are become alarming." And gradually, in that manner, and in that manner only, shall we, in a permanent body like the House of Lords, convert a minority against Free Trade into a majority in favour of our protective principles. (Hear). That is the course which I have felt it to be my duty to pursue during the present session of Parliament. That is the course which-not taking the advice of our opponents-I shall continue to pursue. Constantly we shall bring before them the results of their experiment. I hold in my hand at this moment a paper, which I received only this morning, and which was moved for by my noble friend the Earl of Malmesbury this session, in order to controvert an assertion of the Government, that at present prices the foreigner could not by possibility import, that present prices would not pay for the importation, and that we should therefore see a rapid and great diminution of the imports of foreign corn. That was the language which they held so late as the month of January last. I have heard several persons say that February or March would show an improvement in prices. We waited till February and March were past, and at my suggestion the Earl of Malmesbury moved in April for a return, showing the weekly price of wheat in the British markets, and the quantity of corn imported from abroad during each week in the present year. The result is, that, so far from indicating a falling-off in imports, or a rise in price, this return shows that the prices have fallen from 40s. on the 5th day of January, to 37s. 10d. on the 20th of April; whilst the imports have increased from 36,000 quarters of wheat in the second week of January, to 118,000 quarters of wheat, exclusive of flour, in the week ending the 17th of April. And the total amount of imports, in little more than three months, with an average price of from 37s. to 38s. a quarter, has not been far short of 1,000,000 quarters of corn, converting the flour into quarters at the ordinary rate. By the production of this paper before the House of Lords, we disprove the assertions of those who tell us that we have no reason to be alarmed at the course which the experiment is taking, or that at all events we have not sufficient grounds to call on Parliament to put an end to it. And in this course of practical argument from facts as they occur we mean to persevere. I know that this is a policy which is wearisome in its nature. (Hear, hear). I know that "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." I know that there must be increasing distress. I know that every month and every week that this fearful experiment is in progress the dangers and the difficulties are increasing. But how, with the present constitution of Parliament-how, with the present constitution of the House of Lords-how, with the present constitution of the House of Commons, with the best desire to serve you, with the most earnest and anxious wish to promote your interests-how can we take any step which shall more rapidly force conviction upon the minds of those whom it is necessary to convince before we can attain our ends? (Hear, hear.) I say again, do not complain of our apathy. Believe that we have no such feeling. Believe that we deeply sympathise with the misfortunes of those with whom we are bound up by so many ties; in whom all our interests-not to say our affections, are centred; and if we appear to be less speedy and energetic in the House of Lords and the House of Commons than you would desire us to appear to be, believe that it is not from indifference-believe that it is from a wellcalculated policy, and a deliberate adoption of the course by which alone we may attain the object which you and we desire. (Hear, hear.) If you ask my advice, I say persevere in the course you have adopted. Agitate the country from one end to the other. Continue to call meetings in every direction. Do not fear, do not flinch from discussion. By all means accept the offer of holding a meeting in that magnificent building at Liverpool; and in our greatest commercial towns show that there is a feeling in regard to the result of our so-called Free Trade widely different from that which was anticipated by the Free-traders, and from that which did prevail only a few years ago. (Hear, hear). Your efforts may not be so soon crowned with success as you hope; but depend upon it, let us stand hand to hand firmly together; let the landlord, the tenant, and the labourer-ay, and t country shopkeeper-ay, before long, the manufacturer himself, be called on to show and to prove what the effects of this experiment are,—and as sure as we stand together, temperately but firmly determined to assert our rights, so certainly, at the expense, it may be, of intense suffering, and perhaps of ruin to many-of ruin which, God knows, if I could avert I would omit no effort for that purpose-but ultimately, certainly and securely we shall attain our object, and recede from that insane policy which has been pursued during the last few years. (Hear, hear). I have now only to return you my most grateful thanks for the compliment you have paid me in wishing me to receive this deputation. I have heard with the liveliest interest the statements of Mr Layton. If in any part of the country-for now through you I address every district-if there be but one district in which a suspicion is entertained that I am flinching from, or hesitating in my advocacy of, those principles on which I stood in conjunction with my late deeply-lamented friend Lord George Bentinck, I authorise you—one and all of you—to assure those whom you represent, that in me they will find no hesitation, no flinching, and no change of opinion; that, attached as I have ever been to the principle of Protection, that attachment remains unchanged; and I only look for the moment when it may be possible for us to use the memorable words of the Duke of Wellington on the field of Waterloo, and to say, "Up, Guards, and at them!" (Loud cheers.) Mr PAUL FOSKETT.