The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUES DAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 23, 1847.

- - -
would suggest that no one in possession of land
should be entitled to poor relief. The exact time might
be afterwards drawn, when they came to arrange the
details. If the Bill came up again with the alterations
which he had suggested, he for one would not op-
pose it.
Earl FITZWILLIA NI concurred with the Noble
Earl in the necessity which existed in Ireland for a poor-
' law, and also in saying that great care ought to be taken
in framing it. But what he was anxious about was,
that there might be a properly-adjusted system of elec-
toral divisions and communities. There was another
point to which he wished to advert. He considered that
to throw the population of a town on a single
electoral division was not only a hardship, but
most unjust. He conceived that it would be
right to throw the burden of relieving pauperism on
unions at large, but on some districts more extensive.
He was not aware that there were in the unions of Ire-
land any towns, at least what an English gentleman
would call a town. A great amount of the
pauperism, no doubt, was occasioned by the
system of clearing land estates in the neighbour-
hood of these towns. Now, he considered that those
persons who bad caused in some degree this pauperism
should be compelled to contribute towards its relief ;
and he repeated that it would be better to throw the
pauperism of the country on districts larger than even
electoral divisions.
Lord MOUNTCASHEL said, in reference to what
had fallen from the Noble Earl opposite, that the towns
in Ireland were very differently situated from those
in England, some of those places that con-
tained 3,000 or 4,000 inhabitants were to be
considered towns. He certainly agreed with the Noble
Lord, that there was a bonus held out to the proprietors
in some districts to induce them to pursue the system of
clearing the land. The effect was that a great
burden was imposed upon certain unions. He
felt that this would press most unjustly on the popu-
lation, for they would not only have to support their own
poor, but also the destitute persons that would be thrown
upon them. He would rather the measure was ex-
tended to three years than limited to twelve months.
The Earl of ItODEN had seen with great satisfaction
the excellent measures which had been introduced, he
might say so boldly, by her Majesty's Ministers for the
relief of Ireland, though he must, at the same time, say
that he was pleased to hear that the Noble Marquis had
consented to postpone the third reading of this Bill as
the delay might allow fer any improvement of
which it was susceptible. He had only two days ago come
up from Ireland, and could bear his testimony to the suffer-
ieg and distress which prevailed in Ireland. He could not
but also express his great satisfaction at the other Bill
which had been introduced—he meant that fur allowing
the sale of property in Ireland to pay off mortgages;
for without that he believed that all the other measures
together would be next to useless, for it was useless to
attempt to levy a tax for the relief of the poor on the
possessors of property unless they granted this relief.
Most of the entailed estates in that country are heavily
mortgaged. and if a man was presumed to hare 100,000/.
a year, the great probability was that in the majority of
cases he only enjoyed a rental of 2,0001., so that, with-
out the power to divest himself of his liabilities, they
would actually subject him to a tax, as if he
were a 100,0001. man, when in reality he was
only a 2,0001. a year man. Then as to the great
~jneasure for the reliet of the poor, he thought that some
alterations should be made as to the extent of the dis-
tricts; for it appeared to him that it would be most unjust
to limit the unions to the extent of the electoral districts,
and in his opinion it appeared to be better to de-
fine the districts by the size of the towns. Take, for in-
stance, a large town for a district, and then in another
part of the country combine several smaller towns into
a district, so that the population of the several districts
might bear a proportion to each other. Then, again, as
to the relief that was to be granted, he thought that
there should be some restriction to be placed upon it,
especially where the applicant for relief was the holder
of any land. In this country it would never be allowed
that relief should be given to a man who held a farm, so
long as he continued to hold that land.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE observed that the
discussion which had just taken place referred rather to
another Bill not before the House, than to the one under
consideration ; but he thought, nevertheless, that
it would be productive of good. There had
been considerable difference of opinion, whether
the rating should fall on the union, or
the electoral division, and it was, therefore, proposed to
make this an open question for the consideration of
Parliament. With regard to towns, he wassanguine
enough to hope that a provision applicable to them would
oubldewoebvveira,tetbtahtebdeiffielcauultsye
bllee wished introducedit
t,e abned
understood,
which had been introduced into the latter Bill by the
whieh
would
Noble Duke (Wellington), as to in door relief,
would be left intact, and the new principle, what-
ever arrangement may be come to with respect
to it, would only apply to the out-door
relief proposed to be given, without food.
He had the pleasure of announcing to their Lordships,
that in order to expedite the measure which had for
its object to facilitate the sale of lands in Ireland, his
Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack had con-
sented to give his immediate attention to the Bill, and
to introduce! it at an early opportunity into their Lord-
ship House, so that it, with the other measures
bearing upon Ireland, would come together before their
Lordships, appearing to aid each other to one end—the
relief of the distress prevalent in Ireland.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH expressed his satis-
faction that the Government had adopted the suggestion
made by the Noble Lord not now in the House, as
to defining the case of the pauper, that no
person assuming to be a pauper should continue
to hold possession of land. He begged their Lordships'
attention shortly to a remark of a Noble Lord, that the
provisions of one of the Bills proposed ought not to
affect the holders of small tenements. He thought if it
did not, the effect would be to absorb the whole income
of the country. The intention was to give a money re-
muneration to that class of persons who had small posses-
sions, and trafficked in land. Ile begged to ask, in case it
were carried out, to whom the person in possession
should surrender, whether to the chiet lessor, or into the
hands of a lessee who might have sublet it? for if it might
be resigned into the hands of a lessee, he himself might be
a pauper, or he might immediately go and sublet it
to another pauper, thereby entirely defeating their
Lordships' intention. The same remark applied to the
system of conacre, and he begged their Lordships to
consider it, for it would have the effect of absorbing the
whole income of the country.
Lord LANSDOWNE then moved that the third
reading of the Bill should be adjourned till to morrow.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 22.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
RAILWAY BILLS.
The following Railway Bills were read a second time,
and ordered to be committed ;
Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway Amendment

