The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-05-29 00:00:00

-Tenn -nese _
i ..
teiliseS lived in Ole Mika state of selendout and
nieeniiliceece ; his jevls ;note, inneueting, in point
cf value, to upeettle of Pile millions ; that he ap-
p eel Inequentlyeevith elle elephants in his train ;
and that, previous to the arriv.tl of Merrinit'Welke.'
ley iii India, the inaiiefeetures of his principality
were very numerous, an' of great extent and gale
lee, and that he freely...itemised all the Akins and
privileges of an independent Prince *hat country.
It then proceeded to state the several treaties en-
• tered into between Lord Clive, Marquis Cornwallis,
Sir John Shore, and others, Governors-General, on
behltlf of the East India Company, and the said
Nabob Vizier of Oude, which had each and every
of them been faithfully complied with, till the ar-
rival of Marquis Wellesley; and then charges, that
he, without the knowledge of the Council of ben-
gal, without the consent of the Direetors of the East
• India Company, and contrary to the express letter
of an Aft of Parliament, had interfered with the
government of the said Nabob Vizier ; had seized
on his revenues, and reduced them to such a state,
that they became inadequate to pay what he had
.I.' stipulated in the treaty ef 1798 ; and that in conse-
- goatee the said Marquis Wellesley had taken pos-
session of his whole territories, and stripped him of
allhis lawful rights es an independent Prince. The
article then concludes with an appeal to the House
; for redress. As seen as the Clerk had finished
reading it,
" Mr. PAUL moved "that the said article be
printed."
Lord A. HAMILTON seconded the Motion.
. On the question beeng put,
Mr. WHITSHEAD tS.LENE said, it was no•
his intention to enter upon the subjeet at present ;
but he must observe, that the Princes in Ind; i die
not fel! their territory by the came rights of tenure
as the King of Sardinia, the King of Naples, and
r' other Princes in Europe ; there was no other power
is India but the sword ; and therefore those Hon.
Members of the House, who were not well ac-
quainted with India, should not suffer their minds
to he prejudiced by the strong statements in the
• article.
. . Mr. FRANCIS said, he thought it his duty to ad-
dress '. a few observations to the House, in conse-
quence of what had fallen from the Hon. Gentle-
men who spoke last, in order that the Members of
that Home should not receive false impressions,
which their waut of a particular knowledge of the
afters of India might otherwise fix on their
minds. The Honourable Member who spoke laic
bad stated, that the Princes of India do not hold by
the same, tenure as those in Europe, and that there
is no other power in India but the sword. He al-
lowed, that the power of the p. esent Nabobs, Vi-
- niers, and Rahs in India, originally accrued to
them by the dissslution of the Mogul Empire in
1740; but whatever rights they then acquired, have
repeatedly and from time to time been acknow-
ledged by the East India Company. As to the
power of the sword, he feared it would be found
that had been too often resorted to by us, and that
oar rights depended greatly on that same power.
'the Princes of India, however, have had their rights
guaranteed neer and over again by Treaties with us,
and. therefore, let the origin of those rights he what
they may, any Wrier:sent of them, on our part,
Is a violation of them which as cannot justify. It
is • crime against Justice and against the Legisla-
ture of this country. If the doarine of the Hon.
Gentleman be true, and they are not independent
Princes, why have we ever made Treaties with
Clem ?
Mr. Secretary FOX said. he believed the number
of those in that House who thought the Princes of
India were not independent, and that they held their
rights by a different tenure from those of Europe,
would be found to be Tiny few indeed. He agreed
with Mr. Francis, that however their rights might
originates and whatever they might severally have
eared by iiicroachments on one another. we
balk by treaties with them, considered and allowed
them to he independent Princes; and when power
was, as stated, held so much by the sword, it
would be more incumbent on that House to watch
how that power was exerted by the sword of this
country.
Mr. BANKES said, he still continued of the
same opinion he had expressed on a former occa-
sion, and thought the House not competent to take
notice of these transetlions, and proceed by im-
peachment, while there is a distinft tribunal for the
trial of criminal matters committed in India.
The article was then ordered to be printed.
Mr. PAUL said, it was his intention, on Friday,
to move for the papers relative to the
.Rajah of Sas-
neyewhich were but short ; and, he hoped, in about
three week:, if those Paper; were produced, he
e.o.ild be able to bring forward the whole of his
tem gen
Sir A. WELLESLF.Y thought the Hon. Gentle-
man need not make so great a delay, but might
bring forward some of his charges before that time,
as it was near twelve months since he bad moved
for those Papers.
