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

regulation of the Civil List in foam, 't here %%utast not be ani
arrear, as compared with the estimate of last year.
Mr:l:must:l hoped that the present enquiry would lead to
discussion that might give a lesson to a certain person, and
force hint to pay his debts hianself. let the House remember,
that the last payment afforded that House had not been re-
ceived with common decency ; It had been consid,red so moth
a matter of course to defray the Prince Regent's extravagance,
that no thanks had ever been returned.
ARMY ESTIMATES.

The debate on the Army Estimates being resumed from last
night,
Mr. LAW said he should vote in their favour.
Lord Fot.tt Knott t: made a most able speech on the danger of
so large a force. lie felt as strongly convinced us he could be
of any truth, unt manifest to his outward senses, that there ex-
isted in !OW(' quarter a resolute determination to establish a
military go% eminent in this country.
Mr. R. W.sito said, the establishment now proposed was ah-
eolutely necessary for the protection of the eonntry and onr
colonies, and be trusted the House would feel nu difficulty in
voting it.
Mr. down Stirru considered the words in the Regent's
speech, that the trade and commerce or the United Kinzdoin
wore is a moat flourishing situation, as tidy intended to deceive
the country.
Sir FRANCIS IitItDETT made a !Wig and able speech against
the 'lodinates, which WWI loudly cheered.
Mr. TIRRNEY described the financial difficulties of the
country; he considered the proposed Estimates as no provision
against future evils, but present exhaustion and min and it'
user war did tonic, there must be a stop to the payment 0;'
the interest of the national debt—we must defraud our credi-
tors, we must sink in bankruptcy,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied at
The House divided—for leaving the Chair, 211 ; against it,
121.—Majority in favour of Ministers,l2o.—Adjourned at tour
ha the morning.

THLRSIIAV, FPs.29.
PROPERTY TAX.

----- —7 - • ----
Petitions were presented from Exeter, Devonshire, Ash-
bourne, Banff, and from Reading, against the Property lax.
sit Jams SIMIAN wished to state fairly lugs sentiments on the
last Petition. It contained, us api ominent feature, an imputa-
tion on the Government of a great dereliction of public WO;
as the tax was to be applicable only to a state of war, and
never to a time of peace. Ile desired to see the end of the
lAA as much as any of the petitioners could. He had attended
Parliament diligently last session ; and he never heard any de-
claration, front which a breach oh' faith could be implied, from
any individual, whatever might be his official situation. It
would he absurd to suppose that Parliarnent made any pledge.
It was alwa+a in the power and duty of Parliament to take
proper measures to wipe away till the arrears of a war. lie
agreed. under all the ciremustai es, that it was desirable nut
to renew the tax, though net from its containing evils which
could nut admit of modifications. Many opulent persons a ere
reached by this tax who would pay nothing to the asseased
taxes. The state of the agricultural interest was peculiarly
distressing. and internal and external commerce were in many
respects at a stand. He was sore Goverument would he de-
ceived in the produce of the first year.
MR. HORNER was happy that the learned gentleman's eon-
stiuients were to have the benefit of his vote against fist tax,
which was the most important feature of Ike petition. Certain-
ty Parliament could not gip e a pledge; it must do its duty ac-
cording to eireuenstancts ; but the case was different as it re-
sevcted Ministers, who wit. charged with forfeiting their
pledge to Parliament ; whit It was the real fact, and a matter
of geese and important consideration. The supply was always
a question beam en Parliament and the Crown on the statement
ministers. He had also attended diligently lest session, and
he had a distinct recollection that the tax was held out as a
war tax only ; to ask now to impose it us a peace tax was a for-
feiture of a promise.
Mr. DA% FAA PORT disapproved of the tax as a peace tax. He
wished the House to stand well with the people, and reject it.
Sir C. MOROAI ST said, that the breach of a pledge generally
aroughout the eountry was among the chief complaints be
•
. and wherever he went, and formed a strong argument against
the. renewal. Petition ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Ihcalasoa presented a petition against the tax from
Wellington iu Some' setskire , which stated various reasons tOr
trot emceeing it—the commercial and agricultural distress, and
tire danger of a standing army. lie was convinced that not
only the propertya.tx, but also many others, nmet be taken off,
or the farmer would not be enabled to till his ground. He could
eow borrow no capital. If the tax were not removed, we
should soon see one class of society sinking down ; and what
would become of the lowest? It' two persons ill 1812 had laid
out eqnal mime of money in the funds and in laud, he who
bought land could now only let it at one-half, Die could meet
with a tenant; but he who funded would buy double the emu
he could at the time lie bought in. The difference wes us Sto
2. But the Minister wanted to do all he could to prop up the
tends. lftlers a man thought the feuds rotten, he would
therefore sooner place his mouey there. It appeared to be
the policy to make the funds all, and the land nothing, though
cultivation was the founilution on which the superstructure
of national prosperity must be laid.
Mr. terailteotern presented a petition from Hull against the
Property-tax. He considered that a pledge bad brew made
:aril broken. lie regretted to say, that it the Preperty-tax
URA curried, ninny would pay more than they ought, to support
type:trances and credit.
Mr. Tnostsoa said, it was universally understood, in and
clout Hull, that the tax wits only a war tax. The country
raid have but little reliance on parliament, if it suffered this
WA to be renewed year utter year, when the necessity t'or it
had reamed. There had not been in Hull in ten years so many
bankrupts as tiering the last ten mouths. The hardships of
uerictilture were excessive in that neighbourhood. Merchants
4 'add appeal against the (hare( ler the tax, and an I 'at
Aran's word might be taken as to what his affairs were ; but the
farmer could get no allow:wee ; Ida appeal was neck's The
people had yielded to the weight of the tax like sheep. and
had been shorn to the bone. Ile hoped the effect of the pill-
lams would be, that we should s ery soon hear that the tax was
dead and gone.
Mr. I KKART presented a similar petition from the united
(wishes of St. Andrew and St. George the Martyr. He thought
the tax peculiarly hard on traders; yet a properly tax, if ne-
cessary, might be so framed as to reach the means of those who
laud really the ability to pay it. support a property
tax modified with a view to the fonds anal places and pensions.
It' this was called a breach of faith, he should say it was the that
duty of Parliament to adopt till measures that were fair and
expedient to promote the aaricull tire of the country.
Fir 3. NEWPORT thought the Hon. Member should, in his
0011;a:its reject the proposed tax, and bring in a bill according
to hi, IMO itWs. Ir. taxing places and pensions lie would give
Li... his support.