Star. — London, England, 1824-04-02 00:00:00

competent, or wbo would discharge it in so exemplary a manner for a salary of 4001. a year. Mr. HUME was sure his Honourable Friend, the Member for Cumberland, did not mean to cast any re flections on the Gentleman who held the office of' At- 1 torney-General to the Isle of Man. The patent of his , appointment stated that he was to have £2OO a pear ; additional, for residing in the island. His non-resi deuce was a great injury to the .suitors in one of the Principal Courts of the idana-:::iTre Cdurt of Chancery. Mr. Secretary PEEL said that it was true the terms of the patent implied a residence in the Island, but it was impossible to call upon Mr. Clarke to relinquish his situation of Recorder of Liverpool, which he would be obliged to do, if he resided constantly in the Isle of Man. He went there, however, three or four times a year, and also when au extraordinary circumstance re quired his presence ; and surely some indulgence would be conceded to him, when it was coqsidered that the Ice Attorney-General, Mr. Frankland, who sat upon the Honourable Member's (Mr. Hume's) side of the - }lobse, had held the office for twenty years, and did not attend at all—(A laugh). With respect to the Honour able Member's observation relative to the Court of Chancery, it would be rather extraordinary if the public prosecutor were to be the assessor in that Court, parti cularly when the rights of the King were not unite .quently a subject of investigation. After a few word; from General GASCOYNE and Mr. IlusrussoN, who severally bore testimony to the high character cf theAttorney-General for the Isle of Man, Mr. CumEx replied, and the motion was agreed to. BREAKWATER AT PLYMOUTH. Mr. lIUME moved for a Return of the expense at tergng the construction of thz Breakwater at rlymonth, with the amount of salary paid to the different officers connected with that work. Sir G. CLgitis: said, he c'ould have no objection to any motion connected with this great work, which re flected ►o much honour on the atchitect who planned it, and was of such high invortance in a national point of view. With reference to the expenses attendant, he could say that they had been recently much diminklied ; as when it was found that the gteat objet of security had been attained, it was thought that the work might be carried on more slowly. The establishment was in consequence reduced to the most econ6mical scale, and it was now ascettained that £200,000 less than the ori ginal estimate would be requited—(llear). Under these circumstances, he could have no objection to accede to the motion of the Honourable Member. Sir I. COFFIN was glad the subject had been brought before the I - louse, because it enabled him to give his testimony, as an old Oikicer, to the great utility of the work in question, as well as to the economical system upon which it had been conducted. In fact, Plymouth, formerly one of the most dangerous harbours, was now a perfect mill-pond, where fifty sail of the line could riJe in safety—(lfear, and a laugh) Ile felt so well satisfied with what had been done, that if the cost had amounted to half the National Debt, he should not grudge it —(A In:ie.—Toe motion was agreed to. ‘W DUTY ON LEGACIES. Mr. HUME rose, pursuant to wake, to move for a return of the duty paid upon le•,>,acies, where :he amount of such legacies was under 100/. His object was to spew that the revenue derived from such d►ity was very trifling compared to the whole amount of the legacy duties, which he calculated at 1,800,000/. while it ope. rated very ti ti towards those who were obliged to pay it. Tne lion. MemLer mentioned several cases where sehall legacies had been left, which the legatees were not able to procure without considerable expense. In one instance upon a legacy of 961. an expense of 141. had been incurred. Ile complained of the fee of 30s. per cent. which was paid to the Proctor, and was sure that if the subject was properly investigated many thou sands would be saved to the Public. The Honourable Member proceeded to read an extract from a letter which he had received from a Magistrate in the country relative to the severity of the officers in including the, most trifling articles in the inventory of goods lelt by a deceased person.- It frequently happened that an in d►vidual died, leaving propel ty to the amount of 1000/. but who might not be worth 501. when his deists were paid. In taking out probate, however, his executors were obliged to pay to the full amount. It might be said that they had their remedy afterwards, as the duty would be returned upon a proper representation ; hut such were the delays and obstacles attending this course, that it was, seldom if ever re:Anted to. The 1-lononrable Member concluded by moving. That there be laid before the House a return of the amount - received in Stamp Daties upon Legacies, Probates of Wills, and Administrations for Goods, tinder 1001. fur the year 1821, di linguishing the respective amounts received for Scotland and Ireland." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIBQUER did net rise for the purpose of making any objection to the Honourable Member's motion, as he saw no reason for refusing the returns he had called for. With respect to the object of that motion, however, he feared he should not be so well able to sati,fy the Honourable Membor. lie could not help saying that the instances alluded to by the Honourable Gentleman were deserving of atten tion; but he could not venture, without further consi deration, to hold out any hopes of farther deduction from the general revenue of the country. He had given the subject as much of his con , ideration as was com patible with his other duties, and could only say that he felt every disposition to concede whatever he consistently could in matters of minor importance like the present. After a few words from Lord BINNING, Mr. LOCK HART, and Mr. Home, the motion was agreed to. the disappointment which he • now felt on discovering that those liberal tied wholesome sentiments had been se soon forgotten or abandoned with respect to the Coal Duties, which exhittitecL a vicious system of taxation. The Right Honourable Gentleman had complained, and very justly complained, of the great inequalities of the duties on spirits, and had introduced a measure to re medy the defect, and to place the parties who were en-' gaged in the manufacture on the same footing. The Honourhble Member here read an extract from the Right honourable Gentleman's speech in support of his argument. Here was a plain system of taxation laid down, and. why should the Right Honourable Gentle man think it right to comply with it in one instance and depart from it in another ?. In the one case he legislates for the general interest, and in the other for the benefit of individuals against the general interest. The interests of the agriculturists and the distillers had grown under the measure ; and it was deemed expedient to introduce, a general one-to benefit the whole community. This was, in his opinion perrectly correct. If it were said that the recent duties which were proposed were for the 'benefit of the consumer, why not carry the measure ,further? Let all the duties on coals be at once reduced. He begged to offer a few remarks on the qualities of the coals in the North. There were coals to be had of an inferior price, but there being . no difference of duty, those inferior coals were not brought to market. It was suggested that is was impossible to introducer measure , to give general relief, and that there were certain in terests connected with the internal coal tra.le which re quired protection. Bat it was yet to be shewn what those interests were. It ought to be a rule in legislation never to sacrifice general interests for the benefit of par ticular interests. The coal interests of the North had grown up for a century under the laws imposed by Go vernment, they bad thriven tinder them, and those laws had been acted upon to- the benefit of the community. Ministers were well aware, they must of necessity know, that the persons connected with' the coal trade in the North did not quietly submit to any measures irjulious to their interests without an inquiry ; and vet a measure was propose-1, that inland coals were to be received in London without paying an equal duty with those te ceived by sea. The persons in the coal trade in the North had ;areal) , been led to believe that Government would never suffer their interests to bo sacrificed. lie had a letter in h'ts hand confirmatory of this determi nation, which he would take the liberty of reading: it was dated March 11, 1812, and came from the Secre-' Cary of the Treasury. The lion. Member then read some extracts from it, and he also refl.:red to a Ti camry Minute of a subsequent date of a ,iurilar nature, from which he read a few passage:. \\lien the Paddingtoo Canal Bill was introduced, in the year 1805, a clanse was inserted for the protection of the coal trade of the North; by which a duty of 10s 2:1. per ton was im posed on coals entering London by canal. To prevent the alarming effects of 1815, Government had also con firmed their intention of protecting the interests of the Northern coaLtrade. Ile begged to occupy the atten tion of the Committee a short tia)e, t 3 enter into some points on which he