The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 12, 1844.

for Stockport, whether it was h's intention to proceed
to-morrow with the motion of which he had given
notice, for a Select Committee to inquire into the ef-
fects f protective duties on imports upon the interests
of the tenant-farmers and farm-labourers in this
country ?
Mr. COBDEN said, that thinking it would be in-
convenient to proceed with the motion to-morrow,
it had been his intention to postpone it ; but finding
that, if he did so, there would be no chance of its
coming on before Easter, he had determined to adhere
to the notice.

Mr. MONCKTON MILNES gave notice of a
motion for a lithographic print of the arch to be
erected in front of the British Museum.—(Laughter.)
THREE-AND-A-HALF PER CENTS. AN-
NUITIES ACTS.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, that the Order of the Day for
bringing up the Report on those Acts be read,
Mr. HINDLEY asked the Right Hon. Baronet
opposite, when he would be prepared to lay the papers
respecting Otaheite on the table of the House?
Sir R. PEEL said they were in the course of pre-
paration, and would be laid before the House as soon
as possible.
The Order of the Day was then read, and
Mr. GREENE brought up the Report.
On the question that the Report be received,
Mr. HUME said that, as he was not present when
this question was brought on, he was anxious to make
a few observations connected with it, and which, in
his opinion, the House ought to take into considera-
tion. As far as he was able to judge, the Right Hon.
Gentleman had made a very fair arrangement; he had
performed the duty which he owed to the public and
himself in an excellent manner, and with a kindly
feeling to the parties concerned ; but what he wished
to press on the Right llon. Baronet at the head of
the Government was this, that the income of a large
portion of the community would be considerably
lessened. The situation in which the public would
be placed was extremely unsatisfactory. The estimates
were kept up to a war establishment, but the means
of income to the people was reduced. Ile thought
the public had a right to expect the diminution of
taxes that interfered with industry. He did not wish
to throw any difficulty in the way of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, but he was anxious that the public
generally should profit by some measure which Govern-
ment ought to introduce. He took it for granted, as
a matter of course, that the income-tax would be
put an end to after next year, and he thought that
the estimates might and ought to be reduced
to a peace establishment. He felt convinced that
unless the House took the course he had pointed out,
they would create great dissatisfaction.
The resolutions were then read a second time.

The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER
rose and said, I am anxious to correct a misappre-
hension which prevails with respect to the conditions
made applicable to the Three-and-a-Half per Cent.
Annuities of the year 1818. I find from those or-
gans of communication to which we all have access,
that I was understood to say that the Government
was limited, and that they could only pay off that Fund
at 500,000/. at a time, and that in consequence it
would take a long series of years before the reduction
could take effect. Now, the law does not bear
that construction, and it is not what I stated. The
construction of the law is, that the Government
having given six months' notice, may pay off the
whole if they please, but must not pay off at
one time a less amount than 500,000/.
The resolutions were then agreed to.

The CHANCELLOR of —the EXCHEQUER
then moved that the Speaker give notice forthwith,
that the Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Annuities of the
year 1818, created by the 53d of George 111., be paid
off and redeemed.--Agreed to.