The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-07-26 00:00:00

REV. R. M'GHEE.

We extract from the London Standard of Thursday
the following letter, addressed by the Rev. R. M'Ghee to
the editor of that paper:—
" London, Wednesday evening, July 20.
" Sir,—lt is only this day, on returning from some distance
to London, that I have seen the letter of the protestant associa-
tion and the different remarks of various Journals on the
fictitious letter of the Pope, from which I read some extracts at
Exeter Hall.

" It is the duty of a man and a christian, if he is right, to
maintain his cause; and if he be wrong, to stand forward
boldly to make all the reparation in his power for his error. I
feel bound in the present instance to meet the case in every
point, as it regards the protestant association, the protestants
in general, the Roman Catholics, and myself.
" The letter from the protestant association precludes the
necessity of any statement from me, that not a single member
of that body was aware even of the existence of that letter,
much less that I intended to produce it on the platform; I need
only advert to them to take the whole responsibility and blame
on myself.
" With respect to my fellow protestants, I confess they have
just reason to complain that any document that was not ge-
nuine should have been mixed up with any defence of their
cause. They have reason to complain that any weapons of
falsehood could have been used in the defence of truth. It
would ill become a man to use them, knowing them to be such,
in speaking of the errors of the religion of others, as it could
only prove that he had no true religion of his own.
" Roman Catholics have still more reason to complain that
a man professing to stand forth with real documents to bring a
charge against them, should bring forward, however inadver-
tently, a fictitious document to cast on them an additional re-
proach. I grant the justice of their complaint—l ,rant it to
the utmost extent their most rigid severity can demand—and I
go all lengths they can wish to meet them with most sincere
expressions of regret that such a cause of complaint should be
given them by me.
" For myself I have nothing to say, but that the burden rests
exclusively on my own shoulders. 1 utterly disclaim, and trust
I sincerely abhor, the slightest intention of imposing a false
document on protestants, or bringing it forward against Roman
Catholics. Had the pamphlet been given me to examine
without knowing anything of the writer, I should have seen the
drift of the author in the examination of the document. As it
was, a friend, who himself thought it was true, brought it to me
as such, and informed me of the name, and, without examining
the object of the document, I adopted it hastily on the sup-
posed authority of the writer. It was at twelve o'clock the
night before the meeting, as I stated, he read me some passages,
which I marked and read at the meeting. I pretend not to ex-
cuse this precipitancy. The moment I learned the truth I pub-
lished it. In calling it an ingenious device,' on which such
weighty charges have been founded, I spoke on the supposi-
tion, not that it was intended as a forgery, which could really
be ascribed to the Pope—in which case I should call ita wicked
machistation—but as I considered it intended as a satire on the
divisions and criminal neglect of protestants, in giving up the
vital principles of truth in the Church of Rome, and which the
writer did not intend should be ascribed to the Pope.
" This explanation will, I trust, prove satisfactory to protes-
tants who may have felt themselves imposed on, or Roman Ca-
tholics who may think they have been wronged.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your obedient servant,
" R. M'GREE."

TllB JESUITS.—The Swabian Mercury has the following
curious article on the proposed le-establishment of the Jesuits
in Bavaria. Some years ago, when the present King, conform-
ably to the engagements made by his father in the Concordat,
began to restore some monasteries, the Jesuits made some very
advantageous offers with a view to the re-introduction of their
order into Bavaria; but they were not attended to. But now
that the Benedictines are restored the Jesuits have renewed
their proposals, and offer to take on themselves all the institu-
tions for learning in Bavaria—viz., the Latin schools, the gym-
nasia, and the lyceums—gratis; and with the great riches the
order has still at its command, this is no empty boast. It seems
that no decision has yet been come to. The opinions of the
King are said to have lately become more favourable to the
order; which is said to be partly owing to the circumstance
that many Bavarian noble families send their children to the
schools of the Jesuits at Freiburg, in Switzerland, and that
several persons now high in office received a most excellent
education there. Many pious and learned persons, both lay-
men and priests, have for some years endeavoured to correct
the generally received notions respecting the Jesuits, to clear
them from the accusations which led to the abolition of the
order in Bavaria, and to recommend its restoration. The
people in general are in favour of the restoration of the Jesuits,
and of some monastic orders at least, as an act of justice to
atone for the sudden dissolution of them, and the confiscation,
of church property. Many, too, think that the monasteries
might prove a remedy to many evils, particularly to the spread
of indifference to the concerns of religion and the catholic
faith. The assignment of some of the learned establishments
to the monasteries, even though this were not undertaken gratis.
seems advantageous, as it would lighten the expense allowed
iu the budget for the purposes of learned education.

