The Sun.
London, England, 1823-03-21 00:00:00

proposed. Thtiugh they might differ as to the causes of their
present grievances, and of the remote and immediate come-
quennes to which they might lead, they all agreed as to their
nature and extent. Even the Learned Gentleman agreed
in the necessity of making a strong representation to the
Legislature on the state to which agriculture was reduced.;
and he believed that few of twee differed from his state-
mentohat it was the aggregate amount of taxation that
weighed .down .the agriculturist. On that point the original
petition conneved .a strong statement,--not Indeed so strong.
as the Learned ..Gentleman's, but still it called on the Legisla-
ture to take the subject into its immediate and serious considera-
tion. ,It was not atoll extraordinary that it should point out
the malt tax as-the most proper to he repealed. There wa.a more
malt brewed thirty years ago than now,. and that was owing to
20s. a quarter being the duty upon it as malteand an additional
30s. when it cameunder the beer tax, to say notliing of the 131.105.
which barley paid per acre, when used for purposes of dietilla •
tion. Besides, the malt-tax wasperticularly injurious, as it
affected a wholesome beverage, which formed the delight as well
as the food of the labouring classes. The Hon. Member then
proceeded to state, that the-opinions which he had expressed
in parliarnent .regarding .the effects of the change in the.ciar-
rency remained ,unshaken, and to condemn Peel's Bill as an
accomplished piece of jugglery; which had reduced ,the
estate of the landlords, and diminished the capitals of the
tenants full one half in their value. ,Under the operation—of
that act, agriculture had declined in a most wonderful degree ;
and if it continued to decline, every other interest in a very
short time would commence taelecline with ,it. Adverting to
the, amendment which hail been proposed, lie stated that he was
most anxious that it should not pass,; because if it did ;sass,
the harmony of -the meeting would be disturbed, -and the
effect of its exertions coneiderably impeded. ,Ile folly agreed
with.the fawned Gent. on the necessity of a .reform in the re-
presentation.; but he thought that the subject was of sufficient
importance of itself to demand a separate discussion, and for
that reason he advised the meeting to vote fir the original
petition, as by so doing, they would not be the 31arplots who,
took delight in the destruction of their own works.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HONYWOOD, explained the reasons why he'
supported the original petition,; but at the same time express-,
ed a regret that it had not embraced the question at Re-
form, without which he considered all petitions to be use-
less under the present constitution of Parliament. lie had
given his signature to the requisition on which the meeting
had been called, because he saw that a great number of those
who bail previously signed it were.labouring under severe dis-
tress, and because he thought that the boon. which they asked,
though small, might Word some relief. Having signed
the requisition, he felt himself to a certain degree ,pledged
to support the petition .which was circulated along with it.—
There were a few points in the inoended petition, to.whiell he
could not agree; hut he fully agreed with the mover of it, that
as the evils of the country arose In a great measure from an in-
crease, the remedy tbr them was to. be found in a diminution,
of taxation.—(Hear!)--Ile felt, too, that the relief afforded by
the remission of 7 millions of taxation would be more for the
interest of the country than the keeping up of a.sinking-fund
0f.6 millionsto pay Of the nationalilebtee-(Hear.)
Colonel 1111,p 3IS T ONE ,said, that as all trades.were exposed
to vicissitudes, it ought not to be expected that agriculture,
should he excepted trom it. Did lie, therefore, think, that
agricultore ou"ht to be abandoned because it had been for some
time, depressed? Certainly not: Indeed, he was happy to say.,
that though for the, last slit years it. had been badly off, it was
now beginning again to look up.—(Disapprobation.)—.He
olajectedso the original petition, because it .was calculated
to continue a delusion that the. A griculuiriets might , even-
tually recover the property which they had .recently Jost.
—After shewing that the remission of taxation ,already made-
had not been productive of the :benefit 'which had been an-
ticipated, he asked .what relief they expected to obtain from
the remission of the malt-tax, for which the petition prayed ?
(Cries, "An increased consumption.") elle ewittild say that,
the ,relief for which they asked would not only not benefit
them, but even,if it would, ought net to be granted, because
it would require a-reduction pt the expenditure of the .state ;
and he was convinced ,that no essential reduction .in the ex-
penses of the country could, be made witheutevielating the, ar-
rangements which had been made for the,security of the na-
tional creditor. If' lie could not agree with the °ripnal petition,
still less could he agree with theeimended.one. ,l'ilere was one
assertion in it that -he believed had then for die first time been
