The Sun. — London, England, 1822-05-25 00:00:00

traders would have Time to adjust their interests . With re gard to Scotland, it was his intention to reduce the duty in that , country from 6s. to 2s. in_orslg. that there might be a free trade of the article throngheesOk"-ipteee—r(Hear.)—He should ?deo propose that alroitemptitiniAnd ailZiivances uncut soli, be --pitealeid, except ireseis es :tir . 0130-ttioli*Ore)k94 o tV.TOr o.e _ of expiortakilon•lie 'should piopoie that s alt ph al • towc 'to go ditty fteee for *Other purpose. $y ifing theotuty with rnk Irish,. Much fraud Would be prevented: liritish salt exported 'to leehnit mild go duty tree; and the trtle of every put of the United Kingdom FOulde, be free attel eksfettered.—(llear, hear 9- 7 13 y _this . iiistatigement, therefore; it. was plain tiiit the fisfeerieSiwoletd4regtly benefit. For slie Triitection of the British salt-intilter it would be -necessary'to put a duty of 2s. 3d. on foreign. salt for the fisheries. The amount of reduction of taxation accruing from this would be 1.300,0001. leaving a duty of 200,0001. in the aggregate to be ivied on that article. The ditty would ;continue to be col lected by the Eicise, but, once paid, it would be free to go f- rongh all the internal parts of the kingdom. Sir JOHN NEWPORT asked what were the Right 'Hon. Gentleman's intentions with regard to foreign salt in Ireland? The CHANCELLOR of the 'EXCHEQUER said there would be no alteration observed towards Ireland. The next article to be affected was on the other side of the Channel, and,! be confessed he was the more disposed to concede something to Ireland, as the repeal of the Salt Duty in this country would be rather prejudicial than otherwise to that eountry. The high rate of duty in this country was an advantage to Ireland, bat he was sure that generous people would not wish to pos sess an advantage to the detriment of their fellow subjects, and therefore it was that he desired that this measure, should be connected with some contemporaneous and accompanying one peculiarly applicable to freland.—(Hear !)—The _House knew that there was nothing in which , the feelings of Ireland were more unanimous than in desiring the repeal of the Window Tax—and it was his intention to propose a complete repeal of that duty from the sth"Julynext.--(Hear, hear addition eo that, he should also propose to take off the Hearth Duty —an impost that had been removed in this . Country since the time of William the Third, as a tax improper in its nature.—(Hear, ilea; 1)--The amount of the Window and Hearth-duty remitted would hardly exceed 250,0001. The next article was one on which there Was a considerable feeling in the public, but one on which it was necessary to have some little explanation—he alluded to the duty on leather.—illear, hear !)—He did not, however, see in the reduction of this tax all that benefit which other Gentlemen anticipated: He meant to propose, ibere fore, that the duty of the year 1812 be given up, and then, thiit article would lie on the same footing as to tax as it was -from the time of Queen Anne to the year 1812. But he must - warn the House' that unless it watched in this case, the con -saltier wohld be in danger of being deprived of his just benefit. The House must be as wary in this instance as it was with re el . geld to the' rewers not long back, and the remission of duty shoUld not take pliice till - they had a fair experimental assur ance of fair dealing.—( Hear, hear!)—He said this, because he thought the reduction in the Trice of leather since the peace did not bear a fair proportion to the reduction in other articles. But, if ateoinpanied with a banafideieduction, it would prove of great benefit to the inferior classes, who paid their full' share towards the consumption. of this commodity.—(Hear, hear !)—The amount of this reduction would be 300,0001. The amount of the whole revenue from the tax on leather was 600;0001., and thils one-half would be given up.e•-(Hear, hear !) He hd got so far in the work of remission ; but he had great satisfaction in saying that he was not yet at the end of his Budget.--(Hear ! and a laugh.) —He had another reduction to propose, which he thought was equally desirable. -They had all heard on the subject of a Bill relative to the Navigation Lawi, that notwithstanding the general benefit to commerce, front the liberal principles-of' trade arising from the relaxation of those laws, there was one important interest which did not 'participate in that benefit, but on the contrary languished in depreVsion. He alluded to the shipping interest; and he -thought that any alleviation of 'the burdens upon that interest woula•shew a most grateful protecting spirit on the part of the ~ llouse4 at the same time that it assisted one of the most im portant branthes of the commercial interest of the country.—, He proposed, therefore, that the tonnage duty granted, during the war should be discontinued. This was in amount 100,0001 which; added to 1,850,0001., the amount of the remission of taxation on the other articles before specified; would be in all _,1,950,6001.L(Hear, hear !)—This was more than • was war rantld by the anticipated saving of 1;800,0001. clear of the -400;0001. to be reserved from the whole 2,200,0001. But he ,expeeted that the remission of the salt tax might operate an in ,erea'sb-in the revenue from increased consumption to the extra amount.. He certainly hoped that the remission of two mil lions of taxes would not produce an ultimate loss to the public. —(Hear, hear, hear !)