The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-17 00:00:00

the customs and excise ; they are taxed Tama
the air and light which have access to their
houses, and upon their little vanities, by the instrumen-
tality of the assessed taxes; they are taxed upon
their business transactions in the form of bill and re-
ceipt stamps. Still their rulers think they are not saffi.
ciently squeezed, and the newspaper stamp, the excise
upon paper, and the advertisement duty are caned
into play, in order by direct and indirect pressure to
extract out of them a few more drops of Out aurum
potabile used to grease the wheels of state.
With regard to the excise upon paper, the news.
papers make common cause with the manufacturers
of the article, and all the consumers of it on a large
scale. Their case is part and parcel of the great
national case against the excise laws, as inquisitorial,
obstructive of business and improvements in menu.
facture, and unequal in their pressure. Our tepee.
sentations on this score have some chanee of Nike
heard, for our fellow-sufferers are numerous, and
many of them on the alert.
In the matter of the advertisement duty, our fellow.
sufferers are more numerous still, though unluckily
we cannot pay them the compliment of saying that
they are equally intelligent to discern their right to
fair play, or equally energetic to assert it, with the
victims of the excise. But we know that our remon-
strances on the score of the extortionate and unequal
character of this tax, have found their way to high
quarters, and produced an impression there. Indeed
the bare narrative of that wonderful advertisement,
immortalised in our paper of the 27th of January_
those twelve lines upon which twenty one separate
duties were charged—that announcement for inserting
which the Daily Newt charged Gs. 6d.,wh i le government
demanded U. 115. 6d. as a penalty for its appearing—
ass enough to make even official consciences wince,
ungoaded by memorials or petitions, at the ttct
,of being accomplices to such extortion. The
quer is in a yielding humour if pressed on this nit,
and it' a few of those who suffer in common with as
will bat add their representations to ours, redrew
may be had.
But there is a grievance more peculiarly our own,
and, to have any chance of getting rid of it, we mud
be our own pertinacious advocates. To be sure, the
public suffers from it as well as we ; bat the old
adage, " What is everybody's business is nobody's
business," has too much of truth in it to warrant oar
expecting much aid from that quarter. The penny
stamp upon each paper is not only a class grievance of
newspapers, it is a class grievance of all newspapers
against one overgrown establishment which it holsters
up against competition on equal terms, by establish.
ing a virtual monopoly.
`Ye have repeatedly shown that defacto the Times
pays only one duty upon three sheets. The immense
amount of its advertisements—of the matter which it
is paid for inserting—compels it to use, in the great
majority of its impressions, three times the quantity
of paper u psn which any other newspaper oughtto be
printed. The newspapers which, like the frogs
in the fable, are ambitious of puffing them-
selves up to an equality in point of size
with the Time,,, are obliged, in order to do that, to staff
themselves out with all sorts of superfluous
and sometimes costly matter. If journals with the
advertising connexion of the young Daily News or
the ohl Morning Post, are compelled to pay a penny
on each sheet, the Times, in common fairness, ought
to pay threepence. We are not so unjust or mali-
cious as to ask to have oureontemporery thusepunged
upon ; but we do ask, as an act of justice, that if
the Times is to be taxed only 1 t,d. on each impression
of its double sheet and supplemental single sheet, that
we be taxed only one haltpenny on each impression
of our single sheet. The equity of the claim is eo
obvious, the mode in which the unequal tax presses
upon ourselves and all other newspapers similarly
I circumstanced has been so often illustrated in our
columns, that we feel it unnecessary to do anything
more at present than simply restate it.
