The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-24 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 24, 1850.

be applied. But it was not only in the boroughs
that they roust work, the greatest opposition to
the cause cf reform was only to be found emong
the county Members, and he would give them instances
of this. On Mr. Hume's motion 104 county Members
voted against it and 13 for it, 5 of whom only were
English Members. On Mr. Berkeley's motion fur the
ballot 14 county Members votel for it and 82 against it.
On his own motion 19 county Members voted for him and
99 against him. So they saw that it was the county Mena-
hers who stopped the way in improvements. He firmly
believed that it was by acting upon the counties that the
Anti-Corn-law League bad succeeded in its efforts. He
(Mr. Cobden) had always said, during that agitation,
that let them only get South Lancashire, the West
Riding, and East Surrey,and they could carry the repeal
of the corn-laws. Well they got them, and they carried
the repeal. Let them, then, by means of the National Land
Associations work upon the counties, and there could
be no doubt that they would, in like manner, carry their
objects. He (Mr. Cobden), was a vice-president of one
of these associations, and he was happy to say that up
to this time they had secured 340 votes, and were pre-
pared to lay out 10,000/. to secure more. Let
them exert themselves to the utmost to s-cure
the establishment of similar associations. Such
Land Associations as these were the only ratans
to interest the people in the ownership of property, and
that was one of the greatest blessings he thought which
could happen to the country, because it would tend to
elevate them above those habits of wasteful extravagance
and immorality which more than anything else
would prevent the people from obtaining those
political privileges to which they were entitled.
The Goverement were taktng the matte: into their own
hands with respect to Ireland, and, probably, Scotland
would follow next session. The times were favourable
for the efforts of this association ; only let it work well
and it would soon grow fashionable, as the League had
done. They could not go 'on much linger in this
state. Look at the present state of parties in
the House of Commons, ell broken up and shattered ;
things must be changed, and great leaders of parties must
look out of doors fur some party to cling to, and no
question would be taken up but an alteration in the re-
presentation of the country. They had then a very
cheering prospect before them—the country would be in•
debted to them for their efforts. Let them go on in the
same way as they had begun, and they would carry ano-
ther great reform, end it would be carried for ever with-
out the necessity cf ever looking back. The
Hon. Gentleman then concluded amid loud cheering.
Mr. CHARLES LIISEINGTON, M.P., rose to move the
first resolution. H s apologised to the meeting fir not
addressing the meeting in support of the resolution, as
he was labouring under severe indisposition caught
during his attention to his duties in the House:—
" That, as the Freehold Land Societies have be-n
proved to be powerful auxiliaries to the cause of Reform,
by adding to the number cf voters in the county consti-
•tuencies, and as they are a nit ans of promoting thrifty
and president habits among the wcrking classes, this
conference is of opinion t 1 at they are worthy of the
earnest support of every Reformer, and may be rasa
greatly instrumental in promoting the Reform move-
ment."

111 r. LATI3IER, Lenart-fsrmer, of Hertfordshire, sup-
ported the resolution. He claimed for his fellow agricul-
turiste a share in the present movement. They had
failed to get justice from the landlords, and they now
turned to the people of England to obetin from them the
protection and security which they desired for the secu-
rity of their capital. He ridiculed the idea of ever re-
turning to the old system.
Mr. MACGREGOR, M.P., then addressed the meeting,
assuring them that he should be ready to support the
objects of the association in his piece in Parliament.
This concluded fte morning sittings of the confe-
rence, which adjourned until two o'clock.
The coefirenee resumed at two o'c'ock, Mr. Beggs,
Vice-President, in the chair.
Mr. REYNOLDS wished to take the sense of the
meeting- upon two resolutions which had been submitted
to the business committee, but had been rejfettel by
them; He must, however, observe, with deference, that
this assembly, though called a conference, had as yet
done nothing which could entitle it to the name f a cur-
ference.—(Vartial cheering.) The first resolution NI as
one embodying the principle of universal suff age; the
second advocating the payment of Members, and pledg-
ing the association to carry out these principles.
Mr. TILLETT rose to explain the reasons why the
committee had rejected the resolutions. They conceived
that the object of this conference was to consider
the best practical means of carrying out the principles
which had been stated as the basis of the association,
and not argue what the principles should be, inasmuch
as they were all laid down in the programme of the as-
sociation. If Mr. Reynolds did a. t agree in these prin-
ciples, it wvs his duly to retire from the conference.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question, whether the
meeting would eater:ain the resolutions, but the con-
ference rejected them by an unanimous vote.
Af.er Mr. BURTON, of Winchester, had addressed a
few words to the conference, the Chairman introduced
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., who said that he should abstain
from raying aeything in praise of the principles which
they were met to carry out, but should confine him,e f
to endeavouring to give the conference a few hiut3
as to the best means of carrying ont those principles.
He thought that nothing could be of more importance
than to present an undivided front to the country, both
in the nature cf their propositions, and in the means of
carrying them out. There cculd be no doubt that their
propositions would meet with men who would not
entirely agree with them ; some would think
they went too far, and some that they did not
go far encugh. Now one reason why he always
felt confidence in defending their propositions was,
that they were not directed against any particular class, or
involved propositions which did n' t affect al classes alike.
It was a mistaken notion, but one which had great sway
in the country, that theee was something in the power of
the many which would be destructive cf security of
property sad good government. There was one course
which some speakers followed which he was free to say
did some degree of harm, and that was identifying,
the destruction of their own particular objects of politi-
cal hatred with the purification of zepreseatation. For
instance, if he (Mr. Bright) were arguing in favour of
this proposition, he would not say that he calculated that
the moment he got an extension of the suffrage he
would upset the Established Church, because that would
do no good, but only ighten many men who thought the
principle of an Established Church was quite right, but
who would go with him on the question cf
Parliamentary Reform. There were reasons quite
numerous enough without going to such reasons as
these. There was a strong tide of opinion flowing in their
favour even in the House of Commons; the progress of the
Irish Franchise Bill showed that there was no longer
any question cf the absolute necessity of these
advances, but only how they were to be done. The
great care which this association hal to take
was, that in their speeches and writings they should not
alarm the timid portion of the public, that they should
lay their propositions before the public in the most
tempting shape. If they did their duty they would have
little fear of opposition, but would gain one step in the
realisation of that great principle, that all real govern-
ment must be based on the concurrence of all classes of
the people. The Hon. Gentleman then eat down amid
loud and repeated cheering.
Mr. BOWKATT, of Poplar, then spoke to the resolution,
which was proposed by Mr. Lushington, M.P., in the
morning sitting.
Mr. Fnazea, of Ipeivich, next addressed the con-
ference.

