The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-02-24 00:00:00

4 r this surplus, would be to allow it to go In reduction of the debt. That would certainly be the most natural and obvious couniethet would OCCUT at the first blush of the subject to every man rho con siders it. But looking at the state of the revenue, and the conic 'menet' that have resulted from the accumulation of such an amount of tmetion as this country labours under, I think, on reflection, it will appear to be the obvious duty and policy of this house to t: ail itself of every . opportunity to revese that system of taxation, and, as far as practicable, to place the commerce and genera industry OnOnVninit of die countryarathat if it should be sovietised by war, 'we dlould be found in the best stele of preparation to meet it. (Cheers.) I propose, then, to make use of this surplus by atm. inenciagailystem of alteration in the fiscal and commercial reettlee. Sans of this country, which will, I think, be attended with itn. medilite benefit , and which, if trimly adopted mid steadily pursued, mowid leave us, at the termination of the next four years. In a still More flourishing cemdition Mien now. (Cheers.) The first article ke , which I shall allude has already attracted the notice of the 'Wake. 1 shall not propene to do a pestered, but as much es cir •turnstatice• will allow. At an early period of the Session, when I stowed the lineal vote, that a certain annual duty be granted of foreign marts, a question mole as to the duty on rum. The lion. -911lOnfienefor Bristol and Aberdeen urged me strongly to mince the Wets' In nOnOntnenCe of their opposition, I myself pmpreed, as ant 41Illecearnete; that the vote should be postponed. I did not then Ventedet meted( ad liberty to state what I intended to propose yf is *millet. 'Nor if the duty on rum was to he reduced, eel I ' think the mode recommended by those Honourable Gentlemen the beat rite- attaioing that object. I considered it would be more ad. , Thimble to reduce the terminable duties, and not those which are voted annually to meet the supplies of the year. It seemed to me rot to be consistent with my duty, either to give an opinion toyed!' or chew one feint the House. I therefore withdrew the vote. It is now my 111/LOW* to propom the reduction of the per manent duty on rum, and thus to relieve that article from one of the peculiar difficulties under which it herours. I do not intend to propose- to reduce the duty lower than that on the spirit made by I the British : but it appears to be only a matter of propriety Mel fakeer; to put them both on the same footire. For that put. pore I pretense to reduce the duty of Is. I'd. on rum, and thereby make the nominal duty the same as on British spirits. There are. I ant aware, circumstances in the mode of levying the duty as to proving the strength, which will prevent the reduction front opera:. mg to precisely the same extent as in this kingdom ; but the AVest Indians mere recellect, that, besides the duty on spirit., the Bri. tish slidiller is also liable to the malt duty. (fleet, hear) I think this matter may be considered to be fairly helmeted, and I have no doubt that the reduction of the duty on rum will have an impertant effect on the &salines in that erticle. But if it should not, it will be gratifying to this If mire to have adopted the muted principle. It Is desirable always sot at the sound principle, even if no int. get mediate benefit resulted from it. While we act upon sensed prin. ciples we can never go far wrong. (Cheers.) It is proper that the agriculturists or eloaien, and the West India islerses, should have a fair opportunity of coming into the market. Their peculiar and priming warts justly entitle them to it, is well as the general prin ciple, which oueht never to be overlooked. (Cherie) This re duction will cost the revenue about one hundred and f:fty thousand pounds. The next article is one respecting which we have heard a great deal during the prevent Session. We have had a discussion upon it to-night. The worthy Alderman of the City of London reestel it 'smugly upon our attention, as it was tioural he mould, a:widening bow much the intcreats of his constituents are affected by the tax ;-1 allude to the duty on coals. ((ivens.) It Is necessary that I should fully explain my views on etis subject, • as it may otherwise be naturally *opposed, front the mention of the duty in teak, that it is my intention, all at once, to propose its re. Iprid. That is rot my intention, and I will explain why it is not. t wrens to me that at all events, under present circumstances, the objections that have been urged by the Honourable 3lembre for Staffordshire, against the repeal of this duty, ought to hare sonic weight with this House. I will not go so far as to say that, be emu, under the existence of • particular duty. certain interests may have grown up into importance and magnitude from the effect of that duty, therefore, under no circumstances, would I touch that euty, because its reduction might sdeei these interests. 1 hope we shall take care, whets vs e are once diem dwelled front the consequeeres 'o.• this proem, never to enter upon a lar one again. I trust we shall never get into such difficulties again (hear, hear); but we are in them now, we have been so for a century, and it is rot wise or prudent, or even just, to deal with existing interests rashly or suddenly. It would not be compatible with any principle of fair ness or propriety to abate then - tall at once. I cannot therefore con sent to proceed to the full extent of the sanguine expectations that •tere entertained on this subject. But as it appears that the duty • iftbsseieeery unequally on extensive portions of the community, and with peculiar and aggravated severity on the inhabitants of the city of London, I intend to propose that the additional tax of Is. 4eL per chaldron on importation into the Port of London should be re pealed, leaving the inhabitants of London burdened in common with the rest of the country, to the duty of six shillings. Though I feel some difficulty as to the removal of the whole tax, yet I feel none whatever in censoring toe aggravation of evil suffered by the people of London, and 1 cannot therefore he. 'skate as to the reduction of the duty of Is. 4d. on the sea coal brought is o London. Another reason why I interfere to that extent, is because a return to sound principles is involved le the alteration. At present, while sea-borne coal is charged a duty of 9s. ed. per chal. than is a restriction on the introduc. Cm of inland coal by canal. No coals can be conveyed down the liver Thames, except under a duty of 10s. per ton or chaldton, a • elute which in fact amounts to a prohibition. By the lirarel June ten Canal they are saddled with a duty of es. 6d. per ton, which is the same in effect as Its. as per chaltiron. There is further, a restriction that only 30,000 tons of inland coal shall be imported iLto London. I propose to remove this absurd and unmeaning restriction. (Loud cheers-) There tan now be no reason for continuing it. As long as seaborne coals were saddled with a heavy tax, the coal-owners might say, " You ought net to expose us to the competition of the inland coal ;' but if we kive the coal proprietor of the North redress to the extent of or.c -" third of the duty, we are bound, in regard to the interests of the • consumer, to remove all the absurd and useless restrictions by which he is oppressed. (Cheers). The moderate duty that is left may be neatly borne. (Hear.) I am quite sure that what passed thus evening will tend immediately to diminish the power stated to :exist in certain individuals, and by which they contrive ingeniously to enhance the price of coals, and stint the supply of the market, according to the measure of their own interests. It is our duty to way to the consumer—" If you cannot get coals on fair terms horn the proprietors in the North, we will give you an opportunity of getting them from another quarter." I shall therefore propose a reduction of the duty on London coals (hear, hear.) As there will be art increese of consumption both of the sea-borne and inland .coals. I do not calculate that the loss to the revenue will amount to 100,401. I shall venture to confine the assumable loss to 100.041. 