Star. — London, England, 1822-02-06 00:00:00

-I•Trr T= 7 - - - 77-7 - therefore he hoyetl that the Elea non. Gentleman would exert , hi ms elf to clear uphis account'. ' Ile was prepared to shew that I the los , WAS from £ 1 0,000,000 to £18,000,000, and to prove it to the satistaction of 'who undwritund the four first rules of arithmetic. The same farce has. been Mei:skirt ly repeated—bor rownig to-day what was to he laid nut to-morrow, at a discount, far paying oirthe Debt —(I ar, hner).—lii the Finance accounts, there was a department headed, " Interest paid on the Debt, Charges of Management, interest . on Exchequer Bills." In I Sl7, the Treasury stated the interest of the funded Debt at _a. 1,000,000, and, with the charges of management and luterest on Exchequer Bills, made it up to 1817 4E31,266,000 1818 • 31,351,000 1819 30,792,000 In2o - _ - 314324:00 A most hirportant feature, to we a falmurite word of the Noble Lord's. in this statement was, tfiat no two successive years were within a million of one another in the charges and interest. In January, 1022, there were borrowed £7t.,000,000, since 1816, and given to the Commissioners, without occasion for giving one penny. This year the sum fur interest of debt ought to be 5E30,180,000, instead of which it would be 1'.31,480,000. Ile would ask, too, of another Bight Ilonourable Gentleman, when he should be in his place, whether the Crown Revenue, and the Revenue of Woods and Forests, were not invested in the Funds? The system of forcing up the Funds which was practised was absurd and pernicious. In 1816 and 1817 they had gone into mar ket with 40,000,0001. on which theyought to havealvedi ,500,0001. But to the question of reduction ; by which all such evils might be avoided. And here the words of the Speech, as it had been read, were worthy of the very particular attention of the liouse. l The first part of his Majesty's Address to the House of Coin- 1 mons ran thus—" It is very gratifying to me to be able to in form you, that during the lam year the Revenue has exceeded that of the preceding, and appears to be in a course of progres sive improvement." Now look to the Speech for the year 181& The same assertion, precisely, was made, and made almost oer batint, in the same terms. " His Royal Highness (the Prince Regent) is most happy in being able to acquaint you, that since you were last assembled in Parliament er.: Revenue bas been in a state of progressive improvement in its most important branches"—(Hear, and laughter). But the affinity did not cease at that point. In the very next sentence of the present Speech his Majesty said—" I have directed the estimates of the current year to be laid before you. They have been framed with every attention to economy which the circumstances of the country will permit." Now, what said the Speech for the year 1820? " The estimates for the year will be laid before you. They have been framed upon principles of strict economy," &c.—(Hear, heor).- -From that period to the present, every expense had been ins creasing. But the Speech (the present Speech) went on—" it will be satisfactory to you to learn that I have been able to make a large reduction in our annual expenditure, particularly in our naval and military establishments. I n the ye ar 1819, bb Ma . • jesty, then Prince Regent. f at assured " That the House would learn with satisfaction the extent of reduction which the present situation of Europe, and the circumstances of the Britiab empire, had enabled his Royal Highness to effect in the naval and mili tary establishments of the country."—(Hear,hear). It was pe culiarly unfortunate that, under all these professions of reduc tion, not one shilling had actually been saved. Wu the country to be trifled with in such a manner? Let five hundred trades men take thos., seats in the House of Commons now occupied by Noblemen and Gentlemen, and they would scout such a system of juggle and misrepresentation. It was well for Gentlemen to lauzh at the interference of artisans in middle lire ; but these artisans were able to scan the accounts of the lion. Gentlemen opposite. Those Hon. Gentlemen might have majorities within the House, majorities composed of persons taking share of taxes imposed upon other persons who were unable to endure them ; but they would have no majorities without doors, while they acted upon their present system -,(Lorsd chwring)— After all the promisee given, and all the hopes held out, increase of difficulty from day to day, of difficulty which, if not checked, most terminate in ruin. Would (Mr. Hume again asked) the country go on as it had done; would it still place confidence in men who had been promising for eight years, but whose conduct bad done anything rather than keep pace with their professions? Reduction, indeed! What was-the boasted reduction which, after all, they had effected? They had reduced 180 unfortunate clerks—a measure scarcely conceived in all that spirit of charity and benevolence for which the lion. Gentleman took credit— ( flaw, hear). —But surely, if there wanted anything to prove the inability of Ministers to the conduct of the country, that proof was afforded by the proposal made scarcely twenty-four hours back by the First Lord of the Treasury—(Cheers). —lle alluded to the offer of assistance to the agricultural interest— (Chzers).