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

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15 1845.

our military establishments •oughtto be—in the year 1792
you had 22 colonial :dependencies. ln the year 1820
you had 84 colonial dependencies, and in the present
year, 1845, the Colonies, which were 22 in
have increased 'to • 45: at the • present time.
It is the number of your . colonies, and the
dispersion.l ,of, the: forces employed _ in them,.
that leads the ~.aecessftY: of frequent
and imposei on you, viith! reference to: your army par=
tienlarly, as distinguished from the armies of i he Con-
tinental . powers, ,in order to maintain the efficiency
Of that force, a consideiable annual expenditure.
It may be said it is not our advantage to defend our
colonial empire, but I deal with the fact that you have
colonies—that you mast proiide a competent' force for
each, and that having a competent force, you, must have
some supply flf the relief of them. sir, I should be un-
willing—though I know our colonies ire expensive—
I should be unwilling to give up :that policy which
led to the foundation in different parts of the
globe of dependencies animated by the spirit Of, Eng-
lishmen, speakingthe . English language, and laying
the, foundation, perhaps,-`in future times, of important
commercial States.—(Hear, hear.) Looking to our own
population—looking to its numbers—looking to its en- ,
terprise, I cannot !ay that I think it is unwise to pro-
vide . au nutlet fqr that populatiOn and that enterprise.
. hear, and
.cheers,) And though it
may be attended at times with something of expense, ,
you must remember, however that may be, the fact that
,you have at the present 'moment fortyfive colonies, for
the militaiy defence of which you must Provide. For
the service of each of these forty-five colonies you have
~
'a force, . consisting first, of three battalions of the
army, 6,500 cavalry, rank and file, and you havie one
'hundred and tWelve battalions ef- infantry, eon:,
sisting, rank and Ale, of 92,500 men, and that
is: the anipunt of . the British army with which
you are to garrison all these forty-five colonies, with'
which we are to provide against occasionally internal
commotion, and the chance of foreign attack, and ter
provide also for :the internal service: of the
And. .this is to be effected, and is
effected, by-an 'infantry force of 112 battalions;
amounting, to 92,000 rank and file. Now, what is the
rule established 'with regard to relief ? The rule this.
That a regiment shall remain ten years abroad, and fire
at home ; and. will any one say that that is an unreason;
able regulation—that it, would be desirable, for the effi-
ciency of the army, that any regiment in the British service
shOuld remain more than ten years abroad, or that it
should not
,have. the advantage: of remaining five years
if home. After their return they generally arrived in
sucha State that it required some years to bring them to
a proper degree of health.7—(Hear, hear.) And if tier.
Majesty's 'Government thought it advisable—that sit
was consistent 'with true economy, with humanity and
with -the efficiency of the service to reduce the
military force, it would be their bounden duty to do
so. What is the fact with 'regard to' the
service of the regiments abroad ?' Of 112 battalions in
the British service—l am now speaking Of infantry of
the line—there are twenty-three' in India, fifty
in the colonies, and four • ' battalions on their
passage honse,. being severity-seven battalions em-
ployed in the • 'defence 'of our 'colonial empire
You have '35 hattalions at home—not, as it is supposed,
for the purpose. of restraining; but for the purpose of
maintaining, the system of relief. Your • rule is five
years at home; but ten • years abroad, but you
have not been able to adhere to-it. The military force
that Yeti have at home does not enable you
to supply the demand for the necessary relief. •.No*,
!et me take s • series of Years,. from theyear 1824
to the year 1842, a period of eighteen -years of profound
peace—at limit, there was dutingthat 'period no general
warfare. There 'vas no interruption to tranqUillity from
1824 to 1242; and the number of hattelions during that
time remained the same. Now, what was the
service during 'that period ? • Why,* the average
• 'service ' of the whole of the battalions was
ten years abroad and 1l at home, For the whole of
the battalions, therefore,,thereyras fourteen years abroad
and fowl 'it honse.—(Hear, hear)• • It might be said that
I speak `of rank• and. file, and that there is 'necessarily
'a
number of offieers ineluded.• Now, look at the
effect of that. You have a number of reduced
Officets, and what was the effect ? Why,
in reducing their officers' yin would reduce : the regiment,
and the consequence therefore was that officers must be
increased. NOW,- what was = the effect with respect to
services in India? There Were' twenty-three battalions
in India, twelve of . them whose 'period of foreign
service 'half been •-• thirteen • • years. There ' were
four batty lionelti whose -perind 'of service has
been unsviadit'ottiventjhieeicgoiil 'there'll ore battalion
which has been on foreign "service" for twenty-three
years, whieh is now returning home,' and if you allow it
to remain five years at home, and send it out- again
you
Here o
tforeign
your
oven
for ten years, comes- back it will have
fibe,eenatthhiorintye..th!ir,eleoyears ,
- ualti:n4a a l nrule o
service
andf
five yearn at heirie and ten'abroad,
years you would
require no less than forty-ssven 'battalions for India.
