The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER

to indirect taxation. There was a hush of eager
curiosity. The secret was about to be re-
vealed. What has been looming upon the na-
tion in a remote perspective, ever since Fe-
bruary, was on the eve of appearing distinctly
visible and audible in the popular branch
of the. Legislature. Her Majesty's Government then
avowed through the lips of the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER their intention to propose to the Com-
mittee the consideration of the House Tax !
There is an existing tax—take into account its
present arrangements ! That is the project. The
Right Hon. Gentleman reminded the country that
the duty on houses producing them 1,198,0001.,
was in 1834 repealed—that the duty on windows
was afterwards abolished when amounting to
1,830,000/.—afterwards of 800,0001. on glass, of
465,0001. on bricks, of 1,500,0001 on timber, and
general though indirect taxation of 15,000,0001.
Such have been the reductions by which recent
legislation has established the system of un-
restricted competition. What the Cabinet
suggested, therefore, now, was the develop-
ment of that system by extending the house
tax—limiting its operation to every house
of 10/.—increasing the rate to Is. on shops,
and to is. 6d. on private dwellings. According
to his calculation, the result of the next year on
this new arrangement will be an increase of
receipts amounting to 2,500,0001., opposed
to an increase of 2,100,0001. in expenditure. The
Right Hon. Gentleman, after a masterly statement
which had occupied in the course of its delivery
up to a quarter to ten o'clock p.m., resumed his
seat amidst enthusiastic applause from the support-
ers of her MAJESTY'S Government.

Hear, hear.) The Government believed that, with re-
gard to these complaints, the house adopted the recom-
mendations, which it would be. his duty to lay before
them to night—the claims of this interest would be satis-
fied. With regard to the light dues, it was their opinion
that these complaints were in a great measure founded
on fact. (Hear, hear.) It seemed quite indefensible that
irrespective of the dues which were paid for lighthouses
by the shipping interest should be called on to pay a
large snm of money in the form of dues, which was in
fact interest paid to the Trinity House for the purchase
of private lights which had been long ago been improvi-
dently granted by Parliament or the Crown. (Hear,
hear.) The Government thought also that all those
sums levied under the name of passing tolls, were
vexatious grievancrs and burdens to which the shipping
of this country ought not to be subjected. They also
thought that the shipping interest ought not to be called
on to pay sums for the support of the charities of a cor-
poration. Taking those three points into consideration,
the Government were prepared to say, with respect to
the light dues, that the tax upon the shipping interest
ought to be confined merely to payments for benefits
which it received, and they were prepared to relieve it
from all that was paid for interest upon those loans for
the purchase of private lights, and from the contribution
to the charities of the Trinity House, and, finally, to re-
lieve it from all passing tolls. (Hear.) This settlement
would probably cost the country about 100,0001. a year;
but it appeared to him that the claims were so just
that it was impossible to resist them, and that they
ought to have been considered when the Navigation
Laws were repealed. The next point was the question
of pilotage, a system which, he might say, was full of
anomalies. There had been, upon a former occasion,
though a long time ago, a committee of that house on
the subject of the pilotage laws ; and, though he
himself, in general, was Very much disinclined to
propose the appointment of committees, still, he thought
that it would be eminently worthy of the consideration
of the house whether or not a committee should be
appointed to investigate the whole question of
pilotage and ballast. And therefore it was the
intention of her Majesty's Government to recommend
that there should be a committee of enquiry
and he did not entertain the slightest doubt but that
the result of its investigolon would prove most satis-
factory. He now came to remark upon those grievances
which he had described as the Admiralty dues. The
house was well aware teat a merchant-ship, find-
ing hrself upon a foreign station, her captain
may be deserted without any ceremony with-
out any notice--and often without any cause, by
any of the crew who may immediately enlist in a ship
belonging to the Royal Navy that may happen to be
on the station. That was a privilege which
acted very injuriously upon the discipline and
general conduct of the mercantile marine. (Hear,
hear.) He, for one, would certainly be most unwilling
to propose any change which would affect the necessary
powers of the Royal Navy ; but he was forced to believe
that this was a grievance of a most vexatious character.
