The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-07 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1851.

I'ARL!"...IIENT.
• Hotg.;; Ulf LORDS.—TUESDAY, MAT 6.
the Loa° Cs NCRLI.IIII took his seat at flee o'clock.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
PAPAL Anoaxasiox.—Lly the Duke of ARGYLE, from
about LOU places in Scotland. representing the opinions
of aearly 100,000 persons. against papal sigression. The
petition from Glasgow wrs signed by 56,000 persons, 2,000
of whom were members of the Royal Exchange. These
petitions were not got up at public meetings, and were an
emphatic demonstration of public opinion, proving how in-
eorreet we-e the statement, of those who represented that
the feeling of the people of Scotland on this subject was
not as strong ma in other parts of the kingdom. Aloe by
Lord FEVERSHAM, from places in Yorkshire and Essex,
and Earl TALBOT, from York and other places, to the
some effect.
REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES BILL.
Lord STANLEY, on presenting a petition praying for
certain modifications in the bill before it should he passed,
admitted that he did not fully concur in the opinion ex-
presso' by the petitioners, but wished the arguments they
adduced to be laid before the select committee to whom the
bill had been referred for amendment.
Lord C.tAIPBELL having briefly defended the bill, the
petition was ordered to lie on the table.
RETIREMENT OF NAVAL OFFICERS.

sons who were known all Iran_
_Po doe* be obliged, before..
leaving the wo
had the effect
pen returned.
than in reality.
the poor law
cruelty on
diminution
dered the
place in Karma,
Ireland in
What he et
piano woo
only td. In
high as 19. 9d.
vat lle PrePortiow
present proposition.
property which was liable te veto eheuld_por the Wks
in infant proportions. seemed to IMOD at
unjust than that a coal elf a% which did not proem Me Ito
proprietor more than two lered pounds • yaw, should
he obliged to pay the poor rate, whilst an teen Milne,
in its neighbourhood, which produced 10,0001. a yew was
not subject to the rate. Yet such was the state Was law.
From Mho return !which he had before him, it
that there were 388 unions assessed under Vrei
ils
the pound, and 461 over that amount. The strik-
ing of an *verso would show that a greater num-
ber would be benefited than injured by the plan
which he proposed. Though he had taken Is. 6d. as the maxi-
mum, he did not believe the rate need be kept at that amount ;
he thought a general rate of fourpence or livepence would
be sufficient. In 184.5 the noble lord now at the head of
the government proposed • resolution declaring that the
freedom of industry would be promoted by • careful revi-
sion of the law of parochial settlement, which then pre-
vailed in England and Wales. He was happy to find such
an authority in favour of • change in the system. In 1843
the mining property paying income tax amounted to
1,030,70 W. • the greater portion of which contributed ego-
thing to the pour. In 1817 the property assessed to the
ted, in round figures, to 67,000,000 C, while
Celrlai=ma
the mount was 83,000,0001. In Scotland, where
=I property wan rated to the poor, the difference be-
he property assessed to the poor-rate and the pro-
Inasses.ed the income tax was only 116,0001.,
t side of the latter. They all knew that the property
messed to the poor in this country was greatly under-
waned. Considering the great number of extra-parochial
ellegwhich the present law did not reach, he had no
at
that, if all property were made liable, the amount
levied would almost equal that produced by the property
tax. Of coulee there would be great objection among a
large class of individuals to any interference with an old
system, however unjustly it might operate ; but he trusted
11 the days were come when everyone would consider that all
just relief should be afforded to the only class which was
allowed on all hands to he suffering distress. He believed
' that his plan, if carried out, would in the end benefit
not only the agricultural interest, but all classes
who' were subject to the payment of poor rates. '
LH= hear.) he motion which he had to make was as
: That to alleviate • portion of the burthens from
which the agricultural interest is at present suffering,
*neigh the payment of parochial poor-rates, varying la
many instances from Gs., Is., Bs., 95., to 13s. 101. in the
pound, it will be necessary to substitute an equalised paw*
rate iu England and Wales, not exceeding Is. IL is the
pound, and subject to local gore rnment."
The SPEAK tilt 13111 the hon. member must propane Lis
motion in a different form. Ile could not make a motion
mating to the tare: of the country exelit when the how*
was in committee.
Mr. ORAN'ILEY BERKELEY begged then to move
that the house should resolve itself into eintunittee on that
day week.
Captain HARRIS seconded the motion.
Mr. 11.1.1,4 ES said he should not at present argue the
ijuettiuns of settlement and the assessment of personal pro-
perty, which were of sufficient importance to merit a dis-
time diseussion, hut should confine himself to the resolve I
(ion, which eought tr affirm the expediency of maintaining
the destitute pour by means of a national rate. A na.l
tional raw, as he showed, had not hitherto met
with any favour in that house ; even in the the-
me...km upon the burdens borne by the laud, a
national rate bad never been suggested as an expe-
dient to relieve the agricultural classes. A union rate,
which would be raised within a certain area and expended
within that area, had been repudiated by Mr. Berkeley,
who would commit the grim injustice of raising rates of 2d.
wed IL in the pound to ls. fel., and of confounding
lated with well-administered purifier, so that the economy
of the one would he unrewarded, and the extravagance of
the other escape any penalty. Mr. Baines dwelt upon the
evils which, he contended, would he the certain results
of the - sad scheme, which -