After the first resolution had been put and carried,
Mr. CLAEK proposed the next resolution, which was
seconded by Mr. a ILLET, and ca-ried unanimously. It
was to the following effect:—

'• That the council be respectfully requested to pre-
pare a Bill containing
the plan of re
the aseoci2tion, with a view to its introduction, in that
h sape, to Parliament." rorm prop )sed by

•
Mr. THWAITES then proposed, '° That this conference is
of opinion that fur the future the members of the council
be chosen by election, without reference to the amount of
their subscription, by a conference cf delegates from
various parts of the country, and that the ten pound
qualification be discontinued; and this conference would
further recommend that the council shall henceforth ho
chosen at the annual conference."

Mr. WADE, in seconding the resolution, took occa-
sion to find fault with the former constitution of the
council, which, he complained, did not afford sufficient
opportunity for the admission of the working classes.
The CHAIRMAN then explained, and some discussion
followed with reference to the resolution, in which Mr.
Alcock, Mr. Alderman A. Scholofitld, delegates from
Sheffield, Mr. Prout, and Mr. G. Dawson joined, when
The CHAIRMAN announced that the hour fixed for the
adjournment of tie conference had arrived.
The debate upon the resolution was then adjourned
until the meeting cf the conference at ten o'clock tc-
morrow morning.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—OUT market has relapsed
into a state cf quietness like that in which the Niagara
found it at the beginning of last week; with this differ-
ence, boa ever, that, allowing for an ata,tement from the
more extreme demands of producers, they have now
taken their stand on a rather high range of prices. The
quotations may be broadly stated at id. to id. per
above those of this day fortnight, in mule and
water twist, and lid. to 31 per piece in wide shirting',
printing cloths, and other medium fabrics. Exceedingly
little business has indeed been done, either in yarns or
goods. The home dealers appear to be quite out of
the market, and the continental merchants are watch-
ing the course of things, in a state of hariosing per-
plexity, cautious not to operate beyond the supply of the
immediate and more pressing wants of their correspon-
dents, who, as well as themselves, aro anxiously
noting tho successive ebbs and flows of prices in
this market, and losing something of confidence with
every vibration. However, the firmness of producers
for this class of buyers is materially sustained by the
fact that they are not burdened v.ith heavy stocks, while
they are aware that there is no excess ( f supply
abroad. And this department of our market finds sup-
port also, though indirectly, in that extensive demand
for the markets of the ear, which continues
to take off so large a proportion of what we produce.
Then, the loss in which the trade is so seriously and
increasingly involved, is at once strengthenine- and ex-
tending the determination to diminish the production, if
there is ti be no better aojustment of price to cost; end
this determination is, we know, being quietly carried
out by parties who have hitherto endeavoured to avoid
taking such a step.
ROCHDALE, AioNDAv.—The flannel market continues
very greet, and the merchants show no diepesition to
operate. There is little or no charge in wool since lait
tray, either in price or demand. Tile time hen
the new clip will be ready is fast spprenhirg,. and this
generally induces the manufacturers to buy sparingly.
MACCLESFIELD, TuEsDAT,—There has been no

change worthy of note in our markets during the last
week. If anything, trade may be reported rather
quictc.r than it was amongst the manufacturers and
throwaters ; but the present fine weather; it is thought,
by some, will create a better demand shortly. The raw
silk market rema'ns without alteration.
HALIFAX, SAFIIRDAY.—There has been rather more
business done in our Piece Hall to-day; but the demand
for worsted goods is far from brisk, and prices remain
without improvement. We have no change to report
with respect to yarn and long wool. Short wool goes
off heavily; and quotations are rather easier than they
were a week or two ago.
LEEDS, TIIESDAY.—There is no change of importance
to notice in the cloth trade since last week. The manu-
facturers are well employed, and there is a good business
doing in the warehouses. Prices continue firm.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF LORDS, Aprzl 23.
PROTECTION.

