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

1111 -8
01'4') ii..olqrailst, Y'_Atitlßf4ll"4-G, PEBA CAA V- IS, 184 g.

plates of glass having a layer between th'ent, was reduction of duty. But it is our ohjeat, while we estab-
as ten to one. The double plates t)!-b'r'ibled the passage lish the principle, at the same time viewing the state
of heat ; theref?re. to 'ell'ituraging the construction of of society,. and the magnitude of the interests involved
doeb!t, V.:int...lows, we are t!king measures to improve the the consequences upon those ir`erbsts; a a ha!,ty and
health ofthe community. The Land Commission in Trelara -rash InMrterelic'e, our avowed object is to realise the
has recently made its report I reeelrid t!tit, report utmost degree of good; wiilonit the disturbance or alarm
the day before yostrrde.y., The Cj'ommissioners had not of interests, which cannot be disturbed; and which can-
the ,li6httst notion of the intentions of her Majesty's not be alarmed, without paralysing. the indt!stry or the
'Government, but in that respect they say that few mea- country; fir, I sabibil; therefore; this proposal on the
sures will contribute more to theemnfort and improvement j fisi t of her Majesty's Government to the judgment of this

' of the loxes classes in Ireland that; 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 he 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
as 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 cant., 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, I hope that the House ,
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 640,000/. 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
he continued. I estimated that a surplus revenue, in
case the income-tax is continued, would he 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, hat I will
now state the aggregate amount pf 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 menu- .
' factures • 320,000
The estimated loss on cotton-wool
The estimated loss on auction duty
250,000
The estimated loss in glass • 640,000
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 3,490,0001. I stated before, that in pro-
posing the continuation of the ineome-tax, we pro-
posed it for the purpose of having a large
surplus revenue, but I thought it tight 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 1,305,000/.—(Hear, hear)—after deduct-
ing the loss of 122,0001., which arose from
cotton-wool last' year, and a sum of 61,0001.
On cheeps' 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 Sinless there was a reduction in she assessed taxes
to ate 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
hat have been made in the other taxes of the country.
There has beep a small reduction of some 40,000!. or
50,0001. 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,
't cannot be contended front 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-
tplied the' surplus of the present year without
making. .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 experis
meat. In the 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 hate'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
theiricome-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
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 hare 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
I void which we cannot hope to supply by direct taxa-'
don. Sir, I believe that I have now executed the task
which devolved on tee.—(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
I 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 dedi;ion 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.-L-
-(Hear, bear.) We have not acted in deference to
any popular clamour, for we have selected taxes for
reduction in r spect to which there is no clamour and
no agitation. I know it will be said that the principles
which. I. have laid down are capable of much
further extension, and that I sought to • have, in
defeseniae to those principles, thadeikttill more site live

