The Sun.
London, England, 1837-07-01 00:00:00

THE SATURDAY, JUIN I

a L. give rebel to instiortnt branches of trade .}nd attain-
facture and a portion of it,went toward- the reduetton of thb
duty on What hi.4,h the i•es`tilt i `%-*iiiiy, the relic-
ntie anon the tian'tliacture of that article, which previously
had been falling off from year to year, aed from quart. r to
quarter, immediately revived, and for the year ending the igth
October, 1836 and fronl.;bat to,
that 7hh.,11 hetAr, ; uzL'edsing and almost ruinous trade,
Wes' no,r a rapidly-increasing, a thriving, and a prosperous
trade—a trade th:t bad increased, too, in a iegitwate way ;
for, r.hilst the frudulcnt exports, fur the sake of the draw-
back, have diminie!.ot the holl-ie Consuitiption aHd the 1)0a -frip
eottl_rot h ivy g,reatl-y,hfercased the Eaqe
reiTect p'aper,, a Alel: In ltne duty upon
Opc'te..-A 4.1.1 a '..e'sait has been most satisfactory, be-
eaete 11.1iid that whilst in the quarter ending the sth January,
1636, the quantity of paper charged with duty was
18,000,0001b5., the quantity chlrged with ditty at the quartet
ending the Mb Janbnty; k‘37;', *at 0&000,110lbs., hong an
intrcasn of 10,003,0901h5. tioort the thantaraciure of paper in
the conrse or the yet:.—(i-le' nr, hear.) It may be said that it
is not fair to attribute this increase entirely to the althrathin iii
Vie amount of the duty, becaese khib l'iAtiO.itin of the stamp
duty on newspapt,tl thlist greatly have increased the consump-
tion paper. No doubt that was the fact in a very material
degree. The House must be aware of the enormous increase
of newspaper circulation in the country since the alteration of
the stamp duty, and they are now aware of the effect which the
reduction has produced upon the pap r duty also. I promised
at the outset of my statement that I would occupy the attention
of the House for as short a space as possible. I endeavoured to
fulfil the promise. I have shown the amount of income and
expenditure of the last year, and I have stated the estimated
amount of each for the current year. I undertake to make
provisions for all the branches of the public service, and I have
no doubt that they will be adequately carried out ; but still,
taking all things at the best, I cannot calculate upon a surplus
of more than 364,000/., or, to speak in round numbers,
400,0001. Can any one imagine that that is a surplus upon
which, as an honest man, I cou!d propose any speculative re-
duction of taxation.—( Hear, hear.) I could not venture to
do so even under a very different aspect of affairs, and in a
much better state of things; but in the present doubtful state
of commerce and revenue, remembering the events of recent
occurrence, and carefully regarding the circumstances which
are before us still—circumstances of doubt and uncertainty—
I do not think there is any gentleman nho would be disposed
to ask for a reduction of taxation. I, for one, if any gentle-
man were to ask such a request, should feel it my duty to re-
sist it.—( Hear, hear.) It could have been more popular, un-
doubtedly, to run the risk of trying an experiment—to speak
of the revenue being brought up by increased consumption—
to speculate on the future prospects and condition of the
country—to have propitiated the Hon. Member for Middlesex
by talking of a reduction of the Corn-laws, and the Honour-
able Member for Lambeth, by insinuating a reduction of
the duty on soap, and to have proposed to the
shipping interests a reduction of the duty on ma-
rine insurances. This would have been all very po-
pular, but it would not be consistent with the conduct
of an honest man, nor with the conduct of an honest House of
Commons.—( Hear.) No honest House of Commons, for the
sake of popularity of any kind, would consent to endanger the
real and permanent interests of the country,—( Hear, hear.)
As I have already stated, I do not feel an apprehension with
respect to the future. I trust that with respect to that branch
of our commercial relations which has been most seriously af-
fected—l mean the United States of America—l trust that
that great and improving country may feel, as we in England
have always felt, that private commercial honour is one of the
proudest attributes that any country can boast ; and that there
is no way in which they can recommend their free institutions,
or advance their national credit and national character, more
effectually than by a careful and watchful solicitude for the
maintenance of their commercial credit.—( Hear, hear.) In
no other country in the world is the prosperity and well-being
of the State more eminently fixed upon a commercial footing
than it is in America. I trust, therefore, that we shall see
from that country strong efforts made, not only to preserve
their commercial credit, but to prevent it for the future from
being assailed by so rude a shock as that by which it has lately
been visited.—([-tear, hear, hear.) I thank the House for
the patience with which it has listened to me. I know I cannot
expect more than a cold approval of my statement. To those
who seek a repeal of taxation I have no such boon to offer.
I have stated the truth and the fact.—( Hear.) I have 'told
the House the utmost amount of surplus upon which I can cal-
culate ; that surplus is not one which gives me the means of
proposing any reduction of taxation. But I think it is still
something for the country to say, that we have in the present
year been enabled to complete to the utmost our engage-
ments to the Nest' India proprietors—that we have made
every provision for the due and proper discharge and execu-
tion of the public service—that we have done so under a
commercial pressure quite unexampled since the year 1825,
without any increase of the public burdens—and that we
have a surplus (albeit a small one) still remaining.—( Hear,
hear.) I conclude by moving that a sum of 13,622,3001.
be raised by Exchequer Bills to meet the expenditure of the
ensuing year.—( Hear.)
In reply to a question from Mr. HUME, which was not
audible,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said—l
will state to my Hon. Friend the amount of the funded and
unfunded debt paid off, not only in the last year, but in every
year since I hare been in office. The Right Hon. Gentleman
then read the following table :

