The Sun.
London, England, 1818-05-14 00:00:00

!RBI! GRAND JURIES.

Mr. V. FITZGERALD brought in the Irish Grand Jury
Presentment Bill.

Sir F. FLOOD expressed his high approbation of the mea-
sure.

The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered for a se-
cond reading. to-morrow, and to be printed.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
.amend and consolidate the Laws relating to County Trea-
surers in Ireland.—Agreed to.
Mr. CHICHESTER presented a' petition from the Inha-
bitants of Belfast against the Window Tax.—Laid osi the
table.

A petition was presented from Portsea against the Bill for
regulating Settlements.—Laid on the table, after a few words
from Lord Folkestone, Mr. Sturges Bourne, and Lord Castle-
reagh..

Mr. S. BOURNE then postponed the futtlier consideration
4f the Settlement Regulation Bill to next Monday.

COUNT LAS CASAS.

Mr. J. P. GRANT wished to know whether the Noble Lord
opposite would have any objection to produce a Copy of
the Correspondence and Olders that bad passed through the
Home. Department, relative to the transportation of Count
Las Cases ?
Lord CASTLEREAGH wished the Hon. Gentleman would
reduce his question into a notice; to which Mr.J. P. Grant
assented.

IRISH ASSESSED TAXES.
The House went into a Committee on the Irish
Assessed Taxes Bill.

The CHANCRLLOR of the EXCHRQURR adverted
to an opinion which had gone forth, that the tax
on Windows in Ireland, after the war, was to be
repealed ; but he thought that nothing which had
passed when it was originally kid on for a year

conid have, induced such a belief. Tie observed,
that many of the taxes which were generally voted
fur the war became in fact, from existing and
unavoidable circumstances, permanent ones. He
was, however, disposed to give some relief to the
existing bluebells ,of the people 'of that country.
The revenue at present fell short of the existing
debt about one million and a half; the latter being
six millions and a half, and tht taxes only pro-
div•ed about five millions. The proposition which
he had now to submit, .in respect to the existing
scale of.taxes, was this :-Ist, As to the Hearth-
tax, he did not intend any material alteration ; it
was his intention, however, to propose a very
considerable reduction in the Tax on Windows,
to the amount of 25 per cent. The stagnation in
trade had affected, to a certain extent, every part
of the Empire ;. and consequently where any too-
dificatirm could be made, it was reasonable to
afford it, in justice to the pressure on the people.
In lodging-houses, occupied by the poor, only Is.
a window would be charged, whatever the num-
' her of windows. The Right Hon. Gentleman
here stated some other modifications on the Aa-
sessed Taxes generally, as affecting the Minor and
more expensive establishments, in which he should
propose some material relief, with a view to in-
duce absentees to reside there. A great reduction
would he made its the highest scale in respect of
servants, horses, carriages, &c. The duty on
jaunting ears, which was heretofore St. 10s. would
now he reduced to 21. 2s. He then moved a Re-
solution for repealing the present duties, &c.

Sit H. PARNELL called the attention of the
Right Hon. Gentleman to the manner of collect-
ing the Hearth 'Fax, which he o!tiected to:, and
thought the best mode of getting rid of the griev-
ance would be to move for its repeal. He alluded
to an Address in the reign of King William on
this subject, and the Niessage of that Monarch to
Parliament, in consequence of which a Rcsoln-
tion-pased declaring the Hearth Tax a grievance.
The Hon, Baronet moved to abolish this 'Fax
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended
the letyine, of cite Tax, as being strictly correct,
and not grievous.. But. if the Hon. Baronet Was
inclined to accept of the House Tax as in Eng-
land, instead of a Tax on Hearths, he (the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) had no objection
to repeal the latter. This was the case in the
time of King William, when a commutation took
place.
Sir H. PARNELL objected to the 'Fax in a con-
stitutional point of view,

Mr. FOSTER observed, that since the Union a
great diminution of the Tax on Hearths had taken
place. In respect to the agricultural population,
houses not having four hearths. paid no duty.—
The House therefore would see the advantages
which Ireland derived. The agricolthral part of
that country had 16.03101. a year conceded to them
by tl►e non-levy of the Tax, «Itich before 1795
Was strktly enforced. -Houses having one hearth
then only paid duty.

Mr. D. RitawN had never heard any com-
plaint of the mode of collecting this tax, and
supported the tax, as preferable to any other.. He
was so much of a COnstitutionallst that he would
not consent to take Off two shillings in order to
levy four. Tbis must be the case if this tax was
repealed. _ _

Sir F. FLOOD complained. of the grievance
which the tax inflieTed on the people. Ile thought
when Gentlemen returned to iheir Constituents
they would feel a little auk ward, in having given a
great vote in favour of oppression. By voting
this tax it made. Ireland slaves.

