§ Mr. Huskissonpresented a Petition from one of his constituents, named Middlewood, who carried on the trade of a perfumer, and had invented a soap, composed of vegetable matter, which was serviceable in promoting the growth of hair. He wished particularly to call the attention of his right hon. friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the subject. The petitioner complained of the system of Stamp Duties upon Patent Medicines, and stated that he had been fined, and was now under prosecution by the Board of Stamps. This the petitioner represented as a great hardship, and prayed for the revision of those duties.
§ Mr. Brightinquired of the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he meant to bring in his bill to alter, consolidate, and amend the Stamp Acts.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerstated the course he intended to pursue with regard to the Stamp Duties. He should move for a committee of the whole House to-morrow on the subject, in order to obtain an opportunity of presenting the new schedule of duties. Although he meant to bring the matter forward on a Wednesday, in contravention of the usual practice, he hoped he should be excused, when it was considered that it would be desirable to have the schedule printed and circulated during the recess, and Wednesday was the only opportunity for taking steps to effect that object. He hoped, however, that the matter might not become the subject of discussion, particularly on a Wednesday, when the House would probably not be very fully attended, and at a time when the subject could not be properly treated, Members being but partially acquainted with the schedule. He should lay the schedule before the House tomorrow, and the consideration of it would come on appropriately after the holidays.
§ Mr. Humesuggested the propriety of having two columns in the schedule, one to contain the present duties, and the other to contain the alterations which it was proposed to make.
§ Mr. Brightsaid, that the schedule would not be sufficient—the Act itself ought to be produced. However, if it were impossible to do this before the holidays, he hoped it would not be delayed one day after the re-assembling of Parliament.