The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-02 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1827.

No. 10,757.

PUBLICATIONS.

This day was-published, price 7s. 6d.

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW, for
the Sesiion of 1826.

In a few days,price 30s.
PARLIAMENTARY ABSTRACTS for the Session of 18g6
Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown,-and Green, London.

THE QUARTERLY REVIEW, No. LXX,
will be published on MONDAY the 12th of March.

This day was published in 3 vols. crown Svo., 314. 6d.
A fourth Edition of
ANASTASIUS ; or MEMOIRS of a MO,
DERN GREEK.

..*,--Printed for John Murray, Albemarle-street.

This day Wa3 published in Bvo, price 3s. (id.

- .
_ lETTER to the Right Honourable GEORGE
CANNING, on the Bill of 1325, for removing the disqua-
lifications of his Majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects, and on his
Speech in Support of it.
By the Rev. H. PHILLPOTTS, D.D.
Rector of Stanhope.
Printed for John Murray, Albemarle street.

This day, was published, in Svo,
A New .Edition corrected, revised and enlarged, of
DRA.CTICAL and INTERNAL EVIDENCE
a against' CATHOLICISM, with occasional Strictures on
Mr. Butler's " Book of the Roman Catholic Church" ; in Six
Letters, addressed to the "impartial" among the Roman Catholics
of Great Britain and Ireland.

tithe Rev. JOSEPH BLANCO WHITE.
Printed for John Murray, Albermarle-street.

CRIAL CON.

This day was published, price ls. 4d., with a caricature by. Cruik.
shank, of Lady Astley and Captain Garth, and three other en

gravings,
DART 11. of the SPOUTER'S ALBUM, or
• Amateur's Common Place Book ; containing, amongst
numerous othep, prim. Con. Extraordinary, or the Bold Dragoon.
L. A. W., Law, King, and the Countryman.
Printed and published by Edward Duncombe, No. 188,
Fleet-
itreet.

Also this day, price 2s. 6d., with four coloured plat* the
CUCKOLD, or Woman Disrobed ; the trial between Sir
Jacob Astley and Captain Garth, for Criminal'•Conversatign with
the Plaintiff's Wife, with the Speeches of Counsel at length.

PART 48 "of the MIRROR 01. LITERA-
TURE, price only Bd., contains Eight Handsome En-
gravings, viz. Birth-place of Shenstone : February; Nelson's
Pillar ; Chelsea Church ; Trinity Church, Hull ; Monument at
Brent Pelham ; Nottingham Castle ; and Jack Cade's Stone, with
interesting descriptions; Original Anecdotes of Sir Walter Scott;
The Cross of the South ; Bonaparte's interview with Captain
Hall ; Southey's Peninsular War ; The Haunted Widow, an ori-
ginal Irish Novel ; The Black Trader, a Tale ; Four Years in
France, &c. &c. Anecdotes of Celebrated Characters ; Bon Mots ;
Repartees ; Curious Epitaphs ; Epigrams, &c. &c.

Part 47, published January 31st, contains every particular
worthy of record relative to the Death of his late Royal Highness
du; Duke of York, embellished with a print of the Funeral Pro--
cession, three feet four inches long.
Vols. 1 to 8, price 21. 3i. in boards.

London: J. Limbird, 143, Strand; Oliver and Boyd, Edin.
burgh, and all Booksellers.

THE PATENT PHUSIGRAPH.—This In-
strument enables any person (though quite unacquainted
with the art-of design) to draw a perfect outline without the use
of India rubber, whether it is a Landscape, a Street, or Marine
view, Interiors or Exteriors of Buildings, and Portraits of single
objects, in much less time than the most experienced Artist can in
the usual way. The operator may take his own portrait with
ease ; persons travelling will find this Instrument very useful, as
it is quite portable, and adjusted in a few minutes to all kinds of
Sketching and Panorainic Drawing.
The Phusigraph may be had of Mr: WILLIS, the Inventor,
at No. 20, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden, London, who teaches
the use of it in one lesson, and also executes correct likenesses with
it, in a new and elegant style, from 10s. to 51.
The price of the Phusigraph, with instructions, 21. 10s. Persons
residing in the country may have printed instructions 'sent-with it.

ECONOMIC LIFE ASSURANCE SO-
CIETY, No. 34, Bridge-street, Blackfriari.
DIRRCTORS.
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH, M.P. Chairman.

Esq. M.P. Deputy Chairman.
Francis Kemble, Esq.
John Knowles, Esq. F.R.S.
Thomas Meux, Esq.
H. Frederic Stephenson, Esq.

EsLq.EWIS,
LRTaoHn:ceerSlto.tßFßißdadnAugNihplah, Allen,EAsil.
Thonias Fenn, Esq.
Adam Gordon, Esq
Capt. Geo. Harris, R.N. C.B.
o ..._.M. Waller Clifton, Esq. ; -
Whishaw, FAq., ER. S•
George:Farren, Esq. resident Director.
Auurrous. Kymer,
Esq. ;
John
PHYSICIAN.—John A. Paris, M.D. F.R.S. F.L. S. 28, Dover-st.
Suaccox.—Benjamin Travers, Esq. F.R.S. 12, BrUtOU street.
The LEADING ADVANTAGES of this SOCIETY are:—
The lowest Rates of Premium for young and middle-aged Lives
of any Office in England, whether for long terms, exceeding the
probable duration of Life, or for whole Life with Bonusses.
The Funds and Officers under the Control of Policy Holders.
Bonusses every five years among Males and Females, according
ti the superiority of Life in those Classes, and the whole savings
and profits of the Society ultimately added to the Policies for Life.
A Contract, signed by the Trustees, to purchase Life Policies at
their true value, a scale of which is endorsed on each; or to lend
two-thirds of the value on security of the Policy.
Proposals from the Country to be sent to the Resident Direc-
tor, who will give all proper information, to save the necessity of
personal attendance before the Board.

FOR COUGHS.
PECTORAL ESSENCE OF COLTSFOOT.

rrHE Herb COLTSFOOT has long been distin-
guished for its excellent properties in the cure of Coughs,
and other Pulmonary Complaints ; and this Essence has, in the
course of a long practice, been found the most safe and effectual
remedy for Coughs, and all Disorders of the Lungs. It gently
opens the Breast>, and immediately. gives liberty of breathing,
without any danger of taking cold, and thus it affords great relief
in Asthmatic Complaints. It allays the tickling which provokes
frequent coughing, cleanses the small glands, relaxes the fibres, and
thereby enlarges the cavities of the vessels.—Thus it will prevent
Consumptions, if taken before the Lungs are ulcerated. It softens
husky and dry Coughs, and heals rawness and soreness of the Chest.
This Pectoral Essence is prepared by James Ryan, Surgeon in
Bristol ; and sold in Bottles at 2s. 9d. and 3s. 6d. each, by F.
Newbery and Sons, 45, St. Paul's Church Yard ; J. Sanger,
150, Oxford-street ; W. Pegg, 20, Dame-street, Dublin ; and in
most Country Towns.
Observe the name F. Newbery, 45, St. Paul's, engraved on the
Stamp.

A JUDICIOUS CRITIC.—On the first representa-
tion of Kenny's Word for the Ladies, some years ago, the com-
pany in the pit were not a little annoyed at healing a fat, sturdy
grazier-looking personage hissing most vociferously, and this too
long before the first act- was half over; at length one of his
!!eighbours desirous of putting an end to the disturbance, took the
liberty of remonstrating. Among other good arguments, the in-
terposer observed, " If you must hiss, at least wait till you can
i,oorn, some judgment of the piece : what's the good of hissing be-
itere the play has made any progress ?—Let's see what
it6/,‘, all Phoo, phoo," replied the hisser,—
only comeee noth
to ingaLto do with the success of the piece. I've
same
town for three nights, and it will never do to have
til)Ley. m
piece run every night that I shall have for going to the
The Opera Glass.

PARLIAMENTARY PAPER,
EXCHEtAIaR BILLS.
An Account of the Amount of xchequer Bills or Treasury Bills,,'
and other Government SecuritW;:which. have been purchased by the
Governor and Company of the Bank- of .England,. or on which any
Sum or Sums have been lent andk :advanced for the Public Service by
the Governor and Company of the said Bank, in the Year ending the,
sth day of January, 1827; showing,What Amount of such Bills, before
the making up, of this Account, has been paid off or discharged, and.
the Amount of such Exchequer Bills or Treasury Bias, or other GO.:
vernment Securiticg; Which was At the hands of, the, Gcvernor and
Company of the said Bank, on the .sth of January-1827 iforeSaid.

