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Some conversation arose as to the succession tax upon " , ornamental" timber . Some members objected to the imposition , and complained of the difficulty of deciding what was ornamental timber . Sir . John TboMiOI ? b moved the omission of the latter part of the clause , with the view of excluding " growing" timber from the operation of the tax ; Mr . Gladstone insisted that timber was now a merchantable commodity ; and a certain source of income on many estates . Several Liberal members intimated their objections to the proposed manner of taxing timber , and advised the withdrawal of the clause . But Mr . Gladstone
pressed the clause ; even where timber was not merchantable , it was . a sign of wealth , of luxury , of grandeur , and therefore should be taxed . But to meet the objections that had been made , the Soiicitob-GenebaIi suggested an alteration of the clause , to the effect that the tax should be levied only on the money actually received on the sale of timber and trees . The Opposition would not accede to this suggestion , and divided on Sir John Trollope ' s amendment . There appeared for the amendment ; 153 ; against it , 150 . Majority against the Government , 8 .
A desultory discussion then arose , the only point of interest being a statement by Mr . Cobden on the general question of taxing ornamental timber . Why was ornamental timber kept , but for the purpose of luxury and enjoyment ? Did not the possession of a park add as much to the dignity and importance of the owner as the possession of a mansion ? And if honourable gentlemen advocated the remission in the case of oniaxnental timber , why not in the case of pictures and the plateau on their sideboards ? He would lay down this proposition , that anything which could be brought into the Encumbered Estates Court and sold , was fairly
liable to taxation under this bill . He might be told that ornamental timber was not ah article of merchandize . Why was ifc kept and not cut for sale , but because the proprietor preferred to enjoy the ornament and luxury rather than convert it to purposes of utility by selling it ? It argued great wealth for any one to be able to keep so large an amount for luxury and enjoyment . It was unwise to raise discussion on this topic , and by fastening on the miserable article of timber , to revive the whole question of protection to the landed interest and agitation between town and country .
The further consideration of the question is post poned .
INCOME-TAX . The Income-tax Bill is now being passed through the Lords . Lord Abiuideen explained the details of the bill , and the bearings of the late financial alterations . In referring to Mr . Gladstone , be spoke of his renewal of an income-tax which made no difference between precarious and permanent incomes , as " a signal triumph of reasoning over strong convictions . " The Earl of Derby made some remarks , hofc to oppose a tax he believed necessary , but to state
objections to some statements made by Lord Aberdeen , The snecess of the Income-tax he would attribute to tllo imposition of a further tax upon real property , rather than to the arguments of Mr . Gladstone , whoso great ability and powers of debate he admitted . As to the future , if Ministers adhere to the system of reducing taxation as our expenditure is reduced , they will not have one shilling to enable them to dispense with the Income-tax . But that tax was inevitable- ; neither Lord Aberdeen nor himself would live to see the end
of it-Lord Brougham admitted the unjust inequalities of the tax , but it had been found impossible to adjust them . Lord Melbourne had said of this tax , " I am awaro of the hardship and pressure it brings upon every class , luid in my view that is its great recommendation , for no property escnpos , mid every one is compelled to pay it . " There were only tliroo taxes worse than this tax : a tax on tho food of the people , n tax on tho knowledge of tho people , and a tax on law proceedings . Still , tho stuto of the finances of tho country rendered it necessary . would bo
Lord CiiANitTCAitDK , believing tho tax permanent , characterised it iui u dangerous source of revenue , and objected to its oxtennion to Ireland . The Marquis of Lanhoownij re-HKKoH ; ed that ; it was tho present intention of tho Government to have the tax « tm « o i » 18 ( H > . Vov tho tax was objectionable as a permanent source of revenue , being a tux not only on the pockets , but on tho feelings of tho people . Hut Bhould war come , this tnx would be " a giant , " ready to be appropriated to tho national defence and national honour . oinmcir proi'Kutv .
