The Sun. — London, England, 1836-04-28 00:00:00

Fk whether it .sh.ould be applied to the beer or th w as a questionbnt i t being the opinion of the Gove h r e nment of the day e more generally me lt eeplication to the beer tax . would that i ts --Th poorer classes, while it would be nearly as ad - fel to - earticular interest for whose benefit the rise sous to rho p oe rt , e - was originally contemplated, the preference was given the arrang-ement which e ventually took place. We a ace of that reduction being that of Nell, Te l l], the e „ °ll su se le n d n of malt has increased very considerably, late t'''' 5 the e e-- lii • whenO the Noble Lord asserted that the late year tended that,. 1 ,, coo. . 1 ., taxation had not been productive of any relief to xtrlnuaegtireicnulitural interest, he took a much too narrow view of the case4arquis of c HA ND 0 S observed that he h if a , cl in eo c n o fi p n s e e d_ The 1 • o ns to the last five years. his observaths RUS SELL —True ; but surely, Lord J r % measure which passed in the jearitlihmgedcolautl i d Y ce 0' - commencement of those five (l oco- cling . the period to which the years,b Lord's ob piec e . A during the w that c o ap ply, the agricultural interest had been de: s e";r tions ' ag onsiderable advaotages,. he was h fully entitled, for the riv,e4his argument, to incluhch, i in is computation.- ( Hear sal' e e • But he contencld t . at the Noble Lord had lik ," ' as partial view of the question, in saying e" th is a e t h ear.) Isom of certain .. particular taxes applied more * taker:, the hca-saeParNreweinertain particular interests, the great and pre_ eeculiarly to yelin , interests of a.griculture. did not share and participate resu l tin g from it. He alluded more particu_ jyrr;be'beebefitsreduction of the duties on candles and soap. sa y that .the agricultural interest derived no Couldtc, t, t • o e ne any these reductions? Could it be contended that duty upon an article of great and general benefit frew ~ciafsthneot calculated to serve an interest so wide tcbhoceonsrlicAll"dlsucttitii°Onnat of agriculture ?—( Hear, hear.) He believed S p 5 now but one article upon which a remission would great advantage ; that was the article ther e be malt, article with reference to which the Noble Lord ydiactive of any totroaola"r brought forward a motion. Now, why was it that the .. Lor d upon the present o_ccasion, instead of his general NoVi' l i en , did not was that the t . ax upon this article should It was.epden he did not bring it forward be be er s l t ted ? Il e kne w the opinion of the House was made up against cailseiligar.) No .doub! the Noble Lord brought to mind it.- -- k it o f the discussion of last Session, and no doubt he t ire re sti in tO call forth the speech which the Right Hon. fea red ag,?; l . Tarnwo which,e in opposition to h . I‘fg mber t c at speech not only had the effect is or aP°. site ;those who were predisposed against the motion, bu e t nn of firoPrpiog. many of those members who had given pledges cont lri t l ie hustings to support every measure having for its ob olleli relief of the agricultural interest.—( Hear, hear, and j e ct th e h.) No doubt that these and other cogent reasons pre a la t 4 w ith the Noble Lord, and prevented him from making o iled . ye /notion for the remission of the malt-tax, and there a _ wassobstartti that he had no resource left but to submit the gei ? e_ ore U fa ; i t in that in any repeal of taxes the agricultural nc,t. in.. ra Pr4o°,sght to be c onsidered. This was a prop tere : ' I ; i t was evident there could be no opposition, but ' he m c n to elo e d I: , wa s utterly at _a loss to see what advantage the Nonlinl fessed expected to re, p t f i r n om m m en a t k in in n g ing it t a h t e th t e ax p e r s es g e e n n t e m ra o li m y e a n f t e . Lortiear, hear.) " ,( the country, the Noble Lord had alluded specifically taxes more immediately affecting the agricultural . to se ver One of these, and the most considearlbrTliechut!ilsftutthraaeallisnat.st i a terl" tax relative to the relief of the poor. sras w h e t dly one of the greatest burdens the todou--ed to bear. It drew a great sum from it annually, and onan subject, ha d ter est h; ity weighed upon it much more than u s p other it certa t 1 0 - t the country. But in respect to ? o f eres esent Government neglected their duty What already t he , P h r pen the r esult of the measure which, with a view to the lut a e- . i .,, o f this grievance the present Government had a nevil - e d i n passing through the legislature? would f take eucee.beerty o f reading to the House a few figures taken t oll w h i ch he had caused to be prepared by the Poor o - m law a re tore . &tiers, with a view to ascertain the expenditure in the Cerenrearishes of England for the support of the poor during ev era.l: t - er terminating. on the 31st of December, 1835. g T ive h n e t be cle a o f which in this document the commission rar ishe o s ont (ad he would observe that these pari e s r h s u e h s t a ) b hd , e a e ci a un wereso et a e acsepiected be.eause of any particular reductions, b bee o , inruiation in respect to them was more cOmPlete Of these, the whole ex , ? )s en B d o it o u o r i e . during of . t i h n round the 'amber 9290. in eu•1834, and 1835, averaged the sum of 1 same he 0 33 L r. Now the estimated annual expenditure ' by_ the result of the quarter whichto b 0015;s, comPutel had glided, n ame y, that ending the 31st of Dec haa ot a iate d to but 6 39,0001., making a reduction of e 6 m l9 e ,O r oo lB L 3 o s ; ant , :o z a t the rate of 49 er cent.--( Hear, hear. ) Now a on the as of this document alone be contended that , por!,',. Law Act had already proved a real practical measure i i h'e 1 ,°, - ito ilie landed interest, whether landowner, farmer or 1 re' l " an d that when carried out to its full extent, a it would l a hea re _ r ' s a% in, of money far greater than was e n , t a ie n i d pa n t n ed t . 1 - ; ° effec t a hear. s It was by measures such as the t s i (fle ar a l resolutions moved year after year, the agri genet 1 interest must expect to receive benefi m t t ; and if, in_ „nita ra k i ng to have any particular boon granted to them v tea d il :f t l ii ° , ° chanced to be strong in any bran h of the Legis_ applied themselves to the suggestion bee3-ethev wire , ra f practical good, they would far "minonreefeffectuall measures r gene . cause than it was probable they would do by fol y . i s v a a d s opting. ci. eir —( Cheers. ) allusion, one which tn s er'e, me the courscieuethsteiyouw o er f e tit i h m e lovriab,s'pect to the With r, s before Parliament, he wouldmake r it t r h i w tt a le s tin : settlementthan me rit of the plan proposed fo Wa s 11 ( - f the should h m u a p k e e d no Parliament ob se rva • it• s tio he would fnr i tereits object, 1 o n g t his cla b e nt h e anxiously so , measure, having, like thatplan, thi--tto ree cin g o f a permanent charge upon the land, instead the P i gliarge depending upon the industry and capital of a ormer.--( Hear, hear, hear.) of t " - pb.rates he had also but little Upon the subject at present to observe. of ceaseChUr-urse of the last year, it would e recollected that it Ja the e d to levy a contribution upon the consolidated wa s P ro re r r t he cost of prosecutions. That plan . , though e it fo ci lbw and a relief to the a m gr a i i c n ul d tural interest, was woeldd,,ted, and the question still re r a n s 3o i it a d i s i d u then, over for decision hich r ot 't",jun which must mainly depend e ..„.. dce lo i - rris of the details of the several proposals This o n m n u n c u h n t h y e_ on thewtiy to be unfolded to the House a we re - that while serving on the Com . mittee ou st saa)biernittee of which he had the honour to be chai a ppeared to him that one of the causes , of xa tck t g i c arlY ex pense, and one of the c d s s is, amount i ut ion nta e ' 1 at causes more par-. , e rY rc caning for Legislative notice • rates, as the gross neglect and ca j r n ele t s h s e ne tico larlY o f tbr e oct to indifference, with which those who had the ma ig ai lll -.. g them attended to their valuation and expendi'u • m en , t . ) There were exceptions to this neglect, it ' was 11 ,.... 3 70ear ,h h e e a y a sere very few. In consequence of this discovery but t be conclusion then, greater_ true , . g d at t b e arri v ought to be empowered to exercise that t h i cy and interference over the management a t m o h t i! . e t h he rates . t is . means, control rese nt . they possessed.--( Hear.) B n to n bjection in which, than h a i t e P t i g n r aised by Lord Althorp_ as an the e ,"4 - t e observe, he fully concurred— .now defrayed the proposition he 0"e i n , some portion of the ex en for chariig ce'County rates upon the p Con se s s olidated Fund— out ply ; 1, t the managementl have no means of exercising eonro t t" e a g t he of the expenditure, would be eootrel,eivv removed. Having troubled the House with these coalPe-als, it remained for him but to propose to the House few "In t tithe Noble Lord's resolution Hear,p ) ment for pass ccoleto t he Orders of the Day.