The National Register.
London, England, 1816-02-19 00:00:00

leleftittegiN

he bad given it his support as a means of carrying on the war:
lie felt it incumbent on him, now the war Was concluded, to
protest against its renewal. With respect to the proposed re-
lief to the agricultural interest, a greater relict' would be af-
forded to every class of his Majesty's subjects if the Property-
tax was taken MI.
Mr. HORNER concurred with the last speaker, that it was in
vain to expect relief without some ainelioraOun of taxes, and
that could only be dune by a reduction in the propeuv:d esta-
blishmeut.—(%lrar,kcar.)••-lt was a delusion prActiseil upon the
public by Ministers, to say that the Military Establishment to
large an extent was necessary for the safety of the country. .
The thing must be met fairly and houestly ; disguise would not
to ; and therefore the only question fur the Constituents to put
to their Representative's was this:—cc Is it necessary to keep
up an army of 50,0110 nun in the British Islands ?'"Fhat the
situation of the country was different now from what it was at
any other period of peace, every tune must admit. We had
now no formidable enemy to dread—the Nasy and Army of
Fiance, Spain, and Holland, were annihilated, and the military
means of offeuce of the first Power reduced. What alarm could
exist% The fact was, and he must predict it, that if the Mili-
tary Establishment was kept up for a few years, it would, in
the end, be found incompatible with the constitutional rights
and liberties of the people.—( Hear, hour.)—We ought to pre-
serve our character as a nation, by adhering to a Marine Esta-
blishment, and not to be deluded into a show of military glory,
with a view to take rank among the military despots of the
Continent. The truth was, that one or other must give way, ur
liberty and the constitution would have hut a short struggle
with a military govertiment.—(Hear, heir.)
Mr. VANSITTART could not think with the Hon. Gentleman,
that the liberties of the country were endangered materially in
consequence of an addition of 25,000 men to the military es-
tablishment.
Mr. TiEftses' did not dread the addition of 25,000 men; but
he did feel alarm at the increased influence of the Crown from
so large an establishment, and wished his alarm to reach from
one end of the country to the other. The House would dis-
grace itself if the absent Members were not called over when
. the question was discussed—(liear, krar)—to say aye or no to
so monstrous a proposition. The only way to retain their
places, Ministers conceived, was to erect a military system,
that could not be redneed—No ! it must receive an addition of

strength—lt was easier for them to reduce the Navy, and pay
off ten sail of the line, than one regiment of Hussars. In some
quarters a Captain of the British Navy, in his plain tar's dress,
did not look to the eye of some persons quite so well as a dressed-
up officer in the anny, with his whiskers, his mustachios, and
trappings.—(hoar, hear)—The Noble Lord might sneer at this
too, but it was soy and lie had beard of travellers (the Noble
Lord had travelled and seen a great deal of the world) who
talked in company of the fine appearance of the cuirassiers
and lancers on the Continent; and then came the system of re-
dressing our army. The Right lion. Gent. then commented
on the statement of the Right lion. Geut. (Mr. Vansittart) of
the preceding evening, in respect to the finances; and con-
tended, that out of the 36 millions borrowed last year, 12 mil-
lions yet remained due at time Bank, without whose assistance
stocks inust have been much lower than they now arc. In re-
spect to the actual peace establishment, it would be, reducing
the items, about 20 millions and a half, of which sum about two
millions and a half were to be borne by Ireland. Not one
pound out of the two millions and a halt' would or could Ire-
land pay. Indeed, we mast give her assistance. The Right
Hon. Gent. had begun with his Budget at the wrong end; for
he should have put the ways and means at the top of it ; for in
the vulgar old hashionetl nay, before • geuttuesan set up en es-
tablishment, he looked hew his ways amid means stood.—(Hear,
'ear.)—Bat, income or not, Ministers were liberal enough. For
instance, if one of the Allies said, " I brought so many men
idto the jeld, you owe me half a million."—" Oh! did you (says
the Noble Lord), well, then, here's half a million fur you."—(4
lag'.)—The Right Hon. Gent. objected to the continuance of
the Leather Tax, and trust:m.l that there would be a clause in
the Petitions, warning the House against any extravagant es-
tahlishment.—(Hear, hear.)—The people of England would be
to blame if they gave them half the Property-tax; if they agreed
to it, they might soon expect Ministers to call for the w hole.
Lord CtsTLEREAGII defended the continuance of the Pro-
perty-tax ; and was prepared to prove, at the proper season,
that it was not the intention of Government to ape other mili-
tary Governments as the Right Hon. Gent. supposed ; nor
Humid he have confidence in the Government of any country
r.titil he saw the civil power getting the upper hand of the mi-
litary; it would not be safe to reduce the establishment until
lie saw the military spirit abated. '
Mr. Wysi NE made a few observations, and then the report
was agreed to.
Mr. 'VANStrI'AIIT conld not answer the question. It would
be referred to the legal gentlemen. In answer to a question
from Mr. Wynne respecting the appropriation of the 700,0001.
to be paid by France, the Right Hon. Gentleman said between
400,0001. and A/o,ooot. bud Leen paid into the military chest at
Paris.
BANK TRANSACTIONS.
Mr. GRENFELL, after sonic preliminary observations in re-
spect to the Bank transactions, which he denominated exorbi-
tant and injurious to the public, on account of the immense
profits they made, divided the subject into two branches. The
first was, the deposits which individuals lodged with the Hank,
time same as with other Bankers, anti which were productive to
the extent of five per cent. on the aggregate sum for ten years,
aroonnting to about 1t millions and a half. The next health
of profits to which he would advert was, the ( normals SIMI W-
it/NCd to the Bank for the management of the National Debt;

this amounted to upwards of 3011,0001. annually. There well:
also two other items, one 014,0001. annually for House expenses,
and another of between 3 and 4,41001. annually, for the manage-
ment of the sum of 4,000,0001. South Sea stuck, pul:bawd by
the Bank in 1721; but the greatest brauelt of all from which
the Bank derived profit was, the suspension of cash payments,
and the consequent increase of paper circulation, which he
could not estimate at less than 000,0001.; and for this
,inerewe.
of their profits; the Bank had principally to thank an A 4.1 of
the Legislature. In 1500, Mr. l'itt intimated to the Bank Ins
opinion, that the public were entitled to participate in tie pro-
fits which the Bank was making of the public money and pubic
balances in its hand ; and upon that'representation, an ails mice
of three millions of money was made to the public by the Bank,
for a certain period, without interest. At this time, however,
the Bank had balances to the amount of six millions in its hands,
and these balances went on increasing till 1806,
.at which time
they fell little short of 12 millions; that cireimistalre attractine
attention, the Bank then came forward with an oiler to advance
to the Indiric three millions more, at 3 per cent., thus acknow-
kdging the right of the public to participate in the pouts, owl
acknowledging that they had proms; but was it just that the
public sh.anit nave been called on to pay any thing at all for
this adv.on r of tiller millions, when there were Iv millions of
p:h'•1! r avnn•s 111 011 I!.•.•ds In S. •at
44 tin 1.. nh ha• 6,1 5.a.-