The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-10 00:00:00

°f- gal
againstut
for
raud
tboeugphutr,
poisne
-tO beu addioTted; b
any indirect protection for agriculture, I cannot
moyf opinion,getting
be. a party to the proposal of such an altera-
tion.-(Hear, hear.) It has been suggested by some
that the sellers should be bound, under 'a penalty,
to make a return of the corn sold. It is difficult to fore-
see what would be the effect of requiring, under a
penalty, any farmer who might sell a certain
proportion sof corn, to make a return of the
quantity sold, instead of the return made as at pre-
sent. I eanceiVelliat- the greatest, and only: effectual,
security against fraud, is to diminish the teniptation td
commit it. Any plan that will remove motives
of self-interest will constitute a most effeetuat security:
The proposal of her Majesty's Government-with respect
to taking the averages, is this :-They will propose to
take the averages ' in. the present mode from the factor,
or miller, or mirchaser-the , party. who now, under
the existing law, makes the return each- Market
day of the whole of - the purehases 'he . Isis
made during the preceding week e and upon the'
w hole we can see no advantage in departing from that
principle, namely, of making the buyer of the corn re--
turn the amount of sales of the preceding week. Trusting to
these alterations, we shall make -a levy of the duty
for the purpose of preventing fraud. We shall propose
that the duty of collecting the returns shall be devolved
upon the Excise. The Excise is perfectly competent-
to undertake it. They have officers employed in the
market towns, and such officers are qualified to discharge
the duty, by having similar duties to perform-
enabled at the same time to perform the duty
by their general habits of business, and the responsi-
bility they incur on account of theit being public officers,
giving, by their character, and that of their occu-
pations, greater security against fraud than could be given .
by any persons in a private capacity.-(Hear, hear.)
We propose, therefore, that when the- averages have been
taken, they shall be collected and transmitted by. an
Excise officer. Another security which we propose to
take, is to widen the range from which the returns are to '
be taken. At present there are 150 towns mentioned
in the Corn Act from which returns are received;
from this number of 150 many considerable markets
are excluded. We propose, therefore, not to take - any
discretionary power for the Executive to add to the num-
ber of these towns, but in the Bill which we intend to
introduce we shall name several populous towns, which
are now extensive corn markets, which have hitherto
been excluded, but which we propose should be now in-
cluded in the list for the 'averages. Thus, by- increasing
the number of places from which corn returns are to be
collected, we shall obtain greater security against the
averages being improperly influenced, while at the same
time we shall gain a nearer approach to the actual
average price of corn, than we could hope to obtain
under the former system. It was thought proper when
the present law was passed to limit the towns
from which returns were to -be made to those
of England and 'Wales. I propose to continue this limi-
tation, so that although I propose to add several towns,
the towns added will all be situate in England and Wales.
An • HoN. MEMDER on the Opposition side-How
many-towns are to be added?
Sir R. PEEL-4 will name them all in the Bill. I
propose to add those towns which have hitherto been exL
eluded. Although we propose, therefore, to prevent
fraud in the taking of the averages, first, by widening
the range from which the averages are taken ; and, se-
condly; by employing a responsible officer, acting under
the authority of a public board to make the returns,
we - More particularly rely, as a prevention of fraud,
upon such an alteration of the duty as shall diminish the
temptation to it.-(Loud cheers.) I trust I have made
myself-sufficiently understood by the House as to the
alteration's I propose to introduce in the method of tak-
ing . the . averages.--(Hear, and cheers.) I now '
approach that much more important subject, in fact,
few - subjects can be of more importance,
the amount of the - protection we proposed
to give to corn, the produce Of this country,
and the manner in which-we propose to levy the duty.
At present the-House is aware the duty depends-(Here
there was considerable. interruption, the cause of which
we did not apprehend.)-The Right Hon. Gentleman re-
sumed. At 'present the duty on corn is levied in this
manner :-When the price is 595. and under 60s. per
quarter, a duty of 275. is levied. It then diminishes at the
rate of Is. of duty, with ls. increase of price, until it arrives
at a price above 665. and. not above 675. when the duty
falls 2s. for every ls: rise of. price until it reaches above
GBs. and above 695. when the duty is 16s. Bd. At 70s.
per quarter the duty is 13s. 9d, ; at 71s. it is 10s. Bd., then
it falls 45., and at' 725. it is 6s. Bd. At 735. it is 2s. Bd.,
and when corn reaches a higher price that that per quarter
the duty'is is. per quarter. Now, Sir, the objection to this
mode of regulating the duty are these:-First, that
the reductions of duty are so rapid, that they hold
out a temptation of 16s. Bd., up to the price of
703., for a fraudulent operation upon the ave •
rages ; this temptation operates from 665. to 73a.
From 60s. to 735. there is an increase of price of 13s.
per quarter, but there is a decrease of duty of 255. Bd,
which makes an under current of 38s. Bd. in a single
quarter of corn, for combining to raise the
averages between those prices. This diffe-
rence between 60s. and 735. is an inducement to
retain corn for the purpose of affecting the averages.