•
and Deviation.
Ayrshire and Galloway Railway (Smithstown to Dal-

mellington).
Caledonian Railway (Branches to Csnobie &c.)
Caledonian Railway (Lease of Part of Glasgow, Dum-
fries, and Carlisle Railway).
Caledonian Railway (Branch across Clyde and Glasgow

Station).
Great Northern Railway (Branch to King's Lynn).
Lynn and Ely Railway (Lynn and Wormegay Navi-
gation).
Lynn and Ely Railway (Deviation and Lynn Docks).
Portadown and Dungannon Railway.
Wishaw and Coltnoss Railway (Branches to Auchin-
heath Mineral Field and Canderside).
Several private Bills were brought in, and read a first
time.
AMBERSGATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON,

He bad since received a report on the subject, but parts
of it related to matters which had not been officially
referred to the inspector. He should have no objection,
however, to lay such parts before the House as imme-
diately related to the matter in question.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNES wished to ask the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, whether he had sent to the
President and Executive Council of Berne any notice
respecting their replies to the menaced interference of
the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian Governments, in
the international affairs of the Confederation, which
have been presented to Parliament by command of her
Majesty.
Lord PALMERSTON replied that her Majesty's Go-
vernment had not felt called upon to make any commu-
nication upon the subject.
PORTUGUESE PRISONERS.

Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask the Noble Lord
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Govern-
ment were in possession of any authentic information
respecting the destination of the officers who were taken
prisoners by the Portuguese army at the capture of
Torres Vedras.

Lord PALMERSTON said, that in consequence of
representations made to the Portuguese Government
by the British, French, and Belgian, the Government
had changed their intention of sending the prisoners
to the coast of Africa. He believed that it was pro-
posed to send them to Madeira, or some other island. He
had not, however received.any official information upon
the subject.
CONSTITUTION OF PRUSSIA.

Mr. P. HOWARD wished to know whether it was
the intention of the Government to lay upon the table
of the House copies of the new constitution of Prussia?
Lord PALMERSTON said that it was not usual for
the Government to lay before the House documents
relating so entirely to the internal management of the
affairs of other nations. If, however, the House wished to
have those documents, he would not object to their pro-
duction. He would, however, advise the Hon. Member
not to press for their production.
The subject then dropped
PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND).
Lord CLEMENTS wished, in the absence of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, to call the attention of
the honourable Gentleman the Secretary for Ire-
land to this circumstance. The House had been informed
that Government abuses bad taken place in con-
nexion with the public works in Ireland. Now,
he wished to know, as he believed these abuses had
been carried further, and had been committed by persons
not exactly connected with these works, whether the
Government had taken any steps in the matter, and
whether the accounts of the different baronies would be
audited ?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the convenience of the
House would be greatly promoted if Hon. Gentlemen
would give notice of their intention to put their
questions.—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt,the accounts
would be regularly audited. He would, however, con-
sult the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject.
INTRODUCTION OF BRITISH MANUFAC-
TURES INTO PRUSSIA.

Mr. FINCH said, as they had been informed by a
high authority that Prussia intended to offer
facilities for the introduction of British manu-
factures into that country, he wished to ask the Vice:
President cf the Board of Trade, whether there was any
immediate prospect of the free admission of British
manufactures into the Prussian dominions, or into the
states comprehended in the Zollverein?
Mr. M. GIBSON stated, in reply, that he had not
heard any one express a very sanguine hope that there
was any prospect that British or the manufactures of
any other country would be admitted free into
the Zollverein.—(flear, hear.) In fact, there had
been an augmentation of duty.—(Hear, and laughter.)
He was merely stating a fact.—( Hear.) With respect
to the first part of the Hon. Gentleman's question, he
begged to remind him that many other foreign countries
had made material reductions in their tariffs, and ad-
mitted the manufactures of other countries at a lower
duty.—(Hear.)
EXPORTATION OF RUSSIAN CORN.
In reply to a question from Mr. WAWN,
Lord PALMERSTON said he had recently received
information from St. Petersburgh which led him to be-
lieve that the Russian Government did intend to offer
facilities for the exportation of corn into this country.
(Hear.) Large quantities, he believed, had been ex-
ported.

SEED FOR IRELAND.
Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to know what arrange.
meats had been made for distributing seed to people in
Ireland out of the 50,0001. voted by Parliament?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the arrangements were
still under the consideration of the Government. Seed,
and not money, would be distributed.

- - RAILWAY BILLS.
Mr. STRUTT said that, in consequence of the wishes
of several Members, and with a view to limit the discus-

sion in the House, he would postpone the second reading
of the Railway Bills to Monday next.
DISTRESS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOT-

LAND.
On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that the
House do resolve itself into a Committee of 'Ways and

Means,MrE. ELLICE begged to call the attention of the
Government to a report of the sheriff-substitute of the
county regarding the suffering and privation to which,
from the extreme scarcity of food, the population on
the west coast of Inverness-shire is now reduced.