The Earl of HARDWICKE presented several peti-
tions from various farmers and graziers in the Isle of
Ely complaining of distress, and praying for redress.
Whether the free-trade experiment turned out ulti-
mwely to be successful or not several respectable indi-
viduals must, be ruined by it. He did not b • lieve that
House could at present :Ilford the redress, because if it
were to propose to interfere with the free-trade experi-
ment, they would be told that the revenue was prosper-
ing, that commerce was increasing, and if they went
out of doors that they should meet with no difficulty in
finding farmers to compete for taking any estate that
was vacant. They should be told that the income-tex
was increasing, and that would be appca'ed to as a
proof of the prosperity cf the country, but he con-
sidered the increase in the income-tax was a
very fallacious argument to prove the increased prospe-
rity of the country. They should also be told that
prices were net lower than in 1835; but in 1835 we had
no foreign competition. He believed that shortly, how-
ever, they would be able to give these persons relief;
because, if the experiment of free trade were persisted
in much longer, the Effect would be to entail the ruin
not only of the agricultural class, but of every other
class, and there would then be a unanimous call for a
ri.turn to sounder principles. He confidently believed
that the present state of things could tut exist, and,
therefore, the agricultural body had before them, in the
course of the next year, that strong hope which arose
from the difficulties in which they were at present
plunged.
PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE.

The Earl of MALMESBIJRY then rose, in pursuance
cf notice, to move for the following returns :—Return
of the imports of wheat and wheat flour, also of barley
and oats, into the United Kingdom, in each week since
the Ist of January, 1850, end of the average prices of
each we eh; and also, return of the total amount im-
ported within the same period, distinguishing the coun-
tries from which imported. The Noble Earl said he
might be told that he could obtain the information which
he was anxious to acquire from the returns relating to
trade rind navigation, which had already been presented
to the House, and in which was to be found the amount
of corn imported into this country since the commence-
ment of the year. But ho was further desirous of
knowing what were the countries from h that corn
had been received, and from which corn still continued
to arrive in large quantities, in the face of a falling
market.—(Hear, hear.) If he were to consult his own
convenience he should content himself with merely
moving for those returns; and he was aware that in at-
terne, Wig to discuss at any length a subject which had
already occupied so much of their time, and which in
itself was but little attractive, he ran a risk of forfeiting
any claim to an extension of that indulgence which he
had always experienced from the House. But when he
witnessed the deplorable state of the agricultural interest
at the present moment he thought it his paramount duty
to entreat their Lordships to direct their most earnest
attention to that subject, as well as to the state of our
corn markets since the repeal of the corn-laws in
the year 1846. At the commencement of the present
session they had been assured that the low prices
of agricultural produce at that period could not
cent:nue; and yet they had 'since fallen consider-
ably lower. Let them look at the policy which
Parliament had pursued upon that subject. Three
parties had assisted in the repeal of those corr.-laws
which had afforded a protection to the agricul:u al class
under the groat and peculiar burdens which they had to
bear. One of those pat tie:, did not exist, he was happy
to say, in that Reuse, but it did net the less exist in the
country. That party which had been one of the most
active in agitating for a repeal <f the corn-laws was
composed of men who had not scrupled lately to declare
publicly that they considered that the repeal would lead
to this most desirable end—the establishment of a pure
democracy in this country. That party believed that
with a repealof the protective system the value of agri-
cultural produce would become so depreciated as to had
to a diminution cf the social and political influence of
those a horn they caled the aristocratic body, among
whom they included not only the nobility, hut the whole
of the landowners of this country, who, as every one
knew, had always been the strongest bulwark of the
Throne against democratic invasion. He should,
however, say nothing more of that party, because
none of them were present upon that occasion.
There was another party which certainly did exist in
' that House, and which also possessed great activity,
talent, and intelligence, and which had been mainly in-
strumental in procuring the repeal of those laws—he
alluded to those theoretical economists who had sud-
denly fallen in love with the doctrine of fhee trade, be-
hoeing it to be founded on na'ural and normal truths,
but totally forgetting the complex state of society in this
country. Thcee were men for whom he entertained the
greatest respect, because he knew that they were honest
in their opinion and sanguine in their expectations. They
believed that free trade would prove beneficial to this
country, and he certainly gave them credit for thinking
that it could not lead to that deplorable anxiety and
discomfort which it bad occasioned among the agri-
cultural classes. But they were men, like the Noble
Earl the Secretary for the Colonies (Earl Gree ), who
had lately congratulated their Lordships on the effect
produced by free trade, and who was himself one of
the most distinguished of their number—they were
ardent and uncompromising politicians, who threw down
a principle before the country as they would throw down
an article of material produce. He believed that any-
thing that he could say would not have much influence
with those persons; but he would ask them also to turn
their attention earnestly to what was going on in the
corn markets of this country, and to consider what must
be the result. There was a third party in that House
to the repeal of the corn-law s, which comprised a ma-
jority of their Lordships, and which must always be
looked upon in this country with the deepest respect.
Among the members of that party he wLhed particu-
larly to address himself to the Noble Lords on the cross-
benches, and to some Noble Lords on that (the opposi-
tion) side of the House, from whom those with whom he
had the honour to act had unfortunately been for some
time dissevered. He believed that those Noble Lords
had thought, in voting for a repeal of the corn-law.r,that
they had been doing their duty to the country by giving
way to what they considered to be an almost universal
call on the part of the people. They had hopsci that
no such evils as those which the party with whom he was
associated had predicted would result from the. propo.ed
change, and that, after its adoption, what he might call
a genial stream of food would flow into this country,. in-
stead of that overwhelming torrent by which our mar-
kets had been inundated. In that party he should place
the Noble Marquis opposite (the Marquis c f Lansdowne)
himself, because the Noble Marquis had, both at the be-
ginning of the present session, and at a subsequent pe-
riod, called the repeal of the corn-laws " an experiment."
He had also been told that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had ststed in another place, that he did not ex-
pect that that measure would occasion such low prices
in our markets. He accepted the expression of the Noble
Marquis. He had always looked upon the measure as
an " experiment;" and he should always protest against
the language held, not so much in that House as out
of the House, by leaditig journals, and by men of great
talent and eloquence, to the effect that the existing law
upon the subject was necesarily final. He consie
sidered that language to be a positive insult to the
common sense and the good feeling of the country.
Surely a law was not necessarily final because it had
been tried for a year. Surely no Act of Parliament
could be considered necessarily final, and least of all an
Act of Parliament upon a fiscal question. Ho could
understand that the abolition cf personal privileges con-
fined to a class might be final; but to say that a fiscal
enactment was necessarily final was the language of
decrepit men who had only sufficient strength left to
enable them to move in one unvarying attitude. The
price of corn still continued to fall; it had not only fallen
within the last two months, but it had fallen within the
last week. The last average that had been pu'llished
was that for the week ending Saturday, the 13.11 inst.—
that Average being 38s. a quarter for wheat. The average
for the week ending on last Saturday would not be
published until to-morrow (this day); but he could
state from information which had reached him,

