The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-26 00:00:00

No trade in corn worth having could be carried on at a price f from the wends of the Hon. Gentleman himself, delivered on
under 60s. a quarter, in this country. There was every reason I the hustings on the day of nomination, when he had stated that
to believe that certain quanties might be sold at 535. or 545. a be would oppose every proposition which gave less protection
quarter, and rising from that to 60s. But tha Right Hon. ,tc the agriculturists than they then had. Having stated that, a
Gentlemen referred to what had teen the case under the former few months aftervVards the Hon. Gentleman took rather a different
law. He appeared to rest upon the circumstance that in the line, for he stated that the present scale was too stringent, and
course of last year no corn paid more than 20s. Bd. I caused a great deal of obloquy.; for when the price was down
Mr. BARING.—No importation worth considering beyond at 365. the duty was 535. Bd., being more than the price of the
20s. Bd. corn, thus rendering them liable to this obloquy, without any
Mr. GLADSTONE went on to ask—Would all those Hon. benefit being derived to the agriculturists. He left it to the
Gentlemen who had told them so much about the vicious ope- I House to judge of the value of these two statements. It was
ration of the old Corn-law, in inducing merchants to, hold • most remarkable, that the Hon. Member had pledged himself
back corn to obtain a h'gh price—would they come forward to oppose any measure that would give less protection, yet lie
now with the argument that no foreign corn was intro- himself brought forward a measure for reducing protection.
duced at a point of price less than 60s.—(Hear)—that be- He would now come to the second part, and let them put
cause no increase of the consumption of corn took the Honourable Gentleman's two statements, relative to these
place at a duty over 20s. Bd., therefore no considerable in. laws, in juxta-position one with the other. The Honourable
crease could take place at a net price to the importer of 40s. ? i Gentlemen stated, that it admitted, on all hands, that the
If such were the argument of the Right Hon. Gentleman in- i present system of taking the averages gave very great encou-
stead of denouncing the old corn land, he ought to support it ragement to spa culators and persons of dishonest habits, whilst
strenuously. He (Mr. Gladstone) denied the value as to de- the farmer derived little benefit from the high prices, and
tails or particulars of any estimates which even the most able got all the odium. He (Mr. Christopher) also said that
gentlemen, using whatever information they might, could under the present system of taking the averages the corn
make as to precise prices and quantities at which importations I trade was completely in the hands of speculators. The Hon.
into this country might be expected to take place. He must Gentleman had told his constituents that he had always ex-
confess that in matters of this kind he would put more value pressed his present opinions in the House of Commons with
Upon the calculations of practical men of business than upon respect to the Corn-laws, and that he would rather adhere to
the calculations of Members of Parliament, or Members of the the law as it then stood than 'attempt any experiment in the
Government, however able or well informed the) might be. way of legislation. This was on the 25th of June. On the
It could not be denied that there was a general feeling in the 25th of October—( The Hononourable Gentleman was
country that the trade in corn would be—he should not say about to read an extract from Mr. Christopher's speech, but
constantly open to the admission of quantities of grain that was met with loud cries of "Question, question.") It might
would greatly affect the consumption or price—but that by be convenient for Hon. Gentlemen opposite to call Question,
the present measure of the Government, the trade in but he (Mr. Horsman) wished to show them how one state•
corn would be open to a very considerable degree. meat of the Hon. Gentleman was opposed to the other, and
On this subject he might be allowed to refer to the testimony how, for some purposes of his own, he had recommended to
of a numerous and influential class of men—the millers.— the country measures proposed by one Government which he
(Hear, hear.) They certainly were not, as a class, universally supported, and opposed the same measure when introduced by
favourable to the present Corn-laws ; and, for several weeks a different Government.—( The Hon. Gentleman again read
past, they had been sufficiently urgent in their applications to an extract from the speech of Mr. Christopher, but amidst
the Board of Trade, and in those applications, they had pleaded lond cries -of " Question, question," and " Divide.")
with great ability, and had displayed an ingenuity he hardly The Honourable , Gentleman having stated so distinctly
gentlemen had been that he would not support any proposition for the reduction
leevaedrerssa
inw tshuerp apsrseesde.o
present
movement Man of
these
enst the Corn-laws, yet of protection, on the question of a fixed duty being proposed, he
they, one and all, held the doctrine that the trade, under the was ready to a-sent to a modification of the scale, and it must
new law, would be opened, not permanently, perhaps, but to be remembered that he was entirely opposed to any alteration
such an extent, and at such prices, that. the importation would in the law, because, he thought it would be of no benefit to the
be almost constant, and not hampered, as it had been, under community at large, and he, therefore, determined to adhere to
the old law ; and, in consequence, they were better sat;sfied, the law in all its bearings. He (Mr. Horsman) was justified iu
Those gentlemen, he should also say, had received great support considering these statements as contradictions. He ( Mr. Chris-
and countenance from a large body of Members of Parliament, topher) had given a- pledge to his constituents, that •if the
net exclusively of that side of the House, but of the other, Right Hon. Baronet attempted to meddle with the Corn-laws,
and from gentlemen who were themselves opposed to the Corn- he should withdraw his confidence ft om him, and he (Mr.
laws. He would not detain the House at further length ; lie Horsman) left it to the House to judge whether that pledge
had endeavoured to show that the effect of the new mode of should be kept or not.
taking the averages, even according to the estimate of the Mr. BANKS commenced by saying that if any Hon. Mern•
Member for Lincolnshire, and much more, according to the ber had needed an apology it was certainly the Right Hon.
estimate of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, had been Member for Portsmouth. The Right Hon. Gentleman had
greatly and grievously exaggerated. He believed he had also stated that what he st)led the agricultural Members had been
given some evidence to the Committee with respect to the its- called upon to fulfil their promises and pledges given on the
portation of corn ; he had referred to the opinions of the trade hustings. His (Mr. Banks') answer was short and clear—
in general, as well as to those of gentlemen who most opposed he had fulfilled his pledge, and that pledge was to contribute
the whole system, and had proved, so far as such a matter was by every means in his power to the remeval of the Govern-
susceptible of proof at the present stage of the discussion, that went which then misgoverned the country.—(Loud cheers
by the proposed plan the trade would be opened to a consider- from the Ministerial benches.) That Government which had
able degree—to such a degree as would facilitate the commerce proposed financial measures only calculated to excite the ricii-
of the country, and afford relief to an extent considerably cule of every man of sense in the country. Those measures
below the price named by the Right Hon. Gentleman. which no man could believe *ere seriously proposed with a
Mr. LABOUCHERE said, as he had so lately addressed view to their being carried, but solely for the purpose of em-
the House on this question, he should not have ventured to harrassing those who were to succeed them.—( Cheers.) The
address it now, had he not been referred to by the Hon. Gen- agricultural Members, as they had been called, did not get ap
tlemau who had just art down. In the first place, he must night after night expressing the same opinions, one after an-
complain of the situation in which the House was placed with other, fatiguing the House and disgusting the country.—(Loud
regard to the question of the averages by the conduct of the cheers.) A course calculated to lower the character of Parlia-
Gevenament. The Hon. Gentleman said that it was tha in- anent ; and bring it down to the footing of those debating so-
tention of the Government to lay before them information, of cieties held out of doors. He did not mean to say the discus •
which it was in possession, which would enable the House sion was not useful when raised, but he did venture to declare
to form a judgment as to the manner in which the averages that superfluous discussion was not only not useful, but it was
would be affected by the proposal. He did think that, con- injurious to the country, inasmuch as it impeded public busi.