was satisfied the Right Honourable Gentleman wanted information. , The radividuals cr-n -nected with the coal trade in the N firth were very gi that the Right Honourable Gentleman had taken B. duty off coals brought into the port of London. Ile had stated that the measure " would put an en.l to all monopoly?! There was an opinion prevailing to a con siderable extent, which. was quite erroneous, as to a re gulation which was said to exist among the coal pro-il prietors of-the North, that limited die supply of coals brought into the London market. He was ready to answer this question at the Bar of the House; and he would say, that no regulation did exist for the purpose of limiting the quantity of coals to be brought into the London market. The Honourable Member here enu merated the number of ships employed in the coal traJe in Newcastle and Sunde land -; and he also stated the number of men generally engaged in working the mines and navigating the vessel, , . He said it was a very dif ferent thing carrying on the wor k of a colliery from any other trade, for coals perished unless sold almost immediately after they were brought up. Besides, another disadvantage attended the trade, it was re stricted, by the impolitic system of heavy duties, from carrying coals into the best market. There was a taste among the people of London for large round coal, but there was a smaller kind of coal which was consumed at the pit's mouth, which might be used with great ad vantage; they were quite as good in quality; however, a strung prejudice existed in London against them, and they were not brought. The only regulation which existed among the coal proprietors was to keep up a supply, without endangering the trade. They were too far North, to use a familiar expression, to injure the trade by impolicy on their part. It was well known to the Committee, that certain mines furnished certain quantities of coals for the market ; but it often hap petted; from a thousand circumstances, that these sup plies were taken from other sources when any of the regulated ones failed. The Hon. Member referred to a document which slimed the number of vessels laden with coals thaf entered London last year. In February, there were 100 ; in March, 150 ; April, 1.46 ; May, 1.50 ; June, 144.; and in December, 369. All these cargoes were bought up when they arrived, so that the sellers had no sort of contronl over the market, as had been suggested. The Legislature had thought it proper, for the security of the consumer, that meters should be ap pointed to see that the cols were accurately measured. This had been done at a very early period, a,t the first enactment, when duties were imposed on coals. It ap peared that last year ships lying in the Thames were in want of meters. In January, 180 ships arrived, and from the 10th to the middle of February, not less than forty wanted meters; and indeed during the whole of the year, there were from 100 to .(270 ships wanting meters, before they could deliver their cargoes. Thus it was clear that the sellers had nothing to do with-the scarcity, if any existed, in the market. The Corpora tion of London had thought it right to appoint addi tional meters, so that the inconveniency arising from delaying vessels would he less likely hereafter to take place. lie apologised to the Committee for having oc• cupied its attention so long, and concluded with moving the three following Resolutions: 1. That it is the opinion of this Committee that the Duties on Coa;;tczti x and il r e i s e r il c.i..stwi e se rt , nd, or w b Cou nties of inland navigation, into the Coties ofid,i shall be repealed, and that the follow ing duties shall be laid on coals, culm, and cinders, excepting by Wright,char coal,whieli a madere usuallyfroni wood ; viz. 4s.G t tl: per ton on those coals, &c. usually and Gd. a ckaldron on those sold by measure. 2. That the duty of 4s. 6d. per ton be laid on coals broUght by the Grand Junction Canal to Paddington, Grove Park, or be brought down the Thames below Staines-bridge. 