The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-11 00:00:00

Tt.LNp.tv, IN,tHutu

Petitions were presented from East Town, Ross, likliMl-
bright,ClilppeUllanl, Horsham, LudioW,Kingstoemponv't haloes,
J)attwuuth, Lymino ion, Annanildle; 'Sou diairp ion, 01 ciV
GriiMby, CAE.blidge, and Deal, against any renew al of
the Property Tax uhtler any modifieritions whatever.
Mr. Win. Drintlas presented one bout Edinburgh against the
Property Tax. Five others Were presented lion, Ldiaburgh
and its vicinity.
Mr. S. Thornton presented one Irmo Clapham.
Sr: A. Hope presented one from Linlitlicmw, and stated that
the importation of butter and cheese should be kir a time sin-
vended.
Mr. Pox SIAM' wished to know if the Noble Lord opposite
considered this i'etition as coming from some of those whinii
the Noble Lord called clamourers against the ax. Did lie
still continue to thank there was only a partial opposition to
this Tax, excited by those who sat on his (Mr. P.'s) side of the'
House% lie (Mr. P.) F.6ew Of ilo atielnlolS which hail been made
to excite clamour against the Tax ; but this lie knew, that the
objection to the TAX was so general. as no endeavour of any
set of men, whatever might have been their situation, could
kayo excited. It was the real voice of the people limn one
end of the country to the other, a voice to which lie wished the
Noble Lord would attend.

Lord Caertadutaon did not consider the thus discussing the
subject partially as a fair or vonvenient mode of disetis g the
Property Tax, though he did not consider it as likely to excite
clamour against it. And he had said, that those who were the
first to agitate this measure, and who rose it from of to In
pt cent, when they were in power, were the last who should
argue agaiost the principle of the 'fax. He last night con-
ceded to Gentlemen opposite, that this was a different mervaire
when considered in time of peace to what it was in time of war,
and Gentlemen seemed surprized at the coaccasion. He would
now concede something more.—He should now argue it still as
M ar hear.)--He should argue the necessity for
it • continuance whilst we were 3et under the influence of the
late contest. He had used the word clamour, and he world
floss repeat it, and upon these grounds; namely, that thus en-
deavont ing to raise debate upon even Petition, ietime the me-
rits of the question could be gone into, was rather to clamour
down than to argue down the 'fax.
Mr. Hotta tat couteuded, that the Property Tux and the
I:sta blish wilds were so closely connected, that it was impossible
to 'harms onc without the other.
3lr. 'Mt 7:EY was sorry to see the Noble Lord so sore as he
appeared to he on the subject. The Noble Lord had the talent
bloiving hot and cold- - peace and war—ill the same breath.
But the Noble Lord shomd have known his own mind and de-
cided, whelher he would has e it war or peace before he put
the Declaration of Peace into the Prince Regent's Speech.
But at that time it would appear the Noble Lord wanted a
Speech and au Address, and therefore he would have Peace ;
he had got his Speech and Address, and Peace had done its
duty: but now the Noble Lord wanted the Property Tax, and
to ::et it the Noble Lord would have it War--.lbar, hear.)—
The Noble Lord said, there was only a factious opposition to
this measure. He (Mr, T.) was ready now, without a single
word being said on the subject, to take the sense of the House,
man by man, if the Noble Lord would suffer it to be taken Wily
upon the measure.
Mr. VAIkbITTART would take this opportunity of stating
sonic of the modifications under which he intended to propene a
continuation of the Tax.. —He had, ou a former night, stated his
intention to propose recicim; the Tax to five per cent., and
timber, to repeal one million of that part of it which pressed
on the agriculturists. On consuitation with those best in-
formed on die subject, it appeared to him that the best mode
to be adopted would be, to make the greatest part of tlos re-
iluctimi Schedule R. the Ten: inns Tax. This part of the Tax
had heretofore been imposed in the proportion,.t'three-tirurihs
of the n lit. Ile should propose, on this head, that iu dame it
should be taken at the third of the value of the hind. Thus a
farm paying 6001. a year rent, would be assessed at .4001. and at
the rate e ftive per emit. amounting to a charge of 101. ; mid he
should also propose, that even this reduced scale should not be
br...azait lower than to thrins of .1501. a year. • The Right lion.
Gentleman stated, that in ;aspect to incomes of 1501. pier ann.
the relief' which would be atbarded was intended to be very
considerable. All possessing incomes below that sum would,
accerditig to the statement he had before made, be exempt
front the Operation of the Tax. It had been said, that in the
remoter parts (tithe country, the agricultural and trading part
of the community acre incompetent to pay any of the Tax,
however I.:riddled it might be. This was a subject for the con-
sideration of the Committee; and he shank' propose, in the de-
tails which he should give in the Committee, that a distant pe-
riod be given them for making their payments. There would
be some other poiats of relief for the agricultural part, %ti hick
he would also state, Ou the subject of the trading part, there
was no mode of assessing ttaders, without requiring them to
make returns of their income. This mode had formed a prio-
cipid ground of objection raised by the opposers of the Tax,
and on which much misrepresentation bad gone abroad, as to
the levy Mg of the Tax, and the hardship endured by traders.
lie heti firrmerly said that it would Mil on them equally, but to
this it was retorted, that in fell on the poor, and not on the rich.
The fact was, that by returns matte, it appeared that not more
than one-fourth of the very low description of traders were
charged with the Tax. But, however, the subject would In
snore properly discussed in the Committee, and if any plan
could be devised, er any new mode of levying the tax en trade
be proposed, he :bond be happy to lend an ear to it, and if
feasible, to carry it into ettect.
Mr. Dant:HAM thought the modifications, however, cof
so insidious a nature, in respect to trade, that he trusted nu
sanitary gentleman wetad ague h, the tax; Mr, in his opinion,
it was a most dishonest mode to relieve one part of the commu-
nity at the expence or the other. He then observed that tour
vears ago the discussions on the Orders in Council lasted near
a mouth, and cons Meet! Petitioners that their Petitions
were attended to. It had the effect of allaying the ferment in
the public "dud, and pittance(' a successfal opposition to the
measure then iu question. Much hail been said by the Right
lion_ Gentleman about the moditicatiom.; he warnial the coun-
try against being deceived by a semblance oi modifications.
No doubt, as he had said, he was gLal to Like the Tax oil any
terms, but he trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman would be
driven from modification to god& ,istioti, until at lemah he
would be obliged to give it up.
Tax, if now opted to,
was too large —too tempting a bap.-- for Ministers ever to Sire
up. The time to oppose it stie,:essfally vs.:s now, or the oppor-
tunity was lost, cud therefore he called upon the House and
the country to mai,e a stand.
Cli RGES AGAINST 1,01111 ELLEN BOROUGH.

Lord Cot IIRMSI: ro.e to bring torward 1114 Slotion n the
F4llo4.'et Or the conduct of !And E:,..nhotougli in the t. 1.11 of
De fierenger. Th., Noble d exi..e..sell the mate of his ft-cl-
ings in. resreet to his trial; the infkuuuus sentence passed upon