The Sun. — London, England, 1836-06-21 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR. The King and Queen and Prince George of Cambridge left the Palace, at Kew, for Windsor Castle, oil Sunday night. The Princess Augusta, the Landgraline of lie.ssc Homburg, the Landgrave of Hesse Homburg, and Prince Ernest of Hesse Philippsthal, left Kew, for town. The Duke of Cum berland remained at his residence at Kew. The Princess Augusta and the Lawlgravine of Hesse Hom burg honoured the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. How ley with their company at dinner, last evening, at Lambeth Palace. Prince Ernest of Hesse Philippst l al was present, yesterday, at the public breakfast given by the Duke and Duchess of Buccieuch, in Whitehall:gardens. . A deputation, including the Right Hon. G. R. Dawson, Messrs. Fletcher, Farrer, Masterman, Murray, and Marshall, from the Provincial Bank of Ireland, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday, in DOWllitig, street. the Archbishop of York visited Lord John Russell, yester-. dayrat the Home Office. Lord William Bentinck had an interview with Lord Gleneig, yesterday, at the Colonial Office. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Theodosia Spring Rice had a select party. including the Russian Am bassador, Earl and Countess of Nlinto, and Lady Fanny El liot at dinner, on Sttn da y evening, in Mandeld.street. The Judicial Committee of the Pt;.vy Council sat Yesterday in the Council C hamber. The Lords present were the Vice- Chancellor, Lord Wynford, Sir J. Bernard Bosanquet, and the Cilicf Judge in Bankruptcy. " Thomas v. Bertrand" (Jersey), and " Esparto Singh v. Grant" (St. Vincent's) were heard by their Lordships..- The Court adjourned shortly before one o'clock. POLISII MARRIAGES.-7-WARSAW, JUNE 3. According '.o the ancient laws of Poland, marriage was con sidered an entirely . religious act, subject to the spiritual autho rities, but afterwards the spirit of those laws were entirely done away with, and the celebration of marriage was consi dered as a mercrecivil act, and all questions-relative to it were to be referred to the temporal power. Bet, in 1825, it was felt to be necessary to return in part to the ancieet principle, and the act of marriage was restored to the ecclesiastical authorities ; hut it was left to the evil power to pronounce the .dissolution of the contract. Lsstly, in 1833, there was a complete return to the ancient legislatioa ; only the question relative to the civil consequences of marriages will henceforth be decided according to the civil code. The ecclesiatical authority-will decide on all questions in its sphere, and accord ing to the current low.--Journal de Frankfort, June 12. EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE.—Friday night al; at half-past eight o'clock, as Mr. Richardson, the curator to - the inatitutionewas sitting reading (Dr. Faustus, we be , , - - Revri) in the front room of the first floor of the Museum, his attention was attracted by a noise in the cabinets where are `deposited the fossil remains of the IMastadon and Ignanadon : and on turning to ascertain the cause, Mr. R. saw with hor ror the whole of the collection of these gigantic monsters in • motion I The thigh bones had placed themselves erect, and were dancing about as though looking for the legs ; the head glided towards the trunk, that was trying to make a fit with the thigh bones ; the tail was wriggling about like a snake ; arid the jaw bones svereclanking together inviting the teeth from the other end of the room. Mr. Richardson - saw his danger—another instant and all would have been lost—the tail was sharpening up the teeth, the clans had just conic from under the table ; Mr. Richardson did not hesitate but jumped out at—the door ; and he was scarcely outside when he heard from the noise that the work was complete, and looking through the key-hole distinctly saw she Masta don and Iguanadon dancing a Spanish bollero together—while another monster in the corner was playing the fiddle with the shovel and tongs, and all the little diaboluses were clapping andeshak ing their sides with laughter.—Brighton Herald. A gentleman who has been up to town on the sub _ ject of the Railways, describes to us in fearful terms the spirit o' cupidity exhibited not only - in the vicinity of, but even in, the Committee-rooms of the different proposed lines of road. He says, and his statement is borne out by what we had pre viously heard, that no means are left untried to secure the support of influential parties, and that where solicitations fail, bribes arc unblushingly offered. If such be the case, the in terest of the public must materially suffer, since the real merits of the different lines must give way before the filthy influence of 11 , 1amtnon. Our correspondent assures us of his belief that unless a general resolution be adopted by the House to curb this rapacious spirit, some dreadful crisis must ensue. It is but fair to observe that Lord George Lennox, the Chairman of the Committee of the London and Brighton Railroad, at a public dinner the other day, took occasion to allude to this subject, and positively denied the reports that members of Railroad Committees got well paid for their trouble. " They had" observed his Lordship, " a great deal of hard work to do, and as a recompense the abuse of all parties." This flat contradiction of his Lordship will go far to silence the reports to which we have alluded, and which, with leis Lordship's denial, we leave to the consideration of the public.—Brighton Herald. Amongst various other ornamental improvements which have lately been made at the west end of the metropolis, a very elegant and ponderous iron pillar, placed on a granite pelestal, with three lamps forming a triangle on the top, has been erected, by command of his - Majesty, in Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, opposite to the Duke of York's monument, being a very sunerior construction to any other of the kind in London. The pillar and the iron railings which surround, it are painted very tastefully in imitation of bronze ; upon the front of the pedestal are placed the Royal Initials " NV. R." arid a erceen, and round the railings is erected an elevated stone platform, which will be found a great convenience to people having -oc casion to cross the road in that direction. CHASE EXTRAORDINARY.—LateIy at Carlisle one of Mr. Wombwell's caravans of wild beasts was overturned on the Wigton-road, and a number of the animals; chiefly of the monkey tribe, had escaped. The animals, of course, were bight,' delighted with their restoration to liberty, and many of them clatnieered up the trees, - 6 mopping and mowing" at the keepers, w ho endeavoured to reclaim them. The farmers living in the vicin;te immediately rendered their aid to join in the pursuit, and witis their dogs commenced one of the most ludicrous chases ever beeeld in that part of the country. The cunning monkeys proved that they had not forgotten the ca pering of their wild state, and one of them having taken re. fuge in a field containing a q uantit y of cattle, and being rather hard pressed by his pursuers, jumped on the back of one of the cows, which immediately started off at full gallop, asto nished, no doubt, at her strange jockey. The monkey kept its seat well, but was at length secured by one of the keepers. The whole of the animals were ultimately secured. SILK MANUFACTURE Al' CREFELD, IN RllE msti PRUSSIA.—Our silk manufactories were never so flourish ing as at present. They have arrived at such a point that they may boldly rival all the manufactories of Germany, and in some respects even those of Lyons. T'ue velvets of Lyons and Genoa have already been obliged to yield the palm to outs. The orders we have received, even from America, have for a long time been considerably increasing. At the end of last century we had 150 manufactories of ribbons. 262 looms for silk tissues, and 496 looms for velvets. It will be easy to judge of the imrneese increase of industry since that period from the fact that, at the period when we were under the do minion of France, the house of M. Layen, who may be consi dered a; the founder of this branch of industry, employed be tween 4,000 and 5.000 workmen.—Frankfort Gazette. HYDROPHOBIA.