The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-18 00:00:00

sion.

In answer to a question from Mr. B. COCHRANE,
Lord PALMERSTON said the election was so far the
result of a communication from her Majesty's Govern.
ment, that the Greek Government had been informed that
communications were going on to ascertain if Prince Wil-
liam would consent to be a candidate.
After some remarks from Mr. PEACOCKE, who denied
that the Russian Government had taken umbrage at the
conduct of Sweden, the subject dropped, and the house
went into committee of supply.
SUPPLY,
On the vote of £1,143, balance of the sum required for
the maintenance of the Royal palaces,
Lord R. CECIL complained at the Government going on
with supply at so late an hour (11 o'clock), especially as the
understanding was, when the alteration was made in the
standing orders of the house doing away with the motion
of adjournment on Fridays, that as a rule supply should not
be taken on Friday nights. He moved that the chairman
report progress.
The motion to report progress was agreed to, after some
conversation, and the house resumed.
THE BUDGET.
The report on ways and means having been brought up,
Sir S. NORTHCOTE said that he should take that op-
portunity td make a few observations on the general aspect
of the budget, which, he believed, had excited a general
feeling of satisfaction, both in the house and throughout the
country, (Hear.) It was not therefore his intention to offer
any hostile remarks upon its general complexion or charac-
ter, but he should point out that, in regard to the esti-
mate for Excise revenue, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
had repeated the error which he had fallen into for the
last three consecutive years. In those years the accumu-
lated errors of the right hon. gentleman had amounted to
no less than £3,500,000. He still persisted in believing that
he would get from the exci:e revenue on spirits that increase
of duty on which he had calculated in 1860, when the duty
was raised from ss. to 108., and ignored the fact that while
the consumption of every other article was increasing, the
consumption of spirits was decreasing. What probability
was there that the consumption would increase this year ?
And yet the estimate was based on the assumption that it
would. It was true the trade returns had kept up in a won-
derful way ; but if they looked below the surface they would
see that it was not altogether an unmixed piece of good. Al-
though we had been importing but a small quantity of raw
material, we had been paying ruinously high prices for it.
He wished to point out that, after such an expenditure out
of the savings of the country, there must come a period of
distress. The people would suffer, and continue to suffer, in
Lancashire and Ireland; and, on the whole, he feared that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer had over-estimated the
consuming power of the people, and, as a consequence, the
yield of the excise. Although this was the case, he did not
think that, on the whole, the estimate was too sanguine, or,
if the country was preserved from any great calamity, it
would not be realised. The budget was founded upon the
only true and safe basis—that of a broad and wise reduction
of expenditure. On the whole, it had given him as much
satisfaction as it had given to the house. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FERRAND wished to explain that large quantities
of rags were brought into the country composed of wool and
cotton mixed together, and that by some means the cotton
was burnt out, and the woollen portion made up into what
was called " shoddy" and " devil's dust."
Mr. LOCKE said it had been supposed some time ago
that not sufficient rags would be imported into England to
carry on the paper manufacture. The Board of Trade
returns, however, showed that the export of paper had
• largely increased, and therefore the supply of rags must
have increased also.
TELEGRAPHS BILL.
Upon the motion for the third reacting of this bill,
Mr. AYRTON dissented from clauses 31 and 32, which
he hoped would be withdrawn, as they proposed to confer
powers which interfered with the common law rights of
every householder affected by the bill.
After some observations from Mr. HUMBERSTONE,
Mr. M. GIBSON defended the bill from the criticisms of
the hon, member for the Tower Hamlets (Mr. Ayrton).
Mr. LOCKE and Mr. HARVEY LEWIS supported
the amendment.
The house divided. The numbers were—
For the third reading. l9
Against it
Majority
The bill was ordered to be recommitted on Tuesday.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY-AT-WAR ABOLITION
BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
GARDENS IN TOWNS PROTECTION BILL.
This bill, as amended, was considered and agreed to.
OATHS RELIEF IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
(SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
METROPOLITAN TURNPIKE ROADS.
Mr. HARVEY LE WIS moved " That the petitions
presented to this house respecting the Metropolis Turnpike
Roads Act Amendment Bill be referred to the select com-
mittee on the bill, and that such petitioners as shall have
prayed to be heard by themselves, their counsel, or agents,
be heard upon their petitions, if they think fit, and counsel
heard in favour of the bill against such petitions."—
Agreed to.
The house adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock.