The Sun. — London, England, 1845-04-08 00:00:00

pewer of answering any objections that might be raised by Hon. Members. Mr:HAWES said that the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that he intended to levy a duty of 151. upon auctioneers, in lieu of several duties to which they were at the - present liable. Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman was not aware that, in several Parts of the country, it was the custom for one of the anners to take out an auction licence. He wished to know whether, by this arrangement, it would be impe rative upon three partners in a firm to take out the 11- eence,• which, in such a case, would be a gain to Go vernment of 45/. instead of 151. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that i member of a firm, on behalf of the firm, would not be obliged to take out more than one licence for a particular sale. Every individual who sold by auction was liable to pay auction duty. In answer to a question from Mr. ROSS, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that there would be some exception to the Bill—excep tions which at p resen t ex i ste d, such as auctions at the Court of Requests in Scotland for small sums—auction duty would not, of course in such cases be enforced. The House then went into Committtee, whereupon The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the repeal of the auction duty. Ms. G. BANKES, in accordance with hie motion, said he would take the sense of the House on the subject. Re did not think he was called upon to show that t O hat good wou!d be effe c t e d by the removal of the tax — would ensue from the remission of that tax ; but what he was called upon to p rov e was that greater good would result f rom th e application of the surplus revenue to other purposes then those proposed by the Govern ment. There were other burdens which would affect the agricultural interest, and which were in the contempla tion of the Government. For instance, the new pees sure for the regulation of Justices Clerks, and the Paro chial S e t t l ement Bill, both of which would be t h rown on the county rates. It was not denied that great distress existed in the agricultural districts, and yet those addi tional burdens were about to be thrown upon it. With respect to the first measure, he would not deny that mere was a great d ea l o f i n justice in the present . SYstern of fees to Justices clerks, and he would further say that he thought the great easure was based on a s Z l e n n d t ad useful principle, butwhat lie did say was that alreadhere fresh burdens were about to be thrown on an ld uch depressed class of share th ebenefitofofthe reliefw hich the financial some st of the country allowed the Government to propose. state..tr measur e was the Parochial Settlement Bill— taida.t, he could not but consider, as a' most unwise nc l inapolitie measure, and one which would have the effect of materially increasing the al readyo enormous amount of t h e co unty rates. ate would give it all the o pposition in his pow e r . Another g reat b urden on the i a te-payers would be the establishment of lunatic asylums. Even the "smoke" Measure of the Hon. Member for Leamington, and the Peerobpeoriseed museums, ii stae-thewould entail expense on the agri fall 'Von tha payment of inspectors and officers would a _ rate-payers. The . Hon. Member then read letter from the board of guardians at Dorchester, in Which the burden of p oor - ra tes was complained of , as pressi ng with gretia severity on persons of the humbler ni re, some of w h om, t h oug h propr i e tors of small patches e o ta ground, were n o t eareling more than ss. a•-week. H o ught the ch arges of ga olers, and expenses after con tvinti°n, bear were burdens - of ;which the public ought e o H . a fair proportion. liee thoug ht, also, that ti r i l fslis question he might reasona;alar expect to have e support of the Gentlemen in the House who ,avowed themselves to be connected with the l inti- Al , r Cot n -4"eafrue. Those Gentlemen declared, and he be l ieved with truth, that they were not disposed to injure t' agriculturists • and they were aware that with the in terests of the latter class, their own were to a great ex hent wove n up.—(Hear.) They admitted that they were dependant to a great extent upon the prosper i ty o f t h e ho me market. To show this, he (Mr. G. Bankes) would read an extrect from the last trade circular of Manches ter, which ran - to the effect, that in the beginning of the Previous month, the trade of that town had been in a Prosperousses c on di t i on , b ut t h at t h ere b a d s inc e been a eon • erable falli n g off, in consequence of the depressed State of the agricultural districts. He trusted, therefore, that for their own interest, if not from a higher motive, the m a n u f ac t urin g g entlemen in the House beard give hi m t h e i r ass i s t ant , (Hear.) He bad with regret his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary : If St ate say, that the county accounts were kept very a a na ccurately. But he would call the attention of the ' 1 " )11 . Member for Montrose—(A laugh)—to those a .- counts, and he woud be happy to receive any sugges !ton from him how l to improve the mode of keeping le ... li eut. He had now offered to the consideration of the eious e a proposition for suspending the remission of a he other which yielded about 300,0001. But there would 'ue other funds at -the disposal of the Right Hon. Gen tleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and if his Right Hon. Friend kept this money in his pocket for the present, the next time he put his hands there he Would find some more in it, which could be applied to a further relief of the county-rates. He did not ask fur the r e li e f upon the ground of distress or destitution, but he e claimed it on the ground that the agricultur ists w ere fully entitled to it, after so many bonuses had been given to other classes who were less in want of it. -out the repeal of the auction-duties says no boon to any one, He had received letters from t number_ of a uctioneers,,,, in all parts of the country, stating that they - " Id be —some said almost—others entirely—ruined, as their bnsiness would not enable them to pay the 1 / r i ere aeed duty of 151. for their licenses. His Right d, t ( P• Friend said that the remission of the auction esel; b e e boon to the agriculturists, because they ibi s : ue allowed to sell stock by auction off their pre off th • .., And vies it a boon to the agriculturists to take The report of Sir henry Parnell, recommending the scheme ition Of the auction A uties, was ~ea which that financia: only part of a grand had in his head to abolish the altogether. He woold show, however, that , t ;', etthe opinion of that great saetesman Lord North, ta u° I roduced this impost in the tint instance, that :tons were storis 0 6 reasons more important than mere considera tion du i fi nance' which induced him to p ropose the auc re Y ; amongst le e of e • im p . Were, that wince some the most imp. rear -t g r eat Increase of auctions led to great intC: - cheating the trade, and gave rise to much fraud and I tract from .- he Hon . the s Gentleman then read an !x -the importance of of L or d N orth, recommen d ing ' l ' l6 Right ales. thfa auction d u ti es on t h ose groun d s .)— Fri end will see th a t w h en t h e re was ' w it h o made great fortuees. Th ere were then auct i oneers i cried t hi s measure were m s. en T e li f e hi a g u h ct e i h on er e e e e r t s er w ee h d o di de s - 1 nction, but if their humble brethren had no right to consideration on their part , they had a ri g ht t o t h e con sideration of h er M a j esty ' s Ministersa 30000 ersons Were a p or ti on of her Maje sty' s subjects wh o w e r e worth c onsidering. Th ey would find mgainst the measure, would every one of these of 30/. This would be the gr arteisfult otfhtehnatpma y ea l s s u l re in w s h te ic a n d erhens of considerable 'would as he had stated means and of high rank andysPtation in life, but who would not require their pecunia e r f y aid, and would injure a large and inestimable body .any benefit to the agriculttuist in his arguments said that taxes a I ! ii•Ti l'anßian d obnoxiou s ht R. wouldin . be Friend notd oe there were so many objections.seemeeeddierllsneot force of that argument. te see ur th g e e that it was objectionable o n e account of the amount ? .. f trouble which it ; he would ask his .4 e on. Friend to read the regoarvteover again. It was quite Sltsear that if those duties bPelonged to the Customs, in !o ad of the Excise, all these : evils h which were objected would be remedied. Wres pect to the sale of landeder estates. they were not it sold re g s' enerally in this man ene t .thongh auction was sometimes made use of, to as 'endedt son the prices of them. It would be easy to exempt s e.. es from the duty, and to estat ‘"aa a stamp duty , which substitute in its ane nt ot • the duty, without any complaint or any ciffi tliity Th 1 . were • ere were remedies ' • f. not acted upon, there pointed out which eise should bePon, because it was desirable that the at a done away with altogether. He thought vthitit great many would be • • 110 . ‘`'` .3 made any injured by the propo.al a. 1 , • •ee would venture to hope that his of The Goo d would think it worth the re-consideration time t o "nment ; and for the purpose of giving them HO us e • use Imo . 