Star.
London, England, 1824-03-06 00:00:00

the object of Ministers had been popularity, they yrould
ot have selected this measure ; but he believed that they
bad done so from a sincere desire to promote the in-
terests of commerce—(Hear, hear).
Sir JOHN NEWPORT.—He considered Ministers
we entitled to the approbation of the flow* and of
the country for having proposed this measure--(Hear,
heo). It was matter of great praise for them, That when
they might have proposed measurei, which would pro-
cote for them popularity, they disregarded everything
asst the interests of commerce, incurred obloquy, and,
proposed a. measure which be believed Would be ulti-
mately productive of the greatest benefit. Great dis-
tress would, perhaps; follow upon this measure; hoe it
was the duty of the House to look that danger in the
face, and. to support, as he should, a measure pregnant
with so much benefit.
Mr. EGERTON saw no reason why a system under
which the silk trade flourished should be altered.
Captain MAIIERLY maintained the propriety of the
proposed alteration.
Mr. THOMAS WILSON gave credit to his Majesty's
Ministers for the candour with which they brought for-
ward the measure; but he thought it would be only a
half measure if unaccompanied with a revision of the
Corn Laws.
Mr. LYTTLETON said, when the question came re-
gularly before the House he should oppose ir.
Mr. HUME wished to know who were the Petitioners?
Were they masters. or workmen, or both ? He approved
most sincerely of this measure, which instead of hurting
either master or workmen, would benefit each to the
amount of 25 per sent. more than they now enjoyed.—
for his part, he firmly belicied the Petitioners would
have to thank the Ministers yet.for the results which
would follow the measure, notwithstanding their present
hostility to the proposed alteration.
Sir J. WROTTESLEY objected to the tone of re-
monstrance adopted by the last lionourable Member and
the advocates of the new commercial anti political prin.
ciples. They'told them they were better judges of their
'interest than they were themselvei. But he would tell
that Honourable Member that the Petitioners bad stated
that if the Measure were proceeded in, the whole of this
till now happy class of artisans would, as a matter of
course, be discharged. Ile strongly impressed on the
flight Honourable Gentleman (the Chancellor of the'
Exchequer), that instead of applying, the surplus now
intended to be applied to the building of Churches and
Winds& Castle repairs, he should apply it to the reduc-
tion of the Window Tax, which would relieve the poorer
classes of artisans of taxes to theunsount of 1,i00,000/.
and would be more sensibly felt by them than any other
possible relaxation of the pressure of taxation.
Mr. J. SMITH could not 'but feel opposed to the'
seine of the Petitioners, as he could not see anything
to apprehend from the reduction of the duty on the huh-
port on silk, which was a raw material adapted to our'
manufactures. He had no hesitation in saying that the,
country ought to be grateful, and would be so very
shortly, to Ministers, for their adoption of more liberal'
sentiments of commercial policy.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER felt

that the sentiments he had on a former night advocated
his financial statement had either been so ably en-
breed by some of. his colleagues in office, or by the li-
beral admi,sions of some chi the opposite side of the
Rothe, that it would:tte a loss "of time to enter more
fully than partially to rerly-tolhe observations of the
Honourable B.sronet 'and..she ..Member for Coventry.
He was as convinced as oily. ia.that House of the neces-
sity of 'coming to a decision soon upon these questions
as to telaxation of duties-on imports. Convinced of the
inconvenience of delay to the parties engaged in the
tilde, he would confess that if he had only been acting
of himself, or from his own impression, he should be-
fore this have sucmitted the details of the proposed al-
teration of duties to the House, He, however, in com-

pliance with the representation of parties interested,
had been much occnpied with their attendances and
statements for above a week. He should be able to
finish the consideration of these subjects he hoped by
Monday, on which day he should subMit to the House,
when in Committee on the Customs Acts, the whole
details on this subject distinctly—(Near).
Mr. Alderman BRYDGES, after detailing the flue•
tuations which had taken place in the Silk Trade of
other countries, implored the Ministers, whom he now,
had in his view—(A laugh)—(The Honourable Member
at this =mem perceived he had insensibly advanced
nearly into the centre of the House, and opposite 'his
Majesty's Ministers), to approach the subject of these
representations with a due consideration of the inconve-
nience and distress wine]; they were likely to experience,
according to their impression of its deo. If these im•
pressions were well founded, they were of the most se-
rictus consequence, as it had been stated that not less than
60,000 persons would be thrown out of employment.
Mr. CURTEIS was anxious to see the attention of,
Ministers turned to the alleviation of the agricultural
difficulties of the country, as welt as those of the mer-
cantile interests. Firm-house windows should, he
thought, be entitled to exemption from duty as well as
shop-windows of fradespeople; and the tales on leather,
malt, or hops, were in his mind, and in that of the com-
munity, more desirable subjects for reduction than either
silk or wool. •
•Mr. MUNDY said, that representations had been
made to him by different silk-weavers at Derby, that by
the introduction of the new duties they would lose {tom
2001. in some cases, to 20001. in others, in consequence
of the stock on hand.
Mr. HALDIMAND earnestly' hoped the Right Hon.
Gentleman would not persevere in his intention. As to
a free trade with India, he denied the fact of our having
a free trade with India, as had been said, so long as the
Company had a controul over the persons who might
go out to India to carry on trade there. He mentioned
a case within his owaimmediate knowledge. It was a
case of a mercantile house, which had applied for
leave to the Directors to send out to India, on commer-,
vial business, a young Gentleman in their employment.
.o that application they received a refusal; and upon
inquiry further the house found there was no "reason to
hope for redress, should they resolve to apply to the
Hoard of Coittrouls He would ask whether a permis-
sion to trade with India under such circu instances of
restriction, could or ought to be dignified witty the epi-
thet of a free trade P
Mr. PORTER said, the persons he represented were
as mach dissatisfied with this alteration as arty other ;
lint because they were adverse so much to the increased
liberality of the system, as that they thought the pre-
sent was not the in,trnent for such an experiment.
Mr. W. W. WYNN did not rise to enter into the dis-
sussion generally, hut to offer an observation relative to
tile case now alluded to.' Though an attentive Meinber
't that Board, he recollected.. no such case as that I
liladed to. There were many cases in which the