The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-02-10 00:00:00

rWiti :11.. i Poeiel, he had same idea information had very recent.; ly been received .) , 1 the subject. avii MILTON proiented a Petition from the Latol-holders of. the East Riding of York, pray i•lq the House to consider the state of the Corn 1.1114. Mr. Alderman CONIBE presented the Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, against the renewal of the Property Tax. FEES OF COURTS. • Sir J. NEWPORT wished to know whether it was the intention of his Majesty's Government to loing, in a Bill to enable the Commissioners to en. quire into the Fees of the Courts of Justice, to exa mine peisntis upon ontli ? It had been customary for the Crown to empower Commissioners to exa mine periwig on oath ; but he was advised that such power could not legally be given without an Act of Pat liament. Mr. B. BillictisT said it was the custom for the Crown to authorise such examinations without an Act of Parliament. Sir J. NEWPORT said, he wan informed oaths to administered would be null and void. Was it then the intention of Ministers, for they might an swer in the absence of the Noble Secretary of State, to bri , gin a Bill on the subject ? Mr. B kTir LUST answered it was not. Sir J. N )1a gave notice that he should, on Teer.d.iy, , move leave for such a Bill. Mr. HORNER moved for the usual accounts of the number of Batik-notes in circulation from Ist blarrh, 1814, to Ist February, 1815 ; also of Tokens and stamped Dollars ; also the prices of Geld and Silver ; of the number of Licences granted to issue Promissory Notes, distinguishing those granted to new Banks; of the number of Promis sory Notes re-issued from March 1, 1814, to Fe truary 1, 1815 ; and of the number of Country BP Ilk 9.....-ord•rd. Mr. CROK hit presented an Account of the Ships Of War on the Lakes of Canada and Lake Chats. plain ; an Account of the vessels taken by the Ame ricans; also a Corre.pondence relative to the fri gates built, in order to be transported to the Lakes in frames. The titles of these papers being read, Mr. WHITBREAD said that the lion. Secretary (Mr. Croker) had on a former occasion denied that there was any correspondence relatite to the frame built frigates. Mr. (RORER said, that he had stated that there was no correspondence of the nature which the Hon. Gent. had mentioned. Mr. 11 lIIIBREAD said, if that was the case he h a d a wn bee n Rhotln a forgery. Ordered to lie on the table. Sir J. NEW FORT moved for an account of all VI its of tapir's ad respolultviduns and declaration is_ surd In the Courts of liines Bench, Common. Pleas, and Exchequer, in Leland, distinguishing those above isild below 201.—Ordered. . Mr. PONSONBY moved the second reading of the Bleaching Powder Repeal Bill. Nit.. BROWNE objected to this measure, because be thought it calculated to grant an undue preference to the Isish manufactures. :44 J. NEWPOR defended the BM, which pro posed aids to establish a just conformity with the at tit les of the Union, from which an accidental de. viation had taken place upon this subject, as it was confessed. in the course of the lost Session. Mr. 1101INF.R expressed a wish for the better consideration of ihis measure, before it made any far ti.er progress. For he remembered that upon some examination of the merit' of the question to which it referred, a case was made out to show that the rival manufacturers of other parts of the Unite:: Riti.,dom «oultl hate reason to complain of the en iettnent of a law of thiN nature. Therefore he thought the subject ought to be more deliberately ex- ami H e d . Mr. I'ONSONBY declared his willingness to nf ford a full opportunity for deliberation and enquiry, and with that view he pripese , l the pn , Aponemetit of the second reading of the 13111 until IVecliiesdav next. The preposition wns agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be printed. INY• liE AND BrzoNTr._ Mr. wurnotEAD, Advertin g to the converse. tine which took place at an early period of the Ses sion, with rcspect to the frigates sent out from this country with a view to be conveyed in fratt..s to Lake Ontario, observed that the Secretary of the Admi ralty denied on that occasion that either of these fri 'gates were ordered to be sold, in consequence, a s h e (Mr. W.) utelerstood, that their conve) mice to, or employment on the ultimate iihject of their destina• tion, was found impracticable or inexpedient. Yet, as he wns lammed, an nider for the sale of the Psyche had actually been sent out with the know ledge, of course, because in consequence of the •ignature of the Honourable Secretary, and in order put the !louse in possession of the fact of this inter, he moved for a copy of the letter (dated July !7, 1814) addressed by the Navy-Office to Commis. inner Hall, at Quebec, ordering the sale of the ' 