The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-13 00:00:00

(LEFT SITTIML)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Nothing of importance had taken place in the House of
Lords up to the time of our going to Press.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Jutr 12.
SILK AND COTTON PAPER FABRICS.

Mr. T. DUN COINI BE presented a petition from two
individuals, his constituents, to which he requested the
serious attention of the House. In the year l 853 a patent
had been granted to an individual named Williams for
the manufacture of paper from silk and cotton fabric.
Upon the favourable opinion given by the Examiner, the
individual took out a patent at an expense of 500/.
During the last year the petitioners, Messrs. Stainbridge
'and Marshall became the purchasers of the patent, but not
being satisfied, they applied to the Excise Office, who sent
persons to inspect the patent, and that officer also re-
ported in favour of it. Tl.e petitioners then being satisfied,
laid out a sum of 5,0001., and had gone on as they thought
securely ; but what was their astonishment to see a Bill
brought which stood for a third reading that night, which
contained a clause, avowedly specially introduced to include
them. The Right Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer
might say, that this had been represented to him as an eva-
sion of the Duty upon Paper; but because some parties
complained of the matter, that was no reason wby the
Bill should ruin two individuals, who had acted upon
the faith of a report from two public officers.—

• The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the Hon. Member for Finsbury had stated with great
clearness the prayer of the petition, and be must confess
that in some respects he anticipated the answer he in-
tended to give. The case had been stated by that
Honourable Member as it appeared in the
,petition, but
the whole. of the facts had-not been stated upon that peti-
tion. It was true, as stated, that in 1833 these gentlemen
applied to the Board of Excise, and at that time they stated
certain articles which they intended to manufacture ; they
were then informed that with reference to tnose articles
they would not be liable, and should not be charged with
duty. From 1833 to 1835, he did not believe that any
„communication had taken . place between the Excise
and these parties ; but in 1835 there was a further
application, and then it was, for the first time, made
known to -the Excise that • they had altered their
mode of proceeding, and it was discovered that they
were selling' mill-boards, not for the purposes specified by
them in 1833, but for purposes to which mill-boards paying
duty had been applied. They were then apprized that
duty would have to be paid ; this intimation, how-
ever, did not interfere- with those articles which they
stated, in 1833, it was their intention to manufacture.
He should be most unwilling to break through any engage-
ment on the faith of which a party had invested capital ;
and he would not move the third reading of the Bill to-
night, in order that he might have an opportunity of meet-
ing the parties, and- of getting the Excise officers to meet
them. He would.then hear what was said on both sides ;
and if he found that any such pledge as that stated
had been given, he shoald most 'certainly prefer put-
ting into the Bill a saving clause during the period of
the patent, rather than breaking through an engagement.
He hoped to see the parties in the course of to-morrow,
and he would also hear what would be said by the. Excise
in reply ; and if his Hon. Friend (Mr. T. Duncombe) had
any doubt that full justice and an impartial hearing would

be given to the parties, he was at perfect liberty to ace= -
pany them, and to report the result to the House.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBF. was perfectly satisfied with the
c,Nplanati'on Of his Right Hon. Friend.
Mr. WAKLEY xas sure that the
,explanation would
;) , perfectly satisfactory to the parties. All they asked was
o be excluded front the operation of the law during the
,ontinuance of their patent. It would be a very harsh pro-
ceeding to subject them to a new duty by tlk passing of an
Act, the object of which was to consolidate existing laws.
`rite CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the Hon. Gentleman seemed to think that he had
given a pled;
q that. a clause of exemption would be intro-
dace.l into the ,'?ill. What he -said was, " Satisfy me of
the trutlt tif your s:
Cement, and I will do it ; 'but I will not
do so unless
Mr. W AKLET siniit
y'-'n ~,t,,:fB, me."
be 'was sure that this would satisfy
the parties. '
The petition was then laiii.N:
1 the table. .
IRISH WiII..SKEY•
•
Mr, ORD presented a petition f m Clonmell, praying
that whiskey in Ireland might be made eiLlargeable for stow-
age only in proportion to its strength.
LIGHT-HOUSES.
Mr. WARBURTON presented a petition` from the
guardians of a Minor interested in a Light-house, against
the Light-Louses Bill.-