and Madras Pinkey white 8s to 9s per cwt.
Only limited sales have been made in Cleaned Rice,
town dressed Carolina at 20s to 265, broken 14s to 15s,
American 19s to 19s 63, Patna 12s to 18s, very fine 193
to 20s, and broken lOs to Ils 6d.
. SPicas.—Cassia Lignea is not much wanted; and at
public sale, a part only of 291 chests found buyers at
105 s to 107 s 6d for mid to good. Cassia Buds are to
be had at 110 s to 115 s. With shipping kinds of
Ginger the market continues to be freely sup-
plied. At auction 1,690 pockets and 900 bags of
Bengal sold at 193 6d to 21s for middling to good
bold rough. Homo trade kinds are still in small supply,
and the value of Jamaica may be reckoned at 41103 to
101 10s, East India 30s to 40s, Barbadoes and African at
35s to 40s. In black Pepper only small purchases
have been made privately by shippers or
home dealers. Malabar is quoted at 3-0 to
4id, Sumatra and Penang 3p to 3id. Only small
sales have been made in white at 5d to Bd. The market
is quiet for Pimento at 61 to 6id. There are sellers of
low and jungle sorts of Cinnamon at lower rates, and
few buyers are to be met with. For better sorts orders
are small, and last quarterly sales' rates with
difficulty are kept up. Of nutmegs, a fair
quantity has been sold, brown at 2s 6d to
3s 6d, and superior 3s 83 to 4s 4d. Mace is wanted at
2s 3d to 2s 63, and better sort 2s 7d to 2s 103. Cloves
met with little attention—Bencoolen is submitted at is 63
to 2s, Penang is 2d to is 9d, African and Bourbon lid
to 8d per lb.
SPIRITS.—For Leeward Island Rum orders have be
come small, and on the part of holders there is less firm-
ness, whilst the rates accepted are is 441:1 to is 5P proof.
East India met with little attention, and is 4d to is
4I is the value, whilst prices tend downwards.
In Demerara only small sales have been made at
2s 3d to 2s 6d for 30 to 40 per cent. over proof, and
a reduction is looked for. Jamaica met with little
attention from shippers or home dealers, whilst previous
terms are not to be obtained. The limited orders
executed have been at 2s 43 to 3s for 28 to 35 over,
better sort 35 2d to 3s 63, and choice marks 3s 8d to 4s
per gallon. Brandy—The value of Cognac, best brands
of the vintage of 1849, is 4s 6d to 4s 8d; 1848 ditto 4s 8d
to 4s 10d; 1847 ditto, 5s 3d to 53 sd; and inferior
sorts 3s to 4s. The value of British made Spirit is
still 9s 6d, but the demand is not active. There is no
variation in the value of Gin ; only small sales have
been made in Geneva at Is 9d to is 10d for common, and
fine 2s 3d to 3s 3d per gallon.
CCCHINEAL.—This afternoon the demand was not
better for Cochineal, and at auction 22 bags of black
Honduras went 2d per lb cheaper, ord to fine from 3s 93
to 5s 4d.

