Star.
London, England, 1815-02-28 00:00:00

a year frontdountries atbe Lsaunt. induct
of Tome, ells country could be. in litZar of
wearies a supply. It was exceedingly that
pee*. who never stir out of their ',localities, and
'whose conditiOn and habit; prevented them hose its-
vestigating the subject, should wish to have corn as
it was no
cheap as possible, and so they got it cheap,
matter to them whore it came from. It was impos.
sible for such people to argue on the subject t.atyl on
this account he wool,' not give way to their (minim
It was this outcry fur cheap bread which, demolished
the Roman power : Panem et cinema was the demand
of the people ; the demagogues joined in the anneal-,
and the Government was at last obliged to furnish
them with bread gratuitously ; then they neglected
the cultivation of their own fertile lands, and looked
for their supplies to Sicily and to Egypt : but alter
this the hardy faces of the Romans were worn out,
the Timeworn mu:colorant were seen no more, and the
clamours for cheap bread caused the loss of their
liberty, and their ultimate ruin. There was no ques-
tion, that in the present state of the country corn
would be imported cheap, and we should have cheap
bread for one of two years; but the consequence
would be, that our own agriculturists, particularly
within fifty miles of London, would not be able to
obtain a proper price for their corn, and would,
therefore, cease to grow it ; then we should have our
finest land laid down in pasture, and the rest covered
with thistles and brambles. Can it then be a matter
of doubt for an instant, whether we ought to encou-
rage foreign corn in preference to our own ? There
surely could be no idea of any, thing so absurd.
Suppose, for any reasons good, bad, or indifferent,
the foreign Powers should, at a future petiOd, stop
the exportation of corn, what would become of ns,
if, froM its previous inundation, we had suffered the
agriculture of our own country to decline ? It bad
been said that this country would cease to be great
without a preponderance iu commerce and manninc-
tures. Those who thought so, should cast their eyes.
back upon what had lately happened. We had seen k
a great country—great without either manufactures
or commerce, which had conquered nearly the whole
of Europe.—( Hear, hear.)—lie would never admit
that the agriculture of our country should be thrown '
back—such a measure would be an act not only of
the most serious impolicy, but of injustice ;—and be
was persuaded, that if the mattes was fairly stated,
the poorest man within hearing of the House would
exclaim a No" to such a proposition. With regard
to the price, there was a difference of opinion, as to
whether k should be 725. 764. or 80s. He was at
first rather for the low price; but a low price had
always, in his mind, been coupled with the notion of
a graduated scale of prices, and he bad thought that
if 765. were taken as the first price for opening the
ports, then it might be carried up to 80s. or till the
price at which corn might be imported free ;—bui
when it was resolved to fix a price, without a scale
of advance, then he was for 80s. For as the averages
are admitted to be incorrect, and as they do not give
a fair advantage to the farmer, he had a right to ex-
pect the higher price rather than the lower. On the
%hole, he was never more convinced of anything in
his life than that this measure was unnecessary ; and
Ice thought that its adoption would not fail to restore
that cvntidence which was now lost amongst our
agriculturists. It never could raise the price of
F hteisii btet its effect would be to give us a'supply
hocur, and when a time of scarcity might happen we
should be able to get a supply from abroad. On
these grounds he should vote fur the reception r.f the
Report.
Mr. PHILLIPS thought some of the arguments
of the Right Hon. Gentleman in support of the nfek
sure extremely singelar. Because the factious dem&
gogues of Rome, took advantage of the cry for cheap
bread, till they raised a clamour that got it them fot
nothing, but which caused them the loss of their lit
beaks ; we are, therefore, to pass a bill to augment
the price of corn in order to secure our liberties..—.
(Hear, hear.)—This augmentation not only will be,
but already is, the effect of the measure.—(No, w,
from several voices.)-.lt was very extraordinary that
now the importation of corn could be carried call
without interruption, we were called on to fix a price
on the commodity. But the Right Hon. Gentleman
thinks, that do what we will France and Holland
will rival us in our Manufactures. What, then, is the
inference ? That we must take artificial means to
raise the price of bread, in order to assist foreign
countries in rivalling us in our Manufactures. How
could it be insinuated, that we should be ruined by
importations, when in the same breath it is admitted,
that the importations, from France amount to little
or nothing ? Besides, would she not be repaid in
equivalents ? If we are au importing country, we
must necessarily be an exporting country. Now, we
could not be an exporting country without having an
accession of wealth, and this is the best security the
landholders can have. The Honourable Gentleman
then alluded to several of his former arguments on
the subject, and contended, that as the manufactures
0 France were as good and as cheap as those they
could procure elsewhere, the consequence would be.
