The National Register. — London, England, 1819-06-27 00:00:00

'@attP/ ationali toiL.l . l trr+ MIIIIIIMI ea sing, einuititution anb No. 1193.—V0L. 1I I.] VoMica' llctrozpect. Tut new taxes seem to go down with more dif ficulty, and to be less easy of digestion than we be lieve his Majesty's Ministers were prepared to expect. Our own opinion can only be one more repeated, liy condemning in toto the principle itself of peace taxation. We are therefore not likely to be satis fied with either the time or manner in which that principle is now acted on. But we cannot, nt the same time, in comnion justice, ihrbear stating, that we think the administration most unfairly dealt with, by those upon whose uniform and zealous co operation they had an unquestioned ground to reckon. Their own partisans and friends are not only crying out, but have been putting themselves at the very bead and front of the battle arrayed against them. Now that those, who have, front the very outset, never failed to lift up their voice•against that fa.al and ruinous system which has brought us to the dilemma we are in, should feel indignant at being called upon fir sacrifices which no act of theirs has contributed to render necessary, but on the con trary, whose warnings have Leen -slighted, whose advice has Leen contemned, and themselves, made the object of ohliquy and reproach, for the very op position they have given, is fair and natural ; but where, let us ask, is the right or justice of complaint from those who have hallooed on, for five and twenty years, a most profligate and wanton expenditure, having harangued at Pitt Clubs upon the sublime conceptions and daring courage of a Minister whom 113 financial difficulties ever could appal, who added above six hundred millions to our debt, and aug mented our taxes raore than sere')-fold ; who when a tax was not sufficiently productive actually - set it up to sale as a freehold inheritance, and when all the precious metals of Europe would hare been ina dequate to supply his demands, by the magic of his \vand, could realize all the fabled ctories of the philosophers stone, and give to a scrap of paper ssuietl by a trading company all the character and currency of real gold.; who after having stunned our ears and astonished our senses by encomiums upon the strength, and wealth, and resources of this treat nation, and laughed at the idle fears and croakings uf discontented Whigs, arc now seen " turning their backs upon thentselees," and their darling system, and meanly murmuring at thepayment of a reckoning, which they not only never objected to being run up, but aided, supported, and encouraged whilst it was contracted. We have seen a prodigal spendthrift sil;ander away his fortune, and carelessly toss up firr stake of his last shilling. 'But in this there was at least consistency. There was what the an ,:cats called the ePeency of a character uniformly sipported. But we really know not to have ever heard any thing so truly paltry, so truly unworthy of that high-flown lore of our country which we had been taught to believe distinguished every " genuine son of Pitt," as their recent opposition to Taxes, which we arc told have been rendered ipevitably necessary, by the very measures they have ,all along hauled as the only system that could se cure to us the blessings so repeatedly . promised by t!.2 " Heaven-born Mini:ter" We had thought that the patriotism of a Pittitc contained nothing selfish, nothing interested, and we are quite sure that their Munitions master left them on this point a toast aitairablc lc:atm—for he cared so little for 1 SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1819• the goods of this life, whether they belonged to him self or others, that he even left it to his grateful country to discharge hie debts, and to defray the expences of his funeral. Besides this, how often have we heard from the mouths of' these very gen tlemen who are now almost ia arms against the lawful rules, that the pressure of so tremendont a conflict as that from 1 tog ' we have just emerged, 4 must not be expected moved at once ; that an agitated ocean does n . tautly subside into a calm ; and lastly, that q vernment which has conducted us to so splendid a teriniaation of our struggles, and planted Old England on so proud a pinnacle of glory, is at least entitled to our confi dence, that they will guide the vessel of the State in peace with no less ability and regard to her best interests than they hare done in war. These sea -1 dissents are the burden of every political meeting i amongst these would-be patriots. They arc repeated again and again with as much assurance as if they were truths incontrovertible us the axioms of Euclid. Way, they readily consented to give to the Chancel lor of the Exchequer, every farthing of the three millions he asked for, and it was not till the items of taxation came to be discussed that the slightest objection was urged. " Now," says one '' I will not object to any tax on selfish grounds, but as member for nn Agricultural County, I cannot approve a tax • on barley." " I" says a second, "am a *titter, and can as lit le approve a tux on mai:, and mere especially if it is to attach to that already in hand." " And I," cries out still more lustily a third, "ant a manufactu rer of crapes and bombazines, and .can confidently assure you that any tax upon foreign wool ititnpo— litie, uuwise, and unfavourublo to our agriculture at hqtne ; and .1 can prove this to, the satisfaction of every