Star.
London, England, 1827-04-03 00:00:00

CORN LA W 3.

bk GRANTsard he hid a Petition to present from
the Laridovinert, the Commissioners' of SuPply, the He-
shoes, and Justice* of the Peace of the County of laver.
setts, 'paying that further protection might be afforded
to the Agricultural Interest their was granted to them
by the Resolutions now in progreis thiough the House.
He observed, that although he:felt it hisdutpto present
their Petition, he could not avoid saying that heentirely
differed from them as to its prayer. At the same time,
Ise must do them the justice to state, that the Petition
was very respectably as well as numerously 4gned.—
Ordered to lie an the table.
Mr. C: GRANT then moved the Order of the Day
,for the second reading of the Corn Duties Bill.
Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE wished, before this
question was brought under discussion, to ast the Right
Honourable Gentleman whether, under all the circum-
stances of the case, and all the difficulties attending the
discussion of so important a measure, not only in that
House but elsewhere, he would not do the Agricul-
turists—or rather he (Sir Thomas Lethbridge) should
say, do him—the favour of putting off the question till
after the Holidays; or to fix a definite time, the 3d of

May ?—(A
Mr.C.GRANT answered, that as far as his personal

convenience was concerned, he should be very happy to
accommodate the Honourable Baronet; but though
-such a postponement might be a favour to the Hooour-
-4ble Baronet, it aas much to be doubted whether it
would be a great favour to the House—(Hear, hear),—
+especially when other circumstanced were taken into
consideration.

Sir T. LETHBRIDGE then said, that he should
'oppose the second reading of the Bill ; for although it
was said to be brought before the House after baviag'
been the subject of due deliberation on the part of the
Government, he could not but think that it was fraught
with considerable danger to the L..nsied Interest of the
Empire. He trusted that in discussing this question the
Landed Gentlemen would not permit themselves to be
led away by the impression which had, no doubt, been
made on them when the proposition was first introduced
by the Right Honourable Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, in consequence of the manner in which he had
brought it under their notice. He (Sir. T. L.) had heard,
and, as he believed, from good authority, that this wa-
ttage, though professing to be one proposed by the Noble
Earl, whose illness they all deplored, was, in fact, not
his proposition, nor did he intend to. claim it; but that
if helad brought it forward as he intended to havedone
in the House of Lords, he would have proposed it as a
measure emanating from the Government, but not from
Birnself individually. There were some circumstances
attending the measure which seemed to confirm that
report. *When it was first alluded to in another place, a
desire was expressed, and that desire was gratified by
the appointment of a Committee, to make further in-
quiries upon the subject.. In this House, however, the
same course had not been pursued, for when the Bill
was first introduced, he had taken the liberty of throw.
ing out a hint that it would be both wise and expedient'
to appoint a Committee to make some further inquiries
before the House entered upon the discussion of the Bill.
The House, however, did not soma to have the same
'opinion as himself, and they had,not encouraged him
to persevere in his object. He was still of opinion that
an inquiry ought to have been granted, and he believed
that :Mei the measure was first introduced, some im