The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-10 00:00:00

PROPERTY 7'.4 X.

Wednesday a most numeress and highly respectable meeting
of the Merchanta, Bankers, and Trader:, of the City of Londuu,
Ina, held hi the I:Letitia:in-hail at the ;tlansicialumse, pursuant
• requisition, for the purpose of considering the propriety of
petitionitig Parliament for a repeal of the Income-tax. The
Hill st:us crowded throughout.
The lord Mayor, having taken the chair, said, that when he
entne into office he had stated, that he would take a share in
so party matter whatever; that he vs a• determined to bean in-
dependent Magistrate ; amp he mulacted up to that text. He
seas still detertniuml to pursue that line of courtlier. But for
Limaelf, he thought he had a right to declare it as his opittion,
that this was the most odious and oppressive tax that ever was
said ou a oat' I Hear, heir.) He could state to them a case
Which would astonish them all; but as he saw that Mr. Grim-
fel had brought the subject beture Parliament, he would detail
hto him. He would content himself with saying, that he had
himself paid 2,31)01. Property-tax for a house in the country,
against which an extent had been sent down ; although it was
proved, to the satisfaction of the COMMISsIODers, that that very
house had lost, during that year, 30,0001. lie dam read the
requisitine for calling the meetiug.
Mr. G. ilibbert said, that to the Requisition which hail just
been read, his name was early affixed; and in the course of the
little he should say on a >nbject of so ungracious a nature, it
would be necessary for lain to allude to the individual thou ads
dressing them. In 1793, there was a very general opinion,
especially among the Merchants of London, that the war WOlllll
he arduous and expensive; and yet Bert the pretensions of the
enemy were so arrogant that they ought nut to be li:dened to;
that large sums of money would be necessary for the public
exigency.; and in order to avoid the iucreaae of our funded
debt, the motley should be raised by other means than by way
of lonn ; and he (Mr. H.) while Sir R. C. Glyn tilled the civic
chair, in that Hall, proposed and curried certain resolutions,
which, he had uo doubt, were the forerunners of the Income-
tax. Independent of that meeting, be was able to state, that
at the inectinge of the merchants privately held before it, the
measure thee. adopted was consideetel as an uncommonly bold
tneasitte, only to be resorted ta under strong necessity, and
!Nerdy tilt the purpose of carrying on the war; and if now, in
the midst of his fellow-citizens, he should MOVE other resolu-
tions, declaring that this tax ought to cease, so far from hi,
being inconsistent, he should consider himself as acting the
most consistent part in the world ; his motive being now as then
—the public welfare. He could safely nssure them, that %shill
was dour in 1;96 (oH time subject he had alluded to) with eh-
niatera, in had no hand in ; tool he could glow has his baud on
his heart, and say, that in what he was now proposing to (honor,
be had no connection with any. party whatever. But lee thought
it his duty to call for the nnanintoue sense of that Hall that
this tax ought to be abolished on our return to a state of peace.
The tax had continued, with little alteration, from tWit to this
time. In the result it might truly be said; that this tax had de-
throned linonaparte • yet it must be confessed to have bottle
hard on those who had that very object in view. Wheu he
said it was an ueconstitutional measure, lie was not to lie un.
dcratood as meaning that any thing dmie by the three branches
of the Legislature was maconatitutienal ; but, on lonkhut buck
to the histoty of our finance, it would he thund to be of an un-
constitutioual spirit, not partaking of that voluntary species of
tetatioil to which commerce and trade generally submitted.
In the failure of their opening their kelpies to the Commis-
