The National Register.
London, England, 1819-06-14 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

live the amount which had been named. Planing the duties
nuns distinctly under the Excise WOUlli he serviceable, as the are
tides were stiscerible of much adulteration ; and adulteration
would be more efrectually checked by the Exeter. All the duties,
it was prod ofed. should be extended to Ireland and Scotland, ex-
cepting diet on Spirits. The Melt Ditty, which was calculated
would produce 1.400,000/. would be one shilling and two-pence
per bushel. T:ie amount of the materials far brewing but year
was se lot.; this year it was dl. its. ; and front the statement of
Mr. Barclay. he was warranted in thinking. that the public
might look to a reduction of the price of Leer -2( Load Cheering. )
There would he no reanto to advance the price of beer now, and
Ia confidently expected that a reduction of the price would soon
'Ste mace.—. The advance on spirits he thought essential to pro-
alai, the 11. e tietiv.i. as sell as the morals and health of the people
—(Here.) Heald now gone through the items, and if further
explanation wee, required, lie should be happy to give it. He
repeated that sue loan for next year would not be above 4,000,00 rd.
except it could be raised by other means; and lie tru,ted that
etterwards the Goverament would have no occasion to trouble the
1103 Se on tte painful subject of loans and new taxes. (Near.)
Ile hoped those who had suppontel the Government on the pre-
scut occasion. would have the thanks of their Constituents, after
the irritation of the moment had gone by..—(l/tar.) He con-
cluded with moving that it was espedient to raise 1e,000,e001
by annuities.
Mr. GUENTELL agreed that it was not only desirable, but
with reference to the best interests of the country, most expedient
that it should guesses a surplus of income beyond the expendi-
, cure; that it should poetess. in short, what was well known by
the mine of the Sinking Fund. Ile also agreed, that it was most
fit that that surplus should be carried further than the existing
amount of 2 millions—that it should be increased by the two
modes, of reduced expeneciture and additional taxes, to 5 mil-
lions. Alter the country, should thus be pineal in an attitude to
command respect front all the world, he should feel most happy
I if, by economy, by the proposed regulations in the collection of
the revenue, and lastly, by the operations of compound interest,
dime 5 millions were raised to 8 millions of surplus. There was
cue patt of the eubject net adverted to, but upon which be was
peculiarly sensitne ; nrel thought it appealed in itself trittiug, it
might pruduce restate of the utmost value: he alluded to the ge-
nerally understood Lethal of the Bank of England to give the
lain contractors that aavininodation which for the last stn or 25
years it lied Worded, by making, a proportionate advance on the
instalments of the loan. The directors must forgive him fur
tut:rung, that there was something of littleness and low mind.
edness, ioinething of pique and spleen in this Mims' : it was an
opposition to the government and tree country, wholly unworthy
iersons protersing to take such an interest in the concerns of the
nation. It was, pereaps. natural that the corporation should
feel saint degree vf resentment against government. which, after
20 or 513 years of tubeerviency, had at last broken the fetters
by %filch they bed been so lung and injuriously bound; and he
was not surprised that the dill:cities now Caine forward and con-
sideree such an attempt as a resistance to their high and mighty
atelier ty. ('fear.) it was not to be wondered that 114 mer-
chants, men engaged in the I uraait of gem, shottot be a little
intoxicated with the power they had for a series of years exer-
cised ; and they might be allowed to feel a little chagrin and
soreness that their power was now at an end. They hail hitherto
been anxiously consulted by ministers in nil exigencies regarding
the finances, end no doubt they thought it a little hard that
those to whom (though not quite disinterestedly) they had given
their advice and assistance, now turned against than. Perhaps
even they utigot feel sons portion of resentment at the apparent
ingratitude of their protegesethe Pint Lord of the Treasury and
• the Chancellor of the Excuequer. (-Cites's wad laughter.) It
-would be easy to go inure at large into tlis point, but lie would
inertly cungretulate ministers that they had at length effected
their emancipetion front a species of tyranny as disgraceful to the
government as injurious to the best interests of the country.
Mr. MANN Ixu dente,' the charge most unequitocally, and he
called upon the hon. gent. to prove or to retract it. Tne three-
tors had been told, that they were not to be politicians ; that
they had nothing to do with the state of the country, or its in-
terests; and that they ought to confine themselves to their books
and their banking husina.. The amdist o: the directors, on the
particular question refrrred to, had nothing to do with the point
slaw before the committee. Ile was qui:e willing to bear his
share of reponsibility for the decision at-whee l! that body had
arrived, and lie would not attempt to screen himself by arty ex-
planation et the motives by which he had .seen at:meted.
Mr. GIENIEL L explained. The lion. gent. had represented
it as tearcely honourable in his: to have stated that them had been
a nivition im the Court et Directors, since that fact could not have
been communicated to hiin without breach of confidence. He had
thily to say that he had heard the •ti et stater upon the public
newt, and by a Bank director, when tim•ar three other gentle-
men were present, mid that no symptom of any necessity or any
wish tie secrecy have appeared.
rir.loui Newrone said, fiat lie really thought the conduct
of the Bank perfietly right. Aita the steps taken flu the re.
sumptiou of cash payments. it was but fair that the Bank should
exercise their own discretion.

