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

PROPERTIL"FAX.

Mr. Msnnoiras presented a petition from Roston, in Lin-
coinshire, complaining of the difficulties under which they
labour on account of the Property-tax, and praying its repeal.
The Hon. Member stated the general distress of the Petitioners,
and asked the following questions of the Right Hon. Gentle-
man :—lf a landlord receives no rent, is he haute to the Tax?
If a tenant makes no profits is lie also liable ? and, Is the To;
to last for one or two years, se: more?—\o answer was given.
Hr, METIIt Es observed, that there did not appear any dis-
position ou the part of Ministers to modify the Tax; which
was, in fact, not a tax upon income, but one upon no income at
all. Ile should be glad to know, as the country was so greatly
distressed, where the labourer was to find work, or the pauper
bread? He should vote against the Tax, because he considered
it a tax peculiarly pressing upon that desetiition of persons
already overburthened.
Mt. Barna:Han lamented that no answer was given by Mi-
nisters to the questions of his lion. Fi amid ; they were, as had
been well observed on a former night, " stricken with dnmh-
liesS." However; as that was really their infirmity, and tlity
cueld not, or would not answer, he begged to suggest to them
not to hurry the question through the Houses He warned them
against neglecting the voice of the nation, which he believed
ivy stared nut neglect. He would use all the forms which the
law authorised, to prevent those Right Hon. Gentlemen from
stemma% and stillaig the voice of the people; hutl therefore be
gave them notice, that upon all occasions vs hen the tax came
forward he :Mould endeavour to convince the House that the
people ought to he heurst.—i Hear, hear.)
Mr. N'AXSITTAIST expressed his surprise at the declaration
of the Hon. Gentleman, of threwing impediments in the way of
the business of the House ; he did not tear the threat of the
Hon. Gent. nor Widt" lie tie deterred from pursuing his duty.
In respect to the accusation of not answering tile questions put
to him, he only waited till the Petition Was brought np in the
regular way to love the answer. As to tie first—whether any
modifications would be matte, he wished to observe, that the
modilications could oily take place in the Committee upon the
Bill, where sue suggestions would receive the deliberate in-
vestigatioo of the whole House; he' should not then be found
wanting in his duty, in attending to any modifications which
ought seem necessar!. As to the jilts-lino/lit:OD of (May, he
wished to give all possible time the coasideration ; fiat what
time would there be, as the Bill must pass before April, of con-
sidering fully the question, it it sins to be deferred till the mid-
dle of .dareli. But these were questions proper fur the ecnii•
make. I k had intended to propose that the tax should too-
Unite for two years, said not hey and ; it being his hope and
'Nish that it. duration should then terminate. Gentlemen had
said, that the country Was endangered by the tax—that he must
deny; the tau had not
,placed the country iu danger, but the!
misrepresentations of its tendency w Well had gone forth, and
especially that gross out, namely, that she faith of Parliallient
had been pledged for its ceasing with the war.....(//car, hear.)

The tact was not so ; the faith of Parliament had never been
sopledged, nod the Bill was expressly framed with that stew;
for the words " no longer," inserted in the 4cts of 1803 and
IMO 6, were ontittli in the Bill of last Session.—(Loud cries a!
Hear, hear. )

