The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-08 00:00:00

fSui4.l; 1,011. b ON; rUESDA:Y EVENING, APICIL 8, 1845.

itselfL audincidentally a hundred .fold to improve the
positioa of the working classes, by increasing the de-
lesof-1 tar their, labour. Ha might be permitted to state
some of the principal objections to this tax. ;If he
mistook -not, , the amount of property -annually
charged Odder • this tax • aVas -45;600,0001., while
the -actual amontst submitted. to' bear any share
of the invest,- was only 8,000,0001.. annually,
dr hot' more than 20 per cent. on the whole. The cost
of the collection of this duty amounted to as much as
-aO,OOO/.„Or about 20 per cent. of the whole duty. It
appeared to him that the greatest objection to •this tax'
was that it was a tax upon property, and upon the sub•
ject of its remissicni he would read the opinion of Sir
lienry„,larraiiell, and Mr. Wickham the present Corn-
raisironer of Stamps and Taxes. The . Right Hon.
Gentleman then read from a published report upon the
subject, in which the total abolition of the tax was advo-
cated. The first tax recommended bySir Henry Parnell
to be remitted was that now under consideration. A
similar motion to that 'which had been made by his Hon.
Friend the Member for Somersetshire was made in the
year 1836, by the Noble Lord then the Member for
Buckinghamshire (the Marquis of Chandos), and on
that occasion he (Sir James Graham) held the same
opinion • which he had that evening expressed with
respect to the tax now under discussien. He resisted
the motion of the Marquis of Chandos on precisely the
same groaricls as those upon which' he now resisted the
motion of his. Hon. Friend.; and he should now. have the
greatest pleasure in supporting the motion of his Hon.
Friend the 'Chancellor of the,Exchcquer,
. Mr. I)ARBY was 'understood to support the motion
*Of the Hen. Meinbei for. Somersetshire, but the'observa-
lions which-he made were delivered in such a very low
tow Jaf voice as to be quite inaudible in the gallery.
Mr. HUME said the question they . had that evening
to decide wasywhether they should repeal the auction-
duty, oracifiether they should apply the surplus revenue
to the reduction of the county-rates. He would ask
whether there was any tax which pressed more un-
equally than the auction-duty ? Was there any more
expensive of collection, more difficult to collect, or one
that could be more easily evaded ? He would defy any
one to point out a more objectionable tax. The great
advantage bytheremission of the-duty was, that they
would thereby get rid of one branch of the excise. They.
had already got rid of two branches and only two re-.
mained—that with, respect to soap :and 'bricks. He
hoped that..theae :Would be done away. with next year.
A -late'chaocellor. of. the. Exchequea, Lord Monteagla;
-had PrCipesed.a.redadtwo in the - duty. on glass, bat al-
,Aliceigh the redaction took place, the establishment at
the Excise had to 'be .kept up and the public in-conse-
Atience derived nohenefit from- the reduction. If, the
whole of-the duty had been taken off, as was now the
-case, the•people would have been' largely benefited. • lie•
would vote-with great pleasure for ' the Motion of the
Sight Hon: Gentled:lei-1111e Chancellor of the Eachequera
GORE Weuldsapport the motion of the Right
.Hon.. Gentleman .the Chancellor 'of .the Exchequer, -be •
eatise he thought there was no, tax which pressed so
naiiefifeabilsry (in the public as the auction duty. That
was• not only 'his own opinion, but it was the opinion of
Dr. Adam Smith and Mr. Ricardo. And not only was the
principle supported by great writers, but it was sup-
ported by many of the ablest statesmen that this coun-
try ever produced. It was supported by'the late Lord
Lansdowne who was such an able supporter of the
principles of free-trade; by Mr. Pitt; Mr. Huskisson,
Lord LiVerpool; and the late Mr. Horner, whose name
ought never to be prohounced in that House but withre-
spect: He" also thcitig,lii that great advantage would arise
frem-an equalisation, of the cost of auctioneers licences:.
Lord J. RUSSELL said it appeared to .him= =that the
Hon. Member for. Montrose .had.anistakentba objeet of
