The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-03-17 00:00:00

WINDOW TAX OF IRELAND.

The Marquis of Dowesurett moved. that there
he laid swots the table a Copy of a Circular Letter
from the Treasury of Ireland to the Clergymen of
the several parishes of Ireland, respecting a com-
mutation ..f the Wits(low Tax. This being ordered,
the Noble Marquis then rose arid said—‘• My
Lord., I rise fur the purpose of presenting to your
notice two Petitions from (related, relating to the
sufferings of the people from the pressure of
taxation, and complaining of one more thas, usually
obnoxious—l mean the Tax upon Windows. 0
of these Petitions comes from the several parishes of
Ordain. in their respective Vestries u.seionled, the
other is from the inhabitants of Belfast—but be-
fore I move to have these Petitions read, I beg
leave, with your Lordships' permission, to ad-
dress a few words on the claims of the people
of Ireland to' be relieved from the severe pres-
sure of the Winslow Tax. Before the Le-
gislative Union or the sister kisigdmnt. this
tax had been imposed by the Irish Parliament
on the proposition of Mr. Lorry, then Chancellor of
the Exchequer. It war understood at that time to
have hero imposed ally for a limited !Period, and
was especially denominated by Mr. Corry, as " A
Ivor Pr"isillar" which was to cositinue either for
three years, or until the restoration of peece. It has
been since continued. as your Lordships are aware,
by the Imperial Parliament front year to year.
Duritig the last year a circular letter was transmit-
fed fro•is the Treasury to the several Clergymen of
Irelsoil—that which your Lordships have just or-
dered to be laid on your table—proposing a
halms of the Window Tax. To this commutation
violists* objectiolis have been urged, but the g )))))
tits-which f shall priticipolly oppose is, that it tends
to give a legislative power to vestries. The tax,
however, li.ving been proposed fur the war only,
ought its justice to be repealed on the room of
peace; or if circumstances might render that im-
possible. ought at least to he reduced. Thi, latter
imam rests uu the more tenable foundation. Mits.
much as the original tax hail been not unfre-
quesitly increased. since its first iinposition, even at
one time by Mr. Foster, to the mimosa 01,50 per
cent. On this, however, f shall chiefly rest, that as
the tax Isuil been a war tux, the people on the re-
sturetion of peace have a right to some relief. I
now MOW that these Petitions be read."
The Petitiosis bring read, were laid on the table.
BATH GAS LIGHT.
'The Earl of ltosss.ve Istnierstauding that nu opposition
would he arade to the Bads Gas Light Pill, gave ashes
that be should tworwrow we its sensed medial.

REVERSIONS.

ml Goosrovow tweed that the Arronuts presented
that weaving be the Haase, should be 'dieted. He took Ike
opplertuaity of poittiox shut the Amount was stet ..wile us-
tiAcluey. to traces betas, be believed, usitted.—Or-
dorsal to 14 petaled.
ARRESTS.

The Earl of SRAPTIOINWAY proorisitlf an Aerosol of the
number of perroos arrested fur irearoolabie gad seditious
prartices, rimer the Ist of J y, 1817.
Or the irotiou of Lord tiut s.ern iI vas ordered to be
rooted.
The House ties e4jeented.