The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-08 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE HANSA.

SOUTHAMPTON, Feb. 8.

The North German Lloyds' steamship Hansa, from New
York, on the 27th ult., has arrived. She brings 78 passen-
gers, a large cargo of tobacco and cotton for Bremen,
$12,000 for England, $121,100 for France, and $15,000 for
Bremen.

On the 31st ult. she spoke British steamer Virginia.
Her news has been anticipated.

THE MALT TAX.

-- - -

DEPUTATION TO THE CHANCELLOR OP THE
EXCHEQUER.

The following appeared in a late edition of The Bun of
last evening :

The deputation appointed at the great meeting of
the farmers of England, held at the Freemasons'
Tavern last Monday, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday afternoon
at his official residence in Downing-street.
Previous to waiting on the right hon. gentleman,
the noblemen, members of Parliament, and gentlemen
composing the deputation, assembled at Westminster
Palace Hotel, and at the suggestion of Sir Fitzroy
Kelly the different points that were to be brought
under the attention of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer were agreed upon and arranged as follows :

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of barley.
2. The effect of the malt-tax and. the beer con-
sumed by the labouring classes.
3. The influence of the mitlyon-th-e-pro----
duction of cereals, wool, the price of meat, and the
raising of live stock, and
4. The reason for stopping short at the malt-tax
in carrying out the principles of free trade.
A member of the deputation thought that the
question should•be asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer why he did not do for the malt-tax what he
had done for the hop duties. (Hear, hear.)
Sir F. KELLY said the different points could be
urged shortly upon either of the subjects desired by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Colonel North
would introduce the deputation, and intimate to the
right hon. gentleman the readiness with which any
of the above points could be illustrated.

The deputation then proceeded to Downing-
street, and having been shown into the library
of the hon. gentleman's official residence, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer in a few minutes entered the
room, and Colonel North formally introduced the
deputation. Mr. Reed, Mr. Fielden, Mr. Inwood,
Mr. Biddell, Mr. Cayley, and other gentlemen ad-
dressed the right hon. gentleman, and strongly
urged upon him the propriety of reducing the malt
duty, which they said was oppressive and unjust—
oppressive because it compelled the poor man to
pay double the price be ought for his beer, and un-
just because it was levied on one particular article,
whilst 'all the rest of the articles entering into
the consumption of the population of the country
had been either altogether modified or greatly re-
duced.

The CHANCELLLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply
to the deputation, said that last year he had a large
surplus to deal with, and the income tax was
greatly reduced, a proposition which met with ge-
neral approval. He was afraid the expectations of
the deputation as to the finances of the State were
not based on correct data. He was not aware that
the state of things for the next few months would
render it possible to look in the face such
a gigantic question now under discussion. The
agriculturists were no doubt right in being the first
to put in their claims for consideration, but nothing
but a magnificent surplus could raise the question
of a reduction of the malt tax. With respect to the
opinions and suggestions that had been placed
before him, it would be the duty of himself and
colleagues to give a question of such importance
their best and deepest consideration.
The deputation then withdrew.