The Sun. — London, England, 1836-03-24 00:00:00

nazardousundertaking to accompany an expedition sent r ag ss ain .s,t_a horde of pirates on the Arab coast, who were a 27Ideable obstacle to British traders, where he success fl:ll,l the the negociations as interpreter, going up, lhe heart of the piratical tribe with the naval com mander,s_ alone and unarmed, amidst this savage and lawless *dee, while th bo b . e theseuadron was lying in the offing ready for ardm b th • e eir fart. own, and every moment was expected to of 6 . Mr. B uckingham arrived in the Ganges in command Perim f • Perim*, rlgate described, in the year 1818, after a prosy Coro m "Ya g e , along the coasts of Malabar, Ceylon, and os 4,oo a o i l i nel ; the command then yielding him an income el. Mad" year. But on being desired to sail to the vast e env _ agasca, for the purpose of giving protection and frigatueYltse some vessels of the Arab Prince, to whom this elonged, which vessels were engaged in the con nio'i:cea of slaves from one part to another of his domi the ' °lr. Buckingham remonstrated against this traffic in v'ail persons of his fellow -creatures, and being unable to pre mantly r the a fre t . n of the ship to change her destination, in thus esig ue d esaveerifii c.ing his command, with all its emoluments — a large and increasing income rather than he , nms countenance to a slavery which from principle abhorred. 7 ' This • • str ong d i sinterested and high principled conduct made so .an I mpression up on th e c hants minds of the British mer the ea'n Calcutt a, t h at Mr. Buckingham was i nv i te d , b y Journ a l memb ers o f t h at b o d y , to esta bli s h a Public G ov : on lib era l pr i nc i ples ; and as Lor d H ast i ngs, t h e ts_ on G eneral of India, had removed the censorship of 1 3" allt ress in that co untry , an d d ec l are d hi s w i s h that the condu c t o f an d public men should be freely examined, Public opinion honestly and openly pronounced, Mr. bli s h In gharn accepted the invitation made to him, and esta papeed the Calcutta Journal in the same year, 1818. This p ahe r was originally published twice a week—all the other soc r e rs then in India, appearing once a week only. Its Bu e l e t ! s ' however, so far surpassed all expectation, that Mr. que es la g h am was induced progressively, so to increase its fre -10".1 of Publication, and so to enl arge it s s i ze and aug bailE Its sources of information, that it ultimately became a for s !? g aper ' of the largest size and greatest variety of in t„ s u o , . 1 s state ever publishe in India. To bring it, however, of perfection, and to enlarge the buildings, e 0 1, 71. increase the stock of materials, and establish the with out e r s_Po i ndcnce and machinery of carrying it on with cessaelaxation or intermission, it had cost five years of in stir l o t and anxious labour and an expenditure of all the which 13IUS rece. IPts, to the exient of 20,000/. sterling at least ; h e i o expenditure, however, was amply recompensed by its 6 4 brought to yield a clear net profit ranging between s 7u/. and 8,0 per annum ; and thus to make the con ; oaf:Vie saleable value of 40,00 , 01. sterling, estimating it i sde between five and six years purchase ;at which rate, p 4r jd, about one-fourth of it was actually purchased by speciteisvelo realized a large annual dividend on their re p.s. hares. J oorh I , ll e Public good effected by the publication of this eonZ t : during five years of time—from 1818 to 1823, sons 27 large quarto volumes—is admitted by all per vas who were then in India, to have been greater than esi ste e d v , effected by any publication that had previously . l awin s . any part of our Eastern possessions. The fol- Pos e r ruow ever, are worthy of especial mention ;—lt ci te 4 g r eat variety of public abuses, which it caused to rd re _ t e l /0 . ; and prevented many more from being comm . it . - st rati 'ear of its censures. It greatly improved the admini veiten ° Jjestice in the native Courts. It was the first to in viict s , l)ll°li elY against the horrid practice of burning the living . Dre s ° ,;, s °f the Hindoos, and ultimately forced on the sup °n of of that frightful and murderous rite. It con /srn-e' t he equally revolting practice of the Indian Go sath, ent deriving a revenue from the superstitions of the Ju ss ' es ' in drawing large profits from the Pilgrimages to s st 7' s e rnaut • oe , and accelerated the abolition of that iniquitous th e i s i gain. It defended the Christian Missionaries qa ho ly and benevolent labours. It advocated the °P: -° n and the elevation of the Indian population. It 13 0 sU s ea itself to every act of despotism ; and it advocated tilestY, earnestly, and unceasingly, the three great reforms required for India , Itit es all of which have been since hap calevdom of Settlement for all persons in the ititb - o ar of ed—._.Freedom country, safe from liability to banishment Aosa llt t rial, to which all British subjects were then ex hilite--Preedom o f P u bli cat i on, su bj ec t on ly t o responsi awarYt, the laws, a nd to such punishment as might be with a T °Y the verdict of a Jury—and Freedom of Trade 9, Parts of the world, which it now happily enjoys. BessJ l 4,.e advocacy of these principles, and the great sue and which attended it, made both the Journal and its bold lleo r ire°lllpromising Conductor the object of especial r e- e ar n°ng the old and bigotted servants of the East ‘ te‘' cl ia - t ara P a nY ; and accordingly, Mr. Buckingham was th e I " a tsY threatened with banishment, without trial, for totartzeles from time to time published in his paper. While howllHastings remained at the head of the Government, t er, 1, determined that the Courts of Law should d th, ti ne only tribunal of judgment to be resorted to :—an ,kattZ years of time,—amidst all the excitement of I,` l eas f an aults—virulent abuse—and even criminal imputa tkipm enemies and rivals,—the several articles of Mr. the i e l,harn's Journal which were remonstrated against by t hat n ' a n Government, were defended and explained by th e , sFentlernan to Lord Hastings' entire satisfaction ; and eals, la g l e indict ment at l aw , w hi c h was framed against the s, article ''"ate ;i I brought to trial, by the united Secretaries of ndia, b e f ore a C ourt o f L aw , en ded in aninstant i o. t of acquittal by a British jury. f ew t length Lord Hastings left India, in 1823, some hve .ee k s only before his successor, Lord Amherst ar s_eealtiss4hig Premature departure being forced on by ill 7n l Pos' s an d no sooner had he quitted Calcutta, than his th s - s r Y sueesessor, Mr. John Adam, the senior servant oho b - s Pdia Company, and the old censor of the press, pinto -' a n especial hatred of all liberal men and liberal Ne e 11 1 , 3 s Seized the first occasion that presented itself to Ish ezo l B decre e of banishment against Mr. Buckingham, I lia], be e ordered to quit India within two months, without 11, , s ?' l ing, investigation, or defence. aal de 'he alleged ground of this arbitrary and tyranni oussesriee,was the appearance of an article in the Calcutta 4rotly,—'4,Which treated, with good humoured banter and blade th e appointment which Mr. Adam had himself the S e t a Presbyterian minister, Dr. Bryce, the head of llir kitiitt e ll Church in India, to be Clerk of the . Stationery_ 4 tte n d e e•—an office which would require daily and hourly Ithi e h an ", if its duties were faithfully discharged—and isetali therefore, Mr. Buckingham represented as wholly t jeltj ati ble with the due discharge of the reverend gen 'lel% 8 more imp ortant sacred funct i ons . F or thi s ar - I tora 4 t i l l d for this alone, in which there was not a single l 'oan at any jury in England, or in India, could was ad lik e tan' te to be lib 11 e ous, or even harsh, Mr. Buckingham was hOa th e se a felon—(nay worse, for a felon would have is Naanunetit of a trial, a hearing, a defence,) —torn from s ° , bre a k „ e Property and extensive connections, and obliged_ great expense, his domestic establishment, recently completed !Nam e ly ,l, ) erlse, and with great comfort,—and, with Painf u l _; a ' who had just joined him from England, after glen ex 2:osen ee of