The Press. — London, England, 1857-01-24 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive. Their insertion is often delayed owing to a press of matter and when omitted, It is frequently from reasons quite Inds. pendent of the merits of the c ' We cannot undertake to return not avail ourselves. of whioh we do Communications should always be legibly written, and on one aide of the paper only. If long it increases the difficulty of finding apace for them. Whatever is intended for insertion mustbe authenticated bv the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publics tlon, but as a guarantee of his good faith. Advertisements sent from thl country must be accompanied by a remittance or a reference for payment In town. TERNS OF SUBSCRIPTION Cbe Preost (STAMPED) Per Annum . Half Yearly.. Quarterly .. .. II _8 0 .. 0 1., 0 .. 0 6 6 PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. Subscribers are requested to send their orders through News Agents; if direct to the office, accompanied by a remittance. Advertisements also must have a reference or remittance. Money Orders to be made payable to Mr. ALFRED hi. 110, Strand, I.ondon. iirtt 1u ,*+ LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24,, 1857. POSTSCRIPT, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER AND THE INCOME TAX. Tnu Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday re ceived a deputation of gentlemen from London and the counties, headed by Major Reed, M.P., who waited upon Sir George Lewis with the view of urging the reduction and revision of the income tax on and after the sth of April next. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply, said, that so far as re garded the revision of the tax, very great difficulties would beset any plan that sought to make differences between precarious and permanent incomes, and he believed that those gentlemen who talked of perfect taxation would find, if they bad to levy any large amount of taxation, that their success fell very short of their anticipations— At the same time, he was quite ready to con'ider any arguments that might be laid before him bearing upon the question, and to give his best attention to any detailed plan that might be prepared for carrying a better system into effect. With respect to the amount of the tax for next year, Government had no desire to maintain any taxes not necessary for the public service : He did not propose to go into the expenses of the year, which, however, he might say were heavy in consequence of the removal of troops and winding up the accounts of an expensive war, but he might say that he had had no desire to continue the malt tax, nor to interfere with the payment of the drawback, by which the Exchequer sustained a loss of nearly a million. ' Then, again, the war duties on tea, sugar, and coffee would terminate on the sth of April next. The income tax in its present form might continue until a year after the sth of April next, but Government would not take any undue advantage of that, but would act in the same way that they had acted with the Sardinian loan. They certainly would not insist upon the strict fulfilment of a bargain where a few days would give the Exchequer an additional income tax, if that tax were not needed. But he must add, with regard to the rate of the income tax, that it was a case, not of taxation, but of expenditure. The question to be considered was, what would be the expenditure of the following year? With regard to the in terest of debt, there would be, no doubt, some increase on account of the loans contracted during the war. There would be two millions of Exchequer Bonds that would fall due next year, and the civil list and civil expenses would be about the same as last year. The question, therefore, would be, what would he the expenditure of next year? and that would depend mainly upon the army and navy estimates, the amount of which had not yet been communi cated to the Government. Upon the expenditure, there fore, the ways and means of the country must depend. The amount realised by the income tax was very large, and the proposal now made, unless Rome other tax were pro posed—which he presumed the deputation did not con template—would reduce it by eight millions. That was, he was afraid, all he could Ray, and he had stated his views as fully and with as much candour as the circumstances in which he was placed would permit. After some conversation the deputation retired, thanking the Chancell r of the Exchequer for the courtesy with which its members had been received. THE LIVERPOOL FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION held a public meeting on Thursday evening. The chairman, L. Hayworth, Esq., M.P., on opening the business of the evening, argued at length In favour D r 0. 