the vote to whieh•theanavere about to. corae: His Hon.
Friend thought he-was about-to give a vote ;with regard,
to county-rates;' but' there was nothing in thevidation
awhich' regarded coanty,:rates, even if the Committee did
not agree to the 'proposition 'of the Right Hon. Gentle=
Man the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The question,
as he understood it, was this:—There were various re-
missions of duty proposed; the House agreed' to, the re-
mission of the cottonscluties, to the exciae.duty op glass,'
and various remissions of the Customs' duties, and now
there:was a proposition made for the remission the'
auction duty, which, according ao,the •statekment of the
Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury,
would reduce the surplus to about 90,0001. Now; if that
were the case, it was quite evident, as stated by his
Hon. Friend 1.. a3aring), that there could be no remission
of other duties during the present session, if the Com-.
mittee . agreed to the proposition_ in the hands of the
Chairman.—(Hear, hear.) . .The question then„ was,
whether the Government proposed the, very best re-,
.mission,of duty,• or whether there might- not be any-
thing elie moreworthy the consideration of the House.
The House showed no want of assent to the prop:
sition of the Government, 'because the .great lutes of
the -House had already agreed to it. But he owned a
proposition had been. made to which- be would wish
to give _ his iSgeril on another occasion. He meant the
propdsition made by his Hon. Friend, the Member for
Dumfries, to take off,.the duty on butter and cheese.—
(Hear, hear.) -He thought that a reduction of the
duty on butter would be a most advisable reduction, and
he.did not think that butter being fit for human food,
would be a fatal or decided objection against it.—
(Laughter.) --With—adkard to_ the duty, on cheese like-
wise, it might be remitted-With. great Itdatintage. He un-
derstood that his Herr Friend proposed a. reduction of 50
per cent. on that article. The amount of duty Oq
those" two articles was about 260,0001.,
.and. they might,
therefore,•reckon a- loss of not less than 120,0001.-to the
revenue, if the proposition of his Hon. Friend was car-
ried. But if the propositicin of the - Government were
carried he would hardly feel justified in votipg for such
a reduction with only a surplus of 90,0001. The Right
lion. Gentleman the late President of the Board of
Trade said that the state of the revenue was the only
reason against the reduction of those duties. He said
the duties were excessive and absurd—at least he said
they were not reasonable and could not be defended.—
(Hear, hear.) When, therefore, the revenue was able
to afford a reduction on those duties, they might calcu-
late upon the concurrence of the Right Hon. Gentleman,
and hia.(Lord-J. Rua'selPa) wish was, that the revenue
nsightbe in such.a state-as% to enables-the Right -Hon;
Gentleman to vote for such • a.' reductiOn. After
'-the tWta us was rechteed ;.-the "anicint • of - the
auction duty , the surplus remaining would
too small to of any further ieduCtiols,
and he confessed, for one,. though , it Might. • be-
am unpopular doctrine in limit House, that.he would.
rather see a greater surplus of revenue than.the Right,
Hon. Baronet opposite proposed to leave, especially-now;
tbat,they .had • that disagreeable tax—the property aid
income-tax. He admitted that the surplus of 90,006/.
might be sufficient if the state of the country. prosPered,.
supposing the trade 'adVanced—(Heart...hena)
,hear- but, '
adverse circumstances, he would like to have' more- of 'a
-margin itittrathe Right Hon. Baronet proposed to learaa
thvefote:if the Right Hon. Gentleman proposedan re-
'cructaii of the soap duty he (Lord.sT. Massa) could net
'vote fbr the reduction, because he would liardlylikes to
;reduce the surpaus -mere than, it was already-reduced.
If, taws, the present motion was carried, he-owned he
'triad not give his vote for the proposition of his Hon.
Friend, the Memberfor. Dumfries, or support any'further
reduction of -taxation during the present session: He
bad thus • stated the' 'grounds upon which he Would
give - hi'S 'Vote, though he' did not. suppose they