Mr. huN SET telt great reluctance to speak on a financial sub-
ject, but he must remark. that, consider.ng the sacnticcs made
by the people of this country, the privation; which they had
endured, and the distresses by which they bail been depressetl,
he was amonished at the amount of -arvenue which they paid.
When he oonsidered the distress. suffering, naisery. and wretch.
ednesr that prevailed; when he saw disease. the result of mis:.-ry;
and crone, the result of misery azu Mamie : when he observed
every where sr:liter want and misery than England evur knew
since it became a kingdom : when lie frund, into whattr:r de-
partment lie looked. abether into the agriculture, the commerce,
ur the manufactures of the country. that nothing was to be seen
but di:ire is, want. and -beggary ; when he considered these
things, he was compelled -to call it nothing short of madness to
impose :me new tat, and lie thought it inipossible to thrive:: the
result. On the particular taxes, and especially en the Malt tax,
be should offer some °Wen odium •on a future occasion. He Leg-
ged, however, to say before be concluded, that the 350 Kraals
who lied voted tin. 3 millions more of tames were aware that this
was not the end, but the beginning of Parliament. Lau session
354:persons could not have Leto found in that llousl to give such
a vote; and it they had been found Puy world have met with
Cie sante reception whit!, those who had voted away the
,liberties of the people met with. He wished notch, however
great the inconvenience nt it. tlii.:-t! ;me three hundred and thirty
persons should be sent back to the people. when, instead of
the bold tone which they assumed in that House, they would
have recourse to ai-ologies, and Le covered with Ataxic fur their
conduct.

Alaxisrts:Ln said, he was not afraid, even if he were to be
immediately sent bark to his ronstit waits—if there were now to
be a dissolution of l•srltament--he should not be afraid to tell
the House that he apploved of a property tax. Ile thought it
infinitely better for the noose to say, •• Come and Jay a mo.
ditiod property tat, of ulna we shall feel the burden." than to
impose any other tax. But it' gentlenam would ....it bate a pro.
pent' tax. he thought, short °fa property tax, that the taxer. pro-
pou:d were the most lenient; but :t' a prt.perty sax slotdd be
reannevended, he would shift las i•roLnil and support it.
Mr. .1. P. r said, the queaion was, how the country. PO
mud' pressed upon, could be relieved. The remedy was nut an
increase of taxation. Let the country, on the contrary, be allowed
a little re arse, and then it* indu 'try, its resources, and its prospe-
ity would increase. mat was the only mode of Increasing the re
venue, and ultimately reducing our burdens.
Sir 1t.tV11.5071 objected to the pups wed taxation, on the ground
that it would give to bad and desperate characters, of venom
theme were tome in the country, an opportunity of inflanting the

JUNE 14.

minds of the people by the representation that they were taxed.
as was in fact the albC, beyond their ability to !lay. Increased
taxation in time of peace would also have the effect of tithing
from the fundliolihr any security of ultimate payment which ho
might have. This was the case in France ; it WAS tie case in
Prus.ia. It might be, as in the eases of those eouutries, that a
forced temporary supply night be obtained, but then it would
be, as with them. the destruction of die sources of fair and rea-
sonable revenue.

Mr. Aldermen WOOD objected to the tax on malt, which. in
the present depressed state of the fanners, would be must :e.
vcrcly felt.
Mr. lticaano had already opposed the grant of 3 millions
towanls a sinking. fund. because he did not wish to place such a
fund at the Mercy of ministers, who would take it whenever they
thought urgent necessity tequited it. He Onetime never would
Five a vote in support of any tax which went to continue a sink-
ing fund : for if that fund were r) amount to it millions, minis-
ters would on any emergency give the same account of it as they
did at present. The delusion of it was seen-long ago by all those
who were acquainted with the si:bject ; and it would have been
but fair and sound policy to hiwe..exposed it lung ago. On the
subject of the loan lie had nothing to object. He gave credit to
and thanked the tight honourable gentleman (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer) tin Iris good management within the last two or
three days. It was, he conesiveil, creditable to him to have ef-
fected the loan on such good terms, when it was considered that
only a few days back the funds we'e at 66. But though he gave
credit to the fief. hon. gent. for his plan in one respect, it was
but fair to his hon. hind (Mr. Grenfell) new- hint, to say tat
this was the advice "M' lie had given long ago.
Mr. GR I: NEELL wi.hal to understand the right linuouratble
Fent. (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) on his intentions respect-
ing the sinking fund. He wished to know whether there was
only to he a real sinking fund of five millions, or whether the old
machinery should go on as before, and the system of borrowing
from it be continued. Ile could nor consider the present plan as
a breach of faith with the public creditor, for it wws in strict con-
formity with Mr. Fox's clause. As a proof that it was not con-
sidered a breech of Stith by those who were the best judges, he
need only mention, that when on Friday last it was known OD the
Stock-exchange that those 12 millions were to be applied to the
service of the country, the 3 per cents., which were at 66,109 C in
a very short time to O. . _

