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

THE KIN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26,A842

from the words of the Hon. Gentleman himself, delivered on
the hustings on the day of nomination, when he had stated that
he would oppose every proposition which gave less protection
to the agriculturists than they then had. Having stated that, a
few months afterwards the Hon. Gentleman took rather a different
line, for he stated that the present scale was too stringent, and
caused a great deal of obloquy ; for when the price was down
at 365. the duty was 535. Bd., being more than the price of the
corn, thus rendering them liable to this obloquy, without any
benefit being derived to the agriculturists. He left it to the
House to judge of the value of these two statements. It was
Most remarkable, that the Hon. Member had pledged himself
to oppose any measure that would give less protection, yet he
himself brought forward a measure for reducing protection.
He would now come to the second part, ar.d let them put
the Honourable Gentleman's two statements, relative to these
laws, in juxta-position one with the other. The Honourable
Gentlemen stated, that it admitted, on all hands, that the
present system of taking the averages gave very great encou-
.agement to sin culators and persons of dishonest habits, whilst
the farmer derived little benefit from the high prices, awl
got all the odium. He (Mr. Christopher) also said that
under the present system of taking the averages the corn
trade was completely in the hands of speculators. the Hon.
Gentleman had told his constituents that he had always ex-
pressed his present opinions in the House of Commons with
respect to the Corn-laws, and that he would rather adhere to
the law as it then stood than attempt any experiment in the
way of legislation. This was on the 25th of June. On the
25th of October—( The Hononourable Gentleman was
about to read an extract from Mr. Christopher's speech, but
was met with loud cries of " Question, ques ion.") It might
be convenient for Hon. Gentlemen opposite to call Question,
but he (Mr. Horsman) wished to show them how one state-
:nent of the Ho-s. Gentleman was opposed to the other, and
how, for some purposes of his own, he bad recommended to
the country measures proposed by one Government which he
supported, and opposed the same measure when introduced by
a different Government.—( The Hone Gentleman again read
an extract from the speech of Mr. Christopher, but amidst
loud cries of "Question, question," and " Divide.")
The Honourable Gentleman having stated so distinctly
that he would not support any proposition for the reduction
of protection, on the question of a fixed duty being proposed, he
was ready to a sent to a modification of the scale, and it must
be remembered that he was entirely, opposed to any alteration
in the law, because, he thought it. would be of no benefit to the
community at large, and he, therefore, determined to adhere to
the law in all its bearings. He (Mr. Horsman) was justified in
considering these statements as contradictions. He ( Mr. Chris-
topher) had given a pledge to his constituents, that if the
Right Hon. Baronet attempted to meddle with the Corn-laws,
he should withdraw his confidence from him, and he (Mr.
Horsman) left it to the House to judge whether that pledge
should be kept or not.
Mr. BANKS commenced by saying flea if any Hon. Mem-
ber had needed an apology it was certainly the Right Hon.
Member for Portsmouth. The Right Hon. Gentleman had
stated that what he styled the agricultural Members had been
called upon to fulfil their promises and pledges given on the
hustings. His (Mr. Banks') answer was short and clear—
he had fulfilled his rrledge, and that pledge was to contribute
by every means in his power to the removal of the Govern-
ment which then misgoverned the country.—(Loud cheers
from the Ministerial benches.) That Government which had
proposed financial measures only calculated to excite the ridi-
cule of every man of sense in the country. Those measure's
which no man could believe were seriously proposed with a
view to their being carried, but solely for the purpose of em-
ber! assing those who were to succeed them.—( Cheers. ) The
agricultural Members, as they had been called, did not get up
night after night expressing the same opinions; one after an-
other, fatiguing the House and disgusting the country.—(Loud
sheers.) A course calculated to lower the character of Parlia-
ment ; and bring it down to the footing of those debating so-
cieties held out of doors. He di,' not mean to say the discus •
sion was not useful when raised, but he did venture to declare
that superfluous discussion was not only not useful, but it was
injurious to the country, inasmuch as it impeded public busi.
ness. These were the sentiments of the agricultural labourers.
He referred to the poorer classes of his constituents when he
•aid they were perfectly satisfied with the Ministerial mea-
sure. The merchants, the traders, and petty or small re-
tailers whom he represented were most satisfied with the propo-
sition of the Right Hon. Baronet. —( Hear, hear.) That
proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet was called a mite by
some Hon. Gentlemen opposite—others called it a mouse
(Laughter.) But their description of it should not be taken
to be the opinion of the people, and the merchants or traders
of the country. He believed that all the people, bath small
and great, were not only satisfied with the measure, but they
looked upon it as not only much more than they expected, but
as much as they required. He would not hesitate to say he
should prefer the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member
for Lincolnshire (Mr. Christopher) to the plan which had
been suggested by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of
of her Majesty's Government ; having opposed the Ministerial
scheme he was told the only course left for him was either to
Support the proposition of his Hon. Friend the Member for
Lincolnshire, or vote for the measures of the Hon. Gentlemen
opposite ; but he would rather do anything than that.
Lord WORSLEY next addressed the House, but he was
perfectly inaudible in the reporter's gallery. The Noble Lord
was understood to say, he was determined to reerst the Minis-
terial measure, and that be was surprised Hon. Gentlemen on
the other (the Ministerial) side of the House, representing
agricultural interests, had cot supported the proposition of his
colleague (Mr. Christopher). 'the country saw that what-
ever party was in power an alteration in the Corn-laws would
take place. The question with the country was, whether
they should accept the measure which had been men-
tioned by the Noble Lord, or that which had. been
proposed by the Right Honourable Baronet. Had not
the country most decidedly answered the question ?
