The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-15 00:00:00

IMP - ERI AL PA RLIAMENT. HOUSE' OF LORDS, Feb. 14. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. HEALTH OF TOWNS. The Marquis of NORMANBY said that he wished to present-a petition, of which he had given notice, agreed to st. a most respectable meeting in Exeter-hall, in the month of December last. The subject of the bbalth of towns was one of the most im ' portant that could be brought before their Lordships, and the association, from whom the i e titiou emanated, would be most happy to cooperate - with the Government in any effort to benefit the people of England in this particular. lie had looked over the . ;report laid before that House by the Health of Towns Commission, and had extracted a considerable degree of Isla-information from the documents thereto appended. The Noble Marquis referred to the demoralising effects produced among . the poorer classes by the system pur sued of giving opium, in the shape ofcordials, to children labouring under diseases induced by the noxious atmo sphere to which they were exposed in the crowded lanes of towns and in the neighbourhood of churchyards. He felt it his duty to present the petition, and he would take the opportucity of asking the Noble Lord, whether it was the intention of Government to bring in a measure to ameliorate the evils he had corn plained of,- and to do away with burial clubs, which, as at present managed, were another prolific source of evil? If they did not do so, he certainly should take an oppor tunity of introducing such a Bill himself. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH said that the Govern ment had taken the question into consideration, and it was probable that some measure for the purpose of attaining the advantages sought by the Noble Marquis would be brought forward. Lord CAMPBELL said that no persons should be alloWed to insure in clubs such as those referred to by the Noble Marquis, excepting such as were directly in terested in the safety of the person so insured. The Marquis of NORMANBY then gave notice that he should move, on a future day, for a return of the order appointing the Deputy-Inspector of Ireland, in the MOW of the late Mayor of Galway. The House then adjourned till Monday. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 14. The SPEAKER took his seat at the usual hoar. - A messenger presented himself at the Bar of the House, with a message from the Lords; and also a messenger from the Bank of England, with a communi cation from that establishment. _ . _ Several petitions were then presented in reference to private Bills. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT BILL. Col. SIBTHORP presented a petition from several influential persons, and those engaged in trade in the town of Lincoln, praying for certain alterations in the Imprisonment for Debt Bill. LAWS AGAINST BLASPHEMY. - Sir JOHN EASTHOPE presented a petition for the abolition of all the laws against blasphemy. MEDICAL REFORM BILL. An Hon. MEMBER presented a petition from Hull, approving of some of the clauses, and disapproving of others, of the proposed Medical Reform Bill. VIE NAVAL FORCE. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the Peace Society against any furthe-r increase of the naval force. BANGOR AND ST. ASAPII. An Rom. MEMBER, whose name we did not hear, pre sented a petition against the union of the sees of Bangor and St. Asap}. TIMBER DUTIES. " Mr. G. CRAIG presented a petition from Edinburgh, praying for a repeal of the timber duties. _ AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Mr. DARBY presented prtitions numerously signed, praying for an inquiry into the causes of the present agricultural distress, with a view to its alleviation. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Mr. BUTT pres?nted a petition praying for a re lova/ of all civil disibilities pressing upon the Jews. WINDOW-TAX. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from Mid dlesex, praying for a repeal of the window-tax. INCOME AN I) PROPERTY -TAX. . Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition praying for . a revision of the property and income-tax. POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE. _ _ _ DirNeONIBE presented a petition from Mr. Joseph Mazzini, complaining that his letters had been broken oper ' and stating that, although the House of Commons h ad appointed a Secret Committee to -inquire into the practice of espionage in the Post office of Great Britain, the Members of that Com mittee had been misinformed and imposed upon; and he, on the part of himself and other foreigners, wished to know whether they were in future to place confidence in the honour of this country, or whether their correspondence was to be transmitted to foreign despots, by which they were in danger of imprison ment. _ , Several 'petitions for private Bills were presented by Mr. Buck, Mr.' Porter, Mr. Brotherton, and Mr. Ewart ; and petitions against the oppressive and unecinal influ once of the income-tax., from surgeons, solicitors, and other professional persons residing in several places in the county of Lincoln ; a petition from the medical practitioners of Bishopwearinouth, approving of the Me dical Reform Bill brought in last session, but praying for Some alterations therein ; and -a petition from the London and Country Association of soap-makers, praying fur a repeal of the duty on soap. WINDOW-TAX. Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition from the car penters of the City of London, praying for a repeal of the window-tax. NOTICES OF MOTION.-POST-OFFICE. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE gave notice that, on Tuesday next, he should submit a motion to the House on the subject of the Post-office. lie should move for a Select Committee to inquire into the manner in which the business of the Post-office was conducted, and he should also move that the Rep, rt of the Secret Committee of last year be referred to that Committee. FIRE INSURANCES. Colonel SIBTIIORP gave notice that, after Easter, he should take the sense of the House on the subject of the propriety of reducing the duties payable on Fire In , surances.—(Hear, hear.) C3MMERCIAL TREATY WITH TURKEY. - Dr. DOWRING, seeing the Right Hon. Baronet in his place, would repeat the question which he had put to hia on a former evening, in reference to the com mercial treaty with the Ottoman empire. When that commercial treaty was entered into with the Porte, an additional duty had been imposed on the import and ex port of goods,h!.lher Britannic Majesty's subjects, from the 0 toman empire, and the 4 quivalent which was given them was the abolition of the monopolies of goods which left the interior of the Turkish empire. Under that treaty an additional per centage was imposed on the imports and the exports of goods. It appeared, however, that the monopoly had not been abolished, although that was a subject on which he would not dilate. They were at that moment able to admit goods into the British empire on the payment of three per cent, on im- purtation or on exportation, while British subjects, under the terms of the treaty, were compelled to • pay 'l2 per :cent. upon exports and five upon Imports. The question which he wished to put to the Right Hon. "Baronet was, whether any effective measures had been taken to place British subjects of her Majesty, trading to the Levant, on a level with other ~ubj= eta trading to that part of the , world? *R. PEEL, said the Governinent were not satisfied . . with the manner in which the commercial treaty had beets ,carried into execution. There .were subjects of some countries which were entitled to privileges that British subjects did not possess, although there was an article in the treaty which pro vide i that subjects of her Majesty in th e Turkish empire should be upon the footing. of the most favoured nations. Of course their appeal must be made to the Porte, and at the present moment negotiations on the subject, between the Porte and Russia, were pending. ELECTION COMMITTEES. The following Hon. Members were sworn in to serve on Election Commi:tees :--Lord Sandon, The O'Conor Don, Sir George Grey, Lord G. Somerset, Mr. Wilson Patten, and Mr. Locke. THE OREGON TERRITORY. Sir. R. PEEL moved the order of the day for a Com mittee of Ways and Means. " 'On the question that the order of the day be read, • —Mr. ROEBUCK wished to give notice publicly, on purpose that it might be we:l known, that he should _ take the earliest opportunity of asking the Right Hop. gentleman opposite when be should be enabled to lay on the table of the House the correspondence between the American Government and our representative there on the subject of the Oregon territory. THE BUDGET. The Order of the Pay for going into Committee of Ways and Means was' then read; and the Speaker left the Chair, which was taken by Mr, GREENE. Sir ROBERT PEEL then rose. Ile said—Mr. Greene, although, Sir; I have had considerable expe *nee. in the discharge of official dutie4, and although I have frequently had: occasion to address this House upon