sidering the time during which the Government had the ness. These were the sentiments of the agricultural labourers.
question under their attention, and as it was clear that it hai He referred to the poorer classes of his constituents when he
also done what it said it would do, instituted a close and ex- said they were perfectly satisfied with the Ministerial mea-
tensive inquiry into the subject—he did think it was hardly sure. The merchants, the traders, and petty or small re-
dealing fairly by the House not to have laid on the tailers whom he represented were most satisfied with the propo-
table that information, before they called on them, as sitian of the Right Hon. Baronet.—( Hear, hear.) That
they had done to-night, to decide on the scale proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet was called a mite by
of duties proposed. It was very well for the Honourable some Hon. Gentlemen opposite—others called it a mouse.—
Gentleman to say, that if they proved that the averages would (Laughter.) But their description of it should not be taken
be affected by the scale in a way he had not intended, then he to be the opinion of the peopleesind the merchants or traders
would reconsider the plan. It was not fair to ask the House, of the country. He believed that all the people, both small
to pledge itself to a scale of duty, with the understanding that and great, were not only satisfied with the measure, but they
afterwards. they should receive such information as should be looked upon it as not only much more than they expected, but
laid on the table. This was not a logical mode of proceeding, as much as they required. He would not hesitate to say he
The Right Honourable Gentleman said it was a very great should prefer the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member
exaggeration, when he (Mr. Labouchere) said, not positively, for Lincolnshire (Mr. Christo her) to the plan which had
but in the absence of better information, that, as he now re- been suggested by the Right lon. Baronet at the head of
prated, practical men were persuaded that the threefold ope. of her Majesty's Government ; having opposed the Ministerial
ration of the Government scale, first adding 150 towns to scheme he was told the only course left for him was either to
the list from which the averages • were to be taken, next support the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member for
taking the making of these returns out of the hands of the corn Lincolnshire, or vote fur the measures of the Hon. Gentlemen
inspectors, and putting it into the hands of the Excise, and lastly opposite ; but he would rather do anything than that.
preventing, in a very great degree, the practice of speculation Lord WORSLEY next addressed the House, but he was
and fraudulent sales (a very great merit indeed), would affect perfectly inaudible in the reporter's gallery. The Noble Lord
the aavertised averages not less than ss. a week. This calculation was understood to say, he was determined to resist the Minis-
was strengthened by the admission of a distinguished advocate terial measure, and that he was surprised Hon. Gentlemen on
of the landed interest who denied the probability of a ss, the other (the Ministerial) side of the House, representing
change, but said he believed an alteration to the amount agricultural interests, had not supported the proposition of his
of 2s. would take place. But then those two shillings colleague (Mr. Christopher). 'I he country saw that what-
were attributed to one cause alone. It was not unreasonable ever party was in power an alteration in the Corn-laws would
to suppose that the other two causes would have an effect of take place. The question with the country was, whether
35. more. He was sure the Right Hon. Gentleman would re- they should accept the measure which had been men-
deem the pledge he gave, that he would make a proportionate tioned by the Noble Lord, or that which had been
allowance in his sliding scale if it were proved to him that the proposed by the Right Honourable Baronet. Had not
averages would he considerably affected by his plan.—( Hear, the country most decidedly answered the question ?
hear.) But he (Mr. L.) was unwilling to go into the details of He thought they had by the Gentlemen they had sent to
this part of the subject until the House had been in possession represent them-in that House—(Hear, hear)—and he would
of the returns that had been moved for, and also the inform- put it to his Hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln whether it
Lion and papers which the Government. had promised to .lay would be better that he should sacrifice his own opinion for the
before them. In the meantime he would read to the House a sake of unanimity ?—( Hear, hear.) All that they had to-look
few figures which a friend had procured for him from the for was that the plan agreed to should afford legitimate protec-
'library, respee.ing the effect of the London averages on the ge- tion to the British market. He conceived that this would be
extra averages of the county, and be need not repeat that the most completely accomplished by the plan laid dawn by the
addition of 150 towns, would geatly affect the London averages. Right Honourable Baronet. A farmer, of great property, said
tan the 25th of June last the general average was 635. ; the that he could put corn free on board at Lubeck for Sus. per
London average was 68s. 3d ; the average at Bristol was 60s. quarter ; the shipment and other charges from Lubeck to Hull
When they thus saw the effect of the London average on the could be ss. 4d., so that the corn of that country would come
general average, he thought the addition of 150 market towns into the Hull market without the duty at about 345. I Id. ;
might affect the general average to a very material extent. On add the duty, 165., to this, and you have a price of 50s. 11d.
the 15th of August the general average was 725. In London Notwithstanding this, he thought the British agriculturist had
the average was 765. 9d. He thought these figures proved the nothing to fear from the Danish market ; for, if they lost at
important effect of the London average on the general average about the middle of their prices they gained in their averages.—
of the country.—( Hear, hear.) And how great must be the (Loud cheers from the Opposition benches.) He would state
result, if they diminished the effect of London, by adding so the difference of price between the seven large markets and
many towns to the list? He confessed, from the perusal ho the 143 others : on the week ending Sept. 10; le4l, when the
gave the towns, it appeared to him the Government acted with duty was brought down to Is. in the seven large markets, viz.,
great haste and precipitation in their selection of the towns.— London, Wakefield, Leeds, Hull, Liverpool, le ewcast:e, and
( Hear.) He would mention two instances of such haste. In Derby, 36,849 quarters were entered at an average price of
the list the name of New Pollington appeared--a town which 755., whilst in the remaining 143 places, where 36,066 quarters
was not to be found in the map of England, and which, in were entered, the average price was only 675. 3ed., which
fact, was no• a town at all, but merely a village.—(Laughter.) showed the great benefit in his opinion of having 150
The town of New. Romney was also set down ; and as it was others placed amongst the towns from which the averages snould
in Kent, the Hon. Member for. that place would perhaps cur- be taken, as they would act as a cheek on the large markets.
