The Marquis of Clevelandpresented a Petition from the Lead-miners of Alston, a district of Cumberland, complaining of Distress, arising from the present state of the law relative to the importation of lead, and praying for relief. The noble Marquis expressed a hope that Government would pay attention to the allegations of the present petitioners, similar to that with which they had already honoured petitions of a like nature presented by him in the course of last Session. He was convinced that the condition of the manufacturers 317 was progressively improving, and that the agriculturists were not now suffering such privations as they had experienced at the commencement of last Session, while the deplorable state of the mining interest continued unchanged. He therefore trusted that the promises which had been already conveyed to him by Government, respecting this important question, would ere long be realized.
The Earl of Falmouthobserved, upon the distress sustained by those who were concerned in the iron and copper mines also, which he attributed to the importation of metal from South America. In 1825 companies had been formed to work the mines of that country with English capital, and bring the ore into competition, in the European market, with that raised in England. This was a serious injury to the extensive mining interests of this country. Application had been made to the noble Duke for protection, but he had afforded none to the mining interest. It was to be hoped, however, that he would re-consider this subject, and listen to the prayers of the miners.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, he had last Session come to the conclusion, that he should do much more injury to British interests by interfering, than by abstaining from interference. He could only repeat the assurance which he had already given the noble Marquis, that he would not be wanting, during the ensuing year, in attention to this, or to any other subject connected with the welfare of the country.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.