siouera, they subjected themselves to any arbitrary assessment.
That it was oppressive and unequal, it would be idle for him
to atteinet to prose, for it was well known it treated alike
the property gained by a daily exertion of imiestry or gettiaa with
absolute capital. Stich a measure must be arbitrary. It was hard
to tax a man alto, depemiing on his halide or his head, might
be deprived of his property by sickness. There were now
met bankrupts, and wanting bread for theraael yes and thandies,
who might have been i 0 prosperity had they been able to re,
titan the contributions they bad paid to this tax. As to its
exactions and inquisitoriel oppression, he might appeal to
every one ho heard him; from the combined difficulties aris-
ing from this tax, the ceinestasioneri did not make a backward
step. In cases that had come under his knowledge, he would
acquit the offieers; for he had area in them every disposition
tp accommodate, as far as they thought it consistent with their
duty. But ought the rights and clearest interests of a fete
peeple to depend on the construction an officer might pm on
An Act of Parliament He had not heard one of these men say,
that he had a right to charge lust. on every thaal. hilt traus-
tnitted front any of our colonic* to a mereltaut in the city. 'fiat
was said in the Minister's perkier, who told him he must not
exact it. But it was a hard case that they must go to a Minis-
ter's pinion'• for protection from such exactions. We were now
at peace and we ought to rid ourselves of such a grievous tax.
lie had heard that the tat was to be modified, so as natio
affeet certain classes; and that it was only asked to pay the
expenses of the war. But was it worth while to convulse the
eonntry front one end to the other for 'he sum of 10 or 12
*Anions% Although the Resolutions he should propose were
confined to this tax, yet their Representatives Might to watch
Illtith jealousy that extravagant expenditure which alone can
gentler it necessary to have recourse to this tax in time of
peace. Could any one think that the defence of this country
aneht to depend on a large standing army The British soldier
bad barn accustomed to fight abroad ter his father's cottage,
anxiously and ardently longing to return to it. lint separate
him front that cottage, and shut him up in barracks, when
ealied on to defend his country, the arm might be there, but
he was afraid the spirit would he geme. Whenever we trusted
to a standing army fur out t, we might be assured we
sere about to be governed by mastitis. Petitions were pour-
lug in from all pal is of the Empire against Ma tax, to which
ke hoped our Representativ ea, and even the Miuisters, would
ant be deaf. It was a ineanure whit+ might never to be re-
newed, except in casee of the greatest necessity,—He then
moved the first Resolution.
Mr. Tuner said, the Resolutions were so temperate, and at
the same time SO flint, that, he trusted, when embodied in tliti
form of a Petition, they would meet from Parliament the at-
tention they merited. It bed been said, that no 'dietee had
been given that this tax should cease with the Wihr; that was a
quibble that would have diseraced the meanest pettilbeger—
Appleuse) —But, filling from the lips of u Banish Minister,
Must has ! been heard with aatonishment equalled only by in-
dignation. The battle had been fought—the victory won—and
the apprehended tyranny had been destroyed; theretirre the
pledge., of ail the Minister:4 concerned with this tax ought to
tae redeemed ; namely, ;hat it should cease with the Nat. At
this tune °lda) it was too much to tell them, that nu "ignorant
impatience" existed against this tax. ?So calvary had ever
antaineed to taxation, he anent say, more cheerfully than
But thi line of danger was gone, and thus tax was ouly to be
aubaiitted to Om times of the greatest difficulty and palate emer-
gency.
BL. Rowena opposed the fourth Resolution, conteadifii

