The National Register. — London, England, 1816-03-18 00:00:00

MARCH Is. Regent was different from the reign of George ill. —( Mar, was moit ready to allow the splendid services' of the guards wherever they had been engaged, but they had rrau.: from :woo. Reduce them to 3000 a:min ; and he had na doubt whenever they were again wanted they would lie {mold to rise, and their services would again hr as splendid as they had been. But the Noble Lord said, it was impossible to reduce these tramps, because the burthen in pensions would lie greater than the expence of keeping them up. This was a most singular mode of proceeding, that nutting dawn o u r establishment would be more expensive than keeping it up.— (Wore, krar.).—Then the Noble Lou d said, what shall we do with the fine horses belonging to the guar d+? They were, in deed, fine hoc:R.3; but surely they would sell for something. The Noble Lord said, it was impossible to do without these household troops for the service of the metropolis. No doubt, If 10,000 of these sumps were voted, they would he disposed of. The bank guard might be donbied, so might the soldiers at. tending on the theatres, the opera house, the routs of the no. bility, and other places of ain't itment, w here the military now supplied the place of the civil power; and lie (Mr. Tierney) did not mean to say they did nut conduct themselves properly. These trays, the favourite troops of the Prince Regent, which lined both sides of this Fait and the streets whenever his Royal Richness went abroad I 111111 w ho, if the Inclinations of those who so 11111Cil admired them were complied with, he ( Mr. I'.) believed would also line the walls of that House, must not be diminished in number.—(llear, hear.)—Others, besides the Noble Lord and the Regent, admired these troops. The Com mander in Chief also admired them. lie (Mr. T.) had the highest respect for his Royal Highness, and no man could be snore ready than he was to acknowledge the claims which that thus; riot's person bad on the gratitude of the country fur the services he had rendered the public in his situation of Com mander in Chief; yet no Mall WAS free front prejudice; and it was not at all surprising that his Royal Highness, who had passed his lite in the midst of military men, and in militaly pursuits, should be partial to the military. Mr. Tierney said, be could nit but consider this as a great constitutional ques tion, as well as one of economy, and he trusted the House would treat It all such. Mr. VANSITTART contended that the number of trov pro posed to be kept np was not more numerous than necessary, and urged the iinpoliey of discharging this excellent and vete ran force, and entailing an expellee on the country to raise another force very inferior In its nature. The House then divided—Fur reducing the Masaold Troops and the Guard. one halt; I:l3—ii6aiust it, 210—Ma jority S 2. Lord PALMFRSTON moved that 3334;921. be voted for the service of the Cavalry and Waggon Train of Great Britain fur the year ISt6. Mr. TtERNEV moved that the Chairman should report pro gress, and ask leave to sit again. The House divided—For the Resolution,l26 t against it, C 2 --Majority, 61. The Resolution was then agreed to. The Chairman then reported prouresx, anal asked leave to art ;tom —Adjourned at half-past One o'clock. TUESDAY, bIADED 12. Petitions were presented aiming the Property-tax, from Ca._ tie Douglas, the County of Suricy, Chertsey, Brighton, Col eboater, Henley-on-Thames, Berwick, and one from the Inn keepers of Ludlow, against the additional Licence Duty. '1 he Southwark Bridge Bill was passed. • Mr. J. Sstrrit presented a Petition from the Town of Not tingham a.;;tinst the Property•tax. The Petitioners complain ed of the remission of a large debt due from Austria, on ac tome, as it was :Wedged. that A is was distressed; wh e n, h i fact, the distresses of this country were imperative. The eipeech of the Prince Regent talked of economy ; and the very first step towards that object wits, an intimation from Mi nisters of a great excess in the Civil List. General M vrilEw observed, that this tax had been the sub ject of disci' -lion for fifteen days, and lie was glad to find that not one of his Irish Friends had spoken in favour ut the tax, with the etception of one or two of the Irish :tlinistem. With all the opposition made against the tat, lie still found that Ali misters were determined to cram the tax low n the throats of the English people. The Hon, General panegyrised the con dnet of the Irish Members, condemned the uet of Union, Hod stated it as his opinion, that if the act was not repealed, the Empire would be shaken to its centre; fur it was impossible they could, nay, they should not be tyrannized over. Sit mil lions of person, would submit to such condnet. With re spect to the tax, he was certain his Hon. Countrymen would not vote the it. 