11 DECEMBER 1852, Page 10

POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

The Gadget was debated in the House of Commons last night, in more than -one form of discussion. Sir JOHN SHE LEY, who had given notice of an intention to move that the discussion be postponed until after the recess, withdrew that notice. But, on the motion that the House go into Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Tames DENEOREE took a novel course, and, saying that he disapproved of the whole budget, intimated, that if any Member would support him, he would divide the House against the motion, expressly as a vote of no confidence. Mr. Wean.= Immediately signified that he would be happy to divide with him, not on the ground of "no confidence," but to give the 'Chancellor of the Exche- quer, if he were resolved on suicide, a little time to repent. A few-words from Mr. Alcocx were followed by a speech from Sir Enwann BOLIVER LITRON.; consisting of an elaborate defence of the budget, charging tire Free-traders with inconsistency in rejeoling a budget founded on their own principles; and a spirited vindication of his own conduot, in separating, on the Corn-laws, from his old political friends. Some said it would be better to have preferred the reduction of some other .excise-duty than that of malt, such as paper or soap—(" Hear, Agar 1" frog's a portion of the Opposition)—yet that was said by the very party who had always contended that the first articles which should be chosen for a reduced duty were those which affected the physical suste- nance of the people ; and, though sonic learned chemists had told us of sawdust being a good substitute for potatoes, they had never induced the people to eat paper or drink soap. Mr.. GLADSTONE said, that if Membere wished to come to a decision, they should condescend, " at whatever sacrifice of their own oratorical prepossessions "—(laughter and cheers from the Opposition)—to approach the consideration of these measures in their natural order. He depre. cated attaching to discussions respecting taxation the character of'votes of no-confidence ; and he thought the House could not refuse to go into Committee. Nevertheless, he went into Committee under protest -, first, because not a single farthing was provided in the budget beyond what was necessary to meet the services of the year and secondly, because the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to deal with the repayments for public loans as so much revenue. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER made merry with the as. sumed leadership of Mr. Duneomhe and its prompt repudiation. He declined to give an answer at present to Mr. Gladstone's allegations about appropriating repayments of loans as revenue. He charged Mr. Gladstone with retarding instead of facilitating business. He praised Sir Edward Lytton's speech. There was nothing that Ministers less feared than a decision of the House, and he hoped it would soon be arrived at. Mr. T. DIJECOMBE wanted to know whether Mr. Disraeli had not said Ministers would "stand or fall" by the budget? What he objected to was, that they were not going into Committee to amend, but to accept or reject the budget altogether. Lord Joust Itussmr, interposed. He could not divide with Mr. Duncombe : he was ready, as he understood the House had agreed, to go into Committee upon all the propositions. Mr. OSBORNE insisted • on an answer to Mr. Duncombe's question, amid cries of " Divide !" Mr. Hum said the question had been answered.; and suggested that Mr. Duncombe should give way. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. explained, that Lord John Russell had correctly stated the case. Mr. Disraeli had not said the Government would stand or fall by any one vote in the 'Com- mittee of Ways and Means.: they would stand or fall on the essential "principles" of the budget. On this explanation, Mr. Dereponum with- drew his amendment.

The House went into Committee ; and the- CHANCELLOR of the RICHE- QUER moved the resolutions doubling and extending the duty on inhabited houses.

An amendment by Mr. Witarem Wituelits, to substitute the exten- sion of the Legacy and Probate duties to real property, instead of the House-tax, was moved ; but only to be briefly discussed, and withdrawn.

Mr. Pane( attacked the budget wholesale. Mr. Bela came to the conclusion that he must take what he can get, and be henceforth an honest Free-trader : "let everything be free.' Mr. Morterszon MILNE& regarded the budget with "some degree of disapprobation." Mr. Vrverre thought the budget set at rest, for over. 'the question of Free-trade or Protection. Mr. Hetrary Dnultstorne would "never oppose the budget of any Chancellor of the Exchequer whatever." Mr. IlEADLAR suggested that the budget be amended. Mr. CAYLVT enthusiastically predicted the "triumphant success of the financial propositions of her Majesty's Minis- ters."

The speech of the evening was that of Sir CHARM) WOOD; who ana- lyzed the whole budget, item by item, with damaging effect.

Approving of the concessions to shipping and sugar, he showed that the light-duties remitted, equally to foreign ships with British, could lave no effect in enabling the British to compete with foreign rivals, as a reduction of the Timber-duties might have done - and in Mr. Dibraelfs rejection of those West Indian "claims" whioh he Ltd so long advocated, Su Charles saw an end to the delusive talk of assistance for " suffering-interests." The reduction of the Malt and Hop duties he criticized.at much length; ridding new arguments to those which he repeated after other speakers. Of all lands, barley lands, whose crop and live stock .(sheep) pay best, least require relief; while the remission of the Malt-duty will be intercepted by the malt ter and brewer. He made much. of the unpopular character of the extension of the Income-tax to persons in humble circumstances, upon whom the taxgatherer has never yet called; and the extension of the House-duty to farmers' houses—one of the "benefits" they conferred on the farmer ! Practically, the House-duty would lead to extensive disfranchisement of electors. pleat will be fractionally lowered to avoid the tax ; and the franchise pertains to ten-pound houses clear of taxes.] The Public *Works Loan Fund consists of money originally borrowed to be lent out again, with accumulations of interest ; it has been very useful in aiding local works, such as county lunatic asy- lums : now if it were to be discontinued, evidently- the-debt ought to be ex- tinguished; but who ever heard that it could be considered as annual revenue ? Yet Mr. Disraeli proposed to use it in making up a fictitious sur- plus! It was malappropriation. Sir Charles examined the balancing of the figures, and convict the Budget of a deficiency—by the reduction of two chief indirect taxes, and notwithstanding the increase of two chief direct taxes in one year. As to the "consequences" of rejecting the budget, Sir Charles saw no consequences except an amended budget. LetMinisters take the Christmas holydays to think of it.

At this point the debate was adjourned till Monday.

Before the debate began, replying to Mr. PAGAN and Mr. Moresem and Sir J V. SHELLEY, the CHANCELLOR of the ExerreQ7/Elt said that Govern- ment intended the reduction of the Tea-duties to take effect forthwith, and therefore there would be no drawback. There would be no distinc- tion to prevent Foreign sugar from being refined in bond, equally with Co- loniaL There would be no drawback on hops.

In reply to Sir Witmer& MOLISSWORTH Sir Jean Panmaarne stated that 'Government had decided to what extent it would concede to the New South Wales petition for local control over-revenue, lands, &c. ; but it would be impossible to give the explanation on so large and complicated a subject then ; and he hoped to make a full statement on an early day after the recess.