The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-12 00:00:00

DUTY ON CO.tis.

I

.1 •

Yesterday a liketiselas held at the City of London Tavern,
pursuant to public notate, for the purpose of preparirg a petition
kr rvethiment, praying that the duty on coals might be taken 011
At a 9uarter past two o'clock Sir Chatlee Pnce, who was ac-
ne:named he Aldermen Wood and Bryilgn, T. Wilson, Esq.
1404‘.14llitWilliams, Esq. M.P. ; anti several other respectable
• si, ara called to the chair.
12:I A I 7.F s Po lc ems-Gentlemen, I regret that in consequence
• iut-ta'.e in the placards, we are deprived of the attendance
et sorenil reeoevable persons of the !cities of London and West.
4.lttster. and the adjoining counts s, who feel as warmly as we do
k• Ai the toportant subject which is this day to occupy our anen-
t:la. We !Mil voine notion, when we found so small an attendance,
t ',rejoin:l the consideration of the duty on coals; but on subse-
quent consideration, we thought, that having called the meeting,
it ,woulel he tho batter course to proceed with the business of the
day. The Committee of the last year were not inattentive to their
duties, andi.now hut to submit for your consideration a petition to
Padiameit, on the subject in which we were all concerned. I
trust, fltiitlenon, that from the continuance of the prosperity of
he sou :cry, arid the avowal contained in his Majesty's gracious
perch, at the veering of the Session, that his Minister would do
111 they could to relieve those persona who were most pressed by
taxamet—i mist, Gentlemen, under such CiftUTTISISIICCS, that the
duty upon coeds s ill be taken off; fur I know of no tax that presses
lame .tosiaa!ly. Slanufacturen and agriculturists are alike con-
ceenedi a its abolition, and it is almost impossible for me to anti-
eiplay any oppoi.ition to our claim. I could say much about the
intpe.gy of the tax; but we now, though not giving up that
sarand, prefer our claim upon another—we only ask fur justice.
for more than a century we have exclusively borne this tan, while
we have so very largely contributed to the general taxation. Many
millions have been levied upon us, and it is now time that ire
shotalil look for some relief. in 179th, an application was made Its
the government of that time to exempt us from this tax; they felt
Blooming of cur claim, and intended affording us relief. But
sobsequestly being involved in a mast arduous struggle, we ab-
stained from pressing our request. In 18111 we again renewed our
opplaation, woich was only refused, because, as was stated, we
bud not safficimatly recovered from the effects of an unexampled
mar t but, at the same time, rot denying the justice of our
(Aim. In the course of the last year, some portion of the taxes
was taken off, and hopes were held out to us as to our
using relived from the duty upon coals. I cannot anti.
cipote that we shall be told, " We have you bound by an
Ave of. Parliament to pay this duty, and will keep you to it."
No; en part of the country shmild now be oppressed by such a
tax. The Parliament is bound to take our part, and the (louse of
Carmine' to do to an act of justice. Resolutions fourded on those
of last year will be read to you, and a petition, founded on them,
it. it meet your approval, will lie ready tor, I trust, your numerous
sultanas& The language of the petition, though mild, is firm,
amide all extraneous matter, and, I have no doubt, will meet
wait erteral support. The Committee has corresponded with other
pergola interested in this question, and they entirely agree with us.
4111.ser petitions will also be presented, and I entertain every hope
that we shall obtain that relies', to which no man can doubt our
claim, upon the grounds of poiicy and justice.
Mr. SNIT 11—After what has fallen from cur worthy Chairmen,
I have but little to ivy. The present meeting, following Op as it
OM and acting en the principles of the last, can scarcely be con.
'Mend 5 new 'looting. On that occasion we did not succeed, be-
nd= the :Minister, in the reduction of taxes, wished to ascertain
liven the public expression what these taxes were, Whose repeal
nuubl,bc attended with the greatest advantage. But public ex-
pression is now known to him several petitions have been pre-
sented on the subject, and I hope the present Session will put an
snare a tax at once so unequal and so unjust. A calculation was
nude in 1618 of die inequality of this tax, which will give you,
raptlenteo, the best possible proof of its injustice :
The port of Loudon alone paid is 18181 duty of .£500,000
About four millions of person jAy as pow rates - 2,461,000
And lIIIVCO6I dirty . . 1,049,000
While between four and five onions pay as poor masa 1,701,000
• And no coal duty at all.
shall now, Gentlemen, read for you the resolutions Passed last
sox, front which you will peresivetke utser impolicy of this tax,
rid I dull propose tbat they form the basis of our present pro-
endings :-
-" I. That fuel being not only•nuessary of life, but a powerful
instamneutot tratle,sod most useful lea agriculture, angtazathertion
is sit addition to the mistaresmos of poverty, and au upon

