Star.
London, England, 1815-03-11 00:00:00

SLAVE TRADE.

Mr. WILBERFORCE wished to know whether
the Noble Lord: in the discussion on Wednesday,
would state what had been done at the Congress in
' respect to the abolition of the French Slave Trade?
Lord CASTLEREAGH assured the Hon. Gen-
tleman that he should, on that day, describe all the
discussions which had taken place, both on that sub-
ject and others, connected with the general interests
of Europe.
Mr. PONSONBY observed, that if the documents
were not before the House by Weenesday, he should
enter his protest against giving any opinion. The
subject was of such general importance that every
document necessary ought to be produced.
Lord CASTLEREAGH agreed that it could
not be expected any Member should give an opinion
without all the documents necessary to form that opi-
nion, were on the table.
CORN BILL.

General GASCOYNE presented a Petition from
Liverpool against the Corn Bill, signed by upwards
of 48.000 persons. I here was, he observed, great
difference of opinion in the Town at first upon the
Bill, but when it was found that the price wasto be SM.
then but one feeling pervaded the whole of the town.
The inhabitants met, and in the course of the day
signed the Petition, and it arrived about an hour be-
fore the meeting of the House this day. The Peti-
tion was laid on the table. _

Mr. BARING presented Petitions from the parish
of St. Mary-la-bonne, Plymouth Dock, and Taun-
ton. The Honourable Gentleman said, it had been
well observed by a Friend, 44 that the Bill was driven
so furiously through the House, that it was impossi-
ble for the mail to overtake it." Adverting to the
observations of the Honourable Baronet, he dis-
claimed the imputations which had been thrown upon
the opposers of the Bill, and conceived that they ap-
plied only to one Member in the House. The Ho-
nourable Baronet had talked of Ministers making the.
Country Gentlemen a cat's paw. The reverse was
the fact, for the Country Gentlemen had made the•
Minister their cat's paw, but he could not• decide
who would eat the chesnuts. The Honourable Gen.
tleman made some further observations on general
topics.
Mr. BRAND deprecated the conduct of the Ho-
nourable Gentleman in connecting ether topics with
the immediate question before the House. He had
introduced every thing which was heterogeneous and
contradictory in the same breath.
Mr. TIERNEY rose to order, and put it to his
Honourable Friend whether • such comments would
not put an end to all debatlhg.
Mr. BRAND maintained that the body of coun-
tryiGentlemen had been attacked, and it was to rescue
them from the attack .that he rose. He concurred
with the Hnnourable Baronet on the subject of reform.
Mr. BARING explained. He had a right to ex-
press bis sentiments freely in the House on any ques-
tion which was brought forward; and he would now
say, that slfould the Bill be palled this night, Owl
House would, keg more in the 0211w*.of the PeoPle.,

. ; • .
thv it had Clone
.ou any question whkh had 'evtsr
come bsfore it, since he hid had the honour of a
seat in it.

The Petition was •hen brought up and received.
Oe the order of the day.for the third reading of
the Corn Bill being read,
Mr. PROTHEROE said, haying already ad-
dressed the House nine times on this subject, he
should not now detain them long ; he only rose to
m iv' an amendment ; and in doirg this, althOugh he
differed from the promoters of this meastue, he totally
disclaimed intending to utter any thing tending to in-
flame the public mind, and more especially, as he be.
lieved the moms of it were actuated by motives
equally true with the motives of those who oppos..d
it. He concluded by moving►, that instead of now,
the Bill should be read a third time this day six
months.

