The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-23 00:00:00

torseback, Yd' by some of oi , Prince Alfrol .alked and r Royal High' ring yesterdsi' no ur of joinis; ay evening. it, attended b/ 'ark, Ilerts, tbt esterdsf partook of !ft Cashioburl ichess of CO rene Eighties! less Haninier: ildway, visite , }attended lo! honoured tht presence last rs Association, Hartley, Mr' Morgan , ,fi r e inied bt th tto e rday with Trade. of Conim.oils: with the R' • Cotninission,e,,rs interv iew 102 was produc ed t the mos j Id desire, g eserved. t the imPre, d perfecto:, bY s° lo l jive cone l j of the g'. 'he finale t was _ l d wa s reviaruoa with if s , iss, whic o little g e ,, iji • c t ; 1 13i1d," Dd 1. I s aacs+, Abe ballad 0 1 06 rb s tyle. f Bober: al :0 of the ci 3r Rom er , L e voice) '` lo Wallace J d come foli c j los t creo'l3 rails a v 13° L do r l et dial° Brio° els viva °a fe ve rt]." Wi th tb l 'o u bat r ° Tes, that _ I A " et he in o ,u universal st, O ra° used as 1 ‘ Jr. Stow of a lad' ,de fr° •ked " ite pith ICtia IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 22. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. SUNDAY RAILWAY TRAINS. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from the inhabitants of Linlithgow, in favour of resuming the Sunday railway trains on the Glasgow and Edinburgh Railway. ELECTORAL DIVISIONS. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a pe tition from two parishes near Drogheda, against the present system of electoral divisions in Ireland, and praying for a more equitable arrangement. COMMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTCY. Lord BROUGHAM wished to call the attention of their Lordships, and especially of his Noble Friends the late and the present Lord Chancellors, to a return which had been laid on their Lordships' table, in reference to the Commissioners of Bankruptcy in town and country, which was evidently incorrect in some of its details. According to one calculation in that return, there were N 4 days in the year, and by another there were 354 "P. In one part it was said, concerning the Bristol Commission, that the Commissioners sat 188 days in bankruptcy, 135 days in insolvency, and 31 days in small debts. There was no doubt about what this must mean ; it was clear it was meant that the Commissioners sat 188 days in all, the 135 days and the 35 days being parts of that period. Again, it was said in reference to one of the Commissioners of Bristol, that he sat, during the year, 258 dap, while his colleague only sat 174 days ; the first number, clearly ought to have been 158 days. His Lordship said there were here six functionaries capable of a great deal more work in point of time, or what came to the same thing, that that number might be diminished. They Were employed at present altogether not more than six weeks in the year, and some fews days more in 81119 . 11 debts, but altogether the time was something shout a quarter, at least not a third, of a year. It would naturally be said that he (Lord Brougha m ) "gilt to take blame to himself. But, as his Noble Friend opposite well knew, he (Lord Brougham) was the only person out of eleven that examined the old system, and introduced the present alterations, and out of eleven persons he was the only one that did not think six Commissioners were enough. He recollected he had a struggle to k eep the number so low as it was ; Sir Thomas Wilde, ' now Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir Frederick Pollock, now Chief Baron of the Exchequer, both opposed him, the one being for twelve and the other for fourteen Commissioners. He (Lord Brougham) was obliged to come to a compromise that the number should be seven t but by a clerical error it was made six, which error he (Lord Brougham) took advantage of, an d Would n o t a ll o w it to be amended. He gave their Lordships notice that he would introduce a Bill making that necessary alterations in these matters. He moved the present return should be amended. The motion was agreed to. DISTILLATION FROM CORN. Lord RODEN presented a petition from the mayor and corporation of Drogheda against distillation from corn for the next two years. RUM DUTIES. Lord RODEN presented a petition from the same body ...against the proposed introduction of the rum duties. The p e ti t i on set forth that it would be injurious to the distillers of Ireland, who had invested large sums of money in their distilleries, and that it would be ruinous to the labourers employed in these distilleries as well as to other classes. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. Earl FORTESCUE presented a petition from the guardians of the Honiton union, in Nottinghamshire, Praying for the abolition of the present law of settle ment. The Noble Earl said that he agreed to much of What had been stated in the petition. He was disposed to agree in what was stated as to the Act of last session, Which, so far from being productive of advantage, had been a source of great hardship. He could not, how aver, go the length of admitting that the present law should b e a lt o gether dispensed with. Lord MELBOURNE presented a similar petition from the Guardians of the Bastord Union, in Lincoln shire. SCOTCH BANKS BILL. The Earl of CLARENDON said he would wish the Noble Lord (Eglinton) to postpone his motion with respect to the Scotch Banks Bill. The Earl of EGLINTON said that at the request of the Noble Lord he would postpone his motion. BREWING FROM SUGAR BILL. On the motion of the Earl of CLARENDON, this Bill was read a third timeland passed. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the third reading Of this Bill, Lord ELLENBOROUGH said that there was a pro vision in the Act that no warrants should be issued to levy ti rate after the Ist of October next, but that on the last day of September warrants might be issued to levy a rate. lie thought that this was likely to occasion con fusion, for under the new Act there would be two bodies collecting for a different purpose. lie thought if there was a clause introduced t o p revent this it would be of considerable advantage. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the last few words of the Noble Earl had given a precise intimation of this Bill, the object of which was, to give relief to the destitute poor during the period that shall elapse between the present and the coming of the next harvest. That was the particular object of the Bill. He apprehended that in the event of the harvest not being gathered, or the funds necessary for the relief of the poor now being collected under this Bill, that the Lord Lieutenant might issue his warrant, for the Finance Committee to pay over to the Relief Committee the sums that might be necessary for the relief of the destitute poor; but, certainly, it was not intend e d t o exten d t h e ac t ua operation of this Act beyond the Ist of October. I Lord STANLEY said that the observations of his r si c ble Friend were well worthy of the attention of her aiesty's G overnmen t, and he did not think that the re marks of th e N o bl e M arq uis had fully met their point. It appeared that the Bill was to provide for the destitute Poor, and that the Relief Committee was to pay over to the Fin ance C omm i ttee t h e sums co llected after the Ist October. It did not appear that there was to be any restriction on the Relief Committee whatever, for the R elief Committee might make a list of the destitute per sons entitled to relief under the Act, and that this list might then be transferred to the Lord-Lieutenant, who Would have the power, after the Ist of October, on their report, to issue his warrant for the Finance Com mittee to pay:over to the Relief Committee whatever they Tight deem to be necessary for the relief of the destitute poor in that district. But there was no i n_ in the terms of the Act, and the relief committee might therefore make out a list for twelve months. as : i t would be better evidently to restrict this power, alt not by an a lt erat i on o f the 21st clause, but by an of of the spirit of the Act, limit this Power to issue the warrant, say for three months to that on the 29th of September the Lord ~.i eutenant might issue his warrant to the Finance Com mittee to pay over sufficient for the sustenance of the destitute poor during three months—October, November, amid December. That would be sufficient. Lord CAMPBELL—The Noble Lord should recol lect that the very object of this Bill was to meet an ex traordinary case, and that, in order to do that it was con ceived advisable to leave as large a discretion as possible in the hands of the Lord-Lieutenant. Lord BROUGHAM--No doubt the spirit of the Act ought to be upheld; but they had no right to legislate in the dark when they were levying money to be expended t hus without limit. He thought it would be much better to restrict the power of the warrant to three months in- Stead of extending it to twelve. Lord ELLENBOROIYGII then read over the 21st clause, as he wished it to be amended so as to embody his suggestion. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection to Put off the third reading till to-morrow, to consider whe ther it would be better to insert an additional clause, or to adopt the 21st clause, as amended by the Noble Earl. The Earl of WICKLOW had not at first intended to itake any observations on the Bill till next day, when it would be read a third time, but this, Perhaps, would he the most suitable time for him, and he trusted their Lordships would allow him to Sa y a few words on the Bill itself, as he had not been in the "louse in its earlier stages. He admitted the Bill "as called for by the exigency which it was clause, to intended to meet, but there was one clause to which he aeie re . lief thaeuse call their attention, namely, the twelfth , which regulates the rating, and which gave to citing co mmissioners the most extensive powers in whether the rating should be in elec toral . divisions or in the unions. He objected the choice enormous power, and he did not understand why choce should be given to them. It was not, how ever,soin uc ilit i the present measure he objected to it, in his tvoiawestaobflish. it was as on account of the precedent which He was the more confirmed which was tot' lt,: understood thathe danger of this from having in the union at a the permanent Poor -law Bill, lar b g r e o , ugh in t ste f a o d rwa o r f d, thtehe presezitrating electoral division, evil sitsroposed to be adopted. If this be the case, a greater phico lci) t uld not be inflicted on the coun try. In the first ciples of the law as at presentwas at variance with the prin- He knew there were reasons, and out in both countries. ro a r , and those strong reasons, which might be assigned gly carried? for otherwise there could he noa general mode of relief, question about it at all. pientsinto But he was stron ciple of this Bill, if carrieurd that the prin. throw one-half more reci effect, would than there would otherwise be, In th e r a tes in which provision wa s ma d e f or thep unor by the landed y h district propriet ors , th e rate b ecame to give the appli can t wor k as an we encouragement because it benefited the district ; as bu r t elie ln , ease all the po or were t h rown on the u nion rates, why every district would be contending with the rest which dist r i c t cou ld sen d in the rh plicants. H e a d m i tted there were ditli°c'tultaipes attending th e di v i s i on of the towns - from the pa rishes, because many would be driven into the towns, and the effect would be to bring a great hardship on the inhabitants. But it had been suggested that that difficulty could be met by an electoral mode of . adjust ment . S uppose that a town of a sufficient number of inhabitants should be formed into a division, and that it should be decided that when the rate in that town exceeded a certain per tentage the necessary help might be sought from the union district. But he augured that f much evil would follow from a system of general outdoor relief, and h e felt great adotion o difficulty in putting a proper interpretation words of th e Bill, when ,they provided for o h theth the relief of the " age d and impotent in case of age , one man at 70 might be t Poor ;" for s another at 50; but if a t erm were fixed in . an than thus be do ne , an d muc h more i f the word imp were a dded, for many a young man was impotent were utterly unable to help hicueolf, lie (Earl ~ and Wicklow) THE SUN, LONDON, TUES DAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 23, 1847. - - - would suggest that no one in possession of land should be entitled to poor relief. The exact time might be afterwards drawn, when they came to arrange the details. If the Bill came up again with the alterations which he had suggested, he for one would not op pose it. Earl FITZWILLIA NI concurred with the Noble Earl in the necessity which existed in Ireland for a poor ' law, and also in saying that great care ought to be taken in framing it. But what he was anxious about was, that there might be a properly-adjusted system of elec toral divisions and communities. There was another point to which he wished to advert. He considered that to throw the population of a town on a single electoral division was not only a hardship, but most unjust. He conceived that it would be right to throw the burden of relieving pauperism on unions at large, but on some districts more extensive. He was not aware that there were in the unions of Ire land any towns, at least what an English gentleman would call a town. A great amount of the pauperism, no doubt, was occasioned by the system of clearing land estates in the neighbour hood of these towns. Now, he considered that those persons who bad caused in some degree this pauperism should be compelled to contribute towards its relief ; and he repeated that it would be better to throw the pauperism of the country on districts larger than even electoral divisions. Lord MOUNTCASHEL said, in reference to what had fallen from the Noble Earl opposite, that the towns in Ireland were very differently situated from those in England, some of those places that con tained 3,000 or 4,000 inhabitants were to be considered towns. He certainly agreed with the Noble Lord, that there was a bonus held out to the proprietors in some districts to induce them to pursue the system of clearing the land. The effect was that a great burden was imposed upon certain unions. He felt that this would press most unjustly on the popu lation, for they would not only have to support their own poor, but also the destitute persons that would be thrown upon them. He would rather the measure was ex tended to three years than limited to twelve months. The Earl of ItODEN had seen with great satisfaction the excellent measures which had been introduced, he might say so boldly, by her Majesty's Ministers for the relief of Ireland, though he must, at the same time, say that he was pleased to hear that the Noble Marquis had consented to postpone the third reading of this Bill as the delay might allow fer any improvement of which it was susceptible. He had only two days ago come up from Ireland, and could bear his testimony to the suffer ieg and distress which prevailed in Ireland. He could not but also express his great satisfaction at the other Bill which had been introduced—he meant that fur allowing the sale of property in Ireland to pay off mortgages; for without that he believed that all the other measures together would be next to useless, for it was useless to attempt to levy a tax for the relief of the poor on the possessors of property unless they granted this relief. Most of the entailed estates in that country are heavily mortgaged. and if a man was presumed to hare 100,000/. a year, the great probability was that in the majority of cases he only enjoyed a rental of 2,0001., so that, with out the power to divest himself of his liabilities, they would actually subject him to a tax, as if he were a 100,0001. man, when in reality he was only a 2,0001. a year man. Then as to the great ~jneasure for the reliet of the poor, he thought that some alterations should be made as to the extent of the dis tricts; for it appeared to him that it would be most unjust to limit the unions to the extent of the electoral districts, and in his opinion it appeared to be better to de fine the districts by the size of the towns. Take, for in stance, a large town for a district, and then in another part of the country combine several smaller towns into a district, so that the population of the several districts might bear a proportion to each other. Then, again, as to the relief that was to be granted, he thought that there should be some restriction to be placed upon it, especially where the applicant for relief was the holder of any land. In this country it would never be allowed that relief should be given to a man who held a farm, so long as he continued to hold that land. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE observed that the discussion which had just taken place referred rather to another Bill not before the House, than to the one under consideration ; but he thought, nevertheless, that it would be productive of good. There had been considerable difference of opinion, whether the rating should fall on the union, or the electoral division, and it was, therefore, proposed to make this an open question f or the consideration of Parliament. With regard t o town s , he wassanguine enough to hope that a provision applicable to them would oub ld ew o e b v v e i r a , te tb t a h t e b d e iffi el c a u u lt s y e b lle e wished introduced it t , e a b n e d understood, w hich had been introduce d into the latter Bill by t he whieh would Noble Duke (Wellington), as to in door relief, would be left intact, and the new principle, what ever arrangement may be come to with respect to it, would o nl y apply to the out-door relief proposed t o be given, without food. He had the pleasure of announcing to their Lordships, that in order to expedite the measure which had for its object to facilitate the sale of lands in Ireland, his Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack had con sented to give his immediate attention to the Bill, and to introduce ! it at an early opportunity into their Lord ship House, so that it, with the other measures bearing upon Ireland, would come together before their Lordships, appearing to aid each other to one end—the relief of the distress prevalent in Ireland. The Marquis of WESTMEATH expressed his satis faction that the Government had adopted the suggestion made by the Noble Lord not now in the House, as to defining the case of the pauper, that no person assuming to be a pauper should continue to hold possession of land. He begged their Lordships' attention shortly to a remark of a Noble Lord, that the provisions of one of the Bills proposed ought not to affect the holders of small tenements. He thought if it did not, the effect would be to absorb the whole income of the country. The intention was to give a money re muneration to that class of persons who had small posses sions, and trafficked in land. Ile begged to ask, in case it were carried out, to whom the person in possession should surrender, whether to the chiet lessor, or into the hands of a lessee who might have sublet it? for if it might be resigned into the hands of a lessee, he himself might be a pauper, or he might immediately go and sublet it to another pauper, thereby entirely defeating their Lordships' intention. The same remark applied to the system of conacre, and he begged their Lordships to consider it, for it would have the effect of absorbing the whole income of the country. Lord LANSDOWNE then moved that the third reading of the Bill should be adjourned till to morrow. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 22. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. RAILWAY BILLS. The following Railway Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed ; Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway Amendment • and Deviation. Ayrshire and Galloway Railway (Smithstown to Dal- mellington). Caledonian Railway (Branches to Csnobie &c.) Caledonian Railway (Lease of Part of Glasgow, Dum fries, and Carlisle Railway). Caledonian Railway (Branch across Clyde and Glasgow Station). Great Northern Railway (Branch to King's Lynn). Lynn and Ely Railway (Lynn and Wormegay Navi gation). Lynn and Ely Railway (Deviation and Lynn Docks). Portadown and Dungannon Railway. Wishaw and Coltnoss Railway (Branches to Auchin heath Mineral Field and Canderside). Several private Bills were brought in, and read a first time. AMBERSGATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON, He bad since received a report on the subject, but parts of it related to matters which had not been officially referred to the inspector. He should have no objection, however, to lay such parts before the House as imme diately related to the matter in question. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Mr. MONCKTON MILNES wished to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, whether he had sent to the President and Executive Council of Berne any notice respecting their replies to the menaced interference of the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian Governments, in the international affairs of the Confederation, which have been presented to Parliament by command of her Majesty. Lord PALMERSTON replied that her Majesty's Go vernment had not felt called upon to make any commu nication upon the subject. PORTUGUESE PRISONERS. Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Govern ment were in possession of any authentic information respecting the destination of the officers who were taken prisoners by the Portuguese army at the capture of Torres Vedras. Lord PALMERSTON said, that in consequence of representations made to the Portuguese Government by the British, French, and Belgian, the Government had changed their intention of sending the prisoners to the coast of Africa. He believed that it was pro posed to send them to Madeira, or some other island. He had not, however received . any official information upon the subject. CONSTITUTION OF PRUSSIA. Mr. P. HOWARD wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to lay upon the table of the House copies of the new constitution of Prussia? Lord PALMERSTON said that it was not usual for the Government to lay before the House documents relating so entirely to the internal management of the affairs of other nations. If, however, the House wished to have those documents, he would not object to their pro duction. He would, however, advise the Hon. Member not to press for their production. The subject then dropped PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND). Lord CLEMENTS wished, in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to call the attention of the honourable Gentleman the Secretary for Ire land to this circumstance. The House had been informed that Government abuses bad taken place in con nexion with the public works in Ireland. Now, he wished to know, as he believed these abuses had been carried further, and had been committed by persons not exactly connected with these works, whether the Government had taken any steps in the matter, and whether the accounts of the different baronies would be audited ? Mr. LABOUCHERE said the convenience of the House would be greatly promoted if Hon. Gentlemen would give notice of their intention to put their questions.—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt,the accounts would be regularly audited. He would, however, con sult the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject. INTRODUCTION OF BRITISH MANUFAC TURES INTO PRUSSIA. Mr. FINCH said, as they had been informed by a high authority that Prussia intended to offer facilities for the introduction of B r iti s h manu factures into that country, he wished to ask th e Vice: President cf the Board of Trade, whether there was any immediate prospect of the free admission of British manufactures into the Prussian dominions, or into the states comprehended in the Zollverein? Mr. M. GIBSON stated, in reply, that he had not heard any one express a very sanguine hope that there was any prospect that British or the manufactures of any other country would be admitted free into the Zollverein.—(flear, hear.) In fact, there had been an augmentation of duty.—(Hear, and laughter.) He was merely stating a fact.—( Hear.) With respect to the first part of the Hon. Gentleman's question, he begged to remind him that many other foreign countries had made material reductions in their tariffs, and ad mitted the manufactures of other countries at a lower duty.—(Hear.) EXPORTATION OF RUSSIAN CORN. In reply to a question from Mr. WAWN, Lord PALMERSTON said he had recently received information from St. Petersburgh which led him to be lieve that the Russian Government did intend to offer facilities for the exportation of corn into this country. (Hear.) Large quantities, he believed, had been ex ported. SEED FOR IRELAND. Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to know what arrange. meats had been made for distributing seed to people in Ireland out of the 50,0001. voted by Parliament? Mr. LABOUCHERE said the arrangements were still under the consideration of the Government. Seed, and not money, would be distributed. - - RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. STRUTT said that, in consequence of the wishes of several Members, and with a view to limit the discus- sion in the House, he would postpone the second reading of the Railway Bills to Monday next. DISTRESS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOT- LAND. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that the House do resolve itself into a Committee of 'Ways and Mean s, MrE. ELLICE begged to call the attention of the Government to a report of the sheriff-substitute of the county regarding the suffering and privation to which, from the extreme scarcity of food, the population on the west coast of Inverness-shire is now reduced. He was extremely unwilling to trespass on the attention of the House, but unless some steps were taken, the calamities which were of daily occurrence in Ireland would soon extend themselves to the Highlands. It was but fair to say that many of the Scotch proprietors had made great sacrifices in order to support the population on their estates. In fact, it would be invidious in him to allude to particular instances. Some had made greater, some smaller exertions, but still a large amount of the desti tute population had been supported by the landed proprietors without asking the House for assistance. At the same time there were many other proprietors who had not acted in the same way, and who had forgotten their duty and the manifestation of that sympathy which was due from them. It was regarding this class that he wished to draw the attention of her Majesty's Government to the facts which he held in his hand. Redid not mean to say that the poor-law was efficient in every instance of distress, and on that he did not wish at pre sent to express an opinion, as the law had not as yet had a fair trail ; but he wished to press on the attention of the House the facts to which he was coming. Those facts were derived from a report of a gentleman of high character, holding an important official situation, and entitled to every consideration and credence. He was the sheriff•substitute of the county of Inverness, and the report was made at the instance of the Edin burgh Board of Relief, - at whose request he had made a journey into the distressed districts. In the districts which he traversed he found a great propor tion of the people in a state of starvation, and in a much worse condition than he expected. in the first district he entered he found that out of 91 families 82 were utterly destitute, making 483 individuals. Of these 138 were under twelve years of age. The quantity of meal in the district was only sufficient to pro vide one pound weight a day for four days. The writer instanced cases where fever and disease, consequent upon famine, had already made considerable ravages. The next district he went to he found only thirty individuals in independent circum stances, and not requiring aid. The place contained 671 souls, and amongst all that number he found only ten chests of meal, which would only afford them sustenance for two days. One proprietor employed eighteen men there, but he had made no pro vision to pay them, nor had he furnished them with any food. In the next instance given, 650 people were in the same condition. Supplies had been sent by the Free Church Committee, but they bad been ex hausted. In one place, containing 1,610 people, 950 of the number were in a state of destitution; and it was the unanimous opinion of a meeting called there, that in twenty-four hours many hundreds would be suffering the pangs of hunger and starvation. The writer said also, that nothing could be done by the people themselves, and the proprietors did not appear to be making any provision for them. The seed corn was being consumed, and in many instances had been wholly used. In a letter written by a lady in the Isle of Skye, it was stated that unless some means were taken to supply the people they must starve. He did not wish then to make any ques tion as to the necessity of assisting the proprietors, but the Government should take means to intro duce the poor-law as far as it could be made available. Some steps should be taken by her Government th l e o te a n s a si n s t t s the a people ndpropr ; iet f o o r r s , inM Majesty's e s s o t y in ' s e i n c e s, ware selling their produce at a very low price, in order to relieve the people as much as possible. He felt that it was only necessary to call the attention of her Majesty's Government to these circumstances, in order