Star.
London, England, 1823-05-15 00:00:00

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roand for. Ile did not rest his charees nn anssrle-
loa; representations or publications. He demanded
my inquiry. It would be an injustice to the Peti-
:wets to refuse it.—The House then divided—
Ayes • - 27
Noes - - 43
Majority against the motion-16
The Lancaster County Court Bill was read a se-
mad time, and committed for Monday.
CUSTOM-HOUSE ACTS.
On the Motion of the CHANcELLos of the ExCHE-
. :um the Honse went into a Committee on the Cus-
onr.liouse Acts. The object of the measure, he said,
teas to make certain alterations in the present Cus-
torn.h„use Duties. He should take care to have a sche-
dule attached to the Report, shewing the alterations.'
Mr. IWNIE wished to know whether by this mea-
sure any increase of taxation was to be imposed on
the Public ?
[het HANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
the only article on which an increase of duty would
be proposed was buck wheat. There were others on
wh;rll a considerable diminution would take place.
Mr. BENNET said, he thought the duties on ob-
jects of natural curiosity, such as minerals and plants,
should he taken off. It frequently happened that the
boxes in which such articles were sent from abroad
were pilfered at the Custom-house, to the great incon-
venience of thos,e to whom they were directed. Ile
hoped some remedy would be found for this abuse.
The CHANCELLOR cf the EXCHEQUER said,
he had no objection that the duty on objects of na-
tural curiosity 'hould be merely nominal. Ile should
sac the same with respect to plants. He himself had
net with instances of the kind alluded to by the Hon.
Gentleman, ;nit he did not know how it happened.
lie believed it arose frum the misconduct of agents.
There was a clause in the Bill, the object of which
was to remedy the inconvenience.
In answer to a question from Mr. BRIGHT,
MC CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
a redaction was to take place on West India sweettaeats.
Mr. MABERLY said, that due notice should have
been given beiore any addition was made to the duty
on buck wheat, which was a most material article in
distillation. The pal ties concerned should have been
made acquainted with it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
he was taking the steps necessary to secure the object
entitled to by the Hon. Gentleman.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether the duty on
sulphur was to he reduced?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
the duty hitherto on sulphur was 15s. the cwt. A
drawback of nine-tenths of this duty was allowed on
sulphur used in the manufacture of oil of vitriol. He
pro;•ese:i to reduce the duty ls.fid. per cwt. allow-
ing no drawback. All parties would be gainers by
this alteration.
After a few observations from Mr. Hume, Mr.
Husussosz, and Mr. D.G ILBERT, on the subject of a
new process for making Oil of Vitriol, the conversa-
tion dropped.
Mr. MABERLY asked, whether any duty was to
be laid on barilla ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
itwas not included in the schedule.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Right
lion. Gentleman had turned his attention to the sub-
ject of wine? He had no doubt but the revenue
would be increased if the duty were diminished one-
third or one-fourth.
Mr. SCARLET'f asked, whether any alteration
was to be made in the present mode of imposing duty
or. books imported. He thought the plan of imposing
it by weight a bad one. All 'consideration of the value
ache article was thus omitted.
TheCUANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
the mode of imposing the duty on books by weight
was the best that could be adopted. It was rather a
delicate matter to say anything in allusion to the wine
duties, unless he had a plan completely matured on
the subject.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR said, that if the duty on wine
was reduced, and the Assessed 'faxes taken off, it
would be the means of inducing many persons of
limited income to reside at home, who now spent their
property abroad.
The Resolutions were then agreed to, the House
resumed, and the Report was ordered to be received
on Monday next.—The other Orders of the Day were
then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-
past Twflve o'Clock.

AGGREGATE MEETING OF THE IRIS!!