The Express. — London, England, 1850-04-17 00:00:00

t 11, Of • .• aft 4011 • • 7 TEE S. WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1860. hy you sh •u'.4 hot allow the► Dar), New 10 be ° ben it does not ito through the post. (Hen.) es• wi ll Day 'sat the above are hut newspapers ; rrr„ ; a ye the tat you hairs to let them go di; a. tti w•pepi re ? It is because they selves st the ponoffiee is the *kneeler of the , toe allow them is go bey ea Duerapapara, w e- ereitt book, whine thaws the artvan .re i; Alf •• Ivory ,„ h.o theta and eendelabree. Now, if he w a st e "- d s h.' k thniugh the P.at-olltee, like • newspaper, I: ? lie eon to the Stamp (Alt., and says he l e about to brill out • newspaper ; he obtain rtasFed p j yer, he prints his book of prises ea it, and la rrueo: the newspaper stamp ke goes free of advertise thromb the iiret-ils,e; and this we are told ! t , iww ary. in order that newspapers should go fee*. mat anomalous sad absurd mystem, and I ; sun that you oudht to do by all the other newspapers as • do be these 63 registered newspapers and be ; wk. • I woad make it • rale that all should be ;Id at all times, or that ell should be stamp. d when I go ky raft, ant sastsmped when they de not. It' ; ;it be lair t. r the house to tell en the Cbaseelior of the Ev tayeer to do this, if he does not wish the meat system'' t , !•walc down, • s I feel it will certainly de, sad will to w ! bring that departmeat of the stamp duties • deeepste. I contend that on the ground of sisa tv alone. Worm' h as all the molt loaned erahad totall failed to define what they meant by a ne es tire?. that you ought to abolish the clamp duty to that ex pi., ?weenie by maintaining it you do • great injustice by 4 mu, pipers which give news to go untwed, whilst etted have to pay. I could bring dower to the house a large st y e of unstamped newspapers, if it were not irregular to a. is halt are weekly periodiene, and which cr esecu'aud sang the gr• at masses of the commasity. ::.ne papers contain those very theistic, which some cra"ernen think they have kept within certain limits r, the Waal of the stamp. I believe that some of Eere unswayed newspapers are very reepectable, bat I on :nested that they are all at liberty to promulgate their 7.:itical theories. Now the Newspaper Stamp Act says, " that myna who puteivbes nay intelligence, news cr facts, or c? remarks or obseresions thereon, should be made liab'e : • the stamp dutiee." Ni:w, I mean to say, that .th regard to the la ter part of the pumps which I bare quoted from the act, I apply to s those periodicals which I have made ' and I observe that most of them ate giving th. it views and sentiments to the .e'rld. The law has no: the effect of pereentiog them from sing so, and te.ey give their political theories without let or I..dranoe. (Hear, hose ) Having made variousquotatlens • prove that the reasons ordinarily alleged to excuse the Ho- I r....tion of the stamp ditties were utterly fellation, and Viet , a • rrienee showed that the icy did not secure the respects t. ti of the pros, and in Let was levied trader statutes es:.b stepped the circulation of truth, but allowed as untaxed propagation of the vilest falsetto:4s sad I.'e.s. the honourable member went en to say with re citii to the Tames end other influential newspapers is not tit be doubted that the effect of this tax is to :.a:: th• it circulation. There are many who t.. 1 us e s t thy have an interest in maintaining the stamp • sad ore rot favourable to it. removal. 1 will not tour into that argument. and I thiiik that so hon. member' el•hrs me ta do so. What, was • monopoly in inteliiger.e• t.• be supyorted by flea regulations ? No ; the idea must be vatted be every man that lam now riddreesinc. (hear.) I do set believe is this monopoly. Ido sot bell. vs that ripen a 1 establiitted reputation lose by the repeal of scup; but I am coadleut that they would be willing :• share with ethers the advantages to be derived by the gyn.: of the duty. Toe Mauve positions of newop,ii...rs • not bt , changed at all by such • change et Is weal/ he ournmon t t all the newspapers, sad I , : undentond that th•re is any good meson for sup .bat there Is arc ground for the leer that the removal , • • 'temp antic' would materially injure those papers .• now circulate none the wealthy climes. Men, Lis, I believe that the Timer newspaper pay. 60,0001 a eta to stamp', and ft would be of vast import to have • rentiuion of that duty. It is t however, with reference to this elan, of t ~ r . are that my notion is addressed, it is with ottritee to that clue which I have alluded to ale ady, tt• rmallsese o: who,* price enable s them to reach the t a tee of the paid', and which, neeettb.lo se, are pre . • . liy the stamp act from giving fiteo which would be to the people, son which they ought to g.ve. • ereer to the ease of • Nora lel sewspap.r, •••••• •• Re f.ornaer. to show how calomel, and sncertala • :ra tc..as.i:c w the Mama act. the Solicitor of Stomps gave r.ettort • caution • that ha publication was violating ::.• New•papor Art. Tao e-rreri• ad , nos was as follows: I:- none. soeveset House, .7th Marsh, 111W—Gestlemee4 •7. rat Mi. based h .•trur been direited to min artie'ea of • . ies • soma:reed in Noe. I. anu Il• rf tom p u bli ca ti on t h e M e . .:..set:, Lead of the Rees n 1 of l'rlt:ew." of • thinner .• •.. : M sue tit a st.mpe I teaspoon., I • • .a. ' t T u with the eir•uni.tinm, and torah. u:• lnurtion ef like Wetter.—l ere, Gentle. streint,J. lont, solicitor of )nand Revenue. •r. ' h- wit err to•ned the foils-in. reply : • • . I has melted your intimation that •: • meta in the kferreer. Mallff the Macias Reined .• • . rime, he layluas taw Red is any bet • stamped news .•s I newly edema Urn wont inform me on what •• . , la Med raw, reired Meryl". Magozine, • Christie , . Mower, Peoples • •• • sit: mei* menumied ;including unstamped copies af • I . ••. ',rm. lie.; are vrmitted mitosis\ similar to •• .% rot wt.:: the amass of societie• • f • literary, • or.ha. character an allotted to contain d lasts of their • • ralistre, violet that pertilew Is Jewell to the journal ef • •••• ion a Thasic•Per you roe your caoun, sad wlicltkig • : •:. thee peiot.,—l ier.a.w, die, year obeiliest servant, . : : s • .r wrote k ono as f. diners • senor. Notnewet-bonelab March, 18$1. • so.rclog in ftC•tit t r a !otter 111 t bout signature, t t awe hero th al tar of the Kfiffisser ; and OS ft IS . once to ft in •.f the 7th instast, tressed to you, I . ct :rota you. lb. publications to whine tithe, we. either otheadly or otheralw; I know, Islang at the r commits; but westslog thew to be us ; ..;Ar., aad to eol.tain waiter which they not to not for a.e to ad s r any e twatien ation c r oidgeet, e reasnatance jos cif,. in ethers. I wry, tweak. aa I am aware that the subject has boon vender rea te:A* risme particularly to keened socioties, that stor" rs lasing to the transactions or oath gaieties, sad , •1 puh'ac news awl intelligence, yet a- portable, Jai t: of review, are not Waked upon sa , matters to be •.1 %distant. 1 pulitseatione. no also, with regard to des : mance. shd each liae.—l sot, goatiesnen, your obedient tea, sdietor at inland gevesas. N.w. I iv knit it with all pcieritle respect to the house, Ltr. Cr':'.. fit g how norinollll are the penalties to which • Use a .1 .b.e for any il , friagenent of this act, the mien of to machines sad presses, and other dire calamities, we C.abt t 3 have something more explicit, in the way of legal hmition, than simply telliog a man that t e might write Patentee that morel Savours of new., but that he must t reiral.rly tr formally convey inttLigence to the public. tilts,. titer.) I Lope that the noble lord, or some mem. bar s! tau government, will tt.l us what is meant by this c,f tails of the solicitor's. Because, remember that this is a ;4011 itatute, sad a'l its pH:mi.:tens, and the reading of 1:•tou: . be perfectly clear and explicit. (Hear, hear.) To tit.. a man that he may savour hie writing with intelligence Eat not give It, is to leave hint in • position with reference t• a pima statute, in which no British subject should for • Caught be left. (lieu', hear) Here is some correspond. Otte from another poison whom you have prosecuted et , Greenock, but who bar f oun d a ver y nove l an d ingenious' say of evading the Stamp office. His letter is dated March WLLNIILAT, 1,111 Means, 1650.—Sir,—I sent per post one seek periodicals enpper and cloth. The hewer was .z. , Lodlilconstipienoe den Ezeb-quer preens; the letter is still and No. 27 aria appear to.ausht. The preareetlee wee foe t tin hat act Inv:ailing liberty atlas pram la it every tv be • newspaper which contains " sews, emote, Intik cenansaltim, or any remains or obemmitions thence, or ..Ly matter in church or state." on the proposel of this nes- Mr • ivakley esuatied a [doper alarm to no purser, r the pubils meant and lukewarm, and " th e b es t possible public, tonne. • •ia..tanaped prese, from interested =One, Ihmuralis io the ..:..e bull,"Catubers'a Journal," "High fineruntore7 • ' , try, publication lem in elm than sheets dewy, or rod tar • ,-• is Ukiah Th e law is randy mehreed, yet, _became new gave offence to • " little brief autharitrhers, '". 