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others, inhabitants of the city of Oxford, / yet susceptible of assistance. If relief against the property tax, begged leave to were delayed much longer, none could be call the attention of the House to what afforded that would be effectual. This those petitioners assigned as the cause of ought to be the more deeply impressed on their present distress. That cause, they the minds of gentlemen, when they obstated to be, the universal depression of served, that, in the petition then before the agricultural interest. This was a sub- them, it was truly stated by the tradesmen ject of paramount importance. He knew on whose behalf it was presented, that their that many of the inhabitants of Oxford distress was primarily occasioned by the could not pay the tax, without utterly distresses which at present overwhelmed ruining themselves, because their trade the agricultural interest. Another obserhad been very much affected by the im- vation of the hon. gentleman, in which he paired state of the agricultural interest, perfectly agreed, was, the necessity of a from which they had previously derived system of the strictest economy being their support.

He could hardly have adopted by his majesty's ministers. He conceived that the distress amongst the would oppose every measure that was not agriculturalists was so great, if he had marked by economy. Of bis views, on not witnessed it himself. It was a me- this point, he had given the stronget lancholy prospect, for those who had been pledge to his constituents, in the vote he in the habit of viewing rural economy and had given two nights ago in that House industry in all its branches, to see young a vote which, however painful to himself, and healthy people thrown out of employ- an imperious sense of duty demanded. ment, and obliged to receive aid from Mr. Grenfell expressed his opinion, that, those funds which were intended for the if proper retrenchments were made in aged and infirm. In such a situation of every department of government, particuaffairs, the property tax, if renewed, larly in the military department, it would could not be productive ; and therefore it be quite unnecessary to continue that was necessary that some other resource odious burthen, the property tax; which, alshould be applied to. It had been sug- though exceedingly partial and oppressive gested, that the chancellor of the ex- in its operation, was, in a constitutional chequer might procure a loan from the point of view, still more objectionable. stock exchange ; but this he declined, be- He hoped that retrenchment, in the genecause he thought it would be the means ral service of the country, would render it of raising the stocks. He (Mr. W.) con- unnecessary even to raise a loan from the ceived, that the suggestion of Mr. Fox, public. But, if a loan should be called for, in 1786, which was adopted by Mr. Pitt, it would, in his opinion, be expedient, in might be resorted to. He alluded to the the highest degree, to avail ourselves of propriety of drawing on the sinking fund, the clause, commonly called Mr. Fox's in aid of any loan that might be deemed clause, in the bill of 1786, and to take from necessary. There was also another mode the sinking fund the sum that was wanted. by which the exigencies of the times might If a different course were pursued, the effect be met. That mode was, by ministers re- would merely be, to put into the pocket of deeming the pledge of economy whichthey the loan contractor, that profit which, unhad given to the House at the commence- der a different system, would amount to a ment of the session-by their adopting, considerable saving to the public. The in every department of government, the property tax was so odious in its nature, most scrupulous economy. In conclusion, ihat, under no modifications whatever the hon. gentleman called on parliament ought it to be resorted to at a period of to relieve the agricultural interest, before peace. It was not merely objectionable it was too late.

on account of its burthensome nature, but Mr. Lockhart said, it was unnecessary because its operation was so repugnant to for him to add to that true and touching every principle of civil liberty, that no picture of distress, which was to be found country deserved to be called free which in this petition. He entertained the most submitted to it. He alluded particularly earnest anxiety, that parliament should to its inquisitorial power, which had been concur in every measure necessary for the exercised in a way most oppressive and relief of the agriculturalists. He agreed injurious to the public; not by the comwith the hon. gentleman in the observation missioners who performed their duties grahe had made, that it was imperative on the tis--but by the commissioners for the aflegislature to assist that body, while it was fairs of taxes in Somerset-place. It was (VOL. XXXII.)

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by them that what might be termed inqui-| in the truth of the sentiment, which, comsitorial torture had been used. In his ing from such a quarter, ought to make a opinion, as to the propriety of making use deep impression on the House. of a part of the sinking fund, he knew he Mr. Ponsonby did not rise for the pur. differed from many gentlemen on that side pose of entering into any discussion as to of the House, for whose abilities he felt the mode that should be adopted for meetthe highest respect. He had stated his ing those expenses which the state of the opinion, in 1813, and nothing that had country demanded. He wished merely to since occurred had tended to alter the observe, that every gentleman had consentiments he then felt and expressed. demned, in his own name, and in the name His opinion was, that if this odious tax of his constituents, that detestable meashould be abandoned (as he hoped, from sure, the income tax—and every part of the general tone of disapprobation which the country was responsive to the feeling the country had manifested, it would be), thus expressed. His bon. friend who and if, every possible retrenchment having spoke last condemned any appropriation of been made, some farther pecuniary assist the sinking fund to the service of the counance was still required, that it would then try. He meant not to argue on the probe more advantageous for the country, in priety or impropriety of such a measure; the present circumstances, rather than but he would call the attention of the have recourse to a loan, or to this most House to the only true point connected oppressive tax, to take what was wanted with this subject--the reduction of exfrom the sinking fund.