At 665.- the inducement to retain corn in the hopes of a
rise in its price is 4s. on account of its price, and. 10s. on
account of the duty, being an amount of 14s. in the price
of a quarter. Between 70s. and 735. there is a difference
of 35.-on account of price, and 9s. in point of duty, being
an inducement to retain corn at 70s. in the
hopes of its reaching 735., of 12s. Now,
it his been urged that these rapid rises in the price is in-
jurious to the consumer, is injurious to the producer of
corn, and injurious also to the revenue. It has been said-
that it is injurious to the consumer, because when corn is
at a, high price, between 665. and 705., and when it would
be to the public advantage to liberate it for the purpose of
distribution, still, by the joint operation of an
increased price and a diminished duty, holders of
corn were induced to keep it back, notwithstanding the
high price, in hopes of realizing a price' upwards of 735.,
and of pouring in corn at a duty of Is.=-(Hear:) It has
been said, that it acts injuriously to the agricultural
interest, because it is a temptation to keep back
corn until it can be suddenly poured in at the lowest pos-
sible
amount 'of duty-(Hear)---when the agricultu-
rist loses the protection which the duty gives him. It
has been said that it is injurious to the revenue,
because, instead of corn coming in' at a pe-
riod when it might, under some other modifications, or
under a fixed duty, be sent in for consumption, it was re-
tained till it is brought in at a duty of is., by which the
revenue loses the amount of the difference between
that amount of Is. and the duty that might have other-
wise been levied. It had been said to operate injuriously
with respect to the trade and commerce of those dealers
in corn produced at a distance, because those producers
being uncertain what would be the amount of duty on -a
cargo of American corn on its arrival in this country,
such grain is placed at a disadvantage, to which corn
brought from parts in the immediate vicinity of
' England is not subjected.- (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
' The pouring in corn at a duty of. Is., therefore, may so
diminish the price as to increase the duty on that corn
which a speculator had entered into at a distance,
that the speculation may be entirely defeated by the
holders of the corn grown at a distance, finding an
amount of duty, on its arrival in -England, which
they had never contemplated meeting. These were
the objections that had been urged against the rapid
transitions of duty, and its rapid rise inversely with the
price. Now, Sir, one object will be in applying a scale
cif duty on corn, to diminish, as tar as possible, con.
sistent with the principle for which they contended,
the temptation to fraud, and the retaining of corn,
The agriculturists ought to observe what is the effect of
a Jaw which permits the importation of corn at is, duty.
In thp year 1840 the total 'amount of wheat imported
for home consumption was 1,728,000 quarters ; and of
that amount 1,261,000 quarters were entered at the duty
of Is. In 1840 the total amount of wheat entered tiir home
consumption was 2,000,000 quarters ; and of that amount
1,217,000 were taken out at a duty of 2s, lid, It is not
merely to the amount taken out a duty of le!, or of
2s. Bd. that we are to look; we are also to look at the time
of the year at which these duties were paid. That is
a matter which it is very important we should oh-
Wee, In the year 183$, the corn so taken out at
a duty of le, Was taken out in the week following the
13th of September, In the year 1840 the corn (Own
out at a duty of 2s. Bd, was taken out op the ‘veels fol,
lowing the gli of September, 1 each. or those years by
far the greater part of the foreign wheat wes taken cut
at the low 'duty of Is; or of ?s. Bd. 'lint it was taken
out at the critical period just before Or Carmen
in the-greater part of the purities of England had
thrashed their corn for the purpose of bringing it, to
11141'10::,-(fle4r, hoar,) Theie i\rttS therefore a sudden
critical period, 0
depression in the pripp of porn at that
account of the quantity of foreign corn Oat was poured
in at the IoW amount of 'ditty, which met the
liFitiah guppy ill the market just at the
' time he was thrashing his popn for the pprpeep of sale.
And this told With 4 peculiarly 1142114)1411e ei*et upon
the fayineys in the north of England. As their harvest
was so late, and as they Irma oMigett to brhmig their corn
at a late period into the market, they were peculiarly ex-
poged to the disadvantage of having to contend with a
FlOPli influx Pr PPM? IV heiik fur the prime Of
new pfairen into the motet at the lowest rate of duty
which it wig possible to expect. 'Piet consideration
alone, it appears tp me, ppgh( tp weigh with giro 41;110
are the most zealous advocates of protection til egricul-
terse and induce them to listen with favour to a modifica-
tion pf the ptisth-tg law, It appears to me that a
modification 0 thet laW woulul he equalliy edvantageous
to the egriceltural interest in that rpm, its it would be
f 4) WIT ether (lass in the country.-(Hear, heart) Now
with the permission of thu tlouBe T shall_procced in the
course of a few minutes til reed tp the _Muse the ecele
of duty which we propose to epply,-(Hear, hear.) That
ssela pe ditty is ileyiSed with a sincere desire to afford
to agricultuke, and h the egvleplterel intereet, every
protection which it can legitimet,ely . cleim,--,-(Hear.)
Butt at the same time, it is a, settle devised for the pur-
pee, wife}} foreign eerh is required, of faelliteting, as far
he possible commercial ipteeepureelyith yespect to corn,
and of subjecting dealings in corn to the same princi-
ples whiff regulate all other commercial transactions.
