Star.
London, England, 1816-03-15 00:00:00

HOUSE Or COMMONS:

Mr. J. L.Coma brought up the Report of the Dublin, Re-
touch, and Corregh Road Bill, and ob;siced leave to bring in a
Bill in pursuer:Cc thereof.
Mr. Joon SON, ftotn *he London Dock Company, presented an
Account of the Receipts and Di hur s__,,sements of the said Com-
pany, from SOth Noveutbero 814, to 30th November, 1813; also
s keport relative to the Irogresi of the Works.
An Account of the Income and Charges of the Consolidated
Fend, up to .sth February, 1816, was given in and ortlered to be
printed.
PROPERTY -TAX.
A Petition against the Property Tit, and another
against the Insolvent Debtois' Act were presented
from New Mahon.
Colonel FOLEY 'presented a 'Petition from the
Owners and Occupiers of Land in the County of
Hereford agaLn.t the Property Tar.
General THORNTON said, the only reason which
could be given for the imposition of such a Tax was
the necessity for it. It had been of great service to
the country in the time of war, but in a time of peace,
if it could possibly be done without, it ought not to
be renewed. It had been said that it did not fall on
the lower orders, but in his opinion it fell more on
them than on any other persons, because it subjected
them to the very worst of els, the want of employ.
ment. It had been well said by Mr. Burke, alit the
rich were Trustees for the benefit of the poor, that
the hoards of the rich were the Banking Houses of the
lower classes. One of the strongest objections against
the Tax, was, that it held out to the trading and in
part of the community, a temptation to fraud.
He had suggested a Tax, which be thou;tlit might
produce net less than 11700,000, a sum which would
go a considerable way towards supplying the wants
of Government, this was a Tax on the property of
Absentees, who by leaving their country at a crisis
like the present, occasioned, in the diminution of con-
sumption, a great loss to agriculture. It was, in his
opinion, a fair and proper Tax. His vote on the sub-
ject of the Property Tax should be guided by an im-
partial consideration of the arguments to be brought
forward in justification of such a Tax, durspg such a
calamity as the present. The modification would,
in his opinion, make the Tax worse. It would cer-
tainly be a great calamity if such a Tax were to be
continued.
• Mr Alderman SMI'T'H expressed his disapproba.
tion of the renewal of the Tax, and declared his de-
termination to vote against it.
Mr. CALVERT said, the Honourable General
(Thornton) had expressed himself in a marwer be-
yond his comprehension, and he-now rose for the pur-
pose of giving hini.an opportunity of explaining his
meaning. He had expressed himself in strong terms
against the Tax, and yet he lett the House in doubt
as to the manner in which he would vote. He wished
- therefore to give the gallant General an opportunity
to set the House and the country right, as to how he

would give his vote. •
General THORNTON said, unless he •saw that
the honour and prosperity of the country absolutely
demanded the renewal of the Property Tax, he cer-
tmnly should not vote for it. But he had not yet
fuily mute up his mind on the subject. He certainly
was most anxious that Ministers should give way to
the wishes of the people, but his vote would defend
very much on the arguments which should be brought
forward in the discussions shortly to come on. it he
found that the reliewal was not justified by neces.
airy, he should vote against the Tax ; if he found it
necessary tor the public credit, and the honour of the
e,,untiy, he would very unwillingly give his vote in
favour of it—and if he had any doubt on the sub-
ject he would withdraw himself from the House
without. voting. . •
Mr. BRAND said, he held in his hand a Petition
from the N ;biemed, Gentlemen, and other Inhabi-
tant, pf the County of Hertford, adovteil at a m=eting
irgui.oly convened and most respectably attended:—
The .Petitionert observed,: that in the financial dial.
..ulties of the country, during a war of unexampled