The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-15 00:00:00

NEW WRIT FOR SALOP.

On the motion of Sir T. FREEMANTLE a new writ
was ordered for the Southern Division of the County of
Salop, in the room of the Earl of Darlington, now Duke
of Cleveland.
Dr. BOWRING postponed his motion with respect to
the quarantine laws to Thursday week.
Mr. THESIGEIZ gave notice that upon the question
relative to election petitions being brought before the
House, he shouipl call the attention of the House to two
of the petitions which have been presented.
Mr. VERNON SMITH gave notice of his intention
to call the attention of the Ilouse to-morrow to the sub-
ject of emigration.
Mr. D'ISRAELI gave notice of his intention shortly
to move the blending of diplomatic bodies.
On the motion of Mr. SHAW returns were ordered
of the mortality of infants in the North Union Work-
house of Dublin.

On the motion of Dr. BOWRING copies of instruc-
tions given by the British Government to the Commis-
sioners; a statement of claims to the Mixed Commission
by British subjects; a statement of the awards given by
the Mixed Commission, and a copy of a report to the
Commissioners by the Government, were ordered.
SPADE DUTIES.

Mr. HUTT wished to put a question 'to the Bight
Honourable Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury on
a subject of great importance. He wished to know whe-
ther her Majesty's Government recognised the right of
Hanover to exact duties under the name of Stade duties,
except in conformity with the treaty of 1691, which fixed
the maximum at one sixteenth per cent, ad valorem.
Sir B. PEEL said that the subject was under the con-
sideration of her Majesty's Government and a Com-
missioner had lately arrived from Hanover for the pur-
pose of concluding the negotiations between. the two
Governments ; and he trusted that in that state of the
affair the Hon. Member would not press him for any
more determinate answer.

BONDED CORN. •
Sir D. ROCHE begged to ask the Right Hon. Gentle-
men, for the satisfaction of the large holders of bonded
corn and cattle—(Great laughter)—when it was intended
to apply the new duties, should his measure ever pass
the House —(Laughter)--to provisions now in bond.
Sir R. PEEL understood the question to be- —sup-
posing the measure should pass—in what time was it
proposed to apply the new duties to corn bonded in this
country ?--(Hear, hear, from Sir D. Roche.) He could
not see why the new duties should not come immediately
into operation on the passing of the Act. As to cattle,
he was not aware of there being any—(Laughter)—but
perhaps the Hon. Bart. was referring to a former statement
of his (Sir R. Peel's). What he meant was, in reference
to other articles of provision besides corn ; it was his
opinion, and that of his colleagues, that the prohibition
ought not to exist.—(Hear.)
PRODUCTION OF SUGAR. IN THE WEST
INDIES.

Mr. cf. BERKELEY begged ic) call the Attention of

COLONIAL DUTIPS.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE wished to put a question to the,
Right Hon. Gentleman the Vice-President of the Boarti
of Trade, respecting the regulating duties of the Colo-
nies, which he was bringing before the consideration of •
the House. It MIS relative to the importation
of corn from America into Canada. The
House wits aware that at present the importa-
tion of corn and flour from America into Canada was
duty free, and the qnestion he wished to ask, was whe-
ther he was to understand the effect of the schedule of
duties laid on the table of the House, to be to put
a duty of 3s. a quarter on American flour imported from
America into Canada.
Mr. G LADSTONE said that the resolution which
had been announced to the House was unquestionably
one which would raise the question of placing a duty of
3s. on corn imported from America. The question
would be raised, ~•,•ui.l he would then state the intention
of the Government.
IMPORTATION Or FLOUR (IRELAND). _
Mr. LA BOUCHERE wished to ask .the Right Hon-
Baronet (Sir R. Peel) whether it was the intention of "
Government to allow the importat ion of flour into Ireland,
which was now prohibited under the new Corn-law.
Sir R. PEFA, was aware that Irish Members took
great interest in this subject, and remembered the op-
position they gave last Session to the proposition in-
volved in the present question ; but he was bomul to
say, that in case of a change of the Corn and Provision-
lawS, he could adopt no special legislation ; for thoth
it was a provision exporting country, no exception could
be made in her favour.--(hear.):
Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice to the effact that where.
the question of the importation of provisions from the
Colonies came before the House, he would take the sense
of the House on the question, whether or not it was
competent for the House to tax the Colonies.--(Hear.)
Sir R. PEEL moved that the Order of the Day-be
now read, but
Mr. ROEBUCK said he begged first to put a questio u
to the Speaker respecting the rules of proceeding in the'
House. It had been given out that the Speaker had said
that no Member of the House had the power to move
a resolution in the House, as distinguished from a Com-
mittee, to the effect that no duty ought to be levied on
corn. Now he (Mr. Roebuck), begged to ask the Right
Hon. Gentleman, whether he as Speaker, deemed it
im-
competent for him (Mr. Roebuck), or any other Me Aber
of the House, to move a resolution in the House, as Llis-
tinguished from a Committee, to the effect that ti xis
House is not prepared to adopt any plan whir
ti
purposes to impose any duty on corn imported from,
foreign countries ? Before a motion condemning a
sliding-scale was proposed by the Noble Lord, he (Mr.
II.) wanted to know whether he war empowered to pro-
pose a resolution proposing any duty whatever ?
The SPEAKER said that all questions directly relat-
ing to trade were required by the Standing Orders to be
moved in a Committee of the whole House ; but it was
possible by wording the resolution in a general way to
take the sense of the House on the question, whether
or not a duty should be imposed on corn. Certainlp
this would not be the regular way ; the regular way
would be in a Committee of the whole House.
Lord ELIOT, in reply to a question, which was
almost inaudible proposed by air. Powell, On
the subject of Grand Juries in Ireland, said that
his (Lord Eliot) could not give a distinct answer
until he had received the report of the Commissioners-
appointed to inquire into the subject ; and -with res,wct
to local governments, any genteman herea) ter
placed in such a situation, must be perfectly liable to a) ey
alterations that might be made.
THE CORN-LAWS.—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
Sir R. PEEL now moved that the House resolve itself"
into a Committee of the whole House, and resume the
debate on the duties affecting the import of foreigncorn.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, Sir, I believe I should
in no way diminish the difficulties of the task I have.
undertaken, or obtain greater power for my arguments,.
if I were to commence my address to the House by pre-
face or introduction. Therefore, Sir, I shall at once C.
the attention of the House to the position in which they
now stand. The question of the Corn-laws has hem
submitted to us by the first Minister of the Crown,
In proposing the scale he has laid before us, he has not,
only acted upon the authority of the Government over
which he presides ; but he has also informed us that
having collected the opinions of those most interested
in agriculture, he found there were but very Kn/
of that class, who were not in favour of some
modification of the existing corn-laws. We, there
fore, now stand in the situation of considering
the Corn-laws with a view to alteration by almost gene-
ral consent.—(Hear, hear.) The cry is no longer that
of no surrender.—(Cheers.) The question is as to the
terms of the continuation.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, if tl'at
be the case ; if we are prepared to condemn the present!
Corn-laws as unfit to be longer continued on the,
Statute Book as inapt for the purpose for which.
they have been enacted, of regulating the tirade;
in corn ; I say then, without fear of contra-
diction, that it is of the utmost importance that you
should make- that change upon sound principles ; that
you should endeavour to make it give as much as pos-
sible of general-satisfaction ; especially to that dis-
tressed portion of the community, of whose condition
we have heard such lamentable accounts from both sides
of the House ; and lastly, that it should be such a lave
that it would not be liable to cause an immediate fresh.
agitation of the question, but that all who are to live
under that law, all who have transactions, in that most
important of all articles, the article of food, which com-
prehends, in its various classes, the whole community,
• that they should be aware of the state of
l
d to arunthdt: t
under
which they are to live ; 'and be greld'tur c —re b
state
0-1
ear)
for a time at least, it will not
fruits
Because, although it may be wise to concede, yet,when
the
we concede, we ought to look for
tion. It may be wise to disturb a law that now
it afresh, upon exists ;
yet to settle nothing-.
but when we make that disturbance, we ought to do it
better
ffoourndthaetiorpoTsoe of
gd
not conciliate, to disturb
the present state of things and

(Hear, hear, hear)--would be, I conceive, of all
cases that could be conceived by a Government
and a Parliament, the most imprudent for Government
to propose and for Parliament to adopt.—(Cries of" Hear,
hear.') Sir, I. think it necessary, however I may
be obliged to trespass on the indulgence of the HOuse in
giving you my reasons for opposing, in this early stage,
the measure of the Government, to state as briefly
as I can the general 'principles which should guide
our legislation upon this subject. Ido so, because al-
though in one point I should agree with the principles
laid down by the first Minister of the Crown, there
are other points on which I entirely differ from
him. I suppose it will be agreed that with re-
spect to corn, as with respect to everything else,
the general principle
.is one of not legislating at all upon
the subject.—(Hear, hear.) The general principle with
regard to all commodities is, that the producer or the
seller endeavours to produce and to bring to market that
which is most likely to find a ret,dy and immediate pur-
chaser ; awl the purchaser, on his side, goes to marit,tiie,
to (ntal the goods of which he is most, i;1 nee(i h
best in their ohality, end the cheapest ro their pi-pif.,
therefore legheators have no ph-tee on the
community themselves are far better gea the
wisest Semite en tlle matter. eommu,nita
themselves. in their several capacities, choose welch
are the articles of they stand in need
purchase them, and these
—they choose ileum whern they
articles whigh he producers thetrisives
are ti best judeve of the articles they shall produce,
and of the markets to which they bring their pro-
ducti,ans. This is a prire.tiple generally acinnewledged at
excellent principles, it is
the present day, hut otner
exeeedingly practie.c. 'l'co doubt there are
limitations and cxecions with regard to the appliea-
catien of that rule ;;und with reup:,,t, to Corn in parti-
cular I should say thero arc many limitations on which
I myself oft.:-'it had 0ccr.:.:07,. to observe. With regard to
general tax ..ation, ns ;lb!), says, yoa have no
right to tax c,.:r3i tonnn;-; fn)in I%lreign countries
because your • own people he a general
taxation, and because Met taxatiee would go erineipelly
to factors and imperters. _flat with regard to any par-
ticidar taxation, without entering now—as Ido riot mean
to enter—into that (petition, as to t; hat taxation is, and
what,- its amount should be, the former and . those who
cultivate the lend hear a readier tax, it is ..:Most that
that they should bring theirnroducts into the marteet under
this peculiar taxation, which protects the; merchant
of foreign countries. There is another prineiple laid
down upon the subject I Adam Smith, as the quo-
tetiosts endeelving it Wt.lt" :sort, he would read it to the
House. (Tire ,!; n read the extract. It was
to the elfaet that weer iii:tnufaeturer had bei nprotected
and encouraged so as 1,, employ a great number of per-
sons, it should he a Question of prudence whether the
protection duty whiL encouraged the manufacturer
• sheull ha done away with that if it were
done away with, it Should be done so with caution, 50 us
not to throw those who were employed in it nut of
eiu-
ploynient. The Lord then proceeded to
prove this a principle laid down by a high au-
theri and Otte to whisk no objection could he made.)
I therefore think your legislation is unwiee, and the
effact of this legislation of yours has been to cause 'the
occupation of certain lands, and the employment of many
labourers upon them. You ahould creleaveur to protect the
labourer.; in your own country front an oxen;:. or taxation.
L'at, Sir, fetene then to nagree to ;t; 1311lell of protection
as Might Le a-,.1,:cd under these two beads. ii it should
b. f; mad iii Committee-- if it siltullA he found, in discuss-
lag this matter in Coirmittee, that there tire: inadue pre-
ferences in the Country I mention, think they should be
reineved. If, however, it should be proved that there
arcs 310 such preferenees, it' there be eueoura gement given
to agricidture by this law,. that rhould likewise be taken
into consideration, but. the Government in proposing the
plan now before-the -House, take a wider rauge ; they
laid their prineinie far more wide ; they laid down the
principle 'adopted by Malthus, Which princinle was acted
upon be the Legislature of this countaa on a former occa-
sion. Y cu ought to make yourselves independent eftereign
nations.—(Cheers.) NOW that is tire principle upon
which the present law is :named—that is the principle
upon which the proposithm of the Right Hon. Beronet
is framed, and whicn tends to prevent, by prohibition'
other nations from seruling food into this country. I
coafess, therefore, although this proposition may be ex-
cellent to seine remote arid sequestered State—although
it might suit a State iol?,iexico, I cannot conceive how
it can be applicable to a great commercial
country. Supposing it were desirable, in what
manner would you establish it in .practice ? You
meet recollect; it is not merely with respect to corn.
The Eight HOD. Baronet stated the other night. that
they had had for four yaars au importation of 4,300,000
quarters, so that it might be said that the people of the
coup trya ere dependenthipon foreign countries for upwards
of one ofquartersityeaa. iiith respect to the other
comm odities the employs :tin;; of the people engaged in ma-
nufacturce as much depends upon the supply of the raw
material as &ail. Iftlie supply ot cotton from America were
stopped, or the supply of foreign silk, there would be not
less.than five millions of people deprived of employment.
There aiYuld be seven millions ofyour people, if you go on !
this principle, who were dependent upon foreign na-
tions for their- footle raid , who cannot but continue
to be 'ail dependent—(Hear, hear)—so that it is
evident 'that "any attempt. which you have made to
make this canntry indepondent.of foreign countries has
failed, and every such attempt must necessarily fail. The 1'
conseerticeee bans pointed ou t in the Report of the Commit-
tee of this ilbuae in 4821 ; the consequence is, that whilst
you ra? the' priee Of food in this. eountry
.b.cyond the
price ''tit' 'other continental countries, you give
stimulus ' to agriculture, and . the faect, o'f that '
stimulus- in favottrabl, seasons was„ to produce a glut,
in whiCh it was impossible to dispose. of all the corn pro-
duced.—(Hear, hear.) Tow, the inevitable consequence
of that' that in those years you have the agricultural
distress referred to in the report of 1821,--(llear, hear.)
These were the years'in which agricultural distress was
referred to in the speeches of the King, in reports or
Committees, and in speeches in Parliament.—(Loud
cheers.) You will find that these were the years
of agrienitural distress, because there was no outlet
and vent for the proclece.—(Hear, hear.) And what
follows? You will find that after this glut there comes
a check to the production, which is restricted to that
which is suited to average years ; so that in unfavour-
able seasons you do not have the quantity of
food which is necessary, and you are forced
ttamake a large importation, and thus the object of the
law is defeated, and you have not that constant supply
which is desirable in ail years.—(Hear.) The only way
in which I conceive this object of the law to be wished
for at. all is in the case of war with foreign.
nations. I cannot conceive greater time of a war than when
this country was struggling against Napoleon.—(Vear,
hear.) But, during the time of that war, two million
quarters of corn were imported in one single year.—
(Hear.) That importation was greatly diminished in sub-
sequent years ; but still at that time this country
was admitting foreign corn, there being no law