Nothing cap -bp more calf than to iletryinipe the
amount of protection which honap pfotiliep .is entitled
to.-(Hear, hear.) I should be afraid to mention what
I sold ld think a temunkating Klee, beeause I know
that t etisafide qtaeemesteeeo {Mist be taken into itcon-
siders fenbefete it can (3," see} What sum would or would
1.4 lw a fpgpwraing price Or the agriculturist ' On dis-
cussing a scale withiliebbject of Oving tt just and sufficient
encouragement to domestic agriculture, s'ou must take a
comprehensive view of the general productions of the
country and of the circumstances attending the growth of
wheat and otliffprodee ; another element is to deter-
lAl6'O #1.14Vr4 ''''
efo 4gb porn mit t be permitted to
enter iiite 66 pgiitithf"wit446iii. p.. 'Lice.- But to dr4w
' ate' " lits'en from the
aft aOar cone },,,,comparison of these de-
menq,
is9,q6oiligly diffe:tile,'
seeing that various °pi-
-I,i,A !,;-it Werill, 94 t,.?it.444.1 vw - .
thus .he founded
4rlll time RpFPl4iPli pr 94144 !f *freer Of .com-
-

r form this inference, as I said before, from what_has
taken place during the last four years ; and, looking
at what has occurred, I am bound to' admit that
this country was dependant on others for a consi-
derable portion of its supply, because, as I have
before stated, the amount imported during that time
has been on the average 2,300 quarters a-year.
But let us take the last ten years, and let us see what
was the average importation during the first six of
those years. During the first six of the last ten
years, the produce of this country was sufficient
for its own consumption. During the first six years of
the last ten years the average importation of corn into
this country amounted only to 137,000 quarters.
And that having been the case during the six
years of 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, and 1837,
it would be too much, I think, to infer that the
population had so rapidly increased with reference to
its subsistence, that you must altogether abandon the
hope of deriving sufficient supply from your own
agriculture. Within the last ten years the popu-
lation of this country had, of course, considerably
increased ; and, during the last four years it had been
found necessary to import foreign corn, but during
the six years preceding, the average produce of the
country had been sufficient for the consumption. lam
not prepared, therefore, to admit the conclusion, that there
must necessarily be a periodical and annual importation
of foreign corn to supply the deficiency in this country.
And therefore. Sir, in determining our duty, we had to
provide fOr periods of comparative abundance, as well
as for periods of comparative scarcity.—(Hear, hear.)
Six years of good harvests might again recur, during
which the produce of the country would be sufficient for
its own consumption. If they did recur, then I fear
that the effect of a fixed duty would be that the un-
limited right of importation, at a given amount of duty
which you would always undertake to maintain
in times of scarcity, would ' subject this coun-
try to severe distress and suffering in conse-
quence of the excess of produce, the fall in prices,
and in the remuneration for labour.—(Hear, hear.) Sir,
it has been observed by writers of the highest
authority, that unfavourable and favourable sea-
sons return in certain cycles—that you will often find,
looking back to the produce of several years, that years
of favourable harvests on the Continent have been gene-
rally found contemporaneous with favourable harvests
here, for the great producing countries of Europe are
within the same parallels of latitude, and are affected by
the same climate ; and it will, therefore, be found that
abundant, or scarce harvests prevail through them
all at the same time. Now, where there is an
abundance, the consequence of a slight addition
to the quantity of corn produces 'an effect on
prices very different from the amount of excess.
Mr. Tooke in his work on prices Lays down the principle
as follows :-- " It will be found that prices vary in a ratio
very different from the variation of quantities, and that
the difference of the ratio between_ quantities and prices
is liable to alter according to the nature of eommodities ;
but more in the case of corn, probably, than in that of
any other article of extensive consumption." Mr.
Tooke also' makes a comparision between defective
and abundant harvests in this country and
those of the Continent, and the conclusion he comes
to is, that it is genet ally the case that deficient
harvests here are accompanied, by deficient harvests
in the chief producing countries of Europe, so
that an abundant harvest here is an indi-
cation of an abundant harvest on the Conti-
nent.—(Hear.) While, therefore, this calculation shows
what supply we might look for from other coun-
tries, it also shows, that at a time of unnatural
depression, we might receive such discouragement
to our native productions, as to make us dependent on
foreign countries, a result that I should deplore as- a
great evil.- -(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") It is urged ,
on the other side, by the advocates of a fixed duty,
that the consequence of imposing a fixed duty
would be to prevent those great alternations,
and that although it might be difficult to maintain a
fixed duty if there were periods of some scarcity, yet
that the tendency of such a law will prevent such a
scarcity, and the occurrence of such a contingency, in
which the difficulty would principally consist. Now, all
experience seems to me to show, that with respect to
corn, such fluctuations in produce and in price must be I
impossible to be remedied by legislaticn—(Hear, hear)
--that no law that you could pass for the free im-
portation of corn, in case of deficient harvests here
and on the Continent, would prevent a rise in price
to such a point as to make a fixed duty tolerable.