1 er it, he would take the sense of the Mr, al, 11 It th e • it' c, realark s o f sa id t h at lie differed from some of 4 1 e ule Genders his Honotrrable Friend. The Honour • '"e ag r i ett i a n came forward asking for relief to cell ed the tnral interests of the country. He l t riest one. What p h roPosal a small one, and also a e interest of at was the agricultural interest? Was it rop r i etoo if the labourer, the farmer, or the landed t' t 4 IoSS to he unde meant the agricultural labourer, he was I°lt can benefit rhs.tand how any remission of local taxa ftnd if anythi him. His distress is a chronic distress, _erica other ease .'e is shade better than he would be in I h e a.) , in copse quence of the cheapness of food. Po ta , In d relieve the agricultural labourers from the with h• e nt oppression they laboured under, he would go Is MI most cordially, C auction duties but to tell him that by leaving l abou r bY it, and as they were, the country would % le Was that it would better the agricultural Gentler'rsan, • urgi ng . him to have a doubt of the Hon. h e hituself ,:‘,lsnfiellibility. With regard to the farmers, and l i t hQ °l l glii to a l l t l n aegwrictust and ajustice of the peace, something about the county-rates. Of th i s l i ew 'ben bodies were asked for the representation often r interest for th e th ti p Pai d that th levying of these rates that it was tl: rate ey did not pay the county-rates, that ti kat took the came t out of the rent. If the Hon. Gen htlella h e would fin d rouble to read the report on local taxa me Foga-rates that the Commissioners told them that tepees these burden°antY-rates, and rates for lunatic asylums, 7_Pted her _ h were merely portions of the rent inter enent to t " s t_e it found its way from the pocket of the It ''. fit eaui ,,'! hocket of the owner of land. What be ass, the the I se n cie b; to him ? With regard to the third mk e e . When theph!?prietor, he would make it his own wasd th em to and a H o n. Gentleman came forward and ets of tile ec ol i f a tax . which put money into the 'whe n not a modest proprietors, he must say that it theen this propos l proposal. He would tell them that lerents, w s a to benefit the farmer, by adding to !, heads ore.. eun_derstood, it would throw discredit on i tt l i j r nStif hoZ4edl.anTded proprietor., to which class he th: se count Y rates hey imposed a larger portion of . s ,:v did on the landed" the . town populations than ettaus,er into that matter p r opr ietors. But he would not tle si "' Ile attributed , as it did not form part of the dis . adm an „_, a that movement of the Hon. "' pressure ipliste ad The b from without that he could not ,4'noltrable GentLenadall heard the other day of , I) Ping throe h th ' owing the " grease and lard" 1 to t,,_ t g eir fingers. He supeosed nom , liaY I"zt. Theov 0 recovEl. some of what they had alrceth; les. that ill would not C:titl that the farmers would ' he ' 3 vo,o, a e Hon. Gehtleman at the he d f I . tto.v,.. e.overernent was . - a o ier Ma to, In "t• Ile belie not also at the heed of this ce ss , suf fering from a -ve . d that the Hon. Gentlemen were us eltuen eres , ~ h avin g tampered with their country wied e a ear "' promised wh t th , • rY Out. lie read a e never in passages in a speech of the Hon. Gentleman to whom he alluded, in which he proposed this free trade which he now opposed. He would advise those gentlemen to endeavour to lead their constituencies to think that the corn-laws should not last, instead of making them believe that Ministers would adhere to this or to that policy, that they may profess to pursue for party purposes. They told them of the na tional debt, but they never told them that they were the persons who had all the benefit of contracting that debt. The debt was contracted in the time of war, when the articles necessary for war purposes were high, and now they wanted to continue those high prices. The profits went into the pockets of the landed proprietors, and Mr. D. Hume told them, that when a man was said to be in the possession of an estate worth 50,0004, he was also sup posed to possess 50,000/. consols ; but instead of that they lived up to their incomes, mortgaged their proper ties, and now they must try measures to keep up the prices of corn, the same as they were in the time of war. It was most ridiculous fur landed proprietors to come into that house and say that they ought to be exempted from taxation. They paid no rents at all ; they received their lands subject to those burthens, and they ought to pay them. They had the corn-laws, and were sheltered by Court patronage and place. They bad all the pick ings of the Court, and had the whole patronage of the Ministers. Their acres not only produced corn, but also pensions end sinecures.— (Cheers and laughter.) Acres were a great security, a sort of certificate by which they obtained places and pensions ; he would ask them if they thought that the time was not approaching when the mercantile portion of the community would not ask to be placed in the same position as that in which they were. lie would call on them no longer to interrupt the public business by claims which could not be supported ; he saw no grounds on this occasion for resisting the pro posal of her Majesty's Government. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN said that the Corn-law League had been unsuccessful for some years, and now they were trying what they could do by taking up the Church and the Court. Wishing them success—(Hear," and laughter)—their " Hear, hear," commenced too soon. Wishing them success equal to their past success, he would observe, that al though the Hon. Gentleman was a prophet, be could not declare himself the prophet of a fulfi.led prediction. He said that the agricultural portion of the community were displeased with their Members, but he had merely made an allusion to an article which appeared in the newspapers. Let him show them how these constituen cies were inclining to the principles of the Corn-law- League.—(Hear, hear.) He came down to the House for the purpose of opposing the proposition, and it would seem that the speech of the Hon. Gentleman did not induce him to alter his intention. He recommended that the proceeds of certain taxes should defray the expenses of the Bill, not one expense of which he could account fur These were the same principles as those brought before the House by the Member for Somersetshire. He did not think when a propositien had once been brought before the House, and bad been decided upon by a large majority, that it was forwarding the public busi ness again to bring it before the House. Was the question of local taxation to be discussed or not? If it were not to be fully discussed, then he should say that it was in terrupting the business of this House, and keeping the country in suspense, but if they only entered upon its discussion without going through it, then he should say that they would prejudice the question in the opinion of the country, and it would not be doing justice to its merits. He should decline to support the proposition of his Hon. Friend. He had listened very attentively to the Hon. Member in the hope of hearing him urge some argument in support of his proposition, but he had lis tened in vain, for he had heard none. But even sup posing that he (Mr. O'Brien) did acquiesce in this proposition, the Hon. Member had not stated by what m eans he intended to carry it out; so that, in fact, even if it we:re Affirmed by the House, all they would get by it was a mere :imposition fur a general scramble.— (Hear, hear.) He saw te"'-alonourable Member for Montrose laughing; but he (Mr. `'Brien) knew very well that that Hon. Member would not flow this proposition to be carried out without making a very hard scramble. Therefore, even if the House should give t he , 1 ; 1 ",n- Member all that he asked, not the least us e woue; the result of the proposition ; and for these reasons he (Mr. O'Brien) felt compelled to vote against his propo sition.—(Hear. heir.) He did think the Hon. Member was rather unwise in persevering in his proposition, end he would get but few to vote with him ; but even if ha did get a .ew more than he expected, the result would illy prejudice his case. For these reasons he (Mr. O'Brien) would give the proposition his most hearty op position.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. F. T. BARING did not think that the remission of this tax would at all result in the beneficial effects anticipated by the Government. Recently he, and others at this side of the House, agreed, from the financial difficulties of the country, to the imposi tion of a tax, but which they, at the same time, could not but feel was a harsh, unequal, and heavy-tax.—(Hear, hear.) But then the result of this was the creation of a surplus, which was alleged as a reason for the remission of the present tax ; and now the House was called on to say that this was a fit and proper mode of applying this surplus. If the House agreed to this resolution, to take off this tax, it would be impossi ble to remove other and more oppressive ones.—(Hear, hear.) People out of doors expressed their surprise at this proceeding, and asked, " What the Government meant by throwing away 250,0001. by the reduction of the auction duties ?"—(Bear, hear.) The Chancellor cf the Exchequer spoke of the inconvenience of the tax ; but he (Mr. Baring) was surprised that that Right Hon. Gentleman had not made out a better case against it than he had ; und, indeed, he knew no tax against which a good speech could not very easily be made.—(Laughter.) But in the present case he should say that before this proposition was made, inquiry should have been insti tuted in order to ascertain if there was no other tax the removal of which would tend to confer more general benefit to the public at large than thise—(Hear, hear.) lie would ask why nut propose a reduction of the duty upon butter or tallow, or many other articles of general consump tion amongst the poorer classes ?—(Hear, bear)—Hon. Members cheered but he would ask them would they do it ?--(Hear, hear.) i He would vote against the remis sion of this tax, n order that he might afterwards have an opportunity of voting in favour of the remission of o thers, the removal of which would be more beneficial to the country, while the remission of that now under discussion ;night have been left for a future day. — (Hear. ) If a tax was to be imposed and that it was deemed to be just, the best proof of its justice would be the fact that there were no exemptions ; but on the other hand the great proof of the hardships of some taxes imposed was the number of cases of exemption.— (Hear.) Now he would ask was the tax proposed to be removed one that had been falling ' off? He could show that it bad not, for he had before him documents by which it appeared that in the year 1831 this tax amounted to 233,000 ,while the average amount for the last three years was 294,0001., which proved it to be a gradually increasing m th u e c r h e th w a a t s t n h o e t s s. ( Committeei I e a r would) other tax, the remission of which would not do more ge neral wouconsider ld w sli whether very übratetnhattheiyf twhoeulqduevaetriyonewaseilrye er e g d o good. He find such a tax ; for instance there was the duty upon t H we e lv h e ad h n o o ne d s o t solp.—(flear.) In fact there was no article so much used amongst the poor as soap—there was no article so necessary to their comfort, but the duty upon it was so Surely, then , th e p oor would be high that frauds we re continually practiced in its menu facture.