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esentiai to mannffcchiiiag industry , to the general Mosnmption , or to the comforts or enjoyments of the people , it wonld be -well to -weigh the materials-which foa posses fcefore you draw such » cendnsion . It . in tie Report of tbe Conunittee wMeh sat on the Import Duties there is evidence on the point—evidence grren by the Soft . Gentleman the Member for Balton , whose attention has been directed to this subject , and who , before that Committee , and in the Bspori which he made on the Prussian League , on the siste of our commercial relations with Prussia , has erven information as to the comparative consumption of the people of this country , and the consumption of the inhabitants of the Prussian States . Ifow let us take the great articles of consumption and we begin by admitting that meat 1 b dear , and that corn is dear , the great articles which constitute fh « sustenance of the people , and administer to their
comforts . I admit that they are greatly lower in Prussia than tiey are here . ( Hear . ) But as I said before , it appears to me that the true test is not by comparative lovraesa office , bnt the command the THsODle have over that which constitutes their comforts . Now I begin with meat , and in speaking of that I shall take my information from a perfectly unsuspicious source . It is from one whe differs from me as to tlie operation of the Corn L&wf , and who is s decided advocate for their repeal . ( Hear , hear . ) Dr Bowling ' s calculation with regaTd to meat is given in 1840 . It is the report on the Zolverien ; he was speaking of a state of things in this country , where the Com Law 3 had been in operation for thirty yearsand must have affected , if thas were theii
, tendeney , the comforts of the people . Bnt what wa > the report cade by the Right Hon . Gentleman 1 Now , with respect to meat , Dr . Bownng says , thain Prussia he calculates that 14 , 000 , 000 of personconsume 485 , 000 , 008 pounds of meat ; that is at tb rate of about 35 pounds annually for each person Bnt the Hon . Gentleman rays , that in this countr-25 , 000 , 000 of persons consume 50 ! b . of meat annuallj he says that it cannot be less than 50 lbs ., and it ha been estimated a ; donble that amount . Now , I wii take it at the lowest calculation , and from Aat it appears that the inhabitants of Prussia cons-eme bu 35 pounds yearly , whs-reas in this country 50 poundare consamed annually—{ bear , hear . ) Now , tatf Sugar . Observe I am not at all denying that seveM
distress prevails ; in many parts of the country distresf prevails to a very great extent—( hear . ) I certainly dt not mean to Bay that the 17 , 000 persons in distres is . Paisley coaspme so much meat or sugar . No at all ; but it is impossible to argue the subj-cwiifcont drawing general inferences . You mu * look as the whole amount , and in doing so , you mus sot be taunted by the remark of , can voh say , ths at Paisley and Stockport , such is the amount ? 1 E&yao such thing . I admit that there there is dsuch consumption ; but in drawing general conclu hobs with respect to legislation you have no othe : alterBEtive than to deal with general averages an < comprehensive results , and by that means to ascertain upon the whole , what the consumption of :
country is . Well , now , sugar ; now , before yeu determine that high prices are necessarily an evil , j ask yon to compare the consumption of sugar ii the different countries of Europe—( hear , hear . ) rely entirely upon the authority of Dr . Bowrin . £ Hie Hon . Gentleman says that in France the con sumption of sugar is 4 . 1 bs- 80 s . per head ; I will allov that it is olbs . per head , because there is certam beeroot sugar , which he has not taken into his calculation , but in France he put it at the highest . The cob sumption of sugar by each individual per ann . is 5 lbs . in the states of the German League it is 41 b . ; ii Europe generally it 13 2 i lb . The consumption e Great Britain the Hon . Gentleman calculated at 17 Iba . per annum . I take the consumption of corn , ci this very article . —( hear , hear . ) Mr . Hume , that is Mr . Deacon Hume , a gentleman whose loss we mus all deplore—Mr . Huma calculated the consnmpiior of the people of thi 3 country to be one quarter 0 :
wheat for each person . He calculated the consumption of wheat to be 25 . 000 , 000 of quarters being oni quarter per annum for each individual . The Hon Gentleman ' s calculation is , that 24 , 000 , 000 of ibe in habitants consumed 45 , 000 , 000 quarters of grab that 13 all other Mnds of gram included . Now , 3 beg the Hcuse 10 bear in mind , with reference to iht article of corn , that the estimate of consumption bj frm > gentlemen possessed of such means of informa-Son , entertaining views which make the testimony so altogether free from suspicion , is that the consumption of this country , compared with that 01 other countries , is one quarter of wheat fcr each "individual . The Honourable Gentleman makes the total consumption for . 24 , 000 , 000 of inhabitants , 45 , 000 , 000 quarters ef grain , which hnot very far from two quarters per head for each individual . Now , the Hon . Gentleman has given usthe consumption of the Prussian States . The Prussian States contain fourteen millions of inhabitants . to
and the consumption of those States anj ^ onts thirteen mfli 5 on 3 of quarters of wheat . Observe , less than one-fourth the consumption in this country ; but while the Hon . Gentleman calculates the eonsumptaon in England as one quarter of wheat per annum for each individual , according to the Hon . Gentleman ' s calculation of the quarter of grain consumed by the inhabitants of the Prussian States , thieefourths at least is barley orrye . ( Ministerial cheers . ) The Hon . Gentleman says that throughout the Prussian States the consumption of rye is the proportion of three and four to one when compared to wheat . Tie consumption of 124 , 000 Ib 3 ., give 3 us a consumption of 651 bs . of wheat and 2401 b 3 . of rye to each individual . Thus , this 124 , 0001 b ? . gave an annual
consumption of little more than one bushel of wheat to each individual in the Prussian States , insteac of one quarter of wheat , which was the consumption of Great Britain . The Hon . Gentleman say 3 that in England the consumption of tea is twelve pounds per head per annum for each individual , while in the Prussian States it is one pound . The annual consumption of salt , in the Prussion States , is 16 j Iba-per head , in England , it 13 22 iba . per head . The consumption of cotton goods in Prussia was four pounds and one-third for each family of five persons , which was not half the amount of the consumption in England . The consumption of woollea cloth in Prussia amounts to two ells and one-sixth per head per annum . In Great Britain it is six ells
and » quarter a head . It appears that the consumption of tob&cco is greater in Prussia than in England . In Prussia it amounts to three lbs . per head per annum ; in England the consumption is only one poand per head per annum . The consumption of butter is likewise greater in Prussia , amounting to 2 Ib . per head in that country , snu lib . per head in EDglapd ; bnt you must recollect that in all the great articles , in cotton , in woolly in salt , in tea , in sugar , in corn , the very article "wineVwe are at thi 3 moment considering , the consumption of e&eh individual in this country , estimated in the year 1840 , at a time when the price of ^ d- TOs exceedingly high compared with the price ui Prussia , owing to the command which the
labourffi ? classes had of the necessaries and comforts of We , the consumption far exceeded in this country the consumption in Prussia , where the price was Jess-dear , hear . ) I do not mean to say that thatis say argument now against removing restrictions —{ load Opposition cheers . ) It is no argument a £ * iasJ giving an increased command over these * rtieles , _ bnt it is an argument to show that it is not te& to give the diminished price of food as an argument for the prosperity of that country . Information had been laid on the table as to the condition of tie labouring classes in Belgium . Now Belgium is a great manufacturing countryand is represented
