Star.
London, England, 1831-03-15 00:00:00

.10 Per cent
0tt,;,:,,l j-.. ~,,.\.
~...,...-.7.,c,-,
..... , -
Sir J. NEWPORT proposed, should the new valunAbe granted ~tt ..:
that all livings in Ireland above one hundred pounds shout'
to rated to e:'• l''.
this fund. ,• ,-/
~„,.
Mr. GOULBITRN continued. He could not see ti e atiestrage or .• ,'
value of this motion ; he was still at Issue with the right hen haamet.
Ile had before shewn. on authority not yet disputed. that the full valve
cr the benefice had norm yet been taken as a criterion for pi., nicht to
the First Fruits Fund. The right hon. baronet was quee re error on
this subject. They ought to be told. In the even: of the or nion of the
lawyers being in their favour, what course it was then intended to pur.
sue. He thought the course now proposed was inexpedient ; the nii.
neters ought to take the law officers' opinion; and act on their own re.-
spa nsibilily.
Mr. LEADER said great credit was due to the right hon. bar. for
his efforts to telieve his counts from the Grand Jury Presentments, and
the question connected with the First-fruits of Ireland • Bed had brought
together an invaluable fund of information on the subject. He thoutthr it
was impossible not to do so:rt.:den; on this question now; and ht did
rot agree with those who considered that the question was still in the state
in which it had been. He was as wished that the right lion. mem-
ber for Armagh (Mr Cioulbum) should consider that the fund should
not have the full amount of first-fruits that must have been con-
templated. If it were granted it would be of inestimable benefit to
Ireland. It would not only be a just relief to the land, but would
do much to put down those feuds which now distracted Ireland.
it would put an end to the 2,000 debating societies in Ireland, and
would supersede the r.ece•sitt of raising 1,000,0001 by grand
jury assessments, and would v armt the reduction of 1,1100.11001
in the army est mates. Ha hoped the measure would be carried. 3110
the greatest credit was due to the right hon. baronet for bringing it
forward.—(Hear.)
Mr. LEFROY, sen. could not we the reasonableness or justice to
it •ulcting a man of one year's income, after appointment or promotion
to a living or bishopric in Ireland. Had such persons no families to
maintain ? If, then, it were not reasonable or just, how could they
warrant such a measute ? He maintained that they ought to take the
Standard of what was done iu Queen Anne's time. A year's intone,
be maintained, had never been taken from livings for the First= rusts,
and ought not to be. The proposition now submitted, was to whoa-
late a new law ; it was not *IOW on the rind& of any of the pre.
ma% acts des this subject. This measure was *tither reasonable nor
hallf the law were doubtful on the subject, why rot 1• the a new
t.o explain it ;at all events they ought not to allow the fate to a!l
the clergy of Ireland to hang oa the opinion of the law etficcra of the
Crown ; it was endeavouring to accomplish a particular object by a side
wind. If the church property were to build the church, he hoped the
lay impropriators would be called upon to pay their part.
Mr. :STANLEY, at great length, gave a history of the original M-
I vitiation and application of tirst.tnets, and contended that the mea-
sure was no tax upon the clergy, but that it was an arrangetuent under-
stood, and forn ed a part of the compact on the acceptance of a benefice
—and he thought that it would be for the benefit of the church that a
new valuatitm should take place, artl that the first fruits should be ap-
propriated to their original purposes.
Sir R. PEEL opposed the measure, because it was to establish a pre-
cedent of departing front old Parliantentaty usage, which the Heine
might depend upon was founded in wisdom. He would always protest
against the members of the honourable he use being called upon to give
'bele assent to a resolution with only two or three hours consideration.
He objected to the mode in which the opinion of the law officers bad
been proposed to be obtained. because that opinion omit be had on the
resolutions, which were cslculated to give a bias, by expressing el e pe.
Utica! tendency of the measure. Ile would not propose any street:.:.
ment, but he trusted that the good sense of the Honourable tient It.
man, would dictate to hint the necessity of withdrawing the Reso-
lution, and not suffeeng any further diacu'sion to take place ott the
question.
Mr. O'CONNELL supported the measure, and said it. was one of
great importance to the people in Ireland ; and said that the practice
had gone against the statutes, and that it ought to be restored to its pri.
meval institution.
Sir R. INGLIS thought the extent of the burden much exaggerated;
in no part of Ireland dui the tax exceed lid per acre. He hoped that,
as had been suggested, the resolution would be withdrawn, and the
whole question previously submitted to legal advisers.
Mr. S. RICE said the law officers were confined to the question
whether the Crown had a right to re-value the tirst.fruits? The lion.
Gentleman, however well disposed, spoke of a country with which he
was entirely unacquainted. He (Mr. S. Rice) knew districts where
the tax amounted to upwards of one shilling per acre. But the system
excited, besides, religious contests, and dissatisfaction towards the esta-
blished church. He and his hon. Mend had fought the present ques-
tion for ten or twelve years, and he rejoiced that that night their work
was at last to be completed.
Mr. PEEL explained.
Mr. STANLEY said that his Honourable Friend consent el to
withdrawal! the resolutions, except the one referring to the law officers
of the Crown, the question whether the Crown had the right of re-
valuing the first-fruits.
Mr. FITZGERALD hoped. that were the law officers to decide in
the negative, Government would apply to Parliament for legislative
powers for a re-valuation. .
After a few words from the Solicitor-General for Ireland,
Mr. WYSE deprecated the taxing of a whole population of Catho-
lics for the sake of a few Protestants. He knew a case where a talWas
imposed on a parish entirely composed of Catholics, with the exception
of one—a Protestant, who himself objected to the imposition. Protes-
tants themselves bad petitioned the House against the existing
system.
Mr. NORTH doubted not the right of the Crown to proceed to a
new valuation, but whether the new valuation be ing made, the levies
could be raised according to that new valuation. lie thought that ques-
tion should be submitted to the law officers,