'they would not lend their hands to such dirty w o rk.—( or, Hear.) Col. Woon presented a Petition from the town of Hay, in Brecknockshire, az dust the property tat. The man stated, that his opinion being known as favourable to the tax, already a gentleman of great interest in that neighbour hood had begun a vet y active canvass against him for the next general el. mica'. Ile defended the vote w hich be gave for as increased Military Establishment, on the :;round of it being an intermediate measure. He observed, that the repeal of the Alalt tux was one which would give the lower classes great Lord STANtev presented a Petition from the town of Man chestm , against the Property-tat. The Noble Lord recom mended the practice of ccouomy in that quarter from whence alone it aught to originate, in order to set a good &wimple to the people. He hoped that we 141101141 hear no more of build ing, thatched cuttaecs, which might have become England in 1!4 host daYst nor or tho-e profusions, which would rather become a Pt rsian Strap in the midst of his splendour, than a British Monarch in these distressed times.—( Hear, low.) Mr. PiiiLLIP% alluded to the distressed situation ut the com mercial etasses, and was all-aid the limners of the tax took their kleas or prosperity from their own classj namely, having Go vernment offices, with additional salaries. Every thing else was depreciated in price waiels afiCeted the manufacturer. But Ministers at such a time, instead of lowering the salaries r the officers under them, hail in fact (though ree 1111 l mending, ith an unblushing front, economy) gone on in prolusion, add iag 277,9001. to the Civil List. One of his objections to the Income 'Fax was, that it gave Ministers an opportunity of sub sidising foreign powers, and that it encouraged a lavish expen diture. Mr. VAssirrxrur said, an lion. Gentleman had talked df a large excess in the Civil List of ~ •77 001. If that Hon. Gentlentiin had looked at the accounts of the Civil List, the only excess was in the diplomatic eitaidisliments, pat tly arising • fivia the number or Ministers employed, in consequence of the glorious termination of the war. There had Imo: no excess in the Royal Household. So that the whole of the excess arose from diplomatic arrangements, and not from any branch ut the royal splendour being inereased. lie had stated this tax to be imposed only for the purpose of is hiding tip the war ex peaces, abel shanld have no objection to insert these words in the prea.nble of the Act.—(T ear, Afar.) Mr, lla„Kostax wished to 'wow bow tits sum of 40,0001 TM NATIONAL RIMTSTER. vuttil last year, fur paying the arrears of the Cisil List, bad been applied. Mr. VC...1 - MART said, it had been applied to the purpose for which it hail been granted; and that all arrears were paid up to the sth of April last. Lord Fiu.kestoa observed, that, at any rate there was, even in these times of economy, an arrear on the Cis it List, in one year of 2i7,0001. With respect to tie' Income-tax, the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchcquct) had said, the tax would not affect the manufacturers; butt au Hon. Baronet (Sir It. had stud it would affect them very ma terially, and he was inclined to take the opinion of the Hun. Baronet in preference to that of the Right lion. Gentleman. 