The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-18 00:00:00

chequer had committed a great fallacy in saying that
the intention of his Hon. Friend was to procure a re
mission of taxation. His Hon. Friend asked not for a
remission of taxation, but for such an alteration in the
existing duties as in his opinion would be a great con-
venience to the public, while at the same time it would
be likely to increase, the revenue considerably. Ho
would ask the Right 149 n. Gentleman himself how often
he had evadtd this tax? He would venture to say that
a stamped receipt wis not
given once in a hundred times.
If, however, they es'Ablished a uniform Id. stamp, like
the Queen's head upon letters, no one would object to
pay it, and the revenue would be considerably increased.
Mr. BROTHERTON said it was quite evident, in the
present mode of giving receipts, that the revenue was
decreasing, although the population was increasing.—
be far more productive than the
(Hear.) He thought that a uniform penny stamp would
There was a growing feeling in the country in favour of
such an arrangement. present stamp duties.

Colonel THOMPSON said that as far as he was con-
cerncd ho was always in the habit of requiring stamped
receipt., and of giving the same when they were de-
manded.

Mr, HINDLEY concurred in the suggestion of the
ion. Member for Salford.
The Howe then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion
28
. Against it ... 61
Majority against •the motion —33 Mr. MOFFATT moved fora series of returns relating
to sugar, emigrants, the West Indies, the property and
iocomP-tax, and British spirits, all of which were
agreed to.

MAILS TO AUSTRALIA.
Mr. F. FRENCH. pursuant to his notice for copies
ofcontracts
n entered p
aipnetro,
with Ale
r
as cr t. a Waltoni
e t that thethe
con-
veyance of these mails, said that since he had
his
notice placed
he
con-
tract entered into with this
gentleman was only
a provisional one, as it depended upon Mr. Wale
ton being in a condition to perform his en-
gagements. The Government had proposed that
there should be only communications every second
month with Australia by the . Caee
r He thought that at
this time they ought to have more frequent communica-
tions. He complained of the Government having en-
tered into a provisional contract With a gentleman of no
experience. If he were rightly informed the contract i
was to commence from the 3d of April next. Now, al-
though Mr. Walton was in treaty for two vessels, he
was not as yet in possession of either of them. This
gentleman depended upon this contract for the getting
up of a company that would enable him to perform his
undertaking with the Government. If Mr. Walton be
even enabled to carry on his voyage as far as the Cape,
it was very improbable he would be able to extend it as
far as Australia.
Mr. COWPER said, that with regard to the condi-
tional contract of which the Hon. Gentleman had spokes,
the simple fact was that the tender of Mr. Walton having
been accepted some time ago, it became necessary that
articles of agreement should be framed;but the docu-
ment had not yet been signed, and could not be said,
therefore, to have a legal existence. As soon, however,
as it was signed, the Admiralty would be happy to pro-
duce it. "He wash surprised that the Hon. Gentleman
should have brought these charges against a company
of which he could know nothing.
Mr. FRENCH—There was no company.
Mr. COWPER had been informed that there was a
company, and that they had applied to the Board of
Trade for a charter of incorporation, and been provision-
ally registered. He had also been informed that they
had actually bought two of the best screw-vessels in the
country, on account of their great speed and capability
of satisfactorily performing the work. He could assure
the Hon. Gentleman that the Admiralty had only taken
the simple course of calling for tenders,
of accepting the
lowest, and of giving the person who sent in the lowest
tender every facility they required for the execution of
their contract and the performance of the duty which
they agreed to undertake.
The motion for copies of the contract entered into with
Mr. Walton for the carriage of the mails to Australia,
and of the tender made by the Screw Company for the
carriage of the mails to the West Indies and the Brazils,
was then agreed to.
IRISH REFORM BILL.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE brought up the Parliamen-
tary Representation (Ireland) Bill, which was read a first
time, and ordered to be printed and read a second time
on Friday, the 27th of February instant.
SCOTCH REFORM BILL.
The LORD ADVOCATE brought up the Parlia-
mentary Representation (Scotland) Bill, which was read
a first time, and ordered to be printed and read a second
time on Friday, the 27th.
The LORD ADVOCATE also brought up the Law
of Evidence (Scotland) Bill, which was read a first time,
and ordered to be printed and read a second time on the
7th of March.
The House adjourned at Eleven o'clock.