4 ,with a " greeting. " he. and need for live sem •• ~ c o. In Jam.ary, 1,49, • second attempt was win to pet •.,.re down ; but baying atoned this oppreriveaet, I observed - wan not prescribed I might adopt it hutted of piper, pens, stamp, awl nape the bonds, Sm. to which news. ,re liable. I therefore, in aonforisit with law, ore an bib : !..111,1`, tIp(DAIVI: Midi= for the • el knowledge; but • will are the utility of (spooled the anomaly, that while • over the kinruan, or queendca, .af.ly devoid, Or cot at • tin law, I am compelied to respect It in an abeardlty.—l am, •:. • obedient servant —J o n:. Lennon, printer, Dews agent, he. had tiers It rs. (The right he.. member here proclaimed tainted cloth newspaper.) I have another letter hers, in IrkaCh he mentions that the fines have bees remitted, but still to vmilvion of not puhliabiog on paper what others are every day puhlabing around him without • atamp—aantely, certain punt observations upon public events. Ha is not "la greeted that permission to "Savour" with intern. ronee which isgreeiously coneededtotbe Nanoidelieforner. qiier,kosz.) I should =sheltie, that in harmony with his Utered mciterial he has altered the name of his journal, tod raw calls it the Grencek New Clout. (A laugh.) 1 then, teat it you era to moist that no man shall observe '4l public intilligtuee, facts, or occurrences, without • stamp, rot' et4ht to enforce your law univenal:y, because it is fatal sag, when you only Mein out particular eases for frueeation. (Hear, bear.) It involves you in a virtual , eararship, and makes the Commissioners of Humps judges t•I what the people should read, and what they should not. An you prepared to establish such a censorship, presided ' , Mr by the solicitor to the Stamp-office l If you are ant prepared to • do Air, you must do one of twit things—either repeal the stamp duty upon newspapers, , t.teforee at fairly upon all. There is no reams' why, under f.vourable cimimstartoes aad biz legislation, newspapers Sh 'au; not be as cheap in this es ha say other countries. We ro.itt have • penny weekly paper, and perhaps a penny daily Paper, shit' still fur a higher class of aewspaper a higher irto.d bull be paid; many of the peony publications •••iod Leoome penny newspapers. (Hear, boar./ it , t it is rellahnll6lo to suppose that the working • fue say obtain such an abridgment of the lead. tg fart of the day at may be sufficient for him fur a' nay, ahl that peany and even halfpenny publications of • *holseozne nature may come into general circulation. U . ass, teat.) I behave that cheap newspapen would t hi se keit* advantage la diatomite( all these genes. • Ai ri .pecting the factory population, and is giving "Vin which the working men might form • just '.i impartial ;oddment on their owa case. (Hear, hear.) '-“oir, let me say one word with referee*, to the laws of the bold it Le-unary that every man should be so. "toted with the law, and you will not allow him he plead "-W aLe , as an sums or: slime. Therefore, why provost ns•l tea ti.r 'ugh the ...matey aremente of the proesediode )•.ass tains of joietioe through the medium of cheap news. •i,itt, are the only prestiesble means by which the • lianli tan obtain s knowledge of the law. (Haar, L it likely that a waling man would study Bleak .ate ..r f. ale's lastitutes i He cannot ; but accurate aCe counts of the proesedinge M mom el junk* mid/ ghee him the necessary ioformatioa. I say Out you an &m ad to let him have ; at lest not to linnet hint be coming sequeinted with the laws which be Is ex. poet. d to obey. (am) Aae we to infringe this great principle for the sake el sem paltry 160,0001. revenue ? (llear, hear.) On th ese grounds I met shall have es favourable • ouskineaties for the aurepaper stamp as for the duty on paper. My next resolatios i hardly feel at liberty to sass upset, teems. the "object Is la the hands of my huh hided the member far D meek'. who has paid gnat ationeks to it. But I platted it es cue of the mobs *ions la my mike, bemuse I felt that it came under the 'easels sum of taxes um knowledge, sad that the motion would be incomplete sales' it tiffs bacluded. It is a tax of 'Nut Megaality in its operation, and pressing with great Waimea Go toe poor—making the poor servant laucyal: lugs an anapest of advertisement duty on his sing Mg • place se lie paid by the AM proprietor who wishes to diem, of kis estate, both paying the same amount, eighteen poses. (Hear, hear.) I remember that Mr. Jams Milk pot tin qualm very closely. He says that the rid fashion was to advertise Inns through the public CHOI, sad he puts • case. Suppose that when the publio oner was about to mumble to the world the sale of a bankupt's stock, or some important ***** la to. way of news, or to inquire after some lost child claimed by • distracted mother, the exciseman should be close at h's heels, and when ho attempted to open his mouth, should stop him, sad iastet upon eighteenmos as a nrceuary preliminary to each sa ammoniac liar it is a to upon speech, the only difference Whig that by being pat on paper ther ana - unoment is give* more correctly). But Mr. Mills goes on to say that the ex ciseman making sash • demand euuld be met with uaiversal execration ; isdeed, he is not sure whether the people wenld not in such a ease try physical tone as • means of getting rid of hies Why, the advertisement duty is a =oscine', tax upon cslamity. (liar, bear.) You cannot adver tise a subscription to a ragged school, or the of feriae* of acme deserving individual, without paying a lane fine to the state. People do not know when they FM teen money towards the Exhibition of the Industry ' of all Natiocs, bow mina e.l tbst money roe to swell the I revanuot of tbe state. I must add that this advertisement' . duty is one that gives only a small amount of ,revenue — about 160,0001. a year, and if you deduct what the state itself pays for avertisereents it will be much smaller. ( Near , hear.) How absurd is it to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who advertises in every piper in the kingdom, calling the revenue 153 0001. He unlit to deduct all that he Maisel( pays for the wow, moment advertisements. I should have been glad to have limited for returns which have been moved for on the subj. et, bet I did not like to lose my chance of bringing the question forward. What is this paltry sum of 160,0001. compared to the Injury It must do to trade, to industry, arid to those in dis tress. (Hess, hear .) I could mention cas t s cf great oppreoion, to show how this works in reference to newspapers. I will take the ease of the Doily News. That paper, anus time past, proposed to give • list of all sales past and sales to come, just ss the papers give busting appointments and law notices at present • this matter very valuable and interesting to the public, and likely to be a awful future in the paper. But what slid the Stamp . ffice ? You must cot insert this list of sales to come without the payment of he. 6d. on each anal uncement, and the paper was coosequently obliged ti discontinue a pract c. which appears to me to bays been quite as r. asonahl• and as legitimate • piers of news as the hunting aopoiaments in the ilornieg Post. Why is it nunnery to come down me hardly os trade and knowledge ? (Hear, hear.) Why do we sir glen out th e s e tw o i nterests f ur a ll our f ecal exactions. while we grant exemptions fur much less aura purposes? (Hear, hear) I believe that the expense of ' , lmelda" in the United 8 atcs, se umpired with this country, differs so much that I am almost afraid to nuns the advantue wbieh the situ: ot of that country has over us in point of eeocomy. The cost of • sioole sivertisereent is, l believe, six or eaten times as much in this country as in the United Stater; and I bates that when you advertise by the year, that which would c st 2004 a year is the Tram, may be done for 61. or 71. in the United States, and that too is papers of equal circulation ; besides which, the advertiser gets a c voy of the piper. I do not man to say that the analogy is strict, because the habits of this country are different, and we e odd nut be expected to conform to such a system immediately, although I believe that ultimately the option wou:d he adopted. But if there were a disposition to advertise to generally, as it is done in the United States. all I say is that yeur advertisement duty would be • fatal objection, snaking that eat 2001. a year which in the United States could be doze for eight or Moe pounds. My last resolu tion refers to a small, but art unimportaat matter, only 8,0001. or 9,0001. a year, but which en 0111.til to a very coo siderable pin vintage on foreign bode, inierted into this country. It was mentioned before th• committee that it formed • very important obstacle to the eupplei.g of libraries with expensive work., and gave rise to much fraud and irregulani y, and there:ore I met that I shall NITS the consent of the house to its removal from the tariff It is really a duty which ought to be removed, balsa so mall that it is not worth collecting, while at the gems time it ob eructs that free intereonimuniestioe is