Star.
London, England, 1821-05-17 00:00:00

IRISH WINDOW TAX.

Mr. ROBERT SHAW was perfectly aware of the
disadvantage under which he laboured in bringing
before the House the repeal of the Irish Window Tax,
in the absence of so many of the Irish Members ; but
he did so at the express wishes of his constituents.—
The Hon. Gentleman here read extracts from the
speech of Mr. Pitt, at the period when the Window
Tax was imposed; and fioni the Act of 524 G. .o
to prove that it had always been intended, and con-
sidered to be, only a War Tax. The Hon. Gentle-
man asserted, that the city of Dublin was more dis-
tressed at the present moment than any other part of
the Empire ; and entered into a statement, shewing
its progressive and rapid decay. In 1814, there were
in that city 16,158 houses assessed. There were de-
clared insolvent, and unable to pay the Assessed
Taxes, in 1816. 1072 houses; in 1817, 1588; in
1818, 2397; in 1819, 3206 ; in 1820, 3989; in 1821,
4700. The amount of insulvencies would, therefore,
be found to exceed 4000. He would, under these
distressing circumstances, call upon the Right Hon.
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) to say,
could these things possibly go on ? The Hon. Gen-
tleman here entered into a statement, .to prove the
progressive failing off in that branch of the Revenue;
and concluded by moving, that a Select Committee
should be appointed to consider the expediency of re-
pealing so much of the Act of 56th Geo. 111. as re-
lates to the Tax on Windows in Ireland.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
thought, that at this period of the session, and in
justice to the other parts of the kingdom, this Tax
could not be now abolished. He would accede to
any proposition which could be received with a fair
view of relieving the people of Ireland; but not at
that late period of the Sittings, wheel they could not
expect the Committee to get through its labours, and
when they might be raising the expectations of the
people in a way that could never be realized
• SirJ. NEWPORT admitted that nothing was more
dangerous than raking the hopes of the people; but
he must say, that Taxes had been kept up uselessly :
and even then, they were i.:600,0.00 a-year worse than
if they had reduced some of these Taxes.

Mr. HUME supported the Committee, as being
necessary to ascertain the cause of the decrease of the
'products of the Taxes. The Session would not be up
yet for a month or six weeks; and in that time, much
valuable information might be obtained.
General HART thought that Dublin required some
attention, on account of thiremoval of its Parliament.

Sir. W. DE CRESPIGNY said, he intended, next
Session, to bring some of there subjects before the
House, as connected with Er.gland. He had a letter
from a person in the country, which stated, that an
Assessor had charged a window in a certain little
place, though there was no glass.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, he was
satisfied that this was a notice of a motion, rather
than of an intention of bringing it belbre the House
in the present Session. It could be much better dis-
cussed in another Session of Parliament.

Mr. MONCK thought that the City of Dublin la-
boured under peculiar and local difficulties, which re-
quired relief from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. SHAW withdrew his motion till next Session.
lONIAN ISLES.

•Mr. HUME wished to ask a question of the Ho-
neurable Gentleman opposite. Two persons, natives
of the lonian Isles, had been arrested for signing an
Address, which was intended to be sent to this coun-
try, and thrown into prison. They had escaped, and
proceeded to England with the Address, and bad
sent a Petition to the Colonial Department.. He
wished to know whether that (Petition "had been re- •
ceived ? He wished also to know, whether by the
Alien Act, as it now stood, persons coming from the
lonian Isles, being natives, would be consijered as
aliens in this country, and were liable as such to be
sent out of the country ?
Mr. GOULBURN said, that the Petition alluded
to by the Hon. Gentleman was received. With re-
spect to the question, whether an lonian Islander was
an alien or not in this country, he confessed he was
not lawyer enough to answer it, and could give no
opinion upon the subject.
Mr. HUME expressed his hope that the Hon. Gen-
tleman would ascertain that point.
THE MANCHESTER MEETING.

The Order of the Day tor resuming the debate on
the Manchester Meeting having been read,
Sir ROBERT WILSON rose, and said that it well
became the Honourable and Learned Gentleman (the
Solicitor-General) who spoke last on this subject from
the other Side, to•defend the conduct of the Manches-
ter Magistrates, as well as of the Minister, who sup-
ported it. But notwithstanding the talents ,shish he
displayed, yet -he (Sir Robert Wilson) thougl4 that
Honourable and Learned Gentleman did not succeed
in his object. The Solicitor-General had observed,
that no suspicion could be cast by the opposite side
of the House on the Jeci,ka of the Grand Jury. ut