The Sun.
London, England, 1817-10-23 00:00:00

SINGULAR INCIDENT'.

gne of the most extraordinary instances of good
lOrtnne that perbaps„ever occurred to ally human
being, has fallen to.the lot of a
,yotinggentiotan;
now about 18 years of age, time son Of a respect-
able fanner in the vi,inity of ,Newmaiket. lu tra-
vielli4. mere than 18 mouths since, from his
father's house in the comity 'Ortaintrit:ge, towards
Shrewsbury (where be went to school), he acci-,
:mentally met with an elderly gentleman in the
stae-coach, to whom he was entirely unknown,
out who was so much pleased wri,lt his company,
that before they.paftedat Shrewsbury (where il•e
gentleman resided), he told the, youth that
.he itad
been Ion.;: looking for a, person to Whom he might-
leaye his'fort tine, anti that he was the object of
his election. The gentleman chum alive him art
invitation'. to his bonse, where he was salways
treated with the greatest respect, and introduced
to the hest society of the place for more than to
year, and had a ihorse and servant kept for hint
whilst he remained at the school, which he conti-
.
titled to do till very .recently. The gentleman
being taken extremely ill within these few weeks,
sent for the youth, and repeated his former inti-
thationof giving him all his property. Accord-
ingly he ctOsed a tree gift of his immense wealth
to be Made out, only siipulating, that itt
case he surviyed, the yonth slioctl,i bandscimely
provide tor hint during the continuance of his
life: He, ho,%ever,•died u.ithin a short time after
lie had signea the deed, in which it has been dis-
,., • ,
covered tliat lie posSessed none titan 509,0001.
sterling ! What is very remarkable, the youth (as
we are told) never communicated any of the dr-
etiiiistancei to his
.faindy, anti! after the deeeas6
of the. geuolentan (who is said to have been a \Vest
"-did"), fearing, liro.ban!y, en raise expectatiMis
that Might never. be realized,.. Since the event,
howevt4, We have wrest ide.aS,4ol! rel +ling, that
the youth's filial and fraternal affection has been
Most
.1101.16(11310y e‘incei by his ha, in;; vt)harita-
thly given 50,09,9/ each to l!is father trot: elder
bibther. Styli are the eircow.stanees of this sin-
gular inc.illent;. they hale hero verbally con-
ninni.cated_to tisi for tue%correcttiess of tile whole
01 %diet' state'meut e cannotvouch, hilt the
wain fact is undeniuble, although we are not an-
t hot !zed to [tunic this favdorite of Fort une.—(Bury
Paper.)

PROVINCIAL JOUANALS.

winch the Morning Papers have published at the
sense of the Parishes of Dublin to Parliament,
der not undergo very essential revision, it 'cannot
expect to meet with a satisfactory attention. arid
respects We apprehend that Parliament will writ
turn any complimentary exertion of its powers in
favour of those who can give their sanction to
well Sentiments as this Petition Conveys—to•stich
language) such paltry antithesis, as, ' our requi-
tal ise-ea peace of arms, and a war of taxes ; we
have the unnatural combination of national glory
and national prostration ; tire ravages of war
hare terminated, the ravages of taxes survive ;
the waters hove subsided, but the tempest still
howls above us.' fhe Lord have mercy on us !
and protect us from all such swoilen nonsense as
this being ever again sanctioned, as conveying
the sober reflections of the Citizens of Dublin, one
of the roast enlightened communities upon the
face of the earth. Amen !
" lire do not see any just or .necessary reason
why the Parochial Delegation should indirectly
require of Parliament to go to sear. They not
only petition against what they call an evil, and
miscall a breach of faith in tine Parliament, but
they intimate what would be of the greatest be-
nefit to the country, which is, nothing more nor
less than—War. They aver, tolidem verbis—
' 'rite. sources of our prosperity, which are derived
almost exclusively from war, arc essentially and
vitaliy diminished---(what does.vital diminution
mean ?)—by the return of Peace,' Now, there
is nothing which men would rather have back
againe than ' the sources of their prosperity'—
and, if Peace take them away, and War give them
back, there'is nothing so desirable as War, arid
it sources et prosperity. So dint the Parochial
Delegation have called for Wir again—tire father
of this very Tax—this iVindotse War Tax, as
they call it, upon which ail tire Parishes are
pouring out the phials of their wrath ! Truly,
there is much wild and dashing incongruity in all
this. Parliament may understand this Petition,
but we confess that we cannot understand it, in
wally part. It avers, ' that the Window TAX is
a War Tax—the Munster has expired, yet the
aliment for his support is still demanded of ins.'
" Now, ‘ve thought that the Monster, tire Win-
dow Tax, had nut expired, and that its pernicious
life formed the gravamen complained of. The
Parochial Delegation say that he is expire:l ; and
they say, that aliment is demanded for the Mon-
ster, though he has expired—which, in all
conscience, is a monstrous demand enough
The Delegation say, that, in the removal of the
Income Tax, they are ' not jealous, but asham-
ed of the distinction.'—'There is a great dis-
tinction, cerorinly, between a Tax upon Windows
in Inland, and a Tax upon Income in Eng.
---.....e. I laud—bet weetn a Tax not limited to exist only for
" OPPOMITION TO THE RELIEF 'OF THE POOR FROM 1 a certain period, arid a Tax 30 limited ;—but why
Tar, PRESSURE OF THE VV-I? DOW TAX. sttutta distinction should make the Delegation
" The proceedings of the Third General Meet- : ashamed, is really a most inconceivable matter—
ing of the Parochial Deputations, upon a calm pe- ' unless they were resolved to volunteer blushes for
lusal, will. appear, to the considerate and rational all their C•Vvv, mistakes. They say they are not
part of our Xteaders, to be deicient in that,tent- 1 ' grieved, taut saddened.' Now, what they gain
per which it is essential should pervade all int- 1 by being sail, in preference to being grieved, is
derfaltiegs of a grive and public oature ; they will more than we can find out ; but, if they pique
Seem, also, to be miserably defective upon the themselves upon tire difference, they are, it must
nose of argument ;—and, as for the Petition to ; be allowed, very melancholy politicians, indeed.
Parliament, which Was read and adopted, and "We hope Parliament may compliment the
which crowned tire occasion, it will appear on be ! Delegation with their most implicit ()diet—
as ill-conceived, and as ill-expressed a piece of though, for the souls of us, we cannot do so—
tt-imposition, as ever was destined to lay the cony when the Petition shall inform them, ' that eon-
plaints of sensible men before the Legislature. i steruation and dismay pervade the entire City, at
" The last Meeting was accused of having act- ! the iatroduction of a Commutation or Substitute
ed imprudently, in respect to one Parish, St.. Tax i' and, if it were only for the originality of
Peter's-11)e Meeting of yesterday is very likely to . the thing, we hope Parliament may duly weigh
be upbraided hereafter, with having acted impale , the importance of tire constitutional sentiment in-
dently in respect to all the" Parishes. Qui milt de- 1 voleed in the remaiuder of the paragraph—' and
cipi decipiatur—there seems to be a love of error, we supplicate their powerful mediation in dissuad-
a passion for self-deception, prevalent---a resolute • ing his Majesty's Ministers from prosecuting al)
determination to hold all facts in abhorreuee, thoughts of so grievous an impost—the life-blood
which presume to overthrow favourite fallacies— is exhausted, and stimulation is in vain.'
and while this passion prevails, it is in vain to at- ""There is one Resolution, however, which
tempt aey thing which reason alone may hope to was passed, yesterday, at line Meeting of the Pa-
effect. The Petition adopted yesterday is foni,d6ll . risk De!cgates, which does them great honour.—
upon error—it is compounded of errors—it moves Most heartily do we wish that we could, with
upon errors—" blubber, fins and all," it is nothing equal sincerity, give to their Petition the humble
hut error. The Window Tax isperrinachnisiyealled tribute of respect and. approbation which this Re-
a War 'Tax-=there is not extant a particle ofautho- ' solution exacts from us, -
illy torcalling it a Wet Tax—it is not a War Tax by " The Resolution is as follows ea- -
Law, mid in no other way could it, by possibility, I ' Resolved, That the polite attention of Mr. Hawthorne,
have been made a 'fax of that mature. In the and the other Commissioners of Inland 'Excise, in the ski-
teeth of impossibility, all the Parishes of Dublin charge` of thelr official cltties, lots been such, as rminently to
are made to call that a War Tax which is no
ennutii)tilii.;,tperu to the gratitude and thanl,s of the Citizens of
more a 'fax of that description than any other in
" he,Parish of Hicollibeen, inn the County of
'Taxis. The Window Tax is T
the list of Assessed
Waterford, held its Vestry, to consider of the
a heavy imposteaand, if Celt severely, let it be
Commutation and they decided as follows—
complained of, in the name of common sense; the Resolution '
being moved by Sir Sohn New-
but, let it not be described to be, what it never
Dort :—"-
could have beenaewhat it certainly is not. Upon '
a simple quest ion, of whether a heavy impost ,hall
be mitigated, let the decision be made hi a grave
and rational tempera-let tine proposed mitigation
be examined—let it be soberly and patiently Ito-
Vestigated-aand let the opinion, respectfully call-
ed for by the Minister, be the result 'of such in-

