Star.
London, England, 1810-02-17 00:00:00

P4RLIAItiEN7'.4Rr PROCEEDINGS.

HORSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 16.
Lord WAI.SINCHAM presented Petitions from the confined
Debtors in Jails at Hull' and Halifax. Ordered to lie on the tabi.e.
A Person presented Reports from the Comntissiouers fur the
Reduction of the National Debt.
HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE.
Marquis WELLESLEY brought down a Message from his
Majesty, informing their Lordships that his Majesty had entered
into an arrangement respecting Portugal, by which he had agreed
to advance pecuniary succours for the support of an army of Por-
tuguese troops, not exceeding 30,000 men. His Majesty's most
gracious Message was ordered to be taken into consideration on
Monday next.
Lord GRENVILLE rose, and, after some prefatory observa-
tions, moved for an account of the time when, and the parties
with whom, this arrangement bad been made.
Marquis WELLESLEY expressed his readiness to give the de-
sired information.
Lord GRENVILLE stated, that on Monday evening, on the
hisavconsideration of the Message, he should take the opportunity of
eritoj his untiments as length on the policy of our conduct
towards Portugal; as It respected what bad taken place, was now
going forward, and the future line of conduct we ought to pursue.
1 REVERSION PREVENTION BILL.
Earl GROSVENOR rose to move the second reading of the
Bill to prevent the Grant of Places In Reversion.
The LORD CHANCELLOR rose to request the reading of
the Bill passed last Session, previous to the discussion of the pre-
sent Bill. The Clerk accordingly read the Suspension Bill passed
last Sesson. His Lordship then observed, that it was impossible,
consistently with what their Lordships owed to the dignity of
their proceedings, that the present Bill could be read a second
t dam Their Lordships had passed a Bill, suspending for a year,
and for six weeks after the next ensuing Session of Parliament,
the granting of places in Reversion by the Crown. In the pre-
sedge to that Bill, there was a recital of the reasons why it was
passed by the other House. His Lordship would not irregularly
I allude to what occurred in the House of Commons ; but when
1 the proceedings of that House came hefare their lordships in a re-
guise shape, it was competent for any Noble Lord to remark up-
on them. The Bill stated, that it was expedient, during certain
inquiries pending in the House of Commons, that offices should
not be granted for two or more lives ; and, generally, that they
should not be granted in reversion. Upon this ground, the House
of Lords had pasted the Bill for suspending the granting of
such places in reversion ; waiting the result of the proceedings
upon such enquiry. Their Lordships were now called upon to
convert the Act of Suspension into a permanent Bill, for the abo-
lition of the 'practice altot ether, of granting places in reversion,
to which they were not, certainly, pledged by passing the Sus-
pending Bill. He'had as high a sense as any Noble Lord of what
was due to the other House, and to their Lordships; but he
could not see how this Bill could be read a second time, under
the circumstances he had mentioned. He wished to avoid studi-
ously, on this ground, the giving of any opinion on the merits of
_ _

..
the question ; ink when ever that question should come before :
paid the. Property Tax there for convenience ; so that
I their Lordships in an unexceptionable shape, by a new Bill, he :
the tax assessed in Scotland was merely upon the local
should give his opinion on the merits.
Earl GROSVENOR could not see that any technical objections I property. It was very difficult to ascertain the pre- i
made by the Noble Lord on the Woolsack applied so strongly as i cise sum which Scotland did pay under this head ; !
to prevent the progress of the Bill. It was sent up regularly from but comparing the sum of £BOO,OOO returned for ,
the other House, and he was sure that the voice of the public i
called for its enactment. The object of the Bill was to make that,l
11808, by the documents on the table, as collected iOr
1
perpetual which the last Bill made only temporary. I, Scotland, and allowing only 4200,000 for tax on
The question on the second reading being put,it was negatived... Scotch funded property, both would amount to more :
The LORD CHANCELLOR4then moved that the Bill be re-.; than one,eleventh of the sum paid by England ;which!
jetted. I
Lord HOLLAND observed that he and other Noble Lords was but se 1 1,073,000 without deductions ; and this
who voted for the Suspension Bill, did not so vote under the opi- I would be a fair proportion for Scotland to pay, whe-1
flies that the Bill ought nut to be permanent In its operation. ' ther as compared with the amount of the tax ou I
The motion for rejecting the Bill was carried. . England, or in comparison with the total of other
1- Earl GROSVENOR then stated that it was his firm intention
at
.1 assessed taxes collected in Scotland. The Learned i
to bring before their Lordships another Bill to the same effect,
as early a day as possible —Adjourned. Advocate concluded, by moving for an account of I
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A person from the Treasury presented an account of the last
the net amOUnt of the Property Tax in Scotland,
from its cxnmenccment in 1803, to the latest period!
. the same could be made up, distinguishing each year ;
year's Expenditure of the Commissioners for Redemption of the 1 and also the amount of assessed taxes collected in
National Debt.--Ordered to lie on the 'fable. ! Scotland from the commencement of 1800, distill;
Mr. WHARTON presented an Account of the Surplus of the . . .
War Taxes for the last year over the sum of 19 millions, in like manner.
which they are estimated.—Ordered to tie on the table. at , gllishin
I ' Lord MAHON expressed much satisfaction at the
A Message front the Lords informed the House, that their statement.by the Learned Lord Advocate. But al-1
Lordships had agreed to the Malt and Pension Duty Bilk with- though he had stated that the Property Tax was not!,
out any amendments.
PAPIIII9. I collected at ten per cent. in Scotland, until 1808, and
Lord 0. L. GOWER observed, that the papers, for which he that its produce in that year was xBOO,OOO, the re- i
was about to move, were necessary to be brought under the coast- turn laid upon the tal,le stated \the collection to be i
j deration of the House before it could come to a decision upon the only £324,000. The Noble Lord thought the sub- '
I Army Estimate.' ; and as he understood that no objection would jest of Scotch Revenue was highly important, and
.be made to their production, he should content himself with
barely moving,That there be laid before the Nouse a Return of called for the notice of the. House. There were se-
the Number and Rank of the officers employed on the Military viral important objects of taxation, for instance the
Staff in the different Districts in this country, specifying the article of beer, in Which the difference between the
amount of their Staff pay and allowances, together wkh a Return apparent consumption of Scotland and England .was
of the number of troops in each District. Also Copies of any re-
SO
' ports which may have been received by his Majesty's Secretary enormous, and 90 out Of ail apparent probability,
of State, relative to the services and discipline of the Mang Fen- that he thought a-Committee ihould `be appointed tot;
cibles. ' enquire into the ertrsiordinary difference between the'
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER presented cert• revenues of Scotland and those of England. .
tain papers' relatiYe to the Loan granted last year todto Prince.' Mr. H. THORNTON said ,thet-the collections in
Regent of Portugal,bg command of his Majeetg.—sOttireitl to s
lle en dui table: ' . ' Scotland proceeded so slowly, that in the Committee