He thought they had by the Gentlemen they had sent to
represent them in that House—(Hear, hear)—and he would
put it to his Hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln whether it
would be better that he should sacrifice his own opinion for the
sake of unanimity ?—( Hear, hear.) All that they had to look
for was that the plan agreed to should afford legitimate protec-
tion to the British market. He conceived that this would be
most completely accomplished by the Tian laid down by the
Right Honourable Baronet. A farmer, of great property, said
that he could put corn free on board at Lubeck for 30s. per
quarter ; the shipment and other charges from Lubeck to Hull
ssould be ss. 4d., so that the corn of that country would come
into the Hull market without the duty at about 345. I Id. ;
add the duty, 165., to this, as d you have a price of 50s. 11d.
Not withstanding this, he thought the British agriculturist had
nothing to fear from the Danish market ; for, if they lost at
about the middle of their prices they gained in their averages.—
( Loud cheers from the Opposition benches.) He would state
the difference of price between the seven large markets and
the 143 others : on the week ending Sept. 10, 1841, when the
duty was brought down to Is. in the seven large markets, viz.,
London, Wakefield, Leeds, Hull, Liverpool, l‘eweastle, and
Derby, 36,849 quarters were entered at an average price of
755., whilst in the remaining 143 places, where 36,066 quarters
were entered,.the average price was only 675. 3i(1., which
showed the great benefit in his opinion of having 150
others placed amongst the towns from which the averages should
be taken, as they would act as a check on the large markets.
In conclusion, he was sure that though the Right Hon. Ba-
onet's measure might not meet the extreme views of any
party, that moderate men, whether manufacturers or
agriculturists, would think it such a measure as the exi-
gencies of the time, and the increasing population, demanded.
He then should therefore support his scale as far as wheat was
concerned, and he hoped that his Hon. Friend, seeing that it
was impossible to carry his scale—(Hear, hear)—would give
way in favour of the motion of the Right Honourable Baronet.
Mr. WALLACE observed, that the Hon. Member for East
Somerset did not prove, though he had asserted, that the pro-
pased measure of her Majesty's Government had done a great
deal of good. In his belief, the great majority of the people
looked upon it as a delusion—nay, an imposition.—(Cries of
" No, no." and cheers.) He called it a delusion upon the ig-
norant, and an imposition upon those who were well informed.
--(Laughter.) He was a thoroughly convinced Member of
that House in favour of the total repeal of the Corn-laws ;
and, to further that object, he was much inclined to think that
his best course would be to leave those Hon. Gentlemen opposite
to adopt those measures which they thought fit to starve and op-
press the peOple.—(Cries of " Oh 1") The people had a strong
suspicion that there was something in this motion that
would appear in its effects, though it was not detected in
the abstract; and, therefore, he hoped the Hon. Gentlemen
who brought forward and supported the present amendment
would vindicate by their votes their opinions in favour of higher
rates of duty than those proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet.
—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Mover of the amendment was
asking him if he would vote for it. He did not mean to do so,
fur. perhaps, the Chairman might, in that case, make him a
teller, and he was not to be caught by that sort of chaff.--
( Laughter.) Throughout the length and breadth of the land,
so far as he knew, there was one universal feeling of disgust
and disapprobation of the sliding scale.—(No, no.) From
letters which ke lad received, he believed that it would do
little good to consumers, and to mercantile men and manufac-
turers no good at all. It was not denied that some email be-
befit might arise at times, but he believed that the scale
was made purposely, carefully, and most judiciously, in or-
der that the better climates of England—the wheat-growing
counties of England—should be well protected, because the
greatest number of voters in that House were their proprietors.
—(" Oh, oh !") They would find that true to the letter; if
they look 100 miles north of London, they would see whether
the scale applied to wheat did not suit their book unco.nmonly
well.—(" Oh I") He might be wrong—(A laugh)—and, of
course, was liable to be put to rights by public opinion, but not
by the opinion of Honourable Gentlemen on the Opposition
benches. He thought, decidedly, however much it might
be the custom of the country to send gentlemen connected
with the landed interest to that House, and he happened to be
one of that class, that it was a dangerous principle for people to
make laws for their own interest. He never forgot that he had a
deep interest in the colonies while they were legislating for their
colonies, and therefore he never uttered a word against the
measures before the House, although he had great interests
at stake, and had suffered severely by the passing of those
measures. Humanity on the one hand, and a desire to pro-
mote.good government; n the other, made him not only ac-
quiesce but vote in favour of the measures which were against
his own interest.—(Hear, hear.) He thought himself enti-
tled to say, therefore, to Hon. Gentlemen on the opposite
benches, that if they were not like Caesar's wife—(A% laugh)
ay, he said, like Caesar's wife—above reproach, he called
upon them to legislate for the good of the country and not for
themselves. He would tell them they had been deluded if
they believed that the working men of this country thought
otherwise than that this measure, whether intentionally or no,
was calculated to destroy their best interests. He :had not
been prepared to hear that the Bank of England was about to
reduce the rate of interest from five to four per cent. This
• was another gleam of prosperity • and he would tell his famishing
tountrymen at Paisley and elsewhere, that the time was arriving
when they would get employment until the screw must be put
on again. He believed the Bill would do no good ; but he would ask
the Right Hon. Baronet, who had read a letter stating the rapi-
dity with which corn could be brought from America, when
ordered, by post—( A laugh)—by mail-packet, and that was by
post—which letter, if it meant anything, meant th st a trade in
corn could be established between this country and America—
he called upon tile Right Hon. Ba-onet, to verify that letter by
establishing that trade.—( Hear.) He understood that some
emigrants from Scotland to America had sent a gift of flour
and pork to the starving people of Paisley ; but he was doubt-
ful a hether they could get the present unless the duty upon it
was fist paid. The Hon. Member Concluded by stating that
he was opposed to all duty upon corn and provisions. In that
acceptation of the term he was a repealer.