Mr. Marne sta declared that he objected to the tax on ac-
count of its inquisitorial tendency.
Sir S. Romittr could not listed to the reason assigned by
the Right Hon. Gentleman for not giving more time to consider
the tax. because it expired on the I fth of April, without ex-
pressing his sense of the indecency of calling the Parliament
together at so late a period ; which cooid base been for no
o'her reason than to prevent the ripresentat,ves from stating
to their constituents their opinion of the tax. Ministers knew
the distresses of the country at the coil of the last session; and
were they not bound in candour to have told the country that
the tax was to be a permanent one, but they had deceived the
country. The people bad submitted, as a war tax, to destiny
the power of Bnonaparte. The war concluded with l.r destine-
tion of that power ; and now it comes out (and the truth could
not be too much impressed on the Howie and :he politic) that
the tax was voted to keep up a large military establishment !is
support Louis XVIII. nod his family on the throne of France,
and not for British objects. Let it he recollected, that so large
a stamliug army as that now proposed could not be supported
without depriving some persons of the comforts, but many
more of the eery necessaries of life. The object was, to sup-
port a monarch who had violated the liberty of the Press, and
of elections in France, and conuived at the persecutions of the
Protestants.—The Hon. and Learned Gentleman is illustration.
of the latter assertion, stated, that in the department of the
Gard, all the vilest crimes, even inuidez, had not (seen punished
by the Government.-200 persons had been murdered in that
department, 240 houses hermit, of which houses were at
Nismes ; SO women of the highest respectability had been
scourged and hunted in the public streets, eight of whom had
died under the torture.--( Ilsar,krue.) Notwithstanding al
this, had one criminal suffered? The Government appeared
to disregard the conduct of the criminal, and to support covert-
ly als Mil of religious oppression. Was it so in Fugland dorn g
the riots of HMI, w :an the mob destroyed the property of the
Catholics? On the contrary., did not the British Governmeht
prosecute to death the delinquents, and institute procee lines
against the Lord Mayor of London for his co ward:ce in not
repressing the outrageous conduct of the mob % The Gm em-
inent of France were supine with respect to the Prefect of
Nismes, who still I condom] at the head of the Government. It
was true, that a Proclamation had been issued by the King,
'toting, that an atrocious crime bad been committed in the De-
partment of the Garde, in respect to the person of Gen. La-
garde. Why! instead of one crime, hundreds had been com-
mitted, and the Government knew the fact. The atoIILISOI of
Lagar& was known ; be was one Guassay, a voluni. er serjeant,
whs. might be easily taken, and yet the Pref.-et lead made a
declaration that he was not known. These were sonic of the
strong reasons why ha would not support a tax which went to
maintain an army merely for the purpose of supporting on the
throne a family with opinions and actions such as he had de-
scribed.

Mr. 1'014,41N8Y contended, that if the words " no longer"
meant nothing, why did the Right lion. Gentleman leave then&
out Of the Bill r But the assurance► of the Right Hell. Gentle-
man, and his promises und hopes, were delusive, and misled the
public. lie stated last %ear, that the /lank Restriction would
expire this year, but it had been coutie.ied ; and re could tell
him, that his predictions %%me idle. The Property Tax would
not expire at the end of two years—it would be entailed on this
nation in order to support Ministers io their extravagant esta-
blishments.

Mr. HUMID maintained that the Ministers, perhaps without
intending it, had deceived the public; and every Gentleman
ho consented to vote for the Tax had been deluded by the
Government to decei‘e their Constituents.

Lord FoLasTos.E onserved, that the Right Iton. Gentleman
wished to shut the doot., against the voice of the people. He
defended Gentletnen en his side of the House front the impu-
tation) of misrepresentation. Every person who could think
and feel absolutely ti. tested the tax ; they had met, and in the
constitutional may, by l'etition, but Ministers vs ished to stale
the national voice.

31r. CALCRAFT was compelled to state (having voted for the
continuance of the tax for one year), that it was under the idea
it was to continue thr that time and no longer. lie believed
the maim ity of the House thought the same. It was therefore
deinsiv e inthe Right lieu. Geutlemanov hom he always hitherto
thought a plairdlealing man, to come forward with his Bill in
his pocket now, and say the words " no longer," were left out
ou purpose.—(Naar, heir.; --Why was not he, at the time he
called Mr the vote, cmidid enough to tell the !louse so; but ie.
stead of so doing, he had deceived him, and the nation in ge-
neral.—(Hear, hear.)
31r. TIER NEV seashell to remind the Right Hon. Gentleman,
when he was talking of inconvenience ha not passing the Act
before the sth of April, that on turning to the original Act he
found that it passed on the nth of August 1503.—( Hear, heur.)
N's:.set TART observed, that it the Hun. Geutlenian had
been uaisi d by him, it was without any intention. No sue%
words as its tNuntinuatice Mr one year only had taller from his
lips, He had oti two occasions, namely, on the 20th of Fe-
bruary ; and on another, es.pressed his Ii pcs that it might not
continue fotmore than one year. He had then stated a case of
necessity, which he should have recourse to now ; and if ou those
grounds the HOOWI4I4JOItt not consider the tax as jUstithible, he
would nut press it.— (JI, ar, hear.)
Sir F. BID DVIT could nut help contratidating the country on
the encouragement which the Chancellor of the Exeliequor
had held out of persevering, which if they did, lie had no
doubt would obtain them the object of their desire. The Hun.
Baronet stated a case of a landlord, in which it was shewn to
the Commisshmers that he derive d no rents or profits from the
land, yet he was ordered to pay the Property-tax. He knew
another instance of a clergyman with an income worth lotto,.
a year, who this year rectivtd only rents, and was assess-
ed tool, and further to the l'uor's Rates 1501. These sums Ina
was compelled to pay,—(Mar, hear.)-1t had heen said that
the people had been misled by the Right Hon. Gi nt.; and
gentlemen bad complained of being entrapp...d to vote for the
measure us a temporary one; now, for his part, he had never
been deceived by the Right lime. Gent., fur lie in•ver believed
any other story than that the Property-tax was intended to
be a permanent inemaire.--them, /vireo—But the Bight lion.
°cut. had talked of necessity—clot was the {lea 01 Clarks
1. when he demauded shipdnoney. Ho alluded to the suits
or extents issued blunt the L.ehcquer, to the autouLt of 30
%%latch was a disgrace to tlae country-. Why, he wake,!,
did out the Governutent make use of that money eoheCtet: a td
lying useless, chile the snitois ur claimants were preferring
their claims, which they valeta never get. The iinchlinted
di-
vidends was another source of relief. Adverting to the battle
1 of Waterloo, lie said, that ihe battle had turned the right SS ,
and Ministers like gamesters at card., when their last stake
MD in baud) cried nut, "double or yids;" they played deep.

