Star.
London, England, 1816-05-10 00:00:00

..isafami'airzwir:rrizocEEDlNcite

.s

.• .• • - SOUSE OF LOILDS,MAY 9. . .
M ili-Ctoomittoo of Privileges, Width sat on the Bortiiwiek
Peerage; whoeises were examined at ttte.Bar,-who proved the
present ailment of that title to be the proper heir of the last
lealtoar.—The Committee thee adjourned to Tuesday next.
The Meier& of CHOLMONDE.LEY reported the Answer
of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to the 4ddresses of
alie•Houte, nn the aecent Marriage, o( alit Princess Charlotte
with. the Prior Leorsici of Cohan. _
On the motion of Earl S r4fltidry.,*lleiritton Election
' Bill was ordered to bs reprinted, nei anamint of -iii inateint
Inaccuracies in the present copy of the 891. ; , ~7.
• Mr. Coss, front the Margate' Pier and Hrbour CompanY,
bnaught Aip 'an AceOunt of the Receipts and Expendkure of the
Ilt!ti C011)lially> ' ... .
Esrl HAR ROWBY resented x Palace from Tiverton, pray-
ing that no additional ditty should bee unposed on Foreign Wheat
La, tined. , . •
The Oak Duty and the Tonnage Additional Duty Bills, were
recd the third time and passed.
The Wrought Goods MU was read the liecood time, and or-
dered to be committed.
'Tie* Lindahlps then adjourned till to-morrow. (this day). ,
. • • HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mi. MOLYNEUX presented a. Petition from the City-ami.
Ceneetsy of Gloucester, aping the Leather Tax.—Laid as the
Table. • .
Beddoos were also presented from the Innkeepers of the
aulf Comity of Souse*, et Bodatin, in COMM", egalosiJko 10'
coko edUalveVnef eml arras tlga Tawas el Kent, air blew.
cofttle•VoWeemoity in ompehlre, and of the County of Wad.
ford, ageloet the• Lea er Tu. •
General THORNTON p his motion relative to per- •
erns protticated for Forgery on the Sank at England, to Thum-
diy nett.. • :
tleutions were presented front n-lashateAp praying an amend-
ment on the ()Wilkey Laws ; front the Innkeepers of the City
al Limerick against Illkit Distillation; from Arbroath, in 4co •
land, •for amendment in the Distillery Laws; and from the Tan-
' sera of Blackburn, in Lancashire, against the Leather 'fax.—
Laid on the Table.
Mr. LYT FLEFON presented a Petition from the Directors
of the Poor of the City of Worcester against the . Leather Tax.
The Petition complained of the Increase of the Poor of that City,
add attributed it in a great 'degree to thc.heavy Tax on Leather.
Latil ea the Table. -
Mr. itivittc brought up Accounts of all Leather Exported
from Great Britain for Eye years.--Laid on the Table.
A Person from the African Company brought ups Accounts of
the CoMpany for the year 1814.
A Person from the Margate Connatty brought up the Andual
Accounts of the. Pier and Harbour Duties.
Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS postponed tiU to-morrow denv
idea the Committee on Agricultural Distress.
Petitions were presented from Galway. praying for an alters.
don of the Distillery Laws; from the County-we Mayo, platy-
log fur the protection of 4,ie Linen Trallatr; ' awl from the Shoe-
makers of Loudon, Westminster, an Soutliwark, againt the
(leather Tax.
Mr. H. ADDINGTON !Dwight up an •Aecount of all Persons
confined for Debt, and taken io Execution for Debt, in Eng Lind
and Wales, within the last year.—Laid on the Table.
The second reatliug of the Alien Bill was postponed „till us.
morrow.
HOLT INCLOSUIIE BILL.
Mr. ROBERT WARD complained that the
CoMmittee on the Holt Inclosure Bill had made its
Report without having called the necessary evidence.
The Persons having a right in the Commons to be
enclosed, were to get compensation in Tithe-free
Lands, but the Lands named for them, he had been
informed, were subject. to Tithes to the Dan and
Chapter of Winchester; he had, therefore, in the
Committee, moved for an adjournment of a day. in
order to sendlor the Clerk of the Dean and Chapter,
to give evidence on the point, but was over ruled,
tend the Committee made its i.etwart withenst any suf.
fictent Information on the point. He now, therefore,
moved for a revision of the Report.
. Mr. J. P. GRANT defended the conduct of .the
Committee. -They 'did not consider the evidence
material, and they were bound to proceed aideout
any unnecessary delay.
Mr. GEORGE ROSE supported the motion.— ,
He complained, that Gentlemen came down to Com-
mittees, and voted without knowing any thing on
the subject. •
Sir JOHN NEWPORT asked, how the Right
Honourable Gentleman and his friends, who gene.:
rally came dowel to the House after the discussion
of the. subject of .debate was over, .and always voted
on one side, could complain on this point ? .
Mr. G. ROSE explained.
Mr. S. BOURNE was persuakd , that. the delay'
mould be allowed in a.Court ofiJustics, and argued'
.therefore that the Coalmines ouglU to lane granted;
it. Private property ought not to bet injuriously die.
posed of for the expedition of. a day or two.
Mr: W. WYNNE justified the conduct of the
.oontminee. . . .
-Sir W. GA RROW thought that the subject was
of great consequence to the character of the Home.
Jf Cominittees of this House chose to, dispose of
private property injuriously to the right possessors
tatter than grant the delay of-a day or two, it was
;no wonder that calumnies should be raised against
the proceedings of the House. The revival of the
Committee. might be the means of doing justice, and
'therefore be should vote for it.
Mr. P. MOORE spoke against the Motion.
Sir J. GRAHAM never knew an instance when
the revival of a Committee was refused, when the
Committee tad been premnterelypst on end fa.
The•SPEABER said, that many Bills had been
put an end to in Committees. But it was open to
any Member to move fore revival of the Committee.
U he conceived it had prematurely or abruptly ter-
minated its functions. The question to• be consi-
dered here, was whether justice was likely to be pro-
moted by the revival of the Committee?
. Mr. WARD replied ; and .
• Mr. J. P. GRANT spoke a few words in explansr
Lion, when the House divided, and the numbers were,
For the Motion; 98—Against it, 59—Majority, 39.
Lord G. BERESFORD informed the House, that
his "Roptl Highness the Prince Regent had re—ived
the Ad tress of the House on the Marriage us the
• Princess Charlotte, and thanked dee House for its
zealous congratulations.
Lord STANLEY wished to know whether any
decision had been come to with regard tot Memorial
presented, about certain hole:es in: !Writhe:ter, which
. .et one.ainse had been jnhabited.; and. paid Assessed
Taxes, but which had been converted into warehouses;
' the memorialists were anxious 'to know whether the
, bonus were still subject to the Assessed Taxes ?
The CHANCELLOR of the -EXCHEQUER
. .
Could glee no posneve• answer, as the alibied wet
• under the 'consideration of the Judges ; butt in his opi•
..won, the homes were subject to the Assessed Taxes. '
Sir M. W. RIDLEY had been informed. dent
itottses,bnirinioucobeen inhabited. and having bean
since convened into warehouses, were still assessed.
Colonel WOOD gave Wien of a maim fora