Mr. PAUL said, the fault was not his that the
Timers were not produced before ; they were, how-
ever of consequence, and he could not proceed with-
out them.
Mr. R. THORNION said, he believed the tea-
eon why the Papers relative to the Rajah of Sanity
had net been produced, was, they had not been re-
gularly sent to the India House. lie thought, hew-
,
ever, they were very important.
The SPEAKER asked, whether the lion. Mem-
ber chose to name any particular day i
Mr. PAUL said, he would consider of it till Fri-
. day, and then fia on as early a day as possible.
MUTINY SILL.
On the second reading of the Mutiny Bill, and
a motion beiag made for committing it on Friday,
Mr. P.ERCIVAL submitted the propriety of de-
- ferriag it toittionday. as in this holiday week, many
• 0 the Members had not yet come to town, and as
t• 'it I - estinfate of the additional expence bad hitherto

•

replied, that he
new plan was
admittei,that as this
measure, both sub-
' together ; bus, at
e necessity of
was nut yet
to produce it

yet ; and when it should be presented, the House ground, at lease. it would scarcely be contenJeJ,
could expeft no more than a very general ones that fereignert were properly intitled to el ex-
!Mr. PERCIVAL theught it strange that a TTC3. einption. Coming. then, to the abuses, in the case
s sure should be so long in cositempletioe, ante les of not tieing able tonisngeish what was featly and
eeskmate yet made out of tee expellee of it. • freruluenly held the names of en:rivets, he
Mr. WINDHAM again observed, that there was said it was stated to him, from vet y good authority,
no occasion' to calculate on a measure which had that ther w
e ere great sus, under that mask, ex-
' not yet been ad prod.
empted from the duty.m l'here was one eitcum-
Lord CASTLEREAGI I thought, that an esti- stance which ought, in this case, to he attended to ;
mate might be made out of the expence of such namely, that in the French Revelation there were
men now in the service, as would be entitled to the several of the natives, who found it necessary to
proposed pension at the expiration of their seven or remain in that
here to counbetryi fornvested some
mime Fe, whods. renettFor
-
fourteen years. ed moneyue
The Bill was then ordered to be committed on that purpose French agents were employed, who
Friday. bought in the stock in their own names, and when
Mr. FOSTER gave notice, that on Friday next the real proprietors came to apply for it. they
be should move fur an account of the export duties found that, legally,
it i the n
theiry were
own entitled to noth
kept g.
paid upon foreign linens in Ireland. Those who invested names,
The Irish Additional Force Repeal Bill was re- for themselves, as the transaetions, from the circum-
-11 pealed, and ordered to be read a third time on stances of the times, were necessarily confidential ;
Friday. and surely such persons should rather be subjeeted
TILE PROPERTY TAX. to a double or triple tax, than be thought deserv-
Lord HENRY PET f Y moved the third read- hie of exemption. The next point was, to consider
ing of the Bill for imposiug an additional duty on whether this was real and substantial justice ; but
property• he could not find it in any compaet between the
Mr. FRANCIS observed, that he had some se- Government and the Proprieters of Stocks. It was
rims observations to make on one of the clauses true, that the At of the reign of Queen Anne sti-
which he before objefted to in the Committee, and pulated, that property in the Funds should not be
wished to know whether this was the proper oppor- made liable to taxes, as far as regardrd that loan.
tunity ? But if that was really a ccntrail, it was violated by
The SPEAKER informed him, that if he in- this Bill; and by granting this been to foreigners, tee
tended to ohjeet to the principle of the bill alto- House would be doing injustice to the English hold-
Felber, tees was the proper stage fur doing so ; but ors. Why should taxes be it posed at all ?Of course
if Ms objections went only to a particular clause, to support the Government. And why Was the Go-
he must wait till the new clauses were disposed of. vet nment to be supported ? In order to enable it to
After some little conversation, Mr. Francis ac- protect our persons and our properties. In doing this,
luiesced in this arrange:sleet however, it proteeted the property of foreigners, as
M. V ANSIT rA RT proposed a clause for al- t well as °tilers, and, therefore, they had also a duty
lowing the Commissioners acting under the act, to to support. "I be persons, indeed, of many of them,
take out ce, tificates to exempt them from serving could not be prole led, because they were not here;
on juries or in parish offices. but if a foreigner resided in this country be would
till KOBER!. BUX lON wished to know the be liable to the tax, though had be resided
wounds on which the exemption was proposed. abroad, he might claim this exemption.—
Mr. V ANSIr I'AR I replied, that it was meant This he could not but consider as a most unreason-
as a relief to a set o' ge.elemen laboriemily em- able distinct' le The foreigners resident abroad
played in the service of the pubic, without emo- drew an income from this country to strengthen and
lumen% support the Government of a formidable enemy,
Sir ROBERT BUXTON said. that he had no who, were he enabled to execute his projefts of in-
other objection to the clause, than a tear, that vasion, would, together with all ether property, de-
if that principle was introduced here, it might ten- eeroy also the property of foreigners, at present pro-
der magistrates andeithets, in similar circumstances, tefled by this Government. He had next to take
discontented for net having the same advantages. n• tice of an argument that may be employed against
The clause was then agreed to. him, namely, that these foreigners ought not to be
Mr. VANSITTART then proposed another taxed, because they were not represen:ed.--
ceauee for rendering complete the assessments of Ile was sure that was a principle that
former years, in distriets where they had not been would never hold in praetice, however well it
made out. may appear in abstract or fine-splits theories.
