The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-22 00:00:00

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ditor.— Hear, hear.)—Ta point of principle, he 7,groilucis fur remission, in particular.cases. But it
here gave up h:s whole argoinent--he left it with- was for the Legislathre to loolt to the general gisod
out support. He (Mr. P.) would wish to kilep of the empire—end to cousider that twofer's taken
faith inviolate with the public creditors. Some
most he found tohunt one part of the community, must, in the pre-
other tax pay them—but it was sent state of tke country, be borne by another. It
for the Right Hon. Gentleman to devise a tax for I had been said, that Parliamentary faith was gird. rd
that purpose, and not for his Hon. Friend, who for the repeal of this tax. If this were indeed the
made the present motion, to supply him with feet, there was ecareely any discretion lett to the
Ways and Means.—/Hear, hear.)—He protested, Legislature on the subject. They were to examine
the more he considered the admissions contented in whether an implied or a direct plerl4e is.. given by
the Right Hon. Gentleinan's statement, the more the Irish Parliament on the subiret.• •In tire first
he was surprised at his opposing the proposition place, lie mint draw a clear distioction between a war
for a Committee—since a Committee was the I tax—origiiially imposed and intended ur Is War tot
proper place to consider what modifications ought and our, for the repeal of which, on the return of
to he made in the tax. He should now shortly peitce, a specific pledge was given. These are
advert to the produce of the tax. In 1810. many taxes in this country, which were considered
it produced 170,6171. An additional duty of war taxes, originally, but having been plerlot d for
50 per cent. was then laid on—which, supposing loans, still remained is, being. The window tax
the same number of windows contihued to be used, was proposed by Mr. Corry, the then Chancellor of
ought to have produced 341,2341. An additional Exchequer for Ireland, in 1799. It was a new tax,
duty of 25 per cent. was afterwards imposed, which, and he estimated its produce at 60,000/. He ac-
on the last-mentioned som, should have given companied its introduction with these words—" Ou
85,30111. The whole amount of the tax, then, ac- the return of peace, this tax, if it be found burden-
cording to Isis calculation, supposing the entire some, may be repealed by Parliament." He said,
number of windows to have been used, which it might be repealed if Parliament thought fit—but
were taxed in 1810, would be 426,5421. lie slid not lend himself, or his successor, positively
Now what was the fact ? In the last year, it to move for that repeal. In the Committee of Ways
amounted to 302,0161..—which left a deficit of Meting, through which it pissed, tint a word was
124,5261.—a deficiency nearer to one-third than said about this supposed pledge. In that year a
one-quarter of die estimated produce of the tax. t Win of 340,0001. was to be raised, and the tax
If this were the fact, it was not difficult to discover was pledged as a secu.itv for part of that debt.—
the quantity of windows mopped up, and the tura- lu the year 1800, a Bill was brought iii for
sure of light and air of which the people of Ire- contintiiito the window tax—and a second Bill
land had been deprived. The Right Honourable Was introduced" to regulate the mode of col-
Gentleman said that Ireland had not paid her fair lecting the tux. By the latter, the rating of
contribution to the exigencies of the empire. This houses according to the Humber of windows they
was a position to which lie could not accede. Ire- hail tu 1799. was continued for three years, provided
land certainly hail not paid the 2-17ths stipulated pence was not concluded within Ili:it period. The
for et the tune of the Union—and for the plainest 1 Learned Gentleman had laid much stress co this
of all possible reasons, because she could not—be- I passage iu the Act. But the fact was, it referred
cause a burden, utterly disproportioued to her I not to the existeuce of the tax, but to the mode of
strength, had been imposed on her. —1 neer. j— collecting it. Peace (Tine before the three years
What had been her exertions ? The sum now paid I had expired—the regulation uas altered—houses
into the Treasury was three times the amount of I were rated, not uccotiling to the windows they had
her net income at the time of the Union—and, in 1799, but according to those which were open,

notwithstanding this, the debt of Irelsoill hail in-
creased twerlyficefuhlaince that event ! War not
this a proof that, at the time of the Uniou, a mis-
taken estimate had been made of her peivets ? The
statement sounded very well at the tune. It was
gratifying to the people of this country to he told
'• You are very much in debt, it is true—but Ire-
land is to pay a considerable portion of it." They
were now, however, dealing with sober realities.
