The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-02 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1.

Mr. Hone DRUMMOND and others brought a
Message from the Commons, announcing that
leave had been given to Mr. Gustavus Home to
attend their Lordships' Committee on the March-
mont Peerage. _ _

Earl Moe:LEY presented a Petition from the
Canada Merchants and Ship o%t tiers resident at
Liverpool, against any alteration in the Duties
on Timber.—Laid on the table.

The Bank of Ireland Bill %sent through a
Committee, and was reported.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at four o'clock.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Captain WEMYSS presented a Petition f►om the tanners
of the County of Fife, praying for the repeal of the tax upon
leather.

31r. A. CHICHESTER presented a Patition from the inha-
bitants of Belfast, praying for a repeal of the Irish Window
Tax.

Mr. M. SMITH presented a similar Petition from the inha-
bitants of the Town of Drogheda.
Sir E. O'BRIEN presented a Petition from the inhabitants
of the Town of Ennis, to the same effect.
Mr. CURTEIS presented a Petition from certain Hop-
planters of Sussex, praying for the repeal of the duty on hops.
Sir J. BOUGH E l' presented a Petition from certain owners
of Estates and Proprietors of Land in the County of Stafikd,
complaining of the present tithe system.
Alta. a few words from Mr. LITTLETON, the Petition was
ordered to be printed.
LEAT HER TAX.

.Mr. HILL presented a Petition from the Tanners of Whit-
church, praying for the repeal of the Leathez Tax.
Mr. LAM BTON presented a Petition from the Tanners of
Durham against the Leather Tax. The Hon. Member then
expressed his wish that the Zion. Member for Northumberland
(Mr. Beaumont) would postpone his motion for the repeal of
the tax alluded to in the Petition, until the intentions of Mini-
sters with respect to the repeal of taxes should be declared. He
thought that after the statement which had been made by the
Noble Marquis (Londonderry), it was the duty of the House
to abstain from originating any project for the repeal of taxes,
until it were seen whether Ministers would theMselves propose
any efficient measures on the subject.
Mr. 11. SUMNER concurred in the suggestion of the lion.
Member for Durham. lI e was himself anxious to vote in sup-
port of the motion for the repeal of the Leather Tax ; but he
would not do so until after Ministers had made known their in-
tentions with respect to the repeal of taxes.
Mr. ELLICE also requested the Ilon. Member for North-
umberland to postpone his motion for the present upon the same
grounds as those stated by the Member for Durham. At the
same time he must declare that the plan proposed by the Noble
Marquis on a former night would, when carried into effect, be a
virtual repeal of the financial measures brought forward at the
commencement of the session.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL asked the Member for Northum-
berland to acquiesce in the suggestion of the Honourable Mem-
ber for Durham. The Honourable Baronet concluded by ob-
serving, that motions for reduction were pressed one upon the
other: one Member was for repealing the Leather Tax ; ano-
ther the tax upon salt : a third the tax upon tallow ; it was im-
possible that he (Sir E. Knatchbul]) could vote for the repeal
of all these imposts.
Mr. 11. 0. BENNET did not doubt, after what had been
said, that his Hon. Friend (Mr. Beaumont) would consent to
postpone his motion. He trusted, however, that a day not flu•
distant would be named.

Itfr. BEAUMONT was willing to put off' his motion until
Thursday, the 16th inst.
On the motion that the Petition should be brought up,
Mr. FRANKLA ND LEWIS rose. He admitted that the
Leather Tax pressed heavily upon the community, and that it
ought to stand foremost in the ranks for repeal. He thought,
however, that mischief was done by bringing forward so many
motions for reduction at once ,• and he thought that the Tax on
Salt should take precedence of the Tax on Leather.
General GASUOY NE was in favour of repealing the Tax ;
and took occasion to speak of the icsolutions proposed by the
Marquis of Londonderry, as resolutions which the House ought
never to act upon.
Sir J. SHELLEY agreed in all that had fallen from the
Gallant Officer who last sat down. For himself, he had all his
life been an enemy to the Sinking Fund,- and would go on
voting for the repeal of taxes until he got every shilling out of it.
The Petition was then read, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. H. SUMNER presented a Petition from the Farmers
of Godalming, in Surrey, in favour of repealing the Leather
Tax. He had not pledged himself to support the Petition ;
but, whenever 600,0001. ithe produce of the Tax) was at the
disposal of the House, he would give leather the preference to
any other article.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY was not clear that the repeal of the
Leather Tax would benefit the public so much as Honourable
Gentlemen supposed. It was expected, when the Hat Duty
was taken off, that the wearers of those articles would find
• an advantage ; but the price, on the contrary, rose after the
repeal of th duty. Ile agreed as to the propriety of repealing
taxes, but doubted whether the Leather Tax should be the tax
selected. .

.....
Mr. HART DAVIS was one of those who thought the main-
tenance of a sinking fund essential to the public credit. lie
would be happy to repeal the Leather Tax, if the repeal did
not interfere with the grants already made to Government.—
The petition was then read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. CANNING named the Committee for his Bill relative
to Catholic Peers.