The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-01-26 00:00:00

Towns, thus condudes,

ings w

ter,a season Ot cal

vouchsafed to this nation' by a superintending Providence,
I confide•these important matters to your care, in 'a full
conviction that your discussions will be guided by an im-
partial spirit, and in the hope that the present sufferings
of my people may be lightened, and that their future
condition may be improved; by your deliberative wisdom."
Lord BATHERTON moved the address, which was as
-usual an echo of thespeech, and Lord CAREW seconded it.
Lord STANLEY said that as Ministers had wisely ab-
stained from introducing into her Majesty's Speech any
topics which•were likely to lead to discussion, it would be

unnecessary for him, ai the commencement of the ses-
Sion, to raise any bate which might embarrass them,
particularly as under existing circumstances they were
fairly entitled to forbearance. The fact of their being in
possession of power arose from no act of their own ; there
;were many in office against .their wishes ; in the trying
position in which they were placed, they were entitled to
did, and so long as they abstained from tampering with
the llinstitutions of the country they should have the for-
bearance of him and those who acted with him.. In her
Majesty's Speech there was nothing to give rise to hostile

therein made to the financial condition of the country.
It was very apparent that the t hancellor of the Exchequer
. • , , •„

anust,,soon rain

premium on Exchequer-bills rangea, some time ago, as
;Ugh as Sss., but now they were down to ss. and 6s. This
subject,required the most serious-attention; but he would
then content himself by calling Attention to the fact.
With respect to our foreign relations, the noble lord ex-
pressed his regret that the former good understanding be-
tween France and England had- beenaltered for the worse,
as was evident from the whole tone-of the correspondence
respecting-the Montpensier marriage. He differed from
both Lord Palmerston and M. Guizot as to the construc-
tion put by them on the Treats, of Utrecht, although it

• • • nv, V., ILJZ, 1."....141,4 1.1...0 4, •
pensier match was brought about was a slight and a dis-
kourtesy to England, which could hardly have happened
had not the tone hetween the two countries been altered
()wing to the events of the last few months. As to the
occupation of Cracow, that would probably not have taken
-nlaee had not the misunderstanding between France and

could not he exaggerated, and was sure that no sacrifice
and no effort could be proposed which would not be
cheerfully responded to by Parliament and the people of
Great Britain. He anticipated no difficulty to the grant-

iovernmen

had done, as they had 1;L taken by surprise by the
ex-
tent of the distress, and as they were surrounded by diffi-
culties, one of which, and not the least, was the difficulty
of acquiring correct information. Under existing cir-
cumstances, any measures that should be proposed to

• •
laws and the navigation laws, would not, in his opinion,
be objectionable, but he believed that the agriculturists
would he justified in pressing on the Government a modi-
fication of the malt-tax, should sugar be admitted for use
in our breweries and distilleries.

The house was then addressed by the Marquis of Lans-
downe and Lord Brougham, and the address was agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY

At four o'clocl
Russell and his c

s, of course

sat on the ministe-

in the front ranks of the opposition ; Colonel Sibthorp,
Mr. E. Banks, and Mr. Smith O'Brien, (the leader of
Young Ireland), were also on the same benches. Sir R.
H. Inglis, and some of the Protectionist members, were
seated beneath the gangway. _ _ _

The address was moved by Mr. C. Howard, and se-
conded by Mr. Ricardo.

Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN dwelt on the state of Ireland and
the inefficiency of the means adopted to meet the terrible
emergency which presented itself.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said, there was no other course open
to the government than the one which they had pursued,
unless they had at once interfered with the trade and
commerce of the country, which would have only had the
effect of increasing the calamity.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCR assured the government that
the advocates of the Protection policy had no intention
of making Ireland the battle-ground of party. They felt
that the present government had succeeded to the admi-