rect him, and inform him if there was such a market at all.— In conclusion, he was sure that though the Right Hon. Ba-
( Hear.) When he found such marks- of haste on the part of eonet's measure might not meet the extreme views of any
the Government, it considerably diminished the confidence he party, that moderate men, whether manufacturers or
should otherwise feel in the assurance of the Right Hon. Gen- agriculturists, would think it such a measure as the exi-
tleman that he did n.t intend his new mode shruld affect the gencies of the time, and the increasing population, demanded.
averages ; but he (Mr. Labouchere) thought that if he consi- He then should therefore support his scale as far as wheat was
de-red the subject more, he would agree with him and the Hon. concerned, and he hoped that his Hon. Friend, seeing that it
Member for Lincolnshire that the result would be that the aye- was impossible to carry his scale---( Hear, hear)—would give
rages, and consequently the duties, would be mate- way in favour of the motion of the Hight Honourable Baronet.
rially affected by the manner in which he proposed to Mr. WALLACE said that the people looked on this mea-
take them. The Right Hon. Gentleman the Vice-Presi- sure as a delusion and an imposition ; for himself, he was so
dent of the Board of Trade thought he gave a conclusive an- thoroughly convinced of the advantage of total repeal, that he
mfr to his. Right Hon. Friend, when ,:he ;stated the impute- thought it would-be best for him to leave the Honourable
tion of the towns, but the population of-the. small towns was Gentlemen opposite, to patch up their work as they pleased,
by no means a proof of what the Right Hon. Gentleman and to do their best to oppress the people. He hoped the
sought to prove by it. He heard with regret the announce- Honourable Member would bring this motion to a division,
merit made by the Right Hon. Gentleman with regard to the which wsuld show to the people who it was that wished for
intention of Government upon the point they had so long higher rates.—(Cheers.) The scale of the Right Hon.
considered of imposing duties on flour to be imported from the Baronet had been made carefully, cautiously, and most ju-
United States into Canada. He would not enter into the diciously for this object, that the wheat growing coun-
constitutional point, but he heard the Right Hon. Gentleman ties of England should be well protected, because
say, as well as he could understand him, that while he gave the greater number of voters in that House were agriculturists.
his reasons for retaining the duties on the importation of --(Cries of " No, no ") No, no ! Let them look at the
flour from America across the berdere he considered such a course country, and they would find that what he said was true to the
would be a constitutional one.—(" No," from Mr. Gladstone.) letter ; they would find that south of London the
.climate for
He thought it a strained construction to say it was compe- growing corn was the best in the country, and see how many
tent for the House of Commons to levy such a duty. He votes they had from that part of the country. He might be
doubted whether they were not violating the spirit of the De- wrong—(Hear, hear, from the Tories)—if he were so, he was
claratory Act, in proposing a duty of that kind. He begged to open to conviction, but he was not to be turned from the point
ask for what reason, and for whose benefit that duty was pro- by Hon. Gentleman opposite. Ile had deep interest in the laws
posed ?He meant to make the widest distinction between those that were passed regarding the colonies, its which he had a deep
duties and other colonial duties. lie believed the avowed aim stake ; but he never interfered with them, because humanity
and object of the duty was to protect the landowners of Eng- on the one hand, and good government on the other, demand-
land, and he would say, on the part of the colony, that though ed of him that he should not oppose those laws. He would say,
it might not be beyond the power of the Imperial Legislature, then, to Hon. Gentlemen opposite, that if they were not like
yet, looking at the Declaratory Act, he believed they would be Caesar's wife, above suspicion, he would call on them to look
violating it. He would not follow the Right Hon. Gentleman abroad, and see whether the working men had any other belief
in all the calculations he had made in answer than that this measure was proposed for the total destruction of
to his Right Honourable Friend the Member for Portsmouth their interests. See how this affected the country. The Bank
He found that the papers laid on the table were at variance with of England was, about to take off the screw, which would give
his own statements, and he therefore threw over the whole them a gleam of prosperity. Whether the Government had
mass of evidence. 'He stated that he had consulted distin- any interest or not the Bank of England he did not
guished persons, and hefound they were of a contrary opireon, know, but he rejoiced that they were going to
and that he preferred their statements to those of, the different take off the screw, because though the relief which
Consuls that had been mentioned. lie did not think it neces- it would afford would be only temporary, it still would be a
sary to trouble the Committee at any greater length, but he relief to his suffering countrymen. He believed the sliding
could not sit down without expressing his surprise that the scale would do little or no good to trade, though he expected
Right Hon. Gentleman should have emitted to address himself something from the letter from the United States, which the
at all to the question brOught before the House by the Hon. Right Hon. Baronet had read to them. If he drew a correct
Member for Lincolnshire.—( Hear, hear.) He thought, con- inference from that letter, the result would be that we should
sidering the manner in which the agriculturists had been have a trade in flour with America.—( Hear, hear.) Not long
treated by the Government, they were in a sorry plight, ago he (Mr. Wallace) brought before the House the state of
He had the greatest respect for aim Hon. Gentleman, but he the country. In Renfrewshire, he had heard since, and he
must say that his manifestation of hostility to the Bill of the believed it to be a fact, that their countrymen in the United
Right Hon. Baronet was not very serious.—( Hear, hear, and States had sent them a gift of flour and pork out of charity,
a laugh.) The lion. Gentleman made his speech, and satis- and he (Mr. Wallace) supposed an application would soon be
fled his constituents in a manner which no doubt they would made to know whether this flour and pork were to be re-
appreciate ; but clearly he had no serious intention of pressing ceived duty free, or whether these unfortunate paupers were
his motion upon the House, and in that he ex?rcised a very topay the duty. For his (Mr. Wallace's) part, he hoped that
sound discretton.—( Cheers and laughter.) not only on this occasion might flour and pork be admitted
Sir J. TYRRELL wished to explain his own views upon the duty free, but that soon they should have no duty whatever,
question before the House, as Hon. Members on his side of either on corn, or provisions, or any other commodity:
He could not retort the interest, and as the representative of an agricultural district,
the House were taunted with being attached to the silent sys- Mr. FLEMING said that as a friend of the agricultural
tem. —( Hear. hear, and laughter.)
