COTTON WOOL BILL. (Hansard, 24 May 1811)

Mr. Rose
said he had made inquiries respecting the probable effect of the Bill, in consequence of the apprehension which had been expressed: and the result of them was that no inconvenience appeared likely to arise that could justify the alarm spread abroad. It was, however, his intention, as such a feeling was excited, and as the lower classes could not be convinced how groundless were their fears, to move, That the order for the committal of the Bill should be postponed to that day three months.

Sir R. Peel
, though he did not agree 306 with the right hon. gent., that any good could come of the measure, rejoiced most heartily that ministers had the good sense and prudence to relinquish what the parties most interested thought so highly destructive to their interests.

§ Mr. Whitbread
could not divest his mind of the idea that the right hon. gent. had had rather a bitter pill to swallow; but ha admitted that he had swallowed it with the best possible grace. The motion of the right hon. gent. would have filled him with the greatest surprise, if the matter had not been broke to him by an intimation which had been given since he entered the House. It was rather surprising that the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who the day before yesterday was so confident no inconvenience could result from the measure that he would hardly grant eight-and-forty hours for the further consideration of the subject, and to give time for the sentiments of the manufacturers to be known, should so soon make up his mind to give up the measure altogether. The late Mr. Pitt used to extol every tax he proposed, as being the best that could be made, and as being such that no possible inconvenience could thence be expected to arise. It should seem that the right hon. gent. had been ambitious of imitating him on the present occasion in a minor degree. He had set out with saying that it was impossible for any evil to follow its adoption, but, on the contrary, much good was to be expected from it, and ended by giving it up. He was happy to find it was so given up, as under the circumstances of the case, it was impossible to suppose any speech of his could have inflamed the manufacturers, so as to render it expedient on that account. Though surprised, he was pleased at the change, which, however it was to be accounted for, he could not receive without feeling disposed to throw some discredit on the premises from which this conclusion was stated to be drawn.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
felt himself under the necessity of saying a few words in support of what had fallen from his right hon. friend. With him, he thought the alarm which had been spread abroad, had been so spread without sufficient grounds for it being proved to exist. The hon. gent. who spoke last had expressed himself to be surprised and not surprised, so often, that he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not know whether he at last wished to be understood 307 as being surprised or not. He had, however, expressed himself happy that the measure was relinquished; and he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was glad to see it had given him such good spirits and good humour; for that he was in a good humour was evident, notwithstanding the apologies he had thought it necessary to make for seeming pleased. The apprehension felt on the occasion, he regarded as extravagant; but at the same time, as that alarm had been found to exist, it was judged best not to impose the duty that government had it in contemplation to lay on. When he opened the Budget, he had stated to the Committee, that such ample provision had been made for the service of the year, that he thought it unnecessary to lay on any additional duties, but such as, dictated by commercial policy, were regarded as wholesome and judicious regulations. As the parties likely to be affected by the Bill, were now suffering from the pressure of the times, if after the alarm had been excited, the Bill had still been persevered in, it might have appeared to them an insulting aggravation of their present embarrassments. Under these circumstances, and with these feelings, he had resolved to withdraw it; and for the reasons already stated, while he did that, he should not feel it necessary to supply what it might have produced by imposing any new tax.