The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-03 00:00:00

THE EXPE,EBB, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 3, 1818.

AFFAIRS OF GREECE.
Mr. R. COCHRANE rose, pursuant to notice, to move for
copies of, or extracts from, despatches which had passed be-
tween Sir E. Lyons and the noble Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, rela ive to the affairs of Greece. The hon. member
said he would commence his observations by briefly reca-
pitulating the circumstances which had led to the present de-
plorable state of that country. The how. was aware that after
the battle of Navarino the crown of Greece was offered to
Prince Leopold, but refused by him on the ground that the
people had not been coaulted. It was afterwards conferred on
Prince Otho of Reverie, a prince not more than 16 years of
age. He was accepted on the condition that he would give
a free constitution to his subjects, and a loan was granted by
the three great powers of 2,300,0001., advanced in equal
portions by each. Ile need hardly say, that never since had
the constitution been granted, or the interest of the debt
paid. The state to which the country was reduced was
familiar to every one. A general system of plunder and
brigandage was carried on throughout the entire extent of
this country. To confirm his statement as to the present
condition of Greece the honourable member road a
communication from M. Eynard to the late
Colo* in which a picture was drawn of the'
dreadfel disorganisation prevailing in that kingdom.
Ho also read extracts from rrports of the Minister of
Finance stating that the finances of Greece were in a state
of utter disorganisation, and that no account of the revenue
or expenditure of the country could be obtained, and that the
robberies on the public treasury eurpassed belief. A cont.
mission had been appointed last year to examine into the
alleged frauds on the treasury, which, after a long investiga-
tion, decided, by a majority of 9 to 1, that the thence
minister had been guilty of fraud, that he had embezzled
the public money to a vast amount, and recommended that
he should be impeached. Then the system of oppression
and torture carried on in Greece was almost incredible. In
fact, the people had never yet enjoyed the constitutional
government guaranteed to them by the protecting powers,
and was at this moment the worst governed country in
Europe. (Hear.) He gave the noble:lord (Lord Palmenton)
credit for his despatch, in which he had used very strong, but
perfectly justifiable, expressions, in condemning the system
of government carried on in Greece. And though some
there were he knew who said that the noble lord
hid used language iu dealing with a weak which
he would not have dared to employ in dealing with a
strong power, he hoped and believed that there was no
power so strong as to make this country fear to express its
detestation of tyranny and oppression. (Hear, hear.) He
hoped the noble lord would continue his exertions to obtain
for Greece that freedom which had been guaranteed to them,
and that the present government of France, composed a it
was of men of great eminence and ahility, would not fail to
demand for another country that liberty they had so success-
fully asserted for their own, but that they would practice
that which was the first blessing of freedom, the conferring
of freedom on others. (Hear, -hear.) He was now plead-
ing, not for Greece alone, but for the c tune of constitutional
liberty all over the world. The hoe. member concluded by
moeing for c Ties of correspondence between Sir E. Lyons
and the noble lord (Lord Palmerston).
Viscount PALMERSTON-1 am not aware that there is
any objection to the motion of the hos. gentlemen, provided
he will shape it in the usual way, limiting it to some pe-
riod, and stating the subjects of the despatches of which he
wishes copies or extracts to be produced. Upon the general
question, 1 am sorry to say I must bear my testimony to the
accuracy of the description he has given of the present state
of Greece, whether in reference to the mode in which the
fines cid affairs of that country are regulated, whether as
...gee& we loarso,r ha.s

worked, or whether es to the manner la whisk the executive
power deals with lbw people. Is is by no nuns pleura;
eapecialle when there is no absolute neossaity for it, to @peek
handily in this house of the adminismation of the internal
affairs of other countries, but this of
stands in regard
to Greece in a positioa wholly different from that in which
stands in reference to other countries. We have rights
and obligations u to that country which we
have not as to others. (Hear, hoer.) England
was one of the three powers which by their interposition
between Turkey and Greece finally eecomplished the mds-
pendenee of the Greek nation, and constituted it into a sa-
lperste and independent state. England was one of the
powers to whom was delegated the task of choosing a sove-
reign for Greece ; and England was also one of the three
powers by whose representation was drawn up the proelama
lion which announced to Greece the selection of their sore
reign, and guaranteed that he should give to them a free
constitution. We stand, therefore, in the position of parties
who have undertaken obligations to Greece, and thou obis
leaden., as far as lies in our power, we are bound to see car
red out. (Hear.) But, sir, there are many circumstances
connected with the present movement which make me averse
to enter into any long discussion of the nnitters, or going into
the various details upon which the hon. gentleman has
touched. I will only say, therefore, that if the hon. gentleman
will so shape his motion as to specify some particular period
and move, in the usual war, fur copies or sitracta of the
particular despatches be wisbes to have produced, I will
offer no objection. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps he had butter
withdraw the present motion, and amend it in the way I
suggest ; for which purpose ishall be happy to consult with
him.