to induce them to do all that could be dune for these poor people, and to save them from the misery of want and starvation. G. Sir Friend thatediY said h ltEhitenh the most eoatwteasptt he attention could of assure Government h had consequence of this v i s i tat i on; it was true that the great I t H e' ig si ti v l e and a s ed of s S ev co er tl e and di i g n majority of proprietors in that district had made the greatest sacrifices and exertions, in order to enable them to discharge the obligations resting on them to support the people in the present distress. There had been ex ceptions to this noble feeling, but he believed that the exceptions were comparatively limited. The re port to which the Honourable Gentleman had adverted had been communicated by the sheriff substitute of Inverness. He undertook his mission throughout that district in which the distress prin cipally prevai led, and his friend the Earl of Eglin ton had communicated some letters embodying the same facts as were contained in the report. Inquiry had been directed into all the circumstances connected with that distress, and the head of the Commissariat in laces in halerd of sufforing from fa forded to tense p ) he eceived a letter from Oban had been instructed to see that a supply was 0- /nine . A f-w days am' an of the Board of Supervision gentleman had ordered that in Scotland, and that withthe • view special inquiry Sir John should be made, existed should he carried into that the poor-law as it had always received orders to effect. Captain Cowan relieving distress where it supply food, with the view of existed. chlorin roborate that the distress had greatlyd in s - e re n ased a Mr. BAILLIE said, that in the Western Highlands. He had the e fact. he could painf . ul , ly letter from M•Leod, of M`Leod, verifying Sir GEORGE GREY said there w ere two frigates constantly engaged in supplying the island s of Scotland with food. After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN, Mr. P. SCHOU said it was highly praisewor thy of those landlords who had taken care of their poor, and it was equally reprehensible of those landlords who did not support their poor. But what was still more reprehensible was, for Government to allow the poor to remain at the mercy of any landlord ; and there ought to be an efficient poor-law to obviate the evil.—(Hear, hear.) Major MACNAMARA said there was not a man in his part of the country who had not done his duty, and as for himself he was the largest contributor in the county of Clare.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. STUART said that he had received a letter from M'Leod, of M'Leod, detailing the distress of the persons on his estate, and concluding by stating that he had, up to the present period, supplied his tenants with oatmeal to the amount of 51. on an average, and that such was the fearful state of the distress, that it was quite impossible for him to bear up under it. The conversation then dropped. THE J3UDCrET. The House then resolved itsolf into a Committee of Ways and Means. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose for the purpose of making the financial statement, and said —Mr. Greene: Although I have little doubt but that the importance of the subject upon which I am now about to address the Committee would ensure the attention of the Committee, yet I hope I shall not appeal to it in vain for its indulgence during the statement I am about to make. Though unwilling to shrink from the performance of that duty which persons holding my situation are bound to perform, I am afraid that Lam not very able properly to perform that task.—(Hear, hear.) I hope, at the same time, that my inability may be considered as my excuse if I make my state ment as short as may be consistent with making it; as clear as possible, and confine my observe- lions to that which is absolutely necessary, in order to place before the Committee the financial state and prospects of the country, Sir, I put this further claim to the indulgence of the House, that it is many years since a Chancellor of the Exchequer has had to make so heavy a demand on the - Treasury, owing to the unfortunate state of the country, and I hope it will be several years before a similar calamity will render such demands necessary.—(Hear, hear.) The Committee, however, must be aware that the calamity which calls for this demand is one which no prudence, either on the part of her Majesty's Ministers, or of any Government, or of any Legislature, could possibly have pro- vided against.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It has pleased Providence to afflict not only this country, but a gteat pant of Western Europe, with great dearth, and that dearth has pressed peculiarly on that part of the United Kingdom least able to bear it. Thousands of suffering and famishing people, chiefly in the west of Ireland, appeal for sympathy and assistance to this House, and I know that that sympathy and that assistance will be extended to them. —(Hear, hear.) Sir, if I were only to reflect on the past, or even the pre sent state of the finances of the country, I cer tainly should say that there never was a time in which the finances of the country were so well able to bear the demand which has been made upon them.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen have now had in their hands for some time the balance-sheet of the last quarter By it it appears that the whole excess above the re- payments, amounts to 916,0001., and that the entire balance is upwards of 9,000,0001. on the year.—(Hear.) This is the first time, I believe I may say in the memory of those conversant with these matters, that a Chancel• for of the Exchequer has had to deal with so large a balance. If, in like manner, I refer to the produce of the great articles of consumption, it would show that the revenue derived from them has exceeded the most sanguine expectations even of the Right Honoura ble Gentleman opposite, who made his financial statement last year. If I refer to the Customs, I find that the produce of every article for the nine months, from April to Decem ber inclusive, with one single exception of those duties which were reduced, is considerably higher than during the corresponding nine months of the preceding year. In like manner, if I turn to the Excise revenue, I find that in the last year, with the single exception of soap, which, I believe was, owing to some accidental circumstances at the beginning of the year, on every material article the duty has increased—even including that branch of it on which the Honourable and Gallant Member for Lincoln seemed to have some misgivings—namely, post-horses. By the return of the quarter up to the 13th of February last, I find that there is an increase in the ordinary re- venue, as compared with the corresponding period of the preceding year, of nearly half a million. We hare, therefore, great reason to be thankful that such a demand came at such a time, when we were: not unprepared to meet it.—(Hear, hear.) At the same time, I think we should hold out fallacious hopes if I said we were entitled to look for a continuance of such a season of prosperity. Sir, I think that no person looking at the signs of the times, can doubt that there are circumstances existing which indicate that we may be approaching one of those periods when a revulsion in the prosperity of the country will occur. Such periods of calamity occur in com mercial enterprises as well as in the progress of the country. Such was the case in 1825, and again in 1836, after years of unexampled prosperity. I do not anticipate anything like the revulsion which took place on former occasions. I see no symptoms, and 1 do not think it right to cause any fear in the minds of persons by the expression of such a belief. I think the experience of former times has not been lost upon our merchants and traders, and I hear from every quarter that the trade and comnterce of the country is in a sound and healthy condition. And I am inclined to attribute such a fact to the effects of the measures regulating the currency introduced by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth. I be lieve, but for the operation of that Bill, when the world was not quite in a sober mood, we might have seen great distress, consequent upon the mania existing for specula tion, and I believe that many of those who were most adverse to the provisions of that Bill have latterly be. come converts to the system it contains. I attach not only these effects to that Bill, but I believe sounder principles and sounder notions of currency were brought into operation, and persons were induced to pursue a more prudent course than on former occasions. Peopl e i nves t e d their money in the . c . on . struction of railways instead of purchasing stock and Mexican bonds. Great communications, affording employment to the people and calculated to promote the commercial prosperity of the country, were constructed, and I am, there. fore, convinced, that no such results will now occur, as upon former occasions, but, neverthe less, it would be imprudent if we did not en deavour to be prepared. The present high prices of provisions must necessarily diminish the comforts of the people and their power of purchasing luxuries. Sir, the high-priced food tells on the existence of many, but it must tell upon the:coms forts of all classes of society. I am speaking now o f this country, and am not alluding to the state of Ireland. The result of this state of things is to diminish, among all classes, the consumption of articles of luxury. I hare looked through the articles of Customs and Excise, and I find that, throughout the whole, the main articles on which duty has been paid, are articles of consumption for food. I find that for the bygone year, ending January last, there has been paid in these departm ents 34,553,0001. for articles of food. Of this amount the article of sugar has cost 5 530 0001. The articles of wine, s