matters of great public concern, yet I cannot ap proach the discus.siun :of the subject which I am now called on to introduCe without great anxiety, and ,Ithoit a deep consciousness of how imperfect and " inadequate will' be the explanation which I shall be able to give with respect to it. But though I rise under some disadvantages from the period of the year at which the statenient is made, yet, after the announcement of the speech of her Majesty, that it was intended to propose a continuance of the income-tax for a further limited period, I felt that I had no alternative whatever might h ave been the precedent under ordinary circum stances--but to submit to the House and the country, the general views of her Majesty's Government With regard to our financial position and our commercial ' policy. Sir, it will be my duty to present to the House a general view of the present fi nanc i a l pos i tion of the coun try—to make an estimate of the probable revenue, and to discuss this great question—whether it be consistent with the public interest that the present amount of expenditure should be maintained, or whether it be not right that there : hould be, in respect of some important branches of our public policy, an increase of both beyond preceding years? If the House entertain that proposition, - for the reasons which I shall adduce, it will then be incum bent on me to propose for the consid era tion of Parliament *hether it be fitting that that increased expenditure shall be met from the ordinary sources of revenue, or whether it be more advisable that that tax imposed in 1842, on proparty and income, shall be continued for a further pedal, fur the double purpose of providing efficiently THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15 1845. our military establishments •oughtto be—in the year 1792 you had 22 colonial :dependencies. ln the year 1820 you had 84 colonial dependencies, and in the present year, 1845, the Colonies, which were 22 in have increased 'to • 45: at the • present time. It is the number of your . colonies, and the dispersion. l ,of, the : forces employed _ in them,. that leads the ~. aecessftY: of frequent and imposei on you, viith! reference to: your army par= tienlarly, as distinguished from the armies of i he Con tinental . powers, ,in order to maintain the efficiency Of that force, a consideiable annual expenditure. It may be said it is not our advantage to defend our colonial empire, but I deal with the fact that you have colonies—that you mast proiide a competent' force for each, and that having a competent force, you, must have some supply flf the relief o f th e m. sir, I should be un willing—though I know our colonies ire expensive— I should be unwilling to give up :that policy which led to the foundation in different parts of the globe of dependencies animated by the spirit Of, Eng lishmen, speakingthe . English language, and laying the, foundation, perhaps,-`in future times, of important commercial States.—(Hear, hear.) Looking to our own population—looking to its numbers —looking to its en- , terprise, I cannot !ay that I think it is unwise to pro vide . au nutlet fqr that populatiOn and that enterprise. . hear, and .cheers,) And though it may be attended at times with something of expense, , you must remember, however that may be, the fact that ,you have at the present 'moment fortyfive colonies, for the militaiy defence of which you must Provide. For the service of each of these forty-five colonies you have ~ 'a force, . consisting first, of three battalions of the army, 6,500 cavalry, rank and file, and you havie one 'hundred and tWelve battalions ef - infantry, eon:, sisting, rank and Ale, of 92,500 men, and that is : the anipunt of . the British army with which you are to garrison all these forty-five colonies, with' which we are to provide against occasionally internal commotion, and the chance of foreign attack, and ter provide also for :the internal service: of the And. .this is to be effected, and i s effected, by-an 'infantry force of 112 battalions; amounting, to 92,000 rank and file. Now, what is the rule established 'with regard to relief ? The rule this. That a regiment shall remain ten years abroad, and fire at home ; and. will any one say that that is an unreason; able regulation—that it, would be desirable, for the effi ciency of the army, that any regiment in the British service shOuld remain more than ten years abroad, or that it should not ,have . the advantage: of remaining five years if home. After their return they generally arrived in sucha State that it required some years to bring them to a proper degree of health.7—(Hear, hear.) And if tier. Majesty's 'Government thought it advisable—that s it was consistent 'with true economy, with humanity and with - the efficiency of the service to reduce the military force, it would be their bounden duty to do so. What is the fact with 'regard to' the service of the regiments abroad ?' Of 112 battalions in the British service—l am now speaking Of infantry of the line—there are twenty-three' in India, fifty in the colonies, and four • ' battalions on their passage honse,. being severity-seven battalions em ployed in the • 'defence 'of our 'colonial empire You have '35 hattalions at home—not, as it is supposed, for the purpose . of restraining; but for the purpose of maintaining, the system of relief. Your • rule is five years at home; but ten • years abroad, but you have not been able to adhere to - it. The military force that Yeti have at home does not enable you to supply the demand for the necessary relief. • . No*, !et me take s • series of Years,. from theyear 1824 to the year 1842, a period of eighteen - years of profound peace—at limit, there was dutingthat 'period no general warfare. There 'vas no interruption to tranqUillity from 1824 to 1242; and the number of hattelions during that time remained the same. Now, what was the service during 'that period ? • Why,* the average • 'service ' of the whole of the battalions was ten years abroad and 1l at home, For the whole of the battalions, therefore,,thereyras fourteen years abroad and fowl 'it honse.—(Hear, hear)• • It might be said that I speak `of rank• and . file, and that there is 'necessarily 'a number of offieers ineluded.• Now, look at the effect of that. You have a number of reduced Officets, and what was the effect ? Why, in reducing their officers' yin would reduce : the regiment, and the consequence therefore was that officers must be increased. NOW,- what was = the effect with respect to services in India? There Were' twenty-three battalions in India, twelve of . them whose 'period of foreign service 'half been •-• thirteen • • years. There ' were four batty lionelti whose - perind 'of service has been unsviadit'ottiventjhieeicgoiil 'there'll ore battalion which has been on foreign "service" for twenty-three years, whieh is now returning home,' and if you allow it to remain five years at home, and send it out- again you Here o tforeign your oven for ten years, com es - back it will have fi be , e e n at t h hi o r in ty e ..th! i r , e l e o years , - ualti:n4a a l n rule o service and f five yearn at heirie and ten'abroad, years you would require no less than forty-ssven 'battalions for India. Independently of that, we havisonly thirty-five battalions at home, and I ask the :House 'whether her Majesty's Government would be acting consistently with their duty, if "after'the fiat *hieh r have stated, they recoin - mended 'a diminution of the British army? I know that 'some temporary Popularity might he gained by advising that reduction, . but When I look to the system , of • relief, 'however ' imperfect 'those principles upOe ' , Weil it it founded may be, and of the present colTle at' home which is carried into effect; I am bound to-say that,l don't think it would be consistent' with sound policy;. or With economy, to pro.: pose —considering the great importance of our vast cola- , nial empire —a reduction in the military establish ments of the country..