and the game had certainly turned to their favour.-- -( hair.
hear. )--He deprecated the erection of barracks, and stated
the opinion of she great Lord Chatham, " that when a barrack
we built in Etat end, adieu to the liberties of the country.'
weee now i t the midst of barracks, and soriatinded by dis-
Vess. He rep c :Led Country Gentlemen to ;wiseacre in op-
posing the tax.
Lord EIRRINGTON regretted dins c Right Hut Gentleman
bast not intimated a wish to del the consideration et' the tax.
He strongly recommended the Country Gesitletmin to smite in
noposing the tax, which was ,$) Bopp.. tan ettormaiss Military
E•tahlaaiment, lie hoped the Noble Lord had not imbibed
a ty British jealousies of the triliairy nations on the Continent
whoa he was there; for a military spirit was the bane and the
curse of Europe.
Mr. Pu ENTON repeated his former st aements of the distresses
of the country, of which he could read the House a hisairy.
He denominated the Chancellor of the Exchequer a puny,
miscalcsdating person; and said, he could be content to go
down the stream of time, if the (listen only affect. d himself;
but when the lillOte country were involved, he could Out avoi
Genoa, and expressing those feelings.
Mr. Ws'N NE was sorry to find his Right Hon. Friend persist-
ing in not allowing the people time to express their opittion on
this subject. Meetings would be held in every part of the tui-
tion is a few days, anti it was the duty of every gentleman oho
bad coastitnents, to delay, if' possible, the disco/aim) on this
important subject, till those constituents had had time to de-
alers their opinion. He also much regretted that such language
as had been n•ed should have been adopted,by Ministers, as—
" Ignorant impaticoce of taxation ;"—" exagge rated state-
ments," aaa Were these the proper terms to be used towards
the people who. for 12 years, had borne their but-them with
unexampled patience:-Such language as this tended only to
destroy the confidence of the people in their Representatives.
Mr. Rose thought the present discussion on the Property-tax
was premature. It was impossible to jndge of the propriety of
tie tax till the necessity for it was shown ; and if it should be
found on montiry that the money was necessary, be was con-
vinced no tax could be proposed which would press so fairly
and equally upon the public as this would.--'Near, hear.)—ile
should like to hear those gentlemen who call so lousily Mae,
hear, state what taxes they would propose, inlien of this, which
would not press harder on the middling class of people. lie
wished gentlemen would stiffer this tax to have a fair and coo!
discussion.
Mr. I'omm:siva agreed with the Right lion. Gentleman. A
cool dismission of the tax was what be wanted. With respect
to the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman, it staoned to have
only tulle subject, tind that was, to terrify the people, by saying. '
to them, do not petition against the Property 'lax; for if that
tax is repealed, the fruitful mind of the Chancellor of the Ex-
carpier will discover sonic other ttx instead, which will be '
ten-told more borthensome to you. This was an entirely new
way of addressing the Representatives of the People, and
through them the People themselves.
Mr. BROUGHAM felt snore than ever convinced of the neces-
sity of delay in bringing forward this measure. The Right
Hots. Gentleman who had jnst sat dawn had said nothing less
than this--at present you feel only the little finger of the Chan-
cellor of the Excises's:eta but soon you shall feel the weight of
his whole hand. fitter such a declaration, was it not fitting
the people should have time to caress their opinions.
Mr. H. ADDING:ION vindicated the Chancellor of the Es-
chequer from the charge of precquitanry on this occasion. (In
the bust day of the Sessions, and several times since. his Right •
