Star.
London, England, 1801-12-10 00:00:00

DI ST IL LE.P.IES.

The Report of the Bill to prohibit the ufc of
wheat in the Dinillation of Ipirits in Ireland be-
ing brought up by Mr. Alexander,
The CHANCELLOR of the Excuroprx Gad, he
fhould take this opportunity to make a few addi-
tional üblervations on the fubjea of the diflilleries.
Ile underilood it was the intention of tome Gets.
tlemen to move for the extenilon of the prohibi-
tion to other articles than wheat, and that they
oppofed the Bill, not tOr what it matted, but for
what it omitted to mention. Thele fuggcflions he
thought it his duty to notice, particularly as their
lint came from a quarter fo relpellable—(a cry of
Lear! hear !).—They had keen made by a Gcn
ticman (Sir J. Parnell) shone they had lately the
honour to lee a Member of the Houle, whole lot\
they now deeply deplored, ar.d whole memoty
would be reverenced by all who Act any value up-
on a Ii und undcrflandirg, cstenf.ee information,
and a benevolent heart. lint though the Right
lion. Gentleman had been poiTefled of fo many
amiable and cluimablc qualities, he could not con-
fect :o adopt the meafures propofed by him. Oats
were not riled in the dilliil y het:, nor iu Scot•
:and, and the oaly use that could be fcrved Ly re-
the tile of oat,: in :he diflillery in Ireland
would be, to facilitate die importation cd Limn tz

to Scotland- There they inflituted a principal
article of the food of the natives, but in Ireland the
common people lived chiefly upon potatoes, and
when they indulged in bread, they eat bread made
of wheat. But in Scotland at prefent the mice
of oatmeal was almoft aslow as could be willed.
A labourer was there thought to be well off, if he
could earn a peck a day, jolt now while he receiv-
ed t Bd. or sod. he bought his meal at 12d. or s4d.
If the whole diftillation were thrown upon barley,
the worn confequences might follow. He had
never faid, as had been reprefented, that argu-
ments drawn from confiderattons of revenue had
}ore no weight. He had faid, that the revenue
was not fo much interefted as fome Gentlemen
teemed to imagine, but he then (poke under the
fuppofition that the Bill before the Houfe was to
pals, allowing certain advantages to fpirits
dißill-
ed from molaffes. That dill had been laid afide,
and though he hoped that it would be refumed af-
ter the reed's, its fuccefs was now uncertain.—
Great difficulties arofe from the price of grain in
Ireland, being below the price here, but above the
exportation price. By the Aa of Union, no dlr.
tinaion was authorized between fpirits from mo-
laffes and fpirits from corn, fo that if the latter
were allowed any advantages, the hitt nation
might complain that their manufaaures were
improperly difcouraged. The effea of flopping
the diftilleries altogether would be to enfure ille-
gal diftillation to an immenfe amount both in Ire-
land and Scotland, and to infure the importation
of vaft quantities of (snuggled fpirits from the
Continent. It was faid, we might have secialtrfk
to a limited prohibition : but the confequence
would be to caufe in Ireland almoft as great a con-
fumption of grain as would othea-wife take place in
the whole United kingdom. From molaffes a fuf-
ficient quantity of (pints might have been manu-
faeured for the tile of Great Britain ; but to leffen
the duties upon this article was impoffible ; and
when the duties were the fame, the diftiller from
molaffes had no chance of faced's. He united that
thefe difficulties would be done away, and that a
better fyftem would be introduced, by which the
price of grain would he equalized all, over the em-
pire. We ought to forget that Ireland is feparated
from us by the ocean, former prejudices thould
now fubfide, and the produce of the two countries
go to the reciprocal affiftance of each other. By
the plan he had in view, induftry would be pro-
moted, agriculture would be encouraged, the re-
venue would be increafed, and we would draw
froth ourfelves thofe advantages for which of late
years we bad paid fo dearly to foreign countries.
He had bellowed upon the fabjea his belt atten-
tion, and he had now fisted the refult of his in-
quiries. If any means could be fuggefted to lower
the price of provifions, without facrificing per-
manent interefts, and without infringing funda-
mental laws, he (Mould be happy to adopt them.
The Right Honourable Gentleman then recapitu-
lated his arguments, and concluded by Paying that
on thefe grounds he thought there ought to be no
provifion in the Bill for extending its operation,
and if he heard no frefh objeftions flatted to it, he
fhould with it to pals in its prefent Hate.
Mr. DENT contended that the fcarcity had all
along been fiaitious, and that the effea of open-
ing the ditlilleries would be to give the monopo-
lizers an opportunity to carry on with fuccefs their
deteftable defigns. He faid he was aware that
there were fed annually at the diftilleries 41 ,251
hogs, and that being bought at 12 (lone and fold
at 18; there were thus annually produced 741,816
(lone of hog's meat, worth 111,2731. Bs. But fill
this was not enough to compenfate for the con-
fumption of 247,000 quarters of barley, and the
aQual confumption, he conliderold but a fmall part
of the bad effeas to be apprehended. The diftillers
laid in a mush greater quantity than they had oc-
cafion for, public clamour was excited, and prices
rote immoderately from the general alarm. When
the diftilleries were allowed to work, it would be
impoffible to prevent wheat itfelf from being ufed
in them. A Member of the Houfe had a few years
ago been profecuted for this offence, and obliged
to pay the penalty of Soot. Before he was difco-
vered he had probably made many thoufands.—
', The profecutors were his brothel .fillillers, and the
reafon they affigned for their conduct was, that he
violated the law lb indilcrcetly, that they were
afraid he would be the cattle of them all being de-
' tated. The corn laws, as they at prefent flood,
were very bad, and unlefs they were fpeedily cor-
, reed, the country mull for ever continue to groan
under the miferies of artificial famine.
1 Mr. VANSITTAILT faid a few words; and

