The Sun.
London, England, 1828-05-24 00:00:00

CORN BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the third reading of the Corn Importation Bill.
Mr. WESTERN rose for the purpose of recording his
opinions, by placing a series of Resolution. on the Jour-
nals. He did not now rise to invite discussion, but merely
to give a substantial shape to opinions be had entertained
for many years, and which he had stated when he intro-
duced the Bill of 1804, and repeated in the Debates of
1815. lion. and Right Hon. Gentlemen had changed

their notion!, and, no doubt, had bad sufficient reasons
for their conduct; but he was nevertheless not prepared to
abandon his early, and, as he believed, well-established
opinions. He entertained most sincerely great apprehen-
sions as to the result of the present experiment ; he thought
great dangers might arise from it; the farmers were now
in an improving condition, but they were still struggling
with difficulties, and even a slight check might throw them
back to the state of 1822, and be ruinous to thousands.
Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS .was not surprised, con-
sidering the deep interest the:Hon. Gentleman was known
to take in this question, that lie should have chosen that
opportunity to record his opinions, and show • his consti-
tuents and the public that his principles and views re-
mained unchanged. But the circumstance of the Hon.
Gentleman having chosen that time and mode absolved
him (Mr. F. Lewis) from the necessity of entering into
any general discussion as to the principles on which the
system of our Corn Laws should be constructed. The
House would feel, therefore, that it did a kindness to the
Hon. Gentleman by allowing him to record his opinions,
which was, no doubt, all that he desired. In the present
stage of the Bill, any discussion should be confined rather
to particular points than to general principles.
Mr. F. WILSON having that evening presented fifteen
petitions, praying for Effectual Protection to Agriculture,
would only state that he had also twelve others, equally
• respectably signed, to the same effect ; but that he did not
think it necessary to present them. They all agreed to the
proposition of his Majesty's Government, so far as related
to the duties on foreign Corn ; but objected to the bonding
system, as highly injurious to the country. The Hon.
Gentleman then read the prayer of the petitioners, by
which they solicited that such restrictions might he im-
posed on the importation of foreign Corn, as would insuTe
the home market front any sudden influx, by which the
price might be ruinously depressed. For this purpose
they suggested that the payment of the duty should be
exacted on the landing of the corn, or that the importer
should enter into a bond to pay the duty at a certain
period, or re-export the corn. The Hon. Gentleman was
proceeding with the petition, when—
The SPEAKER called him to order.
Mr. MONCK said for the future, he was perfectly con-
vinced the landed interest must expect corn to sell at a very
reduced price. In this view, that result was not tie con-
sequence of this Bill ; but this Bill itself was the conse-
quence of the great improvement in the cut rency. It was
evident that the same price would not be maintained now
that was obtained during the restriction of cash payments,
and while the great demand for corn continued during the
war. As Parliament was undoing with regard to the
currency what had then been done, the lauded interest must
return to their old prices. From the reign of Charles the
Second to 1815, it had been the policy of the country to
encourage agriculture, but only to the extent of securing as
high a price to the home grower as corn sold for on the
Continent. About 1773, England became first an im-
porting country ; but the policy remained the same until
1815, when there was a departure from that system
equally injurious to .all parties, as, whatever was anti-com-
mercial must, in the end, prove mischievous to all the in-
terests of the country. In so far as this Bill would affect
the price of corn, it would lower it rather than raise it,
as it appeared by Mr. Jacob's Report, that in 1826, the
King of Sweden, by raising the duty on foreign corn to
thirty-eight shillings a quarter, had lowered the price from
twenty-eight shillings to eighteen shillings in a few years.
The Resolutions were then negatived without a division.
Mr. CIIARLES PALLMER moved the addition of a
clause to the same effect as that in the Bill of last year,
known as the Reciprocity Clause. By this clause, his
Majesty in Council was empowered to prohibit the impor-
tation of corn from any foreign country that refused to act
upon a system of reciprocity with regard to British ships
and British goods.
Mr. BENETT said that this was a most valuable clause
and he hoped it would be adopted.
Mr. F. LEWIS said the only reason why that clause
was omitted in the present Bill was, that there seemed DO
necessity for it. He had no objection, however, to invest
this discretionary power in his Majesty's Government, if
the House thought proper to give it to them.
The clause was then added by way of rider.
Mr. F. WILSON then moved that a clause be added,
" that before any foreign corn or meal should be ware-
housed, the importer should enter into a bond either for its
exportation or for the payment of the duty required by law
within a certain time."
Mr. CURTEIS seconded the motion; and trusted,
that as the Right Honourable Gentleman had not made
one concession to the lauded interest in the pro-
gress of the Bill, he would now take the opportunity
of being somewhat gracious to the farmers. It would
1.4 valuable acquisition to the landed interest if the
duty were fixed on the importation 61 the corn. He wished
the Right Hon. Gent. had acceded to his proposition re-
lative to the corn trade of the Isle of Man, as he was satis-
fied that, for want of the clause he had suggested, great in-
jury would result from the importation of Foreign corn
into that island, and its exportation again to this country
on payment of the duty of •I 5 per cent. When he heard
the Right lion. Gentleman declare the other night that be
was a friend to the principles of free trade, and considering
that this question was in the hands of the Board of Trade,
with which the Right lion. Gentleman was connected, he
(Mr. Curteis) could not avoid feeling-greatly apprehensive
of the danger to which agriculture was exposed, though he
rejoiced that the doctrines of free trade, and the sect that
upheld them, were going fast out of fashion. He gave the
Right HOD. Gentleman warning, since he had made that
declaration, that he (Mr. Curteis) would narrowly watch
all the proceedings of the Board of-Trade as to agriculture,
as he suspected all the measures of the free trade school
must he ruinous to it.
Colonel SIBTHORPE cordially approved of the Clause
moved by his Hon. Friend (Mr. F. Wilson).
Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS remarked, that the Hon.
Member for Sussex had supported this Clause by discussing
another subject. He could assure him that there was not
the slightest foundation for his alarm respecting the Isle of
Man. Tile provisions of the Bill that had been passed
would prevent all inconvenience from that quarter. The
Clause proposed by the Hon. Member went directly to
overthrow the warehousing system altogether—a system
adopted after the most mature and cautious deliberation.
Why was the House on the third reading of the Bill to be
called on to agree to such a proposition as this? The object
of those who had put the Clause into the Hon. Member's
hands was evidently to destroy the warehousing system.
He would use only one argument against this clause, hut
that he trusted would be sufficient. By the Act of 1815,
a highly restrictive system with regard to the Corn Laws
was established. Modified as it was by this Bill, it still
remained a restrictive system, and he would say that such
instantlyountr,,.
Hoa system could not be risked unless there were corn in store
to meet sudden emergencies. Besides, if they destroyed the
bonding system in this country, it would only be to remove
it to the Dutch coast, where it would f
tlee
esta-
blished. He begged the House to think what would be the
state of the country with a bad harvest, and the shores of
the Baltic frozen, if we had no supply in our own ware-
houses. The restrictive system of the corn trade had only
been established on condition that the bonding ) stein should
shouldbe a n
therefore appendage
Mr. SYKES said, that it appea,,A o him that the
only effect of not having
retsoistitofiiter
nt,hoetiosnat.'es6tyi'llrL.
(.„ssaaroarebonsed in this country
would be, that it would,.;/ stiirehoused on the opposite
side of the water, ready -o pour in upon this country.—
(Hear, hear.)--The object of the present law, he thought,
would be to raise the price of corn to double what it was
in the free ports on the Continent; for instance, while the
price of corn in Rotterdam or Amsterdam was perhaps 305.,
the price here would be double, or more. He would ask
whether, by proceeding in this manner,
they were not tax-
ing the patience of the country too • h
much,
out proceed-
ing to the monstrous length of saying that no corn should
be warehoused in this country, let the necessity he what it
might ?

