The Sun. — London, England, 1822-03-21 00:00:00

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Navy-Office, March 40, 1823. %THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS and COM 417SSIONERS of HIS itbifEsTrs N/IVY do hereby - give Notice, that on Thursday, the 4th Ap r il next, at One o'clock, they will be ready to treat with such Per 4*v as may be willing to Vinaract for supplying His Ma jesty's Yard at Deptford with IIL4CK SILK HANDKERCHIEFS, for the use of the Seamen of the Revel Nary. 4 Form of the I'ender may be seen at this Office. No Tender_ will be received after One o'clock on the Day of Treaty, nor any noticed unless the Party, or an "'gent for Mat, attends. Every Tender must be accompanied by a• Letter ad.. areised to the Navy Board, and signed by a responsible Prrson, engaging to become bound with the Person tender t"8, in the Sum of 4001, for the due performance of the Contract. VIC7'UeILLING-OFFICA, March 13, 1322. TIE COMMISSIONERS f or' ,VICTUAL, L ING His 11fAJES:erS 14 PT do hereby give No *ce, That 9n Tuesday, the 36th instant, they will be , ready to reroive Tenders in writing (sealed up), and treat for • One Hundred Thousand Gallons of WEST INDIA RUM, of the strength of 5 per cent. under proof by Sikes's Hydrometer. 'One Thousand Sacks of RISK ET MEAL; Fifty Tons of OATMEAL; Forty Tans of CHEESE ; rind Twenty Tons of BUTTER ; 7 'o be delivered into His Majesty's Victualling _Stores at Ileptford, in the space of One Month (the Bisket Meal by , Tyual weep, proportions) ; and also fur tlth supply of what , TALLOW CANDLES may be demanded fur the service of the &ere: aforesaid, fur One Year froni the date of the Contract. The whole to be paid for by Rills, payable, without in 4ercat, sixty days after date. The Conditions of the Contract may be seen at this Office, No regard will be had to any Tender in which the Prue "ell not be inserted words at length; .or that shall not Le delivered to the Board before One o'Clock on the said Tuesday, the 26th instant; nor anless thi Person who makes ?he lender, or some Person on his behalf, attends to answer 2c hen calledfor. METROPOLITAN LAW SOCISTY. Secretary of Bankrupts' Office, Aug. 15, 1821. IT is ordered by the LORD CHANCEL.. " IL LOR, that in Affidavits made in support of Applica tions for the Direction of Commissions of Bankrupts to be executed in the Country to five Attorneys, instead of two Barristers as Quorum Commissioners, and three Attorneys; in addition to the circumstances of there not being two Bar 'fitters resident within 20 miles of the place at which it is in 'tended the Commission should be executed, or not two Bar risters within 20 miles ) who, as the Deponent verity believes, Will be willing to attend, it be further stated,'" That the Deponent verily believes there are not any two Barristers who will be willing to attend at [specifying the place at which it is intended the Commission shall be executed], or at any convenient place in the neighbourhood thereof, to act under the said Commission for the Fees allowed by the Statute." The Secretary of Bankrupts is authorized to pre pare Fiats accordingly. on Affidavits. distinctly stating the above Particulars, being filed, with out any other Application made to the Court. Printed, and distributed by order of the Committee, JAMES ANDERTON, Secretary. Quality -court, March 15, 1822. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN. LAST' NIGHT BUT TWO. Under the Management of Mr. BOCSHA. TO-MORROW, FRIDAY, March the 22d, A GRAND PERFORMANCE of ANCIENT and MODERN MUSIC, comprising some MISCELLANEOUS l IECES, a SELECTION from a (MS.) Serious Drama, en titled BAJAZET; Handers celebrated Sacred Oratorio, of I SRAEL IN EGYPT; and Concertos on the Violoncello a nd Violin, by Mr. LINDLEY and Mr. MORI. PRINCIPAL SINGERS.—Mrs. Salmon, Miss Stephens, Ma dame Ronzi de Begnis, Miss Goodall, Mrs. Bellchawbers Miss Posey, and Madame Can2porese ; Mr. Bellamy, Mr. Be: Signor de Begnis, Mr.Pyne, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Nelson, A lr• Tinoey, Master Longhurst, and Mr. Sapid. C onductor—Sir Geo. Smart, who will preside at the. Organ. Leader—Mr. Smart. BRITISH INSTITUTION, PALL MALL. HIS GALLERY, for the EXHIBITION 1OP71: and SALE of the WORKS o f MODERN ARTISTS, I EN daily from Ten in the Morning until Five in the Adntivion is.—Catalogue Is. By Order, JOHN YOUNG, Keeper. GENERAL MEETING of WEST INDIA PLANTERS and MERCHANTS will be held at the uf LONDO N TAVERN, in Bisbops g S ate-street , FRIDAY the tit' day of March instant, on SPECIAL AF PAIRS. The Chair will be taken at One o'Clock precisely. 'WM. HOLDEN, Secretary. THREE £2,000 PRIZES IN TWO DAYS! I vir DISH of the OLD STATE LOTTERY • OFFICES, 4, Coruhill, and 9, Ch ar i ng C ross , re aectfully reminds his hest Friend s , th e P u bli c . t h at t h ere the hut Two snor e Day e Days to draw of the present Lottery, an d Wheel n ow ins 4 1 3 'Prizes of l,OOO 3 4 . Prizes of 3OO 25 '6 All of whi c h mnst b e d rawn in Two Days! g.,* The very Fi rs t P r i ze drawn NEXT THURSDAY, the ',7 1 11 instant, must b e more than £20,000 Money; and seve 'al other ( c apitals must be drawn the same Day. loWSß'sarranted Undran Tickets and Shares are selling at Offices, where FOURTEEN Capitals hare already e ei l sold i n th e present Lottery; and as BISH'S Offices 4 re te maittable for selling First -drawn Capitals, he hopes and tl iTectsto sell th e - zio,ooo r,ExT THURSDAY! EIS. '• ute. y of try, y of y of Pa- !ath, [y of son. 