The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS I FROM TIM EVENING rArßas OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—If Mr. Goulburn had but a little wit he would exemplify Falstaff's notion of valour. The worthy knight, deeming discretion "the better part" of that quality, gave to it the better place—he put it foremost. Mr. Goulburn, being a bungler, puts the cart before the horse—he is coura geous first, and discreet afterwards. If charged with a blunder, he first stoutly swears it is not one ; but press him home, and he clumsily confesses and a mends it. When the Sugar Duties Bill was in Commi ttee on Friday night, clause 13 was objected to, as an unnecessary and unwise interference with the provisions of the Ware housing Act. Hitherto the sugar has been weighed both on entering and on being cleared from bond, and the duty levied on the weight cleared. It was pro posed, by the Cause in question, to discontinue the practice of weighing on clearing the sugar, and to charge the duty on the weight as entered in the first instance, without any allowance for loss, by drainage or otherwise. The only reason Mr. Goulbum could assign for this was a probable saving of some 8,0001. a year in the salaries of officers, &c. The effect upon the merchant was not - deemed worthy of consideration. The loss of weight in bond was lost sight of altogether, and the duty was to be taken upon more than could reach the consumer. This loss has always hitherto been recog nised and allowed for. By 3 and 4 W. IV., c. 57, sec. 19, the maximum allowance for drainage, sc., unless the sugar has been stored in a warehouse of special security, is fixed at 3 per cent. for the first three months, and 1 per cent. for each succeeding month. Now the average period for which sugar remains in bond is about seven months. Seven per cent. upon 145., the duty on Muscovado sugars, amounts to about lid. ; and this upon the quantity imported last year (say 125,000 tons) gives 109,895/. as the amount of duty upon sugar not delivered to the merchant. Of course, this would, in effect, have formed an additional tax upon the article ; and, like the rest, must have been paid by the consumer. But its bearing would have been most heavy upon the lowest qualities of the article, these being most liable to loss of weight from drainage and eva poration. All this was, by the Chancellor of the Exche quer, either unseen or unheeded ; and it was not until he caught a glimpse of the possibility of an adverse division upon it, that he gave up the clause. This he did last night, without hazarding a debate on the subject. He covered his re treat, however, with a threat of introducing it in some other form. There are those in the City who are obliged to him for the hint, and will keep their eye upon him. We should advise Mr. Goulburn to make a different disposition both of his courage and his caution. They are sadly misplaced at present, and the result is a waste of both, while none can doubt that both need careful husbanding. To keep the former ever in the van—to make it bear the shock of every eacounter—is the way to wear it out ; not to mention that a weapon battered by use so constant and indiscriminate soon ceases to be effective for more creditable purposes. STANDARD.—Mr. Miles's motion was last night rejected by a majority of 213 to 78—a pretty plain proof that it was not considered a motion the success of which could be calcu lated to benefit the agricultural interest. Mr. Miles, in deed, narrowed his proposition to a point bearing no pro portion to the magnitude of the principle asserted in his original resolution, and scarcely reconcileable with the arguments of his speech. The point was a transfer to the Consolidated Fund of 300,000/. or 400,0001., now im posed on the county rates, to cover the expense of criminal prosecutions, &c. Mr. Miles's speech, however, canvassed the whole commercial policy of the present Government, treating it generally as unfavourable to the agricultural interest, and on this ground challenged a very full reply from Sir James Graham ; but let us say it with all respect, the speech of Mr. Miles and the reply of Sir James Graham were alike beside the practical question before the House ; and, though both very able addresses, concerned topics too familiar to com mand much interest. The practical question to which we refer is the propriety of a transfer of the expense of criminal prosecutions from local to general taxation. Now, on this point there is something more to be considered than any question between what may be regarded as rival inte rests. We must consider the whole subject of the administration of the criminal law. It undoubtedly does appear a hardship that the innocent people of a district should be fined, in county rates, for the crime of an individual who, perhaps, never visited that district, but for the few minutes neces sary for the perpetration of the act that involves it in a heavy expense—as in a very recent case, a man may proceed from the City of London by railway into Buckinghamshire, and commit a crime, for the successful or unsuccessful prosecution of which the people of Bucks will have several hundreds of pounds to pay. At first sight it may seem that such a manifest injustice-- an injustice which, if the effect were upon a greater scale, would render local authorities less vigilant and alert in the vindication of the law—ought to be re medied by transferring to the whole public the burthen of defending what is a common interest. • We are, however, to look to the other side. Justice may be a little too active, as well as being too sluggish ; and certainly the activity of justice might be sometimes stimulated by an assurance that all her expenses must come from toe public purse. Is it quite certain that the present three hundred thousand or four hundred thousand pounds charged upon county rates might not grow to much larger dimensions when supplied from the Consolidated Fund ? and this without any corresponding advantage ; for it may b 3 that we have already fully enough of prosecutions and commitments, notwithstanding the (we were going to call it salutary) check of county rates. Suppos ing the cost of prosecutions to be only increased fifty per cent. by • the proposed change, would not the agriculturists, who undoubtedly, in one shape or another, pay greatly more than two-thirds of the taxes, be losers by the bargain ? But it may be said, a public prosecutor, with a staff of solicitors, other officials, tee., &c., under the imine , diate control of the Home Secretary, might be appointed to control the expenditure of the public money. Now, we think that a public prosecutor at the Old Bailey and in, perhaps, half-a-dozen other very large towns, as well as London, would be a very great improvement ; but we have seen enough of the administration ofjustice in France and other countries in which the whole administration—of criminal justice is in thismanner engrossed by the executive, to feel convinced, that such a monopoly is neither the most economical nor, for the pure administration of justice, the most effectual system It is enough, however, to open this slight view of the consequences, wholly unconnected with the money question which must follow the adoption of 'Mr. Bliles'a only practical proposition last night, to show that that proposition deserves very deliberate and serious con sideration before adopting it ; it is in truth a question involving the whole foundation of the system upon which the criminal laws are administered in this country. Mr. D'lsraeli took the opportunity of the discussion to recite a scene from " Vivian Grey," or some other of his trashy novels, half fustian slang, half personal provocation. Mr. &Israeli is fond, as all novelists ought to be, of illustra tions from /a belie passion, and drew an analogy between Sir Robert Peel's cenduct towards the Conservatives before his ac cession to office and since, and that conduct which distin guishes a lover from a husband. We are not aware of any truth in the analogy. Sir Robert seems to us to ect towards the Conservative party .precisely as he acted from 1831 to 1841, supporting all their substantial interests, protecting them from all wrong and insult, and differin g from any of them only upon those points on which he, f i fteen years ago, declared he must differ from them— more emphatically declared it in his administration of 1835, when he opposed the proposition of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, and, indeed, gave a faithful outline of the system of financial and com mercial policy which he is now realising'. This may be the conduct of a husband. but it is the conduct of an affec tionate and faithful husband, and we hope that all our fair and unmarried readers may find such ; but, though we are not aware that Sir Robert Peel ever played " the passionate lover " to any party, we know that the Right Honourable Baronet has been the object of uncommon ardour and tenderness from at least one poli tical Cloe (please pronounce the word as a dissylla ble)—witness the following fragment of a billet-doux written under the name of " Runnymede," in 1836 :--- "They cannot taunt you now with your vague promises of amelioration ; you can appeal to the deeds of your Cabinet, and the plans which the applause of a nation sanc tioned, and the execution of which the intrigues of a faction alone postponed. Never, too, since the peace of Paris, has thegreat national party of this realm been so united 'as at the present moment. It is no exaggeration to say, that among its leaders not the slightest difference of opinion exists upon any portion of their intended policy. Pitt himself in the plenitude of his power, never enjoyed more cordial confidence than that which is now extended to you b y every alleged section of the Conservative ranks ; all private opinions, all particular theories, have merged in the resolute determination to maintain the English con stitution in spite of Irish rebels, and to support, with out cavil and criticism, its eminent champion in that great course of conduct which you have expounded to them." Poor Clog Runnymede, however, sighed in vain, like the Mrs. Felix Lorraine of " Vivian Grey ' was, it appears, slighted, and we all have read that "Hell has no fury like a woman scorned." And to this root of bitterness may, we apprehend, be traced some recent ebullitions of virulence that have lately reflected little credit upon the House of Commons. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. LORD CHAMRERLAIN'S-OFFICE. MARCH 18, 1845. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold a Drawing-room at St. James's Palace, on Thursday, the 10th of April next, at two o'clock. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED AT THE QUEEN'S DRAWING-ROOM. The Ladies, who purpose attending her Majesty's Drawing room, are requested to bring with them two cards, with their names legibly written thereon, one to be left with the Queen's Page in attendance in the Presence-chamber, and the other to be delivered to the Lord in Waiting, who will announce the name to her Ma jesty. And those ladies who are to be presented are hereby informed, it is absolutely necessary that their names, together with the names of the ladies who are to present them, should be sent in to the Lord Chamberlain's office, be fore twelve o'clock on Tuesday the Bth of April next, in order that they may be submitted for the Queen's approbation ; it being her Majesty's command, that no presentation shall take place unless the name of the lady presenting, together with that of the lady to be presented, shall appear on the card to be delivered, corresponding with the names sent in to the 'Lord Chamberlain's• office. DOWNING-STREET, MARCH 17. The Queen has been pleased to appoint John Pope, Esq., to be Clerk of the Works and Civil Engineer for the Island of Tlong-Zong. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. William genderson;najaMels Henry Vaysey, chemist, o ortialds, Gloucestershire. BANKRUPTS. William Williams, victualler, High-street, St. Gileo's, to surrender March 31 and May 5, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basingliall-street ; Futvoye, John-street, Bedford-row. Henry Hester, tallow chandler, Ratcliffe-terrace, Goswell road, March 31 and May 5, at half past eleven, at the Court nr' Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, .Iderinald y ou ng, Vallings, and Young, St. Mildred's-court Y ; ,Poultry. Tliurnas Clegg, coal merchant, Tann'ers, hill, Deptford. March 31 at one, and May 6, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, S b kam roo -court, Basinghall-street ; Jones, Mincing-lane. Frederick Sharman , bootmaker , West-square, Southwark, April 1, at one, and 29, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederi c k' s - p l ace, Old Jewry; King, St. Mary. axe. George William Stocks, linendraper, Norwich, April 2, at half past two, and 30, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street -buildings; Clowes, Wedlake, and Clowes, King's Bench- walk, Temple. Charles Douglas Hope, wine-merchant, Manchester, - .March 27 and April 17, at eleven, at the Manchester Dis trict Jew Crt. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester . ; Adams et, Old ou am ry-chbers, London ; Moseley, Back King-strt, ALmchester. IrViilliam Daniel, cabinet maker, Manchester, March 28 and A pill 18, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, c tlicial assignee, Manchester; Soles and Turner, Alder inanbury,. London; Atkinson and Saunders, Manchester. William. pulley, tailor, Derby. April 1 and 28, at twelve, at the Man chester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester ;• Tattersall, Great James-street, London; Broad• bent, Sheffiel,l; Todd, Manchester. Thomas O'Rooke and William Birks, commission agents, Manchester, April 2 and 28, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Holt, official assignee, Manchester ; Chilton and Acland, Chancery-lane, London; Slaney, Birmingham; Foster, Birmingham. Henry Woodgate, horse-dealer, Kingston, Dorsetshire, March 28 and April 25, at two, at the Exeter District Court. Hirtzel, official assignee, Exeter; Parr and Son, Poole; Holme and Co., New Inn, London ; Warren, Exeter. William Ibbotson, merchant, Sheffield, April 2 and 29, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, official as signee ; Moss, Cloak-lane, London ; Branson, Sheffield. Richard Brown, joiner, Kingston-upon-Hull, March 31 and April 18, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Hicks and Marris, Gray's Inn, Lon don; Galloway and Bell, Hull; Payne, Eddison, and Ford, Leeds. William Granger, paper manufacturer, Relly-mill, Dur ham, March 28, at half-past eleven, and May 7, at one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker, official assigneee, Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Harle, Newcastle-upon- Tyne ; Smith, Durham ; Chisholme, Hall, and Gibson, Lin coln's Inn-fields, London. John Price, draper, Oaken Gates, Shropshire, March 29 and April 28, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Garbett, Welling ton, Shropshire ; Harrison and Smith, Birmingham. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. R. Roberts, linen draper, Blackman-street, Southwark — first div. of 3s. 10d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. A. Lett, timber merchant, Commercial-road, Lambeth — first div. of 4s. 10d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. J. T. Milner and C. Bedford, confectioners, Hull—final div. of 2s. 9 1 4 d. in the pound, March 18, or any subsequent Tues • day, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. J. T. Milner, confectioner, Hull—first and final div. of 20s. in the pound, March 18, or any subsequent Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. C. Bedford, confectioner, Hall—second div. of 4s. in the pound, March 18, or any subsequent Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. C. S. Masterman, grocer, Croydon—first div. of 2s. 3d. in the pound, March 22, and two following Saturdays, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane. T. Fisher, linen draper, Selby, Yorkshire—div. of ss. in the pound, March 19, or any subsequent Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Freeman, Leeds. G. Harriott, beer brewer, Ormskirk, Lancashire—second div. of Is. 7 1 ,4 d. in the pound. March 26, or any subsequent Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Morgan, Liverpool. R. Smith, attorney, Worcester—third div. of 6d. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Christie, Birmingham. W. H. Bates, factor, Birmingham—second div. of 6d. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Christie, Birmingham. S. Sedgley, grocer, Dudley—first div. of ls. 10d. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Birmingham. J. C. Lister, wine merchant, Wolverhampton—first div. of ls. 6d. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Birmingham. J. N. Sargent, grocer, Nottingham—first div. of ss. Gd. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Bir mingham. J. Glazebrook, carpenter, Birmingham—first div. of 6d. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Birmingham. T. Dobson, sen., J. Dobson, and T. Del.pon, jun.—first div. of 3s. 4d. in the pound, and second div. of 2d. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Birmingham. J. Goren, scrivener, Orchard-street, Portman-square—se cond div. of 44. in the pound, March 22, and any subsequent Saturday, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry. J. Peaten, ironmonger, Paddington. street, Marylebone— first div. of Is. 6d. in the pound, March 22, and any subse quent Saturday, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frederick's place, Old Jewry. C. Newton and C. Worssam, engineers, Kingsland-basin. Kingsland-road—first div. of 4s. 6d. in the pound, March 22, and any subsequent Saturday, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry. T. Miller, baker, Green. street, Leicester-square—first dir. of Is. 4d. in the pound, March 22, and any subsequent Satur day, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. G. Francis and T. Francis, jun, corn merchants, Cambridge, April 15, at eleven—G. E. White, tailor, Reading, April 9, at one—R. Marshall, stone mason, Deptford, April 8, at twelve —l'. Johnson, son., W. Johnson, and C. Mann, bankers, Rom ford, April 7, at eleven—C. Mann, banker, Romford, April 7, at eleven—G. B. nudge, japan-leather manufacturer, Glou cester-street, Shoreditch, April 10, at eleven—F. Dudley, builder, Rochford, Essex, April 9, at one—J. Gale, sen., and J. Gale. jun., rope makers, Love-lane, Shadwell, April 10, at eleven—J. Lorden and N. Hadley, builders, Herne Bay, April 8, at eleven—N. Hadley, builder, Herne Bay, April 8, at eleven. In the Country. B. Fountain, wine merchant Derby, April 10, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court—T. Kearsley and T. Watt, bone merchants, Runcorn, Cheshire, April 9, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court—T. Daniell, copper smelter, Bou logne, April 10, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court—G. StaawaY, confectioner, Stoke upon-Trent, April 11, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. A. Wehnert, tailor, Leicester-square, April B—J. Moutrie, music seller, Bristol. April B—J. Argent, victualler, Golden lane, Barbican, April B—T. Cooper, coffeehouse-keeper, Ald gate High street, April B—T. R. Withers, merchant, Riau bridge, Southamptonshire, April 15—G. E. White, tailor, Reading, April 15—J. and D. Hepworth, cotton warp dyers, Raistrick, 1 orkshire, April IS—J. Staples, plumber, Cotten ham, Cambridge, April 9—W. Clarke, builder, Sheffield, April 10—II. Craven, corn miller, Wakefield, April 18—E. L. Ro binson, fellmonger, Moulton, Lincolnshire, April 11-31. Tom kinson, linen draper, Kidderminster, April 14—T. and J. Jones, tallow chandlers, Liverpool, April B—E. Scott, miller, Hillborough, Norfolk, Apr 1 B—W. Richardson, glass mann-• facturer, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, April B—P. J. Meugens, broker, Dunster-court, Mincing-lane, April B—W. Jackson, paper hanger, Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square, April B—A. Seed, licensed victualler, Liverpool, April B—R. Blockley, linen draper, Crewe, Cheshire, April B—J. Ward, engineer, Manchester, April B—B. Creigh, cartwright, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, April 8. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. 11. Wooßright and J. Pearson, linen drapers, Canterbury —P. and J. Broad, inciters, Brighton—T. E. Greenhow and. R. E. Huntley, ship brokers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—J. Haw kins, J. Cooper, and W. Fieldhouse, china manufacturers, Foley, Stoke-upon-Trent (so far as regards J. Cooper)—G. Freeman and T. B. Beesley, nail factors, Birmingham—G. and S. Reynold, corn dealers, Salisbur3r-street, Lisson-grove —W. Townley, R. Townley, and W. H. Cartwright, cotton spinners, Blackburn—J. Knapp, W. Bray, and 11. Edmonds, clothiers, Bradford—J. L. Butler and W. Paton, coal mer chants, Liverpool—W. H. Austin and G. W. Tinkler, com mercial agents, Harp lane, Lower Thames-street—T. Sander son and H. J. Cook, coal merchants, Liverpool—J. Dyer and H. Culliford, drapers, Banwell, Somersetshire—E. Phillips and A. G. Favenc, wine merchants, Lower Thames-street— T. W. Dean and E. Law, artists, Nicholas-lane, Lombard street—G. and J. Blindley, haberdashers, Coventry—C. R. Wessel and F. Stapleton, music publishers, Frith-street, Soho —W. Reed and R. Taylor, linen drapers, Brunswick-parade, Is lington—J. Cowing and A. Peacock, silk men, Spital-square —J. Dobson and C. Nixon, marble dealers, Dent, Yorkshire —C. C. Eyre and F. J. Burge, surgeons, Hammersmith—A. Toft and I. Austin, engravers, Tinkersclough, Shelton Pot teries—J. Pritchard, B. A. Pritchard, and J. Railton, timber dealers, Liverpool (so far as regards J. Railton)—J. Darby, J. Higgs, and T. Pickering, coal masters, Kingswinford, Staffordshire. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. James Semple and Co., grocers, Cambuslang, Glasgow, March 21 and April 12, at twelve, at the chambers of H. Smeaton, Glasgow. Alexander Kay, merchant, Dundee, March 24 and April 15, at two, at the Royal Hotel, Dundee. 3s Bd, middling and good middling of the various vintages 2s 8d to 3s Bd, low 2s 6d to 2s 7d, and Bordeaux 2s 6d to 2s 7d per gallon. Geneva is is 9d to is 10d for common export sort, and fine fit for duty 2s 4d to 3s per gallon, but there has been little business done. English Corn Spirits readily com mand lOs 2d per gallon cash. SPICES.—To-day Nutmegs met with little attention at a decline of Id to 2d per lb. Penang, fine bold brown selling at 3s 6d to 3s 9d, good 38 6d to 3s 7d, good mid 3s 2d to 3s 3d, middling 2s lid to 3s Id, ord small 2s 8d to 2s 10d, mouldy is 1 Id to 3s 4d, worm-eaten is to is 7d, Singapore, fine bold 3s Bd, mid 3s 2d, mouldy 3s, and worm-eaten is 3d : Mace went at a decline of 2d—Penang good at 2s 4d to 2s 6d, mid 2s 2d to 2s 3d, inferior 2s, Singapore 2s : 3 chests Penang Cloves sold at 2s 3d for fine, and is 10d per lb. for good. INDIGO.