The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-13 00:00:00

Ibe Increased, and the lopessii el tits idhoetiall would be dimi. • in Scotland, was extended to this country, it would prevent the
- regard to aresouto alone this system of introduction of spirits into England ; the consumption of English
taxes imposed on it. The premed state of Ireland had grown out ' 'label Nor was it with
taxation should be considered ; it wee chiefly important, as it af. spirits would be increased, and all .he spirits consumed would pay
of centuries of misgovernment ; and no lessee for that country, or
fected the mends of the lovrer climes of the people for between tile duty. and the expense of the heavy coast establishment for the
for the empire, could be hoped for until the conflict of religious
them and the collectors of the revenue, as the 3ferebe;for Taunton prevention of smuggling would he much diminished. Ile agreed
opinions was terminated, and until the Catholic was admitted tow
Ihad ebserved. a civil war was carried on. Ile had made inquiries with the Rt. Hon. Gentleman in the importance of these measures,
equal division of places and confidence with the Protestant. into the mode of collecting the taxes, for the purpose of Moment- and for that very reason there should be no delay. lie would de-
ar The. petition was then ordered to lie on the table, and to beg arguments in his in the House ; and the result of his inquilies elate there was now more smuggling from Scotland and Ireland
rinted. i
, was, a wonder how such absurd regularities could be ewer carried than there was from the Continent. lie knew the Chancellor of the
Sir R. WILSON moved for a new writ for the county of Let- ' into effect. The evils of this system were not confined to the same. Exchequer approved of the principles he hail expressed, and it was
trim, in the room of Luke White, Esq. deceased. glees alone; the mischief did not stop there; it was extended to the now for him to act upon thew principles of which he had approved.
EXCISE LICENCES. I peasantry at large. The people in general engaged in smuggling, Colonel DAVIES said, he did not think the reduction on foreign
Mr. LAW LEY presented a petition from the innholders of Bir- 1 and where a cargo was landed, it ditetppeared as if by magic, fur spirits was to cause the reduction of the duties on British spirits.mingham against the Excise licences. lit was well known that if it remained long upon the berth it would It had been objected to him that this reduction was too small, and
Mr. BERNAL was desirous of knowing, as we understood,' be discovered by the vigilance of those entrusted with the execution therefore it WAS utterly ineffi.tient i and if he had wished to make a
whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to make any al- of the revenue laws, and if a peasant was seized •;;11 a keg of spirits, great reduction, it would be said by these springs lie would be ma..
Meadow in this tax. he was either sent to gaol or compelled to pay luel. • and if he terially injuring the revenue. Ile was most ready to satisfy the
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having been so were unable to dischrage his line lie was sent on bUtird a tender. Right Honourable Gentleman, and he would take off as much eel
directly appealed to, would state to the House that he should be From the high rate of duties an inducement was held out to the petty he pleased. tie had maintained the revenue was iiijured by high
shortly able to propose some measure "Venting it, as he had on traders to deal in such a trade, and when detected certain ruin en. duties, and he proved the assertion by a reference to the Finance
doubt would be satisfactory. (Hear, hair.) eusued. They then became reckless of consequences, when
the they
The petition was ordered to ie lon table. Accounts. The object he had, in coining before the House on this
saw nothing before them but a gaol, and their families utterly occasion, was to excite discussion. His object had been attained
Mr. DEN ISON presented a petition ikon the licensed vie-, ruined. it was not, under such circumstances, to be wondered at if and he would not press the matter any farther.
Mallon of Hodalming and Ewell, for the relied of the duty on' these persons became desperate violators oldie laws. In addition to slr. G. BENNET thought, by the reduction on the duties in
basica. all this the law defeated itself: in consequence of the enormous Scotland and Ireland, a premium was given to these countries to
COMBINATION LAWS. duties laid on foreign spirits, large rewards were given to the ('us- introduce these articles into England, and a premium was also
