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Mr. P. Moore would never consent to any new tax until he saw that every economical exertion had been made by Government.

Mr. Hume strongly recommended economy. The allowance for Ceylon, the Ionian Islands, and the Cape of Good Hope, ought to be discontinued. The Civil List should be reduced from 1,200,000%. to 900,000l. Gold lace and gorgeous trappings added nothing to the British character; economy was what was neededstrict undeviating economy. Look at the office of Commander in Chief: would any man believe that we were paying 16 guineas a day to an individual for filling an office which was wholly useless ? If the necessary papers were produced, it would appear that the income of that Royal Duke was scarcely less than 100,000. per annum. The expences of the Mint, and of the Woods and Forests, ought also to be reduced: the latter was not of the slightest use, and he (Mr. Hume) hoped to live to see the day when even the pretence of necessity would be taken away, by the sale of all the Crown Lands, which cost the nation more than they were worth. (Hear.) In the Staff of the Army only, 50,000l. might be saved; in the Ordnance Department 30,000, and in the Army Extraordinaries no less than 150,000. One great source of charge to the nation was the mode in which Stamps were distributed. In all cases more was paid to the distributors than they merited. The profit upon stamps was 10 per cent.; so no salary ought to be allowed.

Mr. Primrose was not prepared to go the length of some of the opponents of the measure, but he objected to the Malt tax, and one or two other items.

Mr. D. W. Harvey said, that 24,000l. a year might be saved in Exchequer prosecutions; for at present, in a suit for only a 207. penalty, there were five counsel always employed for the Crown.

Mr. Alderman Waithman objected to the whole of the taxes. It was particularly galling that many of those who lived upon taxation, and who imposed fresh burdens upon a starving people, retired to enjoy themselves in a foreign country.

The first and second resolutions were then agreed to.

On the declaratory resolution relative to the Irish finances (see p. 69) Sir J. Newport moved an amendment, by inserting after the words "United Kingdom" the words, "notwithstanding there had been raised by Taxes on the People of Ireland, and paid into the Exchequer, within the period which elapsed between the Union of the Kingdoms and the Consolidation of the Treasuries, the sum of 60,125,000. being an annual average of 3,750,000. raised by Tax, and exceeding the annual average of 12 years preceding the Union,

which was 1,344,000. in the sum of 2,400,000l. of net revenue, The amendment was then negatived without a division, and the resolution agreed to; and the other resolutions being put seriatim,. were carried successively in the affirmative, till the question was put upon the last, when Sir M. W. Ridley moved an amendment, declaring that "it is not expedient, in the distressed state of the country, and until every practical retrenchment had. been made, to add to the burdens of the. people by the impositions of new taxes."

After some observations from Mr. Vansittart, Lord Milton, Mr. Primrose, and others, the amendment was negatived, and the original resolution carried by 186 to 76.

June 9.

Mr. Serjeant Onslow agreed to put off the Usury Laws Repeal Bill until next Session, in order to ascertain the effect of the resumption of cash payments.

The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that by the several discussions which had already taken place upon the various topics which formed a part of the budget, that much of his labour on the present occasion would be abridged. The House having already agreed to a resolution for additional taxes, made it unnecessary for him to state the grounds upon which those taxes were required. It only, therefore, remained for him to state the details of those principles which the House had already agreed upon. He would then begin by recapitulating, as usual, the items of expense and supply-the arrangements which had been made as to the specific application of the means-and show, in the conclusion, that it would not be necessary in future to have recourse to fresh taxes, or to any extraordinary supplies, except a small loan next year.

