The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-30 00:00:00

Tfik SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EV*ENING, MAY BO, 1846.

to such observations as would vindicate himself in their eyes.
The Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, having heard on a
former occasion that he was going to offer some observations
with reference to the price of potatoes in Yorkshire, had, with
the kindness which always distingished him, handed to him
a letter from a person residing there; which letter referred to
the subject. The Noble Lord did not know the writer of the
letter, but on his (Mr. Lawson) seeing it, he at once de-
clared that he was acquainted with the author of it. He was
called upon for the name of the individual, but he was not
then able to say who he was. He would now state that his I
name was Mr. Robert Schofield, of Sands Hall, near Howden,
who was a large grower of potatoes. Many animadversions
were offered upon that statement, and he had written again to
Yorkshire, for the purpose of procuring information on the
subject, as he was not then in a condition to give a satisfac-
tory explanation. On Saturday last, he (Mr. Lawson)
wrote to the Alderman that he would offer a vindi-
cation of the statement which he disputed.---( Hear.
hear.) He would now, therefore, say that the gentleman
win sent the potatoes to London was a Mr. Meggott of Howden.
It appeared this cargo was brought into port on the 17th of
March, and that it was transhipped on the 14th of April, and
that it reached Hull on the 2 ith. The potatoes were not
Sold there, but were transferred to Leeds, where they were
sold at the rate of 50s. per ton. He did not pretend to
know much of the potato trade, and, with all deference to the
Hon. Member, and at the same time to the Hon. Alderman,
he must assert, that the reports were not borne out by the facts.
It appeared that the whole of the cargo was 170 tons. It
appeared also, that two cwt. were sold at the rate of 275. a
ton. Forty-three tons were sold at the rate of 50s, a ton. The
cargo was not disposed of at Hull, but, according to the report
of Captain Shaw, it was carried to Leeds, where 43 tons were
disposed of at the rate of 503. per ton. He need not repeat
that he had no experience, but it appeared to him that it was
an unwarrantable stretch of the personal power of the Ministry.
The Hon. Alderman had stated that no potatoes had been of-
fered in London to any but cow-keepers at as low a price as
that which he (Mr. Lawson) had stated. This statement, it
appeared, was without foundation or fact. There was in the
city of London a monopoly in potatoes which ought to be looked
into by that House. He could not trespass further on the
House, but if any of Isis statements were impugned, he would
reserve to himself the right of making a further explanation.
Alderman HUMPH REY said the Hon. Member had deli-
vered himself of something which he conceived to be like that
which was produced by the mountain in labour. Now he did
impugn his statements, and he would trouble the House by read-
ing to them what it was he said on the last occasion.
After reading an extract from the speech in question, the
Hon. Gentleman proceeded to say, that a gentleman, whose
name, he believed, was Miggott, or Maggott—(Laughter)--
who combined in his own person the business of linendraper,
a painter, glazier, mercer, and, he believed, also the business
of a hatter—(Laughter)—and other things, had read an ac-
count of the " Peel Panic," and that potatoes were going to
be extremely scarce. Not knowing, however, much about
the potato market, he went to a small farmer—whe her he
was a friend of the Hon. Member (Mr. Lawson) he did not
kn( w—but, at any rate, he went to him and purchased 50 tons
of potatoes at 883. He requested the farmer to have
the potatoes all picked, and to have the best samples selected
in order that they might be forthwith sent to London, in
anticipation that when they were sent to London he
should have been enabled to sell them for the purpose of seed.
But being, however, an unfortunate tradesman, he did not
know how to ship the potatoes, and a Mr. Saltmarsh, shipped
them for him in a brig called the " Vigilant." They were put
in the forecastle, and made five rooms of potatoes. When they
arrived in London, a quantity of a similar descriptd.n,
brought by the same brig, were sold at 95'. per ton. The
vessel was detained some weeks, during which time, a person
named Liddel, sold about four tons at from 85s. to 90s. per
ton. As the remainder could not, however, be sold, he was
persuaded to take them to Leeds, where, he presumed, he sold
them to the poor at a cheaper rate. He lost 2001. by the
transaction; and Mc Scholefield and others stated the case to
the Noble Lord, saying, " Here is a ewe in point of potatoes
being plentiful, and yet they cannot be sold even in London,"
and on that assertion and on these facts, a cry was raised that the
statement that there was a scarcity of potatoes was untrue.
He would state the quantity of potatoes which came into
London, to show the tailing off that had taken place in the
supply of the present year. In 1840, there were 7,3'10,000
sacks brought up the river ; in 1844, 1,222,000 ; in 1845,
1,505.000; while in the present year the number was only
969,000 sacks. He had been told by Mr. Little, that those
potatoes which the Hon. Gentleman opposite had alluded to
could have all been sold for 41. per ton, but this gentleman, who
had embarked for the first time, and had fairly being taken
in, refused to sell them for less than 5/. per ton.—( Hear. )
It would appear that there was a sort of sweating in the vessels
in which the potatoes were recently brought up to London ;
and this very week no less than 5000 tons of potatoes were
found to be unfit for human food, and they were thrown into
the river Thames.—( Hear, hear.) Gentlemen's po-
tatoes, he said, were produced on a highly cultivated soil
and they were, therefore, not liable to the blight which befel
the Yorkshire potatoes. He had now only to say what he had
before said, that the assertions of that Hon. Gentleman must
have been made for a party purpose—to deceive the House
and the public, and induce them to believe that potatoes were
plentiful that they could be bought at reasonable prices and that
there need be no fear whatever of want of potatoes in London.
The reason why the working classes of the metropolis had been
able to support themselves was, that they were well employed
and liberally paid, and they were enabled to resort to other
sort of food. When they recollected that 40,0001. worth of
potatoes had been lost this year, they must see that there must
have been a great falling off, and he had no doubt that the
Hon. Gentleman who shipped the potatoes in question would
not trust to potatoes again—(Laughter)—and he would find
that it would be as well to have two strings to his bow, and
confine himself to his own proper trade.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. LAWSON rose for the purpose of making an explana-
tion, but resumed his seat amidst cries of ‘' Order, order."