, ss fifimr in a jjjgjj giats of " prosperity . In this document the wages of the agricultural " labourer in ¦ Bel gium 13 stated at lid . per day , those of "Wavers at 1 =., mz 3 uns , 1 ? . 3 d ., " locksmiths * a « carpenters I 3 . 3 d ., manufacturing labourers •^' 31 , miners and qnarrymen Is . 4 d ., jewellers and Kwisinhas Is . 8 i Sach is the rate of wageE in fXigium . In the last vear the market price of wheat ^ teat country was from 51 ? . 9 d . to 53 s : per quarter . ^ tAnnverp it was from 51 s . to 55 s . per quarter . J-ismg , then , the general average of the prices of ^ ra in Belgium , and comparing them with the iaoant of wagfs in that countrv . notwithstanding
"S manufacturing and agricultural prosperity , it appears to me that the wages in that country do not KLt * 18 * command over the enjoyments of life Y&xl the wages received ia this country do . Sir , j r « o to this for the purpose of confirming my t ^ resaon that to look for any rapid or great change ja Uie condition of the people of this country from fijT extensive alteration in the Corn Laws , wonld !^ e » yo u to great disappointment . Mj firm belief «~ i am speaking of those who are in favour of the ^ solute repeal of the Corn Laws—my firm impresr ^ ° is , that if this House were to consent t-j *? P lotal repeal which is nrged upon their con-« teation , instead of mitigating , in the -SSfctes : degree , the maaufacturins distress
now prevalent , you would only snperadd to » tae severest agricultural distress—( htar , hear . ) « ay £ neh disturbance of the agricultural interests Wcn"Q , in my opinion , inevitably lead to fatal results , cw merely in respect of the agriculturists , but to tcoseoiier clashes of society whose prosperity was identical -with theirs . There is , however , another Portion of those who are advocates for a material ^ iteration in the Corn LawBj who do not go the i ! r - ° * aiTisin S absolute repeal of those law ? , kot substitution , in place of the present , of a fixed duty upon com . With respect to these , the ground is airrowed which we take . They are in favour of a pxed dnty oa corn—they admit that the agriculturist Js entitled io protection , and therefore'would impose * fluty invariable in amount upon the importation of wraen corn . With respect to those , it must be re-« embered that whatever odium attaches to the im-Poation of a variable doty , must necessarily apply ,
J" * n equal force , to the imposition of a fixed duty . \ Une 3 of * No , no . *) I am sure , Sir , Honourable tfentlemen . opposite do not understand me . I am not saying that the same objection applies to a fixed H ^ y as to a variable cne . I am only saying this , last as far as odium is attuned to the imposition ° f * ny duty on the main subsistence of the peoplemj to that extenr , in principle , a fixed duty is noaJy liable to objection . ( Cries of " hear , hear , aa loud Tory cheering . ) There may be advantages « a fixed duty . That iijfor argument—( hear , hear )
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but theargnment against the imposition of any duty whatever on the main article of subsistence applies with equal force to the fixed a 3 to the variable duty . ( Hear . ) Both the one and the other must assume that agriculture requires protection —( Tory cheering)—either on account of the burthens which they have to bear —( cheers }—or for reasons of public policy to encourage the productions of our own soil —( hear , hear . " > But on principle , it is impossible to say tbat they do not rest on the same ground , and must be defended by the same arguments —( hear , ¥ ?* v * c ? minf , n ^ k mv colleagues , I have given this subject thejuUest and most patient consideration ; and , if I could come to the conclusion that for a variable it wonld be better to substitute a fixeddutv
, I hope I should consider the obligations under which I a-ct , as Minister of the Cromj , and should have the moral courage to avow it and to propose itto the House . But « ffc r giving the fullest consideration to tne principle of amendm ^ thelaw , I cannot reconcile myself to that- ( " hear , " from the opposition . ) I do Dot beiieve we could impose an amount of a fixed dnty sufficient for the protection of domestic agriculture in years of average supply , which would at the same time determine in other years the quantity or the price that would be adequate to the wants of the country . In the consideration of the qaestion it is Eeee ? sary to ascertain what are the probabilities that this
country can , from its own resource « , supply its population . ( Tory cheers . ) I am not prepared ro admit that this country is unable in ordinary times to supply itself . If I formed my judgment , Sir , from the quantity of corn grown during the last four years , I should be bound to admit that we were dependent on a foreign supply for a great portion of our subsistence , btcause during the last lour years , : o state the case fully and fairly , the average importation of foreign grain was 2 . 30 ( 3 , 000 quarters in each of those four years . And if we take the last twelve or thirteen yfars we shall find that on the whole the importation of foreign corn has been very considerable , I think altogether twelve or thirteen millions of
qnarters of foreign wlieat and foreign flour . Since vhe yc-a ? \ 823 , tna total amount of foreign wheat and foreign flour e- tred for home consumption , from 5 : h of July , 1828 , to ihe 5 th of July , 1841 , is 13 , 475 , 000 quarters . ( An Hon . Member on the Opposition- benches—In each year ? The Hon . Baronet xplained thas it was the whole amount , and pro-¦ . eedtd . ) This I think must be admitted also , it' we ake any period of the last ten years . Wa cannot > ave any such period of time as ten years during -vhich we shall be quite independent of foreign supply ; such a period of time cannot leave us
withut , during us progress , being under the necessity of mporting a supply of foreign grain , and in that ecse you are not independent of foreign snpply . I retain my opinion that it is of the utmost imporaiiCe to the permanent interests of this country , hat it should be as far as possible independent of reign snpply . ( Hear . ) I do not mean an abso-¦ lte and entire independence , which , I know , is ab-; 9 inreJy impossible—it is perfectly impracticablemd nothing , I think , can be so mischievous as to * : tempt to pass laws which should have the effect of giving such an encouragement to domestic produce ts should certainly secure us such an unqualified ndependence . This is impossible , but , speaking enerally , I think it i 3 important that a country
ke this , whose chief means of subsistence are de--ived from irs supply of wheat , —I say that it is : aiportant that if a country like this , is obliged to esort to foreign countries , it ought to be rather or the purpose of making up ics deficiency , than or drawing its constant and chief source > f subsistence- ( Hear , hear hear . ) Now , Sir , I ' orm this inference , as I said before , from whit has aken place during the four years ; and , looking at ^ vhat Has occurred , I am bound to admit that this country was dependant on others for a considerable portion of its supply , because , as I have before Elated , the amount imported during that time has : > een on the"average 2 , 300 quarters a-year . But let ¦ is take the last ten vears , and let us see what was
; he average importation during the first six of those years . . During the first six of the last ten years , the produce of the country was sufficient for its own consumption . During the first- six years of the last en years the average importation of corn into this country amounted only to 137 , 000 quarters . And ihat having been the case during the six years of 1832 , 1833 , J 834 , 1835 , 1836 , and 1837 , it would be oomuca , I think , to infer that the population had so rapidly increased with reference to its subsisic-rce , that you must altogether abandon the hope of ieriving sufficient supply from your own agriculture Within the last ten years the population of this rouutry had , of course , considerably increased ; md , during the last four years it had been found accessary to import foreign corn , but durjng the six years preceedmg , the average produce of the country-had been sufficient for ihe consumption . I
