Star. — London, England, 1814-12-10 00:00:00

COMMON COUNCIL. A Court of Common Council was held yesterday 2t Cuih specially for the purpose of taking into consideration the meditated continuance of the Pro perty Tax. Some private and local business, how ever. occupied its attention previously. Mr. WAITWMAn t in rising to bring under the no tice of the Court that subject to which its attention was expected chiefly to be turned, observed, that it was one of as much importance as had ever come be fore them. It might be supposed that he should ex patiate at some length upon the grievous and oppres sive character of the Property Tax ; but its evils were so generally felt and so universally acknowledged, that it would be a waste of time :o dwell upon them with much amplitude. It might be necessary, hew ever, to remind the Court of the extraordinary cir temstances in which the country was placed at the tine that tax was fist brought forward. The finances and the power of this country were then thought to be nearly at their end, and it was imagined that to extricate it from the impending dangers no resource was left, but some bold and provident measure of finance, which might create the means of prosecut ing that contest in which we were then engaged.— But it was solemnly stipulated by Parliament, and the stipulation constituted a sacred compact between the Government and the people, that whenever the war, whose necessities called for that odious and un constitutional, though perhaps necessary measure, should cease, that war tax should cease likewive— (Hear, Aear.) Still, however, it was found necessary to resort to other expedients to render so hateful and so abominable a tax even tolerable to the public feel ing and to Parliament. The promise was therefore held out, that the mode of collecting the tax should be of so mild and gentle a nature, as to prevent the possibility of any thing tyrannical or oppressive in its operation. That anticipated delicacy was highly ne cessary; for he would venture to say, note/1016mnd the singular aspect of the times at that period, when any violent opposition to Government was construed into disaffection, without such a promise, the mea sure, however necessary, however urgent, would not have been carried. In spite, however, of all these precautions, and all that tenderness on the part of Ministers, 'that Court came to a resolution in 1798, (he believed) expressive of its abhorrence and detes tation of the principles on 'which the Property Tax was founded. In 1802, after the peace of Amiens, it was nature:ly thought that the country would get rid of teis war tax, and meetings were held (the first was their own C mmon Hall) throughout the coun try, incense it was apprehended that some attempts Would be made to continue it. What was the conse. , (pence e The Minister was so intimidated by the ge. Demi alarm which was telt at the idea of its conti- Eunice by all classes of the community, that he deter. mined to withdraw it, rather than inepr the odium and the constitutional resistance which he would have to encouotar by persevering---(Hear, hear, hear.) He begged the Court would bear that fact particularly in mind, as it would serve for a precedent in their present proceedings. Sir John Anderson (then one , of the Members in Parliament for t h e City, and of course a Ministerial man), came to that Court and announced the intention of Ministers to withdraw the tax. Since that period, however, it had not only con tinued, butit had under one much alteration, super: cially in the manner of levying it. He wished to speak upon thatpoint, without giving offence tie those Gentlemen who were nominated as. Commissioners to carry the Act into effects but iu his solemn °pinto , the tax itself was so odious in principle, so hostile to freedom, so destructive to families, so abhorrent to eve! ' =tied, - that it was impossible for the Commis sioners, however they might be chosen, to collect such a tax without oppression, without tyranny, and without cruelty —(Hear, hear.) There was one im portant variation with respect to the practical appli tation of the Act, which had silently crept in since itiliese passing. The appointment of the Commis sioners bad been taken out of Um hands of public bo. 'dies and of the people, and vested in the Crown.