The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-05-11 00:00:00

r 1 U :1 l i I) ealcubielis than himself to fey:whet benefit had ever arisen Rom tees Fend. It bad existed front the year 179 - 2 to the year 11119, oi period of 27 yeses'opd he would challenge tiny lion. Member 0 anew the benefit defied 6'olll the measure. 'I he statement of the Anemia -•iteseien- of ..die country would, le thought. snake the answer perfectly clear, and he would then ask the Wine if such a measure could be deemed either essentially necessary or ex pedient the the payment of debt. In the year 1791 the debt amounted to two hundred millions ; in the year 11119, the debt of the c .u.try was eight hundred millions; here, theiefere, was an sohlitein to the debt of six hundred millions, during the refuel - of the relegate of this Fund. How, therefore, could this Feed he weld to be awf u l? lie was scaly LI) admit :hat the debt win dimi malted since the ear 1819, but it must be owing to other causes shun this Fun d; its operation could not cause the roluctien that took 'duce mace the year 1619; since that pisiod a reduction tonic place upon the debt, to the ameent of three millions ; Mk could u , m be u ftertvtl by the operation of this stunt of five million. l'pon the 4th January, 1819, the debt amounted to 791,1117,1e5t ; the in terest upon it was the suns of A 1,356,971/. lle would ineks a state ment of this interest at 26 years purchase. —lllere there rile wane es emoting of interruption . ; The lion. elember said it wet of the high..t consideration that there should be a clear ides upon this 'object; it wits a matter deserving of the mot 114.11111111 coosident tees He would take the value of 25 year, purchase, and this I "mid mane the real monied debt of the country upon the tell MI Jneuary, 1819, amount to 73:1.11119,3301.—thia auto would repre 'fed the mowed debt of the country. Titter had been, more Januery 1819, • reduction of that debt to the amount of 9.61nee171., maid, the debt at !,resent amount to the sum of 71.12.2e.ffitl e The interest upon the debt had been also diminished, wee it was upen the diminution of chi. totercst he meant to gement that melon which he had the honour of submitting to the Howie. slice tholes's 11119, there was a reduction upon the interest of the debt of l e eibbelle2J. ; it was evident and clear that the five niiniens uppropriamil to the reduction could not have operated to dila ex tent ; thatareduction was effected in the following manner :—The BUM of 1,e10,04.141. was reduced by the reduction of the 6 per cents. to 4 per epos., and a diminution of 376,1.11/01. wan dr!Cted by the retuctioa of the 4 per cents to 3 1 ,. This sum of 1,668,0110/. was equivalent to the reduction of 53,000.0101. capital ; and from this statement it must be evident to all of what little utility the 4.090,1310 L were when appropriated to the discharge of the debt. 'lle diminution was caused by the activity, the ability, aid industry of the people at large, in the appliextion and isse of their own capital. To this statement he eddy dial. I segol the attention of the House; the truth of it could not be denisd, and it was equally clear the five millions haul no share weeteyer in reducinsethe interest. It was clear from the speed it lei which it was effected, the Sinking Fund was nut the cause; and he would take on himself to affirm, the fund unaltered ne other purpose than that of dragging so much money fruit the pockets of a reluctant people. When we considered the debt was OHM :,ialsed since 11119 by nine millions, it was impossible to attribute the alteration to the operation of the fund. Ile would nosy use tin amount, which may appear strange, that the money value of our it .ht at present exceeded the money value of the debt in 1819, by 1. ;141,074L And notwithstanding the appmpriation of the 6,0110,00 a the tummy value of the debt would be greater in 182847 than it Is at present. As to the public, it was of little cousomence whe ther the debt amounted to three hundred or A doused millions ; it •ns to the interest the remit would look, aid not to the capital. They would be called to pay the interest; and they would prefer the reductieu of the interest, and expect it in a reduction of the ,see.. A greater sum was wanted at present than in the year 1319 for Ilkw reduction of the intereat. Whether the plan was tight or sarong he would not (ureteral to say; he was inclined to think, Item all the consWeration he could give the subject, that this tak leg of live millions from the pockets of the . people would have the effect rather of retarding than of accelerating the payment of the debt. It would not reduce the debt, even if the fund were at par. lie • blotted, the addition of five millions to the unfunded debt would be beneficial, if the credit of the country were in a tottering stele; then the case might admit a di ff erent argument ; but the p•iLlie credit was in no danger whatever; if it were, why were se s. soy Rills submitted to the House, asking permission for the em pioymeut of (aphid in new channels. It might he said, where is the repetlieney of taking off the tax at all ? To ibis he would answer, let the 'talc spend die money ; let it apply the money on consume. I l i tem. the tax were repealed, its amount would be spent on repro duction, and the benefit Mowing from this source would be of a much times extensive nature than had ever been derived from the tax ; ands greater quantity of capital would be advanced by Giving up, than by balding the tax. The increased consumption of articles would miss Make intends for the deficiency, and bring it up. This beuetie be was aware, could not be obtained to-day or to-morrow ; but it would certainly be obtained if peace continued and the pros perity of the people remained as at present. If things continued as nt present, the period would arrive for reducing the 3 per carte This Stab amounted to tre7,ooo,ollW. and the interest upon it amounted to 11,1101,000 e If the interest upon this wen reduced to 2i, like that upon other stock, there would be a considerable saving. If the interest were reduced to 21, it world effect a saving of ...,al,unol., representing a capital of 86 miff:ins. Its addition to the advantages *rising from his plan, If it were assented to, it would remove the necessity of entrusting the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a large surplus. (here there wc:e some symptoms nt inattention in the (louse.) The lion. eleteber rentomed. Ile knew it was a dry subject, but he felt it 31 act of justice to rem it upon the House ; and he was obliged to eo'er into particulars ; as when he sought the repeal of a tax, it was incumbent upon hint to she. the reasons of his demand. tic said Clink it impolitic to make the Chancellor of the Exche quer the peahen of this surplus. Ile did not think be uvula throw it aw, but still he thought the trust imprudent. From the whole of his statement he hoped he made it clear that the change since tin year 111111 could not be owing to the turd in question. These ems aDoeher question to which lie should allude—he meant the railway of the dead weight. Urn this occasion the Minister made a bargain with the Bank, and unfor tunately, from the state of the stock at the time, there was a lons of two minims. There was a bail effect of leaving • surpl u s in the hands of the Right Hon. Gentleman, which the Mouse witnessed. 