'tail' fr, to lid- Mr. the the one, me, ,dest kin, ng. Rev. rt at first ;.e in rver, anal nor ; y his Dore, .d 43 ami- Mina 2d [ham years ,ush- l 19, r the spas aniel n. ly of Rev. lOW er of Rev. Ser- rish, nett. hard nuel Rev. rent rcer, Rev. low ieath :nox, f the Rev. Cas- eyor- Pilot, Mr. years of the le of Asf• Poli— 4 siz ierulf, John en, of gram, rchant ;ed 13. Esq., retted eldest , aged- ;hison; r a son- r S. R. ie Prc- Bow- 'tighter lent of . Corn' 3 ears' Marine e SO' PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, WEDNESDAY MARCH 9.0. Lord ORMOND (Earl of Ormond in Ireland) took the oaths and his seat, as a Baron of the United Kingdom. He was introduced by the Earl of LIMERICK (as Lord Foxford) and Lord CALTHO RPE. An Account of the Balances in the Hands of the Deputy Postmasters of Great Britain was presented at the Bar: Mr. WODEHOUSE and others from the Com- - mons brought up the , Norfolk Gaol Bill ai.sl a Road Bill, which were read a first time. The Laud Tax Commissioners' Names Bill was read a second time ; and, the standing orders on the progress of Bills having been suspended, it was afterwards read a third time and passed. The Aliens' and Denizens' Bill, the Annual Indemnity Bill, the Army Mutiny Bill, and the Marine Mutiny Bill, were read a third time and passed.—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. SHOP AND HOUSE TAX. • Mr. HOBHOUSE gave notice that after the holidays he would move for the Repeal of the Shop and House Tax. TALLOW. Mr. SYKES presented a Petition from certain Ship Owners in Hull interested in the Whale Fisheries, praying that the du ties on the importation of foreign Tallow should be increased. —Ordered to be printed. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Mr. CURWEN, with a view of showing the great extent of Agricultural Distress, and that it pervaded every part of the country, moved that there be laid before the House an Account of all Petitions complaining of Agricultural Distress, during the years 1820, 1321 and 1822 ; specifying the places from whence presented.—Ordered. LOCAL TAXATION IN DUBLIN. Mr. ELLIS rose, in pursuance of his notice, to move for a Committee on the state of the Lo ca l T axat i on in Dublin. The Hon. Gentleman said it was a subject on which much anxiety existed ; although it was one altogether divested of party feel. ing. At present it frequently happened that the most opulent portion of the inhabitants of the City of Dublin were taxed but slightly, while the burden of the local taxation fell almost ex clusively on the poorer districts. It was desirable that the sub ject should be investigated by a Committee, in order to pave the way for some measure of regulation which should render the local rates less partial and oppressive. After some further ob servations on the existing evil, the`Hon. Gentleman moved that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the local taxa tionof the City of Dublin, and to report their proceedings and observations thereon to the House. The motion was agreed to, and a Committee appointed. VAGRANT LAWS. Mr. CHETWYND, with a view to the illustration of the Bill Which he had obtained leave to bring in, and which he was about immediately to bring in on the subject, moved that there be laid before the House an account of all the sums which had been paid by the Treasurers of Counties in England and Wales to the various officers of Those counties for the ap prehension of vagrants, and of all the persons who had been committed under the Vagrant Laws.—Ordered. Mr. CHETWYND then brought in his Bill for consoli dating into one Act and amending the Laws relating to Rogues, Vagabonds, He observed that it was not his intention to move the second reading of the Bill until after Easter, that the Magistrates in the country might have full opportunity of ascertaining its provisions. The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be Rrinted. SCOTS JUR t,'IIEN. On the motion of Mr. KENNEDY, an account was order ed to be laid before the House of the names, designations, and residence of the persons who had been summoned to serve on Juries in the Court of Justiciary in Scotland for the last ten years, with the names of the counties and towns whence they were summoned. HIGHWAYS IN SCOTLAND. On the motion of Mr. HUNTER BLAIR, a Select Com. mittee was appointed to take into consideration the Acts now in force respecting Turnpike Roads and Highways in Scotland, for the purpose of consolidating and amending the same. DUTY ON CANDLES. Mr: SYKES fixed his dropped notice of yesterday for a motion to repeal the Duty on Tallow Candles, for Ttiesday, April 30th. SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS BILL. Mr. CHET IV YND, in moving the Commitment of the Sum mary Proceedings Bill, said that he had been favoured with many suggestions on the subject, both from Members of that House, and from Magistrates in the country. It was his in. tention to introduce these amendments into the Bill in the Committee, and on the bringing up of th e R e p or t, t o move that the Bill should be recommitted and printed. The Bill then went through a Committee, in which the amendments were introduced. The House having resumed, the Report was brought up, and ordered to be taken into fur ther consideration on Friday se'nnight ; and the Bill, as amended, was ordered to be printed. LAND TAX ASSESSMENTS. On the motion of Mr. HUME (who complained that similar Returns throughout the Bills of Mortality, ordered on his mo tion last Session, had not hitherto been made), a Return was ordered to be laid before the House of all Assessments to the Land Tax in Kensington and Chelsea, in the Hundred of Os sulstone, in the County of Middlesex, for the last seven years. MR. HUN . Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from certain Inhabitants of Ashton-under-Line, praying that the restric tions on Mr. Hunt might not be renewed.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a. similar Petition from the inhabitants of Mosley, in the parish of Ashton-under-Line; it also prayed an inquiry into the transactions which took place at Manchester on the 16th . of August.—Ordered to be printed._ The Hon. Member presented similar petitions from Oldham and Manchester, with a further prayer for a radical and effec tual Reform in Parliament. After a few words from Mr. DICKINSON, the Petitions were read and ordered to be printed. PROTRACTED IMPRISONMENT BEFORE TRIAL. Mr. WESTERN gave notice that he should, on Wednes day the 27th, present a Petition from the Grand Jury of the County of Essex, complaining of the length of imprisonment to which persons were at present subject before trial; and also of the long period which intervened between the Summer and Lent , Assizes. He should follow up this Petition by moving that the question be referred to a Committee, o r suc h ot h er measure as hould to him appear most expedient. - A 7 IP TITPTV MXLT DUTY . REPEAL BILL. On the Order for the third reading of the Malt Duty Re peal Bill, Mr. C. SMITH and Mr. H. GURNEY made a few obser vations, after which the Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of Sir G. CLERK, a motion made by the Member for Aberdeen on the 7th inst. was discharged (it hav ing been found inconvenient to comply with its terms exactly.) The documents moved for were laid on the Table (up to the latest period to which they could be made out.) Mr. HUME moved for a Return of the Sums deducted from the Wages of the Officers and Men in the. Sea Service, under the 7th and Bth .of William 111. or any other Acts, and paid into Greenwich or Chatham Chest, together with' its applica tion.—Ordered. COLONIAL DISTRESS. Mr. MARRYAT presented a petition from the Council and the House of Assembly of the Island of Grenada, complaining of the Distress to which the inhabitants of that Island, in com mon with those of all the other British West India Colonies, were reduced, and praying that the House would afford them such relief as was absolutely necessary to save them from im pending ruin. The Honourable ➢Member stated, that the dis tress of the agriculturists at home had a prior claim to the at, tention of the House, but that the next subject, in point of im- portance, for their consideration, was the distress that prevailed among the agriculturists of our West India Colonies. We read in a pamphlet, said to be published under official authority, that the total of all the sums raised upon the land, in Great Britain and Ireland, under the several heads of Beer, Malt, Hops, and Land-tax, for the year 1821, was in gross receipt about 9,000,0001. ' • and that the Customs an d E xcise on our Colonial produce afforded little less than 8,200,0001. to the Re venue : so great, according to the author of the State of the Nation, was the claim of our, sugar colonies to a degree of poli tical importance, next _only to our landed interest; pee longo intervallo proxiputs. .The petitioners stated the sources of their distress to be, the want of their former intercourse with the United States of America, and the very low prices of their produce. In consequence of the former circumstance the prices of lumber and provisions in the British Islands were double those paid in the foreign islands, into which American vessels were admitted. This difference was partly owing to the prime cost of some of the articles being higher in the British provinces in North America than in the Unit ed States ; partly to the communication with Canada, and, indeed, most of the ports in the British North American provinces, being interrupted y the ice or tempestuous w ea th er during,a consid er abl e p art o f tlle year ; and partly to the mar kets in all those ports being so overloaded with. rum—the arti cle in which the returns for lumber and provisions were made —that they would take no more, and therefore discontinued sending the necessary supplies. The fact was, that the whole consumption of rum in the British provinces in North Ameri ca, including Newfoundland, did not exceed 25,000 puncheons per annum, which was only the produce of two small islands, and did not exceed one-eighth of the whole. The consump tion of the United St a t es o f America, while the intercourse with them was open, was six times the quantity taken by the Bri tish provinces, which was nearly equal to the proportionate po pulation of the two countries : but, since we had excluded their ships from our colonies, they had excluded the produce of our colonies from their ports, and the loss of this market had been grievously felt by the British West India planters. The con sequence was, that the redundant quantity sent to Europe had so reduced the price, that it did not actually defray the charges of distillation. Leeward I s l an d s ' rum , of proof strength, lead been selling for sev era l mont h s at l a 4d. per gallon ; the freight and charges upon it were Bd., the cask that contained it cost 4d., and the remaining 4d. did not reimburse the planter for the coals sent out from England, and the cost and repair of the stills and worms vats, and other utensils, necessary for distil lation ; so that the rum, instead of providing, as formerly, for the greater part of the island expences of a sugar estate, was now a total loss to the planter. The price of sugar was also so much depressed, as not to pay the expence of cultivation ; and the British planter, notwithstanding his utmost skill and economy, now found his labour lost, and his property annual ly diminishing. The petitioners ascribed the present depre ciation of their staple commodity to the increased interference of :East India sugar in the consumption of the mother coun try, and to the augmented produce of the Spanish and Por tuguese colonies where the slave-trade was still carried on.