little •
argument.— the measure introduced by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head
compliment, for in the seven nights' debate there had been on he felt it his imperative duty to declare his entire approval of
the other side a great deal of sound andvery
they had he had •d on each side of the House this evening, but not said communicationsreceive upon the subject, that that
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Two Hon. Gentlemen had spoken of the Government. He had reason to believe from all the
one word that touched the proposition of his Hon. Friend, the measure had given universal satisfaction to the agricultural in-
) But he could terest throughout the country ; and he could not therefore re-
sayMember for Lincolnshire. —( Hear, bear.' •
partiality induced him frain from expressing a hope that the Hon. Member for Lin-
that his prejudices and Pa •
correct. colnshire would withdraw the motion then before the House.
circumstances
ofof the
might be
confidence__that sorry that the Right • Honourable Gentleman the
Mr. CHARLES WOOD said that he was exceedingly
lieto hope
eoosi
considered that
tbatth these ctablceulpaetieounlisar
Right Hon. Baronet the Vice-President of the Board of •
the
on both sides of in the House during the delivery of the speech
giloeuastotaaloendtso,ffrtobme the high ciohartbaceteßr,ig
Trade had not been
concededbe
eonet and the Government of the Hon. Member for Somersetshire. That Hon. Gentle. .
a condition to deal with man, whose. opinions upon the subject then under the con-
theMember for Tamworth, it would
the House that the Right Hon. Bar
the House any manner sideration of the House were entitled to the greatest respect,
by which ,he was supported webreeforine
hesitation in saying that from his connexion both with agriculture and with commerce,
question more immediately
throughout the.tcounotry,.and that lad shown the arithmetical mistakes into which the Right
they might think fit. He had no
there was but one feeling
was a feeling of contempt fur the Pr°P(Tiournduchel h
t e Noble Hon. Gentleman had fallen. It appeared, from the speech
Lord on the other side of the Howe.-- cheersfrom the of the Hon. Member for Somersetshire, that the difference
Ministerial benches.) Ile believed that the Hon. Member between the declared averages in different towns had, on one
for Lincolnshire was a better friend tothe agricultural occasion, amounted to as much as 7s. a quarter. The Right
by whom he was sun. interest than many of those
Hon. the Vice-President of the Board of Trade had treated
niunded. With regard to the large majority of 300 the idea of such a variation as an absurdity ; but the Hon.
mem for
ber
.I erhatop:on, Member for Somereetshire had distinctly stated that the dif-
.o
against the motion of the Hon.
he remembered when last he introducet his measure, the ference in the declared averages in sever, large towns' and
]louse was in an extraordinary state.
et
t 1 m
rheebby, and he to no less than 7s a quarter in the of September, 1841. was no person the remaining one hundred andforty-three towns, had amounted
in the Gallery and only two policemen in
thought that if he had taken a show of hand.s amongst the cab The Right Hon. Baronet had introduced a great number of
men in Palace-yard, the decision would have been given new towns in his Bill. But he had not given the House tie
against him. He must confess that plac hein gthat great confi- reasons which guided him in the selection of those towns.
fidenenceceinwathefeßltigbhytthHeocno-ty t
rGentleman
h which did, which con- Many. were of opinion that the result of that change in the
asa nhembdividual existing law would be considerably to diminish the averages,
should not be doing his dunuty if he did not vote for the props,- and thus to raise the duty ; and he (Mr. C. Wood) hoped,
sition before the House. that if it appeared that such would be the result of that provi-
Mr. HORSMAN said that the Hon. Member for Lin- sion in the measure, the Right Hon. Baronet would either
colnshire came forward as the
representative of a great omit those towns, or that he would reduce the scale in propor-
constituency, and his opinion derived importance from tion. There was another part to which he wished to allude ;
the Hon. Gentleman being one of a large classs who he meant the proposed duty upon wheat imported from the
entertained the same opinion as the Hon. Gentleman. He United Statesinto Canada. He had understood the Right Ho-
(Mr. Horsman) was prepared to
prove, from the Hon. Gen- nourable Gentlemen to state, that if the duty he proposed to
tleman's own words, that he had pursued two lines of conduct ; impose upon wheat imported from Canada into this
further, that he had set down statements which he had contra- country, were assented to by the House, he should then
dieted, and given positive pledges
which he had since broken, be prepared to give up the 3s. duty, which he had intended to
First, he had stated that he would not listen to any proposal for have levied upon wheat imported from the United States into
any alteration whatever in the Corn-laws; and in the next place Canada. He hoped he had not misunderstood the statement of
he had stated that he would not oppose protection, but that he the Right Hon. Gentleman, and if he were wrong, he wished he
would oppose every attempt to lower that protection. With might be corrected, as tt.e point was of considerable importance. .
regard to the first statement, he (Mr. Horsman) would quote ' With respect to the proposed levels in the scale of the Govern. ►

that he would not adhere exclusively to the present Corn-law."
That was very good.--( Hear, hear.) " Now, he said notling o'
of the kind, but that he would adhere to that law, because he
never heard of any measure so just to the agricultural interest as -.
it was. If any measure could be proposed that would give. :
greater protection than the present he would • upport it ; but 'll,
.
he would oppose any measure that would tend to diminish that",
protection. He looked upon Sir George (Murray) as one M, i.:e, ;',l
the most trimming, shuffiing—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—. ,etiv,
persons, and if Sir Robert Peel admitted him ( Sir George) or. es'
his brother-in-law George Dawson, into the Administration, he,el '''
would have no confidence in the Government. He never; il,
had professed opinions in one place and departed from them in': 5E'
5 i
another. lie never would desert the party to which he wa,s, ,4 '',
attached, nor the principles which he professed, so long as that b,is',
party adhered to those principles. He was the same now as heeerili,",
had always been. The Noble Lord seemed too much shackles'. I;t°
and controlled by the influence of party feelines in favour of the, ;.f 1,,:
present Government. Ile allowed those feelings to prevail to ,e..„
a baneful extent in influencing and controlling his judgment,: .•':
and he would sacrifice his own feelings to support his party. .4 '
Non', if his (Mr. Duncombe's) ears did not deceive him, and be ,
was sure the House too, ho had heard the Hon. Gent., in answer
to his Noble Friend, his colleague, say that he would propose 0
duty of .255. He said, that if it came to this, tl.at the carrying
of such a measure would throw out the present Government,
lie would propose it. He had, he said, S 9 much confidence, •:',
in the present Government, and so much dislike to the Whigl
that, or course, he should prefer the less of two evils, snip
should accept the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet at th.!