am not prepared , therefore , to admit the conclusion , that there must necessarily be a periodical and annual importation of foreign corn to Eupply the deficiency in thi 3 country . And therefore , Sir , in determining oar duty , we had to provide for periods of comparative abundance , as well as for periods of comparative scarcity—( hear , hear . ) Six years of good harvests might again recur , during which the produce of the country would be sufficient for its own consumption . If they did recur , then I fear that the effect of a fixed dnty would be that the unlimited right of importation , at a given amount of duty which you would always undertake to maintain in time 3 of scarcity , would subject this country to severe distress , and suffering in consequence of the rzress of produce , the fail in prices , and in the remuneration for labour—( hear , hear . ) Sir , it has been observed by writers of the highes ; authority , that unfavourable and favonrahle seasons return
in certain cjcles—that you will often find , looking back to the prodnce of several years , that years of favourable harvests on the Continent have b ^ en generally found contemporaneous with favourable harvests here ; for the great producing countries of Europe are within the same parallels 0 / latitude , and are affected by tbe same climate ; and i : will , therefore , be found that abundant or scarce harvests prevail through them all at tha same time . Now where there is an abundance , the consequence of a slight addition to the quantity of corn produces an -effect on prices very different from tho amount ef excess . Mr . Tooke , in his work on price ? ,
lays down the principle as follows : — " It will be found that prices vary in a ratio very different from the variation of quantities , and that the difference of the ratio between quantities and prices is liable to alter according to the nature of commodities ; but more in the case of corn , probably , than in that of any other article of extensive consumption . " Mr . Tooke also makes a comparison between defective and abundant harvests in this country and those of the continent , and the conclusion he comes to is , that it is gen-rally the case that deficient harvests here are accompanied by deficient harvests in the chief producing conn tries of Enrope , so that an abundant harvest here is an indication of an
abundant harvest on the continent —( hear . ) While , therefore , this calculation shews what supply we migh ; look for from oiher courtries , it also shews that at a time of nnnatural depression , we might receive such discouragement to our native productions , as to make U 3 dependent on foreign countries , a result that I should deplore as a great evil . ( Loud crie 3 of ' . 'Hear , hear . " ) It 13 urged on the other side , by the advocates of a fixed duty , that the conscqueEce of imposing a fixed duty would be to prevent those great alternation ? , and that although it might be difficult to maintain a fixed duty if there were periods of some Ecarcvy , yet t-iat the tendency of snch a law will prevent such a scarcity , ana the occurrence of such a contingency ,
in whiea tee d . ffieuky wou ; d principally consist . Now , all experience seems to me to show , that with respect 10 corn , such fluctuations in produce and in price most be impossible to be remedied by legislation . —( hcaj , hear . ) That no law that you couid pa-= 3 for the free importation of corn would , in case of deficient harvest here and on the continent , prevent a rise in price to snch a point as to make a fix ? d duty intolerable . Take the United States , which were not subject to the operation of the Corn-Jaws , and then you will find the amount of fluctuation in price arising from the fluctuation of the seasons to be as fcreat as that prevailing in this country—( bear , hear . ) In Prussia you will find , with respect to rye , a specie 3 of grain not affected
by ths Corn-isw 3 that in consequence of the fluctuation of the seasons as great a fluctuation in the price of it takes place , aa in the price of any other grain . If the fixed duty be 8 s . or 10 s ., and if ycur anticipations , that by legislative eEactments you can guard against the rising of prices be not fallacious , and then prices rise to 80 or 90 shillings , I retain the impressions I stated in the course of last Session , that to Government could untertake at fueh prices to enforce a fixed duty . If that be admitted , you must make some provision for its relaxation . If you entrust the power of relaxation to the executive authority , you introduce immediately uncertainty into the operation of the law . You give a power capable of being abused , and most difficult to be exercised ; and
if this be bo you destroy that confidence iu the permanence of your trade which you rely on as the Breat encouragement of trade ; and , therefore , with reference to a fixed duty , as applicable to the state of the country when there are low prices of corn , or as applicable to a state of scarcity when high prices prevail , I have come to the conclusion , after fully considering the subject , that it is not advisable for Parliament to alter the law and apply the principle of * a fixed duty . ( Loud Ministerial cheers . ) The alteration of the law which I shall propose will proceed upon the . principle of retaining a duty upon with
corn , varying inversely the price of the article in the whole market , that is , the principle of the existing law . The maintainance of that principle necessarily involves the principle of the system of averages . It is said there would ba great advantages in sweeping away altogether the system of averages . It is quite true that it might be competent to abandon the system of averages with respect to the imposition of a duty on corn ; bni you must maintain a system of averages , because the whole of your proceedings are founded on a system of averages ; it is impotdbla to abolish the systemfof aT « ras : es , Ibecaus * fy ¦ \ naaal
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payments are founded oa the accounts of the averages . It appears that as the averages must be maintained for tbe purpose of tithes , it would sot be expedient to adopt any other system materially varying in principle from that for determining the duty on corn . I propose , therefore , as necessary to a rarying duty , to retain a system of averages . It is the general impression throughout the country that there has been great fraud in respect of the averages—a very general impression , particularly in the agricultural districts , that there has been either great fraud 8 practised on the averages , or that extensive combinations have been entered into for the purpose of influencing the averages , and procuring the release of corn at lower prices . In Leeds , Wakefield , and
other parts of Yorkshire , there have been great and successful combinations for the purpose of influencing the averages . As I said before , I am inclined to think that the apprehensions upon this subject may not be altogether without foundation , but I think that the apprehensions which have been entertained are greatly exaggerated . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , Sir , if I take the averages for six weeks in the year 1841—if 1 take the aggregate averages of the kingdom for the six weekB ending the Sth of August , the ISch of August , the 20 th of August , the 27 th of August , th& 3 rd of September , and the 10 th of September , the averages of the kingdom , for the whole of those six weeks , was 73 a . Id . Now , if I exclude London altogether from tbe averages , the general
average would bo 72 s . 8 d ., in place of 73 s . Id . If exclude the Yorkshire market , tha general average for the kingdom woflid be 71 s-lid . It is probable that tbe raisins of the price in the London market may have the effect of raising the price iu the other markets ; but as far as you can judge from the figures and returns , I think that the apprehensions that there have been very exiecsive frauds with respect to tho averages have beeD , as I said before , not altogether unfounded , perhaps , but that they have been greatly exaggerated . It should be remembered that the price of corn in London was higher than in Leeds and other parts of Yorkshire , and , therefore , they could draw no neeessaTy inference that great fraud had been practised because the