Mr. STANLEY said, the resoluti.n ctnanitwd the words, " with
die view to the levy of the first fruits."
After a few words from Mr. North, Sir Charles Wet:tail (who con.
curred in Mr. North's objection), Mr. Stanley, an Hon. Member, arid
Sir Edward Codringion,
Sir J. NEWPORT replied. In the course of his reply, having in.
trotluced and animadverted on a letter purporting to have been written
in the year 180, by a right reverend prelate to another right reverend
prelate, In which certain returns, which had been•moved for by the ho-
nourable baronet, were deprecated as proceeding from an opposition
member, whose object was to degrade and desire), the Protestant esta-
blishment in Ireland,
Sir R. INGLIS and Mr. GOULBURN protested against the
production of a private letter, written at so remote a dare, and not sutS.
ciently authenticated.
An Hon. MEMBER—The present question resolves itself into this:
Are we to have a Protestant establishment or not ?
The resolution respecting the question whether the crown had a right
to ptoceed to a re.valuadon of the first fruits in Ireland, was then
agreed to.
CUSTOMS' Divots ACTS.
The house resolved itself into a committee on the above sets ; Sir A.
GRANT in the chair.

Lord ALTHORP rose to propose that a duty of ss. 10d. be imposed
on every hundred weight of cotton wool, or waste of cotton, imported
(torn foreign countries. He calculated that the produce of this tax
would be between 600,0001. and 700,0001. whence, deducting the ad
vatureirs duty °isle per cent. which last year produced 320,0001. but
on an average produced only 240.0001. the remainder would be about
400,0001. or, at the least, 320,01101. This was certainly not a cnmpen.
sation for the duty removed • but looking at the state of the revenue,
at the probable increased receipts,: arising chiefly from the reductions
on duties made last year, and at the prospect of trade, he did not in
the least fear that the amount of the revenue would not be amply
sufficient to meet the exigencies of the State. lie then moved the
resoltit ion. _

Mr. HU/dB said he could not approve of a tax on a raw material,
hut must agree with the noble lord, that there was no comparison be-
tween this and the tax on printed calicoes, and therefore should not op.
pose it ; but if the noble lend would reduce the army, there would be
no necessity fur either tax. He was confident he must do so in a year
or two ; the ministers were pledged to retrenchment, and he would keep
them to their pledge. (A laugh.)
Lord AIrTHORP ►aid, he hoped it would be possible to reduce the
army by the time mentioned by his hon. friend. ( Hear.)
Mr. WARBURTON said, after the passing of the reform bill, the
whole country would be in such good temper, that toe army might be
considerably reduced.
Mr. (OULBURN thought if the tax was to be repealed in a year
or two, it should not be imposed.
Mr. ROBINSON would not object to the tax, but was con-
vinced the country must soon come to a property tax, which, by ad-
mitting a repeal of taxes that affected industry, would benefit the cond.
try at large.
Lord ALTHORP said it was his intention to repeal the present tax
as soon as possible.—The Resolution was agreed to,
Mr. P. THOMSON moved a scale of duties payable on the importa-
tion of timber from the United Stales, or South America, into the Wc'.t
Intlies..—The Resolution was agreed to.
The House resumed, and the Report was otdered to be recei‘ed
to-morrow.

The House resolved itself into • Committee on the trade with British
Pbesessii•ns Ahmed Bill.

Mr. P. THOMSON moved a scale of duties on the importation of
vsnous articles into the Wear IE4IIEI and Bahamas.

Sir H. PARNELL said, the sound policy would be to take steps for
the entire repeal of the duties.
Mr. HU AIR paid he was so convinced of the Impolicy of the
duties, that he would bring the whole subject bdore the House on
a future occasion.
The Resolution was agreed to.
The House resumed. Report to-mot
111.011LX.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL brought in a bill to amend the repeesetea-
(ion of the peopis of England and Wales.—(Great eheertog.)-.-ile
wished to state that the bill contained some few alterations from rite
statement be had made to the house. The borough 01 Bewdky, lie
.ben supposed, was entitled to send two members, he since found .1

r.