The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-23 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY. EVENING, JANUARY 23, 1847, Tn asury had • discretionary power, and if it should be elearly proved to them that an accident had occurred which hindered • vessel which left port at as sufficiently early . period to enable her to come here in time under ordinary dream stance., from arriving no or be ore the Ist ct Sep. ember, al lowance could be made by the Tn story if they were dis posed to exercise their discretion. Mr. WILLIAMS said that the Chancellor of the En chequer seemed to think that by limiting the suspension of the laws till September it would farce foreign countries to send forward their sunpli.ts. He might rest assormi, how ever, that all available stores would be sent here without delay. Mr. LIDDELL watdd &Ter no opposition to the mea sures of the government. He thouelit they were about to pursue a course which eras calculated to meet the euserganey of the times, and for that reason they should receive his support. Mr. T. S. DeNC.OM BE not having heard the slightest reason founded on common sense eesigned by any member of her Majesty's government against the amendment, he should give it his support. Lord J. RUSSELL said that, having reigned to what had been stated by hi, right him. friend the month r for Ports mouth (Mr. Boring) he had no hesitation in saying the Treasury would be ready to do what had heen done or. former oa-embalm; and in that case, if it mold b, clearly shown that a Sei•el would have arrived on the lat of Sep tember but fur adverse winds, an eseepti an wa-ulal Ise made in favour of tett+ vessel. (Hear, bear.) He could nut give any pledge further than that. ( lit-or. Lord (1. BENTINCK thought an erroneous impression had gone forth that we had lost the opportunity of i uporting a ennsidembie qutantity of grain from America through the obstacle offered by the navigation liws ' and the present duty of is. on corn ; and that France had gained a great advantage over lus. If he were to throw out any sug gestion to his noble friend opposite (Lord J. Russell) it would be to extend the principlo to he adopted, arid put British ships on the ...IMP 1 - 00 , 111ir as foreign ships; as it was ne cessary that two-thirds of the men in British ships should he British seamen, our vessels would labour under a great dis advantage; and he would AUggtst that the British shipowner should be put on an equal rooting with the (reign ship owner, and that all such restrictions should be suspendod as far IS casn n was concerned. Mr. Duncan, Mr. bdaffatt, Mr. Ewart, and Mr. Brotherton, supported the amendment. Mr. MITCHELL replied. The committee teen divided For the amendment Ageing it 188-138 The bill then went through committee; end, the house having resumed, the report we.y hroucht up and egret d USE OF SUGAR IN BREWERIES AND DISTIL LER I ES.—The boom having resolved itself into a committee on the Customs and Exeiso Duties Acts, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he now proposed to state the measure which it was the inten tion of the government to submit to the committee, w ith re ference to stager end melues. Fr •rn what took place last night and the night before, it would seem that some misap prehension e•isted as to the measure about to be proposed ; he certainly, however, did not expect that sneh would have been the ease after what had been stated in the Queen's speech. As to the suspension of the corn and navie,ation lawn, it was proposed that it should be tem:retry, with re geed to the fir.t, because, after a protracted diseueion, the question had been settled lest session, and the government did not think it right to interfere with sue'.l u derision, unless under very extraordinary circumstances • neither did they think they were justified in doing more th an to propose a temporary suspension of the navigation laws. But with reference to the subject which he was 11 , W about to Ming before the committee, he had promised last melon to bring it forward early in the present emsion, and he therefore now rose to propose a permanent measure. (Hear, hear.) A measure had been passed lest .ession meteri illy effecting the protection which before had existed with reference to colo nial auger. He promised at the close of last session that at an early period he would bring the subject of the differential duty on rum befiire the house. and he was now about to lay before it the result of his considerations, and the measures which he thought necessary. On every occasion that he ad vacated a reduction of differential duty on eager, it W. with a view of benefiting the consumer and increasing the re venue; and in the measure he now proposed he had the same double object in view. No person could be more coo einemd than lie of the general soundness of the doctrines of free trade; but it wa. to Lorry th em mit to the extent which some perimuadoicseed without inflicting eeriousinjury on the revenue. His hen. friend (fir. Hume) talked of putting an end to the timber duties. The revenue thrived from timber was about 1,000,0001. a year, and would it be easy to supply a deficiency to that amount ? The condition of the country rendered a large amount of taxation necessary, and it was impossible to do that except by levying a large amount indirectly. Moreover, it was impossible to raise that large amount of indirect taxation, exempt upon articles consumed by the vest body of the people. He should b' not a little &heroic.' if the house expected that the timber duties would he melee .d. In the statement which was made lest session, the house was informed that the prospect of the revenue eat not quite as promising as it had been for some time. Assuming the estimates of expenditure formed by the right hon. geatle-um opposite, it was caleoleted that there would be a delici• ney to the extent of 300,000/. or 400,0001. But up to the present time there was an increase ofrevenue execisding their most sanguine expectations, and the balance-sheet which was just prepared would show a considerable increase. With respect to the Customs, there was an iuceeree of revcnee en nll article, except tonic on which the duty had been reduced. It was his especial duty to look after the revenue, and he should not like to have it reduced, but in the revere slats of the country, and V helmet and parts of Scotland in particular, he weal ho utterly unjustifi ible in looking to (hot object alone. (Hest, hear.) If the measure he was about to propose had no other effect than to show te the people of Ireland that every means of alleviating the pressure upon them was token, and to satisfy their own minds that they did all that hie in their power to contribute to that object, these enn.iderations would be sufficient te justify them in making a sacrifice of rev, nue. The produce from tee excise considerably exceeded the esti mate of the right hon. genOeman opeleite. In all branches of the excise, both in this couetry and in Ireland, there was an increase of revenue. The incr awe' powers of enneump tion, indicated by Irland up to October. showed every ap pearance of increased prosperity and wealth. But since the 10th of October a change came over the revenue in that coun try. The excise duties in the last quarter had fallen off in Ireland—the sure forerunner of what might he expected in this countay, &elm there were siims of distress in England. He had seen that a number of mills in Mancheeer were put on short time. (Hear, hear.) The price of provisions was high, and it would be contrary to all experience to expect that, with high prices, and consequently a diminished consumption of rhos • articles t •at coniributed to the revenue there +fluid be a continuance of that pros perity and satisfactory condition of the revenue which they enjoyed some veers back, and to which four years of good harvests, nesisied, no dente, by judicious legislation, mainly contributed. On the contrary, they had now high prices of provisions, had harvest., and not the same degree of com mercial activity, no that it was not without reason that he was careful about the revenue, and that, in determining be tween all parties, he could not silted to lose a large amount of revenue. Weh regard to the present measure three re quests had been made: first, to permit sugar to be used in breweries; secondly, to admit it in distilleries; and, thirdly, to reduce the diffi recce between the customs duty on rum, and the excise duty on British spirits. Ile would take these different propoeitions one by one. First, with respect to the use of Anger in breweries ; the reqnest was that the brewers might he permitted to use sugar and runtimes in brewing. To sugar there was no objection. As the law stood at pre sent, private brewers might use sugar in brewing. file measure which he proposed to submit to the house was to relieve the public brewer from the prohibition which pre vented him from the use of sneer. With respect to the revenue it was matter of indifference whether sugar or malt should he used in brewing. The duty on a quarter of melt was 21s. Bd. The equivalent in sugar of a quarter of malt was 180 lbs., the duty on which was 225. 