The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-13 00:00:00

(Fr MARKET INTELLIGENCE. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
f
m the , .
Sue, Lonafin New Price Current of Meech 12.)
the a•-• There has been less desire shown on the part ofHOUSE OF LORDS, March 12.
The LOAD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at
, trnadaeri%onirchase West India Sugar sin •e Tuesday la•t ;
the de Five o'clock.
GWALIOR.
eases u has been limited for all cl, serf lions and in some
Vilest
rather lower - ' ' • e The Earl of RIPON laid on the table of the House certain
rates accented. I o-day the quantity of "" India Muscovado Sugar on show was somewhat larger ;
grocers a d papers relating to Gwalior.
the o refiners however pnrchrsed with much caution, and CORN-LAWS.
A rat
eS
Clay
Week taken were decidedly 6sl to ls. u: der those cf this Petitions in favour of protection for agriculture were pre-
sented by rho Duke of Richmond from Yorkshire, and the
bsteiteeteir C.-To-day there was little business transacted in
4...441; browßnar'mated that he did not agree wish the prayer of the petition,.
for home consumption, a: prices arc still going
In answer to a question from Lord CAMPBELL,
'onlara L saleable Lumps selling at 75s Gd to 765, and
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he should proceed with
taken "Ifs 77s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar was
, spariool •
the Feclesiestical Courts Bill on Friday next.
'l,lalny. e.), and KGs per cwt is the current rate for first
1114,a Lord CAMPBELL wished also to put a question to the
Plibli ,erius•-This afternoon the biddings were languid at a Noble and Learned Lord respecting a particular portion of that
dent Sale x_4,651 •
. •
ei„tiobags, and prices declined Is per cwt fur all. Bill, he meant that part relating to the granting_ of probates or
wills• Ho would wish to know if his Noble and Learned
fd,"3 64',0Zlowyellow 59s to 60s 6,1, mid 61s to 625, good
'6d toe s 6d, fine 65s to 665, low grcy 59s to 59s 6d, mid Friend' intended this to apply in cases of Si. when a probate
Nel 5- la 6d, good 62s to 645, low mid brown 545, and . had been taken out, bonaJpe.
Ens
11srer cwt. 1 The LORD CHANCELLOR said this was a most im-
d perhaps the best course
for his Noble Friend
Iter-m INDIA
--This afternoon importers of Bengal Sugar portdant Bill, l and
goo 7, _ ore desirous to realise. Fine white sold at Ells to 695, !oa opt be to allow the Bill to pass, and then he might
675, raid introducewaonuo(ther Bill to extend its operation.
nt:663lt° d 64s to 63.-s, low 63., low yellow 575, mid
I L d BROUGHAM said he had made many attempts to re-
1s Whits fid, good strong Db h 64s rid to 665, dam brown i "r
t ' e n 1) a ' .p .. model the law on this subject, but had been frustrated by party
ve-
-1,64 to 6, inf.) and washed 63s to 695. eellow ditto 3es 6d , interests.
a‘u,s In bond, mostly sold at and since the sale, good 1
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
3'elloes ~P 1 s to 425, middling 38s 6d to 395, middling strong I
i The Marquis of NORMANBY, seeing that the Govern-
team 3u,as 6d to 335, good 34s to 365, grey 32s 6d to 35s 6d, Iwere
about bringing in a Bill in the other House,
i meat
pi-a 1 6d to 385 6(1, washed 25s to 33s per cwt.
, I for the purpose of regulating the different buildings and
kiger° x".-To-clay there was no public sale of Forei n
;wishedaskwhether they
''' ' improvements in the metropolis, to
Lot seee privately little business was done, but holders would
intended to extend this to the other parts of the country. He
40LAP_t lower rates.
also would ask in what state the irnprocements in the Victoria
'andacted .sI West India little busincsa has been trans-
Park, about being constructed in the east-end of the metropolis
I9s Rood previous rates are barely sustained. Bengal Syrup
were at present.
PaidCoce,guati,tY• . Cuba Honey taken in at COs er cwt.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH could not answer the latter
L Inlva•tl ()reign is held firmly. To-day higher rates were
question of his Noble Friend. It was not at present the inten-
' 4,60 e y for West India Cocoa ; fine red Trinidad sold at
lion of the Government to extend the provisions of the Metro-
111 jet, 31 and good 55s to 57s per cwt. The stock is nearly
Ile dealer ' p litan Buildings Act to other large towns in the kingdom.
Ric,. s hands.
° many large towns there were local Acts affecting buildings
4 larfr:"----The transactions privately in Bengal have been to
inn these particular towns, and it would, therefore, be impolitic
cles,lll'deetre:it in all descriptions, and firm rates paid. Carolina
to pass any general measure which might affect those local Acts.
earolio " at 21s to 245, and 26s per cwt. This afternoon ,
fhe Marquis of NORNIANBY would suggest to his Noble
Rom , Rice from New York taken in at 18s 6d per cwt for
Friend the propriety of at least. applying some of the provisions
-eourfpelit white.
of the Bill to large towns in the kingdom, for the purpose of
lately i E„R.---Purchases to a fair extent have been made si- . • •
tle "41 'Vest India Coffee,rather I' 1 prices paid
ass de_e , and ng str
The Marquis of SALISBURY did not think the provisions
eipan. s riptsons; the business done has, however, been prin.
f this Bill would remedy the evil of which the Noble Marquis
Itreeier„afnongst the dealers For Foreign the advanced rates ° •
complained.
Ceyioo""Y established are. fully supported. This afternoon .
batch ,reet with less attention, but holders remained firm.
1,4`-earapany's Java, good ord pale yellow at 53s to Ms.
ere legs To•day merchants displayed firmness, but the trade
i desirous
The at to purchase. The public sales attracted only
ole de tendanee of dealers ; in all 10,783 pkgs were put up,
gineti,mand was limited for black and green Teas, and of the
tete,
.Y offered only 2,600 pkgs were actually sold,but former
hi,„ ',ere sust •
"ght eine or ngou and wan ay.
d f Co T - k Orange Pekoe
.. a small advance.
11' u", Bas
.est hid. BRANDY, AND HOLLA,NOS.-All descriptions of
°` Id a,,,,1a Rum have found ready purchasers at an advance
taiskar gallon on last Tuesday's prices for every sort. Je-
t° gsed'it 35 4sl to 4s 3d for 30 to 37 per cent overproof of fair
*Ns atrleualitY ; fine in small parcels at 43 6J to 5s 6d. Lee-
-413 to ass 2ilto 2s 3d proof, and good and fine Demerara at
L. 14 tad per gallon. Calcutta Rum is in
,request, at
b''' the Brandy'° Ild per gallon for proof with certificate.
iards ,-. market the general tendency of prices is up-
,3 lid 'ognac, best brands of the vintage of 1838, hhds at
'NO, lid,
5s 9d • ditto, 1839, hhds 5s Bd, puns 5s tid ; ditto,
04 uhd , •
tIS A 8 •)8 6d, puns 5s 4d; ditto, 1841, !lids 5s sd,
41d infos 3d; ditto, 1842, hhds ha 4d, puns 5s 2d;
tbe ~rior and middling marks 3s to 4s 6d per gallon :
10 "erldee,
Os, Yof prices is upwards for the younger descrip.
sulee ags-ie eneva for exportation at Is 10d to Is lld ; fine for
'At, -i 13 fetching 2s 4d to 3s per gallon. English Corn
Z,'')rist, °,geod demand, at lOs 2d per gallon cash. To.
