The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-25 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

Two petitions were presented from the owners and ac-
copiers of land in separate districts of the county of
Aberdeen, complaining of Agricultural Distress, and
praying for relief by an alteration in the Distillery laws,
and. by a repeal of the Assessed 'f axes.
Mr. C. GRANT said he wished to put a question to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject waver
of the petition. The Distillery Lawawere acknowledged
to have been attended with evil consequeams in Ireland.
The same pernicious laws had produced the same bad
effects in Scotland, and he thought that country was en-
titled to the same relief that was held out to Ireland.—
He was therefore anxious to know whether the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer meant to extend that relief to
Scotland.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had to apologise to his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Grant)
and to his country fur not having adverted to that topic
in his statement on Friday night last. He now begged
to state that he meant to extend to Scotland the same al-
terations and reductions that he said he would apply to
Ireland. _ _

fhe petition• were then read, and ordered to be
printed.

WINDOW TAX.

Mr. CURWEN desired to kuow whether the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer meant to exempt from the Window
Tax houses of the poorer classes, having but six windows
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
felt it advisable to adhere to the view be had taken of the
subject on Friday night, that was to reduce the tax gene-
rally by 50 per cent., and to repeal altogether the duty
on shop windows.
Mr. HOBHOUSE was understood to say that be
meant to give notice of a moliou for the repeal of the tax
on windows altogether in the City of Westimnister.
Mr. DAWSON wished to know if the Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Hume) would put off to Wednesday his motion for
(as we understood) the correspondence with the Privy
Council respecting the Staff and clothing of the Militia
of Jersey.
Mr. IfiJME said he had no objection to postpone the
motion to Wednesday night.
Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE presented a petition
from the parish of Bathwick, in Somersetshire, against
the Assessed Taxes, Tite Hon. Baronet said he would
avail himself of that opportunity of giving notice that
on the 20th of March he would make a motion and sub-
mit resolutions declaratory of agricultural distress and
explanatory of the views which be entertained ou that
subject. —.the petition was read and laid on the table.
On the motion of Mr. BROGOEN, that the order of
the day for bringing up the Report of the Resolutions of
the Committee of Supply be read.

POSTMAEITER-GeNiRAL.
Lord NORMANDY adverted to the question which he
put on a former night, and laid he wished to know
what was to be done with respect to the office of one
of the joint Postmaster-General, for the abolition of
which the house had last Session voted an Address to his
Majesty.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHP,QUER said that
Commissioners had been appointed last Scssion to inquire
into different offices. At the close of the Session they
were ordered to extend their inquiry i Ito the office of
Postanaater, but they bad not yet made a Report, nor had
they come to any decision.
The Order of the Day foliAringing up the Report of
Supply having been read, and it being moved that the
Report be then received,
Sir R. HERON took that opportunity of lamenting the
depressed state of agriculture, and said he was anxious to
support the liberal policy of Ministers towards Ireland
and Spain.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said be was anxious to ex-
, press his acknowledgments to the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, and to the house for the favours Intended to be
conterred on Ireland. He would recommend the repeal
of the Leather Tax, instead of some of the Assessed
Taxes, unless both could he repealed. He did not wish,
however, to discuss that subject at pr s fit, and he rose
merely to express his gratitude to the Right Hon. Gentle-
man the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

SUPPLY.

The Report was then received, nd the Resolutions
res.!.

On the motion that the second resolution be read a se-
cond time,
'Mr. tiRF,NFELL said he wisbeil to know if the Meer►
ber (►Mr. Maberly), would press on the house that night
the consideration of his Resolutions. The Honourable
Member then, in terms which could not be distinctly
heard, was understood to express his disapprobation of
the Resolutions.
Mr. MABERLY said that the Honourable Member
asked a question, and without nailing for an answer took
a most prejudiced and erroneous view of the subject. He
would not then discuss those ltesolutions. It was his
intention to move their adoption of them that night, but
having understood that the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
front the fatigue lie had undergone by the exertions
which they had all witnessed on Friday night, could not
be able to go into the consideration of them, he (Mr.
Maberly), was willing to go into the feelings of the
Right Honourable Oentlenaan, and had no wish to in-
commode him. He for that reason postponed his motion
to Friday next, but on the understanding that it should
have precedence of all others in which the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had any concern.
The 3d, 4th, and sth Resolutions were then read a se-
cond time.