6d., so that if 180 lbs. of sugar displaced a quarter of malt, the revenue on the whole would be a gainer. But he did not himself believe that sugar would displace malt, or that it would be the interest of the brewer to brew from sugar alone, unless malt wns at an ex tmemant prier, and the price of sugar exceedingly low. His opinion was that a certain quantity of sugar would be used with wort made from malt. This would cheapen the process of brewing, and considerably extend the use of sugar. To whatever extent it contributed to cheapen the price of beer, it would also contribute to the use of those articles used in making it, se that the West Indian, the consumer, and the grower of barley, would all find their account in the mea sure. Again it was found that there was great difficulty in working up damaged barley, and in that respect also the use of sugar would he beneficial, because it would facilitate the working up of that description of barley without doing any injury to the health of those who used it. Without going into the argument of the malt tax, there was evil. nee to show that it was paid by the consumer. Within the last few weeks the price of barley and malt rose to a great extent, and large brewers oat of London suspended their malting opera tions. A large meeting of the brewers was held in London, and the result of their deliberations won to increase the Deice of beer Id. per pot, unon which they recommenced their malting operations. Thus it was clear that it was the price paid by the conniunoe that enabled them to COMIII.IICO working again. Now if they were allowed to use augur, they would have substituted a portion of that article fur the high pricel malt. to make up the deficiency. And it was clear it would not have Kenn advisable for them to raise the price to the consumer. There were two points thus established the payment of the malt tax by the consumer, and next, the see vantage which the grower of barley end producer of malt ob tained by giving en increased consumption to his produce without milting the price of his beverage to the consumer. Even in ordinary times therehoe he thought the mesaure would afford unalloyed benefit to all partles. nt the present moment and with the present high price of molt, the mated advantage would he derived from the use ne mugs r. The present price of malt was 61*. He hearth it had T - minced to ; and some persons in that house heft h•ld him that it would be 90s. But taking the price at 84s. ; the cost of malt without the duty, would be file. 61. The test of 1801 b of sugar, at 475. the cwt., would tos 7.55. 64. There would. therefore. be an advantage in using sugar, to the ex tent of fie. In times of scarcity, the effect of the measure would he to reduce the exnrbitant price of malt ; lint in ordi nary times there would he no competitienbetweee molt and sneer. If he asnumel the price of malt to he three Relines, or 61.., which was the price some years ego, the price of the sugar, in oral" to compete with it, ehntild be is low me 3.1, ditty paid, a price to which they had never seen it reduced. The effect of the measure would also he to enable the brewers to work up large quantities of m haslsy, and, in this respect, it would have precisely the name effect es the admission of foreign wonl had in causing Eng lish woo/ to be mixed up with it. He proposed to allow the same drawback on exported beer made from sugar, that was now allowed en exported beer made from malt. With re spect to inolaseee, he was nut prepared to allow its admission into breweries, or its use in brewiur. There was no ex ample in their former legislation of the permission to use molasses, though on more than one occasion the use of sugar had been allowed. Its brewing qualities were far greater in proportion to the duty paid than those of sugar. The duty on moiler. was 51. 3d. The quantity of molaases equivalent to a quarter of hurley was variously stated at I 24' lbs., 262 lbs., and 303 Ito. But, assuming 262 to ' be the equivalent, in order that the rep nue might not lose by the use of molars, it would be liens. nary that the duty should be 9s. Bcl., instead of ss. 3d. Therefore one of ten courses should be tahen-either a duty of 9.. Bd. should be imposed on molasses or an excise duty should he imposed equivalent to the alit remote between b.. 3d. and 9s. Bd. on the molasses used in breweries; that was to say, 9s. Pd. must be the duty on molames thus used. If 3031C0s of molasses was the equivalent for • quarter of corn, the duty would be Bs. He therefore thought that the inconveniences of allowing the use of mu lasses preponderated over the advantages. It would be mast difficult to protect the interest of the revenue, if it was per mitted to be used, and he did not think it weal.' be any great bans 'n to the Esat or West Indian proprietor. He believed it I would be much more for their advantage if the introduction of rum was facilitated. He now came to the question of dig ti 'erica As the law at present stood, sager might be used in distilleries on the distiller giving notices to the Esci-e of hie intention to distil from SLOW% But it was incumbent that a certain interval shoot I elapse between the time of dies. tilling from grain and distilling from sugar. He was not allowed to mix them together-or to distil from both at the same time. This P gulation was indispensable for the pro toction of the revenue. He believed ho would com mand the assent of the house to the assertion that spirits was an article on which the maxi mum amount of revenue ought to be levied. (Hear, hear.) They ought nor, however. to raise it to sash • point as would encourage illicit distillation. The preeent. duty in England of 7s. 10d. appeared to be a fair one, and it was of essential importance that they should not suffer the revenue to be diminisheul. Tim charge on spirits was taken at three peri ids during the process of distillation, and the excise were at liberty to take that charge which gave the highest amount of duty. There were thus three tests, but if distillation from sugar was allowed one of the teem would bala4,and the excite officers said that in consequence of its absence it would be impossoble to allow distillation from grain and surer together. He did not believe this was material with respect to the con- I sumption of sugar, because Mr. Hadley and Mr. Smiit who were large distiller., declared in tho , r evidence b..fore a committee of the HOW.) of Commons that it would not he advantageous to use both together, as they did not act together en fermentation. Th.• real objection to the use of sugar in distillation was the amount of the duty levied upon the sugar; that was the real objection, and that he proposed to remove. He pro posed to allow the use of sugar, duty free. practically, in distilleries, with the excep'ion that he must levy on sugar used in distilleries an amount of duty equivalent to the duty paid on malt. In England, spirits were distilled from a mixture of various sorts of grain : two parts of malt: two parts of oats, and eighteen parts of barley. Supposing that these were the proportions, it was evident that the spirits produced paid the amount of the spirit duty levied per gallon, and also the duty paid pre, iously, on the two quarter', of malt. Now, what he proposed, taking an equal quantity of spirits produced from sugar, was, that the spirits produced from sugar ahoul 1 pay the same spirit duty as spirits distilled from corn, together with a duty equivalent to the duty paid upon the malt used in distillation. He proposed that the di-tiller should take his sugar from the bonded warehouse, pay the duty upon it, and use it in distillation ; and that, on paying the spirit duty, he should have an allowance peoivalent to the difference between the duty which he had paid upon the curer and that which ho would have to pay upon malt. That allowance, according to I the calculation. which had been adopted in previous acts, I would be 14d. per cwt. An allowance of 12s. 10d. on the quantity of spirit which was calculated to be produced from 1 cwt. of sugar would leave that spirit in this situation : it would have been relieved from all the duty paid upon sugar, and would have paid a duty equivalent to that which had been previously paid upon malt. The distinc tion between the duty upon beer and that upon spirits was this, that in the MSC of beer the duty was levied on the raw material, namely, the malt, &r., whereas in the case of spirits the duty was levied mainly on the spirit, a cer tain amount, nevertheless, being levied 4lione portion of the raw material, namely, the melt. Eleven and-a-half gallons of spirit being the amount which was calculated to be pro duced from one cwt. of sugar, 12s. pod. would he deducted from the spirit-duty payable on that quantity. There would, in fact, be a drawback of 12s. 104. upon eleven and-a half gallons of spirit, while the difference of duty between different descriptions of sugar would be