that in almost all our principal markets the
price had fallen during the last week. Ho
found that during that week the average price
of wheat at Salisbury bad been 37e. and of
barley 215., which would not be more than a remunerat-
ing price for oats. He found that at Saindon the price
of wheat last week had been 355., at Dorchester 365., at
Warminster 355., at Norfolk 375.; that in Northumber-
land it had been below 353., and that in London the
average price had fallen by 25., in consequence cf an
importation during the week of 100,000 quarters of dif-
ferent kinds of grain. Now, their Lordships should re-
member that a fall of 2s. on 38s. was one of very consi-
derable amount, and was of course much greater than a
fall of 2s. on 583. We had begun the year with an ave-
rage of 405.; and in the face of that average a very large
importation of foreign corn had taken place. At the
beginning of the month of December it must have been
known in foreign parts that the price of wheat in our
markets was reduced to 40s. a quarter; and notwithstand-
ing that fact, we had received in the months of Jan. and
Feb. importations of 275,000 quarters of wheat, of 47,000
quarters of barley, and of 29,000 quarters of oats; and
the importation were still being contietted. The fact
was, that oven at prices which could not remunerate
tho British farmer, foreigners could inundate our mar-
kets.Sln the year 1849 the average price of wheat in
England had been only 41e.; and jet in that year we
had received from foreigners 4,509,626 quarters of wheat,
1,554 860 quarters of barley, 1,363,763 quarters of oat 4,
and 3,937,219 cwt. of wl,eat(n flour; making altogether
an ;importation equivalent to 10,000,000 quarters of
grain, without including pulse and Indian corn. We
ha 3, beside:, received from abroad during that year
5'2,000 head of cattle and 129,000;obeep. He had stated
these fects for the purpose of showing what vast powers
foreigners bad of importing into this country ; and their
Lordehips might depend uponit that they could continue
their importations at a profit to themselves, even though
the prices were lower than at present in our markets.
There had, as yet, been no means of knowing the exact

