Star. — London, England, 1831-02-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Fan. 14. :%Ir. limitaro and others, from the Commons, brought a message „ m ug that the LORD CRAmcaLLos may have leave to attend and e t:idence before the Select Committee on places, pensions, &c. con ' with the Civil List Question. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented himself before their Lord lip, in consequence of the above message, and expressed himself de- Ica , of attending the Committee of the Commons as a witness. It relieve his mind from various statements which had a tendency o embarrass his proceedings, and enable him to carry on his contem plated reforms. The co.operation of the Commons in his plans would biehly beneficial. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY then moved that the Noble and I.:3rned Lord have leave to attend a Committee of the House of Corn. ,on;.—The motion was agreed to. The LORD CHANCELLOR then informed the messengers that ! l c should attend the committee to-morrow. Inc Duke of BUCK I NGHA M presented a petition from Leather. atal against the importation of foreign baked bread ; also ttitions f r ont the county of Bucks for reform in parlia ment and r epealof the wessed taxes. The Duke of NORFOLK presented a petition from Sheffield for rarlismentary reform. Tee Earl of ROSEBERRY presented a petition to the same effect : . roto Queensberry. Lord DACRE presented a petition for reform from Royston. l'ari CA MDEN presented a petition from Hythe for reduction of :tkation• The Esti of CARLISLE presented a petition from Kingston.upon. against the truck system. The Earl of RADNOR presented several petitions for reform in par- TITHE.. The Earl of SUFFIELD presented a petition from Waisham, in Norfolk, against the operation of tithes, and praying for a commute :W. The noble earl said that the petitioners calling for commuta. din of tithes, did so with a view to provide better for the clergy. He ceuhl not avoid opposing what he considered a delusion, namely, the sta:ta,ent that the removal of tithes would be a saving to the farmers. it ws+ known that the moment tithes should be taken off, the landlords wou'l raise their rents. Another delusion was the odium cast on the clap. The noble earl had no doubt the clergy, least of all, deserved tr blame which had been cast upon them. His hope was that a noble lord who had held out these delusions, would feel they were calculated to do the least possible injury. Lord BERFSFORD presented a petition from Berwick.ou-Tweed, :omplaining of the injurious effects which the circulation of small bank notes in Scotland had upon that town. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE presented a petition from the Roman Catholic Clergy of ii'atertord, for equalization of the funds for educa. tior of the poor. ------- TAX ON TRANSTNIT. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM observed, that be had heard, from :;nn , tion report, that it was the intention of his Majesty's ministers to e at a duty on the transfer of stock. His hope was that in the answer he inight receive from the noble earl, it would appear that his Majesty's ministers had abandoned that measure; but however that might be, he ;wk the opportunity, eoniidering, as he did, the measure to be a breach If fait!' to the public creditor, and most injurious to the:country, but rorc especially as the country was then situated, to give notice that it K:, his intention, when the measure came up to that house, to ex. pu,..t his opinion upon it. The noble duke considered it no other than I.v. , lutionary measure. Earl GREY raid, that it was quite clear that the noble lord had no to give the notice he had done, es no Bill, either upon this subject .r any other, could be brougbt before the house without being brought under discussion and notice of that house. Before he gave the noble lake any snorer to his question, he begged to inform him that he could • : sit there and hear it stated by any noble lord, that measures which vcre brought forward by his Majesty's government were of a revolu. I;orary character—(hear, hear)—or a breach of faith. If he thought the measure deemed the appellation given to it by the noble duke, he heulti have been one of the last men to have consented to its proposal f.. 1 the consideration of Parliament. So far from considering it of a revolutionary character, he, at the time of agreeing to its proposal to Parliament, believed is to be the one best calculated to promote the general interests of the country, and to give an activity to the in dustry and perseverance of its manufacturers. (Hear, hear, hear.) — His Majesty's Ministers, knowing how necessary it was to relieve the industrious classes of the community from some of the taxes that pressed so heavy upon them, thought the best course to adopt was to resort to this tax. In taking off some of the taxes his Majesty's MI. rasters had been anxious to impose others which would operate with but little pressure on the public Interest, and would not affect the industry of the country. With that view he (Earl Grey) moat cheerfully con. .:urred with his other colleagues in the proposal of a tax upon the trans. of stuck, a species of property which, amidst the general distress wh , elt had prevailed in the country, pressed so grievously upon the commercial and agricultural interests of the country, amidst