The Express.
London, England, 1848-12-30 00:00:00

f;4B.

extent to which the pronto of the malt - A par-
tial and unequal. It is the barley growers who are
subjected to its greatest weight—the English barley
growers—for little or no foreign barley is or can be
used in malting.
What has been said of the malt tax applies in great
measure with equal form to the hop dirty. To the
hop daty there is, moreover, this additimal objection,
that it carries moo to the verge of caricature all the
worst features of the *miss system. To oblige
brewers, distillers, soapmakers, and pa makers to
work under the incessant espionage ot the excise
Mica is had enough ; but to bring this. privileged
spies with their vexatious rogulationsont of the build-
ings in which the trades we have enumerated are car-
ried on into the open fields, is next door to a wanton
challenge to Englishmen to break their toils.
So much for the inequality of these vexatious im-
posts. But they are also a general nuisance. They
enhance the price and deteriorate the quality of what
m emphatically the national beverage. They tax
dispropurtiosately one of the principal and one of
the wet wholesome luxuries of the poor. Indirectly
teethe nekton is a source of vexation and annoyance
to ethers besides agriculturists. The distillers from
malt—the whole body, we may say, of the Scotch
aistiders--are subjected to a hoarier duty, and more
vesations and impracticable regulations, solely be-
mire of the existence of the malt tax.
No one, therefore, need be surprised at the repeated
and vigorous efforts which have been made to get rid
of these odious imposts, the malt and hop duties.
Bat it does afford cause for something more than sur-
prise to find some who have hitherto been clamorous
in season and out of season for the repeal of these
taxes, relaxing in their seal, and endeavouring to per-
suade their followers to relax in their efforts, now that
there is a reasonable prospect of their being attended

with success.
Some of the provincial journals in the interest of
the " farmer'. friends," are beginning to discover that
the repeal of the malt tax is less urgent, its advan-
tages tem unquestionable, since Mr. COBDEN threw
his weight into the scale. And one of our busiest
agricultural agitators has addreseed • letter to a ma.
'trestle° ontemporary, in which be declares that
"The repeal of the malt tax is a subject of vast ins-
portance to the labour interest of this country, and
one which they have at beset ; but they will desire to
effect it by a very different process front that set lir*
by Mr. COBDEN." lie endeavours to arouse their
jealousy of Mr. COBDEN by representing the
i
'repeal of the malt and hop duties as a bait t=
disk acquiescence in "total free trader."
As yet only • few of the so-called farmer's
toimade," and none of first-rate note or influence, have
*Mused a determination to adopt this stultifying 1
policy of eating their own words. Bet while they
are yet silent, it is of importance that the attention of
the agricultural masses who have hitherto bliodly and
devotedly followed these leaders should be invited to
the course they shall steer in reference to the demand
now made fir the repeal of the malt and hop duties.
When home-grown corn was protected they declared
these imposts an unbearable burden : the abolition of
protection cannot have rendered the agriculturist
more able to bear them. They have repeatedly de-
manded *he abolition of these duties without proposing
any reduction of expenditure that might enable
government to dispense with their collection : a dis-
tinct and large reduction of expenditure is now
proposed that will render their further collection un-
necessar. They have forced the repeal of the
mal y t and hop duties on the attention of parliament
when they knew they were in a minority : a party is
now in the field anxious to co-operate with them to
obtain that repeal, whose numbers added to their own
will ensure a majority. The repeal of the malt and
hop dude* is now more than ever an act of justice;
the most plausible objection to conceding
it has been removed; a majority in favour of it is
certain, if those who have hitherto called for it re-
main true to their professed principles. For the
agricultural leaders who have hitherto advocated the
repeal of the malt and hop duties in or out of parlia-
ment, to oppose or obstruct it now, or even to stand
neuter, will be to cooks* that they raised the cry for
their abolition merely to establish • grievance on
which they could trade for party purposes, not with a
view to obtain redress.