Her Majesty's Government, therefore, intended
to propose that no man quitting the mer-
cantile marine should receive his wages then
due to him, until the rest of the crew had been
paid. At present he could at a moment's notice, not-
withstanding his engagement with his master, hoist his
red shirt on a royal ship and demand his wages. His
master thereby not only lost one of his crew, but he
was called upon to pay wages which were not due
until the ship had arrived in port. It is proposed
that any one availing himself of this privilege of
enlisting in the Royal Navy, should not receive his
wages until the rest of the crew were paid off. It was
further proposed that if the Royal Navy should avail
I themselves of this privilege, that they were liable for any
injury which might be thereby inflicted on the merchant
ship. The next grievance which he would bring before
them was the question of salvage. He believed that,
under the present system, the mercantile marine were
grievously afflicted. There could be no doubt, although
the humanising feelings which actuated the Royal Navy
had been much improved from what they once were—
that still instances of a most oppressive nature
continually occurred, and the Government pro-
posed that the whole system should entirely cease.
He need say very little op, the subject of anchorage.
That was a regulation which, like salvage, depends en-
tirely upon the Admiralty, and the Admiralty were pre-
pared that all vexations of this kind should be con-
cluded—(hear, hear)—and from henceforth no merchant
vessel would not be deprived in its anchorage by the
superior claims of ships belonging to the Royal Navy.
There was another subject of paramout importance to the
mercantile interest, and that was the restriction which at
present existed upon manning the merchant marine.
(Hear, hear.) They thought these restrictions were in-
defensible, while they doubted whether even in practice
they were beneficial. (near, hear.) The time had
therefore arrived when these restrictions must en-
tirely cease, but their removal could 'only be
taken into consideration in connection with the
other subject of manning the navy. (Hear, hear.)
The whole subject would hereaftertave to be considered,
and something would have to be done to remedy the
evils of a system which dismissed our s.asoned seaman
at a time when he was most qualified to do his duty to
the country. (Cheers.) Government were mmiting the
report of a committee which had been sitting upqn this
very subject, but they trusted when it was hroauzht
before Parliament, it would be in a manner that should
be satisfactory to the house and to the country. (Hear,
hear.) He had now touched upon all the points of any
importance which were embraced in the care of the
shipping interest, except those which referred to stamps
upon insurance, bills of lading, and charter-parties ; but
the house would at once perceive that these were
points that affected the general taxation of
the country, and, therefor; this was not the
moment when they could be fairly alluded to in detail.
(Hear, hear.) Government however, proposed to deal
with the question lightly, under three heads, they pro-
posed to reduce the taxation that was paid by the ship-
ping interest, under the claims of supporting the light-
houses of the country—namely, the interest upon debt
which has been incurred, and the contributions to-
wards charities, and the passing tolls to harbours,
which ships never enter. (Hear; hear, and cheers.)
He proposed to terminate these three series of unjust
taxation, and they belieued that object could be effected
by the payment of an annual sum of 1,000,0001. (Hear.)
There would then be left for the shipping interest to pay
for such lights only which benefitted them. (Hear.
hear.) The proposed—the second place to submit to the
consideration of the house the whole question of
pilotage, and they purposed in addition, that the
three admiralty grievances of anchorage, salvage,
and enlistment should be entirely terminated or subject
to such regulations as should deprive them of their
injurious influence. (Hear, hear.) They proposed that
the subject of manning should depend upon the decision
of Parliament ; while with respect to the last point,
which question related to the army, they proposed that
this should be considered when the house came to con-
sider the whole subject of revenue. (Hear, hear.)
The right hon. gentleman then proceeded to consider
the claims of the sugar producing colonies. Sugar had
been the battle-field of parties, but they must form an
opinion as to the condition of the colonies upon strict
and naked facts, and not by any recollection of the past.
They might deplore past legislation, and be of opinion
that the conduct of this country towards the colonies
had been inconsistent, and, moreover, occasioned great
damage to sugar growers, but they had to decide
to-night, what under the existing state of affairs
could be done for them. There was no one more ready
than himself to listen to the just complaints of any class,
or none more ready to redress their grievances. He had
often expressed it as his opinion that the conduct of the
mother country to the colonies would occupy no embla-
ze aed page in the history of England. The redress
prayed for by the colonies was contained under the fol-
low mg heads :-Ist.—Arrest of the descent of the duty
on foreign sugar. 2nd.—Reduction of the duty on British
plantation sugar. 3rd.—The grant of additional loans to
the respective colonies, for emigration and improvement.
