§ Sir W. De Crespignysaid, that in the motion which he proposed to submit to the House, he was convinced the chancellor of the exchequer would give him his cordial support. If the right hon. gentleman had consulted his own private feelings, he no doubt would have sifted the matter to the bottom, for he must be convinced that it required the minutest inquiry. The object of his motion was the detection of fraud practised by collectors, assessors, surveyors, commissioners clerks, &c, to an extent unknown before. He would do the right hon. gen- 847 tleman the justice to say, that when these abuses had been submitted to him, he had appointed a person to inquire into them, but he had not been able to accomplish what his inclination prompted him to attempt, and the system of surcharges, which had so long disgraced the country, was still continued. If he succeeded in getting the inquiry for which he was about to move, he hoped they should be able to put an end to that system of surcharge and defalcation which had so long existed. In the little parish of Westerham, in the district of Sevenoaks, the gross assessment in 1814 was 1,438l.14s.; but the returns amounted only to 1,115l. 8s. 11d.; consequently there was that year a defalcation of 322l. 11s. 1d. In 1815, the assessment was the same, bat only 980l. 10s. were returned, leaving a defalcation of 458l. 10s. In 1816, the assessment was the same, but the returns were only 858l. 14s. leaving that year a defalcation of 579l. 6s. One gentleman in that neighbourhood paid 150l. a year, but for two years this sum, had not been returned at all, but put into the pockets of these persons. There were several other cases of a similar nature, which made the whole defalcation in that parish amount to 1,968l. 3s. 2d. One of the collectors had been allowed to collect arrears, and to retain them for 15 months, at the end of which time it was found necessary to sell the furniture of his House to pay his debts. Under such circumstances, was he not justified in claiming the sanction of the House to stop this system of peculation? He hoped the right hon. gentleman would assist him in cleansing this Augean stable. The hon. baronet then moved, "That there be laid before this House, a Statement of Defalcation in the Assessed Taxes for the town of Westerham, in Kent, delivered to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, December 9th, 1816."
The Chancellor of the Exchequerwas willing to communicate all the information on the subject which was in the possession of government; but he suggested the propriety of withdrawing the present motion, for the purpose of bringing another in a shape more likely to answer the purpose in view. He could assure the hon. baronet, that instructions had been issued to the Board of Taxes to institute an inquiry into the defalcations alluded to.
§ Sir E. Knatchbullsaid, that after what 848 had fallen from the chancellor of the exchequer, it would not be necessary to press the motion. He was one of those who wished that the frauds in question should be sifted to the bottom. He hoped, however the motion would be withdrawn, for the purpose of bringing the subject before the House in a shape which would allow it to be taken into consideration.
§ Sir W. De Crespignyconsented to withdraw the motion, on the assurance given by the chancellor of the exchequer. It was somewhat singular, that notwithstanding these defalcations had been pointed out more than two years ago, the persons complained of were still in the same situation.
§ Mr. Lushingtonread a paragraph from the report from the Board of Taxes to the Treasury, with the view of satisfying the hon. baronet, that proper measures had been adopted against the persons implicated in the defalcations.
§ Mr. Tierneyconcurred in recommending the hon. baronet to withdraw the present motion. If the papers furnished by the chancellor of the exchequer did not supply him with the necessary information, it would be in his power to move for more hereafter. It appeared that great depredations had been committed, and he hoped that every thing would be done by the Treasury to investigate this affair thoroughly.
§ The motion was then withdrawn.