Star.
London, England, 1820-06-01 00:00:00

kept ttp, k would :be impossible to pay ta;es.'
I—The landlsoldlr not for niOnepeli; but
for j
ustice; he. wiled- 'to be enabled to 'pay the
fundholder his dividends. • It was most unfair to

charge him with being• the cause of those pubhc
burdens which, in fact, were imposed by the ex-
pendittre and taxation of the country. Unaccus-
tomed as he aas to address the House, he should say
no more, but conclude by moving, as an Amend-
ment—" That it be an instruction to the Committee

to inquire whether the present mode of taking the
averages ascertains the actual market-prices of corn
throughout the United Kingdom, or whether any.
other plan can be devised better calculated to effect
that purpose?"
Mr. S. WORTLEY observed, that an Hon. Friend

of his bad said the time was now come when it was

necessary to speak out. He concurred in the senti-
ment, and was of opinion that it was time to declare
aloud that the country could not bear higher prices
of corn than thoie which now prevailed--(Hear).—
It was true, -the agriculturists were entitled to pro-
tection, but he was convinced, that of all classes they

were suffering the least, and that their distress bore
no proportion to that of the manufacturers. Had he
been in the House on the preceding night, he cer-
tainly should have voted against the appointment ofl
the Committee, being satisfied that the country could
not afford to pay the landowners a higher protecting
price for their produce than was already paid ; and
he trusted that the House would not be induced to
.make experiments, which could only end in proving
the correctness of this opinion. '
Mr. BENET!' (Member for Wiltshire) denied that
1191)0-ever been an advocate for high prices, and he
19410 on the appointment of the Committee as one
step dieir permanent reduction. Could it be sup-
pletti, that ifthe whole land were thrown out of cul-
tivation, and we depended Off foreign supplies alone,
that the-price of. Corn would be log in this country?
.Surely not ; and whatever, therefore, tended to the
protection of our agriculture, and to preserve us,
:from foreign dependence, must have a andency to
areit'the evil of high and fluctuating prices. It- had
been shewn, in Mr. Colquhoun's book, that, in those
years when nte were under the necessity of importing
Corn in the greatest quantities, we never received a
supply from abroad more than sufficient for thirty-
nine days' consumption in the year. good deal
had been said with regard to the high price of cattle
during the last year, but the fact was, that about
four years ago that price was so
.low as very nsate,
rially to check. propagation, and the present rise was
but a re-action from the scarcity so produced. The
great mischief of the Corn Laws,- as now framed,
was, that -they kept alive a constant anxiety in- the
minds both of the farmers and merchants. -fle had
not the honour of a seat in the House when the mea-
sure of 1815 was adopted, or he should have stated
this-objection, for at that time he clearly foresaw the
evil tolehich he was adverting. He wished to see
another system substituted, and a direct duty int-
posed on foreign Corn, equivalent to the superior
taxation which we had to support. It had 'been truly
said, that, were it net forthis taxation, ne protection
would be wanted; the land, as well as the manufac-
tures, would then be able to maintain itself.. But if
the cultivation of the land were neglected, prices
would be high under any circumstances. Foreign
Corn might now be imported at a price absolutely
lower than the amount of our taxes, added to the
wages
.of labour. One of the first consequences,
therefore, of large importations of foreign Corn, must
be a reduction of wages greater than the disgraceful
and unjust reduction (he meant in proportion to the
difference in the price of Corn) which they had al-
ready undergone. Another opinion which he had
been led to form was, that there was no very large
portion of surplus labour in the country ; for, al-
thoUgh wages were so low that the agricultural la-
bourer could hardly procure bread and water, yet in
harvestginto a sufficient number of hands could not
be obtained, even at double the former allowances.
He had only to add, that if he should be on the Com-
mittee, he, for one, should have no wish to extend the
protection beyond the point fixed in 1815: but he
trusted that, the Committee would not be restrained
from making a full report, and investigating every
branch of the subject.
Mr. MONCIZ thought, the question related not
only to the price' at which the farmer could grow his
corn, but to what the poor man could afford to pay for
it. The great objection to the Corn Laws was, that
they affected the pour in a.cruel'and disproportionate
manner. It 4peared that. we might now, if there
was no restricuon, import corn at 50s. per quarter,
but, in consequence of that restriction, the price was.
between 70s..aad 804. ;low, to a Getitleman of for-,
tune, this would rriakea trifling 'inference ; it might
amount to, perhaps, seven or, eight pounds in tbe,
year ; but a poor man, wicket} eqoally large fainily,
must pay the sane addition. His whole income,
might not exceed £3O per appum, And this addition,
therefore, was to him a taA of IS perk g0t.... It was
tax also from which be could not escape, for he 'Must!,
either pay it or cease to live. ffe now saw the result;
the great mass of 4! P°ollooll. was. reduced to the
alternative_ of starvation or. pappert.sm. This, to be
sure, was a frightfulstoement,,Ot..itiivas as true as
it was frightf4 and he consitjered,it,to.bebis duty to
vote against the Committee, because he was per-
, soaded that, if. Ilmir deliberations were not utterly
uselesi they wookk
•Jsaye.the injuyitous.effect of
raising the pricer,_ which were already much too high.
Pori UMPL4..entertaißed. a Pope, that, as the
Committee was appointed, its inqniriesinight be.pro-
ductive of advantage; but at * samemne he took
this occasion of stating, that be, for. ene, would.resist
any measure that might be introduced,. the (Nett of
which was to raise the. price of food—lt/Or, hear).
Had he been present on tLt.-
_preceding night, he
should, indeed, have felt inclined to oppose the ap-,
;:ointment of a Committee nn the subject. He was
ceatainly not prepared_ to name any specific remedy
ler the *distresses • of Sfie, Agriculturists ; but . he
thought it clear that these were not times for tam-
pering with the feelings-of the community—(Hear).
They were not times ter legislating on the price of
an article necessary to the existence of all. He did
not mean, however, to say, that he regretted the ap-,
poin:ment of a Committee, because he trusted some
~00d Might arise froth it; and with this impreisiou
ne should vote for the original motion. -
Mr. WILMOT thought that a protecting price, to•
a certain extent, was due to the Agricultural interim,
of the country. lie differed completely, from those,

