The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-26 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I have to request that you will contradict, in the most
positive manner, that part of your report of the late Kentish
County Meeting, in which you make me say, in answer to Mr.
Larkin, that I derive 1,0001. a_year from borough influence; I
stated, on the contrary, and I appeal to the recollection of all
present, that, upon my honour, whether or not I had any such
influence, neither I nor any of my family have ever, directly or
indirectly, received one shilling for it.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Albemarle-street, March 26. MAHON.

SPAIN.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER, DATED MADRID, MARCH i t.

The Extraordinary Gazette and Supplement of the
12th contain the details of the death of Manzanares, who
was betrayed and killed in the Sierra Bermeja on the Sth
inst., and give also an account of the surrender of 400
Constitutionalists at Beier on the same date. As we have
as yet no particulars of the last event, we cannot form an
exact opinion on the position of affairs in that quarter :
1,200 was the stated number of Constitutionalists who left
the Isla, which being the case, there are still SOO men
carrying on the revolution, not including the 300 who
landed on the 4th near Malaga, of whom no further tidings
have been received. We are left very much in the dark
respecting the details of the progress and position of
events, but as the post from Cadiz, which arrived this day,
states that city to be quiet, and as Malaga by the last
accounts was the same, I am led to believe that the
attempt will prove a failure. If it prove so the Constitu-
tionalists have missed their object by the narrowest
chance in the world ; the insurrection had the most exten-
sive ramifications. The garrison of Cadiz was ripe for
revolt, and only awaited a movement on the part of the
people to declare themselves. The immediate cause of the
assassination of General Oliveira was this : he had affiliated
himself into several secret clubs established in Cadiz for
the purpose of intriguing against the Government, by e-
lecting to confraternize in their opinions. Becoming thus
perfectly acquainted with their operations, he divulged
them to the Government. One of his letters fell into the
possession of the conspirators, and his instant death, ac-
companied by a precipitation of their measures, became
the only course to be adopted. Orders have been sent to
Cadiz, for the arrest of all these persons, who, I believe,
constitute the most respectable portion of its community.
The streets of that city are patrolled night and day, to se•
cure tile Government from another attempt. The failure
of the plan is attributed mainly to an officer, who acted as
a principal conductor of the movement, who, immediately
on the death of the Governor, gallopped off to the Isla,
and told his coadjutors at that place that the revolution
had been effected at Cadiz, thereby neglecting to secure
success to the first step, and rendering the second prema-
ture, and, as it has in part proved, disastrous. General
Quesada, who arrived :he same night at Cadiz from Xeres,
immediately proceeded alone to the Isla, where he was
made prisoner, but was afterwards set at large. He re-
turned to Cadiz, and, as will be seen by the Gaceta, col-
lected his troops for the pursuit of the Constitutionalists,
who, in the meantime, finding the Cadiz attempt was un-
productive, left the Isla on the night of the 4th, in the
direction of Tarifa, to surprise that place, and form a
junction with the corps of Manzanares. He overtook and
attacked them at Bejer ; the result of which action was
the surrender of 400 of the mutineers. The Council have
decided on shooting them all ; but I think they will not
carry this resolve into execution, and that it is merely in-
tended as a display of firmness to intimidate all factions.
It was stated within the last three days, that a Military
Commission had been established here ; but though I
know it was in contemplation, it has not yet taken place.
The French who reside here are in a most awkward po-
sition. I consider their lives to be far from secure, from
the hatred which is openly expressed by the lower orders
against them. Every number of the Gaccta most point-
edly alludes to them as the fomenters of the events, in-
cluding us, at the same time in its animadversions for a
like conduct in protecting, and, as they call it, assisting
the expedition of the Constitutionalists who were collectel,
at Gibraltar. The French are all under surveillance, and,
as an instance of the feeling towards them, the Marquis de
Villa Campo was last week expelled the country, at twenty-
four hours' notice, by a personal order of the King, for
dining with the French Ambassador. The French Em-
bassy are denied admission at almost all the principal
houses in Madrid. In fact, they are avoided as if they
carried infection with them. Eight or ten Frenchmen
have been arrested for singing the Marseillaise ; at least
they are charged with so doing. B. C.