Ta're the United States, which are not subject to the
operation of the Corn-laws, and there you will find the
amount of fluctuation in price arising from the fluctua-
ti.ai of the seasons to be' as great as that prevailing in
this country.—(Hear, hear.) In Prussia you Kill find,
with respect to rye, a species of grain not affected by the
Corn-laws, that in consequence of the fluctuation of the
seasons as great a fluctuation in the price of it takes
place, as in the price of any other grain. If
the fixed duty be Bs. or 10s., and if your anticipations,
that by legislative enactments you can guard against
the rising of prices be not fallacious, and then prices
rise to 80 or 90 shillings, I retain the impressions
I stated in the course of last Session that 'no
Government could undertake at such prices to enforce
a fixed diity.—(Cheers.) If that be admitted, you must
make' some provision- for its relaxation. If you entrust
the power' of relaxation to the executive authority, you
introduce immediately uncertainty into the operation of
the law. You give a power capable of being abused,
and most difficult to be exercised ; and if this be so
you destroy that confidence in the permanence of your
trade which you rely on as the great encouragement of
trade; and therefore, with reference to a fixed duty, as
applicable to the state of the country when there arc low
prices of corn, or as applicable to a state of scarcity when
high prices prevail, I have come to the conclusion after fully
considering the subject, that it is not advisable for Parlia-
ment to alter the law and apply the principle of a fixed
duty.—(Loud Ministerial cheers.) The alteration of the
law which I shall propose will proceed upontheyrinciple
of retaining a duty upon, corn, varying inversely
with the price of the article in the whole
market, that is, the principle of the existing law.
The maintenance of that principle necessarily in-
volves the principle of the system of averages.
It is said there would be great advantages in sweeping
away altogether the system of averages. It is quite
true that it might be competent to abandon the system
of averages with respect to the imposition of a duty
on corn : but you must maintain a system of aver-
ages, because the whole ofyour proceedings are founded
on a system of averages; it is impossible to abolish the
system of averages, because the annual payments are
founded on the accounts of the averages. It appears
that as the averages must be maintained for the
purpose of tithes, it would not be expedient to
adopt any other system materially varying in prin-
ciple from that for 'determining the duty on corn.
I am not saying, because there is a system of averages
for the determination of tithes, that therefore we must
apply it for the purpose of determining the duties on
corm I am merely stating, that you cannot dis-
p:mse 'with averages while your tithe commu-
tation exists. I say only that if you come to
determine the amount of duty by the system of averages
—seeing a system of averages is necessary, because it
might be encumbent on the one hand to have two sys-
tems of averages in the country at the same time ; and
it would be inconvenient to depart materially from
the principle on which the averages with 'respect to
tithes are founded,—l propose, therefore, as necessary to
a varying duty ,to retain a system of averages. It is the
general impression throughout the country that there has
betrii great fraud hi respect of the averages--a veryd isrics,getrertal
impression, particularly in the agricultural
that there has been either great frauds practised on
the average, or that extensive combinations have been
entered intlBfor the purpose of influencing the averages,
and procuring the release of corn at
this
lower prices,
In Leeds, Wakefield, and other parts of Yorkshire,t there
have been great and successful combinations. or
b_ he prett
nth inclined to think that the apprehensions uupons
ud efo
pose of influencing the averages. 'As Isa
,subject may not be altogether without foundation, but I
thiak that the apprehensions which have been enter-
Sir, if I take the averages alp siN )yeeks in the _
tained are gaeaq e?faggerated.—(Hear, heayre.a)r
11N847;
if I take the aggregate averages itc the kingdom
for the six weeks ending the 6th of August, the I.Bth of
August, the 110th of August, the 27th of August, the
3d of September, and the lOth of September, the ave-
rages of the kingdom for the whole of those six weeks was
735. Id. Now, if I exclude London altogether from the
ayerages, the general average would be 725. fed„ in
place of 'Ms, Id, If I exclude the Yorkshire
market, the general average for the kingdom
would be 71s. 11d. It is probable that the raising of
the price in the London market may have the eftept of
raising the prise in the other markets ; but; as far as you
can judge from the figures WWI returns, I think that the
apprehensions that there hare been very extensive
frauds with respect to the averages have Went as sad
before, not altogether unfounded, perhaps, but that
they have been greatly exaggerated, It should
be remembered that the price of corn in London was
higher than la Leeds and other parts of Yorkshire, and,
therefore, they pc,* draw pi necessary inference that
great fraud had been FFfketi,Sed i)PCKLIAR the London
averages exceeded those of OW places; For instance,
from the 13th of August to the 7th of Sei4EuhfF?
1886, tip) weekly average was 735. The exclusion or
the London caarly; could have made no difference.
