§ Sir Robert Wilsonsaid, he rose to present a petition intimately connected with that important, that fearful subject, which was to occupy the attention of the House that evening. The petition was from a person of the name of Brassington, formerly residing in Goodman's-fields, and one of those unfortunate individuals who were unable to bear up under the difficulties arising from the overwhelming load of taxation with which the country was burthened. He had been plundered of all his property, and reduced to absolute ruin, by those persons whom government had 911 armed with such exorbitant powers in collecting the taxes. The gallant general then proceeded to read several clauses of the petition. It stated, that one of the officers, attended by three men, entered his house, and claimed 30s. of taxes; the petitioner entreated them to wait for a short time till he could raise the money, but they declared they would not wait one minute. Accordingly they proceeded in the most violent manner to seize on his furniture, and took away an eight day clock. His wife, who was at the time advanced in pregnancy, was so alarmed by the violence of their proceedings, that a most dangerous illness ensued, and at last she was delivered of a dead child; nor was she ever likely to recover from the fright she had received. He was aware that there was redress to be had at law, but legal proceedings were too costly for him; and of this the officer was well aware, for he had told the petitioner at the time, that if he had no money to pay his taxes, he could have none to enable him to go to law. The petitioner then proceeded to describe the last dreadful scene which completed his ruin, and that of his helpless family. An execution was levied on his property, his house was filled with men, and all his furniture was removed but one bed on which his sick wife at the time was lying. The officers, though repeatedly called on, refused to show the authority by which they acted, and the petitioner had been unable to procure to this day either an account of his property or a receipt for his taxes. He had borne up as long as possible under the burthen of the taxes, and, to be enabled to pay them, he had denied himself and his family their usual comforts, till at last he had seen himself deprived of his all, and his helpless family reduced to ruin. The petitioner concluded with praying, that the House would set about the reduction of the present insupportable load of taxes. The scenes disclosed in that petition, sir Robert Wilson said, confirmed him in the determination he had previously formed, not to vote a shilling of additional taxes until the grievances of the people were redressed. The greatest of those were, he was persuaded, the state of the representation; every day's experience convincing him, that a more direct connexion and congenial sympathy were wanting between those who made and those who obeyed the laws. When he reflected on the sufferings of the people at the present mo- 912 ment, and of, the difficulty many had to provide even the necessaries of life for their families, he would sooner lay his head on the block, than say "aye" to the Finance Resolutions of the chancellor of the exchequer, or to any other proposition for adding to the present insupportable pressure of taxation.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.