'fluent was amongst the miscellaneous estimates a sum of 900,0001. TH.. the Hight lion. Gentleman said, should never happen again : ft WY required for churches, palaces, and pictures. This mode was not, he onuceived, dealing fairly with the public, and if his, section WM . attended with success, it could not be repeated. lie hoped the House would now agree with hint that it would be more expedient to take away the fund, the operation of which was un succeedal, and he trusted he could shew it would he much more, beneficial to the public to reduce the interest of the debt. Having row stated, an fully as he was competent, the reasons why he pre- ' Ic.rei the taking off of taxes to the amount of live millions, he would not iniubW the House with any further et mmient on the Sink tog Flusil e but he would loomed to state to the I louse what the taxes were which lie would with to Lave taken off., and he would mention thus* fie the repeal of which he intended to submit a motion to the Illeuse, He would state them in order, not front their annual calcula ti me, which was perhaps higher than the receipt, lie would state thou lately (runt the average of the Right lion. Gentleman hinsself, during the last three years. ceding in January inele The first tax be 'idled to repeal, and he would couple it with another, we. tee Window Tax, producing 1,260,001.1 t. The tax he coupled with this was the House Tax, producing 1.2511,01101. The inten tion we., that these duties should cease from January 111.25. These duties, if repealed, would still leave a surplus of nearly two millions and a half of the five millions kept up as a ;inking mid. The other items he would sum up altogether, and he would give those who were disposed an opportuuity of voting for 4 ',exalt of them aIL Servants - . - 159.4115te Servants in trade . 78,454 e. I Usnasoe, &c. . - 3oomete limes - - . 309,01101. Ligature for coachmakers 50001. The taxes on these articles, wile some other itema, would amount to 1,110.0e01.; and these, when added to the house and witulow. tax, would make a total of 3,M10,0011/. In addition to this, we should get rid of the expenses of collection, amounting to Welted. It was nut hi. intention to injure those who had a 'eel the country ; he del not w.sh to adopt such a paltry saving. l'be servants of the country should be liberally paid, and by this teams it would be better served; the beet part of the lives of those persons was seised in the titmice of; the country they were educeted to that object, and they should not be left to want. Haying guarded e.smielf against the charge of wishing to injure this class of es would cow ask the H House whet chance there was a repeal rer3 l' sly whet axes for four years to conic? Ile could assure the Haase them was no chance at all. Asa proof of this, he hail read A cotrasponolcnce which passed between the Right Hortour.ible tieetletnan and the Commosioners of the Tax Office. The letter It .0 I:shield ; its nature was important, hut he recollected its cur t:nu ; it was written after the neuction of the assessed taxes. Ile d d rot blame the Conunismuners—they acted like ditiegne end ac tat e servants ' • they did their duty, acid were warranted - 61 f the act in their proceedings. They wrote • letter to their assonant and tan gatherers to ;pi thmuglu the country and assess the houses, not for the purpose , as the R igh t Honourable Gentleman H en lesd said, of' equalising. but o raising the assessments. They called upon them to be zealous and industries, not its sepiabsing but in miring the moseessinents, and they would weeni e cud them to the Treasury to receive a fitting reward. He would nee the Right Ilan. Gentlonan, if his object was CqUidi/ci! , 4, Wily did he speak of raising the assessments ? Il'as not his lan guage to raise and increase the duties? Ile approved of the ie 1.- etV:t of the Commissioners in equalising the house assessments; they were unequal; but surely. if there was meaning in wore ' s, fleeing a tax was not equalising it The consequence nt thi. let ter was. that It created general ahem. A report was made to ,mire leather of the Howse against this re-asseonient or stirchnrge. 'lle faun was, the Right lion. Gentleman put an end to tile seheme. In this he acted wisely, and he would, in his °pigeon, act inure wisely still if he put an end to all direct taxation. Ile did not mean to say the nation was not able to hear taxation. lie did Oat mean to assert this, but the country did not wrote: of direct taxation ; this it showed in the tax upon income and pro. yerty; tbe. only fair 'nude of direct taxation that could be itn es, ed the people did not approve of, as it was too inquisitorial ; t ey did not submit to at; they would soon get rid of all direct 'station, and they would never submit to it again. His dislike to iserect taxation was because it was not equal—it was partial. Ile felt another objection when he looked at its machinery. Returns were required, papers were sent, it bleb three-fourths of those who exesieffil them could not understanif—notices were served upon •ich thee - sl r "11 r- The asneutews had also a power time to those who were lem on the same day, and sham from their numbers they had lialiked this mode at' taxation, to the people; it tell more it altogether. Itneverreached ...ea extended to residents, with. escaped direct taxation ; itemerited - tae was laid an servants, *by not *Wm Others ? This tax was partial, it cramped the Industry of the servant. Ile was not like the mechanic or the artisan :in these classes there was competition ; the servant had nothing but his la. hour. Why lay a tax on horses used for agricultural purposes? The tax upon carriages was said to affect mere luxuries ; for this raison be would not qay much on the subject; this tax o hold be " equal ; other luxuries should be also taxed. There was an annual duty laid on coachmakers. Why tax them teinually ? There Mtn a duty on looking glasses, also luxuries, but it was not annual. Why not impose tarns annually on furniture, carpets, &c. ? When in considering the taxation of the empire he looked to Ireland, he owned he felt surprise : there was not a man in the House more anxious for the bestowal of every boon upon that country ; but he Man atlrprit• to find a country, fertile and }resoling so many ad vantages of mil and situation, hasoi"g an t:tolostrimos propuistio, of seven millions, should pay nothing more to the enop)-,. than lief share of the debt. 