ten years, while their children were nl oy the eted to be on their voyage out from England, to Oven i go s o ee letY and protection of their parents,—he was suabl e had so _mlniously from the house and the home which gable UnXiOUSly formed, and compelled to leave his va tav,e, ttl e il d r° P e rtY under the guidance of others, with all his ' e ll ex c ite co unts uncollected and unpaid—a cruelty t Whi s h itisd almost universal indignation in India ; and teiPented, as he the perpetrator of himself soon deeply Ile felt himself compelled to publish a pamphlet I'ever afterw nth ,:adaend defence, to appease the public feeling ; but o stron g an impression against him,. that . he 1 1 °nth, ards recovered his spirits, and died within a . few : l ent o f onfessin. to those who were most in the enjoy 'ever b e c( lnfisle s ne e 12, s,-.enti one _ • . . , his desire that the subject should th on again in his presence. lead at the very 15t ickingham's arrival in England, he found be e ends Y appointment for gently censuring which he mans.forcibly banished from his property, his G: I ndia c home, was so entirely disapproved of by d e - r .'eral A ss ° e ln P an Y, by the Board of Control, and by the vi • nig it t , x ubly or Scotland, that all three united in or -Ito °.tle instantly annulled, as wholly incompatible Nsb ? was oatuttibees of a Christian Minister—and especially one 4( 3 ' Mr, head of the Presbyterian Church in India. eolueis_a-uockingliam was encouraged to hope—from ttl ties ee of sentiment, between the public audio urn_ t o J odi.. and himself —that he might be allowed to re isss_ l ess sr , to resume his pursuits ; though, even then, l e t ro t , C a l co tor i m and money would have been considerable, rtae it watshis od recove r his original position. But though fo sued for single act of justice, in the most humble th poard of r.9..fused by the India Company—denied by e last. eentroul -14, and this refusal persisted in to t , e Shortl f G ove _ Y e a ter this, intelligence reached England, that 3 , a _ c v ki ngh a l" ,s flt _ in India, not content with banishing Mr. se e d d proceeded, by a series of wanton and ag e u si se 4 sestr ey it. Pon his Property, utterly to annihilate privat e Their first step was to give legal force to ‘ 4lt whi e L . regulations for the Press, for an alleged breach t i o s in i t ba n u A i s i h r t ; e l3 ,n,ckingham was banished ; for, at the time tisr Precise]these regulations had not the force of law, °u g h innse condition of a Bill that is in progress Mr s goeirname, but has not received the Royal assent. 4 ase• th a g h am did not . even violate these regulations, be „e articl e f sro , , 3 ,r which he was banished, did bons their not come 1 3 - n tlaW "e noPt Prohibitions. But even if he had, the regula _ passed into a law, until some weeks after Mr. 1 5 04 Isllmen,7, w ear banished for having violated them ; the ed bein • erefore preceding, and the law said to be vio extre •Z made ass , a rts afterwards, and this punishment, though so „ a nte indivisae%sre, inflicted at the mere will and caprice of a u:sawitbot`L_nal, boldin g the temporary possession ot power, " s of l aw __'," l Y form of trial investicration proof, or other pro- Oatever. Their ' next step b was to ' make anew regu- lation or by-law, which had no existence when Mr. Bucking. ham left the country, giving themselves power to suppress any of the existing Journals at pleasure : a regulation which the the King's Judges at Bombay refused to sanction, as being illegal and unnecessary ; and no sooner was this regulation passed in Bengal, than the Calcutta Journal was wholly suppressed and annihilated at a blow. Nay, so vindictive was the spirit in which this persecution was conducted, that though Mr. Buckingham was then absent in England, and had been refused leave to return, the Indian Government not only annihilated his property in his absence, but decreed that even the type, presses, and other materials, should never be used by any other person so long as Mr. Bucking ham was to derive any benefit from such use ; first, there fore, trampling on his person, then destroying his property, and inflicting on him utter ruin, without the least power of appeal, or the least hope of redress! 15. On learning this heart-rending intelligence of the breaking up of all his splendid establishment, from which, even if not permitted to return to India, he might have fairly expected an honourable income of 3,0001. or 4,0001. a year, to be remitted to him by his agents, under whose protection and management it was placed,—he again humbly asked leave to be permitted to go to India for ever so short a period, to gather up the fragments that might be left from the wreck—wind up his concerns—prevent the further ac cumulation of loss and injury, and leave the country for ever. Even this simple and just request was unfeelingly and obstinately denied to him 16. Amidst all this overwhelming series of calamities, Mr. Buckingham, with a calmness, a fortitude, and an energy, which it is rare to find under circumstances that would send most men broken-hearted to their graves, con templated new efforts for the .improvement of India, and the benefit of his fellow-countrymen ; and accordingly, with this view, he established, in London, in the be ginning of 1824, a monthly journal, entitled the Orien tal Herald, the main object of which was to diffuse authentic information throughout Great Britain re specting sthe actual state and condition of India—to create, if possible, an interest in the public mind of this country in behalf of the oppressed natives of that remote region —and to advocate in England what he had been banished and ruined for advocating in India —Frey dom of Settlement—Freedom of Publication—and Free dom of Trade. This work was conducted by Mr. Buck ingham for six years, from the beginning of 1824 to the end of 1829 : during which it completed 23 large octavo volumes, which, with the 27 still larger quartos of the Calcutta Journal, made 50 volumes of about 600 pages each, besides 30 other volumes of Oriental Travels, Po litical, Parliamentary; Literary, and Critical Essays and Reviews, making a total number of 80 large volumes in the space of 18 years. The greater part of these were written by Mr. Buckingham's own hand ; and in the case of the Oriental Herald, considerable expense was incurred fbr the latest and best intelligence on all Indian af fairs, and the most accurate report of all proceedings connected with Indian interests. The sale of this work in England was, however, necessarily very limited, from the difficulty of awakening the public interest to a sufficient extent : but many hundreds of copies were freely distributed, throughout these five years, in the principal towns of the Provinces, and these entirely at Mr. Buckingham's cost. The copies sent to India, were prevented from being publicly sold, though all the expense of producing them was incurred here : and a sum of more than 6,0001. was sunk, from all these causes, by the continuance of this publication, through six years of persevering labour, which, however, was attended with great moral success, notwithstanding We vast pecuniary loss, by its greatly preparing the public mind for the future fa vourable reception of Mr. Buckingham's labours in ano ther sphere. 