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QUER: Let the House bear in mind that this was written with regard to the duty, which, although received by the grower on the sale of his hops, which were sold at duty-paid prices, had been held by him, for his own benefit, for no less than two years. In his Budget he had left himself with a probable surplus for the next year of 350,000l. If he consented to this Motion, he should reduce the revenue by 400,000l., and leave himself unable to fulfil his promises. Upon these grounds, therefore, he resisted the Motion of the hon. Member.

for Colchester (Lord John Manners). Upon
that occasion, he (Mr. Bass) had not con-
tended that it was the importation of fo-
reign hops which led to a diminished cul-
tivation-a reason which had been put
forward on the other side as the main one
for the admitted suffering of the hop grow-
ers. He had, on the contrary, endeavoured
to show that it was the extreme fluctuations
of the plant which led to this distress.
What were the facts? Why, in 1837,
there were 56,000 acres of land in culti-
vation for hops; in 1843, there were only
43,000 acres; in 1847, there were 52,000
acres; and in 1850 the number had again
fallen to 43,000 acres. In his opinion, it
was mainly the producer who paid the
duty. That might seem a contradiction in
political economy; but a few words would
show that, owing to the extreme fluctua-
tion of the plant, the fact was so.
1843, 44,000 acres produced only
62,000l. of duty, while in 1847 the same
number of acres produced 424,000l. of
duty. One year with another, therefore,
it was the producer who paid the duty,
especially when it was remembered that
the price of the crop fluctuated from 31. a
ton to 30l.

In

MR. A. B. HOPE said, the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer appeared to consider it a good joke when he acquainted the House with the result of his hard-heartedness in extracting the hop duty out of persons who said that they would be utterly ruined if he persevered. No doubt the hop growers had paid the duty-they had paid it out of their capital. However, all things had an end, and the right hon. Gentleman might be assured of this that the smash, when it came, would only be the greater. But if all the right hon. Gentleman had said were true, what did it amount to? Merely this -the men of Kent (under circumstances SIR EDMUND FILMER, as Member of extreme suffering and distress) paid the for West Kent, would feel ashamed if he hop duty, and they got laughed at by the did not support the Motion before the Chancellor of the Exchequer for their hon- House. He believed he might defy the esty. If the right hon. Gentleman bought right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchea farm in Kent, and took to hop growing, quer to go into the Weald of Kent, or Midhe would come back to the House with Kent, and find a tenant who had not for new ears and eyes, an addition which the last two years paid his rent out of cawould unquestionably be useful to him. pital, and not from his profits. He had taunted them with having brought MR. FULLER considered that if they forward many propositions. It was true did not take off ld. in the pound, they that they had; but if the Government had ought at least to make the protecting duty proposed some remedy-as it was their 31. 5s. instead of 21. 5s. Foreign hops duty-the representatives of the hop grow-paid the same excise duty when taken out ers would be saved the odium of presenting of bond as was now paid by the English to the House a multitude of schemes. With regard to the taunt of over-production, if the right hon. Gentleman took the farm to which he alluded, he would find out that there was no crop which depended more upon the fluctuations of the weather; a single unfavourable night was sufficient to ruin it entirely. Had they, then, the command of the winds and weather?could they know the exact amount of land to put into cultivation? In conclusion, he would support the Motion of his hon. Friend (Mr. Hodges).

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grown at the end of the year, whether sold or not. There were about 7,100 growers of hops, and 1,000,000 of people were employed in the cultivation. The war tax was imposed on hops by the Addington Administration, when hops were sold at from 10l. to 15l. per cwt. Hops had not fetched since 1845 5l. per cwt. A relation of his, during the Earl of Liverpool's Administration got 1d. in the pound taken off. As his Lordship was a hop grower himself, he knew how uncertain the growth of hops was; and he (Mr. Fuller) wished the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer grew hops, for he would then know how the hop grower suffered. He

ers in the Weald of Kent must have lost at least 17. per acre on an average. One great claim which the hop planters had on Government for a reduction of duty was founded upon the precarious nature of the crop. When the hop growers got the lowest price for their hops, they had the highest amount of duty to pay; and he therefore hoped the Government would take the case into their earliest consideration. He (Mr. Frewen) doubted if a single landowner received, in the Rape of Hastings, one quarter of his rental for 1850.