INDIGO.—This afternoon at public sale 32 sills of
Guatemala Indigo sold at 2s 5(1 to 3s, and better sorts
3s 4d to 43, these are rather lower rates.
TALLow.—Operations in Russian on the spot have in-
creased, and prices exhibit an advance, holders display
firmness, and obtain 37s to 37s 6d per cwt for fine P.Y.C.
A more active demand has been experienced for delivery
in last three months of the year at 38s 3d to 38s Gd,
and these are not free sellers. Home melted met with
attention, and realised 36s 6d to 37s nett cash. The
public sales went off better than for some time past;
1,150 pkgs South American sold at from 33s 6d to 363 6cl,
470 cks Sydney 34s to 36s 9d, 12 pkgs East India
35s 6d to 375, 40 cks Petersburg Soap 33s 6d to 345, 184
pkgs E. I. Vegetable Tallow were taken in at 35s for
fair, whilst 49 boxes Genoa Candles sold at 6d to 7d per
lb. Tallow is 3s to 4s per cwt lower than last year at
this time, but deliveries are smaller, and stock larger.
OILS.—The rates required for Linseed Oil on the spot
are 32s 3d to 32s 61 per cwt; still home dealers have
operated with caution, and at present there are few ex-
ports orders. Only limited contracts are reported for
delivery at 32s 6d to 335. The production of Oil is
.not
much larger than the consumption. Rape Ssed Oil is
not much in request, and can be obtained at a reduction,
whilst the supply is larger than for somo time past. The
value of pale is 41s, brown 39s to 40s, Foreign pale 43s
to 43s 6d, and brown 40s. In Cocoa Nut operations
have been upon a more extended scale, but at rather
lower rates, and the parcels sold were at from 30s to 345,
but the market continues to t• well supplied. Palm is
not much wanted, and holders are more disposed to
sell, good to fine at 31s to 32e, yet there is not a
large quantity on offer. In Olive only small purchases
have been made, and on the part cf holders a desire is
evinced to sell at from 461 to 491 per tun, the consump-
tion is also less satisfactory. Cod Oil is still in small
supply, and is held for 33/ lOs to 344 still few buyers
are to be met. Seal has been purchased with caution,
pale at 371 to 371 10s, straw and tinged 331 to 364 and
other sorts 311 to 321 10s, but the better descriptions are
now least in demand. The value of low to fine Southern
is from 31/ to 331 103; few buyers are to be met with.
There is a dull sale for Sperm, and 811 lOs to 82/ is the
value of Colonial, whilst the market will be much better
supplied shortly. Lard and Ground Nut Oil met with
little attention. Of Southern some r arcels have been
received.

THE CoUNTRY MARKETS.
IPSWICH, Meicit 12.

The very favourable season for seeding operations in spring
corn keeps the attendance of farmers at market very small ;
hence the supplies of all grain are small. Wheat sold on much
the same terms. Barley somewhat lower, the malt trade being
so completely stagnant. Other articles as of late

PER QUARTER. TER QUARTER.
Wheat, red 1i Peas . 2ss to 26s
Ditto, white. 3)s to 43s Oats o,?s to OA
Barley, malting ... 22s to 24s Rye OOs to OCs
Ditto, grinding ... 20s to 226 Malt. oos to 00A
Beans

AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 9, 1850.
Wheat
Barley
Oats ....... ......
Beans
Peas
HULL, MARCH 12.

Messrs. Taylor and Bright's Circular states :—With con-
tinued moderate arrivals, the trade remains in a most inanimate
state, and operations are on a more limited scale than ever.
Panic has seized the farmer, and courage forsaken the specu-
lator. To-day's market partakes of the character, of Mark-
lane yesterday ; without being quotably lower, dull to an ex-
treme. The remark applies to spring corn as well as wheat,
foreign as well as English. Linseed quiet; cakes not lower.
No rapeseed offering, and cakes rather easier. Bones dull.
The following are the present:prices of grain :-
5. s.
Wheat, English, red 34 to 37
Do. white ...... . 36 40,
Dantzie and Ko-

8; 2,
IPeas, white and yel. 24 27
Do. grey
Linseed, Black Sea 45 46

nigsberg 4O 41")
Pomeranian and

Do. Petersburgh ... 38 45
Do. Riga&Archngl. 38 42

Hamburgh
Danish, Holstein, &
. Friesland 3O 36
hussian and Odessa 30 36
Oats, English
Do. Danish lO 12
Do. Friesland l2 14
Do. Russ. & Odessa 12 14
Barley,malting 2O 22,
Do. grinding lB 19
Beans
DJ. foreign ...... 23._ 25

'Do. Konigsberg 36 —39
Per ton.
Lins cakes, Hull 6/10s 6/12s 6d
11 Do. fine foreign
Do. inferior foreign 5l Os
Rapeseed
Rape cakes...B2s 6d to ess 01
'fares, English .32s —00 s
Do. foreign 20s —30 s
Guano 6/ to 91 103
Bones, do ...... 00s Od to 87s 6d
Rye meal 6/ Os
_ _