Mr. FLEMING said that as a friend of the agricultural
interest, and as the representative of an agricultural district,
he felt it his imperative duty to declare his entire approval of
the measure introduced by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head
of the Government. He had reason to believe from all the
communications he had received upon the subject, that that
measure had given universal satisfaction to the agricultural in-
terest throughout the country; and he could not therefore re-
f. ain from expressing a hope that the Hon. Member for Lin-
colnshire would withdraw the motion then before the House
Mr. CHARLES WOOD said that he was exceedingly
sorry that the Right Honourable Gentleman the.
Vice-President of the Board of Trade had not been .
in the House during the delivery of the speech
of the Hon. Member for Sornersetshire. That Hon. Gentle.
man, n hose opinions upon the subject then under the con-
sideration of the Hose were entitled. to the greatest respect,
from his connexion both with agriculture and with commerce,
ad shown the arithmetical mistakes into which the Right
lion. Gentleman had fallen. It appeared, from the speech
of the Hon. Member for Somersetshire, that the difference
occasion, amounted to as much as 7s. a iutoartenrs.
between the declared averages in different haTdh,eo on
e
occasion, Rightrie

Hon. the Vice-President of the Board of Trade had treated
the idea of such a variation as an absurdity; but the Hon.
Member for Somersetshire had distinctly stated that the dif-
ference in the declared averages in seven large towns and
the remaining one hundred and forty-three towns, had amounted
to no less than 7s a quarter in the month of September, 1841.
The Right Hon. Baronet had introduced a great number of
new towns in his Bill. But he had not given the House the
reasons which guided him in the selection of these towns.
Many were of opinion that the result of that change in the
existing law would be considerably to diminish the averages,
and thus to raise the duty; and .he (Mr. C. Wood) hoped,
that if it appeared that such would be the result of that provi-
sion in the measure, the Right Hon. Baronet would either
omit those towns, or that he would reduce the scale in propor-
tion. There was another part to which he wished to allude;'
he meant the proposed duty upon wheat imported from the
United States into Canada. He had understood the Right Ho-
nourable Gentlemen to state, that if the duty he proposed to
impose upon wheat imported from Canada into this
country, were assented to by the House, he should then
be prepared to give up the 3s. duty, which he had intended to
have levied upon wheat imported from the United States into
Can ida. He hoped he had not misunderstood the statement of
the Right Hun. Gentleman, and if he were wrong, he wished he
might be corrected, as tt.e point vs as of considerable importance.
With respect to the proposed levels in the scale of the Govern-
ment, he confessed that he could draw no other conclusion from
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 corn 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 proeeed
but the official documents produced by the Government in
support of their own measure, and he must say that thosepapers
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 fur
the Legislature to fix the p. 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 eith Eng-
leh corn in the market. He had been surpeised 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 deha'e 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 d scansion. Now, upon the whole,
it appeared that 45c. was the average price at which
two million quarters of wheet 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 Hon. Gentlemen referred to any
year since the pass ng of the present law, and on finding a
great quantity of ccrn peeing 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 '2os. Bd, the average price was 655. 4d., leaving to the
holder of foreign corn a price of -.45. 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 Truce 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 contende 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
I6s. added to 455., would bring the price to 61s. It was not
till the price in the English ;market had reached 588., 595., or
605., 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 re:peet to the ave-
rage price in Jersey. The average price therefor 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 ct.untry 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
he 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
sale proposed would not benefit the consumer by admitting
corn at low prices, but that it seemed 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 momeet 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 glid 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
oil 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 colonies in North America.
Mr. GLADSTONE said, as soon as the House had agreed to
ifi3 the Ea r highestosaid,
the resolution of the Right Hon. Baronet he would explain the
course to be taken. He stated that it was not intendedto levy any
additional duty on wheat imported from America into Canada;
and with respect to flour, which was at present absolutely pro-
hibited,
intendedt admit
the importation
it beinginto
Canadataxed,
on
and
the contrary
same totermslaw ,
ai
tt
w
which it was admitted into all the
other colonies. (Both the
question and answer were almost inaudible.)
Mr.
. Ta
nD o DUN
GentlemenC doubt O
of
whatuanidd,hiimmp,
, h
l,,ad, just passed across the
t himself,
had importance
;h
unfortunatelyi been
unable to hear a word of it; ants he should not have ven-
tured to intrude h mself on the House, if, like his Honourable
the table
Hon. ws
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. )
'the Hon. Member who had introduced, what he, in his sim-
plicity as a eountry 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 sot only formed from what he
had seen and heard, but was also colleeted from the Wilk:
prints in other places. On a former occasion the Noble Lord,
the colleague of the Honourable Member fur North
Lincolnshire, addressed the House, and alluded to
some speech that had been made to the wiseacres
of Lincolnshire, and had called on her Maje ty's Ministers—
an appeal wheh 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 belloon
of her Majesty's Ministers. The organ sof the
party—the Tunes—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-
colnsbire. The Hon. Member ought to recollect that many
great men bad been in the habit of availing themselves of
pilot balloons—geniuses as great as the Hon. Member himself,
or the freeholders of North Lincolnshire.—( Great laughter.)
He must know that Moliere kept an old woman—( Roars of
laughter)—his, housekeeper and to this old woman he used
always to read his comedies before they were introduced to
the public—(Loud laughter)—and he used to say that
he could always tea the impressions 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 lion.
Baronet), that every great man ought to keep a "foolometer."
—(Great laughter.) Far be it from him to sly that the Mem-
ber for North Lincolnshire was the " foolometer " of the Right
Hun. Baronet---( Laughter)—or that the freeholders of
Lincolnshire were his foolometers," or the " fool-
ers " 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 h 3 own inflation
—( Laughter)—lie 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 meter the table, or in the galleries, it
was impossible to sty.--(Great laughter.) All he (Mr. T.
Duncombe) would say, was, that he should not
resist him in giving him a safe descent—(Grest laughter)—
but he would take care of this that he Should not delude the
public. —( Cheers. ) They would certainly ascertain by a vote
that night whether the BOIL Member was in earnest or not—
(Cheers)--with regard to this question He had said in an
early part of rho discussion, that he regretted the Bill of the
Right Hon. Baronet was not laid on the table, because in
Committee ho 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 he 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 a 11..--( Laughter.) He
(Mr. Duncoml e) had said with others, "Move, move," and
lie at last did .say that he proposed that a duty of 255. be
inserted instead of 20e. As usual, that question
was put, and the question was merely taken eye or no;
fortunately the Hon. Gentleman, the late Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer rose before e no" was said, or they would never have
heard any thing from the agricultural gentlemen, and though
the Hon. Member for North Lincolnshire was note pilot balloon,
though he was not the Right lion. Baronet's foolometer, though
he was not in the situation of Moliere's old woman—( Laughter)
—yet, he must sae, that this condugt was the most extranedi-
nary ever practised. Never was the agrieelteral intereettif
they were so sensible and intelligent as Hen. Geetleaian iii
their orations represented them to be, so deceived.
It was impossible that they could be' so imposed one' he
was sure that the manufacturin4 interest and the people of thus
country would net be' imps ou b 7 this tenionshine‘ nib?

tion of the Member for North Lincolnshire. But if he was
consietent 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, sikiees impossible that
any ger.tleman 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 ef the Anti-Corn-law 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 them to support his Hon. Friend as well as him-
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-
sures be ever so injurious 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 (Mr.
Christopher) had said ; hut he had perverted what he had
said—namely, that he should give his confidence to Sir R.
Peel, wbatever the tendency of his measures might be.
Nor was his attachment to the agricultural interest so loose as
that he would not adhere exclusively to the present Corn-law."
That was very good.—( Hear, hear.) " Now, he said nothing
of the kind, but that he would adhere to that law, because he
never heard of any measure sojust to the agricultural interest as
it was. If any measure could be proposed that would give
greater protection than the present he would support it ; but
he would oppose any measure that would tend to diminish that
protection. He looked upon Sir George (Murray) as ene of
the most trimming, shuffling—(Hear, hear, and laughter)---
persons, and if Sir Robert Peel admitted him (Sir George) or
his brother-in-law George Dawson, into the Administration, he
would have no confidence in the Government. He never
had professed opinions in one place and departed from them in
another. He 'sever would desert the party to which he was
attached, nor the principles which he professed, so long as that
party adhered to those principles. He was the same now as lie
had always been. The Noble Lord seemed too much shackled
and controlled by the influence of party frames in favour of the
present Government. He allowed those feelings to prevail to
a baneful extent in influencing and controlling his judgment,
and he would sacrifice his own feelings to support his party."
Now, if his (Mr. Duncombe's) ears did no: deceive him, and he
was sure the House too, he had heard the Hon. Gent., in answer
to his Noble Friend, his colleague, say that he would propose a
duty of 255. He said, that if it came to this, that the carrying
of such a measure would throw out the present Government,
he would propose it. He had, he said, so much confidence
in the present Government, and so much dislike to the Whigs,
that, of course, he should prefer the less of two evils, and
should accept the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet at the
head of the Government. And yet, that Hon. Member claimed
such independence of feeling, and he accused his Noble Friend
of being so much addicted and attached to the party to which
he belonged ! —(Hear, hear.) Why, the other evening he heard
the Right Honourable Baronet's talents and abilities greatly
praised, but. he (Mr. T. Duncombe) must say
when he heard those quslites so praised, that they were praised
at the expense of his political integrity. He (Mr Duncombe)
would not pay the Right Hon. Baronet so-bad a compliment.
He believed the Right Hon. Baronet to be sincere in the ma.
time which he had introduced to the House, and laid upon the
table for their adoption and approbation. He would be told
that the Right Hon. Baronet was drawn back, that there was
a drag behind him, and that he could not go so much in ad-
vance as his opinions and good sense inclined him to do. He
(Mr. Duncombe) did not believe one word of it. He be-
lieved the Right Hon. Baronet had introduced the measure
which he thought best for the benefit of the country. He differed
with the Right Hon. Baronet, and thought that the measure
was a perfectly delusive and useless one. In 1834, when
the Right Hon. Baronet accepted office, he said upon that
occasion (and he believed that that would equally apply
throughout the whole of his political life), that he never
would accept of office to be an apostate from his former prin-
ciples. The Right Hon. Baronet was not now an apostate
from his former principles. He bad advocated the sliding
scale, and he had given them the sliding scale now, but in an-
other form. He ( Mr. D.) was not one of those who were
disappointed at the measure the Government proposed. He
never expected from that Government anything better.
He never expected any thing good from the Government,
concurring as he now did, and as he had formerly
done with the sentiments expressed of it by the Right Hun.
