Star.
London, England, 1812-04-11 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

On the motion of Mr. MILLS a Committee was appointed to
search the Lords Journals, for the proceedings of the Peers, on a
Bill relative tat the erection of County Infirmaries in Ireland.
A person front the office of the Inspector-General of imports
and Exports, presented an Account of the quantity of Wheat,
Barley, and Oats imported into Great Britain during the last year.
Mr. Fos sT t.R,from the Trustees of Liverpool Docks, present-
ed an Account of the Receipts and Expenditure of that Establish-
ment, during the last year.
A Return w as also laid upon the Table of the number of Per-
sons prosecuted for Forging Bank of England Notes, and mutt-
terfeltirg Bank of England Tokens, during ten years previous
to 1797.

Mr. JoutirroNa, from the once of Chief Secretary, presented
an Account of the Funded Debt of I eland.

The Legal Quays Bill went through aCominittee. Report on
Monday.
On the motion of Mr. WHARTON it was ordered, that the
House, at its rising, should adjourn until Monday.
The Wert-India Goods Auction Iluty Bill was read a second
time, and it was ordered that it be committed 011 Monday.
The Estimates regarding the improvement of Holyhead Har-
bour were ordered to be printed.
A Message from the Peers announced their Lordships assent
to the Irish Militia Families' Bill, the Militia Amendment Bill,
and several Private Bills.

Captain BENNET gave notice, that on Wednesday he would
move for a Return of the Number of Corporal Punishments
within the last seven years.

TELLEnS OF TUE EXCHEQUER.

Mr. CREEVEY gave notice that on 'Thursday next he would
submit to the House one or more Resolutions, on the subject of
the two 'Tenet ships of the Exchequer, held by the Marquis of
Buckingham and Earl Camden.
HIGH PRICE OF BREAD.

Mr. CURWEN said, Is Seeing the Right Hon.
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) in his
place, I fed myself reluctantly called upon to intreat
his attention to the present high price of grain. I say
reluctantly, because I am fully aware that extreme
caution should be used in mentioning any thing that
may be likely to cre.tte alarm on so serious a subject
as a scarcity cl provisions—(Hear, bear.)—But, im-
pressed as I am, with its importance, I could not
excuse myself if I were not now to bring it under the
notice of the House. .The Right kronourable Gen-
tleman will do me the justice to bear testimony that
the views I have taken, are not the creation of a mo-
ment, since at the conclusion of the last year, in the
end of Oetober or beginning of November, I stated
to him my firm conviction (the result of a journey I
had just made) that the crop would be deficient, and
that early measures ought to be taken to guard
against the inconveniencies which I foresaw must
ensue. These sentiments I conveyed to the Right
Hon. Gentleman at a time when the competition be-
tween sugar and grain in the distilleries was in con-
! templation. I now, therefore, again beg leave to
state the confirmation of my fears, and to tell him
that there has been a most alarming advance in the
price of grain in various parts of the country, and
this very day's post has conveyed to me intelligence,
that in a place particularly connected with my in-
terests, and inhabited by my constituents, serious dis-
turbances have broken out, in which some lives have
Ilbeen lost, and more endangered—(Hear, hear, hear.)
I trust, that in stating what I now feel it my duty to
mention, it will not be said that I am exclaiming,
that there is not sufficient grain in the country to
I avert the calamity of a famine, if it be properly ma-
Inaged,-but if the same snpinenees still exists, which
I have previously complained of; with regard to the
main basis of national prosperity, I mean the agri-
cultural interests of the country, the most melancholy
consequences are to be apprehended—(Hear, hear.)
I should have thought that the proof, that in the last
year there were no less than two million quarters of
I grain imported into the kingdom, would have been
a sufficient inducement to a wise•and provident Go-
vernment, to have adopted some legislative measure
to prevent it in future. Ido not mean to spread any
unnecessary alai m, for my firm beFef is, that if well
husbanded, there is a sufficient supply of grain to
answer our necessities. Ido not dread any thing
like a famine, but 1 think that the price will soon be
so high, as to press with great severity upon the la-
bel], ing poor. I therefore think that my duty would
not be performed, if I did not attempt to point out
at least a partial remedy, which, without bearing
hard upon the lower orders, would leave the princi-
pal burden to be sustained as it ought, by the higher
classes of society. At least, in all cases like the pre-
sent, die comfort of the lower orders, to whom most
of the arduous occupations of life are assigned, should
be contemplated much more than our own. I calcu-
late that there are yet about twenty weeks to be pas-
Ised before any new grain can be obtained, and I think
. by a simple measure we might be enabled to save
I sufficient for the supply of the country during three
weeks of that period.. For our colonies the exporta-
tion
has
generally been about 200,000 quarters, from
1 which I apprehend a saving of nearly 60,000 quarters
I might lie made. I would likewise suggest, that the
Act of the 41st Geo. 111. ch. 16. should be renewed,
I by which, it will be recollected, it was provided,
I that bread should be made only of one quality.—
Taking Winchester bushel at the usual weight of
sixty pounds, it is calculated that it lows by grinding
something more than nine pounds, so that when the
bran is extracted, there remains only about fifty-one
pounds of flour. I think, that by leaving in a part of
this bran to, the quantity perhaps of only two pounds,
another saving might be etEcted, while the breadmade
would bepefectly wholesome and nutritious, although
not sopalatable. It would also very much lessen the
consumption of bread if flour were applied solely to
that purpose, and was banished from the kitchen as
an article of luxury. By these expedients I should
imagine that one-twentieth part of the grain used
might be rescued from waste, and applied to the sus-
tenance of the inhabitants of the country. I am quite
store, that upon this subject there can exist no party
t feeling, howevsr. it may be displayed on minds. MCA.