(flear,' hear.) I hope the' House 'will excuse 'me for dwelling thus in detail , upon our expenditure, because, as I said before, I dd not feel that any prosperity justifies any intrease in the ei penditure which can be made. We propose no increase in our military 'establishments, but, at the same time, we :do not think it would be desirable to recommend to the House to diminish' the' military force* of thii country. Consequently, we propose that the vote for the army estimates in the present year shall be a iOte'of 6,600,0002, the amount last year's. estimate. I now proceed to call the attention of the House to the state of the navy, and the demand we shall feel it our duty to submit to the House for, an, increase in the estimate for it. We shall propose, in the course of the 'presnt year, an in-' crease in the number of ram serving in the navy, of .about 2,500 more than those that are now actually . employed, and of about '4,006 more men than those voted last .I• shalt make that proposal, on the following grounds account of oar' extended colonial. empire, and the new commercial interests con nected with it.. Thete is a growing necessity for pr 0.... tection of Our ' o casnaerce in almost 'every 'part of the world. Within the last few years three igreat naval .staticns have 0 1 797 n up. There is .the coast Of tbe, and; the .China ,seas. Now.. I will just compare the number of men employed in these several stations in 1841, • with the number of men we felt it our :duty - to employ; for, really we had .scarcely any option to exercise with respect to. that employment, in t4e - oourse of. the autumn of last year.. In 1841, on the coast of Africa, there were ens.. ploy.ed 690 men... -Last year, for the purpose of making a more vigorous attempt for the , suppression of the slave trade there were employed on the coastofAfrica 2,590 men. In the Pacific, in the year 441, there were employed 706 men ; in the last year. there were, and :there are at, present, employed, 2,437 nijm. In, the China seas, in ' 1841, there was only a small frigate. I believe that was previous to 'the commencement of hoitilities ; but our ordinary communications in' the -C China seas, were con ducted by. the ocatsional presence of a small frigate. Bit after the treety'which we entered into with China, there were employed : on the: coast of China . 2,605 . men. We hare' attempted to make a rediiction. Under the China' treaty there was a stipulation that we should have one vessel. for each of the 'five ports at which our commerce w as to be carried on. We. attempted :t0 redUce the number ; we: . tried to . adoPt the plan of baying 4 e4l 4.bpati, to pay ,ozcasional visits to those ports ; ,buit we. were immediately, met by' the strongest representations- from the most eminent au thorities, from' Sir floury Pottitiger and, his suo. cessor, ' Mr. Davis, earnei4ly, entreating us, in consideration of our new relations, and, of the: importance of imposing a check upon those, who formed • those- ports; and preventing any. infraction of the Chinese Uwe, immediately to dispatch an Additional force; and to convinced were 1.0. ! .0r the justness of the representations • thus. made to 14, that ~we At . . once attended to—the demand of, Sir... Henry Pottinger and Mr. Davis, and sent there • an additional ' force. Comparing the number of men on these three stations in'lB4l with the - number employed at present, there is now, an, actual increase of .about ; 6,000. men. The House will recollect what. took place last year. I need not remind you 'of the • complaints which were made, that we bad not a sufficient force at that time, but if I hact ,opporfunitY I certainly be ! Hove that I could .coniince every, dispassionate mind that we could not with safety or wisdom reduce the force that we' now have 'either in ,China or: the,' Pacidc.— (Rear, hear, and cheers) Islet,l,incleed,,that . an increase is *84.144 for any - se _Of Nit or oppression, but our commerce is greatly -extending - on - the - west coast of South America., sad it is impossible to. deny that the presence of a British vessel has a great effect in maintaining relations of peace,—(Hear, hear.) lam sure that upon those three stations alone there has been an increase in the men employed at such a distance from this country of not less than 6,000 men. You are to observe, too, that the very dispersion of your naval force has an-. effect I ke that produced by the dis persion of the army. The necessity of having: your naval force dispered over the habitable globe does, in fact.-diminish the efficiency of the naval complement at home.—(Hear, bear.) We propose, therefore, with per fect confidence in the justice of the requisition to increase the naval force of the present year to 4,040 men. The expense caused by that increase will be about 184,0001. I . do not vindicate that increase merely on the ground of fiscal arrangements. I say, without hesitation, that I think it is of great importance that this country should have the means of perfecting discipline, of improving its officers, and ofkeepin g at its command a certain num • bar of ships of the line.-L-(llear, and partial cheers.) I do not believe that it ought to give, or that it would give, any cause for jealousy, if this country should have the command of nine or - ten sail of the line.—(Hear, hear.) _ It is of great importance that we should test the quality of . vessels in sailing, and we have" no means of doing so iinlees we send - thern to sea:—( Loud cheers from Sir Charles Napier, followed by shouts of laughter, in which Sir Robert Peel joined heartily.) Sir, I am afraid that the apprObitioe of the Gallant Officer opposite, will not neutralise the opposition of Honourable Gentlemen around hini, who will not be, I fear, $d much 'convinced as he himself, is; of the necessity for the in- . creased expenditure which. I am about to propose.— (Hear, bear, and laughter.) do not propose this aug mentation of our force with stay view to aggression, but because I think it politiC that this country should have at its command .a few- line-of battle ships.—(Hear, bear.) The increased number of men which_ I mean to propose is 4,000, and if you attend, to the requisitions of our com merce in different parts of the globe, you will find that 'they will not enable us to have, under any. circumstances, inure -than ten sail of the line at our command. It is , impossible also,. I think, for this House to overlook the progress made, in the perfection of steam navigation.- , --(Heardwar.), . Last year this House sanctioned a vote for two basins. for the construction and repair of Steam-vessels—one at Portsmouth, and another at Deptforel, I shall therefore propose this year to take a vote 'for proceeding with the formation of-those basins which the House sanctioned list year. The vote I pro pose, to ask for is 187,000/.. I shall also . take a vote for the purpose of enabling us to maintain the steam navy in a respectable condition seited to a. peace establishment: Now, on ac count of . the naval service, and of the ordnance con nected With the navy, there will be an increase in the estimates of nearlyone million.—(Considerable sensation, - much murmuring, and whispers in allparts of the House.) The works connected with the ordnance department have not been recently pursued with 'sufficient vigour, and we must., at all events, keep those fortifications and works which exist in an ordinary state of repair. The estimate I now present of the total expendi ture 'of the present year is as follows :—The , charge for the Debt, 28,395;000/, the charge for the Consolidated Fund, 2,400 0 0001, making a total of 30;795,0001. The vote of supply for the army, 6,678,000/., for the navy, 6,936,0001., for the ordnance, 2,142,0001; for the miseellaneous estimates, 3,200,000 L, being together, 18,895,0001, and added to the charge for the debt of the Consolidated Fund, 49,695,0001., for the revenue of next year I will take 51,100,0001. The charges for the present year, 49,690,0001 And, even with this increased expenditure, there would be a surplus on' the sth of April, 1846, of between one and two millions. ' An jinx. MEMBER on the Opposition benches—The half-year's income-tax ? Sir ROBERT 'PEEL—Of course the half-year's in conie.tax: I am not now estimating the permanent ex penditure or the country. am. stating - what would be the State of the finance of the 'country on- the sth 'of April, 1846.—(Hear, hear.) • It is quite clear, that if' the income-tax 'were nOt • to • 'be renewed, unless- • there should be some considerable in crease the public. revenue - from other sources, there would probably be- . a deficiency. I have-thus at tempted to lay before the 'House the present financial Condition of the country, and-estimated therevenue to the sth of April next, and for the year ending the sth 'of APril; 1846,-; and I have also laid'before the House wh4 amount-of expenditure her Majesty's Government, with a provident - care to the public interests, will feel it their diity to recommend to 'the House. The next. questbn - that arises is--and it is a niost important restinripr thi• ion,roo.ao of ompooditgaise 11- 10.9 t. ,provided' •for ? Will - you run the . risk of -curtail ; ing the revenue for- future year?; by making no provision-for the future, and because that in 1846 the revenue will admit of- increased expenditure, we should . postpone the 'consideration of future wants nail they come upon us. Her Majesty's . Governtnent did • not' consider they would be doing 'their duty by acting with such disregard to the . future condition of the country. I know it does not ConduCe to popularity.to propose a continuance of taxation, but-it is the duty- of a Govern ment tol consider the prospects of-the future, as well as the present exigenciesof thecountry, 'and if they are satisfied that thepubl:c interest demands a continuance _of:taxation, even though it may be unpopular, it be; comes their duty, respectfully to. .submit to consideration a proposal on - that important • subject. We are now in -Iduced to propose a continuance of the property-tax for a further periOdotrid before I aided to ask the assent of this IlOuse: or any Gentleman in this. House,- to that pro-: , posal, - I "feel it is absolutely necessary that I should ' :explain; as I shall now proceed to do,' what. are the views her Majesty's Governmentwith respect to the appro ‘piiiition of the surplus revenue r which will be placed at ' 'their disposal; after fully proViclng - for 'every exigency' of the , public service I . know, well; as the Noble Lod apposite stated the other night, that 'it is impossible- to give an opinidii upon . .the question, ' abstractedly,- can . the 'property-tak be continued - or not, with. out: knowing what -are the meaauree in respect of relief from taxation, which would • follow as -a conse quence of its CoittinuedimPOsition.' Let. me assume, for the, present—arid I merely assume it for the pur .pose of argument, and to make my state nient more clear—let - me assume, I repeat, for the . present that the House has' granted - the continuance of 'the Property-tax 7 I will then give a short' estimate of * the revenue arising &On it, together with other sources. - Suppose the propertptax to be continued, the estinsat'e of the revenue 'for - the 'next 'year on the stli*, of April, 1846 - , aided by the ' 5,200,000 L of the property-tax, will be 53,700,000/. and as long as the other . sources of the revenue remain' equally pro. 