§ Mr. J. COLLETTreferred to a statement, that in consequence of a singular flaw in the Corn Law, the revenue had suffered to a considerable extent. The right hon. Gentleman had promised to give an answer to the question he (Mr. Collett) had put, in a few days, and he wished now to be informed 839 whether the revenue had suffered, and to what extent?
The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that the case was precisely this:—In consequence of a construction put upon the Act of 1842, certain parties claimed a right on a particular day to import a quantity of corn free of duty: the question was tried in the Court of Queen's Bench, and a decision was come to in favour of the right of the Crown to levy the duty. The parties carried the case into the Exchequer Chamber, and there all the Judges reversed the decision of the Court of King's Bench. At present it was under consideration whether it would be desirable, on the part of the Crown, to carry the question to a higher tribunal. The account in the newspapers, supposing the ultimate issue to be adverse to the Crown, was considerably exaggerated. He could not precisely state the amount of loss, but he believed it would not amount to 30,000l.