The first grant was for the Army, the ordinaries and extraordinaries of which

For

together amounted to 8,900,000l. the Navy, Parliament had already voted 6,436,000; for the Ordnance, 1,191,000/; for Miscellaneous Services, 1,950,0007. The total of the Supplies therefore was 18,477,000l. But to that must be added 1,570,000l. for interest on Exchequer Bills, and 430,000l. for a sinking fund on those Exchequer Bills, making the total amount 20,477,0001. To meet that expenditure, Parliament had already voted the annual Malt Duties 3,000,000l., and the continuation of Excise Duties 3,500,000l. It was his intention to propose raising 240,000l. by way of lottery. From the sale of naval stores, it was estimated that 334,447. would be produced. The aggregate amount of those several sums was 7,074,4477. It was, therefore, obvious, that means must be adopted

adopted to provide the sum of nearly thirteen millions and a half, which was the difference between the total of the Supplies and the total of the Ways and Means, as he had hitherto described them. It was also necessary to provide the means of repaying 5,000,000l. to the Bank of England, and of raising 5,597,000l. for the reduction of the unfunded debt. Government standing pledged to that proceeding. For those purposes it was proposed to raise two loans, each to the amount of 12,000,000l. The details of that loan, which was to be derived from the sinking fund, he would submit to Parliament at an early day. All that he would now state was, that it was proposed in the arrangements respecting it, to press as little as possible on the money-market; and, therefore, to divide it into twelve monthly payments; those payments not to be equal, but to be to the amount of 900,0007. a month in the July and January quarters, and 1,100,000l. a month in the April and October quarters. That would leave 510,000. of sinking fund to be applied monthly to the reduction of the national debt. The two loans of 12,000,000%. added to the ways and means which he had already enumerated, would make 31,074,000l. which, compared with the amount of the supplies, viz. 20,477,000l., left a surplus of 10,597,000l. to be applied to the reduction of the unfunded debt, viz. 5,000,000l. to the payment of the Bank of England, and the remaining 5,597,000l. to the payment of individuals holding Exchequer Bills. The comparative view of the whole of the Supplies and Ways and Means, was, therefore, as follows: SUPPLIES.

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He had now to state to the Committee the terms on which he had that morning contracted for the loan of 12,000,000l.; and he was happy to congratulate the Committee and the Country, that in consequence of the competition which had been excited, the terms of that loan were highly advantageous and satisfactory, and were, indeed, such as clearly to evince a reviving confidence and increasing spirit in the money market. terms were as follows: viz, that for every 100% of the 12,000,000l. subscribed, the subscribers should receive 80. stock in the three per cent. consols, and 627. 18s. 8d. stock in the three per cent. reduced, Two other lists were offered, the one proposing to receive 657. 10s. in the three per cent. reduced, the other 65l. 2s. 6d. The list preferred, therefore, far outwent its competitors, and was consequently ac cepted; as, of course, the smaller the sum which it was offered to take in the stock in which it was appointed that the biddings should be made, the greater the benefit to the public. The whole amount borrowed, including the loan, from the sinking fund, was 24,000,000.; the interest on this loan amounted to 1,029,120, and the charge for the sinking fund to 403,5941. This was strictly carrying into effect the provisions of the Act of 1813, by which, when a loan should exceed the amount of the sinking fund, an addition was appointed to be made to the charge for the sinking fund; though this provision might have been dispensed with, when so large a proportion of the loan was for the purpose of paying off unfunded debt. The sinking fund thea amounted to 1,403,5947.; the amount of charges of management was 10,2917.; £.8,900,000 making a total of 1,442,005. With re 6,436,000 spect to the charge for management, he 1,191,000 thought the Bank had no right to any 1,950,000 allowance for that part of the loan derived from the sinking fund, but only 18,477,000 to that part of it now obtained from the 1,570,000 public. The loan obtained from the sink450,000 ing fund would stand in the names of the commissioners, and the interest would be applied in the same manner as the other sums which were paid over to them. The total charge to the public was, as he had already stated, 1,442,0051. The rate of interest to the subscribers was 41. 5s. 8d. The total amount of charge to be paid by the public would be 61. Os. 2d. including the sinking fund. He certainly had to congratulate the public on the terms of the loan (hear, hear); and he trusted it would not be unfavourable to 7,074,000 the parties who had contracted for the 12.000,000 loan: though the terms appear at first 12 000 000 sight hardly justifiable to those who had taken it, judging from the present price £.31,074,000 of stucks. Before he proceeded to the other

20,477,000
10,597,000

£.31,074,000

L.3,000,000
3,500,000

240,000
334,000

other part of the Budget, he wished to advert to the subject of next year. As far as could be judged at present, the amount which would remain to be raised next year would not exceed eleven millions for the different branches of the public service. In addition to this, they would have to provide for a payment to the Bank of five millions, to complete the repayment of ten millions due to that body. Those two sums amounted to sixteen millions. After taking twelve millions from the sinking fund, there remained 4,000,000l. to be raised in the money market.

