Star.
London, England, 1816-03-02 00:00:00

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tOk
that the forms of the HouseWonla rent admit of the
introduction of the subject before Wednesday, and.
probably not then, as the Army Estimates might in-
terfere with the discussion. As to the second yes-
don, he had distinctly said, that the Tax was not
abandonea, because the Government felt it to be one
which reached affluence in the hands of the miser,
and which, to use the expression of one of bis consti-
tueats, made the rich, who preferred tolive like be
gars, pay like gentlemen.--(Hear, hear, and a laugh).
Sir GILBERT HEATHCOTE was satisfied
that, if the war had continuedohe people would have
paid the tax. When they fairly exercised their judg-
ment, they generally took a right view of the case,
and at once judged, that when peace was attained,
an establishment formed to meet a state of danger
ought not to continue. Such was the opinion of the
nation, and he hoped it wnuld.be successful.
Lord PALMEItSTON protested against the in-
feri..nce, that because a certain expence had been
called for to meet the exigencies of war, it followed
. that this expence should at once cease on the arrival
of peace.
Mr. FORBES was persuaded that if returns were
made of the amount paid by persons assessed for an
income'under sesoo a-year, it would be found, that
so NT from the Tax falling in a greater general pro-
eortion on the rich, it would be found to press much
more heavily on the middling classes, who,' in his
opinion. contributed the larger amount of the two.
Sir EGERTON BRYDGES believed that the
Property-'Vax was the most efficient one that could
be raised ; and he apprehended the prevailing oppo-
,sition to it arose from a want of properly considering
the subject. It was the most effectual mode of rail.
ing the funds—the most beneficial thing that could
- hAppon to the country, for it would be followed by
a general revival of public credit. He (Sir Egerton
Brydges) in common with several of bis acquaint•
ances, lamented, therefore, the unfortunate repos.
session that existed against this Tax, which might be
Improved by proper modification. He was not yet
aware of the sentiments of his constituents, for he
bad received no instructions from them ; but however
painful it was for him to-attempt to stein the stream
of public opinion, he could not in this instance forego
his own judgment.
Mr. BROUGHAM begged to inform the Hon.
Baronet that the silence of his constituents would not
be of long duration, for the good men of Maidstone
were on the eve of a public meeting ; and unless they
consisted of those acquaintances to whom the Hon.
Baronet alluded, there could be no difficulty in anti-
cipating the opinion they, would pronounce. In that
event, the Hon. Baronet, if he obeyed the voice of his
constituents, must give his argument for the Tax, and
his vote against it—(A breed)
Sir E. BRYDGES explained.
Mr. FINLAY said, that the produce of the toe on
the mercontilointerest, who were now in many cases
without property, amounted to a larger sum than that
paid by the higher walks of the community.
Mr. LUSHINGTON was of cliff: rent opinion,
Mr. FORBES hoped, that if the measure passed,
which he could not possibly expect, the half-pay 'of
the Army and Navy, and of the pensions to the wi.
dows and children of Officers, would be exempted
from any part of the tax.
Mr. CALVERT said, that the Hon. Baronet
(Sir E. Bridges) admitted he had not conversed with
his own constituents--and he certainly had not with
any of his, fir they unanimously resisted the idca of
such a measore.
Mr. LUSHINGTON and Mr. FINLAY ex-
[Lint d.
M: J. PITT presented a petition from the Ike
toug:i at Malmesbtiry against this tax.
Mr. GORDON hoped, that the allusion made to
place, and pensicins in this petition would be atten-
ce I to. In the neighbourhood from which the peti-
-6°l was sent, so far from the ieliabitants being able
to pay the tax, if levied, the last halt year had not yet.
beea ili,charged. In one parish', assessed at the rate
of COO a year, not one shilling bad been collected.
(Hear.) It was, therefore, ludicrous to propose a
continuance of such a measure.
Sir THOMAS ACL,AND presented Petitions
from Weodley and Harlord, in the county of Devon,
'against the property Tax, the War Malt Tax, and
raying an Inquiry into the great increase of Pours
ates. •
Mr. PHILLIPS said, it was now evident that
Ministers would not • abandon the Tax. It was,
therefore, imperative on the Public to use every
opposition to its enactment.
Mr. BA BINGTON made same observations on.
the manner in which the poor laws contributed to the
general distress of the country. He stated that the,
farnicr s unabletoemploy Cie samennmber of labourers
as for iti,rly, they who were out of employ must, how.
ever willing to work, be subsisted almost wholly by
.the pron.' rites; and the farmers, in order to assign
a reason for paying lower rents, endeavoured to sup-
port their labourers by low wages and high poors'
rates ; so that the industrious part cf the community
were driven to dependance upon the overseer, and
obliged to receive that as a boon, in the shape of pa-
lish relief, which they had a right to claim as the re-
ward of their labour. By these means, too, the land-
lord was a sufferer, inasmuch as his rent must be
lowered in proportion to the rise of poor.' rates; and
that feeling of regard and claim of sympathy, which
ought to subsist between the farmer and his labourers,
was turn. d into oppression on the one hand, and dis.
gust on the other. He did not impute these evils en-
tirely to the property tax, but that measure had a
share in increasing them; for when the farmer's ca-
pital was diminished by taxation, he could employ
fewer labourers:, while he would endeavour to pay
those whom be .did employ, as far as possible, by
poore' rates, to which _all must coat: ibute, rather
than by wages which he himself must afford ; and
they who were unemployed must be supported wholly
by the parish.
Mr. BROUGHAM was highly satisfied at the
clear statement which had been made by the Hon.
Gentleman, insomuch as it agorded a complete an-
` so er to that futile and base appeal which bad been
• made to the poor agoinst the rich—that attempt to
gain the support of the mob, by saying that the tax
atiected only the rich and avaricious. After the state-
nit lit made by ihe HIM-. Gentleman, nothing could
IN: more fouls Wain to say, Old a tax which affected