—Saturday morning the inha bitants of Holborn and the passengers therein were alarmed by the appearance of a mad dog, which bit several persons, one of whom was Mr. Austin, residing at Winchester-row, Pen tonville ; it was soon followed by several persons, armed with weapons, all of whom it managed to outrun, but on arriving in Southampton-buildings was stopped by a man catching hold of it by each ear. Sergeant Thompson, D 4, who was passing at the time, went up, and -having made a slip-knot in a piece of rope he had in his pocket, put it round the doe's neck, and, with his truncheon, soon despatched it. In the afternoon another dog in a rabid state was observed in the Waterloo road, but was happily destroyed without having done, any mischief. Yesterday morning, between ten and twelve o'clock, another dog in a rabid state ran through the city, and at the foot of London-bridge bit a little boy of about eight years of age. A labourer, who was at work on the spot, pursued rad killed the dog. The little boy was conveyed to the hospital. The public will read with considerable interest the .fraeas in the Commons on Tuesday night. For our own parts we regret that such things should arise to interrupt the progress of the public business. But in scenes of this kind we find frequently struck cut sparks of no trifling import, while, at the same thee, they give indication of this temper of parties, which is of deeper meaning than its connexion with the ques tion at issue would give warranty to suppose. We never knew almost a single instance iu which those who appeal to the dignity of the House and the usnges of Parliament have not been the first offenders, and the provokers of aught which ;ins been deeined unseemly is the progress of debate. This was eminently the case on Tuesday. But the valuable matter at which we glanced is to be found in the desire ,. portion of Mr. O'Connell's speec h, in which he visits the "Times with almost that amount of penalty which its delinquency deserves. We feel satisfied that there is not a single honest journalist, be lie Radical, Whig, or Tory, who does not feel the justice, and rejoice in the probable advantage to the public, of the casti gation inflicted on the foulest political apostacy which records the disgrace of modern times. Truth gave force to the weapon, and high moral indignation gave a just direction to every blow. The Times of the following' day gives evidence of the moral prostration it snffered. We doubt riot that it will make amends in its next plablication by the filthy viru lence with which it will still further damn its own character by seeking to befoul an opponent placed so far ab ove its reach. But the visitation beneath which it writhee, could only conic hi the is of a penalty—correction with a view to amend ment s out of the question. But the example may be profits , isle to others, and beneficial to the public.—Moreinte Reyi.ster. STATE OF TRADE. —The accounts from Man chester and the other towns largely engaged in cotton manufac tures are of the roost satisfactory character : it is known that the stocks-of yarn in this country are reduced to a very low cab ; and there is retie doubt, from the caution with which our . German customer.; have fur a long time past been making their purchases, that there is almost an equal scarcity with them. Within the last fortnight or three weeks, after the market had suffered its lowest depression, an advance of .per lb. has taken place in yarns of all description of fineness, sand all the spinning-mills are in full activity at the improved 12:es. The looms are also kept fully employed, in a large d e gree, for the American market. GLASGOW. —The scarcity in the Islands of Barra, the Mists, and Harris, is frightful. The poor people have beets compelled to give their potatoes and grain to preserve their cattle alive, and they are now without the common neces saries Of We, IMPERIAL PARMA MEN T. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Juvz 20. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. LORDS' AMENDMENTS TO PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. BA RNA RD move 1 that the Lords' Amendmeits to the Newtown Abbot Improvement Bill be adopted. Mr. LowT HE It moved that the Lords' Amendments to the North Midland Railway Bill be adoeted. . An Hos. MEMBER moved that the Lorch' Amendments to the South Eastern Railway Bill be adopted. SOUTH DURHAM RAILWAY. Mr. BAINES brought up the Report on the South Dur ban Railway Bill. DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. CHAPMAN it was agreed that a message be sent to the Lords to request permission to examine the Marquis of Lansdowne, and the Marquis of Coning ham, before the Dublin and Drogheda Railway. METROPOLITAN SUSPENSION BRIDGE. Mr. TENNYSON D'EYNCOURT brought up the rrport on the Metropolitan Suspension Bridge, which was ordered to be taken into consideration on Wednesday next. Mr. W A SON presented a petition in favour of the measure. On the motion of Mr. ANG ERSTEIN, the Chelsea 'los .tal-Estate Bill was read a second tune. KILKENNY ELECTION. The SPEAKER informed the House that John Power and others who had petitioned against the return for Kilkenny, had not entered into the necessary recognizances The order far taking the petition into consideration was then discharged. Captain BERKELEY presented a petition from Glouces ter, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death. Colonel THOMPSON presented a petition froM 2,600 retailers and drinkers of beer, of Preston and its vicinity, praying for an equalization of the hours for the sale of beer. Mr. OSWALD presented a petition, pi ayhig - for-an altera tion in the Factory Bill. Sir J. BECKETT presented a petition from the rnortga , gees of a road in_ Yorkshire, against the Turnpike Trusts Con solidation Bill. JEWISH DISABILITIES: . Mr. HII` , fDL E Y presented a petition, pray ing for the admission of the Jews to all the rights aqd privileges of citizens. Mr. SHAW presented petitions from the clergymen of the parishes of Irrnagli and other places against the Irish ,Tithe Bill. They felt is and to protest against any invasion of their rights and properties, and were willing to endure any privations rather than allow their successors' rights, as well as their own, to be confiscated. Mr. M‘K INNON presented a petition -frensflairyiebeato. praying that that House would not in any way interfere with the privileges and independence of the Lords. It was siomed by 1,000 persons, and spoke the feelings and wishes of the great majority of the wealth and respecta bility of the borough. The petitioners lamented to see notices put on the books of the House, the only tendency of which was to degrade the Peers in the eyes of the people. The individuals by whom those notices were entered had no intention whatever of carrying their measures forward. What was it, therefore, that was intended to be done by those no tices ? Why, to degrade one branch of the Legislature, by holding out that that House had the power of re-organising the House of Lords. For his own part be believed that each branch of the Legislature was equal in their rights, and he was not aware of any occasion in which the House of Lords had interfered with the privileges of that House, and be did not see, therefore, why that House should interfere with the pri vileges of the House of Lords.—(l fear, hear, hear.) He trusted that the object the petitioners had in view would he realized, and that no degrading notice, such as he had re ferred to, would again be placed on the books of the House of commons. Mr. WYNN deprecated notices of the kind alluded to in the petition being given, if not intended to be complied with. The SPEAKER thought, after the concurrence of the House, that notice should be given of any motions Hon. Mem bers intended to make. After a short conversation between Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Mackinnon, and the Speaker,— Sir J. WROTTESLEY said that it should be recollected that the House of Lords had helped to re-model this House three years ago.—( Hear, hear.) The petition was then laid on the table. FACTORIES BILL.. Lord ASHLEY presented a petition from 59 master manu facturers of Yorkshire in favor of a ten-hours' Bill. Mr. COLLIER presented a petition from the Dissenters of Plymouth, in favour of the Registration of Marriages Bill, and for the abolition of Church rates. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from the opera tives of Preston, complaining of the low rate of wages. Mr. SC HOLE FIELD presented a petition from 30,400 in habitants of Birmingham, in favour of the Irish Municipal Bill as it originally passed that House. The Hen. MEMBER presented several other petitions to the same effect. TITHES. Major MACNAMARA presented petitions from parishes a the County Ciare praying for the extinction of Tithes. EMANCIPATION OFTUE JEWS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition numerously signed by the inhabitants of Edinburgh praying that the civil disabilities affecting the Jews might be removed. TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition from Edinburgh. most numerously and respectably signed, praying for the total abolition of the stamp duty on newspapers and advertisements ; also the repeal of the duty on paper. The ilonAlember also presented a petition in favour of the Copy hold Tenure BM. VEXATIOUS PROSECUTIONS, Mr. BETHEL I, presented a petition from a magistrate of the county of York, of the name of General Wharton, com plaining of the expense and annoyance he bad been put to, by reason of a vexatious and frivolous charge brought against him for something he had done in his capacity of magistrate. When the prosecution was commenced, he applied, upon affi davits, stating that the'prosecutor was a man of straw, and unable to pay any costs that might be awarded against him; but the Judge had ranged to compel the prosecutor to enter into recognizance to pay expenses, stating that he had no power to do so. The action had since been tried, and a verdict given in favour of the petitioner, but he had been put to great expense and inconvenience, and was unable to recover anything from the plaintiff, lie being, as was alleged in the affidavits, a mere man of straw. Ile complained that if the magistracy were not protected in the discharge of their magisterial duties against such harassing, vexatious prosecutions, the laws of the country could never be fairly or duly administered ; and he therefore prayed that that House would adopt some measures to indem nify parties in such situations against the expense of actions of this nature. _ _ _ Colonel PEEL objected to the reception of the petition, on account of the length of time that had elapsed since the oc currence had taken place to which it referred. Mr. WYNN concurred with the lion. and Gallant Mem ber that the petition ought not to be received. Mr. D. W. HARVEY said that the petition was sent to him to present last session, but not thinking it a proper sub ject for that !louse, he wrote to Gener a l Wharton to that effect; but unfortunately he mislaid the petition, or he would have handed it to the lion. Member fur Yorkshire. The abuse however which he received from the Gallant General was a sufficient penalty for his neglect.