The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-22 00:00:00

FRANCE.

(PION THI 00/121111POODIXT Of TIM DULY NIRO
PARIS, WIDNIIIDAT EVONINO.
The state of negotiations with Prussia is less
satisfactory than it was thought to be two or three
days ago. The report mentioned by several English
and other foreign jour aids, that the treaty was as
good as signed, was but the echo of the belief openly
expressed by this government. This week, however,
new difficulties have been raised by the Prussian
envoy, and Colonel d'Olberg, who had but just
returned, his again been sent by Baron de Wedel to
Berlin with despatches applying for further lustre°.
Lions. I have reason to believe that the King of
Prussia, who, it is sufficiently notorious, will not
enter into the Western alliance if he can possibly help
it, avails himself of the rumour of Napoleon llL's
departure for the Crimea as a pretext for further
hesitation. But in truth, if I may believe private
letters from Berlin, M. Dronyn de Lhuys was too
sanguine from the first when he thought he
had caught the shy bird. Weak, vacillating,
and rash withal, as the King of Prussia
is, I doubt whether he has for • single
moment seriously entertained the possibility of en-
gaging in a war with Russia. Re is used by the
Czar as an instrument to befool the Western powers.
Whe the Prussian diplomatists are on the point
of signing a treaty offensive and defensive with
France and England it is because they fancy they
are assured beforehand that the Czar will accept
terms of pesos satisfactory to the Vienna conference,
and therefore that the engagement will never be obli-
gatory. Within the teat few days the King received
a letter from his sister, intimating that he had been
going too far in his coquetry with Paris, and this
letter, I am assured, is at the bottom of the present
hitch in the negotiations.
The question of the Emperor's journey remains
nearly as uncertain as yesterday. All is ready for
his departure at an hour's notice, but according to
private information I have reason to think that the
project is adjourned indefinitely. The state of the
negotiations with Prussia would safficiently account
for this postponement, because it was hoped that,
simultaneously with the announcement that the
Emperor would in person bring the w.ir to a glorious
conclusion, it might have been said that all the
great powers of Europe were coalesced against Rus-
sia. It is confirmed that remonstrances against the
expedition have emanated both from England and
Austria. Among the ministers and his Majesty's
intimate advisers there is much difference of opinion,
or at any rate of expression of opinion. The men
who pass for being his true and tried friends, such as
Peraigny and de Morny, do their utmost to divert him
from his purpose. But there are courtiers who
I feel so certain that be will have his own way that
they are eager to range themselves early on the right
aide. The Director of Public Safety has made •
very favourable report of the political state of the
country, with a view of proving that the Emperor
may safely leave. As reports, however incredible, so
frequently turn out to be true, I must not omit to
mention the latest I have heard, which is that the
Guards will leave on the 27th instant, and the Em
peror on the sth of March, but that the Monileur
will merely announce in the first instance, that he
has gone to Chalons.
The Moniteur de l'Armee announces that the
Imperial Guard is about to be augmented. There
will be created a new regiment of foot artillery, a
sixth battery in the regiment of horse artillery, a
third battalion of the regiment of gendarmerie, a
fourth battalion in each of the two re?iments of gre-
nadiers and the two regiments of voltigenrs, a second
company of engineers, and a squadron of the waggon
train. A sixth squadron of the waggon train of the
line, and a fifth company of the workmen connected
with that branch of the service, will also be created.
There was a great improvement at the Bourse to-
day, owing to a report (I believe a false one) that a
treaty with Prussia had been concluded, and also in
consequence of a prevalent belief that.the Emperor's
project of • journey to the Crimea had been aban-
doned. The Rente rose 86e., closing at &gr. 75c.
Credit Mobilier rose 18fr. 75c. The Lyons railway
rose I lfr. 25c., and the other principal lines from
7fr. 60c. to 10fr. A great deal of business was done
in the railways.
Lord John Russell arrived in Paris at eleven
o'clock last night.

PIEDMONT.