4th.--Permission to refine sugar in bond, for home con-
sumption as well as importation. sth.--Permission to use
molasses in breweries. (Hear.) 6th.—Equalisation on
the duties on rum and British spirits. Under these
circumstances he would find great difficulty in making
such recommendations as were contained in the two
first, but especially in this Parliament, which was re-
turned to support unrestricted competition. Even if he
saw that ruin was falling on the sugar-producing oolo-
nies, he would hesitate before having recourse to the im-
position of a differential duty to mitigate their sufferings.
Was there such evidence of a rivalrybetween British and
foreign producers of sugar as to justify the Government
in proposing
were told this
1251, the Westan
consumption, 2,y2
what were the facts ? In the ten months ending Nov.
and in the ten
c Indiesspecial
soinpo oetoi t
cwts.
weomeasurennt
tsc.tooouflthis
dsfuong
ar, theirrbe country,re endeu
endured,
for?
e d
h,
oTheybmuet
months ending Nov. 1852, 3,940,000 cwts. From the
Mauritius for the same period, there were entered
for home consumption, as follows :-1851, 804,000
cwts., and 1852, 977 mtg. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
East India sugar, which in Nov., 1851, amounted to
1,037,000 cwt., had in Nov., 1852, risen to 1,300,000
cwt. Our united colonies in Nov., 1851, had sent
4,094,000 cwt. ; in Nov., 1852, they had sent 5,373,000.
(Hear.) He now had show whether he was called
upon to arrest the descent of the duties upon foreign
s'igar. The quantity of unrefined foreign sugar in Nov.,
1351, amounted to 1,218,000 cwt. ; in Nov., 1852, it
amounted only to 570,000 cwt. The quantity of refined
foreign sugar was in Nov., 1851, 268,000 cwt. ; in Nov.,
1352, it was 243,000 cwt. (Hear, hear.) It
would be seen, therefore, that the general result of these
fig ores would be that there being in 1851 4,000,126
of British sugar entered for home consumption,
and'. 1,000,487 cwt. of foreign sugar, and in 1852,
5,37.8,000 cwt. of British, and 814,000 cwt. of foreign
sugat•
vem , 1852, 1,250,000 cwt.,
re,rthelBßsrtistho pNroodvuecmtiboenr, had increased, from No-
while foreign sugar had decreased 600,000 cwt. (Hear,
hear.) Now, he might be called a traitor, and he
ask
if
might
tbheerecallweadsaanyre;engtaldeem—an in
renegade—(laughter)—but
whheo,wwioutlhd
these Acta staring him in the face, could recommend

the propping up of a prostrated industry, which, it ap-
peared was commrnding the markets of the British me-
tropolis, or could ask for a differential duty under circum-
stances such as these ? (Loud cheers from the Opposition.)
Certainly such a duty could not bo asked for while
an object, and if that object were to give a stimulus to
the colonial market, it appears that that object had al-
ready been gained. To ask for a guarantee for a loan
for the purposes of promoting immigration and the ge-
neral improvement of the country was an object in which
her Majesty's Government would readily join, but he
believed he could show that they had not been slow in
this respect. The subject of the immigration of Chiaese
labourers to the West Indies was one which had been
urged on the consideration of the Government. The
right hon, gentleman proceeded to read a dispatch which
related to the efforts made by ehe Government Commis-
sioners to promote immigration, and from which it
appeared that emigration ships had been dispatched
by the present Government, and that the island of Tri-
ns,dad was about to import fourteen hundred labourers.
He also referred to official documents to prove that the
sums already allotted to the West India Islands, for the
purpose of promoting immigration, were still unexhaust-
ed. Now, that being the case, how could her Majesty's
Government be justly called upon to propose any fresh
loans to encourage emigration to our sugar-producing
colonies (hear, hear) although he believed that
there was now at length a chance in the
case of Trinidad, of the whole sums allotted to them
being required. (Hear, hear.) He now came to the
fourth point, which had reference to the bonded—
refinement of sugar for home consumption as well as for
exportation. He had given thd subject his most
earnest attention, and he remembered of old tha-.,
his late lamented friend, Lord George Bentinck,
had also most ably investigated the question.