?I o'o 0.0 0o
0.-••!1?„
Zl.s.s*Vft s'43tggge4
Abu
5c,,Ptc.,7g " r." 3
F%§OggßPJ"...;ffg.T! 0 S
0 z
..;'2,..-• V 3 vp
.4pEa- ..a•
5,
I, 2
rag.6711.9,-IZPV oi
"
~, 1 0•1•,,,..
5
g g 5 :n
. P40,18.1,kg.75'5 igg'St g?
Proa.e. s RCS
-4 ig'mg oq IF
p, l"
~-za
..eg =CM 43 T. it cn!,-,i.vP-cq,:;11..:,q,1-2=
wo•
"oag vtzo, Sf.G
2, H =. g,goa CL -a-eaa.gaars
"

9,
E-§ E s 4 •
to to ".ri

O O

00 CI

rz g

AAIM
—z.112'20
2gml.-Mnl
:44 ES—k4E4,;*
4,540W.=

C.> 65 CA tin

4 I'S' 11'
gco

cr, 55 .

a

z z zz

P • c
34'2

Bank of England, Feb. 5, 1827:,,

.1317
•
CR .
C"
t 21%.
o
gV\(/§\ks\°cc
,aa
•41,1,m0.575'c
tA•••
o
gOVpr

W.M. DAWES, 'Acct.-Gen,

IMPERIAL `PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, 111 A um 1.
Lord Rivers, Viscount liolingbroke, and Earl Tinto took the
Oaths and their Seats.

CATHOLICS.

• - - -
Earl BESBOROUG4 presented two Petitions
from the Roman Catholic Inhabitants of different Parishes in Ire-
land, praying to be relieved from
.the disabilities under which they
labour. • .

Similar petitions were presented by the Earl of Rosslyn, in the
absence of a Noble Friend of his, from. the Roman Catholic Inha-
bitants of the Parish of St. Andrew's, Dublin ; from a Parish in
the County of Galway ;- and by
Earl SPENCER, from the Inhabitants of North-
ampton. This Petition, the Noble Eat' said, was signed by 578,
Ter3ol264leVect4bility, and it gave him great pleasure to present
It/amuse he was persuaded that fifty years ago, so many persons
could not be found in the whole town, who would not join in what
was now, he thanked God, generally regarded there as the sense-
less cry of " No Popery."
_ _

Lord ROLL-E
presented a petition from Great Tor-
rington, Devon, praying that their Lordships would grant no fur-
ther concessions to the Catholics ; and several other similar 'peti-
tions from different parishes in the same County.
The LORD CHANCELLOR presented similar
petitions from Newcastle-under-Lyne, and from a parish in South-
ampton ; as the Bishop of Exeter did also, from the Archdeacon
and Clergy of the Diocese of Exeter; from the parish of Saint
Paul's Exeter ; and from the Parish of Allhallows within the
Wall, Exeter.

CORN LAWS.
The Earl of MALMESBURY offered a petition
to their Lordships, praying for protection to agriculture, should
their Lordships make any alteration in the Corn Laws ; but, on
the'petition being presented, it was found to contain no names
signed to the first sheet, and was therefore withdrawn. His
Lordship presented similar petitions from Banbury, Oxfordshire,
and from a Hundred in Norfolk.

Similar petitions were also presented by Lord Gower from
Newport, Shropshire ; by Lord Yarborough, from the landowners
and occupiers of land in different districts around the city of Lin-
coln, to the number of fiver by Lord Gwydyr, from Cargill, in
the county of Perth ; by Lord Maynard, from the hundred of
Dunmow, Essex.

The Earl of ROSSLYN, in the absence of a
severeNo b l Noble
irsnihoee
isnfpsd, landpo
said,fr
presented
his,
uedl
differentvi haoonsliym wasitl a
rae
rtsrunableeocfeivE petitiont oe
England.
gaa
slftartioeledmn;de t
petitionho
Ten h oiaccounts,npeeotr
of
t ioatofninl
dea,
h is occupiersLor
individuals who signed it, but it was well worthy of their Lord.
ships' attention, because the gentlemen who signed it had been
deputed by the agriculturists throughout England to watch over
their interests, and therefore spoke the sentiments of the great
body of landowners and land occupiers. His Lordship also pre-
sented similar petitions from the farmers attending the market of
Romford, Essex ; from the hundreds in Suffolk ; and from the
labourers in husbandry of several hundreds in Buckinghamshire.
Similar petitions were presented .by the Marquis of Tweedale
from the Commissioners of Supply, Justices of the Peace, and
Landowners of the County of Haddingtou, and from the Farmers
of East Lothian; by Earl De La Warr, from several parishes in
the County
inthe
of Sussex ; andfL icoln.
bnyEarl Brownlow, from the Hundred
of Ness,
Mr. Crafer, from the Treasury, presented at the Bar an Ac-
count-of all the Corn imported from Ist of January, 1826, up to
the present time.—Adjourned.

• HOUSE. OF COMMONS. •
THE CORN LAWS.
A vast number of petitions were presented from almost every
par. . he kingdom, for and against any change in the Corn
Laws.

THE CATHOLIC QUESTION.
Some Petitions also were presented in favour of the Catholic
Claims.
Mr. PLUNKETT said it was his intention that
evening to have presented a petition from the Roman Catholic
Prelates of Ireland, praying for the repeal of the laws affecting
persons of their religious opinions. He felt that he should not
be doing justice to this petition, if, when he presented it, he did
not particularly call the attention of the House to it ; and as he
could not act with any degree of fairness towards it, he would
give notice of his intention to bring it forward to-morrow (this
day.)

AMENDMENT. OF. THE CORN LAWS,
Mr. Secretary CANNING, at half-past six o'clock,
moved that the House should resolve itself into a Committee of
the whole House, for the consideration of the Laws relating to the
Importation of Foreign Cot n•
Sir E. KNATCHBUIL made some observations,
which were nearly inaudible-in the Gallery. We understood the
Hon. Baronet to say, that by agreeing to the Committee for the
sake of hearing the Proposition@ of Government, he trusted it
would not be inferred that he conceded any point against the pre-
sent system of Corn Laws.

Mr. CANNING explained..
The motion being agreed to, the House resolved itself into a
Committee, Sir Alexander Grant in the Chair.
Mr. Secretary CANNING then addressed the
House to the following effect:—Before I submit the Propositions
which it is my duty to lay before the Committee, I trust they will
permit me to detain them a few minutes, while I express my
grateful, acknowledgments for the indulgence they have lately
shown me. Ido assure them, that I should neither have called
for that indulgence, nor been disposed to avail myself of it for
any consideration of a personal nature, because I am perfeitly

PRY-CE 7D.