would be agaee able to the Hon.' Member for :Dorset,
whoae views were so. very different from his (Lord John
Russell's.). He would not' say a word with respect io the
'auction duly but even if the lion. Member fonDeaset-
.shire succeeded. in.. his proposition,- he did not think he
would make much by it, as he thought the Chancellor of
the:Exchequer would be -much more likely to keep the
amount of the auction duty than apply it in the manner
in- which the Hon. Membek for Dorsetshire would wish
to have it applied.—(Laughter.)
• Sir• R. PEEL -said'he agreed in some of the. propo-
sitions of the Nolale Lord. lie agreed with hinain thinking
thai not a word was to be said in favour of the auction
duty.—(Laughter.) The Noble Lord resisted the repeal
of it;but he had the dandeur to admit, that not-a word
was to be said in favour of it.—(Laughter.) He hoped
that Hon. Gentlemen would bear that in mind when they
were going to give their votes, because the Noble Lord
who was sohigh annuthority, admitted thitCnot a word'
-could ba saidart favour of 'it. The Noble Lord-also said.
-that 90,00/. was too small a surplus, and when the
-House affirmed' the present proposition of the Govern
.ment with 'rearseet to the auction duty,. he would
most cordially concur with the Noble Lord in the
opinion that it would be quite impassible to
agiee - to any other • reduction.--(Loud laughter.)
:He rejoiced to hear the Noble toad had taken- up that
position, because he could count on his'ebialial support.
laugh.) He rejoiced that he could cordially unite
With'the Noble Lord in resisting, any other prepositiona
for.-the' redtictien:nf, taxation which might come before
them. lle hoped that gentlemen nu his (Sir Robert
Peel's) side of the house would recollect what were the
objects of the,Noble ,Lords---(Hear.) • His Hon. Friend
(Mr. Bankes)smightssee that ho would get' nothing by
his motien, ferif Hon 'Friend succeeded in prevent-
ing, a4reduction-of • the rotation duty, he (Sia R. Peel)
would -certainly be disposed to agree with- the Noble
Lord, thinking it better to keep the 395,000/."auction
duty' in 'the Excheqtaer. His Hon. Faiend, -therefore;
not be likely to derive thatadvantage
from his ~proposal Which he supposed. -He advised
those who !vexe interested in the protectiOn -of other
duties tOyecolleet if the Noble Lord succeeded in resist-
ing the repeal of the auction duty that he proclaitned he
weeldahert Vote for-a reduction of 'the duty On" butter
and eheese.(Hear; hear, and a laugh.) 'Now he would
beapof the House 10-consider what the auction- tax wai.
It was a tax decidedly. in favour of persons possessed Of
laige property who 'wished to sell it, as compared with
the poorer class.—(Hear, hear.) 'ln point of fact the
auction tax, as far as large populations were concerned,
was a device for enabling the rich man to ascertain the
real value of his property.—(Hear, hear.) They only
got a tax on 8,000,000/, though 45,000,0001. of property
'were sold, and yet they had an immense establishment.
—(Hear, hear.). What. was the course ptirsued ? A
persoa who, had an estate worth 100,0001. and wishing
to dispose of it, put it up foi sale by
_auc-
tion, but did- --not • it. -He- thus as-
certained what was.. the full value the
-estate, after competition, not a penny of, the. tea was
paid, though he had all the advantages of the law and
the 'Excise establishment for the purpose of ascertaining
the value of his estate ; but the man whose property
was . sold through distress had no such advantage.=
(bear, hear.) And when they considered the number of
exceptions to the tax; and to the principle upon which it
Was-made, he would say that not only a word could. not
be spoken in favour. of it, but a volume might be written
against it. His Right Hon. Friend had stated the case
of an incurnbered proprietor of a property, worth
106,0001, which was exposed to auction. The incum-
brances were 90,000/—the demand for payment was
pressing-a-the estate was sold by auction. 100,0001. was
raised from the sale; the vendor had to give ,10,000/ to pay
off the ineumbrances; .he received the remaining 10,000/
out •of. which . he was to pay 3,606/. to' the Exciie.—
.(tlear, hear.)' -Now, take the me of .6 permisping

