The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-26 00:00:00

me 41/4 ND," 1,
lON
mptriai IJadianitia.

AA\

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY:

Lord 11owcientOoliiheOaiir;,7ind;;&ciii;edto the par-
liamentary roll.
The second reading of the insane prisoners bill was moved
and carried by Lord NORMANDY.

FINANCES.

Lord RIPON, after a speech in which he took a view of
the financial state of the country, particularly as it would be
be affected by a war with China, moved for some returns re-
lating to the revenue.
Lord MELBOURNE said, that the part of the noble earl's
speech which he (Viscount Melbourne) thought was very valu-
able, and that which he thanked the noble earl for delivering
—for it was always beneficial to bring before the country such
views as were wise, and salubrious, and useful, and beneficial
in themselves, whatever might be their application to exist-
ing facts,—was that portion of the noble lord's speech where
he said that the government had resolved to carry on the
financial affairs of the country without a surplus revenue ;
that, perhaps, if the existing taxes should produce a surplus,
they might apply it to the purposes to which a surplus
is applicable ; but that the system of the government was to
do without a surplus. Now, be must say, this was a very
difficult question in financial affairs. The principle of finance
some time ago was that there should be a surplus. Mr.
Huskisson moved in 1819, a resolution of the other house,
that there ought always to be a surplus of £5,000,000. That
was carried by a great majority. But it was unquestionably
true, that great financial difficulties had followed ; great
pressure had been felt all over the country ; these difficulties.
had forced the government to recede from that principle. In
fact, it was found impossible to maintain it, and it appeared
to him (Viscount Melbourne) at present to be a difficult
question whether they ought to tax for the purpose of creat-
ing a surplus, or whether they ought only to raise taxes suffi-
cient to meet the current expenditure of the coun-
try, and leave all the capital beyond that to do what
the noble earl treated with so much ridicule, namely, to
fructify in the pockets of the country. That was a phrase
which the noble earl said he did not understand. It was first
used, however, by the late president of the board of trade.
By so leaving capital in the hands of the people, be (Viscount
Melbourne) questioned whether they did not leave the people
greater capability of meeting any extraordinary efforts that
might be required, than would have been displayed if it had
previously been exhausted by taxation. At the same time,
he must say, that this was not a question which he under-
stood sufficiently to presume to give a decided answer to it
at present. On this occasion he would only add, that he
trusted it would be seen that the measures proposed by her
majesty's government were the best for the country. He
had no objection to the production of the papers moved for
by the noble earl.

Lord ASHBURTON contended, that they ought to maintain
a surplus in order to justify the contracting of a debt in time
of war, and in order to make provision for sudden emergen-
cies. It was ably stated in one of Mr. Huskisson's speeches,
that it was necessary to have a surplus in order to make pro-
vision for the ordinary fluctuations of the revenue ; for he
observed that, with a revenue of £50,000,000, a fluctuation
to the extent of 10 per cent must be calculated on. He (Lord
Ashburton) considered this the most important question that
could occupy the attention of the legislature ; and he had so
good an opinion of the honesty and common sense of the
people of this country, that he believed, jf they were fairly
talked with and reasoned with as they were in the days of
Pitt and Huskisson, they would willingly submit to make
those provisions which were necessary for the security and
independence of the nation. He wished to know whether
the treaty with France was likely soon to be arranged, so
that provision might be made for it during the present session.
Lord MELBOURNE replied, that it was impossible to say
how soon the negotiations would be concluded.
Lord ASHBURTON supposed he was to understand that the
treaty could not be executed without an act of parliament.
Lord MELBOURNE : Of course, not.—The returns moved
for were then agreed to, and the house adjourned at a quarter
to eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.
Many petitions, on different subjects, were presented.
Lord POWERSCOURT presented a petition, signed by 200
inhabitants of Bath and its vicinity, and, among them, by
Colonel Napier, praying that the house would take some
means for the suppression of the National Association of
Dublin, the objects of which association petitioners stated
to be seditious. They therefore prayed that her Majesty's
attorney-general should be directed to institute proceedings
against political offenders of whatever degree, or that the
parties now in prison for sedition should be liberated. (Cheers
from the opposition benches.)
Mr. HUME wished to ask the noble lord if he meant to
accuse his hon. and learned friend, the member for Dublin,
of treason ?

