The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-31 00:00:00

lECLARATION OF VISCOUN l' DUNCAN.

An aggregate meeting of representatives of the
several parishes comprised in the City and Liberty of West-
taunter took plain lut evening at the Vestry Room of St.
James's, Piccadilly, for the wpm of adopting maimed
for prentring "the total and immediate repeal of the
window duties, without the substitution of any other tax."
The attendance was numerous, comprising churchwardens,
overseen, vestrymen, and others, from the following
parishes James's, St. Paul's, Covenugarden, St.
Anne's, Soho, and St. Illary.bratzend.
Mr. WK. DEESIN, senior churchwarden of St. James's,
presided, and it having been reeolvi d that a deputation
should be appointed to wait on the churchwardens ol the
parishes inn represented at the meeting,
Viaeount DUNCAN, who was loudly cheered, said—lt is
quite uansoemary for me to trouble you with any arguments
for the repeal of this tax. In the days of 6 r Jibe Hobbouse
and others it had bean denounced, both in B'. James's sod
in other of the metropolitan pariahs,. The tours, I intend
to panes on this question is open and straightforward ; I
shall certainly renew my motion for the repast of the
window tax at as early& day as I can. (Cheers.) It is my
intention to bring forward a motion for the total, ininudiaterl
and complete repeal of this ohne:ions tax. (Hear, ham)
Aced when I regard the state of the national finances, I sal
happy to say that I perceive they are now in such a WAN
that I can no loopy be met with the only objection that was
ever brought forward—the impossibility of repealing it nada/
the peculiar circumstances of the ; for as we have so
large a surplus,l do not think there is anything to which thin
surplus could be applied with more satisfaction to theisublis
than to the repeal of the window tax. (Meer, bear.) I man'
be permitted to take this opp.rtuuty of making a few ob-
servstions with respect to certain words which have falba
from other hon. members of the House of Commons. Very
lately, at a meeting at Bradford, my friend Mr..
', Cobden stated that is his opinion the window
tax was sot the first tax on the list that meet
to be repealed, and he expressed his belief that it tall
only and exclusively upon the higher and middle clams, et
the community. I think then words must have fallen
from my hon. friend rather hastily. (Hear, hear.) If he
will take the opportunity of investigating the subject he will I
be inclined to agree with me that that tax don not fall only
upon the higher and middling, hat also presets moot un-
equally upon all clouts of the community, and that all
would be benefited by its repeal. (Hear, hear.) This very
day I tot k the trouble to walk as far as the Crystal Palace
now building in this metropolis. Now the first question I
should lite to ask in my place to parliament is whether that
Crystal Palen is to be subjected to the window tax.
(Hear, bear.) If it is, I realty should like to know how
much will have to pay foe it. (Applause.) If it Is
not, I should then like this question answered—whether
other persons may not be permitted to build crystal palaces
as well as the Royal Commissioners. (Cheers.) I am well
aware that in the manufacturing districts a great number at
persons are exempted from this tax. Now, I could
understand why ,i 1 it is to be imposed at all, the siatufscnarers
should not pay equally with other persons ; nor why, if it is to
be maintained, it should not be placed on the shoulden of
every man in the community. (Hear.) It is the numerous
exemptions which have bean made (rem time to time in
favour of large interests that have canoed the tax to press so
unequally on different claws. (Hear, hear.) I have
repeatedly brought forward this 'object in the House et
Commons, and have never received any answer at ell
satisfactory why the tax should not be repealed, except the
financial difficulties. Toole have fortunately ceased ; and I
do not think there can be a more auspicious moment for
agitating the question than the present. (Cheers.) 1 gins
me the greatnt satielaction, having only arrived in this
country yesterday from the continent, to find the iahabitants
01 the metropolis so actively engaged. I have received
communications from many other puts of the kingdom, and
I am happy to say that the agitation on this subject is not
confined to the metropolis alone. If you gentlemen oat of
doors will exert yourselves, and press this questionoa the
attention of your representatives, I am quite cosylased
that when I bring it forward, whoever may be
in the government, or however I may be opposed, I
dull not be opposed successfully.
Mr. ANLEY stated that it the window tax was repealed
he should reduce his rents on those houses for which ha paid
the tun. (Hear' hear.) lie was certain this example
would be Uy followed.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the members for Finsbury.
Lambeth, Westminster, and other metropolitan boroughs,
were piedged to stop the supplies if the window tax was not
repealed. (Cheers.)
Mr. NELSON stated that of the 1,800,0001, produced by
the window tax, only 390,0091. was paid by the upper
classes—a proof that it pressed unjustly en the middle and
lower. There was an annual addition of 6,009 houses to the
metropolis, which did not pay the window tax, the mijority
of which were unfit for human habitation. He moved the
thank' of the meeting to Lord Viscount Duacau for his
&Madames.
Mr. WILKINSON wooded the motion, which was car-
ried amidst great applause.
Viscount DUNCAN briefly acknowledged the vote, and
in a highly complimentary speech to the outman, moved a
vote of thanks to that gentleman.
The mating then adj ,arced.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

PARDON OF MR. OOLDSMID.

