The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-06-23 00:00:00

- TRA coußr. Yesterday Morning between tight and nineet'clock, his MAJESTY and the Duke of CAMBRIDGE left indsor for London, and• on their way stopped at Kew a considerable time, and arrived at St..Tames's Palace about half past twelve. At one o'clock the Levee commenced, and was attended by their Royal Highnesses the. I)ukes of YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Prince WI i.i.IAM of GLOUCESTER, the LORD CHAN. CELLOR, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER., the SECRETARIES of STATE, the SECRETARY at WAR, the JUDGE MARTIAL, and other Officers of State; and there were present, nukes—.Roxhitrgh and Gordon. Marquises--Circello, Connrallis, Month?, and S. , lleburv. Earls—Widow, Macclesfield, Eihngham, Honrartl, Risesivn, Ilarringtott, Chatham, Westmorland, Darlington, Moira, Mho-,n, Mount Norris, Radnor, sandwich, Fitzwiliiam, Cidchester, mitt Waltlegraee. Vi4.ZOUII4I-14t0p61111, Falmouth, Castlereagh, Newark, and !home. I..orkla--P.-lham, Howe, Cathcart, Auckland, Ilthart Brid [ port, Carysfon, Grenville, Aylmer, G. Thy Ant-, Ratis:ock, C . Sp:ircer, Walseigham, and tlawkesis Irv. Bishops—Winchester, St. David's, Exeter, awl Bristol. Amaseathars--Torkish, liavarii t , Neapoli:air, NVirtember giaat, Russian, Ponuguez-, Sardinian, Swedish, atid Spanish, Barons—Nolliken and Lewzie Cotterell, W. Pepprell, H B. Neale, W. ‘fedowes, W. Ridley, C. M. Pole, C. Rich, C. Morgan, W. Dolben, and I'. Popham. Generals--.Pigot, Needham, Leslie, Wynyard, Fox, Rains fonh, Calvert, Elsng, and Stuart. Colonels--Calvert, Dyke, Bagg, T. Dyke, Covert, Fine, Zoltan. Captains--Carysfort, Essington, Graham, Egerton, B ad fool, Kun, and Blackburn. Maori roue...Aso, Lerma, Addington, C. Yorke, Mande. title, Tierney, T. Grenville, Mithuqn, Elliott, Penn, Wick ham, Haves Duncomise, Knox., W. Wstane„ Montague, Blickbuco, Butchburgh, Fawkrier, Smith, punter, Keen, Staniftwth, Ltaon, Ciaufurd, and Mickle• waite The following were among the presentations to bis Majesty : The Prince William of Gloticester, on his return from Ha _ The Rev. Dr Purge's, one of dig prebends of Dltr.)41111, had *Li honour to kiss his Ntaleety's hand on his appointment to At vacant Bishopric of St. David's. • The Rev. Dr. Either hail a bite honour on his appointment to tire vacant Bishopric of Exeter. gir IVdfuut Meadows, by Lord Newark, nu his return tram Ireland. 4.:aptain Kerne, by his f r Mr. Kcire, on his obtaining a • Cnomiesioa in the 10th Regiment Stir Harry &nerd Neale, on his return from Italy by Lord Bridport. Mr. Sranirotb, by Fall Firraili Ina, on his havin; the Iso- B“er so preseiit Address to h 6 MSesty from Hull. The Bishop of BrLetnl, by his father,- the Earl of Chictneter, on his being appointed on: of the Canons of Windsor. His Lordship had the honour tp kiss his 'Majesty's haiti on the occasion. Earl Wr.b.Nrave, by Lord Itaastrick, on his corning of age wad to his title. Sir Home Popham, on his return from the Red Seas. Mr. sits s, atlas return from his Embassy at the Hagen. 114 r. Crawl:al, on his return from his Embassy,at Rutterdam. Mr. Lcgoit by Lord Cathcart. M. Maottlev . a, he th 2 Earl of Macclesfield. M les letliwakt, by tl.e Nlarq nis Cornwallis. Mr. Mandy's-11, by Lord rStopford. Cslorsiel Dyke, ors lus appoint.nent to the West Kent Regiment urMilitia. - Govensor Van Barenbtq, on his return from b.:in; Governor of Berbice. The Levee closed moon after two o'clock, when his MAJESTY held a Privy Council, which•sat till about three o'clock. After which the Virtemburg Minister was introduced to his hla.lEssv, in his Clo set, by Sir STEPHEN COTTERELL, Master of the Ceremonies, and delivered his Credentials, and was most graciously received. • Admiral Sir 'CitA oats PoLE had a private audience of his MAJESTY, and delivered 'a book containing a Plan .of new •Art.uigernenta for the • Navy. . - Sir Hower PobHast had a conference 'With his . •MAJEsr von the Subjeft of his late command. _ . Mr: LiiirOm fiad a conference with his I%IAI Esry on his late Embassy to the Hague. • • Mr. CRawroan had a conference on the business be has been upon at Rotterdam. Sir CHARLEs Moccasriaici before his MAJESTY several papers relative to a Court Martial. His MAJESTY gave private audiences to the CHANCELLOR of the Excnctoca, and SECRETARIES of STATE. About half-past four his MAJESTY left the Palace far Kew to dinner. Mr. TIERNEY appeared at Court yesterday powdered ) his