Wlti out an opinion, ilia the tandlonli **Lilian
thc country: He contended that thit
were as much entitled to readmit-Anon (or the; capital
which they laid out in agriculture as thi manufac-
turer. He objected most strongly to the proposition
which went to propOse g different Manner of making
the averages. He desired not to see .any alteration
contemplated by the Committee, which he thought,
ought only to investigate, for the.purpche of seeing
if the provisions 'of the Act of 1815, in that respect,
were properly executed. He should give his voteln
favour of the restricted motion*of the Right Hog. the
President of the Board of Trade.

Mr. BANK ES begged leave to say, that, for one,
he thought the House would go into the question
with every fair expectation of producing some bene-
ficial result to the Agricultural Interests It could
be hardly necessary for him to express-the reasons he
had for thinking that interest more especially entitled
to the protection-of the Legislature, because he had'
explained the sentiments he held on that point when
the question was agitated in 1815. It appeared to
him to amount to blindness in any political man, pot
to see that. the Agricultural and Manufacturing. In-
terests were intimately connected, and dependent on
one another. For the truth of this they had only to
look at the events of late yeari, when they would
find that agricultural distress came first, and was in-
variably followed by a similar amount of distresS in
the manufacturing interests. He begged leave to say
foi Himself, as being-Vmed as one Member of the
ComMittee, that 5e wA.Orepared to go into it with
no determination, or.fisei. opinion-of any description,
but simply with a confiktent hope that something
Was to be done to relieve the agriculturists. He
certainly- wished, for his own parr, to render el."
fectual to that class, that protection which, by
the Act of 1815, had been intended to be given
to it; but which Act, at the present moment, he
.believed to be ineffectual, and almost _nugafory.—
In 1815, .the questicn which bad mot -engreised
the attention:of the -House, was with' regard to-4110+'
Striking of the averages. He (Mr;Bertkes) had ex-
pressed his desire,that these shobld be pia Upon- a
better footing. Errors were allowed on all hands to
exist as to the manner of doing this; but, after con-
siderable discussion on that point, it was supposed
that the error committed on one' side the King-
dom would be corrected by the error of an opposite
nature committed on the other side; anti,. in this
slovenly manner, the question 'was• allowed to be
settled. He thought, however, that Parliament ought
4CA to •construct the laws on this subject as to place
it out of the power of any combination or fraud to
effect either the-opening or the shutting of the ports
at the pleasure of any set of speculators.
_lle Om--
plained, that under the "existing regulations, the
averages, as giien in the Gazette, did not represent
fairly the,state of the Markets; and-if, after the-de-
liberations of the Committee,' they;-should not be
able to establish the striking of the averages in the
inantitilt hid -been ilitinaicttda& for -the Counties
by the Act of 1815, thenation would be extremely
disappointed indeed. The business of the Com-
mittee would be to examinp into the operation of
the general machinery of the Bill, and see how far
it effected the purposes it was framed for—( Hear).
—The returns in tlignselves were greatly defective.
Nothing, for instance, was so absurd as to say, that
the state of a great market, like, that of Lynn, in 'Nor-
folk, where there wits an ordinary sale of one thou-
sand bushels, would not affect the general average
more than the sale of two bushels in a small market,
in North Wales. The matter at issue was, whether
the question should be put in that sort of train of in-
quiry before the House, or whether, as was at-
tempted last night, the House would endeavour
to get rid of the question altogether, by adopting
the motion for a restricted inquiry ? He con-
demned' the conduct Of those Members who endea-
voured to excite alarm at the present. crisis, as most
mischievous in its effects. The generality of the
Gentlemen appointed fdr the Committee, he was
sure, did not wish to go one step beyond the protec
tion which the measures of 1815 were intended -to
give to the agriculturists; audin that he saw no just
reason for alarm. The prosperity of that class could
not exist without the prosperity of every other class.
After the Urge, majority by which-the qiiestionilad
been carried last night, he thought it "would` be
trifling with the feelings of the country, and, above
all, with. the feelings of a body of men deserving of
the greatest encouragement, if the House were to
turn round upon the Committee which 'they had ap-
pbinted, and restrict its intriries within the' narrow
'limits proposed in one of the motions before the'HOuse.
Lord CASTLEREAGH was anxious to direct the
attention of the House to what hi apprehended to be
the material point at isiue. They bad all so 'Tar
pgxeed in ;he same opinion, on the gettera PoliFy of
,the Corn Laws, and were possible to, narrow the
of discussion the
.posiit iinmediately'at
it would do 'more good thin that they should
continue to occupy so much time in endeavouring-to
convince each other on general principles. The way'
which he construed the votes of Honourable Mern-
bers given last night was, that aCotninittee
exist to deliberate upon the Agricultdal PetitiOn3 On
'the-table of the House, and for the purpose of
porting upon. them. He had no hesitation in de-
claring, that looking at all the interests of this great'
country, there was no one class of 'individoalsfoi
whom he entertained a greater respect and a greatir
deference than that class which took a peculiar
in-
terest in this question, whether it was the landed inai-
terest, or those under them, the tenantry, whose hap
piness or misery depended in a great measure on
their prosperity or adversity—(Hear, hear,
.hear).=
He was sure the House would feel the peculiar' sitd•
ation in which they stood "upon this question, 'and
more especially' the situation in which his Majesty'S
Ministers would stand with regard to that House
and the Public, if they should pursue any
,Course of
equivocating policy on the subject. These were his
feelings in the case, and he thought great prejudice
would arise to the country if the question for the'
consideration of the Committee were not narrowel,
according to the motion of his Right Hon. Friend
the President, of the Board of Trade. Tney were,
all agreed' as to the existence of Agricultural die.
tress, although they might perhaps differ as to the,
extent of that distress. The question therefore was,
what was to be the natbre of the remedy, and what
course the House ,must .pursue to arrive ar that
reitedg, ,He 004 A he could collect, from wliat,
had fallen from the 1-10nourable Gentleman who

-

_ __,..__ ......r.