In the year 1840 the aggregate average from the
24th of July to the 20t Of August waa 795, 2d. ;
the average, exclusive of the London market, *44
70s. lid., but that difference made a great difference
raised average,th
in the amount of duty, The duty upon the aggregate
average of 70s. 2d. would have been 2s, ad, ; but the
said before, as the
exclusiveepriee
of,
corno f t the London Market would have
jiminieasef
vetneyFt price ofil);Pg.inSditOni3doUnt tilisePh'ig4hserT
than in the country markets, yea Itnitft not
frsorit
ivegfdlrao
Itmvh
the utmost
circumstance. But, Sir, various
proposals bare been made with respect to the amend-
tritm4off‘egs t
Government, I
thioncoktsytptre4Fltsipa.......ipirfolarpopourtst:lhsgeNerv4hAelicFalaii
re
agreement in this, that whatever system is devised
fraud should as far as possible be prevented—
kCYles of " Hear, hear," from the Opposition bPthcbPor)
It 4 R4YOP-4 by some that the returns be taken by the
adort„ resent th.e
growers. That is
P'.9l3P. gal which it is impossible to
eturns of corn
sol are inimitted ipto 'the •' d cr*
a very material effect in raisin possible to !.`irrag* NIPII4 Pr
r_ rasha
the Irish and course NAPPtPit avoid~} have
4,
; rust state that I think we ought to guard as far
/igc!,.""itliP fraud ; but I do not think we ought
eiffect AtibieaSe.of Dr --*
vat;?, 6:6teuir,til_e_prby any indirect ope-
it to
come direct only rkron 4: 1,7 .4,9,,yripk,Talte
encouragement of domestic a 174
not be fair to p;,(4,4e - ru'r.
gon with respect to the averages, • ptotee9cli apu
hYEY sllgges-
preventing ONO, Various altesiate/c6cnesPitn''''lh' /1.1. Ye`v ef
averages may be Made whio. P of effect,
which, if they are , that
e§sar, 10P tie pwitgoe

TEE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 184`z

.
iplicated_dcgills. But with respect to the af Ido ~not_ 1,
think there would he- iiiiish::difficurty-inAeternining tin``
what would be a fair average, and a satisfactory priceto
the country at large. Now, if you take the average 'of
the prices of wheat, which formed the Tithe Bill-the
average of seven years, on which that Bill was founded-l-+
you will find that the average price of wheat was 565.
10d. a quarter. The average of the last ten years was
655..11d., but in this average enters the average of the
last ten years, during three of which corn was higher
than I am sure any one would wish to see it again.-
(Cries of "Hear, hear.') For myself, I should say that
so far as .I ran judge for
-the agriculturists; I
believe that
if they could be secured-in' a prise atintisehess between
545. and 58s. a quarter, they would not object to the ad-
mission of foreign corn. Taking the average of the
seven years which was the basis of the Tithe -Bill,sand
taking the average of the last ten years, but excluding
the three years which exhibited the-`extreme 'portion,
youdg
e, will
is
a fair
find an a
remuneratingver ageof 56 p
s . ,wriheeic,les whicho fa riass
should
not wish to see exceeded.-(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
I cannot see on the other hand any advantage, consider-
ing the circumstances of the country, and the existing
relations between landlord and tenant, and considering
Oculd
judge, n
-
the happiness of the country-I cannot, I say, see any
great advantage in any diminution below that amount.
I am of opinion that the variation in the prices should
be limited to some sum between these extremes.-(Hear.)
But, as I said before, any calculation of this kind must
be vague ; and I say that I beg- to disclaim it as a
pivot, or as at all times a remunerating price ; nor do I
consider it a question on which the Legislature can de,
termine with any accuracy, for I know it is impossible,
by legislative arrangements, to guarantee any particular
price of corn-that by a fixed duty or any other you
can guarantee to the production of corn, a special
price ; foreign abundance even at home may so reduce !
the price as to put it beyond the power of legislation.- I
(Hear, hear.) In the year 1835, when you had what
some thought a nominal protection of 645., the average
price of corn did not exceed 395. If you hope
to ensure to the ag,ricuiturists any amount of
protection, or determine that a' certain sum
must be given for corn, you are countenancing,
I say, fallacy and delusion, if you hold out a hope of this
kind.-(Hear, hear.) The quality of land, the rents
paid, and a thousand other considerations, enter into
the question, and therefore nothing were more vain
than, in particular cases, to determine what is a
remunerating price for corn.-(Hear, hear, hear.)
The same difficulty occurs in regard to what shall be
the rate at which foreign corn can be imported with ad-
vantage into this country. In the first place, it is neces-
sary to ascertain the quantity ; and in ascertaining the
price of corn, the quantity must be particularly regarded:
The price of wheat and the distance of the country ne-
cessarily. enter into the calculation, and therefore it is
almost impossible to determine what is the exact price at
which foreign corn can be brought into this country.
I will proceed now to read the scale of duty which her_
Majesty's Government proposes to place upon corn..