'ductive, and as long . as: the pioperty-tax is continued; 53,700,000/., subject to 11. reduction of 600,000L,' will be the amount of the revenue. This 600,0004' ' ,is the. :amonnt received as Ch inese money ; it will be receiv e d f or one year more, but . for . the purpose - of calculating the revenue, ,L had better strike it out altogether. The re * venue for, the year, then,„ on the sth of April, 1846, will be 53,106,0004 . The charge for the . debt, and on account of .the different breaches* of the ',public 'service- - ; will 49,690,0004 ; so that there would be left, as long as the income , lax. .should :be continued, .and • deducting the Chinese money, a nett . revenue of 3,409,0001 ; That is the surplus that will remain if the House should aCquiescein the .proposal which I shall make to increase • the expenditure in the navy, and if they shall also de ' ‘terini,ne.,that the income-tax shall be continned. Now it & /m ost important matter, for .consideration, in what .mods' that surplus, or ally part of that surplus,-shall be employed for the relief of taxation: What are the in deponents in the way of the increased efficiency of the public service, and of the diminution of taxation, whi c h I hold :,out to the House - of COnnions as a motive to induce them to consent to thacontinuancoof the income tax.? I should not propose to the House the continuance of the in:come-tax unless I had the strongest presumption,' partly t foeuded on the experience of past years, that it will. be competent to the House of Commons, by continuing the. indome-tax, 'to make such arringenients with respect to general taxation, as,shail be the founds; tion of great. future commercial prosperity, and shall materially add to:the coniforts even of those Who shall be callel on to contribute to the incoine.4ex.--;-(1-tear.) When, the qnestion is, having a considerable sur plus, to determine how that surplus can be most efficiently employed, the question becomes one worthy of the most iniportant and serious cOnsideratiori. In the first place, we must consider the clittm's which may be - urged in favour of a reduCtion of taxation on- account Of the heaviness with which certain imposts press on ar ticles of consumption.—(Lond cheers.) We have also to consider what taxes prese on the raw materials which constitute the staple of the'manufactures of the country. .We are also_ hound to consider what* taxes cause a grist increase in the . establiihmentis necessary for their col lection, and what are those taxes; the remission Of which Will enable us to diminish our establiehmenta, so as . to enablens to reduce our expenditure. * We are bound' also to consider what are those taxes the removal of which will give more scope to commercial enter prise, and occasion an . increased demand for labour. (Cheers.) I will not say which of these considerations ought- to be the most predomi nant—all - ought to -occupy our- - serious attention— all are- of the very greatest importance. If we . receive the sanction of the House for the con tinuance of the income-tax, we shall feel it to be our duty to ' make a great experiment with respect to taxation, and we shall hope that the general prosperity which will result therefrom will con tribute to fill up the void caused by the cessation of taxation. We do not propose to maintain any material surplus of revenue over expenditure, confident that, whatever may happen, this House is -- determined -to maintain the- public credit. ---.(Loud - cheers.) We have determined to recom mend extensive reductions in those taxes which, in our opinion, press more onerously on the community than the income-tax, I first propose to take those taxes which are imposed by the Customs duties, and I shall submit to the consideration of the House, on that point, what are the views of her Majesty's Government in re spect to a reduction' upon the duty of sugar.—(Loud cries of " Hear,' hear," from both sides of the House.) The House will recollect that upon this subject last year an arrangement of a temporary cha racter was made, by which sugar, the pro duce of settlers who used free labour, was admitted into competition with sugar the produce of foreign free labour. There was no reduction proposed to be made upon British free labour sugar.; but a proposition was made for the achnisiion of sugar_the produce of foreign free labour, which has induced her Majesty's Govern ment to call attention to the subject of the sugar duties generally, with -the view to proposing a reduction in them.--(Hesr, hear.) The amount of a discriminating duty proposed,. by which to admit foreign sugar, the produce of . free labour, was 10s. 6d. ; and her Ma jesty's Government now propose to . admit to, general competition sugar epon the terms to. which allusion was •made last session.--(1 - lear, hear.) We also propose the admission to competition of sugar, the produce of free labour in our colonies, upon the same terms as sugar, the produce of free labour, in those foreign countries with which we_ now have what are called those " reciprocity treaties " that have hereto fore been made: (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I beg it may here be understood that I do not now wish to •pro yoke discussion upon this subject—that would , be much better reserved_ for a distinct' discussion upon this subject—(Hear, hear)—but it is important that I should make a general allusion to it in my present statement. The discriminating duty proposed to be established Mit session was, on free-labour. Britisliplantation sugar, 245,, and 5 per cent., and that upon free-labour foreign sugar, 345. and 5 per cent , ; which would produce, upon the former, a total amount of duty of '2ss. 3d., and on the latter .of 355. 9d. But, in , the reductions pro posed last _year, it was proposed to establish a higher discriminating rate of duty on free-labour . foreign sugar than. we conceived bore a fair proportion to cblo -nial free labour' sugar. Therefore her Majesty's Go- Vernment came to the conclusion that the circumstances under which the foreign countries producing sugar by free labour, and those of the colonies, were not such as would render such alteration expedient. We stated'at the seine time that a classification, if it were possible, which would apply to our own sugar as well as foreign sugar, might be well worthy of consideration. Several gentletnen who spoke on the other side of the House contended for pressing the establishment of it, 'if possible, between the grosser and finer kinds of sugar. He had communications' with official persons conversant with matters of this kind, and they certified that it was pos sible, with regard to our own and foreign sugars, to es tablish such a discrimination. We propose, therefore, with regard to all sugars except the produce of our own • colonies, to make this reduction. In respectof brown Mus . covado sugar, which is now subject to a duty of 255. 3d.oie • propose to make a reduction of 1 ls. 3d, and to reduce the duty to 145.--(Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) With regard to Muscavado sugar, that reduced duty will apply to all British plantation sugar—to sugar the proclude of the Mauritius—to sugar the produce of our West Indian'Coloniea ; and with regvrd to the prodube of those districts in British India, with regard to whibh • a different rule now applies, we propose, in the case of those 'districts, to retain, the same relative pro portionate duty, and that ditty shall be 18s. Bd. This is applicable ' to' those 'countries of ' India whiil are permitted to - import sugar. We propose that the 'amount of protective duty shall not exceed 9s. 4d., and the duty on free labour -sugar will, therefore, .be 235. 4d. •: Of course, in.countries with whom existing treaties are in feiree, we cannot depriie them 'of that which it their right. With regard to white, or clayed • sugar; or sugir whichby ' some process is made equal to cloyed sugar," We propose that the duty on Bri -tish• Plantation' East India Sugar shall be re duced from' 255. 