—He hoped that he had thus, without 'entering into any very minute and particular calculation, suffi •ciently explained the principles of the mode of management so aset6 be fully understood by the House. This way of , accomplishing the wishes of the House was better than the -other; and the House ought not to sacrifice an advantage because -it could not be obtained through the means originally contem plated. It rather became it to trylome other arrangement, if ie found that impracticable. He was decidedly of opinion that • -the arrangements he had stated to the Hattie were capable of 'all the benefits he had in view, and were likely to be attended with:as little disadvantage as was inseparable from a plan of .this nature. He therefore hoped that the Committee would .allow him to move his first Resolution. The Right 'Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst loud cheering from all PUNS of :the house. The following was then put from the Chair:— " That it is the opinion of this Committee, that for the pur . - ,Tose . of apportioning, -conformably to the Resolutions of this kiou4e of the 3d day of this instant month of May, the burden occasioned by the Military and Naval Pensions, it is expe dient that an equal annual Annuity of 2,800,0001., terminable at the end of forty-five years, should from the sth day of Aprirelß22, be vested in trustees to be named by Paffrainente and that the said Annuity should be charged upon the Con solidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." CALCRAFT congratulated the House upon the propo sitions which they had just heard from the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite. He confessed that he must have totally misunderstood the Right Honourable Gentleman in the begin . ning of Session, when he fancied he heard him say that a .repeal of taxation would not only be no remedy for the incon veniences under which the country laboured, but that it would actually aggravate the evil. It was scarcely possible that such a declaration could ever 'have been made by the Right Hon. Gentleman, who had this night risen in his place to move a re duction of taxes to the extent of two millions. Whether he we: e mistaken or not, however, he must say, that what had.pass ed that 'evening was an encouragement to the House of Commons to persevere in their opposition to Ministers, and to continue • that course which their duty to the country demanded. By so doing, he was persuaded that they Would obtain on other ocea slurs similar concessions to those which their manliness and ,perseverance had succeeded in obtaining to-night. The Right .J-fon. Gentleman had gone further in his reduction of the Salt • tax than he (Mn C.) had ventured to propose,, under the cir cumstances of the present Session. He ( Mr.C. ) had proposedonly .a remission of ss. this Session, And ss. in the two succeeding . Sessions, until the whole tax was got rid of. But the Right lion. Gentleman had gone further, and granted at once a re ..mission of 13s. out of 15s. This was a measure which was cer tainly calculated to give universal satisfaction. His (Mr. C's) iproposition went to the total extinction of the tax, andle did despair of Seeingthe Right Hon. Gentleman adopt this measure ::in the present or ensuing Session. Though lie was extremely de. sirous to 'see the whole machinery of this tax swept away, he wet; content to take what was conceded, and he should not press .for any-further remission in the present Session. Some allusion had been made to the comparative bearing of this Tax on the people of 'lreland ; but he could not help thinking that what: ever tended to the relief of one country must conduce to the ad.: van tageof the other. With regard to the duty_ on foreign Salt, which was only used in one particular part' of the fisheries, he really thought the Right Honourable Gentleman ought to in, crease it. As to the other part of the Right Honourable Gen tleman's plan, he confessed himself unable to understand the .mode of carrying it into execution. When the Noble Lord first opened his proposition to.the House, he believed there was not a person who heard .him who could have supposed that a Mi nister could,have gone so' far without having the means of Qxe curing his plan. 21,11. this embarrassment would be 'avoided by adopting the plan proposed on his (111i.-C.'s) side of the House, namely, that of taking the money at once from- the inking Fund. The whole thing might bedone at one stroke of the pen, by striking.out the word Consolidated," in the OM Re solution, and substituting" Sinking Fund." This would be a straight forward, clear, intelligible course. How could the Right Hon. Gentleman, hemould ask, go into the market - to borrow money every year, 'without divesting the capital which would otherwise go into the funds'? His Majesty's Ministers had talked so much, . however, of their darling Sinking Fund, that they had become enamoured of their. idol, or if not ena moured, they had said so much irLits praise that-they were nn willing to recede. After all,. if he.understood the Right Hon. Gentleman, he had himself declared his intention of coming in a few years to the Sinking Fundy for when it reached a certain amount, it was to bear , a certain proprotion of this debt. He would say no more on this subject at present, as lie confessed he had not a clear conception of the Right Honourable Gentle man's plan, and-he almost doubted whether the Right Ho-;• nourable Gentleman-had a clear' conceition of it himself. As far as he (Mr. Mr. C.) was concerned, he begged to repeat that "he should not press for any further remission the present Ses sion. If he found the reduced tax worked well, he should satisfied, but if the duty of 2s. a WSW appeared to press heard upon the fisheries, he.trusted the puse would be ready to af-: .ford them relief. ~''}ie,llfargniir of LQ,ISTDONDE RR sahl; I thai after, the manner in whisk the Hon. Member for Wareham (Mr. Cal. craft) had expressed himself on this occasion, it would . be un pardonable:la, hinYlP.tmblee whiCh might mtettupt the *meaty Atf, the .glyetiinAte-- (Lord L.) • had.not for a lon g dine passed so satisfattOry, a„mernent, ,nor did he everidnefriber tahaye seen thecbontenances of Ifon. Gentle men opposite so; creditably lightetinp—AA laugh!)— 'he Hon. Gentleman opposite had doneonch ttmpke justice to the plan. 'of hii Right fion.Triemi,, and he had spoken of it in suck a spirieof eatidourVand•CVerf kittlnesi;'• that he Lord' L.) should be doing. violence- :te his or feilings.if he suffered himself to let fall any . expressiOn:which might throw a; cloud over, this happy daw n-(A langh.)--There was one maxim of the lion. Gentleman, however, froth Which. inconvenient consequences might be drawn, if it,Were'suffere.titopass wholly unnoticed.