nistration of Ireland at a time of extraordinary c

ierefore they felt that it was due to t

'D examine its

he governmen

Ireland demanded sympathy, ana it was the resolution of
the Protection party to give their calmest and best consi-
deration to any measures that might be proposed for the
alleviation of the calamity. But while disposed to cast a
lenient eye upon the conduct of the government, he was
not prepared to admit that the measures which they had
already taken were such as he could. approye. It was
impossible to view the poor employment afforded as an
effectual remedy ; whilst upwards of 400,000 persons
were constantly employed, the works they wrought upon
were worse than useless. As to the non-interference
with trade, such a maxim of political economy might be
good in ordinary times, but when an unexampled calamity
afflicted the country, the harsh rules of such dogmas
should be relaxed, and the government should not have
hesitated to do so. It was perfectly unreasonable to have
expected merchants and retailers to have sprung up at
once in Ireland in numbers sufficient to have provided
ample and cheap food for the people. Lord George Ben-
thick emphatically disclaimed all idea of a compact, as
supposed to exist between the Protection party and par-
liament, relative to the existing 4s. duty on corn ; the
Protection party acknowledged no such compact, and
therefore the government were free to propose the re-
moval of the 4s. duty if they thought fit. Should the go-
vernment propose the temporary removal of this 4s. duty,
the Protection party would not oppose it ; but it was thtir
firm persuasion that its removal would give no benefit to
the consumer. The Exchequer would lose the duty, and
every farthing would go into the pockets of the corn mer-
chants and forestallers. Should the government also
think fit to propose the admission of sugar for the use of
breweries and distilleries, the Protection party would offer
it no opposition, although from such a measure they had
little expectation of benefit. Should a temporary inter-
ference with the navigation laws be proposed, the Pro-

tection party would not oppose it, though they believed
such a remedy had come too late. Let the government,
if they wished really to apply a remedy, throw aside the
rigid principles of political economy, purchase corn
wherever they could get it, and let them employ her Ma-
jesty's ships in carrying these supplies into the ports of
Ireland. An experienced captain had informed him that
there were eight ships of the line now available, which in
forty-eight hours could be got ready, with which, in ten
weeks, 80,000 quarters of grain could be brought into our
ports. These, and four such voyages between this and
harvest, would be no mean supply, and would go far in
reducing the price of grain to a moderate rate. Lord
George Bentinck expressed his deep regret that anything
should have occurred between the governments of France
and England to interrupt the amity that existed between
them. He did not believe the people of England sympa-
thised at all with the foreign minister on the question
that had arisen. The commercial part of the country
would have been better pleased if the noble lord had
turned his attention to the Spanish carrying trade instead
of to the Spanish marriages. As to the grave charges
made in the Royal speech against the great sovereigns
with whom we fought the battle of European peace, Lord
George Bentinck expressed his regret that such condem-
nation had been thought necessary. The idea of brand-
ing the occupation of Cracow as a manifest violation of
the treaty of Vienna was preposterous. How many times
had the treaty of Vienna been violated ? What was the
severance of Belgium from Holland ? Lord George, for
himself, declared he felt no sympathy for the people of
Cracow, the peaceable portion of whom were themselves
delighted at the change. On the part of the Protection
party, the noble lord gave notice, that unless the govern-
ment should bring forward some comprehensive measure
of general utility for Ireland, he would himself do so.
Sir R. H. INGLis said the only error, if any, which he
could see, was that of excessive concern on the part of
the government and of the people of England for the state
of Ireland. Scotland was exposed to similar privations,
and had endured them with a most admirable degree of
patience.. (Very general cheering from both sides of the
house.) _

Loral J. RUSSELL said that had government adopted
the principles advocated by the Irish members, they must
have taken upon themselves the responsibility of support-
ing the whole population of Ireland, in which case, by
competing with private capital in the market, they would
have grievously increased the evil. He commented
shortly, but severely, on the course pursued by Austria
towards Cracow, and concluded by an appeal to the sym-
pathies of all parties in favour of the Irish people.
Sir R. PEEL alluded to the Montpensier marriage, and
said he apprehended that the correspondence published res-
pecting it were only partial, and that the noble lord would
place before the house much fuller information. He
deeply regretted the recent occurrences at Cracow, which
were a virtual departure from the treaty of Vienna, for
which there was no justification. With respect to Ire-
land, he well knew the embarrassing position in which the
government was placed, and he was therefore prepared to
extend to it every allowance and consideration. He was
140 prepared to give his cordial support to any temporary
fires proposed by the government for the purpose of
rescuing the people from a state of starvation.
Lord PALMICASTON replied, after which the address was
agreed to.

