The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-03-04 00:00:00

sib'y arise by withholding explanation. The total unm tier of prisoners in the Penitentiary were about 700, and tie average number of sick might be taken at 40, but ar present they had increased to 130. In consequence of that increase of patients, assistant medical gentlemen were called in, and no expense spared to procure wooer treat mem. He understood that threelonrths of the whole number were affected by one particular disordet, the na- Urn of which moat closely resembled what was called sea is , nety. In January two patients died, and in February An inquest was Feld, and the Jury very properly after bringing to a verdict of died a natural death, gave an opinion *bat so many de a ths would not have occurred if a small portion of meat had been used. The Govern ment acne willing not to spare any reasonable expense in proerring assistance. Two geotlemen of eminence (Drs. !loges and Latham) were called in, and were instrncted to make a report of the nature of the disease and general state of the prison. He pledged himself, the moment their Report was receive, to lay it on the table. He tfierefcre hoped that the Hon. Gentleman would be satis fied to wait until that Report was produced. Mr. (i. KENNET was nilling to withdraw his mo tion. but-he troth] also derlare that he would not be satisfied with the report of any two medical gentle men, no matter how eminent they might be. He was still of opinion that a more enlarged inquiry should take place. The motion Was then withdrawn. • LEATHER TAX. Mr. SPRING RICK oe 441 a petition from the (lily of Limerick, praying an alteration in the mode of collecting the Leather Duties.—Ordered to be • piloted. ORANCEISM IN IRELAND. Mr. PLUNKETT said, that there being at that mo urn. no particular niotion before the house, he would take that opportunity of addressing . a few observations Loan hon. and learned friend opposite (Mr. Abercromby) respecting a motion of his which stood for to-morrow. The proceeding, be was aware, was irregular, but he did not flagpole of entitling himself to some Indulgence from the house upon an exploration of his motives. The moz Pion to which he alluded nas one of which notice was eivonliy his hon. friend some time ago, relating to the eliwenee and constitution of certain secret societies, or what sere called Orange Societies in Ireland. He ad mitted that this was a subject of vital importance to that part of the empire, and the discussion of which should net be delayed a moment ; therefore it was necessary to lay before his hon. friend and the house a strong case, to prevail upon them to postpone it. If his application had any reference to personal accornmodaion, he would net have had the boldness to advance it, much as he thought lie could calculate upon the willingness of his hon. friend to oblige him. But when lee snide the appeal from a reference to other parties, and added further that a perseverance in the mince would work for a mani fest injustice, he trusted it would not be made in vain to his hon. friend. He had no wish at this stage to go into the discussion of the question, or to anticipate, in ativ degree, the discussion which, when the motion came to he made, would take place upon its merit. It would, however, be apparent to all, that when that discussion took place, not only the present state of society is Ire land, but the conduct and views of the Irish Government would necessarily be a goad deal mixed up with it. Whit the precise object of the motion was—whether it was for inquiry, or to pledge the house' to any particular line of candeet, be did not know. If the question at all turned upon the constitution of these societies, he (Mr. P) would not shrink from informing the house officially Pat these societies were of such a nature as was all "ctilated to injure the public welfare, and disturb the public pelce.—(Hear.) He would be disposed, per - )cape, to say more upon them, but his opinions in that respect were already too well known. Indeed, he be lieved there was no difference of opinion upon them in or out of the house. The get.eral question of the consti. tution of these Societies was to be brought before the house in a motion, of which notice hail been given for the 15th of April, respecting some legal proceedings lately adopted by the Irish Government. That question, if he understood it rightly, would render this unnecessa ry, since it would involve two considerations ; first, upon the legality or constitu.ionality, if they would, - of the means resorted to by the Irish Government. Secondly, upon the mode in which these measures, supposing them t be legal; were