~
head of the Government. And yet, that Hon. Member claimed.
such independence of feeling, and he accused his Noble Friel:
d
of being so much addicted and attached to the party to %hie,' :'!"'
lie belonged !—( Hear, hear.) Why, the other evening he hes"..
the Right Honourable Baronet's talents and abilities greed,' . ',
praised, but he (Mr. T. Duncombe) must 51 ~n''!when he heard those quslites so praised, that they were prsis
~
at the expense of his political integrity. He (Mr Dunconthe/ .-
would not pay the Right Hon. Baronet so bad a compliment' ' -
He believed the Right Hen. Baronet to be sincere in the on' •'*.
tiers which he had introduced to the House, and laid upon
table for their adoption and approbation. He would be told
that the Right Hon. Baronet was drawn back, that there'll's' •
a drag behind him, and that be could not go so much in ad„. .'
vance as his opinions and good sense inclined him to do. ne -..
(Mr. Duncombe) did not believe one word of it. He he- '")
lieved the Right Hon. Baronet had introduced the measurer ."',i
which he thought best for the benefit of the country. He differ, ;.2 .
with the Right Hon, Baronet, and thought that the measure .• t
was a perfectly delusive anti useless one. - In .11534, when, e 'e:
the Right Hon. Baronet accepted office, he said upon that e'l"!
occasion (and he believed that that would equally aPI4 • ,e;
throughout the whole of his political life), th it he never ; ''l
would accept of office to be an apostate from his former prig' 2-1
ciples. The Right Hon. Baronet was not now an apostate. 3.,.
from his former principles. He had advocated the sliding ;',I
scale, and he had given them the sliding scale now, but in 'ln:. ' 1
other form. He ( Mr. D.) was not one of those who wee .1
disappointed at the measure the Government proposed. r''• :,..
never expected from that Government anything better.
He never expected any thing good from the Gov. rninent'.
concurring as he now did, and as he had formerly . . •
done with the sentiments expressed of it by the Right H°°4
e,
Baronet at the head of the Home Department, when in /c° •
the Right Hon. Gentleman said that it was a Government cenici '
posed of men who spent all their lives in proposing ha
measures and obstructing good ones. He did not know
whether these were the precise terms used on that occasion by
the Right Hon. Baronet, but the spirit o: his observations oae
such as he had given. He (Mr. Duncombe) must say that the,
eioveroment which they had now, was exactly of tits' ,•
description. How the Right Hon. Baronet, the Men':
ber fur Dorchester, could reconcile those sentiments with 1; **,. •
measures of the present Government, or how he could reconc, v .
~,
his sitting in the same Cabinet which proposed the measure r.;,*;'
now introduced, it was not for him (Mr. D.) to say. Ont"i** , k
more contemptible measure, or one less calculated to .n*?
the exigencies of the country never was introduced to thati
House. They had all heard of the man who held a farthing t e'iiii
candle to the sun.—(Laughter.) Now, that was a grea 4'
statesman—(Renewed laughter)—and it was much ,to be re • •
gretted that that individual was no where to be found, for in-
deed he ought to be a Member of the present Cabinet.l
(Laughter.) However in his absence they certainly ought, s!, .
the best substitute, to place the Honourable Member fu• •
North Lincolnshire (Mr. Christopher) •in the Ca;
binet. There were one or two points that had heel
urged as arguments and objections on that (the Opposition/
side of the House against the present Bill, that had never li! b
to the present moment been answered. One of those points "
took as the disadvantages arising to America froth the slidilj
scale. The Right Hon. Baronet had the other evening stn „
that he knew nothing about America. America was noteri
far off as they seemed to think. The Hon. and Gallant Mem°,
for Marylebone (Sir C. Napier) wanted to prove that it v''''.
further off by giving a notice for to-morrow of a motion r_eto
specting the passage of certain vessels to and fru r
America. The Right Hon. Baronet said they were not sofa
off America, and they thought that within six weeks Chet ' -
could get flour from New York ; that an order might be se°o
out by steam, and would be back within six weeks. Novref,„h
this commerce? Was it free trade upon a footing upon "no ..-
the American corn trade ought to be carried on ? What to •*,,'
Americans wanted was a certain market to which they c°eb „
bring their corn. They wanted a market to wil;ce ..•
they could bring their ships laden with the prouud
~.
of their own country, to go back laden with the manufacturbe ,
of this country, which they would obtain in exchange. 11.°..„,, • ,
sure they bad given an answer to the American people, ur:e ,
this point, with regard to the advantages of the position,, ,-
which they were placed. They now for the first time
,o, ,
posed a duty of 3s. upon any corn coming from Cao, ‘..-0, , !,
Of course that was one of the advantages of their postal) .. •^'
The Noble Lord the Member for Liverpool (Lord Sarle
had last night said that they had sent out, upon a special In% ',,1.,
sion to America, a Noble Lord (Lord Ashburton), who sea d e ,ii
most courageous Nobleman. Now he (Mr. Duncombe) ha ,to:, ei :
no doubt that that noble individual was a most 410_1%0 ,' v'
person in private lite, but that he was a courageous noble on •,,14,i
he had never heard before. In that House that Noble Pertio' 0.
had ever shown the greatest indecision of cbaractertned,„; el
greatest infirmity of purpose that was ever eerj-tfie ,-','
on the part of any individual who addresse.o..ible ' e'
House.—( Hear, hear, hear.) . It was totally irer'-‘,ot
after he hail addressed the House to know wi.at side be ITI'-0 ,)
to take. Yet that individual was described as a most courage, pg.'
.I'i
nobleman.—( Hear, hear, much laughter;*and cries of " Quilt, .4'i
tion.") That was the question—it was the question last 5110,•..11
and was it nut so now ? If he was a couragef.,o 'fli ,e
nobleman last night, how had he lost his mul,rd7st ..:
to-day ?—(Hear, hear, hear.) That noble indict hof ',,,e'
had always been opposed to the popular interest. Ile die. e 4
during the time of the Reform Bill, evinced the greatest id ~,,i
trust of the popular interest.—( Hear, hear, and crie?,hi .•1, re
.. Question," and " Order, order.") They had talked 0t •is t';;d
special mission, and yet they did not want to know svh,ae'ide,''.ol
it really was. Well, he would not tell tnv ii,4,,
—( Loud laughter.) The Americans would kW/ tilr'4
Notwithstanding that that individual might be a couragtot!flit
nobleman—notwitl.standing the compliments paid him byeelf ;"
Hon. Member for Liverpool, he (Mr. Duncombe) weiei'; is/,
tell them that he would not carry out with `,;iote
:giti
the confidence of this country, and he would rt..."!' .9
,
carry back with him the confidence of America. ,I.fie,i'l.
