The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-13 00:00:00

MEETING OF PRINTERS.

On Friday evening a meeting of the Printers of the Me-
tropolis was held in the Theatre of the London Mechanics'
Institution, convened for the purpose of petitioning Parlia-
ment fur the repeal or reduction of the duty on paper,
newspaper stamps, and advertisements.
The meeting was numerously an 4 respectably attended.
Mr. Fay was unanimously called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN briefly explained the object of the
meeting, and congratulated the trade on the propect
before thei of deliverance from the oppressive taxation by
which their industry had been long oppressed.
The SECRETARY read the Report of the Committee, (h•
tailing their proceedings. The Report contained a copy of
a letter from Mr. Hume, expressing his warm approbatilin
of their proceedings and recommending their petitioning
for a total repeal of the tax, by which their industry was
im; effect, and that petitions should be presented from the
Printers of the Metropolis, and all the towns of the kingdom,
where there were any number of Printers, which would
greatly strengthen the hands of those who meant to use
vieir best exertions in Parliament for the repeal of the
oppressive taxation.—Mr. flume also requested the Corn.
mictee to use their exertions to remove the prejudice that
existed against machinery, and referred them to Mr. Place,
of Charing.cross, who would folly explain to them the
great utility of machinery, as well to the workmen of every
trade in which it was emplryed, as to the community at
large. The Committee bad, in consequence, waited on
Mr. Place, who entered into elaborate explanations of the
immense advantage of machinery, which he considered
beneficial in every case without exception. The Committee
recommended that a renewed application should be made to
Parliament, and that the Primers all over the country
should be recommended to petition the Legislature, and
to forward their petitions to the Committee, to be given to
Members for presentation, as if they gave them to the
Members of their own districts they would probably be
merely presented and forgotten; but by forwarding them
to the Committee they should be given for presentation
to men who were the pride of the country—who gloried
in the diffusion of knowledge si the most effectual means
of promoting the happiness of the people. The Report was
received with great applause.
Mr. PA mizarf. said, the report they had heard gave him
greater satisfaction than any he had ever before heard.
Still he could not concur in the opinion that machinery
was in every instance immediately beneficial to the indi-
viduals into whose business it was intreelueed. He could
not concur in this opinion when he saw so many in-
dustrious pressmen thrown out of employment, and mat y
of them reduced to the sad necessity of becoming inmates
of the workhouse. There could, however, be no doubt
that machinery was beneficial to the community in its
results, and they, as compositors, had no reason to com-
plain of it on their own account. It was by grinding
taxation they were oppressed, which had caused the an-
nihilation of four daily newspapers within the last five
years, and prevented that extent of printing business which
would certainly otherwise take place from the growing
desire of knowledge in the community. It was taxa-
tion which at that momeist caused four hundred com-
positors is the metropolis to be out of employment. He
approved of the Report, though he should prefer peti-
tioning for the total repeal of the taxes affecting their
trade, to petitioning merely fur a reduction. He moved
that the Report be agreed to.

The motion having been seconded, was put front the
Chair and carried, two hands only being held up against it.
The Cu...mum stated to the meeting, that the Com-
mittee had prepared the draft of a petition to the Home
of Commons for a reduction in the existing duties, by
which their business was injured, which, if they pleased,
should be read fur their consideration and adoption.
Mr. PAILIEIt said there was such a material improve-
ment in their prospects since the Committee bad been ap-
pointed, that he thought they should now follow the ad-
vice of the working man's friend, Mr. flume, and petition
for a total repeal of the obnoxious taxes. Their petition,
last Session, presented by Lord Morpeth, had excited
great attention ; and the liberal Ministry now in power,
many of whose Members had already declared themselves
is favour of the repeal, should encourage them to increased
exertion for the repeal of th.t oppressive load of taxation
which deprived so many Members of the profession of the
means of living, and operated injuriously on all. lie
moved that a petition be presented to the House of
Commons for the total repeal of the duties on paper, on
newspaper-statnps, and advertisements.

. •
Mr. O'LEARY seconded the motion. The tax on
knowledge was probably originally proposed as a means
of preventing the people acquiring political information,
and, assuredly would not be persevered in by a Ministry
whose highest glory it was that they sought support from
public opinion, and were desirous to be judged by the
tendency of their measures to promote the public welfare.
They could not continue taxation that was driving indus-
trious men out of employment for the purpose of prevent-
ing the diffusion of knowledge among the people. While
ever Mr. Hume was in Parliament the working classes of
the people might be certain of having an able, honest, and
indefatigable friend—(Applause)—and while the won-
derful man now at the head of the jurisprudence of the
country retained a place in his Majtisty's Councils, the
conitnunity might rely on having a friend to the diffusion
of knowledge.
The resolution was agreel to, and a Committee ap-
pointed, alter which thanks were voted to the Chairman
for his excellent conduct in the chair, and a subscription
entered into fur defraying the necessary expenses.

MArivELL.—The pointed and sparkling style
of the Author of " Saying and Doings," wilt be *bun-
dantly recognised in this latest creation of the same spor-
tive pent it has been with truth observed that this writer
possesses id an eminent degree, the talent of employing the
minute diurnal realities of life, with the happiest t ffect for
comic purposes. The productions of Mr. HOOK, like the
scenic personation' of LisTrar and Manumit, are rich 41
the ludicrous to a degree that defies resistance to laughter,
and may be read aloud is the domestic fire-side cireN" with
all the joyous result of a fitravor 4 comic interlude at the
theatre.