The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-28 00:00:00

intentions of the Government. The second reading of
the Bill of the Hon. Member for Argyleshire was fixed
for the 15th of June ; there would be ample time before
then for the Government to consider, and to decide,
whether it would be expedient on their own responsi-
bility for them to introduce any measure for the regula-
tion of the affairs of the Church of Scotland.
DISTRESS IN PAISLEY.

Mr. HUME wished to ask the Right hon. Baronet a
question. A Committee had been appointed in Paisley
for the purpose of receiving subscriptions, in order to
afford relief to the unemployed poor of that town and
neighbourhood. By a paper which he held in his hand
it appeared that by order of the Government, an agent
or commissioner had been sent down to that place,
who undertook the mode of supplying the unemployed
with money or provisions, and that in consequence the
local subscriptions had ceased. He wished to know if
such was the case?

Sir R. PEEL—Since that time her Majesty's Govern-
ment had been in constant communication with the local
authorities of Paisley on the subject of the distress
prevailing there, which, he regretted to say, had been
exceedingly severe. Government had not interfered
with the local subscriptions, but they apprehended thr.t
the distribution of the local funds was not conducted on
the best principle, and they had sent down- a
person to watch over its distribution, and see
that relief was afforded according to the prin-
ciple on which the poor of this country were
relieved. One of the modes in which relief
was granted, was by giving an order on
the retail dealers of provisions in the town. It was
clear that such a mode was very open' to abuse.
Ile would take that opportunity of earnestly recom-
mending the object of the subtcription. The purport of
it was to afford relief to the distress which prevailed in
this country and in Scotland—a country in which the
provisions for the relief of the poor were very defective.
The smallest contributions would tend to diminish the dis-
tress which unhappily prevailed to such an extent ; and
he could not but express a hope that the call of her Ma-
jesty would be generously responded to by all classes.
He trusted that the sympathy justly and honourably
felt for the suffering which had followed the last calamity
in Hamburgh would not prevent parties from contribut-
ing also largely and liberally to the alleviation of the
misery which prevailed in our own country.
• Mr. HUME then rose to move for an account (as we
understood) of any sums sent down to Paisley, for the
relief of the poor in that town.—(Cries of " No, no.)"
Sir H. PEEL said that he hoped the House 'would
not accede to such a motion. Some temporary advances,
in consequence of the exhaustion of local funds, had
been made in favour of the inhabitants of Paisley, but
the public would not suffer from such advances. Ile
trusted that the House would not call upon the Govern-
ment to make disclosures which could be productive of
no benefit, and which could only uselessly interfere with
the object which the Government had in view.

Mr: HUME gave notice that on Monday next he
should bring the matter under the consideration of the
House. The Hon. Gentleman then moved that an hum-
ble address be presented to her Majesty, praying for a
copy of a letter addressed, by her command, to the
Archbishop of Canterbury, recommending that collec-
tions should be made in the different churches through-
out the country.
Sir It PEEL was understood to say that he could
have no objection to such a motion.
Colonel CONOLLY disapproved of any interference
on the part of that House with the course pursued by
the Government.

Mr. GIBSON asked whether any sums of money had
been sent to any other places besides Paisley, and
whether there was any objection to give an account of
the places to which they had been sent.
Sir R. PEEL said he could not admit that any relief
had been given out of the public funds, except in the
case of Paisley, IN hick was one of peculiar emergency.
Mr. BARING thought that if such relief had been
given, the House had a right to, every information.
The motion was then agreed to.
COLONY OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

Mr. O'CONNELL asked the Noble Lord, the Colonial
Secretary, whether any dispatch had been received from
the present Governor of Newfoundland.

Lord STANLEY was understood to say that he had
received a despatch, but that it was marked private and
confidential.

THE TARIFF.

In reply to a question from Mr. HUME, with respect
to the time fixed for the third reading. of the tariff,
Sir R. PEEL said, he hoped he had sufficiently shown
the sincerity of his intentions to induce the House to
pass the Income-tax, without waiting for the third read-
ing of the tariff.—(Hear, hear.) He appealed to the
House whether he had not, in substance, fulfilled the en•
gagements which he had entered into.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HUME said he hoped that before the Income-tax
was read a third time, he would at least have an oppor-
tunity of stating why it should not pass.
Sir R. PEEL wished the Hon. Member had been in
Parliament at an earlier period of the session.—(A Laugh.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE observed that the Right Hon.
Gentleman had stated that he would, before the Income
Tax-Bill was read a third time, state to the House the
nature of the machinery by which that tax was to be
carried into effect. Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman
would state that on Monday.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
would do the best he could to do so.
CUSTOMS DUTIES.