• " .

S
•
Committee-of Inquiry Into die @Medially!' al wina!s:
log ibe Side of Game. -
near nut ;IT nIAW.CE, •
Mr. HAM ERSLEY withed,to ion* whithei a was
Theintention of his Majesty's Government to enter into'
laity neguciation with the Government of France with
respect to the large debt of 1$ millrons. due from that
country to this, and when any step would be taken
on the subject.
Lord CASTLEREAGH was not prepared to
inswer.
HAMERSLEY gave notice of a motion on
the subject for the 18th instant. , .
LEATHER TAL
taItdiILTHORPE rose to call the attention of
the House, 'pursuant to his notice, to a most impor-
tant subject. It might be imagined that he had par-
ticutarly taken it upon himself to bring forward a
motion relative to the Leather Tax, because his con-
stituents were*, to a great degree, interested -in the
manufactures which chiefly consumed that article;
and, indeed, in the manufacture of the article itself.
He should now state to the House his sentiments on
the subject, on that account, more, initnedfately ;
but, if he had not been connected with such a body
of men, though he should not have brought it for-
ward. he should have given any motion that might
have been made upon it his firm support. The repeal
of the Leather Duties. for which his motion wit lee
tended, would be most beneficial, in his opinion, not
only to'his constituents, but to the couotry at large.
The very common use of the article, very.little
alb
tered by circumstances, almoit always insured a trade
in it with some pot of the world; and the suporici-
iity of our manufacture was so great, that when we
could once inert other countries upon any thing like
an equality, we were sore to command the market.l
In the home market it was one of the greatest
branches of trade ; it was required by almost every
branch of agriculture, and the poorest labourer could
not do without it. The number of men employed,
and the great extent of capital that was engaged in
die leather trade. ought to be recollected. He had
understood, and he believed his information was cor-
rect, that •there were no fewer than 500,000 men.
employed in the different processes in Great Britain;
atid not only the number of those employed in the
trade should be considered, but their description. kt
should be remembered, that great number; ion had
/teen inoirned,and rendered unable to maintain them-
selve bi any other means, earned for-themselves and
fanifliei a comfortable subsistence. Mr. Brunell, a
gentleman who had a very large establishment, had,
he believed, no man employed under bim whored
not lost a limb in the service of his country. ,
trade, however, was, in all its branches, in the very
lowest state of depression, which might have been
"perceived by the numerous petitions against the Tax
which had been presented andlaid on the Table, to
the accuracy of many of Ate statements of which he
could himself speak, and which he considered re-
quired the greatest consideration. In many parts of
England hundreds, nay thousands, were thrown upon
their pares from having no means of subsistence, I
and amongst them a very considerable number were
connected with the leather trade. It be .should be
able to prove either that the Leather Tat was a great
cause of the distress, or that it would give consider-
able relief, or that the mode of collecting it was isa-J
proper, be should, he thought, have made out a case
sufficiently strong to justify the House Inkruting in
favour of his motion. That the trade .did labour
under *II considerable.depression wa. certainly true,
though ill trades were more or less depressed at pre-
' sent, it was very difficult to chew what was the exact
cause of the depression.- His arguments would be
principally directed to the additional duty on leather
laid on during 1ff.12, and not to the whole duty
lbefore that time. Before 1812 the duty had been
4051,000 and upwards, but since the laying on of
die additional duty there had bees a -great propor-
tionate falling off. The great question should be.
whether the abolitl is of the Tax would not be a very
great relief to the country by promoting a much
greater cOnsumpticn of leather than there was at pre-
sent. The depression which he had mentioned must
haves Ina great measure, arisen from two causes,
!rem-the loss of the army CHM ACtS9. and from the
greatifidlinroff in the export trade. It.could not be
expected that the trade could be so well occupied
from diesame quarter as it bad been by the army
edit:est ; but that loss might be greatly remedied,
lend the export trade revived, by the immediate or
early abolition-of tho Tax. If it was taken off, the
price of tanned leather, he understood, would be re-
duced 6d. per lb. and the average price of shoes fOr
exportation, would be Is. per pair less than was Dow
paid. If, then, such an alteration would be nude by
the discontinuance of a tax like the Leather Tax,
what might it be expected would be the result ? He,
supposed that the export trade would be materially
increased, and the trade in general would be greatly
benefited. What had been the state' of the trade for
some time ? Up to the time of laying on the addi-
tional duty it had been increasing ; since, it had
been constantly upon the decline. He no* cattle
to a most important part of the subject, the mode
in which the Tax was collected..--(llear,
In his opinion, these economical arrangements &mid]
always be pursued by which the greatest sum couldl
be collected with the least possible expense to Ge-
refitment, and the least public inconvenience; but
when it was proved that any tax was injurious to the
' particular branch of trade on which is was levied, that
tax ought to be discontinued, There were a number of
restrictions in the levying of the Leather Tax which
were particularly injurious. One prevented the tan-
ner from being a currier, and prohibited him from
!shaving, dressing, Ste. his own skins: from this a
great deal of inconvenience occurred from the alter-
nate wetting and drying, keeping in pale water in-
stead of tan, &c. which might have been avoided.-.-
Another restriction related to the stamping
.of the
bides. No man was allowed to sell oat to piece, of
leather in a tanning state unless stamp& Stamping
on the raw bide, he thought, might be' of Much
[area.m ter use than the present practice of stamping
ems under the tanning process. The skins, when
taken out of the limes, were in such an uniaillbed
and geintindus state, that the stamp could. not be
conveniently applied, and duty were much damaged
by the removal. There was a third restriction, - pre-
venting the tanner from removing any part of the
substance of the bide which he tainted,: that had been
made during the time of Queen Anne. wino the
Leather Tan bad bee first eafoccad. Every thing