—(Henn-) more benefited by the removal of this duty than that on auctions. He had before him a report from theseveral counties in England , by which it appeared two thirds of the income of the labouring classes was spent in the article of soap; and bow much of that sum went into the pockets of the Government in the shape of duty?—(Hear, hear.) The duty upon soap was about 14/. 14s. per ton, or at the rate of thirty per cent. profit to the revenue.—(Hear.) Now the anction duties did not in any wey affect manufactures or trades men, while the duty upon soap had a very serious effect in keeping up the price of very many other articles of general consumption. There were many other taxes of a nature equally oppres.ive which he could mention, and each of. which it would be much more useful to remove than this duty on auctions.—(Hear, hear.) The con sumption of soap was equal to about 71b. per head of the entire population, while that of sugar was about 151bs , even in the worst times ; and surely, then, would it not be a great public benefit to let the poorer classes have these articles at the lowest possible price. Indeed he could quote a very high authority to bear him out in his assertion with regard to soap. In the year 1837, when it was proposed to reduce the duty on newspapers, and thereby remove a tax on knowledge, the present Chan cellor of the Exchequer made a most argumentative speech in favour of the remission of the duty on soap, and showed how much the poor would benefit by it. — (Cheers.) On the whole, he (Mr. Barin g ) did think, and he believed the country would agree with him, that a much better use could be very easily made of 250,0001. than by applying it to the remission of the auction duty; and he would give the proposition his negative. Sir. J. GRAHAM said he rose for the purpose of re plying to the observations of his Hon. Friend opposite, relative to certain measures which had originated with him. One measure which he had proposed would ulti mately, he was convinced, cause a material saving to the ratepayers. There was another and most important measure which he bad proposed. He alluded to the proposed alteration of the law of settlement. This was not the time to discuss that measure; but he would say that it would tend very materially to the improvement of the labouring classes. But if that measure should be found not to be conducive to that end, and if those who had had experience in these matters should not be pre pared to give it their assent, he certainly would not press it. It was a matter quite open to discussion. It was a question of the greatest importance, and ought not to be treated in the least as a party question. He was quite prepared to enter into the discussion of the measure but he would not advise the Government pertinaciously to adhere to it. His Noble Friend the Member for Dor setsbire intended to call the attention of the House to the subject of lunatic asylums ; but, on this account the Government could not be called upon to postpone the consideration of the subject now under discussion, seeing that the measure of his Noble Friend was not yet matured. His lion. Friend had commented upon an observation which he (Sir J. Graham) had made with respect to the coonty-rate. What he (Sir J. Graham) had said was that with Freater care and greater supervi sion a very material saving might be effected. With re ference to the remission of the cotton duty his Hon. Friend had committed an error which he (Sir James Graham) had heard others fall into—namely, tbee of endeavouring to show the extent of relief to the " labuurC ( , f the country, whether manufac turi eg or porn -1 mercial, by the 1 - 2. ‘ amount of the duty remitted as tourer. Now • sseest 7 that wa s not t h e artune g C3' uscd eff,.cting the artic.. by thg la ee either . mr nt was, that the remiss i on of the duty on the ru.. material would so operate upon the demand for that article and the cost of the manufacture, as to materially ncrease the general pro s p er ity o f the snanufacture itself, and incidentally a hundred fold to improve the position of the working classes, by increasing the de mand for their labour. He might be permitted to state some of the principal objections to this tax. If he mistook not, the amount of property annually charged under this tax was 45,000,0001., while the actual amount submitted to bear any share of the impost, was only 8,000,000/. annually, or not more than 20 per cent. on the whole. The cost of the collection of this duty amounted to as much as 50,0001., or about 20 per cent. of the whole duty. It appeared to him that the greatest objection to this tax was that it was a tax upon property, and upon the sub ject of its remission he would read the opinion of Sir Henry Parnell, and Mr. Wickham the present Com missioner of Stamps and Taxes. The Right Hon. Gentleman then read from a published report upon the subject, in which the total abolition of the tax was advo cated. The first tax recommended by Sir Henry Parnell to be remitted was that now under consideration. A similar motion to that which had been made by his Hon. Friend the Member for Somersetshire was made in the year 1836, by the Noble Lord then the Member for Buckinghamshire (the Marquis of Chandos), and on that occasion he (Sir James Graham) held the same opinion which he had that evening expressed with respect to the tax now under discussion. He resisted the motion of the Marquis of Chandos on precisely the same grounds as those upon which he now resisted the motion of his Hon. Friend ; and he should now have the greatest pleasure in supporting the motion of his Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the exchequer. Mr. DARBY was understood to support the motion of the Hon. Member for Somersetshire, but the observa tions which he made were delivered in such a very low tone of voice as to be quite inaudible in the gallery. Mr. HUME said the question they had that evening to decide was, whether they should repeal the auction duty, or whether they should apply the surplus revenue to the reduction of the county-rates. He would ask whether there was any tax which pressed more un equally than the auction-duty ? Was there any more expensive of collection, more difficult to collect, or one that could be more easily evaded ? He would defy any one to point out a more objectionable tax. The great advantage by the remission of the duty was, that they would thereby get rid of one branch of the excise. They had already got rid of two branches and only two re mained—that with respect to soap and bricks. He hoped that these would be done away with next year. A late Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Monteagle, had proposed a reduction in the duty on glass, but al though the reduction took place, the establishment at the Excise had to be kept up and the public in conse quence derived no benefit from the reduction. If the whole of ,the duty had been taken off, as was now the case, the people would have been largely benefited. He would vote with great pleasure for the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. M. GORE would support the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, be cause he thought there was no tax which pressed so mischievously on the public as the auction duty. That was not only his own opinion, but it was the opinion of Dr. Adam Smith and Mr. Ricardo. And not only was the principle supported by great writers, but it was sup ported by many of the ablest statesmen that this coun try ever produced. It was supported by the late Lord Lansdowne who was such an able supporter of the principles of free-trade, by Mr. Pitt, Mr. Huskisson, Lord Liverpool, and the late Mr. Horner, whose name ought never to be pronounced in that House but with re spect. He also thought that great advantage would arise from an equalisation of the cost of auctioneers licences. Lord J. RUSSELL said it appeared to him that the Hon. Member for Mo'ntrose had mistaken the objeet of the vote to which they were about to come. His Hon. Friend thought he was about to give a vote with regard to county-rates, but there was nothing in the question which regarded county-rates, even if the Committee did not agree to the proposition of the Right Hon. Gentle men the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The question, as he understood it, was this:—There were various re missions cf duty proposed; the House agreed to the re mission of the cotton duties, to the excise duty on glass, and various remissions of the Customs' duties, and now tiler was a proposition made for the remission of the auction duty, which, according to the statement of the Right Hon, Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury, would reduce the surplus to about 90,000/. Now, if that were the case, it was suite evident, as stated by his Right Hon. Friend ( Mr. Baring), that there could be no remission of other duties during the present session, if the Com mittee agreed to the proposition in the hands of the Chairman.—(Hear, hear.) The question then was, whether the Government proposed the very best re mission of duty, or whether there might not be any thing else more worthy the consideration of the House. The House showed no want of Resent to the propo sition of the Government, because the great mass of the House had already agreed to it. But he owned a proposition had been toede to which he would wish to give his assent on another Qco4slon, JJe meant the proposition made by his Hon. Friend, the Member for Dumfries, to take off the duty on butter and cheese.— (Hear, hear.) He thought that a reduction of the duty on butter would be a most advisable reduction, and he did not think that butter being fit for human food, would be a fatal or decided objection against it.