— As the Hon., Gent. had, called upart.the House to observe what advantages were derivable from opposing' 11linisters, he (Lord L.) would remind the Hon. Gentleman of the advantages of supporting Alinisteton the basis of public credit. Ile agreed with the Honourable Member, that if the fisheries should be embarrassed Or injured by this duty, 'it would be in cumbent upon the House to watch over their prospe rity, and consider the particular bearing of the tax upon their interests. The Honourable 'Member had said that the Government had now for the first time discovered that relief for the coun try was to-be derived from the remission of taxes ; but surely his Majesty's Ministers had contended as loudly as the Hon. Member himself, that the House could not be too eager to re peal taxes, provided they did it upon a principle. He (Lord L.) would not, however, be a party to so gross a delusion as to hold out, that even this large reduction of two millions, in addi tion to the reduction of a million and a half in the Malt Duty, which followed close on the repeal of the Agricultural Horse Tax, would be likely to bear upon the main pressure of the distress.. The relief was in fact afforded to consumers, - who were not the class of the community suffering under the greatest degree of distress. The Hon. Member had said, that if the words " Sinking Fund". *fre substituted for " Consolidated Fund," all di ffi culties would be at once removed, and their har mony would he at its ennui - When he (Lord L.) originally, submitted his plan to the;liouie r he acted upon a presumption which had since been realised, that it-might be made available to the public interests. 'When he, propos.ed,the principle of a contract,- lie had gOod reason to beli€ve„ . front certain commu nications which had been made to his Right Honourable Friend (Mr. Vansittart), that there were persons disposed to become contractors for the plan. It was not wonderful, however, that persons, looking-to the probable contingencies which might arise during so extended a period as_forty-five years, should entertain doubts, •whether, with a view to the interests of the parties for whom they were trustees, it would be safe or prudent to embark in such a -.transaction. According to the new arrangement, the public would be their own contractors; and make the bargain for the service of the year. He,protested against:the observation of' the Honourable Gentleman, thaethe. Sinking Fund would be in any manner interfered with. honourable Ge.ntlemen opposite had been a little disposed, from the ground which 'they once occupied, and it ,was natural enough, that they should endeavour, to get one foot back into their old position. There would still be a SinkinT : Fund, Consisting of a clear .surplus of five millions over and above the expenditure of the country, ap plicable to the -reduction of the debt according to the principles' of compound inte;est; but when. that fund reached a certain limit, its progress would be in some measure arrested by the remission of the taxes now applicable to it increase. There could be no objection to producing, certain operations on the market during the progress of the Sinking Fund., In time of war the operation of the Sinking 'Fund was of course suspended, from the necessity of making annual loans, and even in it period of peace. there could be no objection to operating-on the market for the sake of public convenience. The fund of five millions for covering the dead charge was not to be confounded with the Sinking Fund; for if these two funds were married together, they would make 10 millions instead of five. The short statement of the transaction was this—that whereas by the ordinary operations of nature, taking each successive year, the surplus of the descending scale would in 45 years amount to five millions,. it was foundynore convenient, instead of taking the' surplus in each su'essive year, to calculate the average of the whole, and take aiyuniform surplus for every year. He wcruld,not add another word, lest it should disturb the harmony of the evening- , -(A laugh)—and with respect to past controversies, he wished, at least for this night, to forget them—(Hear !) ' Sir J. NEWPORT did not mean td disturb the harmony to which the Noble Lord had so frequently alluded ; and there fore he would say nothing about the eirects which might be produced by marrying those two funds. - Whether harmony would be the offspring of such a union he could not say, but it appeared to him that, as they now stood, one of them was likely to produce a•loan every . year.—(Hear !)—With respect to the Window Tax, he was sincerely happy at its repeal • and he agreed most perfectly in the observation of his Hon. irierid (Mr. Calcraft), that no jealousy ought to exist as to the repeal of particular taxes; because, it such repeal operated benefi .ekdly for one quarter of the empire, it certainly must, to a cer tain extent, advance the general interest.., He was also - happy. that' he Hearth Tax was given up, not on account of the mag, nitude of the Tax, but because it was extremely disagreeable to the feelings of the people, who viewed it as a badge of sla very. The financial plait of the Right Hon. Gentleman ap peared to him more desirable in its present shape than if it had been effected by means of a. body of contractors. No body of men co,uld be expected to take such a contract, without, the probability of reaping considerable advantage ; and that ad vantage must hare come out of the public purse. • Sir R. SHAW expressed the, great pleasure he felt at the repeal of the Irish Window Tax. As many gentlemen who had compounded for that Tax had paid its amount for the present year, he wished to know whether any remission would be made to those thus situated ? 