one, and if Government persisted in imposing it he
should divide the House.
• Mr. PARKER said the tax of 151. would produce so
little to the revenue that it was not worth the Govern-
ment's while to retain it. _

property of the same value upon which there was no in-
cumbrances. He wished to sea ,it, not because he was
distresied,'but because heperhaps,
willed, _to buy prO-
perty.in another. County.. What did he do? He put up
the property for sale, but only that he might ascertain,
by competition, the value of the property. In this case
the revenue did not get a penny of the tax, whilst the
individual had all the advantage of an extensive estab-
lishment to ascertain the value of the-property. Now
was that fair ?—(Hear; hear.) Then could anything be
:more advatitageous to agriculture—to agriculture, -above
all things, and to a commercialcountry—than to have a
free circulation of property. He could not conceive any-
thing more advantageous than an unrestrained power of
transferting' property; without the interference of the
excise, and the . enabling of every person to get the
highest sum for his property which it would realise.—
(Hear, hear.) As far as it oparated on the person who
was obliged to sell his' prciperty for distress, it was most
unjust. He believed they would receive great social
benefits-from a free circulation of property. Seeing that
the Noble Lord had nothing to say in favour of the tax,
he hoped the Committee would join with the Govern-
ment in remitting this tax, though he was bound to add;
as to the remission of it, the surplus left would be
less than was desirable.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
Mr. F. BARING would wish to know whether the
Right Hon. Baronet would say that this tax would
attach in 'MSC of a distress.
Sir PEEL said that he meant to say was that
the tax operated most unjustly in the case of poor
persons, who were obliged to sell their property, as com-
pared with those who made use of their establishment
merely to ascertain the value of their property.—(Hear.)
Colonel SIBTHORP said be thought the Government
might take off the duty on fire insurance, which was a
most injudicious duty,
with more advantage
auction duty. He was opposed to the propositionthan the
Of the
Government, and he did not altogether like the proposi-
tion ; but,' of the two, he would rather prefer voting for
the proposition of his Hon. Friend than for that of the
Government.
Mr. COBDEN said that it was not his intention to say
one word upon this subject till he had heard the speech.
of the Right Hon.:Baronet. _What did the Right Bon.
Baronet say ? Do he; " vote-with-the Hon.
Member, for Dorsetshire against the proposition of the*
Government; forif-yeu.leave the auction duty:as it i's;
andlaye aundditional .surplus. of 800,000 L, the Noble
Lord the Member for London will then vote far a reduc-
tionef the duty on butter and cheese, and that is your
interest," for that was the word of the Right Hon. Gen-
tlemen. - Why; had he (Mr:•Cerbden) ever said anything
so bad ? Did he ever say, "You areinterested inbutter
and cheese V.'—(Hear, beat,- a'nel laughter.) He. had
said, indeed, in _Qc?vene-garden,
,that they sot up aeshop of
their,iawn,.andwould not allow* opposition shop on the
same' side of the---street-;-•butrhe never said they were
cheesernongets, or asked,,theni to vote in a particular way
hecituSe_they were so.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He
did not tuiderstand how, especially on the principle of the
Hon.'Member for Dumfries, the House could give its
support to a protection to butter and cheese.
Sir T. ACKLAND conceived that the Hon. Gentle-
man who had just sat down quite misapprehended the
question, but if they were to consult the real' interests
of several classes, instead of one, they would find that
the intelligence, and truth—and the interest of truth—
were all on the side of the proposition of the Right
Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel). He conceived that the re-
mission of duty which the Right Hon. Baronet had pro-
posed was altogether in favour of the landed interest—
'their PrOminent, their peculiar, that especial interest, to
which he' es the owner of an estate, belonged. If they
consulted the exports and imports, they would find that
this remission-of. duty-altogether told in their favour ;
and be tholight that-tbelanded interest would be blindly
sensible to their Own .advantage,-- if they refused to ac-
cede to tfie proposition which the Right Hon. Baronet:
had made them.-i--(1-1ear;„heat.)' As it struck him, the
great inducement held'out 'by'the Hon. Gentleman who
"had just sat dOwn was,' that the imposition upon .the
sale of the minor articles Of produce was remitted at
the expepie of the greater articles. Now, it was
a. great reas.ou. -with ,him, that one of the
chief - motives which should induce the landed
interest was, that-they would by this means be enabled
to dispose of their, property to the best advantage. The
ann. Member had said? that in the selling of an estate
worth. 100,0004 the proprietor' would save at least'
3,000/. in auction duty. Now he conceived that this
was an advantage. which ought to be properly estimated-
by thelanded interest. The Hon. Member for Dorset-
shire had, in his opinion, misconceived the question; and
that in voting against the proposition of the Right Hon.
Baronet, he was clearly ping against the interests of
the class he professed to serve. There was no class, in
his -estimation; who were more likely to be benefited than
the landed interest. He believed that the remission of
'these duties would not lead to any fraudulent evasion of
the duty_ to Government, but that, on the contrary-, it'
would' tend 'very largely to increase those revenues which
the remission of those duties seemed apparently to de-
stroy. He trusted, therefore, that the community would
recollect that this was a remission by which the public
were to be largely benefited. He therefore begged the
attention of the House to the particular points which the.
Right Hon. Baronet especially wished to lay before
them, and he trusted they would proceed, as they no
way militated against the interest with which he, as a