— (Laaghter.) With regard to the duty on cheese like- wise, it might be remitted with great advantage. He un derstood that his Hon Friend proposed a reduction of 50 per cent. on that article. The amount of duty on those two articles was about 260,0001, and they might, therefore, reckon a loss of not leas than 120,0001. to the revenue, if the proposition of his Hon. Vrieud was car ried. But if the proposition of the Government were carried he would hardly feel justified in voting for such a reduction with only a surplus of 90,0001. The Right Hon. Gentleman the late President of the Board of , Trade said that the state of the revenue was the only reason against the reduction of those duties, lie said the duties were excessive and absurd—at least he said they were not reasonable and could not be defended. — (Hear, hear.) When, therefore, the revenue was able to afford a reduction on those duties, they might calcu late upon the concurrence of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and his (Lord J. Russell's) wish was, that the revenue might be in such a state as to enable the Right Hon. Gentleman to vote for such a reduction. After the surplus was reduced by the amount of the auction duty the surplus remaining would be too small to allow of any further reduction, and he confessed, for one, though it might be an unpopular doctrine in that House, that he would rather see a greater surplus of revenue than the Right Hon. Baronet opposite proposed to leave, especially now that they had that disagreeable tax—the property and income-tax. He admitted that the surplus of 90,0001. might be sufficient if the state of the country prospered, supposing the trade advanced—(Hear, hear) —but, in adverse circumstances, he would like to have more of a margin than the Right Hon. Baronet proposed to leave ; therefore, if the Right Hon. Gentleman proposed a re duction of the soap duty he (Lord J. Russell) could not vote for the reduction, because he would hardly like to reduce the surplus more than it was already reduced. If, then, the present motion was carried, he owned he could not give his vote for the proposition of his Hon. Friend, the Member for Dumfries, or support any further reduction of taxation during the present session. He had thus stated the grounds upon which he would give his vote, though he did not zuppose they would be agreeable to the Hon. Member for Dorset, whose views were so very different from his (Lord John Russell's.) He would not say a word with respect to the auction duty ; but even if the Hon. Member for Dorset shire succeeded in his proposition, he did not think he would make much by it, as he thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be much more likely to keep the amount of the auction duty than apply it in the manner in which the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire would wish to have it applied.—(Laughter.) Sir R. PEEL said he agreed in some of the propo sitions of the Noble Lord. He agreed with him in thinking that not a word was to be said in favour of the auction duty.—(Lsughter.) The Noble Lord resisted the repeal of it, but he had the candeur to admit, that not a word was to be said in favour of it.—(Laughter.) He hoped that Hon. Gentlemen would bear that in mind when they were going to give their votes, because the Noble Lord who was so high an authority, admitted that not a word could be said in favour of it. The Noble Lord also said that 90,000/. was too small a surplus, and when the House affirmed the present proposition of the Govern ment with respect to the auction duty, he would most cordially concur with the Noble Lord in the opinion that it would be quite impossible to agree to any other reduction.—(Loud laughter.) Ile rejoiced to hear the Noble Lord had taken up that position, because he could count on his cordial support. —(A laugh.) He rejoiced that he could cordially unite with the Noble Lord in resisting any other propositions for the reduction of taxation which might come before them. He hoped that gentlemen on his (Sir Robert Peel's) side of the House would recollect whet were the objects of the Noble Lord.---(Hear.) His Hon. Friend (Mr. Bankes) might see that he would get nothing by his motion, for if his Hon. Friend succeeded in prevent ing a reduction of the auction duty, he (Sir R. Peel) would certainly be disposed to agree with the Noble Lord, thinking it better to keep the 395,000/. auction duty in the Exchequer. His Hon. Friend, therefore, would not be likely to derive that advantage from his proposal which he supposed. He advised those who were interested in the protection of other duties to recollect if the Noble Lord succeeded in resist ing the repeal of the auction duty that he proclaimed he would then vote for a reduction of the duty on butter and cheese.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Now he would beg of the House to consider what the auction tax was. It was a tax decidedly . in favour of persons possessed of large property who wished to sell it, as compared with the poorer class.—(Hear, hear.) In point of fact the auction tax, as far as large populations were concerned, etas a device for enabling the rich man to ascertain the real value of his property.—(Hear, hear.) They only got a tax on 8,000,000!, though 45,000,0001. of property were sold, and yet they,had an immense establishment. —(Hear, hear.) What was the course pursued ? A person who had an estate worth 100,0001. and wishing to dispose of it, put it up for sale by auc tion, but did not sell it. He thus as certained what was the full value of the estate, after competition, not a perny of the tax was paid, though lie bad all the advantages of the law and the Excise establishment for the purpose of ascertaining the value of his estate ; but the man whose property was sold through distress had no such advantage.— (Hear, hear.) And when they considered the number of exceptions to the tax, and to the principle upon which it eras made, he would say that not only a word could not he spoken in favour of it, but a velume might be written against it. His Right Hon. Friend hpd stated the case of an incumbered proprietor of a, property, worth 100,0Q01., which was exposed to auction. The ineum brances were y0?000/---the demand for payment was preseing—the Wale was 4old by auction. 14000/. was rnised from the sale; the vendor hq,d to give 1P,14601. to pu g-smneeti he received the reottlieing MOO/ ' - -"u ti,oool, to Oie off the cut of which he was to (Hear, hear.) Now, take the case o a THE SUN, LONDON, T:ITESDAY EVENING, APRIL s, 1845. property of the same value upon which there - was no in cumbrances. He wished to sell it, not because be was distressed, but because he wished, perhaps, to buy pro perty in another county. What did he do? He put up the property for sale, but only that he might ascertain, by competition, the value of the property. In this case the revenue did not get a penny of the tax, whilst the individual had all the advantage of an extensive estab lishment to ascertain the value of the property. Now was that fair ?—(Hear, hear.) Then could anything be more advantageous to agriculture—to agriculture, above all things, and to a commercial country—than to have a free circulation of property. He could not conceive any thing more advantageous than an unrestrained power of transferring property, without the interference of the excise, and the enabling of every person to get the highest sum for his property which it would realise.— (Hear, hear.) As far as it operated on the person who was obliged to sell his property for distress, it was most unjust. He believed they would receive great social benefits from a free circulation of property. Seeing that the Noble Lord had nothing to say in favour of the tax, he hoped the Committee would join with the Govern ment in remitting this tax, though he was bound to add, as to the remission of it, the surplus left would be less than was desirable.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Mr. F. BARING would wish to know whether the Right Hon. Baronet would say that this tax would attach in case of a distress. Sir R. PEEL said that all be meant to say was that the tax operated most unjustly in the case of poor persons, who were obliged to sell their property, as com pared with those who made use of their establishment merely to ascertain the value of their property.—(Hear.) Colonel SIBTIiORP said he thought the Government might take off the duty on fire insurance, which was a most injudicious duty, with more advantage than the auction duty. He was opposed to the proposition of the Government, and he did not altogether like the proposi tion ; but, of the two, he would rather prefer voting for the proposit ion of his Hon. Friend than for that of the Government. . . Mr. COBI)EN said that it was not his intention to say one word upon this subject till he had heard the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet. What did the Right Hon. Baronet say ? " Do not," Said he, " vote with the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire against the proposition of the Government, for if you leave the auction duty as it is, and have an additional 'surplus of 300,0001., the Noble Lord the Member for London will then vote fur a reduc tion of the duty on butter and cheese, and that is your interest," for that was the wen' of the Right Hon. Gen tleman. Why, had he (Mr. Cobden) ever said anything so bad ? Did he ever say, You are interested in butter and cheese ?"—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He had said, indeed, in Covent-garden, that they set up a shop of their own, and would notallow an opposition shop on the same side of the street ; but he never said they were cheesemongers, or asked them to vote in a particular way because they were so.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He did not understand how, especially on the principle of the Hon. Member for Dumfries, the House could give its support to a protection to butter and cheese. Sir T. ACKLAND conceived that the Iron. Gentle man who had just sat down quite misapprehended the question, but if they were to consult the real interests of several classes, instead of one, they would find that the intelligence, and truth—and the interest of truth— were all on the side of the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel). He conceived that the re mission of duty which the Right Hon. Baronet had pro posed was altogether in favour of the landed interest — their prominent, their peculiar, that especial interest, to which he, as the owner of an estate, belonged. If they consulted the exports and imports, they would find that this remission of duty altogether told in their favour ; and he thought that the landed interest would be blindly ttheuponsale the sat minorarticles produce imposition ce was a the gerxepaetnsereaosfonthegitrheatera him, thatrticls Nw, remitted one chief motives which should induce the landed interest was, that they would by this means be enabled to dispose of their property to the best advantage. The Hon. Member had said, that in the selling of en estate worth 100,0001., the proprietor would save at least 3,0001. in auction duty. Now he conceived that this was an advantage which ought to be properly estimated by the landed interest. The lion. Member for Dorset shire had, in his opinion, misconceived the question; and that in voting against the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet, lie was clearly going against the interests of the class lie professed to serve. There was no class, in his estimation, who were more likely to be benefited than the landed interest, He believed that the remission if these duties would not lead to any fraudulent evasion of the duty to Government, but that, on the contrary, it would tend very largely to increase those revenues which the remission of those duties seemed apparently to de stroy. lie trusted, therefore, that the community would recollect that this was a remission by which the public were to be largely benefited. He therefore begged the attention of the House to the particular points which the Right Hon. Raronet especially wished to lay before them, and he trusted they would preened, as they no way militated against the interest with which he, as a landlord, was intimately connected.