Baronet at the head of the Home Department, when in 1834
the Right Hon. Gentleman said that it was a Government com-
posed of men who spent all their lives in proposing bad
measures and obstructing good ones. He (lid not know
whether these were the precise terms used on that occasion by
the Right Hon. Baronet, but the spirit of his observation,' was
such as he had given. He (Mr. Duncombe) must say that the
Croveroment which they had now, was exactly of that
description. How the Right Hon. Baronet, the Mem-
ber far Dorchester, could reconcile those sentiments with the
measures of the present Government, or how he could reconcile
his sitting in the same Cabinet which proposed the measure
now introduced, it was not for him (Mr. D.) to say. But a
more contemptible measure, or one less calculated to .neet
the exigencies of the country never was introduced to that
House. They had all heard of the man who held a farthing
candle to the sun.—( Laughter.) Now, that was a great
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.--
( Laughter.) However in his absence they certainly ought, as
the best substitute, to place the Honourable Member for
North Lincolnshire (Mr. Christopher) in the Ca-
binet. 'I here were one or two points that had been
urged as arguments and objections on that (the Opposition)
side of the House against the present Bill, that had. never up
to the present moment been answe. ed. One of those points he
took as the disadvantages arising to America from the sliding
scale. The Right Hon. Baronet had the other evening stated
that he knew nothing about America. America was not so
far off as they seemed to think. The Hon. and Gallant Member
for elarylebone ( Sir C. Napier) wanted to prove that it was
further off by giving a notice for to-morrow of a motion re-
specting the rassuge of certain vessels to and from
America. The Right Hon. Baronet said they were not so far
off America, and they thought that within six weeks they
could get flour from New York; that an order might be sent
out by steam, and would be back within six weeks. Now was
this commerce? Was it free trade upon a footing upon which
the American corn trade ought to be carried on ? What the
Americans wanted was a certain market to which they could
bring their corn. They wanted a market to which
they could bring their ships laden with the produce
of their own country, to go back letters with the manufactures
of this country, which they would obtain in exchange. To be
sure they had given an answer to the American people upon
this point, with regard to the advantages of the position in
which they were placed. They now for the first time im-
posed a duty of 3s. upon any corn coming from Canada.
Of course that was one of the advantages of their position.
The Noble Lord the Member for Liverpool (Lord Sandon)
had last night said that they had sent out, upon a special mis-
sion to America, a Noble Lord (Lord Ashburton), who was a
Now he (Mr. Duncombe) had
most courageous Nobleman.
no doubt that that noble individual was a most amiable
person in private lite, but that he was a courageous nobleman
he had never heard before. In that House that Noble person
had ever shown the greatest indecision of character, the
greatest infirmity of purpose that was ever evinced
on the part of any individual who addressed the
House.—( Hear, hear, hear.) It was totally impossible
after he had addressed the House to know what side he meant
to take. Yet that individual was described as a most courageous
nobleman.—( Hear, hear, much laughter, and cries of " Ques-
tion.") That was the question—it was the question last night,
and was it not so now ? If he was a courageous
nobleman last night, how had he lost his courage
to-day ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) That noble individual
had always been opposed to the popular interest. He had
during the time of the Reform Bill, evinced the greatest dis-
trust of the popular interest.—( Hear, hear, and cries of
" Question," and " Order, order.") They had talked of the
special mission, and set they did not want to know what it
it really was. Well, he would not tell them.
—( Loud laughter,) The Americans would know it.
Notwithstanding that that individual might be a courageous
nobleman—notwiesstanding the compliments paid him by the
Hon. Member for Liverpool, he (Mr. Duncombe) would
tell them that he would not carry out with him
the confidence of this country, and he would not
carry back with him the confidence of America. No.
If the Government would hold out to the country the chance
of free trade—if they would only open their ports to the com-
merce and enterprise of America, they would then cement
a union bstween the two countries--they would then have no
boundaries about which to dispute—they would have no fortifica-
tions to raise, they would have no jealousies to allay.—( Cheers. )
If they only held out to that country the hand of free trade,
hey would cement a union that would !redound to
.hair own ho:iour, and promote the interests of mankind.
Tire lion. Member for North Lincolnshire had stated that
fourteen nights were uselessly wasted in that debate. He
(Mr. Duncombe) was not aware that fourteen nights were so
wasted. It was a calculation somewhat like what had been
made with regard to wheat, he had no doubt.—( Hear, hear.)
But if fourteen nights had been so consumed, they were con.
sumed in asserting a principle which, they might depend on it,
was acceptable to the great body of the people.—( Hear, hear. )
lint the last night's debate was worth the whole of the four-
teen. They had heard two speeches last night which would
open the eyes of the people of England. They heard of
the speech of the Hon. Member for Stockport, which had
been listened to as if he was talking to the winds ;
but the people of England would read it, and he
hail no doubt, that from its ability, its argument,
and its truth—(Cries of Oh, oh," from the Ministerial
benches)—it would make-a deep impression upon the people.
—( Hear, hear.) But there was another speech made by the
Hon. member for Knaresborough, and the manner in which
it had been received by the Conservative Tory party in
House, and by the Ministers on the Treasury bench, would
open the eyes of the people of England.—(Loud cheers from
the Ministerial benches, and counter-cheers from the Opposi-
tion.) It would open the eyes of the manufacturing intetest of
the country.—( Hear, hear.) The manner in which that speech
had been received showed that Gentlemen on the other side,
and the great llinisterial majority which followed, had declared
open war against the manufacturers.—( Cries of " No, no.")
It was too late for them now to say " No, no."—( Cheers.)
