PREFACE. 



THE prevalence throughout Europe of a state 

 of general peace, to which universal exhaustion 

 promises a long and secure continuance, limits the his- 

 tory of the year 1816, with one hrilliant exception, to 

 a relation of occurrences domestic and political. 



One of the most remarkable features of the parlia- 

 mentary year, was a defeat of the minister of finance 

 in his motion for a renewal of the property tax. After 

 much had been said in disparagement of the numerous 

 petitions against the tax, which were flowing in from 

 the different towns and counties, the whole was brought 

 to a close by a petition presented by Sir William Cur- 

 tis, and bearing the signatures of 22,000 merchants, 

 banke4S, and traders of the city of London, united in 

 opposition to the measure, and the Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer, after a renewed attempt, seconded by the 

 ministerial influence in the house, for its support, was 

 obliged to submit to a counter-majority of 238 to 201. 



A further advance towards a complete blending of 

 the interests of England and Ireland, was made by the 

 consolidation of the exchequers of the two countries, 

 carried by the ministry on the motion of Mr. Vesey 

 Fitzgerald, chancellor of the Irish exchequer. 



Another important change was the introduction of a 

 new silver coinage into the kingdom, in which the de-^ 

 nomination of the coin was raised by the exaction ot 

 a small seignorage ; sixty-six instead of sixty-two shil' 

 lings being now allowed to the pound troy. 



From these and other points of permanent regula- 



A 2 tion 