Hon. Friend had declared his intention of proposing a con-
tinuation of the Property-tax. A month hail siuce elapsed,
during the whok: of which time there had been every oppor-
tunity of the people'', presenting their Petitions. With respect
To his Right Hon. FI lend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
House most feel that he, of all men, must most anxiously look
forward to and desire a reduction of the taxes.
Mr. Fe EE MA scree vat, persuaded there was not a single Gen-
demon in the house, except lurked the Right lion. Gentleman
and his Friends, who, wheu he asked, last soar, for the Pro- I
petty-tax for one year looter, understood it was to be con-
tinned as a Peace Tax. The Hon. Member then proceeded
to condemn the Property-tax in strong terms ; and observed,
that he ousted the House would now withhold it: as, if the
Property-tax was not granted, the military establishment of
the country trust 1w reduced. Under the present contemplated
Peace Establishment no greater saving than Aix millions an-
nually would b. made. He would ask if this was a fit return
ta the people for all the sacrifices they had made for 20 years
past
Lord BINNING did not recollect any pledge having been
given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on proposing the
continuation of the Property-tax last year, that it shoeld con-
tinue 'only during the war; indeed, the circumstances under
which its continuance was proposed, rendered the giving such
a pledge impossible.—'ith respect to any attempt on the part
of Ministers to stifle the public voice, a crime which had been
imputed to them, it was almost unnecessary to offer a word in
answer to a charge so absurd.
Mr. Ban iNO was perfectly aware that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer had declared his opinion on the Property-tax over
and over again ; and all he (Mr. B.) wanted was, that this peo-
ple should house au opportunity of declaring their opinion once.
The Noble Lord who spoke last, and a Right Hon. Gentleman,
who spo'se before him (Mr. Rose% had said, that if it should be
found the proposed establishment was necessary, then money
must be had ; ana if the Property-tax was repealed, sonic other
must be imposed which might be found mare oppressive. He
(Mr. Baring) would render this unnecessary, by obliging the
Right Hun. Gentleman to reduce the estalslisliment. This could
ouly be done, it appeared, by putting it out of the power of
Ministers to provide for its support. Once reduce the Establish-
meat; and the necessity for the tax, the only argument which
could be adduced in its favour would be "done away. The
House had been told of the wealth and prosperity of the coun-
try : had the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Noble Lord, and his
f tends, travelled the country lately? If they had, they would
hose seen the dift rence. Nu, he l'OrgOt they might probably
base travelled ; but if they had, their travels were probuhly
coufined to the read between Loudon and Brighton, and this
rout perhaps was all mirth, joy, and festivity.
Mr. WALLACE defended the Tax, and observed, that no re-
duction (amid by possibility be made in our proposed Establish-
ment to an amount exceeding 000,0001, and therefore the In-
come-tax would still be necessary.
Sir J. M AtAINTOSIt contended, that almost every county in
the kingdom was called on, and in seven or 8 days would meet,
to express thou opinion mu the Prapertyaax. But the Right
lion. Gentleman now wanted to force the House into a consi-
deration of this subject on Friday next, behore these °pintoes
could possible reach the House ; aad thus, by pledging the
House to a cettain extent, put a stop to die petitions being
received at all : but, by adopting this course, the Right lion.
Gentleman would deprive the people of our of their dearest .
birthrights.
Afte: o few words from Mr. PnE.STON,the Petition was read.

