he was allowed here to know what opposite to the spirit of the rule with had been done elsewhere, the prin, which that right hon. gentleman ciple of the bill had not been given had set out, of not mixing up up; and the bill, which he would either party feelings, or personal propose to bring in, would contain allusions, with so important a quesprovisions of the same spirit with tion. If any person suspected the that which had been lost. The duke of Wellington of having period during which any alarm moved the amendment in the other was felt, was between the present House from any party feeling, far time and that of getting in the less for any factious purpose, he harvest. The alarm arose from had no hesitation in saying that the danger of exhaustion of the he believed such a suspicion to stock on hand, and the probable be entirely unfounded. He belateness of the harvest, which was lieved that the noble duke's amendconsidered otherwise as very pro- ment had been dictated by a demising. There were serious ap- sire to promote what he underprehensions that, in the event of a stood to be the real intention of late harvest, the pressure on the the bill; and that it had originated population might dangerously ex. in a misconception of the views of aggerate their fears, if nothing the government, and not from the were done by the legislature to slightest intention to oppose or demeet the partial scarcity. Under feat those views. He was the the operation of the bill 560,000 more firmly convinced that this quarters, which were now in bond, was the fact, because, from the were capable of being let out by habits of familiarity in which he an act of the government.

It was lived with that noble person, he understood, that the objection had could not doubt that, bad any been, not to letting out the corn al other intention been entertained, ready bonded, but to admitting any he should himself have been apfurther importations. He would, prized of it; and he could safely therefore, propose to bring in a declare that he had never heard of bill for letting out the corn now the amendment, until on the mornbonded, together with any that ing after it had been moved. The should be warehoused by the 1st history of this proceeding ought, of July next. It was conjectured however, to be known, in order to that the whole quantity by that defeat this vain attempt to cast period would amount to 600,000 obloquy upon a public man, who, quarters. The corn already in on this day at least (June 18th, bond, and to be bonded under the the anniversary of Waterloo) if on clause, he did not propose to let no other, ought not to have been out suddenly or all at once, but subjected to unfounded charges or gradually, and subject to the same insinuations. The duke of Welscale of duties laid down by the lington had been a member of a bill which was just withdrawn. committee which had sat to in

Mr. Peel said, he could not help quire into the price of grain for regretting that one or two points shipment at foreign ports, and the in Mr. Canning's speech seemed, price at which it could be importfrom the manner in which they ed into the home market. The had been received, to have been result of that laborious investigaunderstood as conveying a meaning tion had created-right or wrong he was not now to argueman ima state, he certainly could have pression, that the warehousing sys wished that, even at the expense tem, as at present constituted, gave of prolonging the session to the end a power to certain speculators, so of July, a new bill had been brought to practise upon the averages so as in, to compromise, if possible, the to make them subservient to their difference which existed with the own bargains in the market: and House of Lords. For himself, he the intention of proposing the did not believe that it would have clause was to throw an obstacle been difficult to effect that comin the way of such dexterous promise ; and, indeed, he undermovements for sinister purposes, stood that the president of the and to give a preference to corn Board of Trade had not been indirectly imported in ships, to that disposed to assent to a clause which which had been previously bonded. gave a preference to the corn alThis was not an alteration which ready in bond, up to the price of introduced any new principle, for 66s.; not allowing the new bill to in fact it had prevailed in the operate upon any

corn introduced act of 1791. Mr. Huskisson's subsequently to its passing, until opinion was originally called for that average of 6ôs. had been by the noble duke, on a proposition reached. that no bonded corn should be The amendment of Mr. Cantaken out of the warehouses until ning, on Mr. Western's resolution, the parties, who had previously that all corn already in warehouse, bonded theirs, had expressed their or which should be reported to be corsent. His right hon. friend in warehouse before the 1st of July had very properly objected to such next, should be admitted for cona proposition, but added, that, if sumption at any time before the the prevention were merely to ex- 1st of May, 1828, on payment of tend to the importation of foreign certain duties, which were the same corn-until the home price was 66s., with the progressive duties of the he could have no objection indivi- lost bill, was carried ; and a bill dually. His noble friend might in conformity with it passed both naturally have supposed, that a si- houses without any serious opposimilar mode of proceeding might be tion. At the same time, a bill taken with respect to this measure, was carried through for regulating as had been taken under precisely the mode of taking the averages. similar circumstances with respect It was only a re-enactment of the to the Canada Corn-bill. He was existing law, with some amendquite sure that his noble friend ments, which it was thought beta acted under the impression, that, ter to accomplish by repealing the though the bill might be altered, old law, and substituting a new yet the country was to have the one, than by burdening and conbenefit of some permanent mea- fusing it with partial additional sure on that subject; he had voted enactments. The most important in favour of the principle of the alteration was a clause authorizing bill, and had not attempted to vio- the king in council, to order the late that principle. With this feel- averages to be likewise taken in ing, and with the aversion which certain towns and cities throughhe (Mr. Peel) had to leaving the out the United Kingdom, instead question in its present unsettled of their being limited, as they