17. As the period was now drawing nigh for the renewal of the East India Company's exclusive Charter, by which the despotic government of India, and their monopoly of trade with China, were both upheld—Mr. Buckingham de termined on leaving London, in order to make a personal tour through all the provinces, to stir up an effective oppo sition to this renewal, and to demand a better form of government for India, and an equally free trade with China for all classes of his Majesty's subjects. In fur therance of this plan Mr. Buckingham left London for the country; and, during the years 1829, 1830, 1831, and 1832, he visited personally all the towns of any size, or im portance, at all connected with mercantile, manufac turing, or shipping affairs, in England, Scotland, and Ire land, traversing the kingdom in every direction, enduring immense fatigue, incurring considerable expense, breaking up his establishment in London, depriving himself of the comforts of domestic enjoyment at home, and encountering the fiercest opposition, and the most virulent abuse, from the defenders and hired agents of the East India Company, in most of the principal towns. He persevered, however, to the end, through good report, and through evil report ; and succeeded in addressing, (luring these four years of almost incessant journeying, not less than a million of people in all his career, and in forming upwards of a hnndred Associations in different towns, composed of the most in fluential persons in each, who bound themselves to use their labour, their purses, and their united influence to oppose the renewal of the East India monopoly of government and trade, and to throw both India and China open to the free intercourse and enterprise of British subjects of every class. The result of all this was, an array of public feeling and public power in favour of Mr. Buckingham's views, which no Ministry and no Company could withstand. 18. Mr. Buckingham was then invited to become the Representative of the town of Sheffield, where he was wholly unknown, until his public appeals on the subject of the India monopoly, won for him the general favour of the inhabitants. He was triumphantly returned, after a severe contest, without his having personally canvassed for a single vote, without his possessing either local influence , or even personal acquaintance in th town or neighbourhood, and without his being subjected to a single sixpence of ex pense. He thus lived to be placed in the House of Com mons by a free and independent constituency—there to advocate, in the Senate of his country, the very reforms he had been banished and ruined for merely suggesting in India.; and, more than all, to see his principles recognised, and his views adopted, in the new Charter, by which, what were deemed treasons against the Majesty of the East India Company in India, were now, in his own pre sence, in the British House of Commons, eulogized and adopted as the law of the land ! Never, perhaps, in the history of any publicly persecuted man, was a greater moral triumph than this achieved by Mr. Buckingham, and won only by perseverance through a series of persecutions, sufferings, losses, and calamities, which would have broken the spirits and the heart of most ordinary men, and termi nated their struggles in penury, despair, and death. 19. The public victory being achieved, Mr. Bucking- barn's labours might well have terminated here ; and a benefitted and a grateful country might, with honour to it self and justice to its benefactor, have rewarded him at least with the re-payment of what he had spent and sacri ficed in her service, if she had done no more ; so that, after the well-fought fight, through such painful struggles and vicissitudes, and prolonged through so many years of time, he might have passed the evening of his troubled day in the enjoyment of well-deserved honour, competency, and repose. 20. Mr. Buckingham was left, however, to fight his own battle, as well as that of the people ; and to win for him self, or not enjoy it at all, that justice which had hitherto been so cruelly and vindictively denied to him. Accor dingly, when the question of the new India Charter was settled, but not till then, and in the second session of his sitting in Parliament, Mr. Buckingham obtained the appoint ment of a Select Committee of the House of Commons, to take into consideration the circumstances of his banish ment from India, and the subsequent suppression of the Calcutta Journal, in order to ascertain what was the amount of loss inflicted on him by these acts, and whether any and what amount of compensation should be made to him for the same. This Committee consisted of thirty-seven individuals, comprising men of the greatest eminence from both sides of the House—Lord Althorp, Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, Lord Granville So merset, Mr. Charles Grant, Mr. William Wynn—includ ing three Cabinet Ministers, and two members of the Board of Control ; and after taking into consideration the volu minous evidence produced by Mr. Buckingham, from wit nesses examined, and documents put in, as well as the evi dence presented by the East India Company, they came to an unanimous resolution that compensation ought to be made to Mr. Buekingham, for the losses occasioned to him by the measures of the Government in India ; leaving the amount open, in the hope that the India Company would take the matter into their favourable consideration, and make such compensation as would be satisfactory to all parties ; but reserving also to Parliament the right to in terfere and fix such amount, if the India Company should refuse so to do. 21. These resolutions of the Parliamentary Committee were communicated to the India Company, accompanied by a letter from Mr. Buckingham, expressing his perfect readi ness to abide by any award, as to the amount, which might he made by the joint decision of the Chairman of the India Company, the President of the Board of Controul, and any third person they might select to assist them ; but the reply to this humble proposition was, a refusal to en tertain the question in any shape, or to grant any compensa tion whatever! 22. In the Session of 1835, accordingly a Bill was intro duced into Parliament by Mr. Tulk, to enforce by law the payment of the compensation which the Select Committee of 1334 had unanimously declared to be due. It was carried on a first reading by a majority of 47 to 12—or nearly 4to 1. It passed a second reading without a divi sion : and was only prevented from passing the House of Commons by a merely technical objection being raised against its being considered a public instead of a private Bill, in which latter shape it was said it ought to have been introduced. It was tlerefore deferred, on this ground alone, till the ensuing Session. 23. In the Session of 1836, the same measure exactly was introduced under the forms of a private Bill, and now came with the advantage of numerous Petitions from all parts of the country in its favour, these Petitions being in general the spontaneous expression of public feeling and public opinion on the case, formed after a careful perusal of its details. It was read a first time without opposition ; but on the second reading, from its coming on at an earlier hour than was anticipated by those who were friendly to the measure ; and from the accidental predominance of a Tory majority in the House at that particular moment, when only 206 members, or less than one-third of the whole House were present, it was thrown out by a majority of 125 to 81, or about 11 to 1. The three objections raised by its opponents were these-Ist. Mr. Lawson complained that the Petitions had been got up by sending Circulars through Members, and therefore, without saying a word to dis prove the cruelty and hardship of the case, he moved that the whole claim should be rejected, because there had been a breach of etiquette ! 2nd. Mr. Robinson, himself a Proprietor of the East India Company—denied , the competency of Parliament to compel that Corn pany to pay any thing but what it chose to do 3rd. Mr. Roebuck contended that no claim to compensation could be admitted, because Mr. Buckingham had been guilty of a violation of the law (which was wholly untrue), and he also insisted that the Hindoos ought not to be taxed to pay this compensation, under an entirely erroneous im pression as to the fund from whence it would have come, as it would not have added a farthing to the taxes upon any Hindoo, or any other native of India or England ; but have come from the reserved surplus fund specially set aside for the liquidation of the East India Company's debts, of which this might justly be regarded as one. 24. The Bill to enforce the decision of the Parliamentary Committee being thus thrown out, by a combination of causes that left the teal merits of the question altogether untouched ; and both the Claims of Justice, the Report of the Committee, and the Petitions of the People, being alike treated with scorn ;—Mr. Buckingham's constituents at Sheffield called a public meeting of the inhabitants of that town, which assembled in the Town Hall on the 29th of February (the Bill having been thrown out on the 24th) and there passed a series of spirited resolutions—William Ibbotson, Esq., of Endcliffe Hall, in the chair, approving in the warmest terms of the public and private conduct of their Honourable Representative, and adopting the recom mendation of Mr. Tulk, the Member who introduced the Bill, and Mr. Ebenezer Elliott, their fellow-townsman, both of whom had written public letters strongly recom mending an Appeal to the whole country, to raise a Na tional Subscription, for the purpose of indemnifying Mr. Buckingham for those services and sacrifices in the public cause, which the India Company had treated with con tumely, and a Tory majority of the House of Commons had rejected with disdain. _ _ . . 