The National Register. — London, England, 1816-03-11 00:00:00

PROPERTY TAX. ----...-- Wednesday a most numerous said highly respectable meeting of the Merchants, Bankers, and Ti Act s of the City of London, was hi Id in the Egsptian-hall at the Mansion•koc..o, ptmsuaut to requisition, for the purpose of Ci , n,idering the p 1 topriely of lwiitiomiug Parliament for a repeal of the Income-tax. The Hall was crowded thus's:Jima. The I Aird Mayor, haying taken the chair, said, that when he came into office he had stated, that he would take a share in no party boat ter whatever; that he was determined to ill: all in der emien t .Slag istrate ; and he had acted 11p to that text. He was still determined to pursue that line in cur - Meet. But for himself, he thought he had a right to declare it as his opinion, that this was the most odious and oppressive tax that ever was laid on a nation. (Hear, hear.) kit could state to them a Case which WOlllll astonish them all ; but as he saw that Air. Grew fel had brunght the subject before Parliament. he would detail it to hint. lie wo u ld content himself with sayin, that he had himself paid 2,,i001. Property-tax for a house in the country, against which all extent had been sent down ; although it was proved, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, that that rt house had It. t , during that year, 00,01101. He then read iise requisition for calling the meeting. furs G. Hibbert said, that to the Requisition %%Melt had .1 , 1 been read, his name was early affixed ; and in the course of Ito little he should say on a subject of so ungracious a nature, it would be neressal y for him to allude to the individual then ad dressing them Lt 1798, there was a very general opinion, especially among the Nierchants of London, that the war would lie arduous and ex pesssis e; and yet that the pretensions of the enemy were so arrogant that they ought not to be listened to ; that large s of money would be necessary for the public exagency ; and in order to avoid the increase of our funded debt, the money should be raised by other means than by nay of loan ; and he (Mr. H.) while Sir C. Glyn tilled the risk chair. in that Hall, proposed and Carried certain resolutions, which, he had no doubt, were the forerunnets at the Income tax. Indepenilant of that meeting, he was a!de to state, that at the meetings of the merchants privately held before it, the measure Alai adopted was considered as an uncommonly b o ld measure only to be resorted to under strong necessity, nod merely tor the purpose of carrying on the war; and if now, in the midst of his tellow-eitizens, he should afore other resolu tions, declaring that this tax ought to cease, so far fo'otn his being inconsistent, he should consider himself as acting the most consistent part in the world ; his motive being now as then --the public welfare. Ile could safely . assure them, that what was done in 1190 (on the subject he had alluded 101 with Nli nisters, he Wad no hand in ; and he could now Ins' Isis hand on his heart, and say. that in what be was how proposing to them, he had no comsectiou with ally party whatever. But he thought it his duty to call fur the unanimous sense of that Hall that this tax ought to be abolished on our return to a state of i/CACC. The tax had continued, with little alteration, limit HMI to this time. In the result it might truly be said; that this tax had de throned Buonaparte ; yet it must be confessed to have bottle bard on those who had that very object in view. When he said it was an wiroustitutional measure, he was nit to be un derstood as ate: g that any thing done by the three branches oh' the Legislatore was unconstitutional ; lint, on looking back to the history of our finance, it would be toned to be of an un constitutional spirit, not partaking of that voluntary species of taxation to a hid' commerce and trade generally submitted. lit the failure of their opening their ledgers to the Commis sioners, they subjected themselves to any arbitrary assessment. That it was oppressive and unequal, it would be idle Mt him to attempt to prose, for it was • well Looms it treated alike the property gained by a daily exertion ofindustry or genius with absolute capital. Such a measure must he arbitrary. It was hard to tax a man w Ito, depending on his hands or his head, might he deprived of his property by sickness. There were now men bankrupts, and wanting bread for thesusel yes and families, who might have been in prbsperioy had they