Star.
London, England, 1818-03-19 00:00:00

CUSTOMS CONSOLIDATION BILL.

The Report of the Customs Consolidation Bill was
brought up.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated
that it was intended in this Bill to consolidate all the
vario is Duties imposed since 1809, which was the
period when a consolidation last took place. The
Duties would remain nearly as they were, with a few
exceptions. There were a few general principles to
which, on this occasion, he wished to call the atten-
tion of the House. With respect to the Irish Duties,
which must soon undergo a revision, it was intended
they should remain for the present unchanged. No
alteration would take place in the Duty on Timber.
With respect to ad valorem Duties, at present a Duty
of 30 per cent. was laid on unmanufactured goods,
and a Duty of 70 per cent. on manufactured goods.
The Duty on the manufactured goods was to be re-
duced to 50 per cent. and the Duty on the unmanu-
factured goods was to be reduced irom 30 to '2O per
cent. It would perhaps be advisable, that the varied
Duties on Sugar should be reduced to one fixed rate ;
but this would be a subject for consideration in an ad-
vanced state. The duties on goods carried coastwise
would continue in their present state, except the duties
on Stone and Slates, which would be rendered more
simple. The duties or. Tonnage would not be altered.
The present duties on East-India goods would be as-
similated to the duties on light articles imported from
other parts of the British dominions. The thrown
silk would be imported from India in the same man-
ner as from ports of Europe. He congratulated the
House on the great growth of the trade to India since
the free intercourse with that country. The private
trade exceeded not only what the evidence at the
bar gave reason to expect, but the most sanguine
hopes of the adventurers—(hear, hear.) It would be
proper to give every fair encouragement to this trade
which might be consistent with justice to our own
manufacturers.

Mr, Alderman ATKINS thought it was impolitic,
that the same duty should be laid on Sugar of dif-
ferent qualities. He suggested that the expenses
which attended the bonding of goods should be
lessened, by which means, he was convinced, we might
again become the great carriers of Europe.
Mr. FORBES concurred with the Chancellor of
the Exchequer as to the great increase of the trade to
India in British manufactured goods, especially cotton. But he
remarked, that in India, at if to check this trade, duties tad

been hid upon British manufactured atom, ithi
exist before.

After a few words from Messrs. Berrzawesn,
and the Caranenzna of the Ezuhruca, the Report
to, and the Bill ordered to be brought ice.
Mr. G I LBERT brought up a Report of the pi
mittee, which was ordered to be printed.
Lord LASCELLE6 wished to call the attention ,
Hon. Gentleman below him to the hardships nift
riduals from the manner hi which shops were assLts
any allowance for the difference of the size of tike
He had presented Petitions from the Shopkeepers
Halifax some time since on that subject, and me,
fore the recess, that it might occupy the mitt, of I
Ministers during that period.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'
Noble Lord must be aware how difficult it was to
tinction in such cases.

Mr. TIERNEY asked, whither the Risht Ree
was prepared with any measure in allivistiin
suffered?

After a few words from the Csaiscesaoa cf
Lord LASCEI.LFS stated, that after tl.t. 1...11e;
move that the Petitions to which kr kad
to a Committee. The parties aggrieved ccoltt
from appeals, for in that case the Commissi• 7.ers
the Act, which inflicted the injury, and in vihd
some alteration was necessary.

The Report on the Auction Duty Act. vat brc
agreed to.—Adjourned.

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterday a Quarterly General Court v
the East India House.
The CHAIRMAN stated, that in conformi'
4th chapter of the Ist section of the Ire I
dry papers laid before Parliament were
ted to this Court; amongst these wem
dons of the Governor-General of India, ra
year 1814, and of the Governor and Len:
dras, made in the year 1815.
The SHAIRMAN called the attention of
to copies of advances received from Cle Go
Council of Fort St. George, relative to
Mr. William Cooke.

The despatches were read, and contain
port of the Committee of Inquiry appoir.l
mine into certain accusations made
William Cooke, as to his conduct wit l.
Mr. Sherson, who had been charged wit
proceeding while officiating in the (Grain I
The Report went to acquit Mr. Cooke a
nality in the course he had adopted with
Mr. Sherson.

Mr. KINNAIRD inquired whether it w
to appoint a time for the consideration of t
The CHAIRMAN answered, that the doe
now before the Court, and it remained u
men before the Bar to take whatever (
thought necessary.

counat RARRI!.

Mr. D. KINNAIRD inquired whether
Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, which had bee
Court of Directors for nine months, althou
have been decided in as many days,
brought to a conclusion? It was a case of
ship, and whatever their decision might bo
feel himself, bound at a future period to ;
pers on this subject, for the purpose of n
Motion to the Court on the conduct of t
mcnt of I3ombay.
Mr. HumE strongly censored the dcla:
which was apparent in this and other case
with their military establishment.

. The CHAIRMAN and Mr. GP.ANT state
utmost attention was paid to this case.
of a very complicated nature, and the
which it was necessary to refer tc were
miuous. This it was which caused the
COMPANY'S TRADE.
Mr. Ht re. gave notice that he would.
day, bring under the consideration of th
commercial transactions of the Company
do so because, after every inquiry he cou
found that their commerce to Bengal, 5
Bombay, with the exception of a few a
carrying on at a very great loss. He d
into a statement, to chew that the salaries
different Presidencies varied from ten to
per cent. on the whok investment ; and
that, under these circumstances, it w.ts
that the Company could compete with
Trader—(Hear.)
The CstAismia stated, that when the s
to be considered, he would prove that t]
their trade, compawd with that of indiv
creditable to the Gentlemen behind the B
fitable to the Company.—thear, hear.)
MR. HUDDLE.TTON.

