Star.
London, England, 1827-06-19 00:00:00

,hips_—(a laugh), in which they might, by the fore* o''
reason—if reason had any power in that quarter—have
made even those who professed to be most friendly to
this Amendment for its own merits, understand the
oposition at last so thoroughly that nobody could
have had the face to offer an argument in its favour—.
(ones.) It was with great reluctance he [sad troubled
the House at this length, but he was decidedly of opi-
nion that the country would do better to endure the
inconvenience of delay, than legislate in haste on so im-
portant a question. The plan of the Hon. Member for
Essex (Mr. Western) was not calculated either to do
cfedit to the House or benefit to the country—(Hear.)
Mr. PEEL rose instantly-64 lamat a loss to recon-
cile the whole tenour of the Hon. Gentleman's speech
to the declaration with which be prefaced it—that such
was the veneration he felt for the character of 'my Noble
Friend (the Duke ~f Wellington), and such .was his
sense of the obligations this country was under to that
distinguished Personage, thatlie could not Ott this day,
as it bad been previously and justly remarked by my
Non. Friend (Sir E. Knatchbull)--the anniversary of
the Battle of Waterloo—do that pain to hit private
feelings which he must have inflicted upon them, by
occupying his whole speech with an attempt to turn
into ridicule the conduct of the -Noble Duke—(Hear,
hear!) It was no part of . my. duty to vindicate the
`clause moved by my Noble Friend. I stated expressly
as a reason why I believed the proposal of that
vlause formed • no part of a political scheme, that
1 had never heard of my Noble Friend's intention to
move it until the neat morning, when I learned that it
had been proposed. I said so,-because I have reason
to think that the Noble Duke would take no step of that
kind without my privity. I ceitaiiily did say, as I felt
justified in doing, that such are our habits of confiden-
dal coinmunication an these subjects, that S di ii think,•
lithe propotal of that clatie bed formed pall of any
political device, the Noble Duke wield hire given me
some intimation of his intention. But why dues the
Hon. Gentleman ate apt to ridicule my Noble Friend?
If his ridicule be successful; it applies to my Right Hots.
Friend (Mr. Einskisson) who sits below bias, and not to
the No-le Dukea:-(Hear, heaf). I deem it Sight to state
the history of this clause, at en answer to the attempt
of the Han. Gentleman to throw ridicule oe a man for
whom, at the same time, he professed toted the highest
veneration—(Cheers, and 44 No, no.")—I deem It right,
I say, to state this history, since the debate has departed
so widely from the channel in which it commenced. I
will state exactly the course my obis iii lend has par.
sued. H- was appointed ame tar ol the Committee
moved for in the other 'louse, with the consent of his
Majesty's Government, theobjest of which was to inquire
concerning the prices at which foreign grain can be
shipped from ports abroad, and the quantity that was
to be imported into this country. The result of this
inquiry was to create an impression on the mind Cs!
my Noble Friend—whether right or wrong I am
not arguing—l am only vindicating his motives, and
not the cause, with which I have no concern—that'
the wareriousing system contributes greatly to fraud,
by giving a direct interest to parties who have a consi-
derable quantity of bonded corn to practise on the ave-
rages, in order that they may take it but of the warn:
houses when they have succeeded: as the case may
suit their purposes, in making the price rimer fall. The
object of my Noble Fr iend's Clause was to give a pre-
ference to the corn directly imported froits-oe board
ship over that lodged in the warehouses; and wharirer
ridicule the Right Hon. Gentleman may throw on that
Clause, it is undoubtedly sanctioned by the Act of 1791,
which expressly provides, that corn taken nut of the
warehouses shall be subjectaot only to the then exist-1
ing duty levied on all ether Corn, but also to a furthet
duty of two shillings and sixpence. In addition to ate
ordinary duty. It was to that Act that my Noble Friend
referred, as something that totresponded la principle
with his Aniendlneilt. The., Hithouraille Gentle's=
must have misconceived no, MAO Friend'i Clans. alto-
gether, when he talks .of a duty of Ils. Ws being the result
of that Amendment. While he was exhausting all his
powers of ridicule upon it, he *lli elitirelt mistaken as
to its nature and design, There Ida net one word in
the Duke off' Wellington's Clause as to a duty of 2s.ed.
(Hear, hear). That Clause merely., provided; that no
foreign corn bonded in this country, shhuld be taitiii Out
forborne consumption till after the steerage's Witold have
passed 665. Not a word was there as to any additional
duty. The Noble Duke only wanted to Freya* frauds on
the averages; and he said ezplicitly,44 If you object to My
moot, resort to the pridciple of the Ait of 1791; and tub:
jeer the bonded corn to an additional duty of 2s. 6d."—
But that duty formed no part Of the Clause he moved.
Ile stated his object dearly : and having proposed his
own method of attaining it; declared that be las
willing to consent to any other equally Okada' seed
in particular, be said, if his Majesty's Ministers would
apply the principle of 1791 to the bonded corn. he
was content., But why do I say that the ridicule of the
Hon. Gentleman applies not to my Noble Friend, but
to my Right Hon. Friend ? Because the Cleqse °Ti-
singly sent by my Noble Friend for my Right Hon.
Friend's opinion was entirely of a different nature:—
It proposed that no portion of the bonded Corn should
be taken out of the warehouses for home consump-
tion, until the parties bolding previously bonded Corn
had signified their content to the admission of the Corn
subsequently bonded. My Right Hom Friend stated
some objections to this clause, and very just ones too,
I believe ; but my Right Host. Friend vent on in his
reply to say, that if the Noble Duke bad intended. to
propose another clause, restricting the admit:ion of Fo-
reign Corn—pro hoc vice,' ens /male, to that handed
previously to the Act—until the average price of British Corn reached sixty-six shillings per quarter,
then, says my Right Honourable Friend, " I for
one, individually, should not object to it, though 1
am afraid the Amendment would be fatal to the NIL"
All the objections the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Baring)
makes to my Noble Friend's clause, apply equally to
this temporary clause suggested by my Right Hon.
Friend ; for, during the time, it would have operated to
precisely the same effect--(Hear, beat). The Hon.
Gentleman says the Noble Dukes aa we would have
afforded no valid protection
to agriculture, because she
eorndealer had only to warehouse at Flushing or Os-
tend, and he could bring his grain over immediately,
D_ngnothing but the additional cost of transport.--
ttot same
ot the Hon. Gentleman see that. for the time,
e objection applies with equal force to my Right
I-I%h
r_.en.mend's suggestion ? I know that my Right Hon.
13' !I
.d newer inttnded his as a permanent measure.
ult have
a not the slightest doubt that my Noble
friend 'stook my Right Honourable Friend's inten-
boo, oci
proposed his
lisio_r_u Amendment, under the iiiipres-
.th4irt,enhd.
ewas.acting on the authority of my Right
`;"
,t ,:u . Ido not stand up to defend that clause.
arc' is to vindicate the Duke of Welling--