servants were also powdered. It was not the intention of Mr. TIERNEY to have been at the Levee yesterday, but about 12 o'clock a Messenger arrived at his house in Hertford -street, requesting his attendance. Earl MOIRA went from the Levee with Mr. TIERNEY in his carriage. This day her MAJESTY will hold a Drrawinrr Room. Dr. BURGESS, thenew Bishop of St. David's, was at school with the CHANCELLOR of the Excstrtor.s. Dr. FISHER, the new Bishop of Exeter, was • no minated by his MAJESTY a short time after the death of the late gishop. • To-morrow is the day fixed for the Nuptials of the Duke of 13EDiofto and Lady GeoaGi Go a- Pori. Miss PoNsoN Irv, a very beautiful girl, daughter of Mr. GtoRGE PoNsoN av, is to be married imme diately to the Hon. Mr. ParTTIE, brother of Lord DONALLY: 'the Marquis of Huttxtx v, it is said, will stortly lead to the altar of Hymen, the beautiful and accomplished Lady SARAH FANC. Lord HAWKESBUILY left town yesterday For a few days for Coombe. Sir Wit, LI AIS Hs arise or E and fatuity left town yesterday for Hurley Lodge, near Winchester. Lord and Lady NEWARK arrived in town yester day from Thorsby Park, Notts. We are happy to state that.his Lordship is much recovered from his late indisposition. The Duchess of GORDOg on Tuestlay evening, after the Rout at her house at Whitehall, entertained a selea parry of friends with an elegant supper. The Dowager Countess of Dartmoor H set off yesterday from her house in St. Jamees-squate, for the season, to her beautiful villa at Blackheath. Patrice ESrERHATY, who is now making a tour of England, has several invitations to the seats of Noble Families. His first visit is to be at Arundel Castle, in Sussex, the seat of the Doke of No itrol.K. A match of Phattom.tic dill is soon to take place, between those celebrated tows witOr, Lord CRAN. LEY and Sir H. Povrott : they are to contend which r.antteise tell miles first, four in hind. If any horse I,reakit iota a canter, the driver must turn his ear -1 ,a4e round, or be declared the loser. 4.. ~ `.'_""''r"'"T" f fNCOME A nchiterotts . and respectable Me etiag isiotyytter . - day held at the London Tavern, tislitipsgate-streas of the Merchitnti; gaiikers, and others, disapproving of the Income Tar, An order tOdevise the niost ef fectual means for pteventing its being passed into a Law. About two o'clock, Ttstorn Bnowe, Esq. seas unanimously Called to the Chair., Mr. TRAY eits opened the business. He said he had thought it his duty to convene this meeting, in. consequence of the declaration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of his intention to revive that odious Tax, called the Income Tax, against which they had protested more than 12 months ago.-- The Chancellor of the Exthequer, impressed with their strong chjections against the Bill, thought proper to meet their wishes,—He repealed the Bill ; a measure that spread universal sa tisfeetion throughout the country.----This was unnecessary fur him to prove, since even the Commissioners of the Income Tax, many of whom he was acquainted with, hiel Assured him, that if the Tax had rot been repealed, they would have re signed their offices, which were so unpleasant to them, and so repugnant to their feelings of the li berty which distinguished the British Nation, and constituted the pride and glory of the country. He did not think such a Tax would again have been re sorted to; he had given the Chancellor of the Ex cheques credit for being a man of more inclement; he knew he was a man full of the best intentions, and he therefore could not suppose he would have attempted to revive a tax which would have the et fed of rendering the war, at present he trusted the most popular one the country was ever engaged in, extremely unpopular. It was a tax which would unnerve and unbrace the energies of the country. The moment he found the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had announced his intention, he wrote to Mr. Vansittart, urging him to state his objections ; but unhappily the measure was in such a state of progression, that as he expeCted no answer, so he received Ilene. Nut discouraged, he had on Satur day last written a long letter to the Chancellor cf the Exchequer, in which he stated all the objec tions that occurred to him against the tax. This morning he had received a letter from Mr. Hob house, informing 'him. he had received from the Chancellor of the Exchequer an important commu nication touching the Income Tax. This he should lay before