price at which foreigners could import into this country—
but he believed that that point might soon be ascertained.
The British farmer was she ady well aware that he could
be undersold by the foreigner; and when he demanded
38s. for his wheat, the corn- factor showed him a
sample of wheat which he could receive from Havre, or
some other near port, for 375., and then asked him how
he could require 38s. He (the Earl of Malmesbury)
had himself heard that language held, and so, no doubt,
had many of their Lordships; and then, he would ask,
whether it vs as surprising that under such circumstances
a panic should spread among our farmers? It was well
known that the farmers had still large stocks on their
hands, which they had been induced to hold in cense-
querce of the language employed some time since by
members of her Majesty's Government and by other
free-traders, who bad stated that prices should necessa-
rily rise; and the result was, that at present, at the end
of April, within three months of the harvest, they had
large quantities of grain on hand, whilst increased im-
portations and falling markets. were staring them in the
face.—(Hear.) The large farmers might be able to bear
up for a while against such a state of things; but how
would the small farmers fare? He knew it was said that
the small farmers should be: destroyed, unless they pos-
sessed capital, and were conversant with chemistry; but
that was equivalent to stating that, without the-se advan-
tages, they had no right to live. He recollected that,
during the discussions .on the corn-laws in 1846, a most
eloquent prelate had declared that to repeal those laws
would be to return to a more natural and normal state of
things. But was there anything, he would ask, in our
normal nature that was to ti sofa chemistry.? Or was it
the natural state of mankind to be born with capital?
He would warn their Lordships that the destruction of
the English yeomen would be the removal of what had
been the most loyal and the most peaceable portion of
her Majesty's subjects. But he could confidently state
that the farmers were now findieg fault with tie form of
government which had reduced them to their present
condition. He might be asked why they had not held
similar language in the year 1835, when prices had been
as low as at present. Now, his muse er to such a question
would be, that prices had at that time been low in conse-
quence of a plenef al lessor:, which still left them pros-
perous, while their preset unhappy position was the re-
sult of human intervention and of Acts of Parliament.
The agrieulturalclasses had aright to come to the Legisla-
ture and say to it—" You have depreciated the value of
our property to the extent of one-third ; it was worth
563., it is now only wee th 38e; yet, while you have done
so, you ask us to pay the same amount of taxes as we
formerly did.—(Hear, hear.) We pay the same taxes
as we did before you meddled with us, and that is equi-
valent to having raised the taxes from 50,000,0001. to
67,000,000/, so far as regards us. You has e added one-
third to our burdens, when you have depreciated the
value of our productions by so much. Is it fair, then,
that we should pay the same fixed annuities which we
were to pay befere you made these changes? There was
nothing given us in return for that depreciation which
would entitle us to pay the same rate of interest to the
public creditor as we did before."— (Hear, hear.) In
conclusion, he had only to say their Lordships and Par-
liament wou!d have to consider whether or not it was a
wise thing to ruin their debtor or re trace the steps
they had taken. If they did not do so he thoUght that
neither the condition of the country would be wle, nor
could it be governed wiih h enoue.—(Hear, hear.)
The Duke of RICHMOND said he could bear testi-
mony to the truth of all that had fallen from his Noble
Friend. There never was a time when greater egricule
taral distress prevailed in this country. The farmers
and yeomen were at the present moment loyal, but he
warned the Government, and all who were interested in
maintaining the institutions of the coueory, net to drive
these men desperate. What was loyalty? He would
remind their Lordships of the French proverb—" Le
reuple no' se souleve pas par envies de se soulever, mais
par imratieace de souffrir." He knew large districts
once prospet one, in which whole families had been re-
duced to the condition of paupers, and compClled to
take shelter in the workhouses.—(H, an.) Iti was im-
posghle for the farmers of England to continue to pay
taxes at present prices, and it was also unteir to single
them out alone for this reduction, while the publh.,
creditor and all other bodies coetieued to receive
the old prices.—(Cries of " Hear, hoar.") For his
own part he expected nothing from Noble Lords
opposite, they were too, deeply pledged to free trade
to race le, but he lookel to the good sense of the people
of England, and especially of the people of Scotland, to
compel them to return to a fair and adequate protection.
—(Cheers.) He trusted that instead of being daunted
by the bold assertions c f the free-traders that this ques-
tion was settled, they would not giro in, but continue to
bring forward their own views by eatery constitutional
means. It was a farce to say that such a measure
could be final. Nothing short of protection could be of.
any use, unless they were prepared to sweep away 'a
great body of property, and of the industrious population
of the country. There was another class who opposed
them—he meant the occupants of the episcopal bench.
But these Right Reverend Prelates were not affected by
the law--their incomes were fixed.—(Laughter.) But
he warned them an agitation leas beginning among the
farmers, who did not see the justice of paying the same
amount of tithes now as they did under old prices.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he would not
enter upon the discussion which bad been opened up by
the Noble Earl and the Noble Duke opposite, in moving
for returns. When these returns had been made he
would be perfectly ready to enter on a discussion that
might be raised as to whether it was necesatry to of
any change in the present system. Fie was certainly not
prepared to say, that he believed a state of things had
arisen in which Parliament should be called upon to re-
view its policy. It was not his int ration to oiler nay
opposition to that which had been made by the Noble
Earl. The returns would be useful; but as it was de-

