was deaf to their prayer. [The hon. Member proceeded at some length to address. the House, but the confusion which prevailed, and the repeated calls of "Question! Question!" rendered what he said for a long time inaudible. At length silence was partially restored, and the hon. Member was heard to declare his intention of withdrawing the original Motion in favour of the Amendment.]

The Speaker informed the hon. Gentleman, that if the original Motion was withdrawn, there would remain no question before the House, as an amendment upon a motion which was withdrawn could not be put.

Mr. Peel suggested, that they should divide upon the Amendment, with the understanding that that division was to decide the whole question. The original Motion was accordingly negatived without a division.

On the Amendment the House divided, when the numbers appeared-for the Amendment 87; Against it 255: majority against the Amendment 168.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Wednesday, March 24.

MINUTES.] Lord Viscount DONERAILE took the Oaths and his Seat as a representative Peer of Ireland, in the room of the late Marquis of Headfort.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY laid on the Table the Second Report of the Commissioners for inquiring into the Common Law Courts. Ordered to be printed. Petitions presented;-By Lord HOLLAND, from certain retail brewers of Bury, in Lancashire, complaining of the injurious operation of law affecting their trade, and praying for relief. The noble Lord presented a similar Petition from retail brewers of Manchester and Salford:-By the Earl of KINNOUL, from the merchants and other inhabitants, and from the Lord Provost, Magistrates and Town Council of the City of Perth, praying that the trade with India and China might be thrown open---- Referred to the Committee on East India Affairs:-By the Earl of STRADBROKE, from Mendlesham, Suffolk, complaining of Distress, and praying for the repeal of the Malt and Beer Duties.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thursday, March 25.

MINUTES.] The Illusory Appointments Bill was brought up from the Commons, and read a first time. The annual Finance accounts, the annual account of the Droits of Admiralty, and other casual Revenues, and the sixteenth report of the Commissioners for the repair of Roads and Bridges in Scotland, were laid on the Table. The following Returns were ordered to be laid on the Table, on the Motion of Lord ELLENBOROUGH-List of Hong Merchants, stating the particular privileges and powers with which they are invested in respect to the Canton trade: --Also, Statement of the Company's Establishment of Supercargoes, &c. at Canton, specifying the rank of each, their respective salaries, and all other charges of the establishment at Canton; likewise the commission paid to each on the European or Chinese sales of goods, or both,

from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account showing the amount of all supplies received from the several Presidencies and Settlements in India, at the Factory at Canton, distinguishing the Presidencies, and specifying the particular supplies under each head, and for each year, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account showing the amount of all supplies received from the island of St. Helena, at the Factory at Canton, specifying the particular supplies under each head, and for each year, from the year 1869-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account showing the amount of all supplies from England to the factory at Canton in each year, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:Also, Account showing the amount of the cargoes (and of what consisting) consigned from the Factory at Canton to England; likewise the amount of all payments for which England is debited, in each year, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account shewing the amount of all Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Court of Direc tors, by the Supercargoes of Canton, in each year, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive, in tales, converted into sterling money, at the rate of 6s. 8d. per tale, contrasted with the amount of the payment of the said Bills, actually made in sterling money:-Also, Account of Goods exported by the Court of Directors from England to Canton, in the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive, specifying the quantities of each, their invoice value, and a statement of the gain or loss on the sales of the Company's Exports in each year :-Also, Account of the Losses sustained by the East India Company in the China trade, in each year, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive, by perils of the sea, capture, damage or waste of goods, short deliveries, or other causes :-Also. Account of all Sums paid for freight, demurrage, or ships employed by the East India Company in the China trade, in each year, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account of the charges incurred by the East India Company on the Shipping at Canton, including the measurement of ships, &c. in each year, from 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:Also, Account of Losses sustained by the East India Company, from perils of the sea, damage of ships or cargoes, from bad debts, &c. in each year, from 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account of the actual cost of all the Company's Buildings in China, up to the latest date:-Also, a Statement of the Sums annually expended in repairs, rent, taxes, or otherwise, from the year 1809-10 to 1828-29 inclusive:-Also, Account of Long Ells, Broad Cloth, and Camblets, demanded from and exported to China in each year, from 1811 to 1829, both inclusive:- Also, Account of Lead and Tindemanded from and exported to China, from 1811 to 1829, both inclusive:-Also, Account of sundry articles of British manufacture and produce, which have been exported to China upon experiment, not having been demanded by indent, in each year, from 1811 to 1829, both inclusive:Also, Account of all Goods imported from China into Great Britain, from the year 1811 to the year 1828, both inclusive, specifying the quantity and declared value of the principal articles imported, and distinguishing the East India Company's trade from the Privilege trade:-And also, Account of all Goods exported to China from Great Britain, from the year 1811 to the year 1828, both inclusive, specifying the quantity and declared value of the principal articles exported, and distinguishing the trade of the East India Company from the Privilege trade:-Also, Extract from a Revenue letter from the Bengal Government to the Court of Directors, dated 29th of June, 1826, respecting the permission granted to Europeans to hold lands on lease, for the cultivation of Coffee:-Also, Minute of Mr. Trower, Member of the Board of Revenue at Calcutta, dated 25th of March, 1823:-Also, Resolution of the Government of Bengal, passed 7th of May, 1824:--Also, Extract of a Revenue letter from the Court of Directors to the Government of Bengal, dated 10th of September, 1828, in reply to a letter from Bengal of 29th of June, 1826: Also, Extract of a Letter from the Court of Directors to the Government of Bengal, dated 8th of July, 1829, directing that Government to adhere to the terms of their resolution of 7th of May, 1824.