'rose tasstion i h Inland uonoomoto 1 to Ids. shillings a bead ; in England Yo 31. Hs. noise of this difference was the wa it of employment for 100 r poopulation. If the plan rcournmentled by his hotooloraMe H, were netted upon ; • if commissioner* were apie•ineed fur the parts,. • ; if %liniment serionsly set stoma that objeo•t, the people of I rel."."•o! would he prosperous all harpy: if this, something wo re rot dome, from the event* which w.te likely to follow, a n d ionnictilarly from the ineentim of slum , Inland would :it so me" • period be invaded, and this country iennl.l lind to her cost is wo.ild be h• r ton•ot fornoinable Inc my, MIMI her always in a lode of rebeliion, would gl lolly :tea over uo ii".y guserionent that would take them urnoer eso t.ing. ale would in,. pre x upon the Howse that the role al of !lire. u.flliuzs mid a half would give relict to the public to Inc a.r,uaat of folly millions, as they would get rid of the expense Or :he collectors. This reduction would not be a proismional lets to the revenue. I'heretluc Mu of three noilliosts would not noon? a Ire :ter tion than too millio.os mod a lelf. These wen: the statements he had to make to the Hollow, nod he was grstelid nor the attention with which he had been heard. Ile would inure that from theiithonfdan. 18-13, an duties upon Causes, windows, horses, servants, clicks, earriigts, and all compositions in lieu, should tease and determine. Mr. LEICESTER. seconded the motion. Ile wished the rept:•l of the present system ; it converted the sturdy squire into a pliant place-hunter. The reduction was most tlestriele ; the question was, how could it be otrried into erect? He thought it was possible, especially at this period, when the liberal ptinciples •of a free trade were acted erg. Ile cowered taxes of this nature were as mischievous es restrictions were fb a Pee trade. Ile would contend that the Sinking Fund ass not now essential to the support *four credit. Its existence might be necessary to as- shot the Unveniments of Austria, Prussia, and Rustic in their plats of aggrandisement, and he had no doubt bat he should shortly see shade comitries following the tynotnical example set theta by the despot of Spain. The credit of this country had stood the test of every storm that shook it. and tlyeeihre the Sinking Fund might now ha diverts it with. He was surprised to hear the Ifientlenten win mine, red the principles of free trade come forward to upheld such an ar.olieir.l fond. The i 11.% NC E1L1.1412 of the I:X(11E41PM! rose and said, that the resolution whirls ha.' been real tram the Chair was pre cisely the same as had been brought forward about live works ago, by the Honourable 51eitohq fur H'estminster ; :aid all the argu. clients used on that set-ado* by that Honourable Member lusd been this night reiterated by the lionotineble Member for ilbitog. don. In his opinion nothmt; lis-1 passed since the debate on the former night which emald lead I to suppose that Mere was the smallest probability of the noose adopting a erdierent course ius what t then porn:ed. The arguments were the same, and the inexpediency and impolice of these taxes would, I.e hewed, be urged with as notorli force and I:Tect an they were on that occasion, and that the Hoop° would treat in the soma asanr.er all that they had beard relative to the alnunlOty anol folly of persevering in Leeping up ft Sinking Fund. The Hon. 31ember for N'estmitotter hail nut succeeder!, and he certainly now should Ise astonished if the iloese, at this advanced period of the Session, should turn round on its former derision and adopt the present motion. The Ilan. Member fur Westminster, indeed, did not go the length that it was now l d to ga, MO his motion was only for the repeal of the duties on u re i ,Lss and windows, antounrlng to shout 2.500,0001.; bit: the question now tilor discussion was for a total repeal of the assesmol m tri &moundto 3,5410,0001. Ile did nut now feel himself called open to argue at any length against the present resolution, as he could only re.state the imiter that he hail gone so muds at large into on the former discussion, and which lie was sure the nous:: would not feel at all Inclined for him to :In, ant therefore he should ab stain from it. But there were one or two points to which be would' shortly advert. The first of these was the Sinking Fund, or, if he acre to designate it more properly, the surplus of the revenue" over the expenditure. The Honourable Member, in speaking of the operation of this Fund, load eonipaml the reduction al the debt which It had been the means of correcting, with its amount in the year 1819. This, he contended, was not a fair way of treat ing the question, as the whole =cunt of debt, both funded and unfunded, should be taken as it existed on theist of January, 11116, and the reduction that had taken place since that period would " show at once the manner in which Ibis fund had smoked ; and be therefore would argue the point as referable to 11116 ; from which period, in the course of eight years, a diminution of the debt had taken place, amounting to 30,1100,0801., and this had been produced by the Sinking Fund, or by the Surplus Fund, or by any other name or nickname by which Honourable Hentleinen might be pleased to term it ; and, If -that 39,100,1001. had nut been reduced, the country would have been paying interest on it, therefore this hind was not so utterly useless as it had been represented to be. According to the returns which were then on the table of the Howie, the charge of interest on the funded debt, in January, 11110, was 130,21111,9 The charge of interest on the funded debt, on lot January, 1823, was - 27,873,000 Making a reduction of . - X 