objectionable and insufficient, because it was inevitably sometimes
too high, and at other times too low with reference to the state of the
country. It was therefore more advisable to adopt a scale of duties,
which should vary in a relative proportion to the state of the country.
He moved that--"Whenever the average price of wheat made up and
published in manner required by law, shall be 60s., and under 61s. per
quarter, the duty shall be for one quarter L1. And in respect of every
integral shilling, by which such price shall be above 60s., such duty
shall be decreased by 2s., until such price shall be 70s. Whenever such
price shall be at or above 70s., the duty shall be for every quarter Is.
Whenever such price shall be under 60s., and not under 59s., the duty
shall be for every quarter L\. 2s. And in respect of each integral
shilling, or any part of each integral shilling, by which such price
shall be tinder 59s., such duty shall be increased by 2s." Mr. Canning
moved resolutions similar to the above on barley, oats, rye, peas,
beans, wheat-meal, and flour, oatmeal, maize, &c. If the produce of, and
imported from any British possession in North America, or elsewhere out
of Europe, he moved that wheat should be admitted at 5s. per quarter,
until the price of British wheat should be 65s. per quarter; and that
whenever such price should be at or above 65s., the duty should be for
every quarter only 6d. Similar resolutions were also moved on other
grains coming from the same parts of the world. Mr. Canning's last
resolution on this subject was, "That it is the opinion of this
committee, that all the said duties shall be regulated and determined
from week to week by the average prices of corn, made up in the manner
required by law; which prices shall, at the several ports of the United
Kingdom, determine the several rates of the said duties for and during
the week next after the receipt of the proper certificates of such
average prices at such ports respectively." The debate on these
resolutions was postponed for a week, that every appearance of
precipitancy in such an important measure might be avoided. When the
discussion was resumed, the motion for the house going into committee
was opposed by Lord Clive, Sir E. Knatchbull, and other leading members
of the landed interest. Their opposition rested on the grounds that
domestic agriculture was entitled to all the protection which parliament
could give it, even in the shape o