The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that in compliance with the suggestion thrown out yesterday by the right hon. gent. opposite (Mr. Tierney), he should not press upon the committee the amendment he had at first intended to propose to the noble lord's plan; at the same time, he could not see how that amendment could have by any possibility given rise to any alarm in the public mind, and furnished any pretext for charging parliament with a breach of public faith in that instance.
§ Lord H. Pettyadmitted that it would not have been a substantial breach of faith, inasmuch as the war taxes on customs would have supplied a sufficient surplus, but at the same time contended, that it was anominal breach of public faith, and being totally unnecessary, would be much better let alone, if the ambition of the new chancellor of the exchequer did not prompt him to have some change or other in the plan; to gratify therefore the right hon. gent., he 432 (lord, II. Petty), should not object to it, as the change did not appear to him to be absolutely mischievous.
§ Mr. Tierneysaid, that the new chancellor of the exchequer entertained the newest financial doctrines he had ever heard. The right hon. gent.'s argument went to say, that the consolidated fund was as productive without as with the war taxes. He fancied, however, that the right hon. gent. would have found the plain plodding understanding of the city quite averse to the subtle genius of the right hon. gent. He denied that the intended improvement was given up as an act of grace to his side of the house, for the right hon. gent. while he was driven to an abandonment of it, would fain have the house to understand that he had volunteered in abandoning it.—After a short conversation, the amendment was agreed to. The other amendments were then read and agreed to. After which, the house resumed, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow.