§ Lord Ebrington and Mr. Bastardpresented two petitions, signed by near 700 owners and occupiers of land in the neighbourhood of Barnstaple, complaining of the depressed state of agriculture, owing to the great importations of foreign corn, and praying that a committee might be appointed to examine into the truth of their allegations, for the purpose of affording them such relief as the House might think proper. In presenting one of these petitions, lord E. felt it his duty to state, that among those who signed it, were some, of 998 the principal gentry, and many of the most respectable clergy and yeomanry of the district in which he resided; and that he believed the sentiments expressed in it were those of a great majority of the landed interest in that part of the country. The truth of their allegation respecting. The advantage afforded to our, manufacturers by import duties and, prohibitions, could not be denied; and the corn grower naturally felt it hard that he did not enjoy, in like manner, an adequate protection against foreign competition. But look at the present state of our manufactures, and we should find that with all their advantages they were not less depressed than our agriculture, and that thousands of those employed in them were unable to gain their bread, even at its present reduced rate. If, indeed, we could have hoped that the appointment of a committee could have led to the diminution of any of those burthens which pressed so heavily on the land-owner and the farmer, he should have been most happy to have proposed it; but who could entertain such a hope after the late determination of the House, that it was necessary to impose an additional three millions of taxes on the people? Under all the circumstances of the times, he could not conscientiously recommend any further legislative interference with the price of corn. But in giving an opinion in which he had the misfortune to differ from so many of his constituents, he felt anxious to claim from the House for these petitioners, that attention to which they, were so justly entitled, as well from, their numbers and station in the country, as from the temperate and respectful terms in which they had submitted their grievances to parliament.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.