2,284,359 Then if we turned to the neat page, and looked to the state of the funded Exchequer bills, we should find, that on the Ist of Janu ary, 1816, including Ireland, they announced to 0,082,0101.; they now amounted to 34, 1 .011,000!. There had been, it was true, a diminution of the charge by a diminution of the rate of interest, which, he would admit, was not exsctly referable to the Sinking Fund ; yet we had no right to say that that diminution was tona -1 pletely independent of it, as, if the advice of discarding the Sink.. tog Fund altogether, so o ft en given, had been acted upon, such a reduction could not have been effected. Now if the plan of the I Honourable Member. who bad this night route forward with his Resolution of getting rid of this surplus fund, by a reduction of taxation to the amount of 3.1)00.111•01., were to he acted on, it was stated that we might be enabled to reduce the interest of the Three per Cents. It should stem by the arguments of the Ho. Pourable Gentleman that he hail been amnia:tag on the Titre,. per Cents. being c cry shortly at par, and all this happening during the malitteteince of a Making Fund; and it eould nut therefore be argued that this fond would pntcludo that stock from reaching the par. The lion. Blensher had not, therefore, made out such a CAN: against his (the ('hancellot of the Exche quer's) poor friend , the efittkisg; ' , tont, as would induce the House to accede to his provoition. Ile had told the House that there would he no reductioo in taxation for four yeas, to come, and had r.presented the prospects of the country in conser)ucnce as very dark and gloomy. lie, for his part, would not deal in prognostics, ash was not his business so to do; but if he were so inclinml, he thought that the rays of hope were very cheering, when last year he proposed a repeal of taxes to the amount of 3,200.004 l'he lion. Gentleman exclaimed, that all that was very well, but cried out for the repeal of the Sinking Fund; but notwithstanding so extensive a roped, yet, with the preservation of that odious fund, he was enabled to come forward again this year and reduce 1,250,0001. more, and be appealed to the House it' it found hint unwilling at any period to bring forwanl • repeal of taxes when ever it was consistent with the interests of the country so to do. ((hear, hear.) After such facts were adduced against the argu ments of the Hon. Member, he trusted he should hear no more of the gloomy prospects of the country; but he, on the contrary, con fidently snot...poled that its increasing prosperity would enable the Government to cortinue in its coins., of a gradual abolition of taxation ; but he must ask of the House and the country to wait till the proper periods arrived, when such reduction mimlit safely and ; advantageously be made. lie for one had never argued for the maintenance of any tax that could with propriety be repealed, as he thought that reduction, where it could be effeeted, was per re a very good thing. He did not conceive that his duty required hint to say any thing more on this subject, and he would therefore merely refer the House to the principles on which he had acted, and leave them to draw their own conclusion. (('heers.) He heti but ore word more to say, and that was on a matter which he thought he had before satisticterily explained. He meant the hums dozy ; it had been represented to him that in some parts of the country this duty had been most unfairly levied. There were ilifilorent rates on houses of precisely the sante site and appearance, which he thought to he the excess of injustice, and for which no possible reason could be saidigned. When this was stated to hint, he had reason to think that no one was charged more than he ought to be, and he had no other motive in writing the letter that had been allotted to than to produce in that respect an equality of taxation; and he certainly did give instructions that a re-assessment should be made, for the purpo.• of obtair.ing that object ; but in. meiliately on learning that his letter had been misinterpreted, and that surcharges were in consequence of such re-assessment taking place, he desired that they should cease , and he certainly did not think th at thew was any thing in his conduct on that occasion cal- catkins' to draw ov hint the slightest animadversion. (ncur, hear.) l lie now felt satistkd that he had said quite enough on a subject a hick bad already, on a pr,:vious occasion, undergone so full and I thorough a discussion. Mr. Ill' it E said, that last rear the Right Hon. Gentleman load I stated that since 18111 a diminution of the Debt had taken place by ; I the operation of the Sinking Fund, to the extent of 24,0110,001fi. I He now eolargtil the sum to 39.000.00/., making an increase, in the mune nt one year, of 15.000,1100/. For his part he was quite; at a loss to know how the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Ex- I chequer had arrived at such a conclusion ; but he would venture to say, that no documents bad been furnished to that !louse which would justify it, as, according to the returns made there, the dimi• notion, front the year 111111, did not exceed 7,0110,01110/.., and ditrieg that time we had been borrowing large WHIM of money, which the Right lion. tientientan had catirely left out of his account. Vet' supposing that such an assertion would have been made, he hail ' omitted to bring his authority with hint, which nook' bac , . enabled him to Tetont entirely the remarks of the Right lion. Gentleman 071 thill ,tilnecr, which lie felt convinced wee quite o rrimrm.s. In the r ear 1817. the surplus was 1,101 1 .080/.; in Dila, 1:2(10,0lint;, in !kith 1.5110,1d0/.; in Ili yt, less; and in Mgt, 2,4011,11MV. lint it should he recollected that we had all this time been jobbing, boy ' ing nt sae price and selling at another, by which we had lost all thou we bad gained. and the consequence was, that we had not saved a single shilling. The Hon. Gentleman hail taken eretlit to the liosernuttrrt for the repeal of taxes which had been Cored upon ; them, and that toe after having come forward with a declaration that it was impossible to give up a shilling more by war of remission. The Right Honourable Gentleman had stated that nothing had take!, place since his llonou:ablg Friend th.: Ilenebor fur M r ettmlnstee had brought forward his motion on this subject. to induce the House to cowie to a different deci sloe than it did on that ocemion. Hid the Honourable Gentleman forget that since that p e ri o d t h e ta