•` 21 3e' all descriptions was much inquired for ; 2s lid
„eleet,_; Paid for proof Leewards, and Is lld for proof
4i i. 4 there are not further sellers of the latter under
Pet 'Se
Demerara 37cent f • t landed,3s 3d
geno . erara per overproo , just •
sac n refused,
Paalitie°;"--Tlle demand is brisker and prices firm ; common
go at
Flo I4s to 16s, and 18s for small old white Pearl
tes t4kour at 19s to 195 6d per cwt. This afternoon Sago
j).ave she°. in, good large bright Pearl at 17s Gd to 18s, being
44e ' value, Tapioca taken in at 51d to 7d per lb for good
k 'Nbi
i:Palli:P's-FOr East India previous, prices are well sustained.
'ill Pw4 I' scarce' and much wanted; the tendency of prices is
oaras.
)2/ 14......
per t For Sperm Oil higher rates paid; British at 70! to
lesfun- All common Fish Oils at firm rates ; Pale Seal
t'asesc,e°„s/, Cod 33/ 10s to 34/, Southern 32/ to 34/per tun.
ale at 'II at 27s to 27s 3d per cwt on the spot. Rape Oil,
le 35s ea
se oil to 365, and brown 34s Sel to 35s per cwt. For
(‘ to', a,dvanced rates paid Itop fetching 471, Spanish
lillkt 2-'94,, and Barbary 42/ 42/ lOs per tun. Cocoa Nut
4th AS to 32a per cwt. Palm, fine 28s to 28s 6d per cwt.
Test"4lleri -
can Lard 411 to 421 per tun.
j; p Forl,W.--- Russian Tallow on the spot, stiffer rates
8.,' eel'. I • Candle at 40s 9d to 41s, and small parcels at 41s 3d
'tee ' Crf delivery 41 3d to 41s 6d per cwt for the last
1.0 leonth at s . .
00O'll Tall s of the year ; American at 33s to 38s pe cwt;
-11 D. bow at 40s 6d to 41s per cwt. net cash. This rafter-
Candlei 41s to 41s 3d on the spot, for prime.
0 Tur,_
"Iktilisiti'DAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
~.„ 'n, by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County Palatine of
) eLi Lancaster.
1,4 y, hnke of Lancaster's Own Regiment of Yeomanry Ca-
to A, c..‘kbdale Troop-A. H. Royds, Esq., to be Captain ;
be re`a°k, Feb, to be Lieutenant ; W. E. Royds, Gent.,
Kernet, Fb. 27.
, ge.,,'inrnissio by the Lord-Lieutenantof Dor etshire
1 I,_ ',se, ,-, n s . .
Yee° k'svn Regiment of Yeomanry-W. G. Pitt, Gent.,
1 suet, March 5.
tlsp°SElati BANKRUPTS.
ts.,,h 21, SCHOLEFIELD, cutler, Cheapside, to surrender
1400,1 at eleven, and April 19, at two, at the Court of
tano.e.e,,eY• Belcher, official assignee ; Shield and Harwood,
WlLi:atese,t,, Cheapsi4.
qtoteh,-',ll SMITH, printer, Strand, March 22, at half-
oor_,oand
.April 26, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
~ ktr::official asslgnee, Basinghall-street ; Webber, Caro-
It. I 40,, 1, Bedford-square
'44 MA ADAII ' . • '
e,,,,th 10, .I, publican, Newport, Isle of Wight,
lett tit ,sat twelve, and April 23, at half-past twelve, at the
7, oiiilankruptcy. Edward., official assignee, Frederick's-
414,,IIARLibewrY ; Foster, Jermyn-etreet, St. James's.
neeli 20 -cS EICK E, iron rivet manufacturer, Rotherhithe,
hal;n't of i, at half-past eleven, and April 24, at one, at the
q str„„'aoltruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-
asL4T,; Taylor Clement's-lane, Lombard-,trect.
4 aia -"RNON ' ' RKE ' rehant Jewin-crescent,
.Itre SI A , wine me . ,
s4iSt twoet, City, March 19, at half-past twelve, and April
Plet. 4°, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official
I4l'vlLL'i Chisholm, Cook's-court, Lincoln's Inn.
bisrth ee,AAI BOTT, silk throwster, Macclesfield, Cheshire,
Ahlti'.,iet Co tWelVe and April 22, at one, at the Manchester
4 tt, er'n"• Stanway,' officinal as.ignee, Manchester ;
'llth 'barl •
Th ester ctte-street, Bedford-square, London; Bennett,
nisi4llA- le, S MILLAR, hosier, Liverpool, March 27, and
SP,. ee, iat the Manchester District Court. Putt, official
ills, tondanehester; Abbott, Charlotte-street, Bedford-
lite 414e4„° ; Bennett, Manchester.
't, u A1...0P r Ilanchester, March 22, at
ept arid . . s , groce , s
kt, ,r_ n•pril 23, at one, at the Manchester District
weath:re, official assignee, Manchester ; Johnson,, Sons,
4111esserran, Temple; Hitchcock, Buckley ; and 1 idswell,
bqrh Ett
N„ ti„',a, Ai CROWDER, iron founder, West Auckland,
",se::11p0e 4,1'01 22, at two, and April 30, at one, at the New-
`atOtle„;', " Inc District Court. Baker, official assignee,
lf.r-las, Iye • Steavenson, Darlington; Burn, Great
20 ILL e' boct '
~ ‘ 'As, , ors -commons.
Nelda, :" NAIITH smallwareman, Nottingham, March
4 tat i'nt oa '
ktli on, ..-,., at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court.
,qi til,,,imeial Essignee, Birmingham ; Cowley, Nutting-
SelolNebarn and Giddey, Birmingham.
et:',„26 ,3/4, WOOD, banker, Ingram, Northumberland,
Pes.,'eri'e-` two, and April 30, at twelve, at the Newcastle.
"lc bet_l),lstriet Court. Wakley, official assignee, New-
kolleeet. NY" ; Nicholls and Doyle, Bedford-sew, Lon-
:,llt4e, iiillQ-evveastle-upon-Tyne.
pt lereh
qLIMBERT, shopkeener, Boroughbrisige, York-
"sy,' Yon" 9 and April 26, at eleven, at the Leeds District
I,Cll',ltie Ig, official assignee, Leeds ; Williamson and Co.,
'ases`'llen,,°lldori ; Blanchard am'. Co., York.
)as:2 2,e, :''' ALLANBY STOREY, corn merchant, Leeds,
'ete'•`qesi, "nd May 1, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court.
altena°,telal assigee, Leeds' • Summers, Princes-street,
4. a, l'lslre, London ; Ray, Leeds.
Olsktes, °TICES OF INSOLVENCY.
kotseey, rblican, Heaton Norris, Manchester.
likltetkt,g,.._a• and straw salesman, Woolwich.
4, 4 k, :re Cr, Tiverton, Devonshire.
4. q 'iro4e4'ngrocer Grosvenor-row. Pimlico.
qateCe; baker, S'outhampton.
•li7sa,lifeth ' °reach maker, Castle.street, Tonbridge.
y 11,,,,. e0,,8' victualler, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.
L owe*); fernission agent, Bexley-heath, Kent.
ii,'llsvt,l, tattnP trimmer on the Brighton Railway, Croydon.
Ite k,Ne, tool keeper, Llanrwst, Denbighshire.
4:Al.'4s, ("' manufacturer, Coaley, Gloucestershire.
\,e (1 td,), !qur, Cwnicarvan, Monmouthshire.
4.ANl4,"•lliterer, Prospect-place, Old Kent-road.
Inaikee, heogineer, Landport, Portsmouth.
