unprecedented distress existing throughout the country, and an effectual remedy applied. This gave rise to a two nights' debate, in the course of which several members gave most distressing accounts of the state of the country. No division was come to, the second adjournment being to Thursday, when motions having preference over orders, the house proceeded to consider Mr. Bannerman's motion, to invest ministers with power to permit, during the recess of Parliament, the free admission of corn; which was negatived, there being 176 votes against, and 113 for it. Sir Robert Peel, in arguing against power being given to himself temporarily to relieve the distress of the country, said that if prices continued to rise, the duty on imported corn would fall to nothing. This was certainly true; but as the price of wheat must have risen 11s. before the duty came to nothing, it was obvious that the consumers would have to pay 11s. and the holders would receive 11s. more before the duty was nothing.
On Tuesday, July 4th, the members of the Anti-Corn-Law Conference met at Herbert's Hotel, Palace Yard. Deputies from each of the associations forming the Anti Corn-Law League, and from the very numerous branches of the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-Law Association, were present. Shortly before twelve o'clock, P. A. Taylor, Esq., of London, was called to the chair by acclamation. He said that the first part of their business would not be difficult. It would be no difficult matter to bring before the nation, the legislature, and the government, details of the intense suffering and misery which were overwhelming a large portion of their fellow subjects. They would have no difficulty in showing terrible statistics on that part of the subject—statistics harrowing to the heart of every man who had a heart that could feel. The next portion of their labours would be to show that the principal cause of these evils was the scarcity of food—a scarcity brought about by the operation of the Corn Laws. It appeared, however,