the Meeting; but previous to his doing so, he thought it expedient they should enter their protest against this unconsti tet...iel tax, in orrler that it might make a lasting implession on the country. He hoped the Resolutions he intended to submit would he circuleted from John O'Groat's House to the Land's Led in Curr.wall. He would not detain, them furtlieis but would read'the thoughts he had committed to paper, and thee propose them as dis tireS Resolutions. He had at first framed these Re , )lutions in tip form of a Petition, but Mr. Smith, one of the Members of Nom ich, had infieined him. that a Petition against a Money Bill would certainly be rejected, evea thotigh it should come from the City of Lore:on in irs corporate capacity. The ge neral scope of his Resolutions was to this effect : " That in the present critical jualute of public affairs, they felt the greatest repugeance to object ing to ens , tax imposed bY the - legislature, as they were convinced of the indispensible necessity they lay underto contribUte largely towards the expellees of war in which the country was engaged ; at the same time they thought it their duty publicly to express their opinion respeetng the intended Tax .on Income : First, as to its principle, that it was founded in error, inasmuch as the abilities of per . soit'to pay the tat ought not to be measured by their income, but by the claims on it. One man was" possessed of 2001. year, with a large family; ' another had ".?.,0001. a year, without any family at all. Would any one say that it was a fair mode of taxation, to make each of these pay 5 per cent. on his income. One mart derived his income from land, another from trade, another from salary, ano ther from short annuities ;—was it fair that ;ill these should be equally taxed ? Another objection arose from the difficulty ef collecting the tax. Commis. sioners might be appointed, but no man could as certain the exact amount of every persons income ; it would consequently operate as a tax on honesty. The next objedion was, that it created a temptation to evasion, and tended to dissolve the great moral obligations by which society were bovhd together. But the most weighty objecting was, the manner of colleStieg the tax. The summary jurisdiction of a Board of Commissioners, furnished with unconsti tutional powers, were degrading to the country, and hostile to the feelings. For these, and for many other obvious reasons, he wished the Meeting to de clare their disapprobation of the Tax on Income, as one which no modification whatever could reetify, and that the passing it into a law would be both unjust and impolitic." Such was the tenor of the Resolutions he meant to submit to their considera tion, alteration, or explanation. He now proposed to put the meeting in possession of the letter from Mr. Hobbouse, on the part of the Minister. The Chairman read the letter as follows: " Dear Sir. Duie•stred, t'l June 1803. "The Chncellor of the Exchequer communicated to me, this evening, the contents of your letter, in which you have referred hirn.to me as being well acquainted with you. I trust it is unnecessary for me to say, that I spoke of you in those high terms of respeCt, to which, from my own knoWledge, you are so well entitled. Your general character for good sense is not unknown to Mr. Addington. At his express request I have to convey to you his seati ments, in which I concur. He begs you to susprAd your judgment, as to the proposed tax on trade, and other property, in support of the just wat in which, through the insolence and restless ambition of Bo naparte, the country is unfortunately engaged ; and I hope you will second the request, and unite with him in suggesting to the Meeting to be called, that clauses are intended to be proposed in the Commit tee, which possibly may invalidate the *hole of the objes9ions against the measure. " I remain, Sec." Mr. TaAvles then stated, it was his intention first to move, if' that the Thanin of` the Meeting should be given to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the attention he had promised to pay to the Interests of the Commercial Part of the Community, in psoing Clauses in which he held out to them the ping Idea the( the Profits on Trade would be exempted 'from the Tax." The neat resolution was, "than as Waietlantiai Men they felt deep ly inietiisted itt I l iaaeltlt bf he' ent Mk t lied *mild chearfully submit to the ,Reyeernt' pf other Taint not fraught with such I;:onstitu