The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-07 00:00:00

NOTICE OF MOTION.

Mr. MACGREGOR gave notice that on Thursday
next ho would move for returns connected with the Post
Office.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

Mr. HUME wished to ask, whether any and what
measures had been adopted to bring from Egypt the
Obelisk, known by the name of Cleopatra's Needle,
which was presented by the late Mahomed Ali to, and
accepted by, George the Fourth, for the British Nation.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the conditions were these. The needle was to be removed
at the expense of the company, and in case the Crystal
Palace did not succeed or become a permanent building,
the Government reserved to themselves the right of
reclaiming- it. The papers would be laid before the
house.

MINISTERS' MONEY.
Mr. FAGAN gave notice that early after the recess
he should move a series of resolutions on the subject of
ministers' money in Ireland.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
Mr. SANDARS wished to ask the President of the
Board of Trade, if it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government to introduce any measure this session for

the collection of agricultural statistics. ----
--
Mr. HENLEY said the subject of agricultural static.
tics had occupied the attention of the Board of Trade,
but he could hardly say yet whether Government in.
tended to bring in any measure on the subject.

INCOME TAX. -
Mr. RICH wished to know whether the reduction in
the income tax for clergymen would extend to pluralists
and bishops.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,

winbt ho ;ntended to say wag, tlia.t clergymen must con•
tinue to be assessed under schedule A and at seven pence
in the pound, though he admitted at the same time that
in she case of a clergyman in the receipt of only 1001. a
year the law would be exceedingly unjust, and in his
case an exemption would be made, similar to that pro-
vided by the existing law in favour of dissenting minis-
ters.

CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES.
In reply to a question from Mr. MONSELL,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated
that it was his intention shortly to bring in a bill for
regulating the payment of consolidated annuities in
Ireland.
THE FRENCH EMPIRE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had to acquaint the house that her Majesty had received
a notification that there had been a change in the form
of the Government of France. Her Majesty had re-
ceived a notification to the effect that the Empire had
been re-established, and that the Emperor had been
proclaimed under the title of Napoleon 111. Ministers,
acting upon that policy which had long been received
in this country, namely, that of recognising every de
facto Government, had advised her Majesty promptly,
and completely to recognise the new Govern-
ment. (Hear, bear, and cheers.) At the same time
first, in a friendly form ; and, secondly, in a formal and
official manner, had it been announced to the Govern-
ment that in accepting the title of Napoleon the Third,
the Emperor of the French does not in any way wish to
assert his hereditary claim to the Empire ; but, on the
contrary, he considers his only claim to be considered
Emperor was that he had been elected to this dignity by
the voice. of the people of France. The Emperor had
also voluntarily declared that he entirely accepts all the
Governments, and their acts, which had existed since
1814. (Cheers.‘
Lord JOHN JtIJSSELL asked if there would be any
objection to produce the official notification which the
Government had received. (Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
there would be none, but he could not answer that
question at presmt in a positive manner.
INCOME TAX.

On the motiol for receiving the report,
Mr. GLADSFONE considered that the question on
Friday would only refer to the alteration of the house
tax, and this hE did not think a constitutional course.
Upon the sth d April the income tax will have legally
ceased to exist, and it was the duty of the house to con-
sider what should be done with the income tax, for until

this was settle, it was impossible to consider fairly the
subject of thE increase of the house tax. The house
would not be called upon to consider the continuance,
but the reconstruction of the income tax, and on this
question the judgment of the house should be taken in
the most formal manner. The right hon. gentleman had
proposed then great changes in the income tax. The
reduction of the exemptions existing, though not without
precedent, he considered dangerous ; and upon the
change proposed there existed so much difference of
opinion that, from some sides in the house, the right
hon. gentleman must expect from first to last the most
strenuous opposition. He hoped that the house would
not depart from Mr. Pitt's doctrine on the subject.
Mr. Pitt respected the principle of public faith, but the
plan of the Government, as propounded on Friday, pro-
ceeded directly
was not only the opinion of Mr. Pitt that he stood upon,
in opposition to that principle. But it
but upon the fact that it had been adopted by all states-
men and all Parliaments since 1803. The judgment
of Parliament had been frequently taken upon this sub-
ject since then, and it had been uniform with that of
Mr. Pitt in every case, It had always been allowed that
the funds,
and the income derivable from them,
were exempt from all charges and taxation.
The money was lot upon condition that no
tax should be levied upon the interest or its quality
of interest and nor, after a lapse of fifty five
years, and after two generations of statesmen had passed
away, it was deliberately proposed to Parliament to vio-
n_
lath that principle. The question might seem trumpery
now, but the sum involved by way of tax was, small,
but the day
doubled, and it' was
w, tierefore, now necessary that the
might come when the figure might be
house should see its a+ as to the income tax, before it
proceeded to consider the other matters of the budget.
The income tax ought to be made an independent
question, and he hoped the Government would be pre-
pared on Friday next to adopt the suggestion he had
ventured to throw out.
Mr. HUME wished to be definitely informed whe-
ther Government intended the income tax to be a per-
manent or temporary measure. He differed with
the opinion of the last speaker, because he
could see no reason for exempting incomes deriv-
able through the funds from payment of the tax.
Such incomes ought to be assessed in the same
proportion as other property, and although Mr. Pitt and
others might have entertained a different opinion, the
time had gone by when the country would tolerate the
injustice of the exemption longer. But they ought at
once, before they proceeded further, to come to some
decision upon the question of increasing the house tax.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was
still of opinion that the course which he had chalked
out for the house to take was the correct one—and
that it was to go into committee both on the house duty
and the income tax, while with regard to the extension
of the income tax to funded property in Ireland, he ap-
prehended there would be no difficulty in that as far as _