—(A laugh.) Mr. BETH E L L said he was not answerable for the allega tions contained in the petition. Mr. BA INES said no blame could attach to General Wharton fur his conduct in the transaction. Sir ROBERT PEEL thought it would be an extremely bad precedent if petitions of this nature were to be received. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL expressed himself to the same eff,ct. After a few words from the SPEAKER, the petition was withdrawn. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (IRELAND.) Mr. H. BULW ER presented a petition from the parish of Marylebonne in favour of the Irish Municipal Bill, us it ori ginally passed that House. Mr. HUM E supported the prayer of the petition. Mr. JACKSON presented a petition from Cork in favour of the Lords' Amendments to the Irish Municipal Bill. Sir W. BIZ AR A ZON presented a petition from the county of Mayo. signed by the High Sheriff, the two Members for the county, and many of the wealthy and respectable inhabitants against the Irish Municipal Bill as amended by the Lords. Also two petitions from the same county, praying for a re form in the House of Lords. Mr. R. D. BROWNE had been requested to support the prayer of the petition front the County of Mayo, and as he perfectly coheurrud in it I.e did so with much pleasure. Mr. POWER presented a petition from Bathetic. in the County of Wexford, in favour of Corporate Reform, and against the Lords' amendments. The petition was must numerous!y signed. Sir E. WILMOT presented a petition from two manufac turers of paper in Manchester, praying that they might be allowed a drawback upon the stock in hand when the duty was taken off. Mr. HUME presented four petitions to the same effect. The first was from the manufacturers of paper in London, and the other three were from workmen in their employ. They said their labour had been uncertain in consequence of the unsettled state in which the matter had been for some time, and praying that the House would allow the 'duty to be taken off innnediatelv. Lord J. STUART presented a petition numerously signed, praying fir the total and immediate repeal of the Stamp Duty on Newspapers. The LORD-ADVOCATE presented petitions in favour of the Commons' Bill for reforming the Corporations in Ire land, from the Magistrates and Council of Leith, Glasgow, and other places. ' Mr. D UND A S presented a petition from the Glasq Met'. chants of the Shetland Isles, complaining of the heavy duty on Glass, and praying. that it may be removed. Lord FRANCIS EGERTON presented a petition from certain spirit sellers in the county of Lancaster, praying for au alteration in the duties on spirit licenses. Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the Central Com mittee .of the Handloorn Weavers of Manchester, complaining of children under 10 years of age being compelled to work in factories for 12 hours and upwards. The facts stated in the petition were precisely those which l.d him to vote for a revival of the Bill upon the subject. As the law now stood it was openly violated, and he saw no hope for th e remova l o f that violation, unless the Bill to which he had referred was re vived. The Hon. Member also presented another petition, the prayer of which lie could not support, though he felt for the petitioners—it was from the handloom weavers, praying for the establishment of a board of trade, EXCISE LieENsgs. TLe Right Hon. BARONAT also presented a petition rpm THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY. JUNE 21, 1836. f.iscur of tl.e Government I: eavire for rvg,u- ::ii;g the excise I:censeg in Scotland. PARISH CLERKS. Tiio Right HOA. BARONET said he had another petition to preseta fr•.n► certain parties calling then►selves the Ineorpo :ated Soci.•tv_of Parish Clerks, stzting the very great hard- - - ship they would sustain by the Bill respecting the registration births and marriages passing without provision being made for allowing them compenwion.—( Hear, hear.) They stated that their offices were freehold, and that many of them had relinquished other employments in the full persuasion that their tigh:s would be protected, or if not, that an equivalent would he given them. They sugg:sted that in any measure connected with registration, their situation would be taken into consideration, as many of the petitioners were advanced in life and had no other means of procuring their subsistence. They concluded by praying the House to take their case into their most favourable consideration. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. Mr. A. SANDFORD moved that the amendments made by the House of Lords, oa this BM, be agreed to. After a few words from Mr. PRYSIE the ►notion was agreed to. MUNICIPAL 'CORPORAVONS ACT. On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERA L the' Lords' amendment; in this B►ll were ordered to be t:tken i..ta consideration on Friday next. PAPER DUTIES. Mr. lILTNI-E • gave notice, that whenever the Chan cellor or the Exchequer proposed to reduce the duties upon paper, be would submit a motion to the effect that a drawback be allowed on the stock in hand, agreeably to the prayer of the petitions he was about to present. TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE. _ _ The lion. MEMBER said in the mean time he would present two petitions from Glasgow, praying for the total repeal of the stamp duty on Newspapers. Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN presented a petition from Galway in favour of a system of poor-laws for Ireland. Mr. POTTER presented two Fetitions for the repeal of the duty on Newspaper-4. Mr. ROEBUCK and some other lloN. MEMBERS pre sented petitions to the same effect. Mr. Sr, , rjeant JACKSON presented a petition from Cork, for the better observance of the Sabbath. Mr. WAK LEY presented 63 petitions from various towns, horoughp, and districts in England, for the total repeal of the stamp duty on Newspapers. In no one of them was the pro position of the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire ever hinted at, and such a proposition could be considered in no other light than as an insult to the people of England, and he trusted it would not be sanctioned or tolerated n that ..lratisp.÷( Hear, and laughter.) Mr. HAWES presented a petition from the Mechanics' Institution of South Lambeth to the same effect. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord STANLEY begged to ask the Noble Lord (J. ,Rus sell) whether it was his intention to bring in any measure on the subject of Church rates during the present Session. Lord J. RUSSELL said that it would entirely depend on the decision of the House of Commons as to the expediency of appropriating any portion of the Church revenues as a substitute for Church rates. The Report of . the Committee had not yet been printed, and he did not think the opinion of this House could be had in sufficient time to enable the Government to bring in a measure during the present Session. His opinion on the question remained unchanged, and if a Bill was not introduced this Session it would early in the ensuing one. Mr. lIUME said the country expected. a definite answer from the Government as to their intention, upon this question ; he did not think the answer of the Noble Lord would be deemed satisfactory to the Dissenters.—(Hear, hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL was quite aware of the anxiety which prevailed i►mongst the Dissenters upon this subject. They were already in possession of his sentiments on the question ; and he could only . repeat, that his opinion was unchanged. Lord Althorp, when he brought in his Bill, said that he could not consent to abolish Church rates, unless a substitute was found ; and, until this was provided for, no measurd could be brought in. Mr. HUME said the Deans and Chapters had money enough to form a fund for the purpose. WAR IN SPAIN. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having moved the Order of the Day for the House going into Com mittee on the Stamp Duties, Mr. GROVE RICE said he wished to know from the Noble Lord opposite, whether this country was one of the bel ligerent parties now carrying on the war in Spain ; and if so, whether we were called parties to the war under the names 'of intervention, non-intervention, or any other. Had the Noble Lord entered into any arrangements for a cartel of prisoners? Lord PALMERSTON said this country was acting under engagements entered into with Spain and other Powers, under the articles of a treaty. Mr. G. PRICE said only one part of his question had been answered. Was there any arrangement for a cartel of prisoners, case any of his Majesty's forces should have the misfortune to fall into the hands of the opposite party ? Lord PA LNIE RSTON'S answer was very indistinct. We understood him to say that of course they would be entitled to the benefit of the stipulations of Lord Elliott's treaty. STAMP DUTIES. _ _ The House then ;ant into Committee—Mr. BRRNAL in the Chair. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then rose and said, that on a former occasion he had taken the liberty of stating his general views on the subject of the reduction of duties on Stamps. To that statement the Hon. Baronet the Member for South Northampton expressed an intention to propose to the House another proposition for the reduc. tion of the duties on Soap. On that occasion, he (the Cltneell.r of-the _Exchoquer) prornised to take the stiseossion in such a shape as to enable the House fairly to consider the motion of the Hon. Baronet, and as the House had now re solved itself into a Committee of the whole House, the Hon. Baronet would be enabled to bring the subject forward. The course which he meant to pursue on the present occasion was simply to move a single resolution : It 'was expedient that the duty on Newspapers should be reduced front 4d., less the discount, to W.—this being a reso lution in Committee of the whole House. If his resolution should be carried, it would become an instruction to the Com mittee upon the Stamp Duties Bill to make alterations in the Bill accordingly. In the resolution he should pre sently move, he reserved those disputed - questions which had been matter of discussion between the Right Honourable Baronet and himself—also as to the size of the News papers, or anything of that kind. He thought that it was much better to deal with those questions separately, and to bring fairly before the House the plain and intelligible principle on which he proposed to proceed. With this object in view, and also for the purpose of affording the lionout able Bart., an opportunity of moving his amendment, he would move that the duty now payable on Newspapers should be removed, and that the future duty payable on every piece of paper whereupon a Newspaper was printed, be a duty of Id„ subject to such provisions with respect to size of the News_ paper supplement, and so on, as may be provided by any Act passed in the present session. Sir C. KNIG lITL EY then rose to move the amendment of which lie had given notice. A similar motion had been made ' by the Hon. Member fur Lincolnshire some time ago, and the only reason alleged by the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite fur not agreeing to it at that time AS, that the state of th e finances would not permit him to make so large a reduction with safety to the public creditor. He (Sir C. Knightleyl propos ed that a small portion only of the duty on Soap should be taken off, and which would in his opinion be much more beneficial than reducing the duty on Newspapers. First, it would be greatly beneficial to the farmers, as it would increase the con_ sumption of Soap, and must consequently increase the demand fur home produce, as the fat of animals was stied in its manufacture.—(Hear, hear, hear, and great laughter.) It might be said that the farmers did not require relief, and lie ( Sir C. Kuightley) admitted that they were in a more pros perous state than they had been ; but still it was only a gleam of sunshine in the midst of their distresses.—( Ironical cheers.) At one time when they asked relief to a large amount, they were told it could not be granted, and now when they asked a small boon he trusted it would not be refused.—(Opposition cheers.) He believed there was no instance of a farmer com plaining of the price of Newspapers ; while there was not a. farmer in England who would not rejoice at the duty being re duced er altogether taken off Soap. If he ( Sir C. Knightley) were to vote for the repeal of the duty on Newspapers, instead of the duty on Soap, how could he face the farmers and ask them for a vote ?—( A laugh.) Would they not point out to their daugh tecaosel , h nonuluil e ; offoidpen r rure s :ooi iyeill: n t:f ctg,ho? d aoa_ueisf fnins,e vt defe:aro . ,es i leAu v ).,‘ e n:vpli s, who could not procure clean garments on a therelas; a,letsicghrteeociah:;:.rtla.dtti)iasiinei had idteln l i,y, iol r e, i ttataroic L eipilea:e o rtvereli n slelisaet d ,un.rdm o emeiedn n eluia:g , tt,r, N i,hirl:lleti c ossial w itffibtnoi s ‘iedi.le p illaotor a tiodbm: p veial e sdilridin( r osl, s gniwbinnd t ..eey a l - cde e atice r t Eal e ifbgtilvreyl a e,i ic:bdnivnemaugi withdld ioco n a ttrrhintleoae, t th ll W ee kly Papers, and Literary Publications, down to the Penny Magazine. The reading of the list excited much laughter.] These papers were taken in in London. and after they were read they were sent to all parts of England—he fancied at a greatly reduced price—less by half. To be sure they were rather blotted and thumbed for want of Soap.—( Loud laughter.) But what did the Lo n do n papers say? Why, the Times, the Standard, the Morning Post, and the e ? " fr e o a i r n .) the Globe newspaper ( T Moroni!' Herald, were on his side of the question.—('A Hon .___(A laugh, l ) Honourable And what, he would ask , was said b y the papers on the other a u u r side—the laroner here Globe read, for a in deprecating the removal o f the Stam p D uties upon News longsta ne extract pipers.) That paper (he went on to state) was supposed to be the organ of the Government.—(Bear, hear, and loud laughter.) What, on the other hand, was the opinion of those rho were engaged in the Soap trade ? (The Honourable Baronet here read an extract from a set of resolutions passed by the Society of Soap Manufacturers, calling upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the duty on Soap). One of the argenienta used by the Chancellor cf the Excite quer was, that the penny ditty would, front the great in crease, in the circulation, pro d uc e as m u ch as the present duty of three-pence farthing.—(Hear , hear.) This would make good for 'Soap, if the Report of the Commissioners was good for anything, It was for the House to say which was the best.—( A laugh.) Ile had gone on a Saturday night to the Post-office out of cur io s it y , In orde r to see the mails, and he had frequently aeo n the m s o very heavily laden that it was dangerous to tr avel b y thorn, Ho enquired the cause, and was told that it was owing to th e i mmense quantity of Newspapers. If, therefore, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was right in saying that. the penny stamp would produce quite as much as the threepence-farthing stamp, it must follow that the quantity of Newspapers would be tre bled ; and if so, there must be a'tax raised for their convey ance. This was a tax which pressed 'wavily or t4e poor luao paying the same duty ns the rich man:— ear, hear.) IL: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the ditty 75 per cent. for the poor man, and 35 per cent. for the rich one. He asked for the reduction of this duty on behalf of the farmer and the poor maa.—( Cheers.) Ile asked the House to improve the mind of the people by purify ing the body.—( Cries of Hear, hear. ) Ile moved that the duty on hard Soap be reduced from,' Ad. to Id., and the dray on soft Soap from id. to one farthing. Mr. C. BARC L A Y seconded the motion. He felt satisfied that the proposed reduction of the duty on soap (allowing for the increased consumption that would be result of it) would not occasion a loss to the revenue of more than 122,0001., and he believed that the reduction of the Newspaper Duty would occasion a defalcation to the amount of at least 125,0001. The excise regulations on the Soap manufacturers were also so op pressive that they led to the greatest injustice, and were car ried into effect in a manner to enhance the price of Soap. ( Heats hear.) The greatest benefit had already resulted from the reduction of the duty that was made in 1833, and above all to the country manufacturers. The increase of the amount of Soap made by the country manufacturers was not less than 70 per cent. At the same time he admitted that there had been a falling off in the produce of the London and Scotch manu factures. By the improvements that had been made in the manufacture of Soap, small manufacturers could produce it as readily as those possessed of large capital ; the consequence was that a great number of illicit manufactures existed in various parts of the country. Many persons avoided the payment of duty and were thus enabled to un dersell those who paid it ; and thus the latter were often ruined.—( Hear, hear.) He certainly did not anti cipate that the reduction of the Soap Duty would afford any great relief to the landed interest. He supported the mo tion of the Hon. Baronet, because he thought that by carry ing it the honest man who paid the tax would be relieved from what he now suffered from competing with the illicit manufacturer.—( Hear, bear.) He was also satisfied that it would lead to many improvements in the manufacture of Soap, by getting rid of those regulations which were imposed in consequence of the present high duty.—( Hear, hear.) lie entertained at the same time .strong objections to the reduc tion of the tax on Newspapers. One of the arguments which had been urged by the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Ex chequer in justification of his proposition was, that it was almost impossible to put in force the Act of Parliament im posing penalties upon those who invaded the revenue by print ing or selling Unstamped Papers. He was convinced if the Government were sincerely desirous to put the law in force, arid were determined to punish those who infringed it, that they would have to contend with no great difficulties.—( Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman must be perfectly aware that every printer was compelled to put his name at the bottom of every printed sheet, and that the presser were also registered. He repeated, he had little doubt but but that the duty might be enforced ; but, unfortunately, in conformity with the spirit of the age, resistance was made to those duties which were unpopular.—( Hear, hear.) He could not help reminding the House of a Noble Lord having stated, when the Reform Bill was under discussion, that until that measure was passed he would resist the pay. ment of taxes; and also that the Honourable Member in that House had declared that if the Stamp Duty was not taken off Newspapers, he would always have unstamped ones on his breakfast table, and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might put the law in force at his peril. After such language had fallen from persons in the higher classes, it was not at all surprising that the ignorant should adopt thou and feel them selves justified in violating the law.—( Hear, hear.) He be lieved that,every person who now enjoyed the right of voting had ample means of obtaining Newspapers, either by means of public-houses or reading-rooms, which were now established in all the towns in England. There were many other taxes which it was more desirable to repeal than this, and he had no doubt that the Right Hon. Gentleman would have devoted any surplus he had to another purpose, had it not been for the cir cumstance that some twenty or thirty Members who generally sit behind the Ministerial Bench opposite went to the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and had used most extraordinary lan guage, and even threatened to withdraw their support if this proposition was not conceded to them.—( Hear, hear.) The fact was that the Newspapers which would be circulated if the Duty was taken off would not be addressed to those who had the right of voting, but to those who did not possess the elec tive franchise, and threats would constantly be made of resort ing to physical force for the attainment of particular ends, in a way which they recently often heard in that House. It had been demanded that justice should be conceded to England, and justice should be granted to Ireland ; but he would reply—yes —but when the people ask you for justice, you give them a stone. ( Laughter, and • cries of " Hear.") He concluded with seconding the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that, in replying to the observations made by the Hon. Baronet, the Member for Northamptonshire, he should not only state his objections to the amendment, but, at the same time, he shouid also give the reasons which induced him to prefer his own proposition and to recommend it to the House, and which he trusted would induce the House to sanction it. Before, how - eser, he went into the observations which he intended to make on this part of the subject, he would make a few remarks in reply to what had fallen from his Hon. Friend who had just sat down. The Hon. Member had asserted that he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not bring forward the pro position which he had submitted to the House, in consequence of preferring it, but because it had been forced on him by a certain number of Members of Parliament who sat behind him, and who generally gave their support to the Government. In reply to this assertion, he would only say that he never would make a proposition in that [louse which he did not conscientiously think would be for the benefit of the coun try.—(llear, hear.) Let there be a confederacy on the one side for obtaining the total abolition of the Stamp Duty ma Newspapers, and on - the Inner sitlC the the present duty, and instead of it a reduction of the Soap Duty, he would merely say that it was his duty to do that which he believed to be most beneficial, without regard to the consideration, whether his proposition would be success ful or not, on this side of the House or the other. The lion. Gentleman had very slightly observed what had been going 'on, if he thought that the proposition had been forced on him. During the sixteen years that lie had been in Parlia ment, he bad never met with so much abuse and obloquy, both spoken and written, as had recently been heaped upon bins by certain Hon. Gentlemen, in consequence of the scheme which he had proposed, and thus either to dis suade him from bringing it forward, or to induce him to withdraw it, and make a proposition of a very different kind. —( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Surrey had at least rendered it less necessary that he should make any observa tions on one part of the speech of the Hon. Baronet ; for he (Mr. Barclay) said, with perfect truth, that if he were asked whether the adoption of the proposition of the Hon. Ba ronet could be regarded as a boon to the agricultural interests, that he would reply that he did not, for one moment, suppose that there was any ground for such an assumption : for that lie, as a practical man, did not believe that it would give them any relief. The Hon. Baronet, in proposing a reduc tion of the duty on soft Soap, was most liberal, for no por tion of the agricultural interest could, in the slightest degree, be benefitted by it; for nearly all the soft Soap that was manu factured in this country was made from oils which were the produce of other countries, and which were imported for the purpose.—( Hear, hear.) But the proposition which the lion. Baronet had brought forward was inexpedient as a financial measure. ,He objected to it on this point , on grounds which he would very shortly state to the Committee. In the first place, the Soap Duty was a gradually increasing tax, while the Stamp Duty on Newspapers was a diminishing duty. lie contended, therefore, that lie was justified on every sound principle of finance in pursuing the course which he proposed, when he found from the finance statement on the table that the duty on Soap was going on increasing, while the productive amount of the Newspaper Duty was diminish ing.—( Hear.) He would not detain the House very loug with this p l an of the subject, but he would direct the atten tion of Hon. Gentlemen to the comparative duties on Soap and Newspapers within the last few years. He would take the years 1831 and 1835. In the year 1831, the quantity of hard Soap on which duty was paid was 109,000,00001b5. In 1833, the quantity had increased to 135,000,000,b5. With respect to soft Soap, which appeared to have been selected by the lion. Member as a special object for his protection, there had been a &eat increase in the consumption. Ia 1831, the quantity of soft Soap on which duty was paid was 9,600,0001b5., and in 1835 the quantity was 12,103,0001b5, shelving an increase of nearly a fourth in a very short interval of time. The Stamp Duty on Newspapers did not show the same result. In 1831 the amount of duty on Newspapers was 483,000/., while in 1835 it had diminished to 455,000/. This, he contended, was a very considerable reduction.—( Hear, hear.) The next element for consideration was whether they should give relief in one quarter or the other—whether they slierild give something to that to which a considerable share of relief had already been afforded, or to an article which was placed under a disproportionate duty, and which was strug gling under a heavy tax.