We propose that when corn is under 515., a duty' of
20s. shall be attached • but in no case shall that.
duty be exceeded ; when it is from 51s. to 525.,
per quarter, the duty shall be 19s. ; we should then
propose to make what may be called a rest in the scale,
for the purpose of applying to the three next items of
prices the uniform duty of 18s., so that when
corn was from 525. to 535., there should be
a duty of 18s. ; from 535. to 545. a duty of 18s. ; and
from 545. to 55s , 18s. Then from 555. to 565. a duty
of 17s. ; from 565. to 575., 16s. ; from 575. to 585., 155.;
from 58s. to 595., 14s. ; rom 595. to 605., 13s. ; from
60s. to 615., 125.; from 61s. to 625., lls.; from 625. to 635.,
10s. ; from 635. to 645., 95.; from 645. to 655., Bs.; from
655. to 665., 7s. Then with respect to the three next
items I would apply the duty of 65., so that when corn
is from 665. to 675. per quarter, there shall be a duty of
es. i from 675. to 68s. a duty of 6s. ; and from 68s. to
695, a duty of 6s. We then propose, when corn is at
from 695. to 70s. there shall be a duty of ss. ;
from 70s. to 71s. a duty of 4s. ; from 71s. to
7.25. a duty of 3s. ; from 725. to 735. a duty of 2s.
from 735. to 745. a duty of Is., and that at 755. the duty
shall altogether vanish.-(Cheers and laughter.) What
I propose, then, is when corn in the British empire is
under the price of 51s. the duty should be 205., and never
x c
as I am perfectly satisfied that
i
s to take any greater amount.
et wouldeed thatb be
amount,
useles
The duty when the price of wheat is from 565. to 575.
will be 16,., and from 60s. to els , as I said before, 12s.
I apprehend that the effect of this scale will be to
diminish the temptation to practice on the averages, and
that when the price of corn has arrived at from
60s. to 615., there will be no inducement, on account of
the duty to keep back corn from the market. It must
be recollected that there will be always an inducement
ton certain extent to hold back corn, for the purpose of
realizing a greater profit. If the markets are rising,
and there is a prospect of the price rising to 735;, there
may be a considerable inducement to hold back to take
advantage of the rise. To attempt to remove altogether
every inducement to hold back would be useless, but I
trust that the proposed scale is so arranged as to hold
out no inducement on account of the diminishing scale
of duty to hold back corn from the markets,-(Hear.)
I now wish to call the attention of the House to what has
been the effect in the articles of oats and barley,
of a more practical reduction of the duty. In the case
of wheat, the fall in the duty is so rapid, that it offers a
temptation to hold back %heat until it shall have reached
such a price as to be admitted at the lowest scale of duly.
By far the greater amount of wheat has been imported
at the lowest duty. In Barley and Oats, where the fall
in the amount of duty is more gradual, the same results
have notfollowed. Of 3,513,000 quarters of oats which
have been imported, 248,000 quarters were admitted at a
duty of Is. 9d., 695,000 at a duty of 3s. 2.d , 243,000 at
4s. 9d., and 940,000 at 6s. 3d. Such is the effect of a gra-
dual fall in the duty of Is. 6d. I propose to apply the same
pr:nciple to wheat, and by applying that principle to wheat,
I consider that there is every prospect that wheat like
oats will be taken oat at a higher rate of duty, that the
revenue will profit accordingly ' and that the commercial
and agricultural interests will be equally benefited .by.
wheat being taken out of bond when the legi-
timate demand requires it.-(Hear, hear.) Sir, with
respect to the other articles of grain, I propose
to adopt the proportions I find in the existing law. The
proportions in the existing law are, that assuming the
value of wheat to be 100 s., the value of barley is taken
at 535., .the value of oats is taken at 405., and the value
of rye, peas, and beans is taken at 50s. If it be ass
sumed that at a duty of 565. for wheat, a duty of 16s. should
apply, on barley a duty of
9s. ought to apply 1 when
oats are at 225„ a duty of about 6s. 3d. ought to apply ;
when rye, peas, and beans, are at 325., a duty of 10s. Sad.
Now, I am not at all aware of any reasons which exist
for altering the proportions with respect to other kinds
of grain, which we find established by the
existing law ; and' I propose, therefore, that
in adjusting the duties applicable to other
kinds of *grain the existing proportion of the Corn-
law should be applied. The schedule of duties
which I shall propose for those several articles of con-
sumption will correspond with that relation of price. In
the case of foreign oats, I propose that the maximum
duty should he Bs. .Probably it is scarcely necessary
that I should read the whole in detail, but in the case of
oats I propose that the maximum duty should be Bs.; that
it should fall with the increase of price, that it should
fall to is., then that it should fall to 65., and continue at
Gs. for the three items of price, 215., 225., and 235. ;
that at 245. the average price of duty should be ss, i
that it should continue to decline as the -prices increased
by Is. ; that the extremes of' variation of duty, should
be tas„ and the duty of Is, should be the minimum,
and be continued when the price of oats shall not exceed
285,-(Hear, hear.) In the ease of barley, I would
propose that under 265. the duty shall be for every
quarter 1 15.., that being the maximum ; that between
265. and 275., the duty shotild he 1(Is1 i at Wraii
and under 305,3 it alieald paatiaue at ,s, ; that
at gOs, and 8151 It shOuld be as„ and so on until 87s.
and upwards, when the duty should be decreased
Ito Is, ' In the ease of, rye, peas, and beans, I pro-
' pose that the same proportion should be observed.
