The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-25 00:00:00

SILK TRADL.

Mr. ROBINSON, in presenting a petition from Man-
chester, praying the House to take into consideration the
laws affecting the Silk Trade, observed that the petition
was well worthy the attention of the Right Hon. Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade ; it was signed by 2,739 ope-
ratives, and described the distressed state of the Silk Trade
in the town of Manchester since the alteration of the laws
in 1823 ; there were at the present time no less than
5,000 looms unemployed, and it was the opinion of the
petitioners, in which he fully concurred, that the present
distress principally arose from the late alterations of the
laws, and if Government did not adopt some measure of
prohibition to the French silks, a great number of persons
mast be pauperized. He was sure Ministers were not in-
sensible to the misery that existed, and seeing a motion in
the paper foe a consideration of the laws affecting the silk
trade, for some future day, he would n•tt now enter
into the particulars of the matter, hut content himself
with asking the Right Hon. President of the Board of
Trade whether it was the intention of his Miljesty's Go-
vernment to propose any measure for the relief of the
Silk Trade, by way of prohibition or otherwise.
The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. V. FITZ -
GERALD) said he should for the present abstain from
making any onservations on what bad fallen from the Hon.
Member, but he would say it was not the plan of Government
to return to the old system : when the proper time arrived
be should be able to show that the present distress did not
arise from the alterations of the laws, and he would further
say that they had not the most distant idea of returning to
prohibitory duties. The subject would be brought forward
regularly on Tuesday next.
The petition was then.read.
ASSESSED TAXES.

Mr. R. COLBURNE said, that he wished to ask a
question of the Right Honourable the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, relative to the Composition for the
Assessed Taxes. The law relative to this subject
would expire in April, 1830, and it was therefore neces-
raty to know what steps the Government intended to
pursue relative to those compositions.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the time when the composition for the Assessed Taxes
would expire was April, 1830, and therefore it would
be necessary for parties to give notice on or before
the 30th of October next.—(Hear, bear, hear, hear.)—
It was his wish to have introduced a Bill for the consolida-
tion and improvement of the Laws respecting the Assessed
Taxes, which were at present, and had been far some
time, in &bail state, but owing to the complicated nature
of the measure, the Bill he had in contemplation was not
as yet in such a state of forwardness as would authorise
him in presenting it to Parliament. He had also
to say, that as the composition for the As-
sessed Taxes depended altogether upon the Assessed
Taxes themselves, and as the Bill was not in readiness
to be submitted to the House, he should bring in a Bill
to extend the operation of the former Bill for another year,
that is to say, to April, 1831.
Mr. PEEL brought up returns, of the male convicts
sent to New South Wales.
Mr. G. DAWSON presented twelve
.petitions from

Londonderry and Tyrone, in favour of the Roman Catholic
Claims.

Sir T. ACLAND and Sir N. COLTHURST presented
petitions from the Corporals of the North Devon and Cork
Militia, praying compensation.
Mr. G. MOORE presented a petition, with the same
prayer, from the Corporals of the Dublin Militia.
Mr. G. BANKES presented a petition from the parish
of Ormieton, in Haddington, against concession to the
Roman Citholics.
IRISH FREEHOLDERS.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER the House went into a Committee, and he
proposed a resolution for granting additional compensation
to the Assistant Barristers and Clerks of the Peace in Ire-
land, for their superintendanee of the Registry of Free-
holds in Ireland.

The Report was brought up, and ordered to be received
to-morrow.

Mr. DALY moved for a Return of the number of Re-
gistered Freeholders within the last ten years iu every
county, city, and town-county of Ireland.
Mr. S. RICE suggested the addition of the number of
freemen, whether honorary or otherwise, in the different
Corporations of Ireland for the same period.
The addition was made, and the motion was agreed to.
The Militia Suspension Bill was read a third time and
passed on the motion of Mr. W. PEEL.