(Mr. Fuller) was confident if 10d. a quar- | 67. 10s. being paid in Sussex, but the ter was taken off malt, and 1d. per pound average price was only 31.7s. The plantoff hops, the consumption would be so great that the revenue would not suffer to any great extent; for when the duty was taken off spirits the consumption doubled and trebled. The hop manufacturer paid heavily in land-tax, tithes, and rates, and for the raw material of his manufacture on the land; yet not only was he heavily taxed, but taxed before he could bring his commodity to market. The cotton manufacturer, on the other hand, paid no tax whatever; his raw material was free of duty, at the expense of 20,000,000l. to the whole community. He thought this was not fair dealing between the hop grower and the cotton manufacturer.

COLONEL SIBTHORP was always an humble but persevering supporter of any proposition for the relief of the agricultural interests; but when he saw hon. Members giving their votes in favour of a Government which opposed every suggestion for that purpose, he could not reconcile himself to vote in favour of a partial measure introduced by such hon. Members. If his hon. Friend opposite (Mr. Hodges) was to disengage himself from his present company-noscitur a sociis, and bring forward a general measure for the relief of all classes, he should have his support, but not otherwise. If the hon. Gentleman would not leave his present bad company, he could not expect support from that (the Protectionist) side of the House.

MR. COBDEN said, he could not understand the tactics of the friends and advisers of the hop growers, because they asked for everything that was impracticable, and would not allow those who were disposed to vote for the removal of the excise tax, through their advocacy of a principle that no one could approve. Why, here was a tax producing little more than 300,000l. a year, and they had a whole army of taxgatherers to collect it, spread over only four or five counties; and nothing so barbarous could scarcely be conceived out of Turkey as the system they had of levying a tax so small in amount. Why, if the hop growers of Kent, Sussex, and elsewhere would only unite amongst themselves on a common principle to do away with this impost altogether, nothing would be easier than for them to succeed MR. FREWEN said, after what had in it; but there were some great growers fallen from the hon. and gallant Member of hops in certain parts of Kent who did for Lincoln, he could not but express his not want the duty to be taken off, and regret also that the hon. Gentleman (Mr. some others said they would not have the Hodges) always opposed the Motions made whole repealed, but only one-half; and in that House for the relief of agriculture. then they mixed the question up with some He thought there was no part of the king- childish fears about free-trade principles. dom in which so much distress existed He (Mr. Cobden felt naturally some symas in the hop districts. There was nopathy with the growers of Sussex; but if tax so unjust as that, and it was the only they wanted to get relieved, they must go one which remained unrepealed since the for the total abolition, and then they would war. He had his doubts as to the accu- have the support of the free-traders. So racy of the prices of hops during the for- long as they made two bites of a cherry, mer years as stated by the right hon. and wanted to keep up the whole of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He did not machinery to get in only half the tax, know upon what authority the right hon. they might depend upon it no Chancellor Gentleman had made his statement. One of the Exchequer would compromise his house in the borough might tell one thing, character by dealing with the matter in and another another thing; but a good that way; and if he should, that House deal depended upon the quality of the ought not to be inclined to support him hops taken. Even in one year the hops in it. grown in one part of the country brought a much higher price than those grown in another. He had heard of so much as

MR. PLUMPTRE, from his connexion with the hop growers of East Kent, could state that they would be glad to have the

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Fuller, A. E.

Goold, W.

Hamilton, Lord C.
Hodgson, W. N.
Hope, A.

Lennox, Lord A. G.
Mullings, J. R.

Ashley, Lord

Plumptre, J. P.
Portal, M.
Rushout, Capt.
Scholefield, W.

Spooner, R.
Stanford, J. F.
Talbot, C. R. M.
Tyler, Sir G.

Waddington, II. S.
Wakley, T.
Wegg-Prosser, F. R.
Wynn, H. W.W.

TELLERS.

Hodges, T. L.
Filmer, Sir E.

List of the NOES.

Baines, rt. hon. M. T.

Baring, rt. hon. Sir F. T.

Heywood, J.

Heyworth, L.

Hindley, C.

Hobhouse, T. B.

Howard, hon. C. W. G.
Howard, Sir R.

Hume, J.

Bell, J.

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Lawley, hon. B. R.

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Willyams, H.
Wilson, J.

Wood, rt. hon. Sir C.
Wood, Sir W. P.

Smollett, A.
Somerville, rt.hn. Sir W. Wilson, M.
Spearman, H. J.
Stanley, E.
Stuart, H.
Thompson, Col.
Westhead, J. P. B.
Willcox, B. M.

TELLERS.

Hayter, W. G.
Hill, Lord M.

KENSINGTON GARDENS.

Order in Council, or Letter from the TreaMR. HUME moved for a copy of the sury, sanctioning the alterations lately made in Kensington Gardens by the First Commissioner of the Woods and Forests.