No doubt, herein a very great boon might be conferred
in the sugar producing colonies. He did not think that
he could put the case more clearly before them, than by
supposing the year 1854 to have arrived, when all the
differential duties on sugar would cease. It had been
represented to them, that the saccharine matter
in the foreign ' sugars, which was unrefined,
was so much greater in amount than that
contained iii the colonial sugar ; that it had
amounted to as great a difference in the case of the West
India colonies as between 90 and 75 ; and in the case of
the coarse East India sugars, to no less than between 90
and 60. Well, what was asked was, that the refining
process may take place in bond, and that the duty
might be taken upon sugar in this state
rather than in the coarse state. (Hear, hear.) There
were objections, no doubt, to that arrangement, con-
nected with the revenue of the country, but he did not
think considerations connected with financial arrange-
ments were sufficient to resist the claims which
the present position of the colonies had upon
them. (Hear, hear.) They had here an opportunity
of conferring upon the colonies a great boon—a boon,
too, consistent with the principles of unrestricted com-
petition. The Government was prepared to concede that
boon, but, of course, it must be conceded subject to
those conditions which were necessary for the
security of the revenue. (Hear, hear.) He should not
then allude to the subject of molasses, or to
the duty on rum, because he did not believe the moment
apposite. He would sow refer to 'another point ofl he
local taxation of the country. It was unnecessary for
him to enter into any of those arguments with which
the house was so familiar, as to the local taxa-
tion of the country to show that there were
objects of universal interest, which were, in fact
sustained by taxation, not upon the general property—
but upon a peculiar division of it. (Hear, hear.) The
whole question had been dealt with so ingeniously by one
who, though opposed to his (the Chancellorof the Exche-
quer's) policy, still had treated this subject in the most lucid
manner--he alluded to Mr. Lewis. It could not be contended
that the support of the poor was a matter of goteral,
nay, universal obligation, and he thought, as far as the
principle was concerned, the complaint on this head of a
portion of the real property interest of the country
which had suffered most by recent legislation, was ex-
ceedingly well founded. (Hear, hear.) There could
hardly be a difference of opinion about that. Well,
then, in the next place they had to consider what was
the course to be taken with reference to that part of our
taxation which was mainly levied for a, purpose of
general interest, but which was yet not levied upon the
community at large. The local taxation of the country
was a subject with which they were all familiar ; it
resolved itself, in fact, into three principal rates, namely,
the Highway Rate, the County Rate, and that great
rate called the Poor Rate. (Hear, hear.) Upon
the subject of the Highway Rate no less than
six acts of Parliament had already been passed for
improving or mystifying its operations, and now
with the assistance of his hon. friend the Under Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department, who had di-
rected a good deal of attention to the matter, he was
prepared to bring in a seventh bill, which he hoped, after
the six experiments which he had alluded to, this mea-
sure would prove satisfactory to the house and the
country. (Hear, hear.) He came next to the county
rate—a small rate certainly, but still one which
had excited a good deal of interest in connection
with agriculture, and here he had no hesitation in
declaring, on the part of the . Government, that
with reference to the collection and administration of
this rate, they had no objection whatever to the adoption
of the representative principle, if it should be the
opinion of the house that the rate-payer was
entitled to that control over the expenditure of
the rate ; but there were two items in the
rate to which that popular principle could not be
well applied. He alluded to that portion of the rate
which was diiected to the maintenance of gaols and
lunatic asylums, but the time was rapidly approaching
when the house must be called upon to deal with
the whole question of punishments, for he thought it
was becoming the most pressing question of the day,
and probably that would be the proper opportunity for
dealing with this position of the rate, as well as of
requiring the Government to take a more active
part in the management of our gaols. (Hear, hear.)
As regarded the county rates ; he therefore said
frankly, he was not prepared to recommend any
change in that portion of our local taxation, (Hem,'

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

(Continued from our Third Edition.)