'rite It:ght Hon. Gentleman had said, the attempt to resist the renewal of the property-tax was a cony:lacy amongst the rich, who (lid pay it, against flue poor, who did dot pay flue tax. This was language which the Noble Lord highly deprecated us tend• Fug to set the rich and poor at variance. Lord lil NN man defended the tax, and contended, that the ex. planations so frequently given by the Chancellor of the Exche quer to observations of` gentlemen, not made in the faireat way, were so many proofs of his sincerity . . Mr. Fon i.Es opposed the tax. Mr. GIIENFEI.I. opposed the tax in any shape, anal said, the imposition of it on the public was peculiarly hard, as there was at this time a sum of 12,000,0001. Unclaimed Dividends, in the hands of the Bank of England. One question he wished to ask, anal that was, wlietiter, if the Hight lion. Gentleman should carry this odious tax auto effect, he flattered himself with fin ing any respectable persons among the body of Magistrates who would assist him in carrying it into execution. N.troLtox BUONAPARTE. Lord CAST LE - It - LGII --- r;(, pursua n t to notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill Gtr the b‘lter securing the person of Napoleon Buonaparte. The Noble Lord entered into a review of the situations and characters which Buonaparte bad tilled :Ind born• ; namely, of Emperor of France, mid afterwards of Elba, both of which he bad forfeited. The Noble Lord said, he would not now cuter into a particular detail on those heads, but put the present case on the necessity of securing the per son of Boonaparte, to secure the future peace of Europe. Having stated this necessity, he wished now to propose to firing in a Bill to provide for the better securing the person of Buonaparte; and to instruct those who had the custody cf him in what manner they were to treat him; and here he should propose to describe him us a prisoner of war; and iu this cha racter the law of nations would instruct thoye who hail the care of him how he was to be treated; at the sante time taking care that his treatment should be as kind and liberal as circum stances would allow. The Noble Lord concluded by moving for leave to bring in two Bills ; one to secure the person of Buonaparte ; the other to regulate the intercourse with St. 11 demi. Mr. Itnoucwast did not intend to oppose the bringing in the present bill, as now was not the time for doing so. He should reserve any observations he had to snake till he saw the ar rangement contained in the Noble Lord's Bill. He was one of those who thought that whether fluonaparie was considered as a sovereign prince, or as a native of France and prisoner of war not claimed by that Power, our Government had a right to detain I without any specific Act of Parliament. He trusted, however, he would be treated with all the lenity which circumstances would allow. The time might come when it would be possible to put an end to his imprisonment, but t h at would be a subject for future consideration. Lord NUGENT wished to know whether Buonaparte was to be treated as a sovereign prince, or as prisoner of war. Lord ( . I.IMLIMAGU &aid, as a prisoner; but with reTect and lenity. Mr. Ott rwart. hoped no amendment to that effect would be moved his HOU. Fpicud. Lideed , he was much astonished at hearing him intimate any such intention. Mr. Hiroo 0rr1,4 bad not declared any intention to move such an amendment; his Hon. Friend bad entirely misunderstood him. All lie had said was, that a time might anis* when the sate of Europe would he 1111111 as would render the farther detention of this person unnecessarv. Gen. M.ttuisw wi,lied to ask the Noble Lord, whether there was any intention on the part of this Government to keep Gen. Her; rand and the other officers who were prisoners with numiapartv. He could not discover any right we. hail to keep these gallant men prisoners of war, now we were at ueace w ith all the world. TIIC GENERM. thonglit the Hill sußfrirutiy ex plained itself. It vas entitled a Hill Ow better securint: the person of Napolcon Huonaparte, and alluded to no other person. Mr. BENNETT wished to know from the No:Jle Lord, if there was any intention of detaining these persons, either as priseners of war or otherwise. Lord CI,TILEREAGH !Mid, it was rot In the contemplation of Govermnent to keep them. 'flie Noble lA)rcts motion wrts then rut, and leave given to bring in Bills accordingly.— *sfiljouructl at nine o'clock. WrimEsuA , :,.llAncitp. Several I'etitious against the l'ioperty fax and the proposed Military Establishtuent were presented, and urdered to lie un the table. Mr. Robinson proposed Resolutions for equalizing the Ditties on Good,, . n and es ported from and to America, iu lititish and Auteriont vessels. Agreed to. Mr. Gout it pre.ented a Petition front the owners and occn. piers of Land in thy County of Sethilk against the Property Tax. He ss A.; under the tweessity deciariog, though that der In ratiott g..te him pain, that he clitkrtil from the Petitioners respecting the proptiety of eontioning thi. Tax, which, with all its sins upon its head, he considered as the best, under all the circumstances of the times. CALL OF THE HOUSE. On Mr. W. Keeiie's name bring• caned over, it was found that the Ilan. 211111 Venerable )teinhcr was absent; the ques tiou far his brine committed to the custody of the Sedestut at Arias was then put. Mr. 1t .WINNE Sucgested that he should be excused as be in: the father of the House. The SPEAKER asked if the Hon. Member would move that Mr. Keene be excie , cd in that character.