Coax,MARCH 11.—Flour—First 123 to 133 Od ; extra 14s;
seconds, 10. 63 to 12s ; households Os to 10s 6d; thirds, 7s to 8s
per cwt. Oatmeal 10s to lOs 6d; Indian meal 7s to 7s 3d ; wheat-
meal, 10s to 00s 0.1 per cwt. Indian corn 132 s 6d to 135 s per ton.
Bran 3112 s 6d to 3/15s per ton. Hay—Farmers 22s to 31s; average
30s ; dealers 31s to 40s Od; average 36s per ton. Str aw—Farmers
15s Od to 26s Od; average 225; dealers 00s Od to: Od;
average 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6d to 613;
household loaf 5d to 51jd per 41b. Fresh butter, 8d to
10J per lb Eggs —3s 10d to 4s Od per hundred. Coals—
Newport 15s; Lydney 17s ; Landore 15s ; Best Neath
Calm 14s per ton. Tallow 40s Od to 00s per cwt.
Whisky, 25 o. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon. Meat
—Beef 4d to 6d; mutton 4d to 6d; veal Od to
Od ; pork 4d to Od ; bacon 6d to 7d ; sausages 5d per
lb. Hops 131 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 3/ 2s 6d to 3/ 5s per
ton. Bark—Barbary 715 s to 8/ 51; Valonia 14/ to 0/; French
71 5s ; English 0/ per ton. Fleece Wool 10, to 12s per stone.
Hemp 32/ to 001 per ton. Fish— Scotch herrings 16s to 171; re d
ditto 20s to 223 per barrel ; Newfoundland 9/ Os to 11/ per
ton. Timber—Memel, 85s per ton; deals, first quality, 18s;
second quality, 16s per 100. Hides—Market 14s to 200;
salted 15s to 21s per cwt ; calf skins 2id to 2/d per lb.
Potatoes, white 8J to Old ; Minions 12d to 13d ; Guano—
Peruvian, 11/ 10s; Icbaboe, 91 per ton; Tar—Archangel,
19s per barrel.

THE MACKEREL FISHERY AT PLYMOUTII.—OLIT
quays during the week have presented scenes of great
bustle and activity, arising out of the landing of fish
which has hem caught off the harbour in large quanti-
ties (after having long delayed .the hopes of the fisher-
men). The first day on which the fish were caught in
any quantity was Sunday last, when the boats had from
3,000 to 4,000, and on Monday they had about the same
quantity. On Tuesday the fishermen were very fortunate,
the takes of the boats averaging from 3,000 to 12,000
fish a piece, ono boat actually catching 15,000. Yester-
day (Friday) morning an immense catch of mackerel
was brought in, tha grea'er part of which was sent off
by train to London, Bath, Bristol, and other towns.
One boat b2longing to Stoekham made 73/. 10'. by
her night's catch. The quantity sent up by train
yesterday afternoon. filled 19 trucks, and was i❑ weight
but lit,le short of 100 tons. This train of loaded waggons,
together with two passenger carriages, required three
engines to take it along the line, and even then at the
liemerdon incline it was necessary to divide the train
into two separate portions. A delay, consequent upon
the conveyance of this large cargo of fish, took place in
the departure of the two late trains yesterday. About
100 t weight of fish have been sent up the line in the
week, exclusive of that dispatched yesterday. There
are about 150 boats engaged in the fishery, and the aver-
age take has been 80,000 fish a day. The prices have
ranged as &Bow :—Sunday, 11. and 18s. per six score;
Monday, from 153. to 163 ; Tuesday, from 10s. to 125.;
Wednesday, ditto; Thursday, ditto; Friday, from 89. to
14s. Der six score.— Pitmouth limes.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 12.
Their Lordships as,sembled at Four o'clock.
ROYAL COMMISSION.

