POSTSCRIPT. SA

The debate on the alteration of the Corn-laws, continued I the fourth time, again stands adjourned; probably to be pro

some nights longer. The final result, however, is scarcely open t The Ultra-Protectionists themselves betray a thoroughly downcast ~ASA& and last night, too, they wore further betrayed into a degree of heat which had not previously marked the discussion.

The sole supporter of the measure on the Liberal side was Mr. WARD; who gave his support with unpartisan heartiness, and very happily

disposed of the charge of " treachery "—scouted by the people of York- shire when Mr. Ferrand tried to bring it before them. He characterized the measure as one for the salvation of the agricultural interest.

The supporters of the motion on the Ministerial •side of the House were, Viscount VILLIERS, Lord NORTHLAND, and Colonel THOMAS WOOD df Middlesex.

The opponents were, Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, Mr. WILLIAM MILES, and Mr. FRANCIS SCOTT. The novelties of the contest were not so much in the arguments as in certain little sallies of fancy or personality.

Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS closed his speech with the prophecy, that free trade would convert the Colonies into independent states.

Mr. MILES scouted the notion of compromise, as suggested by Mr. Baring: the agriculturists, he said, would either have the present law, with its sliding scale, or else Sir Robert Peel's plan, if not Lord John Russell's— which he thought the better of the two. Afterwards he entangled himself in a dangerous statistical trap. He wanted to show that the dread of inun-

dation by foreign corn was not groundless; and he foretold "exhaustless "'

supplies from the valley of the Mississippi, Prussia, and—Tamboll The sound of that word, immortalized by Lord Stanley, raised shouts of laughter.

Mr. Miles said that he did not wish to exaggerate: he would not say [as Lord Stanley did] that Tamboff could supply 36,000,000 quarters of corn, but Mr. M'Gregor estimates the supply at 12,000,000 bushels. The pro- vince contains twenty-five millions of square miles—(Roars of laughter) Oh! I see—I should have said twenty-five thousand square miles instead of millions."

Mr. SCOTT delivered a speech intended to be very startling in the force of its denunciations. In the course of it, he likened Sir Robert Peel to counsel who had thrown up his brief and gone over to the other side. While Mr.

Scott was in full swing with his pleading, Sir Robert Peel, in an under- tone, said, " For whom are you counsel?" Mr. Scott seemed struck dumb—

he sat down—he rose—and then he burst forth into an angry denial that he was a "retained advocate"; an imputation which Sir Robert Peel disclaimed. Mr. Scott wound up with the warning that the measure would give an impulse, not to free trade, but to revolution !

Lord NORTHLAND was the subject of another incident. He declared, although his opinion on protection was unchanged, he still gave Sir Robert Peel his " confidence." On this Mr. FERRAND exclaimed-

" I should just like to ask the noble Lord what confidence he had in the right honourable Baronet when he (Lord Northland) was dragged out of the Coal-hole' to vote for him on a late occasion?" (Roars of laughter.) The debate was adjourned, after one o'clock, till Monday.

The other business of the evening, whether in the Commons or in the Lords, was of little interest.