The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-16 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL l6, 1850.

tions if they could not do so consistently with their I I
own opinions; they would be put separately, and those
who could not vote for the repeal of the duty on paper
might feel at liberty to support the resolution for the
repeal of the newspaper stamp duty.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, the resolution which stood first had reference to
the duty on paper, which, when they deducted the duty
paid on the paper consumed in the offices of the
State, yielded something like 750,0001. per annum.
If they considered the duty on paper simply in refe-
rence to its effects on an important manufacture, he
thought they would find a convincing case for taking*
review into an early consideration. Without going into
the more immediate object of his motion, namely, the
effect of this duty in impeding the diffusion of know-
ledge, he would call the attention of. the House to its
effect on the paper manufacture itself, upon the em-
ployment of labour, and upon some other considerations
of a commercial character not immediately connected
with the diffusion of knowledge. Now, he held it to he
fatal to the tax, if they could not protect by any device
the honest trader against the fraudulent one. What a
monstrous thing it wes, if true,that the Excise had always
failed to protect to any considerable extent the honest
manufacturer from those that evaded the duty, that they
should continue a tax of this description. That was an
argument of itself fatal to the tax. A list was pub-
lished last year of the number of manufacturers who
had been fined, and some cf them imprisoned, by the
Excise for carrying on a systematic violation of the Ex-
cise-laws. But, in order to protect the honest manufac-
turer from the fraudulent one, what did they do ?
They had recourse to a system of vexatious inter-
ference, and of constant prying and meddling
with all the affairs of the manufacturer of
paper; and they were obliged to do this to an extent that
he hardly thought was true of any country, even of
Algiers. Now with regard to the employment of
labour, and he would just ask any of the Gentlemen
opposite, interested as they were in the employment of
labour in the rural districts, to consider how
materially the prosperity of the paper manu-
facturer was connected with the full employ-
ment of labour in many of the agricultural
districts. The manufacture of paper way perhaps the
only rural manufacture which they'had. The,paper•mills
were spread over the whole country. They were found
perhaps in almost every county in the United Kingdom.
They employed a large amount of labour, and if it was
the tendency, as he beieved it was, of these laws to lessen
the number of paper` manufacturers, and to limit the
production of paper, then :he said, in producing those
results, it lessened the employment of labour in those rural
districts and increased the rates therein, and it became:a
legitimate question with Gentlemen opposite how far they
would interest themselves In` the abolition of those duties.
There was no article of an equal value which employed
a larger number of labourers than the manufacture of
paper. Mr. Crompton, a gentleman of great experience
in these matters, had made a calculation that a reduc-
tion in tho dt, ty would afford employment to
no less than sixty thousand persons, men,
women, and clildren, in Loudon alone. That gentleman
also stated that a newspaper which purchased stamps to
the amount of 3,000/. gave employment to 15,0011. worth
of labour; and what more important consicieraiisan could
there ho than this, especially s.t. a time like the present,
when multitudes were leaving their country for want of
employment? He was speaking in presence of those who
could correcs him if he were wrong, that all our colonies
were getting their paper from France and Germany
in preference to this country where the manufacturers
could not supply paper at a sufficiently cheap price.
It was true that they were allowed a drawback, but that
was more than over-balanced by the extortions cf. the
Excise. The drawbacks he believed confined the same,
they appeared to be stationary matters.—(A laugh.) But
he would now take the effects of this tax when
in its most important shape, that of preventing the diffu-
sion of useful knowledge among the people. He could
not state this in stronger terms than had been stated by
Messrs. Chambers, of Edinburgh. In a petition pre-
sented by them to the House. They stated that
they had been prevented by no other cause
than these duties from continuing various Periodi-
cal works calculated to diffuse useful knowledge among
the people. They had also been obliged to abandon a
publication which had a circulation of 80,000 weekly by
the mere consideration of the Excise Duties. The
duties alone would have been sufficient to have
ensured them a considerable profit. The paper
formed the leading item in the e xpences.
But he had another statement of a similar nature from
Mr. Charles Knight. He supposed they had seen a very
able pamphlet which had issued from the pen of that
gentleman, entitled "The Struggles of a Book against
Excessive Taxation," in which he gave a history of the
struggles cf the Penny Cyclopcedia against the fatal
effects of the heavy duty on paper. What did
they think this little book—(Laughter)—which was in-
tended exclusively for the working and poorer classes,
contributed to the revenue cf the country? It paid in
hard cash for paper duty no less a sum than 16,500/.—
(Hear, hear.) What an enormous sum was this to
exact as a fine from a man before he was at
liberty to spread through this vast country the
inestimable blessings of cheap literature, which, in the
words of Sir llenry Parnell, formed the raw material
of all sociai improvement among the great masses of the
working people of this country." In fact tho fiscal re-
strictions on paper did far more to hinder education than
the educational grants of the Government did to promote
it. He would quote another fact, from a pamphlet