As the welfare of Ireland, a vital part of the
British .Empire, ought always to be au important
consideration with the friends of Government, we
are inquired that THE SUN alone, of all the Pa-
pers which profess to approve of the measures of
the present Administration, has noticed a subject
that has excited much hustle in that country,

and has strongly operated "upon the passions of
7,-the--People we mean the proposed commutation
of tae Window Tax. This topic has been most
• ablytrelited by- the 'Conductor of The (Dubin?)
Cori-espondea, and we have before extracted seve-
ral passages from that Paper, which were well
calculated to dissipate prejudice, and -enlighten
.the minds of our fellow-subjects, of Ireland. It
, ,
might he tnciught that tire Ministerid Journals,
as they are styled, from- motives of respect to
VANSITT A.RT.,- one of the able4t and purest of
public,and priVateeharacters which this Country has
ever possessed, arid who discharges the important
functions of his office with the most laudable zeal,
assiduity, and knowledge, would not, have passed
•over a subject in .which that Gentleman appears
-to so much advantage. It might he thought also,
'that as that Gentleman deemed it proper to visit.
'lreland, in order to possess himself, io the fullest
manner, of the general state of the Country, for the
express purpose of devising the best means of re-
lief, thoSe Writers who profess to be ardent slip-
Torters of Government Would have been induced
to attend to a subject of so much interest and im-
'portance. We, however, arc Kotid that we have
been more attentive to the interest of the corn-
anunity at large, of which we shall always consi-
der Ireland as one of our essential portions.
Lave, therefore, resumed our Extracts from the
above-mentioned Paper of the 17th inst. and J
continne to lay before our Readers whatever may
contribute to the honour of the CHANCELLOR of
the ExCHEQUER) on a subject in which he has
'manifested true patriotism and humanicy, as well
as profound financial knowledge and political
•Aorta.

We

qniry, fairly and candidly.. But, is this the ease ?
Has a due and patient inquiry into the nature and
effect of the proposed -commutation preceded
•any expression of the opinions of the Parishes ?
Surely, it is not necessary to affirm upon a 'wit);
so plainly demanding a negative in reply.
" The Minister says, yon have complained of
the Window Tax—you have told Parliament that
it is unequal in its pressure, and weighs oppres-
sively upon houses of small value-1 propose to
remove this inequality---to take away this dispro-
portioned burthen—l propose to substitute a Tax
upon House Rent—confer with each other, and
inquire how you can render this scheme of ame-
lioration easy and convenient to yourselves-1
shall be advised by your prudence.' -What fol-
lows ? Meetings are called, speeches are made
aga.inst the war, and the peace, and the taxes_

That, being assembled it: pursuance of a Circular Letter
front the Chief Commissioner of Excise, for the purpose-of
ascertaining the Valor: of Inhabited.llooses within this Pa-
rish, we feel ourselves bound respectfully, but thinly, to de-
cline taking upon us :in office which we are not warranted to
assume by any Act. Of the Legish,ture ; and at the same time
to declare, that we consider the People of Ireland fully en-
titled, on every ground of strict justice and Sollnd policy, to
look will. confidence to Parliament for a remission of the ex-
isting Tnxes, to a proportion coint»ensurate with that relief
which has been granted to Great Britain ; inasmuch as Ire-
late,d has been avowed, even by the Miuuisters of the Crown, to
114Ve advanced, during the %Val-, in her scale of Tits:MIMI,
fiforcrapitfly than Great Britain herself.

' we peculiarly deprecate the nitroduction ola House
founded on l'Arochial Assesinent of Value, a; laviun
the fouildati,in of a Property Tax, which we are Well kin.
ii iced would be fatal to the existence of Ireland, still more,
by the vat :Ire of its details) than even by the weight of its
contribution.

" There is something moderate, and appa-
ready reasonable in ail tl►is—no peace of arms
and War ot taxes,' or any such nonsense. But
though we respect the temper, We cannot concur
with the argument involved in the resolutions—
because, although there is no Act ot the Legisla-
ture warranting the Parishioners to assume the
oilice of valuators of inhabited houses within the
parish; yet, the end at►d aim of such office being
lawful, and destined to a public advantage, it may
be exercised without any fastidiousness—and, in-
deed,
_we suspect there is sonic affectation at the
bottom of this. We look upon it as a truism in
its way, hardly deserving of Sir John Newport's
a►tthority, that the people look, with confidence,
to the" Parliament for the remission of the taxes,
when the same can be accomplished without in-
flicting a greater injury upon tl►e public. We are
satisfied that the worthy baronet could not he se-
rious, when he adverted to an immediate remission
of the Taxes, to a proportion contn►ensurate
that relief which has been granted to Great

._. .
~;j aills and paragraphs, stimulating the crowd to
rashoe,s and impatience, arc sent forth—and the
'Tidy_ to the Minister is, the Tax upon Windows
__ ___

is n War Tax, away with it-we win have no
etownotation—we chose the unequal" pressure and
the oneconl borthen ;—and this is communicated

tmitiner, which throws imputation upon the
Mr.igtvr, and reprobation upon the policy of the
;!i!afe, through a series of new and formidable

eventß, As no Government ever had contended
agaiust before—such as no other .Government on
ear tt -roll!d triumph over.

‘` Very much do We fear, that if the Peti:ion