3d. to 16s. 4d., and that the duty on sug... imported from India, or those parts of India from 'which sugar may • be imported, shall be : 21s. 9d., and that the duty on free labour ' foreign sugar—that is cloyed-shall be 285., thus retaining thewhole amount of discriminating duty which last year 'was 105. 6d., but applying it in a different manner, giving 9s. 4d, protection on Muscovado sugar, and increasing the protection to 1 ls. 4d. on white sugar. "The amount - of discriminating duty would remain the same as it was hist year. The duty on molasses we propose to preserve in the same proportion, It is necessary that I should make the intentions of -the Go vernment well understood. Without going into minute details, 'reserving them for consideration when the sugar duties come 'under the attention • of the House, we proposelo make a further reduction on' refined sugar. We propose on refined sugar that it should be imported at.. a duty of, 145., instead of 18s. Bd., and that double_ refined__ sugar should be imported under' a-. duty of 2 is.; the 14s. including the 5 per cent. Now, it , is important that in the present statement I should state the probable amount of sugar to be derived frona the possessions of 'this country abroad. For the purpose of 'obtaining information • on 'that subject, we have applied to 'four independent sources for the purpose of obtaining an estimate of the probable supply of sugar for the next year, and I, will now read to the House, with . its, permission, the estimate- that have been formed. 76 stock of" sugat on hand on the lst of January last was 45,000 tons, and the estimate made by the Customs of the probable production of the British India plantations is as follotvs :L—Froin the West Indies and the West India colonies, 135,000 tons; from the Mautitius, 40.000 tons, ; and from . British India, '70,000 tons, being the . supply of sugar in the present year, independent of the stock on hand of 245,000 tons. I trust that' there may be reliance placed on this statement, as it has been procured from the best sources of information. The first of the other authorities which we have consulted, calcu lated the produce of British plantations at-140,000 tons the Mauri Liu s at 40,000, and Britishlndia at 70,000, making a total of 250;000 tons.' The second party consulted has not even so flattering an account. They have estimated -the produce of British Plantation sugar, at only 12,000 tons, the Mauritius ' at . 40,000 tons,. and . , British • India ' at 70,000 tons, making an estimate of 230,000' tons. The fourth esti - mate formed independently, as I said before of any communication, is that with regard to British plantation sugar. The estimate 'for British - plantition sugar is 130,000 tons„ ; Mauritius 40,000 tons, British India 65,000 tons—making a total of 235,000 tons. The lowest - of those estimates is 230,000 tons,' and the highest is 250,000 tons. If yog add the highest to the stock in ' hand, that gives a supply of 295,000-tons ; and if you take • the lowest, it will give a supply of 275,000 tons. We consider that the effect of the reduction upon sugar will be, on the whole, a reduction of duty, so far as duty is connected with price, amounting to I.ld. per lb„ or not qnite'so much as lid. But if you add other charges that accompany a high rate, of duty, we think the full effect of the reduction of the duty will not be much short of lid. per lb.— (Cheers.) • Because as the duty increases there are charges incidental to that increase. Now I will give, as is • -my-duty, the best estimate we can form as to the pro bable loss to the revenue which will _arise from that pro- . posed reduction. As 'I said before, we calculate, indepen dent of any supply of free-labour sugar—we calculate on a . supply •for improving the stock in hand of at least 275,000/ for the Present year:: The greatest amount of consumption, I believe, has not been more than 207,000 tons in any one year.' We think it is probable that the effect' of the reduction of 'the ditty may lead to an increased consumptiott of perhaps 43,000 tons, making a total probable inerease—of course - these estimates must be general ; but we think the probable increase of the consumption of sugar, in consequence of the reduced duty, will make a total not much short of 250,000 tons. The .consumption of, British Muscavado sugar to the extent of 160,000 tons,. at 14s, would, give 2,240,000/. The consumption of clayed •sugar to ' the , 'extent of 70,000 ' tons, would give a revenue of 1,140,0001. ; foreign free Muscovado sugar, 5;000 tons, at 235. 4d., will give a revenue • of 116,709/. ; of Cloyed; or equal to - cloyed, '15,000 tons, at 285., would give a revenue of 450.000/. As I said before, these estimates are very ' general, ,but supposing them to approximate to the truth, the, consequence would be that we shall receive from the duty on tingar, in consequence of the reduction, the sum of 3,946,000/. The revenue derived from sugar in the last 'year was 5,216;0001. There will therefore probably be a loss in the next year of very , nearly 1,300.000/.—(Hear, hear.) Now, postponing any discussion on the subject of the engiar duties until the period when it will come imme diately. under consideration, I proceed to enumerate the other 'duties of which we shall proposte,is a consequence of the cotjnnance of the income-tax, the ;eduction or the extinction„ It will be recollected • , that, whe n tariff passed, in the yelr 1842; there -o,ere duties still retained upon .xuorts from this exports either of •raw matetiaL - ., or inanoiaettited 60' so nearly approaching raw materials i4at - could scarcely be, distinguished 'front+ them. A / si) 'i4 same time it,will be remembered that We 060%4 generally the duties on exports. They were 14 1 e bel L e t, with the exception of a few. articles, such, for insu as china-atone, and some others of the .same descrensoi We propose to adopt, - asa general rule, export duties on all articles of. his nature, and fr° 1 1.,,0 application, of that rule we dOnot propose to e xcept '' ,l4 for consumption .--( Hear , hear, and cheers froin r be Opposition.) 'I shall, throughout this reduction.: or. entirely indifferent to any temporary triumph --(I hear, and cheers from the Ministerial benches o „ I , e ti my Right Hon. Friend will do that which we hel= e " . be, our duty, without caring fur such considet But, applying this general principle to exP er , t o every description, we do not think it would he wi t i b e ipt exempt coal from its operation.—(Hear.) We ; i f °, 01 1 that it will be an important principle to estahu s-' k ti• the abiditio with respect to all exports there shall be no dn / /i p le. able—(Cheers)--and in establishing th at Pri'ioto we think that coal ought. not to be the 5 the exception. I am bound to say. also, that revenue derived from coal has not equalled our e % P t :/ t ot tions. We calculated upon an amount of event theteduction, of about . ! 60,0001 ., whereas the net „ 0 001 received in the last year has. no t . exceeded 12 0 c ). o r The export of coal bas been impeded in rouseqn Oil the combination between the coal proprietors, an";„ett has been the main •cause why the duty on the (lopo i has not been equal to our , expectations. But G e odes test my unwillingness •to make coal a n ex 00 upon the ground of its .unproductiveness , but be o' principle which I have stated, that there she' d " ir ;P I duty on exports.-.--(Hear, hear.). An d o ust A' c ol after having removed, the borden to wh i f h t ' ld in its export to 'foreign countries is now stlkt ec to the trust that the proprietors of coal mines will O n ~„4.40 ' people of -this country the full advantage of that Lion—(Hear, hear)—for there is, an impressiot:tbert not know whether it is well-founded -or not -- 70 tes t is a very general impression that the price of or i to the metropolis and other parts of this ce n uetr ieli higher than the price of coals sent to foreign C° 0 0( 1 / 4 1 If that be so, there could be no greater or more P o - o f justification for the imposition and .continnanns'bo co!' export duty on coal than the corabinatioe of 10001 proprietors to obtain a greater price from th e h s ; e ct oP , of her, Majesty than IS demanded .from the sel c the foreign powers.—(Hear, hear.) I do not th ln lit ootr there could be a. greater "argument 113 E s e , ( prie len , poly than this combination amongst the P', l :" e refri of coal mines.—(Hear, hear.) 'I trus t y 03 e0 1° that this voluntary abandonment by the Gover n d of the tax which has been so much comPlsinneoodtd these proprietors will be met by them in a C °l.re h 4 e ar •Vi f spirit.—(Hear, hear.) I hope we. shall en/ doloO.re" longer of two prices—one for the foreigner , en ollite: for the Englishman.