The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-05 00:00:00

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of the se who laboured for the instruction and amusement of
the people. Lord Brougham, who has so long and so ear-
nestly laboured in this direction, declared That the exac-
tion of the paper duty was among the greatest anomalies of
our political administration ; and that ' this tax upon
knowledge was a powerful obstruction to the education and
improvement of the people, operating directly in raising
the price and lowering the value of everything read by
them.' The repeated discussion of this question in the press,
in Parliament, and at public meetings, at length paved the
way for the unanimous adoption by the House of Commons
of the important resolution submitted by you—' That the
maintenance of the Excise on paper as a permanent source
of revenue would be impolitic.' The passing of this reso-
lution—though as yet merely abstract—greatly strengthened
the hands of the friends of repeal, and upwards of 120 mem-
bers of Parliament enrolled themselves as vice-presidents of
the press associations. Subsequently you were invited to
become a member of Lord Pahnerston's Administration, and
you then resigned the presidentship of both associations.
Your friends, however, are desirous that you should possess
some memento of the connexion which had so long existed ;
it is therefore with much pleasure, and in the firm belief
that the important legislative measures we to-day celebrate,
will prove of lasting advantage to the nation, that we offer
for your acceptance this testimonial.
"The struggle in respect to the repeal of the paper duty
is too recent to require further remark, except to recognise
the signal ability, courage, and perseverance of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Gladstone—(great cheering)
—whose sound fiscal policy, though attacked through the
paper duty, at length triumphed, and the press of this coun-
try became wholly emancipated from taxation. (Cheers.)
" Signed on behalf of the Testimonial Fund Committee,
"WILLIAM EWART, M.P., Chairman.
"ROBERT CIIA3IBERS, Treasurer.
" Joitx FRANCIS, Hon. Sec."

The testimonial consists of a centre-piece, or
epergne, after a design by Flaxman, and two six-
light candelabra, all silver gilt, the whole valued
at 500 guineas ; the epergne was made by Garrard,
and the candelabra by Messrs. Barry, of the Egyp-
tian Hall, Piccadilly. The epergne bears the fol-
lowing inscriptions :
" Presented to the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, M.P., by
the members and friends of the Associations for Obtaining
the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge, as a commemo-
rating testimonial of his important services during twelve
years as their president."
" Advertisement duty repealed, August 4th, 1853."
" Compulsory stamp on newspapers repealed, June 15th,
1855."
" Paper duty repealed, October 4th, 1861."

The CHAIRMAN then, in a speech which reviewed
the whole progress of the movement, proposed "The
health of Mr. Gibson," upon whose character and
exertions he pronounced a glowing eulogium.
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.