The Royal asie7.t was given, by Commission, to the
Party Processions (Ireland) Bill. The Royal ommis-
sioners were the Earl of Shatesbury, the Earl of Minte,
and the Earl of Carlisle.
Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure.
Their Lordships resumed at Five o'clock, Lord PORT-
MAN officiating as Deputy Speaker.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from some
place in Scotland, in favour of the Bill for the removal
of obstructions to the sale of corn in Scotland.
APPELLATE JURISDICTION.

Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he should, on
Friday, move certain resolutions on the appellate juris-
diction of their Lordships' House and of the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council.
RAILWAY (COMPANIES) AUDIT BILL.

Lord STANLEY moved the first reading of this Bill,
—Agreed te.
The NOBLE LORD gave notice that he should move
the second reading on Friday.
PROTECTION.

Lord REDESDALE presented petitions from North-
umberland and Worcester complaining of agricultural
distress, and praying for the imposition of a protective
duty on the importation of agricultural produce. Ho
complained that, on the opening of Parliament, the
Noble Marquis (Lansdowne) had stated that there was
every prospect of a diminution of the distress of which
the landholders complained, but six weeks had elapsed
and that prophecy had not been fulfilled. The petitioners
attributed the depression under which they were
suffering solely to the alteration which had taken place
in the law, and they considered that nothing could save
them but a return to the f,rmer system. The free•trade
system was repudiated by America and by every other
country, and he thought it was a most bold assertion to
say that we could net return to a protective
system. He believed they could, and ho thought
they would sooner or later return to protection.
The Noble Lord who had so long led the other side of
the House hal declared that whoever should propose a
free import of corn must be mad, yet the Noble Lord
had seen that free import proposed and carried by one
who had all his life long opposed it. He, therefore, did
not despair of a return to protection. The strength and
happiness of a nation depended upon its wealth, for
the richest would always be the most power-
ful nation, and always he enabled to give
its people plenty of work at good wages.
Taxation was'greatly increased in burden by everything
that tended to lower income, and thus tae burden cf the
malt tax had been greatly increased as a burden by the
fall in the price of barley. There had been throughout
the country a large reduction of wages, amounting to a
falling off in the income of the labouring population of
52,000,0001. a year. The llon. Gentleman who moved
the Address in the House of Commons said
that the country had gained 91,000,0001. by
the repeal of the corn-laws. That Hon. Gentleman
had taken a famine year as his standard of comparison;
but if he had taken an ordinary year as his standard cf
comparison, he would have found that his saving would
have been only 40,000,0001.; and as it was money that
ruled, not produce, he (Lord Redesdale) contended thet
there was a loss, becawe more bad been lost in the price
by the famine than had been gained by the consumer.
The operation of the alteration bad been to make wages
low, and yet the moment the landowners attempted to
lower wages there was an outcry against them in the
public papers fur endeavouring to reduce wages to a
starvation point. An attempt had been made to draw a
distinction between the agricultural and manufactur-
ing intereste.—(Hear, hear.) There was no such
distinction—the growing of corn and the conduct
of a pasturage-form was a manufacture, and the land-
lord, instead of being the drone which he had been re-
presented, was a master manufacturer. But the agricul-
tural manufacturers laboured under difficulties which did
not affeet the manufacturer of textlle manufactures. The
agricultural menuracturer had to pay tithes, he
could not work short time, and he had to tight
against a perpetual glut of his commodity in the
market, as this being the only country in which corn
V‘9,3 admitted duty free, we had the surplus of all
other countries poured into our market. Such was the
case at present, there was a glut; the complaint was
that there was nothing doing. It was the duty of
the Governmeat to take care that they should not suffer
from the glut which Providence had created, and when