'The CHANCELLOR of. the EXCHEQUER answered, that any payment which had been made beyond the sth of July net would be remitted. General GASCOYNE . adverted to the. present state of the shipping interest, and said he experienced great pleasure at finding that the. Right Honourable ,Gentleman had not ne glected it: The Right Honourable. Gentleman deserved the gratitude of the country, for :the equal manner in which he had distributed relief to different classes and descriptions of individuals. Mr.. HUME said, that no man in that House was more pleased at the remission of two millions of taxes than himself; but he was not at all disposed to adopt , the tone of Honourable Members in returning, thanks to the, Ministers of the Crown, as if it was a favour conferred by- them,. instead of a duty de manded from them in the present state of the country. He could not but regret, therefore, that, so much praise had been bestowed upon them merely for discharging a duty, which they had been called upon week after week in that House to perform.. There was no class of the community which required , more to be relieved from the pressure of taxation than the. Shipping - Interest.' The remission of part of the tax on Leather was undoubtedly calculated Ad meet the wishes of the public. He could not agree that the manner in which the Salt Tax had been remitted was the most beneficial that might. have been adopted. If any portion of the tax were retained, the whole system of collection and manage ment would be continued with it. He held in his hand a Return, by which it appeared that the number of officers engaged in the collection of the Salt Duties in England amounted to 26 5 , and that the amount Of their -salaries was. 26.5001., besides contingent expenses, - .makinga total of 32,0001. and, including Scotland, 36;0001. If only one half. of -this establishment were kept up, the expence of collecting 200,0001. would amount to no less than 20,0001. Would. it not have been much better therefore if the whole of this Tax had been taken off, and the whole expence of this department consequently saved to the country? With , regard to the fisheries, the...system would be much simplified by reducing the bounty from 3s. 6d. to Is. Bd. or 25., instead of charging - , the 2s.' duty, and then giving. back 4s. in the shape - of - bounty.-L,Though it was of within the walls of that - House that this measure did not interfere with the Sinking, Fimd, there was no person out of doors weak enough to believe it. If the , wants .of the country required relaxation,' why not break through the Hese- Jution for the purpose of adopting a course which would be in all respects more. economical ? Before he sat down it was hisinten tion to prdpose an Amendme4 to this effect, that the expence of new commissioners,aliti other hew appointment ',might besaved, and the delusion of not interfering with the Sinking Fund, when it was manifest to every one that they were interfering, got rid of at the same moment. If the Rig h t Hon. Gentleman was still so delighted with complexity, and with his favourite ope ration of buying and selling at the same time, the plan which it was his (Mr. H.'s) object to supersede would answer these pur poses ; but he trusted that the Committee would see the pro priety of adopting the Amendment, and so dispensing with the cumbrous machinery of the other plan. The lion. Gent. con • eluded by moving an Amendment to the first Resolution, that all the words after the word " That" should be, omitted, for the purpose of inserting the followirg words :—" That the bal ance between 2,800,0001., and the several supis set forth in the annexed Schedule should for th'e first 15 years be takenannually from the CommisSioners for Managing the Reduction of the National Debt, and that the balance between 2,800,0001. and the annexed Schedule aforesaid should, from the 16th year, be repaid annually to the, said Commissioners." Marquis LONDONDERRY in explanation said, there were five millions going to the Sinking Fund, and five millions to the dead expense, thereby making a SUM of ten millions. Mr. CURIVEN approved. highly :of the selection made by Ministers of the taxes for remission, and thotight that taking off the Salt Tax would have a more beneficial, effect than could easily he anticipated. He wishid, however, that the whole duty on•rock salt should be taken off, and hoped that the Right Hon. Qentleman would grant that boo 4 to the agriculturists. - That • being done, he had no doubt that what had pass.d in the House that night would afford great satitfaetion to , the country:' Mr. DAVENPORT congratulated the House and the coun try on the remission of the Salt Tax, but wished that,the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, instead if' deferring the commence ment of the operation till the stn ofJanuary,,wouldafFord that , relief to the fanner at the latter end, of the_ summer, when it would be so necessary to the pnpatatiOn of butter.and Cheese. Mr. W. SMITH regretted thiethe whole tax was not.re mitted, in order to save the expence of collection, and -wished that the whole of the Leather Tax was rpealed also. With, respect to the Amendment, though he shod be. sorry to in terrupt the good humour, thatlrevailed, he was surprised that the point should not be given up by Ministers, for nothing could be more clear to any ra tio na l mind than that there could be no Sinking Fund but what arose from the surplus of revenue above the expenditure. The best course, therefore, was, to take from the Sinking Fund without disguise, and in a manner that would prevent any increase of establishments. Mr. J. BENETT said, he would rather see the whole.of the Salt tax taken away,_ and the Leather tax left as it was, "than both reduced, but still retaining the expence of collection.— He rejoiced in the reduCtions that were made, buthoped they would not have a tendency to relax the endeavours of Gentle men to push the principle of econotoy still further. Mr. BRIGHT observed, that the fisheries would not feel the benefit of the repeal, if it was merely partial, and therefore would be dissatisfied. Another class of persons who had great interest in the removal of the whole class, were the ' linen bleachers of Ireland, and he would submit whether it would not be right to remove the pressure from the staple .manufac ture of the sister kingdom in its present distress. He rejoiced that the tonnage-duty on the shipping was also removed, as he had no doubt that it would be of great advantage to the com mercial interests. Mr. C. HUTCHINSON suggested to his Hon. Friend (Mr. Humej the propriety of withdrawing his Amendment the bringing up of the Report. He might then discuss the : question without disturbing the unanimity which prevailed at present with respect to the remission of the taxes. As he was in the habit of opposing Ministers upon most occasions himsdlf, he felt that he was bound in candour upon the present occasion to give them his unqualified thanks. There were no impositions so injurious to the people of Ireland as, the Window and Leather Taxes; for their repeal, therefore, on the part of his country, he thanked his Majesty's Government.