§ Mr. Francis Baring brought up the Report on the Malt Drawback Bill.
§ Mr. Cumming Brucesaid, that anxious as he was to oppose this measure by every means in his power, he did not think that he should be justified, after the somewhat lengthened discussion which had taken place on it last night, in endeavouring to renew that discussion on the present occasion. He, therefore, merely rose in consequence of the erroneous statement which had appeared in all the papers of this morning, of the course which he had felt it his duty to pursue. In those usual organs through which the debates of this House were given to the public, he was represented as supporting the measure of his Majesty's Government, and only re- 1166 gretting it did not go further. Now, it would be in the recollection of such hon. Members as did him the honour of attending to what fell from him, that he opposed the measure as unjust to the malt distilleries of Scotland—as likely to be injurious to the revenue—as hurtful to the agricultural interests of Scotland—and, on still higher grounds, of the fatal effects which would result to the morals of the Highlands, if, by its enactment, the system of illicit distillation, now so happily suppressed, were again called into activity. Having received strong representations from many persons in Scotland against this measure, and having, in answer to them, expressed his concurrence in their views, and his determination to support them in Parliament, he was naturally desirous that the unintentional mis-statement of his opinion and conduct on the occasion of last night's debate, should not go uncontradicted.
§ Mr. Stewart Mackenziebegged to corroborate the statement of the hon. Gentleman who had just sat down. With regard to the probable effects of the Bill, he was convinced that it would produce in Scotland all the evils anticipated from it.
§ The Report agreed to.