_ .
The CHANkILLOR of the Excasopta explained.
Mr. WILLIAM DUNDAS obferved, that from the
comparative price of labour and oatmeal, which
was the principal fuftenance of the labouring poor
in Scotland, no injur! whatever was, in his mind,
to be apprehended to that part of the country
from opening the corn difiillcrics. The price of
labour there was from fixteen to twenty-pence, and
the price of a peck of oatmeal from thirteen to fix-
teen pence. Now a peck of oatmeal is ellimated
as competent to the fidlenance of one man for a
week ; and the rate of labour was fuel; that a man
could earn in one day a week's food. He believed
it would be allowed that oatmeal was as cheap as
it could be reafiinably wifhed, confiflently with
the welfare of the common people and thole of the
farmer, who, if the price fhould fall lower, would
be difcouraged from purfuing that fpecies of agri-
culture on which depended the fupport of the la-
bourer in focceffive years.
Mr. DttEr laid a few words in explanatirm.
Mr. CORRY rofe to trefpafs on the attention of
the Houfe by a (Mort remgrk in corroboration of
what had fallen from a Right Hon. Gentleman
near him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) with
re7ard to Ireland, and the policy which had :tau.
atcd the Lord Lieutenant and Government of that
coantry in publifhing a proclamation, as war-
, ranted by law, for open:ng the grain dillilleries
'of that country on the to of January nex7, in-
(lead of waiting till the asth of March. The
unparalleled abundance of the late harvell in
that country had reduced the price ofgrain there
to a rate which rendered it utterly imprthicable
I. prevent difiillation from corn rlancleilsely, if noc
openly an.] legally, awl, titicrcfore to cputinue thq

