Star.
London, England, 1828-07-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY 11.
141MAOR ?ROM THE COMMONS.
Sir H. PARNELL, Sir W. FREMANTLE, Mr. LAWLTT, Sir J.,
GRAHAM, and other Members, brought up the Sale of Game Bill.
the Insolvent Debtor" (India) Bill, the Criminal Justice (India)
Bill, the Holyhead Bill, the Disembodied Militia Bill, the Corpora-
tion Fut•ds Bill, and eight private Bills, which were severally read
a first time.
The Duke of GLoucEsTra prerented a Petition from Mon-
trose, for the gradual Abolition of Slavery.
The Charing-cross Improvement Bill was read a second time.
Lord W H A RNCLI FFE gave notice, that he should move the
second reading of the Sale of Game Bill on Tuesday next, if it
should then he printed.
The Constabulary Acts (Ireland) Amendment Bill, was read a
third time and passed. '
The 'Nlarquis of CLEVELAND presented a Petition from the
Shipwrights of Kingston upon-Null, praying for a reconsiieration
of the Navgatlon Laws. The Noble Marquis observed, that there
were many parts of the Petition in..which he could not concur.
SCOTCH SMALL NOTTS.
Earl GREY presented a Petition from Berwick-upon-Tweed,
stating the unfavourable effect which would be produced upon the
interests of the inhabitants of that town, by the Scotch Small
Notes Bill. and praying that the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed
might be exempted from its operation. He thought this request
perfectly reasonable. and regretted that the Petition was now too
late. It had been placed in his hands only this day.
Lord BERF.SFORD had received an application to .a similar
effect from certain inhabitants of the town of Berwick, but not
'until after the Bill in question bad passed that House.
The Earl of ROSSLYN presented a Petition from the town of
Wellingborough, in the County of Northampton, for the abolition
of Slavery in the West Indies.
Lord W H Alt NCLIFFF, after a few observations, moved an
alteration of the Standing Orders, with a view to enable individual
Proprietors of any Joint Stock CoMpany to petition that House,
and to be heard by Counsel against any Bill giving to such Com-
pany powers out of the purview of the. original Act, although such
Bill be applied for by the majority of the Company. He would
now only lay his Resolutions before the House, with a view to
their bring printed, intending to postpone the consideration of the
subject until next Session.--The Resolutions were accordingly or-
dered to be printed.
Lord CALTHORPE presented Petitions from the Inhabitants
of the City of Coventry, of the City of Cork, of the Town of
Gravesend, and of Stroud, in the County of Kent, for the early
Abolition of Slavery.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE had intended to aak some questions
of the Noble Duke at the head of his Majesty's Government, re-
specting the Wool Trade; but as he understood this would not be
a convenient time, he vow gave notice that he would ask' those
questions on Tuesday next.
The Earl of ABERDEEN presented Petitions from the City
and County of Aberdeen, praying for the Abolition of Negro Slavery.
!LAST INDIA SUGAR.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN presented Petitions for the
Equalisation of Duties upon East India and %Vest India Sugar.
The bloble Marquis observed, that this was not the proper mo-
ment to enter fully into the discussion of the subject, but it in-
looked a great variety of consideratioos of the utmost importance.
The interests of the East Indies, of the West Indies, and the in-
terests also of the population of this country, who were the con-
sinners, were all involved in the question; and it would demand
INS StsirßtS attention of their Lordships before the time arrived to
consider of the renewal of the East India Company's Charter. By
rendering trade in this article more free, and the supply more'
abandon, they would greatly increase the consumption, as a proof's
.of which he would adduce the fact that the inhabitants of New
Hoillatatirs-onsunted upon the average, individually, twice as much
as. the inhabitants of this country. The Petitions, which were
frons the Merchants and Inhabitants of Calcutta, and from several
Parishes in the County of Derby, were then read.
Viscount CLIFDEN supported the prayer of the Petitions. He
hatine doubt, if the two peat mooopolies of tea and sugar were
abolished, that the consumption of those necessaries of life would
by doitbled,. and that the duty might be reduced one half without
loss to the revenue. He hoped those monopolies would 'be put
deem; hut in doing this the liable Duke would have to wrestle
-with. two giants, the &Net India Company, and the Proprietors of
the esont-art land* its the West Indies. The British natiep, hoW-
ever, would be with hint.
Lord CA LTIKYR PR raid, that the mores the subject was exa-
mined the more clearly would it appear that the proposed Altera-
'tion-vaould, so far front being injurious, prove beneficial to the
West Indies.
The above Petitions were severally ordered. to lie upon the table.