Mr. Hums, seein* an Honourable
b(Mr.Huddleston) in his place, felt it %Nei
tant as he was to bring individnals beforc
to call for explanation on a subject that
cerned the honour of the Court of Direct(
known to many within and without the
charge of a most serious nature had hern r
that Gentleman in a late publicatii,a. r.:
charge had been noticed in one of the
Mr. HuNtE was here called to order
MAN; and after some discussion, hissll;ri
Colonel ALLEN, and the DEPUTY CHM itml
Mr. HUDDLESTON rose, and declared C:
as a Gentleman, that the charges made J
in the work alluded to were most unjust,
and most unfounded. This he pledged
prove, and if necessary he would verity tl
on oath. Although, from the distance
which the events took place that were
being not less than thirty-four years sinct
necessarily have to encounter some dither
ing his statement, he declared, that if t
tors should return him at the ensuing E:
that they should afterwards deem his exp
satisfactory, he would that moment reiig

Mr. Hum E conceived that a week 0: ten
be sufficient for the Honourable Ex-Dno
up his statement, which ought to be subs
Proprietors before the Election.
Mr. GRANT conceived it was most
on a Gentleman to answer, in the coau
days, charges which related to inatteri
place thirty-four years ago. There y.-,s
to support those charges, and they were
direct denial of the Honourable
nial backed by a life of unsullied hon.
these circumstances, he hoped t!-.L. HerJ
Director would appear before the Proprc
honourable light to which his services enl
Some further observations were made 1-1
Mr: D. KINNAIRD, and the DEPVI Y Cunt
which the Court adjourned zinc

NING STAR.

N DON.

MARCH 19, 1818.
FUNDS.
DAY AT TWELVE O'CLOCK
77i 78--Cons. for Ac. 78t
Ivy Aitnuities 10.5117,-
-.—Exchequer Bills 11 18 pr.

of the Lank DirecOrs took
the Bank, when a dividend of
trcd, which will be paid on

new Bills brought into Par-1
hemselves, some of which are
some discussion, it seems pro-
s', of the year will be gone
Election shall take place.

learn from what was said last
OMAGH in the House of Corn-
nment of the Netherlands have
right of search with regard to
gaged in the Slave Trade, with
Jal abolition of that inhuman
'reaty for this purpose is nearly

of the ExcHEQuen stated, that

lnsolidation of the various Cus-
losed since 1809, now before the
es are to remain unchanged, and

ce place in the duty on Timber,
on manufactured goods is to be

0 per cent. and the duty on un•
from 30 to 20 per cent. The

ed coastwise are to continue in

,xcept those on stone and slates,
ered more simple. The duties
are to be assimilated to the du-

imported from other parts of the
He considered it advisable that

on Sugar should be reduced to
his would be a subject for future
Lowever, the proposed fixed duty
Lst India Sugar would be subject
ions as West India Sugar. The
India Trade, since its being laid

, excceded the most sanguine ex.

concerned in it.

presented to the House of Corn-
n of Mr. TIERNEY, it appears that
k-Notes in circulation on the
nary last, was £28,945,580

- 28,846,780
- - 28,216,600
28,248,120.
uases Bill for the purpose of re-

t of Poor-rates, and of checking,
rnerous evils which flow from this
ra..es a subject of first-rate impor-
ting the interest and happiness of
)mmunity. If, however, the error
it is now generally believed, lies
actual administration, which, by

Litution of things, must be defec-
ndamental principles, any amend-
sils, however specious, will be of
ressing the grievances which it oc-
tmunity. The Act of Queen Eli-
he basis of the system, extends re-
d the infirm, and, as generally in-
Lkes also to provide work for those
ae for themselves. Upon this law
the system of profuse and indiscri-
hich has produced such deplorable
e is obviously no way of remedy-
t by restricting this charity—by
ct to its original objects, namely,
infirm, and by excluding from its
e-bodied labourer.

making Parish Officers find work for
t find it for themselves, is manifestly
re is a demand for labour, every la-
mplcyed ; and when labourers cannot
lemselves, this is a certain indication
; and by what process is it imagined,
Officers can remedy this evil? Have
of creating any new fund, either of
istence for the employment and sup-
itional number of labourers. If they
ower, is it not plain that they take the
mouths of one set of labourers, and give
hey employ some by setting others idle;
!y were the wisest and most upright
they could not do otherwise. Flow
suppose, that by correcting the
can be remedied? Is it not evident
ile must be changed—that the vicious
ae expelled from the system before
.ndment ea,n be restored ? The ob-
the plan presen-ly proposed, is, that
ers with the evil—it is a half mea-
-1 directed against the system ; and
he: is for the professed purpose
better effect that absurd provision
ZABltTli'S law, for enabling the pa-
ide work fcr poor children. This
ate the evil, by giving a new and
tivity to an impracticable project ;,--
r far better to let those schemes rest
ssible they may languish In salutary
improve ar.d renovate them into ac-
The present plan seems, like many
re been proposed, to be merely calcu-
lie evil a new form, and it will pro•
e, be allowed quietly tic siLi into the
and nealact.