to prevent the Impertsiiion, and the people Vero living
partly on the produce of other nations. But is there
any chance or probability that you will have a
greater war than that to contend with 2. But if
there • was, still I say, that resting as you
wee upon commerce and inannfarture the you
weesupply
of food would be in danger ; bet ' it would' not be
in the danger that is apprehended.--(hear,. hear.)
Therefore, the- remedy should be the very reverse of that
which, is proposed to the House
remedy proposed to the House as taken (fji eel's.)
The
Hon. 4entleman's argument, is to erom the Right
endeavour as much
as possible to protect our native and
lto
mane such a law as never toin have. 7,113'
except from the northern . parts of any supply
The Eight Honourable Gentleman in that argumente
said that the countries with which we have our com-
merce, are nearly in the same latitude as this cometry is,
and that, consequently, their seasons were nearly
the dame as ours. In other words, the Right
Honourable Baronet endeavoured to maintain that,
As a necessary consequence, when those coun-
tries. head abundance of provisions, so would this
coUntry hive" 'abundance, and when we would have a
scarcity, so would they.--(Loud cheers from the Opposi-
tion Benches.) All that argument went upon the suppo-
sititm that we should have a law such as that which
cxiite at present, which confines the supplies of this
eTintry.—(llear, hear.) A real remedy could not be
hatrin ' ththatwoty—our supplies shouts, net be restricted
1 f
or Aionitted to t!iol,, c6,untries atom., hut instead of
havalg_ourupply in those countries, and in the North
of Enrope exclusvely, we should be supplied by the
North of, Europe—by the countries adjacent to the
Black Sea, ail(' by every
.other country all over the
world. oar commerce should be extended all over the
whole world for the purpose of giving iv- ttmt supply of
food of which we so greatly stand in-need.' b(llear, and
w cheers.) Sir, the propolal no made to the—l
-10 m, by the
resolution proposed by tCe Right Hon. Baronet cpposite,
niaiataius the principle of 'a slidine, scale, and it maintains
the principle of a high duty.--(Loud cheers from the
Opposition benches, and counter-cheers.) In objecting
to that sliding scale, Sir. the first objection I take to it
is, that a high and prohibitory duty, I should say al-
ways, forms part of that scale.—(Hear, hear, and
tut cheers.) I can understand a scale not. exceeding
tnOs. or Lit., and guing down to 4.5.' or 25., Or Is., but I
d that whenever Hon. Gentlemen speak of a sliding
'scale, it always Contains a high and a prohibitory duty.
Wha is tha
first duty in this proposed measure ? The
lfiz htd,uty is 20s. upon all foreign wheat.—(Hear.) I
h, -aria to show, first, that that is a prohibitory duty.
--,eers.) I have loo!:ed at the papers which contain
the • latest
the subject. I nformation - the House has had upon
have looped at those papers which were
presented to the House by the Eight Hon. Gentleman,
the Vice-Preside
I have looked e
at te: the • Board of Trade, and also
seated to 'Parliainene papers
which were pre-
last year, by a gentleman
Who was expressly sat to the North of Euroye
for the purpose of ..,
trade there— a gclnsetkertaiuing the precise -state Of
lions there not only witllue" wit° had commuseca •
first t the Lightin :Jai
ariltercllantshttad p:rsonspersons, but also with
/1,,1,"(' there. I was curprised
thEarte(-e
ble Gentleman (Sir
Robert Peel) in the course of Ili?eura
b,hayingcollected
aS he did, his information from,'
Gentleman'sil papers,
should have made an atteek :Ton that
but when I looked at surprise altoge-
thee pap„re lir ". Gentleetan
ther ceeeed, for I diecoverel that if
other proof of the discretion .•*, the ' plArl et 1Y Ho-
nourable a entleman.---(4tughter and cheelin, )
b
find that the duty
,upon. Wheat in Dantzie is 40s. e
that the charges ..stffieh they say must necessarily
incurred, and of 'Which I need not go into details, would
be.4s. 6d. to 55., snaking in all 10;. Gd. to be added to the
original •p):ice ; that as the original' prico at Dantzic,
when bibught from the interior of the country, would be
355., they say, with the addition of 10s. 6d., it would
N ply
.„ , be sold in England, making the price of 455. 6d.
----- ._
_•' 1-.41, ha t have we to add to that ?—(flear)-205., Mak -
—7 --- jag t:is. Gd., when the priee.here is 505.; being of course a
vrohil*ry (Cheers.)duty. And in the same way, at
„-
~__ Odessa it`i -, in
264„ "4
the stated the return, that the price Will be
thaootiecii freight
.193. ; of amuse, we must add to
-ra. ges 'which we cannot take at less than _ss.,
AI rl • i
,s.

there would be 615., without the profit of the merchant.
Therefore, with respect to these lower sums, you see
there shall be a prohibitory duty of 205., and that when
corn is 555, there shall be a duty of 18s. ; yet in all these
instances it would be shown that the duty would be pro.-
hibitory. That when the price of grain is 555. and 565,,
—the price at which the Right Hen. Gentleman says it
ought to be —when that favourite and chosen price is the
one, can tell why that should be the price-
(Hear, pposition benches)--there would then be
andfri tmoobtohdeyo
a prohibitory duty on foreign corn; true the Right Hon.
Gs cinlttil
says, and he says most truly, "I think 20s.
i
icnt ;" and no doubt he is perfectly right
ctee n_isaunffic
—(Hear, hear.) I think those-duties of 455. and 475., as
we had once when corn was 395., are odious, and ought
not to be endured. I agree with the Right Hon. den-.
tleman, and I think that in 1828,- if they said
" 28s. will exclude foreign corn, we don't want
a door stronger than to keep the corn ont"--f-if the doer
he itself strung enough, we have no occasion to put on
iron plates and locks ; therefore, we will be satisfied
with a duty of 20s !—(Hear, hear.) But I must and db
hope that we have arrived at a period in thi.4 question
we have a greater claim than what is entertained
in the pan proposed by- the Rig-ht Hon. Gentleman op-
posite, which,
though it make the old system appear
rather Icss odious to the country, in reality is nothing
but a mocery.—(Hear.) I have mentioned the price
of corn at ammic avid Odesa, and if we reckon the aye-

rage price o: corn at 455., the duty cf 2.0. raises it
64 ; ther,;fore, with respect to all foreign courarle:i,
I maintain that this duty of 20s. is prohibitory ;
it is not poseiblo for me to say, though I have
endeavoured to ascertain it, at what price duty ceases
to be pmhibitory, As tne price increases, and the mer-
chant gets a better price, the duty falls. I should
aerding to the statement I have ma;k,
that it could be imported at the present .
which is 65., but it- appears to me that corn
brought from Dantzie will be .t s. Gd.; which, with
the proiits it requires, could hardly be add at the
escut price of corn, namely sixty-one shillings.
-t:p to this point you have a prohibitory duty. Nov,
Sir, I need not icy that a prohibitory duty strikes
at all the principles of trade. Ido not mean to

eay every trade of the country, but at all the
principles of trade. It is this that has caused
so much mischief in the Corn-laws as they at
present stand. The merchant 'bays an article in
foreign countries, it may be at an advantageous
price or not according to the market ; but aaer
incurring great expense, after rna.l:ing himself liable
to a large sum of money in order to bring articles
from foreign countries, he finds, on bringing them to
this country, a prohibitory ditty staring him in
the face, uttering an insuperable obstacle to his trade
by this impediment thrown iii its way.—(Hear, hear.)
Thus is. the sliding scale in its nature inimical to trade.
Now what has been the consequence during the last year
oe some of these duties; it is stated very well in two pam-
phlets written on this subject, the one by Mr. Hubbard,
_ _

and the other by Mr. Greg ; in one it is shown that,
in June last—nay, I think on the sth of July,
that the price of Dantzie wheat was 48s. a
quarter, and you might have obtained it out of.

bond at 545. ors Gs. a quarter. It was not admitted en
the sth of August ; when corn had risen to Os,
st ill it was not admitted; the speculator had mason to be-
lieve that he could obtain a better priCe for it. In the
begirming of September, only two months aft-r
when it mi:.•ht have been sold at
i3s., was sold l'or 70:;. ; thu:3, being an
addition of 22e. per quarter.—(Hoar, boar, and cbcer,,.)
Was that a benefit to the English farmer—(Load chers)
—or was it a benefit to the landowners of this country?

tin
it

—(Cheers.) it was given to the foreign specuiators
or holders of corn, thus bnefiting them alone, with-
out any benefit whatever to the consumer.—(Loud
eheer.s) The corn was admitted at an enormous price
without any benefit to the revenue or to the consumer.'
Grog states, but I think it is an over calculation
that he has made, but he states that the money paid to
the holders of corn, and to the growers in foreign coun-
tries, was not less than 6,000,000/. As I said, I think
that is over the stun, but I should think not less than
3 or 4,000,000!., have nevssarily ,been paid in
order to obtain the hoi;.fits. of this sliding-scale.
--(Loud cheers.) It was a tribute paid to the sliding-
scale, but a loss to the country.--(Loud cheers.)
Sir, I have another statement which I received to-day,
which shows another evil of the sliding scale. Yea say
that you will take tlyt duty according to those averages.
The Right HOn. Baronet did not say how he would settle
the averages. He said they shall not be altered, they
shall be taken much in the same way as heretofore.
NOW, 'take the averagei as you may, there is one effect
inherent. they do not tell the quality of the corn.—(Hear.)
Duriu..4 the present year, as has happened in one of the
years, a great portion of the corn wtis

fo rill cr

very much damaged ; some persons, well ac-
quainted with agriculture, say not less than a fifth
of the whole crop of England. The consequence; has
.been a very great lowering of the price of corn in the
market. fiet do the people get 'their bread at all
cheaper ?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") You have a
duty now of 265. perhaps instead of some lower
!atm, because it has come to that degree of cheapness ;
but that degree of cheapness is not cheapness to the
consumer of bread, because he is paying as much as
when the average was much higher. a: Now a gentleman
who has written on this subject says; that in the
ginning of 1841, in the month of January, the average
arice of wheat was 618. 2d., that in Jan., 1842, the average
price was also 615.. 2d. You would, Cher: -
hare, . suipose - the price being the same, the
averages being the same, the chines being the same,
that the' people could obtain their bread at the
same price. Is that the ease ? far from it.
The price of the best town made flour at Mark-
' lane in the first four months cf 1841, was
555. a sack, and in 1842 it was 61s. a sack, making a
•
differende of no less than'as. in the sack of flour-a-in that
sack of flour, from which the bread is admitted to be
made, where the averages and the duty which you impose
have not altered a single shilling.—(Hear, hear.) Now
that is a fault—that is a defect, which you could not get
rid of even if you were to change your system
of averages twenty times, and to introduce 150 towns.
more than are now proposed to be introduced.—(Laugh-
ter froM the Opposition.) It is a fault by which you are
charging the people With improper-duty, by which you
arc making the peorlaboaer of this country pay a high
pike for his corn, and at the same time are excluding
foreign corn from this country—(Hear). Sir, another defect
which -is likewise; inherent in this scale, or in any scale,
is that you require foreign corn at particular times, when
you are unable to obtain it by that exchange of articles
which accompanies a regular trade. You have prohibi-
tion for two or three years. You then find, after har-
vest, that a large supply will be required. The price
rises enormously—as I have shown you the price rises
from 225. in the course of two months. You have
many millions to pay, and you have no means of meeting
the demand by sending out goods. You have not a
regular trade. You are obliged to send out part
of your 'stock of bullion to pay for that corn.
The Bank of England naturally and inevitably
contracts its issues ; and that contraction takes
place • whilst the whole commercial world is in a
state of embarrassment—(Hear, hear)—when; your
manuflteturers are unable to give employment
tai their artisans, and - when those artisans are pay-
ing increased prices far the articles of sustenance.
There must, no doubt, be' Seasons in which corn will be
much higher than. at others. I *admit that ; and I (la
not think von can have a regular- low price, or a per-
fectly steady price, at all. But this Ido say—this Ido
essert, that if there are difficulties placed by nature in
the way of such a steadiness of price, you have by your
bad legislation aggravated those difficultiez.—(Cheers
from the OppoSition.) You have heaped embarrassment
upon embarrassment, and piled difficulties upon difficul-
tieS.—(Hcar, hear.) A steadiness of price-should be the
I object of your legislation, and that is totally ineomnati-
ble with a prohibition at one moment, and a free.atimis-
sion at another.—(Hear, hear.) Then with respect to
frauds ; I wish •to say a few words upon that subject.
I cannot think, however, with the Right Hon. Gentle.
mass, that while there are now very serious frauds, there
will not also be very serious frauds under his scheme ;
because, put it as you may, the raising of the • price
is in every instance to be accompanied with a lowering
of the duty, and to the extent of the reduction you ne-
cessarily hold out a temptation to fraud. In the year
1830, I think, a Committee of this House sat. and•inves-
tigated and exposed a great number of frauds that had
been committed with respect to the averages, and they
advised what they considered a remedy for those frauds.
You had, however, in the last year—you had, in the years
1833 and 1839,-frauds existing which were notorious—you
had the markets raised 9s. a
,quarter in a single week.
and all for the purpose, and with the contrivance, of ob-
taining a reduction of the duty. That at least is a bad
syst e nil _of legislation Which gives encouragement to
fraud and gambling speculations, while you ought to.
have an honest and wholesome trade. I have stated
some of the effects of a sliding scale, bat really
if I Were testate all the effects of such a scale, I would
havemuehmore to add. But there is another ard most
serious effect of the sliding scale which I have touched
upon before, namely, that it confines your supplies
to countries in the North of Europe.--(Hear, hear.)'
You have a deficient harvest, a scarcity in this vountrv,_
and a rise in prices—you then send immediately ordera
and ships to Dantzic, and to all the ports which uotntnu-
nicate with us in the Baltic, for cargoes of wheat, in
order 'to take advantage of the low duty. That
corn comes in, and you are to remain satisfied
with that supply. But, suppose any merchant
should - say, " the prices of corn Irom the
ikdtic are too high. I know there a
market for British goods in -North America —;
I know that if their corn could be sent here in exchange
for our goods I could dispose of it, end that the transaa-
tionaVedd be profitablein both ways."—(Hear, hear.)
lint if he were to send an order to America, the duty
may have risen by the time that the cargo has errived,
and then your prohibitions stand in his way ; then your
nrices.may have fallen, your duty may be high, and he
`will find that for two or three years that cargo is left
upon his hands, and he is a loser by the a hole transaction.
I^. hat a defect must than be in the law, which does not
permit you to go at all to the-most favourable market,
v,•Bich does not permit you to go to the United States for
your supply?--(llear, hear.) Indeed, with respect to
our commerce with foreign nations, there seems to be
nothing more desirable than that we should endeavour
to retain and to improve our trade with America ; and
I should say to you, most emphatically, " Preserve the
markets of the United States, and of the Brazils."
Great quantities of goods manufactured by us have been
imported to these •countries. By adopting common
rules., and by adhering to common sense, you would re-
tain, improve, and enlarge almost indefinitely, those
markets.—(Hear, hear, and eheers.) But no, you say
" the present laws won't do, we must alter them, and
make a new contrivance, by which we may shut the
door against the United States, and refuse to admit
their produce to taiii markets. I have here a statement
which I have taken from Mr. Buckingham's work on
America—an important extract—on the extent and means •
of production of the State of New -York alone, as retards

the growth of wheat, and which I shall take the liberty
' of reading to the House.(The Noble Lord read the ex-
tract in adow voice ; bitt the substance of the quotation
' was, that this fertile territory extended from the Lakes
in the north to Ohio in the south, entracing_an area of
280,000 square miles, being twice as large as the king-
dom of France, and six times the size of England:` it
containe4,l66,ooQ,ooo acres of land, and was irri-
gated by. or in Inching on the Ohio, the Wisconsin,
and the
,Mississippi. Within 21 years its popula-
tion had increased to the number of 3,000,000, and it
was catculated that. by-the year 135.0 it would have
swelled to-the agregate of 6.000,000). Now, proceeded
the Noble Lord, this great population. this vast extent of
fertile and arable land is • removed from this country to
such a distance,' that on the authority of Mr. Curtis
wheat could not be exported from those districts to our
pOrts for less than from 435. to 475. a quarter.; so that
the American could not be considered a competitor by
the English farmer, at least while there would be
no just grounds to regard the American farmer as
auch, the people of that country would be great con-
sumers of your manufacturcs.—(ll ear, hear.) Ido be,
lieve that 6,000,000 of people inhabiting to fertile a
country would naturally prefer the, pursuit of ngricul-
ture to manufactures.—(Cheers.) I believe that they
would be glad to receive your mymfaxtures in exchange
for their food and exports—(Cheers)--for however the
manufactnrers of the United States may be advancing,.
they cannot yet give the balk of the people-
occupation, and it is probable that
they will not do so for a Icing time.—(Hear.)
You have it in your parser to establish a commerce of
to extensive and useful kind—of giving food to the peo-
ple and employment to-the poor and in fature years of
'ambling them to avoid that horrible distress which has
,i-evails,d of late—of bestowing comfort on the inhabitants
f this kingdom while they consume the products of dis-
.antcountries.—(Hear, hear.) But, instead of this, you
ray '- We have the power of legflation in our
hands, and we will use it. to . stop this great trade.—
clear, hear.) We have the power in our hands to
.;top this accumulation of human comfort and prospz:-
itv, and because" we have the pwer, we undertake
to place a • barrier against it."—( Loud cheers.) Sir;
such would be the effiK:t of your continuance oF
the sliding settle.--(Loud cheers.) Your commerce with
America in wheat anti wheat-hour will be diminished ;
tt will not wholly stopped, 'but it will be greatly
diminished 'by the uncertainty of which I speak.—
(Cheers.) Is it likely that merchants, with the
.ear of that uncertainty before their eyes, will
outer into those - speculations in corn ? They
considered it a gambling and speculating trade which it
u-as better he should not enter into. lam glad to find,
nowever, that the Right Hon. Baronet hesitates whether
he shall finally adopt putting a new obstacle on the
importation of corn, not by a sliding reale, hut by a
fixed duty.on the flour, which would naturally come to
this country from the -We4cm States by the canals and
the St. Lawrence. I trust the Right Hon. Gent.,
having hesitated at all will give up that part of his
echeme; but even Withunt.that obstacle, is it not mon
strolls- that, legislating with _ regard to the corn

trade, and, indeed,— legiSlatii—u; with respect
lo all other articles, yon should say that the inhabitants
et' the Black Sea. and America should not be as free to sent

hcir products here as to any other part of the world?—
( ;;beers.)"' But the situation of America does not accord

