The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-14 00:00:00

THE PAPER DUTIES.

The tenth annual public meeting of the Araocia-
ties for Promotiag the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge,
the tame is questiou being the earise duties chargeable on
paper, W 44 bell yesterday evening at the Whit.ington Club.
Mr. William Ewart, Y.Y., mended. The room in which
the meeting was held was crowded, mid there was a large
muster of the opponents of the tax on the platform.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, adverting to
the decision of the Howie of Commons last emeiou that
the duty should be repealed and the rejection of the mesa.
stare by the Home of Lords, said that he was Dot anxious to re-
vive the quern/ between the two bowies of the legislature, but
they bed now assembled to take up &defensive attitude. The
duty on paper was oat of those excise duties which still lin-
gered on although it had been so frequently condemned.
He trusted the time would soon oome when, noble lords both
apuituel and temporal—and hem he was reminded that
fourteen bishop bed declared is favour of the abolition of
the paper duties—would yield to the popular conviction
on this question. He believed the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer was hard preened at the time, hot he had declared
that if one duty more than soother required to be repealed
it sue the duty no paper. Mr. G. A. Sala, in moving
the OM resolution, said be had heard with some pain
• statement that the bleary elms wee mimed to the
repeal of the paper duties, but es • hardworking author
be meld declare ea his own pert. sad he Marred an behalf
of Me bretierso. UMW they would be mash bew-
ailed a repeal of the paper duties, end that they were
set apellishe we indifferent on the subject. He trusted
the sisterhil eamdities of authors would be mush improved
by the sholitlim of this tax. He ccesclnied by moving
the excise oa paper, the only remainieg tax no the
mineral of manufacture has bees combrosned by the House
of Chmusom and the exesniisegoveremeet as obstrixtive
he the diffueko of knowledge esd injurious to the industry
dr the rewihry, sad this exam ought, therefore, to be
shollehod Were say other rendmies ef taxation is effected.
Kr. OeszTbenspees sesended the meths, which was
Zel:1to Neon. Field and Nihau. and carried nee
1. Baring met mend a maelelien te the mall
the proeremive improvements he ppm made it home,
slide Is collect the duty with due mood to tM meaufas-
Meer end the euectmenta of the legiitere, while its roiled,
hy extending the industry of the country, would Mamas
tie mamas from other sources. Yr. Smith seemided, and
Des. Watts and Collier supported the resolution, as did also
Mr. amen, M.P., who mid that until this repeal was
effected the government and the Home of Commons would
Dot be M their proper position before the country. The
motiee was also carried unasiinously, sad • petite.° to par•
liiisseat, founded upon it sod this foregoing. was

AITIWYT ry UPIIIT • RAILWAY TRAIW....—A dab-
tartly attempt was made Lei evening Se get a trate throws
off the line between Trim' end Berkharapstead, on the Lou-
don and North Western Railway, by placing en iron rail
acmes the metals. Providentially the cowardly mischief
was frustrated, by an accidental discovery made by carne
*Wayne retorting from work, who removed the rail aaly
a few minutes before the arrival of the 7.16 p.m. rip tram
from Liverpool. The police are making every effort to dia.
Isom the perpetrator of the atrocious act.

THE *IiZILCACH MURDRIL—Sine the committal
of the peewee? Augustus Mites, who is charged with the
setweer of his wile at Penosdrove, ZIMY? Wiebeach. soder
eireseseseoes already reported, he has laboured under
Molest excitement, mid two herein"' have remained con-
Meetly with him is hie cell is Cambridge Cecil. Within
the last day or two, however, he has become more trenquil.
It is expected that the defense set up as his trial, which
will take place ow Friday or &Murky, will be inanity.
BOOTH KENNINGTON MUSZVIL—During the week
aiding March II the Melton have bees as follows :—Os
Monday, Tuesday, sod Saturday, free days, 5,1816 ; oo Mon-
day and Toes& , tree evening; 4,698 ; on the three Mu.
dents' days ( ' to tho public 6d.), 1.547; one
students' eves* (Wedsseday), 456 ; total, 12,337. From
the armee of the i,012,286.
LONDON GzelltAL OMNIBUS COMPANY (LIMITIO).
—Trak receipts for week ending Mink 10, 10,8121. 17; U.