Mr. GIBSON, who, on rising, was received with
repeated cheers, said it was difficult to find words
properly and adequately to express his acknowledg-
ments of the kindness which had been manifested
towards him, or his gratitude for the handsome tes-
timonial which was offered for his acceptance. If
his language lacked warmth, his feelings were not
the less strong. He should have felt more at home
if they had met to discuss the obnoxious effects of
the taxes on knowledge ; but he did from the bot-
tom of his heart thank those who had done him
the honour of presenting him with that testimonial,
and he also thanked his hon. friend in the chair for
the complimentary manner in which he had been
pleased to express himself as to his exertions to
procure the abolition of the taxes, the repeal of
which was commemorated by that testimonial.
Whatever he had done for that purpose had been
a source of pleasure to him ; for, during the whole
course of the movement, he had watched each step
with the greatest interest, and no one rejoiced more
heartily than he did at the ultimate triumph of the
cause. It might appear rather a curious circum-
stance that a Minister of the Crown should be re-
ceiving a testimonial of this kind for public services.
He could assure them that had it been offered for
services rendered since he had been in office, he
should have undoubtedly declined to receive. His
hon. friend in the chair had done honour where
honour was due, The repeal of the paper duty was
the act of the whole Government, of which he (Mr.
Gibson) was a member, and his right hon. friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was the offi-
cial organ of the Government in carrying the mea-
sure, did his duty in a manner to which his
hon. friend had done no more than justice. (Cheers.)
But though he should have declined to accept any
testimonial on account of the repeal of the paper
duty, he did not think that the fact of his having
become a member of the Government of Lord Pal-
merston precluded him from having some memorial
of the long and cordial connexion between himself
and the gentlemen of these two associations. It was
in that sense that he was pleased with this memo-
rial of the past, and of those old associations con-
nected with the recollection of those who had
worked with him for the repeal of the taxes on
knowledge. (Cheers.) His own efforts would
have been fruitless but for the zeal and ability of
those who were associated with him—Mr. Novello,
the treasurer, Mr. Moore, the president, the
faithful and able secretary, Mr. Collett—(cheers)
to which he would add the name of his hon. friend
Mr. Francis, the secretary of the Press Association.
(Cheers.) When ho first became acquainted with
those gentlemen the question of the repeal of the
taxes upon knowledge was slumbering. The late
Mr. Francis Place—(hear, hear)—was the first
person who communicated with him upon the sub-
ject, and suggested that some member of Parlia-
ment should keep the,qucstions which had been
left unsolved by the Government before the Legis-
lature. The advertisement duty had been reduced
but not repealed, the stamp duty upon papers had
been reduced from 4d. to 1 d., which Lord Brougham
had called the last and worst penny—(hear, hear,
and laughter)—and the paper duty was left un-
touched. At the instigation o f Mr. Place he it
himself in communication with others, and they
never
utcoc e
ecdeeads o. w(
Cohrekeirnsg) inDitffihe.
caagurseeedunwtiilththehyimfin
culties had been urged as standing in the way of
that consummation, but the greatest difficulty of all
was that it was believed a free and cheap Press cir-
culating among all classes would not conduce to the
safety of our institutions. Many persons might
not be aware that the origin of these taxes in the
reign of Queen Anne was for no other purpose than
the putting a stop to the issue of cheap news-
' papers which disturbed the institutions of the
country, and repressing what was then called " the
vivacity of the Press." (Hear, hear.) An eminent
judge said, "We did not want politicians at the
loom, or statesmen at the spinning-jenny ;" but
these two associations felt that it was more in ac-
cordance with the spirit of the age that knowledge
should be disseminated among the people, and that
our institutions could rest upon no more solid basis
n
than the attachment of an educated and en-
lightened community. (Cheers.) The arg
the publ
by which that proposition was supported had been
e
so well and so frequently put before ic,
, and
rec
that it was not necessary to repeat them..
tTltey all
appreciate
that that their force had been
The results were not
until at last the Government found themselves
to day,
contrasted the years
position
unworthy t oof repeal
remark,the sief ttahxeeys .
1851 'and 1861 as regarded the number of news-
papers existing at these two periods. In the year
1851 there were in the United kingdom 18 daily
Hear,
1 tiesrteweere(lll,o27
n l 8 51p were
ph papers—in
rr
senEi were e6l2in s i6n et
e Unitedene Kingdom
papers—therehear.)
4w9eBeklNyvepeakplYers. (Cheers.) As the chairman had said
all papers were doing good. They were all
teaching
not politics only, but they were giving
these
social information also to the industrious classes,
and these classes must be benefitted by the diffusion
of that social information. by should there be any
alarm manifested about the circulation of facts
among all classes of the community ? Why should
not all be presented with narratives of daily occur-
rences, and thus be enabled to take allying interest
in what was passing around them ? in the move-
ment they had the support of all religious persua-
sions; they had been aided by the advocates of
State education and voluntary education—for all

~
cAR
4,474/
seemed to agree that nothing was more dee rAlit s
that the repeal of those taxes which stood in the
way of the people educating themselves, end they
might depend upon it that the repeal of these taxes
would be a great aid to the spread of elementary
education. There was a limit to that education when
it fell into disuse after leaving school, but nothing
tempted a poor man to read so much us the reading
of a newspaper, so a cheap press would be the most
important aid to the cause of popular education,
that could possibly exist. (Hear, hear.) There was
no need to dwell upon the evils of these taxes, be-
cause he could not suppose that any Government
would ever reimpose. (Hear, hear.) As to the testi-
monial before him, he had given the question very
full consideration, and it was not without reluct-
ance that he had agreed to receive it. He had felt
that there was something invidious in selecting one
for such an honour when others had cone so much
more than he had. His work either in Cr out of Par-
liament would have been as nothing, if he had not
been aided by some ofthe most efficient men whoever
carried a great public cause to a triumphant issue,
and conferred a great national benefit on the whole
community. As a commemoration of these labours,
and of his association with them in these labours,
he gratefully
accepted the testimonial ; and in doing
so he hoped he had made clear the grounds upon
which lie had decided to do so. In the first place,
the step to the repeal of the paper duties was the
act of the whole Government, and if that Govern-
ment had not been supported by a great party in
the determination to carry it, depend upon it the
efforts of a single individual would have been but
as the idle wind in the face of the powerful opposi-
tion which had to be encountered. (Cheers.) The
measure had been carried by unity, fidelity, and
talent. The unity was in the Government that re-
solved upon it, the fidelity iu the great Liberal
party which supported the policy of the Govern-
ment, and the talent was found in the most able
and powerful organ of the Government in placing
that measure before Parliament. (Cheers.) The
right hon. gentleman, after some observations, con-
cluded by thanking the meeting and the subscribers
to the testimonial most cordially and gratefully for
the kindness and generosity with which he had
been treated ; and sat down amid loud and con-
tinued cheering.