h drat r.
"I That any tax whith thin sitthsolvdy upon some members
of.a eallinininity, and to 'whisb the Mon moolion of the same
coasansaity do not in Say am ISIMISIMIet_
_hi ague la kg Phic,iPl&
. " 2. That the to duty ofirlme p sad bat poses • per
chithhon, upon soon ispels. inththeinsit if Insion, and of an
shillings per thaldronupse viola Immetodinso any other port, adds
arm toothy gi it bias@ a them lair ma only than M.'
%among, will that who am abatis estolsmithent bningliosa
dellelsonse, an whiny Inamisay mob booden, and. damihm
ti,a partial and
?' 4. That she limn poet ef the promeotaiploolseineviod
crosswise, to au poll io Haoand, nos y borposed the ems
minty porpcses ; add a Imp Lagintien the MINK eity Ws
awl% broutem cosstiiiss, into pan of tondos/ wt pooh
thr
indleitha of a local mime. width Wing kime sluotbsea annmed,
isms moliad to the gmeaml minim el tbs mien. •
; t, g. nut having ham dab magma booths whilst our country
was gorged ins la width in edema as an
gum was at stake, we in thin piked of ettesia‘att ll
eev:
hem hiforrned by s Ids &Mike
iloothef Consume athirgtheldng fardo**,
tot the year, and it idiom mails milk - to make a faiths/
trualis
cipidderaole redaction in the be of the people, that we may be
relieved from the cessehtty on coal.
04 4. That the tax upon Mal is so impolitic in its near% that we
milLonstarth toilettes/at it Imismine by attempt' so semen my
p 5104.0 he hurdles Ipso my duos dour fellow who
are ant row subject mitt and we crop plan of squalls.
don of the present duty es the i of duty in coon which
sire mw exempt from ft, and we ill seek oily for to unqualified
alma of the existlngponial tax.
. -s. 3. That small coal expiated to foreiLegiF,is now anbjeet to
Fento Its. per London whilst the mast
duty, equal ast
es the same coal, if brought to is he. ed. per (bald-
, bad If carried to any other port is Is. per chaldron ; whereby
die thaoulletums at Hamburgh, and other places m the Cand-
ace, perehms oath cads at a cheaper rate than the manufacturers
imithis ety." •
Jamisgoselseani, yea will perceive we ury the impolicy of a
lasktithith gives a *payback to the people of Cornwall and Devon,
WWI it Imposes an additional duty open those of other places.
ildamairback, however, is sot given to them ham any feeling of
• hot become their mines could not bi oo advaatageously
it.. Bet why give the sapper miner as Cornwall,
Bony
she iron-worker at Plymouth or at Portsmouth ?
e dealer in doper at Cornwall an advantage which you
of Leaden ? The fact is, in this case the exception
Sliegsontod because the tea was impolitic and unjust, and for the
nom reason% shoold we be also relieved from it t he cannot have
aog mlinory operation without the payment of the tax ; it is, in
Mae &direct tax upon our industry, and precludes the =
trthem the enjoyment of a most siscasary article.
y. years ago, we endeavoured to•persuade Parliament to relieve
Slims this tax, and though we have ever since been unmans-
(nl. Napo we shall new see an and of it. Whatever presses spa
doe theists, anise people thaarvoa the ready attention of Paella-
-14&40111 I holm tag Bo* Athos, ss communicated in the speech
~ LortisComniiisianurs, may be fully gratified. I am convinced
stnational wealth and conifort will be increased by taking off this
rise, :avid the .jpoblic mcnue not diminished, but increased. The'
lia•tientiensoo then mogul Headu dons eleelaratml of then unfair-
swot the tleaa, thos au ; and expressing a hope the Parliament
smolt oboliallgtha ditties. without a ammutation for any other tax.
„,:- Mr. Anemia Bawassa.—l bare great pleasure in seconding
thesaltrieulitflatwr I thescative my doing so to be nothing more
ilia ben geld my fkinehestizens. I am sure it hen been
siasier of so in Government that they have not been
taincoGstastrbido so-sreasas upon the poor ; but, Mama
spumy was, . k beciumpa mailer of difikulty to assume
they should hp& Inas with that good will to which they
' lb Windt" adman th the last Saabs of Pediment. Now
they
Willi" coma, is ~log, and that taxes sew caking of, what
Mottles diothe of the poor ? • I know of no ma'am dos
aileallaisi lee oboikbed dim that on coal. • • I fully mace In the
. %the
e Mire ands
s puss
t 1 e Itsi
into ire i nte itai de te =6 I "
Par
' tinfoil laittibri 111110r4sald—A, lf did not hat the rear
Andans slants warn mail by Mr. ankh at the other end of the
;tank k yids florwortinCissistmssedd have the goodness to rood
•
.C. ,_ acs then read then.
tt
W. ony—l shall take the Misty. BIN of ettbrnitting So
pserlhat mire the proposidons sonsdood in these resolutions, b,
its thy Mod, seronmers Whom I my an, I beg dist=ite.
. I lolly smear intli time ASS of the permit ft
I.eg ratios watch, if-ersamshi sot all commit ounelves with
XA
i( we did. not sate la me resolutions for what purposes
ty et' de dd. was illegally imposed. If A understood the
ding pnyeSy, ile .was isopmed by one of the Charleses fez his
butt eta, and dodbit pan d it towards the Orphan Fund.
di si Ahlennaa ilia n o se.—No h throne ly not.
Peinitina.-I'he Geotleinon is altogether mistaken. Per.
then iv it travelog to what is called the Duke of Richmond's shil-
ling, which waondletted at Newcastle, and which was afterwards
platchased by flovernment, who bought with its produce the scat
of Unedwood, in Sitnosx, which the family now enjoy. This
idilliost, honorer. is no port of the Is. Id. of which we ars now
VOW*. 'Otis Is. 44. waists ot a coast duty of six shillings, to
volpish abut ports are liable, as well as London, with ba. 4d. which
•woigranied m the time of Queen Anne, for building fifty douches
ilittedicrii:l of London i which was confirmed in the early part a
t
• of George -I. In this aldose, the port of London his sot
"oldies, than twabre millions for die duty; besides its delipleying
no; les, ;him Nit sail of ships, making such ten voyages • year,
and thereby giving an annum of 6,010 sail a year. Every one of
these 600 ships is now obliged so bore two apprentices on bawd, so
due weary ..11y bate s nursery for 1,115)4 seamen a year. • Thus it
"swot appear stooge, that while we err in so many ways benefiting
the canny. we slisaid pay mere for ourmals than a gentle.
mon in lboossiatry, who happen, to ham a *anal passing his door.
The Richmond shilling, as leis called, is collected at Newtown's.
ae4 whir the rate of what is mind Newcastle meaaure ; but the
Loathe duty, ill sicosequinsee of 4 Mastic measure, is only
Mr :11) be submitted Sothis mooting?
Pad stens diffidence in addressing myself
Lathan/dm do so, because! much run.'
e. ansing out of the two points aL
id Anthisse.theit, a lig; to say,