•
• •
'was against the restrictiOns, and be tould not per
bow the House ciseld Jeep them up, under
'pretence'whatever ; and if the restrictions were once
doge away with, the Tax would of necessity be relin-
quished, as very little revenue indeed would accrue
from it. The Noble Lord then proceeded in shew
that the Judge had not increased in proportion, as
expected. It was rather precarious to speculate upon
what would be the profit; of a tax at any future pe-
riod ; but he could almost *encore to say, that the
Leather 114 Z world be very unproductive.witen lie p
ilea payments were made up. Alter several= otbail
r pertinent Observations, the Noble Lord concluded bye
sl “
That leave be given to bring in a lIM to repeal thalbitties
es Leather."
Mr. W. SMITH wished it to be understood, that
g supporting the Motion of the Noble Lord, he
meetly wished the abolition of the present Tax ; for
be could not but think that a tax might be taken less
inconvenient, and that would subject leather manu-
facturers to fewer grievances. He was fully aware
that it was a dangerous thing to abolish a tax, with-
out mources to make up for it, that brought into the
revenue 5€690,000. Something might be done for
the trade with respect to the restrictions which the
Noble Lord bad mentioned, and which were certainly
•in a great degree injurious to the trade. It was not
very long since the Right How the Chaocellor of the
Exchequer had lamented to him the necessity there
was for so mu& trouble and expense in the collection
of those duties; and now he had an opportunity, he
should cake the liberty of stating what he thought
might be done to avoid such trouble anetstreket pose.
The duty now procured from the Leather Tax was
£525,00() and upwards ; he should,. for the sake- of
argument, suppose that it might be 5e600,000. He
should propose that a duty of Si. should be levied on
eases hide, raw and unstamped, that might be recei-
ved by or issued from any tanner. There Might be
a penalty of sg2o or £3O for the offence of attempt-
ing to evade this duty; and he could not see that
many would smuggle skins to save so small a sum,
at the risk of such a penalty. The somber of Bra-
lash hides in general tanned, he believed, amounted
to two millions, and the foreign hides imported to
about 900,000; he would call the whole three mil
lions.. The House would sce that a large sup might
be collected in this manner, even at 2s, per hide, and
u- -hide considerably The bides

