The Sun.
London, England, 1833-02-11 00:00:00

INCOME FROM THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES FOR

THE YEAR ENDING sth JANUARY, 1832:
Malt £4,359,335
Hops
Sugar
Tea 3,344,918
Coffee 583,751
Butter 121,256
Cheese 68,256
Soap 1,139,313
Houses
Windows

£l7,loSgiB
As an example of the effect of such a tax upun an indivi-
dual possessed of a property of twenty thousand pounds—
Annual Income, at 4 per cent £BOO
Tax of 10 per cent BO

Thus a direct tax of eighty pounds would be demanded in
lieu of the house and window taxes, and of the duties pro-
posed to be repelled, and in lieu, moreover, of what such
an individual pays indirectly owing to the increlsed price
of every item of his expenditure, which is affected in a
greater or less degree by the same imposts.
Having shifted sixteen millions of taxes from the
shoulders of those who, whether employed in agriculture,
manufacture, or any species of commerce, or in the pro-
fe'sions of law, medicine, the army, or the navy, are
striving to obtain property ; and having placed the burden
upon those who possess property already made, the way is
cleared, and there is no longer the shidow of an argument
against an immediate alteration in the present corn laws;
and 1 believe that the farmers themselves would, in such
case, he perfectly willing to substitute, in lieu of the pre-
sent fluctuating duties, a fixed duty of sixteen shillings
per quarter on wheat, to be reduced yearly one shilling
until it reaches eight shillings, and then to remain per-
manent.

A reform in the system of taxation, and an alteration in
the corn laws, must be contemporaneous,' for it is useless
to suppose that agriculturists could bear a great reduction
in the price of grain, unless a similar reduction be made
towards them ; and, on the other hand, they would have
no pretence for resisting the repeal of the corn laws if
their burden was lightened by sixteen millions of tuxes,
and if a moderately protecting fixed duty were imposed
upon corn.
The advocates of a property tax usually express their
opinion in favour of a graduated scale, conceiving that
such an impost ,3 ould bear more heavily on the small pro-
prietor than upon his more wealthy neighbour.
I think, however, th it any distinction between different
classes would cause much confusion and jealousy, and
would not be desirable; I would impose the same rate
upon every propert), admitting, at the same time, that
there must be a minimum beneath which it would not he
expedient or barely practicable to go, and perhaps an in-
come of 101. derived from actual property would be a
low as it would be convenient to levy upon.
It is urged, that there is a difficulty as respects annui-

tants, and others having life interests of a fixed and defi-
nite nature. It is not the annuity, however, which is
rateable, but the value of the annuity. Exam-
ple :—An individual, aged fifty years, has one hun-
dred and fifty pounds per annum, charged upon actual
property; his life may be worth eight years' pur-
abase, in other words, his annuity is worth one thousand
two hundred pounds, consequently, taking four per cent.
a@ d fair rate of interest, the income is forty-eight pounds,
and the fax payable by him is four pounds sixteen shil-
lings per annum, whereas under the old property tax the
full amount of income would have been charged, viz.,
fifteen pounds, Life interests depending upon casual
circumstances such as the profits of trade or agriculture,
would be as free as trade or rtgriculture. The income

