Lords Sitting of 23 June 1819

FRAME-WORK KNITTERS BILL.
The Dukeof Rutland moved the commitment of this bill.
The Marquis of Lansdownefeeling, as he did, for the distress of the individuals whom it was the object of this bill to relieve, regretted that it became his public duty to oppose it; but satisfied, as he was, that the principle of it was most injurious to our manufactures, he must resist its further progress. The object of the bill was, to prevent the manufacture of the web stocking—a cheap article, which had been originally introduced when the market was in a depressed state, and for the express purpose of finding employment for a number of the workmen, who must otherwise have been altogether out of employ; but it appeared to him to be

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most preposterous now to prohibit the manufacture of this cheap article, in order to attempt to force the consumption of the dearer articles, for the purpose of giving more advantageous employment to those very individuals—an expectation, however, which there was nothing in the evidence to support. He could not conceive any principle more mischievous, than that of prohibiting the manufacture of cheap articles, in order to attempt to force persons to buy dear ones. Were such a principle to be generally acted upon, it must lead to the entire ruin of our manufactures and our foreign commerce.
The Earl of Westmorlandcontended, that the bill was merely a measure of regulation, and that regulations had been frequently applied to other branches of manufacture. Unless this spurious article was prohibited, the whole of the manufacture must be ruined.
The Earl of Harrowbyobserved, that if the cheap article was to be prohibited in this instance, they might as well extend it to other branches of manufacture, and prohibit all cheap articles.
The Marquisof Lansdowne having moved to postpone the commitment for three months, the House divided on the question, that the word "now" stand part of the question. Contents, 25; Not-contents, 27: Majority, 2. The bill was consequently lost.

CASH PAYMENTS BILL.
The bill having been read a third time,
Lord Hollandsaid, he could not allow the bill to pass, without recording on the Journals an attempt on his part to accelerate the resumption of cash payments, instead of putting them oil' for four years. Had he been told at the commencement of the session, that he should give his consent to a measure for postponing for four years the resumption of cash payments, he should have hesitated to believe it; but under the circumstances, if his amendment were negatived, he should certainly feel it his duty to vote for the passing of the bill. His object in moving his amendment, was, that there should be sufficient evidence afforded to the public of the sincere desire of parliament to resume cash payments, particularly after the acknowledgment made by noble lords on the other side, of the error of their former opinions upon this subject. He concluded by moving, to substitute
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the 1st of July, 1820, for the 1st May, 1823, with reference to the commencement of payments in specie.
The amendment was negatived.
The Earl of Harrowby The Earl of Harrowby moved as an amendment to the clause which leaves it at the option of the Bank to pay in gold coin or bullion, after the 1st of May, 1821, that the 1st of May 1822, should be substituted.
The Earl of Liverpoolobserved, that if the Bank should at any time reduce their issues, in order to raise the value of their paper, the evil would carry its own correction along with it, for the public would then bring bullion to the Mint at a clear profit. By giving to the Bank the option to pay in coin, they afforded them a motive to accumulate treasure, and as the object of parliament was, that the measure should be gradual in its operation, the amendment was entitled to the consideration of the House. As some misunderstanding had arisen with respect to a statement of his the other night, he wished to repeat that, with the exception of the five millions which would be required to pay the Bank, he hoped no other loan would be necessary during peace.
The bill was then passed.