The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-23 00:00:00

FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting of this association was
held ea Wednesday night at the Culvert hall, Liverpool.
Mr. Charles Holland in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the breast of the meet
ing, congratulated the audience upon the fact, that not only
were the principles of the association being adopted by the
manufacturen but also by the agriculturists, who had now
deserted the Duke of Richmond ; they had now adopted the
Cobden budget, especially that part which ref erred to the re-
peal of the malt tax. After having shown some incenset-ncies
in the conduct of Mr. Wilson, the editor of the Economise, is
one of his financial statements, he stated that the words of the
old toast—" Ships,Colonies, and Commerce"—meant quite the
reverse of the meaning attached to then by the pries of the
old school, and he objected to colonies being established for
the support of the lazy drones of society; in proof of this he
quoted the eases of the colonies of Demerara, Ceylon, and
British Guiana, which he stated oat the country nine
shillings in the pound upon the oat of the articles of con-
sumptioa. Altar a [moral allusion to the state of the 0010
ni a abroad, the Chairman next adverted to the state of Great
Blinds and Ireland, and stated that if there was a free trade
in land—at last is the management of the land in Ireland,
which at present was only half cultivated—it would be
attended with the greatest benefits to society. He pointed
out an abuse not nodose in the trate of the association
• molumenta derived by the conveyance of silver from
South America here in British ships of war.
The amount of this aura of income was one and a half par
cent., which was divided into three portions—one quarter
went to the admiral on the station, one Ulf to the captain
in command, sad the other quarter to Greenwich Hospital.
But chinas sash as these were only given to some few
favoured parties. He thought this was only a step in the
right direction. By the Express of that day, he saw
that there was to be a reduction in one branch of the expen-
diture; and what did they think it was? Why ; a reduction
in the naval expenditure of scarcely 400,00 W. per annum.
(Hear.) Having advocated the abolition of all monopolies
the Chairman, after speaking threeluarters of an hour, con-
cluded by expressing a hope 'hit this country would not, by
her laws. make herself the laughingstock of the world—
(loud cheers)—and that they would carry out Mr. Cobden's
budget in it, full integrity.
The SECRETARY read the report, which, amongst
other things, stated :—" The daily accession of members,
from all grvters. testifies to the strong impression already
made on the public mind.
lir. H. K. CLAYPOLE, after eluding to the late de-
premed state of trade in this country, which hod been attri-
buted to various muses, said that he ascribed It to excessive
and unequal taxation pressing on the industryef the country.
He drew the attention of the meeting to the difference be-
tween direct and indirect taxation, observing that war uni-
formly increased the national debt, and, as the result, this
country bad ban saddled with a debt the interest of which
amounted to twenty-eight millions annually. The escala-
tion had been charged with a desire to remove that burden;
bat they desired to repel the insinuation and to pay honestly
that debt, and maintain the faith of the country—and, in
seeking to promote an equitable adjustment, they would
best serve the interests of all !lamed.

Mr. J. H. MACRAB referred to the many encou-
ragements the association had to proceed in its labours.
One eccouragernent he said, came from the irony of Disraeli;
another from the fright of Lord Brougham. The council
had just another encouragement given them, in an address
just handed up to the platform, signed by two
hundred people. The object of the If.natioial Re-
fora Avocation (strange as it may sound) is to encou-
rage you to 'rind your own business. (Laughter and
applause). Hitherto you have mast lamentably neglected
that. It is strange that a nation composed of individuals so
remarkable for sagacity and succor in the counting-house
should yet neglect the public expenditure so much as they
have done. (Applause.) We ma be iadividually great,
but, in this respect, we are y soft. (Loud laughter
ant{ applause.) It is also a strange anomaly that you should
find men, no doubt of the highest character—men who are
bravest In the field, even almost to rashness, for their
country's good, as they believe—absolutely content, must
I say to cheat the soldier, but certainly to make a profit
out of his elethisi. And when the regiment is
abroad, if any men die off, they actually tax the public
puree to clothe men not in existence. (laughter and ap-
plause.) Then look at the woods and forests. If you know
nothing about their management, let me recommend the
tracts of the association to you • they are worth reading,
and, when yea have read them, dy: them to somebody else.
Then read ohs trait just honed a t the Admiralty ; it con-
tains the mom extraordinary facts I ever heard. A an
went with a plea of cloth to a bungling tailor, and told him
to make a suit from it. The tailor said there was not Buff-
Meet, it would (SIT make a coat and pair of trailers. Hs
was told to proceed with them, but he came afterwards and
said the sloth would Nay make a mat. He afterwards

thought t►ere was not sufficient even for that, but said It
would make a pair of gaiters. The gaiters were made,
but they were tom small. (Load laughter.) Now Ibis is
I just the case with the Admiralty ; they bn'ld a ship—it
won't suit. They eat it down and it sails as well as ever.
(Laughter.) They then cut it taw a small trivets, I think
they call it. Ern then it won't do; it must be cut in the
middle and pieced. Then it is nett sea-worthy—the guns go
Rader water. It is turned nest into a corvette; at last it
won't sail, and they tern Uinta a dingy, cock-boat, or tome-
thing of that sort. (Loud laughter and applause) This
may make us laugh, but remember that you and I have to
pay for it. I am sure that we are all willing to pay a fair day's
wave for a fair day's work ; but then we mu-t have a fair
day's work. (Land applause.) Now it is our business and
yours to see that we get a fair day's work fur the fair day's
wage,' which public officals receive. (Applause.)
Mr. FRANCIS BOULT then addrated the meeting
at considerable length.
A complimentary vote to the Chairman closed the pro-
ceedings.