The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-06-29 00:00:00

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Coml.,oti ample. which maw We the utmost hoivor in
all who heard them. lie wished the Noble Lord would
be kind enough to inform him whether the iineensineat
hail received any official accounts from our Diploma*
- Agents respecting these transactions?
The Marque& of LONDONDERRY slid, that Ota-
vernment certaiply were in po ion of disp•tehm,
stating that persons detained as hostages hy the Turkish
flovernmeat, had been executed in Constantinople. He
could give the Hon. Men lier nn Netter information
than that the fact was as he had described. It was one
of those dreadful calamities which EMT/ out of that bar-
barous seiritowith which the war was carried on in the
island of Scio by both parties.
Mr. W. SMITH had reason to believe that it was not
only the twelve or fifteen hostages *hat had been put to
death, but that eighty-fire persons had perished. He
• bad seen a person who was in the town of Scio when
the Turks were carryi• gon their persecutions. He had
not comae., to go to see the executions; hdt six Greeks
wore impaled by the Turks only because they had been
left in their hands as hosesoes.
• Sir JAmrs MACKINTOSH wished to ask $ ques-
tion of the Noble Lord, which very nearly tonched the
bonnie and UlO character of the British nation. He
should he glad to below whether the dispatches stated
these parsons, so barbarously murdered by the (Myren-
*tent of Constantinople, to he under in any or is what
degree, the premien of the British Minister. He also
. . wished to ask the Noble Lnrd whether the dispatches
Wormed bin, that in the markets of Constantinople and
;of:. ) 1 Smyrna, Greek Ladies were exposed for sale and con-
... destined to the capricions brutality of Mahometan vole's-
• toaries. Ladies of edneation and family, and members
of the Christian Church, were eltue exposed to the sa-
vage ferocity of an Infidel Power which was supported
by this ilioerranaeat. _
The Marquess of LONDONDERRY said be must de-
precate this mode of putting segment:wadye question, to
bin, upon -occasions like the present. The Hon. and
)(owned fientleinao might bring forward any arguments
be had to deliver upon the subject with more propriety
when it was reenlarly before the House. As far as his
information went, he believed that other persons from
the Morea had been executed. But-that the number of
'hostages front Scio was only twelve or fifteen. With re-
gard to their bring protected by our Minister, they had
not hero sofficleotiy so to warrant au interference upon
the principle of protection. Lord Strartgford bad inter-
posed his good offices with the ()overtone:lt, sad by
mean, of the inlinenee which he poisessed had obtained
an..assurance that these persons should only be kept se
'hostages, But what circumstances might afterwards
have centered to alter the policy and the determination
.{..:. of the Porte, it was impossible to say. There was not
. sufficient ground for interference upon the nature of the
1 '..
1.. protection given to these unfortunate people.
- - ALIEN BILL.
• . .r..- -.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH presented a Petition from,
Leicester against the Alien Bill. It also prayed for Re.
form, which he was disposed to regret, although he was
extremely family to that object. He thought that in
tide case it would have been better to separate the two
• ' • prayers, and make each the subject of a petitiun.—Or-
- dered to be printed.
MALT DBMS COLLECTION.
Mr. WODEHOUSE gave notice, that on /Woodsy
next he shouhl rail the attention of the house to an Act
, passed on the 15th of last month, imposing so additional
became upon the people, without due police baying
been given of its effect. It pressed not only upon the
Maltatera, bat upon the general body of the people. He
• - alluded to an Act passed on the bib of May, to amend
two Acts of his late Majesty for regulating the collection
~,
of Excise duties on Malt.
Mr. BROUGHAM wished to call the attention• of the
Noble Marquess, or of the Right Hon. Secretary of State,
\ • to an article which bad appeared is a Morning Paper
