The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-27 00:00:00

as possible, and to increase tl.eir comforts. The Nocli
Marquis seemed to suppose that the only taxes
had been taken off that at all directly lightened the bur-
dens of the agricultural interests were those on taxed carts
and bailiffs. He had forgotten the lax upon tiles. No-
body could doubt the taking off of that tax would give the
agriculturists, he would not say considerable, but some
relief. A notice stood this evening in the paper with
respect to the malt tax, he supposed the Noble Marquis
considered that that ought to be taken off.—(Hear.) Now
the House would recollect when Le brought forward his
financial statement, he had stated the grounds o❑ which
he thought that tax ought not to be taken off, and with
the exception of that be confessed he hardly knew what
other taxes the agriculturist would wish to be reduced.
He objeCted to the motion, as it would interfere with the
progress of the other measures.
An Ho N. MEMBER would suggest the propriety of
withdrawing the motion, as an inquiry had been promised.
Sir THOMAS FREMANTLE would support the
resolution of his Right Hon. Friend.
Mr. SLANEY would add his humble request to that
of the Noble Lord, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would grant; relief to the agricultural interest in the way
suggested, by taking off the duty on insurance of agricul-
tural stock. He considered that great relief would be
afforded by the commutation of tithes.
Mr. WASON remarked, that there could he no sounder
policy, than that of enabling the manufacturing interests
to purchase agricultural produce to a greater extent. It
had been argued, that as they had taken off the duty on
marine insurances, they were bound to take off that on
agricultural insurances. Now, no relief ought to be
granted to any particular interest, unless the taxation on
that particular class was injurious to the general interest
of the country ; and he hoped that every one who sup-
ported the repeal of the tax on insurances of agricultural
stock would be prepared to take upon himself apr Tor-
tionate share of the additional burdens which would be
rendered necessary by that repeal.
Mr. HENRY HANDLEY said that, as a Member for
a purely agricultural district, he could state that the con-
dition of that interest was truly deplorable. Since the
financial exposition of the Noble Lord (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer), he had received letters front the country,
containing expressions not merely of disappointment but
of despair, at finding deputations from other interests
successful in their efforts for the removal of taxation, while
their case seemed entirely neglected.
An HON. MEMBER (name not known) made a few
observations, that the agricultural interest tvas entitled to
a corresponding relief to that which had been granted to
the shipping interest.
Mr. CUTLAR FERGUSSON said that although he
approved of the budget taken altogether, and although he
thought the selection of the taxes to be reduced was on the
whole judicious, be thought the reductions ought to have
been carried to a greater extent, and that the agricultural
interest—in which the Noble Lord admitted that there
could be no doubt of the existence of great distress—had
not been sufficiently considered by him. He thought that
a portion of the surplus of 500,0001. ought to have been
applied to the reduction of taxes bearing principally upon
the firming interest.—(Hear, hear.) If they could not
abandon a greater portion of the taxes, they ought to ap.
propriate the surplus in that way. If something were
not done for the reduction of the poor-rates, the whole of
the agricultural interest would be involved in one common
deatruction. He would concur with the motion of the
Noble Lord, but without any view of embarrassing the
Government.

Sir M. W. RIDLEY said he would not vote for the
motion of the Noble Marquis, for the simple reason, that
he did not think that the removal of these taxes would af-
ford to the parties any effectual relief.
Mr. SLANEY said lie wished it to be understood that
he was not favourable to the motion of the Noble Marquis.
Mr. HU:SIE observed that if the Noble Marquis pressed
his motion, lie (31r. Hume) should feel it his duty to
propose an amendment to leave out the word agricultural
and those following it, and to make the motion run—that
"If any farther reduction of taxation was considered
expedient, the interests of all classes should be considered."
The Hon. Member spoke amid considerable noise in the
House, and his amendment excited a great deal of laughter.
Lord EBRINGTON should vote against the motion of
the Noble Marquis, because it was calculated to give an
impression in the country unfavourable to the plan for the
reduction of taxation which Ministers had laid down. At
the same time lie thought it desirable that the duty al-
luded to on marine insurance should be removed—as it
might be done, without any material derangement of the
budget—as it would be not merely a boon, but an essen-
tial relief.