4' Q. talo, backster, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.
liikewlaekert"qher, Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire.
k',llapaptds) fa tailor, Topsham, Devonshire.
"111 4raioer, Llanarmon in Yale, Denbighshire.
3 it.'r,
er,
nh,am
ope Flintshire.
Chelte.
L The remainder to-morrow. 1

much to blame, was also to be tried by reason of his vio-
lation of duty. About that time a measure was in c ontempla-
tion by the Commander-in-Chief to repress it, and t was de-
termined that those officers should be tried under /he new
arrangement, and as both violated their duty-one in a most
unjustifiable manner -the Commander-in-Chief chose
to punish them in a manner not uncommon in the army-.
that was arrest at large, without being allowed to join -the
mess, wear their swords, or attend on parade. Under those cir-
cumstances, the Commander-in-Chief, as their arrest had
continued so long, meant to release them immediately aster a
suitable admonition.
Captain BERNAL asked was it not the case that, by the
Articles of War, no officer could he kept under arrest more than
eight days without being brought under a court-martial ?
Sir HENRY HARDINGE said an officer might be kept
under arrest a longer time by his commanding officer or the
Commander-in-Chief.
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.
Sir VALENTINE BLAKE put the following questions
(of which he had given notice) to the Right Hon. Baronet, the
Secretary for the Home Department :-
I. Was it his intention to introduce a clause or clauses into his
Bill for regulating the Medical Colleges and the Medical De-
grees of Universities, by which it will be enacted, that hence-
forth the College of Physicians in London will be enabled to
prevent any physician from practising in any part of Ev gland
unless he be possessed of the license of the College of Physi-
cians in London ?
2. If this power be given by the Bill to the College of Phy-
sicians, is it intended that medical graduates of Edinburgh and
of Dublin Universities, at present practising in England, short
be admitted licentiates of the College in London without
exa-
mination, on the payment of a small fee, say 51., the additiou al
stamp duty being altogether remitted ?
3. Was it his intention to modify the charter lately granted to
the College of Surgeons of London, so as to allow prescribing
surgeons, who practice midwifery, to be eligible for the le How-
ship; and also to allow a surgeon-apothecary to become is nme-
diately eligible on abandoning the business of an apothecary ?
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said there might be an incou veni-
ence in going into details in answer to the Hon. Ban net's
questions. The object of the measure he should introduce
was not to impose new restrictions on medical prac-
titioners, but to relax the restrictions already existing.
He hoped this would be a satisfactory answer to the two first
questions. With respect to the last question, a practitioner of
midwifery was not, as such, eligible as a member of the College
of Surgeons, and he had no intention of, in that respect,, modi-
fying the charter of the College.
In answer to a question from an Hon. Member,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he should bring in the mea-
sure immediately before Easter, or directly afterwards.
DUTIES ON IMPORTS.
Mr. COBDEN then rose to bring forward his motion for
a Select Committee to inquire into the effects of protective
duties on imports on the interest of the tenant-fareuers and
farm labourers of this country. He said-Sir, the motion I
have to make is one which I believe is not ordinarily refused;
it is one for a select Committee to sit up stairs, to take evi-
dence of an important nature on a question that ex-
cites great controversy out of deors, and which I
believe is likely to excite considerable discussion in this _House.
It may be said that my motion might have been appropriately
placed in other hands. lam of that opinion too. I think it
might have been more appropriately brought forward by a Gen-
tleman on the other side of the House, particularly by a Gen-
tleman connected with the counties of Wiltshire or Dorsetshire.
Though I am not yet acquainnted with the grounds on which
I may he opposed, I think it right to state that I intend my
motion to be for the interests of the agricultural classes as
much as any Honourable Gentleman opposite could pretend
it to be, and that the principles which I advocate are
calculated to do justice to them as much as to
any other portion of the community. I wish to have it known
that I take my stand this night as the especial advocate of the
agriculturists ; and in bringing forward this motion I submit,
in the first place, that it is not usual for this House to refuse the
appointment of Committees on important questions. We have
instances of Committees being appointed to take evidence as to
the importation of silk, the exportation of machinery, the
navigation laws, and on all questions of similar importance. It
must also be admitted that such Committees are also appointed
without the parties more immediately concerned having,
in the first instance, petitioned the House for their appoint-
ment. On the appointment of the Committee relative to the
exportation of machinery, the motion was granted, not
at the instance of manufacturers who had a monopoly of ma-
chinery, but by parties whose interests were more particularly
affected by the then existing laws. Ido not therefore antici-
pate that any just grounds can be stated why the Committee
should be refused because petitions have not been presented de-
manding it. I shall now state what my conduct shall be on
entering that Committee. I shall be prepared to bring impor-
tant evidence forward before that Committee showing the
effects of the protection, as it is called, to the agriculturists by
the examination of farmers themselves. I will, in fact,
not bring forward a single witness before that Com-
mittee who will not be a tenant-farmer or a lauded
proprietor.- (Hear, hear.) The opinion which I shall
hold on entering the Committee is, that the protection, as it
is called, instead of being beneficial, is delusive and injurious
to the tenant-farmers, and that opinion I shall be prepared to
sustain by the evidence of tenant-farmers themselves. I wish
it to be understood I do not admit that what is called protec-
tion to agriculturists has ever been any protection at all to
them, but, on the contrary, I hold that its only effect has been
to mislead them.-(Hear, hear.) I have recently read over
again the evidence taken before the first Corn-law Committee
of 1815, and I leave it to any man to say whether it was not con-
tended at that time that sufficient protection could not be
given to the agriculturists unless they got 80s. a quarter for
wheat.-( Hear, hear.) I wish to remind the Hon. Member '
for Wiltshire whetoer it was not at that period thought that
wheat could not be grown in this country, unless the farmers got
965. a quarter, or 12s. a bushel for it, while now the Ministry
are only willing to give the farmers a rate of 56s a quarter.
It is denied that this House has ever promised to guaran-
tee prices for their produce to the farmers. Now, what was the
custom of the country from the passing of the Corn-law in 1815 ?
Why, 1 will bring old men before the Committee who will state,
that farmers valued their farms from that time by
a computation of wheat being at eighty shillings a quarter.
I can also prove that Agricultural Societies, that met in 1821,
came to resolutions declaring that they were deceived by the
Act of 1815, from which calculations were made at the rate
of wheat being at 80s., while, in fact, it was only at 435. I
can also prove that, in the Committee which was esta-
blished in 1836, the witnesses stated that they had
been deceived in the price of their corn ; and I will
ask the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the
Government whether, at the present moment, rents were not
fixed rather with reference to certain Acts that were passed,
than any intrinsic worth of the farmers ? I know that the pre-
sent is a subject which causes some little irritation ; but I will
ask whether farms under the Corn-law Bill are not valued at corn
being 80s. a bushel. In consequence of the alteration that was
made since the last Act, tenant-farmers have been valued on the
ground of corn being 565. a quarter. Now, I know an instance
where a party occupying his own land, was rated at a certain
amount-viz., at the amount of the valuation of corn being 565.
a quarter, while, in fact, it was selling at 475., and upon his
asking why he had been so rated, he was told that the parties
did not know, but they supposed it was in consequence of what
the Prime Minister had stated was the price of corn.
What I want to go into Committee for is, to convince the far-
mers, once for all, that this House has not the power to regu-
late the price of their commodities. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man stated to me that he could not regulate the wages of the
labourer, or the profits of the manufacturers or traders ; and
if he could not guarantee any tixed profits, how could the
House possibly fix the price of agricultural commodities?