.ith the 'objection which the Eight Hon. Bart. has urged

P to the narrow circle from which you can expect corn,
those countries which hat'e the' same latitude and climate
ith our own.—(Hear, hear.) That country is fit for
the production of corn, between the 3Gth and 43d de.
r,rees of north latitude. The objection was, *that they
could not avoid dearness in certain years, either
I,y a fixed duty or by any other fixed plan.
We haVe a_ right, Sir, to reject the plan at pre-
siait proposed for. one more. consonant with. the
'maxims .of trade—more consonant with the de-
ductions of science—and, -above all, more conso-
limit with the petitions of our suffering population.
-- (Loud cheers.) We have a right to co this, and
;he produce of the world will thus. be opened
to us, and we need not fear either such frequent
occurrence of periods of scarcity or the interruptions
of trade, or making the dependence of this coun-
try on 'others an object of an xie ty.—(Hear, • hear.)
If with- with the universality of our commerce,
vice have to protect our national interests, our formi-
dable navy—and our navy will always be formidable—
the independence of our country we need not entertain
the slightest apprehension.—(Cheers.) Opposed then,
as I tan, Sir, to the plan of a sliding scale, and thinking
that any plan founded on that basis ought to- be re-
iected, I shall, if that plan be also presented,
't.ai ready to discuss the subject with those who oppose
the laying on of any duty at all. I think that a moderate
fixed duty might be proposed with propriety; but what I
roros ,- in the present instance, is the rejection of the
plan proposed by her Majesty's Ministers.—(llear,
hear.) If it shou:d be found that there are no ex-
clusive burdens oiragriculturc,-(Hear)—l should then
say, make such a provision of a duty, as shall prevent a
sodden change, and pre% ent the falling into distress of
,c'reat masses of agricultural labour. But if' there
tumid be, as 1 .believe there- are, peculiar burdens
agriculture, then impose a duty as moderate as you
possibly can, in consideration of those burdens. Do not

Tot us raise it- a single shilling—not a single farthing
shove what is absolutely necessary. If there is, us the
liightlion. gentleman states that there is, an advantage
is submitting to restrictions for the sake' of the general
interest, this argument, to be unconquerable, must
be- si.ippiirted by. good .and sensible reasons.
< Hear, bear.) Now, Sir, for a fixed duty we have,
for a sliding-seale• it is not possible to have, such reasons.
it Must•be-,said in favour of a fixed duty that it has
leen reeminnended at, different times by persons of great
irathority.—(Hear, hear.) The first recommendation
is from Mr. Malthus, who in 1815 proposed, after
a certain time that the duty should become fixed
t. 10s. His proposal for a duty ,on foreign corn was
!l at it should be first 20s. and fall. Is.,' year by year,

!ill it came to 10s., where it should remain. Mr.
Maculloch, another advocate for a fixed duty, stated
teat, instead of the burdens of agriculture being equi-.
alent to a fixed duty of 10s., that a duty of
would be a full 'protection.--(Hear.) The Committee
cf 1821, which comprised many persons eminent in agri-
cultere, among others, the Hon. Gentleman the Pay-
master of the Forces, Sir T. Gooche, and many persons
cf all classes and all opinions, also recommended a
fixed duty:,

Sir ROBERT PEEL expressed his dissent.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—Does the Right Honour-
eble Gimtleman dispute , that ? The Report begins
by expressing a- doubt whether there can be any
solid foundation for agricultural prosperity except by
a hstaining as far as possible from legislative interference
with agriculture, either by protection or prohibition of
importation.—(Loud cheers.) The report then goes on
to state.', that agriculture' had flourished most when
a fi4e importation of corn had been allowed.—(The Noble
Lord proceeded to read various extraet&from the Report
et' the
..Committee„ alluded t 0..;. froth.which it appeared
that the Committee recommended a modification of the
1.7: isting law, which produced much inconvenience from
t!!e sudden manner in which the ports were opened under
iei enactments, and the consequent sudden influx of corn
into the market, and suggested a remedy that, whenever
1 the ports 'were 'open; corn should be admitted at a fixed
i (' qty. 'The reading of this extract was_ followed by loud
c!lecring and counter cheerint-.) Permit me to observe,
1 that although the Conimittee recommends a fixed duty,
11 cannot but think that the person who drew up the
ihaport, and who so well explained and understood
the principles of free trade, and so anxiously
iilvised FLU adoption of those principles, must
liave, when he recommended it, considered the
a !option of a fixed duty as a temporary measure, as the
lest probably which he could obtain at the time—(Hear,
lwar)—but must have looked forward to the ultimate
adoption of the great principle which he had so distinctly
laid down 'in the commencement of the Report, and have
considered that the time would at length arrive when all
protectionrand all prohibition should cease.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Huslusson was a party to the Bill.of 1827. lie was
likewise a party to the Bill of 1828 ; but in 1830, in the
last speech which he ever made on the subject in this
Ilouse, he stated, that he doubted whether it could be pos-
sible, with our present system of taxation, to keep up our
present system of Corn-laws.—(Loud cheers.) Mr.
tlaskisson was a man who thoroughly . understood
11: e principles of trade. He always advocated the
principlcs'of free trade, aril always endeavoured to carry
them out, as far as he thought he prudently could do
so. One of the objections to a plan of a fixed duty is,
tl'at it would in times, of scarcity prevent an adequate
cl!pply from coming into the market. When I
I!: id the honour to propose a , plan for a
ti eed duty to the House, I stated my belief that
the imposition of a fixed duty would in a great measure
ll:event the Ocarrence of scarcity by securing a constant
and regular supply; but, at the same time, I stated there
night be various methods of preventing a fixed duty
..':ling in such a manner in times of scarcity, and one
o:' the remedies was to give to the Government the
t over of opening the ports under certain circumstances.
i think that May be better than the view taken by the
1 Cemmittee of 1821. It may, psrhaps, be better that at
a certain point,l3s. or 745., there should be no duty.—
(' 3 rent cheering from the Ministerial side of the House.)
1 say that is matt:-.r for consideration. I proposed
before that in case of scarcity there should :be a
discretionary power allowed to the Crown, and I now say,
as an alternative, that it should be considered whether
1 i a the case of high prices, the duty should not cease.--a
Gicar, hear.), The Right Hon. Gentleman stated the
ether. might, that it would be necessary for the per
i eilmhdenarbpee
tkheeprte particularlyup
,would. —( L up.—(Loud
lubmedz i , cshtubectethrt s.) But
~,,,,,, of the Tithe Commutation Act, that the system
-,;;;::11,ain tv ecr.lniaer:s3t%a,
etsrel
e:llee from foreign countries, that then the Lainfbguisd'hilt
: !rion!turists would be 'ruined by the competition ; and
be stated if you have corn very dear, then the lteepin,.;
10' Of a fix, (1 duty would be atilei
evil and
sea:,_gt(ice:lenerese).
"lthm
respect to the tarsier of these objections, I think
to take any
t',
e
tii, abundant
protectiontothylteett'ir. I
rinerf is the
you choose
-ear since 1831, you will find that there has never
'fi.cn a less price than 365., and with the cost of freight
ft:ICI importation, at the most moderate statement, that.
eas the lowest price at which the English farmer
.seld in 1831. Then with respect to dear years, lam
icily, .'anti always e a,:i ready to say, although I think
;;r; to advtiutage r.. 01:.: ho given by it to the foreign
merchant titan to the ,:l.:,:!ish agricuiturist— yet we
must consider the impression made on the public
mind . when corn was high, and must relax the
hity either .by the ' authority of the Executive
i ‘l' Parliament.' I originally . proposed to be
(l am by the Executive. That which is really
iF,lportant is, that you. should . have constant trade,
,:. on should never have (hides that would shut out
corn; if you must haven duty let it be as easy as possible-.
It might produce some evils, but there is
no evil like that which is attached to the plan proposed
be- the Government. There is anether eat of the se h-
ject upon which I have not said a word,
and which the Right Honourable Gentleman

dismissed at the commencement of the address to the
mean.the distress that prevails in the country.
That that distress exists to a great extent—that it exists
in Leeds,•ll.lanchester, a great part of the cotton district,
and part of Scotland; is now.hy no person denied. It
was stated in the strongest terms by the Ron. Gentleman
whO seconded' the' Address (Mr.' Beckett). - The Right
lion. Baronet states that he does not propose his present
Corn Bill as any remedy for that distress—(Hear, hear)
dues he think the Corn-laws, as they at present ex-
ist, are at all answerable for that distress. Now, Sir, I
should not say they were the. cause of the whole of this
distrk,ss, but they tend very considerably to aggravate
it ; and I think that a great relaxatiJ.Q of your :Corn-
laws would tend greatly, though not, perhaps, im-
merliately, to mitigate' that distress,—(Hear, hear.)
What is it has heel said by persons conversant with
the eoWn trade in MancheAer, in a circular svhiah
they. addressed to the whole: ale houses in London,—that
while the sale of cotton exported, profitably or not, has
increased during the last -year, the sale of these goods
for domestic us shadhad decreased at the rate of 3,000
bales per week. They therefore conclude—and the con-
clusion-is a natural use, and borne out by all the other
evidence on the subject—that the 'Avant of means
in the labouring clas.fts to purchase clothing and other
articlesas well as food,-has been the cause of the- di-
minished consumptumHthat a much greater part of
the dainings...6=. the labonring elas,;es that' hitherto have
the 'last two or three pan gone to the per-
aeso of bread. Nov:, this statement is supported by all
those who have communicated with the labouring
portions of the community, and by • their
c:.:11 -statements. in variens parts of the
trz.
pre
I mys,lf .i,-uted a petition • to-night, which

• .
stated thai the petitioners, -though sometimes able to
procure some braail, were 'unable, to consawe sugar at
ail ; and, with respect .to -other articles, that the con-
satapt ion of . them was -taxitit;y diminished. Well, then,
if you had a. free admission of foreign core, one of the
cansequen,ics would be that the nanierons •classes
bie to purchase food at a' Cheaper rate
would be enabled to consume Manufactures ; and. an-
other consequence wonld be that the manuLeturers
would find- a better market for their goods, an 1 that they
would send these ;cols. in excham.la: for the goods
snt to this country. The; (iron., w*ilst 1 do
not say that the whole of the distress is caused by the
Ct;rn-laws, or woalil.be totally removed by the repeal of
those laws, Ido say that they tend to age-ravate the
distress, and that yen would initio•ate that distress
hy a relaxation of those laws.—(lleer, and cheers.)
The Right lion. Gentleman corpses us to be in ti posi-
in similar to • what has occurred at other
times in mantrfacturiar, districts • when dikress was,
as he thinks, occaiionetr partly -by over-produ.ction, and
partly by other causes: The Right Hon. Gentle-
man stir:l6les • that' over-production, the operation of
joint-stock banks, ai•d some other causes, contributed
in differtiat dcwecs, and that all the remedy is in the
reduction of the excess, and a return to the
former state of things, and the former amount of pro-
duction. Now that is not- the view which I take
of the present state of things. Although 4 may
be that the production of goals, has been somewhat in
excess, yet if that had been the cause of the distress, the
di ;tress would have passed an ay, and the evil would have
cured itself.—Hear, hear.) The Right lion. Baronet
thinks that part of the evil is in the excessive building
of houses in . the manufacturing towns, and the conse-
quent increase of the population ; and that another
Fart is in the improvement of machinery. Sir, I cannot
say whether the first may be in sonic part a cause (it dis-
tress ;. but t say that with regard-to machinery,
the whole history of our manufactures directly contradicts
1115 opinion.—(Hear.) Wherever improvements have
taken place in machinery, and Means have been formed of
lessening the amount of - human labour necessary
to produce an article, new markets have been
created or in—ased—(Hear, hear)—and thus the
whole number of persons employed has been
increased at the same time and not diminished.—.-
(Hear, hear.) And what is the case of those
great towns, such as Manchester, Leeds, Mac,
clesfield, and Brmingham -?—(ll!.‘ar, hear.) They
have increased year after year, as the ingenuity of
our countrymen from time to time adds improvement
to machiuery.—(l-I,r-ar, hear, hear.) If the im-
provement of machinery decreased. employment, the
case would have been the other way, and population would
have decreased in those towns.—(Hear, hear.)

Sir R. PEEL made seine observations, which were not
heard in the gallery.
' Lord JOHN RUSSELL—Sir, I certainly did think
the Right Hon. Baronet gave in, in soma degree, to the
opinien that machinery decreases employment. It is
an opinion which has been stated by several who
sapport his 1 iews of this, question, and I think
it is very dangerous.—(Loud cries of "Hear, hear.") I
thought that. he mentioned the improvement of
machinery as amongst the cau,ies of tile distress.
Bat I believe that machinery would korease still
more, and go on increasing, if you did but en-
courage freedom instead of imposing new restrictions.
A erect portion of the pedple think that some relief may
ho ob'ained by repealing those laws. If you cannot re-
pcal them totally, as the great majority of the petitioners
to this }toile° against the Corn-livers demand, I do
advise you to make some material advance—(Hear,
hear)—and show, that you are willing to meet
their wishes, as far as is consistent with other
interests.—(Llear, hear.) I advise you to make Some
in,!torial advance that will *how you have sympathy
0 i tit the sufferings of the .people.—(Hear, hear.)
But the prent proposition does nothing. It merely
rt:noves, us is :aid, nominal high duties, which can
ir4ver be levied, and only 'excite Unnecessary odium., '
Si:, I agree to that,dexription, I think it is made appli-
• cable to the int2;,tire of the Government. I agree, Sir,
that it is perfectly, impossible to hope that any good, or that
• ally alleviation i'.ilatever of the general distress which
prevails in the country can arise from that measure,
' which is only made to look a little.better than the old
in ~isure—(Cheers)--a. measure, which perpetuates the
vsconts principles already existing—forbids any improve-
ment—encourages speculation—and prevents your com-
merce with the north of Europe—the Black Sea and
. the United States. Such ae measure, Sir, will do no-
dal-T. to eslieee the distress of this country.—(Hear.)
wed I' .ay that that description is strictly applicable to
tne measure proposed by the Government. Whatever you
•i do, I advise you not to agree to such a measure as that.
If you think that the Corn-laws are founded on sound
principles—that they tend to promote the interests of
the country, do .not mind the sinister evils they may
cause; but if you do make a change, do so for some pur-
,poze; do net innovate without you innovate for some
good,-I—(Cheer.) - Lord Bacon said that the froward
retention or. custom was seinetimes as bad as
innovation—but Lord Bacon never dreained that there
might be a measure of this. kind proposed—a measure
w Nell would have ail the evils of " froward.retentiOn
of custom," and yet contain within it all the aniechiefs
or evils of innovation.— (Hear, hear.) A measure,Which
does not improve your commerce ; and, therefore, cannot
alleviate the existing state of distress—a measure which
confines your trade, and which was proposed by the
Government., having first excited hopes for a long period
lopes which when apparently on the point
of being attained, a • measure is proposed in
reality e t until ug upon the very same principles;
and producing similar results as those of the pre-
sent law.—([fear, hear.) Such a measure,. Sir,
I consider is that now proposed. J cannot think
you will legislate on . this question to any purpose,
unless you in the first place reject the measure now pro-
posed.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) If you reject
that, you may hereafter consider to what extent
you may set free your trade in matters of food,
you may hereafter consider how far you will concede
to the wishes of the people—it will be open to you to take
every view that may be proposed to you to consider. You
may consider the agricultural interests and the quantity
of land brought into cultivation. You may also con-
sidertave himerpeo.,,Sitiir(,nithoaft
aif
dtuth3eLe
kb:o
inan,l-hoadtiuomdiuinmadvocating
not
• wish in the slightest degree to shrink.—(Hear, hear.)
If you adopt the system now proposed, though I do not
believe that in the present civilised state of the people of
England, you will have such tumults and outrages as
have taken place in former centuries, yet I apprehend that
you will produce growing d'scentent in the public mind.
'
Act, therefore, so that it shall be said that you haVe
legislated on well considered . views, and for the benefit
of the whole community. But I desire now to impress
the fact upon you, that all commercial men and an in-
different spectators have unanimously condemned the
sli!ling-seale as the worst basis of legislation
with respect to provisions, and that it is perfectly well
known to the community at large that this principle has
been thus generally condemned. ;How can you be-
lieve that the public eau be persuaded after such
denunciations ,that the proprietors of land alone
can take impartial views on .this• subject ; that
they who are chiefly .interested should, contrary
to the experience of alt mankind, take clear and disin-
terested view',; on the present occasion ?—(Hear, hear.)
The people will not so reason. They will, I appre-
heed, attribute, however unjustly, that yon have been
binesed in faVour of those interests with which' you are
connected, and in favour of a
wine members of me
the Government are said to have in-
creased their incomes of late.--( system under which
Laughter and Hear.")
Anything would be better than legislation of this hind.
Be it error, if you will enact laws which may savour of
the ignorance of the 15th and 15th centuries on matters
of trade, you may sustain the odium.
said
in eon-
Sequence. But if you allow it to be sal( that the Par-
lieusent of this country—them the House of Commons,
have decided the qtiestion in which the food of the whole
community is involved on a partial basis, and to maintain
y our. own ad, antages, it will be impossible but that the
Legislature shall suffin. in the estimation of their coun-
b
trv.—(Cheers.) Such, Sir, being the views I take in
th present crisis, I only hope that you may come
to that decision on this nuestion which will show that
aull
ce°o7sricd'ee—re(dC, hyeoeurs.!‘ --iil
cl intentions with respect '
vee have large. and enlightene
I
to the future state of trade
ricuiturah. as well as all
th :t you have considered ag
other interests, and that having
pees a litw which, wheil it is passed, men will look on
as a blessing to the country, Ito-4 will thank you with
•
gratitude and fervour in their heartsas wise, and bene-.
Seat can legislate thus,
ticent legislaters.—(Cheers.) 'That such may be Your
unless you proceed upon princi-
leave to move " That this
dectsion I most cordially wish, but I cannot think that
oefrn
house, considering the evils
211::: present
etreC which have been Caused by
litsdeanytinrieglirltt.liiliertehieitrferi(zi)iii.i,,tlbwosge submitted toy•ou onWed-
Government, which is
of the grad nated or sliding sees.), is not prepared to adopt
shhearvs,i\ain:cesstyp,escially by the fluctuations
founded upon the. same principlcs • and ie likely to be
attended by similar results."
Mr. GLADSTONE said, whilst he endeavoured, with
the profoundest respect for time talents and situation of
''-‘,1,:0 Lord, to discharge his duty, by following
• tl r ,
• ~ ~ • • ; - , ~ , he siaiL .d zi.:14•:,,• •
it his first effort to disembarrass time question of all 1