book* which should subsist between civilised countries. I now submit my first re solution with reference to the paper duty, and I do earnestly hope that it may mein the favourable coroideratMo of the house. (Hew, hear.) My conviction Is, that if you do not remove these taxes yes at grounds for suspec i .g that your object is to Wader the spread of know:edge among the great body Mike people, and that you are laying in • store of great evil., which will fell on this country et some future time, sad be a sot unfit ntribution for our present erroneous piloy. (Loud dims.) The right hen. member concluded by moving the first resolution. Mr. COWAN, who was but indistinctly heard, rose to sound the resolution. He was not ashamed to Bay before the landed aristocracy, that he owed a l he poeseseed to that manufacture to which his right hon t friend bad referred in the course of his speeds He was aware that that admission might leesen the value of the etatemeots be was shout to make, but hie only object was to obtain juice and to ben. ffit the public at large. Perhaps the house would allow him to explain the peculi.r restrictions which oppressed the manu• facture of paper as dietinguishe d from other excisable pro ductions. In the first place, on all other exeseblo articles the duty was levied at once, but the duty on paper was levied by means of labels, which must be gelled to every parcel whether 'Up Of 110111. Then it IVY lee Only article which had to submit to 49 hours' delay after it was put under the inspection of the stator. Twenty years ago when the °mull .n of paper mokiog took than week, tit* delay of the Excise was not felt to be • my serious drawback, but subsequent improvements baying reduced the time re quired to tour boars, a further SA.I of forty eight became • serious nutter, seeing that it might be sent from Glasgow to London and back @gain in that time. (Hear, hear.) It was generally admitted that attempts to secure the duty by peculiar forms of construction of parcels or stumps had failed from the facility that existed of pr.ducing counterfeits. He bad a proof of this is &letter which he held in his hand describing a fraud which had taken place in the sister country. The writer assured him that he had made the same wrappers serve seven successive leads of paper which were prepared for exportation. (Hear, hear.) His right hon. friend had mentioned moat of the grievances of the paper makers, but there was still one point to which he (Mr. Cowan) begged to call the attention of agricultural gentlemen. He held in his hand a publica tion of the reign of George 111., printed one-half on straw and one-half on wood, and he begged to assure hon. gentlemen opposite that if it were nut for the restrictiens paper might be manufactured from straw suitable for many important purposes. But when he told them that the raw material cost le. the cwt., while the duty was 14s. 9.1., they would cease to wonder at the small promo that bad been made in the manufacture. (Hear, btu.) If it were consistent with the usages of the house he could chew specimens of p.per made from straw and the various cereal production', which would be sufficient to prove that the removal of restriction would treats a new market for agricultural productions. The fast was that straw was extensively used in other countries in the manufacture of paper, and would be similarly used here, were it not for the Excise restrictions. On a recent excision, when he was accompanied by his friend Mr. Crompton, evidesee was laid before the noble lord at the heed of the government, elbowing the unjust manner in which the excise m gulatioos operated against those paper makers who employed water in the ananfacture, as compared with those who did not. Bat the lips of the noble lord appeared congealed In official e (hear, and a laugh)—or if the deputation was answered at all, it was much in the same way as an ancient people of whom they read in the book of Exodus, MOM answered when they complained of the weight of the burdens imposed upon them by their Egyptian taskmasters—that was they were told to go back to their burdens. From the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, all the satisfaction they could get was that be could not afford to do what was ju st and right, in msequence of the state of the revenue. (Hear, hear.) Hs hoped the roulatlon the house would come to that evening would compel minister to take the matter into their serious and favourable consideration, with the view of giving the piper manufacturers, at no distant day, the relief to which he contended they were entitled. He apolo gised for detaining the house. (Hear, hear.) He had at all times been anxious to give her Haiesty's government • full and generous support, and he thught he might fairly tippet' to them to give their favourable con sideration to an spree], the object of which was to deliver • most important and useful article of our home manufacture from that bondage under which it had so loog laboured— that incubus by which it was weighed down. (Cheers) Ile cordially asecoded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (who spoke with his back to the gallery, and was consequently but very iadistbsetly beard) ensured his bon. friend who had just sat down that it was not from any unwillingness to give every attention to the claims of the interest he represented, that he had felt compelled to refute the applications which had been made for the remission of the paper duty; bat for the reason which had forced him to refuse many simile" demands, vi.., the state of the finances of the country. He ho p ed is right hon. friend would allow him to stake use of such arguments as he might think usceesary is mullets the motion, and amongst them his right hon. friend would not find eat attempt to prove the abstract merits of thew or any other taxes. He had stated to the house some time ego the state of the dances of the coustry, the surplus of income over expenditure, and how he Muscled to apply that urplus in the removal of cm tUn taxes which be thought it desirable to remit before dealing with others, and that proposal was not re eeived with any symptoms of dissatisfaction by the house. The intentions of the government he had so announced it wee their intention to carry out, and to that application of the surplus they intended to adhere. (Heat.) With regard to giving any pledge as to what the government might be disposed to do in a future year, his duty, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, was to keep a surplus of revenue oser ex penditure if possible, and until, the time came when suck simplas .said be dealt with, ft would be moat unwise on his pert is womb himself se to the amuse fa whisk it should be applied. (Hear.) His Abe hen. Mond hid quoted the opinion of the noise emembekons as to the miternion of the duty ea paper, but his right has. friend would member that that emmai re lmiew expressed a mash stronger erasion as he the propriety of taking the duty of bifida, sad bow meth mew he (the Ck.aeellor of the Esasevier) might be da ps ed., if degenerateness permitted. Mt penniote Ike diss..mina- Wm of knowledge sad the I.pweeeaeat of the naiad by the removal of the paper duty, iblogit the health of the people was a wiener of prior 'apprised*, sad that a tax which operated to its periodic, had the steamer daises mom their considerstioo. (Bear, hese) He only wished to say farther that he th•light it prudent not to debar himself by say argument against 111, or any other tax at present for reiasidering the dais of all fairly when it might be win in lie C hancel vane ft miebt be in tbe power of any are lor of the Exebequer —to effect any reduction In the public burdens. It was not, th.refore his intention to follow all the arg umen t s o f hie r ight" honourable friend or to pledge himself in any way on the subject, but he would contest himself with adverting to one or two points which his right hot. Mend had brought forward. His right hoe. friend had referred to what took piece is the year 1842, when the right boo. baronet, not now in his place (84 H. Peel), had the honour to propose, and the fortune to carry, a sew tax whisk odaced some tend 0,0001. a year. Be could not expect, alter the expert. ' miss be had had, dist the house world agree to any propo tido° for the invention of new tazeo—(bear, hear);—bat if they were prepared to agree to a substitute is the steeps of a direct tax, to the amount of 6,000,0001. • year, thou he admitted it would be a proper time to consider t he question of all their tales. But eith regard to the excise duty on paper, he must is, now, as he had stated to the several deputations he had had the honour to receive on the sub ject, that he thought the complainte of un justglable interference on the ran of the Excise, in the proems of mnufatture, were by no mesa borne out. Every one of the recommendations mad* by the excise commission fa regard to the mods of levying these duties hap been minted out without geali flcatien; and whoa last year he received a &pantos of paper manufacturers to whom he gave the answer which his hon. friend had stated was so discouraging, that answer being that having no surplus at the