AMOUNT OF FUNDED AND UNFUNDED DEBT PAID OFF BY THE
COMMISSIONERS FOR THE REDUCTION OF TILE NATIONAL.
DEI3T IN EACII OF THE FOLLOWING TEA'ES.
Funded Debt. Unfunded Debt.
1331
1832
1833
1834

1835
1836

Total ... £4,622,532

3,706,099
4,622,532

£8,328,631
Mr. HUME admitted that he was not one of those who was
anxious for an immediate reduction of the debt of the country.
He did not think that that would be so advantageous to the
country as the applying the surplus revenue to the reduction
of those taxes which pressed upon industry. He had always
required an empty exchequer, because he thought it would be
the means of calling the attention of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to the necessity of adopting a more rigid system of
economy. Well, it now appeared that they had an empty Ex-
chequer, but he was afraid that it would not produce the effect
he desired upon the Right Hon. Gentleman. if the Govern-
ment had been inclined to reduce two or three regiments of
infantry and of cavalry, they might have had corresponding
reduction in the estimates; but this course had not been
adopted. On the contrary, the military and naval force re-
mained the same as in past years ; and, consequently, the cx-
t.avagant estimates of past years were continued. He did not
mean to accuse the Chancellor of the Exchequer of being wil-
fully extravagant ; but it really seemed to be a kind of second
nature with men in office to adhere to the established
system of expenditure, be the amount ever so excessive.
The heads of departments felt a reluctance to make any re-
duction ; and whenever any independent Member com-
plained of the expense of their establishments, they, on all
occasions, became the apologists of the existing system. it
necessarily became more imperatively the duty of the House
of Commons to challenge the propriety of every species of
..expenditure, and to bring it to the test of public utility. If
the Chancellor of the Exchequer had been more watchful
over the estimates, and had paid more attention to the re-
duction of unnecessary charges, he would now have been
in possession of a considerable surplus. The time was, how-
ever, gone by for making any reductions during the present
Session. It was, however, competent to the House with
respect to the supplies that still remained to be voted, to
point out what reductions might be made in the course of
the next Session. The result, then, was that they were
now about to return to their constituents without having
done anything during the present Session to relieve the
people from the pressure of taxation. If her Majesty's Mi-
nisters really expected the confidence and support of the
people, they must be prepared in the next Parliament to pro-
ceed on very different grounds, and produce very different re-
sults front it hat they had done during the Session now about
to close. The Right Honourable Gentleman had expressed a
hope that the worst of the crisis which had befallen the
country had passed by, and be then added that if any in-
terference had taken place on the part of the Government or of
Parliament with the Bank of England, or had any inquiry been
instituted into the causes of the crisis, or into the state of the
Bank, he was confident that no good whatever could have re.
suited from it. Now'he (Mr. Hume) differed entirely from
the Right lion. Gentleman on this point. So far from think-
ing that no good would have resulted from an inuui-y, it was
his conviction ,hat very considerable benefit would have been
derived from it ; and that it was the duty of the House at the
in
quiry
into of the Session to have instituted a full
into the conduct of the Bank of England with a view to ascer-
tain ehethcr the Bank had or bad not been the cause of that
shock which, at the period he referred to, was known to be
approaching, and which had since involved thousands of per-
sons in distress and absolute ruin. This was the proposi-
tion which he took the liberty to make when the Right
Hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade pro.
posed a Committee to inquire into the operations of the Joint-
stock Banks. The House ought to have looked boldly at
the evil, and not have shrouded themselves under the cloak
of an inquiry into the workings of joint-stock banks. The
result of that Committee had been that which be in the be-
ginning predicted it would be. The real causes of the crisis,
in his opinion, were to be found in the conduct, in the first
place, of the Right Hon. Gentleman himself in contracting
the 16,000,0001. loan; and in the next place, in the conduct
of the Bank of Englaud after that loan had been contracted.
To these two circumstances he attributed the whole of the
embarrassments which this country had experienced. He
hoped, however, that a new Parliament would make amends
for the errors of the present.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in expla-
nation, stated that the estimates of the present year had been
increased by some items of a peculiar character, and which
were created by Parliament itself, or by the commercial neces-
sity of the country. Of this kind were the charges incident
to the expedition to ascertain the practicability of opening a
steam communication with India; the making a provision for
educating the emancipated slaves in the West Indies ; the
preparing of the plans of the intended new Houses of Parlia-
ment; the formation of a prison establishment in the Isle of
Wight, and other charges of a peculiar nature. The Right
Hon. Gentleman then read the following statement, with a
view to show that the estimate of the present year for the
army, navy, ordnance, and miscellaneous services did not ex-
ceed the average of preceding years :