Motion made, and Question proposed"That an humble address be presented to Her Majesty, that She will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House, a Copy of the Order in Council, or Letter from the Treasury, sanctioning the alterations lately made in Kensington Gardens by the First Commissioner of the Woods and Forests:

66

And, Copy or Extract of any Memorial or application made to the Lords of the Treasury, or to the Commissioners of the Woods and Forests, for permission for horsemen to ride in Kensington Gardens."

LORD SEYMOUR said, that he was unable to comply with the Motion of the hon. Member. No order in Council or letter from the Treasury had been issued on the subject. The pleasure of Her Majesty had been made known, and the object had been carried into effect by an order from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests.

MR. HUME said, he was informed that the alterations and arrangements which Labouchere, rt. hon. H. been made, ought not to have been carried

Hutt, W.

Langston, J. H.

Lewis, G. C.

Littleton, hon. E. R.
Locke, J.

Lushington, C.
Mackie, J.
Matheson, Col.
Maule, rt. hon. F.
Milner, W. M. E.
Morris, D.

Mostyn, hon. E. M. L.
Mulgrave, Earl of
Nicholl, rt. hon. J.
Ogle, S. C. H.
Paget, Lord A.
Paget, Lord C.
Palmerston, Visct.
Parker, J.
Pigott, F.
Pilkington, J.
Price, Sir R.

Russell, hon. E. S.
Russell, F. C. H.
Salwey, Col.
Seymour, H. D.
Seymour, Lord

Sheridan, R. B.

out without, at all events, an order from the Treasury.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: My hon. Friend behind me is quite mistaken on that point.

MR. HUME said, that he believed the proceedings that had been adopted were, then, illegal. However, if there were no documents to produce, it would not be of any use that he should press his Motion. He would, therefore, withdraw it.

MR. COBDEN said, that the equestrians had been admitted into Kensington Gardens under a misapprehension of the inconvenience which the Exhibition would occasion in Rotten-row. If, when the matter was first talked of, it had been known that there would be no more interruption to the equestrians in the Park than there Kensington Gardens, in all probability, would not have been conceded to them. At all events, he hoped that it would only be considered as a temporary

was now,

concession. The Exhibition had now to himself that he had done everything in realised the expectations of every one, and his power to check it-to check that which everybody would feel a pleasure in sub- he solemnly believed would be a great mitting to some inconvenience to promote curse, morally, socially, and religiously, to such an object; but after this year he this country. hoped that Kensigton Gardens would be given up to their original object.

COLONEL SIBTHORP denied that the Exhibition had realised any such expectations as the hon. Member for the West Riding had referred to. He was justified in making that denial, and every day produced some fresh conviction on his mind that his own impressions were right on this subject. He considered that the tradesmen of this metropolis had been grossly insulted in this matter-that which he felt much disposed to term a gross fraud had been practised upon them. In these days -these days of novelties-people seemed to have no hesitation in making every possible inroad upon the rights, properties, and liberties of Her Majesty's subjects; and they were deprived, without the hope of redress, of the rational enjoyment of these parks and gardens to which they had been so long accustomed. The Government, in order to get a little dirty and fleeting popularity, had made this innovation in Kensington Gardens. As for the building in Hyde Park, he never looked at it, except from a distance; but he always considered it a disgrace to a free country, and he regretted to find the foreigner patronised, to the injury of the heavily-taxed people of this country. People walked heedlessly in and out of that building without ever appearing to think of the money which it would be the means of tearing from the pockets of Englishmen, and all for the mere purpose of bringing together so much trumpery and trash. The ceremony on its opening he considered a desecration of religion. He must say he had much regretted to see the justly-venerated head of the Protestant Church of this country in the position in which he was placed at the inauguration of this affair. Crowds went to admire it, but they might collect crowds in any square to look at a dead cat, for, according to the old saying, one fool made many. The day would arrive-let them depend upon it-when the trade of this country, which ought to be supported in preference to that of the foreigner, would feel a stagnation for, perhaps, several years as the result of this Exhibition. He' regretted the encouragement that had been given to such a measure; but it was a source of no little satisfaction

LORD CLAUDE HAMILTON rejoiced in the success which had attended the magnificent experiment of the Great Exhibition; but the main object they all had in view still remained to be carried out, namely, the providing free and unrestrained access for the great multitudes of persons who had hitherto been kept back from visiting the Exhibition from the high prices. It would also be desirable to consider whether the present number of admission doors would in future be sufficient.

