The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-06 00:00:00

GUARDIAN SOCIETY.

letter of thanks was read from the Guardian Society, for the
donation given them by this Court, to the amount of 3001.
Orderetl to be inserted in the journals. . _

31r. Dos 'iron complained that the Corporation Funds were
tlimi diverted from their proper object. and not applied, as was
originally intended. for ttae u'e of Ilridewell.
The Loin MAYOR-1 hen the Bridewell should be enlarged,
which would be attended with considerable expense, as another
place would be rendered necessary for the city prisoners.
Alr. Tavi.on said it was generally understood that the Funds of
Bridewell were improperly applied ; and he regrettel that the
more, as the funds amounted to a considerable sum.
3lr. Dongrono mintentled, that those funds were misapplietl.
A lekmian C. SMITH said, if he had been aware of this subject
corning before the tuourt, he would have supplied himself with do.
cuments to prove there was no misapplication of the Bride well
funds. _

.....
The Loan 11Arost said, as there teas ro motion before the
Court, this discussion had better cease.
IV INDO W TAX.

The Loan MAYOR put in the requisition, calling upon him to
convene this meeting, which being read--
Mr. PAVEL observed, that after the united sentiments of so
many Gentlemen on this subject, he anticipated the same unanimity
in the adoption of certain resolutions, which he would propose to
them. It appeared as if there were some happy combination of
planets atter.ding this country, which was now at peace both at
home and abroad. A growing prosperity was every where visible.
lie felt particularly gratified on this occasion to offer his thanksro
the Minister for the liberal policy which that Gentleman had an-
nounced. although he believed the system was not yet fully ma-
tured. This country had risen into eminence. and he never de-
spaired, even when circumstances were very adverse, that there was
an energy and a capital in England, sufficient, if well directed, to
meet and brave the storm. The storm was now over ; happiness
and comfort had returned; and it was the business of this Court.
as the representatives of the citizens of Loo4on, to press upon the
Go ernment the repeal of all spch tas,es as pressed upon the inte-
rests of the people. The interference of this Court had on many
occasions proved highly useful. The Coort might remember
the case of the odious property tax ; and a similar interference now
would, he hoped; prove equally useful. He again expressed the
pleasure he felt at the liberal policy now professed by Government ;
a policy for which they were mainly indebted to the exertions of
one of the citizens of London, Mr. Hume. He (Mr. Favel) did
not wish to go into any minute detail, but he wished to avoid any
imputation of selfishness in this Court in the proceedings they
were now adopting. Freelabour should go hand-in-hand with free
trade, in order to promote the general prosperity. Ile wished not
to interfere with the silk trade or woollen trade, or any other: his
object was to see all flourishing and praset-vous, and he hoped that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in tne introduction of his liberal
system of policy, would carefully weigh and balance the verious
interests to be affected by it. The worthy Gentleman concluded by
moving a resolution, having for its object to pray the Parliament for
a repeal of the window duty and the assesaed taxes.
Ma. Seam: was of opinion, that when the Government had a
surplus revenue, they were bound to repeal those taxes which
onerously pressed upon the people. It could not be a matter of
great consequence to the revenue to remit the remaining duty on
windows, while it would prove of great value to thoosands. He
was happy to find that a liberal policy was now likely to be adopted,
but he could nut help remembering that the same gentleman who
now introduced it was the person who publicly stated in his place
in Parliament that corruption was necessary to the support of Go-
vernment. These were inconsistencies which reminded him of the
saying of the poet—
Ce-lam, non animuns mutant, entire:Ns mare extern' ;
or, in plain English, people might cnan,,,,e climates, but not
their dispositions. The window-tax pressed heavily on the
poor, who had always a just claim to relief when it could be afforded
them without danger to the state. This tax was oppressive ; It
produced immorality ; it tended to propagatedisease ; it had every
disadvantage which a tax could have. He hoped that every Eng.
lishman's house would still continue to be his castle, and that they
would no longer be subject to the visits of assessors, measuring the
quantity of sunshine, or the light of heaven which they enjoyed.
When half the window-duty was repealed, the assessors surveyed,
