Star.
London, England, 1815-01-25 00:00:00

FRISNCH PAIPERS.

PARIS, JANUARY to.
Preparations have been making for some days, in
the most solemn .and magnificent manner, for re-in-
terment of martyred Louis XVI. and his ill-fated
Queen, which takes place to-morrow, in the Royal
Church of St. Denis. The arrangements do credit
to the taste and genius of M. Bellinger, Architect to
Monsieur. Four elegant vases have been prepared,
each containing two medals', exhibiting on one side of
each the effigy of the King and Queen, and on the
other this simple inscription t--44 A Louis XVI. le
XXI Janvier M.DCCCXV." Andon those dedica-
ted to the Queen an inscription suitable to her Ma-
jesty. Of these two are to be placed in the pave,
which has held the bodies since the decapitation in
1793, and two near the heads of the respective coffins
' in the Abbey of St. Denis. A neat and appropriate
Chapvt will be erected in the cemetery, in which the
precious remains of the martyred Sovereigns were so
long concealed. It is intended that a Form of Pray.*
will be introduced into the French Liturgy, in com-
memoration of the martyrdom of Lends XVI. similar
inn principle to that read in the English Churches for
the martyrdom of Charles I.
An offieial Order to this effect has accordingly been
issued, signed by Count Blacas, for the shutting up
the ,Theatres on the day of interment, and for the at-
tendance of the Civil and Military Authorities on the
occasion.
ORDER OP THE Ktxu.—Wishing to recompense
the pious devotion of M. Descloseaux, in preserving
the mortal remains of their Majesties Louis XVL
and his august Queen, his Majesty has invested him
with the Cordon of the Order of St. Michael, and
cenferred on him a considerable pension, revertible
to his two daughters. •
We regret to hear that a very unfavourable acti-
• dent happened yesterday to the Duchess Dowager of
Orleans, whd, in descending a staircase at Madame
Deras's, fell, and broke one of her legs. •
In the Tribunal de Premiere Instance, M. Bonnet was

beard this day at great length, in the cause of the
Duchess of St. Leu (Madame Louis Bonaparte)
against her husband. After which the reply of M.
Triplet., on the part of the Duke, was deferred till
tha 27th instant, when it is expected the Court will
come to some decision upon this curious case.
MILAN, JANUARY 7.

d'The proceedings of the Commission, appointed to
try the conspirators in this city, are as yet a profound
secret. It is certain that, from the papers and corn-
iumnications, in `cypher and sympathetic ink. found
upon them, plots existed against the present Govern-
ment. We are also. assured that General Bertrand
has beawimag.in this city from Elba; and it is lately
reported drat • General Bidloti, one of the accused,
has attempted to destroy hiniself.
• teaubLES, DECEMBER 'IL
Side cannot the Solickude of the Eng-
lish Goiernmeni for the Iting of Sicily ; England
guaranteed that island to him, ar she has guaranteed
thr iingdastrof ?lathes* Joas:hiat. We hare ft.und her
just and honourable in herengigements to both So.
vereigns ; but after the well-known disposition of his
Neapolitan Majesty, Sicily'has no reason to fear any
thing from him; as his Majesty has solewinly declared
himself in perfect peace, not only with that Power,
but with Europe generally. )

valuers PROM .A. PRIVATE LETTER. •
44 Vienna, Jlnnary
"4 The reports of war have suddenly subsided.
Some military men, no doubt, have touchy expressed
their hopes for its renewal. But people are no longer
alarmed. Happily our Sovereigns and their Ministers
are sincerely disposed for peace.
!, I believe I can say with certainty, that the affair
of Saxony is decided. She will recover her indepen-
dent existence. Perhaps some few districts will be
-ceded to Russia, who will receive farther indemnities
on the side of Poland and the left bank of the Rhine.
Itlrsaid that his Saxon Majesty has been invited to
the Congress. This is chiefly attributed to a long
addience which bOth Prince de Talleyrand•and Lord
Castlereagh had obtained of the Emperor Alexander.
The States of Germany have sheen a strong
disposition for. the establishment of Representative
Ctinstitutiens.
England, it is believed, has demanded the cession
of the idand of Sardinia, with a view to the protec-
tion of the Mediterranean from African depredations,,
through •the instrumentality of the Order of Malta,
which by such a measure would become more re-
nowned and flourishing than ever. Her &Mini=
Majesty is now preparing to quit Cagliari for Turin.
is Murat appears still to forget the rights of King
Ferdinand, notwithstanding the favourable offers
made to him of a Sovereignty in the Legation, and
the investment of three large fiefs in the territories
of Naples."
LETTER.
Y. Visas% homy 10.
MOM gloomy ; they
it is affirmW that a
take place in the Aull•
' a state of things so
reports, which serve still
lowiug are positive facts,
estion:
the Emg:treat Russia
i our h, which
_ presumed that object: of
were discussed. Evetsince

this time an eatraovlioary activity has been observed
in'ihe buries ofthiVfar Depaitinent ; a great num-
' ber of extinetidinery couriers have been successively ,
dlipatched.%'; Mks which think themselves. best ,
informed, iiliiiretendeitthattsperor Alexuulee
.has. &Claret himseg in a'acisiie Simmer respecting
Poland and Saxony, Intl that this declaratiott in the
present state of affairs must lead to a crisis.
44 On the other hand, people pretend to have ob-
served that the French Negotiators do not spew in
the negotiations all the frankness that might be de-
sired. However that be, it is certain that Russia
.and Prussia are more closely united than ever ; that
Austria, England, and Bavaria, act in concert; and
that the policy of France seems to incline to those
Powers. In case of i new war, Italy, Poland, and
Germany will be the theatre of it. It is asserted
that the neutrality of Holland and Belgium will be
secured by the influence of England. A report is
spread that-Prince Metternich quits the Administra-
tion to go to Italy on a highly important mission. It
cannot be denied that the Austrian States in Italy
are in a very singular situation ; it would perhaps
have been desirable that the Austrian Power had not
extended itself beyond the Adige. For the rest, the
die is cast.—.-Mav the happiness of nations be at
length the results of the extraordinary events which
have filled all Europe with terror and bloodshed,
from the frontiers of Austria to the Straits of Gibral-
tar, for so long a series of years!"