1 now approach a part of the question that relates more directly to that free and liberal system of policy to which I wish particularly to call the attention of the House. There are various branches of 'our trade encumbered on Use one hand with high duties on the Importation of the raw material front abroad, and on the other counterbalanced by another set of high duties, to prevent the ex portation of the native material. Amongst these branches of our Valle, none suffers more than our woollen manufacture. The duty an foreign wool is fled. per pound ; it was originally Id. The pre sent duty was imposed in 1319. not as it has been, in my opinion, 51 ecerrectly states!, by way of protection for the wool grower sit 'hence, but for the purposes of revenue. lily Noble Friend (the 'Earl of Liverpool), who is at the head of the Treasury, explained it most distinctly in muse interviews he had with the clothiers. lie told them minced—" You lime no right to object to this duty so long as the produce oldie wool growers is confined to this country." And be added, " If you will consent to remove this impolitic re. stnction on the exportation of British: wool, we propose the repeal of the duty on foreign wool." This cmumunication led to some movements in the manufacturing districts. timings were held, and resolutions parsed. These was some difference of opinion ettnongat the manufacturer's ; some thought that the removal of the 'dory would be hat j benefit. than the removal of the restriction would prove an evil. They preferred thet the matter should be left as it was. They refused to accede to the proposal for its al teration but a deeded majority of the woollen trade was coneirced that it would be henelicial to their interests to agree to the cont. 'promise, by which the duty was to be reduced, on condition that free exportation was to he permitted. I feel bound to nay that I cannot see what reasonable objection there can be to this course. It is part of my plan. therefore, to reduce this duty nf lid, to the original Id., and allow a free exporta:ion of British wool, on paement of Id. also; and thus sweep away an endless train of statutes of resteictiona, petvaltios, melts aid Heaven knows what ! (Cheers.) The whole trade will 1. put on a footing meta beneficial both to the grower and manta. fecturre, and none of the apprehensions that are entertained of the opposite effects supposed to be likely to arise from the attention, will happen to either; and I firmly believe that the consequences of 'the extension of our weol!cn trade to every quarter of the world, cannot but be highly beneficial to that interest which supplies its re* material. (Cheers.) I hope and trust, therefore, that I delll be supported by the (louse. The lois to the revenue, I anticipate, be about 3"0,000L a year. The next keit to which 1 stall call the attention of the House, is also of paretionint importance 'in this view of the subject, because it relates to the removal s merle inns from th^ made in silk. (Hear, hem, hear.) in 'this MAI ties is a b'gh dm on the raw material, and a reed 'live prohibitiou of U e firemen manufactured areckse For years .pest it has been agreed I y all our ablest statesmen, by our nom Mikan writers, and by all men of sense and relies:Oen, that the Makitenatute of this e)stem of prohibition is extremely impolitic. We hare made a certain progress in removing it. Are we to step short? if we do, will not foregisers say, that what we hare untie has been for purposes of delusion ; that while we ^mem to lore laved principles of commerce, we hate them in our heart ; that while we cajole them to admit our manutacturee, we rigidly es.closie 'theirs? (Hear.) Whenever any foreign n Anon excludes any article of our mariu factures, my Itt. Hun. Frienei, the Persistent of t lie !loud of Trade, its immediately assaulted with a numerous besly of memorials. urging the interference of Isis Majesty's tiovernmeut in every ehipe uf reninnstranoe and complaint against the exclusion. (hue Am humidor is then instructed to state the grievance, and demand re tails% Ile urges the damage drat the British interests haveeus. Word, are the apparent unfriendlieess of the Act. What is too often the avower? •• How can the British nation exeect un to ad mit their manuthetnres, when they refused to receive ours ?" The Anahmosior returns discomfited, if rot ashamed; he finds it ion -possible to refute this organise:llmm hmnierms. The foreigner believes that all we have dote is to delude him: that we act upon a studied 'chorus of hypocrisy, becalm we know there is no sound. near in rl:e principles we profess. !t is our interest, and our duty so convince him that we are decree. 1 believe that practiadly as well as abstractedly, tifose principles are sound, and that we ought to lose no opportunity of carry mg them into effect. Ile should in vite fweignsertn to join with us in cutting the cords by which corn- IllbeTet is bboouund to the earth, sod set her free, to carry her blessings 'to every earner of the world. <Cheers.) 'When we are in such a estate that we Late large 113/50 of active capita/ in scare!: of arty (means of expending itself with profit and safety. we hare the finest opportunity to emancipate ourselves from the antiquated prejudices Iby which we are oppressed, and make a new start in the race or wealth and prosperitr. Bull have otherconsiderations, independent of a mere commercial nature. It is perfectly well known, that after all the prohibitions we have enacted against the importation of foreigo silks, guard and fence them as we may, they are every day evaded. I remember last Session, when the honourable Member for Aber deen displayed his Bandana handkerchief in this House, and, after 'Wowing his nose, with great complacency returned it to his povket. (A laugh.) I reminded that Hon. Gentleman, that any . Member of this Ilonse,aecording to law, might have takco posses sion of his handkerchief and exported it in a foreign country. ( A laugh.) But his conduct was a practical illustration oC the utter impossibility of preveatiog th e introduction of these contraband ll'hoever has watched the arrival of passengers at the ports, must have seen a number of females landing from the boats, of a most comfortable coepulency (a laugh) who, in a slurp time, contrive to get delivered of their burdens and return to the natural grace of their native figures. Their is no end to the ingenuity of I the devices by which these laws are evaded. It is not of the mere evasien of the law that I complain—it is of the fraud, the per jury, of every had moral consequence. In this class of offence% we have a ateprogeies itinowninni. A man begins as &sunsuit? ; he ends, perhaps. as timinal of atrocity. Nemo reacale fait torpissi mar. 'the inducement at first is perhaps only to snitim,4e a piece of silk, to make a present to a female friend : the action, in Itself innocent and laudable, is by the Legislature rendered a crime. Once accus tomed to violate the law, he is induced to go a step further; he takes a false oath ; he be comes familitrized with perjury ; he finds ,that his crime out be turned to advantage; he extends his smug. gling to gloves, shoes, and silks; he makes a good deal of money; he enters on more desperate transactions. We are obliged to have a nary to prevent them. I Hoar, hear.) The smuggler is in danger of being taken; he mina ; a battle follows, and blood is shed. (near, hear, hear.) And after all, the British manutheture is so well established, that ft does not need this false and fanciful prio r tection : it could drive its rival out of the market without such assistance, if the repeal of the prohibition of foreign silks was scram ' pried by a diminution of the duty on raw silk. In every point of I view it is our interest to promote the most liberal principles l of foreign commerce. Let us throw down the hollow gilded idol of inuk:4rwv protection, and establish on its basis the statue of com mercial hherty. (Cheers.) The raw silk comes principally front the East Indica. and the mention of that part of the world suggests to me other advantages that world rest+ from this extension of the principles of free traae. An immediate beneFt would be conferred upon the East Indies. There are some singular and peculiar cir cumstances connected with the present state of that country. The origital staple manufacture of ]rakes was cotton. mid from the cheapness of labour there the fines fabrics were matte and se-t here l in great quantities. This mantifaeture has howev:r hero sup;r• seded by the power of our rapine] and machinery. There can be no doubt that this must have been a severe oneralion on the unthrtu- I nate persons whose livelihood depended on their deb our: tied it has been more apparently than really beneficial to that country. for nlintever tends to contract the weans of the East Indians must be prejudicial to the trailers of this roomy, with whom 'they must have the Inks to expend. With a view to ease 'them, therefore, I propose that the duty on silk from the East Indies he reduced from 4s. per lb. to .lid.; that the duty on silk from l'hina and Ind be reduced front Co. ad. Per and that the duty on silk from Brasil be reduced from 14s. Illd. per lb. to Js. rid. I shall further propste that all the prohibitions of foreitnonuinufactureil silk goods be abolished fur ever, and that a ditty uc substituted instead on plain silk goods in the piece 15.. per lb., on figured goods IN. per lb., and on all other silk MEI per cent, ad valorem. I shall also propose that shoes and gT d o n ve a s be admitted, on a duty of :co per cent. ad valorem. In the detail there may perhaps be mime variation. but this will be the substance. I calculate, that the loss to the revenue, hum these reductions. sill amount to about 462,111101. I will not trouble the House with the detail. The total decrease of revenue from duties to be repealed will stand thus:— Bum . Itondon coals - . . . - . I .11 000 . - - - - 3.54.000 . . . . - 462,000 The total annual loots will be . 