Independently of that, we havisonly thirty-five battalions
at home, and I ask the :House 'whether her Majesty's
Government would be acting consistently with their
duty, if "after'the fiat *hieh r have stated, they recoin -
mended 'a diminution of the British army? I know that
'some temporary Popularity might he gained
by advising that reduction, . but When I look
to the system , of • relief, 'however ' imperfect
'those principles upOe
',Weil it it founded may be,
and of the present colTle at' home which is carried into
effect; I am bound to-say that,l don't think it would be
consistent' with sound policy;. or With economy, to pro.:
pose—considering the great importance of our vast cola-,
nial empire—a reduction in the military establish-
ments of the country..(flear,' hear.) I hope the'
House 'will excuse 'me for dwelling thus in detail,
upon our expenditure, because, as I said before, I dd not
feel that any prosperity justifies any intrease in the ei-
penditure which can be made. We propose no increase
in our military 'establishments, but, at the same time, we
:do not think it would be desirable to recommend to the
House to diminish' the' military force* of thii country.
Consequently, we propose that the vote for the army
estimates in the present year shall be a iOte'of 6,600,0002,
the amount last year's. estimate. I now proceed to
call the attention of the House to the state of the navy,
and the demand we shall feel it our duty to submit to
the House for, an, increase in the estimate for it. We
shall propose, in the course of the 'presnt year, an in-'
crease in the number of ram serving in the navy, of
.about 2,500 more than those that are now actually
. employed, and of about '4,006 more men than
those voted last .I• shalt make that proposal, on
the following grounds account of oar' extended
colonial. empire, and the new commercial interests con-
nected with it.. Thete is a growing necessity for pr 0....
tection of Our 'ocasnaerce in almost 'every 'part of the
world. Within the last few years three igreat naval
.staticns have 01797 n up. There is .the coast
Of tbe, and; the .China
,seas.
Now.. I will just compare the number of men
employed in these several stations in 1841, • with the
number of men we felt it our :duty-to employ; for, really
we had .scarcely any option to exercise with respect to.
that employment, in t4e-oourse of. the autumn of last
year.. In 1841, on the coast of Africa, there were ens..
ploy.ed 690 men... -Last year, for the purpose of making
a more vigorous attempt for the , suppression of the slave
trade there were employed on the coastofAfrica 2,590 men.
In the Pacific, in the year 441, there were employed
706 men ; in the last year. there were, and :there are at,
present, employed, 2,437 nijm. In, the China seas, in '
1841, there was only a small frigate. I believe that was
previous to 'the commencement of hoitilities ; but our
ordinary communications in' the -C China seas, were con-
ducted by. the ocatsional presence of a small frigate. Bit
after the treety'which we entered into with China, there
were employed :on the: coast of China
.2,605. men. We
hare' attempted to make a rediiction. Under the China'
treaty there was a stipulation that we should
have one vessel. for each of the 'five ports
at which our commerce was to be carried on.
We. attempted :t0 redUce the number ; we:.tried to.
adoPt the plan of baying 4e4l4.bpati, to pay ,ozcasional
visits to those ports ; ,buit we. were immediately, met by'
the strongest representations- from the most eminent au-
thorities, from' Sir floury Pottitiger and, his suo.
cessor, ' Mr. Davis, earnei4ly, entreating us, in
consideration of our new relations, and, of the:
importance of imposing a check upon those, who
formed • those- ports; and preventing any. infraction of
the Chinese Uwe, immediately to dispatch an Additional
force; and to convinced were 1.0.!.0r the justness of the
representations • thus. made to 14, that ~we At. . once
attended to—the demand of, Sir... Henry Pottinger
and Mr. Davis, and sent there • an additional'
force. Comparing the number of men on these three
stations in'lB4l with the- number employed at present,
there is now, an, actual increase of
.about ;6,000. men.
The House will recollect what. took place last year. I
need not remind you 'of the • complaints which
were made, that we bad not a sufficient force
at that time, but if I hact ,opporfunitY I certainly be!
Hove that I could .coniince every, dispassionate mind
that we could not with safety or wisdom reduce the force
that we' now have 'either in ,China or: the,' Pacidc.—
(Rear, hear, and cheers) Islet,l,incleed,,that. an increase
is *84.144 for any-se
_Of Nit or oppression, but our
commerce is greatly -extending- on - the - west
coast of South America., sad it is impossible

to. deny that the presence of a British vessel has a
great effect in maintaining relations of peace,—(Hear,
hear.) lam sure that upon those three stations alone
there has been an increase in the men employed at such
a distance from this country of not less than 6,000 men.
You are to observe, too, that the very dispersion of your
naval force has an-. effect I ke that produced by the dis-
persion of the army. The necessity of having: your
naval force dispered over the habitable globe does, in
fact.-diminish the efficiency of the naval complement at
home.—(Hear, bear.) We propose, therefore, with per-
fect confidence in the justice of the requisition to increase
the naval force of the present year to 4,040 men. The
expense caused by that increase will be about 184,0001.
I .do not vindicate that increase merely on the ground
of fiscal arrangements. I say, without hesitation, that
I think it is of great importance that this country should
have the means of perfecting discipline, of improving its
officers, and ofkeeping at its command a certain num •
bar of ships of the line.-L-(llear, and partial cheers.)
I do not believe that it ought to give, or that it would
give, any cause for jealousy, if this country should have
the command of nine or- ten sail of the line.—(Hear,
hear.) _ It is of great importance that we should test the
quality of. vessels in sailing, and we have" no means of
doing so iinlees we send-thern to sea:—( Loud cheers from
Sir Charles Napier, followed by shouts of laughter,
in which Sir Robert Peel joined heartily.) Sir, I
am afraid that the apprObitioe of the Gallant Officer
opposite, will not neutralise the opposition of Honourable
Gentlemen around hini, who will not be, I fear, $d much
'convinced as he himself, is; of the necessity for the in-.
creased expenditure which. I am about to propose.—
(Hear, bear, and laughter.) do not propose this aug-
mentation of our force with stay view to aggression, but
because I think it politiC that this country should have at
its command .a few- line-of battle ships.—(Hear, bear.)
The increased number of men which_ I mean to propose
is 4,000, and if you attend, to the requisitions of our com-
merce in different parts of the globe, you will find that
'they will not enable us to have, under any. circumstances,
inure -than ten sail of the line at our command.
It is, impossible also,. I think, for this House to
overlook the progress made, in the perfection of
steam navigation.-,--(Heardwar.), . Last year this House
sanctioned a vote for two basins. for the construction and
repair of Steam-vessels—one at Portsmouth, and another
at Deptforel, I shall therefore propose this year to take
a vote 'for proceeding with the formation of-those basins
which the House sanctioned list year. The vote I pro
pose, to ask for is 187,000/.. I shall also . take
a vote for the purpose of enabling us to
maintain the steam navy in a respectable
condition seited to a. peace establishment: Now, on ac-
count of. the naval service, and of the ordnance con-
nected With the navy, there will be an increase in the
estimates of nearlyone million.—(Considerable sensation,
- much murmuring, and whispers in allparts of the House.)
The works connected with the ordnance department
have not been recently pursued with 'sufficient vigour,
and we must., at all events, keep those fortifications and
works which exist in an ordinary state of repair.
The estimate I now present of the total expendi-
ture 'of the present year is as follows :—The
, charge for the Debt, 28,395;000/, the charge
for the Consolidated Fund, 2,40000001, making a total
of 30;795,0001. The vote of supply for the army,
6,678,000/., for the navy, 6,936,0001., for the ordnance,
2,142,0001; for the miseellaneous estimates, 3,200,000 L,
being together, 18,895,0001, and added to the charge
for the debt of the Consolidated Fund, 49,695,0001.,
for the revenue of next year I will take 51,100,0001.
The charges for the present year, 49,690,0001 And,
even with this increased expenditure, there would be a
surplus on' the sth of April, 1846, of between one and
two millions. '

An jinx. MEMBER on the Opposition benches—The
half-year's income-tax ?
Sir ROBERT 'PEEL—Of course the half-year's in-
conie.tax: I am not now estimating the permanent ex-
penditure or the country. am. stating -what would be
the State of the finance of the 'country on- the sth 'of
April, 1846.—(Hear, hear.) • It is quite clear, that
if' the income-tax 'were nOt • to • 'be renewed,
unless- • there should be some considerable in-
crease the public. revenue - from other sources,
there would probably be- .a deficiency. I have-thus at
tempted to lay before the 'House the present financial
Condition of the country, and-estimated therevenue to the
sth of April next, and for the year ending the sth 'of
APril; 1846,-; and I have also laid'before the House wh4
amount-of expenditure her Majesty's Government, with a
provident-care to the public interests, will feel it their
diity to recommend to 'the House. The next. questbn
-that arises is--and it is a niost important
restinripr thi• ion,roo.ao of ompooditgaise 11- 10.9 t.
,provided' •for ? Will- you run the. risk of -curtail-
; ing the revenue for- future year?; by making no
provision-for the future, and because that in 1846 the
revenue will admit of- increased expenditure, we should.
postpone the 'consideration of future wants nail they
come upon us. Her Majesty's. Governtnent did • not'
consider they would be doing 'their duty by acting with
such disregard to the. future condition of the country.
I know it does not ConduCe to popularity.to propose a
continuance of taxation, but-it is the duty- of a Govern-
ment tol consider the prospects of-the future, as well as
the present exigenciesof thecountry, 'and if they are
satisfied that thepubl:c interest demands a continuance
_of:taxation, even though it may be unpopular, it be;
comes their duty, respectfully to. .submit to consideration
a proposal on-that important • subject. We are now in-
-Iduced to propose a continuance of the property-tax for a
further periOdotrid before I aided to ask the assent of this
IlOuse: or any Gentleman in this. House,- to that pro-:,
posal, - I "feel it is absolutely necessary that I should
' :explain; as I shall now proceed to do,' what. are the views-
her Majesty's Governmentwith respect to the appro-
‘piiiition of the surplus revenuer which will be placed at'
'their disposal; after fully proViclng- for 'every exigency'
of the, public service I. know, well; as the Noble Lod
apposite stated the other night, that 'it is impossible- to
give an opinidii upon.
