The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-30 00:00:00

' the
Mar-
miss
Hon.
Hon.

yeS-

erday

, the

anied

icitor,

yord,
I jet'
Rich-
iddly;
Count

!mil'
4--Iz4'

cult 1111
cop

14 r.
1131(ii

414-4'

ilk

CIIURCII•RATES.

Bungay, March 29, 1839.

MEADOWS.

SNUFF-BOX.

f .E

,-/'

EVEN ING 1411DITIoN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sill,—The period is just arriving at which the
grievance of Church-rates presses itself on the notice
and feelings of Dissenters—the inefficiency or dishonesty
of the Society professing to advocate the abolition is
demonstrated, and the consequent necessity arises that
we should exert ourselves with vigour and effect.
At this season I offer to public consideration the
following facts, which illustrate the spirit of the most
tolerant Church in Christendom, that they may stimu-
late such Dissenters as feel at liberty to attend the
Easter Vestries, and induce them everywhere to attend
to their own affairs, rejecting the incumbrance in the
form of help, offered by the London Societies.
Mr. Thorogood, now in Chelmsford gaol for ss. 6d.,
Church-rate, had first been summoned before the Civil
Magistrates, to whom he gave a written declaration
that he should appear in the Ecclesiastical Courts to
dispute the validity of the rate, and the case was there-
upon dismissed.
Being subsequently cited to the Ecclesiastical Courts,
and
anxious to procure advice and assistance, he went
to the
Patriot Newspaper office, where he saw the se•
erstary of the Church-rate Abolition Society, who ad-
vised him to abandon his purpose of appearing to the
citation, urged him to snbmit to the pains of contumacy,
and promised that if he were committed " they would
move Heaven and Earth to get him out of prison."
On this advice the good man acted, consented to
Irep)
his purpose, and submit to imprisonment, be-
,,eving he was in the hands of an honourable Society,
that woule prescribe the course most advantageous to
the cause of religious freedom.
Ten weeks have now elapsed since his committal,
Parliament has risen for the Easter vacation, not a
!ord has been heard upon the casebcyond the presenta-
"on of his petition, and if the Society have exerted its
flighty powers, they have not availed to direct the
attention of the Legislature to his painful case, to ex-
ta
end any practical sympathy to his sufferings, or to
work out the result to which those sufferings might and
ought to have been made instrumental.
I give you a few extracts from a letter I received
from him yesterday.
_ After lamenting that his case had not been urged
tr)r;vard he says—" I have had another heavy stroke
of divine Providence, for the same evening on which I
last wrote to you it pleased the Almighty to take from
this world my dear father, which I have felt very
keenly, as I greatly desired to see the end of one so dear
to me, mad also to have been present at his burial.
But' Sir, I must leave all these things to the will of Him
who does all things well." The touching simplicity
with which this is told leads me to ask—How long are
Dissenters to . suffer ? Flow long shall they be an•
polled to act against their religious conviction, or to rot
in gaol? Is this what we laboured for in 1831 and
1832 Can•this be the result of the professions made
to us and of the efforts we made in consequence ?
Coup this be the result if the Ministry had been
sineere?
Viewing, then, the indifference of the Ministry and
the Legislature, the treachery or uselessness of the
Metropolitan Societies, and the sufferings of the noble-
hearted.s man now in prison, let the friends of religious
freedom, trusting nn self-styled friends for help, employ
their own energies in the holy cause on all occasions when
°PPortunity serves, especially on such occasions as those
Presented at the approaching Easter Vestries.
JOHN CHILDS.