—(Hear, hear.) I trus t we / r o o no more of combinations to restrict the suPPIY ° to cessary an article, and to raise the price. wha t Mr. HUME, and other Hon. Members-- v. - amount ? • 00° L b bd • Sir R. PEELL--I have- said that it is 1 213, „ 0 , believe I should bay, - more correctly, 116',°v„,, Icy Sir, is the loss which we shall have in gi"7:logi s ,) export duty on coals. I come now to the O r ; _ .,ot on articles of raw material used in mana fee/u amount on these is very small: I de re g bich Gentlemen have- 'referred to the paper " Or e ' o , laid upon the table preparatory to -the lion •of the tariff. The list of -. a rticles t7 e , ob e li merated as subject to export duties ine ln o , le j o 813 items, and the whole amount tag di r upon • them is about 405,0001. or 41 " ti o ' tt considering the policy of altering fixed d.,,,,c00s terial question will arise—namely, whether I . expedient to abolish the duties altogether+ , ° ,, r etint e d would be desirable to retain some nominal o isie'i e ct the purpose of protecting and ensuring th e ac e i s ;ti a small , revenue ? We have given t'octilt , ts great . deal of consideration. It is" a i d. n eori /Ir a' an, important one. It would be absolutelol t y in any event, to retain' s' portion if we W e/ 14, v quire into the import of foreign , articles ; i t, purpose of obtaining statistical information, the el i t very important to ascertain the weight and ~,j Obt4 ties of thi‘ articles imported, and next , to ge . " oo Iw o ( the possibility of •fraud , hy the' articles / r ee l ,t duty is ' 'coming in as artinl es s eol duty. But, upon the whole Sir, we ho l s i t aegi 'the opinion that it would be desirable." - r et . % o g power of examination--retaining the pow er b oo l : o t timing the quantity and weight—we tbint,, - Cteatt a great reform of this kind in the rest . of e" - 0 1106 e a r duties, it would be better to abolish dut ies es r, r than to maintain them.---(Loud cries of " l e ; 03 61 11. 0 from the Opposition benches.) Retaining Ace one. don for the purpose of ensuring vigil° met hie' part of the Custom-house officers i n / RV . it ing the weight and quantity, Been s if o rrto —(Hear, hear.) But if that duty n otoe6,J ought to be, merely a nominal duty, it ne e ,' 01 it o tb' us that the Collection of a merely amain"' , b 0 00 8; bl give that incentive to the vigilance of Cnstp.et ; le ir c / 0 oers, as if the duty were of Considerable etne n ,,, t v abolishing the duties altogether, we s liouldir b 0 0 4 gl great number of troublesome accounts, w hlc coc tiP of ' kept if any duty be continued. If fraud he P p ole i ot e ols Appeal musk _ be made to the House,,far tl s tel establishing new precautions ; but I tau ` v , o . the l c; ci experiment • should be made of abolisbt pots tans, altogether (Hear, hear) -- retaining t"- tha t examining into weights and quantities, O m pr e :, it deal information should be had, and taking titles ac' dons against the importation of -dutiable 0 gr e/ e te' they were- duty free: Observe, it will b e o , of Sl s commedation to dispense with the ou st as o od housing • which . prevails in lion_ dn h %olog as in' other towns and cities—nr ce ry 4 ; co l t' `where the amount • of duty '•°. ,o 0 Upon the whole, not being very confi" e i r /atilisti t reetnesa of our calculations, we do feel i& . fbieb /18 3 vise the House to try the experiment' " net on oo tt/ *last year 'with ` respect to foreign /v h - ;;1 P 14 (01 01 ,, ' admit those articles to which I 13- 4 it is refer without any dUty. lam assure to - re e ° d e necessary, that the House will not refits! bor . ) i some of these duties.:L(Cries of " ded e p ot ei *articles on which we propose to ahnli s ",. raW the s° , be those generally which . are t , list ef,WOl rials of our manufactures. The .1 o at 0 011 / articles contains 430 specific Retest lin o ry ije l f will be printed, I do . not think it ref theep; such a trespass , on the patien ce of th as to read' over ' the whole e the . 44 )0 ( i think it therefore • '_bett e r to re / P ° Iw be r° nute consideration of theie articlestotet 'articles ; but I may state that the so / h' e t bo o ; 'articles that will be absolutely sweP t 000", tariff will be no less than 430. Thes e w ilos ,Ol y i e j, o 'fibrous materials, such as silk, hemp, tol d _.„. • tegi s o it g e , ll be admitted at a nominal duty ; the tO Y different kinds. I propose also W et o 4os lls ofit furniture woods. A great -demand is Vh iet .)---bier . : country for our cabinet-making--(ritgooedlo or was highly advisable to encourage. ( vie d e 30° 3 • The amount of duty at present J wel , W . ol d tide is very - low, "'and we_ on 51 3 °;psir e fi rule may be applied to it. will be eita Octl/ vegetable manures 'the duty ~e du ty r eg e d abolished.. We propose to remove er ore, 00,‘",e0 minerals, with the exception of coPP ie st e e d, to which an arrangement was ni nde . o - 0 0 ire ° b o lisb b o worked exceedingly well. The would be swith ere in the first stages of manufacture „.eiversallP,,,hire .IMtron all dye-stuffs and on drugs e L ex i o us. exception of some that= were very hieb ,on °ft..; P le 1I some other articles with respect !o r " wil l not ...'died derations, this total removal el . n . /1 7 1w We ll .1)1 7 ,, ;. do not 'propose materiallywe Wm! . tc , w tt increase estimated awe c ours e 1 0 n e s ro the general principles Wil . i . c with r e g ard bas ' bee r/ to the . timber duties. bhi:cro.fiouti t nt lier e tfro 11 .; : te bt ; e 1. - ; great. article • of foreign „r Batt ' tit , ill tni pori , per . recently a large increase In tn. elideau,Y be 1 1(Ii , cir o shortthate ve e ventually, t i u m ao p i r . w t is ht ah increasing.te had f received for timber 'dtities du e l There ° wh ich r e 0 1 year is not far short of 950,0 u tuber du ties ' he ge' e of category of the timber 'do,tlc3ost' cl eilbe t r , ' 3 te eni° e o ptincusipaercairatligclreo,uinn.drse,laatnidonwtohiteh;_;Lke; initeooun t o tib f e : coorot :c o l r e eir:l; In read'half tbeC°°neeb ,it s i tai c e ht s o. . ht,h W vi es 6.Bbll.:ebeajnyiteeptgrei;_sveewnneteco.,vou_s_ao andbee for:rot rie.ore jof and we do think that they har7 ant l xeit ipte: e cO ofin e `o; liar hardship, entitling the . m . touf fat , s h o o' pr ,figi rd ,sof c to on an article, which, in P° The Th e cooP erl ._ eta as an article Of raw Material ~„c ee 01:, p oseY to , been gradually failing. a i rs e tave r'l the y 1 0; 0 _0 6 f e is sessions, in the export o _ roe : the st ool 1%, a formidable competition _ .1.43 , our _, OO , J t v of The United States now , u 1 r erts at. India colonies • with this ll n in P enns oqu.e e l if it1.1 1. 1 ;0 1 trade of the cooper, to°, been n isterl oolO ije tbi re i failure in our fisheries, ho w ma y be et y aTnheardauctlye of f td w u m p a o te n s ria te ve used s ' thniul_ueofiroliatisfacr,ise. arn per cent. He corlaidfled, for the exigencies of the public service, and for enabling Parliament to reduce and to relieve the people from those taxes bearing more immediately on the industry and commercial enterprise of the coun try.—(Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) Sir, I am convinced that this House will fully appreciate the magnitude of the task I have undertaken ; and that whatever be the difficulties which may arise from my in adequacy to discharge that task, I am sure those difficulties will not be aggravated by any want of indulgence or attention on the part of the House. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I shall attempt on this occasion to lay before the House, as fully and as comprehensively as I can, all those considerations which appear to me to form the elements of its future determination. I will not enter into any state ments or make any observations connected with past party considerations.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Nothing shall fall from me that can prevent any gen tleman from exercising a dispassionate judgment unin fluenced by mere consideration of party. I know that I must necessarily touch upon subjects which have been and will be made the subjects of fierce political contention, but I shall postpone these subjects until some future period, and I shall now attempt to lay before the House its present financial position, and explain the views of her Majesty's Govern ment in respect of the course of policy they intend to pursue. I will, in the first instance, begin by referring to that estimate of finance and expenditure of the country which was given by my Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he last brought the subject under the consideration of the House. My Right Hon. Friend, speaking at the latter end of April, 1844, calculated that the revenue for the current year—that is, the year ending the sth April, 1845—would amount to the sum of 51,790,000/. My . Right Honourable Friend calculated the expenditure at 48,643,0001, leaving an estimated surplus of 3,147,000/. That calcUlatien, however, was disturbed on the one hand by an estimated reduction of taxes to the amount of 400,000/. I allude to the wool duties, and to the duty on glass, which were removed at a subsequent period of the session, but on the other hand credit was • taken, or a demand was made, for 400,0001. on account of the China expenditure, which vote it is not necessary to refer to, because that will