1837.

GRAN'I OF FAEI4MEritIN tug FuLL.ewiNp FUR 'TIE
ARM!, NAVY, AC'-3 stisira.LAN6i2ii
EX( iIIgIVE OF CHARGE OF UNFUNDED DEPT i
Estimate, as formed by the Clminittee of Finance in 1827.
X 17,30,000.
Grants in )825 X 17,593,000 ) Average.
.:::..::::.:.::+ ,4)1;4093000
1827 18,746,0uu j
1828 17,776,000 )
1t:Y29.. it ]7,626,0000 £17;330,000
1830
181 t •• • 1Z,782,000
g 1 "' •• ' ' i:1,41 tidd ;016 03' (ion
18:13 14,620,u66
1834 14,479,000
1833 14,12:3,000 £14,418,000
J 636 14,652,000

,£13,138.000
Without trotAllng the Ceinthitted with tiny further rem arks,
tie would conclude by declaring that lie entertained the Nikes
confidence that the great resources of the country Were wholly
unittipairqa:
Mr. illdilAiibS said that the alight iion. iientleman
had promised to give every information on the subject wiio:
the financial statement of a Minister was supposed to embrace ;
but what was the information he had really furnished? Simply
this—that the commerce end manufactures of the country were
in a state of deep distress, that the revenue of the country had
fallen off, and that he could not reduce the taxes. Humble
individual as he was, he yet would presume to give that ex-
planation which the Right Ilon. Gentleman had omitted to
do. He charged the whole of the distress of this country upon
the want of attention of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer to his duty, or else to his gross igno-
rance of the nature of that duty.—( Laughter. ) Hon. Gen-
tlemen laughed ; but they had much better get up and answer
what he stated than indulge themselves in laughter. Perhaps
this was the last occasion he should have the honour to address
the House.—( Renewed laughter.) He had no doubt that the
Hon. Gentlemen would soon be called to account by their
constituents for daring to interrupt him when he was calling
for an explanation of the causes of the distress which had
plunged so many thousands of families into utter ruin. The
Hon. Gentleman proceeded for some time longer to address
the House in a strain of severe invective against the Mi-
nisters, but in a manner so excited, and amidst so many
bursts of laughter, and cries of " Oh, oh I" from the Minis-
terial benches, that we find it utterly impossible to give
anything like an intelligible report of this part of the Hon.
Member's speech. He charged the Government with having
falsified the balances of the country by tampering with the
currency for their own selfish purposes, and merely for the
sake of keeping themselves in office, reckless of the misery
they inflicted on others.—[Lord Palmerstofi was here ob-
served to smile]. He was not surprised at the gross ignorance
of the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in matters
of this kind, and therefore he did not feel annoyed at his
laughter and want of attention.
Mr. CURTEIS rose to order. He submitted to the Chair
that it was out of order to state that any Member was grossly
ignorant of what was taking place.
Viscount PALMERSTON begged to state that the Hon.
Member for Knaresborough was perfectly at liberty to make
any observations on his supposed ignorance, as he did not feel
in the slightest degree annoyed at it.
Mr. G 0 ULB U ,RN observed that the Hon. Membee:vras
not out of order in the observations he had made.
Mr. RICHARDS then proceeded to address the House.
He observed that the Hon. Gentleman who had called him to
order knew much more about sheep and oxen than he did about
the rules of that House.—( Laughter.) In his mind, it was
perfectly evident that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
either grossly ignorant of his duty, or that he altogether ne-
glected it. The Right Hon. Gentleman had stated that there
would be no falling off in the malt and hop duties ; now, he
(Mr. Richards) would bet two hundred guineas to one that
the harvest would not be so productive as to fulfil the expecta-
tions of the Right Hon. Gentleman.—(Laughter.) After
some other observations the Honourable Member resumed
his seat.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply
to the Hen. Member for Knaresborough, begged to observe,
that the Chancellor of the Exchequer left the Bank of Eng-
land unchecked and uncontrolled in their proceedings as to
Exchequer Bills ; therefore, the Hon. Gentleman was wrong
in his statement that it was in his power to control that body.
He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had never lowered the
interest of Exchequer Bills, and was not aware of the circum-
stances on which the Hon. Member grounded his charge ; on
that account, therefore, he might be open to the accusation
made against him by the Hon. Gentleman of gross ignorance
of his duty or negligence. With reference to the wager
offered by the Hon. Gentleman he had no doubt as to winning
it.—(Laughter.)
Mr. MAX WELL observed that if he felt inclined to bet
he should almost have been induced to back the wager of the
Hon. Member for Knaresborough. He was most anxious, be-
fore Parliament separated, that Government should do some-
thing for the benefit of the labouring classes. He trusted that
they would send persons as Commissioners to make inquiry
into the condition of the great bulk of the people in the manu-
facturing districts, with a view of doing something to better
their condition. He was satisfied that there were millions of
persons in the manufacturing districts, of opinion that the House
had altogether forgotten their interests. The Hon. Member
fur Middlesex, instead of proceeding in the way in which he
did, should endeavour to transfer the taxation from the produc-
tive classes to the wealth of the country.
Mr. H UTT said that the financial prospect immediately
before them was anything but cheering. Looking to the pre-
sent derangement of trade and consequent stagnation of ma-
nufacturing industry, it was impossible not to anticipate a
considerable falling off in the public revenue ; and this ca-
lamity was the more fearful on account of the small amount