mittße

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEILNEsaAT

Mr. ENVART moved that committees on all private as

well as railway bills, should consist of five members, mei-
ther ptrsonallrnor indirectly interested in the question
submitted to their consideration

On a division, the mothm was lost by a majority 01 '67
In answer to a question from Mr. O'Brien, Mr. GrasoN
said that the state of the agricultural districts was under
the consideration of government, and a bill en the subject
would shortly be submitted to Parliament.
On the motion of Mr. PARKER, the following members
were nominated the -select committee on standing orders :
Sir William Heathcote, Mr. Ord, Lord DalmerryrSir

Robert Ferguson, Mr. 'Wilson Patten, Sir John Yarde
Buller, Mr.. Aglionby, Captain Jones, Mr. Home Drum-
mond, Mr. Wrightson, mnd Mr. Sotheron.

Mr. CHRISTOPUEIC:asked if it was the intention of .go-
vernment to. allow" th 3 use of sugar in ,digtilleries and
breweries to be a permanent or only a temporary measure?
Lord J. RUSSELL said, a resolution would be moved for
allowipg the use 'of frigar in distilleries and breweries,
which, of course, would be fully discussed, awl if it was
agreed to, a bill would be brought in to carry the xesolu-
ticaa into effect.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

-THURMAN

LordfanßussELY in committee of thevlaole•House,
explained his reasons for proposing to suspend the navi-
zation laws till thefirst of. November next, and the.duties

on corn till the Ist of September, 1847. On the termina-
tion of the last' harvest the prospect was that the harvest
of'.wheat would be below the average of ,ordivary years,

barley, and also of oats, Wouldbe deficient in some parts
of tie ernintry. /The arentect. &Mins_ linvavver. was that

of .the potato croprwach was considerable in England—
still greater in Scotland—and the greatestof all in Ireland,
where three-quarters, of the crop, according to some cal-
culations, and at anymate one-half, had been lost. There
had been, last year, -a great importation of foreign corn,,
amounting altogether to 4,800,000 quarters. The prices
of corn in October and November did not show any con-
siderable apprehension That there would be any great de-
ficiency.; but from that time there had been a ,consider-
able rise as compared with the prices at the time of the
harvest. -In the first•week of August wheat was-at 475. a
quarter—in the fir Ost week of September it was s. It

had risen in the first week of January to 645.., in the
second week to 665. 10d., •and on the 16th of. January to
70s. 3d. Haying quoted the price of wheat, he proceeded
to show -that the rise in barley had been still greater.. In
the first week of Januaty, 1842, it was 295. id. ; in the
same•week in'lB43 it was 265. sd. ; in 1844, 325. id. , in
1845, 345. 2d. ; and in 1846, 31s. 11d. In the first week
of January, 1547, it was 445. 3d. ; in the second week, it
was 465. sd. ; and in the third week it was 505., and this
independently of .the price
_of barley for malting, which

value of the potato crop which had failed in parts of
Scotland and Ireland at twelve millions sterling. The

Germany

other

parts of Western Euro

was, therefore, ageneral effort made by all to obtain
a supply. The duties on the importation of foreign grain
had been remitted in France, Belgium, and many of the
countries bordering on the Rhine ; whilst in several of
those states laws had been passed prohibiting the expor-
tation of corn. The 'stock of corn at Dantsic at present
was small ; and, being so, the sellers expected higher
prices. There were only two quarters from which a sup-
ply could be obtained, ,Odessa and the United States.
From the first France had obtained supplies to the amount
of 700,000 quarters, but in the spring there was every
-qsp that a J ---,lv of vr,i- be

prospect _ - Large supply of grain woul4 sen. to
that port from the interior of Russia. In the United
States there had been an abundant harvest both of wheat
and of Indian corn, but hitherto much of that supply
had not come to this country. Now, such being the state
of the supply, and such being the deficiency, we ought to
I e remove every impediment to the_ introduction of foreigi!