p irits, tea, and ' coffee, 21, 785,000 L ; beer, 4,333,0001., makin g a total of 31, 653,0001. This was the amount raised raised. Contemporaneously with the high price of provisions, there has been a high had b ; while, on the whole, the slim o f 3 o p4 n ri,cs t es h 3 e , i s 0:00 5 1 . r tie raw material of on e o f th e great h staple manufactures --I mean the ar ti c l e o f cotton. The result h as been to p roduce a co nsiderable diminu tion of the art icles p roduced in t his department of our t been manufacturing industry. I hold i n my h an d a state• m en' of the mills employed, standing idle, or partially employed on the 9th of January, and the 3d of February last respectively. On the 9th of January last there were ten mills in Manchester standing idle on the 3d of Feb ruary, 13; on the 9th of January, 52 were working short time; on the 3d of February, ca --; on the 9th of January there were fully employed, 133 ; on the 3rd of February, 124 ; on the 9th of January, 25,849 persons w ere fully employed ; on the 3rd of February, 22,945 ; on the 9th of January, there were working short time 11,851; on the 3d of February, 13,816; and on the 9th of January there were unem ployed 1,619; and on the 3d of F e b ruar y, 2 , 619. Such was the condition of this branch of industry. But the pressure occasioned by dear provisions was not alone confined to this country; it prevailed in France, Belgium, Germany, and Poland ; and the effect, as might be ex pected, was to create a demand for bullion for foreign purposes, and therefore to cr eate difficulties in the way of commercial transactions, and to limit the enterprise of the country, —(Hear, hear.) I find, on referring to the state of t h e B an k in February last year and February thi s year, there are on l y 1.200,0001. less this year than during the corresponding period last year. On the 13th of February, 1846, there was in the Bank 13,476,000/., and on the 13th February this year there are 12,299,000. Indeed, Sir, I am almost surprised at this, consid er i ng t h e am ount of bullion sent from this country, that the deficiency is not greater, and it is in this respect satisfactory, for there has been an enormous importation of cora which has contributed to the prosperity of the manufactures of this country, and has made an enormous demand for manufactured goods, which have been sent to America and elsewhere in payment for food.—(Hear.) I am happy also to find that there is not that demand for the exportation of food which there was, and I am also happy to find that a great establishment in a neighbouring country—l mean the Bank of France—is in a better situation than it was some time ago, because it is utterly impossible tkat any great circumstance affecting the commercial prosperity of that country, could avoid being felt by and reacting upon ourselves. I think that the circumstances I have stated are enough to show that the present time is, at least a time for caution. We cannot con- tinually prosper to the • extent we do, and we must be prepared for less prosperous times, and no one ought to be too sanguine. I will now turn, which is more particularly my duty, namely, to make the financial statement. Sir, the Right Hon. Gentleman who preceded me in the office I have the honour to fill, made his financial statement in the month of May last year. He then said that he anticipated a surplus on the ordinary revenue of 76,000, and from the extra• ordinary source of China, a surplus of 700,0001., making altogether 776,0001. By subsequent legislation, slave grown sugar has been rendered admissable to this country, and the result has been that in the nine, months from April to December there has been an increase of revenue on the article of sugar to the extent of 304,000 L The Right Honourable Gentleman anticipated a probable surplus, and by his nett calculation made it to be 1,500,0001. However, if Hon. Gentlemen would only ref e r t o th e balance-s heet issued on the sth of January, they would find that the excess of income had so far ex ceeded the Right Honourable Gentleman's antici pations that there was an excess of 2,814,000 L I may, perhaps, be justified in stating that when ,the period comes to which the Right Hon. Gentleman made reference, his calculations will be found to turn out not unfavourable for the country. I think that the ealcu lations which I am about to make, based on the proceeds of the revenue on the sth of January last—on these proceeds I am about to state what I think the probable revenue will be for the year, from the ensuing sth April, 1847, to the sth April, 1848. The House will see that the increase on the Customs duties to the sth January was 205,659/., and that a considerable amount was derivable from the corn-laws, somewhere about 79,300/. In consequence, however, of the suspension of the duties on the importa tion of corn, it will be seen that we cannot on the first six months expect this amount to be continued. What the produce of the harvest may be, we cannot of course yet calculate; but, even supposing that nothing is derived to the revenue from this source, I think that from the increased importation in sugar a materially added revenue will accrue from this source in the course of the succeeding year; but more than that, on the only three items on which the Customs fall off in the course of the last six months for which we have a return,viz., butter, cheese, and silk manufactures, I find that the import in these articles has increased. I find that in the nine months, from April to iDecember, the amount of butter bee been 201,000 cwt. in 1845, as compared with 207,000 in 1846; cheese, 202,000 cwt. in 1845, as compared with 265,000 cwt. in 1846 ' • and 218,000 lbs. of manufa c tur e d silk as compared with 297,000 lbs. in the following year. Sir, taking all these circumstances into consideration, I believe I shall be entitled to assume that the probable income from Customs' duties for the ensuing year will not be less than 20,000,0004 If trade goes on without any material change, I believe I shall be fairly justified in assuming that the Customs' duties will yield 20,000,0004 I have already said that from the beginning of the present year up to the present time the Customs' and Excise duties have increased. The increase in the Customs' duties alone has been no less than 245,0004 I come now to the Excise produce. Up to the sth January the Excise duties amounted to 13,988,0004 Sir, nothing can be more encouraging than the extraor dinary increase that has taken place in the excise duties, during the last three or four years, and, although:theycan not exceed the amount of the past year, nevertheless, in many respects, the Excise income is far more certain than the Customs. I may therefore assume, with some degree of certainty, that the Excise income for the ensuing year will be 13,700,0001. Again, the increase upon the Excise made in the be ginning of the present quarter has been no less than 106,000/. In Ireland, too, the Excise duties have increased in the course of the last year, but not to a very considerable amount. Sir, the Stamps produced in the year ending the sth of Jannary 7,505,0001. I assume they will be about the same, or 7,500,00' )1. The Taxes and Land Assessments produced 4,272,0001. I know of no reason why the should not produce the same, say, 4,270,0001. The Property-tax produced 5,395,000/. ; but here there is a small amount of extraordinary payment; therefore, although the Property-tax since the sth of January, has increased by 169,000/. over the corresponding period of last year, I will assume that the property-tax will yield a sum of 5,300,0006 The Post-office I will take at the same amount as last year, 1,845,0001. ; Crown lands at 170,0001. The miscellaneous items of revenue, up to the sth of January, produced 427,0001. The calculation of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, was 300,000/. A considerable sum of money had been paid from the fees of the house, which, in all probability, will not be so large in the present session. I may call it 30,000/. from that source ; therefore I take the " Mis cellaneous" at 330,0004 This will make the ordinary revenue of the financial year of 1847 and 1848 amount to 52,065,000/. I now come to the expenditure. The interest of the debt, funded and unfunded, will be 28,045,0004 The estimated charge of the Consolidated Fund, omitting the charges on tic count of the Irish distress, will be 2,522,0004; to that must be added that charge to which the Right Hon. Gen tleman (Mr. Goulburn) alluded last year, viz., 175,0001. for the remainder of the charges on the Iri sh consta bulary, hitherto borne by the counties of Ireland, making a total, in round numbers, of 2,700,000/. The amount of the National Debt Consolidated Fund charges will be 30,745,000/. The estimates in the various services, except the "Miscellaneous," are all upon the table of the House. I, therefore, need not do more than merely the army x2 relyallndeto some of the items. The vote will 50 i11 , b 7 e 4 , For The militia The increase in the Commissariat ea vo a t m e Making a r the ter w o h f o l t e h e a r my r, £6,840,074 ounting to 192.0001., But for the increase in the deferr e d estimates for the there would be a decreas e i n th e army vo t e o f 30,000 1 . The navy estimates for the pr esen t y ear w illb e 7,561,876/ previ being an increase in that department of 77,0061. The estimates for the last two years have been below the expenditure. Later in the evening I shall show the excess of that expenditure for the year ending in April last. I am afraid, however , owing to arrangements made in of this year that there • is a probability that the expen diture of the present year will exceed that anticipated. A considerable portion of that increase has been deemed necessary. We have increased the marine force to the extent of 1,500 men, and when my Honourable Friend (Mr. Ward) states the naval estimates of the House, he will state the reason