—(, hear iogl e E a rl of DARLINGTON supported the original mo. a go f u lly c.orroborated the observations o h fthe Neble tiee'i and with reference to the working f o ew t e Poor Law Lord k Act and expressed his conviction that, when measure came into full pperation, , the bene y fi e t a i r t s' would the v on the agricultural interest would surpass all go fer , r was anxious to take an opportunity of showing icuEltural, although they might have equal, bad no e x p3ei ethe g t i a l ; . n . tr ; . i sttpateiier c l aims t.to Lthe otherthe landed interest 4 1. - on as to demand a relaxation of the currency whic was not tie-olicable to the other classes of the community - 0 H e was of a rt ion that it was not. The evidence taken befcre the Agri c°llllteural Committee proved that there had been gradual mi nt in the condition of the agricultural labourer. a justify And prove r " the situation of theiandlords which w hat was . • i i . 11 claiming- tie monopo. of exemption from taxation ? them 'nalready been relieved to mil- The} had the amount of many • . ( 1";'' There was not a single tax bearing bee 'I mil ' S t v ei up . on them ‘ ,l - i c s ir had not been taken off in consequence of their influence i 'that House. The Poor Law Act had relieved A ri e burden of a large portion of poor's rates. He hicemhl fromap ,-- , e d o f that measure; but it was certain that while it Y • - P r res •ed the condition of the great body of the people, . im- Peeav'ed the landed interest to the amount of a million altndre , Up to the present time the relief might be estimated ca half,to per cent. This . he stated from the returns, which he a t d see n and examined. They would also derive e , re at relief ( b r a the settlement of the tithe question. The Hon. G t , a - 1 here referred at c onsiderable length to the evidence before ene" ma n Committee, to show that the complaints of the different . rite opposed one another, and that no person could any specific remedy for the evils that were alleged.— ° 3lt out war. ) The Hon. Gentleman then entered into a variety '— f (alculations, founded on the population returns and the ave n c „ e prices of grain, to show that since 1829 the agricultu - Istts England had derived at least an equal share of advan: r rre with die other classes of the community, by the general °reduction of taxaion. He maintained that too much stress ova lai d upon the supposed imp . ortance of the landed inte t. Landed proprietors imagined that the country could do without them ; the fact was, that they could not do r est ' illcithout the country.—(A laugh.) For his own part, he be lieved that if in this country we did not grow a single grain o f wheat, of oats, of barley, or of rye, England would still b e as great and as flourishing a nation as it was at present._The greatness and wealth of the country depended (Oh 0 ,I, its manufactures —( Hear.) In the cotton manufacture - ri o T i , there was constantly employed a mass of capital amouut ire. to not less than 34,000,000/. ; and of the whole pro "(rcte of this enormous manufacture, the agriculturists con sumed only one-thirteenth. The rest was exported or con tned by other classes of the community. The agricul- England paid less in the shape of direct tirists of t t a aticn than the a griculturists of any other coun t - ;i Europe. He held in his hand a list of not less than 90 - Jr*ticles, on which a protecting duty to the agriculturist was im aposd, independent of that greatest and least defensible of all "protecting duties —the Corn Laws. Beef, butter, cheese, wine, in short, every thing but horse-flesh 'eider, egg s, she e p , was prohibited from importation in order to protect the farmer. iforded to the landed interest a very unfair monopoly, This a .of and enabled them at all times to keep up the price their But indep endent of this monopoly, it must not be produce . forgo t h a t since 1 816 . taxesUiearing immediately upon the land lied been repea led to the amount of 12,829,0001. The of the tax es on farm-houses and farm buildings reduction arnoun ted alone to not less than 5,000,00a50/.usual, The of the Malt Noble Lord (Chandos) complained a great deal, b a e , tpoO. point he h v e e _ - diffe i red from because Tax. always didhel held not t mean t a o d r e y fe e n h d . e c t . h t i a o t a a t manyo ne.— o ( r I h e i a s r, , friends;h ear . ) Up on that opposed to the tax, not be causeuPonthe. with great but he thought it bo b re ut u i n le fair v l a ; ohle. of f u i g t h h t ail no b r ee t n o to the community at large. B ut fw n corn because he thought it might be repeialedtiwleitnNoghrleeatLaoarvdan t age plained so much of the forget that since 1816 not c were tax? of the . community,which by other portions which were borne Pre le s -n e ha o rt 48, a 0 t 00 ta ,0 x 0 landed interest, particularly the reduced. But it should be remembered that there did not at all press upon the pro which the landed interest p r edominated w ou ld sanction bate and legacy. duties. No Parliame n t b ut one , in these duties. No less than 4 9,0 00 ,0001. had been paid to the revenue as a tax upon personal property, to which the landed interest did not contribute anything ; and if to this sum were added the 13,000,000/. of taxes which had lately been taken off, exclusive of the 5,000,000/. house duty, it would appear that not less than 67,000,000/. of taxes had been actually paid by the personal property of this country more than had been paid by the landed interest. —( Hear.) The Hon. Member then read a variety of statements in support of this proposition. Among other articles he particularly pointed out to the gentlemen of the landed interest in that House the reduction that had taken place in the price of wines. The price of brandy had been slightly raised ; but even that was for the benefit of the agriculturists, which would clearly appear when he stated that in 1835,1,315,000 gallons of French brandy were consumed in Great Britain, on which a duty was paid amount ing to 1,446,000/. Now, if instead of an extra duty being paid on foreign spirits the ordinary duty were paid, what an enormous saving to the consumer would be effected. The Hon. Gentle man next adverted to the subject of wages, and showed by te turns which he had obtained that wages (with the exception of hand-loom weavers) had by no means fallen in proportion to the reduction of the prices of manufactures. It was this cir cumstance which made the people of this country so quiet and satisfied with their condition. But if the corn laws were to continue, either a reduction of wages, or a reduction of profits must take place; and he protested against the maintenance of those laws at such a cost to the industrious classes of the community. But lie might ask, was there no other interest to be regarded besides the landed interest ? In legislating for a country, all the interests of that country ought to be consulted ; but he had shown that the landed interest had been peculiarly favoured. The agriculturists had main tained their prices, while the prices of all other articles of trade had been reduced. The shipping interest was materially affected by the operation of the corn laws. Although a very great reduction had taken place in the amount of freightage, still the prices of every necessary article to the shipowner, were kept up by means of the laws enacted for the protection of the landed interest. There was one other branch to which he would allude before closing his observations on this subject —he meant the monied interest. The profits upon capital vested in the different public securities had been very consi derably reduced. The Hon. Gentleman then entered into a detailed statement in proof of this position ; and this reduction of the interest of money had taken place, although the rents had been kept up till within the last two or three years.— (No, no, no.) Sir JAMES GRAHAM could not better illustrate the in convenience of bringing the question forward at that moment, than by stating that the impression which the evidence adduced before the Committee had made upon his mind was precisely the reverse of that which it had produced upon the mind of his Noble Friend. With the single exception of the article of wheat, he found that all the staple conirnodities of agricultural produce, including oats, beans, barley, wool, and meat, had risen in price.—( Hear, hear.) It was notorious that the most abundant harvest ever known in this country was that of 1834. The growth of wheat in Ireland had increased not to the same extent, perhaps, as in Scotland, but there was evidence to show that it was greatly increasing, and that the imports of flour had also greatly increased in quantity. It was perfectly true that neither the Scotch nor Irish farmer paid poor -rates, and also that they paid lower wages than the English far mer, but while the union was maintained it really was useless to attempt to counteract these varying circumstances. It might be a question for subsequent consideration whether a system of poor-laws should be applied to Ireland ; but at all events, the subject must be considered with reference to the ctate of that p or ti on o f the empire, and not upon any other onsideration.