Star.
London, England, 1825-03-01 00:00:00

in the Fields, Westminster. The Hon. Member, in pre.

i

seining this Petition tared, that it was signed this day
is less than two' hours, by every householder in the
Strand, except six. He therefore requested the attention
of the Chancellor of the Excheqner most particular ly
to the subject of it, and to a fact that had occurred within the last
month—namely, hat although the Parish of St. Ann's contained
but 1,400 houses, 100 distresses for King's Taxes had been put in
these in the short period just mentioned.
Mr. M A BEH LEY supported the Petition, and took
that opportunity to mention that the House ought to withhold a
decision upon the financial affairs of the country, until the motion
which stood for Thursday next was disposed of.
. . .

of Topsham,

A the Roman
Bill which had
Association.

Petitions, on
declined doing

tor a repeal of
was presented
-t:tslaire. Sir T.
County Clerk of
,f Small Debts.

from Green-
Coals ; the other

Citizens of Lon.

ayer of the
, which the
derive from

the parish of St.
concessions to the Ito-
:n doing so observed,
England seemed at

, that in the
so such hos-
tion of the
\c Catholics,

t. Oo the con-
the people were

for a repeal of
Berkshire, there
from the duty of

parish of Lam-
- at lost for a

'cation.
from the county

ietition from the
inhabitant► of great

from the Ca-
the Bill now
the Catholic
the Catholics
•ony of Clan-
•om the Pro-
. the Catholic
observed, that at
received several
.-on-Suir and the
' grateful thanks
"iich they were
toning this cir-
tunity pass of
alien from the
Sir J. Sebright).

That Honourable Gentleman said that be, as an
Easslishetan/ was ashamed that any portion of bis fetlow.eubjetts
should be excluded from the civil rights se account of their reli-
gious tenets. He (Collett Bagwell) was also ashamed, as an Irish-
man, that such ahould be the case—that tbe friends whom he re-
vered—who were his associates—with whom be mixed in all the
familiarity of private life—should be deprived of tke privileges and
immunities which be enjoyed, and merely because he professed one
religion and they another—(Hear).
Sir JOHN SEBRIGHT repeated that be was
ashamed that a British House of Commons should ex•

- -------- _ _ _
clude six millions of British subjects from the Constitu-
tion, merely on account of their religion. The great
fault of the Roman Catholic Religion was its Intolerance; but now
the tables were turned, and the Protestant was the intolerant, the
Catholic the tolerant religion—(Hear, bear).
Mr. WYNDHAM LEWIS presented a Petition, praying a re•
peal of the House and Win'dow Duties.
Sir ELIA B HARVEY presented a Petition from the Arch-
deacon and Clergy of Colchester, against any further concessions
to the Roman Catholics, in the prayer of which he concurred.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the ExcusQuza, the House
resolved itself into a Committee of Supply.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then

rose, and spoke as follows:—Although, Sir, I cannot
forbear congratulating the House upon the auspicious
circumstances under which I rise to resume my state-
ment of the finances of the country, I beg the Corn-

mittee to believe, that I do not do so for die mere pur-
pose of making a flourish, or from a desire to lead'the
House or the county to indulge in any unreasonable
exultation as to the present, or any extravagant antici-
pations as to the future. But although I have no such
purpose, and although there may be persons in this
country, and in all probability there are in other
countries, who, jealous of die eminence of our pro-
sperity, or ignorant of its causes, may think that we have
arrived at that eminence at our own peril, and say to us

numerosa parabat
E.=las turns tabulaita ; unde alder euet
Cpus, et imputsse praceps humane ruin=
Yet I will venture to tell thoie who think thus, that a
calm and dispassionate view will convince them that our
prosperity has nothing hollow in its foundation, arti-
ficial in its superstructure, or flimsy in its general bear-
ings—that it may be contemplated with unalloyed ad-
-narration for the harmony of its proportions, and the
solidity of the basis upon which it is founied—( Cheers).
I say, Sir, that far from thinking we are in this danger,
no one who looks at the situation in which we stand,