25. This Appeal has been already responded to with promptitude and zeal, from various parts of the country ; and as the object of the National Subscription is to pur chase an Annuity on the joint lives of Mr. and Mrs. Buck ingham, so as to secure to them an honourable competency for the remainder of their days, all the best feelings of our nature arc appealed to for assistance and support. The lover of political freedom, who rejoices in the progress of reform ; the philanthropist, who watches the progress of knowledge and civilization with interest ; the merchant, the manufacturer, and the shipowner, who profit by extended commerce ; and the numerous individuals of every class, who abhor oppression, and who love justice for its own sake ; will thus have an opportunity of testifying the sincerity of their professions, and proving the soundness of their prin ciples, by contributing towards an object which all honest minds must honour and approve. 26. It has been somewhat unreasonably objected to Mr. Buckingham's Claims, that he has undertaken, in England, several experiments which have failed, and that he has already received assistance from the contributions of friends. A brief answer to these objections will show how utterly groundless they are ; as far as they are urged as reasons against the present Appeal. Mr. Buckingham's undertak ings, since he has been in England, have been confined chiefly to the establishment of several publications, the main object of which was, to propagate his views respecting the emancipation of India, from the despOtism and monopoly by which she was enthralled. The first of these publica tions, the Oriental Herald, required, and received, the very liberal support of some forty or fifty friends, who came for ward voluntarily, to sustain it, when in danger of beinc , dis continued for want of funds. This assistance was confined to a very limited circle indeed, certainly not exceeding the number named ; the sum contributed by them did not, however, equal in the whole the amount which Mr. Buck ingham has himself contributed to the same object, from his own private purse ; and the whole of the joint amount was applied strictly and exclusively to the support of this publication,—and had no reference whatever to Mr. Buckingham's private emolu ment, or individual support. Another occasion, in which assistance was afforded, was this :—Mr. Buckingham had formed the plan of a Voyage of Expedition to the Eastern Seas, intending to circumnavigate the globe, by India, China, Japan, and the Pacific Ocean, for the united purposes of hydrographical discovery, commercial inves tigation, and the collection and diffusion of useful know ledge, in those slightly visited and almost unknown coasts and seas. The proposition was honoured with the most favourable reception, and announced under the most dis tinguished auspices. The Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Somerset—Lord Durham and Lord John Russell— Sir Sydney Smith, Sir Alexander Johnstone, and other public men of the highest eminence for rank and talent, moved the resolutions at the Royal Institution, by which the Expedition was recommended to public sanction and support, and Mr. Buckingham named as its best and most appropriate Commander. The sum required was 20,000/. ; but owing party to the injudicious limitation of the amount of each contribution to 51. only, and still more to the political excitement occasioned by the French Revolution of 1830, the cry for Parliamentary Reform, and other topics that then wholly absorbed the public mind, no larger a sum than 1,3661. 18s. was actually subscribed. The utter inadequacy of this amount was the only cause of the Expedi tion not being carried forward ; but though no less a sum than 779/.175. 3d. had been already expended on the object, under the direct sanction and authority of the Committee appointed for that purpose ;—the offer was made by circular to every individual subscriber to return the full amount cf his contribution, without even deducting his fair share of the expenditure. A great number of the subscribers accepted this offer, and their money was repaid. Others preferred not withdrawing their deposit, but proposed its application to the purchase of an Annuity for Mr. Buckingham, in con sideration of the time he had sacrificed, and the pains he had taken to carry forward this great public undertaking- ; but when those who accepted the offered return of the money had been paid, when all the expenses of the under taking had been discharged, and a deficiency occasioned by the bankruptcy of the Banker and Treasurer, Sir George Duckett, had been deducted, there remained only 3001. so to invest in Annuity proposed, which has been deposited in the Government Securities for that purpose ; and ever since has been applied to the insurance of Mr. Bucking haves life, for the benefit of his surviving family,—the amount being only 21/. per annum, which he has never once touched, and which is all the amount ever received by him for his own personal use and benefit, amidst all that 'he has lost, and suffered, and endured ; and as it is proposed to add this Annuity of 21/. to whatever may be the amount of the National Subscription now proposed to be raised, it is to be hoped that the joint-aggregate of this small sum and the larger one now to be raised, will be more worthy of the public spirit of the nation to give, and of the object of its bounty and of its gratitude to receive. 27. Although the catalogue of Mr. Buckingham's public I services might here be permitted to close, it is but justice to him to mention the following, as additional efforts made by him for the promotion of great public objects, in which the whole country are deeply interested. Mr. Buckingham was the first public writer in England who commenced the advocacy of the immediate emancipation of the West India slaves. In the early part of the year 1824, he opened this this subject in the Oriental Herald, and laboured with the same view in succeeding numbers—though all other writers then contended for gradual emancipation only ; and the Anti-Slavery Society itself did not, until four or five years afterwards, come forward to demand that immediate aboli tion which Mr. Buckingham was the first to advocate, and which was ultimately demanded by the country at large. Mr. Buckingham's successful labours for the abolition of the Impressment of British Seamen are well known ; and to him is mainly owing the impression made on the House of Commons and the nation generally, which has led to the passing an Act for the registration of our merchant seamen, and another for the encouragement of volun tary enlistment, by which Impressment has received its death blow. Mr. Buckingham's public and private exertions in the great cause of Temperance and Edu cation, are as well known as all his other labours. In the House of Commons, by obtaining a Committee of Inquiry, be has brought to light and given publicity to the most im portant facts connected with this subject ; and in his jour nies, lectures, addresses, and practice, he has done as much to advance that important cause—the reformation of the intemperate, and the abatement of the crime, disease, and poverty of which they were the victims—as any man in the kingdom. Mr. Buckingham's writings as a traveller in the countries of the East, are admitted, by all who are ac quainted with them, to rank among the highest of those that treat of the countries he describes ; an assertion which is best proved by the fact, that in all the publications re cently issued for the illustration of the Scriptures—includ ing Burder, Keith, Cauater, Horne, Murray, and the seve ral compilations on the countries of the Oriental World — Mr. Buckingham's volumes have been more largely drawn THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1836. upon, and more frequently quoted, than those of any other traveller of modern times ; while the crowded audiences of thousands who have attend his lectures, delivered in the various towns of England, Scotland, and Ireland, bear tes timony to the fact, that no man living has done so much as Mr. Buckingham to communicate vivid, accurate, and de lightful pictures of the scenery, ruins, manners, and customs of Eastern lands —confirming the faith of the Christian, ex panding the heart of the philanthropist, and enlarging the sphere of knowledge and enjoyment to all classes. 