The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-23 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

tion of the postage, if he were to exclude financial con-
siderations. If the scheme were for a very considerable
reduction of the present charges he should think it a great
public benefit, and one justified by the evidence they had
heard.—(Cheers.) He would not deny that immense
moral, social, and mercantile advantages might be looked
for from an increase of the facilities of communication be-
tween the different parts of the country.—( Cheers.) He
only feared that Hon. Gentlemen opposite had over-estimated
some of those advantages. They ought first to have
collected some evidence that would enable them to form an
estimate of the probable extent to which the lower classes
would avail themselves of the increased facility. For
instance, soldiers and sailors had been long able to send
and receive letters to their friends on payment of Id. each.
They were in that position which the public at large would
be placed in by the proposed plan. The Right Hon.
Gentleman should have ascertained to what extent these
availed themselves of the advantage of their system of
penny postage.—( Hear, hear.) It should also be remem-
bered that the abandonment of franking would limit the
correspondence of the poorest classes.—( Hear, hear.)
Every Hon. Gentleman knew that in their respective
neighbourhoods their privilege of franking was put in re-
quisition on behalf of those who could not pay even Id.
for the transmission of a letter.—( Hear, hear.) How.
ever, it was easy to talk of redeeming pledges ; but if
a greater and permanent deficiency of the revenue
should be the result, what new taxes would they
impose ?—(Cheers.) Suppose the reduction of the
postage from an average of 60. to Id. to cause a further
deficiency—then take the list of commodities and articles—
malt, hops, soap, candles, tallow, sugar, molasses, tea,
coffee, butter, cheese, currants, raisins, and a multitude of
others—and let them ask themselves on which of those
would they impose an additional tax of 1,500,000/. or
2,000 0001., notwithstanding the pledge in the preamble ?
—(Cheers.) The lower classes would then say that the
reduction of the postage was merely a benefit to the com-
mercial classes, and that, therefore, they would not agree
to new taxes to be imposed on the articles they consumed.
—( Cheers.) They could not remit taxes in any
quarter without benefit. For, example, there were the
taxes on internal communication. There were many
lines of road which had suffered much by the railway faci-
lities, and yet they had to pay 3d. a mile for every pair of
post horses. Yet the Chancellor of the Exchequer would
not listen to any proposition to reduce the tax on these
lines. He (Sir R. Peel) had not intended to vote on this
question ; but being certain that a system of well consi.
dered economy, that the maintenance of the public faith,
was the true " magnum vectigal regni," and the best
example he could furnish to other nations, he was deter-
mined to protest against this proposition, as certaia to be
highly injurious in those points of view, and as likely to
be a most dangerous precedent. Suppose a General Elec-
tion were to occur—suppose petitions were to pour in
calling for remission of other taxes, would not the conces-
sion of the present demand—would not the Government of
the day be encouraged to indulge an ambition to remit
other taxes, and get a pledge from Parliament to supply
any deficiency, whichltheir successors would have to make
good.—(Cheers.) If his Hon. Friend should divide the
House he would vote with him, but probably he would not
call for a division, as the feeling of the House was towards
the proposition of her Majesty's Government.—( Hear.)
_ _

Mr. 'WARBURTON-referred to the increased number
of admissions to the Tower since the price had been re-
duced from Is. to 6d. each, as an illustration of what might
be expected from a reduction of the postage. During the
month of April, when the price was Is., the average admis-
sion was 110 a day. In Mav and June, when the price was
6d., the average was 364 daily ; during the present month
it was 470. The rates of postage oppressed the emigrants
in Canada very much. By increasing the facilities for cor-
respondence in France the postage revenue in that country
had been advanced from 20,000,000 to 35,500,000 francs.
Mr. Rowland Hill had given a detailed statement of the
various sources from which the sixfold increase to which
he had adverted would arise ; and he must confess that his
calculations were extremely moderate. He had said that
there would be double the ■umber of letters; that ho (Mr.
W.) thought was very likely. Mr. Hill then calculated
that all invoices, instead of being sent as parcels, would
be sent by post, and that would greatly increase the num-
ber of letters. Printed circulars would increase the letters
sent through the post 75 per cent. ; and a similar result
would take place from the letters written by the working
classes, and other sources. He felt no doubt that in three
years the result would come up to, if it did not exceed his
expectations. With respect to the accusation against the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in not putting the measure
off to another Session, in order that he might have more
information on the subject, he did not see how the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer could have better data on which
to proceed, than he had at present. The measure was a
bold experiment, but he felt no doubt that it would succeed.
Mr. ELLIOTT would state as a fact, showing that the
reduction of postage would increase the number of letters,
that when he was at the Post• office in India the soldiers
and sailors' letters, which only paid a penny postage, came
to the office in numbers that was surprising. With re-
spect to the repayment of the postage he could not say
that he much admired it, as he thought it would take away
all the checks that at present existed upon the letter
carriers, and with respect to the stamps he thought the
same objection might prevail.
Mr. HUM E thought there could be no doubt
that there would be a reduction in the revenue occa-
sioned by the Bill, but that reduction would not
be permanent, and even if it were, there would be SO
much good effected by the measure that that reductioa
ought not to be considered. The Bill was a bold experi-
ment, but he felt certain that it would succeed. Every
class in the community would be benefited by the Bill,
and he thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
entiled to the thanks of the public for introducing it.
The Bill was then read a second time.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in
proposing that the Bill should be committed on Wednes-
day, stated that it was his intention to move the different
stages of the Bill daily after Wednesday, in order to get
it as speedily as possible into the House of Lords.--
( Hear, hear.) The moment the Bill became law it was
the intention of the Government to renew their intercourse
with Foreign Powers to reduce their rates of postage.
After a few words from Mr. W. ROCHE the Bill was
ordered to he committed on Wednesday next. '
FIRE INSURANCES.
• On the motion that the House do resolve into a (,'out•
mittes of Supply—