gallons; 1'11863 it was
%116,07dgallims; is 1846 it rose from Tahoe" causes to the
maroons amount of 1,418,000 gallons, and though it had
since fallen, as compared with that year of extraordinary
demand, it amounted last year to 828,000 gallons—a very
considerable increase on the average of 300,000 gallons, at
which it stood eight or ten years ago. But let hon. gentle-
men inquire whether the decrease since 1816 had not arisen
from an increase in the consumption in England of British
spirits of other than Irish manufacture. There could be no
ground for saying that Scotland was placed in • more favor-
able position than Ireland, yet he found that while the
quantity of Irish spirits imported into England had fallen
off the import from Scotland had increased since 1816 from
1,900,000 to 2,600,000, which more than compensated for
the decrease in Irish spirits. The total import of Irish and
, Scotch spirits had increased from 1812 from 1,900,000 to'
' 3,400,000, which was the quantity imported last year. But
it was said that colonial spirits, at the low duty, was success-
fully opposing the British spirits in the home markets, cops
eially in Scotland. In 1841, when runs was at the 10s. duty,
the consumption of Scotch spirits in Scotland was 5,980,000
gallons ; in 1850, when they had the competition of
rum at the low duty, it had risen to 7,122,000
gallons. Where then was the pretence fur saying that the
low duty on colonial spirits was operating injuriously on
home made spirits? (Rear.) Taking the United Kingdom
ea • whole, he found that so far from the competition of
elitnial spirits showing any unfavourable result to the hem
gettdneer, the result really was unfavourable to the ass
lonial soil favourable to the home producer. TY=
could, in fact, be no doubt that, atter the arrangement
made in 1848, were the Irish distillers to succeed iu obtain-
ing an alteration by which they would be still further be-
nefited, the importers of colonial spirits would have just
cause to demand • corresponding reduction in the amount
of their countervailing duty; and if that reduction were
obtained, then the relative position of the two parties would
be the same as it was at this moment. lie hoped the
house would not listen to the motion of the noble lord,
seeing that it could only end in the diminution of the spirit
duty altogether, which was not the first duty they would
concede, were they disposed to make any further reduction
in the taxes of the country. (hear.)
Mr. REYNOLDS said the hon. gentleman who had just
sat down had talked of so arrangement come to in 1818.
Ile (Mr. Reynolth) was not aware that there had been any
arrangement to which the Irish or Scotch members were
parties. (Hear, hear.) Ile had heard the honourable
gentleman with astonishment quote figures which never
had had any existence except in his own fertile itll.l-
- (Loud laughter) For instance, ono of his
statements was, that the loss from leakage sad evaporation
' was lid. How had he got that information? (Ilear.)
lie then cruised the Tweed, and he said that the loss and
evaporation in Scotland was I 1-104. Where did he obtain
that information?? because it was not available in any channel
to which he (Mr. Reynolds) hail access. (Rear.) Now 12
puncheons of Irish manufactured whiskey had been bonded
in Dublin, and the total deficiency on these was 142
gallons, or 12 gallons upon each. That was 8: per
cent., and not lid. This might be an isolated
case, but it was based on truth, and capable of
proof. (Hear.) The hon. gentleman, in talking of the
4d. differential duty, had called that 31i1., which was
in reality only 2;il. (Laughter.) What was the question
at issue ? W hat was the complaint of the Irish distillers ?
It was this—that they manufactured 8,000,000 of gallons of
spirits per annum, and that in the manufacture of these
8,000,000 they consumed 1,000,000 barrels of oats; and
they said that if they were placed upon an equal footing
with the colonial manufacturer IrAind would be made
WI exporting country. True, she was now an exporting
country; but to what extent? Scotland had sent into
England for consumption 2,600,000 proof gallons, whereas
Ireland had only sent 800,000 proof gallons. The Scotch
availed themselves of the drawback on malt to a greater ex-
tent than the Irish, and it was therefore a matter of much
importance to Scotland to export whisky into this country.
(Rear, hear.) In 1848. an act was passed permitting the
Irish distiller o, • - • England clause

The Earl of HARDWICK E, in moving for papers ex-
planatory of the new regulations on the subject of the
retirement of naval officers, expressed a strong opinion
.gains the fairnew and jwitice of the arrangement& under
which officers on the active list were to be transferred to the
retiring list.
Lord $ . Earl TALBOT, and one or two other peers
concurred in these views. _ .

The Earl of MIITu and Earl GREY, however, whilst
confessing their inability to deal with the subject in a pro-
fessi al sense, vindicated the plan from the allegations of
injustice and breach of faith, and pointed out the benefits
which it was calculated to NYtlfe, both to the navy and to
th.• eutintry. Alter a brief discussion, the returns were
tc.l •reel, and
'lke house adjourned at a quarter before seven o'clock.

TIOUSE OF COMNIONS.—TuEsDAY, MAT S.
The Stumm& took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following hills were severally read a third time and
Cr• —Briton Ferry, Docks, and Railway Bill; Ministers'
dts' and Orphan.' Fund of the Free Church of Scot-
land Bill; Reading Waterworks Bill.
The following bill. were considered and agreed to
Dundee and Arbroath Railway Bill ; Saint Andrews' Rail-
way Bill.
MANCHESTER, BOLTON, AND BURY CANAL,
BILL.
On the motion of Mr. Bitortienvox, the minute. of
the evidence taken titian the committee on the Manchester,
Bolton, and Ilury Cabal Navigation and Railway Extension
Bill (Dein) tun: referred to thecommittee on the Mood:wa-
ter and Salford Extension Railway Bill.
WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICKLOW, AND
DI; Ohl N It AILWAY COMPANY.
On the motion of Sir W. Vensan the returns ordered
on the 11th of April la.t, relating to au: Waterford, We:-
NM, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway Company, required
by the stleional ruler of Pit 6 relative to railway bills,
were ordered to be made by the directors and secretary
forthwith.
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
CAPITAL I'UNIBIIMENT.
Mr. EWART postponed Id. motion, in reference to
capital punishment, to a future day.
NATIONAL EDUCATION.
Mr. FOX postponed his moth,. on this subject to the
22nd instant.
kIILITAILY KNIOIITS OF WINDSOR.
Colonel SA I.W Y gave notice that, un the 20th May'
he would move for a select committee to inquire into the
claims of the Military Knightsof Wisoltor.
A oltN lES' EItI'IFIC.tTE DUTY.
Sir W. LAY rave notice, on behalf of Lord It. Groove-
nor, that, on the 22nd iii.tant, the noble lord would move
the repeal of the attorni, . certificate duty.
P.tItLI.4MENTA,ItY war v.s.—TIIE BALLOT.
Mr. 11. BERKELEY pottlx.ned his motion, in reference
to taking the votes of hon. useutbers in the Roux by ballot,
to the 27th instant.
I'ItOPERTY AND INCOME TAX.
Colonel SI said that, on the bringing up of the
report on the Property and Inclose Tax Bill he would move
certain ono odnient.,, exempting the tenant farmer., as alto
pacers in her Majesty's service, from the operation of the
tax.

HMI! DISTILLING INTERESTS.
Loral NAAS said that, on the lint opportunity, he would
gall attention t the outoditiou of the interest. in
lreland.
PILOVENIENT OF TOWNS (IRELAND).
Mr. Serpunt Ult Nave notice that, on going into
eomidt.e 'as the linprovanidd of Town.. (Ireland) Bill, he
wombl none th.,t Cork be anenapted from the oporAtioa of
clAtto, Shot offoetedlhe sale of ruru and butter.
stulAß DUTIES.
Mr. O. IIF.ILK FLEX imlaponed hi, motion relative to
thex dutie. to the 22nd mg.

THE IRISH MATE PRISONERS.
Mr. HAW E 4. in reply wan inquiry by Mr. Anstey.
Stated that the Lieutenant Governor of %on Diumn's Lind
hail thought it his duty to withdraw thu tickets of le.tre
"phial Lid been granted to tho three prisoners, Mlionus,
D'lbilterty, and Oltuniihue, in cennseyucncc of their mi..
coslout, in acting in direct disobedience of the regulations,
by deliberately leaving their ilistrietu without leave, unit
Hut hu tud sentenced them to certain terms of imprison-
nirot.