and applies his mind fairly and philosophically to the
causes of our prosperity, who will not see plainly and
legibly pourtrayed before him that course of policy
which we have adopted, as the best calculated to
strengthen our own resources, and promote the happi-
ness of the civilized world—(Hear, hear, hear). With
these observations, and wishing that the Committee
will keep in view the principles upon which the policy
I have alluded to is founded, I will proceed to the more
immediate objects of discussion. And in doing so, 1
wish, in the first place, to bring under the notice of the
House a comparison of the actual Revenue of the year
past, and the estimate which at the commencement of
it, I ventured to make as to its probable amount. At the
commencement of lest Session, I assumed, in the calcu-
lation which I then made, that there would be, at- the
expiration of the year 1824, a surplus of 1,050,0001.
Upon this assumption, and carrying on its view to the
end of the year 1827, the House was induced to effect
a considerable reduction of taxation, amounting to
1,260,0001. In consequence, however, of an alteration
subsequently made by the H. use in my plans, by which
one halt of this sum was lo,t to the Revenue in the
course of the year, if the surplus of 1824, had been
400,0001. instead of 1,050,0001. at which in the cal-
culations imparted by me to the House I had esti-
mated it, my estimate would still have been realized,
and all the expectations founded upon it accomplished.
But instead of this, notwithstanding the loss sustained
by the reduction of taxation coming into more early
and considerable operation, owing to the cause I have
explained, than I had anticipated, I have the satisfac-
tion to state to the House that the actual net surplus
of the year 1824, after applying 5,150,000/. to the re-
duction of debt,aad the repayment of duty made to the
silk merchants upon stock in hand, the net surplus is,
no less than 1,137,7441.—(Leud cheering)—exceeding
not only that which would have been sufficient to come
up to any anticipations, the allowance for the unforeseen
occurrence I had alluded to being made, but exceeding
by a considerable sum that which I had calculated it
would have been, had no reduction of taxation have
taken place—(Hear, hear).—The Committee will par-
don me if I draw their attention a little to the items,
and some of the details, connected with those branches
of the Revenue upon which an increase, beyond the
expectations I had formed, has occurred. At the be-
ginning of last year, I estimated the produce of the
Customs' Deities at 11,550,000/. Of these duties,'
900,0001. were repealed in the course of the year.
The loss which has been sustained in consequence of
this reduction, is equal at the least to the whole amount
repealed; because, in order to give greater facilities to
the execution of the liberal principles which the House
had adopted, no less than. 460,0001. was paid back to
the holders of silk stock in hand; and if this be added
to the diminution naturally accruing from the mere re-
duction of duty, the total loss of Revenue cannot be
less, and I believe has actually exceeded 900,0001. But
supposing this demand upon the Revenue of the Cus-
toms for duty upon the stock in hand of silk had not
taken place, allowing that the loss of one half of the
reduction of duty, viz. 450,000/. had taken place, my
estimate would have been realized, if the return of the
Customs had been 11,050,000/. But such has been the
improvement in this branch of the Revenue, that not-
withstanding the drain to which I have adverted, the
produce of the'year 1824, amounts to 11,827,000/.—
(Hear).—This is the total result, which, the Committee
will see, has considerably exceeded the estimate which
I made, and would have been greater, if the 460,0001.
hid not been paid to the holders of silk by the subse-
quent decrtion of the House. Now what are the cir-
cumstances which have led to this great increase?—l
think the proximate cause is to be found in that exten-
sion of our commercial policy which we last year
adopted—in the greater consequent capacity of the
people of this country for the consumption of foreign
produce, the general ease of the community, and
above all the increased capacity of foreign nations
to consume our produce, arising out of the means of
doing sowhich we afford them by taking theirs—(Hear).
Let it not be said that this cheering result is accidental,
that it is the feature of one year, or that it proceeds
from the peculiar situation of this or any other country.'
I confess, Sir, I think it rests upon principles totally
different. I think it depends upon a principle which is
rooted in human nature, and which is the essence of
human society—(Hear). The increase of the popula-
tion in the propress of time, alone, is sufficient to ac-
count for it. But there is as obvious principle in the

constitution of human society which leads one nation
to open its arms to another—a principle which leads to
the fostering of new connections,Creating mutual wants
between nation and nation, and the desire of tasting new
enjoymments—all of which a benevolent PROVIDENCE
has ordained for the improvement of the human condi-
tion—(Hear). This principle may be impeded by war;
its course may be diverted from its natural channel ; it
may be checked, and we in this country have been des-
tined to witness examples in proof of it, by injudicious
legislation--i(Hear,hear, hear). But as to the principle
itself, that is always alive—it has a tendency to increase
and confer benefits all over the world; and therefore it
is that any success or advancement founded upon it can-
not be attributed to chance or the operation of accidental
causes, but must rest upon a basis not to be shaken. And
if I add to this cause that wonderful discovery which
has acted like a lever upon the powers of production—
I mean the steam engine—will any one, taking all these
things into consideration, suppose that I take too san-
guine a view of our cenditinn, when I maintain that
our increased intercourse with foreign nations is not the
tesult of accident, but of that wise system of legislation
which Parliament has seen the propriety of adopting in
latter years; and that I may fairly hold eut to the]
Committee this increased produce of the revenue as
arising from causes which may be assumed as the basis
upon which to calculate the produce of the revenue for
years to come?—(Hear, hear.) The next point to which
I shall call the attention of the Committee, is one of the
greatest rhoment, inasmuch as it tends in many ways to
affect the domestic situation and general comforts of
the nation. I allude to the Excise. And here again I
hav: the satisfaction of stating that the produce of this
branch of the Revenue for the last year, exceeds not only
the produce of any former year, but what I had esti-
mated it at in the views which, at tl:e commencement of
the Session, I communicated to the House. The
estimate I made did not go beyond the amount of
the preceding year, viz.2s 625,0001. whereas the actual
amount is 26,768,000/. being 1,14.5,0001. beyond my es-
timate—(Hear). This I consider to be matter of con-
gratulation to every man who cares for the interests
and comfort of those around him ; and when I am
addressing the Legislature of the country, it is inipossille
I should hesitate to asct ibe a desire for the welfare and
happiness of the people whom they repre,ent— ( Hear. )
I have in my hands a paper which I need not trouble
the House to read .at length, shewing the increase
which has taken place upon every individual article of
Excise Revenues and indicating beyond the possibility
of a doubt, that the course of policy which we ha% e
pursued is conducive to the ease, the comfort, and the
happiness of the people—(Hear). I do not know,
whether I ought to trouble the House with such minute
details; but, at all events it would not be a mere waste
of time—(Hear hear). This paper shevis the propor-
tion in which the articles of Excise exceed in the amount
of duty paid for the year 1824., the average of the three
foregoing years. The first article is the Auction Duty,
which is calculated upon the quantity charged :—this
shews an increase of 12 per cent. above the three pre.
ceding years—(Hear). The others are as follow :
per Cent. I
1.5
20
40
15
91
a
31
Gi
20
12
10