FREEMANTLE seconded the motion. He
objected to the measure, because it made no alters•
tion in the mode of taking the average. He also
thought, sufficient time had not been allowed for the
expression of the public opinion on the measure.
Mr. WILBERFORCE was in favour of the melt-
sure. He considered it necessary, to prevent the im-
port of foreign Corn beyond a certain extent, lest,
by acting otherwise, we should so depress our own
markets, that our own cultivators would be driven
out of tillage; and, in consequence, our own pro-
duce would be so NV din►inisl,ed, as to render us
wholly dependent on the Continent for a supply. If,
indeed, .dl the Continent we-e under one and the
same Government with us, it would not be very
ma-
terial that we should depend on the Continent for a
supply. He should then sly, let us be supplied from
that quarter where we could get it cheapest ; but, as
we were situated at present, it was politic for us to
raise all we could ourselves. It should be recollected,
that all those Powers from which it was said we
should derive our supplies of Corn had recently been
united with France against us, and might be soon so
united again; and would the Honourable Gentleman
put the interests, nay, even the existence of this coun-
try and its millions of inhabitants upon such a chance,
by neglecting those means of providing for ourselves
which an ALL-ORACIOUS PROVIDENCE had put within
our power. An -Honourable Member (Mr. Baring)
had said, that we might at present procure Corn from
the Continent at 4.ss.—perhaps we might do so; but
suppose this country was to become necessitated to
draw all its supplies from the Continent, who could',
pretend to say that the Continent, under such circum-
stances, would not make us pay double the sum.—
He also considered that the agriculturist deserved
some encouragement. If this measure 'was not car-
ried thousands would be thrown out of employ, to
starve. The House ought to think that they heard
the poor peasant calling upon them with a thousand_
tongues, and demanding that his interest should be
attended to, as well as the interest of the manufac-
turer. It has also been said, during the discussion,
that if this measure were carried, it would raise the
price of corn to 80s. always. He saw nothing in the
measure to make him think so. It was a measure
that would certainly prevent corn being ruinously
cheap atone time ; but it would also rrevent its be-
coming ruinously dear at another. With regard to
the price, it should be fixed at such a rate as would
give the agriculturist a fair encouragement to calti-
vate his land ; and this, he must confess, he had
thought at one time would have been done by fixing
the price at 765. Persons more competent than him-
self to judge had said that 80s. was pecessary ; and,
under all the circumstances, he was of opinion we
ought rather to fix the price a little too high than a
little too low. For these reasons, he should, at all
events, support the Bill.
Mr. BROOKE supported the measure.
Lord BERNARD was of opinion some protection
should be given to the grower, though he thought
Ms. would have been high enough for that purpose.
He was convinced, however, that the measure, if it
was adopted, would, instead of making the price of
bread higher, only give it a more steady price.
Mr. SMYTH agreed in the principle of the mea•
sure, but considered Ms. as too high a price. Hr
had always voted against that sum ; but now the time
for opposing that sum was past, and the only ques-
tion now was, which would be preferable, 80s. or
635. and hers he had no hesitation is saying be pre-
ferred 80s. •

Sir H. PARNELL had never yet proposed any
plan going so far as was now proposed ; his proposi-
tion never went beyond 955. and Is. duty, and when
at 80s. he proposed a duty of 15s. The Honourable
Baronet then proceeded to defend himself against
some misrepresentations which had gone abroad of
what he had said ; he also observed, that the asser-
tion which had been made by the Lord Mayor at the
City Meeting, namely, that the very agitation of this
measure would raise the price of bread, was unfound-
ed ; as the very week atter he had made that asser-
tion, and at a time when the House had determined
to adopt this messure, the worthy Chief Magistrate
had declared, upon the returns made to him, that a,
decrease should take place in the price of bread?—
The Hon. Baronet contended. that had his proposi•
Lions been adopted last Sessions, all the present evils
would have been avoided ; and he now concluded by
supporting the present measure.
Mr. GORE LANGTON was decidedly against
the measure.
Mr. GRANT supported the Bill, considering that
one of its effects would be to obtain for the public a
regular market, and ultitnately a cheap market.
Mr. MARRYATT adverted to the speech of the
Noble Lord in answer to the Honourable Baronet,
and lamented that he had connected the opposers of
the Bill with the rioters.—(No, ao !) He was glad
to hear this declaimer. He was old enough to re-'
member the riots of 1780, and had lived in a street
where the mob of that day indiscriminately attacked
Papists and Protestants, their object being plunder.
u Throw us out," said they, ilsome guineas, or we'll
smash your windows."—The rioters of thei present
day had the precise object in view of ftuaddring the
houses they attacked.