I House. We have adopted it after careful consideration,
We recommend it on the deliberate conviction that the
sanction of it by
this Hoes tension of industry
House Will et-induce tai the
and the encouragement of
enterprise, and that the result of that extension of that
industry and the result of the encouragement of that en •
I 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,
fromte
been
The Right Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst great
cheering
Oppositionput,benches. lie spoke for
three hours and a quarter.
The
question
istion h
having
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•
lotion 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-
posed alterations.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, considering the impor-
tance of the subjects which had been brought before the
[louse, he quite concurred in what had fallen from
the Right Hon. Baronet. He would not ask fir 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
oljeetion ;' but he would say nothing on the
subject till the debate on Monday night.
Sir 11. 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 sight 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
sitle:ef the House; -but he could not allow them to-pass unno-
tired, 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 en this subject ; but he
would nevertheless content himsell by disproving it in one
single sentence, which he trusted would put. an end to this
too general and unfortunate misapprehension. The Right
Hon. 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 it.—( 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 1945 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. But 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. He did not agree in his maintaining a distinction be-
tween free-labour sugar and slue-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 ray thus much, tut 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 coal-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
lion. 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
up. He fully agreed in the principle which had
actuated the Right 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 in the
general expression of satisfaction which the Right Hon.
Baronet's speech had produced. He wished, however, to say
a few words with reference to glass. He agreed in the ex-
pediency of reducing .the duty on this article, but he thought
the Right Hon. Baronet ought to allow a drawback on the
stock in hand. If he did not, the property of the manufac-
turer would be depreciated. An additional tax was to be im-
posed on auctioneers. This, he believed, would be attended
with no beneficial result. Many persons in the country pro.
cured 'a • livelihood by following this occupation, but they
were subject to this tax, they would be compelled
to if
re in-
quish it.
notintend to
re-
duction would be made, the Government did
allow a drawback on the stock in hand.
the Right Hon.
Dr. BOWRING would have rejoiced if
Sir R. PEEL said, considering the. period when the
it was his wish that the tax should be made permanents instead
Baronet had consented to a modi
of transitory. He regretted to hear that it was the intention
naval and of her Majesty's Government to augment the
mili-
tary force of the country. fication of the property-tax.
It was quite unnecessary,
inas-
much as the exigencies of the times did not call for the pro..
posed increase.
Col. SIBTHORP regretted extremely that the Right Hen.
Paronet 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 Sibthor)
thought that it would
but have been evert-handed justice
if,
for the remission to be
made in that duty, he had 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 mischiefsarising
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 derive-
- 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.
Waklev) represented a large constituency in that metropolis,
and in their names he could not refrait. 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 be (Mr. Waklcy) was hut too much gratified for
the good he proposed to the best interests of the working
glasses. , •
• Sir R. H. .INGLIS, while agreeing in the'commendations
passed upon the Right Hon. Baronet, could not help wishing
that in a proposed continuance of the income-tax, only the
salaries which exceeded 150/. should be affected by it. 'This
would relieve a large proportion of the industrious class, who
were least able to bear its pressure, from the income-
tax ; anti he also concurred in the observations made
by the Hon. and Learned Member for Bath, that it would be
highly expedient were thole exempted from the operation of
the tax whose dependence was solely on their daily exertions,
or their healths, or on the popular applause. It was hard that
persons in public or commercial offices should pay the same tax
upon their incomes as if they bad derived them from land. It was
hard that the poorer classenhould pay in the same proportion
that di, Dyks of prorthnmberland or any other nobleman did;

and he trusted it was not too late now to give the subject their
best attention.