landlord, was intimately connected.—(Hear.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE pia that he certainly conceived
that the Hon. Baronet -who had just sat down was
wrong in.his position, and that the impression which
the Right Hon: Baronet intended to convey was just
such as the Hon. Member for Stockport had represented.
It was not a mere question of butter and cheese—
(Hear, hear)—there was something more than that. He
was not prepared to pass an euFogium upon her Ma-
jesty's Government, but he did conceive that the remis-
sion of those duties was a boon for which the country
might well be thankful. He should, on that account,
vote against the motion of the Hon. Member for Dorset-
shire for imposing duties on butter and cheese.—(Loud
cries of " Divide, divide.")
The House then divided, when there appeared—
. • For the motion of the Chancellor
• of the Ekchequer .... . .. . . .•^ . .. 167
Against it • . - - 3 O 3O
- • MujorityfOr :•• —.437
• Mr:: HUME said that he had :n6 :desire to interfere
With the- preceedinga of so resPeciablea body. of =en as
the auctioneers of. Eegland,,but he xouldnot conceive
why-there should be a veriety, of Dbaracterin the nature
of tWgoods which were to be-disposed of, and he thOught
tfaat ifthey.imposed a penalty; unequally, they would be
doing a manifest injustice to Untimbet of those till-AM
hitherto paid a lower rate. If an individual were pos-
sessed of'an estate, and chose to throw the-property'or
the estate away, he might use the. means of selling it by
auction ; but gill there was'a; manifest injustice in the
obligations-Which imposed a variety of duties upon pro-
perty of. a private character and he-would suggest that
there should be-one uniform duty after the rate of 7/..105.•
'for the licences.: . .
1-14.wgs said that he thought due consideration.
had notebeen used, and that the small and far more nu-
merous class of auctioneers—those who were residents
in the country, and_ whose interests had been entirely
overlooked, ought to be brought into consideration. At
present they were ranged among the first class au&
tioneers, who being entitled to sell wines, spirits, and
. estates, were obliged to take a licence which cost them 30/.
• The Commissioners of Excise recommended that if
'there were a general auction licenct, it ought to be 101.
annually. More licences would be,;taken out at 10/.
than 151., and the revenue be conseoently m
reat lotuore he.ns-
,e-
.tice.on alargehody of men, compelling, the small auc-
tioneers to pay the same duty as large ones, which would
fited. The Government would commit a g
'give the latter a monopoly in this description of busi-
• pess. Upon these grounds he seconded the
the basin* in ,thehandi of • res
Sir R. PEEL said that the 'required amount of duty
preposition.
would have at least one salutary_effect—that of placing
• The Hop., Member had.alluded to tha-recommendation
orthe Commissioners of Excise,, but that was made when
they Only.:peoposed a modification of the duty, whereas
peetable auctioneers.
the_Governmentwere now about to remove the auction
• duty altogether. They. were • about to give
a great
-stimulukto'this business, and he thought after all that
the proposal of the Government was the most equitable.
•The
_Government sought but a very trifling compensa-
tion for the great amount of revenue sacrificed.
Mr. HUME inquired the amount of auction
eeiv6dduring the, last year, and the number of auc-
tioneers.who paid:duty ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
duty re-
number of-auctioneers was 3,900, and the amount of
cy h
sold,
no
ledr y,
each
thh e.
varying l m e a
in-
oi
plain,cne ene cr es
-duty (as we °understood it) 70,5.20/. Hon. Members
Who had spOlteri in thin debate seemed to forget the
Cumbrous and •cotaplicated:
for the difleten't.
hmount, and on a a specaiufitcheteil
articles
snt scale. For. all this
- •
sure. • Anctioneers were Obliged to pay
proposed. • not know why •
simple, aid 'uniform Ranee, tax of the Government was
Mr. -WII4LIAMS did
should.; be. advantaged more than any other class of
tradesmen...
WARBURTON. thought it would be but right to
-'Mr..
state the numberef theanetiopeers who, had taken out
the licerice, -and the aggregate anabunt paid into the
-venue. - had looked atthe report furnished bY the
found that die
Commissioners, and be ~. greater No of
'witnesses .were Edinburgh auc t
aneers. This sum of
15/. might seem a moderate duty to
y
them or to other
metropolita n. auctioneers,
'but the- House must bear id
mind that the tendency of the duty would be to drive
the:trade of the country into the larger towns. He
thought the licence shoUld be rated, at IN.
Mr.-BELLEW sup Ported the proposition of the Bon.
Member (Mr. Hume.) .
After a 'few'fewwordi from t he CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, .
d a letter from one
Lord DUNCA,N rea • of his consti-
tueots, which- stated that be should be obliged to give up
business if this high rate of duty were imposed. _The
town of Bath contained some fifty auctioneers who had
been duly licensed, but of that number only four had
paid the higher duty. He thought -GoVernrnent should
accede to the-return requested by the Hon. Member for
Kendal;failitig-vehich be (Lord Duncan) should certainly
vote ,with the Hon. Member for-Montroee.
Lard WORSLEY Was of opinion that this high rate
of duty would be found so .oppressive that auctioneers
could only exist in the great towns, and those in the
country,• who, required to .-by auction, would be
obliged to bring one, at a great expense, from the county.
•
town. He thought this. would be adding toonstead of
taking from, the tax.--(Hear, hear, from Col. Sibtlforpo
TURNE-13, thought 'the Government melsnra
Would be warmly•suPported, and instead of injuring the
trade he,thought it wouldelevate the character, Of the
,
tradeimen.
Mr. HUME said the Right Hon. Gentleman. •itie
Chancellor of the Exchequer had said 'that the aide:;-'
tioneers were now relieved from a . great .responsibility,
as heavy security was at present required from them.
• Who imposed that responsibiltiy--who required that se-
cutity?.. Why the. Government-for the protection of its
'revenue. Lie thought the-131. -duty -4 iziot-ootbital,