--
I have procured the Gaceta of to-morrow. You will
see that the remainder of the Constitutionalists have in-
trenched themselves in the Sierra Bermeja, and that the
Royalists occupied on the 6th the town of Cesares, in
the neighbourhood. One thousand dollars (2001.) have
been offered for the apprehension of the assassins of Ge-
neral Oliveria.

An elopement has taken place at the West-
end of the town, which, from the peculiar eircumstdnces
of one of the parties (the lady) in connection with a cele-
brated Duchess, has created a good deal of chit-chat.

STANDARD NOVELS, A COMPANION TO
THE WAVEALEY NOVELS.—The second number of this in-
teresting publication, which is to appear on the Ist of
April, will contain the whole of Goown-i's celebrated story
of " Caleb Williams." Among the various designs that
have been entertained in accordance with the extended
taste for reading which manifestly distinguishes the pre-
sent period, the plan of a carefully edited and uniform col-
lection of our best novels and romances current during the
last 60 or 70 years,—that is to say, subsequently to
those of the somewhat lax school of FIELDING, 831OLLETT,
and STEANE,—presents public claims of no common
order. It has been too long the custom to regard these
latter productions as exclusively (with the single recent
exception of the Waverley novels) the standard works of
fiction of the country. The forthcoming series of "Stand-
ard Novels and Romances" will no doubt prove the means
of dispelling this illusion, and of exhibiting, on a com-
parison, a succession of scenes from which life and man-
ners have been equally well reflected, and where wit and
humour have been refined by decorum into fit acquaint-
ance for all readers. Devised with an express view of the
roost extensive popularity, the publication now announced
will strictly include all the requisites conducive to that
object—portability, uniformity, accuracy, graphic as well
as typographical beauty, and above all, smallness of price.
It is intended thus to provide a resource of rational and re-
fined amusement for all—to produce such a library of en-
tertainment as every person of moderate means may afford
to purchase, every gentleman and man of taste may be
glad to possess, and every family may be satisfied to re-
ceive, without hesitation ou the score of morality.

Alderman WAITIIMAN was received with cheers. He
impressed on the minds of the people the necessity of exer-
tion in support of the Ministers. He thought the late ma-
jority, though small, was matter for great exultation.—
(Cheers.) Every man ought to enter into the field as if
the battle depended on his own individual exertions. Who
were the parties in this great contest ? On one side were
the King, his Government, and the whole people of Eng-
land..---(Loud cheering.) The other party were com-
posed of the borough proprietors. It was said by one per-
son—he believed Lord Robert Seymour—that a man who
got into Parliament by means of money would sell his vote
when lie could.—(Cheers.) Of all the meetings in this
Hall that ever he (Mr. Alderman Waithman) had ever
attended, this was the most numerous, respectable, and
wealthy. Could any body say that they had met to de-
stroy the Constitution?—(Cries of " No," and cheers.)
They had now a specimen of the wealth and intelligence
of this great city to give a distinct negative to so gross a
charge. It had been asserted that the proposed measure
had alarmed the monied interests. The attendance of the
respectable bankers and merchants whom he then had the
honour of addressing, was a complete answer to that as-
sertion. They, on the contrary, looked to the support of
the measure as their best security.
ROBERT RICKARDS, Esq. diEred from those who re-
presented the proposed measure as one of a wevolutionary
tendency ; on the contrary, he thought it was one that
would ensure the stability of the Throne, the prosperity
of the country, and the happiness of the people.
IsAAc SoLer, Esq. expressed his belief that the pre-
sent state of the country required the proposed measure,
and for the adoption of which the people would for ever
feel grateful.