been able to re tain the contributions they had paid to this tax. As to its exactions and inquisitorial oppression, he might appeal to every one who heard him from the combined difficulties aris ing from this tax, the commissioners did not make a backward step. In cases that had come under his knowledge, he would acquit the officers; for he had seen in them every disposition to accommodate, as fir as they thought it consistent with their duty. But ought the rights and clearest interests of a free people to depend on the constinction an officer might put an an Act of Parliament? lie had not heard one of these men say, that he had a right to charge lOW. on every 10001. bill trans. nsi tied from any of our colonies to a merehant in the city. That was said in the Nlinister's parlour, who told him he must not exact it. But it was a hard ease that they must go to a Minis ter s parlour for protection from such exactions. We were now at peace and ae ought to rid ourselves of such a grievous tax. He had heard that the tax was to be modified, so as not to enact certain classes; and that it was only asked to pay the cs.ruses of the war. lint was it worth while to convulse the country front one cud to the other fur the suns of 10 or 12 Italian's? Although the Resolutions he should propose were confined to this tax, yet their Representatives ought to watch with jealousy that extravagant expenditure which alone ran render it necessary to have recourse to this tax in time of peace. Could any one think that the deti nee of this country ought to depend MI a large standing army ? The British soldier had been accustomed to tight abroad for his father's cottage, anxiously and ardently longing to return to it. But separate him from that cottage, and shut him up in barracks, when called on to defend his rountrv, the arm might be there, but he was afraid the spirit would he gout.. 1t henever we blasted to a standing army flor our defence, we might be assured we were about to be governed by soldiers. Petitions were pour ing in flo u t all pasts of the Empire against this tax, to which ke hoped tam Itinesentatives, and even Ilse Ministers, would not be deaf. It was a measure which ought never to be re newed, except in eases of the greatest necessity.—He then snoved the first Resolution. Mr. Turner said, the Resolutions were so temperate, and at the same time so firm, that, he trusted, s ken embodied in the form of a Petition, they would meet from Parliament the at. tentioo they merited. It had been said, that no pledge had been given that this tax should cease with the war; that was a quibble that would have disgraced the meaae.t peteirb ggel Applause )—But, fulling from the tips of a British ielieei•ter, • must have been heard with astoni -lenient equalled .ml. by dignation. The battle lead Leven fought —the victory won—and tlee apprehemied tyranny had been de itreiyed therefore the pledge s of all the Ministers concerned with the. tax ought to be redeemed ; namely, that it should cease with the war. At this time of dal; it wits too Mild, to tell thelli, that an igum am impatience' existed against thi No country had ever suLmitted to taxation, he neigh? ntol•e' diem fully then this. But the time of danger was gone, un,i tiei• tax sta., only to be submitted to iu thee. of the greatest difficulty and public elm f - genes'. Roatcroft apposed the fourth Desolation, contending • THE NATIONAL REGISTER, that uo pleige had been given by Min,ste.a for the disci:Wino. anee of the iuroperty tax at the eiosc of the war. Sir W. Curtis said, he hoped to be ath'.e to convince bl ow thy Friend or las error. As a Men.ber Pailioneat, h. declared it to be hi , decided belief that this tax was sat St• t intended an a war measure; nod that, whenever the war shotud cease, tins• was to cease also. words "and Ito tollol .. were in the Acts; aad he was sorry that wortliy and good num, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had let fall that the word "and no longer" had been untittcd in the last Act—a declara• tioa unworthy of him. Mr. Alderman Heygate opposed the tax; and declared, that neither he, nor an .•f those who bud voted %val. hint Lit Address of Cunirttul•ition on the pears would have ihne so, had they tint entertaincd a confident hope that this tax woule he abolished. Sir W.Ciirtis and Sir J. Shaw promised to support the Petition with all their power; and the fatter pledged himself to divide the House ma every oppor , unit! ag.iiu•t the tax.