' TRIESTE. DECEMBER 27.
His Imperial Majesty has caused it to be made
known, for the satisfaction of the Merchants and
Masters, and Proprietors of merchant ships trading
to, ov belonging to this port, that the Turkish Go-
vernment, faithful to the Treaty of 1783, has given
orders for indemnifications for losses sustained by the
depredations of the Barbary Powers ; and addressed
new firmans to the Regencies in that country, in order
that the Austrian flag may be duly respected in future.

CALMS, JANUARY 17.
(From the Gazette de France of January SO.) •
The celebrated Emma, widow of Sir William
Hamilton, died here yesterday. This Lady had been
intimately connected with Lord Nelson. By a codicil
to his will, written an hour before the battle of Tra-
falgar, be confirmed all the legacies he had made to
her Ladyship. This document was found in the
possession of Lady Hamilton : and, pursuant to her
last request, her body will be conveyed to England.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

NEXT FRIDAY WILL BE THE SECOND DAY OP
DRAWING, WHEN THE FIRST TICKET DRAWN A
PRIZE ABOVE 425, WILL RECEIVE 490,000.--ONLY
ONE DAY MORE TO DRAW.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1815.
THE FUNDS.
This being the Conversion of St. Paul, no business was done
in the Money Market. The Commissioners for Liquidating the
National Debt make purchases daily in the Fends, us the amount
of aS91,000; but on the let February it will be reduced to £60,000.
The Funds will of course expaleme a depreciation. On the let
of May the Commissioners are expected to lay eat upwards
of £500,000 every treader dry, unless the -Sioldes Fund be
af-
fasted by some kgisbdire net hi the mean time.

Last night, at a late hour. we received Paris
Papers to the 22d, and Brussels Papers to the 21st.
The latter still talk of the prospect of war, in con-
sequence of the want of unanimity at the Congress ;
but we believe without any fact to warrant the opi-
nion. On the contrary, the general complexion of
the accounts from Vienna, in the Paris Papers and in
Privatetetters, tends to confirm what we stated two
days ago—that all the leading points which were
under discussion, have been adjusted, as much to the
satisfaction of all parties as could well be expected,
where so many 'interests were to be considered. The
particulars of the arrangements, are, however, still
matter of mere conjecture, nothing having been offi-
cially announced, except the annexation of Genoa to
Austria, and Savoy to Sardinia. From the present
accounts it would appear that at last means have
been devised to preset!. the, independence of Saxony.
—A private letter States that she is to cede some
boundary districts to Prussia, and. to be repaid by
some possessions in Poland, and adds that the King
f f SAxonir has been invited in consequence to attend
Me Congress. This arrangement is said to have been
effected by the joint exertions of England and France.
Some of the letters even mention the territory to b
, e
deded by Saxony, namely, Lusatia and a portion of
his territory on the right bank of the Elbe : his in..'
demnity.is to be a.portion,of the Duchy of Warsaw.
The Menitnw, and indeed all the Paris Papers of
the 20th and 21st, are filled with 'details respecting
the funeral rites to be observed in commemoration of
the martyrdom of LOUIS XVI. and his unfortunate
Queen. Their remains were dug np on the 19th ;
the bones of the Queen were entire, and a pair of steel
garters were found among the fragments ; those of
the King were considerably decayed, but the circum-
stance of the head Mnfonnd placed between the'
knees, put- ills Audi ty beyond a doubt. The
Cure who service over the bodies,
• , , •
and one or eme 'promo si humble life, employed by
the revehationary tribes& to' superintend the inter•
meat, were the witnesses Who pointed out the precise
spot where. they were buried: A solemn day of fast-
ing an 4 prayer has been appointed for the 21st of
January every year in future. The Court of Vienna
have ordered -a grand funeral ' cern:miry to be cele-
brated on the same day.
The report that the Duke of Wxu.txtriti4 quits
Paris to succeed Lord CMITLIRZAGH at Vienna seems
to be well funded. Indeed, some of the Paris letters
state that the Duke was to set offal Sunday last. This,
however, can hardly be correct, for the Honourable
Colonel Carat; who left Paris on Saturday last, and
ii now in London, saw his Grace on that day, at

Whiairthin it was set known that Suridirirat to be
the day o(his departure. •
• uid JLOrdtasriadit is Vainly expectaitio‘tondon.
• •
COnleinellal sit,the-Puks of WaLuxoTos's re.
inoval to Vienna; lilt HAMM WILLIEMIN goes. it is
mid; from Madrid to Paris,' to fill the Duke's place ;
and Mr.CAmritria will proceed from Lisbon to Madrid.
From these arrangements it may be inferred, that
there is no foundation for the report that Lord LIVER-
toot. was about to retire from office ; for Lord CAS-
TLEREAOH, will continue to fill his present situation
in the Cabinet.