London averages exceeded tnose of other places For instance , from tho 13 th of August to tho 7 th of September , in 1838 , the weekly average was 73 s . The exclusion of the London market could have made no difference . In the year 1840 the aggregate average , from the 24 th of July to the 20 th of August , was 70 s . 2 d . ; the average , exclusive of the London market , was 70 ? . lid ., but that difference made a great difference in the amount of duty . The duty upon the aggregate average of 70 s . JH& , would have been 2 s . % &-. but the average , excTusWe of the London market , would have raised the price of corn up to 10 s . 8 d . Bat then , as I said before , as the price of corn in London is higher than in the oountry markets , you
must n&t infer fraud from that circumstance . But , Sir , various proposals have been made with respect to the amendment of the law as it affects averages —proposals which have received the utmost consideration from her Majesty ' s Government . I think there will be a general agreement in this , that whatever system is di-vised fraud should , as far as possible , be prevented . ( Cries of " hear , hear , '' from the Opposition benches . ) It is advised by some that the returns ke taken by the growers . That is a proposal which it is impossible to adopt . At present the Irish and Scotch returns of corn sold are admitted into the averages . It would be impossible to have this course adopted , excluding the Irish and Saotch grower , as it would have a very material effect in raising the price of corn . Sir , I must state that I think we ought to guard as far as possible
against fraud ; but I do not think we ought to effect an increase of protection by any indirect operation . If any protection be requisite , make it to come direct only [ nm the Legislature , but it would not be fair to procure indirect protection and encouragement of domestic agriculture by any suggestion with respect to the averages , except with a view of preventing fraud . Var . ous alterations in the law of the averages may be made which will have that effect , which if they are necessary tor the purpose of guarding against fraud , ought , in my opinion , to be adopted ; but for the purpose of getting any indirect protection for agriculture , I cannot be a party to the proposal of such an alteration —( hear , hear . ) It has been suggested by some that the sellers should be bound , under a penalty , to make a return of the corn sold . It is difficult to foresee what
would be tbe effect of requiring , under a penalty , any farmer who might Eell a certain proportion of corn , to make a return of the quantity sold instead of the return made as at present . 1 conceive that the greatest , and only effectual , security , against fraud is to dimmish the temptation to commit it ' Any plan that will remove motives of self-interest will constitute a most effectual security . The proposal of her Majesty's Government , with respect to taking the averages , is this : —They wiU propose to take the averages in the present mode from the faotor , or miller , or purchaser—the party who now , under the existing law , makes the return each market day of tbe whole of the purchases he has made during the preceding week ; and upon the
whole we can see no advantage in departing from that principle , namely , of making the buyer of the corn return the amount of sales of the preceding week . Trusting to these alterations , we shall make a levy oi' tae duty for the purpose of preventing fraud . We shall propose that ihe duty of collecting the returns shall be devolved upon the Excise . The Excise is perfectly competent to undertake it . They have officers employed in the market towns , and such officers are qualified to discharge the duty , by having similar duties to perform—enabled at tho same time te perform the duty by their general habits of bnsiness , and the responsibility they incur on account of their being public officers , giving , by their character , and that of their occupations , greater
security against fraud than could be given by any persons in a private capacity— ( hear . ) We propose , therefore , that when the averages have been taken , they shall be collected and transmitted by an Excise officer . Another security which we propose to take , is to widen the range from which the returns are to be taken . At present there are 120 towns mentioned in the Corn Act from which returns are received ; from this number of 120 many considerable markets are excluded . We propose , therefore , not to take any discretionary power f » r the Executive to add to the number of these towms , but in the Bill which wo intend to introduce we » hall name several populous towns which arei ; ow extensive corn markets which
have hitherto beeen excluded , in tho list for the averages . This , by increasing the number of places from which corn * returns are to bo wollectcd , we shall obtain greater security against the average being improperly iufl-uenced , wiiile at the Bame time we shall gain a nearer approach to tho actual average price of corn , than wo could hope to obiam under the former system . It was thought proper when the present law was passed to limit the towns from which returns were to be made to those of England and Wales . 1 propose to continue this . limitation , so that although I propose to add several towns , the towns added will all be situato in England and Wales .
An Hon . Member on the Opposition side—How many town 3 are to be added ? Sir R . Peel—I will name them all in the Bill . I propose to add those towns which have hitherio been excluded ! Although we propose , therefore to prevent fraud in the taking of the averages , first , by widening the range from which the averages are taken ; and , tecondly , by employing a * responsible officer , acting under the authority of a public-beard , to make the returns . But we more particularly rely , as a prevention of fraud , upon such an a ' tera ion of tnedu ; y as chull diminish the tempatiou to it , ( Loud cheer ? . ) I trust I have made myself sufficiently undt-. rs : ood by the House as to the alterations I propo .-e to introduce in the method of taking tho averages
—( hear , and cheers . ) I now approach that much more important subject , in fact , tew subjects can be of more importance , the amount of the protection , we propose to give to corn , the produce of this couniry , aud the manner in which we propose to Isry the duty . At present the House is aware thv duty depends—( here there was considerable interruption , the cause of which we did not , apprehend . ) The llight Hon . Gentleman resumed . At present tno duty on corn is levied in this Tr * anuer : —When the price _ is 593 . and under 60 i . vy ; quarter , a duty of 27 s . is levied . It then dimuiisi e » at the rale of l .- \ of duty , with Is . increase of price , until it arrives at a prico above 663 and not above G / s . when the duty fallb 2 . t . for Is . rUe of price until it
reaches above 683 . Above 69 s . the duty is 16 s . 8 J . At 70 . - -. per quarter the duty is 13 s . i ) d , ; at / Is . it Ls 10 s . 8 J ., then it-falls 4 s ., and at 72 s . it is 63 . 8 d . At 73 i . it is 2 a . 8 d ., and wiitn corn reaches a higher price that that per quarter the duty is Is . per quarter . Now , Sir , the objection to this mode of regulating the duty are these : —JTirst , that the reductions of duty are so rapid , tha ; . they hold out a temptation of 16 s . 8 J . up to the price of 70 s ., for a fraudulent operation upon the averages ; this temptation operates from 66 a . to 73 s . From 60 s . to 73 s . there is an increase of price of 13-. per quarter , bnt there is a decrease of duty of 25 s . Sd , which makes an under current of 38 i . 8 d . in a single quarter of corn combining to raise the averages between those prices . This difference between 60 s . and 733 . is aa inducement to retain earn for the purpose of affecting the averages .