an article of inch a nature that any one who had a re-
• geed for the purity of the judicial character, sad of the
oleriasietrotion of justice, most view with the utmost
alarm. It professed to be a copy of a letter from tied
• Right ilon. Wen. &min, who lately tilled the @Rustled
of Attorney-0 I for Ireland, addressed to no less a
persossige thee the Lord Chief J tilde* of the Common
Pleas, Lord \mbar!. Its purport was to enclose ex-
tracts of another letter from a Peer, counneeting upon a
late Act of that house •in language that be would not
describe, and romnamending Lord Norbary to interfere
in political disputes and intrisues. Ile hoped he should
not be misunderstood in giving this opportunity for ex-
planation on so grave a matter ; and be should be happy
if any personal raised, of Mr. Sauna wet** present who
could deny the authenticity of the paper. If It were not
denied, aid if it could not be denied, then there most be
another document in existence of a meet important cha-
racter. If any man had dared to write a hundredth
part of that letter, it would be &most portentous matter,
and one that mutt lead to results the most serious. The
answer to a man who had the presumption to make such
an attack upon the judicial character ought to bare
been each a one :a at least would teach him not to
hazard a repetition of his conduct. If this had bees
confined to a private circle he should not have felt it its.
pertain upon him to mention it../But finding it made
public in the Papers of the day, be thought it his duty
to bring the subject forward in order that it should be
denied or noticed within a reasonable time.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that whether it was his
duty or nut to reply to the Hon. and Learned Member's
observations, his personal friendship for Mr. Saurin
would not allow him to bear his name connected with
sects a circumstance as this without. immediately rising
to defend him. He was of course wholly unprepsved
either to admit or deny the authenticity of this letter.
Until yesterday lie had Dever heard of its existence. He
could easily believe that the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man felt it a painful task to mention the subject, when
the very terms of the letter declared it to be of a private
nature. Of these, whoever they might. be, through
' whose means it had oequireel publicity, it was unneces-
sary fur him to say a word. If it was found in the
streets, it was the first and must obvious duty of any man
to send it immediately to the party for whom it was di
reefed. Irbether it was authentic or not, he would ra-
ther have written the letter if it had been ten thousand
time* worse than it was; than have given it publicity
under such ciicuinsiaaces.—(flear.)
Mr. BROUGHAM was like the Right Hen. Gentle-
man, inasmuch as Ise never beard of the paper till yes-
terday. As to the means by which it obtained publicity
be was utterly and entirely ignorant lie agreed also
in reprobating its publication as much as the Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman. He conceived that nothing jinn-
lied the Isle of private papers but the process of the law.
lin lionl,l almost go to the length of the Right Honour-
able Oentleman—be hardly knew whether he would not
rather base written the letter than (save published it, and
particularly if foal means had lire's used to procure it,
as was most probalitir Chun the story told of picking it
up in the street. He felt, however, that they had no
choice in taking notice of it atter it hail obtained puldi-
city. The duty was cast two them, and they ;mist fol-
low it tip, as tliough the letter had come before them by
any other means.
Mr. Secretary PEEL thought the utmost danger
would arise if it were to be decided that persons should
' prosess themselves of private documents and found pub
Ile proceedings epee thou. If the possibility of affairs
denying pult:ieity by such means should be count.-
taanced, he entreated the Louse to look at the come.
vivito" that most ensue.
Mr. 0- BENOIET wished to ask the Right Homan-
Me Gentleman whether, now that it was mentioned, he