Now the first point to which I should wish to make this Com-
mittee instrumental w ill be in fixing in the minds of the farmers
the fact that this House exaggerates its power to raise and
enhance prices.---( Hear.) The prices of agricultural produce
have never been, up to that point, legislated for and guaranteed
by this House, and it is on that main point that I wish to have
a settled and sound opinion given to the country. The farmer's
interest is that of the whole community, and is not a partial
interest-(Loud cheers)-and you cannot touch him more sen-
sitively than when you injure the manufacturers, his cus-
tomers.-(Cheers.) I do not deny that you may regulate
prices for awhile-for awhile you have regulated them by
forcing an artificial scarcity; but in so doing you have only
sown the seed by which you destroyed your own power and
prosperity, for you carried on a war against nature.-
(Loud cheers.) You may produce by this means the
ruin of trade, the bankruptcy of capitalists ; but is this con-
sistent with the interest of the farmer ? These are the fun-
damental principles which I wish to bring out, and with this
primary view it is that I ask for a Committee at your
hands. -(Cheers.) Now, with regard to other monstrous
fallacies with which the farmers have been beset and latterly
more so than ever, the Committee I ask for would elicit the
truth upon them, and also upon other most important questions.
The farmer has been told that if there was a free trade in corn,
corn would be so cheap that he would not be able to carry on
his farm. He is directed only to look at Dantzic, where
corn is selling at 15s. 11d. per quarter, and on this
the Essex Protection Society put out their circu-
lars, stating that Dantzic wheat in England is but 15s.
11d. per quarter, and how would the British farmer contend
against this.-(A laugh.) Now I maintain that these state-
ments are not very creditable to the parties who propagate such
nonsense, nor to the understandings of the farmers who listen
to and believe them.--( Laughter.) The truth, I suppose,
is what all men desire to arrive at. Now the farmer will very
easily be disabused on this and other points if you will grant
me the Committee I seek, for there we shall be governed
in our statements by the tests of experience, . and
not by the mere predictions of interested partisans.
We know what the price has been in the Channel Islands when
the trade is free. These islands send corn to this country, and
they receive foreign corn duty free.-(Hear, hear.) Sir, I
know of no better test of what the price of corn in this
country would be in a state of free trade than the prices in the
island of Jersey furnish, taken for a number of years, com-
prising a cycle of high and low prices in that country. We
know that the fluctuation of prices in that country embracre
the fluctuations of the whole of Europe, and therefore I think
we could have no better test of what the effect of free trade
upon prices would be here. We have papers on the table
showing what the prices of corn were in -Jersey in the ten
years, from 1832 to 1841, inclusive. The average price
was in those ten years 48s. 4d. What do you
think was the average price in your own markets,
in those years ? It was 565. Bd.-(Hear, hear.) Now, I
have taken some pains to ascertain the opinions of those who
best understand this subject, and I find that the greater de-
mand for labour in this country would raise the price of corn
here to three or four shillings above the price in Jersey with-
out the danger of throwing land out of cultivation.-(Oppo-
sition cheers, and Tory counter-cheers.) What I would gentlemen
say that the difference between 51s. and 565. Bd. would throw
land out of cultivation, ruin the farmers, and pauperise the
labourers ?-(Cheers.) But in years of high prices, the
farmers do not receive the high prices for their corn. n the
contrary, they sell their corn at the lowest prices, and the
speculator sells his at the highest.-(Loud cheers.) A short
time ago I met a miller from near Winchester, who said to
me," I think I can give you some practical information on this
subject," and he took Out his book and told me the prices
which he paid every year for the corn which he purchased before
the harvest and after the harvest during five years. What
he paid for the load of five quarters, in August,
1839, was 191. 10s. ; in November of that year it was 16/. the
load. In August, 1840, the price was 18/. the load ; in Octo-
ber, 141. 15s. In August, 1841, 19/. the load; October, 15/.
In August, 1842, 17 guineas the load ; September, 121. hs
In July, 1843, 17 guineas; September, 121. 10s. I think
this may show that the farmers do not gain by the increase
of the price, butthat they sell at the lowest price of the market.
Now, Sir, there is another point upon which as much misre-
presentation exists as upon.the one I have just stated, namely,
the price at which corn could be grown abroad. The price of
wheat at Dantzic during those ten years to which I have
referred was 405., and if you add to it the freight of
Bs., it will corroborate the statement I have made
with regard to the price at which wheat has been sold at Jersey.
-(Hear, hear.) Another point upon which misrepresentation
has gone abroad, relates to the different items of expenditure in
bringing wheat to this country. We have had cost for freight at
various periods, but we have not had full accounts of the
other items of expenditure.--( Hear, hear.) It would be im-
portant to elicit as much information as possible upon this
subject, and the best means of arriving at it would be to
examine practical men from the City before a Select Com-
mittee of the House, as to the cost of transit.-
( Hear, hear.) As far as I could obtain information from
the books of merchants, the cost of transit from Dantzic may
be put down at half-a-guinea, including, in this freight, land- I
ing, loading, insurance, and other items of every kind. This is

DISSENTERS' PROPERTY.
Lord COTTENHAM presented a petition from the Dis-
senters of Dublin, praying that the Bill lately laid on the table
of the House, respecting the property of Dissenters, consisting
of chapels and burial-grounds, might be extended to Ireland.
The LORD CHANCELLOR had no objection to the ap-
pointment of a Committee to consider the prayer of the petition.
Lord COTTENHAM then moved for the appointment of
such a Committee, which was agreed to.
MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.
Lord MONTEAGLE rose to put a question to the Noble
Lord opposite, respecting the College of Maynooth, and in doing
so, he did not mean to make the slightest allusion to a State
provision for the Roman Catholic clergy. During the existence
of the penal laws, Catholic clergymen were compelled to seek
in foreign countries for their education, and it was not until
subsequent to 1795 that any grant was made to the Catholic
College. He knew that many of the men who were educated
as Catholic clergymen abroad before the French Revolution,
were men of very highly educated and enlightened minds,
but at the same time he thought, as a matter of policy,
it would be better if the Irish Roman Catholic clergy
were not compelled to receive a foreign education.
He now came to the condition in which the College of May-
nooth was at present placed. It was asked why should this
college not be enlarged, and why should it be kept exclusively
for Catholic ecclesiastics? Why, at the time of the endowment
of this college a petition was ipresented to the Irish House
of Commons, praying that Protestant students might be
admitted to the college. This prayer was not granted.
On the contrary, a provision was introduced into the Bill
which endowed the college, by which no person professing the
Protestant religion could be admitted into the college. It was
therefore unfair to complain of this prohibition, considering
that that prohibition had been created by our own laws.
In the year IkoB an application was made to Parliament
for an increased grant to the College of Maynooth. In answer
to that application the Noble Duke opposite ( Wellington), then
Sir Arthur Wellesley, wrote to the authorities of the college
to state what ground they had for making their application.
Upon the answers which were then furnished to the
Noble Duke, he (Lord Monteagle) had founded the
motion with which he intended to conclude. Although
he knew there was no intention on the part of those in autho-
rity to withdraw it, yet he feared that from ignorance of tho
facts many persons in this country were averse to the
only available means by which it could be made
useful, namely, by increasing the grant. There were
500 students altogether, 250 of whom were supported
out of the funds of the college, yet the amount of the
grant was only 9,0001. ; and the cost for each of these persons
was only 231. a head. He thought this very wrong in
the case of men who were to exercise a vast influence
in the country in after life. The labour they were ready to un-
dergo, and the virtue which they displayed in all cases, was
most admirable. As an instance, he would state that, accord-
ing to the Government returns, in one week no less than
ten Catholic clergymen were carried off by typhus fever
in the county of Kerry, and he could name many other cases
in other counties. At present the College of Maynooth was in
a state of great dilapidation from the want of proper funds to
repair it. Surely that - was not a fit state of things for
such an establishment.—( Hear, hear.) He believed that
the Government, by taking,an enlarged and liberal view of
this matter, would be doing far more for the benefit and tran-
quilisation of Ireland than by any other measure. The more
sensible people of Ireland were in favour of their clergy receiv-
ing that liberal education which would place them upon a level
with the Protestant clergyman and the country gentleman.