28. If the useful career of such a man were suddenly cut short by the hand of an assassin, who would not lament his untimely fall, and redeem him from the tomb, if possible, to resume his public-spirited and benevolent career ? Or who, if restoration to life were impossible, would not contribute to raise a statue to his memory ? Let us, then, save him from the hand of a destroyer, as potent, though not so sudden as the assassin—namely, the " Hope deferred, which maketh the heart sick ;" and which, if protracted much longer, may bring, by the mingled influences of care, anxiety, disappointment, chagrin, and despair— an old age of want and woe, instead of that consoling competency and cheerful comfort, which ought to be the reward of a long and event ful life, passed in the profitless pursuit of objects of pure benevolence and public good. 29. But enough has been said. It is now time that some thing should be done. The subscriptions of all classes are invited ; and if the contributions be as general as the labors of Mr. Buckingham have been, the individual sums need not be large ; but all should contribute according to their feelings and their means. The Treasurer named by the public meet ing of Mr. Buckingham's constituents,—George Naylor, Esq., Western Bank, Sheffield—and the London Banks of Messrs. Williams, Deacon, Labouchere, Thornton, and Co., Birchin-lane, City ; and Messrs. Ransom and Co., Pall Mall East, Westminster—are appointed to receive the subscriptions or remittances of parties desiring to contribute to Mr. Buckingham's Annuity Fund : but it is also desir able that the friends of justice in every town in the king dom to which this statement may reach, should form a Local Committee on the spot, collect and pay into one of the Banks of the town, such sums as they can raise ; and, after deducting the expenses of such printing and advertis ing as they may find necessary, and such charges of collec tion as may be incurred, remit the balance to the Treasurer at Sheffield, or to either of the London Bankers named, as the subscription of the town towards the Annuity proposed. " England expects every man to do his duty." No man can deny but that Mr. Buckingham has fear lessly and faithfully done his. Let us not, for the honour of our own characters, permit it to be said, that we have neglected to do ours. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. In The Sun of Monday was given the, Report of the Lords' Select Committee on the Rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament. The following is the interesting appendix thereto attached : MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE SELECT COM- MITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON THE REBUILDING THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. The LORD PRESIDENT in the Chair—Die Martin, Bth Martii, 1836. CHARLES BARRY, Esq., examined. The Committee understand that you have prepared a statement of the principles by which you have been governed in preparing the plans now under the consideration of the Committee ?—I have. Have you that statement with you P—l have. Will you deliver it in ? The witness delivered in the following statement :-- PRINCIPLES BY WHICH MR. BARRY HAS BEEN GOVERNED IN MAKING HIS DESIGN FOR THE NEW HOUSES OP PAR- LIAMENT. STYLE.--That of the styles proposed, Gothic or Eliza bethan, the former, of the Tudor period, is preferable, as being homogeneous, well defined, and in harmony with the existing ancient buildings proposed to be preserved ; where as the latter is only an incongruous mixture of two styles, in their decline ; thus being utterly unworthy of the cha racter of a great national edifice as a work of art, besides being at variance with the character of the existing buildings. ANCIENT BUILDINGS.—Thai the Hall, the Crypt of St. Stephen's Chapel, and the Cloister and Chapels attached to the late Speaker's residence, be preserved, and converted to useful purposes, and that St. Stephen's Chapel be rebuilt. POSITION or PROPOSED BUILDING.—That the building be set forward to the east into the river, in order to obtain an enlargement of the two palace-yards, and thereby mak ing them spacious quadrangles ; and that the line of iron frontage be made as nearly as possible at right angles with Westminster-bridge, which it will be seen by a reference to the official plan of the site is but effected by a line drawn directly from the extremities of the frontage. ENTRANCES.—That the entrace to the Commons, and the principal public entrance to both Houses, be in New Palace-yard, and that the King's and Peers' entrances to the House of Lords be in Old Palace-yard, in order that a material portion of the great influx of people attending the Houses may be arrested at the nearest point— namely, New Palace-yard, and that the entrance into Old Palace-yard be freed from unnecessary obstruction. PUBLIC AccEss.—That, for the greater convenience of approach for the public generally, entrances be made at the south end of Westminster Hall from Old Palace-yard, and at the old entrance of the House of Commons, opposite Henry the Seventh's Chapel. RIVER ENTRANCES AND TERRACE.—That private en trances to the Houses be made from the river, and a private terrace provided for the recreation of Members of both Houses. EXTERNAL APPROACH.—That, in order to widen as much as possible the entrance into Old P a lace-yard, the footpath which is at present in front o f the Italian building, containing the Law Courts, be placed in a cloister within such building, which will not only allow the whole width between its south-western angle and the Abbey to be given up to a carriage road, but also pro vide a covered walk from Old Palace-yard to New Pa lane-yard, which, it is presumed, will be found of great convenience for alighting from and entering into car riages, and advantageous as a sheltered walk for persons having to wait in the neighbourhood of the Houses. ENCLOSING EAST END OF NEW PALACE-YARD. That the cast end of New Palace-yard be closed by the river front, in order to shut out from Westminster-bridge an unfavourable view of Westminster Hall, the Abbey, &c., produced by viewing them so much above their ground level ; also, for preventing cold draughts of air from the river, which would render the Quadrangle an unfit place for horses to be kept in waiting ; also for shutting out an unsightly view of the bridge as seen from Parliament square, and the Quadrangle itself ; and, lastly, in order to avoid the necessity of occupying the property on the east side of Abingdon-street, the fee simple of which alone would not be of less cost than from 70,000/. to 80,000/. ELEVATION AND CHARACTER OF RIVER FRONT.—That the river front be lofty, and as little broken as may be de sirable to avoid monotony ; that the lower or ground story and terrace be as simple and solid as possible, in order to accord with the plainness of the bridge, and form a bold base to the building ; and that the superstructure only be of a decorative character ; so that the building may present a lofty, imposing, and ornate appearance when viewed from Westminster-bridge. ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITION.—That all the entire mass of building forming the houses and adjuncts be treated in its architectural composition as a single edifice, for the sake of unity, public character, and effect, and that towers be placed at the extreme ends of the proposed mass of building, in order that it may group with the abbey, &c. and have an imposing effect when viewed with that build ing. That the details of the river front he large, and those of the other fronts small, as the former can only be viewed from a distance, whereas the latter will be subject to a much closerinspection. PALACE-YARD FRONTS.—That the fronts towards New and Old Palace-yards, and Parliament-square, be kept as low as is compatible with the height of the river front, in order not to reduce the importance of 'Westminster Hall, which must necessarily be a very essential feature of the proposed mass of building when viewed from the two Palace-yards. APPROACHES GENERALLY.—That the several internal approache s for the King, the Lords, the Commons, and the public, be distinct from each other, and easy of communica tion when desired. KING'S ENTRANCE.—That the State entrance for the King be from the south-eastern angle of old Palace-yard, through a tower, proposed to be of sufficient size to receive the State carriage, which is intended to set down at the foot of a flight of steps of considerable width, leading to a landing hall and gallery, communicating with the King's robing-room at the back of the throne end of the House of Lords. The upper part of the tower to be appropriated to records. PEERS' ENTRANCE.—That the private entrance for Peers be direct from Old Palace-yard by means of a flight of steps communicating with a large private lobby, afford ing access to the House, either at the throne or bar ends ; and that a distinct approach be provided for the Bishops from a quadrangle east of the House to their dressing rooms, and th ence i n to the House at the throne end, on the opposite side to the entrance for the lay Peers. That a water entrance be also provided, to communicate directly with the lobbies and corridors adjoining the House. CommoNs' ENTRANCE.—That the private entrance for the Members of the House of Commons be direct from New Palace-y ar d b y a fli g ht o f s t e ps, communicating with private lobby at the bar end of the House ; and that a water entrance b e a l so provided for their accommodation, communicatin g w ith th e private lobby alluded to, and the corridors adjoining the House. IPueLic ENTRANCE.--That Westminster Hall be the lobby in common between the Courts of Law and the Houses of Parliament, and also the grand public approach to the latter ; and that for the last mentioned purpose, as well as to carry on a dignified character of design in such approach, on a scale suitable to the character of the Hall itself, a handsome porch, with a flight of steps, be added at the south end of the Hall, with an opening into it of the rise of the present window when cut down to the level of the porch floor. That from such porch the approach be continued through St. Stephen's Chapel (proposed to be rebuilt and called St. Stephen's Hall) into a central lobby of great size, lighted by a n octagonal lantern midway be tween the two ho uses , and an immediate connection with the public lobbies attached to each ; that from such cen tral lobby the publi c a pp roa ch be direct, by means of a flight of steps of considerable width to the Committee rooms to the river front, and that other Committee rooms be pro vided on the principal floor, with public access to them through St. Stephen's Hall, by which the private actor* modation for Members of the two Houses may not be in terfered with. The porch proposed at the south end of Westminster Hall will present a feature of great interest in the view of the interior, and cause that splendid room to appear only as a part of a great whole, instead of being as hitherto an apparently isolated room, without being any other than as a lobby for Counsel and persons in attend ance on the Courts of Law. LIGHT AND VENTILATION OF HOUSES AND COMMIT TEE ROOMS, AND LEVEL OF PRINCIPAL FLOOR.—That, in consequence of the great height of the Hall, and the level of high-water mark, neither the Houses nor any of the Committee-rooms be upon the level of the ground story ; but that for the sake of height, good light, freedom from damp, and ventilation, they be placed on the principal floor, which is proposed to be made to accord with the level of the old floor of St. Stephen's Chapel. APPROPRIATION OF GROUND STORY.—That the ground story be wholly appropriated to Record rooms, public and private approaches, kitchen* offices for the several resi dences which form part of the edifice, kitchen courts, and quadrangles of approach, cellarage under the Houses for warming and ventilating, &c., and for many other useful purposes, such as store rooms, clerk of works' offices, work shops, &c. Perhaps it might be desirable to have also in this story a public coffee-house, for the use of the Bar and persons attending the Courts of Law and Houses of Par- liament. POSITION or HOUSES.—That the situation of the Houses be in the centre of the mass of the proposed build ing, for the sake of convenience, quietude, and freedom from all disturbances from the exterior ; also for affording the means of making them of the forms and size best suited to the wants of each House, without interfering with the unity of character maintained throughout the exterior ; that all the lobbies and corridors adjoining them be only one story high, to admit of their being well lighted and ventilated. WARMING AND VENTILATING.—That the warming of the Houses, Committee rooms, libraries, public and pri vate lobbies, and corridors, be by means of warm water in pipes ; that the ventilation of them be effected by a very minutely-subdivided admission of tempered air from the floor, and that in the Houses, especially the current up wards of heated and vitiated air be promoted by means of rarefaction created in a chamber above the ceiling, the air passing into such chamber through the perforated sides of a raised panne' in the centre of the ceiling. ACOUSTIC PRINCIPLE Or HOUSES.—That, for the pur pose of rendering the Houses effective rooms for hearing, in addition to the forms proposed, a continued sounding board be affixed, so as to surround each House above the seat against the wall ; that the walls be entirely lined with oak affixed to battening, and that the ceiling be also mi -1 tirely of oak. HOUSE OF LORDS. FORM AND ARRANGEMENT. - That the form of the House of Lords be an oblong, placed longitudinally to the approach, and that the internal arrangements be in all re spects in accordance with those of the old House ; that seats for distinguished visiters be above the cove forming the sounding board over the scat against the walls ; that two small lateral receding galleries be provided at the Throne end ; and that the gallery for strangers and repor ters be at the bar end ; that the lobbies and corridors en tirely surround the House. HOUSE OF COMMONS. FORM AND ARRANGEMENT.—That the form of the House. of Commons be an oblong, nearly approaching to a square, placed transversely to the approach, and arranged so that the distance from the bar to the chair shall not ex ceed that in the old House. That the scats for Members shall be on the ground-floor and in receding galleries, and all within the least possible distance from the Speaker's chair. That the seats for Peers, Speaker's orders, and Reporters be at the Chair end of the House t, and those for strangers in a gallery at the bar end ; that the lobbies and corridors entirely surround the House. LIBRARIES AND REFRESHMENT ROOMS.—That the li braries and refreshment rooms be upon the level of the floor of the Houses, immediately adjoining and communicating with the private lobbies, so as to be entirely free from in trusion from strangers at all times. COMMITTEE Rooms.—That a large proportion of the Committee rooms be upon the principal floor, and the rest in the floor above ; that none of them be less than 20 feet of clear height, and that as many of them as possible be placed towards the river front, for the sake of cheerfulness, good light, and ventilation. LORDS' STATE OFFICERS.