At 66 s . the inducement to retain corn in the hope of a rise in its price is 4 s . on account of its price , and 10 $ n account of the duty , being au amount of 143 . in the price of a quarter . Between 70 s . and 73 s . there is a difference of 3 s . on account of price , and in . in point of duty , beingan inducement of 12 ? . to retain corn at 70 s . in the hopes of its reaching 73 =. Now ; it has been urged that these rapid rises in the price are injurious to the consumer , are injurious to the producer of corn , and injurious also to the revenue ; injurious to tbe consumer , because when corn is 663 . and 70 s ., and when it would be to ihe public advantage to liberate it for the purpose ofdistriDution , stiiJ , by the joint operation of an increased price aud a diminished duty folders of corn Wrre induced to keep it back , notwitijErandiLgthehigh price , in hope = oireaiizingaprice upwards of 73 * . and of pouring in corn at a duty of Is The agriculturists onght to ! obserro what is the effect
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of a law whtoh permits the importation : of corn at la . duty . la the year 1838 the total amount of wheat imported for homo consumption was 1 , 723 , 000 quarters ; and of thatamount 1 , 261 , 000 quarter * * were entered at the duty of Is . la 1840 the total amount of wheat entered for home consumption was 2 , 020 , 000 qnarters ; and of that amount 1 , 217 , 000 were taken out at a duty of 2 a . Id . It is not merely to the amount taken out at a duty of Is . or of 2 s , 8 d . that we are to look ; we are also to look at the time of the year at which these duties were paid . That is a matter which it is very important we should observe . In the year 1838 , the corn so taken out at a duty of Is . was taken out in the week following the 13 th of September . In tho year 1840 , the corn taken out at
a duty of 2 s . 8 d . was taken out on the week following the 3 rd of September . In eaoh of those years by far the greater part of the foreign wheat was taken out at the low duty of Is . or of 2 s . 8 ( 1 .-Bat . it .-was taken out at the . ' critical period just before the farmers in the greater part of the counties of England had thrashed their corn for the purpose of bringing ifc to market—( heat , hear . ) There was , therefore , a sudden depression in the price of corn at that critical period , on account of the quantity of foreign corn that was poured in at the low amount of duty , which met the British farmer in the market just at the time he was thrashing his corn far the purpose of sale . And this told , with ta peculiarly unfavourable effectupon the
, farmers in the North of England . As their harvest was so late , and as they were obliged to bring their corn at a late period into the market , they were peculiarly exposed to tho disadvantago of having to contend with a sudden iniux of corn , kept back for the purpose of being procured in the market at the lowest rate of duty which it was possible to expect , That consideration alone , it appears to me , ought to weigh with those who are the most useful advocates of protection to agriculture ! end induce them to listen with favour to a modification of the existing law . Now with tho permission of tho House I shall proceed in the course of a few minutes to read to the House the scale of duty which we propose to apply . —( Hear
hear . ) That scale of duty is devised with a sincere desire to afford to agriculture , and to the agricultural interest , every protection which it can legitimately claim . —( Hear . ) But , at the same time , it ib a scale devised for the purpose , when foreign corn is required of facilitating , as far as possible , comnieroial intercourse with respect to com m and of subjecting dealings in corn to the same principles which regulate all other commercial transactions . Nothing can bo more difficult than to dotef mine the amount of protection which home produce is entitled to . Bat with respect to wheat I do not think there would be much difficulty in determining on what would be a fair average , and a satisfactory price to the country at large . If we take the averge of the prices of
wheat , the seven years' average , on which the tithe commmutation act was founded , we find that the average price of wheat was £ 6 s . lOd . a quarter . - ^ The average of the last ten years was 64 s . lid ., but this average of ten years , includes three years during which corn was higher than I anTsure any one would wish to see it again . For myself ; I should say that so far as ) . can judge for the agriculturist , I believe that if they could be secured iii a price somewhere betweed 54 s . and 5 % . a quarter , they would not object to the admission of foreign corn . Taking the average of the Beven years wihich was the basis of the Tnhe Bill , and taking the average of the last ten years , but excluding the lhree years which exhibited the extreme portion , you will find an average
of 56 s ., which , so far as I can judge , is a fair remunerattng price , which I Bhould not wish to see exceeded . ( Cries of " Hear , hear . " ) I cannot see , on the other hand , any advantage , considering the circumstances of the oountry , and the existing relations betweea landlord and teuant , and considering the happiness of the country , I cannot , I say , see any great advantage in any diminutionfaelow thatamount . 1 am of opinion that the variation in the prices should be limited to some suai between these extremes . ( Hear ,.-hear . ) But , as I said before , any calculation of this kind must bo vague . The quality of land , the rents paid , and a thousand other consideration enter into the question , and therefore nothing were more v&in than , in particular casos , to
determine what is a remunerationg price for corn . ( Hear , hear . ) Tho same difficulty occurs in regard to what shall be the rate at which foreign corn can be imported with advantage into this country . In the first place , it is necessary to ascertain the quantity ; and in ascertaining the price of corn , the quantity must be particularly regarded . The price of wheat and the distance of the country necessarily enter into the calculation , and therefore it is almost impossible to determine what is the exact price at which foreign corn can be brought into this country . I will proceed now to read the scale of duty which her Majesty ' s Government proposes to place upod corn . We propose that when corn ib under 51 s ., a duty of 20 s . shall bo attached ; but in
no case shall that duty be exceeded : when it is from * ls . to 52 s , per quarter , the duty be lite . ; we should i hen propose to make what may bo called a rest in the scale , for the purpose of applying to the three next items of prices the uniform duty of 18 s ., so that when corn was from 52 s . to 55 s . there should be a duty of 18 s . Then from 55 s . to 56 s . a duty of 17 s . ; from 5 fiSi 67 s ., ' 16 s . ; from 57 s . to 583 ., 15 s . ; from 58 s . to 59 a ., 14 s . ; from 59 i . to 6 " 0 s ., 13 s , ; from 60 s , to 6 ls ., 12 s . ; from 61 s . to 623 ,, Us . ; from 623 . to 63 s ., 10 i . ; from 63 i . to 643 ., 9 i ; from 643 . to 653 ., 8 s . ; from 653 . to 66 s . 7 s . Then , with respect to tho three next itema I would apply tho duty of 6 s ., so that when corn is from 663 . to 6 . 7 s . per quarter , there shall be a duty of 6 . » . We then propose , when
corn i ? at from 693 , to 7 # 3 . there shall be a duty ot 53 . ; from 703 . ? to 71 s . a duty of 4 s . ; ' . from ; 7 . 1 s . to 72 s . a duty of 3 a ; from 72 s . to 73 s . a duty of 2 s . ; from 73 : * . to 743 . a duty of Is ., and that a , t 75 s . the duty shall altogether vanish . —( Cheers and laughter . ^ hat I propose , then , is when coryiH the British empire is under the price of 51 s . the duty should nerer exceed 20 a . as I am perfectly Satisfied that it would be useless to take any greater amount ; The duty when the price of wheat is from £ 63 . to 57 s . will be 16 s ., and from 60 s . to 61 s ., as I" said before , 12 s . I apprehend that the effect of this seale will be to diminish the temptation to practice on the averages , and teat when the price of corn has arrived at from 6 O 3 , to 61 s . there will be no inducement , oil account
of the duty to keep back corn from tho market . It must be recolleoted that there will be always an inducement to a certain extent to hold back corn , for the purpose of realising a greater profit . If the markets are rising , and tjiere is a prospect of the price rising to 73 s ., there may be a considerable inducement to hold back to take adyantage of the rise . To attempt to Temove altogether every inducement tojhold back would be useless ; but I trust that the proposed scale is so arranged as to hold out no inducement on account of the diminishing scale of duty to hold corn back from the markets—( hear . ) I onw wish to call the attention of the Honse to what has been the effectin the articles of oats andbarley , of a more practical reduction of the duty under
th « present law . In the case of wheat , the fall in the duty is bo rapid , that it offers a temptation to hold back wheat until it shall have reached such a price as to bo admitted at the lowest scale of duty . In Barley and Oats , where the fall in the amount of duty is more gradual , the same resuhs have not followed . Of 3 , 513 , 000 quarters of Oats which have been imported , 248 , 000 quarters were admitted at a duty of Is . 3 d ; , 6 * 95 , 000 at a duty of 33 . 2 d , 243 . 000 at 4 s 9 d ., and MO , 000 at 6 s . 3 d . Such is the effect of a gradual fall'in the duty oils . 6 d . I propose to apply the ijame principle to wheat ; and , by applying , that principle to wtieat , I consider that there is every prospect that wheat , like oats , will be taken out at a higher rate of duty ,