The 4s. d

prevented

a la.ge supply of foreign corn from coming into Great
Britain : but, while there was a strong competition for
corn, it might make a considerable difference in future as
to the quantity of grain brought here or sent elsewhere.
He therefore proposed that all duties ,on the importation

of foreign corn should be suspended till the lsi of Sep-
tember next, and should leave it to parliament hereafter
to consider whether it would continue that suspension or
not. He then adverted to the subject of the Navigation
Laws, which were at present an impediment to the impor-
tation of foreign corn, owing to the price of freight. The

want of shipping was enhanced at present in• tiie United
States by the necessity of engaging ships to carry troops

-
and munitions of war to Mexico. V The noble lord then
stated to the house the advance in the price of freight at
present over the ordinary price of freight from the Danube,
from Odessa, from the United States, and from the Baltic.
The advance with regard to freights to Ireland was still
more remarkable, and, as a proof of it, he would merely
mention that the freight from London to Cork had risen
from Is. to 3s. 3d. He therefore thought that in suspend-

ing•the Navigation Laws we should diminish the price of

tries, which might then be engaged in transporting grain
to this country and to Ireland. He, therefore, proposed
to suspend the Navigation Laws till the Ist of November
next. The noble lord then concluded by moving that it
be en instruction to the chairman to ask for leave to bring
in a bill to suspend the duties on corn till the Ist of Sep-
tember, 1847.
The motion was seconded by Mr. G. Bankes, and after
a short debate, carried without a division.

_...i.
HOUSE OF COMMONS,

-FRIDAY

The Corn Law Suspension Bill passed through coin-

In committee on the Nuvigation Bill,
Mr. MITCHELL moved an amendment, the effect of which
would be that all vessels arriving with corn in a British
port after the Ist of September would nevertheless be ad-
mitted, provided it could be satisfactorily shown that she
had sailed from her port of loading a reasonable time in

proportion to the length of the voyage prior to the Ist of

Septem

liscussion,

Mr. F. BARING said that the amendment was unneces-
sary, as a discretion was always vested in the Treasury,
which would doubtless be judiciously exercised by the
Government,

Lord J. RUSSELL opposed the amendment, thinking
that a limited period would he likely to make merchants
more rapid in procuring cargoes. At the same time he
would exercise the same discretion as had heretofore been
exercised by the Treasury in cases such as had been re-
ferred to.

A desultory conversation ensued, which terminated in
a division, negativing the amendment by a majority of
118 to 50.

The bill then went through committee.
The house then went into committee on the Customs
and Excise Acts, and
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved resolu-
tions with a view to allow the use of sugar in breweries
and distilleries. The right hon. gentleman entered into
very minute details in order to show that, under the new
state of things, there would be ample security against any
frauds on the revenue. He also proposed a resolution re-
commending that the differential duty on colonial rum
should be reduced from one shilling to sixpence, which
would have the effect of putting a stop to the manufac-
ture of a spurious article which was now consumed in this
country to a considerable extent.

Lord G. BENTINCK said that these measures were cer-
tainly not open to the objections which he had always
entertained against the free admission of foreign produce
into this country ; but he nevertheless thought that all
these details required more consideration than could be
given to them that evening. He would, therefore, sug-
gest that the proposed measures should be passed as tem-
porary ones only, and that the right hon. baronet should
again bring them forward as permanent ones at a later

