192 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803, © 
@HA'P, XV. 
Proceedings of Parliament on the Property Tax Bill.—Chancellor of the 
Exchequer moves for a Committee thereon —Debate.—Opposed by Al- 
derman Combe—Mr, W. Smith.—Supported by Mr. Addington-— — 
Lord Hawkesbury—Mr. Erskine.—Re-committed.— Debate on the Irish 
Army of Reserve Bill.--Speeches of General Gascoygne--Loftus.—House — 
cleared.— Renewal of Debates on the Property Tax Bill—Mr. W. Smith. | 
—Addington.—Unexpected Motion of Mr. Pitt.—Diwwvision—Debate 
resumed next day.—Desultory Conversation.—Bill passed —Additional — 
Proceedings on the Defence of the Counéry.—Secretary at War proposes 
a Levy en Masse,—Speech— Debate.—Mr. Windham—Lord Hawkes- 
bury—Sir Francis Burdett—Mr, Pitt—Lord Castlereagh—Mr, For— 
Addington.— Bill read a first and second time.—Debate resumed.—Mr, ~ 
Sheridan—K innaird.—Last Debate thereon.—Colonel Crawford—Mr, — 
Pitt—General Tarleton.— Bill passes the Commons.— Debates thereon 
an the Lords, —Passes with little opposition —Kemarks.—Proceedings — 
on the Affairs of the Prince of Orange.—Observations, 
} AVING thus proceeded one 
4 step in the preparation for 
the defence of the country, by a 
species of armament, for which, by 
some fatality, as if foreign from the 
feelings and inclinations of Britons, 
the founders had been obliged to 
seek from the continent a name; 
the next measure to which minis- 
ters naturally had recourse to, was 
that pecuniary aid from the country, 
which a war esttblishment imperi- 
ously demanded, Accordingly on 
the 5th day of July, in the house of 
commons, 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
moved that the house should gointo 
a committee on the property tax bill. 
Mr. alderman Combe said, he 
conceived himself bound to oppose 
this bill by the instructions he had. 
received from his constituents; who 
considered it a measure so unjust 
in its principle, and partial in its 
operation, that no modification of 
it could remove their objections. 
He eonsidered this tax as merely 
an income tax,which he had always 
opposed, because it raised an equal 
sum upon incomes of unequal dura- 
tion; upon the precarious produce 
of industry; and upon permanent 
income. 
The lord mayor and sir John An- 
derson had also been instructed to. 
oppose it, but considered themselves 
at liberty to act according to the 
dictates of their own conscience. 
They should however, watch the 
progress of the bill with great at- 
tention. 
The chancellor of the San aT 
su 