pense in every department of government. Mr. Hanmersley deprecated any inter- Every thing else was quackery, delusion, ference with the sinking fund. On this falsehood, and imposition on the people. point, he would remind the House of the Reduction of expenditure in all the public last speech delivered by king Williain, one departments, and above all in that departof the wisest and most powerful monarchs ment in which it was most practicable, the that ever reigned over this country, from military establishments, was the only gethe throne. In that speech, he had said — nuine mode of saving the country; and “ I cannot but press you to take of the if his majesty's ministers were not disposed “public credit, which cannot be preserved to adopt that mode, he trusted the House o but by keeping sacred that maxim, that and the country would compel them to do “ they shall never be losers who trust to a “parliamentary security."* These were Mr. Bennet observed, that this was the almost the last words of king William, and second evening on which he had missed they ought not to be forgotten by that the right hon. the chancellor of the exHouse. With respect to the property tax, chequer from his place in that House. he entirely agreed in the sentiments of the This conduct he looked on as a delibehon. gentleman who had last spoken. He rate slight to the House. Mr. Pitt, considered the distress of the country to in the plenitude of his power, had never have been occasioned, in a great measure, treated the commons of Great Britain by that detestable and shameful tax. It in that disrespectful manner. There ought to be recollected, that parliament were other ministers, who likewise was pledged to put an end to this tax, absented themselves; but surely the when peace was concluded. That was House was not to be deserted by the ofone great reason for not renewing it. But ficers of the Crown, because the question there was another still greater--the conse- of our great military, establishment was quences produced by this abominable mea.

not to come on that night. While that tax lasted, there was, Mr. Goulburn rose to express his firm in fact, no British constitution. This had opinion that the absence of his majesty's been said, a few nights before, by a distin- ministers did not arise from the slightest guished member of that House (Mr. Coke) intentional disrespect. With respect to _who, if he had not devoted himself en- the noble lord, the secretary of state for tirely to the interests of the people, might the foreign department, the House was have been now sitting with the greatest well aware that indisposition prevented his peers of the land and he agreed entirely attendance. To his knowledge the right

hon. the chancellor of the duchy of Lane * See king William's last speech to his caster (Mr. Bathurst) had been confined parliament. New Parl. History, vol. 5, to his bed for some days. The right hon. P, 1330.

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not had the pleasure of seeing that day, brought forward, he was fully prepared to and therefore he could say nothing at all meet the hon. and learned gentleman, and about him. But he trusted that his own to combat his arguments to the best of ignorance with respect to the cause of the his humble ability. absence of the right hon. gentleman would Lord Ebrington said, that a report had not be urged as an argument to prove that that day reached him, from a distant part he was intentionally disrespectful towards of the country, that the intention of mithe House. The right hon. the master of nisters to abandon the property tax, was the mint (Mr. W. Pole), was, he knew, very prevalent. The letter which conindisposed some days ago. He was not tained this statement, set forth, that the aware if he had since recovered, but he idea of the tax being abandoned, took its was sure that he might say with confi- rise from a paragraph which had appeared dence of that right hon. gentleman, as well in a newspaper remarkable for its support as of the rest, that nothing could be fur- of ministers. He did not like the circu. ther from his intention than to do any lation of such rumours, which were set thing that might justly be deemed a slight afloat for sinister purposes; ministers and indignity to the House.

knew too well their duty to the Commons Mr. Brougham was sorry to understand of England, not to state their intention of that so much illness prevailed among the giving up the tax, if such an intention members of his majesty's government. existed. But it appeared from the obWere they really ill, or was their indispo- servation of the hon. gentleman who spoke sition an indisposition to come down to last, that nothing was farther from their the House? Perhaps they were sick of the thoughts. He hoped, however, that the property tax.

