e
limitation of the quantity of corn admissible to 500,000 quarters and
the period to two months from the opening of the ports.

DEBATES ON FREE TRADE.

The legislature had begun to act on the principles of free trade in
1824, by taking off those restrictions which prohibited the importation
of foreign silks. To the bill which permitted their admission with an
_ad valorem_ duty of thirty per cent., and which was now to come into
operation, a large portion of both masters and workmen referred the
depression of the trade, rather than to causes which did not come so
readily within general comprehension. Many manufacturers limited their
orders until the effect of this untried system should be somewhat known,
while others joined in the outcry against it. The general impression
among them was, that the "untried state of being" should not be tried;
and many petitions were presented from the persons and districts
interested in the silk manufacture, praying for a repeal, or at least
a modification of the provision of 1824, for a total prohibition of
foreign fabrics, or a higher duty upon their importation. On the 23rd
of February, Mr. Ellice, member for Coventry, moved that the petitions
which had been presented on this subject should be referred to a select
committee. This motion led to a debate, which, by adjournment, continued
two evenings. In this debate Mr. Huskisson was compelled to vindicate
the leading part he had taken in the measure under consideration, in
which he was ably supported by Mr. Canning. This motion was lost; but
soon afterwards Mr. Huskisson was obliged to vindicate the late policy
pursued respecting the shipping interest and navigation laws. This arose
from the complaints of the shipowners and others connected with the
shipping interests, who believed themselves to be affected by the late
navigation laws. They complained especially of the system which had
been adopted of removing discriminating duties, and allowing articles of
merchandise to be imported in foreign vessels, under the same burthens
as if they had been imported in British bottoms, on condition of
reciprocity in regard to ourselves. They contended in numerous petitions
to parliament that such a reciprocal removal of discriminating duties
was ruinous to British shipping, because the British and foreign owner
could never be put upon an equality, unless the latter were burthened
with a higher duty. The petitioners and their adherents in p