Mr. RICE would be quite ready to agree to the pre-
sent proposition of the Government, if the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would promise that in the Committee he
would give the information of which he had spoken.
The CHANCELLOR of the' EXCHEQUER said
he proposed to give all the information in his power.
In reply to an observation from Mr. GISBORNE,
Sir R. PEEL said it had been proposed to reduce the
duty to 71. 10s. It appeared that this reduction would
have too great an effect in reducing the amount of the
productiveness of the tax, but that 101. would increase
it above the amount to be derived from 151.
Mr. lIUME asked, would the Right Hon. Baronet
agree to 10L now 2--(A laugh.)
Sir R. PEEL said he stood there not for the bitterest
of any party but the public, and if it were shown that
lb/. would produce more than 151., he would be prepared
to take that into consideration.
Mr. WARBURTON wished the question were settled,
as a deal of property was now locked up, and kept from
sale by the delay of, the measure.
Mr. HAWES was of opinion that la would produce
more to the revenue than 15/.
Mr. HUME—And 51. more than either.—(A laugh.)
Sir R. PEEL said that he would not now state what
the amount should ultimately be fixed lit. Inquiries
were'in progress, and he would at'a future stage be able
to state to the House. the result. •
Mr. HUME said it was quite clear that the Govern-
ment had proposed the increase to 151. without any in-
formation whatever. He really hoped the Right Hon.,
Baronet would now consent to fix the amount of the
duty at 71. 10s.—(A laugh.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER . said,
that the Hon. Gentleman was bidding against himself.
—(A laugh.) The Hon. Gentleman first proposed
7L 10s., and then he suggested 51., and now ho went
back to the old offer.—(A laugh.) He (the Chancellor
of the., Exchequer) would consider the question, and
would lay before the House all the information he could
obtain.
. .
Mr. WILLIAMS thought that ,10L would be a rea-
sonable medium, and hoped the GovernMeni would as-
sent to-it. • - • - •
Lord WORSLEY said that if the Committee divided
he would vote, for la But in ,the present imperfect
state of their information, it would be better not to
divide in the'present stage.
Mr. PLUMPTRE thought in the conflicting offers;
Government might very well knock down the tax at.lo/.
Me. BROTHERTON thought that, as they were
working in the absence of All information, and as the
measure was one of experiment, 101. would be a fair com-