3vehe. CRON Elt said, that he had en objection to m production of this paper, which, in fact, was a lore repetition of an Admiralty order included itt the ,pers before the House, and on that account alone Amitted, as were other papers of a similar nature. — With respect to what fell from him on a for:ll6'oc asion, if the llononrable Member wnuld do him the -honour of more accurately remembering his words, 41e would find that he ( \lr. ('.) only contradicted the statement of the Honourable Member, that both the frigates sent out were mdered to be sold, as inappli cable to their object, that statement being, in fact, unfounded, as one of these frigates, which was still ens the Navy List, had actually been carried up to the Lake for which it was originally inteuded. Mr. WiIITI4ILEAD declared he was in the recol lection of the House, that he understood the lion. Secretary to have denied that any order at all had been sent out with re%pect to the sale of either of the ships under consideration. A Gentleman sight contrive an easy egress from any statement through the distance of dates, but he certainly never under -afoot! the !iecretary to have made any distinc tiqo as to singu:ar or plural in the conversation al- Autled to. but to have applied his contradiction quite terms. Mr. CliOtalt observed, that the order sent oft Rig r ' to on 27 sin till Inc p:o .~ ~= :~ THE STATESMAN. 'vettli'ispect to the Fate of either of these frigate was (Fite 4epentling upon the decision of Sir James Yeo, whether they were found effective or not. All lie meant to contradict in the conversation alluded to, was the statement on which he understood the lion. Mover to have made, that neither of these frigates wns conveyed to the Lake. The motion was agreed to. FINANCE. Mr. TIERNEY requested some explanation from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as to the new plan of Finance, which he had announced his intention of bringing forward on Friday next, and also whe ther lie proposed to lay any papers on the table, and of e bat nature, illustrative of his object? He (Mr. T.) requested this information, in order that other Gentlemen might be afforded an opportunity of con sidering whether any, and what farther papers might be necessary to the House, with a view to the due understanding of the subject. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he was glad that the Right Honourable Gentle man had put this question, because it afforded him an opportunity of correcting the Right Honourable Gentleman's misapprehension of his object; for he had no intention of proposing any new plan of Fi nance, nor of entering into any general details that could require precious enquiry—nor of submitting any measure to bind the judgment of the House. Mr. TIERNEY understood the object of the Right Honourable Gentleman to be the proposition of some substitute for the Property Tax. If so, then the Right llon.•orable Gentleman must have in view some new plan of finance; some provision for the supply of the year, in lieu of the Property Tax. On a measure of such magnitude, he thought it ob viously necessary that the House should be furnished with some previous information as to the Right Hon. Gentleman's views, before it was called upon to decide. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUF:R de. dined to enter into any premature explanation of his object—[ Hear, hear! on the Ministerial side]—but he would repeat, that the measure which he had in view required no previous enquiry, but would merely eon. sist of a resolution, founded upon Etn ordinary state. ment, by which resolution, however, he did not at all propose to tie the judgment of the House. Mr. PONSONBY felt it impossible even to guess at the Right Honourable Gentleman's object, from what he had thought proper to state. He wished to know distinctly whether it was the intention of the Right Honourable Gentleman on Friday nest to en. ter into the general establishments of the country, or to state the probable espence of a permanent peace establishment 2 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER re plied, that lie had no intention of entering into any statement as to the peace establishment. Mr. TIERNEY wished to know something of the nature of the Ways and Means which the Right Honourable Gentleman proposed to bring forward, and what Vote of Supply these Ways end Means were meant to meet? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. la melded that his object did not appear intelligible to ' the Right Honourable Gentlemen. His view was simply this, that as he had no intention of proposing the continuance of the Property Tax, he meant to submit a Resolution to the House, that another meit i sure of financial supply was necessary. Mr. WHITBREAD thought it extraordinary that the Rig:it Honourable Gentleman should think the House necessarily obliged, under existing circum stances, to resolve upon providing a substitute for the Property Tax, which, according to law, must conclude at a certain period after the conclusion of the war. Such a tax should not, of course, require a substitute. But lie wished to know from the Right Honourable Gentleman when that arrival was to take place, which must necessarily gratify the Right Honourable Gentleman's natural anxiety to seal his mouth in that House, upon questions of general po. licy ; what time the Noble Lord (Castlereagh) was expected, and whether he was likely to be pre . sent on Friday next ? lie also desired to learn, whether the Right Honourable Gentleman intended l'on Friday to enter into any general statement of the finances of the year; whether he proposed to bring forward what was commonly called the Budgets ? Mr. BA RING conceived, that it was not too much to expect some explanation of the Right Ho ',filtrable Gentleman's views, in order that the House sbould have the means of forming an opinion before it was called upon to decide. it certainly appeared extraordinary to apply to the House for the adoption of any Resolution upon au important measure of finance, without affording it any oppor tunity of previous consideration respecting its merits. The Right Honourable Gentleman had, no doubt, said, that he did not propose on Friday to bring for. rd any permanent arrangement, but still it must be inconvenient and disagreeable to the House to be called upon in a hurry, and without any previous in. formation or enquiry, to decide as to a Irsaaaore of such consequence as the protisiOn of a substitute for the Property Tax. Mr. PONSONBY observed, that the usual course, on proposing any new measure of finance, was to state the necessity which called for it, and the ob jects to which its produce was to be applied. But the mode of proceeding announced by the Right Ho , nourable Gentleman was altogether new ; for he proposed to call upon the House to vote an impor tant financial resolution, without stating how or whether any financial supply was necessary—without stating what amount of naval or military force it was proposed to maintain—without stating what the ex pence of the future establishments of the country was likely to be. Such a course of proceeding lie had no hesitation in pronouncing as totally new and unprecedented, and he would appeal to those who were experienced in the practice of the House, whe ther they remembered any case whatever in which a Supply was voted without any explanation of the ob ject to which it was to be applied ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he required no farther confidence from the Hot N than was usually granted to persons in his siqr; t on—pear, hear! on the Ministerial aide)—and that if he could be found to propose any vote contrary to usual practice. he would abide by the issue. He concluded with repeating, that it was not meant to pledge the House to any financial mea. sure by the Resolution which he proposed to bring forward. -...-. A Petition was presented from Nottingham against the Property Tax.—Ordered to lie on the table. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice of a motion for Wednesday next, re specting the exclusive Trade of the South Sea Com. pany.—Adjourned till to-morrow. Mai is I isbon liambeirgh Holland Malta ........ . thee PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAI AT ONE ivcLoCh d;►ni `!iii 8 1.-Hg. Ann 16 5-16 j J per (em. tted. 6111 India 13,,nds li 16 p i per Cent. Cun,. 6411 Exchequer Hill, 6 3 p 4 per Cents. 6'21 11 0 ' m4l d 5 per Cent. Navy 9-11; Consols fur Ace. 64111 THE STATESMAN. LONDON: FRIDAY, FEBRUA ItY 10, IRI 5. A Dutch Mail arrived this forenoon. It brings some Brussels and Vienna intelligence, which, in the piesent dearth of Continental news (for we have no French Papers. to-day) is worthy of atten tion. The information from Vienna is not so late by a day (the 25th) as the accounts we had yester day ; yet it states circumstances of importance, which the letters of the 26th failed to notice. It was ge nerally affirmed, at the date of the letter which we quote, that the treaty of general pacification had been concluded, and that, in consequence of the principal points being thus settled, the Emperor of Rossia had determined not to wait the celebration of the birth-day of the Emperor of AUSTRIA. But how have affairs been settled—honourably and satisfactorily to all ? We fear not. The very reverse seems to be the case. It is added in the very article which brings this state tnent, that persons who hare catefolly watched the progress of the business of the negociations, and the manners of the negociating Powers, for the last fort. night, that the Russian and Prussian Governments are wholly at variance with the plans of Austria, England, and France ; and that they, therefore, do not credit the rumottr,of adjustment. It is observed that the Prussian troops are canton ed on one side of the Rhine, and in motion towards Cleves, Dusseldorff, and Wesel ou.the ether. Move. ments are also observed among the French troops at Metz, Charleville, &c. VIENNA, JAN. 25.