The National Register.
London, England, 1823-03-02 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

his own case, the hon. member Mmerted, be complained not
at the fact that be was obnoxious to tyrants; he bad only been
ordered from Paris by those who desired to rule independent
of law.
Mr. HUTCHINSON condemned the manner 'in which Mr.
Bowring had been heated during his imprisonment.
Lord A. HAMILTON having replied, the motion was ne-
gatived without a division.
The Weights and Measures Bill having been read a second
time, and ►he remaining orders having been dispoved of, the
House adjourned.

FRIDAY, FEB. 28.
Mr. CHETWYNDE presented a pi:tit:on from Staffordshire,
complaining of hawkers and pedlers.
Mr. CURWEN moved for various returns respecting the
Wine Untie*, &c.—Oidercd.

Mr. GRAI'TAN presented • petition from St. Ann's, Dub-
lin, praying for the revival of the Local Tines Committee.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE gave notice, that on Wednesday he
should move for lease to bring in a bill to define and regulate
bishops' lines, and the regulation of the same.
The Conituitteee of Supply anal Ways and Means were poet-
poned till Monday ; and the House al its rising was ordered to
adjourn to Monday.
The reports of the transfers in Aids Bill, &c. were presented.
Lord J. THYNNE presented various petitions from St.
James's, Bath, against the Marriage Act.
The Marriage Act Amendment Bill was ordered to be com-
mitted on Wednesday next.
The Weights and Measures Bill went through a committee.
Mr. D. CI LBERT observed that the report was nearly similar tc
that of last section. Report brought op, and ordered to be
taken into further consideration this day three weeks.
The Scotch Creditors' Continuation Bill was read a second
time, sad ordered to be committed oa Monday.
Mr. BROUGHAM presented an indiridual'a petition, (Mr.
W. Smith's) complaining of laws regarding the currency.
Mr. BROGDEN presented petitions from the nelghbourhooel
of Maidenhead, &c. praying for au alteration of the laws re-
garding the beer trade.
Mr. BROUGHAM sore, parsuaU to his notice, to move for
leave to bring in • bill for the better regulation of the beer
trade. Its object was to throw open the trade. The bill was
precisely similar to that of last year, with one alteration.—
[The bon. member did not state what that alteration was.]—
The bill of lint year was received with more unanimity than he
could have expected ; and he now entertained considerable
hopes that smite success would attend his efforts. He bad
only to add, that, es soon as the bill was brought in and
printed, he should postpone the further consideration of it till
after the Easter recess. He bad been much gratified to learn
from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the Government
had it in contemplation to bring forward some measure towards
tho acoompliehinent of the objects he had in view by his bill.
Nothing would be eo satisfactory to him as to hear that the
Government would take up the whole subject; that the right
lon. gent. would become its foster parent. Such • measure
world be, he was persuaded, highly beneficial to the agricul-
tural interests, in increasing the consumption cf barley, which
would afford good use for the light leads. It would also pro
mote the comforts and the moral advantages of the working
classe;. Be was afraid the measure ematemplated by Govern-
ment would Le of • very limited nature.—The Beer Tax was
iarticularly severe on the industrious classes ; the operation of
the tee affected them, as compared 'with the rich man, as
three to two. Tyke the Malt Tax at 201., the Beer Tax was
30a. ; and from the latter tax the rich an was stout entirely
exempted. It might be thougl,l that nothing more was neces-
sary to gain some alleviation for the poorer elastics thee to stale
these circumstances, especially at a time when there were such
extensive complaints of distress.—To afford redress in loch
nano would be calculated to prevent that irritation which was
likely to arise cnionget the poor ageing the rich (rein such in-
equality of taxation. It would be politic to show thenniclres
atteutive to the people's; just comp'aiets, for God knew it might
not be long before they would bare to call on them to make
sacrifices to maintain the honour of the country.—(Cheers.)—
tie would not say more at present, and concluded with moving 1
for leave to bring in his bill. 1
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE exercised kis approbation of the
motion, and truited that it would have the Chancellor of the
Exchequer's aid, es that right bon. gentleman had expressed
his adsiety t, relic', the labouriug elapses. This measure
would sot only relieve them, but the agricultural interests also.
Mr. Alderman WOOD said, it was bard on the labouring
claues ; but suob was the feet, that the taxes should piess
sunre heavily on them than on the r:els to the extent of
5,003,00 W. annuity. Where else could they bear of such
things? He was rather surprised, however, at petitions that
bad arrived (mom Berkshire and Catabridgeehire ; for in the
market of the latter place, herley, on Thurciey, was selling as
high as 41s. If the Beet Tax were often oir, co much would
the consumption of malt be increased, that he questioned whe-
ther the Revenue would lose lucre then 500,0001. :'rum the
reduction of duty that had @freed', taken place, there bad been
a considerable icerecie in the consomptiou of barley ; lie be•
tiered that 13.1,00 i) more barrels of beer had been brewed than
in lam/year. By the dee cue of the Malt Duty, there had been
an iiic r f the consumption of malt, perhaps io the extent of
oncfourth. The duties ought to be eu luwered as to produce
something more like an 'fluidization of the duties.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was glad to
learn that what bad already been done bad proved beneficial to
the poorer classes; and lie trusted that the other measures on
the subject of taxation would be attended with like benefi,•ial
results. lie should not oppose the iniroilnction of the hill ;
and lie should be glad to find that it wen of such a nature that
be could assent to it. If it were the moue as the bill of last
year. at least with one exception, be was nut prepared to say
that he should be able to support it. The Government was
prepared to bring forward a measure connected with this sub-
ject—he would net now go into fey details of it ; but lie
trusted that it would be found calculated to benefit the agri-
cultural interests, an well as the labouring et .
FonEIGN Aerates.—Mr. BROUGHAM wished to put a
question to the Secretary of Slate for Foreign Affairs, in coo-
sequence of alleged quid/aim)a that had been made from a do-
cument said to have been delivered to the Congress at Vienna
by the Duke of Wellington. The quotations had been made
by the French Minister (Chateaebriand) in a Speech in the
French Chamber, in the course of which the French Minister
alluded in uo very reverential manner to our Saviour, end sup-
posed sophisms, wi.ile he was engaged in beating down liberty
—lie wished to learn whether these quotations were correct,
and whether the whole, or any parts of the document have
been quoted ?
Mr. CANNING said be could have no hesitation to slate,
that the quotatiens were made from an ollii•ial document ; but
the passages were torn from the context of a very long paper,
and they were nut quot,il iu a way to give an aueurate idea of
such document. Fur instance, if proposition. were stated with
the view of stertiii the alisui Joe of uoy ciii.cashitions, it

