The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-05-05 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF COMTIZZ:7IICRADAY, MAY 4. The Speaker took the Chair this day at the usual hour, and the House proceeded to business. The LORD ADVOCATE brought up the Report of the Com mittee on the Scotch Peerage Restoration 11,11. ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. Ah. C. 11. HUTCHINSON presented a petition fmm the In habitants of the city of Cot, praying Cot the abolition of shivery. Sir R. SHAW presented a similar petition from the inhabitants of Dublin. _ . Mr. BF:AUMOWT presented similar petitions from the parish of IWallseriti (county of Northumberland), and from North Shields and Tynernonth.—The several petition. were ordered to be printed. COMMITTEE ON THE CORN LAWS. Jo the absence of Mr. Secretary Mr. 'W. WYNN moved that the further sitting of the Com mittee on the Corn Laws might be deferred until to.morrow (this day). ALTERATION IN THE CI'RRENCY. Mr. W. OOIU)ON presented a petition from mend parishes in the county of Aberdeen, against any alteration In the currerry of Srotland.—The petition was referred to the Committee on the Scotch and Irish Currency. Mr. 0011.1.11CRN presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce (Dublin), praying that the Debtor and Creditor Ar rangement Dill might be extended to Ireland.— Laid on the table. THAMES WATEIt3LEN RILL. Mr. Aldermen WOOD, in moving the second rending of the Thames Watermrn Regulation Bill. took occasion to inquire whether it could be made a public Rill? The class of persons wham It was intended to benefi: by this measure was very desert. and very much distressed. So circumstanced, they would Ltd the expense of a private Bill very henry. The SPEAKER said, that the Bill might be made a public Rill it the fees were paid 4 but it came strictly within the standing order which made it liable to fees. Mr. M. A. TAYLOR hoped that, if the Rill could not be made a public Rill, to exempt it from fees, a public subscription would be made to meet the expense. The 'nand mania of the Bill was then postponed to Monday nest. - lewd ENNISMORE presented • petition from the bunny of Condons and Clongibbon (county of Cork), praying that PATHS. MVP would avoid any interference with the 'grim hunt of Ireland. The petition alluded particularly to the proposed alteration of the Corn lAsta.—Ordered to be printed. Sir J. YORKE presented a petition from George Benny. pray. ing that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the stste of Er:endly Soeleties.—Ordered to h 'printed. Upon the motion of Mr. S. iroRTI,Kr, the Report on the Yorkshire Election Bill was beg Iglu up, and the Bill ordered to S. read a third time to-morrow. Upon the motion of Mr. F. LEWIS, the Shire-hall Bill was reed a third time, and passed. _ __ PROPERTY IN SLAVES. Mr. H. DAVIS presented a petition from certain person! inte rerted in West India property, praying for an indemnitieatton, if Parliament should intertere with the property of the West India shave-or/nem—Laid upon the table. Mr. BRIGHT postponed the further consideration of the Report or the Debtor and Creditor Hill until to-morrow. STMINATION OF TRADE. Lord MILTON prosente 1 a petition from 'John sfiireenwood, praying the House to take into its serious consideration the stout'''. t. ec of - tratle from which the country was at present sufreriog.--Laid vn ti.e table. CATHOLIC E3IANCIPAIION._ Sir H. PAR AlCiiposea led • petition from the Roman Catlin tics of the Queen's County (Ireland) praying fur the repeal of the penal laws.—Ordered so be printed. Mr. BEAVMONT presented a petition from the shipowners of North Shields, praying for some relizt from the duties which affected the shipping interest of the country. The lion. Member begged to inquire of the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade, if It wit his Intention to propose any measure of relief for that interest of which the petitioners formed a pert ? lII'S/CIS:4ON odd he had already given notice of a motion relative to the subject adverted to by the Hon. Member, in conse quence of the presentation of several petitions similar to that then presenred, hut which he intended to postpone until Monday neat, in consequence cf the motion of Mr. Hume, which was likely to en oss so much of the attention of the house. He thought, that when Lis motion erme before the House. thst would be the proper time ti toter into the subject which had been broached by the Honour ah;.: 31ember, when he would be able to offer all the information to ii.e stiiiiect which he was In possession of. It TIM 1 subject of rear importance, and would of course receive every attention. The petition was then ordered to be printed. Mr. HUSK ISSON postponed unril Monday, May the Bth, his notice of motion for a return of the number of ships built in the Britesh dominions, between IRIS and um. both inclusive. die iwtpitshing the number in each year, and the amount of their toonago. CURRENCY OF SCOTLAND. Lord FOLKESTONE presented a petition from the manitfac. terms of Paisley. praying that some elevation might take place in the currency of Scotland. His boyishlo wished to know if any thing had been done by the Committee nn the Irish and Scotch Promissory Note Bill, or if that Committee was licit to make any Report before next Session of Partisincht, and what might be the probable nature of that Report, shoold it be made before the time he had mentioned? He considered the present petition of great importance. as it relater, to the currency of the country—a sob. ject, in every point of new, of corisegnence. The petitioners stated that the paper currency, being liable to alteration or diminution, was injurious to the commerce of the country, and excited a dispo litkfl to speculation which had effected much mischief. On the motion that the petition do tie on the table, 111 r. HUSK ISSON said the subject could not !hen be discussed in all Its bearings. He was not prepared to say whether any Re port would be made by the Promissory Note Committee or not, or what might be the Report of that Fotrimittee, should one be made. lie thought any discussion at present on the subject would be pre. matate._ . . . . . _ Lord FOLKESTONE said, he merely asked the question fur information. He thought the Right Honourable lientlemsn. or woe of his colleagues, might have satisfied him on the point. lie was sorry none of those Gentlemen had arrived. Tile petition he liscl presented was important, from the number of persons who had signed it, and from the state of the place from whence the petition came. Psidey was at present in the greatest distress, and Ito considered the petition importaat, not only from what it stated, but from what it did not state t for though great distress prevailed in the town of Paisley,tise petitioners did not fall into the delusion that it originated in the Corn I.aws, which was the more remark. able, when it was considered that hlinisters had fomented that de. lesion. If the petitioners had not been afraid that Parliament would be shortly dissolved, a far raster number of signatures could have been procured ; but. notwithstanding, In its present character it wasenittled to consideration. 