1 3. That it is e x p e di ent t h at t he s aid duties shill be wholly but !gradually repealed. On the Resolutions being put by the Chairman (Mr. BROGDEN), Mr. LITTLETON said, when the measure was be fore the House on a former occasion, he considered the question to have been maturely considered and settled. Hs was persuaded that if delay for the 'purpose of in quiry had been requested; his Right Hon. Friend (the ChancellOr of the Exchequer) would have gladly com plied with the request. The subject of coals carried coastwise had been mooted and set at rest, as he (Mr. Littleton) believed. He would now proceed to notice what had fallen from the Honourable I3aronet respect ing the conveyance of coals by canal at the time to which the Honourable Baronet had alluded. This mode of conveyance was then extremely limited. Al though it was very extensive now compared with former occa sions, yet it was an exceedingly expensive conveyance. A duty on coals carried by the Grat] Junction Canal was. imposed in 1805. The coal proprietors of the North represented to the Treasury that they should be seriously injored by the Canal, and a clause was intro. duced in the Bill for the purpose, it was alleged, of protecting the revenue, but in reality for the purpose of affording protecion to the Northern coal proprietors. Ile lamented that such a mode should have been adopted however the duty was imposed. Those Gentlemen, who were so actively employed for the monopoly in London, were not contented with that, but went so far as to in sert in the Bill a clause which imposed a duty on coals if conveyed by the Grand Junction Canal,, and if after wards carried by land seventeen miles round London, or thirty-one miles by water. By this means not only was London secured to them, but also several, miles around. Ile would read a comparative statement of the costs of tonnage of two descriptions of coals. The tonnage of the Newcastle coal, as to us cost price, was as eleven to seventeen; and the tonnage of the Stafford shire coal, as to its cost price, was as twenty-nine to eighteen. The -King's duty on Newcastle coal, com p:tied with its cost price, was as thirteen to seventeen; and the King's duty on Staffordshire coal nineteen to eighteen. These statements might be safely relied on ; they had not been made up for the present occasion, hut had been some time prepared. For these reasons he hoped the 1-louse would go along with him in oppos ing the Resolution of the lion. Baronet—(Henr). The CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought it just towards the Hon.. Baronet and his Northern Ii iends to explain w hat had fallen fitin him on a former occasion. It wa. true that the alteration proposed left an inequality of duty, for his proposition was to put a July ot Is. inland coal. But it was for this reason that Parliament had allowed 50,000 tons of inland caals to come into the Poi t of London, and he was site that this introduction wind] not prejudice the interests of the coal-ownea sof the North. The Hon. Baronet had spoken of the inferior quality of the inland coal ; hot he (the Chancellos):thought this was a reason ifir The IC duction of the duty. But there was another considera tion which had 'been lost sight of, and that was the tonnages which the ('anal Company were ,u 11. to charge upon the-inland e7,,r. It was quite immatei ial whetrwi this tAx %%:r.• to the Glove' nment or to that Tie• I/ Panonet had alluded to the ex infoliou coal of the north ; but, in point tact, that species of infeam coal which now bore an expoit du:) , ss. per chaldron had, under a higher d“ty of 9s. increased in the amount of its exports---- (1 lea r)—and tlierelore There seemed no tisk of a decrease under the pre ent low duty. He (the Chancellm)could not, Cie:elute, acquiesce in the resolutions which were prop,cd. if he assented to the second, it would go to ►etain that very inequality which was the cause of the aggravated injustice of which such loud com plaints had been made. Nor could lie acquiesce in the thir'd resolution, which went to pledge the House to re duce the whole duty on coali in the course of three or four years. If such a pledge were given, a loss of. 900,0001. would arise to the revenue at the end 'of that peticd; and all -the calculations which he had made upon the surplus of these years would he destroyed.— He did nut think it incumbent on hint to be guilty of this suicidal act. therefore he would give the resolutions his decided negative. Mr. ELLISON said, that no monopoly existed on the part of the Northern Proprietors of Coal Mines. Ile hoped the house would agree to the Resolutions. Sir J. WROTTESLEY only wished that the inhabi tants of London should have the means of purchasing either the irdand or the sea-borne coals, as they might find convenient. The duty had hitherto operated as a prohibition on the inland coals; though he did not be lieve that any considerable quantity of the inland coals ()old ever find their way-to the London market. Mr. S. 11'onTLEy said, that the Northern Proprie tors wished no other advantage, over the inland Coal owners than what they derived frost nature. The Northern Proprietors paid a duty of nearly cent. per cent. on their coals. If the duty was taken off the Northern Coals, it would be of the utmost advantage to the consumer; as a duty might, with equal propriety, be imposed on coke as on coal. As long as the northern ptoprietc•rs had die best article, they must have a monopoly of the market. He wanted no duty to be laid on the inland coal, he only desited the duty on the sea-borne coal to be taken off. • Mr. LA MwroN denied that the proprietors of coal mines in the North had entered into a resolution to cir cumscribe the supply of coals -to the . Metropolis.