The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-11 00:00:00

Dr. BOWRINO said, that if bis hon. friend bad been a
masher girths committee on this subject, he would be coo-
visited that the imposition of an ed valorem duty on teas
wan el terreltor Impracticable. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Aiderneen SIDN EY thoughtthere was a great fallacy
la the argument with respect to the expected inexems in the
mearamption of tea from a reduction of the duty. In 1801
the consumption per bead was 1 lb. 3 oz. the average price
balm then from 4s. to ss. per lb. In 1846, when the price
of tea was not more than one-third of what it was in 1801,
the consumption per bead was only 1 lb. 10 ox. (Hear.)
Mr. WILSON said that the increase of consumption was
expected to arise from the demands of the poor, and not
from the rich, to whom price was act an object. In Ireland
particularly a large inmate of consumption might be ex-
pected. He believed that a mode might be devised foe re-
ducing the duty without diminishing the revenue. In
1846 the consumption of tea was 46,700,0001b5. In 1847,in con-
sequent:lot manufacturing distress,the consumption had fallen
to 4.5,600,000 lbs., and in 1848, he did not think the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer could calculate on a greater con-
sumption than 44,000,000 lbs. This showed that there was
an increase or decrease of consumption, according to the
prosperity of the country. In 1831 the consumption was
31,000,0001 h., the price being 10d. higher than it was last
year. Ceder that redaction of price, there was an increased
consumption of 15,000,0001 b., and it seemed that this in-
crease had gone on pari punt with a re uction of price.
Now, he did not believe that en entire abolition of these
duties was necessary or desirable in the tint instance. He
believed, however, that a reduction from 2s. 21d. to le. 6d.
might be made without any falling off even in the first year.
He was told by them practically acquainted with the trade
that the largest portion of tea sold to the pour was a tea
sold at 4s. alb. If they took 4s. as a (sir average price of
this tea in bond, and added to it Is. 6d. duty. the tea might be
sold at 3e. a lb. with a fair profit. Calculating that the same
amount of money would be 'pent in tea under those prices
as was spent at lament, he found that an increased sale
of only 16,000,000 would give a revenue of nearly four mil-
lions and • half, to which was to be added the jemmied
amount received for the duty on the additional sugar coa-
sumed. To the sugar bill of 1846 bethought the reduction
of the tea duties ought to be considered a necessary com-
plement.
Mr. HUDSON was very glad to find that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer was not to be seduced by this sort of spe-
culative argument. He was glad he had at last found out
that a reduction of duty was not always followed by
an increased consumption, or a decrease of price lie
was also glad to find the member for Salford retracting his
free-trade principles. (" Hear, bear," from the country
party.) It was a satisfactory indication that these principles
were not so popular among the nninufiscturera es they were
once supposed to be.
Mr. CARDWELL replied. He thanked the house for the
good humoured way in which the subject had been treated.
He congratulated the Chancellor of the Exchequer, not upon
his arguments, but upon the support he had received. He
congratulated him upon the support of the noble lord, of
the hon. gentleman who had that night issued his royal man-
date upon the subject, and, more than all, upon the support
of the hon. member for Salford, rarely an eloquent speaker
in that house, and to-night, for the first time, an advocate of
taxation. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.
DUBLIN WATER.

Mr. REYNOLDS moved that the order made on the 7th
of February for certain returns, under the head of " Dublin
Water," be diacharged, the returns having been alreauy
made.
Mr. OROGAN opposed the motion.
The gallery was cleared for a division, but 40 members
not being present, the house stood adjourned at one o'clock.