Mr. WODEHOUSE hoped that the Hon. Gentleman
would withdraw his Amendment ; and with respect to the
Bill itself, he was afraid that all its advantages would be
counteracted by the contracted currency of the country.
Mr. Alderman C. SMITH said a few words that were
inaudible in the gallery.
Mr. BENETT observed, that the object he hail in view
was to give the corn growers a moderate remuneration ;
and he was sure that the low price of corn could only
finally be supported by encouraging the home growth.--
With regard to the importation of flour from the Isle of
Man, alluded to by the Hon. Gent. (Mr.Curteis), he would
only say, that he felt the greatest confidence that
the Right
Hon. Gentleman would do all in his power to remedy. that
evil. But as to the necessity of the establishment !7d gra-
naries to guard against a time of famine, be denied it alto-
gether ; for he believed that the best granary was the far-
mer's stack-yard :it was on this that the country had
long depended; and if the farmer !vas sufficiently sup_
ported, he thought that they might stlll continue to depend
upon that source. He, therefore, hoped that the lion.
Gentleman (Mr. Wilson) weuld withdraw his amendment.
Mr. F. WILSON said, that his object in making the
amendment had been to prevent the monopoly t hat had
taken place among the corn factors ; but as it r opeared
that the sense of the House-was against the motion, lie had
no desire to press it.
The amendment was accordingly withdrawn.
Mr. BANKES complained of the barley and u ts' ave•
rages, which, he said, had been taken from those of sixty