Inn NATIONAt, rtiT t4T-Eit .

that uo pledge Ina been liy Ministers I,•r the discontinn.
twee of the property tax at the curse of %, 4"
Sir W. Curtis said, he limped to he able to convinee Lim
worthy Friend of his Qrmr. A a "Ifenthei cd` Parliament, he
declared U. to be his decided belief that this tan wil4 at tirst
intended as a war measure; and shut, wheuet er the war should
cease, this was to cease also. The worts " :111a no houtter
were in the Acts; and he was sorry that Nortily and good man,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had let fall that the words
" and no longer" had been omitted in the last Act—a declara-
tion unwot thy of hint.
Mr. Alderman Ifeyzate opposed the tax ; and declared,
that neither he, nor tilt of those who Ii 1 voted with I • an
Address of Cocuratideicn on the peace would have done so,
had they not entertained a confident hope that this tax would
be RhOilShell.

Sir W.C'firets and Sir.). Shaw promised to support the Petition
with all their power; and the latter pledged himself to divide
the House on every opporinnity against the tax. —Adjourned.

MIDDLESEX MEETING.

On Tuesday the Freeholders of Middlesex met, at Hackney,
to petition P:arliatuent itgainst the renewal of the Property-
tax ; Mr. Sheriff Bell in the chair.
Mr. Bentley said, that, unless an etrectiral appeal was made
to the Muse of Common*, we shonld be subjected, in a time of
peace, to no less a stun than tZeo,llool. per day. (Bear.) When
he considered the exertions made by the United Kingdom in
the late prolonged difficulties in which we had been eugaged,
he did not think it was to be endured, that the nation should,
with all its external difficulties removed, be subjected to the
payment of mi.+ etiornmus and unjust impositions. The coun-
try hail been deceived by ninistere, who, in the speech nude
by them tie• the Prince Regent, had announced the country to
Ire in a state of prosperity, when the fact was otherwise. But
the truth was, they had taken their views of the• state of the
country from pataces and poidlimet. Let them take a view of
t`pitaltielils and its impoverished thousands of inhabitants. Let
them go to Guildhall. not when Emperors and Kings are feast- •
ing, but to view the crowded assembly of bankrupts uml their
creditors. Let them go and see the wretched list of mendi-
cants receiviug their pittance from the parish. Let them go
into the streets of the metropolis and •see them crowded with
famishing and unemployed individuals. Let them go into the
country too, and see the untenanted flatus, the unoccupied
lands, and the farmer not able to pay his rent. 'this was not
an exa4gerated statement, nor too mighty eoleirett a picture;
and it seemed as if the nnent were determined to adopt
the system of ship discipline, being deter' ii iii ed to keep the
country at the wimps until there was even no Omen of
escaping the wreck. He trusted that the present meeting
would maite, with every other port of the community, in resist-
ing the adoption Of the Income Tax, and thereby prevent 'the
consequences that must inevitably follow.--Ile concluded by
expressing his fervent wish, that the people would never cease
their eonstitetional exertions, until Government wero com-
pelled to reduce every unnecessary pension and <are, and
thereby preclude the necessity 01 any fresh taxes whatever.—
Mr. Bentley then re.:d a string of Resolutions, which were
agreed to be put seriatian.
Sir J. Gibbon rose; but having expressed himself in oppo-
sition do the former speaker, was out permitted to proceed.

Mr. J. Burdett was of or,inion, thit the Propeky Tax was
inimical to every principle :of the Constitation. The Govern-
ment, he said, could not exist, if the Income Tax, in time of
peace, were to remain established. lire and water were not
more opposite in tlyilr finalities than the nature of such a tax,
compared with the good old Constitution or the country. The
inquisitorial principle upon which it was fountiol was in direct
contradiction to every principle of the Coo.stituti►.u.. He ern-
tended, that it was the duty of the Government; instead of
violating its pledge, or saddling the country with such aia odi-
ous tax, to dismbrs the placemen who were receiving salaries,
fur which the, did nothing.
The litev.lllr. Draper spoke warmly against the tax.
Mr. Williams thought the tax an equal one, and the Resolu-
tions both intemperate and imprndent. lie wax, however,
compelled to retire by strong marks of disapprobation.
Mr. Redhead endeavoured to obtain a lu:aring, but in vain.

Mr. Mellish admitted that it was not the first time lie had
been placed in the unpleasant situation of differing with his
constituents. (Hisses, and off, off!) It was easy, lie said, for
Gent!moo' to make load assertions, but it was not so easy to
support them ; and as he conceived the Resolutions were not
framed as they should be, he would recommend the Free-
holders not to sign the Petition. (Hisses.)
Mr. Bytig said, the tax in qiiestion was demanded only in
time of necessity. A year shire it was abandouul, the Tyrant
having been putt down—the Ty nisi once inure returned, it was
asked as a boon for one year mare. This was granted. Peace
was restored, and agitill the Minister 1111541 w asuLeitv to pro-
pose the tuts. Ile should, however, say, that if lie had but one
ote, anti there were two questions to be supported, he would
sooner vote for the hated's,' tax in question, than for a standing
army. lie latter was a system Unit must lead to.the subver-
sion of liberty in the country.
After some few observations from :Br. Bentley in explana-
tion, the Resolutions were put, and carried by a sliew of hands,
only Sir John Gibbon and two others being against them.
A Peti:ion was then agreed to, when a motion was made
that the Members for the County onia not only present, but
support the Petition.
Thanks were voted to the Sheriffs and Mr. Ity

Wednesday week some ill-disposed persons threw Mr.lietealf,
Inspector of Licenses at Skipton, over one of the bridges in
that town into the waow ; but providentially he was rescued
without material injury.
It is said, that the women attached to the niglish army in
Fmnee have revels eil orders to embark and return to this
country. Seventeen hundred, besides tl.•e proportionate tim-
ber of children, are said to have passed through Calais within
rive nelitlis.

The d^ath of KOTZP.DUE, annonneed in Anine late foreien
journals, i, contradicted ill the Brussels papers. lle is slated
to he in excellent bcaltli.