Petitions presented. Praying for the Repeal of the Laws

imposing Disabilities on the Jews, on account of their re

ligion, by Lord GODERICH, from Moses Solomons, Navy residing in Norwich. Complaining of the alterations in the Navigation Laws, by the Earl of ELDON, from the by the Earl of WINCHILSEA, from the inhabitants of Romney Marsh. Praying for the Abolition of Slavery, by Earl GoWER, from Lane End and Henley, Stafford

agent, Portsmouth :-By Lord KING, from Trivett Allcock,

Ship-owners of South Shields :--Complaining of Distress,

shire. Against the Tithe System in Ireland, by Lord KING, from Sutton, in the County of Wexford.

WELSH JUDICATURE.] The Earl of Eldon presented a Petition from the Gentry, Clergy, and Freeholders of the county of Pembroke, against any alteration in the system of Welsh Judicature ;--also a similar Petition from the Mayor, Burgesses, and Inhabitants of the town of Haverfordwest. The noble and learned Lord said, he wished to take that opportunity of expressing his regret that he had been unable to attend in his place when the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack introduced the subject of the proposed changes in the law to their Lordships' notice; which was not from undervaluing the importance of the subject, or from any want of respect to the noble and learned Lord, but literally because he was unable. He would, therefore, without going into the subject to which their attention had been called, take that opportunity to state, that he would give his most serious consideration to the measures about to be introduced, and if he should be found opposing any part of them, it would not be from any spirit of contention, but from conscientious grounds of objection. Had he been in his place on Monday, he should most readily have corroborated what fell from the noble and learned Lord as to the unfounded assertions respecting the expense of the commissioners of inquiry into the Court of Chancery. The gentlemen who acted in that commission never received one farthing for their trouble. They not only gave their services gratuitously to the public, but their attention to the business of that commission was given at the sacrifice of considerable professional emolument. With respect to the inquiry proposed into the state of the Ecclesiastical-law, he admitted that the necessity of it was made out by a recent case, to which he would not then more particularly allude. As to the revision of the Criminal-law, his professional habits for a very long period of his life were such as to render him not the most competent judge on that subject, but he very willingly gave credit to those who had undertaken the task for a disposition and ability to improve the law and its administration. On the subject of the proposed

change in the Welsh Judicature, he must say that there were parts of the judicial administration in that country with which he should be very unwilling to part ;-for instance, he should not like to take from it the Equity Courts, which he considered to be a great advantage to that country. However, he would give the subject, when it came before him, his fullest consideration, nor would he assent to any change of part of that law without being most fully satisfied that the change would be an advantage to the country. He saw, in some publications, mention made of frauds in conveyancing: there might have been some, but as an old lawyer he would say to those who wished to alter the system, that they might make themselves easy on that ground,generally there were no such things. He would again repeat, that he would give his best attention to the whole subject, and would support the proposed alterations, as far as he should think they were likely to benefit the public. With respect to allusions which had elsewhere been made to himself [as we understood the noble Lord, who spoke in a very low tone,] the practice of his professional life had been to adopt the lesson which he had heard from Burke-where he found he had been properly blamed he endeavoured to correct his conduct; but where he had been improperly blamed, he pursued his course steadily, without reference to the opinions of others.