—Was it reasonable to entrust the affairs of a nation to persons who could take so childish,weak, and womanish a course? Dill they not know that every Banker had already more money than he could lend? That the need was not of cash, but of cre dit ? He called upon Gentlemen to keep down the unnecessary and unnatural expenditure of the country; but ht believed there were very few people who knew even what the amount of that expenditure was--(Laughter).—lt was not a very easy fact to get at; but he believed he could, after much research, supply it. Ministers had taken as the golden mean the year 1792; in 1792, however, exclusive of the public debt, then ten millions, the whole expenditure of the country did not exceed seven millions. How was it, that with perfect peace at home, and the benefit of the Holy Alliance abroad, the State was now worked at an ex pense of twenty-six millions? In 1792, the country had not to pay for a resident Minister in the Swiss Cantons, at a salary of 43,500 a year, with outfit and travelling expenses, & c. and when the Holy Alliance, too, managed all the business for which such an Officer was intended. Nor were the expenses of the Ord nance Department quite so considerable at that time as at pre sent. He begged, in the meantime, to ask of the Lord Advo cate, whether a certain Nobleman had not made a will, leaving live hundred pounds a-year to one of his sons, until he (the son) should be better provided for by Government ?—(llear, /rear.) He (Mr. Hume) knew the fact, and hoped shortly to have a copy of the will—(Laughter).—Ele believed the very last son of the fa mily had lately been provided for as a Commissioner of Customs. The House was doubtless tired of the very name of reduction; but he was compelled to make another remark or two upon that bead. What were the Navy reductions? They had turned off a few carpenters! Good! But had any of the junior Lords of the Admiralty disappeared? Had the Secretary of Widows Pensions been deprived of his salary? It was but even now that a General Officer, before possessing two pensions and three offices, was appointed Superintendent of Gas ! Nor was reduc tion less needful in the - civil than in the military and naval de . - partments of expenditure. He contended that the House of Commons would not do its duty, until it compelled every Gen tleman who did the duties of his office by deputy, to remove himself from that office altogether. He meant to cast no general imputations. He respected the motives of those Gentlemen who appeared in Parliament with a view to serve their country; but he had not the same feeling towards those who came there with a view to serve themselves--(Hear ! and Order 1). The arEAKER said, it was not' in order that any Mem ber of the House should impute improper motives to another. Mr. HUME, in that case, would not speak upon the point ; but there was nothing, he apprehended, to prevent him front thinking that which he forbore to utter. Ile was always happy i n b e ing corrected. The Honourable Gentleman then moved the following Amendment . : GA Th at, while we return his Majesty our most grateful ac knowledgments for the various reductions which have been made In the civil and military establishments during the last year, by Which some diminution of expense may be effected, yet we should ill discharge the duty we owe to his Majesty, if we did not direct his moot serious attention to the present condition of bas faithful People. w To represent to his Majesty that the distresses, proved to exist before a Committee of this House, instituted for the eve cial purpose, in the last Session of Parliament, have considerably increased; and that the owners and occupiers of land through out great part of the kingdom, and with them the tradesmen and artisans usually dependent on them for employment, are la touting under unexampled difficulties. !, To express most respectfully to his Majesty our opinion, that an excessive taxation is a principal cause of those distresses, and h u mbly to entreat that he will be graciously pleased immediately to direct such reductions in every branch of our expenditure, from the highest to the lowest department, as shall enable us, f or thwith, to relieve his Majesty's faithful people from a large portion of tlat burden of taxation which, in their present im poverished condition, presses so heavily upon all classes." As soon as the itemlutioti *as read from the Chair, The (.41A NCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER denied, un oquivecally.au4 decidedly, that the financial intentions of Govern ment were known on the Stuck Bireharige. If such were the practice, he should be wholly