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police and soldiery , are traits of our social life , not peculiar to the week . Nor is the case of Connelly versus Connelly , which has undergone some further , but not final arguing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council , unprecedented as a suit for the restitution of conjugal rights ; though the very existence of such suits is an infamy to a civilized country ; but its odious character is incredibly aggravated by the fact , that it is urged to force a nun back under the conjugal roof . Sir Herbert Jenner Fust affirmed the husband ' s claim : the distinguished members of the Judicial Committee do not seem to view it with so much favour .
The most astounding event of all , however , is that strange discovery at Norwich of a human body , cut up into small fragments , and scattered over several fields to an extent of two miles in length ! A murder of course ; with a sign of madness in the excessive elaboration of the concealment ; but the murderer is as yet undetected .
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Chicory seems destined to a long series of victories over coffee . What is called " Wood's mixture" has beaten "Anstey ' s pure" out of the field ; South Essex and the West Riding have carried it again , over Ceylon and the West Indies ; and henceforward pure coffee is banished from the land . Mr . Baking , whose resolution for the withdrawal of the Treasury Minute of 1832 was lately
rejected , again brought forward the question on Monday night , when the House of Commons was about to go into committee on the Customs Bill , by moving , " That it be an instruction to the committee to make provision for preventing the mixture of chicory with coffee by the vendors of coffee . " The whole case is contained in a nutshell . Coffee is adulterated with chicory , among other things . The product is called coffee , and sold as coffee ; the Treasury conniving at the fraud . Mr . Baring contends that this is improper . But the interests of the coffee growers as opposed to those of the chicory growers , are brought into the debate , and Mr . Baring , an avowed importer of coffee , states their case thus : —
" If the reduction of the coffee duty [ as proposed by the Customs Bill ] were not to such an extent as to prevent adulteration , was it fair to those who produced and imported coffee , and who paid a duty of 50 per cent , upon it , to place them in competition with dealers who paid no duty upon articles which passed current with the Treasury sanction as coffee ? ( Hear . ) The duty upon coffee proposed by the bill was 3 d ., and the duty upon foreign Chicory was 3 d . ; while the untaxed chicory grown at home could be brought into the maiket and sold at 4 d . perlb . Now , when for 4 d . per lb . you could buy a commodity and pass it off for coffee , which paid a duty of 3 d ., it was in vain to expect tha , t the reduction of the duty to 3 d . would prevent adulteration in coffee . { Hear . ) Here , then was a direct inducement to the dealer to adulterate hi * coffee with chicory . The value of coffee , ground for
use , might be taken to be lOi . per lb . Chicory was the dearest commodity with which coffee could be adulterated . Beans and lupins were cheaper than chicory , while dogbiscuits , mahogany shavings , and tan ruight be had for little or nothing . ( 'Hear , and a laugh . ) Taking chicory to cost 4 d . per lb ., then hall-a-pound of coffee at Ad ., and half a-pound of chicory at 2 d ., gave a pound of something which was sold for coffee , and which coat only 7 d . This , be it observed , was a greater mixture of coffee ^ ban was generally sold by the fraudulent dealers , and here w » a a mixture for 7 d . when the article in a pure state cost 10 d ., which they were selling to the public at from Is . 4 d . to 2 a . as * canister coffee , ' and ' patent coffee . ' Now , did the Chancellor of the Exchequer think ftp put an end to adulteratiou bv such a reduction of the 4 uty on coffee ? { Hear . }"
It was further unfair to the colonists . The Government ought not to allow an untaxed substitute for coffee to compete with an article that paid a high tax . H « did not wish to interfere with the growth of chicory at home ; nor with its sale ; all he asked was that it should not be Bold for what it was not . lie knew Government could not prevent the fraud ; but it was one thing to brand that fraud with disgrace , and Another to stamp it with legality . The Chawoblloii of the Exchbqubii officially defended the chicory . Backed by a band of indignant grocers , " whose «• feeling * " were outraged by the he contended that
accusations of the coffee growers , thexe were only two ground * upon which Government could interfere ; either that the article was deleterious , or that the revenue was injured . He denied that it was the " general practice " to mix deleterious articles with coffee under the name of chicory . If such were the fact , he was ready to •* propecute , " supposing a case could be made out ; but ho believed that a recurrence to the interference of the e * clM * t «• it existed previously to 1882 , would h « prod active of very great evil . The last sentence of his speech 4 » remarkable ; both from the assumption it contain * , and tho weakness it betrays : — " If then the eonsuin * r now was prevented from ha * i « K a cheap •»«* wholesome b «« erage , and tb « pioduarr was prevented from growing chicory , it would not be the act of the Government , but the hardship would
be forced on the Government , unwilling and reluctant to interfere in a manner So injurious to the dealer , the grower , and the public . " Beside its official champion there were several minor , but not less effective , supporter * of chicory . Sir John Tybjmx trusted that the capital and energy and labour invested to so large an extent in the growth of chicory in this country would not be destroyed by the " concentrated essence of prejudice , " Which had been got up by interested persons against the article . Sir F . T . Baking directly contradicted the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer . It had been clearly proved that the
