Sitting of 23 May 1828

CORN IMPORTATION BILL.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the third reading of this bill.
Mr. Westernsaid, he had abstained from fatiguing the House with his opinions on the subject of the Corn-laws during the late discussions, because he found the unequivocal sense of the majority was against him. Having, however, directed his attention to this subject for a great many years, and often taken an active part in the discussions upon it, he was desirous, on the present occasion, to record the opinions which he had long formed and acted upon, in the shape of a string of resolutions upon the Journals of the House. As to the general state of agriculture, although the farmers had, in I most instances, recovered from the extreme depression into which they had been cast in the year 1822, he cautioned the House how they proceeded upon the notion, that the farming interests could bear tampering with. The subject was one of peril and difficulty, and he hoped they would pause before they pressed heavier on those who were the least able to bear that pressure. The hon. member concluded by moving the following Resolution, by way of amendment, viz.—
"That every legislative enactment affecting the agriculture of the country, or the commerce in grain, should have for its

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sole object the attainment of the most secure, steady, and abundant, supply possible:
"That, in order to accomplish this object, means very different have at different times been suggested; on the one hand it has been maintained, that a free commercial intercourse with foreign countries should, for this purpose, be allowed; on the other, the exclusive encouragement of British agriculture has been deemed the more effective and the safer policy:
"That our laws have for near two hundred years been framed upon the principle of the latter system above-described:
"That the most abundant supply, with the least fluctuation of price, And with a surplus for exportation, has occurred in those years in which the most effective protection has been given to British agriculture:
"That the act of 1815, prohibiting the import of foreign corn till the price of wheat rises to 80 s., has been followed by an average of 65 s., calculated upon the twelve years that have since elapsed, and of 57 s. upon the last eight years, and other grain has borne a proportionate low price:
"That, though this price, so much lower than the import prohibitory price, and the average price of the preceding twenty years is chiefly attributable to the increased value of the currency by the act of 1819, it affords ample proof that the producers of grain can no more uphold the price by means of the prohibition of foreign import, than the producers of any other article could save themselves from the depression which that act has occasioned in all the other products of industry:
"That the competition of the British growers of corn with each other has, in general, kept their profits below the profits of capital and industry devoted to other pursuits, and capital invested in land, in general returns a lower interest than when otherwise employed:
"That the cultivators of the United empire have, from its soil and climate, from their skill and industry, and the facility of conveyance, the means of rendering in our markets an abundant supply of grain with less labour, or, in other words, at a lower labour price, than most of the countries from whence a foreign supply would be drawn:
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"That for many years the money price of corn was at or below the continental price:
"That the present excess of price over the continental price is owing to artificial causes:
"That taxation adds to the cost of production, and the additional charge so created must be paid, or the production will be discontinued:
"That the burthen of taxation has been further increased in the ratio of the increase of the value of money, under the operation of the act of 1819:
"That, though the price of grain is thus forced beyond its natural level, and the level of the continent, the growth of the United Empire is adequate to the demand in ordinary years, and might be increased to an incalculable extent; and that, under these circumstances the introduction of foreign grain must eventually displace an equal quantity of home growth, adding therefore nothing to the aggregate supply, rendering a portion of it very precarious, annihilating the capital employed in the production of the corn so displaced, and depriving- of occupation such a number of husbandmen as the cultivation required:
"That the bill now upon the table, admitting foreign corn at all times upon payment of the duties therein provided, and into warehouse free of any duty till taken out for home consumption, must, in all probability, produce that effect:
"That the most fatal consequences would ensue from the operation of such a system; that the countries which shall hereafter supply us with grain in lieu of so much British displaced, would in our necessities raise a revenue by duties upon the export, which must be paid by us; they would increase their marine, by confining the corn trade to their own ships; and, finally, when our dependence upon men becomes further increased, they might in time of war force us to submit to any terms by closing their markets to our manufactures, and withdrawing from our unoccupied and famishing artizans that food which from them alone could then be supplied."
Mr. F. Lewissaid, he was not surprised that the hon. member for Essex had taken the opportunity of recording his opinions, and showing to the public and his constituents that he had discharged his, duty; but in the present stage of the bill it was surely unnecessary to enter upon a discussion of the merits of the measure.
The Amendment was negatived, and after a short conversation, the bill was read a third time.

