supported the motion, not from
any expectation that it would produce the anticipated effects
expressed by the mover, but because the discussion would show, that the
landowners, in supporting their own class and station, were advocating
that which was essential to the general interests of the country, Mr.
Huskisson, in reply, without entering into the merits of the question,
deprecated its discussion at the present time. Ministers had announced
that the subject would not be brought forward this session, and nothing
had happened since to warrant this ill-timed motion. He had every
reason to suppose that the subject would be brought forward in the next
session, in which case he was most anxious to give it a serious and
dispassionate consideration. The motion was lost by a large majority;
but though the arrangement of the corn-laws still remained unsettled,
it was found necessary, before the end of the session, to introduce two
bills for modifying their strict operation. At the present time there
was but little diminution of distress; and its continued pressure led to
a series of disgraceful riots in Lancashire, where the vengeance of the
mob was furiously directed against machinery, especially power-looms,
under a notion that these were the great cause of the want of
employment. The impression arose from ignorance; but that ignorance had
been stimulated by a state of suffering which could not be overlooked.
At this time, in the immediate neighbourhood of the scene of distress,
in Hull, Liverpool, and other ports, there were between two and three
thousand quarters of wheat in bond; and it was supposed that the
admission of this into the market would diminish the extent of
suffering, while it would have no material effect on the agricultural
interests. Mr. Canning brought forward a proposition to allow bonded
corn to come into the market, on payment of a duty of ten shillings
per quarter, which was passed almost unanimously. Another measure of
modification proposed by government, however, met with stern opposition.
As it was impossible to foretell the result of the ensuing harvest, it
was proposed, as a measure of precaution, to vest in government during
the recess a power of permitting foreign grain to be imported on payment
of a fixed duty. This was resisted as irregular and unconstitutional,
both in the commons and in the upper house; but it was finally
carried. Before it passed, however, the opposition was gratified by th