The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-23 00:00:00

THE TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE

On Tuesday evening, a highly respectable Meeting of
the members of the City of London Litt racy and Scientific
Institution \yrs h&d in the Theatre of tha institution, to
take into consideration the propriety of memorialising the
Lords of the 'Treasury, and petitioning both Houses of
Parli6±.;tit for rep: uzi a o.; the tares, which
operate to check th 6 diftaiioli or tr.efl li:nc',.s7fei!g; the
duties on Newspapers and Advertiiemeats Sucre Mote
par-
ticularly specified.

Dr. SOUTHWOOD SMITH took the Chair.

The CHAIRMAN, on stating the business for which they
were assembled, said that their object was to extend as
much as possible the diffusion of all things that were
already knoasai, and tlitts to add to the means for the itn-
pro;seinea'i of mice'. (YsiiTe ta4, to
increase ue ineans by sill Clesee shotlld pr^ tnepate
in the advantages of science. The benefits to bo derived-
from the frse intercommunication of thought were almost
incalculable. The knowledge of each man was then
directed to one common end, and by this general mass of
information a sort of table.land was formed, from which
men might set out in eearch of further discoveries. The
influence, said he, Which this general cultivatioa of the
anted; thla ctlintieeitcing with a Capital .nesaltelggc in
leading to new discoveries in sciehee, is far greater than is
apparent at first view, and will appear the greater the
more it is considered. Supposing, however, that the in-
stances may be rare in which it gives origin to any
new and important discovery, yet the cases must
nceessarily be of daily occurrence, -in which it leads
to the secure, the economical, and .therefore.the profi-e
able eppli,atioii of is already I was im-
pressed with this truth by what I saw on a isit last
autumn to some manufacturing districts. I was struck not
only with the extent of the machinery, but with the in-
genuity of the adaptation of well-known mechanical prin
ciplee, to the accomplishment of some special purpose, of
.peculiar, but great value, in each individual case. Upon
asking my conductors, to whom they Were indebted for
such admit-title sul9taticiiiOf pribeiptes ass learot
that the mbehziniSte in each eaSe were the plain then with
whom I was conversing, whose wants had led them to the
study of mechanical science, and who, availing themselves
of what means of studying it they could command, were
enabled to make those special applications of it which
their interests required. You will not wonder at the train
of reflections which arose in my mind after witnessing
these examples of the eedventreeee that vice froth the rie-
eastiott knos:eldge. Now suppose every boy
were s'er instructed in this knowledge that when be became
a man it should forth part and parcel of his mind. Is it
possible to calculate the probabilities of improvement, af-
forded by that teeneral iefortriation which vie auppqr him
th have acquired Is? such a ?ode Of edocation, Eut let
us imagine, farther, that between all the minds similarly
trained, there were to be a communication of the results
of experiments—who can estimate the additional chances
of success that would thence arise; and who can pre-
tend to calculate the advantages of that ei;.cisete; to the
commenlyS bleu drice secured, as it must become the
ciimmon success of all the individuals engaged in the same
ptirsuits. I need not call to your recollection the pro-
digious accession that has been made to the wealth of the
country, merely by the improvement of the. greet roads.
Atthia they-are betlea.ett teiVernool
and Mancheeter a road adapted for steam-carriages. Ac-
cording to the trials hitherto made, it would seem that a
carriage will go upon it at the rate of thirty miles an
hour, and at a very trifling expense. Suppose it should be,
shown that people can go with safety from one of these
places to the other, a distance of about thirty miles, in
one hours at the cot of is., and that timilar roads,
branching 'oft in ell directions frOin one, end of tlie.cMintry
to the Other', .sho'sild be cYin's'itriici'eds ithai Weill hi the
rteistilt of this increased facility of communication? I will
indulge in no speculation, but this I will say, that what-
ever may be the accession of wealth that would arise from
this annihilation of distance between place and place—
from this astonishing facility of personal communication,
the advantages that would result to the human mind by
the like facility of e,otterntoliteatian
misolt ttestiN tie greater and far nobier.—(Applause.)
—But the machinery of making this mental intercourse
perfect we actually do possess. Our grand mechanic wan
Caxton—our steam-carriage is the Press. Give us but
the full and unfettered use of this machine, and the dis-
tance between ignorance and knowledge, between prejit-
(lce and semen, ltetteeta
,error And 04.4, fee shall See
teaiii.d her t'ie mental iravelier, even in our own
:lay. Gentlemen, what would you think of the conduct
of a Parliament which, in future years, after the inge-
nuity and capital of our own age shall have constructed the
levels of what we have spoken, and thereby have pieced
the remotest part of the couptry within the Was.