400 over Indirect taxation. The report of the THE PRESS. association was then read, from which it appeared that among the persons with whom the council have been in communication on the subject of taxation was Lord Stanley, to whom the tract on the income tax was submitted. In reference to the scheme there sketched, his lordship says : I agree in the preferability of direct over indirect taxa• tion, if two conditions be conceded; the first, that of equality between classes, which, by the capitalisation theory, seems attainable ; the second, that of accurate knowledge by Government of private incomes, which I know no means of obtaining. It. is this latter difficulty, more than the former, which prevents many public men from acceding to the principle of a large extension of direct taxation. Mr. Roebuck, M.P., then addressed the meeting at some length, maintaining the justice of direct over indirect taxation, but strongly protesting against the present system of levying the income tax. But before financial reform was to be hoped for, parliamentary reform must be obtained; and the honourable mem ber, amid some laughter, gave a description of the social influences brought to bear upon independent members ; I find that there is a wonderful desire in the princely merchants of this princely town to be thought fine gentle. men in the House, If they could only bear the sort of criticism and sarcasm that follows their own individual debasement. I think they would he prouder of their position as independent men than subservient followers. Lady A. says to Lord A., who is the Minister ?—( say A. B. C., or P. who is Minister of the Crown, the Prime Minister— my Lady A. says, " Who is that vulgar fellow, A., that you have introduced to me 9" He says, "My dear, now don't use that language. I acknowledge that fellow to be a vulgar fellow ; I know it—know it as well as you ; but he has a vote in Parliament ; now do be civil to him." And so she is civil him ; and the poor man votes ever after as Lord A. bids him. And those are your watch-dogs. bk. elution 3nttllignut. E►ax SUSSEX.—Lord Pevensey has issued an ad. dress to the electors, in which he expresses his hostility to a Maynooth grant, and his anxiety for the repeal of the hop duty and the reduction of the income tat . _ _ Legitimate reduction of taxation, without draining the Treasury—economy, without impoverishing the force and vigour of the nation—equitable arrangement of questions relative to the Church, without disturbing its fundamental institutions—adjustment of electoral privileges, without extending them to classes not yet prepared to receive them—a gradual progress of legislation, without the spasmodic violence of Itadieal measures—a strict and loyal adherence to the first principles of the Constitution, without tieing blind to its defects; these are Conservative principles, but yet they are neither obstructive nor retro grade. These are principles which I advocate, and which you, each and all, may support. WEST KENT.—A numerous meeting of the Con servative electors residing in the Lewisham and Blackheath districts was held at the residence of Sir F. M. Wilson, Charlton, yesterday week, for the pur pose of hearing an address explanatory of his political views from Sir Walter B. Riddell, the Con servative candidate. A committee was subsequently appointed to canvass the electors, and resolutions adopted, pledging the meeting to support Sir Walter at the ensuing election. SUNDERLAND.—A meeting of the committee of the Sunderland Shipowners' Society was held last week, to take into consideration the propriety of writing a letter to Mr. George Hudson, M.P., on the subject of his attendance in Parliament during the next session. Mr. Hudson has been absent from the house during the past two years. After an ample discussion it was deemed not necessary to interfere with the question at present. It is understood that Mr. Hudson will retire at the end of this Parliament, and Mr. Charles Alcock, a resident in the town, is spoken of as the Conservative candidate. SOUTHAMPTON.—Sir Edward Butler, the Conserva tive candidate, has written to the South-Western Railway Company to know if they sanction any inter ference with the electors in their employ, and Mr. Chaplain, the chairman, has answered in the nega tive. This correspondence has been published in a handbill and circulated. Mr. Weguelin has secured a large portion of the flies, cabs, and omnibuses in the town to bring up the voters on the day of polling. Captain Weguelin, a cousin of Mr. Weguelin, is an active canvasser for the latter, and Mr. Gladstone, a partner of the Governor of the Bank of England, has been down at Southampton. Mr. Falvey, the stamp distributor, h& been restored to his office. NEWPORT.—Mr. C. Seely, upon the requisition of the electors, has consented to contest the representa tion. Mr. William Cooke, in consequence of this resolution, retires from the contest. SALFORD.