—(Hear, hear.) It was only possible, in his opinion, that prices could be affected by one of two causes—. either by diminishing the price of the article, or increasing the value of the money in which its price was measured. It had been admitted by the Noble Lord that it would be highly inexpedient to discuss the state of the currency on that occa sion; he would, therefore, throw aside the latter cause, and refer only to the former as an illustration of the wisdom of letting these matters alone. He might mention that it was clear to demonstration, from the evidence taken before the committee, that the farmers of England, finding oats, beans, and barley a more profitable crop than wheat, had raised them and diminished the growth of wheat to an almost un precedented extent. It was apparent that they would endea vour to restore the balance between the two kinds of articles, by lowering the price of the one, and raising the price of the other. How stood the fact ? Why the Committee had it in evidence before them that since the commence ment of their inquiry, wheat had risen in price from between 10s. to 495. or 505., and he had no doubt it would reach a fair remunerating price--to use a term to which he ob jected—before that inquiry terminated. He rested upon the policy of leaving the local burdens which were chargeable upon the land to be managed by the local proprietors. If this arrangement were departed from, the agricultural interest would lose a far greater safeguard and defence than any they could obtain from the proceedings of that House. The inquiry of the Committee had been directed, first to the poor-rates, and secondly, to the county-rates. With regard to the first point, he felt proud t o say —h av i ng h a d the honour to be a party to the introduction of the measure—that the evidence had completely proved the triumphant success of the Poor Law Amendment Bill. It showed that in those parishes to which its provisions had been applied, a reduction had bean effected within the last twelvemonths, to the extent of 49 per cent., or a sum no less in amount than 1,200,000/.—( Hear, hear.) With reference to the second point, it appeared, that one of the principal expenses thrown upon the county rates was the institution of prosecutions, and the administraoon of justice as connected with clerks of the peace and clerks of the crown. His Hon. Friend the Member for Kent was at the head of a Commission on the subject of county rates ; they had made one report, and he confidently anticipated that the adoption of the recommendations contained in the second report they were about to make would effect a great saving in this respect. The Noble Lord who brought the motion under consideration had advocated the re duction of the duty upon malt. He (Sir James Graham) considered that the reduction of that impost would have so injurious an effect upon the whole system of taxation of the country, that if it were carried, the Chancellor of the Exche quer would be reduced to the necessity, either of substituting other taxes, far more objectionable in their nature, or of re sorting to a property tax.—( Hear, hear, hear.) The Noble Lord claimed for the farmers the privilege of wetting their barley, and drying it for the use of their cattle. Why, if the were not very much mistaken, there was an excise regulation in existence at the present moment, which allowed them to subject their barley to this process.--( Hear, and " No," from the Marquis of Chandos.) He now came to the main objec tion to the motion—the time at which it was brought forward. His Noble Friend had justified its introduction at that moment, by representing that it was indispensably necessary to bring it forward before the budget was submitted to the House. Now he (Sir James Graham) was prepared to contend that until the budget had been brought forward, and until the House had had an opportunity of ascertz.ining the amount of the available fund, and considering the claims of the different classes of this great community upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, they could not fairly or advantageously take the case of any particular individual interest into their consideration.—(Hear, hear, hear.) There were many imposts which demanded the attentive consideration of the House. There was one tax, immediately affecting the landed interest, and that part of it which was in the greatest degree distressed, the revision of which was strongly recom mended in the Report of the Board of Excise Commissioners, over which the Treasurer of the Navy presided, and which had been adverted to by his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth, in his speech last year—he meant the auction duty. The Commissioners had reported in the very strongest terms, that it was a tax of the worst description, pressing hard upon the poor proprietors who were driven to sell their land for any price it would fetch, and not at all upon the rich, who could afford to wait for a favourable opportunity of dispo sing of it. The land tax, again, was originally charged upon the landlord and the tenant jointly, but it had now fallen upon the landlord ; and, instead of being charged upon the real and personal estate, pressed exclusively upon the latter. Again, the Church rate. The Church rate, as it now stood, was a burden of 550,0001. a year, falling chiefly upon the land. Of this 450,0001. a year, 300,0001. (more than a moiety) rested on ab use .—( H ear, h ear.) Lord Al t h orp, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, had proposed to remedy this abuse, and to effect an immediate saving to the agricultural interest of 300,0001. a year. It was the duty of a Government, if there were to be an Established religion, to maintain the edifices in which its service was performed ; but he was of opinion that they should be maintained out of the public funds, and that this abuse should no longer prevail. He again entreated his Noble Friend not to press his motion to a division. He well knew that he was a zealous and sincere advocate of the agricultural interest; but, with all due defer ence to his judgment, he would beg to remind him that these desultory and premature discussions had a strong tendency to generate the evils they were intended to cure.—( Cheers.) It was his strong belief that they placed the agricultural interest in a very invidious light.—(Renewed cheering.) Colonel SIBTHORP, amidst great confusion, supported the motion. Mr. CA YLEY said, no class more required relief than the agricultural interests. Colonel THOMPSON'S observations were also rendered almost inaudible in the gallery by the vehement cries of " Question !" " Withdraw !" which were almost without re mission kept up. He said he must utter a few words or lose caste, for the pressure from without was thrown upon him.—_ (Laughter.) The landed interest was doubtless in a distressed condition, but their distresses were brought on by their own, acts, and were a consequence of that just dispensation of that providence—(oh, oh,)—which had enacted that those who in fringed upon the rights and comforts of their fellow-citizens, should in some way or the other, have the mischief eventually fall upon their own heads.—(oh, oh, and great confusion.) Had these parties not done all in their power to limit the com merce of the country? Had they not mischievously limited the extent of our manufactures ?—( Hear, hear, and continued confusion.) They had all their own way for ever so long a time, yet now they came forward, and in lamentable tones ad dressed the House and the nation, saying they were starving. , The Hon. and Gallant Member's further observations were rendered quite inaudible by the confusion that prevailed. Sir R. PEEL said the question was simply whether or no it wonld be advisable for the House, by coming to such a reso lution as this previous to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's financial statement, to hold out expectations to a particular class of relief from taxation, which expectations might not be realised. Deeply as he was interested for the welfare of the agricultural interest, and much as he respected the motives, and valued the services of his Noble Friend, he could not con sent to be instrumental in raising hopes which might not be rea lised. With his views of. public credit he could not consent before the exact amount of surplus was ascertained to involve the House in any promise as to its application. He did not deny for a moment that there was much agricultural distress ; he believed that there was a great deal ; but ho did not con ceive that it was of a nature to be relieved by the removal of taxation, at least to any such extent as appeared to be contem plated, or as was within the capacity of the probable surplus. Very unfavourable changes had taken place i❑ respect to whole districts of land in this country, particularly clay lands, by the influence of competition which was at work not only here, but in all the countri:a of the globe. The greater part of the advantage which had been derived from cultivation in Jamaica and other West India islands, had been transferred to the richer lands of Demerara and South America, and legislative interference could do little or nothing to alleviate the conse quent distress. of the Jamaica cultivator.