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

- - czaz "7. 1' would be possible to adopt any mode of relief, at the same time retaining the duty ; but he considered that this plan must give rise to such a system of fraud, and that it would afford such opportunities for evasion, that it would be better on the w hole to class staves with raw materials, and to permit a n unlimited import of them for the use of coopers. It , wl,l, of course, b e necessary to li m i t t h e ,en gt h ot staves, so that they may not be al) P 4 d to other p urposes, b ut without exceedingly Minute and vexatious regulations it will be other purposes ; impossible t o prevent the use of staves altogether for and we think it better to submit to that evasion than to establish minute and vexatious the to p revent it.—(Cheers.) I hope that by he remission of this duty we shall restore prosperity to B tr ade whi c h finds employment for some of the most in ilsand respectable artisans of this country—(Cheers.) t a k! ll 'use, I hope, will consider that we are d uties, ustified in in g th e j se articles out o f t h e category o f th e timber duty alto- Mr. LAB OUCIIERE—Do getber ? I off altogether. we take i t temptation to Sir ROBERT PEEL—Yes, we remove the diminish the It arnounts to 39,0001. fraud fur ordinary purposes b'Y We making a simultaneous reduction last reduction on all cabinet timber. articl e of the 400 C. LA.B OIJCIIERE inquired the amount ? I come to t loss on the whole said, I think the 41 't 1 odd items of export duties to be abolished Sir R. PEEL now come to I most these articles will be 320,000 E others, is the _ that article) which, of all country. i of of the itallortatit to the prosperity hear)—and otton rot:tie now to cotton-wool—(Hear, on duty ° duty upon it. The present concerned,apii. That duty is orPted, W°ol is, so far as the revenue rr is b.l6ths of a. penny a pound. cotton-wool , and imp is cable to the whole amount of total amount, s. It and is about one -fifth of the you only available for the purpose good reason, reason, thates,in i 3 estimated, and with go_o five sixteenths, duty. ought to add one -sixteenth t the whole cotton pound of manufacture order to give the full amount on The • • _, a penny a Now six -sixteenths or three-eights of a lb. on the cent. when the price of cotton-wool s is a ws tild be the total amount of duty 4d o . n cotton-wool. average, the three -eighths of aI d. material. If not more en the value of the raw a lb. i has been of late is a duty price of cotton wool is " three-eighths oflb raw duty of nine p l e f r Id. per than 3d. a lb., 12-1 than This duty tatounting t o not less rnw material. per cent. 141 the value of the its levied falls with peen cotton.—(Hear, hear.) Upon the descriptions of the peculiar severity on the coarsest hardly estimate can hoer muslins you higher .- to It is in respect ;ttrootint of duty, but the t c , oarser the fabric the 1 the amount of that to tr are exposed and the manufacture ofda.t3h.at coarser cotton the the m anufacturers of this Colin . taost formidable competition in South of the ~.‘ i lit la, and even in our own c cotton disadvan tage' c ourse, in respect of the manufacturedunder country America hear.) dis ountry iliteel States, we labour alreandy' people of that country qtße, from the ready access whic and they are f cotton. 114sesii to the raw material, the great this repeal the duty upon the tltors of ours in all the coarser descriptions o Therefore, we conceive that to , followed by generally, there will , tti le, and abolish it altogether, will be doubtetYest results. And, speaking le 1 duty on cottonducea but that the abolition of t oval of other i 'ie additional claims for the removal ; r o e r general consumptiion.isnow is no that press equally upon articles . dis e we should not So urish , know it will be said that this branch of trade regard ; but, at the whichsame the tlm it ' has been met btyeoa. :,.gard the co mpetition by vtiZoehoC of other countbreisets, and enable the home -when we turer t: Wtneeeetan it.—(Loud cheers.) thousands therefore eoasider the thousands and tens . of indebted for their existence ear in this country are in we inmuaanufac who and continual employment of it that 'r this article—wlaen we consider the amount into clothing f — r il4s1,1111„tluallY manufactured in this country there extentis to to the manufacture it " we consider the vast consumption the I Iviciiin that fora' —when we consideraged i n this trade, itt h 0111' Manufacturers are e. ng to the determination Ywe are well advised in coming article of cotton of abolish 1 og all duty upon the common 00e.....(r, ed loss which the revenuetax—taking ii ..heers.) The estima . t of this revenuere_ 1,,,.i. sustain by the abolition of the ow.— e'iu, account the amount be less than 680,0 d i ed l 'Pon it last year, will not Government did not iiljettt, hear:hear) Her Majesty's alterations further ._ iti the to recommend to the house any this description ihe (11,:,, ti L lit ies upon any other articles of reviewed have y a .-''' near.) We have closely and carefullyandwe. rietis duti • the Excise, duties iiew . es levied by of thoseinterests; M la (let 1 the various departments individual . *hieh lare aj I.a upon t tit __,- --% most grievously _ w hi c h o f them it is lila. without bting bound to admit not hesitate to say against its th t °light to be removed, we do facie case laughter.) t,a.t each of them Presents a primaaf( and (Cheers tiTe Ex ilutstenee in its Present shape.— of revenue to peculiar there is all a rticle a source open to , Ne, which d ' tous to be for its reduction, ~h,iteti,l4. _ oes appear no clamour should not have i t is tri le T here has beenhether we the duties otittti_ed, and I don't know • had taken to be the fr,,,,1l greater popularity if we consider it 'eine S he r• l • but we articles—whether tii_, artic es, those he removal rao 4.1 the Xecutive to select them or not—the ~, moor existed with respect to with the best fj , the d re t;llutY en which is likely to be attended lam now , . 11 i itl. The particular branch of duty Government may : e ctlZ to, though the attention of the undertake be- foi.elly,re strictly been called to it, is Iwill more entitled d. , .1 , sit hens,d to demonstrate onel have hitherto d a ty vrartiction many of the objects It is a beentl ),,; t t : tl to m any and laughter.) It have noti; a Etd,je te'Peet to which the Government but it great taktt:teti to pe cu li ar p ressure, after to and ter selected by the Government I will venture t 4" careful consideration. It is a duty t objectionable — ]be ~,Y, that no one will deny to be removals of which which will l ,4`-tt:lees and laughter) —and the _The duty to or, i:11,4t1 with the best results. 1 ' ✓ of property, This rat is the duty on the free transfer duty.—(Cheers.) pt o f quee r W hat is called the auction in each p a ti c ,,, ti. _ . the is leviable levied for the ". 4tY is a duty which which, , toted, xin wasmerit . gdoin It is a duty commencement rat time vvith tittle : discrimination at the c from which the o t f the lireeriesnlv andit is a duty is completely , t 4 : l4 fer of property by any other b means,, Drill,t4tPt ; but if a party cries-- b'ect to it. It are rt - .1 auction he becomes su J th, I distressed rtk pe . , ise who are oudemna- Peetii• 4 auction to which these t . ,4 1 41 , r Y subjected. Can there be eater c short a greater • that in a t' i ,, j t. the Principle of this duty, tha :x e after the p as sing of the law that enforced its operation itllllti vver e made with respect W have been ee the Act was originally passed thereat laws grant into '1,11:41y less than thirty-two differ() When . e duties. Ith: e xe mpti on } ' an the auctio to exam in l e n e, hit, °laraissioners were appointed years e, afte r made the xcise duties, some they of them, this repot Wing the whole auction duty f:r — s; T 1 -port with respect to the among the all of ” 4, ditty on auctions must be Now, observe, . ti 4 s'ne taxes to be repealed." e under the di rp,et qtended property which take lace from the at iet i . °4 of the Court of Chancery are exempthat 1 there have be t I°4 duty. It is a fact - „ have been pi 4 4 tilarty instances in which estates order to be „tcit;l ill the 4 Court of Chancery, in the auction tlat,,, Le the exemption from with respect to th What is the practice now . filled with is 4t , •e sales of estates? Every newspaperl d property. It'!ertiseraents of sales by auction of kn i t s e ascertained, then "Posed for sale, and the value of it • ' highest the Lidd!eneral understanding being that it by pri vat-'r shall be entitled to buy sold, and th: eontract. The estate is not t ' intention of the law is defeated. b the pro ng r e p t l ee or value of the property is ascertained th y e sale is ding probably on the following day the law Is Qttl. bY private contract, and an idea of the eniultireliv p ..: superseded. To give l oo k to general4l results- () eY ~ of this tax, let of January, 18 of hick In the year endin g the Ist to auction, hole amount of property exposed was n ot 1, the Excise was obliged to take an account, 0, whole ' the the 84 than 45,232,00 W. In respect of it t there was the necessity for examination,andhe s ame et ac teas for had exactly rouble to perform in respect to the propertysehi, as tlitit,lvertised for.sale by suction, and which was no 'l t 'he total ik :Y had with respect Property that was sold Excise was 41351114 subject to the accounts of the was paid eL,-'3,)°()01., and the total amount on which duty 'rt -ix itC'7q,ooo/. Consequently, there were thirty-six y was ta, '''''llS of property exposed to sale which _ ae s— tertipt from the tax. Now are these two f t rom 14 that af there bein g thirty-two exemptions i eight ~,,, allction dut and there being only d —out of forty- T he_ two Millions, not yof themselves almosttax u , ()oclusive proof of the impolicy of this I.l,present Commissioners of Excise reported, that ore,„ with th e ." Years since, to the Treasury and more tiatti4lietinn duty there ryas more trouble, attempts 4t -ell'te questions arose, on account of there ws,"8"8i°1; and questions about exemption—there duty 111 Moro trouble with herepect teeth's auction remaining. 