unfit for Ills situation. As to transaaloas with the Book of England, they could noire private I,y Act of Parliament ; and on iLat head 'he must say, th:.t he *meld have to lay some papers on the 'table. A conversation with himself and t h e First Lord of She Tremors had been strangely miorepresented ; but he believed that it was generally I agreed, that the only relief for the agricultural interest, would he by an extension of the currency. The Howse would see that it *mild be impossible to resort to such a reduction of taxation as was sought for by the Hon. Gentleman. In a few days the dif ferent ibstimates would be laid before the House, and then the liouourable Gentleman could skew whet* farther reduction' might have been made; but he should nut condemn' a system by anticipation; and ih the nits., the Honourable Gentleman had condemned them for dismissing junior Clerks; but surely they would have been deserving of more blame had they discharged those who had merited their confidence by long services. He hoped the House would not listito to loose statements, as he should have to propose a general measure of retrench ment from the highest to the lowest offices. It was their duty to consider whether they would relieve agriculture by the reduction of the Revenue, or by measures calculated to support our public faith and credit. The measure pro- posed by the Hon. Gentleman would rather tend to disappoint and to aggravate the evil. It would destroy all hopes of an ex tinction of the National Debt ; and then money would not be raised for five or six per cent. and the fundholder would them transfer his stock to foreign countries. If Parliament showed • disposition to support the public credit, he would be greatly die. appointed if he bad not to propose a reduction of the rate of is. terest from five per cent. There was no doubt that money could be got at lour per cent. on good landed security. The read' from a reduction of taxation on articles of consumption was Never immediate to the consumer, but was postponed fora cos siderable time. But there would be other occasions to reverteo this topic. Mr. CALCRAFT said, it was perfectly clear that Ministers had made up their minds to deny to the suffering people any re duction from the taxes ; and even the Chancellor of the Exche quer had declared that a reduction of the taxation would increase the evils of the country. Was the nation so ignorantly impatient of taxation, that they did not know it was beneficial for them ? This was language which could not be held anywhere but in that House. The Hon. Member for Aberdeen had produced a re duction of £70,000 a-year, by bringing the Receivera * -General before the notice of Parliament. He should, therefore. vote foe the amendment of that Hon. Gentleman. Tile CH A NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied that he had said that a repeal of taxation would not have a beneficial effett ; but that the way proposed by Mr. Hume would be de structive of public credit. Mr. CA LC RA FT said, be should not vote for any reduction of tales until he was satisfied that taking them away would be of advantage to the country. Mr. F. ROBINSON hoped the House would not prejudge Ministers, until it was informed what the reductions were that they had really made. The Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Hume) had designated the financial system of Ministers as fallacious and temporising ; but it was to be recollected, that the House was a party to that system. Colonel DAVIES hoped they were to be no more deceived by the magical delusion of a false financial speculation. The re duction of taxation was first to be done by a reduction of every establishment in the Government. The CHANCELLOR of the. EXCHEQUER would not admit the whole of the statement of the Member for Aberdeen; nor had be any intention of proposing any alteration in the cur rency of the country. There was nothing of which Government was more convinced, than the necessity of keeping the currency undepreciated. Sir J. NEWPORT objected to the terms 0 arising from tem porary causes," applied in the amendment to the evils of the country. Nor could he agree in the sweeping reprobation of the financial system of the country, contained in the Amendment. He should, therefore, move fur the omission of those parts of the Amendment. He thought the People had a right to a dif ferent acknow:edgment from Ministers, than one declaring that no reduction of taxation was to take place. Mr. HUME consented to leave out the words to which Sir John Newport objected. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, when this strange amendment was brought before the consideration of the House, his Right Hon. Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had briefly replied to it, and reserved the exposition of many of its errors to a future, though not a very distant day. But there was nothing definite in the system of the Hon. Mover of the amend ment. Let any Members propose the remission of a tax, and chew that they could afford to part with it, and there could not be an objection to the proposed measure. The Hon. Member had brought forward many jobs, and if they did exist he pledged ' himself that their existence should net be of long duration. But he was surprised that a Right Hon. Member (Sir J. Newport), who he believed felt a deep interest in the financial affairs of the country, should suffer himself to be entrapped into the support of the amendment by the paltry concession of a few omissions, I which made but little difference in the absurdity of the resolution. Mr. TIERNEY commenced his speech by declaring, that upon entering the House that evening. it was his fixed intention not to address it. The Noble Lord, however, by indulging in the language which he had done, and by observing that any man who ventured to vote in favour of the amendment would be committing an insult both to the House and to the country, bad made a call upon him to speak, which he found it totally impos sible to resist—( Cheers). The Noble Lord had stated that the country was looking up to the wisdom of Parliament. He felt compelled to observe that the country had been looking for a long time indeed, up to that wisdom—(Hear hear). But it was now beginidng to look at the manner with which Parliament sympathized with its feelings; and on the present occasion he trusted that Honourable Gentemen would embrace the oppor- I tunity of regaining its respect and confidence—(//car). There was no difficulty in the proposition then submitted to the House : the Noble Lord had indeed said, that there was great difficulty attached to it ; but that was by no means the case. He there fore called upon gentlemen to exercise their own judgments in coming to a decision upon it, and nut to be led away by the in genious statements of the Noble Lord. Let gentlemen, and the country gentlemen especially, take care how they entangled them selves a second time with their constituents—(heel cries of a Hear"). Much as he might pity those who might become the sufferers front a strict retrenchment, and much as he might feel for those who might think themselves degraded by the loss of a certain state, by which they were at present surrounded, still he would, so help him God, persevere, if it were in his power, in making it —(Hear, hear, hear). He was inclined to vote for a re duction of taxation—first of all, because he was convinced that it ought to be made—(l-lear). How Tar that reduction would ex tend, he did not exactly know ; nor was he called on to declare upon that occasion. He would not enter farther into the discus- SAM of the evening : indeed, he had not intended to have taken part in it at all ; but when he saw the Noble Lord get upon his stilts—and when he was hard pressed, nobody got upon them with greater ease—(hear and laughter) he felt an inclination which he could not master, to endeavour to take him a little down. He warned the House not *ci place much confidence in the pro mises which the Noble Lord had made about retrenchment and reduction, for, unfortunately, the Noble Lord was not the fittest man to be believed upon that subject. lie would state his reason for saying so. It was shortly this—that the Noble Lord and his colleagues had uniformly shewn that the only way of getting them to make reductions, was to delve them to it—(Loud cheers). Ile therefore called upon the country gentlemen not to allow themselves to be deluded with fine promises. If they meant the country to believe that they felt for the distress under which it suffered, they would not defer their vote in favour of retrench ment and reduction of taxation to a future occasion, as the Noble Lord had advised; but would come forward and manfully give it in favour of the amendment that evening; they would thus force Ministers to every possible reduction, and the country would have the benefit of it lu the shape of mitigated taxation— (Gruen). Mr, HUSKISSON said, that every year *hewed more and more the inconvenience of the course pursued by the Hoo. Member for Aberdeen, whose statement and figures he could not understand. It would be more consistent for Parliament to wait and hear the proposition for relief which his noble friend had to bring forward—for relief to the agriculturists, rather than to adopt the amendment proposed by the lion. Gentleman. Mr. S. Vo'OR'ELBY agreed with the Member for Aberdeen that the time was come for sincere reduction, to relieve their suffering Cunstitusats. For himself, he should apply his mind to see what reductions could bt made with safety to the &ate. lie understood that the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to propose relief to the agriculturists, by way of loan. —(Nu, ise 1 from the Chancellor e r um rsarisegster.)-Ifr was glad he had misunderstood him t ior tte was suns that no good oda roe* from such a measure. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE said, the deep and unpardielell tress of of the country obliged him to vote for the one swot of the Hon. Member for Aberdeen. He saw no Mar he the country except in a change in the taxation ; foe it could not pro reed at its present rate of expenditure. He hoped that in a few LONDON. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6. 1R22 STOCK EXCHANOE, TEN O'CLOCK. At an early hour this morning the Stock Exchange was crowded, and the moment the market opened, a great bustle and confusion prevailed. Consols were done in a few minutes at the following prices-77i ELEVEN O'CLOCK. Our market is now steady at 77j and some very heavy sales have been made this morning by several eminent Brokers; particularly one, who bought on Monday above half a million of Stock. The report at this moment is, that Ministers intend to pay the S per Cents. which has caused a decline In that Stock of one per Cent. TWELVE •O'CLOCK. At this moment a great deal of busineu is doing in the S per Cent. market. Yesterday they left off at 1071, and the fluctua tions are this morning as follows :—Opened at 106, got up to 1061, 107, and are now 1061. ONE O'CLOCK. Various opinions are afloat as to what plans the Minister will: adopt The Bua seem confident as to a very great rise, and are looking on, standing firm. Bank Stock 242% 1 4-3 per Cent. Itedu. 78 77 78 3 per Cent. Cons. 77 1 / 4 % y s 3'/2 per Ct. 88% YB-4 per Ct.97 1 / 2 98' A 5 per Cent. Navy Anns. 107 1 / 2 106% 107 106% Bank Long Annuities 19 India Stock 240;4—India Bonds 795. 775. pre. Exchequer Bills of 1:1,000, 9s. 6s. 7s. pre. Ditto small 7s. 10s. 7s. pre. Cons. out Acct. 77 3 / 4 1 / 4 %. The various descriptions of Foreign Securities have improved within the last two days, and much business is doing to-day. The proceedings in the House of Commons yes terday, on the opening of Parliament, will be read with great interest. The Speech from the Throne was a very guarded compositikm, and developed as little of the intentions of Ministers as possible. On the subject of the negotiations between Russia and Turkey it conveyed no additional information. Ireland was the next topic ; the expressions of loy alty to his MAJESTY during his visit and the out rages that have since taken place are well known ; and all that we learn is, that some new laws are to be called for to reduce the insurgents to obedience. Vigorous Measures we admit to be necessary ; but these alone will not restore tranquillity to Ireland, or satisfy a starving peasantry, who ; as Mr. GRAT• TAN stated last night, are labouring for three-pence and four-pence a day, tine-half of which they are in tYthe44"l.l .4:eretth:du:rt:ii.ln own Priests! . The picture which dm gen d i i maa li d a re a s r ref ti lei neceul and l is af a melanchol y pitying 1 o jh f i a le nn th er e s O m id n re id lig t i e ou " s is fe gms-s4 uds are Wt :tr y lig a l re rt ii i p °l d n r: sention and insurrection." The Revenue, we are told, is in a state of p m , gretsive improvement, and thit a large has been made in our annual expenditure, yet th e , e is not the slightest hint, either in the gtwo's Spe ec h or in the speeches of Ministers, that there will be any reduction in the taxation; notwithstanding, i n addition to the reductions so vauntingly put forth, the country must have been relieved from a burden of nearly half a million annuall' by the death c x BONAIPARTS and of her late MAJESTY. The distressed state of the agriculturists is ad. witted by Ministers, and as LoystlAvuteom.' s lra k , project has failed, we must wait to see, what r ev , mode of relief is proposed, insuring ourselves that a removal of some of the taxes on agriculture nil/ be the last expedient to which Ministers will resort. One declaration in the Speech is important, the as. surance that the Funds will remain untouched—fo r the ensuing year at least. The KINO's Speech is as remarkable for its Mis sions as for the guarded manner in which it men. dons the few topics it includes. The KM'S visit t o Ireland is prominently noticed, but not a word i s mentioned of the Royal visit to Hanover. The Russian and Turkish Negotiation is spoken of, bat not a word respecting the cause of the Greeks, whit:, threatens so materially our hold of the lonian Island. On the occupation of Naples by the Austrians,— the recognized Independence of South America—the Speech is equally silent. The death of the first sub. ject of the Empire, as well as that of one who was so long its most inveterate foe, are passed offer as if no such events had happened. In the House of Lords the Address in answer to the KINCea Speech was agreed to without opposition ; 'but, in the Commons, it gave rise to an animated and interesting discussion. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT moved that the consideration of the Speech should be postponed until to-morrow. This was negatived ; when Mr. Huss; in a speech of considerable length, took an able and comprehensive view olthe sta‘e of this country in its foreign relations and internal government; but the subject on which he more particularly dwelt was the Finances. He sllewed how fallacious all the pledges of economy and re trenchment had been—That all the reductions that had been made sonsisted in dismissing some '2j unfortunate Clerks, while the Civil List remained untouched, and there was the most wanton expendi ture in every department of the State. He conciuded by moving an Amendment, declaring that the di,- tressed state of Agriculture was owing to excessive Taxation, and praying that his MAJESTY would direct reductions in every branch of the public expenditure, from the highest to the lowest department. After A discussion of considerable length, in which the M • nisters joined, the Amendment was negatived. Several Members gave notice of very importrit motions for early discussion. The Marquis of Li , - DONDIRRY appointed to-morrow for the new lli%h Penal Laws; and Friday se'unight, at farthest, fe the consideration of the Agricultural DiAress. M , BENNET gave notice that he would take the earlic-: opportunity of bringing under the consideration c: the house, the subject of the funeral of her 1.!.!.: MAJESTY. Sir Roam. WILSON will next Tuesday ..::wee for copies of Correspondence relative to his dismissal from the Army ; and Lord EBRINGTON will bring the subject of Parliamentary Reform before ti.e House shortly after Easter. The Marquis WELLESLEY, as Ministers infmrrn 1 Parliament last night, calls for certain penal en.i:l - These will, no doubt, be granted. At length Ministers have done that, the doing c: which they have often declined would he most tr,.;- rious to the public service; they have withdrawn one L.; the Lords of the Admiralty. We perceive by the Gazlie of last night, that two of these Gentleme:-. have got!! out, and only one new Member, Mr. k Erni Douot.S. comes in. 'lVe have no doubt that this Llen.leman viii be found not only fully qualified to di scliar 4 e thedulies of the two Lords he su.:ceed-, but also of three or four score of these embryo Statesmen, yclept Lords of the Admiralty. At a late hour this forenoon we received a Liabc.n Mail, bringing papers to the 20th ultimn; and a Dutch Mail with intelligence so late a-. the 2.: The Cones at Lisbon had appointed a Comm:::ect: Finance for Brazl, to determine what share is should contribute to the general expenses of the Nlonarcl:) also to inquire what tribute. or taxes may be aL:. lished in Brazil. On the 15th, a Member informed the Cortes two citizens, Senors F. Cardoso Maia and li. nes Cardoso, offered their veel, Don Jose I. v at 500,000 crusadoes, for. the service of the state. The Dutch Papers contain an account of the ff. , - ceedings in the States General. On the 30th Li!: the Minister of Finance presented a project i . or tw•eaty millions of florins, by means of a hun upon bonds of 1000 florins, at 5} per cent. interest, re deemable by annual lotteries up to the )eat 1830, and secured on a capital of 75 millions on domain,. For the purpose of disposing of the domains, the admiui.tration is to proceed as soon as pos.ib!e to the opening of a lottery, to be succeeded b) loan other lotteries within the time, of not less than oP" year each lottery, of 15 miliions of domains, aila 8 millions in money. The number of share. to be 20,000, at 1000 florins each. Yesterday morning his 14.tamsTy received a vlsi: from me Princess Surma. A Cabinet Council assembled at Fie House at II o'.l. yesterday morning, and continued in consultation till about a quarter ot• an hour of the King's arrival at the 11.,titv Lords. - - Friday, Sirßtcuaao STRACHAN fell from his how a: Frighten• on the West Clitf, and the animal came down intincrizate.• Very fortunately, Sir lttettaan escaped with a trlaint! iirn 6 ••• earllle's shop, in Fleet -street, was closed yet.ter..ay ; a il.s tress or execution having been put in the premix. a. CORM HICIIIANOII, AIARE•LAPR, FRS. 6.--Owin.; to the lg' tempestuous weather, we have had no arrivals of say Monday, )ct, as there were but few buyers at market tn.. marr ing, wheat was very dull sale, at .londay's prices, mid orly prime samples could be disposed of; all other descripii.,n4 were nearly unsaleable, although elfereti on lower germs than till that day. .liarley is also. very. lwavy, and the injeraor Is. per quarter cbeapec t The Oat trade continueN vet y heavy, and rather lower in price, owing to abundant supplies. • LONDON s riinted and Aubfished by Lpis. Kin, ricks:lb. platcr, Temple-114r. r al's Hovernment would be prepared with giant for the raked I the country. ar J. SKBRIGHT thought the Maher for Aberdeen de. serred the thanks of the House and. the Country. Reduction mast take place, for without it, neither the *wean nor occupiers of land would be able to psy the taxation. Mr. GOOCII was glad to think that Ministers intended to measures of reduction. propose R ICA RDO could not agree that the distress 11 the *get euhttrallsts arose from excessive taxation. It originated in the low pries of their produce, and that could never arise train st ens of taxation. He should however vote for