Ten days ago we mentioned, on the authority of
our accounts from Halifax, the sailing of three Ame-
rican frigates. The intelligence was contradicted
next day in the other Newspapers. It has, however,
been confirmed by Dispatches received on Monday at
the Admiralty from Sir GEORGE Cowan, communi-
cating the important information, that an American
squadron was at sea, consisting of the President and
Constitution frigates, of 50 guns each, and the Con-
gress, of 38. Sir GEORGE Cot. Linn had received in-
telligence 4 their course, and had gone in pursuit of
them. The British force under his command was
precisely equal to that of the enemy, in point of guns;
and consisted of the LEANDER, of 50 guns, Sir Gs°.
Cowan; the Nxweasn.c, of 50 guns, Lord Graeae
STEWART i and the ACASTA, of 38, Captain KERR 4(
No two squadrons were ever more equally matched;
We -know, however, the American ships are very
amply manned ; and, we hope, in so material a point
the British ships are not wanting : for we are quite
satisfied, if the two squadrons meet, the officers who
command our own ships will sink with the rev': Co-
hen flying, rather than :bile ihem to the enemy.
Whilst on their cruize, the British squadron fell •in
with, and captured the Prince of Neufchatel priva-
teer, of 22 guns, and 160 men, which had been out
some days from Boston, but had made no captures.
This was about a month ago. The Neufchatel is a
remarkably fine schooner, of between 3 and 400 tons,
and supposed to be the fastest sailing vessel out of
America, having during her foimr cruizes been
chaced by 37 different British ships of war, which
were never able to touch her: she had captured no
fewer than 25 British merchant vessels, most of which
she destroyed. At the time she was taken, she had
nearly penetrated amongst a dispersed West India
convoy, of which she bad information by a neutral
with whom she had previously spoken at sea.
The LEANDER and NEWCASTLE are • both new fri-
gates, and built for the purpose of matching the Pre-
sident and Constitution. They sailed from the
Thames some time last spring. The President sailed
from New York, the Constitution from Boston, and
the Congress from Portsmouth.
The following are some extracts from American
Papers :

FROM CANADA.-MONTREAL, NOV. 25.
The Provincial Parliament is prorogued to the 27th
day of December. mt.—Thirty American desoseten
arrived here on Wednesday. •
From she Casette of Thorati tut.
."
We understand the neutral vessel will sail from the
sales tomorrow. on her last trip up Lake Champlain,
with a full cargo of British manufactures. Who would
have expected to have seen a Swedish flag navigating
exclusively art inland water belonging to the United
States of America.
Our harbour presents a scene that was never before
witnessed at this season : upwards of seventy vessels
of different sizes, are now unloading their cargoes,
sompcsed chiefly of British manufactures ; and all
:de, activity incident to a crowded port in the sum-
mer, is seen at this period.
• What a contrast the war has brought about ;n the
relative situation of this Province and the United
States. In the one commerce is more than treble ;
in the latter it has given place to the despicable sup-
ply of foreign commodities through the infamom
system of robliery on the Ocean : and the nation,
which was once second in the commercial world, is,
DOW reduced to a dependance on privateering, on the,
teeny of those British Provinces, which she.vainly
boasted three years ago she would capture in three
months. To a calculating people this must be an
intolerable disappointment.
We have this instant been informed that a most
,violent gale has lately been experienced on Lake On-
, 'o, in which a number of merchant boats, with
r cargoes, and many of their crews, on their way
York and Niagara, have been lost. We sincerely
hope that it may not prove as disastrous as it has
been represented.

QUEBEC, NOVEMBER ie.
We are informed that the Address of the inhabi-
tants of this Province to his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent was forwarded to EnOtilion the 12th
instant.
The tele . aph yesterday announced the 'arrival of
*square- ,fetich;' fifteen of them' art- sAid to
be a fleet fr .. cork *Rh 19,000 bArrti s' I:}n toifs
only with troops. They-sailed from Cork on the 2d
October. A proof that if Great Britain thick of us,
i is not with such a knowledge of the county y as good
helmsmen Should possess. A part have entered the
harbour. For their arrival we moat be thankful ;
hut the thanks are due more to our good fortune than
to the judgment of our British land pilots.
Vtre mentioned a few days ago, for the purpose of
contradicting it, the report of Sir ALSAANDER Coot-
'Awn having met with a disaster, near New Orleans,
on the 15th of November. By letters from Guade-
loupe of the 18th of that month, it appears, that Ad-
miral Cocaine' left that island on the 12th, and then
for the purpose of rendesvousing at Jamaica. This
settles the question completely, and proves the story
to have been an American fabrication.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

FALMOUTH, JANUARY It.

Came in the Mauthugret, MOLLER, from St. Bi!-
tholomew, bound to Amsterdam ; Hit, WERsTEit,
from Newfoundland; and the Ann, Evoa, from LI.
verpool. Sailed the Queensberry Packet, with a Mail
for the West Indies ; and the Unity, WARREN, fur
London.—Wind N.E.
PLYMOUTH, JANUARY 23.

Came in the Hiram, HENILY, from Newfound-
land for Dartmouth.—Wind N.N.E.

PORTSMOUTH, JANUARY 24.

Arrived bis Majesty's ships Les and LARNE, from
the Downs. Came into Harbour his Majesty's ship
CURAVIA. Mason, and SWAN cutter. His Maje,t)
ship ARIEL gives instructions to the Trade bound
the Canaries and coast of Africa ; and his Majes:
ship PHCBNIX to the Trade bound to Spain, Peru% ,
,mod the MeJiterranean.—Wind S.E.

GRAVESEND, JANUARY 24.

No arrivals. Sailed the Qaebec, Williams, for Dublin ; anJ
the Brilliant, Vining, for the Cape of Good Hope.