By doing so the Government would also show to the people of
that country that they were anxious to promote their temporal
welfare and spiritual happiness. How could Noble Lords ex-
pect that children who were reared in happy and comfortable
homes would join such an establishment ? There were no fel-
low ships or scholarships attached at present to this college ;
but still he thought that there ought to be some small
endowments for the benefit of the more deserving stu-
dents. The Government, even if they did not take the
general support of the establishment upon themselves, yet
ought to place the building itself under the superintendence
of the Board of Works, and guarantee that it should be
kept in proper repair. As a matter of policy they
ought to get the hearts and feelings of the Roman
Catholic clergy with them, and they would be their
best coadjutors in maintaining peace and good order. It was a
mistake to apply the term, agitating priests" to the Catholic
clergy of Ireland, because the greater number of these
priests were against all system of political agitation. The
Noble Lord concluded by moving for certain returns
with respect to the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said he would have no ob-
jection to lay before the House the returns moved for by the
Noble Lord. He was giad that the Noble Lord had
brought the matter before • the House. At the
present moment, he, (the Duke of Wellington),
was not prepared to state that there would be any alteration in
the present grant to the College of Maynooth ; but if there
were any intention of that kind, a declaration to that
effect mould be made in the other House, from whence
the grant emanated. He should afford the Noble Lord
all the information of which her Majesty's Government were
in possession.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought it essential that
the Catholic clergy should be men of high education, in order
that they might properly discharge their religious functions;
but how, he would ask, could this be done, when the
grant was so paltry ? One of the great benefits which was
attributed to the system of the English Universities was that
it brought the clergy and upper classes of the laity into more
intimate intercourse, and he thought it most desirable that the
same should be the case with respect to the Catholic clergy
and the upper classes of the Roman Catholic laity in Ireland.
The fullest information was already before the House with re-
spect to this subject, and he called upon her Majesty's Govern-
ment to act upon it, for upon them lay the whole responsibility
of this truly important matter.

After a few words from Lord MONTEAGLE in reply, the
returns were ordered to be laid on the table.
Their Lordships then adjourned at Half-past Seven.

htb
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ttll4,,N,,t4Treet,'-'W ROYAL EXCHANGE.
b 4,44114 to
~410 f the Corporation of London, for improving the
tiNte ''' co —"don-bridge) held yesterday, the deputation ape
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Nitet4o:ll°*hoy4(lit_tio.n of obtaining further space at the east.end of
NI vPtitati:'enange made their report.
04 It. bat the consisted of Mr. Richard Lambert Jones, the
Ititt Zlehame jloYal Exchange Committee, Mr. W. Lawrence,
11141%.41. I,' 4aYlor attended by Mr. Tyrrell, the remembran.
• 44'4 rite the
koh. teor'ed th ' architect of the new building. .
.2 t cltsie at the deputation had had several interviews with
tli:tee'ehse?._e4. and that they submitted their plans or sugges.
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itt-04,,-4 th,,—"en Was to make an opening into Finch.lane,
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„tell! Prop° ge, but wider ; the width of the Finch.latie open-
Ihe 8-41, ti " at sixty feet from house to house, and thirty
ii: ei,i—colla 'e shops.
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kthqa thiinateari ' Main street at the east-end of the 'Change to
I 6 et N p 14,.. off orty•six feet six inches as at present.
NI Ntt "I th Proposed th taking down of Finch-lane alto.
gt end e cons . e
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4%
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trtkekoe. teatio,., ant Tailors' Hall.
lh ''t . 141 fr. "on the part of the Corporation was supported by
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ll ppe . toe
was signed by all the first names i
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lipttet h'r 45 43' their steward, Mr. Blagrove, and Mr. Sheriff
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tt,tt of qthe 4 ed, determined that a more extended space at the
Nili,tkai t,h,e bilileY° It°Yal Exchange would greatly conduce to the
iltitt:41zu::;;41113;tiltollgal alzkitnhge convenience of those who might
to the numerous and important
Vototagrnentau?da which might be provided by the Legislature
'ep‘al or r:hdlog t'''
here metropolis, they could not feel justified
IN f, °tie), fr,„° Maj or to Parliament, that any ad.
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, r,ttetev Purpose.
th 'lty ~ination
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t0141,.t.te4.1)tit4„ Pres_ente(l lase this t venin , inasmuch as M.
ko‘t,Y ~..in Guilluunte T •11 -'-- .1 l''
f !lowed by
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thet4L. VeZtell...t,,,ip. which 111(.111e. Henry, Mons. Albert,
---g. " lii perform, The house will be crowded

THE SUN, LONG,ON, WEDNESDAY EVENING MARCH 13, 1

a similar inquiry to that then carried on before that Committee
should be instituted into the condition of the agricultural poor.
—( Hear, hear.) An application was made for the purpose to
a member of the Cabinet, but he refused to consent to the ap-
pointment of a Committee, and would only agree to allow a
Commissioner under the poor-law to take evidence on the sub-
ject. He also refused to allow the Commissioner more than
thirty days to carry on the inquiry, notwithstanding the
length of time that the Committee to which I have alluded had
taken for a similar inquiry.--( Hear, hear.) Having under
the law only, thirty days to complete the inquiry, Mr. Austin
set forward on his task, and lost two days in his journey. He
had thus only twenty-eight days to inquire into the condition
of the agricultural labourers in four counties in the south of Eng-
land.—( Hear.) We have, however, some facts elicited on
thatinquiry, which ought to have drawn forward remarks from
Honourable Gentlemen opposite as to the wretched condition
of their own constituents.—( Hear.) Before I allude to the
condition of the agricultural labourers, I wish to state that
whatever may have been the animus which influenced others in
invading the manufacturing districts, I have no hostile feel-
ing whatever towards the agriculturists; for, bear in mind,
that my conduct has been throughout marked by consistency
towards them.—( Hear.) I brought forward the case of the
manufacturers, and I have throughout maintained their
interests. We first knocked at the door of this House
in 1839. We have since then continued to do so,
without intermission. We have knocked at the doors of
'Ministers and Prime Ministers, until they complained of
intrusiveness on our part. '%'e stated the entire of the
distress to which the manufacturers were exposed. We
did more. We prescribed a remedy for that distress.--
(Hear, hear.) And here I may state my solemn belief that
one of the principal reasons why the last four years of such
fearful suffering and destitution among the man ufac-
turei s of Lancashire, and Yorkshire, and a part of
Scotland, has passed over without any consider-
able destruction of property, or the loss of a single life,
was because they knew that a great body was actively
and incessantly at work to make known their suffer-
ings, and to find a remedy for their distress.—( Hear,
hear.) I also state as the result of my conviction,
that the labouring poor would not have taken the diabolical and
insane course of burning property in order to make known
their sufferings, if any party devoted to their interest had come
forward in this House and in the country to make suggestions for
their relief.—( Hear.) If it were known that the sympathies of
the country were aroused in their behalf, the fact would have
produced such a humanising effect upon them, that they would
never have had the blindness to destroy the very property that
ought to give them employment and support. (Hear,
hear.) I have looked through this volume, which is the
result of Mr. Austin's twenty-eight days' travels through the
agricultural districts, and I find that during that period he
visited Somersetshire, Devonshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset-
shire. He has given the testimony of various re-
spectable gentlemen in these several localities, as to
the condition of the agricultural labourers. Some of these ac-
counts are highly important. The first that I shall refer to is
the evidence of the Rev. J. Guthrie, who states that he could
never make out how the poor labourers lived and supported
their families on the wages which they received. The next is
the evidence of Dr. Greenock. (The Honourable Gentleman
then read extracts from the evidence alluded to, in which
the witness stated that in the union to which he be-
longed the support of each pauper cost, on an average,
Is. 6d. for food alone, though the guardians, by purchas-
ing provisions wholesale, were able to procurejthem 10 percent.
