The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-06 00:00:00

eouutry, perbsps he (Mr. Plunkett) could not ex-
pect hint to spare the poverty of its. He was
driven to an extremity in both cases. But, when
he called on Gentlemen to propose taxes. in lieu
of those that were repealed. he must forget his
duty as Chancellor of the Exchequer. When he
was obliged to manufacture crime, in order
to support taxation—and when he scrupled not
to break public faith, that he might continue
an oppressive tax—when he had no expedients hut
such as these. lie ought to resign his situation, that
it might be tilled by a person more competeut to
discharge its duties.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir G. HILL explained.
Mr. GRANT (Secretary for Ireland) declared that
he felt deeply interested in the welfare of Ireland
MI, if he thought it was not at variance with his
public duty, he would vote for the present motion.
The Learned Gentleman, he conceived, had un-
justly charged his Right Honourable Friend with
committing a breach of public faith, on eccount
of the present state of the finance of the
country. Such an assertion must have escaped
him its the warmth of the isomelit—for his Right
Honourable Friend set out with stating that lie
would argue the question on the ground of public
faith—and that, if the measure militated iii the
slightest degree against that principle, he would at
'once abandon it. If they were bound by a pledge
on this subject, then there was no necessity for
discissimi. But he bad heard what was stated on
this head, last year—he had since looked more
closely into the matter—and he could nut discover
any proof of the existence of a pledge, in 1800,
that this' was to be a temporary tax. The Right
Hon. Gentleman then comnieutert on the different
statutes. relative to this tax, from 1800 to 1807, and
contended that it was clear, from their provision*,
that no limitation of time was contemplated, from
the period when the measure was first adopted.
He denied that the tax bore on the lower classes,
shift 'it did not touch any house with less
than seven windows and four hearths. It seam
said that it produced fever and pestilence—but
that assertion was overturned by the plain fact,
that the 'Chancellor of the Exchequer had made,
with respect to lodging-houses, a reduction of about
90 per coo.; nor could he undervalue the privi-
lege of allowing time opening of fresh is indosse, when
a .proper certificate was given, by a Medical lie.
sipector, of the necessity of such a measure. This
w.is unit a time to abandon every tax that was pointed
out as obnoxious. It should be recollected that there
was a difs'erenceof 13,000,0001. between their expen-
diture and their revenue; but this circumstance seem-
ed to he left entirely out of the question. When it
ass said, that a debt of 4.500,0001. had been in-
flicted on Ireland by the war, the answer was. that.
if the liittury of the two countries had been reps.
rated—if Ireland had not meted her part nobly, as
she had done, in the cause of freedom and inde-
pendence—she might have escaped that burden;
but she had behaved gloriously in the struggle, and
she must be content to bear the painful condole/is
of her greatness and of her duty.—(lleac.)
Sir JomiN NLwroar argued, that the accumu-
lated debt with which Irclood was burdened, was
not attributable to any unwillingneFs on her part to
contribute fairly to the exigencies of the empire—
but arose entirely from the inability of the people
to pay. It was clear that this was the case-- for the
efforts of several succeeding Finance Ministers
(several of whom were men of as great ability as
any in that House) failed in realising the schemes
they had projected. Between the years 1808 and
1817, the improved taxes proposed to that House
from Ireland, by different Ministers, were rated to
produce an addition of 3,500,0001. a year. But what
was the fact ? An increase of 50,000/. was the re-
sult. But suppose an increase of 500,0001.—still
the taxes were over-rated in the sum of 3,000,00 W.
This clearly arose from inability to pay. The truth
was, the great body of the population were not, as
in this country, capable of supporting taxation.
The Right Hon. Gentleman then pointed out
the pernicious consequences, to the health of the
people. which flowed from this tax ; and anima&
verted with great severity on the language iu which
the order, permitting the opening of new window,.
on the production of a certificate from a medical
inspector, was couched.
Lord Carrutazaitu opposed the motion. He could not
conceive, that Gelltielliell from !retarget had a right to call
fur a rentissiou of this tax, *lsm, •t the conclusion of hos-
tilities, war taxes to the amount of 4,500,0001. were continu-
ed in this country. It was pushing the plea of distress dud
poverty to too great an extreme, when Gentlemen declared
that the people of Ireland, who were never visited with
the income tax, could nut support a window tax. The
people of Scotland bad borne the former, end they now paid
the latter to • greater extent than was demanded iii In laud.
Mr. WILIBLIVORCIS said, he had attended his duty this
night, from • sense that Ireland bad hems Fondly treated.
There was a long arrear to be made up to th•it part of the
empire, to teach her that she was regarded by England as a
sister country.—(Hear.)—Rut, notwithstanding, after list-
ening attentively to all that had Bern advanced to favour of
the motion, be felt it his duty to oppose it.
Mr. Hutctitssom assured the Howse that the general ins-
panstioa in Ireland was, that a pledge had been given lye Mr.
Clam the Chancellor of the Exclieqiier at the tissue of the
illboduetiJn of the tax, that it should cease on the termins.
Rea 114 the war. He insisted that since that diabolical Ines.
airs of tlie Venal, carried by the Noble l.ord (Castlereagh),
Ireland was deteriorated every hour; mud if, as the Noble
UPI bad slated, the envies was put to great expense by
hatpin up an army in Ireland, the necessity of it was treated
by the disaffectiou arising from that very event. 'flier.. was
bat owe feeling in Ireland with regard to the mischievous
Mid fatal operation of the tax. 11 was univi malty detested,
OM the people of Ireland would gladly accept (runt the
almicellur of the Exchequer say substitute shish could
`devised, if they must be subject to an imposition to the
rarest. He thought that 'reined had not received a pro-
portionste share of relief from taxation since she mediation
of that war ' • fur while England was relieved from seveutcen
sailboat and a half, she had only 400,0001. taken off.
itir. Mum* said he felt himself, though with great re-
balance ratted upon to oppose the minium.
Mr. dRATTAW supported the motion. The continuance
of Hie tax, he thought, led to • competition between the
two coautries, which should he avoided as much as possible
sow that a marriage had taken placie.—(ollargh.)—The pro-
duce of the lox was only 223 until. and it premed most
heavily on the domestic comforts of the people. The Right
Um Gentleman then read extracts from returns made (sum
Deblin, diewing the vast properties of houses untenanted,
or Insolvent, in the different 1166140 n in that coy—a state-
'neat which, be said, was a better argoveent for the repeal
of the tax than any he could use—(Hass'.)
Sir N. COLTMN? spoke in favour of the motion.
Mr. COLCLOSIGII said, that • still greater scourge than the
•typiiits fever resulted from the operation of the Window Tax.
He meant the scrofula, a malady which extended its is.
to generation to come. Ile could appeal with comfi-
t,' the opinions and writings of medical men in sup.
of the position, drat that dreadful disease wan in con.
cc of enmity and impurity of air.