He could only say that that the grosser the insult, the louder
were their cheers—the fouler the calumny, the more
rapturous was their applause--( Cheers, and cries of " Order,
order")—the intensity of the Ministerial exultation was only
regulated by the malignity of the libel.—(oh, and cries of
" Order, order.") Yes, he said they showed a feeling of exul-
tation. He saw the Right Hon. Baronet (the Secretary of
State for the Home Department) chuckle.—(l.aughter.) He
saw the Right Hon. Baronet (the Paymaster of the Forces)
shake his portly sides—(Laughter)—when the Hon. Member
for Knaresborough read to the House his foul and malignant
communications—aye, and anonymous too.—(Cries of " No,
no," from the Ministerial benches.) They might depend on it
these doings would rot last. They had professed great sym-
pathy fur the distress of the people, but when, to-
wards the close of last Session, he (Mr. Duncombe)
stated what the woes and sufferings of the people were,
lie was told they were exaggerated, but they were saner,
acknowledged and confirmed, and' the Hoa. Member or Leeds
said that those representations were rather under than over-
rated.—( Hear.) But let him (Mr. Duncombe) tell them
that the suffering people wanted something more substantial
than their lip sympathy. They had been waiting with pa-
tience for four or five months to see how you would deal with
their misfortunes—they wanted to see if you had the inge.
nuity to untie, or the courage to cut, the Gordian knot,
which a sordid aristocracy fastened, not only on the
industry and labour of the people but on the comforts and ex-
istence of the poor. They find you deficient in those
qualities, and the Ministry might depend upon it they espuld Inc
which induped thesis in these
the hour and lament the policy
days of peace, and in the plenitude of their power, to regard
with so little favour and so little indulgence that reotion sub-
mitted to them by the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton. (The
Hon. Member resumed his seat in the midst of loud cheers. )
Mr. A. O'BRIEN said it was not his intention to allow the
House to come to a division without stating his ol*,,ion 00 the
question before them. He also rose for the tinrpoia''of stating
that it was very bard to remember tihat hid been said at the
hustings.-4 Laughter.) He did not know how Hon. Gentle-
men who were' in the habit of haranguing public assemblies
were accustomed to weigh their sentimeets, but he knew that
when he spoke he spoke to honest men, nee linarstdod what
t, ay honest, and lee .did not prebeedeen the plan or saying as
as vossible.---(Lattghter,) 110
tou'cli anti meanin6a~ little

Noble Lord the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs and an-
other had stated that they received the announcement of the
Right lion. Baronet in ominous silence, and such was the si-
tuation of the unfortunate country gentlemen, that on one
side they were accused of saying too much, and on the
other, of saying too little.—(Laughter.) He (Mr. O'Brien)
did not cheer that announcement of the Right Hon. Baronet,
but he employed the interval since, not in agitation, bet in
ascertaining the sense of his constituents with regard to that
announcement. He had consulted as many of them as he
could, and he had to tell the House, that after weighing the
proposition of the Government, and considering the circum-
stances of the case, they authorised him to support that propo-
sition.—(Loud cheers.) He should stop there. But he must
say a few words in praise of that spirit of concession with
which they met that proposal.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.)
He thought that when that large majority which
the landed interest was supposed to have, was
taken into consideration, they must yield large praise to' the
moderation and the concessions made by the landed interest.—
( Hear, hear.) If they chose to call them monopolists he
must say that so far as their late debates proved, far from being
monopolists they appeared to be very mode! ate.---( Laughter
from the Opp .sition benches.) He did not consider that in
acceding to that measure he bound himself at all to resist fur-
ther modifications if he considered them beneficial to the
country.—( Hear, hear.) But locking-to the circumstances of
the case, he did not believe that even a Member of the Anti-
Corn-law League would be found those excepted who were
determined on a total repeal, who would not recognise
in that measure a settlement, as far as it was pos-
sible, and who would not desist from further agitation,
and give it a full and fair and deliberate trial.—( Cheers. )
Mr. CHRISTOPHER, in reply, stated that he should have
been satisfied to have concluded the debate without making
any observations, had it not been for the remarks- of the Hon.
Member for Finsbury. He would not imitate that Hon.
Member in the unparliamentary and improper manner in which
that Hon. Gentleman was pleased, upon every occasion, to mis-
e-present the sentiments, the views, and the motives of those
who conscientiously differed from him. The Hon. Member
for Finsbury had been pleased to quote certain remarks im-
puted to him (Mr. Christopher), on the authority of a book
published :by his (Mr. Christopher's) political opponents—
( Ilear)—observations which had never been submitted to
hire behsre they were published, and which in the manner in
which they were reported in that book, had not only not been
uttered by him, but had never been even imagined or con-
ceived.—( Cheers from the Ministerial benches.) The Hon.
Member for Finsbury had been pleased to taunt him (Mr.
Christopher) with having propounded sentiments which six
months ago he would not have ventured to utter. Were not,
he would ask, time 3 and circumstances changed since that
period?—( Cheers and laughter from the Opposition.) Was
it a matter of no consequence to the agricultural interest to
find then in power, two parties one cf which was for a low
fixed duty upon corn, and the other for removing all protec-
tion? In such circumstances, of course, the agricultural hotly were
hound to stand out for maintaining the law unaltered. Since
then a material alteration had taken place.—(Cheers and
laughter.) If it had been in his ( Mr. Christopher's) power
to retain the existing law, he would do so rather than hazard
the experiment of legislation; but both Houses of Par-
liament having unanimously declared their intention to revise
and consider the Corn-laws, he thought he was only discharging
his duty towards those he represented, by bringing the subject
fully under their consideration —( Hear, hear.) In so doing
he was only acting in accordance with the implied decision of
Parliament, and endeavouring to secure, in any al-
teration of the law which might take place, that
protection to which the agricultural interest was fairly entitled,
If it were in his power to take the opinion of the House, aye
or ro, upon his resolution, he would do so. If lie could dis-
cover any method of enabling the friends of the agricultu-
ral interest in that House to vote upon his proposition, he
should hays the greatest satisfaction in doing it ; but after
all that had been said, seeing the crowded state
of the benches opposite—(Cheers and laughter)—and
seeing that the tactics of those opposite were not to affirm his
proposition for a 255. duty—( Roars of laughter from the Op-
position)—but to embarrass the Goverment—( Cheering, and
counter-cheering)—he had no hesitation in saying, that in
spite of the taunts of the Hon. Member for Finsbury, he (Mr.