Mv. SYKES presented a petition itom the boot and shoe makers torn-house officers for making seizures; the reward was so great offered to this country to r.:ceive these articles from both sides,
of Kingeton-upon-Hidl, against the Combination Laws. for seizing each gallon that it was a common practice for the When consumption was permitted in a country. fewer evils were
Mr. HlNEpresented a petition from 500 ladies* shoemakers smuggler to give information against himself, upon con- to be apprehended, than where it was impeded by taxation. It
against the Gotnbinatioo Laws. It was Rom the journeymen shoe- dition of receiving half the reward, and his reward was suf- was only when such taxation was imposed as an inhibition to im-
plants of London. ficient to defray die expenses of introducing the article portation, that a depression of the spirit trade took place.
Mr. HUME presented a similar petition firm die journeymen into the country, and leaving a profit besides. He would Mr. KENNEDY was desirous of bearing witness to the happy
shoemakers of the borough of Southwark. give an example of this : it was not long since two revenue effects of the measure of the Right lion. Gentleman last Session.
Mr. NEW MAN presented a similar petition from the inhabit- officers were tried and convicted for a fraud upon the revenue, it had been productive of great benefits within his own observation.
ants of Exeter. by making aseizureof this kind, and who had applied for the re- There was &monopoly, however, still in the English market; there
Sir R. WILSON presented a similar petition from the journey- welds. st-ould it not be manly, would it not be rational, to get were five distilleries at present at work in Scotland. of the inordinate
men boot and shoe makers of the City of London. rid of a system which had the effect of diminishing the revenue. profits of which to English Capitalists, the House might form an
Mr. MONNE presented a similar petition from the journeymen As a proof of this, he would refer to the Parliamentary Papers in idea from the circumstance of 1.5001. having been paid to the pro-
Bost and shoe slam of Reading. the year 1008 ; the duties laid on foreign brandies were 12s. 7d. the prietors of large works in Scotland, for having abstained from
Mr. BENNET presented, from the journeymen boot and shoe gallon ; the number of gallons imported was 2,000,3111. In a few working them. The extension and encouragement of the free trade
makers of Brigbthelmstone, a petition to the same effect. years after that, the duty was raised to 15s. 10d. and the gallons of spirits would be highly beneficial to the agricultural interests of
These petitions were all ordered to be printed and referred to the imported were 2,0110,000 ; shortly after this the duty was increased this country.
Committee on Artisans. toles. lid. the gallon ; and the quantity imported fell from upwards The Resolutionswere then agreed t& the House resumed and
110CSE TAX. of 2,000,000 to 19040 ; and the revenue declined fr0m1,500,0001.
Mr. WESTERN moved for serum of persons assessed to the :0 177,000 t. In die year 1815, theduty wasdiminished to 17s. Yd. the Report was ordered to be brought up on Monday.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
Howe* Tax, to a certain amount, in various counties of England. and the impormtion increased to VW,OOO gallons, and the duty On the motion of Mr. LCSIIINGTON, the 'louse resolved
FREE TRADE. amounted to . ,017 0001. The coesequences of this mode of taxation itself intooCommittee of Supply on the Estimates of Civil Contin.
Mr. WIWI( held in his hand a petition from the silk weavers of Were not connect' laseints; they extended to wino and every other gencies. • The bet Resolution was for 100.081. This was consi-
Nottingham, against any alteration is the removal of restrictive article. In the year 11100, the quantity of wine imported was -hky below thesumroted last year for the purposes to which
ditties on silk.—Ordered to be printed. 35,010 tons. In the year 1815, there was an additional duty laid this sum was to be appropriated.
ASSESSED TAXES. on of SOL per pipe ; and the quantity imported was 21,904 tons, Mr. BUSIE said there were some questions relative to our An--
making adifference i.n. the quantity imported of
.nearly one-third, haseadoes at Foreign Courts. However, as the Right lion. the
Sir. T. LETHEEIDGE presented a petition froni certain in-
.. - - -. and to the revenue of All MM. With nape( tto wine, it was to be Secretary for Foreign Affairs was not in his place, and as another
(*to* r- - ..
--• foe .. . .. - -