—Adjourned. MIDDLESEX MEETING. On Tuesday the Freeholders of Mi.ltliesex met, at Hackney, In petition Parliament against the rtnenal of the Property tax ; Air. slicrit. Bell in the chair. Mr. Bentley said, that, unless an effectual appeal was made to the Home of Commoes, we 5110111(1 be subjected, in a time of p eace , to no les s it sum than ettelentl.. per day. (War.) When i.e considered the exertions made by the United Kinedont to the late prolonged diffieulties in which we hail b:eei ei,gnged, he did not thick it was to be endured, that the nation should, with all its external ditiieellies removed, be subjected to the payment of such enormous and unjust impositiolv. '1 he coun try had been deceived by Ministers, whu, in the speech made by them for the Prince Regent, had annomiced the country to he in a state of prosperity, when the Met was WIWI wise. Brit the truth was. they had taken their vices of the state of the country from peelers and parNene. Let them take a View of Spitaltields and its impoverished thousands of inhabitants. Lei them go to Guildhall, list %viten Emperors and Kings are feast ing, bat te. view the crowded assembly of bankrupts and their creditors. Let HUM go and see the wretched list of mendi cants recei‘ Me their pittance from the parish. Let them go 11110 the streets of the inettopitlis and see them crowded with famishilig and nnempeived individuals. Let them go into the country too, and see the miteminted farms, the unoccupied lands, and the firmer not able to pay hi rent. This was not an exaggerated statement, nor too highly coloured ;t picot. e aml it emitted as if the Governmeet were th-t ermined to adopt the system of ship discipline, being del entent' to kelt the eountry at the pumps moil there was even 110 chance of escaping the wreck. He trusted that (tie present meeting would unite. woe every whet part of the community, in r( sist log the adoption of the Income Tax, and thereby prevent the eonstemences Clint most ines itably followeelle concluded by expressing his fervent wish, that the people would never cease their coestitillional esertieus, until Government were com pelled to reduce every unnecessary pensiou and entice, and thereby preclude the necessity of any tresh taxes whale.% er.— Mr. Bentley then read a string of Resolutions, which were agreed to he put seriatim. Sir J. Gibbon rose; but having expressed himself in oppo sition to the former speaker, was not permitted to proceed. Mr. J. Borden was of opinion, that toe Property Tax was inimical to every principle of the Constittitioe. The Govern ment, he said, could not exist, if the income Tax, in time of peace, were to remain established. Fire and water were non 11101.1.' opposite in their yu.uitirs than the nature ()Isom a tax, compared with the good old Conetitution of the colliery. inquisitorial principle upon which it was fininded was in die et contradiction to every principle of the Como it (Ilion. He con tended, that it was the duty of the Government, instead of violating its pledge, or saddling the imuntry with such an odi ous lax, in tianiss the pi:icemen who were receiving salaries, for which they did nothing. The Rev. Mr. Draper spoke warmly against the tax. 51r. Williams thought the tax an equal one, and the Resolu tion both intemperate and imprudent. He was, however, compelled to retire by strong marks of disapprobation. Mr. Redhead endeavoured to obtain a hearing, but in vein. Mr. slellish admitted that it was not the fist time he had been placed in the unpleasant situation of (Wheelie , with his constituent-. a Hisses, and nr, dr!) it was easy, Ii said, for Gentlemen to make loud assertions, but it was not so easy to support them ; and as he conceived the Resolutions were not framed as they eltould be, he would recommend the Free holders nut to sign the Petition. (Hisses.) Air. Byte; said, the tax in imestion was demanded only in time of necessity. A year :dine- it was abandoned, the Tyrant having been put down—the Tynnit once more returned, it was asked as a 110011 1111* one year mare. This was granted. Hence was re-tored, lied again the Minister has the audacity to pro pose the tax. He should, however, say, that if be had but one ote, and there were two questions to be supported, he would sooner vote for the hatalli tax in question, than for a standing army. The latter was a system that must lead to the subver siou of liberty in the country. After some few observations from Mr. Bentley in explana tion, the Resolutions were put, end carried by a spew of