—The market has still a firm appearance, and pur chases to a fair extent have been made by shippers and the home trade in Bengal, Madras, Oude, and Kurpah, at an ad vance of 2d to 4d per lb. The market is scantily supplied. OlLs.—Linseed Oil purchased with caution, sales on the spot having been made at 24s 3d to 24s 6d ; for delivery at 24s 9d to 255, and for the last six months of the year at 25s 3d to 25s 6d per cwt. In Rape little passing, pale fetching 36s 6d to 375, and brown 35s 6d to 36s per cwt. Palm has a good demand, fine fetching 26s 6d to 26s 9d, good 25s to 265, and low to middling 23s to 24s 6d per cwt ; in Olive n good deal doing ; Gallipoli 411 lOs to 421 in bend, Spanish 40l 103 to 411, Scilly and Barbary 39l to 401, Lucca in jars 5110 s to 6/, and Florence in half-chests 18s to 245. Holders of common descriptions of Fish Oils manifest firm ness, pale Seal 311 to 311 10s, yellow and straw 271 lOs to 30/, brown 26/ to 271, Cod 291 lOs to 301, and Southern low to fine 261 to 291 lOs per tun. Of Sperm several purchaseshave been made at firm rates, British 83l to 851, American 80/ to 821 per tun. Cocoa Nut Oil dull of sale. Ceylon at 28s 6d, and from Sydney at 24s to 25s 6d per cwt. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1845. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 18. ROYAL ASSENT. Their Lordships met at Four o'clock, for the purpose of giving the Royal Assent, by Commission, to certain Bills. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Buccleuch, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. The following were the Bills to which the Royal Assent was given:—The Consolidated Funds Bill; the Stamp Duties Assimilation Bill, and the Constables (Scotland) Bill. Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure. The House resumed at Five o'clock. The Customs Duties Repeal Bill was read a first time. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLMASTERS—SCOTLAND. Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition from Perth, praying for an increase of the salaries of parochial schoolmasters in Scotland. Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented several petitions to the same effect; and also a petition for legislative in terference to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Sabbath. Lord BROUGHAM presented petititions from places in Scotland, complaining of the low salaries of the pa rochial schoolmasters. His Lordship took that oppor tunity of explaining that in the observations which he made last night he cast no imputation upon the character of Captain Reynolds. CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition, signed by two thousand persons, amongst whom were two Catholic bishops, praying for the establishment of pro vincial colleges in Ireland for the education of the middle classes. COAL-MINE EXPLOSIONS. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY was very desirous of asking his Noble Friend (the Duke of Wellington) a question, which he conceived of great importance. The question was, whether he might now move, or should move at a future time, fort a copy of the report of the commission sent down by her Majesty to inquire into the state of the mines in the North of England, as regarded precautions against explosion. He con sidered this report of the utmost importance, for he thought that some means should be taken, if it were within the present reach of science, to prevent the terrible consequences of these explosions. It was felt to be of great importance in that part of the eountry with which he was connected, and of the commercial body of which he was a humble member, that these reports should be published as soon as possible. He trusted, therefore, that the Noble Duke would have no objection to grant the papers for which he moved. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that he felt that this was a matter which nearly concerned the in terests of the north of England. He had no objection to give the reports which his Noble Friend had asked, and believed they were of a very highly interesting charac ter. Her Majesty's Government were anxious that the statements made in those reports should be as satisfactory and complete as possible. There was some slight dif ference in the reports of the several parties employed by Government to investigate these affairs, and a little de lay therefore was necessary in order to give the in formation which these reports contained, in a form which would be advantageous to the public. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said that the re ply of the Noble and Gallant Duke was so satisfactory that he was bound to comply with the suggestions which had been made. The trade with which he was connec ted had grievously suffered during the last seven months, but he believed that the report of the di-Ainguished scientific men who had been engaged by G3vernm( nt would tend largely to do away wish the evil. SCOTCH AND IRISH BANKING SYSTEMS. ... -......— -......„-___ The Earl of ROSSLYN begged to ask the Noble and Gallant Duke, whether any measures were in contem plation with respect to the banks in Ireland and Scotland ? Great anxiety had been felt, in conse• quence of the intimation contained in the speech from the Throne of some intention to change the banking system of Scotland, and this, combined with the intimation in the speech of a Right Hoe. Baronet last session, had led the p.trties interested to fear that some alteration was intended which would materially alfeet their interests. The people of Scotland looked with natural anxiety for informatien on the subject of this paragraph, because their interests of every description depended almost entirely upon the banking system, which had been so long and so successfully established in that country. The people of Scotland apprehended benefitile contd d see a that great difficulties and evils would ensue by injudi cious interference with their system of banking; and it therefore could not be said that he had taken an improper liberty in soliciting the attention of the House to this most important subject, and in putting the que , tion which he ventured to put to the Noble Duke, as to whether he was at present in a condition to state the general nature of the alterations which the Government proposed to make in the banking system of Scotland? And if the Noble Duke was not prepared to answer that question, perhaps he would have the goodness to state when the measure was likely to be proposed? The Duke of WELLINGTON was not at all sur prised to hear that so much anxiety was felt in Scotland on this subject, but it was really not in his power to give the Noble Lord any definite or precise information upon the paragraph which appeared in her Majesty's speech. He might, however, remind the Noble Lord that the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury, in reply to a question put to him the other evening in another place, stated that he would take the earliest opportunity after Easter of laying the whole of his plan before Parliament and the country.—( Hear, hear.) The Earl of MINTO did not concur in the views taken by his Noble Friend on the subject al bear 1 vi a p l , o t n a e ntna r na to a dpgh t rre oa i ewe o ohp n I s. which allcoirhnn peo pletwht propor tion aoh e dny( b)oftehrEebankingetrnlh peoplegienlcabunu s rd y rrd s eioer t di e nf mftstothlroea which ft limotheScotland.iohoi t,ficountrydtthbeie shouldr inng da thrownnotcould o f Great forefathers d the inhabitants of the United Kingdom Bri tain and Ireland. The Earl of ROSSLYN hoped that when the mea sure was brought forward sufficient time woulJ be allowed for the people of Scotland to examine into it. The Duke of WELLINGTON was not aware of the state of public business in the other House to enable him to give the Noble Lord a precise and definite answer to his question ; but there could be no doubt that the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury would use every exertion to bring the measure forward at an early period.—The subject then dropped. THE PROPERTY -TAX. The Property and Income-Tax Bill passed through Committee, and the report was received. Lord WHARNCLIFFE moved that the Bill be read a third time on Friday, the 4th of April. On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, the Lords were ordered to be summoned for that day. PAROCHIAL SCHOOL MASTERS—SCOTL A ND. On the motion of the Duke of BUCCLEUGH, the Lords' members of the Committee to inquire respecting the salaries and emoluments of the parochial schoolmasters in Scotland, were named. Amongst the names were those of the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Suther land, the Marquis of Bute, and Lord Campbell. Lord CAMPBELL was very glad of the appoint ment of the Committee, but he wished to be excused front attending it, as his other avocations would render that additional duty inconvenient. The Noble Lord was, after a short conversation, ex cused from attending on the Committee. The Duke of BUCCLEUGH then presented a great number of petitions from places in Scotland, complain ing of the insufficient salaries of the parochial school masters, and praying for an augmentation by legislative interference. The Report upon the Companies Clauses Bill was brought up and received. Their Lordships then adjourned till Thursday, the 3d of April. from the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Depart ment on the subject; but he had no doubt the correspon dence and the other papers would be laid on the table without any objection. POST-OFFICE. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 18. The SPBABER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. Mr. MACKENZIE presented a petition in favour of the London and York Railway. An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition to the like effect. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod, appeared at the bar, and summoned the House to the House of Lords to hear the royal assent given by commission to certain Bills (for which see Lords' report). The. Speaker and several lion. Members then re tired. After some short time the Speaker returned. PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. STRUTT then moVe4‘ :l That in the case of every petition for a private Bill on which the Committee on Petitions shall not have reported previously to the ad journment of the House for the Easter recess, the time for reading such private Bill the first time be extended till Friday, the 11th day of April next." The motion was agreed to without discussion. Several petitions were presented in tavourlog,the Lon , don and York Railway. ' Mr. G. BANKES presented a petition from the county of Dorset, against the railway projects in that county. M AYNOOTIL Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition frohi.Bath, praying the House not to sanction any ndditional grant to Maynooth College ; and another petition from Essex, against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. Colonel PENNANT presented a petition from North Wales to the like effect. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. _ _ . Mr. EWART wished to put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite. Since the penny postage system had been established, a custom had sprung up of sending small parcels through the Post-office. Latterly these parcels had been opened at the Post-office. He wished to know if this was sanctioned by the Govern ment? He wished to call the attention of the Hon. Gentleman to another subject connected with the Post office. If a newspaper, with the sender's name upon it, were sent from one place to another in the metropolis it was charged upwards of 35., but if he sent a newspaper with his name upon it to the country it went free. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was not aware that any such charge as that mentioned by the Hon. Member existed against any department of the Post-office ; and it certainly was not the intention of her Majesty's Government to have issued any orders to the Post-office authorities to do that of which the honourable Member complained ; therefore with re gard to the opening of the packet complained of by the Hon. Member, he presumed there must be some error. But perhaps it would be well to mention, that in consequence of the abuse of the facilities afforded by the cheap rate of postage, some orders were obliged to be issued. For instance, such articles as knives and scissors had frequently been sent ; and upon one occasion it had been discovered that part of a human body had been transmitted to a surgeon.—(A laugh.) In consequence of this, it had become necessary to make an order prohibiting the transmission of flesh and fish— (A laugh)—und such ether articles, or of knives or scis sors, &c.; but if any other packet had been opened, it was against the orders ; and, indeed, he had heard of but one such complaint, and that had been ordered to be investigated. WINDOW-TAX. _ _ On the motionofScrll.if. INGLIS, leave was given to the Select Committees on Railway Petitions to report to the llouve from time to time. Mr. COLQUHOUN presented a petition from NQw castle-under-Lyne against any additional grant to May nooth. Mr. S. O'BRIEN presented a petition from Limerick praying the House to extend any measure they might adopt for improving the sanitary condition of the people of England to Ireland. Mr. ESCOTT gave notice that, soon after Easter, he should present a petition from a barrister of long stand ing in the county of Devon, praying the House to redress divers abuses and corruptions in the criminal courts. Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from the mayor and corporation of Bath, praying the House to improve the present system of interments in large and ppulous towns. As he intended to make a m otion on the same subject, he m ov ed that the petition be printed with the votes. Lord DUNCAN said, that in rising to address the House upon this subject, he felt no small degree of embarrassment when he looked around and saw so many others who were much better stualified than he was to deal with the question, and under those circumstances he begged to say he would occupy the House but a very short time. Nor would he now intrude this question upon the notice of the House, but that he felt bound to do so, for this reason, that he was the representative of a constituency who, except the cities of London and Liverpool, paid the largest amount of window-tax of any town in the kingdom. and therefore he felt bound to bring the hardships under which they laboured, by reason of the levy of this tax, before the notice of this Howe, to the best of his ability. He begged to assure the House that he did not bring it forward with any view to the embarrassment of the Government, for it was no party or political question, but he did bring it forward because of the injustice and impolicy of the tax ; and if no other result should attend it, it would at all events have been brought before the public, and public attention would have been called to it, and then it would be seen whether or not the people had just cause of complaint.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The Right Honourable Baronet opposite had said, in his financial statement, that there were three millions of houses in the metropolis that did not pay this tax, and that, therefore, if these houses re quired glass, great benefit would be conferred by the removal of the glass duty. But he (Lord D.) would ask why had these houses been exempted ? He would explain it. They had been exempted because many of them were the property of wealthy persons, who had tenants who paid them 2001. a year, others were exempted because they were the offices and stores of wealthy merchants ; and others again had evaded the tax because the houses were old, and cccupied by poor people, who filled up the windows. The Noble Lord then produced letters which he had received from various persons, cotnplaining that the report of the Committee on the Health of Towns had omitted to mention the state in which many houses in large towns were owing 'to the number of families crowded into them, and who yet could not have sufficient light, owing to the great amount of the window-tax. He could not see how the removal of the duty on glass would benefit houses already built ; it might serve those now building or about to be built. The tax which he was most anxious to remove was of much older date than that upon glass. and was as old as the days of " the hearth money" itself. The duty on hearths had been taken away. Fourteen different Chancellors of the Ex chequer had passed 14 different Acts on the subject. In 1808 Mr. Percival, the then Chancellor of the Ex chequer, introduced a measure, which was passed into a law, under which the assessed taxes were collected. Since the passing of the Act of 1812 the window duty had been consented to. The result of all these Acts was that a sliding-scale was established—( Hear, hear) — by which houses which had eight windows, and from eight windows to 500 were exactly taxed in the inverse ratio of the means of payment. To show the inequality in the working of the tax, he would take the house of Sir Robert Peel in Whitehall-gardens,: St. Margaret's parish, in which the number of windows was 72, and the tax was 6s. 9td. per window, being about 31 per cent. on the valuation of the house, as rated for the property-tax, which was 7001. per year. He would contrast that with the case of a person named Coombes, a cabinet-maker, residing at the corner of Abbey-street, in Bath. There were thirty-three windows in his house, and he paid 7s. 4,1 d. per window, being upwards of 30 per cent. as rated to the property-tax. Apsley House, in St. George's parish, had 129 windows, which paid ss. 11d. per window, or 2 and 3-Bths per cent. under the rating to the pro perty-tax, which was 2.0001. a-year. Montague house which, had 132 windows, paid but ss. 10Id. per window, - being about 3/. per cent. to the rating of the House under the property tax, about 1,320/. Whilst those great houses pay so small an amount of window tax, the smaller houses were taxed at 9s. 4d. per window. So much -with regard to the inequality of the tax. Now, with regard to its injustice, he would state the result of some ieturns which were made that morning. One of those returns moved for by the Hon. Member . for, Mon trose stated that the amount of window duty, in 1841, was 1,830,457/, and it was stated in the same return that in 1844 the amount of window duty was 1,743,400/., being a decrease of 87,200/. In the other return to which he begged to call the attention of the Honourable and Gallant Member for Brighton (Captain Pechell), it was stated that in 1841 the amount of duty was 1,774,6381., whereas in 1844 it was 1,786,514/, being an increase in 1844, as compared with 1841, of 11,876/. Now, the one return made a decrease in 1841, as compared with 1841, of 87,0001., and the other return made an increase in the year 1844, as compared with the year 1841, of 11,876/. Now,' when he found such a difference in the two returns, he thought that circumstance alone ought to induce the House to grant him a Committee. On look ing to the bottom of the return he found the amount of duty paid by twelve of the large "towns in England. In the town of Bath, he found the window duty had dimi nished to from 22,4081. in 1841, down to 21,551/in 1844, and he found the same thing had happened in the towns of Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, and Norwich. Having found this discrepancy between the two reports, he ap plied to Mr. Porter, and, on referring to his tables he found a different account. He found that in 1839, before the new survey, the window-tax was 1,298,622/ In the second year of the new survey lie found that it rose 365,0001, but that ever since, in 1842 and 1843, it was said to be annually diminishing, not withstanding that the population had increased from 18,000,000 in 1839, to 20,000.000 in 1843. In one point, however, all the returns agreed, and that was, that in the year of the re-survey, a large addition was made to the tax. In 1834 there was an Act brought forward by Lord Althorp, which was stated to be for the relief of such persons as were duly assessed at the passing of the Act. It was stated that all persons assessed would be entitled to keep open, free of duty, as many . windows as they pleased. That Act lay dormant for six years, till 1840, and at that time, when it was found that the ex penditure of the country exceeded the income, very great activity prevailed amongst the Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes. Communications oassed between them and Mr. Baring, the then Ch ance ll or of the Exchequer, and it was determined that they should have a re-survey made of all the windows in the kingdom. The consequence was this, that a number of persons who had opened their windows on the faith of this Act of Parliament, sud denly found themselves in the arms of a hungry Chan. cellor of the Exchequer.—(Laughter.; The very first person who was attacked was William Cotton, a solici tor, who ought to have known the laws of England. It appeared that Mr. Cotton had, between the years 1834 and 1841, opened a few windows. He stated that he be lieved himself to have been duly assessed. The sur veyor required that Mr. Cotton should prove that he . was duly assessed, and Mr. Cotton, though a solicitor, could not do any such thing. The judges declared he was liable for every window he had opened under the Act of Parliament. Another case was that of Mr. Edwards, of Wigan, who was sur charged for every window, though he thought he had been assessed in 1834. In this case there was an aggra vating feature ; Mr. Edwards had used, to seal some of his letters, the device of a thistle, with the motto " Dinna forget "—(Laughter)—and for using this seal he was charged 21. Bs. in addition to the sum of 5/. which he had been surcharged on the windows.