The Sun. — London, England, 1836-03-07 00:00:00

NEWSPAPER. STAMPS. COMMON HALEL-(THIS DAY.) abil! Pursuance of a requisition, most numerously and respect heldsigned, th e L or d Mayor appo i nte d a C ommon H a ll t o be this of e ,." morning, fo- the purpose of considering the propriety t ,tat ) ationing Parliament for the total abolition of the Stamp 0 , 0 4' i r Newspap ers . Th e Ch a i r was t o be taken at one but by twelve the Hall was nearly filled with most re spectablees tradesmen. By a quarter to one the Hall was com evrt iy crowd e d even to t h e ga ll er i es , w hi c h were filled with O'Con nell antly dressed ladi es . Ab ou t the latter hour Mr. arrived,O'Con and passed through t h e H a ll towar d s th e Com mittee-room, and w as rece i ve d with great applause. We un derstood the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was sworn in as a f 3 l eennin of Lo n d on , i n or d er to qua lify him to address the Hall. 3 tvere Y"e o'clock the Hall was crowded to excess, and as many Shut out as would have filled it again. No question a Common H a ll has interested the citizens so much, since the public mind was excited by the Reform question. The Lord Mayor, accompanied by Mr. Alderman Wood, Mr. !:,attison, Mr. Grote, and Mr. Crawford, the four members for lit; city, M r . O'C onne ll , M r . H ume , M r . Wallace, Mr. Roebuck, I~I• Buckingham, Alderman Thompson, Mr. F. Duncombe, Wilks, Mr. Wakley, Dr. Bowring, Alderman Humphrey, Sir W. Molezworth, Mr. Scholefield, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Wil liams, and oth er ::!embers of Parliament, Dr. Birkbeck, Dr. made, Mr. Scales, and other influential gentlemen, came on the platform. Mr. O'Connell was received with tremendous cheering the other Members were also well receive d. The LORD MAYOR came forward and said that having re ceived a requisition most numerously signed by many of the most wealthy and respectable inhabitants of this great City , he , 4 !(1 felt it his duty to comply with the request, and call the iv tec'ting for the purpose of petitioning both Houses of the Le gislature for a repeal of the Stamp Duty on Newspapers. He felt it to be his duty as Chief Magistrate—as the re quisitionists bad done him the honour to preside, to take the pvition of Chairman—be would reserve t o himself toe liberty of enjoying his own opinion upon the matter, which was one of very great importance. As Chairman of the meeting, he did not intend to take any part in it ; but seeing many of his 'fellow-citizens present, be hoped that every person who wanted to address them would be heard fairly and i mpartially on the subject, and that no. other topic would be allowod to be introduced. With these observations he would take his position, and leave the platform to those whose duty 't Was to open the business of the day, by proposing the reso lutions which they had prepared.—(Cheers.) Mr. G ROTE cam e forward amidst loud che erin g . The aPa. Gentleman spoke as fo llows :—Gentlemen, I have ivays the greatest satisfaction in meeting my constituents here a ssembled, but I have never had greater pleasure than upon the subject we are here assembled to discuss.— ( Cheers. ) You are aware that we are here met for the purpose of pro curing the repeal of the Stain!) Duties on Newspapers— (Cheers)—that we are assembled to testify legally and con nitationally our opinion of the impolicy and the mischief of this ° diens tax.—(Loud cheers.) We are assembled, above all, to protest against the principle of it—to protest against the wrongfulness, of keeping out deliberately from the p oorer classes of the country the means of obtaining political know ledge,_( Loud cheers.) It is well known that at this moment the Stamp Duties are of such a nature, that it imposes upon the great newspapers just as much as is paid for the small ones hat .as much is paid for the smallest sheet as is paid upon t he vast sheet on which the Morning Herald, the Morning -s- ---- - Chronicle, aed other great paper s , are printed. This is a sin a gainst all the rules of fairness an d justice—( Loud cheers)— it takes no accoun t .ef the q uantity of the article consumed, or of the difference of the mea ns of the consumer, All are made to pay the same, whether t ole q uantity of the matter to be read b e great or small. But t hough this is one of the sins, it is n o t the least of the s in s of the Stamp Duties upon Newspap ers ;it shuts out all t he gi'ean t b ledge of political mass of the -poorer w classes o f t h e com munity from that k affair s w hi c h oug h t t o b e liberally extended to them. If they bad any tax at all, a different system should be adopted according to the different classes of pa pers, and At the piesent and the prices at 'Which th e y w ere sold.—(Hear, hear, ha titoe, in consequence of a great and gigantic monopoly, it is impossible to publish newspaperse paid on every single for the poorer classes, when th reep ence duty must h -. sheet , a n d the co nsequenceis that while the circulation or these greet papers is crampe d and This is au evil of a narrowed, the smaller sad ch.'aper are stifled and suppr ess ed. v erY serious nature, and we are met here to exert ourselves to the utmost to obtain legally and constitutionally ve a termination there was a mischievous of this tax. I :an say ,that if ! a nd impolitic law it is that wh:e l l.p revents the cooreat classes front the pleasure of SG constant l y sl arid innocently afforded them, and whi:h con en . in . s ties poor man'e mind t ::, a miserable and stu i :id vacuity, such as leads at 71 times to drunkenness and excess of If we wish to secure our we r ights—o ur personal, p e o v li e t r i y eal, ki a n nl wish to promote the interests o o _ ..e constitutional rights- if e th e People, we will d o every thing to promote the repealwere all taxes of this kind. Yo u are aware that those taxes ere f • gaposed by a Tory Admin istrati on, for the purpose of depriving the people of political know l e d ge, „ and putting information °a these subjects out of the reach of the bulk ofthreofcotrithe , e nunity. la m sure, in the present day, no Chance llor t xehequer, if they did not now exist, would dare to propose th e imposition of them with such words i n his mouth. But when we cannot forget that they were imposed with such an av ° • wed intent, purpose, and motive, and when we reflect that . their imposition has produced so much misery, our regret is 11 0. !amity and bitterly increased. Gentlemen, there never was ' time more propitious for demanding the repeal than I l l!- . lent. We have in power a Ministry who, I believe, are we . is- Posed to do justice to the people, and it only requires :I decided manifestation of your op inions to strengthen their ha nds, and to enable them to t consolidate the interests of the ' e ir tt rY, which I am convinced ter of f e r have at heart.—( Hear.) y evenue, there never was a t . en if we regard it as a matter better spare it, for then the ad vertisement and paper duties would be considerably increased. a m told by many persons, for some of whom I entertain a . treat respect, if we have cheap n ewspap e rs we will I have too ill get nothing ut vil e an d li cent i ous tras h. I don'tbeli eve it. • hie', • ..."'" an opinion of the discernment of the great bulk of the 11 7:Ple asjudg ment would point in to su ppose that their wrong directi on . be l i eve the unstamped press is at ' Present driven into a coarsene ss l of andlarieuagleaw;and if we had a vileness of e lPression, b y the unnatural hostility o f the t e aP and useful publications they would circulate only what wo uld tend t o th e amusement, in formation, and enlightenment been able to make myself of the people. I fear I ha d ve not of this vast assemblage ; but I ‘::!ildierstood at the remote en of thisonzratulate those around . me on the important assemblsge h nt to olitical I hail it as an evidence of the state of feeling . 6n i t i l b ' i s subje y ei, and as an earnest ofour attac me p .. dente of to the cause of re f or m a nd nn Chancellor all, as an evi Chancellor of the t ce of a determined feeling whi ch t schequer can disregard. The Ho n. Gentleman concluded Yyroxosing the first resolution :-- ofss, and the good Government ! - 1 4 . . at the prosperity, the th : n ation mainly depend upon gr t e h a e tn m e oral habits and intelligence of s e Peeele, and that, therefore, to ie impose any tax upon the means o..Vottaining moral or political know ledge, w_ dge is an act of injustice, and 'h to be opposedby all legal h i n a ° nd Cons titutional' methods. . an of the London and Bit-. toi ts Aike SOLLY, Esq., (C. • ham Railway Committ a ee m ) rose . to second the resolution, th e 'alcl—l present myself before you to e carry into execution th e duty which has been imposed on me—namely, to second resolution of your respected Member . Mr. Grote—( Hear) an d I b ay . can assure you that a more gratifying duty I could not eve been required to perform. I agree most thoroughly in art ery observation which has fallen from your hon. repre sentative, i nut 1 am convinced that the existing taxes on knowledge ar e . aistraliY an injustice towards the public, _ but also to the admi can the pen ,tion itself.