all, this pro. petty steed alone unaffected. However, as a very strong impression had then coated upon the subject, and as certainly there appeared to be pat difficulties attending the collection of this tax which I did not an. ticipate—looking at this, and looking also at the feeling excited upon subject, it was the intention of ministers to withdraw the proposal nittti, tax. There would be no such bill brought forward as the noble len7 was eagerly and anxiously expecting. He regretted that his Ma. Ministers would be deprived of the means of doing good, but it : - ..ust be remembered it was not their fault. Instead now of coming to Parliament with a proposition for further reduction,another course might hne to be pursued, these means of doing good being limited, con and weakened. The noble earl had proposed a tax on the iisrsicr of capital, because he found it would affect a species of property shish had not been suffering in common with the commercial and agri iiltural interests. On the contrary, it had increased in value.—(Hear, hear.)—lt did appear to the Noble Earl a fair, just, and t,i,iitable proposal to offer such a tax to Parliament.--( Hear.) tieing so, he should always contend that he had studied the interest the people. The noble duke bad called it a breach of faith—wherei the breach of faith ? He admitted then: was an act passed against tressure of this description, but the projectors of the measure were equally bound to consider the fundholders liable to contribute to the ne ce“hies of the country. He did not mean to justify a breach of faith, he wished noble lords to look back to the property tax imposed con trary to existing statutes, but justified upon the necessities of the state. The measure had been proposed in lieu of a property tax, which, in time of race. was objectionable. A property tax was exposed, in the present ate et the world, to the danger of driving capital out of the country.— Erange impression had been made against the measure, and there! .I,ktit be difficulties with respect to the measure which they did not at first • e; bat they had taken the best advice which time would allow them procure. The measure had received the sanction of the greatest corn. , ncrcial authority in the city of London. That authority was no other :han the Governor of the Bank of England. (Hear, hear.) H e was sorry to say the tailure of the measure would render it impossible to give up some of those taxes which otherwise would have been repeal ed. lie could only ray if the Noble Duke was disposed to attack the measures of his Majesty's Government, he should be ready to meet ‘.t:s opposition. They had exerted their efforts to produce the best .gnat, and his hope was that they might be able to persevere. He bad 30 doubt they could act for the advantage of the country, whilst they ad the confidence of the country and Parliament. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY thought the fuadholder ought to bear an equal share of the public butthen. The Noble Marquis saalti not admit that the measure deserved revolutionary character, be. it had been introduced to keep up the prosperity of the country. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM congratulated the country upon the escape it had had. From information he had just received, he understood that the Governor of the Bank gave no more than his indi vidual opinion. Earl GREY admitted that to be the fact. The Earl of WINCHILSEA thought the fondholder sho u ld con tribute a due proportion to the wants of the poor and the exigencies of the state. The measure which had been withdrawn could not, in his opinion, be a breach of public faith. The Noble Earl professed him. Pelf the advocate of a modified property tax. The breach of public faith was making the public pay the public creditor 20s. for 16. With respect to those taxes which it was the intention of his Majesty's Mi. : , liters to repeal, he did hope that they might yet be able to carry into tfect the substantial part of their propositions. Lord FARNHAM said, the objection he had to the measure which ra.l been withdrawn was, that it could not be considered a fair and equi table property tax. He thought a fair property tax the only measure to 9tve the country. He was one who thought they never would be able to rescu e the country from its difficulties without a new system of finance. Lord ELLRNBOROUGH opposed the introducdoo of a property , x• Thinking it necessary to advert to the woofer measure, of he wished t 2 know from the noble marquis what was the intention his Majesty's 1-13•qtriment with respect to the timber trade ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE at that time felt difficulty in mak ing communication upon the plan for altering the timber clinks. laord . ELLEN BOROUGH said persons were anxious to know the bistisdons of his Majesty's Goveroment on that most important sulsjost. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he wished not to take on himself the Ace of Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the other place, The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he was one who in the House of Cototweas opposed a property tax, because he at that time considered it the offirslag of the mother of all miseries—war. At the present day he bold himedf at bbaq, without inconsistency, to consider whether the dreentehoses did snit to justify a tax GO property. He thought those ebtueelleweis did exist, and that there was no inconsistency In leis oemenftg to take funded property answerable to the exigencies of the seas. He denied that abreacts of faith had been committed in the measure withdrawn. He guarded himself and colleagues againbt the imputation of a design to effect a breach in the high honour which had so long die tinguisbed the country. The Noble and Learned Lord begged the House to be aware of the facilities which offered for removal of funds to the French funds where 3 per Cents. were at 60—in England 3 per Cents. were at 80. Great advantages might be lost by the transfer tax, but at the same time it had been found liable to objection. Every transfer subject to duty might involve a proceeding in equity, and per haps three additional Courts of Equity would be insufficient for the settlement of the complicated transactions arising out of such transfers. The Noble and Learned Lord concluded by observing that if all the parts of the late budget were fairly considered, he had little doubt but it would be found more satisfactory than that of any former Ministry.— (Hear.) Lord WYNFORD said a few words, which were inaudible before the Bar. PORTUGAL. Lord STRANGFORD gave notice, that on Friday next he should move for certain papers relative to the commercial interests of this coun try with the kingdom of Portugal; circumstances which had recently taken place in that country rendered such production necessary, in order that the public mind might be set at Test on the subject of the trade to PortugaL At the same time he begged to assure the house, that the motion he had to make should not iavolve any question of a political nature, and least of all, that relative to the succession to the Crown of Portugal. Earl WINCHILSEA presented a petition from a parish in Kent, against the coal duty ; and a similar petition was presented by Earl Carnarvon. CHURCH PROPERTY. Lord KING, in pursuance of his former notice, rose and moved for a return of all the clergy resident and non-resident in England holding livings under eccleslasuce ' or lay impropriators, together with the amount of stipend paid to each. In doing so the Noble Baron observed, that these returns formerly were laid on the Table of the House in a regular manner ; he had, however, looked Into their Lordships' library, and he could only find them down to 1813, from which period be should date his motion. The Noble Lord then repeated nearly the same line of argument as that adopted by him on a former night, when he brought the same question before the House, observing, that his object in moving for these returns was, if 'possible, to ascertain the num ber of pluralities, so that they might be reduced or put an end to. A right reverend Prelate (Bishop of London) who addressed the house the other night, stated that if the whole Church revenue were added to. gether, it would only afford an average of about 3861.185. dd. per annum to each clergyman of the Church of England ; on reference to the very same book from which he supposed the right reverend prelate had taken his statement, he found six hundred clergymen entered with annual receipts of 6451: If pluralities were to exist, he (Lord King) was of opinion, thet the stipend derived from them should not exceed in amount the average of all the others put singly. It was not, he con tended, lay-Impropriadon that caused pluralities, and the arrangement he had proposed would effectually prevent that evil. The noble lord then referred to what he called a recent case of plurality, and read from a newspaper a notice of the removal of the son in-law of the Bishop of Ely to the rich vkarage of Wisbeach, worth 8,3401. per annum, and held live other livings besides; one of which (Ethan)) had been pro- , mired to a younger ion. The LORD CHANCELLOR here observed that he believed the appointment had not been made. Lord LINO resumed. It was a fact well known, that whilst these rich livings were held by individuals enjoying others, the working cler gyman, or Curate, had only 301. a year allowed to him by his cabal. aide, whilst the parish, by subscription, made the sum to about 701. The noble lord then alluded to the late B ishop Horsley, who went great lengths to uphold the Church hierarchy, but the Right Rev. Prelate— (Bishop of London) on a recent occasion, seemed inclined to go further. He concluded by moving for the returns. The Bishop of LONDON saw no objectit.ns to the returns being made. In reference to what the noble baron had said relative to the payment of the clergy of the Church of England, he held himself bound to state that after the most minute inquiry he had made, he found that the maximum received was front 3501. to 3651. in short, it would be found that the clergy of the Established Church was so poorly provided for, that if the sum total of their revenue were divided amongst the whole of the clergy of England and Wales, it would not yield more than 1861. per annum to each individual. On a future occasion, when the question of tithes and church property would be brought before the house, be should enter into a detailed statement, shewing the exact receipts of the church; the public and their lords hips, he had no doubt would be surprised to learn the smallness of the amount thereoE The public, be lamented, had been greatly misled by a publication, pro. bably the one which the noble baron had taken for his guide; in that book, one thousand minor canons were stated to be in the receipt of 5001. a-year each ; nothing could be more wide of the fact, both in point of nnmber and amount. Again the same publication stated that the Arch. deacons received annually 6001. each, ratite' it was notorious, that that useful class was the most miserably paid of all the clergy ; so much so, that the sum received scarcely defrayed the expense of their visits tions.