••• . •
had just spoken, that he was not preparici ta look
44" • the remedy. for the Ikgrienitural distrisseids iii
augmenting 'the Visible• standard of l'Blt, bisk rathei-
in providing for the meee effectual execution of the
intentions of the Parliament at that time—(Heetrii
More proceeding any farther) boss seer, in this ques;.
Lion, it would be necessary that they-010(dd under-
stand each other as to what extent they supposed the
Act of 1815 meant to y,b, or they would be at cross
purposes. It was the more material that this should
be settled to the comprehension of all•parties, since .
the Honourable Member for Sussex (Sir C. Burrell)
bad moved his Amendment. 1:1 this Amendment
the Honourable Member appeared to assume, that the
object of the law of 1815 was to apply the protecting
price of 80s. taken on an average of all the markets
throughout the kingdom.. If that vl/4. el the !nearing
rrf ihe law in question, he should vote for the Hon.
Member's Amendment, in preference to the instruc-
tion of his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Robinson); and
if he (Sir C. Burrell) could per uade 11;s Right Hon.
Friend that such wan the 'cal view-of Parliament in
passing the Act of 1815, he was sure that he would
consent to withdrew his instruction to the Committee.
But he (Lord C.selercegh) pssitively denied that
was the interpretation of • that law, and flee it was
distinctly understood at the time to be different.— •
wai understood, that it was intended .to give a
protection of 80s. taken on an average well known
in the country, and established by a preceding law.
He eould recal to the recollection of the House, that
when this question was agitated, the question upon
which they were at issue was, ssllether a prceective
price of 80s. Or 745. should be given ? and it was
finally decided that 80s. should he the price, but that
the averages were to be taken from the maritime dis.
tricts only. He begged the House not to deheive it-
self: there were two motives ffr ulatieg the
labours of this Committee : the one was clearly with •
a view to alter the law of ISIS, and grate a nigher
protective price than 80s. and the other wets to pro-
leide-a different scale upon which to take the averages.
The reason that he objected to giving that.sweeping
power of investigation' o the Committee; prop, eed iss
the first of these, was, that it would have the effect
of bringing forward the mighty question of the Corn
Laws, at a moment so critical a; the present. And
I although there might be a momentous responsibility '
on the part of the House during the present distresses;
he could not consent to go into a Committee • merely
for the sake of- being able to say to the country that
' they had been in a Committee. If human prudence
could select a moment more unadviseahle titian an-
other, upon which- to put to the hazard. anything
affecting the interests of the Agricultural class;
be thought the present 'would be refuels, when
*there was a general fear of- any change that could;
take place with respect to this queseion. Note
withstanding the distress which existed in that
'class, they had been able_ to keep sufficiently um-
'der the protective price to keep the ports• shut.—
If an impression existed in the country thaeit way de-
-lauded in the manner of striking the averages, it
'became an important point for their inquire, how far,
.when the country was oppressed with such real dis-
tress, it became the duty of the 'louse to relieve their
imaginary distresses, and to see if fraud did opt exiet ?
So long as the country thought it did, he dein& 'it