The Bonn then adiourned until Monday.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mr. Mason, from the East India House, presented the annual
EMUlotions of the East India Company.
It PARNELL brought up the Report of the Liverpool and
Bolybuiad Road Bill.
Mr. LAW LEY presented. a Petition from Birmingham, pray-
lag the abolition of Negro Slavery.
Mr. LEN NARD presented a similar Petition from Malden.
Lord R. MANNERS presented similar Petitions from Lough-
borourgb, and another place in Leicestershire.
Mr. BRNETT presented a similar Petition from Malmesbery.
The Petitions were severally ordered to be printed.
Mr. LAW LEY presented a Petition from Leamington against
be Small Note Act.
Mr. S. LU M LEY presented a Petition from the Burgesses of
'Bast•Resford, praying that their franchise should not be emended
to the neighbouring flundreds.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. A. DAWSON presented a Petition from Rochdale, praying
the House to adopt a minimum e,f wages.—Ordered to be primed.
Mr. BROW N LOW. brought is a Bill for the Drainage of Poop
in Ireland. It .wes read' a first time, and ordered to be read a
second time this daythree months..
Mr. SUG DEN brought in a Bill to prevent Illusory Appoint-
• meats. It was read a kat time, and ordered to be mad a second
time thisday three months.
Mr. BRIG LIT presented a Petition from the Executors of a Mr.
'Rearms, of Bristol, complaining that they had not been paid the
ailment of certain claims on the French Government.
ACLAND presented a similar Petition from certain
'Persons in the county of Devon.
After a few wards from Mr. IL Davis and the Csraxeact.oa of
the asicrmbura, the Petitions were ordered trbtb42 primed.
*plagues. from the Oirsce of the Commieri.xiers for Building
NewtChisrebes, presented ay Accoant or their Receipts and Dia-
btirsenaents.—Ordered to be printed.
The-Naturalization Bill was read a third time and passed.
Ma. LITTLETON pave titmice that, early its the nest Saurian,
he.wyykl moor Resolutions ton prevent Payment of Fortson the
remittal of Tuanitke i3ilir-{Heat ).
14k. J; WWI) presented a. Petition from Dewsbury, against
the AdditionalCbtimies Dill,—Ordered to be 'printed.
bk. CI 10 L NION ORLEY presented a Petition from a place in
the nagpitg,vif. thearke, praying** luitivar protection for the growth
Mi. R. GORDON. presented a. Petition from a person of the
name of .tiattlett, praying that debts contracted for the neces•
sarirf noi.be. recoverable at law. The result would
basolapt.the wage* of .the lower orders would not be taken from
tlmsakt:lfllialswierkly, instalments, nor wnuMehey have to pay such
Mph ramp as was now imposed upon theni.-ThePetitioa was or-
dwell mbb printed.
• Sk' BUI1110:1/. presented a Petisino frets certain flock-
' atyirrn in.Sumex, relative tm the duty on Wool.

•
The CIIANCEX.LOR of the EXCHEQUE4 moved the Or.
der of the Daji foethe House resolving itself into a Committee of

&WY.
bk. STEWART aatiod if auy thing was intended to be dope as

to.theetansikais Tiirdn
CliA WCF$l.l.Og. of. the EX,CIIEcaI ELI said that no
doubt the 'now attention would be given to the subject.
THE BUDGET.
The CHANCELLOR of vie EXCHEQUER ob.
served, that the tithe had now arrived when it was his
duty to make the annual statement f the Finances of
'the country. Hi could not forget that during the last
year it was brought forward by a Right Hon:-Gentle-
snia.now no.miee—and that in doing so he graced a
dry and detailed statement with all the brilliancy of his
genius. He hoped, h.-At/ever, that the licithe would
.grunt him their iutention. He meant to conceal no-
thing—to state every thing fairly. He would state
things as they were, and would trust to the good sense,
of'eatliament for the future regulation of our finances.
If Itt, some. instances he had a difficult duty to dis-
.ou-the other, the labours of the Finance Corn-
matte woulst :supply a degtee of information which
Would renaer lengthened detail from him unnecessary:.
In fulfilling hilluty, he would call the attention of the
House.ect our income and expenditure for the last and
current yeas.; in doing 0. he would itroiateuaung.un.
necessary hopes, or, ou the other hands of twit% tor,g4.,

