The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-15 00:00:00

it would be possible to adopt any mode of relief, Now the total amount which you receive from the auction
at the same time retaining the duty ; but he duty in England, Scotland, and Ireland, is about
considered that this plan must give rise to such a 300,000 Z There is no duty, the remission of which could
system of fraud, and that it would afford such in my opinion, lead to so great a reduction in
opportunities fur evasion, that it would be better on the the expense of collecting-. There is no duty, I
whole to class staves with raw materials, and to permit think, which is so objectionable in principle
an unlimited import of them for the use of coopers. as a duty on the transfer ofproperty. To select one par-
,
' It will, of course, he necessary to limit the ticular mode of transferring property, quite independent
length of staves, so that they may not be of conveyances, which apply to all transfers of
.
L applied to other purposes, but without exceedingly property, and to subject that to duty, is a course
minute and vexatious regulations it will be open to grave objections ; and Ido hope that I have
impossible to prevent the use
of staves altogether for satisfied the House that although there is no demand
other purposes ; and we think it better to submit fer this reduction, and although articles might be selected
to that evasion than to establish minute and vexatious upon which a reduction would be more popular, yet
regulations to prevent it.— (Cheers.) I hope that by looking comprehensively at the interests of property, and
the remission of this duty we shall restore prosperity to considering the benefit which is conferred on a great
a trade which finds employment for some of the most in- commercial and manufacturing country, by facilitating
genious and respectable artisans °Nils country—(Cheers.) the transfer of property, you could not confer
The house, I hope, will consider that we are justified in a greater advantage upon the United King-
taking these articles out of the category of the timber dom, if you selected other duties in preference to
duties.
that which is thus proposed to be reduced to
Mr. LABOUCHERE—Do you remove the duty alto- the amount of 300,0001.—(Hear, hear.) Every
gather ?
auctioneer is, under the existing law, compelled to take
Sir ROBERT PEEL—Yes, we take it off altogether. out a licence. In the first instance he takes out a general
It amounts to 32,000/. We diminish the temptation to licence of 51. If he is afterwards called on to sell any par-
fraud for ordinary purposes by making a simultaneous ticular article which is not included in that licence
reduction on all cabinet timber. I now come to the last there is then a demand made upon him for another
article—
licenceand, consequently, there are auctioneers Mr. LABOUCHERE inquired the amount of the 400 who
pay 251 for licences, because some articles are
and odd items of export duties to be abolished ? exposed to sale by auction, where they have to officiate as
Sir R. PEEL said, I think the loss on the whole of auctioneers, which are not covered by the general auction-
these articles will be 320,0001. I now come to duty. Now I propose, instead of the principle of requiring
that article which, of all others, is the most separate licences, to enable auctioneers to dispose of
important to the prosperity of the country. I every description of property's' by taking out one licence.
COule now to cotton-wool—(lkay, hear)—and the I propose to fix the amount of that license at 151. ;
duty upon it. The present duty on cotton- thus enabling the auctioneers who take it out to deal in
wool is, so far as the revenue is concerned, every description of property. I think it is probable
s•l6ths of a penny a pound. That duty is appli- that the number of auctioneers will be increased by the
cable to the whole amount of cotton-wool imported, reduction of the duty. The present number of auction-
and is about one-fifth of the total amount, and is cers amount in the whole, I think, to about 4,000. A li-
only available for the purpose of manufactures. It cence duty of 151. will raise a revenue of 60,0001., subject,
is estimated, and with good reason, that you of course, to the reduction in the present auction duty.
Ought to add one-sixteenth to five-sixteenths, in Ido not believe that one general licence of lb/ would be
order to give the full amount on the whole cotton duty. felt at all as an onerous impost, while I think it probable
The six sixteenths or three-eights of a penny a pound that the number of auctioneers would increase. We
would be the total amount of duty on cotton-wool. Now propose, therefore, to reduce the duty upon auctions, and
when the price of cotton-wool is 4d. a lb. on the average, to substitute for the present system of licensing one uni-
three- eighths of a ld. a lb. is a duty of nine per cent. form licence, the maximum cost of which will be 15/
on the value of the raw Material. If the With respect to the article of glass, I must say
price of cotton wool is as it has beers of late not more that it is one which has especially occupied my
than 3d. a lb., three-eighths of Id. per lb. is a duty attention. The dull upon glass has been doubled since
amounting to not less than 191 per cent. 1815, and I think I can show, with respect
o levied falls wn the value h
of the raw material. This duty to this article, there are grounds of exerep-
as peculiar severity on the coarsest tion more than can be alleged for almost
descriptions of cotton.—(Hear
finer muslins , hear.) Upon the any other article. Without regard to the case
you cats hardly estimate the a hich I might make out for the removal of this
amount of duty, but the coarser the fabric the higher tax, if there were an abundant revenue, there
is the amount of eta-.the
It is in respect to are no other articles entitled to a preference.
manufacture of that coarser cotton that In the first place, let me recite some of the objections to
the manufacturers of this country are exposed to the this charge. The amount of tax is 2001. or 3001. per
most formidable competition in South America and cent. upon the value of the article ; for instance, the tax
China, and even in our own colonies.—(Hear, hear.) was one shilling per foot, and a manufacturer was asked