—( Hear, hear.) How, for in stance, e eiP i ° be informed of all the excellent measures which are n',.7 .hrought forward . by the pres ent Government for the atne. ' 'tion, if i n: tion of our Institutions an d t he . improvement of their con hould be con veye the vehicle through which intlligence s a n d , is oppressed and hopeded by heavy b urdens?_( Hear, trieralotid cheers.) I would also ask bow is the Govern. e i ii , i, to obtain the support of public opinion, etr e — i s so essentially T • -et t heir measures of Reform, le are kept in necessary to the carrying into if the peop le I would lg s t i l°l 'ance of what is goin. forward ?—( Hear, h . 4 a' A YOU to look back to what has already been accomplished, R if ttri t ' I Plat it to you whether any measure of improvement is not butable to the increased intelligence of the peopie,-- , th ee s k o i , -uch good e ff ects has resulted from this diffusion of re :;wiedge, is it eot both just and expedient that every 0 pmiziniienF shackle should be struck off, and that all the vehicles _f otelligerice should move free and unrestrained in the ir tonne ? Would you, I ask, have such men as Mr. e O'Connellsuch area"nr Legislative Assembly ?—would you as Mr. Grote, your worthy and honest 11.? .. p! h e a s s v e a n i t i a d ti i v ri c_, tere 111" y o th er excellent advocates of your ri g ht s StS, hut for the progress of knowledge and moral intelli gence of the people? Would You, this fact, have su eh men m • ' • "the high office which be hold s ; as ~ r. Salomons filling but for tie Look in Yotll . Municipal Councils ?—( b en • t at o theepountries. Would Poland have e . in the situa- Great cheering, ) .. -1?4 it W as at present, had Kosciusko had such a nation to deal with a 3 this ?__(Cheers.) Would America have been wha t it l ''' had Washington had such a nation as this to deal with ? tat T(Cheers.) Look to Ireland.—( Cheers.) What would I t rrY have &lite, had it not been for the able Represen tatives th e 4(1 in Parliament ? The more he thought upon the su bject aled. i.e more he was convinced that this tax ought to be It would be better not only for this country, but the world at rl.,77—(Great cheering.) ne Leen • d e _i a . MAYO R put the resolution to the meeting, and e , uelertiend it to be carried unanimously, amidst tronendous a ri• rtr_Aelder6m an Woon rose to propose the 2d resolution, amidst_ the le noise and confusion, occasioned by the crowded state of ' lide lie was not particularly anxious, as far as he was geri con cerned, to be beard ; for lie knew that there were several .r ath t _ e r raen there to-day, whom the meeting would much w-s e y bear than hiteself. He was sure that those present state much inconvenienced in consequence of the crowded ecoii.neeeenerfti °tine with the He had never, in the whole course of his the City, wi:neseed such a crowded Hall.— cation.l' s.)- la 0 , , ...-ie was gratified at it, ar. he could, for the gran& spe ed , 1 , all present, state that the meeting would hear th e me e e serern many of the first political reputation. He trusted lineaeirt°g would give e ver y o n e a n i m p ar ti a l h ear i ng. F or b een e _i i lill a f ew minutes ago, he was not aware he should have wi t h tt !lled upon to propose a resolution ; he, however, did so th aa il l greatest pleas ure , as no p er s o n was more f avourable woule raself to the o bj ect o f th e pr esen t meet i ng. He h not but wiziod Oc cupy the time of the meeting further, as i(Mo p w w as roceed im me di ate l y to rea d th e resolution, which Pose , s. It was very short, but very much t o t h e pur to i t 4114 be, therefore, begged the attention of the meeting 2. T hat th e Tax upon Newspapers is a dir °t fax upon Know- ledge, inasmuch as it prevents the middling and lower classes of the community from obtaining that infOrmation respecting the proceed-. ings in both Houses of Parliament, and the administratidn of law in the Courts of Justice ; and that knowledge' of foreign and do mestic occurrences, which, to a free and commercial people, are essentially necessary to enable them property to discharge their so cial and relative duties, to stimulate their industry, and to direct their commercial enterprize into now channels of profit to them selves, and advantage to the community at large. Dr. BlRKBECK—Gentlemen, I do assure you that I should feel the greatest pleasure in informing you on what principle I vindicate the resolution which I now appear to second, but in the present state of the Ilall, and the state of expectation in which you now arc, I shall not detain you by making any re marks on this great topic. Ido assure you that I consider that the tax upon newspapers is a direct tax upon knowledge— that it excludes from you, many of you at least, the possession of the information which belongs to the map of life—to its affections and vast concerns ; and although there are many other 'kinds of knowledge which I might now offer to your notice, I should be the first to place this within your reach—(Hear), —because I believe it is of the first importance to you to possess it. Without encroaching longer on your convenience, which must be disturbed by the position in which you are placed, I shall merely say that I cordially second this resolution, which declares that the middling and lower classes, whose interests I shall always advocate, are en titled to a share in this knowledge.—( Cheers. ) The resolution was then put by the Lord Mayor, and car ried unanimously. Mr. Joust TRAVERS—Gentlemen, I have great pleasure in proposing another resolution for your consideration, and I hope for your approval. It is Of the same character as those which have preceded it—( Hear, hear)—and is intended to point out to you the universality, the impolicy, and injustice of all taxes on knowledge—and more especially that most odious of all taxes—the tax upon knowledge.—( Cheers. ) Gentlemen, there are some amongst his in this great city, and elsewhere, who will tell you, and I blush for them, who from the purely fortuitous circumstances of what is termed birth and fortune, and therefore they ought to be possessed of a better education, who pretend to say that these taxes on knowledge do not affect you—that all are not fitted for the same amount of education as themselves. But I sub mit to you, that if this notion suits their views, it ought not to satisfy your desires—( Hear, hear ; hcar)— For I have ever found in my intercourse with society that the greatest amount of knowledge of the best quality will always produce the greatest good—( Cheers)—that the human mind is the same every where—that it is constituted the same as I have said, in the higher as well as in the lower classes of so ciety, varying of course in its degrees of power and intelligence according to men's circumstances, but being desirous of the at tainment, with the same capabilities for every improvement in every rank and condition of life, and of every sunshine of heaven. And, Gentlemen, these persons affect to say, (and I need not tell you that it is pure affecta tion in them to say so, because they know better), that in newspapers there is no real knowledge —or that it is a species of' knowledge that it is some times dangerous, and that none but the favoured few who can afford to pay the tax on it should possess it. Where as; I assert that it is a knowledge beneficial to all—that it is a picture of our daily life—of the wants and necessities of man kind—where we may see our own and other men's wants daily depicted before us. I believe that in contemplating this pic ture we arrive at a better knowledge not only of mankind, but of our rights and liberties, and are thereby better enabled to stand up for them, and enforce them. Gentlemen, is it not, therefore, an act of the greatest injustice and impolicy in the legislature of a free country—moreover, a legislature possess ing liberal opinions to endeavour to check that knowledge—of a legislature that ought to do all it can to promote liberal opinions, and not impose a tax or endeavour to perpetuate for a single moment a tax upon that food which is so neces sary for our daily intellectual and moral sustenance. That food which in its diffusion in society contributes so well to the purposes of good order, and which is the best support of good Government—is it not enormous to support a monopoly which is so partial in some of its consequences ? You, Gen tlemen, arc' not aware of the great excitement which exists over the country, because the meetings where that excitement was shown—where the excitement was beyond all description. and shown by men of all parties—these meetings were burked by all the London Papers.—(Groans and Shame.) Are you aware of what is good for you in the shape of competition? I will show you the effects of it in another country.