Star.
London, England, 1816-03-13 00:00:00

AT a MEETING of the.COUN'ii of BERKS,
convened by the limn SILLItaI, put...unit to a Requisi-
tion presented to him for that vreo3.., holden at Read.ng, on ,
Wednesday, the tith day of Mardi, I NIG,
RICHARD POWLEt7 WRIGHT': BENYON, Esq.
Sheriff, in the Chao :
Sir Jour; Tuaocessorro Si, Bart. moved, and Cu•s Frame
PALM CR, llsq. secusdett the first seven Resolutions toilowin,t
First, •fhat by the express terms of the several tisatutes impos-
ing the Property or Income Tax, the tai.h of the Legislxure
stands pledged that its duration should he limited by the War
which gave birth to it, the words being as follow. viz. " she flu-
" tire herein coe•aineel shall continue in force during the present
" War, and sint:l Vie nth day of April next, atter the ratification
.4 of a delitiitire 'treaty of Prate, AND NO LONCAit."
Secondly, hat atter a 'pledge so solemnly givint, we hays heard
wilt the greatest astonishment the avowed intention of the Mi-
nisters. of Isis Ro;ral Highness the Prince Regent to propose the
continua:hitt of th s lax during a Peace, which according to their
own declarations is likely to be secure am; permanent.
'l•hirdly, Tl.at we consider the vhilation of a pledge so solemnly
and recently given to he an ii,sult on the people of Great liiitant:
and a treasure peculiarly calculated to produce a total want of
corfidence in :he Govetadne:it tit the Cuatitry.
That cur obj, et:nits so this obnoxious Tax, are (if
pos-ible) Mei eased, w heti we °bin :ye, that its coettnua•ice appears
to he intended Towards the support of a S:ati .in.; Army to an :1-
tent hitherto utiMard ot in lime of peace, east.' wh eh we are con-
vinced ii a Ilseassle ruinous to our Flissucvs, unknown in the lx4n '
times of the Cow:nation, rendered peculiany unnecessary now
by the deers -wed condition ill Fraser, etm ray to the I:wear po-
hey of this country, an 1 ten ling to convert our Free Cinistitution
into a Military Ihmostieto.
I.:Wily, That this Alerting is convinced that by prosier econo-
my and retrunchitteuts, the correction of abuses in the expeueli-
I use of the public money, the aboli.iou ot all slut cure places ass!
unmerited pensions, and by a reduction of the army iO a number
agreeable to the Losietitution, an ample revenue may be raised to
defray the lareessai y expences of the country, witlio..t having re-
course to the won:motion of the op restive I at tut beanie.
Sixthly, That Petiti•sus parsuatit to the above Reseltsions be
prepared, and that the Resist lion. Lord neat. 'nitwit be re-
questid to present the one of them to the House of Lords, and
tuat t!ie Hon. RICHARD NLVILLS nod CUAILLY DUNDA,, Esq.
the Members for Use County, be requested to present the other,
to fae House of Commons and support the prayer of it by their
vs:resin Parliament
In:ninthly' I the following be the Petition of this Meeting :
" Tit the Honourable the Continuos of the Oohed Kingdom
ot Great 13,itom and Ireland, in Parliament assembled.
" The Petition of tie Freeholders and inhabitants of the ‘ounty
of Berks.
" Your Peti:'.otten humbly state to your Honourable House
that by the express terms of the several Staters, imposing the
Property or Income Tax, the faits' of the Legislature stands
pleased, that its duration should be limited by the war which
.gave birth to it, tho words being as follow, (via. 4 The duties
• herein contained shall continue in force during the present was/
and until the sixth day of April next, alter the ratilia,son of I
• dslinitive lreaty of Peace, and no longer.'
" after a pledge so snieninly given, we have beard wish
the greatest astonishment the avowed barium:l tit the Ministers
of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent; to propose the conti-
nuance of this .1 ax in the time of peace, svni.l, according to their
uwu declarations, is likely to be secure and permanent.
" I hat your Petitioners consider the violation of a pledge m
sOlettlli:y and recently given, to be a measure calculated to pro-
duce a total want of conlideuce in the Government of the count y.
" l hat the objections of your Petitioners to this odious
and estimators '1 ax are increased (it passible) by observing
that is continuance appeals so be intended towards the
support of a Standing Army, to an mem hi'berto unheard
of in rime of piece, and which they are convinced is a
measure ruinous to the financed of tbe country, unknown In the
best times of our Constitution, rendered pecu.:arly unnecessary
sow by the depressed coucliuun of Fiance, inconsistent wills the
insular policy of the country, and tending to convert our tree
Constitution into a military despotism.
" That your Petitioners are apprehensive that the Ministers of
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent are disposed to measure the
Peace Establishment, neither by the two:stint y &matins of the
State, nor the distresses of the People, but by nit: utinuet Tonle to
which tt c patience of a loyal and solfering People Can be ex-elided.
"'That your Petitioners are convoweS that by proper ecoitomy
and retrenchments, the correctien of elitists isi the expenditur. or
the public money, the abolition of all sinecure places and unme•
OW pensions, aud by a reduction ot the army to a number at ree-
able to the practice Of farmer elites of peace, art ample revenue
may be raised to defray the necessary expenses of the country,
without having recuutee to the coottnuation of the oppressive
ax em Income.
" Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Property
Tax may no :mow be corstinued, and that in settling the
M litary Peace Establishment, :he first regard may be paid to
the preservatioit ot the Constitution and liberties at home.
" And your Petitioner* will ever pray."
The following Reeolutani was then moved by Mr. Schultes,
seconded by Captain Hall, and varied—=That the proposed esti:-
tinthence of lax wi.l be a hurdle') proporticsoably grea•er
and more oppressive to this country in consequence ot Ireland
lasing intended to be exempted from any share ot its imposition.
Mr. Hallett then 1111 l that the '1 husks of the Meeting be
given to Sir Fr-nci, bwdur, mart. fur his public conduct, which
mot" n was carried Utigtailllutialy.
1 lie I whir., of •the Meeting were then given to Sir John
1 iti uckinortun, Bart the proposer, and Charles Pyeehe Palmer,
L.q the seconder ..1 :anise first seven Resolutions.
!.e 'I !auk, ot the ,t-t.: tre also given to the Sheriff, for
Its rest:. .ess contr.:H.l.g thin .sleeting, and for his able and im-
putial corhauct to etc Chair. R. P. W. bENYON.