To the advocates of financial reform the line that
the " farmer's friends" may see fit to pursue on this
secesion is a matter of comparative indifference. The
hearts of the agral community are est upon the
abolition of the malt`and bop duties. The agricul-
tural labourers, the tenant farmers, and such land-
owners as have nothing to gain by party contests,
understand that reduction of expenditure must pre-
cede remission of taxation. By standing aloof from
the great movement fur financial reform which has now
begun, or by seeking to thwart or impede it. the
politicians who have aimed at power by holding them-
selves out as the especial friends and champions
of the agriculturists, may compel that class to choose
new leaders ; but they cannot delude plain English
common sense, or pervert right English feeling so far
as to induce the agricultunsts of England to unsay
the honest declarations which they have kept repeat-
ing with increasing vehemence ever since the close of
the war in 1815.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NAPIER, who no doubt
receives many huedreds a year for ordering clothing
for the 27th Regiment, of which he is colonel, makes
a very poor and garbled answer to the statement of
the Financial Reform Association on this same sub-
ject of clothing. The major-general begins by pees-
leg over altogether the chief complaint of the assailer
dea. It is as follows:
The colonels by whom the clothing is provided are, ta
OK instances, general officers, who obtain the head cola
Wised regimenta to provide the clothing so a matter at
web gad profit; they are, in the most literal semis of the
espeidoe, dealers in clothes When a regiment goes abroad,
heMeita sickly, and Ii thinned by death, the clothing colonel
Intirhem it belongs, and who remains sit home, pockets the
mug set required for dead or sick men as his own emolu-
ment. It is said to be a matter of considerable interest to the
clothing colonel of a regiment to know, when it is ordered
'bread, whether it be gong to a station where men live well
("die fast. In eases when regtoseata seldom ao abroad, the
allowances are more liberal, to make up for lees of profit on
Iliefieiset numbers. Also in wee where the clotbii g must be
erred quality, special allowanen are made for absence of
*s egetis arising from the clothing of bed quality. The
colonel of the Grenadier Guards, the Duke of Wel.
Ilessie, hes 1,0931. allowed, in lieu of profit. This is in ad-
dition to his profits for furnishing the Rifle Brigade with
clothes. Both sources of income are in addition to 161. 8.
per day, as commander livelier; in addition to 7501. per
annum for forty,e for his hones. And all these saw are in
addition to2l. In. lid. per day as goverdor of the Tower of
L-ndoa, which is an office with no duty,and as Lord Warden
of the Cinque Ports, for which he has 3,0001. per annum.
Not a word does the gallant major-general say to
the colonel's pocketing the money for clothing not
required by dead or sick men, bat which the state pays
for all the same. The texture and kind of cloth may
have been fixed, as General NAPIER alleges, and so
LORD STANLEY has, within the last few days, got probably has been the price paid ; but is it asserted that
his eldest son returned for Lynn. Persocally,we believe, the price charged to the nation varies with the price of
the young member is likely to do credit to the choice cloth in the market ? For instance, at the pre-
of the constituency (supposing, of course, that they sent moment cloth is infinitely cheaper than a
were bound to choose a protectionist). He recently few years since. Much
tutorbe and much more
gained high distinction at Cambridge, and, from the clothing might be given e soldier for the
known tastes of his father, is sure to have been eau- price. But we will be bound to say there
cated, to a certain extent, expressly with a view to is no variation in the regalar charge. The surplus
political life. But it is to be remarked that these goes into tho pockets of the colonel. The wet of
qualifications are merely gratuitous things, for clothing—at least u much of the clothing as the
which the electors of Lynn have to thank Lord colonel furnishes—of the Grenadier Guards is 8,9731.
STANLEY, but which, according to the present for 2,180 men, being about 41. a man. But the
system, they had no right to expect. Had colonel receive* for the trouble of ordering
the nascent politician left his university with- clothes for this regiment, 1,0931., or about ten shillings
oat a goatee, and with those peculiar habits which a man. Where does this ten shillings come
are nasally cultivated, it not contracted, there, by in- from ? It was, no doubt, supposed to come from the
dividuals of his clue, be rout still have been accept- tailor, who was willing to pay so much to the
able to the borough as the eon of the protectionist colonel for procuring him so good a bargain.
chief. Abstractedly there is no reason why the eon No doubt the firstailor on
charging his tracts were made in
of a nobleman should not be elected into the lower this way, the t regular,
house as won as he has attained his majority. In and more than his regular profit, with the bonus to
spite of the splendid exceptions which have occurred the colonel superadded. But now it appears that the
of late ears, there can be little doubt that a man will bonus is paid by the government, so that the tailor is
not generally spring at once into maturity as a states- at liberty to add this to his profit, together with the
man, but must first p through a tolerably long ay- profit accruing from the great fall of price on all
Ilprentictship ; and this, of course, is best got over in articles of clothing, and it he give an additional
, youth. lint in the concrete, the election of bonne no matter in what shape, to the colonel, it
sucking legislators is a disgrace to the nation. would not be surprising, at least on the part of the
The door of parliament is open only to a certain par- clothier. Now, we ask, is it a wonder if people in
Lion of the young men who are yearly turned out trade find fault with this mode of doing busmen ? if
hem the different seats of education; to the sons of they clamour on finding the sums wrung from them in
die aristocracy and of the monied clue. And this taxes lavished ia • fashion which would disgrace and
portion is perhaps lees fitted than any other that ruin any mercantile establishment? If colonel and
could be mused by its antecedents to enter upon the general ()Seers are not efficiently remunerated, let it
work of legislation with any profit to the country. be so stated, and let thembe paid hen y, honour-
Born and bred in the belief that they have no occasion ably. But let them not stain their character as gen-
to exert themselves, encouraged in it moreover by the Ramon and as clear accountants, in cabbeging and
detestable system which cannot yet be said to be bargaining, and sweating money out of tail ir bills,
eradicated fives the universities, they go forth into in • fashion that, let Majce•Gen. NAMES lay what he
the world destitute, possibly, of the commoust in- will, is not soldierhice.
LONDON. SA TUBDA 1. DEC. 30. formation beyond mere reading and wrffing—osr- General Kirin fills a very long column of the
THAT the malt tax should hue been an object of tainly of anything which can be regarded as training newspapers, in showing the very complete and mi-
ineement and areeness denunciation by the orient- for a public career. As an Oxford tutor one said in note system of checks which exist to enure the
tarsi interest for the last thirty years need Norma' no upped of a vehement attack which he had just been soldiers being clad in cloth of thethe royal
on .
unequal The eonsemption of beer is proportionally the article is manufactund." It is indeed won- But of the prices, or vouchers for the prices, or accounts
greater in rural than in urban districts; so even on derful to think of the apathy with which this of any kind, there is not a word or a pro-
the assamptioa that the whole tax is paid by the oon- amoebas. intlietica ot ignorant preeemptien is viaion. As to the extra articles of clothing, Major
sumer it would secesearil pees most heavily on the endured by the common sense of Beglishmere General NAPIEI proves, with superabundance of
ci the Dogberry believed that reading and writing wale logic, that these are perquisites not of the colonel
Bat, it point tact, no tax on consumption is ever by nature. Joan BULL labours under a much more but of the captain." Being colonel, he repudi-
paid endrely by the oreivesser. Compare the price of extraordinary delusion. He resat*. Item every petty ates the possibility of acy such peculation, and proves
any *two while untaxed with its prim after •tax practitioner itoowledge of his art: tinker, tailor, it by the statement, that the colonel never Nees his
buboes lad upon it, and you
ad easily discover cobbler, all mod Intre bad same previous education in regiment, though he is paid from 8001. to 1,8001. a
*at a tadt compromise boa ben mats. The pm* in their respective video beton be will employ them. year for wearing the title and ordering the clothes.
ashamed to the weennise, but not to each an extent In the science of goventinent alone, the architectonic Indeed the Colonel's position is in many ways prefer-
as to admit of the seller ebtainingsgatia so more for science under whit* all other kinds of knowledge are able. For, should a soldier die, the Colonel can pocket
pis monad* as wan. Th. *riot therefore aainprehandad, be seeeptil as prokesore men sue- the money, which should go to pay for his clothe.,
pays his fa proportion of ilia malt tax es con- qusinted with its very redlining.. Political know- whereas in certain cues the poor captain, on the con-
sumer and a great deal more the products. of the ledge comae by nature Of ORRERE this (Mugu° teary, becomes o le for the poor fellow's debt..