— (Hear.) I have here an American Newspaper, which cost only one halfpenny.—( Cheers.) The type, composition, and arrangement of it, are equal to any one of the London News papers, and it was sold for one halfpenny, because it was not taxed,—(Cheers.) I have another secret to tell you respecting this paper—it and all others in the United States are sent 300 miles for one halfpenny postage, and that even then there is a profit to the Government. Then why cannot we have the same thing ?—( Cheers.) Can it be proper on the part of the Legislature of any country to uphold a monopoly which has discovered the greatest political profligacy—which has shown the world the greatest stretch of political prostitution.—(Loud cheering.) I will trouble you with only one other observation upon another subject. This monopoly must be odious in your sight, when you remember the number of vic tims it has in the prisons of the country.—(Cheers.) Men have been torn from their families.-. 4 shame, shame.) It is time, Gentlemen, we should get rid of these things, They talked to him of equal justice—let him hear no more of that, while the great, the titled—the illustrious, as they were ealled—(Great hooting)—are stalking forth with all their guilt fresh upon them—( Loud cheering)—while such men are suffered to stalk abroad unpunished, with all the guilt of their Orange confederacy fresh upon them. I will not de tain you ; there arc those to follow me--vvho are more capable of amusing and fixing your attention to this important subject than I am, but I have thought it my duty, having been en trusted with a resolution, to touch on those the most important points. lam glad you have responded to my call, and I have not the slightest doubt but that you will do your duty. I have, the honour to propeike the third resolution:- 3. That the present Stamp Duty of fourpence upon every English newspaper, is alike injurious to the cause of moral, scientific, and political truth ; arid encourages a monopoly which tends not less to destroy the freedom of the Press, than to weaken our confidence in those who have its direction and management. Mr. B. Woon--Gentlemen, in seconding this resolution I will offer you but a low words, for the purpose of expressing the satisfaction I feel at the assemblage I see before me—met for the purpose of gettingwid of a tax which keeps knowledge from the poor man. Knowledge, gentlemen, you admit is necessary to all claws pf persons. In this country, and in all countries which are attached to liberty, such is a principle admitted by all. Knowledge cannot be circulated without cheap printing, Printing cannot be disseminated if it is taxed. Newspapers are the vehicles by the means of which knowledge is to he dispersed Throughout the kingdom. We Kaye heard to-day of this tax which afflicts the preys of of this country. You have heard of a tax which enables the rich to buy newspapers, but it is one that will give few to the middling _classes, and at moat none to the poorer classes.— ( Cheers.) Gentlemen, I will tell you that the five Morning Papers of this ulty issue yearly nine millions of newspapers. I will tell you that in France—in Paris, five Morning News papers issue eighteen millions yearly.—( Loud cheers.) I will tell you that in America in 1810, there were issued 22 millions of Newspapers, which in 1834 had Increased to 73 1n miui jili onao7s, (Cheers.) In 16 23 10 in England the circulation was while in 1834 it had increased to 30 millions, being an itinrease only of 7 millions, while in America that number had been three times multiplied.—(Cheers.) These are dry facts, gentlemen, but you can understand them. No doubt you have heard that Newspapers can be printed and sold at a profit so small even as a halfpenny each. These paper; are issued throughout the country at a postage of only another half-penny—the consequence was that in America there was one newspaper'to f,3 inhabitants, while in England there was only one to 240. Now, Gentlemen, these facts are for your consideration—you are to consider whether it is possible for any free Press to exist in this country, so long ar this burthen hangs about you. You have heard of a monopoly.. This tax is the monopoly, and it can never be got rid of until the tax is got rid af, Ido not mean to say that it is capital which produces the monopoly. The great object which a per son ',tailing a newspaper has, is to obtain a great connection. Capital, or aottraei is necessary. He takes a liberal side in politics, for the purpose of inducing the public at large to support that parer which he has established. Need I tell you that the limes newspaper—(Tremendous groaning, which lasted several minutes)—need I toll you that the Times—(Renewed groaning)—that that newspaper would have obtained its great and overwhelming circulation but for its liberal opinions ?—(Loud cheers,) It was the people at largo that had raised the Times into im portance ; and what had it done—it had turned its hack upon the people.—( Loud Groans.) This is the mono poly by which the Times is supported. It still linepa its ground to a certain extent. Its fortune is made—it turns its back upon those whose exertions have raised it—and it supports the Tories.—(Tremendous groaning,) If there was no tax upon newspapers, could the Times have done what it had done, without meeting such an opposition as would have driven it from the country—would have plevented persons from giving it any encouragement at all, and it must have been annihilated. What was the Nurse it had followed? It was accused, and attempted to accuse others, h s isn sacrificing ngpoaelloe, and bring decency, every thing moral and good, t deceive about one of the most tremendous revolutions that had Won ever known—it had supported Grangeism—(Groans)—and it had dtnounced O'Connell.—(Tremendons groaning.) It had endeavoured to Musa the feelings of the people against th e i r duty—because he had Faked his voice in defence of his coun try, and had demanded for Ireland—iTreMendous cheering)__- for his country — that justice which would be ashamed or any one here vaunt, if he did not demand for his own.—( Loud cheers.) The resolution was then put, and carried Mr, [lwo came forward, and was received with trenicndons applause. 'After the Pheeriug and waving of hats had ceased the Hon. Member - spoke isa follows :—Gentlemen, I am ex iseoply anxious to address to you a very few words can the im portant for which we are here assembled. Yon arts nii weli w no friend to taxation at any a s a u r bj e that u;il time—(Loud cheers) —but I- MI assure you that I n ever snigcd m y voice to demand the ripta4l of arty tax with and anxiety than I now do th propose po s ResolutionPrY to your Rtico, which. I am sure will t e a more re ceive your unanimous coneurrence.—:( 4 0 ?-0 Pheer§. ) The tax on newspapcn is one of the most impolitic and the !post imoous that a free State had ever imposed. But when you learn :bat this t#lf• was imposed by the 'feu poyernment 120 years ago—(TreMeta4o4s groping)--1 trust now th two t talcs off this tax. -(Loud have put the Tories down we Fa" f cheers.) We will le,ep them down you will o; l' take off cc this tax.—(Cheers ; 12+4 94 W9ll keep Ptept down. 9 The Tories have power, but how s,„over an ignorant multi tude, who know not their right., hut are willing slaves to power, office, and emolument. It is to raise them to their proper position s to giye them an opinion of the 460 they owe to themselves and their country as freemen, that I am anxious to see them receive that information which a free Press can convey. There is one thing that I shall notice, it is this— that since 1712, when the first duty was levied on newspapers of a halfpenny; the tax has gone.on, and has been increased a halfpenny and a penny at a time by every succeed ing Government, till it had risen to its present state. Of all the taxes that had been been repealed, the taxes upon know ledge have never been repealed.—(Loud cheers.) They have gone on increasing till the present time—they have been maintained by every Government ; they want to keep in ignorance the mass of the people, and to perstiO.de us that the people are not able to receive information—that they are not capable of judging for themselves—and that though they are intelligent men, they want to rule the people like beasts. —( Tremendous cheering.) Aye ! John Bull has been a beast of burden for army years ; they, the people of Eng land, had been treated novas free Englishmen, but literally as slaves—slaves to that party:a-the Tory party, who had imposed the tax upon newspapers ti stifle information. It is on this ground that I entreat you to undeceive his Majesty's Ministers this day.—( Hear, hear, and loud cheering.) I believe there is an idea entertained by his Majesty's Ministers that this is a questien about which the public are not interested—(Tremendous cries of " We are, we arc")__ whilst at this moment meetings are taking place in every part of the empire, denianding the abolition of this tax, how seldom is it that these meetings are publicly announced? Very few of them are ever noticed in the public papers.