1.1162.f100 If that suui is multiplied by three, to arrive at a knowledge of the loss of revenue during the years 1825, lti.'B, rand Iff27. and half as much added fur the loss to he sustained in 1821, there will be total Ittss on the four yea's, of 3.717,0001. If that total loss be deducted from the total surplus which I have before stated, the result will be, that the difference at the end of 1027, will be a small balance of 41t ,01.101. of surplus. Total surplus during the four years . 1:4,135,00e Total loss during the same period . 3.717,000 Balance . - . - 418,000 I will take this opportunity to state the law tespecting the duty on salt. It has been represented to me that no bentfit is likely to Sc. true from the cessation by law on the sth of January next, of that portion of the salt duty which amounts to two shillings per bushel. It is impressible to suppose, that as to the consumer any sensildc effect will be felt in the diminution of the price of salt, and I ant nut prepared to deny that there may exist reasons for not carrying that reduction into effect. But I ant afraid the faith of Government is pledged to its abolition. (Hear, hear, hear.) If it should appear that no evil would accrue from the continuance of the duty, it would be only a matter of alight difficulty to find an article on which the same amount of duty might be remitted, by way of compromise. Ido not state this AS part of my plan ; I throw it out only as n suggestion, in which shape it reached me, from some quarters not friendly to Goveroinent. I pledged myself to call the attention of the House to it, and I am bound to say in candour that Government would not oppose it. The House has now heard all 1 have to say on the subject of my plan. After a re- duction of taxes during the last three years, to an amount of up- wards of eight millions, the House has now proposed to it a further remission of upwards of one million and a half. (Cheers.) I have used the utnurit care andattention in looking at the subject; I have so framed ray proposidons as to meet the best and moat essential interests of the country. and it is with a high feeling of gratifica tion that I look at the country in the state of prosperity in which it now stands ; with an increasing revenue, with a reduced taxation, and with a debt gradually reducing (cheers); increasing in wealth, powe-, and influence: wealth, the produce of a mound policy and considerate legislation ; power, not to be abused for purposes of ambition and aggiandixement, but prompt to be emplaced in the vindication of us honour, and the maintenance of its security; in fluence, not proceeding from blustering or intrigue, but the .result of the conviction of all other countries of the sincerity of our pro- fessions,and the honesty of our conduct; (cheers) the inevitable effect of that growing wealth and power of which we are proud, because they have been known only as the test of the steadiness of our friendship, and not as the menacing instrument of hostility or rivalry. (Loud and continued cheering.) I do not arrogate to Government, still leis to myself individually, the merit of bringing the country into this situation. There are many in this House entitled to share it with Ps. (Cheers.) I will not refuse them justice; but it is not for any is d viduals, but for Parliament, that 1 claim it (Cheers)--for that calumniated and vilified Parliament, which, in the clays when the people were under the pressure of se vere, but, as it now app . esouteciTorary distress, they were told was an assembly so vicious in its very nature and construction, that it was irnposieble. unless the whole fabric was turned topsv turry, that it could contribute to raise the country from its difficulties. (Loud cheering.) We now see the practical refutation of this ca. lumpy in the state of the country. We have the proud aatisfaction to look abroad and see a population smiling in plenty, nail, as I anon hope they will be, in the unrestricted animation of their Indus. try. A% e behold them in content, comfort, prospecity, attd order, hand in hand, issuing from the portals of this ancient and cousti. tat tonal in.maichy, dispensing and enjoying the inetiuusble bless ings ef their lot_aa happy, a united, and let us never forget, a grateful people. The Right lion. Gentle Man then sat down, amidst very loud and long-continued cheering from all parts of the house. The L'(IANCELIA)II of the EXCHEQUER use again, and his fresh resolution was proposed the Chaimian of the t'otnntittoc. (The noise width at this moment prevailed in the House pre vented us from beating the substance of the Right Honourable Gentleman's resolution. Indeed the commencement of the stare- RICOt of the Hun. Gentleman who followed was not heard, from the sante cat se, ia the gallery.' Mr. BAR ING expressed his general satisfaction of the course pursued hy the Right Honourable Gentleman. Ile owned that he much doubted if a statement more satisfr.etory in promise had ever yet been made to Parliament. It was no doubt the result of no mis placed reflection; it had been considered maturely, and therefore it would be in him great presumntioti to attempt regularly to reply to iv elabotate &statement, to offer arc opinion, or hazard any eriii eism upon many of the topics of which the Right Honourable Gen ileerisn's speech was composed. He owned, however, that lie thought the last subject upon which the Right Honourable Gen tleman spoke deserved much consideration, and upon that point lie must take the liberty of 'nuking one or two observations. As to the Right Hotiourable Gentleman's plan of linance--for it certainly might be termed e novel systenn,---aa to that pl.n , then, be must take the liberty. of saying, that lie considered it erroneous. lie was quite sure, however, that he W 45 1111450USIT solicitous for the credit of the country, and that the error to which he was referring had escaped the attention of the Bight llonourable Gentleman. The Hight llonoticable Gentleman m-ile out that he had a surplus on i the last and the present year of 2,70,0001. Then upon that sur. l plus he most erroneously formed his estimate of the surpluses of future years. He estimates the surplus of— I - at £372.3.111. . at . 477,348. 11127 at - 622,346. and toe to cif all the surpluses, beyond the expenditure, iu ounitd to 4,135,11t1'11. Upoa that statement, the Right lion. Gentleman called upon the Flouse to approve of his liberality, and finial!) , admitted the sacrifice of 1,6-'O.OOOl. When in addition, as ha proposed, the Right Ihri. Gentleman took of the duty on ends, to the amount of 2e0,0100L he feared that the liberality of the Right lion. Gentleman was not quite countenanced by reawn or r,f.ectirn, for the House would presently see how the matter stood. But he would suppose for a moment that the C•tiMeC of the Right lion. Gentleman was correct , he took off one million of taxes, _ causes great and unusual surplus had waren, though that large increase was derived from the payment of the Austrian Loan, and therefore there existed no Krnianent cause to justify such a redoes titan. The surplus was purely accidental. It was not one-half the atuou:4 of the taxes he proposed to take off: It must, he would venture to wets, appear evident to any one who had followed the figures of the Right lien. Gentleman, that there was no surplus on which it was safe to found the proposed reduction. If any system of this sort were found to fail, and that it were known too to have orit,inated with the Finance 31inistcr—n have been recommended to Parliament by the Minister, how deeply must such failure afliaa the credit of the country ! With respect to the Rank paying 141 the 4 per cents., the Right lion. Gentleman had said, that using to the state of the law. six months notice must be given, ant! in October he proposed to give such notice, wider whiny, let the House rerhernber, the Government were liable to the payment of 73,11Uff.00111. old four per cents. The notice was, that they should be paid off; unless within six weeks the holders agreed to take the I amount at par in the 34 per cents. Now he was exceedingly de. sirous of knowing what the Right Hon. Gentleman had done at the same time for the payment of Exchequer Bills. If the