- Mr. ANSTEY-1 beg to give notice that, on going into
commit's eof supply, I will more a vote of censor': on the
Governor of Von biemen's Land. (•• Oh, uh," and much
laughter.)
RAMSG.ITII HARBOUR.
Mr. M I NN ON wished to know from the First Lord
of the Admiralty what was likely to be dour in reference to
the report of the commit's,e of last session, which hewn-
mewled the abolition of the dues on vessels passing Rama-
get, Harbour?
}sir F. T. BARING said that hefore any derision should
be coine to, he thought it right to have is report loon Mr.
Walker, oho went down to examine the harbour 'f hat
'import had not as pi been math.; but when it should be,
be would intlnOtliAttly answer the qustion.
SEWERS COMMISSION.
EIIIIINUTON, in reply to Sir R. Hall, said
that the sewers rate of 6d. in the pound was not levied
from the whole district within the juriolietion of the
comniissioners, but only upon eight of them. These
eight district+ included a rental of I,loo.malt,
sot the sun' proposed to be collected was 110,0001.
Ile had an account of the liabilities of the several di+.
Diets in detail, but he would only state that the cash
otenlrawn at present amounted to a0.961V., that the unpaid
bobilitim amounts,' to 20,000/., and that the rates worn
liable for 110,noot, which was in course of collection.
THE LATE. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
In reply to Mr. LEIGH,
Mr. LABOUCHEItE said that an inspecting engineer
had been sent down On the part of the Railway Commis-
shiners to investigate all the einamestances connected with
the late disastrous and wifurtunate railway accident near
Cluster. It would hr his duty to report to the Railway
Commissioner., and till that report s.as reeeivad the hon.
gentleman could not expect that he should be prepared to
exprem any ol 'on as to the Caller of that accident.
ASSASsINATION OF CAPT. MILNE NEAR ADEN.
In reply to a question by Lord Mum'',
Mr. J. WILSON said it was quite true that an officer of
the British army had lost his life near Aden, and the go-
vernment bad received a despatch relating to the transac-
tion. He WAS glad to say that the transaction wan not
connected with polities, mud did in no way as
tho character of a difference between the authorities
at Aden and the surrounding authorities. lie believed
that thu amaasination of Captain Milne was the act of u
religious fanatic, and the authorities at Aden were of
opinion that the Sultan of lashedge and the other local
authorities were sincere iu their desire to apprelis.usl the
murderer, and if apprehended to bring loin to justice.
• WATER SUPPLY OF TILE METROPOLIS.
Viscount }AIRINGTON wished to ask Sir G. Grey
Whether, in the event of Is hew company being formed to
execute ronibined works of water supply, sewerage, and
house drainage fur the entire rnetrupsilos, in conformity
with the principles already recognised by the legislature
and the government—(tM, company acting not as an inde-
pendent proprietary body, but only as contractors, engaging
to be subject to the term., conditions, and control of any
competent superintending authority which the legislature
might see llt In constitute for the purpose)—whether in
that ease the government would withdraw their present
partial measure, applying only to the water supply of the
rarffispolim, and would sanction such an effort on the part
of the inhabitants to amaire for themselves the benefit of
ouch combined vs

me proposed wl. would not only take away all
inducements to economy, bu. stimulate fraud and jobbery,
and etlllse the indefinite inertase of pauperism throughout
the country. Financially, elm, the scheme was impractica-
ble. The total value of rateable property in 1817 was
6i,320,1.191.; the amount expended lag year under the
head of parochial pour relief was 7,2_711,192(. ; the produce
of a rate of Is. 61. in the pound, which was to be the
maxima's', would be only 6,019,011/. ; so that there would
be a deficit of 2,221,11 g to begin with. Then it was pro-
pried to have local government; but one consequence of
adopting the scheme must be the abolition of local self-
- under the -

4 works and tonsolidated administration ?
Sir O. (TREY laid that it was impossible to trice as ex-
plieit answer to the question of his noble friend. His
noble friend illatairaeti that • bill of a more ronsprehennee
character than that which be introduced a few nights ado
would be brought in.
MERCHANT MARINE ACT.
Mr. DISRAELI gave notice that he would present a
petition from the manners, maten, and mariners of the port
Licerpool, sinned toy 6.000 permit's, in favour of NI en-
Waive modification oldie Merchant Marine Act. (Cheers.)

gov.erniiieut, which, proposed plan, would become
Allttgettier he found so many objections to the
resolution, that he begged to move the direct negative.
Alter a few words in reply from Mr. GIAANYLLY BMW
KELLY, who declined to pren the motion to a division, ttsa
nnohniuu wav negatived by commit.
11031 E-MADE S vuturs TN BOND.
Lord NAAS rose, pursuant to notice, to move that a
%elect committee be appointed to inquire into the mode et
levying the duty on haute-made spirits taken out of bond.
said,
The motion, he id, was identical with thit made hint