sion for the slightest species of despondency. It W. 14
usual, in presenting such a statement its the present, to
refer to former years, and from Thence to deduce the
eiiimates; bot that was a practice whiCh he was not
inclined to follow. The vicissitedes for the last four
or five years were great, and the fluctomtions in the re.
venue, and the variations in the clpandttort, made such
a reference ut.fit for formi g a ground op labia to
build a correct estimate. And at preient, therrfort, he
would confine bimseli, ift the first instance, to Aim the
amount of the revenue and ezpenditutc for 1827:

xrvtwur.

The total Ordinary Revenue (at the gross) for 1827,

was • • • . • • • . £49,581,576
Received from the Bank for Naval and Military Ser.

vices . . ..... . 4,345.000
Under the Head of Small Extraordinages . . 660,000

Dlakirg a total income of . . . . 54,486,657
axrtcwntrtras.
The Expenditure for 18.27, including the Interest of
the O.bt and Exchequer Bills, but exclusive of the
Sinking Fund, was . . . . • . 28,239 000
Paid to the Trustees of Naval and Military Pensions 2,8°0,060
Other permanent Charges on the Consolidated Fund 2,300.000

Making a total of . . . . . . 35;339,000
Now then, if the total expenditure were deducted from
the total Income, it would amount, in round numbers,
to 1,800,0001. From which deduct difference het kra-en
advances in public work', and sums received, 663,7931
there would appear a surplus of 1,136,2071. In malo:ig
this calculation, he had taken the Naval and Military
Pensions as part of the Revenue, and the money paid on
account of them as part of Vie Expenditure. He need not
conceal that which the House kneW perfectly well.
namely, that this sum could not be called increase, for
it was, more properly speaking, a loan—(Heat). But
such w is the state of the lucerne and Expenditure, and
so much the surplus applicable to the reduction of the
Debt for the year 1827 ; and he would now at once
proceed to state what they had reason to expect for the
current year 1828: He anticipated, on a moderate
computation, an increase over last year of 800,000/. and
he would shortly state the grounds on which he assumed
that so large an augmentation would take place. In
order to do this, it would be necessary to look to the
various branches of Revenue, and show how far he was
justified in forming such an anticipation. The Revenue
of Castoms was one great branch of the national re-
sources, and that had exceeded the revenue 41826 by
a sum of 600,0001. but that increase ki,Li ty,t justify him
in assuming that the same branch for 1828 would equal
that of 1827, because, in consequence of the necessities
of the country, large importations of foreign corn be
cause necessary, and a heavy duty was imposed upon
it, to the amount in 1827 alone, of 800,0001. Bet he
could calculate on no such sum in the present year.—
There was nothing in the present state of our crops to
show that importation to a large extent would become
• necessary, although to a limited amount it might be
so ; and hence in making his calculations as to . the
revenue for the year he omitted taking credit
for any revenue to be derived from the duty on foreign
corn. This sum of 800,0001. should be, therefore, de-
ducted from the amount of Customs Revenue to be cal-
culated on in this year; and to supply this deficiency he
✓elied upon other branches of the Revenue. The Cus-
tplits Revenue of last year was deficient in the articles
of sugar, rum, and brandy; but he expected a great in-
crease for the.m• in this year, and also a considerable
increase upon wine. The revenue in sugar fell off
:300,0001. in 1827, compared with 1'826; but it should
be remembered that last year there was a short crop,
the price raised, consumption diminished, and he need
not add, that a defalcation of ire Revenue must of ne-
cessity have ensued. This year, however, the reverse
was the case; there was certainty of a good crop, the
quantity would reduce tlfe price, an increased consump-
tion would follow, and the increase of Revenue arising
therefrom he estimated at 200,000/. In referring to the
Accounts of the Customs Res elute for the last half year,
he found that the increase. had been owes the CorresPon-
diiitperiod in last year 180,0061. and .he had every
reason to•expect that the half year to come would give
an equal amount. The duty on rum fell off last year
as compared with 1826 to the amount' of 400,0001. bin
that was capable of sufficient explanation. In 1826 the
heavy duties were removed; an inconsiderate consump-
tion and supply followed, but that could not be ex-
ptcted to continue in 1827, and the defalcation equalled
the excess 0f'1826. In this year the Revenue would be
grea.es than that of 1827; and taking a mean between
the excess of 1826. and the defalcation of 1827, he ex-
pected an excess of Revenue equal to 100,0001. Oiii
brandy also, which bore a proportion to the consump.
tion ernes", he expected an increase of 50,0001: Wine,
stood.ina different situation to either of these articles ;
dm!. was no diminution of its consumption; it was ra-
ther going ocmt•a.steady augmentation, and gave an
excess of Reveaue in 1 027, as compared with 1828, of
200,0001. Altbgether, however. he would take the in-
creased duy on wine at 150,0001. for the year 1828;
and the heads of increase would stanckhus—
ou Sugar . •
Ori Bum and Brandy •
On Wine