years age, and were new very much altered. In fact, iraTo
an average which he bad made of the last five years, al
pi ice of wheat was 565. ld., that of barley 31s. 10d., and
that of oats 22e. 11d. lie did not intend to move 'any
amendment, but he trusted that what be. had let fall would
call attention to this part of the subject.
Mr. F. LEWIS objecfed to the average being taken 00.„
five years only, especially as 1826 had been one of scarcity
An average, lie thought, ought to be taken rather on P.
years ; and then lie thought that the proportions woulobn,
found to be correct.
Mr. BANKES thought, that if the average was take
on the last 12 or 15 years, it would bear cut his obeer',
vation.
The Bill was read a 6;111 time and passed.
FREEHOLDERS IN DISTRICTS.
Mr, SYKES proposed the postponement of the furtbtl
consideration of the Report on this Bill.
The ATTORNLY-GENERAL objected to any furthef
postponement ; but after a desultory conversation,
which Mr. Sykes, the Attorney-General, Colonel Sib'
thorn M. Fyler, and Col. Davies, took part, the furtbef
consideration of the report was finally postponed till MO°
week.

STAMPS' ALLOWANCES.
Mr. STUART thought the allowance made the 0,9
tributors of Stamps was too great. It appeared by A lest
in his possession from Mr. Griesly, that that gentler's°
could get a deputy to do all the business of the distr9W
turn for per cent., while he actually received front VIM
vernment Four per Cent. for the same thing—(Hear
and he (Mr. Stuart) certainly thought 2k instead of four
per cent. would he quite sufficient to remunerate the die
tributors, by which there would be a saving to the country
of 35,000/. a year.—(Hear, hear.)—ln Bills of Exchange,
which included more trouble and greater. risk, the charge
for agency was but one per cent., and he therefore certainly
could net see why the agents of Government. should be se
much better paid ; he them efore proposed to introduce 0
clause into the Bill to the effect; that " it was expedient 0
reduce the Revenue from stamps, by enacting Bart tb
allowance to Distributors and Sub-distributors of SMO,ll*
in Great Britain and Ireland, should not exceed 2-k er
cent. on the amount of stamps distributed by them."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, do"'
the clause proposed by the Hon. Gentleman appeared td
him to have no reference to the Bill then under discussion'
The present Bill was confined to a particular point ow
nected with Receipts' Stamps; and now the Hon. Genes
tleman wanted to introduce a general arrangement, which'
whether it was proper or no, he would not say, hut
at all events, it was impossible to introduce without onto'
ing into the examination of a great deal of detail.
Mr. SYKES agreed with the Hon. Gentleman, tblo
the per centage allowed to the distributors of stamps WO
much too large; for as very little discretion in that parti.
cular was required, he thought that the Government ought
to go on as economical a scale as possible ; and therefore
gentlemen could he found who would undertake the de
tribution at 2 per cent. he did not see why Governmeo
should continue paying four or five per cent. He likswi°
objected to the splitting of the country distributions int!
several parts, as it made the sums paid by Government f
selling stamps heavier than was at all necessary. Ilf!
was not, however, quite sure that he agreed with tb6r
Hon. Gentleman in pressing the Clause on the notice e'
the House during the progress of the present Bill.—(lle2fr
hear!)
Mr. HUME supported the Amendment.
Mr. G. DAWSON objected to the Amendment, on the
, same ground as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that nut
sures were already in progress for effecting all necessfoL.
• reductions in the next Session. As a proof of the anxie4
t of the Government to effect reductions in this departmeok
a he observed, that the poundage upon Stamps in the distrid
bution of Scotland had been, within the last fortnight, re.

