§ The House then resolved itself again into a committee on the Corn Bill.
Mr. Baringrequired to know upon what ground it was that 80s. had been fixed upon as the price necessary to the encouragement of the farmer, as no explanation upon this point had yet been given by the authors of this Bill?
The gallery was not re-opened during the remainder of the evening; but we understand that the following members participated in the debate which ensued, viz. Mr. Baring, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Marryatt, Mr. Alderman Atkins, and lord Castlereagh.
Lord Castlereaghcontended strenuously that 80s. was not too high a price in the present situation of the agriculture of the country. He reprobated the principle of making it a temporary measure. Some permanent regulation was indispensably necessary, and every parliamentary proceeding was revocable at the discretion of the Legislature. On a subject so calculated to agitate the popular mind it was not desirable to protract or multiply discussion. For the sake of the lower orders, who were affected not so much by an actual price as by uncertainty or fluctuation, he 39 wished to see the Bill before the committee pass into a law.
Mr. Baringreplied to the speech of the noble lord, which he considered as the least argumentative and the most declamatory that had been delivered on the subject.
§ The committee then divided:—For the Amendment, 77; Against it, 208; Majority, 131. The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to be received on Wednesday.