Star.
London, England, 1816-02-29 00:00:00

THE EVENING STAR.

,0 N 1)0N.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 143, 1816.
PRICE OP STOCKS THIS DAY Al I WEI.YE O'CLOCK:
Reduced-6 iif •,.Coas. mo. —tor acc. 61ti
1 per Cent. 77fi-3 per Cent. Sioy —Eon& par, Is. pr.
Own. 174 pr.—Do. pay. 1 6—titch. l3Ub 11. dia. par.

Petitions against a renewal of the Property Tax
continue to pour into Parliament from all quarters of
the Kingdom, and well they may; for never was
there imposed, in a free country, so grinding, op.
pres►ive, and inquisitorial a TAX ; never was there
attempted a more direct violation of the faith of Mi-
nisters and of Parliament, pledged to a patient and
virtuous people; never was a more pitiful quibble
resorted to. for the purpose of evasion, than the ca-
veat of the CUANCELIAiII of the Exciittouta, that, this
worsit and no longer," being omitted in the Bill of
last year, Parliament does not stand pledged for the
non-renewal of-the TA: in a time of Peace ; never
was any thing more untrue (though wewillaot charge
the Clin)est.Lon of the EactiEQUER with a wilful mis-
statement) nothing can be more untrue than the states
went, that Mr.Wturatteari had moved last year, on the
Property TAX Bill, the addition el these words, and
that his amendment had been rejected by the House.—
He made the motion of amendment alluded to on
She Baal Restriction Bill, and on that only. But the
incompatibility of the Income Tax with a time of
Peace, the pledge that it should not be continued
longer than the war, had been so often given, that
no omission of the words in an act wrung out by ne-
cessity and for a temporary exigency, as was the case
with that of last year, can undo the claim which the
people have upon the Government to relieve them
entirely from this execrable imposition.
On the question of the extent of the Peace Este-
blisfunent, people may differ, and differ honestly, in
their sentiments, according to the view they take of
the present circumstances of the world. We are
happy to see, however, that many Members who
would be afraid to reduce the army, are yet resolved
to oppose the Income Tax. In fact, the two ques-
tions are perfectly distinct. But we must remiss' the
country, that, even if the Income Tax be disconti-
nued, they will still continue to pay an equivalent.
Let it be recollected, that when this odious Tax, on
the Peace of Amiens being announced, was disconti-
ruled, an increase was made on the Assessed Taxes,
as a sokstiirts for a large portion of it, and that this
substitution was not repealed when the Property Tax
was again tutored, on the breaking out of a new war.
If we recollect rightly, the increased Assessed Taxes
were rated at nearly half the amount of the Income.
Tax; so that, in fact, by its renewal, the Public were
made to pay, and have ever-since paid, about fifteen
instead of ten per cent.

But we mean nut now to argue against the pay.
meat of Taxes, though we might say much against
the manner in which a large portinn of them is ex-
pended, but against what we conceive to be a Tax
incompatible with a period of Peace, because inqui-
sitorial and directly opposed to the nature of the Bri-
tish Constitution—a tax against which the lamb has
no appeal but to the mercy of the eagle-.
The entire system is such as never should be im-
paled upon Free( men—no, no onus its a lime of
war. When it was first proposed it was opposed
oa this ground, and the plea was only that of
finality —a necessity which would cease with the
war. Now we have got peace, and the plea for
continuing this odious robbery is still 44 Necessity."
We deny the necessity. Government wants only (as
Ministers tell us) a teoftorary aid, and two years will
probably satisfy. It they need only a temporary aid
let them borrow what they *ant from the money lying
in Chancery, not only of lunatics and minors, but
absolutely unclaimed and having none to claim it.
—We deny that any rational or tenable argument
can be offered against the Nalion borrowing this
money. Can the claimants, when their different
portions may be awarded, have i better security for
repayment than that of Parliament t Here then are
means pointed out for meeting the temporary exi- '
gency without imposing this unconstitutional. Tax
upon a inieritorious but distressed people. It the
Tax, however, be persisted in, there will thereby be
furnished at least a semblance of evidence to sup-
port the assertion of those who maintain that the
large Peace Establishment is urged for the sake of
obtaining the Ti.; and not the Tax to meet the ex-
pane at that react Establishment. •

