the last summer the averages were raised | Member for Lincolnshire. If the proposal 6s. more than they ought to have been. had been to prolong the period to six The British agriculturists, who gained no- months instead of ten weeks, or if, on the thing by those nominal high prices, had other hand, it had been proposed to shorten the discredit of causing them, and it was the time, he could have conceived that on account of those high prices that the the amendment might have been attended outcry was made by the manufacturers. with benefit, but in the present case he He should like to know who received must freely confess that he could not those prices. Certainly not the farmer. understand the principle upon which the By the returns which the Government had present proposition was submitted. laid before the House it appeared that 70,000 quarters per week was the average sale; whereas, during those six weeks, when there was in fact less corn used than in any other six weeks of the year, on account of the people using new potatoes and other vegetables, the pretended average sale was 125,000 quarters a week. Every Gentleman would join in opposing those frauds. If the period were extended, there would not be the like inducement as at present to deal with the averages, and force them up to the highest point without passing a grain of corn. Sir R. Peel said, that various propositions on this point had been submitted to the Government. Some desired to extend the period to eight weeks, some to ten, others to twelve, whilst certain persons would even prolong it to fifteen. After carefully considering these suggestions, the impression on his mind certainly was, that the proposed extension of time would not operate as a check on fraud; but that, on the contrary, the speculator would derive an advantage from the ability to pour in corn for a more extended period. He had also formed the opinion, that the alteration would operate injuriously to the consumer by keeping up the duty at a time when the necessities of the country required an importation of corn; and further, he thought, that it would act injuriously to the producers, by subjecting them to a competition at lower rates for a more considerable period than at present. On the whole, therefore, he could not but think that it would be safer to adhere to the six weeks as proposed in the bill before them. He could mention instances where the extended period would have a very injurious operation, but as this was a question of detail, on which it was for the committee to decide, he would content himself with the statement he had made of his reason for adhering to the system now existing. now Mr. Hawes preferred the bill as it stood to the amendment of the noble Lord the The committee divided on the question that the blank be filled up with the word six: Ayes 242; Noes 37; Majority 205. List of the AYES. Acland, T. D. Collett, W. R. Craig, W. G. Crawford, W. S. Crosse, T. B. Damer, hon. Col. Darby, G. Dawnay, hon. W. H. Douglas, Sir H. Dodd, G. Douglas, Sir C. E. Douglas, J. D. S. Duncan, Visct. Duncan, G. Ellis, W. Emlyn, Visct. Escott, B. Estcourt, T. G. B. Evans, W. Ewart, W. Farnham, E. B. Fielden, J. Fellowes, E. Ferrand, W. B. Filmer, Sir E. Knightley, Sir C. Smith, A. Lawson, A. Smith, B. Smith, rt. hon. R. V. Stewart, P. M. Clause to stand part of the bill. Clause 28 agreed to. On the 29th clause, "That until a sufficient number of weekly returns shall have been received by the said comptroller of corn returns under this act, to afford such aggregate average prices of British corn as aforesaid, the weekly average prices of British corn published by him immediately before the passing of this act shall by him be used and referred to in making such calcula❤ tions as aforesaid, in such and the same manner as if the same had been made up and taken under and in pursuance of this act." Mr. Childers moved the following clause in substitution of it: "That from the passing of this bill, up to the 1st of May, 1843, the duty to be paid on the importation of foreign corn shall be regulated by the averages of those towns only which have hitherto made returns in accordance with the act of 9th George 4th." The committee divided on the question that the original words stand part of the clause: Ayes 202; Noes 69; Majority 133. List of the AYES. Waddington, H. S. Wakley, T. Acland, T. D. Napier, Sir C. Walker, R. A'Court, Capt. Northland, Visct. Wodehouse, E. Adderley, C. B. O'Brien, J. Wood, B. Allix, J. P. O'Connell, M. J. Wood, Col. Antrobus, E. Archbold, R. Bailey, J., jun. Baillie, Col. Baring, bon, W. B. Sturt, H. C. Sutton, hn. H. M. Tennent, J. E. Thompson, Mr. Ald. Thornhill, G. Tollemache, hn. F. J. Tollemache, J. Trench, Sir F. W. Tyrrell, Sir J. T. Verner, Col. Waddington, H, S. Wilbraham, hn. R. B. Wood, Col, Wood, Col. T. Wynn, rt. hn. C.W.W. Yorke, hn. E. T. TELLERS. Baring, H. Marshall, W. Murray, A. Norreys, Sir D. J. Johnson, W. G. Johnstone, H. Sotherton, T. H. S. Young, J. Chute, W. L. W. Jones, Capt. Stanley, Lord Clayton, R. R. Kelburne, Visct. Stewart, J. Clerk, Sir G. Fremantle, Sir T. Kemble, H. Stuart, W. V. Clive, hon. R. H. Knatchbull, right hon. Cochrane, A. Sir E. List of the NOES. Cockburn, rt. hn. Sir G. Knight, H. G. Aglionby, H. A. Cole, hon. A. H. Knight, F. W. Aldam, W. Collett, W. R. Knightley, Sir C. Barclay, D. Colville, C. R. Napier, Sir C. Legh, G. C. Berkeley, hn. C. Compton, H. C. Leicester, Earl of Blake, Sir V. Copeland, Mr. Ald. O'Brien, C. Lennox, Lord A. Bowring, Dr. Crosse, T. B. Lincoln, Earl of