Mr. HUDSON said he was not going to interfere in the
debate upon potatoes, but he felt himself called upon to make
one observation on what had fallen from the worthy Alderman
opposite in reference to the quantity of potatoes that had been
brought to London, as compared with those which ht d been im-
ported into the metropolis in former years. There could be
no doubt that the recent increase in the quantity of potatoes
imported into London was to be attributed to increased railway
accommodation.—( Hear.) It had come to his knowledge that
many large potato districts availed themselves of the advan-
tages offered by railways of sending off their potatoes to other
large towns.—( Hear, bear. )

past. In making the estimate of the revenue, the first point to
which attention is directed are the customs revenue of the
country. This branch of the revenue produced last year, as
already stated, 19,763,0001. But, in consequenee of the
measures which have been passed this session through Parlia- ,
ment, a reduction of these duties has taken place to the
amount of 1,041,000!. But no Hon. Gentleman, who con-
siders either what is past, or dealing with the ordinary prin-
ciples of finance, will consider that the revenue of the succeed-
ing years is to be calculated by deducting from the revenue of
the past year the amount of duty now proposed to be sub-
tracted. A large deduction must be made on account of in-
creased consumption in those articles from which the duty is
entirely removed. Allowance must be also made for the
increased consumption in those articles which remain
subject in some degree to taxation. In consequence of the
total abolition of the duties upon a great variety of other
articles, in the deduction which should be made upon account of
the abolition of duties during the present year, I must be
guided in some degree by the experience of the past. I find
that upon reference to the reduction previously made, that if I
take the loss of revenue in the customs at two-fifths of the
amount of the duty repealed,l should exceed that which hasbeen
found to be lost in a period in which we had been for some time
past receiving a less amount of duty. I should not trust to
deducting from the customs revenue a greater sum than
400,000/. on account of the reduction in duty ; thus we
therefore leave the customs reveNue, instead of 19,700,0001.,
only 19,300,000/. I take it at a greater amount than that, and
I will state to the House my grounds for so doing. I find
upon reference to the most experienced, and the most continued
observers of the course of things, that there is every antici-
pation of the continuance during the year to come of the pros-
perity in trade which we enjoyed last year. I receive from
every outport the most satisfactory statement with reference to
the prospects of the revenue for the ensuing year. I have
been called upon by different persons in the outports, and in
the City of London, not to confine my augmentation of duty
to 200,1'00'. I am always anxious to be on the safe
side.—( Hear, hear.) I therefore limit the sum to 1,930,000/.
Has the revenue fallen off on account of the reduction which
has been made ? I find in many of the returns from different
ports of the country, that such has been to a very limited ex-
tent, during the last six weeks, being from the commencement
of the financial year. And this has been during a period when
there was considerable uncertainty as to the measures of the
Government, and the consequent uncertainty and speculation
that prevailed. In many of these out-ports, so far from a re-
duction of the revenue-duty, I find that, during these six weeks,
in many there has been an increase, in others an equality of
revenue, while in those in which there has been any deficiency
it has been accompanied by the statement that the re-
venue is gradually increasing, and is likely to continue
so. —(Hear, hear.) I take the last six weeks as a
justification of my argument as to the amount that may be ex-
pected, because I wish to show that the duty repealed is not to
be taken as an indication of the exact amount that may be
found deficient. I find, in referring to Liverpool, Leith, New-
castle, Port Glasgow, and Dublin—ports confined to no par-
ticular portion of the United Kingdom, there has been no
falling off in revenue in the last six weeks as compared with
the six weeks of the preceding year, and that we have every
expectation, when Parliament has done with the measures now
before it, the revenue will spring up beyond what it has been
even before the alterations were made.—(Hear, hear.) On
these ground I consider there cannot be any large reduction of
duty, and that I may fail ly estimate it during the coming year
at 19,500,0007. The next important branch of the revenue is
the excise. Upon that branch of the revenue there was a large
abolition of the revenue last year. In consequence of this re-
duction of duty, the excise had fallen off 100,0001. as com-
pared with what it was before the glass and auction
duties were repealed. On this head, with respect to the
future, he had the must sanguine expectations, founded
upon the experience that the revenue in this department had
exceeded the calculation which was made when the statement
was made to the House. The experience we have had gives
us full assurance of what we may fairly calculate the future
revenue to be. I will take the revenue for the ensuing year,
and I will add 13,400,000/., being a sum of 100,000/. more than
in the year 1845. With respect to the stamp duties, on which
there has been received 7,660,0001, during the last year; for
the present ear I will take the sum of 7,400,0001. As much
of the augmentation of duty arose from that sudden increase of
railway speculation, which has been so much the subject of
discussion in this House, and as I cannot anticipate that the
same extent of railway speculation will prevail during the en-
suing year, after the experience we have had—( Hear, hear)—
I propose to deduct from the stamp duty a sum such as can be
fairly attributed to the agency of that speculation. And I
will therefore make a reduction of 260,0001. With respect to
the assessed taxes, and the land tax, I will take the same
amount, 4,200,000/. With regard to the property-tax. I think
it has very nearly produced, in the course of the last year
5,100,000/. The assessments under the new Act of last year
have all been completed, and I make this statement without
any particular data which could enable me to make out an
accurate return upon the present occasion. There is, how-
ever, no reason to apprehend that the amount will be short of
what was produced last year, arguing from the increasing
prosperay of the country. With respect to the post-office,
in which there has been during the last year a very large
increase of revenue, I think that that increase of revenue
should be confined to that particular year. There has,
however, for some time past been a gradually pro-
gressing increase of the revenue in that deprrtment.
I do not take the same amount of increase for the year upon
which we have now entered as there has been for the year
which has just closed; and for this reason—not that I antici-
pate otherwise than that the revenue, having additional facili-
ties to increase, will continue to de so—but there is an im-
provement which I contemplate in the administration of the
post-office, which improvement, by throwing an additional
expense, in the first instance, on the public revenue, but
which, nevertheless, in my opinion, will contribute to the
efficiency and general character of the department, I am
anxious to leave a margin for the conduct of this operation ;
but still I am inclined to take only the augmentation of the re-
, venue, and I therefore content myself with taking a total sum
, of 850,000/., being 60,0001. above the sum which was received
in the course of last year. With respect to the crown lands, I