there was a glut in the market created by the super-
abundance of the produce of our own land, the agricul-
turist was entitled to the exclusive possession of that
market until the glut should to cleared off. It would
not do to try the experiment of free trade too long. He
wisbel to have the question argued calmly on its own
merits, he did not wish to excite party feelings, but he
felt convinced that our national prosperity depended on a
return to protection. Ho wished to ask Noble Lords
opposite to what they attributed the present state of
agricultural distress; and, secondly, whether they could
hold out any hope of an immediate enhancement in the
present price of grain, and if they could not, whether
they considered the present exteut of laud could be cul-
tivated at the present price of corn. Much had been
said of high farming, but high farming was an ex-
pensive process, and could not be carried on at
the present prices of corn. He also asked if
the Government could form any idea as to what
the future price of corn would be under the present
system. There was nothing unreasonable in asking a
Government what, in their opinion, would be the price
of corn under the present system. They were working
under a system of which they were perfectly ignorant,
and which, in the opinion of all practical men, would
lead to ruin. He hoped, therefore, to receive an assurance
from the Government, either that they enter-
tained a hope of some rise of the price
of agricultural produce under the present state of things,
er that they contemplated some alteration in the present
state of the law.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was not surprised at
petitions of such a nature emanating from the inhabit-
ants of those agricultural districts in which a certain
amount of distress did undoubtedly exist, but he was
surprised to find that a Member of that House could
gravely state with the petitioners that the cause of that
distress was the removal of the,duty on foreign corn, and
that the only remedy to be applied was a return to a
system of protection. The Noble Lord had put four
questions to him, and he should endeavour to answer the
first two with as much clearness as lay in his power;
but he must be excused if in dealing with the ethers he
displayed a greater amount of caution. He had been one
of those who had combined their efforts for the removal
of restrictions which pressed heavily on articles c f food,
and he had joined in those efforts from a belief that the
change which was thereby effected in the commercial
policy of the country, would ultimately prove beneficial
to the people at large, but he had never supposed that
that change could be effected without considerable dif-
ficulty, and pressure of a temporary nature. But he
considered that the period of that difficulty and pressure
bad now passed away, and that the distress under which
the agriculturists were now labouring arose from
causes wholly independent of that change, one being the
agitation which had so extensively existed throughout
the continent of Europe for the last two years, and an-
ether he felt bound to add being the apprehension and
panic created among the agriculturists by those who en-
tertained ill-founded notions respectng the effect of the
removal of protective duties. The Noble Lord com-
plained that the agriculturists were sufferiag fr9m a glut,
from an overabundant supply of foreign corn. But What.
was the fact? why, that never in the history of the
country was stock known to be lower, for as far as could
be collected from all the docks and warehouses in Lon-
don the amount of stock in January this year was only
242,028 quarters, while at the same time last year it was
1,354,000 quarters, which was followed in the month of
February by an importation of 384,000 quarters, and in
the month of March by 623,000 quarters; the importa-
tion quar-
ters, of March te r s itnh
eFebruaryt
ioofn t
ihni s y
thee a
pr r
e, beinget
mono
al
be-
ing sensibly declining. Nor had they any reason to
expect that there would be any extensive importation
from abroad this year, as he had been informed that
the demand of other countries was now very great.
Taking the poorer classes as a whole, there never was a
time when the consumption of food amongst them was
greeter. It had increased, and would, he truste l, still
increase, and lead the country to a greater degree of
enjoyment and prosperity than we had experienced
hitherto. There was a pr ogress towards wealth and not
pauperism, and the time he hoped was not far distant
when the beneficial results of this great experiment
would be visible to all.—(Cheers.)
The Earl of MALNIESI3URY said he believed that
the Noble Marquis was himself deceived, and that was
the reason why he was attempting to deceive them. If
the stock of wheat was low in the docks it was not in
the farm-yards. The most important part of his speech
re a, that the time had not yet come when Government
could do anything to alle siate agricultural distress.
Thousands would read that declaration to-morrow with
pain and sorrow. He had three letters from clergymen
in Wiltshire, from districts purely agricultural, describ-
ing the difficulties with which the poor were contend-
ing. The deposits in the savings banks were steadily
decreasing. The best farm labourers had but seven
shillings a week, and the
majority but six shillings
a week. The vicar of Bere said, in his letter,
that they were in the very last state of depression.
Families were living on four shillings a week. So much
for the Noble Marquis's statement that wages were
being raised.—(The Marquis of Lansdowne here made
a movement of dissent.) well, he thought he had said
so. The Noble Lord here read more extracts to the
same effect from various communications he bad re-
ceived. There had been a general depreciation in agri-
cultural produce. Lie regretted the declaration of the
Noble Marquis that he could offer no alleviation. The
unjust position in which the agricultural interest stood
was greatly the result of the policy of free trade. The
poor-rates had increased one-third during the last few
years. Public opinion was
daily growing in favour of
the substitution of a national rate for the relief of the
poor, The tenant-farmers had always been the most
quiet and loyal race in the country. Depend upon it,
nothing but distress has compelled these men to come
out and join in agi'rvion. It is a common expression
now to say—" The small farmers, they must go." And
for what were they to be Faerificed ? To the prosperity
of Manchester. They had spent a whole evening in
discussion of a ruction resting on no broader grounds
than that a man's gas&D had been cut through by
a railway, and yet now they deliberately aban-
doned 200,000 families. The Noble Lord here read some
statistical details in reply to some statements of Mr.
Cobden. Tha' gentleman had applied the term "horse-
shoe interest " in reference to these sufferers. Some of
the members of her Majesty's Government had applied
to them terms scarcely more tender. lie thought the
time was not far distant when the foreign markets
would be glutted, and the manufacturers would look in
vain for a home market. The depression of the agri-
cultural interest would affect Manchester and other ma-
nufacturing towns, for any great class of the community

