Lords Sitting of 25 April 1805

MINUTES.
Several private bills were brought up from the commons, and read a first time.—On the motion of the bishop of Oxford, the committee on the Universities Advowson bill was postponed till Monday, for which day the lords were ordered to be summoned.—Mr. Johnson, from the Irish secretary of state's office, presented an account of the State of the Gaols in Ireland, during the year 1804.

PRICE OF BREAD.
The Earl of Suffolk rose, and expressed his regret, that unavoidable business had obliged him to be absent during the progress of a late bill through the house (the Bread Assize
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bill). It was his intention, if present, to have made some observations, which, from the accuracy of his information, might be of national advantage. It might perhaps be irregular to bring the subject then before the house, but he hoped that whatever regarded essentially the interest and comfort of the mass of the people would always have their lordships' support and hearty concurrence. It was truly lamentable, that, at a period like the present, there should exist any men who endeavoured to amass fortunes at the expence of the community, but particularly at the expence of the poor, who were, at present, bearing with cheerfulness their share of the burthens of the war; but this was unfortunately the case, which he could not more clearly illustrate or satisfactorily prove to the house, than by assuring their lordships, that the quartern loaf was sold in Cheltenham, and many other large and populous towns through which he lately passed, at one shilling, when it was sold in London at 1s 4d. The difference was nothing to a man of fortune, but to a hard-working man it was of the first importance, and ought to be reduced to its proper standard, if possible. He had made the strictest enquiries respecting the cause of this extravagant difference, and found that it was artificial. He stated this with the utmost confidence, because he was sure of his information, and could prove the fact. It was the practice of certain millers and mealmen, who resided about 15 or 20 miles from London, many of them possessing from 200,000 l. to 300,000 l. to receive expresses from town respecting the state of the markets, according to which returns they either sent or kept back grain and flour, as it best suited their purpose. He wished to be understood as not at all wishing to cast any odium upon, or excite public indignation against a particular description of people; but he could not, at the same time, refrain from communicating to their lordships the information which he had collected respecting this most serious and important matter. He thought it high time for the legislature also to consider how the assize of bread was struck and regulated in general. He had reason to believe and be convinced, from the best authority on the subject, that if government established flour magazines at convenient distances from town, the high price of bread would be soon lowered, and always kept in due proportion to the quantity of grain in the country. It was really

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lamentable that a million of people, which this city and suburbs contained, should be kept in a state of expectancy on flour factors for the most necessary article of life. If those magazines were established at certain distances, such as Uxbridge and other places equi-distant, he was certain that great convenience and saving to the people would be the happy consequence. Having said thus much on this most important subject, he should trouble their lordships no farther than to repeat his hope, that the matter might be well weighed and considered, with a view of giving it that effect, which he had no doubt would be highly beneficial.
Lord Walsinghamassured the noble earl, that the bill should not have been carried through its stages so soon as it had, if he was not informed that the noble earl had no objection to its progress.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, that it must be a gratification to the noble earl to know that the bill to which he alluded had no connection with the subject which he brought before the house.—Adjourned.