The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

DUTY ON SUCCESSIONS,

The Earl of ABERDEEN moved the second reading of
the Succession Bill—a measure which had been passed in
the lower house by a large majority, and which, while it
permitted the government to relieve the inequalities which
had been complained of on the imposition of the income
tax, would ultimately enable them to dispense with that
tax altocether. He entered into a sketch of the details
of the bill, and concluded by observing, that the course
which it was understood would be adopted by the oppo-
sition—namely, to accept the principle of the bill, but to
, defeat it in committee on a question of detail—was a
, piece of tactics rarely pursued in their lordships' house.
The Earl of DERBY said, that Lord Aberdeen had
favoured the house with a vary meagre sketch of the
measure, while he commented in a tone of extreme self-
laudation upon the triumphant success of his government
in finance. For his own part, he was ready to admit the
ability of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, upon whom
the burden of the session in the lower house had mainly
fallen ; but he thought it was too much to insist on the
unparalleled successof Mr. Gladstone's financial measures,
when his attempted conversion of the three per cents.
had proved a signal and melancholy failure. It was,
indeed, proposed to compensate for the inequalities of
the income-tax, but it must be remembered that those
inequalities could not be redressed without the aid of this
tax on succession—a measure most obnoxious in many of
its details. He then enumerated his objections to the
bill, which he stigmatized as most unjust to the owners
of real or settled property, and which, in its operation,
would open the door to innumerable frauds, and involve
the owners of land in interminable litigation. In
conclusion he said :—" My lords, I have now stated
to your lordships what appears to me to be the prin-
cipal objections to the bill before your lordships,
, not merely as to its details, but such as are inseparably
connected with the principle of the measure. I have
endeavoured to show your lordsbips, first, upon the
ground of justice, that there is no reason for im-
, posing this additional, this obnoxious tax upon the
owners of real and settled property. I have shown you,
, with regard to settled property more especially, that its
exaction will lead to an amount of fraud and evasion
which will either deprive you of a great portion of th©
pecuniary results expected, or it will drive the country
from one end to another into an inextricable net of liti-
gation (cheers). I have shown you that with regard to
settled property you are, in the first instance, introducing
the abrogated distinction between devised and settled
property; and that in so doing you are retrospectively
subjecting the owners of all property to an amount of
grievous oppression and grievous injustice, which will not
be compensated for by any amount of pecuniary benefit
to be derived by the measure (loud cheers). I have
shown you that in order to carry your measure into effect
you must subject, not once, but during the whole conti-
nuance of the life of the landed proprietor—from the
commencement of his entering into possession, down to
the close of his existence—you are subjecting him to a
constant succession of inquisitorial proceedings—leading
to the exposure of all his family hopes, of his family
settlements, and to every secret disposition of his
property—to a manifestation of all his ernbarrasments
(great cheering). I have shown that from time to time
he will never be free from being in that most odious and
painful position—namely, that of a public accountant
perpetually indebted, but never discharged—a position
from which your bill affords him no means of extricating
himself (renewed cheering). I have shown you, too,
that the bill will press most heavily and most seriously
upon the humbler classes, who are at present ignorant of
the measure, and who have not therefore, as the noble
earl opposite says, loaded your lordships' table with
petitions against it ; for they have been led to believe
that the tax is a tax upon the great landed proprietors of
the country, and that all other classes would be compara-
tively quite free. (Loud cheers.) But, my lords, Ido
not hesitate to say that five years will not have elapsed
before you will have no reason to complain of the want of
applications for redress against this impost. And yet, my
lords, such is the bill that is to be the crowning triumph
of finance on the part of her Majesty's ministers. This
is the basis on which the fame of the noble earl opposite
is to rest ! (Great cheers.) Yes, my lords, this, too, is ,
the bill which is to place Mr. Gladstone upon a pinnacle
of eminence far higher than that attained by such a cha-
racter as William Pitt. This bill, my lords—this finan-
cial structure—is to be no temporary edifice to be tolerated
for a time, for it is laid down emphatically and distinctly
in its preamble as being a permanent system under which
the financial affairs of this country are to be for the future '
administered. But I tell the noble earl opposite boldly,
that as the permanent system under which the financial
affairs of the country are to be directed—that the country
will not bear it—that the country ought not to bear it.
(Cheers.) So far from it, my lords, even if the noble earl
should succeed in passing the bill in its present shape,
I undertake to say that it will be repealed within a very
short time by the almost unanimous demand of all
those connected with the property of the country—by the
unanimous demand of all, with the exception of the attor-
neys and solicitors who will derive such a rich harvest
from the litigation to which the act will give rise. (Cheers.)
My lords, the noble earl concluded his observations by
saying that he did not understand how any one assenting
to the general principle of the measure could refuse to
accept all the details of the measure. My lords,
beg to say, in the first place, I cannot assent, either on
behalf of my noble friends who act with me, or for
myself, to either the principle or the details of the
measure; and if we abstain from taking the sense of
the house upon its second reading, we only take that
course because we do not desire unnecessarily to embar-
rass the financial affairs of the country. (Loud cries of
"Hear, hear.") But having carried our submission so far—
if your lordships are to bow to every injustice which the
House of Commons thinks fit to impose upon your lord-
ships—if you are to submit to see the rights of the people
infringed upon—then I say you had better abandon at
once your functions, and you had better not go through
the farce of having the tax sent up to you for your consi-
deration at all. (Great cheers.) Although, therefore, I
will not ask your lordships to reject the second reading, I
will not abstain from introducing such amendments as
may tend, in my judgment, to mitigate the grosser evils
of the bill. And my first amendment will arise on its
second clause. I propose to make this bill entirely pro-
spective in its operation and to protect from it all settle-
ments and rights constituted under a different state of the
law. But, my lords, Ido not mean to say that lam thus ,
precluded from offering any other amendments, but
desiring, moreover, that the bill should have the fullest
and fairest consideration. And, my lords, I shall, above
all, ask you—are you prepared to adopt this measure, not I
only as the means of meeting a temporary difficulty, but
as the permanent system upon which the finances of this
country are to be administered ? (Cheers.)—The Duke
of ARGYLL defended the bill, and was followed by the
Earl of MALMESBURY, who said it was nothing but a
revival of the old Norman law of escheators—an act most
cowardly and unjust, full of pains and penalties, and only ,
to be excused by the sternest necessity.—The bill was
read a second time.
Some other bills were advanced a stage, and their lord-
ships adjourned at twenty minutes before ten o clock.