—(Tremendous groaning.) The people take a deep interest in this subject, and we are bound by every means in our power to convince his Majesty's Ministers that there is a general desire throughout the country for a repeal of the tax upon newspapers. —( Cheers. ) These taxes are, I say, a disgrace to the Government. I f ee l ashamed of supporting a Government which can continue them ; and I only assist the Whigs in order to keep a greater enemy, the Tories, out of the field.—( Cheers.) I ask you to raise your voice here and everywhere else against the tag; to demand its immediate abolition. It is a tax injurious in every point of view in a free State. The Government are acting ineonsistenly, if what: I have heard be true, that they intend to propose that the tax be taken off except one penny Now, I say they must not leave one farthing on. If they do they will be taxing the poor man at the rate of 100 per cent. for his newspaper, while the rich are only charged at the vate of 10 per cent., as they arc able to purchase a 6d. or 7d. publi cation. So that the poorer a man is, the heavier he will be taxed. That is not a Just system.—(l - fear, hear.) One of the gentlemen who went before me prodqoe4 to you a newspaper, published in New York. I shall shgw you another—and a better newspaper I will venture to.eay is not published—it is called the g Lend ebeers)— which is sold for one halfpenny.—(Mr. Hume here un folded a large newspaper, and showed it to the meeting. Now, Gentlemen, if the tax were taken off, you also would have your newspapers for a halfpenny, I shall also produce you another paper, published in Wales, half in Welsh--half in English, which will prove the infamous working of the present system. We know our Welsh brethren are nor so en lightened as the English, and therefore require more that the means of acquiring knowledge should he easily within their reach. Now this paper has been put down, unless it would publish only once a month. So that a man can publish once a month, while he cannot once or twice a week. I ask you, therefore, to raise your voices against the continuance of such a system, and I tell you the friends of freedom and of the people in the House of :Commons are determined to contend for its total abolition. (Cries of ‘• Hear," and cheers.) The Reform Bill has extended the liberty of the subject. I hope those liberties will be still further increased, and I hope every Englishman will Le in possession of a right in Corporations to enable him to vote only for those who will promote his interests and the pria cip'es of reform. Sir, I trust that the people will use every means in their power to have the opportunity of choosing pro per representatives in Parliament. At present I feel that you have not done all that you have been called upon to do.— ( Loud cheering.) You have let three hundred and fi'ty Tories step into Parliament.—( Cheers.) Why have you done so ?—from ignorance.—( Cheers.) You have not known be fore what your duty was.—(Cheers.) It is your duty, as true En '‘shmen, to do all that you can, to leave no stone un turned .1 you have obtained free access to that which will give you political information.—( Cheers. ) Aye, political in formation.—( Loud cheers.) It has been said by some wo are the political men; you attend to your business, and if you do so that will be quite enough for you; we will attend to politics. _....(Cheers and laughter.) Now, Gentlemen, we are anxious to remove this, and we are also anxious that the people should know what the real facts and circumstances of the case are, and that they should be acquainted with what their real duty is. —(Cheers.) The House or Commons at the present mo ment is giving money for the establishment of schools, and while they are professing in both Houses to have the education of the people at heart, they are by a fiscal regulation taxing the spread of education.—(Great cheering.) It is, therefore, clear that the Government have not the interest of the people at heart ; they have no wish to enlighten the people. In fact, they are withholding from the people that which will enable them to enlighten themselves upon any political subjects. From the - time of Anne down to 1797 every impost has been laid upon newspapers ,(Cries of " Shame") — in order that the people should not be made acquainted with the political state of the country—( Shame)—and that impost has been strictly kept up till the present moment. Now, what I say is, and what I would advise his Majesty's Government to do is this—let them take off the tax altoge gether—(Great cheering)—let them give to their fellow-sub jects an opportunity of enlightening each other.—( Cheers.) What tax or what impost has been more clamoured against?—. ( Cheers.) Look to other countries—look at Russia—look in Prussia and in France, as far as their means of conveying knowledge is concerned, England will sink into insignificance before them.—(Cheers.) There every person is taught to read and write, and every means arc adopted to make them good citizens. Every circumstance connected with this tax calls aloud for its abolition, and I only hope that the people of this country will use every exertion in their power to shake off the yoke that oppresses them.—(Great cheering.) I have no doubt in saying that there is not a single person in this meeting . who would allow another knowingly to pick his pocket.—( Laughter.) But your pockets, gentlemen, in the case of the duties on newspapers, has been picked to no small extent.--( Hear, hear.) And why ? Because you have not been aware of your rights ?—(Chee s.) In my opinion, gentlemen, the coedact of the Government ha; been most at ocious. They ought, if they bad taeir own i n t erest at hear, long since to have taken off the tax. — ( Cheers.) lam anxious to see the Government do goo d for the people_ (Cheers),—and for that purpose I h o p e and t rus t, whim the feelings of the meeting are convey ed to them, they will at once take off the tax.—( Loud and long-c on tinr i i i e e d y cheering.) My friend Mr. O'Connell w ill second th e r esolution, which I hope will meet with t h e a pp robatio n of the meeting. The existence of the p resent Mini stry de pend upon the people, and I hope the da y is fa r distant, when, in consequence of the cond uct of the p eo p l e w ill be obliged to truck'e to the Tories.—( Loud cheers. t ) Every one, with the exception of the people are against the the present Government, and I hope and trust, through the instrnmentality of the people, the present object will succeed in the great object they have in view. 4. That this meeting cannot conceal from itself the fact that the Stamp Dutyedndefneean'sdpeapd,ebrsy was t i n i o m pe p n ose o d r , acnovdehrtasenbeemenieis of the ed 'an of all free and liberal institutions ; and that, th ere f ore, people, and mes the first and paramount duty of a Government prof es : .ine to rest upon the afloctions of a ration, instantly to abolish a tax which is suited only to the purposes of tyranny and misrule, and is calculated to shut out from the middling and lower classes that knowledge of their rights which is a fundamental ingredient in the true principles of English liberty. Mr. O'Coeseee came forward to the front of the platform, where he stood for several minutes before lie could proceed, from the deafening and reiterated cheers with which be was greeted from every quarter of the immense assemblage. When the plaudits had in some degree subsided, the lion. and Learned Gentleman said—How heartily, how anxiously do I desire that it was possible for me to merit such a reception. (Cheers.) Would to God I had powers that would enable me to show my gratitude in the only way that public gratitude can be shown, by my services.—( Renewed cheering.) I was expressing, or rather endeavouring to express, the deep anxiety I feel that it had pleased Pt evidence to bless me with faculties to thank this multitudinous assemblage of Englishman for a re ception that would have delighted me at any period of my varied life, but at this moment it is peculiarly gratifying to my feelings, and it will cheer me to night in my struggles in another place to obtain justice for my oppressed and persecuted country.—(Cheers.) The manner in which you receive me convinces me of your sympathy for our wrongs and' sufferings—( Hear)—and in return for this sympathy and manifestation of honest feeling, I can only owe youil ling t t h n a e t x t e h r e t ro hi i m s humble Irishman himself who o f Englishmanonrot w h the adr restoration e ,ulssr.more ,anxious :o u n f ° ( u your ij ° rights and n nd n t o h d re nwt con tinued cheering.) In my struggle for human liberty I have known na dMinetioo of conotry•—( Cheers , ) A ficie brated philosopher once saki--" . Show me where liberty dwells, for there is my home." This is my principle —upon this principle I have ever acted. It has been the le ad i n g nia4ka at my political lire, WI ta my 1030 breath I hope it will continue so,-,(Cbeers,) The pride and boast of Ling li*hinen is that while every country in the wurid was enslaved, (LEFT SPEAKING.) The conclusion will be given in our Second Edition), A FAIR BARGAIN.