The motion was then withdrawn, Mr. Cochrane adopting
the nuble lord's suggestion.
THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
Sir R. INGLIS, in moving for a select committee on the
present state of these buildings, and to inquire into the pre-
sent state of Westminster-bridge, referred to the complaints
which bad been made of the great increase of the cost of the
new houses of parliament over the estimates, end contended
that the increase was oceasiooed by alterations from the ori-
ginal plan, for which neither the architect nor the Board of
Woods and Forests were answerable. The architect's com-
mission, which amounted to • u
large sum
s—tie
it wee not
to be expected that Mr. Barg would be contenteand with the
glory of his work—was not included in the estimate. Ile
believed the ri suit of the attacks which had I een made on
Mr. Barry had been to increase the public confidence in
him. He was happy to say that the regress made in tne
works since last year had been very tepid, and there was
every raison to believe that the House of Commons might
next year mat in the new chamber. de could not under-
stand on what ground the hon. member who had given no-
tice of an amendment to his motion proposed to strike oft
from the list of the committee every person who held office,
not only in the Board of Woods and Follett, but in any
other department. He (Sir E. Inglis) proposed to substitute
the name of Lord Mahon for that of the late Lord 0.
Somerset, whose death was a great loss, not only to that
boas& but to ety in eneral. (Hear, hear.) ltnot ice of
such subetitetion aunt he given, he would move now only
fourteen Lames, and give notice to add the name of Lord
Mahon tomirrow. lie regretted to keen that her Ms-
7's gum rnment had come to the determination of greatly
the amount to he spent in the course et the present
year. e thought it bad economy to spread over two or
three years the expenditure of one. With regard to West.
mineter-bridge, although no longer in an unsafe condition,
it was nevertheless still • question of sufficient interest to
be made a matter of inquiry. The hon. baronet concluded
by moving that the following be the committee Sir R. IL
Inglis, Viscount ldorpeth, Sir It. Peel, Earl of Lincoln,
Mr. Berries, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Stephenson, Mr. W. Pat-
I tan, Mr. Hume, Lord E. Bruce, Mr. Deering, Mr. Stat.
ford Mr. Tufeell, and Mr. E. Denison.
Lord EBRINOTON having seconded the motion,
Mr. B. OSBORNE moved as an amendment that en ad-
dress be presented to her Majesty, to appoint commissioners
to superintend the expenditure of the amount voted by that
house for the new houses of parliament, with a view to make
each arrangements es shall complete the building at the
earliest period. The hon. gentleman reiterated his opinions
upon the subject of extravagant expenditure and great
delay in the progress of the works; but in doing so denied
any intention of making the slightest charge or castir.g the
least imputation upon Mr. Barry, the architect. What he
demanded to know was who was the responsible officer to
control' the expenditure ? At the present moment it was
particularly necessary that they should know how and under
whose authority the public money was spent. Every com-
mittee appointed on the subject had added to the expense,
that of 1836 having increased it by upwards of 60,000 f. but
the fact was the original design had been widely desisted
from, and the funds frittered away in minor details, and in
statues of kiII gs which would not be dieting uiehable two rears
hence. This he' stated on the authority of the meet eminent
architect of the age, whe was of opinion that before long the
whole building would be little better than a great metropoli-
tan am luen for birds'-nests and soot. (A laugh.) The
hon. gentleman took particular exception to the
expenses connected with what he termed the goe-
s/cow gothic gewgaw decorations of the House of
Lords, which no one would have the hardihood
to evert was suited to a deliberative assembly. There was
a precedent fur his amendment—a royal commission having
been appointed in 1824 to superintend the building of Wind-
eor Castle—end if not followed on this occasion, they might
find themselves involved in expense which, according to the
opinion of many competent judges, would raise the total ex-
penditure M tot lees than 4,000,0001. And where was that
money to come from ? Would the Chancellor of the Exche.
quer pay itout of his balances ? (A laugh.)