MR. LABOUCHERE said, the circumstance adverted to by the noble Lord had not escaped the attention of the Commissioners; for that morning, in conjunction with the representatives of the railways, they took into consideration the most convenient mode, in reference to the parties themselves and the preservation of the public peace, of accommodating the vast multitudes whom the diminished price of admission might be expected to attract to the Exhibition. Without entering into a controversy with the hon. and gallant Colonel (Colonel Sibthorp), he must express the great satisfaction with which he saw the magnificent spectacle now exhibited in Hyde Park, which, besides being a source of rational pleasure, would tend, he believed, to very permanent benefit to the people of this and other countries.

MR. LUSHINGTON begged to express on the part of many of his constituents, and many of the inhabitants of Kensington, Bayswater, and Notting Hill, the great dissatisfaction with which they viewed the manner in which they had been deprived of the enjoyment of the quiet retirement of Kensington Gardens. The noble Lord (Lord Seymour) had taken occasion on a former evening to sneer at what he was pleased to term "the aristocracy of Bayswater." Now, he (Mr. Lushington) did not profess to stand there as the representative of their aristocracy-he, rather, represented their democracy; this, however, he would say, that the inhabitants of the district in which the gardens were situated, were thoroughly disgusted with the proceedings which had taken place under the sanction of the noble Lord." Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

The House adjourned at half-after One o'clock.

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REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition against the Bill for the Registration of Assurances of Land. In doing so, his Lordship, who was very indistinctly heard, stated that, while he approved of the principle of the measure, there were many portions of it which he thought liable to objection, and to which he was not prepared to assent.

LORD CAMPBELL expressed his disappointment at hearing these sentiments from his noble Friend, whose support he had expected to receive. The Bill was founded upon the recommendation of a Commission which had emanated from his noble Friend; it had been carefully considered by a Select Committee of their Lordships, and had been received with approbation on both sides of the House.

LORD FEVERSHAM said, that, although there had as yet been no division upon this Bill, it must not be assumed that there was no difference of opinion amongst their Lordships with respect to it. The noble and learned Lord was equally mistaken in supposing that the measure, as had been stated, was opposed only by the country solicitors; the small landowners were unfriendly to it, on account of the probable expense of lodging their title deeds in a metropolitan registry office, if, as it appeared, that expense was to be borne by the landed interest. He hoped, too, that the noble Lord opposite (Lord Campbell) would be able to tell them what would be the size and expense, and where the locality, of a building capable of holding all the titles that now were or ever would be in existence? It must be one only inferior in size to the Crystal Palace, which was now exciting, and justly, the admiration of the whole civilised world.

LORD BEAUMONT said, that the course taken by the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack appeared to him to be scarcely a fair one. The Bill was founded upon the report of a Commission appointed three years ago, and had been referred to a Select Committee of the House while the Bill was under consideration. The noble and learned Lord took an objection to the plan of registration by

maps; upon this a discussion took place, and this having terminated in the rejection of the plan, the noble and learned Lord quitted the Committee without bringing forward any further objections, but leaving the Committee under the impression that he approved of the Bill. Now, he thought that the Committee was the proper place for the noble Lord to have brought forward whatever objections he entertained to the Bill, and he thought this mode of proceeding was not altogether fair. It was not intended by this Bill to bring the titledeeds of all estates up to London, as his noble Friend opposite (Lord Faversham) supposed. If his noble Friend sold his estate after the Bill passed, there would still be the same examination into the title as at present; but the purchaser would then gain such a title as would enable him hereafter to deal with the property much more easily and rapidly than the noble Lord could at present do, however long his family might have been in possession of the estate. In the North Riding of Yorkshire, where a system of registration existed, it was optional to deposit either the title-deeds or a memorial of them; but it had there been found convenient, in cases where large estates were sold in small portions, to deposit the title-deeds, in order to avoid the expense of covenants to produce the title-deeds. That was a practical instance of what the working of the Bill would be.

He

The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that had he been better known to their Lordships than he had the good fortune at present to be, he should have been contented to pass by the charge of unfairness which had been brought against him; but his recent introduction to their Lordships' House, and the respect which he entertained for them, led him to value their approbation too highly to allow any one to bring a charge of unfairness against him, for which there was not the slightest ground. had too many duties to perform in his own peculiar court, and in the appellate jurisdiction of their Lordships' House, to allow him to attend on all the various Committees of the House. When, therefore, the Bill was brought into the House, and he was asked to sit upon the Select Committee to which it was referred, he declined on account of his public duties. In consequence, however, of a request from the Committee, he attended one of their meetings, to state his views with respect to a proposed system of registration, with the

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