—(hear.) Mr, LABOUCHERE said that he certainly conceived that the Hon, Baronet who had just sat down was wrong in his position, and that the impression which the Right lion. Baronet intmied to convey was just such as the Hon. Member for Stockport bad represented. It was not a 111010 question of butter and cheese — (Hear, hear)—there was something more than that. He was not prepared to pass as eulogium upon her Ma jesty's Government, but ho did conceive that the remis sion of those duties was a boon for which the country might well be thankful. lie should, on that account, vote against the motion of the Hon. Member for Dorset shire for imposing duties on butter and che es e .— ( L oud cries of " Divide, divide.") The House then divided, when there appeared — For the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer 167 Against it Majority for Ministers ---137 Mr. HUME said that he had no desire to interfere with the proceedings of so respectable a body of men as the auctioneers of England, but he could not conceive why there should be a variety of character in the nature of the goods which were to be disposed of, and he thought that if they imposed a penalty unequally, they would be doing a manifest injustice to a number of those who had hitherto paid a lower rate. If an individual were pos - sessed of an estate, and chose to throw the property of the estate away, he might use the means of selling it by auction ; but still there was a manifest injustice in the obligations which imposed a variety of duties upon pro perty of a private character and he would suggest that there should be one uniform duty after the rate of 7/.:10s. for the licences. Mr. HAWES said that he thought due consideration had not been used, and that the small and far more nu merous class of auctioneers—those who were residents in the country, and whose interests had been entirely overlooked, ought to be brought into consideration. At present they were ranged among the first class auc tioneers, who being entitled to sell wines, spirits, and estates, were obliged to take a licence which cost them 30/. The Commissioners of Excise r ecommended that if there were a general auction licence i t oueht to be 10/. annually. More licences would be taken out at 101. than 151., and the revenue be conseq uentl y more bene fited. The Government would com mit a great injus fice on a large body of men, compelling the small wou auc tioneers to pay the same dul as large ones, which ld give the latter a monopoly in this description of busi ness. Upon these grounds he seconded the proposition. Sir R. PEEL said that the required amount of duty would have at least one salutary effect —that of placing the business in the hands of respectable auetioneers. The Hon. Member had alluded to the recommendation of the Commissioners of Excise, but that seas made when they only proposed a modification of the duty, whereas the Government were now about to remove th,auction stimulus to this business, and he thought after all that the propcoal of the Government was the.mest equitable, duty altogether. They were about to give g The Government sought but a very tritiing ompensa tion for the great amount of revenue sacrificed.d Mr. lIUME itquired y a the am ou n d nt of the number of ut re ceived during the last ear, tioneers who paid duty ? auction The CHANCELLOR CHANCELLOR of th e EXCHEQUER said the duty (as we understoo d it) 70,520/. Hon. M 'tubers number of auctioneers was 3,900, and the amount of who had spoken in this debate seemed to forget the s cu mbrous and compli cated machinery of the late mea for the different a rticles they sold, each var y ing in s a u m r o e. un A t, uanctdioonneearswe different, simple, and unifo rm licence tax of the Government was proposed. Mr. WILLIAMS did not know why auctioneers should be advantaged more than any other class of re obliged cal e. to For all this the plain, pay a specific licence tradesmen. Mr. WARBURTON thought it would b e b u t right to state the number of the auctioneers who had taken out the licence, and the aggregate amount paid into the re venue. He had looked at the report furnished by the Commissioners, and be found that the greater part of witnesses were Edinburgh auctioneers. This sum of 151. might seem a moderate duty to them or to other metropolitan auctioneers, but the House must bear in mind that the tendency of the duty would be to drive the trade of the country into the larger t irons. He thought the licence should d be rated at 10/. Mr. BELLE W supporte the proposition of the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume.) After a f e w words from the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Lord DLTNCAN re ad a letter from one of his cons ti. tuents, which stated that he should be obliged to give up business if this high rate of duty were imposed, Th e town of 135th contained some fifty auctioneers who had been duly licensed, but of that number only four had paid the higher .) dut He thought Government should accede to the return requested Duncan) on. Member for Kendal, failing which he (Lord should certainly vote with the lion. Member for Montrose. Lord WORSLEY was of opinion that this high rate of duty would be found so oppressive that auctioneers could only exist in the great towns, and those in the country, who required to sell by auction, would be obliged to bring one, at a great expense, from the county town. He thought this would be adding to, instead of taking from , the tax.—(Hear, hear, from Col. Sibthorp.) Mr. TURNER t_c h mgl3,t the Government ipeasure would be warmly' supported, and instetid di' injuring the trade he thought it would eleyate the character a the tradesmen. lyir. HUME sa id the Right Hon. G ent l em an the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that the auc tioneers were now relieved from a great responsibility, t r s s se s-ey scHrity has at present reggirfq from them. Who imposed that who required that se curity? Why the Government for the protection of its feirCIRM iit 011 1 itho lsl (147 a moo 949041 one, and if Government persisted in imposing it he should divide the House. Mr. PARKER said the tax of 151. would produce so little to the revenue that it was not worth the Govern ment's while to retain it. Mr. RICE would be quite ready to agree to the pre sent proposition of the Government, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would promise that in the Committee he would give the information of which he had spoken. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he proposed to give all the information in his power. In reply to an observation from Mr. GISBORNE, Sir R. PEEL said it had been proposed to reduce the duty to 7/. 10s. It appeared that this reduction would have too great an effect in reducing the amount of the productiveness of the tax, but that 101. would increase it above the amount to be derived from 15/. Mr. HUME asked, would the Right Hon. Baronet agree to 101. now ?—(A laugh.) Sir R. PEEL said he stood there not for the interest of any party but the public, and if it were shown that 10L would produce more than 15L, he would be prepared to take that into consideration. Mr. WARBURTON wished the question were settled, as a deal of property was now locked up, and kept from sale by the delay of the measure. Mr. HAWES was of opinion. that 101. would produce more to the revenue than 151. Mr. HUME—And 5Z more than either.—(A laugh.) Sir R. PEEL said that he would not now state what the amount should ultimately be fixed at. Inquiries were in progress, and he would at a future stage be able to state to the House the result. Mr. HUME said it was quite clear that the Govern ment had proposed the increase to 154 without any in formation whatever. He really hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would now consent to fix the amount of the duty at 71. 10s.—(A laugh.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the Hon. Gentleman was bidding against himself. —(A laugh.) The Hon. Gentleman first prop. sed 71. 10s., and then he suggested 51., and npw he went back to the old offer.—(A laugh.) He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) would consider the question, and would lay before the House all the information he could obtain. Mr. WILLIAMS thought that 101. would be a rea sonable medium, and hoped the Government would as sent to it. Lord WOUSLEY said that if the Committee divided he would vote for 101. But in the present imperfect state of their information, it would be better not to divide in the present stage. _ . Mr. PLUDitPTRE thought in the conflicting offers, Government might very well knock down the tax at, 101. Mr. BROTHERTO'N thought that, as they were working in the absence of all informa.tion, and as the measure was one of experiment, 101. would be a fair com promise. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not prepared to give the House information either as to the number of auctioneers altogether, or as to the number of those who paid the higher duty. After a desultory conversation, which was much inter. rupted by laughter and cries of "Divide," strangers were ordered to withdraw. As we were leaving the gallery, we understood The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to say that he had not yet had an offer of ten guineas. Mr. lIUME—Oh, but guineas are not a legal tender. Upon our return to the gallery we found that no division had taken place, the original motion having been withdrawn. The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported progress. CUSTOMS DUTIES (GLASS). The House then went into Committee on the Customs' duties, and Mr. SPOONER moved that a alteration should take place in the time when the protecting duty on glass should cease. It was proposed that they should termi nate immediately, but his proposition was, that that operation should not take place until the sth of April, 1846. He thought it unfair that the glass manufac turers should be compelled to meet the competition from foreign glass manufacturers when they were not preplred to do so. Although he believed the glass manufacturers of this country need not fear anything from competition, ultimately, still they would be seriously injured by being called upon to compete with foreign manufacturers immediately. In the case of sheet glass, nhich was a most important article, mannfacturcrs in this country were obliged to employ French manufacturers, because the manufacturers here, in consequence of the duty, could not affbrd to make experiments. The con sequence was, the English manufacturers were under contracts to employ parties for some time to manufacture that article. The immediate removal _of the protective duties in that rospect would cause them great loss. There could be no doubt that the Right Hon. Gentle• man had given a great boon to the glass manufacturers in this country by taking off the duty, but that boon would be thrown away by taking off immediately the protective duty. He hoped his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would consider the subject. Ho moved that the line be altered to " On and after the sth of April, 1846." Lord ING ESTRE had been requested by his consti tuency to make a similar request, and he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer would consent to extend the time. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not quite certain whether the effect of the Hen. Gentleman's proposition was tot to augment the duty tke House had already agreed to, because, if the Hun. Gentleman's, amendment were agreed to, it would continue the duties for a period of twelve months. But, independently of this, the motion was inexpedient in ether respects. The duty to the extent of one halfpenny per lb. had been retained on glass imported from Belgium, whose manufacturers were formidable competitors with the British, and he had al ways understood till that night that this course was likely to give satisfaction to the trade generally. The amendment was negatived without a division. The remaining clauses were then agreed to and the House resumed. The Chairman then reported progress, and the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. SUPPLY. The order of the day was then put for the House going into a Committee of Supply to vote the navy estimates. _ . _ Mr. HUME protested that it was not fair at that late hour to go into a Committee of Supply. Dr. BOWRING intimated that several Hon. Members had left the House on the understanding that th 4 se esti mates were not to be brought forward that night. Mr. HOPE thought the House could have uo objec tion:, even at that late hour, to vote the estimate for victuals. Sir ROBERT PEEL, however, seeing it was the wish of the House not to proceed, consented to the postpone ment of the Committee. _ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ap pointed Wednesday for going: into Committee. Captain PECHELL could hardly believe it was the in. tention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to take the Navy Estimates on Wednesday evening. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had no objection to do so, if the Hon. and Gallant Member wished it. Captain PECHELL bad held a seat in the House for nearly ten years, during which they had never taken the navy estimates on a Wednesday ; and he had no wish to depart from this rule now. MUSEUMS BILL. The Howe then went into a Committee on the Public Museums Bill. It went through Committee, and was ordered to be reported to-morrow. GLASS BILL. The Glass Excise Duties' Bill also went through Committee, and was ordered to be reported tomorrow. The report of Supply was received and agreed to. The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a second time. INDIA EXPORT DUTIES. Mr. HUMP, wished to know if he was at liberty to ask the Noble lord opposite (Lord Jocelyn) if he could place before the House a copy of the draft of the Act imposing import duties on goods sent to India. Lord JOCELYN said he had no objection to produce the draft Act. As to the Governor-General of India he (Lord Jocelyn) could only say he acted in perfect ac cordance with the directions of the Board of Controul. Air. M. GIBSON hoped the Government would re consider this subject before they had finally decided on the India Import Duties. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at TA elve o'Clock. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 7. ROBERT ALLEN (A PAUPER) v. M`PIIERSON, TOMKIYS, AND THOMAS ALLEN, In this case, which had not concluded when we went to press yesterday, the further arguments were postponed to Monday next. GOAL MARKET. Prices per ton at Th(To;e7iii;TuTa7ket :—Adair's Main, 15s 6d ; Buddle's West Hartley, 16s; Carr's Hartley, 16s; Chester Main, 15s 6d ; Daviso n's 'West Hartley, 16s ; Elli • son Main, 14s 9d; Hasting's Hartley, 15s 6d; Holywell Main, 16s 6d ; Nelson's West Hartley, 16s ; New Tanfield, 14s 6d ; Ord's Redheugh, 14s; Itavensworth West Hartley, 16s; Townley, 15s; West Hartley, 16s; West Wylam, 15s 6d ; Wylam, 15s 6d ; Wall's-end—Gibson, 16s 9d ; Kil lingworth, 15s 6d ; Walker, 15s fid ; Braddyll's lletton, 19s ; North Hetton Lyons, 16s 9d ; Richmond, 16s 6d ; Russell's lletton, 18s 3d ; Stewart's 19s ; Caradoc, 18s 6d ; High Thornelev, 16s ; South Kelloe, 17s 6d ; Adelaide, 17s !4 , 4; Barrett, i6s ; Eden Hartlepool, 15s; Gordon, south Durham, 16s 3d; Tees, 18s; Anthracite, 18s fid ; cowpon Hartley, 16s; West Hartley NObertan, 163.—Stlips ar rived 19, [ADVERTISEMENT.] FIFTY RUNNING ULCERS CURED IN SIX WEEKS BY HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND OINT MENT !—Extract of a letter, dated Tobago (West Indic s) Feb, 4, 1845 ::--" To Profes! - or Holloway, Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you that your astonishing medicines have cured a gentleman in this island, who had, I believe, about fifty runniug ulcers about his legs, arms, and body, who had tried all other medicines before the ar rival of yours, but all of which did him no good ; but yours cured him in about six weeks, and he is now quite th , at 1n cn.l;:eii Will 'l lie ' restored to health and vigour.--(Signoci) Es J u o m h a n tes l . ar r t i i l n i , Chronicle-05:A Tobago,' Sold at Na l ca ) k i N . ,n o yo fe w s l s e e d r g l e l d o , l b l t • f ay' se V e stablishment, 244, Strand (where advice may be eN b t d .e gratis), and by almost all respectable ue N to r e l n o d n o g r a s n o d f fasitbhreofeut Medi cine throughout the civilised world, 1113 I r t to, is i4r u in n g de t r h s o to ci zi se toile theb Al te i r A 3 te o r t lia l n e o na r y S y i b r e C ror . 414i4noiseeatinisQfe,tritwibegici3ahtomilitiyelltiniiigntioenfaenrtash.leilyntelligible, they are c0m (.(113.2%. s uggestion ha l queerspatronage i oft e list a of lieutenants, which service m.ari a u ra ii:e ti .o e , te l fl y pio\ s caa h :c; u it. ; no , 0 0nn. u d t i n masters ifr from i j l i es l ir t t l po i o e in6b h i.tee e hs i ii e : o fi oepi t l s ea. adopted to place this Tl,llutthlci . n would bring them within the scope of t Y4 he Crown. The whole case appears to des-r siderA4 Of t:l4i; ( ..i O VeVAMt+t and the I. s ei:lldu t r 4 est'. con e.—rtmcs., PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) MONDAY, APRIL 7. EXCISE.—(IN THE COMMITTEE.) Motion made, and Question put, " That It is the opinion of this Committee, that all the Duties of Excise now payable in respect of Sales by Auction, and on Licenses to be taken out by Auctioneers, shall cease." The Committee divided :-- MAJORITY—AYES, 167. Acland, Sir T. D. Du Pre, C. G. M`Geachy, F. A. Acland, T. D. Egerton, Sir P. • 3PNeill, Duncan Acton, Colonel Ellice, Rt. Hon. E. Mainwari, g, T. Adare, Viscount Elli s ,Wy nn Mangles, R. D. Arkwright, George Elphinstoue, H. Masterman, John Arundel, Earl Emlyn, Viscount Mitcalfe, Henry Itaillie , Joseph Entwisle, William Morgan, Octavius Bailey, J., Jun. Escott, Bickham Mundy, E. M. Bernie, Colonel Ewart, William Napier, Sir C. Mille, H. J.. Feilden, W. Newry, Viscount Baird, W Iliam Ferguson, Sir R. A. O'Brien, A. S. Barclay, David Fitzroy, Henry O'Conor, Don Baring, Thomas Flower, Sir J. Patten, J. W. Baring, W. B. Forbes, William Pechell, Captain Beckett, William Forman, T. S. Peel, Sir R. Ilenbow, John Forster, Matthew ' Peel, Jonathan Bentinek, Lord G. Fremantle, Sir T. Philips, G. R. Bernard, Viscount Fuller, A. E. Plumptre,J.:ll Blakemere, Richard Gaskell, J. M. Plumridge, Captain Bolden), IL G. Gibson, T. 31. Polhill, Frederick Borthwick, Peter Gisborne, Thomas Pringle, Alexander Bot Held, Beriah Gladstone, W. E. Reid, Sir John Bowes, John Gordon, Captain Rice, E. R. Bowles, Admiral: Gore, 3lentague Sanderson, Richard Bowring Dr. Goulburn, Henry Sheppard, Thomas Brisco, hr.] Graham, Sir J. Smith, Abel lirotherton, Joseph Greenall, Peter Smith, J. A. Browne, W. Grimstou, Viscount Smith, T. B. C. Bruce, Lord E. Hamilton, W. J. Somerset, Lord G. Bruce, C. L. C. Harcourt, G. G. Somerton, Viscount Buckley, Edmund Hatton, Captain Somes, Joseph Buller, Edward llayter, W. G. Spooner, Richard Cardwell, Edward Henley, J. W. Stewart, John Carew, W. H. P. Hepburn, Sir T. B. • Stuart, Henry Chelsea, Viscount Herbert, Sidney Strati, Edward Chute, W. L. W. Hope, Charles Sutton, Henry Clerk, Sir George Hope, G. W. Tattered, H. W. • Clive, Robert H. Hume, Joseph 'ferment, J. E. Cobden, Richard liumphery, Alderman Thesiger, Sir F. Cockburn ' Sir G. Hussey, Amb rose Th ompson , Ald erman Colebrooke, Sir T. Hutt, William Thornely, Thomas Collett, John Inge strie, Viscount Trelawny, J. S. Coote, Sir C. 11. James, Sir W. C. Trench, Sir F. W. Copeland, Alderman Jermyn, Earl Tuite, H. M. Corry, Henry Jocelyn, Viscount Turntr, Edmund Cripps, William Jones, Ca i .tain Villiers, Viscount Dalrymple, Captain Lambton, H. Wakley, Thomas Hamer, Colonel Lascelles, W. S. Warburton, Henry Darby, George Lawson, Andrew Wawn, John T. Dickinson, F. IL Lemon, Sir C. Wellesley, Lord C. Drummond, 11. 11. Lennox, Lord A. Williams, William Duke, Sir J. _ Lincoln, Earl Wood, Colonel Duncan, Viscount Lockhart, W. Wortley, John S. Duncan, George • Lowther, Sir J. 11. buncombe, A. Lyall, George TELLEB9. 