HISTORY OF EUROPL; 



55 



present tiles'^ took cognizance of 

 thehiiihcst crimes, such as mutiny, 

 desertion, and theft, he thought it 

 right tliat they should have the same 

 solemnity as a general court mar- 

 tial, and therefore moved an amend- 

 ment to the clause, that the pre- 

 sidents, in such courts, should not 

 be under the age of 21 years. Sir 

 James Pulteney, and the secretary 

 at war, opposed the amendment, 

 thelatter, on account of the incon- 

 venience it would produce. Lord 

 Temple was against the oath alto- 

 gether, unless those vvlio swear 

 falsely were liable to the penalties of 

 perjury. After some further con- 

 versation, the amendment was nega- 

 tived, the other clauses agreed to, and 

 the bill passed. 



On the second reading of the 

 agricultural horse duty bill, Mr. 

 Piumcr opposed it as bearing heavy 

 on the farmer, through him on the 

 landed interest, and, lastly, upon the 

 poor, who were the great consumers 

 of bread. The chancellor of the 

 exchequer admitted, that it would 

 fall upon the consumer, but in so 

 light a degree, as to be altogether 

 imperceptible, and entered into a 



calculation to shew, that, taking It 

 in the most unfavourable point of 

 view, and computing at one quarter 

 of corn annually for each individual 

 in the kingdom, it would amount 

 only to 1-U/. per annum on each per- 

 son. Mr. Coke (of Norfolk,) de- 

 ]>recated the bill, as it would induce 

 farmers to substitute oxen for horses, 

 to the great detriment of the agri- 

 cultural interest. After a long and 

 desultory conversation, the house 



divided, for tht 



second reading 73, 



— against it 7(5, — majority against 

 the bill o, which was consequently 

 lost. 



Oil the second reading of the salt 

 duty bill, the chancellor of the ex- 

 chequer stated his intention to pro- 

 pose an alteration in the bill, by 

 Avhich the increase in Scotland 

 would be proportionate to the pre- 

 sent rate of duty in that country and 

 here, and he pledged himself to 

 bring it to a proper standard of al- 

 lowance, fur the diilcrence of the 

 quality of salt in both countries. On 

 this the house also divided, for the 

 second reading 92, — against it 54, 

 — majority 38. — The bill was then 

 ordered to be committed. 

 E 4 CHAP. 



