The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-23 00:00:00

INLAND REVENUE BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER, clause 7 was struck out, and 8 was agreed to.

The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER sail he
would now explain the clauses which were agreed to on the
former sitting, on the understanding that he would afford an
opportunity to the house to reconsider them. The clauses
whichhe would now call attention to were for the purpose
of equalising the land tax laid by varioust. parishes,
and also to facilitate their collection, and to apply the sur-
plus to the redemption of the tax. The clauses would,
without interfering with the discretion of the Land-tax
Commissioners, have the effect of making the Inland
revenue responsib:e for the management of the surplus and
t s application to the redemption of the tax. It would be
for the committee to say whether it agreed to these clauses ;
if not, he would re-commit the bill for their further con-
sideration.

Mr. HENLEY called the attention of the committee to
the fact that if the collectors were under an obligation to
make a return to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, the
result might be to cause some difficulty in rentals of very
small tenements, the collection of the tax from which would
cost more than the tax itself would amount to.

Lord H. VANE thought that this bill was a very
necessary and a very useful one. It was desirable that the
Government should appoint some one to assist the commis-
sioners, who were not always very competent to make the
assessment.

Mr. BARROW thought the commissioners were as able
to make the assessment as they were to hear appeals against
the poor rate assessment. They did the one, and certainly
could do the other.

After a few words from Sir W. JOLLIFFE,

The CHANCELLOR of the ExcuuQuEn
ex-
plained that the clause was not only to deal with ex-
isting surpluses, but also with those that might here-
after accrue. The bill did not take any of the
powers which the Commissioners now held away
from them, but Would render a more regular and
proper collection of the tax necessary.

Aftera few words from Mr. S. Estccourt, Mr. Spooner, Mr.
Henley, and Mr. Newdegate the discusSion on the subject
of the land tax dropped.
Clause 37 wasnext proposed, and was to facilitate the re-
covery of the succession duty.
Mr. BOVILL said that the effect of this clause would be
to deprive all parties of any power to appeal from decisions
of the. Court of Exchequer, and some remedy should be
supplied in the bill to meet this objection.
Mr. PHILLIPS was strongly opposed to
.proceeding
with these clauses at so late a period of the session.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he would not object to the introduction of the words to meet
the views of the hon. member for Guildford (Mr. Bovill).
In reply to Mr. WALPOLE,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he had not been able to look into the proceeds that might
be derivable from a succession duty on the property of
corporate bodies, It was understood that it would
not realise more than £5,000 a year, but he
hoped to be able to sift the matter thoroughly on a future
occasion.

Sir H. JOLLIFFE hoped that the subject would be
takeninto considet ation early next session.
After some conversation the clause, with amendments,
was agreed to.
On clause 38, which proposes to extend the preceding
clause to Ireland, there was some irregular discussion, in
the course of which

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it had
been determined
.to divide the bill into three bills, a course
which was sanctioned by precedent.
Mr. MASSEY, the chairman of the committee, was ap-
pealed to and confirmed the statement of the right hon.
gentleman.
The clause was agreed io.
On clause 39, which related to probate duties,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
was proposed to provide for the prevention of just debts
due to the Treasury being evaded. In order to accomplish
that object more effectually, he moved the following
amendment :—" At the end, after " voluntary debt,"
add, "expressed to be payable on the death of
such person, or payable under any instrument which shall
not have been bona fide delivered to the donor thereof,
three months before the death of such person." The
right hon. gentleman, in reply to some questions, stated
that as regarded gifts inter vivos the clause would not inter-
fere with any bequests of that kind, except they came
within the terms of the amendment, namely, being delivered
to the donee three months previous to the demiie of the
donor.

The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 40,

The CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER explained
that the object of the clause was to give effect to
the Succession Duty Act of 1853, which, as it stood
at present, enabled persona by arrangement amongst
themselves to evade the payment of the sucession duty.
He contended that, without such a clause, the spirit of the
bill could not be carr ed out.

Sir F. GOLDSMID moved tho omission of the clause,
which he considered was framed with a view to repeul the
effect of a decision of the House of Lords.

[LEFT SPEAKING.]

211 E REPRESEIV7ATION OF TILE

CITY OF LONDON.

MEETING IN THE GUILDHALL.—(THIS DAY.)
A very large meeting of the electors of the City of Lon-
don was held this day, in the Guildhall, for the purpose of
meeting Lord John Russell, and hearing from his lord-
ship a farewell address on his retiring from the repre-
sentation of the City of London in the Commons
House of Parliament.