time, he could net afford to More the duty, be salad them if there was any Inter lessees In the ex cis e remalatiose with the saaaufacture which might be remedied with the view of giving greater free dom to the carrmag oa of the teed., he was asswered that no improvement c laid be made in that illnetios ; that the excise regulations did sot interfere with the process of m nurse:are ' and that nothing short of the re novel of the duty would be of say benefit. But what was the complaint nowt That wheel the paper was tromp:stet, made and ready to send out to the purchaser, it must oe left fcr a certain time in order to be weighed by the excise offi. etre. But the deputation made no complaint on this head, their di mind being, nrt any alteration in the excise reign's hoes, but simply the abolition of the duty. His hoe. friend further went on to oniplsin of the effect of the duty as an impediment to publications ; but in his (the Chancellor of the Exchequer's) opinion his hon. frier i bad considerably overrated the extent of the impediment. He would instance one work, " Coro menial Dictionary ;" that was a book weighing dilbs , the selling price being 605., and the whole duty was 41d. (Hear, hear.) That surely Gould be no great impediment to the publication. (Hear.) With regard to the duty on newsmen, he did not mean to taw on this occa-ion, our had he at any time used, the ergs ' meets which had been attributed to him by the right hon. gentleman the member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson). He had nevi r stated that he wished to continue that duty in order to prevent the circulation of cheap newspaper.; nothing was further from his intention. (Cheers.) Nor had be ever boil or supposed thee the stamp duty was ue misery as a security against ; for, if parties were de termined to make a newspaper the vehicle of libel, he did not see how the stamp duty could prevent them. Tee riaht hon. gentleman had with much Ingenuity referred to the difficulty of deciding what public Alone were liable to the stamp anti what were lot, that was what could atriely be regarded as news, but he had not heard of any practical difficulty is this respect, or that any ineontrailenoe bad beta experieneed. In one or two eases it appeared the question had been raised, but generally no inconvenience Lad been complained of from the state of the law is t is respect, nor as far as he was aware of had any dissatisfaction been expremed, and he was therefore &pond to think that the difficulty existed rather is the inissinaticn of the right hoer. gentleman than is say practical tors. With regard to the propneition itsel', he objected to it on the sense ground as he had objected to the motion the other night for We reduction of the window duty, vis., oa the ground of tae. He did not say the time might not arrive when these duties, which cis right hoc. fined had described as the taxes on knowledge, and the amount of which he had accurately stated, might not be repealed; but at present it was impossibo, with a due regard to what was due to the public credit, to sacrifice the amount of uu they produced ; and, with regard to what might be done at any future time, rolling could be more unwire to pledge thtms I:es in one year as to what they 'Bigot do in another. (Heir.) He objected to the toped of those duties now, on the ground of revenue, and Val into , strongly did he o'ject to Frog any promise is to what .l ht be d ose hereafter. The amount of the paper duty, which was as increasing duty—thus showing that the excise r. gulsti- no did not iiit.rtere ion riously with the pre.' •a of manuf-cture—emnunted last year to 810,(001. In 1810 in was Lol,oool. ; in 1845, ViSsiout. ; is 1818, 7150001. ; and in 1819, as he bad odd, 810,0001. The duty on newspapers last year was 348,2001.; ma advertisements, 163,0001.; sad on hicks, 7,30 W. The four duties together in the year 1849 amounted to 1,264,0006, and in 1849 to 1,329,0001. The newspaper duty was an increasing daty, and that and the advert. ta. vat duty together produced about half a mil lion. Now, he was not prepared to sacrifice 1.300,0001. of a., and he hoped the house would forgive him for Satin ? the earliest opportunity of saying in reference to the several propositions for the rep .al of texts which had been made lately, that which was made now and those which were to be brought forward on a future occasion, that although he hoped he was not more nervous than other Chancellors of the Exchequer on subjects connected with the revenue of the country, be could not lark without anxiety to the course which the house seemed disp.sed to pursue (or at all events • considerable portion of the house) on these questions. (Hear, hear.) He proposed to give relief from taxation on two items (in which proposition the bosses g eeeee lly had concurred) to the extent of 7.k.0001., and to apply 250,0001. to the rumbles of a most unprofitable annuity, known as the annuity paid to the Equivalent Fund 80.lety, leaving himself a margin apple able to the reduction of 600,0001. (Hear, hear.) Teat amount Le did not think he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) would be justified and; r present circumstances in parting with. Going through the question as to the deities which he pro posed to reduce—he had last night proposed to reduce the mortgage duty still further, from 1 to 1 per cent. ; but the hour', not satisfied with that, had voted a further reduction which would entail an additional loss on the tie to the extent of 100,0001., taking it at the very lowest estimate. This would reduce the surplus to 400,0001. Now, suppose that the house affirmed the present resolution, whicn in volved an amount of revenue of no less than 1,300,0001. sort— Mr. M.OIBSON—But you have not taken into account, on the other side, the postage on the newspapers. (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought it not worth while, in dealing with each questions, to dispute about a few thoweands. He had given a large margin in the amount he was stating, which ;would be quite inefficient as regarded the general argument to the postage on newspapers. But, taking the whole amourt, if the proposition now t afore the house was carried, there would be a deficiency in the revenue of about a million, instead of a surplus of about 400,0001. And how ever anxious he might be for economy in the public expenditure—and he did not yield to any body in the desire to redoes that expenditure to the lowest amount consistent with the efficacy of the public service—he did not think any one could believe that any such reduction could be made es would counterbalance such a defieiecey in the . (Hear, hear.) Certainly until a eatiefactuy substitute were proposed he should object to incur the risk which such a merinos of revenue would involve. There was another motion on the paper, in the name of the honourable member lee Montrose, involving another million and a half of taxation. That motion was " to call the attention of the house to the return, No. 146, of this session, of ' manufactured articles and agr.- cultural produce ' imported in the year 1849, with the rates and amount of customs duties levied thereon ; and to move that this house, taking iato consideration the great extent to which fret trade in agricultural produce and manure°. tared articles has been carried, and the effects thereby pro duced, is of opinion that it would be jut that the remaining manufactured articles now subjected to duties of customs, and also the articles of food, should also be admitted free, so as to place all interests in the country on an equal footing." The produce of the several duties we. 1,638,0001. They had before them to-night, therefore, propositiou to repeal duties to the amount of 2,800,0001. Now, really, when mo tion% of this kind wi re made night after night—and whs.., on • recent 0001111012, it MY proposed to repeal a duty involving 1,280,0001 of r , and which was sued only by • very narrow majority, and a motion of this kind wee made again to-might, it was sufficient to excite serious anxiety as to what might be the result of • vote of this nature, given probably without due consideration of what the consequence might be on the character and credit of the country. (Hear). These were the grounds on which he resisted this motion. It would be not only unwise, bat most discreditable to the character and credit of the country on the one hand, if, without first providing • substitute, they were to vote away 1,300,0001. of revenue; and on the other it would be equally nowise if by their vote they were now to pledge themselves as to what taxes should be dealt with in any future session of parliament. (Hear, hear.) For himself he could scarcely sufficiently :puns the very strong feeling whkh he entertained on the subject, for he con sidered it would be an act of political suicide to put an end to that position of credit in which the public finances were at the present moment. With regard to the details he would not enter upon them, for he did not think it blooming a representative assembly to cavil about questions of • few thousands more or lees on • question which must he decided on prineide It was