Turin
The Opinion* of ri publiehee the following
letter from King Victor Emmanuel to the Intendant-
General of Genoa:

Oar falthfal and well-beloved—grief is added to grief,
and sorrow to sorrow. Oar belorsd brother—he who was
wont to accompany us in battle, and to aid us constantly by
deed and counsel—ha to whom we were no less attached by
thisbonds of blood than by the mon powerful sentiment of
ardent mutual friendslOp, is no mono. He expired yesterday
at about 10 o'clock. With • bleeding heart we announce
this new meow to you, nor do we doubt that it will be
deeply felt by this whole nation, which not only admiral
in the Duke of Genoa • high-minded prince, of undaunted
valour, but likewise saw in him a brilliant example
of all virtues. We request you to address the
among communications to the intendants of the pro-
mote, and to the mayors of the communes, of your admi-
nistrative division, and all, we are confident, will offer up
fervent prayers for the repose of that noble soul, and for
our consolation. Whereupon we commend you to the holy
protection of God.
Turin, on the 11th of February.
Vicros Einuitusr..

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

ADMIRALTY. FZB.

twat' C. 8. Titters (1846) to the Vulture, 8, paddle
wheel steam frigate, of 470-horee power, for particular
service; and T. W. Bennett (18.54) to the Himalaya, iron
screw stems store ship, of 700.horso power, at Portsmouth.
Bergson H. T. 8. Beveridge to the Hawke, 60, maw
steam ship, at Shaman.
Paymaster G. Teat (1855) to the Arethsaa, 60, Mediter-
ranean Station. _ _

blerki-in-eisige, J. &Idea (1848) to the Weser, and B.
W. White (1848) to the Recruit.

PORTSMOUTH, Fss. 21.
The 42 gunship, of 1,100 tone burden, /Eolus,
built in 1826, was brought down the harbour to-day and
placed in the fitting basin for the purpose of being eon-
sorted into a shell megssine for the Baltic fleet.
The Centaur, 6, peddle wheel frigate, Captain Clifford,
was muted yesterday.
The Ariel, 9, serew sloop, of 60 horse power, tried her,
engines at the meuared mile yesterday. She realised en
average of rather over 10 knots per hour.
The Dee, steam vessel, sailed to-day for the eastward
with seamen for the ships fitting then.
The Rolls, naval appreatiees' training brig, has taken up
►er old moorings to resume her summer service.
The Neptune, 120, Captain F. Hutton, is completing for
sea. She Le still reported to be intended to convey the
Wiltshire Militia to Corfu, as aloe drafts of other regiments.
The °bores, 3, steamer, having completed her refit, bad
her compasses adjusted to-day.

It is stated, la letters from Hamburg, that the
English government hare just purchased at Bremen the
steamers Hansa mad Germania, which lately plied as packets
between that city and the United autos.
Major-General Bentiock will resume his command
in the Crimea early neat month. We believe that the
cavalry will be plated under the command of Major-General
Scarlatt.
It was stated yesterday at the clubs that the Hon.
Captain Gordon, son to Lord Aberdeen, would shortly cease
to be Deputy Quartermaster• General in the East. •

NON-ARRIVAL OF TUE AMERICAN MAIL STEAMER.
-1.1•117.00 L. WIDNESDAT, Five P.ll.—The United
States mail steamship Pacific, Captain Ezra Nye, which
was to have left New York on the 7th, is now in her
fifteenth day out, and her arrival is anxiously expected.
Up to the present boar no intelligence bas been received of
her, and it is extremely probable, should she not tarn up
to-sight, the usual Saturday mall for the United States will
be delayed, as the Pacific was appointed to carry it soros
the Atlantic. It is believed that the Pacific did net sail on
bar day, and her voyage prolonged by easterly winds.

"TAXES ON KNOVVLEDGE."

