The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-22 00:00:00

TAXATION IN JERSEY.

The aersey correspondent of the Pa7l Mall Gazette
writes :—" A measure for revising the taxation
law is now before the States, and this is evidently
intended to embrace large numbers of English resi-
dents who have hitherto escaped payment -of
parochial taxes. The professed object is to make a
more equitable levying of the municipal taxes and the
poor rate, and for this purpose a 'furniture tax is
proposed to be levied, and also an income tax. To
the former all pernons are to be assessed who occupy
dwelling-houses of £6 rental and upwards. The in-
come tax is avowedly intended to reach those persons
of whom there are a great number—both Jersey and
English—who have money invested in the English and
foreign funds, and thereby escape all taxation on ac-
count thereof. It is proposed to levy this tax—to be
decided by the requirements of each parish from time
to time—on incomes from all sources whatever, whether
from trade or profession in the island, or in whatsover
manner derived. The method of arriving at a person's
income is unique of its kind. The annual rental of his
dwelling-house is to be taken as the basis of his
annual income' and the assessment made accordingly.
This delicate task is to be committed to the care of a
committee of ratepayers in each parish, and should any
person have reason to complain of the amount levied,
he will have the opportunity afforded him of attending
before the Royal Court, and declaring on oath the
nature and amount of his income. The measure is
likely to meet with great opposition."

GETTING CHARLES DICKENS'
AUTOGRAPH.
• When Dickens was the lion of the day at Montreal,
there lived there a young man fond of collecting auto-
graphs. He had a desire to procure one from Dickens.
This was no easy matter, as multitudes bored him for
his writing, and he had to refuse with some sternness,
or wholly to ignore the application, and poor Dickens
was rather sold. The writer tried the patbetico-illi
teraturo dodge. Thus:—

"Mr. Dickens, sur,—Me and my wife's got a boy, and
wee've a-hear tell a great deal abcsit the beautiful books
you've a-writ, and the good you've a-tryed to do for us pore
folk. Now we has a-thote that it might so be that you
mite let we giv youre name to our boy. Us is no scollerds,
but we hope that, as wages is good and learning is plenty,
that he will some day read what you've a-nt. An' so Sir,
we askes yu're pardin, and wishes yu prosperity an' good
luk. If so he as you rite, direc Andrew Monreal
Post Offts. So no more at present, from you're humbel
servints to commend,
"there XX "ANDREW H—.
"marks •"MART H—."

This missive elicited the following reply :

"Dear Sir,—l am much indebted to you for your gratify-
ing and welcome letter, and am proud to know that you
have Inferred my name on your child in recollection of my
-writings. That he may become all you wish him to be, and
that he may in his time derive some entertainment and in-
struction from my poor endeavours to beguile the leisure
time of children of a larger growth, is my sincere and
earnest wish. If I could ever learn that I had happily been
the means of awakening within him any new love of his
fellow creatures, and desire to help and assist them with his
sympathy, I should feel much pleasure from the knowledge.
Faithfully yours, CHARLES DICKENS." •