carried into effect by the lash Execu tive. Upon the second question, it appeared to him that a - proper decision could not be come to, unless the ex-of ficio information filed by the Attorney General was be fore the House. Again, it was known that the proceed ings in Dublin originated from the dressing of the statue of King William, and the outrage upon the Lord Lieu tenant at the Theatre, for his prohibition of this ceremo ny. It mtle be difficult to justify that prohibition, or to yindicatethe use which lie (111 r. made of the King's prerogative in filing an ex•officio information, without entering in detail into the whole question of these Orange Societies. Under such circumstances, then, he woul I pit it to his hon. Friend whether it was fair, or reasona • tile, to bring on a debate which necessarily involve all these considerations, without affording the Irish Govern- Ment an opportunity of replying to than. It was, in deed, unprecedented, to reduce the Irish Government to tiae necessity of twice defending themselves. It was un just to put them upon their defence before they were brought to trial, for the trial did not take place before the 15th of April. This was a hardship and injustice which could not be charged even upon the ex-olficao filed against the persons accused of riot io Dublin. It was possible, that a case being made out against the Orange Societies, an answer would be given, that they were driv en to Riegel acts by Government, who bad goaded ttem by recent unmerjted persecutions. Government rood' not rejoin to this without going into their whole di-fence; and the consequence would be, that he (Mr. Plunkett) must either silently under accusations which I:e could answer, or, by a premature statement, antici pates defence which h e would be called upon again to make on the 15th of April It was, then, not from con siderations of personal convenience that tie eppealed to has hon. Friend to put off his motion, but because a per severance in it would work injustice to the Irish Govern ment. Mr. ABERCROMBY disclaimed all intention of fol lowing the Right lion. Gent. into a discussion of the uneion which was to come b fore the house to-morrow. lie depreca'ed the tone of the appal made to him by his Right Hon. Friend, and complained that in the time for bringing on his (Mr. A.'s) motion, an interfereuce had been made, and a want of that indulgence displayed, which was shown on a former night towards another hon. friend (Mr. Rain tilow), who was about to bring a similar motion under the consideration of the house.— (Haar ) To the suggestions of the Right Hon. Gent. he (Mr. A.) was obliged to say he coned not accede. At the saute time he hoped this re.nlution uould not he ascrib ed 'Warty indisposition on his part to oblige the '(iglu ; for feeling, as lie (ale. A.) did, the urf,ent necessity of bringing the question on without delay, he lareente'd that a compl;onm with that necessity should prove Incomionient to his Hight lion. Friend. As the objec's of his (Mr. A.'s) motion did not seem to be gene rally understood, it might not be amiss now to state, WM)t was no part of has Men ion to introduce at all any. Wet-ince whatever to what the Right Hon. Gent. caliat - the recent proceedings in Dublin. In this respect the 'Right Hon. Gent. would have another opportunity of i jitiofting Lis alndnit to the house. Without, there fete, doing Any thing to prejudge the result of that other ingitityarhich was yet to take place, he (Mr. A.) thought that the bringing forward this question was quite consist it.:tielthan opinion he had often given in this house— THE STATESMAN namely, that the frequent discussion of this Orange ques tion, and indeed of all other Irish questions, could not be otherwise than advantageous to England and Ireland. (Hear, hear.) With the advice, then, of some friends in whose judgment he reposed entire confidence, he gave 'notice of the motion,and he wished now to state that its object was to inquire into the origin, progress, and ge neral condition of Orange Lodges in Ireland , with an ulterior view of inducing this house to declare that the toleration of such societies is distinct from the Irish Go vernment, meaning thereby the general system by which that country bad been long governed. The grounds upon which be went applied exclusively to the general principle of Orangeisui in Ireland; but it would leave the particular case in which the Right Hon. Gestlesnan was concerned wholty itutouehel The two cases were as distinct as po,sible. The only relation which they bore to each other was, that bis (Mr. A.'s) motion was intended not to injure the Right Hon. Gentleman's case, but, on the contrary, to assist him in his defence.