of Mr. Knight. He stated that in the course of twenty
years he had paid 80,0001. for copyrights and literary
labour, but before he could give the world the benefit of
that purchase ho was compelled to pay the Government
as much as 50,0001. for the duty on paper. Here
was a tax on capital, here was a pressure on
the industry of a talented man, which had no
, parallel in any tariff or excise duty, but he would take
another weapon. The proprietor of the Poor Man's
Guardian told him that be fore he raid for labour of
any kind he was obliged to Fay the Excise-office
100,0004 per annum. And it was absurd to say
that the duty thus imposed could be got back from
the consumer, for the poorer classes were [unable
to give any but a very small sum for a publication, and
unless a proprietor sold a very large number of copies
his speculation would not succeed. The publishers of
more expensive works suffered in the same ratio. If a per-
son published a work, and had a thousand copies printed,
he had to pay duty upon all, although he might only sell
100 or 200, and the remainder found their way to the
butterman or cheesemonger. The Commissioners of
Excise had inquired into the subject, and they said it
was their opinion that a great injustice was in-
flicted upon the publisher of a book by the making
him pay duty on a greater number of copies than he sold.
He had stated why he thought the duty on paper pecu-
liarly prejudicial to the progress in knowledge, while a
great many objections might be urged against it upon
, the ground that it obstructed trade. Numerous indeed
had been the Committees which had recommended its
abolition on that ground, while the Excise Commission
had contemplated its repeal, if it did not recommend its
repeal.—(hear, hear.) Had the Right Hon. Baronet
the Member for Tamworth remained in office it would
since. That Right Hon.
have
longeluty on leather and glass, and it
Baronet lee e n
abolished
he
was quite evident that • he contemplated paper next.
With these observations he would ask the House to adopt
this resolution as an expression of its opinion that the
paper duty ought not to form one of the perpetual
sources of raising the public revenue. He came now
namely the one releting
newspapers. He believed he might be
tt
oo t ht he
permittedest
anmte
to consider
t eo
onrnessi odloeurti ,
this
not entirely as a question of
revenue. He remembered when this question was before
the Parliament some years ago, the Noble Lord then at
the head of the Government expressed a hope that no
man would think him capable for a moment of putting
this question upon so narrow a foundation as that
of revenue. The Noble Lord viewed it simply in
reference to its effect upon the habits and feelings of the
people, and it was in that spirit be proposed to
deal with it now. Now, the newspaper
stamp
paid something like 350,000/. per annum to
the Exchequer. Some gentleman might fancy
that newspapers enjoyed some postal privileges, and he
begged to tell those Gentlemen that he proposed to
leave that part of the matter just as it stood
now. Those who wanted to send their paper by
post should be compelled still to pay the penny stamp,
but let not those who did not use the Post-office be
compelled to pay with those who did.. This was no new
principle, for it had already been adopted by the House,
and by a return he held in his hand, a return which
showed that there were fifty-three periodicals published
in London which had stamped editions for whose
who wished to forward them by post, and
'unstamped ones for those .who did not.—(Hear, hear.)
He would take the case of Punch, the Athenceum, or the
Builder, Anne would ask if there was any reason, if they
were allowed to be unstamped, when they did not go by
would say these were not newspapers. post, why they should not allow the Daily News to be un-
stamped when it did not go by post. Perhaps the House
Then he wanted
to know what rifiht they had to allow them to
go by post
If that systein was so anomalous with respect to the
if they were not newspapers ?
part of it, he did not think they could maintain
it . postage e
thought the thing must break down. It had gone
to such an extent that he believed if he were to stamp a
pair of boot and then put them into the Post-office
they would go as a newspaper.—(Laughter.) It was
well known that Savory, the silversmith was able to
send his catalogue of plated goods through
, the Post-office by getting it stamped as a
maintained,newspaper It might moridgehrt
tboekseaeip newspapers respectable. Hod that the tax on newspapers
"was a a political question and that its tax ought to be
would relate a circumstance which showed what security
it afforded
,ft
d for that purpose. There
libelling individuals; and There was a paper called
Sam
amongst other persons it libelled a clergyman at
Barking, by stating that he had been guilty of
some improper communication with one of his female
servants. The Solicitor of the Stamp-office was written
to, and that gentleman (Mr. Keogh) wrote in reply that
"the paper called Sam Sly was not liable to
the newspaper stamp." If libelling individuals was
not newt, and that of the worst description, what was
news? But according to the solicitor of the Stamp-
office, they. might actually circulate a paper like Suet
Sly without being liable to the stamp duty.
Where, then, was their security for respectability ?
Under the present system of Stamp Duties, with
respect to newspapers and other teriodical publi-
cations, lying was untaxed, and truth was.—(Hear.) In
the penny publications of the day the greatest ins-
truths might be told of the greatest personages of the
realm without any st amp duty, but the moment facts were
stated, then came forward the Solicitor of Stamps and
taxes and clauses and claimed his duty. Parties might say
what they pleased and publish what they pleased as long as
they did not tell the truth, but the moment they did so,
the moment they gave what took place in that House,
then they were subject to taxation. The truth
Now untaxed publications might state what they pleasq,

