Star.
London, England, 1827-06-26 00:00:00

WAREBOUSZ CORN BILL.

Viscount GODERICH rose to move the second
reading of this Bill, "Cud spoke to the following effect
My Lords, in moving the second reading of the tempo-
rary Corn Bill, which has been lately sent to your Lord.
ships from the other House, I do not think that it will
be necessary for me to trouble your Lordships with
many observations. The general subject of the impor-
Dijon of foreign corn has been so much discussed, and
the sentiments of your Lordships, individually, have
been so frequently expressed, and the views of year
Lordships' House have been declared so fully, and are
se distinctly and completely understood, that it would
only be a waste of your Lordships time for me to pre-
face this motion with many observations. I would wish,
however, on my own account, and for the sake of the
friends with whom I act, to address a feet remarks to
your Lordships upon the course which his Majesty's
Government have pursued ; first, with respect to that
Corn Bill which was not suffered to proceed, and, next,
to the Bill which is now under the consideration of your
Lordships. And now, my Lords, with respect to the
first Bill. I must say, that if the alteration made in it
had been one, which, in my judgment, or in that of the
friends with whom I act, was of comparatively small
importance—if there could have been any reasonable
degree of doubt as to the effects it was calculated to
produce, I should have been, when I considered the vast
importance of the measure, and the intense and feverish
anxiety with which it was looked for by the country,
most unwilling to abstain from letting it pass into a law.
But, my Lords, having,. in the sincerity of my heart,
stated the grounds upon which I opposed the clause, I
felt that 1 could not, in consistency or propriety, or wish
a due regard for the good opinion of your Lordships,
and of the country, adopt any course of proceeding',
but the one I base adopted. I felt that it was im-
possible for his Majesty's Ministers to call upon the
other House to acquiesce in the measure; and I felt,
my Lords, and I do feel still, that we took the course
least likely to lead to any collision with the other House.
It was upon this account I abstained from moving the
third reading of that Bill; and I cannot perceive, either
from reflection, or the arguments of others, that I have
not pursued the course most consistent with my own
duty, and the public welfare. It was impossible,
however, for me, and for the friends with whom I act,
to think of leaving the subject without legislation for
this Session; and only two modes remained for us to
adopt. Of these, one was to accede to the proposition
of a Noble Earl (Malmesbury), enforced by the support
of a Noble Baron (whom I also see upon the benches
opposite), to substitute for the Bill which we had
brought before your Lord.hips, an amendment, to the
effect of keeping the present law permanently in opera-
tion, and removing the bar which impedes its operation
previously to the prices reaching 80.. Now, my Lords,
I will put it to your Lordships' candid good feeling,
whether it is possible to suppose that we could accede
to this proposition, involving, as it does, the permanent
retention et a principle, which the other House of Par-
liament' and .the vote lately given by your Lord.
ships, and the voice of the whole country declares,
ought not to be retained. Coold we be expected to
come at once to a decision for the retention of that pi in-
ciple, when the impres.ion produced upon our minds,
alter deep stu.ly and minute and catetul investigation

ICE SEVENPE

was, that, in its very nature and essence, it wst take-
lated to occasion mischief, and when in this opinion we
were supported by the opinion of the cottony et large.
I beg leave to say that I am justified In stating tble to
be the opinion felt by the country at large t and timber.
I must observe, that from the division of this Homes
upon the question, I am entitled to lissome that the
princip'e is not one that ought to be maintained. Of
course I do not speak in reference to the sentiments ex-
pressed by individual Noble Lords, but to the
enti-
ments of the House of Lords, as placed on record by
their vote. Being, therefore, as I bare endeavoured to
chew, positively prevented from adopting the recorn•
trendation of the Noble Earl (Malmesbuty), the only

