The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-07 00:00:00

BEER DUTIES ACT.

The order of the day having bee. read, tie House went into a
Committee upon the Beer Duties Act.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that at
the hour of the night when be rose to address than, lie felt it to be
his duty to compress what he hail to sav in the narrowest possible
compass. There was in the publie viand an extreme anxiety to
know what was intended to be done—what on this subject was
tobe submitted to the consideration of the House. The propo-
sitions which he was anxious to submit to the consideration of the
House referred, first, to the duty on beer; and secondly, to those
descriptiporonacfcrersons who should be permitted to sell it. When
it was in the early part of tha session, to transfer the
duty from to malt, he felt and erased his opposition to the
measure. He had never, however, been insensible to the objections
made to the law for the sale of beer, and to that subject he had ap-
plied himself, in order to discover, if possible, whether some system
might not be adopted—sonte arrangement of the duties, so that the
public might be supplied with a qualily of beet such as could not
now be procured by them without pecan inconvenience. As the
law stood at present, there were three sorts of beer, and they were
liable to three duties. The first, which paid a duty of 2s. a barrel,
was not sold fors higher price than 165.; the intermediate, not
sold at more than 225. (exclusive of duty), paid a duty of 55.; and
upon all beer of a higher price than 2. there was a duty of 10s.
111$ intention was, to increase the duty upon the beet of the first
quality as to strength, to lower it upon the iotennediate, and to
raise it upon the small beer, which would scarcely be felt, since so
lads of it was consumed, and that little seldom with any peculiar
prejudice in Its favour. How the duty caust be ascertained, except
with reference to the malt, he was et a loss to discover. Indeed it
was quite clear that the strength and quality of the malt alone
could guide them in the estimate of ditty which he
proposed
to
hem. The scale that he proposed was to the following effect :
Upon all beer where one quarter of malt was employed in making
short of two barrels, the duty he proposed was 246.; exceeding two
and not amounting to three, the duty he proposed was 126.; where
the quantity exceeded three sad fell awn of four, Ba. (tins at pre-
sent amounted to 10s., and was the ordinary beverage porter); four
and net exceeding five, fis.; five and not exceeding six, 45.; and
after eight, 3s. On of the objects he had in view was to give
relief to the smallest daicriptioo of brewers ; and for this purpose
Ise proposed a reduction in the duty. At present the duty upon the
brewer of 20,000 barrels amounted to 21. is., and this he proposed
to diminish to IL Ile proposed to grant to such brewer the privi-
lege of selling beer by retail, upon the payment of his licence; and
thus he plated hint at once in competition with the publican. The
licence which he proposed was, that the retailer should pay live
guineas—s sum which would exclude every mere adventurer
front embarking in that undertaking. But it was obvious to
all that this competition would interfere considerably with the
publican, and that many petitions had been presented in that
Session from the licensed- victuallers, praying for a reduction of
the duty on licenses ; and he most certainly felt that it was
desirable to alter these duties. Hs was of opinion, too, in this
case, that relief should be applied to the smaller classes; and he
proposed to consider the reduction regarding those persons. At
present the regulation respecting license" was as follows:—If a
a p.ublic.house was rented at 151. the license paid amounted to two
guineas—at 201. three guineas—at 301. four gtuneas. In 1814 they
all paid two guineas. He proposed that all under 201. should now
pay one guinea, and above that sum three guineas. There were
other licenses for dialing in spirits,
~upon which he pro-
to make some redaction. At present the aunt id
pro-
posed
spirit license' amounted, in houses the rent of which
amounted to 151., five guineas-101. sic guineas. In 1314
all paid the same house rent 4L 14s. and 51. 2s. He pro-
posed Mountie the two classes at 41. 14s. As to the description of
pastas whet were allowed to sell beer by retail, he had last year
ventured to express an opinion, that any brewer who thought pro-
per to forego the allowance granted to him as a wholesale brewer,
might, if he deemed it expedient, sell boor by retail • and in conse-
quence of this opinion several persons coininenced selling beer
without previously being furnished with a Magistrate's license.
This excited alarm. A convictionlefure Magistrates was followed
by an appall to the Court of King's Bench. The appeal was not
yet hairt4 and the law remained in uncertain. lie owned that he
was still of opinion that there was nothing in the Act to prevent the
selling, but it was quite right that some enactment should now be
made, decisive and intelligable in its charmer. For purposes of
police it was most unfitting that every person should be permitted
to sell beer unlicensed. The Right lion. Gentleman adverted to
the probable effect of this measure upon the revenue, and from the
competition it would naturally create, he anticipated a considerable
improvement. With respect to the objection of present interests,
It was an objection which could always be counteracted; and he was
quite surelliat in a plain and equitable understanding of this kind,
the sense and spirit of the House would not countenance this kack.
neyed argument.
Mr. BERNAL said, that this arrangement seemed to hint most
complicated, and he wished to know when the Right lion. Gen-
tleman proposed to disc mss it—before or after the inns ?
The CIIA NCELIAJR of the fiXCHEQUER replied, that
the best way would be to report the Resolutions, and bnng up the
Bill and Resolutions together. They could then be printed, and
it would be for the House to say what dine was most convenient
for the discussion.

111 r. BUXTON asked if it was intended to abolish the duty on
beer, or on malt ?

.._...
The reply of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
was not beard in the gallery.
Mr. MA MALI' considered this an unfair and unprincipled
measure. It still retained the duty on malt, and the poor man had
still to pay what the rich were excused from paying.
Capt. ItLIBERLY said a few words, which were inaudible.
Mr. HUME suggested the prudence of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer acceding at once to the measure of the Hon. Member
for Abingdon (Mr. Maberly), and allowing the duty to be taken
oninalt.