The annul meeting of this society was held yea-
terday evening at Exeter-hall, and was very fully at ended.
So numerous were the applications for admission, that the
gates were closed shortly before eight o'clock, and thousands
went away disappointed. The chair wa taken by Me.
Mamas Gamow, M.P. ; and there were also present on the
platform Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Apeley
Pellatt, M.P., and s al other feMods of the movement.
The CIIALINIAN, in opening the proceedings, gave an
outline of the history and progress of the moiety, the objets
they had already effected, and those they bad still in New.
They had, he said, sueceeded in practicing the repeal of the
advertisement duty, but the other " tones on knowledge"
still remained on the statute-book. These tuts had ben
laid on in former times to restrain the diffusion of know-
ledge, and could hardly be suited to the present age, whet
the thirst for intellectual enlightment was so general. They
had prejudices and interests to contend *Main theW present
struggle, but they bade great public object in view—the prat
motion of the general public interres—and would,
part therefore
couregeous4 persevere, sacrificing all ial views to the
common national interest. They had been supported in
parliament by men of all political parties, so that one great
feature of the question was, that no party feelings were
elicited in the course of its advocacy. Lord Stanley had
recently contributed • most valuable paper on the removal
of the newspaper stamp ; but he (Mr. Oibaoo) must say that
they had not received any very warm support from the
established newspapers. (Hear, hear.) Even some of the
unstamped papers bad opposed them, but the promoters of
the movement bad followed the single beacon of the public
interest, and he believed they were now approach-
ing the day of their ultimate triumph. A bill had been in-
troduced by the government for the repeal of the newspaper
stamp, and having seen it in manuscript, he would take
leave to inform the meeting of the nature of in provisions.
The Chancellor of the Eschequer—he was afraid be must
say the late Chancellor of the Exebecuer—had laid on the
table the bill, which proposed, in the tint place, to abolish the
compulsory stamp altogether. It proposed that all printed
matter up to the weight of four onset should be capable
of transmission by post at a charge of one penny for each
transmission. (Cheers) It further abolished the security
system altogether (cbsers)—that detestable system first es-
tablished by Castlereagh, In the legislation known as the
Six Acts. (Hear, hear.) Tnese were the leading provisions
of the bill ; but there were clauses in it which had evidently
been introduced out of regard to what might be called the
vested interests of established newspapers. It had been
matended that the privilege of re-transmission was very
much valued by existing newspapers, and the bill proposed
to give them that privilege for seven days from
Me date of publication, on such of their number
Si they cline to stamp, and to continue that pri-
vilege to them for the space of ten years. As •
rule this privilege was to be conceded where
Cweight of the paper dial not exceed four ounces, bat es
Owe were some large papers, and one well-known journal,
whisk exceeded that weight, there was a clause la the bill
(sanding that papers containing • certain number of super-
Mein inches should, even where they exceeded the stated
weight, still enjoy the privilege. (Oh, oh.) The privilege
was, as he had before stated, to be seven days for each pub-
Station and to last ten years from the present date. These
were the contents of the measure, which was of the nature
of a compromise with publications now existing. He should
have preferred • more simple measure ; but the government
plan, while it was most favourable to the established papers,
which retained all their present advantages, yet effected
two great objute—the abolition of the compulsory stamp,
and the termination of the system of securities. Should
there be any opposition to this scheme, he could only ex
plain it on the hypothesis that there was a fear of the cheap
penny newspaper; and it was for the lake of that penny
newspaper that he supported the bill. The society thought
that the poor should have the news as fresh as the wealthier
classes, and thus obtain the means of forming accurate
opinions of the passing events of the day. It was seen that
the opposition of the established church and other religious
bodies stood in the way of the education of the people, and
therefore it was desirable that the poodle should educate
themselves; and there was no education so important as an
accurate knowledge of the news of the day. (Hear, hear.)
That knowledge could only be given through a cheap press,
and a cheap pram could only' be obtained through the re-
moval of fiscal obstacles. (Hear, bear.) He believed that
this bill, although a compromise, still contained a world of
good, and that the public were much indebted to the late
Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, he believed, bad
yielded to conviction, and not from any notion of political
expediency. (Hear, hear.) Before they left the subject
of Ma newspaper stamp, he must offer terms in peace
to their old enemies, the Board of Inland Revenue. 'They
all resellested Mr. Thum and Mr. Keogh ; but in justice
to thus academes it mut be said that the fault lay in the
system, and not In their mode of administering it. Let by-
pass be gones. (Cheers.) The Attorney-Oeneral, the
representative of • liberal constituency, must be rejoiced at
the introduction of this bill. He oeuld have no wish to
figure at any time in a prosecution against the pie-s ; but
new, when our army was perishing in the Crimea, for
the Attorney-General to come into court to prosecute per.