--( Hear.) The ap plication of steam-power in lieu of physical strength had made a great revolution in this respect as well as others, a revolu tion which could not be counteracted by any reduction of taxa tion. He did not mean to deny the eventual claim which the agriculturist might have to a remission of taxation. When he should be made acquainted with the amount of surplus, and , with the nature of the taxes which it was proposed to remove, then he should claim a perfect right to contest the policy of those remissions, and to propose the substitution of the clairr s of the agricultural interest. With the exception of the malt tax, there was no other tax of a public nature which bore exclusively on the agricultural interest, and tho oc cupying tenant would give small thanks to the House for any relief which did not wholly or in part do away with that tax, a proposition which he (Sir Robert Peel) was not prepared to support, because he felt that it must be substituted by a property. tax, to which he could not assent. —( Hear, hear.) He trusted the Noble Lord would withdraw his motion—( Hear, hear)—but if it were pressed he should conceive it to be his duty to vote against it, for the sake of the agricultural interest itself. —( Hear.) _ After a few observations from Sir B VERE (we believe) in support of the motion, The House divided, when there appeared For Lord Chandos's motion Against it 2OB Majority ---36 On the motion of the. ATTORNEY-GENERAL, the Copyholds Enfranchisement Bill was read a second time. After some discussion, the ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved that the Bill should be postponed till that day three weeks. _ _ The other Orders of the Day having been disposed of, the louse adjourned at a quarter past twelve o'clock. COURT CIRCULAR. His Majesty held a Privy Council this day at St. James's, after the Levee. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria visited some of the exhibitions yesterday forenoon. The Landgravine of Hesse Homburg, the Duchess of Glou cester, and the Princess Augusta, visited Mrs. General Gwyn, yesterday, in Portman street. Their Royal Highnesses par took of a dejeuner. The Duchess of Kent entertained the Landgravine and a distinguished party at dinner yesterday. A numerous deputation of Members of the House of Com mons, including Messrs. Hume, Grote, Warburton, Wakley, Wallace, O'Connell, and Dr. Bowring, had an interview yes terday, with Viscount Melbourne and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the residence of the First Lord of the Trea sury, in Downing-street, respecting the stamp duty on news papers. The Swedish Minister transacted business yesterday at the Foreign Office. Mr. Fazakerly. M. P., visited Lord Glenclg, yesterday, at the Colonial Office. The O'COnnor Don and Mr. Grattan had an interview, yes terday, with Viscount Melbourne. The Noble Directors of the Concert of Ancient Music dined with Earl Cawdor, last evening, in South Audley-street. Mr. Fitzstephen French visited Viscount Melbourne yes terday. CIIEAP LITERATURE.—The approach of every new month becomes more and more a period of interest for the lovers of literature, in consequence of the various interesting and really valuable productions that arc periodically issuing forth. Among those announced to be ready with the Magazines, on the Ist May, we observe—l. The New Volume of Colburn's Novelists, comprising Mr. Bulwer's " Devereux," the 3 vols. in one, with two engravings and bound, fer six shil lings. 11. The re-issue of " Tremaine," the six numbers of which may now be had complete in one volume, with embel lishments and bound, for 63. 6d. And, 111. The First Vo lume of the new and beautifully embellished edition of " Las Cases' Memoirs of the Life, Exile, and Conversations of Na poleon," to be completed in 4 Vols., with twenty portraits, or other engravings, at only ss. each, bound. A RUSTY SWORD OF JUSTICE.— At Sierra Leone, in the year 1830, a man who spoke no European lan guage but Spanish, and who was entirely ignorant of English forms and ceremonies, was placed at the bar of one of the Courts upon a charge of murder. It was the custom to draw from its scabbard a large sword of justice—in imposing perfor mance. The atmosphere of Sierra Leone is lamentably damp, and the sword had become rusty, and being rusty was not easily induced to leave its case. Many vigorous attempts were made. One stout negro held the scabbard—another tugged at the hilt. These alarming preparations were narrowly watched by the trembling prisoner. At last, out flew the blade, and up sprang the criminal, screaming " Misericordia! misercordia !" and struggling to escape. lie expected nothing short of instant decapitation, and some time passed before he could be com forted with the assurance that the gallows, and not the sword, awaited him.— The White Man's Grave. On Tuesday a young lady of great beauty and ac complishments, resident at Mansfield, a minor, eloped with the cousin of one of the Members for North Derby, and was secured in the bands of wedlock at Gretna-green on Thursday. All immediate pursuit had been prevented by the declaration of the young lady oo leaving home, that she was going to visit her aunt at Sutton-in. Ashfield. She, however, true to appoint ment, walked on the road to Chesterfield, and being speedily joined by her admirer (who was then generally supposed to be crossing the Atlantic), accompanied him in a gig he hired at Chesterfield, to that town, through which she, to avoid suspi cion, walked. The gentleman having taken possession of his own gig and horse, which he had previously left at the inn, speedily overtook the lady, and drove her rapidly to Monsal Dale, where they came up with a coach going to Manchester, in which, places having been secured at Nottingham in a feigned name, the fugitives were quickly seated, and on their arrival at Manchester started for the border. The gentleman's recent history is remarkable. Ile had received some Golernment appointment in Canada, to take possession of which hn actually set sail, but the vessel in which he was going out encountered somdof the late severe gales, and was wrecked on the North of Ireland about a fortnight ago; our hero, as well as other passengers, swam for his life, and suffered severely, having been some days without food, besides losing all his property. On his return to his native county, a renewal of his addresses took place, and quickly ended as we have recorded.—Chester field Gazette. BRUSSELS, APRIL 21.—A meeting took place on Tuesday morning between M. Smit, a Lieutenant of the Horse Guards, or Guides, and a M. Willims, a Sub-Lieute nant of the same corps, in consequence of some disrespectful words used by the former relative to a proposed exchange of horses. The parties met in a field at the back of Scaerbeck Church at half-past six o'clock in the morning, when, on the word of command being given, they drew their sabres and commenced the attack, which had not lasted five minutes, when M. Smit received a blow on the right breast which passed through the liver and entered the lungs. He immedi- - . ately fell to the ground, when M. Willims and the seconds made a most precipitate retreat, from the field of action. At ten o'clock, a peasant passing through the field saw the body of the unfortunate gentleman, and informed the police, who had it conveyed to the office of the Procureur of the Commune, where I saw it in the course of the day. In the absence of proof upon the subject it might be presuming too much to say that, under proper medical and Christian attention, he might have been saved ; but from the position and contortion of the body when it was found, which was the same as when I saw it, there is strong reason to suppose the deceased must have lin gered some time in great agony before death put a period to his torture. This is only one out of seven duels which have taken place this week, and not the only fatal transaction amongst that number ; however, the peculiar circumstances attached to it, the slight provocation given by M. Smit, the great disparity in the ages of the parties, M. Willims being only 28, while his unfortunate adversary was nearly 60 ; his long military career, he having served many years under Napoleon ; and, finally, the manner in which this affair of honour was con ducted, have given an interest to the case which has prevented my passing it over in silence. RATHER, QUEER.—The ice on the river has been so strong for some time past that the possibility of breaking through it had about ceased to be considered by those using it. A case occurred at Londout last week which goes strongly to prove that, after all, the ice was not quite as solid as the earth. A sleigh from Troy was laden heavily with fire brick and left standing on the ice, where it was apparently safe, while those having it in charge went on shore to feed their horses and take dinner. Muni they returned, the sleigh, with its load could nowhere be found, and on examination it was discovered that inasmuch as the ice was not as strong as the ground, the sleigh had found its way through it, and from thence to the bottom of the river in thirty feet water, where it remains to this day.—American Paper. We hear of the continued prevalence of cases of hydrophobia in the neighbourhood of Worcester. POLISH TURNSPITS.—Bears are very common in Poland ; the peasants catch them when quite young, and teach them to perform all sorts of domestic labours. These animals, possessing great intelligence, and dexterity, particularly with their fore-paws, many innkeepers have bears who adroitly turn the spits for roasting meat. It is an extraordinary sight to a stranger who enters one of the Polish kitchens to see a bear seated gravely on his hind legs, and turning with his fore, an immense spit, by means of a handle artistically constructed.