hands, only Sir John Gibbon and two others being against them. A Pitilion was the,' ;Wit-C(1 to, when a 1110ti011 Was nettle that the Members for the County should net (only present, but support the Petition. '1 hanks were voted to the Sheriffs and Mr. P.yng. Wednesday week scone ill-disposed persons threw Mr.Metcalf, inspedor of LIreNSCN at Skipton, over one or the bridges in that town into the water; but providentially he was rescued without material injury. It is said, that the women attached to the English army in France have received orders to embark and return to this country. Seventeen hundred, besides the proportionate num ber of children, ate said to have pas: ed through Calais within live mantlis. The tliaitit of KOTZEIWE, announce(' in some late foreign journals is contradicted in the Brussels papers. He is slated to be in (Arellent health. The Paris papers mention the death of Barthelemy, the celebrated engineer and mechanist, who, in visiting the Garden of Plants, appraaelted too near the living a ' Is. .‘bout days ago, 11. fm•.lieiriny went to see the ~ t tipentions e!.•;)ha sit in that menagerie, aud, as many persons do. ()tiered son.e.lting for him to car ; the elephant, thinking lie wished only to tease struck him , 11 severe a Mow with his trunk that he tore.•.) his aiill upon the palisade which sun...mots the lodge. lie taken to the house of the Marchioness of itoehegattile, a. Nanterre; and, through the wound not being attended to in time, all the subsequent elertioos made to save bite ptuved in efiectual. MARCH 11. 411.11. 11111TBRIALIS DILL. Probate of the Will of the Tate Samuel Whitbread, Esq. Laving been renounced by the Executors, Letters of Administration with the Will, and eleven Codiials an , flexed, were granted L 1 the Prerogative Court, in Doe. tors' Commons, ou the sth instant, to William Henry Whitbread, Esq. the Slit and residnary Legatee. The personal estate was sworn under eOO,OOOl. and paid a duty of 2,7001. The will is dated sth Oct. 1810, and the last Codocil 21st June, 1815. The Executors appointed are Robert Sangster, Esq. William Wilshire, Esq. and Launcelot Holland, Esq. We arc informed that the minority of the Administrator, • (which has but just expired), is the cause of the delay that has occurred in registering the Will. The following arc its leading features. No minutes being allowed, we can only furnish the following yard. ciders front memory : To Lady Elisabeth Whitbread 900/. per annum (in addition to the sum of fdiuf. per annum by marriage settkment, and Lres.th per annum by bum!) to make tap the stars of 45410/.per annum for life , and also the use of all furniture, plate, china, Ate. in Dover-street. By virtue of a poser reserved to bim by marriage settlement, of be queathing 30,000/. to bildren or child rot succeeding to the estates thereby settled, he gives the same equally to his yotmger son, Samuel C. W. and his two daughters, Elizabeth W. and Emma Laura W. with certain provisions to survivors, in case any die under Qt. Samuel. C. hus also an annuity of sod/. and a sum of 5,000/. is directed to be invosted in the names of executors, to be paid to him only in ease of his no: in. herding rennin estates, in which he hus a contingent truant, by the will de Mr. Howard. The presentation to sonic benefiece on the estate of Soudtill cum Old Warden is also secured to Samuel Chalice, in ease of his entering into holy orders; by a codicil there is elm left to him a further emit of of 1,000 guinnis, and the selection of three hone's. To the daughters 500!. per anteun each. on attaining 19. All free. hold and personal casts (excepting the breweries, etc. of which the terms of partnership nay he completeel or not, It discretion of the exe cutors, and the estate at Southill, which ia entailed) is to be eold, end form is general fund for the payment oflegaeht, annulate., bonds, Ac. end the residue is bequeathed to Win. Henry Whitbread, the eldest son. A house in town is direct el to be taken for Lady Elizabeth and her children, the rent of which is not to exceed .Ihol. per annum ; and it is recommended, that the house and grounds et Southall be constantly kept in l roper °nice for their occasional residence, till his eldest son arrives at 21--tee./. per ennnni is elleweil fn. the education of his eldest son till he should go abreest, and then further advances at the discretion of the ex:emote. By his first codicil on the back of his with a;.feattitly in her own :Laud, the testator deem es that instead attic annuity mentiunedln his will to Ns wife, only . nett a sum is to be given her as will make up her annue,j of 2,euel. per annum, but by a subee quent codicil he bequeaths her, in audition to his former bequests, I,taanl. per annum. 