Brotherton, J. Curteis, H. B. Lindsay, H. H. Buller, C. Damer, hon. Col. Philips, M. Lockhart, W. Buller, E. Darby, G. Dawnay, hon. W. H. Dodd, G. Lygon, hon. General Douglas, Sir C. E. Douglas, J. D. S. Du Pre, C. G. East, J. B. Eaton, R. J. Eliot, Lord Escott, B. Emlyn, Visct. Estcourt, T. G. B. Farnham, E. B. Long, W. Lowther, J. II. Mackenzie, W. F. Maclean, D. M'Geachy, F. A. Mahon, Visct. Mainwaring, T. Manners, Lord J. March, Earl of Marsham, Visct. Marton, G. Master, T. W. C. Masterman, J. Meynell, Capt. Miles, P. W. S. Busfeild, W. Cavendish, hn. C. C. Cavendish, hon. G. H. Christie, W. D. Crawford, W. S. Duncan, G. Duncombe, T. Dundas, Admiral O'Brien, J. Pechell, Capt. Pigot, rt. hon, D. Pinney, W. Ponsonby, hn. C. F. A. Ponsonby, hn. J. G. Power, J, Ricardo, J. L. Smith, B. Smith, rt. hn. R. V. Somerville, Sir W. M. Tancred, H. W. Thornely, T. Dundas, F. Strutt, E. Ebrington, Visct. Ellis, W. Fellowes, E. Evans, W. Ferrand, W. B. Troubridge, Sir E. T. Maunsell, T. P. Ewart, W. Fitzroy, Capt. Tufnell, H. Ferguson, Col. Fitzroy, hon. H. Turner, E. Forster, M. Fleming, J. W. Villiers, hon. C. Fuller, A. E. Morgan, O. Morris, D. Gill, T. Gore, hon. R. Gaskell, J. Milnes Gladstone, rt.hn.W.E. Gordon, hon. Capt. Murray, C. R. S. Hill, Lord M. Neville, R. Newry, Visct. Gore, M. Norreys, Lord Goring, C. Northland, Visct. Johnston, A. Leader, J. T. Granby, Marquess of Greenall, P. O'Brien, W. S. Listowel, Earl of Packe, C. W. Macaulay, rt, hn, T. B. Howard, hn. C. W. G. Humphery, Mr. Ald. James, W. Vivian, hon. Capt. Wallace, R. Williams, W. Wood, B. Wood, G. W. Wrighton, W. B. Yorke, H. R. TELLERS. Childers, J. W. Clause agreed to. Other clauses of the bill were agreed to. Mr. Gladstone introduced a clause, the purport of which we could not catch. Lord Worsley moved the following clause, to succeed clause 22: "And be it enacted, that every person who shall sell any British corn at or within any city or town named in the said schedule hereunto annexed, other than the City of London, shall, before he or she shall sell any British corn at any such city or town, make and deliver in manner hereinafter mentioned, a declaration in the following words, that is to say: the (Form of declaration.) "I. A. B., do declare that the returns to be by me made conformably to the act passed in year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria, entitled [here set forth the title of this act], of the quantities and prices of British corn which henceforth shall by me, or for me, be sold, shall, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contain the whole quantity, and no more, of the British corn boná fide sold for, or by me, within the periods to which such returns respectively shall refer, with the prices of such corn, and the names of the buyers respectively, and, to the best of my judgment, the said returns shall in all respects be accountable to the provisions of the said act." "Which declaration shall be in writing, and shall be subscribed with the hand of the person so making the same, and shall by him or her, or by his or her agent, be delivered to the mayor or chief magistrate, or to some justice of the peace for such city or town, or for the county, riding, or division in which the same is situate, who are hereby required to deliver a certificate thereof to the supervisor of excise acting as inspector of corn returns for such city or town as aforesaid, at the place appointed for receiving such returns, or to such continuing inspector of corn returns as aforesaid for such city or town (as the case may be), to be by such supervisor or inspector registered in a book to be by him provided and kept for that purpose." The noble Lord said, he attached considerable importance to this proposition. The result would be, he thought, that it could easily be seen how far the price at which corn reached the consumer was the farmer's, or the intermediate dealers. Sir R. Peel said, he had received, among many other suggestions on the subject, one to the effect of that made by the noble Lord; but he really doubted very much the wisdom of such a course, and he did not think the noble Lord himself was fully aware of the difficulties to be encountered. Nor did the clause of the noble Lord appear efficient for effecting his own object. At present, the buyers made returns of all the corn they purchased. But this clause only required returns of corn sold with in the cities or boroughs. So that the returns under the noble Lord's clause would by no means be so satisfactory as those which would be made under the bill as it stood. Clause withdrawn. Colonel Sibthorp moved the following clause : "That all duties in future payable upon the importation of corn, meal, or flour, from any foreign country into the United Kingdom, shall, after the passing of the Act of Parlia ment relative to the importation of such articles, be levied or paid at the period of importation, instead of at the period when taken out of bond, as heretofore." The effect of the proposed measure with respect to corn, had been already to reduce the price of corn in Lincolnshire to the extent of 25 per cent. This reduction in the price of corn had had the effect of reducing the wages of the labourer from 2s. 6d. to 2s. 3d. and 2s. With respect to the tariff, he considered that the removal of the prohibition to import cattle from foreign countries would be injurious to the one of the effects of the change would be agricultural interest in this country, and to introduce into consumption food of a poisonous quality. Clause brought up. On the question that the clause be read a second time. When Sir R. Peel