have to observe that the amount apportioned for promoting the
principles of the Zoological Society, and for which he was
about to submit a motion to the House, was 120,0001. This
was exclusive of the sums apportioned for that purpose during
the past year. It had been calculated that the amount
required for the year ending on the sth of
April, 1847, would be 50,900,000/., exclusive of the
money to be derived from the treaty with China, the full
amount of which would be at least 700,001'/. But including
500,000/. of that amount, the whole amount is stated at
51,657/. The whole of the expenditure during the last year
was estimated at 49,400,0001. It is impossible to ascertain
what the expense will be in future years, but I may safely
estimate the superfluous expense at 2,200,0301. Great efforts
have been made during the past year to reduce the expenditure
of the several offices of Government, but it was found that the
expenditure of the useful establishments could not be reduced.
Our attention has been especially turned to our steam navy,
and it is believed that a great advantage will be obtained by
I :o:pl4u. i
the introduction of guns of heavy calibre into our steam force.
I will not go seriatim through these additions to the House, but
I do think, notwithstanding these charges, the expense of the
consolidated debt will amount to more than 28,200,0001. At
,sexcluhste total amountveofthe sum
of
of
2spa,rsaeosseeo7t it c
000ese weaahlauiecrghleaastp,epde aswaahtrei2cdhB, aOO
may be called the permanent
charges of a country, is thirty millions six hundred and
seventy-five thousand pounds. The army expenditure of last
year was six million seven hundred and forty-five thousand
pounds, being a considerable increase over the estimates. I pro-
pose then for the present year an estimate of six millions six
hundred and ninety-seven thousand pounds, being an increase
on the estimate of the former year of 145,000/, arising, as I
have stated before, from an addition which it has been neces-
sary to make in the general force of the army, and the con-
templated calling out of the militia.—( Hear, hear.) With
respect to the estimate for the navy, I propose an estimate for
the present year of 7,621,000'. The estimate of the former
year being 6,943,000/., being an increase of five or six hundred
thousand pounds in a branch of the legislature on which I have
already stated rests the security of the country. The estimate
for the ordnance last year was 2,142,000/., and I propose for
this one an estimate of 2,543,000/., making an increase in that
branch of the service of 400,000/., arising in a great measure
from a necessary augmentation in the corps of the artillery, the
services of whom were no less distinguished in peace than in
war. This high expense on the face of the estimates will be
found extremely low on consideration. The other portion of
the expense is for the repair of certain barracks which have
been for some time, more or less, neglected, and which it has
at length been judged expedient to replace in repair,
and for the improvement of various fortifications; thus
adding to the comfort of the troops by improving their
barracks, and by furnishing them with better articles than
those to which they have been hitherto accustomed.
The estimates for miscellaneous expenses last year was
1,32,0001. ; this estimate this year is 3,235,0001. But I have
thought it right to set, at the present moment, 200,000/. down
under this head, conceiving that I shall hereafter have to sub-
mit to the House an account of these sums expended in the re-
lief of the suffering population—it is necessary to have a
margin of this kind, under present circumstances. The ac-
count, of course, is a matter of estimate, but, as I have said,
I have thought it right to put that sum in the estimates, in
order to make them up to a period, before ,the arrival of which
I think they will be required to meet the general expenses under
that head. The effect, therefore, of the total expenditure of
the year will amount to 20,198,000/. But those additional
charges mentioned in the speech of my Right Honour-
able Friend at the commencement of the session—
I mean by the alteration in the ordnance tender
for medical attendance, and for salaries of schoolmasters in the
different poor-law unions, for the maintenance of prisoners;
and by the expense of prosecutions in criminal case, all contri-
bute to this increase of the miscellaneous estimates. They are
all comprised in the statement I have made. The total amount
of the service of the year, therefore, amounts to 20,193,0001.,
which when, with the other charges, are deducted from the ex-
pected revenue of the year 51,630,000/., makes a total amount
of expenditure of 50,863,000/e which leaves a surplus at
the end of the year of 776,000/. It was with a similar
surplus in the commencement of last year that we entered upon
the period which is past. It is with a similar surplus that we
enter upon the present year ; but I enter upon it now as I did
then, with increased confidence that the estimate I have made
as to the expenditure of the country, commerce will be
rather diminished than increased, and that the House, at a
future period, will have the satisfaction of finding that the result
is even more prosperous than I have now stated.
Unless it can be shown to me that there is some great error in
the calculations which I have made, I think I may say we
have the satisfaction of knowing that the result is mainly
owing to the course which Parliament has of late years adopted,
in abolishing prohibitory duties, and in relaxing protective
duties, giving to the industry of the country increased energy,
and securing for the people at once a means of employment, and
an easy means of procuring the necessaries and comforts of
life. But, Sir, when I attribute the prosperity of the year
which has passed, and anticipate the prosperity of the year
which is to come, I may be told that, is ascribing it to the
causes I have just named, I am at fault. I may be told that
rea-
son
url eydi
n ofg
ina this
particular
t observation.
h advantagesr
tie c
present uone year the financial system may be attended with fortuitous
circumstances and accidental advantages, and that the circum-
stances of a single year do not apply always to the future, I ad-
mit
the
what
merely to
has theo c forcep
iahra vsosystem
stated I admaist
ot
fh
oneat you e
ahra vaesn oa right
for
to urge rge
cthe
occurred
future;
what butres
al taske d
the House not to confine their observations,
s em
year, t
or
to s
from the measures adopted in the last year, but
to
year
1 their&i2,
ae
soon
viewsafte
carry
inr r of
r the° period a
long
when thes iespresent
yt w aears, during which the present system has been in o
eration
I
y b
theya,a
Government came into office, that the present system first
commenced, and I beg of the House to go along with me in
considering what has been the
continued progress and result of
the measures introduced by the Government, and adopted by
the House. It will be recollected what was the state of the
country at the period when the present Government entered
office—not that I wish to enter into a comparison between any
particular administrations. And now,
in the next place, I
propose to call the attention of the House to the situation of
the country at the period when we entered into Government.
There had been for some
years a considerable deficiency in the
revenue—that defiei 'neer had increased at that period to a very
large amount ; indeed attempts had been made by increased
taxation, and properly made, to overcome that deficiency, but
it was found that the augmentation of the duty on customs
and excise had not the effect of materially augmenting
the revenues. The first duty of the Government, therefore,
under these circumstances was to get rid of that deficiency, and
to prevent its recurrence for the future ; and it was necessary at