TIIE NATIONAL RP.GISTEIt.

ARMY ESTIMATE.S.

The adjourned debate on the Army Estimates was then re-
sumed.
Mr. J. P. GRANT considered the percent question as one 1,1
the greatest importance which could possibly come before the
House. Gentlemen were now called on to vote that which, it
they agreed to, would be to give their sanction to an attempt to
int millet. a Military Goveniment into this country in the place
of our present Constitution. He, tile one, could ne.cr agree
that there WAS n necessity for our maintaining a standing arm),
during a time of profound peace, of 00,000 men. 'There never
had been, ou any former occasion, a Peace Establishment of
more than 50,040 men ; and be could not now look without
alarm at an attempt to inerease it threefold. He had the great-
est confidence and the highest opiaion of the honour of the
Officers who commanded this army; but he could not consent
to put the liherties of the country in the power of any class of
men or Ministers whatever. If the votes now asked were
agreed to, it would form a precedent for keeping up such an
armed fiIITP as would 'Toiler the. Crown independent of any
contronl; and the House of Cm 1111 l ons might, at no very dis-
tant period, find itself the Representative Body of a people
free only in name.

Air. Yonne explained.
Mr. limit NSON said, the present question was not whether
we should have an establishment or not, but how far, in a con-
stitutional view, we might go. Gentlemen were very partial
to drawing comparisons between the present estimates and
those of 1791, %%idiom considering that the establishments of
that year were the establishments of a year after seven years of
peace. And further, Gentlemen always wished to take the
present proposed establishment OS a permanent peace establish-
ment, which it by 'uo twans was. He was convinced that when
the subject should have been fairly discussed, the people of
England, who, w hen left to themselves, always thought right,
would also determine in favour of the proposed Establishment.
With respect te endangering the Constitution, or the free-
dom of the conntry, he had as high a value fur these as any
man could have. le believed it was ow in to their being so
free that v e were so great a people, and thought it was only by
our continuing free that we timid eontinue great. He did not
consider that our freedom would be at till endangered by agree-
ing to the estimates now before the House; and feeling that
they Here necessary for the honour and interests of the coun-
try, he would give them his conscientious support.
Alr. FItEEMANTLe folllll.l Cillied Upoll to Oppose these
Estimates, both on the ground of constitutional danger and
expense. lie contended that our rich colonies ought to sup-
port the whole or part el their establishments. Since the com-
mencement of the war, the people had paid, in direct taxation,
1033 ; and together, directly or indirectly, 1750 mill
lions. Sltrely. After such sacrifices, the House should pause
before they hard on the peoplz a peace expenditure of nearly
seventy millions u year.

Lord BINNING thonp,ht the nignments of the lion. Gentleman
called strongly Obi the House to go into the Committee, in
which it might toe shown whether the (con sinical arrangements
he had recommended were practicable or not. In.tcari of this
being a scheme to throw on us the traounels of a military despo-
tism, he contended that, in a Committee it would be shown,
that the establishment proposed was necessary for the tnainte-
teuanee of our liberties.