.the question, ' abstractedly,-
can. the 'property-tak be continued - or not, with.
out: knowing what -are the meaauree in respect
of relief from taxation, which would • follow as -a conse-
quence of its CoittinuedimPOsition.' Let. me assume, for
the, present—arid I merely assume it for the pur-
.pose of argument, and to make my state
nient more clear—let - me assume, I repeat, for the.
present that the House has' granted -the continuance of
'the Property-tax 7 I will then give a short' estimate
of *the revenue arising &On it, together with other
sources. - Suppose the propertptax to be continued,
the estinsat'e of the revenue 'for- the 'next 'year on the
stli*, of April, 1846-, aided by the ' 5,200,000 L of the
property-tax, will be 53,700,000/. and as long
as the other .sources of the revenue remain' equally pro.
'ductive, and as long
.as: the pioperty-tax is continued;
53,700,000/., subject to 11. reduction of 600,000L,' will be
the amount of the revenue. This 600,0004''
,is the. :amonnt received as Chinese money ; it
will be received for one year more, but
. for . the purpose - of calculating the revenue,
,L had better strike it out altogether. The re-
* venue for, the year, then,„ on the sth of
April, 1846, will be 53,106,0004 . The charge for the
. debt, and on account of .the different breaches*
of the ',public 'service--; will 49,690,0004 ; so
that there would be left, as long as the income-
, lax.
.should :be continued, .and • deducting the
Chinese money, a nett. revenue of 3,409,0001
;That is the surplus that will remain if the House should
aCquiescein the .proposal which I shall make to increase
• the expenditure in the navy, and if they shall also de-
' ‘terini,ne.,that the income-tax shall be continned. Now it
& /most important matter, for .consideration, in what
.mods' that surplus, or ally part of that surplus,-shall be
employed for the relief of taxation: What are the in-
deponents in the way of the increased efficiency of the
public service, and of the diminution of taxation, which
I hold :,out to the House -of COnnions as a motive to
induce them to consent to thacontinuancoof the income
tax.? I should not propose to the House the continuance
of the in:come-tax unless I had the strongest presumption,'
partly tfoeuded on the experience of past years, that it
will. be competent to the House of Commons, by
continuing the. indome-tax, 'to make such arringenients
with respect to general taxation, as,shail be the founds;
tion of great. future commercial prosperity, and shall
materially add to:the coniforts even of those Who shall
be callel on to contribute to the incoine.4ex.--;-(1-tear.)
When, the qnestion is, having a considerable sur-
plus, to determine how that surplus can be most
efficiently employed, the question becomes one worthy
of the most iniportant and serious cOnsideratiori. In the
first place, we must consider the clittm's which may be -
urged in favour of a reduCtion of taxation on- account Of
the heaviness with which certain imposts press on ar-
ticles of consumption.—(Lond cheers.) We have also
to consider what taxes prese on the raw materials which
constitute the staple of the'manufactures of the country.
.We are also_ hound to consider what* taxes cause a grist
increase in the. establiihmentis necessary for their col-
lection, and what are those taxes; the remission Of which
Will enable us to diminish our establiehmenta, so as .
to enablens to reduce our expenditure. * We are bound'
also to consider what are those taxes the removal of
which will give more scope to commercial enter-
prise, and occasion an . increased demand for labour.
(Cheers.) I will not say which of these
considerations ought- to be the most predomi-
nant—all - ought to -occupy our--serious attention—
all are- of the very greatest importance. If we .

receive the sanction of the House for the con-
tinuance of the income-tax, we shall feel it
to be our duty to ' make a great experiment
with respect to taxation, and we shall hope that the
general prosperity which will result therefrom will con-
tribute to fill up the void caused by the
cessation of taxation. We do not propose to maintain
any material surplus of revenue over expenditure,
confident that, whatever may happen, this House
is-- determined -to maintain the- public credit.
---.(Loud - cheers.) We have determined to recom-
mend extensive reductions in those taxes which, in our
opinion, press more onerously on the community than
the income-tax, I first propose to take those taxes
which are imposed by the Customs duties, and I shall
submit to the consideration of the House, on that point,
what are the views of her Majesty's Government in re-
spect to a reduction' upon the duty of sugar.—(Loud
cries of " Hear,' hear," from both sides of the House.)
The House will recollect that upon this subject
last year an arrangement of a temporary cha-
racter was made, by which sugar, the pro-
duce of settlers who used free labour, was admitted
into competition with sugar the produce of foreign free
labour. There was no reduction proposed to be made
upon British free labour sugar.; but a proposition was
made for the achnisiion of sugar_the produce of foreign
free labour, which has induced her Majesty's Govern-
ment to call attention to the subject of the sugar duties
generally, with -the view to proposing a reduction in
them.--(Hesr, hear.) The amount of a discriminating
duty proposed,. by which to admit foreign sugar, the
produce of . free labour, was 10s. 6d. ; and her Ma-
jesty's Government now propose to. admit to, general
competition sugar epon the terms to. which allusion was
•made last session.--(1-lear, hear.) We also propose the
admission to competition of sugar, the produce of free
labour in our colonies, upon the same terms as sugar, the
produce of free labour, in those foreign countries
with which we_ now have what are called
those " reciprocity treaties " that have hereto-
fore been made: (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I beg it
may here be understood that I do not now wish to •pro-
yoke discussion upon this subject—that would, be much
better reserved_ for a distinct' discussion upon this
subject—(Hear, hear)—but it is important that I should
make a general allusion to it in my present statement.
