The Chancellor of the Exchequermoved, that the house should resolve itself into a committee on the act of 24th of his present majesty, for the prevention, of smuggling. He stated, that the practice of smuggling had increased to an alarming extent, and he had thought it his duty to submit to the house a bill to remedy so dangerous an evil. The material object he had in view was, to make articles of high duty in packages of certain sizes liable to seizure, if found on board any ship in the narrow seas. The distance within which they should be prohibited should not be less than 100 leagues from the English coast. We had clearly a right to make any provisions we pleased with regard to the navigation of our own seas by our own subjects, whatever exceptions might be necessary as to neutrals. Another object of the bill referred to the hovering distance with respect to Guernsey and the other Islands in the Channel. It was notorious that smuggling from thence had been carried on to an enormous extent. The measure he meant to propose, in order to obviate it in future, Was to prohibit packages below a certain size from being on board ships hovering off those places. Another plan was, that where ships came in with smuggled articles, the persons on board should be liable to sonic penalty, unless they were transferred with their own consent to the navy. He also wished to have it made as penal to resist naval officers, as it at present was to resist excise officers. Another object of the bill was to prevent spirits being sold below proof at, the diffe- 225 rent ports where smuggled articles were usually disposed of. With this view he should empower the Lords of the Treasury to direct smuggled goods not to be sold at the ports, but to be consigned to their order, and disposed of under their control. He concluded by moving, "that the Chairman should be directed to move for leave to bring in a bill to prevent the practice of smuggling."—The report was received, and leave was given to bring in the bill.