that tirae—it was indistm...

rood of the

country, that a great additional burden should be imposed for
the purpose of relieving from that incubus-that amount of
debt which was sure, if permitted to continue, to break down
the financial prosperity of this country.-( Hear, hear.) Feel-
ing, then, as we feel now, that the great cause of national
prosperity was the relief of the country from those particular
burdens which pressed more particularly upon the poorer
classes of the community-which affected the industry-which
checked employment-which prevented the extension of ma-
nufactures-impressed deeply with those sentiments, we com-
bined with the large imposition of taxes a very large reduction
of the existing burdens, by taking off from the customs all the
prohibitory duties, and to reduce all protective duties to a
more moderate range. And we relied then upon
what had actually occurred as to the stimulus which
those measures would give to the industry of the country in the
production of a happy future. Sir, in the year 1842, it was
proposed to reduce the duty upon 583 articles, with some few
exceptions ' • in 1843, pursuing the same system of further reduc-
tion in the duties, upon 7 articles was proposed ; in 1844, upon
4 articles of customs ; in 1845, upon 21 articles of customs, the
duties were reduced upon 444 articles, and some duties were
rel.ealed ; in 1846, the duties in the customs were again re•
duced upon 112 articles-that is by the Bills which have now
gone to the other House of Parliament, and an entire repeal is
made upon 54 articles, making, with the proposed reduction of
duties up to tie present time, a reduction of duties upon 727
articles, and a repeal of the duty upon 503 articles, upon which
taxes had to be preciously paid. Tho,e articles, being for the
most part those which concern the food, the clothing, and tee
comforts of the people, as well as those articles which arc used
in the manufactures of this country, and which imposed a re-
striction upon the employment of the people, by imposing a
restriction upon the trade which that employment would give.
Now, Sir, let us then take a review of what has been the result
of those operations. We have, as I have shown, had four years
experience, upon which we have acted in the same course, gra-
dually, cautiously, but progressively, diminishing those particu-
lar duties which pressed severely upcn the industry or
the comforts of the people. And let us see what has been the
result ? How are we to test its effect upon the condition of the
country ? What shall we take as the index of the general pros-
perity of the country, deduced from the operation of the mea-
sures of relief upon the people for whom that relief was pro-
posed. It appears to me, Sir, that there are some tests which,
on this subject, may be very well applied. I think, in the first
place, we must know what is the financial prosperity of the
country-ascertaining what is the available sum that the
country has at its disposal at any particular period, dealing
with the country as with individuals- that individual is wealthy
who has balance at his banker's sufficient to meet the ordinary
demands upon him-that individual is poor who has not the
means to meet the demands. In the like manner, the first
test that I will apply is-what have been the balances of the
exchequer of this country? On the Ist of January, 1842, the
balance of the exchequer of this country was 3,650,000/.; on
the Ist of January, 1846, the balance of the exchequer
was 8,450,0001., and if you deduct from that bal-
ance what was in the exchequer on the Ist of
January, 1842, it shows an increase in the balance
of the Exchequer, of the available means that the Government
has at its disposal, of 4,793,000/. Sir, then, as regards that
particular test of national prosperity, I think the House will
admit it to be complete. The next point to which I shall ad-
vert is, what has been the state of the debt of the country,
during the period to which I have adverted. If we find the
country accumulating annually an amount of debt, however
small, we can hardly look upon that as an indication of national
prosperity. An increase of the debt of the country may be
overcome by other advantages, but it is plain, that if notwith-
standing that state of things the debt of the country is reduced
-I say that we must regard with the greatest favour, that sys-
tem of finance which has led to that conclusion. The debt
of this country consists of two great parts, the funded and
the unfunded-and they must necessarily be taken together,
because, by transferring one portion of those debts to the other,
a decrease is made in the one, whilst a corresponding increase
is made in the other. On the Ist of January, 1842, the capital
of the funded debt was 77,253,0001.-ell these accounts are
on the paper before the House. The Exchequer-bills
outstanding were 19,678,0001. The total debt, therefore, of the
funded and unfunded debt amounted to 792,000,000/. What
was the state, on the Ist of January, 1846, of the funded debt ?
In 1842 it was 772,000,0001., and on the Ist of January, 1846
it was 776,600,0001. The funded debt that was 19,678,000/.
on the Ist of January, 1842, was 18,400,000/ , on the Ist
January, 1846, making a total of 785,115,000/ on the lst
January, 1846, as contrasted with the 792,000,000/. on the Ist
January, 1842-( Hear, hear)-showing a reduction during
those last years in the funded debt of 7,000,000/.-(Cheers.)
This statement, therefore, shows clearly a reduction upon the
unfunded debt of 7,000,000/. ; but there is another item to
which I would wish to call attention, and it is an item under
the head of what is called deficiency, and it is an item which
renders it necessary for the Governmet to borrow a certain
sum to make up the Exchequer, and to meet the demands
upon it. In respect to this item, it would not be fair
to compare any one quarter of the year 1842 with any quarter
of the year 1846, because many circumstances have occurred
which would render it impossible that such a comparison
would present a fair contrast.-( Hear, hear.) I have, there-
fore, taken the average of the defi iencies for the whole of the
four quarters of the year 1842, and compared them with the
whole of the four quarters of 1846, and I find that in the year
. 1842 the sum total of the deficiencies for the four quarters of
that year amounted to 6,163,000/.; while those of 1846
amounted to 2,029,000/. ; thus making a decrease in this item
for this year of 4,133,000/, as compared with the year 1842,
which I think is about equal to the decrease I have already
named of 7,000,0001. in the unfunded debt; and here I may
observe that this economy of the public funds is consistent
with an assertion made by Mr. Huskisson, in this
House, to the effect that economy was not to be effected
by reducing the capital of the debt, bat reducing the amount
of the general charge upon the country.-( Hear, hear.)
On the Ist of January, 1842, the interest on the funded debt
Was 24,403,000 e ; on terminable annuities, 4,000,000/. ; the
management of the debt at that time involved an expense of
160,000/., and the interest on exchequer-bills was 696,000/.
The total charge on the debt, which was to be derived out of
the taxes on the country, which was in fact the very first
charge to be derived, was 29.598,000/. Now let us look at
the year 1846. On the Ist of January, 1846, the interest on
the funded debt was 23,600,000/. ; the interest on the termin-
able annuities was 3,967,000/. I insert this last item to
show that the reduction on the funded debt has not been in-
creased by any addition to the terminable annuities, because
we find, that in the year 1342, as in the year 1846, the ter-
minable annuities have remained at nearly the same amount.
In the year 1846 the management of the debt, which in 1842
had been 160,090/., was reduced to 93,0001. The interest on
exchequer-bills, which in 1842 had amounted to 896,0001.,
was in 1846 reduced to 426,0001. The total result, there.
fore, of all these charges on the debt was in 1842,
29,597.000/., while, on the Ist of January, 1840, it was
28,129,0001., leaving a balance of relief to the public in the
sole article of charges on the debt to the amount of one million
and a half. We might have taken the advantage of a further
relief, but we have preferred postponing these advantages to
the year 1854, when relief to the extent of 625,000/. will be
given in addition. This will give an amount of a million and a
half in immediate relief, and a yearly saving of 625,000/, ; at
no very distant time, making a total relief of two millions and
more on the interest which is at present taken out of the pub-
lic taxes. What, then, is the result of the test we have ap-
plied ? That we have now a balance in the exchequer of
5,000,0001.-that we have reduced the debt by 7,000,0001.-
that we have reduced the amount of exchequer-bills by
4,000,0001., rnd you have effected a saving in the manage.
ment of the public debt of a million and a half, and also a
saving annually in the interest of the debt of 625,0001. I ask
any man to show me how these advantages have been secured
to the country, if not by that system of commercial and
financial policy which it has been the good fortune of the Go-
vernment to adopt? With reference to the public debt, there
is one observation which I wish to make. It may
be said that you have reduced the public debt,
but during that time you have had a large re-
mittance from China of 3,500,000 e, which has constituted
more than half the reduction of the national debt. The amount
altogether received from China was 3,360,000/. But how has
this sum been applied? In the first place, we have applied on
behalf of the expenses of the Chinese war in the year 1842,
400,0001. ; in the year 1843, 800,0001. ; in the year 1844,
820,0001. ; opium compensation, 1,270,000/. ; making a total
of 3,290,000 e, leaving only a balance of 30/. -( Laughter. )
Now, Sir, I am sure the House will concur with me that this
statement is satisfactory. How has this result been obtained ?
Has it been obtained by starving the services of the country,
and depriving us of the means of preserving peace at home and
our honour abroad? We have thought it right to keep the
services of the country on a more solid and firm footing. We
have been able to save money and to effect the object without
the imposition of any fresh taxes. I know it may be said you
may easily get a reduction of the debt by imposing taxes, and
in despotic governments the people are heavily taxed in order
to pay off the public debts. We have, however, not done so.
-(Hear.) When a reduction in any tax takes place, it is
expected that an augmentation in consumption will take place,
and you must therefore in considering the relief afforded to the
people, take the amount which is consumed under the reduced
duty compared with what it was before. Take for instance the
consumption of sugar under the/former duty to be 13,000,000
of lbs., then the amount-of relief afforded is that which is con-
sumed beyond that amount, because when we find there is
now consumed 50,000,000 tons a year, it gives every man
relief in proportion to the extra consumption compared to the
previous amount, besides the difference in the price of a pound
of sugar. When we consider the relative pressure of taxation
imposed and reduced, it will be shown that we must not take
the amount of revenue last, but the amount that would
have to have been imposed if these alterations in duties
had not come into operation. In 1842, the taxes
that were imposed were; 5,630,000/., principally
property-tax, with some additions in customs and the stamp
duty. In 1845, there were two small additions made in cus-
toms and stamps, but these were inconsiderable. The total
amount of reduction from the Ist of January, 1845, up till
1846, is 624,0081. But when I come to consider the reduction
of the taxes during the same period, I find they are from 1842
as follows : -In 1842, the reduction made was 159,0001, ; in
1843, the reduction from customs was 171,000/. ; in the excise,
240,0301., making a total of 411,0001. In 1844, the reduction
in the customs was 384,000/. ; in the excise, 25,000/.; in the
stamps, &c., 192,000/., making a total of 414,000/. In 1845,
the total relief affordgd as as, in customs, 364,000/. ; in excise,
1,135/., making in all 4,749,900/. And the relief that would
be afforded by the measures now in course of progress through
Parliament, would effect a reduction in taxation to the amount
of 1,041,0001., making a total amount of 8,206,000/. If we
net against this large reduction the amount of duty unpaid,
which is 5,624,0001., it leaves a balance in favour
of the people of no less a sum than 3,582,0301.
With all these large reductions, you have effected an important
object in the reduction of debt, annual charge, and other
circumstances, materially affecting our national prosperity in
finance. To what shall I attribute thin circumstance ? Some
gentlemen will tell me that, for a series of years, we have had
a succession of good harvests, and to these harvests alone are
to be attributed the improvements which had taken place.
God forbid that I should do anything to depreciate the value of
the greatest blessing that God has sent us, or that I should
show any want of gratitude, or want of a due sense of the
blessings for which we should be grateful. I feel this as deeply
as any one, and I know the importance of the happiness of the
people, and the financial prosperity of the country;a
and I feel deeply sensible of the importance ofn a
which
during We have had former periodsa l
during several consecutive years we have d harvests equal
to the present one, but can we show thatmbare inofthaebseundsuanc-t
cessive years, say four years, or
harvest', one year which has in
years 1834, 1835,
taikteasvenethffeect been so pros-
perous as the present.
1836. They were lafwe which abundance existed,
especially in the year yLr4s for nothing like the harvest of
that year was known f-tormany years, either before or since.
If we look at these particular periods, we shall find that
the revenue duties were increased materially; but the effect
of that revenue on the debt or annual charge, or by its
relief to the people, by. no means corresponded with the effect
which had been produced of late. In detailing these things to
the House I will glance at the years 1821, 1822, 1823, which
were years of unusual plenty. Can you show me in any one
of those periods similar results to those now produced, and which
lam now proceeding to detail to the House. Iu these later
years to which I have called your attention, we have adopted a
system of commercial and financial policy, which had mate-
rially aided the efforts of the country to relieve itself of the
difficulties, surrounded as it was by restrictive duties, and which
commenced by a cautions reduction of duties acting
as a protection. Through a long series of years we
have adhered to this policy, and we can say, that we have at-
tained advantages, which under eth3r circumstances, we should
- -