Earl Cawdor said, that he was sorry to differ from the petitioners, but he thought that the assimilation of the practice of the law in England and Wales would be a great benefit to the latter country. He was sorry to have to differ on this point from the noble and learned Lord who had just sat down; but so far from thinking that the Equity Courts to which the noble and learned Lord alluded were a benefit to Wales, he thought them an encumbrance and a hindrance to justice.

IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS.] The Marquis of Salisbury rose to move for several Returns connected with the expenses of the Commissioners of the London and Holyhead, and London and Edinburgh Roads, to the production of which, he said, he understood there was no objection. The reason why he made the Motion was, that a committee had been, as he understood, appointed in another place to inquire into the state of those roads; and he wished that their Lordships should be in possession of all the information necessary to understand

the subject, particularly the amount of the expense incurred by the commissioners. The noble Marquis then moved for the following Returns. An account of all sums of Money granted by Parliament for the improvement of the Road from London to Holyhead since the institution of the Commission for that purpose; an account of each Contract for works done on the different trusts; an account of the Debt incurred on the tolls of each trust; an account of the Tolls payable on each trust; an account of all Salaries paid under the direction of the Commissioners; and an account of all money paid for Surveys relating to the Roads between London and Edinburgh, and London and Portpatrick under the authority of Go

vernment.

Viscount Goderich wished to know, if his noble friend included in his Motion the whole of the receipts of the Commissioners, for if he did not, the account would be in complete and incorrect; the whole expenses of the roads not being met by sums from the public purse :-a considerable part of the expenditure was made good by tolls which they were authorised to levy.

The Marquis of Salisbury stated, that he wished to have an account of the whole expenditure for which the public supplied the funds, as well as that which came from other sources. What he most disliked was, a species of local taxation by Parliamentary Commissioners, which he considered to be very improper.

Viscount Goderich doubted if the Commissioners levied any money except that which they were authorised to do by Act of Parliament. In order to support the expense, an increased toll was levied at some places, and there was an additional postage on letters conveyed from London to Dublin. From these sources the money at first advanced by the commissioners had since been replaced.

The Returns were then ordered.

EAST RETFORD.] The Marquis of Salisbury moved, that a message be sent to the Commons, requesting a copy of the Minutes of Evidence taken before it on the East Retford Bill.

Lord Wharncliffe said, he did not rise to oppose the Motion, but merely to give notice, that if their Lordships should think the evidence sufficiently strong to warrant the second reading of the Bill, it was his intention to move an amendment in the committee that the franchise be transferred, not to Bassetlaw, but to one of the great

towns at present unrepresented-to Leeds, or Birmingham, or some other great town.

DISTRESS.] Lord Wharncliffe presented a Petition, signed by 3,500 persons residing in Huddersfield and its vicinity. They complained of great distress, and prayed for some relief. A part of their distress they attributed to the decline in the demand for Fancy Stuffs, which was so great as almost to destroy that trade; but the great cause of the difficulties they and other classes suffered, they attributed to the pressure of taxation, greatly aggravated by certain measures that had been adopted by Government, more particularly that of the change from a paper to a metallic currency. This change the petitioners thought should have been accompanied by a reduction of part of the national debt, or by some measure which would bring the property of the fundholder as much under the effects of taxation as the other property of the country. Upon these points he differed from the petitioners. He did not see what measure could be introduced which would have the effect of making the property of the fundholder liable in the way proposed. Nor did he admit the justice of any reduction of the national debt in any way by which faith would be broken with the public creditor. In that part of the prayer of the petitioners which sought for a large reduction of taxation he fully concurred, and he hoped to hear of still greater reductions than those which had been already announced by Government. He had great confidence in the disposition of Ministers to go as far as they could in reducing the burthens of the country. Petition laid on the Table.