'Colonel .11 HINSON supported the pmyer of the pethion. !Hr. SRRIfiliT thought the question of the Corn lows ought not to have been mooted. Since, tessera., the treasure had been to night forward. he thought the tiro resolution might have been pqn,el without pressing the second. He would not, however, vote sir that resolution with an implied assent to to , y alteration in the um laws. He hoped Parliament world continue Illeir sittings, to ehtvise some remedy for the distr.vs ws.:ch prevailed t and that they would not separate before they had accomplished that desirable oblect. Slr. P. GRANT thought a petition so numerously signed was entitled to attention. Ile could not think that any distress could have arisen from a paper currency, which was convertible into gold at the desire of the holder of such paper. Mr. MONCK said that he a;,T• .tit in the views which had been taken by the petitioners of the currency. Tie payment of that currency in rild was the touch..!one width should be applied to the state of OUT affairs. Of two evils he would prefer the lesser; and I:r thought et better to adjust oar currency to our difficulties, than, as had been hitherto done, to adjust ear difficulties to our currency. Sir H. WILiON said he was most anxious that an inquiry should be made into the present owe of the distress of the OVUM. fictorers ; and if any proposition to erect that was brought for ward, it should have his decided and cordird support. General GASCOVNE said, the raison why petitions agaiost the Coen laws were not prorated, armee net from any Inattention to the 'object, but because it was considered useless to send them to that House, from the manner in which such petitions were re ceived on former occasions. The general opinion which prevailed Vehicles to the cause of the distress was, that it proceeded from the Cern Laws. He did not himself agree in that orinion, but he was rant decidedly of opinion that an inquiry should take place. He csuld not for • moment Imagine that Ministers had postponed the akossmed consideration of the second resolution, with a view to vt lid of the question, and not with an intention to afford time for a Coll discussion of the question which was to be brought forward that night by Mr. Hume. Ile trusted they would, on the con. hairy, persevere in the course they had begun. (Cheers.) He proposed, that before the Session closed, a full Investigation should Ise instituted into the cause of distress among the manufacturing classes. Mr. Al AIIERLY said the present was only the second petition presented daring the Session hi favour of a change in the currency of Scotland, and consequently for a payment in gold. The other was from a place which had never before been heard of in that House, aid from Its name (Mime) had given occasion to much merriment. The fact was sufficient. to show. the feeling which prevailed out of Parliament on the question, and he could emote the !Nair, that if they meddled with the currency of Scot. land, they would have reason to repent it. That currency was not one, as was stated, which was convertible Into gold, because the Scotch bankers were accustomed to exchange with each other every 'reek I an that if they interfered with the currency of that country, they would be obliged to create a new metallic currency. air FRANCIS BURDETT said it would not be difficult to tale* that the conclusions to which the petitioners arrived were not °tweet ; they could be refuted from their own statements. He MIN assure the Noble Lord who presented the petition that it vets not of so much importance as he claimed for It ; that pendia cau l,' not b; looked upon as a manual of political economy ; the petitioners were quite mistaken in the view which they took of the question, and if the Noble Lord would bring forward a motion which would embody their sentiments. he (Sir F. Runlet') would well make to prove that their conclusions were altogether %Amenable. The distress of the manufacturing interests arose from the inter. 'mutton of trade, and was quite distinct from any mher question. Lord FOLKESTONE replied. After a few word. from Col. Johnsen and Mr. Bright, NN pe. titian was ordered to be printed. CORN LAWS Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE said he held a petition in his hand from a Mr. William ail's, with whom he was not acquainted. and of whom he knee nothingi but, under the present circum stances, he thought the reasoning of the petitioner of importance : he stated that he had four thousand quarters of fore , gn corn, which he had in bond previously to the lath May, 11122; he had retained it to the present period in expectation of an increase in the price of corn, which he contemplated at the expiration of the period pre scribed by the Act of Pediment ; he therefore prayed that no site. union should take place In the Corn Laws, and if any was to be carried into effect, that he should receive compensation for the loots he should sustain in consequenee. (Murmurs of dissent.) Ile complained that, by the operation of the proposed change in the Corn Laws, other Korn merchants would come Into the market an payment of a ditty of Its. per quarter, on an equality with him (the isetitioner), who had already paid a duty of 10a. per quarter. He had no doubt the House felt some little surprise to find that he stood there to plead the cantle of the corn-dealers ; but he thought, under the circumstances, he was called upon to tin so, and that, in taking the part he did, he only performed his duty. He knew there was a greet deal of honied corn shut up at Liverpool. It had been stated to him, and he could answer for the accuracy of the state ments'. that at that place, on Satitelay last, before, of course. they -.multi be supposed to know the intention of his Majetity's Millie. ten, there was considerable action on the part of those interested in the sale of corn. (Hear, heat) This was qn Saturday, and the change intenaed by his Majesty's Ministers wits not intimated till Monday. Ile did hope they meant to abandon the second prop°. sition, and put the question at rest.. (Conflicting cries of " No, "I" and " Vt's, tee.") The reason why he requested this a as, tecause they had carri:d that point which threw in the bonded corn at a low duty ; and it had already produced such a stagnation in the market of earn as Ministers seemed to desire. The idea that COT would reach a famine price was out of the cliestion (hear, heir) ; lie was sure no such idea could be seriously entertained. Why they !should ask for such extraordinary discretionary power, then, he ennlii not understand; in his opinion no 'efficieet reason had been given for its being granted. If the measure were delayed, the time could not be far distant before a new Parliament would be sivembled, which would be able to do al: that might be necessary. It should tie recollected, trio, that the House was told that this power with which 'they milted to be inverted was tot disirahle to be had, (Hear, hear.) To this he (Sir I'. Lethbridge) would say, he eel-- minty would rather that they hat' it net ; and he thought this desire was else pmentsed by the country generally. All must feel that it was a measure which would place every nun's acre of land a quar ter of corn at the mercy of Ministers. He did not mean to say that they would abuse the trust Parliament might repose in them, but this was no reason tette the power should be given. It was said There were 4n0,00e qrs. of banded corn in the tour try ; fn his opinion there was much more than was expected. The rise in corn had been used as an argument. but he believed that this was not a conse. quenee of enmity ; it was rather because those who had the corn under renovsted (he used the tern, though he believed the renova. tkm was but slight) means were enabled to keep a little more on hand. If this were true, it furnished another reason a,;ainst the 'rewire. He hoped, since they had carried their first point, they would be satisfied without pressing the other. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman wculd not put it off till to. morrow merely, but that he would postpone it sine die. (Cheers, and cries of " No, nn.") The petiti met prayed for compensation, in easeahe menenre pmrse.l should he carried into effect. Mr. 11CSKISSON—As an opportunity would be affonled to morrow ((loud cheers) of discussing the question on all its merits, he wnti)d not "ay a word in reference to them now ; but lie rime solely to repel, with indignation, an insinuation which lie was in formed had been uttered by the Hon. Gentlemao who just sat down. (Hear, hear, hear.) As he (Mr. Huskiest-in) was not in the House at the time, and had not beard one word of it, if, in re- stating it, he should fall into error. the Hon. Gentleman would be able to set him right. (Hear.) lie understood the insinuation to hare been. that some persons in Liverpool—he (Mr. liu'kisson) being the representative of that place—had somehow or other re ceived an intimation on Saturday—( Loud cries of " No, en.") Not having heard the words used, perhaps he might not he stating them exactly, nut he certainly understood they conveyed an impressi on that some information had been received by individuals at Liver. pool on Saturday, of the intention of his Majesty's Ministers on Monday, it not from themselves, at least through sonic of their organs. (Hear, hear.) To this he would say, on his honour, it was impossible for any individual to have had the slightest infer. motion of any intention of the kind. (Cheers.) lie would go further, he would tell the House what had occurred :—he hail re ceived one letter only in relation to this subject, and that was ten days ago, and from Lob corn-factors at Lancashire. They re. quested that the distress experienced in that neighbourhood might be relieved by a certain quantity of c..rn being let out free of duty. Knowing the delicate situating in which he was placed, to this communication he declined—in violation of what he trusted wore his usual habits of business—making,any reply ; and there at his office it remained at this hour unanswered. Ha hoped, by thia time the parties would sec the re ison of his having so acted. If, therefore, there via any activity in the market of either Landoi or Liverpool, or elsewhere. it certainly was not effected as had been insinuated. (Hear.) He denied most distinctly that any such in. formation had transpired ; and he challenged the Hon. Begone and all mankind, to spew that it hail, either in the most direct or most Indirect manner. (Loud cheers.) Sir E. KNATCH BULL said, he believed it impossible for the Right lion. Oentletnna to have done that which he disclaimed. No ene amid suppose that a person of hie high character, possess. ing the confidence of the House, and, except, perhaps, on this question, of the country, could have acted us had been insin uated and repelled. (Hear, bear.) He (Sir E. Knatelibull) could not sit down without expressing his extreme regret that Ministers should have thought it their duty, at such a time, end under such circumstances, to introduce such a measure of so delicate a nature. Nothing but the most imperious necessity could warrant it. He should reserve any observations he might have to make on the principle of the measure for another period. Mr. HOLME SUMMER made a few observations that were not audible. The petition was then brought up. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE had not the most distant idea of mak ing the lasinttation which had been attributed to him. ( Hear, hear ) If the Right Hon. Gentleman hid heard what fell from his lips, he (9lr T. Lethbridge) did not think he could possibly have con• ■trued them as they had been interpreted by his lion. Friends. He disclaimed entirely meaning to convey the least implication. (Cheers.) He merely stated the fact which he had received from good authority, and to which he could not help attaching credit. (Her, hear.) . . . - . . Mr. HUSKISSON said he felt himself satisfied with the expla nation of the Hon. Baronet. Having been informed of the im. president the observation had made. he considered it due to himself—to his chararter as an individual, and his honour es a public offitev, to meet it as he had. (fleet.) Sir F. BURDETT heard what was said by the Honourable Raronet,Ond had not the least suspicion that it cool be interpreted as it bed been. itir. BROUGHAM felt great satishwtion nn hearing the clear and unegnivnesl denial of any inference that might be drawn from the accidental statement of the Hon. Baronet. Nothing could be more satisfactory than the denial. If there had been any such charge made against the Right Hon. Gentleman, bethought it would have been moat unfair, for one thing that his Majesty's Jiinisrns bad been reproached with particularly was, that forty eight hours before they came down to the House, they had no in. tension of disturbing the Corn Laws this Session ; but that at the expiravion of this time, without any assignable reason, they came down to the House and Introduced the present measure. (Hear, hear.) Ile should not have risen on the present occasion, but lie was glad to have the opportunity of explaining to his Honourable Friend, the 3lember fur Shaftesbury. whom the regretted not to see in his place, and some other Honourable Gentlemen, for whom he entertained the greatest respect, and who had expressed some dis appointment at the vote he gave on this question a few evenings since, he wished to explain to them whr he voted for the original question, and not for the amendment. It had been inferred, be. cause he did not support the latter, that he was unwilling to in. quire into the existing distress with a view to apply a proper remedy. Now, than this there was nothing further from his in tention. lie did not hesitate to say, that he voted for the present measure with I{ view to gating along with it the general question. (Cheers.) Ile thought Ministers ought to have the power granted them which they seek, that they might prevent the occurrence of ecarci(y. (Hear, hear.) There was a curious coincidence in the vnteS*l qu estion. The night before last, prbelecly the mote number constituted the majority in heronr of the motion, as had voted in opposition to it on the Iftth of April ; and the mincrity in favour of the motions-to the In•h aim-mined to the same number its that which opposed it the night before last. On the 13th of April of what was it that they complained ? They apelntained that it was necessary to enter into a discussion of the question, and the ground of the measure then proposed was, that it was advisable to throw open the corn trade. with a protecting duty, and keep the landlords and farmers no longer in suspense. The present measure, it was true, was tint so esteasive a. this, but as it went in that direction, he thought himself juatihied in voting for it. (Hear.) Mr. BENETT said, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had given a very good excuse for the way in which lie had voted, or perhaps he ought to say rather a r;.ry good explanation. lie (Mr. Brnetto could not help asking if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had shown that his vote was consistent, what sort of consistency could there be on the part of those who originally voted against him, hut who, after the lapse of a fortitight, were giving their votes on the same side with the Hun. and Learned Member ? (hear, heir.) Mr. Monetary PEEL said, the former motion alluded to was of a permanent nature; the meaatire now proposed wan not to be so; it was only to give a temporary discretion to al Misters, which was to be used for temporary purposes. Ile thought he had, in a very few words, satisfactorily answered the question as to consistency, put by the lion. Member. Sir J. SEBRIGHT rose for the purpole of cautioning all gentlemen interested in the corn question, as to what would be the result if the present measure passed. It was Isis moat decided onittinn, and the opinion of all those whom he had consulted, that it' the present measure were carried, the general question of the Corn Laws was derided. and they should nave open ports with a protecting duty of 12s. per quarter. Ile dui not mean to say that such was the present cotillion of Government—it was for them to give the opinion they at present entertained • but lie thought it his duty to state that it was his most decided 'Winton his anticipations would be verified. lie could not say he approved of the