Mr. JOHNSTONE asked if this clause may not —!'he mass of the people in England, whatever
have the effeet ot °likens.; some persons •o pay at mey virtu 41Iy be the case, were not actually repro.
the rate of 16 and a halt p. r cent within one year ? seated in Parliament, as they had no votes in the
Mr. VANSITTAR is replied, that a provisi .n choice of the representatives ; and if A foreigner re-
was made for obliging no per son to pay in any one sided here, he weed nut he so much as even vie-
quarter more than two quartets of arrears. After tually represented, though he would be held liable
this. the clause was age.ed to. to this tax. C.. an occasion of great moment, in
He then proposed ( third clause, providing, t!.at the dispute between this country and America,
the same corrunissionels and assessor, who had ailed a mart of great weight, (the late Mr. George Gren-
under former hills, should also make out the assess- vale) maintained, that as the Parliament of England '
ments under this. has a right to make laws for this country, so
Mr. JOHNSTONE apeeehended the effeA of had it a ript to impose taxes on America. For his
this clause might be to compel some persons in the own part he was of a different opinion, and was
course of a year and a halt to pay etl. per cent. glad the Americans resisted a claim of such injus-
and lamented that clauses ot so much impor tence rice; but after having mentioned the authority of
had not been proposed at an earlier time, when Mr. Grenville, be did not expect to hear any of
there would have been a better opportunity of des- his descendants or representatives in that house, as-
ee t• em. serting that this country had no right to tax the
' H. PETTY replied, that on so - property which it protected, belonging to foreigners,
In -' • • -- he

Lord ax.. _ compre-
hensive and voluminous a measure. a great vai iaty
of suggestions must have been expecOed, which had
not been thought of at an earlier period. The
effefl of this clause, he said, would only be,
that those who before contrived to evade the
tax, should not be allowed to continue always
in arrears. The clause was then added.—The
only material amendment made in the body of
the Bill was, that the statement of the East India
Company should include the interest of bonds that
should become due on the Ist of December. 1806.
On coning to the clause which exempted from the
duty any sums held by foreigners in the funds,
Mr. FRANCIS said, that the first thing which
suggested to him the idea of resistance to the
clause, was an observation made by an Hon. Gen-
tleman, that if the exemption was toot granted,
foreigners would be induced to withdraw their
money from this country. The same opinion was
also held by a Right Hon.Friesi (this (Mr. Foe);
but as neither of them carried convidt, ion to his
mind, he felt it his duty to state his sentiments
upon the subjeCt- Between these two Gentlemen,
he found himself placed between the hammer and
the anvil ; but as his objet was to assist the Go-
vernment in the cone:lion of the taxes, he hoped
the Ministers would at least give him some indul-
gence, and state his objeltions in a more forcible
manner than he was himself capable of doing. It
was one great quality of a Right Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Pitt) now no more, to state, with great force.
the arguments of his adversaries, though he did
not always refute them ; and he hoped his sac-
cesssors would, in that respect, follow his example.
There were three points of view in which he should
consider this subjeft. Fit st, as to its policy and po-
litical &feels ; Second, the inconvenience that would
attend its operation, and the opening it would give
to abuses; and, third, the essential justice of the
case. To ascertain the policy, it would be right to
know the amount of the sum that was proposed to
be given up; and he found that, by the retain made
on the 6th of the present month, it was stated
to amount already to 40 or 50,00111. exclusive of
several other accounts that wet.: daily coming in.