itioea),Objeetions as the lax 4in Income e• a pre deck.' to state the substance of the resolution read by Mr. Travers. TICe next was a resolution of Thanks to Mr. Hobhon3e• and the last, "that cer tain Gentlemen sh ou ld be requested to. attend on the Re-commitment of the Bill, when the Clauses were brought up." A long debate took place upon a point of form, whether the vote of thanks to Mr. Addington should precede the other resolutions. It seemed to be the prevailing opinion, that the vote of thanks should be general, and refer merely to his politeness in attend iner to the letter of Mr. Travers, without going further. Mr. Wet-hies/Le said, the propositions were such as he could not consent to support: they weee met to prevent the iiieroduetion of a tax celled thee. Incnine Tax, which had been some time ago re pealed ;' bet they had wandered from the immediate point in discussion, and had deviated into one which had releeence to a mere private comniunicstion. They were certainly obliged to Mr. Travers for hav ing wrote the letter to the Chancellor of the Exche quer, and might justly feel a satisfaetion at Mr. Adding ton's attention, in answering it even in the way he had done. He thought the proper mode to be adopted would be for the meeting to publish a few short Resolutiohs. He had attended to the long Resolution- reed, but it did not seem to him to come up to the grand and principal objection to this obnoxious and unjust tax. It was unjust to tax that income, which might have a limited duration, in the same proportion as that which was permanent, • end was produced from funded or landed property. He had formerly stated a case with regard to per sons in trade, and he would now repeat it : A per son who gained 3001. its one year, from his trade, must pay the tax for that sum. If the next year he lost 1000 l. he was of course exempted from paying any thing; but if the year alter he ,teained eOOl. he must again par the tax. Thus in the course of three years, he paid the tax on 10091. though in point of Eta he had not gained one fer ohing. the injustice of . this was so plain, that it re gutted no arguments to convince either the Chan • calor of the Exchequer, the Pneliament, •er the public. The House of Commons saw the propriety_ of the principle he was contending for, though they would not aFt up to it. They refused to attend to it, because they were told that if they did riot tax income generally, the.money necessary for the pub lic service could not be raised. The great leading objeationeo - this measure, had not, in his opinion, been sufficiently noticed in the Reeolutiuns proposed. The objection he alluded to was the violation of con stitutional principles. It was not the wish of the citizens cf the metropolis to be excused from paying their taxes; and if the Chancellor of the F.xthequee supposed them :tanked by such a motive in their opposition to the Income Tax, he was much mis taken. . Th ey were ready to pay Whatever the exi gencies of the coentry required ef them, but they objected to being pieced in 2 state of degralation which no Englishman ought to submit to. He ob served, that he disapproved of the manrieXin which this meeting had been called. He thought the most fair and candid way-would - have been to have con vened a meeting for the purpose of considering the tax ; but the advertisement was so worded as to exclude those persons who might possibly ap prove of it, . Hite he been one of that descrip tion, and had risen to have opposed the ob jea- of the meeting, he should have expeeled to have been told, that he had not been in vited. Haling stated some further objeetion e he said he should propose a few phiin Resolutions as amendments to -those which had heesi submitted. He concluded by moving, "That it am:reefs to this Meeting, that notwithstanding the manifest Injus tice, Vexation, att d Oppression, occasioned 0 the late Tax upon Income, it is prope-ed, by a Bill now depending in Parliament, to revrie the same partial and obnoxious Impost." 'Pais Resolirtion was passed unanimously. He nest moveee " That it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that the Revival of this Tax is highly dangerous and impolitic ; that the arbitrary, inquisitorial, and unconstitutional power, necessary to render it efficient tinder any modification, would be outraging the public feel ing, and endangering the Peace of the Commu nity." Mr. Htnnstoat said, he agreed to the terms of the resolutions, but he thought it would be decorous first to pass the resolution of thanks to Mr. Ad dinitton. H A NSON said, such a vote was a mark of respeet that Right Honourable Gentleman's attention demanded. Mr. W A t TR VAN observed, that he should be sorry to thank the Chancellor of the - Exchequer, for the letter had not come from him but . from Mr. Hob house. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had certainly conducted hineself with politeness, and he would have acted with great impropriety had he done otherwise, but the letter he had desired to be sent to Mr. Travers was merely a private one.. • Even if it had been signed by Mr. Addington himself, he should wish to understand the nteaning of it before he consented to pass a vote of thanks: It seemed to be considered as a promise to relieve perfons engaged in trade. He did not view it in that lightt all that vas asked of him was to impose his taxes fairly, that every one might pay his just proportion, and not introduce those which violated the freedom of the constitution. There was - another thing which deserved meet on, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. was laying on a Shop' Tax under anttl*r name. Many retailers would have to pay more for the servants they employ in their shops, than for the Shop Tai. He conceived the whole of the measure was brought forward as if with a view' to irritate the feelings of the public. It was true) , said, great exertions were necessary, but surely no consideration ought to deter them front opposing a tax of such pernicious tendency: It *as the duty ef the meeting to think of the best means of averting the tat, and not of complimenting the Chancehor of the Ex e chequer. Mr. Taxvtas said, they were not assembled to oppose the tax on landed or visible property, bit to endeavour; as commercial men, to protect theni *lves front a tax on the dubious and uncertain profits of trade. If anT one supposed they were'not to oppose the Income Tas isi general, he might be persuaded their endeirratirs *aura bee train. ef ei( was not pos. sibk to olotatin all they *idled, at least let them try to obtain something tha t should be viluable. If , they could prevent en obnoxious tax from falling -_ - • OM , , , • - I hpoli trade, they svoniu a.:compesii ge d .11. therefore., thought it would be better to return thanks to Mt. Addington for his communication.. He conceived it wouldrbe indecorous not to thank the Chancellor of the Exchequer: for the attention he had paid, and seemed disposed to pay. to their interesti: After some conversation, the vote of thanks was amended, by omitting the allusion tnthe hopes hell out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, an I thanking him generally for hii attention on the suhjed of the Income Tax. It was carried unanimously. Upon the subject of the other Resolution, Mr. TRAVERS objeded, observing that it was imprudent to say any thing that niight tend to excite insurredion, or promote a spirit of resistance. Those who had the largest families, had the greatest stake in the country. The Resolution, so worded, might proioke enemies, but could gain no friendi. Mr. WAITHMAN contended the Resolutiofi ivould not admit of any improper construaion. The .. Resolution was amended by omit,ing the " word arbitrary," and for the words " endanger the peace of the country," . substituting the words " tend to endanger the peace of the country." Mr. Teevelis said, that although he approved of the motions proposed by Mr. Waithman, and had willingly withdrawn his own to make way fot them, yet he thought they ought to be prefaced by a Re solution, declaring that• they did not oppose Go:. vernment, for the sake of opposition, but, on the con trary, were ready to support it at the present mo mentous crisis of public affairs; he therefore wished to suggest a yesohition to the erred he had before stated, " Thin in the prosecution of the war, they felt themselves. as commercial mein, deeply into rested. in the event of-the war, and would readily suhmit to othhr taxes, not fraught with objections to which the Income Tax was liable." Mr. Warrnsfae said, it could not, be necessary for the Citizens of LondOn to pledge themselves, to. support Government. 