it; viz.-The French army on one side, | and the allied armies under Marshal Blücher and myself on the other; and the 12th Article cannot be considered, and never was intended, to bind any other

persons or authorities whatever, unless
they should become parties to the Con-
vention. I have, &c.
(Signed)
WELLINGTON.

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 1st of Jan. 1814, to the 1st Jan. 1816.

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.

5,606 9 5 28,800 0 0

1,000 0 0

CHARGE for receiving Contributions on the Loan of 7,008,089l. 3s. 6d. for the Service of the Year 1815; at the Rate of 800l. per Million... Do. - - Do. -- on the Loan of 36,000,000l. Do, at Do....... Do. Do. on two Lotteries, in the Year 1815, for the Service of the Year 1814; at the Rate of 1,000l. per Contract Do. Do. -- on two - Do. - for the Service of the Year 1815; at Do. Do. - - Do.-- Contributions on the Profits arising from Property, Professions, Trades and Offices, for the Service of the Year ending the 5th April 1815, at the Rate of 1,250l. per Million......... 3,660 1

2,000 0 0

3,660 1 7

£.41,066 11 0

Bank of England, 18th March 1816.

H. HASE,

Chief Cashier.

Total produce of Customs 1,856,370

Excise, Consolidated

Total produce of Excise

Stamps

Post-office

Assessed Taxes

Property Tax

Land Taxes

Miscellaneous

Annual Duties on

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 WAR TAXES,

Whitehall, 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 by degrading expositions before these arbitrary inquisitorial tribunals, from which the landed and funded proprietors are exempt; and that such have been the multiplied vexations and oppressions they have experienced, that the tax is become altogether insupportable; and however it may have been reluctantly submitted to under the peculiar circumstances of the times, and as a temporary measure only, the petitioners are persuaded, that had its duration been foreseen, and the arbitrary exercise of the inquisitorial authority fully felt, it never could, even at that period, have been carried into execution; and that, to adopt the said tax upon a reduced scale, would be to make a fatal inroad upon the constitution, and would more effectually lead, by slower but more certain means, to the subversion of the rights and liberties of the people; and that having, during a war of unexampled difficulty, patiently submitted to the most grievous burthens and privations, the petitioners naturally formed expectations, that on the return of peace they should have been relieved from the burthens of war establishments and war taxes; that at least the most obnoxious and oppressive of them would have been removed; and they confidently hoped, that by such reductions in the public expenditure, with the necessary reformations, and the abolishing of all unnecessary places, pensions, and sinecures, there would have been no pretence for the continuance of a tax subversive of freedom, and destructive to the peace and happiness of the people; and praying the House to take these matters into their serious consideration; and that they will be pleased to reject any proposition that may be made for the renewal of the said tax, under any modifications or alteration; and to adopt such measures as may be best calculated to alleviate the public burthens, and promote the liberty, prosperity, and happiness of the people."

"That the petitioners have learnt with the most serious alarm, that it is the intention of his majesty's ministers, in violation of their assurances, and the solemn faith of parliament, to propose to the House the continuance or modification of the tax upon income, commonly called the property tax; and that, having so frequently represented to the House their abhorrence of the measure, both with respect to its principle and operation, and the evils it had produced, they trust it is not necessary, neither would it be pos sible, within the limits of a petition, to enumerate the grievances resulting from it; and they beg leave to state, that none of these evils have abated; that painful experience has only served the more strongly to root upon their minds a conviction of its injustice, vexation, and oppression; and that, under the present act, notwithstanding it was held out that the inquisitorial vexations would be obviated by taking for the basis of taxation the assessments of the former year, the provision in the act was rendered altogether nugatory; for the surcharges and assessments of the former year were suspended until the passing of the present act; when immediately after, surcharges and assessments were commenced with more rigour and severity, they believe, than at any former period; and that the partiality and injustice of taxing, in the same proportion, incomes of a short duration, arising from personal industry and temporary and uncertain sources, and those arising from fixed and permanent property, is, they conceive, too evident to be denied, and must be immediately perceived and felt by the House; and that the manner in which the said tax is carried into execution, by means of an odious, arbitrary, and detestable inquisition into the most private concerns and circumstances of individuals, is still more vexatious, unjust, and oppressive, hostile to every sense of freedom, revolting to the feelings of Englishmen, and repugnant to the principles of the British constitution; and that the petitioners are deeply sensible of the depressed state of the agricultural interests, and of the ruinous effect of such a burthen thereon; they never (VOL. XXXII.)

Sir W. Curtis then said, that he had a similar petition to present from the lord mayor and liverymen of London. He had been present when the petition was agreed upon, and he could bear witness that it had been considered with great temper (2 F)

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 most alarming nature; and praying the House to refuse its sanction to any proposition that may be made for renewing, under any circumstances whatever, a tax so universally detested."

The petition was read, setting forth, "That it appears to the petitioners that the tax upon income, commonly called the property tax, was adopted, under very pressing circumstances of financial 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 been assured by the commissioners of his royal highness the Prince Regent, in their communication to parliament on the opening of the present session, of their conviction that the measures adopted by the allied powers would secure its continuance, the petitioners have observed, with surprise and indignation, that his majesty's ministers have it in contemplation to propose to parliament the continuation or renewal of this most oppressive and odious tax; and that although a reduction should be made in the amount, yet the principle remaining unchanged, the petitioners are decidedly of opinion that its operation would still be most galling to the feelings and spirit of Britons; and that the change from ten to five per cent. so far from being likely to render it less vexatious, will produce the contrary effect, and be the occasion of the most degrading and inquisitorial proceedings, worse, if possible, than have been experienced under the former pressure of this heavy burthen; and that the livery of London, upon the first proposal of this tax, did express, and, since that memorable period, have reiterated in the strongest terms their detestation of a system of taxation so partial and oppressive, and so contrary to the principles of the British constitution; and that the petitioners, feeling the unhappy effect of the unjust and arbitrary exactions which his majesty's subjects have so long endured under this hateful system are convinced that its continuance, under any modification or reduction whatever, will be altogether intolerable; and that to at

prayer of the petition, he believed that he spoke not only his own sentiments and those of the common-hall, but also those of the great majority of the citizens of Lon. don. The language and the prayer of the petition were also theirs. It appeared to them and to himself that the renewal of the tax was unnecessary, though, during the great struggle which had now closed, they had supported it as being necessary to the prosecution of the war. Now, however, that we had arrived at peace, they thought differently; and the more so, because there was at least an implied pledge between the House and the people, that the tax should cease when peace was restored. He also objected to the tax, because in his conscience he believed that the people could not at present afford to pay it. From every means of information which he could derive concerning the state of the country (many county members of course must know the matter better), he believed that the agricultural interest could not at present afford it. He felt perfectly convinced that the trading interest could afford it as little. He thought, that if there was any other remedy by which the money might be procured, it would be fair to state it. He wished to mention to the chancellor of the exchequer, that he thought it would be a better mode of obtaining the 6,000,000l. to make a small loan, and to pay the interest of it out of the sinking fund, by which the country would at least be relieved for one year-a relief which it had a right to expect. Many persons conversant with the money market had told him that such a