—(Hear.) Earl ROSSLYN was of °pint.. Nit the returns could not be made out. _ _ Lord KING said, that he contrived the returns he called for could easily be obtained by applying to the secretaries of the Bishops. Whilst he was on his legs, he begged to assure the Right Reverend Prelate, that it was not from the " Extraordinary Black Book" whence he took his information relative to the income of the Church, but from the other work, which was friendly to the clergy of the establish ment ; he hoped that the Right Reverend Prelate was under some mistake as regarded the pay of the clergy, and that it was not so smell as be had stated. Ear GREY was of opinion, that by various returns being made the noble lord's motion might be approximated ; for his own part, he had no objection to grant the Returns • but he would suggest, as the better course to be adopted by the noble baron, that he should withdraw his motion for the present, and put it in a better position at some future time. He could not but advert to the great inconvenience which arose from these discussions taking place, as they had done, night after night, on the presenting of petitions. He gave the noble baron (King) credit for hies good intentions in taking the course he thought best for gain. ing his suds ; still he (Earl Guy) could not approve of the mode ; he believed that the heads of the Church were as willing as the noble baron, or any of their lordships, to correct existing abuses in the church ; he had had many conversations on the subject with Right Re verend Prelates, and he could assure the house, that with respect :o the tithe question in the first iestance. it was to meet with the closest atten tion ; for his own part he should recommend a commutation of tithes, but to this mode he was apprised of many difficulties; he has seen the draft of a bill for a commutation of tithes, of which he ap proved; that bill would in due time be laid befo re the house, by a Right Reverend Prelate, and he trusted it would be generally ap proved of. With respect to pluralities also, the same Right Retie , rend Prelate had expressed the most liberal opinions, so the ground of cemplaint on that had would in some measure be removed. Holding 1 livings in commodes' be disapproved of, but they had become necessary in a degree from the smallness of the amount received for many of them. The noble earl defended the clergy of the Church of England from the charges that had been brought against them ; the church was, perhaps. never more exemplary than at present, and exceptions ought not to be urged against it. (Hear.) He called upon his noble friend (Lord King), if he again addressed the House on the same subject, to do so by specific ammo. Lord FARNHAM contended, that tithes ought to be got rid of altogether. Lord KING complained that a battery had been opened upon him hoot all parts of the house ; the Noble Duke opposite (Buckingham), who seemed in his own person to embody the whole of the Aristoaaff and Tory parties, had opened upon him like a monstrous bomb,—(a hash and the Noble Lord beside him (Wynford). like a long Messes , charged to the muzzle, had also been discharged at hies King), but it had gone of like a pop-gun—(a laugh)—but as the Noble Earl (Grey) bad admitted there were abuses in the and that a measure was in preparation for their correction, he consent to withdraw his motion partly for the present, and abstain M future from making any remarks on the subject, at least for a time, ia the hopes that some beneficial measure would be brought forward by the heads of the church themselves. The noble lord's motion, in a modified shape, was then understood to be put and agreed to. The bills on their it:shield/is' table were forwarded a stage, and the hoses adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. Alderman WOODpresented a petition from the parish of war la-bonne, in favour of the Vestries BBL—Ordered to lie on do NM . Lord MANDEVILLE presented a petition from Henthisiens for a general fast.—Ordered to be printed. . CALL OP on Boum—arrows. Mr MAXWELLipsee modes that he should move that the bones be called ova ea the 1111* (lashed of the 18th), the day before that motion which was of so mush hoportanos to the country. namely, Lad J. Res. sell's modest is the subject bf Reform. paspricursous In DUBLIN. MT. LEADER a petition from Dublin, in favour of a re• peal of the lagisissfis ustisa, expressing his satisfaction that there had been an amicable tcnninrtiol. of tbe pt %Aecut,ors in Dublin. He was sure it would contribute tb prow Au ti.c tranquility of the ccuctr}•.-- Ordered to be printed. WEST INDIES. The Marquis of CHANDOS moved for various returns respec.ing measures taken for the amelioration of slaves in the West Indies, &c. also for accounts regarding the quantities of rum and sugar imported, &c.