cheaper than the public generally ; and that he could not con-
ceive how an agricultural labourer, earning 6s. a week, could
possibly support his wife and four or five children,
and at Use same time pay rent and procure
clothing. Another witness, a medical gentleman in the
same district, stated that the women and boys who la-
boured in the fields suffered materially is their health, not
from the extent of work which they performed, but from the
want of a sufficient' supply of food. He also read a passage
from the evidence of Robert Boland, a farmer, stating that in
the great majority of cases, a family, consisting of a man and
his Wife, with four or five children, were obliged to subsist on
eight shillings or nine shillings a week, and passages from the
evidence of the wives of two agricultural labourers, describing
the inferior uature of the food which they Made use of, and stating
that their children were always anxious to get more food when
they rose from their:meals.) The Hon. Gentleman then continued.
That is a just specimen collected in the south of England, in
the purely agricultural districts, by Mr. Austin. I have my-
self bad the opportunity of making considerable observations
in the agricultural districts, and 1 have come to this result,
that the further you travel from that much maligned region of
tall chimneys and smoke, the less you find the wages
of labourers to be ; the more I leave behind me
Lancashire and the northern parts of England, the worse
is the condition of the labourers, aed the less is the quantity of
food they have. Does not this, I will ask, answer the argu-
ment that the agricultural labourer derives no protection ?
(Hear, hear.) Now what I wish to bring out before the Com-
mittee is this—that even during your casual high prices, caused
by scarcity, the agricultural labourers always suffer.—( Hear.)
Pauperism increases as the price of food rises—( Hear)—and
in short, the price of the loaf is in a direct ratio proof of the
increase of pauperism.—(Cries of " No, no.") An
Honourable Gentleman says, " No, no." I hope
I shall have him on the Committee, and if he will only hear
me out, I am sure I shall persuade him to vote for the Com-
mittee. With regard to the condition of the agricultu-
ral labourer, I have taken some pains to ascertain what has
been the progress of wages in agricultural districts. I
know that it is a very sore point indeed for Hon. Members
opposite, but I must tell them that in those very districts of
Wilts and Dorset the wages of labour now are about on a par
with wages 60 years ago, while the rent on land has increased
from two-and-a-half to threefold.—( Hear, hear.) Now, I
consider that to be a very sufficient answer to the statements
that have been made of the increase of rages. When you have
a law that produces scarcity, while it increases rents,
you must not be surprised if yon are called upon to look at how
the system works upon those you profess to say it was made
to improve the condition of.—( Hear.) Now, the following
is, 1 believe, a correct statement of the price of wages. In
Devon they are from 6s. to 75. 6d. a week. In Wiltshire
from 6s. to 7s. In Somersetshire from 7s. to 9s. In Dorset
from 6s. to 75., wheat being at the time ss. a bushel, and
in Gloucestershire from 6s. to 75., while the rents have in-
creased three-fold. Now, you have chosen to take
this course in an illegltimate way.—( Hear, hear. )
You cannot therefore wonder when I call upon this House to
consider how these laws have acted upon you, and upon those
whom you profess to serve. I was down in Gloucester a little
while ago, and had a good deal of conversation with a Mr. Hand-
lord, an experienced land agent, who stated that he had lately
sold property which had belonged to his great grandfather, and
which brought him ten times the price his ancestor had given
for it. I have lately been reading a work published by Judge
Hale, somewhere about the time 1 am referring to—somewhere
about 161;3—and in it he states that the then wages of the
labourers averaged 10s. per week ; and he remarks, unless a fa-
ther, mother, and four children, have this amount per week,
how arc they to get on but by stealing. Now, in the
pre sent day, wheat is forty per cent. higher, and
wages have dropped pretty generally to only seven
shillings per week. It is an actual fact that l found,
on the journey that I am referring to, that the labouring
poor out of doors are actually compelled to live on less than
what is allowed in the workhouse. ( Hear, hear. )
A gentleman of the name of Hunt, a guardian of
the poor in that district, told me, that on consult-
ing with the medical officer as to the diet, he found
it on a scale much higher than those who were working hard
out of doors were enabled to get.—(H car, hear.) Now I have
spoken of the food of these people, and when 1 do that I imply
also lodging, clothing, morality. education—aye, anti religion
also.—(Cheers.) There is a point in the volume of evidence
which I have already referred to, which mere especially
cabs for the attention of this House. I mean the subject of
lodgings for the agricultural poor.—( Hear, hear. ) In this
quetion, more almost than in any other, is the character of the
landlords concerned. Mr. Austin states an instance of a fa-
mily at Stourbridge of eleven persons in one room
and three beds. In the first bed vs as the father and
mother, a little boy, and a little girl; in the second bed were
three daughters, two of them twins, twenty years old; and in
the third four sons, fifteen years old, seventeen years old, and
the like.—( Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") There were no cur-
tains to the beds, nor anything else to assist in observing the
decencies of life.—( Hear, hear. ) Mr. Phelps, agent for the
Marquis of Lansdowne, has given an instance which occurred
at Studeley, where twenty-nine persons were living under one
roof—the married people and the young persons being
all huddled together in one small tenement.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. Austin further says, that a married woman told him the
room in which she was being confined was shared with
thirteen other persons, in three beds; and that it was neces-
sary to lay her on the middle of the floor, in order that proper
attention should he given to her, and she declared this to
be the roost painful part of her illness.—(Hear, hear.)
Another clergyman of Dorsetshire stated that he resided in
the neighbourhood of a Noble Duke—whose name he
(Mr. Cobden) would not mention, although the Noble
Duke was not himself very fastidious as to the terms in
which he spoke of the members of the League—the
labourers were as badly off as they could be. Nothing could
exceed their immorality, even between brother and sister.—
( Groat sensation.) In some cases, in order to prevent this, the
males of two families were taken to sleep in the one house,
and the females in the other.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.")
Mr. Austin declares that he could see no regard to chastity
in the females, and no respect to that sex in the
men.—( hear.) Sir, I should not do justice to my feelings if
I did not express my indignation at the conduct of the owners
of land, however they may be described.--(" Hear," from Lord
Ashley.) lam glad to hear that cheer from the Noble Lord.
However you may remark upon the owners? of mills and
factories, and upon the evils of town populations, I think you
must acknowledge that these cannot come under the cog-
nisance of particular individuals, and certainly not
of any particular proprietor ; but if you go into the villages
under the control of the landlord, you will find them living in
a state worse than in" the wigwams of the Indians. It was
well said by the late lamented Mr. Drummond, that " property
had its duties as well as its rights," and I say that the landlords
neglect their duty when they allow their tenants to live in pig-
sties, and /worse than pigsties. I never saw the Rev. Adol-
phus Osborne ; I think if we met, we should differ upon many
points ; but I cannot but admire the moral courage with which
he exposed the state of the population in Dorsetshire.—
( Cheers.) He says that "in the neighbourhood of Bradford,
from one year's end to the other, the people live in the
greatest destitution. They bast nothing but- bread and pota-
toes, with sometimes a little bacon of an inferior kind, and,
from what :he knew of the quality of the bread, he was not sur-
prised at the diseases with which the children are afflicted."