Christopher) would not b- found going out into the lobby
with that Honourable Gentleman, let the consequences be what
they may.—(Cheering and laughter from the Opposition. )
But if any Member conversant with the forms of the House
would put him in the way either then or on any future occa-
sion, he should be very happy to submit his resolution by a. sub-
stantive proposition to the consideration of the fiouse. Al-
though he could not hare the honour of voting with the Hon.
tfember for Finsbury, he had the satisfaction of feeling he had
discharged his duty to the House and to the country— ( A laugh )
—because it would have been impossible to adopt ally other
course than the one he had done.—(Laughter from the Oppo-
-ition. ) Having said this much, he would conclude by assuring
the Hon. Member for Finsbury, that its spite of the reproaches
sod reflections of that gentleman, he (Mr. Christopher)
would nut go out with him ( Mr. T. Duncombe) on the pre-
sent occasion.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE rose amidst loud cries of " Ques-
tion, question," " Divide, divide " Ile said that he only rose
for the purpose of explaining and apologizing to the Hon.
Gentleman, who had complained of having been treated with
!justice. lie (Mr. T. Duncombe) in what he was about to
,av would endeavour to do the Hon. Member justice.—
( Cheers and laughter.) The Hon. Gentleman stated that he
( Mr. T. Duncombe) stated that the motion was a
moonshine motion.—( Hear, hear.) He had said
so, and all that had fal:en from the Lion. Member
had convinced and confirmed him in that opinion--(Cheers
and laughter)—and if he had wanted any additional con-
firmation of the moonshine character of the motion he would
go to the other side of the House for it.—(lmmense cheering
and laughter.) He saw a report of a speech made
by his Honourable and Gallant Friend opposite. That
speeeh had been only made the day before yesterday, and
-peaking of the motion of the Hon. Member for North Lin-
colnshire. he had said that that motion was never intended
to be brought forward—(Cheers and laughter)—that it was
not a bona fide motion.—(Loud cheers from the Opposition )
That the motion was merely meant to gull the farmers.—
(''leers and laughter.) lie would quote the words. —( The
lion. Member here produced a paper from which he occa-
sionally read certain passages of the speech alluded
to, commenting on them as he went along.) The
Duke of Buckingham was in the -chair. lie
wouldgive them presently the Duke of Puckingham's opinion.
—(Laughter.) His Hon. and Gallant Friend had said—" INoww
in order that Mr. Christopher's amendment may be carried, it
must be first put in the House of Commons."—( Hear,
hear, and rows of laughter.) "He believed it
would never be put ; because before that was put,
Sir R. Peel's proposal must be negatived."—( Laughter.) His
Gallant Friend was right; it had not been put.—(Continued
laughter.) " Mr. Christopher's proposal being for a lower rate
of duty— (Cries of a higher')—than Sir R. Peel's, the
House must dispose of the motion for the lowest duty first, and
it was only on that being negatived, that they could substitute
the,proposition of Mr. Christopher, for that of Sir R. Peel."
He then went on to say—(Cries of " Read, read ")—that he
should give them the whole speech. —( Laughter.) The Hon.
and Gallant Gentleman then said he regretted that Mr. Chris-
topher had made that speech to his constituents when that
pilot balloon was sent up—(Laughter)—and he could not hut
suspect that the Hon. Member for Lincolnshire was actuated
by other considerations, apart from his desire to advance the
interests' of the agriculturists, in taking that step. "—( Hear,
hear.) Now he (Mr. D.) had said nothing so severe as that.
—( Hear, hear, hear.) "As for himself, although it had been
said (added the Hon. and Gallant Captain) that he was going
to support a great reduction of duty in opposing the scale of
the Hon. Member for Lincolnshire, his answer was, that with
all respect for hii constituents, he would not vote for an
amendment that was not of a bona fide character."—(Cheers.
He (Mr. D.) was therefore right, and the speech of the Hon.
Member for Lincolnshire proved that his scale was not a
bona fide one.—( Hear, hear.) Now he would come to
the Noble Member in the Chair—(Cries of '• Oh, oh.")
What, would they not hear " the farmer's friend,?"--(Cheers
and laughter.) Was there any individual indebted for his seat
to the Duke of Buckingham who would now refuse to hear the
sentiments of that honest and independent man? The Noble
Duke said" the Corn-laws are to be altered, and you are to give
up half your protection. But we were told that this measure
would not satisfy the opponents of the Corn-laws. Then what's
the use of it ?"---( Cheers. ) Now this was what he (Mr. D. )
wanted to know.—( Hear, hear.) Neither, said the Duke, will
it satisfy us. "If it were a motion for the repeal of the Corn-
laws I could understand it—but this will please neither the
friends nor the enemies of the agriculturists. And, considering
the berthens on land, the exigencies suffered by the farmers in
former days, when wheat was 51. or 61. a load, is it fair to call
on the farmer to make such a sacrifice for no other purpose than
to make a new Corn-law Bill ? For year after year your oppo-
nents will demand further concessions."—(Hear, hear.) This
was what the Noble Duke said, and it was quite true, for a 20%
scale would satisfy no one, and it must he altered year
after year. But the Honourable Member for Lincolnshire
said he had not uttered the words attributed to him. This was
most unfortunate; but he ought sooner to have taken an op.
portunity to repudiate them, for the speech was printed in a
Lincolnshire Tory paper, and thence transferred to the book
now before the House ; so that the Hon. Gentleman had had
time enough to correct his speech. —(Cries of " Question.")