— Le Comeleon. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1836. eRICES OF.CANALS, DOCK SI OCKS ASSURANCE COMPANIES, &c. &c. &c. A nnt r :m O . Shares. Number Di v id en d Price of per CANALS. per NDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 26 . Paid. Share. " 760 6 :1• Pet cent. Ashton and Oldham....Average 970 19s. sh. 14;2 1,482 61. Ashb 1I Z .1........ Average 113/. sh. tit) 3' ,e- e- out i 1,260 100/. sh. 54 !.1115 ......... Basingstoke 5/, Brecknoer. and Atiergavenny 150 . sh. !V 4,00015 h. 121. 10s. Birmingham, 1 Ifthshire l7/. 10s. 206 4 ( iOd - ••-•.... Ditto vad Liverpool Junct.... . sh. all pit ::0,1 600 ......... Bridgewater and Taunton ....10 1 .d. sh. all pd 64 401 Iv . 100/. sh. 102 theliner and 'Backwater 500 421. Coventry lOOl. sh. 809 4..516•. ........ . t3rovilon A ve rage 311. 2s. 10d. sh. 3 , °"I 31. 10s. D u d ley lOO/. sh. 78 IVO 64 -Y 20,000 nerhy 100/ sh. 120 ......... e and Mayne ......... Danube 111. 13s. 4d. 10/. pd fit 3,575 , Average 133/. sh. g 4 _ r ......... Ellesmere and Chester...... ' " 4 - 11 43'. 'OW sh. 4 1 10 Eyewash 1,207 'co IN - it 1.,,• Frirth and Clyde ....... Average 4 4 :.0/ • :;is. sh. 590 . IN./. sh. 212 f.',8494 .../. Grand Jime*:--- Crand Union lOO/. sh. 25 1,5 I ...... x 100/. sh. ... Grand Surrey 1 0 . 000, . I/. percent, Ditto opt o' al Loan I (1()1 * 75 3. 0 90 ..... . ... CgrandSVe i stCr ) lO 1. sh. all pd 19 Western 60(1 1 31. P2s, Bd. Glamor i • Average cost 172/. I3s. 4d. 230 I,lkioans ir re, 10114 sh. 144 Gloucester.... and Berkley 749 101. i'so/. sh. 202 Grantham (3938 1/. lOs Iluddersfit 100 1d Average 0 7 1. (is. ficl. sh. 314 ......... Kensington 100 sh all pd. 1 0 11 . • Kennet and Avon, Average 3111 . B s. 10d . sh . P ' 2 %171 , 204 515 p.n . Leeds and Liverpool 1110/. sh. 510 Leicester l4Ol. sh. 119 97 . '2,40 v 9 9/ , Leicester and Northamp'on... A ver. 834 10s. 78 Monmouthsldre 100/ sh. 152 '- 50 9/. Melton Mowbray 100/. oh. 200 500 231. Mersey and Irwell IOW. sh. 58" 3.000 ........ Macclesfield WO/. oh. all pd. 54 217 ihi . Neath 100/. sh. 325 1,7' , 6 3_i, Oxford I 011/. sh. 580 52 2/. Oak ham 130/. s h. 38 2.400 4/. . Peak Forest 31,418 141, Avcrage about 781. sh. 104 Regent's (or London) Aver. 331. I6s. dd. sh. :3 5. 04 9 5/. per cent. Rochdale Average 85/. sh. 120 500 84 Shropshire soi, 104 I'ss/. sh. 140 Somerset Coal l5O/. sh. 160 45,e00/. 61 percent. Ditto Lock Fund Stock 12/. 10s. sh. 114 700 362. Staffbrd and Worcester l4ll/. sh. 690 s° ° 11 /. Shrewsbury 125/. s h. 245 3UU 8/. Stourbridge 3,647 I/. lo s. Stratford.ons Ay un ...Aveiage / ''. • - 9/ .9• s. , ,i 1 .s h. 424 533 13 4 Swansea 1001. sh. 215 3,762 11. Severn and Wye :mil Railway ...Av 35/. sh. 171 2 ,60 I 5 , .. 4 21. IS,. Trent and Mersey, 1 share 1004 sh. COJ 8.149 ........ Thames and Medway... Aver, 101. sa. Sd. sh. 2 I .000,1).7 1,01(11sh.3 151- Warwick and Birmingham IOW. sh• 276 91) 1(4, Warwick and Napton IOO/. sh. 216 6,000 31. los Worcester and Birmingh/an...Av.78/. 81. sh. 82 15,001 25,,, wilts and Berks .. Average 67/. 10a. Sd. s h. 184 ' 1 360 6/. Wyrley and Essington 125/. sh 75 I'6 Viiisbeach 905 1/. Vey aryl Arun llOl. sh. 224 DOCKS. 2,600$ 1 3p. c. Commercial 100/. sh. 1,06015 h 410,6072/. 4 per cent. East India Stock 3,234,31041. 565. p. et. London Stock Ditto Bonds ,380,0001.• 5/. per ct. West India Stock 2,-2.0.1 3/. 6.5. 4d. Bristol Average 147/. 195. sh. 68.:1 - 2 , ii. 5/. per cent. Ditto Notes, various amounts .152,752 3 twr cent. St. Katharine Stock 500,003 44 per cent. Ditto Bonds 200,000 .1 per cent. Ditto Bonds for 10 years Shoreham Harbour .. Deptford Pier "U. sh. 31. pd BRIDGES. 1,611 1/. Hammersmith 5O/. sh. 7,231 Southwark, 01.1 Av. 131. '2s. Bd. sh. 1,700 1/. 15s. pitto, New, of 71 per cent. 5O/. sir. 5,0i10 Waterloo lOO/. sh. 5,000 1/. 2s. Ditto, Old Annuities of 8/. 6O/. pd 5,000 19s. 3d. Ditto, New Ditto of 71 401. pd I'o,oool. 5!. per cent. Dit , o Bonds. 11,000 IL Vauxhall Av ',rage 701. 10s. 3d. sh. AS' , URANCII COMPANIES. 3,000 3/ Ink Albion 5304 sh. 501 pd 78 5 1 ,090 [ 5 111,7,T.11 Alliance; British & Foreign 1001. sh. 10/. pd 124 50,000 6 per cent. Ditto, Marine 100/. sh. Si. pd 5' 24.000 4 l per sh. Atlas 50/. sh. Si. pit 144 1,200 Ish. 4/. Birmingham Fire "50/. sh. 53/. pd 105 20 ,0 0 0 4/ per cent. British Fire 250/. sh. 501. pit 40 12,000 61. percent. British Commercial • 50/. O. 5/. pil fl 5,900 .1. per cent. Clerical, Medical,&c. Life, ICU sh. 12/10s pd 31 4,000 2/ lOs County 1001. sh. 104 pd 42 10,000 ss. Eagle 5Ol. sh. 5/. pd 6 200 30/ bs.l S -5 Per re n t' Economic Life lOOO/. sh. 2501. pd 375 /anti 2,271 541. per cent. European Life °Ol. sh. all pd 22 50,000 2s. Ditto, New "0! sh. '2l. pd 1/.125 ,000,0001. 71. per ct. Globe Stock 159 20,000 1/. Guardian 1001. sh. 201. pd 374 Ai ,„ (Fire 5 p ct.l T. , 113, ""`" /Life 8 pct.S Ho 5O/.51i. 5/. pd 64 2,400 5/. 7s. 6d. Imperial Fire 500/. sh. 501. pd 120 7,500 9s. Imperial Life 100/. sh. 10!. pd 10' 13,1 - A ion 6d.'ner sh. Indemnity Marine li W. sh. 8/. pd 17 2,020 3/ lOs Kest Fire 50!. sh. all pd 92 3/. Ditto Life 79 10,e00 16s. Llw Life 100/. sh. 101. pd 28 3,900 lAmilon, I'ire 251 sh. 12/. 103. p•I 141 I 001 ... ..... London, Ship '5/ sh. 124 (Os. pd 144 3'0,0 ai :/. per cent. Palladium Life 501. sh. 21. pd 217 s lid 250,00) Is. lid. Protector File 2Oll. sh. 2!, pd 1/18 , nd 9,500 1/. Provident Life 100,000 ss. Rock Life "0/. sh. VI. pd 74 689,220' 51. per cent. Royal Exchange Stork... 202 Sun 2lO 6,000 5 per cent. University Life MU sh. 5/. pd 54 50,009 4 per cent. Unit,) Kingdom Life 2l. pd JOINT STOCK BANKS 5000 ........ A ustrala•ia 4Ol. sh. 49!. pd , 10,0 no pi per cent. Bank of Birmingham 5l/. sh. 10/. pd 1 1 1.000 inner cent. Birmingham Bank 5O/. sh. 5/. pd 18,000 "per cent. ',onion and Westminster-100/ sh. 15/. pd 3,000 ...... ••• Lancaster 1001. sh. 2"l. pd 2.5,i(5) 6 per cent. Liverpool 1001 sh. 101. pd 30,0J0 74 per cent. Manchester aunt Liverpool 1 1001, sh. 10! pd Discount 29,000 6 per cent. Manchester WO/. sh. 20! pd 2 - 1000 8 per cent. Provincial Bank or I reland 100/. sh. 251. pd 21, i 0 5 per cent. National Bank of Ireland 51. sh 10/. pd 10,000 ......... National Provincial Eng. -100/. sh. 25/. pit 19,150) 10 per cent. Gloucestershire 5O/. oh. 744 pd 6,000 GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES. 500 1/ 12s Bath 2O/. sh. Pl. pd 5,000 (11. per cent. British 4O/. sh. 16/. pd (5/.percent., 5,(100 and n , s Ditto Provincial 201. sh. 19 pd s. Ss. 814 5/ lOs Birmingham 50/. 8)1. 4,250 2/ Os Bristol 2O . sh. 1,500 750 ... ...... Ditto, New 2O). sh. 11. pd 2,471 5 per cent. Brighton General 20/ sh. all pd 4,0:0 3/. Continental Cansulidated lOOl. 511/. pd 1,000 101. City of London lOO/. sir. all pd I,' 00 6/. Ditto, New 4,000 4/. les. Equitable lO/. pd 10,. on 5/. per cent. Imperial 800 5/ per cent. Isle of Tnanet 251. sh. 'lO/. pd 1,300 6!. per cont. Independent 'o'! sh. ad pd 1,500 71 per cent. Leeds "(1/ eh. 20/, pd 9,00(( 3l per cent. Phoenix 50/. sh. 39/. pd 1,00;) 4/. per cent. Rateliff 100/. sh. 00/. pit 4,110 South 111ctrope'itan 5 1. sh. 131. pd 8,200 5/. per cent. United General WV. sh. 45/. pd 219 rd. per cont. Warwick 5"1. sh. 400 Si. per cent Wakefield 251. sh. 12,000 3/. Westminster Chartered 5O/. sh. 6,001 12 Ditto, Nev 5O/. sh. 10/. pd SCO Yarmouth. * l O/ sh. 18/. pd WATER r,rillt KS. 4,800 Birmingham 9 3/. sh. 25! pd 1,133 5/. East London lO9/. sh. 1,500 2/ lOs (Or ind Junction ....Average 41/ 13s. 42. sh. 2,000 21. Kent lOO/. sh. 3.8 101. Liverrol Bootle 2204 sh, 1,500 2/ lOs Now diver London Bridge Water Annuities 6,486 • 1/. Mr.nchester and Salford 1,0(X) 4 per cent. South London 100/. sh. ••,101) 3/. West Middlesex ....Average (131. 12s. Ikl. oh. 1,360 1/ lts York Building Co. Lessee Prop 1001. sh. IRON RAILWAYS. 2,500 Aylesbury 2O!. sh. 1/. ;xi 7,500 Birmingham, Bristol, and Thames Junction 25r0 Bristol an I Exeter ' ai FM 10,000 Calcutta and Saugur 5O/. 811. 21. pd. 2,000 Clarence lOOl. oh. 1001. p.l 2,500 19s. Forest of Dean 5Ol. pd 30,009 Grand Junction 1001. sh. 40/. p I 3 , .. , ,a 1 1 Great Western loll!. sh. In/. pd 2,000 Ilartlepool 1011. sh. 100/. pd 2,100 Hull and schw 504 sh. Si. pd 2.1)10 Leeds and Selby 1,501 Leicester and Swannington -.501. sh all pd 5,100 1) per cent. Liverpool and Manchester-100/. sh. 100!. p 4 Ditto Quarter Shares , Td. pd Loughborough London and Drighto t lOO/. sh. 5/ pd Ditto ditto ((abbe) ...9.01 sh. 11 pd Ditto ditto (Rennie) London and Blae.kwall 50/ sh 3! pd _ _ _ .. Londo I and Dover 50/. oh. 1/. pd 311,000 London and Gravesend •.:01 sh 1/. pd 20,000 3 per cent. London and Greenwich 2O/. sat. 20/ pd 25,000 London arid Birminghain ...100/. sh. 50/, pd 20; 00 London and Croydon 51. pd 2 1 ,000 Northern and Eastern lOOl. sh. 3/. pd 12,5'.0 North Midland lOOl. sh. 5/. pd 2,001 Preston and NVyre 50!. sh. 3/. pd 1, 0 00 61. per cent. Stockton and Darlington lOO/. sh. 8,000 Thai et Haven .501. sh. 21. Ills. pd 6,00) York and North Midland set. sh. 1/. pd MINES. 