1853.

present mode of taking divisions, which was very injurious
to all who suffered under the least infirmity. It was im-
possible that a man could reach the House of Commons
from the library, even if he were perfectly sound in wind
and limb, under two minutes. Last night the bell rang
for not more than a minute and a-half, and he was one of
those who had been excluded. Several members started,
and ran at a very severe rate, but they " choked at the
pace, and fell off at the corner." (A laugh.) There
ought to be a defined time, and then members could regu-
late their pace and training to it.—The SPEAKER said it
depended upon the time occupied in clearing the gallery.
EDINBURGH ANNUITY TAY.—The LORD ADVOCATE
moved the second reading of the Edinburgh and Canon-
gate Annuity Tax Abolition Bill, which he said had been
introduced for the settlement of a very troublesome local
question, which had been a subject of inquiry, not only on
the part of the government, but of a select committee of
that house.—The discussion was prolonged until four
o'clock, when the Speaker left the chair, and the house
adjourned.—The house resumed at six o'clock, but there
being only 27 members present the house broke up.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20.
- - - -

ISLE OF MAN.—A petition 'was presented, signed by
659 of the inhabitants of Douglas, Isle of Man, ex-
pressing their apprehension and alarm at the proposed
increased taxation, and being placed under the Consolida-
tion Customs Act of Great Britain. They submit that
they pay all the expenses of their own government, and
have contributed £634,000 to the Imperial Exchequer, as
shown by Parliamentary returns. They believe this drain
has been the means of impoverishing the island, by pre-
venting those improvements which would otherwise have
taken place ; that, being totally unrepresented in the
Imperial Parliament, it would be unjust to increase their
taxation without their consent ; and that such an act
would be contrary to their own constitution. And they
pray the House to refuse its sanction to the proposed
measure.