we are deprived of the opportunity of bringing our coals from the
interior of the country, which obliges us to get them by sea, at •
considew ble expense, in mklition to the heavy duty. We are
obliged to look to the rivers Tyne and Wear for our supply ; In
fart, London And the eastern part of the kingdom can only depend
on seven or eight collieries to supply their entire etinaumption. The
owners of these collieries meet every month, and then determine the
quantity which shall be sent up for the ensuing month.
Sir C. Pit beg to ask the gentleman, if he thinks this is
relevant to the business before the meeting ?
31r. 11. II c NT.- -EICCIHTtIy.
Sir C. PRICE.—We meet to discuss the propriety of petitioning
Parliament, without now investigating the quantity of supply to
the market. Our object is to get relieved from a heavy duty.
Mr. MANI:HAW H.—l have not the slightest wish to say any
thing to disturb the meeting, but I cannot help feeling that we are
now obliged to pay the same price as during the height of the war.
I have only further to express my hope, that the Committee will
extend their inquiry and investigation, and therefore ascertain what
sum lies London may look to, in case of the repeal of this tax.
The first resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sat H—As our object is to make our complaint, by way of
a petition to Parliament, I shall now propose, Mr. Chairman, that
you read it.
air C. PRICE having read the petition, was proceeding to put it
to the meeting, when
Mr. Hui: T said-1 have not seen it seconded.