that did not belong to • the immediate issue
before the House, 'and confine attention to the real
matter in -ali:,pute between the Government and the
Noble Lord. The NOW Lord had concluded his
speech by drawing -disinal representations of. .the,::
impressions which refight be entertained abroad in ease
the House should Consent to the measure proposed by
her Majesty's Government; and. he (Mr. Gladstone),
concluded that the foundation of those, representa-
tions was the feeling which had been so strongly mani-
fested in various parts-of the country with reference to the
present Corn-laws. But the Noble Lord, as the advo-
cate ()la fixed duty on corn, had no right to take advan-
tage of that feeling for the-purpose of-drawing those
representaCons, -or to assume that in case he
should succeed in inducing the House to reject that men-
stfre, the sentiments to which he had
,referred would be
gratified, or the agitations which existed would he al.
layed.--(Hear, hear.) --The Noble Lord had not scru-
pled to come . forward as a protector of
agriculture. - The Noble 'Lord declared that, in his
opinion, it was impassible at the present moment to enact
a free trade hi corn.-(Hear,) The Noble Lord
had given them two greunds for that opinion ;
(tad it seemed to him (Mr. Gladstone) that.
if he . acted consistently with those grounds-
he ought to. acct pt the- measure which had been ten-.
derad by her 2,lajesty's Guyernment.—(lronical cries oi
" Hear-- itear-4'-froert+e•Orryasition ) The Nolde Lord
&ID, and he differed in that respect from his supporters, that
there were special reasons for liroteetiog the agriculture
of th;s country, and 'in consequence of vt'hielia certain
amount of taxation • 'ought to be imposed
upon the importation,. of the. food of the
people. BLit the Lord did not stop there ; he
I stated another distinct, and in his (He Glad,tone's) opi-
nem, must valid ground for the imposition of a duty upon
f reign corn. The Noble Lord said; for a series cf years—
he might have seed fur many centuries—the Legislature
inainteind a system, dittsring indeed in its form, but
still a se etein of rt strietions upon the importationof foreien
, corn. On the faith of these restrictions enormous capitalsl had 'been 'nye-tett.; through those investments millions
of the population were
~eireployed, and the Noble Lord
justly field that the censequenees of disturbing those
capitals, of creating au 'agricultural panic, of
displacing vast. quantities of agricultural labour,
o ould be so disastrous. to the . country that
it - ought - not to be entertained for a moment.
Therefore; when the Nobly Lord expressed himself so
obnoxioas to the outcry and clamour of those who con
chin :d any-restrictions on importation or on trade, and
Who advocated the universal and inalienable .rie•bht
of man—(Cheers)—to interchange the produce
of his hibotir, the Noble Lord was amenable to
the censures of many of those to whom he looked
for support on his motion that night—the cen-
surer of those who declared that corn and provision laws •
should be abolished, and that the entire and inalienable
right of Man—the right freely-to exchange the produce
of his labour for food with other countries—should be
recognized, without imposing protection on those articles
intended by divine Providence as benefits_ to man. The real
question was, not which side of the House en- '
• listed in support of this argument' the greatest array
• of prejudice and. paSeion. If that were the (pee- '
lion, there was prejudice enough, and there was
passion enough, in support
.the, appeal which had
been made. But the question was looking con-
stitutionally to the representation of the people—
looking to the . course of legislation. always
pursued—looking to the burthens,• as the Noble Lord
affirmed, and affirm*id justly, laid upon agriculture
—.whether, baking to all th,sacircamstances of the case
they should reject or adopt such a scale of duties
as was required in the -present state. of affairs. There
was a ground upon which the Noble Lord had said pro-
teetion should be given to agriculture in order to
make this country entirely independent of foreign
supply. He (:',lr.eGladstone). was going to discuss that
ground at that moment, because he agreed with the
principle laid dome by the Noble Lord, but he did not
think that, under these circumstance, the Noble Lord
could refuse to accept the. proposal of his Right
Honourable Friend. The' Noble Lord had quoted the
opinion of a high authority, he meant Mr. lauskissen.
Mr. Huskisson, in 1815ehad.. supported the proposition
now submitted, that this country ihould be made inde-
pendent of foreign supplies. _lice (Mr. G.) knew that
subsequently Mr. IL had occasion to modify that opinion;
but seven years after having written his (Mr. H.'s)
report, when he • was challenged on the ques-
tion, he gave his decided opinion that domestic agricul-
ture !should be rendered'independent of foreign supply.
He should contend, iii, L'il•iat. he 'had to submit to -the
House, that the eVils4ser 'bed to the existing Corn-laws
only existed in a Snpltt 'Agee, and were full of gross
exageration. He should fetrther contend, with refer-
anee to the Noble. -Loas motion, not only that
those evils were exageerated, but that he was
not justified in -saying - that the iileaitir3 now
proposed was founded on the same principle as the present
Corn-laws ; he (Mr. Gladstone) admitted that it depended
in some degree on the sense in which the word, principle,
was understood, and he was
.sorry .that. there was no
word which they. thoulit tiSo with inure caution alga that
of principle. If they meant the principle of a gra-
duated scale, in opposition to a fixed duty, then he
granted them, the present plate was founded on the sauce
principle as the existing Corn-laws. But if they meant
that the present plah Was founded on the eyetem of
ereat protection to the agriculturist, and with the inten-
tion of keeping corn at a high price, that he would not
admit.—(Haar, hear.) He should also contend that
the advantages a.eribed to - a fixed duty on corn—
whieh it Was all very- well to laud whilst it
• was in the distance, when it never ha-1 been tried,
and they were suffering molder present distreseasewere as
grossly exaggerated as the defects attributed to the
worltifig of a graduated scale--(Hear, hear)—and that the
objections to a fixed duty which-attached to it on its own
merits, were of an insuperable nature—(Hear, hear).—
He thought the, Noble Lord'must see, and that every
man who hard applied his mind to the
consideration of the subject must see, that
the question was beset .with difficulties, and that,
under present circumstances, whether they adopted a
graduated scale, or whether they adopted a fixed duty,
or a system of free trade altogether, various objections
might be urged against all. He, on the other hand, was
ready to admit that the present scale had not operated
in the favourable wayawhichAmd heal anticipated by
the framers of that scale. But they had to look at
charges made against the present plan ; a notion had
gone -abroad, and had beeenle pOptilar titkidti, that
the present horn-jaws were the cause of the distress
existing in the countrye, It was strange to see how men
of sense, and of searching minds; appeared to be possessed
by a,kind
.of mania in discussing theyreSetit COrti.laws,
' that the evils which were ownig neither to that Ely
other system:of law, but to those dispositions which pro-
duce plenty or scarcity .of corn, shoild attribute
them to the action of the. Corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.)
He referred particularly to the writings of Mr, Wilson,
a gentleman whom he eould ndt name express-
ing his admire/Imi al' Lie •tnielith, sbe' or the
value or the information he had thrown .upon the sub-
ject by his researches. But a man would hardly believe
without reading his works—and he hoped he had
read them fairly—that such opinions woald hare
been advanced by t't gentlainate Otr such iatelliedeta
Mr. Wilton. nothing in the uctuations, of prices
and of supply, but the. operation of the Corn-laws. He has
said that in the years 1833, .1834, 1835, 1836, and 1837
this country had immense supplies of corn at eyeee&l-
-ingly low prices. And •why Watt that ? TIW pieide of
wheat Mr. Wilsoit contended, ought from its own
nature to be the steadiest thing in the world: But the
immensely low prices of those. years arose kin the fade, •
that the Corn-laws had giva. exaggerated hopes to the -
farmer.—(Hear, hear.) Jut was there any man who
could believe that the tilltefeiict in prices batsacett 1833
and 1836, and 1839 and 1840, was ascribable to the
,operation of the Corn-laws, and not to the operation of
the seasons ? • In 1839 and 1840, the pficea beihnib ea-
ceedingly high, and the Ctte.s of that alai, was the opera
tion of tilt Corn-laws. The farmers had got so sick of
the Corn-laws in the cheap years from 1833 to 1836,
that they restricted the breadth of land brought under
wheat to such an extent as to CRIIB9 the &reface
of supply between the - cheap years and the
dear years.—(llear, hear.) Now he would ask
whether there was any gentleman in the House pre-
pared to go the length, and virtually to defend the prin-
ciple, that the variety of Seasons has nothing to do with
the amount of wheat brought to market ?' He confessed
that if he was to hear attah aft Opinion- adVailded he
would despair even more than he then did of it satisfac-
tory., and amicable adjustment of the tplestion. The
Noble Lord had referred to the tepfeseiltatithia that had
been made by his (Mr. Gladstone's) Right Hon. Friend,
upon the subject of the existing distress. Now his
Right lion. Friend did not attribute the distress to
the introduction of machinery, which must ultimately in-
crease the conilorts of man, but he stated that the results
of improvements in. machinery must have thrown many
hands for a time out of employment, • lie (Mr. ladstone)
did not think it could be denied that there had been an
over-production of late years, and that that over-produc-
tion had produced that great distress amongst setne claSses.
There were other causes which he might efuttnerate, such
as the great amount of capital absorbed in other modes,
,but the House would probably conceive that Viable; the
unusual,the extreme case of the occurrence of four bad hare
yests in succession, was sufficient, which was not owing to
the Corn-laws. Yet when they heard of the hh price of
wheat they never heard their bad harvests noticed. He
could not conceive that any man could apply with temper
to the consideration of this subject, and not believe but
that under any conceivable syStem it was likely that
more than four bad harvests might occur successively,
and in which the people might not have • to pay high;
very high prices for their food. But it was a charge
made against the present Corn-laws, that they aggro •
voted the evils of the, deficiencies in the supply,—(clear,
hear.) He did not defend them—as Corn- laws, he did
not defend them—but was it true that they aggravated
the natural evils of a deficient supply ? As far as he
could judge from an examination of the circumstance:,
he could not bring .his . mind to that conclusion.
In the last fourteen . years the fluctuations of
the price of wheat had amounted to 79 per cent., but
the fluctuation in the price of cotton, an-article in which
trade was perfectly free, but subject to fluctuation,
amounted to 85 per cent. ;. and he quoted the-opinion of
Mr. H mskisson on the Committee of 1821. stating that
wheat was an article in which the greatest fluctuations
were always to be expected.. He would not compare the
prices of the hoine market with the prices of the
foreign. market, because they • replied to that
that the foreign market was. unnaturally sti-
mulated by the' . British demand in times
of scarcity, and unnaturally depressed when that
demand was withdrawn ; yet the Corn-laws were
made :. chargeable with these fluctuations.—(Hear.)
In defence or palliation of the existing Corn-laws it was
fair he should refer to former Corn-laws at 'former pe-
rieds.—(Hear, hear.) If he did so the fluctuation would
(oned very coueiderahle. The ilieht iron. ti•;elitletran
weat into 4 ztat:2inAktig,liggres showing- that the
fluctuation in the • price of corn under former Corn-

