The Sun.
London, England, 1814-11-15 00:00:00

ce,..sary.tere to recall to the recollection of the
House that all duties are due on the importa-
tion of these articles ; that no indulgence can
discharge the merchant from the obligation ;
and that in order to protect the revenue, it
NV a, necessary to take measures to secure the
payment of the duties on any deficiency that
may ,rise whilst the goods are warehoused. On
export the goods paid no duty. Under these
cir-
e,oistoeonig Altai it had,. always
been signified to the merchants that the original
principle of the Bonding System would be re-
stored when circumstances would admit of it, the
Lords of the Treasury issued an order on the 25th
of•November,' 1813, announcing that the duties
would be enforced On the 31st of June, 1814, and
that no indulgence would be-granted beyond that
date, unless under very particular circumstances
authorising an exception. In May last many re-
presentations were made to the Treasury, com-
plaining that the length and severity of the win-
ter had prevented the sailing of vessels, and re-
questing farther time. On the 7th of May the
COrnmissioners of the Treasury ordered a commu-
nication to be made to the Merchants, extending
the. indulgence to the 30th of October, and stat-
in that their Lordships still continued of opi-
nion, that the Bonding System should he restored
to its Original principle, and that after the 20th
October the duties would be levied. Their inten-
tion could not be conveyed in more concise or in-
telligible terms: Soon after some merchants stat-
ed•they had never keen the order, others that they
did not think it would be acted upon. All the
orders that had been issued upon the subject held
out that the system was to be restored as soon as
circumstances should allow of it ; and in all the
interviews which the Merchants had bad with him
and the Earl of Liverpool,' every attention
hail been paid to any case wherein it ap-
peared that any hardship .was to be appre7
bended. Coffee and barks were articles which
on this ground were allowed to be continued in
the warehouses twelve months longer. Much mis-
stmitement, he would not say misrepresentation,
hail prevailed on this subject. If the Right Hon.
Gentleman should take his opinions of matters of
revenue from such authorities, he would have
neatly as just a noti m of the financial situation of
this country as those had of the political circum-
stances of Europe, who took their notions front
magazines 'and reviews: The fact was, that the
total amount of doties due on bonded goods was
1,200,000/..; that the indulgence covered about
one,fiall of that amount,
,and that of the remain-
ing 600,0001. one half would he exported, so that,
in fati;the sum which the merchants were to be
called on to pay would not exceed 300,0001. and
in the payment of that they were to have the still
farther indulgence of defraying it by four monthly
instalments of 75,0001. each. It was impossible
tinii any arrangements could he more lenient or
indulgent. If the Merits of the Warehousing Sys-
tem* should be brought into discuss7on, he was
prepared to contend. And in '1 he was sustain-
ed by the Opinion of every Officer in the Customs
end Excise, that it would be necessary to'proeide
the. most vigilant checks to protect the public re-
venue. He felt, indeed, very strongly the
great importance of the Systeme but it should
be put under such restrictions as would
iu-
sure all its benefits without even hazarding the
interests of the public. In the present state of
the accounts from time accumulation of goods in
the warehouses, they occupied above 1000 folio
vohnes. Timis was a state of things which could
not be suffered-to continue. He was prepared to
say, that it was his intention to bring forward a
proposition for granting a considerable extension
of indulgence on the Warehousing System, of the
utility of which he could have no doubt ; but lie
must say,*that preliminary to that, a general wind-
ing-up of the past must take place, in order that
the new arrangement may be made more certain
and durable. He had to ask pardon of the Com-
mittee for deviating so far from. time subject under
consideration ; but pressed as he, had been for ex-
planation, he could not have avoided taking that
course.
Mr. BARING thought this was a question of the
greatest moment to time commerce not only of
theiCity of London, but of the whole country.
lie would put it on the fair ground of time value
of the Bonding System, which it seemed to be, the
intention of Government to destroy.—(No ! no!
from the Treasury Benche)—lt certainly appeared
that the Right Honourable Gentleman considered
it injurious to the prosperity of the revenue, and
intended to propose some other system. One of
the objects of which he complained was the want
of information from Government on this subject..