habitants of Ci ,in Soniersetshire, praying foe a repeal of all
assessed taxes.
Lord A. HAMILTON was desirous of knowing the nature of
the proposed reduction of stamp duties on law proceedings, as the
question was peculiarly interesting to the profession of the law in
Scotland.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to this
question, stated that the repeal which he intended would be carried
into effect by a very simple plan. His proposition would be that
certain duties contained in a schedule, previously furnished to
Members of the House, should cease after such a time.

considered, that all imported was not consumption here; •
considerable portion was for our Colonial markets : and it
was proved in • Committee that an eminent merchant had,
in consequence of the high duties laid on the spirits necessary
to prepare the wine for the colonial market, given up. the trade al.
together. Thtse principles were not confined to spirits and wines
alone ; they. were equally applicable to tobacco and teas; and upon
all these articles, by increasing the as, the revenue was lost. His
plan would be to return to the duty of 1806. as a step to the further
reduction of these duties. lle would now state to the House the
expenses of the collection:
.1n the year 1006 the expense of col.
. 01.75. ltd

opportunity might offer for explanation upon this subject, he
would not now oppose the vote.
Mr. W. HORTON next proposed 3,21171. for the support of the
Civil Service of the Bahama Isla- ds.
Mr. 11U3IE wished to know if these Islands yielded any reve-
nue, and if they did he was desirous of knowing if that revenue
was not sufficient for the support of a y establishments there.
Mr. HORTON replied, that he was not aware of any revenue
arising from those Islands.
Mr. HUME thought it most unfair that the people of England
should be called upon to support, not only the military but the
- .
flea.

lotting the customs Ives 31. 4s. 7d. per cent.; in 1810,
31.

7.8.6t1,; the

civil expenditure oethese Colon]

Thew establishments were for

excise-cost that year 31. 7s. 6d. pei cent., in 1822, 16s. Bd. per
cent. In Ireland there was no separate accounts of cuatoms and excise,
but they amounted in 11916, to 10 per cent., in 1822, to 17 pen cent.
And by the plan he proposed, by. recurring to the year 1006, there
wooed be a saving in the collection alone of 986.0001. This plan
would be also followed by the reduction of the Preventive Service;
this service was not dreamt of in 1806. The upholding of such an
enormous establishment appeared to him bordering on insanity.
The great saving to which he alluded might not perhaps take place,
for in time of war there was a navy that swept the channel, and
protected commerce and prevented smuggling. The present sys.
Ism should be given up; it was acted upon by Ministers who were
determined to raise a revenue at all events, and who were ignorant
of shot which was known one hundred years ago, that in politics
two and two do not make four, and very often they did not amount
to one. Ile would move an amendment, that the duty on foreign
spirits should be diminished Is. 100. per gallon. He was sure the
House would not think he went far enough if they reflected on the
injuries arising from the law. lie relied upon the enlightened
sad liberal views taken by the Right Honourable Gentleman. lie
had indeed heard that be had same such reduction afloat in his
mind, but he could not say if he meant to carry his idea into exe.
anima this year or next. The subject deserved the most serious
eensidoration of the House, and the Right Honourable Gentleman ;
as by adopting it he was confident the revenue would be encreased.
The CHAIRMAN doubted if the amendment could be put as
the Hon. Member wished. The question before the House was
for the continuance of certain duties for a year. The way for the
Hon. Met..ber to proceed, would be to move their continuance for
a moth, or for any time that may occur to him short of that year.
Colonel DAVILS said, he would take any step that would enable
him to make his amendment.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought the
Hon. Member was not aware that the measure before the House
was for the renewal of certain duties that otherwise would expire on
the 24th of March. He was willing and ready to admit that the
duties laid on a certain description of articles were much too high.
As to the duty on foreign spirits, it was laid at in the year 1807, at
the rata of Is. ed. per gallon, and was to be considered a war tax ;
and the objera of the Hon. ilember's 'potion would be the repeal
not alone of this but of every other duty laid on in the year 1007.
He did Dot think the Menthe*, in the cone he adopted, conceived
the advantage of this measure. Ilia best proceeding would be to
own for the permanent repeal of the duty ; for, unless this per-
moot repeal were moved for, the same question would be open to
likeassiou every year, and the Member would not effect his own
abject. The tax alluded to was laid on as a permanent measure,
and he thought it was well known to all these who attended to the
technical mode of doing these things, that the repeal of permanent
taoscould not be effected by the course pursued by the lion. Member.
This was the view he took of the measure; and he could give no
essisembee whatever to the Hon. Member. He would mak, if the
duty on foreign spirits were now repealed,. should it not be followed
by the. repeal of the duties on British spirits ? otherwise it would
be acting most unfairly with the British manufacturer. Ile would
be told the reduction of duty on foreign spirits was a good thing,
and he believed it would, but we would then have to go at once into
the large field of the home manufacture, which was a source of
most ample revenue. Would it be wise to hurry into a considers-
eon of this kind ? Would it not be wise to wait for the practical
effects which were to follow from the reduction of the duties on
spirits in Scotland and Ireland, which took place last year ? It
would, in his opinion, be most wise to learn from experience the
effects to be derived from this proceeding in the countries he
alluded to; it was necessary to wait a few years for that object. He
was ready to admit the reduction of the duties on spirits was per se
a good thing ; but the duty on ardent spirits should be kept as
high as it could consistently with receipt. This tax, for moral
reasons, should not, in his opinion, be lessened. If the Hon.
Member wished to put down srounling, he should have gone
much farther; he should move for the reduction of the duty from
19s. which it was at. present, to 12s. and by this reduction the
temptation to -- would be undoubtedly diminished; but
- - •