We make this appeal to the justice of ministers,
now that they are on the eve of finally adjusting
, promulgating their budget for the year. We ins
the attention of all those members of parliament a
the subject who are in the habit of professing them-
selves friendly to a cheap end respectable press. and
to the general diffusion of knowledge. The most
timid Chancellor of the Exchequer need not fear
do us justice. The total amount of revenue yiel'
in 1846 by the stamp duty upon newspapers
under 340,0001. for the whole of Great Britain
Ireland. It is not proposed to abolish this tax, a
to render its pressure more equal, more in proportion
to the money value of the property taxed. There can
be little doubt that this readjustment of the incidence
of the tax upon newspapers would lead to such an
increase in the circulation of newspapers as would
more that, compensate for the reduction in the rate of
duty. But, even though this hope should be disap-
pointed, the small proportion of the annual revenu'
affected by the experiment renders it impossible "
any danger should result from trying it.

ROME, FEB.
Such was the anxiety of King Ferdinand to
Lord Minto near him in his present dilemma, L
another and more pressing estdrette met his lordshi)
at Terracina. Without the guarantee of Engler
Sicily will not come to terms, and any charter'
the Neapolitan can give them will be, in their t
not worth • button, unless the bill bear an Ent
endorsement. Lord Napier is just gone off h
Naples to Palermo, to act as umpire and sponsor
the new Sicilian constitution.
There was, at first, a plan to secure 'Messina,
promising to make it the future capital of the isle,
to the degradation and disfranchisement of Palermo
but when bombshells were administered, the city
the straits became if possible more infuriated than
rival, and the dogs of Scylla gave tongue in the
Homeric fashion.
Count Peter Ferretti went with Lord Minto
an eye to securing Naples for his favuurite establish.
ment of the Italian Customs' League, and will strik
the iron while it is hot. The liberated peninsula v
then have a free seaboard extending from Nice to(
Passaro on one side, and from Ferrara to Ottani
the Adriatic and lonian waters. The family of
Minto have just followed him to Naples; bat
understood he will return to Home in ten days.
If our civic guard is somewhat deficient in CM
an effort was certainly made this week to prom'.
the raising of a mounted corps ; for the world-famous
bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius on the
capitol was enlisted into the service, and a giganf
standard of the Italian tricolor (green, red,
white) fluttered in the breeze, held aloft by the
arm of the philosophic emperor.
We are in the midst of spring weather, am.
drilling of the citizen soldiery is perseveringly can
on in all the open squares of the town. fhere
every sign of a durable determination among us
stand prepared " the blessings we enjoy to guard.'
Five o'Clock.—At the Post-office I find the -
piazza colonna full of people, mostly in regimt
It appears that there has arisen already a difference
of opinion between the assembly sitting in the Vadat`
and the papal cabinet- The subject of disagrees'
is an increase in the army, and additional NO
the purchase of artillery and hofsee, which me
the deputies of the provinces strongly urge
somnolency or retrograde feeling of the ci
Prince Corsini is at :his moment at the Quirit
audience with the Pope on the subject, and the Kt
people are waiting in silence, but with intense anxi
for his return and reply.

FRANCE.—PERPIGNAN, FEB. S.—PRIM,
JOINVILLX.—The Prince and Princess de
children and mite, reached Perpignan on the eyeful
sth. Their royal highnesses left Perpignan the Lest
log for Port A endres, where they went on bos7d the
cique frigate. A'tcr haring installed his family on board
Cacique, the prince returned to land to examine the •
of the port and fortifications.

COLONIAL

NEW SOUTIi WALES.—Tae CArrivn
Woman.—The foll.ming is the contract entered
tween Mr. Commilsioner Tyers and Bungelene : I,
lene, promise to deliver to Charles J. Tyers, the
male residing with the Gipps Land Vlachs, providcu
of whi.ee and Western Port blacks proceed with me
mountain., at as early • day me may be convenient, I
purpose of obtaining her from my brothers. I a'..o
ap
leave my two wives and two children with the raid C
J. Tyers as hostages for the fulfilment of my promise.-
I, Charles J. Tyers, promise, on the part of her Me
government, to give Buttgelene one boat with oars, a
four blankets, a Guernsey frock, some fish-hooks,
fishing-line, and a tomahawk, for the said Bungelene'l
nee, and six blankets, two tomahawks, three Guernsey
and other articles, between three or four men of tb
Bungelene'a tribes who may be instrumental in the •
of the said white female, conditioned that the sak
gelene fulfil his part of the agreement,"—Av
Sept.lo 1647.