For his own part,. he had never believed that they
intended to persevere. The.whole.might be di-
vided into two distinct questions,---whether it were
right to break, up the Bonding System altogether,
or temporarily ? and whether the conduct of Mi-
nisters had been fair towards the Merchants ? • On.
the latter point, he contended that these bad never
condescended to give the Merchants that expla-
natiOn which they had now submitted to the
House. He was convinced. that only to-morrow
morning, whell'the result. of this debate, would.
appear, would the great eommercial body of the
land be acquainted
,with the real , intentions of
Government. -As to the interview which their
delegates had had.with Ministers, it had thrown
no light on the matter. It was .only known
that the Merchants had for two hours exhausted
their eloquence, and obtained no word of an-.
swer or information, save that they should be
made acouainted with
,theiatentions of, Govern-
ment. This was. follawed by a dry notice, that
on such a day a certain' portion of the duties must
be paid. This was the first time that the mer-
chants could have entertained the slightest suspi-
cion of time real views of Government. The Right
Hon. Gent. said, that great pains had . been .taken
to instruct them, and that-by the very nature of
the Acts which annually supported the Bonding
System to its late extent, they ought to have an-
ticipated its present crigis ; but he should also have
inon, that having received the same notice since
18.02, without having ever seen the threat which
- it contained realised, it was natural they should
expeCt it would never be put in force. It was
only since time month of September last that they
began to think Government really intended to
carry it into execution. The consequence of this
raleasure was, that in immense quantity of

goods would be forced out of the Country at the
most unpropitious season, exposed to the storms
of winter, and compelled to pay double rates of
insurance. Now -with respect to the Bonding
System itself, all the. Right Honourable Gentle-
man's arguments went to show the supposed
danger of the revenue,-and the impossibility of its
continuance. He would state its advantages
fairly ; they were these :—The • Bonding System
allowed goods to be lodged in the Government or
public Warehouses for the purpose of remaining
there until exnorted, or introduced for the COll-
sumption of the•country. In the latter case only
was it fair they should pay duties. In the pre-
sent state of the Continent, when so many mar-
kets were opened to trade, and so many facilities
afforded to it in the ports on the other side of the
Channel, it was of the greatest importance that we
should have a place where our goods might be int-.
ported, and front whence they might be exported,
without any other notice of them being taken
by. the Custom-House but what would be ne-
cessary to prevent their being introduced for
home consumption, without paying. the duties.
Such was the manner in. which our Bond-
ing System had hitherto been carried on, and
in that view he considered it as in a state of the
utmost perfection. To prevent any alteration in
so beneficial a plan, the Merchants had offered,
in case it should be attended with any inconveni-
ence, any abuses, or any deficiency, to settle for
them in any manner and to airy amount Govern-
ment might point out ; in fact, on the 'Ministers
on terms But notlong could satisfy them ; the
Bonding System must he broken up, and in con-
sequence the goods must either he taken away or
thrown upon the home consumption ; though in
that case, they had accumulated to such a point,
that it would take at least ten years to COIISIITIIC
them. He should take a future opportunity of
entering into a more minute examination of the
Bonding System, and doing ampler justice to its
advantages. To be perfect, it shoui4Continue to
allow the lodging of goods ill the national ware-
houses, without their paying any duties except
when imported for home consumption. If the
House would appoint a day, and a Committee,
for . an enqniry into the advantages of such.
• a system, he had no doubt the Merchants
could bring such evidence as would at once
establish the immense extent to which it would
benefit, not themselves alone, bet even the
revenue. The fact was, that Ministers derived
their information on-the:subject from:incompetent
sources. The business of the Custom-house was
done in a confused manner ; the Excise had their
thousand ledgers, and the difficulties attending
the exercise of the dirties of the Officers of the
Revenue, haul created the complaint. If a Com-
mittee were appointed to meet up stairs and exa-
mine into the subject, they would probably find
that the whole proceeded trom official abuses. If
the Right Hon. Gentleman intended to wind up
the whole, and then start afresh, to this he had no
objection. But he wished the business were at
least decisively settled. The confidence of fereign-
ers had been much shaken by the last measure of
Government, which seemed little more than the
produce of a whim which had come across them.