The Marquis of Br-ANDPoni ) has obtained leave to brine in a bill for the bolter management of episcopal i 1 « mltnlar property . He referred to ancient mid : oe 2 eolation L tho -abject , to -ho * that the ^*< r ^ & ~ ^ z& S T : ZiTC ^ ZJ romu / i . , i >^ or
churches , the sub-division of parishes , non-residence and plurality , and tho obtainment in various ways of funds to supply the spiritual wants of the country . The present state of the Church calls for remedial legislation . There are many Church endowments which do not exceed 131 . a year , and in others there was no endowment at all . The result was that the clergyman was drawn away from the discharge of his proper duties to attend to pewrenters from other parishes . In other cases , owing to tho formation of railways , the wealthy residents had left the district , and the minister was left without the assistance of those who had wealth to bestow upon the support of his church . In many instances , the churches bad fallen into decay for want of timely repairs . Great difficulties had also arisen from the existing laws relating to church rates which were collected for the mother church over the whole district . One incumbent wrote that be was the curate of
a district with such a scattered population that a horse was necessary to enable him to visit every portion of it . He lived two miles from the nearest place where he could purchase the necessaries of life , and his salary was 361 . a year . The rector , it was true , allowed him 65 ? . a year extra , but he was not bound to do so . Another incumbent wrote that his church yielded 120 ? . a year , out of which he was responsible for the whole of the expenses of divine worship . He complained too that he was not allowed to take surplice fees . Another laboured for some time in a district , but lie was obliged to gradually sink
50 OZ . of his own property , and then he gave it up . There was so much difficulty in finding men for these small livings , that the patrons were obliged to appoint the first applicant ; whether fit or not , in order to prevent lapses . There were no fewer than 4000 benefices whose income did not amount to 150 Z . per annum , and there were many incumbents of long standing and laborious lives whose income did not exceed 901 . a year , and who were obliged to take pupils , to write for periodicals , to engage themselves as lecturers in neighbouring parishes , or to become the agents of religious societies in order to procure food and raiment for themselves and families .
Regarding the want of churches , there were 580 places with populations exceeding 3000 , where new churches are required . The ways and means of meeting these wants were then stated . The total value of the church leases ( episcopal and capitular ) was 961 , 697 ? . But by the enfranchisement of leases the Church parts with one half its property yearly : thus , 480 , 000 ? . would be available . Adding to this sums from , other sources , there would be a total of 700 , 775 ? . a year . The total charge on this fund for the dignitaries of the church would be 363 , 750 ? . a year , leaving a surplus of 337 , 026 ? . ( This surplus was likely to be increased to 445 , 968 ? . by the gradual increase of church leasehold property . ) His proposal then was to transfer the entire management of the episcopal and capitular property into the hands of tho Estates Commissioners , and
to invest them with legal control over tho property , for the purWbses of management only , making them tho lawful receivers of the rents and profits , with some exceptions . Estates mig ht be assigned to each see , sufficient to yield its annual income , and a separate account will be kept of the property of each corporation . The fee of the property will rest with the bishops and chapters , but tho commissioners will act as their agents , and give each a fixed income . Tho commissioners will then apply tho surplus to the endowment with 150 ? . a year each of 1670 churches in England—namely , 877 already erected under the Church Building Acts , 233 churches in the " Peel" districts , and 580 new churches in districts now unprovided — besides applying 100 , 4 ( 57 ? . in furtherance of the aid given in 1830 in tlio augmentation of benefices .
General approval of the object of the bill was expressed iii the conversation which ensued . Lord John ltusSELt , agreed to its introduction , and deferred consideration of it to another opportunity . Mr . IltJMfi expressed his great satisfaction with it , but thought one half of the capitular revenue should be applied , as of old , to education . Other minor members expressed thoir approval , and leave was given to bring in the bill . Jamaica . —Lord . Totin Hubhkli . intimated , with regard to the present contention between the Legislature and tlio Governor of Jamaica , that " a plan affecting tho financial power of tho House of Assembly" would bo curried out us a remedy for the misunderstanding . Ho will make a statement in a week or ten days .
Tuk Bisiror ov Hahsiujht .-This prelato lias defended himself in tho L »« ls against charges of malversation and covetousno . sH mado in tho Times . Jlo attributed _ the increase in tho revenue of bin Hees to tho varied results naturallv arising from small farms , to his own better management of the property , to tho profits from which ho bad a riehfc Mo silated , in conclusion , that ho had not saved a Minglo shilling from hix episcopal revenueH . Tu « MoNHur . r , ( "Jorhkhponhrnok . —Lord Cardigan commented upon these letters , and also upon the mmnnoNts conversation eimuedwhich
Di-oflni-utioH of Irish . A , was itierely a repetition of tho statements alroudy made in Pnrlifiment on the question . Qkrkch and Ti / ricwv : DrsvV ms . — Respecting the lisoutcH be tween Groeeo and Turkey and the reported arbitration of < lio British Government , Lord John ItuHHKi-r- Kiiid : " Them has boon no arbitration on tlio I ¦ .,. | , ' The Turkish Government having exprossod an intmil ' i ' on to nond a foroo to oecupy certain villages which Miov alleged belonged to Turkey , tho G rook Government limmted this claim , and intimated their intention to send a r •!•/( and in ' ( l (! t » ^ " 1 despatch a force , to the frontier , to to
