§ MR. ROCHEsaid, he wished to put a question to the right hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer in reference to the remission of duties upon home-made spirits in bond. It would be in the recollection of the House that, in the Session of 1850, the Scotch and Irish Members, with the aid of some English Members, succeeded in carrying a Resolution to the effect that 586 Irish and Scotch distillers were treated unjustly by the existing law with reference to duties upon spirits in bond. The right hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary to the Treasury, the hon. Member for Liverpool (Mr. F. Mackenzie), and the Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, supported that Resolution. Acting upon that Resolution, the Irish and Scotch Members submitted a Bill to the House, on the back of which Bill were the names of Lord Naas and Mr. G. A. Hamilton; but unfortunately the Bill was lost. He should certainly be glad to know whether it was the intention of the Government to afford any relief to those suffering interests for which they had, when in Opposition, so frequently expressed their smpathyy.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he was sure that the House would admit that it was scarcely fair that he should be pressed to make a communication with respect to the remission of duties, or the intentions of the Government in that behalf, on the eve of the financial statement. The hon. Member would soon have an ample opportunity for explaining his own views, and learning those of the Government, on the subject to which he referred.