The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-06 00:00:00

COMMON HALL.

(Concluded from our Paper of yesterday.)
Mr. HutaT observed, that taxation gave rise to a scar-
city of money and distress among tile people. One great
cause of enormous taxation was the long wars in which
the country had been engaged in the reign of George 111.
The American and French wars, which were both wars
against liberty, took 2,000,000,0001. from the pockets of
the people, and burdened them with a debt of nearly
1,000,000,0001. more. All this was owing to an unre-
formed Parliament. Why continue war taxes after 15
years of peace, but for the same reason? To be sure,
we were told that we had only to pay 53,000,0001. or
54,000,0001. ; and it was added, what amount of taxa-
tion is that for so great a country as England ? But it
was forgotten that we had passed a law to keep up the
price of bread, which, if taken off, the people of England
would have to pay by 60,000,0001. a year less for their
bread than they now did. In 1797 Mr. Pitt passed the
Bank Restriction Act, and paper was freely issued instead
of the good old-fashioned coin of the realm : what was
the consequence ? Prices rose ; and after Mr. Pitt was
dead and gone, it was proposed to augment all public sa-
laries and allowances, because prices had risen. The civil
list was nearly doubled ; the Royal Dukes were raised
from allowances of 12,000/. to 18,000/. a year; our swot
Princesses got 10,000/. instead of 6,000/. ; Ministers,
who had previously received 4,000/., were raised to sala-
ries of 6,000/. per annum. In like manner the salaries of
Judges were raised, the pay of the army, &c. This was on
account of high prices; the thing was assented to at once,
nobody having the honesty to say, " You are taking these
additions out of the pockets of the people, who have to
pay equally high prices." Peace came, and down went
prices. How did it happen that those who were called inde-
pendent representatives of the City of London had not de-
manded a reduction of salaries in proportion to this reduc-
tion of prices ? If we talked of touching the Debt, people
exclaimed, " Oh, that is a breach of the national faith."
But let it be remembered, persons bought into the Funds
at 58 or 60, and got 31. interest, which then barely
bought a sack of wheat ; now they could get nearly a
sack and a half for 31. See how lauded property had
been raised in value. He knew a farm in Wiltshire, be-
longing to Mr. Benett, the Member for the County, which
brought in 4001. a year to the landlord at the commence-
ment of the war, the rent was now 1,250/., and Mr.
Benett refused to take uff a single sixpence. What, he
repeated, was the cause of all the sufferings which we en-
dured ? What, but the want of a fair, full, and free re-
presentation Y They all knew in what manner Parliament
was constituted. How were the independent Members of
the City of London chosen ?.—By the Livery. Why not
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concludedhy b
yn not
proposing by he inhabitants
t astring
o f
resolutions, for which see advertisement.
Mr. BA ita MT
seconded the resolutions.
'Mr. Alderman 'Wools ascribed the pressure that was felt,
both in wholesale and retail trades, and particularly by the
industrious classes, to the enormous amount of taxation.
There should be a reduction in the expenditure of the
country? and in tile amount of taxation. Ai to reforal, lie