not for years have attained.

It Wail- }introtPAn• isetime4•••••Aai lam,

man of infinitely more ability than the humble in
div idual who now addresses you. We are not in
debted to finance only for the prosperity of the coun-
try. Financial prosperity is a most desirable thing in
itself, and derives adili!icnal value when accompanied by
an increase of the comforts of the people, by an improvement
in their moral habits, an extension cf instruction amongst
them, and a greater attention to their moral and religious
duties. How can we measure the comforts of the people
except by a well known test which I have often seen applied in
this House. What were the savings of the people, and what
amount of their small incomes could they afford to devote to
pecuniary investment. If you take the four years preceding
the year 1842, and institute a comparison between them and
the four succeeding years, with reference to the amount of
savings deposited in the savings'-banks, comparing the amount
drawn with the deposits, that will give an assurance of
the greater comforts on the part of the people. Take
the difference between the total deposited during the four years
before and after 1842. In the year 1842, they wouldfind that
before that period the amount was 357,0,;01., and during the
four years which succeeded the total was 793,000/., cr more
than double the amount put in in the antecedent years. That
was also when an additional restriction was imposed with regard
to the amount of money to be deposited, and when the rate of
interest was reduced below its usual standard. A large portion
of the whole amount returned was from the ordinary people
who invested their money for the first time at these banks. No
less than a million of contributors have deposited their money
in these savings'-:banks. There was another test of the comforts
of the people. Let us look at the consumption of the
excise commodities. Let us take this in particular. There
was not the slightest reduction of any exciseable article ; on
the contrary, malt, soap, sugar, beer, all on the increase, and
so are all the other articles from the top of the list to the
bottom. Taking the power of consumption by the people and
the power of accumulation, they would there find a test
of their increased comforts. With respect to the moral habits
of the people, all classes in different parts of the country were
much improved, and the returns laid upon the table of that
Houseshowed a decrease in the state of crime to the amount of
7 per cent. I cannot refer to these statistical statements, but
I can say that the advantage is largely on the side of improve-
ment. At any rate, it appears that a good opportunity is
opened for investigation by contrasting the state of the schoals
of these districts. From the return it appears that the num-
ber of persons educated in this particular class of schools have
been in the proportion of five to two. This, it appears, is the
surest evidence that can be adduced on the subject, and shows
the benefits of the moral advance which has been made in this
country, and of the effects which are likely to result from it.
There have been times in this country when there was a great
advantage calculated from the building of fifty churches ; and
this was adduced of the great benefits enjoyed by the lower or-
ders. But I am happy to say that the interests of religion are
not only advanced by the building of fifty churches in the course
of a series of years, but that it is promoted by the building of
fifty churches in every consecutive year ; and I am fur-
ther happy to say that this indication of the mo-
ral and the religious advance of the people is not
a transient and evanescent advance, but a permanent and deci-
sive advance ; for there does not appear to be any instance of
this progress being actuated by capricious motives, but that the
persons who are chiefly affected by it, are those to whom just
such an advance is likely to be of the most service. And if I
have satisfied you that these results are in the main part
attributable to the policy which has been pursued, not hastily or
rashly, but calmly and cautiously introduced, and working
therefore great immediate, yet nevertheless, permanent bles-
sings. If, I say, we can trace them to these causes, is it not
the strongest encouragement we could have, to pursue a course
fraught with such benefits; and here I cannot refrain from say-
ing, that I review with satisfaction the part which it has been
my lot to take in these several meassres, the result of which I
have had the pleasure of stating to you this night. Ought we
not, then, to go on in the course which we have commenced?
In reducing the burdens on the people, and removing every-
thing which can affect their comforts, and we will thus place on
the strongest foundation, not merely the financial, or the corn-
mercial, but the general interests of this mighty country.
Mr. BARING could not help observing that he considered
the course taken by her Majesty's Government was a departure
from the general course of proceeding in matters of this kind.
They had at the present moment to consider this practical
question—What, after all that had been dune, would be the
finances of the country ? They had at the moment to look
at their balance, and to consider whether the revenue would
be sufficient to meet the annual expense, and with that view
he proposed to submit the figures of the Right Hon. Gentle-
man, who had addressed the House with great clearness, to
some examination. He was glad, however, to find that the
Right Hon. Gentleman had been educated in opinions which
he formerly opposed—( Hear, hear) —but he was surprised to
find that, throughout his speech, but a small portion of his re-
marks, indeed, were devoted to what he considered the most
important point of all—namely, the surplus. It seemed to him
that he had the greatest pleasure in flying off from the financial
matters of this year, and the advantages which the country
would derive from a relaxed commercial policy.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had
addressed himself to the subject.
Mr. BARING then went on to say—The balance than ap-
peared to be 776,0001. in favour of the Exchequer in China
money, in least such was the fact, if the Right Hon. Gentle-
man had stated his account correctly. He should now be
compelled to trouble the House with a few details, in order to
show that the Hon. Gentleman had not stated his account
correctly. He would suppose a familiar case, that of a man
having a house for which he paid 400/. a-year rent; if that
was paid quarterly, one of the quarters coming due
in January of the ensuing year of course credit
would be taken in the preceding year, for only
three-quarters having been paid. Now this was the
case in respect to the accounts of the Right Hon, Gentleman,
for he (Mr. Baring) found by the charge for the half-pay
military allowance of 434,00 a., that credit had been taken for
only three-quarters of this year, which would throw the four
quarters into the next year. He also found in the army esti-
mates that the expenditure had been understated by 208,0001.,
and the ordinance service by 290,0001., making half a million
upon those two items. Then the balance, including the China
money, had been estimated at 776,000/. ; but if that sum were
not taken into account, and if the sum of 860,000!.
which had not been estimated, should even be left
out, the actual balance would be but 70,0001.
He was not giving this as a blame to the Government. He had
no reason to suppose that there would be an increase of those