— . With respect to the first of these circumstances, the addi tional duty imposed upon East India sugar was intended as a protection to West India sugar, unless the price should advance upon the consumer beyond a reasonable rate; but it did not at present answer that purpose. Since the opening of the pri vate trade to India, the number of ships sent from Great Britain to that part of the world had greatly increased. The only commodities. they could find there to use as ballast in the voyage home were saltpetre and sugar ; and as the quantity of the former was very insufficient for that purpose , they made up the deficiency with th e l atter . S ugar from India, therefore, being merely a substitute for ballast, might be considered as coming home freight free, an advantage which was never con templated when the duties were arranged ; and the quantity introduced into home consumption was annually increasing.— The petitioners contended, that as their trade was restricted to Great Britain, they were entitl e d t o a p re f erence i n t h e B r i t i s h market; and that such countervailing duties ought to be im posed upon East India sugar as to ensure the West India planters a fair price, before it was admitted ;nto competition with them. The other and far more important cause of their distress was the vast increase that had taken place in the culti vation of sugar in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, where the slave-trade was still carried on. It was long ago predicted, that unless this trade was abolished by Great Britain in concert with the other Powers of Europe, the great objects of huma nity and philanthropy would be defeated, and the British West India colonies be ruined. The former prediction had already been accomplished, and the latter was-in a fair way of being so. The abolition by Great Britain had served as a stimulus to other nations to continue it to a greater extent than ever, and under circumstances of accumulated barbarity, that made the heart sicken at their recital. The growth of sugar in the inundated every colonies had thus incr ease d to a d egree t h at every market in Europe, and brought great distress on the British planter, who depended upon those markets to take Off the surplus of his produce beyond what was required for home consumption. The first remedy prayed for by the Petitioners was the renewal of the former intercourse between the British West India colonies and the United States of America. He (Mr. Marryat) was an advocate for the navigation system ; but he could not forget the observation of Mr. Burke, that " if that law be suffered to run the 'full length of its principle, and is not changed and modified according to the change of time and circumstances, it must do great mischief, and frequently defeat its own purpose. It will no t on l y t i e , b ut strang l e. " This was, in his opinion, a case of that description ; for the effect of its enforcement was not only to double the cost of the supplies necessary for the British planter, but also to deprive him, of the best market for his rum, and render it of no value whatever. The only interests that could possibly be affected by this measure were those of the British provinces in North America, and the British ship-owners. The objections of the former might be done away, by the imposition of a duty upon such American articles as came into competition with those that were the growth and produce of our own provinces ; this would give them all that colonies could reasonably claim—protection without monopoly. The interests of the British ship-owners wouldauffer more by driving the West India planters to ex tremity and ruin, which must be the consequence of continuing the present system, than by granting them the relief prayed for. If they were incapable of continuing the cultivation of sugar and rum, without loss, they must give it up, and raise provisions for their own subsistence, and that of their slaves. The ship-owners would then lose a far more important branch of their carrying trade than the cross voyages between the West India Colonies and the British Provinces in North Ame rica.' The next remedy to which the petitioners begged to call the attention of the House was the effectual abolition of the slave trade by the other Powers of Europe. That his Ma jesty's Ministers had not only made great efforts, but also great sacrifices, in order to accompli s h this obj ec t, h e rea dil y admitted ; and therefore had only to express his hope that their persevering endeavours in this good cause would be crowned with final success. Appearances, however, were at present far from promising. The Government of Spain had, in deed, lately passed a law, inflictingpunishment on those who car ried it on; but it was well known, that for many years past, neither the laws nor treaties of Spain had been observ e d i n th e island of Cuba. By the treaty between Spain and Great Britain, the final abolition of the slave trade in the Spanish Colonies was to have taken place in Oct. 1820, and the Judges and Commissioners