VACCINATION.—Sir J. PAKINGTON, in moving the
second reading of the Vaccination Extension Bill (which
had been sent from the House of Lords), stated its
object, which was to render vaccination compulsory,
under pecuniary penalties, and showed the unsatisfactory
results of the voluntary system.—Lord PALMERSTON
said he was prepared to assent to the principle of the
bill, agreeing with Sir J. Pakington that its machinery
required considerable alterations.—After some further
discussion, the bill was read a second time.
ATTORNEYS' CERTIFICATE DUTY.—On the order for
the second reading of the Attorneys and Solicitors' Cer-
tificate Duty (No. 2) Bill, some discussion took place, as
to the necessity of withdrawing the Bill, and it was
thrown out by 188 to 104.
INSPECTION OF NUNNEITES.—On the next order, for
resuming the debate on the second reading of the Reco-
very of Personal Liberty Bill, adjourned on the 22d of
June, the SPEAKER explained the state of the question
before the house—namely, that the original question was
" that the bill be now read a second time ;" and that
upon an amendment being moved by Mr. PHINN to leave
out all the words after " that," in order to insert other
words, the house had decided that the words proposed to
be left out should not stand part of the question ; so the
only part of the original question which remained was the
word " that ;' and the question now was, whether the
words proposed by Mr. Phinn--" that it be referred to a
select committee to consider whether any and what regu-
lations are necessary for the better protection of the in-
mates of establishments of a conventual nature, and for
the prevention of the exercise of undue influence in pro-
curing the alienation of their propertv"—or any other
words, should be added thereto.—ln the course of the
discussion which ensued, Mr. DRUMMOND said it had
been his good fortune and happiness to number Romanists
among his private friends,—all his sympathies were,
therefore, in their favour ; but he took his stand upon
the fact that the secular power assumed by the Romish
clergy was never abandoned, never mitigated or molli-
fied ' • they had declared their determination to carry out,
and he was equally determined to expose, the object they
aimed at, and the means by which they meant to accom-
plish it. He acknowledged the charitable labours of
Romanists, which put those of Protestants to shame ; but
this was not the question ; the question was, " whether
the inmates of convents required protection." The legis-
lature had found it necessary to protect children against
the cruelty of their parents, which took different forms in
different classes of society. The opponents of the inquiry
talked of the liberty of these persons ; but what liberty
could there be where priests laid down the doctrine, that
the very perfection of Christianity was to believe that
black was white and white black if Holy Church said so ?
—The debate was adjourned (at the instance of Mr.
Newdegate), on the motion of Lord PALMERSTON, until
the 10th of August.
At six o'clock the house adjourned.
THURSDAY, JULY 21.
The House met at noon.
MORE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS.
EDINBURGH ANNUITY TAX.—Lord acts° announced
that it was not the intention of Government to proceed
with the Edinburgh and Canongate Annuity Tax .Aboli-
tion Bill in the present session.
SAVINGS BANKS.—On the order for going into com-
mittee upon the Savings Bank Bill,—The CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER, in postponing the measure until the
next session, observed, that the great evil with respect
to the present condition of savings-banks was not so
much glaring abuse as the want of perfect security. Hav-
ing entered into an explanation of the several points in
the proposed measure, he said that he feared, at this late
period of the session, there would not be time to pass
the bill, and he moved that it be committed that day
, three months. The motion was agreed to, and the bill
I accordingly withdrawn.
IRISH LAND TENURE.—The House went again into
committee upon the Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill,
and the remaining clauses having been agreed to, resolved
itself again into committee upon the Tenants' Compensa-
tion (Ireland) Bill, and clauses up to 9 were agreed to
when the House resumed.
NAVIGATION OF THE DANUBE.—In answer to a ques-
tion, Lord J. RUSSELL said, although the Russian Go-
vernment had not taken proper precautions respecting the
navigation of the Danube—which we had a right to expect
from it—yet natural causes had very much tended to ob-
struct the navigation of the river. An accumulation of
mud had accrued at the mouth of the river, which had
caused the waters to overflow the banks and inundate the
country for several miles round. According to the latest
accounts, it appeared that the obstruction had been to
some extent removed, and there were now several feet
more water at the mouth of the river.
THE COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT OLDHAM.—In reply to
Alr. Hutchins, Lord PALMERSTON stated that the case