by
last year, Qtlelt had been repeatedly affirmed by large tll4-
, joritsus, and will hustle rejected by a narrow majority of
our. The cast he had to lay before the house was very
simple. Uy the preacut excise regulation. home-made spirits
on leaving the still were drawn oil into a large receiver placed
close by. The quantity was then ascertained by gauging,
and the duty was then entered on that amount. if there-
fore the spirits were subsequently placed in bond, the dis-
tiller was ut the loss of all evaporation or soakage, not only
as to the spirits, hut in actually paying duty on, an article
t lit hail no existence. The distillers, thin, did not ask fur
any repeal of duty, they merely asked for a right, in the
denial of which they conceived themselves to have been
hardly used, theirs being the only exciseable article on
which the duty was levied in tha• peculiar and uufair man-
lier. The objections made by the government to granting
the relief prayed for were three. In the first place, they ,
alleged that it would be an unsettlement of the great sets
Clement of ISIS; secondly, that it would occasion pent
1004 to the revenue ; and, thirdly, that it would at once open
adoor to fraud. Now, tiNt; all ill du. unsettlement. Sot:wham
the distillers having been parties to the so-called settlement
of ISIS, the Irish distillers were nut consulted by the caw
mitten,, there was no Irish member on the committee, sad
not a single Irish witness; was called. In fact, the ease of
the distillers wee only incidentally mentioned in the repeat.
As to the luau to the revenue, the Chancellor of,
the Exchequer had acknowledged himself favour- I
able to an allowance for waste, hut declined to go
farther without consulting the chairman of excise. It 'p-
:nest that that gentleman had declared that there would
be cuunderable loss to the revenue. lie (Lord Naas)
thought that on the contrary there would be an increase
in the revenue through the increase of production, without
any increase of intent for a better sort of spirits
would get into general use. for
to fraud, he denied its pus-
sibility. Every safeguard in existence now would be in
sentence then, and eves if these means of protection were
M at there were a thousand expedients that might
he wilested. lie believed that home-music spirits might be
sonde a valuable item in our export trade were it not for the
absurd restrictions with which its production Iran trammelled.
The noble lord concluded by inking the house to
esedirm his rosolutiou, an an act of justice to the
hone proilucer, which, while it would unsettle no ca-
bling arrangements, nor cause any material loss to
ibis revenue, would, by encouraging the export of an article
at British industrv, increase employment, auiljadd to the de-
noted of agriculniral produce.
Mr. E. B. ItOCIIE seconded the motion.
Mr. J. WILSON observed that after the fullest investi-
plion the committee of ISIS hail considered that the coun-
tervailing duty of 4d. a gallon, as against colonial spirits in
width lid was taken as equivalent to the deficiency on
!skits in bond, won fair to the Irish and Scotch distiller.
' It was true, as the noble lord had stated, that 110 Irish mem-
ber was upon that committee, nor was any Irish distiller
examined before it. The reason was, that the committee
was appointed not in regard to Irish, but to colouial spirits.
But in the course of the inquiry it was Mond that the
questini of home manufactured spirits ueceocacily arose in
connexion with the subject-matter of investigation. Al-
though no' Irish distillor was examined, Mr. Gregg, a
Scotch distiller of eminence, and a man of great knowledge
and ability, gave evidence before that committee ; and the
claims of the Irish and Scotch distillers

.sullen being the same,
be
swag not think the case of the Irish distillers could lmy
Is,. left in better hands. Some misunderstanding had
aim as to the funount of deficiency of spirits in bawd,
sul from a considerable error in some returns whisk
W hew made to parliament some time ago with mud to
the deleieney in handed rum. In those returns the average
t for • nuniberof yeah was stated to be 31 :allow in
the 100, but on further examination it turned out
that instead of 3i it was 21 gallons in the Ilk).
nesring this in mind, and taking the Scotch duty at 3s.
the deficiency of 21 100

to bond his spirits in ...a; but a •
WWI refused to be inserted in it allowing him for leakage
and evaporation. Now fur every gallon he lost in Ireland
he paid 2s. Bd., whereas for every gallon he lo.t in Eng-
land he paid is. 10d. ; and therefore, as a natural conse-
quence, the total quantity of Irish whisky bonded is the
Queen's warehouses in all England in 11150 was only
116,000 gallons. Ile denied that there was any law to pre-
vent !British manufactured whisky or gin from
being scut to Ira,land. By the law of England
the Frenchman, the l'ortugucse, the 8 every
foreigner, might send his wine, rum, and randy, into any
in t'-o • bond a' the'

port in the United Kingdom, —it in any of Queen's
store., and permit it to remain there for live or six years.
On taking it out the law imposed no penalty upon huu to
pay fur any quantity, but it imposed a penalty upon the
Irish and Scotch of 2s. Bd. per proof gallon when he took
his spirits out of bond, and upon the original quantity too,
though it might have lost half itr original quantity by
leakage and evaporation, and al.° half its strength. (Hear,
hear.) This was o question, not only important to dis-
tillers, but to labourers and agriculturists, which, if con-
employment of '

ceded, would increase the .st of the people, and
turn a larger quantity of land into tillage. Ile could not
agree with the hon. member for Westbury in sacrificing
domestic to colonial interests. The Irish members were
very near carrying this question before; they were beaten
only by one vote, and he trusted they would have a large
majority to-night. (Ilear.)
Mr. CARTER suggested that the question should be re-
(erred to a select committee, thinking it too insignificant to
take up the time of the house. If persisted iu he would
divide the house against the motion.
Mr. OROOAN confessed himself unable to comprehend
the masses of figures, which he apprehended had been pre-
pared for the purpose of mystification. The patent facts,
however, contradicted the arguments adduced by Mr. Wil-
son, and there was no question that the home distiller was
placed at a serious disadvantage with respect to the colonial
or foreign producer.
Mr. MILNEIt GIBSON, having been a member of the
committee which had recommended the present arrange-
meat, bore testimony, from his impression of what had
taken place before the committee, that such arrangement
was a very fair one, and said that he should, in the :abscises
of furtlierevidence, vote against the motion.
Mr. IIUME described Mr. Wilson's as the most lengthy
I and useless statement he ever heard, and said that lie was
not, like those around him, so frightened at the word "pro-
tection," as to be unwilling to do justice to the native pro-
' dueer. Thinking that fair play to the latter demanded
that Lord NO.Ol should be allowed to bring in his bill, ha
should support the motion.
Sir G. CLERK. opposed the motion, declaring himself
very unwilling to disturb an arrangement which, he said,
had been originally come to so far back as IS2d, and which
had been ever since found to work remarkably well.
Cul. DUNNE disputed the soundness of Mr. Wilson's
arguments, and argued that the home producer of whisky
was unfairly treated, in a different way train the foreign
producer of rum.
The CIIANCELLOIt of the EXCHEQUER __ fa
going to impute to the noble lord (Lord Naas) any de-
sire to encourage fraud ; but still it must be apparent that
his motion would open a door to fraud, unless they were
prepared to adopt inure stringent measures than he wished
to propose. (Hear, hear.). At present the interests of tho
owners of spirits in bond were identical with those of the
government; (or he had just as much reason 110 the officers
of the revenue to take care that no portion of the spirits
should be abstracted while it was there. If, however, the
owner should he made a gainer by every gallon that could
be abstracted, it web clear that a great temptation to fraud
would be created. (Hear, hear.) It was evident,
then, that if the motion of the noble lord were
passed, it would become necessary, with a view to
protect the revenue, that many facilities now enjoyed by
the distillers should he withdrawn; and that distillation
should be prohibited in many places where it was at pre-
sent allowed. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord had stited
last year that the whole of the Irish and Scotch distillers
were ruined in ISIS, and last year were considerably in-
jured by competition with the colonies. Now if that had
really been the caws the result must have been an increased
consumption of colonial spirits and a diminution in the
home-made spirits; but the contrary had taken place, and
the noble lord hail therefore shown great discretion in ab-
staining fronts repetition of that argument; because, if he
.4 01 -

had not the facts ofthe case would ha'ile utterly disproved his
statement. There had been an iucreaeo in the consumption
of Irish and Scotch spirits of 600,000 gallons; a diminu-
tion in rum of 110,000; and in foreign brandy of ;soa,oao
gallons. (Cheers.) The noble lord had said it was not a
case in which a question of revenue was concerned ; but he
(Sir C. Wood) begged entirely to differ from the noble lord
on that point. lie mug take leave to appeal to hon. gen•
tlemen on both sides of the house upon this matter, since
their decision on Led Friday. It was clear that he must lose
a considerable amount of the duty if the resolutions
_ . .