mons.

a

hitherto had been, to the maritime tended to the public advantage. counties of England.

An illustrious individual, who by The incautious and intemperate his genius and valour had placed allusions of Mr. Canning to the this country in a situation unrimotives of the majority in the valled in the page of history, had House of Lords, and his accusation been basely traduced. But the against the duke of Wellington, insinuations which had been so of having been a tool in the hand cast upon that individual, whether of intriguers, did not pass altogether coming from the highest or the unnoticed in that august assembly, lowest quarter, would meet with although, by the order of the the just indignation of a highHouse, they could have no extra- minded and honourable people. parliamentary knowledge of any Lord Goderich said, that he thing that had passed in the Com- could not comprehend on what

On the 20th of June, lord ground the House could be called Winchelsea, when presenting a pe- to discuss language which had been tition against Catholic emancipa- held elsewhere. Nay, what that tion, said, that their lordships' re. language was, where it had been gulation, which made it impossible held, and by whom it had been to allude directly to any individual held, the House had not been told, connected with the other House of and, in fact, could not be told. He parliament, or to any speech de- must say, however, that remarks livered in that House, if carried to had been made in that House upon the extent to which some seemed an individual, and upon the coninclined to carry it, would lead to duct of members of the other great injury. For if individuals House of parliament, imputing to in their lordships' House were to them sentiments which had never be denied the means of publicly been delivered in that House. He vindicating their characters from would also say, that, in the course any aspersions thrown on them, of the discussions which had taken either intentionally or uninten- place, there had been made in their tionally, by individuals connected lordships' House pointed remarks with the other House of parlia- on individuals, and imputations ment, they would be forced to have had been cast upon those indivi. recourse to a private explanation, duals, in reference to words put which would not be so beneficial into their mouths which he would as a public declaration. If any of maintain had never been uttered ; those individuals who had voted on at least no one was authorized to a former occasion with the majority, say they had been spoken. This, among whom he was one, were then, ought to make their lordships held up to public indignation, it indisposed to take up matters of would not be consistent with their this kind with warmth. dignity and character to allow such Earl Grey said, that allusions an aspersion to be thrown upon to what passed in the other House them, and insinuations to be made, of parliament might occasionally that the vote which they had given, be necessary, and might be made proceeded not on public grounds, without producing any bad effect; but from private feelings. The but he agreed that nothing was so majority were actuated by a con- dangerous, nothing so destructive viction that what they were doing to the character of both Houses of

parliament, and to the constitution on all occasions to be avoided, and of this country, as the practice which was more particularly to be if unfortunately it should be taken avoided when it stood in the way of up-of questioning in either House the discharge of their public duty. of parliament the motives which Lord Ellenborough had not the had actuated individuals in the least, doubt of the propriety and discharge of their legislative duties. utility of the order of each House, He expressed his hope, that lord that no notice should be taken of Goderich, and the noble lord on what was said in the other ; but it the woolsack, would use their in- was impossible to avoid transgressfluence, where he trusted their in- ing that order, if the same course fluence would have effect, to pre- was not adopted in the other vent such expressions as were al- House. For his own part, the luded to coming from an indi- remarks, which had been alluded vidual, whose situation ought to to, had inspired him with too place him under restraints of more much contempt to permit hiin decorum than to allow him to use to think them worthy of notice. language striking at the very inde. The marquis of Londonderry asked pendence of the House of Peers, the marquis of Lansdowne, wheand vilifying its character, and ther he would use his influence such as was never uttered before, with Mr. Canning to induce him particularly by a minister of state. to publish the speech in question Such terms and expressions had “ without alteration or omission ?” been applied in the first in- and lord Goderich advised the marstance to the individual who pro- quis of Lansdowne not to answer posed an amendment to a certain the question. bill, and next to all the persons