sirable that their Lotelehips should be in posseaaion of
all the information necessary to enable them to form a
correct opinion, he should move, as anaedition to the re-
turns specified by the Noble Ear), a return from the corn
inspectors of the average prices of the corn sold in our
markets during the last five years.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that he did not be-
lieve a single syllable of the returns made by the coin
inspectors.
Lord STANLEY did not go the whole length of the
Noble Duke, in entirely disbelieving the returns from
the corn inspectors, but he did not think the addition
would give them any information as to the quantities of
corn sold on which they could place reliance.—(Hear,
hear.) He must, however, take that opportunity of ex-
pressing his satisfaction at the change of tone upon the
subject. Instead of treating the question as decided ir-
revocably, the Noble Marquis had admitted that the
prices were exceptional, and lower than he had antici-
pated. He collected from that statement, and he hailed
it with satisfaction, that the Noble ;Marquis leas 'ef opi-
nion that an extravagantly low price was not of itself
desirable, or in itself a public good.—(Hear, hear.) He
inferred also, that not only the Noble Marquis, but the
Government, were of opinion that the prices were now
lower than they ought to be, or than the repeal of
the corn-laws were intended t ) make them—
ace, therefore, that so far the experiment 1. al
net succeeded.—(Hear, heir.) But whin tiey
treated this as an experiment, and admitted
that prices were lower than they expected, he asked how
many more hundreds of their fellow-countrymen were to
be ruined before they were convinced of the fully ef she
experiment, and began to retrace their steps? . They
had been told by the Noble Marquis, at the beginning
of the session, that the low prices could not last. In five
or six weeks, at, ad events by the month of March, they
would recover—the ides of March had come and had
pasted—the ides of April ee:e here, and were passing,
and still the prices had not risen—they were falling,
with every prospect c f continuing to fall—and, as les
Noble Friend had truly remarked, this was at a time
whi n they were within three months of another harvest.
ar.) Under these circumstances his Noble Friend
asked for returns of the ports from whence these impor-
tations had come, which produced this effect upon our
market, in order that they might know whether there
was any prospect of improved price or of such an in-
creased demand as would make agriculture profitable. He
did not believe there vas such a pros; ect. In the case of
cotton and tea largely increased demand had followed
the reduction of price, and looking at the numerous
countries all ef which woull send their grain to this
market, it was certain that under the new policy prices
must be permanently low, and unprofitable.—(Hear,
hear.) Under these circumstances it was morally im-
possible that cultivation could be carried on in this
country—(fLar, hear)—or that additional capital and
industry could be invested in an unremuneratire occupa-
lion. What was to be done with the Lothian., the gar-
den of Scotland, where skill and capital had already done
their utmost, and it was impossible to add materially to
the productiveness of the soil ? He believed the time
bad come when they must abandon this policy, give up
this itl-fated experiment, and retrace their steps.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the Noble Lord
had drawn inferences and made statements which would
have been better made after the returns had been laid
upon the table. But he altogether denied the words
which the Noble Lord had put into his mouth, as to the
failure of the experiment, or the necessity of revising
their past policy. He denied that he said one word in-
dicative of a feeling that it was necessary to repeal the
law.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord STANLEY explained. The Noble Marquis
said that the case in question was an excepticn, as the
prices could not last ' • and the inference he (Lord
S:aaley) drew from this ststement of the Noble Mar-
quis was, that the prices were neither such as the Noble
Marquis ha I anticipated or considered desirable, and,
therefore, that the experiment had failed.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought tLeir Lord-
ships were not justified in coming to the conclusion that
the experiment had failed. If the Noble Lord was de-
sirous of fairly testing this matter, his course was clear.
Ho ought at once make a substantive motion on the sub-
ject, when the question could be fairly gone into. lie
could not, however, allow that opportunity to pass with-
out denying that the measure for the repeal of the duty
on corn had been to tried, as to justify the conclusion
that the measure had failed.

Lord STANLEY said he did not consider the present
price of corn an txbeption, nor did he think he was
houad to brhg a substantive motion forward to test
the efficacy of the alteration of the law in relation to
corn. _ _ _

Earl GREY contended that if NoVe Lords felt that
the measure in question had failed, they ought to test
the matter by bringing forward a substantive motion on
the subjee. He objected to a discussion being raised
on the merits of a measure upon a mere motion for pa-
pers, when that discussion could lead to no practical re-
sult. He contended that it was no more in the power of
Parliament to fix the price of corn, than it was to fix
the rate of wages, and the Noble Lord (Lord Stanley),
when in power, objected to any attempt King made to
dfect this latter r,sult. _ _

Lord BEAUMt ).;'\ 1 t%coc.-,i,t the Ili.uso WaS much in-
dety.ed to the Noble Earl (Malmesbury ) for briugiug for-
ward this motion, because thc is Lordships ere not at
the present moment in a position tD say under what cir-
cumstances foreigners were importing their corn;

whether with the prespoct eertair: loss, or 11.-.er
expectafon that the present low erlce3 tivculd /3°'oje6
tinue, but would i tiadeAly advance. The frae-tr',ol,o
did not meet these questions with anything CCel*
—(Hear, hear)—and %hers Noble Lordscoelplitir
th,present low prices, the rree-traders, instead I'lo
logising for such a state of things, and urging•lll3neolii
the consequence cf accident, and wholly e%c`e-ocl
they ought b:Adly to say, prices ate low, lvid 51:110
the better; and if the price of wheat was now
if it were even 255., t'ley would be more plenred, v'"101
of the gain of lor. for the purchase of rrachinelof
other articles. What alarmed: him most in co:
oct
with the repeal of the corn laws was the utter U;spr
of corn in any of the great bonding storehouses sc,
land, and particularly in the north, a Huv, 0001e,',cies
and those places were now devoted to other Pu''or
than granaries, which showed that the ;ace of 011...1iebl
culators had vanished. In the event of a sudden ;01
they would not have corn to meet the reqnirelnef
the public.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, howe°:, hAI
the Act in relation to the duty on corn had not
a sufficient trial; at the same time they ought to
the necessary information on the subject. •
The Earl of MALMESBURY replied, and •-•°v•„eore'
motion would net be delayed by the addition sorb
by the Noble President elf the Council. Id Ot'
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said they o°ll (510
and they -would be laid before the House with ail P°-
celerity. 14016
The returns, with the addition proposed by the
Marquis, were then ordered. Ff
The Duke of RICHMOND gave notice that °11„f lb/
day he would present forty petitions complaining;tud
operation of the present law in relation to eGr"osli
asking for a return to protection to native industry
its branch. cads
The Schesool Districts Contribution Bill was r
third time and passed. ;61f
The Earl of PO WIS presented a petition praY;nsvitre
an explanation oF the differences which had takeflAtlio
between the National Society and the Cominittteek,vrill
Privy Council; also a petition against Sunday ij't
the Post-office.—Their Lordships then adjourned'

