fg BS, 9 
STATE or PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
In «“Fanuary, 1798. 
GREAT BRITAIN. | 
ME: Pitt’s Affeffed Tax Bill, the rife 
and progrefs of which were given 
in our laft number, has, after fome 
modifications, received the Royal af- 
fent, and been paffed into a law. 
Among the numerous meetings to op- 
pofe this meafure, that held at the 
Crown and Anchor on the 2d of Ja- 
nuary, of the United Conimittees of 
the outlying parifhes of the metro- 
polis, deferves particular attention. 
Among other refolutions breathing 
that f{pirit of rational liberty, which 
was wont to animate the breaft of al- 
moft every Englifhman, there was one 
which expreiled the concern of the 
Meeting, at ‘‘ Seeing inftituted in this 
country parochial inguifitions, where 
the people can only obtain redrefs by 
difclofing the fecrets of their private 
concerns, and fubmitting, perhaps, 
their moft important interefts to the 
inveftigation of men, who can have 
no particular motive to protect, and 
may have many inducements to harafs 
and opprefs.” 
The laft important debate upon this 
Bill in the Houfe of Commons, was 
upon its third reading on the 3d of Ja- 
nuary, which was adjourned, and con- 
cluded on the 4th. Mr. Thompfon 
firft rofe, and pointed out the ftriking 
inconfiftences of the Bill, and its op- 
preffive tendency. He was followed 
by Mr. Tyrwhitt and Mr. Nicholls, 
who both oppofed the Bill. On the 
fame fide Sir Francis Burdett made 
what may not only be called an ener- 
getic, buta bold fpeech : he obferved, 
that though he agreed with thofe who 
thought this mode of raifing the fup- 
plies was highly objectionable, yet 
were it altogether unobjectionable in 
atfelf, he would oppofe the granting 
of fuch fupplies, becaufe he detefted 
the purpofes they were intended to 
promote, the profecution ot ‘* this de- 
teftable war,” and the fupport of a 
fyftem of corruption. Thefewere the 
accurfed ends for which the people of 
this country were to groan beneath a 
load of increafed taxes: he was not 
forry that at this late period, when the 
clouds of prejudice were in fome mea- 
fure paffed away, and when men from 
diftrefs were brought to think, and re- 
filet upon the pait, to have an oppor- 
tunity of faying a word, which he 
attributed entirely to the ambitious 
projects of Minifters upon the origin 
MontaLy Mac. No, XXVII, 
of the war, for the {ubjugation of 
France. By means of the immenfe 
revenue raifed upon the people of this 
country, he added, a corrupt Minifter 
had debauched the very {pirit of the 
nation, and prepared us to become 
flaves, and the proof of it was our 
want of generofity and ‘pirit in fub- 
mitting to become the inftruments for 
enflaving others: ‘* For let no man 
flatter himfelf,’? faid he, ‘‘ that he 
has not been implicated in the guilt of 
that horrible conduét; which the Mi- 
nifter adopted with regard to Ireland, 
unlefs he may have done all in his 
power to prevent it.’ 
Sir Francis then traced the outlines 
of the melancholy ftate of the Sifter 
Kingdom, which he founded upon the 
report of the Earl of Moira, and upon 
information he had himfelf received. 
This Irith fyftem, he obferved,- had 
already paffed over into Scotland, and 
the fame fpirit had difcovered itfelf at 
home, though not to the fame extent. 
He concluded by declaring, that he 
‘never would at any time, or under any 
circumftances, become an accomplice 
in the guilt of fupporting a fyftem, 
which if it could be fupported, and 
was to be perfifted in, would eventually 
deftroy the freedom of his country. 
Dr. Laurence, Lord Hawkefbury, 
and feveral others on the minifterial 
fide of the Houfe, fupported the Bull, 
and defended the meafures of adimi- 
niftrations ‘The debate was then ad- 
journed. 
On its being refumed the next evens 
ing, Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Fox exs 
erted their talents againft the pafling 
of the Bill, and againft the conduét 
of Adminiftration. Mr. Sheridan was 
extremely fevere upon the affertions 
made by Dr. Laurence the preceding 
evening, particularly the comparifon 
which the Doétor had drawn between 
us at prefent, and the great Roman 
Republic in the height of its fame and. 
glory, Was it ever ftated, faid he, 
that the Roman bulwark was a naval 
force? This kind of rhodomontade de- 
clamation ufed by the learned gentle- 
man, Mr. Sheridan faid, was finely de- 
{cribed by one of the Roman poets— 
——‘ I, demens, curre per Alpes, 
Ut pueris placeas, et declamatio fias.” 
The Doétor appeared to come tothat 
Houfe as executor to adminifter to Mr. 
Burke’s fury, without any of his fire 
Or genius. 
K Mr, 