of surplus revenue.—(Hear.) The same event occurred, it
was true, in 1826, after the mischievous excitement of the
previous year ; but the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in
1826, had a surplus of five millions to fall back upon ; in-
stead of which the Right Hon. Gentleman had little or
nothing that he could reckon on to supply the defalcation.
The country was not in a temper to bear with new taxes
and as to meeting the deficiency with a new loan, he pre-
sumed that, under the financial circumstances of the State,
that would be even still less advisable. The charges of the
present year were swelled by the increased interest. on Ex-
chequer bills. He thought the augmentation amounted to
300,0001. Now, he would like to ask if, under these circum-
stances, it was not desirable to fund Exchequer bills ? Sup.
posing the funds to be at 90, they were paying interest on the
permanent debt of the country at the rate of 31. 6s. Bd. per
cent., while at the present rate of interest-on Exchequer bills
they paid 3/. 15s. per cent. Unless, then, there was some
difficulty which he did not anderstand in the way, it would be
a manifest advantage to the country that a portion of the float-
ing debt should be so reduced. Again, by contracting the
circulation of Exchequer bills, a facility would be afforded of
reducing the rate of interest upon them, and thus relieving the
country by another process —( Hear.) There was one other
point to which he would briefly refer. At this period of the
Session, and in the present state of the Parliament, it would
be injudicious to introduce any discussion on the state of our
monetary and banking systems. Still he was sure that
the working of these systems must in the course of the
last twelve mouths have given the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer many painful and anxious reflections.--( Hear.) He
only trusted they had produced such an effect on his mind,
and on that of public men in general, that in a new Parlia-
ment the whole subject would be brought under consideration.
Very few persons, he believed, were not now ready to admit
the truth of Lord Ashburton's observations that the monetary
system established in France was very superior to our own.
There could be no doubt that in the last twelve months we
gave been on the verge of a suspension of cash payments, an
evil to which the defective constitution and administration of
the Bank of England seemed to be helping us fast on-
ward, For the present we were relieved. The Chancellor
of the Exchequerehowever, was too wise to suppose that the
present cessation of demand for British gold by America was
anything more than temporary. As soon as cash payments
were resumed in the United States, and there could be little
doubt that the event was not far distant, the operation of the
American mint regulation on the gold standard of this coun-
try must be renewed, and the evils of our present monetary
system be made manifest by one of the greatest misfortunes
this country could suffer—a sudden suspension of cash pay-
ments.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. GILLON thought that, notwithstanding the smallness
of the surplus, the Chancellor of the Exchequer might have
ventured with perfect safety upon a reduction in the soap du-
ties to the extent of one-third, as recommended by the Com-
missioners of Excise Inquiry. He should early next Session
bring forward a proposition for the total repeal of the duties
on soap.
Mr. CL AY said that though the financial statement just
made was not so cheering as those of late years, yet it was
quite as satisfactory as he could have anticipated. The com-
mercial distresses of the country, he trusted, were now com-
paratively passed away ; but it was essential that the whole
banking system—the defects in which had in great measure
brought about these distresses—should, at as early a period
as possible, undergo a thorough revision, and he should be
perfectly ready to second the motion of which his Honourable
Friend had given an intimation, for a complete inquiry into
the Bank of England. It was quite clear that the enormous
power of issuing paper money should be confided to
nooth
other
body than one directly responsible to the supreme
Govern-
ment of the country.---( Hear. )
Mr. ROBINSON greatly regretted that the financial
statement was so little cheering, and he feared there was
little reason to expect a more satisfactory state of things next
3• 'ear All the causes which had justified a reduction of taxation
in past years were now at an end ; the expenditure of the coun-
try was yearly on the increase ; last year not less than
half a million additional was voted for the navy, and this
year the estimates presented an increase of 200,0001. for the
army, of half of that sum additional for the navy, and large
additions for the ordnance and miscellaneous services. He
did not, however, like the Hon. Member for Knaresborough,
charge the Gevernment with the responsibility of the existing
national embarrassments ; he believed that nothing the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer could haste done in his official capacity
would have averted those difficulties.—( Hear, hear.) Nothing
could relieve the country from the liability to such distress but
a thorough and searching review of our whole taxation.
Mr. WALLACE believed that all the commercial distress
of this country was attributable to the powers possessed by the
Batik of England. That body had speculated as free traders
in our specie till they drove it out of the country, and they
now wanted to bring it back at the expense of the people.
They had ruined the United States of America. The budget
ought to be brought forward at the commencement of the year,
and not at the close. He should feel it his duty on Monday
to divide the house on his motion that the financial year
should close on the sth of Jattuary.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that

