The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-18 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL NEIfSVAFEgg.

(From the Doncaster Chronicle.)
On Saturday, E. Baines, Esq., M.P., of the L'7(ds
Wei curl, Mr. dutch;Cid Bristol Journal, Mr. Perrin,
of the Leeds Intellkiencer, Mr. DeighfOn of the Worces;er
Journal, Mr Hadfield, of the Cambridge Free Presi, Mfi
Stafford of the Doncaster Chronicle, Mr. Knott, of the
Birmingham Gazette, Mr. Blackwell, of the Newcastle
Courant, Mr. Gale of the Carlisle Patriot, Mr. Walker, of
the Gloucester Journal. and Mr. Gedge, of the Bury Post,
.cad an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in
Downing-street, as a deputation from the provincial news-
paper press, on the subject of the penny postage on newspa-
pers. They were received by Mr. Spring Rice (with whom
,vas Colonel Mlberley, Secretary to the Post-office), with
the greatest courtesy, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
said he hoped he might congratulate the gentlemen on the
successful result of the measure of last year. Indeed, he
knew from the returns he had received that the circulation
of newspapers had much increased, and that the illegiti-
mate press of the country was put down, by which their
interests were benefitted, and the value of their property
augmented.
Mr. Gutch thanked the Chancellor for the concessions
made to the newspaper press last year ; and said the depu-
tation now waited upon Mr. Rice to solicit the entire abo-
lition of the penny postage as it effected newspapers.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that, last year,
he had told them he would give them relief to this effect,
viz., that papers going through the General Post Office
should not be subject to the penny postage ; and he would
now go further—he would this Session take off the penny
postage entirely, as far as all Government offices were con-
cerned, for the delivery of newspapers within the limits of
the penny postage of any town, but beyond the limits of the
free delivery he would not consent to make the letter-car-
r:ers the deliverers of newspapers within the places of publi-
cation.

Mr. Gulch intimated that this would be satisfactory. A
conversation ensued between the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, Mr. Baines, and Ms. Perrin, as to the power of Go-
vernment to exempt newspapers from the penny postage
under all circumstances. Many of the penny posts are pri-
vate ones, being set on foot in districts the revenue from
which will not support a public post, at the expence of the
inhabitants ; and the above gentlemen, as also Mr. Hadfield
and Mr. Blackwell, claimed exemption from the postage
when the papers were sent by these posts, as well as when

they went. through the Government offices.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Maberley
said this was a subject with which Government could not
interfere.

Mr. Hadfield—Where the inhabitants of a village apply
to have their own messenger recognized at the Post-office,
and to be entrusted with their letters, cannot it be made
a condition, that that messenger should also take the news-
papers for that village without charge ?
The Chancellor of the .xchequer replied that it would
be very unwise to impose conditions upon persons so si-
tuated. He could not at all interfere in the matter.
Mr. Hadfield wanted to know, whether a maximum of
postage, then, could not be fixed, as, in some instances, the
postmen charged threcifourths of the profits.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that Government
could not interfere.
Mr. Stafford said the Doncaster papers were affected by
the existence of private posts in the same way as the Leeds
and Cambridge ones were ; but lie was perfectly satisfied
with the concession of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as
Government could not be expected to interfere with private
property.
Mr. Hadfield called the attention of the Chancellor to
th• fact, that the manufacturing districts were much better
supplied with penny posts than the agricultural ; and he
mentioned places in the neighbourhood of Cambridge,
which, with a population of 2,000 persons, had no post
office.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that there was a
greater want of post office accommodation in the manufac-
turing than in the agricultural districts, as was proved by
the fact mentioned by Mr. Hadfield, posts being established
wherever the revenue, or the inhabitants by their subscrip-
tions, defrayed a given portion of the expense.
Colonel Maberley added that in any district where a
post office did not now exist one would be established im-
mediately, on application of the inhabitants, if two-thirds
of the expense were guaranteed.
Mr. Gutch then, in the name of his colleagues, thanked
the Chancellor for the courtesy with which they had been
treated, and the deputation retired.
In the afternoon the deputation had an interview with
the Solicitor-Cletieral on the subject of the law of libel ;
and that learned gentleman promised to submit the sug-
gestions made to him to the Attorney-General ; but inti-
mated that nothing would be done this Session.

IRELAND.