appointed by the Power s to t r y all violations of the abolition laws arrived at the Havannah previous to that period ; but in the face of them all, the intendant at the Havannah took upon himself the responsibility of admitting every slave 'ship that came to that port, whether under the Spanish, French, or Por tuguese flag; and the Judges and Commissioners had never been allowed to interfere. So late as the month of October last, a friend of his (Mr. Marrya s t's) sailed from the Havannah for this country, and he informed him, that on the same day four vessels left that port, that were avowedly fitted out for the coast of Africa, to bring back slaves. The Portuguese Go vernment still refused even to fix a period far the abolition of the. Slave Trade ; and the Emperor of Russia, who, at the Con gress of Vienna, approved of th e p ro p os iti on o f the Noble Mar quis on the Treasury Bench, to exclude the produce of those Colonies who refused to accede to the abolition, had so regu lated his late tariffs of duties, as to give a monopoly of the consumption of sugar in his dominions to the colonies of the only powers by whom the Slave Trade was carried on. Under these eirciernstances, the most strenuous exertions of his Ma jesty's Ministers would be necessary to secure the effectual abolition of the Slave Trade ; and the prospect of relief to the British West India planters from this event was, he feared, very distant. The petitioners also urged, that the duty on sugar ought not to be arbitrary, but to depend upon its value, because, as at present regulated, it fell on the planter, and not on the consumer. He confessed, however, that in the present distressed state of the country, no expectation of any diminu tion in the duty could reasonably be entertained. Another mode of relief suggested by the petitioners, and which appear ed altogether unexceptionable, was permission to export their rum, in British ships, to any port' m EuroPe—a permission ' which had already been given them as to all their produce, to any port in Europe south of Cape Finisterre. The great est part of the rum sent from the Wesklndies to this country was re-exported at a double set of charges, which ab sorbed a consid era bl e port i on o f i ts value, and which might be saved by shipping it direct to the places of its consump tion. This permission would not only be useful to the . planters, but to the British ship-owners, who would receive an increased.. frieght for the longer voyage ; and, upon the same principle that ships goin g from the West Indies to ports south ci,t Cape Finisterre were permitted to load back with certain enumerated articles, they might be allowed to return from the Baltic with lumber, and from Harnburgh with staves, direct to the West Indies ; which, under the present system, must, in the first instance, be landed in Great Britain, and then reshipped to the West. Indies at an enormous and unnecessary expence. lode pendently of the advantage of procuring employment to the British ship-owners, by thus increasing the sources.of supply of 'lumber for the West India Colonies, the price would be kept down ; and in case of war (for we could not expect the world to remain always in a state of profound peace), the -planters Aould be less sensibly affected by the loss of any {)ne market, than if they depended for a supply on that one only.. It ap- Feared highly advisable to extend the permission p . rayed for, to sugar as well as to rum, as was already the case with vessels bound from the West Indies to any port of Europe south of Cape Finisterre. The present Russian tariff; if it continued In force, would soon induce our planters to resume the practice of slaying sugars, in order to secure their admission into the Rus sian market. Under the present system, they must fi rst b e landed in G rea t B r i ta i n , an d then reshipped from hence at a double set of charges ; but if permission were given to send them direct to Russia, they would then come' into competition with the clayed sugars of the Brazils and Cuba, which were sent there direct on equal terms as to freight and charges ; and he was persuaded that any advantage given to our planters over those foreign colonies where the slave-trade was still carried on, and which, of course, would tend in some degree to dis courage and check that abominable ,traffic, would be highly gratifying to the feelings of that House, and of the country at large. Perhaps the House was not aware of the 'extent of the distress that at present existed in the British West India Colonies. One planter wrote, that no credit could be obtained for • provisions and clothing, except under a law of the island, which gave th ose supp l ies a priority even over mortgages, if furnished within the last twelve months ; and that this credit was purchased at the rate of 50 per cent. advance on the cash price of the articles, with the certainty of actions being- brought to recover the amount, within the time prescribed by law for securing the priority. Another stated, that one-third of the last year's taxes remained unpaid, without any possibility of being collected ; and th a t th e L eg i s l ature of theisland in which he resided were now imposing new taxes, under which those who could pay must make up the deficiencies of those who could not. Another declared his determination, unless thingsishould take a more favourable turn in the course of the present year, to abandon the cultivation of produce, and divide his land among his negroes, whom he could no longer support, in order that they might raise