her taxes, the motion of Mr. Goulburn was
agreed to; and the customs duties bill, and other bills founded on his
proposition, subsequently passed through both houses with unanimity.

SUGAR-DUTIES BILL, ETC.

The great conflict of parties was reserved for the sugar duties. The
chancellor of the exchequer's views on this subject were propounded on
the 3rd of June, when, after delivering a lucid and able speech on
the sugar duties at present existing, and explaining his intended
alterations in those duties, he moved:--"That towards raising the supply
granted to her majesty, the several duties now payable on sugar be
further continued for a time to be limited, save and except that from
and after the 10th day of November next, there shall be charged on brown
Muscovado, or clayed sugar, certified to be the growth of China, Java,
or Manilla, or of any other foreign country, the sugar of which her
majesty in council shall have declared to be admissible as not being the
produce of slave-labour, L114s. the cwt., together with the additional
duty of L5 per cent, on the afore-mentioned rate. That from and after
the 10th day of November next her majesty be authorized by order in
council to give effect to the provisions of any treaty now in force,
which binds her majesty to admit sugar, the produce of a foreign
country, at the same duties as are imposed on sugar the produce of the
most favoured nation." Lord John Russell had announced that he would
propose an amendment for including slave-grown sugar in that foreign
produce which was to be admitted at diminished duties; but Mr. Goulburn
said he could not believe that the house would consent to throw away the
whole of that large amount which the country had recently paid for the
abolition of slavery, by creating, through a new rise of prices, an
additional stimulus to the importation of slaves into the foreign
colonics. Lord John Russell, however, combated the views of government
at great length; after which he moved, as an amendment, "That towards
raising the supply granted to her majesty, instead of the duties of
customs now payable on sugar, there shall be charged on brown, or
Muscovado sugar, the produce of any foreign country, the sum of L1 14s.
per cwt." In support of his motion the noble lord argued, that the time
was come when the sugar duties ought to undergo a full consideration.
It was proposed, he said, to admit the sugar of Java and Manilla as
free-grown, though th