Taking therefore the real and fr indolent property
held in the names of foreigners, he thought it would
sot he too much to state it at i 00,0001. The fear
of foreigners being induced to sell nut, or withdraw
their property, he treated as chimerical. They'
invested it in our funds from motives as well of
convenience as security. Many of them also did
it upon speculation ; and people in France and at
Amsterdam, vela known to deal in our funds, in
the same manner as jobbers in 'Change-Alley :
They bought in, in time of war, when the stocks
welt low; and sold out, to great advantage. oe the
conclusion of a peace. it was, besides, no trifling
consideration, that the interest of all this money was
yearly remitted, and spent in C. acme and Holland, in
support of Ute government of tionapaite; and on that

a support of this part of his obsirvitions, ad-
verted to the petition of the " Friends of the
People," of xhom. he said,, he was the last. That
petition stated to the House, that 11;e majority of
the people of England were not fully represented
in Parliament, and that they were ready to
prove it, if the House would allow it. To thew
this was no mean authority, he stated, that those
who were most Olive in the formation of that
society, at the /Irmo of the Etrl of Lauderdale. and
afterwards, in drawl-.g op the petition, were sonic
of the persons now highest in His Majesty's Coun-
cils ; such as the present Lord High Chancellor,
the present First Lord of the Admiralty, the present
Treasurer of the Navy, as well as his predecessor,
the present Attorney-General, &c. Mr. Pitt also, as
likewise the Right Hun. Sectetary of State (Mr.
Fox). were stretiuous in promoting a reform in
Parliament, on the pound of the people not being
fairly represented ; but so far were any of them
from saying that the people had not therefore a
right to pay taxes, that they all declared the legis-
lature was as much entitled to their obedience, as
if the House of Commons was constituted in the
manner they wished it to be. He then assured
the House, that if he was not serious in his o'-
position to that clause, he should never have put
himself in his present situation. if he had satisfied
them of the injustice and inconvenience of the mea-
sure, he would next exhort them to look to the situ-
ation of the country in respect to taxation. The
first tax of the last budget, upon pig iron, though
estimated at 400,000 i. being neatly half the inte-
rest of the loan, was, from necessity, abandoned,
and he apprehended the substitute for it would not
prove much more acceptable. He lamented, that
on this occasion he could not recoiled the eloquent
language of Mr. Whitbread, on the close of the
proceedings upon Viscount Melville's impeachment,
where ha represented, how every sum diverted
from the public services by Viscount Melville or Mr.
Trotter, must be made up by pence and farthings.
daily deduded from the sustenance of the poor ;
for surely an exemption to so great an extent, must
contra& the pittance of the indigent, while it was
given to person. who had nn claim whatever to it.
He concluded with moving, " that the clause be
omitted."
Mr. FOX sail, he would endeavour to follow
the points of his Hon. Friend's speech as closely
as he was able. He stated, that the great in-
ducement to foreigners to purchase m our funds, was
the security which was given to their propeTty. That
was no doubt one, but ought not to be stated as the
whole oftheir inducements, a great part of which con•
sisted in the assurance that they would have the same
security against taxes, as they had for their principal.
He also objeded that foreigners dealt upon specula.
tion ; but was not that desirabil ? It was, no doubt,
a great encouragement to every purchaser, to be
sure of the facility which the English fun2.s al.

•
forded him, either of bueieg in o:r :oiling cat,
as lie might find his advantage in it. He cow
came to the main point on which the I einoutoe,
Gentleman relied so much—he meent, ti.e la
of justice, and he, tar his part, could not help [bloc.
ing, that there was no justice in Failiament toe',
any kind of property, unless it helonge I to sett
who were represented irePerlienscro. It weule •
a tax on property which was n t spent here. j;,,
the Hon. Gentleman asks, is it not provoker;
that foreigners should receive their
here, and then, perhaps, which they creed
do with the greatest facility, carry the money ere,
France, And contribute part of it to the support a
our enemy ? This question was calculated melee
doubts in the mind of any man at first, but to tee
it in another way. would it not be more hutted :a
this country, if Foreigners did not lend us mover,
by purchasing into our funds ? Certainly he tliougle
it would ; and, therefore, it was not only jirstee,
but policy, not to tax this property in their hands.
The Hon. Gentleman need not be afraid, that tee
money would be pocketed by the individeei,
out being subjeel to any tax; there was, be liellevol,
a property tax in France, as well as it Engle:d;
Ind in every country in Europe there was some klia
Of tax which would seize on a portion of this mernee.
Another argument might be made use of agairist
the justice of the measure. The money Resale
[ from this tax was expended in raising aid
supporting an army and navy, the principal ole
pet of which was to destroy France; in that the
foreigner might exclaim, that a part of his pro
petty had been seized on ter the purpose et c-
abling England to take posses/ion of the remainder.