He was extremely unwilling to trespass on the attention
of the House, but unless some steps were taken, the
calamities which were of daily occurrence in Ireland
would soon extend themselves to the Highlands.
It was but fair to say that many of the Scotch
proprietors had made great sacrifices in order
to support the population on their estates. In fact, it
would be invidious in him to allude to particular
instances. Some had made greater, some smaller
exertions, but still a large amount of the desti-
tute population had been supported by the landed
proprietors without asking the House for assistance.
At the same time there were many other proprietors who
had not acted in the same way, and who had forgotten
their duty and the manifestation of that sympathy
which was due from them. It was regarding this class
that he wished to draw the attention of her Majesty's
Government to the facts which he held in his hand. Redid
not mean to say that the poor-law was efficient in every
instance of distress, and on that he did not wish at pre-
sent to express an opinion, as the law had not as yet
had a fair trail ; but he wished to press on the attention
of the House the facts to which he was coming. Those
facts were derived from a report of a gentleman of
high character, holding an important official situation,
and entitled to every consideration and credence. He
was the sheriff•substitute of the county of Inverness,
and the report was made at the instance of the Edin-
burgh Board of Relief, -at whose request he had
made a journey into the distressed districts. In
the districts which he traversed he found a great propor-
tion of the people in a state of starvation, and in a much
worse condition than he expected. in the first district
he entered he found that out of 91 families 82 were
utterly destitute, making 483 individuals. Of these
138 were under twelve years of age. The quantity of
meal in the district was only sufficient to pro-
vide one pound weight a day for four days.
The writer instanced cases where fever and disease,
consequent upon famine, had already made considerable
ravages. The next district he went to he found
only thirty individuals in independent circum-
stances, and not requiring aid. The place
contained 671 souls, and amongst all that number
he found only ten chests of meal, which would only
afford them sustenance for two days. One proprietor
employed eighteen men there, but he had made no pro-
vision to pay them, nor had he furnished them with
any food. In the next instance given, 650 people were
in the same condition. Supplies had been sent by
the Free Church Committee, but they bad been ex-
hausted. In one place, containing 1,610 people, 950 of
the number were in a state of destitution; and it was the
unanimous opinion of a meeting called there,
that in twenty-four hours many hundreds would
be suffering the pangs of hunger and starvation.
The writer said also, that nothing could be done by the
people themselves, and the proprietors did not appear to
be making any provision for them. The seed
corn was being consumed, and in many instances
had been wholly used. In a letter written by a
lady in the Isle of Skye, it was stated that
unless some means were taken to supply the people they
must starve. He did not wish then to make any ques-
tion as to the necessity of assisting the proprietors,
but the Government should take means to intro-
duce the poor-law as far as it could be made
available. Some steps should be taken by her
Governmentthleo
teansasinstts thea people
ndpropr;ietfoorrs,
inM Majesty's
essot yin' se
i n c e s,
ware selling their produce at a very low price,
in order to relieve the people as much as possible. He
felt that it was only necessary to call the attention of
her Majesty's Government to these circumstances, in
order to induce them to do all that could be dune for
these poor people, and to save them from the misery of
want and starvation.
G.
Sir Friend
thatediY said h
ltEhitenh
the
most
eoatwteasptt he
attention couldof assure
Government h
had
consequence of this visitation; it was true that the great
I tHe'igsitivleandasedof sSevcoertleanddiign
majority of proprietors in that district had made the
greatest sacrifices and exertions, in order to enable them
to discharge the obligations resting on them to support
the people in the present distress. There had been ex-
ceptions to this noble feeling, but he believed that the
exceptions were comparatively limited. The re-
port to which the Honourable Gentleman had
adverted had been communicated by the sheriff-
substitute of Inverness. He undertook his mission
throughout that district in which the distress prin-
cipally prevailed, and his friend the Earl of Eglin-
ton had communicated some letters embodying the same
facts as were contained in the report. Inquiry had
been directed into all the circumstances connected
with that distress, and the head of the Commissariat in
laces in halerd of sufforing from fa-
forded to tense p
) he eceived a letter from
Oban had been instructed to see that a supply was 0-
/nine. A f-w days am'
an of the Board of Supervision
gentleman had ordered that
in Scotland, and that
withthe • view
special
inquiry
Sir John
should be made,
existed should he carried into
that the poor-law as it
had always received orders to
effect. Captain Cowan
relieving distress where it
supply food, with the view of
existed. chlorin
roborate that the distress had greatlyd ins-erenaseda
Mr. BAILLIE said, that
in the Western Highlands.
He
had
thee fact.
he could painf.ul,ly
letter from M•Leod, of M`Leod, verifying
Sir GEORGE GREY said there were two frigates
constantly engaged in supplying the islands of Scotland
with food.
After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN,
Mr. P. SCHOU said it was highly praisewor-

thy of those landlords who had taken care of
their poor, and it was equally reprehensible of those
landlords who did not support their poor. But what
was still more reprehensible was, for Government to
allow the poor to remain at the mercy of any landlord ;
and there ought to be an efficient poor-law to obviate
the evil.—(Hear, hear.)
Major MACNAMARA said there was not a man in
his part of the country who had not done his duty, and
as for himself he was the largest contributor in the
county of Clare.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. STUART said that he had received a letter
from M'Leod, of M'Leod, detailing the distress of the
persons on his estate, and concluding by stating that
he had, up to the present period, supplied his tenants
with oatmeal to the amount of 51. on an average, and
that such was the fearful state of the distress, that it
was quite impossible for him to bear up under it.
The conversation then dropped.
THE J3UDCrET.