Imptriat Varliairant.

MOUSE OF. COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY

There being, only thirty-one members of the House of Com-
mons in their places, at four o'clock, there was, of course, " no
house."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tnurisna v.
THE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE.
The Earl of DARLINGTON begged to ask the noble lord op-
posite, who had been a member of the committee, whether,
as no report was to be made, it was intended to bring forward
this session, any motion on the subject, in order that a general
discussion might take place, and the public might be informed
of the reasons which had induced the committee-to come to the
conclusion they had adopted.
Lord HOWICK said, the answer to such a question should be
more properly expected from his hon. friend, the chairman of
the committee; but as the noble lord had addressed himself to
him, he would reply to him. It was quite true that the com-
mittee had determined to make no report. A report had been
drawn up by the chairman, the hon. member for North Hants,
but the committee did not seem inclined to adopt it ; and a
motion was made and carried that they should report the evi-
dence to the house, without a report from the committee itself.
The noble lord had naturally expressed his disappointment that
no report was made, but the members of the government were
not answerable for that disappointment.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM objected to a discussion being raised
upon the mere asking of a question, and then proceeded to ob-
serve, that he had made a proposal—
Mr. Hume interrupted the right hon. baronet to say, that if
any one were allowed to go into the general merits of the ques-
tion, similar indulgence could not be refused to him.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM resumed, saying that it would be irregu-
lar to deny him an opportunity of answering a statement di-
rected against the course of conduct which he thought it pro-
per to pursue during the proceedings before a select commit-
, tee of that house. He had merely a short statement of facts to
make. He begged to state that the motion for the appointment
of that committee was made by the noble lord the secretary of
state. Now, he asked, bad government undertaken the ma-
nagement of the inquiry? On the contrary, they seemed to
have avoided any connexion with it beyond a certain portion of
them, being merely members of that committee. When a si-
milar inquiry was instituted duriug the administration of Earl
Grey, a cabinet minister presided, but the committee of this sea-
siorshad not in its chair any member of the present government.
It had been said by the noble lord opposite, that ministers were
at least very constant in their attendance as members of the
committee. Of the attendance at that committee, as at all
others, doubtless a note was taken, and the minutes would show
what Use attendance had been, and from this, of course, the
share that ministers had taken in the proceedings would be ap-
parent. From the minutes it would appear that government
had acquiesced in no report being made. It was said that he
had acquiesced in there being no report; what were the facts?
At the close of the inquiry he came down and found that no
plan was prepared—that government were fishing for a report—
that they had gone to sea without a compass, ready to catch at
anything that might turn up. Could it, therefore, cause sur-
prise, the government having declined to take the lead in their
proceedings which their situations required, that, when they
were unprepared with any plan, he should have taken the course
which he had adopted ? Surely the undecided state of their
views on the question was not to be made matter of censure to
him. ("Hear, hear.") He moved that the orders of the day
be then read.
The Marquis of Cis ANDOS observed that the allusion made by
the noble lord to him was quite correct. He seconded the mo-
tion that there should be no report, and he would inform the
house why. The report brought forward by the chairman of the
committee was of that nature that if it had gone forth to the
country, it was calculated to do more injury to the farmer than
any thing in the world could by possibility do. .
Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE, as chairman of the committee, was
prepared to contend that there was no class of persons connected
with agriculture, but what lad had their interests fully con-
sidered. It was perfectly true, as stated by the right hon.
baronet, that after the report, which he (Mr. Lefevre) drew up
had been read and was to come on for discussion, a motion was
made to report the evidence without observation, and it was
equally true, that the noble lord, the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, voted for that motion, and, as he stated, in
