174 RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES OF GOODWOOD 



speech from the throne, which, as he understood it, 

 did not even admit that the agriculturists were 

 suffering from distress. The noble Lord, in talking 

 of the cheapness of provisions, had omitted to say 

 anything about wages, which had fallen excessively 

 in some districts, where hundreds of labourers were 

 out of work. 



" Every husting in the country would be made a 

 battle-field, on which they would steadily, but with- 

 out violence of language, state their grievances and 

 demand justice." On the third reading of the bill, 

 the Duke renewed his opposition to it, but unsuc- 

 cessfully . 



Again, when Parliament assembled in 1851, his 

 Grace as usual was prepared to advocate the interest 

 of the landed proprietors and the agriculturists, stating 

 that " hampered as the British farmer was with 

 taxation, he could not compete successfully with 

 foreigners. The prosperity now enjoyed by the 

 manufacturing interest, it had been stated, would 

 ultimately reach the agriculturists, but he would 

 like to know what was to become of the tenant 

 farmer whilst waiting for it ? He had spent a great 

 deal of money upon improvements, but unless some 

 protection was restored, he could not see the force of 

 sending good money after bad." 



This was the last occasion on which he addressed 

 the House upon any important question connected 



