The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-11 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY

The Earl of HAREWOOD presented several petitions against
the contemplated alteration in the sugar duties, and con-
tended that the reduction of the differential duties could be
considered inno other light than as an act of confiscation.
The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL, Lord LYNDHURST, and
Lord ELLENBOROUH presented petitions from Antigua, St.
Vincent's, and the Virgin Islands, praying that the same
protection as heretofore might be extended to our West
Indian colonies.

In reply to a question from Lord Ellenborougb,

ViSCOUilt MEI:BOURNE saidit was true that an intimation bad
been sent out to China, to the effect that if a treaty was
concluded according to the preliminary articles sent to this
country, such treaty would not be•satisfactory, nor could her
Majesty be advised to ratify it. This resolution was adopted
at home, and did not emanate from the Governor General of

In reply to a question from the Duke of Wellington, the
noble viscount'said that Hong Kong had been taken posses-
sion of by the British forces.
In reply to another question from Lord Ellenborough, the
noble viscount said he did not know whether Chusan had
been evacuated or not, but orders were sent out that it should
be re-occupied if it had not been evacuated.
Earl FITZWILLIAM presented several petitions from
Leeds and other places, praying for an alteration of the corn
laws. The noble earl contended that every shilling which
was paid for corn in the market more than it would sell for if
the corn duties did not exist, was so much taken from the
rest of the community to benefit the landlord. Every shil-
ling so obtained was a debt due from the landlord to the rest
of the people.
After some observations from Lord Ashburton, the Earl
of Wicklow, and the Earl of Falmouth,
The Duke of WELLINGTON denied that the corn laws had
been passed for any such object as that imputed—namely, of
raising the rents of the landlords, at the expense of the rest
of the community. The great object of the corn laws was to
encourage agriculture to such an extent as to make the pro-
duce equal to the consumption of the people, and thus ren-
der the country independent of foreign supply altogether.

The Earl 01 RADNOR said that the effect of the laws,
whatever might be their object, was to put money into the
pockets of the landholder. In fact, every improvement in
aculture must tend to benefit the landlord.
/The Earl of WARWICK said that, in the great towns, the
principle upon which they supported the corn law repeal
agitation was in order to force a change in the currency upon
the country.

The IV.lar'quis of LANSDOWNE defended the conduct of the
government in proposing an alteration of the corn laws, and
said there never was a measure brought forward by a govern-
ment with more of consideration and less of hurry than the
one which had been announced by his noble friend in another
place.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH asked the noble marquis on what
day the Cabinet came to the resolution of bringing forward
a proposition for altering the corn-laws.
The Marquis of LArisnowNx said he was not bound to
answer suoh a question, but lie had no hesitation in saying
that it was not until after repeated consultations that the
resolve had been adopted ; nor was it at a very recent period.
After some further conversation the petition was laid on
the table, and their lordships adjourned.