• • • . £500,000
• • . 150,000

. . 150,000

Makjng an increase fer 182 t over. 1821 el' 600,000
which, set against the amount of Corn Duty received
in 1827, would still leave a deficit to be covered of
200,00,1. 'the duty on the Ctelotres in the last six
inonths exceeded the same period of the preceding year
by 300,000/. and it wouli be bat lair to consi 'er afar
the coot!' ued, increase in the consumptiorvof these dif-
ferent at ticks would furnish a considerable additional'
Revenue. The secoud great branch. of the Revenue
was the Ruts , and that he would take at a higher rate li
thaw it was in, the course of last year. In 1827; it fell
off, as compared to 1826) in the sum of 700.000/. but
that deficiency could give no alarm. to those persons
who were eatrusted with' the dineetion of the public
Revenue, inasmuch as the .dirseiency would be covered
by the duty prows**. Lisi year these was a deficiency
in the barley, sted-!Ilps mobsters were alarmed at the
segulations which wers'imposed upon their trade; but
their, alarms was now removed,. and-there was every
ground to inticipate'an augmentation of the Revenue
in that particular branch. At present the duty received
on that articlafeeThiayear was 300.0001. and there was
besides a large quantity on which the duty had not been
yet received, which, with the sum paid, would fully
cover the deficiency .oftlast year. There was also a de-
liciency in the duty on beer, in 1827, of 170,0001. but
on looking at the Return, lately, he found that the con-
sumption of that article was on the increase, and would
continue to be so. With respect to other articles he
could also say, that,. taking the!, whole of the United
Kingdom, there was a generaNnereaseof consumption.
In hops them was a decrease, and also Upon auctions;
bat the deficiency in the latter he regarded as a proof
of that prosperity which existed in every blanch of trade.
He would then take—
The assumed increase in 111214.5 t • 5041 0001
From which decker deficiency in the Ciati;sus 2000001

And thrsurpimi would be• over Ml' 550,4)0
•
.In itdIPRS therr was 011* imPF9yeamit. and
he. cakola;cd..on a further-gradual increase; but-wbila
on shirsubikathkentist lay) thiit-much bflhAsinfreese

should be attributed to the zeal and diligence ezeicised
by the heads of .that department. Thos revenue from
stamps he estitnitled at 200,0001. and in the assessed
t a les tliette,wo also an ine Arne ovve,astsr of 81060/.
but as that a
at admitted of csiderable vacation, he would
nor -estienal eitat a higher rate than 504001. ThePost'
Office, and other smaller kerns of revenue, 'he would
take at the estimate of last year, as he was not inclined,
to make any improvident calculation of prozperoits
events. He would rather feel disposed to underrate the
amount of Revenue tan otherwise, because he knew
the danger which must almost inevitably arise from
t.iving a too flattering account of the country's finances.
The whole augmentations he would rake at 800,0001.
last year it was 56.0001. more, but then deducting the
corn duty paid last year he would only calculate upon
the sum he had just stated. The Revenue of Great
Britain alone presented an augmentation of 8.50,0001.
and it gave him infinite pleasure to state, that the Re.
venue of Ireland had increased in this year, as com-
pared with 1827, in the sum of 150,0001. There was
every appearance of continued improvement. but he
would not calculate upon any larger sum. The result
then ri all this would be, for 18'28:
Ordinary Revenue . . . . £50,381,000
Pensions from the Bank • 3,082,000
Extraordimeries and Minor Receipts . • • 458,000