tancs of ar pleasant )Aio6iitit's ride, should enact that
telieel of every steam-carriage, built after such a date,
should have a weight of a given amount affixed to it ; that
blocks of granite, properly prepared for the purpose, should
be carefully placed all along the even surface of the tram
roads, and there should be erected, at certain distances,
strong barriers; thet in otseilek' bitlete; tire
trehiale 13!.tee"lal slap While they are removed; and that, ac-
cordingly, at every such barrier it shall stop, not exceeding
a given number of minutes? Would your notion of the
wisdom of this Parliament stand the higher, even though
it should entitle this Act, an Act for the better regulation
of travelling, and for thsegreater eccommodittion of :bete
sons goesde, chattele and co Cu ; having occasion to pass
„•,pass over certain railways, and so on? Whatever
may be thought of such an Act, its folly is immeasurably
exceeded by the difficulties which are actually placed, if
they are not intentionally placed in the way of the cheap,
and, therefore, the easy and sure communication of ideas
between the different pertioos of the tsimMtinitys. At th!6
moment we hlde ill the machinery ready prepared to our
;`heads, by which that communication might be rendered
most complete and rapid ; but its wheels are clogged ; it is
loaded with a weight which reduces it to the pace of a fly..
waggon of the olden time, and after all, what progress it
does make, it has to make spite of all sorts of improvements,
which are not only placed ill its path, lent svitkh are are-Sited
for the purpose of retArdation, with surprising ingenuity and
5U1,..e.-(Hear.)—The tax upon paper, the stamp' duty
upon newspapers, the tax upon advertisements, the tax
upon the importation of foreign books, these are all con-
trivances admirably adapted to retard the progress of the
Press; the mighty machine by which alone the human
mind can be conveyed over ever' pat of till vqt 4ehl of
knowledsges and N, tqii'ch it ia destined to enlarge the field
!tself, fa. heYond the horizon, expensive as it is, which
now bounds it. It has been truly said, that what is not
known is to us the same as what does not exist, and that
what is not thought of is the same as what is not known.
Few persons have considered in their full extent the mag-
nitude of the evils which result fipti
that exist to tlaV; 'ettky 'anq IChea'P diflttsion of information
iiifong all Classes of the people. The means of knowledge
are within the reach of the wealthy ; they are not within
the reach of the poor; without much difficulty and priva-
tion, they are not within the reach even of the middle
classes. The extent of the existing difficulties, and the
mode in which they operates are, ahiSut, to ,Ne IP.id before
you. ft !tab been thotight desiiable that they
thbuld be laid before our legislators. It is possible
that the full extent of the evil my not have occurred
to many of them. It seems highly desirable that it should
at least be known to ail, and that if they continue to .sin
against the light of knowledge, it shall not be possible for
them to plead in excuse that tile' did it In ighorgOsse..'L
There is a peculiar reason shy the recalittionts about to be
tubsteitriA t yen: Consideration should be passed by you,
and why the petitions which it is proposed to found upon
them, should emanate from you : because the evils in
question press with great force upon the noble institution
which you have formed_noble in its object, no less than
in the spirit and in the exertions which heirka its
success. Bet they Vess With like 'force open every Ana-
ittgo`as institution, and in fact upon every individual in the
community whose ambition it is to be wise, and whose
interest it is to be virtuous. It is to be hoped, therefore,
that the voice which reaches Parliament from this place
will be echoed from innumerable places through the coun-
try, and will increase it as it rise uhtil it beconte, aiad
is
felt to be, the voice of the hatloti.:ses(Load slurs.)
Mrs ells H. tasetor said he did nut expect he need be
answersnatsfnhtoderr
eeaticdmoa
instruction
icthes dutyquestion, o
n
newspapers
The Institution
coat
toof
meansppueree:dl aueopfee withrto
,
neaent
hdoefyathe
ue
were
eel amtrhgeene
mosttihteempfscpubtatii
atmrh
ieoti
fire
eet
the
Managetnent was required to furnish the largest possible
supply of them to the members. This supply was
limited much within a convenient amount by their enor-
mous expense. It might astonish some of the members
, to bear that nearly one-third of their literary expenditure
I was for Newspapers, of which, independently of the pay-
ment for the labour of distribution, upwards ot,two hundred
per cent. was paid as taxes to Government. The taxes
also on advertisements, which were about one hundred
per cent. entered largely into the coat of books, the other
portion of their literary expendiure. This tax also pre-
vented the advertising to the requisite extent the lectures
of their professors, and the various courses of public in-
struction delivered at their Institution. Lastly, they paid
heavily for the tax upon paper. This particular moment
had been chosen, because the Government, had announced
an intention to equalise the English and Irish stamp duties.

