The National Register.
London, England, 1815-01-01 00:00:00

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Til E NIITIONAT, REGirtglt.

.

LITERARY REVIEW

PROPERTY TAX.
•
Some individual who stiles himself " a Friend to his
Country," hai. been bold enough to publish What he is.
pleased to term •' Strong Reasons for the Continuance of
the Property ',lax." Our readers will agree with us in think:
ing that if it can possaiy be continued, the reasons must be
strong indeed. But however they or we may differ with him_
as to the Tax in question, and that we most certainly f!o,
we cannot but applaud his anticroaking spirit and his just
ides, of the still immense resources of the country. And
whatever may be the diffe:ence in oi,inion on the subject of
the Tax, it is but justice to give his introductory observa-
liens.
• " Those acquainted in the slightest degree with the science
of Political Economy, or accustomed to a study of its win-.
cipies, and their just application to the ordinary. transactions
of life, will find in the following pages little that is new ; but
much that, in the present state of things, will be interesting
and important.
" Those persons who, 'like a celebrated compiler of docu-
ments, deny to a nation composed of a number of families
the, application of.principles that have been deemed by the
w!se,and intelligent of all ages and nations necessary to time
swell-being of one—those persons who ridiculously imagine
that the power of Great Britain has reached its aeon.,
that her resources are neatly exhausted—those persons vlho
obstinately persist. in their attachment to a system, merely
because it is established..—those persons whose understand
lugs are' thus clouded, and whose fears are so needlcs'Av ex-
cited, whose blind attachments arc so strong, will find if)
the following pages much loud • for astonishment. On the
other han& however presumptuous may be the xpeetat ion, it
is hoped that after a little reflection, the writer's idea on the
,sabject of the impost in question will not be deemed so very
heterodox.

" Of the boldness of the task—of the mass of prejudice
existing in every branch of society against this impost, he is
fully aware; of the sufferings of society under the preSent
burgle) of taxation he is also aware; but still it must be
borne. •Theonly remedy is to meet the evils with firm-
ness; to search for a relief from its pressure with industry
and candc,ur. In this event, it will be found that we shall
be called on for new exertions, to open new sources of re-
venue, new channels of commerce, and new means of ac-
quiring wealth. They are all within our grasp.
" Ildwever, it is impossible to send this tract into the
world without deprecating the most mischievous idea now
extant, 'that our population is superabundant, and out of all
proportion to our sources of supply. Dr. Colluboun ha:
rissumed this as a fact, and takes great pains to point out 'the
colonies to which this overflow of population should be made
*to direct. its 'course. That such should have been the opinion
. of a writer whose object has been to-estimate the resources of
the empire, and whose representations possess so much plau-
sibility and probability (more indeed than could possibly
have been expected), must excite surprize. •
" But it is much to lie regretted that the Doctor has for-
gotten the best principles of the science, as much as it is to
be hoped that the mats of valuable inforination which the
publication of his bobk attract. frnra %arinas quarters,
will afford him an opportunityin the fature editions to pay
more attention to -this part of the sobjec'. •
ro enforce the idea that in the agricalture and 340-
Emmy of the country arc to be (nand the means of i;~ wealth
and dcfcucc, is, in short, the object of these

• yd-

• • -lOW

JAN; L.

" Notwithstanding all our boasting, the.extract from the
Report on the French Corn Laws will prove, that as to
tl
produce of the earth we are inferior to the ancients.
" Peibans if the relative proportion of produce gathered
fiom the district around the metropolis to that generally ob-
tained in other districts was ascertained, it would furnish.
a i erfectly satisfactory proof of what industry and encourage-
ment will .effect. 1r Cutnherland, Mr. Curwen's success has
afforded ample proofs of what may be done.
" To extend this system, the only way will be to relieve
the capital of the country by withdrawing the imposts that
absorb it, in proportions infinitely too great, and which thus
prevent its- fertilizing, every action of the island, as well as
aiding every pursuit, whether its object he commerce, mains•
facture, or. agriculture. In short, under a conviction that
the benefits to be ultimately derived from the enhancement
of the Property Tax. will be infinitely more than commen-
surate to any possible inconvenience, it is boldly proposed
to increase rather than reduce its.rate of assessment; and so
far from merely making it a resource is time of war, to avail
ourselves of its admirably productive qualities as a perms,
vent source of national revenue. _ _

•• To conclude. it is contended. that one of the greatest
benefits to he derived from such a system would be the di-
rection of thecapital thus released to the improvement of the
for in the improvement of the soil will be found the
elements of national grandeur and felicity.
" Many other inducements exist, but none pei haps
greater,
.to use the words of Mr. Curwen, than ' that it it
favourable to happiness by being favourable to 'virtue.'" .

The late decision in the Court of King's Bench in-favour
of Messrs. Kensingtons and Co. has given universal satisfac-
tion,. for a contrary verdict must have led to endless litigation
and confusion among merchants, bankers. &c. The attempt
to identify commission with interest, and thus to evade the
,payment of a debt, cannot be defended either in equity or
honour ; kind we. will even venture to add, that the desire of
late manifested of prosecuting for presumed usury, if sup-
ported by Juries, and carried into rigorous effect, must lead
to very serious consequences. Very few men in business can
be safe under such- prosecution—all our bankers who dis-
count bills, and even the Bank of England itself, may be con-
victed of transgressing this law; that is, of charging more
than .'; per cent. per annum interest, for advancing money
upon bills or other 'securities (see the Universal Catnbist, vol.
1, p. 18). From the same work we learn, that.in almost all
other nations the interest of money is not limited by law. hut
fluctuates according to the plenty or scarcity of specie; and
perhaps such a prac•ice in this country would be found more
convenient and equitable than the law against usury; which,
it is well known, is either openly or secretly evaded.
A list of the criminal causes brought before the Court of
Assize in Paris during this year. makes their number amount
to 358, of which 314 were thefts, 15 forgeries, 6 assassina-
tions, 21 fraudulent bankruptcies, and 47apes. One Devanx,
a button-maker, at Paris, found guilty of an attempt to violate
the person of a girl of nine years of age, has been condemned
to 20 years forced labour, and 3000 francs for the inspection
of the high police, under which he is to remain all his life.

The F. each character ig, in the opinion of Buoriararte, very
fickle. Somebody told him his statue was taken down fiom
the grand pillar—" NVell," said he, „and what have they put
up in it: stead?" The person to whom he spoke answered--
•' The Bouthon flag." " They ought," said he, 44 to have
put up a weathercock."