eonv,inced that there are •those in whose hands the opening of
• -
this 'question might With' 'greater advantage have been com-
:misted. But under the very partlculai cieenmstances that are
premed:ed. with this question, much as it has been agitated in
this House and oiled doors, and great as;has been the inflamma-
lion of mail!, of those diseiieSions, it was thought right, that when
the propositions of his Majesty's Government were to be brought
forward, it should be done in that manner which should indicate
most clearly that they were the propositions-of his Majesty's Go-
vernment, and not an emanation from any individual Member, or
particular portion of it. I say this the.rather in the absence of
'my Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Huskisson), the President of the
Board of Trade, because, in his. absence, I can more briefly state,
that to his 'hands this subject would have been much better com-
itted, ikthee Nurse Would not have involved coveiderations which °
it was deSlrable to :avoid, and which, therefore, induced me to
undertake the task myself. If these considerations were felt
strongly at the beginning of the present Session of Parliamen',
when this House was first solicited to allow 'these propositions to
be postponed, and • kindly aci•eded to the request, undoubtedly,
thoae,coosiderations have received additional strength from that"
afflicting dispensation of Providence, of which we are still watch-
ing the issue with trembling anxiety, 'and which has deprived my
Noble Friend (the
,Earl of Liverpool), at the head of the Go-
ssernmeht, of the "opportunity of opening these propositions in the
other House of Parliament, and of vindicating himself measures,
the paternity of which he might claim, and which I know he was
anxious to vindicate, and on the success of which he staked
more than on any act of his long and honourable public life.
—(Hear, hear, hear !)—Therefore, it is not less as the represen-
tative of my Noble Friend, than it is as the organ of
his Majesty's Government in this House, that I bring forward
these Resolutions. I hope I -shall be enabled to communicate
them to this House in the sense'and spirit with which he would
have expressed himself, as a faithful expositor of sentiments de-
rived from him, and of measures of which he was the author.—
(Cheers.)—Among the disqualifications that certainly belonged to
me in opening this question, I have some negative qualifications
to which I can lay claim. It has been chiefly the work of acci-
dent, that during the many and long discussions on this subject
that have occurred in Parliament, I have never once happened to
have addressed the House. In 1815, I was absent from illness.
In 1822, it happened so that I took little part in public business,
and did nothing in regard to the Corn Bill of that year, with the
single exception of moving a clause, to which I was led by my
situation then, as a Member.for a commercial port, and which, I
well remember, gave the House great deal of trouble; but I took
no share myself in the discussion. Since that time I have had oc-
casion to bring forward a number of measures, which have net
with the concurrence of the House ;
,but in discharging that duty,
by common consent I entirely abstained from any allusions to the
general question of the Corn Laws.—(Hear, bear, hear. )—I how
come to the considerations that belong to the present occasion ;
and I have certainly the advantage of standing before you to-day
without any pledge—without any prejudice—without any pre-
viously declared opinion, that can involve me in difficulty as to my
consistency—without any feeling of anger or acrimony towards
any party. I confess it does. surprise me, that into this discus-
' sion, so much hostile feeling should enter. In the first place, in
result, the differences between the parties are infinitely less wide
than they are stated to be in argument ; and secondly,, because,
various as.the opinions are on the different sides, I never yet met
with in reading, or heard in conversation, the extreme opinion on
either side. broadly and unequivocally displayed. The question is,
as to the introduction of Foreign Corn into this' country. The
extreme opinion on one side, would be in favour of perpetual and
complete exclusion of it. The extreme opinion on the other side
would be, for a perpetual and unrestricted importation. Now, I
believe no man, either by writing or speaking, has ever maintained
either of these extreme opinions. All that are between these two
points of extremity, however distant the intermediate stages may
be, differ only in mode and degree. Surely it shall not be said
there can be no possibility of approximation amongst them ? The
warmest advocates of free trade will not deny that some protec-
tion is due to the agriculturist. On' the other hand, there are
none that value the agricultural doctrines so highly as to advise
us to risk all the consequences that might follow a perfect and
constant exclusiou of foreign corn. As to the mode, amount, or
degree of protection, many questions may arise ; but to the prin-
ciple that some protection is due, I have never heard an objection
stated. Those who press for protection the most strongly, qualify
their claims by contending that, however peremptory the law may
be, there will always remain in Parliament—and, if Parliament
should not be sitting, in the executive Government--the power
of coming to the aid oldie country in cases of extreme emergency.
We have it admitted, that the Agriculturist should be protected,
while, on the other hand, it is allowed that a system of unbending
exclusion'eannot be adopted. Having these admissions, all the
rest of the question is of mode and degree; namely, in what mode
and to what degree, we shall extend the protection to which it is
admitted on all hands the Agriculturist is entitled. The last two
or three years have produced several plans for giving this kind of
protection to the Agriculturist. Mr. Ricardo was the author of
one of these plans. Another was produced by a Noble Lord in
the ether House. The third, which has been published more
lately, is founded on -the doctrines of the' severe economists. It
appeared in a work familiar to every body—l mean that ably
written periodical The Edinburgh Review. In each of these
three plans, though the authors are all favourable to what is called
free trade, they admit the necessity of protection to the Agricul-
turist, and they state exactly the mode and degree in which, ac-
cording to their notions, it should be extended. By the first of these
plans, it is proposed that a duty of 20s. per quarter should be im-
posed upon all foreign corn imported into this country. When, in
the course of this argument, 1 say corn, I speak of wheat. The duties
on the other species of grain follow, of course, in due proportion.
Without any refererce to the current prices, the author then
pby roposes that this protecasttionrgtedennutditynattsoch.aounialTdh.rbeiempludaminmioonffisfihtvehede yoNreoatebrllnye
shillings,o n esh
which
htiilt it was
Lord differed from this chiefly in this respect, that, beginning with
a duty of sixteen shillings, he proposed to reduce it gradually to
ten shillings, which should be final. The last plan, which was of
more recent origin, recommended a duty once for all, of five or six
shillings, without any reference to price, and to be permanent in
its duration, but with the addition that in cases of extreme emer-
gency, it was doubtful whether even that duty sluiuld continue.
My objection to these three plans is, that when the pressure came,
they would each prove equally delusive to the agriculturist. It is
quite impossible to suppose that with a country in a state of ex-
treme want of food, with famine in the streets, in the workshops,
and in the cottages, any Government could insist ttronolfevioirnelgna
duty of ten or even five shillings upon the importationlegislate
pressure of the emergency, and susend the tlrcuitsye,
corn. Either Parliament, if sitting, would
the power, tive Government, in its discretion, would ehxaends,
, objection
and
un-
fortunately, for its own sake, lodged in its r
orsteehek underE‘i:se
Execu-
tive
!)—My—lelarve'ullideaanswer, its purpose.'
therefore
eefoirne
is, that
thAacttneoifthlen, d
oe mf
theseni y.
plans
principle
ootfheprrohantectzn, but neither of
On the what sort of se-
curity i
mitigation of this principle'? Nothing,
tEhaecnh l c o
doan
.themtie sthey
yit i
g admits
for tl
effect.t
soonl.o telßy
But
tiliainnig;
wlitiisintegpstoattaoknecethfartoms
teliegivtsvl ahtiicohn, dhoovez
may sometimes be taken under the pressure of a
etlov dar y,i aclr etbi
admit,
necessity which is .acknowledged to be at all times probable. I
would throw on Parliament the duty which they would impose
upon the Executive Government—namely, that of suspending in
practice a prohibition, which, in theory, they say ought never to
be suspended—e(Cheers.)—True to this principle, let us inquire
what is the degree of protection which ought to be extended to
the agriculturist. The question is, then—Do the laws afford that
precise degree of protection which they ought to give ? Do they
afford it in the best manner? Do they do so to any unnecessary
extent ? The law of 1815, introduced for the first time into the
legislation of this country on corn, the principle of absolute prohi-
bition—l say, for the first time, with, as far as I know, only one
qualification. Somee antiquarian, I believe, has discovered, that about
three centuries and a half ago, a law was passed in this country,
the substance of which was, that not only the importation of
foreign wheat should be prohibited, but also the transmission of
wheat grown in ' the neighbourhood of one town to that of
another, when a certain difference of price existed. (A laugh.)
I cite the law now, only to sail in point of strict correctness.
In 1815, the, principle of absolute prohibition up to a certain
point was; I may repeat, for the first time adopted ; qualified,'
however, in a most extraordinary manner, by the opposite prin-
ciple of unlimited importation. On a calm review of that law,
and I do not pretend to be one jot wiser than those who took