The 'ICS-CHANcEILOH confirmed.
Mr. WARD then rose, and spoke as follows :
Mr. Vice-Chencellor,—l am bound at once to state, that I shall
tiontlttde What I have to say by delivering in to you a formal protest
against the legality of this whole proposal. I deny that this vener-
able house has any power, with the present object in view, to decide
on the euestien, whether or not my opinions be consistent with
the 89 Article.; much mere I deny that it has any power to deprive
me of my degrees. Still I cal.nnt shut ray eye* to the fact, that,
should these proposals be unfortunately adopted, they may produce
considetable effect:---I do not say on my own personal credit, but,
what is incomparably more important—on the getseral well.being of
our Church—nay, you must excuse me if I add, on the credit
and good name of this University. (Here some •ery marked
demonstrations of applause were made in the theatre, com-
mencing, as far as could be understood, in the semicircle filled
with heads of houses, doctors, &c., and spreading partially round
the area on which the greater number of the members were stand.
ing. Mr. Ward immediately addressed himself to those who had
made the interruption thus :—" I am sure all who are here must
feel that we are engaged in a very grave judicial inquiry, and that
those who are here thus as judges will weigh with judicial gravity
what may be said On the occasion ; and that, therefore, there will
not be any demonstration of opinion or of feeling, however much
it Might be, personally grateful to me to feel that any such demon-
stration was in my favour." Mr. Ward then continued his
speech.) Feeling this, as I do, very strongly, and believing in my
conscience that this measure, as a whole, however otherwise
intended by many of its supporters, is oppressive and unjust. I
cannot bring myself to pass over any legitimate opportunity given
me to influence the decision to which this house may come; and
I shall therefore proceed to press on your attention the chief
topics which occur to me as reasons likely to avail with you for its
rejection. In speaking, then, or myself, as of an accused person,
and of members of Convocation here present as any judges, you will
not understand me to concede that any charge is se much
ise alleged against me on which I believe Convocation to have
cognisance, but only to concede, for argument's sake, what this
is not the place to dispute, in order that there may be free scope
for what I have to my. If ever there was an occasion when an
accused person was warranted in using the most urgent and cla-
morous solicitations for a full, calm, and unprejudiced hearing,
such an occasion is the present. I stand here the supporter of
doctrines which the great majority of you who claim to try me
hold in suspicion and dislike; the question which you have to
determine is absolutely and entirely distinct from the merit of
those doctrines; and yet, unless you make the greatest possible
effort to free your minds from undue prepossession, it is quite
certain that the dislike and suspicion in which you hold the doc.
trines themselves will bias you, even without your own know-
ledge, in judging of the wholly different issue which you have
to determine. I repeat—for I cannot repeat it too often—the
issue before you has no more to do with the question whether
the doctrine in my book be true or false, than with the question
whether my style of writing be good or bad, or whether my expo-
sition be dull or interesting. You have beard the proposition
submitted to you ; it is a declaratory proposition, intended to
serve as the foundation for an enactment. The declaration is,
that I have violated the engagement on which my degrees were
conferred; and the enactment, that I be deprived of those degrees.
You see at once that no theological determination is so much as
hinted at : my opinions are complained of, not as being false, or dan.
gerous, or undutiful, or rash, but as being inconsistent with my good
faith. One issue in regard to them, and one only, is placed be-
fore you—their consistency with certain formularies which I sub-
scribed when I received my degrees, and my good faith in respect
of those subscriptions. If the Oxford Convocation had any claim
to represent the Church of England, undoubtedly their disappro.
bation of my theology might have the utmost weight in determin-
ing (even then I don't see how it could determine what has been
the meaning of subscription, but) what hereafter it is to be. But
you who are to be my judges have no royal road open to discover-
ing the true sense of the Church of England. You must proceed
by the same humble path along which a private individual like my-
self proceeds : you must judge of her sense by examining her for.
faulories. All the wishes in the word cannot alter facts. Your
belief that certain doctrines are ever so pernicious can have
nothing to do with the question whether they are allowed by the
symbolical documents of the English Church; and yet I cannot
but fear that vast numbers of you mix up in your minds these ab-
solutely distinct matters, and spare yourselves the trouble of ex.
amining this question that is before you, because of your intense
conviction on a question that you have nothing to do with.
And this difficulty of procuring a fair hearing is greatly
increased •by the necessary nature of my defence—l sub•