ENCLOSURE OF HAMPSTEAD

the copyholders of Hampstead must look sharp after
a Bill now in Parliament, called the " Necropolis Ce-
naetery Bill," or they will find their copyhold estates, in
a few years, much depreciated in value. By this Bill
Power is proposed from time to time to buy and sell
'and, and speculate over 500 acres at Haverstock-hill,
which will become freehold when resold under the
Powers of this Bill, and under the semblance of a Ce-
metery Company, they take power to raise 150,0001. It
Cannot be requisite to raise this large sum for the forma-
tion of a cemetery only, but it is obviously for the pur-
Pose of a Joint-stock Company, for the purchase and
hsaulieidig of land of questionable title, to form roads for
frontage, and cover these beautiful meadows
and hills with bricks and mortar. The scheme to the
promoters is a good one, no doubt, but we beg to ask,
what is to become of the retirement of the beautiful vil-
lage of Hampstead if a second Portland-town or Somers-
town is to be erected on the verge of the parish and its
delightful heath ? Where is the artisan to look for a
walk within his reach to look at the green fields, if these
meadows, over which there are innumerable public foot-
Pat
n 3
the built over, or
lungs
the citizens to hope for pure
air if he
of the metroplis are to be formed into
thousands of cesspools from the clay soil of the pro-
posed cemetery, and chimney-pots sending forth each
hour of the day hundreds of tons of sulphureted
hydrogen and hydro-carbonate gases ? This Bill has
twice been rejected by Parliament, and is a third time
before the House in course of a second reading.

RESENTATION OF A. SILVER

1 On Thursday evening last, a large party of influential
_,,4dividuals, representing the great body of Newsvenders
the Metropolis, supped together at the Lyceum
't Strand, on the occasion of a richly-chased silver
snuffbox being presented to Mr. R. J. Wood, publisher
of the Weekly Dispatch.
Mr. HETIiERINGTON occupied the Chair ; and, on
the c'oth being removed, observed, in a remarkably
B,traightforward and manly speech, that they had assem-
pled to compliment an individual who was well known
to them all, and who had for many years been the pub-
lisher of a Weekly Journal, the most extraordinary, in
point of circulation, of any that ever existed. They all
knew how impartially he acted in the very irksome duty
that devolved upon him, and their presence on that oc-
casion assured him that they felt satisfied with the sys-
tematic manner in which the business of the Dispatch
Office was conducted. It was no slight compliment to
Mr. Wood, when he (Mr. H.) informed him that very
few of the subscribers bad given more than half-a-
crown, and others contributed no more than sixpence.
This fact was sufficient to evince the estimation in which
Mr. 'Wood was held by the newsmen ; and he need only
refer to a recent meeting, when the proprietors of the
Dispatch were present, to show how highly they also
estimated his services. He (Mr. Hetherington) felt
really astonished, when he reflected that on a Sunday
morning no less than thirty thousand Newspapers, out
of a circulation of more than fifty thousand, were deli-
vered to the Newsmen in the short space of an hour and
a half—a fact, of which he believed all were aware, and
Which must satisfy every person, except one disposed to
Cavil for cavilling's sake, that there was no reason for the
expression of any dissatisfaction as to the mode of pub-
li •
eallan. Mr. Moggridge then, in a brief speech, pre•
seated the box to Mr. Wood. It is of capacious di-
mensiahs, and the lid, which bears a suitable inscrip-
scription, is decorated with a border of frosted leaves
and flowers in has relief, which gives it a very splen-
did appearance. Mr. Wood returned thanks. He
said that he had adopted a system for the transaction
of business, which appeared to him to be calculated to
answer the purpose of all parties ; and though some
might object to it, still the great body of newsmen were
satisfied, and that was a strong reason why it should be
continued. It was cheering to him that his conduct
had iron their approbation ; and he assured the meeting
that as long as he was connected with the Dispatch
(although an endeavour had been made to tamper with
hits) he would show neither distinction nor partiality in
the discharge of his duty, but would perform it as an
honest servant. It. was not in his power to command
esteem,
but his aim had always been to deserve it ; and
the box
.. which had been presented that night, assured
that his endeavours had not been fruitless. Mr.
Food then expressed his gratitude for the testimonial
which bad been presented to him, published some
'„Vang additions to his speech, of a complimentary
laracter; and sat down amidst enthusiastic cheering.
company continued to enjoy uninterupted har-
a late hour.
:After the routine business was over Mr. Wood
asked permission of the Chairman to address the coin-
127.'which being readily granted, he said he had a pro-
Position to make, and that was, that instead of the sum
money which is yearly given by the proprietors of the
public press to the newsvenders, being expended as it
ri°* is, in a dinner and other such entertainments, it be
appropriated
to forming a fund for the relief of dis-
• ressed and decayed members of the said trade, their
wives, and families. Mr. Wood declared that he had
the permission of his proprietors to say that they would
more readily give twenty guineas for such a purpose,
than
- one guinea for the purpose to which it was at pre-
sent applied. The proprosition was hailed with cheers,
and an agreement entered into to meet on Wednesday
next, for the purpose of calling a general meeting of the
trade on the subject.
A. 1,