Of course, in respect of the manufactured cotton of the what he could supply the articles for, if the duty were
United States, we labour already under great disadvan- taken off ; and he answered, that he could sell it for 3d.,
sage, from the ready emus which the people of that country or at any rate the price would not exceed 4d.—(Hear,
Possess to the raw material, and they are compe- hear.) We must not estimate this burden at the
titors of ours in ell the coarser descriptions of cotton, mere amount.—(Hear, hear.) There is no duty which
Therefore,
we conceive that to repeal the duty upon this requires, in order that it may be levied, such a system
article, and abolish it altogether, will be followed by the of perpetual and such vexatious superintendence.—
very best results. And, speaking generally, there is no (Hear, hear, hear.) Now, compare the expert of glass,
noubt but that the abolition of the duty on cotton will a hich was subject to this vexatious, and necessarilly
give additional claims for the removal of other duties vexatious regulations—compare it with the export of an-
that press equally upon articles of general consumptiion. other article, which has the good fortune to be ex-
, know it will be said that this branch of trade is now eepted—earthenware. The export ofearthenware last
' s
llouris ie
ing ; hut, at the same time, we should not dis- year amounted to 750,000/., whereas the export of glass.
"gard the competition by which it has been met by the which was subject to the duty, and subject
pstittrer rdeedrucehowof other countries, and therefore we must con- to this constant interference with the process
,
we can best enable the home manufac- of manufacture, amounted only in the course of the last
consi
, • to meet it.—(Loud cheers.) When we year to 388,000/.—(Hear, hear.) But I wish to state
thered7 the thousands and tens of thousands also another most important fact. There is no Excise
rein this country who are indebted for their duty on the manufacture of glass in France, in Belgium,
1 of this
and continual employment to the manufacture or in Bohemia ; and in Bohemia the manufacture of
; "Is artiele•'---when we consider the amount of it that glass is brought to the very highest perfection. The
1 a 3 ,„,,..
wh-'utlally manufactured in this country into clothing— discoveries of chemistry were applied without restric-
it e 4 we consider the vast consumption there is for tion to the improvement of the manufacture,
wh.la that form—when we consider the extent to and owing to the skill to which they had
t h our i-. •
sea
s. manufacturers are engages' IA this trade, I attained, the most beautiful colours were produced.
et -'o;e are well advised in coming to the determination We have particular facilities in this country for
Weorlishing all duty upon the common arti, to of cotton- the manufacture of glass ; we have a great
wa
•ll (Cheers.) The estimated loss which the revenue command of labour and of coal, and we
into sti'tain by the abolition of this tax—taking should be able not only to enter into compe-
ceiesa ace
the amount of the revenue re- tition with foreign countries, but we should be
(Ilea" it last year, will not be less than 680,000/. able to beat them. What is the fact? That there being
(itittteettlicihar'
sr he ,
,uhpeoanna)nyHer Majesty's Government did not now no duty on reless.., .in Belgium, Bohemia, and
10 the dutiestrecmmend to the House any further alter- with
other articles of this descript
various ear.) We have closely and carefully review
vie
in
levied by the Excise, and we
whitedtb n detail the various departments of those
holtitat.ao.itZeusts most grievously upon individual into
. , But ther iii
being bound to admit which of thee
that ~uht to be removed, we do not hesitate i
exist,`h of them . prima facie case agai
nee , presents a
its present shape.—(Cheers and laue
• • also, wh,e is an article, a source of revenue to th
• .°lSieetiuleh does appear to us to be open to pc
it is true . There has been no clamour for its redu
Vti, tibtEtifi ~' and I don't know whether we should ma
i e`' granter popularityif
, sS, Arta tp, ater
a::i.. ditty
efutne other articles; but we consider it to .
.0141104 the Executive to select those articles—wilt:mei --- , _._ _ ... _...eong
rs e •
qtlie a existed with respectto them or not—the removal fact, and does it not demonstrate the peHey of some new
t:kilts,4t3,:°nwhich is likely to be attended with the best arrangement in the excise regulations of this country ?
acting -the particular branch of duty lam now re- (Hear.) If we permit this article to be manufactured
fCs to, though the attention of the Government may duty free, it is very hard to foresee to what perfection
ore have strictly been called to it, I will undertake, be- the manufacture of that beautiful fabric may bebrout ht,
I.:(llteti'',".',(l,uwr', to demonstrate is one more entitled to considering how much it admitted of the applies-
'erted ();
'an many of the obj, cts I have hitherto ad- tion of capital and shill. When a balance-spring
with r , "°*---(Cheers and laughter.) It is a duty for a chronometer is made in this country it
,„111thieet'sdPeet to which the Government have not been is made of glass, at least of late years, it
'Mkt!' to peculiar pressure, but it is a being fount so much superior to steel for such purposes.
tintl ettrefselected by the Government after great It has a greater power of resisting the alternations or
(44Y that °I Consideration. It is a duty I will venture to heat and cold, and maintaining its specific gravity. The
`lieeN e° One will deny to be most objectionable— manufacture of glass requires so much skill on the
lt,tteedea- 4nd laughter)—and the removal of which will be part of the workman, that Ido not believe under
41. tended ii :ill :laughter)—and the best results. The duty to which the present system of restriction recent discoveries
~-athEr m, e duty on the free transfer of property, or, could be well applied. A chronometer, with a glass
"ttetio at is called the auction dut • —(Cheers.) This balance-spring, during the late Administration,
fireth t: It. duty is a duty which
. ). .
l nareet4terndelrican uty which is leviable in each part of had been sent out to the North Seas, and exposed with
,:e4t till:, ,‘-thgdolll. It is a duty which was levied for the nine other chronometers to the cold of that
eeere I. of Properwt war,