Another clergyman gave evidence to the same effect,
from which I shall trouble the House with an
extract. ( The Honourable Gentleman then read a
passage from Mr. Austin's Report, in which the
witness alluded to states that he had on one occasion four
blankets given to him for the most destitute persons of his
parish. Endeavouring to discover the fittest objects of the
bounty, he found that amongst eighty-four individuals there
were but thirty-five blankets—of these ten were tolerably
good, as they had been in use only four years,
but twenty-five were completely warn out.) Thus you
see that this is not a sudden case of distress, but the
constant and permanent condition of the agricultural labourer.
( Hear, hear. ) The periods of manufacturing distress are, after
all, remote—certainly not permanent—and we charge them
upon your bad legislation.--( Hear, hear) ( The Hon. Gen-
tleman then read further extracts to show the crowded
im
morality
of of the cabins in Dorsetshire, and the frightful
of their inmates.) You talk of the immorality of our manu-
facturiog towns—what can you show us to equal this ? Your
villages are normal schools for
vice anti prostitution.—( Hear. )
You cannot blame us for the vices of our towns, if you rear the
people thus and send them into our towns.—( Hear, hear.) I
say emphatically 1 do not attack individuals, but a system.
Although I hold the proprietor to be resposible for the state of
lodging on his own land, I do not hold him responsible fur the
price of wages. I never held the farmers responsible for the
price
of me that I did so. I challenge the Argus-eyed
opponent I have to deal with, to show that I
have ever done so.—( Great cheering.) What does
Mr. Austin say of clothing—you have heard what he said
of food and lodging ? He says, that to have a change of
clothing was all nonsense. If a woman came home with wet
clothes from her work, she must put them on in the moroing
as wet as when she came home.—( Hear.) And yet you tell us
t hat these are our g reat home customers. —( Cheers and laughter. )
Lincolnshire is an exception.—(Hear, hear, from Col. Sib-
thorp. ) It is an exception both with regard to the condition
of the farmer and the labourer. —( The Hon. Gentleman then
adverted to the wretched condition of the farmers and farm
labourers in Scotland and Wales, and quoted the description of

the protection we give to the farmers of this country.—( Hear. )
But I may be answered, that the farmers of this country have
the cost of carriage to pay also, as, for instance, from
Norfolk to Liverpool or London. But I beg to remind Hon.
Gentlemen of one thing which they overlook, namely, that a
very small portion of corn is carried coastwise at all.—( Hear.)
Accurate information upon this point might be got before a
Select Committee of this House. Only 1,000,000 of quarters
were carried coastwise at all, or 5 per cent. of the whole growth
of the country ; the rest was carried from the barn-door to the
mill. This is an important consideration for those who say
that there is no natural protection to the farmer, inasmuch
as it gave the farmer here a constant protection
of half-a-guinea. But Honourable Gentlemen ought to
tDhaanntzitiewwasasgnroowt
ngroonwnthoonrinthaye
oqfuaLytsv—er(p
bear this in mind, that the corn which was brought from
Ho
Liverpool.
r , hoena rt)n—e
contrarya. n
yr e,
it is brought from a very long distance. I have seen a state-
ment made by an Hon. Member from Scotland, who said that
the rafts on which the corn was brought into Dantzic paid the
cost of transit.—(Laughter.) I have not been able to verify
that.etatement in the course of my inquiries.—(Laughter.) Now
I s'oeuld like to have farmers themselves examined before a Com -
neittee of the House as to their ability to compete with foreigners
%don. Gentlemen would do well to consider what happened in
the case of wool.—(hear, hear.) Every prediction that is
now uttered with regard to corn, was uttered by Gentlemen
opposite with regard to wool.—( Ifear, hear.) If Hon. Gen-
tlemen ransacked the British Museum, and hunted in that
Herculaneum for all the pamphlets which were written on
the subject of wool, what arguments would they net find in the
future tense, and what predictions of may, might, could, would,
should, ought, and shall !—(Laughter.) But what was the
result 2—( Hear, hear. ) Did they lose all their sheep
walks ?—(llear, hear.) Had they no more mutton ?
(Laughter.) Were there no more sheep cots ? 1 have an
account of the importation of wool and the price of wool, and
what I wish to impress on Gentlemen opposite is this, that the
price of commodities springs from two causes—a temporary,
fleeting, and retributive high price, produced by scarcity—the
other, a high price produced by prosperity. With regard
to wool, you had a high price springing from
the ability of the consumers; The statement he had
made showed that the higher the price of wool the greater was
the importation ; and the lower the price, the smaller the im-
portation. In 1827, the price of South Down wool was 10d.
and the importation was 29,000,000 lbs. In 1829, it fell
to 7d., and the importation was only 21,000,000 lbs. In 1836,
the price rose to IBd. et lb., and the importation
had risen to 64,000,000 lbs.—that is three times
more than when the price was less by half.
In 1841 the price of wool was I Id., and the importation
56,000,000 lbs. ; in 11842, the price was 10d., and the im-
portation had dropped to 145,000,000 lbs. ; so that when
yeu have had the highest price of wool you have had the
largest competition from foreign countries; and when you
have had the lowest price you have had the least competition.
—( Hear, hear.) Well, now, that is the principle which I wish
to see applied in viewing this much-dreaded question of corn.
You may have a high price of corn, through a prosperous
community, and it may continue a high price : you may have
a high price through a scarcity, and it is impossible in the
very nature of things that trade can prosper.—( Hear.)
Now put this lest of wool in the case of cattle and other
things that have been imported since the passing of the tariff.
I want this matter to be cleared up.—( Hear, hear, and cheers. )
I do not want Gentlemen to find fault with the Right Hon.
Baronet for doing what he did not do. Ido not believe that he
caused a reduction of one farthing in the price of
articles of consumption. And I must say, with all
deference to him, that I think ho himself is to
blame for having incurred that charge by the
arguments which he brought forwaid in support of the tariff.