the benefit of the residents there, end if the inhabitants could not
be the support of the whole establishments as thcy now stood,
let some of the useless offices be reduced, and the sums paid
thereto be sppropnated to defray the expense, which the House
was now called upon unnecessarily to vote.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. 1111111'0N next proposed 111101. for the Island of Dominica.
Mr. HUME thought this vote still more objectionable than the
farmer. This sum be understood went to the payment of a Chief
Justice. Wes Dominica in such a state as not to be able to afford
that allowance to a Chief Justice, if it were at all necessary that a
Chief Justice should reside there ? Again he would say, that the
Chief Justice was for the benefit of the inhabitants that, and not
for the benefit of the people of England. The former, therefore,
end not the latter, should contribute to his maintenance.
Mr. HORTON begged to refer the lion. Member to a entree-
pondence that took place between this Island and Earl Bathurst, in
which he would find grounds for the propriety of continuing this
vote, and of having a Chief Justice there.
Mr. G. BENNET said that the only information contained in
that correspondence was, that the inhabitants said, " If you govern
us rightly we will defray the expense ourselves ; if not you may
pay for us." en
was all he could collect from the correspondence.
Mr. HORTON be.ggesi to remind the Hon. Gentleman, that
gran responsibility was incurred by the dismissal of officers whom
it was found expedient to continue for the benefit of the Colony.
These Colonies were regulated by certain principles which had
been appmved of by the House. The lion. Member seemed dis-
posed to treat it as a question of • new policy to be adopted to.
wards the Colonies, and not, as it really was, the propriety of voting
an estimate which the Legislature hitherto had sanctioned.
Colonel DAVIES expressed a wish that his lion. Friend, (Mr.
H. would bring forward a motion relative to the mode of manage.
ment, and the civil establishment of the colonies. It was one well
worthy his attention.
Mr. HUME asked why did we not pay chief justices for St.
Lucia and Jasnsits• as well as Dominica?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Domi-
nica was perhaps the most distressed of any of our West India
islands; :szial production had frequently been destroyed by
rri hucan thelealamities inflicted by nature which it had
'sostaised— its difficulty in raising supplies—from the large
quantity of barren and uncultivated land in that island. Although
ether islands might defray their own establishments, an exception
should be made in favour of Dominica, and every assistance Ward.
ad it by the mother country.
Mr. HUME in the present depressed state of West India
roperty, would not press the vote to a division. He was ne-
vertheless, of opinion that these islands ought to maintain their
own establishments. And he was more anxious that the House
should impress this principle on their minds, for unless this coon.
n 7 threw something on them, they would get nothing from them.
(IL laugh.) The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. HORTON next proposed 8,2791. for the Civil Contingen.
des of Upper Canada. This was 4,0001. less than the sum voted
kit year for a similu purpose.
Mr. HUME was of the same opinion with respect to this vote as
he was with respect to the former—that it ought not to be seceded
to. This country, they were told, was in a state of increasing
prosperity, and therefore he was of opinion that it ought to defray
the espaliers of its own establishment. Amongst the officers to
whom ahries were assigned he found sheriff's. Why should the
people of England pay for such situations? Or why should not
they rather pay for them for whose benefit they were appointed ?
Had these Sheriffs no fees or income besides? fle understood
they had very ample incomes. This vote was therefore surplusage.
He also saw amongst the items of salaries, for a Secretary and Re.
gists, a Clerk of Accounts, &c. There was also a Land Surveyor,
who was charged with • salary on the British people. The Hon.
Member then referred to representations made by Mr. Gourley
and others, with a view of %hewing that Upper Canso% was fully
capable of maintaining itself and its establishments, without the
necessity eh:ring or exacting anything from this country. He
• • . .
- jetting offices, r