The Paris papers mention the death of Barthelemy, the
celebrated engines and mechanist, who, in visiting the Garden
or Plants, approached too near the living stnimal,.—A ad I
days age, M. Bartheieuly went to see the stupendous eleiliani
in that menagerie, and, as many persons do, tittered some: hin
for him to eat ; the elephant, thinking he wished oiny to teas.
him, struck :gm so severe a blow with his trunk that he tot Cl•i:
its cam upon the palisade which surrounds the lodge. He wa,
taken to the house of tilt: .Nlarebionoss of Rochegsude.
and, through the wound not being attended to in
time, all the subsopeut exertious atatlg,to :lave biro pt(n (l in

MARCH 10.

tint. 11"I/I'I'ISltti.dU'S' WILL.

Probate of the Will of the late Samuel Whitbread,
Esq. having. been renounced by the Executors, Letters of
Administration with the Will, and eleven Codicils an-
nexed, were granted by the Pietwative Court, in Doc.
tors' Commons, on the ith instant, to William Henry
Whitbread, Esq. the Son and residuary Legatee. Thu
personal estate was sworn under 200,0001. anti paid a
duty of 2 7001. The will is dated sth Oct. 1810, and
the last. C:xiocil 21st June, 1815.

The Executors appointed urn Robert Sangster, Esq.
NVillium Wilshire, Esq. and Lauucelot Holland, Esq.
We are informed that the minority of thl Administrator
(which has but just expired), is the cause of the delay
that has occurred in registering. the Will.
Tho fidlowing are its leading features. No minutA
being allowed, we can only furnish the %Rowing parti-
culars from memory :

To lady Elizabeth Whitbread 900/.. per annum (in addition to the
sum of dont per annum by murriage settlement, and 1.4004)L per aromen
by Lomb to make up the sour 2,545 11. per annum Mr and also the
use of all furniture, plate, chir i al. ex. n Dover-street.
By virtue of a power /reserved to him by marriage settlement, of be,
queathing 30,000/. to children or child not sucereveling to the estates
thereby settled, he gives the Mine equally to his younger um, Samuel C.
W. anal his two daughters, Elizabeth W. anal Gunn Laura W. with
certain pmvisions ta survivors, in case any die under 21. Militia C.
hes else, an annuity of and a sum of 5,m0/. is directed to he invested
in 11w Thum% of executors, to be paid to him only in rise of his not in-
heritirN; certain estates, in which 1w has a conungent interest. by die.
will of a Mr. Howard. The presentation to some beneficooon the estate
of &anthill cum Old Warden is 'alai secure:! to !Wane' Charles, in
case of his entering into holy orders; by a codicil there is also lett to
hint at limiter sum of of t,ooo guineas, and the selection of three horses.
To the daughters 500/. per annum each, on attaining 1). All free-
hold and personal estate (exempting the breweries. Ise. of which the
terms of partntradp may be completed or not, at discretion of the exe-
cutors, and the estate at South ill, whirl' is entailed) is to be sold, aril
fomi a general fund for the payment of legacies, annuities, bonds, Sf.
and the residue is bequeathed to Win. Henry Whitbread, the eldest
son. A house in town is directed to be taken for lady Ed/ebbed%
and her children, the rent of which is not to execed eoOL per
annum; and it is recommended. that the house and grounds at Solaria
be constantly kept in proper order for their oceasionel res'alener, till his
eldest son arrives at 21-400/. per annum is :diesel foe the education
of his eldest son till he should go abroad, and thtmi limiter advances at
the discretion of the executors. By his hrst codicil on the back of his
will, apparently in his own band, toe testator declares that instead of time
annuity mentioned in his willto his wife, only such a sum is to be given
her as will make up her annuity of 2,51101. per annum, but by a subse-
quent codicil he bequeaths Ler, in :Abuse) to his former bequests,
1,010. c annum.
The mists to clerks, servants, domestics, Ice. are numerous, and
hear' strong marks of a humane attach generous mind. Mr. Abraham
ilanmen, 'Jest/.; r. Clarkson, the young. z, 5001.; several stormed*
and bailiffi, 200/. each, and annuities. 75/. which are continued to the
wives of some and the daughters of others, in ease of miniviug them.
The tenement and garden of John Thompson is directed-to be kept in
repair fur him during his life, and a provision is made for his mama,
mince. and food liar the horse Its has been accustutued to lithe, and if the
horse survives his master to be shot ; also o: two stir: ants to wait upon
him, and after his death they have each an annuity of .131. 1 fne retched
(the 10th) runs nearly in these words: lasing I have omitted in my
will and former codicils, to mention her name, I hereby beqeath to my
cook, —, a legacy of'l.o.'. per annum, anal an annuity of 5a N. for her
life; it' i have left her more than this, I desire the greater um may stand;
if less. I desire that may he cancelled, and this legacy paid her. Hinge
are desires' to be given to all friends wham Lady Elizabeth may name,
but particularly to clerks.