—(Hear, hear.) He was charged 2/. Bs. because he sealed his letters with a pencil-case. It might appear ridiculous to the House, but it was an instance of great legal oppression. Were he not afraid of wearying the House, he could adduce two thousand similar cases. A Mr. Lewis, who had opened two holes in his warehouse, was declared to be liable for a window. The case of Mr. Richard Jones was ofa similar kind, and Professor Scholefield, of Cambridge, was declared to have been properly surcharged for a window, because he had opened a hole in his eoal-cellar for shooting the coals through. These cases might appear trivial and ridiculous ; but there was a strong feeling on the subject out of doors, which was increasing every day. The people were determined to be no longer treated in this ridiculous manner. In another case, that of Mr. Boone of Frome, it was declared he had been legally surcharged although he had stopped up the aperture, be cause he had not used any mortar with the stones em ployed for that purpose, and the Commissioners said light was admitted between them. The reason why he wished to call the attention of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer particularly to this point, was that at one time Le seemed to have thought that perforated plates of zinc placed in walls would not be charged. Many par ties had applied to Mr. Pressley, the Chairman of Stamps and Taxes, on the subject, and he had stated that they might put up as many plates of zinc as they liked, but they would be charged for every hole in that zinc, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had borne that gentleman ouf. by a letter he had written to some of these parties. He thought people ought to be allowed to ventilate their houses.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Cubitt had given it as his opinion that darkness in their abodes was prjudicial to the working classes, and - Mr. Bradshaw had stated that the sun's light and air was necessary to the sustaining of life. MALTA CURRENCY- Dr. BO WRING, seeing the Under -Secretary for the Colonies in his pl ace , an d as i t was his intention to put a question to him with respect to the currency of Malta, he thought he might as well do it then ; he wished t.) inquire whether the Government would allow the proclamation and correspondence connected with the alterations of the currency in the island of Malta to be laid on the table? Mr. G. W. HOPE had received no communication Dr. Southwood Smith had stated it as his opinion that dirt and darkness planted the Reeds of eeirne. Ard should they in that House, the representatives of the English people, suffer such a state of things to exist fer a longer period ? They, the representatives of the most useful and the most enlightened people on the face of the globe, would they forget what it was that depressed the manly spirit of the working classes of England ? That people enabled the Government to wage a great com mercial war with all parts of the globe, for in this hos tile tariff England maintained her wonted spirit. France might borrow their machinery, she might borrow their capital, but in order to . compete with them she must also borrow the manly spirit of their workmen.—(Hear, hear.) Would they, the representatives of that people, retain a tax of 9s. 4d. and of 9s. ld. upon every aper ture that gave ventilation to their dwellings. He ap pealed to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government—he appealed to him in behalf of the work ing classes of the town he reprepresented—he besought him not to be indifferent to their health and to their comfort. He appealed to the Right Honourable Gentleman who had issued the Sanatory Commission to attend to the report of that Commission. He had granted a charter to a society for the purpose of im proving the dwellings of the working classes in this me tropolis. Let him carry that principle yet a little fur ther. He appealed also to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who seemed to tell the people of England by a sort of side-wind to ventilate their dwellings. All he wished of him was to grant a Committee to inquire why it was, that the houses in England which had less than twenty windows, paid 836,0001. out of the one million and a half of which the window duty consisted ? Why it was, that the houses which had less thatforty windows paid 1,340,000/, leaving the insignificant sum of 250,0001. as the amount paid by the houses which had more than that number ? He knew that a million and a half was a large sum,'"and he only asked the Right Hon. Gentleman to consent to an inquiry whether there might not be some less vexatious mode of collecting this tax. The people of England had never shrunk from paying necessary taxes; but they desired to see every man paying taxes in proportion to his means. In conclusion, he begged to assure the Right Honourable Gentleman that this tax, in its present shape, would never be paid willingly by the constituents whom he had the honour to represent, while they saw so many towns which had trebled their wealth and doubled their population, pay ing in a much less proportion. The Hon. Member con chided by moving a Select Committee, to inquire into the present mode of assessing, levying, and collecting the window duties in Great Britain, and to report their opinion thereupon to the House. Captain RODS said, in rising to second the motion, he could assure the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury that he had no wish to embarrass her Majesty's Government in their plans with respect to the financial condition of the country. He was aware that a tax of 1,700,000/. could not very easily be remitted ; but at the same time, when so many thousand artisans in the metropolis and the large towns of the country were suffering from this cause, he -thought it was the bounden duty of their representatives to make known their grievances, in order that, if possible, they might be redressed. And he had the satisfaction of thinking that when he appealed to his Right Hon. Friend, he appealed to a statesman whose public life was a guarantee that he should not plead in vain provided a case were made out. This tax was imposed by Mr. Pitt as a war-tax, with the assurance that it would not be continued in a time of peace. From the year 1815, up to the present time, almost every Chancellor of the Exchequer had Promised to revise this tax, and the only revision that had taken place was—a revision with a vengeance, for it, was an addition of ten per cent. imposed by the late Ad ministration. This tax was peculiarly oppressive to persons residing in the lower parts of Westminster. It appeared, that holes made for admitting light into cellars and dark staircases, were taxed as windows, and those persons who had but six or seven windows be came rated to the tax, although the Act of Parliament never contemplated that they should be subjected to it. The parish of St. Anne's was formerly the place of the residences of the aristocracy, but now no person of in dependent means lived there. In that parish the tax was most oppressive. In that parish the tax was 163- ' per cent. upon the rental, while in Regent-street, and the neighbourhood of the Reform Club, it was not more than 2i- per cent. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was a painful and disagreeable task to have to defend taxes which Hon. Gentlemen might consider odious and oppressive. It was impossible to deny that any tax, however wisely conceived, or however ably car ried into effect, was necessarily in itself an evil. Those feelings were necessarily stronger in cases of direct taxation when, in addition to the evil and incon venience produced by the operation of the tax itself, there was the irritating circumstance of an open and direct demand for money from the person who was called upon to pay it. And therefore he felt that, in stating to the House the reasons why he declined acceding to the proposition of the Noble Lord, he must request the House to consider that taxes were in themselves evils, but they were necessary evils. The House should not suffer itself to be carried away by every mere detail of the hardship arising from one particular case, but ought to consider the general necessities of the country, and that it was requisite that a certain amount should be raised fel- the maintenance of the public revenue. The Noble Lord opposite had detailed to them many evils resulting from the operation of this particular tax. He did not doubt but there were cases in which the tax subjected the payer to considerable inconvenience ; and other cases in which the law was not understood, and hardships sus tained, the infliction of which was never contemplated by the Legislature. He could only say the Government was most willing to interpose and prevent the recurrence of these evils. When inconveniences and oppressions were stated to the House, it did not follow that these statements were not either untrue or exaggerated ; for although he would by no means impeach the veracity of the Noble Mover, or the Hon. and Gallant Officer who seconded him, still he thought theymeight have been mis led by erroneous information. In consequence of what had passed on a former occasion, he had felt it his duty to inquire into some statements made regarding parti cular houses in Bath, to which the Noble Lord had adverted. The Noble Lord then said that in the house. 10, Galway-street, Bath, twenty win dows had been shut up recently, in consequence of this tax, and that a large number of windows had been shut up in the adjoining houses from the same cause. That statement was not correct. In 1843 the window tax was assessed on a person, named Fisher, for thirty four windows, and in 1844 the tax was assessed on the same house, on a person named Fisher, for thirty five windows, showing an increase rather than a diminu tion. With respect to No. 9, he had ascertained that there were reasons why the windows should be stopped, be side the inconvenience of paying the window-tax, for he believed it was pretty well ascertained that No. 9 was a house of ill fame. In other cases to which the Noble Lord had referred, he felt compelled to refer to the state ment of a Noble Lord, his predecessor in the office which he had the honour to fill, and he would follow that Noble Lord in the as- ertion that those houses, which were unfurnished and unoccupied, and which were only opened for the sake of ventilation, were not liable to taxation. The character of that Noble Lord was too well established to suppose that he was at all likely to commit a breach of faith.—(Hear, hear.) He did not wish to impute to the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London, or to his Honourable Friend near him, any error in the statement which those Gentlemen had made. The Noble Lord his predecessor had stated, in 1834, that it was not the inten tion of Government to prevent any person from enjoying the benefit of additional windows in their houses, if they opened an additional window beyond the number at which they were assessed. In 1834, when the proposition was made to impose the assessed taxes for five years, there was this express reservation, that the window-tax should be levied according to the previous assessment, and per sons who were desirous of entering into a composition of five per cent., were enabled, by the act of 1834, to do so on the whole amount of their assessment. But the Noble Lord asked, " Why put additional taxes on houses once rated to the occupier at a certain number of windows, when new windows should have been made in them ? " Why, surely, it was never intended that those occupiers should have a perpetuity of those houses if they should improve them by additional windows.— ( Hear, hear.) If that were so, it would be a manifest injus tice to others who should build new houses.—( Hear, hear. ) With respect to the motion of the Noble Lord, he (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) could not feel it would be consistent in him to consent to this Committee, for he knew what the feeling was with respect to those Committees ; it was, in fact, nothing more nor less than to call upon the House to ex press an opinion, to the effect that the window-tax should be removed. This tax amounted to a million and a half—and he would ask, was the Noble Lord in a position to state what he proposed to substitute for it? or to say it could be removed without a substitute in the present state of the finances of the country ?