—That the rooms for the State Officers of the House of Lords be in the front towards Old Palace-yard. PUBLIC OFFICES.—That the public offices be immedi ately adjoining and contiguous to each House, with distinct access for Members and the public thereto. OFFICIAL RESIDENCES.—That the whole of the official residences be incorporated in the design for the proposed building, without disturbing its unity of character ; and that the principal rooms of each residence be upon the principal floors of the entire edifice, with immediate communication therewith. What plans will be adopted to guard against accidents from fires, and to prevent savoury smells from attacking or diverting the olfactory nerves of hungry orators or dinnerless listener;? f But, it is to be hoped, not above and behind the Chair, according to the existing mal-arrangemont, in consequence of which the speaker is never heard where it is most important that he should be heard distinctly—to afford the opportunity for accurate reporting. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NORTHAMPTON SPRING RACES.—TUESDAY. Match, 50 sovs. Once round and a distance.—Mr. 1-lot-spool's ch. g. Buffalo (Mr. Simmonds), 1 Ist., beat Mr. Westley's Mantrap. The Tally-ho Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 10 ft. Two miles. 12 Subs. Mr. Hobson's Challenger, lOst. 21h......C01. Bouverie 1 Mr. Hungerford's Brilliant, 9st. 91b Mr. D. Radcliffe's Lady Emily, 12st Mr. Maule's Brampton Junior, 12st. 71b The Farmer's Plate of 501. Heats, once round and a distance. Mr. Relkin's br. c. by Lovemore, lOst. 21b......... 1 1 Mr. Pettifer's by Woful, llst. 71b 9 dr Mr. Ilarris's by Saracen, lOst. 121 b 5 3 Mr. Lovell's by Saracen, lOst. 21b 2 clr Mr. Flesher's Catchtiv, list. 91b ' Mr. W. Elkins's Weaver, 12st. 51b Mr. S. Dickins's Why Not, list. 71 b 6 dr Mr. Greaves's Dolly Spicer 7 dr Mr. Mariott's by Cricketer, 10st. 21b ... ......... Match for 5 sovs. One mile.—Captain Ibbetson's b m. by Fi garo, 4 yrs, 12st. (owner), beat Mr. Hungerford's Brilliant, 3 yrs, lOst. 91b. Hurdle Race of . lo sore. each. Two miles and six leaps. Mr. Flesher's Saccharina, 6 yrs, list: 71b Owner 1 Mr. Maule's Brampton Junior, aged, 1 Ist. 121 b Mr. Wood's Bras de Fer, aged, 12st. Bth 3 Forced Handicap of 10 sovs. each. One mile. 5 subs. Mr. Hobson's Challenger, list. 21b Col. Bouverie 1 Mr. Flesher's Saccharina, 6 yrs, 9st. 10th Mr. Morris's Guildford, aged, list. 12th Mr. Hungerford's Brilliant, 3 yrs, 9st 2 4 Captain Ibbetson's b. m. by Figaro, 4 yrs, lOst. 121 b. 5 BIBURY RACES.—TUESDAY . The Bibury Stakes of 10 sous. each, h. ft. ; five yrs, llst. 71b. ; six and aged, 12st. Two miles. 13 subs. Mr. I. Day na. bry g. by Saracen, aged... Capt. Berkeley 1 Mr. J. Bayley na. Sailor, aged... Mr. Dutton's Blackberry,aged... Mr. Cockerell's Parchment, aged 4 A Handicap of 10 sous. each. Mile and a half. 5 subs. Mr. Webb's Runt, aged, Ilst. 71b __Captain Pettat 1 Mr. J. Bayley na. Boletas, 4 yrs, 9st. 101 b Mr. Codrington's Conservative, aged, 12st 3 The Yeomanry Plate, added to a Sweepstakes of 5 sous. each, P s t, Two miles. Mr. Dutton's Blackberry Mr. Walter's Vulcan 2 In consequence of Columbine and Ivanhoe running on the wrotag side of the post, they were distanced. The Hunter's Stakes of 5 cons. each, llst. Three miles. 4 subs. Col. Gilbert na. br. g. by Saracen ...Capt. Berkeley 1 Mr. Codrington's Ivanhoe, aged Mr. Horrocks na. br. m. bcGodolphin, 5 yrs... 3 The Hack Stakes of 5 sovs._each, 31st. ; if thorough bred, llst. 7111 The winner to be sold for 40 sovs. Heats, one mile. Mr. I. Day's Boletas Captain Berkeley Mr. Hodges na. Coekfigh ter Mr. Barker's V. W. II Handicap of 5 sovs. each, 1 ft. One mile. Mr. Webb's Runt, I2st Mr. I. Day's br. g. by Saracen, Ilst. 51b Mr. Ilaythorn's Sailor, list... The neighbourhood of White Lion-street was greatly excited on Sunday evening, by one of the Enniskillen Dragoons creating a disturbance in a tavern there, and running up and down the lane sword in hand. The police happily arrived in time to prevent any mischief, and be was banded over to the military authcrities for punishment ; he was dis gracefully intoxicated. The public could not help expressing their disgust an d a bh orrence at t h e sys t em which ?Illowe d .. sol diers to ca rr y suc h d angerous wea p on s in the public street.. Norwich Post. REDUCTION TAMP DUT OPINIONS OF THE COUNTRY PRESS. The opinions of the provincial Press relative to the re.; duction of the Newspaper Stamp Duty may be gathered from the following brief extracts from the columns of some of its members. It will be seen that the Tory papers, faithful to their vocation, are all opposed to that diffusion of intelligence through the medium of Newspapers which a reduction in the taxes on knowledge must effect. Those journalists, on the contrary, who advocate the cause of the people, are desirous of extending to them the great and paramount advantages of a free, unfettered, untaxed Press. We may here observe that the Irish papers, one and all, loudly protest against the proposed assimilation of duties. The Fentimencs of the Wate;ford Chronicle on this point, from which paper we give the following paragraph, are in unison with those of the Irish Newspaper Press generally:— If this reduction, so salutary to the English press, be not extended in an equal ratio to the Irish press, we have no hesi tation in affirming that a flagrant injustice is meditated to wards the reading portion of this country. If England, with its wealth and population, has a reduction of three pence extended towards its press, will any government be prepared to assert that Ireland, with its poverty, should be satisfied with a reduction of three farthings? It is time for the Irish press to be up and stirring ; it should not defer an hour in defending its own rights, and in awakening► the public to a sense of the grievous wrong which it must sustain, if a separate enactment be not extended to Ireland. Already with a stamp duty of four pence, the English press, from the immense sphere of wealth and intelligence through which it circulates, can almost compete with Irish newspapers in cheapness, although the latter is subject to not more than one half the same amount. Unless equal justice be announced in the proposal of the Chancellor, all the Irish members should at once be memo rialised on the subject.—Waterford Chronicle. It is, to say the least of it, a most mistaken boon— which confers no benefit whatever upon those for whose relief it is professedly intended. There . has been, and is a tax, which acts as a voluntary restraint upon persons whose will to do mischief is greater than their means—a check upon the dissemination of seditious principles, in a shape to which per sons are accustomed, and which, therefore, does not appear suspicious—but. "taxes on knowledge," again we say there are none.—Hull Packet. It will not satisfy the legion of knaves and blockheads who complain of the " taxes on knowledge ;" it will not correct the evils in the post-office transit of papers ; and it will fail in putting a stop to the Roebucks and the other dabblers in the contraband trade, while the respectable portion of the press do not thank him for the reduction, and concern themselves but little about the matter.—Liverpool Standard. We have in two articles shewn cause against this relaxation of what we believe to be a comparatively unfelt impost, in preference to the Assessed Taxes, grievous both for the trou ble, vexation, and expense they bring along with them, and the perjury by which they are often repelled. We believe also the Stamp on Newspapers to be unfelt compared with the taxes on many necessaries and articles of prime use and comfort.—Norwich Mercury. The most strenuous attempts have lately been made by un principled violators of the stamp laws to excite the country, and it is certain that a more complete failure was never wit nessed. What we are apprehensive of is, that the same want of principle which induced this class of writers to rob the re venue of 41d., will induce them, just for the sake of a case or two of " persecution," or some worse motive, to resist the penny impost. It is enough for us to say, that at present we do not think the Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced a measure that is free from serious or even insurmountable objections and difficulties.