44 tile Whol e of excise yorme ~.- ~:? 1. when the me small Yhat i 3 the of tb : ln, rew L i. 4 ijere d 5 t uirtf 'Whether THE SUN; LONDON, SATURDAY' EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1845. Now the total amount which you receive from the auction duty in England, Scotland, and Ireland, is about 300,000 L There is no duty, the remission of which could in my opinion, lead to so great a reduction in the expense of collecting. There is no duty, I think, which is so objectionable in principle as a duty on the transfer of property. To select one par ticular mode of transferring property, quite independent of conveyances, which apply to all transfers of property, and to subject that to duty, is a course open to grave objections ; and I do hope that I have satisfied the House that although there is no demand fur this reduction, and although articles might be selected upon which a reduction would be more popular, yet looking comprehensively at the interests of property, and considering the benefit which is conferred on a great commercial and manufacturing country, by facilitating the transfer of property, you could not confer a greater advantage upon the United King dom, if you selected other duties in preference to that which is thus proposed to be reduced to the amount of 300,0001.—(Hear, hear.) Every auctioneer is, under the existing law, compelled to take out a licence. In the first instance he takes out a general licence of Si. If he is afterwards called on to sell any par ticular article which is not included in that licence there is then a demand made upon him for another licence of 51.; and, consequently, there are auctioneers who pay 251. for licences, because some articles are exposed to sale by auction, where they have to officiate as auctioneers, which are not covered by the general auction duty. Now I propose, instead of the principle of requiring ' separate licences, to enable auctioneers to dispose of every description of property' by taking out one licence. I propose to fix the amount of that license at 15/. ; thus enabling the auctioneers who take it out to deal in every description of property. I think it is probable that the number of auctioneers will be increased by the reduction of the duty. The present number of auction eers amount in the whole, I think, to about 4,000. A li cence duty of 15/. will raise a revenue of 60,0001., subject, of course, to the reduction in the present auction duty. I do not believe that one general licence of 151. would be felt at all as an onerous impost, while I think it probable that the number of auctioneers would increase. We propose, therefore, to reduce the duty upon auctions, and to substitute for the present system of licensing one uni form licence, the maximum cost of which will be 151. With respect to the article of glass, I must say that it is one _which has especially occupied my attention. The duty upon glass has been doubled since 1815, and I think I can show, with respect to this article, there are grounds of exemp tion more than can be alleged for almost any other article. Without regard to the case which I might make out for the removal of this tax, if there were an abundant revenue, there are no other articles entitled to a preference. In the first place, let me recite some of the objections to this charge. The amount of tax is 2001. or 3001. per cent upon the value of the article ; for instance, the tax was one shilling per foot, and a manufacturer was asked what he could supply the articles for, if the duty were taken off ; and he answered, that he could sell it for 3d., or at any rate the price would not exceed 4d.—(Hear, hear.) We must not estimate this burden at the mere; amount.—(Hear, hear.) There is no duty which requires, in order that it may be levied, such a system of perpetual and such vexatious superintendence. — (Hear, hear, hear.) Now, compare the export of glass, which was subject to this vexatious, and necessarilly vexatious regulations—compare it with the export of an other article, which has the good fortune to be ex cepted—earthenware. The export ofearthenware last year amounted to 750,000/., whereas the export of glass, which was subject to the duty, and subject to this constant interference with the process of manufacture, amounted only in the course of the last year to 388,0004—(Ilcer, hear.) But I wish to state also another most important fact. There is no Excise duty on the manufacture of glass in France, in Belgium, or in Bohemia ; and in Bohemia the manufacture of glass is brought to the very highest perfection. The discoveries of chemistry were applied without restric tion to the improvement of the manufacture, and owing to the skill to which they had attained, the most beautiful colours were produced. We have particular facilities in this country for the manufacture of glass ; we have a great command of labour and of coal, and we should be able not only to enter into compe tition with foreign countries, but we should be able to beat them. What is the fact? That there being now no duty on glass in Belgium, Bohemia, and France, there is no necessity for interfering with the process of manufacture. What has taken place in this country? A great import of foreign glass into the bonded warehouses of this country, and that foreign glass thus brought into bonded warehouses is afterwards exported being liable to no duty, and after all this the ex porters beat us, not only in foreign countries, but even in our own colonies. I think I can make out a case without referring to details. But really these are most important questions. It is curious to observe the pro gress—the gradual increase of the export of foreign glass over the export of our domestic manufacture. For the last seven quarters I have closely observed the glass manufacture and the gradual increase of foreign glass brought into bonded warehouses, and afterwards exported from this country, as compared with glass the produce of our own industry. Is it not a strong fact, and does it not demonstrate the policy of some new arrangement in the exeise regulations of this country ? (Hear.) If we permit this article to be manufactured duty free, it is very hard to foresee to what perfection the manufacture of that beautiful fabric may be brought, considering how much it admitted of the applica tion of capital and skill. When a balance-spring for a chronometer is made in this country it is made of glass, at least of late years, it being founi so much superior to steel for such purposes. It has a greater power of resisting the alternations of heat and cold, and maintaining its specific gravity. The manufacture of glass requires so much skill on the part of the workman, that I do not ;,believe under the present system of restriction recent discoveries could be well applied. A chronometer, with a glass balance-spring, during the late Administration, had been sent out to the North Seas, and exposed with nine other chronometers to the cold of that climate, and the result of that experiment was reported to be in favour of the chronometer which had the glass balance-spring as compared with the nine others. So much for the application of glass to articles of the utmost delicacy. But glass has also been applied to another and very different purpose. It has been manufactured into pipes used for the conveyance of water, at a cost of 30 per cent. less than pipes made of iron ; they will bear great external pressure ; they are covered with bitumen, and when used for the conveyance of water, so far as purposes of health are concerned, glass pipes are entitled to the preference. This has been done where the excise duties on glass have been removed. Now take all the articles thus ranged between ;these two extremes, between the balance-spring of the chronometer and the pipe for conveying water, and I ask if it is not difficult to say to what purposes the manufacture may not be applied ? But now we collect our duty on flint glass at an expense of not less than 57 per cent. on the whole amount col lected, and it is necessary, in order to prevent fraud, to have a series of most minute regulations with respect to melting the glass and the annealing, with notices to the excise-officer of every process which make the application of ingenuity and skill almost impossible. But relieve it altogether from these difficulties, as in Bohemia, France and Belgium, give full and unrestricted play to the capital and enterprise of this country, and with its peculiar facility for obtaining materials, its command of alkali and of coal, I believe that this country may supply almost all the world with glass, or at least enter into active competi tion with other countries for supplying it. There are many other arguments I might bring forward, but I do think I have shown, in the case of glass, so far as the manufacture of glass is concerned, that there are peculiar reasons for reducing the duty on it. Now a case has been made out for the remission of the window-duty. But take the case of glass, and see what a much greater effect the reduction of the duty on glass will have on the comfort of the labouring classes than a reduction of the window-duty. It is estimated that in Great Britain there are 3,500,000 houses : of these not more than 500,000 are charged with the window-duty ; therefore, there are 3,000,000 of houses which require glass to be used in them, and which, by the removal of the tax, would benefit by the whole amount of the remission. I am afraid I am wearying the House by these details, but I wish to satisfy those who hear me that these remissions are not made from any desire of courting popularity, but that there is good and substantial cause which leads me to adopt the reduction of this duty.