_..._ __
....... i ....ones-eie amount of the duty if the isa....__ , were ...s 2Fipilists per would mooing to but ;fried, not only on the Irish and Scotch spirits, but on the
. ,
ATLEBI3I.7ILY ELECTION. a fraction mire than 11:d. a gallon; and in the same pro- I colonial spirit. on which he would have to remit duty to
On the motion of Mr. IL PALMER. a select committee I portion iii regard to this Irish spirits, on which the duty i balance the boon to the British distillers. (Hear, hear.)
was appointed to consider the matters alleged in the peti- wets 2.. Sd. But taking the actual quantity of spirits ware. !He would ask, then, honourable gentlemen as
liens of T. H. Bradford and John Strutt, respecting the hoesed is Scotland and Ireland in the year 1810, and esti- both sides of the house whether they were diqsosed
Aylesbury electioo. mating the deficiency by that of rum, it amounted to in to diminish the revenue derivable from sources which they
NATIONAL. POOR RATE. the one ease to 1 1-10 d., and in the other to 1.1. e per all admitted were unobjectionable. Hon. gentlemen oppos
Yr. ORANTLBY BERK ELP.I' said that, in asking the gallon. Again, the Irish and Scotch dastillen had the site were anxious to repeal the income tax, and hon. um-
brella. to agree to the motion of which he had given notice, advantage of the allowance not only on the spirits which I tlemen on that side of the house were as anxious to redone
be mom admit that the subject was one which invoiced actually went into bond and on Which the loos arose, but !the window tax and the duties on foreign imports ; but he
sway Foists ef considenbleimportioiec. He confessed that cm that which went direct from the distiller to the eon-' appealed to them whether it was nut equally desirable far
the object he had is view was to afford some relief to the ; sunlit and on which there was no lose at all. 0(11,500,000 them both not to meddle with this particular subject. Ile
eirieniteral dietriete, which were in a greatly depressed ' gallons of spirits made last year in Scotland, only 7,300,000 thought he might also appeal to the Irish members them.
tenditios. No perms who bad considered this subject ' went into bond, the other 4,200,000 baring gone direct to ' selves ; for they, too, were interested in getting rid of bur-
would deny that the prior law and the law of settle- the consumer. It was the mine with regard to Irish thensome taxes, and he would ask whether, °lithe whole,
smut had fallen very short of the results which the, , 61460. of which oat of 8,300,000 gallons distilled ooly there could be a better tax than one on spirits. (Hear,
were designed to bring about. Ile was surprised to find it 6,296,000 went into bond. He (Mr. Wilson) was . hear.) Nor could they say that they were unfairly treated,
Mated m a return with regard to the number of poor in his ' aware that the number of distilleries had dimioished. ' for while the English duty was 7s. 1041., the Scotch
onrlk county that there WIN a diminution in the 1 but the whole tendency of manufactures was for the smaller I was 3s. 6.1.„ and the Irish 2.. &I. Was there not rather
meant of pauperism, whilst there was no Iced
Ito give way before tbc forger enterprises, consequent en the good grounds for saying that they ought to pay as much
La the pow rate. This discrepaney led hint to 1 introduction of machinery and q additional donned las the Baldish ? He did not propose to raise their duty
inquire lain the subjeet,•and he foursd a.. the result of his ; fur capital which followed. Aid this he believed but he did ask the house to maintain what was already
inquiries that, prior to 1846, if a man and his wife having I was iu point of fact what was weaning in re- ' paid. (Hear, hear.) He appealed to those hon. gentlemen
eight children applied Apr relief for one child they were put' spect to the manufacture of Irish spirits ; for while' who were anxious that the revenue should be maintained to
down La the Mini " eight persons. But the tight hon. i the number of distilleries was diminishing the quart- rememb,r (hat lag week one very large and important
gnatlesnan in 1844/ lowed an order requiring that in future I tity of spirits made waa increasing enormously. In amount had been put into a state at least of some jeopardy.
they should he only returned as three sons. Again it' 1811. there were 8! distilleries, and the quantity of spirits (Cheers.) Well. he was very sorry for it, because he
MO required hy au min of the same date that those per- ' produced was 6,400,000 gallons, bob in 1800, when the allfli• thought that the finances of this grad country should not

