The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-20 00:00:00

It is ascertained that in numerous instances six licenses have
been taken out, amounting to upwards of 201.., for one year's
excise chavges for one hpuse. This evil hoe been long and loudly
complained of; and there is no doubt will be speedily reme-
died. Another on dit is, that it is the intention of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, on the meeting of parliament, to
bring in a bill for the purpose of legalising the sale by whole-
sale, by wine and spint dealers, of quantities of not less than
one pint and a half, to meet the earnest solicitations of that
body of tradesmen, and to aasimilate the law in this country to
what at present ellen' in Ireland ; and also to bring in a bill
to facilitate the collection of the excise revenue throughout
the kingdom, and to include in the same several duties at
present received in the customs department
SANITARY REFORM.—A public 'fleeting in favour
of sanitary reform was held yesterday evening at the
Hanover-square Rooms; T. Wakley, Esq., M.P in the
chair. The bon. chairman expatiated at some length upon
the essential necessity of ameliorating the sanitary condition
of our population, not only by cleansing. themselves and
their dwellings, but by elevating their social condition, by
improving their habits, and bettering their food ; and he
expressed his firm conviction that ttis great object might be
attained if the people would, shoulder to shoulder, not
merely support the government in the sanitary reform it
had undertaken amongst the local bodies whome selfish in-
terests were arrayed against change, but urge the govern-
ment itself on to sanitary reforms which, as yet, it seemed
fearful of entering upon. The hon. chairman eulogised Mr.
Cochrane and Mr. Walker as the pioneers who had, after
years of labour, brought about the reforms which were now
commencing.—Mr. Charles Cochraoe moved the first reso.

lotion ; -
That It has for a series of years been steady dmargrated by em-
anated* connected with the legislative and piessasat departments,
and powerfully enforced by practise' intim, *ma the Notional
Philanthropic Sao .lation, and other bennoleat Piglet's*, instituted
for the purpose of montotiag sanitary reform, than* nation sulks
to an alarming extent, to a moral, physical, r
eel pomalary point
view, from the &Mete of an effective law fo the, aMelition of penis
health ; and Camerae are peculiarly to be trued M deldset sewerage
and home drains e, scanty and dear water supply, Berle urea
cleansingoi wretched construction and veetilation el the nweillep et
the poorer clams, and the 'munition of a tax on wineees.
The resolution having, been seconded by Dr. Ali, mad
supported by Sir C. Aiello, was unanimously adopteL—W.
George Walker then moved :
That the proctire of burying the dead in placer surrounded by the
abodes of the living ban been attended by a disregard of Whelan den
oency, and a violation of the sanctity of the grave. That the nevem*
exhumation of human remain. has engendered a feeling of disresped
for the dead, whilst the constant dinturbance of earth, saturated wen
tie decompesing gates emanating from the dead, to seriously desire&
live of the public health, and nbould be prohibited by law.
Mr. Walker enforced the adoption of the resolution, by
resepitalating the horrible scenes which had come under Ms
webs at Spafields burying-ground, at Boon Chapel, sal
obewhere—scenes which have already keen repeatedly de-
tailed to the public—and assuring the meeting that there
were still in Londou infinite Spafields burying-grounds and
Enon Chapels, diffusing disease and death around.—Mr.
George seconded the resolution, which, after corroborative
' observations from Mr. Rogers, was unanimously adopted.-ei
J. Wyld, Esq., M.P., moved:
That this meeting pledgee itself to support her Majesty's ferns.
meet in any just and coreprehennive measure for the removed and err
Unction of the evils deprecated in the preceding resolution.
Mr. Hyde Clark seconded the resolution, which was anal&
mously adopted..—Thanks having been then voted to the'
chairman, the meeting separated.
THE NATIONAL DEPENCEB.—Lut night a public
meeting was held at the Eastern Institution, Commercial-
road,
for the purpose of petitioning parliament against any '
addition to the existing naval or military forces enrolment
of the militia, or establishmeat of additional fortiesses. The
spacious lecture-room of the institution was densely crowded
on the occasion.—George Thompson, Esq., M.P., on taking
the chair, said that the present measure of national defences
was not recommended so much for the country's defence es
to multiply and augment that patronage which it must net-
cessarily create. They were there to oppose the measure,
not because they loved their country less, but because they
I loved the doctrines of the Gospel more. War would be re-
mote, not in proportion as they assumed an attitude of hes-
' tility, but as they put on an aspect of peace. He was
I therefore oppmed to the measure on Christian grounds.
