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viz.-The French army on one side, 1 persons or authorities whatever, unless and the allied armies under Marshal Blü- they should become parties to the Concher and myself on the other; and the vention. I have, &c. 12th Article cannot be considered, and (Signed) WELLINGTON. never was intended, to bird any other

ACCOUNT OF THE Weekly AMOUNT OF BANK NOTES IN CIRCULATION FROM Jan. 1814 To Jan. 1816.] Mr. Hutchinson presented, pursuant to order, the following Account of the Total Weekly Amount of Bank Notes, and Bank Post Bills,

in Circulation, from the ist of Jan. 1814, to the 1st Jan. 1816.

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An Account of all Allowances made by the Public to the Bank, or charged by

the Bank against the Public --exclusive of the Charge for the Management of the Public Debt,—for transacting any Public Service in the Year 1815; describing the Nature of the Services, and the Amount charged thereon in the said Year.

S. d.

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£. Charge for receiving Contributions on the Loan of 7,008,0891. 3s. 6d.

for the Service of the Year 1815; at the Rate of 8001. per Million... 5,606 95 Do... Do. -- on the Loan of 36,000,0001. Do. - at Do. ....... 28,800 0 0 Do. Do. -- on two Lotteries, in the Year 1815, for the Service of the Year 1814; at the Rate of 1,0001. per Contract

1,000 0 0 Do. . - Do...on two. Do.. for the Service of the Year 1815; at Do. 2,000 0 0 Do. - - Do. - - Contributions on the Profits arising from Property,

Professions, Trades and Offices, for the Service of the Year end-
ing the 5th April 1815, at the Rate of 1,250l. per Million ........ 3,660, 1 7

£.41,066 11 0

Bank of England, 18th March 1816.

H. HASE,

Chief Cashier.

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ABSTRACT or The Ner Produce or the Revenue IN THE YEARS ENDING 5th Jan. 1815, AND 5th Jan. 1816.] Mr. Lushington
presented the following
ABSTRÂCT of the NET PRODUCE of the REVENUE, in the Years ending 5th January 1815, and 5th January 1816; distinguishing the

Quarters; and also, the TOTAL PRODUCE of the Customs and Excise.

The Irish and Portuguese Payments, for the Interest on their respective Debts, payable in England, are excluded from this Statement; and the War Taxes appropriated to the Interest of Loans charged on them, are included under the head of Wan Taxes. Whiteball, Treasury Chambers, 13 February 1816,

S. R. LUSHINGTON.

PetitioNS FROM THE CORPORATION | theless beg to state, that the manufacturAND Livery of LONDON RESPECTING ing and trading interests are equally deTHE PROPERTY Tax.] The Sheriffs of pressed, and equally borne down with the London presented at the bar a Petition of weight of taxation; and they would parthe Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons ticularly impress it upon the consideration of the city of London, in Common Coun- of the House, that the latter class of socil assembled, setting forth,

ciety are still more harassed and oppressed “ That the petitioners have learnt with by degrading expositions before these the most serious alarm, that it is the inten- arbitrary inquisitorial tribunals, from which tion of his majesty's ministers, in viola- the landed and funded proprietors are tion of their assurances, and the solemn exempt; and that such have been the faith of parliament, to propose to the multiplied vexations and oppressions they House the continuance or modification of have experienced, that the tax is become the tax upon income, commonly called altogether insupportable; and however it the property tax; and that, having so fre- may have been reluctantly submitted to quently represented to the House their under the peculiar circunstances of the abhorrence of the measure, both with re- times, and as a temporary measure only, spect to its principle and operation, and the petitioners are persuaded, that bad its the evils it had produced, they trust it is duration been foreseen, and the arbitrary not necessary, neither would it be pos- exercise of the inquisitorial authority sible, within the limits of a petition, to fully felt, it never could, even at that peenumerate the grievances resulting from riod, have been carried into execution ; 'it; and they beg leave to state, that none and that, to adopt the said tax upon a reof these evils have abated; that painful duced scale, would be to make a fatal inexperience has only served the more road upon the constitution, and would strongly to root upon their minds a con- more effectually lead, by slower but more viction of its injustice, vexation, and op- certain means, to the subversion of the pression; and that, under the present act, rights and liberties of the people; and notwithstanding it was held out that the that having, during a war of unexampled inquisitorial vexations would be obviated difficulty, patiently submitted to the most by taking for the basis of taxation the as- grievous burthens and privations, the petisessments of the former year, the provi- tioners naturally formed expectations, that sion in the act was rendered altogether on the return of peace they should have nugatory; for the surcharges and assess- been relieved from the burthens of war ments of the former year were suspended establishments and war taxes ; that at least until the passing of the present act; when the most obnoxious and oppressive of them immediately after, surcharges and assess would have been removed; and they conments were commenced with more rigour fidently hoped, that by such reductions in and severity, they believe, than at any for the public expenditure, with the necessary mer period; and that the partiality and reformations, and the abolishing of all injustice of taxing, in the same proportion, unnecessary places, pensions, and sineincomes of a short duration, arising from cures, there would have been no pretence personal industry and temporary and un- for the continuance of a tax subversive of certain sources, and those arising from freedom, and destructive to the peace and fixed and permanent property, is, they happiness of the people; and praying the conceive, too evident to be denied, and House to take these matters into their must be immediately perceived and felt by serious consideration ; and that they will the House ; and that the manner in which be pleased to reject any proposition that the said tax is carried into execution, by may be made for the renewal of the said means of an odious, arbitrary, and detestable tax, under any modifications or alteration; inquisition into the most private concerns and to adopt such measures as may be and circumstances ofindividuals, is still more best calculated to alleviate the public vexatious, unjust, and oppressive, hostile burthens, and promote the liberty, prosto every sense of freedom, revolting to perity, and happiness of the people.” the feelings of Englishmen, and repugnant Sir W. Curtis then said, that he had a to the principles of the British constitu- similar petition to present from the lord tion; and that the petitioners are deeply mayor and liverymen of London. He had sensible of the depressed state of the agri- been present when the petition was agreed cultural interests, and of the ruinous effect upon, and he could bear witness that it of such a burthen thereon ; they never had been considered with great semper (VOL. XXXII.)