bl e o f the House had been laden with petitions, paying f or t h e ' (lentligOan, in speaking of th e Si n ki ng Fund, had said that it could repeal of these taxes ? The lion. not be hoterapplieel than at present ; but be contended that it had better be kit in the pockets of the people, where it would act as a inielea to trade, tied give • spirit to commercial speculation : at all eveets, its imeeeits would be present ctel tangible,—taw they were only distant and doubtful. The assessed taxes were an im pediment to the r: .n of thousands and true of thousands of peo ple from the continent to this country, and that alone he should think would farres!' a sufficient ergunrent for their repeal. If Ali_ nist:rswo,Jd retend the principhs on which they had recently been t.tei t• mar:i n T 014 would infoec spirit and vigour into vie of Sande, rs I, felt usti.tied tam the letting loose 3.1 ;eetheir. of money would be a means of giving employment to a ins• number of people. The great complaint against these taxes wee th - 4 they were partial. If money was wanted, the people ouel it to be taeel generally. Ife admitted that public credit stood /s OPT: 11.1 it 14 041 4 iDiy noun A and he therefore thought that it tee% •lieirahle, in every point of lion eh it taxation should be equal s tee.ides which the House should rec4l, et the enormous sum that cos expereled in the concede,' of the , • taxes, no less a sum being repair, d for this purpose than 't,eti,ctio.'., without calculating the ex-idiots that were made front the people, which never found their way into the public puree, mid were aosequently never accounted , 1 cur. Takieg all these into coneideration the relict - that would be 1 1 aft:wiled to the public by the r e mission of Jove taxes would amount to reeler 4,0011,01)W., and this entimunix emu might then be left to accumulate in the pockets of the people, or be disposed of for the beneit of trade. al e. .11:1--nran TE said that he could not acquiesce in the proeositioa that was then before the House, although he must admit that the assessed taxes were more hateful to the country than any that could be propose! (Hear, hear, and laughter), yet he fdt convinced that the credit of the country required that the Sinkine Fund should be supported, end he was therefore of opinion t!int these taxes couki not be repealed at the expense of that Fund ; but if it were possible diet the assexsed taxes could be reduced censietently with the preservation of the Sinking Fund, then the motion shoal have hie most hearty concurrence. Mr. N. CALVERT opposed the motion, as he thought that those taxes ought first to be reduced by which the price of labour 'bight be enhanced. Mt. C. i'ELIIA :if said a few wards, which were inaudible in the gallery. Mr. M ARERLY, in reply, observed, that if the statement of the Right lion. lionlemati (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was correct, there could be no hope of any reduction of taxation before the year Inn. The lion. :bleatiber for Sudbury (Alder. man Ileyeete) had 'Wool. that he had spoken on this question for the cake of his embedment.; and although he thought a reduc tion of taxation most desirable, he should vote against the present motion, on account of the Sinking Fund. Surely a nicre entracte. cheery doctrine was never put forth by an Alderman of the City of Istrelon : and es to the Hon. Gentleman's constituents, he %Meer ly wished that they had been widiin hearing of his speech; bit as that was out possible, be hoped the lion. filentber woad be correctly reported, that the se person% might at least have the ad vantage of reading it. The Right lion. Gentleman had stated that lie Ctir. Illatm.ly) had forgone, that the unfunded debt in 1816 was fifty-two millions. But that statement was 111.101111thd, foe it was then forty-nine 'Milieus for England and Ireland; and sines 1818 there were thirteen millions of unfunded and nine ma lions of funded debt redeemed ; and the papers that would be on the table in a fete days would not only confirm that but every other point he lied stated. He enervated the House to recollecr that if they 'Mel not, by their vote that night, compel elinisters to the adepteon of the 'immure that he proposed, there was no chance of a redaction of tomtit* takifig place before the year 11128. Lord MILTON epee amidst a general cry of " Questioa," and observed, filet he should rote for the motion of the lion. Members because lie thetteht it the only mode of driving Ministers to a re duction of taxation. it might be said, that in voting for there duction of the Ammo! Taxes, they were benefiting themselves, and neglecting the interests of the pone • who ought to have the duties on emit and eandles repealed, whilit were articles of such necessary consumption for th rn. Itut, nevertheless, be thought the measure of the 'lion Member would goa long way in driving Minister* to a reductiim of taxation, And therefore he should vote for the motion._ - ....... The Ihnise then Bh/hied, when there appeared_ For .Me. Moberly's motion - - 78 Against it - 171 51kiority against the motion . COUNTY COURTS BHA. On our re.almission Into the gallery, we found the House in a Committee on the further consideration of the Report of the County Courts Bin ; and Mr. SCAR!. ETT was observing, that he would not consent to give a number of places of 800/. a-year to the pa nonage of the Chancellor, which would be the cue by the opera tion of the present BM. The clause which 3lr. Searlett objected to was, after a few words from Lord A t.v n oft r, agreed to On the clause bong read, foe allowing Attorneys to act as Ad vocates, The ATTORN EV-GENERA L moved as an amendment, that neither Barristers nor Attorneys should be allowed to act as Advo cates In any of theme Courts. After a few words front the SOLICITOR-GENERAL Lord AL. THORP, Mr. Scutt-rex, and Mr. PEEL, the ame ndment was agreed to. Several clauses were theft agreed to, and upon that of compels's tion being proposed, The A TTO RNEY -G ENE RA I. proposed that the Chairman should report progress, and ask leave to sit again. Mr. BROIfOIIAM cordially seconded the motion. Mr. SCA R LETT hoped that the officers of the County Palatine of Lancaster would he altogether exempted from the operation of the Bill. lie intended to move an amendment to that !Teen.. The report was then ordered to be taken into consideration on Monday next. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at HALE-PACT ONE O'CLOCK. L them, which they cluld not till up. Tit of appal ; this wait a serious loss of tii 'Honed : they were requited to attend o they repaired t o the appointed place, I nut *chair to sit down on. llc also dil • bcciuse it was peculiarly disagreeable i heavily onsoene,whllst others escaped it *eats:etre; he enjoyed all the benefits out the expense. The miser also escapet on some clones. net on others. Ati MINORITY Of 70 who voted on Mr. Maberirs Motion for Taking Off the Assessed Taxes. Althorp, Lord Homby, E. Bickford, W. Anson, Hon. G. Howard Lord H. Searlett, J. Barrett, S. M. James, %V. Scott, Jas. Becher, W. W. Jervoise, O. P. Sefton, Lord Bernal, IL Knifes, R. Smith, Hon. R. Birch, Joseph Lambton, J. G. Stanley, Lord Brougham, H. I,eyeester, R. Stewart, W. (Tyrone) Bright, 11. Illiberly, W. L. Stuart, Lord J. Bond,— Alarjoribanks, S. Sykes, D. Wank J. Maxwell. J. shell v, Sir J. Calvert, C. Milton, Vise. Talbot, R. W. Cana, John ;Mom*, J. B. Taylor, M.A. Caulfield, Hon. H. Moore, Peter Tynte.C. K. Cavendish, C. C. Newport, Sir J. Townahend, Lord C. Chaloner, R. Osborne, land F. 0. Warm, James Cradock, S. Palmer, C. IVestrm, C. C. De Crespigny, Sir V. Palmer, C. P. it'hitbread, S.C. Denison, W. l'ares. Thomas Whitbread, %V. 11. Denman, T. Poynta, W. S. Williams, J. Hondas, lion. T. Pryse, Prysc Williams, T. I'. Davenport, I). Portman, J. R. Williams, W. Folkestone, rise. Probe, lion. 0. L. Winnington, Sir T. Grosvenor, lion. H. Ramsay, Sig A. Wood, Al. Gordon, R. Rollers, G. J. Wrintesley, Sir J. Heron, Sir R. Robinson. Sir G. TELLERS. Hon wand, W. P. Rowley, Sir W. Hume, J. IlubNnuie, J. C. Russell, Lod W. filaberly, J. NOTICES OF NOTION!! THIS DAY. LorJ Viscount A orp-31otion on the general state of Ireland. Mr. Curteet—Bill to amend the Law of Settlement, so far as re latcs w Seafaring Apprentices. ORDERS OF THE DA V. Teroinci Borough Eleetion—.Ballot tor Committee, at three. Chelsea and Greenwich Hospitals HU—Second Reading. PRIM: OF BRITISH Bank Stock 21214 41i 3 per Cent Reduced.93,l 3 per Cent. I 'one. 961 Old 3i pet ('rot. II New 3; per Cent. ISI J I per Cent. likti Long Annuities Iniperill t pa Cats. Bank h.r Art. Coos. for .let.9f;; India Stock MOCKS YESTE RDA Y. India Bonds, lb 80 pm India for Account, South Sea Stuck. South Sea I 'ld Annuities South Sea New Annuities Ex.Bills,l,otail. 3.131 40 34 pin Ditto, SOUL 33 39 pm Ditto, Small, 32 30 pm Indors...ll ditto Lottery Tic Lets, 271. I Is. FORE DIN Austrian :Scrip IGS pin Ditto for Acct. 16; 17 pm Ditto paid in full, 391 4 Do. for Acct. l'hilian 831 24 iliitn for Acct. 113 lomb. lkla. 3111 11 1 no. rt. 88A 8 Do. :scrip 31 1 4pm Ditto for Ace. 21 4 1 pm Danish 11o3da 1014' 2 Do. Marks lkinoo Dreek scrip.di. 14 A dia Mexican Ronda Ditto Scrip 94 9 4 11 9 4 4 pm Do. Arc. :µ 9 114 9I pm 7X.tapnlitan Ilda Permian liort.ls 110. I,d p, 44111 1 , 1(10 fur Ara. ST(.$ •KS V EST EIIDA V. Portuguese Bonds, Dino for Act. Ditto Scrip 7 pus Prus,ian floods 98j I)itto for Acct. Ditto Monde t1811:1) Russian Ikls. 961 j 7 Ditto 6 , r Acct. Span. Co m. 19,/ TtIJ 19i 4 SIN 21 11. Ditto fo 4 r Ac c t. 19 11 1 1 0 21 1 Ditto 170 6.115 11th. 211. I Ditto 115 Dinitls 22 21 1/o. 5 per Cents. t1111:13) 16 J 16 Ditto for Acct. Anglo Alex. Mines Ft. Mentes. 104 f. tile. 25e. 75e. Da. Ex. 50c. 40c. Do. Scrip, 114 I pm Ditto far Acct. 191 4 4 pm Au:!lvEn: I 3121ta-1 Ifni Dui:: 117o:team IL S. Iland-1 Flar.dera-1 French, urgh--I llamburgh. By the dettli et* Mareuis of Lothian the Lord Limi t:lnt:wits of the counties Of Edinburgh and Itosborgli have vacant : the form, r, it is said, is to be conferred on Lord Vi:a•tniiit Melville. and the latter is to be put into cot 1111 l to consist of the following, viz. :—Lord Neldatit. Sir Alexander fun, Bait.. Sir Wm. Elliott, II But!•crt'ord, of Edgerstonc. it ttr NrittOlt fesPrefso. KING'S THEATRE. This Evening. TUESDAY. May 11, will be performed If. DON itiltriltAlNl. In the finale of the first a.:t,Monaleor Vestria and Madame Ronal " " V. Ho will duke l'es de Deux. End of rile opera the favourite linnet of LE SONIA I)tLSSIAN. Applications for Boxed and Shone Subseriptione for the Sewn t 0 be made to Mr.seguln, Opersoolnee. 114 quadrant, Regent-nreet. NEW THEATRE' RIWM., DRURY-LANE. This Evening. TUESDAY. May 11, will be performed THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Sir John Falstaff, Mr. Dowton; Master Slender, Mr. Harley; Yard, Mr. Terry ; Fenton. Mr. Horn. Mn,. Ford, Miss Stephens; Mrs. Page. Melanie Yestris. . eistelude with ZOROASTER ; or. THE SPIRIT OF THE STAR. To-morrow, The Hyy.write, with My Grandmother. and Zoreeeter. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. This Ermine. TUESDAY. Nay 11. will be performed NATIVE LAND; or. THE RETURN FRO!, SLAVERY. The Principal Character* by Mewing. slnclalr. W. Parrett. Cooper, Paweett Mimes Paton and M. Tree. To conclude with TIIE SPIRITS OP THE MOON; Or, THE INUNDATION or TIIE NILE. To-morrow. Pride Shall Hare a Fall. The Elm i sit Pass' coonneneed publishing yesterday morning at fee o'clock. LONDON, TUESDAY, MAt• 11, 18g4. The last Bayonne letters state, that the report was pre ' 'talent at Madrid of an approaching change in the Spanish Ministry ; awl that the Duke of San Carlos, some time 'since Ambassador from Spain at this Court, and now in the same rank at Paris, would be named Minister for Fo reign Affairs; the Monk Saez be again called to the Cabi net as Minister of Justice; D'Eroles or Campana to fill the place of War Minister ; and Vincente that of Finance. This would be completely a Royalist Ministry. The last is certainly at present the most arduous office in the Spa nish Cabinet. To find funds for endless applicants, from l an empty Treasury, is a difficult undertaking. The sum of five millions of francs, part of the produce of Gueb hanl's loan, had, however, it is said, arrived from Paris at Madrid, and were deposited in the bank of St. Carlos. This sum will go but a short way to supply the numerous and craving demands on the Spanish Treasury. The amount, it is stated, was to be applied to defray the ex penses of an atusjunent, consisting of three frigates and 2,500 men, now preparing at Cadiz for South America. Foe ourselves, we do not believe that any such expedition is really contemplated, however confidently announced ; or that Ferdinand and his followers can spare the awn in question from their own pressirg wants. Besides, our Cabinet has declared, that any expedition proceeding against America, from a Spanish port, while a foreign force controls that country, would be considered as French, and followed by an instant recognition of the un