sou for circulating intelligeace of that brave army amongst
their relation in this country must more than ever be dis-
agreeable to a man of advanced opinion. They were now
about to get the rope sl of the stamp, but the society would
not relax in its efforts until it had procured • repeal
of the paper duty also. (Cheers.) They had hopes
that the period of repeal was not far of It might be said
that a time of war was unfavourable to the repeal of a
duty ; but the amount to be raised was one thing, and the
mode of raising it another; and the society contended that
the paper duty was an objectionable mode of raising reve-
nue. (" Time.") The Chairman proceeded to quote the
opinions of Mr. Gladstone against the duty, and concluded
by calling on the public to persevere in their efforts until
they had procured the repeal of all the taxes and restric-
tions on knowledge.
The SECRITARY (Mr. Collet) read the report, which
showed receipts for the past ear, 8901. 10s.: and expendi-
ture, 6901.7, Id.; leaving a balance in hand of 2e. lid. The
amount of the balance in hand created considerable
laughter.
Dr. WArn moved the following resolution :—" That the
paper duty is a to on knowledge ; that, by hindering the
use of new raw materials, it limits the supply, and enhances
the price of paper, and thus restricts the field for the em-
ployment of capital and labour ; and that the increased
ex-
penditure of the country imperatively demands that a less
injurious mode of raising money be resorted to, than an
sidle duty on so important • manufacture." He contended
that the paper duty was as mush a tax upon knowledge, as
would be • tax upon pig iron a duty on all the fine and
astly articles into which steelpiad iron were manufactured.
Knowledge was principally communicated by means of
paper, and therefore a tax upon paper stopped the diffusion
at knowledge at the fountain-head. The amount of the
tax was about four-fifths of a million, but that sum gave no
idea of the extent of the burthen on the people. As a
general rule, and taking an avenge, the duty was one.
sixth of the coat, but the trader required his profit on the
among of his capital invested in the duty, and nit went
wa
saniannladng profits through various hands, unit the
paper onms at MK to the consumer. He believed that
ningeffine oho aos et ppaper was raised to the consumer to
Me taMemt of . Having given some familiar illus-
ional= of the oppressiveness of the duty, and the inconve-
wheal of the =cue of levy, the speaker concluded by mov-
Mg_the resolution.
Mr. A. Pou.srr, M.P. seconded the resolution, draw-
ls, kern the experience of his own trade an analogy as to
tgles~efirseenvenlenc• sad oppressiveness of the excise duty on
Tke resolution was then put and agreed to.
' Mr. CONDON, who appeared to be suffering from a severe
end, ses to move the following resolution : " That this
has heard with satisfaction that • bill was Intro-
dwell 6M night by the government, to abolish the compel-
way stamp and the security system, and to admit
all poi eSmetier to • cheap raw of ." Is the first
piss% he heaped sangratulase all who took ea he.
beset la Me speaks ea the megilierat Manias, ettbst
oesaise. He had asseaded panstaallp et a taw mdannes
Were eight o'clock, sad had Ike *sod ; snit hod
Mast been able to esallemo Ike that he Tams
of :thee perfenems, be weld lave /mad it ta-
mable to shads en salueses, 141. laugh.) He
assepted that mails, net falba &NM spirit to which
saes of his talisegase midst_ le tempted, and who
bawls; so long addressed lalf-end Wadies might sow my
"ear triumph is at hand, and there are plenty ready to
Jek us in the victory." No, it had always been the way in
Mls mustry. There was always a vast amount of latent
amtvisais seedy to come out at the crisis of a question, but
tibia M pillage would not have been convenient to develop
is the gnsviims agitation. Now, when the government
W tikes leis matter is hand, and when the vigilance of
the pulls was assessary to see that it was properly dealt
with, they mastered be all their majesty, and he tMught
them iris elms* emegli in that meeting to ensure the
idumphiat padeg eftlM amasurs. (Cheers.) He viewed
rIY ralleletimelsoperauttoocially, educationally and
, that he see should never rest until be had
ISIS ii WOW, the law of the land. (Hear, hear.) When
be int heard that the Chancellor of the Exchequer in-
tended to bring forward the measure, he said, " Dou't be
tee sure, there's many a slip between the cup and the lip,"
'but he little dreamt when he said that, that within 48 hours
'the right hon. gentleman would have awed to fill his im-
portant office. (Hear.) He regretted his secession exceed-
ingly, because he had groat respect for the financial ability
and character of Mr. Gladstone. (Partial cheering.) He
did not think, however, that the circumstances
would endanger the safety of the measure, for
Mr. Gladstone was s statesman wham convictions
you could nosh ; as a statesman he hod • seessienc• ;
and whim ease yon bad convinced his uniersteading, you
Isow sun to have his support whether la Wise or out of it;
gal MOW es he did the very Wiest rank la the Homo of
Osman sinuses% be would give the semen seek aid,
almillre Is atonal of it, es lame same les tricrat
LlllMiti6l4l44ll=rkttid
WRY,
melmeasa la Mese rap liMeldesseekkagss
pwwwasat. (Loud cries of " Seem Isar. of we were
searoppoll in a tremendous war abusal, it was not
41111111 en half so vigorously as die ilemestie war
be Its 'Ohm. Really, if them salmis. were
es best ea destroying and slaying seek etber, we sisal
INS be obliged to propose a foreign enlistment bill to jam
vide us with cabinet ministers. (Cheers sad laughter.)
He did not thick it necessary ea that osessism Ming that
Slue was a bill on the table of the Sams of Onaihoos