—(lmmense cheering.) Then, if we look to the improvement of art, what a great encouragement it will give to the art of engraving if we reduce the duty on plate glass. Then, if we look to the consideration of health, of what immense import ance is the article of glass. Nothing prevented the passage of heat like glass. The passage of heat through a single plate of glass, compared, with its pass through two plates of glass having a layer between them, was as ten to one. The double plates prevented the passage of heat ; therefore, in encouraging the construction of double windows, we are taking measures to improve the health of the community. The Land Commission in Ireland has recently made its report. I received this report the day before yesterday. The Commissioners had not the slightest notion of the intentions of her Majesty's Government, but in that respect they say that few mea sures will contribute more to the comfort and improvement of the lower classes in Ireland than giving them the command of glass at a cheap rate. That observation proves how much the condition of the lower classes in Ire land will be improved by the reduction we propose to effect in the duty on glass. All parts of the United Kingdom will be benefited by it—lreland, Scotland, and England, will be equally benefited. Ireland will derive a direct benefit from the reduction of the duty on glass, and I do not see any reason why Ireland should not become the seat of a successful glass manufacture. If it should not, it will benefit by the reduction of the duty, which now amounts to between 200 and 300 per cent. This reduction will give to the people of Ireland, as well as the people of Great Britain, the command of an article essential to their convenience and comfort.—(Hear, hear.) In every point of view, whether we consider the amount of the duty, more than two hun dred per cent., or the restrictions which the levy ing of it imposes on the manufacturer, or the num berless purposes to which it may be applied, or the direct addition which it will make to the health and comfort, I hope that the House will acquiesce in the recommendation of her Majesty's Go vernment, and select glass as ono of the articles on which the Excise duty ought to be entirely abolished. The loss to the revenue from the reduction of the duty on glass would amount to 640,0001. I have now ex hausted the list of articles in respect of which her Majesty's Government intended to propose the re duction of existing taxes. I will now recal to the recollec- tion of the House the estimate I made of the amount of revenue, assuming that the income• tax will be continued. I estimated that a surplus revenue, in case the income-tax is continued, would be available on the 6th April, amounting to 3,490,0001. I shall now recapitulate the estimate of the reductions which would arise from the reduction or repeal o the different duties which I enumerated. I mentioned them specifically before, as to their amount, but I will now state the aggregate amount of reductions. The estimated loss of sugar, then is X1,300,000 The estimated loss on coal is The loss on the duty of minor articles im ported, being the raw materials of manu factures The estimated loss on cotton-wool The estimated loss on auction duty The estimated loss in glass .. 640,000 I include the loss on staves in the 320,0001. The total loss to revenue I am now speaking of the immediate loss—(Hear, hear)—if our reductions are sanctioned by the House, would be very nearly absorbing the actual surplus from the in come •tax of 3,490,0001. I stated before, that in pro posing the continuation of the income-tax, we pro posed it for the purpose of having a large surplus revenue, but I thought it sight to appropriate the surplus, after defraying the recurring ex penditure of the country, to the removal of those bur dens which pressed most heavily on the industry of the country ; and I conceive that the amount of reductions made fulfil that part of the pledge. Now, observe that I have taken no credit for the ultimate saving that will be certain to result by the reduction of the duty upon glass, for I do contend for it, that the result will be a very material saving. Observe also, that I have taken no credit for the increase of consumption that must follow the removal of the heavy duty on the articles of manufacture.—(Hear, hear.) This is an experiment, certainly, and I do not hesitate to say it is a bold experiment.—(Hear.) But, looking at the result of the experiment we made last year — (Cheers) —looking at what is now the state of the Customs' revenue after the reduction that has been made —seeing that the Customs' revenue on the sth of January, 1845, presents a surplus as compared with that of the same period last year, of a sum not less than 1,305,0001.—(Hear, hear)—after deduct ing the loss of 122,0001., which arose from cotton-wool last] year, and a sum of 61,0001. on sheeps' wool—the reduction on the revenue, after snaking this great experiment, will be 1,305,0001. —(Cheers.) I have already stated that I intend to call upon the House to continue the income-tax for a further limited period, because I have the most confident persua sion that the reductions made on the articles I have men tioned will be followed by the most beneficial re sults.—(Hear, hear.) W hen I proposed the continu ance of the income-tax, it was met by some objections. It was said that the country would be disappointed at the result, and that the increased amount of tax ation would tell unfavourably on the country. It was said that unless there was a reduction in the assessed taxes to an amount equivalent to the surplus, there would be dissatisfaction, and that at any rate there should be a diminution of some sort in the assessed taxes. Now, what is the fact? There is no reduction in the assessed taxes proposed; but look at the reductions that have been made in the other taxes of the country. There has been a small reduction of some 40,0001. or 50,0001. of the duties on carriages and horses, but that re duction is traceable to the progress of railwa) conveyance ; and it is only extraordinary that the reduction has not been greater ; but if you exclude the operation of those other causes of reduction, my belief is that the net of assessed taxes during the operation of the income-tax has been greater than was before. I say, it cannot be contended from the experience of the in come-tax, that it must of necessity diminish the revenue. Concurrently with its operation our revenue has increased. Remember this, and I don't conceal the fact, and it will enter into your consultations when you consider whether the income-tax shall be continued or not. Remember this—that during its operation, the revenue has so prospered that the receipts in the present year, independent of the income-tax, almost amounted to the expenditure of the country. Of course we might hare avoided making this experiment —we might have ap plied the surplus of the present year without making increased taxes ; but we propose the income-tax, not for the supplies of the year, but for the purpose of enabling us to make this great experi ment. In the reduction of duties, the period for which we propose the income-tax will not exceed the period for which it was originally introduced. I cannot say when making this very extensive reduction—l will not say it might not have been a wiser course to give a longer period for the purpose of testing the efficacy of the plan, but at the same time I think it natural that Parliament should ask to have the control over this tax for a period not greater than it was first proposed. We do not ask that the income-tax should endure for more than three years—for a less period I hope the House will not see the necessity for its continuance. At the expiration of three years I have a confident belief that that will have occurred which has now occurred, and that it will be competent for you to dispense with the income-tax altogether. I have such a confidence in the elasticity of the resources of the country that before three years shall have elapsed the revenue will have increased to such a degree as will enable you to dispense with the tax altogether. Remember this, that the principles on which we have gone, we have gone on advisedly. We have in every case absolutely repealed the tax. We have not di minished the tax on glass and kept up a quarter of it. We have not diminished a small proportion of the tax on cotton. We have proposed the absolute repeal of the tax, and, therefore, from the increased consumption of that article we cannot expect any benefit ; but we do hope that indirect and incidental effects will be produced, and will be the cause of increased consumption of many articles subject to duty, and by invigorating the industry and extending the commercial enterprise of the country, and by indirect channels, to supply that void which we cannot hope to supply by direct taxa tion. Sir, I believe that I have now executed the task which devolved on me.—(Cheers.) I have, however imperfectly, explained the views and intentions of her Majesty's Government with respect to the financial and commercial policy of the country. I trust the House will, as they did before, without now pronouncing any hasty or precipitate judgment, con sider comprehensively the whole of the plan we have offered, and will consider whether or not it will he for the interest of the country to adopt it ; and, after mature deliberation, my hope and belief is that the decision of the House will be in favour of the proposal which I have made. Whatever may be the decision of the House, at any rate we shall have the consolation of knowing that we have not sought popularity by evading the question of continued taxation. — (Hear, hear.) Wo have not acted in deference to any popular clamour, for we have selected taxes for reduction in respect to which there is no clamour and no agitation. I know it will be said that the principles which I have laid down are capable of much further extension, and that I ought to have, in deference to those principles, made a still more extensive reduction of duty. But it is our object, while we estab lish the principle, at the same time viewing the state of society, and the magnitude of the interests involved —the consequences upon those interests, of a hasty and rash interference, our avowed object is to realise the utmost degree of good, without the disturbance or alarm of interests, 'which cannot be disturbed, and which can not be alarmed, without paralysing the