from funded property would of course be liable, and all
income, in short, proceeding from a real and permanent
source. A metchant, however, might have any amount
of capital embarked in trade, in ships, in goods or debts,
and yet might not be liable to a fraction of such a tax,
unless he also possessed property of a permanent descrip-
tion. The house he lives in, for instance (if his own)
would be liable to the extent of its value, but no further.
It is unnecessary to dwell upon the benefits to be ex-
pected front the change proposed, for, although it is most
equitable, and therefore most politic, that those who have
most should pay most—although a great inducement to
men to live abroad, by escaping the indirect taxation of
their own country, would be taken away, and a virtual
tat on absentees would be created—although the miser,
who now almost escapes taxation, because be purchases
nothing whether taxed directly or indirectly, would hence.
forth be obliged to pay his quota towards the support of
the Government under which be lives, and by which be is
protected—although the millions of accumulated property
in Chancery, which at present pay nothing, would hence-
forth be made liable to a due proportion of the national
expenditure—these are merely the contingent benefits
which belong to an improved system of taxation. The
real advantage, to which I attach a paramount importance,
would be in removing sixteen millions from produc•ive
induatry, and thereby creating a powerful impetus to the
commercial, the manufacturing, and the agricultural inte-
rests. The high prices of all articles of merchandise
would be greatly reduced ; new foreign markets, in which
we are at present unable to compete, would be ripened to
us, and more extensive salaa in those markets which we
now supply would naturally be expected.
It will be s tid by those opposed to my proposition, that
the expense of a general survey, of juries, of commis.
eioners, and the inquisition into the private affairs of in-
dividuals would be objections not to be overcome by any
adequate advantages.
With respect to the expense, it must be admitted that
a small outlay would be required in the first place, but
the ordinary annual expense afterwards would be much
less than the present charge for collecting the taxes pro-
posed to be repealed. As to the inquisitorial nature of
such an impost, it must be considered that the different
commissioners (who would act judicially in valuing pro-
perties) would be limited to particular districts; and pro-
perties in .different districts, and properties of different
descriptions, would be appraised by different juries and
commissioners. Besides, it is not the individual who
would be taxed, but the property, and the proprietor's
name need not of necessity be known, provided the
amount of tax required be forthcoming.
To recapitulate my proposition, I would desire to levy
a tax of ten per cent, upon the income arising from all
property of a fixed and pet manent description throughout
the United Kingdom, and to reduce a corresponding
amount of taxes upon the necessaries of life.
Secondly, to repeal the existing corn laws, and substi-
tute a fixed duty of sixteen shillings per quarter on wheat,
and on other grains in proportion ; to be reduced yearly
one shilling until it reaches eight shillings, and then to be
permanent.
My object in putting forth these opinions is to draw
the attention of others to the important topics upon which
I have ventured to touch, and I shall feel amply recom-
pensed if I succeed in eliciting any facts or information

on a subject which appears to me to he one of paramount
importance; and which, I think, must at no very distant
period be brought under the notice of the Legislature.
January, 1833. T. A.

LITERATURE.

A MORAL and POLITICAL SKETCH of the

UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
LOXDON, 1833. _ .

- ,
This is a very useful publication, and likely
;to become popular, now that dissertations on
every thing that appertains to America are so much
in vogue. It is for the most part of a practical
character, and in so far resembles the elaborate
work of Mr. Stuart on the same subject, though
it has not all his various knowledge of detail,
and thorough love of business. The two most
valuable chapters, and those with which the
greatest pains have been taken are, the one on
the financial resources of the United States
(from which Mr. Hurne may derive many ser-
viceable hints), and the other o► the adminis-
tration of justice. Both these chapters are capital,
and penned throughout in a con am?? spirit.

THE ARMY.

(From the Limerick Chronicle of Wednesday.)

Colonel Mansel is arrived in this garrison, from Cork,
to assume the functions of Brigade Major of the district,
vice Colonel Wemyss, gone on the English staff.
Major-General Parry is Gazetted to the command of the
Royal Artillery, vice Lieutenant-General Sir J. Macleod,
deceased.

At six o'clock on Tuesday last, three companies of the
92d Highlanders marched from Fermoy, to be detached in
the disturbed districts of Dunmanwar, Bandon, and Bantry.
Colonel M'Donald, who had been absent from the reg'-
ment for some time, arrived in Fermoy on Wednesday, and
resumed his command there. The detachments of the
92d in Mitchehtown, Cashel, Kilbally, and other places,
are ordered into Fermoy, preparatory to the head-quarters
of the regiment being removed to Cork.
Lieut. Eaton, 2d battalion 60th Rifles, late on the staff
of Sir John Buchan, at Athlone, has joined the head-
quarters at Templemere.