qualified independence of the Spanish Colonies; and will Spain tempt such a result ? The latest accounts from Madrid state, that Ferdinand had returned to Aranjuez on the 2sth of April, and that the French troops wto ac- 1 companied him resumed their cantonments on both banks , of the Tagus. The despot was to return with his family to Madrid by the 15th of June, after visiting the Escurial, and the baths of the Sacedon. Letters from the Spanish capital to the 26th, talk of a levy of 56,000 men in Spain, a part to be employed in attempting the recovery of Peru or Mexico: to defray the expenses, application was to be made to the Philippine Company, and their coffers were to be unlocked and plundered. But if this Ccmpany can contribute so largely, why were they not called upon in place of having recourse to foreign loans ? But the latter Ferdinand can get rid of by a simple decree whenever he chooses. The work of terror and proscription still pro ceeds in Spain. Thirty of the principal inhabitants at Vit toria had been suddenly arrested, and the Corregidors of Madrid, under the Constitutional system, who have been in dungeons for months, have been apprised that they will not be released until they refund the sums expended by them under orders from the Constitutional Government. Such an intimation amounts to a sentence of perpetual im prisonment. The first column of the reinforcements from France to the Army of Occupation within the Pyrenees, was to pass through Bayonne on the 4th.—Letters from Alexandria of the Sth April have been received by way of Marseilles. They state the arrival at tbat port of the 'I Capitan Pacha, with part of the Turkish fleet destined for the conveyance of troops to the Morea, and that the re mainder of the Ottoman naval force was speedily expected to join him. From an occurrence that took place, either through accident or design, at Cairo, this expedition is not, however, likely to sail for some time. It appears that the grand arsenal at the latter city, in which gunpowder and a large quantity of military stores were collected, to ►he value, it is said, of ten millions of Spanish dollars, was destroyed by fire, and 3,000 Egyptian soldiers are said to have pe rished in the explosion. The Greeks will receive the intel ligence with shouts of triumph, and think that a powerful Providence watches over and protects their great canoe. This occurrence must cripple the resources of Mobanied Ali, and the next campaign of the infidel is likely to close as disastrously as all the preceding ones, in which they whitened the Mores with their bones, and achieved nothing. Mr. Moberly brought forward, in a speech of consider able length, his motion last night, for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes. It was opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, principally on the ground that such a repeal would nearly destroy the Sinking Fund, to which' Parliament had given its solemn sanction, and which now supported so strongly public confidence and credit. The motion, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, was in fact only a repetition of that brought forward previous to the recess, by Mr. Hobliouse, fur the repeal of the House and Window Tax, only that the present motion went, by a sweeping proposition, to repeal all the Assessed Taxes; and the arguments he then opposed to Mr. Hobhouse's motion were equally applicable to that of Mr. Moberly. The motion was also opposedby Alderman Ileygate and Mr. N. Calvert, who :stated from the opposition benches, that he would prefer giving his support to the repeal of any taxes that would tend to raise the general price of labour. Mr. Hume supported the proposed repeal ; but Mr. Mo berly's motion was ultimately negatived in a division, by a large majority. On the second reading of the West India Company Bill being moved last night, Mr. Huskisson entered into a full and satisfactory detail of the objects and principle of this important measure. The Right Honourable Gentle man supported the Bill warmly and most ably. The Company in question (Mr. Huskisson said) was not formed with a view to a monopoly of the West India trade ; its capital was not to be embarked in the market ; they were merely to act as an ageney.house in this county, to receive' consignments to sell on commission, and advance money on the security of West India estates. It was thought by some t the Right Honourable Gentleman stated) that the distress of the proprietors in the sugar islands would be available to the amelioration of the condition of the shires. He (Mr. II uskisson) was quite of a contrary opinion : the fact was, that if the urgent distress of the planters was net relieved, they would he driven to despair, and then little could be hoped from their co-operation to improve either the moral or the physical condition of the slave po pulation. The proposed Bill (Mr. Huskisson added) did Not give the Company exclusive privileges, or a monopoly, or even exempt them from the Bankrupt Laws : its pro. visions merely conferred on them such advantages as a large body of persons engaged in a pursuit of public utility were fairly entitled to possess. The Right Honourable Gentleman dwelt on the importance of relieving the press ing distresses of the West India Proprietors ; by such a policy they would be induced more readily to co-operate in the great measures of amelioration of the negro race, in place of opposing themselves to its progress. Mr. Wilmot Horton also supported the Bill. The measure, he said, was one quite distinct from any affecting the manumission of slaves, and could not interfere with it in any way. The ' Bill was opposed by Dr. Lushington and Mr. Buxton, on the ground that the intended Company would, by al. vancing large sums to the West India proprietors, to clear off incumbrances, become mortgagees of the estates, acd the manumission of the Slaves be impeded by a Mon-resi dent Corporation, who would, under these contemplated mortgages, become possessed of almost the entire property in the West Indies, and could not feel an equal interest with resident proprietors for the amelioration of the slaves. i we must beg to say, was a very weak argument indeed, in opposition to this Bill. Some of the largest proprietors iu the West Indies—Mr. Beckford, Mr. Watson Taylor, Mr. Ilibbert, and many others, have resided in England for years. That residence, far from injuring the condition of their slaves, must, we think, have had a con trary effect: while here the proprietors are removed from