—( Hear.) it happened with respect, to the Soap duty, that it was reduced one-half a few years ago, on the proposal of his Noble Friend Lord Spencer, who was then Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Soap duty was then reduced to the rate which was paid during the reign of Queen Anne. The Stamp duty on Newspapers was kept up to the highest amount of duty ever imposed. He, therefore, would not add to the relief already given to the Soap trade, but would give it where it had not previously been afforded. The Hon. Gentleman had alluded to the very great increase that would take place in the consumption of Soap, if his pro position was carried. Now he (the Chancellor of the Usehe. quer) was prepared to show, that no very great increase would take place in the consumption of that article, if the resolution of the Honourable Baronet was carried ; but that a loss to the public revenue would be occasioned, of not less th se 260,000/. a year.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Baronet, in order to prove this, referred to the authority of the Com missioners appointed to inquire into the operation of the Excise jaws, and which, he had pointedly urged, had been appointed by 'the present Government • and that, therefore, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) should attend to their recom mendation. But he would ask the Hon. Gentleman whether he wai prepared to assent to carrying all the recommendt.tip,ns of the gßiPtiiiitsiopprs into effect 3 and Wee especially with respect to the Soap trade ? For instanpe, would he propose, as they recernmerided, that the Soap Duty should be extended to Ireland ? The Hon, Hammes called upon the House to vote for a proposition which, he said, was recommended by the Commissioners ; but from fear of not obtaining the support of certain Irish Members to this p h r ,. o .. p , o e s o i n ti c o g i u l, s . i h ve e t a o bs t tlinc m, d in f d ro p m f saying that he would support the other recommendation, that the Soap Duty should be extended to Ireland.—(Hear.) He had, however, on this subject, in possession ments whic i l t i i he thought would Lcu othwen osTt e io m n b . er, Th w e h y o h m a i d g ht be supposed wpthipd 1 140' 1 4 4 reduction of one-half of the r ar i f t 444y,—wildf, from 3d. to lid. per lb. fie ty9,ul'd qouse to consider 'what effect this to his reduction 1 1 0 44 a 4 regark4 increase in ;he eon- sumption of Soap, .and then judgcr what would be the- eff ct in making a further reduction. Sic.ce the duty had been reduced to lid. per lb., there had been an incroa7e in the consumption of soap of about 10 ; 000,000 ib3. To make out the ca,e,, then, which had been stated by the lion. Gen tleman, he . must show that although the reduction of 11,1. a lb. duty had produced an increased consumption 10,000,000 lbs., that a reduction of a halfpenny a lb. would . , produce an increased consumption of 60,000,000 lbs. a year. He had already said that the Soap duty had been reduced to the minimum which was paid when the tax was first imposed, namely by the 7th of Anne. In 1782, the tax was increased two pence farthing a ;in 1816, it was increased to twopence half penny; and in 1818, it was increased to three pence; and in 1834 it was reduced to three-halfpence a lb., the same am,,unt of duty that was paid in the reign of Queen Anne. 'With re spect to the impediments which the excise rogulations threw in the way of the soap manufacturrrs, he had a few remarks to make. Ile should be sorry if his Non. Friend the Mem- her for Surrey suppoied that he (the Chancellor of the Exch , :quer) did not think the laws regulatinq the Snap trade did not require alteration. —( Hear, hea — r : ) He admitted that it did, and he felt satisfied that if it could be altered, it would give great relief to the trade. These regulations were only juitifiahle on the score of affording security to tho revenue, and if these restrictions could be removed without injury to the revenue it would be the duty of Government to do so. lie hoped that, if nut during the present session, at le:.st at :he commencement of the next session, he should be able to "lumina, a Bill to make certain alterations in the law as rc- larded the restrictions in this trade, as to anrd relief to the Soap manufacturers.—( Hear, hear.) There was nothing, however, in the statement of the Hon. Gentleman to justify the reduction of the duty, in the assumption that there would be an increase of consumption ; and above all, when there was another and more pressing object which required the atten tion of the House. So much for Soap—he would now pro ceed to the more material question before the House. He believed that they would then have heard little respecting the reduction of the Soap Duty, if it had not happened . both in that House and out of it there were komutemen who were altogether opposed to the rednetlon of the duty on Newspapers.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon, Member for Surrey probably entertained that opinion, a t ho c h ee r e d the observa tion. ° He believed that the fact was, that the reduction of the Soap duty had been startod against that of the Newspaper duty ; and if the latter had not been proposed, they would not have heard a word from Gentlemen opposite respecting the former. The real question they had to ask was, whether the House was prepared to agree to a reduction of the Stamp Duty on Newspapers? He asked for the deliberate judgment of the House on this subject—ho asked them to weigh well the arguments which he should adduce on the subject, and he trusted that he should be able to induce each party to give up something by allowing that the public interest required it. Ho bad to contend against two classes of opponents. He did not bring forward his proposition as a means of getting popu larity, for he had only met with vituperation and attack for having brought it forward, and with the strongest opposition from those who on former occasions originated motions simi lar to that which he now submitted to the House. The pro position he made did not originate with the view of gaining popularity, but was a giant and concession to public necessity and expediency. He thought that there would be no difficulty in showing that if they left the duty on Newspapers as it was, that they would run the risk of finding the opposition carried much farther than it now was. It might lead to a general violation of the law, and a general disposition to encourage those illegal publications. It also should be recollected that allowing things to remain as they-were would be a want of justice on the part of the Legislature towards those parties who paid the duty.—( Hear, hear.) He would address one argument on this part of the subject to both parties—to the class that objected to any reduction in the tax of Newspapers, and to those who demanded the whole abolition of it, and who objected to any duty. First, then, to the Honourable Gentlemen who objected to any reduction. He had already said that the amount of duty on Newspapers had been in a gradual course of diminution since 1831. In that year the amount of duty was 483,0001. ; in 1832 it was 473,000/. ; in 1833 it was 445,000/. ; in 1834 it was 441,000/. ; and in 1835 there had been an increase in a trifling degree, for the duty was 455,000/. So that there had been a gradual reduction in the amount of duty for some years ; and that under circum stances which he believed that any Hon. Gentleman would admit warranted the supposition that there would have been an increase. He would ask whether the education of the people had diminished, their anxiety for information lessened? —( Hear, hear, hear.) There could be no doubts as to the facts of the case. It was a matter of regret on one side, it was a subject of rejoicing on the other, that the thirst for po litical information had been greatly increased by the political changes which had recently been made. If something did not impede this species of knowledge, the amount of the tax, instead of showing a diminution, would exhibit a great in crease. In this, as in other cases, the revenue had sustained a loss, in consequence of the duty having been raised beyond the legitimate amount which should have been imposed.— ( Hear.) Gentlemen were aware that the Stamp Duty was first imposed in 1712, and was at the time strongly opposed by some great authorities. The opponents to the Newspaper tax which he alluded to were not great Radicals or innova tors, or in any way not attached to the institutions of the coma:- try m .but the great opponent was Mr. Addison, who then tilled the office of Secretary of State.—( Hear, hear.) He antici pated what was soon realized—that the duty which was pro posed to impose, and which was comparatively a high one, would lead to a decay of this branch of literature. In a paper in the Spectator, of the date of the Ist of August, 1712, the day the tax came into operation, he makes the following ob serrations :--- . " This iS - the day on which many eminent authors will pro• putrittArr. - wuras.- - r alli alTaTa ram tew or our weekly historians, who are men that, above all others, delight in war, will be able to subsist under the weight of a stamp and an approaching peace. * * * * In short, the necessity of carrying a stamp, and the impro bability of notifying a bloody battle will, I am afraid, both concur to the sinking of those thin folios which have every other day retailed to us the history of Europe for several years last past. A facetious friend of mine, who loves a pun, calls this present mortality among authors the fall of the leaf.' " ( Hear, hear.) There was still the same effect which Mr. Addison complained would flow from the tax. It might easily be shown that but for this tax there would be a much greater number of Newspapers printed and sold, and Mr. Addison had shown, in the first instance, it bad led to the same result. But did Hon. Gentlemen entertain doubts as to whether the people were anxious for the species of know ledge diffused by Newspapers.