---
Setter horn Gottingen states that transporta-
tion to
America has recently been adopted in the nano•
verian dominions, by which means a number of ill dis.
posed persons have been got rid of.—Journal de Frank
fort.

h. A distinguished Pottowottomie warrior presented
hlinself to the Indian agent at Chicago, and, observing that
f! was a very good man—very good indeed—and a good
(rend to the Long-knives (the Americans), requested a
wfi.
r,4rn of whisky. The agent answered that he never gave
sky to good men, good men never asked for whisky,
and never drank it; it was only bad Indians who asked for
wr,h,is,kY, or liked to drink it. " Then" replied the Indian
l'e4lY, i, n
his broken English, " me damn rascal."—
Airs. Jameson's " Canada."
,TEEToT ALism. The teetotallers of Scar-
'Trough are increasinr, in their numbers, and pursue their
4.Thject so systematically and regularly, that they are likely
In advance much further yet. They are to have their
annual tea-drinking in the Town-hal'. —Hull Observer.
FISIIING-BOAT LOST.—On Tuesday night last,
in consequence of the crew of a trawler belong to this port
lot being able to discover the Breakwater light from the
dense fog, the boat struck on the Breakwater, and has
come a total wreck.—Plymouth Journal.

A LEX.A.NDItIA.

We have received the following interesting letter
from our Alexandrian correspondent :
" Alexandria, March 7, 1839.

" His Highness the Pacha is expected to reach
Cairo daily, which will throw light upon several
important topics. Although we have experi-
enced a most severe winter, with incessant rain,

I am happy to say that we are quite free from
plague. Recently, a medical commission has
been appointed to examine all reported cases of
plague ; amongst whom are the principal European
doctors ; and since it has been established, but
one single case of plague has occurred. You must
understand that the quarantine authorities, to show
the necessity of their appointments, do constantly
report cases without sufficient reason. 1 trust that
this Commission will effect a great deal of good,
and that they will aid the correct views that Dr.
Bowring has formed of this intolerable nuisance
to travellers, and frightful expense to commerce.
With us it is most important that as little
inconvenience, and that for as short a period as
possible, should be required, as the great influx
of persons proceeding to and from India will
make it a serious drawback to the overland route.
A steamer has lately been built at Cairo by Ma-
homed Bey (the principal ship-builder to his High-
ness), %Nilo was educated in England ; she has just
been tried on the Nile, and surpasses in speed the
iron steamer. This vessel does great credit to the
builder, as well as the engineers, Messrs. Galloway,
who have erected so many works in this country
which do them honour."—Morning Advertiser.

HOLLANDO-BELGIAN CON-

FE RENCE.

CEREMONIAL OF SIGNATURE.