CORN AVERAGES.] The Earl of Malmesbury rose to move for certain returns respecting the averages taken of the price of Corn. Those returns he considered of great importance in ascertaining how far the present mode of taking the averages was correct. Their Lordships would recollect, that when the Corn-laws were in progress through the House, it was said that a great boon was given to the English farmer by including Irish wheat in the averages; but he had reason to believe that a very small portion of the wheat from that country was actually so included. The first return for which he should move was an account of the quantity of Corn imported into Liverpool from Ireland, and the quantity imported coastwise, from July, 1828, to January, 1830. The second Return would

include an account of the weekly averages sent from Liverpool and Manchester to the Inspector of Corn-returns in the same period. By the correspondence between these, it would be seen how far the wheat imported from Ireland was brought into the general averages. In wishing that such Returns should be laid before the House, it was not his intention to found any motion upon them which would re-open the discussion of the general question of the Corn-laws. He had no such wish, and to do so he was sure would not be in accordance with the inclination of their Lordships; but it did not follow, because they did not like to have the question re-opened, that they should not have an opportunity of judging how far the present mode of taking the averages was correct. The object of the Corn-laws was, to give protection to the British Corngrower; but, in his opinion, it did not afford it to him to a sufficient extent, or to the extent contemplated by the Act. It was a great misfortune that the bill had not been divided into two, as had been suggested by himself and others. If it had, the question of the averages, which ought to have been the object of one bill, might be reconsidered without any danger of reopening the whole question; but without intending any such course, he thought Parliament was bound to adopt such measures as would best tend to carry its original object in passing the bill into effect. There was, at this very moment, a considerable rise taking place in the Corn-market, which he had reason to believe was the result of artificial operation. Some parties seemed desirous of creating an opinion that there was not a sufficient quantity of Corn in the country, but he had no doubt that such an opinion would be found erroneous, as the stock on hand was very considerable. By artificial means Corn might be raised to such an average price as would greatly diminish the import duty on foreign corn. This was the case last December, when a rise on the general average of 2s. 4d. per quarter had the effect of diminishing the duty 11s., and the consequence was, that 400,000 quarters of foreign Corn were at once poured in on the market. Had this rise been the result of a really diminished stock, insufficient to meet the demand, he would not object, but it ought not to be permitted when it was not the result of the actual quantity of Corn in the country. The Corn-law was passed for the benefit of the consumer as well as the grower, and it was right, that if by the present mode of taking the reVOL. XXIII.

turns an error was let in in calculating the averages, that error should be corrected. He thought the duty of the inspector of Corn-returns should not be confined to the mere casting up of figures, but that this officer should be satisfied of the manner in which the returns were made, and of the correctness of the data on which the weekly averages were calculated. The noble Earl concluded by moving for the Returns he had specified.

The Earl of Limerick supported the Motion. It was right, if the quantum of protection to be given to the British Corngrower were to be measured by the averages, that the mode of taking those averages should be as correct as possible, and they could not be so if the returns did not include the whole of the home-grown Corn brought into the market.

Motion agreed to.

TAXATION.] Lord Suffield said, he had to present to the House Petitions from the owners and occupiers of land in the several hundreds in the county of Norfolk, complaining of great distress, caused by the excessive burthen of Taxation, from part of which they prayed to be relieved, more particularly from the burthen of the duty on malt. The petitioners complained that they were now in a worse situation than they were ten years ago, and they stated, that the capital of the farmer had been very materially reduced, which proved that his trade had been a losing one. In adverting to the distress of the country, it was not his intention to advocate the interest of one class more than another because he happened to belong to it. He had been an enemy to the Corn-laws from the beginning, because he felt that they failed in giving that protection to the home-grower which was intended, and at the same time they had not produced any advantage to the consumer. Bread was still too dear, though the farmer did not derive any benefit from the high price. What the farmer required was, a reduction of rent, and that had taken place to a considerable extent, and a still greater reduction must take place. The petitioners, he admitted, did not pray for any such reduction, but there was no doubt that it would be a relief to them. Indeed, too high rents could not be long continued, for in the result they would operate to the injury of the party receiving, as well as to the party paying them. The distress of the country, however, did not arise in any great degree 2 E