§ Mr. Huskisson moved, that the order of the day be read, for taking into further consideration the report of this bill.
§ Mr. Biddulphopposed the motion, as his objection to the bill was radical, and was not confined to any of its provisions. He understood that the sum to be produced by it, and to accrue to the Consolidated Fund, in consequence, was about 100,000l. It was well known, both from the Report of a former Committee of Finance, and 121 from other documents, that from the demised hereditary revenues of the crown, a sum equal to this might be, and ought to be drawn, to accrue to the Consolidated Fund. The hon. gent. enlarged upon this subject, contending that he did not wish to unsettle these hereditary revenues, but merely that they should be adjusted; in which case, he repeated, a sum might be obtained, equivalent to the deficiency which the rejection of the bill before the house would occasion.
Mr. Roseshewed, that if those Revenues had been applied as wished for by the hon. gent. a deficiency must then be occasioned in the Civil List, which it would become necessary for parliament to make good. In the amount also, the hon. gent. must be very much mistaken. So far from amounting to 100,000l. he should be much surprised to find the demised hereditary Revenues, to which the hen. gent. alluded, amounted to 50,000l.
§ Mr. Huskissonheld in his hand the Accounts moved for by the hon. gent, by which it appeared, that since 1797, they amounted only to 30,614l.
§ Mr. Biddulphdeclared, that the Account which had been laid on the table of the house in consequence of his motion, was a very imperfect one, and complained of the difficulty which he experienced in obtaining satisfactory documents on this subject.—The house then divided on the question that the Speaker do leave the chair:
§ Ayes 51; Noes 21. Majority 30.
§ The house then went into a committee accordingly.