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 advance in the corn market. As yet there were hopes of a fair harvest—if there could but be a month of dry weather. That single month of dry, weather would get rid of the repeal of the corn laws for one year at least, and then there was the possibility of a good harvest in 1846 still farther to protract the evil day, and carry ministers through their eighteen-forty-one-elected parliament. The session of 1845, however, was not permitted to terminate without some more discussion on the Corn Laws. In the usual "Review-of-the-Session" debate on the 5th August, Lord John Russell showed that ministers had gained office under false pretences. With regard to the Corn Law, they had made admissions totally at variance with their previous doctrines as to protection:—

"But let us look at the foundation on which that law now rests Can anybody have heard of what has been passing within the last ten days, without feeling the misery of an uncertain law with respect to corn? Can anybody feel that there is a doubt whether the next fort. night will bring us a harvest tolerably good or miserably deficient, and not wish that the labouring classes of this country should be provided with food from all quarters where it can be obtained? I maintain that it is the duty of this House to provide for such a contingency. As the matter at present stands, there being uncertainty in the seasons, there being the uncertainty of a foreign supply, you, by your legislative wisdom, add a new and artificial uncertainty: you add the uncertainty whether six or ten weeks hence the duty shall be 20s. or 1s.; you thereby double the amount of speculation; you double the hazard to which the people of this country are exposed; and you double the gambling in this necessary article of subsistence for human life. Why, sir, is it wise to continue such a system? Only the other day we had a gentleman who has always been a constant supporter not only of the present ministry, but especially of their policy with regard to the Corn Law and the sliding-scale,—we had that genuenian, I say, avowing publicly that be did not think that law would last; and that two years, probably, would see the end of it. Well, then, I say if it is to be abandoned, do not leave us in this miserable uncertainty. While you have done much in the way of making an approach to free trade with those main articles of supply—timber, sugar, and above all, corn, you are keeping up restrictions which are contrary to every sound principle, and to which it is impossible, if your own theories are sound, you can mean to adhere