— (Hear.) —These were the views with which be was bring ing forward the motion, bat he had acted without any concert with the Right Hon. Gentleman, lest such con cert should hereafter be urged against the measure. His surprise, therefore, was the greater, to have an applica tion now made to him to postpone a motion the day be fore be meant to hang it on. Added to the considera tions which he had mentioned, there were many Gentle men from Ireland who had remained in this country in expectation of this motion, and without being able to give some satisfactory reason to them, he could not con sent ,o postpone the motion. Mr. HUTCHINSON agreed with the Hon. Member who spoke last, in the propriety of bringing this subject belbre the house without delay. With this view, /bete fore, and in order to give the question all the considera tion which it deserved, be suggested to the Hen. Mem ber for Aberdeen (Mr. Hume) and the Hon. Member for Sandwich (Mr. Marryatt), to postpone their motions, which stood for tomorrow, to some future day. Mr. HUME said, his motion was of great importance, but he had no objection to postpone it, if the same dis position was made of the other motions for to-morrow. Mr. MARRYATT declined postponing his motion. Mr. PLUNKETT urged the Hon. Member to defer his motion respecting the Orange Lodges. Mr. A BEIWROMBY then gave notice of postponing the motion to Wednesday next. Committee which took the National Debt Reduction Acts into their consideration, he was induced to flatter himself that they would not meet with any great opposition. A' the same time he felt it to he his duty to preface those re , solutions by a few observaions explanatory of Isis views, and the grounds upon which he suhruitte I them to the bowie. It was impossible not to fe. 1 in ap t a sluing this question, not only as great importance, hut the difficulty that attended it—a difficnlty not arising so much from the magnitude of the question itself, or the interest whi. the country has in it, but from the circumstance that whatever talents have been applied to the subject ; however, Parliament may Is the exercised its wisdom's in devising plans for Ilse great object in view, nevi r heless experience informed us that those plans, on account of the changes attendant on the immense transactions in which this country had been engaged, constantly met with interruption, embarrassment, and counteracion. And this consideration, he presumed, led many to think that it might be easy, in time of peace, to adopt a plan for applying a surplus to the reduction of the debt ; yet that a would he useless, because a state of things might arise which might make it necessary to derange the whole plan, asd even destroy the surplus itself. But this ob jection, he confessed, was not sufficiently weighty with him. Because, if once the principle w ere to be laid down that a plan, excellent in itself, ought not to he put in practice, because it might be afterwards necessary to discontinue it, there would be an end of all improvement. Such reasoning, if followed, would paralyze the energies of every country in the world, and prevent the introduc tion of any great practicable amendment, however de sirable. It was an argument of 'despondency. It pro ceeded neon the supposition that you are to do nothing because you could not do all. If such reasoning were just, as to the reduction of the debt, it was right as to the reduction of taxes. He might say, what was the use of repealing so much taxes no.v, whets it may b: come ne cessary in a few years to impose them again. The rea soning in both cases was equally sound. But whilst he objected to this inference from the facts he had stated, there was one inference which the Government and the Parliament ought to draw. They ought to infer, that if the mutability of the public stairs of a great State, and its constant liabilities to change from a peace to war, rendered a fixed plan difficult to be furrowed, it was their duty to exercise a vigilant superintendence over the expenditure of the country, with a view to strengthen the assurance of a surplus; and that above all, it was their duty to avoid by all means, consistently with the honour and safety of the country, by observing a mo derate, firm line of policy, to ahstain from those conflicts with other powers, which constituted the leading causes of the di f f i culty of applying a surplus of revenue to the extenuation of the public debt.