Total Revenue . . . . C. 55,902,000
Expenditure for 1828—
Interest of Debt and Exchequer Bills . . 8E28,059,000
Naval and Military Pensiohs . • . . 1,692,000
Other Charges on the Consolidated Fund . . 2,200,000
Which viould make in round numbers about . 32,000,055
The vote* the Ainty, Navy, and Miscellaneous,
being airifillo less than 1827 . . . . 18,028,000
Sundry smaillenis . • • • • • 76,522

£50,104,52'2

Which deducted from the Income,leaves a surplus of X 3,797,508
Front chic, however, was to be Deducted the dif-
ference between the advances for I'ublic Works
and the sums received from the Commissioners 100,000

Leaves a surplus of .

. £3,088,708

From this statement, which was by no means over-
charged, the Committee would see the visible improve-
ment which the country had arrived at in 1828 ; it
would give an increa%ed revenue over the year 1827 of
more than 2,000,0001. Such then being the surplus of
the Revenue, it must be obvious that if they were to
provide for the annual payments under the Sinking
Fund, some source must be looked to from whence to
make it up. It they compared the positive surplus with
the sum at which the Sinking Fund had been main-
tained, it would be found that a deficiency existed
amounting to little short of 3,000,000/. If then they were
to act in strict confar mil y with the law, it would appear
from the statements he had made,that there were but two
courses open for him to recommend, or for the Committee
to adopt, with a view to making up that deficiency :
either by imposing fresh burthens on the people, in order
to raise the income of the country until it yielded the
required surplus; or to follow the course which had
been adopted in antecedent years, and supply the de-
ficiency by public loans, and the creation of additional
funded or unfunded debt. With regard to the first al-
ternative, he did not think that any one in the country
would be found to recommend it. He did not appre-
hend that there was at present any necessity for such a
coutxe. He did not believe that any circumstances
arising out of the present state of the public credit ren-
dered it necessary to make fUrther accessions to the
taxation of the count-Ty, in order to give it stability, or
'to gain for it the public confidence. They had not to
deal with this deficiency now for the first time. it was
one of which Parliament had long been cognizant, and
one which Parliament had so long permitted to exist,
that it was not necessary to resort, under the present
circumstances of the country, to this most inconvenient,
and, indeed, impracticable course. The other mode,
then, by which the deficiency could be supplied,•was
the mode of borrowing. To that course he was free to
say that he felt the strongest objection. He had long felt
—and he was sure it was the strong and general feeling
of all who'had given their attention to such subjects--;
that to borrow money in time of peace for the discharge
of debt, was a practice highly objectionable in prin-
ciple; one that was not defensible upon any grounds
of reason; and calculated to create delusion while it
produced tiro- substantial advantage—(Htar, hear).—
'He said triis without the fear of being supposed to im-
pugn the.principles upon which the Sinking Fund was
first established. It was not established under the idea
of borrowing money for Is support. Mr. Pitt contem-
plated the' application of surplus funds to its purposes';
and it' was in his anxiety to maintain that surplus that
he displayed such unparalleled- energies, that he aban-
doned so much of hrs 'patronage, and sacrificed so much
popularity. Mr. Pitt felt that to keep up a salutary
Sinking Find, a real surplus was indispensable, because'
a real surplus was the only means by which it was pos-
sible to effect a real liquidation of debt. In lending
himself, therefore, to the objection against borrowing
money in time of peace for the purpose•of keeping up
a Sinking Fund, he was confident that lie was not act-
ing in opposition to the principles of Mr.. Pitt, or to the
course which that great Statesman would have pursued.
In the necessity of keeping up that war, which was as
foreign to his'inclination as it was to his wishes and his
hopes, Mr. Pitt was driven to the choice of two alterna-
tives ; he was obliged either to abandon the Sinking
Fold altogether, or to support it by borrowing money
pima a principle contrary to. that upon which he bad
established it. He was convinced that Mr. Pitt would
not have departed from his own Pt inciples but under the
pressure of necessity, and lie felt bound to follow his ex-
ample.. He felt, however, that there was an additional
objection, and which had been stated by the Finance
Committee, against the system of borrowing money to
keep up the amount of the Sinking Fund. At the pre-
sent moment he thought there would be peculiar dis-
advantages in making up the deficiency. by the issue of
Exchequer Bills. He was not blind to the uses which
had been made of that species of•money, nor to the.pros
fit which the country had derived from them in the
transactions of last year. But arrangements of this kind
must' have their end. fle was aware that the use of
En-hegira Bills-had its advantages; but on the other
hand, he could not be unmindful of the chances of evil
to which.they exposed the country. It was not in the
present circumstances of the country that danger could
be apprehended from the existence of Exchequer Bills.
But who could say how long it might be before the
necessity for fresh exertions should occur? Who could
answer for what new circumstances of difficulty might
arise ? And who could foresee what would then be the
consequence of having the market encumbered with
Exchequer Bills in a greater degree thamit was at pre•
sent? He, therefore, was one who would not agree to
raise the money to supply the deficiency on the Sinking
Fund by an addition to our unfunded debt. He would
rather take all favourable opportunities, as they arose,
for its reduction. He did not wish to take any rash or
• precipitate measure with regard to these securities; but
be thtusght.the viewstsf Parliament and of the Govern-
(nein' ought ,rather to be directed to their reduction
then, they were not,
;ban to duet ,augmentation.