industry of the country. Sir, I submit, therefore, this proposal on the part of her Majesty's Government to the judgment of this House. We have adopted it after careful consideration. We recommend it on the deliberate conviction that the sanction of it by this House will conduce to the extension of industry and the encouragement of enterprise, and that the result of that extension of that industry and the result of the encouragement of that en• terprise to all classes of the country, whether directly connected with commerce or industry, be they manu facturing, be they agricultural, or be they not connected with any particular department of industry, our conviction is, that by the adoption of this proposal, industry and commerce will be immediately benefited, and that indirectly every class in this great community will find its welfare promoted. The Right Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst great cheering from the Opposition benches. He spoke for three hours and a quarter. The question having been put, Sir ROBERT PEEL said he did not wish the House to affirm any proposition that night ; but he trusted that they would see the great importance, on account of many branches of commerce, of pro ceeding as early as possible to the consideration of the various proposals. He hoped they would be in a condition to pronounce, on Monday, on the general outlines. Of course, the affirmation of the reso• lution would not bind the House, but its adoption would enable the 'louse to proceed at once to take the sense of the House with respect to the pro posed alterations. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, considering the impor tance of the subjects which had bQen brought before the House, he quite concurred in what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet. He would - not ask for a day's delay beyond Monday ; and on that occasion he would take a general view of his proposals. The sugar duties formed a most important part of the plan, and one which he thought was open to much objection ; but he would say nothing on the subject till the debate on Monday night. Sir R. PEEL said it was desirable to proceed as soon as possible with all the articles except glass, which would require some previous communication with the manufacturers. Mr. LIDDELL was glad to hear that a reduction was to be made in the duty on coals, but there were some observations made by the Bight Hon. Baronet in which he could not con cur. Those observations were entered into with marked atten tion, and appeared to create no small sensation on the other side of the House ; but he could not allow them to pass unno ticed, because he was naturally jealous of his own honour and of the honour of those whom he represented.—( Hear, hear.) He could not but regret that the Right Hon. Baronet should have felt called upon to comment upon what he termed a com bination in the coal trade. In spite of the evidence which had been given, on a former occasion, by competent parties, a great misapprehension still prevailed on this subject ; but he would nevertheless content himself by disproving it in one single sentence, which he trusted would put an end to this too general and unfortunate misapprehension. The Right Hon. Baronet had presumed that this combination existed, but he certainly was in error. No such combination had ever to his knowledge existed, and if any Hon. Gentleman on the opposite side of the House would think proper to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the subject, ho would gladly second it.—( Hear, hear. ) Lord HOWICK could not help expressing his satisfaction at finding the Right Hon. Baronet was now convinced that his present step was not quite so bad a move as he seemed to think it was last year, and the year before. His conviction, however, was, that if the coal-owners had sat quietly down under this tax till her Majesty's Government thought fit to repeal it, the year 1945 would not have been distinguished by its repeal. If any Hon. Member followed the advice of the lion. Gentleman who spoke last, he thought it could be distinctly proved that the combination not only did exist, but that it did a very serious injury to the City of London as well. He thought this could be proved, and proved to de monstration too. It was a combination adverse and contrary to every principle of fair trade, and it had not only been inju rious to the country, but to the parties who formed it. Com binations of masters were not less serious in their results than combinations of workmen were injurious to them. The strike of last year produced extreme suffering to the labourers in the collieries, and his conviction was, that the regulations which existed for the last few years had been attened with the very worst results to the coal-owners. Having said thus much, he should follow the wish of the Right Hon. Baronet, and avoid expressing any opinion till Monday upon the :general character of the Budget. But there was one point upon which he entertained a very strong opinion, and he could not, even at that moment, refrain from making a remark or two upon it. There was an insurmountable objection to the arrangement the Right Hon. Baronet proposed with regard to sugar. He could not help regretting that the Right Hon. Baronet had not fol lowed the same course—and he might have done so without any serious sacrifice of revenue—with regard to sugar he did to coal. He did not agree in his maintaining a distinction be tween free-labour sugar and slave-grown sugar. The Right Hon. Baronet, while he was dealing with the Excise duties, might have removed the duty on bricks without very mate rially diminishing the resources at his command. But he did not mean to say thus much, but he could not avoid protesting against the measure which admitted free-labour sugar at a much lower valuation than any other. It had produced much mischief, and he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would shortly see the necessity of repealing it. Mr. T. BARING, as the representative of a coal-mining district, could not suffer the reflections which had been made upon the coal-owners to pass unnoticed. Uut at the same time he must thank the Right Ilan. Baronet for removing a tax which had pressed very severely on the whole body of coal owners. It was untrue that a combination had existed which allowed the foreigner to have an advantage over this country. There was no such thing as had been asserted as two prices. The fact was, the foreigner would not take the high-priced coal, and hence, probably, arose the mistake into which some Hon. Members had fallen. He eould state positively that the foreigner did not, nor ever did, possess an advantage over the home consumer. Mr. tj g I b E e e did c n h o a r a m g a r e n e e sv f i a t h c w e a m t i t t h t e e e H a o p n p . 0 11 in Ie fe m d be t r e sa i i n d_, quire into some matters relating t o th e coa l di s t r ict, for h n he could state that from the evidence which came before him he had every reason to believe in the existence of the alleged combi nation. He merely rose to say, that although the first part of the Right Honourable Baronet's speech required great consideration, his opinion of the last part was fully made up. He fully agreed in the principle which had actuated the Right Honourable Baronet, and he thought the selections the Right Hon. Baronet had made were most judicious. There was but one article to which he could object, and that was sugar. The window -tax pressed heavily on the country, but he agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet that the repeal of the duty on glass would be attended with much more Benefit than the remission of the window-tax. He trusted he should see the day when the Excise department would be alto gether abolished, and no other duties suffered to exist but those on malt and spirits, which might be transferred to some other department. After a few words from Mr. TURNER, Lord CLEMENTS expressed some regret that the Right Hon. Baronet had made no further reduction of the duties on timber. Such a step would be a great benefit to Ireland. It wou ld enable them to build their habitations much cheaper than they did at present. Mr, 11. HINDE did not wish to trouble the House with many remarks, but he could not help concurring in the general expression of satisfaction which the Right Hon. Baronet's speech had produced. He wished, however, to say a few words with reference to glass. He agreed in the ex pediency of reducing the duty on this article, but he thought the Right Hon. Baronet ought to allow a drawback on the stock in hand. If he did not, the property of the manufac turer would be depreciated. An additional tax was to be im posed on auctioneers. This, he believed, would be attended with no beneficial result. Many persons in the country pro. cured a livelihood by following this occupation, but if they were subject to this tax, they would be compelled to relin quish it. Sir R. PEEL said , considering the period when the re duction would be made, the Government did not intend to allow a drawback on the stock in hand. Dr. BOWRING would have rejoiced if the Right Hon. Baronet had consented to a modification of the property-tax. It was his wish that the tax should be made permanent instead of transitory. He regretted to hear that it was the i intention of of her Majesty's Government to augment the navae and mili tary force of the country. .. T t was quite unnecfer the pro sy, as much as the exigencies of the times d id not call posed increase. Col. SIBTHORP regretted extremely that the Right Hon. Baronet did not introduce, amongst his list of reductions, a re mission in the post-horse and hackney carriage duty. The post masters had been greatly injured by having to contend with the railways, which now communicated to all parts of the kingdom ; and he (Colonel Sibthorp) thoughts that it would but have been even-handed justice if, for the remission to be made in that duty, he had added an equivalent to the duties borne by the system which had almost ruined them. Mr. ROEBUCK, although conceding that the benefits which the Right Hon. Baronet had proposed would meet