It will be recollected that Mr. John Goldsmid was
tried at the last Middlesex Sessions before Mr. Serjt. Adorns,
fur an wash alleged to have been committed by him on
George Tideman, an excise officer, and after a trial which
occupied a considerable time, found guilty and sentenced to
an imprisonment of three month.. Immediately after the
trial Milers. Lewis, of Ely place, who deluded Mr. Gold-
amid, having, from the instructions they ha received, felt
confident of the innocence of Mr. Goldsmid, proceeded to
obtain evidence in addili in to that given at the trial, with
the view of laying the whole body of testimony before Sir
George Grey. Assisted by the efforts of Mr. Goldsteid's
family, and numbers of his friends, his solicitors pro-
duced fifteen declar►tions upon the subject, and for-
warded them to the judge who tried tte unlucky
defendant. While this was in the possession of Mr. Serjeent
Adams the innocence of Mr. Goldsmid was placed beyond
all doubt by the appearance of Wm. Hogging, the person
who had, as was stated, committed the assault, earl who
came forward to take upon hinuieif the responsibility and
to relieve the individual erroneously charged from the imp•-
tation against him. Mr. Serjeant Adams, immediately upon
hearing the etatement of Mr. Goggins, and Messrs. Lewis
►aving reduced that statement to a declaration on oath,
addressed the Secretary of State for the Rome Dep►rtment.
sad the result was that within half an hour of the presents.
lion of the document yesterday Mr. Goldsmid was liberated
from custody with a tree pardon—the pardon being of course
• mere form, but necessarily arising from the fact that the
verdict of toe jury was "guilty."

JERSEY OYSTER FISHERT.—A modification, long
wished for by our fishermen, in the limit of the duration (it
being at present from September 1 to April 30) of the
mystery fishery, is on the point of being realised. By the
treaty which was concluded between the Engiish aad French
governments, the fishery after the Ist of May woo inter-
dicted, May being precisely the month most propitious for
dredging, and consequently most profitable to the fishermen,
It now appears that the authoritiee of Granville and the
fishermen of the two countries have agreed to petition for
the revision of the treaty, in order that for the tutus tne
oyster fishery may commence October 1, and terminate
ktay 16. During the spring of 1860, the number of Jersey
boats employed in the fishery was 70, and 1,120 tone, manned
by 360 men; of English boats, 119, of 2,898 toes, manned by
623 men—a total of 189 boats, 4,018 tone, 983 men. The
quantity of opines caught was 105,000 tubs, which fantod
13e a tub—or 16,7501. !In the autumn of the name year,
140 Jersey boats, of 640 tone, manned by 200 men ; of English
bona 40, of 640 tons, 220 men. These eighty boats caught
19 200 tube, which told at 2s. 6.1. per tub, or 3,4001. The
total produce of the oysters dredged in the spring and
autumn of 1850 being thus 19,1501.—Jersev Chronicle.
THZ TEtiraaaocs CAUSE IN EDINBURCL—Tbe
&odamwe says A sane took place last night in South
bridge Hall, and in the street opposite to it, which
threatened for some time to end In a disturbance of the
peace. A Dr. Robertson has been lecturing for some nights
put in this Hall, which is opposite the ,C.illege ; and it
would seem that his lectures have been of each an mare' de-
scription as to induce large numbers of the students to attend
(or amusement. The lecture on Friday night was to be fie
the subject of the temperance case; and, although the
admission wee sixpence each, the hall was crowded with
students. some time before eight o'clock, at which hear
the lecture was fixed to take place. Dr. Robertson collects
the cash at the door, as well as delivers the lectures; and
when he was engaged in the former of these duties, the
students vote/ one of their number into the chair. This
Indianan seemed qualified, in an eminent degree, to
rule " the fierce democracy ;" for, when the time
arrived for ,the commencement of the lecture, he
stilled at ones the discordant elements around him
by a wave of his stick, and with profound gravity Intro-
duced the doctor to the meeting. The doctor desired to
know the wishes of the audience before he began. Would
they have • lecture on temperance, or would they prefer
one on the other aide 01 mune, the chairman's services I
were again called into requisition, and he put the question',
to the meeting in proper business style ; end the response at
once wee to have a lecture condemnatory of temperance. The
doctor accordingly put the temperance MS. into his pocket,
and brought out the more congenial one, which he cons-
' menced to read amidst such • perfect Babel of confusion that
not one word of it could be heard. Sundry little episodes
occurred to relieve the discordance, annagst the
I more noticeable of which was a tussle between
' the chairman and the lecturer, which aided in
I the latter being pushed over. It did sot ap-
pear to have been • very serious affair, however,
for the lecturer was soon on his feet again, and he
' and the chairman shook handy', and became, If possible, mill
greater friends than before. This noisy fuse sees sollectod
a crowd in the street opposite the hell; and the Woman of
I mischief were mach increased by sundry basins of water
being thrown from the windows of the hall um the per.
I eons on the pavement below. At this juncture the lights in
I she hall were extinguished: and, in the minion which pu-
t vatted, the lecturer contrived to get away unobserved. A
. aember of the students followed his example, and dime who
/ remained good-busouredly brought the night's diversion to
s a goes by staging a song, at the of which the
crowd outside, amounting to not Ism than a thommul oc
Mews hundred penesse, began gradually to disperse.