present Corn Laws (hear, hear): so far its he could judge, lie thought them dangerous in the extreme. Ile was of opinion corn ought to he subject to • certain permanent dusty. lie might disaatee with some lion. Gentlemen as to what that duty ought to be, hut be had no objection to the principle. The measure so treqoently referred to this evening was • suet of anouudy, such as lie did nut Ir'"‘AP-%-w.yP. know how to describe. He who lintl admired that decision which was the characteristic of the present Ooverhment, whose high and lofty mode of acting had obtained for it the awe and respect of all, cold not row walk through the street without befog asked what they were about. Before the manufacturing classes began to born power-looms the period had not arrived when it was expedient to make any alteration in the laws: but se soon as looms were burnt, and disorder broke out, this ridiculous measure was brought forward, Hear, hear.) Ile was caked to explsio on, what principle they were now acting ; but really he could not understand it him self. Of this, however, lie was convinced: if these measures passed there was at: end to the Corn Laws. With this view of them, he should oppose then. to the utmost of his power. Lord Al/THORP recommended Government, notwithstanding any inconvenience they might incur, no longer to tamper with these laws, but in ►ettle them at once. (Cheers.) lie should vote against this measure because it was ocly of a temporary nature. Lord J. HtISSELL made a few übservauona, which did not reneh us. .11r. ‘ll - 11T3IORE also made a few ohicrvations, which were inaudible. Mr. BARING asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intended to bring up the Report of the Conmiittee on the Corn Laws in the course of the evening. or postpone it till to-morrow ? The CH A NCEI.I.OR of the EXCHEQUER replied, as we understood, that he had'ao objection to postpone it Unit, particular reason were shown ; hut. unless there were some necessity he should pref,r its being brought up to-night. Mr. - BARING said he ;tad a great objection to this as a measure of relief. it was impossible this House, when the nature of the measure was fully before it, could consent t 6 its introduction ; and he put the question concerning the Report to the Right Hon. Gentle man, because lie thought the two propositions ought not to pass consecutively. The measures should be brought forward at once and together. He agreed with the lion. Member for Hertfordshire (Sir J. Scbtight), that if the measures were once allowed, it would not le or a year only—it would be permanent. (hear) Ministers complei'ed but recently that this was not a fit time for the discus sion of tile (petition ; it was not a fit time then when the investiga tion Might have been gone into, but it was a fit time time for the introduction of the measure now without any inquiry at all. lie Moped the general question would be moved, that it might be set at rest ; it it were not, he should moss It Itimself. Mr. LEYCESTER said, if the isty . were 12s. It would he a waste of money, foe individuals would raise their selling price from 211 s. to :;os.. and get an additional ii. in their pockets. The pLtition was then read, and ordered to be printed. GA ME LAWS. Sir R. HERON gave notice- that he should move for leave to brirg in a It'll to legalise the selling of game. Sir F. BI 'RDETT presented a petition from Dr. Thorp, itte Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, praying the House to take into con sideration the cause of his dismissal from his situation, with a view to awarding him a fair remuneration. The petitioner let forth that he had been dismissed without any charge being made out against him.. lie presented a petition every year to keep his claim alive. Auer a few words in support of the petition, from Mr.Baounitasi and Blr II t• mt. Mr. W HORTON said the matter might be investigated if the petitioner would bring It regularly before the House. lie (Mr. W. Horton) should be lithe prepared to meet the case. Mr. HUTCHINSON said it was very hard to call on the peti. tioner to make out a cue for the House, when, if h were stated to the Colonial Secretary, it would answer all the ends ofjustice. After a few words from Lord NUGENT, the petition was Of. defect to be printed. STATE OF THE NATION. Mr. 111'31E rose and said, that in presenting himself to the at. tuition of the House on the present question, he was fully aware i that it Lad been remittently handled on former occasions by men of great talent. Ile wtabed therefore that the subject had been taken up by his Majesty's Ministers in a way that would have precluded the necessity of its introduction on his part. He had, however, in the instances when the question was before dismissed, paid all the attention which its importance merited ; and as he conceived it not peeper to be neglected or delayed, he requested the indulgence of the House to the statement on which he intended to found some Resolutions. In doing so, he thoughtlit was necessary to correct some mistakes respecting the currency, into which many well-meaning persons seemed to have been misled. Two years had now elapeed slime he gave notice of his intention to lay the matters connected with the subject now before them under consideration. He hoped that his present conduct:would not be considered to have been adopted with a view to throw any unnecessary obatables in the way of Govern. ment. He had indeed been trying to induce them to a course Milli- In to that in which he was now proceeding, but though he did not prevail, he professed that ho felt no desire to have it supposed that he wished to embariass Ilia Majesty's 31inisters. On the contrary, he gave medic to them for the spirit of moderation which they had shown on all subjects except the case of taxation. In that respect they had fallen much too short of the mark. He disapproved ex ceedingly of the lavish mode in which the public money was cx. needed, and he regretted that attempts should have been adopted from time to time, by persons who ought to meow better, to mis lead the country by pretexts of expediency for the continual supply of taxes. His object therefore was, to put an end to the delusion, and to expose the fallacy of the system against which he protested. By the favour of the Treasury he was enabled to procure documents on which the Resolutions which he meant to propose were founded. Ily_reference to these documents, which were lying in the Vote Office, Hon. Members might easily understand what he wished to convey. He did nut propose on the present cccasion to advert to the Sinking Fund, to which he intended to direct the attention of the House at some future period, as he deemed it worthy of sepa rate consideration. His immediate object was to show the abusive pressure of taxation throughout the community, so that at no period was there an universal benefit; for if the manufacturing elan prospered, the agricultutists were surely depressed, or the reverse occurred. The regularity of such alternation of misery among the several classes of the c 'impunity was a strong proof that the pro cess which occasioned it:was defective, and requiredl amendment. Various opinions were entertained as to the point where the error of the system lay. Some persons imputed the blame to the state of the currency ; others ascribed it to the Corn Laws ; while a third party charged all the Ida. on the imperfection of the commerce. These were not the only grounds on which people thought the mis. chief lay. Jle however was of opinion that the evil was not con tained within the compass of a single cause, but was more proba bly the result of all. It was therefore necessary that an inquiry should be instituted. He hoped on that account that hie motion would not be considered ill-advised. The thing hitherto had been so misconducted that it was impossible for the public to under. stand the