§ The Earl of Wicklow moved for a return of the amount of Property-tax paid in England on property drawn from Ireland; a return of the amount of Property tax paid by individuals on half-pay residing in Ireland; with several other returns of a similar nature, up to the 5th of the present month. His object (the noble Earl observed) was to ascertain the amount which Irish property actually paid to the Income-tax. If the sum of 250,000l. was contributed in that way to the Income-tax, then he would contend that the whole ground which was advanced for laying an additional duty on Irish spirits was no longer tenable, and could not be maintained.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonhad no objection to the production generally of such papers as would afford the noble Earl the 472 means of arriving at the information which he desired. But the first paper called for was of so comprehensive a nature, that it would, in fact, call for a minute examination of the returns from all parts of the country, and could not be satisfactorily made up.
The motion modified according to the suggestion of the Duke of Wellington was agreed to.