moved the reading of the order of the day for the further consideration of the report of the committee on the Corn Trade, for the purpose of postponing the order until to-morrow.

observed, that the consideration of this report had been frequently postponed, and he wished to know the reasons which induced the hon. gent. to propose the farther postponement of it until to-morrow. The subject to which the report referred, he conceived to be of the utmost importance. It was one upon which he had taken every method in his power to acquire the fullest information. To the committee appointed to consider it, he had paid very close attention, and he had the misfortune to differ from the greater part of the gent. of which that committee was composed. This difference was of such a nature, that he hoped one of the motives for postponement was to reconsider the grounds of this difference. Indeed, the report was such, that he wished it to be totally reconsidered, for it would go, if adopted, to alter the bearing and tendency of our corn laws, and the whole system of our imports and exports, with respect to grain.

saw no objection that could, in point of candour, be advanced against deferring this motion till to-morrow. There was in the table proposed in the report of the committee, a deviation from the table fixed by the corn act of 1791; the reasons for which, though founded on the best principles, were not sufficiently explained in the body of the report. To obtain such explanation, and to satisfy the house and the public as to the motives of the change, it was proposed to move the recommital of the report.

acceded to the motion, and expressed a hope that when the report of the committee should again come before the house, it would come in another shape.

thought the motion of postponement ought to be for a later day. He wished to know whether it was intended to-morrow to consider the report on the table, or to move for its recommitment.

stated, that one reason for the proposed recommitment of this report was, that it would in its present form tend to affect the corn trade between this part of the united kingdom and Ireland. This was a subject which it was understood was to form the subject of another committee. With respect to the question to be submitted to the house to-morrow, of which the hon. bart. who spoke last wished to be informed, he had to mention that it would be this, whether the report should be recommitted or not; and from the advanced period of the session, it appeared to him that such recommital should take place as soon as possible, in order that upon the consideration of the general question, the report upon such recommittal, should be laid before the house in due time.—The motion was agreed to.

rose to ask the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, as his promised motion respecting the defence of the country was deferred till Tuesday, upon which day an order stood for a committee to consider several petitions relative to the Irish linen trade, it was intended that his motion should precede that order? This question he was induced to put from a consideration of the solicitude entertained upon the linen business by a vast and respectable number of persons in that country to which he belonged, and because, if the right hon. gent. meant to submit his motion, it must, from its superior importance, claim the precedency, and the consideration of the linen question must necessarily be postponed.—Being on his legs, the hon. member said he could. not refrain from observing upon the conduct of the right hon. gent. with respect to his long-promised plan of provision for the national defence—a plan which above a month since the right hon. gent. himself told the house that not one moment should be lost in bringing it forward, and yet it seemed that it was still unprepared, nor was the house assured that it would be ready even by Tuesday. The late administration, which he rejoiced in the recollection of having supported, were often charged with tardiness and hesitation, and particularly by that right hon. gent. who, in this instance was guilty of the fault which he had imputed to his predecessors; delay, indecision, want of energy and promptitude, appeared upon this occasion to be peculiarly applicable to himself.

felt that it would not be consistent with the order of the house, to enter at present into the animadversions upon his conduct which the hon. gent. had coupled with his question. With regard to the question put by the hon. gent. he should say that it was his anxious and earnest wish to bring forward his motion on Tuesday; and if the other motion was likely to give rise to any debate, he should wish his own to come on first.—Adjourned.