Star.
London, England, 1831-07-02 00:00:00

CUSTOM DITTIES.

The house their went fist .t Committee on the Custom
Duties Acts.
Lord A LTHORP renewed his resolution for the realuce
tion of the tuff.* on sca.borne coals to take effect from
March lac (we think he said.)
Mr. GOULBURN said, he did not rise to oppoee the mo-
tion, but to expiess the hope that they should leave an op-
portunity of discupsiug the duties to be repealed, and the
effects upon the reveinie, as the duties heretofore proposed to
supply the delictencies were nut to he enforced. The defi.
ciency would occasion moat seliolli ine.ollWellienee, he feared,
at the end of the year.
Lord ALTHORP said, he was happy to say :hat there
were not the din.inuti..ns in .he avenue which might have
been expected. The deficiency in the Exei.e was 914,0001.
but then the repeal of duties sere to be taken into account :
had there not been reductions ut duties, there would have
been an increase, supposing the ...me om-umplion to have
taken place, of 1,093,0001. Again, in the Customs, there
was a diminution to 252,0001 but had there not been the
reduction of duties—there would have been an actual iticre..se
lof 300,0001 Thus the impt.nenienta iu die revenue. from
the reduction of taxes, had been greater than he anticipated
they would be.
I Mr. tiOULBURN and Mr. HUNIE said, the duties un
I tiles were anxiously sought to be repealed.
Mr. GoULBURN bald he did not wish to ask for fur.
; they reductions of duties, because he believed the noble
Wed bad gone to the utmost verge of reduction ; he only
. asked that the equality in the trades of slates Lid tiles should
not be disturbed.
Lord ALTHORP said, further repeals were objected to,
but that on tiles was not collected like that on slates. which
1 created the difficulty.
Resolution agreed to.
Lord A LTHORP then moved a resolution that the l'uty
en coals and mho be repealed, and another scale adopted
(the same as formerly brought forward by his lordship) by
which coals exported in a British vessel were to pay a duty
of 3e. 4d. and it in a foreign vessel tie. Btl per tun, to be in
torte limn March.
Mr. GOULBURN objected to the resolution, on the
ground that by a former resolution of the house, the duty on
exported= had been 12s. lid. and that the resolution mar
proposed would give an advantage to foreign vessel of Us.
per ton.
Mr. C. P. THOMSON explained that the fernier repo.
lutiou bad been rounded in error, and that the present rano.
ludo° had been framed on the calculation of the difference
of price that coals could be urodurxd at in the different mu.
kets in France and Holland.
Mr. WARBURTON opposed the motion, as he thou?ht
that it was impolitic to encourage exportation of orals. It
had been ascertained that they could not be reproduced,
and although we possessed a plentiful stock at the pteseni,
our magazine might be cilia sled. On the period which t
would take to exhaust our store there were different opi tt i t it,.
entertained. but he thought that the shonest petiod assigned
WWI nearest the truth.
Mr. DAWSON supplied the resolution.
sir. ROBINSON reprobated hon. members who pro.
leased the advucatton of tree trade, but yet could gcl • tlt of
their general principal on particular oceasimis ; or ti he

