Star.
London, England, 1830-03-02 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, NlARcit L
LEAD.

GENERAL DISTRESS.

BURNING WIDOWS IN INDIA.

51arquls of .CLEVELAND, who moved at the eighteenth
February, for certain return,' of the quantity of lead and lead ore
imported and exported in a given period. now moved that they be
furnished fortiewith.—Ordered.

The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the owners
and o:cupiers of land at Sittingboume, complaining of great distress,
and expressing • hope that their lordships would grant an inquiry
into Ihe subject. The noble duke likewise presented petitions from
Adam and the c.tv of Canterbury to the like effect. The petitioners
iron) the latter ;lace. tomplained of the malt and beer tax, and prayed
to he relieved frwil them.
CONDITIONS OF THE WOkKING CLASSES.

On the motion of the Duke of RICHMOND, the order for sum.
r.r. kg the peers, on Tuesday the 9th instant, (the day appointed by
him for bringin3 forward the motion noticed below) was discharged.
The noble duke then said, " I.now move, my lord.t, that this house
be summoned on Thursday week, when I shall have the honour of
pibmitting the following motion for your lordships consideration:—
that x Select Committee he appointed to take into consideration
the internal state of the country as far as the working classes are
roncer”ed; and the effect of taxation on productive industry."

The Duke oftwo petitions from the
female inhabitants of two parishes in Derbyshire, praying the inter.
• terence of the Legislature, to prevent the burning of Hindoo widows.
The noble duke also presented a petition from Waterford, against
East India monopoly.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The Earl of WINCHIISEA presented a petition, most nume-
rously and respectably signed, from the owners and occupiers of
land in Romney Marsh. He regretted that he had not an opportu-
nity of presenting the petition--.having been detained from the house
by indisposition (we believe)—before the motion of his noble friend
(Earl Stanhope) was brought before their Lordships for discussion.
He would take the present opportunity of asking the noble duke at
the head of his majesty's government, whether there was any inten-
tion of reviving the finance committee ? During tee short time that
committee sat, their labours had given general satisfaction, from the
report which they had made on the subjects of their investigation.—
He should not then enter into any detail with respect to the reduc-
tions which they had recommended, some of which had been adopted.
—He was ready to acknowledge that considerable reductions had
been made, but he was not prepared to say that further reductions
could not be carried into effect without endangering the safety of the
existing establishments. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, he was of
opinion that they might tend still to preserve the honour,
dignity, and high character of the country. (Hear hear.)—
He sincerely hoped and trusted that the finance committee would
resume its labours, and that the country, distressed as it was, would
ultimately be restored to a flourishing condition. He was, how-
erer, fully satisfied, either that the taxes must be reduced, or wine
means brought forward to enable the distressed population to pay
the taxes.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said, it would not be expected
of him to reply to the observations of the noble earl, with respect to
the necessity of reducing the taxation. " I have, therefore, my
lords," added the noble duke, " only to reply to the question put to
rue by the noble earl—whether it be the intention of government to
revive the finance committee? In answer, I beg to say, that there
is no such intention."
Earl DARNLEY was anxious to say a few words on the distress
which prevailed. He had never denied that agricultural distress
was felt severely in some districts, but he did deny that it was uni-
versal. In his own Immediate neighbourhood, he could state with
truth, that there was no want of work, and that in two parishes,
hich he knew, the poor rates did not amount to more than 4s. in
the pound. lie was perfectly well aware that, in the county of
Kent, although the distress was great, yet it was not so great as in
other parts of the kingdom.
, The petition was then read, and laid on the table.