scribe certain formularies in what I have called a non-
natural sense. Granted. But is it the intention of the
Church of England that they necessarily be subscribed in a natural
sense? If it be, then it is the intention of the Church of Eng.
land that there shall be no subscribers to them at all. Now, this
is an unpopular line of argument from its very nature; and my
m, ailing in it has been much misunderstood. The pamphlet which
I have put out in my defence I have heard characterised as dealing
merely with what is commonly called the to qUOVie argument—as
an attempt to prove that we are all dishonest together. It would
be much nearer the truth to say that it tends to prove that we are
all honest men together. I argue thus—the imponens of subscrip-
tion cannot be an abstraction or a historical personage—it must be
some existing, living person or body. The said imponens, who-
ever he is, wishes some considerable number of persons to subscribe
our formularies; but if he wished them all to be subscribed in a
natural sense, no considerable number of persons, nor any person
at all, could sign them ; therefore he does net wish them all to be
subscribed in a natural sense. It has been replied upon me, that I
at least carry the license beyond all bounds. I answer, that where
the imponens has spoken on one particular case, that case must be
judged of by the analogy of those on which he has practically
spoken; and I believe that there is no single party in our Church
holding its place there by however long and undisputed prescrip-
tion, who does not do greater violence to one or other part of our
formularies than I do to that comparatively small portion of our
formularies which appear on their surface to condemn Roman
doctrine. And it Is the minor premises in these two
syllogisms at which I have laboured in my pamphlet —I
have laboured, namely, to show that every one here
present subscribes a considerable part of our formularies
in a non.natural sense, and that the opinions which dis-
tinguish such as myself from the great body of Eng-
lish Churchmen do not necessitate so violent a distortion of the
letter of our formularies as do the ordinary high Church opinions,
or what are sometimes called (though I don't wish to use an offen-
sive term) latitudinarian opinions, or what are sometimes called
(though I don't wish to acknowledge that term either) evangelical
opinions. This line of argument, it must be confessed, is an ex.
oeedingly ungracious one, and there is more than one reason
which renders it extremely difficult for you to do it justice. In the
first place, I cannot deny that it implie•, more or less, of dispa-
ragement of our formularies, by representing them as to some ex-
tent contradictory to each other in spirit, and inconsistent in their
prima facie statements ; and we all know, whether it be a matter
of praise or blame, there is no one more geseral characteristic of
English Churchmen than that an imputation on the existing system
is the one allegation for which it is most difficult to obtain a fair
hearing. In the next place, persons who have for half their lives
held a cettain doctrine and also subscribed a certain formulary,
unless they have an unusual power of abstraction, will hardly ever
see any inconsisistency between the doctrine and the formulary;
a new doctrine is brought before them, and its inconsistency with
the obvious bearing of some article is readily discovered. So, to
take the strongest case that could possibly be brought, it might
have been thought quite impossible that any one should read out
baptismal service, and doubt that, according to the obvious and
prima Jade doctrine of that service, baptism conveys to
infants a real inward gift. Before baptism,—" Thou who didst
sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin, look upon
this child, wash him, and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost."
After,—" We yield Thee hearty thanks that it hath pleased Thee
to regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit." And yet there
have been multitudes of religious and upright men, as we all
know, who have been quite unable to see it—some, perhaps, here
present, full of indignation at my bad faith in subscribing formu-
laries in a non-natural sense. I refer to these points in no spirit of
party recrimination, but to illustrate what I mean. In like
manner, on the other side of the question, tic same remarks apply
to the sense of the article on General Councils. This, in truth, is
the account that must be given of the strange fact, that far a long
time past the two main divisions of our Church have been railing
at each other for dishonest subscriptions, each side wondering how
members of the other can reconcile it to their conscience to remain
ministers of the English Church. I believe, myself, one side has
about as much difficulty as the other; certainly, for one, I never
could adopt the language I have heard used in calling upon
" Evangelicals," as honest men, to resign their preferment. I am
far too deeply impressed with the difficulty of the whole question
as to subscription, and, moreover, lay far toe great a stress on the
circumstance that both parties have in fact beets tolerated within
our Church, to be able myself to adopt such language ; but I have
said this to illustrate my position, how very difficult it is for per-