telt untouched. Now, the present mice of barley was stated in one of the price currents at 545. ; he believed that as much as 601. bad I.cen paid. Taking sugar at 33s . and barley at 515., which were the prices about a week ago, sugar would compete with barley, and it would be a matter of indifference to the distiller, whether he distilled from parley or sugar. Keep ing in view a series of years, he believed they might take the average price of barley at 30s. In order to compete with malted barley at 305., the price of sugar must be as low as 18s. per cat. • and as 13s. was a lower price than sugar had yet been reduced to, and es he did not anticipate that it would reach so low a point in ordinary times, he thought there would not he much, if any compe tition, between barley and sugar. When barley rose consi derably, sugar would come into competition wish it, but competition depending on the relative prices of the two, it was not likely that it would take place often. The value of distillation from grain was, too, so much greater than that of sugar that it would tend to prevent competition generally, unless the price of barley should be lower on the average than he anticipated. He did not propose to admit molasses into distilleries, because of the opening which it would afford for illicit distillation, while if moMasmi and sugar where mixed it would be impossible to , istinguish between tne two. He now came to the last point, sir., the duty on rum. Last year the duty upon British spirit was 7s. 10d. that upon colonial rum 9s. 4d., leaving a doffereece of Is. 13d. between the excise duty on spirits, and the colonial duty on rum. More than one attempt had been made to reduce the amount of the differential duty, but the effort had always been successfully resisted, partly by the distillers, and partly by the growers of barley, and the producers of malt. One ground of resist ance was now removed, air., the protective duty on foreign corn. The other grounds mainly relied upon were the disadvantages to which distillers were subjected by the enactments of the excise law, intended for the protection of the revenue, and the outlay of capital nec essary to conform with the excise regulation requoring that the duty should be paid before the article could come into consumption. In the last session of parliament he had satis fied himself that the claim of the distillers, enthuse grounds, would be fully satisfied by • differential duty of Is., and therefore he at once pmpoxed,the reduction of the differential duty to Is. The \Vest Indians had last year submitted that the fair amount of the claim was 2,1., and the distillers had stated their claim at Is. 41d., the whole of which latter claim, with the exception of one penny, was on account of the protective duties. On the one hand two-pence was allowed, on the other Is. 41d, was claimed, at the period to which he had referred. It was impossible to deny that the distillers in this country were subjected to certain disadvantages, though it was diffi cult to estimate them in money. After consulting expe rienced officers of the excise, he thought they bad made out a probable claim to somewhere about 9d. or 10d. a gallon. The only possible mode of settling the . question was by a sort of compromise between the conflicting parties; and though he did not mean to deny that, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he was anxious not to sacrifice any more revenue than he could help, yet he thought that, upon the whole, the justice of the ease would be met by reducing the differential duty from Is. to lid., and levying upon colonial epirit • duty 6d. higher than that upon British. Now he need not remind the house that the duty was different in England, Ireland, and Scotland. What be had said applied only to England, and he now came to the question of the admission of rum into the two other countries. The duty upon spirits of home manufacture was at present in England, 7s. 10d.; in Scotland, 31. Bd.; in Ireland, 2s. 84. The request of the West Indians was that they might be allowed to introduce rum into Scotland and with . Ireland the same difference as regarded British sprits that was observed in England. He held in his hand a paper stating the quantity of spirits of all kinds tensioned in the three countries. From that document it appeared that there had been an extraordinary diminution in the quantity of rum consumed in Scotland since the beginning of the present century. The amount about the commencement of that period was 301,000 gallons; it had gradually declined until on 184.5, the whole amount of colonial *pints consumed in Scotland did not exceed 43,000 gallons. In Ireland the re duction had been still more extraordinary. So late aa 1809, no lets than one million gallons of rum were introduced into Ireland in one year ; soon afterwards the consumption de dined, and for the lam four or five years the quantity had been about 12,000. It was very difficult to trace the cause of this change, but he was; inclined to the opinion that it was attributable, to a great extent, to a change in the taste of the people. He thought that the fact which he had mentioned would justify him in acceding to the request of the British colonial producer by reducing the difference of duty in Scot land and in Ireland to what it was in England. The amount of the duty in Scotland would be 4s. M., and in Ireland 3s. 2.d. He did not expect that there would be any great increase in the consumption of rum, except in the seaport town., but the attention would be attended with one benefit both to the revenue and the consumer if it prevented the use of a spurious article which was now passed off as rum. (Hear, hear, hear.) No doubt it might be objected that different mils of duty would afford facilities for smug- I gling ; but, in order to obviate that objection, lie proposed that ram transmittal by gen,- for example, from Glasgow to London, should be passel from one bonded ware house to another, and pay duty on being taken out for con sumption. Now, as refunded revenue, he did not believe that either gain or loss would arise from these change., 60,0001 was the amount which he had expected to lose by the reduction of 6d. upon rum last year; but the deficiency in the rate of duty had been more than counterbalanced by increased consumption. (Hear, hear.) In the three months ending the sth of December, 1815, the quantity of rum imported was 655,000 gallons; in the three corre sponding months of last year it was 789,000 gallons-an in. crease of 134,000 gallons. The entire consumption of Ire land and Scotland was at present only about 26,000 gallons in the year. Now the result' of these measures was altoge ther as follows: -Sugar duty paid was to be used in brew eries, sugar practically duty free was to be used in dis tilleries; a reduction of ftd. pee gallon was to be made on the rum consumed an England, and the duty, which was at present practically prohibitory in Scotland and in Ireland was to he reduc e d t o an extent which would probably increase the c onsumpt i on t h ere to a considerable amount, He certainly did hope that the effect of what he proposed would be in soma degree to b • ring down priors, by getting free a ea rtain quantity of corn for human faod. The noble lord (Lord 11'. Hemlock) said that the people of this country would not be induced to feed upon barley bread. In o inary titan, perhaps, they world not ; bnt he (the Chancellor of the F.aehequer) thought that it barley could be made available, it would be a very great blessing at the present period. The result which he expected from these measures was, that they would tend to prevent high prices of grain, ratter than to reduce the price below the average. At least one-third of the corn used in distillation was actually wao'rd, and to j revent that waste was at least desirable. Distillation front grain was at that moment to a great extent suspe deal, He had a letter from an Irish distiller, dated the 14th of January. The writer said that since the 19th of December the corn markets of 11 s country had undergone great changes; lie prices of all grain had risen to an excessive amount, and the distillers had been obliged to stop working, and he further said he had no doubt the distillers would use sugar nail cool isses if env measure were introduced to enable them to do so. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had endeavoured to explain the policy of this measure, a perma nent one, but it woo impossible to deny that the present state of circumstances afforded additional reasons for passing it, mid at the same time rendered it desirable that it should be pulsed with as little delay as was consistent with due deliber ation.—(Chriene) The queition having been put, Lord G. BENTINCK said, that notwithstanding the per fect mastery of his subject, which his right hon. tripod had displayed, and notwithstanding the perspicuity and aimpli city with which he had explained the measures of the Rove, n raent.