The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-24 00:00:00

ment, defraying the expense of them DUt of their Aurplu

capital.
Ai% RICARDO remarked that there weie many companies
not in so fortunate a position as to hsse surphts capital,-and in
such a case as that it would be desirable to know' how the funds
were raised. _ _ _

Sir R. PEEL said the resolution simply called for the source
whence the deposits were obtained, and he thought the:objections
urged against it would be removed by omitting the restrictive
-words,-namely, " whether out of the deposits or by loans."
Mr, BROTHERTON thought the existing cowponies had
an undue advantage over the new companies ; for while the
latter where required to deposit ten per cent., the former only
furnished a certificate signed by the secretary, to the effect
that they had sufficient funds to carry out the project.
Mr. T. DiIIiCOMBE said he had no objection to omit the
words suggested by the Right Hon. Baronet.
The resolution was agreed to as amended.
Mr. W. COLLETT, having in a few observations, which

were indistinctly heard in the reporters' gallery, condemned the
inquisitorial character of the course proposed by the Govern.

men

The twelfth resolution wag put and agreed to.
NOTICES OF MOTION.—FEES OF COURTS OF

LAW.
Mr. THORNLEY gave notice that he should, on Thurs-
day, thz 7th May, move for copies of the fees paid in the courts
of law and equity.
POLISH INSURRECTION.
Mr. C. BULLER had heard that the Austrian Government
had issued a proclamation offering a reward to the peasants
if they would bring in, dead or alive, the several Polish gentle-
men who had become obnoxious to the Government. He
wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet if it was true that the
Austrian Government had addressed any note to the British,
or any other European Court, denying this statement ; and if
there had been any such note so addressed, whether there would
be any object ion to lay the same upon the table of the House?
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that the Austrian Government
had made no intimation whatever upon the subject to the
British Court. He was not aware that the Austrian Govern-
ment had made any communication to any other European
Court—certainly not to this. He had seen a statement which
was not made, containing a peremptory contradiction of the

statement.
REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON TEA.
Mr. .MILN Eli GIBSON presented a petition, signed by a
great number of the inhabitants of Manchester, praying for a
reduction of the duty on tea.
Lord SANDON presented a petition, numerously signed,
from Liverpool, to the same effect. The Noble Lord then
proceeded to move for copies of the memorials received by the
First Lord of the Treasury and the President of the Board of
Trade, respecting a reduction on the duty on tea. He thought
that it was desirable that the attention of the House
should be called to the enormous duty at present payable
years. That articlo
the hands noont The increase in the consumption of that article had
. proportiona
twith e
present
111. rs
subject
ei.ccltes t
oo consumption.fahighehigher
d uty
The increased
in
increase
had only been 1,796 0001bs during the last five
a cent. was wdasut
than had been paid fors the
en rd
cs to
fthtihrteyEnarstfolrntydiayecarosta.
Company
yhaenn
the tea trade was in
present
ad vabrem duty of 100
lied,
monopoly was done away,
ranged from 150 to 209 per cent. If they trade
imposed;
t: when that
in the hands of the East India Company, the duty, at Yostead
of being 2s. 2141, would not be more than 10d. or Is. The
imposition of that high duty prevented the people of this
country from enjoying an article whibh all the friends of tem-
perance and sobriety would, wish to see extensively used. The
trade with China was carried on almost exclusively by barter.
This country must therefore take the goods of China in return
for manufactures exported to that country. It was
impossible, with the present amount of duty, to increase
the exports 'of this country to any great extent.
It was impossible to increase ths'. consumption of tea by any
other course than by a reduction of the duty. The duty at
present formed two-thirds of the whole price paid by the con-
sumer. In the United States there rras no duty. In Holland
the duty ranged from ILI to 4d. Ev,Ji in our colonies the
duty was moderate. In Australia the duty
was ten per cent.,
in Newfoundland it was Is. 3d. per pound, and in Guernsey it
was nothing. In Australia the price to the consumer was from
Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. per pound, but the best result for him to
mention was the amoun, consumed. In Australia the amount
was 12i lbs. per head, while in England it was only 1 1-3 lbs.
per head. In Newfoundland it was 4 lb.. per head, and in
Guernsey it was about the same. He thought they might
with safety try an experiment in a redaction of the duty on
tea. It muft be recollected that any increase in the consump-
tion of tea would cause a large increase lin the consumption of
sugar. For every round of tea consumed five pounds of
sugar were us€^ll. He trusted, therefore, that this subject
would be duly considered by the Government ; and he con-
cluded by moving for copies of all memorials addressed to the
First Lord of the Treasury and the President. of the Board of
Trade, ;waving for a reduction in the duty on tea.
111 r. AIOFFATT rose to second the motion. This mitt
subject of vast importance as affecting our commerce with fl(
East. The great complaint of the Chinese was that so mutt'
of their specie was sea to this country. The exports fro*
' Great Britain to China in 1844 amounted to 8,871,0001., while

