HC Deb 28 February 1842 vol 60 cc1177-8
Sir C. Napier

asked whether the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury had any objection to give a "return of vessels that arrived at Liverpool from America, loaded with corn, from the 1st day of January, 1841, to the first day of January, 1842, specifying the number of days they were on the passage," of which he had given notice.

Sir Robert Peel

did not know that there were means of giving the information required. In reference to a statement made by him on a former evening, that an order had been sent from Liverpool to New York, and a cargo returned within six weeks, he wished to state that he did not adduce that as an instance of the average duration of the passage between the two ports, but simply as a fact showing the time within which corn could be brought from America.

Sir C. Napier

said, there was an officer whose duty it was to ascertain when each vessel arrived, and the length of her voyage, amongst other particulars.

Sir R. Peel

said, if the information could be procured, and given consistently with the usages of Parliament, he should have no objection to give it.

Capt. Fitzroy

hoped that, if there were the means of supplying the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member for Marylebone, the Government would give it. He hoped they would go further. He would ask if the right hon. Baronet would also grant a return of the quantity of flour brought over by American vessels to Liverpool, with the number of days such vessels were on their passage.

Sir R. Peel

had no objection to give that information also.

Mr. Thornely

wished to put a question to the right hon. Baronet, relative to his statement of the time it had taken, in one instance, to get a cargo of flour from America. The right hon. Baronet had stated that an order had been sent to America for flour, which flour had been received in Liverpool in six weeks. He begged to say that he had received a letter from Liverpool, stating that it was fifty-one days from the sending out of the order to the arrival of the flour in Liverpool. The right hon. Baronet had just stated that the flour was received on the 13th September; his informant stated it to be the 24th. He begged to ask the right hon. Baronet whether he had any objection to lay on the Table of the House a copy of the statement he had referred to.

Sir Robert Peel

I read a letter to the House in the handwriting of the person who imported the flour, and if I made any mistake, I am sorry for it. My information stated that the flour was ordered on the 1st of August, and received on the 13th of September. I feel quite sure that this was the statement I received, but I will refer to it again, and give the hon. Member the information he wishes.