8,000 Albion Copper 5/. sh. nt. pd 4,000 A Iten 15/. sh. 10/.108 pd 11 1 ,000 ... ..... Anglo Mexican, iss. Si. pm.... 1001. sh. all pd Ditto Subscription 25/. pd 2,9(0 Bol.atos 150/. sh all pd 10,00) 31..5. Brazilian Imp. iss. 5!. pin. '35/. sh. 201. pd 6,0 0 Ditto St. John Del Rey '2O/. sh. 4/. pd Bolivar Copper Company '2O/. sh. 2111. pd INV,' Scrip 4/. pd British Iron 5lll. sh. 5 11 1 pd British Copper 5/. sh. :311. !xi Cata Branca 6 1/. pd Candonga 7ll. pd 10,000 Copiapo 2Ol. sh 124/ pd 6,500 . ....... . Columbian, iss. 5/. pm. 2,-1:,0 )l. English 12/ U.s. pd 20,1100 ......... General Mining Association...2o/. sh. IS!. 14 4 0 ,155 Mexican Company 10q. sh 514/. pit 2,000 Pulberou Consols lOl. sh. Si. pd 11,500 Real del Monte, Unregistered Ditto Loan Notes l5O/. pd 30,0!,i0 United Mexican, iss. 2 pm ....401. sh. all pd Ditto Scrip Ditto Subscription 2l. lilt Ditto New Scrip 5/ pd 5,C00 Union Gold, iss. 21. ss. pm.... 221/. sh. 44/. pd West Cork 50/. sh. 50/. pd LITERARY INSTI I'Ll ['IONS. 1,000 London, with Bronze Ticket 75gs. sh. 1,500 London University 10) 1. sh. all pd 700 King' College 100!. pd MISCELLANEOUS. 10,000 10s. Australian Agricultural....loo/. sh. 2f)l. pd 1,030 1/. Auction Mart 501. oh. 0,01)0 British American Land Company... 13/. tel 10,000 61 per cent. Canada Company 1001. sh. 20/. pd 200,000 51 per cent. tipper Canada Lorin City Bonds, 4 per cell* 15,000 I/. per cent. General Steam Navigation ...15/. :h. 131. pd DI. per cent. Hudson's Bay Stock 1/. London. Corn. Sale Rooms Av. 75/. sh. New Brunswick Land Company .21 pd 2,734 51. per cent. Reversionary InterestSoc...loo/. oh. 100/. pd '2,033 5/. per cent. Ditto New VW. sh. 45/. pd 4,e410 10,000 Van Diemet.'s Land 100/. sh. 17/. pd 70 144.1. 10,NR i 43,000 12,000 Io,o'lo 1( 1 ,000 ..... 20,0 ki I/. 10s. 8,1)00 11,11U0 2,000 23 2 14 2t 24 204 77} LIST OF SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES, MARCH 26. 136. BANKS. 1,V0,003i. 6/. p. ct. Ban'. of Scotland S3I. f.s Rd. sh. all pd )7.31. 2,000,0%1. 5} p. et. Royal of Scotland 1(01. sh. all pd )70/, 500,01(1. Bp. et. British Linen Company 100/. sh. :,11 pd 2401. 3,000,04/. 61. p. ct. Commercial 5OOl. sh. 1001.1x1 180/. 5,000,900/. sp. ct. National lOOl. sh. 101. pd )44 2,001,90 C/. 4/. p.ct. (IlasgOw Union 2501. sh. 50/. ptl tiu/. , r,000, , 101. 4 p. ct. Western of Scotland '4ol. sh 304 pd 361 INSURANCE COMPANIES. 9.5f1.0005h. 63 p. ct. Scottish Union Vor. sh. 1/. pd 9.5/. - ,500 p. ct. Hercules 100/. sh. 101. pd 141 10s. ine,ooo sp. ct. Insurance Co. of Scotland....lol. sh. all put 7110 s. 50,000 6p. ct. North British 2OOl. sh. 10/. pd 15 1,000 sp. ct. Caledonim Fire 1001. sh. 101. pd 15/10, 5,000 `p. et. Edinburgh 1 afe 100/. oh. 101. pd 14/108 100,000 4p. ct. West of Scotland lO/. pd 9/ lOs MISCFLLANE9US. 4,910 Edin. and Glas Un. Canal 50/. :h. all pd '221. Ditto Allocated 9e/. :•11, all pd 654 5,400 5 per cent. Edinb;.loint Stock IVater 25/. sh. all pd 3144 Carrot; Iron Company 2 . 504 sh. all pd 450/. 000 sh. 15 per cent. Shotts Iron Foundery 50/. sh. 3q. pd 25/. 0,001) 3 per cent. Edinburgh & Leith Glass 204 sh. 161. pd P.l/ . 4,500 10 per cent. Edinburgh Coal Gas :. 254 sh. all pd 6141. 4,450 10 per cent. Glasgow Gas !2sl.sh. all pd 604 750 6 per cent. Leith Coal Gas .... 2O/. sh. all pd 37!. .1,200 5 per cent. Edinburgh and Dalkeith ItailWay...so/.sh. 744 MOO .51 per cent. Equitable Loan Company, , 251 sh. 91. pd 101. TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE. aote r gentlemen,o f the waitedebmy Yesterd a y, at 3 o'clock, Dr. Birkbeck, and a deputation composed n t baeprpsooifatmheenpon Lord Mel t lo u use of Commons bourne and the Chancellor of iht.. Exchequer,subject upon tof the Penny Stamp, and the rigorous' the clauses T respecting .t press in the new Stamp Duties' Bill. Messrs. Grote, Warburton, Hurac, Bowringh(O're'COreirelilitMleunl lins, Ewart, Duncombe, T. Attwood, W. Williams, n V Tulk, D. Gaskell, W. Marshall, Leader, Tancred, Hindi Wallace, Hector, Brotherton, Wakley, Fielden, Scholefield, Agl• b e e R. Black, Place, J. Crawford, W. E. Hickson,• I°n with Colonel Thompson rind Sir W. Molesworth. Dr. BIRKBECK apologised for again, after a brief interval, trespassing upon the time of his Lordship, but the subject was of that importance that the members of the deputation felt they should not be doing their duty without making one more appeal to his Majesty's Government in favour of a line of policy worthy the character of a liberal and enlightened Administra tion. On a former occasion they had been led to expect that the question of the Stamp Duty would not be considered in a merely financial light; yet they found a proposition had ema nated from Government for retaining a stamp of a penny, which would have the effect of extinguishing or preventing the existence of a multitude of useful publications, and of nearly all those which would be accessible to the working classes, al most as effectually as the stamp of 3-d. He understood that the Morning Chronicle with a penny stamp could not be sold under 4d. or 41d., and that the proprietors of the Times were at the present moment inclined not to reduce their price be low .5(1. Whether the price were 4d., 3d., or 7d., newspapers of that class would still remain as inaccessible to a large por tion of the community as they are at the present moment. He could not understand why this description of literature should be practically prohibited to any class of industrious and deserv ing men. If the object of retaining the penny was merely to defray the cost of postage, he would say leave the public on that head to take care of themselves. Newspapers could be carried much more cheaply by private agencies all over the country than by the post-office, and it was unjust to tax local newspapers for a benefit which they did not require, and of which even all those who did require could not, under existing post-office arrangements always avail themselves. The de putation were anxious to propose as a substitute for the proposed stamp duty of one penny on, all Newspapers an optional stamp conferring freedom of postage ; so that newspapers not requiring to be circulated by post might be published without a stamp, as was now the case with the Literary Gazette, and similar publications. This plan, he thought, would obviate all the difficulties which had been started with respect to the inconveniences of collecting pence and halfpence at the receiving houses. He could not consi der that the penny could be retained for mere financial objects. It would produce, exclusively of the expense of postage, net more than one hundred thousand pounds, and one of the Mi nisters had stated but lately that a sum of one hundred and sixty thousand pounds was even one which ought not to stand in the way of any measure of public utility. Mr. D. O'CONNELL said he had been requested to draw the attention of the Government to the legal part of tile ques tion. A promise had been held out that the 60th of George 111. should be entirely repealed, and he understood a specific Bill was to be introduced to that effect ; but the New Stamp Duties' Bill proposed to re-enact the most objectionable fea tures of all the old laws, and even to enact others still more severe, new in their application to the Press, and some new altogether to this country, although not stew, unhappily, to Ireland. He was willing to admit that if Government compelled one person to pay a duty, that person ought to be protected against the free trader ; but it was wise or sound policy to introduce this immense mass of com plicated and stringent legislation for the sake of an object, in a financial light, so paltry as a ld. stamp duty ? Still more, was it just or even prudent to bring forward a measure for such an object so entirely destructive to the liberties of the coun try as the Bill which he held in his hand ? Clause 166 gave a wider extension to the meaning of the word newspaper than the old laws, so that many political pamphlets and others, discussing matters affecting Church or State, would now be il legal without a stamp. Clause 168 introduced again all the old and bad machinery of affidavits, requiring them also for the first time from all persons in any manner concerned in pub lishing a newspaper. Clause 171 dispenses with personal ser vice in an action at law. This law was not new to Ireland, for Mr. Lavelle, while absent in Italy on account of ill health, had an action brought against him, and a verdict obtained, al though he could not of course defend himself, knowing nothing even of the charge. The Commissioners were 'also to have power to withhold stamps, and require fresh affidavits a power which he had known very much abused in Ireland. In the other clauses he found the worst and most despotic pert of our fiscal regulations were here re-enacted, and applied for the first time to the press. Clause 239 gives to any constable, police officer, or any other officer of stamp duties, after having mad a very loosely worded affidavit, to search any private dwelling-house for unstamped newspapers, and by clause 241 officers are to be permitted to break open doors in pursuance of the same object. Mr. Hosts; observed that Mr. O'Connell bad omitted to mention that no discretion was allowed to a magistrate in grant ing a search warrant upon the oath of a police constable. The magistrate was compelled to grant the warrant. A power was also taken by the Bill (clause 239) to seize all printing_ presses found in the same house where an unstamped news paper had been at any time printed. This might be ruinous to some of the