, , •

Xl4 11TON; FT 11A thiß 21. 1
Her NTAJesI Y, the Princes en.trtuyert 0
and the PaiNcr.ssas, return to Vrindsof 04;1'41
Qn Saturday her MAJESTY Will be prft.l.4l
Council held at the Castle on the it.:' 11
Knio's health. The following nc-ry4tditsh
will go t' Buckingham H.,use, the princesii#
unlit of WALES to Warwick House, antl
Family will remainin town a werk,. in the'Ll
L
which s expected the Pamir. REGur a:;1111I
OPOLD will leave Brighton, to give the; P.ti
town.—The Royal nuptiAls are nt;t
place these two months. 1--""1131

THE AR Mr.
The Aberdeenshire Militia Were disethied
Aberdeen qn Satutday.
Poirt SMOOTH, FEB. 28 —Monday, the
King's) Regiment, embarked on board 41,9'4
Ireland ; and on the following day the 41711
ment, for the same destination.—It has bete
necessary, in consequence of the very cro,,A.,
of a detachment of the 41st Itygiment,orZ,
Ocean transport, to remove lOU men h. 'N•
another vessel. 11041
RAMSGATg, Fes. 28.—Partof the 8d Bit
the 95th Regiment, have just marched in
%T.
Bind playing, and have been embarked 0,6_,
Kinnerslev Castle transport for Ireland, 0
thought they will sail the next tide,-TheZii
verpool packet wiil sail to-night at ten o,lli
Ostend, with passengers and goods.

We copy the following letter from Chad._
from a New-York Paper of the SOth tit
pears, however, almost impossible that the k 4
which it speaks could have taken place,
14a,„;_1.
having been known in England through 1.72
and more direct cbinnel:
" CH Alt 1 ESTOW N, JANUARY
" Cession OF TUC FLORMAS.--We have CoOp eti
an intelligent Gentleman, who arrived here ken k..."r
Icons yesterday, which place he left ovi the kb
He states, that Just before be left that city, a iater:!_r
arrived from Pensacola, in a tdiort passage, woos
the Floridas had actually been ceded by the SpeAgmb
tl
British Government; and that a body of Mud, th,,.:1
landed at Pensacola and ht. Augustine, and takes foyrp.
sum of the country."
In the House of Representative, on Wedmii
February 21i, Mr. ROBJULTSON ()tiered a Itesaimill
this effvct :