nature of what was going forward. Affairs affecting the finances seemed to have been designedly involved in unintelligible obscurity. It seemed to have been the object to confound the sys. rem of the Bank with the currency, a nd the confusion of both sub. jects produced circumstances of great mischief. Ile thought it wan necessary to understand the nature and situation of a subject before the remedy could be devised. ‘Vith that purpose he wished to re. move from his 31ajesty's Ministers the idea of adopting temporary measures. now that the country was in such a condition as was beyond precedent. The time to which he wished to draw the atten tion of the 110313 C was from the Ist of January, 1817, to the present time. Ile did not know why the Chancellor of the Exche quer, on two Fortner occasions connected with the subject, had drawn his conclusion from the year 11116 to the sth January, 1823, and from the sth January, 1:123, to the sth January, 1826. Ile (Mr. Hunie),however, thought it batter to start from the year 1817, because the consolidation of the English and Irish Exchequers then took place. By adopting that point of time, lie avoided the embar. rassmenta which prevailed previously in attempcng to regulate the balances between the two Exchequers, and to show the accounts as they really were. That wes a cause of objection front the year 1793 to the year 1817. He had made the experiment, and was fully aware of the difficulty, and in fact of the impossibility, of arrang. ing the balance between the two Exchequers in the period just spe cified. There 'teemed to hare been a studied obscurity in that respect, before the aeceintion to office of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer. Another reason which caused him to adopt 11117 as the year proper Fir the comparison was, that the Finance Com mittee of that period had prescribed some wholesome regulations, though they had been since unfortunately neglected. At that time a Noble Lend, who wean member of the Committee, stated that the object of those regulations was to keep the finances of the country in such a state of certainty as to guard against any sudden contin. gencies—that the system of providing funds should be on so settled a foundation as that the nation_wc ylel be nlwayk, empowered to dimmer! of what the tieteiVties ter - WS, or other such expensive casualties, might require. It was also recommended that the tuxes should be reduced, and that a surplus revenue should be provided to meet the exigencie s w hi c h mi g h t occur . He thought lie could peeve, to the satisfaction of the House, that there was a great doll of error in refe voce to the finances of the country, and that the year 1816 did not afEnd a proper comparison. It was COll. tetithd that in that year there was a great excess of income over expendlturele it was estimated at 102 millions; but it should be recollected than a large portion of the excess, nine millions, was brought out of the preceding year's surplus into IRK There was a mistake of two millions in the calculation, and also there were three - millions paid for reduction of the Three per Cents. In fact, altogether the amount was sixteen millions in that period more than' in the present Sear, without adding a chilling to the Sinking Fund, so that the reduction of the 16 millions should not be attn. bitted to that source. The mistake of the two millions in that year was curious; 31 ovations were put down instead of 29, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer took credit for the difference. Up to 1016, however. there was no surplus revenue; but under the Fi nance Committee a new system commenced. He therefore called on his Alajwity's Ministers to furnish an explanat'.tn of the nature of the accounts, and to let people see what was the real state of affairs. The neglect of giving such information, however, caused the public to suppose that the national debt was really reduced by meats of the Sinking Fund to the amount of more than 40 millions, in the interval of the two periods assigned by the Chancellor or the Exchequer. It was for the purpose of dis. sipating such anielution that he wished to refer Members to the documents which he haul already mentioned. By them It would appear that the diminution of '27,327.7801. had been effected by a reduction of 18,072.023/. in the fended debt, and in a decrease of the unfunded debt of !1.255.7571.' there haying been in the year 11117, January 5, 796,200,21111. funded, anti 411,564,7 71. unfunded; ai.d fur January 5, INN, 770,120,261 M fended, and 41,309,11301. unfunded. That might not be the precise increase, because there s.aa half of a million in the year 1817, by the consolidation, and for the year 11126, 5,000,0401. ellottl.l he allowed for the Exchequer bills. It would be found, on reference to the documents, that there was a difference of 8 millions, end thus only 11l millions of the ca. pital had been reduced. By No. 4, in the documents, It would be observed that of the 114,072,023/. of capital of funded debt reduced, in the nine years, 11117-25, 6,934,284/. were cancelled, leaving only 11,1374381. of funded, or altogether, only *393,4951. The charge ^NMI.. kostasmoil ..---~- .4p 414.4 •••• k a •wi THE BRITISH PRESS. nn the funded debt of both periods wee, for 1817, 29.870,8131., and for 1826 , 27,679,85 1 W., 'sheering a decrease In the nine years of an nual charge of 2.190,9971. The reduction of charge for tiefunded debt was 794.7601., making with the former a total of 2 935,7571. That was effected without any application of the surplus revenue, or proceeds of loans, Imperial Annuities, or }exchequer Annuities, expired or Long Annuities. Conversion 5 per cents in 182'2, end of 4 and fe per cents. 1/124. and charges of management. These items, amounting to 1,1162,9071., added to dividends on capitals cancelled, and on 3.807,1131. of 4 per auto. dissentients, formed a total re. duction of charge on funded debt of 2,242,716!. Here thee were seven millions actually rehire!. The Hon. Member then proceeded to the consideration of :he total amocot of the reveeue in the years 1817-11125 (exclusive of loans and dead weight), which he Said was :132,266,5351. ; and the total expenditure, including all charges for interest of debt, civil and military cstablishnientst, in game period, except payment to Commissioners of Sinking Fund, was :106,309.6141., giving a clear surplus of 22.956,932 in which, with other sums from Austria and the East India Company. mode an amount of money of 25,961,5391, disposable for the redemption of debt, exclusive of 6,917,5691. from the Bank of England in the years 11122-21, in part payment of an annuity for 45 years. The Hon. Member then referred to the Appendix of the document, to show that the annual income of the kingdom for the last nine years had been progressively Increasing each year ; yet. in the face of such proofs, it was asserted by the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite that the country was relieved froin taxation, 11e wished the Right lion. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs would peruse those proofs before he repeated the assertion. The total moment of expen diture in the period was 508.309,6141., and of income 531,266,535/. Thus there was an increase of real available Sinkino Fund to the amount of about 2500,0001 e while the nominal Sinking Fund was estimated at 125,000001. In the year 1017 there was a decrease of 7,1507,4021. applicable to a reduction of public debt. Under such cit. cumstances the Ministers who vaunted of the 150,000,0001.0 f Sinking Fund might fairly he accused of wishing to throw dust in the eyes of the House. The Sinking Fu - d had amounted, in truth, on an ave rage, only to two millions and a half per year. It might be asked by the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, where did the 124,000,600 e come from ? By reference to thedocuinent, it would be found that there was received, in the year 11117. a sum of four teen millions ; 1818, of fifteen millions and a half—(the lion. Gentlemen referred to the Appendix, column C.) The Commis sioners of the Sinking Fund had received 116,000,000 f. of that sum. (dome denial having bees made from the Treasury Bench) —The Hon. Gentleman repeated that it was the fact, and he would, to set the matter at rest, move for a Committee of Inquiry, If the HOLM were to sit for two months or six weeks longer. Mr. l'itt was grossly in error when he supposed that the Sinking Fund could be a source of profit to the nation—it had, in fact. never done otherwise than sink the money. of the nation. (A laugh.) No nation cootd derive a profit by trading with them teelves, and therefore the Sinking Fund was founded in fallacy and delusion. If an individual gave wheat for wheat, both belonging to himself, how could he profit ? The fact was, that in a smell state like Genoa, the surplus funds !night be advantageously em ployed by purchasing in the foreign funds, where a larger interest might be obtained for it than at home. He wouid suppose, how. ever, that the Last India Company should send teas to Bengal, and buy silks in return, and then ask in what manner they could realize dprolit ? They could not realize a profit by such a transac. tion, both commodities being their own. He could show that mil. lions had been lest since the year 171/4, by the operation of the Sinkiug Fund ; or, in other words, by the nation dealing in Its own securities. It hail been said that the Sinking Fund supported public credit, but this he denied. It was a system of weenie:inn which was destructive in itself ; as it originated with the Govern ment, that same Government ought immediately to put it down. It was time to retrace our steps. He did not wish to lay blame at any man's door in particular, but he fel: bound to declare that the financial arrangements had swept away all the benefits which might have been derived from the surplus revenue which had ac crued. It could be easily proved that the Sinking Fund did not add to public credit, fur all the profit which it could realize must be derived from the general wealth of the country. In the year 1819, the Chancellor of the Exchequer required a loan of twenty. four millions; anti as soon as his object was announced, three sets of Gentlemen made arrangements for becoming the bidders. It was usual upon all occasions for Government to borrow double the sum they required, in order to fund one-half towards the payment of the other. On the Tuesday the funds fell in consemienee of the announcement, and on Wednesday morning, an Hon. Friend of his advised the Chancellor of the Exchequer to borrow only 12 millions, and transfer the remainder ; and he would thus throw dust into the eyes of the ignorant. (A laugh.) The Chancellor adopted the plan. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE(eUER said, across the table, that he had nothing to do with it. Mr. 11U311: admitted that it was the predecessor of the flight , lion. Gentleman. The three sets of bidders hid offered to take the loan at 661., but when the Chancellor declared that he refit' red but 12 millions, they immediately raised their bidding to 691., b which s savitig of three millions was effected. Every sum whic h was added to the Sinking Fund was therefore clearly productive of loss. He regretted extremely the mystification which pervaded all the accounts which were submitted to the House relative to the finances of the country. He had been some years ago a Member of a Committee appointed fur the purpose' of ascertaining whether those accounts could not be simplified, and a better system adopted. The Hon. Member for Abingdon ( Mr. Millie - Fly) and himself had done their utmost to persuade the Committee to adopt a pion :Adele they deemed calculated to render those accuunla as clear aell as 10. telligible as - they ouelit to be. The French Government kept their accounts in such a manner as that any man of common understand. ing might see at a glance the state of the finances of the country. Indeed, every country did so except Englund. Their &bets were, however, unavailing, the Committee declining to adopt their sug gestion. in the course of nine years there had accrued a disposable surplus of 25 millions, and as during that period there was no equi valent reduction of debt, he wished to know what hall becoille of that surplus. He had thewn what the charge of the public debt amounted to in ;817, and he would now proceed to spew what it would have been in 1826 if the surplus revenue had been applied, year after year, to tine liquidation of the debt, instead of being placed in the Sinking Fund. The Honuurable Gentleman then proceeded to read a !series of calculations, the result of which went to establish the fact, that if the plan he had adverted to had been adopted without the operation of the Sinking Fund, the unfunded debt, which now amounted to 32,000,000/., would have been only 23,500 0001. Ile felt, therefore, that he was entitled to call for an explanation. Be was entitled to ask how the Sinking Fund could operate beneficially for the nation, when 'he found that upwards of' three millions were lost by its operation. lie hoped that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, now that he was in a condition to do so, would put an end to a per. nicious system. In one instance. die Commissioners for the Sink ing Fund had applied six millions of money, which had been bor rowed at the rate of 75/. far every 1007.. to the purchase of stock at the rate of 811/.; by which a loss of 21 per cent, accrued to the country—a hem to the amount of nearly a million and a half, which might much better have remained in the pockets of the people. In the twenty-four years following the year 1792, the revenue of the country amounted to 1.126,000,0001. ; the expenditure during the same period to 1,533,000,0001; leaving an excess of expenditure of 497,000,000/. Instead of borrowing that sum, however, in or. det to pay the deficiency, the sum borrowed watt 618 000,0007., and of this 128,000.000/. was appropri ated to the Commission f o r th e reduction of the National Debt. From this statement an idea might be formed of the extent of their transactions. Ile hoped, however, there would be an end put to the purchase of the three pet cents. when they arrived at a certain sum, and that the surplus revenue might be applied to the purchase of lung annuities. Ile believed he •Itatl offered sufficient reasons to prove that the whole system was fraught with error and delusion. The country was in such a situation as demanded the immediate attention of his elajeety's Ministers. It was imperative upon them to lessen the emit tiditure of the country, or they must give up the expecta tion of maintaining it in a flourishing condition. In proportion as our difficulties increased, in the same proportion was the value of the productions of the country reduced, in thesaine proportion also was taxation increased ; for even though nominally the same, its burden was increased when the value of the produce of the country was diminished. This was In accordance with his 27th Resolution, which was. That the state of our manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural relations demand the most serious attention, as the evidence before the House proved a progressive diminution in the remuneration for labour in many of die staple articles of manufac tures, as well as for agricultural labour, in refereoce either to the means of subsistence at the present time, or in confparlson with the remuneration for labour at former periods; anti that although die quantity of the products of British labour annually exported pro. gressively increases, yet their value is progressively decreasing." In alluding to the returns of the imports and exports, he whirled to re mark, that to each article there was affixed two values—the official and the declared. The official value referred to quantity, which explanation he believed would render die returns intelligible. It appeared from the returns that the annual average official value of die quantity of products of British labour exported in the three years 1814. 