Star.
London, England, 1823-03-08 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

At half-past three the House was summoned to attend the
House of Peers, to hean the Royal Assent given by' Commission
to several Bills.
Mr. PO Y N TZ presented a Petition from certain H•p-growers
in the parish of Woodymore, in the county of Sussex, against the
Hop Duty.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. R. COCKBURN presented a Petition from the Island of
Ely against the Insolvent Debtors Act.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. HU.ME moved to renew an Order of last year, relative
to Letter Carriers.--.-Also for a Return of the Names and Resi-
dences of all Surveyors of Taxes who have been allowed to follow

ASSESSED TAXES.
Mr. HUSKISSON presented a Petition from Li-
verpool, which he stated to have been agreed to by a
large and respectable body of Shopkeepets in that
town. They prayed a repeal of the Assessed Taxes ;
and, in addition to a further reduction of the Tax on
Shop Windows, they asked to be relieved from the
pressure of the House Tax upon houses employed in
trade. He wished be could, consistently with his own
judgment, support their wishes, and endeavour to
persuade the House to adOpt them also; but he
thought that even the Petitioners would soon be per:
suaded, themselves, that they.had proceeded on a
wrong principle in making this demand. As such
houses were inhabited as dwellings, they could not
justly be relieved without a total repeal of the tax.—
He regretted that he could not supt,oit the Petition;
but he could assure the House that it came from a
most respectable body of men.
Sir W. DE CRESPIGNY made a few observations
upon the unequal assessment of such houses,
General GASCOYXE,said, that his Right Hon.
colleague bad mistaken the oliject of the Paition,
to its praying a repeal of the Assessed Taxes. Mat
the Petitioners warned was a revisal of then*, and the
alteration of certain parts. There was one rygulatioii
of which they particularly complained, as to the tax
upon persons employed in shops. As the law stood,
they weie all exempt under the ale of fourteen ; but
that was an age at whicli they were of little use, and
the Petitioners were anxious to have the period ex
tended to eighteen. He was aware that, as his Right
Hon. colleague had stated, there could not be an
alto: ation in the House Tax without a total repeal.—
, But what was chiefly fe:t as a grievance was the cir-
r.cumstance that merchants warehouses were exempt,
when the only difference between them was, that from
the vods being of a different nature, they were obliged
to sleep in the house to take care of them. lle did
not ask Government to repeal more than they had
repealed in amount, because he was satisfied with
what.they had done; but by attending to the nrinutix
of these regulations, great milef might be afforded
without loss of revenue.

Mr. IIIiNIE thought the Right Hon. Gentleman
could not have read the Petition with attention, or he
would better have understood the meaning of the Pe-
titioners. Ile wished to ask the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, upon what principle he refused to take
off a portion of the House 'lax from shops, when he
had already taken off pact of their NVindow Tax ?
The distinction between merchants' warehouses and
the poor man's shop, because the former could afford
another house to live in, was unjust and oppressive.
Mr. HUSKISSON rose for the purpose of setting
himself right in respect to the charge which had been
made by the Honourable Member tier Aberdeen. lie
had n.,t only read the Petition with the greatest care
and attention, but likewise the Resolutions upon which
it was founded. These were put into his hands when
he was recently among his Constituents, and they
pointed out the reduction of the Tax upon Shop Win-
dows. In Consequence of this, he pressed it upon his
Right lion. Friend, the Chancellor of the Erthegner,
that if the citcurnstances of the country would allow
of any remission of the Assessed Taxes, this was a
part of then which deserved the earliest attention.—
That Tax had since been reduced, but he could not
consider there would be the same justice in asking for
the removal of the House Tax upon such grounds as
had been stated.

In answer to a question from Mr. BERNAL.
TheCHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
in reply, that the ground on which he had thought it
his duty to relieve the t,hopkeepers was, that they paid
an additional tax upon their windows, which others
did not pay. • This did not apply to the case of li-
censed victuallers.

Gencial GA SCOYNE, seeing the Right Hon. the
Chancellor of the Exchequer now in his place, re-
peated what he had said with regard to the Tax on
Shopmen, and the propriety of extending the exemp-
tion from the age of fourteen to eighteen years.
Mr. HUME wished to ask the Chancellot of the
Exchequer a questic si as to the tax on windows.—
Many grievances had arisen on the charges for win-
dows which admitted light from the inside of the
house, owing to Inspector s entering houses, and other
inconveniences connected with the tax. lie desired
to know if it seas the intention of -the Right lion.
Gentleman to make any change in these regulations?
It woulJ be much better to let the tax be collected
upon the outside windows only..
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that it was not his intention to make any altei-ation
in the established regulations in the charges of the
Assessed Taxes. As to the reductions which were
mentioned as being so trifling, if they were to go on
taking oft by little and little, there would soon be
no income•arising from the just and legitimate sources
of revenue.—The Petition was ordered to he printed.
• Sir T. LETHBRIDGE rose to move for leave to
bring in a Bill to enable Magistrates assembled in
Quarter Sessions, to define the divisions of -Coun-
ties, and thereby to facilitate the free administra-
tion of justice.
The SPEAKER informed the Hon. Member, that
his motion could not have precedence of the orders.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE said, that he had inquired
of au Hon. Secretary opposite, whether his motion
could take precedence of the Orders, and had re-
ceived his assent.