— Thar change had imperceptibly taken place, and it was therefore the more dangerous. The individuals to whom was entrusted the levying of that tax were thus under the contronl of the Crown, and receiving emoluments-from the Crown—in .many Cases their office was btu a sinecure, a pretence merely to reward them for entorciiig that Act. With respect to its ope ration: it bad been gt ie4Ously felt by various classes of society:. The landed property, indeed, which complained that it compel:ad -an exposure of the amount of property often highly injurious, had found relief —but how was it with regard to the trading in terest? All the heaviest consequences of the war had fallen upon that bou;1•;, and none heavier than the Property Tai— (Mar, hear.) A man engaged in trade, subject to all those fluctuations that attend upon mercantile pursuits, might he worth £lOO,OOO more in one year than in another ; and was it not a dreadful evil, one not to be borne in a free country, that an individual, whose misfortunes, perhaps, had shaken his property to its very centre, who, bowed down by his calamities,, was afraidalmost to look his very. family in gie face, that be should be dragged before the Commissioners to disclose his distresses, to unfold his poverty, to proclaim his wretchedness, in order to be exempt from the provisions of this most iniquitous tax ?—(Hear, hear.) Where trade was earned on to any great extent, it might happen that the losses of one year exceeded the profits of seven, and yet the trader must pay the Income Tax to the /am of his family. In cases of bankruptcy the injus tice of the tax was equally evident. In many of those bankint houses which had failed, the different part ners bad been paying perhaps to the Property Tax, individually, for incomes at the rate of two or three tkeesand a year, from the style is which they . lived, and the appearances they kept up. The period of peace had now arrived, and after having severely en dured the evils of war, a ft er having patiently borne those burthens which the necessities of the time im posed, they had now a just right to look forward to a relief from their taxes. No scheme, however, had yet been introduced to accomplish that end ; nothing was held out that promised the accomplishment of it; but, on the contrary, an intimation that our burthens' would be continued. Now, therefore, was the time for the people to speak, as Parliament would not re ceive any petitions against a Money Bill when once brought in ; it was their bounden duty to do sb ; and it the whole people would stand forth with one voice and one heart in the cause, where was the Minister who would dare tb persist in defiance of the univer sal appeal ?—(Hear), hew.) He should not trouble the Court with any more observations, but should submit to it a series of Resolutions, which he trusted would meet with its concurrence, as he had carefully worded them according to the identical expressions almost, used on a former occasion. If the Court adopted them, he should offer to its notice a Petition to Parliament, grounded, in substance, upon the said Resolutions.—See Advertisement. Upon the first Resolution being react, Mr. WAITHMAN observed, that his objection, as an individual, was to the principle of the tax ; and that he should equally oppose it were it reduced to one per cent. as a gross violation of personal liberty, in this boasted land of freedom. Mr. Alderman WOOD seconded the motions, but said that it would be unnecessary to take up much of their time, after the able manner in which they had been introduced. There was one or two facts, how. •ever, which had come within his own knowledge, of the unequal manner in which the Property Tax was levied. In houses, for instance, he had known some spacious enough to contain forty or fifty visitors, rated at only W6O a-year. Another case came under his immediate observation : a person made a return to the Commissioners of losses amounting to sixty or seventy thousand pounds, yet he having property re. turned under Schedule B, was assessed accordingly. He appealed, and the case was referred to Counsel, who delivered an opinion, that he was not liable un• der Schedule B. It was then carried before the In. Spector, and ultimately left for the -decision of the Judges ; but instead of going before the Judges, an extent was issued and sent down, and £2500 wcte paid, though he had proved his losses were greater than his gains for the List six months. If he had failed afterwards, that £2500 w.,n1,1 have been so much taken from his creditor:. He concluded by expressing his thorough ablrotr:.iice of the principle of the tax. Mr. SAMUEL DIXON said he w-uild only take up a few moments of their tame; and it he saw this matter in a different light from the Worthy Gentleman who spoke before, he