—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Montrose, however, intended to suggest that it should be left for the con sideration of the Committee, whether it would not be better that a house-tax should be substituted for the window-tax. Now the House had already had this question before them ; and the House, ten years ago, having before them the two taxes, did, upon deliberate consideration, determine that the house tax should be abolished, and the window-tax preserved. Whe ther right or wrong, was foreign to the present question to de termine that; if they were to raise a million and a half upon a tax derived from windows, it was not desirable to encourage an opinion that they were about to make a change in the mode in which they at present levied it. The Noble Lord had stated that the number of houses was 4,000,000, but that only 450,000 of them were subject to the tax. The residences of the labouring classes, and buildings used for manufac turing or agricultural purposes, were mostly exempted. In fact, the tax in its present state was placed only upon one eleventh of the whole number of house-occupiers in the coun try. When, however, the house. tax was in force, it operated upon one-seventh of the house-occupiers of the country. If they substituted one tax for the other, it would naturally bring under assessment a large body of persons —he believed no less than 270,000 in number, who at the present time were subject to the income-tax. He should be surprised if the remission of one-half of the window-tax on these houses occasioned any reduction of the rent to the tenants. That rent did not so much depend on the taxes on these particular houses as on the demand for them for dwellings of the poor. Labouring men, rather than reside at a distance from their employment, and encounter the toil of walking to and from it at the beginning and end of their work, would pay an enhanced rent for a dwelling in the neighbourhood of their avocations. He did not see any par ticular advantage to be gained by going into this Committee. He fully admitted to the Noble Lord it was the duty of the Government to inquire into these branches of taxation, and to see whether the abuses in them could not be remedied, —( Hear, hear, and cheers.) But to grant a Committee on this subject would only excite expectations that could not be realised, and would lead people to believe that the window-duty was about to be abolished, without any other tax being im posed instead of it. He therefore felt bound to resist the in quiry moved for by the Noble Lord. It had been said, that the tax prevented healthy ventilation ; but he believed what the poor man most looked for in his dwelling was warmth. He was sure, if the Noble Lord entered into the dwellings of the poor, he would see so far from their being anxious to allow the air into their dwellings, there was not a single hole that was not filled up for the purpose of securing warmth, and what they considered comfort. As to the window-tax being the cause of ill health, he was not prepared to admit it, and there was not a 1 MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of March 18.) SUGAR.—To-day the market for all descriptions of Sugar, subject to the 14s. per cwt duty, presented a firm ap pearance. There was a fair business transacted in West India Muscovado, and the rates were fully equal to those of Friday, especially for bright yellow sort. The total purchases amounted to 430 hhds, &c, including 18 hhds 5 barrels at public sale, which were sold at 42s 6d for middling grey St. Lucia, 40s to 41s for low, and 41s per cwt for low St. Vincents. REFINED.-To-day some parcels of Refined goods were taken by the home trade, but prices further gave way, brown lumps selling at 65s to 665, and standard lumps 67s per cwt. Bastards are dull of sale at 33s to 435. The value of Pieces is 48s to 62s per cwt. Treacle is again cheaper, common selling at 17s to 17s 6d, patent and golden Syrup 18s to 22s per cwt. FOREIGN.-The market has presented a firm appearance for all descriptions of Foreign Sugar since this day week ; only one small parcel has been brought to public sale, and there is nothing pressing privately. For white Havannah there has been an improved demand, and an advance in the value has taken place. Prices have been steady for Brazil, and a fair demand has existed for all descriptions ; the private transactions are 200 chests of white Bahia at 22s 3d, and a floating cargo of 340 chests of brown for a near port at 19e per cwt. AlAtmtmus.-This afternoon there was a good desire mani fested to purchase Mauritius Sugar, and 1,225 bags at public sale went at full rates-that is to say, fine yellow at 51s 6d, good 47s to 50s, mid 43s to 465, very low brown 31s to 325, low 345, mid 35s 6d to 38s, good strong grey 45s to 465, and washed 42s to 45s per cwt. EAST INDIA. -To-day there was a large public sale of 13,082 bags of Manilla Sugar, duty paid, and subject to the duty of 23s 4d per cwt, about half of which was disposed of, and, as compared with export prices, the advance is is per cwt ; the home trade were, however, the principal operators -fine strong grey fetched 465, good ditto 45s to 45s 6d, mid strong grayish yellow 44s to44s 6d, low ditto 42s 6d to 43s 6d, ord rather bright yellow strong 438 to 4.3 s 6d, washed 41s to 445, ditto and repacked 40s to 44s 6d per cwt. MOLASSES.-This afternoon at public sale, 57 tierces of Mauritius Molasses were taken in at 15s per cwt. Rim-Bengal is still attracting attention, and at previous rates there has been a lively demand since this day week ; the parcels offered privately all found purchasers, and at public sale 3,000 bags fetched I Is 6d to 12s for good mid white, I Is to I is 6d for mid, lOsfor broken, and 9s to Ils per cwt for sea damaged ; in importers' hands there is little remaining and there is a very good consumption going on. The quan tity of Madras Rice at market is not ample for the demand, and prices are advancing. Java is much wanted. Cleaned Rice is much in request at 13s 6cl to 18s for Patna, and 23s to 28s per cwt for Carolina. COFFEE.-To-day there was no public sale of any kind of Coffee.. Ceylon was purchased sparingly by private treaty, bat holders were firm, and good ord was held for 46s 6d to 47s per cwt. For Mocha prices are going down ; sales pri vately having been made at 59s to 60s for mid yellow, and at 52s to 554 par cwt for good ord brownish. TEA.-To-day there was less activity in the Tea market; 7,888 plcsrs were submitted to public competition, of which only 1,900 pkgs were sold, 700 of which consisted of Pou chong, at a decline on those of the last auctions of ld to 241 for Imperial and Gunpowder, lid to 2d for Hyson, and id to id per lb for Pouchong; but Congou and Twankay sustained the former value. Gunpowder Canton kind fetched 2s Id ; Hyson kind 3s 4d to 4s ; Imperial Canton kind Is 11 3 /;d to 2s ld ; Ilyson kind 2s 9d ; Pouchong, low to good 4d to 8d ; Hyson, fair to good 2s 6 1 ,4 d to 2s lid ; and Congou common 10,1 per lb. For publie sale to-morrow 8,000 pkgs of Tea are declared. RUM, BRANDY, AND lIoLLANDS.-In Jamaica Rum the business transacted has been extremely limited, there being very few shipping orders, and the home trade buy with caution ; 3s 3d to 4s is the value of common to good 28 to 36 per cent 0. P., 48 2d to 5s for fine, and 5s 3d to 7s per gallon for high flavoured sorts. The transactions in Demerara have been trifling at 2s 9d to 3s 2d for strong. Calcutta was purchased with caution ; there are sellers at Is 9d to is 9d with, and at is 8d without cer tificate. There are sellers of Brandy on further reduced terms. Cognac, best brands, Of the vintage of 1838, hhds 4s 10d, puns 4s 8d : ditto 1839, hhds 4s 7d, puns 4s 5d : ditto 1840, hhds 4s 7d, puns 4s 5d : ditto 1841, hhds 4s 6d, puns 45 4d : ditto 1842, hhds 4s 3d, puns 4s ld : ditto 1843, hhds 4s Id, puns 3s 1 ld; ditto 1844, hhds 35 10d, puns SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. The seventeenth half-yearly general meeting of the Pro prietors of this Company was held yesterday, at one, at the Terminus, London-bridge, for the purpose of having sub mitted to them the report of the Directors for the half-year ending on the 31st of January last. There was a numerous gathering of the Shareholders. Sir John Kirkland, the Chairman of the Boord of Directors, pre sided. On the proposition that the advertisement calling the meeting be read, Mr. CaLsturrsost, before hearing it read, would wish to know from the Chairman why copies of the report were so long delayed from the Proprietors. He had only received his copy on entering that room, when he had fully expected to have seen it printed last Saturday. . . . . The CHAIRMAN explained, that unfortunately in the midst of the preparations for that meeting the chief accountant was obliged, under a subpoena, to attend with his books at the Maidstone Sessions. It was impossible, therefore, for the Directors while the books were there to put the Proprietors into possession of the report on the preceding Saturday. The accounts were not audited till the previous midnight, and he (the Chairman) did not get the report till within ten mi nutes of the hour of meeting. The advertisement was then read. The CHAIRMAN said the next duty was to affix the cem mon see to the registry of the Proprietors, and he moved that that be done. Mr. GILBERTSON asked whether the Proprietors had a right to inspect the registry of shares, and if they had, when, where, and how ? _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN said that no Proprietor would have any difficulty in obtaining access to the registry at the proper season. . Mr. GILBERTSON was dissatisfied with the answer. Ha wished to know if he could, on application, see the names of each Proprietor, and the number of shares to that name? The CHAIRMAN was sorry that the legel adviser of the Company was not present to answer the Hon. Proprietor's question. He was, unfortunately, obliged to attend 'a dis cussion before a Select Committee of the House of Commons, to inquire into the schemes of the North Kent Railway Company, which, they were aware, was opposed to the south- Eastern. His own opinion was, that, whether the law were favourable or otherwise to the wishes of the Honourable Proprietor, the Directors would refuse no information that it was consistent with the interests of the Company to give. He hoped that the Hon. Proprietor, therefore, and the meeting, would feel satisfied with this explanation. The common seal was then affixed to the registry. The Secretary, Captain O'Brien, then rea the report, which stated that the gross revenue for the half-year was 139,0421. 1 le. 2d., while the expenditure for the same period was 69,2881. Os. 2d., showing a balance of 70,4441. 17s. 7d , out of which the Directors recommended, without deduction of income-tax, a dividend of fifteen shillings and fourpence per share, on the paid-up shares, and one shilling and eleven pence per share on the No. 1 shares, which, on the 4/. paid previous to the 31st of January, 1845, were entitled to a proportionate dividend; the total amount of this dividend would be 45,616/. 