provisions for their own maintenance. As an instance of the depreciation of property, which was the n ecessary consequence of this severe and general distress, he might mention a fact that had come within his own immediate knowledge. An estate in Demerary, that was pur chased about 7 years ago for 40,0001., was sold at the Marshal's sale last spring for 13,4001. Great as the distress of the Agri culturists in this country undoubtedly was, it fell short of that which prevailed among the Agriculturists in our West India Colonies; and he trusted that some measure calculated to meet the urgency of the case, or, to use the words of the Petitioners, " to save them from impending ruin," would speedily b e brought forward by his Majesty's Ministers, and receive the cordial assent of that House. Mr. WILMOT said, that the state of the Colonies had not escaped the attention of his Right Honourable Friend the Pre sident of the Board of Trade, who meant in the ensuing week to submit a motion on the subject of regulating the intercourse of the Colonies with Canada. Air. ELLIS confirmed all that had been said respecting the severe distress under which the Colonies now laboured. That the planters had not sooner appealed to Parliament was, he be lieved, owing to the confidence they reposed in the protecticn of the Legislature. Mr. _BRIGHT begged also to express his concurrence in the opinion that the distresses of the Co l on i es required immediate sabernkatext. The- Petition was then brought.up, and read ; it was after wards ordered to lie on the table. IMPORT DUTIES UPON TALLOW. Mr. CUR WEN, in pursuance of the notice he had piven, rose to call the attention of the House to a subject, noredy relating to the agricultural but to the general interests of the country. It was the opinion of a great numlier of individuals well conversant with the subject, that the importation of foreign tallow had a tendency to aggravate and increase the distress under which agriculture now suffered. No subject demanded more seriously the attention of the House ; for what ever might have been the degree of distress which prevailed before the assembling of Parliament, it certainly had not les sened since that period. The necessary conclusion, therefore, was that the measures adopted by the Government had not produced the result expected from them. He by no means meant to blame them, or to take exceptions to what they had done, for he had undoubtedly hoped, as he had no doubt they did, that the distress would be considerably relieved by the re mission of the tax upon malt. But the country differed with the majorities of Parliament, and with those who said that suf ficient relief had been granted, and thought that wifh the very considerable surplus of income over its expenditure which the country now possessed, more might have been done, and more efficient assistance mi g h t h ave b een y i elded to the distressed. He therefore called upon Ministers in the name of the country to do something more, for there was scarcely a man in the country . who did not hold the relief granted to be perfectly dis proportionate to the degree of suffering which prevailed. If nothing in the shape of relief should result from the labours of the Committee, he did call up on t h e Mi n i sters to see if t h ey had not something further in their power to grant. He was sure that it would be Most gratefully received by the country, and would, perhaps, be the only means of inducing . it to bear up with patience and fortitude in the hope that time would more materially better the c on diti on of the suffering classes. If, therefore any thing presented itself to Parliament which appeared likely to produce that effect, it had not a more sacred duty than to give it the most serious attention. If he could even shew the probability of affording relief by any particular measure, it was entitled to the first considera tion of the House. The Honourable • Member then alluded to the effect of agricultural distress, contending that it fell upon all classes ;' and that it was alike detrimental to the in terests of the producer and the consumer. He argued that the importation of foreign tallow had a share in causing this gene ral distress. The quantity of foreign tallow imported was in the proportion of one-third to the English tallow used in this country. The En g li s h f armer could not compete with tie Russian fanner when the differences of his expenses were considered. The land upon which he prOduced his tallow stood him, upon an average, at. a rent of two pounds per acre, while that of the Russian farmer cost him nothing, and the animals were frequently killed for their tallow alone. , -- He therefore called upon the House to give that protection to the English f6mer which he had a right to have at their hands. What they now imposed upon the importation of Russiin tal low was not more than a duty of 10 per cent., whilst 35 per cent. was imposed upon the importation of hemp—an article not in competition with the produce of this country. Could any system be so bad, either with regard to its policy or its justice, as that which imposed a high tax upon the importation of what was not grown in the country, and a comparative low one upon that which was its natural produce ? How were they treated by Russia in return for the favour bestowed upon her producers ? Why by an export duty of 8 per cent. upon the very article ; thus we paid to her 70,0001. aear for being al lowed to purcha se h er ta ll ow . H e contende y d, that the con sequence of incr ea s e d i mportat i on d ut i es would be