''' the - with little discrimination at the commencement climate, and the result of that experiment
and it is a duty from which the was reported to be in favour of the chronometer which
'lt • yby any other means is completely had the glass balance spring as compared. with
, • •
Pl.c'llert 154 if a .th y bparty choose to dispose of his the nine others. So much for the application of
eressr Y auction he becomes subject to it. It is glass to articles of the utmost delicacy.
tPikuliarya duty. to which those who are distressed are But glass has also been applied to another and very
. 04
_,,, subjected. C
tiro of the hs. . • .an there be a greater condemna. different purpose. It has been maw f7tured
;e after ti""lciple of this duty, than that in a short into pipes used for the conveyance o ater, at
lilr'lPtons : Passing of the law that enforced it, several a cost of 30 per cent. less than pipes made
iteitreee the Were made a ith respect to its operation ? of iron ; they will bear great external pressure ;
is ely 1 ' was originally passed there have been they are covered with bitumen, and when used for the
ttte eseirepetsio than thirty-two different laws grant. conveyance of water, so far as. purposes of health are
jet eoroadss.n from the auction duties. When concerned, glass pipes are entitled to the preference.
eft: the Excis®
were appointed to examine This has been done where the excise duties on glass have
Nil' exeoain. xeise duties, some years since, been removed. Now take all the articles thus
~,t report tn.g the whole of them, they made ranged between :these two extremes, beta een the
Of he doh, Nv'th respect to the auction duty : balance-spring of the chronometer and the pip.e, for
eqe the taxes auctions must be among the first conveying water, and I ask if it is not difficult
reet', ofland„ to be repealed." Now, observe, all to say to what . purposes the manufacture
itse:4l sq. 01' property which take place under the di- may not be applied ? But now we collect
lieeliurne duet Court. of Chancery are exempt from the our duty on flint glass at an expense of not
Al man lastly )•i It :
.s a fact that there have less than 57 per cent. on the whole amount col-
eriti.eid in
o._ll,inees
in which estates have been lected, and it is necessary, in order to prevent
Ilst;:ed to" t court of Chancery, in order to be fraud, to have a series of most minute regulations
to th What
is exemption from the auction with respect to melting the glass and the annealing,
erleesales of the practice now with respect with notices to the excise-officer of every
hill rnsenient estates? Every newspaper is filled with process which make the application of ingenuity
the ekposed fs,, of sales by auction of landed property. and skill almost impossible. But relieve it
vztteer.
shall
understanding
1:411 `4enern, for sale, and the value of it is ascertained, altogether from these difficulties, 'as in Bohemia,
being that the highest France and Belgium, give full and unrestricted
the eentract be entitled to buy it by pri- play to the capital and enterprise of this
Price ktetrti,,, The estate is not sold, and country, and with its peculiar facility for
the)
t 4,. or Vaitl: of the law
is defeated. The obtaining materials, its command of alkali and of coal,
effeechttz probuovsf, the property is ascertained by the pro- I believe that this country may supply almost all the
is
entirely b "'Y. on the following day the sale is world with glass, or at least enter into active computi-
e jibe , stlersen
Private contract, and the law tion with other countries for supplying it. There
-'stilt '-'iicy of es' To give an idea of are many other arguments I might bring forward, but I
th s. In
t,. this tax, let me loot:
tvh. ,hehl 1.10 Year
„din
~to general do think I have shown, in the case of glass, so far as
lell the E of g the Ist of January, 1841, the manufacture of glass is concerned,
. that there
t'Qt le I.:seise pt operty exposed to auction, of are peculiar reasons for reducing the duty
tr It 4 the necessity
tilat less
than , was "lig( dto take an account, as on it. Now a case has been made out for the
Iteepi there wa:5232,000/ In respect of the whole of remission of the window-duty. But take the
01141 ceounts for examination, and for case of glass, and see what a much greater effect
ti;vo;:e4_4lvtgoniitke.esat
iteob:ltihaeu oet:fioeners had exactly the same the reduction of the duty on glass will leave on the
the rtia„
for Perform in
respect to the property comfort of the labouring classes than a. reductionof the
,tittat s,, tt respect to and which was not sold, as window-duty. It is estimated that in Great Britain
tiliiii ine6B,o,saod the totallalPoertY
Wa4 COON
e account •
that was sold The total there are 3,500,000 houses : of these not more than
sof the Excise was 500,000 are charged with the window-duty ;
e uO/ e, uut on which duty was paid therefore, there are 3,000,000 of houses which
6X e,13-4 1 . 'nsequentl
thsessk fi,o, PrOpertt, x
.Y, there were thirty-six require glass to be used in them, and which, by the
the of v'll the te',.. pi.osed to sale which was removal of the tax, would benefit by the whole amount
, kill; anesiulitti're bein".g. gnu
. these two facts— of the remission. lam afraid lam wearying
te,o'c'ua on duty,exemptions from the House by these details, but I wish to satisfy those who
sad 11: twoeete kill' Which (Jut 'ere being only eight hear me that these remissioes are not made from any
cis lOns 30' f was levied—out of forty- desire of courting popularity, but that there is good and
the stve ' riot
present Prone . themselves almost a substantial cause which loads me to adopt the
Lae e re4,-omiti6sionernn
,t4t r.,- ' of the policy of this tax ? reduction of this duty.—(lmmense cheering.)
44eti, since, 4,, s of Excise reported, Then, if we look to the improvement of art, what a
etate -'4 duty th ''' the , ,I, questions
ere Was
more trouble, and more we reduce the duty
immense .
that with greatencouragereent it will give to the art of engraving if
et 4,40 isau
tt4 n, arose, enon plate glass. Then, if we look
th' ®0 n,
trouble" 4 queetio account of attempts to the consideration of health, of what import-
the
oie with rile4specatbotuot exemption—there ante is the article ofg.lass. Nothing prevented the passage
°I- th auction duty of heat like glass. The passage of beat through a single
e ezeise revenue remaining, plate of glass, compared with its ram, through two