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1855.

*hick reogaised the wisdom and expediency of all they
had boa advocating, to go late a long argument to show
the necessity of repealing the newspaper stamp. His right
bon. friend the chairman had alluded to certain clauses In
the bill. He (Mr. Cobden) had expected these clauses, but
had always said, " Let us see the compulsory stamp abo-
lished, and the security system destroyed,which was founded
on the odious assumption that the moment a min invested
his capital in t. pet, and began a huilases which of all ethers
ministered most to the moral progress of the commenity, he
became • scoundrel, ready to slender anybody and every
body, and must, therefore, give security that he did not in-
tend to follow the trade of a literary assassin. Let us see
an end to all that pernicious legislation commenced in the
dark days of Csatlereagh and the Six Acts, and 1 will not
quarrel with a few clauses offering temporary conciliation to
ciaistiag laterals." He cared nothing about an extra
quarter of an ounce, if it carried off the oppo- 1
orlon of a powerful organ; neither did he care '
n
t
advantage—he
db:supvt
,orect one whs
ich
eywhi !la
shgn pat
hga.aut
armhh e privileget
ts odwh ptioihdnuit ctihfaohoenos
any
t earty:iogptirangal Winkteste paper.rded. wase tan (Hear, hear.)
au' such eorganTvree;aor There
Peoe
ple
rgt f
h:ege
ett:
meat used ie favour of this, that it wee a great public ad-
vantage,
papers by post when they cot firepeece„ because papers
were then a luxury which only the rich could 4441 on
the first day, while others most wait. But that would
not be the case when newspapers were cheap. He had once
asked en iutelligent American what he saw in England
that most reminded him of his being in an old country,
and his friend replied that what most struck him was the
notice stock up everywhere, i• Yesterday's papers at half
price," adding that in America nobody would have yester-
day's papers at any price. (Hear, hear.) That would be
the case in England when a totally free press had free
scope. People did aot buy old clothes when they could
get new ones, and neither would they buy yesterday's
papers when they odd get to-day's—they would rather
buy to-morrow's if they could get them. (Cheers and
laughter.) Another class, of persons who he was told
were present in considerable numbers—he meant the
newsvenders—feared that the proposed change, by intro-
duciog penny papers, would do away_ with their profit.
Now, he had no doubt that if he could meet
those persons a few yore hence they would acknowledge
that their extreme susceptibility to the interests of their
pockets had exceedingly blinded their mental vision, and
that they had been completely deceived is their anticipa-
tions. The advocates of the reform did not propose by
changing the law to abolish the sale of good newspapers.
He was of opinion that the Times would sell as many or
more after the stamp had be, n removed as at present.
They might or might not take off the penny as they
thought fit, bat the paper would then, as now, go to the
wealthier classes. Thep would, however, be a new
clam of papers altogether suited to • new clue of readers,
and soling alongside of the present papers would train
s new clam of future readers for the latter. (Hear, hear.)
In his right hon. friend's committee they had examined Mr.
Horace Grimly, the editor of the Ness York Tribune, and
that gentleman told the committee that in New York all
the workmen took in a daily paps just as regularly as the
bankers and merchants did here, and it was as regularly
left at their houses as it was at the counting-houses in ,
Lom-
bard-street. Now, if London should sell as matey papers in
' proportion to its else as New York, the newsvenden might
depend upon it they would have plenty of business, and
quits as much profit as now. Since he had engaged in this
agitation he had learned one or two things which
he had not known previously, and which he hoped he
should not then undergo a censure for mentioning. He
found that the newspaper press, which he had been accps-
towed to look upon as an abstraction was something in
which ordinary fink and blood and ordinary human frailty
was concerned, and that the parties connected with news-
papers were very susceptible when they thought that any-
thing was about to be done which wee likely to impair
their interest. The advocates of this reform had been
moiled by individual organs of the press in a way
fur which they were totally unprepared ; for,
when he first entered the arena of politics, those
very newspapers were his felloolabouren in the
caw of free trade is corn. (Cheers.) But the very mo-
ment he proposed to make free trade in newspapers from
that moment they became protectionists. (Laughter.) He
bad been astonished at the unmerited tone of censure In
which they had attacked the supporters of this movement,
end he had no hesitation in saying that if popularity was
the sole object of public men, he and his friends
bad consulted their own interest by the course
they had taken. They had been singled out by
writers in the Rainbters4 Review, men whom he knew both
In Scotland and London, men who, he was ashamed tosay,
having co-operated with him in his attempts to procure free
trade in corn, now turned round on the principle when it
was proposed to apply it to their own business. He be-
lieved that in a few years those gentlemen would feel as
the landowners did now; and that in their present conduct
they took a very short-sighted view of their own interest.
He had also found that newspapers were sensitively alive
to criticism, although they themselves lived for
the very purpose of criticising the oondoct of pub-
lics men. He believed that he was himself, next
to the late Mr. O'Connell, the best abused man in the king-1
dom by the papery, and yet he had shown any sus-
ceptibility under the criticism. But what he was astonished
at was that these gentlemen, who were every day dealing in
censure, should be so sensitve when even a word was said