the etiaige which the Ilan. Gentlemen r.-present.-d him to
have nadrie against,. the commercial interest of the cotritry,
that it had isbt pioilted by the,edvice he gave in April laat,
existed only in the Non, Penflenean's imagination. The
Hon. Gentleman asked him where he gat en intimation of the
corning danger, and said he must have obtained it from the
tank of England. He got no such intimation neither frc;tti
Olt tidti any. caber body ; but when he saw a fall in the
price of al!
change, i.e felt as every man fiC:ii'dg.ini434 Hith daminerce na-
turally would feel, that danger was near, and diet it scenic
them to exercise great caution.
Colonel THOMPSON said, when so many Hon. Members
telttsee fof the distresses of the country, he too might
be permitted ld firet?oetreatt. Allow the men who were
declared to be starving to ptifelnia food *bete they could get
it.—( Loud cries of " Hear.") Might it fief Mote a grave
man to smile to see the Government of a great corntliev•
dial dountry hitlaneing and making inquest after a little
gain in one place; and a little leas in another, and all the
tiltile the tteders of that torrimunity tvere forbidden to bring
from abroad the villy kitid of goods that would pay, because
they were the only kind that 'tete wanted here 7—( Cheers. )
'g'a'ffes it not be well, among other selective, to think of try-
ing this? The: 'Jon. Member for Lancashire, for Instance,
whet, he brought forward, es he promised to-night, the dis-
tresses of the hand-loom weavers, Wtettld he join him (Colonel
Thompson), or allow him to join him, in calling for relief
by letting them purchase cheap brcad where they could? This
was where the public would some day find the mischief lay
aed here they would look for the remedy in preference to all
the other ways suggested.
Mr. POTTER said, that the Hon. Gentleman the Member
for Knaresborough had asserted that there was a diminished
quantity of food in the country ; and that if the harvest should
turn out a late one a great scarcity would ensue. He was
astonished that, entertaining such opinions, he did not make an
effort to obtain a quantity of food by letting out the corn now
in bond. Late as it was, the House ought to endeavour to
effect this most desirable object. He considered the bread-
tax the most oppressive of all taxes. The landed interest had
a complete monopoly of the home market, not only in grain
but in animal food. Salted meat was liable to a duty of 12s.
per cwt., and fresh meat was entirely prohibited. This ought
not to be.
Mr. NV AKL E Y objected to the budget being delayed till
so late a period of the Session. When the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman was asked what reduction of taxation he intended to
propose, he replied, " Stop till I bring in the budget." Thus
they were wheedled on, and now, when they were near the
last day of the Session, they found that there was to be no
reduction of taxation at all. The only way of preventing the
recurrence to such a mode of transacting the public business
was to make the financial year terminate, as was proposed by
the Hon. Gentleman, in January, instead of in April, as at
present. There could be no reduction of taxation while they
voted such extravagant estimates. They had voted 21,000/.
for putting Marlborough House in a state of repair for the
Queen Dowager.—(hear, hear, from the Opposition Mem-
bers.) The Hon. Gentlemen opposite cheered that point.—
(Hear, hear.) That lady had 100,000/. a-year allowed her
out of the public purse, yet she had not enough to be able to
spare what was necessary to put a single palace in order. He
would give another example of what the House was disposed
to do. They had voted 9,0001. for three pictures.—( Cries of
" Hear, hear.") This looked like a job.—( Loud cries of
" Oh, oh I") If these were times of distress the public money
ought not to be so applied.
Mr. RICHARDS explained.
Mr. G. F. YOUNG doubted whether the House would
sympathise with the Hon. Member for Finsbury in his clap-
trap objections when he complained that they had expended
21,0001. for the repair of Marlborough-house, to provide a re-
sidence for the Queen Dowager ; and that they had given
encouragement to the fine arts by expending 9,0001. in pictures
for the National Gallery.—( Hear.) He thought the Right
Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had exer-
cised a sound discretion in delaying the Budget. If he had
brought it forward six weeks or two months ago, considering
what was then the commercial situation of the country, he
would probably greatly have aggravated the embarrassment
existing in the commercial world.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained,
and the vote was agreed to.
29,4001. were proposed for the expenses of the British
Museum.
Mr. HUME wished that the British Museum should be
open for six days instead of three in each week.
Lord STANLEY, as one of the trustees of the British
Museum, could say that the public were afforded greater ac-
commodation than could be found in any public instituttion in
Europe. Upon Easter Monday there were 23,985 persons
who had visited the Museum, and upon Whit Monday 30,000
and odd persons visited it. He was happy to observe that no