—( Hear, hear, from the Opposi tion.) If Hon. Gentlemen did, let them boldly own it.— ( Hear.) But the truth was, that they were afraid to trust the people with this species of information.—(Cheers from the Ministerial benches.) But he would not be a party to with hold it from them. The Hon. Member said that the people had already the means of obtaining the species of knowledge conveyed in Newspapers, and he said, let them go to the public-house or the coffee-shop, and they would see a great number of Newspapers of all parties for a very trifling sum. The Hon. Member read a list of papers which were furnished to a coffee-shop: There was the Standard for one party, and the Morning ( hronicle for the other ; and he heard the Lancet mentioned in the list of papers read. For his part, however, he would rather that the poor man should have the Newspap'er in his cottage than that he should be sent to the public-house to read it.—( Hear, hear.) He knew that at pre sent the Newspaper was one of the great attractions to tal;a the poor man from home to visit the publie-h0u5e,,....( Hear, hear.) If, therefore, the adoption of this preposition tended to keep the poor man at home, it would anbrd a great moral aid to the improvement of the people. He had the authority of Dr. Johnson for saying that the diffusion of knowledge amongst the people by means of Newspapers was the most efficient mode.—( Hear, hear.) He believed, however, that there had been a great deal of exaggeration on this subject. He was of opinion that Newspapeis were not absolutely ne cessary for the diffusion of knowledge—( Hear, bear, from the Opposition beneheq—and he had heard that it had been stated by parties out of doors that the diffusion of all useful know ledge was confined to Newspapers. This was an exaggeration as great as that on the other side, which said that no useful knowledge could be obtained from Newspapers. Newspapers afforded the means of diffusing political knowledge, and that of a very important character, but he denied that it was the main means. There was knowledge of a higher claret than could be conveyed in this way. There was a definition of knowledge by one of much greater influence and authority than himself—he meant Lord 114Nn--wilich showed that it was of a hi g her nature than (mould be conveyed by means of the columns Of a Newspaper : u knowledge is not a couch whereupon to rest a searching and restless spirit ; or a terrace, for a wandering and variable mind to walk up and down with a fair prospect; or a tower of state for a proud mind to raise itself upon ; or a fort or com mending ground for strife and contention ; or a shop for profit or sale ; but a rich storehouse for the glory of the Creator, ar.d the relief of man's estate."—(Cries of " Hear, hear I") Suppose that he were fur a moment, for argument's sake, merely to assent to the proposition of Honourable Members opposite —suppose that he were, for argument's sake, to assume that the free circulation of political knowle;l2e, by means of. Newspapers, was an evil, and that restrietlons ought to be put on this extended promulgation of that species of knowledge ; assuming thia, he would still ask Hon. Members —looking at the present state of the law, and the practices which wont on in spite of it—whether they thought it would be possible to keep up the exclusive circulation of what they were pleased to consider as the only sound political knowledge, by the means of high-priced Newspapers.—( Hear, hear.) Cer tainly not. On the contrary, it was well known that in the metropolis, and through all the ramificatious of trade through • out the country, an active agency was constantly and neces sal ily kept in operation for the purpose of violating the Inw. and of extending throughout the community, not Nesn o ,papers such as he contemplated, paying a Staten puty to Govern ment, but Newspapers paying tea Stamp Duty, got up, printed, published, and upon an organised p l an , by parties %V 11Q cat C4ltritlt thO express purpose of violating the law, and who in consequence of the cheapness of their (commodity suc ceeded but top generally in doing 50,--( Hear, bear.) Now, he was far from being opposed to the principle of cheap News papers but ho was decidedly opposed to illegal Newspapers, and to the violation of the law. He was opposed to them, in the first place, be c ause th e pa r ties who we7.engage, a such practices were, necessar ily, not Pers"s • or qualified to diffuse sound instruction among people ; for no man of honest principle end s co eta . the di , •'—` h q un gelf to practices involving • violation of the laws of his country. It was, how ever, a matter of certainty, that to a very large extent indeed, cheap publications of that character were diffused throughout the country, confided to the management of per sons who approached the subject with a full knowledge that_ they were violating time law, and subjecting themselves to fine/ and imprisonment ; and, moreover, addressed to a market con fined to a class of persons who were fully aware that the com- inwlity purchased by them was an illegal one.—(Hear, licar.) l'h's was a state of thin is which those who de sired to keep up the character of the Press must be most anxious to put an end to, but which was not to be put an end to by retaining Newspapers.—( Hear, hear.) He would just state to the house the extent to which this system has Iready gone. The total number of stamps taken out for English Ne ws p a p eri in the twelve months appeared from the returns t o be thirt y . six millions. Now, upon one single occasion, when the °C I. cers connected with the Stamp Office effected a seizure, they found, on the Thursday, an incomplete publication of an un stamped Newspai er, which was to be given out on the Sag turday, but which, even on the Thursday, when incompletOt amounted to not fewer than forty thousand in number.—a( Heat', hear.) Thus it appeared, that one single unstamped Nova , paper had created for itself an annual circulation of upwards of two millions, being equal to one-eighteenth part of the whole circulation of all the stamped Newspapers of the country.—( Hear, hear.) Such was the present condition of the unstamped Press. and it was understood that the pa; ties engaged in the traffic entertained every prospect of gre44 e:itending the trade.--( Hear, hear.) 1n reference to than Newspapers, he had been placed in a singularly uti‘lotunate position between the tires of two parties, one of which abused him for going too far, the other attacking him for not going far enough in his endeavours to repress this illegal traffic, Whenever the subject had been mooted he had been charged, and justly charged, if it were a charge, by Members on big own side of the House, with enforcing the law to the utmost extent against the violators of the Stamp Acts, and 'with havin g dealt out fine and imprisonment with too harsh hand ; while from the other sick of the House he hail ber, n violently inveighed against for not enforcing the law to file utmost ex tent, and for not dealing out fine and imprisonment. He could only say, that it had been his end means to assert the law, ar.- 3 protect the honest trader , by putting in force 4 !avour by every possib le P . 1 . 1. the enactments against the disho nest trader ; 1 7 . ... t he had found it quite impossible effectually to put d ',.yrn the contraband trade. In addition to these he had had another party to deal with—a party most vigilant in their ob servation of the proceedings of Government—he alluded to the stamped Press itself, who had every right to come to Govern ment and say, We paj , all the duties imposed on us by the law, and thereby contribute largely to the financial resources of the country, and we therefore require of you that you equally enforce obedience to the law upon all our competitors. With these parties lie had been in constant communication and upon the first occasion they had complained that the e fforts of Government to check the evil had not been sufficiently strenuous. He had put to them to suggest any mode confor mable with law, by which they conceived the proceedings Of the Unstamped Press could be checked both in town and country, but nothing had been pointed out adequate to. the emergency. Again, after exerting every means in theft power to repress this illegal trade, Government applied to the law officers of the Crown, stating what had been done, all asking their directions as to any further proceedingA, and were informed by these functionaries that they had alreraiy resorted to all the means afforded by the existing law for preventing the publication of Unstamped Newspapers. The law officers' of the Crown at the same time stated that the existing law was altogether ineffectual to the purpose. One of the greatest difficulties to which they were exposed wag as to the proof of the printing. The kw certainly laid it down that .the names of the printer and publisher should be affixed to every paper, but there was no guard a gainst such names being either forgeries or altogether fictiti ous, and this species of fraud was committed every day. Every law which bore upon the printing, the publishiri, and the distribution of unstamped Newspapers had been enforced with that strictness which Government considered due to the law and to the honest trader, but though many individuals offending against the law had: been punished, and many seizures made of the illegal publications, the system had n°t, been materially checked. On the contrary, th e p r i n ciple o f the system had been promoted, in consequence of the sy.ni patby which the persons punished succeeded in creating through the country in their behalf.