Lord MORPETH opposed the amendment. Re de-
fended the conduct of the Woods and Forests, but readily
admitted that they bad not a sufficient organised staff to
fulfil the duties of • regularly constituted office of works.
The hon. gentleman asked who woe responsible for the ex-
penditure. No one could be responsible but the governmen
at large and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who brought
forward the annual estimates. The hon. gi ntleman denied
making any attack on Mr. Barry ; but surely he attacked
his character as an architect when he spoke as he bail done
of the building. (Hear, hear.) Upon that subject he
wished to observe that he had lately area a letter from Mr.
Playfeir, the celebrated Scotch architect, to a friend of his,
in which he said that the new houses of parliament were
beyond all praise both inside and out, that he considered Mr.
Barry's genius to be beyond the age in which he lived, and
I that his fame would be immortal. The hon. gentleman was
correct in saying that a commission had been appointed in
the ease of Windsor Castle; but, looking to the questions of
expenditure and economy, he did not think the hon. gentle-
, men's precedent likely to favour his proposition. Upon that
proposition he (Lord Morpeth) would not offer any preens-
tore opinion ; but, as during the several discussions which
had taken place on the subject of the new houses of parlia-
ment, the general wish of the house appeared to be that a
committee Should be appointed who should have an oppor-
tunity of cousidering tee present state of the building, and
I settle the heels upon which its future progress should be
milled on, her Majesty's government had 1. It it their duly
to sanction such committee, and be would therefore support
the motion. It might be a question whether the committee
might not adopt the scheme of the hon. gentleman or some
other, to secure the rapid and economical completion of the
remaining portion of the building.
Sir B. HALL did not think the noble lord had applied
himself to the question, which was, whether any direct con-
trol should be placed upon the expenditure, which had been
so extravagantly lavished upon the building as to have more
than doubled the original estimate, or whether that expende
tutu was to be allowed to go on as hitherto. lie (Sir B.
Hall) did not believe that any committee could effect the
required control, or diminish the expense. He thought,
on the contrary, that the government would screen them-
selves behind its decision, and he therefore objected to the
principle of a committee. But after hearing from the hon.
baronet the member for the University of Oxtord that the
committee now named had been arranged with the sanction
and concurrence of the government, he mutt object to its
constitution, as likely to enable the Woods and Forests to go
on with the expenditure at the same rate.
The Earl of LINCOLN said he must protest against the
house resolving itself into • dilettanti committee to aeon
matters of taste, as to the appropriateness of the frescoes sad
so forth. No good result could arise out of such discussion.
The proper province of the House of Commons was to watch
the expense. (Hear.) He should have supported thin com-
mittee had he not learnt that every successive committee
had led to an increase of the expense. If. the height of the
tower were referred to this committee they would inevitably
have an increase of the estimates. He would, therefore,
much rather trust the matter to the noble lord opposite (Lord
Morpeth), who would no doubt take care that no unneces-
sary expense was incurred. (Hear.)
' Sir G. STRICKLAND expressed astonishment at one at
the objects proposed for the committee's ir.quiry—the state
of Weetminster-bridge. (Hear, and laugt ter.) As well
might the committee be directed to inquire into the uaviga- I
Lion laws, or the state of Blackfriars-bridge, some of the
stone of which he understood was in a crumbling state.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said he took only a tiusucial view
at this question, and he feared it would turn out a @Mailer
business to the Kaffir war. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME thought the course recommended would
be productive of increased inconvenience and expense.
He was originally of opinion that a sufficiently authorised
parson should be appointed to control the expenditure.
Mr. Barry had had a twelvemonth in which to prepare his
plans ; but no controlling authority having been appointed,
there was new a probability that double the amount of the
estimates would be expended. The government would be
much to blame if they allowed any further expense to be
incurred until this step was taken. He presumed it was
meant to pull down Westminster-bridge, and erect in its
place some Chinese structure to correspond with the facade
of the new houses. (Great laughter.) The proposed tower
would have the effect of shutting out the sun from the build-
ing at the only angle by which it could gain access. Let the
house hold me titers responsible, and they would then take
some steps to control the expenditure. A committee of fif-
teen would be no check at all ; it would be better for the
authority to remain in the Woods and Forests.
Viscount MORPETII said Mr. Barry. was now inclinedto
make the tower lower than had been originally proposed.
Mr. BERNAL was at a loss to divine the objects sought
to be gained by the appointment of this committee.
Mr. R. H. YORKE said, if the motion for the committee
was pressed, ho should persist in his objection to the names
he had pointed out.