deference to the opinion of the noble lord, the member for
Buckinghamshire. The noble lord (Lord J. Russell) said that
he was not prepared to support the motion of the right hon.
baronet (Sir J. Graham) until he heard what the proposition
was, and when he did hear it from him who so ably advocates
the interest of the farmer, then he agreed in the proposition
that there should be no report. He was persuaded that the
noble lord said he deferred to the opinion of the noble lord the
member for Buckinghamshire. No person could be more in-
terested than he himself was for the farmers, or could have it
more at heart, but he thought the great evil was, that they did
not know the real state of the case. The farmers had been
taught to depend too much upon the corn laws, and upon assist-''
ance from Parliament, when they were in a state of distress.
Now he thought they ought f,:irly to be told by Parliament, that
they must not look to Parliament for assistance but to their '
landlords for a reduction of their rents; and after they had been
fairly reduced, then they must look to the resources enjoyed in
common by all other classes of agriculturists, and which were
now enjoying prosperity.
Mr. Hums considered the circumstance of the committee
having been composed in the ratio of three to one of agricul-
turists as most unjust, although he was aware it had been done
at the anxious desire of honourable gentlemen on that side of
the house. The evidence taken had established the fact that
the agricultural labourers were in an improvieg condition; but
then that improvement had taken place, not within the last two
months, because for the last six mouths they had been in a better
Condition than for many years past. He wished the evidence
to go forth to the country, and then it would be seen whether
the noble lord had made out his case, or whether he (Mr. Hume)
had not made out a case against the noble lord.
Mr. J. E. DENISON complained that the right hon. baronet
(Sir J. Graham) had rather made the subject a vehicle for an
attack on his Majesty's Government, than of explanation. He
regretted that the motion that no report should be made had
been adopted, because he agreed with those who considered that
the not making any report would be a source of great disap-
pointment to those whose interests had been made the subject
of injury.
Sir BROKE VERB concurred in opinion with the last speaker,
that the country would be greatly disappointed; at the same
time he thought the right hon. baronet would not have proposed
his motion if he had thought the committee could come to a just
conclusion.
Mr. WAX LEY said, in consequence of the statement as to the
improved condition of the labourerscemployed in agriculture, he
thought it ought not to go forth to them and to the public with-
out its being understood whether any of the labourers themselves
had been examined before the committee ; and if so, from what
part of the country it was that they had been selected.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL was sorry he was not in the house when
this discussion commenced. He felt himself, however, bound
to afford such information as he could give to the house after the
statement made by the right hon. baronet opposite, which he
must say he considered to be extremely partial, and calculated
to lead to erroneous impressions. He would call the attention
of the house to the circumstance, that the noble lord the mem-
ber for Buckinghamshire had stated it to be his intention to
move for an inquiry into the state of the agricultural interest.
Now the government were of opinion, after the many complaints
that had been made with respect to agricultural distress on the
part of the owners of land, but more particularly of the occu-
piers, it would be proper to appoint a committee to inquire into
the subject; at the same time, in yielding to the appointment of
that committee, he did not state that any great and prominent
measure of relief was likely to be pointed out; but that with
respect to county. rates and poor-rates, such a committee might
be enabled to point out whether the measures adopted by par-
liament had practically and beneficially effected the important
objects to which these measures referred. In proposing that
committee, he placed upon it the names, by a considerable ma-
jority, of those who were the representatives of agricultural
comities. That object was attempted to be defeated ; but the
fact was, that twenty-three or twenty-four out of thirty members
composing the committee were members for agricultural coun-
ties, and representing therefore agricultural interests. Of that
committee, so constituted, the member for Hampshire (Mr.
Lefevre) was appointed chairman ; and then came the question
as to what should be made matter for inquiry, and whether the
committee should be confined within the limits of that of 1833.