part in its preparation, but I do say, that looking back on that
law and sits operation, if I were desired to try how the most
opposite vices could be combined in the same act of legielatios,
,I would refer to that law as the model of such an experiment.
(Cheers.) That law gave protection to the agriculturist tip to
eighty shillings ; but the moment that point wag turned, an.
limited importation ensued. These two principles did not go on
amicably. together, but as might have been expected, each pre-
vailed in its turn with its own peeuliar mischiefs. Duriej seven
years the country suffered every evil that could deter men of any
experience or attention from again attempting eithee to unite twit
such opposite principles or adopt either of them at the basis of
legielatiou. What was the result of this law of 1815? Thu`
harvest of 1816 was one of the most unfavourable this csanitry
ever had. It was known to be so as early as August- (141
the 15th of that month the averages were struck which governed
the exclusion or importation of foreign corn ; but the average
had not then gone beyond the price that would open the pert:,
sad they remained classed, consequently, till the 15th -of Norem-
ber. The harvest of 1817, having been nearly or quite as bad as
that of 1816, was followed by a winter of suffering, which the
opening of the ports did not relieve. The porta continued Open
for a certain time. The harvest of 1818 was ribundaiat not nnly
:n this country, but in all the neighbouring counties of Eu-
rope; and it was as much for the interest'of this country that
the ports should then close, as it was before for
-its interest that
they should be open What followed ? A fraction old twopence
above SOs. in this instance turned the smile theretkeieWay; the
ports opened, and continued open in consequent'', of ;that
frec-
tional excess ; the market was deluged with corin-iihen it was
eet required, and a depression in price wet produced, which,ocena
tinned till the year 1820. Such was the consequence of setting
these two extreme principles in conflict with each ether, Each
class in its turn became a sufferer, and the'agriculturiste applied to
this House for relief. We all remember the depressed state of the
agricultural interest at this period. If any gentleman will take
the trouble to turn hack to the Journals of the House, he will_ art
what hundreds of petitions loaded this table le 'theayeere 18.10 i
•1820, and 1821, complaining of the distresses Under which the
agricultural interest laboured. The amount of fluctuation in 64
price of corn, between the years 1921 and 1822, may be estia;
seated from the two extreme prices. Wheat in one year, :lt817;
being 112 s. a quarter, and in another year, 1822, 85s. makin;.Y
fluctuation of 745. The House listened to the prayers of the
agriculturists, and, in the year 1822, the law of 1815 was re-
vived. Of this law it may almost be said, that it has never been
brought into operation. It is true, that the law itielf called
duty to its aid ; it recognised a price at which Corn might, be
admitted at a duty ; but a clause was annexed or prefixed .to It,
as a sort of outwork, which prevented this provision of the Act
from ever coming into operation. The clause in effect, enacted;
that the law itself should not come into operation until the pried
of wheat reached 80s.1 and the consequence of this, practically, is
that we are under a prohibition up to 80s., as much as if there
had been no recognition of the principle of duty. The provi-
sion to which I. allude is perfectly nugatory ; it is a inert dead
letter ; it is a barren recognition of a principle upon which not
the smallest practical benefit has been derived. Why them
Sir, if prohibition, if absolute and unlimited importation, do not
afford the protection desired, and if it be admitted in the law of
1822 that a duty is a fit mode of protection, I am willing to beta
row from that law a principle, which can never, under 'the
;sting provisions, be carried into effect. And first, Sir, as to the
mode of duty. Can a fixed duty ever be effectual to its pirpose ?
Take, if you will, the proposition of Mr. Ricardo, or the pro-
positions of the other two persons ; take either a dot,' of 125 i
or a duty of se. ; let it be fixed and invariable, and see howit gill
operate. Wheat, in one year, was 112 e. a quarter; in such a yes&
what an aggravation of suffering would a duty of 12s. a-quar-;
ter produce ! In another year, wheat was 38s. a-quarter ;
in such a year, if there were a fixed duty of 12s. a quarter, how
great would be the benefit to the foreigner--bow small the' re-
muneration to the grower. It seems clear that no duty'eati effect
its object of giving protection to the agriculturist, except 'a duty
yielding to the fluctuations of the' market; 'and' tending 'to settle
and equalise the price of corn. I have said, Sir, with respect to
the question of price, that I was, in no degree; disposed to find
fault with that assumed in the year 1815; and I am equally
ready to say, that I find no fault with the price assumed under
the circumstances in the year 1822. The average price of Wheat
for twelve years preceding 1815 was 85s. a quarter, and the aver
rage price of the six years immediately preceding 1815 was
995. 6d. The price assumed ha 1815 was 80s.-.a price which,
considering that the war was at an end, and calculating for the
immediate influence of war upon our expenditure,' and its colla-
teral influence on the price of Corn, was, I think, fairly taken.
The average price of Corn from the year 1815 to the year 1820
was 755. l Id. In the year 1822 a new price was to be itssutn-
ed ; and I cannot say that the price was not fairly taken; thetigh
it is to be observed that there was a considerable difference in the
state of the country, from the reduction of taxation and expendi-
ture. The average price from the yeir'lBls to the end of last
year is 655. 10d., and the average price of the last six years is
551. 6d. Taking a medium between the average priceftir the last
twelve years_and the average price:for the last six years, it seems
to me that at the present period 60e. cannot be objected to as an
average price. The average price of the last. four years does
not exceed 535. ed. In proposing an aVerage.pvitea ";at 6t
to the principles which have been adopted -byallarlliment
on former occasions, I am able to state, that my Noble;Friend,
whose researches and opportunities 'of acquiring information In
this subject have been far greater than mine, has met with' few
persons interested in this question who were not content to con-
sider -60 s. as a fair average price, at which the agriculturist was
entitled to protection. With respect to the mode of duty, I hive
stated the reasons which induce his Majesty's Ministers to think
that a fixed duty would not effect the object of affording protection
to the agriculturist. A fixed duty, without reference to the
variation of prices, would be at one time too high, at annther time
too low, and tend to perpetuate the existing evils ; while a scale
of duties, which should vary according to the price of corn, would
correct excesses, make up for deficiencies, and tend to general
equalization of prices.---The adoption of such a steak of duties will
carry into the laws a principle of steadiness which is of more im-
portance even than occasional cheapness, in legislating en this
pdaerttaiiclutlahranduittyis
subject. In affixing an average price, I have 'stated the grounds
upon which the price of 6be. has been stemmed. The grmnt
matterupon wohfi which
il
an
greatery the
present occasion, when it is my object rather to convey to the
can'
.inbteenlrio
House a general notion of the course which his
7.3010:2;:
Government have deemed it expedient 'to-,:take. it will at just conclusions in considering :this questions
of the prices
un-
doubtedly he necessary to -inquiet, into the statle
which cannot
in foreign markets, 'and ether -matters of deetaibe
Ft consideration
now be conveniently discussed. Upon th
unmt:dgo, arkieta-470"*1n
ct be was satis-
which my Noble Friend could give to this su at , h
vas 605., was as muc as
fied That a deity of 205., when the price
than 'as reasonable, to propose.
it was reasonable, and not more
tihtew
average price, the duty
It is proposed that, taking 60s. as
shilling of increase
for every
should be diminished two shillings f
s for every shilling of
diminution and increased rive
in the prices
diminution in the price.
The effect of this scale of duties would
the duty would be 20s. ; from 611
be, that at the price of 60s. 62s. to .63
s.
the duty would be 18s. ; from the duty
to 625.
would •
be 16s • from 635. to 645. the duty would be 12e. ; from
645. to 655. the duty would be 10s. ; so that when the price
rose to 70s. the duty would cease, or amount only to the
no-
minal duty of ls., payable at the Custom-House, and impor-
tation be in effect perfectly free. On the other hand, there
would be an increase of two shillings duty in the descending
scale, so that when the price fell to fifty-five shillings, the duty
would be thirty shillings, which would in effect be a pro_
hibitory duty. It is the earnest desire of his Majesty's Govern..
ment, to hold the scales even between the agriculturiiit and
the importer, casting, I admit, the balance in point of prin-
ciple, in favour of the open 'trade ; but casting, it, I ani alio
ready to admit, in point of price, in favour of the agriculturist.
I cannot anticipate any objection to this proposition from those
who have insisted on unlimited importation; but it may,
I am
aware, be urged by the advocates for prohibiticsn, that
there
be any point at which we are ready to give them
duty, why not concede to them at thatpoint a prohibitory
an absolute Pro-
hibition. In the first place it is no light
a subject which has been not only for matter
with
reference to
years, but for ages," under
the consideration of Parliament, that there is no instance of pro-
hibition having ever been admitted
upon the Corn Laws. Even during as a principle in legisleting
from 1670 to 1774, ashen Y.e.eres rim Pak
en it was the object of Parliament, pot
only to discourage importation,but'to encourage the exportation
of British corn, that discouragement
of importation was manifested
not by prohibition but h • [- desirable that if
y duty. It is besides
there is to be a trade in corn at all; 'it should'be conducted, as far
as possible, on the principles of other trades; .4, a 'her' regular course, and not by perpetual jirks and impulses. arising out of ex-
traordinary emergencies.-(Hear, hear.)_..4 am persuaded, that
if importation be always free, taking sufficient securitalaagainst an
inundation of the home market, it will flow in a regular, equal
current, supplying the real wants of the country, without ever-
flowing it ; instead of rendering the trade as it now does, and
must continue to do, if the principle of proldbition were ad-
'pitted, a perpetual series of alterations= between a drought
and a deluge.-(Hear, hear.)-I think this project will tend to
equalize the prices, and keep that equalization of prices steady.
The market will assume such a steadiness, that instead of a
fluctuation between 112 s. at one time, and 38s. at another, the

.._ .
•
. ,
.. q... • - ,
, .
. 1 „
: /479 it -,-,, - .-9„.' ~.•,.11- )_,:- ~..2,,,
•‘-',--;‘,:4.'•-4.., .: • '"4:)....,,- * -----,.:-• • '''-
•0 ,a - :---t-
‘,...-
„, : ;, ,
'-_
~.,,,,,, ,• , .4.w.,ff.,`1,-Ck co: laff:•.' '" ,;',____\ '''• --
- -t, •,/,,,,.,, ,',A..i,-
. ~- • -;,,, ____,.._. ...4
v:,,„;
~z- S • ' 4,,,, --: "--P-,?ir ' .51'. •' " '''; 'Z,4,'' ' '