proposed to die freeholders of Essex —be alluded to that sen-
tence in which it was proposed that the, property of -the church
should be regulated as the Govermnent thought proper, and
that a commutation of tithes should be resorted. to. Now, in
the first place, the property of the church was as much its pro-
perty as, he estate of any ;gentleman, then present was his pro-
perty ; and, in the second, theoglialie word, commutation wee
used, the word was directly opposed to the principle. Com-
mutation was generally supposed to ;.take.plece by consent of
beds parties ; but here it was to be made by the will and power
of one party without even asking the consent of the other.-,-
!rho Honourable Gentleman .concluded by lamenting that lie
was obliged to oppose both the petitions that had been proposed
to the meeting.
Mr. 1,..r.nrx.tun,.111. P., Atetetl,
:that as lie agreed in almost
every .sentence contained in the amendedpetition, except that
which related to the touching the church property, he felt de-
sirous to explalp, why, he could not vote for it. Having signed
the requisition to which the petition.was annexed, he felt that
he should be guilty of a breach of faith, it' lie now turned round
and supported. another.
11r. TowEn suggested to the lion. Mover of the amend-
ment, the propriety of withdrawing it, to prevent the harmony
of the day from being interrupted. lie thought that the public
creditor would be a richer man,, and ivoold have a better se-
curity for his debt, if 7,000,1)1)11/. of taxes had been remitted,
instead of a Sinking Fund being retained of 6,000,0001., which
bore die. same proportion to the debt as one did to two lions
dred.—(Cheers.)—He looked upon the commutation of tithes in
the manner proposed by Mr. Goulburn as a salutary measure,
and. thought that the meeting; ought to take every opportunity
of putting ,a stop to the odious practice of taking tidies in
kind.--(Cheers.)—Though lie did not think the malt-tax the
exact tax which ought to be repealed, the petition still adverted
to many other points from which relief :night be obtained.—
( Hear, heart) •
JOHN TVIUtELL could nqt support either the Petition
or the amendment to it, which had been that day propoeed.
lie declared himself a friend to a modified property tax, and
stated his conviction, dieted that measure had been carried in
11116, .the farmer would have, been relieved front many of the
evils under which he was now labouring.
Mr. P. Witiowr, after confessing himself friendly. to re-
form, joined in die wish that , Air. Harvey would withdraw his
amendment.
Mr. D. W. *HARVEY said, that it appeared strange that
nearly every. Gentleman who had spoken had concurred -with'
some part or other of his petition, and that notwithstanding all
of .thernehad desired him to withdraw it, fur the sake of una-
nimity.—(A 'laugh.)—Though he did not believe that the arir
riginal petition, if passed unanimously, -would be attended
with the consequences which sonic 'Gentlemen seemed to
anticipate, still he would not have it attributed to him,
that .but for his lamentable interpositien the petition .of the
freeholders of Essex would have been successful, and the land-
lord and yeomanry have been restored to wealth by die repeal
of the 20s. duty,.on malt. Ile therefore, in compliment to the
Honourable Gentlemen who had addressed him, withdrew his
amendment ; but lie hoped that they would show no reluctance
to support it, . if, when they next stet, they found themselves
still burdened with a2oe. duty upon malt.,.--(Laughter, and great
and universal cheering.)
Mr. Boxy woon, to prevent mistakes, said that the points
in the amended petition, which he was ready to support, were
the call for a reform in Parliament, the reduction of taxation,.
and tile commutation of tithe.
Mr. LENNAHD returned thanks to Mr. Harvey, for the
courtesy he had displayed in withdrawing his amendment.
The original petition was theoput, .and carried, with only
two dissentient votes. It was then ordered to be presented to
the Commune by Mr. Western, and to the Lords by Lord Bray-
brooke, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county.
Thanks were then voted to the HIGH SHERIFF, who, after
shortly expressing his gratitude, dissolved the Meeting at halt.
past 6 o'clock.

PA It VJAM ENT.

HOUSE ,OF LORDS, THURRDAY, MARCH 20.

Mr. To ML1)(8, from the Treasury, presented at their Lord-
ships' Bar an Account of all Monies received as Dreits of Ad..
miralty.—Laid on the table.

A Person
the
an Affidavit and attested Copies of Pro-
ceedings in tile I,Cdesiaatical Court of Madras, a 3 evidence in
support of a Divorce Bill.
The General Turnpike Act Amendment Bill was read the
third time.
The Yeomanry Corps of Ireland Bill was read a third time.
The ,Army and Marine Mutiny Bills were read a second
time.
The National Debt Reduction Bill was read the second time,
and committed for to-morrow.
The King's Property Regulation Bill passed through a Com-
mittee, and was reported without Amendment.
A regulation, respecting Appeals, was made a standing or.
der.—The House adjourned.

present at four o'clock,
There being HOUSE OF COMMONS,
but thirty
the House was adjourn until to.tuorrow (this day.)
flvc Alembers