was the duty of PAtliament to satisfy the pehlic mind
on this subject. The country wouldeserfec.ely under-
stand them, if they said it was intended to introduce
a measure of regulation, but not al teration,4le would
'go along with them, so long as they said it,,WAS their
intention to detect fraud, without making apy alter-
ation in the existing laws. He maintain, that it
was no small evil, at a moment like the presets:, when
'there were so- many persons in the cots-toy ;ready to
rake advantage of every circumstance e9l- conspire
against the Constitution and Laws of the Realm.-e
-And he did not think the consideration of this evil
:was to be yielded to the desire of convincing rhe agri-
-culturists of what every sensible man amongst them
was already convinced ofe-that that •Hoese eyinfet-
`thized in their distresses. •He could not see' a greater
calamity that could happen than the discussing:die*
the prepriety of the existing laws oil this subject;
'and although he did not- tliii,k that such wind& be the
delilieretions of the Committee, it would 'still hit*
the effect ofrenetelitg the discussion in the country,
it so critical a moment' as the present: He conjeiest
the House to confine their efforts to that upon which
they' wereall Agteed,vle.theabuseofthe existing hives.
He asserted; withotitsfear of contradiction- Annsf any
Of the Hoisehrable Members who: took' phut hi- die
i'discaSsion bf 1815, thdtitlie Act jeaseekli at thee +tete
apptie.d the prbeeetion of 80e. tts be taken not as to
The average 'Of the Whole kibtdour; but' its 'teS the
average of 'the maritime-di-striate and ;diet It wits
perfectly understood at the ti'm :tfuttlif. it .Wel-e
tiailf: on the-Average utilie- :whole eihtdiiii,• it
firokdil Make,the differehre eitsix or te+erve-thllThigt
So 'that the Nouse livbiadridthat sneered,* he graft.
hit 'the; litisteetibn itt the 'pride
-If they triuiled:Ofit of 41161%0i/ond/ districts, 'hint
particularlk: if eief 'went Vs Scotland or tiekmd; thiti
might as well prolicsie thelniedtb tie tined art 85a:_
•It was-clear that die fattiltibieif the ;countty, iti• the
peodUction'of cern, had tirriitel at• thin•l4i4ghk; that
if kited not been fOr the Cern Bill; .ther. would not
piobably MVO been able to hiteeprbrittetfl tuflicien-
del for their own. sustenance.l::The had' ben
dust:for IS montht, and that tinder elecittnete'neet of
licit very' ptudattive harvest/. %if; 'therefore,' with
shut ports, we had been- able to sup ply. Otirstilleffor
eightsea titOatlis, he thotight, uncle'r i-irctifnA Mtes '
'the experience of the Working of die-Bill since 11115
was not against it. With the tisintesedefereseice
'the-Agricultural interests; heittlight sae, eisidehafec-
tionate attachment towards them, he could not help
thinking the limited question was the only- ohelhat
reitould be entertained either With peopriety or safety.
M. H. SUMNER said he }leper, that neither the
.. • •
menaces .of the Noble Lord, nor the-alarms which
were sounded on the'other side of the House, Would
deter Hon. hfeinbees' from dhing theiedit. He
c:nritendeN that in the Act 1815. we 'pretended
to give n• protecting. price' of 80s. but, •in fact, we
only gave. 743:. tegis6titiri intended to give
that price,' and he considered it bet fah-, that the
ComMitteeeibgeing into 'the inquiry, should in tare
„how far that inteution was fulfilled by 'working
of the present laws. He should vote for Use A nend-
meta of his Hon. Weed, the Member toe,etiftext.i
Mr., CALCRAFT opposed the motion: /le taw
po nccessltj for'anyenlalgement of the ..eciectiou h.
ready enjoyed bj the agriculturists hi'ases;eseemeey un

