HC Deb 14 July 1807 vol 9 cc809-10

On the motion of lord Barnard, a new writ was ordered for the election of a member for the borough of Bandon, in the room of lord Boyle, now earl of Shannon. Also for the election of a member for the borough of Tralee, in the room of sir A. Wellesley, who had made his election for the borough of Newtown, for which also he had been returned.—Mr. Long moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable the trustees of the British Museum to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of, such parts of their collection as were not adapted to the purposes of that institution, and to lay out the produce in the purchase of other articles better adapted to their purposes. The articles which it was proposed to dispose of, were anatomical preparations, and other things of that nature. The disposal of these articles, and the purchases to be made with the produce, were to be under the controul of a committee of seven, at the head of which were the lord chancellor, the speaker of the house of commons, and the archbishop of Canterbury. The establishment was now placed on such a footing, that it was calculated in every respect to answer the purposes intended by parliament. Leave was given to bring in the bill.—On the motion of Mr. Foster, the house went into a committee, to consider of the compensation to be made for the fees of offices abolished in the department of the customs in Ireland. Mr. Foster stated, that the commission of enquiry into the fees of offices in Ireland had particularly recommended the extension of the retrenchment and regulation of the customs fees adopted in this country to Ireland. It became necessary, in consequence of the adoption of that measure, to make compensation to the officers whose fees were suppressed. The amount of the compensation to be paid was about 100,000l. He proposed to raise this sum by a tax of 6 per cent. on imports and exports, with the exception of imports and exports between Great Britain and Ireland. The merchants would find this tax less burthensome than the fees. The produce would be about 90,000l. If this sum fell short a little, the certainty and regularity of the payment would compensate the officers for the trifling reduction. He moved accordingly, that such a compensation be granted. After a short conversation between sir J. Newport, who thought that the compensation ought to be provided for by some more equal charge, than one that fell wholly upon foreign imports and exports, the fees being equally paid upon imports and exports between Ireland and Britain, and Mr. Foster who answered the hon. baronet's objections, the motion was agreed to.