By the Ostend packet Hope, Captain OLDNIAS',
arrived on Sunday last at Gravesend from OstenO,
we learn, that the Laurel, of Lancaster, Captain Em-
men., foundered at sea in a strong gale, 100 milt.;
N.W. of the Tezel, last Thursday week : the whid
of the crew took to their small boat, having lost
large one, and after being many hours at sea, mad,
their landing at Nieupor E. Through the humanity
of Colonel GREGORY, the Commanding Odicer a:
Ostend, these unfortunate people received billets up,,,
innkeepers, and were supplied, during their stay, wit,i
rations of provisions from the military magazine, until
they sailed for London in the Ostend packet.
The Baron D'lsinzior, who was sent out of 0-
country under his Majesty's warrant, landed last wei
at Boulogne, from a King's cutter. From the stron
N.W. gales, which had been blowing violently for ti.
last five days, no communication had been made be.
tween Doier and Calais till Saturday last. The first
packet that arrived carried over two partners of orl
of the country Banks, in pursuit of a Ingitive frooi
their•firm, who had absconded with a very comide:
able sum. Through the vigilance of the Police
was apprehended on Saturday night, at the Kingston
Hotel, at Calais, and committed to prison.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM PARIS, JAY. 10.
44 The

appointed by the British
Government to examine, ascertain, and bring for-
ward the claims of our merchants upon the French
Treasury, have met so many evasions and deliberat.
obstructions in the prosecution of this just and essen-
dal object, that the Duke of Wellington has ade
dressed a peremptory note to the French Ministry,
desiring, that since it is their evident determination
to withhold the payment to which so many British
subjects are entitled, and which was so solemnly sti-
pulated by the Treaty of Paris, they will forthwith re-
fund to Great Britain the amount of her demand h r
the maintenance o 4 French prisoners of war—the t
cess of which above the French demand upon us is :: •
less than seven millions sterling. These attempts to
elude their pecuniary obligations are old and well
known occurrences in the history of French honour."
COURT OF CHANCERT.--.THE LUNACY or Loan
Ponvascounr.—This matter came before the Loma
Oda:mm.4:m yesterday morning in his private room
behind the Court. His Lordship being delicate in
health, to all appearance labouring under a cold, as
he was furnished with a small stove filled with hct
water under his feet as he sat —On the entrance of
Counsel and parties, his Lordship oidtred all strangers
to be excluded, as it was the wish of both parties to
argue the matter in private.— About twelve o'clock
strangers were admitted, after the Counsel for the Pc.
lilioD, Mr. HART, Mr. LEACH, and Mr. WEAR, were
heard.—The further hearing was postponed.
Knee's Timrim—Last night the Opera of Ls
Dame Soldata was exceedingly well performed. Ma-
dame FERLAEDIS and Signor RWHI introduced a new
Duet, which they sang with great taste and execuaor.
An apology was made for VESTRIS, sen. and his part
in the Calif of Bagdad, was performed by his son.
Demur-LANs.—Last night, Miss L. KELLY made
her second appearance in the interesting character of
Juliet, which she sustained with increased effect, and
was rewarded with the most unqualified approbation
of a crowded audience.
COVENT.GARDEN.—In consequence of the indispo-
sition of Mr. SINCLAIR, Miss MATHEWS performed
the part of dirket:, in the Opera of 4rtaxerxe:. Miss
STEPHENS war also unfortunately indisposed—an apo-
logy was made—she sung only 60 If o'er the cruel
tyrant, Love," and the audience would not permit
her to attempt any more.
THE SERPENTINE RlVER.—Yesterday was a delight-
iul day for the skaiters; the sun breaking through the
gloom, about one o'clock, greatly enlivened the
scene.' The intenseness of the frost on the preceding
Might worked a complete change in the appearance of
the ice. The most simple and effectual remedy
against accidents was resorted to, about two o'clock,
,by direction of the Humane Society, viz. a halgnet
line, composed of horse-hair, was extended across
the river, near the centre, at each end of which was
stationed a man during the day. Placards were alsl
exhibited, warning the skaiters not to assemble in
numbers on one spot.
*The First.drawn Prize above 425, next Friday
Morning. will be entitled to 420,000 besides, at:.l
has a very great chance of being
.drawn the othcr
010,000, and so become a 440,000 Prize.
420,000 is quite large enough for any conscience—
all we contend for is, it has a great chance of di:
other, and therefore may be a £40,000.

A Party of Gentlemen in the City, being fully per-
suaded that many of the Capitals in the.present Let•
tery would be Sold by Walla, resolved to purchase
part of every Ticket he shared.—They are the
Holders of an Eighth of the 810,000 Prise sold by
Ww on Wednesday last, and have refused a pre-
mium for their remaining undrawn Shares • having
so strong' a pruestimerst, that One or Bush of the
Ageopoo Prizes which are still in the Wheel, will be
also Shared at Wass's Mee, 17, Ludgate-street.

CORN•EXCHANCGE, MARK-LANE, JAN. 23.
Although the demand for Wheat was not so brisk as on Mon-
day, ear priem far that of Ilse quality are fully supported.--
Having a short supply of Barley, and the severity of the weather
musing a tsar that the navigation' of ate River may be soon
otepped, induced the Customers to b ftmly at an advance of
0. per quarter. leans, Pets, pul Oats inn rally sok, st
Monday's prices.

FROM ANOTHER LI
•
el glehe political horizon grows
tall of war recommencing, and
geWsal movement is going to tal
than army. In the midst of
laintiititiseo and of the public repo
to bur fears, the follawii
wh cannot be called fn questil
On the 34 of this month the
lolls rata conference Willi c
f!
lasted two hours ;it is press
the highest inspeettnee were die

THE PROPEATI TdX.

NtEETING OF THE COUNTY OP SOUTHAMPTON.