laws was ..ass considerable as under the present.
The Right Hon. Gentleman- then referred to the state- •
ment made by Sir R. Peel as to the price of rye in Prussia.
It was an article which it was very fair to take to compare
with the price of wheat in this country-, because it made
the principal part of the food of the people of that
Cotintey; and if the fluctuation in the price of rye in
Prussia was found to be as great as that of
corn in this country, it would, he considered,
he a testimony.. •in favour of the present
Corn-laws. The Right Hon. Gentleman then quoted
from the " Prussian States Gazette " a statement of the
variation in the price of rye in Prussia, which showed
that the fluctuation in the price of that article was
greater' than the fluctuation in the price of
wheat in England during
_corresponding periods.
There was another case of the same kind, but he thought those
figures showed the fluctuations of price which had been ex-
perieneed were not attrisutable to the law under which they
lived, but were to be ascribed to the nature of the commodity,
and the'difficulty of adjusting the demand to the supply. It
was argued that one effect of the present Corn-law was to give
to the foreigner too high a price fur his corn ; and it had been
stated by Mr. Meeker in the Times that the position of Eng-
lon I in asking for foreign corn was like a party at an auction
who, after bidding a'l his competitors out of the field- went on
• against himself; that was, they were bidding alirge premium to
foreign holders. It was admitted with reference to any stock of
corn they had in foreign ports, tint it was an evil there was no
denying, but then it was said the alteration of the scale encou-
raged parties to hold till the prices rose. If the prices were
fir: red up to 735., at lea't this. must be allowed, that there was
a great abundance brought into the country. It had been
customary to refer to the last samtreT to show the operation
of the Corn.laws, but the question was, whether
under another s)stem, whether under a system of
fixed duty, the matter would be better.-( Hear.)
L-t them suppo-e that instead of the existing law they had the
es. duty of the Noble Lord; was it cestain that. in that case the
price of corn would be as moderate as it now was , or as it• Was
since the middle of September 'hat, or as it is likely to he for
the next four months ? lie could early conceive that a cer-
tain portion of corn at,a, lower duty would have been brought
ia at an earlier period.-(Hear, hear, from The Opposition
Beeches.) :e.ut the great bulk of the corn was brought in on
the spur of the moment, and by reason of the high prices.
Without the high prices they had no reason to sty that the corn
would have. come in. Even with a fixed duty the markets would
continue in a feverish state. The fact was, that instead of the
pressure coming on in the summer months, as it had, it would.
have occurred in winter, when employment was. diminished,
arid the wants of the people greater. • •The opinions promul-
gated by the Noble Lord this evening, did not altogether cor-,
respoed with certain opinions ascribed to him when his expe-
rience was less mature. In his ( Mr. Gladstone's) opinion,.
the experience acttuirM by the Noble Lord within the last few
years, had a material effect in approximating has ideas to those
of the Hon. Members orrhis (Mr. G.'s) side of the House.: The
Noble. Lord seemed to be almost a convert to the doctrine of a mini-
mum duty. The Noble Lord said, Collect your averages as
you will, they will vet lead to fraud. For the sake of a mini-
mum duty, the Noble Lord was content to persevere in the
system of averages, although he declared it would be accessary
to fraud. Let them take the doctrine of the Noble Lord
as he had announced it to-night, and compare it
with the graduated scale of his Right Honourable Friend.
The Noble Lord said es. or thereabouts; Es. .up to the point
of 735. or 745., and a tall at that point to a Is. duty.-( Hear,
hear.) H s itight - lion. Friend said a descent, shilling by
sh:lling, from 565. when it: was 16$. ; at 665. it became 65.,
and afurther descent, shilliug by shilling, at 735., where he
and the N.-be Lord at length coincided. When the price was
at 645., there again his Right lion. Friend and the. Noble
Lunt were what they said of great planets-they were in con-
junction.-(Laughter.)
.Bert now, what was the operation
upon the mind of the imposter of foreign corn of the two
schemes? 'What was the temptation to work the avereee ?
What was the comparative temptation to commit fraud miler
the two systerns?-•(" Hear," from the Ministerial benches.)
Under the scheme proposed by his Right Hon. Friend, when
the price was at 615., he knew that he had no chance of get
tint down to the minimum duty without standing for a rise of
Brice. -The importer, at Es., knew that he had no chance
whatever till he t aised the price up to 735. ; and he kneWthat
when he worked it up to that he would get in his corn at a
duty of one s shilling only ; when there was a small
supply it •was certain that the price must go up to 735.
The Noble Lord said--and certainly it was one of the most se-
rious objections against the working of the present law was,
that it excluded the more distant, countries, as the United
States. But he belieted there was a misapprehensi,,n in some
minds with respect to the United States. The time of transit
of corn from Philadelphia or New York to Liverpool was not
so tedious as was supposed. He was informed that it was of-
feated in six weeks.-(Hear, hear.) He could only say that
was the information he had received from a gentleman of
Liverpool, who was an enemy to the sli :in'-seale. Then what
was the case of America? When the price rose to 735. and
the duty fell to Is , those who had corn in bond, and those
who had it on handein neighbouring countries could avail
themselves of the low duty ; but the American would not
have ach ince, for before his corn could arrive here the duty
would have leaped up.-(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Now,
in fact, the proposition, even, the Noble Lord would keep
up, that which was the greatest objection to the existing law.
But let them examine the scale proposed by his Right [lon.
Fiend with America. Suppose a fall of five or six shillings
to take place after corn had reached the highest pint, and that
was as great a fall as could rationally be expected, the duty
in the proposed scale would be but pis. instead of tis., as pro-
posed by the Noble Lord opposite.-( Hear, hear.) The
great objection to the existing system, as regarded America,
was the enormous rapidity of the reduction. This was a
posser:.ul objection to the continuance of the present laws, and
e reason why they should adopt any practical measure for the
ainclidreent of these laws ; tut how did the objection apply to
the measure of his Right Honourable Friend? Under the
proposed scale the difference would never amount
to a Irohibitory duty-all the. difference, the utmost
fall in the average would be 6s. or 7s. The effect of that would
be to bring the prices back to about 665.; and the duty 61., the
difference of du y on which the importer would have to calcu-
late would be 5s , instead of 19s. tad, or 20s. Bd., or whatever
it might be at present. That difference, instead of being one
that would operate to prevent the undertakings of corn aiercial
enterprise, was one which might enter into the reasonable cal-
culation of the importer, and was perfectly •compatible with
steadiness of mercantile transactions. The Noble Lord, in one
portion of his seeeeh, had called the proposed plan of his Right
Hon. Friend, in reference -to its purposes of efficiency, " Doing
nothing." • NoW, he could not tee that it was so much more
blameable to propose a measure doing nothing, and a measure
for doing iomethlng-, which there was. no 'hope of carrying.-:
(Loud cheers from the Ministerial benches.) But let them
see if thif could be proved.. -Let them see whether the .absolute
evidence of experience gave them reasonable grounds fur hope
under ordinary circumstances. The scale proposed by his Right
Hon. Friend will have a different operation while wheat was
high, while markets • were rising, the weather threatening, and
circumstances critical-whether there was a rational hope that
the plan would have a different operation than the operation of
the present laws. He would not speculate that such would be
the case. lie wished to lay as little as possible of his own spe-
culation before the House, but he should try, if possible, to
state what had occurred from speculative evidence. They were
not altogether without light on this subject. Wheat was not
the only kind of grain that was placed under the operation of
the scale. The operation of the scale had indeed been dif-
ferent as to other kinds of grain from the one proposed
by his Right Honourable Friend. The descent was more
enneiderable in the present scale. (Hear, - heur.)
It lead been rather prematurely assumed that the new was almost
identical With the old.. Now, under the present scale, when
the price was 665., the holder would be disposed to wait his
chance of it reaching 735., so that bet Ween the fall of the ditty
and the price, he would have a chance of gaining 38s. Bd. a
quarter I but, under the new scale, when the price was Ws., the
holier; calcitlating, on the uncertainty of its reaching 735.,
might yet giliti 130, in price, and I ls. in duty,. a lac ze sum
truly e but there would be.filany chances against it. The Noble
• Lord again was wrong in assuming that a bonus of 1 ls. would
have the same effect as a, bonus of ss. 8:1. Now, when the
price was 665.. the holder, by waiting until it rose to 735.,
gOin 7s, in price, and 193. 81 in duty-
making glint Lily, tin enormous bonus; but under the
proposal of his Right Honourable Friend, the price being 665.
and the duty 65., there would be less temptation to speculate
in the t ise to 735. ; and seeing that when under the old 19s. Bd.
Might be,gained, while the new offered but ss. ; both could
not be said to be the tame. What was there then in the plan
of his Right Hon. Friend which the Noble Lord could object to.
The Noble .Lord had stated that the plan of his Right Han.
r
trilafid #onld make uo alteration * prices, different from that
of the old 1./Wi,
},4 pin Gladstone)
awnodulLdasyh,oewmibnyenteo
evidence
n_
e
• ma
er different,th ants effect.
had onclents abroad for the
Governitintj in their commercial traosactietti, and he would
svr : titieens4r tol' ;the4i n
cl/4g4 tete
feast an eat raft from the Circular. The Hon. Gentleman then read
ail &area front a eirettler of Messrs. Kingston Lay, which
stated that it their opiieloti it would be safe to ptirchas: corn
from this country when the duty Wei' likely to be 14s, or 1ta::
per quarter. The Noble Lord had called that tipfehibit4ig
duty, and that corn would never be imported at that dint,-
Yes, the Noble Lord said that 20t. was a prohibiting duty, and
Cdr gelWal shillings below that sum. Now this circular had
come into hie (Mr. Gladstone's) hands; and he had shown that
one of the first houses in the trade had reeummereled it as safe
to purchase corn for this country when the duty vtes likely to
h 6 14e. or 1,85.-4 Cheers.) The Hon. Gentleman contitlited
is extract from the ehote Circular, which again recommended
that corn should be purchased wheii it could bit entered for
home consumption at 14s. to 18s. duty, as under the pf oposed law
Child not held out any inducement for corn-dealers to hold
backs As had hitherto been the case. The corn-dealer would
therefore sell their ewer eat ship. Stich 'was the opinion ex-
Pressed b those gehtlerrien Open the plan of the Right Hon.
Gentleman. He was quite sure they werttld not have .made
that recommendation under the other platl. net he (Mr.
Gladstone ) proposed to take the rates of duty which hail Veen
taken under the existing law, vicious as it. was in some parts.
He should take the rates of duty on every species of corn, ex-
cept white it, In order to enable the House to judge whether the
proposed plan was likely td rteet the evils complained. Now,
the average rate of duty from July, 1821, to December, 1811,
had been sa. 7d. If it had been paid in a sum proportionate
to its value, then, instead of being 53. 7d., it would
have Leen goinething less than 3s. Now, mark the argument
of tile Noble Lord, who kid filet the alteration would do no-
thing to improve the present system-that Corn would be held
back, When it ithuld be -a relief to the market-that it would
not be admitted till I ' f' atthe
pr Lee eehighest, and then the
Market Would be glutted-and whether they had the old sliding
stale; or the one proposed, was of very trifling moment. If
1,116 operatiOn of the beiley scale had been analogous to the
wheat scale, the duty paid i osld lie 3s: instead of 4s. Bd. The
duty on oats, if paid in the same propedians *foetid have been
2e. 2d. What did the House suppose was the average duty
eeacted ? It was three times that amount-exactly 6o 6d. Yet
the Noble Lord, cur side these facts rltogether beneath his
notice, or unworthy the consideration of the HoUse, coolly
overlooked them, and teld them that the operations of the al-
tered
scale would be the same as the operations of the present
scale. In the case of rye alone, there watt.' little difference, and
that Wee beeauet, the &Mend for ry6 in this csufitry was at dui
times very limited. Beane, in the serne ratio of charges, would
be 4s. 2d. instead of 5.5. pi-ae instead of 6s. 4d.
He put it to the Hattie, whether the operations of the
altered scale of • hit Right Hondurebie Friend, • were
not calculated, according to reasonable cipcdtatiOns, to amend
the operations of the present last, with which to Mach fatilt had
been found. Tisch the Noble Lord plaid that his great objection
to the plan of his Right Hon. Nitirni *a; that - it contained a
prohibitory duty ; • and to show this he (the Merle Lord) had
eferred to the prices of wheat at Dantzie when Mr. ;desk
was on the Continent, and had taken the
circumstances of re-
cent. Yeats ; he had fount! that theycould slot ' at
Dante'c under 355 per quarter,• :lotget 131"'
• he added to that 101 6d for
charges. This he would not call .l
an exorbitant, it
certainly was an exces,ive
owane,e. By aditing 10s. 6d.
for charges he (the Noble Lord)
he then should add the duty to got the price up to 4.35. 64., and
prohibitory.-( Hear, beat ° 205., and it will be absolutely
duty, which in certain) Now they had a protective
(Fe stales of the • market would
not be prohibitory:
the price at which - ear.) Ihe question was whether
the duty was applied
whe-
ther
it indicated was reasonable, plenty at hone, tor if that was the case the
principle of. a Corn-law ought to be maintained, as it would
secure the egriculturists
and the mass of labourers dependant
roam aerieulture.-
1,)
to t.,opi..'is• the home niarOu4; as
°"'
hrnms-prodeeers were able
but e/1, be trecesstry to levy a
duty on foreign corn;
Nobled
Lord said that a duty of
twenty ;killings was a
prohibitory duty. He (Mr. Gladstone)

pwroicueldofjowinhe
issuea at Dwia'nhtztilfs'esmvasuP;J6°lls.
that it . was the natural price of corn ; an
am..
every price over and above that was unnaturrteye.
c iused by the 'demand from this country. The nature' 13.5. z
of corn there was 255., and he was convinced, from the sy :yet:
which prevailed and the rates paid, and other circionsta •
ptheaotplesuwb-ejreeet.aat\VV.h) aednsstill'esit
ti
which entered into the question, that they must have a certl)lll%
quantity acorn disposable fur this country at unnaturally
~75,
prices, and it was against these low prices that the agriculturist
of this country have the principle of protection applied to thern..
--(Cheers. ) The Noble Lord must know that when wheat at •
255. was shipped from Dant zie it would come into this ceun,try
at a price with which the Engl sh farmer could not compete.
•He (Mr. Gladstone) did not feel himself bound by what the
Consul at Dantzie toll Mr. Meek, but corn could be importe
fir 265., and he knew it could be imported from sOiTte OF • ,
the Baltic ports at 265., 275., or 28s. Hew could the 1100 T •
producercontend aaaiust. such prices ?—( Hear. ) At prerest •• •d
the average price in this country was 625., and he believed in eiaif•el,,a,
ent 0
London it aas 645. or 655. ; and if, assuming the statenal efel",i,
tha Noble Lord, that Danizic wheat, of a superior qualit itY,
could be purchased at 35s , and that a duty of I Os. on •14.°0
portation was imposed, how was it posSibie that it. would not be ae,tief,
d, trimental to the, home grower.—( Hear )It should be •
way, kept in mind that dui), of VS. Was o' as n new impositi
a ou
hi be laid on the operative or commercial classes in favour of
the landed interest. —( ar. ) Since the year 1704, there
11 Nei- was a period when there had not been a maximum heig
of 20e. on the importation of foreign corn. In the latter rare
year
of last century it had been considerably raised during
to a maximum duty of something over 30e. For t''`" •
last one Hundred and forty yea's there was a maxi-
mum duty of :•os., during a portion of which there was
rn trade, which may be said to be free for all practicsl Falr-
poses. There were thirty years to which the opponents of the
present Corn.law referred, as showing the benefit of a system •
of a free corn trade, during which the manufacturers, and
commerce, and :sericulture of the country advanced, 2, iheYl
c' alit. to do, with rapidity. and hand in hand, and yet, during.
• the whole of that period, there was a maximum duty of 205.-.-
(Cheers.) His Right. Hon. Friend, therefore, in the propos,'
tton he has made, proposed only such a scale as that, dutiag
the existence of which the country, by their own admissiai'l
was in a healthy and sound condition.—(Cheers.) It was 53'''
i that the irregularity in the demand for corn would have a ten
.dt nary to deran .;e the currency.—( Hear, hear.) He was eat'
inelined to deny that there was some truth in that state-
ment.--( Hear, hear. ) But they must look to all the facts of the
case. It has been said that by a fixed duty a steaiy and
re
varying trade would be prodUced, that they ,should pay for colt,
with manufactures and rot in specie, and that they wet&
'avoid derangements of the currency, and they contrast that
picture with what had taken place during the •last. four yea";
But, in the first place, would a fixed duty have the effect of
doing away with the derangements in the currency ? It ‘Nasi
arid that the trade with America was crippled, because tbeY di'„
not take American corn. Now, in the year 1840, they "ns,
Imported 100,000 banele of flour, and their export trade t
amounted to 5,800,0001. ; in the year 18,36, tber,e ;04
was scarcely any .imports of corn, while they expoetat
eat e),s ✓
12,000,0001.—(Cheers.) They must not be ready to exiit--.le4'
that other c =tries %voted enter with them into their commer-7;tai
cial policy, if they were to change it. Could they supl'°'e
that, though they may take a larger amount of* corn frost,
Russia, that Russia would greatly enlarge her demand for their ,ett•l`te
manufactures ?—( Hear hear, hear. I Their exports triees.lo,,,t
that country amounted to 6,000,000/., and their itnp,Vol7,o,
amounted te only 2,000,000/., and the Emperor of Russia—pee; Poo
supposed by way of encouragement to open the trade in corn,
hat lately imposed a inure restricted tariff. —( Hear.) It was
natural to look to them as the commercial leaders of the
vecrld, but it ought not.to be too hastily expected that if theY
suddenly relaxed their commercial system, and had recourse
ill at once to extreme mea-ures, these countries would al°
change their's in a moment, for the sake of illustrating er
pricing the truth of their example. But was it not true that
great fluctuations and derangements of the currency, and a ge-
neral pressure on the money market must have occurred ja
substance under any Corn-law.—{Hear, hear.) Granting
defects of the present system, would a fixed duty remedy tilos!
derangements?—( Cries of "'Hear, hear.") He did not think tat
would be considered that the derangement in currency wea,l
be cured by a fixed duty. It could be expected with rew
then to such articles as were subject to fluctuation and -niece!' •
tainty, and of which the demand must be adjusted by the suplii
that they could avoid those derangements of the currency. ,
vv,,s not mat erial how much they imported; the evils they "
plored, and which they attributed to the Corn-law would ha
v 3
existed. Those imports would not be paid tor with manufac-
tures, but their value must be drawn from the currency, bus; a
nee: Would be diminished, labourers would be unemployew
deadness of the whole market would ensue, and they would he • -
in the position they were at present.—(Cries cf " Ilre!r;
hear.") He should be glad to see the proof Oa"
under the system of a fixed duty, the deranjemenes
which existed in the currency, the four last years, would. yet
different from what they are at present.—(Cheers.) He .10-I't
say, therefore, that the-advantages of a fixed duty in that res oeL,
were greatly exaggerated, but it was the habit to make' t"`"
Cora-laws the scape-goat of all that was wrong in the country. •
• (Cheers.) He would now come to the principle of a fixed MP '
In the first place the principle •of a fixed duty was a new prin.'
elide of legislation, while a Corn-la'w had existed for five hot'
dyed years; but it might be inconvenient to go so far back--;
( A laugh.) And there had been a maximum duty, excel's'
during the year 1815, when there was a prohibitive in-
stead of a maximum duty ; and even the Corn-law of 1815 was
the application of a principle that had prevailed for
years, and .had governed the structure of every Corn-lati,
since 1660. The distinctive character of a fixed tinii
was that the duty had no relation to price. It got rid of 'a
averages. But if they looked into the accurate tables draw
up by Mr. Porter, they would find that the principle ofthe
Corn-law was that the duty was always governed by dee Pr,irlei;
and that as the price so was the duty.—(Hear, heara.) '
gradatieue of duty had been made more numerous gen Pratt„,l
but as to principle, the fixed duty approximated to the pie the
of the present law, and the principle proposed by- )
Noble Load is altogether a novel one.—( Hear. be
The Noble Lord said, and he thought said rather boldly, I-uiaa
the Committee of 1821 recommended a fixed duty, but it ,
a fixed duty at the importation price of 48s. a quarter-0J eF:
bear)—and he concluded that the Noble Lord would not
tore to offer such a boon as that to those who were advoca to
ft oa
ifer,e ewthriaedhe .
was( Lionrad2d.,
bRI
eu.s s a
Mr. Gd el
aadns
toohnsee rtvhaetni noaanctrionsus t
0,.,. ;
int hiettNeeobhleeldLoouret'saairixguedmdeuntty, talisaanfitthme tantsteelriefoqrudoitseedu.ssioTniaftills•
Tliere was a passage in that report, even more favourable
did not propose it as a substitute for or a correction of the la
then existing. What they proposed was that the duty should h".
fixed according to the importation of price. , But, grantee.
that it was as the Noble Lord had stated, and that a fixed dug
had the authority of Mr. Huskisson—and a higher authority
was nowhere to be found—yet Mr. Huskisson aftersvar_O
changed that opinion, and saw reason to conceive that a gr'",a,
.luated scale was capable of more beneficial operation. -13ir
was the Noble Lord to tell him that the authority of
.-
Huskisson's report a 1821 was to over- ride his authority af'*
later period?—( Hear, hear.) Was Mr. Huskisson's condo 25,
and declarations then to be considered as over-riding his auth,•
rity of 1827, when he showed that a graduated scale 010
capable of a better adjustment? But what was t'
if
real objection to a fixed duty ?—(Hear.) He did not s
that its advantages were much less than they professed to I 0
not only in attaining the objects which it was represented ei
likely—aye, as the sure means of effecting, but that a 61 et,
duty was in fact a delusion, for it could nut be maintain ,'"or
T
ilat one single reason was sufficient why the proposition ,
a fixed duty ought. not, to be maintained. It weruld be ory
possible for any Legislature in this country to mairetai -1,15
duty beyond a mere nominal duty, when prices were t a
rate.hhri, during
r t
e.' 1' Noble
last
surfing
to Lord
year(
swcha bloeemen ah e
very much
nru
si
d n
sacpsh vpiesahr my rb:teolo4,
that at high prices it would be impossible to levy a fixed
If they referred to toe authority of Mr. Canning, str, do iii
strictly the organ of Mr. Huskisson's commercial vie 'Ns ed
1827, he says that with famine in the manufactorie
female in the cottage it world lie impossible to maint 31,1 t
fixed duty on the article on which life was chiefly supported•
why need they go hack so far ? —why not appeal to the auth oria'
which had been afforded in so gratifying manner this nigl
the Noble Lord himself ?—( Cheers and laughter.) Did t fe,
not understand that, skilled as the Noble Lord was in del 60
proficient as he was in the liraetice of the House, and able
he was in supporting his arguments. whatever those arguinclie
might be—(Laughter)—had he not to-night formally al3;';
doned his own Foposition— (Cheers)—and declared his open.
,
that it would be impossible to levy a fixed duty beyond a e.,•31.
twinpoint ?—( Great cheering.) There must be a provis, e
whatever Government, or whatever Parliament might
it, of a fixed maximum price by which to reduee the duty ;
the question was which mode of adjustment trould be pre,
able. He was convinced that the Noble Lord in spite ,
abhorrence of fraud, notwithstanding all that lie had said, ae4
all that he had written on restrictions. and on the excellev`iet
of a fixed duty, had actually declared that he was rea'Veol•e
have a fixed duty.—( Hear, hear, and checri.) If the prey hit
scale jumps tree or three shillings, no jump less than of )
shillings would satisfy the Noble Lord.—(Great checrinfeset
NoW a duty of twenty shillings on foreign corn as hero. ,
on the proposed scale, though it was much pig tie
than it could be justified by ordinary argue' °Os
to him to be a fair compromise betweei've •
elelt aP
l!ofthPeaeirsere2sent system and the agricultural interest. ,14.
agriculturists 'demanded protection on tw o grounds th`
from the peculiar burdens laid upon land ; secondly, ee,i,ef
ground of the immense investments that have taken tiei'
either the present system. Now, how did the case to :11_.
The article most necessary, and of most impootance
sutsistence of the people, was also the most Re ,et"at,s
price, and one on which they claim, not as a favour bo.i
eiseolute matter of justice', that up to a certain p
shod.: have isrotection. It was admitted, except by th.
Lord. that Ythen the price reached a certain point 10 tr Stg4 t
of wheat, that rrotection could not be given, the tha
not being able id give to the producer of whee*,,teeleo
o
protection which it gave to the producer of every other 3' h).
It assumes to protect him, and ought to compensate itireeat
del y at a low price, fur its inability to give him a protection ,e 0,:
at a high one ; he could see no injustice in tbis arratigeZte
Other objections would depend on the skill with which the "atii
of the plant were adjusted, but he did think that a cornree'coie 'et
high duty, at a low point of price, was no more than betted ;
in fairness demand. It was, therefore, that he had arg fro
aaa'a great length on the present subject.—( Hear, beas' tieel
the Opposition.) But with respect to that come: ;
narrow practical question now before them, the P'scen
whether the protection due to agriculture should be g
one particular form or in another. They had heardre'vaity e
cried to the present law, and those evils had been of
aggerated, but• they had no right to argue froli thine
contra oj
' old law., that the cootinuance of those evils, %ist th, pot
would obviate their recurrence; and he argued a, cia; oy
duty, and he trusted .he should show that ,t'" woo": tof
in practice, and it Wir.l imp ossible it should do, nee lit
ry
other system do, what it p,'oposed to effect; .'lo"9l2eveu euty
fact, it was no better than a de,•usion, because hetee 6,.eci 1-1 De
scientiously, and with his mind and heart, that I,',lrtiter;ielot
could not, under a pressure, be continued. .0”.
05
argued that the measure proposed be his Right 1. etr t
was a measure of practiced relief —a
eas ore which ,
and hoped, and believed, was a measure whin dt snattYnsi, ter ow
found willing to accept, though many would talt• gr,..it „re
it embodied precisely their own sentiments on t"ja,c, or `iv;
m
jeet How was it possible that any scheme, or whie.t an°
penal, which involved a multitude of a gurnentll..iclett
it
eluded feelings under which they were themselves sclit did
sometimes driven—they could riot expect that any etrl_ee, he et
would command universal acceptation. But this ralienui, 0,1.)). er
Say, that the presumption was not only in their to attg,
ought to be in , the opinion of those 01 pos_c,(sto, u0,.0
pre erit Corn-law', a great improvement on the sY would s
which they existed,—an improvement which the
great
..1-net
t
tcia,
er r intoof t ehiefe
ac
gt
reiteiutilitouur
its
sh. e%li occurrence
te_ft
iait:ent;ea,r,de,
,080,giifchea t 1•!
eon inhateting evils which wuuld attend
wayhaterati'had. Ateafi
e monstrous evils attendant 07
tch-.0%1-atagwai::sat acrd hat, the he'dy'head of ' e
subject that they hay( ever.
re id them the sti•orinehst
late Government (Loud ce ce v
Government had told them, and th7tt, de
tha' he, for his part, even then, not withs.7hu. n'riees,
_'o"4
th i 6
that haA occurred, notwithstanding the l__l?./ovrreent, and
ran4ement of the currency, the lack of t•
depression of their export trade, the
_roe) 1 a
home market,—yet he (Lord Aleihnenue mae,eio to
them, in a recent declaration —0
the pren. Tea
eine et,aisees ittesuliarlv aaldieabic dtbv Fi he 'ttbo,
teVti ,110.alt01XL..1011 PrUP°Se 111(1 n°'o,l 2,"4.
see cleirly and distliictly'that its objeFc; ill blO
od,
a violent struggle, the creation of