—Ortlered. The noble lord also moved for accounts of raw sugar exported from Ireland, &c. Ordered. The Marquis of CHANDOS presented petitions from Torrington, Kembleton, &c. Bucks, for an alteration of the corn laws. REPEAL OF THE MALT DUTY. The Marquis of CHANDOS presented a petition from Burnham, Bucks, for a tepeal of the malt duty. lie said he should support that repeal when the motion for it was brought forward. Ordered to he printed. The Marquis of CHANDOS presented a petition hem Mr. John Bowden, of Kent, for the repeal of the game lews. SUGAR DUTISS REDUCTION. The Marquis of CHAN DOS gave notice that on Monday next he would call the attention of the House to the present state of the sugar duties, with the view to a reduction of them.—( Hear.) Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from Shoreditch for Permis sion to have a voice in the management of their parochial affairs. — (Hear, hear.) Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from St. Pancras, in favour of the Select Vestries bill. Severally ordered to be laid on the table. PROPERTY TAX. Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from an Archdeacon, the Clergy, &c. of Wilton, Wilts, for Parliamentary Reform and reduction of taxation. He observed that 14.000 persons in Wilts had petitioned for Reform. The petitioners thought the time for farliamentery Re form had arrived, and that nothing but a full and fair reprcun aUon I would satisfy the people. They also called a reduction of taxation. He thought the Ministers must resort to a property tax, a graduated pro perty tax. None other—for where was the justice of taxing a man of 5001. as they would the man of thousands? lie would not debate any of these matters till the great question had been brought forward, but before he would vote even for any property tax, there must be a re.. formed Commons House. (Hear.) —Petition ordered to he printed. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. Mr. HOBHOUSE then presented a petition from St. Masses. pray. ing for Parliamentary Reform, or that they might be disfranchised, be cause they could consider no greater curse than the present mode of re. prascntation. He fully approved of their prayer. Mr. HOBHOUSE then presented a petition from Lancaster for re form, annual Parliaments, universal suffrage, and vote by ballot. He felt quite assured that the more the demand was considered, the more clear and just would be the prayer for the vote by ballot. (Hear.) Without that improvement, he was persuaded that reform would be in ''sctual and unsatisfactory.—Petition ordered to be printed. CORNWALL. REFORM PETITIONS. Mr. PENDARVIS presented, with great pleasure, the Cornwall county petition for parliamentary reform, signed by nearly twenty thou sand persons, and being seventeen yard, long! (Hear.) It was agreed to at an open-air meeting. It was from a county that participated largely in the:privilege of returning members. The petitioners, how. ever, stated, that out of twenty boroughs, eighteen were under the in. fluence of private individuals; only two had the semblance of free representation. (Hear.) Mr. PENDARVIS then presented petitions from Penzance, and other places in Cornwall, also for parliamentary reform. The Penzance peti. tion was signed by upwards of 1.0110 per-ons.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. H. HUGHES presented a petition from Rye, Isle of Wight, for a general fag. Lord F. OSBORNE presented a petition from a parish in the Isle of /Preppy, for a commutation of tithes ; and one from Royston, for Par liamentary reform. Sir G. ROBINSON presented a petition from Northampton, for reform and vote by ballot.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. NVYSE presented a petition from a parish in Tipperary, for the repeal of the union ; one from a parish in Tyrone, against the grant to the Kildare-street 'Society ; one from Tuam, for extending the franchise of Galway.—Ordered to lie on the table.—He also permuted one for a revision of the law imposing a drawback on soap exported from England to Ireland—it was from soap-boilers of Clonmel. Mr. SYKES said he should be happy to pay the greatest attention to this subject. Petition ordered to lie on the table. TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE. Lord 111ORPETH presented a petition from compositors of the me tropolis, and its vicinity. He confessed that he felt pest anxiety on this subject ; and had been tempted to ask himself, whether the reduction of these taxes would lead to the extension of seditious and blasphemous publication—but he was persuaded that the effect would be quite the contrary. Where there existed education and publication, there order had prevailed ; indeed, he might sum up by saying, that where the "Schoolmaster" was abroad, "Swing" was unable to make way.