as ,s. per , very larger.
could not be so easily concealed as other artkles,:and
he could not seewhy it would not be a very practi-
cable mode of increasing the revenue. He: hoped the
restrictions would be taken off, as they were, to say
the best of them, very vexatious. When they were
once abolished, a tanner would have much greater
liberty, and be might evert curry his own 'hide.—
(it laugh.) There was at present a considerable mo.
nopoly, he believed, in the tanning trade. The total
number of tan-yards in the kingdom was about 1700,
many of which, he bad no doubt, wished things to re-
main as they were, because there were less competi-
tion, and there profits were more secure. Ile thought
it would be greatly to the benefit of the trade, and
contrite ite to the general diffusion of capital, if the
tan-yards were more numerous.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
complimented the Honourable Member and Noble
Lord ori the able manlier in which they had spOken
'on the Leather Trade, though much of their infor-
mation was of a local nature. lie thought that,
considering the difficulty of the subject, they would
have acted more properly had they contented them-
selves with moving for a Committee Co inquire into
the present state of the Laws relating to Leather.—•
It would be seen, that it WAS not the policy of his
Majesty's Ministers to abandon any tax like the 1.41. M
ther 'fax, from which' so large a portion of the reve-
nue was procured. Such a plan as the Honourable
Member bad proposed tor•the levying of a duty 011
hides had been betore suggested; but a Committee
.which had been held on the Tax did not think it
would succeed. The present distress arose more
from the reversion of prices than any other Circum-
stance; and he could not exactly see hoar the Noble;
Lord could find that the leather manufacturers were
Most distressed, when he had allowed that there was
a very.great distress pervaded the country in every
branch of trade. The Right Honourable Gentle-
man, after a variety of statements, in which he en.
deavoured to shew that the duties had not so mate-
rially diminished in proportion since 1812, as the-
Noble Lord had wished to prove, concluded he mov-
ing, "That a Committee be appointed to consider
of the Laws relating to the Manufacture of and the
Duties on Leather.
Lord COMPTON expressed his intention of voting
in favour of the Motion of the Noble Lord. The
distress might have arisen from an increase of supply,
or a diminution of demand ; but there !rid beett
increase of supply, apd it would be consequently
found, that it.had resulted from a diminution in the
demand. His Majesty's Ministeis had said that they
did not want to subject tanners or leather manufac-
turers to pecuniary inconvenience by the restrictions.
Was not loss of turd pecuniary inconvenience ? Was
not wasting materials in trade a pecuniary inconve-
nience ? 1 lie Right Honour able Gentlpman seemed*
to have no objections to the Committee; but it
ought to be remembered, that he himself had con-
sidered it needless to have a Committee, on account
of its being so late in the Session. • .
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
explained.
Mr. CURWEN had• been directed by his Consti-
tuents in Cumberland to represent the decrease of
their trade, which was -principally in leather. He
agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it
was diffiCult to supply the financial demands of the
country, and he was unwilling to give up a profitable
tax.; ,but when the Interests of .so.large a portion of
the cqnsgrunity werkso seriously .injured, le. mua,,, it
the Noble Lira. persevered, ;vine for his ntotiori.
'• Mr. ROVE observed, that the Noble Lord* bifitifl
LiAto.ifocioidkrotitptoo) bad' state'!, that giiing up
v-yerF woutd*be beneficial •to: theVpublic
revenue; bat it would requireisome-coosideration to
disci:over the truth of this ppsition. He himself :had
discoufsedwith well-intormed people' ,and there cer-
tainly was a difference of apidioa On die subject ; he
thought it very proper that souse inqtdry should be
made, and that the proper anode would be to appoint
a Committee. •
•
Mr.'TfIORNTON thought it cfatiseytnis to repeal
a tar which produced 000,00.0 a-Year:. he:Considir-
ed the treicat depression of the trade in a treat. Mee-