sufficient for him that he looked upon the proposition as one which, if successful, must, in the pre sent circumstances of the fiaances, tend to impair the credit of the country, and therefore, taking it as a whole, he must offer to it his most determine d opposition. (Hear.) Mr. HUME thought the right hon. gentleman had net fairly met the question. For himself, he had never heard any reference made to the doctrine of repudiation without protesting against it. lie could aware the right hen. gen tleman that he entertained es warm a desire to main tain the public credit as himself, being convinced that any attempt to interfere with it would be attended with the most aerMus results. Bat the premises en which the right hon, gentleman had asked the house not to agree to this resolution wore not correct. The right hon. gentleman had truly said that there wee a general concernment on the past of the house when he proposed the mode in dealing with I the surplus. That was la rupee* to some of his proposi tions. He (Mr. Hume) sessidered she repeal of Ile brick duty • peoper redoetion, bat he objeeted to applying any pan of the surplus in redwing th e n a ti ona l debt while such taus se the waidew tau and the taus whisk were referred to in the present motion remained. (Heir, hear.) It wu, besides, absurd to talk of aoplyieg such a at surplus to the re- Michele eta debt of 980,000,00 W., end that &Me when the publie were callieg for relief from the.. burdens which pressed heavily upon them. The right Me. gentleman had not fairly stated the position of the flosairea. He had stated that during the tone years end • half he had been in office he had had to goateed against the famine in Ireland, com mercial distress in this country, and the sontisental troubles, end that these were cause beyond the control of govern. meat, which luetproduced a deficiency in the three prevlms years. But he (Mr. Hometoontandsel that that deficiency was the fault of the government, who had gone on Melee.- Mg the expenditure by adding to the public establishments while the revenue remained the ease. It was the extra ' vogues of the goverment which had led to the deficiency. Now, the motion of the right hon. amber foe Manchester went merely to the awe of withdrawing the advertisement duty sad the duty on paper, sad certainly the speech of that right hen. gentleman wee most able and examcing. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Home) gam say that often se he had ' heard the gawks of taw on knowledge discussed In that house, he had aeur heard so convincing • speech in favour' of the repeal of those taxes as he had now listened to, and he hoped that that speech would be duly weighed by the country. He considered the speech of great importance at the present time, biomes the government were expending large mums of public money—money which might be ren dered applicable to the promotion of instruction and educa tion, but which was rendered inspolicablo to that or any other useful purpose, so long an taxes were increased. He believed that the paper manufacture would be ea* of the most important branches of trade In this country, if the shackles by which It was crippled were removed. He believed that if they gave freedom to the capital and enterprise embarked in it, we should kale. paper manufaetured by England for the supply of the whole world, for nowhere was that article so well or so cheaply made as in this sematey. No lees than halt • iodises a year was paid fog old rags to asks paper. Bat the manufacture was now confined to our own country, whores., if we were allowed to do that which ether coun tries did, we might, by a proper admixture of the materials (*smelly used with the improved materials now used, pre pare • manufacture see excelient and so cheap that it would command a aide in other parts of the world. (Hear, hear.) It ought to be known that awl branches of our trade would he ounsiderably relieved by the removal of the paper duty. The ironmongery trade, for instance, was one of these. The very paper wrappings of articles of ironmongery amounts to 6 and 7 per cent. upon the valise of the articles themselves. One manufacturer from Bir mingham stated that no less then tin per cent. of the value of his articles would be redwood by the repeal of the paper duty. There were soisson, he said, made for a haltpsni.y a-piece, and, when they were put up in dozens in double paper, the cost cel the paper almost exceeded the value of the article. Of what immense value, then, would the removal of the paper deity be to manufac turers*, that description. (Hear, hear.) He believed th e loss anticipated by the Chancell or of the Exchequer from the removal of We duty would not be realised, and that the elasticity which would be given to v ar i ous trades by its removal would compensate in • great degree for a portion of the kw which might be austsked. (Hear, hear.l Was it not fit and proper to take away those impedi menta which interfered with the comforts and profits of the people ? Let the government renounce their large military establishmente, and let the expense attendant on thee* establishments be saved, and then ample means would be found for repealing the window tax and the taxes on knowledge. (Cheers.) Allusion had bees made, in thie course of the debate, to the motion of which he (Mr. Hume) had given notice for that night, for the removal of the re maining import duties. But the answer upon that point was very Pimple. The house had adopted the principle of free trade. The agriculturists of this country had been ex med to competi ion from the whole world, and they had been saying that ii they were to have fre • trade it ought to be carried out In everything. He (Mr. Hume) had moved for a return to oh .ev toe exe ptions from that principle. The great art was to move for a return, in order that hon. gentlemen might see effects placed before them in pounds, shillings, and pence. We had not free trade at prime We were only ci frying on a fettered trade. But Ist his 'siege* ens be adopted, and we should, indeed, enjoy free trade, and every interest would flourish. He should cordially support the motion, anxious as be always was to support the ereoit of country, to diminish useless ex penditure, end to limit burdensome taxation. (Hear, hear.) Mr. EWAItT acid he was anxious to correct an (lures tion which had fallen Sr 'm the Chancelior of the En chtquer relative to the speech of the right hen. mem. her for Manchester. The latter right hon. gentleman had laid down two preliminaries. Ono was the ' central rule that our lint object ought to be to enlighten and instruct the rople; and the second was, that, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer had a surplus, the stamp duty and the advertisement duty ought to be removed. The right hon. gentleman bad not pledged himself to remove 1,300,0001., as the Chancellor or the Exchequer seemed to think, but he sertsiely would relieve taxes to the amount of 300,0001. (Hear.) Now, it the melt of property in this country desired to secure the affections of the people, they would submit to • greater degree than at present to • direct system of taxation. No one would be so utopian as to propose that there should be a total change of system effected, but by submitting to an increased tax on property there was no doubt that moth general good would be produced. Toe extension of labour, and the removal of taxes on imports, were the means by which the future policy of this ceunity ought to be sup. ported. He thought it would have been wise had the Chan cellor of the Exchequer made en approximation towards the reduction of the taxes on knowledge—tor instance, if he had abolished the 150,0001 advertisement duty. But, as it was, I the repeal of the »bele of the tones on knowledge would now be sought for, and the time wee fast epproacheng when the paper duty, the advertisement duty, aid the duty on books mud be abolished. (Hear, hear.) An American witness, ' who had been examined before the committee last year, said I that the first thing which struck him on arriving in this country was the small nuabr of readers that were to be Mend ; and he observed that in America everybody at ' tempted to read, because there were no taxes on knowledge ire that country. (Hear.) In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the cir culation of newspapers wee infinitely greater than in Eng ' land, to consequence of there being no taxes on paper or advertisements. He did not believe,!from all ha had observed, that any great evil was likely to arise from unstamped papers. The writings, for instance, in C'hambers', Journal, Eliza Cook's Journal, and Lloyd's papers, reflected honour on those who penned them, and on the taste of thou who read them. The house would recollect the 'salient effect produced by the repeal of the duty on gimmicks. When fret he entered that house there was a duty of Is. 4d. on almanacks, and at that period they were despicable publica tions, abounding in fanciful prognostications as to future events. Lord Althorp took off that duty, which amounted to 27,0031. a year, and immediately an improve ment was observable in them, which had gone on until now they had become