— (Hear.) The petition was for the repeal of the taxes on newspapers, paper, and on advertisements. Col. SINTNORTE, Mr. SYKES, and Mr. DIINCOSSIIE, supported its prayer. The petition was then read; it was as follows: " To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. " The humble Petition of the undersigned Compositors of London and its vicinity, SEIEWETH " That your petitioners, in praying the attention of your Honourable House to the heavy duties on paper, newspapers, and advertisements, with a view to their repeal, or great reduction, cannot but lament, that at the close of the fourth century since the discovery of the art they pro fess, its exercise should be impeded by restrictions more worthy of the period of its invention, than of an age distinguished like the present by the rapid advancement of literature, science, and art, and by the efforts made to disseminate universally the blessings of education. " That so long as these obnoxious imposts, or taxes on knowledge remain unaltered, education, however extended, can confer no substan tial benefiit on the great bulk of the population ; and it appears to your petitioners somewhat anomalous, that whilst your honourable house, by various grants of the public money towards educating the ' poor, is implanting a thirst for knowledge in their minds, laws are permitted to esist which reader it only attainable by the wealthier portion of the community. " That the taxes on paper, newspapers, and advertisements (amount ing to more titan two hundred per cent.) are so heavy as to defeat their professed object as measures of revenue, is strikingly evinced by the tact, that in England, which is so accustomed to boast her enlightened and thinking population, and where political information is so eagerly sought. the circulation of newspapers will nevertheless bear no comparison with that of other countries where these imposts are either uukoovrn, or exist in a very modified degree. As an instance, your petitioners humbly beg to state, that whilst the circulation of 13 Paris newspapers amounts to 50,000 per day, that of the morning and evening papers published in London, where the population is one-third greater, is under 40,000 ; in the United States of America, with a population of only twelve millions, there ere above 000 newspapers; while in England, where the charge on news papers is five times greater than in America, owing to the duties in question, there are but 29a; that, with the exception of the metropolis, no one town in England, however wealthy or populous, can support a daily paper, whilst in the United States, few towns of 10,000 inhabi tants are without one ; and that in the city of Boston, containing only 70,000 iuhabitants, there are I:0 fewer than thirty-four, six of which appear daily. " The injutious effect of the advcniscinont duty (producing the small turn of 100,0001. a-year) is placed in n strikinn light by smiler comparisons :—ln America, owing to the non-existence of fluty, the charge for advertising, as compared with that in this country, is dimin. haled in the ratio of ten to one on a single insertion, and twenty-four to one on insertions repeated ; the result of which is, that the number of advertisements published annually in America greatly exceeds that of the English Journals. The thirty-four papers of Boston publish more advertisements than those of all England ; and the twelve daily papers of New York contain annually bait a million more advertisements than the four hundred newspapers of the United Kingdom, nuts ithstanding the population and trade of the latter exceed that of the Uritcd States in the proportion of at least two to one. " 'That, in addition to the great loss occasioned to the proprietors of newspapers by the heavy duty on advertisements, and the serious check it presents to that facility of communication which is so essential to the prosperity of a commercial and trading community, it directly tenets to prevent the extensive circulation of cheap knowledge among the people, as only an expensive publication can repay the coat of giving it ger.eral publicity. "That, owing to the causes set forth by your petitioners, the expense attendant on the establishment of a newspaper, and the extensive circu lation required to support it, is such, that few individuals can undertake the risk ; and the important task of diffusing political knowledge is, therefore, in a great measure dependent on the joint-stock speculation of a few great capitalists, whose interest is obviously not to direct, but to follow public opinion, instead of opposing and allaying the prejudices, dispelling the ignorance, and improving the morals of the people. " Your petiuoners further submit, that very peat and serious injury arises to their trade from the duties complained of, by the obstacles thereby thrown in the way of the circulation of newspapers, and the impeetkability of placing the means of obtaining knowledge, whether political or otherwise, within the teach of all ranks of the community. At the same time they are not insensible, as el , a state avowedly based on public opi nioa, to the still greater nib babied en the country at lsrge,by the channels of instruction being thus eisui against the people --whose enlightenment should be the primary Akira of a free Govern ment, as affording the beat security against Weimar and outrage, and constituting the most lasting founds*n of the prosperity, true greet nese, and glory et an empire. " Your petitioners, dashes, most eernesd entreat your honourable house to take the fasts here into your most serious conaklmatko, and totally remove, or greatly reduce the duties voi!iplalned of as Ifni, exisk•nce in their 'present shape—pro. dt,ring so much itijury to the country, and so little advantage to the revenu.P—tan only sartog:hen the belief, that fiscal clan manta, directed against the Press, are less priced by Govern• meats u measures of finance, than u a means of controlling the frvc expression, of public opinion. " And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray." Lord ItIORPETH then pie-a - wed petitions from Sheffiell, Hali fax, Deacon, &c. for parliamen'ary reform and ballot.