Much had been said with resfea to the :refuel as-I
virtual representation in Parliament, out he wcule
not now enter into the conside: ation of it ; he, ler
one, fhotight a virtual representation necessary, for
which reason he way always 41'. enemy to the tat.
ation of America, they not Leing represented
Parliament. He never could agree with the Hon.
Gentleman, that Parliament had a right to tax des
property, because they had e power ; and confessed
' that he was of the same opinton with Lord Thurlove
[ who said, that he did not understand that species rf
[ right, which, the moment it wan done, was a wrong.
It was impossible that the House could vote and,
money that did net belong to them ; and this ao
peered, from the Ad itself, the words of whee
were, " We give and grant to His Majetry, so muck
money," which nteeesarily implied, that it betting
[ to the donors ; and His Majeites Answer in r
ceiving it, is, s‘ that be accepts "it from E
faithful suhjeels." The Government could no
tax the country, it was the people that text
themselves ; by the constitution they had a right:
give their own, but not that winch beloneed t
others ; or, in other words, they had to right to gi
away any part of the property of those who e ,
not represented in Parliament, and whose into:
were not only not the same, hut totally different
There was but one opinion in the House;
conceived, that the point of taxation they h
come to was truly lamentable ; he also co/active
that it was the opinion of all, that the burden shoe
be lightened on the poor as much as possible ;
however, conceived, that to attain this end in
degree, they should not be guilty of an irjusti
they should keep their hands clean. and not de
them by giving away that which did cot belong
them, for the purpose of lightening the lead on
poor. The Honourable Gentleman, he concoiv
had not made out a case by his arguments, wh•
could raise any doubt in his mind, for which Ns
he thought he might conclude by saying, that
Majesty's Ministers would not be very apt to tete
money, if they thought they could with propriti
accept it.
The SPE A KER called the attention of the Hoa
to the sithjtel of the present Debate. He wa:
opinion that the Motion could not be received r
at :he third reading of the Bill, as it went to i
pose a tax on a particular kind of property, oh'
the Bill said should not be taxed. Such a mtris
he conceived, cculd only have been made w
propriety in the Committee of the whole House.
Mr. ieItANCIS said a few woods, which
could not hear.
Mr. BAN feES said, it was his intention to ha
delivered his sentiments on this measure. H.• I
examined the Bill minutely, and he did not e •
single sound or solid principle in it.
Lord HENRY PETTY spoke to order. A
the very clear statement on the sulajea, which th
had heard from the Cheireie did not think it coy
to go into any farther discussion at present. •1
only mode he could see for Gentlemen to at
their object, and have the matter fully conside.
was for some Member to give notice that he w•
on .1 future day, move that the House should rese
itself into a Committee, to consider of the prop:
of subjesling foreign property to this tax.
Mr. VANSIT TART then moved as anu.
mem to the Bill, which was carried without op
mime By it, all stock belonging to His Maj.
and also all stock belonging to foreign awe
Ambassadors, was exempted from the tax.
The question being then put on the third r
of the Bill,
Sir ROBERT BUXTON rose, and Lai.
would enter his protest against it, as it was in
en the landed interest. Thirteen per cent. was
by the landholders, and only ten by persons •
sed of other property. If it was to aft as a
tax, lie thought the country should have the
of its being, as heretofore, only annual ; so th
people might. if they pleased, not subjeet theta
to it a second time.
Mr. V ANSITTART and Lord 11. PE
spoke a few words; they did not think that its
an annual tax would make it more palatable.
Sir R. BUXTON explained.
Mr, WM. SMITH said, nothing could c
concile him to the principle of the Bill, as
sessed so many unjust inequalities.
Mr. HUDDLESTON E lamented that the
Lord had not allowed an exemption to fun•
petty, held by individuals, under 501. a year
regretted it the more, as be had for ad, on
nation, that the injustice would be eetieneive,
being not less than 220,000 risen. who
property in the funds, which did not yield
year.
Lord DE BLAQUIERE did not think it;
give these parting blows. 'Thee:- was no
coald h. brouelit forwet d ,elthent pridecir

Ifs estinfate of the additional exper.ce
been presented.
.. •*, The SECRETARY at WAR repl
..1 44 not conceive an estimate of the t►e
let necessary.
Mr. Secretary %%INviJAMadtnitte,
Bill was a part of the general rneasuri
jells might properly be considered toge
the same time, be could not atlow the
basins an estimate of a measure which
in wutence. it would be impossible