The platform was filled by leading men of the City, and
altogether much excitement prevailed. His lordship passed
through the hall on his way to the Chamberlain's room at
10 minutes to two, and was very cordially received.
Lady Russell and the family of the noble lord cccupied
a gallery in the ancient building.

On Lord Josui RUtSELL making his appearance in front
of the platform he was received with the most enthusiastic
cheering and waving of hats. Silence having been in
soma measure restored,

Sir JAMES Dvilz came forward and said they had met
that day to hear from Lord John Russell a farewell address
from him on his retirement from the representation of the
City of London, which he had held for the last twenty
years, with great honour to himself and the City of Lon-
don. He proposed that Mr. Thomson Hankey preside on
the occasion.

The motion having been agreed to,
THOMSON HAWKEY, Esq.,
explained the objeot of the
meeting, which was to take farewell of the noble lord as a
representative of the City of London. The noble lord
had for many years been the ardent champion of every
good measure, and it was with mingled feelings of pleasure
and regret that they met the noble lord that day.
(We shall continue the report in our late edition.)

mte;3-ItsiPhyK.eaap.AGnnord.fc'deacon Jones, Rev. Cannon Jennings,, 1
CORPORATION OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.—
The Court of Assistants of this corporation held its last
meeting for the present season on Saturday. The attend-
ance of members during May,mJrn.nje.,
Wan.d
Fjrillesyhfiineeldlu, daedndi‘tihre.
(theif 117. P,, Mr.
treasurers), the Marquis of
the Earl of Powis; the Archbishop of
Durham, Sir John Boileau, Sir B. W.
:11AlInDtiahildrneerclan• Finnic, Mr. W. H. Barrow, M.P., and
Bentley, C. Francis, W. Gilpin, C. Hodgson, E.
Pepys, H. Pownall, T. H. A. Poynder, J. Propert, and T.
In May and July the Court elected 45 widows and
Tilson
aged single daughters of clergymen to pensions for life of
to fill the vacancies which had occurred
£lO per annum each,
and daughters. In June the sum of
ARMYWMduleordeevrr.sseiEtnrrgEhthje. past year in the list of 712 ladies permanent pen-
EsirYondegrseso'n the corporation funds, besides granting donations
to 96 other widows
£2,300 was distributed among 150 poor clergymen, and in
the present month the governors have had the pleasure of
raising the pension of 29 widows and daughters from £lO to
£l5 and £2O per annum each, to fill the vacancies which had
occurred among the higher class of pensions. The governors
were also enabled to raise the Pensions of 10 other widows
and daughters permanently from £lO to £l6 :per annum.
Besides the valuable assistance thus afforded to clergymen,
their widows and aged daughter
amounts have been granted for,
and placing out in life many children (both boys and girls)
s donations of various
apprenticing,
educating,
of poor clergymen. In the course of every year the pensions
and
corporation, amounting to
nearly
applying from various parts relief to about 1,250 individuals
England and Wales, and
parts
when it is considered that relief to an individual conveys
hin-
directly in very cases
srhelief to other members of the
family,
the corporation dispenses so
donations7,o 00, o f
carry this
re ancient
direct
o
full
widely, and, it may be added, so judiciously, can scarcely
be over-estimated. While the number of the clergy is
rapidly increasing, and their Worth and zeal are becoming
more conspicuous, their wordly remuneration is decreasing
manybenefl benefit aws which
and more precarious ; and it is satisfactory, therefore, to
know that a corporation, founded so long ago us 1678, for
the relief of the clergy and their families, not only still
exists, but has gathered strength with fears, and was never
more flourishing or vigorous than at the present time, when
its resources are so much needed.

AN EXAMPLE.—Mr. Thomas Bateman, a farmer
of Chorley, near Nantwich, and who is also a preacher
amongst the Primitive Methodists, has long been desirous
to add to the small stipend of the Vicar of Wrenbury, in
which parish Chorley is situated. Mr. Bateman has col-
lected nearly £5OO for this purpose, by an effort which does
credit to his energy, will, and to his kindness of heart.
THE ELECTRIC AND INTERNATIONAL TELE-
GRAPH COMPANY.-At a meeting of the board of directors
of this company, held yesterday, it was resolved to recom-
mend to the proprietors, at the general meeting; to be held
at the general offices of the company, Telegraph-street,
Moorgate-street, on the Ist day of August next,' to confirm
a dividend of 43100. per cent, for the last half• year.