WINCRESTIM, JAN. 24.
A Requisition signed by some of the most respec-
tat. inhabitants of this County, having been pre-
sented LO the Hioit &MD% calling upon him to call
reneral Meeting, for the purpose of taking into
co'T'lsi,leration the expediency of presenting a Petition
t,, parliament, reprobating the continuance of the
p„.p-rty Fax, that Gentleman, in obedience to the
will thus generally and respectably manifested, ap-
-010 the Meeting to be held this dly at twelve
•.-:ock, in the Town Hall. •

At an early hour every avenue leading to the City
was crowded with vehicles of every description, by
equestriAns as well as pedestrians, all anxious by their
i1e).•;....7,. and unanimous voice, to prove the satisfac-
twn with which they were ready to subscribe to any
roposition which had for its object the reprobation
4.t a vas, oppressive to all, bat peculiarly oppressive
a.ad ruinous to the land-owner and land-holder.
Soon after twelve o'clock, RICHARD Hotta, Esq.
the High Sheriff. arrived at the Hall, attended by
several of the Gentlemen by whom the Requisition
was signed. His approach wit. the signal for the
Hall being opened, and in an inktititi`the multitude
which WAS assembled at the 's** riisliecl.:forward
with an irresistible impetuosity; ownuining 'thiiie
who had not sufficient strength test* the sewed
stream. The Court in which* Oil Newt!l iv"
held was thronged to excess, and :triffeeff'
but trifling accommodation fOrthe• newthai ,
44
were present.
___.
_,_ • fl
The HIGII SITERIFF opened the business by work
stating the purpose for whiCh the Meeting • was 0 .i
cd, and the circumstances under which it had been;
called.
The UNDER SIIERIEF then read the Requisition—
after which,
The thou Sunnier said, that he would leave the
introduction of the Petition, which it was intended
to propose for the approval of the Meeting, to those
Gentlemen by whom it was prepared, and by whom
lle had no doubt it st. ould be submitted to them, with
that ability and energy which- had always charac-
terised the individuals to whom he alluded.

Mr. Poerar.r. rose to propose a Resolution, being
one of the persons who had signed the Requisition to
the Sheriff; and having oeserved the machinery of the
Tax which was about to be brought under their e'en.
sideration, he had no hesitation in offering himself to
their notice, even in the presence of persons of much
more importance, and who were more competent
than himself to do justice to the cause. And before
he proceeded further, he was anxious to disclaim all
party motives. He did not intend to consider the
tax wiw reference to the person with whom it origi-
nated, nor to the war, or to ,the origin of the war,
which has rendered it necessary; but he would con.
tine himself to the point of necessity, for continuing,
reviving, or modifying the tax : or rather whether.it•
ought or ought not to he suffered to continue under
any modification whatever.—(Alitlause).—lt would
net in the ordinary course of things have been neces-
sary to have disturbed ,he tax in its expiring moments
by any petition or resolution of theirs; but by re-
fasing to give answers in the House of Commons,
and by hints given;abroad, and other means, the
Ministry had given the country reason to believe,
that they were of opinion, the tax did not expire on
the 6o: of Aptil next, or that they wished to renew
:t ; by letters with the ordinary indorsement of psi.
vats' upon thew, addressed to the supporters of Mi.
I,:seas in great towns, she sense of the country was
attempted to be probed, and the intentions of Mini.
strrs manifested that by some means they were deter-
mined to renew the Tax on Property.—(elm/ause).---
The first point necessary was to examine the tax and
the mode of carrying it into effect. • Under the sem-
blance of an equal tax, it was the most unequal that
could possibly be devised.—(afftp/eure).---For iss-
uance, was it equal or just to call that profit which
was the grass rent of one hundred acres of land,
vithout deducting any of the inevitable charges upon
it ; or was it just to call the net rental of a farm pro.
fit, when trom that farm belonging to the church or
to corporate bodies, a large sum was paid, perhaps
every seven years, as a fine for the renewal of a lease?
To follow up this argument in all its ramifications
would be an insult to common judgment: but if this
was unjust how much greater was the injustice and
1: equality where a trader or professional man, who
was oblig.:cl to exert his physical or mental energies
for die support of his family, and who was yet taxed
to the amount of their incomes, although it arose
from an absolute rental; or from interest of real capi.
tit!. The whole of their income being falsely called
profits.---(Repeatedtiaras shouts of Applause).
The only case,- perhaps, on which the Tax would
Le I qua! pr fair was, the income arising from property
in the public fiutds, and even there the arbitrary na-
tl.% of the Tax was, visible, for these it seized upon
tar money before it came into the hands of the owner,
sAd prevented him from even receiving what was his
own—(Apidause).—He. would now come to the ma-
chinery of the tax, which was even of much more
importauce than the tax itself. It was not like other
taxes—it was not collateral, or arising from creation
or consutnptinit...it was a tax which took part of the
thing itself. If a man had ten guineas, it took one.
ft was a sort of highwayman tax. (He did not mean
to use this 'Other ise disrespectful to the Legislature,
or those entesistedWith the collection of the Property
Tax). It certainly was not collected with the charge
of a pistol, but by what was not less dreadful, the
charges and surcharges of the Commisiioners of in-*
come—before them the thing was done—they admi.
c.:.ered the oath of purgation, and then they began
he inquisition—(Leod ansleura).—He did not mean
tcblame the Commissioners ; the tax had, perhaps,
been as mildly collected as it could possibly be, but
it was so objectionable and oppressive in its very na.
tire, that nothing could render it even tolerable.—
The tax was obnoxious to all those objections, and
great ones they were, but still greater ones might •
wrged ; it went to destroy all confidence in the COUlie
"7, it destroyed the independence of the country.
aid destroyed the courage of the country. He would
he bold to say, that there were many men in England
'ho would take a lion by the beard, and who would
Levertheless shrink from the appearance of a little
vey ur— ( Loud .rfoiaa.)--Thnse tax surveyors
wine inceid the greatest terror, ia the country j the
People were more afraid althea than of King, Lords,