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thirkh did nevecoally sett 14 pear; if (fie
Were deprived of their capitals the poor must in pro•
portion be detrived of their employment, and come-
quently of their means of subsistence:
Mr. GORDON gave notice that he would, on
Tuesday next, move for leave so brinit is a Bill to
repeal that already passed for the erection of a New
Post Office.

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041 the motion of Mr.I43CIEHART the Fermin
Stock Distress Bill was committed.
The Report was then brought up, and ordered to
be taken into further consideration on Wednesday
next.

T~ A

The Cape Trade 811 went through a Committee.
Report on Monday.
The Report of the Foreign Packet Bill was post-
poned to Monday..—Adjonrned to Monday.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, MARCH S. 1816.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT Ivria.vg O'CLOCK'
Reduced at 44—Cons. telo. al ii—hr sec.llll4
4 per Cent. 7 7f—S per Cot.3Bonds se. M. pr.
Otos. 17ft pr.—De. psi. •-• Alb 1.• 416. 2141.4

lIIMINIM.

Last night the Cuasau.Lott of the Exontotraa ap-
peared in his place and informed the Ho•sa that
Lord CAITLERRACM continued so much indisposed
as not to be able to attend. In consequence of this,
the further consideration of the Army Estimates was
deferred till Monday. After this Mr. VANSITTART,
quitted the House, which, contrary to custom, was
left witbont a Minister during the evening.

The rumour of the inteaded abandonment of the
Income Tax proves. as we expected, quite unfounded.
Mr. Lusurvorox informed the House that the Qui.
ceLLoa of the ENCRIQUIRR considered the Tax as a
wise one. that he was of the same opinion. and would
support it.