The discriminating duty proposed to be established Mit
session was, on free-labour. Britisliplantation sugar, 245,,
and 5 per cent., and that upon free-labour foreign sugar,
345. and 5 per cent,; which would produce, upon the
former, a total amount of duty of '2ss. 3d., and on the
latter .of 355. 9d. But, in, the reductions pro-
posed last
_year, it was proposed to establish a
higher discriminating rate of duty on free-labour
.foreign
sugar than. we conceived bore a fair proportion to cblo-
-nial free labour' sugar. Therefore her Majesty's Go-
Vernment came to the conclusion that the circumstances
under which the foreign countries producing sugar by
free labour, and those of the colonies, were not
such as would render such alteration expedient.
We stated'at the seine time that a classification, if it were
possible, which would apply to our own sugar as well as
foreign sugar, might be well worthy of consideration.
Several gentletnen who spoke on the other side of the
House contended for pressing the establishment of it, 'if
possible, between the grosser and finer kinds of sugar. He
had communications' with official persons conversant with
matters of this kind, and they certified that it was pos-
sible, with regard to our own and foreign sugars, to es
tablish such a discrimination. We propose, therefore,
with regard to all sugars except the produce of our own
• colonies, to make this reduction. In respectof brown Mus-
. covado sugar, which is now subject to a duty of 255. 3d.oie
• propose to make a reduction of 1 ls. 3d, and to reduce
the duty to 145.--(Hear, hear, from the Opposition.)
With regard to Muscavado sugar, that reduced duty
will apply to all British plantation sugar—to sugar the
proclude of the Mauritius—to sugar the produce of our
West Indian'Coloniea ; and with regvrd to the prodube
of those districts in British India, with regard to whibh
• a different rule now applies, we propose, in the case
of those 'districts, to retain, the same relative pro-
portionate duty, and that ditty shall be 18s. Bd.
This is applicable ' to' those 'countries of ' India whiil
are permitted to - import sugar. We propose
that the 'amount of protective duty shall not exceed 9s.
4d., and the duty on free labour -sugar will, therefore,
.be 235. 4d. •: Of course, in.countries with whom existing
treaties are in feiree, we cannot depriie them 'of that
which it their right. With regard to white, or clayed
• sugar; or sugir whichby ' some process is made equal to
cloyed sugar," We propose that the duty on Bri-
-tish• Plantation' East India Sugar shall be re-
duced from' 255. 3d. to 16s. 4d., and that the
duty on sug... imported from India, or those parts of
India from 'which sugar may • be imported,
shall be : 21s. 9d., and that the duty on free
labour ' foreign sugar—that is cloyed-shall be 285.,
thus retaining thewhole amount of discriminating duty
which last year 'was 105. 6d., but applying it in a different
manner, giving 9s. 4d, protection on Muscovado sugar,
and increasing the protection to 1 ls. 4d. on white sugar.
"The amount - of discriminating duty would remain
the same as it was hist year. The duty on molasses
we propose to preserve in the same proportion, It is
necessary that I should make the intentions of -the Go-
vernment well understood. Without going into minute
details, 'reserving them for consideration when the sugar
duties come 'under the attention • of the House, we
proposelo make a further reduction on' refined sugar.
We propose on refined sugar that it should be imported
at.. a duty of, 145., instead of 18s. Bd., and that
double_ refined__ sugar should be imported under' a-.
duty of 2 is.; the 14s. including the 5 per cent. Now, it,
is important that in the present statement I should state
the probable amount of sugar to be derived frona the
possessions of 'this country abroad. For the purpose
of 'obtaining information • on 'that subject, we have
applied to 'four independent sources for the purpose
of obtaining an estimate of the probable supply of sugar
for the next year, and I, will now read to the House, with
. its, permission, the estimate- that have been formed.
76 stock of" sugat on hand on the lst of January last
was 45,000 tons, and the estimate made by the Customs
of the probable production of the British India plantations
is as follotvs :L—Froin the West Indies and the West
India colonies, 135,000 tons; from the Mautitius, 40.000
tons, ; and from. British India, '70,000 tons, being
the . supply of sugar in the present year, independent of
the stock on hand of 245,000 tons. I trust that' there
may be reliance placed on this statement, as it has been
procured from the best sources of information. The first
of the other authorities which we have consulted, calcu-
lated the produce of British plantations at-140,000 tons
the Mauri Liu s at 40,000, and Britishlndia at 70,000, making
a total of 250;000 tons.' The second party consulted has
not even so flattering an account. They have estimated
-the produce of British Plantation sugar, at
only 12,000 tons, the Mauritius ' at . 40,000
tons,. and . , British • India ' at 70,000 tons,
making an estimate of 230,000' tons. The fourth esti-
- mate formed independently, as I said before of any
communication, is that with regard to British plantation
sugar. The estimate 'for British - plantition sugar is
130,000 tons„ ; Mauritius 40,000 tons, British India
65,000 tons—making a total of 235,000 tons. The lowest
- of those estimates is 230,000 tons,' and the highest
is 250,000 tons. If yog add the highest to the stock in '
hand, that gives a supply of 295,000-tons ; and if you
take • the lowest, it will give a supply of
275,000 tons. We consider that the effect of
the reduction upon sugar will be, on the whole,
a reduction of duty, so far as duty is connected with price,
amounting to I.ld. per lb„ or not qnite'so much as lid.