But even supposing all should be wound up and
prepared for starting afresh, what inconvenience
would there have been In letting the goods remain
in the warehouses, and permitting the merchants
to export on the new system ? Every kind of
goods, he repeated, should be allowed to.be bry
ported into tire warehouses, without any attention
being paid to them by the Custom House, save as
to what became of them. He once more com-
plained of the want of information on the real in-
tentions of Government under which the mer-
chants had Laboured, and maintained that it was
not favourable to the revenue to force people to
export their goods in tire manner which was pro-
posed, but should wait before he entered more at
large into the subject, until he knew what plan
the Chancellor of the Exchequer should propose
for winding up and starting afresh.
Mr. PROTHEROE thought that the Right Hon.
Gentleman had reason to complain of the manner
in which the last Speaker had alluded to what fell
from him. The Right Hon. Gentleman had not
said any thing of breaking up the system, but of
substituting for that which was now loose, vague,
and undefined, a fixed and settled rule. ROM
observing the importance attached to the ques-
tion in the City of London and elsewhe:e, he had
expected to receive instructions front his consti-
tuents on the subject, and it was due to the Right
lion. Gentleman to declare, that he had not even
had an individual complaint from: any one of
then]. He concluded from this, either that they
had not felt any inconvenience from the measure,
or approved of it.
The CITANCELtOR-Of the EXCHEQUER, after the
candid observation of the Honourable Member
who preceded him, begged leave to make a remark
or two to the Committee. What had been called
a breaking up of the System was an extension of
indulgence of twelve months to many of the ar-
ticles beyond the time allowed by law. There
was no case in which inconvenience had been
proved that redress haul not been. granted. The
rivaiship of foreign nations was to be expected,
but the advantages of trade here •would enable us
to meet it.. The restrictions on the Bonding Sys-
tem at Marseilles were more severe than any en-•
forced in this country. The Right Honourable
Gentleman then, in answer to the observation
stating that there were ten years consumption of
articles, to be affected by the present measure, as-
sured the Committee that the principal articles to
be affected by the enforcement of the duties,were
tobacco, wines, and spirits, .and of tobacco hut
three weeks
.consumption, of French wines three
weeks, of wines not French six weeks, of brandy
six weeks, of Geneva a thirtieth part, and of rum
a two hundred and twenty-fifth part of a year's
consumption.
Mr. SHAW acquitted the Right Hon. Gentleman
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) as well as the
Governer and Deputy Governor of the Bank, and
the Gentlemen Contractors for the last loan, of
every shadow of imputation upon their conduct
on the occasion of the communication respecting
the intention not to call for a new loan before
Christmas; but observed, that it was well worth
the attention of Government to devise in future
more effectual means of giving general publicity
to any such' connutinicatioa.

Mr. BartiNo, in explanation, stated, that when
he spoke of ten years consumption of particular
articles, he confined himself to what he had heard,
upon good authority, and did not mean to include
every article bonded and warehoused.
Mr. TIERNEY said, that aslo the financial,dis-
positions for the year, ..and the manner in whici
the Chancellor of the Eachecluer has initmated his
intention not to-demand a loan,or the funding of
any Exchequer Ellis, -he thought it would have
been better if he had made no communication
whatever on the subject. He had no doubt
of his having acted with the best motives,
and believed that his views were perfectly ho-
nourable ; but the public had not had the
full benefit of the communication. The Go-
vernor of the Bank, and the Deputy had not
made known in the City the Right Honourable:
Gentleman's intentions on that point. lie did
not mean to cast the least imputation upon them ;
but as it had been observed, the information might
easily transpire from friend to friend. It was a
fact, that previous tm its publication a consider-
able depression in the funds existed, and that un-
doubtedly those who were in possession of the
Minister's views had it in their power to make
money by it. The public itself had not become
acquainted with the tact until two days after the
communication lad been made by the Chancellor
of the ,Exchequr, and great fluctuations had been
'experienced in the funds. - He knew that para-
gr;.phs had appeared in the papers, but such might
have been inserted for the \ ery purpose of raising
the funds, and therefore would not obtain gene-
ral credit. He completely acquitted the Chancellor
of the E.xchequer of all intentional fault iu this
business ; but through something or other the
effect produced had not been such as might have
been desired. The depression in the funds, to
which he had already alluded, had, however, been
occasioned by a prevalent opinion amongst coin-,
mereial men that Government wanted money.