...,, .-----•-------
en AMERICAN PROJ F. i
ell YENTION BETWI..;
en- THE UN LTRD STA.
wet Mr. Hobble, first
re- 'United States, in the r.
ifk-, head of that department. .
lase postal conventton betwat .
led upon a
The an ollowingam( legal ive
cqual fopnith t
I to 1. To impose on witfw orm . .
UM
ewes
refs
rte
Tat
'Ws
en.
pre. ta"ekt4c:rtb...d.stac.p.teckgistsle.t.eiltotaiTTgcco:::mta.
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o,' t :I.:: rherr:llb. :I i ^ •• t .flt birem.:::'
rp
0:. 1 4
si, : .
.. ~' , : . -,.
,:,t
rate on letters conveyed by ~
111 4. To authoriee the post. •
an conmpoottio,g with any int
be ordered by any other go . ,
0. To enlarge the openreq
low. uiring letter. to be deli
lily nr ship before matking eat r,
that whether addressed `' to la
aortas," or elsewhere. .
It to 6. To amitotic. the retro,
i the any lettere except those coo
f To establish an unifot A
non- ranted Sulam and coy fon ..
'quid S. To authorwe the Pu.., A.
shim to take and convey I
high ig arouse.
deed I. To prohibit them from
mind through the ir•et-otl e
cent,
The picket peetage rate •
IT— intercourse with countries .
irate whilst this mai err is ued. i c
ages lie Bled.
rting to. Between any port or ~.
meat the western coplwat, es
seed Nos., Stotn, •A 20 mu
C.lg--. 11. Between any I' in
rune, Pacific mast of Ileum, o• e
llh:. the Bur ian poooemion% a.
12. Aral between any le
Branawick, Nova Soots, •
i gait. le seats.
In toe notere of thing.
th os &atm; but it would eaun it
drew cerned, and greatly livlrEi, •
between dtttes eut count, ,n,
into between them. <yeah: sh
01113, I. Optional payment.
mlll2 tog iu our eoun'iy, the en •
in the other, or of raiding
e, the portage to be ollect der t.
e old 3. Ao internatiatat rat. .5
iody's the charge f w ipt mil me 8
conveyance, anti fIT the it as.
.t OW and delivering the letter.
Penn] 3. The noeual account. d
secure to each all the inLI I
nee of ' had collected. and all ll •
laPers packets whim It'd been; ,id
la respect to our awl rm.
hlstets histoy expo:tient to eetub sh
MI& despatched to tel from t' c
continent with the resat 4
territory ; owl, on the of ter
Tinier tea the European maim a,
menee witted amen tee island . f a
pith it nicatlion beyond. beionge a
that she impost- in hi., eq.
greet France. Our elnoeyan e
anti ty equally 14 great, and b• m
proper adjustment of th 4
it° he to any successful neg. tat.
frogs transit ruin of Ice. Arne, ie •
plaoe in me United :,tates a
them- lbw might :i1..... re {ALIO
size Pacific atm:, white are pro
to staff transit charm. is rather tow
age, but will stand in N ry j
&ins form postage of Sc.
th the
etcs or aer
!..,
penny The Duchess o!
ought from her reside. c.., :
• mall- Queen at Duckingius
ranged arrived at half-psi . •
that if took Or a drje,lner •,ith
their Royal Wert-
ression Coburg. At three o'.
et, that - Palace on her return ti
session . Iler Majesty an'
ot is eo ,• the Duke and Du. It
presses Menstlord, honoured
milarly Theatre a ith,their pr
suite consisted of the
in our Barone do Wau.:en i
tything
Buckley,
and Berm k
On 'lussday l'ri ,
i nisters, for the Seven Ages of
ing and fresco paper. hangi ,gs,
e invite iegs in wood, by dr.
nent W Art Mauulactures, tub
g them- A deputation re.
erect. and 4" with Lord John Raise
le most quer, yesterday, at the
the Treasury, is 12.”‘
t fear to of Sir E. Fulmer, M. '
yielded M.P., Mr. Fuller. M.
ers WWI 0. C. Cantlupe Maj.
tin and Smith, Mr. J. 'Ride
ax, bat Mr. B. T. Nokes, Re
Mr. C. Nearne, Mr.