KGENTLEMAN (the only person who held up his hand
against any of the resolutions) wished to address the
meeting, and gave his name Captain Biden. On his as-
cending the platform he was loudly hissed. He said, if
you expect to put me down by clamour you will be very
much disappointed.—(Go on.)—l feel the present is a
time when men are called upon fearlessly and manfully to
express their sentiments as I do. lam one of a glori-
ous minority.—(Laughter. )—I ask you how you can confide
in his Majesty's Ministers when all the measures they have
brought forward were concocted in folly, brought forth in
ignorance, and lost by their own weakness.--(Hisses.)—
I say, how can you confide i❑ men who have betrayed the
true and most powerful interests of the country? As to
their proposed plan of Reform, he would ask was it right
to rob the innocent ?—( Here the hissing was so general
that we could not hear the speaker for several minutes :
when something like order was restored,' he said)—The
proposed measure will undermine a Constitution that has
been the boast of Englishmen for ages. Was it not un-
der the blessed Constitution that we obtained the glorious
victory at the Nile.—(Laughter.)—Was it not under that
Constitution the illustrious Wellington gained the victory
at Waterloo ?—(Go home.)—That illustrious warrior,
who, in his opinion, was the fittest man to guide the helm
of the State.—(The speaker went on in this strain for
some few minutes, and concluded by proposing three
cheers for Old England.)
PASCOE GRENFELL, Esq. M.P., read the Address to
his M ijesty and the petitions to both houses of Parliament,
and in an able speech called upon the meeting to adopt them.
Mr. O'Connell was here loudly called for by one party,
and Alderman Thompson by another.
Mr. O'CoNNELL came forward and said, I have only to
thank those who have done me the honour to call upon
nie, but I respectfully beg leave to remind them that I
have no right to address the present meeting, and I there-
fore trust that my refusal to obey the flattering call I have
received, will not be construed into any want of regard
for the honour conferred upon me.—(Go on, go on.)__
I fear to go on, and am afraid to s•.op.—(Laughter, and
cries of proceed.)—l will venture, then, to say a few
words.—(Cries of Na, no—Alderman Thompson.).—.
Well, Gentlemen, if my voice is not permitted to be heard
here, my ♦ote shall be elsewhere—(Cheers)—and my
spirits will be animated by the exhibition I have witnessed
here to-day—a feeling that raised this nation to a pin-
nacle of glory—a nation that was the first to establish
free institutions—that realized the dream of the poet,
who said—

[Here the cries for Alderman Thompson were renewed ;
and a gentleman said, I have the Chairman's authority for
saying that Mr. O'Connell is perfectly in order.]
Mr. O'CONNELL continued—Now that I have the per-
mission of the first Magistrate of the first City in the uni-
verse, I will briefly avail myself of the opportunity afforded
me to express my gratitude to his Majesty's Ministers for
the measures they have proposed. Although an humble
advocate for Reform, allow me to say that no man more
honestly and devotedly attached to the cause of civil and
religious freedom ever stood before a public meeting.
PAscoE GRENFELL, Esq., rose to order. The Learned
Gentleman had no right to address the meeting, he not
being either a merchant, banker, or tradesman of London.