to remove those to which he had just alluded as in the case of Spain and Holland. As soon as we put on the import duties upon wool, the Government of Spain took the exports off. In the same manner Holland removed them when we put a tax upon the importation of butter and cheese. And if they were to put on the increased importation duties upon tallow, Russia would take the same course, and take off her export duties. He contended also, that Ireland would be benefitted by the mea sure. In proposing that a Committee be appointed to examine into the subject, it was his object to go the full extent of put ting a duty of 20 per cent. upon the importation of foreign•tal low, instead of the duty which it now paid. The Russian far- mer would then have twopcnce-halfpenny per pound for his tallow instead of threepence-halfpenny, which was quite an adequate remuneration. The effect of such a duty would be to give about 300,0001. annually to the grazier. Ile calculated that as there was about thirty thousand tons of tallow imported annually, the increased duty would produce 700,0001. besides the difference which would be saved, if Russia took off the exports. The effect would be to raise the price of tallow to the consumer about five pounds ten shillings per ton ; and L.- conipensate the consumer, he should propose to take off the tax upon candles, which was about 390,4)01. although it did not bring that to th e Governm e nt. (inc sevent h o f t h e dut i es was spent in collect:7lg them; and both the manner of its collec tion, and the oppression of the tax itself, independent of its ea tiv r e lies u t n'rn redt i Vnn v reduction. He -endeavoured s v o ou r gr ed ie to vou s s h e a w s , te alt a o, f e° or m by calculating the expenses, that a bounty of fourpence per pound would accrue to persons who could make their own - candles. From other advantages which he expected would arise from the measure he should have the honour to propose, the sum which it wottlel bring in would amount to above a mil lion, the remainder of which would be at the disposal of the Government. If therefore the farmer could gain by such a plan, a relief to the annual amount of 300,0001:without any detriment to the consumer, it must be for the general benefit of the country to adopt it. If the Government were afraid that it might be injurious t o our commerc i a l re la t i ons with Rus sia, why not commute the tax upon candles altogether? would be a great relief to us, and not invidious towards that country. Upon these grounds lie should submit hi s mo ti on to the Hou se, unless Ministers themselves should have the sub ject under their reflection. He would not have brought it forward if he had thought they meant to do so, and if they still proposed to take it into their consideration he would with draw it. lie always thought it better that such measures should originate with the Government, because they came with more weight than from an individual. They were bound to apply their utmost attention to the subject, with the sincere determi nation to do all they could to relieve the distresses of the coun try, and particularly that of the graziers, whotn he believed to be suffering most of all. With the view of affording them some relief, he should move, " That a Committee of that House be appointed to inquire into the propriety of i ncreas i ng t h e tax upon the importation of Foreign Tallow, in order thereby t o take off the tax upon candl es .' Mr. SYKES agreed with his Hon. Friend that it was the tax upon candles which it would be most wise, just, and useful to re peal, as one which pressed upon the lower classes of the people, and was very oppressive in the manner of its bein g levied.. But his Hon. Friend called upon the House to make s up the deficiency of this reduction by making an alarming increase to an already high tax upon the importation of an article of foreign produce. He conceived it to be most material to the commercial interests of this country, that it should have a good understanding and proper influence with the Cabinet of Peters burgh, and that no measure of an irritating tendency towards that country should be adopted. Under the peculiar circum stances in which Russia now stood, it would be invidious and suspicious to lay on these large prohibitory duties, and mus 7. be followed by retaliatory measures. It ought to be remem bered also,- that great speculations were now going on upon the article in question, and the House ought to be extremely cautious how it lent its sanction to such proceedings.--( Hear !) The only effect of the measure, as it appeared to him, would be to put money into the pockets of speculators. He agreed that the tax in question was one which ought to be reduced. It pressed more upon the poor than upon the rich. The rich man used wax-lights, Argyll-lamps, and other elegant inventions, which the luxuries of the age created, whereas a great portion of the labour of the mechanic was done by candle-light. He was convinced that nothing would be more beneficial to the poor man than the reduction of this tax, and that it could be reduced without materially affecting the general revenue. He was one who agreed in the necessity of maintaining a clear sur plus of revenue over the expenditure, but that was all he would support. With regard to Sinking Funds he though: them very well in theory, but h e k new , f rom t h e history of al: Sinking Funds, what they came to in the end. They knew how Sir R. Walpole's Sinking Fund had been destroyed ; and they had seen in their own d a y h ow th e Right Honourable Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had treated that of Mr. Pitt's. He could 'not agree to the motion, be cause it was likely to disturb our commercial relations with Russia. The Right Hon. F. ROBINSON felt it his duty to oppose the motion. Although one of that class to support which the Hon. Gentleman professed so much anxiety, he -could not satisfy himself that the aeT'ml&__el_iqsresers were likel to be at air SCI'VCCr any of the Hon. Gentleman's expectations were likely o realised. He should consider the question in either of two points of view. Either the present Tax upon Tallow - ought to be raised or it ought not. If raised, the effect would be to raise, pro tanto, the Duty upon Candles.