—(cheers),—leaving no one an excuse for pretending that he could not understand them, he thought the house would scarcely expect that be should he prepared at once to enter into all these details. (Hear, hear.) At any rate the propositions of her Majesty's ministers on that subject did not incur the great objection which he had so often stated to the remission of taxes which were paid, in his opinion, in great part by the foreigner, in preference to the remiasion of other taxes which were paid exclusively by British subjects. (Hear.) He could not conceal from himself that this was a proposi tion to admit a different pro tuce into rivalship with the pro duce of the agriculturist of England; bat then. inasmuch as it was not • question between foreign grain and home grown corn, the proposition was not liable to the string objection which might be raised upon that ground. Another reason, also, why he was indisposed to object to the measure was, that he did not believe it wu one calculated to diminish— Indeed he rather thought it would tend to increase—the re venue of the state. That was a weighty consideration on his mind. Whilst he heard from the Chancellor of the Ex chequer a gloomy statement of the prospect of one portion of the re venue, and of indifferent prospects both in our manu facturing district.' and in Ireland, it wax especially consoling to himself, and his friends aroond him, to reflect that those branches of the revenue with which the free-trailers had not meddleal were on the increase, and that it was en tirely owing to what that party had not done that the Chan cellor of the Exchequer did not come to the house that night in the position of a bankrupt. (Loud Protectionist cheers.) Having thus expressed his opinion of the proposal, he must proceed to observe, that be believed it wax the wish of his friends around him, to have more time to consider this subject in many of its bearings, and that therefore bin object in rising was, to ask the noble lord at the head of the government, to pass the present as a temporary, rather than as a permanent measure. It was the desire of those with whom he acted to support the government, as far as possible, in all their measures with refer, nee to Ireland ; they were anxious that no obstacles should be thrown in the way of government, in doing all they could do far the relief of that country ; and he, therefore, trusted that the noble lord would assent to pass this measure, without preju dice the one way or the other, as • temporary measure, leaving it to the house at a later period of the mission, and when the state of Ireland was more settled, to discuss and deal with it sea permanent measure as they might then see fit. (Hear, hear.) Ile must also add, that in permitting sugar to be used in the place of barley, as proposed by the right hon. baronet, he considered that they were adding strength to the already strong claims of the agriculturalists of England. for • remission of the duties upon malt and hop'. (Renewed cries of " Hear, hear.") The right hon. baronet had spoken of beer having risen in price a penny a pot ; but he—(Lord G. Bentinek)—would remind them that it only required a remission of theft duties to reduce it a penny a pot. Re consented, however, as he maid before, to the retsing of this measure as a temporary enactment, and he trusted it was in that form only that it was intended it should he passed, for, if attempted to be made permanent, he and his friends around him must meet it with unwilling though uncompromising hostily. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN must say that he never had heard a statement which had given him so much disappointment as that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that evening. He had trusted that something would have been mid to show that in effect this measure would meet the wishes of those who desired to augment the supplies of grain in Ireland. If, however, he understood the Chancellor of the Exchequer aright, he held out no hope of any such result. distilleries. Mr. BANKES coincided with Lord George Bentinck in strongly urging that this me-sure should only be passed as a temporary enactment. Mr. GOULBURN, at the close of last &union, had as waled to the colonial measures proposed by the government upon the distinct understanding that the colonists should, in their turn, receive the benefit of free competition. He re. gaoled this measure, therefore, as an instalment of the debt doe to the colonists; as a measure founded upon themu which they bad passed last year, and proposed in fulfilment of the pledges then recorder'. The nutement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was so clear, and his view* and principles had been so ably expensed, that it would only weaken his statement were he to go into it further. He agreed that exturcerated views had been taken be the colo nists of the probable effects of this measure on their inter ests : he agreed also that the revenue must be protected, and he agreed to the propriety of excluding molasses from the present ammreenent. Mr. WODEHOUSE regarded the measure as one which required very grave consideration. Mr. HUME wished that the government would give some intelligible reason why they would not allow brewers and distillers to use molasses, the more especially since it ap peared to be understood that the admission of sugar to use in breweries and distilleries would be productive of compara tively little benefit. Mr. FINCH remonstrated against members, more parti cularly those representing agricultural districts, being called upon to affirm such a proposition as this before they had time to consult their constituents upon the matter. Mr. BARCLAY hoped the noble lord would persevere in the measure as proposed. Lord G. BENTINCK said, that he had made his proposi tion to his noble friend opposite, on the distinct understanding that both sides of the house had agreed upon a truce to poli tical hostilities, until the noble lord had settled the affairs of Ireland. (Great laughter.) It was only as • temporary measure to meet an emergency that such a proposition as this could be admitted, without very grave and mature consider ation. He should have no objection to the bill remaining in operation for a year. if the noble lord thought necessary. Mr. P. BORTH WICK objected to a temporary measure. Lord J. RUSSELL regretted that he must decline seced ing to the proposition of his noble friend. The noble lord had, since the opening of the session, shown so much absence of piety prejudice. and manifested so much feeling for the distress of Ireland, that could he do so without any sacrifice of public duty, could he do so by any other species of nevi flee, he would gladly accede to the noble lord's wishes; but since the proposition had been made, to make this a tempo- rary measure, leaving the government afterwards to bring it forward in a permanent form,he had considered the preposit;on as well an the time admitted. and was distinctly ofopinion that he could not adopt it. Let him observe, in the first place, that the government brought forward this measure, in any case, with different views from three which actuated them in proposing the measures which he hoped would juts the house that evening, the measures respecting corn and the navioation laws. As to these, the government had said at once that it .11 , not their intention, in proposing them, to imply any dixturlienee or alteration of the corn duties or navigation lawn beyond the ;teriod to which the proposal itself extended With regard to 'the present measure, they would, if they seceded to the proposal of his noble friend, be in a different situation from that in which they stood in regard to the other. to which allusion had been made. His right hon. friend had stated, and it was the unalterable opinion of the government, that this measure should in all its leading fea tures be adopted as a permanent measure. (Hear.) If then they seceded to the proposal of his noble friend, every one would know that the government did not mean to allow the law to resume its original shape, hut that at some future period of the session a measure would be brought in to render permanent the principle announced by his right hon. friend, and therefore his noble friend's object would he defeated, If they were to postpone such • proposition for another year it would, in his opinion, lead to even greater inconvenience. (Hear, hear.) 111 , re would be great disturbance of interests without any security to the colonists that their products would be admitted by the legislature of this country into consumption in breweries or distilleries. If they were to bring in a permanent measure, in April or May of the pre sent session, there would be, up to that time, all those doubts, rumour., and apprehensions of parliament disagree. log to the proposal, which were sure to give insecurity to any trade with which parliament interfered. (Hear, hear.) He was, therefore, obliged to come to the einclunion, that it was better that parliament should at once decide, not with such haste as should give his noble friend reasonable ground for objection, but with as