admirable Booms of information. He supported the motion moot cordially, because he wished to see the press emancip ted from the fetters by which it was enchained ; and he entertained a sanguine hope that, though the nuns of the motion might be retarded for one year, or for two, it could not be delayed for many years. (Hear, hear ) Mr. AGLIONBY felt himself obliged to vote against the resolutions, and could not help asking himself what practical advantage would arise to Mr. Gibson or his supporters from dividing on the present question. He was as strongly pledged as the right hon. mover himself to the repeal of all taxes on knowledge, but the effect of • division, which would place Mr. Gibson in a minority, would only injure their cause, as many who wished well to it would be obliged, under present eiremstaaces, to vote against it, and it they obtained a majority it would only damage the government. (Mr. Gib son slyly suggested that it would strengthen them, en ob servation which produced much laeghter.) Colonel THOMSON ha nourously observed that the house could not eat its cake and have it, and his hon. friends neer him having last night resolved to relieve the rich from the I small taxes upon bonds and mortgages, had now debated themselves from relieving the poor from the taxes upon knowledge and intellectual improvement. He suggested that they should observe more of policy and consideration in their Muni treatment of the government. Mr. ROEBUCK reminded the hones that there were millions in the matey whoa It was their duty to instruct and to raise in the social scale, and who, if left in ignorance, would become fearful elements of misotief and destruction to the body politic. Ile appealed to the noble lord and to hon. members opposite, to take advantage of their present position and conciliate** maser, ere it became too late. As for the gentlemen on his (the opposition side), they were • century behind the times. They got up • pretence of a return to protection : let them only attempt it, and the people would put their heel on them and crush them. He called upon Lord J. Russell not to allow any narrow or selfish considerations, or any petty question of a few thou sands of pounds, to interfere with the first proposition of Mr. Gibson, Lord J. RUSSELL said—The hon. acd learned gentleman loess to think that I am of a contracted mind. I cannot help that. It may be that I do not rise to the height of the bon. and learned gentleman's magnanimous con ceptions. I trust, however, that I am not an enemy to the progress of knowledge, or to • diminution of the taxes on knowledge when they can be made. But on this occasion we Save the ruperior duty to perform of seeing that the general credit of the country is not shaken. (Hear, hear.) My right hon. friend has said that different hon. gentlemen have token different views. The hon. member for Montrose maintains he is consistent in his demand, because • great reduction eon be made in our naval and military estimates. But the great majority of the house had already voted thous estimates, or the greater part, considering that It would be dangerous to have this country defenceless under present eleeumatanees. It is Impossible, therefore, to effect in this respect a reduction equal to the amount deminded by hie motion. Hon. gnatiemen opposite say there is no curb evil after an in diminishing you Moose as compared with your expenditure, as you can easily notify it by restoring the import duties. But the great majority of the house reject that polley, be lieving that it would be returning to a vicious system already abandoned. The result would be that the house would neither agree in snob redactions as would bring the expendi. to down to the income, nor to those propositions which have been made for raising the dimi minished income to a level wit► the expenditure. And dm generally the house would dad itself la • financial condition which would be discreditable to them at the present moment, where there is no difficulty before them with regard to the Banda situation in which you stand. With regard to these particular taxes, lam not disposed to say much. I admit, with the hon. gentleman for Edinburgh, who emended this mail ye, that when gentlemen come to me as • deputation, to state their reams nada • particular tax, my lips are m he termed it, ettagealed on the 'atject, and I do not think proper to express the aareement teat I may often have in the objections taken. Because it really is the case that there is hardly any deputation, a deputation for the abolition of the customs' duty on tea, • deputation for the abolition of the soap tan • deputation for th e repea l o f the tax epos advenfeiments, t.r a deputation for the repeal of the tax upon seindewa—el iett has not admirable remota to show that that particular tax is injurious at the inter, eta of the country. I cannot weli argue wits th•m. But if, on the other bend, I were to s .y that I signed with them, I should heat very soon that it was a breach of faith that I did not come town to the house sad propose an abolition of those taxes. Taking many years back I do not think the government, with which I have been con nected have shown any indifference to the taxes now be fore the consideration of the house. At the same time, while I say that my right lion friend matte a very able speech, I must say that there is great exagger.tion in eke beaelhe stated to be derived from the abolititat of Una taxes. The very phrase itself, "taxes on knowledge," is an MOW iteration. Why, we have heard my hon. friend the mem ber for Montrose say that a great part of the evil emplaiaed of is that it increases the cost of goods packed up in paper. The preventing of that would not increase knowledge cer tainly. Then, agile, with regard to many of the news phpen, I thck it very desirable that the paths in genera should have politi ca l intelligence, and when they ate able to buy the newspapers I think It is very fit that all the political concerns of this great country should be known. At the same time, I thick there is much of the MIAMI' contained in newspspen that is hardly to he dignified by t h e name o f knowledge. Again, my right hon. friend showed what was the mischief of the usemaped prat, and he read some articles from what I suppose were unstamped papers, but they really teemed to me to be like some of the articles of the stamped papers. (Ltughter.)And with regard to the large papers —the Taw and other papers which are charged 6d., the swap being Id.—the reason the charge is so high in, that they pat themselves to an immense expellee to wiled information. One gentleman connected with news papers told me that the foreign expresses from Paris alone cost 600 i. a year, and the anxiety to save this early informa tion is the Gana of the high price of these papers, and not the penny stamp. ' It is not, therefore, that I consider these stamps are dearabl , to be maintained, it is only that I must decline entering into a pledge that these are to be the taxes that are to be abolished ; and, above all, the taxes that are to be abolished before any other taxes. Tee hon. member for Montrose spoke against this tax, but when he speaks of the window tax and the soap tax, he says, Your sanitary measures are useless unties you abolish them taxes; " and I must say that they interters a great deal with the health and the etamforte of the people; and these are very strong objections, and as strong, at Met, as can be urged against thous taxes en knowledge. Bat then the hon. and learned gentleman tells us that with our contracted minds we shall fall into great dangers, and that the rate of Fiance is before us to show us the perils we are likely to enc o n o t e r. Wh y the 'at state of France is present.. nee owing to any 'lousiest price of newspaper-, nor to any want of general Estruction among the people. I am told that for a hallptuay you may obtain a newspaper in Paris full of the most ingenious sophisms, and the cleverest writing, with all the intelligence of the day ; and that schoolmasters are spread throughout France. But, untortenauly, tees/ newspapers con tent attacks, not only against the government of the day, bat against all government. They are newspapers that endeavour to make government impossible, and their schoolmasters are schoolmasters who endeavour to make religion odious. (Cheers.) Then, sir, I soy, that it you have cheap newspapers, which endeavour to make govern ment ampoule'', and it you have imbue:masters who endea vour to snake religion odious, I can more easily ex plain the state at France than I can wish ior an imitation of the servo stets of things here. (Cheer) I el, not relieve with r , e hon. ani learned gentleman twat the people of this country w.ra but la.: ly admitted to any ikore of power in this mollify. Th y arc p ogle who have been long accustomed to political Mscu.si a; they are a peqle who have been long accustomed is know and taste part in the political events of this cou.try. Tr a men of England are men who have bun proud of the victories of England. They are men who have been proud of the intelligence of the people of England ; they ars men who love the religion of their c entry, and