Mr. GOOCLI supported the Bill, being of a dif-
ferent opinion to what he was in 181 S: He did riot
approve of being dependent on France for support.
Sir GILBERT HEA'CHCOTE, amidst cries of
question, arose, observing, 4, I am surprised at the
impatience of the House for the question. Do they
see in me one of those roams that have disgrateJ
the metropolis ?—(A respec: to the
to .say the least of ice it was putting the nation

. --••••+•••••411...0... • • t

;it e-anattor ferme,nr.":-.(WeiroitO•Qieirise q—The
oflon. Is:uonct maintaiaed that he lard a right :o be
heard, and ;1* the Moose were determi.ied to cough
ham (1,,,s it, he •teeeld take cart! to let the pu,ple of
England know his sentim.nts.—(lhor, Hear.)—
The Hon. B tronet proceeded to make some (liner.
vations upon the condoct of Ministers, in reviling the
Chief Magistrate of London, which he considered un-
wise and indecent ; and defended the opposers of the
Bill against the impatations of the sit/movers, in
having-contributed to the oatr tges. With respect to
any ulterior po,ceeding, he should verb eps think it
necessary to move tin A.filress to the Throne upon
the subject. As to clamour, he really beli,ved there
was as much within these w'ols as out nt doors. If
they went on in this manner—it Me nbers were not
heard, this H iuse might become a mere Chamber to
register the Edicts of the Crown.—(A 1 augh.)
Mr. HUSKISSON adverted to cert on statements
in respect to the latices of Corn during the last ten
years of war, which was sai.l to be 88s. Bd. ; that
statement was defective, for instead of the average
price in the twelve maritime districts being so high as
to fix the price of the qu trtern loaf at PA. the fact
was, that the avera4e was so high as to fix it at 13d.
' only. He referred to a meeting at Newcastle-upon-
' Tyne, in which the opinions of the Honourable Al-
derman (Sir J. Shaw) were relied no, " amidst the
shouts of the multitude ."—(4lregh ) This was the
language, the Right Hon. Gentleman observed, of
the Report to which he had allnd.:d, and it slimed
that the opinions of this "great man," as he WAS
very emphatically termed its this Report, had fixed
an erroneous judgment in the people cf Newcastle.--
Mr. H. maintained that the Bill would have the
lect of lowering the price of Corn, instead of raising
the price of it.
Sir W. CU R.Tis maintained that the Citizens of
were as caperie of jitigieg what was proper
to he done us any body t:f per s.ais. 'roey did not see
any necessity for fixing the price at 80s. If 603. was
the average price, they were 15-‘und to set the price
of the loaf at 12.1. Ile therefore, the Lord Mayor
was justified in fixing that price on the loaf, and the
prohibitory pi ice of Corn was to be 80s. he w ti right
in stating that the price of the quartern loaf would
be higher. He would vole for Adj:airnment.
Mr. W. SMITH s. act', that a very experienced
corn factor had told him this d.:y that the price of
655. being fixed. he was unalle to se!! the sample at
555. Ile could not account for that ; but he attri-
buted it to the assize of bread, which required alter-
ation, and he Loped the attention of the Legislature
would be fixed upon the subject. The Hon. Gentle.
man was determined to support the amendment.—
He was afraid that the House bad gone on more ras
;;idly than they should have done, on account of the
turnoltuotts procerlings.
Mr. TIERNEY conceived the noose were called
open to pause before they passed the Bill. and to
attend to the Petitions upon the table He should
be acting contra; y :o the whole of his political con-
duct, if he did not pay respect to these Petitions,
coming as they did from the great body of the
people. It was therefore lie condemned precipi.-
tancy, while Petitions were coming in, and on their
way to the House. The Right Honourable Gen-
tleman, as a reason for delay, observed, that he nad
taken some pains to ascertain the situ stion of the
country; and he could stare, that the utmost distress
prevailed; in an agricultural point of view, that
distress was applicable to the return of peace. He
therefore recommended enquiry into the cause of this
distress, and to apply a proper remedy. The Right
Hon. Gentleman declared, that hit then information
was requisite: to that decision the other House had
come; and he thought this House would not consi-
der themselves wiser in respect to agriculture than
the Lords, who were purely agriculturalists.
Mr. BATHURST supported the Bill.
Mr. BARING opposed it. Whatever might be
the decision of the House on this important question,
he hoped the country would acquiesce in it, as it was
bound to do ; but if the Bill should be read a 3d time.
tie would move two amendments; the one to make
the Bill liable to be repealed in the present Session,
and if that should fail, then to make it coextensive
with the Bank Restriction BM.