—(Hear, hear !)—lle Wished, with regard i to the Salt Duties, that the remission went, to the full length, and that the- country was saved the expence of the great machinery of the collection. He trusted . the . Right Hon. Gentleman-44e Chancellor of the Exchequer) would se cure that most important branch of Irish trade, the Provision Trade, from any injury resulting from the repeal of the Salt Duties. Mr. RICARDO saw no necessity for delaying the amend ment. They might be in good humour with that which was good in the plan of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and yet do their duty by noticing- that' which they thought objectionable. He partook of the general satisfaction of the evening, but at the same time he could not say he felt all that humble gratitude which some Hon. Gentlemen expresged. The conduct of the Government was very judicious, attending as they had done to the prayer of. the people ; hut because they gave them some of their own morey again,,he did not see any Just cause .for such violent gratitude. 14 indeed, they were to give the people, from some other quarter, a - portion of money which did not belong to them, he would be as, ready as any one to thank them, but that would be quite a different case. He appro ved of the repeal of the Salt tax ; but he wished the whole had been given up. 'With proper economy on the part of Government, he was confident it might hare been spared alto gether. Now, with respect to the particular plan to which their assent vas required e !it was neither more nor less than a loan. He could see no 'difference between this and an an nual loan. They musenow go into the market with it; and the advantage or disadvantage of the transaction must be de tennined by the terms which they could gain. He would con tend that the most economical course they could take would be at once to go to the Sinking Fund instead of accomplishing the object ie view by an annual loan. Supposing ,at the end of forty-five -years, the Chancellor of the Exchequer should again come down to the House—(A laugh)—or a future Chan cellor of the' Exchequer, another five and forty years, would any body be deceived by such a course of proceeding to view the transaction as any thing but a loan. This might be done, but what good could it effect ? He saw no benefit to be obtained in this way, seeing it was impossible to make something out of nothing. - When the Right Hon. Gentleman first came down with his plan, the Hon. Member for the City of London (Mr. T. 'Wilson) had supported it, as he considered it advantageous to negotiate a loan for forty-five years at the present high prices,. which he considered might be endangered by a war or two in he course of that period. Now that it was come down to a proposition for an annual loan, he hoped the Hon. Gentleman would give his vote to those who favoured a more economical plan. The Right Hon. Gentleman claimed, in case the market should fall, to. have the privilege of issuing Exchequer Bills. This would be to increase the unfunded debt, and he might eventually be obliged to fund them at - a price Mach more in convenient than the present. He considered• the present plan' as a violation of the principle of the Sinking Fend, at he was of opinion, with the Hon. Member for Norwich, that the country possessed nothing that ought to .be called a Sinking Fund but the excess of its income over its expenditure. Mr. 're:WILSON did notrequire the calls which had been made on. him to state his sentiments on the present - acca sion. Ile certainly did approve of the plan, when originally brought forward, considering the high price of the fun'ds to offer a great advantage, and supposing the Chancellor of the Exchequer would'not have brought it forward, if he had not been certain of being enabled to carry it into effect He was extremely mortified at the result—he gave up his previous positions, and considered the present plan as neither more nor less—but perhaps it was less, than an attack on the Sinking Fund. He was confirmed in the view which he had formerly 'taken of the advantages Of the plan, as originally submitted to the House, and was sorry to be obliged to say, that taking his present course to remit two millions in taxes, the Right Hon. Gentleman gave up so much of the Sinking Fund. Mr. MABERLY contended, that the scheme of - the Right Hon. Gentleman was in effect nothing more than making a loan for the purpose of reducing taxation. For the lasi thirty years they had no Sinking Fund. According; to the Hon. Gentleman's own account, lie.had borrowed Exchequer Bills in order to purchase his five.millions. He thought that, iiestead of being the guardians of the_ public purse, they had the 'ciders and abettors of the plunders of the public purse. In the earlier part of the Session,,Ministers had obtained a vote of the House for the maintenance of a Sinking Fund of five millions, and as soon as they had accomplished their object, they came down to rob that Sinking ninth Mr. HUSKISSON said, that as one of the Members of his Majesty's Government,. he enjoyed the congratulations which had been offered that night, and which, he doubted not, would be echoed throughout the country. The Hon. Gentleman had stated that the true Sinking Fund was the surplus of therevenue over the expenditure. In- that opinion he fully concurred, and he also admitted that there could be no 'diminution of incum brance, except the revenue exceeded the public charge. But would any Gentleman say, that if his Right Hon. Friend called together a mass of public annuitants, and said to them, " instead of an annuity for hfe I offer you an annuity for 45 years," would that. be an infringement upon the principles of the Sinking' Fund ? The present plan was this. His Right Hon. Friend 'assumed that, supposing the annuities would all be extinct at the expiration of 45 years, and supposing that the expences of the State would only be such as they were in ordinary times, then the amount. of the debt charged would not exceed 2,200,0001. If he - was justified in that assumption, then he, wax also justified in saying, " I call upon you not to bind pos terity to:a burthen which this generation