Tsai GREAT ANTI-TORY MEETING.—In reference to

the great meeting which took place on Monday last, and of
which a report appeared in the last number of The Sun,
the following emphatic words are employed by the Dublin
igtitnittl Post ;—" The people felt that they had ao here-
ditary claim upon Lord Charlemont. They knew that their
fathers surrounded his in farmer days—with arms in their
hands. Yesterday presented, thank God 1 no military para-
phernalia. But these men, to-morrow, if the day of trial
were forced upon the country, would not belie the spirit of
their progenitors. The difficulty, indeed, would be—per-
haps the difficulty is—to prevent the movement. Lord
Charlemont saw—and the noblemen and gentlemen who
surrounded him perceived—that the present is a crisis which
imperiously demanded the appearance upon the public stage
of such a man. It is the crisis of our destiny." In giving
expression to the public triumph achieved on Monday, our
respected Contemporary truly observes, that " the sight
itself, of so many thousands congregated on one spot—
assembled to address the King, and to express the senti-
ments of this portion of his Majesty's dominions on the
great and vital questions which agitate this empire—this
was a sight itself calculated to awaken enthusiasm in the
most torpid bosom.
‘. The presence of the truly noble Chairman at such a
meeting—the vivid and cheering associations with which
the name of Charlemont is surrounded—Charlemont, the
father of his country, and the smeller of her liberties in
other days—this circumstance would, of itself, have con-
ferred a character on the assembly of an historical signifi-
cance. It was the link associating the glorious days of the
Irish Volunteers with the glorious struggle in which we are
now engaged, and was felt by all who witnessed the display
as an omen that success would, ultimately, crown our
efforts. The Charlemont of this day belies not his splendid
title, and is no traitor to his father's blood. The same
calm dignity of purpose—the same quiet inflexibility of
principle—have marked his career."
CHURCII-RATES.—The following reminiscence from the
same spirited and right-principled paper to the absent Irish
Members, furnishes gratifying evidence of the existence of
an identity of interest and purpose between this and the
sister country .—" Members, to your post ! The 22d inst.
is fixed for the debate on the Church-rates. It is of the
utmost, the last, importance that all the Representatives of
the Irish People be at their posts. It is an English measure
technically, but it is imperial—lrish. It is one upon •c
fate of which will depend the fate of these measures which
Ministers are now pressing through Parliament. We again
and again repeat it, that the people of Ireland will not hold
him guiltless who deserts his duty on this day. Pairs—a
system which we should like to see done away with, as well
as Proxies in the Lords—should be dissolved. For our
own parts, Te shall feel it our duty to print the names of
the Absentees."

The Ancient Concert last evening, at the Hanover-
square Rooms, was under the direction of Lord Burghersh.
The singers were Madame Pasta, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Shaw,
Miss Wyndham, Messrs. Br.tham, Phillips, &c. The room
was filled with persons of distinction.
The preparations for the fete to be given at the
Hotel do Ville on the occasion of the marriage of the Duke of
Orleans are going on with great activity. A platform is to be
raised in the inner court, on a level with the rooms on the first
floor, so as to form a considerable addition to the size of the
saloons.

rvl. de Kondener, the newly appointed Russian Mi-
nister to the Swiss Cantons, is expected to arrive by the next
New York packet ship from the United States.
Yesterday evenin, an inquest was held at the Mitre,
Upper-street, Islingto'n, before Mr. Stirling and a respectable
jury, on view of the body of William Welsh, aged 14, who '
was struck dead by lightning during the violent thunder-storm
that visited the metropolis on Sunday last. The body of the
poor lad exhibited great discolouration from the electric fluid.
It appeared from the evidence that between three and four
some COWS belonging to his master in White Conduit-fields,
o'clock on Sunday afternoon last, the deceased was minding
when the violent thunder and hail storm came on. Ile and
some other boys ran towards some trees for shelter. In the
way the deceased was struck dead by a vivid flash of lightning,
which also knocked down senseless two or three of his compa-
nions. The body of the unfortunate lad was removed to the
Norfolk Arms, in the neighbourhood, where Mr. Russell, a
surgeon, promptly attended and endeavovred to restore anima-
tion, but ineffectually. Some discussion took place amongst
the jury as to the nature of their verdict ; some being for
•‘ Accidental Death," and others for that of " Died by the
visitation of God." The latter verdict was eventually returned.
The annual meeting of the European Missionary'
Society was held yesterday' at Exeter Hall, Captain Phipps in
the Chair. The attendance was numerous. The report stated
e
the income for the past year at 1,7351. 15s. 9d., of which, after
ll expenses,
a balance remained of 1591. 17:;. tid., and they
had 5001. stock. After a series of interesting speeches from
the Rev. Emile Guers, of Geneva, Captain Vernon Harcourt,
the Rev. Mr. Grimsbaw, and other gentlemen, the re-
port was unanimously adopted, and thanks having been voted
to the Chairman, the meeting separated.