CC 1 n

the
rigs
'arch-
ex-
but

nit a

moss
pro,

;lass
the

;lass
eign
aids
;lass

to such a degree as will enable you to dispense with the tax
altogether. Remember this, that the principles on which
we have gone, we have gone on advisedly. We have in
every case absolutely repealed the tax. We have not di-
minished the tax on glass and kept up a quarter of it.
We have not diminished a small proportion of the tax
on cotton. We have proposed the absolute repeal of the
tax, and, therefore, from the increased consumption
of that article we cannot expect any benefit ;
but we do hope that indirect and incidental effects will be
produced, and will be the cause of increased consumption
of many articles subject to duty, and by invigorating
the industry and extending the commercial enterprise
of the country, and by indirect channels, to supply that
void which we cannot hope to supply by direct taxa-
tion. Sir, I believe that I have now executed the task
which devolved on me.—(Cheers.) I have, however
imperfectly, explained the views and intentions of
her Majesty's Government with respect to the
financial and commercial policy of the country.
I trust the House will, as they did before, without
now pronouncing any hasty or precipitate judgment, con-
sider comprehensively the whole of the plan we have
offered, and will consider whether or not it
will be for the interest of the country to
adopt it ; and, after mature deliberation, my hope and
belief is that the decision of the House will
be in favour of the proposal which I have
made. Whatever may be the decision of the

House, at any rate we shall have the consolation
of knowing that we have not sought popularity by
evading the question of continued taxation.—
(Hear, hear.) We have not acted in deference to
any popular clamour, for we have selected taxes for
reduction in respect to which there is no clamour and
no agitation. I knew it r ill be said that the principle::
which I have laid down are capable of much
further extension, and that I ought to have, in
deference to those principles, made a still more extensive

Tr irr
T
THE SLN- LONDON, SATURDAY' EVENING
t 4
'FERRI-7AR Y

plates of glass having a layer between them, was
as ten to one. The double plates prevented the passage
of heat ; therefore, in encouraging the construction of
double windows, we are taking measures to improve the
health of the community. The Land Commission in Ireland
has recently made its report. I received this report
the day before yesterday. The Commissioners had not
the slightest notion of the intentions of her Majesty's
Government, but in that respect they say that few mea-
sures will contribute more to the comfort and improvement
of the lower classes in Ireland than giving them the
command of glass at a cheap rate. That observation
proves how much the condition of the lower classes in Ire-
land will be improved by the reduction we propose
to effect in the duty on glass. All parts of the
United Kingdom will be benefited by it—lreland,
Scotland, and England, will be equally benefited.
Ireland will derive a direct benefit from the reduction of
the duty on glass, and I do not see any reason why Ireland
should not become the seat of a successful
glass manufacture. If it should not, it will
benefit by the reduction of the duty, which
now amounts to between 200 and 300 per cent.
This reduction will give to the people of Ireland, as
well as the people of Great Britain, the command of
an article essential to their convenience and
comfort.—(Hear, hear.) In every point of view, whether
we consider the amount of the duty, more than two hun-
dred per cent., or the restrictions which the levy-
ing of it imposes on the manufacturer, or the num-
berless purposes to which it may be applied, or
the direct addition which it will make to the
health and comfort, hope that the House will
acquiesce in the recommendation of her Majesty's Go-
vernment, and select glass as one of the articles on
which the Excise duty ought to be entirely abolished.
The loss to the revenue from the reduction of the duty
on glass would amount to 640,0002 I have now ex-
hausted the list of articles in respect of which
her Majesty's Government intended to propose the re-
duction of existing taxes. I will now recal to the recollec-
tion of the House the estimate I made of the amount
of revenue, assuming that the income-tax will
be continued. I estimated that a surplus revenue, in
case the income-tax is continued, would be available
on the 6th April, amounting to 3,490,0001 I shall now
recapitulate the estimate of the reductions which
would arise from the reduction or repeal o
the different duties which I enumerated. I mentioned
them specifically before, as to their amount, bat I will
now state the aggregate amount of reductions. The
estimated loss of sugar, then is £1,300,000
The estimated loss on coal is
The loss on the duty of minor articles im-
ported, being the raw materials of manu-
factures