LADY PENRYN'S EXTSIAORDINARY WILL. The
follocving are the numerous tit:quests of that benevolent
character; viz..--
'fo :51ra. Fury, with other valimbles, to.rintd...-11crijamin Wyart.
Esq. I.oonl.—lames Greenlielt: Esq. Lat;tl.—To every semen one
year's wages, and 101 for wt.ond mourning, cuelutive of the follow.
mg L.:arks—To John Munn, butler, 404.....-fdra. Lough. house=
keeper, 5001.—Ann Lough, I.udy's own gertant. her teardrobe, with
on annuity of ustl. per annum for hie, and an annuity to her• for each
of her Ladyships three pug dogs dining their lives, 401. eacli„ !gad.—
Elizabeth Kent, !If oL—Mary Ilarris.3ool.—rtir.rituret Golding.3ool,
Charles dames, footman, Ateilra. ditto, 30:r1.- James
Leastead, under butler, 1001—William Giabtle, COFlCillnarl.
John Capper, imam, cool. with the rate of IPVCII horses and seven
dogs, for each horse 451. and each dog 251. per annum during their
lives.—Janis Wilkinson. gamin, 3001—William Nichollß. gardener.
;001 and for his eldest dautthter I(ol.—Mary Bowen, a girl her Lady-
ship brought up, 201. per annum for lite—Georg.-ti Goody, her turner
cuaehinan, zoo'.

Should any one be induced to smile at the animal le-
gacies, their attention should be recalled to the fullowiug
list of years service of soma of he: Ladyship's domestics,
a document attinilinq so meritorious an example to stir-
vivion heads of families, as must place her memory tar
beyond the reach of :

John Capper. groom, 40 years : John Ntarn, butler. 251 John
(;attliffe, coachman. to; (;eor:•e Moore, footman. I 9; (imam. ditto.
16; James grown, ,;• afar; next Lot h, hoarektener. 50;
Mary Ilarrisolitto, 70; INl.EGoliiing. London h.luteltecpar,l9;
beth Kent, seaaary, 14; Ann Lough, Lady's maid, 13; William
Nieholla gartlema, ,

The. above 1.2 individuals, amounting to 2117 years
service ; to which should be added, that Mrs. Fury had
been eer Ladyship's companion more than .50 years.
Thursday, two Jews were baptised into the Christian
faith, at the chapel of Lewis Way, Eq. at Stan4ted, in
Hampshire, who is one of the Vicc-Presidents for the
Niciety for promoting Christian Knowledge among the
Jews.

At the Meeting of the County of Hertford on Satur-
day sennisght the Hon. W. Lamb made a most impres-
sive speech, which was duly felt and applauded; parti-
cularly a part of it, in which he, noticed the conduct of
Queen Anne, who after the pining of the Revenue Bill
in 170 t; thus spoke to the House of Commons:—

"GENTLEMEN 01, Tilt liOtSk: CO3INIONS-1 return you
my kind and hearty thank:, for continuing to [reality life, the Same
revenue you had granted to the King. I will tike care it shall he ma.
nutted to di.. beat ultanta,,e; runt st bile my at',:e.ts remain under the
burthen of eudt great to .a, I 'distrait n my .tal in my nun exlienera.
rather tan net cont..ibut.. all I can to :h .r mar ant, relief, with a 'tut
regard to the rul.fort t tile Namur' ar.d dit.oity of the runts. It is
probable, the revenue way tall very Aar .t of what it farmer'', noxlinceti;
.loweVer, I give iLlcd;olli tont 100,1100;. be a.l Lied to th- public
vvvir, in thin ~10 . or the T0W.124e uu Lave le uteaufinvutl3 Oval
nice"..(SCe