Right' Hon. Gentleman, as he proposed, reduced the interest on the 4 per cents. the Fours woulE be held as Exchequer Bills, bearing the 4 per cent. Interest, and thus a species of rival fund would be esta blished. Upon almost all that has been said by the Right Gentle man as to the removal of restriction he entirely concurred with him. They had already done away with the coast restrictions, and there fore with the greater safety might they dispense with the other part of an artificial, and now, at length, a very generally reprobated system. On that difficult topic, the introduction of foreign menu tactures, he scarcely felt disposed to oiler any opinion. Ile would no o t i , lestviowtionn on ttieropr Tr, eonceal p th iet a y t, abstractedly speaking, there could be n of the proposed measure. Ile owned, however, that he should have felt great pleasure in hearing from the Right Hon. Gentleman that some reciprocal understanding on this sitbject had passed between this country and the continental powers; but independent of that point, he was by no means disposed to assert that scund policy did not justify the intended measure. The silk manufacturer, however, had a moat serious interest in this ques. tion, The same duty was still retained fee the raw material, to the manifest disadvantage of the manufacturer of this country. There ICU one branch too of the silk department, to which the mind of! the chymist of France had been actively and successfully directed, and in which their superiority over the manufacturersof this country ; was quite decisive—he meant the art of dying. The colours of the i French silk had never yet been approached for beauty, and bril liancy, and permanency, by the most skilful manufacturer, of, England. L pon the general topics of the Right lion. Gentleman's speech no one felt more gratified than Lniselt. He thought, how- I ev er, that some explaration should then be given on the reduction, founded, as he had conceived it, upon an erroneous estimate. He must however say, that he extenienced much pleasure in finding, from the speech of the Right floe. Gentleman, that which he always expected to hear, that public credit was a sacred thing, and no less sacred than secure in the flourishing finances of the coun try. Indeed, it had never yet been invaded there • occasion_ ; ally the hums of a senseless mob had lauded a prop osal which had for its object the violation of public faith ; but tt was the merej ebullition of a momentary thoughtlessness, and would never find an echo in the responses of that Howie. The Country Gentlemen must now ace, that by the operation of this public credit there comes to pass a reduction of the public burthens, and consequently a • beneficial interest to than. Recovered, as they were at length, from the distress and confusion of property consequent upon the late ear ' they must now see that reduction was only to be effected by slow but unerring advances, and that effectual relief was thus to bresilministerrd, and a solace in this way alone to be found. fur their lime; sod unary immuring. Let it not, however, be forgotten that I ion, however beneficial, was no justification of the means I by wh:ch the ruin of so many families was effected—that it was no excuse be the paper curreecy, which, with its various calamities, W 3.1 by ina.iy a suiferer ; and though they were so far re covesed front the einsequerces of that pernicious system, IA the I Committee remember that it was at the expense and the fortune of • many a nian, who, from presiding over his productive farm, was reduced to the melancholy necessity of breaking stones on the road that surrounded his. former fields. (Hear, hear.) The confusion of property—the ruin of fon:lies, had been engendered by tampering with the currency, and he trusted the bitter lesson it had taught ; would never be forgotten by tile Government. lie meant nut to go further into this quegiott. 'The difficulties which had occurred to him he thonght it right at once to subunit our the explanation of the Right Hon. Gentleman. _ . Tpe"CHA NC bLIAHt of the EXCHEQUER was called upon, he turd, to intrude for a few moments upon the attention of the House. in replying to the-questions proposed to him by the lion. Gentleman. He felt very much obliged to the Hon. Member titr Taunton (3lr. Daring) fur giving him an opportunity of affording these expltrations. In satiinating the amount of the revenue during those years for which he bad ventured upon its anticipation, be had not assumed any increase of any one article either of Customs or Excise, though there had last year been a reduction of assessed titses. (In the other hand, us to reduction of expense— tbe reduction, for instance, depending upon lose of lives—he had not colealated iu these esumates. He had assumed that both the expenditure and revenue would stand exactly as they did now. In all probability, from the increase of revenue and diminution of interest, the revenue would be iiercascd and the expenditure dimi nished beyond the respective sums lie had venturing to assume ; and it was only in the event of war, that must of neesmity overturn these calculation', that any alteration was, in his opinion, to be apprehended. In such a case Parliament would of comae be hound to see whether 6r not there was a necessity, by a rigosous effort, to make up for any deficiencies that might arise. He felt convinced that the calculauons he had made, now that they were rendered in telligible to the lion. Gentleman, would no longer seem to him exposed to the fluctuations to which he scented ta think (from the basis on which they were founded) they were liable. Mr. BARING +mance& the Right lion. Gentleman that he bad not misunderstood him ' • but he could not help thinking that the Right Hon. Gentleman had placed the country in a very perilous predicament, from which his explanation had not at all relieved it. Suppose a war should arise after notice given to the holders of the Four per Cents., what was to be done in such a case? Instead of keeping up a large floating fund, it would he much more advanta geous, lie conter.ded, to reduce the debt of the country. Mr. ELI,It'E said that he should reserve his opinion on the general topics connected with the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman for a more convenient occasion. Ile was exceedingly desirous, however, of asking him one question, with reference to a - subject that had on that evening been brought before the House. The question was one in which he. as the Representa tive of the principal town in this country for the manufacture of silk, felt for his constituents much interested. The Right Bon. Gentlemen stated, that he intended reducing the duty oil silk inunediately. lie awed as to the expediency of that reduc tion, and his only question was as to the time when it was intended, to carry it into effect. He certainly lied strong hopes from a com munication win, Iv he had, not with the Chancellot of the Exche quer, but with the Board of Trade, that any immediate reduction was rot contemplated, and for this reason—the stock in hand would very greatly he affected by such a reduction. The Committee was aware that silk rose at lead seven per centime duty, ad volorunt. Indeed, at this moment, the India sale being just concluded, the manufacturer was now prepared for his Spring consumption. He submitted, therefore, to the Right Hon. Gentleman, that it would be advisable to postpone the reduction of that duty, so as to •afford time for the employment of the raw material subjected to it, also for the consumption of the stock on hand. This measure would certainly prove most advantageous, and he sincerely thought not more advantageous than just to the great portion of his consti tuents. Mr. MA BERLY understood the surplus of the revenue for 113 V to be more than one million, and so far he agreed with his Hon. Friend the Member for l'aunton, that the payment of the Austrian loan made an essential difference in the surplus of the year, and could never justify the reduction of !..xes to the amount proposed. However, he must say that the Right lion. Gentleman had dealt fairly with all his subjects—he had not anticipated an increase in the revenue arising out of the reduction of taxes. lie agreed that he might most reasonably have so calculated, and for Itimselt he had no doubt that considerable increase would arise to the revenue from the reduction. It was not, however, without regret that he found the sating of 23,5001. disregarded by the Right lion. Gen tleman, a saving which could be obtained by placing the duty on malt, and removing it front beer. This would at once do away with frauds, be a gratelbl boon to the peasant, and do away at the same time with those restrictions which were deservedly so die. agreeable to the Right Hon. illentlernan, and open a fee trade. There was another