with universal approbation, would not disguise the fact that these benefits were quite counterbalanced by the mischiefs arising from the operation of the income-tax and property-tax. Those mischiefs would be a great drawback in the general benefits accruing to the community from the remissions pro posed by the Right Hon. Baronet. This obnoxious law had been termed indifferently the property or the income-tax ; but he (Mr. Roebuck) observed a very great distinction between incomes derived from professional exertions, and those deriva. ble from property. If the Right Hon. Baronet had but gone a step further, and modified that tax, then, indeed, his pro positions made that night would be hailed as a relief by the community. Still he gave the Right Hon. Baronet credit for a very great advance made in the right direction—the greatest advance he (Mr. Roebuck) had yet seen o r h a d k nown o f i n the course of the Ministry's existence ; and while he thanked the Right Hon. Baronet for the good he had promised, he had felt it but right to point out a source of mischief which might have been avoided. Mr. WAKLEY said, that considering the very great good that had been promised them by the Right Hon. Baronet, he could not, for one, find one word of condemnation. He (Mr. Wakley) represented a large constituency in that metropolis, and in their names he could not refrain from expressing his extreme satisfaction at the propositions made that night by the Right Hon. Baronet. All the reductions he had promised had a direct tendency to relieve the poorer classes, and to promote the course of industry, and in promoting that, the Right Honourable Baronet did the greatest service to the country. He would not, therefore, as he had stated already, say one word in condemnation of any one of his pro positions, for he (Mr. WakleY) was but too much gratified for the good lie proposed to the best interests of the working classes. Sir R. H. IN GLIS, while agreeing in the commendations passed upon the Right Hon. Baronet, could not help wishing that in a proposed continuance of the income-tax, only the salaries which exceeded 1501. should be affected by it. This would relieve a large proportion of the indu s t r i ous c l ass , w h o were least able to bear its pressure, from the income tax ; and he also concurred in the observations made by the Hon. and Learned Member for Bath, that it would be highly expedient were those exempted from th e opera ti on o f the tax whose dependence was soley on their daily exertions, or their healths, or on the popnlar applause. It was hard that persons in public or commercial offices should pay the same tax upon their incomes as if they had derived them from land. It was hard that the poorer classes should pay in the same proportion that the Duke of NortiAtob9/1411d Qt any other nobleman did ; and he trusted it was not too late now to give the subject their best attention. Lord DUNCAN rose to express his admiration of the Budget brought forward by the Right Hon. Baronet, but he would re mind him that while he granted exemptions in the case of the auction duty, there were instances in which persons should be equally exempted from the operation of the income-tax. Mr. CURTEIS thought that the country ought to have time to exhibit its opinion on the Budget, and to show whether they were for or against the Right Hon. Baronet. They were taking the country by surprise, by only allowing them one post day to exhibit the feelings with which the Right Hon. Baronet's intentions would be received in the country. With respect to the property-tax, he had been one of the Commis sioners under that Act, and it was such an odious duty that he had made a vow that he should always vote against a continu- ' ance of the tax ; and he was determined to divide the House on Monday, if supported but by twelve Hon. Members. He recommended the agricultural Gentlemen opposite to consider whether it would not be better to do away with the property or income-tax, rather than support the Right Hon. Baronet in the measure which he had that night brought forward. Mr. WARD observed that the Hun. Member who had spoken last had said that the country would be taken by surprise. He ( Mr. W) thought it would, for certainly few had expected such a liberal measure from the Right Hon. Baronet. A measure founded on such sound principles--a measure embracing such a com prehensive view of the extended interests of this country, and intended to further its prosperity in such a degree, he did not expect ; and therefore he (Mr. Ward) begged to add his evi dence to those who had gone before him, as to the beneficial effects to be derived from the propositions of the Right Hon. Baronet. With respect to the sugar-duties, a difference of opinion might be expected ; but at present they had only to look to the schemes propounded as conferring benefits on the most widely-extended interests, and as acting upon the most important springs of industry. AGLIONBY considered that the benefits which would be conferred on the country were greater than any for many years past. One point only he would beg to submit with great deference (whether to be considered now or at a future period) was the duty on tea. He had been informed that the coarser qualities paid a much higher rate of duty in proportion than was exacted for the finer kinds, and this pressed particularly heavy upon the poorer classes of the community. He hoped the subject would be considered by the Right lion. Baronet. Sir IL PEEL expressed himself gratified with the concur rence which had been so readily granted to the propositions he had made, by Hon. Members on both sides of the House. And with respect to the observation of one Hon. Member, that the country had been taken by surprise, he (Sir R. Peel) was sure that the only part of his scheme to which any objection had been raised, viz., the income-tax, had been alluded to at the very commencement of the session, and therefore the country might have been prepared for it. He did not think that any material opposition would be given to the remainder of his propositions. • Mr. ROEBUCK said that the lion. Gentleman behind him (Mr. Curteis) might depend upon it that the income-tax would not be a measure enacted only for three years, but that it would be permanent for the rest of his life.—(Laughter.) Lord J. RUSSELL wished to know whether it was intended to modify the income-tax, or to renew it in its present form ? Sir R. PEEL proposed to renew the tax as it at present stood. He did not wish to enter at any length on the subject, as by so doing he would but prolong a discussion which at pre sent was better avoided. Mr. E. BULLER was not so enthusiastically fond of the Budget as many of his lion. Friends on that (the Liberal) side of the House appeared to be, fur he thought that the income tax would more than counterbalance the good which would be effected by the propositions of the Right Hon. Baronet. The Hon. Baronet stated, in proposing the income-tax, that it should only exist for three or five years, and now they were to renew it. There was an uncertainty now as to when it should cease, and he cautioned Hon. Members that, instead of a temporary tax, they would find it a permanent one. Let the Right Hon. Baronet not deceive himself in supposing that the reduction of duty would increase the demands for the articles on which such reduction had been made, to such an extent that the revenue would not suffer, for after his experi ence of 1841, could he rely on the expectation that three millions of taxes would be made up in a three years' consump tion.—( Hear.) He warned Hon. Members therefore against being deceived by the fallacious expectations held out to them by the Right Hon. Baronet. Mr. WARBURTON could not agree in the sentiment ex pressed by the Hon. Member who had just sat down. It did appear to him (Mr. Warburton) that the income-tax was one which had not been felt as an oppressive one by any parties, and that it would not be in future.—( Hear, hear.) Surely every person should understand that all those whose income existed but for one year paid the tax but for one year.—( Hear, hear, and a laugh.) And from those upon whom the tax was enforced, whose income was in perpetuity, all objection to the payment of it by that class vanished altogether.—(Laughter. ) lie felt quite persuaded that any person who calmly considered this question must see that it never could have been intended to be permanent. —( Hear.) He now begged to mention what appeared to him to be a very important matter as connected with the announcement of the Right Hon. Baro net this evening. He meant with regard to the measure about to be proposed, affecting the duty on sugar. lie entirely con - curred in all that had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet. ex cept that port'on of his statement, for it appeared to him (Mr. W.) that the Right Hon. Baronet was going to give all the benefits of his proposed reduction on sugar to the grower, and not the consumer. As this question was to come again before the House, he would not further dwell upon it at present. Lord JOHN MANNERS spoke in favour of the Budget generally, and expressed his approval of the continuance of the income-tax in particular, as a sound and beneficial measure, for it would press heavily only on those who could afford to pay it. With regard to what had been said by the Hon. Member opposite upon the duties of the Income-tax Com missioners' he was not now prepared to answer upor that question ; but his opinion was, that the selection made of those officers was . most judicious and highly satisfactory to the country. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN believed that all classes of the community, agricultural as well as others, would derive material benefit from the reduction of the duty upon glass. Sir R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Sir Charles Napier, in reference to the amount of the navy estimates, said that the sum required for that branch of the public ser vice would be about 960,0001., and the Gallant Officer might rest assured that it would be as judiciously and as economically applied as her Majesty's Government could suggest. Sir C. NAPIER begged to assure the Right Hon. Baronet that he did not mean to make this either a party or political question. All he looked for was that the Hon. Baronet would institute an investigation, with a view to discovering the best mode of providing the country w itk an efficient steam naval force.