The CHANCELLOR 01 the EXCHEQUER "Hid 110
ttish to enslave the people of Ireland, by perie-
vering in the Hearth-Tax ; and if the Gentle-
men "of Ireland would CPHsent to the substitution
of the House-Tax, he had no objection to relin-
quish it.
Sir H. PARNELL stia maintained; that in a con-
atitutional punit of •vieiv.treland Was. entitled to
expect !chef from the tax.

Mr. V. FITZGERALD 4,lenied.-that the tax was
odious, imr could:he believe that, constitutionally
speaking, it was properitii repeal it. He sup-
ported the proposition for its continuance.
Sir J. NEwpotur protested against the doctrine
that those who objected to a tax should consent
to provide or agree to any other. With respect
to the tax, perhaps it was, in its modified form,
less objectionable than others.
Mr. PaaNI.ILL supported the Motion for repeal-
ing the tax, on the old constitution grounds-; and
thought it rather hard to say—" We Will.Prypose
the Hotite-tax as a substitute.

Mr. PEEL supported the taic:
After some conversation, the,amena-
ment of Sir Parnell' was withdrawn. •

The Resolution respecting the Window-duties
was then read.

Sir J. NEWPORT contended-that it was necessary
to go lower in the scale of reduction for the in-
terest of Irdiind, and therefore he shoold
to limit the rate to 50 per cent. ins,tead of 25 per,
cent. He observed, that withinth4last
the number of windows stopited np amonoted .to
78,800, neatly one-tenth of the number' thrOugh-
out the country. This afforded a strong proof of
the policy of lowering the scale, to say nothing of
the benefit of admitting the wretched people to
receive light and air. He maintiNitied that the
pressure on the people -was so great that Ireland
was incapable of bearing the bdrthens imposed
nay, indeed, Great Britain felt it in her exports,
which had greatly decreased. , He moved accord-
ingly to lower the rates 25 per cent._ on the smaller
houses than the scale proposed by tile Chancellor
of the Exchequer.
Sir F. FLOOD contended that the pressure was
so • great that the tax had fallen considerably
short of the expected receipts. He supported the
amendment, being satisfied of the incapability of
the people to bear the burthens.
Mr. PEEL referred to what had passed in a
former debate respecting the preamble of the Act
of 1800, which provided further ditties for one
year only. It had then been contended that
the faith of Parliament was pledged for that
period ; but it had been forgotten to stare that the
grants were made for one year. only.. 'He
tained, therefore, that the faith of Parliament was
not violated. But he would ask the Hon. Bart: why
he did not, in the year 1806, if he thought the
faith of Parliament was pledged, preserve that
faith by repealing the tax instead of bringing in'