e
When tfo,„,
rn7
altt to assuod that:
unnaturally'. ;ivi prie
tm not
ustz rne
oirenn
th-e,tanc
cent'
ave a ~
t Y Inv;
naturally
agrlieiculturists
them.
eat. at
hen cheat
=try
tens
I coati)ete-
at the
by °;_linortea
be 115"01ir, or
In? bos?T.
o.A.`riwet
believed
of •
w
tatxent
idr
tom;
n°
old be at-
im,
impost;
of
aft
favour
dt
111.1,0
atter ?lir
the
For the
a max--
,;e was a
l•c •-1 pur-
rs
of the
a syeteo
'v
as they]
during.
wonost_
nisclA
a ton-
's not
state-
:ofe
ot.
br.,
r ,Dell
that
;cars.
,ct of
t a 5
y CIO
rade
here
-led
iet't
ee-- • 'if
ose H 1.3
oac 09
err tFs
to
etc
be
Ito
25
to
' • -
y ,
o'.
r
fI
lL
ye
at
in
• ~
•
•
nit
‘4l
the
sail
the
set
Ain
wh
tea
(11,
Or,
thee
was.,
one (
airilit
the p 4
V. 1,,
lion
!PR it
4014
Itletnel,
tertian',lacd tha
July and
eferc
erldir4g
11
1111arters
ere . ,
11,0 c *'t
re 1,17
tardage of
hole of ti.
that by the
Peat
Pr ed toni
e,),
ice
"Litho s.a ia
p
4'lll the
hieet, Its
th
e Price wl
4.4 Y rel _ ranee
_o• eorn
', w;
rts
whe..l
With
keg
fie Prig
fouud
l'altt tlta
a duty
teedinr., that c
greet kas ina-s c
'fittertee
~sit ,'100.1)(10 qua
duty.clearcrs, and 1,700,00 Q
tinder 83, 111,
ua
quarters paid a
tars a.bo e a du
" tinder Bsv. duty,
the hi h
`"Ng eat 53s
• li°es, was
,11 Would be
Is Elm the be
'
•• thought; shi,
vitttages to the
I:eeessary to stat
rleelltit offs
ul'osite argtl at4t laq ye
p,(l tfed• dui y
C'l'll4.7le would
by"tti,lduty, durie
',C aight I-101
*i}etngli than le
" 'night 'only tot
"tter, ithout
aL
fiXrd duty would
414 e" nstabe a sti
:t, and st
t'as
operatiot
her rnetit on
T
ufined eeees
he therchants of
bnt, were anxie their ty
;.neupre.telit state
(i
rce of advan'at
was, Gentleman
at the Bri
against the influx
ott the Continent a
corn
wil is dear on t.
Prouet, it will be
l be
ooh countricarc es se here. ,
if tl
b
there must tie also
therefore a fixed dot
shesuchcircumstances.
gzeat evil which
hate, anticipated w
whoe effect of the pi
frorn the people of t
reigners. The grew