He did not think that proper respect was paid to
the House, in merely stating the want of money,
witlfout adducing any grounds on which to justi-
fy it ; and vet that was the course which the
Hight arable Gentleman had adopted.—
He had not shown what additional services
had been performed to render these additional
supplies necessary. At present he wished to
know exactly how much money was wanting to
carry on the necessary expences of the country
until the Ist of January next. For this he should
vote, but for nothing more. The object of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed to be
more extensive. He appeared to wish to get to-
gether as much money as he could, to put off as
long as possible the next meeting of Parliament.
At what time, and to what period, he intended
to propose an adjournment, the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman had not said ; neither would he state it
until he should have obtained his money. It was
said, that, after having completed all the arrange-
ments on the Continent, we had time to turn to
our own affairs ; but never had the affairs of this
country been in a situation which required more
deep probing than the present. To effect this sa-
lutary and necessary purpose, it would be proper
to appoint a Committee, not to make a partial,
hut a full report on the expenditure of the coun-
try. The result of such, an inquiry would prove,
not that mere economy was wanted, but that ex-
traordinary measures should be adopted, to
be able even to form a proper Peace Establish-
ment. He then apologised for the introduction
of these topics at this period; it was not his fault
it they had not been taken into earlier considera-
tion. A Committee, he repeated, should be im-
mediately appointed to take into consideration the
real situation of the country, and to look its d'f-
ficulties in the face ! An opinion might be formed
of those difficulties by looking at the progress of
time extraordinaries of the army for the last four
or five years. In 1810 they were 2,750,0001. that
sum fell short by 6,270,0001. This deficiency was
to be. made good; and therefore, to provide against
a similar deficiency, the extraordinaries were next
year estimated at 3,200,0001. ; the deficiency was
then 2,300,0001. ; the following year they were
taken at 5,000,0001. ; then the deficiency was
4,000,0001.; last year they were estimated at
9,000,0001., and now 10,000,0001. were wanted.
But the Right Hon. Gentleman and his Colleagues
had put into the Regent's Speech, that the re-
venues of tile country were flourishing. A more
deliberate falsehood had never been put into a

Royal mouth. The revenue could not tie flourish-
ing except it afforded an excess over the demands
upon it, and was therefore adequate to meet the
pressure upon it. The Right Hon. Gentleman
then took a review of the income and charges of
the Consolidated Fund, and of the various other

branches of the permanettt public revenue in Great
Britain and Ireland, together with the demands
upon the same, end came to this result, that- in
Great Britain the surplus of income above expendi-
ture, applicable to future PeaceEstablishmen ts, was
568,0001. whilst in Ireland the deficiency, on a tom-
parison of the permanent charges with the perma-
nent revenue, was above 500,000/. ; so that on the
whole of the United Empire there would be but a
surplus .of" 68,0081.• to meet , the exigency and
provide for the future Peace Establishments.—
..Unless the Right• Hon. Gentleman could gainsay
his _figures, he could not overturn his argument.