1

•

gab

s•- tht that they always extended their theory to the weak-
est portion of the community. Thi greater rortion of Lis
esinati•uenta were in the glove trade. and trany hon. meet.
bees who were ready to give their assent to free trade in
gloves were equally strenuous in their opposition to free
trade in corn. He would conterd that if free trade was at
it to he beneficial, it must be unlimited ; and at the same
glow ho would contend that it was impossible to institute
f•-e rade in corn in so highly a taxed country as England.
Mr. lIERNA Is thought tilat there was no trade. either
is 'loves or corn, in whith free trade would not benefit
England.
Mr. WA RAU TON contained.
Colonel 818111ORPE would wish to hear more of the
opinions of Ministers on free trade before they ventured to
intrad..re env more of their measures of Reform. ( A laugh.)
Th v had nil heard on 'the previous evening what great
eft' yrs sere ,x-ected by the commercial people when the
H hrm dill struvild pass,
Mr. II U3I P. cad I not well understand how the gallant
eolon,l had 1111(13.N•ti to couple the motion before the Hon.,
with the Ilefor it nit] The motion etas reg ailing the duty
on calls. and he 'bought that the duty should he adjusted so
as to enrouraLte exportation. by making the price something
near what the article could be brought into the Mere; t
markets from other places.
After some forther t'btrussion the resolution was agreed tn.
Lord A LTHORP then moved that the duty on harilla
be repealed, and that it duty of per ton be exacted (the
sante as his Lordship formerly brought forward), to be
reckoned in force from the 14th of December. 1830.
After some diseurdan. the resolution wns agreed to.
lord A IsTIIOIIP then moved a tesolution for the repeal
or Vie duty of 3i per pnun lon was candles. Pe said that
this had been over! ))Iced when the duty had been taken off
tallow candles, end Ow, in consequence, the stocks of can-
sEemakers were still liable to he exci eel ; and a gr ast tor-
tion of the inconytaiettee intended to be removed still ex-
isted. Its room of the duly on the candles, the re.nlution
was framed with the purpose of exacting a duty of 3,15. ter
ton nn foreign sax impotred.
31r. $A DLER did ant approve of a duty on was, be-
cause 1110 the Troduee of wax constituted a great item of
profit to the English c ntaTer.
Lord ALTHOR P explained that this measure was cal-
culated to further the hon. member's views, because. bad the
duty remained on the candles, it acted upon Ilrit:sh as well
as foreign wax, that he'ng now removed from the candles to
that of wax imported. it would only affect foreign wax, and
act as a bounty to wax of home produce (hear).
Mr. SA ()LEH was very much scratitkd with the explana-
tion (a booth).— Resolution leveed to.
Loot A ITIIOIIP next moved a resolution that the duty
on printed calicoes lie repealed, and a duty of id. be placed
orlon cotton wool imported from the colonies, and 4d. upon
that imported from the East Indies.
After a few words from .11t1 Woon. Mr II enatEs, and
Mr HUNT. the resolution was speed to.
The howe leaving resumed, and ordered the report to
he received on Monday next, resolved itself into a com-
mittee on the

rxersa ACTS.
Lewd A ITIIOII P hazing proposed a resolution for the
repeal of the cardle tax in Jan. 1832.
Mr. 13Elt iil ES said it would be more advantageous to
t..le off the do;e Imo
Mr. II IDIE was for taking off entirely the duty on soap
and candle*. a-d laving it en tallow imported from Russia.
Lord ALTIIOIIP thooght that to raise the tax on itn•
rem el tallow hi he-, would be to step the trade with
Russia.
Mr. WU LBU RN said it would have the effect of rais-
ins, the price of candles.
Afler a tew 117,40.4 from Mr. PROTHIROL,
Mr. ROBINSON said. such reductions as the present
weir ineffectual Ile was for raising an equitable tax on all
realized prop( ray, anti reducing the tax on sugar and tea by
one half. aril •he a •(•ss d taxes altogether.
Mr. PAO rr coii,:ided in the opinion of the hon. mem-
ber for Middles x.
Lord A 1.1.1101 t P. in answer to a question from Alder-
man Thompson. s•titi the time of taking off the duty on
candles had been changed from octobtr to January, because
the alter itions in the wine duties had not been erected, as
expected, in the last quarter.
An honourable MEMBER expressed himself against a
property tax.
Col. SIBTII OR PE was for a tax on absentees, who de-
serted their King and country, and abandoned the poor.
Mr. HUNT rose amidst tries of " Oh, oh!" The hon.
member said be was so extremely obnoxious that he would
soon deliver no opinion at all.—(Hear.) This obnoxiousness
arose, no doubt, in consequence of the pretended coalition.
Now, he begged leave to say, that he was instructed by his
constituents to sit on the side of the House he now occupied,
that he might watch his Majesty's ministers. I Hear, and a
laugh.) With respect to the absentees, they did not leave
the country to ahardon the king and the poor, but to avoid
an amount of taxation such as was not to be met with in
ary other quarter of the globe. lie regretted that the noble
Lord should delay the repeal of the candle duty. To put it
off' till when the winter sus almost over would he a disap-
pointment to the poor If the noble Lord heard with what
gratitude the pour spoke of this little boon, he was sure he
mild not delay it A total, and nothing but a total repeal
tit. the tax upon soap. would be a great boon to the poor, who
aeft•red as notch from want of cleanliness as irons want of
fond. The best spLcific against the cholera murbus was
cleanliness.—( A laugh.)
The resolution was then aereed to. The house resumed,
and ordered the report to be received on Alot.day.