the lower orders read them; but the antidotes to them
must pay the stamp duty.
(LEFT SPEAY.ING.)

THE GREAT SEA-SERPENT
ASHORE.

Marvels never cease. Scepticism has been ram-
pant against the existence in the " depths of ocean"
of the leviathan sea-serpent. Few dared to profess
belief in the reality of the gigantic denizen of the
deep ; an& none were found bold enough to hope
that the, mystery would be solved by that
veritable wonder being exhibited in all its
long gradations on land. The sea-serpent,
however, has at length apparently taken to
heart tkis general contempt towards his monstership ;
and accordingly, as we learn from an American con-
tempoary, has determined himself to climb the
shores and dethrone the general doubts. The follow-
ing vie extract from the Christian (U .S.) Mercury :
"The following letter from a gentleman of Beaufort
gives exciting news of what may, by this time, be the
seat of war.' The old fellow has got into close
quarters, and if he does not make a sudden and for
tunate dash, has nothing better than offering himself
as an oblation on the altar of science :--` Beaufort,
March 15, 1850. The report of Captain Bankenship
and passengers has been verified by many other wit-
nesses. This formidable sea monster has been seen
again tee day, we understand, in our waters.
When discovered by those on board the steamer, "his
eminence" was in Port Royal Sound, a distance of
seven or eight miles from this town. Since that time
he has been lazily snaking his way up Broad River,
and was seen by a gentleman, we understand, to-
day, in White Branch River, an arm of the Broad.
He is reported to be making his way higher up
still, when, perhaps, he may be captured. He is
described as being from 120 to 150 feet in length,
and of proportionate bulk ; has the head of a ser-
pent, which he carries, when in motion, five or six
feet out of the water. About ten feet from his head is
a hump, resembling a huge hogshead, and 83 far as he
could be seen out of the water a succession of humps
was observed. He was pursued for several miles
along the bank of the river, at times the party
in pursuit coming very near to him. He was shot at
with a rifle and shot gun, which had the effect of
making him timid, and caused him to sink below the
surface of the water when nearly approached. We
understand that a party from this place has been
made up to capture him if possible. The plan is
to man two large flats with a cannon to each,
one going below, where he is represented to be, and
the other above, and then approach each other, and,
when he is discovered, to fire into him. In this way
he may b 3 taken, if, peradventure, he does not take
them first. T'ae Whale Branch is not more than one
hundred yards wide, and there is every probability
of an animated conflict with this king of the
waters, within his own dominions ; and I suppose it is
admitted that the battle must be waged upon his own
terms.' The Charleston Courier has a letter from
Beaufort, of the same date, and of a similar tenor, to
which is appended the following :—`lnformation has
just reached us that the said sea••serpant is ashore at
the mouth of the Skull Creek. If so, the prize is
certain, and Beaufort immortalized.' "