4 . Duncombe, 0. Mackenzie, T. Young, John Dundas, David Mackenzie, W. F. Baring, Henry MINORITY-NOES, 30. lfaring, F. T. Eaton, R. J. Rutberfurd, Barnard, E. G. Ebringon, Viscount Sheridan, R. B. ilask,rville, T. B. Guest, Sir J. Sotheron, T. H. Bramston, T. W. Hawes, Benjamin Tyrrell, Sir J. T. Broadley, H. Hothouse, Sir J. Vane, Lord H. Buck, L. W. Howard, C. W. Waddington, H. S. Busfeild, William Labouchere, Henry Worsley, Lord Chetwode, Sir J. Long, Walter Yorke, H. R. Denison, W. J. Lygon, General TELLERS. Dick, Quintin Parker, John Bankes, George Dundas, Admiral Russell, Lord J. March, Earl DIRECT RAILWAY S. The classification, by the Board of Trade, of railway projects, including those which they have reported against, as well as those on which they have reported favourably, is now complete ; and the various measures will be forthwith referred to Select Committees of the House of Commons. It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of railway legislation. It is a question of great national interest, and ought, therefore, to receive the most careful attention of Parliament. It is to be hoped that the COmmittees will enter on the discharge of their duties with a proper notion of the momentous in terests which aro involved in railway matters. There are other and higher considerations connected with railways than those which relate to the claims of rival companies. The great question of public convenience Is involved in many of the struggles which are about to take place before Parliament, between the promoters of opposing projects. It were impossible to lay down any specific principle fur the guidance of the Legis lature, which would admit of universal application. There are peculiarities incident to most projects, which would prevent the application in all cases of ptinciples which apply in particular cases. But as a rule, or ge neral principle, the view entertained by Sir Robert Peel, and which he expressed ten or twelve days ago in Par liament, is undoubtedly the one which ought generally to be acted on. The Premier laid down the proposition that the lines which are most direct, and consequently the shortest, ought to be preferred, unless where there I are peculiarities in the projected line which would jus tify a departure from the rule. Whatever conclusion Parliament may come to on this point, it is not to he denied that the country enter tains the same view as Sir Robert Peel. The direct lines are everywhere the favourite lines. They are so not only because in the nature of things they must be the cheapest, but because by travelling by them there will be a great saving of time. To most persons this i 3 as great an object as the saving of money. To many,—to all whose avocations are numerous or urgent, it is more. Supposing, for example, that a person was proceeding from London to York, and that he could get in four hours and a half by either of the direct lines proposed between the two places, while if he has to go by the circuitous route of the Eastern Counties and the Cambridge and Lincoln lines, he cannot accomplish the journey in less than six hours, is it not evident that a saving of an hour and a half in time would lyt a far more important object to thousands of persons, especially to professional men, than the mere saving of a few shillings—supposing there were such a saving—in the charge for travelling ? Let us me-ntion another — caw illustrative of the de sirableness of adopting the direct drinciple. There are two lines proposed for connecting Edinburgh, Glas gow, and England, by means of Perth, with Inver ness.and the northern counties of Scotland. By the Aberdeen route, the distance would be nearly seventy miles greater than by the proposed direct line from Perth to Inverness. It cannot for a mo ment be supposed that Parliament would prefer the termer line to the exclusion of the latter, and thus compel the public to travel nearly seventy miles out of their way, and that, too, at a great addi tional expense. In many cases—and in this one among the number—local necessities may justify the construe lion of a circuitous route, but for all national purposes the direct routes must be preferred. The public has a right to demand this. Sir Robert Peel has again and again expressed himself decidedly favourable to it, and Parliament will, therefore, we trust, acquiesce in its adoption. We dwell with greater earnestness and emplif!: ls on this point, because, if the direct principle te departed from in one case, that will be pleado'!, as a precedent for departing from it in anoth'er, and thus a seri ous injury will be inflicted on the community. We do not say that there may not be cases in which, owing to peculiar circumstanc es , a d ev i at i on f rom the direct principle may be justifiable, but such cases must, - in the nature of things, be very rare. Direct routes must necessarily not only be the most ex peditious, but the cheapest, and in all respects the best adapted to afford accommodation to the public. Mr. Thomas Duncombe is about to bring forward a motion to prevent any further injury being done by the reports of the Board of Trade. It would be well if some Hon. Member would summit a resolution to the House, be fore the railway Bills are referred to the Committees, pledging the House to a preference for the direct prin ciple.—Morning Advcrtiser. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Hon. Miss Hamilton, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Colonel Bouverie, rode out on horseback yesterday mornin_g. Their Royal highnesses the Prince of Wake, Prince Alfred, and the Trincess Royal, were taken an airing in a carriage -and four yesterday. Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice was taken an airing in the Royal Gardens of Buckingham Palace. Their , Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz visited the Queen yester day at Buckingham Palace. • Her Majesty, accompanied by the l'rinee of Wales, and at tended by the Lady in Waiting, took an airing in the after noon, in an open carriage and four, and visited her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia, at Kensington ; Colonel Ar buthnot, Equerry in Waitin, attended on horseback. The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Countess of Charlemont, the llon. Miss Stanley, the Earl of Hard• wicke, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Colonel Bouvcrie, honoured the French Plays with their presence yesterday evening. DuoitEss of GLOUCESTEII.—Her Royal Highness was better yesterday. The Queen called at Gloucester House in the afternoon to make inquiry after the health of her illustrious relative. The Queen Dowager, the Duchess of Kent, and the Duke of Cambridge, paid visits to the Royal Duchess in the course of the dAy. Her Majesty the Queen Dowar, attended by the Hon. Miss Eden, visited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yes terday, at Cambridge House. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent has issued cards for a dinner and evening party on Friday, the 18th inst., at Clarence House, St. James's. The Duchess of Kent visited the Duke and Duct' acs of Cambridge yesterday Her Royal uwith her . Majesty the Queen Dowager at Marl '•.611 . . 611 House in the evening. The Duke of Cambridge jind the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh St7,:i . itz honoured the performance of the French lave Tvith their presence yesterday evening. Th , ! kirtind Duchess Stephanie of Baden.—Her Royal riighness accompanied by his Serene Highness Prince Ed. yard of Sa x e Weimar and the Duke of Hamilton, and a tt en d ed by the Baroness de Strumfeder and Baron Roth de Schreck enstcin, left town for the residence of the Duke of Devon. shire, at Chiswick, at twelve o'clock yesterday. The Noble Duke accompanied his illustrious visitors through the grounds of the villa. A dejeune was afterwards served. The Grand Duchess and suite returned to town at four o'clock, in two carriages and four. His Serene Highness Prince Ernest of Hesse Phillippstahl visited the Grand Duchess after her return, at the Duke of Hamilton's residence in Portman-square. A deputation from the City of London had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday, at his offiicial residence in Downing -street. The deputation consisted of the Lord Mayon, Mr. Alderman Humphery, Sir James Duke, Mr. R. L. Jones, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Prio r , th e T own Clerk the City Remembrance r , and the City Soli c it or . , The cclesiastical Commissioners for England had a meet • ing yesterday a t t h e O ffice in Whitehall- place. There were present the Bishops of Chester, Lichfield, Ripon, and Worces ter, and the Dean of Westminster. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of th e E xc h equer yesterday. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Co lonial-office, for the Governor of Hong -Kong. DEPARTURE OF THE CALEDONIA FROM LIVER rooL.—The steamrship Caledonia Captain Lott, sailed at eight o'clock on Saturday evening, Halifax and Boston, taking out her full complement of passengers, not less than 60 ,000 newspapers, and an equal number of letters, and a bearer of despatches from Government to Mr. Palif,nbani, Minister at Washington, conveying the :.:ciaration of the Government respecting the corz.on, for which purpose her detention from Friday Co Saturday was, no doubt, ordered by the Admiralty. She was telegraphed off Holyhead at half vast fiT49'skitclt on Sunday morning. THEATRES. DRURY-LANE,, This house was crowded to the ceiling last evening long before the rising of the curtain. It was the first appearance this season of Duprez ; no wonder then that all the lovers of music in London congregated together within the walls of Old Drury to do him honour. The opera was Guillaume Tell, and Duprez sustained his original character of Arnold—that character in which he was first introduced to a British audience, his earliest character, perhaps his greatest and his best. Ile was superb last evening. The sweetness of some of his tones cannot be surpassed, and so exquisite is his expression that he completely carries away his auditors—now melting them to tears by his impassioned tenderness — now rousing them by his martial enthusiasm. The last scene is the crowning triumph of the opera, and never was Duprez greater. lie was called fur at the conclu sion and loudly applauded. Then there was a call for Miss Romer, who, as Matilda, had sung and acted de lightfully ; and after a short time she appeared, led on by Duprez. 