I,UPPLY.
On the question that the House go into a Committee of
Supply,
Mr. HUME said he left the house at three o'clock this
morning, expecting nothing of importance to come on after
tha•. hour. lie was surpriaed, on looking at the votes, to
tird that, after his departure, a committee had been ap-
pointed on the militia estimates. He complained of the
Committee having been moved, as last year, without previ.
out nreice.
Sir 11. H ARDI NO E said an indirect censure was east
upon him. It was he that moved the militia estimates com-
mittee last year without previous; notice. It was the custom
of the house so to do, because it was merely a form to allow
a cenimittee up stairs to consider the estimates laid before
them by the minister at war.
Mr. Hl'Mlb aid Sir H. HARDINOE explained.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of
Supply.
On the ►nn•ion of Mr. S. RICE, 14,4501. were voted to
erfrnt expenditure of the British Museum during the
y rar 1831.
On the question that 80,0001. be voted for the civil con.
titlgtllol.4l, tit. HUME asked what measures had been
taken to effect some reduction in this department ? He
would ask what steps had hen t: ken to reduce the Consular
cleaves.? lie was daily inform d that the if:.. ttr fart of
the Consular expenses was money lost.
lk Mr. S. RICE aid reductions were in progress. The
CorAular expenses were under the consideration of the Se-
cretary for Foreign Affairs. That vote had been postponed
till the Noble Lord was present, and gave himself the ex.
plar.ations.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. S. RI( E said he should observe, before proposing
the next estimates. that certain transfers from the Civil List
caused en apparel t increase of 40,5001. but there was in re.
'lop a demos:. of 2.11001.
On the question that 13.0001. be voted for public works
acid repairs, Mr. IL COLBURN called the attention e•f
Government to the insecure slate of the building in Pall.
cortait inn the National Gallery.
Mr. S. RICE said, no repott had been made to the Tres.
sury. *hich could give rise to a supposition that the building
was in the slightest degree insecure.
Mr. HUME reminded the Noble Lord of his promise
that all the suns in the Civil List, not connected with his
Majesty perste shy, were to be submitted to a select Coen.
um tee. The present transfers should be submitted to such
Creisoiltiee.
Lord A LTHORP had not forgotten his promise, and In.
tekel.d to fuitil it.
idler a few words (torn Mr. He nE, Mr. HEHRIES, and
31r. S. Mee.
Mr. IL GORDON could not believe that the ordinary
r pairs amounted to the aunt put down in the present esti.
owes. Hr supprehd there were new buildings going on.
Ile precee•ded to complain of the expense incurred in build.
lug the
t'olunel SIBTHORPE said there was a charge for re.
pair.ng a palace in F.dinburgh, which he supposed might be
to lit it up for the Duke of Braganca. lie thought the
Frec:ece of such refugees was no ornament to the country.
Mr. 6. RILE said the charge of 39,0001. in the account
w is fur the r. poir of twelve royal palaces, none of the money
Ist,. to be applied in the manner the Right lion. Gentleman
supl••osed. He always thought it was the pride of England
to Lifer an asylum to persons of all countries.—(Hear.)
Mr. MARTIN hoped the state of Westminster Hall
w5.,..1c1 be attended to.