While the land-owners were who had concurred in that measure thus struggling to maintain regu-as went to excite hatred against lations on which they imagined the House throughout the country, that their prosperity depended, the and came under that description of ship-owners, equally convinced language which was likely to pro- that the distresses, which existed in voke retaliation, while the person their department of commercial using those expressions was one of occupation, could be ascribed to those who had supported a law nothing but the late changes inwhich would send into banishment troduced into the system of the the person who might be provoked navigation laws, did not fail to so to retaliate.

bring their complaints before parThe Marquis of Lansdowne said, liament. They denounced these he was not aware of the precise changes as having conferred upon expressions in question. For the foreigners a preference, which was sake of harmony, he wished they rapidly driving our own vessels had not been uttered ; but as an from the seas. They averred that individual member of that House, documentary evidence established he would endeavour to do that the preponderating increase of which he was sure the whole foreign shipping as a fact; and, as House would also endeavour to do the obvious cause of that prepon-namely, prevent that course of derance, they represented, that, allusion which all the noble lords any given trade being thrown open who had spoken had agreed ought on equal terms to British and to Vol. LXIX.

[M]

was

enormous.

foreign vessels, the British ship- only to half as much as in Engowner must give way, because he land. Reckoning according to the could neither build nor navigate, returned prices, a Prussian vessel and consequently could not freight, might be navigated for four his vessels, at that low rate which voyages at about 389l. ; while án yielded foreigners a profit. A English vessel of the same tonRussian ship, for instance, said nage, and carrying the same numthey, can be built for between 81. ber of men, would cost about 6641. and 91. per ton, while a British- The vessels of the northern counbuilt vessel costs between 141. and tries possessed the same advan161.; the former could be navi- tages as the British ships, while gated for 121l. per month, the the expense of building the latter latter not for less than 2081. Peti

It was plain, tions founded on these views and therefore, that the foreign owner allegations were presented early in could let his ship at a much lower the session from the ship-owners freight than his British rival; and of London and Sunderland, but as merchants would naturally emthe matter was not brought to a ploy those vessels which cost them formal discussion till after the new least money, it was to be expected ministry had been formed, when that foreign shipping, wherever it general Gascoigne, Mr. Huskis- could be employed, would have a son's colleague in the representa- preference over our own. Such, tion of Liverpool, moved (7th accordingly, was the fact: that May), “ That a select committee preference did exist. At that very be appointed to inquire into the moment, where there was one present distressed state of the com- British ship entered at Liverpool, mercial shipping, and report there- there were ten foreign ships. The on to the House.” The general returns, which had been laid upon said, that any man who looked at the table, would show the superiothe comparative expense of sending rity of the numbers of foreign ships out vessels from our own docks, entered over that of the British, and from those of foreign coun- and the exports had been diminishtries, would acknowledge at once, ing for some time past, and were that what was called reciprocity still diminishing. From Prussia was any thing but equality: He the imports, in the year 1824, would pledge himself to prove in amounted to 504,1401.; and the a committee, that the difference exports amounted to 634,0741.: the in favour of the northern nations next year the imports amounted to was the difference between 8l. and 620,2871., and the exports were 181. The comparative prices of only 468,4631. The exports to building in England and foreign the northern countries did not countries, taken from papers before amount to more than one million ; the House, were as follow :-in yet, to secure this paltry million London, the price was 281. a ton; of exports

, foreign shipping had in England, on the average, 18l

. been relieved from the light and a ton; in Prussia, it was 8l. 88.; harbour duties, and an additional in France 11l.; in Sweden, 61. 158.; expense had been thrown upon in Holland, 101. ; in Denmark, us of 73,000l. per annum.

In gl. 108.; in Russia, 41. 158. The the year 1822, by a comparison wages in these countries amounted between Prussian and English