was not asking too much when be wished for a fair and liberal hearing. ,He admitted that this was a war tax, and that the people flattered themselves that it would cease on the sth of April next. .No man more anxiously wished that it should so cease than him- - .21f; but he lamented to say that t:4e difficulties of the country were not mended since that tax was insiituLed. They must look at the cir cumstances of the country fairly, and then ask them. selves this question, Whether it was right the public creditor should be disappointed and ruined, who had given his money in loan to Government? Th.! .) • must not shut their eyes to this tact, that the long protracted war in which we had been engaged had rendered great exertions still necessary. Much re mains yet to be provided. for; and lie did not know any article that would bear an additional taxation to make up for the loss of this large revenue to Govern ment. Any additional duties on wines, on spirits, or on sugar, must fail, by introdueing smuggling to a great extent. Much, therefore, as he wished that ths tax were abolished, and never renewc.f, yet he could not see how its loss could be supplied ; and he wished any one would inform hint it it could be done with out. He w..s atraid there was much abuse 'in the collection of this tax, which ought to be amended.—' He suggested an amendment to the first Resolution, by leaving out the mention of an intimation to Par. liament that this tax was to be renewed ; because he was not aware that any such intimation had been made. It was to be considered, that this tax, which was at first 64 per edit. had been increased by that patriotic and layout ite Minister of some Gentlemen (Mr. Fox) to 10 per cent. which it still continued to be; and he accompanied it with an expression which must go along with his name and memory. When he was told tlr t it would be most oppressive on the poor, he said, that it a man could not afford to live, in the first floor, he must remove to the second—it not in the second, to the garret—and if not in the garret, to. the cellar—(Hier:.) He suggested, whe ther it would not be better to deter this Petition until the measure should be before Parliament —(Crier of 14, no. Mr. GRIFFITHS said a few words against the tax. Mr. FAVELL hoped that nothing of the property tax, might remain but the recollection of it, and th it this would always serve as a memento, to point out the folly of rashly engaging in wars. A member of the House of Commons once wished that a starling should be perched ou the Speaker's chair, and cry only " No Coalition." He hoped that the property tax should in future be a like warning to the people of England a3ainst wars. It the principle which was proclaimed at the close of the war ) " of not inter. I feting with the inteinal government of any nation," had been acted upon at the time the war commenced, the people of this country would have known nothing of that tax of which they now so justly complain.— Although he never wished to join in any clamour against taxes which were necessary; yet, after the case made out by his worthy friend, he must condemn the tax, and for a substitute he conld only mention peace and i etrenchment. Alderman HEYGATE wished to call the attention of the court to the financial situation of the country at the present moment. No man living had a gt eater detestation of the principle of the tax than himsdt.— The law, however, had been introduced at a time when imperious necessity required that large sums should be supplied, and when the ordinary means of taxation had failed. The people of England consent ed, under those circumstances, to such privations as they had never before experienced. He thought, therefore, it was right now to examine candidly, fairly, and impartially, what was the present financial situation of the country. No man was more anxious than he was that full justice should be done to the public creditors • the fact, however, was, that the whole revenue of country (with the exception of abont one million) was now paid in dividends to the stock-holders. What was there, then, to defray the ordinary expense of the Government, as well as the expense of the American war ? As to the question of the American war, he was aware that it was a question of considerable delicacy ; but still, while that war ex-' isted, he thought there could be no expectation of this tax being taken off. The grounds of this war, how ever, were not the same now as at the period of its commencement. We now understood that the war was continued on account