and, by extra charges, made up the tax to nearly its original
amount. In asking for the repeal of the window-duty, they
only asked ter a small boon. and otie which was long since pro.
carted to than. He hoped they would unanimously agree to go up
to the Minister and call upon him to do an act of justice to the pea.
pie ; an act due to their former and present sacrifices, and one
which would tend materially to improve their present condition. ,
Mr. JAMES said, he was not disposed to vote against the reso-
lution, but he rather thought it in some degree at variance with the
terms of the requisition. He was happy to hear the prosperity of
the country so generally admitted, a prosperity which he attributed
to the conduct of our Government, who deserved well of every man
for the wisdom with which they brought this country through
scenes of unexampled danger. He would npt say ao silly a thing
as that taxes were a good but he thought it would appear they
were a little selfish in looking for the repeal of taxes which affected,
themselves more than the classes below them. He thought a re-
ml of the salt duty, of that on tallow, and other matters, would
be of more service to the poor, not, however, that he should pro.
pose an amendment to that effect. fle thought the Corporation
of London should be, and would be attended to by the House of
Commons • but still he thought they had been too frequent in their
applications, and had directed their attention to subjects which
bad better been left unnoticed. latterly, however, they had avoided
such a charge, and he trusted their application would now be at.
tended with the most desirable result. As long es the Corporation
confined themselves to subjects properly cognizable by them, so
long would their opinions be heard with respectful attention.
Mr. PATTEN always considered that direct axes bore most op.
pressively oe the pcaree and middle classes, and that the window
tax was pezuliarly oppressive. The shopkeepers, • most useful
clams of society, were greatly affected by this tax, and he trusted
the Government would take their ease into the most serious axtsi-
deration. It was, et all events, the business of this Court to do all
they could to keep them on their legs. lie saw no reason why the
worthy gentleman should compliment the Court of Common Lours.
eil upon its supineness ; a charge which he felt they did not deserve.
It was true that they had often interfered on publie occasions, and
that interference, he contended, was generally of service to the
Interests of the public. lie hoped the Court of Common Council
would be always prompt in calling for a redress of grievances and
the repeal of tame.
Mr. Direr tawourrt said it was highly gratifying to find Cie
country in such a state of prosperity ; and heboped, as one of its
consequences, the Window Duty would be repealed. It was a
duty affecting the poor, and he hoped it would be repealed. The
repeal of that on silk and wool did not gft,e general satisfaction ;
and he, therefore, trusted that the Government would do away
that on windows. lie thomvh, t every confidence should be reposed
in the Government, who had acted so wisely for the good of the
people, and whose objeet now was to gi ce every relief, which the
state of the country could enable them to do, consistently with the
maintenanee of out honour and security. _

PEWT lulls was satisfied, if the:public generally prayed for a
repeal of the Window Duty, that the Government would yield to
their call, and by so doing, contribute to the comfort and advan-
tage of the poor and middle classes. No tax pressed inure gene-
rally or more onerously, and there was no tax whose repeal would
be hailed with more general satisfaction.
Mr. Don/tromp observed, that as soon as Government heard of
the Assessors making new charges, they immediately stopped them
by a treasury order.
Mr. FAV EL, in reply, said he saw nothing in the state of our
foreign relations to warrant the keeping up a large standing army,
which, if reduced; would enable the government to repeal that'
taxation which had been so long borne with the most exemplary
patience. Taxation, whether direct or indirect, must be a burthen
front which every man ought to expect relief, when the circum-
stances of the ceuntry would enable Government to reduce it.
But as direct taxation wa. more sensibly and more severely felt, its'
repeal should be first called for; and helioped, in this instence, that
their petition would be attended with success. lie was happy to'
witness the unanimity which now prevailed on this subject, and he
trusted it would be a good omen for relief.
The resolution wo then agreed to, with only one dissentient
hand—that of Mr. :llaunde (as we were informed) and a petition
founded on the same was ordered to be presented to the House of
Commons.