The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-25 00:00:00

!

Sir 1. S. ERSKINE disdained all partiality
saying, that the barley in' Scotland was of inferior
quality to that in England, as fire bushels of English
lisrley produced -as. inneh as seven bushels Scctch.
Ire would, not, howevel„ object to the duty pro-
posed in the present year, provided the Minister
would pledge himsolf, or rather the House pledge
itself, to' tae 'appointment of a • Committee, in the
nest Session, for the purpose of an enquiry.
Mr. CORRY said, the worst cue -as would be
produced, if all the markets of the United King-
dom were not guarded against any partial advan-
tage from another. The half duty was agreed to
siun after the Union, merely to reconcile Scotland;
but any advantage given to them now, would only
turn out to the advantage of the brewers.
lord Archibald Hamilton *as for diminish-
ing the duty in Scotland, and Mr. William Dundas
fu.fering it to remain in its present state.
The MASTER of the ROLLS approved the
plan recommended by the Chancellor- of the .Ex- '
chequer, and that the people of Scotland should he
tinieceived, with regard to the supposition that they
were to pay half the duty on malt.
Sir Charles Erskine, Mr: Charles Grant, and se
veral other Members,- expressed their approbation
of the measure mentions:: by the Right Hon. Gen-.
tleman.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXGHEQUER
said, he should certainly, at an carly period of the
nest Session, propose the appointfficnt of a Sole&
Committee to consider the respeaive qualities of
Barley and Malt in England and Scotland.
Mr. PLOMER, after entering upon a statement of
the duties progressively laid on Malt, observed, that
during the American War they were only six shil-
lingsn quarter ; but at present coupled with the
proposed tax, they would amount to 345. Bd. a sum
which, added to the. tax upon land, would have
the efErft of deterring farmers from the'cultvation
of Barley, and of course be attended wit?. consider-
able injury to agriculture. He thetero:e moved,
that in the clause imposing the duty of Is. should
be substituted is;

The SECRETARY at WAR said, that as the
representative of a great agricultural country, he
felt himself bound to support the arneod.nent. He
considered this additional. duty woalci be a material
injury to the farmer.
The. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUTER
justified the tax. He maintained, that it could not
1:e reduced without giving a most enormous profit
to the brewers. To adapt the motion of the Ho-
nourable Gentlerlan 'would inevitably have the ef-
fea of putting half the amount of the duty into the
pockets of the brewers, besides producing a loss of
two millions sterling. At the present price there was
no fear of a diminution of the consuniption. He did
not conceive the public would be materially affeied
by a tax that was only to continue during the war.
He had stated his conviaion, that if this tax was got
rid of, it would not be possible to substitute another
in its place. He had said, that the pressure on the
mass 61 the people would he borne without repining;
but whether it was so or not, hr feit it his duty to
enforce it. He had also stated his intention of afford-
ing relief, by euending the period of the payment
of the duties, and placing them precisely in the same
situation at the return of peace. He felt himself
bound to resist the motion. He should abandon
his duty, if he listened, to any. proposition by which
the tax might be diminished. He desired the Com•
niittee to advert to the cause of the tax ; the cause
was to be foiind oii the other side of the water. It
WAS the conduit of France that rendered it neces-
wry. if any body hesitated with regard to the
pa:anent of this or any other duty occasioned by the.
war; let him look into the correspondence It was
on the facts contained iu that correspondence, he
founded his proposition. He had with relu&snce
• engaged in the contest; but ht trusted. he tit:mid
shew that he.had 4S deep a feeliog in the honour and
spirit of the war as those who had• been most cla
niorous for its renewal. He was conviiiccd
were at war, because we could not be at wart-.
—When the necessity ceased, he trusted the s. .-
wouldcease. He desired to have peace, but .• .
it was,such a peace ac should be solid and
Let oh in order to obtain it, shew that we were :.eat
shrinking front a tax on Tea and Malt. Ii Aar
could not he obtained without difficulties, let as
meet them with courage and fortitude. It was that
temper and disporition which lie considered as the
hope and sheet-anchor of the country. He professed
his determination to persist in the tax.
Sir ROBERT BUXTON said, that no man was
more desirous than himself of (-amino; on the War
with vigour, but he felt extreme stifictl!‘• in acceding
to the proposition of the CPranceilor of the Exche-
quer—but it operated as an unequal tax on landed
property.' His -opinion was, that it would so far
100-er the price of barley, as to prevent land from .
letting far so much as it had done.
Mr. Atkins Wright, Captain Hargrave, and Mr.
Pattison, delivered their opinions upon the ques-
tion.
Mr. V ANSITTART pointed out the periods at
which the installments on the duties on the stock in
hard were to be paid. One-fourth was to be. paid on
the sth September 1803, one-fourth on the 24th Oa.
1803, one-fourth on the sth December- following,
• and the remaining one-fourth on the 16th Ja-
nuary.
Mr. GILES considered :his as a tax on the pub-
lic at large. Ile was well persuaded that
the time proposed to be allowed for the pay-
ment of the duties would be perfealy satisfactory to
the maltster, and that he would have no cause to
complain.
The CHANC-ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
repeated his determination to persist in the duty.
The House divided,
Ayes • - - It
Nces - 61
Majoiity against the Motion for reducing the
duty 50.
The I louse resumed, and the Report was ordered
to bereceived on Monday.

Mr. CORRY moved,." That the House should,
on Monday, resolve itself into a Committee to con-
sider of the Atli, relating to the Duties upon Salt-
petre in Ireland.
The Consolidation. Customs Duties Bill, and the
Consolidation Excise. Duty Bill, were read a third
time.
The other Wen of. the Day were disposed of or
postponed, and the House, at half past eleven, ad-
journed till Monday. -

a,.,••••••—•'mr.

771LI7'IZE-ROrAL, fmr.vARKET.
THIS .1.14.N1NC1 wiM bE inesented, a Play in Three
called
•
THE POINT OF HONOUR..
St. Parte, Mr. Archly; Valeour, Mr. li. Kelly • Durimel,
Mi. Painter; Steinlyere Mr. Mathews. Melina, Mrs.
Cleland ; Bertha, Mrs. 4.lths.
To which wit be .Aded (fur the Ninth Time this Season) the
Grand Pantornimical Ballet of
OA; I ;
Or, TiITZEF.-FINGER'D JACK.
them:tier,. of the Litania.
Three-Finger'4l .1.11. k, Mc. Palmer ; Captain Orford, Mr.
H Kelly 7 trite-, M:. 1.-tvii; Quashee, Mr. 11311011. Musa,
Mn. 6044 ; Wall, Mrs. Atkins.