The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-07 00:00:00

cities throughout the kingdom. Wan rects hod been shown
to, and admitted by, the waiter s
re-
ports, and it was a COotmissioners in their
&sire to any government to persist in
the continuance of sue an impost, It was absurd to say,
that if the minister of the crov,n gave up this tax, how was
he to supply the deficiency ? When they reflected that the
minister Met at his ec'nun'ad five or six millions per year,
derivable from a newt' levied income tax, he thought the
Peoifie of England o aght to call for a repeal of a tax which
wet only imposed
. as a war-tax, without suggesting any sub-
'stitute for it. Another grand point for the consideration of
her Majcsr:f's government, and showing the neces.
city foe an Moruediate repeal of the window tax, was
its operation upon the elective franchise. Why, no less
than one.seventlt of the rate-payers of Marylebone
had been last year disqualified from being on the re-
gister of voters, solely in consequence of the operation
of this tax. In fact, in one street containing 20 houses, rated
at from 301. to 401. per annum, there were only two persons,
on account of the window duties, qualified to vote. Some
would say that it was through their own neglect, but he
(Mr. Wilson) considered that no such fiscal regulation ought
to be permitted by any government, let alone a liberal one,
to constitute the timing of electoral rights. The repeal of this
tax would have the effect of doing away with all the trouble
and litigation experienced by voters annually in the Revising
Barristers' courts; and he sincerely hoped that the present
government, if they wished well to the country, would have
this tax repealed. Another proof of the inequality of this
tax was, that whilst the inhabitants of towns and cities had
to pay it, the agri. ultural body were comparatively exempted.
All farm-houses in England under a rent of 2001. per annum
were exempt front this tax. Ile (Mr. Wilson) could not,
nor did he believe the
.government could, assign any reason
why the agricultural interest should be thus exonerated,
unless it was that the bane of this country, class interests,
had interfered, and the window tax had been made to suit
that class to which the chief portion of the legis-
lature belonged, and to keep up their high rents.
When the deputations went before Sir Robert Peel last
Sear, the right hon. baronet quite agreed with them as to
the necessity of repealing this tax, but regretted they were
too late, his financial arrangements for the year being
already made. They were determined not to give Lewd
John Russell the same opportunity of getting out of the
matter, and he (Mr. Wilson) did hope, and believe, that
if the matter was fairly put to the noble lord, he would
endeavour to carry out an object se condu flee to the benefit
of the people at large. Mr. Wilson concluded by moving •
resolution to the effect —" That a meeting be convened for
the ensuing week, to whip the members for the borough of
Marylebone, the City of Westminster, and Lord Duncan,
the member for Bath, be invited, to consider the propriety
of appointing a deputation to the government, urging the
necessity of an immediate and total repeal of the obnoxious
window tat. '—After several speeches, a vote of thanks was
given to the chairman, and the resoktions haring been
ordered to be adratised in the morning papers the meeting
se'earated.
LONDON COACII MAKERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITC-
TION.—Last night the yearly meeting"( the members and
supporters of this society, was held at the rooms of
the institution, King-street, Golden-square. The secre-
tary, read the report, which stated, that the society's funded
ptelseity amounted to 3001., exclusive of 1001. in the hanker's
hands; and that the subscriptions of the year, including a
' previous balance, figured 611. 17s. fiel. leaviag • general
' balance
of 4211. Upon the motion Of Mr. Lee the report
was adopted, after which, and the announcement of sehli-
' tional members to the society, thanks were voted to the
chairman.

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bOVEREIGN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.—The first
ordinary general meeting of this company was held yester-
day at the Thatched Rouse Tavern. Resolutions to the
following effect were then unsnimoally adopted :

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That se much of the sumer whirl has already attended the opera-
tions of the company may be attributed to the syston of advancing to
the reared the sanount ad his policy num avraikible security, and as
this part of the compenri burner might be greatly extemied by an
Increase of capital, it Is the opinion of the meeting that it not b ins
in contemplation to make any further call, the difference between the
shares already issued and the entire capital of the company should
be rated, and in It* Bret instance offered to such of the present
proprietors as may be dermas of increments their interest ix
the company.—Thit the directors be at liberty to allot to nen
applicants such number of the shares as may after 21 days renter
undispered of to the present proprietors, and t►at a preference be
mom to referrerl men and ethers likely by their influence to ex-
tend the betides and promote the welfare of theeonspeny.
Other resolutions, pledging the proprietors to use their
best exertiiins to advance the business of the company, and
thanking the directorsfor their efficievicy and care, having
likewise been unanimously adopted, the meeting separated.