dresser, of Long-lane, in the city 71. of London, humbly representing to the House, that he and his brother tradesmen, already borne down by taxes of various descriptions, would be utterly ruined if the House were to agree to the bill now before the House, for the better observance of the Lord's-day; representing to the House that the performance of their business on a Sunday is absolutely necessary for the decent appearance of people at places of Divine worship; and imploring the House not to pass the said bill. be 66. From James Rothwell, late a soldier in the 1st regiment of Royal Dragoons, complaining that, after having served faithfully in the said regiment for four years, and having received three dreadful wounds, and having been discharged with a pension, has now had that pension taken from him and praying the House to pleased to interfere in behalf of himself and his suffering family. 67. From the inhabitants of Wingham, in the county of Kent, complaining of the partiality of taxation, particularly with regard to the stamp duties and duties on auctions, which they say are so frequently partial and unjust. 68. From John Templar, of Lymington, in the county of Hants, complaining of the gross and crying partiality of the stamp taxes, and setting forth how he and his family have suffered by those taxes, and praying the House to do justice in the case. 69. From Thomas Cliffe, of Bradford (signed on behalf of a great number of the inhabitants), complaining of the weight, partiality, and oppression of local taxation. From Joseph Sload, of the town of Sheffield, in the county of York, praying that the House will not grant citizenship to the Jews; stating, that these people do no useful thing, but live by usury, craft, and cunning. From the inhabitants of the parish of Kilfirn, in the county of Mayo, praying that the House will not pass a law to deprive Ireland of the trial by jury. LISTS OF THE MAJORITY On the 21. March, on Mr.T. Attwood's Motion, "That a Select Committee be appointed to "inquire into the Causes of the general "Distress existing among the Industrious "Classes of the United Kingdom, and into "the most effectual Means for its relief." For the Committee (tellers included) 160 Against ditto, with the Ministers... 194 Total number in the House.... 354 MAJORITY. HERTFORD. According to the official returns there are in this county Each paying inhabited house-duty annually. 2 houses rated at 2007..... £28 6 8 21 5 0 are 5 2 1501. 1107. 15 11 8 The principal residences in this county Cashiobury Park-Earl of Essex Hatfield House-Marquis of Salisbury. Vast dimensions-park several miles, noble apartments: rated at 2001. per annum, and paying 281. 6s. 8d. inhabited house-duty for this princely seat. the county of Herts with that of the twelve metropolitan householders, the result will prove that where one pays one-twentieth of their annual income in direct taxation, the others do not pay one-hundredth part of their annual income; consequently, a most undue weight is thrown upon the springs of industrious exertion; no mode of taxation can be more thoroughly unequal in effect than the inhabited house-duty. It has been urged in support of the inhabited house duty, that it is a "FAIR TAX;" that it is in fact a species of PROPERTY TAX;" the parties supporting this fiscal measure, assuming that of course the rental or annual value of the dwelling represents the property of the several occupants. This is most obviously incorrect and unfounded, both in theory and practice, particularly as applying to the metropolis, and large manufacturing towns. Does the rental paid by traders, &c. in general represent their property? Can each of the many thousands whose dwellings throng the main and by-streets in this vast city, in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield; &c.— can the majority of these parties say, that they are respectively worth enough to purchase the freehold of their dwellings? and should they be in possession of property sufficient (after payment of all debts) to purchase the premises in their occupation, it would then be apparent that the inhabited house duty alone (to say nothing of the windowtax) is to them a property-tax of nearly fifteen pounds per cent. per annum on the annual value of their property. And if this is the case with those who could purchase their premises, how fares it with the tens of thousands whose struggles can scarcely make head against the stream, men of small capital and rerated as dwelling in houses stated to be sources, but who are nevertheless comof the value of two of 2001. five of 150/.pelled to dwell in houses from locality two of 110l. per annum. Take Lud-liable to a heavy rental, and consegate-hill, Cheapside, or Cornhill, from quently heavy taxation is not the No. 1 to No. 12, we shall then find house-duty to such persons a propertytwelve inhabitant householders rated at tax, varying from fifteen pounds to a similar rate, probably in many in-thirty pounds and upwards per cent. per stances higher comparing the proper- annum on the annual value of their ty of the twelve principal residents in property? Stagenhoe Park-J. Carbonel, Esq. water In a park five miles in circumference. Two noble Marquises, Six noble Earls, Four noble Lords, to the annual value of ali landed property, funded, &c. ?* nual value of the dwellings occupied by the powerful and wealthy classes re- It must be perfectly clear, that a tax present within reasonable bounds the like that levied on inhabited houses, value of the property of these classes? where from situation alone for parand what sort of a property-tax can ticular purposes, a house of one tenth that be, which varies between thirty part of the dimensions and intrinsic pence, and thirty pounds per cent. per value commands, though not as a dwelannum in the amount claimed from ing, yet for the purposes of trade, a various individuals? Many have as- higher value in rental, cannot be just serted, and with a great semblance of or fair-how can rental display the plausibility, that though the rate of value of the dwellings of the different taxation presses apparently heavily on classes of society? Mere rental never the middle and industrious classes, yet can accomplish the most desirable effect it is not so in reality; the price and of equalizing the weight of taxation; value of the various commodities, &c. the value of a house varying from the which they respectively supply, being situation, even more than from size. enhanced in value to the