vibrations will be found to be limited within the small circle of
55a. to 655. The plan will provide against the mischief arising
from sudden gluts overwhelming the market at one time, and
sudden dearth compelling us to legislate against legislation. It
will get rid of another evil of very great magnitude—l allude
tp,the abuses of the system of averages. (Hear, hear.) When,
as I have already stated, a fraction of sd. one way, and of 2d. the
other, shut the ports, when they ought to have been open, and
opened when they ought to have been shut, it is impossible not
to entertain some suspicion of the soundness of the system of
this plan, the averages would be declared weekly ;
averages. By
and what room can there be, in the course of a week, for deep
specu •
lotion In an interval of three months, it- is possible for
')
great Capitalists to produce an effect upon prices by unfair means.
rut, under the new arrangement, when the average of one Sa-
turday will be overturned by the average of next Saturday, what
ternettlion—what opportunity can there be for the commission of
fraud ? The plan will tend to vindicate the respectability of the
Ce&n Trade, which will assume, even in the eyes of those by
whom it has been most suspected, a characen. more analogous to
the regular trade of British Merchants in other branches of com-
merce. The plan will also get rid entirely of the possibility of
such an interference on the pert of the Executive Govern-
ment, which some Gentlemen refer to with great complacency
as a cure, but which I consider an aggravation of the present
system. lam perfectly confident, and so are my colleagues,
that we did perfectly right some months ago to take upor our-
selves the responsibility of admitting Corn not admissible by law.
But thoegh we were right in taking care of the public good, We
were not unconscious at the time, and we have since received pain-
ful information, that while we did a great public good, we did
much private mischief; for the measure which was adopted to
sett the country from the suffering which would have followed a
scarcity—had the effect of overturning more than one private for-
tune. Honourable Gentlemen talk glibly of responsibility, and
taunt Ministers, as if they would have been incapable of filling
their situations, if they had hesitated to exercise an extraordi-
nary discretion in such an emergency. I do not say that,
under a similar emergency, we should not be ready to act with
similar decision; but though the emergency justified the exercise
of an extraordinary discretion, it is surely incumbent upon Mini-
sters to endeavour to prevent a recurrence of such an emergency.
These are some of the benefits which this plan presents to the
House ; and if it should appear upon trial, that interests which
are now supposed to be wide as the poles asunder, should by this
plan be approximated more nearly than they believe thetneelves to
he possible, such a result would be worth all the test. It will
tetrd to sweeten the ill blood which has too long subsisted between
two classes which now look with jealousy at each other, and to,
unite interests which have appeared to be almost irreconcileable.
These are the principles on which the plan of his Majesty's Mini-
sters is founded ; these are the objects which they propose to
carry into effect. I have now only to commit the Resolutions
which I have to propose to the judgement of the Committee, and
I intreat the House, whatever objections they may deem the plan,
liable to in matters of detail, to receive it, as it is intended to be,
in the light of a peace-offering from his Majesty's Government,
and as the best means, my Friend at the head of the Government,
could have proposed, of reconciling conflicting interests. In this
spirit the plan has been proposed, and in this spirit I trust it will
be received.—(Hear, hear.) —The Right Hon. Gentleman con-,,
eluded by moving the following Resolutions :
The following resolutions were then put from the Chair :
" That it is the opinion of this committee,. that any sort of
corn, grain, meal, and flour, which may now, by law, be imported
into the United Kingdom, should at all times be admissible for
home use, upon payment of the duties following, viz.—if imported
from any foreign country :

WHEAT, VIZ.
" Whenever the average price of wheat made up and
published in manner required by law, shall be 60s.
and under 61s. the quarter, the duty shall be for X. s. d.

•
every quarter,
And in respect of every integral shilling by which
such price shall be above 605., such duty shall he
decreased by 25., until such price shall be 70s.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 70e., the
duty shall be for every quarter,
-" Whenever such price shall be under 603. and not
under 595., the duty shall be for every quarter,
And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part
of each integral shilling, by which such price shall
be under 590:, such duty shall be increased by 2s.
BARLEY.
(,Whenever the average price of barley made up and
published in manner required•by law, shall beSos.
and under 31 s. the quarter, the duty shall be, for

1 0

0 1

1 2

every quarter %.
And in respect of every integral shilling by which
such price shall be above 30s. such duty shall be
decreased by Is. 6d. until such price shall be 371.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 37s
the duty shall be, for every quarter
" Whenever such price shall be under 305. and not
under 293. the duty shall be, for every quarter
And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part
of each integral shilling, by which such price shall
be under 295. such duty shall he increased 18. 6d.
OATS.

0 10

0 1

0 11

" Whenever the average priceoi •cats made up and
published in manner required by law shall be 21s.
and under 225. the quarter, the duty shall be for
every quarter

0 7

And-in respect of every integral shilling by which
such price shall be above 21s. such duty shall be de-
creased by ls. unfit such price shall be 2ss.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 28s. the
duty shall be for every quarter
" Whenever such price shall be under 215., and not
under 205., the duty shall be for every quarter 0 8
And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part
of each integral shilling, by which such price shall
be under 205., such duty shall be increased by ls.
RYE, PEAS, AND BEANS.
" Whenever the average price of rye, or of peas, or of
beans, made up and published in manner required
by law, shall be 355. and under 365. the quarter,
the duty shall be for every quarter
And in respect of every integral shilling by which
such price shall be above 355., such duty shall be
decreased by ls. 6d. until such price shall be 455.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 455. the
duty shall be for every quarter ....................
" Whenever such price shall be under 355. and not
under 345., the duty shall be for every quarter 0 16
And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part
of each integral shilling, by which such price shall be
under 345., such duty shall be increased by ls. 6d.
WHEAT, MEAL, AND FLOUR.

0 I

" For every barrel, being 1961b5., a duty equal in amount to
the duty payable on five bushels of wheat.
" OATMEAL.—For every quantity of 2521b5., a duty equal in
amount to the duty payable on a quarter of oats.

. . .
MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN, BUCK WHEAT, BEER. OR BIGG.
" For every quarter, a duty equal in amount to the duty p: gable
ou a quarter of barley.

" If the produce of and imported from and• British possession
in North America or elsewhere, out of Europe : _

WHEAT.

" For every quarter
Until the price of British Wheat, made up and pub
lished in manner required by law, shall be 655. per
quarter.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 655. the
duty shall be for every quarter
BARLEY.

s. d.
5 0

" For every quarter
Until the price for British Barley, made up and
published in manner required by law, shall be 335.
per quarter.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 335., the
duty shall be, for every quarter
OATS.

For every quarter
Until the price of British oats, made up and pub-
lished in manner required by law, shall be 21s. per
quarter.

Whenever such price shall be at or above 245., the
duty shall be, for every quarter
RYE, BEANS, AND PEAS.

0

" For every quarter 0 0
Until the price of British rye, or of beans, or of
peas, made up and published in manner required by
law, shall be 40s.
" Whenever such price shall be at or above 40s. the
duty shall be, for every quarter
WHEAT, MEAL, AND FLOUR..
For every barrel, being 1961b5., a duty equal in amount to
the duty payable on five bushels of wheat.
" OATMIAL.—For every quantity of 25216., a duty equal in
amount to the duty payable on a quarter of oats.
MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN, BUCK-WHEAT, BEER OR BIOG.
" For every quarter, a duty equal in amount to the duty paya-
ble on a quarter ofb4Eley,
" That it is the opinion of this committee, that all the said

duties shall be regulated and determined, from week to week, by
the average prices of corn, made up in manner required by law ;
which prices shall, at the several ports of the United Kingdom,
determine the several rates of the said duties, for and during the
week next after the receipt of the proper certificates of such
average prices at such ports respectively."
TABLE, SHOWING THE OPERATION OF THE PROPOSED DCTIES

ON FOREIGN WHEAT.
Duty.

If the price per} 708. and upwards .... Is.
quarter be
695. and under 70s.
6Ss. 69s*
G7s,
Bs.
665. 1575.

6.5 g,
1524.
61s.
Assumed point? „„s.
of protection "v
595.
58s.
565.
Average price of
the last Six 535.
years.
545.

Average price ofi --
1827 to Fe- 535.
bruary 15.

665.
655.
6 Is. ...
635.
625.
61s. , 20S. ,
4i.ei. up to 41s.
60s.
595.
... sss.
58s.
... Sts.
571.

306. 25s

. 325. 22r. . 23a

5le.