large printing establishments, and to one over the water in particular, where so many hundred thousand sheets were printed, that it was quite impossible for the pro prietor to take cognizance of all their contents. A single sheet of an unstamped newspaper might be printed in the establishment by the malicious contrivance of some persons, and all the presses seized the next day for the offence. He (Mr. Hume) was anxious that for the sake of the character the Government had hitherto maintained, they should pause before they carried through the Legislature such laws as these. When they became known throughout the countrv, there would be one universal expression of indignation. While, on the contrary, nothing would tend to make the Government of Lord Melbourne so popular, especially among the working classes, as the entire abandonment of the stamp duty, and of the laws necessary to the collection of the tax. Mr. Hume concluded by placing before Lord Melbourne four specimens of different daily newspapers published in the United States, at the price of one halfpenny, by means of which copies of all the laws passed by Congress were circulated through that country. Mr. GROTE made a few observations to a similar offect, and Mr. Aglionby bore witness to the intense interest felt upon this question by the working classes in the north o f E ng l an d. The Crreeceeeort of the EXCHEQUER said that as the object of the deputation related to business which belonged chiefly to his own department, he might be excused making a few re marks upon what had been said. The gentlemen composing the deputation had stated their case with perfect candour and fairness, and with an absence of that misrepresentation of which he thought he had reason to complain in regard to publications which had appeared out of doors. He would not enter into any further discussion of the principle of the proposed mea sure, but would remind the deputation of a question which he addressed to Mr. Hume on a former occasion. That question was, whether it was Mr. Hume's opinion if he (Mr. Rice) were to propose the total abolition of the stamp duty he could carry such a measure through the present House of Commons. Mr. Hume had answered in the negative. Mr. HUME explained. He had said the total abolition of the stamp duty could not be carried without the substitution of stamped wrappers, or of an optional stamp, to meet the post-office difficulty. The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER was aware that he was of course open to contradiction, that he might himself have laboured under a misconception ; but it was his belief, and that of many other persons, that the total abolition could not be carried through the House of Commons. Under these circumstances, it was not his duty to propose a measure which must be defeated. He was willing to do the best he could, and had already proposed more than ought to have been expected. He gave now all that had been asked upon Mr. Bulwer's motion last year; and in addition he gave a re duction of the paper duty, which he thought would be more generally useful than the abandonment of the penny stamp. With respect to the Stamp Duties' Bill, there was not the most distant intention to add new restrictions to the press, or to impede the publication of any pamphlets or other works which were now considered to be legal, further than might be absolutely necessary to enforce payment of the penny stamp. The directions given to the persons employed to draw up the Bill were, that no other enactments should form part of the Bill than those which might have been passed from time to time for the collection of other branches of the revenue. Mr. O'CONNELL thought there was fair ground of complaint that the worst portion of our fiscal laws should now be applied to the press, and that while comparatively mild laws had been passed in order to collect a fourpenny stamp, the severity of those laws should be increased when the premium upon smug gling was reduced tl - ree-fourths. This was reversing the principles of legislation. The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER said that Mr. O'Con nell had admitted that the fair trader must be protected against those who violated the law, and he (Mr. Rice) wished for no laws more stringent than were necessary to affect that object. Other complaints had reached him, but these came from the monopolists, with regard to the limit he proposed to put upon the size of newspapers. With respect to the legal part of the question, if the penal clauses could be so mitigated in Com mittee as to give satisfaction to Hon. Gentlemen without los ing sight of the object, he should be happy to give way upon such points. On the subject of the effect of the reduction to one penny, he was satisfied the effect would be very favour able on all grounds. It would be part of his care, when he came to make his financial statement, that the newspaper cikulation would be doubled and tripled, and greatly mul tiplied by the measure, through which the revenue would not lose considerably, notwithstanding the extent of the reduc tion. He should be enabled to produce the most positive evi dence of this fact. Mr. HIME remarked that the reduction of the stamp duty might be considered by some persona as a boon, but that if it were to be purchased by the enactment of such laws as formed part of the new Bill, he for one should say, let the present stamp and the present laws remain. This remark appeared to meet with the general assent of the members of the deputation. Colonel TnomPsos, who spoke apparently under strong feelings, said that if such disgraceful enactments were to form part of the laws of England, he for ore was prepared to say that he would be the first to violate : them. Unstamped news papers should.daily find a place on his table, and if informa tions were laid, and his house were broken open, rather than submit to pay the penalty, he would go to prison. He knew it was net agreeable to %year the prison dress, in which he had seen Cleave (and sympathy for the man and his cause would induce him (C o l one l Th om pson) to call that man his friend,) but every privation and suffering ought to be endured - rather than submit to see such laws on 4a ur statute book in rc. Bard to the press. Dr. Bowntrio assured Lard Melbourne that, clogged with such conditions as were proposed by the new Bill, the reduc tion of the stamp duty would not be received with gratitude by any portion of the community. The Bill was calculated ' to bring the Government into universal odium ; and feeling as he did deeply anxious to support the present Administra tion, he implored them not to commit themselve s to this un popular course. M r . WAKLEY said, that if Government would not abandon the new Bill, perhaps they would consent to introduce two distinct Bills, one for the reduction, and one containing the objectionable clauses, which might be separately discussed. He wished not to be understood as desiring to throw out any menace, but he felt bound to state his abhorrence of those clauses was such, that, if the forms of Parliament would allow it, he would not only debate every clause, but divide the house ten thousand times in order to prevent their becoming law. The liberties of the country were involved in the liberty After of th e P ress , and if that were gone all w ould be lost. rotahelren3giethmbeneerds took an part, d animated conversation, in which several Lord M ELBOURNE sa id, t h a t, a lthough he had listened with great attentiJn to the various statements which had been made, he was bound in candour to say they had not produced such an impression upon his mind as to induce him to make any alteration in the plans of Government connected with this subject, which had been already announced. He had certainly remarked when he received the last Deputation, that the financial part of the question was the least to be considered; but had not intended to convey the idea that the Government ought not to avail itself of this source of revenue when it could be done without affecting injuriously the interests of the com munity. Notwithstanding all that had been observed he could not see that the retention of a penny stamp duty ought - to be considered in that serious light in which it had been repre sented by the deputation. With respect to the case of Mr. Lavelle, mentioned by Mr. O'Connell, he (Lord Melbourne) thought it highly imprudent that the responsible publisher of a newspaper should leave his publication in the charge of other persons to travel himself upon the Continent. He was much gratified by the interest which had been expressed in the ad ministration to which he belonged, and begged to express his thanks to most of the gentlemen present for their support in the House of Commons. The deputation then took their leave. The interview was characterized by a stronger display of feeling than •) n any former occasion, and terminated leaving a more unfavourable impression of the views of Government with regard to the ent►re liberty of the Press than had previously prevailed. Several of the members observed to each other tkrt the ob ject would only be accomplished by supporting an rnstamped press, since arguments, petitions, and remonstrances were alike disregarded. PUBLIC MEETING AT BRISTOL. A most numerous and highly respectable