subject on wkielt he would not cease to express his dias:tisraetistt_—be meant the payment of 5,000,11001. more than was neers.ary to the Bank in their successful bargain with the Go vernmeeat upon the Naval and Military Pensions Bill. This was indeed one of the moat happy PpeCiIIICIIS ever yet discovered in the art and mystery of bungling. In looking at this as a great question of finance, it was impossible not to be struck by that loss, and if , the papers which he moved for a few nights since were then on the table of the House, he would convince the Members of the Com. ntittee that by snaking that bargain on the Ist of March, instead of on the 2d of February, a sum of 1,694,0001. was lost to the country. And more : if the Bank of England had carried their well-planned bargain into execution, the country must have lost 13,000,0001. by the disinterested achievement of a Finance Minister. He confessed that it was quite incomprehensible to him how a person who could come down as the Chancellor of the Exchequer fled done to the House on that night, and make so able a statement, could have been so completely benighted on that occasion. Indeed there was but one way of actounting for it, namely, that he had deemed it becoming not to warder fur soma time from the batten track so long pursued by that miserable financier his predecessor. An 1111.11ton/her who sat beneath the gallery, and whose natnethe most diligent inquirers in vain attempted to discover, said that he merely rose to make souse inquiry respecting the duty which it was proposed by the Right lion. “entieusan to place upon inland coal carried up by the canal to London. There was a second inquiry he was desirou► of tnakirg, as to the disjunction in the Four per Cents. lie understood the Right Honourable sJendemen at first to ply, that instalments of the 7.1,000.00ta1. amounting to one-third of that tuna, were to be p►id off. This was his first impression. He had since, however, reason to believe, that 26,000,0001. was to be paid. Ile wished to know in what manna the selection for that pay nt ent was to Ire made? __............._ .. . ._ The CHANCEI.LIfR of the EXCHEQUER said, the Hog. Member for Coventry (3lr. Ellis), alive to the interests of his re presentatives, had toted at what time it was intended that the reduction of the duty on silk should take place. Ile proposed no specific finte, fur his mind .12 by no means determined upon that which the Honourable Bleu:bee Inv. Coventry had very justly repre sented as a most important determination to the manufacturers of silk. • At present lie should say on the Lth of July next, xon ceiring that the interval between the present time and that day would be sufficient to enable the manufacturer to dis pose of the stock on hand at this time, without pecuniary euf tering. At the %ante' time, if "upon further consideration it should appear desirable to postpone that reduction, he should yield at once to -the general washes upon the subject, as his only anxiety was to establish the principle. With respect to the error dwelt upon by the Honourable Member for Abingdon 31r. 3laberly), of taking an exaggerated surplus, it unquestionably was true that the payment of the Austrian Loan tended to the increase of that surplus; but in the operation of that loan, extraordinary expenses were incurred to the amount of 8,110111. There were also some expenses pouliar to this year of a miscellaneous nature, and they have been inevitably incurred. The expense, previously to the introduction of the coin of this country to Ireland, in putting down the tokens of that country. amounted to 100,411091. Then there were certain claims America had upon this country, relative to the emancipation of some of her slave, which bad also been satisfied. So that the estimate was taken at the highest imaginable expendi ture. As to the question proposed to me by another Honourable Venilenien, Respecting the patpthed duty on cu;d3--the duty he proposed at present in Ireland, would amount to Is. a ton, which wastabout Is. 3d. per chaldron ; but if, upon minute considers den, they saw any reason for altering it, they were by no means pledged to that particular sum. Sir I. COFFIN considered the continuance of the oppressive tax upon salt, a severe lesson to the poor, since it taught them that dirtr necessities were disregarded, while the 'unities of the rich, who wore their " silk and semis "sy," were preserved and guarded, and every tax that militated uetunst their splended habiliments was at once to be repealed. Mr. ELLS felt much indebted to the Right lion. Gentleman for the explanation that he had just given. If hr now understood the Chancellor of the Exchequer, all that he desired was to esta blish the principle of a repeal of the duty on silk, and that he would be willing to hear the parties before he determined upon the precise time when that reduction was to take place. The C.:HAM:ELIA/It of the EXCHEQUER (..cross the table)—Eettsinly. Mr. ELLIS continued—There was one question proposed by his Hon. Friend, to which the Right Hon. Gentleman had not re plied. It was as to the selection of the four per cents. for pay. melt. Ile (Mr. Ellis) understood they would be paid pro rata on the amount of stork. The operation, he thought, would have been much carter had the reduction of the interest on the four per cents. not taken place, but commensurate, in point of time, with the re duction of Exchequer bills. He thought that the progress of the Right Hon. Gentleman's scheme would very much be impeded by this omission. The lion. Gentleman concluded by observing, that it was not to the plan of the Right Hon. Gentleman he objected, but to the possibility of carrying it into effect. Mi. J. SM ITII was principally induced to trouble the House to notice one item, which was of the utmost importance in the cata logue of taxation—he meant the great and disproportionate tax on law proceedings (hear, hear); its imposition, to its present emir tnous extent, was a tax upon justice. It was discreditable to the Legislature and to the country that this species of Impost should continue. Recent circumstances had brought him to the more immediate consideration of this subject; and he hoped the Right lion. Chancellor of the Exchequer would not overlook so heavy a branch of our taxation, which pressed with peculiar weight on ;the laborious classes of society. independent of the pecuriary pressure, the expense incurred by law proceedings tended great* y to injure the moral habits of the population. It was a well-known fact that no man could recover 31. ltis. in a civil action at law with- ' • out incurring the expense of 31. 10s. more, in the cost of stampsake. Many cases were thus obliged to go undefended, in consequence of the poverty of the person liable to the action, and his consequent j inability to meet the charge in a Court of fraw. To a person so situated the lialature simply said, that he was a very tit subject to pay 31. 10s., as he could not afford as tench more for recovering jor defending it. These charges were very oppressive in the Courts lof Common Law, but they were felt with peculiar severity in I Courts of Equity. Soule time ago he had occasion to tile a bill in Chancery, which took up several thousand folios. 31any thousands of pounds were frequemly expended in suits there. lie begged to state an instance of the profuse expenditure occasioned by these heavy and . prieracted suits: it as in the recorded case of " Roe v. tiodgeon, in *Web the pLaintifi filed a bill to oblige the defend. • ant to give in a stateim3it of certain accounts, fhe defendant I put in an answer, in which lac stated, that were he to do so it would ; entail upon him an expense of no less a stew than 29.0001. This answer was deemed satifactory, and the Chancellor directed the bill :to be dismissed. lie did not intend at present to go into details, ' ; but it must appear to the How, that the duty on stamps was ex evasive, and was a mttrh fitter item to be selected for reduction than several of those taxes. the repeal of which VIM proposed.