said, that he must decline to enter into the general subject of the tariff on the present occasion. that question should be before the House, he would have an opportunity of entering fully into the subject. He believed, that great advantage would be derived, both to the agricultural and manufacturing interest from removing the absolute prohibition that at present existed with respect to the importation of foreign meat and cattle. He would take a future opportunity of showing that the apprehensions that were entertained with respect to the injurious effects of the importation of foreign cattle were unfounded; and by pointing out those countries which were importing, in stead of exporting countries, he would be able to show that those parties who (as his hon. and gallant Friend had stated) had purchased those articles at a reduction of 25 per cent, had made a very fortunate bargain. His hon. Friend had Motion negatived. Mr. Barclay moved the omission of all the new towns from the schedule. After the division which had been had on the motion of the hon. Member for Malton, which was the same in principle only not so extensive, he would not give the House the trouble to go to another division. He would, however, take that opportunity of entering his protest against the language which had been used by the hon. Member for North Lincolnshire in relation to those engaged in the corn trade. He said it had been infamous and notorious. Such language was undeserved by those engaged in that trade, with whom he had no connection whatever, but he could not hear a respectable body of men so stigmatized without entering his protest against it. He wished to record his opinion on the subject of his motion; he would therefore press his amendment for the purpose of having it negatived. urged, that by the importation of foreign | said that the price of meat had fallen 25 cattle, the produce of this country would per cent., and that ought to be known be brought into competition with an infe- wherever the statement as to the reduction rior article, and one of his hon. and gal- of wages went. lant Friend's objections to the tariff was, that it would introduce poisonous meat into competition with sound meat. But that very reason ought to diminish his hon. and gallant Friend's alarm. Surely, that was an evil that would soon cure itself, for when the poisonous quality of the meat was discovered, and after three or four persons had been poisoned by eating it, he (Sir R. Peel) did not anticipate that it would be likely to come into very extensive consumption. Another argument urged by his hon. and gallant Friend was, that parties, after having kept corn three years in bond, then brought it into competition in the market with corn of a sound and wholesome quality. Now, considering the expense of warehousing and loss by waste for three years, he (Sir R. Peel) could not help thinking that the parties who did this, did not find it turn out a very profitable speculation. With respect to the motion of his hon. and gallant Friend, it appeared to him, that its adoption would be at variance with the principle of their commercial policy. If this proposition was adopted, what would there be to prevent parties bonding their corn at Rotterdam, or any other neighbouring port, and placing themselves in a condition to watch and take advantage of the course of our markets by bringing in their corn? He hoped, after what he had stated, that his hon. and gallant Friend would withdraw his motion. When the proper time arrived, he trusted, with respect to the tariff, that he would be able to satisfy all parties that the proposition of the Government was not an unreasonable one. Lord Worsley could confirm the gallant Member as to the fall in wages, but it was more in consequence of the fall in corn than from any fear of the tariff. Mr. Wakley said, statements relative to wages should at all times be avoided in that House, unless the parties making them were prepared to enter into the whole question. The hon. and gallant Member had stated that the Lincolnshire farmers had reduced the wages of the labourers; that was an evil example, very likely to be followed; but the statement ought to go forth, that in Lincolnshire the price of provisions had fallen 25 per cent. The hon. and gallant Member certainly Mr. Christopher rose to explain. It was notorious that more nefarious practices→→→→ more gambling-more speculation-existed upon the Corn Exchange than upon the stand at Epsom, or the course at Doncaster. He would refer to returns published on the motion of the hon. Member for Halifax, in proof of his statement. It was, of course, for the interests of fair purchasers of corn to buy the article at the lowest prices; but, by the returns alluded to, it appeared that on the Corn Exchange of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, the average weekly quantity of corn sold when prices were low, was 6,000 quarters; but when prices became high, the amount rose to 16,000 quarters. It was the same thing with respect to the Corn Exchanges both in London and Leeds. He would not at present enter into any inquiry as to how these circumstances existed-whether from defects in the law or other causesit was sufficient for his purpose that they did exist; still he did not charge any individual member of the Corn Exchange with nefarious practices, but he did assert that such practices existed. Dr. Bowring thought, that the statements of the hon. Member would not prove of much service to the slidingscale. He thanked him for them. He had confessed that the sliding-scale opened |