The Spectator
APRIL 27, 1833
LAST night, Lord ALTHORP'S Budget was completely demolished. The Landed interest mustered strong, and, on the motion of Sir WILLIAM INOILBY, carried a reso- lution by which the duty op malt is to be reduced from 20s. 8d. to 10s. per quarter. The Malt-duty last year yielded 4,825,0001.; so that the reduction, even with increased consumption, may be held to amount to upwards of two millions. Lord ALTUORP and Lord JOHN RUSSELL strenuously opposed the reduction, and threatened the Landlords with the imposition of a Property-tax. They were beaten, however, on a divi- sion, by a majority of 162 to 152.
The House, it will be seen, was not a full one; and the Morning Chronicle intimates that Ministers were taken by surprise, and, had they been better prepared, could easily have brought down a majority to back them. How far this may be true, we cannot tell : but the doctrine implied by the remark is morally and politically bad. Are Ministers indeed the masters of the House? Are the members of the Reformed Parlia- ment, who neglect their duty to their constituents by non-attendance, to be whipped in to a division, like their Rotten Borough predecessors, at the Ministerial word of command?
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