promise.
The CHANCELLOR of the; EICCILtQUER was not
prepared to give the House infordation either as to the
number of auctioneers altogether, or as to the number
of those who paid the higher duty.
After a desultory conversation, which was•much inter-
rupted by laughter and cries of " Divide," strangers were
ordered to-withdraw. As we were leaving the gallery,
we understood
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to say
that he had not yet had an offer of ten guineas.
Mr. HUME—Oh, but guineas are not a legal tender.
Upon our return to the gallery. we found that, no
division had taken place, the original motion having
been. withdrawn.
The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported
progress.

CUSTOMS DUTIES (GLASS).
The House then went into Comthittee on-the Customs'
duties, and
Mr. SPOONER .-mOved that id alteration should
take place in the time when the. protecting duty on glass
should cease. It was proposed . that they 'Should termi-
nate immediately, but his proposition was, that that
operation should not take place until the sth of April,
1846. He thought it unfair that the glass manufac-
turers should be compelled to meet the competition from
foreign glass manufacturers when they were not prepared
to do so. Although he believed the glass manufacturers
of this country need not fear anything from competition,
ultimately, still they Would,be seriously injured by being
called upon to compete with- foreign manufacturers
immediately. In 'the case of sheet glass, which was
a most important article, mannfacturers in this
country were obliged to employ French manufacturers,
because the manufacturers here, in, consequence of the
duty; could not afford to make experiments. The con-
sequence was, the English manufacturers were under
contracts to employ parties for some time to manufacture
that article. The immediate removal of the protective
duties in that respect would cause them great loss.
There could be no doubt that the Right Hon. Gentle-
man had given a great boon to the, glass manufacturers
in this country by taking off the duty, but that boon
would be thrown away by taking off immediately the
protective duty. He hoped his Right Hon. Friend the
Chancellor of the Exchequer would consider the subject.
He moved that the line be altered to " On and after the
sth of April, 1846."
Lord INGESTRE had been requested by his consti-
tuency to make a similar request, and he hoped the
Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would consent to extend the time.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not
quite certain whether the effect of the Hon. Gentleman's
proposition was not to augment the duty the House had
already agreed to, because, if the Hon. Gentleman's
amendment were agreed to, it would continue the duties
for a period of twelve months. But, independently of this,
the motion was inexpedient in ether respects. The duty to
the extent of one halfpenny per lb. had been retained on
glass imported from Belgium, whose manufacturers were
formidable competitors with the British, and he had al-
'ways understood till that night that this course was
likely to give satisfaction to the trade generally.
The amendment was negatived without a division.
The remaining clauses were then agreed to and the
House resumed.

The Chairman then reported progress, and the report
was ordered to be brought up tomorrow.
SUPPLY.
The order of • the-day was then put for, the House
goihg into' a Committee of Supply to vote the navy
estimates.
Mr.- HUME protested that it was not fair at that late
hour, to go into a.. Committee of Supply.
Dr. BOWItING intimated that several Hon. Members
had left the llntve on the understanding that these esti-
mates were riot to be brought forward that night.
-Mt. HOPE thought the House could bate no objec-
tion, even, at that late hour, to vote the estimate for
victuals. •
'Sir ROBERT PEEL,howeyer; secingit, was the wish
orthe HoUse not to proceed,. consented to.the postpone-
ment of" the Committee. . , •
ThO' CHANCELLOR- of the EXCHEQUER ap-
pointed Wedneidiy -for going into Committee.
Captain PECHELL could-hardly believe it was the in-
tention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to take the Navy
Estimates on Wednesday evening. ~
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had no
objection to do so, if the Hon. and Gallant' Member
wished it. • ' - •
Captain PECHELL-had held a seat in the House for
nearly ten years, during which they, had never taken
the nay.y -estimates on a Wednesday ;. and he had no
wish to depart from this rule now. .
- MUSEUMS BILL.