of some now demands set up by our Ministers, of extension of territory, the uucon trottlied possession of the Lakes, and other poinii 44 that nature. As it Was the boait and glory of this abni: stitution, that the people had a right to assemble and express their opinion to their representatives, he thOught that no time ought to be lost; but that in the present recess of Parliament there thould be public meetingi every where to express the sense of the people as to l the new demands made on America by our Ministers. The public should consider whether those objects were worth the people of England butthening them. selves with the evils of war and the property tax ? He was by no means for weakening the hands of Govern. ment at the present crisis : but he wished that the people of England should declare as one man, the opinion of the country with respect to the grounds on which the American war was now continued.— He thought it impossible to continue the American war, without continuing the Property Tax, or laying on other taxes which would be equally oppressive.— He would wish that the Coat would express their willingness to support the Government in the war, if ' it was the maritime rights of this country that were the real object of the contest; but if it was really to be carried on for the propositions made by dur Mini. sters to America, he thought the country should too support them in a war having such an object. As to the conduct of Mr. Fox upon this tax, he thought it had been much misunderstood. It was against the principle of the tax, and not do: amount, that Mr. Fox protested. When he afterwards came into power and found this tax existing, and that the country had still great exertions to make, he increased the amount of the tax, in order that, by the restoration of peace, he might get rid both of the tax and the principle of it. 7 he argument against the principle of the tax, as applied to trade, was, that it invaded the privacy 1 of trade and commerce, and obliged honourable men to make disclosures which might be ruinous to, them selves and their families. The objection which he felt to the tax, was entirely to the principle, and not to the amount of it : and it really appeared to him to be the very worst mode that could be pursued, to leave the principle of the tax in force, and to reduce the produce of it. Sir WILLIAM CURTIS observed, that he fully agreed with a great deal of what had fallen from the speakers • who preceded him. Th e tax was i n pr i n ii p l e 'ob -1 noxious, and it was a war tax—a war tax, however, without which this country would never have stood in her present elevated situation. He had certainly heard that it was the intention of Ministers to propose its renewal, either in whole or in part ; and he feared that unless some large sum could be provided by some other meals, it would be impossible without this aid to discharge the debt which we had contract. ed. What other scheme Could be devis e d, t h at wou ld ~ not 'be still 'more objectionable and injurious ' (Munnert.)—He contended that it would prove im possible to produce so large a sum in a Manner less injurious to the people at large. The tax fell at pre sent upon people of property.—(Crier of nl, no.)— ' fie kne es tosit people hr trade felt it ; h e hi mse lf f e l t it sorely. ...(A laugh:)—He wasisorry that the times had required it, but we ought to rejoice that it had been the means of procuring for us a substantial peace. He agreed with the worthy Alderman (Hey gate) that a peace with the Americans was extremely desirable, but he trusted he should see them con foundl:dly flogged first.—(A loud laugh.)—There was vest a tax that could be laid upon any article, which ravould not fall more heavily upon those who could foot afford it than the tax upon property did. If upon full consideration be could see that it was possible to do without it, he would oppose its renewal, but it upon- the other hand he should find it to be impos sible, he wculd support it. Mr. WAITHAIAN, in reply, observed, that he thought any mention of the war with America in the Resolu, tions would be irrelevant ; but he should have no ob jection, if the state of the negociations were made public by Government, to agree to a specific motion, proposed conformably to t h e id eas o f t h e W ort h y 'Alderman (Mr. Heygate). To the remarks of the 'Honourable Baronet (Sir William Curtis), that the I Property Tax was necessary; in the present situation . of the country, he could only answer by suggesting to him that which had been often before recommen ded, as well by individoals as by the Court itself, that he should propose to support s nne measure in Parliament for the reduction of the expenditure— (Hear, hear!)