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During the sitting of the House, numerous Peti.
lions against this abominable Tax—this Tax fit only
for slaves—woe presented by different Members;
and we confidently expect that this will continue till
the measure be disposed of in one wily or other. In
the mean tinse, the different Counties are active in
preparing Petitions expressive of the general abhor-
rence of this inquisitorial impost. A Requisition for
a Meeting of the Freeholders of Kent has been signed
and sent to the Sheriff. The Sheriff of Surrey has
appointed that County Meeting to be held at Epsom
on Tuesday ; and the Middlesex Meeting will be held
on the same day at Hackney.
The ignorance of some of the friends of Inquisi-
tion has an extent and folly wkjch we could not have
believed could exist in England in the nineteenth cen-
tury. In some quarters they areeculating bills to
set the poor apinst the rich—to inform the lower
orders, that the intention of the Tax is to make the
rich pay like gentlemen, and to free the poor from
taxation. Do these persons wish the class to whose
passions they address themselves to have disserta-
tions addressed to them tracing the operation of all
Taxes, and making them perfectly to understand
whence they are all cleaved, and who they are that
actually produce the whole amount of them ?
Be silent, ye men of Gotham, nor provoke a discus-
sion which, if condected in language suited to the
ignorant, could produce nothing- but mischief. As
to the middling ranks they know that the terms rib
and poor are merely relative. However ignorant you
may suppose them, they know well that the produc-
tive powers of the soil and capital of the country de-
pend entirely on the actual industry and labour be-
stowed upon them ; but we forbear, and we hope
that those who mean to press the measure in spite of
the pledge given by Ministers to the Nation, will
also forbear ; for in vain do they attempt to deny
that they stand pledged to discontinue the TeX.—
The present CUANCII4.OII of the EXCHIQUIM has over
and over again stated it as his deliberate opinion, that
the Income Tax is essentially a war tax. and that it
ought not to be continued in time of Peace, even daa
an annual grant. He last year refused to impose it,
for the a winding up of the oar expenditure," al-
though he contemplated the necessity of a “ large
loan" for that purpose, He refused it, because he
thought ‘, the variation of price: would render it, if
longer continued, far more vexations and unequal
in its pressure than at any former period." Now
there is no war expenditure at present to wind up.—
there is no great loan to be raised ; prices have fallen
still lower than last year, and, consequently, the
tax must be still more vexatious and unequal..
What possible inference is to be drawn from this
statement, but that Mr. VANSITTART, for ;mons
best known to himself, has thought fit to depart
from all his former opinions on this subject ? But
those opinions, repeatedly avowed in the course of
many years, form, es we contend, a pledge given to
the public. The public so understands them, and
cannot understand them otherwise. Then the pledge
is forfeited—the faith is broken—the ground of
future confidence is destroyed. We ripen* and
seriously lament this circumstance for, without
the bast feeling of hostility to the Right Honour.
able Gentleman, and with much good-will toward
many .of the measures of foreign policy which be
has Aspported, we are, above all, anxious that Par-
liament should stand well with the people...that the
confiding gederosity of the English character should
not be chilled by any appearance of a want of faith
on the part of those whose candour and integrity
ought to stand above reproach. We shall conclude
;with reminding Ministers of the earnest and eloquent

• - • • • •
-- on of .Mr. nom to the Time of Coe mas!
his day—% They who, call upon you to belong
wholly to the people, are those who wish you to re-
turn to your proper horne—.to the sphere of your
duty—to the post of your honour—to the mansion.
house of all genuine, serene, and solid satisfaction."

A Mail from Hamburgh arrived th is morning.'
The intelligence brought by k chiefly relates to the
affairs of Russia and Poland, which latter kingdom
may now be considered as part of the Russian Eat.
pine. We select the following articles from the
Hamburgh Papers:
Fr. PETERSBUROH, FEBRUARY a.

His Imperial Highness Prince Constantine is gone
back to Warsaw.

For this week past we bare bad a constant cold o
' of Iteiumenr.

WARSAW. FEBRUARY It.

Prince Constantine returned here on the Bth from
St. Petetsbargh, and on the 10th inspected the Polish
troops that have returned from France, which have
been till now it-Gora t they have various uniforms
because they belong to different regiments ; those 6t
for service will be placed in the Polish regimcnts,
and the others will be dismissed.
It is said that the places of Governors of Provinces
in Russian Poland will be filled by Poles who are in
the Russian service. Count Staaislaus Polocki, Rus
sian Adjutant• General. will be, it is said, Governor
of Wolhynee. Aftre the thaw we have again 18•
of cold.

An assembly has Ism held at Cracow of the
twenty-oil Communes of which that free city with its
territory consists. A Committee has been appointed
to draw up a Civil and Criminal Code, &c.

FROM THE MAINE. FEBRUARY 17.
I The differences between Austria and Bavaria are
said to be fully settled. The Thalweg at the Inn
will be the future frontier between the t--eo States—
the indemnities to be given to Bavaria are not yet
known. The Bavarian army, it is said, will be im-
mediately put upon peace establishment, and the
greater part disbanded.

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4.1.4,1
Mr. LuAlliiaTolsT chosen he had already Iva
Oven a plitin answer. He would repeat, however, port