The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-18 00:00:00

TUESDAY, bIADED 12.

Petitions were presented aiming the Property-tax, from Ca._
tie Douglas, the County of Suricy, Chertsey, Brighton, Col
eboater, Henley-on-Thames, Berwick, and one from the Inn-
keepers of Ludlow, against the additional Licence Duty.
'1 he Southwark Bridge Bill was passed. •
Mr. J. Sstrrit presented a Petition from the Town of Not-
tingham a.;;tinst the Property•tax. The Petitioners complain-
ed of the remission of a large debt due from Austria, on ac-
tome, as it was :Wedged. that A is was distressed; when, hi
fact, the distresses of this country were imperative. The
eipeech of the Prince Regent talked of economy ; and the
very first step towards that object wits, an intimation from Mi-
nisters of a great excess in the Civil List.
General M vrilEw observed, that this tax had been the sub-
ject of disci' -lion for fifteen days, and lie was glad to find that
not one of his Irish Friends had spoken in favour ut the tax,
with the etception of one or two of the Irish :tlinistem. With
all the opposition made against the tat, lie still found that Ali-
misters were determined to cram the tax low n the throats of
the English people. The Hon, General panegyrised the con-
dnet of the Irish Members, condemned the uet of Union, Hod
stated it as his opinion, that if the act was not repealed, the
Empire would be shaken to its centre; fur it was impossible
they could, nay, they should not be tyrannized over. Sit mil-
lions of person, would submit to such condnet. With re-
spect to the tax, he was certain his Hon. Countrymen would
not vote the it. 'they would not lend their hands to such dirty
w o rk.—( or, Hear.)
Col. Woon presented a Petition from the town of Hay, in
Brecknockshire, az dust the property tat. The
man stated, that his opinion being known as favourable to the
tax, already a gentleman of great interest in that neighbour-
hood had begun a vet y active canvass against him for the next
general el. mica'. Ile defended the vote w hich be gave for as
increased Military Establishment, on the :;round of it being an
intermediate measure. He observed, that the repeal of the
Alalt tux was one which would give the lower classes great
Lord STANtev presented a Petition from the town of Man-
chestm , against the Property-tat. The Noble Lord recom-
mended the practice of ccouomy in that quarter from whence
alone it aught to originate, in order to set a good &wimple to
the people. He hoped that we 141101141 hear no more of build-
ing, thatched cuttaecs, which might have become England in
1!4 host daYst nor or tho-e profusions, which would rather
become a Pt rsian Strap in the midst of his splendour, than a
British Monarch in these distressed times.—( Hear, low.)
Mr. PiiiLLIP% alluded to the distressed situation ut the com-
mercial etasses, and was all-aid the limners of the tax took their
kleas or prosperity from their own classj namely, having Go-
vernment offices, with additional salaries. Every thing else
was depreciated in price waiels afiCeted the manufacturer.
But Ministers at such a time, instead of lowering the salaries
r the officers under them, hail in fact (though ree 1111 l mending,
ith an unblushing front, economy) gone on in prolusion, add-
iag 277,9001. to the Civil List. One of his objections to the
Income 'Fax was, that it gave Ministers an opportunity of sub-
sidising foreign powers, and that it encouraged a lavish expen-
diture.
Mr. VAssirrxrur said, an lion. Gentleman had talked df
a large excess in the Civil List of ~•77 001. If that Hon.
Gentlentiin had looked at the accounts of the Civil List, the
only excess was in the diplomatic eitaidisliments, pat tly arising •
fivia the number or Ministers employed, in consequence of the
glorious termination of the war. There had Imo: no excess
in the Royal Household. So that the whole of the excess arose
from diplomatic arrangements, and not from any branch ut the
royal splendour being inereased. lie had stated this tax to
be imposed only for the purpose of is hiding tip the war ex-
peaces, abel shanld have no objection to insert these words in
the prea.nble of the Act.—(Tear, Afar.)
Mr, lla„Kostax wished to 'wow bow tits sum of 40,0001