The House then resolved itsolf into a Committee of
Ways and Means.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose for
the purpose of making the financial statement, and said
—Mr. Greene: Although I have little doubt but that the
importance of the subject upon which I am now
about to address the Committee would ensure the
attention of the Committee, yet I hope I shall not appeal
to it in vain for its indulgence during the statement I
am about to make. Though unwilling to shrink from
the performance of that duty which persons holding my

situation are bound to perform, I am afraid that Lam
not very able properly to perform that task.—(Hear,
hear.) I hope, at the same time, that my inability

may be considered as my excuse if I make my state-
ment as short as may be consistent with making
it; as clear as possible, and confine my observe-

lions to that which is absolutely necessary,

in order to place before the Committee the
financial state and prospects of the country,
Sir, I put this further claim to the indulgence of the
House, that it is many years since a Chancellor of the
Exchequer has had to make so heavy a demand on the-
Treasury, owing to the unfortunate state of the
country, and I hope it will be several years
before a similar calamity will render such demands
necessary.—(Hear, hear.) The Committee, however,
must be aware that the calamity which calls for this
demand is one which no prudence, either on the part of
her Majesty's Ministers, or of any Government, or
of any Legislature, could possibly have pro-
vided against.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It has
pleased Providence to afflict not only this country, but
a gteat pant of Western Europe, with great dearth, and
that dearth has pressed peculiarly on that part of the
United Kingdom least able to bear it. Thousands

of suffering and famishing people, chiefly in the west
of Ireland, appeal for sympathy and assistance
to this House, and I know that that sympathy and that
assistance will be extended to them. —(Hear, hear.) Sir,
if I were only to reflect on the past, or even the pre-
sent state of the finances of the country, I cer-
tainly should say that there never was a time in
which the finances of the country were so well
able to bear the demand which has been made upon
them.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen have now had in their

hands for some time the balance-sheet of the last quarter
By it it appears that the whole excess above the re-

payments, amounts to 916,0001., and that the entire

balance is upwards of 9,000,0001. on the year.—(Hear.)
This is the first time, I believe I may say in the memory
of those conversant with these matters, that a Chancel•
for of the Exchequer has had to deal with so large a
balance. If, in like manner, I refer to the produce

of the great articles of consumption, it would show
that the revenue derived from them has exceeded the
most sanguine expectations even of the Right Honoura-
ble Gentleman opposite, who made his financial
statement last year. If I refer to the Customs,
I find that the produce of every article
for the nine months, from April to Decem-
ber inclusive, with one single exception of those
duties which were reduced, is considerably higher than
during the corresponding nine months of the preceding
year. In like manner, if I turn to the Excise
revenue, I find that in the last year, with
the single exception of soap, which, I believe
was, owing to some accidental circumstances at the

beginning of the year, on every material article the
duty has increased—even including that branch of it on
which the Honourable and Gallant Member for Lincoln

seemed to have some misgivings—namely, post-horses.
By the return of the quarter up to the 13th of February
last, I find that there is an increase in the ordinary re-

venue, as compared with the corresponding period
of the preceding year, of nearly half a million.
We hare, therefore, great reason to be thankful that
such a demand came at such a time, when we were: not
unprepared to meet it.—(Hear, hear.) At the same
time, I think we should hold out fallacious hopes

if I said we were entitled to look for a
continuance of such a season of prosperity.
Sir, I think that no person looking at the signs of the
times, can doubt that there are circumstances existing
which indicate that we may be approaching one of those
periods when a revulsion in the prosperity of the country
will occur. Such periods of calamity occur in com-
mercial enterprises as well as in the progress of
the country. Such was the case in 1825, and again in
1836, after years of unexampled prosperity. I do not
anticipate anything like the revulsion which took place
on former occasions. I see no symptoms, and 1
do not think it right to cause any fear in
the minds of persons by the expression of
such a belief. I think the experience of former times
has not been lost upon our merchants and traders, and
I hear from every quarter that the trade and comnterce
of the country is in a sound and healthy condition. And
I am inclined to attribute such a fact to the effects of the
measures regulating the currency introduced by the
Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth. I be-
lieve, but for the operation of that Bill, when the world
was not quite in a sober mood, we might have seen great
distress, consequent upon the mania existing for specula-
tion, and I believe that many of those who were most
adverse to the provisions of that Bill have latterly be.
come converts to the system it contains. I attach not
only these effects to that Bill, but I believe sounder
principles and sounder notions of currency were
brought into operation, and persons were induced to
pursue a more prudent course than on former
occasions. People invested their money in the. c.on
.
struction of railways instead of purchasing
stock and Mexican bonds. Great communications,
affording employment to the people and calculated
to promote the commercial prosperity of
the country, were constructed, and I am, there.
fore, convinced, that no such results will now
occur, as upon former occasions, but, neverthe-
less, it would be imprudent if we did not en-
deavour to be prepared. The present high prices
of provisions must necessarily diminish the comforts
of the people and their power of purchasing
luxuries. Sir, the high-priced food tells on the
existence of many, but it must tell upon the:coms
forts of all classes of society. I am speaking now of
this country, and am not alluding to the state of Ireland.
The result of this state of things is to diminish, among
all classes, the consumption of articles of luxury. I
hare looked through the articles of Customs and
Excise, and I find that, throughout the whole,
the main articles on which duty has been paid,
are articles of consumption for food. I find that
for the bygone year, ending January last, there has been
paid in these departments 34,553,0001. for articles of
food. Of this amount the article of sugar has cost
5 530 0001. The articles of wine, spirits, tea,
and 'coffee, 21,785,000 L ; beer, 4,333,0001., making a
total of 31,653,0001. This was the amount raised
raised. Contemporaneously with
the high price of provisions, there has been a high
had
b ; while, on the whole, the slim of
3op4nri,cstesh3e,
is0:0051 . r tie
raw material of one of the great
h
staple manufactures--I mean the article of cotton.
The result has been to produce a considerable diminu-
tion of the articles produced in this department of our
t
been
manufacturing industry. I hold in my hand a state•
men' of the mills employed, standing idle, or partially
employed on the 9th of January, and the 3d of February
last respectively. On the 9th of January last there were
ten mills in Manchester standing idle on the 3d of Feb-
ruary, 13; on the 9th of January, 52 were working short
time; on the 3d of February, ca
--; on the 9th of
January there were fully employed,
133 ; on the 3rd of
February, 124 ; on the 9th of January, 25,849
persons were fully employed ; on the 3rd of
February, 22,945 ; on the 9th of January, there
were working short time 11,851; on the 3d of February,
13,816; and on the 9th of January there were unem-
ployed 1,619; and on the 3d of February, 2,619.
Such was the condition of this branch of industry. But
the pressure occasioned by dear provisions was not alone
confined to this country; it prevailed in France, Belgium,
Germany, and Poland ; and the effect, as might be ex-
pected, was to create a demand for bullion for foreign
purposes, and therefore to create difficulties in
the way of commercial transactions, and to limit
the enterprise of the country, —(Hear, hear.)
I find, on referring to the state of the Bank in February
last year and February this year, there are only
1.200,0001. less this year than during the corresponding
period last year. On the 13th of February, 1846, there
was in the Bank 13,476,000/., and on the 13th February
this year there are 12,299,000. Indeed, Sir, I
am almost surprised at this, considering the amount of
bullion sent from this country, that the deficiency is not