ieTow, if nisei veere elotie with reipect to tile steely
duties by raising the duty on Irish tee wsPaperi:, which was
2d. on each paper, to the duty on English papers, Which
was altla 4d., the effect would be to crush the Irish
Pep is. The assimilation might to be made by bringing
the duty on the English paper to the level of that on the
by which course, in all probability, the revenue
wool(' gain largely. In Paris, where there was a less
Minierous rim illation with lam wealth, the number of
copies enhe
,oe theft japers, Which were :exit BO highly
taxed, exeeedA Rack thea.lial,s of , the most
egigantic
paper in England, the `dries. The, banititutidnnel
was said to sell from 30 to 40,000 daily; The ilinirnal
des Debate Fold 25,000 daily. The Conrrier Frankals
sold about an equal number. The Quotidienne sold about
14,000 daily. The Times, it appeared by a Parliamentary
Beturn in 1821, mold little more than 8,000 daily (in this
ineteopolis of a million and a half of inhabitants), and the
ocher Paity rfeeninet Papae did not Fell half that number.
On the authority cf the I7dit6e. Cfs the Seceisoicen, and an
article in the IVesfminster " Ta,Xes on
Literature," it appeared that in the United Stater, of „Xiiee- ;
rice there was scarcely a town containing 8 or 10,000 inha-
bitants which had not a Daily Paper, whilst there was not
one town in the whole of Great Britain, except the metro-
polie, no, net even Birmingham, Manchester, or Liverpool,
with ell ti-ioe Capital; that could support a Daily Paper.—
(Heat.) The enoembne preihrieitoty it was that created
the difference against this more wiealtfil anen irduetritius
country, that caused the diffusion of useful knowledge
to be restricted, and stood in the way of national pro-
gression in civilization..—(Applause.)—lt would be de-
monstrated, that, even admitting that the matters in
question were legitimate subjects for taxation, they were
enbrr3/46eislcbee,eed threemount at which they would
be most productive to the revenue; Ndt there ems some
chance of evidence of this sort comire within the range of
perception of a Minister.—(Hear.)—Formerly the an-
swer of a Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the practical
logic of those whose wirdom governed our offiirs, when
urged ta'reinit or reduce a tax which pressed injuriously
on any branch of the national industry, was to this effect :
—" CeetlerneiOn the opinion of every person who has
to pay a particelar tees, the te. ii az Ceil, tied °tight
to be remitted. But as Government cannot do Oithotit
all the taxes, so it can do without none."—(Laughter.)
All persons were interested in removing taxes, therefore no
complaints against taxes were to be believed. This was the
Exchequer logic, at h act of former times, by which the trouble
of weighing evidence, or of adjustieg or changing burthens,
*at BOA., All toneideeatien of moral consequences was
excluded from abstract speculation; and as io the !neon-
venienees of tradesmen, and that sort of people, they
were beneath the dignity of the comprehension of a
Minister of State. It was only by the public voice, aid-
ing the efforts of enlightened men in the Legislature, that
imprbve;:i.;3n6 s'eie at length perceived and understood,
.
and introduced by the Uovernmett. Experience: had
often shown, however, that money was to be gainer uy a
reduction of taxation ; and this, he was convinced by the
consideration of a great mass of evidence, would be the
conseliiO4.ce ofa rediikion iii trait most. important part of
the taxes on knowledge, imposed in the shape. of a stamp
duty on Newspapers, and a duty on Advertisements. Poe
the middling classes, the supply of information was costly
and inconvenient. Two persons generally, and frequently
a largo number of persona, subscribed for the use of
one raPer fortieri, of the clay, when they were
only able to obtain a nasty Theteeweee few
of those persons who subscribed for the use a: 6. faevet,
who would not purchase one for their own use, were the
tax reduced ; numbers would then subscribe, who now
seldom looked at a Paper, and many would keep them
for reference. A large proportion of the people
never tea& the Newspapers at all; and others only
reii.,(l.iierp._..icciclentaily..•4 The intense interest, the
anetious cliTioeity cf sioie!!•,, eiaeeee for Netee-
paper reading cannot he mote stricthr 11.5ved
than by reference to a fact which every member
mast have witnessed, viz. the compact crowds collected
at the front of those newspaper office', where they ex-
pose a sheet of their publication within, or what is more
berievoletit, on the cuteide of their windows. All phi.
lanthrof?i to rii4(l til:odue,m6ti woeld ecirriondedge that it
• a
was of the utmost importance tnae newspapers enetuu be
read by this very class of persons. By the paper's tliey
were saved from a thousand delusions ; there was
scarcely a daily newspaper published which did not con-
tain some useful instruction for them, It was only by
mane of the newspapers that they could obtain a know •
ihe were E opn±> tg obi There '
was a large portion of society who had t:citittr the wilt rior
capacity either of head or of pocket, to read or study
books : all the literary knowledge they could obtain was
what the newspapers could
.afford; and that source was
restricted by the tax on knowledge. One could only sup-
thit bArNirotis >t tax Could h.eve been.imposed by
