§ Mr. Brand presented a petition of several corn distillers of England; setting forth, "that the importation of Irish spirits into Great Britain, or of British spirits into Ireland, has been for a considerable time past, and now is, suspended in consequence of doubts having arisen whether the regulations under which the drawbacks and countervailing duties paid or payable on spirits the manufacture of Great Britain and Ireland, imported from either country into the other, do not operate as a bounty on such exportation of spirits, contrary to the sixth article of the Act of Union, until proper provisions could be made for regulating the inter course between Great Britain and Ireland, in relation to spirits the manufacture of either country; and that such suspension will cease and determine on the first day of July next; and praying, that the doubts which have arisen, and the regulations which are necessary, may be forth with taken into consideration by the House, or that the suspension of intercourse may be further continued until the investigation has taken place, and sufficient time afforded for a Bill being passed for putting the trade in spirits between the two countries upon a just, fair, and equal footing."
§ In illustration of the hardships complained of by the petitioners, the hon. gentleman stated, that above 370,000l. had been paid for duties on spirits in this country, which were not disposed of.