estimates, but he would say, that if the Government were
anxious to perform their public duties in a proper manner, it
would be matter of impossibility to effect great reductions in
the taxes, or in the collection of the revenue. If they looked
at the customs, for instance, they would find that the cost of
collecting the customs was much the same under the present
that it was under the old system, before they began these
changes. The cost of labour in the customs, and the salaries
to the officials there, were indeed the same, the reduction.

having been altogether effected in the superannuation. Hoe
Gentlemen might recollect, that on a former time they were
told, that if there were too many changes their expenditure was
extravagant, but that the course pursued appeared necessary in
order to keep up a perfect establishment. He believed that
the present estimates were larger than any that had ever been
submitted to that House for similar services since 1822. It
might be unfair to charge Hon. Gentlemen opposite with re-
sults which have possibly arisen from the course of policy pur-
sued by his Noble Friend beside him, and with those who now
. joined with him in office. He perfectly concurred in the
wisdom, in the expediency, and in the justice of relaxing, as
far as they could, the present restrictive duties; but if they
were to say that the commercial prosperity of the country
during the last few years was occasioned by the Right Hon.
Gentleman's tariff, then he (Mr. Baring) contended that
they were perfectly mistaken if they alleged any such thing.
He certainly did think that the Right Hon. Gentleman would
have spoken much more mildly than he did with respect to the
past year. He thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman
sould have been a little more explicit in his explanations as to
the income-tax.—( Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman
tripped very dexterously into something about the policy which
the Government had pursued, and now and then he made a sly
hit at the individual who was then addressing the House.—
( Laughter.) He did not believe, although he was opposed to
the income-tax, that the Government would be in a situa'ion
to take it off at the erd of the three years. —( Hear, hear.)
He would not follow the Right Hon. Gentleman in the course
of arguments which he had brought before the House, but
there was one point on which he could wish to have an explana.•
tion from the Right Hon. Gentleman. The Right Hon. Gen-
tleman had stated that he had increased his balance in the
Exchequer, and he should wish to show in what way that had
been done. The House was well aware that at the end of
every quarter the surplus revenue was handed over to the Com-
, missioners of the National Debt for the purpose of reducing the
public debt. On looking at the accounts, he (Mr. Baring)
found that in the years 1844 and 1845, they had a sum o f
1.6t.0,000/. to be so applied. But he found that the Right
Hon. Gentleman had not handed over that sum for any such
purpose; he had, it would appear, appropriated it to the pur-
poses of increasing his Exchequer balance, so that, prac-
tically, the money that was formerly handed over
to the Commissioners appointed for the reduc.
tion of the National Debt was now handed
over to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.—( Hear, hear.)
He would not say that it was not perfectly right for the Right
Hon. Gentleman to apply the surplus for such purposes, but he
should have stated in his speech, that it was by those means that
he had increased the balance in Exchequer. The policy of the
Government with regard to free trade had been introduced by
the Right Hon. Gentleman in the course of his speech, but he
(Mr. Baring) conceived that that had nothing to do with the
budget, which was the proper subject of discussion that evening.
—( Hear, hear.) He believed, that if the statements had been
made correctly, it would be found, that instead of their being a
surplus in the revenue of the country during the past year, there
was really a deficiency of 700,0001. He was afraid that the
Right Hon. Gentleman was far too sanguine in his anticipations
as to the results of the commercial policy of the Government.
The CH ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. in explanation,
said that with regard to the first question of the Hon. Mem-
ber, as to the mode in which the accounts of the army and navy
were made out, the present system had been found to be by far
the best. With regard to the other question, viz., that about
the handing over the surplus to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
instead of to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the Na-
tional Debt, it was certainly true that the surplus was applied
for the purpose of increasing the balances of the exchequer.
But the principle was not a new one. He believed it was the
system pursued by the present Government's predecessors
in office. The opinion of the Honourable
that e tab ls h
Member
a
as to the expenditure of the present year was
h
no doubt true. (Hear, hear.) The reason
wtolerablye
surplus was handed over to the exchequer
was y
small the
obvious. When the balances of the exchequerarrw were
money from the
government was obliged very often to
sHeal vneks. i n dßeuptenbdye nincreasingß their baadl arn cbl
aei a tvheedy
themselves hf
re
omm-
o
moniery. fHroufrom thought t which
e n
Government for
in
thetaxation
publ i c
had a
of
purposes.—(ctted right
he
country, tlear . )i
endeavouring to make
themselves independent of the bank.
With reference to the reduction
he attached great importance to it. He would be glad to ace
indirect taxation removed altogether, and a direct tax upon
property or income imposed in its place. He believed that the
rveasure in progress would tend to the benefit of this country,
He blamed no man for changing his opinion when he changed.
from bad to good. With regard to the expenditure
gratifying nature.
revenue he thought they were of a highly ratifying tu
If he had any complaint to make, it would be that of keeping
up a large establishment in time of peace; perhaps that was
necessary in older to preserve the peace of their country. He
considered that restrictions on food and other articles would
be injurious to the revenue. The revenue might be ircreased
by a removal of the data on tea; the comforts of the population
would be increased, and the trade with China strengthened.
Now, s he understood, smuggling had not been diminished,
and he had to complain that the Government, after reduc-
ing the duties on 600 articles, had not reduced their cus-
tomhouse establishment. The country complained of the
cost which that establishment entailed. But the reason was,
as soon as the post of a Commissioner of Customs became
vacant, there was a general ruse to have it filled up, and
this was a course of which the country had a right to com-
plain. The duty on the stalks of tobacco, which were largely
tt,ed in this country for the purpose of makiog snuff. was
2,600 per cent. ; and he con-idered if they removed all these
duties, they might reasonably reduce the custom-house de-
partment.

