HC Deb 07 May 1841 vol 58 c16
Lord J. Russell

said, that in fulfilment of the promise he made on a former evening, he now begged to state, that in proposing that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House upon the subject of the Corn-laws, he intended to propose a fixed duty on wheat of 8s. per quarter, upon rye 5s. per quarter, upon barley 4s. 6d. per quarter, and upon oats 3s. 4d. per quarter.

The Earl of Darlington

said, he sup-posed the noble Lord considered the agriculturists of this country no longer entitled to protection. When the proper time came for discussing this subject he should be ready to meet the noble Lord. It was not for him to say, whether the noble Lord had taken this course at his own suggestion, or whether, on the other hand, he had adopted the advice of a sage and potent councillor known in cases of deep emergency with a significant toss of the shoulders to give strange advice, or whether it were in consequence of the return of an hon. Gentleman to that House in the cause of humanity, to whom the electors of Nottingham had done so much honour; whether, from any or either of these causes, or whether from all taken in conjunction, he cared not, but this he would prophesy, that the noble Lord would not by devices or tricks of this sort annihilate the landed interest.

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