some rapacious minister, who goaded by proairig nete,eitye
made in more ignorant times, seizes—reckless of all mo,al
and: political consequences—upon the first instruments
which could be rendered profitable. It had been retained
partly perhaps from political bigotry, partly because dai'y
habits eentinteed for Rare
jued so intimately associated, a
newspaper, with a King 'o eta* th4t feseep!l bad
almost learned to think it would not be a paper containing
authentic news, if the intellectual supervision of the Royal
crown was removed from a corner of the sheet. To
prove, however, the possibility of the existence of such an
instrument without a stamp, he produced a paper pub-
lielee;i At Mei-riser( Jt. wets nearly of thp, name sire .as
The Sun, and was sold for twopence.-4llear, ileac. ).;-:
It must be admitted, that it had not such excellence in
typographical execution, or similar literary ability, but it
showed what might be down by the application of metro-
politan capital.—(Hear.)--The extent of the improve-
Tente Which might be introduced,, could not be foreseen.
he detects Which et present eiisted id the Press..rere
numerous and obvious. Let it be observed too, ss.'id he,
that this tax upon knowledge is mischievous in yet an-
other respect. It enhances too enormously the expense of
a newspaper establishment; it swells en prodigiously the
capital required to conduct one successfully, that it exposes
this mart valuable department of literature to all the evils
of triiieip.olie It throws the oea ititk the hands of a
few large capitalists ; it renders the variety of neviitafeer;
small. Thus competition has but little controul, or at
least the market is not open to all the talent, to the ex-
ercise and fair struggle of every political party, truth is not
sifted to the very bottom,the public are left to the guidance of a
few powerful journals=-powerful, not for theirtalent, but for
their te'remAetiiite,teitlelarete,tepitel; which did not always fall
into the hands ef the most intellecti4al est Sm. low; whit ,
it is needful that the public mind should be inetructei by
newspapers, it is not the less needful that that instruction
should be of the best Fort, arid that can be attained only by
the most full and free competition. There are thousands of
persons who read nothing but newspapers, the reading of
by fae tb itie!otitea iH eOOOlO teeepe. There are a cer-
Uri set oP men Whose political tie, I'oo
others who believe what the llforning Herald believes ; a
third class who make up their bundle of political opinions
from the Morning Advertiser; and not a few of the vulgar
and the clergy, who borrow their morality from the Age
and Sunday Jahn Bull. Those persona who read but one
fiateier ekv, pik_;bably fAlbeeei'.Va tot two, or thee".
Now they read but one side of the question—thir own;
then they would compare their own opinions with the ar-
gument of the opposing party; every shade of political
opinion would be reflected, and then would be what is now
far removed—free trade in politico Next to the opportunity
for,getting,at political. information, it is desirable that the
moat
methreeddeotittioVioari
paaritl,ldaned
isebni:stienratigepablie
ch2eme iii-in
;11
habits of daily examination. Thus, you see, that by re-
ducing the tax upon paper, you improve the character of
the papers—and both by that means, and by the facilities
also afforded fur a more complete comparison of opinions,
you incalculably enhance their usefulness,—(Applause. )
It iet:o aituitietee agrtinit thSa reasori!ng to arnrini that by
the diffusion of newspaper litoestilre g the .pSoplee-
they are liable to be misled by political etnpirki an:; todi•:
tious demagogues. It is the diffusion of this very litera-
ture that will eave them from being thus deluded and mis-
' led. It is only the ignorant who can be duped; it is tl.e
enlightened and instructed who can best appreciate the
advatiniges of sOhial order, and who will make sacrifices to
the verj last eAtierhit3s to iii.-sseive aid tha!rttaift it. Ob-
serving and well-informed men say, that it is to the heifer
instruction of the people that we must attribute the sub-
mission and quietness with which they have passed through
the starving trial of the last two years,---that had they been
exposed to the tittle deprivation 30 years ago, violence and
plunder of every sort would hate resulted. The errors
into which the people have in any paetieuler districts been
driven, under despair, have not resulted from the inflam-
matory writings of the papers, but from the absence of those
salutary guides in the time of commotion. If the people of
Lancashire had been instructed by newspaper discussions
upon the causes of their distress, if disquisitions upon
political science were cheap enough to be admitted into the
weaver's garret, the firing of factories, the dashing to
pieces of power looms, would not have marked the course
of a starving, an infuriated, but an ignorant and deluded
mob. If,
.Sir, that full tide of knowledge and intelligence
were let in upon the whole people, which the members of
this Institution so freely enjoy, their passions would be
cooled and tempered in times of excitement and distress,
or rather the causes of extreme suffering would be di-
minished, and perhaps ultimately removed. If the people
were instructed, as they might be, by cheap newspapers,