COWES, APRIL 15,—Wind S.W., strong—Arrd. Isis,
Burt, Toronto for Hull, her cargo of oil leaking.
SoPERSTITIONS REGARDING FRIDAY.—It is strange
enough that Friday is regarded, in all countries, as a pecu -
liar day. In England it is generally considered unlucky,
and many people will not commence any undertaking
on that day; and most sailors believe that the
vessel is sure to be wrecked that sails on a Fri-
day. If a marriage takes place on that day, the old wives
shake their heads, and predict all kinds of misfortunes to
the bride and bridegroom. Nay, they even pity all children
who are so unlucky as to be born on a Friday. In Germany,
on the contrary, Friday is 'considered a lucky day for wed-
dings, commencing new undertakings, or other memorable
events; and the reason of this superstition is said to be the
ancient balief that the witches and sorcerers held their meet-
ing on this day ; and, of course, while they amused them-
selves with dancing and riding on broomsticks round the
Blocksherg, they could have no time to work any evil.

their discretion to refuse or grant licences, they must same upon a house of 101. a year as upon 500/. a year.
recollect the*, in the opinion of Englishmen, oppres. ' Thin the stamp duty on securities was the same; and
sion, tyranny, and absolutism were not the fair and there we.s no application of the principle of graduation
legitimate exercise of that discretion the law had given to them.—(Hear, hear.) In the next place he thought it
to the magistracy. They had that discretion given them extremely unjust that mere personalty should be
to see the law carried out and obeyed. Here that die- subj.cted to the same scale of duties as were to be charged
cretion had been exercised where there had been no vio- upon re i 1 property. Then he came to the ease of redeem-
'ration of the law. Horse racing was made legal for the able annuities; and why, he asked, were they to bear a
encouragement of the bread of good horses; and who higher rate of stamp duty than mortgage transactions?
would say that the making of a bet upon the issue of a Redeemable annuities were mortgages granted by tenants
race was unlawful, or that the exhibition of a list in a for life; and it was monstrous that any Bill should be
public-house wan:: an act as illegal as the keeping of submitted to the consideration of the House which con-
Derby sweeps. 19 some cases when bets were made, the tained principles so directly opposed to one another,
landlord became stakeholdc r, hut he had no profit whilst no attempt was made to set at rest those questions
directly or indirectly, excepting the custom that the lists of litigation which refers-Si to licences granted by paten.
brought to his louse. He thought the legality of these tees. Again, by the imposition of a progressive duty in
belting lists so palpable that he had nothing to answer. addition to the advalorern duty on mortgage transactions,
The refusal of his licence on that account was at least they would drive parties to resort to practices by which
. . . .

an unsound exercise of discretion, but of course the
appellant must submit to the principle the Court might
adopt; and:it the Court made the condition, that if his
licence was renewed ho must discontinue the lists, of
course he would conform.
The Loaned JUDGE said the case now wore a different
aspect. Mr. Clarkson had said that the landlord be-
came stakeholder; thereby ho became a party to the
transaction. He certainly thought betting gaming; but
a landlord could not he held responsible for the act of
any two persona who chore to make a bet in his house;
but when he became a stakeholder between those
parties, it appeared to him that he was knowingly suffer-
ng gaming in his house, contrary to the,terms of his
icence.

Mr. CLARKSON—IIC derives no profit whatever by be-
coming stakeholder.
Several maghtratea suggested that he rrcfited by the
custom brought to the house by the betting lists.
Mr. POWNALL said the words of the Act were em-
phatic and decisive—" no gaming whatever."
Mr. CLARKSON said as this was the decision of the
bench, his client must submit. If he persisted, and had
his licence refused, he might keep his house as a beer-

ho ?eared the titles of this country Would ere long be-
come as voluminous, prolix, and entangled as the Irish
titles with which the Solicitor-General had recently
bet n dealing. He also regretted that no effort was made
by the Bill to remove the difficulties which had arisen,
and which were daily increasing, with regard to the pro-
per duty upon the transfer of mortgages.—(Hear, hear.)
lie Hun. and Learned Gentleman (the Attorney-Gene-
ral) shook his head to express his dissatisfaction at his
nut being allowed to rush at once,into Committee; but it
was just possible that the observations which he (Mr.
Sadleir) anti other Members had made might be the
UV arts of rendering the Bill useful and practicable; and
surely no one would say that they could, without dama-
ging their own reputation and the reputation of the Go-

