Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/168

152 "Mr. J. B. Smith said that had they fifty markets to resort to instead of one the trade would be almost uniformly equable.

"Mr. Aitken, of Liverpool, an extensive shipowner, said he was in the habit of sending his ships to be victualled abroad, provisions there being lower in price. On an average they were one-third lees. The law would not permit provisions to come to the people, but it could not prevent their going to the provisions.

"Lord Melbourne (as if he had detected a fallacy) Then, according to your argument, a repeal of the existing laws will lower the price of corn here?

"Mr. Aitken: It will tend not so much to lessen the price here as to equalize it everywhere. The present law has raised the price here and depressed it abroad.

"Lord Melbourne: Then, considering your own individual interest, the existing system is most desirable?

"Mr. Aitken said that the excessive inconvenience and and loss of time much overbalanced the seeming advantage.

"Lord Melbourne observed that were the ports free, foreign nations would not relax their protective duties upon native industry. Their manufactures were a great deal too important. If they would consult their own interest was against it might be otherwise, but the general opinion of the world was against free trade. To give all first was not the way to commence negotiations for reciprocal advantages. There could be no question that their principle was right; but nations did not always see their own interest.

"The Mayor of Carlisle (Mr. Dixon) next addressed his lordship and drew a most heart-rending picture of the deep distress pervading that city and its neighbourhood. The working men were compelled to expend their poor pittance of wages almost entirely on food. While it remained at its present high price they could get no clothing, and the home trade had fallen off in consequence. For forty years back there had not been such deep distress.

"Lord Melbourne (doubtingly): Do you mean to say that they are in a worse condition than you ever remember?

"Mr. Dixon (emphatically): I have come here to state that fact. The wages are lower than I ever remember them to have been in the cotton trade.

"The further discussion was to a similar effect. In conclusion Lord Melbourne said he could not pledge himself to repeal. He acknowledged the respectability of the deputation; hut the government had left the matter to the House of Commons. The Chairman of the