will not bear itself, but to take an annuity Of ~,200,0001., being the sum which the -country would prospectively be called on to contribute." Re -specting the observation of the' Honotrrible Member for .11Ioh trosa; as to the expence likely to be incurred in the execution . of. thisplan, he (Mr. IL) trusted that it would be effected 'without any expence at all. .I.le would also remark, on the Observation of the 11On. Member for the City of London, that he could not understand why that Hon. Member should Satter himself that if his Right .Hon. Friend found persons to take the loan for forty-five years, they would be disposed to take it under the consideration lie had • mentioned. The con tractor 'for a loan might be mistaken; as was sometimes the case, and he loses by the bargain ; but it was not likely that they would 'take it with a clear prospect of their own ruin before them. He thought that the plan was no infringement of the . principles of' the Sinking - Fund. He would add one word on the.subject of the Salt Tax. It was the custom in that House to represent this country as one which had suffered taxation on every necessary and every convenience of life. Now he be lieved that in every country-in... Europe a tax was imposed on salt. He thought that the moderate duty which now remained might be endured without any inconvenience to commerce, or injury to the great interests of the country. Mr. H. GURNEY said, that of the two propositions he should prefer that of the Hon. Member for Aberdeen. Lord .I. RUSSELL - said, 'that lie thought the discussion, during the present evening, had established the fact, that, what was called the Sinking Fund, was, in fact, nothing more than the excess of the revenue over-the expenditure. Now, at the commencement of the - Session the Right Hon. Gentleman had boasted of a Sinking Fund of five millions. If therefore they took two millions of that sum for the purpose of diminishing taxation, it followed that only three millions would remain for the Sinking Fund. That was in effect what the House was about to do. He owned he thought that the Chancellor of the Exchequer 'had taken the speeches of the Members as they were reported in the newspapers on that day for the purpose of confuting them. Be had first brought down one plan, 'and flniling that- unpalatable, he had ,prolinced. another. • .IkIOW,,- though this said ,but, little for the. consistency, of the Right Honourable Gentleman, yet he owned that he was by : no mean's displeased . with the last 'proposal. But he objecled to the manner in which this new plan was brought into ac tion. The Commissioners were.- to go and dispose of Long Annuities, while, at the same time the. Commissioners of the Sinking Fund were to buy up these Long Annuities. Now it was considered an admirable instance of the dramatkc skill of Moliere, that in one his, comedies he should have introduced an avaricious father, and a spendthrift son borrowing Money froM that father; but how much more decisive would have been his triumph had he introduced the dramatis persmia bor rowing money from himself; and yet such was the power of the Chancelllor of the Exchequer that he bore away in .this in. stance the honours of Moliere by actually giving to the House of Commons the delight of beholding such a performer. With respect to the whole plan, lie must say that he rejoiced that by the completion of this measure a repeal of three million four hundred thousand pounds would bi effected beyond the taxes imposed in 1819. Mr. Alderman HEYGATE objected to the principles of.the measure, firs t, because it imposed a debt upon posterity which it had no right to bear; and, secondly, because it attacked the Sinking Fund, to the maintenance of which the 'House was distinctly pledged. He contended that it was a virtual repeal of a.portion of the Sinking Fund. He should be as ready to congratulate the House upon the reduction of taxes as any man, if it arose from an overflowing revenue or a reduced ex penditure, but not if it created a breach of public faith, as it now would. The Resolution of the Right Hon. Gentleman might admit of a doubt as to its operation u' on the Sinking Fund ? but that of the lion. Member for Aberdeen was a di rect violation of the pledges.totwhichthe House had subscribed, and of the two he should prefer the former. Mr. W. WILLIAMS - denied that the Sinking Fund had been maintained inviolate, and contended that it was now too late to talk of keeping Parliament to its pledges. The Right Hon. the Chancellor of. the Exchequer had departed,from his pledges, and had destroyed the Sinking Fund, by reducing it from what it ought to have been, between 20 and 30 millions, to the paltry sum of five millions. He was glad to see a re duction of taxes, but he thought it ill became that House to talk. of gratitude to the Ministers for the reduCtion of taxes, when the distress of the country demanded it. He thought the. Sinking Fund might be taken away altogether for a few years, with the greatest advantage to the country: Its increased pro sperity, growing out of the reduction of the taxes, would then enable us to establish another Sinking Fund without distress ing the people. . Mr. CRIPPS considered the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be justified in maintaining a postive Lona.fide Sinking Fund. • - Capt. MABERLY wished to ask whether'the Leather Tax, by this repeal, was to be placed upon the same footing on which it stood in the.year 1812 ?—("Yes" from the Treasury Benches.) —ln that case there was an additional drawback which would remain, unless some provision were made for its reduction.— He supported the amendment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the additional drawback would be repealed as well as the tax. Mr. J. MARTIN said, that the Sinking Fund was a decep tion, and he should support the amendment. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the Amendment - • - - 3► Against it - - 115 Majority in favour of the original Resolution --80 Several other resolutions were then agreed to. Mr. HIJME observed, that as it appeared to him that this was an indirect attempt at breaking through the Sinking Fund, he should, upon the bringing up of the report, take the sense of the House upon the direct step. . . The House having resumed, the report was ordered to be re ceived on Thursday next. WEST INDIAN AND AMERICAN TRADE BILL. The above Bill went through a' Committee, in which Mr. ROBINSON .observed, that as some amendments were made, it would be desirable to have it printed in its entire form, and if any further discussion were necessary, it could then .be taken. The Report was ordered to be taken into furthir considera tion on Friday next. COLONIAL TRADE BILL. Mr. ROBINSON stated that the same remarks would apply to this Bill, and it was accordingly disposed of in a similar manner. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Mr. R. MARTIN moved the second reading of the ill-treat ment of Cattle Bill. Mr. ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved as an amendmerit that the Bill he read a second time this day six months. Mr. MARTIN complained of want of courtesy in the At torney-General for not assigning his reasons for opposing a measure which had passed the ordeal of three divisions, which had been supported by every Magistrate, and from every pulpit in the Metrop9lis, and to which no Christian refused his assent. —He went into some very principal details of the cruelties to which various species of animals were subjected. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL persevered in his Amend ment. Mr. Alderman WOOD was inclined to vote for the Bill, al.: though he thought there would be considerable difficulty in arranging the detail. Mr. HOLROYD opposed the motion. Mr. WYNN contended that the Bill was an inroad on the law of England. • After some further discussion, in which Mr. Wilson, Mr. Denman, Mr. Alderman Heygate, Mr. D. Gilbert, and Mr. Alderman C. Smith participated, the House divided: — For the Amendment, 11.1. Against it, 29—Majority, 11. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday se'nnight. WINDOW-LIGHT TAX. Sir R. SHAW said, that in consequence of a conversation he had had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer; he wished to withdraw the notice of his motion for the repeal of the Irish. Window-tax. ' Mr. GOULBURN brought in a Bill to amend the condi tion of the Insolvent Debtors' Court in Ireland, and to assimi late its proceedings to that .of England.—lt was read a first time, and ordeFed to be printed. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and 'the House adjourned at Twelve o'Clock to Thursday next. MINORITY ON MR. HUME'S AMENDMENT FOR MAKING THE SINKING FUND AVAILABLE TO THE .PROPOSED REDUCTION OF TWO MILLIONS OF TAXES. Attwood, Al. Hume, .1. Pares, Thos. Birch, J. - James, W. . Rumbold, ,C. E. Baring, Sir T. Latouche; R. Robinson Sir Geo. Calcraft, .1. 11. Lennard, T. B. Russell, Lord J. Coke, W. jun. Moberly, J. • Taylor, M. A. Dundas, lion. T. Moberly, W. L. Wood, Alderman Duncannon, Visct. Martin, .John Wilson, Sir R. Davies, T. H. Monck, J. B. Williams, J. Denman, T. Milbank, M. Williams, W. Gurney, R. H. Normanby, Visct. Heron, Sir R. 'O'Callaghan, J. TELLER. Hornby, E. ' Palmer, C. F. Ricardo, D., Hobhouse, J. C. Power, R. • FOR THE SUN. NEW IMPROVEMENTS. Mr. EDITOR—You have told us in Tuesday's paper of a present of rich vestments from the King of SARDINIA to a Roman Catholic chapel in town. it is very kind of that Monarch to re member England, now that the Pretender is dead. Therefore as there is now a Bill before Parlia ment to bring six Roman Catholic Lords into their " hereditary seata" in the House of Peers, may we not expect, at some future period, that some folks may think of bringing in a Bill to give his Sardinian Majesty his " hereditary Rat" there also. Again, Sir, don't you remember when Parlia ment were engaged in voting 50,0001. for the Elgin marbles, that dlearned and liberal Banker in Pall Mall complained of our stealing these things from Greece, and from those libe ral patrons of art—the Turks ? and that he recommended rather to vote a sum of money to send them all back again'? Well, Sir, now is the time for that gentleman to step forivard. The Greeks are besieging the Acropolis at Athens ; and, therefore, if all these things were now sent back to the Parthenon, what with the Greek mortar firers without, and the Turkish mortar pounders within, might we not expect an end to all antiquarian controversy ? Your7s, ROB. SHORT. PARLrAMENTA - R - 'Y PAPER-. PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS REGARDING THE PAT" • MENT OF MILFrARY AND NAVAL PENSIONS. 1. That it is the opinion of this Chihroittee, That, f o r the purpose of apportioning, conformably to the Resolutions of tills House of the 3d day -ofll4s i2squit, month of May, the burthe tt , occasioned'by Pensions; it is expetlien, that an equal annual annuity of 2,800,0001., terminable at the end of forty-five years, should; from the sth day of April, 18 22 / be vested in Trustees to be named by Parliament;_ and th at the said annuity should be charged upon the Consolidated Furl(' of the United KingdoM of Great Britain and Ireland. 2. That is the opinion of this Committee; That the Pi a Trustees should pay into the Exchequer the several anne al sums hereinafter mentioned, by four equal, quar t er ly instal ments, on or before the 15th January, the 15th April;the 1 561 „. July, and the 20th October ; the first payment thereof to ve made on the 20th October, 1822 :- Ist Year, ending 15th July 1823 X 4,900 ,00 0. 2d - • - N 24 4,70 0 , 0° ' • 3d - . - - 1825 - - - 4,540, 000 4th - 1826 - - 4,410, 0 °1 sth - - 4 - 827 - 4,290,t; 6th - • . 1828 - - 4,110,0„u, 7th - - 1829 - - - 4,000, 0 ( 1 ,1 Bth - 1830 ' . 3,860,0 0 :1 9th - 1831 - 3,720, 0 °' _ 10th ' - - - 1832 - - 3 590,0 00 11th - 1833 - 3, 1 4 1 500 12th - - - 1834 _ 3,30,00 0 13th - - - - 1835 - 3,180, 00 °, 14th - - - - 1836 - - 3;950, 0 1' 15th - - - -1837 - - 2,910, 0 7, 16th - - - 1833 - - 2,790, 0 °„ i , 17th - - - 1839 • - - - 2,660, 0 (7, 18th - - - 1840 - - '2,530,0e„." 19th - - 1841 - - 2,410,0 0 1; 20th - - 1842 = - - 2,290,t, 21st - - 1843 - - 2,170,r,' 22d - 1844 - - - 06 0, v 1a7 23d - - - - 1845 - - I,9aute„,," 24th - - - - 1846 - - - 25th . 4 - - 1847 - - - 1.73 0 / (7 5 26th - - - 1848 - - 1,630, 0 1 27th - - 1849 - - - 1,53 0 ,M 28th - - • - - 1850 - - 1,430,er„ a 29th - - 1851 - 1,34 0, e" 30th - - - 1852 - - - 1,250, 00° . 