Lord POWERSCOURT said he had merely read the prayer
of the petition.

Mr. -O'CONNELL said that he did not mean to oppose the
receiving of the petition, although he thought he might do
so. It appeared to him, however, that he should have had
notice of the intention of the noble lord to present it.
Lord PowEnscoun.T.—l gave you notice the day before
yesterday. I left a letter on the table for the purpose, and
I myself saw the hon. and learned member read it. (Oppo-
sition cheers.)
Mr. O'CONEELL said that was perfectly true (hear, hear),
but he had mistook the signature to the letter, thinking it
was Estcourt. He would appeal to the speaker if he had
not spoken to him on the subject at the time. (Hear, hear.)
With regard to the allegations contained in the petition
against him, he had no hsitation in saying that they were
totally false. (Hear.)
Mr. CHRISTOPHER gave a notice in regard to the bill for
imposing additional duties, which had reference, we think, to
Ireland, but the effect of which we were unable to hear dis-
tinctly.
Mr. PAKINGTON gave notice, that on the bill for the
government of Canada being brought forward, he should move
that it be considered that day six months.
Mr. HOME also gave notice on the same bill of an amend-
ment for an address to her Majesty, praying her to remove
the suspension of the habeas corpus act in Canada.
Mr. GODSON gave notice of a motion, 2nd June, for
erecting the fifteen judges into a court of appeal in criminal
cases—(hear, hear, from Mr. O'Connell)— sod, on the part
of his lesrned friend, Mr. F. Kelly, that the motion respect-
ing capital punishments would be put otl till the same day.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that to-morrow he would
move that the house, at its rising, do adjourn till Tuesday
next.

Mr. J. E. STANLEY moved for a new writ for the borough
of Cockermouth, in the room of Mr. Horsman, who had
accepted the office of one of the lords of her Majesty's
treasury.

In answer to a question from Mr. Herries, who was
wholly inaudible in the gallery,
Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to say that the bill with
regard to the taxes would be proposed to-morrow.
Sir R. PEEL begged leave to inquire what the noble lord
proposed to do on the 29th respect to the business of the
house ?

Lord J. RUSSELL said that he proposed the house should
sit on the 29th of this month.

Sir R. PEEL asked why the papers relating to the differ-
ence between this country and the United Sates had not been
presented ? _ _

Lord J. RUSSELL thought it better that all the papers
should be presented together, and all had not yet been printed.
In answer to Mr. PAKINGTON, Lord J. RUSSELL said it
was his intention to introduce a bill on the subject of the
clergy reserves, which would not merely confirm the general
provisions of the former bill, but be likewise founded on the
same principle. He could not say when it would be ready.
Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that, on going into committee
on the registration of voters' (Ireland) bill, he would move
an instruction to the committee to define the nature of the
existing franchise, with a view to better legislation on the
subject.

Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to inquiries, intimated that
the bills to carry into effect the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
financial resolutions would be proceeded with to-morrow.
He proposed that the house should sit on the 29th instant.
Sir R. INGLIS deferred his motion on the subject of church
extension.

Mr. F. MAULE obtained leave to bring in a bill for taking
an account of the population of Great Britain.
Returns of certain regulations of Chester gaol, respecting
the treatment of prisoners therein confined before conviction
and after sentence, were ordered on the motion of Mr. WAR-
BURTON.

Mr. FRENCH moved, but afterwards withdrew his motion,
for a committee of inquiry into the petition of Mr. Roberts,
on the subject of preserving animal substances from putre-
faction, with a view to the putrefaction of anatomical science.
Mr. FAKINGTON moved that the house resolve into com-
mittee on the sale of beer bill. It was, however, moved that
the house be counted, and it was accordingly counted out.

Mr. MACLEAR asked whether it vas intended to take off
the post-horse duty, or any part thereof?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER answered—No.
Colonel S!BTHORP asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on what day he proposed going into committee on the civil
contingencies? Also whether he intended to give a more
satisfactory statement as to Dr. Bowring's expenses?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER answered that he
should move the estimates on the civil list contingencies as
soon as possible; and that as to Dr. Bowring's expenses
ample information was contained in the returns before the
house.