The other toasts which followed were the " Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer," proposed by Robert
Chambers, Esq, ; " The House of Commons," pro-
posed by the Chairman, and responded to by Mr.
E. Baines, M.P. ; " The Corporation of the City of
London," propoed by Ms. Lucas, and acknowledged
by Mr. Sheriff Cockerell ; " The Press," proposed
by Dr. Watts, of Manchester, responded to by Mr.
Thornton Hunt ; " The health of Mr. Francis ;" of
" The Chairman," and " The Ladies."

The whole of the proceedings gave the greatest
satisfaction to the company, and the breakfast and
general arrangements amply sustained the high
character of the Freemasons"ravern, under its pre-
sent liberal management.

a& a t
//-

ROYAL E NGLISH OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN. -
Under the management of ass
Louisa Pyne and Mr. W.
son.
THIS EVENING, THE PURITAN'S Dant AUGHTERMrH. Miss
Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Fyne Mr. Sley, . . Corri,
Ur. G. Honey, Mr. A. St. Albyn, and Mr. W. Harrison.
To conclude with HARLEQUIN GULLIVER ; or, Giants
and Dwarfs. Messrs. W. H., F., and H. Payne, H., E., and
S. Lauri, and Miss Jenny Lauri.
Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON.
Commence at Seven.

. i-iEATR?•RUYAII, HAYMARKET,
Lessee. Mr. J. B. Baatetone.
3

THIS EVENING, to commence with OUR AMERICAN
COUSIN. Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern ; Asa Trenchard,
Mr. Buckstone.
After which, a Comic Christmas Pantomime, LITTLE
MISS MUFFET AND LITTLE BOY BLUE ; or, Harle-
quin and Old Daddy Longlegs. Louise Leclercq, Charles Le-
clercq, Herr Cole, G. Becket, and Miss Rosine.

Commence a 7.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Manager---Mr. Edmund Falconer.
THIS EVENING, Feb. 5,4 the new and original Drama,
entitled PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deeltsh. Messrs.
Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fal-
coner ; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston.
Alter which, a new and original Burlesque Extravaganza,
entitled LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ; or, The Fairies of
the Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrcck. Principal charac-
ters by Mr. Chas. Selby, Mr. Warlow, Miss Cicely Nott, and
Miss Lydia Thompson

Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. Chitterton.
Prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 8, to commence at
7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 5.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Lessee, Mr A. Harris.

THIS EVENING, THE IRISH EMIGRANT. Mr. W.
J. Florence.
Followed by THE YANKEE HOUSEKEEPER. Mr.
and Mrs. W. J. Florence.
After which a Comic Christmas Pantomime, WIIITTINI.? -
TON AND HIS CAT; or, Harlequin King- Kollywobbol
and the Genius of Good Humour. The grotesque openi,,,
invented and written by Henry J. Byron, Esq., author of the
Princess's Pantomime of " Jack the Giant Killer ' The
Scenery by Mr. James Gates, Mr. H. Cuthbert, and numerous
assistants. Good Humour, Miss Helen Howard ; Princess
Popsiwopsi, Miss Rose Leclercq ; Alice, Miss Pauline Le-
clercq ; Messrs. Garden, Cathcart, Morland, Cllett, Hast-
ings, Raymond ; Dick Whittincrton, Miss Maria Harris ;
Robin Goodfellow and the Cat, Master John. Haslem, (pupil
of the celebrated Gabriel Ravel; Clown, Mr. Hildyard
Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Colum-
bine, Miss Caroline Adams. Morning Performances will
take place at Two o'clock every Monday till further notice.