doted from 11,0001. to 8,000/.
flor
Mr. HUME did not know that the present Chance-,,,-
of the Exchequer would hold a situation to fulfil his plk"
next Session, and therefore persevered in his opposition. r
Several Members recommended the Hon. Member (M"
Stuart) to withdraw the Clause, and he ultimately consent.'
ed, after the Gallery was cleared for a Division.
Upon the Motion that the Bill be engrossed,
Mr. HUME complained of the Regulation respectig,
soiled Stamps being defeated, and the remedy rendered tte
pensive by the exaction of an oath to the fact. lie e
complained of the hours of attendance at the Stamp OfOto
being too few in number, and recommended attendance
exchange soiled Stamps every day in the week.
CITIES' AND BOROUGHS' POLLS' BILL.
In the further consideration of the Report upon 110
Bill,
Colonel SIBTIIORPE opposed the principle of „
measure, and declared he thought it would increase the Pu
s
rase of elections, by compelling voters to be broil.'
suddenly horn a great distance in a short period. He all.
objected to the Bill as interfering with the constitutiona
enjoyments of the people.
Mr. FYSHE PALMER also opposed the Bill.
Mr. O'NEILL slid not consider the time specified in 06
Bill sufficient.
Mr. ROBINSON approved of an extension of time.
After some conversation, in which Mr. FTLett.. Mr;
BATLEY, and Mr. TRANT took a part, the Galler'
was cleared fur a division ; but no division took Ogee;
The Clauses were then agreed to, and the Bill was °Mere',
to be engrossed.
LABOURERS' WAGES' BILL.
Mr. SLANEY moved the second reading of this
The object was to correct the abuses which he statedi`e
arise from the payment of able-bodied men out Of t

poor-rates.
Mr. BENETT thought the clause of the Bill aught t"
be carefully examined. The principle of the Poor L ,
was sound and necessary, and should be preserved, t.,
same time that any abuses which existed should be ere
dicated.
Sir T. FREMANTLE said, that abuses to a serioiros,
extent prevailed in many parts of the country to his kW' r
ledge. In some places the labourers were only paid 6°l
six shillings a week, and he was informed that the farcPe,,,r4,
entered into an agreement not to pay more to their
bourers, butt() make up the remainder of their wage °u
of the poor rates.
Mr. SLANEY did not propose to interfere with t.r.h:
principle of the Poor Laws, but only meant to correct 1"
abuses of them.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to "
committed.
BANKRUPT LAWS' AMENDMENT BILL.
The Bankrupt Laws' Amendment Bill having been re
a third time,
On the motion of Mr. lIORACE TWISS, a clause
agreed to, by way of rider, empowering the Lord Cb°ll'
cellor, under certain circumstances, in cases of bankruPtc/s;
or declarations of insolvency, to dispense with liere°,ly
service of notice to attend the meeting of creditors 00
creditor. out of the kindom.
r. HORACE TWISS then proposed to omit the 60t
clause of the Bill. • Dir.
After some conversation, in which Mr. SUGDZ,
0, •
JOHN WOOD, and Mr. HORACE Twiss participated, it, on'
agreed to defer the further debate on the subject until 14°
day se'nnight.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of 'Fr'
at a Quarter before Eleven the House adjourned to 'l..
day next.

The Earl Of ABERDEEN, Lord ELI'S:.
BOROUGH, and Lord SEAFORD, transacted business Ye °,
'
day, at the Foreign Office, Downing-street.
Earl DUDLEY and the Right Hon. GEoltof;
Lama visited Mr. Secretary PEEL on Thursday. ,tu..
The Marquess de PALMELLA, the r0..4,
were received yesterday, tit the
nurse Ambassador ; and Count de Mor,rxx, the Da°,/-,
yesteraa'
Minister, transacted business with Earl Drowsy
at the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaillfle
ColioneiaslPoatfficchee,s from the Non. General PoNsoxes '
Lieut.-Governor of Malta.
BARBAROUS MURDER.—The neighb°'ri
hood of Antrim was on Monday evening last, the SteUe;
were waylaid, about a mile and a half from the town,
a most horrible murder, which has created a great deg' a
of excitation in that place. As three very respectable and
of
l'i'erb Protestants, were peaceably on their re;
turn home from the fair of Antrim, on that evening tl'oe;t
• the
Kells road, about nine o'clock, by about fifty or 515 t
)
be
miscreants, all of the opposite party, who, without tit
slightest provocation whatever, attacked them in the In°';
barbarous manner, and continued their murderous sl
i.,,
i until they supposed their victims ceased to live, frequen ,
shouting,—Could King WILLIAM help them thenfre
One of those unfortunate men, an opulent and highlY r
speetnble man of the nam9 of BuowNLIEs, from to,
neighbourhood of Kells, fell a victim to their horrible 1910
1
tality. 1)r. LETn.am was called on soon after ti, /14Ity
esis poor man, and promptly attended, and used °fat
exertion in his power to render him all the assistance yo
professional aid could afford him, but in vain. Hies
was fractured in so many places, and the bones 50 "ri.ee
in his brain, that, to give him the only remote chance e,.
had for his life, he was obliged to trepan him in twfl:he
parate places ; but the extensive injury inflicted on ito,
brain by the pressure of depressed bones and a large 4°oo
tity of extravasated blood, by the murderous blows alioi4
assassins, was so great, that be ceased to live in a
time,—Cork Constitution.

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