that the revenue will profit accordingly , and that the commercial and agricultural interests will bo equally benefittod by . ' wheat being taken : ' ¦ out ot bond when tho legitimate demand requires it . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , with respect to tho other articles of grain , I propose to adopt the proportions I find in the existing law . The proportions in the existing law are , that aEsumihg the value of wheat to be IOO 3 ., the value of barley is taken at 53 s ., the value of oats is taken at 40 gM and the value of rye , pea . s , a » d beans is taken at 60 s . If it "be assumed that at a duty of 563 . for wheat , a duty of 16 s . should apply , on barley , a duty of 93 . ought to apply ; when pats , are at 22 s ., a duty of about 6 s . 3 d . ought to arnvlT ; when rye , peas , and beans , are at 32 j . j a am not at all of
uuiy qI ) 0 s . 3 ^ d . Now I aware any rea : ( as whioii exist for altering the proportions with respect to other kinds of grain , which we find established by the existing law ; aud I propose , therefore , that in adjusting the duties applicable to other kinds of gtain -to existing proportions of the Corn Law should be applied . Tae schedule of duties which I will propose for those several articles of consumption will correspond with the relation of price . In the case of foreign oats , I proposo that the maximum duty should te 8 . 3 . Probably it is scarcely necessary that I should read the whole in detail , bstin the case of oat 81 propose that tbe maximum duty should be 83 . j that it should fall with the increase of price , 7 s ., then that it should fall to 6 s , and continue at 6 s . for the three items of price , 21 s ., 22 s ., and Hi . ; it hat at 24 s ., the average prioeoi" duty should be 5 s ., that it shoald continue to decline as the prices increased by Is . ; that the extremes of variation : of
duty , should be la ., and the duty of Is . should be the minimum , and be continued when the price of Oata shall bo 2 te . ( Hear . ) In the « asee of Barley , I would propose that under 26 s . the duty shall be for every quarter , lls ., that being the maximum ; that between 2 Ss . and 27 s ., the duty should , be IOs . j at 27 a , and under 30 s ., it should continue at $ s . ; that at 30 a ; and 31 s . it should be 8 a ., and so on until 37 s . and upwards ; when the duty should be decreased to Is . In the case of rje , peas , and beans , I propose that the same proportion should be observed . I don ' t think it necessary to read the scale that will apply to rye , peas , and be ^ M , particularly as it is founded on the same principle . The Jaw which regulates tho importation of British Colonial wheat at : present is to this effect : —British Colonial wheat and flour has been imported into this couniry at a duty of 5- ? ., whenever the p ^ ice of British wheat is below « rs . When tha price of British wheat exceeds 67 s .
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it is then admissible at a duty of 63 . 6 d ^ I propose to give the same advantages to Colonial wheat , with respeofc to . the reduotion in price , as is applicable to other descriptions of grain . But , considering that the sudden drop from 5 s . to sixpence , in conseoueHce of the difference of one shiUinff in prioe , yi at variance with the ) principle of the Uiw which seeks to establish as equable and uniform a reduction of duty as possible , we propose to ; make these axrangements ¦ with respect to cQlonial wheat—that when the price of British wheat is tinder 56 s . the duty upon every quarter of British colonial wheat should be 53 . ; when it is &fe , and under 56 ? . th » duty to be 4 s . ; and 5 Ss . and under 57 s . the duty to be 39 .: at 57 a . and under 58 s . the duty to be 2 s .: at
58 a . and upwrrda the duty to be Is . ; and this is to take away that sudden fall in the amount of duty upon colonial wheat which takes place under the the existing law , thus giviug to colonial wheat the advantages in reduotion which are given to other descriptions of corn . With respect to flour , I should propose that it be admitted at the same relative scale at which wheat is admitted . I believeV Sir , I have put the House in full possession ; 6 f what Her Majesty's Government intends to propose onthis subject . If you compare theroduoUon in the amount of duty with the existing duty you will find that it is Very considerable . To those who have appeared to think that the modification , which I propose to make in the existing law is
of no importance , I shall only say , compare my scale of duties on the admission of foreign corn with the existing scale of duties . When corn is at 593 ., and under 60 s ., the duty at present is * 7 s . 8 d . When corn is between those prices , the duty I pjrppose is 133 . Whaa the price of cota is at 50 ^ , the existing duty is 36 s . 8 d ., increasing as the price falls ; instead of which I propose , when corn is at 50 s , that the duty shall only be 20 s ,, and that that duty shall in no case be exceeded . ( Hear , hed . r . ) At 563 . the existing duty is 30 s , 8 i . ; the duty I propose at that price is I 63 . At 60 s . .-the ; ' exisiing duty is 26 s . 8 i . ; the duty I propose at that price is 123 . At 633 . the existing duty is 233 . 'Bil . ; ' the duty I propose is Is . At 64 ^
the existing duty is 22 d . 8 d . ; tho duty Ipropose i& 8 d . At 70 si the existing duty is 90 s . 8 d . ; the duty I propose is 5 . 3 . Therefore , it is impossible to deny , » n comparing the duty which I propose with that which exists at present , that it . will cause a very considerable decrease of the protection which the ' present duty affords to the home grower , a decrease , however , which in my opinion can be made consistently with justice to all the interests concerned . The protection which I propose to retain , I do not retain for the especial protection of any particular class —( hear . ) Protection cannot be vindicated on that priiiciple . ( " Hear , " from the opposition . ) The Only protection which can be vindicated ia that protection which is c # Dfiioitent with the general
welfareof all classes in the country—( hear , I shouk not consider myself a friend to the agriculturist if I asked for a protection Trith a View of propping up rents , or for the purpose of defending his interests or the interests of any particular class—( hear)—and in the proposition I now submit to the Houso I totally disclaim any such intention . My belief , and the belief of my colleagues is , that it is important for this country , that it is of the highest importance to the welfare of all classes in this country , that you should take care that the main sources of your supply of corn fahould be derived from domestic agriculture , —( hear , hear ); while we alsofeslthat an additional price which you may pay in effecting that object is an additional price which cannot be
vindicated as a bonus or premium to agriculture , butonly on the ground of its being adyantageaus to the country at largo . Yoa are entitled to place such a price on foreign corn as is equivalent to the special burdens borne by the agricuUurist , " and any additional protection you give to them i-JEtin willing to admit can ouly be vindicated on tho ground that it ia for the interest of the countiy generally . ( H ^ ar , hear . ) I , however , certainiy ao consider that it is for the interest of all classes th . t we should be paying occasionally a small additional sum upon our own domestic produce , in order that we might thereby establish a security and insurance
against those calamaties that would ensue , if wb became altogether , or in a great part , de-. pendent upon foreign countries for our supply . — If it is the pleasure of Parliament to affirm our proposal , it will , of course , pass into a law . If it be the pleasure of Parlia , inent to reject it , I hope still thatithe question may | be adjusted . Whatevor may be the determination of Parlia , menfc with reepect to it , I shall conclude by expressing my most earnest and solemn hope that the arrangement , whatever it may be , may be one most in concurrence with the permanietit welfare of all classes , manufacturing , commercial , and agrioultral , in the country . ( The Right Honourable Baronet resumed his seat amid loud
cheers . ) Lord JV Rcssell would make no observation this evening on the -statement . of the ' Right * . Hon Bart ., except to remark that they would come better prepared to the discussion , if they were supplied with the list of towns ipr which the Right Hoc . Baronet proposed to collect the averages . It was indispensable that they should have this information , uud also a . ' statement of the principle upon which ihe selection was made . Ho hoped , therefore , the Right Hon . Baronet would give the House this statement to-iaorrow , . * ¦ Sir R , Peel would lay the list on the table on Friday . His sole principle was to select the most important towns in England and Wales , includic , < j of course , the principal market towns . On the motion that the Chairman should report progress ,
Mr . Cobden said that it was not his intention to enter into any argument on the question tonightj . but he did not think it would be just to himself , or to his constituents , if he did not take th ' at early opportunity of denouncing the scheme as an insult to the suffering people .. The other orders of the day were then agreed to , and the House adjourned at Eight o'Clock precisely .