having these feelings they have watched with anxiety, they have watched with care every to-n of events in their country; and while they have followed some ministers and some chat, with admiration and with en thusiasm, they have been as ready to condemn others for their incompetency and their unfitness. Now, sir, the hon. and learned gentleman tells me that I cue for nothing, and that those who are my colleagues care for nothing but holding on to place. Why, it is but a few days ago that I was reproached by the bon. gentleman with respect to the slave trade, that I was wantonly causing a great public mischief by declaring teat I was unwilling to retain office unless my opinions on that question were as seined to by the house. I am ready to submit to other imputations, feeling confident that I am not guilty in either respect. (Cheers.) So lung as we can maintain the princi ples on which we think the greatness of England has been sounded—so long as we can maintain this country in the possession of those great benefits which she has the happiness to enjoy —so long as we can keep her in the pursuit of that path whisk has been placed by Providence for her course, so long it will be a matter of pri..e to us to be the foremost advisers of our Sovereign. It it should please this house to take • course which we should disagree with, which we ehould think humiliating or disgracesal to the country to which we belong, then our names must be severed from the possession of power, and we could only lament that the house had taken • c .urea which we thought unfor tunate. I must ask the house to reject the motion of the right hon. gentleman. I do so with all respect to him. I do so agreeing with many of the statements which he has made with respect to the objections taken to these particular taxes, but I say this is not an occasion, and this is not a time, when the House of Commons can rigidly repeal taxes which are necessary for the support of your public obligations and for the support of those estal,lishments which you yourselves have deemed essential to sour defence. If that be the case, then I ask the house to CJIIICur with me in the rejection of this motion. I ask them to show to the country that you are determined to maintain that credit which is worthy of the people you re present. (Loud cheers.) Mr. DISKAELI said they were called upon virtually to repeal an excise duty perhaps of 710,0001. Now, he could not view this question as totally uncon nected with the financial exposition, this year, of the government, to which, indeed, the noble lord himself had referred. He was not himself, from accidental circumstances, present when that exposition was made, but it was en im mortal subject ; it was still alive • last night, even, its details were under consideration, and th e step which to.n'ght they should take was entirely connected with that financial state meet of the government. Now, he held it as • ge neral rule that the financial minister, in dealing with the happy accident of • surplus, should re lieve any suffering interest in the country. (Hear, bear.) And if the country were in that happy state that there was ao interest of importance in great distress and suffering, his next duty was to relieve all interests, by devoting the surplus to the reduction of the public debt, and so effect keg a reduction of the general taxation of the country. These were the two principles that should influence a sinister of finance dealing with a surplus revenue. Now when it was announced that there was a surplus, believing Massif that there was an interest in this country, wad the most important iuterest, not only suffering, but greatly suffering, and its sufferings being ri coenised not merely by those who represented it, but by the government themselves, and generally by all parties in that house, he brought for ward a proposition, the object of which was to devote that surplus, to remedy that suffering. What was the conouct of the government under those circumdances ? They opposed the proposition, notwithstanding that they acknowledged that that interest was suffering. He failed in the object which he then attempted to effect, certainly under circumstances which brought to him and thou who supported him no mor tification. Well, what was the cordoct of the government after that ? Were they influenced by that which he con calved to be the second consideration which should influence • minister in dealing with a surplus ? Did they devote that surplus to the reduction of the public debt, and consequently to the reduction or the burdens that pressed upon all classes ? They did not, but they made a propositi no which he thought he was now justified in saying was most unsatisfactory to the country. They proposed the repeal of the excise upon bricks, a propteition which he did not unfortunately hear at the time it was made, or he should have offered his protest against it. But he could say and with truth, that it was a proposition that was received ' bry those whom it was stated it would relieve with utter develop. Government by that means reduced the announced surplus from • million and a half to • million. They proposed also a second measure, announced also as a relief to the suss intend, upon which he need not dilate, because its prin cipal characteristics and peculiar merits were familiar to those whom he addressed • and because that hones at the present moment resounded with the cheers which last night hailed the detest of part of that proposition. At that mo ment government wee practically ia the possession of • surplus of a million sterling, and they were asked to trios that the only idea they had in relieving taxation on e a x p a in s o e p e r l ia ut t y e ak a pa pi er. of (li th eeli t .) s re l e u n i tir ju ely th ob e je a cre l d it to ion th o e f dot that side of the house was to relieve the classes with whom they were immediately connected, and that they had no thought for others. Tbe question of relief from taxation was a pnetal and • national question ; and if at any doe on that side of the house, at least as far as he was concerned, any proposition for relief from taxation had been brought leeward ostensibly for the relief of one class, it had been because that clam had been universally coed...sod to be not only the most suffering class, but the only suffering clam. Well, the Chancellor of the Exchequer having declined to be influenced in the present Butanes in the dealing with the surplus revenue—having destined to be intlueaced by either of those considerations which bethought in the management of a surplus revenue ought to direct the conduct of an administration, he found himself in this position—that as Chancellor of the Exche quer, with a surplus revenue at that moment which considers ably exceeded the amount of the proposition before the house, he was to consider whether, on the whole, it was mat for the advantage of the country that the excise duty on paper should be repealed or that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should be in the possession of funds for the dearest use of which he had no security wiukt•Yer. They sight have two opinions upon the effect of the advertisemint duty; then might be two opinions on the eff..ct of tn.i stamp duty ow newspapers, bat, not having arrived at that molts ion, he i declined now to 'term an opinion on It ; hut no evil was abstractedly ;rester than au excise auty ; ar.d th 4t the ab- street evils of en excise duty were aggravated in an instance in which to tee material injury mural injury was added. was a position which no one would contest. (Hear, hear.) Without enlarging on these interesting details, he might remind the Louis that while " taxse spun knowledge was sneered at as • fantastical expression by ti a First Minister, Mr. Chambers nave up his publication of 80,010 a week of one of the moat iutructive, moat rational publica tions that ever appeared —one more calculated to sup port good government and pubic ustrality than any that ever existed; that he was beat nut of the market by a publication is Holywell-street, which, from the much cheaper for.n in which it appeared— & form that did net suit the poblilstion of Mr. Cesaibr•rs— Clall d the town bef,re it. and t.. t • pub:ics i dedicated to the most indoor of and blaspheu,i,ii purpuien. (Hear, bear.) The CaL...c.ller of the Exchequer he vii. g iieslined to relieve that ins rest whose sufferings they had attempted to relit ye, and not having offered them the altornetive of re du dreg en a coralderable scale the general taxation of the country, could they do better, with the reiourees at their onntmand, than assent to the first proposition of tha member for btanchaster f (Hear, hear) In his opinion it would be a prudent, • politic, e n d • beneficial =otitis to *meat to. The house then divided, For the moon B9 Against it l9O-101 The second aid third resolutions referring to the stamp duties on newepspers and advertisements were then severally put and negatived without a division. Oe the fourth resolution for repealing the customs duty on foreign books, - - Mr. ROEBUCK said he could not a'low that resolution to be negatived without raising his voice in its favour. He