The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-28 00:00:00

FINANCIAL REFORM.

sIttfARYLEBONE FINANCIAL REFORM
ASSOCIATION.
Last avening.a meeting of the inhabitants of the
Rectory district, us the prink of Metylebone,:was held at the
Westmoreland Arms Tavern. George-street, Portman.
square, for the purpose of carrying out the recommendations
contained in the resolutions adopted at the general meeting
of the parishioners, which tale place at the Workhouse-yard
on 27th February last, by forming a branch association and
adopting a petition to parliament, pre) ,rag for a reduction of
public expenditure and taxation.—J. NIBI3XT, Esq., church-
warden, in the chair.
Mr. GARNETT read the resolutions agreed to at the
mesting of the 27th Feb., and called upon all present, by
enrolling their names as members, to aid in carrying out the
objects of the association.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that the necessity of parliamentary
reform, and of such a revisal of taxation as will have the
effect of placing the burden on the income and property of
the country, instead of, as at present, on the necessaries of
life, was now beaming a self-evident truth. To effect
these objects the people need only take a lesson
from their aristocratic rulers. By combination and
ec-operation they contrived to wrest from the in-
dustry of the country immense slurs for their own advan-
tage. If the working classes thought proper to make a com-
bine I effort, they would obtain a large measure of redress,
but if they looked on esatentedly, and did nothing, they
would most assuredly be made to suffer to a greater extent
than they now did. (Hear, hear.) Since 1835 the p
of wutefel expenditure had been advancing without arTZ
--end now that it had become a ..grievaisee to which the
attention of every man in the ootbmunlty was awakened,
Wthey could not fail to observe with surprise
small amount of support which any preposition for
retrenchment met with in the House of Commons. He
would not say that he was surprised that 'enemy found no
favour in that locality, for Mr. Hume and be had often stood
almost alone on fernier occasions, when vainly urging propo-
sitions for ',retrenchment in the expenses of government on
the house. As long as the people neglected their duties, so
long would the house be constituted as it was, and it was
only by combination and union that they could succeed in
getting rid of the system. Notwithstanding the increased in-
dustry and frugality by which the working classes were
characterised, their condition was getting worse daily, and it
wee difficult to understand how it could be otherwise when
'lBO millions of taxes, public and local, were taken annually
from the Industry of the country. He firmly believed that
sale s the people Interfered to control and amend the state
of things which required such enormous expenditure, they
would soon be worse off than any nation In Europe. (lieu,
hear.) At the same time he advised all men to keep strictly
within the pale of the law, for he believed there was an
abundance of power in the law to carry them over their diffi-
culties and secure a triumph for them at last.
Messrs. SODILX, KINBWIT, HODOES, and several other
gentlemen, also addressed the meeting in explanation of the
objects delis smociation, and of the mode in which it yea
proposed to carry them out. A considerable number of mem-
bers were enrolled. A petition to parliament was adopted
praying for a refers in the present system of representation
and a reduction of taxation • and the usual vote of thanks
having been given to the chk
rman, the meeting, which was
numerously attended, separated.

COUNTY MEETING IN SUSSE3i—PROTEC-
• TION TO AGRICULTURE Olt. FINANCIAL
REFORM?
Yesterday a meeting of freeholders and other inlut-
bitants of the county of Sums, convened by the High
Sheriff, was held at Lewes. The meeting first assembled an
the Corn and Hop Exchasge, but adjmuned from thence to
the frost of the County Hall. From 3,000 to 4,000 persons
were assembled.
Major CURTEIS moved the first resolution. He drew a
strong picture of: the distress existing among the agricul-
twists of East fkasex. From the information he had ob-
tained from country bankers sad others he believed half the
farmers must stop payment at Michaelmas. He attributed
this distress partly to the lad harvmt and yto the malt
and top duties. He repudiated protection, a pertlnd concluded
by moving a resolution condemnatory of the malt and hop
duties.
Mr. S. SELMES seconded the reedatME._,„„
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