sum atfillutable to the cessation of detnano .
accoutrements : upon the whole, he should
dined to vote for a Committee.
Sir J. YORKE should *vote for a C.
though he did not see that the prices of
fell in consequence of a tax being repealed ;
did riot think that, if the present Were repealed,
should walk in cheaper boots and shoes.
Mr. THOMPSON complained of the _ _
mid observed that the tax fell mest unequal,
bPl6°T.thempol%nwdhoWwhorilee htheeivMyafinhoiosi IPaashYslionnkTin,s inhikreigthit-.
PwiteriaPemsiagrilimhoisifteesci haigpleidlr vikitiiiiblialgktalth—eAteg• nati;ner%thrn'er.
for the coarser manufactures; that were put out '
use by an arbitrary impost. Out fishermen eaustc:.
sea.borses (laugh) with thick rough
bark of en elm, but the tanners paid 12d. a pow,
and therefore the skin was little used. He had Nei
told by a tanner, they could not tan asses' hill
(langh)-.-becituse there was a duty of 12d. a pot('
Sr. bear-skins.—(Laugh.);-He was
these matters would be sent to a Committee.
tanners would be glad if they could pay se much a
hide, before any process was to nmenced, an' thea
. they would save the duty on refuse leather, ea wi,;t4
the loss was often great, particularly in shavint.-.
(Loud laughter.)--The canners had complained to
the Excise on this subject, but the, 644 tin bet,.
redress except evi4tliorn the Exciseman, •who
•
baps laid 11614 of' Yotirbide:—Ct'eah of
Ohe man had been delayed at the Custom limn,
because elere had been a distemper among the hom-
ed cattle in Doi end I 14 hi
.ter.,--__e cou- ..e
sorry it some relief were Lot found for all these
grievances, and should therefore support the inettet
of the Noble Lord.
Mr% CARTWRIGHT thought that the revenue
would be improved by removing the restrictions; and
allowing a free trade. A Committee did sit on this
subject two years ago, and the evidence went very
strongly against the restrictions ; it would, therefore,
be loss of time to go into a Committee now I he ens
perhaps a little influenced in what he said by the is.
structions of his constituents ; and though no friend
to the doctrine of instructions, yet where local in.
terests were concerned, he thought they ought to be
attended to. His object in supporting the a roper,
Tax bad been, that other taxes might be repealed, and
be should nOvtiuppart the present motion.
Bin BROOK expressed his intention to vote for
going into a Committee:
W.. PHILLIPS was against a Committee. 'Till
the Tax had been imposed the trade had been intro
sing ; it bad decreased ever since, sad was at this
Moment declining. The restrictions were highly ob.
ljectionable ; they prevented currying, and impaired
the 0;114 of the manufacture. Our commerce sods
South America was greatly diminished ; the poor suf.
fered under the tax, and. the agricultural interest is
a great degree ' • he therefore thought the House Unglit
to acquiesce in die motion of his Noble Friend, unless
the Chancellor of the Exchequer would state, that his
object was to relieve the trade from restrictions.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
stated, that his object in a Committee would be I.
see hove to raise a revenue on leather withetut the aid
of reetaicticins, and be should go lam the Committee
.eritheversy wish, to accomplish such an object.- • •
Loid MILTON stated. that he sat on the former
Committee a month, and it was then found that time
was no mode of raising this revenue on leather
out having recourse to the restrictions. The pen
Ito be applied to for information on the subject must
be the Commissioners of Excise, with whom theCLUF
cellar of the Eichequer bad daily communication;
be must, therefore, kuow that the reurietiens coed
not be dispensed with: If the Commissioners *old
have suggested any other mode, he wtvald (truthless
have mentioned it: in proposing a Committee, there-
fore, he acted, not with a view to any real iaquity,
but merely to lull the petitioner and the House into
security, and to take advantage of the cOntideace it.
posed in his premises. The Noble Lord then it.
peated ..and concurred in the arguments adduct/
against' the ter by the Noble Member for Northampten.
It was the duty' of Government to see if theyeouht
nut, by encore/raging the exportation of this.asaiite,
replace theldse•which hadf been occasioned hyrthe n.
storationad peace. He thought that the Hotgleagel
sufficient evidence before them, as the Report cif tia
twitter Committee consi..led of 150 folio pages ; lota
he should, therefore, suppai t the motion ut his Nobie
'Friend, which was likely to produce Mae puma
good Lhan the appointment of a stew Committee:
Mr. LUSUINGTON said, that the (miner Coro.
mittee had not been vatted upon to give any opinion,
but merely to report the evidence to the House.
From the returns which had been befwe Koala-
-mein, it was quite clear that, since the duty had b:co
doubled, .the revenue had increased in equal proper-
don. He considered; therefore, that, as a muter of
finance, this tax, which produced no less than
A'650,000 a •year, deserved the most serious cousi•
deration of the House. It was a tea that had exiev.l
fees great somber of ye.sre. aunt wait incritiaspas-
tially distributed over tee whole centmunity•
thought that the statement which the Noble Lent
had made, with respect to the difficulties natter seta.n
die manufacturer laboured; had been a little eye
Berated. From his own itiquirieion the subject, (.401
he had teken some pains to arrive at the such)
did not believe that the distress was so great. lad
the tax was increased, the price of hides had lam dit
least 25 per cent. and tie was not awire that the Pb'
lie in general had any zeal grennJ for complaint. fie
should, therefore, support the amendment of his Rialit
Hon. Friend.
Mr. ,ETHUEN said-a few words in favour d
the meow,.
a CSoiimjmOititteeN ilNoEuWilPoOnlßy'oec.
arContionceivcrielatyh.at.ntnigi,i,netss,
was alreitlf.in possession ot• all the information that
could lie gieelf On the subject ; arid, for this recto,
he left hrinself bound to vine for the originaletteteinn•
Mr:- MA RYATT said,' that nothing could be
more rninous.than the existing Taxes on Leather•-;
The necessity eat giving relief was clearly adMittel
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; by the amen
ment which he had proposed ; the
,only difference
ttf
%violent was as to the best enbde that ought to he
adopted: He thooghtthatThet could not altogether
abandon so large a portion of the rever.de, but they
-should take off some of the restrictions which 'were
irtore burthensome to the: Manufacturer than the to
itself. in that part of 11,4 tounuy v:ll:,ch he cite

be

I
I
i

'lodtaft'dtbe.al I.
Cammittet;.
things eveel - id
ed ; and be 1
tpealed, Wei •
•
testrictr'
Kin ally ; thipt 11111
1g for than lit,