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; Howe in the way they judged most eontretient and advisable,
der the existing Corn Laws : for fifteen months they I were they to be charged with an attempt to get r last eigkes
had enjoyed an average price of 785.6 d. per quarter, : decision by a side.mind? They were not bound oake lausrac-.
which was within Is. 6d. of the highest protecting tient from the Hon. and Learned GentTenian, as to the most pro-
per mode of acting. He was no means warranted-in mating
price. Nor was there the slightest appearance of the observations that had falitr from him. Be hoped the House
anything in the state of agriculture -in this coun- . would sive him credit for not being disposed to ovaturn, by a
try, compared with the rest of Europe, to give 'trick' what could not be -otherwise got rid of. Ile must con-
tend th
tee it the que -;on, as so the objects to which the Commit-
the least apprehension to the farmer of Great Bri-
i were to din;et their attention, was never tried. The mode
tails of any thing injurious to his interests—(Hear). of trying it
now proposed was perfectly fair, and perfectly con-
He must say, that very invidious things were hinted sistect with the forms of the House.
Mr. BROUG II A M rose amidst cries of Spain i
last night against those who opposed the motion.—
Mr. BARING rose to order. If his Honourable and Learn-
They were represented as settinn, themselves u
P ed Friend merely wished tt- explain what ht himself said, he
against what were called the primary interests of the would submit that he should be heard.
country. He had no objection to allow that agricul- The SPEAKER undet steed that the Hnnourable and Learn-
ture was the primary interest, but still it should not ed Gentleman was about to explain as to the Amendment in
claim their exclusive care. An Hon. and Learned whiterh. hen ano•aus saidGH rto.Alifave. concthautrr
he' wrote down the in
Friend of his, whom he did not now see in his place which he last night expressed a wish that the otion should be
(Mr. Brougham), professed last night his eagerness limited, and it was the Amendment now in the hands of the Chair.
Mr. GIPPS said, his object last night was to have the Com-
e() have this inquiry entered upon. The same Hon.
mittee limited, as now proposed, and he told his Colleague (Mr.
(ientleman, f.ain or five nights back, on a Petition Robinson) so.
being presented from the Manufacturers of Birrning Mr. ROBINSON observed, that the Honourable and Learn-
ham, praying for inquiry, said, that it would be ed Ventleman, from his speech, appeared to be in an error. He
most unwise to introduce any motion for referring it fridinnot. seem aware that the Amendment to-night proceeded
to a Committee ; that any measure of relief should Mr. BROUGHAM would appeal the M to ."
embe r for
come from the Executive Government. As that (let. Curren), whether the Amendment proposed by him was
Honourable Gentleman was not present, he would not•diat which he (Mr. Brougham) suggested.
make no fit then allusion to what had fallen from him. Mr. CURTEIS assented.
Mr.HU. StKISSON said, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's
[-Here Mr. Brougham entered the House, and Mr. Am d
Calcraft repeated the same observations.]— He agreed thought, appearedn
s not
remlloohteed at
trick, authalastu
to vote
Nothing, he
the Motion
with his Honourable and Learned Friend in many of last night, when it appeared that the Hon. and Learned Gen-
the positions laid down by: him last night, particu- dorm had drawn up an Amendment himself.
After a few words from Mr. Biunionalr, Mr. B. Bsrvuasr,
larly with respect to the Poor-rates. It - would be and Lord Mimic, the. House divided, and the numbers were—
very proper to extend it over a wider surface, and For Mr. Robinson's Motion - - 131
Make other property, as well as the landed, contri- Against it . - 6 . - • ~108
b ute its share in support of this very heavy burthein Majority
?'he House could have no difficulty in adopting the _ Lord PA LMERSTON postponed the Army Estimates to
Friday next.
motion now proposed, when they considered the The Drogheda Deakin Petition was put off to the 13thluly.
manner in which signatures to the Petitions were Lord C. MANNERS presented a Petition from the.Oceu-
collected. piers of 70,000 Acres of Land in the Isle of tray, coMplaist-
Mr. PHILLIPS rose, but the cries of Questioa, onsing
the Agricultural Distreu.—The Petition was ordered to lie
re we so loud and continued, that the Hon. Gentle- rlt‘a
'bDleE CRESPIGNI presented aPetitlon from the Fro-
nton was induced to sit down. prietors of the Packets at Southampton, passing between that
Mr. BROUGHAM said, he was sorry to rise when place and France, in which they complained of the very severe
that
exacted from them in the Ports of France, and stating
there appeared such a disposition to close the debate. grestgbee
ms t
benefit
couldwnubi beari
mseatdo thee
Petitioners, if any coni mer-
If the merits of the question were again' to be din- cia ar
cussed, he should not trouble them ; but they were as to prevent such enormous duties wfrom een
heeingtwocheount.riesi:
argued last night, and he was not disposed now to Petitioners also stated, that vast numbers of Englishmen were
go over the same ground. The House was placed in the habit of going and spending their money in France, be-
cause
would they could
