THE CURE FOR AVARICE.
SIR ROBERT PEEL'S objection to a Property-tax has more origi- nality than common sense in it. He is represented to have de- clared in the Howse of Commons, when the tax upon the incomes of the Irish incumbents was under discussion, that "the desire to accumulate would be greatly abated by a graduated Property-tax." Sir ROBERT did not favour the House with the grounds of his opinion, and it is difficult to conjecture what they can be. His father, we will venture to say, felt the desire of accumulation fully
as strong within his breast, while the last Property-tax was in operation, as at any other period of his life; and if the tax operated injuriously on the trading community, it did not certainly paralyze their industry or abate their desire to grow rich. Many strange results have been predicted as certain to follow the commutation of taxes on consumable articles, for one on fixed property ; but we never beard before that human nature was to be metamorphosed, or that avarice was to be cured by it.
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