damage was done, notwithstanding the great attendance.
Mr. HAWES remarked that the catalogue of the British
Museum was exceedingly defective. The catalogue ought to
be improved; for if that change did not take place the M useum-
was of little benefit to the public.
After a few words from Mr. ESTCOURT,
Colonel THOMPSON could not allow the vote to pass
without noticing that it was not among the working classes;
but the aristocratic classes, the iconoclasts were found. He
appealed to the public papers, and the records of the courts of
law, to show that it was not the working classes whom it
was dangerous to admit within the wind of a public monu-
ment.—( Cheers.) He could not also avoid noting the grievous
injustice of taxing the working classes among others for the
support of the British Museum, and then cutting them off
from the use of it on the only day they had leisure to enjoy
it. As the Honourable Member for Wigtonshire had given
notice of what he would do in another Parliament if lie found
his way there, so he (Colonel Thompson) hoped it was com-
petent to him to say, that if he were not of the dying swans
so many of whom had sung to night, he trusted to be able to
give some assistance towards relieving the working classes in
the metropolis from this crying injustice.—( Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER allowed
that the morals and improvement of the people would be
greatly promoted by free admissien to all our public buildings
and institutions.
Sir R. INGLIS observed that the admission to Westminster
Abbey, to St. Paul's, and to the British Museum, did not rest
on the same principle.
After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the E X-
C H EQUER, the vote was agreed to.
BURNING OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
Sir E. POLLOCK wished to call the attention of the
Committee to the loss sustained by the late Speaker of the
House of Commons, and the other officers of the House, in
consequence of the fire by which both Houses of Parliament
had been destroyed. The whole amount of that loss had been
estimated at between six and seven thousand pounds ; and, in
his opinion, those on whom that loss had fallen had a claim on
the justice of Parliament for compensation. The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman here read an extract from the Report of
the Committee of the House on the subject. By that Report
it appeared that the fire had originated in the gross neglect of
the servants of the House. There were legal difficulties
(which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman deecribed) in the
way of recovering this loss by law ; but he was sure that the
House of Commons would not be governed in their course on
the subject by a consideration of what was strictly the law of
the case ; but that they would rather be influenced by their
feeling of what was justly due to the individuals concerned.
In every case in which the had occurred in the Royal Palaces
—and he particularly instanced the fire in the Duke of Cam-
bridge's apartments in St. James's Palace—persons who had
suffered had been indemnified for their loss.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether, if Hampton Court
Palace were burnt, the House of Commons was to be called.
upon to compensate the twenty or thirty families who were al-
lowed to live in that building?
Sir F. POLLOCK replied that the cases were not at all
similar. The Speaker and the other officers of the Crown
were public servants.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was far
from desiring to argue the claim set up by the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman in a spirit adverse to the claimants. The ,
claim in question had been preferred to the Treasury, and the
Treasury had pronounced upon it. No claim, however, had
been preferred until several years after the catastrophe which
had occurred ; and then that claim related only to the Speaker.
Now it did appear to his Majesty's Government that whatever
rule might be applied to the Noble Lord who at the time
filled the chair of that House, was equally applicable to the
other officers of the House. The precedent of the fire in the
Duke of Cambridge's apartments in St. James's Palace, did
not apply to the case brought forward by the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman. In that instance the loss was paid out of the privy
purse. On inquiry his Majesty's Government found that the
late Speaker had insured down to the time when he intimated
to the [louse his intention of retiring from the chair. Lord
Canterbury had afterwards been induced to abandon that in-
tention, and to resume his station in the House for the public
service, and to facilitate the proceedings of the Reformed
Parliament. Now, that circumstance was one which had
great weight with him, and, in his opinion, ought to have
great weight with the House.—( Hear, hear.) In his opinion
it was a just claim, and justly entitled to the consideration of
Parliament. Government had thought that they were not
entitled to give relief; but, on the contrary, preferred that
the claim should be brought forward and discussed in the
House of Commons.