Lord G. BENTINCK said he could not object to the
estimate for the army or navy, for when they recollected the
expression of Mr. Calhoun, in the American Senate, he did
not think any reasonable objection could be made against them.
But he considered the surplus of 773,0001. was rather a narrow

urpi.
tha. firm:Aare/1 that it w made in the fare of ail

the rat changes. He not think the Chancellor bad
stated his esse in a sufficiently' ample manner. He had not
told them whet he expected w0u:.".1
The Hon. Gentle-
received under the proposed Corn 13.'11.
be the amount of duties
Gentle-
mats hail entered into a glowing statemen,, Pf the result of the
policy which his party have pursued when pese din cornparioppositionson with that of the gentleman who sat on the oppositionbecnhss, but he did not consider that he had any g, eat riglht to
eecongratulate himself. When' the Right Hon. Gentlsettla-` 'a'
that all this great prosperity was to be ascribed to then' fin Te
cial measures, he (Lord G. Bentinek) thought that'
assumed to himself a credit for an effect which in reality v'. ;
produced by the gift of Providence. When it was also states%
that the advantage caused by all reductions would go to the
consumer, he must venture at once utterly to deny the fact. Th
produce of the reduction was, it was welleknown, swallowed
up by the producer and other parties who went between the
producer and consumers It was, however, only wasting the
time of the House to go into the whole question, and he
would refrain from troubling it any further, at the same time
entering his protest against its being supposed that he consented
to receive such a financial statement as had that night been
made.
Mr. C. WOOD considered that the financial arrangements
of this country had not been very ably carried out, but he did
not think that the course taken by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer was at all likely to accomplish what he (the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer) said he had in view, viz., the assimi-
lation of the army and navy estimates.. Under the present
mode of management, that was an end %%which would never be
attained. He did not think that the financial statement which
had been delivered was sufficiently explicit, and where it was
so it did not promise to provide for the wants of the country.
He thought there ought to be an explanation
of the points he
had referred to. With regard to the income freoe customs, he
admitted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer vas' better able
than any of them to give an estimate of what the future re-
ceipts of the country might be ; still it was coenesetent
founded.
them to express an opinion of the data on which he -
l two-
his calculation. The Right Hon. Gentleman deduce?...
fifths of the actual reduction made in the customs as the pre* a tel
loss on this branch of the revenue next year, making the as
revenue from customs 19,300,000/. Now, he thought a sAL ,
guine calculation had been made in this respect, and that in-
stead of taking six weeks back, which was not a fair period for
a calculation, he ought to have gone back for a longer time.
He (Mr. C. Wood) admitted that some of the calculations of
last year were correct, especially these relating to the post-
office and the excise, but it was not so on the estimate of cus-
toms. If the experience of the last year was applied to the
next, he considered the income from customs should not be
estimated at more than 18,800,0001. The calculation of the
Right Hon. Gentleman was therefore overstated. The whole
expenditure of the year was set down at 51,650,000/. ; whereas
he considered it would be at least 51,769,0001.; so that, including
the China money, the expenditure would be more
than the total income by 119,0001. ; and without
that money, 800,0001. He would go to another point, and
that was to the policy of the Ministry for the present year. He
considered the greatest benefits would result from the altera-
tions that were now proposed in the tariff, and in the adoption,
of free trade. They would facilitate trade aud commerce, and
operate beneficially in giving employment to the people. Tir-
ber of all description, introduced into this C ot try, had in-
creased 500,0j0 loads, and this must have teetden. to increase
bar-
the employment of the poor, They had latterly had grood
‘_ieh
vests, and it was this, added to other circumstances "
we
nd
hail occasioned so much prosperity. It would be s arc
that the increased consumption of the last few Y'
an
applied principally to articles of food, and this increase
we
consumption could only in: his opinion be sa
butcd to increased prosperity in manufactures, whieth gay.
so much employment to large masses of the commuilitYeee
( Hear, hear.) The Right Honourable Gentleman ,
Chancellor of the Exchequer had said they had a strtar'l
proof of the improved condition of the people in OP'
increase which had taken place in the excise dutieee
This increase, too, could be traced to the prevailin
prosperity of manufactures . which he for one attributed
to those liberal commercial measures which the 1-1",,,
se
had recently adopted, and he was glad to find that the Big"-
lion. Gentleman had began to propose a redaction in the
deferential duties on sugar, and other articles of home cone
sumption. Last year he ventured to remonstrate again st sose.
of these duties, and he was rejoiced to find they were Leal `c.
be reduced, because he considered it would improve the 1;
coerce of the country, and at the same time place within the
reach of the industrial classes articles of consumption, wh'o,
had hitherto been beyond their means.—( Hear, hear.) " -
therefore, hailed the Right Hon. Gentleman's declaration
thore
this point, as the first step towards an improvement in is
branch IA the system, and he now looked forward with et!'";
fidence, and feeling of the liveliest satisfaction, to the day vvl2'cea
he hoped, indeed he felt sure, was net far distant, when tb
duties would have to undergo a thorough revision at the pan
of the Legislature.—(Cheers.)
Mr. CARD WELL said he felt great surprise at hearse l 3 the
Hon. Member opposite taking so gloomy a view of the ftettl!';
A great pressure had been removed from the springs of I,d
dustry, and the result should be a great stimulus to trade at.
commerce. He begged to remind the Hon. Member that I.ll'
Chancellor of the Exchequer had confined himself to the ea-
penses incurred within the year, and therefore the Govern-
ment were only following up the course which they were ware
ranted in doing by all precedent ; and, if they had a dopted
other course, it would ,only have the effect of creat!ogfaier to
fusion. This was not a fair comparison. It was u°'' realised
say that the customs' duties last year had only
200,0001. For 200,0001. he (Mr. Cardwell)The
2,000,0001., and he would prove that this was correct.
The
Hon. Member then read returns to prove ehis assertion.
decu-
Hon. and Learned Member had taken his 1-eturns from
used
ments in which every allowance was made for a suPP
falling off in consequence of reduction, and thet-efore he was, sr
far, mistaken. But it was said that they must look to othe
quarters for their revenue. But the return s laid he-
fore the House showed that since the reducunns in the
won.d
customs and excise consequent on the alterations os` the tariff,
read
the revenue so far from decreasing, had been considerably
in-
creased; and if they still more relaxed the:springs of co mmerce,
he was of opinion that a continued system of prosperitee wonld
be induced, which would in time coming add to the happiluelis
and comfort of the people.
Mr. WILLIAMS had expected that the Right Hon. Gentle,"
man the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have made,
some considerable reductions in the expenditure of the
several departments, hut he had not done so. If
they looked at the charges of the naval, the
military, and ordnance services, they would find that
as
compared with the American, the people were taxed at the
rate of sixteen to three millions, and so it was with every
other department. He found, for instance, that in the three
years following the elevation of the present Ministry to power:
that there were •no less than 600 new places createdff;
a cost of 225,0001. He found that a sum of 149.50ut„
was required for 113 of these new places. There 1",;
one point on which he was sure that her Majesq...
Government must make a material reduction in the exeerld
ture, if they would follow the example which had been He
down by France and all other countries in the world. in
found, by a return made in 1842, that 6,700,000/. was,e
the previous year, expended in the shape of salaries to
officers employed in the Customs, Excise, Stamps, Erre
office, &c. Now, if those sums were annually brought be
the House, to be voted for in the same manner as were the
salaries of individuals employed in the army, navy, &c. tb_e_A
must necessarily be a great reduction in their salaries ; a"7:
of all other times, this was the most appropriate to make su."
reductions. At no time during the last thirty years was the
price of the article of food so low as at present.
Mr. HUDSON said that at that late hour of the evening
he had no desire to trespass on the attention of the House;
but he must beg leave to say that the Right Hon. Gen tleman
had, in the words of an Hon. Member, made a most- serious
omission in his statement. He did not think that the state-
ment that had been made was one of the most satis' c'eetcri
character, or that it should be regarded as a speech ats
the country might feel grateful. He did expect that so
poe-
thing more would base been done for relieving the people fr
taxation—that a speculative Ministry such as we had 0°1!
would have reduced the duty on tea, which via'
an article of such large consumption. The surplus
revenue had been expended in the internal improvements of tb
country. The Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer) had spoken with much self congratulation on 'le
prosperity of the last four years, and attributed that prose is
to himself and his colleagues, forgetting that abundant haeve'id
had much to do in the production of that prosperity. He Al!.
be called Mr. Prosperity Chancellor of the Exchequer. Wue-
he was a boy he was taught that self-praise was no cot;
mendation." If the country had prospered during the last f,ohe
years, why did they seek to disturb that prosperity
adoption of the system of free-trade ? ba
The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to
received on Friday. tit
The Highways and Coercion Bills were postponed up
Monday, the 18th of June.
The Poor-law Removal Bill was postponed to Friday net
The House then adjourned till Friday next.