The'members of the committee sent to him for his opinion on
this part of the subject, and his answer was he did not wish to
fetter the committee, and that he thought a more extended in-
quiry than that of 1833 should take place. The committee then
proceeded onward to the conclusion of their labours, and at that
period, but while yet there were a sufficient number of the
members of the committee still in attendance, his hon. friend
the chairman proposed the draft of a report. The draft of that
report was communicated to him in common with other mem-
bers of the committee, bUt he believed he was almost the last to
receive it. A meeting of the committee was summoned to con-
sider the report, and at this meeting no less than 23 members
attended, of whom no less a number than 18 were members for
counties. At the same time, be it observed, that when he pro-
posed the committee, he named certain members who were re-
presentatives for counties, that were connected with manufac-
tures as well as agriculture, especially the noble lord the mem-
ber for North Lancashire (Lord Stanley), but who declined
attending the committeee, and these 18 members, therefore,
were the representatives of agricultural counties and agricultural
interests. He (Lord J. Russell) came down to the committee with
the understanding that: the draft of the report, which had been
drawn up by the chairman, would be discussed. It was, therefore,
not without great astonishment that he found the right hon. bart.
(Sir J. Graham) proposed immediately to the committee that the
whole report should he suppressed, that not a word of it should
be taken into consideration, but that a resolution should pass to
report only the evidence. He thought that rather extraordinary;
but his surprise was lessened and his opinion a good deal chang-
ed. when the noble lord (Chandos) seconded that proposition.
NOvv, certainly, he (Lord J. Russell) had expected that, if the
report of his hon. friend the chairman was not adopted—and he
was not prepared to press on the committee the adoption of all
the statements contained in that report—yet he was very much
surprised to find, if that report was not to be adopted, that those
who advocated time interests of the agriculturists were not pre-
pared with some proposal for affording immediate relief for the
agricultural distress of which they so loudly complained; he was
astonished to find that it was not only proposed to suppress that
report, but thus to cut off the hopes of relief for months and
vears—(cheers). He was astonished to find that those to whom
he had referred had no proposal to make—that they had no de-
finite remedy to apply— (cheers). In the opinion then come to
' by the committee he agreed most reluctantly,—both as a mem-
ber of the government and of the committee. In that position
it was that he found himself placed, but he had been prepared
to enter fully iuto the statements made in the draft of the report.
He had stated that his wish was that the committee shonld ex-
press their opinions, first, with respect to the pour laws, and as
to the operation of the new bill on that head; secondly, with
respect to tithes; and, lastly, with respect to the currency; the
latter being a subject which was very fully entered into 'by the
committee. He had been ready to discuss these subjects in the
committee, and should have endeavoured to make his opinions
prevail ; but if not, he was ready to see the committee make some
report stating the opinions of the majority. He had stated all
these matters as fit subjects to be referred to in the report. And
such having been his opinion, be stated it to the committee as
an additional ground why they should hesitate in adopting the
resolution of the Right Hon. Baronet, which must occasion such
great disappointment in the country. He, therefore, must con-
tend that the government were not responsible, because the
committee came to no result. His hon. friend (Mr. Hume) had
said that when they, came, if they had done so, to make the re-
port, the evidence upon which it would have been founded
would have negatived many of the statements made with
respect to agricultural distress. He (Lord J. Russell)
concurred in that opinion, with respect particularly to the cur-
rency, it having been said that one of the great remedies for
agricultural distress would be, the repeal of the act of the Right
Hon. Baronet the member for Tainworth on this subject. This
question bad been fully entered into on various occasions—the
house had come to repeated resolutions upon it. The committee,
however, came to no resolution confirming the opinions which
the Right Honourable Baronet and himself entertained, and he
should not endeavour to raise a cry on that subject ;
hut- here was a committee of twenty-five members, eighteen
of whom were representatives of agricultural counties, and
yet tiwy were um prerat(,d to adopt a report.—(Cheers,)'

