Meeting of the British Parliament.-His Majesty's Speech from the Throne respecting the high Price of Provisions—and recent Communications from the French Government.-Addresses of Thanks.-Amendments proposed. -Debates.-Proceedings relative to the Dearth of Provisions.-Divers Bills.-Royal Proclamation.-Industry and Zeal of the Legislature in devising Means for alleviating the public Distress. TH HE riots which had taken place in many parts of England and Scotland, on account of the high price of provisions, and which have already been noticed in our last volume, were neither so violent nor obstinate as they would have been in countries where there is less moderation of character in the people, and less confidence in means of constitutional relief. The privations and sufferings of the lower orders, VOL. XLIII. that is, of the great mass of the peo. ple, and indeed of many who ought rather to be classed in the middling rank, were so great, that every candid mind was less offended at the commotions of the populace, than struck with their forbearance and patience. There were, indeed, not a few men, in the enjoyment or expectation of places under government, who presented to the suffering multitude a frowning and hostile [B] aspect, aspect, and who showed a disposition rather to maintain the public tranquillity by that mighty armed force which was now on foot, and distributed in all parts of the united kingdoms, than by the lenient methods of due sympathy, consideration, and assistance. Among the zealots for strengthening the hands of government, at all adventures, by all forcible means, murmurs were heard, that it was now high time for all men of property to look well to their own interests; nor did they hesitate to affirm, that the numerous bodies of volunteers in arms, were fully as necessary for the prevention of internal insurrection, as the repulsion of foreign invasion. Suspicions were entertained by those men, of the alacrity of common soldiers in this cause of coercion. They placed their chief confidence in the volunteers: among whom, indeed, there were not wanting individuals who would have been as ready instruments in the hands of the severest government, for the purpose of restraining and subduing their own countrymen, as for that of repelling external aggression. In short, there were some symptoms of a tendency to a marked and fatal division between men of property or of hopes, and men of no property and no hopes. And if the vigilance, prudence, and moderation, which was exercised, in the prevention or quelling of mobs by the acting magistrates, had not formed a counterbalance to the spirit of violence that was manifested, not by government, but by some of the retainers, and what may be termed the expectants of government, an aspect of affairs might have been suddenly presented, more terrible than any that has menaced this country since the full establishment of regular law and government. For commotions ex cited by extreme want, however inconsistent with political order, and however fraught with future evils, have nothing in their nature that shocks humanity. All questions of right, and all presages of future calamities, might have been lost in the general tide of sympathy and compassion; which would have given to the popular side the force of moral, perhaps even religious, sentiment. The solicitude that was shown by individuals of all ranks to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, and the care of government to provide as much and as speedily as possible for their wants, gave consolation and hope to the people. The hand of private charity was still, as it had been, opened liberally. Associations, in cities and parishes, were every where formed, and resolutions taken for the relief of those who stood in most need of assistance. In the month of October, 1800, petitions from the city of London and other places were presented to his ma jesty to convene the parliament, without delay, that measures might be taken for relieving the distress of the people. The king graciously intimated that he had already given orders for an early meeting of the legislature for the dispatch of business. The parliament accordingly assembled on the 11th of November. The king, in a speech from the throne, declared that it was a tender concern for the welfare of his subjects, and a sense of the difficulties with which the poorer classes particularly had to struggle, from the present high price of provisions, that had induced him to call them together at an earlier period than he had had intended. He expressed an earnest desire, that, by their care andwisdom, all such measures might be adopted, as might appear best calculated to alleviate this severe pressure, and to prevent the danger of its recurrence, by promoting the permanent extension and improvement of agriculture. For present relief, he recommended the most ample encouragement for the importation of grain from abroad; attention to frugality, and economy in the consumption of corn; and also to the state of the laws respect, ing the commerce in the various articles of provision. If it should appear that the evil necessarily arising from unfavourable seasons, had been increased by any undue combinations or fraudulent practices, they would feel an earnest desire of effectually preventing such abuses; at the same time, he was sure, that they would be careful to distinguish such practices from that regular and long-experienced course of trade, which experience had shown to be indispensable, in the present state of society, for the supply of the markets, and for the subsistence of his people. He expressed his concern at the temporary disturbances which had taken place in some parts of the kingdom, which he ascribed to the instigation of malicious and disaffected persons, whose conduct was doubly criminal: as such proceedings must necessarily and immediately tend to increase the evil complained of, while they, at the same time, endangered the permanent tranquillity of the country, on which the well-being of the industrious classes of the community must always depend. His majesty, pass ing to the subject of the recent communication between him and the French government*, asserted his earnest desire of peace, and lamented that his wishes had been frustrated by the determination of the enemy to enter only on a separate negotiation, in which he could not engage consistently with public faith, or with a due regard to the permanent security of Europe.