much haste an possible, whether the present was to be a permanent or a temporary arrangement. It was quite open to his noble friend to try the question on any stage of the bill, by moving a clause providing that the measure should he of only temporary 'peration. They were all agreed as to the principle, the only difference being as to time; and if the house decided with hi. noble friend, that would be the decision of the house, and his noble friend would have carried his proposition; but, if on the ether hand, they agreed with the government that the measure should be permanent, trade would suffer no dieturhanee; while every person interested might make purchases on account of brewers and distillers with safety. He did not think that the question was one which was likely to produce any great excitement in the counter, although there were, no doubt, many persons connected with agriculture who would think that their interests might be affected. He thought that after consideration this opinion would not be very strong or general, or that any serious ap prehensions might be anticipated ; and therefore he now no grounds for the alteration proposed by his noble friend. He came to this conclusion with some regret; because, with re spect both to his noble friend and thaw who acted with him, government had every reason, not only to be satisfied, but to be grateful, with regard to the course they had adopted during the present session. (Hear, hear.) Lord 0. BENTINCK had no desire to raise any excite ment throughout the country on this question ; but he should certainly, at a later stage, take the sense of the house as to whether the proposed measure should be temporary or per manent.. As to housing up the colonial interests, they bad been pretty well hung up in the previous maims, during the progms of the free trade measures, without causing the then government or their free trade support re much uneasiness. (Hear, hear.) Mr. B. ESCOTT +id it appeeced that the noble lord op polite, and she noble lord at the heat of the government, were to remain friends until the Irish question won settled, and all difficulties smoothed away. Ulcer, hear.) The ne t t le lord epposite her' let out another secret, from which it appeared that the farmers were to be sold again. I.ast session they had been promised all sorts of compensation, rensi-sion of excise duties and repeal of the malt-tan; nay, during the recess there had been some dinners connected with these subj. eta, at which the noble lord was a cherished guest. A friend near him (Mr. Eo,eott) reminded him that there was now an anti-malt-tax leaeste. If there W.lll, he had never been invited to join it. (Ironical ehei ro from the opposition.) Whatever it was, the fanners were to be sold again, as, after using the topic all the recess, the r.nble lonl now declined peeping the government on the subject of the malt-tam (Heir, hear.) Lord G. BENTINCK—The friendship existing between the noble lord at the head of the government and myself has been of' many years deletion, and I trust it may continue for many yearn longer. ( Louichei in train both aides of the house.) For my noble friend's private, personal, and political honorer I have the highest respeet—(cheers)—and for his cenaie tency also. (Loud opposition cheers.) While I think my noble friend will give me ere dit for entering into no sham bottle, I shall, whenever we differ in political principle inset him in strong oppositi e's without any interruption of one private friendship. (Hear, hear.) Ihe hon and learami member for Winchester has said that I am at the head of am anti-malt-tax I. ague. I shall enter into no discussion on that subject, hut I can assure the hon. and learned gentleman be may rent in the most perfect security that whatever league I may belong to. unless I intend that that league should be betrayed, I shall never invite him to become a member. (Loud opposition cheers) Mr. BROTH ERTON , who spoke in a low tone of voice, was understood to deprecate the preeent measure as giving encouragement and recognition to the intemperance of the people. Mr. ' , ERRAND assist that the hon. and learned member for Wineheeter wan the last man in the house who should talk of selling the farmer. At his lust election the hon. and learned gentleman matched into Winchester at the head of a pr scession of fanners, and promised to light and die, if ne cessary, under the banner of protection. (A lough.) The hots. and learned member subsequently . made a great speech in its favour, and he (Mr. Ferrand) ass isted him to correct it p. evious to circulation among hi. constituents (Loud laugh ter.) The hon and learned member came into 011iner's shop, in Pall-mall, and said to him (Mr. Fernand). e How did you like my speech last night ?" He replied, " It is a great piece n' oratory—(roars of laughter) —but I don't know how the Winchester farmers will manage your long Lot in quotations " (Continued laughter.) The speech was circulated at the hon. and learned member's expense. Since then the hon. and learned member had sold the farmers; and in his (Mr. Ferrand's) opinion, any man who could so freely sell his con stituents, would make very little difficulty about selling him self. (Opposition cheers.) Mr. B. ESCOTT said that on two distinct cecasions his constituents, in very full meeting, expressed their entire ap. prove' of his conduct respecting the corn-laws. (Hear, hear.) The resolutions were then agreed to, and leave was given to hrMg in the hill. CORN AND NAVIGATION ACTS SUSPENSION BILLS.—On the motion of Lord J. Ressatm, these two bills were severally read a third time and passed. LAW OF SETTLEMENT AND POOR LAW COM MISSION.—Lord J. RUSSELL, in rising to propose his motion fora select committee on the law of settlement, en premed a hope that afterthe statement he was ahnut to make, the hen. member for Dorset (Mr. Bankes), would not think it necessary to press the amendment of which he had given notee. It was his intention to include the operation of the Peer law Removal .Setorlast session in the proposed inquiry, and his motion would be that a select committee he appointed to inquire into the operation of the Poor-law Removal Act and the act of settlement of lest year, and to report thereon to the house. If the hon. gentle van should afterwards think it necessary, he should not object to move an instruction to the committee that their attention be directed, in the first place, to the operation of the Poor Removal Art; for he admitted , I after the numerous complaints which had been made egainat the act of last year, that it was most desirable that the imme diate attention of the committee should be turned to that part of the subject, and that the very difficult question of the late of settlement should be then considered. With regard to the law of settlement itself (said the noble lord), I do not wish on this oecnsion to offer a single observation upon it. It ie. • subiect surrounded by difficulties, and it is impos sible for the house to arrive at any satisfactory decision upon it, until persons of great experience in such matters, who belong to different and distant parts of the country, shall have been brought together and their opinions taken, and thus the mean. shell have been obtained of probing all the diffi,ultiea that pertain to the question. (Hear, hear.) There eau he no subject of greater importance—for in a great measure the well-being of the labouring classes &s -pends in the first place on the law by which they are to be provided for in case of need, and secondly, the conditions as to residence, whichshallgivethem the right t s such provision. (Hear, hear.) I desire to take this opportunity, several questions having been asked as to the course of the govern ment in regard to the investigation instituted last year, and in respect to the poor-law commission itself, of to far satis fying those enquiries in to state what in the course of the present assertion will be the proposal which her Majesty's go vernment may have to submit on these subjects. (litter, hear I In the first place, with regard to those resolutions passed by the committee which sat on the Andover Union, I can state that it is not the intention of the govern ment to make any proposition, or take soy course in the house in ref renee to those resolutions, unless some other hon. member should think fit to make a special motion on the subject. if any hen. memberahonkl, hon ever, bring the question before the house, I shall hays no difficulty, having closely looked into the evidence and ,considered the resolutions, In stating my opinions upon it. We (the government), have, in dealing with the subject, looked rather to the more general question, viz., what ought to he our coulee as to the renewal of the poor-law remelts sion. (Hear, hear.) The hour in well aware the, accord ing to the last act, the powers of this commission are continued until the end of the present year, or until the end of the next session of parliament. Then according to all prudence we ought to propose either the renewal of the commission, or