laws in those countries?  Has the noble earl heard of no laws prohibiting all exportation of corn to other countries?  That fact alters the whole state of the question of corn laws in this country.  The effect of such a state of things would be most serious if there came a bad season here and there, too.  Then, again, has the noble lord not heard of the high duties imposed on the exportation of corn from those countries during the late wars?  Have not your lordships got evidence before some of the committees—­have you not got letters from some merchants at Dantzic to one of those governments on the subject of the prices of corn in England, and on the rate of duties imposed at that port? and was it not stated that the increased price obtained from England might be expected to enable those merchants to pay the duties imposed by their government on exportation?  Let it be observed, that I do not blame the sovereign to whom I allude for imposing those duties—­I should not have blamed him if it had been an act of war, whereas it was a mere measure of finance.  I do not say, that I agree with him in his notions of protection; but I say, that when I consider it a question of protection, that sovereign is not to be blamed, and that his object was like that of your lordships, to secure the subsistence of his subjects, and not to cause a rise of rents.

May 7, 1841.

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The Corn Laws.

The first man who brought forward those opinions (Adam Smith) which I have read as well as noble lords opposite, made an exception upon this very subject.  He excepted corn from the doctrines he laid down as to all the other articles of trade.  In relation to the subsistence of the people he says, that we must always take care to ensure that subsistence within the country itself—­and accordingly he excepts corn from the several doctrines which he lays down.  I confess I have heard nothing during these discussions to alter my opinion, that the corn laws which were adopted almost unanimously in 1828, have perfectly answered the purposes for which they were intended, and have kept the prices as steady as the nature of the commodity will allow.  Yes, my lords, in this country, when we have produced corn for our own subsistence, and it is our object invariably to produce it, prices have been more steady than in any other country of Europe.  It it my opinion, on all these grounds, that these laws have operated as successfully as any laws could have done.

May 11,1841.

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Agriculture and Manufactures.

I cordially concur in the feeling that the prosperity of the agriculturist must depend on the general prosperity of the manufacturer, and of commercial interests in general.  There can be no doubt about that, and then corn laws are supported, not with a view to the advantage of any particular interest or class of men, but with a view to render the whole country independent of foreign countries in respect of its supply of food.  I believe that all parts of the country, and every individual resident in it, are interested in this subject.