On the question that the House should resolve itself
into a Committee on the Customs Bill,
'Mr. lIAWES presented a petition from the coffee-
house keepers of Lambeth, in favour of the reduction of
duty on coffee and sugar.
Mr. O'CONNELL said, that the Right Hen. Baronet
opposite had stated his fears that, in consequence of the
temperance movement in Ireland, a defalcation would
take place in the revenue from that country. Now he
wished to lay before the House a statement which would
show that, although the revenue had decreased upon ex-
ciseable articles, it had increased upon the whole.
The decrease of the revenue in the year 1840 in the
article of malt was 47,508 L, and in January, 1841, there
was a further decrease of 35,9551. With regard to
spirits, the revenue from this source was, in 1839,
1,356,0001., but in the year 1840 it commenced to de-
crease. In 1841 it had decreased 309,5481. In the year
1842 there was an additional duty of 4d. placed,
upon spirits, the amount of which was 93,0001
He had a right to add that sum to the decrease in 1842'
which made the total decrease amount to 795,677/
That this decrease was occasioned by the temperance
movement was demonstrated from this, that the
revenue from other articles had increased. The
revenue on tea was increased by 33,000/., and the reve-
nue on tobacco was increased by 80,000/. ; so that while
there was an increase on other articles, there
was a diminution of revenue to the amount
of nearly 800,0001. in spirits and malt, and as
the revenue was made up from other sources,
there could be no regret, in the minds of other persons,
that this result should have occurred. This great dimi-
nution of revenue, was distinctly to be traced to the
effects of increased habits of temperance amongst the
people of Ireland.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not
prepared with any figures to give an answer to the Right
Honourable and Learned Gentleman ; but the state-
ment which he had made was perfectly reconcileable
with that which was made by his Right Hon. Friend.
The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman spoke of a
yearly decrease, while his Right Hon. Friend spoke of
an increase in the qtArter. No person could he more
rejoiced than he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
was at the increase of temperance which took place in
Ireland ; and he agreed with the Right lion. and
Learned Gentleman opposite, that no greater advantage
could have happened to that country than the increased
habits of temperance now practiced by the people.
Mr. O'CONNELL said it should be recollected there
was an additional duty of 4d. which would account
for the quarter's increase.
Sir R. PEEL said, that he spoke merely of a small
increase in this quarter's revenue. With regard to the
revenue, he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would
point out to them from what other sources they were to
obtain 200,000/.
CUSTOMS ACT—THE TARIFF.

The Order of the Day was then read, on the motion
of Sir R. PEEL, for going into Committee onithe Cus-
toms Act.
Several articles were agreed to without change.
Dr. BOWRING threw out a suggestion that it would
be very desirable that a great number of articles of the
same nature should be included under one head.

Sir B. PEEL thought it was more satisfactory to have
a detailed enumeration of articles, which would be very
useful by way of reference.
The matter then dropped.
The items down to blubber were then agreed to.
On blubber being proposed,
Mr. LYALL rose to propose the following resolution :
That the duty on train oil and blubber, of
foreign fishing, shall be 61., and the duty on
:spermaceti oil, of foreign fishing, 151. the tun, from
atiii after the sth day of July, 1843 ; that instead of the
sth day of July, 1843, the sth day of July, 1844, be sub-
stituted as to the duty on train oil and blubber, and the
sth day of July, 1845, as to spermaceti oil ; and as to the
duty on whale fins, to substitute for the sth day of July,
1843, the sth day of July, 1844." The Hon. Gentleman
spoke in so 'low a tone, that we were absolutely usable
to hear his voice in the Gallery.

Mr. G. PALMER thought that the present was a
question upon which, and upon which alone, protectio
ought to be granted. Its object was a national one, a
the fisheries here and abroad had been the nursery of
seamen for their country. He would, with the permission
of the noose, point out the situation of this country with
regard to this trade. 'At the end of the last war, this
country thought it of such importance to encourage
fidieries, that they cave a bounty of 39/. a ton upon all
ships engaged in L iheries. In 1823, the bounty was
taken off. In the pre‘ious year, the number of ships en-
gaged in that fishery w. 1.5 322, and the number of seamen
was • 12,748, and all these were thorough-bred good
seamen. The number 1821, was sufficient to man any
fleet of men-of-war that this country could have
occasion to send wt.—(l-fear, hear.) The number
of ships was now reduced to 85, and the number of
seamen to 3,008. He looke d upon these fisheries as
nurseries for seamen. They bad given up one of them;
let them beware how their dest,r4ved the other, by with-
drawing the protection wl.nich had .hitherto been accorded
to it. Voyages of that s, nt ought to be encouraged. He
asked the Right Hon. Bt .ronet to pause, lest he shou'd
do injury to the country. For the parties interested he
only asked for time to cc mplete the engagements they
had entered into. The outh Sea fishery was different
from every other com aiercial undertaking—it was a
single speculation ; all tl to parties to the voyage, owners,
captains, and seamen w ere concerned in it. All who
went the voyage were pr bid by shares. The captain and
men always calculated ul ,on receiving something as their
share of the profits ; but if this part of the tariff were
agreed to, instead of rece ising• any money they would be
in debt to the owners ; it vas notorious that when-