-p-Ors!ered to be printed. Mr.SYKES mov.ll fur returns respecting the manufacture oft and and soft soap, the number of licences issued, &c.--Ordered. GLASGOW acroast PETITION. Mr. HUNT presented a pttittcn from the East Barony or the district for Glasgow, fin parliamewary reform, universal suffrage. rind beim. He entirely concurred in the prayer It had been iircationed that some thous/114s had netirio: , (d trout Wilts, had the petitions pra} cd for vote by ballot rhore would have been 40,000 signatures. A noble lord ( Morpctli)had pesented petitions fur reform, but in present Oir those for the ballot his Lordship had been silent. Knowing bow intimitely his Lordship %case:inflected with minicers, he r sgreted t is silen e Lord MOH PETH said he had neither concurred i::, nor dissented from toe prayer ; and as to the intentions of Ministers, he wai as ram of them as any one could he. o:tiered to be printed. 111 r. HUNT presented a petition from the Tio Plate Nt 'uric. rs of Dublin, for the Ilepeel of the Union. Ile presented it wi•li gm!, pleasure because he thought the Irish were the hest judges of theta own wishes and wants. . O'GORMAN At AHON was glad to hear these liberal sention iits— the observations were true. lie begged to gay, that he called for the repeal to he effected by legal meant—he would county:aim: no oilier. He Lad been misconceived the other night when he said tlit.t lie had be longed to a " seem society for the repeal of the Union," it was rot to effvet that repe.tl by force of arms. The Association sae a Club. H: was the only Catholic in it. he believed. It had existed before the Cutho:ic Emancipation. lie had mentioned the fact to show that th • demand for the relax, of the Union was sot new. Mr. COOPER, adverting to the Roscommon petition, said, 'bet none of the respectability of the County fed attended it. O'GORMAN MA HON said it l'ad been attended b) the Sheriff, O'Connor Don, &c. Mr. COOPER did not deny that some were respectable.—Ordered to b: printed. SPECIAL COMMISSIONS. Mr. HUNT presented a petition from persons assembled at the Ro tltnd a, 01nel:friars, for an address to his Majesty for a commutation of the sentences of those tried under the special commiuions. In presenting it he had disclaimed all connection with those who asumbied there, an.l received money for the lectures or discourses delivered—with Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Cathie, Mr. Gale Jones, &c. and for that disclaiti.er be had received a threat, calling on him to disavow that language. r to abide by the consequences. He had uttered that language—it was the fact; he had no connection with those parties; and he trust,4l he should never b 2 afraid or ashamed to avow langukte uttered by him in that house.--(Loud cheers.) He had no intention of calling on tit.. house to exert its privileges in his behalf.—lf the threat ware carriel into effect, it would be for the house to say what course it should per-m : but if the house did not interfere, he had this consolation—he knot how to defend himself.—( immense cheering.) Petition ordered to lie on the table. GENERAL ECAST AND JVBILEI:. Mr. HUNT said he hail to present u petition front inhabitants ot Southampton, praying for reform, and that when refoun vas effected, there should be a general feast (loud laughter) and a geaeral jubilee.— (Continued cheering and laughter.) lie concurred in its prayer : it was a very sensible one, and he trusted that the decision of that house would warrant a general feast and jubilee. At all events, we wanted no fasting. (Cheers and laughter.) When the motion for a general fast was made, should it be brought forward, he should deem it his duty to oppose it. (Hear.)—Petition ordered to lie on the table. satexawa.—ma• O'CONNZLL'i PLEA Or GUILTY, &.C. The Marquis of CHAN DOS said, as he observed the Right Hon. Secretary for Ireland in his place, he wished to ask him whether or not any vessel loaded with firearms had been seized in the Stl4lllloll ? H: wished also to ask, as he understood Mr. O'C mne'l had pleaded "guilty" to the indieuneet, whether Govtrnment had entered into any agreement for a eumpromise, eitherdirectly or indirectly % (hear.) Mr. STANLEY replied, that as respected the first question pia by the noble marquis, he could give no further information than what was to be derived from the general medium through which intelligence was obtained. It was true that an American vessel had been seized, havin A on board a large quantity of fire-arms. But where it was going to, or foe what purpose the arms were intended, Government had not been able to ascertain ; however, the requisite inquiries had been instituted. With reference to the second question, he was glad that the noble marquis had put it, as he was aware that an opinion had got abroad that Mr. O'Con nell had pleaded " Guilty" in compliance with an understanding with the Government. No such thing was the case. He could not. however, but say that the friends of Mr. O'Connell had been 'sidle. vouring to effect a compromise. But the answer given on this. 1-s well as on the other side of the water, was, that Mr. O'Connell's ctindoct had been of that character, that it was impossible for any admieis ra tion not