rbouW feel it his duty to esquire late the truth or fals:••
'mod of the letter?
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that the Hoe. Member
must not attribute it to any want of disrespect to his it
be declined answering the rlatedon seder the circum-
stances of the case.
Mr. RROCI.IIIAM had felt the dillealty pointed out
by the Right Hon. Gentleman so strongly, that it was
with some difficulty that be made op his mind to dive
etreonragernent to the means employed by noticing the
letter. lf it had been one of any ordinary nature he cer-
tainly should have pissed it by on that very account.
It nowt remained for the house to consider whether then
ghould proceed to any notice of the mutter. If they dia
not, and the two individuals affected by it took no steps
on their owe part, the country would convolve that
this objection was the only one which prevented (briber
steps.

SALT TAX AAAAA L.
Mr. BRO(IDEN brought up the report of the Salt
Tax Repeal fill.
Mr. CUM EN rose to show the advantage of taking
off the tax altogether. It could not he kept np with a
view to the revenue, but patronage. He was convinced,
en the contrary, that it would be most injurtop to the
revenue. By removing the whole tax, sad granting a
bounty upon the importation of Salt into Ireland, an
adequate employment might be iound for he poor in
fishing, end her own consumption would be a anificlent
market. Then every Irishman would have a herring to
his potetoe. The Right Honourable Hentlemao did sot
want the money, and by giving up the tax be would
gain the thanks of the country. If it was retained it
would destroy our fisheries and injure various other
branches of our commerce. Ministers would bleu a
most heavy load of responsibility Reber would keep up
thi; Tax, when by repealing it they bad the p!wet'ef
doing so 'touch good. He concluded by moving an
Amendment, " That the whole of the Duties should cease
and he no longer payable."
Mr. LEICESTER contended that Ministers were pre-
vented from giving up the whole Tax by the interferesee
of interested persons. He considered this eostkiet to be
any thing bat the genuine essence of tree patriotism.
lie thought it extremely hard upon the contstry that
Ministers should so press upon it in the hoer of its dis-
tress. He was satisfied that within a year the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer would be ender the seesesity of
' completely repealing this Tax, and the Tax also open
Leather, Tallow, mad Windows.

Mr JOHN SMITH spoke in favour of the Repeal.—
He thought that the tax pressed moat heavily on the
poor, and that the Revenue could afford to give It sp.
Mr. DENISON said he thought the tax was a most
odious one, and he should heartily vote for its repeal.—
He could not however agree to etrepeed the repeal of
the Leather Tax. Indeed, since the Resolotion of the
House for repealing that 'tax, the persons conneolod
with the Leather Tax bad entered into new &rim.
meats.
Mr. LYTTLETON said he bad originally opposed a
motion for the repeal of this tax, because he wished lb
maintain the Sinking Fund; but he considered the ad.
vantage to be gained by retaining the trifling remnant
of the tax, to be by no means equal to the inconvenience
attending the pressure of it. He should vote for the
Real.
Mr. Alderman C. SMITH opposed the Repeal.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER regretted.
that any arrangement which, when first proposed, ap-
peared to give general satisfaction, should new be dis-
turbed by the Amendment of the Hon. Member for
Consberlaud. He owed it to-the credit of the country
to oppose the Repeal. if the boost should determine
on the total Repeal of this Tax. be would be compelled-
to 'hoodoo his resolution of Repealing a part of the
Leather Tax. He was satisfied that • partial repeal of
many Taxes would be more beneficial than the total Re-
peal of a single one. He had been accused of a desire
to retain the tax, on account of the patronage attached
telt ; but the fait was, that the Treasury had cotbing
teals with the patroaage. The oMeers were all ap-
ft?by** Board of Beeler. TV* eittior on -the
o il
Collodion, in ease of a total Repeal, would be
very Ineemaiderable. as the officers employed respeetiog
this fa: were employed also for other purposes; and
very few of theta could be dismissed. The Irish
Fisheries were under none of the restrictions which had
beers emnplaieed of; so that the argument as to the in-
convenience in that respect, fell entirely to the ground.
He did not mach approve of the extension of Bounties.
It would lead to the system described by Adam Smith,
under which men fished for bounties rather than her-
rings.—(A laugh.)—When it was considered how great
the reduction already afforded, be really could not be-
lieve that the public would be so much inconvenienced
by the remnant. He thought it would be scarcely felt,
as the duty would not be more than a halfpenny in the
pound. Even if every man consumed as much as every
other. the duty would not be more than two shillings
per bead per annum; bat be denied that the poor paid
so much as the rich. The remnant had been called con-
temptible, but it amounted to two hundred thousand
pounds a year; and he could not consent to give up.—
As he bad alrady stated, that if the house were resolved
on repealing this tax., he must retain the tax upon lea-
ther, be really hoped that lion. Gentlemen who were
anxious for the repeal of the latter, would support him
on the present orieuton.—(Hear, hear! and a laugh.)—
He had reason to believe that the total repeal of the
tax would materially itterfere with the kelp trade in
the North, a trade which gave employment to no less
than forty thousand persons. He saw no jesson for
altering his first Resolution, which lie trusted: would be
approved by the public and the. House. At all events,
those who doubted his judgment would, he hoped, give
him credit for his motives.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WODEHOUSE said, that he had now no doubt
of the flourishing state of our revenue; and he there-
fore could see no reason for retaining the remnant of
an odious and unpopular tax.
Lord A LTHORPE said. the Right lione'Ventlewialt
'had thrown out baits to catch the votes of all parties t'
hut be would not catch him (Lord A.) He was known
to favour the repeal of the Leather Tax ; but lie would
not on that account support the continuance of the• Salt
Tax.—(A laugh.)—lf the house -should repeal it, be,
was satisfied the Right Honourable Gentleman had too
much regard for his own character to resort again to the
Leather Tax.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured
the Noble Lord hi most do so; and that he would not
he doing any more than carrying into effect the sub-
stance of the resolution& sanctioned by the house.
Mr. H. SUMNER said his Right Hoaourable Friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not been fairly
treated, He thought the house would disgrace its faith
by repealing the present tax, after agreeing to the reso-
haircut proposed by his Right Hon. Freed.
Sir J. VORK F. said be would never take off a tax by
halves. He wpsld vote for the repeal.