adulteration of coffee with other matters than chicory had gone to a great extent , and the Treasury minute had been issued on a representation from the most respectable portion of the trade that the law as it stood was a protection to the dishonest dealer ; and he could not understand how any dishonesty was practised when the public knew what they were buying—what , in fact , was publicly advertised as " The Chancellor of the Exchequer ' s mixture . " Mr . Ralph Osbo&ne was not going " to violate a very important principle , and to interfere in all the petty
details of commerce , instead of leaving them , to the fair spirit of competition . " Mr . Thohas Waioley occupied himself in replying to an accusation made by a correspondent of Sir John Tyrell , that the " coffee-growers had hired the Lancet to run down chicory , " which he did in a very humourous style , characterizing Sir John as having been " at one time esteemed and respected as a noble-hearted , very droll—{ laughter )—but straightforward and honourable man ; " but now in his present " wreck of morality " he had condescended to make this insinuation . The
House divided , when there were—For Mr . Baring ' s motion , 122 ; against it , 199 . Majority , 77 . The House then went into committee , and proceeded to consider the clauses of the bill ; and after a squabble about the ' timber duties , " the bill went through committee . The real Party conflict of the week next came on . When the order of the day was read for going into committee on the House-duty Bill , Mr . Disraeli rose and made a two-hours' speech by way of preface to his resolutions on the financial situation . As had
been anticipated , the result of the motion was a mere oratorical display on the part of the Protectionist leader . He entered into an elaborate review of the financial policy of Ministers ; digressing upon the Papal aggression ; criticising the income-tax , which he maintained was never intended to be permanent ; jesting at the extraordinary " vitality" of the Government ; delivering a small essay on the windowtax , which he was quite contented to repeal , and
which he declared ought to have been repealed unconditionally ; finally developing the kernel of his argument , after two effective personal incidents . The fir ^ t of these was a reply to the Letter of Mr . Pusey to the Electors of Berkshire . That gentleman had declared that his ( Mr . Disraeli's ) motions were futile , " and that the mover was " insincere . " These were " harsh opinions . '' It was always held the juster course to give a man credit for good motives when those motives were unknown . " I may have been mistaken , " exclaimed Mr . Disraeli , " and yet not insincere . { Hear , hear . ) My reason may have misled me , my vanity may have misguided me ; I may have been a foolish man , or a very vain man . It it * better to think that than that I should be an insincere man . At least , it must always be a question of controversy whether my motions were efficient or inefficient ; or whether my motions were sincere or insincere ; but what are we to say or a member of Parliament who , when motions are brought forward which he believes to be futile , and by a gentleman who he is convinced is insincere , and yet omilB no opportunity of following him into the lobby—{ loud cheers)—and supporting him by his suffrage ? { Renewed cheers . ) Why , I might turn round upon the honourable member for Berkshire with great advantage ,
for there is scarely an epithet of vituperation , scarcely a phrase of invective that , under such circumstances , I should not be justified in lavishing upon him . ( Hear , hear . ) But , sir , time has taught me not to judge too harshly of human nature . We all know that men arc actuated not only by mixed motives , but often by confused ones —(* hear , ' and laughter )—and it is very possible for a man to be in possession of very considerable ability , to have received remarkable culture , to be in possession of many reputable and of some amiable qualities , and yet to be gifted with such an uncouth and blundering organization , that ho is perpetually doing that which he did not intsnd , and saying and writing that which he did not mean ; and that is the charitable view 1 take of the honourable member for Berkshire . ( Cheers and laughter . )"
He then alighted upon Mr . Hume , in attempting an account of what could have disturbed the " serenity of the fkvanciul temperament" : — " An honourable member from the other Bide , who is the great ornament , and oue of the mout valuable members , if he is not , indeed , as I believe , the father of the House , one who looks on us all in a paternal light—one whom 1 may describe as the moat constant and uh the most consistent supporters of the White Government , who , though ho may unittimes chide them , chidts them as a father ; who , though be may sometimes castigate them , castigates them iu an affectionate manner ( cheers and laughter ) , and always steps forward at the right moment to extricate
a not always grateful Government from an impending catastrophe , brought forward a motion to limit the duration of the income tax to one year only . . . . Well then , what happened ? Why , sir , the motion was carried ' The basis on which the whole system of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was raised fell from under the superstructure ( cheers ) , and the fairy palace vanished in & night . ( Cheer * . ) ¦ At length he came to the gist of his speech which amounted to this : the vote of the 2 nd of May ( Mr .