could not be permanently depressed without injuring the
others. But before he sat down he would ask the Noble
Marquis a question—not whethar the Government, in
the present depressed state of the egricultural interest,
would return to protection--but whether the Government
would riot in any case relicive their burdens by
placing the agriculturists upon an equllity with
other classes of the community as regarded taxa-
tion?—(Hear.)
Lord REDESDALE wished to know distinctly
from her Maj,sty's Government if it were their in-
tention to bring in any measure for the relief of
ogrieultural distress, now so prevalent throughout
England?

Earl GREY said that if the condition of the country
at present were compared with %hat it had bees i❑ 1835,
there would be found a very considerable advantage, not-
withstanding all the murmuring that had been raised
about the want cf protection. He was also astonished
that Noble Lords had not considered what the condition
of the continent was for the last few years, and what
facilities had been afforded to the English farmer for the
conveyance of his produce by the railways. He should
say that he deplored the agricultaral distress as much
as any person could, but he felt at a loss to account why
no measure had been introduced in either House of Par-
liament t) indicate whether they wished for the law of
1848, or that of 1835, or that of 1815, or whether they
wished for a fixed duty on corn, which they some time
since so strongly denounced. He denied that there was
an) thing of the agricultural distress so loudly complained
of, and that whatever share of it did exist was not owing
to any change in commercial restrictions; and, more-
over, he contended that the condition of the farmer in
1849 was far beaer than in 1835, for it was evident
from the Gazette that there was more corn sold last year
than in many cf the preceding years, and that, too, at
a higher price, which well accounted for the farmyards
being devoid of corn-stacks. He would call the at-
tention of their Lordship to the difference in
the price of corn in 1819 and in 1835. In the lat-
ter year the lowest price of wheat was 369. per
quarter; in the firmer it was no less than 38g. 9d. per
(parker, end in addition to that, he was prepared to prove
that there was double the crop in 1849 to that of 1835.
Thus there was a greater produce and higher prices, and
how, he asked, could agricultural distress be so much
complained of? He would also wish to remind their
Lordships that since 1835 there was a very considerable
reduction in the price of artificial food fir cattle; fur, in
looking to clover and ether necessary Lead, it would be
at once seen that the price was much less last year than
it Lai been in 1835. Ho did not think it necessary to
allude to the falling off in the exportation of corn from
abroad for the last year, as his Noble Friend (the Mar-
quis of Lousdowne) had proved that matter to the sais •
faction of the House. He complained much of the lan-
guage used by some Noble Lords relative to the falling
off of prices in corn, because he believed that such lan-
guage tendel to create an unnecessary panic in the coun-
try, and would only require those Noble Lords to look to
France and Belgium, and they would find that France,
up to the late revolution, obtained 51s. 2d. per quarter,
whereas at present she gets only 233. ; and Belgium got
525. 23. some few years since, but at present obtains only
38s. Id. per quarter.
Lord REDESDALE explained that he had not called
on Parliament to prevent a glut. That would have been
calling cn Parliament to interfere with the course of na-
ture and of Providence. But he said Parliament could
prevent a glut of produce of our own land being aggra-
vated by an importation of foreign corn, and had done
so by means of the corn-laws. The petition was ordered
to lie on the table.