Col. WOOD- said the taxes had been laid on by halves,
and increased during the war. He always should vote
upon principle ag■iust isolated motions for repeal of
taxes. Instead of sweepiog away different taxes, the
proper way, in his opinion, would beta lower all taxes
to a certain extent.

Mr. MARTIN said that if this rensalniog duty oa
salt were repealed, the whole of the persists is that part
of Ireland would hare no market whatnot for their la-
bour, in the manufacture of kelp.
Mr. IJUSIIIINUTON said that the question before the
house assumed a greater degree of importance than it
possessed on any former occasion. The question now
was, would the house consent to distarb that Muscle!

arrangement which, when it had been opened by his
Right lion. Friend, was received with uni 1 ace!
motion ? Would they take away one of the grounds
upon which the confidence of the public creditor was
snaintaiand? The reduction already made was quite
enough for the Ildieries. They bad no ground of coin-
plaint. He would sooner consent to the remission °fib..
Candle Tax, which was so expensive in the leetion
of it; and he *mild rather rerun the Coal T the ob-
ject were to rYliere the inferior classes.
Mr. WETHERELL opposed the repeal
duty upon salt at the resent moment. • gist
they were all bound to their constituents to repeal part
of the Salt Tax and part of the Leather Tax, and they
could net do this if they repealed the whole of either.
Mr. SCOTT thought that the time was now arrived
when it was their duty to take off some of the hordes
imposed daring the late war. Fir thought it much better
for the nation to repeal the whole of one ta; than parts
of two; and in the present case he was sure the nation
would not feel the benefit to the full extent of the partial
repeal. This Was thr first time that he had done him-
self the honour of addressing that house; but be must
observe, that he had never heard less said than in tie
discussion of the last hour and a half; and that Holt-
Geatlemen did not d to carry this' estion
their, argumente.aughter, and cries of "Question.
Sir F. OMMAN .Y would support the policy of a poe-
tical repeal of the Salt Tax. He considered that not only
ought faith to be maintained with the public creditor,
but also with the old ta of the State. Let them
look to those officers some twenty, some thirty years, is
the service of the public, now reduced to,beggary—hd
them look to those who had shot themselves—(continued
laughter)—let them look round to the public offices
whets men were driven to that state of wretchedness,
that they bad recourse to self-destruction.
The Marquess of LONDONDERRY considered the
present preposition to be totally inconsistent with the
general feeling of the Louse, on the occasion when Mei
Right Hon. Friend opened the arrangement for the r
enema of a large amount of taxes. If his Right Hon.
Friend bad at that time stated that be would ban
given op the duty so far as regarded the fisheries and
themanufactures, it would have been hailed with plea-
sure. The question for the house to consider was the
quantum of reveane which the support of public credit
hosed them to keep up. It was not now a question be-
twee, tax and tax, for it seemed to be the sentiment on
the other side of the house, that they had only to pro-
ceed from tax to tax in their career of retrenchment.
The house would then con‘ider whether or not, con-
sistently with the maintainanee of pablie credit, they
were in a situation to repeal the whole .ssty M Salt,
and that on Leather. The resolution of tie bops to
maintain a certain sum of revenue had sew been matured
late a law—and the question was, was the law to be in-
waded by diminishing the means of keeping faith with
the public creditor? It being understood that the re-
peal of the two duties would be inconsistent, the next
seenideration was, would they disappoint the hopes of
Ow *employed in the manufacture of leather. If the
anseetiseut of the Hon. Member proved successful, lie
trusted the house would not be surprised that his Right
Hon. Frjensl the Chancellor of the Exchequer ebeold
oppose any Bill brought in for the repeal of the day en
Leatheea—(Question. question.)
Mr. S. ORTLEY said that in his opinion lbfithpf Uf
the duties ought to be taken offi' bet if a choice were tip
be made, be would prefer remitting the whole of this
Salt Tax.—(Question, question.)
The house then divided, when the numbers were—Fee
the original resolution Io4.—For the amendment 9t
Majority for the Tax 12.
Oa our return to the Gallery we totted,