take some other course Iduring the present session, to prevent any accident which might arise from a short session, or the business of mai Lament being hreueht to a close before any law on the subject should be passed. In considering this subject of the con tinuance of the commission, we think, in the tint place, that it is alnolutely necessary that there he somebody who shall have control, and likewise the means of local inspection, in respect to the adminstration of the poor-lo e. (Cheers.) Whether under the 'system whirls formerly existed, and wheh probably will never revive, or under the sneeze established by the Poor-law Amendment Act, it is most de sirable that the abuses, oppression, neglect, and mid-ad ministration of the law which undoubtedly takes place in particular districts, should be examined, corrected. and exposed, (hear, hear) and it is impteeible that that can be done so well and so effectu ally Le by means of some central control and inspec nen. But with regard to the wanner in which this control is to be exercised, I have observed that of late years there has been the greatest difficulty in exercising it gr. etnally, and in a manner to give satisfaction to this house and the country. (Hear. hear.) It has happened (and I must confer*, it is • result which I did not expect when the act first passed), that the management of the adminis- tration of the law has been conttnually a subject of animad version and inquiry in this house, and numerous complaints have been made with regard to the conduct of the boards.' guarlians, the assistant commissioners, and even the com missioners themselves in their superintendence and corms. lion of the grievances and abuses of which from time to time complaint. have been mule. For my part—it may be the result of partiality in my mind—hut my belief is, that the comeniesioners have exercised their powers on all osteasioes to the best of their judgment, and that they are actuated by an earnest desire to serve the poor of this country. (Hear, hear.) I believe, too, that their general administration of the law has been founded upon sound principles; hut I cannot say that in every instance which has been brought under the notice of Parliament, there has been that satisfactory conviction in the mind of parliament, that their discretion has always been wisely exercised. (Hrar, hear.) But I believe that this, in a great measure, has been consequent upon the fact, that while the control was placed in their hands, the duty of explaining their conduct devolved upon others. First, you have one art of Offieeri whose duty it is to examine into the complaints that may he made, to obtain reports of the facts, to consider the various circumstances of eac h case, and to come, according to their knowledge and judgment, to a decision.' Then you have another officer, a minister of the crown, who is called upon to explain in this house what those recta and circum stances wore, what were the reasons that induced the decision ; and finally, either to defend the conduct of the rommiosioners, or if not, to put an end to all trust and confidence in their administration on the part of the public. This has been I proved. I think, to be an unsatisfactory mode of administra tion. I am sure the Secretary of State must hove often wished that he could have been in a position to know all the circumstances and grounds of the decision of the com missioners before he was called upon to defend it in this house ; and the commissioners, on their port, must in many cows have been anxi,ua to explain par ticular circumstance, which had weighed' with them, but which, when the ease was bet ugbt for Ward in parlia ment, could not possibly have been within the knowledge of the Secretary of State. With so much of inquiry as is insti tuted on the part of parliament, and so much necessity ft r Gall explanation in eve-, case of alleged abuse, I think it ad visible that the parties in whose hands this great control is placed should be person, more immediately connected with the House of Commons. (Hear, bear) Her Majesty's go vernment have therefore tome to the opinion that, for the better administration of the Poer-law Amendment Act, it is desirable that the superior board should be constituted in a different manner. (Hear, hear.) And the manner in which we propose to constitute it is this—that there should be one per Yon at th o head of the board who should be styled the president, and who should be eligible to sit in the House of Commons. 1 Cheers.) I propose that there should be also two secretaries, one of whom should be enabled to sit in the House of Commons, and the other, as under the ordinary law, not to have that power ; so that if it should so happen that the president of the board should not hove a seat in the house the secretary might he present, and be able to explain and defend the conduct of the department. (Hear, hear.) I most be understood as only now stating the general out line of the hill we pro. With respect to the general rules, so they are ex/led, I pose propose that those general rules which have been adopted by the authority of the present commissioners, and haying been finally revised, should re main in tome until by some competent authority they shall be abrogated and new general rules established in their place. That authority would he vested in the first place in the new board who should frame such rules hut which should not have farce and effect until sanctioned by the Queen in council. (Hear, hear.) We propose to separate entirely the administration of the poor-low in Ireland from that of the law in England. In the case of Ireland, we pro. pose that there should be a president as in England—an that there ',holds' be associated with him he chief secretary and the Under-Secretary of the Lard-Lieutenant, and that the Lord-Lieutenant in council should he required to unction the general rules in the same way as the Queen in council. This is a general outline ot the plan we propose ; it will, hereafter, be embodied is aWI and t übmitted to parliament, and if sanctioned, I hope the administration of the Pour-law will be rendered more satis factory than it is ueder the existing system. The noble lord concluded by moving for the appointment of the com mittee. Mr. G. BANKES—If the question were left to him he would rather abolish the Parr-law Removal Act altogether. According to the npini •n of high legal authorities the act of last year was a hardship instead of a boon to the poor. I He entirely approved the noble lord's proposition fur the I constitution of a board, having been long of opinion that the poor of the country ought to have their representatives in that house—(hear, hear) ; and he sincerely hoped that the choice would fa:l upon men fit and competent to die charge the duties of that position diligently, effectively, and ' wish discretion. Mr. HUME likewise expressed hie concurrence in the scheme. He had been opposed to giving a scat in that house to any member of the poor-law commission hut hay ing since heroine convinced of its necessity, he should sup port the noble lord's proposition. Mr. V. SMITH sad that on the motion before the house for a select committee on the law of settlement, no one, not even the noble lent himself, had said a word. lie thought they were entitled to hear front the noble lord or the Home Secretary their reasons for moving for such a committee, and the course they intended should be pursued lief ore it. Mr. PAKINGTON entirely agreed in the notle lord's scheme for forming • poor-law commission, and thanked him for the tone in which he mentioned it to the house. S'r G. GIIEY sail, in answer to what had fallen from his right hon. friend (Mr. V. Smith), he should have thought tnat hie parliamentary experience would have taught him the error of dictating to a committee of the house the course they were to pursue, nor could he (Sir G. Grey) recommend such a course. If the house placed him on the committee, I he could only act as an individual member of it. All he could pledge himself to would be, that he wool I more that it be an instruotion to the committee that they should in quire into the operation of the Poor Removal Act, and snake their report as speedily as possible. It would be unreasonable after the complaints which had been made against the Poor Removal Act if it were to be mixed 1 up with the general question of the law of settlement, and I no opinion expressed u to its operation. Mr. FERNAND said that when he heard the right bon. baronet the Secretary for the Home Department answer the question put to him this evening by the hon. member for Montrose, he was inclined to believe that it wan the lase secretary who spoke. Did the right hon. baronet, or did the noble lord (J. Rouen), euppote that the people of this country would be satisfied with the course they were pur suine, or did the hon. member fur Montrose consider that he had done his duty to the country in withdrawing the motion of which he had given notice ? Would that house and the people of this country be satisfied to allow the government