hre cheap there. They trusted that the House
in a most extraordinary situation by his Majesty'stake
eeassuurelecs tiatto consideration, and endeavour to pre-
Ministers. How did the case stand ? Notice of the vent those were injurious to the shipping interest
motion had been solemnly given by the Member for in general—Ordered to lie on the table.
Surrey. There was ample time for preparation.= Sir WILLIAM CURTIS gave notice, that on Wednesday
next he should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the reside.
The mover brought forward the subject fully and non of the Gaols of the 134, of London.
formally, and after it had been gone into in all its Mr. WILDMAN • gave notice, that on Friday, the 9th of
bearings—at the mature hour of between three and June, he would move the second reading of the Colchester Sep
four in the morning, the House was considered fully si'm's Bill. The second reading was ordered for that day st-
ripe for a division. On what did they divide?— cordingly. .
The other Orders of dna/were then disposed of, and the'
On this, whether the Agricultural Petitions should House adjourned at ,t--- .
weir •
be referred to a Committee to report thereon.--
What was the proposition now ? That the Committee
should confine their attention to a point not alluded
to in one of the Petitions, namely, to the present mode
of taking the averages. The Petitions touched upon-:
various matters, but the one thing particularly omit-
ted, except in the Petition from Carlow, was the,
question of averages. After a solemn debate, it was
agreed that they should be referred to a Committee.
Would it not be a mere mockery to tell the Peti-
tioners one night that the whole subject was to be
taken into consideration, and the next that the Com-
mittee were to confine themselves to one point ? As
the Member for Bristol received one lesion that night
on the mode of appointing Committees, he might take
another on this question, as to the way in which busi-
ness was conducted in that House. He would see a
question solemnly decided on one night, after full dis-
cussion, and after hearing all the arguments that could
possibly be offered on both sides. He next night, when
the magician came down with his enchanted- wand, or
the ship, as it was technically termed—(loved laughter)
—would perceive Learned Judges and others—
,. Apparent cNra fades, initnicaro Troja
" Nuatina magna—"
attending in their places, and corning to quite an op-
posite decisiqp, without hearing a single word of the
argument l--(Continued laughter.)—When so much
was said of the danger that might arise—of the ap-
prehensions and alarms that would be necessarily
excited by the appointment of the committee, he
would ask, was there no inconvenience to be ap-
prehended from a contrary course—from exciting
hopes one night which were to be cast down the
next? He would call upon the House not to give
a monopoly of alarm to the Manufacturers. They
should consider, that by treating their Petitions with
thin.kind of mockery, alarm must necessarily be ex-
cited in the breasts of the Agriculturists also. The
decision was a solemn one, and he would entreat the
House not to get rid of it in this manner by a side-
wind. Last night the Member for Coventry (Mr.
Ellice) moved the previous question. The gallant
General (Gascoyne) whom he did not see in his place,
would not allow it to be withdrawn. Had it been
withdrawn at the time, the present Motion would,
no doubt, have been put as an Amendment, and lost.
Such being the case, would they now retract, with
one hand, the boon they seemed to grant last night,
with another? This would be completely to mislead
the country. They who were acquainted with the
previous discussion, and the way in which it termi-
nated, would, of course, expect that the Agricultu-
ral Petitions. would be taken into consideration, that
all the points to which they referred would be consi-
dered in a Committee. The present motion went to
corfine them to the mere question of averages, about
which not one in a hundred of the Petitioners un-
derstood anything. The Hon. and Learned Gen-I
tleman concluded by declaring that his present views
were not newly-conceived ones, but those which he'
had entertained ever since he had had the honour of,
a seat in that House—(Hear, hear, hear).
Mr. ROBINSON said, that of all the extraordinary exhibi.
lions of utter forgetfulness be ever witnessed, the speech of the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman was the most extraordi-
nary. Be would appeal to the recollection of all who were pre-
sent last night, wlyther he did not express regret that the forms
of the House prevented this very Amendment from being put ?
[Mr. Deouonsx—" It was another Amendment, that of the
stlember for Ripon. }—The Ameadment, which could not be
put last night consistently with the forms of the House, was
this now proposed. It was then read, by the Member for
ILyin, and it was stated from the Chair, that it could not be
oil-r=d to the House, as the Previous Qui stion was not allowed
to be withdrawn. He (Mr. Robinson) must then contend,
that be had the Learned Gentleman's own opinion in favour
of this Amendment:--(hlr. Baouasuas--a N0.").--The
Learned Gentleman expressed a wish, that the motion of
the Member for Surrey should be narrowed. If such was his
deelie Wit night, with whinence of fairness could be now
wake them isf a tric4? e they put the insiitfa to die