CITIES AND BOROUGHS POLLS BILL.
Colonel Davies moved the further consideration of the report of this bill.
Colonel Sibthorpewas no friend to unnecessary expense, but thought that the bill curtailed constitutional enjoyment, on occasions which were not of frequent occurrence.
Mr. F. Palmersaid, that, if the hon. member meant by constitutional enjoyment, eating and drinking for fifteen days, he thought that a detestable nuisance, and a disgrace to the country. At the same time he did not agree as to the time laid down in this bill. He thought there ought to be a graduated scale of time, adapted to the number of voters, and the facilities or difficulties of bringing them to the poll. It was his intention to amend this bill as far as he was able; and if he could not effect the amendments he wished to introduce, then he would do his utmost to throw it out, in order that he might introduce another bill, more congenial to the feelings of the country.
Colonel Daviessaid, that if the hon. member had been with him in the committees upon this bill, he would have seen that so far from being able to effect a graduated scale, he had found the greatest difficulty in getting any scale of time at al agreed to.
Mr. Sugdenopposed the bill, as calculated to cramp the free exercise of the elective franchise. He thought the time allowed for the poll not sufficient.
Mr. Batleythought the time allowed quite sufficient.
Mr. Monckbelieved that the learned member had greatly overrated the difficulties of the bill.
Mr. O'Neilopposed the bill, as calculated to restrict the time allowed for polling in an inconvenient degree.
Mr. Robinsonthought the time ought to be extended to ten days.
Mr. Fylersupported the bill, and thought six days sufficient.
Mr. Trantopposed the bill, and moved that the report be taken into consideration that day three months.
The amendment was negatived.

LABOURERS' WAGES BILL.
On the second reading of this bill being moved,
Mr. Benettsaid, he hoped no steps would be taken upon the bill, without full consideration. Whatever faults there might be in the administration of the Poor-laws, he was convinced that, in principle, they could not be dispensed with.
Mr. Slaneysaid, that he was only anxious to have the bill referred to the select committee, on the Poor-laws. On the report of that committee, perhaps some measure, in the next session, might be found practicable. The abuses of the Poor-laws were all that he complained of.
Sir T. Fremantlebore testimony to the abuses of the Poor-laws in his vicinity. In many parts of Buckinghamshire the system was, to pay the labourers only four or five shillings a week, and the parish rates made up the deficiency.
Mr. F. Palmersaid, that the state of things was just as bad in Berkshire.
The bill was then read a second time, and the House adjourned to the 30th.

GREEK PRISONERS OF WAR.
The Earl of Darnleywished to call the attention of the House to a subject, in which the best interest of his Majesty and the honour of the country were concerned, He alluded to what was understood to have taken place since the battle of Navarino, with respect to the inhabitants of the Morea. If he were not misinformed, not fewer than four thousand inhabitants of that country, the flower of the population, had been transported to Egypt, for purposes too detestable to detail. The conviction on his mind was, that if the glorious battle of Navarino, from which the most useful results might have been expected, had been received in this country as it ought to have been, such an event would not have taken place. He feared that the fact of that atrocity
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having taken place could not be doubted, and he wished to know from the noble duke, whether measures had been taken to prevent its recurrence and to restore the unfortunate captives to their country.
The Duke of Wellingtonwas sorry to say, that certainly a great number—how many he could not say—of the inhabitants of the Morea had been carried to Egypt. That was certainly the fact—a fact, the existence of which was very much lamented by his majesty's government; who had done every thing in their power, by orders which had been sent out, to prevent the recurrence of such a misfortune; and he could now say that measures had been taken which would have that effect. He could also assure the noble lord, that directions had been given to the Egyptian troops, and endeavours had been made, as far as possible, to obtain their liberation.