Mr. F. PALMER supported the resolution of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
Mr. S. RICE wished to know what VIM meant to be done with
the Excise LiC2TICTI in Ireland.

The C HA N CELLOIt of the EXCHEQUER said, that it was
• subject that had not escaped his contemplation ; and he trustW
that he should shortly be able to propose something that would
remedy the present system, which be admitted to be quite an
iilr.anoy.
310XCR was of opinion that the present pleasure, though
not so complete r it might have beat, was calculated to effect
great improvements in the bm trade.
Mr. 4R)RDON was desirous of knowing whether any means
were to be taken to prevent the introduction of drugs into the beer.
Mr. CALVERT would refute the insinuations of the last
Speaker, by referring him to the evidence recently taken before
the Committee.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not think
that any charge had been made against the respectable London
brewers; but the proceedings before the Commissioners of the Ex-
cise and the Court of Exchequer, sufficiently proved that such
practices ax had been alluded to did exist.
- -

....
.Irter some further convetaation betwetm Mr. Calvert, Mr. If us-
Stmt..), Mr. Buxton, and Mr. Moberly, the reaolutitto was then put
and agreed to.
_ _ _

The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be received
on Friday.
The other Orden of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at ONE O'CLOCK.

NOTICE OF 31( YFION.

Mr. Cressett Pelham—Rriolutions, showing the utility of Par-
liament being occasionally holden in other Caritas of the United
Kingdom.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.

Ways and Means—Committee.
Supply—Committee.
Land Revenue !:ale of Stock Bill—Second Reading.
Proctors' Costs (Ireland) Bill--Committee.

I ►Yesterday the Duke of York transacted military busi-
ness with the King.
The Duke of Clarence, we are concerned to say, has
been confined by indisposition for upwards of a week. His
ltoyal Highness, we are happy to say, is much better, and
rode out in his carriage for the first time on Monday.
Yesterday afternoon, soon after four o'clock, the Duke
of York held a levee, as Commander-in-Chief, at his
Office in the Horse Guards, which was attended by a num-
ber of Military Officers.
Last night the Princess Augusta honoured Cloven-garden
Theatre with her presence.

PRICES OF BRITISH
Ban], Stock 214 4
3 per Ceot lieduord.94 5 mil.
3 per Ce:q. Coils. 05i
34 per Ccot.
4 net Cant. 1011 I
Sew 4 per Cent. Inn 8
iod g Annuiaez. 234
Imperial 3 per Ccom.
Rack for Account :UN 4
Cone. fur Act. 94 4
India stuck

'TOCKS V'ESTE RDA Y.
Itnlia !fond■, 6•J 96 pr.
India fur Account, 291
South Sea Stock.
South Se. Old Annuities 941
South Sag New Annuities
Ex. Dills, 1,11001. 54 56 pt.
Diuo, 5004 54 56 yr.
Ditto, Sinai, ia4 Sn pr.
Indoesesi.ditto
Lottery Tickets, 251. 19s.

PRICES OF FORDItIPi STOCK+, iEN i'BittrA 1 .
Austrian Scrip, 174
.4 4 Russian lids. 110 71 81
Ditto fur Account li4 4 Russian for Acct. 914 g
Ditto paid in full, 994 g Russian Inscription
Cliilian lids. 801 4324 i 4 Exchange per ruble
Ditto for Acc. 8014 24 234 243 24 Ditto 3letallie Stock (Baring)
Coloinb. 8ud5.11.14 114 4 DO4 i;s:', span. con.. 1114 ' 9 81 94 V
94 90 1 874 V 8.1 1 9 Ditto for Acct. 111!4 94
Do. Act. 8134 911 l 9 1904 1a; mu° 170 & 234 11,,.
904 4 88 9 114 4 Do. 6 per Cana.. 4,1823) 174 17
Danish 31arks Waco 904 Anflo 31ex. 31ima 6
Greek Scrip. 24 4 dia. United Dian
Ditto for .Iccount 14 dis. Alliance 134 144 13 pr.
Alex.ricrip. 71 84 tqj 9'9 81 949 Er. lientea,l93l. 74c. 104 f. 26c.D0. Acc. n 1144 9114 i 484 94 Do. Ex. 25f. :Vs:. 4.3 c.
Port
Pouguese floods for etx. Do. Scrip, 174 1 pr. ,
Ditto Scrip 81 1 pr. Ditto tor Acct. 171 j pr.
Ditto for Account 114 Neapolitan Bldg. 96 1
Prussian Bonds, 1164 Ditto for .Icet.
Ditto for Account Dutch Bonds
Ditto_ Bonds Ditto Exchange
COUBSE OFEXCIIANOE YESTERDAY;
Amsterdam C. F. 12 1 foghorn
Ditto, at sight - 11 18 Genoa
Rotterdam 12 2 Vunice -
•
Antwerp . - 12 4 Malta
II amburgh - 37 7 Naples .
Alton& - - 37 8 Palermo
Paris, 3 dsits' sight 26 60 Lisbon
Ditto - - 26 86 Oporto
lionrdeau x - 25 86 Rio Janeiro
Berlin - - 710 Bahia
Frankfort-on-the-31:1in C 4 Dublin
Petershurgli - V Cork
Vienna . -, 10 7
Trieste
Madrid
Cadiz
Bilboa

. 41;!
- . 434
- 27
. . 4.5
. wt;
- 1 NA
- aq
- 61
.

- §*l

- 14
• . 04
puLttos. _

_ _
.C. s. d.
Portugal Gold in coin 0 0 U
Foreign Gold in bar* 3 17 6
New Iroubloons 0 0 0
New Dollars 0 4 94
Silver in bars U 4 Ili

Barcelona
Seville
Gibraltar -

3W