If the Government would hold out to the country the c°' o.':,e/..
of free trade—if they would only open their ports to the e° cot ,''•,'
merce and enterprise of America, they would then °oo' :"*
a union between the two countries—they would then hay.recee s'
boundaries about which to dispute—they would have no fortnio e
tions to raise, they would have no jealousies to allay.—((jbeerde, , *
If they only held out to that country the hand of free iris 0 ~'
they would cement ::, a union that would ,redounn.nd,
their own honour, and promote the interests of manblest
The Hon. Member for North Lincolnshire had stated r Tee •
fourteen nights were uselessly wasted in that debate.
e'.;,, e,
(Mr. Duncombe) was not aware that fourteen nights vt,ereeete .40,
wasted. It was a calculation somewhat like what hen,' y;st'
made with regard to wh at, he had no doubt.—( Hear, 117;e., il.
'
But if fourteen nights bad been so con-umed, they were c it, . le, ,
sumel in asserting a principle which, they might depend °sr°
,)•!„,/e
was acceptable to the great body of the people. —( Hear, "toe '"i
But the last night's debate was worth the whole of the Joel ell;
tree,. They had heard two speeches last night which 'a ef jj
open the eyes of the people of England. They heard V i°,il
the speech of the Hon. Member for Stockport, whie". (14 ,
been listened to as if he was talking to the ;Iv„ Ise es° i
but the people of England would read it, and esti. ),
hail no doubt, that from its ability, its arguritier iSE: ae,
and its truth—( Cries of " Oh, oh," from the Miril°Ae;, etP„
benches)—it would make a deep impression upon the Into ce
—(Hear, hear.) But there was another speech made blob.]
Hon. Member for Knaresborough, and the manner in :v. ill 014'
it had been received by the Conservative Tory Par'icoht ii),/
House, and by the Ministers on the Treasury bench, °viol 'etv,
open the eyes of the people of England._—(Loud cheers oh. I>'
the 3!inisterial benches, and counter-cheers from the OP-Peori
tion. ) It would open the eyes of the manufacturing intetto •,,s°
the country.—( Hear, hear.) The manner in which that sql(ler el
had been received showed that Gentlemen on the other hoed ,
and the great Ministerial majority which followed, had de o,'
r.
open war against the manufacturers.—(Cries of " NA.O.-0./
It was too late for them now to say " No, no."-o:l—eder
He could only say that that the grosser the insult, the I°oo
were their cheers—the fouler the calumny, the, onager
rapturous was their applause—e( Cheers, anti cries of ' oplf, '
order")—the intensity of the Ministerial exultation was of
et •
regulated by the malignity of the libel.—(Oh, and °Lewd; *
Order, order.") Yes, he said they showed a feeling °' ..4 0,
tation. He saw the Right Hon. Baronet (the Secrets"ele ,
State for the Home Department) chuckle.—(Laughterees)
saw the Right Hon. Baronet (the Paymaster of the eiewber
shake his portly sides—(Laughter)—when the Hon. .°liiont •'':
for Knaresborough read to the House his foul and no °PR'', '''
communications—aye, and anonymous too.—( Cries of a 0,, it,,i.,
no," from the Ministerial benches.) They might dePeut 00' ,;'.l
these doings would :not last. They had professed gre° te:,,ee,,i
pathy for the distress of the people, but When:oo4))
wards the close of last Session, he (Mr. Dun, c-oertl !
stated what the woes and sufferings of the people . 115°' .s'
he was told they were exaggerated, hut they were :061
acknowledged and confirmed, and the lion. Member for
said that those representations were rather under thanetio...so
)
rated.—( Hear.) But let him (Mr: Duncombe) tehntottli
that the suffering people wanted something more su''.'trie: r qtr
than their lip sympathy. They had been waiting with ottO,isee
tience for four or five months to see how you would deal iegrelP
their misfortunes—they wanted to see if you had the hnd'Ke.A
nuity to untie, or the courage to cut, the Gordis° .tbrel
on aii
...4
which a sordid aristocracy fastened, not only oesd d
industry and labour of the people but on the comfortS_ tbesti,
istence of the poor. They find you deficient meta etS-01",
qualities, and the Ministry might depend upon it they orn . eel";
the hour and lament the policy which induced then to regsrlo.P.
days of peace, and in the plenitude of their povreetettoiettLig. •
with so little favour and so little indulgence that In° n. (Ir,Toiteti
mittedto them by the Hon. Member for WolverhamPt°,,eo/1 egri
Hon. Member resumed his seat in the midst of loud c"„ 00, th jf",
Mr. A. O'BRIEN said it was not his intention t? o_."
op. OS"
House to come to a division without stating his opinion statil I°,
question before them. He also rose for the purpose ?,, as, 30,,,,,, it,
that it was very hard to remember what had been 50°000: ?„'
hustings.—( Laughter.) He did not know how Hotseeeblifi,,,,,,
men who were in the habit of haranguing public roe,. 0114, :.
were accustomed to weigh their sentiments, but hers',ooii vin!,,,
when he spoke he spoke to honest men, who undo
of
si'
was honest, and he slid not proceed on the plano,°! . e 1 ,-;
much and meaning as little as possible.—( Lau...1)15°04i SII:_
Noble Lord the late Secretary for Foreign Affair t, 00 ,
other had stated that they received the announcenevreasn 0001;1;
Right Hon. Baronet in ominous silence, and suet, , t on the -
tuation of the unfortunate country gentlemen, that ce..eit°l
side they were te.:used of saying too much, .4" osUrie°,'
other, of saying too little. —(Laughter. ) He (-11r,'.. Barone ii;
did not cheer that announcement of the Rigt.t I Ton, bitto
but he employed the interval since, not in
with
to ,0.
ascertaining the sense of his constituents with rega. as u
f the the
announcement. He had consulted as many 0 :„hing „
could, arid be had to tell the House, that after vc.VO, 6000
proposition of the Government, and considering
.tfil'at peos ~
stances of the caee, they authorised him to support '
But he "'
sition.—(Loud cheers.) He should stop there. iOO with,
say a few words in praise of that spirit
which they met that proposal.--( Hear, °lsteacr°,ll._a_niiii, chweebl:l)o -
lie thought that when that large mar :_ 4, ,;.„,
the landed interest was liaise to t", e,
taken into consideration, they must veld lartg°e.el),E,nterest :76
moderation and the concessions made by the lannidnlolists
bete
(Hear, hear.) If they chose to call them far nu
far front bebter ~
mist say that so far as their late debates Prcrate.—(Lahugt in
monopolists they appeared to be very in •
from the Opp-ssition benches.) He did
acceding to that measure he bound himself
h neficial t°, of '. 1
tiler mi difications if he considered them
country.—( Hear, hear.) 130 locking to theecirctunstaov'
notatcaondsti:rrotilfto
br
0.