—(Cheers.) On the other hand, it was the duty of the people, and he felt as sured that the people would not shrink from it, when an unjust aggression was made upon the country; when the national honour was to be vindicated, it was the duty of the people to submit to the necessary sacrifices to ena ble the Parliament to continue as long as possible the application of a surplus of revenue. But in mentionin g . the difficulties which he fairly avowed attended the exe cution of the different plans fmr reducing the National Debt, and how often experience disappointed the antici pationit, it was incumbent on him to look to the circum stances that succeeded the period of the establishment of these plans. It was not because he was unwilling to en courage gloomy apprehensions, hut, upon a fair view of the whole circumstances of the last thirty years, he con sidered it very unlikely that the country would ever be placed in a similar state again. It was impassible to think on those circumstances—tie rapidity of one event succeeding another, baffling the calculations of th e most experiences' and the most wise ; it was impossible to think on these circumstances without feel:sog that there must be something so wonderfully singular and peculiar in those events, that it was very unlikely, and he earn estly prayed that they might never occur again. Feel ing that these events were of an uncommon kind,—he thought himself warranted in hoping that, with a rim • lotion to go on steadily, applying the surplus aeciading to an uniform plan, the like interruption would never ' occur again. Feeling that these events were of an un- common kind, he thought himself warranted in hoping that, with a resolution to go on steadily, applying the surplus according t 3 an uniform plan, the like interrup tion would never occur again. He would now examine a little the actual state of the National Debt as compared with the period when it was at its highest amount ; because they were told, and pretty confidently too, on a ume occa sions, that .no diminution was to be expected. He thought he could show that this was not the case. Since ' the year 1816, when the debt was at its highest, there had been an actual decrease of debt, which, compared with the total capital of the debt was to be sure no gnat sum, but certainly could never have taken place unless there had been an actual surplus of revenue. On the sth of January, the total amount of , the funded debt was . £816,311,940 , The amount of the unfunded debt,includ- ing Irish Treasury Bills, Navy BEI+, &c. srss 43,311,336 Making a total of , The charge on the funded debt was . 30,323,653 The charge on the unfunded debt was . 1,986,3157 Total charge . . 32,310,015 On the sth of January, 1813, the amount of the unfunded debt was . . . 796,530,144 The amount of the unfunded debt, including what was technically called Exchequer De ficiency Bills, was . 43 526,661 The charge on the funded debt was . `2S,100,01:0 Charge on the unfunded debt 1,162,752 Total charge . £29,262,752 By deducting the amount of the funded debt for 1816 from the amount of the funded debt fur 1823, it would he found that there was a diminution amounting to 19,781;7961. There would be found, on a comparison of the amount of the unfunded debt for the same two pe riods, a decrease of 4,984 7251., making a total diminution of 24,766,5211., or, in round numb-rs, 25,000,0001 , be ing, on the average, about 3,500 0001. for each of the seven years. The diminution would have b.--n still great er, but for the mode in which the reduction of the Five per Cents into Four per Cents was effected. It having become necessary to pay off the dissentients immediate ly added 2.700,000). to the unfunded debt, whilst to the capital of the funded was added 7,000,0001. Bat for this operation the total reduction in the National Debt would have been ten millions more, making instead of twenty-five millions, a diminution of thirty five million•, or ■n average of five millions decrease, instead of three million, as the average for the last seven years, on the amount of the Public Debt. But lie would now come to the consideration of tke charge on the debt, a subj-ct of more imme liate interest. It would be found on examination, that there was a diminution on -hecharg e exceeding 3,000,0001. during the same period. Would any min say that there was not ground to warrant the hone in expecting, that by a steady attention to a uni form plan, their efforts could be attended with success. It was upon these grounds that he asked the Committee to concur with the views taken in these resolutions. He thought, therefore, lie was entitled to assume that the Sinking Fund might Carly start at 5.,000,01101. He did noillthink there was any magic in that particular sum, nor did be think Ise i Id give any reason for selecting it, in pr. ference to any other sum, except that it was because that