to do what had been done ; and Mr. O'Connell was told dis tinctly :hat he must pursue his own course ; but whatever course that might be, the law must be put into full execution. He was told that the Government could not shrink an inch. Mr. O'Connell was dis tinctly assured of that before lie pleaded guilty. He was informed that the law must take its course. (Loud and continued cheering from all sides of the house.) THE PINANCE MEAStritt& Lora ALTHORP then moved that the report of the committee of supply of Friday be received. In doing so he wished to take the earliest opportunity of making some observations on the propositions he brought forward the other oveniug. His object in bringing forward th r. resolu tions was to do all in his power to relieve the tax, a on the uranufacturia interests and industrioue classes, and also the oppressive manner :n which those taxes were collected. That class were borne down with taxes. The proposition for a tax on the transfer of stock, which he brought forward, had met with objections; it bad been said it would be imposteible to carry it into effect. Now CSI the latter point he had consulted the mat pe tit:need persons, and they agreed with him that it would be et ry to tax a transfer of bone fide stock, and also that it would be very cry to slist'ulguish between such transfers and these of mortgage. He end not then the authority to incntien one individual, but he now had ; it was the Governor of the Bark of Ergland.—(Hear.) This gentler. to was of opinion the tax might be carried into operation with facility. Neither had he (Lord Alihorp) heard nny argument that ern. vinced him, if carried into effect, that it would be at all inconsist. cnt with the public faith.—(hear, hear, hear) Had he for a moment entertained any such ides, he would have been the last man to have brought forward such a proposition. 11/1 still thought the tax might be imposed with advantage to the country ; but alter the opposi tion it had met with, it was wad not his intention to persevere in pressing it. He bad certainly conceived it to be right to take the earliest oppor. tunity of stating his intention not to persevere with the sax ; but. in doing so, it would be quite obvious that he niuto abandon the idea of making some of the reductions in other taxes that he had intend. ed. He should therefore not reduce the lax on tobacco or on glass. A misconception had gone abroad as to his motives in reducing the tax on tobacco. He was of opinion that tobacco ass a good oLject of taxation ; but the duty on it at present was so large, that it ht Id out great inducement to smuggling. He thought, therefore, by reducing it, it would do away with there disgraceful scenes which had been curried on, more particularly on the coast of Ireland. After n.aking Jere otsereations It was immeessaty for bim to say more. He would, therefore, only add that he still thought that the tax on the transfer of funded property might to imposed without any difficulty, and with great benefit to the country. Mr, WARD was oltliged to the Char weldor of the Exchequer foe this concession ; he was persuaded that the tax was impolitic—that it wettlel have beer. a breach of faith, and that even the Governor of the Ronk could not know what devitos would be atleptid to tank the tax. He wished to chew the greatest forbearerce to any persons entruetedwith the administration of Government ; but if the propeoition for laying a tax on funded property had been persevered in, he must lime protested against such a measure, come from what Minieter it might. He had been intimately conneced ter the last 25 years with the negociatione for all loans of money lent to the Goverrntio, ar.d he could tidily say that on individual ever left the Tresoury Chambers without an opinion, if not an essurance,that no stamp tax or duty should at any subsequent period he levied upon transfers of that description of property (hear.) Hr felt obliged to the Noble Lord for thus early anioneecing his inten. Lien not to persevere in the tax. !Ir. Lll"f I.RTON said he had heard the statement with mingled regret and satisfaction which had just been communicated. He applaud ed the manly conduct of the noble Iced in at once abandenirg lie tax, but he was vile assured that the country would have supported the noble lord though perhaps the majority might trot have been large.— The agricultural interests felt considerably that the monied iotereets contributed so little to the exigencies of the state, and to support the poor. The defeat was clear ; but he regretted it was withdrawn. How ever, after what had passed, be thought the government would be jos. titled in imposing a property tax. Sir E. KNATCH BULL made some observations from under the gallery, and asked whether the tax on the transfer of land was to be persevered in, that on transfer of stock having been abandoned. Lout A LTHORP replied. that the whole of that part of the plan would be abandoned. Having given up the tax on stock transfers, It would be unjust to tax the transfers o f the land was already sufficiently heavily burdened. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said he was very glad of the with. drawal of that part of the Ministen' plan which regarded the tau on the transfers of stock. It would give great satisfaction M the City, and ale bey much discontent. He trusted other pasts of the plan would be re. i