1811, and 1816, was 36,502,3671., and their declared value 44,476,519/. ; whilst in the three years 11123, 1824, and 1825. the annual average official value of the quantity exported was 45.880,927 e, and their declared value only 36,782.9381., showing a depreciation in value, after allowing tior the difference in the value of money, at the two periods, exceeding 25 per cent., and consequently seowing adincreased pressure of taxation In 18%.3 , 5 to that extent, if estintateti in the production of British labour. In three years from 1814, the official value of thirteen articles, spirits, cinnamon, &c. &c. imported, was 59,000,000:, and the declared value upon the same articles, when exported, was 73,000,0001. He mentioned this for the Hon. Member for Grampounil (Mr. Robertson) in par. titular, in order to show the fallacy of making any statement (omitted upon such returns. It would appear by them that the articles had increased In value by being merely warehoused in this country. In 1814 the official value of the exports of British menu. factures was thirty-three millions, the declared value was 43 mil. lions. In 1825 the official value was thirty-eight million., while the declared value was forty-Rix millions ; so that the ar ticles sent out to the foreign market, hi reality worth forty-tax millions, were only valued at thirty-eight millions. This wan a depreciation th it called for die aerious attention of the House, and he was. sure that if the statement were examined by any individual, it would be found perfectly correct, lie, however, only made this statement .in order to carry the House along with him to more important mattrra. He would now call due attention of the House to his next Resolution, being No. 29in the printed paper, in whisk' he undertook to show, " that although the Finance Committee of 1017 celled the notice of the House to the low establishments of the year 1792, and recommended that as near an approximation as possible should be made to the scale of este• blisliment and expense of that year, yet the taxer, r a i se d i n the United Kingdom, in 1825,exceeded 58 millions, or treble the amount of 1792; in 4 the expenses of the Civil List, themaral sod military 4 4 , jidir" r " r 7 - • •• , 41lauw••••.- .4. a ~"".~~ establish mpaeenhn,tateli,tft:arwne.(ll7i r le nh i , l emi government, twasexpend i ture 2 exceeded was 26 rnTii elusive of the charge for the debts), 1 1e n i i n ii g i jo i n e s tt . r t rn l " 2" ea * he olifontsheareidx only account t Oas depressed th st a a t te po of ehh t o h n e coofmdmheunnieotyi:le latot millions bfoer the di,ided among the 51! sera capable of labour, it would be found to be a capitation tax amo unt ing beyond all calculation what any person could anomie labour could bear. The country gentlemen talked loudly for the i 11- of the revenue ; but he considered that, as far as production nt le er t a the country gentlemen were perfectly useless. (Loud laught er. ) en j He considered that every man who lived on half. pay, on ap e 't i e a r tr '' or every individual receiving a salary, but wl:o did not wora a w l e,;• in fact, useless in the production of any portion of tha mink,,, --; of taxes. (Hear, hear.) It wan the arm that guided the 2 the hand that plied the hammer, and that miwisa t aa "lll- a Le t h ti at on it ert 100M- 1 t was those who were the productive dates in l a; community (loud cheers), ail others were unproductive; t he community was from the increased number of the latter class of indi vidua l s that that the present difficulties of tl e country load arisen. Ga m hear ) They had now three pensionus for one; three idle nits for one dustrious one. In such a state of timil:gs, was it to be wond that distress should b: act the country on ail sides? They . t u nd " blind themselves, as the Cliteneellor of the Exchequer wouldireedi se to nh n is a ) k ; e b t o h t e , m n ( n be il al t i h o e ul e d ee eo on n h i m e e t h t.:e l :t a t t e r n m cl a es i t " p u re r mince Committee of 1817 was attended to, i t was i n vain th * to took for prosperity. That committee had pointed out several red ' oe that might be easily adopted. The Ri g ht Hon. Gentlenta u n c leaa took a review of the circumstances which led to the appointment° f the committee, and enumerated the different alemb ers w h o h composed it (which Inlet; no other than a rep et i t i on of the 11°14 had Gentleman's observations when sneaking of t h e N avy Estimates, 'we do not think it necessary to fallow him). The H on . Gentleman proceeded to observe, that it had been objected to his going so t er back as the year 1792, In order to ground his argument.? Why go so fart melt, raid the, Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite? If would turn the tables upon them, and ask why, when p wanted to get a job through the House, they deemed it necessary to go fartherback than 1792? The Right Hon. Gentleman (31i Canning), when wishing to et( ct the office of T reasurer of the Navy . r into a distinct office, had urged, as an argument, that it had M existed in 1782, and his colleague did not scruple to support him ion that ground ; lot. notwithstanding their effort, and their pr d tat of 1782. they had got rid of it, thank God ! Having pre. mi- so much (a laughk—gtutlernen must excuse bide. but he was only just coming to the miporiantatut of his subject. (Renewed laughter.) He really begged pardon of the House (bear, heav)l but if there were any gentlemen who had not time nor ditty:shim to understand the mode in which the public accounts were teach up. hr thought if they would just favour him with their attention for a little while, t' ey could not be more profitably employed, mg he thought he should be able to give them 'kind of clue to the laby. rinths in which these things were involved. The whole of what fie had yet stated was however but a timbale to what was to follow The recomn end Ilion of the Finance Committee of 1817 was t o reline the public expenditure as near as tressaible to that of 1793. The filmic would presently see, by the statements he should make, that so far from that having been done, their expenses had gone on increasing yearly front that time, and he knew nos where they would stop, till sonic great catastrophe happened to compel them. Ile wodld now read Ws 30th Resolution, whereas' he stated, " That a reference to the great amount of die Civil List, to the number of pensioners, sinrcurlits, and highly-pald Im:toccata, to the unnecessary number and expense of th e aftLy , navy, ord. nance, and civil establiahments„ wauldsuffieleutly prove hat den regard had not been raid to the recommendations of that Coen. mine. It was therefore imperative on this Howie to ennead as immediate reduction of taxation, in coolormity with that re. commendation, as the hest means of relieving the country from its present embarrassments." Such was the remedy which he (Mr. flume) had strongly urged ou the House at a time when he was scarcely livened to, the prosperity tif the sun. try being then the only theme. Now, assertions had been made that there had been a reduction of ()Malian. It was only the other day said, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that dune had been a diminution of taxes to the extent of twenty-seven millions since the ter:nioation of the war. Such atatements he would declare Wert de'usive and fallacious, whether applied to the actual reduction of the revenue, or to the amount of taxes which were collected. la order to bear out this deal +ration, lie had obtained a return, width he now held in his hand, of an account ot the gross receipt of revenue, after the drawbacks had been deducted, exclusive of all loans and payments from Ireland. This account waiffrom the year 1015. But in order to give • fair average of receipts, and not togo by single years. an wae. the deluiire practice of Ministers in that Ifoate, he had thought it right to extend the comparison of recaipts to the years 1813, 1814, and 1815, being three years of the greatest amount, and when the receipts average.l 69,0104271. It would be recollected that a reduction of the Froperty Tax took place in 11116, which amounted to fourteen millions, and that lour millions odd of war taxes were also reduced in that yeah—roaking a total reduction of eighteen mil'ions In 1816. In 1817 and 1818 other Fedor:dons took place ; but, in 1819, there being three millions of fresh taxes imposed, the Chancellor of the Exchequer wok credit only for the actual reduction ot twenty-seven millions. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs had referred to this statement, and eaclaimed, " Behold the eel of which we have given to the people einem the peace !" But he (Mr. Hume) would assert that there had been no relief at all. There had, he would admit, been sontething effected, aid far which he was ready to give 51i. niiters credit. There Ia I been a be:ter disposition in exacting the taxes. Many taxes. which were unproduettee, had been done away, anti others bad certainly been rendered less burdensome to some, and had been spread over a large portion of the community. But in estimating the amount of taxation, they must not confine their views to one particular class of persons, but their judgment should be formed fuom considering how the whole community were effected. It was delusive to consider the subject otherwise. It was on this ground he had, in the first day of the Session, objected to the inierterence with the bank notesystern ; because it would be the means of depriving the public of a purcon of the capital which was necessary to give the people employment. The same amount of money was taken from the people in the shape of taxes as before ; there was therefore no such thing as a relief afforded in taxation. Tile alterations had rendered taxes, indeed, less onerous, butstill the same amount had actually been received. In the calculations he had made, he took his comparison by showing, that, during the last three years there had been more money received from the pee. pie than in the years 11117, 1818, and 1819. In these years the average amount of taxation was 51,762,3391., while in the years 1112 I, 1824, and 1825, the average amount was 52,430,765/., being actually an excess of 688,426/. of money paid in the standard value. So that. as regarded this period, there had not been any reduction in taxation. By a return n.ade of all the moneys collected in the year 11420, either by taxes. or on articles exported or imported, be found that the reduction of receipts on those items in money rake, at the p esent period, amounted to 1,600,000/. He therefore con tended, that there had not been anything like a reduction of 27 millions of taxes. On the contrary, be should show that the amount of taxation was at the present moment heavier on the people of England titan in any of those periods he had just referred to. He had already stated that the average receipt for the years 1813.15 was 89,010,2271., but that being in paper money, not convertible into gold, the average, if taken in gold, was equal only to 53.741.7141., whilst the average amount of taxation for the years 1823.5 was 52,430 7651., convertible into gold, showing a reduction only of 1.310,949/. of money of standard value, instead of 27,000,0001. If a comparison were made of the amounts of tax ation at these two periods, in labour or products of labour, the pressure in 18235 would prove to be considerably greater than in 1813.15, as the annual money automat of taxes, on an average of the three years 1813.15, was only equal to 15,853,926 quarters of wheat, at 804. 9d. per quarter, the average price of that pe.iod; whilst the money amount of taxes, on an aYeragc of the three years 1821-5, was equal to 17,134,546 quarters of wheat, at 60s. 2el. per quarter, the average mice of that period. So that if the Mal were collected in wheat, the country would have paid nearly tut, millions of quarters more during the last year than tbey did during the years of' the greatest possible nominal taxation. %Would not all this account for the derangement which socie:y had lately experienced, and did it not go to rebut the assertion, that a r.lief had been given to tile people to the amount of twenty-seven millions of taxation ? Instead ut any such relief, there was an in crease of 20 per cent. taxes to what they were during the war. It therefore became the duty of Parliament, before they separated, to elect something that should remedy this evil. Theaeruning-knde ought to be instantly applied': and if the country gee en wished to retain their property, or those who were interested in the public tunds were anxious to have that interest preserved to them, it was their duty to exert themselves, in order that some immediate change might be effected in the present ruinous system. (Hear, hear.) He begged to refer the House to his next Resolution (beteg No. JO where lie stated, " That the continued pressure of taxation had greatly increased the privations and distress of the produc tive, industrious, and labouring claws of the community, as was manifest from the stationary, it' not diminished. w h o ; auttaption of the taxable, articles Of primary necessity, and t decreasing sonsumption of malty taxable articms of erjoymert and luxury, notwithstanding a gnat increase in the !melba of 'consumers." Now, on this subject, it was necessary the Haug should clearly underetand the object he had in view. It would recollected that • Noble I, ird had, a abort time ago. stated. I n another place, and the Chancellor of the' Exchequer had also m ade the same obi.ert ation in • Committee of this Howie, that the ability of the country to pay the taxes was •i idea', nom theinere aaed eonsumption in all.excisable articles. It was right that the Chan cellor of the Exchequer should speak fur himself • he would there; tare refcrabe Right Hon. Gentleman to the apart:it made by hinl__ 1823, - where, after referring to the averaga— al increased coneunnwlon of excisable articles, he asked wh e th er th at t a ct was not a 'lntoin of the lunnoved condiuioq of. the people, and whether it did not _ afford him a just ground upon whi c h to c o ngratulate the House an d the country ? “Parliatuent (said the Right lima lientlensui now Contemplate with pride' the high position the country had attained, while looking around they beheld comfort, content, rota perity, and order, reigning throughout time land.a It was by such delusive words as these that the House had been actirgfromlear to year, led on by the fl a tt er i ng d es criptions of the Hight tic"' Gentleman.i which were given as regularly as hie Budgets. ▪ n 1825 the Right Hon. Gentleman urged time same fact elan inctea sed , consumption of excisable articles, a s a proof of the prosperit y o f the country. On that very occasion, however, he rose in his place. whilst those about him were congratulatiag the Chancellor of the ' Exchequer and each other at the fine picture that had been drawn, and stated teat the time w a s not one f or e x u ltation, while e° larg e an amount of taxes was still levied on the people. The guts o- n which the House ought to cons id er was not , what was the actual amount of taxation, but w h a t was t h e con di t i o n of the peop le, I Ina how were they able to bear such demands as were made *pen them. At that very time the agricultural interests were suffer. log a depression in the greatest degree, and no one could look • ' ~_~"'.