eemed to give an
additional incentive to the zeal of Mr. Brougham, and he subsequently
reaped the fruit of his labours.

MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE ON THE CORN-LAWS.

During this session Mr. Holme Sumner moved for a select committee to
take into consideration the agricultural state of the country. The
table of the house was loaded with petitions on this subject from all
quarters. The petitions complained of distress; and their general prayer
was for additional restrictions, fora high permanent duty in place of a
limited prohibition, The debates arising from the motion occupied much
time and attention. It was seconded by Mr. Western, and supported by
Mr. Gooch, who repeated the statement, that without protection the
agriculturists of this country were unable to compete with foreign
growers; that the act of 1815 afforded no protection; and that measures
more effectual were indispensable. Mr. Robinson, president of the board
of trade, in reply, deprecated the motion as tending to excite hopes
which could not be realized. He was followed by Messrs. Baring and
Ricardo, the latter of whom entered into a luminous exposition of the
principles of political economy, and condemned all restrictions on the
freedom of the corn-trade as injurious in their tendency. The landed
interests, however, prevailed, and the motion for the committee was
carried. On the following evening, however, ministers succeeded in
neutralizing its effects, by proposing that its inquiries should be
limited to the best mode of ascertaining the weekly average of corn
prices. This was opposed as a trick of state; but it passed by a large
majority, and every material alteration of the corn-laws was deferred
till a more convenient season.

MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE RESPECTING FREE TRADE.

A commercial question of still greater importance than that of the
corn-laws was also, during this session, introduced into parliament.
Petitions from the city of London, and from Glasgow, prayed for free
trade; and Mr. Baring, who presented that of the London merchants to the
commons, insisted that freedom from restriction is calculated to give
the utmost extension to foreign trade, as well as the best direction to
the capital and industry of the country. No formal motion was made in
the commons on this subject; but in the lords, on the 26th of May, Lord
Lansdowne moved for a committee of inquiry concerning the foreign
trade of the empire. This proposal elicited a spee