The estimated loss on cotton-wool
The estimated loss on auction duty
The estimated loss in glass .
I include the loss on staves in the 320,0001
The total loss to revenue I am now
speaking of the immediate loss—(Hear,
hear)—if our reductions are sanctioned by
the House, would be .
very nearly absorbing the actual surplus from the in-
come •tax of 3,490,000/. I stated before, that in pro-
posing the continuation of the income-tax, wo pro-
posed it for the purpose of having a large
surplus revenue, but I thought it right to
appropriate the surplus, after defraying the recurs ieg ex-
penditure of the country, to the removal of those bur-
dens which pressed most heavily on the industry of
the country ; and I conceive that the amount of
reductions made fulfil that part of the pledge.
Now, observe that I have taken no credit for the
ultimate saving that will be certain to result by the
reduction of the duty upon glass, for I do contend for
it, that the result will be a very material saving.
Observe also, that I have taken no credit for the increase
of consumption that must follow the removal of the
heavy duty on the articles of manufacture.—(Hear, hear.)
This is an experiment, certainly, and I do not hesitate
to say it is a bold experiment.—(Hear.) But, looking at
the result of the experiment we made last year—
(Cheers)—looking at what is now the state of the
Customs' revenue after the reduction that has been
made—seeing that the Customs' revenue on the
sth of January, 1845, presents a surplus as compared
with that of the same period last year, of a sum not
less than 1,305,0001.—(Hear, hear)—after deduct-
ing the loss of 122,000/., which arose from
cotton-wool last) year, and a sum of 61,0001.
on sheeps' wool—the reduction on the revenue,
after making this great experiment, will be 1,305,0001.
—(Cheers.) I have already stated that I intend to call
upon the House to continue the income-tax fora further
limited period, because I have the most confident persua-
sion that the reductions made on the articles I have men-
tioned will be followed by the most beneficial re-
sults.—(Hear, hear.) When I proposed the continu-
ance of the income-tax, it was met by some objections.
It was said that the country would be disappointed
at the result, and that the increased amount of tax-
ation would tell unfavourably on the country. It was said
that unless there was a reduction in the assessed taxes
to an amount equivalent to the surplus, there would be
dissatisfaction, and that at any rate there should
be a diminution of some sort in the assessed
taxes. Now, what is the fact? There is no reduction
in the assessed taxes proposed; but look at the reductions
that have been made in the other taxes of the country.
There has been a small reduction of some 40,000/. or
50,000/. of the duties on carriages and horses, but that re•
duction is traceable to the progress of railway
conveyance ; and it is only extraordinary that
the reduction has not been greater ; but if you
exclude the operation of those other causes
of reduction, my belief is that the net of assessed
taxes during the operation of the income-tax
has been greater than it was before. I say,
it cannot be contended from the experience of the in-
come-tax, that it must of necessity diminish the revenue.
Concurrently with its operation our revenue has
increased. Remember this, and I don't conceal
the fact, and it will enter into your consultations
when you consider whether the income-tax shall be
continued or not. Remember this—that during
its operation, the revenue has so prospered that
the receipts in the present year, independent of
the income-tax, almost amounted to the expenditure
of the country. Of course we might have avoided
making this experiment we might have ap-
plied the surplus of the present year without
tanking increased taxes ; but we propose the
income-tax, not for the supplies of the year, but for
the purpose of enabling us to make this great experi-
ment. In tho reduction of duties, the period for which
we propose the income-tax will not exceed the
period for which it was originally introduced.
I cannot say when making this very extensive
reduction—l will not say it might not have been a wiser
course to give a longer period for the purpose of testing
the efficacy of• the plan, but at the same time I think
it natural that Parliament should ask to have the
control over this tax for a period not greater
than it was first proposed. We do not ask
that the income-tax should endure for more than
three years—for a less period I hope the House
will not see the necessity for its continuance. At the
expiration of three years I have a confident belief that
that will have occurred which has now occurred, and
that it will be competent for you to dispense with
the income-tax altogether. I have such a confidence in the
elasticity of the resources of the country that before three
years shall have elapsed the revenue will have increased