and Commons together. Those who had_made'the
tax felt it necessary to assign. some strong reason. fqt
its .existence. How was such a tax rendered neces.
nary ! Why at the ' tient it was imposed the enemy
was at the door, every thing wits at stake, and the
people were therefore not very scrupulous about the
means resorted to for opposing the danger ; he did
not say this for himself; he said so from them who
opposed the Tax—the Parliament had put this decla-
ration in the frontispiece, in the very tide-page of the
Act, which was the 30th of the King.—(The Speaker
then read the preamble of the Act in proof of what
he had asserted.)—Thus it was obvious dust the tax
was imposed to save the Crown, the religion, the
rights, and the constitution of the country ; therefore,
before the Ministers could fairly ask the country to
continue the tax, it was incumbent on them to shew
that such a dense existed for it, as .that no other re-
medy was adequate to supply its place. Parliament
had provided, that the evil should exist only with the
cause which gave birth to it—it was to exist as lung
as the war, and no longer. By the 43d of the King
it was to remain in full force till the 6th day of May,
after the signature of a definitive treaty of peace s
and by the 46th of the-King it was to continue rn
force till the 6th of Apse, after such signature. Thus
the Legislature had shewn the greatest care of the
duration of the tai, and hid tied up the operation of
it to a certain tillit+l4o eipeiiid When it should cease
....which was at: the tortninetion of the war: But
what was the war The war at thelime the tax was
imposed filled all the world-,-it was no object but
that war. It was the ;gigantic war wish France—
rlitely it had been said, it was the war with America
Ashish commenced in 1812, on which the tax de-
peekhdethis was 44 the present war;" but this groimd
vas fond too untenable, and therefore it bad been
abandoned, If pledges were worth any thing, this
pledge that the tax should cease with the war was
binding. The first Act said that the tax should cease
with the war, and the second Act said that the tax
and all the duties thereon depending, should so cease,
and therefore he would, say, as the country had sup.
ported the burthens so long, it had now a right to
the benefit of the stipulations on the other side, and
as the people had performed their part of the con-
tract, the contract of cessation should follow, and
the tax be abolished altogether--Leedamkruse).—•
The existence of the tax, and the compliaoce with
the conditions on the part of the people, has been
made the ground of the attempt to put upon us the
new tat ; for if the tax were not now In existence, un-
der the present circumstances of the country no Mi-
nister would dare to propose such a measure; thus
was the intended instrument of salvation used as an

instrument of destruction—(Aelaurr.)—lf he had
made out his case that the tax was inconsisttot
with the freedom of the country, and that it
was radically bad, he should presume to ask. what
could be said on the other side ? In a creeping sort of
way the Ministers had said to Mr. Gladstone, that
they wished to continue the tax for one year ; but
:this would not do—the country bad already not less
than six pledges that the tax should cease, and if
those six pledges could not secure them, bow could
they rely on one I When the Ministers had possessed
the tax for ten yeArs, was it probable that they woad
be contented with one more ? 'lf the country would
only give them the tax for one year, they would lure
it ever after, and should there be no other reason to
continue it, a snug little war would be conjured up.
A war with the Dey of Algiers or the. Nabob of Ar-
cot—(4 haul laugh) and. indeed, it would be well
worth the while pf Ministers to have such a war, for
the purpose of obthinirig the influence to be derived
from the exp:nditure and controul of twenty millions
per year. He hoped the country would not be ca-
joled or swindled into the tax, and a war together--
(4p, laere.) The tax, he hoped, would never be re-
vived again, except in the case of imminent danger
to the Crown, the People, and the Constitution ; not
to support any war but such a one as threatened de-
_struction, not, for sanctioning an American war,
from which, indeed, there was no great danger to the
country to be apprehended. He had heard that the
Parliament House at Washington had • been burned,
but there was no danger to be apprehended to that
at Westminster, and unless such dangers, or wol se
existed, he saw no occasion for the tax. He there-
fore objected to the tax as leading to war. When a
war was inevitable, all would step forward with per-
son and property to defend. the Government and the
country ; but till such a case existed, the tax on pro.
perty should not be suffered to exist. It was said the
tax was to be modified—but it should be recollected,
that the tax began at 5 per cent. it then jogged on
to 6,1, and at last strode to 10 per cent. Itaccumu-
lated ai it rolled on like a snow-ball—(a lavik), and
so it would do again if` it were permitted, as had been
the case with the Horse tax, and many others; but
lie should object to the tax at one per cent. or ev-11
tone quarter, because it dragged a man before the
!Commissioners like a culprit, and with the feelings of
a culprit, and contrary to the law of England, pre-
sumed a person to be guilty till he proved, himself to
be innocent. It ferted persons to "give up the pro-
perty they bad a right to retain, or to 'be guilty of
the horrible crime of perjury. The people were put
under the rack till all was discovered, and he there-
fore hoped all the people would declare against the
continuation or revival of the Tax. There was ano-
ther tax something like the one of which he had
spoken at such length, and which bore bard on the
country—this was the tax at' 2s. per bushel on malt.
It would cease by the Act on the 6th of JUIN.• but
in order that the whole case might be put on record
it was deemed right to notice it in the Petition. Mt
Portail then apologized for the time he had taken up
and concluded by moving a Resolution, that it is Re-;
cessary for the Meeting to petition Parliament against,
the continuance or renewal of the Property Tax under
any modification.
Mr. Busy (of Bristol, who is also a freeholder of
this county) begged to recal to the recollection of the
High Sherif, the second -requisition which be bad
presented to him, and which had been signed by 50
of the most respectable freeholders of the county.—
This requisition, he trusted, would be read to the
Meeting.
The Ilion Stows had no doubt that Mr. Hunt
wished, as he had always been, to be orderly ; at pre-
sent there was a question before the meeting, .which
it would be proper to deride upon before any other
Matter was introduced.
SirWsq. HRATHCOTE rose to second the Motion or Mr.
rortall, He was the ItereseatAtive of Ibis collate in