. -
Mr. Alderman BRYDGES--1 did so.
Mr. H. H x v—l do not rise, Sir, to offer the slightest opposi-
tion to your resolutions or petition ; I only lament that they do not
go far enough. I regret that our worthy (;hairman has not suf-
ficiently noticed another class of persona besides the manufacturers
and aristocracy—l regret he did not state how much this odious tax
oppressed the poorer classes. One Hon. (iemleman (Mr. Smith)
has talked to us of submitting our petition to the Representative'
of the people--and he may do so if he pleases but all I shall say
is, that the duty will not be taken oft' unless the Chancellor of the
Exchequer pleases. With regard to Ministers taking oft taxes, we
have an excellent sample lately before us :—One half the Window
Tax was taken off. but then came a double surcharge on the House
Duty. This was taking oft' a penny and laying on two pence.
(Cries et "Question, question.") rhat, I say, is the question;
and I lament that there should be no more than 280 persons patent
at this meeting, when so many thousands, nay millions, of interests
are comet:riled. It is said to be necessary to apply to the
rn es aiv of the people—l tall them the representatives
ortniouse of Commons (laughter)--for assistance ; but I say
apply to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for he can do more in
!WA way than all their Honours tagethet. 'What will the Commit-
tee say to-winnow, when the public press states the thinness of a
meeting in which the public are an interested ? How did that
happen ? One would have thought that the whole city of London
would have endeavoured to cram themselves into this room, and
give up a portion of their time and trouble in attendance on the
meeting, in order to get rid of this partial and unjust tax. I ask
why the gentlemen who attend here for the press will be obliged to
state to-morrow that there was so small, so very small a meeting,
on so groat and so important an ocamion ? I hope I shill not leave
this room without an answer; and I hope that some resolution will
be passed, recommending all our fellow-citizens to follow up this
measure. We are all indebted to the ('onimittoe, and I hope a
resolution will be proposed to ask others to join them in their
labours. Why, I ask, have we not Common Halls and Ward.
mutes i' Why keno( the whole city in airs ? Perhaps the worthy
Alderman (Wood) would state how some mime" high in power in
the city—l say in the city—do not encourage those things, or how
the relations of some of the parties happen to be cnal-meteve.,
1A voice cried onto" Shame ! Shame !") Indeed it is a shame.
I don't wish to mention names unless I am driven tc it. Gentlemen
who cry out shame at such a Meeting as this ought to know me better
than to think they can so easily put me down. I ark then, is it
not a fact that a near relative of the Lord Mayor's Molds a large
siltation connected with the coal duties in the city ? spak
oat. lam not afraid to speak hoer--I • who have addressed so
many meetings where thousands were assembled, was never known
to fear. l'llapeak out, although I was told at a large meeting
sesne time ago, aye, and in the City of London tos, by a certain
prim, that if I did so I waddle assassinated. Perhaps the per-
son sow crying out " Shame !" would do so too, and shortly ob-
tain for himself what the other did—a Consulship to South Ame-
rim—nothing less,. I can assure you. Again, I ask how can the
smallness of the meeting be accounted for ? I should like to heat
wen explanation on that point. Individeally I feel 'mewled in
the object of this meeting, for I consume nearly 180 thiddrons of
cask as I deal with meet respectable persons, Mears. Da-
vey and Sawyer, for a peculiar desotiption of coal, and the other
day, wheal went for a supply, the answer was; " We have Itsbip
is tirapool, bat wenn% lens the male for a fortnight for want of
a solidest member of treneseters." Ite short, Sir, every thing
which bee a madame° make coals dear should be carefully avoid.
d; end I have •as doubt, if you pass a resolution calling upon