The House then divided—For the Bill being read
a third time 245; against it 77—Majority 168.
While strangers were excluded, Mr. PORTMAN
moved to fix the price at 765. instead of 80s.
On that the House divided—For 80s. 213 ; against
it 72—Majority 141.
Mr. BARING then moved his clause by way of
rider, that the Bill should be co-existent with the Bank
Retstriction Bill ; but that was negatived without a
division. He then mlved a clause, that the Bill
might be repealed in the present Session, which was
agreed to.
The Bill wax then passed, and at two o'clock this
morning, the House adjourned to Monday.

• LIST OF THE. MINORITY
ON TOR THIRD READING Or TUE CORN BILL, MARC! 10*
Ahererombie,Hon.J. Hamlin:rainy, H. l'alt:ter, Cul.
Allan, Col. Howard, Hon. W. 1'..-1, Sir R.
Atkin, Ald. Hamilton, Lord A. 1..111p5, Oro.
Arbil.ley, A. Harcut.rc, J. Pittman, E. a.
glaring, Alexander Harvey, C. Pig.itt, sir A.
Babinec)°, 'I. Ile:Aeon., Sir O. Ridley. Sir M.
Butterwonh, J. flume, W. Hohmann, A.
Bosgbey, Sir J. Horner, F. Romi. y, Sir S.
Huller, -- ii,w9r.h, ff. b.nt,tut, Sir J.
Burdett, Sir F. Isrvoise, G. P. Caw, Sir J.
Caleratt. J. King, Sir I D. Shaw, P.
Calvert, C. K night, Gar y r:11..1 -y, sir T.
Curtis, Sir W. Lam •ton, J. kil. Singh, J.
Combs, H. C. Linton, W. Gore Smith, All.
Courtenay, W. Leader Smith, R.
Davis, R. H. I.ubhock, J. St. haul,
Dovaddneall, J. Leigh, s.r W. Sin.th, A.
Eneourt, T. ManniN. W. 'I aylor, M.A.
Ellison, Cuthbert M,lciniosh, Sir J. Tierney, C.so.
Fawcett, H. Marryat, Jos. Vane, Hon. P.
Finlay, K. ]Methuen, Paul C. Williams, ---.
Freemantle, W. H. Moore, P. Whrbresd, S.
Forbes, C. hiiirlawl, S. B. Wane, .-.....
Farquhar, ....... Math:slur, W. A. WilkitlA,W.
Gascoyue, Gen. Nugent, Lord Wynne, C.
Graham, Sir J. Onslow, Seri.
"f streas—g. Protherse and W. Snatt.b.

The " Adventures of a Gull4aA" has been long
held as one of the most delectable of Romances ;
but.neither the ancient doctrine of the rastevuiclsoris,
nor all the metamorphous of Ovid, could effect such a
wonderful convetsion as that of the present Lottery
Scheme, by which the Stale of Blanis are transmuted
into Bags of real Gold Coin. of One Thonsiind Guinea
' each, which may be received with the Three Prizes of
Thirty Thousand Pounds, ou the bald next month.

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