—( Hear, hear.) fi r. Cleave, for instance, had been, for repeated violations of the law, four times fined and twice imprisoned, and what was the consequence ? :Who, no sooner was it known that be bad been amerced in the penalties laid down by the Act, than throughout the country subscriptions were set on foot., for the purpose of paying them. off. Thus, not only era the law violated, but the party violating it - was made ttle object of general sympathy and support.—( Hear, hoer.) There had been prosecutions for printing, prosecutions for publish ing, prosecutions for selling in the %bop, and prosecu tions for selling in the street; but all these efforts bad failed to effect the desired result, Not but that convictions had been obtained—not but that there had been inflicted imprisonment and fines on the persons convicted, and that much individual suffering has been the result, and had attracted much of public sympathy. Within a feW months not fewer than 110 persons had been convicted and punished for selling unstamped Newspapers in shops, and 30 0 persons for selling them in the streets, but all without pro ducing any practical removal of the evil ; for no sooner was one man put into prison for these illegal practices, than ano ther was readily found to supply his place._( Hear.) T he Hon. Member for Surrey had but to consult the records of Kingston gaol to see how the evil had been felt in that part of the country as well as every where else. Indeed, through the whole of the country, the circulation of un stamped Newspapers was going rapidly forward, for the law as it at present stood was altogether inadequate to repress the. practice. The question was then whether some means ought not to be adopted for putting an end to this state of things: Hear, hear.) In reference to the charge of remissness which had been brought against Government he. wee.' on the other side ofrho !iii.grt - mention that a fifenumber of prosecutions had been brought fe,eward by Ille present tiovernment for violations of the law in this re spect than had been carried into effect during the time that, the - Right Hon. Member opposite was at t h e head the Administration. He did not meutie,n this with any view to assume greater merit in this respect than was due to the former Administration, but merely in the desire to show th at the endeavours of the Intsent Government to repress violations of the law had been to the full as great as those of any other Government.—(Hear.) But it might be said ,‘ We admit all this, we admit that the law is not sufficiently strong t o meet the case ; we admit that you have done all that lay in you for the purpose of enforcing the law ; we admit the larg e accumulation of unstamped Newspapers ; but we tell you the remedy will not be found in the reduction of the duty, h et r i i the increased severity of new enactm en t s ."—( Hear, be ar ' Now he for one would not consent t o t a k e an y s teps towaL increasing the severity of the law, in any case where he ; lieved it would be altogether ineffectual to the purpose LI. which it was intended, and wh ere h e b e li eve d t h e sa me rest , '' would be obtained by other and b e t ter means.—(Hear, bear.) He felt convinced that while they continued to impose a d e . t ,,l ir of 100 per cent. upon Newspap ers , any i ncrease d sev ll t would be altogether ineffectual against the determined sP' l which existed among the • p arr i es w h o got up th e unstamp ed Newspapers, and the feeling which they provided for, the creased and increasing desire of the people for clezap P ,ill tical knowledge and information.--( Hear, hear.) In the I: eh which he had prepared, while it contained no the wit threw the slightest shackle on th e lib er ty o f th e Press, ° l r e was taken that if Parliament agreed to reduce the duty as proposed, full means should be given to Government el !der forcing the duty which rem a in e d, H e cou ld not but co e¢ that such a plan was the best, calculated to protect the P gh ree s who complied with th e law, and contributed to the res ult of the country, agai ns t th e e ff orts o f t h ose w h o violate d -r, ch v law. If this were a case o f an or di nary revenue charad e he felt certain that the insisti ng u p on so hi g h a rate ce to would be loudly protested against. He would now proceeded state the grounds upon which he justified the retention et , P r e, of the duty. In the first pl a c e , h e m i g h t o b serv e, that 1 1 : sk doing he was maintaining th e o ld d uty , an d bringiotf it of to the amount at which it sto o d so l ong back as tie. reig n ia t Queen Anne. The prog ress o f t h e duty since that P er in. had been, that upon the accession of George I. it'rlsis creased to lid., in 1789 to 2d., i n 1797 to WA., and to to 4d. The proposition which he h a d m a d e -in referent, these duties, had proceeded upon the maturely cons,d'7„. principle that while the continu t e uce o f th e whole of the P sent amount of duty was altoge t h er i m p rac ticable, a larg e t 7,l jority of the House would b a f oun d no t t o agree to th e ~rer epeal of that duty.—( Hear, bear.) He had, therefoTe rola. forts)d making a proposition which he was led to hope ti osit i o a jority of the House would concur in, to making a which he knew would not be supported by the " ; ( Hear, hear.) In retaining the penny stamp, he liadiliheNeici;osl dined by the consideration that it was essential to ti G,_roug:o - press to enjoy the facility of a free circulation tni_..t oU out the country by means of the post ; and to attain in' fa . jest, it appeared to him that a penny stamp was the nif_stosea vourable mode which could be adopted. If he ha d riaie the total abolition of these duties, it would have Lae' ca n re , pensable on his part to give up all idea of his pree_t; lost duetion of the duty - on paper—a reduction which u. 1" - refer desirable, not only in reference to Newspapers , but bear.) ence to the interests of literature generally.—(Hea t 4 ,_ w as. Unde r these circumstances, he had conceived tha we : n . 010 doing Infinitely better in sharing the relief bet .oce trio Newspaper Stamps and Paper, than in appropri clegriuty whole disposable surplus to the total repeal of e h a _ v A c , on Newspapers.—( Hear, ment of knowledge equally with Newspapers, an t° it hear, hear.) Books vvedr it li w ; 0 0 be doing an injustice to literature not to ca.tend_ ll that relief which would be afforded by the re_du e e_ t ; ali er the Paper Duty. In proposing to reduce the Stamp to one penny, he was not only proposition, but he was snore liberal third. those who for for b e fore. In the year 1825 his Hon. 'Friend the 1 ducini, the Middlesex had, brought forward motion foreeliad indeed t in trot singuiNla.r,:?r_otnil Stamp his on Newspapers to twopence, offewa his personal security to the then Governmen the Chan that no loss would result to the revenue from such d a The generous offer, however, was not accepte re , ccipt of the cellar of the Exchequer preferring the actual bowrve r revenue of 450,0001. a year to any contingency,‘,kmb ° er for Li excellent security. Last session the Hon. eech whicb' ooln had brought forward another proposition, t in , 'Hear, hear) those who heard it would not soon forlglce a.ra.tuments upon __in a speech contP.;ning the whole . oaftatted._( Hear. b e ar.) the subject, et'finly, but most powerfully nd cheered 1)1 dlesex, a Hon. Member for Ait 09;liOti was t° seconded by the eductioo. for the so many Members of allowing that penny o .t . te What - was the propositihoien Itiloieuistem?ov,eTC.th.dan:ptrhoepklon. enthe:, reduce the duty to one peun l yt `l ho proposition he his circulation ost. circulation of the paper b de to, by reason of the then regret that he could not halfaccetlso stated that he would tak a trig Chancellor of the .‘ro of the financee, but he l bringing forward such lie earliest opportunity himself exchequer) p had, at the tame, express dstantte for- Hear.) He had broug ble now redeemed his pledge.—( pro position which the fle:ioan.l. c , propd his desire to see Willi: position. He trusted that the House tt null admit thatilt beet' 17 because lie took that course— tda4acridlibtehre f d o i r st into effect. Yet now, bee, distinct t eo a l n n d hsapdeceixficpresse I I