Commons Sitting of 10 February 1817

DISTILLATION FROM GRAIN.
Mr. Maurice Fitzgeraldseeing the secretary for Ireland in his place, took that opportunity of moving for a return of the quantity of grain consumed by the distillers of Ireland since the last commencement of distillation, and also for an account of the quantity of grain exported from Ireland since the 1st of September last. He stated, that in consequence of the late rigorous season, the poor of Ireland were reduced to extreme distress for want of food; that the crop of potatoes, their usual means of subsistence, had in general been very deficient; and that as oats were the only substitute to which they could look, the consumption of them in distillation and their free exportation were attended with very injurious consequences. The subject therefore became one of vital importance, and the House should turn a vigilant and cautious eye to its results. He should be very unwilling on other occasions to interrupt the distillation from grain, as it afforded a great and beneficial assistance to the farmers; but, under existing circumstances, it was attended with dangerous consequences to the well-being of the people, and no partial considerations should stand in opposition to their means of existence. This principle of benevolence was more imperatively demanded from the House in respect to Ireland, as the poor of that country were not entitled, by law, to call for parochial assistance. The distresses of the lower classes in that country could look for consolation only to the sympathy of the higher, and it must be known to the House how very limited that source of relief had become, by the very general absence of the great landed proprietors of that country.
Mr. Peelexpressed his willingness to afford every information in his power to the right hon. gentleman, but he feared that the returns must, from their nature, be extremely defective, and therefore unsatisfactory. It would, however, be seen from them, that the consumption of grain by distillation was far from being as great as was generally imagined; and he assured the right hon. gentleman, that after all the inquiries he was enabled to make into the state of the late harvest, he was deeply impressed with the impolicy of suspending the distillation from grain in Ireland. It should be remembered, that when, on a former occasion, it had been deemed expedient to suspend distillation in Ireland, the circumstances of the two countries were widely different from what they
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were at present; but if distillation were now suspended in Ireland, while it was permitted in England, the English distiller would have the command of the Irish market, and thereby enjoy an unfair advantage. He touched slightly on the serious injury that would result to the revenue if such a measure were adopted; but laying aside that consideration, he contended that the suspension of legal distillation would not prevent the consumption of grain, as the illegal traffic would again, commence, bringing with it its long train of moral evils, while the superior expertness of the legal distiller would produce more spirit and consume less grain than the others.
The motion was then agreed to.

PETITIONS RESPECTING REFORM, &c
Sir R. Fergussonrose to present a petition from the town and parish of Dysart, in Fifeshire, signed by 1,200 persons, praying for a reform in parliament. He remarked on the very great distress suffered by every class of the community, and could not avoid saying, that as ministers were well apprized of its existence, they had acted very injudiciously in introducing that mockery of a committee for inquiry, which could but ill come up to the distresses of the people. He avowed himself a firm friend to parliamentary reform, but protested against the wild doctrine of universal suffrage, which had appeared so very prevalent.
Mr. Bennetpresented a petition from Kilmarnock. He said, he was certain that no man in that House would assert that Scotland was represented. The gentlemen in that House from that part of the kingdom, might as well be said to represent New Holland as Scotland. It was true that the people might, under the severity of distress, mistake the real remedy, but that could be no argument why no remedy should be applied. The petition stated, that seats in the House of Commons were bought and sold like tickets for the opera.
Mr. Peter Moorepresented a petition from the burgesses and inhabitants of the town of Birmingham. It not only prayed for parliamentary reform, but complained of not being represented in parliament. It had been agreed to in a most numerous meeting, distinguished by the greatest order.
Mr. Broughamexpressed his satisfaction at hearing his hon. friend state that

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the meeting was orderly and peaceable, and such he firmly believed was the case in the great majority of the popular assemblies that had lately been held throughout the country. He remarked, that whenever a slight breach of the peace had occurred, the circumstance was blazoned abroad, and affixed as a stigma to the great body of the people, but no acknowledgment was made of the good demeanour of those large meetings of 40 or 50,000 persons, where not the slightest disposition to outrage was manifested. He desired to impress it on the House, that all the petitions so numerously signed, which had been crowding to their table, afforded sufficient evidence of a populace in general peaceably disposed, who looked to that House as the only power by which their grievances could be redressed. It was owing to this that so many just praises issued from every part of the House on the good conduct of the people, such, he was confident, as, under similar distresses, was never equalled in the history of any nation. He was unwilling to say a word that might seem to anticipate the report of the secret committee. Until that report came before the House, it was the duty of every member to keep his mind as unprejudiced as possible, that, like a juror, he might come to a dispassionate- examination of the whole case; but he should grieve exceedingly, if, notwithstanding the general tranquillity of the nation, some districts should be found where a serious spirit of discontent had been manifested. If, however, it was too early to form an opinion respecting the promised report, it must he considered too early for any one to act on it. Yet, within the last twenty-four hours, it appeared that some members of the committee had come to a practical conclusion on the ill conduct of many of the people. He was extremely sorry to find that a place usually free from political feelings, and not devoted in general to secular topics, should have been, after the precedents of the worst times of our history, prostituted to party purposes.
The petitions were ordered to lie on the table.