not affect the calculation of my Right Hon. Friend, be cause there is a saving on the one hand balancing the reduction on the other. My Right Hon. Friend stated at the same time, that in consequence of the postponement of the payment of 700,0001 the surplus would be reduced, and that the real surplus would be 2,373,0001. That estimated surplus was, in point of fact, in making the account of the sth of January last, very considerably ex ceeded. It will appear by reference to the 'document of the state of finance and expenditure of the sth of July last there was a surplus of 3,357,000/. In stead of 51,790,0001., the sum calculated upon by my Right Hon. Friend, the amount of net receipts of revenue on the sth July last, was 54,003,0001. This increase of revenue arose chiefly from the in crease of receipts from the customs. Instead of 21,500,000/. of Customs revenue, as estimated by my , Right Honourable Friend, the actual receipt was, on the sth of January, 22,500,000/. The Excise, which was taken by my Right Hon. Friend, at 13,000,0001., produced ' on that day, 13,308,0001. There was some money received under the treaty with China, amount - ing to 385,0001, for which my Right Hon. Friend had not taken credit, but the result was, on the sth January last, an income of 54,000,0001, instead of the esti mated income of 51,795,000/. The expenditure on. the sth January, 1845, had been, on account of Debt and Consolidated Fund, 32,862,0001., and on account of the payment then made for the army and navy and other public services, 17,784,0001., making a total expenditure of 50,646,000/., and leaving a sur plus, as it appears on that account, amounting to 3,357,000/ —( Hear, hear, and cheers.) At the same time, although that is the actual account, as ap pears on the sth January, yet the House will be naturally anxious to have an estimate of the account as it will probably appear on the sth of April next. For the period of which I am speaking, I am of course bound in a matter of this kind to give an estimate rather than a positive statement, but certainly I have every reason to apprehend that the balance, comparing the actual re ceipts of revenue within the year on the sth of April next, with the expenditure, will amount to a sum of above 5,000,0001 for the year.— (Cheers.) The ac-, counts, to any one cursorily reading the papers which had been presented to the House, might appear rather confused, on account of the ar rangements which are necessary to be made in difforpnt quarters for the payment of the public creditor. At one period of the year, taking the year ending on a particular day of one quarter, the charge. for the Debt will appear considerably more than the same charge for another year terminating on the same day of another quarter. I cannot trouble the House with the accounts in detail on that point, but I think—taking the estimates as they are ready to lay before the House —I think the House may calculate upon our being in possession, on the sth cf April next, of a surplus of revenue received during that year, as compared with the expenditure, of, at the very least,five millions.—(Chtert.) Now, I know my Right lion. Friend states that that will not appear on the face of the accounts. For in stance, 2,000,0004 of money have been applied to the pay ment of Bache quer-bills, on account of the opium compen sation. I do not wish, however, to deal to-night with the intricacies of accounts. I wish to state to the House What is our real practical position with respect to finance, severed from all questions of annual account ; and I think that I am justified in stating that such has been the improvement of the revenue, apart from the property- tax, that the surplus which I have stated, viz., a surplus of at least 5,000,0001, will be the surplus of revenue this year as compared with the last.— (Hear, hear, and cheers.) A part of that receipt of revenue is made up from temporary and casual sources. I am now speaking of the actual re ceipt of revenue within that year. About 385,0001. Will hare been received on • account of Chinese money ; there are other small sums from the South Sea Comps.ny ; and, taking them altogethtr, perhaps the whole amount received from casual sources will be 500,0001., which we cannot rely on permanently. Of course a portion, and a very considerable portion, of the revenue is derived from the income-tax, which has produced 5,190,000/. If it had not been for the receipt of the amounts from various casual sources, and for the receipt on account of the income-tax, the revenue, which in that case would be.derived from ordinary permanent sources, would not quite equal the expenditure. I think the best course which I can now take is, to submit to the House the estimate which has been pre payed by my Right Honourable Friend and my self, of the probable receipt of revenue in the next year. I have no right to assume that this House wilLsanction the continuance of the income-tax; and I think, therefore, it will be better that I should, in the first place, estimate the revenue, supposing the House should determine not to continue the income-tax. We are disposed to estimate .the receipt from the Customs in 'the year ending the sth of April, 1846.-1 will lay before you the best estimate I can form of the probable receipt up to the sth of April next year, and I am now going to address myself to the prospc..cts of the coming year—that year which will terminate on the sth of April, 1846, as I before stated,— the receipt from the Customs in this year, on the sth of April, may be taken at 22,500,0004 There has been a very large receipt Ori account of the duty on the import of foreign corn ; but, independently of that, the . revenue from the customs has been very large. The experience of past years would induce us not to calculate upon'a,succession of one productive year after another. Looking, therefore, to the probability that • the corn duties of the - next year would not be ‘ equal,„ to ,what they averts last ,year, and bearing in mild that last year was very pro ductive in the Customi' revenue, T am not inclined to take .the. estimate 'of. the CuSteme revenue for the next year. at moro than 22,000,000/. ; and then the Vicise revenue, which was estimated at 13,000,000/. for the past years, reached 13;300;0001. sine, therefore, I feel niyself- warranted in estimating that branch of revenue for the next at thirteen millions and a half, because for some thee there has been a progressive increase in the Excise revenue ; and we find, by experience, that the Excise revenue recovers more slowly from depression than any other branch. The Excise returns less rapidly than the Customs after a period of depression. But ex perience leads us to believe, that where improvement begins in the- Excise-, it goes on progressively ; and I therefore , feel that I , am warranted in estimating the Excise revenue for the year ending the sth of April, 1846, at 13,500,000/. The stamp-duties produced in the last year 7,100,0001-; and the taxes — that. is -to say the land-tax and the. assessed taxes — produced :4,200,000/. Then, with , respect to the 'Vest -Ace, I . feel warranted from the in . c l m a re si s e y e efoairra,, t ' u ' ai lle d itter th r ea. 7 e aci mi l e itie 6 s f wh t i h c a h t hadveepirrectmeenntlt sinc ebeen of foreign correspondence— y •l feel warranted = in estimating the revenue te of the Post -office for the next year at 700, for the produce of last year was 691 ,0 0 01 .-( Cheer s fromh an; d The Crown lands produced 1,5043,0004' I will take them at that estimate. As to the misceu aneem so of revenue, I am inclined to take. them•aa -noway the barns amount w hich they actually produced du ing the past year that is, 250,g0Q1. Now, I have been here speaking of the ordinary permanent sources of revenue, and • the., net amount of my estimate on these is 47,900,000/... Besides, I cal culate that during the coming year we shall receive 600,000/. on account of China. So that, even if the House should refuse its sanction to, the cowing, ance of the income-tax, I think ;that- I should be entitled to take credit for the half-year's produce . of that tax—viz. ; for 2 ; 600,000/, :which will come into the receipts of the year - ending . the sth of April, 1846. Therefore, with this 2,600,0001., and 600,000/ on account of China, I am warranted upon calculating a clear revenue of 51,100,0001., even if the House should refuse to continue the income-tax. The charge for the debt could of course be calculated. On the sth of April, 1846, the charge for debt will be 28,450,000/, and then you will have the full advantage of that reduction which took place • last • year on the interest of the Three-and4-llalf per Cents. The charge for debt, funded and Unfunded, 28,458,000/. ; the charge • on- the Consolidated Fund, 2,400,0001., making a total of 30,858,000/. on ac count of the debt The estitnaied debt voted last year amounted to 17,700,0004 t the total charge, therefore, assuming the present system to remain unaltered, would be 48,557,000/ Dedict that sum from the total revenue, that is 48,557,000/. from 51,106,0004 still the surplus on the sth of April, 1846, will - be 2,543,0007 1I really must, even at the risk'of fatiguing the House, detail these :calculations. I hive the liotise will .pardon me for - so doing. If you were to deduct from the 'revenue of next year ' the receipt of the . incoine 7 taX and the casual and temporary ' receipt from Chinese money, and assume that to be the amount of revenue on the follow ing year, ending the . sth of April, 1847, _and taking the expenditure' to be. the same, in that case there would bia small deficiency of revenue as 'compared with the preceding 'year.. The, question . whether or not we are justified 'in., a dernand: for an increased. expenditure On account of the public expenditure, and I feel that it is but right to satisfy the House what our 'intentions are in making this deMand. 