§ Mr. Huntwished to know from the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, whether it had come to the knowledge of his Majesty's Government that several extensive seizures of contraband articles had very recently been made in the city of London; one in Gutter-lane, one in Fleet-street, and one in Newgate-street; and also, whether any proceedings had been taken or were to be taken in consequence of those seizures? It had come to his knowledge that the parties in whose possession the goods had been found were but the agents of very large houses in the city which were well able to pay the full penalties, and therefore he hoped no compromise, as was often the case, would be come to. He was not going to turn informer.
§ The Speakersaid, that as the hon. Member rose merely to put a question, it was not competent to him to go into other matter.
§ Mr. Poulett Thomsonsaid, his Majesty's Government had been apprised of the seizures adverted to by the hon. Member, and proceedings in consequence of them had been commenced. Those proceedings he had every reason to believe would be entirely successful, and most assuredly the full penalties would be enforced;
§ Mr. Huntsaid, it had been communicated to him that smuggling was going on in the city of London to an enormous extent. If five or six persons were employed to watch the proceedings of certain great houses, they would put a stop to more smuggling than one half of the Preventive Service.