DOUSE OF COMMOIVS„4priI 23'
THE UNIVERSITIES.
Mr. HEYWCOD rose to move that all Frielpost:/i
academical education require from time to tiro`, sees
modification, from the change of external circunote'oet
the progress of opinion, and the intellectual iniP,rl,l.lol'
of the people. That in the ancient English and Ir;tee itj
versiiies, and in the colleges connected with thenl'y ve'"
terests cf religious aid useful learning have not s ;5, lel
to an extent commeosurate with the great resourtovs'i
high position of those bodies ; that collegiate 5t6. led
the fifteenth centnry occasionally prohibit Oleo er
authorities from introducing any alterations j.,11 060
luminous coder, of which a largo portion are tl°e"peulste„
fete ; that better laws are needed to tteersor
the ceremony cf matriculation and the unite
ing of degrees ; to diminish the eye !,iret
ness of the University libraries; to provide fur jt,,re4l
distribution of the rewards of scientific end ,e"
merit; to extend the permission of merrier `lectors
of colleges, and to fecilitate the registration of (;:,et Ve
fur the Universities; that additions! checks
considered with reference to the continued ex(r3v-0-r0
of individual students, and that the nayie of ten-eeie"/
college property ought to be ameliorated, r- fie",
lady in Ireland. That, as it is her MajestY's
and prerogative to earn° visitors and c°,lCO3.,''
s:oners to inquire into the ancient Universities
(Tea of Euglantl and Ireland, an humble ald nib
presented to her Majesty, praying that her ga3ssiesef
be graciously pleased to issue her Royal Colail3ityerse°
lequiry into the state of the Universities and Cd':„;,
Oxford, Cambridge, arid Publin, with a /1.a3ti1',..
assist in the adaptation of those important Last',
tions to the requirements cf modern of tr
The fact that a large nuniber of the alembet9oo
House had been at one cf the two Universitiei6
great advantage to him in b,inging forward tP3ij 0
Lion. , In 1772 a greet deal of attention Was lid,
the subject of university referni, and consha
re:
improvement resulted from it. The subject tpelt;
ermined dormant until 1834, when the House 'WO'',
tioned on the subject, and the late Mr'
succeeded in passing a Bill which avn? tit frte
out in the Lords. Afterwards Me, Chreee'le;elols,
Master of the Mint, and other distinguished le"':ie
exerted themselve's to bring about some ulteratOf 91terf
university system, and of late years considerab`,,eeets
rations had been made in the laws of both tinge ',roc:,
learning. The first thing that struck a
en visiting either of the Universities wn-,agele
large number of tutors who were ut)"-ruanh,„'
He considered it was a great disadvantage 0-'4l tel',;l;
the best men in the Universities were obliged -I°o stiis
Trish tl&r fellowships when they married. ,iece
ceses they acre driven to obtain the Irlasterg"
torely
661,
grammar_school in some country village an- „,li•
Trish situations for which they were peculiarlY cl-41ebid
He believed to every great extent the conditiorsit, 10,1$
the property of colleges was originallY
died out. Under those circumstances be 'lye e
it was very desirable that if ere should ode(
inquiry into the property, end the conditions woe/
which that property was held in the Uniltls,lo3o„;
Oxford and Cambridge. It was the intention 0' 7, oP:o
in granting charters to the universities, ani°,7 rho
things, that the Members of Parliament i°," tjc,
Universities should present to Parliament a toe
acceunts far the several universities from tirVe o°7
lie (Mr. Heyweod) might call on the members °,•00;;;
Universities, under those charters, now t render 001,1",
counts of the Universities to Parli3ment, but to issues
it more advisable that the House should get inf°l.:ense:;
respecting them through such an inquiry as he Pr f t;(
The Hon. Gentleman proceeded to cornplaillee(
hardship of the law which rendered it
on authors to deposit a copy c f their works ahicse'a
the Universities, consid4ring the immense revel-, frr,
joy ed by those seminaries. Tee income arici'by'',:
Fellowships at Oxford was about 120001 tgeeLl,
at Cambridge, 90,0061 ; and in Dublin, 30,04
venee of the College estates, amounted to 14'74
The Hon. Gentleman then read the oath lake!bjeb'd
Fellows of King's College, Cambridge, from oeiher's
argued that it was impossible for a member Of I,P„ of .70-0
to propose any great change in the constitutlenotaw
society. In the reign of Henry the Bth, a e°nief 08,,rte,
was sent down to inquire into the Univers/re cq.v
bridge, and though a circle of courtiers wire:iieers.4
ready to snap any confiscations of the tcl
property, the King disappointed them by bit'd
them that the lands could not be in taerala
hands, and contented himself by deprivingii
n
all the bulls which had been directed to the iept oh'