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and moderation, by a very respectable tempt the renewal of a tax so oppressive meeting. The citizens of London were and unconstitutional, now that peace is convinced that the tax against which they obtained, after the loud and united expetitioned could only be warranted by the pression of the public opinion, and after necessities of a war. While those neces- the pledge given by administration that it sities lasted, they had cheerfully borne it, should continue as a war tax only, appears but now they could not with the same to the petitioners to be a violation of the cheerfulness support a tax which was in most solemn engagement, highly irritating its nature so peculiarly oppressive to the to a loyal and generous people, and caltrading part of the community.

culated to produce consequences of the The petition was read, setting forth, most alarming nature; and praying the

“ That it appears to the petitioners House to refuse its sanction to any propothat the tax upon income, commonly sition that may be made for renewing, called the property tax, was adopted, under under any circumstances whatever, a tax very pressing circumstances of financial so universally detested.”' difficulty, as a war tax only, and that its Sir James Shaw observed, that the first enactment was accompanied by the common-hall which voted this petition was most unequivocal and solemn declarations legally and constitutionally assembled. that the same should be withdrawn imme. There was a very respectable attendance, diately after the termination of the then and all the proceedings were carried on existing hostilities; and that, having wit-with much temper. With respect to the nessed the restoration of peace, and having prayer of the petition, he believed that he been assured by the commissioners of his spoke not only his own sentiments and royal highness the Prince Regent, in their those of the common-hall, but also those of communication to parliament on the open the great majority of the citizens of Lon. ing of the present session, of their convic-don. The language and the prayer of the tion that the measures adopted by the petition were also theirs. It appeared to allied powers would secure its continue them and to himself that the renewal of ance, the petitioners have observed, with the tax was unnecessary, though, during surprise and indignation, that his majesty's the great struggle which had now closed, ministers have it in contemplation to pro- they had supported it as being necessary pose to parliament the continuation or to the prosecution of the war. Now, how. renewal of this most oppressive and odious ever, that we had arrived at peace, they tax; and that although a reduction should thought differently; and the more so, be. be made in the amount, yet the principle cause there was at least an implied pledge remaining unchanged, the petitioners are between the House and the people, that decidedly of opinion thal its operation the tax should cease when peace was rewould still be most galling to the feelings stored. He also objected to the tax, beand spirit of Britons; and that the change cause in his conscience he believed that from ten to five per cent. so far from being the people could not at present afford to likely to render it less vexatious, will pro- pay it. From every means of informaduce the contrary effect, and be the occa- tion which he could derive concerning the sion of the most degrading and inquisito- state of the country (many county memrial proceedings, worse, it possible, than bers of course must know the matter have been experienced under the former better), he believed that the agricultural pressure of this heavy burthen; and that interest could not at present afford it. He the livery of London, upon the first pro- felt perfectly convinced that the trading posal of this tax, did express, and, since interest could afford it as little. He thought, that memorable period, have reiterated in that if there was any other remedy by the strongest terms their detestation of a which the money might be procured, it system of taxation so partial and oppres- would be fair to state it. He wished to sive, and so contrary to the principles of mention to the chancellor of the exchethe British constitution; and that the quer, that he thought it would be a better petitioners, feeling the unhappy effect of mode of obtaining the 6,000,0001. to make the unjust and arbitrary exactions which a small loan, and to pay the interest of it his majesty's subjects have so long en- out of the sinking fund, by which the dured under this hateful system are con- country would at least be relieved for one vinced that its continuance, under any year--a relief which it had a right to exmodification or reduction whatever, will pect. Many persons conversant with the be altogether intolerable; and that to at- money market had told him that such a

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