el,
Ir.
be

...aiLovarjo.l:llc plysmleni- bad deserted,been suit
.7.714' ;44 Miiicturm's found' their capitals wilt.
".
leg away, then the whole, be, rather inclined t•
the motion of the Noble Lord, and should, therefor%
ii, doom -with giving it his support.
or. WILLLA% SOITIt rove amidst, general,
cm; of qnestien.. 4s.soon as order was restored, he
togged to exidailithe reasons which had induced him
lc huge his opisfitin, and to vote for the amend.'
- . He certainly gave credit to the Right Ho.,
operable Gentleman,
.that be proposed a Corn triittee
1,411. the view of seeing whether he coold not afford
soma. , relief to the manufacttirer ; and be tliongitt the.,
casimittee ssould.uot been iii cation triiiit loagt
.He.,
149141, therefore, give. his inppOrt to the' measure
yosh the Right, Honourable Gentleman recom.
limitled to the House.
General GASCOYNE was sure that his Honour-
,o4•Friend who bad just spoken was not influenced
by ihe slightest partiality towards one side or the
ow; and as he reposed the utinutst confidence in his
jogeent on this question, he should certainly vote
lac the amenilm.ent. The,cries..of ••• Question" were
hire repeated. Imusall parts of the House ; but order
bog again restored,
Mr. BENSO/4 begged to offeia few words. He
was quite sure it bad been proved to the satiefitetion
of the 'former Committee, that the trade was in. a-
rson minima Mats ; . and, from all that he had 'heard
on the subject, he was afraid, that its distresses had
.bees considerably increased.' It was not the repeal
of the duties. alone that would afford relief to like
manufacturer: the restrictions prevented him from 1
making a good article. In time of peace Govern.
aunt should give every support to trade; and with
!upset to the particular branch which was then be-
lee the Houie, he thought that no real good could
be effected, unless they should addpt the motion of
the NoOle Lord. (The Honourable Member wdls
Proceeding is make some farther observations, when
awake et " Question" were renewed, and the re.
mender of his speech was quite inaudible in the
Sallffq- .
Mr. GABES (amidst general cries of w With.
driers In) tow to submit efew remarks. He said he
40kata support the Noble Lord's motion ; and if that
Walks', be would support the motion of the Chan•
. eller of the Excbequer.Low4 hags krr aid with.
dfrag3 . . - :;_•'1) r. ; . • . n 154 b,,
Mr. PROTHEROE monld not _detain. *mien&
eabeperceived the general impatience:. He said, that
if the Property Tax had been continued, it would
hew enabled.the Ctiancellor of the Exchequer to re-
peal the tax on leather; but, under the present cir-
earestances of the. country, he did not think that Goy
vesament ought to. abandon so large a portion of our 1
Mam. ... 1
. Lord.ALTHORPg rose to reply. He Telt it in-1
cembeat oa him to state the reasons -hich would in-
&shim to. persist in Motion, it .appeared to him
that the arguments which the Honourable Member'
(lair. W.. Smith) bad advanced in support of the
amendment were.fouuded in mistake. He had stated,
that if Gentlemen on that.side of the House insisted
sea division; they.wuttld probably lose With the Bill
sad the.Conunitteet but this was quite impossible—
(Neer, hear)—lf leave were given to bring in a Bill,
&Colasaittee 'night still be appointed. An the law
Committee they had examined whether the rata
.fgal j
be collected in any other way, and the Surveyor of
Excise was of opinion that it could.not be taken on
the raw hides. • If the Committee was appointe.d, and
proceeded in the manner it did formerly, the whole.
discussion would be repeated. The people concerned j
lathe leather trade would only be satisfied by a ri=
petrel the taxes affecting them. He would take the
lease of the 1-l-athe upon his motion.
.-.. Mr. F. LEWIS put the two cases, of proceeding.
**Committee of inquiry, or of immediately.agrse-
into the introduction of a bill fur a repeal. of the
:leather Taxes/ and stated the advantages of the
'kite, courts withoet renouncing the former. Thee'
*vex was a erbieet..micirir deserving of inquiry by ..a
Committee, the:labours of which he WAS lure would
*.tesult in discovering and recommending a .eubstii ute,
.istyiel.jing the half million raised in,usitt of the most
Mtphlitic and objectionable ways thitt.tver .a linance
.ilmisterrestirted to. The appointment, of .a Com-
mittee,.howeverw.did not preciude rheaminginkt isof
oisellill; nor could theprogress of its, labours in the
,ismaiospede the discussions that a Bill would lead to.
He called upon the Gentlemen who agreed to tl.e
Committee to observe consistency, and to allow the
:same-course to be pursued that was suggested in the
case of the Insolsent Debtors' Bill. It was at first
proposed to bring in a Bill for repealing the Insolvent
' Debtors' Act—a. Committee of Inquiry was upon
Obit occasion proposed, and the discussion terminated
with grantin; leave to bring in the Bill, and appoint-
Illia Committee, which should make its inquiries in
' %Mesa. lime. He (Mr. Lewis) claimed consis
..bitty hum those who recommended such a mode of
• lostrding._ The urge..cy of the measure was as
.7, and.
,2111" nO'objrctioas existed in the one casd that
. sot exist in the other. The leather tax was so
Akill i akmatolik.butli lroter the restrictions which were

