The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-19 00:00:00

raw or manufactured state, in.the same ratio its the duty
levied upon colonial coffee, and grocers were prohibited
from selling it. The Act also prohibited the
use of chicory in tea—(Hear and laughter)—
but when used in tea, it was highly dele-
terious.—(A laugh.) It was different, though,
when mixed with coffee, and the Act had therefore been
suspended. Chicory, in fact, greatly improved
coffee.—(A laugh.) Honourable Gentlemen might
laugh, but it was nevertheless--true.—(Laughter.) Only
two years ago he was informed by a most respectable
firm in London that a -short time the coffee
they supplied to their customers was adulterated
with 20 per cent. of chiccoryibut some
-of their customers
determined upon being supplied with the coffee in
the berry. This request was complied with, and coffee,
was supplied in the berrry, biit it was found by these
customers that making coffee from the berry produced a
much inferior flavour to the coffee they bad before, and'
they were therefore glad to return to the ground coffee.
which bad been adulterated with 20 per cent. of chicory.
He bad received the same accounts from other parts of
the country-. And the opinion of a former Chancellor of
the Exchequer was to the effect that coffee was not only
improved by the admixture of chicory, but extended its
use among the lower classes of the people. Sincs
then a change had taken place. He had re-
ceived from Ceylon a memorial stating that the
planters of coffee had been greatly injured by the great
use of chicory that prevailed in consequence of the low
price, and the loss of duty to the Government. But he
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not believe that
the use of chicory had had much to do with the dimi-
nished consumption of foreign coffee, since there had been
much importation of colonial coffee at the low duty, and
diminished importation of foreign coffee at the higher
duty. During the last four years, it was a remarkable.
fact that the quantity of colonial coffee which had been
introduced fur home consumption had increased from,
20,000,000 lbs. to 30,000,000 lbs., whereas foreign
coffee had fallen off al the same period.
from 13,000,000 lbs. to a little under 7,000,000 lbs.—a
falling off of nearly one-half. in the consumption of
foreign coffee. In fact, the consumption of colonial
coffee had increased one-half, which would account
for the falling of duty to which the Honourable
and Learned Gentleman had referred. Yet, the
entire quantity of coffee consumed during the
four years had decreased, whilst the consumption
of tea had increased, or/hien could not be
accounted for, except thati the use of chicory
had much increased. Atone present time, the duty'
having been so recently introduced, and the experiment
not having been sufficiently-, tried, he - could not with,
justice introduce any measure, which would prevent its
use. On the other hand;, he was unwilling to
adopt the course be . had felt it advisable
with regard to beet-root sugar—namely, subject it to an
excise duty. Certainly, no change would take place in
the law with respect to the use of chicory without due
notice to the parties interested in its sale.
Mr. ANSTEY complained that the. Right Hon. Gen-
tleman had not replied to the whole of his queries. Ile
wished to know if the returns for the year 1848 did not
disclose the fact that about 26,000/. worth of coffee was
I consumed below what was consumed the year before;
whilst the same returns strewed that the quantity grown
and imported from Ceylon increased 12,000,0001b5., the
loss being 48,000/ ? and whethea the quantity of chicory
consumed instead of coffee did not stand in the same
proportion as 12,000,0001b5. of chicory did to 38,000,000
lbs. of coffee, and whether he would have any objection
to lay on the table the correspondence which he had had
wills, the excise- office upon the matter ?
The
.CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was
understood to say that the quantity of coffee imported in
1848 was less than it was in the preceding year, and that
whilst coffee imported from .the colonies was increas-
ing, that imported from foreign countries had been fall-
ing off.
Mr. ADDERLEY rose to ask the Under-Secretary
of State for the Colonies for copies or extracts of tiny
correspondence not already laid before rho House be-
tween any Secretaries of State and Governors of the
Cape of Good Hope, on the transmission of convicts 'to
that colony ; of any remonstrance of the inhabitants
of the Cape of Good,Hope,, or any documents showing
their sentiments in regard to the reception of convicts
in that colony ; and, copy of a memorial of landowners,
merchants, and others, recently presented to Earl Grey,
respecting the introduction of convicts into the Cape of
Good Hope.
Mr. HAWES said he must trouble the Hon. Member
to put his question on a future day. He did not,
however, undertake to say at this moment that any
particular dispatch or communication had been made to
the Colonial-office. Since the former day on which the
Hon. Member put his question they had received dis-
patches on the subject.
Mr. ADDERLEY would ask the Hon. Gentleman if
he was not aware whether, in the mouth of February, a
communication had been received from the Governor of
the Cape of Good Hope, conveying a general demonstra-
tion from the colonists against the reception of convicts?
Mr. HAWES could give the Hon. Member no other
answer to this question, than that which he had already
gives). However, if the Hon. Gentleman would put his
question on the paper for a future day he (Mr. Hawes)
would endeavour to give him the information which he
required. He had no objections to laying on the table
any official or unofficial document on the subject.
POOR-LAW BOARD..

Mr. HUME asked the First Lord of the Treasury,
whether any reduction was to be made in the Poor-law
Board, and its establishments, this year ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not think it possible
that there could be any material reductions made in the
preseut yerr.
OFFICERS IN THE ARMY.

Mr. EWART begged to ask the Secretary at War
whether it was in contemplation to introduce any sys-
tem of education and examination of persons applying
to be officers in the army ?
Mr. FOX MAULE begged to state that his Grace the
Commander-in-Chief had determined to institute a ttst
of education for officers previous to their receiving com-
missions in the army. It was also intended by his
Grace the Commander-in-Chief to have a second exa-
mination on the promotion of an officer from the rank of
ensign to that of lieutenant, but that examination was to
be entirely of a professional character, with a view
to ascertain if the officer was completely acquainted with
the duties which would devolve on him in his profession
in his capacity of 'an officer. Then there was to be a
third examination of a subaltern officer before he went
to his company. That was to consist of a mere
general examination on matters of military skill
and knowledge. His Grace the Commander-in-
Chief had instituted that system entirely in deference to
the public opinion, which had been extending for some
time past.
MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY.

Mr. ARCHDALL wished to ask the question of
which he had given notice, as to whether it was the in-
tention of her Majesty's Government, and of course under
the direction of the authorities at the Horse Guards, to
make any alteration in the disposition of the troops
during the present year?
Mr. FOX MAULE, in reply, said that the disposition
would, as far as it could be arranged, remain the same
during the present year. So far, however, as the cavalry
regiments were concerned, it was intended to keep them
in their quarters, but the infantry would be moved as
usual.
Mr. ARCHDALE said that be had another question
to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman, and that was con-
cerning the arrangements of the detachments from
regiments, especially those on foreign stations. He
wished to know whether it was intended to carry the
same principle out with respect to them as would be
observed with regard to the army in general.
Mr. FOX MAULE said, that though in some cases
of detachments, it might not be possible to observe on
universal custom, yet, upon the whole, the same rule
would be observed with respect to them as was observed
in the direction of whole regiments, and this the Govern-
ment thought was one of the best ways of carrying out
the system of economy which they were so desirous to
observe.