ment, he confessed that he could draw no other conclusion from
I the fact of their having been adopted, except that,
at a certain point, at least, it was thought that
a fixed duty would be of advantage to the agriculturist.
What he conceived to be the real point under discussion, was
the effect of that duty upon the price of cor❑ in this country.
He thought that the protection proposed by the Government
was sufficient to keep the price up to 60s. He hoped that the
Hon. Member for Essex would find that the Government was
right, and he ( Mr. C. Wood) was mistaken in that opinion.
He knew not, however, upon what else they could proceed
but the official documents produced by the Government in
support of the'r own measure, and he must say that those papers
by no means tended to show the accuracy of the Right Hon.
Gentleman's statement as to the price at which foreign corn
could be imported into this country. In considering that
question he thought the fairest test would be to take the ave-
rage prices at which corn could be laid down in our own coun-
try, because the natural question was at what price foreign corn
could come into competition with English corn in the market.
It was quite true, as had been stated, that it was impossible for
the Legislature to fix the pr ice of corn in this or in any other
country, because an abundant harvest must necessarily have
the effect of lowering the price ; but, on the other hand, it
was not impossible for the Legislature to fix a maximum price
by allowing foreign corn to come into competition with Eno--
corn in the market. He had been surprised to hear the
Right Hon. Gentleman declare that they could not be sure
that the price would not exceed 56s.—he thought it had been
assumed throughout the debate that that was the maximum
price.—(Hear, hear.) If that were not so, he was utterly at
at a loss to understand upon what they had been debating. If
that price, or any other price, were assumed, say 575. or 585.,
then the price at which any great quantity of foreign corn
could be laid down in this country, became a most
essential point of discussion. Now, upon the whole,
it appeared that 455. was the average price at which
two million quarters of wheat could be imported. All the
returns gave 455. as the average price. The best test which
could be applied to ascertain that was the price at which fo-
reign corn had been sold in this country. It appeared that
no quantity of corn had ever been sold which would not pay to
the foreign holder 455. If Hun. Gentlemen referred to any
year since the passing of the present law, and on finding a
great quantity of corn paying a high duty, deducted that duty
from the average price of wheat, the difference would, of course,
be the price which it paid to the foreign holder. In 1839,
there were 130,000 quarters, paying a duty of 20s. Bd., the
average price throughout England was 675. ld., leaving a price
to the importer of 475. 3d. In the year 1830, 127,000 quar-
ters paid 20s. Bd, the average price was 655. 4d., leaving to the
holder of foreign corn a price of ..4s. Bd. In the year 1831,
about 7,000 quarters also paid as high a duty as 20s. Bd. ; the
price then was 655., leaving to the holder of foreign
corn a price of 455. In 1832, 150,000 quarters paid
20s. Bd., and then the price was 665. ; but the duty soon after-
wards rose considerably, so as almost to prohibit the importa-
tion of foreign corn. In 1833, 1834, 1835, and 1836, there
was no corn imported. In 1837 a large quantity of corn came
in, and the price paid to the holder was only 275. 10d., but that
corn had been in the warehouse for four or five years, and was
evidently sold from the impossibility of holding it any longer.
The Right Hon. Gentleman would not contend; that that
in the least affected the average price. It appeared, according
to all the returns, that 455. was the average price, and that at
less than that price it was not worth importing. A duty of
16s. added to 455., would bring the price to 61s. It was not
till the price in the English ,market had reached 585., 595., or
603., that foreign corn came practically into competition with
British corn. He wished before he proceeded to correct a
misstatement of his Right Hon. Friend with respect to the ave-
rage price in Jersey. The average price there for ten years, under
a system of free trade, was 51s. 3d It was not, however, alto.
gether a matter of price; quantity must be takeu into the cal-
culation. From the Consular returns it appeared that two
millions of quarters was the average quantity, and that there
was no probability at present of an increase. If that were so,
it was impossible to suppose that the quantity of corn admitted
for consumption in this country could materially affect the
price, and the agriculturists might be sure that their interests
would not be injured by the present or any other measure, if
60s. was the utmost to which they considered themselves enti-
tled. The question was a mere matter of figures, and though
lie knew how dull and tiresome it must be to the House, he was
most anxious that it should be dispassionately discussed. It
was the only way to come to a reasonable conclusion as to what
the effect of the scale proposed was likely to be. There was
no difficulty in making exciting speeches both on one side
and the other, but he wished it to be treated as
a matter of figures and of business, otherwise he
perfectly agreed with the opinion that the credit of the House
might suffer from such a discussion. He believed that the
scale proposed would not benefit the consumer by admitting
corn at low prices, but that it scorned was not the opinion of
the Government; and he should be exceedingly glad, if it
passed into a law, to find that he was mistaken, that the Go-
vernment was right, and that the consumer had secured a
benefit, which he confessed he did not anticipate. That such,
were the professions, and no doubt the purposes of the Govern-
ment, if they were carried out, he believed, though up to the
present moment it had not been shown that it was so.—
( Question, question.) There was no other point in what had
fallen from the Hon. Gentleman to which he thought it neces-
sary to advert, and though there were some other observations
which he should have been gild to have addressed to the
Committee, he knew how tiresome and dull a discussion of
this sort must be, and he should refrain from doing so.
Mr. GLADSTONE explained what had fallen from him in
the early part of the debate as to the effect of the new towns
on the averages, which was to the effect that to make a diffe-
rence of two shillings a quarter on the whole averages, the
price of corn in the new towns must be 7s. a quarter less than
the price in the other places.
Mr. LABOUCHERE put a question to the Hon. Gentle-
man as to the intentions of the Government with respect to
corn and flour imported from America into the Canadas and
the British cohinies in North America.

Mr. GLADSTONE said, as soon as the House had agreed to
the resolution of the Right Hon. Baronet he would explain the
course to be taken. He stated that it was not intended to levy any
additional duty on wheat imported from America into Canada;
and with respect to flour, which was at present absolutely.pro-
hibited, the importation being timed, and contrary to law, it
was intended to admit it into Canada on the same terms at
which it was admitted into all the other colonies. (Both the
question and answer were almost inaudible. )
Mr. T. DUNCOIII BE said, what ad just passed across the
table was no doubt of the highest importance ; hut himself, and
the Hon. Gentlemen around him, had unfortunately been
unable to hear a word of it ; am+ he should nit have ven-
tured to intrude h mself on the House, if, like his Honourable
Friends, he had previously had the honour of addressing them
two or three times on this important question. But as far as
he was concerned, they should not be delayed from bringing
this contemptible farce to a close—(Hear, hear)—by any
lengthened observations from him. But. he did think it was
due to the great constituency, and the numerous and varied
interests he had the honour to represent, that he should
tell them what he thought, and, he believed, what
they thought of the whole of these proceedings.—( Hear, hear. )
'she Hon. Member who had introduced, what he, in his sim-
plicity as a country gentleman, thought. was an amendment to
the proposal of the Right Hon. Baronet, had laid his
tariff on the table, and he wished to tell them what he thought
of that also. His opinion was not only formed from what he
had seen and heard, but was also collected from the put lie
prints in other places. On a former occasion the Noble Lord,
the colleague of the Honourable Member for North
Lincolnshire, addressed the House, arid alluded to
sonic speech that had been made to the wiseacres
of Lincolnshire, and had called on her Maje ty's Ministers—
an appeal which to this moment had never been answered—had
called on them to state whether they had consulted the Hon.
Member with regard to the plan they had proposed. They
had said they had never consulted him ; he said they had
never availed themselves of his great ability—(Laughter).—
with regard to the measure they intended to introduce. He
was no pilot balloon.—(.Laughter.) Some Hon. Gentlemen
had accused the Hon. Member with being the pilot balloon
of her Majesty's Ministers. 'I he organ of the
party—the Times—also accused him of being the pilot
balloon ; but he was not one. It would be an in-
sult to himself, and an insult to the wiseacres of North Lin-
colnshire. The Hon. Member ought to recollect that many
great men had been in the habit of availing themselves of
pilot balloons—geniuses as great as the Hon. Member himself,
or the freenolders of North Lincolnshire..—( Great laughter. )
He must know that 111oliere kept an old woman—( Roars of
laughter)—his housekeeper, and to this old woman he used
alsva3s to read his comedies before they were introduced to
the public—( Loud laughter)—and he used to say that
he could always tell the impression his pieces would
make on the public by the impression which they made
on his old woman. —( Cheers and laughter.) Another distin-
guished individual, a very lively and venerable authority—a
Prebendary of St. Paul's, Sydney Smith, had said (he be-
lieved the advice was given to the Noble Lord, late the leader
of that House, but it was equally applicable to the Right Hon.
Baronet), that every great man ought to keep a "foolometer."
—(Great laughter.) Far be it from him to say that the Mem-
ber for North Lincolnshire was the " foolometer " of the Right
Hon. Baronet —( Laughter)—or that the • freeholders of
Lincolnshire were his " foolometers," or the " fool-
motors " of the Right Honourable Gentleman
himself.—(Laughter.) The Honourable Member had denied
it, and he (Mr. D.) announced on his own authoritity, that he
was not the Right Honourable Baronet's foolometer—that he
was not his pilot balloon. He had, however, got up a little
balloon of his own, but it was one entirely of hrs own inflation
—( Laughter)—he had got it up, but how it is to descend, the
Honourable Gentleman did not seem to know ; he was at
that moment in the agonies of descent, but whether it would
alight on the table, or under the table, or in the galleries, it
was impossible to say.—( Great laughter.) All he (Mr. T.
Duncornbe) would say, was, that he should not
assist him in giving him a safe descent—(Great laughter)—
but he would take ease of this that he should not delude the
public. —( Cheers.) They would certainly ascertain by a vote
that night whether the Hon. Member was in earnest or not—
(Cheers)—with regard to this question. He had said in an
early part of the discussion, that he regretted the Bill of the
Right Hon. Baronet was not laid on the table, because in
Committee he might move an alteration in the scale of duties;
and he found he was obliged to make that motion now. But
those authorities to whom lie had appealed had told him that
' he could not do it when the Bill was laid on the table, and
they might also have told him that the first step
to be taken was to reject the motion of the
Right Honourable Baronet. But the Hon. Member was
going to sit down without moving at all.—( Laughter.) He
(Mr. Duneoml.e) had said with others, "Move, move," and
he at last did say that he proposed that a duty of 255. be
inserted in, tead of 20s. As usual, that question
was put, and the question was merely taken aye or no;
fortunately the Hon. Gentleman, the late Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer rose before " no" was said, or they would never have
heard any thing from the agricultural gentlemen, and though
the Hon. Member for North Lincolnshire was not a pilot balloon,
though he %vs not the Right Hon. Baronet's foolometer, though
he was not in the situation of Moliere's oid woman—(Laughter)
—yet, he must say that this conduct was the most extraordi-
nary ever practised. Never was the agricultural interest, if
they were so sensible and intelligent as Hon. Gentleman in
their orations represented them to be, so deceived.
It was impossible that they could be so imposed on; he
was sure that the manufacturing interest and the people of this
country would not Ir ! imposed on by this moonshine mo-
tion of the Member for North Lincolnshire. But if he was
consistent with himself—if be (Mr. Duncombe) could believe
the speech the Hon. Member had made at the last election,
if the book he held in his hand containing a report of the last
North Lincolnshire election, was correct, it was impossible that
any gentleman who had made such a speech to his constituents,
could then come there and make such a humbugging speech and
a still more humbugging motion.--( Order ) What did the
Hon. Gentleman say in August last? "He was opposed to
a friend of the Anti-Corn-taw League." Very good that.
"He did not oppose the influence of Lord Worsley, but
the worthless Government he supported." That's
good too. (Laughter.) " The present contest was
not one of party but of principle ; it was the ejection from
office of a Government that would not only ruin the agricul-
tural but every other interest of the country. He therefore
asked tl ern to support his Hon. Friend as well as h:m-
self.—(Cries of ' We'll have him.') It had been said
that he was a bigoted Tory and a blinded follower of Sir
R. Peel, and that he would support that statesman let his mea-
a tres be ever so irjurious to the agricultural interest. A gen-
tleman had done him the honour of following him about, and had
troubled himself to communicate to Lord Worsley all he (11Ir.
Christopher) had said ; but he had perverted what he had
said—namely, that he should give his confidence to Sir R.
Peel, whatever the tendency of his measures might be,
1\ or was his attachment to the agricultural interest so loose art