—Th tablea were like to be turned against Bailie Small in the Police Court on Monday morning, While he was in the act of admonishing an Irish virago, `and about to pass sentence, she stopped him, sayiog— " Now I will tell your honour what I mane to do with you— (this threat convulsed the whole Court with laughter, in which the worthy Bailie joined)—l will lave the town clane and oleyer, If yoo w ill only give me n hregidaa,n `t'r' i o igluperin tendent immediately Closed a bargain with her on these terms, and added, that he would also give her dinner and supper, prgvided she would fulfil the part of her bargain with the AlagistFate. f‘ illgo ytltly $(3%.y1 for ever, Air. Watson, you're a jewel of a man ; Pll take your bargain first, and lave the town jist the same way every day if you plase."—( A ial :) 'IMP prisoner then left the bar, - seemingly rosolYed tq keep the Superiatendeat to his promise.,,StoSs rinf4! DEER STEALIIG.-7—JaMCS Carter and William I trYa..,T l Were nin liarire of the lone,end police a few d ay s qgq for stealing fawn, flip property of the bukc of Suther land. They were taken infore Mr. Adderley, and ordered to discharged,be the eharge of stealing, it is presumed , n ot hav ing been fully prove t l; but .cubseqcontly Mr, Woodi the con stable of .r .Preitthain, served thpre with' a sanarnons to appear wgin before the Magistrates at •Bartiston, on Mondity ! when they were anod 10/. each and costs fiir haVing the fawn in th eir possession. NQt Veingol - e to pay 'Ole fine, they were Ordered to prisOn for four months' each. ariercontriy - ed tp slip the hand:miffs, andol - geol.bail. AC - has not yet been re - taken , ! --qhreiesbati Ckroniele, THE SUN, LODO,NT, MONDAY', MARCH 7, 1856. SHIPPING.—(THIS DAY.) (FROM 'LLOYD'S.) DEAL, MARCH 5. —Wind W. S. W., fresh. 6.—Wind S. S. E. to W. S.W.—Arrived the Mary, from the Cape of Good Hope ; and James Cruickshank, Young; from De mera. Arrived from the River and sailed, the Newgrave, Justian, for Sidney; Archives, Oliver, for the Mauritius ; Prince Coburg, Smith, for Trinidad; Eliza, Williams, for Newry ; Mexican , Goldworth y , for Newfoundland ; Saracen, Puckev, for Lisbon ; Lively, Trapp, for Bordeaux ; Victoria, Hodge, for Waterford, has since put back and remains ; Au gustus, Mauritius; and Sarah Ann, Sierra Leone. PORTSMOUTH, MA ECH 5. —Wind S. S.W., squally. 6. Wind S. E. to S. S. W.—Arrived Active, Dart, St. Michaels. PLYMOUTH, MARCH s.—Wind S. S. W. STANDGATE CREEK, MARCH 6. Arrived the Jane, Cocks, from Alexandria ; Dart, Ditchen, • from Zante; and Reform, Leader, from Alicant. MARGATE, MARCH b.—Arrived the Sprightly,Newton, from St. Michael's. BRISTOL, MARCH 6. Arrived the Flora, Richards, Leghorn, LIVERPOOL, MARC!! 4.—Arrived the • John and Elizabeth, Churchill, from Savannah ; Ceres, Curris, from Pietou ; Palmer, Holland, from Cutania ; Palvatore, Rollo, from Li cata ; Phcenix, Post, and Riviere, Creswell, from Alicati ; Ceres, Tyer, and Love and Unity, Williams, from Alaraeillos, and Cintra, Johnson, from Lisbon. FALMOUTH, MARCH 4.—Wind S.W. to W. S. W., squally. s.—Wind S, to W., strong and squally.—Arrived the Gold finch packet --, from Rio Janeiro, sailed Jan. mu ; His Majesty's Ship Netley, —, from Lisbon, sailed 26th ult. ; Albert, Hurry, from Licata; Falcon, Brenowen, from Zante; John Rummely, Summers, from Cephalonia; Virturo, from Rotterdam—cargo shifted, with rudder damaged, bound to Gibraltar. Sailed His Majesty's Steamer Pluto, —, for Cadiz and the Mediterranean, with mails ; SbeldpAc I:l3lFtt for Madelya liraol f l iveßgol ( S.) Heriburn, from Ca iz. S C ARBOROUGH, MARCH 3.—The John's, of Port Gordon, mhich was on shore in Ceylon Bay on the 17th ult., has been Pt 21 and brought into this harbour to-day, Two casks of palm ni warp fished up near . the Channel by the Britannia from Cadiz, arrived in the River. The Edmund Stacey, from Liverpool, was lost going iotO Oporto previous to the qtl l ult, The Leonidas, Layering, from Shields to Swansea, was abandoned off port Lynas, on the 4th inst., in a sinking state, having been in contact with the Benjamin Morgan. The Neptple, pel4s, from 4ielly to Liverpool, was fallen in with 4th inst., lat. 4a, long, 11, dismasted and abandoned. The Dans Joarnos foundered off Madeira lath ult. The Plp . it charlotte from Antwerp to-Flushing, after being on fire, proceeded for London. The Washington, from Norfolk to Havre, which put into Cork in January last with damage, has beer& condemned, The Pacific (timber laden) was wrecked near Flores, Jan. 17. Extract of a Letter received at Lloyd's this morning, dated Madeira, Feb. 21 : " All vessels arriving at this port will heneero.tward be liable to pay Tonnage Duty, which is not yet determined." Miss Joanna Baillie was at Covent Garden Theatre on Thursday evening, and witnessed, for the first time, the representation of her tragedy entitled Separation. Miss Baillie expressed herself highly gratified with the exertions of the va rious performers, especially Miss 11. Faucitt, on whose acting *hethestowed the warmest encomiums. The King's Theatre is expected to be• more brilliant during the present season than it has been for many years. Laporte has engaged all the great artistes, both in song and in dance, that were to be had in Europe, and by his admirable skill and management they will arrive in England and appear in succession. The season will extent to forty-five or forty six nights. Nearly all the principal boxes and many of the stalls are already taken. - BATH, MA RCEI 3.—FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS. —Sir J. Slade, Sir R. Coloquin, Sir S. Stuart, Hoilourable Richard Boyle, Colonel Wickham, Lieutenant- Colonel Ca meron, Major Mountain, Major Latour, Capt un Polhill, Captain Powney, Captajn Waldrew, Captain Hewitt, and Captain Strachey. - The London and Westminster Bank have been made returners of the excise revenue for Surrey and Rochester in KCnt. The appointment has taken place under the sanction of tho Board of Excise, who have this power, and has caused, it is said, much mortification to the Directors of the Bank of England, who have used all means in their power, whether fair or unfair, to keep down this rising competitor. It is stated that the business is to be performed on terms very favourable to the public. MONUMENT TO LORD MILTON.—A public meeting was held last week at Barrow school, near Went worth, totally unconnected with political feeling, and without the knowledge of Earl Fitzwilliam's family, in order to consi, der the best means of raising a subscription for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of the late Viscount Milton, in testimony of his virtue, amiable manners, and ta lents-. The edifice, like the Wilberforce testimonial, is de, signed to combine utility with ornament. The Clergy of this diocese are to meet on Tuesday next, to confer on the proposed Tithe Bill. —Kentish Observer. EXTRAORDINARY CAPTURE.—On Wednesday morning, as one of the men belonging to the Exeter Gas Works was proceeding to put out the lamps in Dix's Field, he was surprised to find the lower lamp had been extinguished. . Upon going up to the lamp he found it occupied by a fine par tridge, which hid flown into the lamp by breaking the glass on one side, and by its fluttering had pia out the light. The man carried the bird home, and put it into the cage of a magpie ; but such such was its dislike to its new habitation, that, in its effort to escape, it threw the cage down, and the door spring ing open, the poor bird regained its freedom and its native hills. lVestern Luminary. ST. GEORGE THE MARTYR, SOUTHWARK, AND Sr. GILES, CAMBERWELL —SALARIES UNDER THE NEW POOk LAW AMENDMENT BILL.—Some idea of the moderate work ings of this Bill may be gleaned from the following ap pointments in the parishes of St. George the Martyr, South wark, and St. Giles, Camberwell John Fitch, clerk to the board of St. George, 3151. per annum; second clerk to ditto, 105/. ; Mr. Hooper, surgeon, 110/. ; Mr. Evans, I of ; Huish, relieving ocer, loot. ; Caslake, relieving officer, 100 1 ; two collectors of the poor rate at two per cent, on the amount of collection. In St. Giles's, Camberwell, the first clerk to the board has 3001. per annum ; the second, 1201. ; the two relieving officers, 2101. ; three assistants to the board at salaries of 70/. per annum-210/. ; and four medical officers, whose several salaries amount to 3401. The immense sums of money squandered in the introduction of the Bill, the contested elections for bolrds of guardians, and other contin gencies, has made the economical portion of the parishioners begin to look about them.