ig9t ANNUAL RB 
then was beginning to enter into a 
detailed military view of the means 
of repelling the enemy, when 
Sir Robert Buxton moved, that 
the gallery should be cleared, and 
strangers were accordingly excluded 
for the remainder of the debate. 
There was no other discussion of 
much consequence, in either house, 
from that day to the 13th, when, 
on the question for the further 
consideration of the property tax 
bill, 
Mr. W. Smith, objected much 
to the inquisitorial means, made 
use of to come at the amount of 
the incomes of tradesmen. 
Mr. Pitt, defended the old in- 
come tax, during the continuance 
of which, the credit of the country 
had increased in an unexampled 
manner. He objected however to 
several of the details of the bill. 
The tax upon funded property, ap- 
peared to him altogether a breach 
of public faith, and he considered 
that the bill, in other instances, 
favoured capital, and oppressed po- 
verty. 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
said, that however hard it might 
‘appear, that this tax should bear 
linequally in its operation; it would 
be still harder to make any tax per- 
feetly equal. He detended, the 
justice of taxing incomes from 
tunded property, and again said, 
that equality of taxation was ailing 
ot to be brought about by human 
wisdom, 
_ Mr. Elliston censured Mr. Pitt, 
for attacking ministers, 
expressed astonishment at the ac- 
¢usation, as ministers had been 
dn. possession of his sentiments 
for tivee weeks Lie concluded, 
EGISTER, 
1803. 
by moving an instruction to the 
committee, that ‘the like ex- 
emptions and abatements be ex- 
tended to those who have income 
arising from money in the funds, or 
Jand, or money at interest, as aré 
or may be allowed to other per- 
sons.” 
A long conversation ensued, in 
which Ministers did not conceal 
their surprize at Mr. Pitt’s unex - 
pected motion. 
The house divided, and the num- 
bers on the divison were 50, for 
Mr. Pitt’s motion, 150 against it! 
The next day however, the house 
having proceeded in the further cons 
sideration of the bill, 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
rose, and although he declared that 
he viewed with awe, the deficiency 
which the adoption of Mr. Pitt's, 
motion of yesterday would cause 
in the produce of the tax, yet, as 
he thought the exemption demand- 
ed, was expected, by a great num- 
ber of people, and as he was con- 
vinced of the necessity of recon- 
ciling even the most necessary mca- 
sures, to the feelings of the public, 
he should, to avoid differences of 
opinion, when unanimity was want- 
ing, give up that point. He was | 
€ lad, “however, that the description” 
of persons, who were to be bene- 
fited by this concession, then pos- 
sesing small incomes from land, had 
already deserved much of their 
country ; ; and that this exemption 
would extend to the greater part of 
the constitutional yeomanry of the 
. kingdom, 
Mr. Pitt, on the other hand, 
Mr. Pitt beard, with great satis- 
faction, what had fallen from the 
right hon, Gentleman, Although 
their arcuments were on grounds 
totally diférent, he was perfectly 
satisfied 