Sir It. H. INGLIS sail that Westminster.bridge bad been
introduced into the motion in conformity with a similar
motion made two years ago. Westminster-bridge formed one
of the principal approaches to the house, and would naturelly
form a subject for the committee's inqury. About 170,0001.
would be applicable to the reconstruction of that bridge, if the
houses belonging to the trust estate were sold ; and this being
so, the committee might very properly inquire as to the addi-
tional sum which would be required for rebuilding the
bridge.
at Westminster," he might defend it on constitutional
e-eiteel ; I:ut it 4.7 us:cc' tia 1-,!g!:cr euth...ri7 than his citu,

the hams baying boo so designated, et the time of the fire,
by bights WOW mid subsequently by no is an authority
than the Us. ix Montrose, (laughter.) As he
, had getynasil sad noeninstod this committee with the sane-
' *mkt ~eminent, he should net withdraw his prepaid-
but elseald pre es it to • division.
OILANCELLGE of the EXCHEQUER said he only
&bfmself mgpomible fur the expenditure to the ex-
ams aggeumualebg hire
_much should Ise voted in any one
plat, aa ineomag the expenditure generally, he had
sr doe to ends ea the subject. He was one of the cora-
Wallowa ef Westminster-bridge, and he feared that con-
attend& atipenas "odd necessarily. be incurred on that
toidge hi a short thne. The repairs two years ago hod
placed it la • state of safety; but this was only temporary,
and sooner or later, somethiug must be dune to put it in a
state in which it would afford a permanent means of crossing
the river. Oleo.) The huse must be aware that it was
quite out of tke power of ministers to control the op ndi-
tore on the new
soubos s; their other occupations precluded
them from doing he should therefore be the last to ob-
ject to the appointment of some competent authority. Pro-
bably if the committee to be appointed were to participate
with the Woods and Forests in the responsibility it would
be an improvement. Ile would not give them the power
of increasing the expenditure; and he thought the ap-
pointment of a openntending authority ought to rest with
the government, or with the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests. With this view, he should recommend that both
the motion and the amendment should be withdrawn.
Sir R. INGLIS would consent to withdraw the motion on
receivi the assurance that a commission, such as was sug-
gested by the rieht hon. inntleman, should be appeinted.
Viscount MORPETH said he should be quite willing to
consider what advice could be given to her Majesty respect-
ing the appointment of a controlling commission, to look
very closely into the expenditure. If appointed, it ought to
be a very small one. (Haar.)
After a few words from Mr. OSBORNE, leave was given for
the FEES
of both the motion and the amendment.
IN COURTS OF LAW AND EQUITY.
Mr. ROMILLY moved to discharge an order, referring
to the committee on fees in courts of law and equity all
petitions presented to the house praying for inquiry into the
fees imposed upon suitors in Chancery, in pursuance of the
powers contained in 6 & Vie., cap. 103. the object of the
committee as appointed was to inquire into the fees now pay-
able in the Court of Chancery, and to recommend the most
desirable reforms • but not to meddle with the compensa-
tions that had been awarded to the six clerks. Subse-
quently a motion had been agreed to, sub silents°, extend-
ing the committee's inquiry. to the latter object, of which he
disapproved, the compensations in question being subject to
the inquiry of the Lord Chancellor; and therefore he
brought forward the present motion, with the view
to reverse a decision which had been obtained from the house
saguaro. lie thought the compensations decidedly too lade
although the act under which they were granted had been a
very gnat benefit to the suitors, still that hi nefit had been
purchased too dear. An inquiry might be necessary, but it
ought to be a separate inquiry, and Lot mixed up with the
object of the existing committee.
Mr. AGLION BY opposed the motion. It was on his pro-
posal that the committee's inquiries had been extended, as
stated. Ile had given notice of his motion to that effect,
and when brought forward it was agreed to without oppo-
sition
Sir 0. GREY said the committee had been granted on the
express understand ng that the compensations should not he
made a pert of its inquiry. Afterwards that object had been
added, he believed, inadvertently ; and it would be most in.
convenient if the order for referring the petitions alluded to
should nest be discharged. Afterwards, any hon. member
might either more a separate committee on these petitions,
or bring forward a motion in reference to the whole subject
of the vmpensations.
Mr. HU hIE hoped that a new reference would be made
to the committee, embracing the whole inquiry ; sod on this
ground he would not oppose the discharge of the order.
I Mr. EWART also acquiesced in the course suggested by
the right hon. the Secretary for the Home Department.