for levying it, and from the inequality which
melded its distribution, that no other way etscollect-
itit the same extent of revenue could be devised
which would nut be an improvement. The question
was then loudly
,called fur, and the House divided,
when there appeared._
• For the •
Motion of Lord Althorpe, 86 ;. Agentat,
it, 141; Majority, 35.
The Amendment of the COANCELLOR of the Ex-
cHEQUita was therefore carried; and on strangers
being re-tdmitted, the SPEAKER was reading over the
names of the Members of the Coenunit&e.
LYTTELTON, after a few observations,
moved for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent the h-
oling of clapper or other tokens.—Leave granted.
WROTTESLEY moved for leave to bring-
; to explain and amend the 9Cilast Sys'
149../Ispecting the abolition of gepl.tees.—Le3ve.
114:11ranted, the Bill brought in,ireaclA first time,.
414orarred to be read a second rimes tomorrow.
On the motion of the CHAiCELLOR of the Exam-
WM, the various Petitions against the Leather Tax
were referred to the Committee of Inquiry into that
59biest.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD brougbt in a Bill force
11414cing the Irish Malt Duty; read a Ant time, *Rd
de
to be read a second time to-morrow :likewise
~
"Pe Stamp Repeal Bill, and Wall Hearth putr Bill.
The Bank Restriction Bill wee lad a third thief
Lid pautd.—Adjouratd.

THE EVENING STAR..

LONDON.

NEXT• TUESDAY THE LOTTERY BEGINS, WHIN
EVERY TICKET DRAWN WILL BE A PRIZE, AND
THE EIRSI' PRIZE MAY BE X 35,000! !!

FitIDAY, MAY 10, 11316.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT I WELVE O'CLOCK*
Reduced 60,1—.Cuas. mo. t—for ace. Me
4 per Cent.764l-3 per Ceat. 94fi —Bands 2s. 3s. pr.
Onut. Bills es. *Lis. Ss. pr.

The question for the repeal of the Duties on Leather
came On last night in the House of C6rniniriti. ''The
general sense of the House seemed to be that the col.
lection of the Duties is connected With a system of
restrictions so vexatious, harassing, and oppressive,
in its operation, as to threaten the very existence of
this valuable branch of manufacture in lire British
Empire. Ministers seemed impressed with the just-1
nets of the letatements ; but as the evil threatened
seemed to rest more upon the means resorted to for
securing the collection, than on the effect of a duty
on this article, the CHANCELLOR of the Excites:arra
moved, by way of amendment, that a Committee be
appointed, to consider whether the Tax might not be
rendered productive, without the restrictions com-
plained of I This finally was carried—the number
for the Amendment being 1.21, and for theimmediate
Repeal of the Tax b 6. We canna doubt that con-
siderable relief will result to the Manufacturers63mi
the investigation of the Committee, either by a repeal
of the Tax entirely, or by a reduction of the amount,
with the removal of the vexatious enactments which
at present net-only cripple, but threaten the annihila-
lion of the Trade.

It appears by an account laid upon the table of i
the House of Commons, that between the first of
January last and the ilth of April, forged bank-
notes to the amount of not: less than *hie th,suandi six
hoard atol thirty-eight Ispaarie were pre:eased far parapet
at the gash of Eatilitid.-What a loss for the Bank to
sustain: for having accommodated the public with a
circulating
,medium I No, Reader—Every one of
these Notes were reined payment at the Bone, and the loss
has -tilleft-:ttn • private': inclividuats ! thisAtist ?
•31‘e thSt; under the circumstances of
. .
the case, it is far otherwise. To compel.t.lte public
to receive paper in payments, without the eleCtion of
demanding the King's current coin, and to make•the
torgeries of that paper, received by compulsion, fall
of, the public, is certainly a monstrous absurdity: The
Loss ought to be borne by "those who pocket .she
profits—!or else the public should have the power
rf protecting themselves against this hass:—What
a tax is. this on the hard-earned 'gains of the
mechanic and shopkeeper ?-,11"30,000 a year for
forged Bank of England Notes. Had the Public
even the option of demanding gold, we would ques-
tion the. equity of allowing the Bank to refuse pay.
Meat of Notes which none but themselves can distin-
guish from those that are genuine. While suffered
to do so, no effectual means will be adopted to'
prevent a crime which* by its facility IFings numerous,
victims to the scaffold every year. •

In our last page we have inserted accounts of some
lamentable fires in the county of Suffolk. Many of
our Readers must know that these have, by report,
been attributed to incendiaries. The idea seemed
incredible, and we hesitated to give it currency; but,
we are sorry to state, that from every enquiry ;hat we.,
have been able to make, there is too much reason ,to
believe that the greater part of them have been the
at ta of evilsdisposed persons—originati447 neees-
sariVi 'kW wages to which they limo lay the
. ; A
absolute inability of
.the farmer. to pay. ffil more.
We 'hardly know whether to deplore mossi the
wickedness or the ignorance which could lead men to
perpetrate loch acts. It is undeniable:that iktioratife
is the parent of many crimes, which *veil the • most
flagitious would avoid, were they better informed I
for few men are scrvoid of intellect as deliberately to.

perpetrate any act with a moral cartaioty
roust thereby agiravate their Own distresses; but thio
is the direct tendency of flit aid and asalleistis sets