sons to see the prima contrariety between their own opinions
and formularies which they revere, and by necessary
consequence how much they will inevitably exaggerate
that contrariety in the case of another. The argu.
ment appears, also, in a strong point of view on re.
forting to the wording of the 7th article, which says :—" The Old
Testament is not contrary to the New, for both in the Old and
New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ,"
&C. Nbw, it is held by some that, unless you view this portion of
' that article in some particular light, it means that a future state
was not revealed to the Jews. Many think one way on that sub-
ject, and many another; but the words of the article would seem
on the surface to condemn the opinion that a future state was not
revealed to the Jews. Two pamphlets have appeared, in which
the subject is considered with reference to my own supposed mo-
tives in acting as I have done in this question, What is said of
me in one of these pamphlets would be most painful to my feelings,
were it not that I am not conscious of being actuated by the sordid
motives imputed to me. The author looks upon me as a man who
trifles fearfully with truth and honesty ; warns every one against
my principles, and, at the same time, himself adopts an interprets.
tion of the 7th Article which is in the highest degree non-natural.
He actually believes that that Article, in condemning the theory
that the early patriarchs looked only to temporal rewards, does not
at all assert that they knew and believed in the doctrine of a future
state of rewards and punishment. Such, I say, is an instance
of the way in which a man, unquestionably honest himself,
can accuse me of trifling with truth, while he himself dis.
torts one of our Articles in the most startling manner. Mr.
Ward, after having obtained permission to rest for a short time,
went on to say, that he had another point to urge, and which
would show most forcibly, as he conceived, how much more easy
it was for persons to lay down that certain things were wrong,
than to define what was right. The point he referred to was,
that the Committee of the Hebdomadal Board, after having agreed
to and drawn up the propositions for Convocation, applied them-
selves to a third object—that of defining, in opposition to him (Mr.
Ward), what the true doctrine ought to be. This " test," as it
was termed, was received with such a general outcry, that they
were obliged to withdraw it, and they then substituted for it a ne-
gative test in the shape of a condemnation of No. 90.—(Hear.)
He (Mr. Ward) had three difficulties to contend against at the
present time. The first was, the way in which the matter
was brought forward. Convocation would be liable to confound
two questions—the one the merit or demerit of the opinions; the
other the honesty or dishonesty of him (Mr. Ward) in his subscrip-
tion. His second difficulty was, that his line of argwrent almost
necessarily implied a disrespect for the formularies oft he Chukrcha;t,
and his third was, that, accustomed as he was a I
rp look
the formularies as being consistent with the
t "thinrk that
he put on them, while some who heard him
interpretation inconsistent, he felt the extremkeingd"iffihgcisulety.,picainracturon.
scribed as he was as to time, of fully
knows+. Another difficulty with which
übmeiabfielle tresbepechaLtowcoithntetnhde
on this occasion was that, with allaspo.
body,
he could not but
highest respect—for the
fc !unctions
of a
judicial tribunal. Such
doubt its fitness to fulfil the.
a tribunal required habits.ofisidiciaast caanlmioisseetaos,cea,nd a regular course
to the case of the
of training. lie need only refer,
of the greatest nicety had to be
recent Irish trials. There
e. and the pointsdifficulty was felt to be so great that the
decided ripo,
up their functions to a few highly trained and fit
Peen gave up
would have been the position of the case, if, in.
persons.
stead of this, the judges had been formed from a body of even
the moot respectable members of the Protestant Association
There could be no doubt what would have been the result. It would
have been impossible to keep nut of their minds the general impres-
sion, not that they were deciding on some nice question of law, but
on a wide and large general principle. A still greater difficulty
with which he had to contend was, that the very nature of his
argument required a length of time for its development. Instead
of his having to speak within the time to which the courtesy of the
Convocation had extended his license, he would require many
hours to develop fully his views. He had, however, sense time
since circulated a pamphlet containing his general defence.
He hoped that all those who were now assembled to judge him had
read his pamphlet. But no doubt there were many who had not.
Then how was he placed ? Those persons would have had no
means of hearing what he had to say in his defence, and from the
nature of his argument and the shortness of time, he would not be
able to impress it on them at that time. After some further ob.
servations on the peculiar pesitien in which he stood, Mr. Ward
appealed to the members of Convocation on the injustice that would
be done him by their premature decision. It was impossible that
I:ParlY of them could be aware of the grounds of his defence,