the imports were only 4,379,0001. We also imported 3,400,000 r.
in specie from China in that. time. The Hon. Gentlemen
went into a variety of details, for the purpose of showing that
by the reduction made in coffee and sugar the revenue in-
creased, while the public derived the advantage of having those
commodities at a considerably reduced price. He saw no rea-
son, theretore, why tea should not be dealt with in a similar
manner, as he felt quite assured that an immensely
increased consumption must be the result, while, at the same
time, the revenue would sustain no diminution.—(Hear.)
All our large exports of woollen goods.to China ;brought no
benefit to the trade of that country ; consequently the importa-
tion of that article was now very much reduced. We charged
from one hundred to three hundred per cent. on the importa-
tions from China, and our exportations to that country were
only charged at three per cent. The rates of duty on French
goods were reduced, and why were not the duties on the im-
portations from China, reduced in equal ratio ? This he con-
sidered was the policy which ought to be adopted.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in
answer to the Hon. Member, he was willing, on the part
of the Government, to say that the House should
have every information laid before it in regard of the trade
with China. The Hon. Member had said, that the duties on
French goods had been reduced, and that, consequently, the
duties on our importations from China should also be reduced.
It was true, that all our importation of tea came from China, as
a matter of necessity, but that did not make out a case for re-
ducing the duty upon that article of consumption.
But he did think it was rather unfortunate for the view of the
Hon. Member, that, some short. time ago, he (the Chancellor
of the Exchequer) bad received a deputation, who declared,
that if the duty on the exports from China were not reduced,
they could not curry on their trade. He bad
had many opportunities during the present session
of discussing many of the points in reference to this
subject, and therefore he should say that he hoped the
matter would be more fully discussed ; avd when he came to lay
upon the table a memorial he had received upon the subject, be
believed it would be better understood.
Mr. J. A. SMITH should trouble the House with a fever
observations upon this subject, which he looked upon as one of
the most important that could be brought under its consi-
deration. He did not consider that the statement made
by the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, was at all
inconsistent with that of his Honourable Friend near
him. He assured Hon. Members that there need be, and was,
no limit to our trade with China, but unless some change took
place the trade could not increase but decrease. He had no
wish to detain the House after the long and tedious debate,
and he would conclude by recommending a total change of
commercial policy in the trade with China.
Mr. ENTWISLE regretted that an article so generally
consumed in England should be so much restricted by heavy
duties which were so contrived that the heaviest duty fell on
the lowest priced teas. There could be no limit to the
advantage that could be derived by the establishment of a trade
with China, so as to give them a larger proportion of our manu-
factured goods in exchange for their produce. There ought
to be some better systemot reciprocity than that which existed
at present, and therefore-he supported the motion.
Mr. WYSE said that the diminution of the duty on coffee
had led to a considerable increase in consumption, and the same
result, no doubt, would follow it the duty on tea was reduced.
The motion vi as then agreed to.
PROTECTION AND RELIEF OF EJECTED
TENANTS IN IRELAND.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD obtained leave to bring in a Bill for
the protection and tel,ef of ejected tenants in Ireland.
COAL WHIPPERS (LONDON) BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES (SALARIES AND EX.
PENSES) BILL.