• •

.
of tiotst itimitgattes. 'Hence does die tanner de-
rive tlfi by whieble into pay his labourers ?
whenee but from the sale of his produce ? If mad
anti Wicked men destroy it, they destroy the very
sooree of their owls wages—snay, more, the very ar.
tide, for the boying of whit% they want high wages.
It would be folly to reason on the immorality of such
acts with men who tan be so stupid is to imagine
that abundance is,to be produced by works of de.
struction ; but the evidence which this affords of.the
lamentable ignouancs of the lower orders, should not
be lost sight of, and should opeiate as a powerful
stimulus to the better informed to exert themselves
for their better instruction. • But in ti moment "which
threatens thousands of the community with instant
destruction, the evil must be encountered with some
remedy more prompt • thau any -thing to be ex-
pected from the moral improvement of the ignorant
And vicious. When a city is in flames it would be
the height of folly to waste time in philosophical
discussioni respecting the best means of altering and
impriming ;he tonstruction of the fire-engine. The
arm of power should be instantly and vigorously
employed for the stippression of these enormities and
tee -paeliehrnent of the- guilty. -
•

We have received the Feench Papers of Tueslty :
we subjoin such of their consents Ns are interesting.
The Frtnch Government ire about to act the ridicu-
lous farce of trying General BERTRAND, who is with
his master, BONAPARTE, At St. Helena. He is to be
tried for treason and contumacy, and, we presuma,
will be executed like LAVALETTE, in effigy :

COURIRR ILILTRAORDINARY OF TURSDAY MORNING.

Hii Mhjesty laboured yesterday with several of his

Ministers.

The last letters from Nap/es bear, that her Royal
bighneu Princess Caroline- will embark there on the
6th or 7th May; so that she may be mimed to di:.
embark at Marseilles about the 10th instant.

General Cambrone left Paris yesterday morning to
proceed to Nantes 1 :ar,embarkation. •
The. Jourotal of Arms announces. that severit*eallid
kreachmen, who had fixed themselves in the large
cities of the,United States of America, have retired
into the interior of the Nevi Continent.
PARIS, MAY 7.

The second Council of War of the first Military
Division, will to-morrow procepd to the trial of Ge-
neral Bertrand 4 contumacy, who was exempted from
the amnesty. In terms of the law, there can be no
oral depositions of witnesses, and no Advocate can
speak in favour of the accused. The Reporter alone
will be beard.
The Emperor of Russia has permitted the exporta-
tion of twelve thousand oxen from Russia to Vienna,
Anatria in general.
recal of Prince Icaunitz from Madrid is not
occasioned by any misiiicteritandini bet.veed the
Courts of Austria and Spain, since we learn 'from
Vienna that the Emperor ii about to itornin.ite another
Minister.

An expedition left Lisbon for Brazil on the 18th
ult. composed of a ship of the line, two frigates, and
several transports; having on board 6,ooo.troops.
Great preparations are making at Brussels to recehre
ilia' Prince of Orange and his illustrious bride.
The Duke de la Chatre has taken his oathi as one
of the First Gentlemen-of the Chamber to the King.
The King held a grand Item on Sunday, which
was attended by all the foreign Ministers and persons
of distinction.

. ".

M.Cherbileria is the new Commandant of Versaillgo.

Wenre; ioncerned to state that Baran Paignier,
one of. tlir'C.ihinet Ministers, wits• thrown
horse on last, near Chaillot, and received
severe contusion. No serious danger is apprehended.
The bake Jules de Poligoac is not gone to Lon.
dOn, but to Edinburgh, to form a matrimonial con.
ile.ololl with one of the richest heiresses of Scotland.
M. Bella. former Secretary to Maret, has been
crested ai Geneva, and conducted by geasdarmes to
the frontiers of France.

• Sixty thousand francs were distributed last week
by order of the King to the poor of Paris alone.
By an Ordinance of the Grand Duke of Weimar,
the German gazettes are no logger to be submitted
to a censor before publication—at least those pnb.
Belted in his States,

A Mail from Flanders arrived this morning. A
Letter from Brussels, dated April 6th, say.' :—" An
English frigate has just arrived at Antwerp to take
on board, and convey to Cirita Vecchia, the statues,
pictures, and 4)04 works of art, which sacrilegious
hands had' daredie'ravish from the Capital of •the
Christian w*,..s which are now restored 'at
their demand: When they arrived from Paris, these
treasurer were deposited is the Hanseatic Hour in
that city. There have bee. seized in Hungary
several works, the.object of which is to induce the
Einperor tative,p German Constiratlon which shall
alonerOtirate all the' under his domiuion."
Grea#Riktine! are making at VieusitlAithe
24ilit3ecessed Ensigns,
In several pOts pi, Russia, particularly stipitssi,
Ni 'and Casan, there fns been an,
efiraordisati storM, Which-has done great damage.
The public beilflitigs in the, first of those places were
greatly injured.. At AisChoßiovogrorod,- the storm
carried of the roofs of the bailees and the sails of the
witl4;mllls,' threw down *Vital persons; and lifted
up to a.consideritaeleight in the fir children Who
were in the streets.

• ...•