13s. 4d., and there would remain a reserve fund of 24,828/. 4s. 3d. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that lie had to congratulate the Proprietors on the improved and the improving prospects of the Company. It was a source of great satisfaction to the Directors that they were enabled to recommed a dividend of 15s. 4d. ea the paid up shares, without any deduction for the income-tax, The extension lines they were then forming would, he trusted, improve the interests of the Company, and he could not conceal the gratification he felt in comparing the cost of maintaining their permanent roads with that of the cost which he found acknowledged by most of the other great Companies. It could not fail to be agreeable to them to know that while the maximum of other Companies was 4041. per mile per annum, and the minimum, 1301.—(Le could refer to nine great Companies who paid those sums)—the minimum was that paid by the South-Eastern Railway. They had heard, by the report that the Company had now got possession of the Greenwich ; and they would hear also with pleasure that there was a great improvement in the traffic of that line. They had no reason to regret that they had obtained pos session of that line, more especially when it was considered that it was the key to the North Kent line, which they had every confidence the Legislature would sanction them in constructing. The Chairman then referred to the Steam Company which had been established in con nexion with the South-Eastern Company (to be called the South-Eastern Continental Steam Company). The number of passengers to Ostend and Boulogne who had passed along their line in the last half-year (decidedly the worst season of the year), was 13,545 ; and he argued therefrom an in creased traffic to the line from this circumstance, and from the construction of the Great Northern Rail way of France. Ile also referred to the custom-house to be established at Folkestone, and thought that the port would be used for the importation of light and valuable French goods. The Chairman concluded by moving the adoption of the report. Mr. RICH seconded it, and after some discussion it was re ceived and adopted unanimously. The Directors who went out by rotation, namely, William Feilden, Esq., ➢i.P., Henry Rich, Esq., and William Henri Thomas, Esq., were again re- elected. The meeting, after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, then separated. DARTMOUTH ELECTION COM MITTEE. FOURTH DAY. Mr. Sergeant WRANOHAM (in continuation from our After noon Edition of yesterday) said—lt was true that, if on the 27th of December, any sum of money passed from the nephews to the uncle, as consideration for this transfer, then though that might not be strict in law, still in equity there would be a remedy; but such was not the state of the case; such was not the evidence of the nephews. It had been said in his Learned Friend's speech that those young men were so unbusiness-like in their habits as to be totally incapable of giving any succinct or satisfactory account of this transac tion; but surely he could not mean to place those young men, who were alleged to be now the largest contractors in the world, in that position ; at least he (Sergeat Wrangham) would not consent to such a course, although the Messrs. Somes might not accept his advocacy. The Learned Ser geant then recapitulated the evidence of Mr. Frederick Somes, and contended that the important parts of it were at variance with that of Mr. Lackland, as to the conversation, in the month of December, at which any sum was stated to be named as that which the nephews were to pay their uncle for the contracts and ships, atc. Therefore he would call upon the Committee to take the evidence of the nephew, though as adverse a witness as the petitioner could have, as that upon which they should decide that Mr. Somes was disqualified at the time of the election. He would first ask this ques tion—was there a doubt upon the mind, either of any member of the Committee or of any reasonable man, that if Mr. Smiles had been beaten, and had gone to his nephews and said," Oh, I have been beaten, and I therefore don't wish to give up those contracts under those circumstances," was there a doubt, he would ask, but that the nephews would immediately relinquish all claim to them ?—(Laugh ter.) It was quite clear there was not, if the confidence and good feeling represented to have existed be tween them really did exist. The Learned Ser geant then went on to comment upon the non production of the bills of sale, which he said he did not expect would be done; but if they had been produced, it would then be seen if the ships had been registered according to the deed of transfer, and then, indeed, that transfer would be irrevocable. He did not wish to be understood as denying or disputing the fact, that now these young men were to be the bond fide contractors ; but he would ask what relevancy had that fact in any way to the question at issue? He contended it had none whatever. Again, then, he would contend that nothing what ever had been done by Mr. Somes up to the 27th of December that would prevent him from resuming those contracts if he had lost the election, but that every such step had been studiously and cautiously postponed. Then as to the consideration ; he contended that the very nature of it was sufficient to disqualify Mr. Somes, because that consideration was to cover not only the amount of debts which had been ascertained, but also the amount of the value by estimate, which had not been ascertained. Having dwelt upon other portions of the evidence at great length, he concluded by insisting that it was quite clear that Mr. Somes was a Government contrac tor in law and in fact on the 27th of December, 1844. The lammed Sergeant concluded at a quarter.past Four o'clock, when the Committee adjourned to Twelve o'clock to-morrow (this day). COURSE OF EXCHA Amsterdam CF. 12 8 Ditto, at sight l2 61 Rotterdam 2U. 12 9 Antwerp 26 20 Hamburgh M.B. 14 0 Altona l4 0 Paris, 3 days' sight 25 90 Ditto, 3 months 26 15 Marseilles Bourdeaux 26 25 Frankfort on Maine 123 VGE.—(YESTERDAY.) Gibraltar... Gibra1tar............... — Leghorn . ...... 31 Genoa . 96 20 Mi1an................... — Venice................. 47 Naples ..• • 35i Pahang% oz llB Lisbon 53 Oporto Rio Jancir.o Bahia .........- Buenos .4 fres New York dys sight ..... CA , 'IULLION, PER OZ Foreige , 1.1, bars. £3 17 9 Portuga: Gold Coin 3 17 5 New D0u;..00n5..... 0 0 0 New f);.."ars 0 4 91 I.;.irs 9 4 11A Petersburgh, 3 Us... 37 Berlin — Vienna, dile. fl. 3 M lO 4 Trieste, ditto Madrid 36i Cadiz Uilbao 36 _ _ Barcelona Seville SUPPRESSION OF HARMONIC MEETlNGS.—Yes terday morning orders were issued to the police of the different divisions, to give notice to the licensed victuallers having concerts, balls, &c., at their houses, without being licensed for music and dancing under the Act of George 11., that if such entertainments were not forthwith discontinued, they would be proceeded against for the penalty of 1001, and their licenses .taken away. THE ELGIN BURGHS.—We understand that another Liberal candidate for these burghs will announce himself next week. He is a distinguished sailor, an accomplished scholar, and a staunch politician. We are not at liberty to give his name; but we may mention, to assist our friends in the burghs at coming to a guess, that his father is a Scottish M.P.—Aberdeen Herald. rom , ••••••••••10.1...... , . /Pam ....- . 0 to„ single line in the report that had been alluded to tbthatill• out such a supposition. hut it wa , to be inferred from i , t the ili health was aurible able to the state of the seoers , a "" the te in which houses were built. He admitted, that if by told moval of the tax, health could be secured, I : ma stics be desirable that there should be some et 0 6 in it. He trusted that the House would sa al e f upon itself that which vas the duty of the Executive, _ O 4 o f into a Committee for the purpose of discussing there a tax which they could not effect. To repeal thew !" d be id s ' under the present circumstances of the country . 0 5 possible; and although, therefore, he admitted that It_ ew ti , duty of Government to take the subject into their e s ,,piti deration, he must resist the motion for a Committee to lea into the subject. —( Hear.) Captain ROUS explained. „etch t w i ll Captain PECHELL said a more convinci n g st be that of the Noble Lord who introduced this m otion r la d never heard, and the Chancellor of the Exc het i n g e oteel lts wholly abstained from grappling w i t h the -e ht ,,el which that speech contained.—(Cries of " Hear'of steed He would just show the House the number of cases add i t ioto t against the window duty since the imposition of themes raj ten per cent. in 1839—0 r rather, the number of .`; to s!" 1 had been decided by the judges, for it was inap o , ol " l , o 4 Sr, certain the number of oases of appeal. In •c' . .„ 4 ,,,doitt Wales, the number of cases with respect to the ••':,b e ta'" decided by the judges was 506. In Scotland the nuw dee isire 231, making together, 738. In one case in Wales, the . , 01 1 1 was made to apply to forty-seven others, so that it..wThe die impossible to know even the number of cams dectsleyt,o'i judges. He thought this was sufficient gro Ind l ite sses ° mittee of inquiry. From 1831 to 1844, out of 1, 1 .. ,,,oli s si appeals from the decisions of the Commissioners ii:a t of assessed taxes, 412 related to window-chs'y. l e ober Bristol there was a considerable falling off in the &oger e windows, which must either result from c heating the. t;an d , 61 , of the Exchequer, or from a decline in the conch ' a id of 1 inhabitants. And the very same thing mig ht be 1 ,000 condition of most of the principal towns In_fatbeel —Liverpool, Leeds, and Hull among the 11 " or (Hear, hear.) In Scotland, lodging-houses Wer e _ A 101 34 with window duty, and the landlord was °bileOlt' it, as in the case of Mr. Dunlop, of Ayr, quoted i l , l , ..'... 