—and the abolition of uselcss and sine cure places. It was strange that the Honourable 114.- rore.t should say that the tax in question fell particu larly on persons of property i it fell with peculiar se verity on tradesmen, woo perhaps had no property at all; it kit with • equal severity on freehold pro perty, or on annuities of one or two years duration. It had been imposed, it was said, "to support a war for the protection of property; but why had not pro perty paid for its own protection—(loud crier of Hear, hear,)—instead of extorting a portion of the hard earned incomes of the labouring and trading classes i The Worthy Baronet (Sir William Curtis) was aware that in the 'place where they both resided, even the gentlemen of landed property had been most unjustly assessed. If such was the fact, what must have been the sufferings of the poor, whose low station deprived them of the means of making efficient remonstrances (hear !) ? He had received hundreds of letters since he had given notice of the motion he had made, con taining accounts of the most cruel and tyrannical acts that it was possible to conceive, which had been committed in the progress of levying this tax, against which be called on the Court to protest— (Hear, hear!) If such a body as the Common, Council—the Representatives of their fellow-citizens, did not stand up against this tax, would they not be unworthy of the confidence of their Constituents and the rank they held in public estimation ?—(ilear.)— It had been demanded, where was the money to be found ? the want of money should have been antici pated—they had declared in May last their expecta tions of being relieved from some of their burthens which pressed on them. Some measure should have been brought forward to meet the crisis; some re duction of expenditure to meet the anticipated re duction of the taxes ; yet not a word had been said in Parliament on the subject.— (Hear, hear).—We were to have peace with war taxes and war expend;. ture.—(Hear, hear).—Adam Smith, whom he had quoted in the Resolutions, had said there was no art which a Government sooner learnt than that of drain ing money from the pockets of their subjects. In this view, it would be a great object with any Go vernment to continue, if it were only one per cent. of this commodious tat. He was persuaded there was nothing fibre Oneself,' to be said to ensure the i l oa: nintous concurrence of the Court, If he were eked what tax could be stibltitutecl, he Cauhl reply, that to sugg est measures of finance was not hit bu t ii tt ss s unlesshe recell:ed the emoluments And lionocril of at Chancellor of the Exchequer ; it was not fair to call on him to propose new taxes, and he confessed that the Ministers seldom needed any assistance of that triad.—(4 laugh). . The Resolutions were agreed to by a most unirer. sal show of hands, without any oppnsition % A draught of the Petition to be presented to the House of Commons was read and agreed to, and it was ordered that it be presented by the Sheaf's, and that such Members of that Court as had seats in the Honse of Commons, be requested to support the prayer of the same. The Loan MAYOR laid before the Court a letter from Lieutenant-Genetal Stuart, stating his having lust the Resolution of this Court for his cnnd ac the battle of Maida, on the 4th of July, 18)6, ,And requesting another copy. His Lordship also laid before the Court, a letter frotn the Chairman of the Comthittee of the G.)ver nors of the London Hospital, iuclosing their that.its for the donation of £5OO. The Committee of City Lands pre--nr , :d ;1 itcr , ort for payment of artificers' bills, cv.e...rir,q A'loo t , :), which was read, agreed to, and o ick. fur execution. The Court agreei to the Report of the NaT;g ttiots Committee, f , r granting an in , rease of .£!UO per anntlm to the s 41,try of the Witer B Mr. George atnce, the City Surveyor, re4igoed that situation.