He now came to the poor rates, and in con-
sidering them he ought to look to that
which was most expedient for the country generally, and
for that class which might have been injuriously affected
by the present arrangement. (Hear, hear.) They
must remember that a great change had taken place
in the burden of the poor-rates since 1849, when
he last brought the subject before the house, there
having been a reduction of 25 per cent. (Hear.) No
practicable proposition which he had brought forward
with any chance of being carried—(laughter)—would
have effected a greater diminution of the poor rates.
The diminution had beau equal to the whole amount of
the " established charges for the salaries of officers.
The expenditure for the relief and maintenance of the
poor, as shown by the return of 1849, which formed
the basis of his argument in that year, amounted
to 6,180,000/. ; in 1851, which was the last return on
the table, the sum had diminished to 4,962,000/. (Loud
Opposition cheers). He was afraid that cheer was not
on account of the diminution—(laughter)—but that
it was a cheer for recent legislation. (Repeated. cheering). Mind t he did not wish to dis-
turb recent legislation, as he would show them
to-night, but their cheer was a very illogical one,
for he was going to demonstrate to them that recent
legislation might not have had anything to do with the
matter. It so happened that in 1846 the total sum was less.
Mr. BRIGHT—The price of corn was the same.
(Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—He had
some returns on the price of corn, which would disprove
that assertion, and which Sir R. Peel said ought never
to have been published, but they had before them
graver subjects than the trial of obsolete opinions.
(Loud laughter and general cheering.) He looked on
free trade as an obsolete opinion, like protection.
Though, since 1849, there had been a reduction
of 400,0001. every year, he regretted to say
that the return for 1852 showed that it had ceased.
The latest poor law returns, which he held in his hand,
were somewhat contradictory to the popular opinion.
In 1851 it appeared that the number of paupers was
4,000,962, and for the half-year ending Michael-
mas 2, 432, 000, which, multiplied by two, gave
4,862,000. The great fact, however, remained, that the
pauperism of this country had been reduced by 25 or 24
per cent. since he had first brought the subject under
the notice of the house. There was no doubt that there
were at this time circumstances in operation which
must considerably affect the amount of pauperism in
this country. He had to consider whether it would be
expedient to deal with that sum which were raised by,
local taxation for the maintenance of the poor, recollect-
ing at the same time that there had been such' a diminu-
tion in the number of the poor, that four or five
times the establishment charges had been saved since
1849, that the incidents of that taxation were less severe,
and that all the causes now in operation tended materially
to a considerable diminution in that burden. Taking
these facts into consideration, and as his means were
limited, and being called upon, too, to assist every class
as far as they had a claim to the consideration of the
house, by means which would contribute to the
general welfare of the country, he was not prepared
to recommend any change in the present system of
raising local taxation. (Cheers from the Opposition.)
He had now considered the three interests which had
suffered from recent legislation. With regard to the
shipping interest, he had offered measures which, to
judge from the feelings of the house, were considered
moderate and satisfactory—(hear, hear)—and not framed
with any ad eaptandum view. He had also endeavoured
to view the claims of the sugar colonies, and he thought
they must feel satisfied that there had been an anxious desire
un the part of the Government to place them in as
good a position as present circumstances and the temper
of the public mind would permit. He should not
touch further on local taxation, but he wduld now
approach a more important point, and view the taxation
of the country under the new circumstances in which all
parties and conditions of men were agreed to remain.
As long, then, as men believed that their industry ought
to be protected, they were prepared, then, to endure any
amount of burdens. But after what had occured, it was
obvious that, generally speaking, unrestricted competi-
tion was not consistent with a restricted industry. In
a word, then, the policy of the country ought to be to
put an end, as soon as possible, to high taxes. (Loud
cheers.) He had asked himself what were the
Measures which were best to recommend to

the adoption of Parliament. Now, these prin-
ciples had been definitely established, and which
would enable the country to meet the competition
which it would have to encounter in the future. The
result appeared to him then to be inevitable—that the
only principle on which the Government of the country
could act, was to cheapen the necessaries of life as much
as possible. (Cheers.) He found then, that in the
case of the very primest necessaries of life, that some of
them were subject to the very heaviest taxes in the
tariff—(hear)—and he must mention that that was an
arrangement totally inconsistent with the new system.