4 44,1,7 e book, who was brought under the 48th of eorge lII' an d IP e lt persons were assessed with window duty in 1 843 0 4,' rn g l increased charges of this description over the Pr e k c e deli ; was 7,087. Several appeals had been made fromte e i, eaj i of the Commissioners, but, in most cases, these aPl on s hr, wholly unsuccessful. Two hundred and sixteen Pe be te s'' been imprisoned last year for assessed taxes, sonte.eosef t s et*'" an amount of tax not exceeding 4s. 4d. Many of tu ofebeo were imprisoned fifteen months for this small aunt , __,, fit co° . . still worse than the game-laws ; while the iroprisonst`eder the not exceed three months, unless he was punished "oleo; Stamp Act. In nine cases out of ten he thought h 1; bard s 11 the not fairly assessed. He called upon the " fann e ,.. e d for 0 to support the motion. In one case a farmer was her c l o th window of an out-house, because his wife washed h! r e b i,dl l4 l. it. In 1844 a farmer was charged for a windovr I h n er isr ?,7 , because he now and then used it as a larder. An et ue ly g .lv- o f whose rent and tithe and land-tax amounted to b ...o.o es d was taxed under this Act ; and there was a further , u b d 11 _7; a farmer being charged for a servant because It i l f 0 05 s found cleaning his master's boots. This tax eOO dit loess be continued—the writing was upon the wall, and share the fate of ,those odious burdens which were ,'" .. ft verge of abolition. take 01 :„ t er Sir CHARLES NAPIER would not oestitoebid in the debate, but that he represented a large c Lord t o who felt strongly on the subject. The Nobl,elleeeed....o made out a strong case, and one which e ...,, e a ere.T r ee fullest consideration, and he showed that the c c - o ats ° t ali were oppressed by it. He had got a few figures rea d te tte , which might he relied on, and which he withwoula 6 t at House. In Budd-street, Marylebone, a h o use t. O OO windows paid 4s. Bd. a window, being ten per eee a oin t he rental. In Henrietta-street, a house with eigh tee t alt e r paid ss. 3d. a window, being ten and a half per ee" • d To l e rental. In 13u1strode-mews a house Paid ten sio n n 1 01 l eighths per cent. upon the rental, whilst the In° p sid t of Duke of Newcastle, which had sixty-two winde vcs a nd th s e nd two and seven-eighths per cent, upon the rental, ply 01 0 4 Hertford House, rented at 2,0001. a year, paid„°,,b werg el g at a half per cent. on the rental. The buildings wie.'"be th ee „ald affected by this tax were precisely those sallie.': lie 1 " 00 11 ought to be most especially exempted from 1 1 ." ed to s e ir take the case of the window-tax as aPP2 a eig ht Anek dwellings, and he found that houses with less tes t ,. win" dow3 were free from this tax, but if they had ft - n oode r e ad if the occupiers were desirous of increasing tu' ea d tilt t his their habitations by the admission of more ligh t n ot o r " p t . were to add another window to their houses, theYiniooslieell at an expense of 16s. 6d. per annum. The OPlo,tefr .to . At nett, Dr. Guy, and Mr. Dolby, had all been rr i fee lthie e 't of given in favour of some measure by which the The tfs s i o a the habitations of the poor might be increased. eate d an t ot those necessaries of life, as he might call them , cr i g thin k s nos mense mass of disease and suffering, and he sin'e tbs f ti !e l ea la the Chancellor of the Exchequer would conceive biese l- w e's a point far above any fiscal considerations. Thoshes po or e d. men had stated that the habitations of t Whic h note particularly unhealthy from the c reviees i . bes e to be mitted both the cold and rain. 'ose to b a t if inconveniences which care might remedy, but ~., for g o of' done in the time of summer, when the neeee"'i c bees e „ o or, light was largely increased, and still more, w hen f e, t ee roll took them, when that worst of all calamities 'Tolling. fr ee broken health, rendered their close and confine d ~, the t ..„ the more insalubrious, when it was absolutely necess a y t did 'did air should pass as freely through their dwellings 55 an d ILI open air. He was anxious to provide for futurity,_r boos.- not understand how the subject could be lightly w ,te left. reef s° E. ELLICE said that he felt the serious g o ri st:ble b _ o b i: which the poor were exposed, but one of the l e liont st of particularly wished to bring under the notice of t d. 1110, that of the hand-loom linen-weavers of Sc etian i a bt W i lst ls these individuals occupied houses which had e'a t hel,o groo t if not less. At the end of their dwelling.houeesoreP" room or shop, which, like their dwelling-ho se t t ag _, 11 , 1 from duty. These shops were almost always 13 " .eoew - istiw floor, and had a communication with their dwelling n ool l 3 t die order to render these shops or warehouses mer e tion 1‘ 1 _ : ,,o0 they had generally made in them a communic!' ao otea' - o or e highway : but the dust from the road and othe r in the ir be e of a similar kind almost obliged them to destrosliterati!A munication with the dwelling , houses ; but this I _, or e,:,0 the effect of bringing them under the tax. It wr, er e se,"oo for this business, which required much light, ths et .;., the' s od be a window for every loom ; and he trusted ther Lii e alt ibo od Chancellor of the Exchequer would consider l' elo Wept** grant a remission of this tax to men whose 0 " I RO o b j ec depended on the light of their dwelling-houses; _ t the 5 ore tured to say these few words, because he felt 0; 0 ta lie was one of importance, and that it affected a c ea doe little able to help themselves.—( Hear, hear-) the isle° se " Mr. HUME said that he was sorry to see f..., jot o le with which the House treated this question. Tu °r o of fe most important, and he fit that a debt of gr.atitto_oll. _ fo r the Hon. Gentleman for bringing this subject.S7o,o4o9lo him, it appeared, it had been brought forward 5 ,S f i t titk o ir tune period. The time, indeed, was parts __ o t e o nte Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the G"v el le 09 • 41 e troducing a change in the system of taxa tion.,.. fa eor; r a , l7- pk as are that there must be a certain amount of r - rog , 01, i ' or and the Right Hon. Baronet appeared to be d e b (be e ;esr . ling those great sources of national wealth, wh'b he 3 1 0 0 1 turers of the country provided. Yet, thon l - "t the t eP o s i d , that this amount must be raised, yet he t hou 410 1,;„ I. rosi.k . the better. The question mooted by the the I n r Idiot elicited information which had shufc ° e l e deta nt oe • and unequal nature of this tax. In the adtti ll•s " t he s,greei i ; the Right Hon. Baronet had braught before ~09 • 110 g relieving the trade cf the coure c ey f ro m manY w h e e , a f j or ; t l, s tr e : lations, there was much for, which gratitude hoped in those alterations that it would not lie a 0 5..11,0 li d it was in the purity of the air in his dvrelliceritiog ; the consequent state of his health, that the w e e & lo r e of u" e it pended. He (Mr, Hume) had been instruMfethe pre s , P 5, one part of the tax, and he should be glad 1 , _,,r acteda l s et cuesion led to any arrangement whereby the PThe 00 means were saved from still further reductiotlsone pePsboispoe Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the 1 4 0 h e b ioll,‘ l to would take this matter into account w“ te ~ li v e lo forward his measure for the health a t0_ 0 , 3,„,„i0. th 0 ,,,,, founded upon the report of the gentleme, ' t i n qtlirl e. :d. make that inquiry. It appeared from , that , 0 1, vgros-„. many eases, according to the evidence of of t e ` l oo tit s ; i • many families lived together in one apartlw el ' on tael e d,% floor. The consequence was that, in the __. ot to yi p , which they were obliged to inhale after they we r , Inc i ea tiele rose in the mornine weaker rather than streng e for ree,, e 0,0 aspects of ghosts. 'There was no opportunt% t herel e u't o 1 1 ; 0 1 no chance of an alleviation of toil, and he w content I'lo nished at the quietude and patience and ttherl:di sec' t o which these evils were borne. He thought tha tte P eri itieg e i, had introduced this question at a most opPor tu w la he l e rl_led trusted that her Majesty's Government we,. was e„ 0 117. 4 . grant the inquiry which he requested. I here „ t oy c fo rr,„ dente of the necessity for the inquiry. They I I ; g ive l e :of P r large information, and there were others ready ei dee . it 1 4 1, tion if the House required it. They had tne,.. On pilh e i Arnott, Dr. Guy, and Mr. Dolby, O d d ''''seer e al one h oli peered that the artizans of 11141 an of the . , ifr oee feeble and emaciated beings, hardly worthy,. ogl e:e t: l of t Englishmen. He, therefore, thought that i t ' asp eci .. ' 4, largely affected all the inhabitants of towns, but it eissZ r ae . t e termed artizans, was of singular importanee•but also I de set w i f for them not only for the sake of enjoymen t s . t heir eri d o k that they should have as much light and air 1 " bu t 0 40 olli be places as possible. Money would go a long wa t Y .l ' ie ne ti P el th e would not provide for the poor man those, bad, d rf its' were absolutely necessary. He (Mr. 11 ,"f eei n ally te a ite„ele last ten or twelve years, endeavoured al e was gibe n'os country of this unfair and iniquitous tax. . _ te a by 'id be fled that in the alterations which were ant"' R on 0 00_ . ., t 5, Hon. Baronet at the head of the Governroe.nr, ' et , fr.;, ee . i, a wise portion of his plan to remove a th a e t l o l9 l: ! . ) : ooh d iveiati ts; ; articles which were of the least value, n pie with food and clothing. He was willil t : il ' pa riti o od of the unequal nature of thou tax. In t five i e nte: ll ;dr lebone, there was one e with 'thir in y: ow ,tse ..a.isc n i Poland -street, on the rent of which thew . ", t , Seg e a t. , ~e to 161 per cent. There was another boos 1 li r reed tb e r° on which the window-tax amounted only t° _ be a l e bo ase t b, on the Reform and Carlton Club-houses. e. w as le . 0 4 ,d tentage was much lower than this. T 5, 5 7. e .yesit er , c oop Cross-street, the rental of which was :. 9 4,-- 11 60,1 the window-tax upon it amounted to 1 01 . u7 was l 0 of e or• which was so glaringly unjust, that it alone, ou oof di deuce of the oppressive and tinen?a_'_d o f tb o . f joiLi tax. The Right Hon. Baronet at the nee. Heret ics/1 00 !ib ° ment had a complete apparatus for the a_ .. . ua ity , 00 4 0 taxation, and he thought that a pod oPP°, I ! nua rreN, er,o for the remission of this tax. He had he a d ea late Chancellor of the Exchequer, and hr, goo. !the ° e l ?' for the removal of this tax; but that Rig tided al l §lO l ti" had had no money to spare. He had exl,..in on iear eee p er cash in Syria—he had thrown it away 10 _k r his° ; 0 P: r ei shells, so that perhaps there was good reason fo r f ess o ve rfe d the removal of the window-tax. BY e i S 0 0 1 11 S e mare- , ,0 1 0 4 No. 102, dated the 7th of - ,_.,.b the • scot' ' , die' that the whole amount of rental on wni. oft to el biee t pre; amounted in England to 35,500, 0001 '' 1, ; "f l af aed, l c 3,000,000!., making a total of 38,5 00, '''': lie bel t Ore,fol was raised a duty of 1,950,0001. Last ' estimated'eete;oolllritati duced 1,600,000/., and this year it was n tlem an 03 1°I po d And he thought that if the Right Hon. G c e , the s°° t. , i t ' l2l this duty, and impose a tax on property 1 4 per eceref"jejee' in the pound, which was equal to a bove. _ .t 00 P i _ to te tr od not only enable him to remit this duty, D!": 0 0 311C P c O O jel' deficiency in the surplus in which he see n roe.R . L .o do o iele ki btf', By this tax a premium was offered t . , f l _ e u it h as r i ' .e ia .. , , , ,, 01 houses with as little means of comfort and I : r e _ d of ft h e nee munity from taxation was to be the re mind, . sot lig as,ble Now the whole of that evidence went to On' , tO t t he blir o d the Right Hon. Gentleman to bear it in f ulW u pon.. ji veoil air produced the most beneficial effe rthe °vs' fh ef of tij classes, and it was, there:ore, a matter o ~ , stw , ,t , ;0 0 sa gs that both should be liberally supplied n to it t i n: a i t er ; e w; ' i d , now living in a time of change, a d L ,,, n ertel t b a ft sii l , window-tax would be a change of the rne", bo bel r< is t 9 It would produce a most salutary effect 00 1 ; 10 1 tbe o r t o , fie f lions—an effect which he (Mr. Hume) h e , inu alle e tn en t i o ( of no other tax would bestow. The eon' Go eer l . l ..ael„borl ) was opposed to all the pledges of the late late Ca rd Pie (Mr. Hume) remembered, and the 18' 1,0 0 0 ,0 00 ti e the Exchequer might also remer uhe i r s 'as 11 " 1 it ' l/ 0 11 ' stating in that House that he was as s ensih ed tbs t . t , °Ow unequal pressure of this tax, and he conceiva_end i_ v eto. intention of Government to considtrab:Y 'm o o lot r not blame the Right Hon. Gentleman "PP. hit these pledges, but ho did certa `ill hlalll` 0 4 't It t , tl teentai