amount had been about the average of the reduction effected. and that in conformity with the resolutions of 1819, which he was bound to agnate, contained the deli berate, - walAnti:d i te I erpiniolet of karliamint. He therefore proposed in the first Resolution, to fix the amount at that sum. He proposed to repeal those parts of the Acts for the reduction of the national debt, requir ing certain snots to be paid over to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund from the Consolidated Fund. —The sum paid between fifteen and sixteen ni 1 ions, hut as pat of that was lent back again to Govern ment, and as the arrangement was rather complicated, he thought it better to do away wilt that ma-hinery, and sabstinite an errangemeut of greater simplicity. H e proposed to pay over annually into the hands of the Corn tois4 tiers tire millions—that the interest as it accrued about:l be paid over to them also, in order to accuninz la e at comp sund interest, sin the principle of 11r. Pttt's original plan ; far he fully agreed with the Honourable Member for Taunton, that little benefit would be derived from a tilsn confining the operations to the payment of tire inillioos inerely, without all owing the interest tu NC , Ctiniulre. It woad be much more adviseahle to allow the interest to go on a 'cumulating to a certain extent; and give the public the brn•fit of the amount when'erer Parliament might thiok lit. He proposed that the inte rest about 1 regularly accumulate until it reached an a-' mount equal to one per cent., on the ca p ital of the then existing Fowled anal Unfunded Debt. It would he to say witat time it would take to attain that amount, as much &Tended on the price of the Funds, and other circumstances. Bu: if the Revenue continued to improve, and reductions continued to he made, the period would he very much accelerated wbee the interest ace eu nalated to an amount equal to one per cunt. on th e capitol of the debt, and then Parliament would decide upon the manner in which they were to diapthe of the sum. He thought then he was entitl-il to assinng, f ro n t the discussions which had alrea ly taken place, that it sins the opinion of the House dist a Sinking Fund ought to he maintained. He thought Itimsrlf entitled to as sume that a redut•tion in the amount of the Debt 1:a i taken place, and that further reductions were pc Joie.- ' tile. Add, lastly, he thong:tit himself entitled t., asstwe tl:at .5M00,0001. was the solo at which it was reason.o.l:e to fix its amount. He trusted dist ihs• Co timittee total concur in these Itesulu•ions. By so mining they would confer an inestimable benefit on Om country. They would best enable it to recover all its strength; they would enable it to raise itself to that sta'ion which rendered it occasionally . the envy, but gen: rslly anal permanelitly the admiration of surrounding nation_s.— (Clieers.) He proposed the followinz Resolutions:— That it is the opinion of this Comm tree, th tt the payment of all loans of inaney whi_•h tio.v are charged upon and issushle out of the Consolidated Fun 1 of the United King:loin of Great Brit tie and Ireland, to the COW. inissioners for the Reduction of the N tiousl Ucbt, shoild upon and after the sth of April, 1625, cease and deter mine. " That it is the opinion of this Cammittett, that all Ca pital Stock and Annuities, fur ter3 s of ye.is (.3v• and except the Capital Stock, arising from donatto s an 1 bequests, towardsreducing the National Deb:), which, on the sth day of April. IS23,sliall stand in the moms of tie Cotutnissionert, for the reduction of use N oiutill D. in the hooks of the Governor a 3 I Comp ny of the 11. t:;; of England ; or of the South Sea Company ; or of th t Bank of 'trawls], either on account of the Sinking . Fun ti, or for the purchase of Lift: Anauities. should, truss after the sth day of April, 1623, be cancelled in the books of the said llank, and Souils Sea Company, respectively ; and the Interest or Dividends, which would have hee3 payable on the said Capital Stock. upon or at any tune of er the said Zitla day of April, shall re Ise to be issued, or to be charged upon the said,Coasolida - el Fund. _ . _ " That it is the opinion of this Committee, that upon the sth day of April, 1b23, or as soan after as the maul can be prepared, an account shall be laid before Parlia ment, showing the total amount of the unretieetue,r, funded, and outstandinz debt in Exchequer Bills, tinpro l , vided for, of the United Kingdom, no the said sth day of April; together with the annual charge attending the same. And there shall from thenceforth be set apart and issued, at the receipt of the Exchequers of Great Britain and