§ Sir T. Lethbridgepresented a petition from the inhabitants of Abdick, Bulstone, and Ilminster, in Somerset, praying that the House would not permit any alteration in the Corn-laws, without the fullest investigation. He had in his possession many petitions on this subject, but from what had been said last night by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who had intimated the intention of government to bring the subject before the House shortly after the adjournment, he should, for the present, withhold them. For the same reason, and as the right hon. gentleman had said, that he would not be drawn into any discussion at present, he would for bear from making any of the observations which forced themselves upon his mind at this moment. He did not ask his Majesty's government to state what was their intention on any part of it; but feeling the importance of the subject, he could not help insisting upon the necessity of obtaining all the information that could be come at respecting the operation of the Corn-laws as they at present existed. If any inconvenience had been experienced, which he very much doubted, because the laws which existed had not been put into execution, it could only be satisfactorily ascertained by means of the inquiry to which he now alluded. He wished the whole system of the laws on this subject to be put on a different footing; but what he was most desirous to impress on his Majesty's government was, the necessity of procuring full and complete information, before any new enactment should be resolved upon. It was not for him to suggest to ministers the course that they ought to pursue; but, as far as his own opinion went, he was decidedly in favour of the appointment of a committee, without which he thought the question could not be fairly and usefully re-agitated and re-discussed. When this question had last 98 been the subject of discussion before the House, a committee was appointed, and an examination instituted, which, although it was not carried as far as he could have wished, obtained a great deal of useful information on the subject. Great alterations had taken place since that period, not only in the amount of taxation, but in the circumstances relating to foreign corn; and the only new information of which the country was in possession, was that which had been obtained from the report made last on this subject by Mr. Jacob. That report was certainly a most important document; but, it did not contain information enough to enable the government to adopt any regulations which should have the effect of changing the present laws. He had no wish the discussion should now be pressed; and when the time at which it was to be entered upon should have arrived, he hoped it would be conducted with temper and moderation. In the mean time, he hoped that none of the charges which had been so unfairly brought against landowners or occupiers would be repeated, or that the unjust tone which had been assumed towards them should be indulged in; and he was induced to make this observation because he was sure that, in the minds of all thinking men, there could be only one wish; namely, that the question might be disposed of so as to suit the interests of the whole of the inhabitants of the united kingdom.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, he had heard the announcement made last night by his Majesty's ministers, that they would not at present enter upon this subject, with considerable regret. If they were aware of the agitation which the notion of any alteration in the Corn-laws had occasioned, not only in the agricultural, but in the manufacturing, interests of the country, he was sure they would not have formed any such resolution. He thought it was too much for ministers to call parliament together in November, and tell them then that they had a plan to propose, but which they did not intend to bring forward until February. He was aware that it might be inconvenient to them to disclose that plan at present; but, however inconvenient it might be, their duty left them no alternative but to do so. It was inconvenient to him, and he had no doubt it was equally so to many other members, to be in town at this season; but being here, he should think he failed in his duty if he neglected to press upon 99 government the necessity of a speedy expression of their opinion on the subject of the Corn-laws. He thought it would be better that they should bring forward at once whatever measures they intended to propose, because he was not one of those who felt alarm as to the nature of the proposition; nor did he believe, whatever it might be, that it involved the ruin of the landed proprietors in the kingdom. For this reason he was extremely anxious that the subject should be immediately entered upon.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.