Where was the Right Hon. Gentleman to find ft-
sources, for a Peace Establishment ? He may,
perhaps, following up his plan brought forward
two years ago, resort to the Sinking Fund. By
that plan be had saved the country many taxes,
but done much mischief. As to the bag of one'
hundred millions of treasure that he was to save,.
he would ask where he could lay his hand upon
them. In these two years that Fund had been re
(bleed to 30,000,000/. The Sinking Fund was worse
by 4,400,0001. than it would have been if it had
not been for the Right Honourable Gentleman's
plan. It was now but 11,000,0001. and would
have been fifteen. That fund, he supposed,
the Right Honourable Gentleman would not
venture to touch. 01 the War Taxes, above two
millions were already appropriated ; they amount-
ed to 9,300,0001. and were thus reduced to
6,500,000/. ; but if be should think of continuing
them, he could not calculate upon more than four
millions, This sum would provide for a Peace
Establishment. A Committee upon the general
financial circumstances of the country was the
only channel through, which the House could say

P'

,„stlei 'tit
tisfy itself to what changes should be ;lent' Si
tieixiepeladii.egnestst
sense
erteodf to,ole
‘NvVollractoretrefic-i0944
detell the
villi
bad trespassed4ong on the attention t'illettoso
mittec, but he bad done his ditty, 41/' 019 Y
that it would not be necessary for hi!,,let°o° ,
apology for having pressed the consi",-„1: of
veryimportant a subject anon its nt)1; Oil
The CHANCELLOR of the Exci4F;?l•l,6lo9°lllti
the right which the Right Iron.uel.tictlo4
sensed of commentina• on the e%teli;•ssl°Ti
twl'il:oicuhg 1111 ethien",vi• ~ qlge 01of,;
him. He iiinotlreoodfac:evtil3iicnhtth)
et litecodii9octi ii..odlsill
at the same time ackno':,,g,' c 01`•„.1,
portance, and when the time 5110°' :ttliolf
investigation, he trusted the House 'llltttel
posed to meet it. and to ii-pire ‘ll°ttsliet
ments could be made, what estahlish"ls9l-Jgb;/,
He now rose chiefly to repel two ell'‘r"e„1111°1414
the Right Hon. Gentleman- and whichh v-liti°'
wise press heavy upon him. It had ecit'yr'',
that in proposing the supplies for f°lll!ettilthco
had wilfully kept back the real anonailittectly
pence. This statement was most inc.°4,a 9
had' always shewu a ro ter disP°9ll-011.;tr
withhold from Parliamepatt ithe infora°,,Jett" 1,
it was entitled to have. Whe' ulleqio°o9
cumstances bad disappointed lIIS CdIC" ,i, )00
to the sufli,iency of the sums grat'tetiniqii
quickly stated the tact to the llouse'befti
the causes of the deficiency ; such as toe",
eel expellee in the branch of the ilav'., tfit.
)3,7 the return of prisoners and otileci-1",
money was due, and the necessity, `
-5 014'1
a.larger naval establishment as 4 ,fto i
ori
man war continued. The army c%Perl: re
did not exceed the calculations whicibilst:,
made, but it had suddenly come LIP' b.ceivoi,
been expected the arrears could have Oct
over a more considerable period 0160°1' a 00100
therefoie that it would be seen be `,): 1 '
li,nglY, kept back the amount of qtly -,ttilia'ae
be ciintrary had given every esPlan„-tber it
lay in his power. There was 311:eel.
which he was still more anxious •tOl-`..it ilit,lt
that of baying put a wilful falsehood I ' rely
of his Sovereign, by representie ro, 'fail;
the country in a flourishing eo;dit'°4ll V 01,5
‘‘,as in the most exhausted state. note
Prince Regent could mean in thehrecti"ol
Speech which touched Upon that 6ti:jjelldikl
fairly justified in stating. The recril- 0 le'lts
and was still, increasinc, from Yea.,taitsfyi
from quarter to quarter.b The ac-°tbe 'fitl'i
he had already communicated Cod ct (05
satisfactorilyT proved this iniri'n-gth o'„0."
The revenue, which, up to the 1. - ,iiialsis
ber, 1812, scarcely exceeded 59 (ritil:lif
1813 amounted to 60,876,000/. i gri-theiiiii
ed it) gr,,olii.