shop, and then there was not the slightest power on the
part of any authority to interfere with the betting lists,
if they were continued. If the Leech, therefore, would
renew the licence, he would promise to discontinue bet-
ting lists for the future.
The magistrates then renewed the licence upon this
premise.
The Learned JUDGE said the bench were unanimously
of opinion that these betting lists_were "gaming;" and
therefore, by the publicity given to the proceedings
there, the trade would have a distinct intimation that the
licences of those who persisted in keeping betting lists
would be endangered. The magistrates below had
taken a very judicious course in bringing the matter for-
ward. Any future infraction of the law in this respect
would be severely dealt with, and this the bench wished
to be understood. This licence. was granted, with 101.
costs, t) be paid by the appellant, with this intituat!on,
also that he must discontinue the betting lists.
In the cases of Joseph Barr, of the Windsor Castle,
and of SafThry Middle On, of the White Swan, Long-
acre, the renewal of whose licenoes had been refused on
the same grounds, they were granted, upon the promise
that betting lists should be discontinued in their houses,
each of these appellants paying 101. costs.
HEAD V. TILE JUSTICES OF THE 3IARYLEBONE

ve,rnmEnt, pass such a measure unaccompanied by any
remark through the House.—(Hear, hear.) For his
own part he was anxious to take some pains, in order to
send the measures which originated there to the other
House of Parliament in as perfect a shape as attention
and care could make them; and he trusted the Hon. and
Leirncd Gentleman would exhibit no further impatience
upon the course which had been taken in this instance.
Another point to which he desired to refer was the sub-

This was an appeal against a refusal ti renew the
licence to the Hope, Stephen- treet, Lisson-grove.
Mr. HUDDLESTONE said he opposed this appeal on be-
half of the justices, who refused to renew the licence on
the ground that the appellant had suffered music and
(lancing and card-playing in his house, but more
particularly for the manner in which the appel-
hut facilitated the escape from his house of a man
whom a woman accused of robbing her in the room
where the dancing was going on. When the officers
arrived the gas was turned off and the man got away;
but he was afterwards tAlcee, tried at this court, and
sentenced to six months' herd labour. These facts were
communicated to the justices by the Commissioners of
Police, and the justices telt bound t refuse the licence.
Evidence was gone into, but it rather disproved than
proved that the appellant was concerned in putting the
gas out on the occasion in question.
• Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Court for the appellant.
After some discussion the licence was renewed, with
an intimation that music and dancing were to be discon-

jcct of portions fur younger children. They were
now exempt from settlement duty ; and he put it,
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether they
ought not so to continue. But the greatest objection
he had to urge was the ex post facto operation of
the Bill, even in its amended form, with regard to deeds
which had been either entirely or in part executed. It
frequently occurred that the greatest difficulty was ex-
perienced in the attempt to ascertain what was the right
stamp for a deed. This was the cause of constant con-
flicts and contentions, but there was not a public board
in the country which would give the professional man,
the landed or the commercial interest, the slightest in-
formation upon the subject. In his opinion it was highly
desirable to vest a power in the Commissioners for In-
leed Revenue to declare what was the proper stamp duty
to bra imposed upon a deed; and as it was professed that
it was intended by the Bill to confer a boon upon the
landed interest, he would suggest the addition of a sien-
p!e clause, enacting that every stamped instrument
executed anterior to the passing of the Bill should Le
deemed and taken as duly stamped. That would be a
ptactical boon and a substantial benefit to the landed in-
terest. In concluding, the Hon. Gentleman said that be
claimed exemption from additional duties for all those
parties who might have been so unfortunate as not to have

placed u correct construction upon the existing stamp
laws, under which no man could be confident in express-
ing an opinion.
The House then went into Committee.
On the first clause being proposed,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose
and said, that with regard to a great number of ques-
tions which had been raised in the course of the present
discussion, they would bo more conveniently answered
when the clauses to which they particularly referred
came; under the consideration of the Committee. It watt
not true that he had ever stated that he proposed a mea-
sure which would be of general relief to all parties.
What he stated was, that he proposed a measure which
would afford relief in all transactions of a small amount,
whilst he should indemnify himself by raising the duty
on those of a larger amount, And when he laid down
that principle it appeared to meet with the general ap-
probation of the Ilouse—(Hear, hear.) He stated dis-
tinctly that he proposed to adopt an ad valorem dal'
throughout; not that there should be a higher amount on

tinucd, and that all publicans who had music and
dancing in their houses, 'and had their licences refdsed
in consequence cf anything that occurred from those
accessories, would have but little chance of success on
appeal to the Quarttr,Sessions.
An order was made on appellant for 101. costs.

