§ Earl Stanhoperose to make a motion, which, in his mind, was of the utmost urgency. He had been given to understand by a noble lord (Auckland), that there would be no objection to the motion with which he should conclude; but he felt its object to be of so much importance in its nature and probable effects, that no time should be lost in submitting it to their lordships.
§ Lord Ellenboroughrose to observe, that if the motion which the noble lord meant to bring forward, was of such very great importance, he begged leave to submit to him, whether it was not improper to bring it forward in so thin a house.
§ Earl Stanhopesaid, that the object of his motion, in the first instance, was merely to move for important information to be laid before the house. If the noble and learned lord had been in possession of that information, he would not be so forward in proposing delay, and that respecting a matter which so vitally concerned the great majority of the community. The most imminent danger hung over the present situation of the country, and not only the comforts, but the wants of the people might be put to hazard.
§ Lord Ellenboroughrose again, and called the noble lord to order. It could not be fairly said of him, that he treated any thing that regarded the subject with levity. No man was more alive to the interests of the subject than he was; and he could give no better proof of that respect for them, than 953 the wish he had expressed, that whatever concerned the people should be seriously and deliberately discussed.
§ Earl Stanhopecontended, that the learned lord seemed not to be aware of the difficulties and dangers to which he alluded. There was no knowing to what an alarming degree a scarcity might soon be experienced. The experience of former times should have taught us better. It ought to be recollected, that in the course of 15 years, about 45 millions sterling had been sent out of the country for the purchase of corn and grain, &c. when even there existed more facilities of procuring it, than we were likely soon to possess. The ports of the Baltic would be, or were already, shut against us; and whither were we then to look for any immediate supply? With the intention of bringing this subject more fully and fairly before their lordships, he should now move, that there be laid before the house an account of the quantity of corn, grain, rice, &c. imported into G. Britain since the 1st of Jan. 1806; also an account of the exports of the same during the same period.
Lord Moiracould not remain silent, after hearing and weighing the tendency of the assertions made by the noble earl. He did riot rise to oppose the motion, but to observe somewhat upon the tone and arguments with which it was introduced. He did not pretend to be in possession of the minute and accurate information upon this subject, which he knew might be brought forward by his noble friend (lord Auckland), but still he thought himself bound in duty to counteract, as far as lay in his power, the ill effects which might arise from the alarming language and insinuations held and thrown out by the noble earl upon such a delicate and important matter. As far, therefore, as he had any knowledge of the present state of the country, and of the very promising aspect of a plenteous harvest, he would readily take upon himself to assert, that there was no room whatsoever to entertain the most distant apprehension of the danger the noble earl seemed to forebode with so much emphasis and earnestness. He was sorry such an idea should go abroad upon such grave authority: and he was conscious it was his duty, as far as in him lay, to set the little authority he might have upon that point, in opposition to that of the noble earl.
Lord Aucklandcould not well express his thanks to the noble earl who spoke last for the favour he had done him, by taking off 954 his shoulders the weight he felt imposed upon them by the observations of the noble lord who made the motion. It was true, that the noble lord had shown him the motions he had made, but as many other matters were then pressing upon his mind, and as he had no idea of the language and manner with which the noble lord baa prefaced them, he had signified no intention of objecting to the motion which the noble lord was to make. But when he heard the noble lord thus causelessly sound an alarm of scarcity, and set forth that alarm on such groundless reasons, he felt himself called upon to say more than perhaps he should be justified in saying under other circumstances. Not only therefore was he warranted in concurring with his noble friend, in asserting that every thing in the aspect of the harvest was of a nature to preclude all apprehensions like those which the noble earl's speech was calculated to send abroad, but he had moreover the satisfaction to state, that not only the ports of the Baltic were not shut against us, but that there was even no apprehension that they would be shut. There was consequently no ground whatever for the alarm upon that subject, which the language of the noble earl was of a nature to propagate.—The question was then put upon lord Stanhope's motion, and agreed to.