of this increase more fully than I now intend to do; but I think it right to make this statement now. The vote for the Ordnance department will be 2,679,1271., which is an in crease over the last year of 135,5581. Out of that increase, 67,2991. is due for certain services which the House last year considered ought to be placed under the head of the :Ordnance, in order to bring that portion of the expenditure into proper o rder. The remainder of the increase is partly owing to the necessity which has arisen in conse quence of the change which has taken place in maratime warfare by the introduction of steam-ships for the purpose of promoting the defences of the country. Sir, the Miscellaneous, the list of which is not on the table, is 3,750,060/, I have left out of them any sums voted with regard to the relief of Ireland. I may say however, that 1,302,0001. is included in the Right Hon. Gentleman's estimate. Compared, then, with last year there is an increase of about 397,0001. Of that 171,0001. is owing to a half-year's expenditure connected with certain provisions of the poor-law, and of prosecutions, and for the maintenance of prisoners. Th e rema i n d er of the increase is due to the necessity for providing for the maintenance of convicts at home instead of the colonies. A considerable portion is due to printing and stationery for both Houses of Parliament, which is very heavy ; also, in consequence of some unexpected increase is the ex penses in connexion with the New Houses of Parliament to which, I think, I had not better further advert until they are before the House. The result of these several sums proposed to be voted is 20,831,0771., making the whole ordinary expenditure for the year 51,576,000/. Sir, in the statement which I have made to the House I have omitted, purposely, all SUMS required for the re lief of distress in Ireland, whether they have been granted, or estimated, with the exception of the ordinary establishment of the Aoard of Works, and the salaries of such officers as would have bees employed otherwise, but who are now en gaged in the inspection of the relief committees. And it now becomes my duty to state what I think the demand on the Exchequer will be. What is material to the present purpose is not what may be the ultimate demand upon us, but what may be necessary to meet the present emergency. The system which has been commenced last year, and continued to the present moment, is, that all the sums required for the relief of public distress should be advanced by the Crown. Whatever burdens may be ultimately thrown on the landed property in Ireland, in respect to these sums, the landed proprietors have as yet paid nothing.— (Hear, hear.) . They have paid, no doubt, the poor rates, which, in 1846, amounted to 390,0001., and they have paid their subscriptions to the relief com mittees ; and I believe that a large body of the landd proprietors have gone to a very great ex ntain the poor upon their estates. I am pense to mai w confining my statement to t e relief wor s, an h k d Whatever may be the expense, the whole sum, in the first instance, is advanced from the public Treasury. It is :not very easy to state precisely what the amount of expenditure may be, tor that will depend u pon a variety of circumstances over which we have no control. It is easy enough to state what the expenses, in various ways, have already been. I stated a night or two ago that the expease in the month of November amounted to 302,0001., and in five weeks after to 742,0001. The number of persons employed in October last was 190,000 ; in November the number was 285,000 ; in December the number was 404,000 ; and in January it was 571,000. The expenditure up to the sth of January last, for a staff for the Board of Works, has been 20,5004 ; and the amount expended for other officers to the same date has been 27,5001. There has been ex pended up to this time, for the purposes of draining about 218,090 L, and on depots the amount has been 295,0001.: nearly all the latter sum will be repaid to the Government when the sales of the depots take place. For the purposes of the Labour-rate Act there has been advanced from the Exchequer of this country to Ireland the sum of 2,400,0001,, and of thi.3 there has been disbursed under the direction of the Board of Works nearly two millions. This expenditure of 2,400,000/. bad taken place up to the 20th of Feb. last. The amount raised by donations and expended in Ireland from August till now has been 80,000 L Now from this statement I do not think that there will be required a sum less than a million a month to meet the exigencies of Ireland. The amount which was expended in January was 800,0001., and this did not include all the outlay. No doubt the Board of Works will In future be relieved of a great deal of its pressure, but, on the other hand, it should be recollected that during the summer months there are the greatest number of destitute persons in Ireland. During the months of June, July and August, there are infinitely less people employed than at an earlier period of the year. It was, I beliere, in reference to these three months that the statement the Right Hon. Gentle- man alluded to was made—that somewhere about two millions of people in Ireland were in a state of total des titution for three months of the year. Again, we expect no inconsiderable saving by ►he different modes of ad ministering relief, through the medium of soup kitchens and relief committees, for they are considerably cheaper than the relief given by the public works, On the other hand, the increase in the destitution of that country and the increased demand for a supply of food, will, I believe, render a greater amount of ex penditure necessary. Again, Sir, there is no doubt that a considerable number of persons will be taken off the public works by the employment afforded by the land lords of Ireland, under the Bill, which I hope will be passed before long, for the improvement of their estates. I believed that the Bill will work well in Ireland, for all accounts of it have induced in my mind very sanguine expectations. Again Sir, the advances made by the Treasury will have to be made, as far as I can see from the data we have to go upon, down to the ga thering in of the next harvest. It is impossible to sup pose that all exertions on the part of these national mea sures can cease at once in harvest time, and it is quite clear that advances for the purposes of carrying on many works must be continued ; so that it is very likely that for some short period after the harvest—looking at the case in the most favourable light—these advances must be continued. Taking, therefore, the briefestview it is pos sible to estimate, I cannot estimate the expenditure under eight millions. Up to the present time, as I have already stated, two millions had been advanced, and therefore the estimate of the total sum which will be required to be expended or advanced, granted or lent, for the relief of distress in Ireland, during the period of about a year, will not be less than ten millions of money.—(Sensation.) Two millions have been already advanced, eight are to be advanced, making altogether, from the conclusion of August last to the conclusion of these operations, which I anticipate at the end of the harvest, ten millions of money.—(Hear.) Sir, I do believe that even if the 16,000,0001. which the Noble Lord opposite wished the Government to advance to the railways had been ordered by the House, that not even one shilling of these 10,000,000/. would be saved to the country. With the heavy demands which are now made on the resources of the country, I was glad, although myself unable to take part in this discussion—l say I was glad, and gra tified to see the authority by which the House affirmed so wise and prudent a resolution.—(Hear hear,) The announcement which I have now to make must be evident to the Committee—it must be evident that I must go into the market to borrow, because no amount of taxation will be able to produce within the . . time required the money which is necessary for the relief of Ireland. It is, therefore, a matter not of chance, but of necessity, that I must go into the market to borrow, and the first question which it is necessary for me to ask is, shall I borrow the whole of - the 8,000,0001., or endeavour only to borrow a part. If I adopt the latter course, I must first consider whether I shall not reduce the balances of the Exchequer. Now, Sir, this is a course which I am most unwilling to adopt. Sir, I think that no person who looks to the state of what is called the money market of this country, who considers that the exchanges bad been adverse to us (although I am happy to say that they have lately been less adverse than they were, still they are just at the turn), will say, after a consideration of these circumstances, that it would not be exceedingly injudicious in me if I put a farther pressure on the monetary sy stem of this country. It must also be remembered that by a Bill of last session great advances were made for the purposes of drainage and other improvements. But, Sir, there is a still further and more weighty con sideration. It is uncertain what hangs over to, and what will be the produce of the ensuing harvest no man can tell. No man can overrate the importance of a good harvest. Hitherto we have been living mainly upon por tions of the harvest of 1845—1 mean on the harvest of other countries of 1845, and to some extent upon the harvest of 1846. In the course of the last year there was in troduced, for home consumption in this country, of grain and flour of all kinds, no less a quantity than 5,318,000 quarters. It was hoped that there would have been a considerable import of Indian corn, the produce of the harvest of 1846, but those hopes were not realised. lam confident, however, that in the course of this summer we shall have an abundandant supply of Indian corn; but still it is impossible to say what will be the