For several days past the Chanceries of the dif-
ferent Embassies concerned and the English Fo-
reign Offiee have been occupied in preparing
draughts of the Treaty of Twenty-four Articles
ready for signature. The treaty is drawn up in
duplicate, one fac-simile going to the Minister or
Ambassador's Court, and one being kept in the
archives. The contracting parties have even gone
so far in preparation as to have lent one another's
seals, so that the said seals are already attached each
to its particular ribbon opposite the place %%here the
signature of the respective Envoy or Ambassador is
to be affixed. Grand Dukes, Electors, and all
Sovereigns not being Emperors or Kings, are
obliged to have their names entered after every
superior Sovereign ; but in the case of the pre-
sent treaty, all the contracting Powers being
Sovereigns of the highest grade, a different ceremo-
nial is followed. Each Ambassador, in rehearsing
the names of the parties to the treaty, has the pri-
vilege of naming his Sovereign first in his own copies,
the others having precedence in the act according to
alphabetical order. Thus Austria will be men-
tioned in two copies first, and in all the others
immediately after the other Ambassadors' Sove-
reigns ; but if the House of Hapsburg had not
exchanged the more glorious and magniloquent
premier title of Emperor of Germany for the more
solid and absolute one of Emperor of Austria, the
Emperor Ferdinand's name would have come
first in all the aforesaid documents, and the
other Powers disputed for preference if they
pleased. Spain and France, on such occasions, have
frequently treated themselves to one of their ancient
contentions about precedence, which in the days of
yore, often drew the swords of Ambassadors and
their retinues from their scabbards, and turned the
ceremonies of a conclave or of a coronation into
quarrels, wherein more strength of arm and good tem-
per of sword blades than strength of mind, with diplo-
matic sang froid and acumen, were displayed. The
only ceremony now required to put the finishing hand
to this affair is that the Ambasadors and Ministers of
Austria, France, Russia, Prussia, and England, of
Holland and Belgium, should assemble, read over and
collationer and parapher the treaty, then sign it, and
exchange some explanatory memoranda on particular
points. There will only remain then for Baron
Bulow and Count Senfft, the Ministers of Prussia
and Austria, who are Plenipotentiaries of all the
minor Sovereigns forming the German Confede-
ration, to report to and procure the signatures of
the Frankfort Diet. There is one little consider-
ation to be noted which interests very little the
public, but naturally interests a good deal the
secretaries and chancery clerks of the diplomacy,
namely, whether they will, after their long and
laborious exertions, receive the magnificent pecu-
niary gratuity customary on such occasions.
Formerly it was not only customary
.for Governments
to give the Ambassadors of the contracting parties
stars, orders, and gold boxes—sometimes of the value
of a thousand guineas or more—but several hun-
dred pounds were distributed among the Secretaries.
It was on the signature of the Quadruple Alliance
that this custom was departed from for the first
time by England and France alone, those powers
thinking no doubt, that they would have burdens
enough by taking the part of the Peninsular Go-
vernments, without giving their Ministers any
regalos. But the subalterns of the embassies have
not been in diplomacy so long without learning to
handle their weapons—tongues and pens—in their
own cause, and they manfully maintain that. as the
Conference treaty preceded that of the illusory
affair above mentioned, it would be an ex post facto
tyranny to apply a subsequent decision to their

case.
Several of the members flatter themselves that on
Monday, or, rerhaps, Sunday, will be terminated
this treaty—object of such moment, source of such
anxiety, and fruit of such protracted and painful
exertion. Whilst it has been pending, several of
those who laboured in its accomplishment have
been, and remain for the time, sufferers in their
healths, like Count Pozzo di Borgo, Baron Bulow,
and General Sebastiani. Some distinguished men,
such as Baron de Wessenberg, have wrecked
their fortunes in attempting to solve the Gor-
dian knot ; and several great diplomatists, such
as Princes Talleyrand and de Lieven, have
sunk into the grave before the object of their
strenuous efforts could be attained. Baron Bulow
is the only representative of the greater Powers who
has been destined to co-operate from the beginning
to the end in these arduous negotiations. The
Princes Esterhazy, Lieven, and Talleyrand, Gene-
rals Sebastiani and Goblet, MM. de Falck, Van
Zuylen, and Dedel, Barons Bulow and Wessen-
berg, and Count Senfft de Pilsach are only a few
of the statesmen whose names posterity will read in
the annals of this extraordinary vexata questio now
closing—even Lord Palmerston will figure respec-
tably amidst the brilliant galaxy of diplomatic stars,
which have shed their bright and benignant in-
fluence in this saving compact of peace.—Morn-
ing Post.

MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST A RE

LIEVING OFFICER.

An inquest was held on Thursday at St. Mary's Cray,
Kent, on the body of a pauper named Burgess, who
died in the workhouse of the Bromley Union. It ap-
peared that deceased having applied for relief to Mr.
Palmer, relieving officer of the Lewisham Union, that
gentleman bad him sent forward in an open cart to
Cobham, I:is alleged legal settlement. Burgess was
exceedingly ill at the time, and died shortly after his
arrival at Cobham. A medical gentleman attributed
death to a chronic disease, accelerated by his removal.