and the sipporters of the late government to coalesce to TOCIIC the poor-law commissioners from the punish ment which they did not hesitate themselves to award to their subordinates in 1848 Had the people forgotten the treatment received by Mr. Day and Mr. Parker ? Ile (Mr. Ferrand) believed in the truth of a report which was abroad, that the government had determined to shelter the poor-law commisainneix from the exposure which a committee would bring upon them, not beeaus • they were men of talent, but hecausethey were connected with persons high in authority. He warned the government that persons, both in the house and out of it, could speak plainly if the house did not perform its duty. Wu the n port of the Andover committee to become mere waste paper? Did nit that report state that the poor-law commissioners hail Men guilty of a dereliction of duty, and oppressed their subordinates? and was the house to prevent the ex posure that awaited them ? If the hon. member for Mon trose withdrew his motion, he (Mr. Ferrand) had a notice for Thursday next which he would bring on at the first op portunity, and he should move for a committee to inquire into the conduct of the poor-law commissioners in attmi nistering the law. He dared the government to refuse him the committee. What had been their conduct for the last twelve years? He (Mr. Ferrand) had been persecuted with a malignity which was disgraceful to the men who bad been guilty of it. He hoped the day was not distant when he should meet them in a court of law, and vindicate his cha racter from the falsehoods which had been heaped upon him Was it not justice to the poor that there should be an inquiry into the conduct of the poor-law commissioners ' How many of the poor had been sicrifieed ! How many had died of starvation or destroyed themselves rather than come within the trammels of the poor-las orenutissionere ; while their houses had been laid waste, and their furniture sold at the biddine of these men! How many villages had been turned into desolate wildernesses! And now the conduct of these men was to be screened. In every town and every 'Wiese there was one feeling of execration agnins' the poor law commissioners. lie hoped the house would forgive him if he alluded to the treatment he had received. In August last, the evidence given before the Andover CO,MittoP was published. Upon reading it, he published two letters in the Times, and upon them Mr. Lewis commenced legal pre cerlings against him. When he wreee the letters, he did it for the purpose of courting thou proceedings. On 24th November the role was made absolute in the Court of Queen', Bench. In three or four days afterwards he attended • public meeting in Leeds, and there challenged Mr. Lewis and Sir J. Graham to go before a Mrs . , but they shrunk from the ordeal. He considered it to be his duty on Wednestlcy last to move for certain returns relating to the conduct of the poor-law commissioners in the Keighley Union, and the right hon. baronet (Sir G. Ores.), in the handsomest manner, granted them. Front them he would prove that the poor-law commissioners had been guilty of a dereliction of duty, and a fraud upon that house. At two o'clock to -day his solicitor had received a letter from the eolieitor of Mr. Lewis, stating that he had this day filed the criminal information against him, This was clearly an attempt to intimidate him, for they might have gone to 'trial a month ago, but they held back till he appeared here to do his duty. lie demanded, at the hand, of those parties, thet they should not lose an hour in going heroee a jury. If he did net come out of that ordeal unscathed in honour, he would resign hie pent in that house, and he demanded from those who were opposed to him the same pledge. Mr. ETWALL expressed his regret that the government had not introduced some measure with regard to the p.m law, and expressed his intention at an eon's. opportunity of bringing the report of the Andover c immittee before 'the house. Col. SIBTIIORP was triad to !hear that there was at last some chance of getting rid of the poor-law commissioners. Capt. PECHELL thought that considerable disappoint ment would ensue when it was known that the noble font did not intend to take any summary mode of proceed rag against the poor-law commissioners. Sir W. JOLLIFFE said it was highly desirable that some thing should be done immediately. In the country at lame, the meosure tended to create the mates* confusion, and to put parties to the greatset passible expense. (Ilene, hear.) Mr. RICE said the opinion was universal in his neigh- tourhood, that the act could not he worked. He hoped this committee would report very early, so that the house might I legislate on the stiblect before Muter. Mr. J. FIELDEN was understood to stay that the law of butt session had been badly devised and oppressively carried out. Mr. DUNCOMBE thought that an enquiry into the law of settlement necessarily involved the question of removal, end therefore. that no separate instructions should he given to the committee. It had been amid, that the law had worked belly, but it had only done so where those who were in trested with is administration did not fulfil their duty. Sir T. ACLAND thonght that it was unlikely that they could come to a proper determinetion on this subject in one night's debate. He woe of opinion that the original intro tione of the law were humane. But so great and so sudden a change had been made in its administration, that the guardians, with the best and most honourable intentions, had not been able to act honestly towands the poor, or fairly towards the.rate-pavers. . . _ Mr. ORIMSDITCH mid he must join in raising his voice against the maintenance of an irempotsible body, continuing to administer the poor-laws by their edicts from Sorrier et house. Mr. BROTHERTON remarked that the Settlement Bill of last session had been intended, and was so designed, to he a humane measure, but he was free to admit that owing to the contests which had ensued between different boards of guardians throughout the cotintry, its provisions hni been carried out with great hanhness. Capt. HARRIS expressed his objections to the cuatinu !lnce of a central board. Mr. ESCOTT thought if the memure proposed wa. e fulfilment of the promise made by the government last sex%ion. Mr. VTLLIERS thought all the Val sprung out of the law of settlement. Mr. P. BORTFINVICK paid, that the great vice of the Poor Law was, that it excluded the poor from all the eon itution al right.; of which they hooded as a nation. lie wished t , know when the government would introduce their bill for the amendracnt of the Poor Law ? ... _ Fir G. GREY could not exactly state the time. The house adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock. INFLUX OF IRISR PAUPERS INTO ENGLAND.- The effect of relieving them may be seen in the following statement of the number of persons relieved casually in a singly week in Liverpool, made at thi , last meeting of the special vestry of that parish, held on Tuesday, the 19th of January instant: Monday, January 4, 796 cum, or 419 male•. 5a9 female, Ina! children. T0ta1......... —.20119 Tuesday, January 5, 810 sates, or 521 malts. G. I (male.. —•- • - 204 i Total ..... . 3237 Wrdoritday, Zan. 6, 1,123 esmea, nr 4,111 indlrldnala. Thursday, Jan. 7, 1,310 cairn., or 4,692 individul:. Fridar, Jan. 6, 1,292 exam, Or 5,426 Baturdar, Jan. 9, 1,931 emir; or 1,509 makes. 1,563 female., 5,166 rhildiru. Totil ...... ....22,691 or a mind total or 23,417 persons in tne.ia daya. Liverpool Tines. i - nT, he \ LP poregg. MAILS. The overand closed mallti eM Marseilles, to the Meditmranean, Egypt, .tden, Ceylon, India, Hong Kong, Se., will be made up on the evetese at the 2 ith January. The mails fur Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, will be made up on the morning of the 27th January. Thu mad. foe New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand will he Mein up on tb' evening of the :BM January. The mulls for Sydney, Van [hemmed Lanni, Sc., will be Made up on the evening of the 31st January. The West ladm swabs, including those for Mexico, Ilondiiras, and •be savannah, will he made up on the morning of the 2:13 Feltrnary, The maim for British North America, Bermuda, and the United States, will be made up on the evening of the 3rd February. The overland wails for Gibral4a, Matta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Ad r .,,,c e yloo, India, Hong-Kong, and China, rids nuutaanipton, will be made uo on the morning of the ad of February. The !Main for the Braids, the Hirer Mite, Monte Vlbo, remain. bum, Bahia, Nlalelra, and Buenos Ayres, will be dispatelmd on the evening of the Ith February. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We cannot notice, in any way. any communicatina that is sent to a anonymously ; hut those whoehorine to aiktrom in in eorobtmee wilt find Dieireorilidenee respected. NEMIEItC.tN WE UNDERTAKE Ti) ILE TURN ANY NIANUSCRIPTs s.• Advirdsrueoits intended for the Grows, [Andre evenly', paper, must be at tba Odle, by Two reelect on the day d publication. mon WATER AT LONIE3N-BRIDGE. Tont Mt.