touching the fallibility of the press. They had a curious
way of meeting any attack by • public man on any given
journal. They assumed it was an attack on the whole
body, and immediately set up • cry of the liberty
of the pram (Hear, hear) He had oace brought
great obloquy oa himself by saying at a York-
shire mechanics' institute, when endeavouring to in-
duce the conservative patrons to permit of newspapers being
brought into the room, that what the people wanted was
news—fon—not leading articles. For that innocent re-1
mark, be was secured of a disposition to gig the press, and
it was added that he disliked leading articles because the
papers trimmed him op from time to time. (Laughter.) He
suspected that in promoting these reforms he should
be creating more free criticism than ever, because
he believed that in a few years there would be
three times as many newspapers in England as at pretest,
and further he believed that public men were all the better
for the criticism they received, and that, on the whole, they
got quite as good treatment as they deserved. (" Ques-
tion.") One point connected with newspapers had recently
been broached in a pamphlet published by Ridgeway, to
which he would just allude. In that pamphlet it was
urged that all writers should put their muses to their
article, ; but all he could say wee, that if any law were
proposed such as bad passed during the republic in
France, he, for one, should give his vote against
it, although he was not quite sure that •
newspaper did not have more salutary influence
when it was knows who conducted it. He was sure that
public mien would not be half so useful if they spoke behind
a mask. (Hear, hear.) He looked to the repeal of the
stamp as calculated to produce equality between the London
and provincial papers, and to give a local paper to any
village in the country, and he had sufficient coefidenoe in
his countrymen to believe that in the hag ran the best
coadneted repo s would everywhere Meet With the greatest
saccem. (Cheers.)
Mr. Batas: had been asking binned( what was the object
of their meeting that evening some thasmsde stream for
they had treed that the ladle in they wen engaged
was already wen: the essay, if set ealeumfambek was at
least esoverlsd, sad Mae fame le their elle. (Cheers )
He wee at the misellmiee et the speedos they had
heard ; for 11ceee1f, he MI ost Sid it eely M make a speech
when he Mew in his owe obi Net the t ing be asked for
was already panted. They were amts however, entirely
without perms who might desire information, as there
were some who thought that the measure which was about
to be graded was not one ealeuleted to advance the public
weal. Hs ingested *le perms had never truly examined
the quietism. He believed that, whether they took it es •
question whisk :elated merely to a branch of industry, or
as a question of a greater end higher eharaeter, they
would find Nit there were insuperable objections to the
laws which regulated the press; end that those laws were
discreditable to them as • people, and disgraceful to the
parliament by whisk they were enacted. Let them treat it
for a moment se a matter of industry. He held in his hand
a copy of the Times newspaper of the day before. The
bare mat of making the paper, the material of it, was three
farthing ; on that the government imposed a tax of one
hrthing, or 33 per cent, on the value of the paper—a very
high rate indeed compared with any other tax levied at pre-
seat. But that was not all ; when the newspaper editor
(who would hardly believe they were his friends in trying
to relieve him from thee* burdens) took it to his office and
prepared to run it through the prom, he was not allowed to
do so until a government officer entered his premises and
compelled him to fix in the corner of it a stamp of a.pieu-
liar mbar, form, a peculiar and of a eery peculiar mini&
mace. The original three farthings had already been taxed
oae farthing, or 33 per amt. Ala: of Id. or 133 per cent., was
thee added, so that by dm time it was ;lady for printing the
tax on the original cost wee not less than 1(6 per cent. Until
last session, and then hi seasequience of the exertions of
that association, if the Muse happened to inform the weird
that some respectable soma was anxious to be engaged as
a cook where a footman was kept—(laughter)—or that a
poor widow's eon wanted a situation as emend boy, every
insertion of every such paragraph would have 'been
hold of by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and eighteen-
penes exacted for each of them. They could not, however,
regard it entirely as a branch of industry. The news-
pews were very shy of them ; one or two articles appeared
in the Dispatch and Exammer, and thine who did not like
to unite against them themselves transferred those absurd
articles to their columns, as if they could thereby do any
damage to the greet cause in which the association was en-
gaged. Me did not pretend to advantage the interests of the
existing press. If they derived any benefit he would be
glad of it ; but there were thousands of suppressed newe-
-1 paper editors, many in that room perhaps, for there was no
trade in which fir the numbers engaged there were to
many disastrous failures ; he wished to Ball these mss from
their failure, their obscurity, and metope their ruin.
There were many young men even then 'tidying in college
endowed with brain and heart to insthttot and teach their
countrymen. These he would call from some narrow and
badly paid portion of industry, and place them on a high
and broad platform, where men could hear and follow
them, and where no Chancellor of the Exchequer or Board
of Inland Rs should suppress their efforts to benefit
their fellow men. (Loud cheers.) There was mach higher
question than one of trade they could not leek on a news-
paper as a mere =attar of wade; it exercised an enor-
mous power for the public weal or harm. The people
of this foosaffT were P'eren to taking a very high view of
their own obit :agaaad their owe character; they were