(Cheers.) Honourable gentlemen opposite boasted of
having given cheap bread to the country. (Opposition
cheers.) Acting upon the principles, then, which he
had enunciated, the house would not be astonished to
hear that her Majesty's Government were prepared to
deal with the malt-tax. (Loud cheers from the Govern-
ment benches.) Herein was a prime necessary of life—
(ironical laugh from Opposition benches)—taxed in a
manner which greatly restricted industry. He would
not recommend the change which he was about to refer
to the hon. gentlemen opposite, upon any other plea
than that which they had themsefves always declared to
be the sovereign plea—the interest of the consumer.
(Hear, hear.) He believed, however, that if the
interest of the consumer alone were to be taken
into consideration, that that would be neither acting up
to the principles of unrestricted competition, neither
could it be said to be carrying into effect the
views which had triumphed at the late election.
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) He believed it was possible
while considering, in the first instance, the interests of
the consumer to benefit another class also. (Hear, hear.)
It certainly was for the interest of the consumer that the
malt tax should be dealt with, and in his opinion, if tho
tax was properly dealt with, no tax was calculated
to be more beneficial to agriculture. (Loud cries of
"Hear, hear.") The question of the malt tax, however,
had assumed a very different aspect since the repeal of
the corn laws. Indeed, it had been said by a very high
authority, that the moment they repealed the corn laws
the repeal of the malt tax was inevitable, and he thought
there would be no great difficulty in demonstrating the
soundness of that opinion ; for when Ministers of State
were required to take every opportunity of improving
the cultivation of the soil, that he must grow as little
wheat as possible to retain restrictions upon the growth
of the next generous grain was preposterous. (Hear.)
But it was for the interest of agriculture that, in all
soils which have been diverted from the growth of barley
to that of wheat, should be restored to its original pur-
pose, because then the market for the production of the
soils which were eminently qualified to give us wheat
would be greatly improved. (Hear, hear.) Well then,
they had to consider, in the first place, how they should
deal with the case—in what manner, and to what degree
they should deal with the two objects
which they ought to have in view were those
of establishing industry, and reducing the price
of the article consumed to the consumer, and they
could not obtain that object if they dealt with this case
in a small or limited degree. (Hear.) The existing duty
on malt was 2s 7/d. and 5 per cent. per bushel, and the
consumption was on the increase. In 1849 it was
38,935,000 bushels, in 1850 it reached to 40,744,000
bushels, and in 1851 it was 41,337,000 bushels ; but
there was no article of consumption which had increased
less than malt, which he attributed to the large amount of
taxation that was imposed upon it. (Hear, hear.) There
were some gentlemen, however, who entertained the
opinion that the decrease of this consumption of
malt, when compared with other articles of consumption,
was to be attributed to the circumstances of the taste of the
people having changed in favour of other sources of ex-
citement, but he was in a position to show that this posi-
tion could not be maintained. Well, then, under
these circumstances, Government thought it to be their
duty to recommend to the house that the malt tax should
be considerably diminished. (Hear, hear.) That they
should diminish it by one-half the amount of the present
duty. (Cheers.) The sum which they had to
deal with just exceeded 5,000,000/. as regarded
revenue, and they proposed that they should
diminish this duty exactly by one-half—(hear)—
that they should impose a uniform duty of ls. 2d. and 5
per cent. per bushel on the malt ; and Government pro-
posed that the restrictions which prevailed between malt
obtained from barley and malt obtained from what
was called big and bracken—(cries of hear, hear)—
They proposed also to do away with the malt drawback
in Scotland on the spirits raised from malt, that being a
change which they thought ought no longer to be post-
poned. Sir Henry Parnell, the chairman of a committee
appointed to inquire into the excise, stated in a report
which he submitted to the house, that if the corn laws
were repealed, he would recommend the reduction of
the duty on malt to one-half, and this came from
a gentleman who was very tender of the re-
venue, and who could not have anticipated the
circumstances which had since occurred The
same report also recommended the repeal of the
drawback on malt in Scotland. This had been done in
Ireland in 1842 without a murmur in accordance with the
recommendations of a committee on Irish spirits, and had
given general satisfaction, and he was sure the repeal of
repeal of the drawback in Scotland would give equal
satisfaction. They proposed, then, that on the 10th
of October next the malt tax should be repealed one-
hag that day having been fixed, after due deliberation,
at least inconvenient to the trade. They also proposed
,on that day to take the whole stock of malt throughout
the country, and to allow a drawback to all holders of
it in proportion to the amount of duty abolished.