greater, and it is in this respect satisfactory,
for there has been an enormous importation
of cora which has contributed to the prosperity
of the manufactures of this country, and has made
an enormous demand for manufactured goods, which
have been sent to America and elsewhere in payment
for food.—(Hear.) I am happy also to find that there
is not that demand for the exportation of food which
there was, and I am also happy to find
that a great establishment in a neighbouring
country—l mean the Bank of France—is in a better
situation than it was some time ago, because it
is utterly impossible tkat any great circumstance
affecting the commercial prosperity of that country,
could avoid being felt by and reacting upon
ourselves. I think that the circumstances I have stated
are enough to show that the present time is,
at least a time for caution. We cannot con-

tinually prosper to the • extent we do, and we must
be prepared for less prosperous times, and no one ought
to be too sanguine. I will now turn, which is more
particularly my duty, namely, to make the financial
statement. Sir, the Right Hon. Gentleman who
preceded me in the office I have the honour to
fill, made his financial statement in the month of May
last year. He then said that he anticipated a surplus
on the ordinary revenue of 76,000, and from the extra•
ordinary source of China, a surplus of 700,0001., making
altogether 776,0001. By subsequent legislation, slave
grown sugar has been rendered admissable to this
country, and the result has been that in the nine,
months from April to December there has been an
increase of revenue on the article of sugar to
the extent of 304,000 L The Right Honourable
Gentleman anticipated a probable surplus, and by
his nett calculation made it to be 1,500,0001.
However, if Hon. Gentlemen would only refer to the
balance-sheet issued on the sth of January, they would
find that the excess of income had so far ex-
ceeded the Right Honourable Gentleman's antici-
pations that there was an excess of 2,814,000 L
I may, perhaps, be justified in stating that when ,the
period comes to which the Right Hon. Gentleman made
reference, his calculations will be found to turn out not
unfavourable for the country. I think that the ealcu-
lations which I am about to make, based on the
proceeds of the revenue on the sth of January
last—on these proceeds I am about to state what I
think the probable revenue will be for the year, from
the ensuing sth April, 1847, to the sth April,
1848. The House will see that the increase
on the Customs duties to the sth January was 205,659/.,
and that a considerable amount was derivable from the
corn-laws, somewhere about 79,300/. In consequence,
however, of the suspension of the duties on the importa-
tion of corn, it will be seen that we cannot on the
first six months expect this amount to be continued.
What the produce of the harvest may be, we cannot of
course yet calculate; but, even supposing that nothing is
derived to the revenue from this source, I think that from
the increased importation in sugar a materially
added revenue will accrue from this source in the course
of the succeeding year; but more than that, on the only
three items on which the Customs fall off in the course of
the last six months for which we have a return,viz., butter,
cheese, and silk manufactures, I find that the import in
these articles has increased. I find that in the nine
months, from April to iDecember, the amount of butter
bee been 201,000 cwt. in 1845, as compared with 207,000
in 1846; cheese, 202,000 cwt. in 1845, as compared with
265,000 cwt. in 1846 ' • and 218,000 lbs. of manufactured
silk as compared with 297,000 lbs. in the following year.
Sir, taking all these circumstances into consideration, I
believe I shall be entitled to assume that the probable
income from Customs' duties for the ensuing year will not
be less than 20,000,0004 If trade goes on
without any material change, I believe I shall
be fairly justified in assuming that the Customs' duties
will yield 20,000,0004 I have already said that from
the beginning of the present year up to the present time
the Customs' and Excise duties have increased. The
increase in the Customs' duties alone has been no less
than 245,0004 I come now to the Excise produce. Up to
the sth January the Excise duties amounted to 13,988,0004
Sir, nothing can be more encouraging than the extraor-
dinary increase that has taken place in the excise duties,
during the last three or four years, and, although:theycan-
not exceed the amount of the past year, nevertheless, in
many respects, the Excise income is far more certain
than the Customs. I may therefore assume, with
some degree of certainty, that the Excise income
for the ensuing year will be 13,700,0001. Again,
the increase upon the Excise made in the be-
ginning of the present quarter has been no less
than 106,000/. In Ireland, too, the Excise duties have
increased in the course of the last year, but not to a
very considerable amount. Sir, the Stamps produced
in the year ending the sth of Jannary 7,505,0001.
I assume they will be about the same, or
7,500,00' )1. The Taxes and Land Assessments produced
4,272,0001. I know of no reason why the should not
produce the same, say, 4,270,0001. The Property-tax
produced 5,395,000/. ; but here there is a small amount
of extraordinary payment; therefore, although the
Property-tax since the sth of January, has increased by
169,000/. over the corresponding period of last year, I
will assume that the property-tax will yield a sum of
5,300,0006 The Post-office I will take at the same
amount as last year, 1,845,0001. ; Crown lands at
170,0001. The miscellaneous items of revenue, up to
the sth of January, produced 427,0001. The calculation
of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, was 300,000/.
A considerable sum of money had been paid from the
fees of the house, which, in all probability, will not be
so large in the present session. I may call it 30,000/.
from that source ; therefore I take the " Mis-
cellaneous" at 330,0004 This will make the
ordinary revenue of the financial year of 1847
and 1848 amount to 52,065,000/. I now come
to the expenditure. The interest of the debt, funded
and unfunded, will be 28,045,0004 The estimated charge
of the Consolidated Fund, omitting the charges on tic-
count of the Irish distress, will be 2,522,0004; to that
must be added that charge to which the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman (Mr. Goulburn) alluded last year, viz., 175,0001.
for the remainder of the charges on the Irish consta-
bulary, hitherto borne by the counties of Ireland,
making a total, in round numbers, of 2,700,000/. The
amount of the National Debt Consolidated Fund charges
will be 30,745,000/. The estimates in the various
services, except the "Miscellaneous," are all upon the
table of the House. I, therefore, need not do more than
merely
the army x2
relyallndeto some of the items. The vote will
50
i11,b7e4,
For
The militia
The increase in the Commissariat