Lord DUNCAN rose to express his admiration of the Budget
brmunht flrtvafd b the Right lob. tiafdfia, but he *Wild rt,-
mind him that while he granted exemptions in the case 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
I'ver, rot- lir itg,alnst. tilt?: Right Hon. baronet Thee' were
taking the country by surprise, by only allowing them tine
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 to* 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 be taken by stitprise. 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 whu 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.
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 R. 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 Hon. 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 he would but prolong a discussion which at pre-
sent was better avoided.

Mr. E. BULLER was not so enthusiastically fond of the
Iludget 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 Hod. 13ii-onet stated, in proposing the income-tax, that
it should only Mist 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 lion. Baronet not deceive himself in supposing that
the reduction of duty would increase the demands for the
articles on which such reduction had been made, to sw•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 night Hon. Baronet.
Mr. WA RBURTON 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 was
enforced, whose income was in perpetuity, all objection to the
payment of it by that class vanished altogether.—(Laughter. )
He 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,
fur 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 tke 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
Nap'.er, 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 960,0001., 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 he looked for was that the Hon. Baronet would
institute an 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 Committee of Supply WS3 postponed until
Monday, and the House adjourned at a Quarter past Nine.

THE UNEVERSITY OF OXFORD.
MR. WARD'S CASE.

OXFORD, THURSDAY EVENING.—The members of the
University poured into Oxford this morning in vast numbers,
as the hour approached for the meeting of Convocation. A
great proportion of those who arrived were men distinguished
in public life, and who came up purposely to be present at the
Convocation. The hour at which the Convocation wres to
meet had been fixed for one o'clock, and soon after that time
the theatre was filled. It is calculated that there were not
less than between 1,200 and 1,300 members of the University
present, although not more than about 1,100 voted.
Shortly after one o'clock, the Vice-Chancellor, preceded by
the bedels and other officers, and followed by the heads of
the University, entered the theatre, and proceeded to his
seat. Mr. Ward had peviously ascended the " English "
rostrum (on the left hand side of the theatre), from which
he was to deliver his defence. Among the distinguished per-
sons who either had seats or stood on the floor in the body of
the theatre, were the Earl of Romney, Lord Faversham,
the Earl of Eldon, Lord Kenyon, Lord Sandon, Lord Ashley,
the Bishop of Landaff, the Bishop of Chichester, Sir Thomas.
Acland, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Archdeacon Man-
ning, the Bev. Dr. Hook, the Rev. Dr. Moberly, the Rev. Dr.
Tait, the Rev. Dr. Saunders, the Rev. Dr. Hume Spry, Sir
W. Heathcote, Sir John Mordaunt, Dr. Phillimore, Dr. Mere-
weather (the Dean of Hereford), Dr. Pusey, Dr. Buckland,
Professor Jenkins, the Rev. R. Montgomery, Mr. Mackinnon,
M.P., Air. 314 Mullen, Rev. Dr. Jenkyns, Master of Balliol;
Rev. Dr. ingrain, President of Trinity ; Rev. Dr. Fox, Pro-
vost of Queen's ; Rev. Dr. Hawkins, Provost of Oriel ; Very
Re.r. Dr. Gaisford, Dean of Christ Church ; Rev. Dr. Cramer
Dean of Carlisle ; Rev. Dr. Hampden, Rev. Dr. Radford,
Rector of Lincoln College ; Rev. Dr. Plumptre, Master of
University ; Rev. Dr. Jelf, Canon of Christ Church ; Rev.
Dr. Norris, Principal of Corpus Christi College ; Rev. Dr.
Thompson, Principal of Edmund Hall ; Dr. Macbride,
President of Magdalen Hall ; Dr. Marsbam, Warden
of Merton College ; Rev. Dr. Bliss, Registrar of the
University
Trinity
P.
roGuoirlle;re Rev.ard ,
Seniorn et
M.A., Fellow of Oriel College, Junior Proctor; Dr. Daubeny,
Fellow of ; College, Rev.
R. 'V.FeCllhouvrrcl,
ofi
Magdalen, Professor of Chemistry, &c. ; Dr. Ogle,
Trinity, Clinical Professor; Rev. Dr. Faussett, Margaret
Professor of Divinity; Rev. Dr. Ellerton, Senior Fellow of
Magdalen ; Rev. Dr. Bandinel, Bodlev's Librarian ; Rev. Dr.
Ogilvie, Professor of Pastoral Theology; Rev. Dr. Penfeld,
Mr. Henley, M.P. ; Mr. Maclean, M.P.
The Rev. Mr. Oakley, of Balliol, minister of St. Margaret's
Chapel, London, was in the rostrum with Mr. Ward.