large sums, but that the per-centage should be equal. Sup-
posing 100,000/. or 200,0001. were borrowed, no doubt 3
would be hard if a high percentage were placed on
tilt:, amount ; but the hardship would be just as great
upon the poor shopkeeper, or other person in similar cir-
cumstances. If it were just in the one case, it was just
in the other ; and the principle that appeared to him the
most fair to adopt was that of an equal per-centatte
on large and small sums, Ho quite felt that the
amount of duty upon borrowing was very large and
after having had communications with the chairs
men of the Board of Inland Revenue, he was prepared
to Move in Committee an equal per tentage on morn.
gagss and bonds. Ile had at first proposed a duty Of
per cent. on mortgages and bonds; he proposed now
to reduce it to a uniform 4—that was to say, ss, instead
of 10s. on every 1001. Tee Hon. Member for Oxford-
shire (Mr. Henley) had asked him if he could not fur"
nish some information to the; Home to show what »veld
be the probable amount of revenue. But it was pooh'
a .matter of estimate, and he was afraid that he could
not lay upon the table any return by which a certain
conclusion ou the subject could be arrived at. The floe. ft
Gentleman must be aware that it was the mass of easel,'
transactions, and not the rely large ones, that prod ucea:'.
the great amount of revenue. Lie had gone care sally. ,
over the matter, however, with those persens in tha.
Board of Inland Revenue who were members of thellati,
Board of Stamps and Taxes, and the nearest concimioll '
to which they had been able to come, after revising itatviall
the utmost care, was that the loss by the proposition et
he at first slated it, might, under the most layout ;ble,
circumstances, be taken at 270,000/.—he bad previeeisli
stated it at 300,000/.—and that the proposal he 'inc.°
made •of reducing the duty from one-halt to one"
quarter per cent. might occasion a further loss of 50 Ma
or 60,0001. But be could not prove this. It was. ity
possible to produce figures to show the loss upon tralV.
sactious of this nature. He might look for some-4iocrease of these transactions by reducing the amount of
the stamp duty, just as he looked for au increase of re-,
venue from the Customs duties when they leer°
lowered ; but it was impossible to say to what ex ;606
What he now stated was upon the authority of Laos°,
who had the best information upon the subject. .He loci
no other authority; and the loss upon the
.proposition be
now made might run up to 320,000/. or 330,0001.; buc it
would certainly be more than 300,000/. —not less. The
Hon. Member far Cireacester (Mr. Mullings) hadg
notice of a clause for obviating the inconvenience wiiicp
arose out of doubts upon the amount of stamp diaties
payable by law. Ile (Sir C. Wood) thought it was itr
tremely desirable to do that. Ho did not think, haw:
ever, that the clause which the Hon. Member proposed
would affect that object in the best possible tt ay. But
in order to attain that object, he (the Chancellor of 110
Exchequer) should propose to give to the Commis'
sioners of Stamps the power of deciding and adjadt
eating what the stamp duty should be in cases of small
amounts.
Mr. DISRAELI had understood the Right Hoe..
Gentleman originally to say—and he had, in fact, refer' =
red to the expression himself this evening—that be in:
tended to bring in a measure for tho advantage of what
he called the landed interest, and the object of the
. Right'
Hon. Gentleman was a praiseworthy one(Hear, hear./
It was to assist the smaller proprietors—that was 04°
expression then used; that these small proprietors were
not the least important part of the landed interest, andr
that they were to receive relief fro thot modificaticis o',
the stamp duties that affected them. —M Ear, hear.). The"