public from There would be no difficulty in finding the pressure of taxation being so great. magnificent and princely dwellings in This may easily be answered; compe- any of the counties rated at a sum not tition, in every thing, and on all sides, exceeding that levied on houses in all regulates and keeps down prices. And respects infinitely inferior in value as are we to take a certain payment against dwellings in any of the densely crowded uncertain gains, a substance for a parts of the metropolis; dwellings shadow? Who would feel satisfied with which would not be considered fit for this answer?" I am compelled to charge the residence of any person of indea higher price than would be charged pendent property, though perfectly well "to you elsewhere, from the weight of adapted to the uses to which they are "taxation which presses more forcibly applied, and for which a most ample on me, in consequence of my pre-rent is paid by the tenant from his in"mises being in a street in which the dustry and exertions. It has been stated, "rate of taxation is very high." Who certainly not without good reasons, that is there that does not purchase by price the complaints against the house and and quality, without reference to or re- window duty (particularly the house garding the burdens to which the seiler duty) are not general, but confined is subjected, whether they be light or principally to the metropolitan districts: whether they be heavy? And should it the cause of this apparent apathy_(if be allowed that such is the case, that such exists), the Chancellor of the Exthe house duty is paid by the purchaser chequer fully answered, in stating, "that and consumer in the end, we arrive at "he was aware in the various counties, the confession, that the present house" houses worth three or four hundred duty is both an income tax and a dwel-"pounds per annum were rated for ling-house duty; that part which may" taxation at thirty or forty pounds per be termed an income tax being levied " annum each!" An assertion in which exclusively on the middle and indus- the noble Lord is most fully borne out, trious classes from their precarious and uncertain gains; and is it not therefore, a tax on industry? If the annual earnings of industry are thus to be diminished by the payment of this tax, what is to prevent the extension of the same principle to the annual profits of all mines, companies, manufactories, and mercantile establishments throughout the kingdom; omitting any reference 66 as will be apparent by the inspection of the returns for each county. In obedience to, and in the fulfilment of, the law, the inhabitants of the metropolis and large towns have been paying at (or Annual value of landed property :- -England, 49,744,6221.; Wales, 2,153,8014.; Scotof funded property, 737,130,6687.; dividends land, 6,625,655.; total, 58,551,0781. Capital thereon, 25,772,2961. ; AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. (From the True Sun" of 2. April). FACTORY BILL. MEETING AT NEWCASTLE-UPON TYNE. (From a Correspondent). ON Monday last a requisition was presented to the Mayor, and his worship appointed a meeting to be held in the Guildhall, March 29, at two o'clock. nearly at) the rate of two shillings and INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS tenpence in the pound on the value of their dwellings, in which valuation has been included, as far as the trading classes are concerned, the heavy rental paid for their shops and warehouses but it would appear, that this law, which ought to have been a just and equal law, applicable without deviation to all-this law, so plain and legible in some places, has been in others a withered and illegible scroll. Those who have paid threepence half-penny in the pound on the annual value of their dwellings instead of two shillings and tenpence in the pound, as directed by the law of the land, have in truth no cause for complaint, neither would the metropolitan or any other householders, had they been taxed at the same rate: the repeal of the house and window duty would at once effect that, which the removal of indirect taxation has hitherto failed to accomplish, and relieve those who have been the greatest sufferers from oppressive and unequal taxation. The requisition was signed by high Churchmen, Saints, Whigs, and Tories, whilst the appearance of a single Radical name was carefully avoided. The meeting, too, was appointed on the very day and at the very hour when the labouring class could not attend. The pathetic, tea-drinking saints, ready to struggle" to the death" for the liberation of the black slave, whilst they never show their faces or raise their voices against English or Irish despotism, thought this an excellent opportunity to deprive the truly liberal of their just Thousands now pent up in lodgings mer its, and gain to themselves by cant would immediately take houses, and by a name for liberality and humanity. The so doing, lessen all parochial rates. leaders of the Northern Political Union Each of such fresh occupants of houses (immense and terrific, both from its now empty and untenanted, must be numbers and its intellectual importance) purchasers to some extent of articles of were on the alert, and although the British manufacture and industry, which time was sort and everything unfavourwould have remained uncalled for if able, determined to act their part, and they had continued lodgers; the bene-issued a placard to the following ef ficial and salutary effects caused by the fect: removal of these oppressive imposts "The Council deem this meeting to would speedily be visible in increased" be of the greatest possible importance, employment, diminution of poor-rates," not only to the labouring classes,but to and in a general diffusion of satisfaction" the country at large, knowing as they and contentment amongst the most" do, that the passing of such a bill useful members of the community; in" will ultimately tend to compel the fact, a cheering feeling of renovation" removal of those enormous imposts and strength throughout the entire" which have driven both masters and social system. London, February, 1833. "workmen to the verge of ruin and "starvation. The Council accordingly, 66 approving heartily as they do of this "object, and feeling that on the deci"sive nature of the manifestation of 66 public feeling, especially on the part "of the labouring classes, on this 66 occasion, as well as on the pro"priety of the documents which "they adopt, will essentially depend |