A
sixty-three millions, which she"'
an increase of three millions. [I-I,er: ce3ll,,iii
stated that he had only made up t.';;ici',-edil
had given to the sth Jan. last, at -I,' e''tr •
thought the revenue would not riluciiiefo°
permanent charges.] He aduxittedt -vet'c
tip to the sth of January last, the ree t
iii ti •
not_ have mach exceeded toe pert°l3tl sit'icit'
But was that a fair view of the of 044
the House consider the situation u: be toy
at the close of the American War i tie ef'°
dated Fond then also barely exeeededdifi)j4l
(pore ; and the same predictio''s litc) o'l 0
0 er, ill ii
ing ruin were uttered. Yet the
covered in a most triumphant u3lll4'"Al
. attained a state of flourishing rosPerpod Ile?
House consider the situation of .;'''gos (tied,
respects.H The power of Franee'he' ii'Ll'elr9/1
Hon. Gentleman had stated, %cas, '', tlicieti'll
longer formidable ; but %vas it 5,1°1/. 00,;ie 10011.
tion of the American contest ? l'",(),;10,-De ~
Spain, France then displayed A iil',os ~,91111
tude. Then the Consolidated Fan" j sor til
colt( A f'
resource from which the nation 'ot . et' t 1
expenditure. There was nothing bey
3 r test iiiel
now, there were 24 millions ott Ife, aI.A it)
did not mean to contend that
if
ill I,
them, should continue ; but, if 1:-.-th','''t ,liisie,
It
a little to be able to do aw2Y ‘,:el,ce,°.-ceol
tetnlii,ad been said, that, in conse46-,:rea'i Alf
the Sinking Fund bad he•e,;-01 °',ol
)
millions ; but when this was ia`-diere he
lions of added taxes, and ivn"hi-e to 1" if
sixteen millions of stock apPlic3-rlit tir 'l'
ing Fund at Christmas, deli th°ll9ntleeuh'e
of complaint was very ght ;car, 1,4;
the close of the most prosperous the voi
Ifilling the office of Chancellor °f lore ithi
/
had been obliged tostate that there.ce a -,,i,
of stock inapplicable to the serv,liitfereildliiilt
then the case might have been:graoC,e'ept
As to the period when the tagel 'riot !to 'jj
liament should expire he show.° folio, „1-1
make any declaration, without flee oppr fr 4
As to 00,00,,,,i.,r,,,
judgment than his own.
expressed by the Right Non• (led t(), over,,l
adjournment would be p'r°l°,rl Ikets,;Or r::
length, the very nature of t'Alebiat tv,,t' o,l#
Session, ought to have 'shoc,e",.geolle'eal, I
werel unfounded. He nil" reels -,,Ace;iie P
Rainy and Bank Restriction ' rliv tr
t that Yap td °
the Ist of March next, ant. -„I rit,
therefore meet before that Perilc:i 'and t-eliitri '
ipiereitieanddgtoonefixsitifiiheeipeaottlyicuflaatr 4iiiiYis,ste't tor
CV 4
satisfy the House. ,
at tile pii y
Mr. PONSONBY was surprse° litdc.tiVe tr.'
of the Exchequer's not having,lld c',(l'ifto il
whether the Proert To sh°,l,',i,iollPe'lh
or not, and referring such a '.- wit. tit ',fie
of better judgment. than :l'isi'll°egalciit!coeeeirli
many objections besides It' ,Sl' lifefolq,
tax. Its very nature was uaciorasl9iito -iff,
might be increased, like thar'pjati°l,lcitti./',,)
V'e !,cry .0
it made into the cir
angleen,t..,ittoorffnesti;edintao'setxrong tell' . 9- Ili .1
was intolerable; and be "*°',(l; tin'tilio
per cent. under- any other ta7ll:lteo-te.074/1
tinder the operation of tbis,., lat,.,*(),r ievi,of
Gentleman said that he gas . /1-40° Pi/
after it had been asked Pt:0000,0r,
entity against a prolonged ar'ilciiollsli, tel);
cti:ienis'ctea; cesit7free'lerolifYiii
sequence of the Batik .10t i l'Prc,: Or*/
Bills expiring on the `2lst (Lit isl-ecridit
ever learnt front this, that AS ti,ot,' f tell
continue them another year' Jon 'st tPtir
.was connected with the Anietbe ftcllol
say that he did not disputc, be 0°
mum were necesiary , Di I .