I do not think it necessary to read the scale that will ups
ply to rye, peas, and beans, particularly as it is. founded
on the same principle. The law which regulates the
importhtion of' Bridal' e‘klental wheat at present is to
tills effect ;-]British colonial wheat and flour has been
imported into this country at a duty of British 4s. whenever the
p_rice of wheat is below 6rs. When the price of
-liritish wheat excaeds ttl's. it is then admissible at a duty
of ns. 6d. I propose to give the same advantages to
colonial wheat, with respect to the reduction in vase, as
is applicable to other descriptions of grain, But, con.
sidering that the sudden drop from ss, to sixpence,
in consequence of the difference of ls, in price,
is at variance with the rin 1
()iv
4., of the law which seeks
to establish as equable end uniform a reduction of duty
as possible, we propose to make these arrangements with
respect to colonial wheat-that when the price of British
wheat is under 565, the duty upon every quarter of British
colonial wheat should be as. i when it Is 456. and under
50, the duty to he4s,i at Hs' and under 575. the duty
to be as,; at 575, and a
ta, d under • sBs the duty to be
2s, • at .
-s and upwards the duty to be Is.;
ands this is to take away that sudden fall
in the amount of duty upon 13410Altil wheat
which takes place MOO tilt' mstie.g law, thus giving
to coleaial Wilpo the advantages AI mluotion which
given to other descriptions of earn, With re•
are
rtiPoso the
spect to flow, I should p „ calculation. that
-Iwo, and enable it to be
exists with feallaat
ICI relativeNN scale
admitted at the same .
Sir, I have put the house •
admitted. I believe,
.est ~ in full
her Ma s Government intend
possession of what . ..),
you
to propose on this pivot, It compare the reduction
in the amount of duty with the existing duty you will
bl Those
find it very eausidera e., who think that
Ipropose the modification which
existing law is of no importance,a.. I would ask- to
compare my scale with the
_le of duties on the ad-
mission of foreign corn, whlh exists at present,
When corn is Os, and under_n 3., Per quarter, the pre-
sent duty is 275. Bd, Fain 50US, ttehetiOs. the duty which
I ‘ propose is 13s, At 5 s'existing duty is
365, lid„ increasing "
corn falls.
Now, instead of
that I propose a duty . e s at 50s, the quarter,
that duty in no case to be iner 4. eq,
.. t IQs, I propose
a duty of 16s. At host the present duty is no less than
265.; the duty which T Pvil'v4 at that Frio is 12s.
At 635. the ditty whieh 1 propose ,s 98., the existing
duty being aas, ad, At 645: t
22 duty
which I propose
is g 5,, the present duty
srinignsteasd Bd.
The existing
duty at 70s. is 10s. a", ~, „ °l' which 1 pr-
pose ss. Therefore it is impossible dint huh Rug aoalphrig
the duties which 1 Ittqclv% 71.4‘ IeOW which exist at
'present eouid any 11
t at there is a very considerable de-
crease. But it is a decrease of protection, which I think
the agriculture can spare consistently with justice to all.
-(Hear, hear.) If the agriculturists coma ra Il? pre-
sent nominal dutie4 Witll lose /1.i.9.1 -I - Topoie, they
will perceive ihat tile re",lic• ,9.n It! •ndt diminution
of their prb6etio'n ; pt 1 tt.ilnk aOctilture can afford
to part with adio b the ,P *eltalcia(t_ isi'lliali it aseaaives,
and it is just that prtrti9;%°.lll aa itnaaia-aect 4 CIO
not retain tV protection 1%; !• t !.,,,,liv. 0 •017 puocwg
Tlit4
interest... 2( cy, hectf) 'v'ciAtVi:git wanw be vindi-
,

ANTI-CORN-LA W

Upon such gr9unds.--7(Hear, hear.) It is only
,lustxfial~ .hen is
.corinected with the general good
of all classes of the conimunity: 3 would not be a friend
to agriculture if I protected it for the sake of propping
up rents, and maintaining- a separate interest.
—{Hear, hear.) I disclaim any such intention.
It is my belief, and the belief of my colleagues, that it is
`important for this country—of the highest importance—
that you should take precautions that the main source of
your supply should be derived from yourselves. That any
additional duty which you pay for that purpose is an ad-
ditional price, is one which is not vindicated as a bonus or
a premium; but you are entitled to place a dutypii foreign
corn, equivalent to any special burdens which may be
thrown upon your agriculture. Any additional protection
you may give to agriculture after that, I am willing to
admit, can only be vindicated on the ground, that it is for
the interest of all classes.----(Hear.) But I consider it is
the interest of all classes that we should pay
occasionally a small additional sum upon our
• own domestic produce, in order to oppose a
security and assurance against the calamity which will
ensue, if you are altogether, or in a great part,
dependent on foreign supply. My belief is, that
these alternations of seasons will take place, that what-
ever laws you pass you will find occasional deficienciey,
that you must expect the harvests of: other countries to
be deficient at the same time with your own, and that
if you are yourselves dependent on those countries
for some such importation as four or five
millions of quarters of corn, should the calamity of a
deficient harvest be a general one, in that case, if you
depend on them, the interests of self-preservation in each
country will prevail, and there will be impediments placed
in the way of exportation of corn, and their own domestic
produce will be applied to the sustenance of their own
inhabitants. I certainly could not be a party to any law
passed for the special. interest of agriculture, but only
to one for the general interests of all. Nor can Ibe
a party to any law the effect of which would make that
country permanently dependent on foreign countries for
a very considerable portion of its supply. You must in
a series of years be dependent for a portion of your
' corn ; I cannot deny that in many years of scarcity, a
considerable portion of your supply must be derived
from other countries, but I do not abandon
the hope that this country, in average years,
! may produce sufficient corn for its own supply.
