Star.
London, England, 1825-03-01 00:00:00

growth ; they are deeply seated, and spring from many'
a root; it may be impossible wholly to eradicate them,
but mach has already been done, much still remains
to be accomplished; and I know of nothing more
likely to effect the object of general improvement,
which must be the desire of the whole Hothe, than to
give the utmost freedom of intercourse with the rest of
the world—a circumstance which must be attended
with peculiar advantage to Ireland, since no part of tire
British dominions possesses, at the present niome:r., so
many inducements for the application of capital(Cheers).
It is the duty of every Member of the Legislature to
assist in producing these re•ults; and I would address
myself in an especial manner to those Hon. Members
who feel that they cannot conscientionsly gralt that
peculiar boon which would diffuse such general hene-
ht. I would say, that upon them it is ten t!;ini.
sand times more incumbent to grant every other
boon which it is in the irv.ver uf the Lev.i,la-
ture to confer (Loud cheers from all :ides of Me House).
I would appeal to those Gentlemen front their owls id-
terests, to the feelings of general inter est,and generosity,
and sympathy for a country which is a pa: tof them-
selves, and ask them whether it would not be more gra..
tifying to them to see Ireland rise in the scale of na-
tions, and take her seat by our side, than leave her to
the chance of any subsequent opportunities?—(Cheers).
In that country there is a population of seven millions,
and yet the Revenue does not amount to more than
three and a half millions, and what other cause can be
assigned for this than the impoverished condition of tire
country ? But it is satisfactory to find that her situation
is mending ; capital is extending, the
.rev.2nue i; aug-
menting, and I would venture to stake my existence
that a long period shall not elapse before the three and
a half millions of revenue shall he doubled—(Cheers).
Then, 1 say, begin there, and pursue steadily the course
you have begun (for not to pursue it now would be
more mischievous than never to have commenced it),
and you will lay the foundation of every improvement
of which the country is susceptible—(Fleur).— But al-
though I cannot accede to the entire wishes of those
Petitions, lam prepared to go a certain extent. I
prepared to make a reduction in the Assessed Taxes,
and although the reduction I mean to propose cannot
be a relief to persons of rank or fortune, yet I am happy
to say it will confer a very substantial benefit on the
poorer classes of society—(Cheers)—and in doing so, 1
shall be able to comply with the prayers of some of the
petitions, and particularly with that presented by the
Honourable Member for Surrey, which prayed relief
for the humbler classes of the community. I
have a long catalogue of the proposed reductions,
containing a great number of small things—they will
not amount to much in point of sum, but I flatter my-
self they will be productive of great good. There are
many items so small that I fear the Howe would ra-
ther be disposed to laugh if I were to read the list,
than attach the importance to the statement which the
probable consequences deserved—( Cries of Read, read).
Well, then, the first item relates to small four-wheeled
carriages, which certainly are not much in possession
of the wealthy; they are drawn by ponies, and are
subject to a tax, which, although not large in
amount, I think it wise to repeal altogether. The
loss occasioned to the State will be 8.571.—(4 laugh).
The neat is a tax which is very seldom paid, and I tear
that many of us here are guilty of the evasion; I mean
the tax on occasional waiters; this amounts to 1,3431.
Newel pi opose to knock that off—(A laugh). The next
is the coachmakers', the levies amounting to 3544. and
I also mean to repeal the tax upon carriages sold by
commission, which, as they were subject to the Auction
Duty, I meant to repeal, this will amount to 3,3911. In
some parts of the country, particularly mining coun-
tries, mules are much used in carrying ore, and are sub-
ject to a small tax, which I mean to remove. The next
relates to thd House Tax. According to the present
law, if a person quits a house, after the commencement
of the year, he is liable to be assessed for the whole
year, and the alteration I propose to make is, that
he shall be only liable during the period of his
occupation. This will amount to 5,0001. Houses
in which merely a single individual is left to take
charge of them are subject at present to a tax,
which I think should be removed ; this will be 4030/.