17

would not be correct to extract the words of the proposition
only, and give those rut the sentiments of the document. The
quotations made were correct as far as the words were null-
cerned ; but they were separated from a very long article.—
What had been stated, and quoted, might, fur inbtunce, have
born adinfisions made (or the bake of introducing cuntradio-
-1101.1.

Mr. CANNING said, it would Ise disingenuons towards the
House not to slate, that the hopes of peace were considerably
diminished ; but it was his duty to add, that they were not
destroyed ; and that so lung as a hope remained of being able
to continue peace, he should be against adopting any step that
might increase the difficulties of the present moment. When,
however, hope on the subject was at an end, when the time for
discussion arrived, he should not hesitate to submit to the
House the amplest information on the subject.
FINANCE Itr.soLVTloNs.—Mr, MALIERLY thew rose to
bring forward his resolutions relative to the Finances and the
Sinking Fund. Ile had four objects in view—First, the Relief
front Taxation—secondly, the Support of Public Credit—
thirdly, to reconcile the Landed sod Funded Interests--aost
fourthly, to establish an s-tlicient Sinking Fund.—The present
Siffisiog Fund was a fallacy, and a cheat on the public. Tho
1100. Gentleman then entered into a review of the rise and
progress of Mr. Pites Sink ing Fund, which be contended, by
Lining to do too much, had failed to do any thing ; be then
proposed the entire abolition of the present eatahlislinient, and
that a SUM of money, to be raised annnally by the redemption
of the Land Tan, should he set apart to form a new fund.—
This would enable Ministers to repeal 7,ooo,oool.instes4 of
2,000,0001. of taxation, and by the improvement which this
would give to the Funds. Ministers wuu'd be enabled to re-
duce • the 4 per emits. and 3 per costs. by which s saving of
of 730,0001. annually is ould be effected. The relief whirl.
such a rzpeal of 'elation would give to the people, would have
the erect of improving the revenue at least 1,000,0001. and a
'saving in the collection of taxed would be made of 330,0001. ;
therefore though 7,1900,0001. of taxes would be taken elf, not
mote than 4,000,3001. would be lust ao the revenue. The lion.
member after some further observations, concluded by usoviag
a cumber of resolutions expressive of his opinion on she soh•
ject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER contended that
the advantages of the present system had been ascertained mid
acknowledged. The plan of the Lou. gentleu.as was visionary.
He was fishing for advantages in a sea of uncertainty, and in-
'Mai of finding a whale might only catch a herring. He should
feel it his duty to move the previous spies:awl.
A lung debate followed, in which Mr. Hunkissoo, Mr. Ri-
cardo, Mr. Baring, Captain Mabberley, and others took a part.
The House divided—Fur the Resolutions 72—For the previ-
ous Question 134—Majority fur Ministers—b2—Adjourued.