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

1 '

know better than
say, and dietas
Property TAX
they proved Chas
ded, that they supposed the Act 'that was meant was
one for granting a tax out of the profits arising from
Property Professions, Trades, and Offices. Was not
thatriady an Income Tax? Were professions or trades
property ? Were offices property ? To be sure, Lord
Arden called his office his own freehold, aed offices
were often clung to ss the dearest property, but the tax
upon them was of son income. The fling given bythe
Commissioners might nave been submitted to, had
they obiled the order, but there were no returns at all.
The fault however lay perhaps more with the Trea-
sury, who ought not to have addressed the order to
the Board of Taxes, which had not the power of pro-
ducing the information required. He did not mean
to impute an intentional wish to mislead or delay,
but his chief purpose was to demonstrate that no
slight of any -kind should be shewn by any Board to
the ordersof the House. He should decline doing
more, in the expectation of some satisfactory expla•
nation.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
stated, that through mistake the order bad certainly
been sent to the wrong office, the Board of Taxes not
having before them the necessary documents to make
up a return of the nature required. 'lle Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman then passed an encomium on
the persons who composed that Board, and stated
that directions should be given, in the proper quar-
ter, for making a proper return. The order, how-
ever, was not accurately worded. It called for the
number of persons assessed. But as the Learned
Gentleman must be aware that oae.person may be
assessed several times, and a partnership only as one
individual, it was clear that the end he sought for
could not be attained.; as the order was at present
drawn up. He should therefore move,
" For an account of the number of esselistnents in the City of
London, under the 4tith and sSth of the King, cap. 63 and 65 ;
and' a number of surcharges, from the sth of April, 1814, to the
sth of January, 1815, diginguishing those which were coufirmed,
or were partly, or altogether abandoned.*
Mr. BROUGHAM insisted that the words" Pro-
perty TAX" snould be preserved. If they were left
out, the Commissioners would imagine that the House
had altered its order in consequence of the lesson
given by thein.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
was willing to retain those words • but suggested the
propriety of having the orders in future so carefully
worded that no mistake could arise. _ _ _

The SPEAKER obseiveit, dm all orders should
be sent to the Treasury by the Serjeant at Arms $ but
it was possible that a new officer, seeing the word
•• Tax" on the paper, might have-conceived the Board
of Taxes to be the place of its destination.
The motion was then agreed to.
CIVIL LIST ARREARS.

Mr. BENNE* inquired, whether any expendi-
ture had taken place in the Civil List beyond the sum
granted in the last year?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, an increase bad undoubtedly arisen in the Civil
List expenditure, which would render it necessary to
lay before Parliament certain accounts, which had
been for tome time in preparation. When he laid
these before the House, he should propose a measure
for the future regulation of the Civil List.
Mr. TIERNEY was astonished that they should
be informed of an arrear in the expenditure of the
Civil List, after what had been stated on the first day
of the Session. In the last Session, a Bill was intro-
duced, by which it was enacted that on or before the•
•.? Stli of February an account of such arrears for the
preceding year should be laid before them, and now
they were informed, by the Right Hon. Gentleman,
that he would soon produce documents on this sub-
ject, which bad been long in preparation.—(Hear.)
l'fie Hon. Gentleman who brought in that Bill (Mr.
-Bankes) must see that its provisions were not all com-
plied with. He hoped, however, that the House
„could nit pay one shilling of this increased expendi-
ture.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHANCE.L.LOR of the EXCI4EQUER
said, the expenditure. though beyond the regulation,
was not mote thAn the estimate of last year.
Mr. TIERNEY." I have nothing to do with
that. I objected to every item of List year's estimate.
—(Hear, hear.)—When the vote is proposed on the
present expenditure, it will be found one of the most
impudent proceedings ever brought under the cogni.
same of the House.—(Hear.)—And I hope that a
lesson will be given to certain persons, by leaving
them to pay their debts themselves. (Hear.) I wish
this the mote particularly, because, in the last Ses-
sion, the House were not thanked for a vote of
£135,000, which went to pay the debts of the Prince
Regent. It seems to be looked on as a mere matter of
course, that the House shall pay every thing which
his extravagance may call for."
Mr. BENNETT-46 I hope the Right Honour-
able Gentleman will let the House and the country
know what is the amount of the excess of expendi-
ture r.

The CH ANeELLOR "of the EXCHEQUER
said, that could be Silly seen hereafter : anti reite-
rated his former statement, as to the expenditure cot
having exceeded the estimate of the last year. '
• Lord COCHRANE gave notice, that he would,
on Tuesday next, bring for*ard his motion relative
to the judicial proceedings in his case.
ARMY RSTIMATRS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
moved the Ceder of the Dal for resuming the ad-
journed debate; on the question of referring the Army
' Estimates to a Committee of Supply.
Mr. BARING thought it would be improper to
enter on this discussion, in the absence of the Noble
Lord (Castlereagh) whose explanations on a variety
of points, connected with the peace establishment,
were of the utmost importance. He should therefore
move “ that the debate be resumed to•morrow."

