The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-10 00:00:00

would apply with equal force to a proposal for abolishing
the duties on tea, and on various other articles. It would
no doubt be very desirable that they should admit oranges
into this country without the imposition of any duty. But
they should, to use a homely phrase, cut their coat accord-
ing to their cloth. He believed that it was not the opinion
of the house generally, that the Government, in framing
their financial scheme, had proposed to reserve too large a
surplus. The question of the duty on oranges and lemons
was not an insignificant one—was not an insignificant one
as regarded the amount of the national revenue. The duty
produced at present a sum of more than 80,0001. a year.
The Government proposed to reduce that sum by fully one-
half ; but as they calculated on an increased consumption
under that reduced charge, they could not admit oranges
and lemons duty free without sacrificing a sum of between
50,0001. and 60,h00/. a year. He believed that the best
course they could pursue in that case would be to proceed
by degrees, and not precipitately to abolish taxes without
making any provision for supplying the deficiency which
would be created in the public revenue.
Sir C. BURRELL supported the proposal for the aboli-
tion of the duty on lemons and oranges. No comparison
could be fairly instituted between those articles and the
article of tea, for they were perishable commodities, while
tea might be kept for an indefinite period.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said he thought the duty in that case
ought to be altogether abolished.
The resolution, as proposed by the Government, was then
agreed to.

-The resolution for a reduction of the duty upon currants
having been put,
Mr. MOFFATT moved that the duty on currants should
be reduced to the same extent as the duty on raisins.
There was no reason whatever why a distinction should be
made in favour of the latter article. Currants were grown
principally in Greece and in the lonian Islands ; and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer ought not to impose a higher
duty on an article which was produced in our own posses-
sions than that which he proposed to impose on an article
produced in Spain or Turkey.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
agreed in the premises of his hon, friend, but felt com-
pelled to dissent from his conclusion. He readily admitted
that the lonian Islands had a fair claim to the favourable
consideration of that house ; but there were other circum-
stances which they ought specially to bear in mind in
coming to a decision upon these questions. The first thing
they had to consider was, whether the reduction of the im-
port duty would diminish the price of the article to the con-
sumers in this country; and the next thing they had to
consider was, how the change would affect the public re-
venue. Until they had disposed of this point they had no
right to go into the question of whether the reduction
would or would not be beneficial to the people of this
country. The hon, gentleman said there was a differential
duty in favour of raisins, as against currants. But the
committee would bear in mind the price of currants
was as nearly as possible double that of raisins.
Mr. MOFFATT—They are generally lower.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQITER.—When
that was the case then the hon. gentleman might make his
proposition, and he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
would be ready to entertain it. At present they had to
deal with a state of things amounting almost to a famine
in currants ; and if the duty was reduced to ss. he did not
think the consumer would derive any benefit, nor would
the revenue gain a farthing. Why ? Because at present
they were at a famine price, and all the currants that
could be drawn to that country had been drawn from the
lonian Islands. It would be neither more nor less than a
boon to the importers. The duty had been, in 1819,
00,000/. ; in 1850, it was 350,0001., and in 1851, it was
285,0001.; and even at that low amount he could not afford
to give away upwards of 400,0001. of revenue. He should
be quite ready to re-open the question as soon as a different
st ate of things arose ; and as the hon. gentleman had now
discharged his duty to the lonian Islands, he hoped he
would withdraw his amendment.
Mr. MOFFATT, after an explanation from the right
hon. gentleman, would not press his amendment.
Mr. HUME suggested to make the duty 4d. per cwt.,
in order to facilitate calculations with respact to fractional
parts.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
feared that, if he assented to this proposition, he might be
called upon next year to alter it in order to meet the
change to a decimal coinage, in the event of the committee
now sitting on the subject recommending such an altera-
tion.

On the resolution with regard to books being read,
Mr. COWAN recommended the postponement of this
item till tho question of foreign paper came on.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER objected,
as he did not think they ought to fix any duty upon books
beyond that which would pay the excise charges.
Mr. COWAN said, there was a printing establishment
now started at Jersey which would be enabled, under this
arrangement, to print books with paper paying no duty,
which would give these parties a decided advantage over
the booksellers and printers of this country.
The resolution was then agreed to.
On the proposition to impose a duty of 6d. per dozen on
stockings,
Mr. 1117 ME wished to know why these articles should
still be protected? He objected to retaining theseprotective
duties.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
considered necessary to afford some protection to those
small trades in which so much hand-labour was employed.
Sir J. TROLLOPE congratulated the right hon. gentle-
man on having acknowledged the necessity of a protective
principle. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then agreed to.
On the resolution imposing a reduced duty on articles of
cotton or linen fabric,
Mr. CROSSLEY objected to the continuance of these
productive duties, and did not see why they should not
all be removed.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
duty on all these articles was being gradually reduced.
He could not remove the whole at once, otherwise he could
not in fairness retain the duty on silk and silk goods. The
house would not probably enable him to go to that extent,
as ho should be obliged to make up the deficiency from
other sources.

On the articles of paper, &c.,
Mr. COWAN offered some observations as to the vexa-
tious nature of the Excise regulations on the home manu-
facture.