Sir R. tikRUN said, no one could argue that a standing army
to some amount should not be kept up, hut there was a great
difference between a standing army of aS,nOO men and one of
130,000. it would he impossible to keep up these establish-
ments without draining the country so as to reduce us to a state
of national bankruptcy. If we must have foreign alliances, let
theta be made on the principles of civil liberty, and not to main.
lain a parcel of despots on their thrones. Since the batik of
IVaterloo, our union with the despots (with the Duke of Wel-
lington for their High Constable. and the Noble Lord as their
Gentleman Usher) was not for the benefit of the people. That
union timid never be against any King except such an one as
the King of Saxony; it would never be against the beloved
Ft:Mitt:mit These Sovereigns allowed their armies to he paid
by us —they had &leaded themselves and attacked their mor-
tal enemy, at our expense. They charged 111. 2s. for evily
man, dead or alive, whom they brought to our assistance, or
rather to their own. All loans made by us to them were quite
forgotten. He supposed they would not be dunned by a nation
of shopkeepers, though at the point of bankruptcy. They were
our most magnanimous and rapacious lough.)
Mr. Ptah*: contended, that if he had to address a House
composed of Irish members, he could easily chew that the civil
power in Ireland was at present inadequate to the maintenance
of tranquillity there, and that 23,000 men were absolutely ne-
cessary fur that purpose. But as an Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman (Brougham) said last night, that England was not Ger-
many: so let Gentlemen remember that England was not
Ireland; and therebtre, when legislating for Ireland, let them
nut think they were doing so for England. In Ireland they had
not that inestimable blessing—a resident gentry ; and they had
an encreaing population, without means of employment. A
military force was necessary for the usual military duties; in
aid of the civil power; and to keep dowu that grievous bane
to Ireland—illicit db.tillation. He was not more partial than
others to the employment of the military for maintaining the
civil peace ; but it was better that by the army the midnight
incendiary and murderer should be apprehended, than dint
they should be suffered to escape. 'the loyal and industrious
peasant deserved protection; and unless it were also afforded
to the country gentleman, they would not reside on their estates.
Mr. W. WVSNE said, that if the tremendous picture drawn
by the Right Hon. Gentleman was correct, it surely, at leant,
should be substantiated by ample enquiry ; and it was the duty
of the House to use every effort to remedy suck alarming et
But he was not sure whether the employment of the military
force un all civil prucesses would not tend still more to weaken
the respect entertained in Ireland for the laws. (In the stub
ject of going into the Committee on the Estimates, he conteod-
ed that it would be infinitely more constitutional to vote a
sum fur the payment of the army in France, and that the stun
to be paid by Franey for the maintenance of that allay should
be lodged in the Treasury under the coutroul of Parliament.
On this ground, if the mot' for going into the Committee
should succeed, lie should feel it his duty to more, that if it be
no inetruetion to the Committee to provide a aunt for the pay
of the army in France. He felt ito apprehension Irmo the
power of France, crippled as it was ; but he apprehended
danger from the military spirit which was growing in the coun-
try .—Thirty years ago there were 110 soldiers stationed at the
British .luseurei or the Royal Academe, but now there were;
and, besides, the passages through St. James's were stopped by
soldiers, hi lueaeli of the Privileges of the Mouse, even to
Members, by an authority which he was disposed to question;
and he hoped smite one would bring the subject forward, to
know by what authority the Exteutit e Government had order-
ed those passages to be stopped.
Sir .1. NEMPUItT agreed with the Right lion. Gentleman
(Mr. Peek) that a LE4,I force than what was sought for Ireland,

MARCH :I.

aoidd b impolitic at present. not he wished that pi rntrocid,
and not temporary remedies, should be found for the evils on.
der which Ireland laboured., Such remedies could folly be
found in the Report of a Committee appointed to inrynire into
the real state of Ireland.
Lord FOLK-ATONE moved an adjournment, to which Mr. Van-
nittart agreed: anti at Two o'Cloek the Debate was adjourned
till the next dav .
W run Est) IN, FEB. 28.

Petitions from the Borough of from duce of the
Iliindreils of Stith.)lk, from Armidel, and from FLli:shire, were
presented against the Property Tax.
Mr. Jos/Es said, the people of this country had shewn that
spirit of nationality which distinguished them above all others
by patiently bearing the burdens of taxation when they MR,/
how absolutely necessary they were for insuring success to the
great contest in which we had been engaged : but It was on.
ateful to weigh them down and sink them to the earth when
peace had again promised her long sought blessings.
Serjeant Onshow protested against the adoption of the Pro-
perty Tax in time of peace ; and he hoped that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer would himself see the impropriety of pressing
upon the people what they seemed neither willing nor able to
endure.

Sir K. HERON stated his reasons for having, on a former oc-
casion, voted for the tax, and why he should in the present ses-
sion decidedly oppose it.
The Hon. L. Mantis presentee' a Petition from York, and
Mr. Cone one from Brandon, in Suflidl•, and front Swathe:la,
in Norfolk, against the Property Tax.
Sir F. Hunt:ls:TT brunch! op Is Petition from the town of
Monmouth against the Property Tux. The Petition, he be-
lieved, complained not only of the want of faith in Parliament,
and the gross violation of their pledge in endeavouring 14 per-
petuate a measure which was scarcely tolerable in the moat
dreadful warfare, nut which was never to be bolos. by a iree
people in a period of thinquillity ; but of the pensions which
had been granted ,a) lavishly by NliniVerial influence, and those
sinecure places which were given to men who hail dune no-
thing in the service of their country.--Ordered to be laid on
the table.

Mr. P.Monne brought up a Petition from Coventry against
the Propotty-tax. The Hon Member reminded this House of
what he had said in the course of the last Session, that he would
not contribute, and he should always advise his constituent•
and the country not to contribute, one shilling towards the
establishment of the Bourbons on the throne of France, lie
said, that great as this petition stated the distress at Coveutry
to be, it stated not a tenth part of the sufferings. The House
would be shocked to hear, Brit the pittince afforded by a
work-house, with all its disadvantages, '0 far excelled what
was to be had by the lower classes of the people without it,
that interest was frequently exerted to be permitted to share
it.