mobs would not be known ; the panic, the electric impulse
which darts through an excited and congregated milF;m,
wotd.l he attested, neutralized, destroyed.—(Hear.)—ln
Lot :Th olio, nor means of making mad a
sufferitig renitts; c.:»titi: be found. Clint reasoninv,
calculating forethought WOUM :see.' aft moth distinguish the
lower classes, as it does the upper, TO arrppose that you
educate the people by merely enabling them' try teed and
write, is as wise as if you were to suppose you entailed a
man to see by giving him spectacles. That those faculties
might he of use they must constantly be exercised in the
reception of nseful knowledge. lie concluded by moving
a resolution expteaeive of the opinion of the meeting, that
the ta7tes- cruestioti Operate directly to the discouragement
of Mater). titiderif!akittge, and of the diffusion of knowledge
among the peotllt!--=oltleeris Which the beat and most en-
lightened Sovereigns and &al-4!turttn• het in all ages been
anxious to promote.
Mr. IlioxsoN, in an energetic speech, suppotted the
motion.

B'etteral gentlemen not having had an opportunity of
speAinl, and the subject hav,ing excited great interest, the
n'Oon'rrOtititil the following evening.
Mr. W. lefiort said, that, when they solicited
from the Legislature d teviVt.: 6Y- revision of enactments,
operating to counteract the utility (71 O. and all similar
institutions, or tending generally to retar4 erg rogress of
Information through all classes, they were settilig an
example'. which he trusted would be' ultimately followed
bj Wry. constituted body throughout the king-
dom. .fie tOweri the, the efferts of all who regarded the
,
mord or social welferi, of trankind, or the interests of lite-
rature, would be united in ill% Vesti,./.. The object of
the meeting was intimately connected with, throe classes of
subjects, which he had long considered were of granter im-
mediate importance to society than any of the topics Which
tfeanlly, farmed the themes of plitical declamation. The
first related t^ the vaneral diffusion of knowledge among all
classes ; the full, kee,, ttnimpeded circulation of all
known facts invslving any in6rat,- ete4al, scientific or reli-
gious truth. The second was, that the feVttftiee of a Go•
vernment ought never to be drawn from duties oVefatitltg
as bounties on ignorance, or tending to fetter the commer-
cial rehrions of mankind, or to limit the production of
ycettlth. The third was the total abolition of all monopo-
lies, Whethtir affecting trade or agriculture, science or re-
ligion. Of the latter Clic% it sees not his province to
speak. He was of opinion that the di/1.4161in of knowledge
among all classes was a subject second to ,none it import-
ance. He cared but little comp ,ratively for whateter
might exist in any country, if an Egyptian darkness of
Mind were not one of them ; and if the means of informs-
tiO'n vier± attAiaille by all, for but few evils could exist
for which kriotiledge calP not provide a remedy. lie
would say to those who declaimed abort an excess of

taxation, and to the advocates of rettenchmett rnd cco-

nomy in the expence of Government—" your zeal is well,
and it is highly commendable, but yet it might receive a
better direction." It was not so much taxation that was au
evil, as the thcrthl of taxation, not so much the amount
raised, as the mannet id v'thielt it was raised.—(llear.)
Let the Legislature throw open all the channels of in-
dustry, by removing all restrictions on trade, and all
enattmentei operating. to limit production ; let them also
abolish all mondpOlfee; and all taxes which tend to raise
knowledge to a pricz. sd Ili& as to place it be-
yond the reach of the humbler el9T9es. Let them
have trade and agriculture, and mind free, and Mot let them
if they pleased, even double the number of their plates
and (IrSetttEM and augment the revenue of the country
by fair, iegiCreife; and well-adjusted taxes, and with the
immense resources a fve cvuntry the burden would be
scarcely felt —(Hear, ) vrafr a mistake to sup-
pose that the most pure system of repregetttation, or the
most perfect form of Government, would be ri remedy for
the existing evils, without extending the means of itfor-
untion to all. The people must be taught to understand
their riwnkiterests, to see the resonableness of obedience
to Idvii9 fratfted fc'r their good, and to cease to he their
own enemies, a! they :*ere and must remain while the
want of knowledge kept therri 'Alder the influence of a
thousand delusions. The stamp duty on fievvepapers, the
duty on advertisements, and the taxes on foreigd books,
have a most fatal tendency to compel those who would