ANNUAL AVERAGE rRICV; OF WHEAT Ton TWELVE YEARS

kaitviOus TO 1815.
Per Quarter.
Year exided - 180.1 s7s. Id.
1808 6O 5
1505 B7 1
1866 76 9 Average of 6 years 7U. 2d.
1807 l3 1
1808 :e:••,•_: 'il3 11
1809 94 5
810 lO3 3
1811 92 5
1512 122 8 Average of 6 years 98s. 6d.
1813 lO6 6
1814 72 1

Average of 12 years Bss, 4e.
ANNUAL AVERAGE PRICES OF WHEAT FOE. TW'ELVE YEARS,
FROM 1815 TO 1826, EMI INCLUSIVE.
Per Quarter.
Year . 1815 6.ls. Bd.
igl6 76 2
1817
g Average of 6 years 746. 2d.
1916
1919 72 3
1820 65 13
1821 54 5
1822 43 3
51 9 Average of 6 year 6 556. 9d.
1824 62 0
1825 66 6
1816 - • 56 11

•
Average of 12 years
Average of first six weeks 1827 s3s. Gd.
• r% WESTER/Si rose, but the low tone in which
e spoke, and the noist'svhich prevaile9fthe House, prevented
us from catching a great part of his observations. We under-
stood the Honourable Gentleman to that he wished to lay
agile whatever prejudices he might have enteitained on this sub-
ject, and to give the fairest as well as the :fullest consideration to
the propositions of the Right Honourable Gentleman. He wished
to God that the House had never abandoned the principles on
which it had acted with so much success up to 1773. Even in
1815, when, owing to the hostility with America, there vas no
importation of corn, the country was in a better state than when
it was at peace with all the world. In 1812, 100,000 quarters
a corn bad been imported ; in 1813 we quarrelled with Ame-
,rik,a; and in 1814 an embargo was laid upon their ports; and
Although there was a large proportion of foreign wheat and flour,
not one grain entered the British ports. At the present moment
there were 2,000,000 of quarters in bond. He conceived that
the new scale
,of duties proposed by the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman would, in the end, be more injurious to the landed inte-
rest, and more obnoxious to the country at large, than the system
which was formerly pursued. Even prohibition would, he con-
ceived, he better for the country than the adoption of the Right
Honourable Gentleman's suggestions. In February, 1825, the
average price of grain was 68s. ; the average price now was only
535. So that the House was called upon, when the average was
from 10s. to 12s. a quarter less than in 1825, and when the ma-
nufacturing classes were suffering the deepest distress and misery,
to accede to the Right Honourable Gentleman's propositions, the
effect of which would be to add to the evils that already existed.
(Hear, hear.)—Yet the Right Honourable Gentleman had de-
clared that the effect of his measures would be to reconcile
parties. But merchants and manufacturers would not be so
easily reconciled, and •no case could be adduced to show that the
welfare of those two great bodies were not intimately connected.
When one prospered, so did the other; and when one decayed,
the other decayed also. Having stated thus much, he begged
at the same time to observe, that he wished to give the proposi-
tion the fullest and fairest consideration.—(Hear, hear. )—He had
reason to believe, however, that the effect of this special experi-
ment of the Right Honourable Gentleman would he directly to
injure at least 1,000 farmers; and if, after all, the measures
failed in their object, the effect would be ruinous not only to far-
mers, hut to the labouring classes also, whose distresses would
thereby be increased.

A MEMBER whose name we could not learn, said,
that as the law of 1815 had been tried, and had failed, his Ma-
jesty's Ministers should be careful how they introduced new mea-
sures with respect to the importation of corn, and the regulation
of its duties. Agreeing, therefore, in the principle of the Right
Hon. Gentleman's proposition, as a Scotch Representative, he
was bound to declare that the agricultural interest of Scotland
would be ruined if the proposed measures should be sanctioned by
the House. He hoped that time would be allowed, in order to
collect the sentiments of the country on this momentous question,
before any definitive measure should be adopted. Scotland, lie
hoped, would be heard, for he was perfectly sure that that coun-
try would feel the greatest depression and ruin—be repeated the
word, ruin—if the proposed suggessions were acted on.
Sir J. NEWPORT protested against the proposal
to admit flour to be imported into Ireland.

Mr. BANKES, sen., wished to know if the Right
Hon. Gentleman thought an average price of 535. a quarter too
high or too low ? At what price, he would ask, did the Right
Hon. Gentleman suppose corn could be fairly imported ?
Mr. CANNING said, he had already stated, that
his Majesty's Ministers were of opinion that 60s. a quarter would
be a fair medium price.
Sir J. WROTTESLEY concurred in the general
view of the subject which the Right Hon. Gentleman had taken,
but he was obliged to differ with him as far as regarded part of
its details. He deprecated the scale of duties proposed for barley
and oats, and said that in this respect the suggestions of the
Right Hon. Gentleman were highly questionable.
Mr. C. GRANT wished to correct a mistake into
which an Hon. Member had fallen. It was stated that his Right
Hon. Friend (Mr. Canning) had said that curn at one period had
amounted to 113 s. a quarter. His Right Hon. Friend stated,
that since 1815 corn had been at 112 s. a quarter. In 1817, on
the 28th of June, wheat was 112 s. and on the 22d of October in
the same year, corn was 38s. id. With reference to the obser-
vations of the Right Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir J. Newport) he
begged to say, that although the introduction of flour into Ire-
land had been heretofore prohibited, the proposition which was
made to-night would not have the effect of throwing open the
ports in Ireland to that article to any injurious extent with regard
to the agricultural interest of that country.
Sir J. NEWPORT said a few words in explana-
tion, which were not audible in the gallery.
o
Mr. W. WHITMORE approved of the measures
proposed by the Right Hon. S
with
liew
the asofOp
opinion
proposals
that the country would not be so wellecret Secretary, but
o
which were made to-night as it ought to be, considering that
the Right Hon. Geutle-
those suggestions had proceeded from ,
Gentle-
man. The Hon. Member was proceeding to state his objec-
tions in detail to the scale of duties proposed by the Right Hon.
Secretary, when he was interrupted by loud and general cough-
ing. Having waited until the noise subsided, he observed, that
if he had come down to the House for the purpose of proposing
a counter resolution, he should not have been so much surprised
at the interruption he experienced, but as that was not the case,
and as he merely expressed, or was about to express, a very
limited opinion, he owned he felt at a loss to account for the in-
terruption. He conceived that the evils of the present system
would not be alleviated by the new measure—(renewed cough-
ing)-considerable fluctuations in agricultural produce would be
one of its results, and he was convinced that in the end it
would prove extremely 'detrimental to the country. He would
not at present, however, go into any details respecting the pro-
positions of the Right Hon. Gentleman, but he hoped,. that when
those propositions came to be considered, that the House would
not attempt to stifle the opinions of those Members who might
consider it their duty to give a free opinion on the subject, how-
ever that opinion might be opposed to the sentiments of those
who thought proper to interrupt.—(Hear, heart)
Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL said, that the
question at issue was this--whether the system of prohibition
should be extended or not. From the best judgment he could
form of the subject, he owned he should rather give his vote in fa-
vour of protection, than support the plan which was this night
proposed. At the same time he must own that it was worthy of

consideration. The Right Hon.. Gentleman had made use of an
observation in his speech to-night which had filled him with sur-
prise and disgust. He had said that the balance of price would
be in favour of free trade.—(" No, no," from Mr. Canning.)-11.-
was certain that the Right Hon. Gentleman said that the balance
of principle would be iu favour of free trade, and the balance of
price in favour of agriculture. If, however, the principles of the
proposed Bill tended to abrogate the Corn Laws—and he was well
'assured that it would be the first step to the attainment of that ob-
ject—he cautioned the House how it proceeded to legislate on such
a dangerous measure.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CANNING said that the Hon. Baronet had
mistaken his meaning. He was partly right and partly wrong.
He (Mr. Canning) said, that the balance of principle would be in
favour of trade, not free trade.—(Hear.)

. • .
lArti AurnottPt was of opinion that the propo-
sitions of the Right Hon. Gentleman, so far from being likely to
produce mischievous results, would be the means of causing a
great improvement in the country, both with respect to its trade
and agriculture. He spoke as the representative of an agricultural
county, and he felt that it was his duty to protect the interest of
his constituents ; but he could riot perceive that by supporting the
resolutions which had just beets proposed, he in any way compro-
mised their interests.-:-(Hear', hear. )—He repeated his Lelief that
the measure proposed by the Right Hon. Secretary would be a
very great improvement, and he conceived that the farmers would
be eventually benefitted by it. The plan, he conceived, also would
have the effect of putting an end to those rash speculations which
were so often ruinous to many. The Noble Lord concluded by
observint that, perceiving thd unevillifigneti of the liutise to go
more fully into the subject at present, he would not enter into any
calculations ; but he thought that any man who would refer to
the returns of the prices of corn which were now on the table,
would at once perceive the necessity of adopting some measure to
place the Corn Laws on a more just and liberal footing.
Alderman THOMPSON. fully agreed to the pro-
posed resolutions, althotgh he thought thaZ; the price fixed for
wheat was too high.—(Laughter and coughing.)
A MEMBER, whose name we could not learn, re-

turned thanks to Ministers for the attention which they had be-
stowed upon this subject, and to the Right Hon. Gentleman, for
the luminous manner in which he had brought forward the pro-
position which they deemed it proper to recommend, He con-
sidered it to be an improvement upon the present system.