produce of the next har vest. It may please God to give us a good har vest throughout the world, but unless that dispensation is vouchsafed to us it will be impossible to calcu late for the future. Sir, the means by winch we met the pressure of last autumn was the large balance in the Exchequer, and I hope this will convince every Member of the Committee of the necessity for keeping some con. siderable balance in the Exchequer. Sir, this being so, I believe the wiser and more prudent course is at once to borrow the extreme sum. Honourable Gentlemen must remember, that in borrowing this, I do not take a permanent responsible position, Cecause a considerable portion of the sum will be repaid by Irish landlords. Of the expenditure on the public works in Ireland, halt _ . of it has been granted as acharge upon the property of Ireland, and payable in a period of ten years. The amount of these repayments, as they come in, will, of course, extinguish a considerable portion of the debt proposed to be contracted. But, even though the half of the sums granted to Ireland should be repaid, there would still remain a balance of 4,000,0001. or 5,000,0001., which will not be so much when it is considered for what purpose the grant has been made, viz., for the relief of our suffering fellow creatures. The next ques tion of course is, whether, in the borrowing of so large a sum, I should not have accompanied that loan with increased taxation, not only for the purpose of paying the interest of the loan proposed to be raised, but also for discharging a portion of the debt before a long period. I was exceedingly un willing, even to the amount which I have named, to in crease the amount of the permanent debt without mat; ing some immediate provision for its extinction before long ; I was unwilling to add even this a mount to the permanent debt; but, on the other hand, there were many reasons which induced me to pause before I determined on the adoption of that course. In the first place, among many other reasons, the present year i. one in which it would be most unfortunate to attempt any alteration in the taxation of the country. Every body knows that a season of great taxation invariably induces stagnation of trade. In proof of that assertion, compare the first quarter of the year 1846 and the first quarter of the present year. In the last year the repeal of the corn-laws and other duties was hanging over the commerce of the country, thereby causing great uncertainty in commercial matters. In the present year all agitation has been suspended, commerce has been thrown open, and, as I have already stated, a remark able increase in the Customs and Excise has been made in consequence in the corresponding quarter of the last and present years. Further than that, I think no inconsiderable weight is to be at tached to the consideration mentioned before, namely, with reference to the amount which the Governmeri may ultimately have to obtain. If, as I hope, the har vest of the next year turns out a plentiful one—if, as I hope, from one source or another, employment, or the means of sub,istence, be provided for the suff: ring peopl. of Ireland, then in such case the present demand now made for the loan may not be required. If, however, upon the contrary, the produce of the harvest should be deficient ; if there should be again a failure of the potato crop, and of the grain imported from elsewhere, or grown in this country, should be a high price and dear, then it will be necessary for the country to come forward and assist the starving population, and allowing a further demand to be made upon the public resources of the country. I hope before Parliament meets again that I shall be able to inform them of the prosperous state of the country, in connexion with the harvests. I think, therefore, that it is better to postpone dealing with the question of increased taxation until we can deal with it with the full knowledge of the existing circumstances. Hon. Gentlemen must be aware that in the next session e of Parliament it will be necessary to deal _taxation with question of the renewal of the income-tax. If was to be increased this year, that is one of the sources of revenue to which one wou ld naturally look as a fit tax to impose , but I think it would be extremely unwise to deal with it t his year—topejudge Parliament Parliament, perhaps. It is for these r e asons, Sir, — tha a w t n i e twould be well if I could this year provide for the loans out of the ordinary revenue; but I propose adopt ing a more prude nt course, and not increasing the taxa tion in the present year , but leaving that question to be dealt with next year. Now, Sir, I have already s tated that the ordinary re venue was 52,065,00 a, that the ordinary expenditure was 51,576,0001., leaving therefore a surplus of 489,000 L Now, Sir, assuming that I borrow 9,000,0001. what will be ,the annual interest on that amount ? Of course it is obvious that at 3 per cent. the interest would be 240,0001.; at 3i, 280,000/. ; and at 4, 320,0001. Sir, I have no doubt in the world of being able to borrow that amount at 3i—(Cheers)—there fore the interest will be 280,0001.; but I am afraid, Sir, that that is not the only demand which will be made upon us in the shape of interest, for there is another description of debt upon which, after the best inquiries I have been able to make I regret to say . that I feel myself under the necessity of raising the interest upon Exchequer-bills. There are many reasons which have led to a depression of value in that description of security in the markets. If the rate of interest on all money has already been raised—and I don't think it is an improper 5651123 Pti0U WI say that it will be further in- &c., RAILWAY. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Lord MOTHAM opposed the motion, on the ground that a breach of faith had been committed by the pro moters, in notcarrying out an engagement which they had entered into with Lord Manvers. In consequence of the opposition of the Noble Lord when the line was first projected, the promoters entered into an agreement to carry the line on a different side of the Trent from what they intended ; and now, after the lapse of plan e lau forw th a e r y d carryme n t outth e y six months, notwithstanding that solemn engage owriithinallay the ca m Billro j ecte t d a . The Hon. Gentleman, the Member for g Sunde Sunderland, (Nlr. Hudson), the Chairman of the Midland Company, r had informed him that that company had not sought o nerous terms from the Ambergate Company. The Midland Company might, no doubt, haLany. T th e use of that line on the usu a l t e rms. No doubt the Ambergate line held back, in order that they might get b e tter terms from the North er n Company. He, there fore, considered it his duty to move an amendment, that the Bill be read that day six months. The question having been put, Mr. PLUMPTRE opposed the motion, and considered that the Committee was the proper tribunal to investi gate the matter. Sir JAMES DUKE said that he hoped that the Noble Lord would consent to the Bill going into Com mittee, and then if he could show the least objection to it, he would do all in his power to throw it out. The Bill contained three objects, and there was only one of those complained of, and it would be too bad to reject the Bill altogether. The gallery was then cleared. On our return we un derstood that no division had taken place, but that the House were occupied in a discussion on the merits of the Blil. After a few words from Mr. REDHEAD YORKE and Sir JAMES DUKE, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed till this day week. WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE. Sir DE LACY EVANS rese to put the question, of which he had :. ; iven notice. lle wished to ask the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests what decision the Government has come to respecting the completion of the repsirs of Westminster-bridge, which have been lately in progress, the widening of the roadway, &c. ; or as to the re-con trivition of the bridge on or immediately near its present site, as recommended by the Select Committee of last sesston, it being proper that the various interests concerned should De relieved from the injury of another year's suspense. Lord MORPETII said, that with respect to the re construction of the bridge at or near to its present site, the Government had had several communications with the Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements, but they were not (considering the demlnds to be made on the Exchequer, and the fact that the bridge was now available fur public traffic) prepared to submit any pro position to Parliament in the present session. ROYAL NAVAL ACADENIY. In answer to a question from an LION. MEMBER, Mr. F. MAULE replied that, towards the close of the last session, an inspector-general was appointed, for the purpose of reporting any information !Ton the subject of reraoiolling the 501991 of the 11 , 0Y41 kittua Academy. ~~ creased in the course of the spring—l don't think it is right that Government securities should be kept at a lower rate of interest than other securities with which they have to compete— at 6d. less—and, therefore, I propose to in crease the rate of interest on these securities. The interest on Exchequer-bills is now three farthings a day. An experiment was made to raise them by a farthing a day, which so completely failed that it has been abandoned. I propose to raise them to twopence, which will make an annual expenditure of 142,0001., and I calculate that the increased interest of debt will be 422,0001. ; so that the total ordinary expenditure, with the addition of the loan, will make a sum of 51,998,0001., leaving a surplus of 67,0001. There has been this year a more than ordi nary source of revenue—l mean the balance of China niuney yet unpaid from that source.