Mr. J. STEWART mid he understood that great benefit
was likely to be derived from the more limited inquiry of
the committee: be was therefore opposed to mixing up with.
it other matters.
Mr. BAINES said that neither the profession nor the
public would be satisfied without the fullest inquiry. He
ah Eydtothpeoelitown.i:litoeumthepurtlionrgCaoemkto.zonuothi, wtLuldnontrii:e.allez
for a committee to inquire into the matter fully.
The motion was then agreed to.
The other hon. members who had notices on the paper
either not answering when called on, or postponing their
motions to a future dee, the house adjourned at a few
minutes before ten o'oleek.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.—YESTERDAY.
LIME IW-in.—Several witnesses were examined
on behalf of Sir F. Kelly, to disprove the allegations of
bribery agaimt that gentleman.
CARLISLE.—The petitioners proceeded with the
treating evidence, but were stopped at two o'clock by the
committee, the chairman of waich intimated that the
offence had been sufficiently proved. The committee then
adjourned to this day, when the defence of the sitting =soi-
-1 ber will be entertained.

—......—5---7---
rest taxes as paid in the year 1846 may be thus
enumer
lieWated :
•Pd bums to 0,343,582
Ueda bads sad lastsosats
ANIMA Yam
Log sal mutate duties
Liallalatianeuthd 07 the KW'S)
1 --
Total C13,321,502
With respect to the property and income tax we
have of late so often bad occasion to dwell upon the
injustice of assessing income derived from realised
property and professional incomes at the some rate,
that at present we need do no more than mention it.
This tax, too, it will be remembered, presses only
indirectly. and to a very small extent upon any in-
comes deemed from Ireland.
The land and tenement tax is only the ghost of
what was once an efficient, and in the state of society
which prevailed when it was first imposed a very
I fair, tax. Under the Land Tax Redemption Act of
1789 it has become a very partial tax. and as, though
now paid by only a comparatively small proportion of
. the owners of r..al property it ts uniformly made a
Ipretext for resisting any new imposts, however just
and necessary, on the whole class, it were well to get
rid of it. From this tax also Ireland is exempted.
The assessed taxes are fantastically unequal in their
pressure, and objectionable on account of their multi-
-1 plicity and the trifling returns from some of them. The
hair powder tax yielded in 1846 only 3,323/. ; is such
a tax worth the expense, trouble, and annoyance of
collecting it ? Nearly one-half of the whole returns
from the assessed taxes in 1846 was derived from the
window tax (1,626,0390. Ten other taxes (the hair
powder tax included) clubbed their returns to make
up the other half. The inequality and anti-sanitary
character of the window tax is admitted on all hands.
Not one of the others (except, perhaps, the duty on
armorial bearings—a tax upon vanity ; and the game
duties—accessaries of the game laws) but is excep-
tionable as being a tax on certain industrial pursuits
from which others are exempted. 'fo this class of
taxes also the objection applies that they are exacted
in one part of the empire while the inhabitants of
another part are exempted from them.
The license duties are so far impartial in their
incidence that they extend to Ireland as well as
Great Britain. But they are grossly partial in this
respect, that they are paid only by certain professions.
They are in effect a poll tax paid by all adults who trade
on their own account—as: auctioneers, brewers,
sellers of beer, cider, and perry, tea and coffee dealers,
glass manufacturers, malisters, paper makers, soap
makers, distillers, spirit dealers, makers of stills, che-
mists, manufacturers of tobacco and snuff, dealers
in tobacco and snuff, wineruerchants, vinegar-makers,
and hirers of horses and carriages. Now, upon
what principle ought members of these trades
to pay a poll tax, and members of all other I
trades and professions escape it? Why should
a soap maker, or a tea and coffee dealer, or a vinegar
maker, be required to take out a license, and a linen-
draper or a cutler be allowed to set to work without
any such pre-requisite ? Surely it is not a valid
reason that, because the articles in which the former
deal pay excise or customs' duties, and those of the
latter do not, that the already burdened parties should
be still further surcharged.
In endeavouring to discover some principle, or
principles, which, however indistinctly understood,
may have guided the imposers of those direct taxes,
the following appear meet plausible : The land-tax (in
so far as it his not been redeemed), and the property
and income tax, are a demand on the part
of the state of a certain fixed proportion of each
man's annual income. The assessed taxes appear
to be meant as an attempt to tax men in pro-
portion to their property : the rude and roundabout
way of arriving approximately at the amount of
their property by coniectuies based en the comforts
or luxuries in which they habitually indulge, having
been adopted. The legacy and probate duties are
' also a tax upon certain kinds of property, levied in a
lump sum at the time that the owners come into
possession of it by inheritance. Licenses are a poll-
tax upon persons engaged in business as their own
masters on their own account. In short all these
taxes are either more or less happily devised pro-
perty taxes or poll taxes, and more or less general in
their application.