Right Hon. Gentleman now said that at that time 11o;
::
informed the House that he could not make this bene
eial arrangement for the small proprietors, nnless he at
the same time made some other changes which would,
course, press more upon the greater proprietors—in fee":
recur to, or adopt, an ad valorem system.—(Hear, hear.)
Now he (Mr. Disraeli) could not recollect that wb_tr
the Right Hon. Gentleman made his financial statemeo
that the phrase " ad valorem" escaped from " those Do.
.—(A laugh.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER--O''
yes.—(Rear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI—WeII, but what was the Iligbt
Hon. Gentleman's proposition when he came fornsr"
with his budget?—(Hear, hear.) He said, "I am gel
-to introduce a measure : for the advantage of the silVI
Proprietors and the landed interest. I anticipate tha,ts
the changes which I am going to make will cost the re _
venue 300,000/. or 400,000/., and I am going to aacrifics:
of my surplus a sum to that amount.', Well, that
an intelligible proposition.—(Hear hear.) But what'
did he say to-night ? Why he said, "I am prepared
benefit the landed interest and the small proprietors 11.
the amount of 350,0001.; but as compensation for that I"
must lay on an amount :of taxation which will probsby
reach at least to the same extent on the greater PIT
prietors." Now he (Mr. Disraeli) asked, was that o°_,Y
sistent with the Right Hon. Gentleman's original 0011
went, that he was going to devote a certain portion P.
his surplus revenue to the benefit of the landed intetP7
—(Hear, hear)—when it turned out that the great*Pllo
of the Government was to tax one portion of
landed interest in- order to relieve another portion by
the landed interest ?—(Loud cheers.) Had the
.P 4.-1,
Honourable Gentleman—(continued Mr. Disrite'li's
introduced a measure the object of which wto
to benefit the [small proprietors by devoting so
their service a portion of the surplus revenue, as • yid
originally stated, I should have accepted a metillift.3,
that kind as a boon; but the present measure—even I.`A
be a politic and necessary measure—is one of incresor,
taxation upon the landed interest, or a considerable 140
tion of the landed interest; and whether it be a p°'se
and necessary measure or not, I maintain that °I,.
sure of this kind ought to be brought forward frankliot
(Hear, hear)—that it ought not to be brought for''4
under a false pretence; that the Government 81100" 70
upon an occasion of such importance as the budget Ow
forward and announce that they are introducing a ttel
sure for the benefit of a considerable section of the laps
interest, by devoting :to them a portion of the surf
revenue, and then when we come to the details it t
out that this good is to be secured by taxing WWI .10
portion of the lauded interest.—(Cheers.) But if, 11", go
have been told to-night, the Right Hon. Gentletnan./o,
find compensation by an ad valorem sca!e of dutiecd.
went to know what he means to do with the 300,Yne'
surplus revenue in the Treasury which may not be.dit
cessary. Probably he may devote that to-morroW njeae
to reducing the tax upon paper, or some other g1e,t,0,)
which his friends may propose to him.—(Hear.,,P4:of
At present, however, it aprears that we have 300,0 u hiati
surplus, which may be devoted to any purpose WP
Her. Gentlemen may suggest.—(Hear, hear.) se said
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER' to
that by the rules of the House he was not at libertfol
refer to the ieport of the debate on a former night; her
he begged to say that the memory of the Hon. bottoto
for Buckinghamshire was moat inaccurate, fur that is'ordo
drentle man had put into his mouth expressions and W Of
which he had never uttered.—(Ministerial cheers.) ialas
course ho bad not done so inteationally. What be