After some preliminary business had been disposed of,
The VICE-CtiANcELumt opened the proceedings by stating
the object for which the Convocation was held, and
Dr. Buss read the passages of Mr. Ward's book upon
which the first proposition to be submitted to Convocation
depended.
The following are the passages read by Dr. Bliss, and of
which the first proposition to be submitted to Convocation
embodied a condemnation :

P. 45 (note).—" I know no single movement in the Church, ex-
cept Arianism in the fourth century, which seems to me so wholly
destitute of all claims on our sympathy and regard as the English
Rtsforreation."

P. 473.—" For my own part, I think it would net be right to
conceal, indeed I am anxious openly to express, my own most firm
and undoubting conviction, that were we as a Church to pursue
such a line of conduct as has been here sketched, in proportion as
we did so we should be taught from above to discern and appre.
ciate the plain marks of Divine wisdom and authority in the Roman
Church, to repent in sorrow and bitterness of heart our great sin
in deserting her communion, and to sue humbly at her feet for
pardon and restoration."
P. 68.—" That the phrase 'teaching of the Prayer-book,' con-
veys a definite and important meaning, I do not deny ; considering
that it is mainly a selection Rom the Breviary, it is not surprising
that the Prayer.boA should, on the whole, breathe an uniform,
most edifying, deeply orthodox spirit—a spirit which corresponds
to one particular body of doctrine, and not to its contradictory.
Again, that the phrase teaching of the Articles' conveys a definite
meaning, I cannot deny; for (excepting the five first, which belong
to the old theology) they also breathe an uniform intelligible spirit.
But then these respective spirits are not different merely, but abso-
lutely contradictory ; as well could a student in the heathen schools
have imbibed at once the Stoic and the Epicurean philosophies, as
could a humble member of our Church at the present time learn his
creed both from Prayer-book and Articles. This I set out at
length in two pamphlets with an appendix, which I published three
years ago; and it cannot therefore be necessary to go again over the
same ground, though something must be added, occasionally in
notes, and more methodically in a future chap:er. The manner in
which the dry wording of the Articles can be divorced from their
natural spirit, and accepted by an orthodox believer; how their
prima facie meaning is evaded, and the artifice of their inventors
thrown back in recoil on themselves; this and the arguments which
prove the honesty of this, have now been for some time before the
public."
P. 100 (note).—" In my pamphlets, three years since, I dis-
tinctly charged the Reformers with fully tolerating the absence
Rom the Articles of any real anti-Roman determination, soonly
I
they were allowed to preserve an apparent one--a charge, which
here beg as distinctly to repeat."
o n Pt.be47'9e.'v;n"g(e)luicrat a be explained
sarily') ; of course I think its natural meaning
sense."
away, for I subscribe it myself in a non-natural
P. 565. "We rind, oh most joyful, most wonderful,most un-
expected ride
e Article
(observe, is
ainpplaiarnticauslawr,orhdes wcoarnd make•
nec eis_t,
dually possessing
" Three years have passed since I said plainly, that in
ed r the
og ftwi:sorlinat
isograal
deiy:
ihniancgs cycle
ht
:or
reoactafthb
mneß:od t
:rah.
a,eoa,
nnddpe doctriner
jonap sokw proposition
asked him
oc
which he
ha -Lae
subscribing the Articles, I renounce no one Roman doctrine."
exirie.csted67.sight!
vineumfibn
Ur..VTARD urged in reply that he had received permission
wv,E,ihnslgehltledhiesehr:lh(ad:d'ehd-liaveci7srs:n:dycislisipr:eech ?
ire ak in English which