There is obviously great room for reform in this
class of imposts. Their pressure is so grossly partial
and unequal as to require only being placed in a dis-
tinct point of view to create intense disgust. The mul-
tiplicity of the modes of assessment and collection adds
to the inequality and also to the expense of levying
them. Simplification and a more equitable appor-
tionment of the amount of the tax to the means of the
paver are what is chiefly wanted in this department.
We showed, on a former occasion, that by extend-
ing the legacy and probate ditties to real property the
annual return of this tax would be about doubled.
The principle of a poll tax, as applied in
the licensing system, is indefensible, unless its
application is made universal. Instead of attempting
this it would probably be better to continue to
exact a reduced rate from incomes derived from pro-
fessional exertions; thus taxing men in business
proportionally to their means, instead of taxing rich
and poor alike. By extending the legacy and
probate duties to real property, and abolishing all
license duties, the loss on the repealed tax would be
replaced, and a surplus of about 1,400,0001. left. This
would more than replace the revenue uerived from
the tax on lands and tenements, were that repealed.
But a simple repeal would, in this case, be unjust to
all whose land tax has been redeemed. The re-
demption of the land tax ought to be made compul-
sory within a limited period, and thus government
w,:uld obtain a sum in hand to facilitate its
operations in shit' ing the incidence of taxa- ,
tion. There remain the property and income '
tax and the assessed taxes. Of the latter, the window
tax is acknowledged to be a tax upon house property
most iniquitously, assessed. Its remission would be
cheaply purchased by a slight addition to the tax on
income derived from real property. A considerable 1
diminution in the rate of the tax on income derived
from professional exertions, accompanied as we have I
proposed by the abolition of license duties, would'
warrant the extension of this impost to incomes be-
low 1501. per annum. And this extension, together
with the imposition of the property and income
tax in Ireland, would give an increased instead of a
diminished aggregate return. Legacy andprobate duties
extended to real property—a slightly increased tax
upon incomes derived from realised property-ared aced
tax on professional incomes of whatever amount—and
these taxes, levied in Ireland as well as in Great
Britain, would, we hare little doubt, yield as large a
return as the list of complicated and unequal taxes
we have enumerated above. This simplified assess-
ment could also be more economically collected : a
larger proportion of the gross revenue would be
available for the expenses of the state.
In suggesting this mode of revising our direct
taxation, we merely seek to indicate the way in
which an important and most advantageous reform
might be effected. We are not bigotedly attached to
any of its details; but we feel convinced that some-
thing nearly approaching to it ought immediately. to
be undertaken. It may also be necessary to remind
our readers that at present we only seek to show how
taxation may be rendered at once leas burdensome and
more productive. Economy in expenditure, as a
means of reducing taxation, will receive our atte-'
in in due time.
•
9.1 -

LORD GEORGE BENIINCK'S committee on sugar
and coffee planting is, it is reported, relieving the
tediousness of the dismal complaints of the West In-
dians by taking evidence on the flourishing condition
of slave sugar countries, and of the slave trade ; and if
all the reports which are in circulation be true, some
very extraordinary testimony on the latter subject has
been given. We, of course, know nothiig with
precision ; but the statements current are so import-
' ant, that we give them as we hear them.
In reference, then, to Brazil, it is stated that since
the admission of slave-grown sugar into this country,
a most extraordinary impetus has been given to sugar
planting in that empire—that whole districts have
been laid down to receive the sugar cane—that go-
vernment is making free grants of the public lands
for that purpose, and that the supply of slaves has
fully kept up to the demand. It is calculated
that not fewer than 70,000 slaves were imported into
Brazil from Africa in the year 1847; that upwards of
100,000 left Africa for Brazil in that year; and that
not fewer than 30,000 human beings perished in the
middle passage, the victims of our slave-trade polies-.
We say the victims of that policy, for it is established
that the main causes of this awful mortality are the
crowded state of the slavers, the length of the voyage,
and the want of water on the voyage. In many of
. the slavers there are between decks of six feet not
fewer t'.lan threc ticr., is which: soth6 6.1,1yri slaws