'Th►e opera, which was very well put upon the stage, was followed by the ballet of Robert and Bei trawl. LYCLUAL On Duly is the title of a pleasing two-act trifle pro duced at this theatre last evening. Keeley is "on duty" as a certain Corporal Fritz, of the local militia of some place in Germany, and while on duty he makes .a dis covery that Henrietta (Miss Villars), to whom he is affianced, is in love with Count Frederick Lowenstein (F. Vining). Such being the state uf affairs, the rest may be easily imagined—Keeley gets into all sorts of absurd situations ; among others he stands upon a pe stal in a garden as a Dutch painted statue, in order to dr:A:over the faithlessness of his Henrietta—and is the. most ludicrously ill-used individual upon earth. How. ever, finding Henrietta is inclined to jilt him, he solaces himself with tie charms of Madame Dentelle (Mrs. Woollidgc), a widow who has been long anxious to catch him, and Henrietta becomes Countess of Lowen stein. The character of Henrietta was very nicely payed by Miss Viliars, who introduced a song, which she gave very prettily, and in which she was deservedly encored. F. ➢iathcws, as a frivolous, stupid, dancing old Baron, with a young wife, was very funny, and con tributed greatly to the success of the piece, which we doubt not will be On May at the Lyceum for some time to come. FRENCH PLAYS—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Her Majesty and Piiuce Albert honoured this theatre with their presence last evening. The performances commenced with Casimir Delavigne's comedy L'Ecole desVieilturds, almost the last of the comedies of the legi timate and classical school of France. Mademoiselle I'lessy, as Madame Danville, was admirable. She seemed to feel that it was a great occasion, and to put forth all her powers, and never did she exert them more effeetivtly than she did last evening. Cartigny, as Bon nard, was excellent, and M. Pascal, as the Due, was ex quisite; ho is certainly one of the best dressers on the stage—quite a French Mario. Oudinot, as Monsieur Danville, was also very good. Her Majesty seemed much pleased with the manner in which this admirable comedy was produced. It was followed by La Gageure Impreeue,in %hid' Mademoiselle Plessy again appeared, in the character of Maclaine de Clairville. The house was crowded to excess, by one of the most fashionable audiences of the season. OLYMPIC. A new tragedy, translated from the Fretich by Miss Davenport, and entitled the Duchess of Gui.e, was pro duced here last evening with complete success. 'The scene is laid at the Court of Henry Third of France, and the Duchess of Guise (Miss Davenport), the Court beauty, has been to consult lluggieri, the astrologer, as to her destiny; while there the Count de Ntegrim is an nounced as approaching—she retires and the Count enters. He has seen and loved her, but knows not she. is married, and Ruggieri shews her to him as in a dream. By chance she has left, her handkerchief in the sooth sayer's chamber. The Duke, her husband (Mr. Denvil). also comes to consult the astrologer. He has seen the Count there, and on entering the apartment he finds his wife's handkerchief there, and be comes immediately the victim of the most furious jealousy. There is a most powerfully-wrought scene in the second act, in which the Duke compels the Duchess to write an assignation to the Count, for the purpose of drawit:g him into a snare. This scene was beautifully acted by Miss Davenport, who, throughout, threw an intensity into the part of the Countess which told admirably. The Count keeps his appointment, is waylaid hr assassins hired by the Duke, severely wounded, and only saved from death by the opportune arrival of the King, who rescues him. Miss thlven port, as the het nine, was vi ry fine. It is, perhaps, her greatest character. She was called for at the conclusion. and appeared with Mr. Denvil, who. as the Duke had sup ported lice admirably. The piece was %len played throughout, and was put upon the stage in a manner that reflects the highest credit upon the management of this theatre.lt was followed by a new farce entitled Humbug, an excellent piece of drollery, full of good hits at all the prevailing It um hugs of the day, —Hydropathy, Part's Pills, Holloway's Ointment, et hoc genus wane, came in for their share of the satire of our author. 11. Bedford, as the Professor, was first-rate. He has all the rich unctions humour of his 'Uncle Paul, without his sameness. If Ise mistake not the day is not far distant when Henry Bed ford will hold a distinguished position on the stage. Miss Kate lloaard, as a Somersetshire lass, acted with great gusto, anti Miss Martineau, as the young lady of o , e piece, looked very pretty and interesting. Mr. Craven, as a tetchy common councilman, was also very good. ‘Vould we could say as much for Mr. F. Burton. In the first place, he did not know a word of his part—(the voice of the prompter was frequently audible all over the house)—and in the next place his style of acting was the most absurdly outré that could be imagined. Perhaps he aimed at originality,—if so, he certainly succeeded. It is to be hoped, however, that he will have f ew i m it a t ors . Th o h ouse was crowded. SPORTING IN TELLIGEN CE I TA rrE RSAL US, YESTERDAY. The betting on the Two Thousand Guineas State and Newmarket Handicap was of itself of sufficient importance to call for more than a return of the prifes ; and on the greater events to come oil' at Chester .ud Epsom, our re marks may be confined to a select r;,niber of favourites. It • will be seen, that Cataract, Q1..7,„„rit., and Semiseria left off nominally at a par ; it sh . :Juld be observed however, that Cataract was backed tieavily at 9 and 10 to 1, and had an unequivocal V. of Obscurity, upon whom, nevertheless, there was P. - spirited outlay, at 10 to 1. The advance of Mr. Ja , Ple'''S mare was the consequence of two or three o ff ers to 10 to 1. We (lid not hear a bet laid. Portrait rose ten points on the last London quotation, and a strong disposition to back Queen of the Tyne 4nd Trueboy was shown in three or four quarters. On the Derby we have little to say. Forth's lot was backed freely at 12 to 1. K.edger with some spirit at 14 to 1 ; Clear-the. way for at least 4001. at 17 and 18 to 1 ; the Cobweb colt in two or three places at 22 to 1, and 1,000 to 45 ; Pantasa, at 30 to 1 (the takers rather " sweet") and Fuzbos, at 50 to 1; the layers refusing to go on. Ida., was not mentioned. The following were the closing prices NEWMARKET HANDICAP. sto 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Croton Oil—t and aft off 7 to 1 agst Mr. Newton's Ma Mie 9 to 1 agst Mr. Drinkald's Vol-au-Vent—taken 10 to 1 agst Col. Peel's I-am-not-aware—taken 10 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Strathspey 10 to 1 agst Mr. Shafto's Porto Bello—taken 15 to 1 agst Mr. A. Stebbins's Celeste—taken Celeste is expected at Newmarket this day. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 3 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroke's Idas—taken 3 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Kedger—taken 5 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's Cobweb colt 6 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Weatherbit—taken 20 to 1 agst Ides winning 2,000 guineas and Derby—t 40 to 1 agst Cobweb colt the two events—taken. TILE CHESTER CUP. 9 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott's Cataract—taken 9 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Obscurity 9 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Semiseria 16 to I agst Mr. W. 11. Johnstone's The Era—taken 20 to 1 agat Mr. Bell's Winesour 20 to 1 agst Mr. Isaac Day'o Portrait—taken an d aft o f. 30 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Pug. 30 to 1 agst Mr. Cuthbert's Queen of Tvne—taken 30 to 1 aght Mr. Davies's Yheomun-ae-Knuek—taken :k3 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Pride of Kildare 33 to 1 agst Mr. Ilutchinson's Ratan 33 to I agst Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy—taken 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Ilesseltine's Fitzallen—taken 2000 to ` - '0 apt Lord Eglinton's Aristides—taken. nEnnv. 12 to 1 agst Mr. Forth's lot—taken 28 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's lot—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Alarm 14 to 1 agst Col. Anson's hedger—taken 17 to 1 agat Mr. Ferguson's Clear the Way—taken 18 to I agst Lord Chesterfield's Pam—taken and after wards oared :sC r, rwsmonge r —t a k en and 20 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's afterwards oared 22 to 1 agst Colonel reek Cobweb colt—taken 22 to 1 agst s ir. Weatherbit—take 25 t o 1 30 to I agst ' s „..r. Most Pantasa—t a k en 30 to agst Mr. St. Paul's Mentor t to o asst ogs t Duke e G o u f l l l y t ' i s ei O n ld ond, i England—taken o,coci, : rt) 50 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Fuzbos—taken • 66 to 1 agst Mr. llesseltine's Fitzallen 1000 to 10 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Neretut—taken Alarm passed through London yestr d •.r ay en route for Newmarket OAKS. 25 to 1 agst Mr. New ton's Sister to Ma Mie—taken WARWICK SPRING MEETING.—MONDAY. 'l'he Trial Stakes of 10 soya. each, with 50 added, for three and four-yr olds. One mile. (4 Subs ) Mr. A. W. Hill's Sweetmeat, 3 yrs, 7st ( krtlinr) I Sir C. R. Cokerell's Rodney, 3 yrs, 7st 2 Lord Warwick's Roebuck, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b 3 Mr. Ford's The Attorney, 3 yrs, 7st 4 sto 4 agst Sweetmeat-2 to 1 agst Attorney-3 to Icc the two against the Field. Sweetmeat made strong running throughout; and won by nearly two lengths. The Warwickshire Hunt Stakes of 5 soya. each, 1 Ist 71b each, winners 51b extra. 2 miles. (9 Subs.) Lord Howth's Cromaboo. (Owner) 1 Lord How th's Mayflower, aged.... Mr. Brookes' The Eagle The following also started, but were not placed :—Mr. Little's Vagabond, aged—Mr. Barnard's The Page—Mr. Vaux's Hornet—Mr. Laurel nd Embaesy—Mr. Sheldong Dudu—and Mr. Bennett's Martingale. The Warwick Handicap of 15 soya. each, 10 ft, and 5 only if declared, with 40 added. Two miles. (11 Subs. 3 paid.) Mr. A. NV. Hill's Salopian, 3 - yrs, sst 61b . (J. Tasker) Mr. 11. Johnston's Veluti, 6 yrs, 7st Illb Lord Warwick's The Mule, 4 yrs, 7st 'l'he following also ran Ruworth's Schoolboy, 6 yrs, 7st 1l lb ; and Mr. 'l'. Atkinson's Wotton, 4 yrs, Est 71b. The other races were not run when the train left. The sale of Mr. Foljambo's Fox 'bounds, by Messrs. Tat tersall, realised about 3,600/. 1 One lot of Live couples was sold for 390 guineas, and another of four couples and a half. 480 guineas ! THE SPORTING CAUSE OF WOOD V. GLEN.--Thig case is to be defended ; the defendant has paid 1,500/. into Court, and a commission has issued to Boulogne. Mr. E. James has been retained as counsel to proceed to Boulogne,. to cross-examine Levy Goodman. Aludt interen is ex e lto, as to the result.