IThat as more labour is employed in mennlactures ;hail
in agriculture in that country, our manufactures:
would be affected in a much greater proportion, and
in fact they may impede our export of manufactures
altogether. The Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, must have believed this when
he comes forward and takes off the income Tax/ but
says he will impose taxes on our manufactures, and
his intention is received with applause. But at the
very moment when he announces his intention of lay-
ing a pee manent income tax on every manufacture
in this country, at that very moment the House is
called on to consider how to cause a permanent high
price of grain. Respecting the state of the manufac-
tures in France, he bad obtained a vast deal of in-
formation. He had conversed with a Gentleman'
who had returned within these few days from that
country, and who had seen most of its cotton facto.
ries. He was decidedly.of opinion, that they were
not only in general equal to our own, but that on
the whole they were Watt: the reason was, that most
of them had been recently established, and that the
recent mechanism of those of this country had been
introduced into them, while the mechanism of our
old establishmeats had been omitted ; therefore they
had the full advantage possessed by ours. Ife•tittn
encouragement is given to' Fleilleh maindantOes,' by
our increasing thi prig. of grain, and layttya: tax
on our manufacturers at home, he would say,;
that this is the coasoauNition of folly. Ka was gone'

'llstimislisitshat any Glendeman baW suppoCelblit-*
country like this could be sieved, if slot anp?lit4l
woilerhemadcaltheirfilfamits
wea"cirthfrostomibr*::"'"ktrceaureth:cuoltsinctrht2
It happened, that all the richest sot/strive in the world
were commercial countries ?. BUt without a conti-
nuance of our great commercial PrePeaerlinee• hew
could we in future support our navy, or procure oar
seamen ? We were told on another occasion, that if
we were to rely on foreign countries for our supply,
the whole navy of England could not import se...
Good Goa ! (said the Hon. Gentleman) is not this,
then, the very reason why the British. farmer does not
:want protection? In the very nature of things he is pro-
tected. The Hon. Gentleman then read an extract
from a pamphlet by Mr. Torreus, iu support of his
own opinions, and observed, that as the Honoura-
ble Member for Glasgow had had the cendour to
acknowledge that he had changed his opinion, he
was not without a hope that, after he had read this
pamphlet, he would feel ihclined to change it again.
(Laughter.) In short, it would be found, that the
leaving of commerce and agriculture to make their
way according to the natural order of things, would
be the best protection that could be afforded to both.
The duties imposed by us on Cotton would be ano-
ther most material advantage to the French manu-
facturer. We lay Sd. per lbs on cotton imported it.
fOreigri ships, and ld. per lb. on that imported in
oyr own. This is one reason why France, who im- ,
.. sea no duty at all, will become the ditot of cotton,
' 'm which we shall be obliged to import it into this
cOentry. And again, -with respect to grain, while
'we are doing all. we can to prevent ourselves from
'deriving advantage from importations, we are at the
&Inn time time contending, that if we•do not grow
enough for.our own subsistence, we shall be star red.
'The Ron. Gentleman then proceeded to shew what
had been the effect of agriculture contrasted with that
,of commerce and manufactutes on our population.—
Lln the manufacturing counties it had increased, while
in. agricultural districts it had declined. In Nor-
folk, for instance, in 1690, the number of inhabi-
tants was 282,895, it was now 291,982; making a
4.l;fference of nine thousand. In the manufacturing
county of Yorks or rather the whole of Yorkshire,',
in 1690, the number of inhabitants was 605,269.
What is it now ? not less than 978,559, making a
difference of considerably more than 578,000. Now
let us see where this increase has principally taken
place, and we shall find it to be in the West Riding,
;the seat of the manufactures, which now contains
traore than the population of the whole county at the
period first mentioned. It was absurd to suppose
that the millers would sat buy corn when they wanted
it. But it appeared to him, that the best practice
would be to establish a gradually diminishing ditty,
Instead of making it now what it is contemplated if
may become hereafter : the effect of this would be to
induce farmers to take long leases, and things would'
then come to their natural condition, by approsi,
elating to natural agriculture and free trade. Oa
the whole, it did not appear to him that any injury'
could be sustained by any class of people by the
.61 tl opi i 0 n of a diminishing scale of duty.
Mr. BANKES spoke in favour oldie Report of the.
