Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/201

1827.] Death of Castlereagh to Canning s Premiership. 187 February, and lively discussions soon took place. Hume was particularly active. On the pth of March he presented a petition praying for an alteration of the corn laws, which Mr. Curwen met with the statement which now seems perfectly incomprehensible, that "if permission were given to import corn into this country without restriction, the result of it would be visible in a few years in the production of a famine." Mr. Whitmore moved, on the i8th of April, for a committee to consider the propriety of a revision of the corn laws, but was defeated by 215 votes to 8l. Ministers opposed Whitmore's motion; but the pressure of distress became great, and threatened to grow still more severe, and after prolonged dis- cussions in both Houses they passed two temporary bills one to permit bonded corn to be taken out for home consumption, and the other to admit not more than 500,000 quarters of foreign corn for home consumption under certain limitations. During the recess these provisions were found to be insufficient to meet the emergency, and Government had to take further action on its own responsibility. Financial questions were frequently discussed, and Hume took his full share in the debates. On the 4th of May he made a formal motion on the state of the nation, preceded by a string of forty-five resolutions touching upon almost every topic connected with the state and management of the finances. Such a proceeding gave no opportunity of a practical issue, but it served to call the attention of the country, on the eve of an election, to subjects of the gravest importance. Hobhouse also took a share in the efforts to promote economy, moving for a reduction of the army, and obtaining thirty-four votes for the proposal. Lord John Russell again brought forward the question of Parliamentary reform on the 2/th of April, when he moved " That the present state of the representation of the people in Parliament requires the serious consideration of this House." Lord Althorpe seconded the resolution, and Hobhouse made a long and able speech in its favour ; but it was lost by 247 votes to 123.