It appeared further that Mr. Palmer had not passed the
man in a legal way, but upon what is called a friendly
order ; that is, an order requesting that he might be
admitted. Mr. Palmer, in his defence, said he did not
know that the man was in a dangerous state at the time
of his removal. After a very long investigation the
Coroner summed up, and, in doing so, observed that
the Jury were to determine if any party was to be made
resposible for the death of the deceased. It could
not be said that because Mr. Palmer was accustomed to
send illegal orders in cases of removal that their legality
was established. It was the bounden duty of Mr.
Palmer, to see that every person was in a fit state to be
removed before that course was pursued, and one eircum-
, stance showed that he was aware that the deceased could
not walk—namely, his hiring the horse and cart. The re-
lieving officer had acted irregularly, and if the jury should
be of opinion that the deceased's death was accelerated
in consequence of such irregularity on Palmer's part,
then he bad laid himself open to the charge of man-
slaughter. No man, whether a relieving officer or. not,
was justified in giving a person a letter and dancing him
half over the country, but particularly those in autho-
rity were not the less culpable becaufe many ignorant
persons entertained a notion that great men styling them-
selves relieving officers possessed great power, and were
therefore induced, although not from actual force, to
obey their orders.
The Jury delivered a verdict of " ManslatiFhter
against George Harding Palmer," accompanied with a
recommendation to mercy.
Palmer was committed to Maidstone Gaol, and the
witnesses were bound over to appear and give evidence
I against him.

PENNY POSTAGE.

( From the Times.)
The third and final Report of the Select Com-
mittee on Postage, which has just appeared, is a
document for which universal attention should be
claimed, as embracing the full details of a question
to which none of her Majesty's subjects who are
able either to read or write a letter can possibly be
indifferent. It comprises the substance of the first
and second Reports, but in a form so much more
convenient as almost to supersede them, especially
with those who can spare but a small portion of
their time to devote to the subject. An analysis
of the evidence is presented, ranged under the
separate heads into which the question is divided,
with references to the places in the former
Reports in which such evidence appears ; so
that while the great truths which this inquiry
has drawn out are exhibited in lucid order, the data
upon which the conclusions of the Committee are
founded arc rendered easy of access to those who
may desire to verify them. We propose giving from
time to time, as our spare space will permit, such
extracts from this Report as appear to have a pre •
ferable claim over the rest to the notice of the
public; we should gladly print the whole, but for
other and still more urgent claims upon us. Having
gone over the subject, in the course of the last
autumn, with considerable care, anything we could
now offer in the shape of comment would be in
great measure a repetition of what we have said
already. To the single objection on the part of the
Government of danger to the revenue, in that which
by the way, ought never to have been made a de-
partment of revenue, we have here opposed the
extension of trade—the promotion, in a wonder-
fully increased degree, of all religious and scien-
tific objects—the eradication of that moral taint,
the constant, practice of fraud, which the Post-
office systeM has made habitual with all classes
of the people—the comfort more especially of the
poor, and the certain increase of the happiness,
wealth, and civilization of the whole community, by
the introduction of the reform now proposed. In
such a contest there can be little doubt which side
ought to yield ; yet we have described it in one re-
spect more favourably for the Government than the
case will warrant, for it is shown, by innumerable
passages of these Reports, that the revenue from this
source must be endangered, perhaps wholly over-
thrown, under the continuance of the present mo-
nopoly, by those facilities which railroads and
steam-vessels, and other modes of quick commuui-
cation are gradually introducing ; and further, that
a great increase of Post-office revenue is more than
probable now, ultimately all but certain, from the
immediate adoption of the form proposed.
The Committee, it appears, would have recom-
mended at once the adoption of Mr. Rowland Hill's
plan, had they not been directed, on their appoint-
ment, to the consideration of such reductions as
could be made without injury to the revenue, but
they advise its adoption hereafter, as soon as the state
of the revenue will " admit of a considerable sum
being risked." In the mean time their recommen-
dation is, " to reduce the rates on inland general-
post letters to an uniform rate of 2d. per half-ounce,
Increasing at the rate of ld. for each additional
half-ounce, reserving the prices current and letters of
soldiers and sailors, and others where only Id. is now
charged ;" but as soon as the revenue is in a state to
run some little risk, " to subject all inland letters to
au uniform rate of ld. per half•ounce, increasing at
the rate of ld. for each additional half-ounce." _

They also recommend the abolitio❑ of the privi-
lege of franking, which would cease to be a privi-
lege if these changes are introduced. The Com-
mittee estimate this privilege as it now exists, and
if used to its full extent, as equal to an exemption
from a tax of 309/. a-year ; but under the new
plan it would only be worth 221. a-year, and no
difficulty is anticipated to a sacrifice to that extent
by the Members of the Legislature. Many of them
would, we have no doubt, be relieved from an an-
noyance and a burden by the abolition of this pri-
vilege.
This Report, which is a folio of •about 200
pages, with three large maps, may be purchased
for 55., but might be printed perhaps with advan-
tage in a still cheaper form, including the maps, for
general circulation.

