The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-04-15 00:00:00

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price of Wlllll.oll* agreed with*-thh.Nohle Lotd
(Lasciltes) in 'tanking that the publication of evidence
on such a subject as thiscould only encourage foreign
speidators.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM maintaided there could
'be no necessity for the appointment of a Committee.
The price of Wool had increased since last year. If
it bad decreased their table would have been loaded
with Petitions stating that fact. The end of the
American war, when prices, were five or six times
lower than they were at present, would have been a
much Atter time for throwing open the trade. But
be protested against the repeal of laws which had
existed hundreds of years, and under which the coon.
try had risen to its present pitch of prosperity.
Mr. FRANK LAND LEWIS observed, that the
keaton why uo Petitions were presented last Session
was. that from the distress and discontent in the
'country, the time was deemed unfavourable; but•
during the present Session circumstances were as fa-.
Irourable as could be wished for, and that had induced
the advocates for a free trade, to move for a Com-
'miffed to enquire into the subject. Never was, in
bis opinion, a measure opposed on grounds more in-
bulficient than the present was. The question was,
not what was the price of Wool 10 or 20 years ago,
bat what was the agricultural interest deprived of by
being precluded from their right to dispose of their
Wool on the best terms. The House had permitted
the exporiation of corn, the first necessary of life,
end yet they prohibit the exportation of Wool at all
times, and under all circumstances. The woollen
manufacturers enjoyed a Jouble monopoly—they
compelled the wool grower to sell his wool to none
but the woollen manufacturer. Was it even-banded
justice to place one class under such disadvantages
for the sake of another ? If the question were al-
lowed to go into a Committee, it would be proved
by documents that could not he disputed, that all the
grounds on which the exportation of Wool was first
•prohibited were now untenable. From the exporta-
tion of Wool a revenue might be derived. 'He had
no doubt that as large a duty might be derived from
the exportation of Wool as would enable the Leather
Tax to be commuted ; and was there any one who
could doubt the advantages of such a commutation ?
The House then divided,
For the motiou,
Aping it,

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Majority in favour of the motion for a Committee, 3
PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE.
Immediately after oar re-entering the Gallery,
which was a work of very great difficulty, io cons*.
quence of the crowd whom curiosity had assembled,
Mr. WILBERFORCE rose, and, as we under.
stood, enquired of the Noble Lord opposite (Castle-
reagh), whether he intended to proceed immediately
to move for a Committee on the Prince Regent's
Message; as, in that case, he (Mr. Wilberforce)
would postpone a notice of his, which stood for the
present evening.
Lord CAS rLEREAGII said, it was his intention
to propose that the Order of the Day for going into
a Committee on the Message should be read, with
view to the postponement of it.—(Shouts of hear!
from all sides of the House, which continued for
several seconds.)

The Order of the Day was then read.
Lord CASTLEREAGH moved—" That the Com-
mittee be postponed till to-morrow."
Mr. BROUGHAM said, when he last night
moved his amendment, it had been observed by many
from all parts of the House, certainly from the
Benches opposite, and by several of his Honourable
Friends on the Bench below, t i whom be was dis-
posed to pay more deference— hut though they were
as anxious as he could be to estiblish the principle
of economy in granting the p b is money, and would
show their sincerity when the question of the allow -
maces should come before the House, yet they
could not concur in the amendment, as it was con-
trary to the established pro tics in such cases. The
practice usually followed in Addresses on Royal
Messages was at variance with his amendment, and
therefore they could not agree to the amendment in
ferns, though they agreed to it in substence. And
mow those very Gentlemen who storied this objection
to his amendment, and the Noble Lord (Cestlereigh),
Were deviating from all precedent, in moving the
postponement of an Order that a Royal Message
should he taken into consideration in a Committee 01
the House. _ It was objected to his amendment, that
it was most unusual ; and the reasons for the pectice
were founded on a doe respect for the Crown—a re-
-spect weld) it was necessary to show to all stud ever)
thing which came from that quarter, whether in the
shape of Speech or Message; to that respect every
thing else must be sacrificed. There might be many
things in a Royal Message, respecting which great
differences of opinion might exist ; but they pledged
themselves prematurely, rather than not appear to
treat *ith due respect a matter which came recom.
mended to the House in that shape.—[llear, hear!]
—The principle on which this measure was now to
be postponed was too obvious to remain doubtful one
second' to any Member of the House. A Noble
Lord belonging to another House assembled in his
Ovate room, in a manner contrary to the spirit of
the Constitetion, if not contrary to practice (hot no
praetiee could recommend such a course of proceed.
log), a select number of Members, whom he under,
stood to be most respectable Country Gentlemen ;
for, though they were known to give their support
generally to Ministers, their respectability was well
known. Among them were one or two Gentlemen
who belonged to the Opposition side of the How.
This he understood, that a Member of the Learned
Profession, who belonged to the Opposition side of
the Houte, was invited, as if any one could doubt the
side to which he belonged. Many Gentlemen who
supported Ministers were excluded though how they
could be excluded after the principle of selection had
been so evidenced, he was at a loss to owderstand.
'1 is click of Members of Parliament was so much
floured by Ministers on account of the weight
which their support would give them; and to them
a.disclosore of weight was always submitted before
it was laid before the House. If Parliament, by
their silence, acquiesced in such a practice, it was a
mockery to talk of the debates here. The debates
might go on, in form, and the result might be pro-
noonced in form from the Chair, but the questions
would 'be decided elsewhere—discussed they coo id
be nowhere—but decided by practising on Members
lu varier ways—(llearl hear, hcar!)—grot whit..