.1 u V 9,3 1826,

HP said again, the government were not responsible for D 9
opinion being given ; they were ready to go into the subject,
and he (Lord J. Russell) went down to the committee fully
prepared for three or four days' debate on the subject of the
adoption of a report. The result of the whole was, admitting,
, as he must do in fairness, the existence for some years past,
pal ticularly on the part of occupiers of land, of very consider-
! able distress—but he hoped that distress would be diminished,
! not by a change in the currency,—not by the repeal of the malt
tax,-because by no such specific measure could the agricultu-
rists ever be relieved. He was not one of those who bad been
forward in calling himself a friend to the agricultural interest.
I (Cheers.) He was not one of those who had been forward in
addressing the farmers. (Cheers.) He had not been one of
those who had been forward in saying that one pasts' alone in
the country were the friends of the agriculturists—(cheers) ;
but he would tell the house what, as a humble member of the
administration, he had done. He bad been forward in co-oper-
ating with a former government, in passing a bill which he
thought would be productive of the best effects—namely, with
respect to the administration of the poor laws. (Hear, hear.)
His object in forwarding that measure had been to prevent
large sums of money from being laid out improvidently, and to
restore the people to that state of independence which they are
fully entitled to enjoy. He also trusted he had not been in-
attentive to the interests of the agriculturists when he brought
forward a measure with respect to the levying of tithes in
kind, which was one of the most oppressive burdens that was
ever borne by a people. (Cheers.) He had also endeavoured
to effect some reduction in the county rates, and these things
he had done because he thought they were valuable practical
measures, tending to advance the interests of agriculture, and,.
therefore, to promote and advance also the interests of the
community at large. He would never consent to legislate with
a view to one interest only; he considered it to be his duty as a
member of parliament, as well at a member of the government.
to look at the whole subject. He woull endeavour to throw no
imputation on the character of parliament, or of one or two
great parties, in reference to this subject. He was not disposed
0) take any party advantage on this question, but he did say.
after having endeavoured practically to look• at these great
questions—poor rates, tithes, and currency, that he trusted the
'government would stand as fair with the agricultural interest
as those who indulged their feelings of party by creating dis-
content, without having any measure ready to propose which
might correct the evils complained of, or by which that discon-
tent so originated might be removed. (Great cheering.)
Mr. ORMSBY GORE did not think, although the country would
be disappointed at not receiving a report, that the public would
believe that agricultural distress did not exist. He must con-
tend, in opposition to the opinion expressed by the hon, member
for Middlesex, that there was not a tax levied in the country that
did not indirectly fall on the farmer. He must be permitted to
say that he thought a committee appointed to inquire into this
subject would not do its duty if it did not make a report, founded
on the evidence pi oduced before it.
Sir. R. PEEL, as a member of the agricultural committee,.
thought it necessary to say a few words on this subject. It
might be in the recollection of the house that when the commit-
tee was originally appointed, he gr.ve that proposition rather
a reluctant assent; but he did so because he knew that distress
prevailed in many parts of the country ; and when gentlemen
witnessed that distress and called for inquiry, there necessarily
would be—apparently at least, hardship and severity in declining
to do so. Such were the grounds on which lie had given his,
assent to the appointment of a committee; but he well recol-
lected that he had foretold that disappointment would be the
result. He recollected also how ably this subject had been
investigated by the committee of 1833; and the conclusion to
which that committee came, which was that the agriculturists-
must look for relief rather to their own exertions than to expect
it from the legislature. He had thrown no objection in the way
of the committee's inquiry into the currency, though he was
persuaded that inquiry would not lead to the slightest improve-
ment. It must be remembered that great distress must arise
from going from an inconvertible or paper currency to a con-
vertible currency. After a period of thirty years it was impos-
sible to return to a converlible currency without creating dis-
tress, by cramping accommodation, and by affecting the situa-
tions of those standing in the !elation of debtor and creditor.
Having now, for a period of 14 or 15 years, returned to a,
metallic standard, the principle could not be departed from, and
he did feel that to invite inquiry on this head must rather lead.
to the confirmation of former views than to shake opinions pre-