-My Lord Stanley, I know I speak the universal sentiments of the delegates who have attended our meetings this week, when I say that the address you have just delivered to us has penetrated our heart of hearts, and has made us feel that under your leadership our triumph is secure. (Cheers.) We shall now return to our several homes, and "agitate," "agitate," "agitate," until our object is attained. (Hear, hear.) After a few observations from Mr Newdegate, Mr Box, (of Buckinghamshire,) and Mr Malins, (of Derbyshire,) Mr LAYTON expressed the gratification he experienced at the result of the interview with Lord Stanley. They might all take comfort that they had such a leader and friend; and on the part of the delegation and the tenantry and labourers of the land, he begged to convey to his lordship his unqualified admiration and thanks for the manner in which he had received the deputation, and for the encouragement and hope he had held out to the various suffering interests of the country. (Hear, hear.) Lord STANLEY in taking leave of the deputation, hoped that on their return to their several localities their efforts would be crowned with success. They might depend upon it, that whilst they kept up the pressure from without, if they would authorise him, he would not fail to keep up the pressure within. The deputation then took their leave; and upon re-assembling at the King's Arms, Mr LAYTON briefly reported the reception which had been given to them by Lord Stanley; and amidst the enthusiastic cheering of the audience, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : "That this meeting cannot separate without recording their grateful acknowledg ments to Lord Stanley for the courteous and satisfactory reception he has afforded them this day, and their high gratification at the encouraging approval he has expressed of the steps they are taking; and they beg his lordship will receive the assurance of their perfect confidence in his powerful and talented advocacy of the cause of Protection in the House of Lords. "That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Lord Stanley." It was also resolved, "That it is the opinion of the delegates now assembled in London, that a meeting in Liverpool, on as early a day as practicable, is highly desirable; and the delegates now present pledge themselves to support such meeting by personal attendance as far as practicable. "And that as circumstances may occur, either during the present session of Parliament or after a prorogation, which may render it necessary for the delegates to reassemble in London, this meeting of delegates be at its rising adjourned till again summoned by the committee of the National Association, to which summons they will be ready instantly to respond; and that in such case, this meeting considers that one delegate at least for each district should attend the meeting." After the transaction of some routine business, the meeting separated. INDEX TO VOL. LXVII. Aberdeen, lord, on the Greek constitu- Aberdeen, state of the shipping interest Aberdeen Journal, on "British Agricul- Actress, social position of the, 695. AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, AND MANU- Agriculture, British, see British Agricul 368. Agriculturists, contrast between, and AGRIPPA D'AUBIGNÉ AND MADAME DE Aikin's Life of Howard, remarks on, 52. Algeria, sketches in, 292. ALISON'S POLITICAL ESSAYS, 605. Allston, Washington, 198. Asem, Goldsmith's tale of, 299. Aubigné, Agrippa d', sketch of the life Auchness system of farming, on the, Austria, reaction in, 3-want of moral Autobiographies, on, 192. Aytoun, Professor, at the protection BAILEY'S FESTUS, review of, 415. Ballot, abuses of the, in Greece, 536. "British Agri- culture, &c." Appendix, 37. "British Agri- culture, &c." Appendix, 40. Birmingham, state of manufactures in, Brandenburg, prophecies regarding, 561. - BRITAIN'S PROSPERITY, a new song, 389. Broad, W., letter from, on farming sta- Brown, Peter, letter from, on farming Brown's life of Howard, on, 52. Buckland, Dr, on Agriculture, &c. 95. Bullion, alleged increase of, and its Burke, eulogy on Howard by, 63—and BURN'S HIGHLAND MARY, to, 309. FARMING HARROWED BY, 447. Cheyne, Mr, on the cattle trade in Chouler, Mr W., at the protection meet- Christopher under Canvass, No. VI., 481 Citizen of the World, publication of the, Cobden, inconsistencies of, 131-on the Coletti, Greek minister, 527, 530. Colonial government, new system of, Commerce, reaction of Agricultural dis- Conservatives, conduct of the, in regard DUMAS' LE VELOCE, REVIEW OF, 281. Dundee, statistics of the provision trade 534. Cork, state of the shipping interest at, 356. Cotton trade and manufactures, statistics COURT MARTIAL, A LATE CASE OF, 269. A. THE DARK WAGGON, by, 71. Deserted village, notices of the, 298, 304. "Brit- Dixon's life of Howard, review of, 50. Drumlanrig, lord, letter to his tenantry 66 Dublin Press, the, on "British Agricul- 190. Dudgeon, Mr, statistics of farming pro- Dumfries Herald, the, on "British Agri- Dundee Courier, the, on " British Agri- to, by Justitia, Appendix, 93. 66 Economist, the, on the Cotton manufac- Eddowes' Worcester Journal on "British Election, system of, in Greece, 535. with Scotland, 226-statistics of cotton Essex, the earl of, speech of, on the ad- Europe, general reaction against revolu tion in, 2 et seq.-increase of grain Exeter Gazette, the, on "British Agri- FAREWELL TO Naples, a, 279. Farming, statistics of, under protection |