admix diarist parts of the -kingdom to do as we are bow do-
ing,- that it will materially errata op= the Chancellor of the Ex.
chequer, sad relieve the poor and darned elms 'of the comoniniy.
Mr. Alderman Woos—l feel nand, In some degree calleduren,
after whet has tells from Mr. Hunt, to give web an explanation
se I ea ibis epee the subject of the thinness of this meeting
--although. I 'leer, it may sot be very satisfactory to Rug Gentle-
man. I can tel him, then, that nosebags have been held in almost
every on al the. twenty-eix nods, end petitions resolved upon in
each of then I besught the sagest 4enraed in each of the two
wane ~whin I pride, et in • 'Theme's and I believe
*EI bass larifranY Wks pi,oe lle ShilTr.bst may be one
nose the smallness of this mtAtti platted also rasher
ledrakeissig " Tensaw," 'Wednesday.
;he 11;11 et• ," whictris arobstisom se account for it.
This. agile, this quartile has ben egillesi he several years •
•
and, by.lllr. Hoots' own arakeiss, Ile pink shoat take it for'
panted that the lay *di he lola off s- end lie orb add, that
hough thin meeting be ineall, tlw Ilenneede wen fed en Inn-
en in it ma all sign the petition. (Ilea; Mar, Ikon Mr. Hunt.)
As an allusion bad been made to the paint Lad Mayor, I
mite beg loam to say a ward, is eider to set Mr. Heft right. Mr.
Hum meet knew, that even if the tax wale taken off, that ft could
by De means affect the situation held by Mr. Reeves; womb at
the bead of the Lad coal meters, and is obliged to regulate thi me-
tees, and see that every man has his Rill measure, be he rich or
poor: I thence call his anatien one of great utility and import.
UM. The dealers who get their coals nom the ships, are sure to
haw theirproper quantity and the business of Mr. Reeves is to
ase that poor men hays their full measure also. Vor though by
land they may have a bushel to measure their coals, still they are
rarely suspicious, and never use it. The salary of Mr. Reeves is
nt more than 001. • year ; and that of the next gentleman to
him 3001.,—and 1 do assure the meeting, that I think these sentie-
men to be invaluable in their occupations. With respect to a de-
ficiency in the number of coal-meters, I can safely state that when
I lately snide a motion for their increase to twelve more, the Lord
Mayor was most anxious that their number should be increased to
40 or 50. He pressed it upon me to urge for such an extension ;
and therefore, 1 say, that the Lord Mayor should be fully exone-
rated from this charge. With respect to the duty of the extra 3s.
upon coals, all I can say Is this,—l- ay it here as strongly as I have
said it elsewhere, that we have been robbed of it for the last hun-
dred yews. In 1710, it was put on for the purpose of building a)
churches, only eleven of which were built. In 1718, 600,001)1. of
the produce of this tax was applied to the pay ing of some tickets of
a lottery, which were then due. Up to 1720, they continued to borrow
money from this tax, and then they carried it to the consulidated fund.
I always said it was a partial and an unjust tax ; and so I told Lordl
Liverpool and the Chancellor of the Exchequer last session, when
the discussions were going forward about the sum to be advanced
by Government in aid of the new London bridge. I even added,
that they owed us above ten millions of money. There me many
reasons foe taking oft the Ils. duty is Cornwall and Devoe, where
the lime necessary foe the manure of an acre cost fle. and perhaps
the acre itself not worth more .han Os. If the Cornish people hit
for their country—if their Represenuitives felt for their conetnents,
whom they so very seldom mat, but if they did, and the forty mem-
; ben for Cornwall were to tell the Chancellor of the Exchequer
the tax must be taken oil; I have no doubt the request would be at-
tended to. The great duty must always check the supply, for the
small coals ars always thrown out and burned, is ordw to get
rid of them, as they would not pay the expenses of nosport to any
distince.