reduction of duty. But it is our object, while we estab-
lish the principle, at the same time viewing the state
of society, and the magnitude of the interests involved
—the consequences upon those interests, of a hasty and
rash interference, our avowed object is to realise the
utmost degree of good, without the disturbance or alarm
of interests, which cannot be disturbed, and which can-
not be alarmed, without paralysing the industry of the
country. Sir, I submit, therefore, this proposal on the
part of her Majesty's Government to the judgment of this
House. We have adopted it after careful consideration.
We recommend it on the deliberate conviction that the
sanction of it by this House will conduce to the
extension of industry arid the encouragement of
enterprise, and that the result of that extension of that
industry and the result of the encouragement of that en•
terprise to all classes of the country, whether directly
connected with commerce or industry, be they manu-
facturing, be they agricultural, or be they not connected
with any particular department of industry, our conviction
is, that by the adoption of this proposal, industry and
commerce will be immediately benefited, and that
indirectly every class in this great community will find
its welfare promoted.
The Right Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst great
cheering from the Opposition benches. He spoke for
three hours and a quarter.
The question having been put,
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he did not wish the
House to affirm any proposition that night ; but
he trusted that they would see the great importance,
on account of many branches of commerce, of pro-
ceeding as early as possible to the consideration of
the various proposals. He hoped they would be in
a condition to pronounce,
on Monday, on the general
outlines. Of course, the affirmation of the reso-
lution would not bind the House, but its
adoption would enable the House to proceed at once'
to take the sense of the House with respect to the pro-01
posed alterations.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, considering the impor-
tance of the subjects which had been brought before the I
House, he quite concurred in what had fallen from
the Right Hon. Baronet. He would not ask for a day's
delay beyond Monday ; and on that occasion he would
take a general view of his proposals. The sugar duties
formed a most important part of the plan, and
one which he thought was open to much
objection ; but he would say nothing on the
subjeet till the debate on Monday night.
Sir R. PEEL said it was desirable to proceed as soon as
possible with all the articles except glass, which would require
some previous communication with the manufacturers.
Mr. LIDDELL was glad to hear that a reduction was to be ,
made in the duty on coals, but there were some observations
made by the bight Hon. Baronet in which he could not con-
cur. Those observations were entered into with marked atten-
tion, and appeared to create no small sensation on the other
side of the House ; but he could not allow them to pass unno-
ticed, because he was naturally jealous of his own honour and
of the honour of those whom he represented —( Hear, hear. )
He could not but regret that the Right Hon. Baronet should
have felt called upon to comment upon what he termed a com-
bination in the coal trade. in spite of the evidence which had
been given, on a former occasion, by competent parties, a
great misapprehension still prevailed on this subject ; but he
would nevertheless content himself by disproving it in one
single sentence, which he trusted would put an end to this I
too general and unfortunate misapprehension. The Right lion. Baronet had presumed that this combination existed, but he certainly was in error. No such combination had
ever to his knowledge existed, and if any Hon. Gentleman
on the opposite side of the House would think proper to move
for a Select Committee to inquire into the subject, he would
gladly second Hear, hear. )
Lord HOWICK could not help expressing his satisfaction
at finding the Right Hon. Baronet was now convinced that
his present step was not quite so bad a move as he seemed to
think it was last year, and the year before. His conviction,
however, was, that if the coal-owners had sat quietly down
under this tax till her Majesty's Government thought fit to
repeal it, the year 1845 would not have been distinguished by
its repeal. If any Hon. Member followed the advice of
the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last, he thought it could be
distinctly proved that the combination not only did exist,
but that it did a very serious injury to the City of London as
well. He thought this could be proved, and proved to de-
monstration too. It was a combination adverse and contrary
to every principle of fair trade, and it had not only been inju-
rious to the country, but to the parties who formed it. Com-
binations of masters were not less serious in their results
than combinations of workmen were injurious to them. The
strike of last year produced extreme suffering to the labourers
in the collieries, and his conviction was, that the regulations
which existed for the last few years had been attended with
the very worst results to the coal-owners. Having said thus
much, he should follow the wish of the Right Hon. Baronet,
and avoid expressing any opinion till Monday upon the general
character of the Budget. lint there was one point upon which
he entertained a very strong opinion, and he could not, even
at that moment, refrain from making a remark or two upon it.
There was an insurmountable objection to the arrangement the
Right Hon. Baronet proposed with regard to sugar. He could
not help regretting that the Right Hon. Baronet had not fol-
lowed the same course—and he might have done so without
any serious sacrifice of revenue—with regard to sugar he did to
coal, lie did not agree in his maintaining a distinction be-
tween free-labour sugar and slave-grown sugar. The Right
Hon. Baronet, while he was dealing with the Excise duties,
might have removed the duty on bricks without very mate-
rially diminishing the resources at his command. But he did
not mean to say thus much, hut he could not avoid
protesting against the measure which admitted free-labour
sugar at a much lower valuation than any other. It had
produced much mischief, and he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet
would shortly see the necessity of repealing it.
Mr. T. BARING, as the representative of a coal-mining
district, could not suffer the reflections which had been made
upon the coat-owners to pass unnoticed. But at the same time
he must thank the Right Hen. Baronet for removing a tax
which had pressed very severely on the whole body of coal-
owners. It was untrue that a combination had existed which
allowed the foreigner to have an advantage over this country.
There was no such thing as had been asserted as two prices.
The fact was, the foreigner would not take the high-priced
coal, and hence, probably, arose the mistake into which some
Hon. Members had fallen. He could state positively that the
foreigner did not, nor ever did, possess an advantage over the
home consumer.
Mr. HUME did not agree with what the Hon. Member said,
for having been Chairman of a Committee appointed to in-
quire into some matters relating to the coal district, he could
state that from the evidence which came before him he had
every reason to believe in the existence of the alleged combi-
nation. He merely rose to say, that although the first part of
the Right Honourable Baronet's speech required great
consideration, his opinion of the last part was fully made
u ctuated p. He
the R fully
i agreed in the principle which had
aght Honourable Baronet, and he thought
the selections the Right Hon. Baronet had made were most
judicious. There was but one article to which he could object,
and that was sugar. The window-tax
pressed heavily on the
country, but he agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet that the
repeal of the duty on glass would be attended with much more
benefit than the remission of the window-tax. He trusted he
should see the day when the Excise department would be alto-
gether abolished, and no other duties suffered to exist but those
on malt and spirits, which might be transferred to some other
department.
After a few words from Mr. TURNER,
Lord CLEMENTS expressed some regret that the Right
Hon. Baronet had made no further reduction of the duties on
timber. Such a step would be a great benefit to Ireland. It
would enable them to build their habitations much cheaper than
they did at present.
Mr. H. HINDE did not wish to trouble the House with
many remarks, but he could not help concurring
had produced. He wished, in the
.11
general expression of satisfaction which the Right Hon.
Baronet's speech
a few words with reference to glass. lie agreed in the ex-
however, to say
cle, butbahcekthoof
nuhhet
c in
Baronetg the
oadutygb ot n thisto
laorwt i
of the manufac-
turer
don auctioneers. This, he believed, would be attended
with no beneficial result. Many persons in
pose
the country pro-
stpttuhoeredceki
reßnwii cgnoyhutol would be
hand.ibri If he did not, the property
ee° reducing
depreciated.u.
occupation, but if the
An additional tax was to be im-
cured a livelihood by following this y
compelled to relin-
gwa•eirsehsiutb.ject to this tax, they would be