But if you add other charges that accompany a high
rate, of duty, we think the full effect of the reduction of
the duty will not be much short of lid. per lb.—
(Cheers.) • Because as the duty increases there are
charges incidental to that increase. Now I will give, as is
• -my-duty, the best estimate we can form as to the pro-
bable loss to the revenue which will _arise from that pro- .
posed reduction. As 'I said before, we calculate, indepen-
dent of any supply of free-labour sugar—we calculate on
a. supply •for improving the stock in hand of at least
275,000/ for the Present year:: The greatest amount of
consumption, I believe, has not been more than 207,000
tons in any one year.' We think it is probable that the
effect' of the reduction of 'the ditty may lead to an
increased consumptiott of perhaps 43,000 tons, making a
total probable inerease—of course-these estimates must
be general ; but we think the probable increase of the
consumption of sugar, in consequence of the reduced duty,
will make a total not much short of 250,000 tons. The
.consumption of, British Muscavado sugar to the extent
of 160,000 tons,. at 14s, would, give 2,240,000/. The
consumption of clayed •sugar to ' the, 'extent of 70,000
' tons, would give a revenue of 1,140,0001. ; foreign free
Muscovado sugar, 5;000 tons, at 235. 4d., will give
a revenue • of 116,709/. ; of Cloyed; or equal to
-cloyed, '15,000 tons, at 285., would give a revenue
of 450.000/. As I said before, these estimates are very '
general,
,but supposing them to approximate to the
truth, the, consequence would be that we shall
receive from the duty on tingar, in consequence
of the reduction, the sum of 3,946,000/. The
revenue derived from sugar in the last 'year was
5,216;0001. There will therefore probably be a loss in
the next year of very , nearly 1,300.000/.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, postponing any discussion on the subject of the
engiar duties until the period when it will come imme-
diately. under consideration, I proceed to enumerate the
other 'duties of which we shall proposte,is a consequence
of the cotjnnance of the income-tax, the ;eduction or

the extinction„ It will be recollected•, that, when
tariff passed, in the yelr 1842; there -o,ere
duties still retained upon .xuorts from this
exports either of •raw matetiaL-., or inanoiaettited
60'
so nearly approaching raw materials i4at -
could scarcely be, distinguished 'front+ them. A/
si)'i4
same time it,will be remembered that We 060%4
generally the duties on exports. They were 141 ebelLet,
with the exception of a few. articles, such, for
insu
as china-atone, and some others of the .same descrensoi
We propose to adopt,- asa general rule,
export duties on all articles of. his nature, and fr°11.,,0
application, of that rule we dOnot propose to except '',l4
for consumption.--(Hear, hear, and cheers froin rbe
Opposition.) 'I shall, throughout this reduction.:
or.
entirely indifferent to any temporary triumph --(I
hear, and cheers from the Ministerial bencheso„ I,e ti
my Right Hon. Friend will do that which we hel=e".
be, our duty, without caring fur such considet
But, applying this general principle to exPer, to
every description, we do not think it would he witibeipt
exempt coal from its operation.—(Hear.) We ;if°, 011
that it will be an important principle to estahus-'kti•
the abiditio
with respect to all exports there shall be no dn//iple.
able—(Cheers)--and in establishing that Pri'ioto
we think that coal ought. not to be the 5
the
exception. I am bound to say. also, that
revenue derived from coal has not equalled our e%Pt:/tot
tions. We calculated upon an amount of event
theteduction, of about.! 60,0001., whereas the net „ 0001
received in the last year has. not. exceeded 120 c). or
The export of coal bas been impeded in rouseqn Oil
the combination between the coal proprietors, an";„ett
has been the main •cause why the duty on the
(lopoi
has not been equal to our, expectations. But Geodes
test my unwillingness •to make coal an ex
00
upon the ground of its
.unproductiveness, but be o'
principle which I have stated, that there she'd" ir ;PI
duty on exports.-.--(Hear, hear.). And oust A' col
after having removed, the borden to whifht
' ld
in its export to 'foreign countries is now stlktecto the
trust that the proprietors of coal mines will On ~„4.40'
people of -this country the full advantage of that
Lion—(Hear, hear)—for there is, an impressiot:tbert
not know whether it is well-founded -or not--70 test
is a very general impression that the price of ori
to the metropolis and other parts of this cenuetrieli
higher than the price of coals sent to foreign C°00(1/41
If that be so, there could be no greater or more Po-of
justification for the imposition and .continnanns'bo co!'
