in the queen's warehouses." This amendment was at first
resisted by Mr. Goulburn; but finding that the house was in favour of
it, Sir Robert Peel consented to make arrangements, not to return the
whole duty, but to make compensation for the loss. On this understanding
Mr. Hawes withdrew his amendment, and the bill passed through committee.
Various discussions took place, during the progress of the hill, upon
the other parts of the ministerial tariff, but they were all affirmed,
and the bill then passed. Its progress through the upper house was
speedily effected.

CORN-LAWS AND FREE TRADE.

This long-agitated and great question formed a prominent subject of
debate during this session. The first occasion which led to a general
discussion of the policy of the protective laws as regards agriculture,
was furnished by a motion made by Mr. Cobden, on the 13th March, "for
a select committee to inquire into the causes and extent of the alleged
existing agricultural distress, and into the effects of legislative
protection upon the interests of landowners, tenant-farmers, and
farm-labourers." In support of this motion Mr. Cobden endeavoured to
prove the existence of distress among the farmers; asserting that half
of them were in a state of insolvency, and that the other half were
paying rents out of their capital, and were fast hastening to the same
melancholy condition. Mr. Cobden next contended that there was a want
of security in tenure, and that this fact not only prevented the
application of capital, but that it also kept the land in a bad state of
cultivation. The farmer without a lease was afraid that if he made any
improvement in his farm, he should be called upon to pay a higher
rent; and he proved this fact by reference to the language used by many
distinguished members of agricultural associations. He asked why land
should not be let on the same condition as manufactories, which were
let with a schedule of the state of the manufactory; and when the tenant
left them he was bound to make compensation for any damage which it
might have suffered. Having advocated the plan of leasing farms at great
length, Mr. Cobden proceeded to contend that a free trade in corn would
be more beneficial to the farmers and to the labourers than to any other
class of the community. He had thought so before the new tariff; and
he contended so now with tenfold confidence. He then described the
lamentable condition of the agricultural pe