— Whenever the disposition of the French should afford a prospect of an honourable peace, he would promote it to the utmost of his power; but while such a peace was unattainable, he trusted that his parliament would support him with the same firmness and loyalty which had been signally evinced during the whole progress of a very important contest.-An address of thanks to his majesty for this speech was moved, in the HoUSE OF LORDS, by The duke of Somerset, who recommended a review of those laws, which either directly or indirectly affected the production and the vending of corn, and, if necessary, to repeal, amend, and improve, such parts of them as might be any ways defective. He had heard it said, that the legislature should let trade take its course, and not endeavour to improve that which always suc ceeds best, if left entirely to the management of those individuals who are immediately interested in its success. There might, perhaps, he observed, be some foundation for this remark, had the legislature always been indifferent, and conse. quently impartial, to the concerns of agriculture and commerce; but where much has been done, some *Of which an account has been given in our last volume. thing thing more must frequently be done, to render what is already done effectual. Where medicine has been administered, it must be frequently continued. The numerous regulations established in this country with regard to agriculture and commerce, required the frequent attention of the legislature, either to enforce those regulations, or to rescind, amend, and alter them, as a change of circumstances and different states of society might require. With regard to the riots, the pretence for which had been the extreme scarcity, the duke observed, that the folly of such proceedings, on such grounds, night excite pity rather than indignation; but yet that it was for the interest of society, that, if persevered in, the authors of them should not escape. It might perhaps be necessary for their lordships, in the course of the session, to consider of some means for the conviction, or the more easy suppression of popular tumults. He was confident that the farming.capital of the kingdom might be increased, agriculture improved, and provisions brought cheaper to market, if the property of the farmer were rendered more secure, by the more effectual prevention of riot, theft, and conflagration; but of these mischiefs he considered theft, though the least conspicuous, as the most prejudicial. The duke, after going over all the topics touched on in the speech from the throne, proposed, or, in parliamentary phraseology, moved an address, containing assurances, corresponding to the observations and sentiments expressed.-The motion for an address to his majesty was seconded by Lord Hobart. With respect to the leading topic of the speech, the high price of provisions, his lordship observed, that such was the deficiency of the harvest in 1799, that, if the alarm of scarcity had not been rung in the last session, and a motion of a right reverend prelate for lessening the consumption of private families acceded to, the evil felt at that hour would have been considerably aggravated: for, although the agreement proposed in that motion was not signed by all of their lordships, the spirit of it was followed by many who did not sign it, and was attended by the very best effects throughout the country. To that alarm, to the voluntaryeconomy produced by it, and to the compulsory reduction by the increase of price, he ascribed our escape from the severest distress: for it was now known, that had not the harvest of the current year, 1800, been much earlier than usual, the granaries were so completely exhausted, that in many parts of England, the condition of the people would have been most dreadful. From the extension of agriculture, recommended from the throne, much was to be expected; but this was a distant remedy. Present relief was the object to which their lordships' attention was more particularly directed; and the most immediate relief that occurred was importation, invited by encouragement: but that also, he observed, was precarious; and, therefore, what he should rely upon, was, economy at home, and the substitution of other grains to make up the deficiency of wheat. Lord Hobart had seen with concern, in the public prints, and par ticularly in resolutions of the county of Middlesex, that the high price of corn had been attributed to the war. This he considered as an un founded founded and pernicious doctrine. restored, was a question he would not undertake to discuss. It would be wise to treat with the existing government, and to conclude a peace, whenever it could be effected, consistently with good faith. to our allies, and a due regard to the honour and security of this country. Lord Holland contended that the war was one, though not perhaps the principal, cause of scarcity, Notwithstanding what had been stated by lord Hobart, he feared that scarcity and war were almost necessary companions. He concurred in opinion with the duke of Portland, who, in a letter communicated to the public, condemned the clamour which had been excited against supposed monopolists, and deprecated all attempts to interfere in the operations of the dealers in grain; but with the general conduct of minis`ters he continued to be exceedingly disgusted. Whether Buonaparte's design be peace or war, he said, the conduct of our ministers gives him uncommon advantages. If his wishes be really for peace, he may be entitled to demand from them greater securities as a test of their sincerity; and, if his secret desire be war, while he professes peace, then, by their former conduct, he may obtain his object, and throw all the odium on them. Look back, said he, to the whole history of the war, and it will be seen, that every point which he had to accomplish, he has been assisted in obtaining by the impolicy of our ministers. Lord Holland moved an amendment to the address, in which there appears to be greater asperity than is usually discovered on similar occasions in the house of peers, or, indeed, in that of the commons. "We should receive with peculiar satisfaction any [B3] proof |