export duty on coal than the corabinatioe of 10001
proprietors to obtain a greater price from the hs;ectoP,
of her, Majesty than IS demanded .from the selc the
foreign powers.—(Hear, hear.) I do not thln litootr
there could be a. greater "argument 113 E se,
(prielen,
poly than this combination amongst the P',l:"erefri
of coal mines.—(Hear, hear.) 'I trusty 03e01°
that this voluntary abandonment by the Governd of
the tax which has been so much comPlsinneoodtd
these proprietors will be met by them in a C°l.reh4ear •Vif
spirit.—(Hear, hear.) I hope we. shall en/ doloO.re"
longer of two prices—one for the foreigner, en ollite:
for the Englishman.—(Hear, hear.) I trust we /r oo
no more of combinations to restrict the suPPIY °
to
cessary an article, and to raise the price. what
Mr. HUME, and other Hon. Members-- v. -
amount ? • 00°L
bbd
• Sir R. PEELL--I have- said that it is 1213,„0,
believe I should bay,-more correctly, 116',°v„,, Icy
Sir, is the loss which we shall have in gi"7:logis,)
export duty on coals. I come now to the Or;
_.,ot
on articles of raw material used in manafee/u
amount on these is very small: I deregbich
Gentlemen have- 'referred to the paper " Ore' o,
laid upon the table preparatory to -the
lion •of the tariff. The list of -.articles t7e, obeli
merated as subject to export duties inelno, le jo
813 items, and the whole amount tag dir
upon • them is about 405,0001. or 41"tio 'tt
considering the policy of altering fixed d.,,,,c00s
terial question will arise—namely, whether I
.expedient to abolish the duties altogether+ ,°,,retinte d
would be desirable to retain some nominal oisie'iect
the purpose of protecting and ensuring the ace is;ti
a small, revenue ? We have given t'octilt
,ts great
.deal of consideration. It is" a id. neori/Ira'
an, important one. It would be absolutelol ty
in any event, to retain' s' portion if we We/14, v
quire into the import of foreign, articles ; it,
purpose of obtaining statistical information, the el it
very important to ascertain the weight and
~,j Obt4
ties of thi‘ articles imported, and next, to ge."oo Iwo(
the possibility of •fraud, hy the' articles /reel ,t
duty is ' 'coming in as artinlesseol
duty. But, upon the whole Sir, we holsitaegi
'the opinion that it would be desirable."-ret
.%og
power of examination--retaining the powerbool:ot
timing the quantity and weight—we tbint,,-Cteatt
a great reform of this kind in the rest. of e"-01106ear
duties, it would be better to abolish dutiesesr, r
than to maintain them.---(Loud cries of " le;036111.0
from the Opposition benches.) Retaining Ace one.don for the purpose of ensuring vigil° met hie'
part of the Custom-house officers in /RV. it
ing the weight and quantity, Beensif orrto
—(Hear, hear.) But if that duty notoe6,J
ought to be, merely a nominal duty, it nee,' 01 itotb'
us that the Collection of a merely amain"'
,b 0008;
bl
give that incentive to the vigilance of Cnstp.et ; leirc/ 0
oers, as if the duty were of Considerable etnen,,,t v
abolishing the duties altogether, we sliouldirb 004 gl
great number of troublesome accounts, whlccoctiP of
'
kept if any duty be continued. If fraud he P poleioteols
Appeal musk_ be made to the House,,far tlstel
establishing new precautions ; but I tau `v,o. the lc; ci
experiment • should be made of abolisbt pots
tans,
altogether (Hear, hear) -- retaining t"- that
examining into weights and quantities, Om pre:, it
deal information should be had, and taking titles ac'
dons against the importation of -dutiable 0 gre/ete'
they were- duty free: Observe, it will beo, of Sls
commedation to dispense with the oust as ood
housing • which. prevails in lion_dnh%olog
as in' other towns and cities—nrcery4; colt'
`where the amount • of duty '•°. ,o 0
Upon the whole, not being very confi"eir/atilistit
reetnesa of our calculations, we do feel i&.fbieb /183
vise the House to try the experiment' "net onoott/
*last year 'with `respect to foreign /vh-;;1 P14(0101,,
'admit those articles to which I 13-4 it is
refer without any dUty. lam assure to- re e° de
necessary, that the House will not refits! bor. )i
some of these duties.:L(Cries of " dedepotei
*articles on which we propose to ahnlis",. raW the s°,
be those generally which . are t, list ef,WOl
rials of our manufactures. The .1 oat 0011/
articles contains 430 specific Retest lin ory ijelf
will be printed, I do. not think it ref theep;
such a trespass, on the patience of th
as to read' over ' the whole e the. 44)0(i
think it therefore • '_better to re/P° Iwber°
nute consideration of theie articlestotet
'articles
; but I may state that the
so/ h'etboo;
'articles that will be absolutely swePt 000",
tariff will be no less than 430. These wilos,Olyiej, o
'fibrous materials, such as silk, hemp, told_.„.• tegisoitge,ll
be admitted at a nominal duty ; the tOY
different kinds. I propose also W eto4oslls ofit
furniture woods. A great -demand is Vhiet.)---bier.:
country for our cabinet-making--(ritgooedlo or
was highly advisable to encourage. (
vied e 30°3
• The amount of duty at present Jwel, W. old
tide is very- low, "'and we_on 513°;psirefi
rule may be applied to it.
will be eita Octl/
vegetable manures 'the duty
~e duty reged
abolished.. We propose to remove
er ore, 00,‘",e0
minerals, with the exception of coPPie steed,
to which an arrangement was ninde.o-00 ire° bolisb bo
worked exceedingly well. The
would be swith ere
in the first stages of manufacture „.eiversallP,,,hire
.IMtron all dye-stuffs and on drugseLexious.