have been endangered by such a vote; but it was, at all
evrts, incumbent on them that those items against which
no ti ons were entertained should be maintained
( , hear.) It was the duty of them all
rainistatheVredit of the country whichever side should
erentitally arseceed. (Cheers.)
Kw. NAPIER (amidst loud cries of "Divide!") sup-
ported the motion, arguing that the suggested modification.
in the needs of collecting the excise duty would materiality
benefit the Irish distillers, who were men of small capital,
by enabling them to compete on better terms with the great
English capitalists.
Mr. A. HASTIE supported the motion.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he considered this a motion j
effect to reduce the duty ou Scotch and Irish spirits. Nob
he thought it was perfectly obvious that, if the duties were
originally fixed with a view that they should he charged in
the way in which they were now charged, if they either
diminished the duties loy so much, or altered the way in
which the duties were charged, so that they amounted to
two-and-a-half per cent. less, in one way or the other they
diminished the duty on Scotch and Irish whisky. There-
fore that was the plain question before the house. It
might be a better way that all these Irish and Seoteh
spirits should only be charged after they hail been a
long time in bond. The objection to that was that it
was liable to fraud ; but supposing that objection not
to apply, that might bo a better mode than the
present mode, but in that case they must arrange their du-
ties accordingly. It was not the fact, as the hon. member
for Glasgow seemed to suppose, that where is. was charged
on Scotch spirits, 3.. Bd. was charged upon rum. On the
contrary, 3s. Bd. was charged on Scotch spirits and 4s. on
rum. And with regard to the statement made by
the honourable member for Dublin, who said was
there not great unfairness if they allowed a different
mode of paying the duty with regard to Irish spirits and
with regard to French brandy and Spanish rum, why,
there was this to be considered, that while they were pay-
ing
in Ireland a duty of 2a. Sd., rum was paying 35., and
French brandy end Spanish ruin were paying no less than
158. ; and therefore it was obvious that if they gave an
advantage in this way to Scotch and Irish spirits, they
must give a similar advantage to colonial rum, and
Spanish rum, and French brandy. Then it came to
a question of reducing the duty on spirits, and he did
say that as a question of revenue that was not a duty he
was prepared to reduce. lie knew no other limit with re-
gard to these duties on spirits than to have them not too
high to encourage smuggling and fraud. lie thought
there could be no harm in having high duties on spirits,
provided always they did not encourage smuggling and
illicit distillation. Well, if that was not the case, and if,
on the contrary, they find, as was pertinently observed by
the hon. member fur Westbury, that these Scotch mob
Irish spirits had gone on increasing in quantity, while
English spirits had diminished, he thought that was a rea-
son why the house should not diminish the duties. lie
must say he was against this change, in the first place, be-
cause he was not wishful to dimiuish the duty on spirits ge-
nerally; and, secondly, because he was not prepared to
give an unjust advantage to Scotch and Irish spirits.
Mr. DISIt.IELI said he should not have risen had it not
been for the observations of the noble lord. The noble
lord said he admitted the justice of the proposition of his
noble friend, but he said it was not brought forward in a
proper manner. Had it been brought forward to remedy
a fault in detail it might be considered, but as a proposi-
tion to reduce the duties on Scotch and Irish spirits, he
could not for a moment entertain it. The noble lord said
they talked of the injustice to the Irish or the Scotch dis-
tiller subjected to a taxation from which the
foreigner was exempt, front which the Spaniard or
the Frenchman was exempt ; why, the Frenchman and
the Spaniard paid a duty of 1.55. 'Hut the fallacy of the
observation of the noble lord was this, that one was
$ duty paid by the consumer and the other was
a duty whirls weighed on the producer. (Cheers
and counter cheers.) The argument was this,
that fur the benefit of the consumer the producer should be
subject to an unjust restriction. Why the noble lord and
his colleagues were opposed to these unjust restrictions upon
industry. Then the noble lord found refuge in the fallacy
which had been already stated in this debate; he said, they
admitted) the injustice, still they could not deity that the
trade had increased. But because the trade prospered, was
that any rerun why the trade should be sub-
ject to this injustice? And, if they could
show that the prosperity was in consequence of
other circumstances, that prosperity was no argument
against the proposition of his noble friend. The injustice
was acknowledged, and the remedy was easy, sod he
trusted the derision of the house, as on Friday, would show
that this routine in eutolic °filet., by which stereotyped
'roams were given to justify their proceedings, would re-
ceive another cheek.