learn to remain ignorant, and to perpetuate the reign of
red ignotance, and moral and social disorder.
Newspapers he edLet!eted the most efficient channels of
general information of any Ptitilli_.;e:tierrr, which issue from
the press, becutse they excited a general litA almost uni-
versal interest, from treating of local incidents add peeing
events affecting the happiness and welfare of all. They
a 740; showed the existing relations of society, and supplied
an immense Mak dr ;dens in which they might reason and
philosophize. The dearness of t'tesyspapers, owing to the
stamp, greatly limits their circulatidm Itx the country

they were consequently rare and inaccessible to the pea-
santry, and to the major part of the inhabitants of the
small towns. rle effects in their moral condition would,
on examination, fi"xed to be striking. A most bene-
ficial change would almOii ite'ltantaneously be effected in
! the social character of the people, if, by the removal or
reduction of the duty, newspapers could be Made !so cheap
as to be able to penetrate into their most remote and be-
nighted districts. A wise and beneficent Government
would thet all ita proceedings should be known, and
that its laws should ptermulgated and caused to be un-
derstood through the most of iciat channels, and would
not fear the influence of newspapers on Welk opinion.—
(Hear.)—Our present rulers, he thought, manifeaftd an
earnest desire to forward the interests of the people, and
lie 4art therefore encouraged to hope for much success from
the exertions of realatleee of this institution. It would
be, indeed, to expect too mucii Mit the good intentions of
any Government, that they should be very etctist or soli-
citous about this matter, if those who were most tOticerned
manifested apathy and indifference, and were silent od tbt
elubtect.—(Applause.)
Xii.A.:ef said, that the reduction of the tax would
work this iniportaa eed for the public ; it would in-
crease the securities for good ctirultiet On the part of the
leading Journals, the Morning Papers. 'ilidste Papere had
sounded the soesin against monopolies, and had done Well
they had boldly attacked interests against the public, in
which they (the newspaper proprietors) had no concern,
Vat they 110 at the same time protected other interests in
which titey wee P cL'ficetttedi and which were equally
noxious to the public.—(l-leaf, hedrq-frz those cases
where there was room for just attack, as fit the instance
of several retail trades, they had pursued them tti a &cost
unjust and unwarrantable extent, and had refused to insert
evidence iu answer or mitigation.—(Hear.)--There being
not? beet few Daily Journals, and those Journals being
seldom ias tht Imr..:cis of tile most pure or most enlightened
persons, the conduct o! theft rapers was constantly di-
rected by motives of the lowest and riAaft sordid descrip-
tion. Exceptions Clare were of course. But flfe einallness
of the number ofDailyPapers enabled them to suppress 'm.;
pertant facts, and there was scarcely a department of the
Peilt Morning Papers in which those most conversant
with htd not constantly to complain of mis-
management arising 6.66 i'gfroranee or corruption.—
(f L::.)—This was especially the Calle in commercial
matters. Now, if tho mischievous monopoly in rews-
papers were abated, there would be increased securities
ft!r the full and fair publication of truth, and the journals
ttoold be of a character to do higher credit to
the intellect of the natiVn,r

A long discussion arose on rtatters entirely foreign to
the merits of the resolution, on which OIC meeting ap-
peared to be unanimous. It was contended that this was
a political question, in which the institution ought not to
interfere. The motion was carried by an overwhelming
majority, ifiir Vet), able speeches from Mr. Hodge, Mr.
Capes, and several other geiAletten.
On the motion Mr. WORDSWORfIi, (nf the Inner Tem-
ple,) a rtallution was pissed directing the Cottnnittee of
Management to prepare a memorial to the Lords of the
Treasury, and petitions to both Houses of Parliament, pray-
ing for a remission or a reduction of the taxes in question.

Qtn tht motion of Mr. KNArr, who congratulated the
nitrillstrg dit having all their committee-men of liberal sen-
timents, tliailits were evett to the Committee of Manage-
ment, for their promptitude in aceecilitg to the request
of the requisition in its calling tbe present meeting.
Mr. WILLIAM CouLsort (the surgeon and anatomical
lecturer) expressed the pleasure he felt at having amongst
them in their service on the present occasion, one of the
brighrit ornaments of his profession—a gentleman whose
ability as a practitioner was accompanied by the bighest
and most varied powers of mind as philanthropist and
philosopher. He moved the thanks of the meeting
to their Chairman, and they were carried by acclamation.
The meeting then separated.