asamadity. -18* *tom * *mbar way. /maw of mud have soma show ef reason to noon- But indeed we will length with General
prim neseinerily dimiebbee eseenmplice, end with it mend k to a practical f=eo, We would NATI= in acquitting the British officer of peculating
the domed he an
of The ogrfealturise limier' fain believe that it, has ; 'taut all that we or filling his pocket at the expense of the esidiar•
throngh the operation of the malt tan sells hesherley, are able to discover is a notion Wit political know- No Aker, not even the colonel, 14 who never saw his
gem a lower
he fix what he sells, and pays a higher ledge is sot es affair of book karnikt• but of oxperi- regiaent, and who has never been seen even by a
;nee" • for what he ecteemeee in the shape. of malt. epee, and Bores is only to be hiftla by pus. apt= of it," as General Nutria describes, would
Thor sawed priced malt by the operakee of the doe ; that it is unnamable to expect neophyte to think clench a mode of eluting out his pay' however
met ten allots sgrieelariste prejedicially is andber abstain from polities until he has studied theme ful alkat7tif the law Or the regulatioto uf t11•9"i°0 did

COVENT OARDEN.—TAis litarniosq.—The mar-
ket still camomile to be wall supplied with Vegetables and
Fruit, inept Hoahouse nape', which as scarce. Pine-
apples are plentiful. Among Pain we remarked good
specimens of Chanmentalle, Olout Homes, Na Plus
Henri% N
and Old Colmar. uts in genera are sufficient for
the demand. Oranges and Lemons are plentiful. Amor gat
Vegetables, Canes and Tnaip an abundant end good;
Cauliflowen, Broccoli, Re., eafileient for the demand. Some
Asparagus, French Beans, Rhubarb. and &shale have
mole their apparent... Femme, &leas, and Holland still
I distribute eonvidembly to our stork of Pouitoes ; the foreign
' Mee fetch about fd a ton ; the very best home grown ones
about 111. a ton. Lettuces and other saladiag are sufficient
re the demand. Mushroom" are pretty plentiful. Cut
1 ifieersm consist of Heaths, Pelargoniums, Camellias, Oar.
andas, Fuchsias, and Roses.
FRUITS.
rete"="ier. 4.1r..ts tole AW"at•:- .anal. seer 6.0
to le
PPP. Por. P.Pito Is Ramey pee.lo I seer!
*mks. derey pee bra.. Ile to Te per MA.. it to SU
litelso,dideee fe es le anemias. see ems. es to to
Pam rat eel 105° 41 luta. iillreGiOni. Mr b.. la to Lb
per tabfaime. fa to lie vin•rss. pee Web. Ms to lOW
Loom pee des. Is r! Col,. lee Idles. cue t• late
per laa les is las Wail. pm hob, Ile So lee
leedepea per Is.. ter!
TIWNTABLIIO.
I OWN.% pee do.. 3d to Is lobules pee brads 3d to 41
- NC par Ms. tete es —E.b.CI to b. ed.
Szer 11:. penis
twills. iumeelsired WWII p lien. Is lid tole
fee ass. to fe Ofteles pee Its. ed to let
weeny& Is r! gadh
a.1..r dos. loads 6d to le
- Isig do..ed to le
bleima pm eve, es ea imbibes's. pro Pa, Is ddb Se
moss. ger swam to ishi Jerseileme p. ft. als to
... lee we. le to II led.
••• pre bullid. feed to le Limes OW. per warm ed to Old
pries buaels, Is dd las taw. per one lid to le
Rod dos. silo la Sadtos. PP OM' I° to il
Mane pegimedle4ls So de Normaremes. pee rigs, Id to Is
&WWI. Peng. .i• par bursa, 4. Ia No
=pot porml. Is So Ili Ild lima MAP. per posaot. fd to 3d
~.. londs, UPI' leasil, par bun* al to ad
Mode Deem pee tic! Id APP7. Pr block at to 3d
Coosplons, lath,ls los le Thyme, pa bomb, ll to 441
Looks. pis Pa. id to Is Posorerwo, palmed bets,ed told
Odors. .
pales PPM. id to la 3.1 !NW. por doe. temelt, Wales
Mesas. s Priem Se So Ss !Pop— par bor.. Les Is dd
=Pa dem da to Is dd mssfors.. est tuninsla
WM.. 44 Se 1111 Mat. grim Pod flefe•-• AA
ToisMoos, car WNW
)4 to il
For Temedrilay's meek--

ass last pp.