The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-04 00:00:00

SECOND EDITIoN.

Standard-dice, Ten. o'clock

HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY

THE CORN-LAWS

The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented 100 petitions against
any alteration in the corn-laws. The petitions were chiefly
from places in the county of Buckingham, Suffolk, Derby,
and Southampton. The noble duke called attention to a
speech on the corn-laws delivered on a former occasion by
the noble viscount at the head of the government, in which
the noble viscount said that any agitation or discussion on
the corn-laws wouid inevitably lead to commotions danger-
ous to the peace of the community ; he (the Duke of Buck;
ingham) sincerely trusted the noble viscount would remem-
ber the words he had used on former occasions, denouncing
all agitation on the subject of the corn-laws, and that he and
his colleagues would guard against any such agitation.
Viscount MELBOURNE said, having been so pointedly al-
luded to, he could not let the present opportunity pass with-
out observing, that the speech quoted and others made by
him were never intended to convey the idea that the corn-
laws were never to be interfered with. He bad, however,
changed the opinion he had formerly held, that opinion being
entirely based and grounded upon particular and temporary,
circumstances. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of RIPON said, he heard the oboervations of the
noble viscount with deep regret. (Hear.) He did not know
what the country would think of his noble friend (Melbourne)
this, however, be knew, that his noble friend would never
be able to carry on the government of the country. (Hear.)
He should like to know upon what ground the measure was
to be introduced ? Was it under a protecting duty, or by
taxation—taxing corn for revenue? (Hear, hear.) If so,
the noble viscount would do what no other country in the
world would do, and it would be the most disagreeable mea-
sure that ever was forced upon a reluctant parliament.' (Hear.)
Viscount MELBOURNE rose and said, with emphasis, that
the principle of the measure would be one of protection.—
(Immense cheering.)
The Earl of WINCHILSEA denounced any interference
with the present system as imminently dangerous to the
peace of the country. He called upon the noble viscount,
in God's name, not to adopt any measure likely to lead to a
tax upon bread. (Hear' hear.) The people of this country
knew their interests—they knew that cheap bread meant low
wages. (Hear, hear.) To pursue such a course would be
the downfal of the noble viscount's government, which, in-
deed, would be a blessing to the country. (Cheering.)
The conversation then dropped.
[Left sitting.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS-MONDAY
THE MINISTRY.

Colonel SIBTHORP (as it was understood) asked the Colo-
nial Secretary if it was the intention of her Majesty's ministers
to resign their places ?—(" hear, hear," and laughter)—and
if not, whether it was the intention of the noble lord to pro-
ceed with the civil contingencies this evening? (Hear, bear.)

Lord J. RUSSELL.-With respect to the first question of
the gallant colonel, I shall decline to give any answer. (Loud
cries of " hear, hear," and laughter.) With respect to the
second, he wished to say that he did not intend to proceed
with the civil contingencies this evening. (Hear, hear.)

IRISH REGISTRATION BILL

In answer to a question by Mr. S. O'BRIEN,
Lord STANLEY said, it was not his intention to proceed
with his Irish Registration Bill on Wednesday next ; he
should postpone it for a fortnight ; and he could assure the
house that every member should be apprized in due time of
the day on which it would again be brought forward. (Hear.)