1,4 4ot:hesitate to admit that no financial prosperity = no. surplus revenue—relieves the Government.froin the paramount obligation of con sidering whether it is consistent for the itiglic * interest that a saving can be made in . the public expenditure. But I do not mean to say that there would be any more justification on the part of the Government for aline and profuse expenditure, when the.revenue is in a flourishing state, than there would if it were failing.—(Hear, hear.) I feel that there is the same . stringent obligation upon her Majegtis GOVerfiraint increased—uu necessarilY increased—expenditure„ • when there is a surplus of five millions in the Trea s ury, as when there is no surplus at all.—(Hear, hear.) It is, I' know, of. the greateseimportinee that I, and those lion. • • Gentlemen who' net 'with 'nee, l aheiild - PerfOrtir the duty that devalues upon tiS e t4:.thiLiOlic . taxation, •to remove, within the, least • possible period , ':.thit' we can consistently dO.So; stith increased 'taxation . as - We 'consider to fore's . upon the. publio4r4deandpublic!interest , i , -(Hear, hear.) But it is-impossible do:thiawithent exettiiting great eke and • •“ e - . •-• l. • r• •- • Caution; as. to 'The department its which the public ex p.iS tnhe reduced.—(Hear, hear.) - At the same - time, permit me to say that]: am' greatly afraid thatthe ' Public 'are under .h. . Very with re , gard'tio *hat is really nicessaryfor..the •pnbiic eXpea '. diture, what that'publio expenditure , itetually , is; 'and 'the means by Which . , it Can be' safety • r&ltiCed." . It is genoralli supposed. that all tioition — Of the pidalie expen • •diture which does , not consist of payments; for the con ' tinuanee of thcr'seVeraFttiblic:deparlinent ,, ,. iS'unneces _. sary'and itsnOtllie . Case. : 1( we. take the amount otthe. , revenue for the rist year, lihich Wits' 48,243,0004, it will'be found to Cohabit 'Of the 'fiillowin g charges:2B,4o,oolo/. ~ on account pay inents .wards the public debt.. The sum- paid- to the naval and • mil4ary halt-p3y amounted - '- to; 4,99-I,oooe : The 'Charges filed', ke• fiKes,sed" : for, the . porisol4l a ted • • . - • 'Fund ,was. 4 I 878,90041 et ,these charges I include the provisiontecessary for'defraying thaexpenditure of the 'judietal,eStablithnient;(Hear.) .. ..7.Thereare; inclUdc4, in the_ whole :amount ofthe sum thatl :have stated as that.Whieh will be required fOrthe public . seriiee. 'this year;: mot only the' *hole' sn'm levied as . : pUblia but various' 'Other:, sums. The Mire of 35;309,0004 requice•d -few the purposes I hate 'already .. .l:ninth:Med; if "deducted'from 48,00,0001, ...the animint'Of iOr the'.pUblic.expen -diture; will leave a-sum of about 13,000,000Lf0r thepublic service, in respect of *bid', it is euppOsid, seine reduction . may be inede:-L(ilear„:,hear4 ~ ,41e4URting, amount due—to 'the -public creditor, what then remains to be disposed of to meet the expendi ture of the . executive Government'? The total amount of that Would . not exceed 12,933,000/ Among the other charges which have received the sanction of Parliament; is the charge for the Civil List. And here I may be permitted to say, that any Executive Government that would have a due regard to the exercise' of: a wise and judicious economy, Would - not hesitate to follow the example. which has been set them by the controul ex ercised 'over her own expenditure by the Sovereign. A settlement was' made, of the Civil list on her accession to:the throne. : On the occasion of her mar riage no addition was made to 'that civil list.(Cheers.) It has pleased God to bless that marriage by the birth of four children, which has made a considerable additional demand upon-the civil list. In - the col:mai:of last year three sovereigns visited this countryl two of them were 'two of the most powerful sovereigns of. Europe —the Emperor 'of RUssia and the King ' of - the French.—(Cheere.) Those visits, of tects:lty, 'created a considerable increase of expenditure, but through that wise system of economy, Which is the only source:of true magnificence, her Majesty was enabled not only.to receiVe those Sovereigns' in a style of magnificence which excited universal admiration,- but without adding one tittle to the burdens of the conntry.—(Loud cheers.) And, .I am .not required, On the , part of her Majesty, to 'press for the . extra: -expenditure of one single shilling—(lmmense cheers)—cn, account of these unforeseen causes of increased expenditure..—,(Renewed cheers.) I think 'that it is : but•due to: state. this,. to the Personal credit of her Majesty, who by-the exercise Of a judicious econoiny,• has been. enabled to entertain' these Sovereigns with all : the -magnificence due. to her- station, and' without incurring', a single , debt.-(Loud cheers.) I know 'it may,he said thati. have not adverted to other sources of reduction, in the public expenditure. -.,1t may be that offices might be abolished, and 4bitt:emolu ments maybe reduced. I admit that no office Ought to be retained which is notneceasary . for the,pubiia service. I admit that no emolument attached to any office, ought to be retained which is not necessary to secure the faith ful and efficient' performance Of . the duties necessary for the public service.--e(llear, —hear.) -On - . that point we are all agreed. I vindicate no sinecures(Cheers)— and when an office becomes vacant we, go . through that process which has been so, frequently recommended, of considering if the retention of it is necessary ,for the pubic service, andif : the emolumenta admit of :le 'duation consistently, with a.. due regard, for the public interests.—(Cheers.) Now with ,regard to the charges for the collection of the revenue, it should be borne, mind : : that the., extent of, the revenue establishment is not merely to secure an effi cient collection of the money due„to but that ; it is, of theutmost.ipsportance•thet every 441)4y:should be given for' the transaction of .commeicial•business.,--- (Hear,• hear.) It id Our ditty to reduce thoae establish ments, :es .f.ar .as it is:_consistent:With public convenience: do not vindicate the retention •of . one single useless officer ; but the public -is interested in giving to the diS- . patch of public. business every .facility that you. cangive consistently- with.a.. due. regard - to .the public. safety. and, therefore, , so far as the principle is concerned that ,therevenue ought to, be, collected at the leas t,, Possible expense, and that you ought to make every reduction you . cao, upon, that point I apprehend:' there can be no difference, of opinion. , But., still, after that admission, .you -will .find that. the subject has • con stantly occupied the attention of every Government . , and that great reductions from time to time,have . been ,made 4 But it would Win delusion and &fallacy to expect ' that you can generally reduce the public burdens by any diminution of the salaries of the officials employed. At the sometime it may . be said ; that , those -great public essablishments, which a vote is. -taken ., every • year, • and . whiCh - cOnstitute the' main charge on the -revenue,,, .indeppridpot. ,of thk,.., Axed.. cheirgas=sueh 'as the army, the navy, atici the, ordnance. of•• thecoun try— may admit otsaine reductions..- firit of - all; will state the estimate we propose . for - the - expenditure on account of the-army.: Now it is impossible to determine 7whether that expense :is justifiable' or not; without ,adverting to the extent of the colonial empire of•this country.- NOW, in point of fact, the main expense on account of the:army is the extent of your colonial possessions. You hate these colonial dependencies, and to xualta-ao .provision for the, relief of the troops serving in them, will be ;in consistent with humanity in the first place, and incon sistent with true economy in - the other. Te may aside its want of economy, point of humanity nothing earl be more precions: . • than' the life and health of a soldier.—(Cheers.) The army -thus that you possess is a very expensive and complicated machinery, ~and you may depend upon it yoU will not consult Arne economy . if you permit it to be dislocated and deranged hy recluc dons without - calculation. Tow in the YeAt.l.292o;th l ich 1181 fr'quently been referred to as the criterion of what (le fir to 1 •