The House then went into a COmmittee on the Public
Museums It, went through Committee, and was
orderato be reported to-morrow: .
GLASS' BILL.
The Glass Excise Duties' Bill also went through
Committee, and was ordered to be reported to-morrow.
The report of. Supply was received and agreed. to.
The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were
read a second time.
INDIA EXPORT DUTIES.
Mr. HUME wished to know if he was at liberty to
DA the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Jocelyn) if he could
place before the House a copy of the draft of the Act
imposing import duties on goods sent to:Judi&
Lord JOCELYN said he had no objection to produce
the draft Act. As to the Governor-General of India he
(Lord Jocelyn) could only say he acted in. perfect ac-
cordance with the directions of the of Controul.

--.. ...... ....„.._ _
Mr. M. GIBSON hoped the Government woiald re-
consider this subject before they had finally decided on
the India Import Duties.
The 'other orders of the day were then•disposed of,
and the House adjourned at Twelve o'Clock..

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
.tioris'oF..oll.DS, April 7.

ROBERT ALLEN (A PAEI7E4), v. ,3P.P.HERSON,. TOMKOTS, AND

TIIOIKAS ALLEN.

In this case, which had not concluded when we went to
Press yesterday, the further arguments were postponed to
Monday next.

• COAT. IVFAILIEET.;
Prices per ton at the close of the market :—Adair's
15s 6(1;7 Buddre's West -Hartley, 16s ; Cares' Hartley, 16s ;
Chester Main, 15s 6d ; - Davison's West Hartley, 16s ' Elli -
son Main, 14s 9d; Hasting's Hartley, lAs 6d; Holywell
Main, 16s-6d; Nelson's West Hartley, 16s; New Tanfield,
14s 6d ; Ord's Redheugh, 14s ; Havensworth West Hartley,
16s; Tpwnley, 15s; W!mt_ Hartley,- •16s:; West Wylam,
15s 6d ; Wylam, 15s ; Wall's-end—Gibson,'l6B.9d ; Kit=
litigworth? 15s 6d ; Iy.alker,,lss
.6d Hetton; 19s;
NortliHettOn. Lyons, .16s 90 Riehmonds6s 6d; : Russell's
Hetton, 18s *gd ; Ste Wart's 19s; Caradoc,-' 18s 6d ; High
Tiorneley, 16s ; South 1 kellpe' 17s 6d ; Adelaide,: 17s 9d ;
Barrett; 16S ;', Eden Hartlepool, 15s ; :Gordon, .15s; South
Durham, 16s 3d ; Tees, 18s ; .Anthracite, 18s 6d ; Cowpen
Hartley, "."16s ; Hartlex Netherton; 168.---Ships ar;
rived 19. -

•
„ .
[ADVERTISEMENT.] FIFTY • RUNNING ULCERS
CURED IN Six WEEKS BY Hal,O.WAli's PILLS AliD-Obrr-
NEXT .!:--Estract of alAter, dated Tobago (West Indies)
Feb, 4, 1845 :—‘ To Professor Holloway, Sir, I hive the
pleasure to Worm you that your astonishing medicines
have-eured a gentleman in this island, who had, I believe,
about fifty- rill:Ming ulcers about his' legs, arms, and
liddy,.who-had tried - all other medicines before the ar-
rival of yours, but.. 'all. of which did =him no good ; but
yours cured him in about Six weeks, and, he is now quite
restored to health'and vigour,-,--(Signed) John, Martin;
Chro nielu-otfice, Tobago.", Sold at Professor Holloway's
Establishment, 244, Strand (where ailviee may be bact
gratis), and by almost all respectable Vendors of Medi=
tine throughout the civilised world.
It is onderstOod to.be. the intention of Sir C. Nat
-pier to bring the case 'of the masters of the navy before the
J-lonse;•ote the introduction of the Navy Estimate& The
1-fiCieliey,efthese efficere is generally acknowledged, but from
soniS causd, Which is by no means intelligible; they are coin.,
paratWely Ant' out (rein the benefits due to long and faithful
service and 'it is to. be hoped that measures will be
aciOptect g ace ' this valuable class
eqiiitable-pesitiOn their Profession.' Aof officers in a more
:suggestion has been
made fOr lacing's:misters 'bn tlio-sliSe of lieutenants' which
would bring filo*: within ithe scope of the patronage of he
Crown. - Tha whole'cs6e.• appears to deserve the best con-
iideratiou of the q9yerpment and the Legislature.—Times.