months' credit was given; it was extended to ten, and was then twelve months, and even then uncertain, so that the shipper did not realize his returns for two years; he could not sell the sugar of Rio here, he was obliged to send it to foreign markets. The cost of the raw sugar delivered in Liverpool is 17s. 4d., or 1¾d. per lb.; the duty upon it is 66s. 2d., or 7d. per lb., making 382 per cent, upon the cost of sugar; so that, taking the time occupied in sending out the goods, the credit, and the fact that the sugar must be sold in a foreign market, he (Sir Robert Peel) would perceive that the merchant did not get his return for two years; but if the sugar were allowed to be sold here the returns would be far quicker, and the consumers of sugar would be infinitely benefited. His print works and a flax mill he worked himself. He had also two factories let, and had other property, to the value of £150,000, all dependent upon commerce. Sir Robert Peel would perceive, then, that it was not wonderful he should be earnest upon the subject. Why, he had been obliged, in consequence of the changes in the French tariff, to refit his flax mill with new machinery. The coarse numbers of yarn were, in fact, prohibited from the French market and he was obliged to change his machinery so as to adapt it to fine numbers, with which the tariff did not so much interfere. He was one who subscribed £100 a year to the Anti-Corn-Law League, and it cost him at least £100 more. There were many others did the same. He had agitated the question almost in every part of Lancashire. He was one of the agitators of whom he (Sir R. Peel) complained—one of the most active of them. How could he be otherwise? If the trade of this country were not set free, he should never be able to realize fifty thousand out of his hundred and fifty, so that even as a matter of selfishness he must be an agitator. Everything he had was at stake, and there was no time to be lost about it. But in addition to this, the people were starving. He could