Mr. FERGUSON said the state of Westminster Hall
was a disgrace to the country in the eyes of foreigners.
Lord A LTHORP said arrangements were making for the
removal of the documents from Westminster Hall.
Mr. HU ME said the charge of 39,0001. was said not to
be too much for twelve palaces ; but why bad we twelve pa-
laces ?—They were kept up as barracks, or workhouses for
state paupers. The paupers in the workhouse were sup-
portid by the parish—the paupers in Hampton Court were
supported by the public—what was the difference ? The
sum asked for the repair of those palaces was mote than the
expense's of the American government in Washington. The
real question was, how was the money raised ? If govern-
ment saw the order for selling 3,000 beds every year in the
metropolis for the payment of Assessed Taxes, they would
then know the consequences of such extravagance : it
certainly could not go on. The taxes that pressed most
heavily on the people were the Assesved Taxes, on that I
claim of people who were struggling to Imp themselves above
pauperism.
The resolution was agreed to. i
4.7701. was voted for Post Patrick Harbour.
4.0001. for Donaghadee Harbour. 1
12,0901. tor the new buildings of the British Museum. 1
4.7001. for Holyhead Road and Harbour.
25.0001. for revenue buildings in Liverpool.
After a conversation between Mr. Spring Rice, Alr. Goul.l
bum. Mr. O'Coundl, Mr. Robert Guidon, and others, the':
grant was allowed.
A sum of 42,0001. to defray the charge of salaries and al-
lowahces for the officers of the Houses of Lords and uom-
Commons was also allowed.
A sum of 34,5001. to defray the expenses of both !louses
nt Paclivnient for the year 1f331 was next put.
Mr. HUME objected to the gnat expense incurred in
Ire House of Lind. last year, in consequence of the proceed-
in,•,s in tile East lietford Disfranchisement Bill, from which
s.ogood nsulted. . .. .

The grant wAs then allowei
A tier a few words from Mr. &rntt,o RICE and others, a
Kum of 46.4001. *as allowtd to dteray the Treasury defi-
ciency for 1131.
11,1:11. was next allowed to defray the charge of the Fee
Fut.d for the same period.
16,47.11. to defray the charge of the Secretary of State fur
the Colonies. _ .

11r. IIU3IE objected to the great expense of this charge.
Lord Ili 'WICK observed, that since the present minis.
tern came into office, the greatest possible attention had been
paid to economy ; it was reckoned unfair, however, to re-
duce the salaries of those officers who had, at considerable
Pac r lice, gone out in many instances to unhealthy climates.
Tue Secretary of Siate for the Colonies, however, had, in
two instances, considerably reduced the salaries of two rffi-
errs, whom he had appointed.
Mr. HUME contended that many of the Colonies were
willing to supporrthemselves. The honourable gentleman
bet g. d to know what was done with the Governorship of
Gibraltar ? _ _ .

