§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEpresented a petition from the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Cork, praying of their Lordships to take some measures for the purpose of diminishing the price of food in Ireland. The noble Marquess took that opportunity of stating that he concurred in the opinion expressed by his noble and learned Friend opposite (Lord Brougham) the other evening, that the Government ought not to take any measures which would interfere with the market price of food. The system had been tried, and it had been found to operate most injuriously. The result was a grievous scarcity of provisions in every place the very week following that during which it had been tried; and in some instances, the provision dealers were obliged to shut up their shops, in consequence of the losses they had sustained. He was also perfectly ready to concur in opinion with the noble and learned Lord, that it was the duty of the Government, as far as possible, to remit obstructions to supplies of food being obtained by the people.
§ The DUKE of RICHMONDI think it is desirable that it should not go forth to the country that there is likely to be a great dearth of provisions in this country. So much has been stated about famine in Ireland, it is now said in many parts of England that there will be a scarcity of corn, and that all the evils of a famine may be apprehended. Now, I believe that that is not the case, as I believe that there is a great deal of corn in the hands of persons in this country. Besides, when, coupled with this, we see such large imports of grain from the United States, there is little reason for people to consider that the country will encounter a famine. I, for one, have no apprehension of a famine here.
§ EARL FITZWILLIAMhad not the slightest doubt that the supply of wheat, both in England and Ireland, was sufficient for those who were consumers of wheat. This would necessarily be absorbed, 772 and certainly the finer qualities of wheat would be scarce, and perhaps there might be a scarcity in the secondary qualities also; but he was anxious to correct one mistake which might be injurious out of doors. An impression had been created by the words of his noble and learned Friend, and he was anxious to correct the notion, that the people of England were suffering anything like the same destitution as that which was experienced in Ireland. The people of Ireland were not consumers of wheat, but of other produce; and as the potato crop had totally failed, want was not only felt in Ireland, but there was absolute destitution. This was a notion which he earnestly desired to correct; for if it were not corrected, it might lead to a relaxation of those efforts which were indispensable to relieve the Irish people from starvation.
LORD BROUGHAMwas anxious to explain that he had never entertained the idea that the destitution in England was in any degree equal to that in Ireland. When he made the observation to which his noble Friend referred, he had in his eye Glasgow, Liverpool, and Bristol, the ports on the western coast where a scarcity of corn had been severely felt. The point which he desired to bring under their Lordships' notice was the fact, that while great exertions had been made for the relief of Ireland, nothing like the same effort had been manifested for the poor of Scotland and England. He found no fault with the contributions that had been made for the suffering poor in Ireland. In his opinion, it did the people of this country great honour; for all classes had equally exerted themselves to succour those whom he would call their fellow-countrymen, and among the most active was that amiable, that excellent body, the Society of Friends, who, although only a small community, had contributed the munificent sum of 30,000l.
§ House adjourned.