Star.
London, England, 1812-02-04 00:00:00

PETITION FROM OREF:NOCIG

Lord Viscount heIEI.VILLE presented a Pe+inn from the
Town and Port of Greenock, in Scotland, praying, that in the
event of the renewal of the East India Company's Charter, the
bent fits of the India Trade may be extended to that Town
Ordered to Ile on the table.
CORN DISTILLERY PROHIBITION BILL.

On the question for going into a Committee on
this Bill, a conversation took place between the Earls
of LAUDERDALE and BATHURST, and Lord GRENVILLE.

Earl LAUDERDALE vindicated himself from
any dereliction of principles in his not oppising the
progress of the Bill in question. He retained those
by which he was actuated when he joined in the suc-
cessful resi4tance to a similar measure last Se,sion of
Parliament. He pointedly denied, however, that the
conduct of thoSe with whom he had the honour to
act, inducing that proceeding, had, in the least de-
gree, contributed to bring the country int the st ite,
that was alledged in these respects. What may be
the real state of the corn harvest, he had not equal
opportunities with the Noble Lords opposite, of as.
certaining ; but he must express his opinion, that the
conduct of his Majesty's Ministers on the occasion
was hlameable. They should, on ascertaining the
prospect cf scarcity, have come to one of two de-
terminatinns, either to call Parliament together, and
let 'ME Leg7slatrire, the proper and cocstetutional or-.
gan, apply the remedy ; or have proceeded to sus-
pend the distillation from grain, on their own respon-
sibility, and to have trusted to Darliament for an Act
of Indemnity. He retained all his convictions re-
specting the superior policy of encouraging The agri-
culture of the eo.:,,try, and, except in cases of evi-
dent and undeniable necessity, permitting the free
distillation of corn, as such, would eventually contri-
bute to preclude real scarcities. He, however, under
the circumstances, and with a view to the state in
which the cmintry in some respects was placed, rather
leaned to that side, which would afford the least
ground of immediate complaint ; and though he
deemed that state to be, in no small degree, attri-
butable to Ministers, he would not oppose the Bill.
Earl BATHURST ably defended the conduct of
his Majesty's Government on the occasion alluded to
by the Noble Earl. He adverted to the difficulty of
ascertaining, at aught of an early period, what the
real state of a coming harvest would be ; but when
the idea of approaching scarcity seemed to be strongly
impressed on the public mind, and petitions were pre-
sented to Government in consequence, they deter-
mined on the most regular.and constitutional course
1 of applying to Parliament for its interference at the
earliest practicable opportunity, as he held the other
alternative mentioned, by the Noble Earl, of sus-
pend ng the operation of the laws, to he an uncon-
stitutional expedient, and justifiable only in cases of
extreme necessity.
Lord G RENVIL LE, though" he agreed
Igenerally
with his Noble Friend, was far from being ready to
go the length of recommending, as an altetrztive of
the Executive Power, suspending, on its tnk-n autho-
rity, the law of the land. With his N,,ble Friend
over the way (Earl Bathurst) he agreed, that such
an expedient was highly unconstitutional, and justi-
fiable only in cases of extreme necessity. Indeed, he,
regretted that the frequency of such a practice some 1
time since, had to a certain extent so accustomed the
people to it, that in the present instance, they came
forward, evenin the very metropolis, and petitioned
the Executive Government for a suspension of the
existing laws. In a case like the present, Ministers
had only one course to follow, viz.—to cause Parlia-
ment to be assembled, and take'the sense of the Le-
gislature upon the subject. Parliament had, by an
Act of some years back, become liable to an assemb-
ling at fourteen days notice, and that Act was
framed under the contemplation of future cases of
urgency. The circumstances of the country, either
in a domestic or an external view, called for decision
and promptitude on the part of Ministers. What the
state of the country was with respect to the Continent
of Europe was long known; and they had to consi-
der its situation with respect to America, a situation
he would not then consider how created; but the ccn-
sideration of their being in a state of pending war
with that most calamitous of all quarters, should, in
his opinion, teach them the degree of hope the coun.
try had of supply from that quarter. It was in
every view, therefore, necessary that Ministers should
have speedily taken steps to preclude any pending
evils in the way of scarcity. With his Noble Friend
he was of opinionr that every possible encouragement

shcaild be afforded to the Agricultural interests of the
corgi*, and the more so, with reference to actual
and pending circumstances. His Lordsl:ip also ad-
Vetted to the state of riot and disorder into which
onit uf the most populous and important districts ef
theapilitatri was for anme time plunged, without any
ad• • . steps, in his opinion, ben taken by Mini
stet 4,12 put a stop to the evils ; evils which, if not
ti •s. mended to, and averted, may lead to scenes
of . '', *ge and of plunder, nay, to acts of rebellion.
Thiiifigh he retained all his former sentiments upon
the * jects with which the Bill was connected, and
at teil whatever evils may be apprehended in
th• respect,t to the conduct of his Majesty's Mini-
ste he would rva, under the circumstances, op-
po,e•-the Bill. •
Earls LAUDF:RDALE and BATHURST respectively
spoke in explanation, and the latter insived that no
time ksd been lost on the occasion by his Majesty's
Gove4ment in carrying their determination into
e their view of the case, in recurring to Par-
lament wt 'the-leant practicable delay.
The House then resolved into a Committee on the
Bill, and agreed to the same without any amendment.
Their Lordships then adjourned till to-morrow,
when the- second reading of the Royal Household
Bill takes place.