Mr. WA RBURTON thought that the House should be
very jealous of making this grant.
Mr. BANNERMAN supported the grant.
Mr. GROTE opposed the grant, maintaining that it could
not be supported on any principle of justice.
Mr. ELLICE was disposed to look at the equity as well
as the strict justice of the case under consideration, and would
support the grant.
Mr. S HEIL referred to the case of the fire at the Custom
Ilouse, Dublin, in which 100,000/. had been granted as com-
pensation to the merchants, through the persuasive arguments
of his Hon. and Learned Friend, the then Member for Dublin
(Mr. O'Connell).—( A laugh.)
Mr. F. BARING denied that his Noble Friend (Lord
ATthorp) was influenced by the Hon. and Learned Member
fur Kilkenny in the course he pursued. So far from this being
the case, that Hon. and Learned Gentlemen was at that period
a decided opponent of the Government.—( Hear.)
Mr. C. BULLER was of opinion that, as no insurance
office would have guaranteed Lord Canterbury's property, the
nation was, under the circumstances, bound to make up his
Lordship's loss.
Mr. G. F. YOUNG was of opinion that the property was
insurable, and the public should not be called on to make good
a loss arising from individual neglect.
Mr. WALLACE opposed the grant.

Sir R. INGLIS would support the grant on the ground
that the Speaker suffered through a want of due caution on the
part of the public servants.
Mr. PEASE thought that those who suffered from th., fire

v:..re entitled to a fair compensation, and he felt himself bound
.c.
to vote for the grant. VI:
AL-. ROBI N SON opposed the grant. V7'
Ir. C. FE RG US SON would cheerfully support the grant ; i.:l
for it was evifilent that the property was not 'lost through the
..,
neglect of the Speaker or any of his domestics.
IT. HUME thought all the facts should be before tbe,,
Howie' to enable it to decide; and he would move that thet.4
Chairman report progress, to give time for a statement of the
whole case. _ __

A fter a few words from Mr. H. HUGHES and Mr. HawEs,

• The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was of,
opinion thina Committee ought to be appointed to ascertain
the particulars of the case.
Mr. GOULBURN thought the claim was strongly founcicdl
. . .•

in justice.
After which the Chuirman reported progress, and the House
resumed. . _

'1 he ATTO R N E Y-G ENE RAL brought up the Report o
the Imprisonment for Debt Bill.
Mr. RIC HA R. DS would take the sense of the House on
the question of receiving the Report, as, in his opinion, Hon.
Members had not an opportunity of sufficiently considering the
Bill. He would move that the Report be received this day
three months.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL had afforded every possi-
bly opportunity of considering the Bill which the state of the
business permitted.
Sir F. POLLOCK objected to the clause allowing twenty-
one days' notice without giving security, as, in that case, many
of the small tradesmen would be forced to become bankrupts.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the clause had been
recommended to him by commercial men of all classes, and
the law as it would stand under this Bill would be found t
great improvement.
Mr. HAWES said that no measure that could be suggested
as a substitute for the law of arrest would be more beneficial tt
the small tradesmen of this country than the present Bill.
The clause objected to, as it stood, sprung entirely from men
in trade, and men who were anxious that the law should rest or.
principles of humanity and justice.
After a few words from Sir F. POLLOCK and the AT-
TO RNE Y- GENERAL in explanation,
Mr. RIC HAR.D S moved that the House do now azljourn.
The gallery was then cleared for a division, and the ;lum-
bers were—

