§ The following Protest against the passing of the War Taxes Extension Bill was entered on the Journals.
§ "Dissentient; 1. Because this bill purports to provide for the supply of the present year, by taking one million annually of the war taxes. 2. Because this new and dangerous measure has been introduced into this house at a period of the session when it cannot possibly receive that consideration and attention with which it ought to be examined by every branch of the legislature of our country. 3. Because no information has been laid before us to justify the enormous increase of the public expenditure during the last two years; and the consequent necessity of large and continual increasing loans. 4. Because the present measure is subversive of the principles on which the sinking funds and War taxes have been successively established and augmented; principles invariably adhered to under every change of men and measures during the last three and twenty years, and now first abandoned. 5. Because the system, of which this measure is, we fear, the commencement, will rapidly absorb all the extraordinary resources provided by the wisdom of parliament to meet the exigencies of war; and will, within a very few years, plunge the country into financial difficulties, such as have never yet been apprehended even by those who have thought most unfavourably of the resources of the country. 6. Because we consider this bill not only as a most improvident and injurious financial measure, but also as founded on political views peculiarly inapplicable to our pre- 988 sent situation. Engaged in a long and arduous struggle, we are now adopting a policy which, in the same instant, diminishes our income and enormously in creases our expenditure. We are doing this at a time when wisdom and justice equally require a more economical and providential policy; which, while it sacrificed no real prospects of advantage, and refused itself to no well-founded claim for assistance, should look with a much more jealous anxiety to the present interests and ultimate security of our own country; and establish, instead of delusive, temporary, and ruinous expedients, a solid basis of permanent resources; the only fit provision for a contest of indefinite duration, and in the issue of which our existence is involved.
§ SIDMOUTH.
§ ROSSLYN.
§ GRENVILLE.
§ CAHRINGTON.
§ YARBOROUGH.