TAVISTOCK HOUSE, TAVISTOCK- SQUARE.
—This fine plot of ground, extendir.g to nearly two acres,
and the mansion in which the late Mr. PEARY resided
fur many years previously to his death, are, we under.
Sr JAMES MAcuNTosir, and to be
ndon High School," for the sons ol
stand, going to be converted into an establishment
fur the education of youth, upon a plan recom-
in the metropoliv, where every branch
gcmaeenl
In: dldeernd
,e,
aTb
residing
e Lio
of learning and science is intended to be taught, and the
it
nh eatcli
de
iatdi
on t
olanguages,the ex
te arens
extensive
hpel a
ye-xgtrroe
umnedlys ,
charges for education, which will include all the living and
maorederreattaei.nedTfloi:
unrestricted enjoyment of the
fine plantations in these grounds, now arrived at maturity,
pupils during leisure hours.

MEETING OF THE MIDDLESEX MAC AS-

TRATES.

Yesterday the name} S'essional Meeting of the
Magistrates took place at the Sessions-
house, Clerkenwell•gteen.
FRANCIS CONST, Esq. presided ai Chairman.
The subject of the Bill of the Clerk a the Peace
%I-as father postponed, in consequerea or the fee
of that (Ace being under the eonsiderati;v et sa
Committee of the House of Commons.

On the 7arion3 parishes in arrear to the roantr-
rate being read ore?, it appea ed that Spitaltieldc
wai four, and Bethna7-green lire rates in arrear.
Various other parishes were in arrear from to two
three rates.

Mr. Serjesnt PELL moved that in every case
where two rates were due process should be issued.
Mr. MILLS seconded the motion.
The motion was carried, and summonses mdered
to be issu-d against the parishes in arrear.
COUNTY ALLOWANCE TO WITNESSES.

Sir PETER LAURIZ moved, that as the expense of
paying witnesses for their attendance, either on that
Court or the Court of Old Bailey, was greatly in-
creasing., it wai desirable to take the st7bject into
consideration, and that they should, under the au-
thority of the 7tly of George the Fourth, fix the
rates to be allowed to witnesses.

Se►jeant P►tLL considered the county waa
loder an obligation to Sir Peter Laurie for bringing
!he suhjrct forward.

Mr. BuouGuToN said, the principle of paying
witneisei ova g one adopted by the Cow t of King's
Deitch, after dne deliberation, and he thought they
ought to pause before they altered it.

_METROPOLITAN POLICE ESTABLISH-
MENT.

10F111 DRYDEN., IN Thu MATTER OP TUE
DUKE or WELLINGTON V. HOWLE'rf AND JEPPERIES.

This was an inquiry with regard to the miscon-
duct of two police coretabto„ Howlett and Jefferies,
who arrested the comp/el:tent for an alleged assault
on Arthur, Duke of WeHinton, whilst he was
walking through Parliament-grert, on the forenoon
of Monday, the Ist of March last.
Mr. Commissioner MAINE presided.
Complainant, who, it may be recollected, had
been incarcerated in Tothill-fields prison, now ruled
his witnesses to sustain this accusation.

Mr. Thomas Dennis, the landlord of the Coacfs
and Horses, at Lambeth, stated, that during the.
evening cf the Ist of March, between nine and ten
o'clock, Serjearrt Jefferies came to his house, and
told witness that the complainant had
.jttst beep,
committed to Tothill-fiebds prison for assault* tlivi
Duke of Wellington; and also that he (Serjteant
Jefferies) was afraid it would go very hard vs.itilv
him, as the Duke's life was threatened once before,
and since Dryden had declared he would mark the
Duke, these was every reason to believe that I?try
den was the very man who formerly had atter:lvo&
' his life. This witness knew besides, that the polite,
constiNes were treated, if not even paid, by Dry-
den's friends, to procure his liberation.
William Monkt, tobarcn-pipe-malter, of Lambeth-
butts, stated that he had given the two policemen
both liquor and money on the forenoon of the 2d of
March, at the Rose and Crown, Dartmouth-street,
lilt the understanding of Dryden's being soon libe-
rated from his confinement in Tothill-6elds, which
happened on the evening of that day, without any
sort of bail being then asked for, and without his
(Dryden's) knowledge, and to his great surprise.
Howlett and Jefferies, upon being put upon their
defence, tried to substantiate 'an alibi, as to the
treating part of the charge; but they were admo-
nished tct b circumspect and be silent.
Mr. Commissioner MAINE then ordered them to
be dismissed the service.

SINKING OF A COLLIER, AND MIRAOIJ-
LOUS PRESERVATION OF THE CREW.