eavoatme
Makinga
r the
ter wohfo lteh
ea r my
r, £6,840,074
ounting to 192.0001.,
But for the increase in the deferred estimates for the
there would be a decrease in the army vote of 30,0001.
The navy estimates for the present year willbe 7,561,876/
previ
being an increase in that department of 77,0061.
The estimates for the last two years have been below
the expenditure. Later in the evening I shall
show the excess of that expenditure for the
year ending in April last. I am afraid, however,
owing to arrangements made in
of this year that there • is a probability that the expen-
diture of the present year will exceed that anticipated.
A considerable portion of that increase has been deemed
necessary. We have increased the marine force to the
extent of 1,500 men, and when my Honourable
Friend (Mr. Ward) states the naval estimates of the
House, he will state the reason of this increase more
fully than I now intend to do; but I think it right to
make this statement now. The vote for the Ordnance
department will be 2,679,1271., which is an in-
crease over the last year of 135,5581. Out of
that increase, 67,2991. is due for certain services
which the House last year considered ought to be
placed under the head of the :Ordnance, in order to
bring that portion of the expenditure into proper
order. The remainder of the increase is partly
owing to the necessity which has arisen in conse-
quence of the change which has taken place in
maratime warfare by the introduction of steam-ships for
the purpose of promoting the defences of the country.
Sir, the Miscellaneous, the list of which is not on the
table, is 3,750,060/, I have left out of them any sums
voted with regard to the relief of Ireland. I may say
however, that 1,302,0001. is included in the Right Hon.
Gentleman's estimate. Compared, then, with last year
there is an increase of about 397,0001. Of that 171,0001.
is owing to a half-year's expenditure connected with
certain provisions of the poor-law, and of prosecutions,
and for the maintenance of prisoners. The remainder
of the increase is due to the necessity for providing for
the maintenance of convicts at home instead of
the colonies. A considerable portion is due to
printing and stationery for both Houses of
Parliament, which is very heavy ; also, in
consequence of some unexpected increase is the ex-
penses in connexion with the New Houses of Parliament
to which, I think, I had not better further advert until
they are before the House. The result of these several
sums proposed to be voted is 20,831,0771., making the
whole ordinary expenditure for the year 51,576,000/.
Sir, in the statement which I have made to the House
I have omitted, purposely, all SUMS required for the re-
lief of distress in Ireland, whether they have been
granted, or estimated, with the exception of
the ordinary establishment of the Aoard of Works,
and the salaries of such officers as would
have bees employed otherwise, but who are now en-
gaged in the inspection of the relief committees. And
it now becomes my duty to state what I think the demand
on the Exchequer will be. What is material to the present
purpose is not what may be the ultimate demand upon
us, but what may be necessary to meet the present
emergency. The system which has been commenced
last year, and continued to the present moment,
is, that all the sums required for the relief
of public distress should be advanced by the
Crown. Whatever burdens may be ultimately thrown
on the landed property in Ireland, in respect to these
sums, the landed proprietors have as yet paid nothing.—
(Hear, hear.) . They have paid, no doubt, the poor-
rates, which, in 1846, amounted to 390,0001., and they
have paid their subscriptions to the relief com-
mittees ; and I believe that a large body of
the landd proprietors have gone to a very great ex-
ntain the poor upon their estates. I am
pense to mai
w confining my statement to t e relief wor s, an
h k d
Whatever may be the expense, the whole sum, in the
first instance, is advanced from the public Treasury.
It is :not very easy to state precisely what the
amount of expenditure may be, tor that will depend
upon a variety of circumstances over which we have no
control. It is easy enough to state what the expenses,
in various ways, have already been. I stated a night
or two ago that the expease in the month of November
amounted to 302,0001., and in five weeks after to 742,0001.
The number of persons employed in October last was

