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Mr. Viliers as his model, he went on as if he were about to conclude with a motion for the immediate and total abolition of the Corn Law. Protection, he said, was not a labourer's question; for during the last three years, prices had been low and food abundant; and during that period, the working classes had been better off than during the preceding three years. High prices did not produce high wages, nor vice versa. In the last three years, with low prices and abundance of food, wages were comparatively high, and labour was in demand; in the three years preceding, with high prices and scarcity, wages were low and employment was scarce. Experience thus proved that wages were ruled by abundance of capital and demand for labour, and did not vary with the price of provisions. Again, increased freedom of trade was favourable to the prosperity of our commerce. In three scarce and dear years, namely, from 1839 to 1841, our foreign exports fell off from fifty-three millions in value to forty-seven millions. But in three years of reduction of duties and low prices, namely, from 1842 to 1844, the value of our exports rose from forty-seven millions* to fifty-eight millions. Even deducting the amount of the China trade, a similar result was shown. Nor was the reduction in the Customs' duties unfavourable to the revenue. In 1842, there was an estimated loss of a million-and-a half; in 1843, a smaller one of £273,000; but in 1845, there was a reduction, at an estimated loss to the revenue of no less than two millions and a-half. The total amount of the various reductions effected in three years exceeded four millions sterling; and many of the duties were totally abolished; the loss, therefore, not being compensated by any increased consumption. Had four millions been lost to the revenue? He believed that on the 5th of April next, the revenue would be found to be more buoyant than ever. Sir Robert Peel referred to other proofs of prosperity resulting from reduced import duties, and then adverted to his own