Colonel WOOD was of opinion, that the debate
might procted in absence of the Noble Lord, who
could give, in,the Committee, every necessary expla-
nation. If, however, the House were desirous of his
attendance, he was certain be would come down,
however inconvenient it might be.—(No, no.)
Mr. TIERNEY expressed himself in favour of a
further adjournment.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, if the debate were adjourned, it was probable
"they could not proceed with it to-morrow, since a rno-
tioa of gmat importzuce (Mr. Weatirti% on the State

. for that'clay. He
attendance of his No-
every information
Itions.
....INE as.
Gentleman that the Hon. Member t,e R r
Essen
Ho
.wotil.;fif
willingly postpone his motion. He thought the de-
bate ought to be postponed.
Mr. LAW was of opinion that it was inconsistent
with the dignity of the House to put off a dbate in
consequence of the absence of any individual.
Lord MILTON coinctded is this opinion.
Mr. ROBINSON obseryed, that if the debate were
postponed, it would probably prevent the Mutiny
Bill from being passed in time.
Lord PALMERSTON s tid, if this question was
postponed for several days, a long time would elApse
before the Motin'y Bill could be introduced, and
then the Bill could not be passed before the oth r

Act expired.
Mr. TIERNEY thought the Mutiny Bill could
be passed in sufficient time, even if a delay of some
dais took place.
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, he had no objection to postpone the hu,iiiess till
to-morrow, provided the Member for Else= would
consent to postpone his motion. •
Lord FOLKSTONE said, he could answer that
his Honourable Friend (Mr. Western) would readily
do so.
Mr. ELLISON wished the business t! go on
at once.

Mr. BROUGHAM conceived, that after the del y
which arose from a long prorogation of P.tiliarnent,
the House bad no chance of getting through its
business except by going on with its •oiders. He
thought it better to enter on the question immedi.
ately ; and therefore wished his Hon. Friend to with-
draw his amendment.
Mr, BARING observed, that it was the common
courtesy of the House to put off - great questions of
this kind when a principal Member was absent.—
If the Chancellor of the Exchecper happened to be
confined by illness, the principal Secretary of State
would not go on with the budget in his absence.—
He was, however, if the House wished it, ready to
wave his motion.

Mr. TIERNEY hoped some friend of the Noble
Lord (Castlereagh) would inform him that there
was no necessity to bring him down to the House
while be was indisposed.
The Amendment of Mr. BARING was then with-
drawn, and the question for proceeding to the Order
of the Day was put.
Mr. LOCKHART supported the Intended
Establishinent, chiefly on the ground of the disturbed
state of Ireland, in many parts of which there existed
a great degree of hostility; and Indeed it existed in
places apparently tranquil, as much as in places
actually in arms. There must be a power sufficient
to enforce obedience to the laws, and disturbances
could not be suppressed without the aid of a military
force.

Mr. LAW thought the present peace insecure, and
for that reason he would approve of the proposed
peace establishment. He entertained no fear of dan-
ger from a military establishment, in which the sol-
diers would bear no mere proportion to the popula-
tion than one to five hundred ; but he much disliked
the military spirit that prevailed among the Members
of the Government. After the dreadful commetions
however which bad long existed in Europe, there must
still be danger. These commotions could not be said
to be yet appeased. The sea often continued in a
state of agitation long after the storm had ceased.—
The very acts done by the Congress of Vienna had-
left Europe in a most dissatisfied and dangerous si-
tuation. From his own personal observation.be knew
there were many little States in Europe which had
enjoyed a large portion of happiness and civil liberty,
of which they were now deprived. Dreadful as
were the evils which the French had inflicted on the
continent of Europe, he knew that they had done a
great deal of good in Italy, by removing many pre-
judices and improving the condition of the lower '
orders of the people. The state of things was now
completely reversed in that country. The riwer of
Austria had absorbed not only a great patt of the
country, but had deprived a great part of the people
of their rights and their happiness. He also knew,
that in the North of Germany there had existed a
great portion of happiness, and a great love of li-
berty. which were now nearly done away in conse-
quence of the annexation of the smaller States to
great ones—and in consequence of their interests
having been never 'attended to at the Congress of
Vienna. He looked upon the greater part of Italy, one
half of Germany, and the whole of Poland, as having
been completely disorganised; and it was impossible
to view such a state of things without entertaining
some fears and alarms for the consequences. The
small States of Italy and of Germany, which a few
years ago had been independent, were now rendered
wholly subservient to the military views of the
great Sovereigns who had seized upon th ( //ear )
These Sovereigns had no idea of governing their
States according to the opinions, customs, or preju-
dices of ,the inhabitants; their sole object was that
of increasing their military strength, and acquiring
new territorial aggrandisement. He could not with-
out alarm behold the present overgrown power of
Prussia, composed chiefly of States that contem-
plated their new Government with antipathy and
horror; nor could he look at the still greater power
of Russia without considerable apprehensions. Her
vast population was like that of a new colony which
was rising continually, and which would at length
burst like a torrent over the fertile countries that sur-
rounded heie The policy of Russia had been des-
cribed sixty years ago by Lord Chatham, who com-
pared it to a great body always moving in an orbit
of its own. The character of her Government was
that in which the hand of an assassin generally per-
formed the duty of an assembly of Lord' and Corn-
Mons: The Russian Government sought out for
talent wherever it could be found ; and its armies
made war with unparalleled impulse and barbarity.
It was therefore impossible to contemplate such a
Power as this without apprehension. The only hope
which France had of a resurrection, was that of
coalescing with Russia; and what danger might net
be leered from such a coalition 1 He saw the greatest
danger likely' to arise from the state in which Europe
was now placed: Until the original lines of the par-
tition of Poland was done away, there wculd be per-
petual danger in Eutope‘... That :partition was the

!tan din Nees, whet 'the Flousulhoula of the Agriealtarat !Merest) stood
Its what same amid be applied,so the could see no necessity for the atte
? By their own shewing, •hotirevet, Ne Friend, who had already given
'lst the House were right, for they Sid. on the subject of oar fureign relstin
th. A•t 'that was meant was / Linrd FOLKSTONE assured