On the article of watches,

Mr. SPOONER made a few remarks as to the competi-
tion to which English watchmakers were subjected; and
asked the Government to make an alteration in an act
of George 111., which imposed certain restrictions upon
them.

Mr. CARDWELL said he would consider the subject.
The other articles were agreed to, and the house re-
sumed.
EXCISE DUTIES ON SPIRITS BILL.

The house then went into committee on this bill.
On cla ;Ise 1, granting additional duties on spirits in
Ireland and Scotland,
Mr. P. O'BRIEN objected, that at such an hour (nearly
twelve o'clock), and in the absence of almost all the Irish
members, it was unfit to bring on the measure, as it was
wholly unexpected that it would come on. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOWYER said there was a surprise on the Irish
members. It had been reported that the India debate
would occupy all night. (Hear.) The bill would increase
illicit distillation, and was of an important character. He
moved that the chairman report progress.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER disclaimed
any intention of taking the Irish members by surprise.
There had been an understanding that the bill might come
'on before midnight. (Hear, hear, and oh !) The bill was
not one for raising duties, and the question could be dis-
cussed at another stage. It had been considered in confer-
ence with the leading distillers. Its only object was the
regulation of the duties, not the imposition of new duties.
He proposed that the measure be allowed to go through
committee, and the debate be adjourned till a later stage.
Mr. BOWYER was sure the right hon. gentleman meant
no surprise upon members, but there was a surprise, and
this was such au advanced stage of the measure, that it
would not be proper to permit it to pass through com-
mittee.
Colonel DUNNE said certainly the Irish members ought
to be there—(hear' hear)—but he objected to the bill on
the ground that it would increase the duties, and would
stimulate smuggling and illicit distillation. (Hear, hear.)
The provisions of the bill required great discussion, and it
could not bo carried on at that hour.
Captain JONES said this evening he had been told that
the measure could not bo carried on after twelve, and it
was then just twelve o'clock.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said under
all the circumstances he would withdraw the bill for, the
present. As to the proposition for equalising the duties,
it required great consideration, and he desired to reserve it
until the committee on the subject had reported. The
right hon.' gentleman said he would take the committee
alter the second reading of the Succession Bill to-day.
The house resumed.
BANKRUPTCY (SCOTLAND) BILL.

•
This bill was read a second time.
COPIES OF SPECIFICATION REPEAL BILL.

On the motion for reading this bill a second time,
Mr. WHITESIDE said that if the Government were de-
termined in pressing this bill, it would meet with a most
determined opposition from the members from Scotland
and Ireland. _ _ .

The SOLICITOR GENERAL said he would postpone
the bill for a week.

COPYHOLD BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
SAVINGS BANK BILL.
On the motion of Mr. WILSON,.the report of the com-
mittee on this bill was received.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
Sir C. WOOD brought in the bill for the future govern-
ment of India, which was read a first time, and ordered to
be a read a second time on Thursday, June 23.
SPITALFIELDS AND SHOREDITCH.

Sir W. MOLESWORTH brought in a bill to amend the
acts and extend the time for constructing a new street from
Spitalfields to Shoreditch, which was read a first time.
RDPAYMENT OF ADVANCES.
Mr. WILSON brought in a bill for altering the mode of
repayment of advances by the public works loan commis-
sioners, &c., which was read a first time.
The house adjourned at twenty minutes after twelve
o'clock.

WOMEN AND PORPOISES.—WeII, its the natur' of por-
poises, when a she one gets wounded, that all the
other porpoises race right arter her, and chase her
to death. They show her no marcy. Human
natur' is the same as fish natur' in this particler,
and is as scaly too. When a woman gets a wound
from an arrow shot out by scandal, or envy, or malice,
or falsehood, for not keeping her eye on the com-
pass, and shapin' her course as she ought to, men,
women, and boys, parsons, and their tea-goin' gossipin'
wives, pious galls and prim old maids, all start off in
full cry like a pack of bloodhounds arter her, and
tear her to pieces ; and if she earths, and has the
luck to get safe into a hole fust, they howl and yell
round it every time she shows her nose, like so many
imps of darkness. It's the race of charity, to see which
long-legged, cantin' bilious-lookin' crittur can be in first
at the death. They turn up the whites of their eyes like
ducks in thunder, at a fox-hunt, it's so wicked ; but a
gall-hunt they love dearly, it's servin' the Lord:—
Sam Slick's Wise Saws.
WEDDING DIVINATION.—Being lately present on the
occasion of a wedding at a town in the East Riding of
Yorkshire, I was witness to the following custom, which
seems to take rank as a genuine scrap of folk-lore. On
the bride alighting from her carriage at her father's door,
a plate covered with morsels of bride's cake was flung
from a window of the second storey upon the heads of
the crowd congregated in the street below ; and the
divination, I was told, consists in observing the fate
which attends its downfall. If it reach the ground in
safety, without being broken, the omen is a most unfa-
vourable one. If, on the other hand, the plate be shat-
tered to pieces, and the better, the auspices are looked
upon as moat happy,—Notes and Queries.