viously expressed. He was convinced that parliament never
adopted any measure more calculated to promote the industry of ,
the labourer, and to reduce the price of the necessaries of life, and
to render them less unfluctuating than the current measure ; since
the passing of which, the condition of the labouring classes had
been improving, and any attemptto undermine the present system
of the currency must interfere with those whose interests are de-
penaent on their daily labour. Entertaining these feelings, I feel
little or no disappointment that the committee made no report. ,
The noble lord opposite, in referring to the origin of the case,
and to the cause of the discussions which had taken place upon
it, has paid high compliments to my noble friend near me (Lord
Chandos). Until now, I never heard such compliments paid.
to any individual as those which have been paid to my noble
friend; because it appears that my noble friend in the course
of last session, having given notice of bringing the subject for-
ward in the present, with a view to inquiry taking place, it was
actually made a portion of the King's speech' from the throne,
that such inquiry should take place. What must be the in-
fluence of my noble friend, in the country, when, by some vague
notice at the end of the last session, he could produce such re-
sults ? Before the noble lord (.J. Russell) came into the house
to-day, it was stated why the noble lord concurred in the opinion
that there should be no report, and why he acquiesced in the re -`
solution of the right hon. baronet (Sir J. Graham). It was
alleged to be solely in deference to the opinion expressed by the
noble lord the member for Buckinghamshire—(cheers) ; such
was his noble friend's influence. Now he must be permitted to-
say that he (Sir Robert Peel) took a deeper interest in agri-
culture than he • did in any other separate interest whatever.
And because he had arguer) that there was a delusive expecta-
tion of relief from the appointment of this committee, he knew'
he was held up as an enemy to the agriculturists • whereas he
felt the deepest and most strongly-rooted attachment to the
agricultural interest; and moreover he saw the strongest moral
and political reasons for maintaining that interest, which did
not apply to other classes. But so satisfied was he that the
hone of the agricultural interest must be in its own exertions,
thit he could not allow it to relax those efforts by the imposi-
tion of increased duties on foreign imports, or by any such sys-
tem of policy. He could not consistently encourage that delu-
sive hope. He would look at the farmers of Scotland: he would
look to them, and then he would see what was to be done by
continued and unremitting exertion. With reference to the
agriltuturists of this country some relief, inadequate indeed, in
some instances, might be obtained; but even where it was in-
adequate, it would be better obtained than any to be given by
parliament in many cases of distress. But let no man forget
that a great and mighty revolution was going on in that state
of the agricultural interest, on account of the various improve-
ments, mechanical and scientific, which were continually mak-
ing, and the competition thereby caused for lands whicl were
thus rendered more fertile, but which had hitherto been looked
upon as useless. Then there was steam, the application of which
was making a great revolution also in the condition of agricul-
tural districts, bringing as it did into competition with old and
exhausted soil lands which the owners have never before been
able to bring into cultivation or competition from their remote
distance from a market. This was the main reason why clay
lands were subject to a disadvantage ; and therefore he would
say that they should not attempt to interfere with the progress
of human improvements. This was the main cause to which
the great distress was to be assigned—and why ? Because
unless a very considerable reduction of the rent on these lands
were submitted to, it was impossible to make the land pay.—
In reference to the observations which had fallen from the noble
lord, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, his (Sir
Robert Peel's recollection was not exactly the same as that of
the noble lord as to the course which he (Lord John Russell)
had himself taken. As far as his (S. R. Peel's) recollection
carried him, the report was presented to the committee, and
—he must repeat what he had often stated—the committee and
the house were under very great obligations to the hon. gen-
tleman who was the chairman, for the perfect impartiality which
he evinced throughout their proceedings, and for the courteous
manner in which he, in the performance of his duty, conducted
himself to every member of the committee. But if he (Sir R.
Peel) recollected the facts rightly—as it seemed they were to
divulge "the secrets of the prison house"—the noble lord, so
far from thinking himself precluded from taking a prominent
part or interfering in the report which had been drawn up by
the hon. chairman, had gone through that report; he had read
it, magician-like, backwards, and had dealt with all the matters
