§ Lord Archibald Hamiltonpresented a Petition from the chamber of commerce, at Glasgow, against any alteration in the Corn Laws. Ordered to lie on the table.
§ Sir Henry Parnellpresented a Petition from the Queen's county Ireland, praying that the Corn Laws might be amended.
§ Lord A. Hamiltontook this opportunity of asking the hon. baronet to explain what was the course which he meant to pursue in his intended proposition, with regard to 524 an alteration in the Corn Laws; and whether the measure he had in contemplation had not resulted from the Select Committee which sat on this subject in the last session.
§ Sir H. Parnellsaid that in pursuance of his notice, he intended to move, that the House should resolve into a committee, to take the Corn Laws into consideration. If the House acceded to this motion, he should propose a series of resolutions, containing the alterations which he had in view; and if these resolutions were agreed to, he should then move for leave to bring in a Bill, founded upon them. These resolutions he had already prepared. They were essentially different from those which he proposed in the last year, in consequence of the alterations which had taken place in the prices of grain. The average importation price he should fix at a sum which would not interfere with the present price of grain or bread. In answer to the question, as to whether the proceeding in question had originated with the select committee which had sat last year, he would answer in the affirmative; but he would add, that it altogether differed from the recommendations of that committee.
§ The Petition presented by the hon. baronet was then brought up, and ordered to be printed.