The CHANCELLOR- of the Excn EQU ER replied. that he aid
not wish to be misunderstood upon this subject, but that any ar-
rangement now made would not pledge him to a particular oae
next year. If it were necessary to v.ke off only I I millions next
year, there would not be more than a millions to borrow ; and
perhaps circumstances might be such as do away altogether with
the nccessity of borrowing further ; that the arrangements re-
specting any loan next year. however small. would depend on
the state of improvement of the country.
The resolutions were then read by the Chairman.
On the Chairman putting the resolution, •• that there be grant-
ed a sum of 24t,,000i. to be raised by iottery." (h.dr).
.lr. Cat rrs entertained strong objectimis to the resolution.
upon which he would certainly divide the house.
The gallery was accordingly cleared fur a division, when the
numbers were—

Ayes - 117—Noes - 49—Majority in favour of the resolution 65.
The next resolution was—That upon every bottlel of malt,
barley. corn, or any grain brought from Scotland into Englnn•ls
there be laid an excise duty of is.; and a deity of ts. td. upon
every pound of tobacco and shuft; the same not being Irish snuff."
Mr. Gomm claimed the attention of the house for a few mi-
nutes. He very seldom troubled them upon questions of this
nature ; it was always with great reluctance that he &delimited
them, and in the present instance he did so with extreme pain.
) It might, pet hap, Went rely inconsistent in him, who
voted on a fanner occasion for the Saancial resolutions of the
right honoufable gentleman, now, to oppose one of the principal
taxes suggested by hint. Such, however. was hi. intention, and
he should do so front this motive—that the lamhal interest of the
country had a right to complain of the manner in which their
grievances had b. cu considered, and their petitions received. As
a member for one of the great agriculturnl counties. he should ill
discharge his duty to his constituents, if he did not carefully
watch met their interests. They had been told by ..n hon. gent.
that their int.merts were sufSciently protected already by the corn.
bill. Hut from that opinion he dissented moat entirely: the corn-
bill was a dead letter in fact, and uo protection whatever. The
landed interest demanded only what every other body of awn
had—protection ; * protection against the foreign fender, who
could afford to bring his corn to market at 40s. cheaper than they
could. Not only was that corn bill no protection, but fresh tales
were now to be imposed upon therm (Hair.) The Chancellor
of the Exchequer had told them. that this deny on malt would
affect neither the land .holder nor the consumer. Certainly this
was not one of the happiest and most ingenious taxes ever de-
vised for it was not to vffect tiny one. ( Hear, and mach laregh-
ter.) But the fact was, that if it did nut press upon the land-
holder, it necessarily would upon the poor, the great body of
whom were ►upported by the {{our rates—another circumstance
materially affecting the agticideural interest, and as he always
looked upon that as one of the meal important of all, lie should
undoubtedly protect it.
Mr. Bux•tos said, the Chancellor of the Exchequer had
made certain charges against the brewers, and hail only done
tat; for now, after conversing, as he himself declared, with a
gentleman fully into:used on the subject, and on whose authority
lie professed himself to have implicit reliance, the right honour-
able gentleman had not had the fairness or the justness to wine
forward and acknowledge his error. lie tMr. Huston) might be
allowed to feel warm, he hoped, on a subject like tithe; and
though, in what he should say, lie wished to observe strictly the
respect due to the louse, and that which lie entertained per:o•
nally for the right hum gent., yet lie wished to give to the
statement of that tight hon. gent. as positive, clear, and direct a
contradiction as the English language could furnish him with the
means of giving. ( Coeers and Lighter.) The Chancellor of the
Exchequer had said, then, that although the malt tax, upon
being repealed, had been la,' to the government. yet that circum-
stance had not benetitted the pcople.suid that the whole advanirge
of it had been to the brewers, who continued to charge as be.
fine.

Culoncl Woos:nouns would not resist the imposition isf
taws fur the purposes proposed by the government, but
would of to the tux upon noilt on our eeneral principle
that it would diwourage the gtouth of corn, which 1F1141.d
ben serious esti to the preseut state of taeagticulturc of the
country.

Mr. C A Le ERT said, he 'stolid object to 011 11w proposed
Mara as impressive tii the lower classes of the coonouitity.
The resulutiou stow heft's the Houses inmositm nn addl.
tioinel duty on malt, nod the reley raising the juice of bee r,
woes d pat ticularly ufect the loner chases.
Mr. Munkintibn said, that on two occasions there laid
beet' two proposition of reduction till Ihr competitors re-
ceircel an impulse trim the Chaocellor of she Eschequert
they declared that they oar eager to reduce, and yet they
bad unlined three mouths to elapse w ithout attempting such
reduction. The ttrilitiers attic measures wassail, equalled
by the estraordsuary mode of carrying their competition
into t Teel. he Hunk had been told that she brewers had
determined let hold a suer tin!. at which these competitors
acre to prove their csinipetitiou by canting W, au uader.
shading and concert to reduce their prices. (Ilene and a
latigh). With regard In the price of beer, he was free to
allow, that if the proposed tut were not billwed, them.
gemiemen must have held one of their coast:attest cun p-ler