The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-09 00:00:00

UXBRIDGE.

Yesterday a public meeting was held at the public
rooms, Uxhndge, to take into consideration the eubject of
the general
,and local taxation of the country es affecting
the agricultural and every other interest. The meeting
was numerously attended, and there was a good muster of
the tenant-farmers usiag the market, by whom the meeting
had been convened. J. H. Thom, Beg., was called to the
chair, and after a few observations from him,
Mr. J. TILUMPEIL moved the first resolution :—" That
this meeting is of opinion that the present system of taxa-
tion presses unfairly on industry, shackles trade, and is
unjust towards the tenant-farmen and all other producers
in the United Kingdom, and that as an act of justice free
trade in corn ought to be followed by free trade in every-
thing, and direct taxation, whereby every person would be
called upon to contribute towards the general revenue
of the state according to his means of payment and
not according to his powers of consumption."
Mr. DA N VELIs, in seconding the resolution, said he had
nothing to do with the getting up of this meeting. It was
gut up by the tenant fainters of the district. At the late
meeting of the Salt-hill Bucks Agricultural Association,
Mr. Disraeli said a return to protection was inipodaible, and
that they mutt seek relief by a re-adjustment of taxation.
Ho (Mr. Danvell) was present, and asked him in what way
he would re-adjust it ; but Mr. Disraeli slunk behind the
chair, and said he did not wish to discuss politics, though
he hod been discussing politics for an hour. Mr. Disraeli'
would not commit himself ; and why ? Because he was an
expectant minister. Then there was Mr. Cobden, who in
that room, several years ago, said to the farmers, " Let us
have free trade in corn—let us get the wedge in, and
we will have a free trade in everything—a re-adjustment of
taxation." But where did they hear of Mr. Cobden hold-
ing that language now ? No ; he too was an expectant
minister, and did not wish to commit himself. It was for
the people to determine, and to set this matter right them-
selves. He believed the true principle was, that every
man should contribute to the common weal accord-
ing to his means of payment ; and an injustice
was committed upon him it' he was made to con-
tribute more.

Mr. JOHN HYDE, late receiver of assessed taxes, said,
his first question was, what was the position of the tenant
farmer as a most important body of the community of this
empire ? As a class, they were worse paid than any other
class in the community, worse paid than the cotton lord,
the merchant, the tradesmen, the men who made their
clothes, and even than the chimney-sweeper. And was
this to continue ? It would continue if they were to con-
tinue to trust to Disraeli and Cu. (Cheers.) It depended
on themselves whether it should continue or not. He
condemned the present system of taxation as one
of injustice towards consumers—of wickedness, op
pression, cruelty, delusion, and ignorance. It was a
system which had been raised by class legislation, in order
to feed patronage upon, opposed to the principles of political
economy—our obtaining the largest amount of taxation on
the one hand, and on the other hand throwing the burden
off the shoulders of the wealthy, and placing it upon the
shoulders of the industrious. If they could only have just
taxation they would be enabled to say to every nation us
Europe "be free," and they would be so. (Cheers.)
The Chairman was then about to put the resolution,
when,
Mr. FLEET asked how, if they were to tax tho income
of the labourer who had only ten shillings a week, they
could get the tax ?
Mr. HARWELL said that was a matter of detail. It
would be very easily managed. It might be done by the
master deducting it from his wages.
The resolution was then put, and unanimously passed.
Mr. HYDE said he spoke practically. Ile believed there
would be no difficulty in raising the taxes entirely from
direct taxation; but if the legislature thought it right to
exempt tho poorest labourers, there would still be suf-
ficient.

Mr. J. lIOUGHTON said he had scarcely ever addressed a
meeting that filled him with greater pleasure than the one he
now addressed. lie moved that " The poor of these realms
are the poor of the whole community, and should be
maintained out of the general revenue of the state, whereby
all classes would btar an equal portion vi' the burden, and
the laws of settlement, and the expenses of rates, be ren-
dered unnecessary."
JOHN NASH, Esq., seconded tho motion; which, like
the former one, passed unanimously.
Mr. HYDE then moved the adoption of a petition
founded on the foregoing resolutioas, and that it lie for
signatures at Uxbridge, Maidenhead, and Windsor, which
was also carried ; and alter a vote of thanks to the chair-
man, the meeting separated.

DEFENCES FOR TUE METROPOLIB.—WOOLWICII,
JAN. B.—Under this date a correspondent says The
Duke of Wellington has been for sonic time past in
almost daily communication with Sir John F. Bur-
goyne, inspector-general of fortifications, and their deli-
berations have, it is said, been directed to the best
means of protecting the metropolis in case of invasion.
It is understood the result has been that several military
camps are likely to be formed round London, and
eligible situations will be selected, particularly on the Kent
and Suez banks of the Thames, and on the banks of the
Medway, with the ultimate view of rendering them perma-
nently fortified camps. Orders have already been given to
place Sheerness in a proper state of defence, and to have
ample supplies of ammunition and warlike stores kept in a
constant state of readiness at the fortifications already con-
structed at that naval port. Seniority lists of the
non-commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery have been
called for, to be scut into the Adjutant-General's office
within the last few days, preparatory, it is said, to an aug-
meatation of that branch of the service. It was at first
contemplated to add three battalions to the twelve batta-
lions already formed, but it is now understood tbst the
augmentation will be made by adding two companies to
each of the twelve battalions. This arrangement will
add twenty-four companies, or about 2,100 men, equal in
number of non-commissioned officers and men to three
additional battalions of the strength of the present batta-
lions, but saving the expense of the staff which would
have been required for new battalions. It is also stated
that the line regiments will have an addition of 10,000
made to them over the numbers in the estimates of last
year. The Royal Marines are also to be inert toed both
in the Royal Marine Artillery and Divisional Companies'
departments, and recruits enlisted for every branch of the
land forces are ordered to be sent to the head-quarters or
depots of their regiments with the least possible delay, that
they may be at once instructed in a knowledge of their pro-
fession."

THE RUSSIANS IN CIRCASsIA.—The Prussian Ga-
zette of the 6th says, that Ilaschid Murat, the bravest son
of Schamyl, the Circassian chief, has surrendered Ulll.Oll-
ditionally to the Russians, and is now a prisoner at Tiflis.
Prince %mouton*, son of the commandur•in-chief and
governor of Bessarabia, received from the young chief
poso,siou of the fortress of Wnesprya and his numerous
detnehinent of soldiers. The source of this intelligence is
not strted.

THE LORD CUANCELOR RAB APPOINTED THOMAS
FALCONIIII. Fry., barrister-at-law to the judgeship of the
Olionorgantliire, Breconshire, and Radnorshire County
Courts. Thu learned judge is a barrister of nearly twelve
year.' standing, having been called to the bar in February,
1.

MORE PENNY OMNlDPSY.B.—Yesterday' a line of
(leanly looking well-honed °maim- a u., run, for the
first tame between Nhoreablob and Lambeth Union Work-
house, at the charge of one penny for the whole distance.