THE PORTLAND VASE.
On Thursday, a letter was received by Mr. Jardine, at the Bow-
street Police office, with an enclosure of 31., which the writer re-
quested he would apply to the payment of the sum awarded, in
compensation, to the Trustees of the British Museum, and in de-
fault of which the young man who destroyed the Portland Vase
and its glass case, had been committed to hard labour for two
months.

The sum was accordingly appropriated to this purpose, and the
Governor of Tothill-fields prison received the authority of the ma.
gistrate to discharge his prisoner, who immediately repaired to the
European Coffee house, in Long.acre, where he previously resided,
and at which, we believe, he is still located.

From another source we learn that the offender, who de-
nies that his name is William Lloyd (the name by which he
was known at the coffee-house, is a student at the Dublin
University, which he entered as a pensioner, under the tui-
tion of Dr. Atkins, and at which he has at present a brother
of considerable standing. Beyond this he gives no particu-
lars respecting himself and family, from a desire, as he
stated when under examination, not to indict upon his relatives
the pain of his disgrace. He says that his object in visiting Eng.
land was merely to spend the vacation in viewing the principal
exhibitions and other objeets of attraction in the metropolis ; and
that having exhausted his means, it was his intention to have
written to his friends for a remittance to enable him to return to
Dublin.

During the short period of his confinement, we understand,
he felt very deeply the degradation to which he was exposed ;
and, on more than one occasion, evinced rather a refractory die.
position. Thursday morning he refused to comply with certain
regulations of the prison, and having been consequently handled
by one of the turnkeys, with the view of compelling submission, he
raised his arm and struck him a violent blow over his ear. For
this breach of order he was consigned to solitary confinement, with
the additional restraint of a pair of handcuffs, and in thii position
he was kept until the unexpected arrival of an order for his
dismissal.

Sir R. PEEL said, considering the period when the re-
, durtion would be made, the Government did not intend to
allow a drawback on the stock in hand.
BaDrorn.et li
Oh NaVd ReloNn
consented
twe odutl
od
ah
modificationave rejoiced
or
ff
the
ee p
rßightepert y o
tax,
It was his wish that the tax should be made permanent insteadn
of transitory. He regretted to hear that it was the intention
hermili-
tary
force
the Government
country. It
to
wquiteas
augment
unnecessaryan d,a s -
much as the exigencies of the times did not call far the pro-
posed increase.
Col. SIBTHORP regretted extremely that the Right Han.
Baronet did not introduce, amongst his list of reductions, a re-
mission in the post-horse and hackney carriage duty. The post-
masters had been greatly injured by having to contend with
the railways, which now communicated to all parts of the
kingdom ; and he ( Colonel Sibthorp) thought] that it would
but have been even-handed justice if, for the remission to be
made in that duty, he bad added an equivalent to the duties
borne by the system which had almost ruined them.
Mr. ROEBUCK, although conceding that the benefits
which the Right Hon. Baronet had proposed would meet with
universal approbation, would not disguise the fact that these
benefits were quite counterbalanced by the mischiefs arising
from the operation of the income-tax and property-tax.
Those mischiefs would be a great drawback in the general
benefits accruing to the community from the remissions pro-
posed by the Right Hon. Baronet. This obnoxious law had
been termed indifferently the property or the income-tax ; but
he (Mr. Roebuck) observed a very great distinction between
incomes derived from professional exertions, and those deriva-
ble from property. If the Right Hon. Baronet had but gone
a step further, and modified that tax, then, indeed, his pro-
positions made that night would be hailed as a relief by the
community. Still he gave the Right Hon. Baronet credit for
a very great advance made in the right direction—the greatest
advance he (Mr. Roebuck) had yet seen or had known of in
the course of the Ministry's existence ; and while he thanked
the Right Hon. Baronet for the good he had promised, he had
felt it but right to point out a source of mischief which might
have been avoided.
Mr. WAKLEY said, that considering the very great good
that had been promised them by the Right Hon. Baronet, he
could not, for one, find one word of condemnation. He (Mr.
Wakley) represented a large constituency in that metropolis,
and in their names he could not refrain from expressing his
extreme satisfaction at the propositions made that night by the
Right Hon. Baronet. All the reductions he had promised
had a direct tendency to relieve the poorer classes,
and to promote the course of industry, and in promoting
that, the Right Honourable Baronet did the greatest service
to the country. He would not, therefore, as he had stated
already, say one word in condemnation of any one of his pro-
positions, for he (Mr. Wakley) was but too much gratified for
the good he proposed to the best interests of the working
classes.

He has never been heard to speak of the offence for which
he was committed in other than terms of apparent contrition.
Indeed, he talks of a willingness to give up his claim to pro.
perty to which he is entitled, and to devote the remainder of his life
to any pursuit by which he could be instrumental in affording
reparation to the Museum for the mischief which, in an uncon.
scious moment, he was the means of causing.
Of the genuineness of all this it is as impossible to speak with
certainty, as it is dangerous to offer an opinion. We can only say
he wears the look of sincerity. If, in smashing one of the most
precious relics of antiquity in the whole Museum, the delinquent
sought notoriety, and knew, from the deplorable deficiency of the
law, that he could thus obtain it without material personal punish-
ment (even if he failed in exciting commiaseration, by talking of
unaccountable visitations, brought on by rash intemperante), we
can only say that he has accomplished his object well, for never
were the fraternity of " pennv.a.liners" more busy in their inqui-
ries, or the active artists of our illustrated periodicals more anxious
in their endeavours to present to the world the very eyes, nose,
and mouth, of any " mysterious" being who, of late years, has ex.
cited public attention.

