Star.
London, England, 1825-04-26 00:00:00

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log a free iniiirtation of Corn. Also a Petitioa from Roehdak,
praying a revision of the Corn lives.
blr. DUGPALS ppresented a similar Petition from the Cham-
ber of Commerce in Mrroiagham.
air J. LO' THER presented a dmillarPetition fremWhitehaven.
Mr. MOON presented a similar
„oddment** Kiddermhister.
...Severally ordered to be printed.
' Mr. T. WILSON rose top sent a -Petition from the
Merchants, Traders, Shipown s, and others of the City
of London, signed by above of that respectable
body. The Petition related to a subject no less impor-
tant than the Laws relating to the trade in Foreign
Cole in this country. It was the result of one of the
most numerous and respectable public meetings that
be had ever attended, and the Petition was so unani-
mously agreed to,
_ that only one hand was held up
against it: The. etitioners stated that the high price
of provisions in this country, caused by the present er-
roneous system of the Corn Laws, tended to lessen the
value of labour, to retard the progress of wealth, and
to create a general injurious effect upon the Constitu-
tion of the country. They further complained that the
fluctuations growing out of the system were an evil
almost as great •as the highest prices -which it ever
created. Considering all the bearings of the question,
and particulafiy that the present laws were liable to
gross abuses, by which means their intention was not
fulfilled, the Petitioners thought themselves justified in
appro..ching the House and humbly praying that -ontel
change may be made. In their opinion a fixed duty
would be the 'best mode that could be adopted for se.
curing the intetests of all parties. If such an orange.
ment would not bring occasional high prices to the
landed interest, it would ensure them a more steady, and eventually
a more advantageous remuneration. No person was inclined to
Stoat the subject with greater delicacy than he was, or with greater
consideration for the interests of those coacensed. He was aware
of the difficulties of fixing a pries at which the grower ought to be
protected, but he was disposed to give them the advantage of that
ditcuky. if be must err, he would rather give them too much
than too little. He could assure Honourable Gondootoo who
were in that interest, that the merchants of the City of London had
no feelings hostile to them, but they wished to fix some atandard
which should remove the evils of the present system. He moved
that the Petition should be brought up.
Mr. GOOCH said, he should only trouble the House
for a few moments upon the subject of this Petition.
He bad the greatest respect for the Merchants of
London, and the Honourable Member had presented
the Petition in a very liberal and unobjectionable
manner. But he must say, that of all the questions'
which could come before the House, this was the one
which less than any other could bear tampering with- I
(Hear, hear). Since the notice given by the Honour`
able Member for Bridgenorth, the agitation of the
country upon this subject bad been beyond the concep-
tion of those who were not acquainted with I'. He had
received more letters and- applications relating to it
than any other question which ever came under his notice
The landed interest were in the greatest state of alarm
lest they should again be thrown back into the distress
which they suffered a few years ago, they were con-
tented as they now were, and wanted no alteration. He
did not mean to say that the system was perfect, and
might not want revision some time or other. But why
were they to interfere now, when till classes were well
fed and comfortable ? When they had been told by the
Speech from the Throne, that nothing but peace and
comfort 'reigned throughout thif happy country. The
merchants of the City of London had no cause to corn-
plain- Their trade was flourishing, and their wotkmen-
so well paid, that on Saturdays, Sundays, and Min-
days, they had nothing to do but to stuff themselves
'frith roast beef and Rorter--(Hear, and a laugh). If
ever there was a question which called upon the Country
Gentleman to stand forward in support of their interests, it was
the present. Before sitting down, be wished to ask the Right Hon.
the PreAdent of the Board of Trade. whether it was the intention
of his Majesty's Government to propose any revision of the Corn
Laws during the present &Woo, or to support any such proposition?
Mr. HUSKISSON said, the Hon. Gentleman wished,
to know whether it was the intention of his Majesty's
Government to propose any al measure of relief
.with respect to the state of the Corn Laws in the pre-
sent Session, and he had no difficulty in stating to him
in answer, that his Majesty's Government had no such
intention. If it had been contemplated in the present
Session to introduce such a measure, he thought it would
have been the duty of those to whom it was entrusted
to have taken an earlier opportunity for bringing it for-
ward—(Hear). But, viewing all the circumstances
connected with the present state of those laws, and all
the considerations which were embraced in so extensive
a subject, it would, he thought, take up much more
time that was convenient, if he entered into any detail
until the regular period arrived, and the question was
fairly before them. He would suggest to Parliament,
at an early period of the next Session, the propriety of
entering on a general revision of the state of the laws
for regulating the trade in Corn between this and foreign
countries. If the Hon. Member for Bridgenorth brought
forward his motion on Thursday, he (Mr. Huskisson)
would have a better opportunity for stating the reasons
which had induced hint and his colleagues to adopt the
opinion that it was not desirable, in the present state of
the Session, to go into the inquiry—(Hear). At the
same timethat he had given this answer, be felt no difficulty in.
saying that be bad a proposition to submit to the Hesse en a name
that was connected with this subject—be alluded to the Wheat
which was now shot up under hood. He thought it would be use-
ful, even to that class of persons who objected to an 'boredom in
the Corn Laws, if that Wheat, under certain sepiatissis, inee
suffered to come into the market.
Mr. HEATHCOTE earnestly hoped the Honourable
Member for Bridgenorth would not bring this question
forward. The subject was now agitating the country
in an alarming degree. Why should they go into this
question now, when they were told that they would have it an over
again nett year? He hoped the Hasseenbie Member would take
the matter lute serious eonsideratiou.
Mr. WHITMORE was sure that the greatest good
would arise from the distussion of this important sub-
ject. He was glad to hear from his Right Honourable
Friend, that he meant to bring it forward in the next
Session; but in the meantime, he was convinced that so far from
increasing the irritation of the parties whose apprehensions were so
great, the statement be should have the honour to make would
greatly quiet their alarm.
Mr. CURWEN said, he was firmly convinced that
sometbink must be done, as there was not corn enough
in the country to meet the consumption before another harvest.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said that no time could
be so opportune as the present, for taking up this im.
portant question. If some steps were not taken to
remedy the evils of the existing laws, it would be impossible for the
Goveruntept to carry their principles into elect.
klr. BARING said, he felt convinced that the coun-
try could not be placed in a wale situation than it
would be by the determination of his Majesty's Mini stet s
etst to interfere with the Corn Laws this Session ; but
that they would next year not revise these laws, but
tenter into a general inqu;ty respecting them. The
country was in a state of alarm on the subject, nay, even
the Hon. Member for Suffolk himself appeared to-think
that chit°, n Late: were bad, but that this was not the
time to set about mending them. He agreed with the
Hon. Member in tie first opinion, but differed fiom him

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