of great importance from the beginning to the end of that re-
port. He had gone through the whole process; and having
done so, he had struck out all the brains of the report (a laugh).
The noble lord having taken up the report, had actually stated
in detail the most satisfactory reasons why they should not
agree to say any thing on the subject of the currency. He did
not know what the noble lord's recollection of this circumstance,
might be as he (Sir R. Peel) thought it less necessary to bear the
terms of the recommendation in mind, because it was with
these useful reminiscences—namely, first of all a paragraph in
the king's speech, and then a resolution, a solemn resolution of
that house, stating that any alteration in the monetary system
of this country would be extremely dangerous to its best inter-
ests. They had that and other resolutions for their. guidance.
Therefore, what possible use could the consideration of the
question of the currency be? Then they came to the corn laws ;
that was too important a subject to touch upon. Then came the
reduction of duty on the malt, and a corresponding duty on fo-
reign corn. All these matters affected the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. These, then, were the whole subjects of impor-
tance in the report. Upon looking at the report, he (Sir R.
Peel) had said that he feared the noble lord had so sickled and
..,
gathered up every important resolution of' the report of the chair- •
man of the committee that he had left nothing standing. •He
could, however, only express his assent to the suggestion for not
making a report; because upon the whole, he thought there
would be less disappointment if they acted on the principle of ex-
cluding all these important matters, and abstained from report-
ing, rather than present to the house a mutilated document, hav-
ing reference to matters of comparatively less importance.
The noble lord also recommended that the report should specify
the tithe bill as a measure of great importance, and likely to
give great relief to the agricultural interest, but he suggested
to the noble lord that the tithe bill had not yet passed into a
law (Hear, hear, and a laugh), that it was then before the
House of Lords, and although he sincerely hoped that it would
receive their assent. and concurrence, he thought it would be
rather premature to dwell upon a measure as a great boon to
the agricultural interest which had not yet become law-
(Cheers.) The noble lord then adverted to the progress which
had been made under the new poor law in diminishing the
burdens upon agriculture, but he (Sir R. Peel) did not think
that it was exactly the province of the committee to enter upon
the consideration of the pour law, for very little evidence had
been taken upon the subject, and although that question would
doubtless have formed an useful head of inquiry, yet, as the
Committee did not enter upon it, if' they had ventured to say too
much, and to predict great benefits from the measure, the con-
sequence would be, that that report, although future events
might confirm the conjecture, would not be founded on ROY
evidence that had been received. There was, however, a part-
graph in the report relating to stiff lands which had been left
undrained, and recommending the Scotch method, of an apPir.,
cation of the plough and draining the sub-soil. They all felt
on reading the report, that if they omitted every thing relatiug
to the corn laws, every thing atiout the malt tax And the cor-
responding duty, on foreign corn, that if a report were present-
ed the plough would stand in rather too bold a relief. (A laugo•
Then other gentlemen said they had heard of harrows, an
other mechanical improvements, -which they thought deserved
mention. He was at first, certainly, disposed in favour of Pr!.
tenting a report ; but when he considered all the circumstance:
to which he had referred, and the expectations which had he_
formed, be most willingly acquiesced in the propriety
making making no report at all, and he was very sure that the
if
pointment which would be felt would not be so great as ,th_eeny
had presented a report in which all the remedies that hat! "Be
proposed for the relief of agriculture had been discussed
cor-
rectly the proceedings before the committee, and he must
had attempted, and he hoped he had succeeded, to state
that as the noble lord was the original author of the Pro.e cow.
for a committee, and therefore responsible for what ut
mittee bad done. (" No, no." from the ministerial benchrmore
Why, surely the noble lord, in advising the King t
was,LTDi,
mend that committee in his speech from the throne,
responsible for the appointment of such a committee
eL 'au;
county member who had given a vague notice that 'I
qui ry *would pi e'•ably be instituton the tiext session ;suand there-

;:16,

de for D 9
e subject,
ttee fully
ect of the
.ars past,
consider-
minishecl.
:the malt
wricultu-
had been
interest.
,rward in
en one of

:ry would
[le would
nust eon-
, member
tntry that
milted to
into this
, founded

rnmittee,
ject. It
commit-
s rather
distress
flt.lemen
!cessarily
declining
riven his
ell recol-
Id be the
Lad been
!usion to
culturists
to expect
the way

,h au P.,"
rd there-