NEW THI ATRE-R0 VAL, ADELPHI.-...
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
342 d, 343 d, 314th, 345th, 316th, 347th Nights of the Engage-
ment of Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boucicault.—Last weeks of The
Octoroon and The Colleen Bawn.

----
THIS EVENING, at 7 o'clock, the great American Drama,
entitled THE OCTOROON ; or, LIFE IN LOUISIANA.
After which, at 20 minutes past 9, the great Irish Drama
of THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr. and Mrs. D. Bouc;cault ;
Messrs. Emery, Fisher, Billington, Eburne, Jamison, Grace,
Stephenson, C. J. Smith, Lewis ; Mrs. Billing-ton. Mrs. H.
Marston, Miss C. Denvil, Miss Latimer, and Miss Woolgar.
Box Office open from 10 till 5.

NEW ROYALTY THEATRE,
Dean-street, Oxford-street.
Immense success of the new Operetta.
THIS EVENING (4th time) A CHINESE ROMANCE.
After which Offenbach's Opera Buffo, entitled LE MA.RI-
AGE AUX LANTERNES. Mr. John Morgan, Mesdames
Stanley, Payne, and Mason.
To conclude with THE EARLIEST EDITION OF IL
TROVATORE.
commence at hall-past 7.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- I
Last 6 'Nights of the Pantomime. —Last 10 Nights of
The Colleen Bawn.
EVERY EVENING THE COLLEEN BAWN.
To be followei with the wondrous feats of the greatest
Equestrians in the World, Young Gunerins, Madlle. Halvor-
sen, and Mons. Goldkette.
Concluding: with the Grand Comic Pantomime of
JOHNNY GILPIN'S RIDE TO EDMONTON.
In preparation, a gorgeous Eastern Spectacle, introducing
Two of the finest Performing Elephants ever seen in this
country.

Stage Manager, Mr. W. Searle.

AND FINE

CANTERBURY HALL
ARTS GALLERY.
"THE ENCHANTED HASH " (SECOND EDITION)
by Mr. E. Marshall, with Eleven Wonderful Transformations
(the most talented performance ever attempted by a single
person), at a quarter-past ten. Also the following extraor-
dinary combination of Comic talent, viz.: Mr. Randall, Mr.
Frederick French, Mr. J. G. Forde, Miss Harriet Coveney,
and Miss Greene.
Grand Selections from LA TRAVIATA, by Mdlle. Negri,
Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, and a powerful Chorus, at Ten
o'clock.

Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans.
Admission—Hall, Bd. ; Stalls and Balcony, le.

VICTOR JULIEN, " THE FLYING MAN."
at CANTERBURY HALL, Every Evening at half-
past Nine o'clock.

1
1 H E OXFORD,
6, OXFORD-STREET,
Two Selections Every Evening alternately from " Ernani,"
"Lucrezia Borgia," "La Traviata," " Simon Boccanegra,"
"La Circassienne," Arc., by the entire Company, Full Band
and Choi-cm—Conductor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Solos by Mr.
Viotti Collins (the great English violinist). And other at-
tractive Entertainments, the Comic portion by Miss Harriet
Coveney, Messrs. Sam Collins, Wood and Son, E. Marshall,
M. P. Foster, and W. Randall.
Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, Is. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d.

MITE OXFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET.-
LES Mie.RVEILLES GYMNASTIQUES" by Masters
HENItI and PEAU (aged Nine and Eleven years), from the
" Cirque Napoleon," Paris, at which place they performed for
Three Hundred Consecutive Nights, creating the utmost en-
thusiasm and excitement. The Double Feats on the Flying
Trapeze of these Youthful Artistes are unsurpassed for
daring skill, and grace. They make their First Appearance
In England at this Establishment on MONDAY, the 17th of
February.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS D AY.—Morning, sh. 47m.—Afternoon, 6h. 2m.
To-MORROW. -Morning, 6h. 23m.—Afternoon, 6h. 40m.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEPRUAR/ 5, 1862.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
54—highest since noon yesterday.
44—lowest this morning and during the night.
51—this day at noon.
BAROMETER-30.09.
WlND—Westerly; fresh, with fine weather, though