190,000 ; in November the number was 285,000 ; in
December the number was 404,000 ; and in January it
was 571,000. The expenditure up to the sth of January
last, for a staff for the Board of Works, has been
20,5004 ; and the amount expended for other officers
to the same date has been 27,5001. There has been ex-
pended up to this time, for the purposes of draining
about 218,090 L, and on depots the amount has been
295,0001.: nearly all the latter sum will be repaid
to the Government when the sales of the depots
take place. For the purposes of the Labour-rate
Act there has been advanced from the Exchequer
of this country to Ireland the sum of 2,400,0001,, and of
thi.3 there has been disbursed under the direction of the
Board of Works nearly two millions. This expenditure
of 2,400,000/. bad taken place up to the 20th of Feb. last.
The amount raised by donations and expended
in Ireland from August till now has been 80,000 L
Now from this statement I do not think that
there will be required a sum less than a
million a month to meet the exigencies of Ireland.
The amount which was expended in January was
800,0001., and this did not include all the outlay. No
doubt the Board of Works will In future be relieved of a

great deal of its pressure, but, on the other hand, it should
be recollected that during the summer months there
are the greatest number of destitute persons in Ireland.
During the months of June, July and August, there are
infinitely less people employed than at an earlier period
of the year. It was, I beliere, in reference to these
three months that the statement the Right Hon. Gentle-

man alluded to was made—that somewhere about two
millions of people in Ireland were in a state of total des-
titution for three months of the year. Again, we expect
no inconsiderable saving by ►he different modes of ad-
ministering relief, through the medium of soup kitchens
and relief committees, for they are considerably
cheaper than the relief given by the public works,
On the other hand, the increase in the destitution of
that country and the increased demand for a supply of
food, will, I believe, render a greater amount of ex-
penditure necessary. Again, Sir, there is no doubt that
a considerable number of persons will be taken off the
public works by the employment afforded by the land-
lords of Ireland, under the Bill, which I hope will be
passed before long, for the improvement of their estates.
I believed that the Bill will work well in Ireland,
for all accounts of it have induced in my mind very

sanguine expectations. Again Sir, the advances made
by the Treasury will have to be made, as far as I can
see from the data we have to go upon, down to the ga-
thering in of the next harvest. It is impossible to sup
pose that all exertions on the part of these national mea-
sures can cease at once in harvest time, and it is quite
clear that advances for the purposes of carrying on many
works must be continued ; so that it is very likely that
for some short period after the harvest—looking at the
case in the most favourable light—these advances must
be continued. Taking, therefore, the briefestview it is pos-
sible to estimate, I cannot estimate the expenditure under
eight millions. Up to the present time, as I have
already stated, two millions had been advanced, and
therefore the estimate of the total sum which will be

required to be expended or advanced, granted or lent,
for the relief of distress in Ireland, during the period of
about a year, will not be less than ten millions of
money.—(Sensation.) Two millions have been already
advanced, eight are to be advanced, making altogether,
from the conclusion of August last to the conclusion of
these operations, which I anticipate at the end
of the harvest, ten millions of money.—(Hear.)
Sir, I do believe that even if the 16,000,0001. which the
Noble Lord opposite wished the Government to advance
to the railways had been ordered by the House,
that not even one shilling of these 10,000,000/.
would be saved to the country. With the heavy
demands which are now made on the resources
of the country, I was glad, although myself unable to
take part in this discussion—l say I was glad, and gra-
tified to see the authority by which the House
affirmed so wise and prudent a resolution.—(Hear
hear,) The announcement which I have now to make
must be evident to the Committee—it must be evident

that I must go into the market to borrow, because no
amount of taxation will be able to produce within the
. .

time required the money which is necessary for the
relief of Ireland. It is, therefore, a matter not of chance,

but of necessity, that I must go into the market to
borrow, and the first question which it is necessary
for me to ask is, shall I borrow the whole of -the
8,000,0001., or endeavour only to borrow a part. If I
adopt the latter course, I must first consider whether I
shall not reduce the balances of the Exchequer. Now,