given a good deal of late to basting of their great and in-
creasing population, their wonderfal industry and vast
wealth, churches and chapels were rising on every hand,
bat yet it should be admitted that a very large portion of
the population were in I, state of grow and painful igen
ranee. (Cheers.) There were such • number of Sunday
and other schools, that be believed there was no child, even
of the humblest cla.ses, that did not at some time or other
attend some kind of school ; but it appeared to him that the
number of men and women who were able to read and
write did not bear a fair proportion to the number of boys
and girls at school. How was that to be accounted for?
Let the boy attend school till he was 10 or 11 years
of sge ; suppoes he read then even imperfectly; take bins
away, and put him to the plough, or to labour
in • mine or factory, for eight or ten hours • day ; let him
eame to a home where books were scarcely to be seen—con-
s:der the disadv.ntages of his position, and it was not
wonderful that a large proportion of the children who left
school almost entirely lost, as they grew up, the art they
bad learned to some extent at school. (Cheers.) They
wished that this great and useful instrument of education
should be t don to every house, like the water or gas—
like gas, for it would be life and aliment to the souls of the
working people; things would be different from what they
were; and it would be • greater glory for them than those
present and hiatosical ones about which they sometimes
boasted. It was said it was only a penny ;as if it was be-
low notice because it was not a shilling. A penny was all
the difference between something and nothing. If it was
proposed that every child who went to school should pay a
peony, would not every man and woman revolt against such
a hideous proposition ? Yet • weekly or daily paper would
come in, if the penny was not there as a her as complete to
the gradual education of the family as a penny tax would
be if imposed on the child at school. (Cheers.) There was
the Manchester Daily Times; it was not half cheat(' ache
Tines, yet it had to pay the same tax ; that was contrary
to any just rule of taxation. Take even the
War Ply Sheet; that would be taxed • penny,
although it was not worth • half-penny; it could
not be sold at all if it paid the tax, se no one would give
twopence for such a paper ; those who could afford that
would get a better paper. The tax was most unjust and
prejudicial to the public interest. An article against them
had lately appeared in a paper of a high literary character,
the EMMONS!. He wished the writer of it was in that
room. He did not know who the writer was. He might
have met him that day in Pall-mall. When they
had anything to say to the public, they cause
before their countrymen, and let them see their faces
and hear their voices, and they were ready to answer for
everything they said or did. (Cheers.) He wished the
writer was hero, for he spoke of Mr. Gladstone as " yield-
ing toe limited but active agitation, in which we do not
believe that any considerable number of the intelligent
working men throughout the oeuntry, or of the edu-
I wed in any Glass, has sympathised. Mr. Gladstone
made up his mind, in consequence of the im-
portunities of Mr. Milner o.bson, Mr. Bright,
and Mr. Cobden to put an end to the unrestricted free trans-
! 1111/Sioll through the post granted in this country to all
newspayers. But this was to be done in the form of a
popular concession—as a repeal, in short, of an existing
tax." The writer dwells on the fact that the government
will not allow the papers to paw free, but be conceals the
fact that government would enable the paper to reach
thousands that it could not now on account of the tax. The
same paper was a great p.dvecate for the removal of the
stamp some years ago, when it was fourpence instead
of a penny. In consequence of an agitation the then Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, the present Lord Monteagle, re-
duced it to • penny. What did the Examine . say of the
penny ? "This inconsiderable remnant of the most impo-
litic impost ever devised. The restriction was one
against principle." He believed the Examiner was still in
the same hands and under the same influence as then. He
wished the writer was present ; be could tell them if it was
a limited agitation that brought thousands together in the
midst of the meet inclement weather known in London
for years. Perhaps the Examiner was growing old ; they
had had of late a good deal to do with old people.
(Laughter.) He believed that if they succeeded in their
agitation it would tend more than any other measure to
incorporate the great body of the working classes with the
intellect, the life, and the progress of the country, and
give greater power and more direct operation to
public opinion than it had had of late. It would be
unjust of him act to say that if the measure
WAS carried, it would be carried through the admirable elo-
quence and irresistible. logic of his right hon. friend the
chairman in the House of Commons. It was impossible
for the house, on • question of this nature, to hear such
speeches as his right hon, friend addressed to them without
coming to the conclusion that it was utterly impossible to
find a decent defence for the law. It would be equally un-
just of him not to mention the services of Mr.
Novelle, and their secretary, Mr. Collett. His friend
Mr Cobden bad said to bins a short time since, "I wonder
what Collett will turn his hand to next ?" He hoped he
would undertake something, for it would be a pity if such
wonderful tact, good nature, seal, and intelligence were
not always employed in the service of his country.
(Chun.) They had heard the Chancellor of the Exchequer
was no more—(laughter)—no more as Chancellor. He
regretted it for this reason, that he always found
him pre-eminently aoressible to reason and open
to the influence of argument, specially on this
very question. If the measure was carried, to Mr. Glad-
stone would belong the same credit as Lord Metcalfe had
acquired in the establishment of a free press in India. To
Mr. Gladstone would belong the credit that, at a time when
the public difficulties were thickening around, and the pub-
lic voice was making itself beard in no very harmonious
tones, he had dared to come forward with a measure to
make the ore of this country as free as the platform, and
to admit the public intelligence, the public reason, and the
public voice to dictate with increased power to cabinets and
retoplaution.
rliaments. (Loud cheers.) He begged to second the
se