This sum was so mode

The

rate, that he apprehended there would
be little difficulty in obtaining it. The
present state of the unfunded debt, in
addition to the funded debt, was forty
millions, provided for by votes of sup-
ply; Exchequer Bills 44,600,000Z.; Irish
Treasury Bills, payable in July, 4,400,0007.
In another year the unfunded debt would
be reduced to 38,500.0007., making a di-
minution of 10,500,000l. The amount of
the charge of loan last year was 1,600,000.;
of the present year 1,433,000, which to-
gether somewhat exceeded 3,000,000l. He
then proceeded to state the third head,
that of Additional Taxes. He said that
the details were minute and complicated,
but that the total amount of the Conso-
lidated Customs, including an additional
duty on foreign wool, would amount to
500,0001. The Right Hon. Gentleman
then proceeded to enumerate the articles
to be rendered subject to additional taxes,
which were tobacco, coffee, tea, cocoa-
nuts, chocolate-nuts. The two latter were
to bear an equal duty with coffee.
Right Hon. Gentleman then stated the
present duty on tobacco: by the plan
proposed, Plantation, Spanish, aud Por-
tuguese, were to be raised from 3s. to
4s. 6d. per barrel; and East Indian from
5s. to 6s. 6d. per ditto, making altogether
an increase of revenue of 500,000l.
present duty on Plantation Coffee was
74d. per lb., which was to be raised to
one shilling; on East Indian, 11d., to
be advanced to Is. 8d.: thus, on both,
the duty of 1s. 6d. was to be augment-
ed to 2s. 6d. Upon pepper the duty was
to be increased from 1s. 10d. to 2s. 6d.
The result of the increased duty on the
former would be 130,000; on the lat-
ter, 30.000%
The Right Hon. Gentle-
man then stated, that by an intended
transfer of the collection of these duties
from the Board of Customs to the Board
of Excise, great expense would be saved,
and embezzlement and adulteration of
articles prevented. The next subject was
the increased duty upon malt, which at
1s. 2d. per bushel was to produce
1,400,000l. and expressed his conviction
that the additional duty ought not to
have the effect of raising the price of

The

beer. The next subject was the duty upon British distilled spirits, which tax was to be confined exclusively to England, while the others were to extend to the remaining parts of the United Kingdom. The present duty on malt for distilling was 1s. 9d. per gallon, which was to be raised to 2s. On sugar-wash, the duty was to be 2s. 6d. ; and on distillery wine, 3s. 6d. The amount of augmented revenue from this tax would be 500,000/. The Right Hon. Gentleman observed, that when an additional tax was laid on malt, the wholesome beverage of the people, it was right and politie that a protecting price should be put on spirits, to prevent their too general adoption in preference to malt drink (hear). In couclusion, the Right Hon. Gentleman expressed a hope that after next year, he would have no more to undergo the painful duty of applying to the public for a loan, or calling on the House for additional taxes.

Some discussion followed this statement, but it could boast of neither novelty nor interest. The debate ran chiefly upon the three millions of taxes imposed towards creating a new sinking fund. Strong objections were urged against taxing malt. The hardship, it was contended, would fall upon the grower; and the argument urged by Mr. Vansittart, that since the brewers had kept up the price of beer after the reduction of the malt tax, they could reasonably maintain the same price under the present tax, which left them in a better situation than under the former, was answered by the assertion that the brewers had reduced the price, but were obliged to raise it in consequence of the bad harvests, and that it was the apprehension of the present tax that prevented their lowering the prices more recently. The principal speakers against the new duties were, Messrs. Grenfell, Bennet, Mansfield, Grant, (Alderman) Wood, and Sir Robert Wilson. The new duties were ultimately agreed to, after a division upon the lottery-tax, which was carried in favour of ministers by 117 to 49; and three on the malttax, which were likewise carried on the part of ministers by majorities of 195 to 97, 191 to 57, and 185 to 40.

