AND THE DUKES OF BICHMOND. 161 



the present auction duties, if they were not repealed, 

 might be very beneficially applied to the relief of 

 the agricultural interest of the country. He would 

 say, repeal the malt-tax ; or he would relieve the 

 land of the assize and gaol expenses, now paid out 

 of the county rates, which would amount to about 

 £200,000 or £300,000, to be charged on the con- 

 solidated fund. They wanted justice to be done 

 them. On what principle was the landed interest 

 of the country required to pay for the apprehension 

 of every prisoner, for his maintenance in prison, 

 and for the prosecution ? The Government paid 

 half the expenses of the assizes and the sessions, 

 but why should counties pay anything towards the 

 assizes ? The county had no control whatever over 

 their expenditure. The land was very properly 

 made to support a clergyman in every parish, but 

 why was it forced to support a chaplain in every 

 workhouse and gaol? Why should the expense 

 be thrown exclusively on the land? He wished 

 that the noble Lord would ask his friends the 

 manufacturers, whether they thought the bargain 

 the landed interest at present had was a very good 

 one ? The land had also to bear the whole expense 

 of maintaining the wives and children of those 

 confined in prison, and of men transported ; to whom 

 did their property go? It did not go towards the 

 county rate, but to the Crown, When recognizances 



M 