Resolved—That the President of the United Stu bmpti
id to lay before this Houle such infuringtou as he
which he may not think it in t•I communier.,
the said to have been made Ly the Covernin A 444
fur the cession of a part of Louisiana.
Mr. RoasursoN said, he felt it his duty pot*
this :notion, in consequence of tie reports sidiskii
the papers in yarkus p.irts of the nation ttestlis
respect to this subject.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY X,
cAsiistokr y JCLAN.
This was an action on a bill of Etcba. g.! for £lOO, 6.1
Finch. of the O. P. and P. Si Tavern, Ruiti I court,
Mr. Kean, of Drury•lane Theatre, and indorsed asset,
plaintiff. The defence set up was, that the bit bad Isas
counted by the plaintiff for a usurious cathideration.
To prove this case, Mr. Finch was called, who ow.
early in October last, be being very much pressi-tt for
plied to the defendant to accept a Inn fer him tar £i Mt.
kindly coniphed with his request, an i having niraiaed die
eel:tante, he, unknown to Mr. Ke.n, applied to tin
whom he had known for sonic yea-s, and who had nem*
counted bills fOr him, to accommodate him on this enniago,
lie accordingly came to the witness's house, and then, lab
coffee-room, gave the witness ASt.., who, upon that, initially
hill over to bun, at the same faille telling the pluntiff the Inn
not present the bill. when ft should become due. sit' er aBO
Theatre or at Air. Itean's house ; but that, oii its hicomigia,
lie, the witness, would provide for it. A few days before dell
becante due, the witness, fleabag it was Out of Lis postern*
' up the bill, informed the plaintiff:: brolter of that theunstaini
at the same time giving hem AtO tor the plaltgiff, an! Wee*
that he must renew the bill for him. A tew days &foments
saw the plaintiff, who said all was right, but he lime hatna
titer bill, which the witness promised ; but soon afterthisthsell
ness was arrested, aid disabled front performing bh weskit
obtaining another bill from Mr. Kuan. U, on this, the *dr.
demanded the amount of the bill from the defendant Web
refusing payment, instituted the present action against hiss
On the part of the plaintiff, two witnesses were callsl,ld
Jews, of the names of Splicers and l.evi, who, on ezasinis,
In contradiction to the testimony of Mr. Finch, stated, the
were present in the coffee-room at the time Cashmere disarni
the bill, and that he save Finch .€O9. is. deducting only 6it
lesal interest of les. for the two months the bid bad to a
they differed, however, materially in their testimony; set
I.ord Et.i.att noaouon left it to the Jury to say, to wikko
they would give credit. If they should be of °pima that lit
/Lean was Ignorant of the usurious transaction which had tall
place, supposing there was usury, and that the useof Wart
witieh be had given to the witness Finch, had bren illegally ad
improperly applied, he might honourably and honestly mil
payment, and the law would sanction hint in that resistant.
'rhe Jury founds verdict for the defendant.

The Scotch Jury Court last week decided thetas
signature of the name of a person who could 's
write, the hand and pen being guided by lard*
was no signature at all.
Isms Off MAN.—Couay or COMMON I.AVi....SNFIi O
ST ILWAIT.-1. his was an action brought by !Lehr.] Olee
Smith, Esq. against the Reverend Thomas Orprn Stoat*
criminal couversa:ion with the plaintiff's wits. The OK,
.1,/.
were laid at ifficoo. '1 he trial occupied the internist gni.
court and of the public for five days; it came on at Calms
on the Lb, and ended on the 13th instant. The Jury al*.
a verdict of .610011 damages, with costs, against the ddadig.
MANSION-Houst.—CommiNATloN.--yesreeday level*
neynsen suganbakers, in the employment of Messrs. Dm"
and others of that trade, were charged with a cumbistda I
appeared from the statement of. the complainant., again
years Once, during a time of great scarcity of provhidlisi 1
wages of the journeymen (independent of being provided MI
apartments, fire, &c. &c.) were raised from 10.. to in. pe
week. A short time back, however, the masters wered eli
Mon that in consequence of the decreased price of prorine.
the pion,
should be reduced to its origival standard. M
ties to this effect was accordingly given to the resident josnir
men, but the latter refused to continue their services wee&
terms; and a•: general combination being entered into WOO
them, what is termed a resod relin was signed by about Of!
sons. in consequence of this prOceeding, the business do'
sugar-houses was wholly at a stand, the journeymen 10411,
suddenly struck.• His Lordship proceeded to hear evidame
identify, wheashe ordered four of them.to bc comntittedPoll
House of Correction fur one month each—hoping this 111
meat would operate as a warning to the rest, and Warr °l'll
to return to their employment.
At a time when wheat Was at 16s. to 17s. as
Winchester bushel, ro farmer took an estate wag
a few mild: of Exeter, it a rent of £l5O per .art
with a proviso, that Jelo a-year should be dedu
for every 6d. under I 3s. per bushel that wheat MO
sell for during the term of lease ; tie be deterr
ots.
by the legal market returns. The average Prics
wheat being now about 7s. 6d. the rent of the 1
so taken is actually reduced to about 114(ear• 1

LONDON: Pruned by Laval. KIINT, Arkin Owl
übbobed there, and at the Star Dike, Temple lit