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Brixp Rules for the Government op all whs write FOR THIS Paper . —Write legibly . Make as few erasures and interlineations as possible . In writing names of persons and places be . ' more particular than usual . to make every letter distinct aru ? clear—also in using words not English . Write only on one side */ the paper . Employ 110 abbreviations whatever , but write out every word in full . Address communications not to any pavticaiar person , but to " The Editor . " When you sic down to ¦ write , don't be in a hurry . Cohsidtr that hurried writing makes slow printing . Remember that we go to press on Thursday ; that one sido of tha paper goes to press on Wednesday ; that we are obliged to go on filling up the paper the whole
• week , and that , therefore , when a load of matter comes by the last oue or two posts , it unnvoiUabiy happens that much of it is omitted ; and that it is therefore necessary to be prompt in your communications . All matters of news , reports of meytings , &c , referring to occurrences on Friday , Saturday , or Sunday , should reach us by Monday ' s post ; such as rtfer to Monday ' s occurrences by Tuesday evening ' s post ; Wednesday ' s occurrences by Thursday s post j and Thursday ' s news by Friday morning ' s post , for second edition . Any deyutioii from this order of supply wiil necsasari'y subject the matters sp received to the almost certainty of rejection or seriaus ciirtaihnent , and we take no blame / or it . All personal , correspondence , poetry , literaiy
communications , and articles of comment to bo Iitsre by Tuesday , or tbelr chance of insertidh for that week "will be very small Indeed- ; if not heve by Wednesday we don't hold oursqlves bpunii even Lo notice them . Finally , remember that vry liave only fotty-eiglit cplumns - weekly for all England , Scotland ; Wales , ! and Ireland ; that we have no interest in preferriDg one town or place to another , because ours i 3 noti a local but a nat * ior . al paper ; that we are bound , therefore , in dealing with the masses ot matter' . whick come to us , to hold the scales of JuBtice evenly— -our first object being the promotion and enhancement , according to our own test judgment , of the success of tbe great and good cause ; and Out second , the distribution of yur time
and . space so as to give least cause 0 /' . complaint \; that we are alike bound to this course of ac . i . oa fey inclinaitioni interest , and duty ; and that , thertifore , it is liarless and aenseleWsfor individuals to fnrae and fret , and think themselves ill used btcausa their communiravtions may not al » ai « j b « inserted , or for societies to trouble their heads aud waste tbeir time in passing votes of censure upon us for deyoting too much space to this , ortoo little to that , or for inserting this thing which they think should have been omitted , dr for onaittingtb © other tting which they think should have appeared . Ail
these are matters for our consideration , and for the exercise of out discretion and judgment , * whicbi we assure all parties , shall be always usedj so far as we are able to perceive , honestly for the public , without fear oi favour to any ona , and without being allowed to be turned for one instant from its course by ill-natured snarls or bickerings . PUBLIC Fukds—To prevent mistakes , let it be especially noted that all monies received by our Cashier for ibe various Chartist funds are acknowledged by him in the column of " Notices to Correspondents , " and that he ia anawerablo on / y / or Hie tumaihora admertised to have been received .
Bradford Short-Time Committee . —Their , address to Lord Ashley is unavoidably postponed for want ' .: . ofrcom . '"' ¦ : / ... - ¦ . . ' * . ' . ' y : ¦}¦ ' ,. '• " >¦ ' "'¦ ¦ ; ¦ ' ¦ , * *¦ . . Thb great length at which we have givtn the Parliamentary intelligence of the tceeky including the speecjh , of Sir Robert Peel on the Corn Laws has necessarily excluded a large mass of Chartist notices from a variety of places . GoNGi . ETON . T-27 ie discussion between Messrs . West and Campbell was not , received till Friday morn , ' trig--too late for insertion . Shuton ^ TA ? notice of the "Baker ' s" meeting , on Tuesday is omitted for the same reason . " * RoTHERHiTHE— The notice of their meeting on Tuesday is omitted for the same reason *
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The National Petition . —G . Wesxrat writes :- — " Though considerable fexertionB have been made by the London Chartists to obtain aignatorea to the National Petition , r thiDk there ia a plan -which I am Mtonufced they have not eie this put in piftctioa inamely , by having tables , with Petition iaheeta oa them , in some of the principal thoroughfares of the metropolis -wheie working men pass to and from work : for instance , there are thousandB of workmen pass over BlackfriarB ; London , and Westminster BridgeB , between the hours of six and , nine in the morning j and I am certain that a quart 8 r of a million of signatures might be obtained at those places alone if this plan wa 9 adopted . It is quite a common ocenrrence to 1 see
petiUons for the Tepeal of the Corn Laws laying at the corner of ttie streets for signatures . How much more important , is our object than that of the Plague ; therefore , should we out do them in exertions to advance our cause . " "Plague" Petitions .. —The tricks resorted to by the Plague to obtain signatures to their humbug petitions are really amming . Not a week passes that we do not receive from various parts ofthg country information of the most disgraceful exhibitions of low cunning . Children of ten or eleven years of age who can write are stopyc ^ \ they go along the streets by the fellows who sit * , # with aiiti CernLa w petitions for signatures , a ? uM asked to write their names . Men are appointed
to stand m' various parts of large towns with tables and -petition sheets , and other men are employed to perambulate the town , signing at every table . Several petitions are got up from the same place , signed by the same persons in different pretended capacities- Thus a correspondent , from Castle Douglas , this ' . iceti writes us ;— - ¦ - . ¦' ; . . '' . . : * . : *; . ** * , ' ¦/ '¦ . ; ^ ' ¦ - . ' ¦'* . ; . . ' ¦ ' One of our dissenting clergy , last SabbatlT evening , after he had turned his sanctified face to Heaven , and called down the best blessing of God upon the head tit our Sovereign the Queen , the Royal Co *> - sort , and their two infant cbiVdten , tbe tope of this great nation ; and that they might long be spared to reign , that we mfcht enjoy the many
privileges under them that we are at present in possession of , said that he wanted a repeal of the Corn Laws , and that it was his inteution . to get up 'what he called a congregational petition for the miniBter , eiders ; arid ; hearera , and he iatended to go at the head of it . and it would be found at tha church every night for a week to append signftturea . He also intimated that it * was the intention of come of ; the respeetable members of our town to get up what he called a town petition , VPbicb he intended to go at the head of also ; and that it would be found at a certain shop on the way from the church 5 the same is the house of one of the elders in ^ connection "with the same chHrch . " LErcESTEB CiTARnsts . —All Saints Open . — We