Sir T. LETHBRIDGE wished to say three or
four words oh the motion before the Committee. Now that he
had heard the proposition of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he was
tree to say, that though it did not come with the disadvantages,
and in the questionable shape in which he had expected it—(a
loud laugh), after all the dire anticipations and gloomy reports
which bad reached his ears, there was still something of consola-
tion in it for the agricultural interest,—( Hear, beat. )--die declared
himself opposed to the views which had just been disclosed to the
Committee by the Hon. Alderman who represented the city of
London. The Hon. Alderman thought that the sum in the scale
of prices for the importation of wheat was too high; he (Sir T.
Lethbridge), on the contrary, thought that it was too low, and for
this reason—that the present measure was an experiment made
upon the whole corn trade of the country, and it was impossible
to foresee what would be the result of it. As he was one
who had always stood up in Parliament, not only for
the protection, but also for the encouragement of agricul-
ture, he should like to have seen the prices fixed at a lower rate
whilst the experiment was making. As the Committee was not
called upon to discuss the proposition at present, he would give
his best attention to it, in order that he might fully understand
it in all its various bearings :Ind ramifications. At the same time
he should consider himself as a deserter from the agricultural cause
if he were to say at that moment that he was prepared to agree
with the proposition of the Right Hon. Secretary. He believed
that he should he obliged to vote against it, but he would not then
say that he would. He wished before he sat down to put a
question to the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite. Did be under-
stand the Right Hon. Gentleman correctly when he understood
him to say that the averages in future should be made up weekly?
If they werB to be so made up, he, for one should be inclined to
hail the change as a very advantageous and beneficial measure.

Mr. CANNING replied, that the averages at pre-
sent were published weekly. Instead, however, of taking an
average from the average prices of several weeks, he intended that
each week's average should regulate the duties for the week ensuing.
Sir J. SEBRIGHT said, that he had devoted much
of his time for many years to the consideration of the corn laws;
and he now gave it as his opinion that the present proposition was
better calculated than any which had preceded it for the purposes
it was intended to accomplish. He would not discuss at present
the details of this measure, but would content himself with giving
his hearty concurrence to the principle on which it was founded.
Mr. CURWEN asked, whether the improvement
in taking the averages was to be extended to Ireland ?

Mr. CANNING said that there was no intention
to alter the existing mode of taking the averages ; but there was
an intention of so regulating the striking of them as to prevent
the frauds which, it was well known, were at present practised
under them. He bad no intention of getting rid of the system
entirely, as it answered the purpose of obtaining an approxima-
tion to the real price of corn throughout the country. He thought
that the evils of the present system would be diminished by
shortening the period in which the averages were struck.
Mr. Aldernian WOOD observed, that as the Hon.
Member for Somersetshire expressed himself almost satisfied with
the proposition then before the Committee, it behoved the Mem-
bers for populous cities to view it with something like a feeling of
alarm.—(Hear, 'hear.)

Mr. PORTMAN implored the House not to come
to a hasty conclusion upon this most important of all important
subjects. His object in rising at present was to implore the Mem.
bers of the Committee to make up their mininluvt.eodhrusielts,dhttoncoooittunlett!i.then
s)ne
nt oe
point—
that protection to agriculture was absolutely necessary to the well-
being
df
decide, b they country.—(Hear,
eu n
existingt r y
whetter(Hs
protectionei at re ,
m oe
ra r
bo) y— hear.)—He
that
that e
opre-
tendbta
obtained
proposed to substitute in lieu of it. He would confess that he
was one of those who preferred protection to prohibition. But
there might be facts connected with corn, which rendered it im-
possible to concede to the country, that which he would not be
-unwilling, individually, to concede to it. He was convinced that
unless the Committee granted a protection to agriculture up to
60s. a quarter, no wheat could be grown so as to remunerate the
grower in the county which he' had the honour to represent
(Dortietshire.) He was afraid that a duty of 20s. would hardly
be found sufficient for the protection of the agriculturists. If it
were not, the importation of foreign corn would tend to throw
the poor lands of the country out of cultivation ; and if they were
thrown out of cultivation, the labourers must be thrown upon the
poor rates ; and such an occurrence could not fail to lead to a very
lamentable catastrophe. He would now beg to ask a question
which he considered to be very material, and that was, whether
the quarter of wheat was to be reckoned by the Winche-ter or the
imperial measure ?
Mr. CANNING replied, that the quarter was now
reckoned by the Winchester measure, and no r.lteration was in-
tended in that respect. _

Colonel WOOD said, that as some gentlemen had
stated the scale of duties to be too high, whilst others contended
that it was too low, it might perchance turn out that Ministers
had acted v.'ry wisely in fixing an a medium between the two par-
ties. He must say, that it appeared to him, that if agriculture
was to be supported by protection, and not by prohibitiou, the
scale of prices was too low. He implored the Committee to re-
collect that the farmers were at present in a very critical situation;
and that if it now took a wrong step, it might create such a de-
'pression in every species of agricultural produce, as would pro-
duce the greatest distress. He believed that the safest mode of
proceeding was
by prohibition, and not by protection.
After a few remarks from Mr. Alderman ATKINS, which
were inaudible in the Gallery,
Lord MILTON rose to express his approbation of
the measure which was then under the consideration of the
Committee. 'Without saying whether the proposition was per-
fect in its present shape, or whether it could not be made more
perfect by some future modifications, it did appear to him to
be an improvement on the present state of the law; and that
if there was one class more than another to whom it was likely
to be advantageous, it was that class which was engaged in
agriculture. The present system of alternation between high and
low prices, injurious as it was to the other classes of his Majesty's
subjects, was absolutely destructive to the agricultural interest.
He could not sit down without expressing a hope that, whatever
threats might be thrown out by those who were dissatisfied with
the a
the Right Honourable Mover of it would persist
te
support of it, and would not allow himself to be
sdily in proposition,
diverted from a course of conduct, which, whether it was the
wisest, or not, that could be adopted, was still such as to entitle
him to the gratitude of his country.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, that in rising to address
the committee on the present occasion, he had no intention to an-
ticipate the full debate, which he allowed would come on more
appropriately at another season. He trusted, however, that the
debate would come on at such a period as would enable those who
were obliged to leave town for the assizes to take a part in it.
Though the time of holding the assizes was near at hand, yet, as

the subject did not conga for the Arst time under the consideration
of Pathan:lent, as the minds of men had been drawn to it in al-
-1 most all possible shapes which it could assume; and as the mea-
sure itself, in so far as the principle was concerned, had been known
to them all for some time past, he trusted that the delay of a
week would not be deemed inadequate to the consideration of the
proposition in its details. Though he had undoubtedly formed an
opinion upon the point, he would not my at present whether he
approved or disapproved of the proposition then before the com-
mittee. He would, however, throw out on idea at present for the
consolation of those gentlemen of the landed intela:,i, who
were too prone to take alarm at the proposed innovation.
They appeared to thin!! that it proceeded on the principle of
protection, which they in their wisdom deemed the safer and
more expedient principle. Now he considered the :rreasure to
he a prohibition with a protection. It was in vain to say that
practically epeaking it did not begin at the lower end of the
scale with a prohibition fet if there was a price within which
wheat could not be imported at a profit, and it was clear that,
coupled with the charges for insurance, freight, port dues in
this country, and other incidental expenses, there might be sitc:i
a price, there was an absolute prohibition of importation, when
wheat was at that price; so that a measure which in form gave a
protecting ditty might practically prove a prohibition. If when
wheat was at such it price, a man imported it without paying
the duty, he rendered himself liable to a Pete in the Exchequer ;
and if he imported it, paying- the duty, he would he d l'of.rer by
bringing it to' the English market. He would illustrate what he
meant by an example. Let the price of Corn in England be 555.
per quarter, the duty on corn imported would then be 305., so
that the Price of corn bought in the Baltic for 255. per quarter,
and subsequently broUghi to England, would be 555., indepen-
dent of the cost of freight, insurance, &C., *hid/ would be a
dead loss to the importer. Would not then the importation of
corn from the Baltic be virtually prohibited whenever the ptice of
corn was 555. in the market ? He would also give another topic
of consolation to the gentlemen of the landed interest; and when
he spoke of the landed interest, he did not intend to speak of it
invidiously. He had ai*api deprecated as absurd and mischievous,
the practice of speaking of the landed and commercial interests as
opposed to one another. He held by the doctrine af an able in-
dividual, who in the last century had commenced his career in
trade, and by his successful interest in it, had made himself a
great landholder, he ' meant Sir Josiah Child—that " land
and trade go together—that they wax and weigh toge-
ther, so that it never is well with trade while land suffers,
nor well with laud while trade suffers." But to return to the
point from which he had digressed. The landed gentlemen ad-
mitted that 555. a quarter in the English market wait a prohibi-
tion upon importation from foreign countries; but they were not
satisfied with it, and wanted more. Now, he would remind
them of one fact, which ought to render them satisfied with the
present proposition : 255. was the price at which wheat could
now be purchased in the Baltic ; but supposing the English mar-
ket to be opened, and the additional demand of the English mar-
bet to be thrown into the foreign market, then, instead of pur-
chasing wheat at 255., and then importing it under a duty of 30s.
into the English market, it would be purchased at 30s. and 355.
a quarter, and must be imported at that price, under the same duty
as before, for the duty was to be imposed not with regard to the
price paid for it abroad, but with regard to the price at which it
was selling at home. The corn thus imported would diminish
the average at borne, and by so doing would increase the protec-
tion to the home grower, by raising the price at which foreign
grain was to be imported. He did not rejoice is the alarm felt
by the agricultural classes ; and he had, therefore, risen for the
purpose of giving them the means of relieving it.