The SPEAKER observed, that he had only inter.
fered to protect himself. It was for the,House to de-
cide as it thought proper.—Motion not pressed. -

PROPERTY OF THE CROWN.
On the motion of Mr. Secretary PEEL, the Ho-use
resolved itself into a Committee do the Royal Mes-
sage relative to the Lands and Property of the Crown.
He then said, by an Act, passed in the reign of Queen
Anne, the power of the Crown to alienate real pro-
perty was restricted. By a subsequent Act, passed
in the year 1799, the restrictions of the former Act
had been removed, as far as regarded the private pro.
perty of certain descriptions. That Bill had been

-1

•
. . .
other occupations at the time of haling Ptah offices.—Aiat rot,. Cpund defective ; and the object of the one now pro=
certain
..Returns connected with the Taxes In the District of posed was to supply a remedy for its defects. The •
Kensington. mg might be possessed of property when he came
Mr. CURTEIS presented a Petition from the partsll of
:
Battle, in the county of Sussex, praying for a repeal of the Duty to the Throne, and thereavas this anomaly in the ex-
on Flops.—Ordered to be printed. isting law, that it disposed of property is Lich the
' -
Mr. 11. SUMNER presented a Petition from the Parish of King had acquired, not only as Kin, 9 bur as a sub-
St.••
John, I lorselydown, praying for (rave to bring in a_ Hill to ject before his accession to the Throne. The ckject
regulate its Vestry. of die' present Bill, therefore, would be to give the G. CLERK gave notice that he should bring forward the
Navy Estimates in the Committee of Supply on Friday next. same right to the King over property which he had
a
A Message front the Lerch announced their Lordships' assent possessed as a subject, as that which he h d over
to certain Bills. private property acquired as Kin',a' ' Evtry one must

