Star.
London, England, 1827-06-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL
.PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP LORDS, Jams 13.
Sir Attraimaa Guar. Sir GEORGE' Ross, and others, from the
'Common., brought up a Bill for the Naturalization of the Rev.
Joseph Wolfe, and several Private Bills, which were severally read
a Ant. time.
Mr. Cures, from the Treasury, presented an Account of the
National Dan, including the Austrian LOan.
• The Earl of ELDON presented a Petition from a respectable
..iihstly of the Electors of Pearyn, praying their Lordships not to pass
Me Bill into a Law for Disfranchidng that Boron/6; and praying
Al be beard by Counsel, at their Lordships Bar, before passing Me
awl BROWN LOW presented a Petition from tbettweers and
:10eimpleraef Land of a ;pariah in Lincatnabire„prfying foe Prom-
dim seelbst the Importation of Foreign Wool.
•SANDONMINT Off rua CORK DILL.
ViSCOUOI GODERICEi said—l was asked, my Lords,
in the course of last evening, to explain to your Lord-
;ships the course the Government meant to pursue with
re.pect to the Corn Bill. By one Noble Lord I was
asked, if it was my intention again to propose to your
Lordships, in any of the other stages of the Bill, to res-
cind the Amendment to which I found it my duty last
night to object ; and I was asked, secondly, on what day I '
meant to propose the third reading of the Bill. At that
time, my Lords, I did not feel myself at liberty to give
positive answers to those queitions.; but I now think it
is my duty to do so, in order that your Lordships may
be made aware as early as possible of the intentions of
his Majesty's Government. After the decision which
your Lordships came to on the second reading of the
Amendment—when it is evidently out of the question
that any alteration proposed by me could induce your
Lordships to depart from your decision, I am under the
necessity of considering that finally the Bill would be
sanptioned by your Lordships with the Amendment. I
have already felt it my duty to state to your Lordships
the grounds on which I consider the clause not only
obj -ctionable, as being fatal to the principle of the Bill,
but also as likely to be unsuccessful in attaining the
object for which it was proposed. As I could not di-
feat this Amendment, I do not think it possible that I
can undertake to propose the third reading of the Bill.'
It is impossible, indeed, that I should do so; and I shall
not propose to proceed further with the Bill.
The Earl of MALMESBURY—I wish, my Lords,
to ;if' a few words, though not to express my regret at
the resolution just announced. I am only anxious to
say, that I am ready to meet my Noble es he
well knows, in any rational view of amen.i!ing the ex
isting Corn Laws. lam ready to adopt any me kite
which sh .11 give protection to th.: agricultural interest,
and be satisfactory to the country at large. Perhaps.
as things cannot be left in their present state, the Act
of 1822 might be called into operation. I lould be
glad to see that clause removed which prevents the Act
'from coming into operation till the price rises to 80s.
the quarter. We Nhould then see how that Act, worked,
for it never has yet been in operation, and it might sa-
tisfy the Noble Lord's expectation'.
Lord ELLENBOROUGEI recommended the sug-
ge:tion of the Noble Earl to the consideration of his
Majesty's Ministers. The principles of the Bill of 1822
had never been tried. There was yet time, he thought,
to bring in, during the present Session, a short Bill to
catty the Act of 1822 into operation. He was only
afraid that the Bill 0f.1822 was kept in its present state
as a grievance, in order to fame Parliament to adopt a
worse measure.
Viscount GODERICH considered the Bill of 18221
was so opposed to the principles and acts of the King's
Government, that he could not agree to the suggestion
of the Noble Lords.
. The Duke of WELLINGTON said, that the Order
of .the Day for the third reading of the Bill on Friday
was dot discharged, and he believed it would be open
to any N ible Lord to move the third reading on that

day. ,
Two or three Noble Loris now offered themselves to the House,
hot the eall was loud for - ._ _