y n
[ ADVERTI CEMENT. —THE FAME OF EfoL_---wacAlr
hi.,
PILLS In the cure of head aches, dimness of sight, deranged sn'W.,
..
nose,
and disordered livers, likewise in restoring strength and vigour fit oicS
of debilitated constitutions, is so great that even in the East
the different castes of natives are taking but little other ule'''"„
than these famous pills. One native agent in the Presidency
Bombay sold, lately, retail fifty-three dozen boxes in fifteen
The extraordinary cures performed by these pills, when all °,,p{-
means fail, is truly wonderful. Females will find this a most ro-
ruble medicine.—Sold by all druggists, and at Professor 130110"'
_ .

_ . .
Establishment 244, ,trand, London.
Clarence has greatly improved in health since hiesaresai
breakfast in the beat"
His Lordship generally takes an airing before hr
The party at the estate
We are rejoiced to learn that Lord Fredd.erci:kiny3iattf:
tiful gardens attached to the I'ulteney Hots.
the arrival of his Lord'
ship's the Hon. Capt•
ship's sister, Lady Mary Fox, the
Hay.—Bath Herald.
blishment was augmented on Wednesday by hirr-on,
le of Bell's Life is
May 3..
...... : :
...
..... ... • 25,061
10 - ... : :..... ••••• • • • • • 27,997
pastfour Wwooeoltly
ji.D.F..ay5..a:....
25,096
Londonl'o THE
during SPORTINGt
he
Ma ...... -•••• • • • • • 28,528
May 24 • • ••
teintets,kjiuong.a,
A each publication of twenty-six thousand °
time for
Making an averrtys.al-Betl's Life is regularly published in
.....1
hundred and r
sev. afternoon railways. For the most correct repor
all the Saturday afternoon
h four days' Epsom Races, see Bell's Life, Sunday ne%ig
uay --- -
of
pellea ecnorclyesteodatnoyMpra.rtCloefin
kingdom Insure, A
post.
1.. CHE VICARAGE OF WANTAGE.--It is expected than
the tne living of Wantage, Berkshire, just rendered vacant by the dett,
of the Hon. Dr. Hobart, will be conferred upon the Rev. Mr. lOrThe
rrticuil.atrfai
one of the minor canons of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. ~., at
1 tiruMey,
vicarage, which is of the annual value of about 6001., is in the g7to
the Dean and Canons. No arrangement, however, is exPe.„,etinted be decided upon until after the induction of the newly-APP-
Dean. ,bSytrranetarod, 'W
or

On the 26th of May, at Bise/illnbrrlio
Captain L. , s
Smith, A.D., Adjutant-General, of 'a
son, till-boro•O -
, en
On the 24th of May, at Stranraer-place, Maida-vale, Mrs. ""
derson, of a (laughter. Ske House Dublin, the 101 of
On the 24th of May, at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, the ladY of 6'
W. Mason, Esq., of a son. of i"'
On the 24th of May, at Codrington-place, Brighton, the lady
Elphinston, Esq.. of Bombay, of twins, both girls. John"
On the 25th of May, at Stanstead, Sussex, the wife of hlttior
stone, of Alva, Stirtingshire, of a daughter. „he glib
On the 26th of May, the wife of W. H. Maund, Esq ,of '' ,
Laverstoek, Wilts, of a daughter. ~.
__art, o'
On the 26tk of May, at Upper Tooting, Mrs. J. H. Goodie
a son. aardincr.
On the 27th of May, at Tonbridgo, Kent, the wife of R. B.
Esq., of a daughter. ifo of .T' C.
On the 27th of May, at the Circus, Greenwich, the If
Templer, Esq., of a son.
____—..---------.

MARRIED. E
On the 27th of May, at St. P Church,ancras New pe,
J • Hoo . ja macs,
of Burton-m eseent, te Mrs. James, 'widow of the late Captain
of Ham-common. a B rkela'
On the 28th of May, at All Saints' Church, Poplar, —1 erniihis,
Esq., civil engineer, of Cambridge-terrace, Hyde-Park, t° '"
eh:cst daughter of F. Garford, Esq., of the East India-road.
, Bicker-
On the 29th of May, at St. Sepulchre's Church, Lonn, ..
.-• Iston,
ton, of Luton, Bedfordshire, to Emily, second daughter ofJ. ~..ou
Esq., Kent-road, London.

ED.
On the 17th of May, at St. TDI
dye, the Rev. C. Hodgson, A.
rector of that parish. . rt.,
Oa the 23 i f Nay, et Nettlecombe•court, Sir J. Trevet:ran,

- _
t 7-Vi,, of :\l.- t', :.! J. Tarry, Esq•, Med 6 'iv. 1-I.
On the 'ti clt 01 May, at Inesh,y, Hens, Jane, the wife of
Phibbs, Esq., aged 71.
On Vie 27th of May, at Christchurch, NV. Long, aged 83.

2,
London: Printed and Published by 111:1TRDO YOUNG, of ICO • 11duet
Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, in the Pre„.4,
of the SaVOY, to the (Malty of Niddleaux, Saturday,

dO. 1846.