'rie; bequeeti to clerks, servants, domestics, bee are muntrous, and brae strong marks of a humane and generous mind. Mr. Abraham Harman, Woes.; Mr. Ciarkeon, the younger, Med.; several stewards and bailiffs, goo!. each, and annuities, lee widen are continued to the wives of some and the o:tighten of others, in caee of sueviving then.. The ttaemsat gmelett of John Thoniiieon is directed to be kept in repair for hint dunng his life, and a plonsion is made for his imitate. neeee, f horse has been accustomed to ride, and if the : ii,:urtcr to be shut; Also of two eervente to wait upon • Item and after hie deaf. :...ey hare e,eti an annuity of 231. Out. t °did! It •.• We) toe, nearly in these words: Fearing I have omitted in lay a.:l and ieemer co •:eils, to mention her mune, I hereby beqeath to my cook, h legacy of 10/. per annum, and an annuity of sal. fur her life; if I . ire left her snore than this, 1 desire the greater sum may stand; if less, I ....sire that may be onivelled, and this legacy paid her. Binge Sc. desired to be given to all friends whom Lady Elizabeth may name, but partieuLrly toselerke. LADY PENRVN's EXTRAORDINARY WILL. The following ere the numerous bequests of that benevolent character;viz.— To Mrs. Fu..y, with other valuables, 10,0001.—Benjamin Wyatt. Esq. I,oool.—lunss Greenfield. Esry. 1,(4101.—To every 61: rvan t one ysae's wages, and id. for reenud mourning, exclusive of the thllow ing Leg—ants—'l'o John Main. butler, 4001.—Mis. Lowli, house ku:per, 3001.—Ann Lough, Lady's own servant, her wardrobe, with an annul: v of tont per annum fur life, and an annuity to her for each of her Ladyship's three pug dogs during their lives, 401. each, 9001. Elirrtheth Rent, 90a—Mary Ilurris,3ol—Margaret Golding,3ool. Charles James, thotnum, ?oil—George 3loore, ditto, suol.—lames( Leastead, under butler, lad.—William Gatlitfc, coachman, WI John Capper, groom, srg. with the care of seven horses and seven dogs, for eiwli horse 431. and each dog V5l. per annum during their lires.—.ltunts Wilkinson, groom, 31oL.—Witlissiu Nicholls, gardener, 51144. and for his eldest daughter tool.—Nlary Bowen, a girl lac - Lady s.ip brought up, vol. per annum for life--George Goody, her lomat coachman. itsg. Should any one be induced to smile at the animal le gacies, their attention should be recalled to the following list of years servive of some of her Ladyship's domestics, a document atihrding, so meritorious an example to snr yiyien heads of us must place her memory far beyond the reach of ridicule : John Capper. groom, 40 years : John Mann, butler, Q.l: John coachman, 20; George :Moore, tbotioan, 19: Charles, ditto, .tames Wilkinson, groomll. 16; Margaret Lough. housekocper, :m; Mary Harris:ditto, :10; ALEGoltling, Loudon housekeeper, , 29: Eliza beth Kent, secretary, 14; Ann Lough, Lady's maid, 13; William gardener, Iri. _ _ The above 12 individuals, amounting. to 267 years service ; to which should be added, that - Mrs. Fury had been cer Ladyship's companion more than 50 years. Thursday, two Jews were baptised into the Christian faith, at the chapel of Lewis Way, Esq. at Stanstcd, in Hampshire, who is one of the Vim-Presidents for the Society fur promoting Christian Knowledge among the Jews. • • At the Meeting of the County of Hertford on Satur day se'unifwht the Hon. W. Lamb made a most impres sive speech, which was duly telt and applauded; parti cularly a part of it, in which he, noticed the conduct of Queen Anne, who after the passing of the Revenue Bill in 1702, thus spoke to the House of Connnons:— "GENTLEMEN OF TOE 110FSE OF COMMON:.-1 return you my kind and hearty thank, fur continuing; to me of my life, the same re% tnue you had g-:rued to the I ing. I will take care it w;:all 1w ma. wed to the beet advantage; and while my sultievtv remain under the burthen of such great tax .s. I will straitcn inyvtlf in my own expences, rather than not contribute all I can to th e ir vase and relief, with kiwi regard to the support of the honour and dignity of the ('rown. It is prolx.ble, the revenue may tall very short of what It formerly produccd; how, ver, I will give direction v that !Immo il. be applied to the public service in this y..er„ out of th e memo: you have SU uounituotuly given ate."—Oct: Parham Hilt.)