But he opposed it on other grounds. To say that they
I were to bit invaded was to beg the question. He did not see
any evidence of an intention to invade their shores. Conti-
nental nations must have learned during the late war that it
was their interest to be at peace rather than war. But if
war were threatening, it waste be decided whether they
were not sufficiently prepared, d whether, with the heavy
taxes which they had to pay, this was the time to augment
their burdens. He was disposed to make every allowance
for the minister ea this occasion, because he could not dis-
pense with armies if the people wished for them. Let the
question then be put to the people, end if the prime minister
was for peace, let them strengthen his good intentions.—
Mr. Lowry said what the people of this country wanted was
protection against the enemy within, and not against the
enemy without. Invaders could do no more than rule
against the rights and wishes of the people. His maxim
was—no vote no musket.—Mr. Sooble ridiculed the idea of
an invasion of this country by France, cad maintained that
the great body of the people of that country would be
opposed to such a step. What the French people wished
fur was fraternity, equality, liberty. Were not these the
objects which the people of England were also looking for—
and the people of France knew it ? Why; then, should
I there be an apprehension of an invasion ? The fact
was the present movement originated in the de-
signs of the aristocracy, who wished to provide for
their relatives, and, if they succeeded, there would
be no hope for the progressive r. form of the counu7.—
Mr. Elihu Burritt regretted to see that the measure which
they were met there to discus had been agitated in this
country, because if England began to increase her military
establishments other nations would be likely to follow her
example. He had calculated that the working man had
paid 7,000,000,000 of taxes since the peace of 1815, as it was
called, and since 1801 the people of England had expended
mere by 450,000,0001. than the total exports from this
mighty world of industry. All governments were too ready
be set on the old Boman maxim of divide and govern and
tisejereat brotherhood of the people had been subjugated by
setting them against each other in blood-stained fields of ,
battle. During the last 700 years England had
been at war with France for 206 of those year,;
sad the expenses which they occasioned would pur-
°hese every acre in the kingdom at • 141. an acre.—
Mr. Burritt then read a fraternal &delete, which had been
mat from the people of Havre to the people of Southampton,
end said that the estimates for the French army and navy in
1848 were considerably less than they had been in 1847,
which was a proof that France was not preparing for war.—
Resolutions in conformity with the object for which the
meeting was convened were unanimously agreed te, and
were verbally the same as those which appeared in the
Daily News of yesterday, as having been passed ate meeting
of the inhabitants of Southwark.
THE METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL ASSOC'S-
vow FOR TILE REPEAL OF ERR WINDOW Tex.—Last
evening a meeting of the committee of the Metropolitan and
Provincial Association for the Repeal of the Window Tax
was held at the York Hotel, Upper Wellington-street,
Strand, to adopt the measures necessary for the purpose of
carrying out the objects connected with the formation of the
association ; Mr G. Edgar Deane; in the chair. Resolutions
were passed to the effect that Mr. Lushingtein, M.P., be re-
quested to act as president of the association, and Lord Dun-
can, M.P., as the vice•president ; that Mr. O. Huggett write
to the county, city, and metropolitan members, to request
that they would co-operate with the association. Mr. Wyld,
M.P., was appointed treasurer, and Mr. G. Huggett secre-
tary of the association.—Mr. Huggett then submitted the
names of several gentlemen as members of the business com-
mittee, when eleven were severally put and adopted, with
power to add to their number ; after which, there being no
other business before the meeting, Mr. Huggett observed
that the thanks of the advocates of the repealer the window
duties were due to the editors of four daily journals, which
gave a report of the meeting held at the British Hotel,Cock-
apur.street, on Monday evening last. He alluded to the
Daily News, Morning Chronicle, Morning Advertiser,
and Morning Herald.—Mr. Colville observed that they were
not in a position to peas a vote of thanks that evening to the
editors of these journals, but he thought that they were
bound to express their acknowledgment to the editors.
NATIONAL PIIILANTIIROPIC INSTITUTION. A
medal general meeting was held yesterday at the London
Tavern, for the purpose of filling up a vacancy in the list of
vice-presidents, and also to consider a proposal for a country
establishment in connexion with this institution. Mr. W.
Gladstone took the chair, and proposed the election of the
present Earl of Liarrowby, who, as Lord Sandon, had for
some years been a member of the committee, to fill up
the vacancy caused by the death of the late earl. The reso-
lution was carried, and ALSO one for the appointment of Mr.
Ricardo to the vacancy in the committee caused by Lord
Harrowbe's election.—Mr. Ricardo, in returning thanks,
alluded to the other object of the meeting, and
hoped that, in their new project, the society would
consider the propriety of including in their objects
not only children who had actually become criminals,
but rather to take them before they had committed crime,
which would prevent the necessity of taking them after.
wards.—The Chairman said that it had been considered that
if they could transfer the establishment of the society to the
country, instead of London, it would be • material assistance
to the accomplishment of their objects. They had been foe'
two years discussing the subject, anti had drawn cep a sum-
mary
of their views, which would be at once read to them.
—Mr. Paynter said that the great object in view was to re-
form the boys in their establishment more completely than
was possible in the metropolis, from the evil habits and evil I
passions with which they were surrounded, and to in-
*eruct them in various arts and callings ; and these
were the principal reasons, joined to the fact of the Lai
the society at present keld being of a very great Yale%
which induced the committee to take the proposed step—
being one that had been suggested by an experiment
which had already been successfully made in France. They
had embodied their proposal in the form of a resolution
which was to the effect ; That it was expedient to establish
a country school in connexion with the society; that the
object should be as now—for the reception of children of
criminal habits, or who were sufficiently depraved to render
it likely that they would become criminal. They would be
received on the payment of 201. from government, or 161.
from private persons, or by weekly payments by their
parents. They would be divided into separate families of
40 each, living in distinct houses, with master and his wife
for the instruction of each family. About ten seise of
ground would be attached to each house. The dreg leaf.
itc., of the boys would be regulated on strictly e
principles. They would eventually be placed out in dear I
dons in the colonies, except in cases where the parents wino
enabled to put them to any situations at home. The own- ,
nations which they would be taught would be principally '
out-door and agricultural ones. Every boy would
be taught to read, write, and cypher; and Kasha
attention would be paid to his religious kiln&
tion. The boys, en their first adminion, woohl
placed under the more immediate superintendenoe d