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

found a seconder„:as Rae advantage. could be de-'
rived from-a Comtnittee,* formed in the mannerpro-
po:cd by it.: It did not appear, that the commercial
or manufacturing interests were neglected, for Mr.
Cannirp,•, the Member.fee Liverpool, was one of the
Committee, as were also. the Lord Mayor. and Mr.
Bright. one of -wham-,inlglit be supposed to repre-
sent the trading interest .6f .the Metropolis—while,
the other was returned for Bristol, a place of the
first conenhrelal imporeancein the kingdom. Though
he regretted that the motion of the Hon. Member
for Surrey had been carried, and though he should
rote for any mation.that might.be made to limit the
inquiry, he still -eoulcr-aot help lamenting,•the im-
providence of the friends tothe manufacturing classes,
•.vho had been so ready to sound the tocsin of alarm.
Mr. CALCIaiFT.did not know that anything had
fsdleo from hien-that was calculated to create alarm.
Mr. RICARDO. was not aware that anything had
been said to occasion unnecessary alarm.
Mr. WOG expressed his hope, thit the House,
dispose of this question in such a manner, as
to leave no ground for alarm in the public opinion.
But if the House proceeded with any indication of
following, up. :the spirit in which this question was
brought fkorward, then indeed was there ground, and
rational. ground for alarm, and hefor one would pull
the tocsin with allthe strength which he could exert
-.(Heir, hear would not, of course, he hoped,
be understood to wish for anything like a tumultu-
ous Irregelar opposition to the.. question, because
be was convinced that such -a mode of resist oboe
would only weaken its effect. He only desirect.to
excite tat spirit of apprehension_ which was well de-
scribed by the most -eloquent man that ever sat. in
that House—he meant Mr. Burke, wbO observeill
" The alaiumbelrof midnight may disturb your yest,,
hut it will prevent yott from being murdered in your
beds !"—(Hear, *heal ).—He; with a similar feeling.
on the subject of alarm, would say, that in the case
he had supposed, the alarm 'Could not be sounded,
tc.o soon.—Sir M. W, RIDLEY explained.
Mr. 13ROU(;HAM thought there was a strange
inconsistency in the profezions of his Hon. Friend
(Mr. Baring). He denied that he wished-to excite
alarm, •et he said he would pull the tocsin with all
his strength- 4Hear, hear ))—He believed, however,
that his Honourable Friend might pull as long as he
was able, and that his exertions would, after all, be
attended with very indifferent results.
Mr. BARING explained.
Mr. H. SUMNER said, the Lord Mayor, on ac.
count of the business which claimed his attention in
the City, wished his name might be sk ithdrawn from'
the Committee. He (Mr. H. Sumuer) had no objec-
tion to this, provided the name of Mr. Wilson was
substituted for that of his Lordship.
Mr. WILSON was unfortunately' so situated, that
he feared it. would. not be in his power to attend the
Committee; and in consequeuce. tio al ration was
made in the list.
The question that Mr. Bacour be one Of the said
Cbmmittee, wits then.put and:curia The following
Members were added. to the Committee, without fur-
ther observalmi
Sir 'Thomas Arland, Mr. haw "Fang, Wl'. bashes, Mr.
Drough.sin, Mr. John Bennett, Mr. J. Irving, Mr. Coke, Mr.
Gooch, and Mr. F., Lewis.
The Committee 'were authorised to meet to-mor-
row, to send for persons, papere, and records—five
to be a quorum.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE.
Mr. ROBINSON rose, not, as he professed, to go
at any length into the question generally, so as to dis-
turb the course of •business laid out for the night,
but to do that, the propriety of which he had only
suggested last night. He had not then thought
tbe:e was suflicicut ground to grant an inquiry into
the circumstances stated by the Petitioners, nor did
Ye think the House, from all he had been able-to
coiLtct since, would be authorised in making any
elaterial change in the existing state of things in
t:iis respect. Last night he had been prevented trom
making this motion, because, as the previous question
had been moved, it was requisite, before any other
Amendment could be put, that the previous consent
of the House, for withdrawing the Amendment then
before it, should be first obtained. The obstacle of
last night no longer prevented his doing what he Lilt
an incumbent and paramount duty on his part, as
intimately and officially connected with the subject ;
namely, to move an instruction to this Committee,
so as to narrow, within the closest possible bounds,
the nature of .the inquiry, convinced, as he was, that
nothing could be more injudicious than suffering the
Committee to take up the question of the increase.
of price of the necessaries of life, on the broad
grounds proposed by the motion of the Honourable
Member for Surrey. He then concluded by moving,
" ..brat it be an instruction to the said Committee to
.confine its inquiry into the mode of ascertaining
and calculating averages in the twelve maritime dis-
tricts, and to inquire into any, frauds which may
have been committed in the said twelve districts in
violation of the existing laws of this country , with
respect thereto."