31st - - - 01' - 1853 - - 1,17 32d - - - 1854 - I,08 0,( , ° 0 33d - - - - 1855 - - 1,009,k, 34th - • - 1856 - - -920, 0 V, 35th - - - 1857 - - 860 , „„° ( "6 36th - - 1858 - - 700. 0 0o 37th - - - 1859 - - 720, 0 5;1 38th - - 1860 - 39th - - 1861 - - 60 0, „,, n u"" 40th ,- - 1862 - , . 41st - - 1863 ' - - 490,tw 0 42d - - 1864 - - •440, 01} 0 1) 43d - . 1865 _ 39t1,0 0 00 44th - - - 1866 - - 45th - - - 1867 - - - 3 00 :" And that the said several sums, or such part thereof as may necessary, shall be appropriated and applied conformably t° the said Resolutions. 3. That it is the opinion of this Committee, That for th e purpose of enabling the said Trustees to make the several P a Y; ments hereinbefore mentioned, at the Exchequer, at the sever periods aforesaid, they should be empowered, from time t e , time, to sell and dispose of so much of the said Annuity as rinl 4 be necessary for that purpose, but so as that no greater anrue', of Annuity should be sold or disposed of, in any one Y,e,t; than would be sufficient to raise the sums necessary to corrIP";;" the whole of the payments to be made within the year, 0.1, % `, discharge and pay off the principal and interest of arq - r) h chequer Bills which may have been issued on account or sa e payments. 4. That it is the opinion of this Committee, That for the p, u , e pose of enabling the said Trustees the more readily to prost,'.'st the means necessary for Making the said payments, in the rilt 4 _f l a convenient and economical manner, the Commissioners u sail Majesty's Treasury should be empowered to issue to the 'Trustees, Exchequer Bills to an amount not exceeding the OP:, necessary for completing from time to time the said payinen, t " which Exchequer Bills, together with the interest, thereuP'"i i ; should from time to time be discharged and satisfied by * a id said rustees out of the monies to arise by the sale of the 5- 61 Annuities, or out of the dividends thereof;—and that, 13.1!,,, such payment, the interest accruing on such Exchequ e r may be paid out of any supplies voted by P ar liament. May 24, 1822. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF ICING'S BENCH, MAY 24. ALDRIDGE AND TOOKE V. 'HORNE AND CO. _ o f The plaintiffs are jewellers, the defendants proprieto rs r , the Wisbeach mail coach; and action was brought t 24, cover the value of a parcel sent by the said mail from 1 /', A, beach to the plaintiffs in London, but - which, it was alleic,:a was - lost by the negligence or the defendants. It app Le from the evidence, that in January 1821, ajeweller name" ads Febre, residing at Wisbeach, had received some coral ig„„, from the plaintiffs on sale or return. Wishing to return he packed up as many as amounted in Value to 221. 3s. egl• to enclosed the article in a brown paper parcel, which was ser e the Rose and Crown Inn, at Wisbeach, and delivered ta A be Landlady uf the Inn, with eighteen-pence for carriage. it gave it to the coachman, with a caution to take care of .it tis came from Mr. Le Febre, -- and was of value. The coatn":ss received the parcel and deposited it iii the coach, but it the ultimately lost. It was proved that eighteen-pence Wa s rie price of a common parcel.—The defence was, that the PIA, tors were not answerable for any parcels above the value a o st unless paid for accordingly. It was proved the plaintiffsot have had notice of the regulation, as copies of the saraoe been delivered at the house of the plaintiff in London• plaintiffs, under all the circumstances, were nonsuited. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, MAY 24. HUNT V. BELL. spo' This action was brought by the plaintiff, who keeps a 'via ring room in Great Windmill.street, against the Editor -- t he Proprietor of The Weekly Dispatch, to recover damage s for The publication of a libel which appeared in. December lasr.,, r ibb/ alleged libel was a letter addressed to the Editor bY,' -- t ift; and several other pugilists, complaining that the Pi a ' - t ise.• without authority, had inserted their names in his adverflia ment, describing them as pugilists who were to exhibi t, by ring. It also stated that the plaintiff's room was fre boys and raggamuffins. ; 11 055 ' The son of the plaintilf was called to prove a spec- a • the • a• He stated that the receipts previous to the publication „ w in libel were 1501. at a time , and. after the letter they came ' l ' to 81. si t ' Mr. Sergeant PELL, for the defendant, contended that to . ring exhibitions were unlawful, inasmuch as they baci,,, i s ser' dency to occasion a breach of the peace. The beam"' geant submitted that the plaintiff could not recover. ore The Learned JUDGE was of opinion such exhibition s opt . Unlawful, but suggested that Counsel might move for the nion of the Judges on the point. • The Jury found a verdict for the defendant. SEDUCTION—GWYNNE V. JENKINS. idol'' , This was an action brought by the plaintiff, who is a;',„ l , to (keeping a public-house, at .Meklreth, near Cambriab7 her recover damages from, the defendant for the seduction o' daughter. y The defendant was a medical man, and .professional„ „To tended the family, and accomplished; his purpose under rnise of marriage. - u p o n q uente The CHIEF JUSTICE charged the Jury to give 51 ! t en mages as would be short of bringing down absolute rol l the defendant.—Damages-1501. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, MAY 24. COUNTY' RATES. Pa rish of S t. BOLLAND moved the Court on the part of the . o ,te St. George, Hanover-square, to appeal a,gainst the la "te in levied for the county of Middlesex. He stated that the r; a r question was 18,7421. 13s. 4d. made in April, 1821 ; hu t 1 1 fol peared by the accounts of the late Treasurer, that in Junin of lowing he had in hand, by his own shoving, edefal -13,2871. 17s. Bd. and upon examination it was found his with cation amounted to the sum of 7,5051. Bs. 2d., whi ell, n 0 1 w the 5u,% . - tu fe other disbursements, altogether amounted 24,4441. The Learned Counsel was aware, that by the statute o r Sessions, considered of George 11. the Magistrates had a right to meet at a 1? h i e , t as he t no necessity for making a fresh rate till the 'money e a lte' s 'req hand was expended or accounted for.—The appeal " fused. . . hAepypmeAganhtts thoughtmit awcil;eavoilio IJ 114 r)th e lI L ti 2, b~ 3 div i N 4, 4 4. 1, 7. 4, 14 . 1 „IV '