He ( Mr. Duncombe) was sorry he should not have the plea-
sure of going out into the lobby with the Hon. Gentleman;
but he (Mr. Duncombe) having voted against any duty let
eight, must nosy vote against a 255. duty. In doing so, he
should vote in consistence with his former vote, and hi accord-
ance with millions of his countrymen.—( Cheers. )
Lord PALMERSTON wished to say a few words, as he
had been referred to. He had first to thank the Honourable
Member for Lincolnshire for relieving him from the embar-
rassment he should otherwise feel, by assuring the House that
he ( Mr. Christopher) would vote with the Right Hon. Baronet,
and therefore he would not be found in the lobby with those
who were opposed to the scale ; otherwise he (Lord Palmer-
ston) should have to give an explanation; for he should be
afraid, lest, in consequence of his going into the lobby with
that lion. Gentleman, it might be supposed that he (Lord
Palmerston) had a preference for the scale moved by the Hon.
Member over that proposed by the bight Hon. Baronet, But
it now appeared that the skirmishers who were sent out hail
returned to the main body.—( Laughter.) The curtain was
now drawn up, and now they were ready to meet their real
opponents.—( Cheers. ) Ho (Lord Palmerston) also wished
that it should be clearly understood that he opposed
in the scale of the Right Honourable Baronet, not
because he (Lord Palmerston) preferred the law as it atcod.
Having voted against a sliding scale, and being opposed to
one on principle, he felt that ho could not concur by his vole
the scale now proposed. And though that scale might
be better in some respects than the scale of the present law,
and better also than the scale of the Hon. Member for Lin-
colnshire, still he (Lord Palmerston) would vote against the
scale proposed as being defective in principle, and as being
consistent with a higher duty than he thought ought to be
imposed.—(Hear and Divide. )
Mr. AGLIONBY, fearing that he might be charged with
inconsistency if he voted in silence, begged to say in reply, to
the remark of the Hon. Member for Finsbury, that em one
who voted the night before for the motion of the Hon. Member
for Wolverhampton could now vote for the scale of the Itlght
(ion. Baronet, that he (Mr. Aglionby) should always be the
judge of his own consistency.-_( Hear, hear. ) He would wee
for the Right Hon. Barooet, but he (Mr. Agli
not submit to be told by any one there what meonby) would
:le should
pursue.—( Hear, hear.) lie voted with the Noble Lord foe la
fixed duty, because he thought it better than a slid,,,-ng seal,.
Ile voted the night before for a repeal of the orn-laws, be-
cause he thought that best for the eeintry
, for the scale of the Right Hon. Baronet, as it
and now he would
vote
was the nearest measure to his own views he could now get.
If he were to vote against this proposition and the larger duty should therefore he eereled, he should feel that he had net done his duty,—( Tory cheers and cries of " Hear, hear" from the
Opposition.) He did not know very well how the cards ought
to be shuffied.—(Cheers and laughter.) Perhaps he was
wrong, but he was doing what he thought was best in his own
conscience, and whether consistent or inconsistent, he would
vote for the proposition of the Right Honourable Baronet.
Sir H. PEEL thought that the, Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Aglionby) had takenmos(juilicious course.—(Cheers and
-lan 41 any question was before the House, it was but
but' a duty of 20s and 255. Undoubtedly if the Hon.
Member (Mr. Aglionby) voted at this stage in Wetly
of a 20s, duty, he would at a future stage have
an opportunity of oppNing the entire Bill, if he should find that
4 Vas rlo ituptuvement.—( Tory cheers, and cries of, 't Oh, eh"
from the Opposition.) his party he (sir 11: reel) had
Ateght the contagion of the simile upotithe other side, when the
=poise or ekirmishers being thrown:out, and being
brought back to the main body. Now, he was not at all

UPROARIOUS MEETING,
(taut A tOKRESPONDENT.)
Ctta;ts:as-sFRJ s'r `F ea. 25.—There was a large meeting
on Wednesday, Peb. 23, at the Egyptian Ball, Piccadilly, of
the rstb-payer:, of St. James, Westminster, to take into con-
• lideration the subject of a Repeal of the Corn-laws, the pro-
ceedings of have not appeared in your paper, nor of any
oiler that I have seen. I have merely to say that there was
a large number of Tories, Whigs, Radicals, Chartists, &c.,
combined—there was a Churchwarden or Churchwardens—
there was General Evans, who was greeted welcomely—there
was also Captain Vous, one of the Representatives of West-
minster, whose voice was inaudible the whole time, from the'
noise which assailed him respecting his late classic and Parba-
mentary speech of " A suck at the pump," &e, The nni,et
continued the whole time. Captain Rous desisted, Colonel
Evans followed.
Resolutions were moved, amendments were made, and while
I was there (an hour) the uproar that prevailed prevented a ny
person at a di3tance from the platform from under3tan(4g
what was said; hands were hold up for anything. and
''every
thing; many, after thay bad held up their hinds, mic.eu• lh
persons nearest.them what was the resolutionora
any amendment
c4amelle
The confusion and uproar continuing, without
subsiding, I left. mdi puozf

Mr. Roebuck's name i snot in the Division Lists o n
Mr. Villiei•s' motion ; neither is Mr. Macaulay's. The latter o nag.
:4
sic% we expected, the former we did not. Mr. C. Buller,
we see
voted for carvation. The people seem to us to be oppressed h
their
enemies, and betrayed by their pretended friends, y