—Bath Herald. _ . • Great errors prevail on this point, but we think we are jus tified in asserting that the proposed reduction of the duty will meet the general approval of proprietors of newspapers. Whe ther the consequent increase of political discussions and agi tations will tend to the stability and happiness of social life, is not quite so palpable, but we will hope for the best.—De vonport Telegraph. The real people of England—the wealth and respectability of every class, in fact, have had nothing to do with the demand for it. It is a concession to the clamour and agitation of a certain party, and that a veryinsignifisant party, for which his Majesty's time-serving, Whig-Radical Ministers may thank their own pusillanimity and want of decision.—Newcastle Journal. To the justice or common sense of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it is useless to appeal ; but we do ask our Conser vative Members of Parliament (if they cannot command a ma jority to continue a tax, not complained of by any body but Joe Hume, Babylon Bowring, the executioner of Thistlewood, and their disciples, while the malt tax, the window tax, that on soap, and numerous others, the abolition of which would be a real benefit to society, continues,) to do us common justice, and insist on the remaining penny being taken off. The whole advantage of the ,heavy tax is taken away, and a revenue of several hundreds a-year is to be exacted from every paper of respectable circulation without the shadow of a reason. If the penny is demanded for postage, let it he collected by the post man who delivers the paper. Have persons who do not send letters, to share the expense with those who do_? Then why charge it on newspapers which do not pass through the post.— Hampshire Advertiser. We regret that the duty is not totally repealed, for we much fear that the diminution will be attended by a still more vigo rous crusade against the unstamped, and we feel perfectly con vinced that no power of the law can now suppress that class of publications. A few years ago, such a concession would have been hailed as the greatest boon in the cause of political infor mation, and the then infant condition of the unstamped would not have presented any formidable opposition ; but now it has obtained a complete ascendancy, and public opinion is so far aroused in its favor, as to leave no doubt of the result. It can only be considered as a temporary arrangement, made perhaps for a single year, as a transition from the high taxed to the untaxed commodity, but it is essential to the cause of freedom that the exertions of all reformers should be unceasingly used to obtain the complete annihilation of their badge of political slavery. The question of the Newspaper Stamp Duty of course excited the chief interest for the moment, on this occa sion. It will be seen that this is to be reduced from four pence, to one penny ; and after admitting all the force of the arguments in favour of a total repeal, we are bound also to ac knowledge that there is considerable weight in the reasons urged for still retaining a small amount of duty. The con venience which is afforded to the public by the prompt con veyance of Newspapers to all parts of the empire through the Post-office, is at once apparent. If the Stamp Duty were wholly repealed, this convenience must be purchased in some other shape, which in all proability would involve consider able complexity, and perhaps a good deal of litigation. —Co. ventry Herald. Another boon will be given to the country by the present Ministry. —Shrewsbury Chronicle. We may, at length, congratulate our readers on the ac complishment of that great national object, in furtherance of which we have vied in honest zeal with the most earnest of our provincial contemporaries. Fair play will at last be given to opinion, and that kind of information which has become so essential to every man in the present political circumstances of this country will now be placed within the reach of all. The Newspaper monopoly is at an end, and literary men will no longer be the mere hacks and tools of unprincipled capitalists. An immense force of intellect, labouring conscientiously and for its own sake will now be brought into the field, and in the war of argument notning that is erroneous or corrupt will escape. No subject will be permitted to stand by the mere sanction of authority ; established opinions will be thoroughly sifted ; and new truths will find a ready vent, and a safe testi —Devonrort Independent. The Bristol Mercury intimates satisfaction with the re duced duty. This will, indeed, be a great boon ; but the retaining of the penny stamp will still be felt as a drawback u p on the general d.ffusion of Newspapers. In the price of them it will make a difference as between twopence and fourpence. We arc not blind to the difficulties of circulating papers on which a post age duty would be to charge by the Post-office, nor to the door which it would open to fraud ; but these might have been overcome. It is a good instalment, and we may get the re mainder by and by.— Carlisle Journal. The advocates of a free press will be glad to learn that ministers have determined to reduce the present newspaper stamp, which is 4d., subject to a discount of twenty pet- cent. to one penny. The total repeal of the tax would have beets a boon to the country papers at the expense of the London press ; as in that case the London papers must have been subjected to postage. On this account the entire repeal of the Stamp Duty would be strenuously opposed by the leading papers of all parties , the privilege of sending their publica tions by post, free of expense, is to them of more importance than the proposed duty. We shall have the greatest pleasure in reducing the price of our journal, and propose to ourselves, in consequence, an extended field of usefulness. The Stamp Duty has pressed heavily on a large portion of society, which it is absurd policy to keep in ignorance of public events ; we hail the determination of Government to reduce the duty as an indication of their wish to impart political knowledge to the masses, and of their alit resolution to pursue such au impartial and enlightened py, as will bear the test of public opinion.—Derby Reporter. We arc happy to announce that the Newsp a p er Stampis to be reduced from 4d. to a penny; this will be very satisfac tory. —Sherbourne Journal. Every real friend to the difftv,ion of knowledge, will be glad to learn that it is contemplated by Government to re duce the Newspaper Tax front four pence to one penny—we say every real friend, becay.se we are sure that with a very little reflection, all must arrive at the conclusion, thath they Newspapers are to be ellowed to circulate free__t . hro_u t g is t post office, the penny stamp will be no tax at all. I able t towns, turaily to be expected that those persons he w in, live in and, therefore, possess the advantage for the benefit of others who live in the country, but thee. pur chase thesr newspapers next door, are averse to being taxed persons cannot be so frien to t y 1 here . e d is not one town of ally be diffusion of knowledge a y affords considerable fa they would wish to appeadr,lYif they would benefit the few! at: the expense of the what already idnuction of the tax will increase in a tenfold ratio.. poorer gd°m 1 nb aunt- classes a obtaining newspaper reading, sizeic,ihl fa cilities ei i is n tthoe thet the The same advantage, although in a lesser idegree, will be its e ffect in agric ultural distuiets ; but remo ve the tax altogether, a nd levy a po sta g e instead, an a great r i s k w ill be incurred d; o f placing a stronger bar to the dissemination of kno vvledge. than exists at the present moment. It is asserted that the agri cultural classes are most in want of political informal ion, and yet the same parties would compel them to pay perhe ps double the amount for their information, than those whose s , ece ssities are admitted not t o b e so urgent ' l There is anothe c ob stacle in the way of p os t age , w hi c h we deem iusurntellnt4 ale, unless