deep sense of grievance •
ton, leaving behind • ' without stirring society to its feunda-
think the advantage 01 everysort of animosity. He di I not
Lring with it. They
the changeworth the evili it would
y had, at no. distant p .
period, seen changes
Itev..,hic.h had almost convulsed society, set man against man, and
ified in say
AO left behind the deepest feelings of discord. He, for me,
would not add to this feelin
.and, hii this ground, he was jus-
admission th i
to
hie No to the notion of the o e ar .
N bi E I " That
motion was not one for ores violent change, but met ely for an
Corn-
rather offere stt'e
laws. Theta s 'flie change ought to take place in the
the contrar -tell) Lord Melbourne denied was Conceded, or
did not disd"ae "needed'
by
her Majesty's Government. It
the system, and yet settled nothing. On
assured ne i, it was a great legislative plan, which they were
sion. It t be carried into effect without creating a ceevul-
eommunit •onld Meet with the satisfaction of the agricultural
the other Y and their representatives in that House, as well as
Were the great interests of the country.—(Hear,• hear.)
doing battlee"ta"
e.. contending with mere abstractions, andel_ Mein of the' 7sion after Session, for different plans of amen
seive ( era-laws • avid, in the meantime, letttrig our-
s remaiti a+ ' . ' d the eircular of
the Anti c ~ weever were?. He reter.e te• . repteser, - °rn-law Conference, which, he wee Sorry to say,
met. eseltlie feelings of a great number of persons. They
Fiend
llednesday at half-past seven, when his Right Hon.
pan e lad "'it Yet concluded his address, and declared that the 1
ret' as an' nsult to the suffering nation. They took it for Ade-
l% that tl landed • destitute of all s3Tne
path ; we the aristocracy were their
' topersist in
, re resolved, if permitted by the people, passed
e'fleh policy,Th • e • at nine, and
e remslotie_ ey met anion .
teeth en, stating that the deputies then present did, en
teethe' conside.e,i e'theplace,behalf
both on their own -
"din the ‘`
°"' rtl"
toe, a . name of their constituents, their solemnt .
of
tilli,_ tel.entered their protest against it, as a total denial
-I hear.)
Ile Linniistenands of the people orthis country, —(
l eal:' they
net what the ' demand= were to to which •
referred but. just .
nts of an oPP9e
eii,
II , he would also turn Co the sentiments
trente their
nieXf; Of these who stood at the oppoeite
at a tlitet•
~,,,_,?
at-et7e differently expressed, for found,l9ieth of February, that
ti,'"e'r!itriet€ Boston on the same day, the
containtal. in the
1,1,71. men of Boston think there is no insult
He thought they
in'atie Met was entitled to their respect.
with, but
th,, some demands which could not he complied . I
..1 811. •
•h as Manchester ann
te • egest tnet the larger twns, sut.
4'1"11"1 h ld - included in the list ef those for
rakin e s s on not be
ite of wheat
40 , nott the averages That the average pr . _ tie . i than- .... uerter, and that, inasmuch as
ehte. e less 6os. a q
cost es could be conveyed from Hamburgh to o . ' L ndonfor thesame
as from L m he amount of their protection was
it „ 3 n or Boston, t
d h t n it could not be
teee. e atuount of the duty an t e ra s , .
ter :to account. That the 'maximum duty of eO. se a quar-
hy the insufficient for the protection of the Enetesh farmer,•
blattirne ruinous
, e(uneetn bellesaganst the lemon., and that the
to be ellele (iutY ought not to
roilakti tic between such extremes, width, however, both as, they b !,!1 this respect, that they both acted honestly in what
ei_e e ieved to b
e ee, not their own selfish interests, but
lel
.t.einterests of the country at lunge • and a pro-
ra'hitti n made, either for ore o'r the eaer, would have
that tilise 11l ulitairdcg any settlement 'lle therefore trusted
~
tti et 'House %Geld adept, and
adopt by a large majority,
_7atearnsure recurnmended by his Right Hon. Friend, as a
Cal
(Ilarpizzent in the operation of the laws, as a bene-
the great 7) rinC. the entire
efuhMunity, vet still maintaining
ta• th ;1,), IA winch Parliament 'eas pledged to main-
anua,o.y at ta proteetion to the ' , s est —that large
d erweelming int egtieuiturtti in _ .
conneeted With, and their was
ere•t cluch in eome form corn 0 ' ,
--( Hear, hear ' dertldent nn the agricultural eum y.
went, and Tooke In b's PArt, and as a servant of the Govern-
__ a .
.g on 4.1 the circumstances on which he could
atprepeeusdainrient in the matter, he gave a hearty assent to
ean'Yinie th lin was satisfied that if they should succeed in
gue a e , o treasure proposed t Id be -found that it wonl.l
Rave relief to the conserner ' 1 "et.
' to the preducer, and
ear,
hstinneus to theira p mi.:re:it ino e
trade.—( Cries of
aid th. '''`ntgh their measure itself mgineht be misrepresente.d,
yet
their motives -1 1-
, and cuaracters Malient:d as connected with it,
the„_,lttesseitl be wee' contented with the consciousness that_t
t Zl. made an effcri to benefit the country, and they mlfgh
deer,
_ninpatience the iis judgment. —( The Hon. Member sat
Ittir.acritel loud cheering from the Ministerial benches.)
Ilael trete 'MILLS WOOD said that the Hon. Gentleman
tete wan some trouble to prove, first, that the Ministerial mea-
farce" s seauted as a re b • the Anti-Corn-law Con-
()Ly y
by the
agrie..i: arid Was conside;ek as an inadequate protection.
..
tee " '144 Irlterest,—(ll‘,
~r, he•ar, hear.) He certainly did
Chat :„lell'oe.t that the qthission would have cor from
atiat,
at t the IT
- ..".°43e, atfadmission that neither to those who
en,' cd the true interests of the country, nor those who.
Birotrite,Praferwar the 'representatives of the agricultural.dis-
ill
s_n, (1. the pn of her Majesty's Blinisters given
elio, ii.:•"..lactiou whateter ?—(Hear, hear) He had stated
purpose of
estaieiti this rneasur was defended not for the purp . !et any one a remunerating price, not for giving a protection
tit vise fnuer class ; he had equally' repudiated the idea i lide-
endeti, the purpose of maintaining the country
ir:_c:
e beii‘ev of foreign spply, an independence w i h.,
tooki, ed, had never existed during the present century.
begunhe g
of
the returns which had been laid on the table, of the
d
fokind% i_ecra from the beginning o: this century, it
.wint iltiart„ tuat for theefirsi ten years it was half a million of.
Opeard3 Per annum ; abcitit the same for the next ten years,
tiuri"
the lad a million, qua ere from 1820 to 1829 ; and that
of tive ~last ten years e average importation was upwards
tidieei nti"ten rut • It was perfectly absurd and i
fi
f_ e million 4, ers o corn. .
independent of
ureter, su 'ettete ore, to talk of their being ntrle.bisti)!Y, hen, tofoM the beginning of the . t cen-
preseeulation
tZtith feed,'+uutitry had et been able to supply pep
Itabilit to do
wase,,,anti When, too, it was evident that its ma
:'iantlY inereasing The question was no longershould
''tins e IN
in what way, on what I
ries eltendenteof foreign supply; but
kite ' and by wh
t supply could be received
ti,,, teest , at regulations tha
( Hear, hear. ) The
eeettiee se a(iventage to the country.--
by a fixed duty
7 gas slit; whether that could best be done .
Said that
1.,,,u5t-eutlng scale. The Right Hon. Gentleman
sous to i
r11"O 11,',''Y ittipo:q.bl for them to regulate thezetea ,
against
eeettien't,l'n certainly' upon the harvests, and to pro
difficulty what-
he
tee, iti e ; hut he (Mr. C. Wood)
sawnofluctuations, and he
ateed ee,eatternnt to counteract those
them.
e ' eiat • • - adopted to increase
the %get II the sliding-scale was
many statements for
ae Purpose 4ftli. Gentleman had made. Her
ice had not been
rcat showing that the variations
I C. Wood)
eO,
legit a% 'had es .
let ateoe been supposed.
made out his case.
'eas 7itit if for a moment that he had
of his scale
te ete`') keee 'n• Bart. stated that the objects4s
and 585.
/To)7l' weeSs the price of corn betweeri
Now, ;as there any
was al'ility of' to keep it at about 565.
that there
do
,ot, that being effected? He contended
was laid
li" for tuna in the old law a much wider rangeeh
object
t that, %ciliateand he would show them t e.
'been
~ . on, . ,
tanning stated that his
et_7t• was tes,e entirely failed. 11.1 r.
5a
to 655. 1 he
,eettiatioe h Keep the price varying
enich th t owcve- far frerent. o.r. 80 per rent. , :
It the e elori • , exceeded 70 pere?
the utmost limit.
le; e e bee,
1,. • Baronet seemed to consider
was
esa.. ir,
1;37 ehatine of the winter of 1831, the price
7d.
;‘in 6e,.
1 , ii it ,a, was 605.2. in Dec. 1832, it was 535.
11 t under this
price4!hio,
tyre'' in Dec. 1835, it was 36s ; so t
d that
605., the
Searsen 18,‘..51, to keep the price of cornfosrteay
the preceding 70
ild. The vela' s,
lower than it li.ad. been
twelve months, the price
e ieri!eritta 6, .) next vvinter, within .
of 1429, the
- r'ee had
~• `s• 9d. or 70 t • in the winter .
litite es re tsen to 80' cen
• ' 100 ner cent. above the
'he
. ''ee• 1835. "d" more thean But he would now take
I,,luarterly ,
to,--e Hear, hear.,
last ten years ending in
),'..:411,_ N, ort'vZ. e
.. 'lake the
ee
of them only did the,
(een'Y. a.vere,e`'",.'s ten years, in
r limit stated by Mr.
aeesa:'g fil range within the
ee was 665. 4th'
Os , the lien, 'Pel, the yearly average
the limit ; .in 1833,
;4111311,, beio‘; It 1832, eBs. Bd., within
2d. below the limit ;
tie ,35, 4es. A, t edunit; in 1834, 465..
below Mr. Can-
ni4 a av,rage.,• e in 1636, 48s. 6d., agatn.
i and 645. 10d.
ageol'tithin iiii.ln. 1837 and 1838, 555. t
I°.
”It4o 665. 4d.
the i„a:)',e Air liiiestl ; in Ild9' 70' Bd.
; 7 }ears out of
hetet tait: —ftotlinA's limit. So that in
3 entirely
sho 'i
i't, it ~•Ing the averaee the Bill of Mr. Canning
lOs
e ll"‘' ue es
euteg the Price ' ' f corn within the limit, if h •
'eelevaed that ise4i','.'ed to thefa.to ation. And it should be or:
shah lere,i,-;2uese prices there were none of those4extruaopon ithet ~,, Tii„e('lle of those drops of 25., 35., and
likely
then
nld ' Pro,. 't,ess had h. laid. It was not
ore.,
„. , . sed
t_a, een
in its object when the
f Elem., he'otth ailuc ale would succeed.
tally failed.—
°ti the ai%) Te "„ed a larger lima,
ins
i not a little
teen, it v.. ariatie: =‘!glit lion. Gentleman stet
in Prussia ;
was not f\as tee ei,,etila the pri.ie of . rye
He
thought it
one of
whichtl te, iesiili... article of consumptioneen
two
countries,
tiviliaati was
soitte a comparison betty
and
the es„, °,n•--( Hee
,kperier to the other in advancement.
one of
re•elnalet ear, oe..ir was a statement in
_.
'C Lea ' to 'whit,. • ) There
made, that by Sir
tine
~'"un, the obi,otti reterence had en
nw
h that the varia-
Taein",,,a greater in eitf which was toe .
this country.
jo
,i, the pric loreign ports than in .
compare
f g It
(; with the ft"' the year 1829 to 1838, and
that
el./ tn. tine e e Price in England, it appearedOd
emej, re e.ffierent
namely,
porte or pieces,
ter,,„ ttarnbereb ta - i is., Dresden. Rot-
je„,egel, and A,.... , 7. , Antwerp,
a"
a •h ffreater in Eng-
,itititt that, in tiate'ostd' e,a, the. variation was mac e
een the end of
O,,LY artel e„in,iine of es in the year 1840, betw •
_c
.0
_. Bd.
e rejerenie
,ot Sept., the duty fell fromB.l. t s
eek
that i the w
eo_
le ai to these aeeounts it ty ldbeseen n
,i4atlit,r ne jOth of July with a ditie.4 of 16s Bd. there were 4,000.
were i ',ripened the next Week,Y at a duty of 10s. 8(1., there
11,or ~000 quarters rho
next week at 65..8d., there were
er, JO Then carne'he minimum duty of es. 6(1., when there,
'Wit 1,170.000 quarters. 'Would it not have been for the athee-
-I,4eetuf the country to have had an Bs. fixed duty dudrintg him
(eatt that period ? He (Mr. Wood) said that it seentie_so.__.
1,,,,,, by the documents produced
The
the Governm .2,7tasatrie
Dit,:ut.o be a prohibitory duty. The duty at 565., which
to
ahuo tainted at by the Riget Hon. Gentleman, amountedurmer
was
tNii.si t Prohibitory duty. Protection to the f
Gentleman.
kid
lei? thrown over by the Hight Honourable.dto be his only
"ljeet e good of the community at larg© teemed
. was precisely
the • It remained then to be shown why ...
s.
muinty,-. If
arill6,'c Which would be for tho returnsdl c,omt
ng
i the price
of .e'''ance could be put on the resp!.ce
included all
'44 it ordinarily about •Itrs. That
'sort ,' teas
olmuicared that price
With
,t-',` wheat, good and bad, and.? thec
be
would pfound that 455.
was far Price Price of English wheat, i
of English wheat. It wouldr
be fo— b'lew the average, quality.
ars no foreign corn when.% e
I,a. mid that, furoree list ten ee ,
d therefore every dutyfhx •
. min duty f than 105. ; an
lb e
ee,.
~ 0
prohibitory duty.
great 1", teat sum was equivalent to a
isno
since o , 4la— f • ted into this countrhe
as • o cern imported
ere bad been
i ie lemorfed et duty of Bs. In 1830 t
pa..
""n Ot•e- . a andnearly 1 200,000 of that :41
inv. k' 0 quarters imported,
1 000,000
''''' dtu 1 1 " 1 l• re had been imported , .
114,4, y. n b 3 t .e .
I,eoo iis• and of these 963,000 paid underBs. dety. In 1836,
d a
' '4° 'which 1 500 000 quarters pal duty
"'Wee 83 ['nailer,' 'if ' ' t which only 50,000
(Lear, • In 1839, 2,500,000 quarters, o
340 000 quar-
ters ters paid a. duty above 10s. In 1810, about ,
or
tcnd above a duty of 10-., but all the rest was imported. tan(
the et!. Ba. duty. The lowest average pike was 4as.. 9d., 1.
eere 'ghest 5-as. 5d., arid if the average freight, without any
• pe,-.l;,ges• was added, the average price. at the porth ofnuenxd-
Tea, l,`,°uld be 543. sese Upon that it would e
had
he „e duty would amount to a prohibitory duty. He d
'"`Ateht .•that fixed duty would secure greater a -
tset,,,, " , shown a
ett,eees to the consumer than the 5 I in,-
rd* cr scale. It was not
f an particular
teo,!'ary to state any arguments in favour o__ n
II yGeutlemen
ill. eat ot fixed duty. It was convenient or U ._
Govern.
'tiet?,'" e to roue upon the amount propesed by h
t eh
t corn
et "eq last 'year namely Bs. He had •hawn t a
eil4•'"oleed duty of 83. would have been cheaper—that greatera
pkek-„tage would have been derived by the consumer from
0 the'Lie during the last summer (which had been selected
Y ll. 'l, II his arguments), when pri.ces
, ig t „on. Genhernan
duty be it what
ante hem, than form a sliding scale. is
fixed ,
.10.
I,,,;!:ight, only took so much from the profit of the foreign: 1
fixed- e a ithout adding to the price paid by the conseme_;endAi
1 duty would also be attended. with what he (Mr. NI
,
, d to be a still greater advantage—he meant a
scae
‘e:,itistat, and stt aey trade. So long as any sliding
anl
;;•,a! in operation (although the proposed scale sac‘
~:erovernetit on the present one), eso long the trade
.. must
The"ned recessarily to ports wi lain a short distance.
merchants of Hanibureli and other places on the Conti-
. tient, w .
'.
' continued in
ty,eie ere anxious that the Corn •lawe should be
.e a
soorr‘ lare•eut state hat clearly showed that they must b
Right
ehi " or ailvaniage to them. The argument et the
n• Gentleman (Sir Robert Peel) in favour of his measure
was, t
. that the British People could not protect themselves-
on-4ainst the influx of foreign corn at periods when the seasons
l,,the Continent and in this country were favourable. Whenl
lt?.!ta is dear on the Continent, said the Right Honourable
weremet, it will be also dear here—when it is scarce there,. a
bli!,hee scarce here. The same seasons generally prevailing in,
ii,',llr eateries, if there was a iplentiful harvest in the knee
' e must 'le also
so that
there so a plentiful harvest in the other. ;
under
sneje%
ta• fixed duty could be no possible protection t
tile"
,':ela. mtanc.es. He (Mr. Wood) was sorry to see that.
hate e,il which the Right Hon. Gentleman seemed, to
e.e,e, aTtticipated. was a plentiful harvest.—(Cheers.) The
ewno.e effect of the rese , •every advantage
trp n, .aes was to take
gels' the people of this country, and hand them over to for-
Mrs, The greatest advantages were taken from the ship-

them to help in repealing the Corn-laws for their own benefit.
Would the working men now abandon the people's petition and the
Charter ?—(Cheers from the Chartists.) If they did they would
give the public and the press just reason to insult thelln.—(Hear,
hear.) Let the working men remember that they never would get
their rights either as regarded food, or any thing else, until they
had a share in returning the Parliament, and a voice in snaking the
laws. The Anti Corn-law party said to them," If you will help us
to repeal the Corn-laws, we will help you to get the suffrage.
But the operatives should answer, " Do you help us to get the suf-
frage first." (Cheers) It was no use to repeal the Corn.laws,
unless the people were allowed to exercise the power of a cori-
stit ucncy.— (Uproar.)
Mr. HEARNE said that the meeting was called for a spe.
cific purpose—to present a petition against the Corn.laws.
—(l..oud cheers.) It had been said that the Chartist peti-
tion was signed by 5;1100; but the petition they were met
to adopt was signed by nearly three times that nuather.—(Cheers
and interruption.) They should act like sensible loess.—(Hear,
hear, and confusion.)
Mr. FEARGITS O'CONNOR then presented himself amidst loud
cheers from the Chartists, and proceeded to say that he was sur-
prised to find that when the proposer and seconder addressed the
meeting in support of the petition, there were no signs
of ii,terruption ; but when the working-men commenced
to speak they were met by cries of " Question, ques-
tion." And yet it was not their intention to come between the
people and the Corn.laws, or to drive that measure from the House
of Commons, but to dislodge Sir Robert Peel from his posi-
tion.—(Cheers.) The question was, how they could best
effect the repeal of those laws, and the adoption of
the People's Charter in the shortest time,—(Hear, hear.)
He did not think that the most effectual means to attain those ends
would be to plice the repeal of the Corn-laws before the Charter.—
(Cheers from the Chattels.) Did not the present constituency
send into Parliament a great majority in favour of the Corn-laws,
and could their repeal be expected until the constituent trod; was
enlarged?—(Cheers.) Was there ever such a disproporti'
in ,the distribution of wealth as at present ; so much money-
in the hands of one class, and so much poverty endured by the
other ?—(Cheers.) And was it not curious that the poverty should
fall on the unrepresented, and all the wealth on those who were
represented ?—(Loud cheers.) He (Mr. O'Connor) had lately
fallen in with a cobler, who told him a story about the Bishop ,of
Exeter. " Well, Daniel," said the Bishop, "I am informed you
are a Chartist, and, let me tell you, that you cannot be a
Chartist without being an infidel." " But, my Lord," said
Daniel, " I have got• 10 children, and you have got none, and I
want something to feed them." " But don't you know," said his
Lordship, " that God does not send any mouths without at the
same time giving food to fill them." " Very true, my Lord," said
Daniel, "but his good designs are thwarted by evil men. How
else, my Lord, could he have given me all the mouths and your
Lordship all that might fill them."—(Great laughter.)
If at quarter-day Sir Robert Peel, and his brothers in office, were
to be refused their salary, it might bring them to their senses; and
they would then, perhaps, think of the comforts of the working men.
People had talked of the bad agitaton of Chartism. Let them show
him (Mr. F. O'Connor) an instance in which the Chartists had
refused patiently to listen to reason. The Whigs were originally
opposed to them, but now the Whigs were opposed to themselves.
Lord John Russell wished for an eight shilling duty, while Mr.
Villiers went for a total repeal, and Sir Robert Peel came in at
the end with his slippery pigtail.—(Cheers and laughter.) They,
the Chartists, knew very well the character of the Whigs. They
knew very well that the present agitation was merely got up to
get them back into office.—(Cheers from the Chartists.) For
seven years had the people petitioneel the Whigs against those laws,
an I during that time the Whigs told them that the distress of the
country was caused by fluctuations in commerce, attendant upon
all great commercial nations. 13ut when they got on
the shady side of Downing-street, they said to them, the Char-
tists," Do you assimulate your cause with ours, and let us get into
office again." When he (Mr. O'Connor) had gone to the Con-
ference held last week, they told him that he could not be ad-
mitted without a ticket, and thus was he prevented from going to
express the principles he held, and of advancing. the great cause
to which he was pledged. One of the speakers at the Con-
ference bad alluded to him (Mr. O'Connor) and said
there was a person going about the country in a fustain
jacket, while a black one would have stilted him better. He
(Mr. O'Connor) had come to that meeting in a black coat. He
never attacked a man behind his bark. He called on the gentle-
men of that Confetence to name six, twelve, or eighteen of their
number, and they (the Chartists) would do the same, and meet
them, and put the principles of eachlo the test.—(Loud cheers.)
The Whigs had introduced the Reform Act, and that was to do
away with Toryism. That. Act had been fully tried for ten years,
and what was the consequence of it ? Why, it had put a majority
of Tories of from sixty t4,nitiety into the House."—(A voice,
" It was you and your party that put them there.")—
(Great uproar.) The Tories had property, which they con-
sidered the standard of the franchise; and so long as
another man's property entitled the elector to vote, so long
would the present state continue. The Charter would strike at
the root of all this.— (Great cheering.) It would take the suffer-
ing from the people. He had sufficient confidence in the working
classes to feel that should a famine come upon the land, they would
hear the decrees of Providence with patience and submission.—
;Cheers.) Now, there was not a single article of luxury denied to
the table of the wealthy, while every thing that was
necessary to suppart life was taken from the table of the
poor man. This was not the wish of an all-dispensing Providence.
—(Cheers.) The battle was now between the two extremes—the
people and the aristocracy. The Whigs twelve months ago promised
them household suffrage, and if they were sincere, let them join the
Chartists, and go for the whole Charter, and thus, for the first
time, let the Whigs and Chartists be united. Let them all unite
in this object, and then would they be worthy of the name of
Englishmen, and thus would every poor man be proud to
say of England, "Phis is my own, my native land."
—(Loud cheers.) Alter thanking the High Bailiff for the
pleasure, /met the high honour conferred upon him, be said
he was proud in supporting the amendment of the working man.
The amendment, "'float the National Petition, or the Charter,
should be adopted instead of that submitted to the meeting," was
then put and carried by a small majority.
Three cheers were then called for for, Mr. F. O'Conner, which
seas answered by a call for three groans fur the same 'gentleman,
but the cheers had it.
A vote of thanks was passed to the High Bailiff, and the meeting
.ated at half-past three o'clock.