Earl GREY, who proceeded as follows:—I wish; my
Lords, to explain the motives of my conduct with re-
spect to this Bill, and to state my opinion on the pre-
sent state of the question. It is, I understand, the No-
ble Lord's opinion, that the amendment so completely
vitiates the principle of the Bill, and renders mis-
chievous, that he abandons the Bill; and he certainly
is at liberty to adopt such a measure it he think it
tight. I wish, however, to state, that I have not
voted for the amendment in order to get rid of the
Bill. I give my assent Lo the principle of the Bill,
and I gave my vote for going into the Committee;
and I hope it is unnecessary for me to say that 1
am sure your L^rdships will not believe that I should
lend myself, or that the Noble Duke would lend him-
, self to the unworthy purpose of defeating that by indi-
rect means, which we had directly supported. I voted
for the Amendment, my Lords, because I thought it a
material improvemrnt of the Bill. I should have pre-
leired the Amendment proposed by my Noble Friend
sitting at your Lord,hips' Table; but not being able
to get that, I voted for the Amendment of the Noble
Duke, which is a very greet improvement, for it tends
to check abases and frauds in the bonding system,
without materially affecting the principle of the Bill.
I stare this opinion of the principle of the Bill, though
. I an, nut a friend to the manner in which it was intro-
duced int.) Parliament, during a season of unjust cla-
mour; and thinking as I do that the Government was
to blame by its mrasures, which tended to encourage
and increase that clamour ; thinking also that no case
had been made out to call for the interference of Par-
liament—seeing that (luting the last six years there had',
been some of those fluctuations in the quantity of cornil
which made alternaiely a glut and famine; no•great
tine of price, the price having never, during that time,
been too high; or at least, not higher than was neces-
sary to encourage Chit system of agriculture by which
the wants of the consumers could be supplied; and
nobody his ever stated that there was anj such high

price, or any ductu,etions in price, as are now assigned a •
the reasons-for proposing this measure; thinkin4, I say,
any Lords, the; no case had been made oat. I still aik
proved o(the pr incipla of the Bill,thoogh I objected to the
manner and the time at which it'vras introduced into this
Home. Having been introduced, the question was,
hlllibethee it was too gieat a sacrifice to consent to this
Sin, or whether it would be better for the safity_aud
prosper-ty of the country to oppose it? and believing
that it would not be too great a saclike, I assented to
the measure, and voted for entertaining the Bill. But
['never intended in voting to entertain the Bill, Dot
weld your Lordships intend brgning into a Commit-
tee to encourage the delusion that the Bill was in that
state in which we desired it should remain: On the
contrary, I felt it was a duty I owed to the House and
Abe public, if any alteration should be proposed that
-would be beneficial to the country, to vote for it. Ulf-
der that feeling I voted for the Amendment of the
Noble Duke, because I think it wi:l correct the dangers
sad abuses of the bonding system—dangers which
are assigned as the reasons for adopting the present
measure; for the Amendment will prevent corn
from being stored up to Excess in bond, and mill pre-
vent corn under bond from being suddenly released,
producing a famine at one time, and an inundation
at tooth. r—dingers against which it is the intention of
_the present Bill to provide. Ido not think, therefore,
that the Amendment goes to destroy the principle of
the Bill, and I am prepared so support the necessity of
Vint Amendment for which I voted. Whether or not,
is the Amendment stands, it so vitiates the Bill, as
quite to destroy its principle—so as, under the cir-
'eumstances and difficulties of the country, to make
the Ministers suspend the progress of the Bill, and,
with that suspension, 40 increase the existing irrita-
tion before the next Session of Parliament. when
a remedy can be applied, is for them to decide. The
alteration which has been made in the Bill is merely
this—that the release of corn under bond is defer
red from the price of 635. to the price of 66.. Ido
not understand that the Amendment has any other effect
on the Bill than this. Every oth r part of the Bill re-
mains as it was. Importation is allowed at all times,
and the importation pike remains as it was. It was
simply art alteration in-the mode of allowing the bonded
corn to come into the market, and made on purpose to
promote the objects of the Bill. T cannot believe, from
the view I take of the Bill, that Miaisters are so .wedded
to their opinion as to suppose that the Amendment has
so 'kilted' the Bill, it they supposed it beneficial in other
respects, that they should think it their duty to abandon
4. Still less can I think this, when I recollect that if .the
alteration should be found inconvenient in practice, it
will be tubreqoei -fly open to correction. That thr Amend-
mem is a partial contradiction to the principle sif•the
Bill, I admit; tow lam at the sane time sore that
I have of late heard'smsscb id `th is House of distinc-
tions, where 1 can see rioottiferendl:'• "Irtday be that
an comprehension; but,l rhirt tee any difference
bete een absolute prohibition and a du•y which shall
be so high, under the name of a protecting duty, as to
mount in•fact to a prohibition. The amendment is in
apposition to the technical principle of the BIB; but
ire there no other parts of the Bill which are enroll.
clictions of this principle? Isere the reciprocity clause
a contradiction ?—(Herr;hear I). Does not that give to
the Ministers the power of stopping the introducti9n of
corn ? I must say,,tbat Ttbink there can be no question
of the sincerity of ifier-idoble Lord in the course he has
pursued: and I have. no doubt that he pursues that
cour.:e from a sincetentctieu that be is only
dis-
charging his Juts' is liiile extraordinary
that the amendment should be tiooght so to alter the
Bill as to.rnake it nttessary then should be elan.
doue.t.l-do not think that any /table Lord who ii held
worthy of taking par din his Majesty's Councils, can act,
so unworthily as to atialidon the Bill for the purpose,
of exciting the discontent and the feelings of the country.
All I shall say is this, that if it hould produce that effect.
I shall be ready to met it.' I stand hereone of a-body
whi4.ll will be always teatlY, hi mly and honestly, to
resist such effects—which always -con iders anxiously
leeliugly the interests of the people, even when it must'
oppose.she people themselves—and! which will never_
consens,-under the influence of fear, to give way to cla-
mour—(Cheers). It I am told that we run the risk ot•
having a worse Bill, I shell never suffer myself to be
in imidated by any such threat of a worse Bill; and if a
worse Bill should be sent up hese, I am sure your Lord-,
ships would pursue the same course you have pursued
by the present Bill. You would consider it ; and you
would amend .t ; and if you could not Make it good,
you would reject it. lam sure that any such measure
shall be met by me with a firm opposition—(Cheers)
and thet I shall be prepared to,do •nsy-shrty to myself
I have said thus much, and I might' Say a great deal'
more ; but 1 will a goid discussing the Bill. If there
shooed come a con.est, mot serious contest it threatened
between this House and a great portion of the people,
my part if taken, and with that order to which I belong',
I will atand or fall —(Cheers.)—l will maintain to the
last hour of my existence, the privileges and indepen- ,
dence of this House.—(His Lordship was loudly cheered
by the Members of the Oppotiti:n side of the House on
taking his seat.)
The Marquis of LANSDOWN—I have no iatentionci
in rising, Of entering into any discussion, as there is no
question before the House—(" Yes, there is," exclaimed
a voice from the Opposition Benches.) I say there is
not (continued the Noble Marquis), and I rise only for
the purpose of answering a question put by the Noble
Duke, after my Noble Friend had stated that it was
not his intention to propose any further proceedings in
this Bill. My Noble Friend found himself obliged,
after the questions which were put to him last night as
to the third reading of this Bill, to declare that it was
not his intention to move the third reading of the Bill.
The third reading stands on your Lordships' Orders
for Friday, and undoubtedly it is open for any N .ble
Lord who corrceives that this Bill will be beneficial to
the country, to move the third reading. My Noble
Friend has stated distinctly, that he conceives, that as
your Lordships have agreed to an ars:endment which
'he thinks will be attended with mischievous effects,
that he does not intend to move that third reading.
Those Noble Lords who think that the Bill, as amended,
will be beneficial, may move your Lordships to -adopt
it. I shall not be tempted by the observations of my
Noble Friend opposite to state anything in vindication
of what, indeed, wants no vindication—the conduct of
my Noble Friend near me, in giving up the Bill, as
there will; no doubt, be other opportunities of doing
that, if it be necessary, and of explaining that the mea-
sure, as it now stands, is not one he (Lord Gaderich)
could recommend their Lordships to adopt.
CRIMINAL LAWS.