—Morningrost. Ve have much pleasure in stating that the Ho nourable Baronet M P. for Westminster is rapidly recovering from the severe illness he has suffered in consequence of the fall he had from his horse. His friends flatter themselves that in a short time he will be able to reaumt his usual occupations. EXETER TOWN COU'ioll,..—To THE KING,— The ExetorTown Counsel have unanimously passed a loyal and constitutional address. We feel proud of the distinguished position which the adoption of this address gives the liberals in t'iis hitherto Tory-ridden city. The Tories were seized with a panic when the address was proposed, and it was not till they were convinced that a stronger one would be carried by the burgesses at large if they refused their assent, that they gave way, and— 'Vowing they never would consent—consented. The address prays for the completion of all those measures premised in the King's Speech I LONG CREDIT, SORE WORK; • AND LITTLE PAY.— cow-feeder new tho foot of Sitltmarket, Glasgow, is in the habit of serving a customer with a halfpenny worth of sweet.milk daily, and, in order to accomplish this sale, the milkmaid has to travel on the street a distaneo of' 550 yards, then up and down four long stairs, amounting to 152 .3teps; thus making altogether 702 yards each time ! As this customer is of what is called the genteel sort, they are not in the habit of paying their account until it amounts to the sum of One Pound Sterling ; she has, therefore, to perform this journey no less than 480 times, which, when multiplied to gether, amounts to 336,960 yards, or upwards of 191 English miles, and extends to a period of one year, three months, three weeks, and four days. _ _ HYDROPIIOBIA.—We stated last week that C4ll - alarm was excited in this town ( and neigh-, bourhood, from several mad dogs having been seen to bite cattle, &c. We are now compelled to add a melancholy in stance of an attaok made by one on a female. About seven weeks since Elizabeth Rawliag, of Emneth, thirty-Aine years of age, and who was her father's honsdionp.r, Was feeding her geese early in the morning% and was seized by a mad dog, which graspe4 her by the arm and pulled her down, and bit Ler on the ieg. The wound on the arm was large, was s t ewed up we understand by a blacksmith, and to appearance healed. No medical assistance tya?4 resorted too, nor did she live in the loot allPrchension of any fatal consequence. On go w d o y last she felt rather unwell, but supposed it to h o rheumatism I the disorder increasing, on Monday Morning a medical gentleman was sent for, whom she was in extreme agony, craving food and drink, bot usable to swallow the smallest particla) this affection she first felt an Sunday at ttkAppqr, Under all the dreadful eficts of hydrophobia she continued till Tuesday evening, when it terminated her exist ence.— afig4). Ogg elgonick LITERAItY AND SCIENTIFIC MEE rINGS. THIS DAY. • Entymological society, 8, p.m. Phrenological Society, 8, p.m, London 'Medical Si4ety, 8, p. m. *O-MOR ROW. Society of Arts, 8, p.m. Architectural ociety, 8, p.m, Royal Academy, 8, p t mi ciYil gr4givieetg , P , P* Med cal Anil Chirurgical Society, 8, p. m , oologic?..1 Society, half-past 8, p.m, WEDNESDAY. Meclico*Botanical Society, 8 p.m. Graphic Society, 8, p.m. Society of At'ts, half-past 7, p.m. London Institution, half-past 8, p.m. GeOiciaiPal Society, 8, p.m. - Literary Fund Committee, 3 p.m. THURSDAY. Roya` &mit ty, half-past 8, p.m. Royal Society of Literature, SOiety of AAtiquaries, 8, Royal 'Academy, 8 p.m. Royal Astronomical Society, 8, p.tn, Nei Institution, 9., p, l: Westminster Medical Society, 8, p.m, Viqrsicp,l - Sgeiety, 8, p al- PARLIAMENTARY RAPERS. BRIBERY.—The following is intended to furnish an AB STRACT of the . Bill recently brought in by Mr. Hardy, "more effectually (according to its title) to prevent B r ib er y an d Corruption at Elections." The preatnUe sebt out with stating the expediency of consolidat,g the existing statutes against Bribery at Elections intl.', one Act. Clause the Ist accordingly names for repeal certain Acts passed in the reigns of William 111., George IL, George 111., and George I V. - - The 2nd clause contains a penalty of 500/. against any person who shall either corruptly obtain, or cause to be with held a vote. The like penalty is affixed to the repayment or compensating of any person who shall have ct.rrupted others. The following schedule exhibits at one view the substance of the penalty clauses:—. POhttiTs. Ile who corruptly obtains or attempts to obtain any vote, for every offence 5001.. He who gives anything for los s o f t i me or expensz, , s, cr ar.y meat or drink for voting, 80/. He who receives anything for voting, 501. Any candidate or his agent giving or allowing any ribbon or mark of distinction, for every one 10/. Any voter guilty of any of tho above offences, or vex) re fnlypt oni pmation for loss of time, forfeits his vote. All persons liable to be imprisoned until such fines be paid. The 11th and 14th clauses inclusive are composed of lortts for oaths, _ The 14th renders void the return of any candidate at whose election corruption has been proved before a Select Commit tee, to have taken place either with or without his knowltclge, 16. A Committee to whom a petitioq m, lit refer7: i against a return is required, tq itvoira hue the ked corrup tion of the cay t iLdato,)uost as well as 7.l'esent. The flth declares it , 2Eawful for Ritnesse3 to refuse tn swering questions, on the ground of the same criminatirg themselves, 4110 18th grants indemnity to the informer. 19. To the present punishment for perjury is added dis ability either to vote or sit in Parliament. 20: Sheriffs Omit give the fullest publicity to the schedule we have given above. 21. Penalties imposed by this Act may be recoverei with full costs of suit. Six mouths is the proposed period within which proceedings may be taken against offenders. As Mr. Broadway, house-steward of the Duke of Buckingham, was trying an apparatus for remoNing- his Grace from one apparent to another on a different floor, he was pre cipitated from the heigh.t of two floors, and killed on the spot.—Bucks Hera?. Mr. Morris is now the sole proprietor of the Hay market Theatre, having recently purchased from Mr. Winston the one-eighth share held by that gentleman for a T.:umber of years. Morris is at present actively occupied in preparing a most effective company for the opening of his summer cam paign, from which, with the accession he has made to his last year's establishment, great suceeis is anticipated. Young Charles Mathews ought to be added to the company at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, where his highly-taleatcd father made his first appearance in London, and whore he acquired many of his laurels ; although Tate Wilkinson, the manager of the Yfirk Theatre, from which the elder Mathews was transplanted, declared to the writer of this paragraph that be would never make an actor. Chevy Chase was played, for the second time, to a crowded house on Saturday, having been curtailed more th a n an hour, as we suggested. It has cost the lessee above 1,5001. to produce this splendid spectacle. PAISLEY ELECTION.—A meeting of the clectois was held on Wednesday. There are three candidates—Mr. Hastie, Mr. Aytoun, and Mr, Colquhoun. In the library of the Duke of Buckingham, at Stowe, is deposited a I;tx coataininft papers, which arc secured with three seals, said to be those of the late Marquis of Bucking ham, the late Lord Grenville, and the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. The contents of the boi are understood to be ma nuscript letters of, and documents relating to, " Junius." ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The number of visitors during the past month was 5,605, and the amount received therefrom 1091. 83. The Council have determined upon hiring a riding-house, or other commodious premises, for th e reception of the giraffes, on their arrival ht this country, where they will form a separate exhibition. The arrange ments for the breeding seasnn at the Gardens have b een com pleted similar to thc.so of the last year; and that part where the pheamts are kept will be ele:sed to the visitors for the present. The alterations at '.'ne new premises for the Museum in Leicester-square (late the Museum of National Manu factures), are prowaing with rapidity, and it is expected will be ready fc.,F the collection about Lady-day. CHELTENHAM, MARCH 3.—FASHIONABLE AR RIVALS.