FRANCE.
(FRom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, FEB. 12.—The prevailing topic of conversation this
morning is the unexpectedly close divisions of yesterday in the
Chamber of Deputies on M. Ganncron's Bill far excluding public
functionaries from the Chamber. It bad been supposed from the divi-
sion on the address, and still more from the great number of members
who are at the present moment in the enjoyment of salaried offices,
dependent on the Crown, that the majority against the introduc-
tion of such a measure would have been a large one; the astoniah-
went, therefore, at a majority of only eight being obtained against
the Bill has been very great. It is believed that some of the
Ministers are themselves inclined to support such a measure, and
in fact M. Guizot some time since let drop several hints, whirls
might be interpreted into an intimation that it would not be made
a Cabinet question. NVe are inclined to believe that the great
munber of Deputies who have voted or the Bill have been in-
fluenced by the inure personal inconveniences to which they have
been subjected during the numerous Ministerial changes
that have taken place snide MO, it being well known
that each new Administration im France has generally made short .
work with all functionaries who dared to adhere to thepolicy of their
predecessors. Thus all the Prefects and Sub .Prefects so many of
whom have been, or are, members of the Chamber of Deputies, •
have been peculiarly exposed to the caprices of the Cabinets under
which they have continued in office; aid the recollection of the
forced tergiversations they have made, cannot but be galling ; we
will not say to men of independent political principles, for the num-
bers of such individuals are exceedingly small •in France—but to
men of good education, and moving among the more enlightened
classes of society. This measure more than any other would tend
to make public functionaries honest, and Deputies independent ;
but this is precisely what Louis • Philippe does not like.
he holds the reins of power only by force and corruption, and no
Cabinet, as long as he is on the throne, will ever dare to support
such a suicidal Bill. It was impossible therefore that the prepo.
sltions could be tamely admitted into the Chamber; and though
by favour of the Ballot many functionaries voted in secret for M.
Ganneron's Bill, yet the Court was pretty confident of success before
the discussion took place. This narrow division will, however, pro-
cure a good rating to Messrs. Guizot and Duchatel, the Mipisters
of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, for their wily master, and will
no doubt hasten the dissolution of the Chamber. The legal time
for the new elections is in 1843 ; but it will be probably antici.
paled by a whole year. The Budget will be hastily discussed, and
carried, of course, and in June, if nuts n May, the Session will be
terminated. An extensive weeding oft uspeeted Prefects, and a
copious distribution of decorations, togetk er with a skilful shuffle
among the Sub. Prefects, Mayors, King s Procurators, &c., will
precede the elections, and will probably produce a Chamber more
complaisant than the present one.
F Thls question of Parliamentary Reform s not, however, of so
much interest, in reality, as the rumoured refusal of France to
ratify the treaty for the suppression of the slave trade, and the right
of mutual visit. It is a melancholy instance of bad feeling towards
the other Powers of Europe that the French should be unwilling
to submit to the same restrictions which they would gladly lay on
other nations, and it is a proof of a low state of morality among
the people in general, that they should be willing, on such a ques-
tion of general principles of humanity, to imitate the un-
civilized conduct of the Americans rather than that of the rest of
the great nations of the world- Tlsp stipulations of the treaty
confer the right of mutual search of all vessels upon Prance,
Russia, Austria, Prussia, and England. All the conditions of the
Convention are perfectly reciprocal ; and every thing is based on
a footing which may be considered perfectly fair to the parties con-
. cerned. The objections raised to the treaty by the gobblers of the
Chamber of Deputies are founded merely upon the circumstance,
that as so many more vessels of war are employed by England in
the Atlantic than by France, for the suppression of the slave-trade
the probability is, that many more French merchant-vessels will
be stopped and searched by English cruisers than English neer-
cliant.vessels by French cruisers. But such an objection as this
cannot stand fur a moment in the opinion of any man of honour
and common honesty. The rubbish talked by some of the so-
called Liberal Members of the Chamber of Deputies wise.. this
subject was under discussion the other day, and the empty de-
clamations against " England's usurpation of the Sovereignty
of the Seas," &c., amount to nothing more than this—Will
Austria or Prussia, who have so few vessels of war,
object to the treaty, on grounds of this kind ? Will Russia take
umbrage at the French stopping her merchant-vessels? And why
should France raise objection to England alone ?—why not attack
Russia ?—why not declaim against Austria or Prussia? Thereason
of all this is the feeling of petty jealousy against England still sub.
sisting among the more numerous and snore ignorant classes of the
French people, and the cheap popularity to be obtained by deputies
who choose to talk on the subject. The United States of North
Ameriea are more honest in their opposition to the abolition of the
slave-trade : they approve of the slave-trade, and their merchants
carry it on; the right of search, thetefore, is objected to by them
with some appearance of reason, bad and disgraceful though that
reason be : but the objection of France is that of a disappointed
braggart, angry at not being able to play first fiddle. We sincerely
hope that England will not fail to support her dignity and her just
cause in this affair on both sides of the Atlantic.
The affairs of Algeria are not yet fully brought under the notice
of the Chambers ; but when they are, if the members can add two
and two, so as to snake four, it may be expected that a great modifi-
cation of policy will take place. The conduct of General Bugeauti
has however been of late rather successful; and if he could be
allowed sufficient funds, Ise would probably effect something perma-
nent; but whether the hundred and odd millions of francs will be
allowed by the Chambers, when they vote the African Budget, re-
mains to be seen.
It appears positive that the Prince de Joinville is going round
the world; and will probably visit John Chinaman during his pere.
grinations. It is rumoured that he has refused the rank of Rear-
Admiral until he returns ; this is not unlikely, for he is a straight-
forward young man, and it does him credit.
The Carnival has been duller than ever—nothing could be
worse; the weather is most unseasonably fine and warm—nothing
can be more agreeable.

" THE SUN" DISPATCH.—We have again to
acknowledge the extraordinary enterprise of the proprie-
tors of The Sun newspaper, in their publication of the
snee;:h of Sir Robert keel, in the House of Commons, on
IVednesday evening, on bringing fimward the Ministe-
rial measure on the Corn-laws. The Express Edition,
containing a full report of the speech, and extending to
about eight columns, reached Leeds (two hundred miles
off), in little more than twelve hours after its delivery in
the House of Commons!—Leeds„Tuncs.
The John Bull says, that the Earl of Elgin has
been appointed Governor-General of Jamaica. The He-
rald, another Tory paper, throws discredit on the statement.
The first committee for the trial of controverted
election petitions will be ballotted for on the 10th of March.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNAJ.S.

FROM TIM EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
IVci,leOlsiaitni
tbeenetnionlesdintofaNc,ohieirri(s)hr
commerce.
GLOBE.—There is " no mistake " about the reoeP-
tion of the Peel Corn-bill amongst that inmense bo:iy,
elan.," says the Leeds Mercury,
i expectationsm,,e trhe ea .
n‘
e` oNI. Net. ;Se: irsi
unit!. ' se°teb etece:-. it
temporary defeat of the Reform Bill, have we knowm
so strong a fteling of disgust and indignation excite&
in Yorkshire, raml Lancashire, and among the trading;
classes generally, as has burst forth on the announce-
ment of the Government juggle. It has been reported,
on the nther hand, that " some of the Tory Members,
Sir Eardley Wilmot and others, thought Peel might
safely have gone farther." What is very certain is, that
if it was safe to take a step at all, it was not safe to take
so short a step as the Minister has now taken. There
was no safe alternative but staying on his own side of the
slough, or clearing it. But Sir Robert was looking backward
to Hansard, not forward to the requisite length of leap. He
was looking
to the !public feeling and interests. How to :reconcile
to
to the Tory benches, not forward,
squireish support, and verbal consistency with some •
show of change, was the only problem he Weans .
-to have felt himself called on to work out. It is
astonishing he should not have , felt that
any necessity to seem to do something, it must have
amounted to a necessity to do something in earnest
There could not be any mere Parliamentary necessity
for change. There sat an assured majority behind him, '
obtained by- mere panic of change. What then was it
that rendered change imperative, despite that majority r
There can 141 110 answer, except the roused expectations
of the commercial community. Now, if those ex-
pectations could 'comel the show of change front
A 1_ the majority, must they - not compel its reality'
It is,
~rideed, passing strange that a Minister, whose
supposed disposition to concede to public opinion, and .
to consult
pubic necessities, vas the true source of his
strength, should :lot have now thrown himself on tha'..;
strength, and shown L'imself in reality what he has always
been anxious to appeal. in words, the safe and indispen-
sable link between stubbm:2 Conservatism and rash Re-
form. 'that delusion has now vanished for ever. It has
now been too thoroughly proved ;hat the Present Prime
Minister is a man of words, and pothing but words.
But there is a point where words necessarily fail those
who care nothing ii things. There is-. a dine wNett
their verbal issues must be paid in more solid currency.
That is the moment for distinguishing the statesman.
from the mere party leader. The former keeps in view,
through all changes, the aim of national objects. His
language may be unguarded, unmeasured, and even, at
some times, inconsistent. But he always means some- •
thing ; he always means to do something, having the
poww. The mere party leader means nothing but to he
thought to mean what will serve his party best-
- STANDAR-a—We have felt it a duty to our readers
and to truth to print all the communications upon the
subject of the proposed modification of the Gcrn-laws
that have reached our hands to-day, without any
reference to the agreement- or disagreement a,' the
writers with our own views. It will be seen Inns few
they are, and how nearly they approach to an unqoa-
li tied :approval of Sir Robert Peel's plan. The attempt :O
disunite the Conservative party upon this question may
be considered, indeed, as utterly hopeless ; and we rejoice
to find that the manufacturers—as many of them Lis are
iutelligent and honest, as many of them as do not seek .to.
destroythe agricultural interest—arc beginning to expreess
their satisfaction. The purpose of the plan cannot be--
better described than in the words of our Manchester
correspondent ; it is an arrangement admirably devised
to give to the manufacturers the benefit of all the late
great improvements in agriculture without checking the
progress of such improvements. This is just ; the menu,-
faeturers are entitled to share in the benefit,
because, with whatever ill grace on the part of
some, they have in part paid for it. But the landed
interest are surely entitled to preserve their pro-
portion of the benefit, the greater part of which
they have paid for, and the whole of which has been.
procured by their exertions. The noisy party at present;
is, however, one which looks, not with satisfaction, but,
with malignant spite,' at the improved. resources of the,
country. These men, so far from rejoicing in the im-
provement of agriculture, regard that improvement as
a calamity. Willingly would they see one-half the- •
produce of our fields blighted ; and if Providence .in
• its bounty should increase the present product two-
fold, they would feel the common blessing as
a severe affliction. - An abundant home supply
would, they know, raise the rate of wages,
and deprive them of - the steady foreign corn-
trade. True, domestic abundance would improve:
the home market, but not in the same pro-
portion in which it would raise the price of wages„
The pressure of want upoe the humbler classes is in.
every country the spring of manufacturing industry, as
was well known to every political philosopher, before the
principle was strained by the New Poor-law Commis-
shiners and the Mill-owners of Manchester, &c., test&
Mr. Ashworth. Tice Leaguers have not yet ventured to
say directly that what they want is to diminish the
home supply, in order to have a more completely
pauperised . ppniation at their mercy ; but this is:
what they mean, and what they say, too, very
unequi VI walk-, than indirectly, when they corn--
plain that 'Sir Robert Peel's plan will not 'ensure
a " regular and steady foreign corn trade." A
neellar anti steady foreign corn trade can be en-
Orel only by so constant a deficiency in the home
produce as shall prevent that produce ever meeting the
demand of the country even- in one year out of ten ; for
this rare interruption would be quite Sufficient to,
destroy the regularity , and steadiness of the trede.
The whole purpose of the present agitation is to get
the working classes more absolutely than they , are,
within the grasp of the monied capitalist ; and this
ought to be shown to the people without reserve. The
time is not a time for delicacy in the matter. Nothing
but the utmost frankness in speaking to the people can
avert very serious dangers. The Leaguers mean blood-
shed, if bloodshed be thought necessary to the effecting
of. thei e object ; witness their incendiary harangues, wit-
ness some of their nets, and the countenence gi Veil to
those nets by the men who ought . to prevent them.
We have received a letter from Derby describing the
proceedings on Tharoday of a " League ' mob of 7,000
or ,:',,000 persons assembled by torch-light, who held the
town at their mercy fin- a considerable time, until two
or three Conservative Magistrates, of inferior Magisterial
rank, felt themselves at liberty to interfere. A recole
lection of the libel laws forbids us to publish all the par-
ticulars that have come to our knowledge, and during
the sitting of Parliament it ought to be unnecessary for
us to do so.

THE CORN-LAWS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN:.
Stutz—As a subscriber to your truly valuable paper, and a.
Chairman of a public meeting of the inhabit ants of the borough,
held on Saturday evening, numbering about 2,000, I beg to
transmit you a copy of the resolutions unanimously agreed to.
They were moved, seconded, and supported, with .very excel-
lent speeches, and if I may judge from the meeting, they seem
more determined than ever to carry on the glorious work.of agx-
talon since the anearanee of Sir ltobert's mee sliding scale.
1 am, Sir, your humble servant,
Rochdale, Feb. 14,1842. JAMES LRACH.
I. Resolved, That the proposition of Sir Robert Peel, sub-
mitted to the House of Commons on the subject of the Corn-
laws on Wednesday last, is a document conceived in the true
spirit and genius oCthat packed assembly which in its essence,
its constitution., and its operation is inimical to civilization, to
commerce, and to the rights of the people. That the present
attempt to perpetuate a tax upon corn is an aggravated
insult to the perishing inhabitants ~f the United Kingdom, ar
violation of the most sacred of all rights of labour, for the )onefit
of an aggrandized and rapacious aristocracy, that therefore this,
meeting enters its solemn protest against the proposition; and
will resist its adoption
.by every means in its power.
2. That while this meeting considers the Ministerial plan 012
the Corn-law question an insult to the suffering people, they are
further of opinion that there are other bad laws which ought in
to be effaced from the statute-book of this country.
and this meeting consider the only remedy to be the enacting'
the principles contained in • the People's Charter the law of
the laud.
3. That a copy of the resolutions passed by this meeting be
set to our Representative, William Sharman Crawford,
lern him to make such public declaration,thereof as he thinks fit.

LONDON AND GREENWICH RAIL-.
WAY COMPANY.
The Half-yearly General Aleeting of the Shareholders in this
Esq., in the chair.
tßhaeihroymivoans IT"atier3ne,st‘asai4sigmaralsit'rteteq,pulbS!icllijanmtimssalija°dnbolt";
Air. Wicsosr, the Deputy Chairman, read the report of the,
Directors, from which it appeared that the profit from the traffic.
(luring the last year was only 1,137/., a sum too small to war-
rant a dividend among the increased number of Share-
holders. The receipts fur passenger traffic, as com-
pared with the same period of last year, showed a
decrease in number of 41,311 passengers, and in amount of
1,635/. ; the Croydon toll had fallen short by 3741. 4s. 5d..;
the footpath being necessarily closed, on account of the new
works, made a deficiency of 1991. 12s. 9th., and a portion of the
rents have been absorbed by the new workei to the amount of
1,41. 10s. Bd.: whilst the only item of increase iiirneappeared in the Brighton tolls of 9871. 13e. 3d. T classes of
carriages on the line had lately been reduecd to two, and the
tares had been fixed at 9d. and 6d. The total expenses con-
nected with the line during the last six months, ending Dee. 31,
1;341, amounted to 25,205/. 16s. Id., and the receipts to
6137/. ss. 4d., showing a profit of 931/. 9s. 3d.
fhe Engineer's Report was then read. It was very short,
and merely stated that the whole of the works were now so
nearly completed, as to leave no doubt that they would be con-
siderably under the estimate, and within the specified time.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the Report.
Mr. WILSON seconded the motion.
Mr. Ilerciuxs wished to know why the fares had been al-
tered on the hue? lie thought it had done them a great deal
of mischief.
The CHAIRMAN said that they had altered the fares, in con-
sequence of a resolution adopted at the last meeting pro-
prietors.
Mr. HINTON objected to the want of comfort in the six-
penny carriages ; he thought it a shame that a number of men
should be compelled to stand huddled together like a cargo of
pigs, or other cattle. With regard to the arches ander the rail-
way, he understood that they had been lately asphalting them,
be hoped they bad made them quite correct and watertight now.
There was great talk some time ago of getting 1,0001. a year
from these arches.
The CHAIRMAN said the arches were now quite dry, man)'
of them were let, and there was every prospect of letting more.
Air. HINTON wished to know how it was that none of the
Papers except the Courier ever published the price of
shares of this Company. It was explained that the Directors
had no control over this, every information was freely given
to gentlemen connected with the Press.
Air. GoLnssun said if they made the sixpenny carriages
too comtertable, they should have no passengers in the otheurs:
Mr. ENTWISTLE agreed with Mr. Goldsmid• c°
mention at least half a dozen railways where the
the lowest class carriages were obliged to stand.
M tern the
the anchester and Leeds, the 'Northern and
El
as s
Shoreham, the
Nottingham and Derby, the Brighton and passleienrgueserme
Croydon, the Blackwall, &c.
ed, iook ceeh, ihnatvl
having
coursebee been
of which a
the meeting at some length,, w
unanimously.
Messrs. Walker, Wheeler, andheouthtehregyetpleunritenwaasddcraersrsieedd
good deal of
ft r actourned.
settled, the meeting soon a e u sont heennsut The election of three Directors