see the reasonableness and justice of this measure;
and he should therefore content himself with moving;,
" That the Chairman be directed to move the Hou e
fir leave to bring in a Bill concerning the disposi-
tion of certain property belonging to his Majesty, hid
heirs, and successors."
Mr. HUME referred to a question which he had
put to the Right lion. Gentleman last Se s;on, as td
the disposal of the property' of his late Ma esty. Ad
was eventually told that a will had been made, bur
that it was not considered legal. lie wished tri
know; whether that was to be considered in the same
point of view, or to be distinguished from private
property which had been acquired, such as the Pa-
vilion at Brighton?
Mr. Secretary PEEL was glad the question had
been put, because it was necessary that there should
be a full and clear understandinr, of the reeasure.—:
The property enjoyed by his Majestyl' from the late
Finn, would not be treated as property p: ivately ae.
(pint d, because it was property which he possessed
hrecoronte ; and it would not, therefore, be affected
t,
oy toe present measure.
Alter a remark from Mr. SCARLET; the !louse re-
sumed, and leave Was given to bring in the Bill.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
Upon the Order of the Day being read for going
into a Committee of Supply to consider the Army
Estimates,
Mr. CREEVEY said, that as above six millions of
money wet e about to be voted asvay by the thinneet
House which he- had seen doting the Session, he
drought it right to make a few observations bdore
going into the Committee ; and he shoAd first re-
mind the llnise that the country was at present af-
flicted with a e!readful calamity, called A:4: icultural
Dist: ess ; that every day saw thousands upon th(ra•
sands going to ruin—nay, tens of thotrands upon
tens or thousands, he might say ; in fact, there was a
complete revolution
_of property going forward.—
The prayers of the People were constantly offered
up for retrenchment and economy, for relief from
the distress occasioned by the changes in the cur-
rency, for the abolition of all sinecures and useless
officer. He considered that no prayer could be so rea-
sonable, and no time for reminding the house el such
prayer • more proper, than when called upon to vote
six millions for the military expenditure of the year,
whereas the expenditure of 1792 amounted to only two
millions. The Ministers had the means of reducing
this sum by cutting down sinecures, and by accom-
modating salaries to the fall of pi ices owing to the
alteration in the currency. lie wished to put his
sentiments to this effect upon the Journals, and he
should move an amendment for that purpose. Tice
Hon. Member then moved the following lie,thition:
" Resolved, That it appears to this House, from the
mates laid before it for the service of the Army for the iiresent
year, that they amount to .6,084,895/. exclusive of the Army
ExtracAdinaries, which of late years have in general amounted
to one million more, whilst the Supplies fur the Army, in 1791,
amounted only to 2,37.1,16/. that in the present state of unpa-
ralleled distress and ruin in which the Agricultural Interests of
these 'kingdoms are involved, it is the bounden duty of this
House to reduce the Estimates fur the different Pub:ic Services
of the year to as near the amount of 1792 as the safety of the
State will admit; and above all, that it is the bounden duty of
this House to accede to the universal prayers and petitions of
the People, in reducing all salaries or allowances, of whatever
description, which were augmented in consequence of the late
depreciation in the value of the currency, in abolishing all sine-
cures and useless offices, in reducing the salaries of all such of-
fices as are overpaid, and in regulating, upon principles of the
strictest economy, all such other offices, the duties of which are
now performed by deputy."
Sir 'f. LETHBRIDGE could not agree to go quite
so far as the Honourable Member. tie did not be-
lieve that the military force of the country could be
reduced anything nearly to what it was in 1792.
That the greatest possible economy was necessary to
be entertained by the House he was fully convinced,
but the Honourable Member must make out a better
case before lie could justify himself in cramping the
military energies of the empire. Upon the part
which regarded the augmentation of salaries, and the
necessary reduction under existing circumstances, lie
entertained strong feelings. He did not think the re-
ductions had been equal to those circumstances.
With regard to the sacrifice made from another
quarter, it was quite consistent with the character of
that Illustrious Personage. The voluntary giving
up of ten per cent. was there an act of magnificent
and condescending consideration of the distresses of
the country. But for the Ministers it was a different
thing. There was still time, and it would be a great
boon to the country, if they would make a further
reduction in the amount of salaries. This was the
,time when relief to the People was most necessary;
and -he did not think the Government had afforded
sufficient, although he thought they had much im-
proved within the last few years.
Lord PALMERSTON did not mean to
this discussion one minute, because the place
the grant Of six millions should be opposed
the Committee. He rose merely to. observe
cures had been prospectively abolished—that
necures augmented had been reduced—ant
many where there had been no augmentation
Mr. CREEVEY begged to remind the
Lord (Palmerston), that since the Act for the .
Lion of Sinecures, in 1815, sinecures had been g
away by the very persons who had then proposed
• Mr. JONES was desirous that all practicably
homy should be observed, but,be saw no good
that. could arise from inserting a truism on th(
nals, such as that contained in the Amendmr
only stated, that it was the duty of the house
duce the Estimates as near to-those of 1792,
consistent with the safety of the State. I'h:
truism admitted on all hands; but he content
they had been so reduced already, and that
smaller force we could not keep the possessions-
us at the glorious tertnination.of the late wa;
Mr. HUME denied that the Amendment
truism, as the Honourable Member had scat
stated that the military expenditure was now
six millions, whereas in 1792 it was only
more than two millions. He would ask the

f.ble Nletnl
1 migh).—F
Colonies, I
expense; a
the govern
would not
to the cons
thin a Hou
appeared t
Governmer
nude. As
Alliance w
world, he li
not require
The Am
Without a d

The Hou
Lord PA
tention to
bringing foi
`.l.lte vat iatir
so trifling tl
ficient. Tit
cept that tho
for the Wesl
military culj
19,0001. less
upon a form
of this year
because the
to be, from
to. India and
maintained
vat jolts redu
be, instead c
16,7001. U
would be on
nution of 7,(
Cation Of
:3,0001. upor.
1?3,6071. lea,
4 balance
Upon the It.
7,(XX)I. npou
tion of 2,00(
ticers, an in

isons, a;
retired °dice
pay' nd
upon the Foi
the chare ft:
hamllthpital
. aioners of Ci
arising Crow
Upon the Ito
_

_Tjt. upon %V
upon the" Cot
• pensions for
perannuation
the Excheque
The Noble I
present estim
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contemplated
chided by nv.
C 9,459 land i
Veteran 'Latta
Mr. HUM]

of troops wet

necessary in t
anticipated, f c
in the Govern
those violent
goired mili:at
1 T:ie most exp
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ti,fled that ne
I
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Ii
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i nd making 1
-!were not nec,
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Sir A. HO}
.perforn— • -

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Mr. DENAI
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