THE E 114_:NING STAR.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1, MO.
THE FUNDS.

. ,

PRICE Of STOCKS THIS DAT AT ONZ o'cLoct
Bank Stock 224% 223% 224%.
' 3 per Cent. Itedueed 6968% 69%
per Cent. Consols 69% % fie •
31 per Cent. 7734-i per Cent. 8146 86
5 per Cent. 104% % % s •
Long Annuities 17 13-16 %
India Stock 220 21914--Bonds 165.125. pre.
New Annuities 69% %
•
Exchequer Bills, 2s. Is. Ss. pre.
Consols for opg. 70% We 34

•
;

The funding transaction of yesterday still conti-
nues' to occupy the attention of the monied men.
Those who were disappointed in procuring a share
of the spoil, express themselves much dissatisfied with
the whale proceedings, and the loss sustained in the
fall of Exchequer Bills, has added considerably to
their -vexation. However, this morning, the Exche-
quer Bill interest has began to brighten a little, and
several have been sold at Ss. prem. The new Scrip is
at 1% prem. and Consols for the Account 7014%.
Very little business has_ been done this morning,
as it is expected the notice for the Loan (should the
Minister require one) will be sent down either to!
morrow or Saturday. The S per Cent. Consols, and
5-per Cents. shut to-morrow.

The alarm excited by the vote on Mr. SUMNER'S
Motion on Tuesday, will speedily snbiide; or rather
has already terminated. After a discussion, conti-
nued for some time, last night, on the list of Mem-
bers proposed by Mr. SUMNER to conduct the in-
quiry on the Petitions respecting Agricultural Dis-
tress, Mr. Roan/son moved, that the Committee
should be instructed to confine themselves to an in-
quiry into the mode of ascertaining she averages in
the twelve Maritime Districts, and a discovery of
any frauds practised therein. An animated discus-
ion followed, in which the grounds of complaint on
the part of the Agriculturists were stated over and
over, and often accompanied with assurances that
they did not seek to enhance the price of Corn at the
expense of other clades, but only to have some re-
lief from the distress with which they were pressed :
—a statement which involves a contradiction in
terms ; for if by any change of system they shall ob-
tain higher prices than under the present law, the
difference must come from the pockets of the other
classes nay, the case is even worse than this ;—for
the labouring classes, at the present prices, cannot
procure half sustenance; and if the prices be en-
hanced, they must be content (no, not content,
but necessitated) to put up with even less. Of
all the classes in the country, the Agriculturists
are at this moment the least distressed, whatever their
.distresses may be. In the only years in which foreign
corn was imported, the average price was ps. 6d.
so that cora would have been insportedr4Veit if the'

protecting price had been higher than 80r. On what
grounds, that, do the Agricultarietv.cliial a higher
protecting price; or any alteratin in the mode of
taking the averages,
,whit y may have the effect to.
enhance the protecting price?
No Corn Bill, whatever the protecting price may
be. can protect the grower against inability to pur-
chase on the part of the consumer, which is the prin_
tipal cause of the diminution in demand, and conse-
quently in price ; but low as they consider the pre-
sent prices, let them compare these with the returns
made to Land-owners in any other kingdom in Eu-
rope, and then ask themselves how it is that they
have been enabled to obtain such comparatively high_
prices? The inquiry, if rightly conducted, will con-
vince them that high prices depend on the demand
for our manufactures, and consequently for hands—
that is, eaters, who must be fed, and who constitute
the customers for Agricultural products.
Instead of such inquiries as the Agriculturists
seek for, if they are really desirous to obtain the best
possible prices, let them inquire into the be,t means
for preventing a waste—that is, an exportation of the
national capital and its transfer, not merely to foreign
countries, but into the pockets of foreigners :—Let
them, we say, follow out this inquiry, and they will
find that it arises from inadequate wages being paid
to the artisans and labourers; for even if the Manu--
facturer be supposed to receive for his exports what
will save his capital, if any part of the sustenance of
his workmen has been supplied from the Poors Rates,
that part, whatever it may be, is lost to the commu-
' nity. Let them carry their enquiry far enough, and
they will find, that the only sure way. AO protect their
own property and insure to themselies, ultimately,
the best possible prices, would be bylaws to protect
labourers and workmen of every description--that
is, to secure to them such a remuneration for their
labour as shall, at least, be equal to a healthy,
nut a famishing sustenance.
In a word, establish by law a minimum of wages
through all classes of workmen respectively. You
will tints prevent the national capital From being de-
teriorated; for it would be better for the community
generally that any particular branch of mannfactare
shinld cease to be pursued, than that it should not
repay both the Master and . the Wortmen: and thus
you will also secure willing customers, ready at all
times to consume your products and pay good prices.