and he trusted it was not too late now to give the subject their
best attention.
Lord DUNCAN rose to express his admiration of the Budget
brought f irward by the Right Hou. Baronet, but he would re-
mind him that while he granted exemptions in the ease of the
auction duty, there were instances in which persons should be
equally exempted from the operation of the income-tax.
Mr. CURTEIS thought that the country ought to have
time to exhibit its opinion on the Budget, and to show whether
they were for or against the Right Hon. Baronet They were
taking the country by surprise, by only allowing them one
post day to exhibit the feelings with which the Right Hon.
Baronet's intentions would be received in the country. With
respect to the property-tax, he had been one of the Commis-
sioners under that Act, and it was such an odious duty that he
had made a vow that he should always vote against a continu-
ance of the tax ; and he was determined to divide the House
on Monday, if supported but by twelve Hon. Members. He
recommended the agricultural Gentlemen opposite to consider
whether it would not be better to do away with the property
or income-tax, rather than support the Right Hon. Baronet
in the measure which he had that night brought forward.
Mr. WARD observed that the Hun. Member who had spoken
last had said that the country would he taken by surprise. He
(Mr. W) thought it would, for certainly few had expected such a
liberal measure from the Right Hon. Baronet. A measure founded
on such sound principles--a measure embracing such a com-
prehensive view of the extended interests of this country, and
intended to further its prosperity in such a degree, he did not
expect; and therefore he (Mr. Ward) begged to add his evi-
dence to those whs had gone before him, as to the beneficial
effects to be derived from the propositions of the Right Hon.
Baronet. With respect to the sugar-duties, a difference of
opinion might be expected ; but at present they had only to
look to the schemes propounded as conferring benefits on the
most widely-extended interests, and as acting upon the most
important springs of industry.
Mr. AGLIONBY considered that the benefits which would
be conferred on the country were greater than any for many
years past. One point only he would beg to submit with great
deference (whether to be considered now or at a future period)
was the duty on tea. He had been informed that the coarser
qualities paid a much higher rate of duty in proportion than
was exacted for the finer kinds, and this pressed particularly
heavy upon the poorer classes of the community. He hoped
the subject would be considered by the Right Hon. Baronet.
Sir It. PEEL expressed himself gratified with the concur-
rence which had been so readily granted to the propositions he
had made, by Hon. Members on both sides of the House. And
with respect to the observation of one Hon. Member, that the
country had been taken by- surprise, he (Sir R. Peel) was sure
that the only part of his scheme to which any objection had
been raised, viz., the income-tax, had been alluded to at the
very commencement of the session, and therefore the country
might have been prepared for it. He did not think that any
material opposition, would be given to the remainder of his
propositions.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that the lion. Gentleman behind him
(Mr. Curteis) might depend upon it that the income-tax would
not be a measure enacted only for three years, but that it would
be permanent for the rest of his life.—(Laughter.)
Lord J. RUSSELL wished to know whether it was intended
to modify the income-tax, or to renew it in its present form ?
Sir R. PEEL proposed to renew the tax as it at present
stood. He did not wish to enter at any length on the subject,
as by so doing be would but prolong a discussion which at pre-
sent was better avoided.
Mr. E. BULLER was not so enthusiastically fond of the
Budget as many of his Hon. Friends on that (the Liberal) side
of the House appeared to be, fur he thought that the income-
tax would more than counterbalance the good which would
be effected by the propositions of the Right Hon. Baronet.
The Hon. Baronet stated, in proposing the income-tax, that
it should only exist for three or five years, and now they
were to renew it. There was an uncertainty now as to when
it should cease, and he cautioned Hon. Members that, instead
of a temporary tax, they would find it a permanent one. Let
the Right Hon. Baronet not deceive himself in supposing that
the reduction of duty would increase the demaeds for the
articles on which such reduction had been made, to su,•h an
extent that the revenue would not suffer, for after his experi-
ence of 1841, could he rely on the expectation that three
millions of taxes would be made up in a three years' consump-
tion.—( Hear.) He warned Hon. Members therefore against
being deceived by the fallacious expectations held out to them by
the Hight Hon. Baronet.
Mr. WA R BURTON could not agree in the sentiment ex-
pressed by the Hon. Member who had just sat down. It did
appear to him (Mr. Warburton) that the income-tax was one
which had not been felt as an oppressive one by any parties,
and that it would not be in future.—(Hear, hear.) Surely
every person should understand that all those whose income
existed but for one year paid the tax but for one year.•_( Hear,
hear, and a laugh.) And from those upon whom the tax war,'
enforced, whose income was in perpetuity, all objection to the
payment of it by that class vanished altogether.—(Laughter. )
Ho felt quite persuaded that any person who calmly
considered this question must see that it never could have
been intended to be permanent.—( Hear.) He now begged to
mention what appeared to him to be a very important matter
as connected with the announcement of the Right Hon. Baro-
net this evening. He meant with regard to the measure about
to be proposed, affecting the duty on sugar. He entirely con •
curred in all that had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet, ex-
cept that port'on of his statement, for it appeared to him (Mr.
W.) that the Right Hon. Baronet was going to give all the
benefits of his proposed reduction on sugar to the grower, and
not the consumer. As this question was to come again before
the House, he would not further dwell upon it at present.
Lord JOHN MANNERS spoke in favour of the Budget
generally, and expressed his approval of the continuance of the
income-tax in particular, as a sound and beneficial measure,
for it would press heavily only on those who could afford to
pay it. With regard to what had been said by the Hon.
Member opposite upon the duties of the Income-tax Com-
missioners, ,he was not now prepared to answer upon that
question ; but his opinion was, that the selection made of those
officers was
,most Judicious and highly satisfactory to the
country.
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN believed that all classes of
the community, agricultural as well as others, would derive
material benefit from the reduction of the duty upon glass.
Sir R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Sir Charles
Napier, in reference to the amount of the navy estimates,
said that the sum required for that branch of the public ser-
vice would be about 960,000 L, and the Gallant Officer might
rest assured that it would be as judiciously and as economically
applied as her Majesty's Government could suggest.
Sir C. NAPIER begged to assure the Right Hon. Baronet
that he did not mean to make this either a party or political
question. All be looked for was that the Hon. Baronet would
institute au investigation, with a view to discovering the best
mode of providing the country ‘with an efficient steam naval
force.—The House then resumed.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
The motion for a commute, of supply was postponed tint
Monday, and the House adjourned at a Quarter past Nine.