On Wednesday night an accident occurred on the
river Thames, which had nearly been attended with
the loss of several lives, owing to the sinking of the
brig Anna, Captain Wallace, master, a Newcastle
collier, lying at Bell Wharf Tier, in the Lower
Pool, Shadwell. The vessel, which was laden with
coals, arrived at Newcastle on Wednesday morning,
and moored off the above place. Nothing which
could have indicted the occurrence of any accident
was evident during the day, and the captain, mate,.
aid crew (the whole we understand were on board),
retired t 9 rest at their usual hour. Yesterday morn-
ing, between one and two o'clock, about the time of
high water, they were greatly alarmed, and disturbed
in their berths, by finding that the brig had sprung
a leak, and that the vessel was rapidly filling with
water. All hands on board instantly bestirred them-
selves, and bad recourse to the pumps, which were
however found useless, being choked up. The sea-
men observing the ship was fast sinking, lost no
time in jumping into a boat alongside, and hardly
had they done so when the vessel went down, al-
most swallowing them up in the vortex tbu3 made,
leaving her masts and rigging alone visible. The
only cause that has been assigned by those along
shore acquainted with the subject, to account for the
sudden loss of the vessel, is, that she must have
dropped upon pn anchor lying in the bed of the
river, where the An;:aa was moored; and it is sap-
posed the anchor prickeda hole in the bottom of tf."
brig, and through the apertuo thus made the wate.
entered, and the ship having almost immediate!)
filled, she went down.

The annual festival of the Benevolent Society'
for detii..ting poor married women at their emu houses,
and provididg them with medicine, midwives, and ether
necessaries, took place at the Freemasons' Tavola, on
Tuesday last, and was intended by nearly 200 gentlemen.
Some delay occurred in coneecntence of the non-arrival of
Lord Nenerr, who had signified his attention of presid-
ing, and in his absence Lord Warafoewn took the chair.
Lord geottir, however, arrived after dinner, and oct-
counted fot the seeming incivility with which he had
treated the compel, by stating that he went Isy mistake
to the Crown and Aricite tavern, and from thence was
directed to the London Tann., Bishopsgate-street, where
he posted with all speed, and ma kit arrival was informed
that the festival took place at the Freermtesons'. He lost
no time iv endeavouring to retrieve the error into which'
he had been led by the head-waiter at the Crown and An-
chor, but it Mewed, with all his haste, that he had
" ju.t arrived in time to be too late."—(Laughter.) Hie
Lordship, in the course of thn evening, was elected Presi-
dent of the society, which, sinew its formation, has re.-
Here] so lets than 150,000 poor married women. Th.:
healths of the Noble Chairman, Lord WXYMOUTIS, Sir
R. BIaNIE (the Treasurer), and Dr. Gitaireutx (the
Physician), were drunk in sneeresion, and alie avenin;
passed off in the greatest harmony.
RAID OF RunivEN.--Moderation being
promised, on the part of the vietorioss insurgents, the-
Kim; received the armed petitioners with a eonsiderablin
degree of dignity. To Lord Haarwros, who, is proem-
dence of blood, was the first to offer hie homage, he re-
plied, " My Lord, I never before saw you ; and I lung
confess, of all that a-e here, you have been most wrospri,
having been a faithfid servant to
.the Queen my mothe.u.
during my minority, and subject to:dlusage, when I tinier-
stood not matters as I now do.—Others of you," he said,
looking to the Lords eoncerned in the raid of Runtven„
"cannot but say that you have had your deserts, and suf-
fered no more than your misdemeanours merited. For
thee, FRANCIS," he continued, addressing the Eul of
BornwELL, who bad joined the invaders since their
entrance into Scotland, " what could move thee to come
in arms against a Sovereign who never offended thee? I
wish thee a more quiet spirit, and acknowledge how tee
live as a subject, as otherwise thou wilt fall into much
troub'e." This Earl of BoTzIwELL, whom Jamits so
apestrophised, was FRANCIS STUART, grandson of King
JAMES the Fifth, by his natural son, and, oonsequently a
cousin-german of the reigning Monarch. The estates
and honours of Bothwell and lordship of Liddesdale had
been conferred upon him after the forfeiture of the in-
famous JAMES HIPSURN; but it seems as if the very title
was doomed to infect those who bore it with a strain of
inordinate and turbulent ambition. 'For this nobleman
became a principal source of disorder during King
James's reign, as he who had formerly borne the title Was
the pest and shame of Qneen Mawr's, so that the spree!,
addressed to him by the King at the raid of Stirling
seemed, in some degree, prophetiv........Dr. Zardner's Cvai"
net cyclopedia, Vol. IV. t
, ,Ns_t
\\e