§ Several petitions respecting the proposed alteration in the Coal Duties having been presented,
Lord Folkestoneobserved, that such a ferment had been excited throughout the country, in consequence of an expected alteration in the coal-duties, that it had become the duty of ministers to declare their intentions on the subject openly and specifically, in order to allay the anxiety which had been created.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that he had expressed himself as explicitly as he could upon this subject on a former occasion. He would, however, repeat what he had then said, in order that no future mistake might arise. He thought that it would be neither expedient, nor 1072 wise, nor beneficial in any point of view whatsoever, to make any alteration in the present duties.