The Sun.
London, England, 1802-02-20 00:00:00

don. The great advantage finmerly ars!ng from
the Settlement. of Bencoolen, was the cultiva:ton of
Pepper, hut in consequence of our altered situmion
on the western side of the Peninsula of 'lndia, w had
very great facilities of procuring Pepper, and con-
sequently the Settlement of Bencoolen was no longer
so beneficial. The revenue arising from Bencoolen -
amounted only to 6cool. a year, while the expence
of its establiAiment amounted to no less than
119,0001. a year, so that there was an annual loss of
113,0001. a year : by the plan he now meant to pro-
pose, there would he a saving of no less than 80,0001.
a year. 'I his migitt appear to be a large sum, but he
had hopes, that savings to a much more considerable
amount would he made in time. • Although Ben-
coolen had ceased to he-of so much importance, yet
it would not be prudent altogether to abandon it, be-
cause, then it might he taken possession- of by any
other Power ; he, therefore, thought the best plan
to adopt, would be to diminish the Establishment
there ; and if a President, four Writers, &c. were
left there, it would sufficiently answer every com-
mercial purpose. He, therefore, moved fur leave
to bring in a Bill for these ptrposes.
Leave was granted.
The Order of the Day was then read for going
into a Committee to take into consideration the
Report of the Committee upon-Expiring Laws.
The House having resolved itself into a Com-
mittee, Mr. ALEXANDER in the Chair, the Report
of the Committee upon Expiring Laws was agreed to.
The House was then resumed, and the Report
was ordered to be received on Monday.

Mr. STANLEY presented a Petition! from Mr. J.
Edwards, setting forth the particulars of his case
with regard to the Loan in i 796.—Referred to a
Committee.

The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER brought
up some further Account; respelling His Majesty's
Civil List, which were referred to the Sele4 Com-
mittee appointed to take the other Accounts into
consideration.

Mr. VANSITTART brought up the American
Treaty Aft—whiall was read a first time, and was
ordered to be read a second time on Wednesday next.
Mr. VANSITTART inoved for several Accounts
respeeting the quantity of Cinnamon imported, and
the duties thereon.—Qrdered.

Mr. VAN'SITTARI moved, That the American
Treaty Aft should be printed.—Ordered.
Mr. SHAW LEFEVE moved for a variety of
Accounts respecting the Duties on Paper, Paste-
board, Szc. during different periods.—Ordered.
Mr. Alderman T,VSHINGTO4 moved, That the
Petition from the Grenada Merchants, presented a
few days-ago, praying for relief, might l=e read.
The Petition, having been r.:.ad,

Mr. Alderg;a4 LUSHINGTQN said, he under.
stood that the Motion made by the Hop. Baronet
who presented the Petition, was, that it should lie
on the Table. A wish, at that time, was expressed
by the CI:tAxCEL LOB. of the E)cCi-f F.QUER, that it
should be referred to a Committee, and he was
astonished that the Hop. Baronet did not move for
a Committee when he presented the Petition, becaue
he could not conceive any possible objcaion there
could be to it. If he had been asked to present a
Petition. and the Petitioners wer. to g
the ..merits of their petition examined by a Com.
mince of that House, he should think till!), had used
him ill, by sing him to present the Petition.
With regard to the present Petition, however, he
was sure the.. Petitioners could have no objedion
to have the subjed fully examined ; He, therefore,
moved for the appoinment of a Committee to exa.
mine the said Petition.
The Motion was agreed to, and a Committee
appointed.
Mr. Alderman Lust.' INOTON presented the An.
trust Petition from the Levant Company.--deferred •
to a Committee.

Mr. DENT said, that rumours were in circula.
tion, that as the Convoy Tax would expire with
the War, it was the intention of Government.to
supply the deficiency by an additional Duty of one.
fifth on Exports and Imports ; he thetefore wished
to know whether the CH ANf:ELLOR of the EXCn-
QU E R had any such intention, and if he had, when
he meant to bring it forward

The CHANCELLOR cf the EXCHEQUER
said, he could not avoid making some comment upon
a praEtice which appeared to be gaining ground, and
which appeared to him not to be consistent with
propriety, and that was, calling upon Ministers
publicly to give answers as to the intention of Go-.
vernment with regard to Taxes. It must be obvi-
ous to the House, that it would be improper for
him, prematurely, to state what his intentions were
with regard to Taxes, before he came forward in
the regular way, to- state tht. Supplies, and Ways
and Means of the year. Upon these subjects, if
any private applications were made to hitu, he would
be happy to give every information consistent with
his duty. If the Hon. Gentleman thought proper
to adopt that mode of inquiry, he certainly would
receive every proper information, but lie hoped the
House would think him justified in declining to an-
swer the question which had now been proposed.
Mr. DENT said, he was satisfied with the an-
swer of the kight Hon. Gentleman, and should cer:.
tainly adopt the mode of inquiry alluded to. The
reason of his asking the question was, that there
was a. great quantity of West India Merchandize on
hand, and his Constituents were particularly anxious
to obtain information upon the subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
observed that the Tax in question, did not relate
to Wtst India Merchandize.

The Committee of Sopely was put ofFtill Monday.
The Committee of Ways and Means was put.off
till Monday.
Adjourned at five o'clock till Monday next. --