LORD STANLEYsaid, that he wished to ask his noble Friend at the head of the Board of Trade whether he would have any objection to continue certain returns which had already been presented to the House on this subject. The first was a return of the amount of grain imported from Ireland into Great Britain in the month of February last. Now, he (Lord Stanley) wished to test the accuracy of the statements which were made with respect to the famine which was said to prevail at the present moment in Ireland; and, therefore, he was desirous of having the return continued, so as to show the amount of oats and oatmeal imported from Ireland into England in the months of March and April last. His noble Friend had also laid on the Table various returns relative to the number of corn-laden ships which had cleared out from the different ports of Europe and America during the year 1845. Those returns gave this result—that of the corn-laden ships cleared out, 1,034 were British, upwards of 800 foreign; and 180 which were included in the first were cleared out from ports in our Colonies. The return which he now wished to have was one to show the number of ships cleared out, laden with corn, from all the ports of the different countries of Europe and America during the last year; specifying, with regard to each of those countries, the proportion of British ships, the proportion of the ships belonging to the country from which the shipment was made, and the proportion of ships belonging to foreign countries. To these returns he did not apprehend there could be the slightest objection. There was another matter which he wished to mention. Two returns, numbered 61 and 100 respectively, had been laid on the Table, giving the yearly average prices of wheat in 1845; one of these returns gave it at 50s. 10d., and the other at 55s. 10d. Now, it was very important that they should not have conflicting statements on a point so material as the average price of wheat during the year 1845; and, therefore, he hoped that his noble Friend would be able to give some explanation on the subject.
The EARL of DALHOUSIEsaid, that he had no objection to furnish the returns moved for by his noble Friend. With regard 538 to the discrepancy mentioned by his noble Friend, he would merely say, that he had made inquiry, and that he found that the return numbered 61, which proceeded from the corn department of the Board of Trade, and which stated the average price at 50s. 10d., was the correct return. The other return proceeded from the Customs' department; but how the error originated he had not yet had the opportunity of ascertaining. He could not say whether it was the error of that department, or of the printer.
§ Returns ordered.
§ House adjourned.