Mr. BU TTERWORTH did not think that the tax wetild have
been so oppressive, had it not been levied upon income as well
as property. Whatever Ministers mixht say, the country was
in a state of unprecedented distress that euald only be fully
known by those who saw it. The trade of Coventry was so
greatl)• depressed, that some houses which used to pay 4001.
or 5001. a week to workmen, now paid only 401. or
The lion. Mr. Ls vrt rrna beliesed, that the Hight lion.
the Chancellor of the Exchequer had no correct idea of the
distressed state of the country. Proofs id* it had been laid be-
fore the 'louse, hol%ever; and more proms would e% try day
come before the Parliament.

Mr. Lnessixnr said, that to a Property-tax, properly gra-
duated and apportioned, he would give every support; tint to
a Property-tax; founded on such principles as at present pro-
posed, he could not consent.
Mr. THOMPSON said, that the fanners were in a most dis-
tressed trondition. lie knew farmers who had been some time
ago worth two, three, and four thousand pounds, and who were
now in an absolute state of bankreptcy ; yet were paying the
some Property-tax still as they had been in their must prosper-
ous daps.
Mr. B. Sit .%w hoped that his Majesty's Ministers would listen
to the complaints of the House and id the nation. He expo-
sed the injustice of the tat, and thought a loan might be advan-
tagemsly resorted to instead. The Amu: tire. if cat tied, he was
convinced,w ould prose most detrimental even to Ministt rs; and
for their own interests he recommended them to listen to the
general sentiment prevailing within noel without the lime.

Mr. BARCLAY said, all means of retrenchment ought tint to
be tried ; and, before monuments were proposed to be meted
to our armies, it ought to be considei cd whether the Property
Tax would not be a monument of our distresses Although he
objected to the continuance of this offensive measnre, he Amid
nut think it necessary to vote against the sillily Estimates.
Mr. BROLI3IIA 51 implored all the Members who opposed the
proposed renewal not to allow the Chancellor to bring in his
Bill. If they divided their fortes, and allowed the tax to go
on at all, with the view of making modilicotions in it, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer would take them in detail, and carry
through his edition of the tax.

Mr:Founts Ftuted, that he had been last autumn in various
parts of Scotland ; and that, both what he heard and saw, and
the representations made to him, he could assure the House
that in that country the Property Tax um universal•. ciecra-
ted.--Mr. Ponsonliy, Lord Milton, and Mr. Martin, each spoke
shortly against the tax.

Mr: J.—Smmi presented a Petition from the town and county
of Nottingham against the Pi overtv Tax, and the proposed
Peace Establishment. He supported the prayer of the Peti-
tion at considerable lngth.

Mr. PHILLIPS c%prs.”ed his surprise that none of the Hon.
Gentlemen on the other side of the House had yet spoken in'ta-
vour of the measure. He denied that the state of the trade of
the country Hes :0 flourishing as described in the Speech from
the Throne.

Mr. FR EEM ANTLE thought it was initiossil the Chancellor
of the EXCIIEVICr 14110111 d persist in it; tor, in point of fact, be
could not derive the revenue from it which lie expected, and
the impost would fail of its effect.
_ _

Lora Comrrori WM in f4vour of the Property Tnx, because
he believed that if the Chaucellor of the Exehegner Is ere forced
to abandon it,hc would propose much %%OM tux's : not through
any disposition to oppress the people, bnt because hi. could not
help it. Thorn was no other tax that would produce an eijuad
revenue.

Mr. POMONJIY congratulated the Noble Lord on the courage
which he hmi displa”il on this occasion. lie had put himself
forwent in the most manly mud dignified manner thr his friends,
the Ministers, when not •ue of them would soy any thing for
thvinstiv es.

All the Petitions presented were ordered to lie on the table.

VIL 1..15T ARREARS.

Mr. TIVINEIT asked Wally arrears or the Civil List remained
undischarged.
VANSITTART Maid, that certain accounts of the Civil Li,t.
in which an anuar hail (Rem red, µmild hbortly lie laid
the House; and thee he ahould submit a measure fur the better