prohibition of the legal diniller
be
sfiripotaaattitionednihtyhbemeutco do h
tarodeittvienewtiniropiyt of
ueiltiindno
deftine application of grain to the es,h
expofe the health and the morals of the people
injury in the confumption of a cheaper and a wcif
liquor than the legal diniller produced. To p
mit the diffillery in Ireland, .and vo prohibit it 7
this country, would be to as con!rary to the
'
rut of that Legiflative Union w• 1.1,1: was i:-,tends
to confolidate the interells, the habits, and thee
feaions of both countries, bccaufe it was :taint; h-
one fpecies of policy towards One country, an:lb
a different fpectes towards the other. By the tear
of the Union Al, this country was bound to ad
omit the fpirits diftilled in Ireland upon pay'ast
certain rate of duty, and the conPlaence wont.
be. thatif the diftillery from grain was to be pr.
hibited in England, the trade and interefts of th
Brkint diftillers would be facrificed to theft
Ireland, which would at once he unfair and
betal. He fincerely wished to fee eftahlifhed
tween both countries that accommodating lyric
of the interchange of grain alluded to by the Itir,
Hen. Gentleman, by which the iiiperabundan-
of either might be brought in aid to the wants ot.
the other—a fyftem which, he was fore, Dina b.
fraught with molt important advantages to both.
Mr. Rol sox decidedly oppofed the opening
the diftillery ft-tam grain, which, be was lure, o
rated ulna materially to enhance the price of c
and the food of the poor, againit which petition
from fo many refpeaable communities. and amnng,
others, from the city of London,• now erow.k.
the Table. He was convinced that, In preriien
was the general fentiment on this futit, that i
the Houfe Mould At a week longer berate the r
cefs, ten times as-many more petitions vaoall
braaght forward, to the fame effect, 743 that al
ready received.
At'ter fume further eonverPation between Mr
Vanfittart, Mr. Dent, Mr. Hely Addington, an
Mr. Robfon (who was called to order), the claul
of amendinent for rendering the Bill liable to
peal or amendment at any ume during the fuli.
was agreed to.
The CHANCE Lima of the Exert Ellyn% rof.
to acknowledge to the Houfe that a number •
petitions had been prefented from very relpeaa.
communities in Scotland to the Lords of the Trea
fury on this fubjeifi, of fimilar purport with tie.
on the table ; that every relpea and attention ha
been paid to their contents continently with the
firm perfuafion of thole to whom they were al
dreffed; but that no argument that he had yet
heard urged on this fubjeft had been fufficient ta
convince him it was either prudent, politic, or no
eeflary, to impofe the refiriaion which In mail
well intending perfons, aauated, he was lure, b 1
the mon laudable motives, had thought }mope:a
urge. He therefore moved, " That the Amend
ments made by the Lords to the Fortin Cunt
pondence Bill, be now taken into er,nfhltration."
The fame were accordingly taken into co:irate,
ation by the Houfe, and feverally agreed tn; ass
a Meflage ordered to the Lords to acquaint th.o
therewith.
Mr. ALEXAtil,ill prefented the Report of tit
Committee upon the Eall India Judicature Requ
lotions, appointed to examine the Lilts r,f the Mem
hers eleaed by Ballot to conflitote the faid
cature, which, after Rating, that-the names of 4
perfons holding any Civil Office under the Croce
or the Office of a Commiffinner for the Affair, o
India, or holding any Appointment in the fervio
f tlned
oar Company,dersof
f phad been (truck au
pouf rtfhtle Eaant t o h
Members elated The following names l
eiam thene read, of tb
Lard Vif.Caalereagh Sir E. C. Hartopp. Bait.
nt.
Sir Ed. Knatchbull, Bari,
Fran. Annefley, E fq.
Wm. Baker, Efq. Hon. H. Laf:cllet
Lord Vif. Carden Lord VIC Ni3rlliate
Sir J. Parnell, Bart. Wm. Mitfor,l, Lit.
Hon. W. H. Bouveri• W. Morton Fitt, Efq•
T. B. Brantiton, F fq. Sir W. Naomi, Balt-
Hon. Rkhard Rs,*W.
John Calteart, EN-
W. R. Cartwright. Efq. J, H. Stunt, Eft
William Currie, Efq. Chant. aasml,toi.
akaL4
Lord Vl4, &Riley Hon. W. A. Torn
Sir W. Pitied, But. Lord Vi,*. Cola
Sir
La % Frederick, Bart. . Hon. J. S. Wortley
Sir w. gong,
_Bart. T dward Lee, Lfa.
Thomas stsaley, Efq. Sir J. Stuart, port.
' sir W. Geary, Bart. Flume:, r 4
Before the Members feparated, the
d Sprati
' Rated, that the nature of the btiners on rritg
would render a rather carli,:r hour of Meeting,
ceffary, and Paid he Mould attend at three o'c o
that day.

;~

LON1)01V.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER so.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONF. O'CI Oc
Cor-obi for opening, (.21. H—R duced 6.1.
News per C. 981-omaium 4--New Oiunium 41

PRICE OF STOCRS YESTERDAY.
3 per Ct. Red. 671 67 Imp. 3 per Cent. 66
4 pct. Cent. atti i I Exe !lei. fits, 66 74. fr,
t per CC:it. 1797, 0717 krgfith Tickets 16! !‘.
Lung Aun. iss 13-16 Cuntk
for n. 60; ; i

French journals to the 6th intl. incloi.,re, Cal
to laud this morning. There appears es•id-.1
to have 'nen foincthing like an infurrca inn 1
Cuadalonpe, bat all the particulars are r..,t
tailed. The Tribunate is chiefly occupied in
culling the Treaties th',tt hare been coneli:Jed
the different Posvezothat wer cng.tged in ex !.
wan—herr Confdia'r 57, fr. 5J c.