— Whatever regulations they had entered into were to secure a regular supply of coals at all seasons to the London market. They wished not for any monopoly. All they wished for was a clear stage and no favour ; their object was to be placed on the same footing with the inland coal-owner. About WO tons of inferior coals were burnt and left to rot on the ground, on account of the high duties and the impossibility of exporting it, or of bringing it to London on account of its inferior quality. He wished, therefore, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would allow this species of coal to have a reduction in duty. Mr. NEWMAN had no fear of the continuance of a Tax so partial and so oppressive as this was. Though it had been imposed upon some parts of the country for more than a century, yet it was not to be borne for ever. Mr. MONEY considered that the Coal Trade was one of the greatest nurseries of our seamen; and there fore this was not a question of light moment, especially as the coal vessels had, within the last century, removed above 13,000,000 of tons of ballast from the Thames ; and therefore he hoped the House would pause before they did anything on so important a subject. Mr. H. SUMNER had always conceived that this tax was among the first that ought to be repealed. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had wisely disci ibuted his relief from taxation, not giving the preference to any par. titular interest, but to a certain extent relieving each. Alderman BRIDGES as s ured the House that the City of London did not treat the relief from this-Tax lightly, They 'had only their share of this Tax, to ma- • _ _ . .. . COAL DUTIES. Sir M. W. RIDLEY presented a Petition from the Collieries in the North of England, praying for an Equalization of Duties tm Coals carried inland and by sea.—The Petition was ordered to be laid on the tahle and to be printed. Sir M. W. RIDLEY then moved that the Order of the Day be read for the house going into a Committee on the Coal Act.—The SPEAKER having left the Chair, Sir M. W. RIDLEY rose and said, - alter the Petition which he had just presented from the Coal Proprietors of the North of England, it would be incumbent on him to address a few viords to the Committee; and he hoped to be indulged with their attention whilst he pointed out to the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, that, unless the measure was reconsidered v.hich had been adopted relative to the Coal Duties, it would lead to the ruin of the whole Coal 'nit& in the North, for the Duties were founded iii injustice. When - the Right Hon. Gentleman delivered his sentiments on st former occasiim, relative to the system s finance which he had introduced, lie argued much in favour of the necessity of liberal principles and a free trade. That speech had given him (Sir. M. W. Ridley) great satisfaction ; but in proportion to his satisfaction was . • 1 ~~ ~~~ 12 46:, M. MdiT i MI - , E~ _ ble them to beautify and improve n MOW streets and avenue,s of the City of London. Alderman WOOD defended the 9i. 4d. TA: on Coals, as having been laid on for the improvement of the City of London; but now the reduction would be of the Inmost benefit to the Public. After a few observations from Lord Mitrox, the Committee di vided—For the Resolutions, 51—Against them, 83—Majority, .271. The House then went into a Committee- isw-lism-aome Law Amendment Rill. On the clause allowing the Landlord a right to the Game in all existing leases, where no reservation of that kind is inade in the lease, a discussion took place on the word existing, when the,arnebd. ment to leave out that word was carried by a Majsrity of 41 to :Z. After some further ♦erbal amendments, the llou,e resamod, and adjourned. TH E EVENING STAIt. LONDON. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1824. THE FUNDS. STOCK EXCHANGE. TWELVE O'CLOCK. Consols opened this morning at 95 to a, and afterwards weal down to 94i, 95, owing to several sales being made; and for Money 94i.