§ MR. HADFIELDsaid, he would now beg to inquire whether the claims of the Proctors for compensation under the Acts of last Session, and which the light hon. Gentleman has stated amounted to £250,000, were £250,000 in gross or per annum?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERreplied, that the claims amounted to £250,000 per annum. A certain number of claims had been sent in, but the number was by no moans complete, and if a Return were made such as that for the production of which the hon. Gentleman had given notice, the result would be quite deceptive and fallacious. Of course the Treasury, upon the Returns already made, and the provisions contained in the new law, had 1174 been forced to form an estimate; and their estimate was that the claims of the Proctors would amount to the sum of £250,000 per annum for several years to come.