'Resolutions being brought up. He conceived lb:
country Fp be, as it were, in it balance of difficulties,
iwhlre, however, it was necessary for something t.i be
:done,--(f-Mti.)—Nor could he 'Genie= tie mate the
measure a temporary one : the system of legislatimi
was is this matter of a permanent kind, and it argues
a dereliction nom that system to have recourse to
a temporary regulation. now. Notwithstanding the
arguments u 1 those who assumed the high range of
political economy, he still believed a free corn ira;b.
to be impracticable, or, if practicable, not desirable.
As to the outcry for reducing rents, he never could
so consent to place such numbers of landholders of
that crisis of tame which must expire before things
found their natural price, as some writers still termed
it. This natural system would just serve to make
as get corn not from any favoured country, not even
from our sister kingdom, but from wherever it was
to be got cheap. Being most firmly of opinion that
the agriculture of Great Britain did not keep pace
with its population, be would say turn to Ireland,
where labour is cheaper than here, and where your
deficiency may be safely and well supplied—(Herr.)
—But man lived not only by bread. Were cattle,
for instance, no part of fond, as well as corn ? What-
ever view the House took of the question, they would
feel it both advantageous and safe to do something on
the subject. How keg would Gentlemen hesitate as
to having a supply from abroad, or obtaining it at
home ? Norway might counsel them ; Whose fate had
-so lately been decided, by depending for her 'supply
of corn on foreigners.—(Hear.)—Ml that was here
. wanting was for the Legislature to give a confidence
to the labouring classes of the agricultural world.
What way in which to meet this temporary distressf
unless by some Legislative provision be confessed he
knew not. The country in fact looked for it-
Mr- PHILLIPS shortly explained.
Mr. MARRYAT said, if the object of the Bill
, was not in reality to raise the price of corn, it niusti
be made wut that 80s. was not more than 635. fe
France, la contrastienjosickre was one.founli, and the
landholder of France was in the same situation As WI
he paid 20s. in the pound, where the sum of 275 odd
millions of livres was paid by the 36 remaining de-
s
penmen's, after she had been dismembered of -/-2.i
Upon this statement, it would be seen that the laiiiP
holders of this country were not prevented from corn::
petition on account of lases. An Honourable Gen-
deman (Mr. Whitbread) had I i unii.g.it proper to call
upon him, the other night, to di.Tilyre tht! ani;)iitit of
his profits in trade. It was certainly quite ai fair, in
turn, to call upon that Honcurable (I,ialcfnan to
state the amount of his own profits in the course of
the last year, when, be douktect not, the public would
be convinced that while he paid such attention to
their interests, he bad not neglected his own.— (Loud
high,.)—He thought the present Resolutions went
'beyond what the interests of agriculture require, and
he should, therefore, vote against the bringing up of
the Report.
Mr. 1). GIDDY wished the House to reflect how
far it would encourage the progress of emigration ;
but as ae had only the alternative of paying more
for bread, or of depending on foreign lands for a
supply of corn, he should, considering all circitm.
stances, vote for the Report being now received. He
was certain that the effect of this measure would be
to prevent provisions from being immoderately deer.

• • . "71 ••i• • .4.1-1-
' •
Much had ales been gait as to 'clueing dye Miner
but low rents 'sight opernfe gait' e as laintioaltruathe
farmer and his produce as higher ones. •
Mr. BARING rose in consequence of the drew
rations of which he bad been made the subject. Par
himself and the Gendemen who took 'that sincef
the question which he dide he diielisiesedaq anxiety
for popularity, which Meet bestourt-ilendsf!abtrants: .•
sures they recommended would Firm interims to
the count' y. In most iostancest he was satisfied the
interests of the nation were best confided to its gnat
landholders; but when they came to discuss a ques-
tion so immediately affecting their own personal in-
• serest' as she state of rents, and the value of the pro.
duce of land, it was fit they should be cautioned
against taking a narrower view; from the bias they
must necessarily have, than they were accustotneci
take of the tendetcy and effect of measures sul•inin.
tett to their consideration. In all this long iliwat;iot,,
he had heard nothing in favour of the report now at •
the bar; he (Mr. Baring) had heard nothing to satisfy
him Si-i' 0 shilliugs ought to be the Protecting prict%
vie had Leasd the Agricdturists -cried op, and the.
stauufacnrrers spoken of as the -Kum of the earth—
' (iftrrroirs, and load cries of No, ne)—but nothing had
been said so justify the proposed importation price,,
and he found it opposed in every part of-the report;
of the Committee up ;:utirs. He had spoken before,.
bet thew was something so absurd• in going in direct:
opposition to the report of that Committee withou:
one wotd being said which be could ourriider as t.
jistification of their taking: such a course,
!Owe he would not again go hough the evidence..
lti eottld not but callaheettedtios of the Horse tars
.that which bad been the recornmendatiat 'of -
Committee. The witnesses were 'greed,* that somtt •
piotection to the agricultural interests was necessary:
It was generally insetted by them, that with presere.