with reference to the late accident at Bent Gauge Colliery
had been referred to the law officers of the Crown.
PETERBOROUGH ELECTION.—Mr. BRIGHT moved an
instruction to the General Committee of Elections to
select a chairman and six other members to be the Select
Committee on the Petitions from Peterborough, the
question involving a matter of privilege. The debate
which ensued turned chiefly upon points of practice in
connexion with the rules and orders of the House. The
motion was agreed to.
INDIA BILL.—The House again went into Committee
on the India Bill, and clauses 23 to 32 were agreed to.
In the course of the discussion, Mr. BRIGHT having
mentioned a transaction connected with the disposal of
the directors' patronage, the debate took a personal turn.
—Mr. T. BARING, with some degree of warmth, con-
demned the animus evinced by Mr. Bright in his attacks
upon the directors.—Sir J. HOGG called upon Mr. Bright,
as he hoped in future that his statements should command
credit in that house, to state the names of the parties to
whom Le had referred, the appointment, and the name
of the director, telling him that, if he shrank from this
act of justice, all he had insinuated aaainst the directors
would fall upon hiniself.—Mr. BRIGHT said, the facts
by a memberdeclined
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CHARITABLETRUSTS.—Upon the motion of Lord JOHN
RUSSELL the Charitable Trusts Bill was read a second time.
ADVERTISEMENT DUTY.—On the question of the con-
sideration of the Stamp Duties (No. 2) Bill, the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCAEQUER said the government had
resolved to defer to the opinion of what was undoubtedly
a real majority of that house with regard to the advertise-
ment duty. He proposed, therefore, when the other
, orders of the day were disposed of, to take the considera-
tion of the report on the stamp duties, and to insert
certain amendments bearing upon the point to which be
had referred. He would not enter into the reasons which
had led the government to adopt the course which they
had, because he considered that a man who, at that late
period of the session, made a long speech unnecessarily,
was an enemy to his country. (I-Isar, hear, and laughter.)
In answer to a question, he said the duty now to be re-
pealed varied from the general class of customs' duties ;
the repeal of a duty such as the advertisement duty did
not follow, according to precedent, immediately upon the
vote of the house. A bill would be introduced, and lie
hoped that there was no reason why it should not become
law at the conclusion of next week, or, at the latest, at
the beginning of the following week.
HORSE LICENSES.—In committee, on the Customs'
Acts, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved reso-
lutions respecting the post-horse duty and the licenses of
hackney carriages.
WHOLESALE LEGISLATION.—The Patronage Exchange
Bill, the Colonial Bishops Act Extension Bill, the Land-
tax Redemption Bill, the Newspaper Stamp Duties Bill,
the Highway Rates Bill, the Turnpike Trusts Arrange-
ment Bill, the Turnpike Acts Continuance, &c., Bill, the
Consolidated Annuities (Ireland) Bill, and the Sheep, tkc.,
Contagious Diseases Prevention Bill, passed through
committee. The Public Works Acts Amendment (Ire-
land) Bill, the Burials (beyond the metropolis) Bill, the
Drainage of Lands (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill, and
the Employment of Children in Factories Bill, were read
a second time. The Dublin Parliamentary Registration
Bill, and the Public Libraries (Ireland) Bill, were read a
third time and passed.
Sir J. YOUNG obtained leave to bring in a bill to con-
tinue the act 15 and 16 Vic., c. 66 (the Crime and Out-
rage Prevention Act, Ireland), until the 31st day of Aug.,
1854.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a
bill for the amendment of the procedure and practice in
Crown suits in the Court of Exchequer, and for the pay-
ment of costs in proceedings instituted on behalf of the
crown.
Lord PALMERSTON obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the Truck Act.
Leave was given to bring in a bill to amend the laws
relating to friendly societies ; also a bill to repeal certain
laws relating to Customs' duties, &c.
The house adjourned at half-past 2 o'clock.
FRIDAY, JULY 22.
The House met at noon.
IRISH TENURE.—The House went again into commit-
tee on the Tenants' Compensation (Ireland) Bill, and all
the remaining clauses were agreed to.
PILOTAGE BILL.—The House went into committee on
the Pilotage Bill, and Mr. CARDWELL proceeded to state
the nature of the provision which he proposed with respect
to the pensioning of the Cinque Port pilots. Clauses Ito
8 were agreed to, and the committee adjourned.
SALT IN INDIA.—In answer to Sir J. PAKINGTON,—
Sir C. Woon said that a reduction of the price of salt in
India was about to be made, in conformity with a minute
of the Governor-General in Council.
Ltesarags.—ln reply to a question.—The CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER said he did not intend to make any of
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TJBLIC BUSIN-ESS.-