For the adjournment
Against it • ••• 58
Majority against the motion for adjournmoti.
Mr. Sergeant GO ULBURN called the attention of 6,1
House to the fact that the Bill did not give the Commissioner:
of Bankruptcy, notwithstanding the great increase of labour ii
imposed on them, the power of committing for contempt.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he found he
could not carry such a provision.
Mr. RICHARDS said if the object of the Bill were t,
prevent credit being► given to improvident young men, it woule
fail in that object totally. He complained that in the cours''
of the proceedings on this Bill he had been used very discour-
teously. He moved that the Bill be re-committed.
The gallery was cleared for a division—
For the amendment l6
Against it 56
Majority against the amendment —4o
On our return to the gallery, we found that
Mr. RICHARDS had moved that the House do adjourn:
For the motion.. l4
Against it 54
Majority
The Report was then brought up, and the Bill, as we under-
stood, ordered to be read a third time on Monday.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at Half-past Two o'Clock to this day.

The Duke of Wellington's grand dejeune, to IN
given on Monday next, at Apsley House, in honour of th.
solemnisation of the marriage of his Grace's niece, Miss Pa.
kenham, with Sir Edmund Hayes, Bart., M. P., is confined t,
sixty relatives and friends of the respective families of the in
tended bride and bridegroom. The Hon. General Pakenhatn
father of the fair bride, is recovering very fast from his lat,
accident, as also his son ; but we understand that the Hon
General is obliged to keep his room.
COURT OF QUEEN VICTORIA.—The Court Jour
nal, which, as our readers know, is devoted to the detail of al
that relates to Court movements and fashionable life, will soo.
become, from peculiar circumstances, an organ of still highe•
interest than it has hitherto been. The number of to-day con
tains an interesting paper on the establishment and prospects o
the New Court, and also a very beautiful poetical epistle, by
distinguished authoress, on the accession of her present Ma
jesty to the Throne.
MR. JAMES'S " MEMOIRS OF CELEBRATE'
WOMEN," are extremely agreeable, and, we should say, ern•
nently useful. We have at this moment upon the Throne
youthful Queen, and certainly, as far as it is permitted her ver.
humble subjects to know anything, a Queen full of promise
It is therefore, to a nation full of hope, extremely pleasant 1,
be furnished with specimens of female wisdom and virtue, an,
of those attributes which constitute a great, impartial, and nob!.
monarchical character. —John Bull. _ _

On Sabbath last, the Magistrates and Council, ac
companied by Dr. Duncan, and dressed in deep mourning
walled to the New Church in procession. The pulpits an,
the galleries of the two Churches were bung with black
and a number of the respectable inhabitants marked, by thei,
attire, the respect in which they held the late Sovereign
The proclamation of her Majesty will, we understand, tak,
place here on Wednesday first.—Dumfries Courier.
COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE ANI
HUMORIST.—EDITED BY THEODORE HOOK, ESQ —The num
ber of this excellent periodical for the present month is mol,
than usually rich in articles of first-rate ability. The Edito
continues his Gurney Papers, and Captain Marryat has give.
us the Phantom Ship, and an article entitled Ralph Restless
Douglas Jerrold, Miss Landon, Leigh Hunt, the author o
" Glances at Life," Laman Blanchard, Alfred Crowquill, an.
others of distinguished note, have also contributed a variety o
entertaining papers. Not the least attractive feature of tb.
number is an excellent likeness of his late Majesty, which i
accompanied by an interesting memoir.
SINGULAR EXPLOlT.—Yesterday a man under-
took, for a wager of twenty guineas, that he would, in a boat
row under the eight following bridges, and also walk ore
them, in the short space of three hours. He accordingly starter
from London Bridge, and walked over it, taking his boat of
the other side ; as he did Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterlec
Westminster, Vauxhall, Battersea, and Fulham Bridges'
performed this extraordinary task with comparative ease, an,
in ten minutes within the time allowed. The man's name is
understood to be Scott. The above feat has been pronounce(
by the watermen upon the Thames as a very clever exploit._
The odds were six and seven to four against him.

The NEW FLAT GU ----D WA
T----6----=_—_--HEs
are offered in double-bottomed engine-turned eases, with yertir4
movements, for Seven Guineas each, or, with highly. finished hori
zontal movements, jewelled and warranted, at Nine Guineas each
at T. COX SAVORY'S, Working Goldsmith, Silversmith, an
Watchmaker, 47, Cornhill, London.
I
N.l3.—The horizontal construction is strongly recommended fn
its superior accuracy.