smuggling
he had only proposed a diminution of Is. 10d. and surely he could
not seriously imagine that this reduction would cause such a
reduction in the price of brandy, as to take away the in-
ducement to smuggle : it would be literally giving so ands
money to the merchant, to enable him to carry on the Mlle,
and it would not in:erten with the interest of the saityake.
He would not therefore acquiesce in the motion of dia lies.
klember. lie was not insensible to the importance of cans of this
kind it deal with them all -- There

ooncluded by m. to various . and the manner in which
situations were given to naval officers. and expressed his determi-
nation to oppose the grant. Upper Canada was in a state of pro-
sperity equal to that of the United States of America, and as com-
petent to defray its own expenditure as this country.
Ale. HORTON. denied the correctness of the Hon. Member's
statement as applicable to Upper Canada and America. The two
countries did not admit of comparison. Since 11116, it progressively
-ibuted and more to defray the expenditure of its own

_; but it was impossible to ... at once. _ _
were also heavy taxes upon tea and tobacco, far beyond the propor-
dons of their value. 1 hese articles were almost necessaries; they
were the luxuries of the poor; and the luxuries of the poor should,
in his opinion, be taxed as lightly as possible ;—(hear)--and if he
were disposed to any reduction, he would go to some other article
than brandy. He would not acquiesce in the amendment of the
Hun. Member.
Mr. HUME thought, if the Right lion. Gentleman were to act
ap to his principles, he would, instead of repealing these duties
1 one by one, repeal them all at once. it was clear that the great
taxes increased smuggling. In Scotland the reduction had caused
an increase of consumption; and there was more money paid at a
duty of 2a ed. the gallon than there was at a duty of be. The in.
the money now received on the small duty was not less
than &OWL (hear); and with this fact before him, the Right Hon.
Oefttleiwww4Plastas hiaeriend for proposing aaidisetion by
In his opinion his friend did nut go for enough: half these dour.
should be repealed. The Chancellor should also go to the branches
-of the British trade in the hands of the great distillers, and he
would venture to say there was no branch of our internal industry
(if he could apply this name to the manufacture of ardent spirits)
that. that to which he alluded. It was a complete monopoly, and
from inquiries be was able to make, the persons engaged in this
trade never had greater profits than now. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer should cease to be afraid of great distillers; they seemed
to hang like a nightmare upon every Chancellor. (liear.) In
Scotland, since the duty was diminished, it was not possible to
supply the demand for the article. He wished to know if the
Right Honourable Gentlemen were aware of the anxiety with
which smuggling was pursued. There was now more smuggling
carried on between Scotland and England than there existed be-
tween England and Holland. Every man would get whiskey when
he could; it wan so absurd law that supposed otherwise. Ile him-
self broke that law every day ; he had whiskey in his house ; he
i had smuggled it ; he could not get it in any other manner ; and
let any man detect him that could. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
The law upon this subject was an absurd one; he refused last
year to become a party to such absurdities. %%lien he was in
Scotland two years ago, he heard many persons speaking in pub-
hc of receiving two thousand gallons and three thousand gallons
of smuggled whiskey. The Right Hon. Gentleman had, by his
measures, closed the door manse smuggling to Holland, but he
had opened it to Scotland and Ireland. There were, he believed,
nine or ten millions of gallons of whiskey which paid duty in
England. There were at present ninny estabishmento formed
within ten miles of the Border, fur the purpose of bringing
whiskey into England. The present system, therefore, in his
opinion, called for • total change. It was said the reduction of
duties had caused an increase of consumption. This he denied ; there
not a drop more of whiskey drank than before the reduction,