ito resort to additional taxation as a means of sup.
plying
otherth hand, it wasedeficiencyint ineheSxinpkediniegrt toFund,and
on the supply id
by any increase of the funded or unfunded debt, it
appeared to him, as it had appeared to the Finance
Committee, that there was only one course kft for
Parliament to take. That course was, to commence
from the, present .period, and reduce the nominal
amount of the Sinking Fund to its real produce as
a surplus of income over expendiithe. In doing that he
would not be suppose,t to entertain an idea of abandon.
ing what he considered to be essentially due to the
character of the country, and the maintenance of its
best interests—the making a regular and consistent er.
fort to redeem its debt, which indeed lie considered ab.
solutely necessary to its present sa'ety, as well as to its
fume strength. The measure he should propoft,could
have no such effect. By reeu:ing the nominal amount
of the Sinking Fund they shiu'd still be able to apply
the same sum annually to the liquriation of debt et
they had hitherto done, only with this difference—they
should depend upon real resources, and forbear to bor.
row. They had, it was true, for some time been under
an obligation to apply 5,000.0001. annually to the re..
duction of debt, but no more than 3,000,0001. had been
'in reality so applied. In the course of the last five
years, they had reduced 29,000,000/. but to effect that,
different sums had been borrowed from time to time;
arid if they only applied to that object the sums omit-
which they had full power, he would say that thug
should be acting equally for the benefit and security Cr:
the public creditor, and for the advan:age of the coon
try, while they si,ould not only,be diminishing expense,
but at the stme time getting rid of that anomaly, and,
in some degree, delusion, of borrowing on the one side
to pay riff the debt on the other. Having now corri-
pared the general estimate of the Income and Expendi.
ture, and having stated the manner in which it was pt..
po,ed to apply the surplus, it only remained for him to
call the attention of the Committee to the Supplies and
Ways and Means of the present year. For the present
year the House had granted Supplies

For the Army . . . • . . . ie8,049100*
That being less than the antecedent year by . 145 009
For the Navy 6,0m,006
. . . . . .
Being leis than the antecedent year by . • i:Sof000
For the Ordnance • • • • . • 1,600,000
Being a reduction from the last estimate of 50,009
For the Miscellaneous Services . . • . '2,220,000
Upon which there was a reduction from the amount
in the preceding year of . . • . . 90,000
Making a total reduction upon the several Establish-

41Sielo

11,000,006 -