§ On the third reading of this Bill, the following Protest was entered upon the Journals of their lordships: viz.
§ "Dissentient, 1st. Because, when we consider that the price of wheat was not higher than 72s. per quarter, nor the price of barley more than 40s. on the 7th of May, about which time it was first proposed to stop the distilleries, under the pretended notion of an approaching scarcity, and that the price of wheat was 75s. 6d. and of barley Ms. 9d. on the 1st 1115 of Jan. 1802, at which time the prohibition, imposed in Dec. 1801, was done away by the legislature; it is obvious that this measure proceeds upon grounds perfectly different from those prohibitions which were enforced in the 35th, 36th, and 41st years of his majesty's reign.—Because, as we learn from the Report of the Committee, communicated to this house by the house of commons, that this measure was recommended 'with a view to apply as speedy a relief as possible to the case of the West India planters,' and that nothing in the evidence before them could have induced them to propose a measure so hurtful; independent of that consideration, we feel it our duty to protest against a principle so novel and dangerous as that of depriving the agriculturist of the benefit he derives from the demand created by the distilleries, for the sole purpose of a temporary relief to the distresses of any other classes of the community.—Because we see great reason to reprobate, in the strongest terms, that principle of commercial legislation, now for the first time adopted, which sanctions the temporary relief of those who have embarked their capital in one branch of industry, by imposing hardships on those whose capital is engaged in promoting the national prosperity through the means of another branch of industry.—It appears to us, that, if the price of cotton goods were at any time reduced so low, from the abundance of the stock in hand, that they were sold at a loss to the manufacturers, it would be a system new and injurious to prohibit, on that account, certain classes of the community from wearing woollen cloth. Yet it is upon this principle that the industry of the farmer, whose exertions are generally acknowledged to be the most beneficial to the community, is now to be depressed, for the purpose of affording an uncertain, and, at best, a temporary relief to the West India planter.
§ LAUDERDALE,
§ SUFFOLK AND BERKS,
§ SELKIRK."