Lord S rANLEY presented a petition from the Cape
of Gocd Hope, praying t) Le exempted from receiving
transported convicts.

Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mardi 12,
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
ROYAL ASSENT.

Mr. PULLMAN, the Deputy Usher of the Black nod,
appeared at the table of the House, and summoned the
House to attend at the bar ef the House of Lords to
hoer the Royal Assent given by commission to a certain
public Bill (f)r which se) Lords' report). The
Speaker having complied with the summons, attended by
a few Members, communicated to the House the name
of the 13i11 which had been assented to.
PRIVATE BUSINESS

The report on the Suffolk and General County Ami-
cable Insurance Office Bill was considered and agreed to.
The Greenwich Hospital Improvement Bill was read a
second time, and referred to the following Select Com
mittee:—Admiral Dundas, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Cowper,
Sir Charles Douglas, Sir Edmund Filmer, Mr. Thomas
Liw Hodges, Mr. Cocks, Mr. Tatter► Egerton, Mr.
Masterman, and Mr. Thomas Gre',ne, and five Members
to be added by the Committee of Selection.

PETITIONS.

A large number of Petitions was presented :gains
Sunday labour in the Post-dfice.

Sir B. IL INGLIS presented a petition praying for
the re-establishment el the Ten Hours' Bill.

Mr. 0. DUNCOMBE presented a petition spins'
the Minutes of Council on Education.

Mr. PEEL presented a petition from Leominster,
praying for the extension of the jurisdiction of county
courts.

Mr. LAW presented a petition against the Marriage
Bill.

Mr. Lushington, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Parker, Mr. Cobden,
Mr. Hume, and several other Hon. Members presented
petitions praying for the repeal of the taxes on know-
ledge.

BERKELEY presented a potition praying for
the abolition of church rates.

Mr. O'CONNOR presente 1 a petition praying for the
atreadment of the Factory Act.
Mr. COWPER presented a petition to the same effect.
Mr. MOWATT presented a petition six yards and a
half in length, praying for the repeal of the window
duties.

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
Sir R. H. INGLIS, seeing the Right Honourable the
First Lord of the Admiralty in his place, tegged to
put to him in public a question which he had once before
addressed to him, and the purport of which the Right
Hon. Gentleman was fully acquainted with. The ques-
tion referred to the unfinished search of Sir John-
Franklin and his gallant companions. At the time he
put the question, he took the liberty of suggest-
ing that the search should be made by a
division of tonnage in smaller vessele, instead
of a concentration of tonnage in large vessels,
and that it should consist in a great measure of steam
power directly applied, and that each officer should in a
certain degree be independent of each other. He (Sir
R. Inglis) wished now to ask in what state the expedi-
tion intended to go in search of Sir J. Franklin was at
this moment, and of what force it consisted, and how
soon it might be expected to sail ?
Sir F. BARING said the expedition consisted of two
steamers, which would be accompanied by two mercan-
tile ships. The two steamers were to be under the com-
mand of Captain Austin, and the other—a separate ex-
pedition—was to be under the command of Captain
Penny, of the mercantile marine. Every exertion would
be made by the Admiralty for the purpose of forwarding
the expedition; and he was infurmed that the expedition
would sail the last week in April. Tho Admiralty were
extremely anxious that the expedition should sail as soon
as possible.