would akk why, in the interest of learning, of knowledge, aad of religion, they did not allow foreign books to come in without pay log any defy? (Heat.) Why should we not be allowed to learn from the authors of }ranee, Germany. and America, all that they could teach us? This duty created in many eases a p ro hibi t i on, w i thout any real ad vantage to the revenue. (Hear.) Mr. HUME referred to the works issuing from the Cal cutta press, many of which he said would be of great value to this cluntry, but they were actually prohibited by the duty. It would o n ly be carrying out the principl e of free trade to emit this duty. It did not produce more than 8,0001. to the ue, aad it was in the nature of a barrier against instruction Mr. GOULBURN said the import duty on foreign bcoka was little more than equivalent to the excise duty on paper paid on British books in this country. Mr. HUME asked if the existence of en excise duty on piper here was any reason for excluding foreign bmks trom this country. The mutton was then put and negatived. INVESTMENTS FOR SAVINGS. Mr. BLANEY moved for a select e,mmi t, a so suggest means for mciliteiting the Rafe invectmert of t! eir savings by the workirl classes of the country. The accumulation of capital by the bicker climes war estimated at he) millinne yearly, a rum which he thought would be doubl el if the industrious part of the popubsion were ene 'waged to economy, and placed within reach e.f safe and profitable investment. To c Etc this object, the hon. member pro posed that the law of mercantile assecietions should be altered, so as to en , ble a body of small c ipitalists to unite in carryieg out enterprises of a remucerative character in bundler, commerce, er err:culture. Mr. LAI3OI:CIiEttE c.nsented to the rippoirement of the select committee, b.:lieving that the inquiries it would undertake might prove highly ttieful. Tne subject was, bowie( r, surrounded with many difficulties, especially as regarded any chances in the law of parinerihip, :hich bad undergone very considerable s zeminsti al, and remained still a question of great perplexity. It scar au c xcesdingly delicate matter ea t 3 limit or diatribute the am'ant of re sponsibility among co-shareholders in a conanwvial enter prise, se to cheek the spirit of gambling and a. cure the cre ditors of the asermiation, while peotaring the ill'Arers of the ineividual patti..rs. A!u•r a tow K.-ads from Mr. P. Rowasa, the mceim was agreed to. APPOINTMENTS IN INDIA. Mr. &IDLE'S mead t.r rime returns of t:e ernes and salaries or Erit:sh empforda hi meths , sine• ti.e year 1832, Mr the paip el s, is app- are d, of aldewitig tiled member of the Irish bar had not enjoyed their kir share of patroLage in the distribution • f Indian appointments. Sr J. BOEHM:SE :etlined to order the proposed re turns, which comprised a miscellaneous aisurtineot of ap pointment', and for which the sole reason adduced bad been come statements of the neglect of re slag Irish bar risters Le the Indian bench. As to the general accusation of making i .viii tat national dis•inctions in the apaartionment of patr.r.itz. , in the Est:, he met it by a direct denial. M KEOGH eon.i l rid that the members if the Irish bar had just cause to complain of the xeglieJt they had experienced. _ Atur a le w words from Mr. C. ANSTET Ha Mr. LawtAne, The . owe divide:— For the motion 23 Ag►inst it The house Len adjourned at hait•psst 12 o'clock. Vbe Court. Tb• Qieen, accompanied by the Priuma Alice, rode a drive pantries . , attended by the lion. Caroline Dawson, in an. open carriage and tour. The Equerry in Waiting, Lard Charles Fitzroy, was in attendance on horse back. Prizes Albert rode out on horsilniek ycstcrday, at tended by Lleuedrant.Colonel F. 11. Seymour. Prince Altrad, the Princess Helena, and the Fiances, Louisa took an smug yasterday in a carriage and tour. The Prince of Wales and t:.• Princess Royal took walking exercise yester day in the garden of 13n.itinghana Palace. Th , Q teen and Prince Albers honoured her Majesty'. Theatre with their presence yesterday evening. Tim royal suite consisted of the Viscountess Canning, Hon. Ameli t Morrie, lion. Caro line Dawson, the Eul of Listowel, Lord Charles FL oroy, and Lieutenant• Colonel F. H. Seymour. Th.. Earl o! Lis towel has relieved Lnrd Elphinstone in his duties as the Lord in Waiting ts the Quren, and Litutenant Colonel the Hon. Rsbert 13‘.” le hes relieved Colonel Lirrkeley Drummond in his duties as Groom•in-Waiting to her Majesty . The Finance Committee of the Royal C3mmisaion for the Exhibition 01 1251 met yesterday at the Bard of Trade. There were present Earl Granville, the Right lion. H. Labouchvre, Sir Alexand r Spearman, and Col. Reid, K.E. Mr. Fuller and Mr. Drew had an interview with Esrl Granville. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo nial, Mee from the governors of the North American pro linen. D....ouches were also received yesterday *rem the g. vernors of Gibraltar and the settlement at the Gold Cast. Despatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial•cffice for the governors of the West India colonies. (Prom last night's Gazette.) FOREIGN -OFFICE, AI'RIL 12.—The Quern has been pleased to approve of Mr. Benjamin Everitt Smith as Con sul in Turk's Island for the United States of America. COMMISSION. STONED BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT oFlNvEuNTss•sitltos. — WalterGrantiamrsit'Gregor,lLK., to be Lieutenant In t►e 76th or Inverness•shire DEATH OF MADAME TCSSAUD.—This well-known lady died on Monday night last, in her 90th year. She was a native of Berne, but l.ft Switzerland, when but six years old, for Peri-, where she became a pupil of her uncle, M. Curtin', " artiste to Lluis XVI., by whom the was instructed in the fine are, of which he was an eminent Professor." Madame Tusseud prided herself upon the fact of her having bad the honour of instrucing Madame Elizabeth to draw and model, and she continued to be employed by that princese until October, 1759. In 1502 Madame Tussaud left France for England, and trom that time to the present— close upon half a century—has exhibited in the principal cities and town of Great Britain and Ireland her eollec , ion of wax figures, to the great gratification of tens of thousands of holiday-making eight-seers. POST-OFFICE ARRANGEMENTS.—It ban at lengtk been finally determined that the sorting duty necessary for forwarding letters through London on Sundays shall be performed in railway carriages, and that such duty shall commence next Saturday night. The necessary instructions have just been issued from the General Post-office to the provincial postmasters for that purpose. All letters that can possibly be sent on to their destinations on blank days, otherwise than through London, have been ordered to be mat through country offices, so that all the duties which will have to be performed in the railway carriages will be the sorting of the camped letters which are posted in country offices, which cannot poe.ibly reach their destine, boos except by passing through London. As n.entioned in the Doily Aare some time since, the railway sorting clerks will only have to perform road or divisional sorting and will not make up bags for every office. This latter duty will be performed by the principal forwarding offices,en the railway lines, and hence the reason why the nu über of offices which corresponded direct with London can Saturday nights was diminished some time since. The true cause of the diminution was explained in the Daily New at the time, while other journals declared that the object was to deceive the public. The Railway sorting will be done be, Loudon Post-office clerks, who will proceed to the provincial termini every Saturday, to work the up mails to London on Saturday nights. THE GORHAM CASE.—Many of our readers, e deny those in the country, ha ve b een anx i ous t o kn o w whe ther any swipe are contemplated in London, by way opposition to the proosodinas of the tractarian party, some guent on the decision in Mr. Gorham's ewe. From source' of information upon which we can rely, we are able to state that at meetings which have recently taktn place of in fluential clergymen and laymen in London, it has boon judged right to abstain for the present from any antagonistic movement. That determination has been founded Oa the deep persuasion that nothing 'hen of ixnlear and imperious necessity necessity can justify greo to our prearm it is impossible to sod decided seam, demaad for any will eatißlied w i i an conscious of ' that at the wallop teewspited to show puttee to ttorabioe, pri mate of tbur , determination to &musk is by Ism .7 ~1.1 airy Chrisllan men in;adding in the leut de- 'ant unhappy disturbances; and that, while to say what may not yet arUe to call for open the existing state of things constitutes no demonstration on the part of those who mo iih the decision of the indica' committee, and 'their own position. We me glad to know .etiuge to which we have alluded, enough how the ',readiness of moderate men of all if occasion shall require, in assuring the • r personl immiimim ipect for limited, and of their to adhere to the doctrine and °lan Of the w establ ished.