bidding, ehould lay my resignation before her Majesty.
(Laughter and cheers.) The hon. and learned member fur
,Shefffild says this is the fourth time government has been
delasted; bat there is a phrase couched in homely language
*lnch was once used by Lord Castlereagh when leading the
government party in this house. The noble lord—whon
the house had come to a vote in respect to the abolition of
the whole or part of a tax, and cheered loudly—said, " I
advise hon. gdntlemcn not to halloo before they are out of
the wood." (Laughter.) Now, let us observe in respect to
these defeats to which the hon. and learned gentleman has
alluded—that defeat on which we resigned office was with
respect to the introduction of a bill by the hon. gentleman
the member for Surrey (Mr. L. King). But, on our return
to office, the question came again befOre the house, and the
decision then was different from that originally come to,
and my views were confirmed by a large majority, so that
what was at first defeat was subsequently decided in oar
favour. (Hear, hear.) On the other occasion a defeat was
caused by a motion on the management of the Woods and
Forests. That question is not yet decided, because it
is not our intention to set on the resolution
of the house, but to introduce a bill similar in principle to
that of last year, and the house will then have an oppor-
tunity of deciding whether they will confirm their Conner
decision by a majority, or think oar plan the one that
should be substituted. So that in the prcseut state of
affairs, although the hon. and learned gentleman the mem-
ber for Sheffield, has asserted that we have been four times
defeated, it appears that one of those defeats has been fol-
lowed by a victory over those who were the cause of that
defeat, and that
_the second question of defeat is not yet
decided. (Hear.) The third division which took place
was that on the motion of the hon. member for Montrose
(Mr. Hume.) Now, I did not cosider that division to be of
the nature to which the hon. and learned gentleman refers,.
viz., that by it the house meant to take the government of
the country into its own hands. I consider those ques-
tions of taxation to be such, that the house, repre-
senting the country, have a peculiar claim to have
their opinions listened to, and that the executive
government is bound to give consideration to their opinions
and suggestions. (Hear, hear.) Well, we now come to the
question which has just been decided by the casting vote of
I the Speaker. On that question I must apply the observe-
! tion to which I have already referred. (" Hear, hear,"
and a laugh.) I remember last year the noble lord (Naas)
was successful, and vet he did not finally alter the law ; and
I believe in the end the house will be of opinion that the
measure of the noble lord ought not to br adopted, or, if
adopted, that it must lead to some arrangement of the
colonial ditties, so as to place colonial spirits on the s.une
equality with Scotch and Irish. That being my opinion,
sir, I will not tell the hon. and learned gentleman, the
member for Sheffield, notwithstanding his suariter #ll modo
—(a laugh)—what other course I propose to take on
the present occasion. Theae, sir, are matters of too
grave so import. The character of a govern-
ment ought not to bo sacrificed, or even impaired,
by submitting it to frequent defeats without a decluratom
that its members could no longer maintain that government.
(Hear, hear.) At the same time, no person will deny that
the resignation of the government under present cir-
cumstances would involve serious consequences. (Hear,
hear.) Some may think consequences of great good fortune
whilst others may think the opposite ; but whether of good
or bad fortune, no person can deny that it is a very great
and important matter, not merely as regards the gustation
of free trade, important as that is, but with regard to many
other questions of domestic and foreign policy which must
be affected by a change oh government under present cir-
cumstances. (Hear, hear.) All I can say is, I trust those
who have supported us and adopted our views with regard
to public policy will give us credit fur weighing
on every occasion what is required by our sta-
tion, and that we are not disposed, on the one
hand to allow the character of government to he impaired
and worn away in our hands. (Hear, hear.) On the other
hand, it is from no sense of affront or pique that 111 Id
propose to come to so important a decision as that of resign-
ing our offices with a view to a change of government in
the country. It is not a question to be discussed anal
bandied about in debate. (Loud cries of " hear ") It is
a question for responsible consideration, and I therefore
call upon those hon. members who have hitherto agreed iu
our policy, and I ask them to leave it to us to make that de-
cision, anal making it, as I shall, with a view to the welfare
of the country, I will not have to reproach any own con-
science with having deserted the many interests which I am
bound to maintain. (Loud cheers.)
The house then went into committee on the resolution,
which, having been put from the chair, a division was
loudly called fair. Strangers were ordered to withdraw,
but no division took place.
On our entrance to the gallery,
Mr. lICMI. was addressing the house amidst great con-
fusion and loud cries fur a division. Ile was understood to
say that he agreed with the noble lord in the view he took
with respect to the conduct which a minister should pursue
on an occasion like the present, but he thought it would be
more consistent with the dignity of the situation of the
noble lord if lie allowed the resolution to be passed (as we
understood.) (Loud cries of " Divide.")
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he should leave the matter
entirely in the hands of the noble loyal opposite (Lonl
Naas). Ile thought it fair to take another division on the
question. (" Hear, hear," and cries of " Divide.") Ile
should not like to do anything that the noble lord could
consider an unfair advantage ; but as the house was at that
moment more full than it was before, he did not thick
there was anything unfair in taking another division.
(" Oh, oh," and cries of " Divide ")
Lord NAAS said that the reason asaigued by the noble
lord for a second division was in his opiniou the very reason
why it would be unfair to take one, because it was those
member: who had attentively listened to the debate—(" Oh,
oh," anal " hear, lintel —that divided, and after many of
these had leg it would not Ise fair to have it re-decided by
mends rs many of whom had not been present at the pre-
vious discussion. (" Hear, hear," said cries of " Divide.")
Ile must remind the noble lord also that he took a different
course last year ; for on that occasion he did not oppose the
putting of the resolution into the chairman's hands. (Hear,
hear.) The resolution was only putting into writing the
principle which the house had affirmed. (" Hear, hear,"
and " Divide.")
Lord J. RUSSELL said that it was quite impossible for
him to assent to the resolution. (" Oh," " Hear," and
" Divide.") The circumstauces in the present case were
entirely different from those of last year. (Hear, hear.)
Last year the noble lord had had a majority of those who
agreed with him in opinion, but in the present instance the
majority was formed of the vote of the Speaker, who stated
that he gave his vote in conformity with usage, in order to
enable the house to consider the matter further. (" Hear,
hear," anal loud cries of " Divide.")
Mr. FRESIEFIELD moved that the chairmen report
Progress.
Mr. BERNAL having put the question amidst consider-
able confusion and loud cries for a division,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he would not oppose the
motion that the house should resume, which would leave
the question in the position it stood. (" Divide, divide.")
Lord NAAS having also assented, the question was put
and agreed to, though several member,' called for a division.
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the house re-
sumed, the further consideration of the resolution being
postponed till Friday.
ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION.
Mr. E.ELLICEsoid that, at that late hour, he should be
as brief as possible in introducing the motion of which he
had given notice for a commission to inquire into the pro-
ceedings at the recent St. Albans election. What he had to
do was to satisfy the house that there was good ground for
inquiry, and that the course he proposed was the hest that
could be adopted. According to the evidence that was taken
before the committee, it appeared to him that the present
use was analogous to the former cases of Sudbury and
Great Yarmouth. In both of these cases extensive
bribery was committed, and the mode in which it
was conducted was similar to the present case.
It appeared that when the candidate appeared in the town
a house was taken in a convenient spot, which was entirely
under the control of tl e committee for conducting the elec-
tion. To this house there were usually two accesses in two
different streets, so that a person went in by a door in one
street and came out by a door in a different street. That
was the case in the present instance also. They had no'
proof of bribery in the preseut case, but they had proof the
individual voters went into this house by one door, that they
communicated with the person inside; that they promised
their vote; and that they came out by a different door.
It was proved, however, that these individuals went to
public-houses and exhibited gold to the amount of four or
eve pounds. It was true that when before the committee
they swore most positively that they had not received money
in that room ; but considering that they also swore that
they were not in possession of any money at all, and that it
was 'afterwards distinctly proved by respectable testimony
that they were. there could be little doubt in the minds of
the committee that those persons through some one, and in
some place—the probability being that it was in this room—
received money in return for a promise of their vote. Now,
the person who sat in that room was a person of whom the
house had heard a good deal, and who was named Edwanis.
That person volunteered leis evidence, and was ready
to be examined, but he was not examined. The three
persons who were examined were persons who were stated
ts have been bribed by this man Edwards ; but, whatever
the impression of the committee might be, there was no
proof of actual bribery against any individual. 110 ad-
verted to this point more particularly, because the com-
mittee had been blamed fur not having adjourned the in- !
query. The committee were certainly not disposed to pass
by any legitimate opportunity of obtaining evidence • but ;
r
kn;ceefee, Iletca nduedn
g yo
havew
the
I I s
ehypi
would
gh
exposed
L f, ei
houeeebv.
tdi data era.
tdht
oat otg ttaher se r eau:
wwt he
ma se
I owkhueir I eleyh t 4'wo, h egehhat
it being quite clear that the petitioner's case was e'en, of
thlefmthteowitnesses had been examined they 1
penal consequences. Still there
could be no doubt whatever, looking at the manner in
which thewiniesses gave their evidence, and at the resem-
blance which the case bore to other cases in which bribery
had been established, that the committee was fully justified
an concluding that bribery was practised. The general
evidence was, he thought, particularly strong. And as his only ;
chance of obtaining his bill was the making out of arose '
from the evidence, he hoped the house would allow hint to
refer to it. This was the evidence of William Payne I
Payne, in the course of his examination, had mentioned.
ell metal" and "electioneering money." He was
asked :