cannot publish their address to Mr . O Higgxnsnot because we object to Us spirit or sentiment ; but because it contains some expressions whi p h might compromise the National Charter Association as a legal body ? r H . D . GRiFFiTHS must excuse us ^ -we have no room . His letter of last meek was received . W . H . Morrish writes tinder a . gross misapprehension : Mr . W . Leigh and Mr . F . R ; Lees are two quite different persons .: Charles ST £ WART ; - ^ C « mp 6 e # ' s pamphlet is out of . . - print . ¦¦ '¦* . ' . '¦ . * ' * -. "¦¦**¦ ** . ' .. ¦ : * ¦ . ' . ¦ . Dennis M'Millan . —We do not think ihe " creeperp can do much harm ; . J . M . Leicester . — The National Charter Association
has no " sections , " old or new—no branches or divisions : it _ is one body ; and we with its memr bers would learn to breathe one spirit . The Ipswich Chartists are desirous to ascertain from Mr . O'Connor if he at all . contemplates visiting their purl of the country 1 They would feel greatly indebted if he would forward afevt . lines . . ¦ ' - . . - ' . " ¦ ¦ ¦ . • '¦ ¦ ' ¦ . ¦ . ' ¦ : . Scotch objections to iHE National Petition . George Ashwcil , in reply to Mr . J . Duncan , denies that any man can be a conscientious Chartist , and support ike New Poor Law ; hQ deiiies the right of : av $ man claiming to be a Chartist to of' jeot to the petition on the ground of
its reciting certain things as grievances unless h € be prepared to prove that they are not grie ~ vances . . * - " . . ¦ , " W . Daniells has our thanks for Ms watchfulness . We have laid the" wee thing" by for a future time , * ' if need be . " W . GiUFFirT . —The extract from his American friend ' s letter must stand over for the present . Will he write and tell us us . what trade his friend . is ? . ¦ - ¦' ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ : - ¦ .. ¦¦ .. - . ;¦ . ; . ; .. . .. It ; M . — We slimild say " no ; " hit he must remember we do not profess to give legal opinions . Hanley Potteeies . ——We have no recollection of having received their council nominations . It
may very probably have got mislaid unseen . Will thk officers of any well regulated co operative store transmit their laws , per post , if not so large as to be very expensive , to John Wall , 24 , Currani-street , Nottingham ^ and he will send postoffice stumps to cover the expence . ;¦ J , H . L , o > gmeap , i Truho , will oblige us by writing enly . on one side ¦ of ' his paper . We thought all our Correspondents had understood th is . Public Chartist Challenge to SibNisY Smith , the Gbeat Lion of the LdKjDON anti-Cosk Law Associatws . ^ Mr . H . Ltigh hereby challenges Sidney SnAth to discuss thejQiUstion of the Corn Laws with him , at the Theatre of the Literary XnslUutioh , Prince ' s-street , Leicestersqua ~ e , or any other suitable public place . Mr . H . Leigh will undertake to defray the expences of the meeting , including printing , ^ c , provided Mr . Smith will accept this challenge . Ekhund Fallows , Middleton . —His . Paper was sent as usual from this office .
James Brown ., Lynn , has sent us a notice of the death of a " young patriot' / 'withouteithergiving us his name , or t ] ie names of his parents . John Hodgson . —We really know not how to advise in the case . It is all nonsense to talk of the poor having the ' protection of the law in this country ; they havs no such thing . There iis no doubt that , if satisfactory tVidence of the short . Weight could be adduced ; -the scoundrel is liable to an aetion ; but . that ,.-tee apprehend , would be found , to a poor matt , * ' a remedy worse-than the disease . " We think the opinion and advice of the magistrate , under all the circustances , the best that c&uld bt ahen . Leave the rascal's shop . Expose him in iheneiahbourhood . dnd let him be taught by an
empty till that honesty is the best policy . A Real Democuat , MANCHesxEU . —Thnnks for the paragraph from the Guardian , which we had not seen . We shall giv ? it with a word or two . Charles M'Kwkn . — We have , received another copy of the letters to which werefusedinsertion last week . It is rejected for the same reason as before . T . Waliceb / s notice of a Ruffle at Bermondtey is an advertisement .. James Simmons and J . Barber . ——The tables of yvages are thankfully received . We shall use them . John Mason and . Others , Embsat .- We have received the copy of their letter to iMr . Knowtes : it cannot appear .
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NEtrCASTLE-dN-TYNE . —Those persons who received their Papers from Mr . Carruthers can have their Plates and Medals by applying to Messra France an < J Co . Their names will be entered on application ; MeettB . France and Co . 'will send us a list- and the Plates to tbo number of applicationa will be forwarded . Parties are requested to call earJy , as it will be inconvenient if two parcels have to be sent / - . John Murdoch , CASfLE Douglas . —The paper iras sent at the , proper time : the Plates were not sent ti ! i after . We never send Plates to the Post-ofBc « ou Thursdays or Fridaya ^ because , from the large quantities of newspapers going through the
post-6 fScei * . on these ^ . aj's , the Plates vroulii be in great danger of being spoiled . ' . Write to Mr . Campbell , 18 , Adderley-street , Shaw ' s Brow , Manchester , for the Cards . Thomas Abbott , Manchester—He is mistaken : he bad better refer to the advertisement again , and write totbeproperparties . ; Has Mr . Arthur received two letters from Mr . Skillithorn ,-Back-street / Maryport ? P . w . — "Revolution of Philosophy" is out of print , and cannot be had . Henry JTones , Losdon . —If the Stamps tTere received the Portrait was sent , The Females at Pert « do not aay what the 5 ? sent is for . *' . - * -. : * . **'
FOB THE EXECUTIVE . * . . " ¦ " , : : ¦¦ ¦; : ¦ ' .. ¦ ¦ - : £ b . d . From a few friends at Ledoory ... 0 10 0 „ the New Town Class of the National Charter Association , B . shepwearmouth ••• 0 10 0 First profits from Smith ' s blackingy Plymouth ^ .. ....... 0 2 « FOR MRS . FROST—THE " ITHIG ^ MIDE ¦ WIDOW . "
From H . Hanly , Jaiin-street , Drypool , Hull ... , ;; ..,. ' * ¦ „ . theChaartist-Assdciation , Newport , Isle of Wight . v ... 1 0 ^ Mr . W . Kenyon , Preston , pet : GivHalton ...... .. ^ 0 0 « « Byrte , Isle of Wigbt , t ^ J . W . - * ¦ *¦ ¦ . ¦ . Batier ' .. " V . v '' , V : . '¦ . « . ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦""¦ . ; .:. ¦ ... 0 4 5 ¦ * , » ; Worsbro' Common and Ardsleyi per Peter Hoey ... ... 0 5 6
IOE MRS . JONES AND MBS . ZEPHANIAH '¦ .- " : ' ' : WILLIAMS . * v ;*/ ' ' From the New Town Glaas of the National Cbaiter Association , Bishopiwearmoutb ... ... 0 10 ' .,. *•* , « . . . Ardsiey , per P . Hoey ... ... e 2 0 FOE THE USE OF TUE DELEGAXE FUND JOU DEVONSHIRE , &C . From the Chartists of Southniolton 0 10 0 FOR G . BLACK , WHO LOST HIS PWRSE . Froin Plymouth , per S . Smith ... 0 2 6
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 12, 1842, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct741/page/5/
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