course remaining open to us was, to see if it were not
possible to confine legislation to the foreign corn now
in the country, and, by adopting measures for having
it taken out of bond,- at once prevent that concomitant
influx of foreign cons, to which the law was intended
to apply; and, I am inclined to think, that if even the
Noble Lords who opposed the lam Bill weeld consider
fairly the smears I hare now the homer of submit-
ting to them, they may be induced to see thee it is one
which, according to their own views, it woeld.not be
inconsistent for them to adopt. The evil of the Cern Bill
now in existence is, a tendency to admit foreign comet
times when it is not wanting, and when its admission
wield be most prejudicial to the landed interest. Let us
just see how far this extends to one species airman—to
Spring Corn, and Barley in particular. At the prelem
moment there is as fine a prospect of an abundant haw
vest as could be well desired; but, last year, the moor
barley was deficient. Yet the price has never rises high
enough for the admission of foreign corn, although ices
a matter beyond the possibility of doubt, that the sup-
ply has been inadequate to the demand. 1 damn say
this upon the faith of the numerous representations I
have received, but simply upon the fact of its being
evinced by the packet price, which is 405.; and now,
my Lords, I wish you to observe, that if the alteration
of the law of 3822 were substituted, foreign corn would
be admitted, pinvided the average for the six we• ks
preceding the 15th of August, amounted to Us. ; but
since the average price at present amounts to 40s. and
since it is perfectly evident that these is an inequality
between the demand and the supply, the result of th.t
measure would be to open the ports in the face of a
most abundant harvest and to throw into the market
the 180,000 quarters r>f barley now itssvarehouse, to-
gether with all that could be, in the meantime, im-
ported from abroad. This, it will be allowed, holds
out any thing but an agreeable prospect for the nett
three months. . It is, in My mind, such as ought to pro-
duce an effect Upon he Noble Lords, for the 801 l upon
the table offers a direct and, by no means, inconvenient
remedy, against a certain and seriousevil. The letting
out the corn now in bond, would regulate and diminish
the price, and prevent the ports from being thrown
openeopoofthe 15th of August, as they unnecessarily
and infallibly would. • And, my Lords, I beg leave to
say, that the views of the measure I have now V e
honour of submitting to your Lordships, were not un-
palatable in the sear 1825. It was always agreed upon
that contingencies might arise. which it would be ne-
cessary to meet with proceedings out of the ordinary
course, and I contend, my Lords, that sufficient grounds
for the necessity of meeting an unpleasant, and much
Ito be apprehended, contingency, do now exist, and that
the remedy proposed does rot Wall; to that class
against which the slightest objection can be raised. The
.11dI is limited to a certain period; hereafter it will be
fin your Lordships to determine upon some fixed prin-
ciple upon which a "comment measure can be con.
strutted. His Majesty's Ministers applied themselves
to the consideration of the subject with great assiduity,
and, with an anxiety almost palatal, they sought, and,
I believe, obtained, the best assistance and information,
and finally succeeded in the formation of a plan which
they did deem, and which I have no hesitation in saying,
ought to have been, satisfactory to the most timid and
scrupulous agriculturist. His Majesty's Ministers failed
in carrying that measure through your Lordships'
House, and they now offer to your consideration a tem-
porary substinne for it. For • myseif, and far the
friends with whom I act, I trust that 1 may truly
claim, in this measure, the acknowledgement of not
being connected with any feelings except a desire to
benefit the country. We have endeavoured to meet
every thing that has taken plaCe with good immour,
and I should hope, successfully, althothrh things cer-
tainly did occur well calculated to raffia it, and al-
though language has been made use of which we could
riot but lament, I trust, however, my Lords, that by
our concurrence in the expediency of this measure, we
shall part with a renewal of that good humour which
will be not less creditable to ourselves than useful to
the country in whose service we are all united—(Hear).
The Earl of MALMESBURY said, his Noble Friend
had mistaken the nature of his proposition—it was for a
modification of the law of 1822. That law had sever
yet been in operation; and, knowing that it was the in-
tention of his Majesty's Ministers to bring on- another
measure, he had been induced to submit,his proposi-
tion for their consideration. His Noble Friend was
perfectly correct in all his statements with respect to
barley; but why did not his Noble Friend bring in a
Bill for barley? His Noble Friend had spoken of the
averages for barley, but he had not said one word about
the averages for wheat. Some information upon this
point would have been desirable, because the returns
he had moved for had not been as yet laid upon the
table. He believed, however, these were 600,000
quarters of foreign wheat in bond, together with the
wheat from Canada; and he knew nut what quan-
tity of flour.

Lord GODERICH said, across the table, 7,600 cwt.
of flour.

Lord MALMESBURY resumed, and contended,
that their Lordships never could be justified in opening
the ports for foreign reheat. The average in the mar-
kets at home was only 68s. 4d. and there never was any
chance of their risiag to Ws. His Noble Friend had
stated that he and his colleagues could noc astvccate
the measure which he (Lord Mahnesbury) had pin'
I posed, because it appeared to them to irto.lve a prin-
ciple sehicb they had opposed; for the sell-same ma-
son, he could not accede to the measure now bir.e.4l.t
forward by his Noble Fried. He looked upos that