In submitting these propositions to the house
they were only following out the principle which had
been laid down, that in the present state of affairs they
should consider our taxation mainly in reference to the
great body of consumers ; and the consequence was that
they found the most legitimate and surest, and most
efficient means of relieving the agricultural interests,
He now came to deal with one as popular, and one sub-
ject to much heavier taxation. He was about to recom-
mend to the house to deal with the tea duties. (Hear,
hear.) He knew the prejudices which existed among
a certain class of persons upon the subject of the
tea duties. (Loud cries or " Hear, hear.") In con-
sidering this subject nothing had struck him so much
as the gradual growth of public opinion with respect to
this article. He had been much amused by reading a
passage in Mr. Pepy's Diary—" Took a cup of the new
China drink—very pleasant." (Laughter.) That article,
which was so great an exotic to that gentleman, was now
the principal solace of every cottage in the country. (Hear.)
It was said that in dealing with tea, it was necessary to
remember that it was an article of limited supply.
Seeing that at the beginning of the last century we had
had imported 500;0001bs. at a high price, that even
under the charter we had imported 30,000,000 lbs per
annum, that our annual importation was now about
70,000,000 lbs, last year we had imported 71,466,000 lbs,
and our consumption in round numbers was 54,000,000
lbs,—after having consulted those, who from their posi•
tion, wealth, and otherwise, might be considered as great
authorities upon the subject, her Majesty's Government
had come to a conclusion that there could be no pro.
spect of any want of supply of tea to this country.
Th..ey must remember, that since 1841, the annual in-
crease in the importation of tea to this country had been
upwards of 1,700,000 lbs. The right hon. gentleman
then read numerous statistics, to show the great
increase' which had taken place in the consump-
tion of tea and sugar of late years. Well, in
dealing with the subject of tea, the Government
were or opinion, that it would be perfectly vain
to attempt to make any difference, either between black
or green tea, or between tea of various qualities. (Hear,
hear.) If they had to do so, he was perfectly persuaded
that nothing but endless trouble would be thereby en-
tailed, and, therefore, he believed that boldness was the
wisest course. (Hear, hear.) He had been always of
opinion that the reduction of duties upon articles con-
sumed as beverages by the people, so far as they were of
a similar character, were not found to interfere with each
other. Of this he d, id not know a more striking instance than
that of coffee. The right hon. gentleman again referred
to official docume:ats to show that, with the lowering of
the duties, the consumption of tea and coffee had simul-
taneously increased. Well, under these circumstances,
following the same rule as in the case of the sugar
duties—following a precedent which he thought had
been most successful, the Government had to propose
what he believed to be a very safe proposition, but
nevertheless what vould seem , a very comprehen-
sive one. The pro sent duties upon tea were
2s. and 2s, 01d. per pound, no distinction being
made between the various qualities of tea. The
Government proposed that these duties should be lowered
to is per pound. (Loud cheers.) And it was further
proposed that this reduction should be issued over a
period of six years—(oh, oh)—and that the reduction
for the first year should amount to 41d. per pound.
(Loud laughter from the Opposition benches.) He be.
lieved that hon. gentlemen might be found to be a
little too precipitate in their laughter. Considering the
amount of the reduction to be made, it was quite
impossible that the consumer could desire
the benefit of it before some considerable period,
and until the growth of tea in China had largely in-
creased, the rev enue could not derive much advantage.
Therefore the interest of the consumer, in the opinion
of Government, was in the end best promoted
by making the reduction gradual. (Hear, hear.)