Mr. OEOIIO3 DAWSON supported the resolution. He
was connected with the newspaper pros, and wished to say
a few words on its behalf. It wee very pleasant for a noble I
lord to be supported by a paper, then he praised the press;
bat, if a paper said the noble lord had made himself exces-
sively small, then he calls it a "ribald press." A successful
tribune saiclit was • "venal press." He believed it was
neither venal nor ribald; if he thought it was either be
would not support the agitation to increase it. We should
have newspapers as universal as they were in America.
The press at present could keep down the big wigs in Lon-
don, but they wanted the big wigs in every little
village to be kept down too. Till the press
had spread to every comer they could not hope
to put down humdrum tapery and routine. (Hear,
hear.) They should educate the working classes in
politics—a branch of education they could not get in the
mechanic' institutions. There was nothing fogydom dreaded
so much u that the working classes should enquire a know-
ledge of politics. In all these institutions the rule wu, ', all
polities are to be excluded." Take even the rules of a
Young Men's Christian Association—(uproar—great con-
fusion ensued, audit was some time before the speaker could
make himself heard amidst the storm of cheers and hire;
when order was restored he continued)—if the reference did
not please he would withdraw it. He hoped they would,
not Geese until they bad made every working man •
politician.
The resolution was then put from the chair and carried. I
Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting
separated.