—Morning, 31 dn. past 6; Afternoon, 57 min. put To-Monad—Morning, 22 dn. pest 7; Afternoon, 52 mm. post 7. LONDON, SATURDAY, JAN. 23. The House of Lords sat but for a few minutes yes terday. In the House of Commons the Corn Impor tation (Suspension of Duties) Bill, and tho Navigatio.l Laws (temporary suspension) Bill went through their remaining stages and were passed. An amendment was moved in Committee on the latter Bill to the effvet that vessels laden with corn should come within the operation of the bill, provided it was proved that they . sailed from the port whence their cargoes wcre derived before the Ist of September, the day on which the operation of the bill will cease. Upon this question a division took place, when there appeared a majority of 138 aaiust the proposition. fhe of Chancellor of the F,xellecper proposed resolu tions on which to found a ball, permitting the use of sugar, but not molasses in breweries and distilleries; and for a reduction of the duty on rum, which were agreed to. On the motion of Lord John Russell, a select committee was appointed to consider and report on the law of settlement of last session. THE Cu INCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER intimated • last night that his Sugar and Rum Bill was intended to be a permanent measure. The phrase must, of course, be taken in the sense generally attached to it when employed with reference to legislative mea sures. The arrangement contemplated by the bill maybe a, permanent as the existing differential sugar duties, or the existing system of excise surveillance, though, perhaps, some may doubt whether it possesses the elements even of so prolonged an existence. Molasses are not to be allowed under this bill to be used either in brewing or distillity , • some appre hension that their use ini,4ht lead to clandestine prac tices too subtle for the detecting faculties of excise otfi cers, has mot i veil this prohibition. The brewer, however, is to be allowed to use duty-paid sugar in all his processes, exactly as the private brewer has been al lowed to use it. The distiller is to take his sugar from the bonded warehouse, pay the duty upon it, and use it in distillation. When he comes to pay the spirit duty, an allowance is to be made to him equi valent to the difference between the duty which he paid on the 5u,,,, ,, ar and the duty which ho would have paid on the quantity of malt from which the same quantity of spirits might have been extracted. In other worms, both the brewer and distil:er are to use duty-paid sugar: the brewer who has hitherto paid all his duty on his raw material re ceives no deduction. The distiller who (in so far as he employs malt) has paid partly on his raw material, and partly on the produce of his manu facture. is allowed a drawback on his sprit duty when he has distilled it from sugar, an article more highly taxed than malt. AccorJing to calculations that have been made, 11! gallons of spirits can be obtained from a cwt. of sugar; and a drawback of 12s. 10d. on the spirit duty will relieve the distiller from that por tion of the sugar duty which is in excess of the duty he would have paid on the malt capable of yielding the same quantity of spirits. The effect of this arrangement, the CHINCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expects, will be to enable the brewer and distiller to use sugar or malt in their respective processes, according as the natural price of these ar- • tieles shall render the one or the other more eligible, unaffected by any practically differential duty. In so far as the bill is calculated to have this edict, it is an extension of free-trade policy: it is leaving trade to follow its natural channels, unbiassed by fiscal con siderations. The provisions of the bill relating to the duties on rum have a similar tendency. In England the duty on British spirits is at present is. 10d. per gallon, and on colonial, 9s. 4d. In Scotland the duty on British spirits is 3s. Bd. •, on colonial, 9s. 4d. In Ire land the duty on British spirits is 2s. Bd.; on colonial 9s. 4d. The duty on rum is to be reduced 6d. per gallon in England ; in Scotland the duty on rum is to be reduced to is. 2d. per gallon ; in Irefand to 3s. 2d. We now come to consider in how far these ar rangements can be said to possess the element of permanence: in other words, whether they are a sati.factory settlement of the claims advanced by the parties to whom the hill is to be considered as a con cession, and therefore likely to be . final. The brewers want permission to use a cheap in gredient for the manufacture of good beer, with a view to extend its consumption both at home and abroad. About a week ago malting barley was sold at 348. per quarter, and the last quotation of British Muscovado is 335. per cwt. in bond. At these prices it is indifferent to the brewer whether lie use malt or sugar. Both are high prices, hut that of barley is more above its average level than that of sugar. If the brewer is only allowed to use sugar (not mo lasses) and is not to be allowed the difference between the malt and sugar duties (like the distiller), he will not be able so far to economise his expenditure as materially to increase his home customers. And, u sugar is permanently cheaper on the continent than here, he will not be able to increase his exportations: for the continental brewers with their cheap sugars will be able to undersell him. With respect to the distiller, the arrangement under which he is first to pay the whole duty on the sugar. and then receive an allowance when he comes to pay his spirit duty, subjects him to a double disadvantage. Hie original outlay is unnccesearily increased: he is obliged to pay money now only to get it back here after. lie is a loser by the interest on his money in the meantime. Again, this drawback system wi!l render still more complicated our already too compli cated excise system. With regard to the modification of the ram duties. we cannot see the justice of making the distiller in Scotland pay higher rates of duty than the distiller in Ireland ; the distiller in England higher rates than the distiller in Scotland ; and the distiller in the colonies higher rates than the distiller in England. These different rates of duty are unfair to those who pay the higher ones, and so many temptations to fraud. The annorance to which all who import Scotch or Irish whisky into England are exposed, would he removed—the Irish and Scotch distillers would be allowed to compete on equal terms with the English—if one uniform rate of duty were substituted for the present varying rates: the labours of the Excise would be diminished, and the expense of its establishment also. And now that our colonists are exposed to an increased foreign compe tition, they have a right to claim equality for their produce w.th that of the mother country in her mar kets. Muth complication and unnecessary expense would have been escaped by the simple process of equalising the duties on British and colonial spirits. As for the effect of this measure on the consumers of grain in ordinary years, it will be entirely unfelt. Taking the averago price of barley at 30e. per quarter, the CHANCELLOR of the Exentivna esti mates that sugar must be as low as 18s. (in bond we presume) to compete with it. Looking to the average of British and continental prices of anger since the commencement of tie present century, it must be obvious to any one acquainted with the actual condition of the countries whole* we must derive our that a long time must elapse ere sugar is likely on such terms to prove a substitute for malt, either in brewing or distilling. As a measure of re lief at the present crisis the bill is entirely nugatory; when barley had risen to 545. a quarter, it is admitted to have been still a matter of indifference to dis tillers whether, ander its provisions, they used sugar or melt. In so far the measure is praiseworthy, that it is a step ii ledgm , • it blot book. out en portant that the are ent ineunilx portions Setting do not shall be not issue other al PertY: often co removal. possessier to all the in tail. have the be liable I pulsory debts. 't upon exi must pay generally now the possibly e add to tin of the pi their owr at presen most dear But, it in which t dealt with of their of rentlr larp why not answer is nominal o munity. property , thus own( state whi( For some nominal o landed pr influence tenants g and hair niary int( great imp timate inf tenantry, serration exist on d illegitimai landownct propert7 s dimension tenant, b the oppo earring d and upon hnnds of t to look to in general debts. T Duke of rent own , tioned as Persons Ng tion of m, views. 1 creasing y of food r remove al ing such si of the con one direct landed leo plete a no artificially country, a tions on it will be i yew by 3 Upon fort limit the and corn of permar depend m Property ; permit. A land ix im ration is li Real prof principles tent of ab Utility 13211 succeei may l far ae I CELLOI sated owner distills