Ireland, out of the said Consolidate 1 Fund, to be placed to the account of the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt, the annual sum of Five Millions, to be applied by them towards the reduction a th..! National Debt of the United Kingdom, and which said sum shall be charged upon the Consolidated Fnit I, and be issued by equal quarterly payment ; the tint quarterly payment to he charged upon the said Consoli , oared Fund on the sth day of April 1613. " That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it is expedient that so much of the Acts of the 53,1 and slith years of his late Majesty, relating to the redemption of the National Debt, as require that whenever on a:nounc of capital Funded Debt of Great Britain and Ireland re spectively, should have been transferred to the said Cons. missioners, as should be equal to the whole capital, and should produce an interest or yearly dividend Lind its ant tent to the whole annual charge in perpetual annui• ties of each loan contracted sing I 7srli, that a c.rrtitic tte and declaration thereof should be made by the s tid Com missioners of the Amount of ;le.r. Public' Debt, to whit is such certificate and declaration. should relate, should from time to time be deemed to be wholly sstirfiesl art discharged, and au equal amount o f capi al sto is standing in the names of the said Commissioners, slitealtl be considered to be redeemed, and should from time to time he cancelled and repealed. " That it is the opinion of this Committee, that no ca pi al stock, or annuities for terms of years, which after the sth day of April, 1623, shall be placed in the names of the said Commissioners, in the baoks of the Bank of England, or of the South Sea Company. or of the Bank of Ireland, shall he cancelled (save and except the stock placed in their names, for the redemption of the said tax) untii the interest of the debt redeemed by the said Comntissioners, by the ap plication of the said sum of 5,000,01;01. anti of bar growing interest thereof, shall, together with the said sum of 5,000,6001. have accumulatru to a sum,the ;mu amount whereof &ball not be less than the one•hundredth part of the thee existing unredeemed lauded Debt, and outstanding unfunded Debt in Exch.quer ltpru videll for, of the United Kingdom taken together; and that any capital stock, which shall be placed in the names of the said Commissioners on accaant of the Sinking Fund, or further purchate of Life Annuities, after the said Sinking Fund shall amount to the one-hundredth part of the said unredeemed fowled Debt and unfunded Debts, taken together as afor-said, shah be liable to hr cancelled at such limes. and in such wanner s Parla ment -!tall from time to time t irect " That it isthe opiniln of dd. Coniniittee that a new and s-parate AC. OUllt shall bey ir , ed and kept In the books of tile Governor and Coo pany of the flank of England, .4 the Mllll.l already given II nay of donation or ho r ie s t towards reducing, the National Debt, and of all snots which shall [terra:ter be given or b,tuteathecl for the like purpose, and the interest or dividends which shall a ccrue on all stock arising therefrom ehall he applied to the purchase of Public Annuities, composing the Natio, al Debt, for the purpore of fulfilling the oirectimis of the perron or persons giving or betide:ailing the same, and to no other purpose whatever. . . " That it i, the opinion hi this Committee. that the an nual i x,iense t f the Establishment in Great Britain for he reduction of the National Debt shall he charged upon Vie Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of tireat Britain and Ireland. " That it is the opinion of tiiii Committee, that the ex penses of the establishments necvsary for carrying into execution ' an Act of the 48th veer of the reign of hi- late Majesty. for enah lag the Comical:sinners of the National Debt to grant Life Annuities, and of two Acts made in U.* ZAST INDIA SVGAR. Mr. IVHITMORE presented a petition from the East India Merchants, praying an equalization of the Duties on East and West India Sugars. The Hon. Member stated that when the additional duty of five shillings was laid upon East India sugars last year, the then Chancel lor of the Exchequer pledged himself •to grant a Com• mittee to take the whole question of the equalization of the duties on both sugars into their consideration early this Session. He wished to know 'whether the Right Hon. lientlensan now in office, was.disposed to redeem this pledge? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he was no party to the pledge given by his predecessor last year, but his understanding of that pledge was, that as the new duties then imposed were to he continued only for one year, no addition to them was to be made without taking the sense of a Committee of the House npon the subject. Ile did not understand, however, that a pledge was given to go into the whole question, or that any prospect was held out that the dutets on both sugars would be equalized. Mr. HUME asserted that the Chancellor of the Exche quer had given such a pledge as that alluded to by the Honourable Member. Upon the proposition ofimposing five shillings additional duty on East India sugars, the greatest difference of opinion prevailed, and the house were about to divide upon the.question. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, silenced all opposition, by stating that it was intended to continue the duties only for one year, and that early this Session a Committee would be appointed to take the duties into their con sideration. Mr. FORBES said that bis recollection of the pledge given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, agreed with that of the Honourable Member who spoke last. The qnestion was not whether the East India or West India sugars should be preferred, but whether the people of England were to have their sugars upon the most reason able terms.—(Hear.) Mr. LUSIIINUTON had no recollection of such a pledge as that alluded to, being held out by the late Chan cellor of the Exchequer. If he remembered rightly, the question then was, as to whether East India sugars were to be registered as clayed or otherwise. that question was decided at the time. Mr. W. SMITH and Mr. BUXTON stated that their impression was, that the whole of the duties were to be gone into in a Committee this Session. Mr. BARING said that whatever interests were in• jored, whether East or %Vest Indian, the sooner an in quiry was had, and redress given, the better. It was an important question, and he wished to see it entrusted to a Committee. He was also of (Onion that if a a Conunittee was to be appointed, no time should be• lust. Mr. ROBERTSON said a few words to the same purpose. Mr. ELLIS thought that the absence of any intimation to the West India Merchants, was a proof that the Chan cellor of the Exchequer had not given such a pledge as was alluded to. Mr. BENNET said the fact of these duties passing the House witoont his or his Honourable Friend (sir. Hume) making at least a srech, even at two o'clock in the morning, upon them, was the best proof that such a pledge had been given.—(A laugh ) Mr. MARRYATT thought the want of recollection in the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr. Lushing'on), as well las the absence of all intimation to the West India Mer chants on the subject, proved that the late' Chancellor of the Exchequer had no intention of equalizing the duties on East and West India Sugars. • The petition was then read. Mr. WHITMORE then gave notice that on Wednes- day, the 19th, he would move for a Committee of the whole House to consider the propriety of an equalization of the duties on East and West India Sugars.—(Hear.) A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE 31ACISTRATBS. Lord A. HAMILTON presented a petition from two labourers named George and Alexander Young, com plaining. of an infringement of their pervonal liberty, oc casioned by some acts of the Magistrates of Inverness. The LORD ADVOCATE said he was not acquainted with the facts of the petition, but would inquire between that and the day when the Noble Lord would bring for ward a motion on the subject. Lord A. HAMILTON asked if it was intended to bring in a 101 l respecting the Scotch Jur►es, similar to that o hick failed in the tact Session ? The LORD A &OVATE said it was not his intention to propose any sneb measure. • Lord A. .HMI urozi said be would bring forward his motion on the 24th March. The petition was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Col. DAVIES gave notice that be would on Wednes day present a petition from a military officer of the name of Allen, in %%hose ci'!e several gentlemen present were interested. COM/dITTEE OP TOE WNOLB HOUSR.—SINKING FUND. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER the house resolved itself into a Committee on the Na lona Debt Reduction Acts. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.—As his object was to propose a series of Resolutions for the pur pose of carrying into effect a recommendation 9f the i," . . ) gnea timi itja 1. Ve it k , NI 30th s Bodo sa id ( D ediei da' vohi liir t born whic chic eprr. ide paid, uric He si the frail into tbey 1001 let Cr; bort ISM to pi DeJ Shirt lii'n W. 311 it, a gale COOT ♦vei Cllll3 not Wit to, 420 me ch. cto iin , tat 434 1 . .' a' 4 4 1 .