°portion W. J. Carter, Mr W
here can Smith, Mr. J. Slott.
°eidetic. Mr. W. Milder, Mr.
such an Mr. J. !hider, Mr.
8 would Baton, Mr. G. W titi
;NIT
e rate of Mr. Hume,
interview with the It
re disc at the office of the B •
revenue A deputation f .
ible that of Mr. J. Wood, Mr.
J. Dixon, Mr. lt. is
brancer, had au to .
day, at the office ..f
Fon. 8. place.
to have The cabinet nip.
ma, that house, yesterday ev
lordship square.
England, Despatches v c
the Colonial-odic: t
.veep that colonies.
ieir eyes, A deputation
English Lattimore (Marti i
off from Cohen, L. Sool ty,
oonsor to Matson, C. Neon c,
Messrs. W. F. II •h.
Messrs. F. Smitl ,
Sinn, by (Sussex) ; Mr. 11
he island (Berkshire), Mr Ci
Palermo; Smith (lieuipshi c)
e city of J. Russell and tt .
I than its The Judicial 6
n the old yesterday, and M .ie
Representatives if
French Claime." •
nto with " Rapt Burdahas ,
?stablish-
ill strike EXCIIE(ItIge :
csula will Exchequer Bins is
cc to Cape of her Majesty's P
•tranto on foe the purpose I. •
r of Lord into the house CI •
bat it is
'ye.
a cavalry, APPOINTMI ~
h promote
id-famous The Chester a
us on the formation we wt re
, demise of Dr. lo
' gigantic eesan, the Lord ti*
red, and appointed to sui .
r the right Canterbury. T is
Sumner to the j,ri
, and the by numerous r id
ly carried tight rev. prate' .
g day), in compli...i.
There is tendence in the WI
song us to Dr. John Si .I
guard." crated Bishop 0' C
the whole
gimentals.
LN(II;ES't
i difference
Yesterday, ) I
he Vatican,
tembled at the d
:agreement ehester.square, fo
1 funds for it.quiry c nume,:ce
a measures Martha Elizabi :It
the 6th ult., *hi
Asylum, Butte e
held was dens V
messed. Among
Ott, char of St 1
signed the ord. r i
and Mr. Peach . j
and Dr. Qusin, •
ismiLlrrte
the: l
anxiety,et. ila°lnb °tal m a nint 11
et
the pool morte,4
'IIINCE DE of the deceased
Lucille, their corner of the roe •
rening of the members of the A
IA lt morn- Sarah Yonne
r.ed the Ca- upon her dude
on board the last. The decee
,e the works' the skin was jo d
application of It
get worse, and in
keep her bed.
very bad state. •
and " fire!
ISO BITEW Miss Sarah I.h
creel into be- saw her last alto'.
'' I, Burge- The deceased so
the white le- Rhodes, but et :
twitted a party t a gentleman •• Lt
ith me to the * who on his ma: •i
nient, for the
al.) agree to . Tha
orth tat gratslet:::.
raid Charles was paid, and? i
iromire.—And fell to him. 1 ,
her Majesty's without witne-
oars, a tent, fact until sonic
-hooks, and a newspaper the 4.
before ;the ju I
out by Dr. Qu il
York house a:_.l
her sitter. W i
ultimately üb. ti
lunacy and saw
hnimaleeot 1.
n.
:;: saidtha re
eei.
nl27i Bun-v°senwnt::
1