It is said that the tariff has caused a panic and distress among
the farmers. Why I don't believe there has been as much
increase in the imports as would make one good breakfast for
all the people.—( Laughter.) Did it never enter into the
minds of Hon. Gentlemen who are interested in the
sale of cattle, that their customers in large towns
cannot be sinking into abject poverty and distress
without the evil alternately reaching themselves in
the price of their produce. Why, I had occasion a little time
ago to look at the falling off in the town of Stockport. I cal-
culated the falling off in Stockport alone for three or four
years at more than all the increase in the importation of
foreign cattle. It appears, therefore, that the distress of
that town alone has done as much to reduce prices as all the
importation under the tariff. It has been estimated that in
Manchester forty per cent. less of wages was paid in 1842
than had been paid formerly; and it has also been estimated
that the country was paying 7,000,0001. less in wages per
annum in 1842 than in 1836. How could you then expect the
same consumption ?—(Hear, hear.) If you would but look to
your own interests as keenly and as wisely as manufacturers
look to theirs, you would never fall into the
error supposing of that you can ruin your customers, and yet,
at the same time, prosperity your pursuits.--( Cheers.) I re-
member hearing Lord Kinnaird, whose property is near
Dundee, state that, in 1835 and 1836, the dealers used to come
and bespeak his cattle three months in advance, but
in 1842, when the linen trade shared the fate of
all the manufactures he had to engage steam-boats
three months in advance to bring his cattle to the
London markets. Hon. Members, who lived in Sussex, and
the southern counties, and who were in the habit of joking
about Cheadle Mill, should recollect that they are as much de-
pendent upon the prosperity of Cheadle and other mills, as
those who live in their immediate neighbourhood.—(Hear,
hear.) If graziers, on looking at the " Price Current," find
they can get a better price for their cattle in London than in
Manchester and Stockport will they not send their cattle up to
London, to compete with the southern graziers. The point,
therefore, which I wish to make out is, that the tariff has not
caused the reduction in price. There is nothing which I re-
gret more, than that the corn-law or the tariff should ever have
been touched. Without this, we should have had prices lower
than they are ; our lesson would then have been complete, and
the landlords and tenants would have been taught how
dependent they are on their customers. Hon. Gentlemen must
not content themselves with learning this lesson ; but they
must reduce their rents—they must go down in sackcloth and
ashes—( Great laughter)—instead of hallooing on the farmers
against the Anti-Corn-law League as the cause of all their suf-
ferings.—( Hear, hear.) Now, with regard ,to the low prices
consequent on the change in the tariff, I do not know whether a
Noble Lord happens to be present, who illustrated this very aptly,
by stating that the farmers in the west of Scotland had been
ruined by the reduction in the price of cheese. —( Laughter. )
There could be nothing more untortunate than that statement,
as there happens in that respect to have been no alteration, and
yet I believe cheese fell in price as much as any other article.
The mistake of the Noble Lord who made that statement was
quite natural ; for if he believed that the change in the tariff
caused the reduction in the:price of cattle, he was bound
to believe that nothing else caused the reduction
in the price of cheese. It is well known that
whilst the price of cheese has fallen in the home
market, the importation has been also considerably
diminished.—(Bear, hear.) Now there is another point upon
which 1 must entreat Hon. Members' forbearance, for it is an
exceedingly tender point, and one which is always heard with
great sensitiveness in the House. I refer to the subject of
rent.—( Hear.) Now we have no tenant-farmers in this
House.—( Hear, hear.) I wish we had, and I venture
here to express a hope that the next dissolution
will send up a bona fide tenant-farmer. I knovv:nothing more
likely than that to unravel the perplexity of our termonology—
nothing more likely to put things on a right footing, and to
make us steak plainly on this subject. The landowners, I
mean the political landowners—those who dress their servants
and their cattle in blue ribbons, and who treat this
question entirely as a political one they go 3 to
the tenant-farmers, and they; tell them:that it would be quite
impossible for them to compete with foreigners, for, if they had
their land rent-free, they could not sell their produce at the
same price as they did. To bear out their statement they
give a calculation of the cost per acre of growing wheat, which
they put down at 61. Now the fallacy of that has been ex-
plained to me by an agriculturist in the Midland Counties,
whom I should exceedingly like to see giving his
evidence before the Committee for which I am
moving. He writes me in a letter-which I have received
to-day, " You will be met by an assertion that no
alteration in rent can make up the difference to the tenant and
the labourer of diminished prices. They will quote the expenses
of a single crop of wheat, and say how small a proportion the
rent bears to the: whole: expense • but that is sot the true
way of putting it. Wheat is the farmer's remunerating crop,
but the farmer cannot grow wheat more than one year in
three." The writer stated that they should compare the ex-
penses of the whole farm with the price received of the land-
lord. " I have," said he, " for this purpose, analysed the ex-
penses of a farm of 400 acres-230 arable, 170 pasture;;
parish and county-rates, 90/. ; interest of capital, 150/. ;
labour, 380/. • tradesmen's bills, 80/. ; manure and lime,
701.; wear and tear of horses, 20/. ; making altogether
for expenses, 790/. the rent being 800/. ! So
that in this farm, which is very fairly cultivated, the rent is
8001., and the other expenses 790/. Now if it require 553. per
quarter, on as average year, to enable the tenant-farmer to pay
the rent and make 1501. profit, it is obvious that without any
rent he would be able' to pay labourers and tradesmen the
same amount out of a price of 30s. per quarter. But Ido not
anticipate that wheat will ever fall below 455. per quarter.
by means of free trade." Now that is a very important state-
ment of a very competent judge.—( Cries of " Name.") It is
Mr. Lagett, of Ruginton Grange, near Worthing. Allow me
now to state to the House what is the best way to calculate
what proportion rent bears to the expense of cultivating farms
—what amount of produce the farmer sells in the market—
what amount of money he brings home from the mar-
ket, and what proportion of that money goes to the
landlord for rent. That is: the way to consider the sub-
ject. You have not to count the money laid out in seed, corn,
and manure, because taxes were never paid out of these. I
am prepared to prove before the Committee, by a witness who
shall be deputed by the Lothian farmers, that one half of their
produce goo ;to the landlord—out of every 525. per quarter of
wheat 265. ; also that if they had but twenty-six shillings
per quarter for their wheat, and the land rent-
free, they would do as well, pay as much wages,
and everybody about their establishment would be as well off
as they can be now when paying rent and receiving 525. per
quarter. I believe many Hon. Gentlemen opposite and on this
side of the House have never entered into calculations of what
proportion of rent goes to the quarter of corn. The way to
calculate is this—what quantity of corn do you sell every year
of the whole of your farms if all their produce
was turned into wheat? I will make that calculation.
I have often told you my own opinions, and I have taken the
opinions of
men who have taken great pains in investigating
the subject for months past, in their respective circles, and I
have arrived at the conclusion that farmers, upon the average,
do not have a sale per annum more than equivalent to 10 bushels
of wheat for every acre they rent, so that in 500 acres there
would not be more than 5,000 bushels, and yet half of the
produce of the price of wheat goes in the shape of rent to the
landlord. As regards cheese, lam likewise prepared to prove
that more than one-half of that which goes to market, goes to
the landlord in the shape of rent. For every sd. paid for
cheese, 2d. goes to the landlord; and in the same way in the
grazing districts, such as those of Northampton, for every sd.
worth of beef that is sold, '2d. goes to the landlord. This
is a point the public need not be concerned about for the
farmer. Ido not put it forward on that ground. I never
told you that you raised the rent of your land by the corn-laws.
I never believed it. But it you come to this House
and enact apparently for the benefit of the farmer,
and say that free trade ruins
' the agricultur.st, then I mutt put
forward the real state of the case. I shall now touch upon
another and more important branch of this question, I mean
the interests of the farm labourer. We are told that he is be-
nefited by a system of restriction which makes the first ele-
ment of existence scarce. Do you think posterity will believe
it? They will look back upon this doctrine, in less than twenty
years, with as much amazement as we do now
when
upon the conduct of our forefathers they burnt
old women for witchcraft. Yet in the face of the plainest
evidence you go on maintaining a law which makes food scarce,
in order to benefit the agriculturist. We have had a volume
presented to us on the condition of the agricultural population,
which ought to be before the House long before this time.
A Commission was appointed last year to inquire into the em-
ployment of women and children in husbandry, and I wish to
state the manner in which that Commission had been appointed.
I was a party to having that Commission named; as
a motion was made by an Honourable Friend near
me for the purpose of having a Committee then
sitting on the employment
of women and children
in manufactures extended to the agricultural labourers.
The Committee had been sitting for two years in a particular
form, and was afterwards engaged, I believe, for four years in
inquiring into the condition of labourers in other trades and
manufactures. What my Hon. Friend and myself wished was, that