—EarI of Antrim, Earl of Kerry, Lord Anson, Lord Cranstoun, honourable Mr. Courtency, Lady and Miss Naveiatt, Lady Clive, Sir Hugh Steuart, Colonel and Mrs. Fulshor, Major Shiebrick, Captain Hughes and family, Misses Troutbeok, Miss Donovan, Miss Kerwain, Miss Cottrell. The Batehelors' Fancy Ball took place here on Thursday evening last, and was attended by about 600 of our fashionables, and proved a most splendid affair. The story relating to a new claimant to the title and estates of a Noble Marquis, which has been inserted in many of the journals, is utterly worthless and without the slightest foundation, It is merely the revival of a rumour loosely eirnuletod at the death of his Lordship's brother, which event took place in the South of France, where he was-attended by his tutor, now a member of the episcopal bench. Mr. Charles Kemble has been prevented from acting at Covent-garden Theatre during the last Feek, in conse quence of the death of his sister, Mrs. Whitlock, which event took place in London last Saturday week. Mrs. Whitlock was in her day an actress of considerable celebrity, and to the last a lady of great mental attainments. She married early in life Charles Whitlock, Esq., at that time joint manager_ with Joseph Austin, Esq., of a most respectable company of come dians in the north of England. The late Mr. Munden pur chased Mr. Whitlock's share in the Newcastle, Sunderland, Lancaster, and Chester theatres. ACCIDENT ON TILE RlVER.—Friday afternoon, a short time before high water, the Queen, East Indiaman, a large ship of 1,400 tons' burthen, was towed up the river, under the guidance of a pilot, advantage belly* taken of the spring tide for the purpose. On arriving off the King and Queen, Rotherhithe, about 200 yards from Mr. Christall's yard, the Pool was so crowded with vessels and craft of every description beating up the_river, that, in order to iwevent any mischief, the tow-line was cast off, and an attempt was made to bring up the M. Queen by means of small kedge anchors, but the anchors did not hold, and the ship was carried by the tide with great velocity against a tier of shipping. She first ran foul of tho William, a collier, and carried away her bow quit. new jib-boom, bulwarks, and some of her shrouds. Tl.e topmast and mainmast head also fell, and the vessel appeared complete_ wreck. 'I he 31' Queen sustained considerable in.. jury by the collision, and having cleared the William, brake another ship adrift, which, coining athwart the next tier, da maged several vessels. A coal barge, from which several lightermen with ditEculty escaped with their lives, was stove in, and several boats were swamped. The huge ;Lip was eventually brought up and made fast to other vessels, and after wards moored alongside Mr. Christall's %%had, All the large ships of the East India Company hay% with two or three ex ceptions been broken up. A person of tin) blame of Drury of Etton, near Beverley, died on Monday week from the effects of poison that bad been mixed among some flour, V% itich was made into cakes for tea. His son, who is suspected of having been the perpe trator of the act, has been oommitted to York Castle for trial. The old gentleman's housekeeper, who partook of the cakes, is in a dangerous state. _ _ The Liverpool Standard, a Conservative Journal, says—" There was a fierce skirmish and someth;.ig like a split in the town council on Wednesday, about an affair of money, in which Mr. William liqthbone was cruelly pummelled and beaten. At a former meeting Mr. Itathbone proposed to fix the salary of his friend the town-Qlork at 2,5001, and in order to induce the council to agrk , o to it, bo stated that Mr. Rad cliffe's private business was worth that income. As a second inducement, hg aoserted that Mr. Radcliffe was the only attor ney in LivOrPo4l competent to discharge, in an able manner, tlko duties of town-clerk. There is to be a deputy town-clerk with 1,0001. a year ; but who the fortunate scribe is to be, has not been officially announced, Mr. Radcliffe has accepted the offer of 2,0001," CMAMITOUS EVENT NEAR FALKIRK.—On Friday forenoon, about clown o'clock, while the workmen in the Mingle Pit, near Bridgeziess, were at work, it was disco vered that watee was making its appearance in rather unusual cluantitios, and on ono of the man tasting it with his finger, the salt taste instantly showed that the sea was making an inroad. The numerous workmen quickly left their labour and ran towards the shaft, and we are happy to say that they all suc ceeded in escaping with their lives, and without sustaining any material injury. The water soon entered with such immense force, that a great quantity of timber (it is said about 501. worth), besides all the materials in the way of the subterranean flood, was borne up the shaft, and within three hours the water had nearly reached the surface. A large steam-engine cf about 1,000/. value, which had been but lately erected, has been totally destroyed, but, independent cf the more immediate damage, it is lamentable to think that the families of several hundred industrious workmen have been thrown destitute. It is well known that these pits, like many ethers in the neigh lantirheed, are sunk to a great depth, and penetrate beneath the Forth.—Scotsman, The late Mr. Skimmels, of Scawby, near Brigg, whose death we announced last week, had a favourite dog of the spaniel breed, which, on the day the funeral took place, was tied up. On the day following he was observed by a person in the churchyard scratching the sod off his late mat ter's grave. The house is situated at somc distance from the c hurchyard.—Lincoln Mercury, RUMOURED MARRIAGE IN IRELAND...-. The on dit amongst the Dublin fashionables at this moment is that a certain Marquis, who has been a widower about a year and a half, is about to be united to an English lady of large pro perty. His Lordship, who has six children, is about 50, and the lady is said to be of a snitable age. TRANSATI,„ANTio, KINDNESS._. —, the come dian, went to America, and remained there two years, leaving his wife depend en t en her relatives. Mrs. expatiating in the Green-room on the cruelty of such conduct, the come dian found a warm a d vocate i n a we ll - k nown d rama tist. have heard," said the latter, " that he is the kindest of men , ; and I know ho re gu la r l y wr it es t o his wife by every pac ket. " YOS, ho writes," replied Mrs. --, about theof absence, but he has never .remitte,d he r a agony dedl ' re plied shilling. Do you call that kindness ?" De ci dedl y," y, " a parcel of flum mery_ the authori " unremitting kinduess." IRELAND. CORPORATE REPonst.—A petition has been agreed to in Londonderry, and most numerously signed by the great body of the people in that important city. It is said that the signa tures of Conservatives are numerous. The corruption of.the Corporations is doomed to destruction. Naw POLICE.—The correspondent of a contemporary says, " There arc vast numbers of applicants for situations under.the new Constabulary Act, but I understand all the effective er.. v. sons at present in office, willing to tak e t h e oath hid] th e ill prescribes, will be remined. Among the names mentioned : for an appointment to one of the high situations under it is that of Mr. Patrick Lalor, late Member for the Queen's county, a n d one of the first and most determined opponents to the tithe system." _ _ _ An article in Fraser's Magazine, published on the I,t announces the startling fact, that the great majority of 22,000 Protestants, now in the Irish police, "are doubtless members c Orange Societies." ORANGE EXCITEMENT,--There is a twaddling article In tit Ma"l, a column and a half long—the most lugullious,tli*, joi ited, and stupid stuff that ever issued even from the washirg_ tub of Old Slop. The upshot, however, is a reconueen , _atiort to dissolve. He bees about the bush, indeed—be kants the back-scent—he is full of protestations, hypcthesi",, hesitation ; hut the meaning, the drift is, aissolve.—Din Post. TRIM ASSIZES.—CURI OUS SeENE. --At eight o'clock at night .Pat. Brien and Thomas were arraigned for no less a crim e th an muruee 'The trial' immediately proceeded. it""es Several W 7 - ere examined for the Crown. The Chhtf Batt dec l i:ed at length that he conceived it was no t mur d e r s LH ' . marslaughter. Mr. Mealy suggested that, on examination of the previous witnesses, it would appear that they sliculd be acquitted, a s b e would show that they were defending their own house, On a slight further discussion it was conceived that' the case should go to the Jury, on the evidence‘of one wi*:ness as to the general peaceable conduct of prisoners, `:crdict mit:frau d manslaughter—sentence, twelve tuoef„,, _imprison men t f rom sine of committal. Immediattly after ; J'....nes Braly Seas arraigned f cr mar slaughter in Febr7.