Mr. Besxcusaes—Unc.4lthd of the whole quantity of cosh is
so disposed
Mr. A I.DES KAN WOOD—WC can have no coals front Stafford-
shim, except is very small quantities, there being an officer placed
at a certain part of the river whose duty it is to prevent their
coining. I bops, though the several petitions presented on this
mbject have been hitherto unrucceseful,
Awe fortunate. If, aa. I mid before, r
'Mated() sought for the abolition of this
Exchequer secs these forty Cornish members
they tell hint they will havnthe tax Om
rl shell do all mein *encase, but I nem
knression on the Chancoliee of*, Knehequer.
Mr. M. Hexv.-1 inigleLthave been wrong •
smallness of the meeting, I think II
fotelethie explanations from Me Waal,
The petition was then rad, and canted
Mr. Blinn moved a reselation, balling
support the petition which was earriedi—i
continue their laboun, brimstone to add to cu numbers,
convene mother whin they deem It expedient.--Ceswied„
Dlr. T. Witeow.—W4 hout trespassing on the time ofabe
mating, I beg leaven* in), that I 'halt at all times eeppeit fhs
prayer of the pithiest.
Mr. Wi r.st lams, Ms P. moved the throb of the amebas to Me
Worthy Millman which was unantremedo meth&
lair C. rime _.J alp gory grateful for Wham* ef your
baton, but I sin afraid you have OVST4IIIOI merits.ll.4
battered in being called to the dtair ; sad I have received
some reproof. I can my I ham arrays the case of the
poor; and if I have not done so, It is only because I have mss.
fined myself to the injustice of the tam.' I Drier forget my poorer'
The meeting then separated, and the petition was left for signs.
twos at ths,City of London Tavern.

GENZZOBITY Or TRB ENGLISH LAD/rS.-111 the Si-
lesian war the whole English nation interested themselves
in favour of Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary; they
ate a people who do net wait for the opinion of their master
to form their own. Several private persons proposed send-
ing a free gift to her Majesty, among these the Duchess
of Marlborough. She assembled together the principal
ladies of London, seho subscribed one hundred thousand
pounds, towards which the Duchess herself advanced
forty thousand. The Queen of liungary bad *be magma,
witty to refuse the money which was thus generously
I offered ber ; she would, accept of noue but what she ea-.
PeFted Ai! tint*, ammo bled in earliament.

•
•. . .

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, WEDNEIDAY, Fits.ll.

THE XING i. RICH AND SOUTHGATE, AND THE XING V. THE

The late

I.
i lb. H. II 11 Wr.—III tiva
Mr yt.e.:aCes.
Mr. JP .—I
. to els ..al am klata•ld
a MM..
lilNOPr==ala4ll iallini•
7 4.. t• .i.• .. 3 . •