The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-05 00:00:00

ttrogalitan.

THE LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY held a meeting on
Monday, when the report of the Statute Law Com-
mittee upon a letter recently addressed to Lord
Brougham by Mr. Bellenden Ker, on the subject of conj
solidation of the statute law, was read. The report stated
that, if any evidence were wanting to establish the
practicability and expediency of the plan suggested
by the committee in a previous report for publishing
a revised and authorised edition of the public general
acts now in force, and to prove the justice of the
comments of the committee on the conduct of Mr.
Bellenden Ker as Statute Law Commissioner in that
report, it would be amply furnished by the letter
which that gentleman had addressed to Lord
Brougham, and which had been referred by the
society to that committee. The report then proceeded
to criticise, in somewhat severe terms, the letter of
Mr. Ker, and Mr. Taylor concluded by moving that
it be received and printed. The 'notion was carried
nem. con. Mr. Edgar then brought forward a re-
port of the special committee appointed to consider
the Joint-stock Companies Bill now before Parlia-
ment, which, though approving of the principle of
the bill, proceeded to urge several objections to its
details as amended in committee, the principal of
which were the general framing of the provisions,
the rejecting the old system of requiring the mini-
mum amcunt of capital as a condition of incorpora-
tion, and requiring seven or more shareholders as
such condition. In conclusion, it appeared to them
that, if the existing winding-up acts are unsatisfac-
tory, the question ought to be separately considered,
and treated as a branch of Chancery procedure ap-
plicable to companies in certain circumstances.
Some discussion then took place, in which Mr. Reed,
Mr. Lowrance, Mr. Wordsworth, and others took
part, the report was adopted, and the proceedings
er mi Dated.

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322

THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LEAGUE held a crowded
meeting on Monday evening at the Camden-hall, for
the purpose of agreeing upon a petition to Parlia-
ment to open the national institutions on Sundays.
several gentlemen addressed the meeting at length
in favour of the scheme, and an attempt by Mr.
Lintoll to carry an amendment in favour of retaining
the buildings closed, was lost by a large majority
voting in favour of the original resolution. A peti-
tion to Parliament was agreed upon.

THE ADJOURNED MEETING AT LLOYD'S was resumed
on Wednesday, when the consideration of the ques-
tion of frauds upon underwriters was continued by
Mr. Watts, who, after a lengthened speech, offered in
the end to withdraw his motion. Mr. Wills, one of the
committee, denied Mr. Watts' assertions. A dis
cussion then ensued upon the question of appointing
a committee of inquiry, and the meeting was ulti-
mately adjourned.
THE EARL OF SHAFTESDURY, on Wednesday,
attended a distribution of prizes at the Field lane
Ragged School, and addressed a few words to the
meeting upon the beneficial effects of ragged schools.
AT THE COURT OF ALDERMEN, held on Tuesday, a
motion for an inquiry into the circumstances con-
nected with the late execution was unanimously
carried, Alderman Rose stating that he could not
attend another execution solely dependent upon
the man Calcraft, who, on Monday, after pulling the
bolt, ran away, and could only with great difficulty be
iniuced to return. Alderman Kennedy said there
was no doubt that Calcraft had received a letter con-
taining a threat to shoot him on this occasion. At
the same court, a motion by Alderman Sydney, to
inquire into the origin of licensing brokers, and
wh dher the Court of Aldermen could enforce pay-
me it of rents from brokers, was negatived.
AT THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL, on Thursday,
it was moved that tlie consideration of Sir George
Grey's Corporation Reform Bill be referred to a cont-
ra ttee of the whole court. A motion, also, by Mr.
kiderton that a deputation wait upon the Govern.
ment to Obtain a repeal of the law requiring the oath
of abjuration, wag carried by a large majority.
THE FAMOUS SIBTHORP COLLECTION of objects
of vertu, rivalling that of the late Mr. Bernal in
point of curiosity, is not in artistic value, if on
show at the late colonel's private residence, 40,
Eaton-square, till Wednesday next, when the
whole collection will be brought to the hammer.
The collection is as curious as miscellaneous,
and embracing in its 1,300 objects something of
everything that the most persevering collectors
h ive ever gathered together, and many things
n iique in themselves, such BS the original tobacco-
bix of Jack Sheppard, with his portrait etched in
the lid, and the most exquisite carving in white wood
of De Vincis' " Last Supper." The sale will com-
mence on the oth, and extend over nine days.
SEVERAL GREAT FIRES have happened again this
weak in London, and the thcrough inefficacy of water
t) put out fire proved on each occasion. The most
sawre were those on Tuesday night, at Messrs.
Dobbs, the printers, in Fleet-street; at Mr. Marl-
borough's, newsvender, Ave Maria-lane ; and Mr.
Teale, furniture-broker, in Clerkenwell. In each case
t ie arrival of the engines was speedy, and the supply
of water abundant ; but, in spite ot' all the efforts of
tie firemen, nearly the whole of the premises were
entirely destroyed.
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON held a
spleial general meeting this week in Regent-street,
13. r P. Egerton, M.P., in the chair, when, on the mo-
Lion of hurl Grey, seconded by Mr. Evelyn Denison,
M.P., it was resolved unanimously :
That the council be authorised to terminate the tenancy
of the Garden at Chiswick as soon as the lease will permit,
and that the property therein be sold, unless such a sum
as the council may require for maintaining the garden
shall have been subscribed before the Ist of May.