Hume ' s limitation of the income tax to one year ) had entirely changed the financial circumstances of the country . The income tax could not be relied on for more than one year , for he thought that the House would never consent to the continuance of that impost . How then would the Chancellor of the Exchequer provide for the expenses of the country ? Was it wise when a large revenue amounting to £ 5 , 000 , 000 was , most probably , about to be withdrawn , to propose reductions in taxation ?
" Supposing , then , Parliament will not con sell t to continue the income tax , the Chancellor of the Exchequer — Isay nothing of the Kafir war—may find himself with , a deficiency of £ 5 , 000 , 000 or of £ 6 , 000 , 000 . I ask the House quietly to consider what are the prospects of meeting this peculiar and partial deficiency . . . How , then , are we to meet this deficiency ? There are two modes , and two modes only , as far as I know , by which we can do so . They are the reduction of expenditure , and the increase of taxation . "
And he concluded that it was impossible to reduce expenditure ; and , therefore , that " the deficiency must be met by increased taxation . " What , then , could be " more impolitic , more imprudent , more unjust * than to take off £ 2 , 000 , 000 of taxation" with such a task before them B And , not satisfied with the " financial embarrassments" here shadowed forth , Lord John Russell said : — "' I have chosen this leisure and tranquil time for
proposing a new reform of the House of Commons . ' ( 'Hear , and laughter . ) This , observe , is the prospect that awaits us . At the very moment when you will probably have a deficiency of millions to supply , and to determine the principle on which your financial system shall be established—at that very moment her Majesty ' s Government stand pledged—mind you , pledged—to introduce a very extensive measure of Parliamentary reform . ( Hear . ) I say the noble lord is pledged to that course in the most formal manner . "
He would not conceal what policy he and his friends were prepared to support if Ministers would carry it out . They would vote for the repeal of the window tax , oppose the reduction of the timber and coffee duties , and support a *• measure which should permit the British shipbuilder to build in bond . " After these remaiks Mr . Disraeli " perorated" upon the magnificent theme of " public credit , " the House rapturously applauding the " eloquence , " and nobody being the wiser thereby . He moved the following resolutions : —
" That , according to an estimate of the propable futuie produce of the existing taxeB submitted to this House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , it appears that a surplus revenue may be expected in the present year to the extent of about £ 2 . 000 , 000 . That in the revenue » o estimated is included a surn exceeding £ 5 , 000 , 000 denvca from the tax on income , respe < ting which an ino a A , y " been directed to be made by a committee o f l"i 8 House , on the result of whose labours may defend the '" J renewal or modification of that important impost , lhat , in this provisional state of the financial arrangements oT the country , it appears » o this House to be most consistent , with a due regard to the maintenance of public credit and the exigencies of the public service , not to make any material sacrifice of public income in effecting such changes as may be deemed advisable in other branches of taxation . '
The Chanobllor of the Exchequer disposed of the " eloquence and ingenuity" with which Mr . Disraeli had " favoured" tho House in the most summary fashion . The resolutions said one thing , the speech another . The House waited to hear what the honourable member had to say against repealing taxes , and they had heard nothing ; while he hud reminded the House of the necessity of upholding public credit ; and ' * upon this point he had indulged in some high-flown language about the mines of Golconda , the empire of the Caesars , with its triple crown , pillurcd palanquins , and other things which have little to do with the question . (* Hear , ' and laughter . ) " In fact , Sir Chakles wub dispose ** t 0 dismiss the speech in silence , and leave the House to negative the resolutions , hud not hia own vitwa been mis-stated : —
" I estimated the surplus at £ J , » 00 , 000 . I still abide by that estimate , and nothing has since occurred to alter my opinion as to the amount of jobs the revenue will * u ' tain by the reduotlon of the duti « s on timber and colfee . The honourable member says that my surplus for thi » year depends on the income-tax . I beg to Bay that i » not the case . The decision to which the House has conio respecting the income-tax leaves my surplus for this year untouched . The honourable member informed the House that 1 said I contemplated the income-tax being a permanent tax ; but in that , also , he is mistaken . On un ~ other point , alao , the honourable number miKrcpreaentea my opinions . 1 iu' *< c said that the income-tax ought 1 " be continued until a long catalogue of taxes which ' »*¦ ' enumerated had been repealed . What I said was this , that I had this year proposed the repeal of those duties
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622 fft ) £ & £ && £ ?? [ Saturday ,
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PARLIAMENT OF THE WEEK
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Leader (1850-1860), July 5, 1851, page 622, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1890/page/2/
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