There exists a regulation which in dairy countries i;
attended with great inconvenience, the effect of which
is, that whereas in places and where there is a cheese

room and a dairy beside, there is but one window al-
lowed ; and, to evade 'the law, they are compelled to
have both in the same room. This I propose to remove,
which will amount to 10001. The next refers to a cer-
tain class of farm-houses, as for instance, when a farm
is thrown upon the hands of a landlord, and he puts in
a labourer to take care of it, according to the existing
law, unless a division is made between the part occupied
by the labourer and the remainder of the house.the whole
is liable to the tax. The amount of this repealwillbelooo/. ,
There is a certain class of servants used in husbandry
who are employed in the capacity of grooms; they are
not servants in the strict sense of the word; they do
not wear livery, but still their master is compelled to
pay for them. I therefore propose to relieve them from
this tax, the amount of which will be 2,0001.
Amongst small farmers in the country, it would be a
great accommodation if they were enabled to let out
their horses, when they had no employment for them.
This would be an advantage to them as well as to the
borrower; and I, therefore, think it would he well to
place them all minder the general denomination of
husbandry horses. The amount of the reduction
will be 4,0001. The next reduction relates to taxed
carts, which are very useful to puny classes of the
community, and I propose to repeal the entire of
the duty, which will occasion a loss of about 18,9131.
The last repeal which I propose is the whole of the
duty on windows on houses not having more than seven ;
inhabited house duty on houses under 101. rent. This
will amount to 235,0001. and will give relief to 937,867
persons—(Hear, hear). I hope,then,fiom this statement,
it will be found, that, whilst I have abstained from con-
ferring relief on those who were best able to sustain the
burdens, I hare not neglected the interests of the
poorer classes of the community ; and I am convinced,
that those very parties who have petitioned for relief,
will feel gratified with the reflection that their poor and
indigent neighbour is relieved from some of the burdens
he had to sustain. I think that this arrangement will
enlist the best feelings of the petitioners on my side, and
I have no doubt my Hon. Fi iend who presented that
Petition, will be himself the first to acknowledge it-1
(liear,kear). This, then, is the result. I propose to repeal
the Assessed Taxes to the amount of 276,9851. The re-
peal of duties to promote the practical benefits of
commerce,• and to give the death-blow to the Giant
Smuggler, .and at the same time to afford relief to those
who must require it, will amount to 1,515,0001. The
total loss occasioned by the reduction, between thin

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'petind and the end of the year 1827, wilt be.
3,650,0001. and against that, I calculate we shall have
a surplus of 4.000,6241. If the principles I have laid
down rest upon a sound basis, I may venture, I think,
to call en the House for their support ; and I anticipate,
as matter of course, that the calculations respecting the
Revenue will be realized. Tne,e, then, ate the propo-
sitions I have to submit. With these propositions in
my hand, I would riot fear to go into a:iy meeting of
the people of the country at at” time, and under any
circumstances, and appeal to their justice and candour,
and without any overweening confidence or arrogant
;resumption, hut with an honest confidence that I had
then, good •crvice, I would claim from them sup- _
cort and approbati:,n.
The !light lion. Gentleman sat down amidst universal chee►s.
Mr. 11 SUNIN ER gave his hearty and cordial assent
to the !&iclgrante.l to l eland and to the poorer classes
of the C0111::',:1;!y. Ile was also much gratified by the general
suaement Itig:it llonourible Gentleman.
Sir 11. PARNELL ,ai !hat he telt perfect satisfac-
ti.n at the statement ref the Right Honourable Gentle-
mar and pArticularly as it regarded Ireland.
MEIBERLY concurred in most of what hail(
fallen from the Right 'Honourable Gentleman. He

wi'hed the diNcitscion to be rstroned, as the House at
pret,ent would be t4ken by surprise. For himself he
meant to give no pledge one way nrr the other. He

emelt thereeolutiona sho.iild be printed, and be coolly considered.
Mr. SYKES said, that the shipping iitrere r wnuld
bail the reductions made by the Right Honnurab'e
Gentleman, os hemp and iron, as one of tae gre..te)t
boons that could be conferred on them. Neither did he