period of the session.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN said he was greatly disappointed at
the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which, in
his opinion, would not lessen the consumption of grain in
the manufacture of spirits or of beer.
Mr. D. CALLAGHAN said that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer overlooked a most material fact—namely, that
in Ireland and Scotland, under the proposed regulations,
the differential duty on rum would be practically reduced
to lid. or 2d. Now, however anxious they may be for
free trade, it was scarcely fair to Ireland and Scotland to
expose them to such a competition, while refusing them
the privilege conceded to the West India colonists of dis-
tilling from molasses. This he thought the right hon.
gentleman would see the necessity of altering in com-
mittee.
Mr. BANRES supported the suggestion of Lord G.
, Bentinck.
Mr. GOULBURN contended that the measures should
be permanent, as they stood upon grounds wholly
different from those on which they were acting in refer-
ence to the corn importation and navigation laws.
Mr. WODEROUSE said these measures ought to be only
temporary until they should have time more fully to con-
sider them. If they were necessary to meet the present
exigency, let ministers take them for a time, thus leaving
to the house an opportunity for reconsidering their
tendency.
After a discussion, in which Mr. FINCH, Mr. D.
BARCLAY, Lord G. BENTINCR, and other hon. members
took part,
Lord J. RUSSELL regretted to feel himself compelled
by a sense of public duty, to decline acceding to the re-
quest of Lord George Bentinck, whom otherwise he
would most willingly have obliged, owing to the fair and
candid manner in which he had received every proposi-
tion of the government during the present session. It
was not, however, intended to hurry this bill through
Parliament, as circumstances compelled them to do with
the corn and navigation acts.
Lord G. BENTINCK said he was satisfied with the ex-
planation, and would take the sense of the house upon
the question of the permanency of the bill on one of its
future stages.
Mr. B. Escorr commented on the cordiality which ap-
peared to subsist between Lord George Bentinck and Lord
John Russell, and which appeared already to have led the
former to have made a sham fight for the reduction of the
malt tax—thus selling the farmer, notwithstanding the
score of dinners at which he had been an honoured guest,
and the establishment of an anti-malt-tax-league, of which
he was the president, he believed, for he (Mr. Escott) had
never been invited to join it. (Loud and ironical cheer-
ing from the opposition benches.)
Lord G. BENTINCK said he hoped that the long friend-
ship which had existed between himself and Lord John
Russell would continue for many years, however strong
might be their political opposition. (Cheering.) He
would assure the honourable member for Winchester that
any league of which he (Lord G. Bentinck) was a presi-
dent would never invite him (Mr. Escott) to join it, unless
it was their wish that it should be betrayed. (Loud cheers
from all parts of the house.)
Some smart sparring took place between Mr. FERRAND
and Mr. Escorr, which terminated the discussion, and
the resolutions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were
agreed to.

The house then resumed, :and the Corn Law,Suspen-
sion Bill and the Navigation Laws Bill were severally
read a third time and passed..
Lord -John RussELL.movea for the appointment of -a
select committee to inquire .into the law of settlement.
He thought it right-to say that Government did sot-
think it necessary to.taka any step in reference to the re-.
port of the select committee on the Andover inquiry, un-
less some hon. member should think fit to bring the case
under the consideration of the house, in which event. he
-would be prepared to state his opinion upon the subject..
He admitted that the Poor Law Amendment Act had not
been -carried out to the satisfaction of Parliament, and the
Government had, therefore, resolved,to propose, that the
board should bed re-constituted with .a president, having
permission to have a seat in the House of Commons.
There should be also two secretaries, one of whom should
have a seat in the hduse, in order to give all necessary
explanations, should thewesident not have a seat. The
rules.of the board should have no effect until sanctioned
by the Queen in Collodi, and the administration" di the
poor law in Ireland should be wholly separate from that
of England.

The proposition of the noble lord appeared to be very
generally approved of, ;and after a short discussion, in
which Mr. Bankes,- Mr. Hume, Mr. V. Smith, .Sir.
Pakington, and Sir G. Glew took part,
Mr. FERRAND said he heaved there was some troth in
the report circulated during the last few days, that itrwas
the intention of the Government to shelter the poor law
commissioners from that punishment which they had not
hesitated to visit upon !Their own subordinates. They
would, however, be much mistaken if they thought the
people of England would be thus easily satisfied. The
hon. gentleman referred to the criminal information
moved for against him by Mr. Lewis; one of the poor lc.w
commissioners, the rule for which was made absolute last
November, but in which no step had been taken until he
moved for papers on Wednesday evening, preparatory to
moving for a committee of inquiry into their conduct next
Thursday. He was next day served with a notice that
the information was filed, :which was nothing less, in his
opinion, than an attempt to intimidate him from the per-
formance of his duty in parliament. He challenged the
parties to go on, and he pledged himself to resign his seat
if 'he did not come out of the ordeal with honour.

Mr. ETWALL regretted he course taken by ministers
with respect to the Andover inquiry.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that, unless they could render
the poor law more popular, neither the president nor the
seerotary would ever be able to get returned to parliament.
After some further discussion, the motion was agreed to.