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In answer to some observations by Lord Darnley, Lord Melville said, he thought it advisable to imitate the best models of ship-building among foreign nations, and also that we should have a certain number of vessels fit to meet those of the American Government. The marines exceeded in number those of former peace establishments by from, 1600 to 2000. The crews of the guardships were employed in the pursuit of smugglers, but, on emergency, could easily be recalled to their own ships.

Earl Grey moved the second reading of the Bill for repealing the Act declaring the belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation and the invocation of saiu's to be idolatrous. The repeal would not, he observed, admit Catholicks into either House of Parliament, whilst the Act of Supremacy was in force; but after the concessions which had beeu already made, why should such an odious badge of intolerance be gratuitously maintained.

The Bishop of Norwich spoke strongly in favour of the Bill, which he hoped would pave the way for the repeal of all the disqualifications under which the Catholicks laboured.

The Archbishop of Canterbury opposed it, as removing the only effectual security against the admission of Catholicks to seats in Parliament; for the oath of supremacy had formerly proved no bar to their sitting.

The Earl of Liverpool took the same view of the question.

Lords Grenville and Harrowby supported the Bill, which was opposed by the Lord Chancellor and Lord Bathurst; and on a division, the motion for the second reading was negatived by 141 to 82.

In the Commons, the same day, petitions were presented from the Common Council of London, aud from Westminster, Southwark, Rochester, Plymouth, Ramsgate, Forfar, and other places, against the Foreign Enlistment Bill.

Mr. Western moved an address to the Prince Regent, praying his Royal High ness to direct that in future commissions of gaol delivery should be held more frequently.

The motion was opposed by the Allorney General, who argued, that as the Courts at Westininster-ball were at present constituted, it would be impossible for the Judges to go to the Circuits more frequently. The Learned Gentleman recommended that the County Sessions should be held eight times a year, by which the evil complained of would be lessened. To set the question aside for the present he moved the previous question, which was carried.

On the motion of Mr. Hume, several

returns were ordered relative to the revenue and expenditure of Ceylon, the Mauritius, Malta, and the Cape of Good Hope. A motion for a returu of the expense of the Ionian Islands to this country was also agreed to; but one for an account of their revenue was negatived, on the ground that their revenue was not under the controul of the British Government. The Report on the Budget was then brought up, and the resolutions read.

Lord Milton proposed an amendment on that relative to malt, for a reduction of the duty. It was negatived without a division, and the original resolution was caried, on a division, by 126 to 75.

Mr. J. P. Grant moved amendments on all the other resolutions respecting the new taxes, to the effect of keeping the several duties at their present rates; but he did not divide the House on any of them; and they were consequently carried, and Bills ordered to be brought in pursuant to the resolutions.

The Attorney General moved that the House should go into a Committee on the Foreign Enlistment Bill. It was opposed by Colonel Davies, Sir J. Mackintosh, Mr. Scarlett, and Mr. Brougham, and supported by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Canning, Mr. Serjeant Copley, and Lord Castlereagh. The motion was then carried without a divi sion; and an instruction to the Committee moved by the Attorney General, for inserting, in addition to the first clause, words repealing two Acts passed by the Irish Parliament respecting enlistments for foreign service, was also agreed to.

The House then went into the Committee, when the first clause was amended, as just stated, and was agreed to without any opposition, being for the repeal of existing Acts. On the second clause a division took place, when it was carried by 248 to 174. The other clauses gave rise to a long discussion, but were ultimately carried, with some verbal amendments.

June 11.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought in a Bill for raising the sum of 12,000,000%. by way of annuity; and also a Bill for raising 240,000l. by lottery.

Sir J. Yorke alluded to the important improvements introduced in Ship-building by Mr. Seppings, as stated by the Committee of Finance, and urged the propiety of conferring on him some national reward.

Sir 1. Coffin and Mr. Croker panegyrized the merits of Mr. Seppings, and stated that he had received a present of 1000%. from Government, and had been appointed to a lucrative situation in the naval service.

A motion by Mr. S. Bourne, for the third reading of the Poor Rates Bill, was carried, after a debate, by 69 to 46. FOREIGN

FOREIGN OCCURRENCES.

FRANCE.