Sir JOHN TYRRELL observed, that with regard to
the property which the Hon. Member. for Middlesex held
in Essex, he could only say that his tenants were offering
premiums to get rid of the land they held of him. The
lion. Member proceeded to make a few remarks on the
extent of the agricultural distress which prevailed at pre-
sent, and was confident that, if the Noble Lord would
only admit the principle of relief, it would be received
with great gratiqule.
Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY said (as we understood)
that he would vote against the resolutions, with an expla-
nation. —( Laughter.) fie never voted without an expla-
nation. The explanation was, that he objected to pass a
vote for the relief of one particular class, when the distress
was general. If his Hon. Friend, the Member for Lin-
colnshire, had brought forward his motion for the repeal of
half the malt tax—(Hear, hear)—he would have voted
for that, on this explanation—(A laugh)—that the House
consented to re-impose the duty on beer.—(oll, oh !)
The reduction of the duty on beer had not benefited the
working classes, and had substituted filth for a whole-
some beverage.

Mr. SINCLAIR cordially supported the motion of the
Noble Marquis. lie believed that, unless relief were
speedily afforded, the landed interest would soon be on
the verge of utter ruin. Much was said about the march
of intellect, but the proprietors and the occupiers of the
soil had to guard Against the march of confiscation.—
(Elem..) His constituents were chiefly engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, and were distinguished by their intelli-
gence and industrious habits; but they felt it almost im-
possible to contend against their present difficulties. In the
last letter which he had received from Caithness, he was
assured, by a public-spirited proprietor, that " agricultu-
rists never were more depressed, and that unless public
burdens be diminished, they must all stop payment." lie
should not at present discuss the sources of the pressure of
which landlords and farmers were complaining, but he
iem# id ❑ot help considering the monetary system as one
grcat and leading cause. Indeed the present distress and
the present currency seemed to him as inseparable as the
Siamese twins ; whenever you look at the one, the other
unavoidably stares you in the face. The success of this
proposition would be hailed with satisfaction by the pro-
prietors and tenantry of Scotland us a❑ omen of approach-
ing relief.
Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL supported the mo-
tion. He expressed great surprise and indignation at the
imputation which the lion. Member for Middlesex had
cast upon the landowners—that they did not come before
Parliament with clean hands. Ile altogether denied the
proposition of that Hon. Member—that the landowners
were receiving so many millions at the expense of the
other classes of society. The fact was, that there were
many taxes and duties with which they were exclusively
charged. It was a great desideratum, that the question of
corn laws should he settled ; but whilst such unjustifiable
attacks as these were made, he feared it would never be
effee.t.d. All that the agriculturists asked, was au equal
Abare of protection and relief with other classes of the
community. He assured the Noble Lord it was necessary
to do something to relieve the existing distress; for, it he
imagined that the. people would receive the slightest bene-
fit from taking off the duty on tiles, or half the duty on
soap, he would soon find his opinion most fallacious.
Mr. O'CONNELL thought the Hon. Baronet had,
attacked his Hon. Friend the Member for Middlesexe
without due regard to the meaning of his expressions. It
was true his Hon. Friend vas a better hand at arithme-
tical than at rhetorical figures—(A laugh)—but what he
understood him to mean was this—that it being a noto-
rious fact that the rat and the weasel frequently consumed
the corn in stores, for the want of which the people were
starving, the agriculturalists had no great right to com-
plain of distress. He, however, admitted the distress
which existed, and as he believed it to extend to Ireland,
would vote for the motion.

Mr. T. ATTWooDsalid that, after the resolution to
winpll. the House came on vedn eosdlayemaintained
night, it was
a all
utterly
impossible that the corn lawss
--he therefore felt it his duty to
ove f give notice of his inten-
tion, on an early night, to
any
kind,._
(bGoeat fur the repeal of all
rt laughter)
corn laws, and of all laws of
lion. Gentlemen appeared much amused, the
him just as they had done the other nigi,t,wyhel thetreated
lion. Member for Tainworth quoted a pamphlet oft his,
in which he asserted that no rent had been paid for the
last four years ; at which the House thought proper
to laugh without waiting for the exception—v:z., except
out of the capital—he moved, then, in addition, for a re-
peal of all laws affecting the importation of glair), and live
and dead stock.
__

---
After a few worth from Mr. PRYME, the House
divided, when there appeared--
For the resolution of the Marquis of Chando PO
Against it IIS
Majority