§ The EARL of HARDWICKEpresented a petition from the Corporation of the Bedford Level, against any alteration in the Corn Laws. There was no part of the country which had a better right to send a petition on that subject than the Bedford Level, as it was a district of country which might be called artificial, having been brought to its present degree of fertility by the application of capital and industry; and the petitioners stated that the present prosperous state of that district could not be expected to continue if the Corn Laws were repealed, and a consequent reduction caused in the price of grain.
§ EARL FITZWILLIAMsaid, that notwithstanding the forebodings of the noble Earl, he had no doubt that both the noble Earl and himself would continue to receive their rents as usual from the Bedford Level after the passing of the measure on the subject of the Corn Laws, which would be soon before their Lordships, from the other House of Parliament. He had not the slightest doubt, that notwithstanding the existence of a perfect free trade in corn, they would continue to receive their rents as usual from their estates in the Bedford Level, that was, provided these rents were not raised too high in consequence of any delusion as to the effect of protection; and he was enabled to state, both on the part of the noble Earl and himself, that such was not the case. He had, therefore, no doubt that ten years hence they would receive the same amount of rent which they received at the present moment from their estates in that district.