—( luagils.) Mr. WY NNE then moved, that the Hon. Mtmber should be excused on account et his age. -Ordered. Several other hlembers, who were absent, were ordered into emaolly. Mr. Tien re ev me% Ca, that a copy of the Order in Council, dated the I June, 1;45, clireetiml that the salaries of the Se cretary and Under Secretary of the Admiralty should be per manent, dui ing peace and war, !Await' be laid betbre tlieHuute. —Ordered. . . Mr. litt(tionmw presented a Petition svinst the Property Tax ; and observed, it was searcely to In credited, that Mist the flume was urging the reduction of the clerks and others in public offices, and the setting aside of two of the Lords of the Admiralty, his Mkjioty's Mulistcm were employed iu increas in?, the salaries of some of the officers, at least in the Adm;ratty Department. The Hon. Member then proceeded to repeat his formi•r observations on the conduct of his Majesty's Ministers in thus employing themselves in a mmientation of salaries whilst they had economy and retrenchment in their months ; and %%Mist they were w ily urging the ne.•essities of the state as a reason for thrusting upon the people that odious impost the Proport% Tax. lie trusted that the Hoare of Commons %%mild at leiketii awake to a due retard of its own character, and force the Noble Lord and his colleagues to abandon that system of wasteful extravagance of expenditure. Sir G. WanttEnnve asked, if the House was to snspend its judgment till the Documents ..iroul,l h•• before the Home, they would then find that all which had been done, had been under the advice and superintendence of the lievisional Board of the Admiralty Department; and he had no doubt but the House would be satit•ticd with what had been done. Mr. Ttantk ev said, the ReviAional Board of Admiralty had been established by Lord St. Vincent, for the purpose of re-. form • but the same Board, it now appeared, constituted a 1)04 intended to overturn all Mr. BAR,ao thought all ideas of economy were thrown aside, and the whole business at present going on appeared to he that of increasing and augmenting salaries. Lord CACTLEREAGP. only asked, as his Hon. Frierd hod done, that the I ionse should, tier a shot t time, suspend its judg ment. 1t the principle upon which this anis mice had taken place was cornet, there was nothing in the situation of the country, at present, more than there was formerly, which ren dered it improper to do so. Mr. Ponsonay trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman's expla nation world be more fortunate than that be had given of Ida sentiments as they existed at that time on the subject of the. Property Tax. The Noble Lord had talked of clamour raised • by certain persons in and out of th House. Was this a nay in which the Noble Lord might to speak of the Petitions of the People; and the unanimous, decided, declared opinion of the independent part of the House of Commons? The clamour (Jr any existed) was raised by the Noble Lord, and his friends and adherents, against the voice of the people, as declared in the numberless Petitions which had been presented 'o the House. •Lord CASTLEREA:II thought that he had a right to complain of the misrepresentations of the Right Hon. Gentleman, iu imputing to him, that in what be had said on clamour within the walls of the House he had included the Petitioners to the House, or the Merchants and Bunkers of London, and the country. He would be hold to say, that no man in the House had a greater re spect for the opinion of the most humble in di% Wont in the count y, who might petition the House, than he had. Sir J. NEWPORT would leave it to the Petitioners to form their own opinion on the sentiments of the Noble Lord toward• them. Ihe would only refer them to the Noble Lord's own words,' ho had accused them of au ignorant impstieuce of taxatiou. Mr. V. F,TzoFRAT.O denied, that his Noble Friend had used the words mentionail in the way imputed to him ; neither The matinee nor the tom' in which they were uttered could have bei it fairly construed as intended to insult any, the most hum ble individual.