Colonel Sill-THOR P rose to bring forward the mo-
tion of which he had given notice for the reduction of duty
on fire insurances. He could not understand on what prin-
ciple it was this duty had been continued when the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer had taken off the duty that existed
on the balsam of copaiba. —( Laughter.) The duty on
rhubarb and castor oil had also been reduced.—( Laughter. )
The tax on human hair had been abolished—he believed
that was effLeted by a Whig Government.—(Laughter.)
The duty on cards and dice, raisins, anchovies, FrenellP
wines, &c., have been reduced, but the revenue had not
suffered by it. He believed the revenue would benefit by
the reduction of the duty on Fire Insurances. To show
bow strongly this tax was felt, he would mention that
notwithstanding the increase of population and manufac-
ture:, only one additional Fire Insurance Office had been
established since 1827, and that was what was called the
Dissenters' Insurance Office.
Mr. HUME seconded the motion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would
not occupy the House many minutes, because every Neel"
ber must be aware of the answer which would be given to
the motion of the Gallant Colonel. Nothing was more
simple than to show that taxation was productive of mis-
chief. It had been said with respect to this tax that It
was a tax on prudence and forethought, and must
discourage those habits which a Legislature ought to
wish to support.—( Hear, hear, hear.) But the
Fire Insurance amounted to 892,0001., and he tboughi
the House ought not to be called on to make this addi-
tional experiment.—( Hear.) It might be expedient, if
the circumstances of the country would allow it, to make
this reduction, but it would not be consistent with his duty
to the public to countenance such a reduction for the pre-
sent. The Gallant Officer had referred to various reduc-
tions which had taken place, but he (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer) must be excused from entering into there.
At the time when they were making such an experinsellt,
as had been the subject of discussion in the earlier part 0'
the evening, it could not be expected that they should go
round the whole circle of taxation, and experimentallze on
the whole. He trusted he had said enough to induce the
House not to acquiesce in the proposal which had been
made.
Mr. HUME had seconded the motion in order that
he might hear from the Chancellor of the El'
chequer why he declined to agree to the ow'
tion. He confessed that the experiment of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer was a bold one, and be
was not willing to incumber him with any additional experi-
ment; but he thought it more than probable that if the
duties on fire insurance were reduced to one-half, the
public would not lose one farthing.—( Hear, hear.) Many
properties were not now insured which would be if the
duty were reduced.—( Hear, hear.)
Colonel S IBTH ORP said he should not press his mo-
tion, which was csnsequently negatived without a division.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION.
Mr. GI LL ON then rose to move that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the whole House, to take into
consideration the duties affecting the different means of
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October imposed
by the 2d and 3d Willliam IV. c. 120, upon licenses to
keep and use, or employ stage carriages, also, the mileage
duties on stage carriages, and the duties on horses let to
hire, be repealed." " That, from and after the sth
day of April next, the duties imposed by the acts
52 Geo. 3, c. 93, and 4 Geo. 4, c. 11, of 51. ss. per an-
num upon four-wheeled carriages, and 31. bs. per annum
upon two-wheeled carriages, let for hire, and also the du-
ties on coachmen and guards employed on or about stage
carriages, be repealed ; and there be granted in lieu
thereof a License Duty on stage carriages of 75. 6d.
Also for and in respect of every mile which any stage car-
riage may be licensed to travel, the several sums follow;
ing :—lf such carriage shall be licensed to carry not more
than six passengers, one halfpenny; and for every four.
additional passengers which such carriage shall be licensed
to carry, one halfpenny. And if the number of additional
passengers which such carriage shall be licensed to
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eamultiple of four,
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four, in addition to the first six, or any Pr4reisf:
sive multiple of four, an additional duty of cue ha
penny. And also the duties on horses let on hire,
that is to say, for and in respect of every horse let for hire,
for every mile such horse shall be hired or used to travel or
go, one halfpenny. And for and in respect of every
horse let for hire to go no greater distance than eight
miles from the place of letting—one-fourteenth part of the
sum charged for such letting; or, in lieu thereof (at the
option of the person letting the horse), seven-pence. And _
for and in respect of every horse let for hire to go no greater
distance than eight miles from the place of letting, where.
such horse shall not bring back any person, and shall not
deviate from the usual line of road between the place of
letting and the place to which such horse shall be hired I.
to travel or go, four-pence. And for and in respect °,
every horse let for hire or used for any period 0'