Mr. Chaplin on Friday week brought forward his proposal for
a Royal Oommission to inquire into the causes of agricultural distress, which was conceded by the Government, and unop- posed by any of the parties, though Mr. Bright, in a speech of extraordinary vigour against Protection, denounced it as useless. It would seem from Sir Stafford Northcote's speech, that the Commission, which is not yet named, is to inquire into anything it pleases to consider a probable cause of agricultural distress, but its immediate object will be to ascertain the precise extent, character, and future limits of the American competition to which British farmers are exposed. The landlords are terribly alarmed upon this point, and the information collected will probably be exhaustive. The debate had no party character, except in this, that Tories were disposed to seek remedies either in Protection or a radical revision of the local-taxation system, and the Liberals in the enfranchisement of the land. We have pointed out elsewhere the high import- ance which ought to be attached to Lord Hartington's mani- festo upon this subject. He openly joined the ranks of the Land Reformers, and his speech has created a sensation among landlords, which we are surprised not to find reflected in the journals.