—The House then resumed. ► DIRECT NORTHERN RAILWAY. A special general meeting of the Shareholders in the Direct Northern Railway Company was held yesterday, at the office in Moorgate street, for the purpose of authorising the Provisional Committee to proceed to Parliament. The Hon. Mr. ASHLEY occupied the chair, and after briefly stating the object of the meeting, he requested th© secretary to read a report which had been prepared for the occasion. The report minutely detailed the many advantages possessed by the project, and recommended the Pro prietors to empower the Committee, in case it should be subsequently thought advisable, to extend the expendi ture beyond 10s. per share, the original sum specified in the prospectus of the Company. The report having been adopted, The CHAIRMAN proposed to read a memorial to the Board of Trade on the subject of the scheme, but Mr. Alderman COPELAND objected to it, and The CHAIRMAN acceded to the wish of the worthy Alderman, and abstained from reading the document. Mr. MATHESON, M.P., who expressed himself strongly in favour of the Company, moved the first resolution, directing the Committee of Management to remove the ninth clause of the subscribers agreement, limiting the expenditure to 10 s. per share, and authorising them to appropriate the funds already paid up to any expenses which might be incurred in applying to the Legislature for an Act of Parliament sanctioning the project. Mr. CHAPMAN seconded the motion. Mr. Hum' protested against any additional expendi ture, beyond the 10s. per share, because he had pur chased largely, on the understanding that the prelimi nary expenses were not to exceed that sum. He, there fore, should enter a public protest against the proposition. The CHAIRMAN asked the lion. Proprietor if he in tended to move an amendment ? Mr. HuNT replied in the negative. He should simply content himself by protesting against the additional ex penditure, because he did not think it was acting fairly with the shareholders. One of the Committee offered to purchase the Hon. proposer's stock at 21. per share. Mr. HUNT said he should be a considerable loser if he sold them for that price. Mr. Ilosce (of Norwich)—Well, then, I will give you 21. ss. for them.—(Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN—Pray, gentlemen, don't let us con vert our meeting into a stock exchange. s the Hon. Proprietor going to move an amendment or not? Mr. HUNT—I can't say that I am. I only protest against any further outlay. Mr. CHAPMAN was sure there was not another gentle man present who did not fully concur in the terms of the resolution. The Hon. Proprietor appeared to make a personal matter of the loss of his 10s. per share. Mr. HUNT—I bought them at a large premium. Mr. CIIAPMAN—No doubt the Hon. Proprietor did; but a fair and liberal offer had been made to him, and why did he refuse it ? It would place him in the same position now as when he purchased the stock with his eyes open. He trusted, therefore, the Hon. Proprietor would either accept the offer of 21. 55., or consent to withdraw his protest. Mr. HUNT preferred adopting the latter course, and the resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. CROMBY, in moving a vote of thanks to the Pro visional Committee for their past exertions, passed a very warm euiogium upon them for the zeal and attention they had paid to the interests of the Company. He only detained the meeting to relate to them the feeling enter tained in Scotland on the subject of the line. In that part of the kingdom they were all favourable to the pro ject, and the reason was obvious—it: would be a great advantage to Scotland. Why at present it took him to come to London from Aberdeen, the town in which he resided, upwards of four-and thirty hours, and then he had to be out of bed and travel ling two nights. Now, if their line was carried, they would be able to leave Edinburgh at eight o'clock in the morning and reach London by eight o'clock the same evening. It was a wonderful improvement—(Cheers) — and he would defy any company to show how this could possibly be effected without the aid of the Direct Northern Railway.—(Hear.) Mr. REDEWAY seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation. The CZIAIRMAN, in acknowledging the compliment, said the Committee felt that they deserved the confidence of the Shareholders, or they would not have asked them to go on with the undertaking. They had done their best to promote the interests of the Company, and with their continued support they had no doubt success would at tend them in a Committee of the House of Commons. The meeting, which was very numerously attended, and occupied about three.quarters of au hour, then broke up. LAW INTELLIGENCE. SECONDARIES' COURT, Feb. 14. (Before Mr. Secondary POWER.) COOPER V. WATTS. The whole of the forenoon was occupied in this hearing, which was an action at the instance of J. Cooper, tailor, New Bond-street, to recover from H. Watts, of Lincoln's Inn-fields, the sum of 161. 45., for goods supplied at various times from the beginning of 1841 to the end of 1843. While the delivery of the amount of goods named was not denied, it was stated for the defence that Mr. Watts never bad any transactions with the plaintiff, but only with his son, Mr. Edward Cooper, whom he understood to be a principal in the business; that all the orders for goods were given personally to Edward Cooper, at the premises in Bond-street, and not to the plaintiff; and that at various times the defendant, as a set MI, had supplied Mr, Edward Cooper with other goods to the value of 261. 12s. 6d. so that actually defendant had overpaid him more than 101. Evidence was called to show that whatever might be the impression of Mr. Watts in relation to Mr. Edward Cooper's position in the business, that the latter was only foreman to his father ; and, further, that all the transaction* of the business were conducted in the name of James Cooper only up to May, 1844, several months after the debt was contracted. The son bad for a few months after that period carried on business on his own account, but had been obliged to give it up from the difficulties In which he had been involved through im proper conduct, and was new nowhere to be found. The son had supplied the goods to Mr. Watts only in the capacity of servant to his father, and had no right whatever to set off any private debt of his own against the transaction. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict for the full amount of 16/. 4s. FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSELS, FEB. 11.—The average prices of corn in the week ending on the Bth of February :—Wheat, 16f. 36c., and Rye, 10f. 63c. per hectolitre. The duties on importation remain the same as they have been for several weeks past. The Chamber of Representatives has continued to-day the discussion of the articles of the budget of the Mi nister of the Interior, of which several were agreed to. The cold has become very intense within these few days. At Liege it was ten degrees Raumer below zero. BELGIAN FUNDS.—Baussims, FEB. 11. Actual Debt, 2% per Cent ••••• • • • • ..... Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent •••• • • • • Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent.... 98 % Ditto Three per Cent .. ••• • • • •••• • • • • Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto • • 77 Ditto, ditto, 1840.... .. •• • • •• • • • • 103% Ditto, ditto, 1844............ Ditto of the City, 1843 • • . 103% Ditto, 1832 Bank ofßelgium • —Brussels Papers. Feb. 12. FRIDAY - NIGHT'S GAZETTE. WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 14, 1845. 2d Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Cornet F. Hogge, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Robbins, who retires ; V. Carter, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Hogge, Feb. 14. 13th Light Dragoons—Capt. W. D. Hamilton to be Major, by purchase, vice Stones, who retires ; Lieut. T. Bateson to be Captain, by purchase, vice Hamilton ; Cornet J. W. M. G. Hughes to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Bateson ; R. H. Borrowes, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice ilughes, Feb. 14. 16th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant G. T. W. Pipon to be Captain, by purchase, vice Smith, who retires ; Cornet J. T. Waller to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Pipon; A. M. Knight, Gent.,to be Comet,by purchase ' vice Waller, Feb. 14. Ist or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards—Ensign and Lieutenant J. Reeve to be Lieutenant and Captain, by pur chase, vice Allix, whe retires ; G. W. A. Higginson, Gent., to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Reeve, Feb. 14. Scots Fusilier Guards—Ensign and Lieut. H. P. De Bathe to be Lieutenant and Captain,by purchase, vice Davies, who retires ; Lieut. W. B. Parker, from 60th Feot, to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice De Bathe ; Lieut. and Capt. F. C. A. Stephenson to be Adjutant, vice Davies, Feb. 14. Ist Regiment of Foot—W. J. Gillum, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Coote, promoted in 7th Foot, Feb. 14. 7th Foot—Ensign C. C. Neame, from the 47th Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Moore, who retires ; Ensign R. Coote, from the lit Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Mackay, who retires, Feb. 14. 19th Foot—Captain T. Unett, from half-pay Unattached, to be Captain, vice William Bernard, who exchanges, re ceiving the difference, Feb.l4. 34th Foot—Lieutenant J.. Gwilt to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Hutton, who retires ; Ensign C. W. G. Burrill to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Gwilt ; J. Jordan, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Burrill, Feb.l4. 