This Bill passed through Com-mittee.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock.

PARLIAYI TA RV BUSINESS.
(From the Voles and Proceedings rt- the House of Commons.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23.
The following Railway Bill waz4 withdrawn:—
Great Southern and Western Exten;lon (Carlow to SilkennY)•

SECOND READINGS OF RALLWAY BILLS.
MONDAY, AP laL 27. :
Forth and Clyde Junction.
Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction.
Oldham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birkenhead Junction.
Sheffield, lisehrtoann-dunßderllayyne, and Manchester (Whaley Bridge

Hayflild Branches).
Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's (Extension to Ely, with a Brands
therefrom).
London and Birmingham (Weedon and Northampton).
West Cornwall.
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton.
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth.
South Devon (No. 2—Amendment and Branches).
Midland (Clay Cross to Newark).

REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON GROUP (Ng;
20) OF RAILWAY BILLS.
:MITCHAM AND SOUTH-WESTERN BILL.
Kr. Sotheron reported from the Select Committee en Group (No.
20) of Railway Bills, to whom several petitions against the Bills
comprised in the said group were referred, That in the case of the
Mitcham and South-Western Railway Bill they had heard counsel iu
support of several of the said petitions, and had also heard counsel in
favour of the Bill, and that they had examined into the allegations
contained in the Preamble of the Bill, but that the same had not
been proved to their satisfaction.

REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON GROUP (:Cpl
19) OF RAILWAYS.
EXETER, TOPSIIAM, AND EXMOUTH BILL.
Lord Harry Vane reported from the Select Committee on Group
(No. 19) of Railway Bills, to whom several petitions against the
Bills oompriscd in the said group were referred, That in the case et
the Exeter, Topsham, and Exmouth Railway Bill they had heard
counsel in support of several of the said petitions, and had also heard
counsel in favour of the Bill, and that they had examined into the
allegations contained in the Preamble of the Bill, but the flame 4"
not been proved to their satisfactiwn.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES.
HOUSE. OF LORDS.
Their Lordships met this day, for the first time since the
in Eastcon.
er
recess, for the dispatch of public business. The Committee,
sequence of Lord Da:hr,usle's motion. came to the determination of
adjourning all the Railway Bills which came before them on second
referene^ Monday next. Amongst the Bills so adjourned were
the following —Londonderry and Enniskillen Exteroion Railway—
Wateribrd, Wexford, Wicklow, and land;ailwhu ay—D
ries üblin and
KiiKstown Extension Itailway—ClonmelT Railway—
Limerick, Eimis, and Ki Junaion Railway—Great. Southern
and Wezitern (Ireland) —Cork Extension—Mallow and Fermoy
Railway—Killarney Junction Railway—Mount Alellick Jutle.
lion Railway—Larne, Belfast, --and Ballymena Railway—Air.
m ena and liallymoneyr
Rail ay
u:ui Omagh, Dungam
worksailway—The Newry, Warr esu;te:t
ion, k rmaea,
alelG+st Junction Railway hill.
ent tllr •
en.'ll
dens, and also V:, the Standing Or.

MORTALITY OF TII F. i'.fitoroLlS.—The total numbef
of deaths registered in the -metropolis during the week ending
April 18, 18-16, is 967 ;
of these 30 are deaths from violence.
The number of deaths (except from violence) during the
week, amount therefore to 939, showing an
an increase on the
week preceding of 107—the number of death_s_f_pmAd-
igbreat
ine
. the week ending llth April, having been 63.1
from dise.ase of the
increase has taken place in the
.de_
respiratory. organs; in the
in the week preceding, to 0. 0n1y...
`1
th Chairman of the Excise had
The Bishop of Carlisle and . of the F,chequer yesterday.
. ncehor
iuterviews with the cha . .
t view with the Earl of Dal.
• AI P, had an in er
Mr. Denrlon, • last. eentsleyamounted to 318,
housie yesterdarat the office of the Board, of Trade.

WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY.
Morntne •• minutes after 11 I Evenlna .. VT minutes after 12.