Ireland wool(' not, for she could not pay it. 011
this country it must fall. Ireland could not exert
herself beyond her strength—she could not pay
beyond her hear.)—
Every part of the empire (Julia to :Support the
State, and contribute to its rxigencier, according
to the extent of its ability. Ile hoped lie would
not be looked oil as au indivithiul, who, in his
place in that House, would aolviee ar.y portioss f
the people to shrink frosts hearing their fair shale
of the public burdens; but resources could not
be wrung from 1111 eXilsusted population. This
tax was utterly odious mid tasteful iu Ireland. It
wive therefore, the duty of the Right lion. Gen-
tleman to find some means of tilling up any defi-
ciency which its repeal might create, end to how
to the gesserally-expressed sense of the country.
Those who called for the repeal, stood on the gtoisml
of the faith of Parliament—mud on the principle
that a war tax should not be continued in time of
peace. A war tax, to the amount of 17,000,0001.
was remitted to the people of this country—while
a trifling relief of' two or 300,000/. was ulone
granted to Ireland. The Right I Ism. Gentleman
stated, in his place, that it was most important to
continue the Income Tax—lie &elated the business
of the country could not be carried on without it.
But the House thought it was just stud proper that
it should he removed;—and, after Parliament had
declared its sentiments on the subject, a hat was
the conduct of the Right Honourable Gentleman ?
He felt that it was tiecessiry to pay due deference to
their opinion—he Caine down to the Honer, and,
voluntarily, gave up the war melt tax.—Mtur.)—
Ile begged leave to ask, how the Right lion. Gen-
tleman (acting in his financial capacity for the
whole empire), having listened to the voice of the
English people, conveyed through their representa-
tives—having obeyed their call, and given up the
Income 'fax—could now refuse to bow to the sets-
'intents of the people of Ireland, expressed in the
most unequivocal and most constitutional mantle, ?
He spoke warmly—nor was it wonderful that he
should, seeing what he had done in that country
with which he was immediately connected—hut he
meant nothing offensive to the Right Hon. Gentle.
avian, whose wishes for the welfare of Ireland, were,
lie believed, sincere. The Right Hots. Gentlemen'
observed, that same relief, granted at the present
time, would have a much better effect than anv
that eould he produced by waiting for the result
of the deliberations of a Committee. lie, how-
ever, could see nothing to prevent the Right Hots.
Gentleman from granting that relief, sod acceding
also to the proposition for a Cominitire.—( Hear,
hear.)—The Committee, lie might rest assured,
would throw no impediment in the way of any
relief he might he inclined to grant.—(Hear.)—
Indeed, having received the boon of which the Right
Hon. Gentleman had spoken, the Cotninittee could
go to work with more spirit.—(Heur, hear.)—
Were the Right Hots. Gentleman to go back to
Dublin—were he to notice the unhappy brings
whom he would meet in every direction—were be
to mark their meagre sisal famished countenauces,
and to witness the despair which characterised their
looks—were he to know the disappointment which
had willed in the minds of the better order of peo-
ple, deprived as they were of their ordinary cons•
forts—he could not avoid feeling a great anxiety, if
it could be reconciled with the public interest, to
remove those burdens which pressed most heavily
on the people of Ireland.—(!tear.)
Mr. Peer. sail, no mum, however nearly con-
nected with Leland, could feel greater pleasure iu
voting fur a reiltictiosi of' the burdens *loch pr d
on the people of that country, than he would, if it
could be done consistently wish that jurtice which
was due to the empiie to general. Whether the
pressure of taxation oil that country was. greater or
less than had been stated, it ceitaitily had been
eff;cted less gradually there then in England,
and consequetstly it was felt inure severely.--
It was easy to advance general arguments ou a sub-
ject like this—and it was equally easy to lay strong

Made when the levy was made ; hot the existence of the
tux itself was not at all affected.
