Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-06-13
HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 80,
Relief OF .Agricnlittre.

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On the motion Of the Marquis OF Lon.
donderry. the house resolved itself mso q
committe Of the whole house 10 take INTO
further considerations the reportupon agri-
cultural distress. After some observations
on the increase ofthe revenue last quarter,
and of net increase OF 80, OO0l week OF
the last three weeks Of the last month, the
Noble Lord said, that the distresses OF the
country had in great degree arisen from
circumstances which were beyond the
reach of legislative interference. Circum-
stances had produced an over supply in
the market, and until that supply regulated
itself to the demand, it was impossible to
expect that the distress could be fully re-
heved. Under the respective heads Of
currency, of credit, and of finance, he
should now beg leave 10 advert to few
points that might explain the views taken
by government, and the grounds on which
they HGw stood. The Noble Marquis
then entered into a detailed exposition OF
the plan adopted by bis Majesiy's minis
tiers for affording some relief to the dis.
tresses of the country, of which the fol-
lowing is an outline.
Relief TO the agricultural interest, by an
advance of one million to Farmers. on the
security of corn stored in compliance with
the suggestion Of the Agricultural Commit
tee. For the reHet OF the distresses in the
south of Ireland, the sum OF one million is
TO be placed at the disposal OF the Irish
government, 10 be advanced upon person.
al security TO projectors and proprietors OF
public works. as in the year 1916. The
two millions which are to be thus advan
ced here and in Ireland, for the relief OF
the public, form part OF sum OF tour mil
lions, which are 10 be obtained on the Sc.
curiiylof Exchequer bills from the Bank OF
England at three per cent and OF which
the remainder is to be applied tor paying
off the claims OF persons who have dissen-
ted from the plan of transferring the navy
S per cents into the new stock. For this
accommodation to. the public, the Bank OF
England is to obtain an extension OF ITS
charter for ten years The right OF issu.
ing notes under FIVE pounds is to be con-
tinued to the country banks during the ex-
tended duration of the charter OF the Bank
of England; namely, to the year 1883. and
then notes are to be made payable in the
notes Of the bank of England OF the same
denomination, which, in their turn, may be
converted into cash. as is done at present.
In addition to the above, the statute is to
be repealed that restricts the number OF
proprietors in country banks to six men,
bers.
The next measure proposed vas, one OF
finance, and framed with view to relieve
large portion of the debt OF the country,
namely, the dead expense or charge, as
it was called, of our military establish
ment. 1t was proposed to place that
charge upon totally different footing from
the one on which IL at present stood. II
was the charge for officers pensions, retired
allowances, the pensions OF officers widows
and the half pay under the heads OF tine ma
w, army, and ordnance, being at present
about 5,OOO,OOGl. 1t is proposed there
fore 10 make arrangements for the payment
of the present half pay, &c. during the pc
Rod of As years, by granting in lieu there
of, fixed annuity for 40 years, or by
granting perpetual annuities for the same
period, with fund applicable to and sui
fcient for its redemption in As years.
The effects OF this scheme. in the present
situation OF the country, would be this
that if the annuity to be granted should be
$500 ,OOOl. (he present total OF the
charge thus te be relieved being 5.O00,-
OOOl.) the saving to the country would be
600, ood. and consequently Parliament
would be enabled 10 ado that sum to the
monies and savings recommended by the
Finance Committee, as properly appllca-
bic to the purposes of afording reIiet to
The country and aiding it 10 provide for
portion of the public services.
IfParIiament should be enabled to real
ize that measure in the course OF the pre-
sent session, there will in two years have
been remired-- o
The Horse tax amounting to 4oo,ooo
Ofthe Malt tax l,5oo,ooo
And the reduction of taxes now pro-
posed was l'ooo,ooo
In all, reduction oftwo years on
ly of 3'1oo'ooo
The law that governs the corn trade is
to be modified, and scale Of duties TO be
established for the purpose OF preventing
sudden and unrestricted influx OF foreign
corn when the home markets should have
reached the specified averages of lmpor-
tation. The importing prize is to remain
for the present at Dos quarter tor wheat,
but is subsequently to be reduced 10 7Os
with the addition, however, OF protect
ing duty, the amount of which is to be de
termined by the House. Lord London
derry seemed inclined to take il at los
duty, ptus les expense, making altogether
27s, which must be paid before the I'M
porter could have tbe benefit Of the En-
glish market. He would suppose the
price in the English market 70s quarter,
though foreign grain could not be 6rough,