* 4 ry, 1834. • Mr. Jamts O'Reilly, attorney for the prisoner, stated that two persons who resided at a distance of from twelve to fourtee.:imiles from the town, and who had been in attendance !:um the commencement of the Assizes to late that evening, had gone home for the night, conceiving that such a trial would not come on at such an hour even as that at which they went away, and en:reated the Court to postpone tha trial u:.til Morning. _ _ _ Barol Smith replied that it was peculiar to the people of tLis country to be strict in their attendance until required, and then to be always absent, and ordered the trial to proceed at ten minutes past nine o'clock at night I There were several witnesses examined ; and it soon became evident, that besides the absence of witnesses for the prisoner, there existed good reason for postponing the trial on account o" the state of the witnesses for the prosecution. Capt. John Daniel, Belview, a Magistrate, somewhat advanced in life, was called on the part of the Crown, and it appeared at once, to use the most lenient language on the subject, that his consti tution was not so strong as his friends wished. He was to prove the dying declaration of the deceased, and be was un a bl e to say whether he signed his name to it or riot. To decs L ih e the scene is impossible; the roars of laughter from the Jury, from t c Counsel for the prisoner, from the unfortunate p:i oner 1 imse.f, who, for aught he knew, was on trial for his life, from the multitude in Court, from the Magistrates in :Attend ance, at length from the Counsel for the Crown, and from the Clerk of the Crown, until the scene could be only likened to the hilarity at an Irish wake of the olden time. Yet it was an Irish Court of Justice. The Pilot coneludn a description of general inebriety, in which the Jurcrs art said to have been disgracetilly drunk, in these words ec This is ail eccurate description of the Court of Assire for the Home Circuit, ounty of Meath, on Friday nipl,e, the 26th February, 1836." REJECTION CF . THE LORD I _,IRUTENANT'S PROPOSITION BY THE DUBLIN SOClETY.—raere was a general meeting of the members of this sr,ciety yesterday (March 4), when the pro position of tbP, Lord Lieutenant for a modification of its rules and, gYste7.l of management, were taken into consideration. The proposal that a majority of members, instead of two- c . mnrds, should he sufficient for the admission f candidates, was. after much ii.iscussion, rejected without a division, although some individuals present expressed their opinion that the Pat% limnentary grant would be withdrawn, in case of non-compli ance. Another of the propositions—for a " governing coun cil" instead of " house committees," was rejected by a majo rity of 61, the numbers being 79 to 18. All the other mate rial propositions were rejected. We trust the Gnvernmeet will withdraw the annual grant of 5,000/. ; and let the confe deracy, who thus set at defiance reason and common ser.se, club together, as they say they will, for the tbrmatinn of a private society. They must, however, first be brought to book, and return to the public, public property. REBELLION.—It seems that we arc not as yet done with the Court of Exchequer and the Writs of rebellion. A Farce' o£ those terrible missives have been despatched to the parish of Dunlavin, County of Wicklow, against a respectable land holder, Mr. Copeland, and several farmers. We IrAve not yet heard the progress made by the " Commissioners," or whether they have demanded that the Kines trn . ..lps and the police should go a hunting through the Wicklow mountains and the Devil's Glen after the rebels ! Rot we shall posi tively have some news on Tuesday.—Dubier. Post. CAVAN ASSIZES.—The Grand Inquest of this county lave ignored the several bills of indictment preferred against a number of Orangemen for the riots, &c., at Killeshandra, Fare in one instance, that of tl.e King v. Henderson. Th• outrages then and there pernarated rendered it necessary for the Attorney-General tr, institute prosecutions against the offenders. Twelve hoses were attacked and broken into, the inmates beaten amk_ battered, yet—as in times of Orange ascendancy—the:A: unprotected peasants are left either to brood over the injuries inflicted on them, in silence, or else to adopt the best measures they can devise to guard against a repetition of such aggressions. The proofs adduced against the persons charged were not sufficient in the eyes of a Cavan Grand Jury, to warrant their sending the cases to be inquired into in open Court. The mischief has been done, but the sufferers have nut obtained redress. A person named Forbes, against whom true bills have been found for murder at Ballyduff, had his trial postponed ; Hen derson also, charged with being implicated in the Killeshandra riots, pursued the same course. The jury by whom Fitzsimons was tried for the murder of Archibald Johnson, disagreed, and, after a confinement in their room of a night and two days, were discharged. "To HELL WiTn THE POPE ! !"—On Saturday night and Sunday morning last, the town and neighbourh.;)od of Porta down experienced one of those fierce and lawless visitations, which the Orangemen, the boasted upholders of the law, but the practical violP.tors of it, have so long been in the habit of paying. NW_ do not know whether the express e d w ill o f th e King had' aught to do in rousing those loyal despisers of his Maibsty's authority—but, at any rate, they behaved with a aegree of lawless violence greater than. is usual with them. They began shouting .‘ To bell with the Pope," " Verner for ever," (Colonel Verner at length repudiates them), " We're Verner's men," &c. ; and attacking those who re fused to join them. About twelve o'clock at night, they commenced an attack upon th e h o us e s o f m a ny of the Ro man Catholic inhabitunts. Not contented with this, they afterwards traversed the country for two or three miles, break ing the windous of almost all tl'e Roman Catholics on their way. About a score of bowies, we learn, were thus attacked some of them being very :finch damaged. Next morning, Colonel Osborne (stipendiary magistrate) and W. J. Han ccck, Esq., were very active • and five of the rioters have been com&lted to Armagh gao l. — Northern IVhig. llHTalauTtva!—All the Counsellors and attorneys who ap erqued at the Crown Bar in the City Court at Waterford on 'Monday, had their pockets picked of their pocket handkcr- chiefs, gloves, &c. The Lord Lieutenant has approved of the Earl of Antrim being appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Antrim. The furniture of the Rev. John Dunne, P. P. of Bailin daggan, near Enniscorthy, including his bed and breakfast ar ticles, were sold for tithes, claimed 13y his landlord. SIR FREDERICK STOVEN. —THE CoNsrAnui.AßY. -- The charge against Sir Frederick was partiality in his appointments, the accuser was a certain Mr. Sammerset Carrig. And the Public Orator chosen was the Orangeman, Sir Robert Bate son. The Orangemen find out that they have no friend in the honest Englishman, the present Inspector-General of Ulster —and, therefore, they select an Orangeman to make the ac cusation. But though Sir Frederick is no friend •to the sys tem, he is no enemy to the man. But he is resolved that jus tice should be done impartially, and hence the hostility with which he is received by the high as well as the low Orangemen of Ulster. —Dublin Post. MINISTER'S MONEY. —By a clause in the Tithe Bill to be brought in on the 25th inst., what is called Minister's Money will cease to be collected. COUNTY OF WATERFORD—TITHES.—There has been held a very important anti-Tithe Meeting, at which that excellent landlord, Mr. Boyce, of Bannow, took a prominent part, and read a very rewrrkablc letter from the Hon. N. Fellowes, Member for North Devon, and brother and heir of the Earl of Portsmcuth, who possesses an extensive property in that county, THE OLYMPIC TH&ATRE.—This now fashionable place of amusement was originally built in 1805-6 by old Ast ley, the stage being made of the timbers of the Ville '.le Paris, a French man-of-war we captured some years Lefore. Its 1811 Elliston bought the theatre, then a paviiioa, for 3,150 L and an annuity of 1001. to Astley, which he lived but two yearrs to enjoy. Elliston's success was equal to that now enjoyed by Madame Vestris whilst he himself acted there ; but when he of p ersons, vi none of was absent the attraction failed. Captain Barlow, Oxberry, until adatne Vesteg and many others, became lessees for a short period ; but no. speculator succeeded, and the house was purchased by Mr. Scott, the present proprietor, for 4,000/., subject to 100/, per annam ground-rent. Opening it with his own company, and n w o h t o p roving o Liptuoraiso variety took it in 1830, at the rent of 1,000/. per annum, and raised tl- 14.. establishment to the fi rst rank as a place of fashionable A : he their let it meat. The receipts now are seldom less titan 1 an P - ungndPri°tfitaaibisieWer 100 . per r.,ght; on one occasion, in the winter of 1824, th there to nineteen shillings , and fell • e curtain '' rent up at mid New Monthly Magazine. night to Sal. 10s.— I'. CooKE's LAST. ---A gentlem e n, blnerving that the Drury-lane play bills Were • asked Mr. Cooke the printed in ree, ink on Saturday, Mr. Bunn consider • reason. " Why," said the punster, them read." s it will be advantageous to him to have There are various Turnouts in this city from the sat of Indi an warfare that Tallahassee had been surprised, an d sacked, that Apalachicola is in. the possession of the savage enenlYi and that Columbus is likely to share the disae. rous fate of the Florida towns and fortifications,—Mobile Cfr made.