The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-04-18 00:00:00

PROPERTY TAX.

The Cil A NC ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to move a
postponement of the Order of the Day, for takiog iutoturther
ennsidermion the new Assented Taxes. Ile wished to avail him-
self of this occasion to give notice, that on Wednesday next, he
shined move for a Committee of the whole House, in which it
was his imention to submit a proposition for the renewal of the
Property Tax.
Mr. I• it EMANTLE asked whether It was proposed resubmit
any alteration either to the priuciple of the measure, or the
amide of its application.
Th. cacti Ei.i.Oß of the EXCHEQUER. in a very In-
audible tone, replied, we believe, in the negative; hat observed
that it would be open to any Gentleman to suggest such moth&
eatiou. in the Committee as he might deem advisable.
Mr. HORNER enquired whether it was the Right Hou. Gen-
tleman's intention to relioctaish the Assessed Taxes.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated, that the
reituquishinent of the Assessed Taus must depend On the de-
cision of Parliament with respect to the renewal of the Property
Tux.
Mr. 'WHITBREAD wished to know whether the
renewal of the Property Tax was to be pressed with
regard to political events, and whether it was in the
contemplation of Ministers to make it independent of
peace or war?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
conceived that in either of the cases included in the
Hlntourable Member's alternative, the measure would
be expedient. If direct hostilities were not resorted
to it would be necessary to support a complete state
of military preparation. —[llear, hear!)
Mr. PONsONBY put off his motion respecting
the transfer of Genoa to the King of Sardinia, sine
4fic.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee
on the Scotch Judges' Salaries Bill, in which the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved a
Resolution fixing the salaries of Judges of the Con-
sister). Court at 5001.
Mr. J. P. GRANT doubted whether this sum was
sufficient to enable the Judges in question to quit
their practice at the Bar, which they at present cou-
pled with the exereke of their judicial functions.
Mr. A RBUTIINoT brought up several papers re.
hating to the Ordnance, pursuant to the order of the
iinuse.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. PONSONI3Y asked whether the Noble Lord
could inform him when the papers respecting Genoa
would be laid on the table ?

Lard CASII.EItEAGH said they were in pro-
gress, and he hoped would be ready in the course of
the week.

TATITIt OP, MURRAY.

Sir S ROM 11.1.1 pursuant to his notice, moved
for an Address to the Prince Regent, requesting he
would order to be laid before the House a copy of
the Report of the Recorder of London of the judg-
ment passed on Robert Lathrop Murray, who was
1 Heti for bigamy at the Old Bliley in January last.
—lO saki thatthis case was one which required the
greatest•pqblicity, as it was a case of great hardship,
and the punishment most peculiarly severe. It was
one -of the slightest cases of bigamy he had ever
heard of, and yet had received a sentence of the
hightrit punishment the law 'would allow. Since the
Act had been passed which attached the punishment of
transportation to this offence (now eight years), not
one in four had suffered that sentence. Out of 104
cases, only 23 persons bad been transported for the
offence, and in general the punishment was only one
year's imprisonment, or a small fine. The second,
,Aife knew perfectly well of the first marriage before
she married the prisoner, and, as well as the pri.l
soner, thought, and was convinced the first marriage
was illegal. It appeared to him, therefore, necessa-
ry the Judge's Report should be seen, that a fair
judgment might tie formed of the cause of such an
e.traordinary diqtitietion.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the crime of
bigamy bad been found so common and so mischon
the increase, that an Act bad been passed, giving