• A great bustle took place in the Foreign Market this mornitz, owing to the advertisement in the Papers concerning the Colombian Bonds. The moment the Foreign Market was open, Colombian Bonds, which left off yestertliy at 69, opened this morning.at 8. - 1 a rise of 16 per cent. We understand that an Express has arrived from Paris, brining the French Rents about 103 f. 50c. but, up to this hour, the exact price is not known. Fonr.tcN FUNDS. The most business done in the Market was in Colombian Bonds ; there was also something doing in other Foreign Securities, but to no great extent. Current Prices:—New Spanish 17, Old 19 to 4, Milan 80er. Colombian 821, Mexican Scrip 71 to 1, Austrian Scrip 16 to 1, French Scrip 171, Creek 13 to 2 dis. Alliance Shares 16%, Neal Prussian 99, Old 98% ex. div. Russian 97 to 1, Portuguese 7%. FOREIGN EXCHANGES. HAMBHRGH, MARCH 26.—0 n London, 56. 11. 2 M. 36.8. PETRRSRURUH, MARCH 12.—0 n London, 9.1342; Paris, 99. ie Lorstc, NI ARCH '22.—On London, 3M. 6. 19.. • BFRLIN, MARCH 23.—0 n London, 3 M. 7. 1. 4. BREMEN, MARCH Vs.—On London-, 2 M. 609 to 610. AUSTRIAN LOAN, NEGOCIATRD BY MR. N. N. ROTHSCHILD, IN LONDON. The Ilalf-yearly Dividend on rite said Loan, falling due cn Fa turclay, the Ist ?day, will lee paid by'Mr. N. N. VEGTHSCUILD on that and every succeeding day (Sundays excepted), between 'the hours of ten and two. It is requested that the Dividend Warrants, with a list thereof in numerical order, may be left, if possible, ott the £4th instant, for the purpose of being examined. NewLcoutt, Ist April, 1824. PR ICE OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Cent. Consols 95 94 % 3' 4 per Cents. New 107%a .:y 1 108 107% 7,3 India Bonds 85s. 87s. 81s. F.,.cliequer Bills (£1,000) .58s. 54s.—Small 58s. 51s. Bank for Acct. 247 2461 A Consols for do. 95 94%'!i5 1 / 2 95. It will no doubt be in the recollection of our Readers, that during a recent discussion in the House of Com mons on the Silk Bill, the CHANCELLOR of the Ex- CHEQUER stated, as one argument in its favour, that the French manufacturers were apprehensive of its giving us an advantage over themselves ; and we now learn that the utmost alarm pervades the French mer chants and manufacturers of silk, in consequence of the reduction of duty in this country, as they conceive the English will nnw be able to enter into successful com petition with them, even in France itself. This alarm appears to us, to be far more reasonable than that re cently expressed by a few of the manufacturers and importers in Great Britain. In consequence of the re duction of duty, it is said that preparations are making, on a large scale, to extend the manufacture of silk in Manchester and other places ; and we have no doubt that the measure Al ill ultimately be the means of con• siderably increasing the silk trade in this country. Another measure proposed by the present enlightened CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER promises to be highly successful—we allude to the reduction of , the four per cents. IVe yesterday stated that the amount of the assents to the reduction was thirty millions, and we un derstand that the average of assents is upwards of six millions a day. The French Papers of Tuesday have reached ns, but they contain nb intelligence of importance. None cf them make any allusion to the affair which is reported to have occurred before Algiers. The Chamber of De puties meson Monday, but is still engaged only in pre• liminary business. Five Members have been ballotted as candidates for the Presidency of the Chamber. As NI. Ravez, the President of the last Chamber, stands at the head of the list, and as the Royal choice always falls upon the candidate so circumstanced, unless there be strong-reasons for the contrary, there is little doubt that he will be advanced to his former place. The other four candidates are, the Prince de MONTMORENCY, M. CHILHAUD de la RIGAUDIE, M. de CARDONNEL, and M. OLLIVIER. M. B. CONSTANT was present at the Sitting, but did not vote. The Constilutionnel mentions a report of some changes i n the Ministry—Marshal LAURISTON, Minister of War, in place of General DAMAS, called to the command of the Army of Occupation in Spain, and the Duke de DOUDEAUVILLE, Director-General of the Posts, to suc ceed M. de LAURISTON in the Ministry of , the KiNo's Household. The French funds are a little fallen from Monday's prices, as will be seen by the following list. Probably the rumour of the Change (though a very unimportant one) in the Ministry, mentioned in one of the above journals, was the cause of the depression. Fssxca FUNIM—PARIS, MAIWZ 30.—Five per Cents. 102. 40. Rentes d'Esi agne, 24. Royal• Spanish Loan, 1223. 65. Hambtirgh Papers to the 26th ult. reached us this morning. The following are extracts : CHRISTIANIA, MARCH 12. As a proof of the way of thinking prevailing in Nor way with respect to the publicity of the proceedings of . 1