On Monday evcr.ing the ncw•born fc l of L'
GROVA HENRY CAVE.IOISII WES Cht;'11:....1
dt
Lordthip's }souk, in Sarillc-Row, by the nanu
FOAM, ate a." I lis eldeit brn;her, ;i A
Ilowasn, Efq. were th.: Godf.chz:i,
FRANCA COMPTON the Godni,,J.er ; the ,:,:etual
was performed by the Rev. 1. W7CHAX:I3;I.
The Duke of BR Inc twarEa has ptireh4cd
H IT DUD'S bCrAlt:f 111 villa in ficrtbiJi.:l:.

j, :

al diftiller air
a ruinous injnt y, art..l to
the important turns
ome 'hap:: by new Isaiah:
aufwer the exigencies of v,
ay no means T.:event the elk,
Fgrain to the alilleries, be
d the morals of the people t
scion of a cheaper and a wort,
diftiller produced. To per
reland, .and to prohibit it '•
be to aet contrary to the fpi
: Union which . was intende
erefts, the habits, and the
frith becaufe it was adingt)
towards one country, and h
'ards the other. By the tette
pia country was bound to ad
td in Ireland upon paym.
and the confequence wow.
ry from grain was to be p .
the trade and interefts of th
dd be facrificed to theft
d at once he unfair and iy
affixed to fee etlahlifbed
s that accommodating fy
' grain alluded to by the R.
.
r which the loperabundan-
rought in aid to the wants
chich, he was lure, tmta b
uportmt advantages to both
tedly oppofed the opening .
rain, which, he was fere, o
y to enhance the price ofe
poor, againit which petitirn
able c omm uni ti c s. xad among,
y of London,• now erowde.
convinced that, In preesten•
iment on this fulx;.at, that i
a week longer before the re
any more petitions could be
the fame effect, a. that al

er converPation between Mr;
it, Mr. Hely Addington, and
AS called to orderi, the clank
eadering the Bill iable to re•
at any time during the

of the Esc"' sortEs atria n
the Houle that a nuezzr
relented from very rcipecial „
land to the Lords of the Trea
of limilar purport with dhoti
very refpea and attention had
ontents contifiently with the
hole to whom they were ad
io argnment that he had ye
fubje4l had been futficient
either prudent, politic, or in
he rellridion which In man;
ins, aftuated, he was lure, b!
iotives, had thought proper ti
e moved, That the Amend
Lords to the Foreign Corn(
ow taken into confideration."
Tordingly taken into conildet
, and feverally agreed to; anj
:o the Lords to acquaint tka

prefented the Repoli of t
e Eaa India Judicature Rex
examine the Lifts of the Mei
Hot to conflitnte the faid
r Rating, that-the names of,
r Civil Office under the Oros
:ommillioner for the Affair.
ny Appointment i't the fervi
:ompany, had been (truck
ers of Parliament.
tames were then rcad, of

Str E. C. HArtopp. But
Sir Ed. Kratchbull, Sul
Hon. H. Larvik,
Lord VIL Molina
Wm. Mitford, Efg.
W. Morton Pitt, Eq.
Sr W. Pullout% Baru
Has. Richard Er*
j. H. Strott, Efir.
Mole% Adam,
Hoc. W. A. 'foZad
Lord Vii. Cat
. Hon. J. S. Wortley
Tduard Lae,
Sir J. Stuart, Baru
William Mont, EN.
abet., feparated, the STFIII
iture of the bunters on rn,i:
her earlier hour of Meeting n
mould attcnj at three o'clo

ONDON.

DAY, DECEMBER to.

I THIS DAY AT on OTI.KI
Ten*, 6!4 3—Reduced 67f.
onlum 114—New Omnium 41i

STOCKS VISTEKDAY.

Imp. 3 per Cent. 66
Exeheq.rius. 61. 7'. Fm
Ergittb 'Tickets t6l. f
ConC. for Jan. 68i:

to the 6th init. inclunre,
ling. There appears evidn
nettling like an infurreaion
*ll the particulars are tot •
unate is chiefly occupied in I
s diat have been concluded It
rsthat were engaged in the!.
4.ti 53 fr. Su c. •

!rang the new-born fon is( L
:11VINDISII was C11ti4C:....1 at
in Saville-Row, by the =roc
[is elslett brothers, .and A
ere the Godfather., ay..'
I the Godmother t the c,:tes:
the Rev. I. W:CHAX:I3:6-
RIDGY\ bas purthafed
iut:ful villa ia I