—1 t is at this'moment generally affirmed, that the Treaty is concluded ; this hope is excited by his Majesty the Emperor of Russia having said, as it is asserted, that he shall not wait to celebrate the birth-day of the Emperor of Austria, as his presence here till that time would not be ne cessary. This is considered as a sign that the prin cipal points are decided. But persons who have carefully attended to the progress of the opera tions for the last fortnight think they have observed, that the measure of the Russian and Prussian Governments, are wholly at variance with the plans of Austria, England, and France, and they, therefore, do not credit this report. Of a journey of the King of Saxony to Vienna, or to an , other city of the Austrian States, no thought seems to have been entertained. But whatever may be the result of the negociations, and notwithstanding the mystery in which they are involved, we can place unbounded confidence in the great Statesmen who' direct them, and are assured that (thanks to the in fluence of Austria) they will end happily. BRUSSELS, Fee. 4.—The changes in the position of the Prussian troops are not yet well decided, and we are still unable to explain them. The grand head-quarters ore on the right bank of the Rhine, and those of the several corps on the left, at Treves, Luxemburg, Liege, Dusseldorff, and :Wesel. It is observed that the artillery, the ckielry, and the miltary equipages and baggage go towards Cleves Dusseldorff, and Wesel ; a great part of the cavalry has taken the same route, but the infantry seems merely to have changed its cantonments. Within a few days movements have been observed among tho French troops at Metz. Thionville, Sarre-Louis, Sedan, and Charleville ; for the rest all is perfectly quiet on the French and Belgian frontiers. We learn from Calais, that orders have been given for packet-boats and light vessels to boat all times in readiness to convey couriers. Several couriers lattily passed through Calais within 36 hours. GcNo.t, JAN. 21.—Letters from Palermo say,— " Far from arming to attack Murat, we only take the necessary precautions to secure ourselves from an invasion by this conqueror, who persists in calling himself King of the Two Sicilies, and who, to get the march of Ancona, pretends to enforce, at Con gress, his claims upon our islnd. The Court of Palermo has wholly confided its interests to the Powers who are united to it by the ties of blood or by treaties." 'Our Readers will perceire by our Parliamentary Report, the sort of figure which Miniiters cut in the House last night. They did not venture to propose an Ar!jou rnment, though they never stood more in need of some such screen for their imbecility. The inde pendent Representatives of the people were at their post, and it was with pleasure we observed the rery first opportunity embraced to call attention to the financial state of the country, and of requiring from those men who would give us to understand that' Europe owed its salvation to them (.il►ation in• deed!)—some information of what is now transat ing at Vienna—some assurance that the British M nister, or the Cabinet from which he was sent, 111,1 not disgraced the country by being accessary to o,„ flagrant breaches of plighted faith, the s and the utter disregard to the feelings and right s , f independent states, which seem to characterise th e proceedings of the Congress. Upon this point, s e important to the honour, and of course, the interests of this great enapire, the mouths of Ministers ; , ere sealed with as pertinacious a silence, or as kit k conviction of ignorance as before. It was in rat e i that it was represented it might he well to do I with those unfavourable impressions, and that pailifel and injurious anxiety which the want or, authentic information, and the prevalence of all sort of ru . 'flours had created, and left to prey so long on the ' public mind—they said not, with that regard which is ever due to public feeling, especially when it is deeply interested in the cause of justice, liberty, and right, "the darling charge which you wished so m ut t, to see preserved, and to the protection of which we have asked you to contribute so moth, is safe —w e have succeeded in keeping it froth violation in the midst of Imperial ravishers—we have held the ensi2s of justice, of human, and of national right, N i s oversthe abyss of universal convulsion and the heads of tyrants, and caused it be respreted; and see what rays of additional glory it casts on the name of Eng. land, to whoie voice the assembled Sovereigns of Europe bow, and confess that to her they owe their crowns and their character for magnanimity."