1-le did not think it proper to, introduce such a motion, as the meeting had been called fur a distin3 phrpose. Mr. SILVER obtrved, that unless the meeting testified its readiness to come fohwird to support Government, it winds! be revolting to his sentiments to sanction the Resolutions which had been passed. He had only consented to them conditionally, and upon the supposition' that the one now proposeet would be adopted. , Mr: Wit stas raid, that when he considered . the attention which hereilddoulaless be paid, not only by thii ntry, but Ay France, to the Resolutions of the citizens of the metropolis, it appeared to hint highly prciper thee,should be prefaced or followed by a Resolution stating, that they were not actuated. by I principle of optiWttioft to the Government,. or those at the head cf the Gohernment, but were ready to pledge thernghlves to stipport Government, and pity whatever taxes might be levied upon them, provided they were frie from constitutional objec tions. Ple was of opinion, that he Resolutions should not go forth enaccompanied by the one now proposed. It would he a greateatriumph to France than any she had ever gamed either by her arms or her arts, to have it 'supposed that the citizens of London were adverse to the taxes stated by Govern ment as necessary to carry on the war. France affect upon the principle, that the present wee wag against our finances : they ought; therefore, to guard against iiscouraging that principle. They:: ought to sliew t'oey were nut opposing C'etivernmeotee: - but only resisting a measure replete with particiilak injustice. He was p . ersuaile(l they would :make a- greater impression on Parliament and on Adminis:. : tration, it they accompvied their Resolutions by. aui expression of their readiness to submit to every coos.: stitutional burthen imphsed upon them. . , Mr. WAITHMAN Maintained,. thar%in.a. meeting; convened for a particular purpose, such 'a. motiott, was irregular. It was e most dangerous do4l:ipei, that those who s'vere aghinst a particular srieasure,eif Administratioh were hostile to the '6sviiiiment. He was,one of the last who %mild wish: to retard:. the measures of. Government ; but At tlie.eanteatme-. he thought himself justified in im posing declai . ration itehiek had no colintdiori Whateiet with the subjea of the meeting: . • • Mr. aaveai said, he wogs detemiinect io-take ther sense of the meeting on the Reioliaien he moved: He thought ' s that at a' time when the country was threatened with inhasion by an inveterate and: irreconcileable enemy, a threat.whieh it was probable they would soon put in execution, it was necessary. • Reeolutions such as th`ese should be accompanied by a declatation of their readiness,to make every tier= tion to repel the foe. Mr. Tostthes asked the Chairman brwhat an; thority, as the meeting war; convened fora particu lar purpose, he could put a Motion whic t h wis un- core-h.:it'd with it. k Mr. WiLKESobserved; that no man was pledged to appros e the war by this motion. Ihe present ' contest was of such a nature, that they ought to gd a little out of the way in order to confirm the public sentiments, a.nd_prevent the Government of France from deriving any consolation from the terms of the Resolutions. He was persuaded the one proposed would operate faiorably. . Mr. W ITH Nt eat stii.l o*ded to the motion; he said, tt a meeting was called to consider of the ne cessity of supporting Government in the* present war; he would be one of the tint to promote a de claration to that efftset. Mr. TaevErts said; he had been influenced by the fairett motiires. Lie had riot called the meeting; for the ' , Purpose of diseuhisiOn; but only to devise the' most etfedual. means of preventing the tax behrg carried into - effeti. He wished to conciliate the ` Chancellor of the Exchequer, and to - nrke him a , friend instead of a foe. It A4ias,.therefore, he was desirous the meeting should empress' their determi nation• to resist every aggression on the part of the enemy, and with that view he had liathed the Reso lution. • MreHAPSON said, it WA a material oiled that the Resolutions should all pass unanimously. This. he feared would not be the case if the present Reso-lution was not w-hlidrawn. Mr. Davis thought it extraordinary, - when the' citizens of London were opposing en obnoxious and unconstitutional tax, that it should be necessary for them to clear themselves of an imputation of sedie tion.--.After some • furthet debate, the previous question was mote, and carried by a great siniai .• jority. 1. he Thanks of the Meeting were voted to the Chairman, and a Resolution was passed for puba lishing the proceedings in all the Luudos Nowa& papers. The Messing then &swivel • - U • • t - R •, 4,4 • ' • '. • . ` ~`~