contributed more anu .
establishments. When it was retuenibered that Upper Canada was
only united ass colony to thiseountry since 1790, and when, of the
whole amount of the civil contingencies, amounting only to :10,0001.
she defrayed two-thirds, 20.0001., it would be admitted that she
had greatly approximated towards a condition to support her own
expenditure. Indeed, he anticipated that in a very few years Up-
per Canada would not exact any thing from this country for her
support. The lion. Member had opened a question as to the ad-
vantage of coloniat possessions to a country. Let him, if he pleased,
being forward • motion on that subject ; but let him not indirectly
Introduce the topic now. Ile agreed with the lion. Member, that
the Mother Country ought to be taxed as little as possible by her
colonial possessions, but he differed from him in the application of
the principle. In a state of more advanced prosperity, it might
be expedient to withdraw succour and assistance, but until its re.
SOUNISS WeildiabgrOMPloll3 conceived it was the bounden duty of
this country not to deny that support which the exigencies °flipper
Canada now required. It was not an easy matter always to say
what species of property was most benefited by colonial possessions.
But as the Hon. Member seemed to think colonial possessions a
burden, whenever he deemed it advisable to have that questioned
entertained, he would be ready to enter into a full discussion of it
with him. lie (Mr. Horton) admitted that Upper Canada was in
a state of growing prosperity ; the reduced vote now proposed was
a proof of that proaperity. lie entertained • hope that the redue.
lion would be gradually greater until Canada was quite competent
to maintain herself. However, whilst she was governed by the
principles that at present regulated the Government of that coup-
try, he trusted he should have the suppun el the House in the pre.
sent vote. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Hunt: and Mr. Iloarox mutually explained on several
points connected with the mode in which the money now voted was
to be disposed of. Mr. Horton, in conversation across the table,
stated that several thousands were now applied to the discharge at
the half-pay of the militia consequent on the late war in America.
Mr. BRIGHT supported the vote. This country ought not to
deal with a niggardly hand towards .Imerica. It might be neces-
sary foe England in an emergency, to make use of l'pper Canada,
as a balance to the power of America. Ile would therefore foster
and support her. As to the appropriation of the money arising
from the sale of lands in America, to defray the civil establish.
mews, he thought that money arising from such sale properly be.
longed to the Crown; it would not accrue to the people. It was
not, however, so much on account of any objection he entertained
to the suggestion of lion. Member on that head; as on account of
the good policy which ought to induce Parliament to encourage the
resources of her colonies, that weighed with hint in support of the
present vote. (Hear.)
Mr. HUME came to a different inference from the very facts he
had himself stated. If Canada was to be made the of at-

means
tacking Amnia, (cries of " No, no,") or what was the same thing
if it was to be converted into a defence against the attacks
of America, It was expedier.t to abolish then all useless
offices, and reduce every unnecessary expenditure. Ile (Mr.
Ilume) could not conceive what could be the cause of such
an expenditure as 30,0001. when the army was paid by this country.
He thought that a wester injustice could not have been committed
than in uniting Upper and Lower Canada, without consulting the
wishes of either. Ile was proud to declare his sentiments on this