Lord TENTERDEN moved the second reading of
dig Criminal Laws Amendment Bill, the taking away,

the Benefit of Clergy Bill, the Consolidatf in of the '
Utterly Laws' Bill, and the other Bilk tor 'lrvin,*
the Administration of Justice. These Bills, he had
been-introduced into the other Houie or. r.rliarnetif b •
a Bight Hon. Gentleman who then filled the inskat
ant office of Secretary of State for. tbe Home; De-
partment ; and it - was fortunate for the country
that a Gentleman who had not_ been bred to the law
had turned his comprehensive n.ind to the subject, be-
cause those who were so bred were thereby rendered
dull to its imperfections. The Noble and Learned Lord
then observed upon the benefits likely to result from
this uniiertaking, and said it would be particular ly use-
ful for that class of persons, Noblemen, and Gentlemen,
who were employed, honourably to themselves, is the
administration of the criminal law of the country. His
Lordship concluded by moving the second reading of
the Bills.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH, though be was disposed to approve
of the Bill, thought that at that late period .of the SCS4IOII their
Lordships could no pass the Bill without sums danger at commit-
ting an error, unless the Noble Lord Mould vomit for the correct-
ness of the Bill.
Lord TENTERDEN meant to explain In the Committee what
Acts bad been repealed, and by what dames.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH eaprened himself quite tabbed.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said a few words inpuitie of the
great care with which the Bath had been drawn.
The Bills were all then read a second time, and mimed tie be
committed to-morrow (this day).