object to the taking away the bounty on oil, though it would be felt
by a particular class.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in an-
swer to the observations of the Hon. Member (Mi. Ma-
bei ly), said he should only move in the Committee our
Resolutions.-1. The reduction of the Wine ditty, on
which it was necessary for the expression of some opinion
on the part of the Committee.-2. The ditty on Coffee.
—3. On Hemp.-4. On so much of the Assessed Taxes as he pro-
posed to repeal.
Mr. M ABERLY thought the discussion should not
take place till the Resolutions had been printed.
Mr. BRIGHT thought something should be done for
the West Indies in a pecuniary point of view. The taking
away the bounty on sugar and rum would materially
affect the West Indies. The measure would cause in-
conceivable consternation in that part of the world. He
hoped therefore time would be given to inquire into the
,übject. By reducing the tax on tobacco one half,
smuggling would be put down, and the revenue would
be injured nothing. He trusted, should the Chancellor
of the Exchequer refuse, some Member would move a
Committee. No equivalent had been given to the
West Indies by the superior encouragement given to the cultivation
of coffee.
Mr. W. SMITE! said, he would reserve for another
opportunity, his opinion on the subject.
Colonel DAVIES stated, that he had given notice of
a motion on the subject of the tax on tobacco.
Mr. HOBHOUSE thought the duty on wine should
have been equalized. Ile was certain that the country
would Lot be satisfied with what had been done on the
subject of the Assessed Taxes. Many individuals would
deface their houses, and injure their health, by bt inging their win-
dows within the number that would exempt them tram taxation.
Mr. J. SMITH thought some reduction mi. lit ~ave
been made of the duty on sugar ; he highly approved of many of the
reduction.; made by the Right Honourable Gel:dolma.
Mr. HART DAVIS expressed his surprise that the
Duty on Tobacco had not been taken off. As some
proof of the smuggling in this al ticie, he wouid state,
that in Ireland, twelve years ego, w it. ii the populcion
was 4,509,000, duty was paid on 9.000.000 putinds of
tobacco; and now, when the population amounted to 7,000,000,
duty was paid only on 3,000,000 pounds.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON was very glad to see
the duty on hemp diminished. He had not expected so
great a reduction in the duty on lot eign iron. Although
deeply intereste4in the iron trade, yet he had always
wished to see the most liberal system adopted. He did
not believe that the introduction of foreign iron w ould
injure English iron in the market. A- reduction of the duties on
copper and tin was also much desired.
Mr. HUME -said, the reductions ~n some articles
were very desirable, but it was surprising that Tobacco
and Brandy had not been noticed. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer had begun to return, to 'sounder prin-
ciples of policy, and the House ought not to allow him
to stop short before all the possible good had bee,i ef-
fected. Smuggling would never be put down unless the
duties on tobacco and brandy were reduced. The Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer said, that some articles on
which the duties were repealed last year, bad inci eased
twelve, thirteen, and twenty per cent, in consumption,
but on malt and tobacco the increase was only three
per cent. The reason was, that the duty on them ex-
ceeded what the articles would faitly bear. If they were
lessened forty or fifty per cent. the increase in the Re-
venue arising from them would be greatly augmented. Let the

experiment be tried, and the advantage w.trild be soon manifest.—
iThe Honourable Member concluded, by expressing his disappro-
bation of the Sinking Fund..
Mr. HUSKISSON said, that so few objections were
made to the propositions detailed in the powerful and
luminous statement of his Right Honourable Friessd,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his remission of the
public burdens, that there seemed to be no necessity to
defend him. The House generally approved, and ad-
mired his principles and their results; they approved
his statement and intentions to-night, and he telt so
would the country, when it became acquainted with
them. There was a reduction on foreign iron—he was
glad to see she worthy Alderman, who was so deeply
interested in that community, receive it in a manner to
worthy of his knowledge and liberality. The proposed
remission was caused—not because it was necessary for
the Blitish miner, but because it was necessary tor the
manufacturing classes that it should be made as
speedily as possible. It could by no means injure the
admission of British iron—but the chief cause of the
remissions on iron was for the extension of our com-
merce, and the improvement ('f our manufactories.—
The excellence of foreign iron was well known in the
production of those commodities, which were so admi-
rably manufactured ; but orders for which could not be
performed, owing to the former high duties on foreign
iron. In some time, he might propoae a re.hiction on
caov,p,pisehr,tonorte‘vvii:eh
allany
theseview tbostitir:drapncrue,hibbuittoimyer,elulytiews-t
The chief complaints were made by the Iloaourable
Member for Bristol, with respect to the West Indian
Colonists; but what was the enti:e matter, but a bounty
upon sugar? How did the taking away the refiner injure
them? No one could contend. save by the removal of
a bounty ; however, they slimed their desire to serve
the Colonies in other articles; and parti:ularly, their
' reductions on coffee proved the wish they had to serve
the Colonists, and lighti he lahr if the slay- HI
also thought the reLiur
must be of vast benef
and those spirits which

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iffi

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1

Melt the lithouts of the .laves. He
[moil vn turn from 6J. to Bs. -
!fit to them. As to smuggling,
;1 were generally smuggled, such