—( //tar, heorjectin ho!!, sides of the Horse.) Mr. CHOKER entered into a history of the circumstances which led to the appointment of the Board of Revision, at the Admiralty, under Lord Spencer, and stated that the Board had come to a resolution that the salary of the Secretary should, I. times of peace, be three-fourths what it was in time of war. This regulation was to have been exteaded to all other offices, but, on enquiry, it was found impracticable to extend it to any; and in Act it never was applied to any except to the office which he held ; under these eireumstances, the Prince Regent, in Council, considering, it unjust to the individual to make this office an exception to all the others, especially as it was an office of very considerable labour, made the Order in Council. which lie understood the Hun. Member for Taunton had moved for, placing the Secretary t.f the Admiralty in the same situation which the other officers of the Admiralty, Navy, and Victualling Offices were. Me. Foanas considered this as the most inexpedient time winch conld be choseu, tbr increasing the salaries trimly public Officer, unless tinder circmustancet of the most absolute neces sity. 1 iis lion. Friend had given notice of a motion relativ eto the salaries of ptiblic Officers. He would suggest to him a paper, which, it' he would move for, would prove most useful to him in the conduct M . the motion—that wus, for a return of the 'lumber of persona who had given notice of tlo-ir intention' to resign, iu conaequeuce of the reatoratiou of the peace.—(4 taveh.) After a fen words from Mr. Locanaar, Mr. BoutoriAli said, it was nut to be expected that he should answer all the arguments which had been brought against him. The time would arrive w hen the Noble Load would be put upon his trial, and when recrimination would nut atail Lim. Till that time, he would leave the Noble Lord to prepare for his defcace. Lord I:oat:sigma took occasion to state a grievous case re specting the Property •tax. A Right Hon. (kin. had denouue. totted the tax. as affecting the rich, and not the pour ; but he should show, that it affected not the Lich, but the poor,or rather that description of persons just abut a the class of paupers.—A Clergyman, of inthlemiaheit character, lately died, without hav ing the imam' of making provision fur his family. Ile lett two daughters, welt educated, but destitute of support ; their caae attiacted the attention of sumo respectable Gentlemen in the neighbourhood of their late father's residence, ur n ) they sub acribed a sum sufficient to purchase an 'annuity of 401. Wlra this annuity came to be paid, the agent deducted 41. for the Property-tax; and, on' a 'monstrance being made by their friends, the young Lathes were referred for redress to the Com. mitsioners of the Tax Office; the mate of their case was tbr warded accordingly, and it My tour mouths at tile Office un answered. At letieth a circular letter was addressed to the Comity Commissioner, Under the Act, 'dating, that their an nuity was not within the awaiting of ac Act." The Noble Lord observed, that here was a plain refutation of the Right Hoe. Gentlema n ) assertion, that the tax would not press tie persons having incomes under a!d. per ammin. These Ladies bad been deluded of their property; um' ft to them was a ae rious loss. He might be told of nioihticatious; but the public would get no good front them—the allegations against it, aa being unjust and inquisitorial, were correct: for if you guard ed against the injustice, you then made it inquisitorial. Mr. VAT:et/TART admitted the case just stated by the Noble Lord ought to have been relieved ; but without enquiry into the circumstances, he could not say any thing further. The Petition was ordered to lie un the table. ORDN INCE ESTIMATES. Lord PALMLUSTON in a Committee moved, that a snre of 333 . 49 21. lie. 6d. be granted for the pay and equipment o( the Dragoon Guards and the Royal NVaggon Train. Mr. W. WYNNE said, he objected to a cordon of troops being kept round a large extent of country, to catch smugglers; be cause' fornlefli titc soldiers were tally calied in to assist the •