assertion, that the Property-tax was to continue for only one year. He felt very sure, that it would be proposed from year to year, and at length riveted upon the people for ever. He observed, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer took advan. tage of its present temporary nature to obviate discussion. He thought the clause proposed very unobjectionable, and said, he had often heard of very unjustifiable disclosures made of the private property and circumstances of individuals, which might be prevented by the restraint of an eath. On these grounds, he hoped his hon. friend would press the motion to a division. Mr. W. Smith, certain as he was that the tax would be renewed the next year, and the year after, thought that Parliament ought not to spare themselves the trouble of modifying it in the best possible way. He had always opposed the tax on the ground of its inquisitorial and oppressive nature; but he was by no means persuaded, that by an extensive pruning, it might not be rendered tolerable. sioner, any satisfactory explanation was given of bis conduct? Mr. Grenfell replied, that he had received no explanation, which, in his view of it, was satisfactory. Mr. Wynn maintained, that a single circumstance such as that which had just been mentioned by his hon. friend, ought to be sufficient to induce the House to agree to the motion. Mr. Lyttleton was at a loss to conjecture on what the opposition to the motion was founded. The expediency of it was pal pably clear. It would be a most important improvement in the Act. If it were rejected, it would cause a very serious impression upon the public mind, as if that House would countenance such a proceeding. The motion was then agreed to. The Chancellor of the Exchequer proceeded to make the motion which he had already described. It was to the following effect" That it be an instruction to the Committee, that it be empowered to make provision in the said Bill, That the assessments of the year ending the 5th of April, 1815, be the basis of all assessments to be made by the commissioners for the year ending the 5th of April, 1816; and which, after a short conversation, was carried in the affirmative. Lord Milton, convinced as he was of the numerous deficiencies of the measure, moved as a general proposition," that it be an instruction to the committee, that they have power to amend the said Act." Mr. Grenfell, in reply to the request made to him by his hon. friend, to relate the anecdote to which he had alluded, stated, that a friend of his, travelling in a common stage coach from London to Ox-that no new assessments be made;" ford, was entertained by a fellow passenger with a minute account of the diminution of income, and of the other affairs of a gentleman whose residence they passed. On his arrival at Oxford, his friend inquired who his fellow passenger was, and was informed that he was a commissioner of the Property-tax. He (Mr. Grenfell) had subsequently a long correspondence with him on the subject, and had acquainted him that if ever an opporThe House then went into the committee, tunity occurred, he would introduce into in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer the House of Commons some measure to introduced the clause which he had precheck so great an abuse. It was in conse-viously announced, which was received quence that he then submitted the clause, and would take the sense of the House upon it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer asked, whether in the correspondence which the hon. gentleman had had with the commis On this motion a division instantly took place; for the motion, 37; Against it, 134:-Majority, 97. and agreed to, as well as Mr. Grenfell's, relative to the oath of the commissioners. The report was then received, and ordered to be taken into further consideration on Wednesday next, and the Bill, with the amendments, to be printed. APPENDIX I-PUBLIC INCOME OF GREAT BRITAIN, FOR THE YEAR ENDING FIFTH JANUARY, 1815. An Account of the ORDINARY REVENUES and EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCES constituting the PUBLIC INCOMe of Great Britain. Total Permanent and Annual Duties 50,495,868 14 516,859,553 13 7 S. d. 8,689,068 9 5 19,451,102 15 15 5,826,363 4 7,889,084 11 5 1,799,206 14 6 19,504 3 11,992 9 8 24,081 12 102 15,910 19 11 43,636,315 0 10 Lottery, Net Profit (of which one third part Total, independent of Loans...... LOANS paid into the Exchequer (including the Amount of those raised for the Service of Ireland).. GRAND TOTAL... VOL. XXX. Appendix. 356,866 13 4 3,534,255 6 10 2,770,000 0 0 60,200 0 0 57,170 3 0 119,226 9 10 121,220 264) 60,200 0 0 57,170 3 0 119,226 9 10 121,220 2 64 Payments into the Exchequer. An ACCOUNT of the Gross and Net Produce of the DUTIES arising from STAMPS in ENGLAND, in the Year ending 5th January 1815. £. s. d. 1,931,397 19 8 1,921,049 5 10 596,041 9 9 990 14 8 Legacies 2,036,515 13 6 16,809 11 11 675,807 15 0 59,820 12 8 28,408 3 79 6 1 |