by the Pope. Edward the Sixth, Cardinal ai,'";,r
tat
Queen Elizabeth, all issued commissions jaa;g
same purpose to b- th the Universities:. etf•t,,' ,
on, Archbishop Laud intermeddled with lu,e°
of Oxford, and would have done so 5"..,"" ,t I";
bridge, had the Puritan party there 011°",; Of tie
He was sorry to say that many of the ill efreerfe. , if
prelate's interference were yet visible at 01tn';feretts
thought a change weuld be beneficial. M !Oros
they looked at the lists, they would find that 0;3 /
of the students failed, the reason of which tra''.,et tll,l
told, that they failed in their divinity. thesabels
none but persons of great learning in Chalfitic
should be appointed to the theologies! ebalf.iajec,
management, too, of the ' college lands 01 rip,
be greatly amended, and more especially pi's
gard to the case of Trinity, College' VLIDIOId
An importance attached to Trinity College' east role
pcculisr to itself, on account of its being the gr(i.
only literary institution for the whole of Ire's'', i, il°",g
Right Hon. Member for Tamworth had certs'y
e b!later
great service to that country by recently a'fieet • le
schools and colleges at Gelway and Belfast, ",,ao°4o"
could only be considered as superior graininstr;•tre,
He recollected an instance in which a Roman
student obtained a scholarship at Trinity his
Dublin, tut Ras deprived afterwards on 're $"0
fusing to take the sacrament. To be , Inigsleef
emolument was very trifling, being ontYr,.•
year, but it was a degradation that Roman'4e -bellet
were not allowed to take the secular honour of a 6- eaktg
ship. It appeared to him that these scholarshipaeht:„
to be open, and that the test of the sacrament °'tfricitts
,
he entirely abolished. At Trinity College, „a
let
taking the sacrament was purely voluntel„;. tote
believed the first step they ought .t",a Lit";(1
was to institute a searching inveetigattenosn'o
the constitution of the old Universities. lelte gr9,esi
the students treated the Thirty-nine Articles viii
levity, which showed the worthlessness Of b'eolt;"ae
which was applied. It appeared that the e.-seie-lt
which they signed their names to the Tk" eihre
Articles contained three columns, one of;be °old-
was for the sons of noblemen, another for :iff
of gentlemen, and the third for the sons or plebeilto Pa1(1
the great anxiety was not to put their names ill atif 'to
beian column. On the other hand, however, lileditto
conscientious scruples as to the propriety of ac st at,
these testa, and Mr. Romilly, one of the Masted go g.ig
ford, had told him that it was extremely painftseo:4
a refusal to a student who ' adopted 1"" P')
principles. How long was this degradinb' hes7,l
miserable proselytism to continue ?—(get/rZecee iota
This question had too long remained in ahainaost,lie
he hoped the House would now take up the rig rftei
with vigour. At ell events, he felt perfectbi'a beg
fled that the day was not far distant w rest tilt
would have a further inquiry into this g 0004,
important subject. At present too much wailearnwca
of what was called ancient usages and ancient detect
and every thing like modern literature 'was(lator,dell
Nothing was so common as to meet with an eatiral
Cambridge man on the continent, who ""ere„„:at aal;
ignorant of French and German. They were ttiT re°iof
useless things as logic, and the yaw° •irell"
Vol so
was, that when a scholar left • the ,145,
he had to throw aside his former 0e" 'at's'
enter as it were an entirely ner,ia etati:,oo
Now very little change would be effected A"'-aed 6:et'
things until the system was entirely altered ,--,eof°„"jel
money was voted for the support of modern r 6:0",11
ships. Put such men as Mr. Macaulay and rend s$
upon a commission, and the House might "1-001Pfjo
it the result of those deliberations would be et.tiee,
that
improvement in the conduct of our Univerlocvi dgo
had brought this motion forward because hes cbanate
the Universities themselves could not cffee.„t 0111,0„1
without legislative interference. There were
Ge
of detail, such as the elective system, which oeuiTsireete
eif.ed and diTosed of by a commission. 1-113. e tete Oda
tie were the seats, and no doubt would rernaland 0o
et'
cf cisilization, and they ought to change 'l4OO et'
with the improvements of the age. It was voif re
to all men to be educated at one of ithwebo !Jed
deities, and none ought to be excluded Wearer
fit to be admitted into them. To the man we' a pre,
to adopt the bar, medicine, or the Church 013,1,0 ho,
sion it tea; almost indispensable that he ! neefie
1-e, n, euil(ge, and no one ought t° etaasi.
eluded on account of his religioniebe I.)Pbe
It was no answer to tell him that hoots° he
versities were nurseries for the Church, ,epto
was prepared to profs that only half of the °Su'