.charges, present tents, and present taxes, 80s. would"!
he necessary. Four or five of the persons exaunineci.:
had named a lower price. Mr. Maxwell had said:
755. would he a high limiting price--if that could
be rnr, the farmer crud have no cauce for corn.:
plaint. Mr. Crabtree Fad named 755. Mr. M.tilh
72c. Mr. Giles 765. or from that to is, is. Mr. Webb„
when asked W the -farmer could .afford •gruw•
corn at the present prices if his expenses continued:
the same ? Answered—•s You ask me that which.
it would be absurd to assume—if bread falls ins
price, other things must fall with it." Her
had heard nothing to reconcile him to the pro..
ceding price of sOs. and unless he did bear WM*
eatisfactbry argument for it, he should in the first.
instance vote against the report being brought up,
from the bar. He controverted the statement which
they bad heard, that the farmer's seat was of no
importance to the price of grain, and proceeded to,
spew the eff.ci of the measure now submitted to
them, if it received the sanction of Parliament, must
be to bring a quantity of had land into caltivation,
which could not be made fit to raise corn upon, bus
at a great expense I In replying to the argument
used with respect to rents, he stated that it was truei
when rents were low, there was no stimulus for for-
Olen to exert themselves in the growth of corn, and
that high rents rendered exertion necessary. But the,
stimulus was found in the low price of their produccii
which compelled them to increase its quantity. It;
lad been said that 655. per Tinter would cause our!
nianuia,.zures to be beaten out of the French Marken'
but if the Trice was :anted to ft9s. it wookit enable
the F:ench to beat us out of• every other market en
the Continent. Manufactures paid more in tales.
than agriculture ; should they be ruined thereforeo
tt e public revenue would materially suffer. It the'
price of coin were raised to ROs. Ole county courj:
never retuin to a money circulation, but the tuind o.
the nation must be made up to the confnirauce to:
bank-notes.
Mr. FI'I2GERALD rose in consequence of tl'!,
language of the Honourable Ginn/email wt..° had
just sat down (Mr. Baring), which (eight not to p:i%
unnoticed. Tin: topics of the Honourable Gentleman
were not calculated for the meridian of the Hcuse
Commons, as the expression of the feelings of the
House must have convinced him.—(Crier cj' he.7r,
.Jr).—He was apprehensive of the decision to wi•ich
the Horne must come, but was content that their cha-
raci ers, both as Representatives and individuals, would,
be implicated in the question. Hewould not proceed
to exhaust the attention of the House by going at
length into a subject as much exhausted as themselvo.
Without here entering into the question of population,
he could assert, that the increase of population inire-
land had kept pace with the augmentation of agricul:
ture. As far as the qUestion related to our coin, also
he was satisfied in the prohibition of grain; every one
knew that we had exhausted our specie in the pur-
chase of foreign corn. Corn in Ireland had fallen
from three to four shillings a quarter, and every con-
sideration of the subject suggested the propriety and
fairness of protecting the rising agriculture of that
country. He congratulated the House and the
country at large on the temper and moderation which
had been generally displayed in the discussions on a
great question, in which all parties appeared to vai•
seder as a common cause, and concluded with his
hearty assent to the motion.
Sir FREDERICK FLOOD supported the Reso-
lutions, the propriety of which he thought was milli.
fest, not only from the argumentative statements
which had been made, but by the decided majority
of the other night. He complained of a misconcep-
tion and misrepresentation of his snerch first, by an
Honourable Member (Mr. Whitbread); and after•
wards by the Newspapers. But es lie was sure the
misrepresentation was the consequence of misconcei.
lion, he was willing to acquit both the Honourai.l;
Member and the newspapers. He had spoken of tio!•
locks, when he was said to have talked Of bulls. IL
thought the country ought to grow corn enough to:
her own con sumption, especially as she was so V.
supplied from Ireland, and ought not to depend n:.
France, who would be sure, on the first occavorn •
take advantage nt our situation.
Mr. WiIITBREAL) was sorry that he
have niisunderstood the Honourable Baronet, an l
pleased with the readiness with which that Honnura
ble Baronet hail changed his bulls to bullocks. N°
remembered, indeed, one instance of a complete on
mal of that kind being employed in she plough, but
from that instance, he thought it nukimpussiole the
in Ireland six bulls might be used. I,
Alderman ATKINS could by no.ingies. agree
the propriety.of the Resoletiona, wl WL. be did nc:
think warranted by any information which had co:i