Mr. HUTCHINSON making some observations, en
she Resoladon relative to Ireland. He assured the
bt Hon. Gent. that the merchants of Ireland did not
aid fink with the reductibn of the Salt Tax In England,
bet ilheyeried aloud against any fresh burden being
pissed VON Ireland at Ibis period. By this Resolution,
which llMANthat the Tex in Ireland should be made
In En il& instead of the currency of the mea-
ty!, an additional burden would be placed on the people
e(lreland. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer would.
en listen to him, he would make a series of statements
le the House explanatory of the conduct of his Majesty's
Government with respect to baked, as should make
their hair stand on end. He repeated, in spite of the
Noble Marquess's high, that he would day after des
amine to expose their system of governing that cone
by, till he Mined up the feelings of that House ankihe,
otry, as should make it difficult for them to setthem•
triolves straight again. He moved, as an Amendment le
the Resolution before the House, that the word " Irish"
be inserted with referehce to the currency in which the
tax was to be collected.
The Marquess of LONDONDERRY assured the
Hon. Gentleman who bad just sat down, that be was on
actuated by the threat he had just uttered, but as it was
only the difference of the currency of the two countries,
he recommended his Right Hon. Friend to give up that
point.
After a few words from Sir J. Newvoirr, which wen
inaudible in the gallery,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rows,
and, as we believe, stated his readiness to concede to the
aggestion of his Noble Friend.
Mr. CALCRAFT said, that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's conduct on this occasion was a tolerable spe-
cimen of that confidence which the Noble Marquess and
other Honourable Members in that House desired them
to place in the Right Honourable Gentleman. He
thought their best thanks were due to his Honer.
able Friend (Mr. C. H. Hotchisson) for his vigi-
lance in behalf of the interests of Ireland.—(Hear.)
To all who had watched the motions of Hon. Gentlemen
on the other side, both within and without the house—
to all those who had remarked what bad taken place a
little before ten and a little after, and who had heard
the protracted speeches they bad heard, meant for any
thing but instruction, and all this followed by ante on
of twelve only, he need not observe that they need
give up the hope of obtaining the full repeal of the tax.
Mr. hi ABERLEY maintained that although his Ma-
jesty's Ministers were very desirous of keeping ups Sink-
ing Fund, that fund was invaded by this ; and
that bad they abolished useless places and pensions,
they might have repealed both the salt and the leather
tax.
The amended Resolution was then put and agreed
to; and the other Resolutions having been agreed to,
a Bill was ordered to be brought in, in conferment
with them.

THY RUDGItT.
In answer to a question from Colonel Thetas, the
CIIANCZLLOR of the EXCHZQU cc stated, thxt he could
not consistently with his public duty defer bringing on
the Budget beyond Monday next.
lIVPPLY.
The house bevlog resolved itself into a Committee of
Supply,
Mr. BANKES moved that the sum of 9,4251. 13i. be
Kraited for the support of the establishment of the Bri-
tish Museum.—This snm was not'so large as the grant
of last yeir Ly nearly MOM.
Mr. S. RICE expressed his entire, acquiescence in the
propriety of this grant. He regretted, for the credit of
the country in the eyes of foreigners, that the other mo-
animate of literature and the arts were not opened to ihe
public out the same liberal terms as those of die British
museum.
Mr. 0, BENNET entirely concurred la the sentiments
of his Honourable Priem'; but be could sot belp.regret-
i ling that a provision bad not been granted fee the main-