Mr. PLUNK r—" This does not touch the
clause which sots that the tox is granted fur the
support of sit effective force."
Mr. was clear the words last quoted
by the Yarned Gene lemon referred to a regulation
fur the colleetion of I'..e tax, and not to its conti-
nuance. In 1802, all the taxes were consolidated—
and it was found necessary to make provision for the
Sinking Fund. On that 00:451011 the Member for
iklmargliall, Mr. Dawson, ruse 111 1110 place, 111111
stated this supposed pledge. Nlr. Corry denied
that lie had ever given such a -pledge. Nothing could
he a greater proof that lie considered not only that
the faith ..f Parlioniralt was not pledged, hut that
los own iinhvultorl ionornise had not been given. In
Irso7, the ll.glit lbw. llaroiret (Sir J. Newport)
brolight a Bill into ['ornament, making perpetual
certain taxes, which were previously voted annually.
The [Rio. Baronet assimilated those taxes to the
system which prevailed in Englaild—but he form.
ed no exception or Liwoor of this particular Lc. It
was said by the !Immutable 11ember for Duldsii,
that the window tax could be shewii to have
operated to the increase of contagious fever in
Ireland. Ile could prove the contrary.
sloe fever was raging there, an order was directed
by Government to the different tax inspectors, di-
recting them to allow windows to be opened, with-
out paying the tax, when au application was made
for that purpose, accompanied with the certificate
of a ineilwal practiiiolier, stating that it was neces-
sary for the health of any of his patients. He had
called nr a retain of the unwirer of applications
mode in consequence of that order, and lie found
that, tilioughout all Ireland, they only amounted
to seven. From this it would appear evident,
that the tax had tot the effect of increasing Coll-
tagion that had been attributed to it. This would
be seen iu a still clearer light, if Gentlemen
considered the houses which were subject to the
tux. Iu England and Scotland houses with six
windows were subject to the tax—and, if there
were only two or three, and the rent was five pounds
or upwards, in Lime Cases also it was paid. hut, is
Ireland, houses with less than serest windows and
three hearths were not taxed—mid those who knew
the local situation of Ireland—who considered the
vast body of houses in that country, with less ikon
seven windows—must at once see, that the tax was
not likely th bear on those tenements where fever
was most likely to he found. Nis Right Hon.
Friend said, he MOM ready to make an abate-
ment of twenty-five per cent. or favour of Ire-
land. If a greater abatement could with pro-
priety he made, tio man would feel more gratified
in adopting the measure than himself. They could
not, by legislatise eriactiiients, compel individuals
to reside in that country—but, if they could hold
out to them any inducement to do so, by partial
exemption from taxation, they would be effecting
a substantial good for the enquire sit large. The
Right Una. Gentleman then proceeded taaroae,
that the remission of taxes, with respect to Ireouid,
bore is fair proportion to those remitted in Elite
country—and concholed by observing, that lie
felt himself hound, most reluctantly, to come to
the conclusitm, that it was not possible, in the pre-
sent year, to make any further remission than what
his Right lion. Friend proposed.
Sir J. NEWPORT said, the window tax affected
the great body of the irtiorest part of flit commu-
nity in Ireland—lie alluded to those who resided sir
Inalging-lionsrs in guild cities and towns. lie de-
nied the statement of the Right Hon. Gentletnan,
that the shutting up of wiirdows under this tax had
not had the effet t of spreading more widely amongst
the population of Ireland the fever whir h lad
proved so Ghat. 'this he stated not on the
antbo-
rity of any ambiguous order, worded so as to pre-
vent, not encourage, applications. Ile %%Mild ap-
peal to the authority of all the medical men who
had considered the subject, who declared, that the
shutting up of the windows had produced the roost
lamentable effects. 1)r. Barry, of k, had given
evidence on this subject, which was perfectly Cl.ll-
- He stated, that iu the lower rooms or
hooiei in that city, where the window s were not
Mocked up, the truant of those rooms weir free
from fever—while the 'viler rooms, where there
was not a free circulation of air, were tilled with
contagion.—lllear.)--.lt was stated, that, on ae•