Public Meeting was held at Bristol on Monday the 25th inst., in the Guildhall of the City, convened under a requisition to the Mayor, signed by a large body of influential citizens, which has completely set at rest the question of the alleged impropriety of the Go vernment not choosing to admit the " foolish and fading" Tory Mr. ex-Alderman Daniel and his party subordinate, to the ho nours of the MP.gistracy. The reader will recollect, that after the ungentlemanly attack of Sir Richard Vyvyan on Lord John Russell, which drew on him the censure of the whole House of Commons, an attempt was made by the Standard to palm off upon the Public the meeting held in the counting-house of one of the rejected, by a few disappointed Tories, as a public meeting; attended by " all the respectable inhabitants of Bristol." Since which a Tory majority in the Town Council, consisting of aldermen and the rejected magistrates, who had the decency to vote for themselves, agreed to demand from the Government the rea sons which actuated it in its selection of gentlemen as Justices for the borough, and with a singular inconsistency, while by this application they admitted their ignorance of the mo tives of Lord John Russell, to thank Sir Richard Vyvyan at the same time for having charged the Noble Lord with corrupt motives, and this they resolved to do in defiance of public opinion, as expressed by the minority in the Council who represent a majority of four hundred voters more than the Tories, and arc only a minority because of the unjust division of wards which gave six Councillors to the Tories, who ought to have been given to the Liberal districts; and of the treachery of one professed Whig who, when under all the disadvantage arising from the injustice committed by Barristers, the Liberals had succeeded in carrying a full half of the Council, by ratting to the other side, gave to the Tories by his single vote the power of nominating thirteen out of tho sixteen Aldermen. So long as this folly was confined to the brazier's counting house, and the falsehoods of the Standard were promptly ex posed, the citizens of Bristol found in it matter of amusement merely ; but when the Town Council so far forgot its duties as to lend itself to this rancorous party attack upon Government, it became matter of serious consideration how they should di vest themselves of the disgrace of the act, and a public meeting was called in the manner stated, to consider of the steps proper to he taken. The Tories threatened to throw the meeting into confusion, and great exertions were made to come down in strength for the purpose, but they utterly failed. The Hall was crowded to excess; hundreds went away unable to gain admittance. The Tories shrank from the contest, and of the few who had gained a place at the upper cud of the Hall, in the hope of a row, and who were afterwards compelled to remain witnesses of the unanimity and good order which prevailed, but one had courage enough to hold up his hand against the re solutions, and he confessed that he did not know any reason for his doing so, except that he was told to do so. The chair man was William Leonard Thomas Pyle Taunton, Esq., Bar rister at Law ; the speakers S. Waring, T. J. Manchee, J. Ad , dington, H. Visger, W. Harwood, F. R. Bruce, R. Bruce, F. R. Bligh, W. Herapath, R. Ash, and J. W. Hall, Esqs., and the Rev. F. Edgeworth. The resolutions moved and seconded by these gentlemen deprecated the conduct of the Town Council as an attack upon the Royal prerozative for a mere party pur pose, and strongly censured Sir Richard Vyvyan for not hav ing had the courage to push his charge against Ministers if true, or the gentlemanly feeling to retract it if unfounded. They affirmed also the injustice by means of which the Town Council were enabled to compromise the character of the city, and to act in diametrical opposition to the wishes of the citi zens; and directed copies of the resolutions to be transmitted to Lord John Russell, to Sir Richard Vyvyan, and to the Town Ccuncil, in order that the Home Secr,tary might be satisfied of the disapprobation of the citizens with the proceed ings of the Town Council, and be made acquainted with the , means through which men professing to represent the city practically misrepresent it; and that, Sir Richard Vyvvan and his fiends might be officially acquainted with the feelings of the Bristol constituency, as a warning against what may be expected at the next election. The speeches delivered were of a most constitutional character, and several allusions to the house of Russell were enthusiastically received. The meet ing, which lasted with unflagging interest for nearly four hours, broke up in excellent temper, after several tremendous rounds of cheers for Lord John Russell and the Melbourne Administration. The following were the resolutions agreed to at the public meeting held at Guildhall, on Monday, the 25th instant:— BP.ISToL, APRIL 26, 1836. At a most numerous and respectable meeting held at the Guildhall, on Monday, to consider the propriety of the pro ceedings of the Town Council of this Borough, on tin 18th of the present month, and to give an opportunity to the citi zens to express their sentiments on the appointment of Ma gistrate:, and on the conduct of Sir Richard Vyvyau in Parlia ment relative thereto— It was moved by . SA mu EL WA Al NG % Esq.,seeonded by T. J. - • MANG II EE, Esq. , and carried with one dissensieut only, Ist. That this meeting has heard with surprise and indignation that a factitious majority of the Town Council of this city, disre garding the most. strenuous opposition of the repres:.:ntatives of a large majority of the Burgesses, have travelled out of the line of their municipal duties, have converted the council chamber into an arena for political discussion, and Nave presumed to interfere with the undoubted prerogative of the Crcwn in the nomination of Magistrates for this borough ; more especially as, in this instance it is based on the statute vfbich called the Council itself into exist ance : and this meeting is the more indignant, that the exercise of the prerogative on this occasion sliculd be questioned by the very party which, by an alteration of the principle of the measure as originally passed by the House of Cow:ruins, vested the appoint ment of the Municipal Magistracy in the Crown. Moved by JOHN ADDINGTON, Esq., seconders by the Re v. Funs. EDGEWORTH, and carried with one disse C tient only. 2nd. That Sir Richard Vyvyan's conduct in the House of Com lion of the mons,—imputin_g corrupt motives to his Majesty's Secretary of H State for the ome Department, in making the sele , . Justices of Bristol under the Municipal Reform Act, an ,1 re f us i ng either to substantiate the imputation by evidence, or to re 'Tact it, after it had been pronounced false and calumnioe!:,—was highly unjustifiable ; and the mi;ority of the Council, by approving of such conduct, have manifested the spirit of partizanship by which ti:leY were actuated. 11orcd by II aIIA\ VISGEP., Esq., seconded by RICHARD BLIGH; Esq., and carried with one dissensicnt only. 3rd. That the existence of the above majority in the Town , . Council has resulted solely from the injustice inflicted by the un fair division of the city into Wards, and the unequal apportionment of Councillors,' which it has been demonstrated were widely at variance with the principle on which such division and apportion ment were ordered to be founded. Moved by ROBERT BRUCE, jun., Esq., secondod by _ WILLIAM IlAttwoon, jun., Esq., and carried by acclamation. 4th. That toe cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to the Gentlemen who constituted the Minority on the above occasion, for theirable, so improperfirm, andeonsistent conduct in resisting t he i n t roductions of subjects in thernstives and so irrelevant to the duties of the- Council. Moved by WILLIAM IT ER AF AT 11, Esq., seconded bv Jou WESLEY HALL, Esq., and carried unanimously. sth. Resolved, that a copy of the above Resolutions be forwarded to the night Honourable Lord John Russel!, the Secretary of State for the Home Depa.trnent ; to Sir Richard Vyvyan ; also to Mr. Sergeant Wylde ; and that the Chairman, in handing the Resolu tions, request that they will take an early opportunity of impressing on Parliament the practical evils that have resulted from the in justice Which has been inflicted upon the city. Moved by T. J. MAN C r.F., Esq., soconded by H. VI-SCE:I, Esq., and carried -unanimously 6th, Resolved, that the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the Mayor for the use of the Hall ; and that he be furnished with a copy of the above Resolutions, with a request that it may be laid before the next meeting of the Council, that the.meinb?rs may be officially acquainted with the sentiments of their constituents as ex pressed in public meeting. (Signed) :W. L. T. P. TAUNTON, Chairman. The Chairman having vacated the chair, the same was taken by William Herapath, Esq., and it was Moved by ROBERT BRUCE, Esq., seconded by T J. MA NGHEE, Esq., and carried by'aeclamation , 7th, That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to W L T. P. Taunton, Esq., for his kindness in taking the chair on the present occasion, and for his most able and impartial conduct in pre siding Over the business of the day.