--(Hear, hear !)—The total of the existing Duty on Candles was between 9 and 101. per ton ; that on Tallow about 41. per ton—in all about 12 or 131. per ton. The - Hon. Gentleman proposed to reduce the duty on candles altogether, and to increase that on tallow from 41. to 201. per ton ; and that this would be laying an additional tax upon candles could not be denied. The real object of the mo tion was the relief of the agricultural interests, and to throw upon the people the burthen from which that class was sought to be freed. But even in that view the Hon. Gentleman's plan was liable to objection, for the agriculturists themselves would have to bear their proportion on the articles consumed by them. He had heard that the great advocate for the measure was a gentleman deeply interested in the question • he begged not to be understood to mean the Honourable Gentleman opposite, but another party.—(Hear, hear !)—A report certainly was widely circulated in the city that the great advocate for the repeal was a Gentleman deeply interested in the success of the measure.—(Hear, hear.)—The Honourable Gentleman said that his proposition, if acceded to, would only have the effect of raising the duty on tallow to 51. 10s. per ton. But the effect of that increase would be an additional tax of 3s. per bead on consumers.—(Hear, hear !)—He would resist the mo tion on the ground taken by the very individual Honourable Gentleman who proposed it. He (Mr. Curwen) suppokd it would not raise the price of candles at all, for the Honourable Gentleman said, the price of tallow only would be raised. The agriculturist would be thereby served, and yet theaalvante would not press upon the consumer ; for, said the Honourable Gentleman again, it will not raise the price. The argument of the Honourable Gentleman went to say, that the tax would be laid upon the importation of the article, and would there fore be borne by the foreign &rower. Were our system of com merce to become thus restrictive, the natural effect would be to compel other countries to have recourse to every trick, by which to force upon us their produce to the , full amount of all their purchases from us. Was the agriculturist to come in, the moment any tax became productive, and say, " you , must repeal that tax for my benefit ?" We might as well shut up the shop at once.--(Hear i)—ln either case, the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman was equally objectionable. When we come to consider our commercial relations with all foreign powers, no result could be foreseen by adopting the proposition of the Ilbn, Member than jealousy, perhaps hostility ; and which might produce, in the end, greater mischiefs than those the Honour able Member sought to deliver us from. Mr. RICARDO entirely concurred in the doctrines of the Right Hon. Gentleman as far as regarded restrictions on trade ; he only hoped that Government would act consistently by re pealing some protecting duties, as they were called, at present in existence—such as that upon cheese and butter.—(Hear, hear !)—lt was astonishing to see how rapidly his lion. Friend, the Member for Cumberland (Mr. Curwen), had got over his ground ; he made most sweeping strides and calculations, with out any su ffi cient data, and had told the quantity and quality of every thing, the means of consuming, and theexpense of rais ing, with as much precision and apparent certainty as if he had himself possessed exchisively all the methods of getting at the truth.--(Hear !)--Hdev he had arrived at his result, that the price of tallow was to be raised exactly to the sum of 51. Ios. per ton, was an absolirte mystery. He (Mr. R.) believed that, in point of fact, and taking an average of years, the tal low received from Russia was at the lowest price for which the producer could afford to sell it; so that this - increase by the new duty could not fall upon the producer, as was contended.. He objected most decidedly to the imposition of a tax upon the whole people of England, for the particular benefit of a class, although it was by no means made out that even that class would be advantaged. The Hon. Member 'for Hull (Mr. Sykes) had adopted rather an extraordinary line of argument; he was in favour of a surplus, but as decidedly against a Sink ing Fund, when in fact a Sinking Fund was nothing hut a surplus beyond the expenses of the country. He would not remove taxes because this surplus must be maintained ; if the surplus. were maintained and taxes were not removed, what could be done with it if it were not , applied to the reduction of the debt ? He (Mr. Ricardo) was, .an enemy to any sinking fund it had been his constant argument, that the country ought to make a great effort to get out , ofedlet, and a sinking fund directly interfered with that objectee n principle and theory, nothing-, could be better than a shilsitig fund ; but in