We learn from the Paris papers, that some disturbances took place on the 1st inst. in the School of Law; it appears, that a Professor Bavoux, whilst animadverting on the penal code, spoke so disrespectfully of the Bourbons, as to excite the disapprobation of one party, while the greater number took part with the Professor-a tumult ensued, police officers were called in to restore peace, but they were of no effect. The result is, the School has been for a time closed, and the Professor is suspended and under prosecution. The tone of parties, particularly the democratic, is evidently very daring at Paris, and the Government appear anxiously aware of it; for it is observed, that while the Ministers expend words in abundance against the Royalist opposition, their strength and acts are directed to keep down the democratic party.

The Academy of Dijon has offered a prize of 300 francs, for the best essay on the means of putting an end to the system of duelling.

During a thunder storm a few days since at Cleron (Doubs), 120 sheep were struck dead by the lightning.

The Feuille de Riom announces, that a peasant residing in the envirous of that town, who has reached his 80th year, has, on account of the appearance of the coinet, predicted the end of the world for the 4th of August; the Heaven will then be wrapt in fire, and there will be an earthquake. Other Prophets of the same kind postpone the event to the 22d of August; but the people, very tranquil about the end of the world, think ouly of the new vin de la compte, which the viutage of this year promises to bestow.

SUPERSTITION.-A case of horrible superstition is related in the last French papers: some persons opened a tomb in the department of the Aine, cut off the head of a person just buried, and boiled it for more than an hour in a pot; in the hope that, after this operation, the head would point out to them the lucky num'bers in the Lottery!

MELANCHOLY FATE OF MADAME BLANCHARD, THE CELEBRATED AERONAUTE. Paris, July 6.—The extraordinary fête which had been for some time announced to take place this evening at Tivoli, has been signalized by a shocking catastrophe. Among the numerous spectacles which had been announced to the public, was the ascension of Madame Blanchard in a Tuminous balloon furnished with fireworks.

Accordingly, at half-past ten, this intrepid aeronaute, clothed in white, with a hat and plumes of the same colour, mounted her car. At a given signal the

balloon rose, but so slowly that part of the fireworks came in contact with the surrounding trees. However, by throwing out some ballast, Madame Blanchard soon rose rapidly. The ascension was illuminated by Bengal lights; the aëronaute waved her flag, and the air resounded with acclamations. On a sudden the balloon entered a slight cloud, which completely obscured the Bengal lights. Madame Blanchard then set the match to the fireworks, in order that they might produce the expected effect; when it was perceived that some rockets took a perpendicular direction towards the balloon, and set fire to the bottom of it. Immediately a dreadful blaze struck terror into the hearts of all the spectators, leaving them in but little doubt as to the deplorable fate of the unfortunate aeronaute.

It is impossible to describe the scene which Tivoli now presented. Cries of lamentation burst from all sides; numbers of females fell into convulsions consternation was depicted in every face!

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Some gens d'armes rode at full gallop towards the part where it was supposed the fall might take place; and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards they returned to Tivoli, with the lifeless body of Madame Blanchard. She fell in Rue de Provence, at the corner of Rue Chaussat; she was in her car, enveloped in the network which had attached it to the balloon.

We need not add, that by desire of the public all the amusements ceased. A subscription was simultaneously commenced in favour of the family of Madame Blanchard. This unfortunate lady was about 45 years of age.

Paris Papers of the 8th contain the following new details respecting the abovementioned unfortunate event. It appears now certain, that the fire in Madame Blanchard's balloon arose from negligence in leaving open the valve, which allowed the gas to escape, and communicate with the net for the fireworks. The unfortunate aëronaute fell on the roof of a house (No. 16), in the street Provence. The roof was broken to the extent of four or five feet in circumference. The iubabitants of the house say they heard dreadful cries. Madame Blanchard fell after. wards from the roof into the street; and this last fall was that which appears to have caused her death. At the moment they raised her up she uttered some sighs. A tatter of the balloon was still attached to the car. The unfortunate lady was conveyed with all speed in a chair to Tivoli, where some physicians endeavoured, but in vain, to restore her to animation. She had received no injury from the flames, and her clothes were un-. touched.

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