The Sun.
London, England, 1823-02-22 00:00:00

had not deal t altogether fairly.,by the .:ilembersonhis (Mr. U.'s)l
side of the House. lie (Mr. II.) took upon himself to assert
with confidence, that eery lestimete of- the'Public Expenditure
had increased since the year 1817. iTthe Right Hon. Gentle-
man disputed this, he might prodeei the requisite papers, and
the House would he enabled to ;judge. He should certainly,
on some future and inure convenient .evasion, submit a motion
to the House relative to the Sinking Fund. -
Mr. T. W ILSON congratulated the House on the honoura-
ble declaration which had just been made by the Honourable
Gentleman wile had just sat down, respecting the public faith.
-With regard to the suggestion thrown olit bytthe Hon. Gentleman
for the relief of the Shipping Interest, by repealing the tax of
6d. per month upon Seamen's Wages, although he was ninth
connected with the Shipping Interest, he had no desire to see
it benctitted at the expence of any other. He, therefore, could
not consent to the repeal of that tax, as a measure of particular
relief, though he trusted, and had no doubt, that hie Majesty's
.Ministers would take the necessary measures for diminishing
,the expence of its collection.
Sir ti. PARNELL sad he wax highly gratified at the
kind •and warm feeling which had been expressed by the Chan-
cellorof elle Exchequer on the state of Ireland. He agreed
in the general views taken by the Right Hon. Gentleman, par-
•ticularly those which regarded the Commission of Inquiry, the
Commiscioners under which had discharged their dude; in the
most exemplary manner. They had recommended a consolida-
tion of the Board of Revenue ; and in this he entirely concur.
red with them. Ile agreed also in opinion with the Right lion.
Gentleman with regard to the equilization of Custom Duties
and, with reference to that Right lion. Gentleman's sentiments
respecting Distilleries, lie could assure him lie would not be
disappointed in his expectations of an increased Revenue aris-
ing from his putting his opinions in practice. He was sort;;
however, that the Right Hon. Gentleman had not contemplated
theeliminution of taxes upon Tobacco, and other articles of
great consumption in Ireland. lie had no doubt their diminu-
tion would prove of considerable benefit to the Revenue.
'Lord FOLKESTONE admitted- that the statement of the
Right Hon. Gentleman had all the merit of cleerneee and per-
spicuity ; but he was much disappointed that the statement it-
self had been brought to,a close without opening any proposal
for, the particular relief of the elgrieultural Classes. Indeed.
from sonic parts of the Right lion. Gentleman's speech he did
not know whether the Right lion. Gentleman admitted the
existence of their distress ; for lie had appeared to treat an in-
creasing Revenue as a sign of unqualified prosperity among
all descriptions of the people. Ile begged to dissent from such
a proposition ; the true question was net whether this or that
Revenue was raised, but whether it was raised without extra-
ordinary pressure on 'the people. In India the Revenue was
immense, but this was no sign of prosperity among the people,
who were suffering and impoverished to a degree to which
he feared thus of this country were fast approaching.—
It appeared now to be the fashion to cry up Public Credit, and
even to cry down those who did not cry it up. He bad said,
two years ago, that it was unfair and unwise to push this prin-
ciple of national faith to the extreme. He had then stated
cases in which it would not only be fair, but just and neces-
sary, to question this principle. He should not now enter into
an exanunation of those mites, but whenever it should be pro-
per, he would fearlessly state his opinions upon them. Much
had been said about the Sinking Fund ; he was old enough in
Parliament to recollect the time when a proposal for touching
this Fund was ae loudly condemned, and was treated with as
much ignominy as was the proposal which was now broached
fin affecting the Public Faith. The opinions he had long ene
tertained on this subject were confirmed by experience, and
he repeated, that on the arrival of a proper time he should move
them, regerdless of any animadversion by which he might be
threatened,