—ln answer to an enquiry by

DISRAELI, as to the intentions of the government in
respect to the public business, Lord J. RUSSELL stated
that he did not intend to move a second reading of the
Education Bill, and that he hoped on the Ist of August
to go into the committee of supply, with the view of
taking the remaining votes. He proposed that, after
that date, orders of the day should take precedence of
motions on Tuesdays.

In reply to Mr. H. DRUMMOND whether the public
accounts could not in future be made up at Christmas
instead of Easter, so that the house might sit in winter
instead of summer, Lord J. RLTSSLLE said—l shall not
now discuss the question as to our sitting in winter and
having our holiday in summer. lam one of those who,
in some respects agree with the hon. member. 1 have,
however, observed that whenever the house met at an
early period, the session was not found to be a short one.
I believe that in another year—l will not say next year
may be able to finish the session in June or July.
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.—In answer to Mr. Layer& aS
to the negotiations pending between Russia and Turkey.
and to the production of papers connected therewith, Lord
J. RUSSELL said that the sending of the British fleet to
the Turkish waters was:a proof of the interest which het
Majesty felt in the maintenance of the integrity of Turkey,
He thought no Ministry were justified in plunging into
war until every means for the preservation of peace had
been exhausted. In trying to preserve peace he thought
it more likely to be accomplished by communication of
Government with Government rather than by submitting
the whole of the papers to a popular assembly. He knew
he was making a large demand upon the forbearance of
the house; but, in the present state of the negotiations,
which had scarcely commenced at St. Petersburgh, he
could not consent to lay the papers on the table.
THE INDIA BILL.—The house went again into com-
mittee on the India Bill, commencing with the 32nd
clause.—Sir C. Woon stated that they intended to open
Haileybury College to competition, but to leave Addis-
combo under the nomination system, as at present.
In the course of the discussion allusion was made to the
statement by Mr. Bright of the abuse of the patronage"
of a director.—Mr. BRIGHT said, his authority for the
statement was the member for Lambeth.—Mr. WILKIN-
SON acknowledged the substantial accuracy of it. The
party who had been communicated with was his own
brother, who, having given his word of honour, did not
feel himself at liberty to disclose the name of the person•
who made the corrupt proposal.—A long and somewhat
angry discussion followed, in the course of which some
sharp censures were cast upon Mr. Bright, who, con-
fessing that he ought to have obtained the consent of Mr.
Wilkinson before he made the statement, denied that in
other respects he was open to animadversion.—The whole
of the clauses in the bill having been gone through, the
consideration of the new clauses was deferred until Mon-
day, and the Chairman reported progress.
ENCUMBERED ESTATES.—A discussion of some length
took place on the motion for the House resolving itself
into a committee on the Encumbered Estates (Ireland)
Act Continuance Bill : and the House ultimately resolved
itself into the proposed committee pro forma.
The Patronage Exchange Bill, the Colonial Bishops
Act Extension Bill, and the Turupike Trusts Arrange-
ments Bill were each read a third time and passed.
At half-past two o'clock the House was counted out,
on a motion of Mr. Macartney's, for certain papers con-
nected with the proceedings of a yacht club.