exception of some that= were very hieb,on °ft..; Ple 1I
some other articles with respect !or" will not ...'died
derations, this total removal el.n./1 71w Well .1)17,,
;. do not 'propose materiallywe Wm!. tc, wtt
increase
estimated awe
course 10
n e sro
the general principles Wil.i.cwith regard bas 'beer/
to the . timber duties.
bhi:cro.fioutitntlieretfro
11.;:tebt;e1.-;
great. article • of foreign „r Batt
' tit ,
ill
tnipori, per .
recently a large increase In tn. elideau,Y be 11(Ii,ciro
shortthate ve eventually,
ti
umaopi r.
wt isht
ah increasing.te
had
f
received for timber 'dtities duel There °which re 01
year is not far short of 950,0 u
tuber duties' he ge'e of
category of the timber 'do,tlc3ost' cleilbetr,' 3 teeni°eo
ptincusipaercairatligclreo,uinn.drse,laatnidonwtohiteh;_;Lke;
initeoount otibfe:
coorot:colreeir:l;
In
read'half tbeC°°neeb
,itsitaicehtso..ht,hWvi
es 6.Bbll.:ebeajnyiteeptgrei;_sveewnneteco.,vou_s_ao
andbee
for:rot
rie.ore
jof
and we do think that they har7
antlxeitipte:e cOofine`o;
liar hardship, entitling the.m. touf fat , shoo' pr,figird
,sof
cto
on an article, which, in P° The The cooPerl._ eta
as an article Of raw Material
~„cee 01:,poseYto,
been gradually failing. a irsetaver'l they
10;0_0 6feis
sessions, in the export o
_roe: the stool 1%,
a formidable competition
_.1.43, our
_,OO, Jtv
of
The United States now ,u 1 rertsat.
India colonies • with this llninP ennsoqu.eelif it1.11.1;01
trade of the cooper, to°, been nisterloolOijetbirei
failure in our fisheries, how may be
ety
aTnheardauctlye
of
ftdw umpaoten sriateveuseds'
thniul_ueofiroliatisfacr,ise. arn
per cent. He corlaidfled,

that, wheo.
ere
thi
l'actured tiftw-
Alma 00
them. A
..,„

suyr-,
tbt
!e, wot iv
ers--"
b 0
is
20,00°`''
is 1 „1
, 118.,vivi;
in g!ctien iefs 1.0
the 49.0re0,
• IfACI sob 'Poj
(I°reo.biC
,aper 000.4
tt
to the
.ere r
rticles
inclU le
e 5
of dill}
>G
or i 1
410,0"
ioties
fixed 'yogi 011
tether 1 I,botl'ef et
,her; or opt,
Lainsi •sitie°,
c(191
the sobs
;en 1„It
is a di nil
iolutell t°
ye intends octl
cles ; 0.0001 0,
talon, I e
t And tb
od Ped
to go 00 o' of
articles (re' dc
articles ore ib°
re ha" 'air% er
ble--reta'_of
power 01°.130
thinkthe ceetvf,
it of olto6
(little' r, Vror
of
fining 000ir
Yigib/yvvaser
rs
seen'sl, is -0.0
r t 'cc od
does, not °o
)99ib51 on"t Pf
;
amontiettt vt v
3ould ,geb 095,1,0
ts; " blcti,e
icl be ! ,aro
br
In "1. the ",
iishing
fig
th9hot
,or
el;, so
d,"O, pre`o if
akingsrtiolo,
able gre.'ve'
ill be of 'loll
euito 0
41,
,a,zlo.n,usia
iiruhev4v eor
is °lltheo°l'
ificleo duo'
it our b °to
wbic
t. •
wool, P 0003
11 Cr f
SlaCi it i 0 bl ,
ob
ed, if re o°l The
0,0 too
ear,")'
- ote'
sh t•
berov Istwo
the of LlOl
list tbo' to
and, 911 to 00.,„e
ocessaotrbe v
of the®
of the
tyt
e
swot'
till _
!les / oatovt
fie tots fronibeie
t away de geoid
,ilo9.,hichs of
go,"tvrioet, 00
arrasthe 'bil
e uP
;rovlie,',whictet.)
fighter)
ditiegh
enew 0 tbi° ofie
vied o
the sisd
!link
on °0 en",ad
11°,11 00 oresecf
do tKith 04'0(1
ore, which
tine
19." 0 fii'd bed'
on ir° sbol'i
tbo
113 bi with ,re
rersal 'There
osi,
(ions.
other n°lo,,
ill, 0° too P.,i11;
ianoter fps,. rid
t
have
0' ee°
_
rega 130
r„
here
we tube
ho,
•° , t
fsr
ho re lentlY no, 'opt
tbe
'14)11 AD
tho
sr
.011r5e_ 000 fp
ler°
515vibiell
irr,erfl
Utibeoi the g,e„ieof
- arti;_evii,
1° tth co°ldlr
aerate t
io
irious.hecoos,l#
Fa of 11'0 of Poi/
at a D'sfrotn
oldconsiaebs°
old Ire irle,oo,
oPer01;
td
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Y V railed
e cor' The
to s
Article
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