The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-17 00:00:00

well aware of the potency of any appeal of the na-
ture threatere 1, and their course was prudent. He
was liberated without the payment of his fees, a
circumstance which must be taken as a confession
that he was an injured gentleman,—the only anzende
which could be made to him, the Third Estate not
being well-bred or accomplished in making apologies.
One example stated to us, of the superior breeding
of the Fourth Estate, we cannot forbear to mention.
A Member of the Third having complained of the
manner in which something he had said had been
reported, was told, that if he felt himself aggrieved
by what had been done, he should be met " on the
ground" and be allowed a gentleman's satisfaction."
We ourselves wish to be distinctly understood that
we intend no personal imputations; we complain of
errors in judgment and the inconveniences which
must ever attend irresponsible power, when exer-
cised by bodies of men, however estimable may be
the individuals of which they are composed. We
moreover think it due to the Fourth Estate to declare,
that it has ever been honourably distinguished as
being above the suspicion of any pecuniary corrup-
tion; and further, that its intellectual rank is deter-
mined by this—that the average of the speeches
which it permits to be published contain more sense
when printed than was apparent in them at the
time of delivery. In consequence of the inexpe-
rience of the inconveniences of which we have
spoken, an Hon. Member of the Third Estate gave
notice of a motion to have better accommodation
provided for the reporters. This motion has, we
understand, been abandoned, in consequence of an
intimation from the Fourth Estate, that it is con-
tent with things as they are, and does not desire
better accommodation I We could not help admiring
the perspicacity which accepts, as a sufficient reason
for withdrawing the measure, that the reporters did
not desire it. We marvel that it never occurred to
any Hon. Member to inquire why they should de-
sire to continue to endure all the tribulations of
which they so constantly complain ? We think it
our duty to state what we have been informed is
the real reason :—That if better accommodation
were given them, they would be subjected to new
responsibilities for accuracy, and would have fewer
excuses for mis-statements. In other words, the
Fourth Estate would lose power by the innovation;
no obnoxious Member of the Third could readily
be voted inaudible; no one who spoke distinctly
could safely be misunderstood in consequence of
" the confusion which prevailed in the gallery," and
greater care would be requisite. The patient and
silent tndurance, by the Fourth Estate, of taxes
such as were never borne by any part of our de-
funct constitution, is of a similar character to the en-
durance of the inconveniencies of the House, and,
in the minds of many Members, will no doubt be
considered a conclusive reason for resisting any
alteration. The example of the brute near-sighted-
ness of Peter Pindar's bear, that
" Hugs with pride
" The staff with which its master drubs its hide,"
is less edifying than the spectacle afforded by the
obstinate adherence and clinging of the Hon. House
to the taxes, by the operation of which its own im-
portance and dignity are often so largely diminished.
—The evils experienced by various classes from
the state of the Press in the metropolis, are aggra-
vated in the provinces. There also the taxes, by
limiting the circulation of the public journals,
diminish the profit and the competition by which
greater talent and better management might be
obtained. The mischievous effects of the taxes
on the Irish papers are out of doors made the pre-
text for further impositions; these must aggravate
the existing evils ; and in this wide-spreading circle
of misgovernment our Ministers recklessly proceed.
It seems that it is only in cases where the conse-
quences are tasted or felt, or produce an immediate
effect on the senses, as in the cases of the adultera-
tion of food, that mischievous taxation is fully ap-
preciated. Must further experience be had before it
can be perceived that it is only by entire freedom
the Press can be improved ; that it is only by com-
plete competition that its means of working mischief
can be abolished, and its obligations to do good in-
creased ? We can only account for the continuance
of the barbarous imposts on knowledge, by the pre-
vailing obtuseness of perception, and disregard, by
public men, of the operations of such imposts upon
the public morals. When this operation is more
clearly perceived, these taxes will be considered the
most detestably foolish or climitial that have ever
been imposed by weak or unprincipled Legislators.
We must not forget to notice that The Sun was the
only paper which gave a full report of the proceed-
ings of the interesting meeting held at the City of
London Literary and Scientific Institution; the first
time, perhaps, in which the subject of the taxes on
knowledge has ever been publicly discussed as a mat-
ter relating to the progress of civilization. The
Herold and one or two other Morning Papers con-
tained slight but honest notices of the meeting. The
Times was entirely silent on the subject. On Mon-
day se'nnight Sir J. Newport gave notice in the
House of Commons, that he should move for a re-
duction of the duties on advertisements and on
newspapers in Great Britain and Ireland to one-
half the amount proposed by Government. A
paragraph mentioning this notice of motion ap-
peared in the Herald of Wednesday se'nnight, but
we have been unable to find the slightest mention of
the subject in the Times, or in any other of the
Morning Papers, up to that day ; although they
did state, in the report of the debate, that Sir John
Newpoit had given notice of his intention to pro-
pose a reduction of the duties on legacies payable to
children in Ireland, and of " certain other duties."
On Tuesday a meeting of Irish Members was held,
to consider the subject of the additional taxes. The
Times noticed the meeting in the following para-
graph :

Yesterday there was a numerous meeting of the Irish
Members held at the Thatched House Tavern—Sir John
Newport in the Chair—when a series of resolutions were
adopted, expressive of their determination to resist, by
every means in their power, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer's intended imposition of fresh taxes upon Ireland, viz.
the intended additional duties on corn, spirits, stamps, &c.
These resolutions received, last night, in the House of
Commons, the signatures of several other Members con-
nected with Ireland, who had not attended the meeting."
The tact'with which the subject of the intended
impositions on the Irish newspapers is covered by
the general term, " stamps," &c. is characteristic T.
An entire omission to notice the proceedings might
excite such attention as to defeat the object of sup-
pression. In the other papers they are therefore
made to pass with the cursory notice bestowed on a
Bill for the formation of a distant road, or the impo-
sition of a local tax. The Times, by its suppres-
sions, indicates the extent of its fears.—Examiner.