—(Hear, hear.) This is a matter of certainty, and not calcula tion—l expect 450,000/. There is, however, also, an extraordinary source of expenditure of 185,0001., which it is necessary to vote in order to cover the naval estimates in the financial year ending in April last. S o, therefore, addi ng ex t raor di nar y rece ipt s t o or di na ry income, and also adding extraordinary expenditure to ordinary, it leaves a total Income Expenditure Leaving a surplus £332,000 This was rut a very stuisfictory state of the revenue— a state of things showi,g a consider.ble disproportion between the income and expenditure. But it is not our intention, in the present session of Par liament, to make a permanent provision on the sub ject, partly from the want of inforination as to the great amount which may be required, and partly from the necessity which may exist the next year for further large sui plies to be adviinct:d.—(Hear, hear.) Certainly it is my anxious desire that there may not be r‘quir, d more decided measures to equalize the expsnditure to the income ; but if there should be, then, in another session, the House must be prepared to make an addition to the taxation of the country. I will not ask you at present • for any peruaanenS provision; but should the necessity continue, then I will not shrink from proposing those measures which I may think necessary and expe. dient for the purpose of bringing the revenue proportionate to the expenditure.—(Hear, hear.) At all events Hon. Gentlemen need not expect that we shall have any revenue to spare this year.—(Hear, hear.) _ _ And Hon. Members on bath sides of the House who advocate, some a reduction in tea, others a reduction in coffee, tobacco, and paper, need not expect that we shall be able to spare any of the revenue to meet their respective views. I throw out this intimation, in order that no hopes or expectations may be excited.—(Hear, hear). Now, I will take this opportunity of answering a question which was asked me in the earlier part of the evening, which was, whether we intended to propose any annual duty in lieu of the sugar duty. Ido not think there is much import ance in this question, because it is my intention to take two votes—one of which I shall propose to-night— without which it will be impossible for the ordinary expenses of the Government to be defrayed. This year the duty on sugar is arranged for, and next year the income tax will come under consideration. At present, however, it is not my intention to propose any other duty. —it will be the better course not to propose any annual duties. Sir, before I sit down, I will simply say that it is idle to talk of personal regret of that which is an evil to the public at large, but no person can regret more sin cerely than I do the presentperiod of calamity:which we all feel. It is an interruption to that course of financial and commercial policy which has for a considerable time prevailed, and which during the last four years has been carried on with unexampled success.—(Hear, hear.) It is true that the income-tax may be continued, but it is entirely changed in its character, when it has been made the means of governing those beneficial changes which the Right Hon. Gentleman has proposed.—(Hear, hear.) Ido not mean now to say that I approve or dis- apprOve of the whole of thr 7 m. Noperson can more fully concur in the general scope and policy of those measures which relieve trade from all unnecessary restrictions, foster the industry of the people, and make a material addition to their comforts. Just before I came into the House a paper was put into my hand, which I am sure will be satisfactory to the com mittee, and which I hope may dispel some portion of the gloom which my statement may have cast on the minds of Honourable Members. Sir, the statement which I am about to read contains a. certain number of articles, the consumption of which has been taken for the last four years. I have taken those which enter most largely into the consumption of the great body of the people, and I think that the Committee will see from the numbers I aria about to read how materially the eomforts of the people have increased by the enlarged quantities they have been enabled to consume. I first take coffee. The consumption i❑ 1843 was 30,000,000 ins.; in 1844, it was 31.391.000 lies.; in 1843, it was 34,318,000 lbs; and in 1846, it was 36,781,000 lbs. I will next take butter. There was entered in the year 1843, 148,000 cwt.; in 1844, 180,000 cwt.; in 1845 there were 9 40,000 cwt.; and in 1846, 255 000 cwt. I will next take cheese. I❑ 1843 there were imported 166 000 cwt.; in 1844 there were 212,000 cwt.; in 1845 there were 258,000 cwt.; and in 1846 there were 327,000 cwt. I shall take curreats, and I find that there were entered ior home consumpion in the year 1843 1844 1845 309,000 „ 1816 In the ankle of swr.tr I hal that there was entered for iniport,timi in the year. 1843 1844 1845 . 1846 Now in all these articles there had been a great reduc tion of duty, and it will be observed that on the article of tea—the reduction of the duty on which has been of late so much agitated—it will be observed that though the duty on that article has not been reduced, yet, from other causes, the prices had been considerably lowered, and a corresponding increase had, therefore. taken place in the consumption. Now I find that in this article there has been entered for home consumption in the years 1843 1844 1845 1846 These were articles which entered largely into the con sumption of the great body of the people, and it must be satisfactory to the House, and is mere especially to the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, to observe the increas ing imports of these very necessary articles. II is very satisfactory to me that I am enabled to make such a statement as this, because it proves, in a very great degree, the tendency to increased :prosperity of the country, and to extended comforts among the labouring classes. Sir, I have now made the statement which it was my duty to do. I hope that I have made it clear to every one, and I have to request that if any person has a question to put, he teen: put it uow, as I am afraid I may not bo able to stay longer in the House. The vote, Sirl w hich I have to put into your hands, is a vote o 8,000,0001. out of the consolidated fund. Mr. HUME wished to make one or two observations on the statement that had just been made. He at once admitted that the Right Hon. Gentleman had made the case perfectly clear, and he must add that the Right lion. Gentleman had exhibited skill and knowledge in the statement he had mane. He could not consent to this new grant to Ireland without he had some pledge to compel the property of Ireland to maintain its poor—(Hear. hear)—and he very much regretted that the Right Hon. Gentleman had sat down without saying one word upon the remedial mea sures which had already been promised.—(Hear, hear.) He must also regret that the Right Honourable Gentleman, after stating such undoubted proof of the wisdom and advantages tl at have arisen trona the liberal policy of former years, did not say one word as to these future reforms which were so much calculated to increase the commerce of the country. With reference to the article of tea, he did not think that the revenue would suffer anything by the reduction ti the duty on that article. Of the 600,000,000 yards of common calico sent out of this country, 180,000,000 yards of it went to China only. He thought that by a *eduction of the duty on tea a great increase would be made in the quantity of consumption. of customable and exciseable articles. He thought the Government was taktng a one sided view of the subject in the course they had proposed. Then, again, with respect to the duty on copper, which amounted only to the paltry sum of 40,0001 or 50,0001., he thought that the country lost three times that amount by the system of policy pursued by this country. France and the United States were already beginning to sme s t tdhe r the copper because of the restrictions imp °' article in this country. There were also 1 50 which centrein l or 200 articles the duties uponoin ow i should be swept away from the '°l" to T lie whole pulley of the Gove rnment statute bt s eemed Ireland. There was no doubt that the state of that coun tryreatest emergency; the Government was one of the g charge s hould, however, and take the surplus revenuefor the purpose of libe rating the commerce of the country, treating Ireland by extraordinary means. Ile was quite dissatisfied with , he policy pursued by the Government ; the utmost freedom should be given to the coma merce and the manufactures of the country, lie held a statement in his hands which set forth, t hat, during the last two months, a decrease of men in full employment, and i ncrease o f men in half employment h a d taken place in one part of the country also; who was to support them? as the one with Suchwhich they an (Hear, hear.) had extraordinary t o oughtemergency to be met by extraordinary measures. By a great change in their commercial policy. The surplus balance was, he believed, 76,0001. ; this year it was 2,800,0001., which was to be attributed to the partial carrying out of rational and proper measures for the extension of commercial en terprise ; but was not this a strong proof that they ought to go on and remove the shackles still imposed on trade, by promoting other measures having for their object the promotion of commerce unfettered by injurious restriction. He sin cerely hoped that such measures would be brought forward without delay. Even the money being spent in feeding the unemployed i n Ireland and Scotland would promote the regeneration of the people. Certainly there was no hope of regenerating the people of Ireland, because they would lead them to believe that, in similar emer gencies, they would be supported by the state, and not by the owners of the soil who ought to be compelled to support them. There was more hope for Scotland, as the proprietors had ~c om. e forward and aided them. Then every one of -