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 15.
STAMP DUTIES BILL. _ _

On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
as there had been so much- misapprehension o❑
the subject of the altered Bill, he thought it right
to state, that although a considerable number of
reductions had been made, in no instance
wes there any additional taxation imposed
no other tax had been levied in the altered Bill now be-
fore the House beyond that contained, in the first
schedule, which had passed through Committee. He
had received a great number of communications from
parties respecting this measure, and as it was impossible
to transmit to each an answer, be had referred them all
to the board of Inland Revenue for consideration, and
a digest had been made c f the whole, and ho believed he
was now justified in stating that 99 out of every 100 of
the persons who felt aggrieved by the measure had had
their views met by the alterations which had been made
by the Government. He stated when ho introduced the
Bill that ho intended to proceeg on the ad valorem prin-
ciple, and he had carried out that principle as far as be
possibly could.
Mr. GOULBURN raid the Right Hon. Gentleman
intended to intro4.uce into the Bill a mode for levying
the stamp duty which had heretofore never been adopted.
It appeared to him that the system proposed by the
Right Hon. Geethanan would lead to great inconveui-
once and much injustice, and would suggest that the
scale should be a descending and not an ascending
one. Under the existing law, a mortgage for
50,0001. paid a duty ef 251., but when this
Bill passed it would be raised to 2501., while a mortgage
for 150,0001. would have to pay 750/. Now, would the
House allow him to point out the inconvenience which
must result from this? Why, the ingenuity of man
would suggest some mode of advancing money without
incurring expense, or the practice of lending money upon
mortgage would be greatly restricted, if not abo.
fished, and as either alternative must prove
highly injurious to the country, he hoped the
Right Hon. Gentleman would reconsider his plan.
With regard to marriage settlements, the Bill certainly
would have a very ill effect, for though it decreased the
duty under 5001., when they amounted to 1,000/. it in-
creased them, and he must remind the House that there
were unfortunately more teitlements effected above
1,0001. than under. Ile had stated these objections in
order that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might take
them into consideration before going into Committee.
Mr. MULLINGS, in objecting to the Bill, remarked
that the first duty was the nergain and sale duty for onto
year. It should be put in the tame category with lease-
holds for years. He conceived that the warrants of at-
torney and mortgages might put in a claim (as we un-
derstood) for further consideration. It was his opinion
that taxation upon loans was a vicious principle, for it
was a tax upon the necessities and distresses of the
people,--(Bear.) lle•knew of parties being frequently
in such a situation that they were not able to pay the
expenses of the mortgage. But what would be the case
under this Bill ? Up to 1,0001. there would be relief
afforded, but the moment they passed beyond 1,000/
the evil si ould be aggravated. Upon 2,000/., where 6/.
was now paid, 101. would be required ; upon 3,0001., in-
stead of 71., it would be 151. ; upon 4,000/., instead
of 8/., it would be 20/. ; and on 5,0001., instead of 101.,
it would be 25/. ; and so it went on up to 100,0001., when
the stamp duty was 5001., and so that in cases that he
knew a party would have to pay 600/. and 700/. stamp
duty. This did not affect the land only. Then in a
settlement, if any person granted an annuity, whether
contingent or otherwise, that was calculated as an abso-
lute annuity, and had to pay stamp duty, although it
might never come into effect.—(Hear.) It had been
stated that this Bill would give relief, and it had been
calculated that the revenue would lose 300,0001 a year.
It was his belief, and it had not been altered by the fel-
lacicius set of duties he had seen, that the produce of the
revenue would be infinitely more than 300,0001.
Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER thought there were
many objections to the Bill, especially with reference to
building societies.
Mr. HUME said that hitherto small sums had paid
more duties than large ones; and as he understood the
Government, the object of the Bill was to make
all pay in proper proportions, if such was the case (and
he had been told that it was), he felt bound to support
the Bill.
Mr. HENLEY complained that time had not been
given to Members and parties to consider the Bill as
reprinted, and the House was called upon to act in the
dark. Under such circumstances he thought they ought
not at present to go into Committee on the Bill.
Mr. SADLEIR observed that a more difficult or a
more complex Bill than the Stamp Duties Bill, with its
schedule B, could not possibly be laid before the House.
It involved most difficult questions, and embraced more
interests throughout the United Kingdom than any other
measure that be knew of. They had been told that tile
Bill was to be a great boon to the United Kingdom, and
that declaration was followed by a Bill which, he was
happy to say, had been abandoned—a Bill that he was
unwilling to speak of in harsh terms, because he did not
like to speak evil of the dead, but yet a Bill of which he
could not refrain from saying, that it' it had passed in
the shape it had been brought forward would have
brought disaster and ruin upon the agricultural aad
commercial community alike.—(Hear.) He was happy
to say that the Right Hoe. Gentleman had adopted nine-
tenths of the suggestions that had been made; but even
now with his amended Bill he asked the Right HOD.
Gentleman was he prepared to stand by his sugges-
tions?—(llear.) Would he even now ray that he would
not yield to any suggestion?—(Hear.) What provi-
sion, he asked the Right lion. Gentleman, was there in
the Bill for that large class of deeds that were now un-
duly stamped?—(hear, hear.) There was no law so
consistently avoided as the stamp laws, and why so?
Because they dare not enforce them—because if they
did enforce them they would bring to a complete stand-
still the mercantile operations of this great com-
mercial country. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
regarded all dealings above 1,000/. as large transactions,
and subjected them to high rates of duties. Assuredly
the Right Hon. Gentleman must know that transactions
under 1,0004 were of very limited nature compared
with others above that sum. Benefit would have been
conferred if the duties had been lowered on all transac-
tions under 10,0001. In Ireland the duties in one case
were increased 100 per cent. upon a certain class of leases
which now paid only ls. It was desirable to have the
registration of all deeds, and the sum charged was the