— j The reduction of this tax was of the utmost consequence to the laborious classes; anti indeed he did not know of any princlple I which it would be more desirable to carry into general practice for the benefit of all elastics, than that of rendering justice cheap. An eminent writer had defined justice, as connected with law, to j I " that strict security which every good Government gars to ! every subject fur the protection of all their rights, their property, character, honour, and life." It was therefore necessary that such I a blessing, intended for all, should be administered to all, on fair • and reasonable terms. But it wits notorious, that in this countrr, by the operation of the stoup duties, no person couldso to law who was not possessed of property. Justice was so adinillistered, that I no person could have it but at a heavy expense. Hedid rot know how a man could well go to law with a less property than 3001. a-year. Under such circumstances no person of common sense would go to law who could possibly avoid it. It was a well known fact, that whenever a person went to law, those around hint predicted of him that lie would afterwards go to gaol. (A laugh.) The distress and misery which, by the heavy expenses, was imposed on the labouring classes, was productive uf the most demoraliz ing con aeguencts. In many instances, those who sought reparation for injuries found themselves by the result in a worse condition than when they sought relief. It had been objected, that if the law exp anses were less, a generally litigious spirit would prevail througout the country. This he denied. Thesuddcnly dispens ing with all law expenses, might produce such an elect, but the gradual diminution of them to a fair and reasonable stand ard, could not fail of being productive of manifold advantages. Ile was sure there was not a member in that House, who had arrived at the age of thirty, who had not made considerable sa crifices of property merely on the account of the heaviness of law expenses. It had occuurred to himself to waive a claim he had. merely from such an apprehension. It was contended by some that public credit was not useful. They who entertained this opinion did not well know the state of society. Ile would mention the instance of the advantages of it : a fanner, whom he knew, lent 2001. to his neighbour in a time of great distress ; it was not paid precisely when it became due, but the whole of it was i repaid at the subacmtent harvest. Ile might mention many other nstances of the advantagea of public credit. lie could nor sit down without expressing his surprise, whilst such hard ships existed from the contffittance of these stamp duties, at the preposed appropriation of 500,0001. for the building of churches : and a large nun for the improvement of Window Castle. This he would certainly oppose, as a large sum had been already appro priated to churches. Such s sum would be better disposed of, in his opinion, in giving relief front that species of taxation of which he complained. It approached almost to sacrilege—he would not use a stronger word—to expend the public money thus unnecessa rily, when the people were in a state of wretchedness, said burdened with a tax which amounted to a denial of justice. Mercy was better than NaCTIIICC, and there appeared to him something like cant in all this. ( Hear, hear.) It was true that this tax was pro ductive of money to the Treasury, but it was productive of great misery to the people also. Ile hoped the Chancellor of the Ex chequer would attend to and ascertain the mischievous operation of this tax, and suggest sonic relief for the severity of its pressure. (Hear, hear.) file CALCRAFT agreed with his lion. Friend that the expense attend nt on law proceedings were excessive ; that they were pe culiarly oppressive on the laborious dames of the community ; and that they were injurious to the interests of justice. Ile perfectly coincided in the propriety of relief in that branch of taxation. He had listened to the luminous statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and lie was of opinion, after having attentively heard it, that the proposed reductions were not such as the country had a right to expect. lie was particularly induced to rise, in order to refer to the duty on salt, which, last session, it was agreed upon should cease on the sth of.lanuary, 1/135. lie hoped the Chancel lor of the Exchequer would redeem the pledge he had given on this subject. Indeed he knew the Right lion. Gentleman was not a man to abandon any engagement which he had entered into ' • but he knew that there were many who would surround him, and en deavour to induce him to continue it. These persons, however. were such only as were interested in its continuance • they were j not the consumers ; and he had ever stood up against the misrepre sentatious of those who are self-interested, and in favour of these who were not so. Ile assured the Right Honourable Gentle man, that there was not one of the taxes, the repeal of ' which he proposed thaz evening, which would he more useful or generally acceptable than the repeal of that upon salt, as proniked last Seaxion. As to the repeal of toe duty on wool, he agreed with the Right lion. Gentleman is the principle of reducing the tax upon wool ; but he feared the condition with which he accompanied it would give dissatisfaction. The oral duty. in his opinion, was selected, mid he thought judiciously, tnr affording relief. It was a hardship and injustice on the inhabitants of London to have an increase of taxation imposed meetly on at- COMA of their accidental residence. He approved of giving every facility to the introduction of coals into London, and was of opi nion that they should have them on equal terms with the popula tion in other parts of the kingdom. As to the silk trade, he thought the competition to which the Right Hon. Gent. exposed it would be ruinous to that branch of the manufactures of thus country ; not but if the mode which he proposed were accompanied by a re ciprocity, or some equalising dirty, it might be less injurious. As related to the raw material the repeal was judicious. But what appeared to him would give most dissatisfaction was, that up to he doge of the year Inn, no further reductions were meditated. (Hear.) The Right Honourable (hock-man had made a lu. niinous statement ; but whatever might be the amount and surplus arising f.on the taxes still continued, the country was to look forward to no further repeal of taxation. This was certainly a most disheartening prospect. (Hear, hear, hear.) J The Right I lonourable Gentleman h ail appropriated all he expects to explained purposes, but nothing that lie had said embraced a plait for any intermediate reduction of taxation from the present period to that which lie had specified. Ile was decidedly adverse to the appropriation of 500,01104 to the building of churches. it should be remembered that one ntillion had been lately voted foe that purpose. Let us see how that sum operates before we ina ease it. There was not, that he was aware of, a tlemand for that kind of build ing* now. As to the sum for the improvement of Windsor Castle, if it were warranted, he would admit that it was well applied, and when the size of that Castle, end the extent to which repairs might be necessary, he was not prepared to say but that the sum specified for the improvements of that extensive edifice were such as were soluble and appropriate. As to the tax upon rune he coincided, and he was sere the country would do so, in the propriety of its re. peal. If' he entertained any opinion upon the subject, it was that the repeal proposed by the Right Honourable Gentle •nan was too scanty l and was not su ffi cient to meet the necessity that (misted for relief n that branch of taxaCon. As to the stamp duties, he felt as be had said before, that it was doe to the interests of justice, and particularly testae laborious classes, that sonic diminution ahoy id take place. So far from objecting to the repeal of the duty on nine he felt that the body which it was intended to bcnetit by it were peculiarly entitled to the attention of the Ileum, and he would not even object to the appropriation of the 3e0,0001. proposed for the building of churches tor t h e relief of that body. He was of opt.' niun that the country would be greatly dissatisfied with the pros pect which the Right linrourable Gentlemen held out, disappoint ed as to the extent of reduction he proposed, and beyond which he did not mean to go. Unless we fostered the energies id the . people in time of peace we could not expect tc use them eflictently m time of war; and we should ever recollect, that whatever may he the wisdom of her government, it is upon the earn and head of her people that the safety and greatness of Etiglarsl must nusinly de pend. (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQL'ER said that there was no sentiment in which he more cordially agreed than in the last which had been uttered by the Hon. Gentleman. Indeed, he had anticipated it by expreseing • similar one in the course of his address. As to the several taxes, to the repeal of which he had adverted, he knew it was not an easy matter to determine always which was the beat to take of or put ou. Ile had proposed relief in dime branches of taxation which appeared to hint most to re quire it, and which he thought would be productive of most ad. vantage to the individual interests themselves, as well as the gene ral interests of the country. He enlgfit have been in error, but lie begged to say that the principle which regulated him in what he propneed was that of making such redueriont noir as would carry with them the means of effecting other reductions. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BROUGII 4 M agreed With his Hoth'Priend (Mr. talcrafri l in the expression of disappointment at the project ler the reped of taxation, which had been submitted that night to the House by the I Right lion. the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In saying so, he did not mean to convey the slightest dinecapect towards any thing that had fallen from the Right lion. Gentleman, to wheat very . luminous statement he had attentively' listened. From the altera. tion of system in various branches which he proposed, advantages might accrue, but so touch depended on the mode in which plans were carried into effect, that he was unwitting to give a hasty ap proval of them, or to commit hiro.elf by the sanction of men:, • without further consideration. Besides, as had been remarked b his lion. Friend, the 31ember for Taunton, the propositions which , had been submitted that night in the statements et the Hight H on . Gentleman, however they may have been well weighril by his Ma. . . testy s Ministers, were perfectly new to his side of the Hous e , IGovernment had long known them, but Parliament had not, and therefore some pause for consideration should be allowed before these plans were fully sanctioned by the Legislature. lie would, however, express his approbation at the repeal of the bounties on whale-fishing and linen. Although these here productive, and yielded no less a stun than 170,0001. yet their repeal was most de. suable, and such as was p rompted by a liberal spirit of esernmereisl policy. V . Vet in that, as every change, and in every commercial regulation, the manner and the form in which reform took place, was that on which expected adv a nt ages ma i n ly d epen d e d. }l uc k , too, depended on the time in which the change was introduced ; it was necessary on such occasions, that due notice should be given to those who wire interested in the various branches of commerce and manufacture in which alteration was intended. He apprehended that when the plans conveyed in the statement of the Chuneellor of the Exchequer were made publicly known, great alarm would be. created, and claims for indemnity would be preferred by mane whose property in the Stocks might be injured by the propped changes. Should such claims be preferred, he hoped this H ouse would discharge its duty in exercising a vigilant caution, and in keeping • tight hand in any di s b urseme n ts i t wou ld ma ke on the representation a such claims. It was a misfortune that it was not easy isolative a bad system which had been long pursued, and to trace out a good one withoutinfiieting local and topical injuries. In finding our way out of errors in which we long had moved, difficulties would so doubt arise; and in such event it was the duty of the Legal. tore, after having determined upon "'hat reform was most available the the good of the whole, to support the Government in ef. effecting and enforcing it. In adverting to the several repeals of taxes and appropriation of revenue as stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he would not particularly dwell upon the camped don in the silk trade which was opened, and which, by the repeal that accompanied it, might not be without its advantages : neither did he deem the partial repeal of the duty on coal, nor any of the other points to which he had referred, of pera. mount importance to the circumstance of one milli o n an d fifty-two thousand being the whole amount of the fund t o w hi c h the country could look in the event of any exigency that might arise. The aunt of ahr,euttl. which was to be appropriated to purposes ef buildings and improvements, might, with more propriety and ad vantage, be devoted to the augmentation of this fund. With se small a surplus fund to inert whatever emergency might betel it, it would not be an nelesmate consolation for the country to know that a few articles had becoeie cheaper in price. As to the repeal of the duties on silk, he would ask what advantages would the la barite's classes derive iron it; it was an etude in the purchase of which they did not deal, and the advantage, of this repeal would •be felt by the upper Classes of society. l'he duty o rum another tax, the repeal of which was proposed ; this was a rep-, however, for the benefit of the producer, and roc for the ante ater ; for his part, he looked upon it as the repeal of a duty imposed on a mischievous commodity. [ls repeal of the duty the ch ea pness increased the assumption, which increase was accompanied with invariable injury to the morals of the people. It was. he knew, contended, that high duties tended to the entourage. meet of a contraband trade ; but he referred even that risk to the demoralization riveted by the increased consumption of spirits. For these reasons he was adverse to the repeal of the duty on ruin. The repeal of duty on coals, it was stated by the Char.- cellor of the Exchequer, affectol London and Its vicinity oi !e -thus this repeal was one by which a particular district was bene fited, but Ville!' did not contribute to the comforts of all. This duty did nut appear to him to be one of such aggravated pressure as appeared to imme Honourable Members; far if Louden was the only place affected by this tee, it should be considered that they were better üble to pay than the residents of any other . part M the kingdom. Such repeals as these he had now adoetael were not likely to gratify the country or fulfill the expectations oi reduction that had been entertained (Hear, hear.) The nation naturally looked to a more general measure of rednetion, and net to a few small repeals of much local and partial ben:AL The aniseed taxes might be done away with by drawing on the Slaking Fund whiee he hoped to see soon upon the wane, and the total abolition of which he would be glad to see follow those princi ples of liberal commercial policy which Government seemed die. posed to return to, or more properly "peaking to adopt: for he Sr. tic: toted a better lioe of policy than Ministers had hitheno evinced a disposition to for. we. Fur such a policy the country owed no gratitude to his Majesty's Ministers; she ought to look upon it as the result of anxious and repeated discussions in that home; and, as the consequence of an encreasing intelligence amongst a daily better-educated people —a fact to which he felt infinite eontentmeet in bearing testimony. lie wished to advert to the mode in which, it was proposed to expend &MOM. which we had received from are Imperial Ally the Emperor of Austria. And here he eoula not forbear from expressing his astonishment at the severity of the pro. ration with which the Right Hon. Gent. terminated his eulogy on so illustrious a personage. lie did not expect to hear the Right Hon. Gentleman, who had Iseished upon him every expression of honour and esteem, wind up so eloquent an enconnum by calling his payment of his debts " a fled send." (A laugh.) And what did he pay ? Why half a crown in the pound. (Much laughter.) This was a bounty far beyond any thing that ever opened on the hopes of the Right Honourable Gentleman. Though it could be hardly expected, yet he ( Mr. Brougham) did hope for the pay. matt of another sixpence in the pound of his debts- (Much laugh ter.) If it were paid, he pledged himself that he would then, as be did now, refuse to consent to the appropriation of a single penny of it to the building of churches. He would not yield to any man in his anxiety to promote the religicus instruction of the people; but he recollected that a million sterling had already been appropriated to the erection of churches throughout the kingdom, that that appropriation was made without a dissenting voice, and moreover that it was paid by a patient people in the year IBl7—a year in which they themselves were suffering under the pressure of extreme distress. Besides, it should not be forgot ten that a large portion of that sum was paid by the numerous sects of this country, although they were deprived of any advan tage from it, as the churches were built exclusively for those of one religion. They contributed without a murmur, although no direct benefit flowed to them front such a contribution, and after having done so, it would be an unworthy return to appro priate this wind-fall, or, a. the Right Honourable Gentleman had tenned it, "this God-send." to the building of churches. for which there was no need, and by which it was still inteedel to exclude the sects firma any participation in it. Such a mea sure was most impolitic and unjust, and though he stood alone (though he knew he should not), he was determined strenuously and pereeecringly to op it. (Hear, from the Opposition benches.) It would be op too, he was sure, out of doors. They had equal chdants in participating in the appropriation of this mini ; if say doubt prevailed as to the validity of their claims, it should not be forgotten with what cheerful willingness they contributed to the building our chnrehes, and what we owe them for having done so. 