45th Foot—F. 0. Barker, Gent. to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Hearn, appointed to the Staff, Feb. 14. 47th Foot—Ensign H. Nangle, from the 50th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Neame, promoted in 7th Foot, Feb. 14. 60th Foot—Second-Lieutenant J. Bailie to be First-Lieute nant by purchase,vice A. R. Saunders, who retires ; V. Tongue, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Bailie, Feb. 14. 66th Foot—Lieut. F. C. Trench to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Taylor, whose promotion has been cancelled, Jan. 24. 77th Foot—Ensign T. 0. Forster to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Denys, who retires ; W. W. G. Dilke, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Forster, Feb. 14. Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Assistant -Surgeon A. B. Cleland, M.D., from the Sta fl ; to be Assistant -Surgeon, vice Millar, promoted on the Stafl; Feb. 14. BREVET.— Captain I'. Unett, of 19 th Foot, to be Major in the Army, Nov. 23, 1841. HOSPITAL STAFF.—Assistant -Surgeon t J. Millar, M.D. from the Royal Canadian Rifle Regra n, geon of Second Class, vic e ANV iiy, cto be Staff-Sur • who retires upon half-pay; Assistant -Surgeon C. B. Hearn , from 45 th Foot , to be Assistant -Surgeon t o the n l e 'orcc ie s, l 4ice Cleland, appointed to the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, E rra t u m in the Gazette of Jan 24. Commission signed by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk. For 11. Villebois, Esq., to be Deputy •Lieutenant, read H. Villebois, junior, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant. WIIITEHALL, JAN. 7. Tindal, Kr Th e Right Hon. Sir Nickolas Corryngham Lord Chief Justice of her Majesty's COuit - of Common Pleas, has appointed Thomas Tudor Trevor, of Guisborough, in the county of York, Gent.. to be one of the Perpetual Commis sioners for taking the acknowledgments of deeds to be exe cuted by married women, under the Act passed for the abo lition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution of more simple modes of assurance, in and for the North Riding of the county of York. WHITEHALL, JAN. 16, 1845. The Lord Chancellor has a. cinted Francis Soames, of Wokingham, in the county of t erks, Gent. to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. H. Jones, wine merchant, Canterbury—second div. of 2 3 / 4 d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Buinauu-street. R. J. Craneis, butcher, Maldon—first div. of ls. 6d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basing hall-street. J. Holland, grocer, Buxted—first div. of 2s. in the pound, any 'Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basingball-i, - I ` r street. R. Williams, butter dealer, Bristol—first div. of 3s. 6d..in\ . the pound, Feb. 17, or any subsequent Monday, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. R. Younghusband, brick-maker, Cheltenham — first div. of 74 :-:4(1 .1 v - , 3d. in the pound, Feb. 17, or any subsequent Monday, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. W. Law, draper, Reading—first div. of 35. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basinghall street. H. R. Harraden, printsellar, Cambridge—first div. of ss. in - the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basinghall. street. G. Purt, ale merchant, Upper Thames-street—first div. of Is. 4d. in the pound, any ednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Ba.singhall-street. J. Bradshaw and G. Williams, woollen drapers, Maryle bone-street—third div. of 13jd. in the pound, any Wednes day, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basinghali street. J. Woollen', silk throwster, St. Albans—first div. of ls. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basinghall. street. J. Lark, boot-maker, Seymour-street, Enston-square— • second div. of 31,fd. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Basinghall-street. W. Chamberlain, linen draper, Peckham—first div. of Is. 6d. in the pound, anyWedne6day, at the (ace of Mr. Pen nell, Basinghall-street. W. Yuill, tailor, Cornhill—first div. of 3s. 74d. in the pound, any 'Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basingliall-street. M. Thompson, ironmonger, Saffron Walden—first div. of 7s. 3/ t d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basingliall-street. J. Jardine, merchant, Liverpool—second div. of 2 1 / B d. in the pound, Feb. 20, or any subsequent Thursday, at the office of Mr. Cazenove, Liverpool. J. Lock, tea dealer, Northampton—second and final div. of 2d in the pound, Feb. 15, and three following Saturdays, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane._ W. Morgan, senior, hardwarman, St. Swithin's.lane—first div. of 3s. 4d. in the pound, Feb. 15, and three following Sa turdays, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane. BANKRUPTS. A. L. Flint, warehouseman, Aldermanbury, to surrender Feb. 25, at half-past one, and March 28, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Cox, Pinner's-hall, Old Broad-street. W. A. Christian, innkeeper, Newcastle-street, Strand, Feb. 21, at two, and March 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Poyn ter and Co., Gray's Inn. J. White, leather seller, Great St. Andrew-street, Seven dials, Feb. 26, at half-past two, and March 25, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Hall, Rupert-street, Haymarket. J. Turner and S. Weeks, stonemasons, Southampton, Feb. 19, and March 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Old Jewry-chambers; Paterson, Bouverie-street, Fleet -street. J. Oldham, iron -founder, Hull, Feb. 26, and March 28, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Fearne, official assignee, Leeds; Willis and Co., Tokenhouse-yard, London; Colbeck and Co., Hull ; Horsfall and Hanson, Leeds. W. Howell, jun., bookseller, Liverpool, Feb. 25, and March 25, at eleven, Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assig nee, Liverpool ; Cornthwaite and Co., Old Jewry-chambers ; Fisher and Stone, Liverpool. J. Sanderson, merchant, Liverpool, Feb. 25, and March 25, 'at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official ' assignee Liverpool; Birch and Bramali, Great Winchester street, London ; Stockley and Thompson, Liverpool. F. J. Rawlings, cabinet maker, Cheltenham, Feb. 28, at twelve, and March 28, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official assignee, Bristol; Newbon and Evans, Doctors'-commons, London. S. Watson, stone-mason, Ilighbridge, Somersetshire, Feb. 26, at one, and April 2, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Gray, Bristol. R. Hill, currier, Exeter, Feb. 25, and March 25, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter ; Terrell, Exeter ; Terrell, Gray's Inn-square, London. J. n‘William, hosier, Gloucester, Feb. 26, at two, and April 3, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol ; Richards and Co., Tewkesbury. J. Wicks, grocer, Bristol, Feb. 27, at one, and April 3d, at the Bristol District Court. Acranaan, official assignee, Bris tol ; Gray, Bristol. PRICE OF SUGAR. The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, for the week ending Feb. 11, 1845, is 28s. 1 id .per cwt., exclusive of the Duties of Customs paid or payable thereon on the im portation thereof into Great Britain. (Dividends, &c., in our next.) BANK OF ENGLAND. (From Friday Night's Gazelle.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week eliding on Saturday, the Bth day of February, 1845. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The motion for a Committee of Supply was postponed unti Monday, and the House adjourned at a Quarter past Nine. THE PORTLAND VASE. On Thursday, a letter was received by Mr. Jardine, at the Bow street Police.ollice, with an enclosure of 31., which the writer re quested he would apply to the payment of the sum awarded, in compensation, to the Trustees of the British Museum, and in de fault of which the young man who destroyed the Portland Vase and its glass case, had been committed to hard labour for two mouths. The sum was accordingly appropriated to this purpose, and the Governor of Tothill-fields prison received the authority of the ma gistrate to discharge his prisoner, who immediately repaired to the European Coffee-house, in Long-acre, where he previously resided, and at which, we believe, he is still located. From another source we learn that the offender, who de nies that his name is William Lloyd (the name by which he was known at the coffee-house, is a student at the Dublin University, which he entered as a pensioner, under the tui tion of Dr. Atkins, and at which he has at present a brother of considerable standing. Beyond this he gives no particu lars respecting himself and family, from a desire, as he stated when under examination, not to inflict upon his relatives the pain of his disgrace. He says that his object in visiting Eng land was merely to spend the vacation in viewing the principal exhibitions and other objeets of attraction in the metropolis ; and that having exhausted his means, it was his intention to have written to his friends for a remittance to enable him to return to Dublin. During the short period of his confinement, we understand, he felt very deeply the degradation to which he was exposed ; and, on more than one occasion, evinced rather a refractory dis. position. Thursday morning he refused to comply with certain regulations of the prison, and having been consequently handled by one of the turnkeys, with the view of compelling submission, he raised his arm and struck him a violent blow over his car. For this breach of order he was consigned to solitary confinement, with the additional restraint of a pair of handcuffs, and in this position he was kept until the unexpected arrival of an order for his dismissal. He has never been heard to speak of the offence for which he was committed in other than terms of apparent contrition. Indeed, he talks of a willingness to give up his claim to pro perty to which he is entitled, and to devote the remainder of his life to any pursuit by which he could be instrumental in affording reparation to the Museum for the mischief which, in an uncon. scious moment, he was the means of causing. Of the genuineness of all this it is as impossible to speak with certainty, as it is dangerous to offer an opinion. We can only say he wears the look of sincerity. If, in smashing one of the most precious relics of antiquity in the whole Museum, the delinquent sought notoriety, and knew, from the deplorable deficiency of the law, that he could thus obtain it without material personal punish ment (even if he failed in exciting commisseration, by talking of unaccountable visitations, brought on by rash intemperance), we can only say that he has accomplished his object well, for never were the fraternity of " penuy.a.liners" more busy in their inqui. ries, or the active artists of our illustrated periodicals more anxious in their endeavours to present to the world the very eyes, nose, and mouth, of any " mysterious" being who, of late years, has ex cited public attention. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. • PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY. —AdmiraI Sir Charles Rowley, Bart., Commander-in-Chief, re-hoisted his flag on board the St. Vincent on Monday. The Lily, 16, Commander Newton, left the harbour and an. chored at Spithead on Monday. Captain Rowley mustered and in. spected the crew the same day; she was paid in advance yester day, and sailed to-day for the Brazils. The Medway royal mail steamer, having bad her rudder repaired and copper examined, was undocked on Monday, and left for Southampton on Tuesday. . The Duck lighter arrived yesterday from Chatham, with stores. It is not the intention of her Majesty to honour the Isle of Wight with a residence next autumn, her Majesty hiving notified to Lady Isabella Blachford, that Osborne House would not be re. quired for the royal residence, and given up the contract for that mansion. The furniture removed from the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, has been packed up to be returned to that Palace. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. EAST INDIA SIIIPPING. Danny, from Bengal, off Falmouth, sailed Sept. 15, Cape Dec. 21 ' • Earl Durham, Dickson, from Madras, off P o rtsmouth, sailed Oct. 15, St. Helena Dse. 27 ; M'Leod, Cooper, from Mauritius, off the Wight, sailed Nov. 14 ; Lady Feversham, Webster, from Madras, off Portland, sailed Oct. 3, St. Helena Dec. 18. Arrivals in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope—Helen, Potter, Dec. 18, from Ichaboe ; Marquis of Lorn, Murray, from London ; Skipton, 19 th, Ichaboe ; George Henry Har rison, from Knysna ; Georgiana, from Ichaboe ; Henry Thompson, from whaling, Pacific, 20th, from the South Seas ; Loire (11. F. M. S.) horn Rio ; Emma, White, from Cal cutta ; Emma, Hartley, 21st, from Bombay ; Belle Creole, Purchase, from Mauritius; Thomas Jones, Hamilton, from Holland's Island ; John Bartlett, from Ichaboe. Arrival in Simon's Bay—llydrabad, Robertson, Dec. 19, from London to Hobart Town. Departures from Table Bay—Exeter, Dec. 17, Emerald, 17th, Sirius, 18th, Isaac, 19th, all to Ichaboe ; Chanticleer, to Algoa Bay. Arrival in Algoa Bay—lndus, Cragg, Dec. 12, f ro m De- Arrival Bay. 'Departures from Algoa Bay—Ann, Caithness, Dec.l2, to Mauritius. Departures from Bat Arrival at Samarang a — vi l a ime a ry nik , p ei Merrilies, 29th , to Manilla ; Pilot, 20th, to China ; Megrgaltao3i')ag,.. Globe, 31, to Bordeaux ; George, . 0 . , 2 cx - t 4 . ,f 6. : 1 1 1 0, Itsl,ooo unChina. THE Bisnor. or ELY.—In answer to inquiries yesterday at the Right Rev. Prelate's residence in Dover-street, it was stated that his Lordshir was deireo bettm. ISSUE DEPARTXENT. X. X. Notes issued ...... 28,447,835 Government debt 11,015,100 Other securities 2,984,900 Gold coin and bul -1 lion 12,552,401 I Silver bullion 1,895,434 £28,447,835 'Sr. Dated the 13th day of Febr £28,447,835 RSHALL, Chief Cashier. r, 1845. BANKING D: ;PARTNENT. Proprietors' capita 114,553,000 Rest Public deposits (in cluding Exche quer, Savings banks, Commis sioners of National abnernment secu rities (including Dead Weight Annuity) Other securities 10,065,958 Notes 8,128,350 Gold and silver coin 700,748 Debt, and divi dend accounts) 3,715,171 Other deposits 9,732,193 Seven day and other bills £32,371,216 .1:32,371,814 RSHALL, Chief Cashier. tary, 1845. M. MA Dated the lath day of Febru, PROMISSORY NOTES. (From Last Night's Gazette.) An account of the Average Aggregate Amount of Promis sory Notes payable to bearer on demand, which have been in circulation by the Banks in Scotland, by the Bank of Ire land, and by all other Banks in Ireland, during the four weeks ending the Ist day of February, 1845, pursuant to the Act of 4th and sth Victoria, cap. 50 : SCOTLAND. Chartered, Private, and Joint-Stock Banks £3,070,058 IRELAND. _ --- _ Bank of Ireland 3,983,050 PriTate and Joint-Stock Banks Total H. L. WICKIIAM. Stamps and Taxes, Feb. 14, 1845. RAILWAY COLLISION. Nxwcarri.x.ors-Trtss, Fan. 12.—A collision of trains took place last night on the Brandling Junction Railway, the report of Which excited considerable alarm in this town, until it was satis. factorily ascertained that no lives were lost. It appears that the eight o'clock train from Gateshead to Sunderland was approaching Felling station, when the speed of the train was slackened to stop at the station; but before the train reached the sta. Lion a smart shock was felt by the passengers, who were thrown from their seats, and a general rush was made to get out of the carriages, the women screaming, and the melt in a state of bewilderment. The line, it seems, is undergoing repair at this part, so that there is only one line in operation for a short distance. A long luggage train was coming in the' op.. posite direction from Brockley Whins, and was in the act of leaving the one line and crossing on to the other line, where• The repairs are finished. The engine of the luggage train had just got on the other line, when the passenger train ran plump into the waggons next it, which were thrown off the line, piled one above another, and scattered on all sides by the shock. The engine of the passenger train was much broken, there being a large rent through which the fire tumbled on to the ground, and a general cry arose that the engine would burst, which added greatly to the prevailing consternation, every one endeavouring to get as far from it as possible. Had the Sunderland train from Gateshead been half a minute earlier, the two engines would have met, and frightful would havi been the consequences. The engine of the luggage train, which has sustained no injury, was immediately sent off to Gateshead to stop all trains leaving, and bring men to assist in clearing the line, the passengers being in the meantime accommodated in the station. In about half an hour afterwards the train from Sunderland an. rived, and as it could not proceed for the ruins, it was emptied of • its passengers, and those from Gateshead get in. This train, with the Gateshead passengers, left the Felling-station at ten minutes to ten o'clock, having been detained upwards of an hour and a half, and then it proceeded at a very slow pace, as it had to pass the York train, and there was also danger of meeting any other train from Brock's), Whins. After reaching Brockley 'Whims, the speed of the train was increased, as there was then no danger of meeting any other engine between that place and Sunderland, where the passengers were landed in safety, at eleven o'clock. The men were a long time in clearing away the wreck of carriages, and the line was interrupted for several hours. Happily, a few slight bruises comprised the extent of injury sustained by any of the pas. sengers. Much blame is attached to the engineman of the head train, who says he did not see the red light attached te*.frhe luggage -train. However that may be, it was a fortunate demi- .. stance that he had slackened speed .s.t.the station, for otherwise the collision would doubtless have been fatal. • COURT CIRCULAR. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz yes terday at Cambridge House. A deputation in support of the Irish Great Western Bail- way from Dublin to Galway, consisting of the following noblemen and gentlemen .--the Earl of Devon, Lord Oran more, Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P., Hon. Col. Butler, M.P , Mr. J. B. Martin, Mr. M. J. Blake, M.P., Mr h . la W ianr ..l G i m. . C, Gi a e uebfi o l. ry anl_,d . ,. .. M.P., Mr. F. French, M.P., the O'Conor Don, M.P., Di r. B', Baker, M.P., Sir J. Burke, Mr. A. 11. Lynch, Lae Mr. Denis Kirwan, High Sheriff county of Galway, Mr. G. 0: R M e r v . . J. D'Arcy, Mr. J. U. Moore, High Sheriff Roscommon, on, had an interview with ~ RoMro.ttbAn. andJo y e Captainc, Dir. it .1 W. S. .L h y i n ° o c h r s , the Earl of _ . Dalhousie yesterday a t the office of the Board of'': Trade. Mr. Dean, Chairman of the Customs, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing. street. The Chief Commissioner of the Woods and Forests had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. The Committee of Canal Proprietors, the representatives of Canal Companies, had an interview with the Earl of Dal housie, at the Boa r d of Trade, yesterday. The deputation was headed by Mr. William Beckett, M.P., and Mr. Edmund Buckley, M.P. Dispatches from the Governor-General of Canada, and also from the Governors of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. The Postmaster-General had an interview with the Chan cellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Lieutenant-Colonel the Ron. G. D. Pennant had an inter. view with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday. Mr. Hedworth Lambton, M.P., arrived at Farranee's . Hotel . on Thursday evening, from Paris. Lord and Lady Rayleigh and the Rev. Robert and the Hon. Mrs. Drummond, have been placed in mourning by the demise.of the venerable Col. Strutt, who expired at Bath on - Tuesday last. We learn by a letter from Berne of the 6th, t h a t the Grand t Council of Zurich has come to a series of resolutions fur tho ex. thc C ur of pultion of the Jesuits, similar to th ose pa 140 .1 bY Berne and Soleure. .F i .„ Maikl .. •., p