Sir, this is a course which I am most unwilling
to adopt. Sir, I think that no person who looks to
the state of what is called the money market of this
country, who considers that the exchanges bad been
adverse to us (although I am happy to say that they
have lately been less adverse than they were, still they
are just at the turn), will say, after a consideration of
these circumstances, that it would not be

exceedingly injudicious in me if I put a farther
pressure on the monetary sy stem of this country.
It must also be remembered that by a Bill of
last session great advances were made for the
purposes of drainage and other improvements.
But, Sir, there is a still further and more weighty con-
sideration. It is uncertain what hangs over to, and what
will be the produce of the ensuing harvest no man can
tell. No man can overrate the importance of a good
harvest. Hitherto we have been living mainly upon por-
tions of the harvest of 1845—1 mean on the harvest of other
countries of 1845, and to some extent upon the harvest
of 1846. In the course of the last year there was in-
troduced, for home consumption in this country, of
grain and flour of all kinds, no less a quantity than
5,318,000 quarters. It was hoped that there would
have been a considerable import of Indian corn,
the produce of the harvest of 1846, but those hopes
were not realised. lam confident, however, that in the
course of this summer we shall have an abundandant
supply of Indian corn; but still it is impossible
to say what will be the produce of the next har-
vest. It may please God to give us a good har-
vest throughout the world, but unless that dispensation
is vouchsafed to us it will be impossible to calcu-
late for the future. Sir, the means by winch we met
the pressure of last autumn was the large balance in the
Exchequer, and I hope this will convince every Member
of the Committee of the necessity for keeping some con.
siderable balance in the Exchequer. Sir, this being so,
I believe the wiser and more prudent course is at once
to borrow the extreme sum. Honourable Gentlemen
must remember, that in borrowing this, I do not take

a permanent responsible position, Cecause a considerable
portion of the sum will be repaid by Irish landlords.
Of the expenditure on the public works in Ireland, halt
_ .

of it has been granted as acharge upon the property of
Ireland, and payable in a period of ten years. The
amount of these repayments, as they come in, will, of
course, extinguish a considerable portion of the
debt proposed to be contracted. But, even
though the half of the sums granted to
Ireland should be repaid, there would still
remain a balance of 4,000,0001. or 5,000,0001., which
will not be so much when it is considered for what
purpose the grant has been made, viz., for the relief of
our suffering fellow creatures. The next ques-
tion of course is, whether, in the borrowing of
so large a sum, I should not have accompanied
that loan with increased taxation, not only for
the purpose of paying the interest of the loan
proposed to be raised, but also for discharging a portion
of the debt before a long period. I was exceedingly un-
willing, even to the amount which I have named, to in-
crease the amount of the permanent debt without mat; ing
some immediate provision for its extinction before
long ; I was unwilling to add even this amount
to the permanent debt; but, on the other hand, there
were many reasons which induced me to pause before I
determined on the adoption of that course. In the first
place, among many other reasons, the present year i.
one in which it would be most unfortunate to attempt
any alteration in the taxation of the country. Every
body knows that a season of great taxation invariably
induces stagnation of trade. In proof of that assertion,
compare the first quarter of the year 1846 and the first
quarter of the present year. In the last year the repeal
of the corn-laws and other duties was hanging over the
commerce of the country, thereby causing great
uncertainty in commercial matters. In the present year
all agitation has been suspended, commerce has been
thrown open, and, as I have already stated, a remark-
able increase in the Customs and Excise has been
made in consequence in the corresponding quarter
of the last and present years. Further than that,
I think no inconsiderable weight is to be at-
tached to the consideration mentioned before, namely,
with reference to the amount which the Governmeri
may ultimately have to obtain. If, as I hope, the har-
vest of the next year turns out a plentiful one—if, as
I hope, from one source or another, employment, or the
means of sub,istence, be provided for the suff: ring peopl.
of Ireland, then in such case the present demand now made
for the loan may not be required. If, however, upon the
contrary, the produce of the harvest should be deficient ;
if there should be again a failure of the potato crop, and
of the grain imported from elsewhere, or grown in this
country, should be a high price and dear, then it will be
necessary for the country to come forward and assist
the starving population, and allowing a further
demand to be made upon the public resources of the
country. I hope before Parliament meets again
that I shall be able to inform them of
the prosperous state of the country, in connexion
with the harvests. I think, therefore, that it is better to
postpone dealing with the question of increased
taxation until we can deal with it with the
full knowledge of the existing circumstances.
Hon. Gentlemen must be aware that in the next session
e
of Parliament it will be necessary to deal_taxation
with
question of the renewal of the income-tax. If
was to be increased this year, that is one of the
sources of revenue to which one would naturally look
as a fit tax to impose, but I think it would be extremely
unwise to deal with it this year—topejudge Parliament
Parliament, perhaps. It is for these reasons, Sir,
—thaa wtnietwould be well if I could this year provide for the
loans out of the ordinary revenue; but I propose adopt-
ing a more prudent course, and not increasing the taxa-
tion in the present year, but leaving that question to
be dealt with next year. Now, Sir, I have already
stated that the ordinary revenue was 52,065,00 a,
that the ordinary expenditure was 51,576,0001., leaving
therefore a surplus of 489,000 L Now, Sir, assuming that
I borrow 9,000,0001. what will be
,the annual interest on
that amount ? Of course it is obvious that at 3 per cent.
the interest would be 240,0001.; at 3i, 280,000/. ; and at 4,
320,0001. Sir, I have no doubt in the world of being
able to borrow that amount at 3i—(Cheers)—there-
fore the interest will be 280,0001.; but I am afraid,
Sir, that that is not the only demand which will
be made upon us in the shape of interest,
for there is another description of debt upon
which, after the best inquiries I have been able to make
I regret to say. that I feel myself under the necessity of
raising the interest upon Exchequer-bills. There
are many reasons which have led to a depression of value
in that description of security in the markets. If the
rate of interest on all money has already been
raised—and I don't think it is an improper
5651123Pti0U WI say that it will be further in-