THE PRESS.

inordinate vanity, they thought, coo, they could do it a
little better. They had accordingly tried their hands, and
the result had been most satisfactory. Their society had
done much politically to achieve the objects they had in
view, and was in a most flourishing condition besides ;
while the great leviathan that was to have swallowed up
all the Tory constituencies of England was in so feeble a
condition that it could hardly wag its tail. Instead of buy-
ing land all over England, as it had threatened, it had been
obliged to suspend its operations. The late Mr. Hume,
who was at first one of the trustees, did not think it safe,
and retired from it before his death. Another man of first-
rate ability of that party—Mr. Bright—he, too, did not
think it safe, and retired. The construction and princi-
ples of the Conservative Land Society, on the contrary,
were such that their bitterest opponents could not in-
sinuate a doubt of their soundness and safety. As a
political society they had fairly endeavoured to meet the
enemy on his own ground, and they had done good service
thereby to the great Conservative party. They had, in
fact, rescued some of the shaky counties from political per-
dition.

Mr. Lewis, in a speech of great ability, explained the
nature of the rules of the society. With respect to
the society's political character, it had never been
concealed. The society never would have been
formed except with the view of supporting those
Conservative principles which he and its projectors
believed to be the spring and mainstay of the pro-
sperity of England. He would vouch for nine-tenths
of the members being Conservatives.
Viscount Ingestre could conceive nothing more
calculated to elevate the character of a working man
than enabling him, by a proper use of his savings,
to become the proprietor of his own house:—

With this view, and keeping this object steadily before
them, this society offered great advantages to the working
man, the artisan, and all the toiling classes, in the invest-
ment of their hard-earned savings. By paying Bs. per
month—a sum far less than the majority of mechanics ex-
pended in their own personal enjoyments, and in which
their families had no share—a freehold site might be
eecured; and by the system adopted by the society of
lending money for the inconsiderable sum of 2s. a month
more (a certain proportion being already paid), a sum was
advanced sufficient to build a house. The working man
thus found himself with a roof over his head which, iu a
very short time, if he continued steadfast in his industrious
and active habits, would ultimately become his own. This
was one great reason why he felt a pride in being connected
with the society, and why he felt certain it would be pro-
sperous. Its objects were pure and praiseworthy; it offered
great and material advantages to the poor man beyond the
possession of political privileges; and every man, poor
and rich, Liberal or Conservative, looked naturally to his
own interests.

SATURDAY,

After some explanatory remarks from Mr. Morgan,
relative to the newly purchased estate at Tunbridge,
several new members were enrolled, and the proceed-
ings terminated.

come tax. Mr. S. Bowly approved of this plan, and
moved
That the present income tax is oppressive and unjust,
because unequal, and, from the nature of the assessments,
inquisitorial, and that an equitable adjustment or total
abolition of the tax is necessary.

This was carried by acclamation, and Mr. T. M.
Sturge proposed the adoption of a petition to the
House of Commons in echo to the resolution. lie
spoke of the effect of the tax upon the commercial
morality of the kingdom, and said lie knew of his
own personal experience that persons who were in-
solvent had, " in order to keep up their credit," re-
turned their incomes at many times more than the
actual amount. The petition was adopted ; and, on
the motion of Alderman Heane, a memorial to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer was carried, setting
forth the tax as unjust and inquisitorial, and praying
for its abolition or readjustment.

THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE presided on Tuesday,
at the annual meeting of the Birmingham Provident
Institution. The noble earl addressed the very
crowded meeting at great length, pointing out to
them the advantages of education, the evils of in-
temperance, and entreating them to support provi•
dent institutions. The meeting was also addressed
by several clergymen, and an annual report of a
highly satisfactory character read, before the pro•
ceedings terminated.

AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE DUNDEE ROYAL.
EXCHANGE, on Tuesday, Mr. Baxter, M.P. in pro.
posing the toast of the " President and people of the
United States of America," alluded to the possible
future of Central America, with reference to the dis-
pute now pending between the two countries :
America, it may be said, shows an inordinate desire for
territorial c aggrandisement. True ; but if this be meant
for a railing accusation, does it come with good grace from
a power on whose dominions the sun never sets—a power
which has appropriated South Africa, Australia, and New
Zealand—a power which, step by step, has possessed
herself of India from the Himalaya Mountains to Cape
Comorin ? John Bull, however, uses more gentlemanly
expressions ; while Jonathan talks vulgarly of annexing
Cuba, he with a marvellous quiet dignity sequestrates Oude.
I care no hing about what is called the
Monroe doctrine. " America for the Americans " is no
cherished maxim of mine; but this I do say, that nothing
is more likely, nothing more natural, nothing is more
desirable than that a people so industrious and so well
fitted for self-government as our Transatlantic cousins,
should gradually extend their institutions over the entire
continent of North America; and that, no matter what we
do, or think, or say, whether Lord Palmerston for the
nonce stands by his friend the King of the Mosquitos, or,
like a wise man, abandons that mighty potentate to his
fate, both Mexico and Central America will, sooner or later,
be peopled and civilised by the American branch of the
Anglo-Saxon race.
AH INFLUENTIAL PUBLIC MEETING WaS held at
the Town-ball, St. Albans, on Thursday, for the pur-
pose of considering the best means of upholding the
venerable abbey church of that town, and obtaining
for it the dignity of a cathedral. The Earl of Vern-
lam presided, and the meeting was addressed by the
Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Robert Cecil, Lord R.
Grosvenor, Sir A. Dalrymple, &c., and resolutions
n accordance with the objects of the meeting
unanimously adopted. The abbey of St. Albans,
one of the finest monuments of antiquity in this
country, has long been going to decay. The
amount of the repairs necessary for the thorough
restoration of the building was estimated, in a report
made to the meeting, at 20,0001. Upwards of
4,0001. were subscirbed in the room.
THE SUFFOLK SHRIEVALTY ASSOCIATION appear to
have given Chief Justice Jervis the wrong list of
rules upon a recent occasion. The list given in, it is
stated, was the " proposed," not the adopted one,
which merely suggested the employment, "so tar
as practicable," of county police in lieu of javelin
meu.

THE ROCHDALE BOARD OF GUARDIANS AND THE
PRIVY COUNCIL are at present at loggerheads. Two
years since, Mr. Browne, the inspector of schools,
visited the Spotland Workhouse, and reported to the
Privy Council strongly against the neglected state of
education of children there. The board replied that
half the children were idiots, and all casual paupers,
the settled paupers having been sent to Swinton
Schools—denied Mr. Browne's statements, and called
upon him to amend his report. This he refused to
do, and on Monday, when Mr. Browne came round
upon a second official visit, the board met him on
his arrival, taxed him with having made an unfair
report on a previous occasion, and refused to admit
him to the workhouse. The matter is now before the
Education Committee.

A TREMENDOUS FIRE AND EXPLOSION OF GUN-
PowDEn occurred at a wholesale druggist's in Bristol
on Sunday morning. The vast quantities of oils on
the premises insured a rapid fate to the building,
and between two and three a.m. a large store of
powder ignited, blew up the whole house, broke the
windows of half the neighbourhood, and set fire to
three adjoining houses, which were bunt to the
ground.
THE NORWICH TESTIMONIAL TO MAJOR-GENERAL
WINDHAM has already reached a subscription of
upwards oh 1,1001. A meeting was held last Sa-
turday at the Shire hall, when it was determined to
present him with two swords, a dress, and a fighting
sword, while the balance of the money would he
handed over to the gallant general.

THE REUISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS state 1,396
deaths, and 1,977 births, as registered for the past
week. The number of deaths is below the average of
the past ten years, allowing for the increase of popu-
lation.

THE REFORM OF THE INCOME TAX was considered
at a public meeting, held at the Shire hall, Glouces-
ter, on Monday night. Mr. Cliffe, mayor of Glou-
cester, presided, and on the platform were Mr. Price,
M.P. for Gloucester, and Messrs. Attwood and Par-
tridge, a deputation from the Birmingham Income-
tax Reform Association. The Mayor, in opening the
business of the evening, alluded to the receipt of
the news of peace that day, and was followed by Mr.
Price, M.P., in a short speech. The members of the
deputation followed. Mr. Attwood suggested that, a
similar principle should be adopted in levying this
tax as was laid down in levying the Customs. If
parties declared their goods liable to Customs at a
price below their actual valuation, the Customs had
the power to take to those goods at the owner's
valnation ; and he suggested that if parties set down
their incomes or property below their actual value
the law should have the power of taking the surplus.
Mr. Partridge. proposed levying a simple property
tax on the aggregate amount of all property, as in
America, and proceeded to show that such a tax
would raise more than the present inequitable in-