err
Pnrittinffittirhbrifihe tneonierii , apiittaa
given his vote in favour of the TO, 9017. ipari, ibe
ondefitanding that it shonfd be abandoned'?. ;
elusion of the war—(bardAwl.) With, this :
be most fully acquiesced in the stentiMetill 'ex*
Air the Honourable Gentleman who, had intruliiiied
toe subject. With respect to the milt tax,. tp.wbicb
allusion had, been made, this was a tax which'hehad
opposed at the time of its introduction, and he was
equally disposed to condemn it now—(loud cheer:.)
The Resolution was then put and carried with una-
nimous approbation.
The Hioti SHICRIFF then addressed himself to Mr.
Hunt, and said, he would most willingly have in-
serted the requisition to which he bad alluded in the
County Paper, if it had been presented at a period
sufficiently early for that purpose. He had now no
objection that it should be read to the meeting.
It was accordingly read. After which
The Earl of Noaxilist proposed a petition, which
he moved might be adopted by the meeting. It was
read, and was of considerable length. touching upon
all the circumstances of the Property Tax, and also
the tax on Malt, stating the sacrifices which had been
'made by the country, and concluded by praying that
now peace was concluded, the said taxes •might not
be continued or renewed.

Mr. Conan-r said, if he had not known the place
where they were assembled, and the subject for
which they were called together, he should really
have taken the production which they had just heard
for a. Bill filed in Chancery against the Prince Re-
gent, rather than a Petition to 'Parliament. Having
the highest respect for the Earl of Northesk, as he be-
lieved every one who knew him had, he could not but
regret that he should have lent himself to such a peti-
tion. He did not oppose the Petition because it prayed
tbr the abolition of the Income 'Fax, but because it tra-
velled into many other subjects which had no man-
ner of connection with that subject —such as the ap-
pointment of Knights of the Bath. What had the,
Knights of the Bath to do with the question of thel
Income Tax ? Did this not shew that some of those;
lipereons who were concerned in framing the Petition'
were fretting and fuming because some of the ho-'
sours alluded to were not conferred on themselves ?
[The, High Sheriff here interrupted Mr. Cobbett, te-
gearing him to confine himself to the business for
which they were assembled ; but the cry of 44 Per-
fectly in order," and “ Go on," was very general,
and Mr. Cobbett was suffered to proceed.] He was
wavy to see that those who had had a hand in draw-
ing. up this Petition had had none of the honours for
which they seemed to sigh. But he had stronger
grounds still for disapproving of the Petition. The
Gentlemen in question had not confined themselves
to praying for the abolition of the Income Tax or she
Property fax ; but, as must have struck all of them,
they had called it a tax of a highwayman, or a high-
Wayinan's tax.— [Cry of 44 Very justly."] For his
part, he had never before heard such an epithet ap-
plied to it from that quarter. The Gentleman who
opened the business of the Meeting had forborne to
use such language when his own friends raised it to
ten per cent. and when'tbey told the people of Eng-
land that those who occupied the middle of a house
must remove to the garret. Were those the high-
waymen ? What must foreign nations think of us,
when they hear us say that a tax which was necessary
when imposed was a highwayman's tax ? For what
wee this tax imposed? For the preservation of his
Majesty's subjects and our holy religion. The Gen-
tlernan who first spoke had told them that the tax
was passed in a time of exigency, when the enemy
were at the door, (which, by the bye, never was the
case, and if they had come we would have beat them).
So the tax, then, was imposed for the preservation of
our lives and properties, and our holy religion, as
George Rose said. No, Gentlemen, it was not im-
posed for any of those purposes : its general purpose
waa to stifle the voice of Liberty all the world over.
(Hisses and aftalause.) The Gentleman.had told them
how the first Income Tax came to be passed; but he
had nix told them the other Acts by which this was
preceded, and which necessarily brought thim to
that measure. How de highwaymen proceed (ob-
served Mr. Cobbett) ? Why, they first stifle your
voice—then they tie your hands—and then they ram
their hands into your pockets. They began by sea.
tenting to the gibbet and to be drawn and quartered
those who should send a bushel of potatoes to the re-
publicans of France, who were then thought to be in
a starving state, though they were Ow in a condi-
tion to help us with provisions. This offence they
made high treason. He would help the Meeting to
a few other proceedings of that period.—[Here the
Meeting was for some time interrupted, in conse-
quence of a motion for adjourning to a wider space,
on account of a number of people who, it was said,
could not get in, which motion was over-rided.]
The next Act, (said Mr. Cobbett) which passed, he
would mention to them—it was an Act to suspend in
effect the Habeas Corpus Act.
The Mon Sneerer did not see what the Hibeae
Corpus Act had to do with a diseussion on the sub-
ject of the Property Tax.
Mr. Connive said be would occupy less of their it.
tendon than the gentleman who bad been allowed'Oe
speak at such length. •
Mr. HUAI' observed, that Mr. Cobbett was in or=,
der. He was about to shew the origin of the die:
rent War Taxes. •
Mr. Conners said he wingshienfine himsellto
no-
ticing generally the Acts peeled between 1795 and
1795, when the Income Tax was first proposed.—
The Gentleman who preceded him had attempted to
thew the causes of the Piciperty Tax Act. He would
Act proceed to show what he considered to be the
causes—he would proceed, however, more generally
now thai before. The point for their consideration
was not' merely whether the Property Tax or the
Malt Tax, or any other Tax was to be repealed I It
was the principle which they were at war with.—'
Now here was a Taesthich bad been borne for ID
years with very little interruption, few meetings
called to oppose it, and with few remonstrances
against it—And wily ? the enemy were never at the
door—they neverdared to come near us—i.it was a
false alarm--a mere pretext—the people of England
were always able to defend their country, and always
'Wiwi° do so—it was a pretext to take from the
peoldwtheir money. and then by means of it to en-
slave them. Between 1793 and 1798, divers Acts
were passed in dittct violation of the principles of
the coostitutioas Us many as tea in all, fat the purpose