The consumptiom of tea last year was 55,000,000 of
pounds, and he had only taken 60,000,000 as the con-
sumption under tl ie reduced duty ; that was an increase
of 6,000,000 poun de ; but looking to the increased con-
sumption of the p: resent year, it would only be a virtual
increase of 3,000,000 pounds. This reduction they could
make with perfect safety to our finances. Well, then,
they proposed to reduce the tea duties in the first year
by 41d. per lb., and every year afterwards to
make a reduction of 2d. per lb. until the duty be-
comes Is. per lb. (Hear, hear.) He believed if
they adopted that measure there would be but little de-
crease in the re venue, while the people would be able to
obtain a favour ate beverage at a cheap rate, and in a
manner which • would tend greatly to increase the manu-
facturing and shipping interest of the country.
(Cheers.) The ire was another duty which he was
about to deal with that was connected with this
branch of th e subject, and which, perhaps, he
ought to have adverted to before. He referred to the

hop duty. ---4iica—;,llear.) There were two duties now
levied upon hops,. namely, the duty that was established
in the time of Queen Anne, and the duty that was im-
posed at the- period of the late war. Those duties were
almost equalin amount. In round numbers they amounted
to almost id. per lb. each, and what the Government pro-
posed to do, was to abolish the whole of the war duty which
had always be ,en a most unpopular one. (Hear, hear.)
At present tl ley did not propose to take off all, but
surely someth: ing must be left for future statesmen to
deal with. (A laugh.) There was a point of some im-
portance in co) inection with this subject which he ought
to touch upon. He was recommending all these mea-
sures upon the principle or understanding that the reve-
nue of theof coin :trypewopaslet,obduetpenitd uhpaosn
beenth e consumingconsumingf
power
late, that the consuming power of the people was

(THIS EVENING.)
BANKRUPTS. pet'
Richard Collsf builder, Charlton. to surrender'Co°l`,
10, at half-past twelve, and Jan. 13; at two, at the hall
of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basil' j
street ; Sole, Turner, and Turner, Aldermanbinligolv'
John Edward Spicer, paper manufacturer, Gul
Dec. 15, at eleven, and Jan. 22, at twelve, at the
ll allay
of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, 'W'.
street ; Ivimey, Chancery-lane.
Richard Eaton Noble, painter, Down-stree-r the
dilly, Dec. 14, at one, and Jan. 21, at twelve, Co'
Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee
lins, New Bridge-street, Blackfriars.
Thomas Corby, bulider, Lower Eaton-street, A. Da,'
Dec. 14, and Jan. 18, at one, at the Court of
ruptcy. Graham, official assignee ; Rixon,
Liam-street.
Daniel Coe, grocer, Ardwick, Manchester, 94.04°1
offiatciatlwaselsvieg,neaet,
mthaencMheasntechre;stei
jrigsvoo 01)‘.
eMe7:anchester.
RandCourt.ob
n Jan.
s o n
Patrick Cowan, brassfounder and gas fitter, m`l-venr
street, Snow-hill, 'Dec. 14, at two, and Jan. 13, at eleven,
ee;
at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards,'official assig°
Appleton, Philpot-lane. y"
of
f
Henry Capper, licensed victualler, Gravesend'
rt 0
9, and Jan. 22, at half-past twelve, at the Cfuc,hall-
Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee,_ 13as'nlane"
street ; Wilkinson, Gurne, and Stevens, Nicholaie spci
Richard Jones, hatter, Oswestry, Salop, Pee. nietrie
Jan. 13 following, at eleven, at the Birmingham j3ir
Court of Bankrup' tcy. Christie, official assignee,
mingharn ; Hodgson, Birmingham.
Charlotte Julia Pickford, upholsterer and frin4e.llll4
11,
tassel manufacturer Cheltenham, Dec. 14 and J'6_ off"
eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman,
vial assignee, Bristol ; Bevan, Bristol. . wester;
Thomas Wheeler, jun., cattle dealer, Cl!' nietrie
Dec. 14 and Jan. 11, at twelve, at the Bristol -"'iatty
Court. Hutton,
official assignee, Bristol ; P"
Bristol.

,o, cs
London : Printed and Published by KURD° YOTTI‘II3,
No. 1.12, Strand, Printer, at The Sun 01110,141,°' ti
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the ot"--
Middleeex, Friday, Dimas; 3,1862.