'Millet lie contended for an equal share in the benefit of " ride God-send" for the sectaries, yet there were purposes to whi c h it a pp aced to him far more beneticicial to appropriate it. He thought it touch better that this sun of moue; should be ex per.ded for the building of schools. (Hear.) The half million which was to be disposed of would build at the utmost, and mak ing the most liberal computation, not more than one hundred churches or chapels. Upon the most moderate plan on which the measure could be effected, each church would cost from five to six thousand pounds, and not fewer than twenty-five hundred schools might be built fur the same sum on a liberal scale; and thus, if this measure were adopted, there would not be a parish in the kingdom ! which would not possess the advantage of a school. (Hear.) If this plan were judiciously pureued--if the manngement of it were vested in Commissioners of a certain description, who would nut accept of payment, the benefit conferred upon the country would be greater than would follow from the erection of churches ; and, as he bethre remarked, there would not be a parish in England which would not enjoy the blessing era school. This was the opinion he ',entered to give upon the subject, and though he would be found in it small minority in the House, he would assert that he would he in a lm.ge majority out of it. With respect to the salt tax, he agreed with his friend, the Hon. Member for Wareham, that in conformity with she faith of the Right Honourable Gentleman aid Parlienenst. it should be suffered to expire at the appointed perpul. Ile uould readily allow that the saving of the expense, which wasbut small. did not constitute his only wish for the abolition of this. tax. He would frankly admit, that the loss of patronage, which followed the abolition, would give bun pleasure. There would be fewer persons to pay for the collection of taxes. In addition to one mil lion of the assessed taxes, which was to be destroyed, he was most anxious that two millions should be taken from the Sinking Fund. This, he had no doubt, would Le a proceeding most important in its remits ; it would not be attended with any diminution of re venue, nor would it throw any additional difficulty in the way of commezcial retiumation, which was sought tor. He slab most anxiously hoped for a repeal of that most oppressive system, which ought not to be called an impost, but the proper name of which was an enormity . (Hear) —which was a crying injustice—which, in direct opposition of every . principle—of every sense of duty due by thou to their constituents, was suffered, to the shame and dire of the age and country, not only to exist, but to in crease (He ar}--and which, in spite and in defiance of the sound princip es of legielation, which had been latterly adopted, had still advanced meant the law taxes. (Hear.) These, he was decidedly of opinion, should be dispensed with, as well as the window taxes, which were considered the worst of the assessed taxes. Ile trusted that the million would be taken off from articles which were at . present the most heavily loaded; for the cape , rience of past times went to prove. that the diminution of taxation bad the effect of increasing the consumption of the manufactures : and the courierse of the proposition followed, when, for the purpose of gaining a supposed increase of revenue, the duties were rased. The truth of this argume tion of wine ; and also the exception of the come was fairly tried;—he With the heavy duty was taken Ethe consequence s rdtTary t pri hr a g tco e f i i th i v ie d e y , p i to an t:E ki li pi t e : lar esoi l of the Right Honourable in his opinion there wouli Aprd to it, and especially 1 :Mon of the taxes to be re Ony farther at present, not 111 r. II L'ALE rose to ex ,itaternents made by the It • %wade by him were of the pressed his astonishment t a time. the system whicl titter astonishment at the foe such a period in this in man infanta:tithe House that our advance was rapit would now ask the Right his proposition; why had Hon. Gentleman that chat tome forward and inform yard when we should ad , sanguine expectations, an, way. He would ask the I mot to expect a greater r for the space of four year of taxes for the same pejo one class; why not give n allowed so call our foreign g'ett er lntre f ir ai V would, measure; and upon the flendenian, it would not c reduce the duty on sugar Gentleman could not wel menus which had taken ph also reduce the duty on 7s. 1 d.: and by this ma mend for the purpose of of. Frem the late regul from Scotland to this coo smuggling had been inern same light with the Meet question before the Hour been attended to, he hopec a million or a million am the working classes. Tho was the tax upon beer. sistent with the anxiety c make taxes fall equally ? gentleman pasessing tire should drink his beer for to pay This was so how it escaped the obsess the people of England dei of eight millions of taxes, Why was there a :sink where was the necessity of support of our credit. T credit of the country was I could be procured at fro guarent in support of the t.f our credit, was not go . Alinister was left with an to be render:d available tilt by all. He thought traoitistring the duty on spirits chap, and he win it did not cause sntugglini which smuggling was can by tbc high rate of taxi was reduced to Ss. or 7s increased consumption, ti ill was upon this princi, arios s i t ag up two burden! , m point of r !rain the low duties on spirits • e facility of procuring t not agree; the lower descr quantitim of spirits than duties on *zits were com 'the excesses imputed to would look to France. It beer in this; and he w country sober? Were the the idea of taking the t *Writs; more of the lute silk. if these duties were Abe establishments at mew tuber branches of employ' %hose establishments. Fo 'salts of doe Right Hon. ti the assessed taxes shoo of the country would this were done, the mans - now deserted through the -filled. These tstalilishni - penses of versants under ask, took so many of the have been novelty at or otf. They went abroad to repealed they would retun squander their fortunes in be given to many persons be temple) td as the server the iniquitous tax upon la such an opposition to it, would, as it certainly oug who was compelled to see but at the exper.se of a yt of law tell on the poor, the House, by pressing Gentleman, would miced if the taxis upon sugar, t reduced, a great and unl Country. The Right Ii country bad taken, but former situation, if for I were obliged to pay at the 20 per cent. ; and this Ins the perverseness of the lii tale principles which he pence in the pound, tnad ef a debt of twenty-tin yeses of distress and dil and a halt had been paid. should be applied to the I tion of an unnecessary iest whom this measure of bt it could not be with the sure the Bight llonourab the face, and say the me hoped it would be oppos sons out of tea in the cot He objected, besides, to t was partial And unjust. it should be for the public he would be compelled to atoll; be would be cm; which he hitherto though particular and not to gene impartial, and that it sac of the few. Ile asked, s character ? He sincerely as it deserved, and that ti ing a sense of their danga of relief submitted to th and also against his select ed ; and he . cod the receive would impress ut of giiittg further. Mr. ROBERTSON it raw material gave emph wages. lie was astonish opposite side, who affect heart, and who, notwithst the Sinking Fund. Ilefu should look before them ; twin of this country but t Russia, with an army o army of France ; they shc they considered geese sub, they depend upon the pr circumstanced at present winces if America had not They should look hero upon the Utsuincat w:tuld may. It might be also ti her the value of the enable us to prepare for not light ; it hail conferee raducdon of all the taxes :system chewed its utility or two years, and great how of money ; it enable mortgages upon their hint of sending ISriti.h capita' good to that country i:;..n lie would therefore ,t her and bethought the itigic judicious selection. in the wan he t of tl ilie fhaali roll rt t ers o Vt b di:rhil l: t ; narw t o tii h , ae.lh e tellh ibe e° ii nh li Nnt l ind Pele i l c in:lsrTic a m u i°d°y t T ti r experience, known many pees ef, by means of the conduct M Government, lap individuals stripy...l I gory and ruin. As to it to be as deeesibed ; nut very little of the state of 41 g• The poor's rate they we re the last • but t proportion of the it . rhubtu Other, Al to the difficult