The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-02 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

DAILY

Extracts from the Morning. Papers, April 2

[MORNING CIIRONIOLI.]
It appears to us that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer cuts but a very poor figure in the discus-
sion on the Coal Acts last night. Sir M. W.
Ridley complained of the inequality of the duties
on sea-borne and inland coal, which had for ob-
ject the enabling the Proprietors of the Inland
Collieries to introduce Coals into the Metro-
polis, which, if things were left to their natural
course, they could not do. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer said, the charge of conveyance of
the Island Coal was high, and besides the com-
modity itself was inferior in quality, and there-
fore it became necessary to impose a high tax on
the sea-borne coal. Alr. Stuart Wortley very
properly animadverted on this mode of reasoning
so much at variance with the Right Honourable
Gentleman's own principles. " Because the

owners of northern coals brought their coals to
London by sea, which was a cheaper mode of
conveyance, ,the Right Honourable Gentleman
proposed that they should pay a heavier duty
than the inland coal-owners. According to that
principle, the owners of corn in Yorkshire would
have a right to require that a duty should
be imposed on the corn brought to London
from Kent and Essex, because the carriage
of the latter was so much less expensive." The
only equitable mode of taxing coal is to Impose
a duty payable at the pit's mouth. This would
leave things to take their natural course, while at
present the tax is imposed so as to enable one
class of owners, disadvantageously situated, to
compete with another class possessed of peculiar
advantages, and those people who live in the
_ _

. .
neighbourhood of coal mines, n.ho can buy them
cheap, pay no duty, while those who have the
misfortune to live at a distance, and must pay a
high price for them, are singled out for the pay-
ment of a high duty. A good deal was said last
night of a combination among the northern pro-
prietors to limit the supply of coals. It seems
to us singular how so numerous a proprietary
should be able to agree together as to the quan-
tity which each shall supply, for Sir M. White
Ridley stated, that in. Shields and Newcastle
there were fifty-six, quarries, and one hundred
and fifty proprietors employing one hundred
thousand persons. All the Northern Proprie-
tors denied the existence of any such • combina-
tion. Mr. Lambton said " whatever Resolutions
they had entered into was not for the purpose of
limiting the supply, but for the purpose "of in-
suring to the city of London a regular and con-
stant supply of coals ;" yet without being better
acquainted than we are with the subject of the
Northern Mines, it would be presumptuous in us
to pronounce any opinion on this subject. Though
there are 150 proprietors in Shields and New-
castle, it may happen that a very small number
of these supply nearly the whole, from possessing
mines of great productiveness, which may be
wrought at a small expence. The mines which
are the most cheaply wrought can command the
others, and if a small number could supply an
unlimited quantity raised at much less expence
than the rest, that small number can always de-
termine the supply and the price. But however
this may be, it is clear that a high tax operating
as a bonus hi favour of the proprietors of inland
mines cannot mend the matter.

[MORNING POST.]
In the [louse of Commons last night, Sir M.
W. Ridley, supported by the great body of Coal
Mine Proprietors in the North of England, moved
three Resolutions in opposition to the plan pro-
posed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer with
respect to the diminution and regulation of the
existing duties. The first of these Resolutions
tended to remove the whole of the duties, with
a. view to impose fresh ones upon an equal scale.
His second. liesolution regarded the coasting
trade, with which he thought the Right lion.
Gentleman had dealt very hardly, in allowing
it no share in the remissions which had taken place.
His third Resolutio❑ declared that it was expe-
dient for the said duties to be totally but gradually
repealed. Mr. Littleton and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer combated those Resolutions, which,
had they passed, would have deprived London
of the relief provided for it by the arrangements
of the Minister. Notwithstanding the strength
marshalled in favour of the Resolutions, they
were severally rejected by majorities of 83, 80,
and 72, to 51, 54, and 60. In the early Fart of
the evening Mr. Curweu brought forts ard his
promised motion relative to the non•residessce of
the Attorne!y-General to the Isle of Man in that
Island. Mr. Secretary Peel replied to the
Hon. Gentleman, and shewed that constant re-
sidence had never been required, but Mr. Clark,
who holds the situation, bad engaged to hold
himself ready to go thither at all. times when he
might be called upon to do so, and had actually
Made three voyages there within the last twelve
months, when badness of moment rendered his
presence desirable. The present arrangement
was shewn to be made under all circumstances,
the best that could be made for the due adminis-
tration of justice in that Dependency, and the
least burthensome to its inhabitants.

[Tas Tutus.]

Considerable curiosity, and it feeling yet more
intense than simple curiosity, prevailing with re-
spect to the occurrences which have recently
taken place between the ipanish Government
and certain great Capitalists of this country,
we are happy in having the means of laying be-
fore the public some of the principal facts. It is
certain - that au offer was made to Ferdi-
nand and his Ministers, from persons of un-
doubted
competence• to fulfil their engagements,
to advance money upon loan ; but the indispensable
condition was, that the old Spanish► bonds, the
bonds of the Constitutional Government, should
be taken up by thew ; and at the rate, as they
proposed, of 33 per cent. Now, these bonds be-
ing secured upon monastic property, it was re-
quired, not only that, the Spanish clergy should
allow of that security or pledge, but that also
the pope should sztortion the transaction. To this