' Bu• if that hope must be abandoned—if we must resort
to other countries, under ordinary circumstances, for a
periodical addition to our own supply, then between the
supply brought in for the purpose of repairing an acci-
dental, and comparatively slight deficiency, I
forth a great distinction from one of a per-
manent and more extensive nature.— (Hear, hear.)
Sir, this is the proposition which I am authorised by her
Majesty's Government to submit to the House; it is that
proposal which they deem on the whole, adverting to
the extent of protection which for a long series
of years the laws of this country have given to
agriculture,_ and adverting also to those laws having
assumed that a certain price for wheat was the proper
basis for great legislative enactments ; adverting
to the importance of deriving their supply, as
far as they can, from domestic sources,—this
is the proposal which, prompted by no other
interest but that of their reason and convic-
tion, driven by no other pressure than their own
judgment, they consider, for the interest of the
country, should meet with the sanction of the House.
Sir, this is not altogether an unfavourable period for
the adjustment of these laws. In the first place, there
is no such amount of foreign corn available for the con-
sumption of the country as need alarm those who dread
any excessive competition from abroad. There has been
during the period which has elapsed since the separa-
tion of Parliament, concurrently with great com-
mercial distress, and concurrently with severe priva-
tion, as much of calmness, of moderation, and of a dispo-
tion to view with deliberation any proposal for the ad-
justment of those laws, as could have been anticipated.
There may have been excitement—there may have been
attempts at inflammation; but ',must say that the general
demeanour and conduct of the great body of the people
of this country, and of that portion of it which has been
most exposed to suffering on account of commercial
depression, have been such as to entitle them to the
utmost sympathy and favour. There is no difficulty in-
terposed by violence or menace. It is perfectly open to
the House to legislate as they may think fit upon
the question. I earnestly trust that the result
of these efforts, whether this proposal be acceded to or
not—that the result of this proposal, on the part of her
Majesty's Government, will lead to some satisfactory
adjustment of the matter. The adjustment which we pro-
pose is that which we believe to be most consistent,
upon the whole, in the complicated state of the affairs and
relations of this country and its various interests, with
justice to all classes.—(Loud cheers.) If it be
the wish of Parliament to affirm the propriety
of the course we have proposed, or if it be the pleasure
of Parliament to reject the proposal, still I hope this
question may be adjusted ; and whatever may be the
adjustment of it by Parliament, I shall conclude by
expressing a firm and earnest , hope that the
arrangement, whatever it shall be, may be the one
most conducive to the permanent welfare of all classes,
manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural, of this
great country.—(The Right Hon. Baronet then resumed
his seat amidst loud and long continued cheers.) _

Lord J. RUSSELL would make no observation this
evening on the statement of the Right Hon. Baronet,
except to remark that they would come better prepared
to the discussion if they were supplied with the list
of towns for which the Right Honourable Baronet
proposed to collect the averages. It was indispensable that
they should have this information, and also a statement
of the principle upon which the selection was made. He
hoped, theretbre, the Right Hon. Baronet would give the
I louse this statement to-morrow.

Sir R. PEEL would lay the list on the table on Fri-
day. His sole principle was to select the most important
towns in England and Wales, including, of course, the
principal market towns.
On the motion that the Chairman should report
progress,
Mr. COBDEN said that it was not his intention to en-
ter into any argument on the question to night, but he
did not think it would be just to himself or to his consti-
tuents, if he did not take that early oppor-
tunity of saying that he heard not with as-
tonishment the proposition submitted to the
House and the country by her Majesty's Government.
He said, not with astonishment, for though he waited, in
common/with many others, until the Administration had
brought forward the proposition, he did not ex-
pect that the measure they intended to pro-
duce would be for the benefit of the country ;
for looking to the constitution of the present Cabinet, he
did not expect " grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles.'
—(Cheers.) He denounced the measure as an insult to
the suffering people of this country—(Cheers)—that
people, whose patience had been so extolled by the Right
lion. Baronet—that people, whose patience deserved a
very different treatment from the landed aristocracy, and
from the Cabinet, who were their instruments.—(C /'..eers.)
This was a proof to the country that if the Ti,'-eople of Eng
laud could permit it, selfish anll- iknorant legislation
would proceed to destroy evety interest in the country.
The motion was then agreed La, and the House re-
sumed.

The other Ord 's a the Day were then agreed to, and
the Howe Rcljonroed at Eight o'Clock precisely.