He wished it might be so. voice of the House of Commons would Unquestionably there had been two or shortly compel them to give up this inthree hours of every evening for some quisitorial and oppressive measure. This days past in which the air of that House mode of sending unfounded rumours could not have been very salutary to per- abroad, was one of the many arts resorted sons in the state in which his majesty's to on the present occasion, to prevent the government were; and no doubt their voice of the people, at public meetings, symptoms had been much aggravated by from being expressed in opposition to this the numerous little speeches which had tax. been made, even by those hon. gentlemen Sir John Owen hoped, that the general who had been most tenaciously their expression of popular feeling against this friends. If the influenza which raged on tax, which was heard in every part of the this subject did but spread, as he imagined country, would produce a proper effect on it would, it might at last, perhaps, seize his majesty's ministers, and induce them on the minds of his majesty's ministers to abandon the measure. The great body themselves, and at length induce them to of the country was completely hostile to give up that of which the whole empire, the tax, for the best possible reason-if it from one extremity to the other, resounded were renewed, they were quite unable to with the reprobation.

pay it. The agricultural distress throughMr. Lushington informed the hon. and out 'the country was most appalling, and learned gentleman and the House, that his in no part of the kingdom was it greater right hon. friend the chancellor of the ex- than in the county (Pembroke) which he chequer had been so much indisposed for had the honour to represent.

If effecthe last two days, that it was with some tual relief were not granted, the nature of difficulty he had been able to attend. the people of this country would be With reference to the hope of the hon. changed--and, instead of a hardy and and learned gentleman, that what he virtuous body of peasantry, the kingdom called the influenza would extend to his would be filled with paupers. He had majesty's ministers, he had only to say, seen numerous labourers who were ready that, under all the circumstances of the to support their families by the exertions case, his right hon. friend continued to of honest industry, if they could get emthink the renewal of the property tax (re- ployment; but, being disappointed in that duced and modified as he had stated) the expectation, from the inability of the wisest and the most justifiable measure to farmers to employ them, they were which the country could have recourse. obliged to apply to their respective parishes In that opinion he completely concurred, for relief. A sort of threat had been and whenever the subject should be held out, that, if the House did not

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this tax, something worse Lord Nugent was extremely glad that would be proposed. The answer to this the hon. gentleman opposite had stated was, that, when the question came fairly the intention of ministers to press this before them, they would know how to tax, because that declaration would dispel dispose of it, as to them seemed fit. a delusion, under which the people of If a more oppressive measure were intro- | England had been labouring for some duced, the same power which enabled weeks. That delusion was, the reported them to defeat the property tax, would abandonment of the tax by ministers, be sufficient to compel ministers to which was calculated to prevent them abandon any more burthensome tax, if from venting their feelings by petition.

tax could be devised. With There would now, he hoped, be such a respect to the sinking fund, he did not general and spirited manifestation of hosthink that the appropriation of a part of tility to the tax, as would compel minisit to the exigencies of the state, would be ters to recede from their original intenany breach of the public faith. He did tion. not conceive, when the necessities of the Lord Milton rose to ask, on what day country demanded a sacrifice, that the it was the intention of ministers to bring interest of the stockholder, or of any the subject regularly before the House ? other particular body, should be opposed Mr. Lushington answered, that it would to the general benefit. He hoped that be impossible to introduce it before Wedthe opposition to this measure would be nesday. as successful as it was general. Minis- Mr. Brougham said, that he would opters, before they determined to press it, pose so early an introduction of the subshould recollect, that what was termed ject by every possible form of the House. firmness, if carried beyond a certain point, Mr. Lushington, in explanation, obbecame obstinacy, and often led to the served, that when he stated it as imposworst consequences.

sible to bring on a discussion of the subMr. Finlay rose to observe, that though ject before Wednesday, he did not mean he did not present any petition from Glas- to say that it would necessarily be introgow on the subject of the property tax, duced on that day. yet the inhabitants of that great city coin- Mr. Holme Sumner presented a petition cided with the general sense of the coun- froin the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, try at large. The tax, in his opinion, Bermondsey, against the property tax. could be justified only on the grounds of He expatiated on the loyalty of the petithe most urgent necessity; and therefore tioners who had borne this tax patieoily he did not conceive it necessary to in- during the war, while they considered it quire whether parliament was pledged to necessary for the defence of the country; the country on the subject or not. The though now, on the return of peace, they duty of parliament at all times was to claimed to be released from what they provide for the necessities of the people; considered an oppressive impost. While but it could not possibly be its duty to he stated this on the part of the petiimpose upon them a tax which, at the prea tioners, for himself, he felt it to be a sent time, would be unnecessary, uncon- duty which he owed to them, to the stitutional, inquisitorial, and oppressive. House, and to the country, to declare, it

Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, stated, that he was his sincere and firm belief that no tax had recently seen a gentleman from Scot- could be named by which so large a sum land, who informed him, that the popula. | as that called for could be raised, which tion of that country were universally hos. would be so little oppressive, so general tile to the renewal of the tax, and were and impartial in its operation, and so little most anxious to know, whether there was expensive to the nation. Holding an time sufficient for their petitions to come opinion in this respect different from that up, before the measure was introduced to of the petitioners, he nevertheless felt it parliament. He was firmly convinced, to be his duty to present their petition. that, so long as this inquisitorial tax re- Sir James Mackintosh, from the tone mained, there could be no British consti- taken by the hon. gentleman who just sat tution. He had said this on the first day down while speaking in favour of the proof the session, and he repeated it now. perty tax, would hardly have ventured to This mischievous, wicked, and immoral have opposed to the hon. member his opitax was utterly at variance with civil nion of it, if that opinion had not been liberty.

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others, whose authority he held to be against it as any that he had heard; and almost as respectable as that of the hon. they earnestly implored the House that it gentleman himself. In the first place, he might not be renewed under any modifiwas supported by the voices of a very cations whatever. considerable body of that hon. gentleman's Mr. Brougham congratulated the mi. own constituents; and, when he remem- nisters on their absence, when these pebered what he had heard that night from titions were presented. Had they been an hon. gentleman who had experienced present, he was afraid their illness would the difficulty of collecting this tax at have been a little aggravated. He could Glasgow and its vicinity, he could not but not, however, but hope, that their colthink the enlightened inhabitants of that leagues who were present would not reneighbourhood were as likely to be able frain from administering to them the comto form a correct idea of this' tax as even fort which petitions strongly couched like the hon. member for Surrey. It was con- these were calculated to afford. He hoped soling to bim also to find the opinions he at least they would mention the subject to had formed of this tax supported by the them. most respectable persons in the landed Mr. Lushington said, he would take and commercial interests of the country. care to comply with the wish of the hon. Petitions against it were daily pouring in, and learned gentleman ; and in doing this, and these, though from different parts of he should not forget to communicate to the country, all agreed in describing the them what had fallen from the hon. memtax to be the most unequal imposition ber for Surrey, whose sentiments he was ever designed by the ingenuity of man. happy to say met with his hearty concurThe hon. gentleman did not consider this rence. to be an oppressive tax. Sir James said Sir James Shaw presented a petition he should be sorry to see this opinion re- from Bridgeward against the property tax, ceive the sanction of the House. He It was signed, he said, by very numerous would ask, was it nothing like oppression and respectable persons; and in presenting to drag the tradesman before commissioners, it to the House, he begged to observe, to whom he was compelled to disclose his that, as far as his experience went, in most secret affairs, and, having done so, to every ward, and among all the inhabitants submit to the exercise of their inquisitorial of London, there was but one sentiment authority, however unjust their decision, on this subject. Every voice was raised from which there was no appeal? This in reprobation of this most odious, oppres. tax was most unequal in its operation, as sive, and inquisitorial measure ; they conthe commissioners had it in their power to sidered that parliament had pledged themoppress one man and to spare another. selves not to continue it beyond the war; He agreed with the hon. gentleman that and that, as peace had now returned, it this might be the least expensive tax in ought not to be renewed under any mudiits collection. In everything else he fications.-Sir James also presented a concurred with the voice of the country, similar petition, signed by a number of in opposition to the hon. member for equally deserving and good men, resident Surrey.

in the ward of Vintry. Mr. Benjamin Shaw was decidedly of Mr. Calcraft presented a petition from opinion the tax could not be paid, and, the mayor and inhabitants of Rochester that therefore it ought not to receive the on the same subject. The petitioners support of the House.

were firmly of opinion, that if this tax Sir William Curtis presented petitions were persevered in, public faith was at an against the property tax from the wards end. It was difficult, indeed, for one who of Tower and Langbourn. They were felt as strongly as he did upon the subject signed, he said, by a most respectable to express himself as he could wish. But body of persons who had always displayed he would refer them to the strongest the utmost loyalty, and, during the whole epithets with which this tax had any where of the war, had supported his majesty's been branded, and they would then find government with the greatest cheerfulness; sentiments pretty near those he held on but now, feeling as men and as citizens, the injustice of the measure. The battle they naturally wished to be relieved from of Waterloo was to have given repose to this most abominable tax, which Britons the feelings of this country. The conought not to pay. Their petitions conquest of Paris was to have consummated tained as strong expressions of abhorrence this happy, era and yet it seemed the

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