The National Register.
London, England, 1814-12-18 00:00:00

DEC. IS.

The appalling intimation on the part of Ministers of their
intention to continue the P opertv-Tax, in defiance of the
pledge given to the public at the time it originated, that it
was to cease with the war, has produced throughout the
eouetry a simultaneous feeling of despondency and alarm.
To yield to this tax in perpetuity, is a burthen, the contem
plation of which is calculated to shake the nerves of the '
most phlegmatic. That the expences incident to the pro-
lougatien of the American War, are alone the motive with
Ministers for persisting in so odious and unpopular a mea-
sure, and that with the termination of the war, this tax
would cease, few will believe, who cast a sober eye to the
general state of the financial concerns of this country.
We are induced to think the true state of the case to he,
that were the country now enjoying the profoundest and
most unqualified peace, the enormous amount of annual in-
terest due to the public creditor, together with the itais-
pensible charges of a peace establishment. will effectually
prevent the relinquishment of this prolific source of revenue.
How Ministers wi I steer their way between the storm of pub-
lic clamour, and the financial adversities they have to en-
counter, is not easy to discover. Perhaps a kind of compro-
mise will take place between them and the public; and
after obviating some of the most obnoxious features of this
sadly oppressive tax, a reduced per centage will be proposed,
which from the bare contrast with its present exactions, will
be submitted to without More opposition than that afforded
by a Lttle transitoty grumbling,.
In whatever way this subject may be disposed of, the case
of the occupiers of land presents so irresistible a claim on the
justice of the et u'itrv, that we cannot entertain a doubt
of its meeting that redrcssive attention it so obviously and
imperiously demands
The -inhabitants of the Ward of Cripplegate met on Mo n
day, and agreed to petition Parliament against the renewal
of the Property Tax.—A meeting is shortly to be held in
Westminster for a similar purpose, and in many parts of the
country they are following the same example.

A report is again circulated that there are to be changes
in the Ministry. The Duke of Wellington, Marquis Wel-
lesley, and some of their immediate friends, arc mentioned
as coming in; Lot d Caittereagh to be called up to the
House of Lords, and made nonier, vice Lord Liverpool,
ticho retires.

The French papers mention that a note of great import-
ance has been presented by Lord Castlereap,b to (..01111t Ncs•
scbode, in which his Lordship complains of the delay inter-
posed by Russia in the arrangement of the fate of Poland.
Pussia is said to have first proposed the union of Poland to
her dominions: this was resisted and abandoned. Then,
that Poland should be erected into a- kingdom under the
controu I or influence of Russia; this was deemed equally
; and, it is added, that Lord Castlereagh threat-
ened, if it wet e persisted in, to shut up the Sound, and in-
terdict all communication with the Baltic.

-The ncgociation of Lord Strangf:ird, for the final and
total abolition of the Slave Trade under the Portuguese flag
and authk.rity, is terminated, and the Court of the Brazils
has assented to. its cessation within the term of four years.
An edict to this effect was placarded at Peinandruco and the
other pricipal settlements, that the merchimts might have
doe notice on the subject.

Letters from Warsaw of the 24th ult. mention, that Mar-
sl.al Barclay tie 'Folly has ordered great magazines :o- he
formed in the departments of Cracow, &c. Rlissian
and poli'ib troops were di,Z!), under revitw of the Wand
Duke Cclwantine.

POLITICAL PROPHECY.

857

The following prophecy appears so near to completion
that the Editor of the Times will feel obliged to us for
proving to the public the accuracy of his speculations :
" The Wisdom, prudence and discretion characterizing
the polic,y of Louis X must cause a general explosion'
in France ; if if has been retarded bll political dqicullics,
the cause of triumph will onlj be 11w mere rapid) •and the
most astontshing events incr.?) be predicted.

Sir George Murray left town on Thursday evening to etn•
bark on board of the Niobe, at Portsmouth, t 4 proceed by the
way of Halifax to Canada ; he is not going out, • as has been
erroneously represented in the papers, to supersede Sir
George Prevost, being only a Major. General, and junior to
several General Office's serving in the Canadas.
II Commodore Owen left town on the same service on Friday

Mr. Cannintr arrived at Lisbon on the 2gth ult., and no..
finding a convenient residence ready for his reception, he
returned on board the Leviathan, where it was nudcrsto►4
he intended to remain till his furniture arrived 110111 Eng-
land.

The Afadrid Gazette. announces that the Ex-Minister, Ma.
cannz, will be con►fcned ten years in the strong Castle (t
Antoine, at Coruntia. His daughter will be detainecl is a
Conveut.

An expeditinn, on a large scale, is fitting out at Cadiz.
destined against Buenos Ayres—it is expected to sail about
the end of January.
The law for restoring the unsold estates of emigtants,
which passed the French Chamber of Deputies by a latgt!
majority, has been carried with .'ill greater unanimity
through the Chamber of Peers, there being in its fivour 1-00
votes out of 103. Macdonald, Duke of Tarente, who
spoke very eloquently in favour of the restitution of un-
sold estates, has given notice that we will propose a law for
granting annuities to tkose emigrants whose estates have
passed into other hands by a national sale. e• This measto(,
eminently just and politic," said the Mat shal, " will po,:sess
the immense advantage, that by airing a compensation to
those who have lost their all, it will at once put an end to
their legitimate complaints, and will dissipate all alarms in thu
bona fide purchasers of national domains."

MATIC REGISTER.