A Hundred Years Ago
In the House of Lords, on Thursday, the Earl of Winchilsea intro- duced his bill for the employment of the labouring poor. The object of the bill is to enable magistrates to make special assess. manta, where they may happen to be necessary, for the employment of labourers from the let November to the let May. It is proposed, that in every parish a statement shall bo made to tho magistrates in petty sessions, in October, of the individuals who depend on their labour for support, with a view to their relief when unem. ployed ; the relief to be proportioned to the nature of the labour of which each individual is capable, and not, as in the case of the poor-rate, in proportion to the labourer's family.
ACCORDING TO CIRCtTAINTANCES A division took place on that part of the schedule which imposes a duty of Is. 2d. on every quarter of corn imported from the United States into the West Indies ; and it was carried by 138 to 38.
Mr. Warburton having objected to the whole plan, as contrary to the principles of free trade, Mr. Herries said, He must beg leave once for all, in answer to observations respecting what was called the free trade policy of Ministers, to disclaim, on the part of the members of the present Govern- ment, that strict devotion to the principles of free trade which the honourable members seemed to consider their duty. How- ever unexceptionable these principles might be in the abstract, it was the duty of every statesman to regulate their application according to circumstances ; and not that circumstances and expediency, and regard to long-established usages and interests, should be overlooked or bent in obedience to abstract principles.
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