—They could not say this, though never was a Ministry blest with such opportunities of exalting the British name, ' and of benefiting the human race. 'Twas silence all upon the Treasury Bench,—except that the ULA N . cELLon of the EXCHEQUER, upon• whom .all the responsibility seems to have devolved, and who has alone the fortitude to speak out, declared " once for all," that lie should wait for the arrival of Lard CASTLEREAGH, before he should give any informs. !float to the Home on the subject of the - Oongress; consequently, we may fairly infer, that Ministers at home are as little acquainted with the results of that assembly, to the support of which and its establish. ments we have been contributing so liberally, as Ira ourselves are. As to the financial measures now to .Iticessary, and in agitation, the same hesitation, uncertainty, and unwillingness to give.information,was exhibited. The presentation of a Petition on the Property Tax, gave Mr. Postsoany an oppOrtuelty of putting a question as tit the renewal of that odious impost.--- This produced a discussion, in which Mr: VANSIT. mitt, antigen , with a feeling and a contusion that showed the peculiar nature of his situation, that he did not meat, le propose the continence-of this on.. popular measure. He stated, that, an the 17th inst. he meant to submit a financial plan; and that, " io the event of its adoption,'! he should not propose a re newal of the Property Tax. This answer being ob. jectedto, as unsatisfactory, and a direct answer to the question being pressed, the Minister replied, that j the Property Tax formed no part of his new financial plan ;• butte distinct and specific promise could not be obtained from him, that, in the event of the rejec. 1 tion of his plan, he would not resort to the renewal iof the Tax. Ile annexed as an additional proviso to ' its abolition, the condition of the non-ratification of the AmericanTreaty,—so that here we are to be made to depend still more upon the good will of the Ame ricans ! The nature of the new plan could not be gleaned. An increase upon the Assessed Taxes, and the subtraction of a large sum from the Sinking Fund, have been both alluded to as forming the new arrangement. The Minister also gave notice of a motion for a Committee on Monday, upon the Bank Restriction Act. lie added, in answer to a question, that it was not his intention to propose the discontinuance of the Restriction, but he declined all further explanation.. The subject of the financial state of the country is now become so extremely interesting, and our in terne' affairs are now so critical, that we need not refer to the report of the conversation on this sub ject as important, desultory as it was. The acknome ledgments and altered conduct of Ministers elks.* the effect of that firm and constitutional stand which 1 the people have made against an unjust and impoliac measure, and which they ought ever to make when ever it is evident that their rights, their properties, and their privileges are in danger of violation. We much err, if some of the measures to be had recourse to as substitutes for the Property Tex, (for re form and retrenchment, we apprehend, form no pelt of the new plan), are not to the full as objectionable as I the resource from which they ha►e been driven. It is understood that one part of the forth-cooing plan is to treble the Assessed Taxes, a measure whieft - inust fall with annihilating weialit on the middling class.a of society. Now mark the consequences of Minis• terial folly, and how the past is made to embitter the present and the future. Without referring to the immense sum which will he required for the service et the year, enormous as are our establishments of all sorts,—without taking into the calculation the Six's - Millions of .outstandiug Debt; the " sanding•:rp" Bills from the Peninsula ; the Portuguese and Belgic" Armies in our pay—it is obvious, that even had the Income Tax continued, some new and most impor. rant measure of finance mast have been necessary to meet the demand. Taking - the Assessed Taxes at eight millions hich is infinite'. beyond their pro. duce), does the CHANCELLOR of Ho Excemqvut se+ lON t. deal . pro t his r surf bed It, Kt cf M lse he •• its othr re per , la I . ll' oth tic u. tna he ' Tb ch no is flu ut Ott it 4 we of 6e qE the on ice art hh ce ads an hat pI rig. of to ley th et If far!, sts all • ep the has nrd Da* s. as; at hat fp sh. era 1 1 71 I Y, 1 ed. f a ;hat he on.. Ist. the re. ob. • to hat cial not rec- wal • to of ade ne- be and ing tele f a the D the all try in- not üb- nee ich en- ies, We irse re- t eat; .t io It it. , u4t lift° the the P all aly rip ( gill the lor. to at S'Vql oa• 1 •,..