Sir F. BVRDETT said, lie was sorry that this
very important question, by which the public mind had been so
much agitated, had been so long deferred. He did not, on this
occasion, mean to trespass for many minutes on the attention of
the House ; but at the same time, he felt that he would not
acquit himself to his constituents, and to the public generally,
if he did not state his opinion with respect to the principle on
which the Resolutions now introduced were founded ; and
which would be discussed more at large on a future occasion.
His opinion was not completely in unison with that of any
Gentleman who had delivered his sentiments on the subject ;
because his views extended perhaps farther than theirs. He,
however, coincided entirely in ahnost the whole of what had
fallen from ..he Noble Lord below him (Lord Althorpe.) He (Sir
Francis Burdett) was a decided advocate of free trade, in every
respect—(Hear),—although, in making that declaration, he
knew that he must encounter those prejudices which the' Right
Hon. Gentleman opposite had described as scarcely susceptible of
being rooted out of some minds. He was one -of those persons
who did not think that a free Wide in Corn would have the bahe-
ful effects which were attributed to it. Although the Right Hon.
Gentleman opposite doubted whether any writer would be pro-
duced to sanction such a proposition, he believed that he could
quote more than one favourable authority on the subject. The
question was not, in his mind, an exclusive one. It concerned the
entire interests of the country—the manufacturing as well as
the landed or agricultural interest ; and, in his opinion, the
whole wisdom of the case was combined in the few words
quoted by his Learned Friend below him (Mr. Broughem), from
the work of Sir Josiah Child, who had been a great commercial
character in this country. He did not mean now to go into the
general subject; he merely meant to give an idea of what hie in-
dividual view was; how he would meet the present proposition,
and how, when the matter came more tangibly before the House,
he would endeavour to discuss it. While he paid due respect to
the liberality which bad characterized the plan of the Right Hon.
Gentleman opposite, and while he fully admitted the acute intelli-
gence of mind with which he brought forward his propositions,
still it appealed to him that he mutt go to much greater lengths;
although, even then he might not go to the extreme point, which
he (Sir F. Burdett) was ready to advocate, whenever the proper
occasion arrived. He gave great credit to the Right Honourable
Gentleman for introducing so liberal a modification of the law,
but he did not think it went far enough. He conceived that
a more extended system was necessary for the interests of all,
and more particularly for the agricultural and landed interest
y
really opposed to each other, he would
ao f theer
great country,con ie n
H welfaree concern.--(Hear,
r,thattnth.ihtfeeobalrfervteilhslioN:ti
Iv—cvfhlhoahi
landed
hhdrnteeehdnhe%(l,esa,i
ban:
sem:
nnenoueT:tfieso.sttsst
ttioLalanfanentetaddulanii naturally
standing
oedyuctgmhpofeeena)terio:l
case, boldly and manfully maintain
m
a
i
i
f
wtaaariirt. had done ; but he certainly did
con-
nected. iscfkshatoueheei
opinions,
wouldirosiui
raon like the
ratuaethoi
lthsndfetel
iyonstiHinvntsieirnrysigee
such
ißaßi
not view this question as a struggle between these two interests.
He trusted that this discussion would be carried on, as it had begun,
without any feeling of acrimony ; convinced as he was, that the
two interests were inseparable, and that it was quite impossible
for the one to flourish while the other was decaying.—(Hear.)—
Of this he was perfectly convinced, that neither commerce nor
manufacture could succeed, while the landed interest was in a
state of depression.—(Hear, hear.)—Whenever the subject came
regularly forward, he should be ready to maintain those doc-
trines—doctrines, the exposition of. which appeared to him to
be of very great importance. It did appear to him that a mis-
taken feeling had gone abroad on this subject—that a mistake
had been made as to the cause of the distress which prevailed—
and that therefore, those measures had not been taken which
might have been adopted for the benefit of the country. It seemed
to him, indeed, to be quite extraordinary, that during the whole
course of this discussion, the price of corn had been solely dwelt
upon, while that which altered and erected the price of corn_
namely, the state of the currency—had not been adverted to..—
(Hear.)—Every gentleman had enlarged on the price of corn as
the great source of dissatisfaction ; but no one had touched on the
other question. He hoped, however, that on a future occasion
they would examine the state of the currency, which was, in fact,
the root of all the evils under which the country laboured. (Hear!)
The House then resumed, the Chairman reported progress, 'and
Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
askedi,
e leave
other to
sit again (on Friday week, we believe.)
T
House adjourned.

[The Gallery remained closed till nearly five o'clock, as the
House had appointed this evening for ballotting the Committee
to try the Election Petition, against the Return for the Burghs
of Stirling. When the doors were opened, a tremendous rush
took place, by which every part of the Gallery was 'immedi-
ately filled. The Reporters for the Morning Papers were, in
several instances, unable to obtain their places, which were occu-
pied by strangers, who had gained possession of them, by the in-
terest they had made with the door-keepers. An application to
high authority was necessary, in order to remove the intruders.
As the party chiefly offending received a sharp rebuke, we trust
that no servant of the House will again presume, in furtherance
of his own mercenary purposes, to raise any obstructions of this
kind, in the way of those who have so many other difficulties to
contend with in the performance of their arduous and important
duties. Not only was the body of the House full, but the Mem-
bers' Galleries also. The noise that continued incessantly after the
Speaker had taken the Chair, prevented us from hearing distinctly
what was the nature of the business passing in the House, until
Mr. Canning, who made his appearance about six o'clock, rose to
address it.]—Morning Chronicle.
[Considerable difficulty was experienced by the Reporters of
the Newspapers generally, in giving an account of the debate upon
the Corn Laws, in the House of Commons last night, in conse-

quence of their having been excluded, by some misarrangemenl
on the part of the officers of the House, from those seats in the
gallery which custom, if not direct authority, has allotted tethem.
An understanding has for several years existed, that the last roli,
in the gallery should be devoted to the use of the public press ex-
clusively, or so far as it may be necessary to their convenience;
end, for the accommodation of these seats, with the advantage ol
admission to them a few moments earlier than the general crowd
of strangers, a considerable Brim is paid every Session by the news-
papers to the messengers and other officers of Parliament entitled
to such fees. On those nights, however, when questions of im-
portance are expected, large douceurs (over and above the half
crown ecintoonly demandable) and frequently offered to the
door-keepers, by iodividuals, for early admission; and, owing
to the excess to which this sort of temptation (as we should ap-
prehend) bad been carried last night, when the reporters present.
ed thernoelves half an hour before the time at which the gallery
opened, they found the inner lobby of the House and the staircase
so crowded with persons thus privately admitted, as to fill the gal-
lery completely before it was possible for them to secure a place.
The effect of this proceeding was, that the house remained in a
state of great confusion during a considerable part of the night;
that the Speaker was repeatedly compelled to send round the Ser-
geant at Arms to silence persons who were crowded upon each
other to such a degree, that it was impossible that they should be
silent; and that the Reporters were most seriously interrupted its
attempting to give an accurate account of a debate to which the
Whole country is looking with the most intense anxiety. it can
hardly be suppossd to be any secret at this time of day that reporters
are present in the gallery of the House of Commons dating the de-
bates ; and we have not a doubt that the courtesy and consideration
of the Right Hon. Gentleman who fills the situation of Speaker
would lea-I him at once, if any application were made, to afford
every facility ; although the subject is one which we should be
loth to obtro.lc upon such attention, unless every other course of
remedy was found unavailing. But it is unjust towards those
persons who pay, and are content to pay, amply for.accommoda-
tion, that they should be defeated at those peculiar moments when
(only) that accommodation becomes important to them ; nor can
it, we repeat, be endured that the desire of a few door-keepers to
obtain half-a-dozen guineas or half-guineas more than they are
properly entitled to, should throw an indecent character of confu-
sion for several hours over the discussions of such an assembly as
the House of Commons, or preSent the publication by us o' a
debate which half the people in Europe are deeply interested in,
and which, except from the newspapers, they have no possible
means of obtaining.]—...