The house then divided.
For the motion
Against it
The announcement of the result was hail.' with loud
cheers by the opposition.
The SPE.taatt gave his casting vote in favour of the mo-
tion, and it was consequently carried.
On returning to the gallery we found
Mr. ROEBUCK addressing the house—Under the extra-
ordinary circumstances in which the government was
• placed, the house having now assumed to itself—he dal not
speak without justice—uot alone the supervision, but the
actual government of the country—he wished to ask a ques-
tion—(" Oh, ..h," from an hon. member on the °imposition
side.) Ile (Mr. Roebuck) could well understand how some
disappointed follower of the government could cry " Olt."
(Laughter.) But when he saw the government forced to
make so many alterations, to adopt so many methods in the
government of the country and the managemsut of public
taxation, all their plans being altered or modified
by the Howie of Commons, he appealed to the noble
lord at the head of the government, as to a man who had
been brought up in the constitutional principles of govern-
ment, and in the idea that the House of Commons was the
supervising power, marring its sense of the opinions of go-
ventment by its majorities, and he then asked him whether
or not he was in a position to govern the country ? (Inter-
ruption.) Was it wise or politic to retain the powers of
government under existing circumstances? Now let them
understand what was going on in the country. They were
told, on the opening of the session, that certain things
were to be done. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave
intimation of what he intended to do, and he
would say there was not an interest in the country
that was not affected by these declarations of the
Chancellor's. Let it not be supposed that matters as they at
present stood, should he regarded as matters of party. Ile
looked un the state of affairs in reference to the country it-
self ; and if the house was so blind to the interests of the
country ex to keep them in their present condition—like
Mahomet's coffin, suspended betwixt heaven and earth—
why let the house have the responsibility. (Hear, hear.)
But he appealed to the noble lord as :the individual respon-
sible on the present occasion not to lend his authority to
this state of things. He (Mr. Itoebuck) asserted that
any minister who regarded, not only the interests
of the country, but his own personal character,
would not lend himself to such penlition. (Loud
erten of "Oh.") He recollected when the party
of the noble lord placed the administration of the Duke of
Wellington in a minority, one, who was not in the House
of Commons at present—having been exalted to the upper
house—as won ma the minority was declared, rose to ques-
tion Sir It. Peel as to the intentions of ministers. That was
a single minority; but the noble lord, the first minister of
the crown, at recent lived in minorities. (Laughter, and
" Oh, oh.") It was contrary to the interests of such a
country as England, it waa contrary to the spirit of their
constitution, that any administration should maintain itself
amid such difficulties by such means. It was con-
trary to the spirit of the constitution that an administration
should exist by sufferance, and be insulted day after day by
the conquests of the opposition, and vet he unable to defena
one principle on which it existed. 'Therefore be begged to
ask the noble lord whether now, on the occasion of this
fourth defeat, on a matter intimately connected with the
taxation of the country, upon a matter intimately con-
nected with their mercantile concerns, whether lac thought
it wise, under the circumstances, to contiuue in the position
he then held? Its believed the noble lord would more
fully satisfy the desire of those who wished to advance
the great principle on which the existing govern-
ment was fouadsal, by not lending himself to the
present state of things, hut declaring that if it were
the wish of the house to take the administration of the af-
fairs of the country out of his hands, they should have an
immediate opportunity. He would therefore conclude by
asking thenohle lord whether, in his opinion, it was wise or
politic—he would say nothing of honour—to continue in
his present position, seeing the position in which his admi-
nistration was placed
Lord JOHN RUSSELL.—Sir : the hon. gentleman ha
asked me whether I mean to retain office under the present
circumstances? The hon.gentleman said hethought it would
be injurious to the country were I to do so ; and that
the commercial interests especially would suffer. The hon.
gentleman has a perfect right to put any question of this
kind, with a view, as he states, to the interests of the
country. But, sir, he has given me an advice with regard
to my own personal character—(cheers)—which I most
respectfully decline—(cheers)—thanking the hon. gentle
man at the same time for his good intentions. but also
assuring him that I will take care of my personal character
myself. (Loud cheers.) Sir, at another period, a period
when the government of this country wan in abeyance, and
when those to whom it had been offerer) had nut
resolved to undertake the charge of forming a
government, the hon. gentleman the member for Sheffield
(Mr. Roebuck) said in this house that he wished me to con-
sider that the interests of free trade were in my hands.
(Cheers.) What the hon. gentleman precisely meant when
he said so, I will not undertake to say. But of this I am
aware, that the general interests of the country—not free
trade alunc--but tile general interests of the country, its
welfare and tranquillity, are very much dependent on the
conduct of those who have at the moment the direction of
affairs. (Hear, hear.) But, sir, I have not hesitated when
I thought that the direction of affairs should be taken out
of our hands unless we succeeded in certain objects, to
stake the eenteuee of the government on these questions
and:objects. (Cheers.) I did not hesitate to do so whoa the !
question of the repeal of the navigation laws was
before us, and when it was said we were prepared for the
consequences of throwing out that measure by retiring from
many, which view office on its rejection by the house. (lieu, hear.) Last
year I took a view differing from was
strongly impressed on my own mind, with reference to the
slave trade; and I declared I would not retain office a
single day after an adverse vote of this house on the ques-
t:on. (Cheers.) But I think, sir, I have some right, as
well as my colleagues, to consider what is the fit o .portu-
suty on which I shall retain office or think it necessary to
lay my resignation before her Majesty. (Hear hear.)
At Hie commencemeut of the present session I have I
shown such anxiety as to make it necessary that I
the hon. member for Sheffield should be my Mentor, and
i.
should inform ala when the moment is come that I, at his

Too speak abut Bell-metal and eleetioneering money ; Is It a sub.
jest which is usually tal.ed eb Lut, eleetimmering mosey I—We were
ell laughing; they gave money the name of Bell-metnl, in dt. M-
imes ; ihey do not cell it eilrer or gold.
What do you me in by electr in mosey T—l do not know what be
me int ; I do not km iw what It- did mean by that.
L its common term in st. Ail:was; have you ever heard of election
moisey before I- I haie brew talk of pro; te having U ; I was laugh-
isod joking, rod I said I beds good mind to put up for the borough
de. Album myself, and I would if I had plenty of money; three
or four of them prossised me their votes Men.
Whet dors mesa by elation many t—l do not knew wtut they

were known im hemp should be obliged, before I ba of distilleries had fallen to 53, the toaatity of spirits 1
IC workhouse, to do some modicum of work, whie.:4 distilled had asat ts 14236,000 sac.. The
sow. lord
feet of still further reducing the amber;; pan- complained of the injury the /Ash sad scotch distillers
med. But this reduction was rO°r: .U 1 appeueseiee were suffering from the competition of colonial spat to the
slay. He wee satisfied t.Liat the ?relent Mete of home market. New, he found that in 1847, year fol-
aw and of the law to
se , ClWipi . Fhallie ..4# • ram duties, elm ''l trilts:tems
iu the poor, wbilst ittV*.aartri.i .: ~ . ____, .. . . ,„„land mem ,
nof the expenditure. Whams he ._li tn, . h): Mir piers of cointreti at tha
0 state of Ireland, and, fair `"1 • trY, .."......; if t ' to 7,•181000131fiew '( ear, hertt' Ile
IC ilnish, he thought he Xhisuld. ve jr: I. in th' of this cimpetitiont which spa aid be,Ye
is his motion, as will. as Eoglned • ,ale. uncouth:l6mi unfair, I& connomptiria of house made
desired was to, equate the rutr,4trlxieb ~peeng apin ' hail.,assreesed by 1,400,000 os hi four
ias high as 17s. Od , whilst in Othetipleess iiviii. there was a complaint by the Irish Millers
In Bishopwearmouth he believed the rate wee as that their trade with England had fallen ME ut let them
Is. 9d. It appeared to bin that all property should look to the trade as it had existed from 1841. In that year
sportiest of the poor rate. Hut that wee wet his the expert of sleeks hem. Ireland to iLepland wee 330,000
virsition..All that ho now asked was that the ellons ; in 1842. it..wee 291,000 gallons; in 1843 it was