(From the Morning Chronicle.)
Although the advantage of trade and commerce
was the declared object for which the Post office
was established, that consideration has been abart-

doned, and the efforts of our authorities in that de-
partment have been exerted to transform it into an
engine of taxation. Revenue, revenue, has been the
never changing watchword of- Postmasters-General
and their numerous subordinates; yet with all their
power and exertions they have scarcely been ahle
for the last twenty years to make it produce the
same annual amount, although during that period
the country has vastly increased in population,
_ _

wealth, industry, and commerce.
There must be something radically vicious in
that branch of public revenue which remains thus
stationary, and even evinces a tendency to retrograde
while the people from whose sweat and industry
that tax is levied have, notwithstanding its pressure,
moved steadily forward in a state of active progres-
sive civilization. Some vague conviction of this
truth appears to have come across the leading Pos,t-
-office officials, for we find Lord Lichfield and
Col. Maberly admitting that the rates charged
for postage are too high, and that every Poi t-
master-General had been of that opinion ior
many years—too high for the general intere
of the public, and too high for the interests of ltbe
revenue ; but beyond that general statement of
opinion they will not move. Every thing. besi•iles
is doubt, difficulty, and objection. They are t rue
worshippers at the shrine of Mammon—the revenue
is the God of their idolatry ; and although they ad-
mit that the dues levied thin the number of vota-
ries, yet to all proposals for a specific, uniform low
rate of- postage, that would insure increased produc-
tiveness, they make their tongues " tang arguments
of state," and can find no results from it ex-
cept loss to their shrine. Such has ever ben
the case in this country with regard to the in-
troduction of our most important national im-
provements. The wise men of the day have ge-
nerally treated them with aversion, and often with
contempt ; and so the Postmaster-General of 1539
acts in just the same way as his predecessor of
1797. Lord Lichfield declares that unless the
principle be abandoned which is acted upon in
every country in Europe and the United States of
America—that of considering the Post-office as a
productive source of revenue-I'lr. Hill's' plan will
not be practicable ; and, in like manner, Mr.
Allen, and the other ablest officers in the Post•
office, who were examined before a Select Com-
mittee of the House of Commons in 1797 denounced
Mr. Palmer's plan of transporting letters by mail-
coaches not only as impracticable, but dangerous
to commerce and the revenue : yet, in thirty years
after the adoption of Mr. Palmer's improvement, the
revenue of the Post-office increased from 150,0001.
per annum to one million and a half sterling, which
as been about its maximum ever
The evidence adduced before the Select Com-

mittee of 1838 proves that this unsatisfactory state
in the revenue of the Post arises from the enor-
mous quantity of illicit correspondence, and that,
owing to the high rates of postage, large
classes of the community, and more especially the
mercantile and trading classes, to whom the extent
of their correspondence makes postage a matter of
importance, view the Post-office as an establish- •
ment to be shunned for its costliness, instead of
being applied to as an institution affording speedy
and cheap conveyance. To such an extent is illi-
cit correspondence carried among_ the mercantile
classes, that it has become a part of mercantile edu-
cation to study how to practice evasion without
committing a breach of the law ; and, with regard
to very large transactions, to abstain from incurring
of postage by writing letters.
Mr. Cobden, an extensive manufacturer at Man-
chester, said, " That the extent to which evasion
was there practised was incredible, and that five-
sixths of the letters sent from Manchester to Lon-
don did not pay postage."
Mr. Davidson, of Glasgow, said that " On the
whole ten letters were forwarded by illicit convey-
ance from Glasgow for one that was sent by post."
Mr. Banning, Deputy Postmaster, Liverpool .

" That on the line between Manchester and Liver•
pool, the letters sent without passing through the
Post-office were probably greater than those which
were sent by post."
Mr. Samuel Loyd, of the firm of Messrs. Jones,
Loyd, and Co., bankers : " Did not doubt that if
the postage were reduced to one penny, the number
of letters passing between bankers in London and
their correspondents in the country would be very