ordepenrenifi the people of their liberties and of At
privilege of free discussion. They began first bf
littayingthetyhtopuenodpele-tn the bound tl
tax hlae:ll...sitzdt
twenty years, and yet the people of HaMpshire had
not only let it go on for twenty yEats, but Well had
done more—they bad elected and reelected those
persons who first proposed, and who atierwArds sup•
pined the Tax, and they were now electing, these
who, if they did not Support the Taz now, supported
it formerly.
Mr. Pontar.t. wished to impress upon Mr. Cob.
betty that the question they were now considering
was, whether the petition which had been read, was
to be the petition of the Meeting
Mr. Comm ealiliktire was proceeding to answer
that. He wished' to thew them that their petition
stopt.drort.
Mr. POZTALL observed, that if at Meetings of this
kind, Gentlemen were allowed to travel oet of all
felts, they could sever come to a conclusion.
Mr. Consrrr expressed himself willing to abide by
the decision of the Sheriff.

The Hum &unties said, they were not called to-
gether to canvass the conduct of those Members who
had either proposed the tax, or supported it, but to
consider whether or not they were now come to the
point, when the tax ought to be abandoned.
Mr. Coaserr observed, that the Gentleman who
spoke before had done more than this—for he had
canvassed the conduct of Ministers in proposing to
continue it.
Mr. HUNT begged leave to submit to the Meeting
that the Gentlemen on the other side had been per-
nutted to say every thing.
Mr. Poweau. asked if he had said one word which
was irrelevant ? Any Gentleman might speak as
long as he pleased, provided he confined himself to
the-basiaesir of the Meeting, but the moment he wan-
dered linen it be -ought to be stopped.
Mr. Cosertr istoceeded.—When men complained
of any evil, was it not reasonable fur them to inquire
into the causes of it ? and when they proceeded to re.
move the evil, was it not advisable to remove also
the cause ? The Gentlemen who brought forward
the petition had acted disingenuously ; they had said
nothing of the difficulties of the Government. Did
they mean to say that the Government could go
on without the Property Tax ? Did they wish to
substitute any other tat ? [Cries of we have nothing
to do with that, and' order.] He would ask them if
they were ready to vote that the army should be dis.
banded ?

The Hruu SHERIFF said, he must take the sense of
the Meeting, whether Mr. Cobbett should be allowed
to go on in this manner
Mr. COBBETT said, he was ready to shew that Go.
vernment could not go on without this tax.
Mr. PORTALL said, they had nothing to do with
that at present.
Mr. Comm said, they could not shew him that
Government could go on without this tax. It was,
therefore, from the factiousness of party that the ques-
tion was brought forward. It was the trick of a
party to impose upon the people, by telling them that
they were to get this tax off ; but they could not get
it off without -having another, equal in amount, sub-
stituted for it. (Crier of this it nothing to the purpose.)
The Thou Sentitter said he was anxious. to hear
Mr. Cobbett so long as he spokein reason, but he
was not doing so at present.
Mr. CORBETT said he was toady wittanother peti-
Lion,. which he wished to move in the room of that
which bad been read.
The limn SHER/FF signified that he might. move
an amendment to the first petition.
Mr. CORBETT then said, that he would move that
all that petition should be left out--(lough)--and
that another, which, it it had nctother merit, was at
least much shorter, should be adopted iu its stead.—
Mr. Cobbett then proceeded to read over his petition.
He concluded by moving that this petition should, be
adopted as a substitute to the brief which had been
firs; read.
Mr. Hour rose to second the motion. He denied
that it was possible for the Meeting to comprehend
the object, end, and aim of the first petition. There
were more than one reason for his seconding the peti-
tion of his friend, Mr. Cobbett. He regretted the
manner in which the discussion had been interrupted.
He had beep in • the habit of attending lately many
County and City Meetings on the subject of the Pro-
perty Tax; and this was the only instance where he
had ever heard any objection in going into the causes
of that tax ; indeed, the Honourable Gentleman who
opened the business had himself assigned many of the
causes which led to the imposition of this tax, end be
had called it by many a hard name. In this second
petition, however, every degree of moderation was
observable : there was no Ants, in it of either party. .
In the first petition there were many expressiens
which the Honourable House of Commons might
very well object to. He had no hesitation in saying,
that it was not couched is language becoming a
great County Meeting, petitioning Parliament on a
subject like the'present. He bad no objection that
they should express their abhorrence of the inquisito-
rial nature of the tax I but still, as petitioners against
it, it became them, as Englisbmep, to couch them.
selves in terms of respect. It had be aid that when
this Act was first passed that it had not undergone a
scrupulous inquiry. This was an assertion the truth
of which be could deny: When it was first brought
forward he was but a boy, yet it had not escaped his
recollection, and be was sure that it had not escaped
the recollection of many about him, that no tax •
which bad ever been produced bad undergone greater
scrutiny—had elicited greater execration. -It had
(as had that day been the case) been pronounced in.
quisitorial, oppressive, and, in every sense of the woi d,
objectionable ; and he could not forget that Mr.
Tierne/ had described it as so on just and so inconsis-
tent with the principles of the British Constitution,
that the people would be justified in taking up arms
to resist its collection. (Loud applause.) All this
had been said, and much more, ; and all the evils
which were now admitted to be the result of the tax
were then foretold. (ifftitlaute.) Ent what was the
conduct of the Gentlemen who were then opposed to
the Ministry, ihen they became themselves the Mi-
nisters ? Surely it was not incorrect to ask this ques-
tion—Why they deliberately raised this dreadful tax*
as they had previously pronounced it, from (4 reps • I
per cent .
POSTALL Submitted to the Sheriff that 'them'