!Aid HOWICK observed that Lord Chatham, the Go-
vetnor. was still alive, therefore nothing could be done with
it. (A laugh.)
31r. HUN'I observed that be had been charged with a
coalition (which cost the country nothing whatever ;) now he
wished to ask a question, with reference to a coalition which
load been alluded to in all the newspapers, accusing the Go-
vernment of not abiding by their professions of economy.—
It had been stated, erronowusly he believed, that there was
such a coalition in the family of the chief of his 31ajesty's
Govetnment, that he std his family alone received 68,0001.
...year out of the taxes ?
Ti.e CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose—
(on which several voices exclaimed, " his not worth wbile ")
Ile said that the hun. member did not seem to know the
meaning of the word " coalition." (Hear, hear.) lie (the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) knew that his noble friend had
been attacked in the newrpapers for having placed many of
his own relations in .thee. If any of those persons were
unfit for their situations, then his noble friend bad been pro-
perly attacked ; but if they were fit, why should not they
hold the office as well as any others ? He was quite sure
that 68,0001 was an extravagant statement. Was his noble
friend to be accused of desiring the emoluments of office,
who, doting his whole life, had refused office rather than sa-
crifice his principles ?
Lord HOWICK could not but express his regret that his
noble friend had even noticed in this manner an attack from
such a quarter, which ought only to be treated with utter and
silent contempt. (Hear.)
Mr. HUNT.—I hope the public will hear this; and the
answer that I have received.
Mr. WARBURTON suggested that it would be advis-
able to follow the course which the late Government had in-
tended to pursue, of having a regular debtor and creditor
account of the expenses of the Colonies.
18.6041. was 'used to make good the deficiencies of the
fee fut,d of the Privy Cour.ciL
9,3731. to defray contingent expenses and messengers'
hills of the Treasury.
The house then resumed, and the chairman reported pro-
gress, and asked have to sit again.
Report on .Ilooday next.
Several of the orders of the day were disposed of.
Mr. BERNAL brought up the report of the committee
on public works in Ireland. The resolutions were agreed
to, and leave was given to bring in a bill on the subject.
LettDOX COAL BILL. _ _ _

IRAN LAN D LEWIS moved the second read-
ing of the London Coal bill, and said that the discussion
might be taken on going into the committee.
The bill was read a second time accordingly, and ordered
to be committed on Monday sennight.
Mr. STANLEY gave notice, that he would move
that, on Monday, the House should resolve itself into a
Committee to consider the propriety of advancing motley for
making bridges and roads in Ireland.

ARMS •ND •MMUNINION (11111LAND).BILL.

Mr. STANLEY moved for leave to bring in a bill tore-
gulate the importation of arms and ammunition into Ireland,
and the keeping thereof. He should propose that there
should be a registration of arms throughout Ireland, and
that each particular weapon should be marked with the
name of the county where it was registered, so that it might
afterwards be traced and identified through whatever hands
it might pass. He also proposed that unregistered per-
sons, found in the possession of arms, should nut be
visited, as heretofore, with a penalty, but that they
should be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour, and punished
' accordingly. (Hear, hear.) lie had also another proposi-
tion which ought seem strong to hon. members of that
(louse who were unacquainted with Ireland, but which
would appear highly necessary to those who did know it.
The proposition was this, that the Privy Council should
have power to:proclaim any county, which might be in a
state of disturbance, and that in such district the violation of
the proposed measure should be deemed a misdemeanour,
punishable at discretion with seven years transportation.
(Loud cries of " Oh, oh, oh !" from all parts of the House.)
The House would remember that this was not introduced as
an ordinary provision, but was only to be enforced where
counties were proclaimed to be In a state of disturb nice.
Mr. O'CONNELL said he would be unworthy of being
1 a Member for any place in Ireland if he suffered such a
1 frightful measure as this to pass, as if it were a matter of
• course, at that late hour, and without any discussion. (Hess,
hear.) It appeared that nothing was to be done for behind
but by resorting to the usual plan of intimidation and coer-
cion. The people, by the Bill of Rights, had an undoubted
right to possess arms, and yet here was a Bill to transport
them fur it. It was too late an hour, even as a matter of
I form, to move for leave to bring in such a Bill. He believed
the ordinary administration of the present laws sufficient to
I reserve tranquillity in Ireland. At all events, he would
naive, that this motion be adjourned until that day week,
if such day would suit the luconvenience of the right hon.
gentleman.
Mr. STANLEY said, that if the opinion of the house
was against his then bringing forward the Bull. he was per-
fectly willing to postpone it ; but he would, at the same
time, observe, that he believed the meastne to be deeply
essential to the peace of Ireland ; fur there never was a time
when it was so necessary to have a strong Government in
Ireland.
Mr. WISE said, that the ere of an insurrection alone
could justify such a measure as the present, and he should
oppose it to the utmost of his power.
Mr. STANLEY then postponed the Bill until (we be-
lieve) Monday week.

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