individual in the trade, by a reference to the quantity of bread and mutton consumed by both journeymen and masters, in manufacturing the raid imported weed; and the diminished quantity which will be necessary for their subsistence if this article be subjected to the enormous impost of sixpence a pound." Now, would it not have been better in all these deep-reasoning gentlemen, if they could neither bring themselves to petition against or oppose the whole system of Peace-taxation, at least to have addressed the Le gislature upon other grounds, and to have appealed to 'the softer passions of Mr. Vansittart, in some such terms as these,—" Sir, we come not before you to impede the wheels of Government or to object to any sacrifices which the good people of England may be called upon to make : we know that money must be had, see know that so wise and pure and virtuous an administration will use it us they ought : all we ask is, that as small a portion as.peattible ntay Kill upon our own shoulders, and to this indulgence our unvarying mid distinguished loyalty may surely prefix some claim. 'Have we not supported you . both with our souls and bodies during the progress. of -the war, and does not a spirit of high martial enthusiasm still throb within us? Have we not np plauded the suspension acts which placed our liber ties in such unexceptionable keeping, and praised the energy and activity of your spies? 'Have we not declared the late vote to the i)uke of' York to be alecemit, and right, and just ? Ilave we not almost adored that wisclem nntl prudent care for our glo rious Constitution which has excluded front their civil rights five millions of our fellow-subjects for believing in Transubstantiation, and has nobly Lritic E opened wide the door of admitsiou to all who be lieve in 'waling ? If services like these ere not re warded, who will hereafter be found to render them with equal real and similar devotion ? Malt ;in,.l. Wool ore the hollowed ground we have chosen challenge tl.r. our owe ; there have we raiscA r r temples, which eve:i the thigh Pricat himself cannf.t enter without committing profanation." Son-..t such remonstrance as this we amnia have thought most natural stud mast beekruing,.and would rcr tainly have bust accorded liotb with pasigvents the prolyibility of future contingencies. But, come to graver argument, let us is 74 that thingkwil/ at length open the eyes of those who have so lung been blind. We fully and sincerely syntri this.: in the evils n•hich these new taxes bring v•ith them. But those who petition or complain ought to be aware haw totally impossible it is, in our present exhaustf.xl state, to Lek fur any iucreuse of Itev:.to: from other minxes than either the first r.cce:sa: of life, or tie more direct proem of taking t': , money,•in its own shape, from our pockets, and th noshing eun'be so ridiculously ' as to vote ..y absurd millions in the gross, and then shuffle and marm.:r at the manner in whi..:ll t'..ey are to be raised. \Ve have often been tattot2d wi . ..11 the charre of findin , .; fault with every thing without pror.ing any 5.:11e..1e of our own. Now let us only as'.: whit possible substitute except . a Ptoperty•tax, could been found on this occasion, by these remonstrant themselves; and even a . Property-tax would rot have answered the object of his Majesty's Minister: ; as tlicy have expressly stated, that should hostility break out, they menn to lave that likeirisr; and that- it is. only now reserved " as a broad and mac. -ice shield," whiabis to bz proof against every ag glession, and resist the thund.:rix.lts of War. Ilaw !owl that storm may reach us, .we will not ventr.-e ••• to prcd;et, but tte limit safely and undeniably assert, that nn measure which Parliament could have adopted, would have had so direct c tendency to arcc lerate its rogrosio the terrible sanction it has just girth to t'ais increase of .taxation. War dues not more certainly begat Poverty, than a rich Eschequer prodt , ...ts War, and the only cffectual che,el upon the ambition, the folly, and lhe pride of Princes, the ditlmlty of providimig the means upon whi.h those vices Iced. The Anniversary Festival of the Catholic Cha ritable Institutions in Somers Town was numerously and respectably attended at the Freemason's Taverii on Thunday. The Duke of Sussex was unavoi.:• ably preven•ed from pr2sitling at dinner, but in tun - vourse of the evening arrivA, ,just as the Rev. Dr. Lindsay had concluded an impressive speech in re comaimulation of those meritorious F.stablishments ; in the eourse of whiA Ile bestowed a deserved encomium on the humane and charitabl.: Mrs. Prv, a lady whom he described us devoting. her wh;lc time 'to penetrating with blesAigs the abodes of wreteliedit.!ss. The - health of the Duks having been. given, his Royal lis-hncss rettunn't ' • thanks, and stroagly recommended the FAtablisli metaicsto the hutniate considern!ion of the charitable, a nd concluded by giving " The Ladies, who were in the gallery, and lirmonrecl the Meeting with their presence ;" the toast was drank with throe times three. The .floyal Chairman then nnnounred that the subscriptions of the evening among the ladies present were 281. and at the table 3871. ilis Heyal Highness then gave " The health of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the little Princess," tshit-li was received with cheers ; soon after wt,iela • the ladies retired, and the eamrany enjoyed theta. selves to a late lieu . • ~~ ~*~„~ ,~ 1.„.. , •44-.., : , Rf4W, ~~