every practical redaction, Mr. ASTELT. called on the House to give a pledge of eco nomy and retrenchment, from the highest to the lowest. Mr. BEN NET contended that the taxes were the cave the agricultural distress, which could only be relieved by reduo. tion. He should vote for the amendment. Mr. BATHURST said, that when the House saw rebinds carried into effect from the highest to the lowest, it welddillien be for them to say Whether mote should be done or not. Sir E. KNATCHBULL could not support the amendment% although he acknowledged many parts of it were applicable to the existing state of the country. He could sot support the course suggested by the lbw. Member !be Aberdeen, because he considered the line of conduct now adopted by that Hon. Member as an attempt to take out of the hands of his Majesty's Government the measures to be proposed on this subject. He was concerned that no measure, however sound, or however respectable the quarter ftom which it might come was, could succeed, unless it originated with the Government .—( laud cries e“ Hear I" from tAe ( lp ylosidos Beaches). Mr. BROUGHAM said, that if be muted any new argu. meat to fix the vote which he bad detertnined to give, he had it abundantly furnished by the Hon. Baronet who spoke last, one of the Representatives for the county of Kent, the most distressed of all the agricultural mullein of England—(heer, hear). The reasoning of the Hon. Baronet signified this—that nothing from any quarter, save the Ministers, could hope for success there— that, be the quarter ever so respectable, be the measure ever, so sound, be the exigency ever so urgent, unless that measure had the support of Ministers, vain were its hopes of success, melee( its chance of adoption—( Hear). The country might perish, the state of the county of Kent might, if it were possible, become even more wretched than it was, still no measure could ever hope for success, unless it originated with Government—(Hear). Such was the opinion of the lion. Baronet. Not meaning to place this confidence In Ministers, he should vote for the Amend ment, conceiving that by doing so he gave no offence, not even the slightest to his Sovereign ; for it was the ancient constitu tional duty of Parliament well to advise his Majesty in the ar duous affairs of his realm. They were to give counsel to the Throne—not to carry up the smooth language of flattery In set phrases—not to re-echo trite sentences of adulation, but to de liver wholesome truths, regardless whither they were agreeable or disagreeable to the Ministers, who were alone the authors of the King's Speech, and who were also the proposers of the Ad dress, which was, in fact, an answer to themselves-(Hear, hear). Those who voted for the amendment only acted in that spirit wbielt the exigencies of the case demanded, and which that House would betray its duty to the people, if it did not then adopt—(Hear, bear).—He begged pardon of the House for this intrusion upon them, but he should have felt that he had undischarged his duty if he bad refrained from stating, that the very reasons urged by the Hon. Member for the County of Kent for voting against the amendment, were in themselves the strongest which could be adduced in its favour-.(Hear) Lord PAL MERSTON said, the Amendment at the Hem. Member for Aberdeen tended to hurry the House into a question' whether it ought to continue the system of credit it had always sanctioned ?—( No, no! from the Opposition). It was evident that the Amendment went to pledge the House to the removal of a large portion of taxes, which could not possibly be effected without an injury to the public credit it was vain to look for re lief from taxes, if the heaviest of all taxes, that of the responsi bility of public faith, was neglected. Lord A. HAMILTON said, compulsion alone would induce his Majesty's Ministers to make any reduction. He would, therefore, vote for the Amendment. Mr. MA RRT ATwondered that retrenchment had been omitted to be necessary, and that therefore as the Amendment did not pledge them to any thing specifically, the whole resolved itself into this—that those who thought retrenchment necessary, would, as a consequence, vote for the Amendment; these who thought otherwise, would vote against it. Mr. LENNARD imagined, that if the House supported the Amendment, it would be considered a pledge of their anxiety to promote retrenchment. The He-se then divided, after repeated cries-of " Question," when the numbers were— For the Amendment, 89—Against it, 171—Majority against it, 82. PUBLIC DISTRESS. While strangers were excluded, Mr. lisocomax gave notice that on Monday next he should submit a motion, to the House upon the digress of the country, and suggeste d such measures as appeared to him calculated to administer the necessary relief. The House adjourned ex half-past twelve. THE EVENINti STAR. p 1 . f i. I 1 ) . i , t i i , v e 1 .1 . ( e d 1Z d ci ~. e e. A Jr in- Iti In . s i.e c: ;•.;., it !te 1;'... I'S. 21 ie.. I lur , i _ '