an Act to render it permanent. With resil'eclit;
the call for r peal, that was no ctiterion'of
policy of the measure. The Committee mot "nd
into consideration the state of the finances, end
the means of providing for the exigencies oft(`
State. The whole amount of the proposed relief le'
taxes would be somewhere about 152,000/:
making a deficiency in the revenue of 551400
which England must provide fur. The charge 11,
England for the debt of Ireland was 4,476001•
addition to this, the deficiencyjust alluded to w"to,
make the amount nearly 5,000,0001. The interest
the debt at the Union paid in Ireland was 1,600,00_
at present it is only 1,680,0001. In thitSt3titd
the incapability of Ireland to meet the charges eai
its establishment, the Committee would do 'vet
to consider how far it would be policy Et)
the rate of duties below the scale proposed bY
Right Hon. Friend. Houses with less than seevo
windows were exempt from the operation o'ectLi„
tax ; and lodging-houses, formerly paying soe
by the new scale would only be liable 10
thus a commutation to the atnount of 1.0“
would be granted to the owners of those ii°",s,to-6.
Sir J. NEWPORT defended his conduct in TI
and denied that he now wished to court poPulari".
Mr. Btrresa supported the amendment. ed•
Mr. V. FLTZGERALD went over the grountm
which he proceeded the years 1814 and lboed
in encreasing this particular tax, which was gilled
for on the ground of expediency. He tools aO.-
view of the state of the Irish finances, arid d°,•,(l,
tabled that had not the commutation been
into effect, the debt which Ireland would ve
LII
to provide for must have Len 6,000,000 L
supported the proposition of his Right El°ll,lot
. able Friend in respect to the diminished ses".
25 per cent. otg.
Mr. SHAW (of Dublin) referred to the see pal
Mr. Corry, on the 25th of June, 1800, wllo‘ilos
expressly stated that the tax was laid on Oa' 1.
Tax only. He contended that the pi-01)04(.1,o
duction would not have the benefit which
contemplated by the ktight Hon. Gel-0141st',
'Hue Hon. Gentleman read several rettiro34.o•
shew that tlits tax was decreasing itt proo"c„ria'
tress., and therefore he considered-it idle t°
For these reasons he thought
grievous tax ought to be taken off.
Mr L. F'STER defended thecontinoanceJl-
tha
tax, on the ground that the Ctomeellor
Exchequer, consistently with his geoet<44
could not have found ally other r:,x to ~,,41-6t'
for this ; and therefore it would be onwisc
peal this tax at present.
Sir F. BU RDETT said, that the Hon. (ir"
titan's argument was incorrect, until ditir ;Id
down all unmerited places and pensions. "'d by
shewn that every just economy was kolor „al3-
Government. It this tax were 31).1:shed.
be received as a great boon by the people ° ale
land; it might ena.ble 6overoment to red".
military establishment in Ireland, and 10114
more to the Exchequer yhan this tax piod"ce".
The Earl of CA RH A NIPToN opposed the '3% orto
Lord CASTLEREAGH considered this i"" as,itt
of the mildest measures which Ireland had "
to expect, considering the present fivancol ,p
culties of the country. It would not be
take off this tax from Ireland, because it t"
be throwing an additional burden upon 1105
try at a time when almost all the sources ();
taxation were closed, or at least almost exl.ol4o.i:j
ed. Besides, he did not think it wise in 11;e:
to press the eenerosity of this country 1;1-10'
most pitch. Ile was sorry that the iris!!
lit
bers had not accepted,the boon offered to ibef:tie
the reduction of the tiVindow-tax in '0 "lire'
calculated to quiet the minds of the people 0.
Sir G. HILL approved of the course We
Ministers,- and wished to take his fall
self,,!
unpopuliirity for voting. with the Chan
the Exchequer, 140014
Altera few words from Mr. BUTLER, the
divided, when there appeared— so

time it.

For the Motion 56
• •
Fur the Amendment ......................
Majority in favour of the proposition;..-.---. -••••
ofl le.
• 5
Chancellor of the Exchequer ......... • • •
When strangers were re-admitted,
Sir J. NEWP owl. was objecting to the Pr-t'cl,er
acted upon by the Chancellor of the Exe,I!„ei;101
with respect to the duties on servants. IP"
went to give the rich great relief—to fiws, (LPI
were in tolerable circumstances little, I '
„ e ;
those who were poor none at all.
The CHANCELLOR of the Excireaus3
explained the reasons which had infloolee"„foh
in forming the schedule to which the obser'
of theilonourable Baronet applied. Wvi
A conversation-followed, in which Sir' '
port, My: Huskisson, Mr. J. P. Grant, il'f,itig If'
Fitzgerald, Sir M. W. Ridley, and Mrl34; (10
ton.participated, in the course of which "700'
ties on carriages were discussed, and the relie thg
posed to be granted. The Chancellor 006
Exchequer finally moved that the dntY gold'
male servant should be reduced to Vv°,solo'
:leas, which was agreed to, as were the fa)
ntt
titans fixing the duty on a single carriage at 1;1.0°
two carriages at 221., on the three- 33L 1,1-rther
at 441., on every additional carriage the
sum of 121.; on every two-wheeled carriag'e to, coo
by one horse, 51. 55., and on every jatiolitil'
the sum of 21. 2s. • it
,The House resumed, and the ReV r
rt °ro%o
Committee was ordered to be received fo'rir,g-ig
Sir J. NEWPORT obtained leave to
Bill for preventing the extension.of e't7T-n-§t4
fever in Ireland,' by making further provisl(:l with
the reception and cure of patients athlete
that disease.
SLAVE TRADE.iof° ••
Mr. ROBINSON moved that the He use should t ft:er
t aGoe
Committee on the Slave Trade Abolition Acts, u‘rr,
short conversation, in which Mr. Wiberforee•
burn, Mr. Barham, and Mr. W. Smith 7 took part'
uiittee was postponed till that. day two months.
EDUCATION.
On the motion of Mr. BROUGHAM, the o°gsc re 04
itself into a Committee on the Education of the ie°,l7nce9
4,0001. I,y
was agreed on as a sum for defraying the `',.1,1) SPP,
thepuiatof cCommissionersCharitable
r Fundsitt-estifgoart investigating the
purpaobstet abuse
of e ticf
ion
dtic‘'
Report to-morrow.
The other orders of the day were tb e n d's osed °f, an
3 •
House adjourned at a quarter to One. 17)

„T. 29, Viii
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