Mr. Cartz.p Form, a Messenger from the Quasar,
arrived in town yesterday, with letters item her MA.
JESTY to her legal advisers. .
Mr. FORTI left her MAJESTY at Geneva, but, ac-
cording to subsequent accounts, she had resumed her
journey, and late on the night of the-86th reached
Dijon, 138 miles from Paris. Her MAJzsrt in-
tended to leave Dijon on Sunday the 28th, in which
Cita 811 C would probably reach St. Ogler's. on Thurs-
rimy (this) morning.

•n the arrival of Mr. Foart at Dover, on Tues-
day, the Countess de RYLAND immediately embarked
far Calais, in order to proceed to St. Omer's, to meet
her MAJESTY.

•
If it is really her MAJESTY'S intention (of which
there seems little doubt) to come over to England,
we may Took for her arrival to-morrow or Saturday.

I AI PROMPTU.
011.11.111 ft
a The cry is still they come; and come they win—
" A moving Woos" la men from Calais Hill ! 0.

.The Anniversary of the Birth of Mr. PITT was ce-
lebrated at Norwich, on Monday, by a splendid din-
ner : S5O Noblemen and Gentlemen were present.
The Chelmsford PITT Club celebrated the Birth of
that great Statesman, on Monday. Tmoicts Aacnsit;
Esq. Was in the Chair.
On Friday last, the Widows' Fund Society of the
Medical Officers of the Army held their Anniversary
Festival, at the Thatched-house Tavern, St. James's-
street, which was attended by upwards of eighty of
its members, consisting not only of those resident in
and near the Metropolis, but of many others, who
bad come from distant parts for the purpose of being
present, and who partook of an elegant dinner, pro-
vided on the occasion ; Dr. BORLAND, 'lnspector of
Hospitals, in the Chair.----Many Gentlemen, of the
most distinguished eminence in their profession, ho-
noured the meeting with their presence, among whom
were, Dr. LATHAN, Dr. BAILLIR, Sir EVERARD
Noun, Sir D. DIINDAS, kc. kc. The greatest con-
viviality prevailed, and the festivities were-kept up
to a late hour.
If we can credit a very singular rumour, the vacant
blue riband has been declined by a Nobleman of high
rank, to whom it had been tendered, on the grace-
ful, though unusual, plea, that he had not performed
any public services to justify his bearing away from
more worthy competitors so distinguished a mark or
the personal favour of his SOVERILION. This, if true,
is an instance of brave and proud self-knowledge,
which, even for its rarity, should be immortalized.
r—From the Times.

,
COLE, HALT-PAST loot O'cLOcir, SATIIRDAT.—We just learn
the result of the fleeting of these Gentlemen who undertook
to examine the state of Messrs. Luxus affairs. A deputation;
consisting of 'Messrs. CRAWFORD and GIRARD CALLAGHAN, have
been appointed to repair t Dublin immediately, to wait on the
LORD Linetemse, for the purpose of .scliciting‘ a loan of
£lOO,OOO, to be vested in Managers, and lent out by them on
approved securities or deposits. The Deputation leaves this City
an Monday morning.
&memos Os A Lottiuuer B•wx..--Saturday last, the Bank of
Messrs. Mauxyu., Kaarantne,*and M•unsett, of Limerick, sus-
pended payments, " in consequence of the sudden and great
pressure upon the bank, resulting from the very unexpected sus-
, pension of payments of two of the late banks ; but they will
avail themselves of the earliest opportunity to submit a state-
meat of their affairs to the Public; which they have no doubt
will afford perfect satisfaction, and Insure them that con-
fidence and support which they have hitherto experience.L"-,
A Meeting of the Landed and Commercial Interest was to be
held at. the• Commercial Buildings, at twelve o'clock, this day,
for the purpose' of appointing a Committee, to investigate the
affairs of the BatiVaf Messrs. MADDIKL4 Kieowne, and nian,..
MI% and to report thetiloa."—jpsiAs 44101.4