Mr. WODEHOUSE apprehended the Right Hon..
Gentleman laboured under some mistake, with re-
spect to what he had said-last night as to the power
Magistrates had to rectify the mistakes which. some-
times took place in calculating averages in these dis-
tricts. Ile knew of no Act giving Magistrates a
tnuttouling power in this respect, except the Slst of
King George 111. This gave the Magistrates an
Opportunity of checking the average, if the inspector
were incorrect by the official corn returns. This was
even insufficiently accurate, as he endeavoured to
Cucidate by a return which had been made at Lynn,
in Nerfolk, .on the 7th of November, 1815, on an
average•struck upon the price of 1056 cleaners ofT
e. neat, :rad two (loaners only of wheat from i‘lold, in
Denbighshire, where, though, 'in the average struck,
the two quarters were as much taken into the ac-
=UM AS the .1056 quarters of wheat, yet, from inac-
- curacy, a very extensive frayed hail been .commit;ed.
on a flninbureh house of eminence; although the
frond era, redictly uointentional, yet its prejudicial
effect v:.is the sm.r as if it had been premedstaied...
:tar CIIA IlUltlt ELL remarked, that itwas
evidently the intention of his Majesty's Miniaters to
fritter awdy every power and important function of
the Com/mace—Wear, hear). On the subject' of
averages he would lie• c mention, that the county of
f.,::sscs was i!.c Aided in. the London average, it being
tinandl the hest wheat that was grown in
the county cnuie to the lanidoiftinailtit. It appeared
I.) L.:a obvious, that tiale.s the prices of corn wcrc

re think the House, from all he had been
cuikct since, would be atithorised in maki
material change in the existing state of th
this respect. Last night he had been prevent(
making this motion, because, as the previous q
had been moved, it was requisite, before an;
Amendment could be put, that the previous
of the Houte, for withdrawing the Amendme
before it, should be first obtained. The obst
last night no longer prevented his doing what
an incumbent and paramount duty on his
intimately and officially connected with the s
namely, to move an instruction to this Con
su as to narrow, within the closest possible 1
the nature of .the inquiry, convinced, as he w
nothing could be more injudicious than mac]
Cbmmittec to take up the question of the i
of price of the necessaries of life, on the
grounds proposed by the motion of the Hon
leruber for Surrey. He then concluded by
" That it be an instruction to the said Comm
.confine its inquiry into the mode of ascel
and calculating averages in the twelve mariti
tricts, and to inquire into any, frauds will,
have been committed in the said twelve dist
violation of the existing laws of this count
respect thereto."
Mr. WODLHOUSE apprehended the Rig
Gentleman laboured under some mistake,
spect to what he had said-last night as to th
Magistrates had to rectify the mistakes whit
times took place in calculating averages in tl
tricts. lie knew of no Act giving Magi!
tuntrouling power in this respect, except the
King George lil. This gave the Magisti
opisoquility of checking the average, if the i
weie incorrect by the official corn returns. '
sea insufficiently accurate, as he endeave
r;ucidatc by .a return which had been made
in Nerfolk, -on the 7th of November, 1815
41.cr.vt:;e-I,truck upon the price of 1056 (pi
and two quarters only of wheat from
I)onbighshire, where, though, -in the averag
the quarters were as much taken into
count as the •1056 quarters of wheat, yet, fn
en: acy, a very extensive fraud had been co
ea
.3 Hausipar,J.ll lnuse of eminence ; :dap
traad crtectly unintentional, yet its pr
ed.ect ti,e slins• as if it had been preme
ti r (.1 IA 11-Ul: It ELL remarked. th
eridenti.: the intention of his Majesty's Mir
11.zter a.v.ty every power and important fw
the Conink•itee—j/ear, hear). On the st
arertes he wou.d lic• c mention, that the c
was kt:inded iLthe Lyndon average,
calNposed that...ut the best ....•heat that was
county c Aum to the London.Marlet. It;
that u:Ile-s the prices of
•