all local prejudice; they live in a free country, where the question of negro improvement and emancipation is continually canvassed, and where they arc subject to the influence and control of public discussion and public opi nion. It may be said that abuses of power will be corn , ',lintel on the plantations in the absence of the proprietors, I which their residence would restrain ; but all apprehen sion of this may be checked by appointing proper overseen from this country ; and we know that the condi i ion of the negroes attached to those plantations, the proprietors of which reside altogether in this country, is just as well attended to as where the planters were res:dent amongst them. But this proposition only came at second hand from the Hon. Members who adopted it. Such an argument funned one of the five-and-twenty meagre queries spun out in succession in a Morning Paper of yesterday, distinguished by its marked hostility to the {Vest India in terests. On the second reading of the Bill being proposed, Mr. Sykes thought proper to move an amendment, that it should be read that say six months, on which the Rain divided, 30 Members voting for this strange amendment, and 102 for the second reading of the sill, which was thus carried by a majority of 72. The Morales , - Chronicle, in its concluding 25th query yesterday, "Dcusgasidel intrari ne mere," asks, " Is the support of such a scheme by Parliament consistent with its professed desire to ameliorate the condi tion of the slaves ?" And we answer, Certainly : the planters, relieved from the distress that now presses on them, will be enabled to attend to the condition and the comforts of their slaves; they will be relieved from the load of menial anxiety that has long lain so heavy upon them, and they will he free to devote themselves to the moral and physical improvement of the condition of the negroes. Embarrass ment and distress in the proprietors could do nothing for the slave, except to increase his labour, as a means of ad ditional production. But prejudice never rcasor ; it deals in nothing but assertion. The West India Company, of the numerous stock associations that have latterly been in ' corporated, is at once the most restectable, and founded lon principles the most beneficial and unexceptionable. On 'these very grounds it has its enemies—in interested projec tors, possessing other views, and who wish British capital to be differently directed, and scattered in wild and visionary foreign loans—the bubble of the day, and full of ultimate ruin to those engaging in them. His Majesty's health, we ire . haPpi to say, continues to improve. On Saturday afternoon he rode out for the first time since his illr.css, yid drove himself in his pony phaeton through the Little Park and Frog tore, to the Royal Lodge. On Sunday his Majesty and suite attended Divine Service at the private Chapel. The postponement of the Drawing-room, which we mentioned on ...aturday, was officially notified in the Gar..rite from the Lord Chamberlain's Offiee. The delay has been deemed proper, solely in consequence of some remaining weakness in his Majesty's legs, which would obviously render the fatigue of a lhawing-room, where etiquette imposes the necessity of standing for several hours, peculiarly painful and oppres sive. The most sanguine hopes, however, are entertained that this alight debility will be entirely removed before the 20th.—('wirier. _ _ _ The Earl of Liverpool left town on Saturday for Coombe Wood. . Earl Bathurst was better yesterday. A correspondent says, " The inhabitantsof St. Geerge'i fields were yesterday gratified by a sight of the Duke of Wellington, who, after riding about fur some time, doubt ful of his int,•nded destination, at I..ngth inquired for the rtsidence of Mr. Bryant, with which Gent.eman he re mained in close conference for upwards of an hour, and then took his leave. Mr. Bryant was formerly in the Law. and report at one time stated, in the confidence of the late Mr. l'itt. The appearance of the illustrious Duke in the rules of the King's Bench, and this mysterious visitto the humble Mr. Bryant. gave rise to a variety of conjectures." Ma. Bt.ska. —THE CHIEF• REMEMBRANCE:I:A Dublin l'ap.•r of Friday observes, " We feel great plea sure in stating, that Mr. Blake, the Catholic Barrister and Chief ILanembrancer of the Court of Etehequer, has been elected a Bendier of the Honourable Society of the King's Inns. This is the first instance of this high professional distinction being conferred on a Catholic. It is therefore matter for congratulation on public grounds. It marks an improved state of feeling, and an increasing spirit of liberality in quarters which, perhaps, but a short time ago, would have been the last to obtain credit for any sentiments of the kind. To Mr. Blake personally, and to his numer ous friends, the manner in which the favour was bestowed, must greatly enhance its value. The Learned Gentleman was elected t• NANIMOeSLV." The Lord Bishop of London held a conlirmaeon yett:r day morning at St. Paul's Cathedral, which was very nu merously attended. . . Two vessels from Sie.-ra Leone arrived at Liverpool on Thursday evening; but n. is wr of them bring any confir mation of the disastrous intillignwc of the affair at Accra. One of the vessels arrived is the British Tar, Capt. Newby; sailtd on the lYth March, and had not heard a word lative to the battle: the other the Britannia, ('apt. Ful hester, sailed on the 13th of March, and had heard nothing. ('apt. Fulbtster is of opinion that the story is altogether strange, as, from what he had beard, the Ashantees hail been for sometime wishing to cultivate friendly commercial relations with the English, and they only objected to the mediation of the Fantets. EASTBOURNE, Mav tl.--On Monday last, Lady George Cavendish, with her amiable daughters, arrived at Compton place, front Burlington House. We are concerned to state. that their stay was but :,port, as they left us again this morn ing. The indisposition of Lord George (who was exptctt to arrive at C pton-place to-day) we hear was the cause of the sudden departure of her Ladyship. The Wu...4m. Herald of Friday says, " The disastrous intelligence from the coast of Africa is unhappily contirmr: by a letter which appears in an Edinburgh paper of this morning." The long-talked-of canal betwixt Arbroath and Forfar is again in agitation. Meetings of the Town Councils of both towns have been held within these few days, the results of whirls arc iu favour of the osmium—Glasgow Herald. A