On Monday the Government were beaten on the subject of
the Duty on Fire Insurances, the House carrying by a majority of 36 (103 to 67) Mr. II. B. Sheridan's resolution that the duty now chargeable on fire insurances is excessive in amount, and should be reduced at the earliest opportunity. The present duty is three shillings on every 100/. worth of pro- perty insured, and Mr. Sheridan wishes to reduce the duty by one shilling for five years, then by on, shilling for another five years, and then to leave it at the fixed rate of one shilling per 100/. insured. The merits of this proposal were, of course, very immaterial, as the surplus revenue has long been disposed of, but the growing practice of the House of deciding beforehand by an abstract vote what the Chancellor of future years ought to propose, is a very objectionable one, which will diminish his responsibility and constantly excite false expectations.