ronist (| l ( , attempt of the Turkish Government , and provont them from taking pOHsttssion of tlio villftgos . Tho roprosontativo of tho English Government , in . conjunction
with the representatives of other powers at Constantinople , suggested that ho further steps should be taken until the question should be considered . The question has been considered by the representatives of Great Britain , France , and ltussia , and they have come to the opinion that , according to the settlement of the boundary in 1832 , those villages belong to Turkey . That opinion was intimated to the week Government , and I am not aware that any further steps were taken . " Tbade Liceksbs . —In stating the position of the financial measures now before the House , Mr . Glad stoke intimated the intentions of the Government regarding the licenses . He said : " Upon an examination of the circumstances attending the probable operation of the scale
that tffts originally proposed , it was soon obvious that great inconvenience , and even in particular cases what might be called oppression , would be caused by putting it in force . I therefore made it my business to consider how that scale could be revised , and in what shape it could be put so as to operate in a manner free from those objections . But the effect of that was materially to reduce the proceeds of any such scale , and in some degree to raise the question whether , supposing we were in a position to dispense with the money we expected to derive from it , it would be desirable to stir the subject at all now , or whether it would not be more expedient on the whole to let the matter stand over until it could be considered in connexion with that which is the great and capital item in our licensing system , the publicans' licenses , and all the
family of licenses that belong to that class . The way in which the matter now stands is this . It is impossible , untii I know the decision of the house with regard to several questions that are pending , and with regard to which notices have been given by honourable gentlemen , which would affect the Exchequer , that I should give any absolute pledge on the subject of licenses . The Government have not , therefore , come to any absolute decision on that subject ; but I think I may venture to say that , provided that no other inroad is made on the funds available for the public service , it may be in our power to dispense altogether from making any proposal with regard to licenses , and that in that case no proposal will be made . " Excise Duties on Spieits . —This bill has passed . In the last stage the Irish members divided against it , but were defeated by a majority of 121 to 41 .
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THE QUEEN AND THE ARMY . The troops at Chobham were marshalled before the Queen and 100 , 000 of the people on Tuesday . From an early hour the Common showed stirring signs of preparation . Excursionists trooped in by the Chertsey road ; ladies on horseback , and gentlemen attendants , rustic pedestrians of all sorts and conditions , jaunting vehicles from London or the railwaystation , back cabs of every rank , and "jolly" drivers rejoicing in easy extortion . These sprinkled themselves about the camp , and were admitted readily within the lines . There around their tents were the men in
diverse attitudes and occupations : some making the usual camp toilette in the pouls at the rear of the tent —the not very clear water serving as a mirror ; the tall fellows of the foot guards standing , like " trooper George , " with well-carried height and expanded breast , chatting- with steady jocularity , or chanting in lusty chorus some favourite song . Here n party busily polished cuirasses ; here a belated private hurriedly pipeclayed his belt . Officers in full uniform dashed across the field and through the lines of the camp ; the crowds thickened around tho headquarters and the
flagstnfl" ; and the men turned out for the daily parade , each regiment in front of its quarters . The day was clouded in the morning , but before eleven , the sky cleared up , and lighted the spectacle of white tents , faced by scarlet " walls" of steady men , relieved by tho dark rifle-uniform , or chequered by the garb of tlio Highlanders and tho accoutrements of the light horse . The private carriages as they arrived were ranged in a long semi-circle overlooking the field , nnil the crowds of people on foot occupied every rising ground—marking , in black masses or scattered specks , the rising points of
the ground . At eleven , the hum ot expectation ran along the crowd . Tho Life Guards turned out in an avenue of horsemen , tho Grenadiers formed in front of tho Pavilion , the Royal Standard fluttered up the flagstaff , the sharp rattle of musketry echoed along the line , the deeper roll of the Artillery succeeded—and from the encampment ridge all eyes were turned to the opposite point , where the road from l ' ortnall leads into tho centre of the Common . In a few minutes , tho Queen , in a blue habit and plumed hut , riding a black charger , rode up " t <» H K "" op ; tho guns
thundered again , and tho people still more loudly cheered . Her Majesty wiih dressed in a style suitable and handsome : a closely-fitting bnsqiio jacket , and ridinghubit of dark hhio cloth , a black low hat , with a plume of white-red feathers flowing along the brim , completed her attire . On her breast glittered a gold aiquilette , and a brilliant star and garter . Close by tho Queen wan tho King of Hanover , Hitting orect , and close over his eyes tlio tall bearskin of the Hanoverian Guards ; and on tho other Hide , wan Field Marshal Prince Albert , on a bay charger . Tho Countess of Desart , on a " bonnio gray , " attended on the Queen , and nexfc camo the Dukes of Saxo Coburgr nnd Mecklenburg ;!)* Sti'olitz , thoir whito uniforma und nilvor helmets glw *
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June 23 , 1853 . ] 1 * f ! E LEADER . flO §
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Leader (1850-1860), June 25, 1853, page 605, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1992/page/5/
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