—Adjourned. SPORTING lIVTELLIGSNCII. • BRADWELL COURSING CLUB, ESSEX. irrasr DAT, WZDN,SOILY, 27C. 7. Mr. Kortwriglit's bi b Puss, apt Mr. P. Wrig'et's bi b Undecided. Mr. Evans's bl d Fling, beat Mr. Vecheli'L. bl d Prorn:r.e. Sir Henry B. Dudley bl d Regent, b: at Mr. B. tit-.1),.'6 Mb Hop. Mr. Evans's bl b Frolic, apt Mr Korzwright's bl aid w 1 Em peror. ' Undecided. • Mr. Vechell's bl d Pluto, Lem Mr. P. Wrigltt's Id d Venture. Sir Henry B.Dudlty's bl d Young Mlle; beat Mr. E. Slime's bl d Hic. Mr. Kebble's bl b Nell, beat Mr. Kortvrright's yel d Crown Prince. Mr. Evans's dun b Fan, heat Mr. P. Wright's bib Viulante. Mr P. Wright's bl d Valiant, agst Mr. Vechell's bl b Pet. Un• decided. Mr. Evans's bl b Fan, beat Mr. Stane's red b Mr. P. Wright's bl and w b Vela, beat Mr. Kebble's bl d Cossack. • Mr. I'. Wright's hl and w b Violet, beat Mr. Parker's bl b St Ua. Mr. Parker's Hl d Comet, beat Mr. Koriwright's bl d &mood: Mr. B. Scene's bl b Hzc, beat Mr. J. Bygrave's bi and * b Nan. Mr. I'. Wright's bib Van, beat Mr. Kortwright's hi 'b toss: Mr. P. *right's bi and w b Vertu, sgst Mr. Parker's 1,14 Julia. Undecided, Mr. Parker's bl d Comet, brat Mr. Evans'. b! d Fan. Mr. B. Style's w b Hecuha beat Mr Kortwriyhcs bl r. Bite. .Mr. 1. Bygrave's bl d Whiskey. beat Mr. P. Wright's bl d Va:tan. Mr. Vechell's bl d Pluto, beat Mr. Stane's bid 1 - futlibras. • The Tetsworth annual Coursing Match took place on Friday, the Sttl of December, by tie gensti:meu of t.Txtsidge and Iver, who brought into the field *even brace or greyhounds, and ran twelve brace of hares without kl!ing one ! The Fiixton hares, on the wold of Yorksldee, being considered, almost to a proverb, the best in Elf oe tt as having two or th r ee mil e s to run to a cover , they have any chance of saving themselves, theoremic of that estate, the present Mr. DENISON,• of batbys, in Surrey, has given a large silver cup to be run for by all the greyhounds in the country, and Tuesday neat is the day appointed. Lord MAYNARD, who was once one cf the hardest riders after foiliGunds, has n w tr2conie a rgu s lir and established follower of greyhounds, and attends tne Coursing Meetings. His breed •f kr.y hounds cps* from Mr. CHAMBLRLAIN, 01 EzScl o WilDilAd a 1051 of StroalLal!. Mr.VERNON, of Weniworth . House, Yorkshire, wbo died lately abroad, was reckoned one of the brat bred men in England. When a boy he was Page to Ge rye the Second - . • Amongst many whimsicalities in which he indulged was bUying up every singularly-coloutesi horse.—The One he generally rode was spotted Lice a leopard. BOXINO.—After the Baler had beat Dutch Sam, on Thursday, at Moulsey Hurst, a scientific .battle w .s fought between Lida and Lances/Pr for twenty-five guineas. The former is a pupil of Racbmon4aud the latter is a pugilist of much note. Tins .was a combat in which all the requisites of fighting were displayed. Eales out-fought his adversary, and won cleverly. He has a.sort of Belcheronian knack, and is .one of the best men of the thy. Nine rounds ware fought in 18 minutes. So great was the public rage to behold th.- recent boxing match, between Krl9 wleparirthy and Dutch Saw,, that, it is said, the turnpike men of oneThi sne nigh roads, leading to the presumed place of combat, offered the parties a present of ten pounds sterling, provided they would fix on that spot; rati .nally be lieving that they should gain one hundred pgunds, by the increased number of carriages and horsemen that might pass in that direc t io n un d er suc h circumstances. Datinfr.LANit TlleaTfte.—Last night the Coui-dr of Ihe Wool fur Scandal was well periormed at ibis: Theatre. Wno uo ro %'s Sir Peter I eaz.'e wavinpg, respectable ; and ELLIaTON, as Juitith Sittfik-e, affoxded an admirable picture of tt.e sentimental Mr. RAIE, as Charles, was exceedingly animated : Mt. DowTON's Sir Oliver, and Mrs. DAvisoN Lady 1 wilfs also deserve the highest commendation. . COVENT GARDEN.—MisN O'NF.ILL, 145 t night, re. pealed the character of liabeda—no traits of I,er in., disposition now remain—and si.e sustained the cha• racter with her usual excellent:. Mr. HARIUS his made Miss O'NEILL 3 pr., :.t of diamonds to the value of J63(iii, to mark ins tctasc (if her eminent services to the Ti,e.ttre. _ . The cause of Miss WALS*I ris's actidea departure' being removed, by the convalescence of her mother, Miss \V. resumes her engagemesti• next week, at Drury-Lane Theatre. 1 1 . The Count de hay, met with a setions accitlect on Wednesday last, on Brixton Hill, ftont the I.urvt s in his curricle suddenly taking fright;:and the vehicle violently against a cut, by which one the animals was killed, and the Count was much injured. Thursday evening, between eight and n ne as Mr. "rowse,• of Fore-street, was p.tssing a1,,n 4 Houndsditch, be was surronnded by if gang of five or six fellows, who hustled and robbed bun or 1.4 s watca and two gold seals, with which th e ya wn . ran off, and made their escape. ra for 116 AU DP an- to the dr• scle, 3. Bo• ort, the 3 to ider that