! . .
and be sued in their joint capaci:y.—Mr. BAILING er
i • Sir C. MORGAN presented a Petition from Monr
praying a repeal of the !louse Duty. Similar Petitions
i I • presented by Mr. C. DUNI)" from Warringford ;by
HART, from the Parish of St. Edmonds, Oxfordshire ; Isl
MAN, from the iobabitants of Bethnal Green ; arid by
Mr. 110B110USE from the Parish of St,
• in the Fields, Westminster. The Hon. Membe
seining this Petition gated, that it was signed
ir: less than two hours, by every household
Strand, except six. Ile therefore requested the
of the Chancellor of the Excheqner most pa
to the subject of it, and to a fact that had occurred wii
;
month—namely, hat although the Parish of St. Ann'
but 1,400 houses, 100 distresses for King's Taxes had I
these in the short period just mentioned.
Mr. .11 A BER LEY supported the Petition,
that opportunity to mention that the House ought r<
decision upon the financial affairs of the country, unti
which stood fot Thursday next was disposed of.
Mr. NEW M AN presented a Petition from the town I
against the Coal Duty.
Air. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from
Catholics of the County of Monaghan, against the Bi
passed that House for suppressing the Catholic Associat
A Moats under the Gallery said, that he had two .
the sawn subject; to present to the House, but had der
so, as the Bill was now before the other House.
Mr. GOOCH presented a Petition from Ipawich, fo
the House and Window Duty.—.-A similar Petition wi
by Sir T. Liernsatoce, from Lincote, in Somersetsh
Lartutaince also presented a Petition from the Coun
Somersrtshire, relative to the Bill for the Recovery of
Sir E. K NATCHBULL presented two Petitions 1
I-1 wich ; one for a repeal of the Duty on Seaborne Coals
fora repeal of the Assessed Taxes.
Sir W. CURTIS presented a Petition from the Citi
1 ' don, praying a repeal of the Duty on Seaborne Coals.
Mr. Alderman WOOD suppo:ted the pea
.1 Petition, and enlarged upon the advantages
poor inhabitants of the Metropolis would de
•
A
the remission of the duty on small coal in particular.
f
Mr. HART DAVIS presented a Petition from the
f ' Mary, Ratcliffe, against granting any further concesaioi
. • man Catholics. The Honourable Member in doing
that the feelings of the people in that part of Englat
C present generally adverse to emancipation.
Sir RONALD FERGUSON could state, i
t part of the country which he represented no
tile feeling now existed, although the ielig
people differed so widely from that of the
and although formerly such a feeling certainly did exisl
nary, he would boldly assert, that the mass of the
friendly to Catholic Emancipation.
Mr. MONCK presented a Petition from Reading, I
the House and Window Duty. In one parish in Bet
bad been eighty-five appeal.: within the last month fro
ss. on each cottage.
Mr. DENISON presented a Petition from the p
t beth, praying for a repeal of the Assessed Taxes, or
repeal of the House and Window Denies.
Mr. HOLME SUM NEIL supported the Petition
'' Sir JO H N NEWPORT presented a Petition let
of Kerry, in favour of the Roman Catholic Claims.
: . The A TTORNEY. GENERA L presented a I'et
, •
town of Devonport, signed by upwards of 3,000 inhal
respectability, against the Catholic Claims.
Colonel BAGWELL presented a Petition f
(1 . tholics of the Borough of Clonmel against t
in the House of Lords for suppressing ti
1 Association ; and a similar Petition from tl
of the parish of Tippet ary, in the baron
william. He also presented a Petition Ire
testants of Carrick.on-Suir in favour of 1
Claims.' The Honourable Member obser
the same time with the Petition he had MCI
• letters from the Catholics of Carrick-on-S
.:f neighbourhood, expressing their most gr;
for the spontaneous act of liberality to whi
(
indebted to the Protestants. In mention
cumstance he could not let the opportu
ii.,, 'reiterating a sentiment which. had lately fa
Honourable Member for Hertfprdsifirc (Sii
•