—Mr. Langwortby, who has been pro posed by an influential body of electors, met his supporters last week in the Town-hall, and explained his political views. Mr. Langworthy expressed himself in favour of free trade, local self-government, an extended franchise, direct over indirect taxation, end the bitllot. With respect to education, he should certainly support 1 local rate for clocation, wit* local Topgallant SATURDAY, • I should, in fact, advocate a system similar to that con• sented to when Sir J. Pakington was down here, which is a compromise between the two educational bodies, and is, think, drawn up on a liberal basis, and a concession of more than we might expect, I think, from the opposite party. It embraces the proposition that religion shall he taught, but only at appointed hours, and then without the necessity of all the children attending. With regard to the income tax, he thought it re quired a complete revision. On the subject of peace-at•any-price principles and foreign policy Mr. Langworthy was tolerably explicit : We have been called " peace•at any price " men. I avow myself a peace man, but I do not mean to say that I avow myself a " peace at-any-price " man. I am committed to no particular principles upon the peace question, tut I do hold the opinion that peace ought to be preserved at almost any cost; but, when the necessity arises, when every effort to preserve peace has failed, then it becomes the dignity of England to go into war with the spirit mid vigour which is befitting her as a great nation. I should support such measures, but I confess I look upon war as a curse upon society of an fearful a character, that it would require the most justifiable means before I would ever sanction throwing this country into a war. I consider that England has a great moral influence upon the whole world, and possessing that influence, and occupying the position she does, standing in the foremost rank of civilisation, it behoves her to conduct national measures on the strictest principles of justice. I consider that it has been too much our foreign policy to meddle with foreign nations. Diplomatic disputes have been fos. tered respecting boundaries ant questions of the balance of power. which have brough. this country into a great many wars. In answer to questions, Mr. Langworthy stated that with respect to whether he vould vote for the dis union of Church and State, he must confess that he would not; but if he were askel whether he would vote for the union, if there was no existing union betwen them, that was another thing, be should not. As resrected annual !Parliamerts, he must confess he would not vote for them. With reference to church rates, he admitted trey pressed upon dissenters, anl in so far he thcaght the tax an un just one ; but he was not premed to say at once that it could be got rid of; therewas some difficulty in it. Mr. Alderman Weston iroposed, and Mr. Councillor Pochin seconded, a esolution, pledging the meeting to support Mr. Langworthy. The reso lution was unanimously carried. COLCHESTER.—There is likely b be a contest for the representation of Colchester, Ihich will become vacant by the resignation of Lore John Manners, who succeeds the Marquis of Graiby in the repre sentation of Leicestershire. In aiticipation o° a vacancy arising out of the death of the Duke of Rutland, Mr. Gordon Rebow, of Witnhoe, issued an address to the electors, intimatingiiis intention of soliciting their suffrages. Mr. Reba is a Liberal in politics, and he will be opposed b; a Conservative candidate fr mn the neighbourhood .f Romford, who also some time since issued an addres to the electors. At the last election the numbers piled were-51r. W. H. Hawkins (Conservative), t. 46 ; Lord John Manners (Conservative), 615 ; Mr.'. A. Hardcastle (Liberal), 408 ; Mr. H. T. Prinsep ( (onservative), 98. DUMFRIESSHIRE. — In all probabil:y there will be no contest for the representation o Dumfriesshire, rendered vacant by the elevationof Lord Drum lanrig to the Marquisate of Queenberry, and that Lord Henry Scott, second son t the Duke of Bucclench, will he returned. This onng nobleman is at present in Egypt. At a meetiv held a day or two since the electors adopted Lord Henry Scott as a candidate. MR. YATES PEE). TO THE. EDITOR OF " THE 'REES." Sra,—lt was not till last nightl learnt that a correspondent of yours, in a recent rticle, has made very unjustifiable mention of my nine. I trust you will allow the following statement tc appear in TEE PRESS newspaper. Your correspondent says—" Mr. :'ates Peel told Henry Hunt, M.P. for Preston, thatthe honourable member had better stick to his lacking. Upon which Mr. Hunt rose in his place,and said, 'My father was the first tradesman in iy family, the honourable member's father the firs gentleman in his.' " Now, these assertions are pure]. imaginary. I offered no advice to Mr. Hunt, eithe in the Houso of Commons or :elsewhere, as to hi conduct in or out of Parliament. I once only nentioned Mr. Hunt's name in the House of Commas. Mr. Hunt did not rise to reply to me, nor did e speak in the House of Commons on the night I elided to his plan of Reform in Parliament. I am satisfied that Mr. Hunt saidnothmg in the House of Commons at any time respeting my father (who was, thank God, a tradesman, or respecting his own father, who was, I believe, nt a tradesman. It appears to me that your correspadent might be better employed than in bringing in unfounded charge against one who bas taken notart in politics for nearly ten yearsor—l act, sir, yelp oiNlient serviuit, T. PEZL, Wareicksbke, Jan. 1; 1837.