... „...
The CHAIRMAN wished to explain to Mr. O'Connell,
that the gentleman who opposed his addressing the meet-
ing did not do so from any disrespect to hitn—(Hear)--
but because advantage might be taken by their eneinies,
who would say that the meeting was not what it professed
to he—one of the merchants and bankers of London.
Mr. O'CONNELL bowed to the decision of the Chair.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON regrotied that the terms of
the requisition were such as to deprive Mr. O'Connell of
the opportunity of addi4ssing the meeting, and the meet-
ing of the gratification of hearing him deliver his senti-
ments on the important subject that had called them to-
gether. He should feel unworthy of the station he held
as one of the representatives of the City of London, if he
bad not come forward on an occasion like the present,
and declared his sentiments to one of the most numerous
and respectable meetings he eve,. had the honour of at-
tending. He congratulated them on the numbers and
respectability of the meeting, and could not omit offering
his respectful acknowledgments to the Lord Mayor, for
affording the merchants and bankers of London an oppor-
tunity of publicly expressing their sentiments on the
present important occasion. His acknowledgments were
also due to the honourable and respectable gentlemen who
had signed the requisition. He was the more obliged to
them because before the present measure was brought for-
ward in the House of Commons, they had entrusted him
with a petition in favour of Reform, and on presenting
that petition he stated to the House of Commons that the
majority of the merchants, bankers, and traders of London
were anxious for Reform. It was a source of proud
satisfaction to him to receive on the present occasion a
confirmation of the opinion he had ventured thus early to
express. During the eleven years he bad had a seat in
the House of Commons, he had supported every measure
in favour of Reform—(Hear)—when East Retford and
other corrupt boroughs were proposed to be disfranchised
—but finding all attempts at Reformation opposed, he was
in his Own opinion justified in advocating the present
measure, all minor ones having failed. He should sup-
port the Bill, because he was convinced it would give se-
curity to the throne, and was a measure of justice that
would satisfy the body of the people.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Alderman WOQD had been alibis life a Reformer,

(Abridged from the Derby Reporter of Thursday.)
OA rumlay last, the expected meeting was held in the
County-hall, according to the appointment of Sir Charles
Colville, High Sheriff, made in acquiescence with the
requisition which appeared in the public payers of the last
week. The Duke of Devonshire, who had arrived from
London expressly for the purpose of being present on this
important occasion, was received with peals of applause;
and repeated cries of Reform for ever, and down with
all Tory opposition, were heard from the crowd that
was assembled at the doors, eager for admission. The
High Sheriff came upon the hustings, which had been
erected for the occasion, attended by the Noble Duke,
the requisitionists and many othergentlemen of the county,
exactly at twelve o'clock ; and at the same time the hall
doors were opened for the admission of the public. The
acclamations were animated and of long continuance. The
hall was completely filled, and it is calculated that the floor
and gallery will contain between three and four thousand
persons. There were some hundreds without the doors,
who could not obtain admission. We may justly cha-
racterise the meeting as unanimous ; there was but one
feeling among the assembled multitude, and that was in
favour of Parliamentary Reform, and entirely in unison
with the views of his Majesty's Government.

The Duke of DEVONSHIRE moved that the Sheriff should
take the chair ; and the motion being seconded by P.
Gell, Esq., of Hopton, was carried by acclamation.
The Stir RIFF, having taken the chair, addressed the
meeting :—" We are assembled this day to consider a
subject of the most vital importance to every Englishman
—the due and effective representation of the people. Since
the accession of the House of Brunswick, no measure has
been brought before the country of so much moment as the
restoration of our valued Constitution to its ancient and
legitimate state.—(Cheers.) First, let me intreat you not
to introduce any extraneous subjects. The topic for this
meeting is Reform, and Reform alone.—(Continued ap.
plause.) Next let me urge you to unamity. Be but
of one party, and that party your country ! In her inter.
ests all our interests are involved. We are all one nation
—one great partnership. May our resolutions this day be
for the benefit of the firm.—(Applause. )

The Duke of DEVONSHIRE rose to move the first reso-
lution, but he was so cordially greeted by the cheers and
plaudits of the whole meeting, that he was unable to pro-
ceed for several minutes. Coming forward, he said, be-
fore so great an assemblage of the county of Derby, he
rejoiced to meet those with whom he had always agreed
in political sentiments and opinions ; he rejoiced, also, in
the prospect of agreeing with those who had hitherto
been always politically opposed to him, but whose zeal on
the present occasion was equal to, if it did not surpass, his
own ; supporting, also, and belonging to an Administra-
tion composed of persons to whose principles he had been
• through life attached, he had, indeed, satisfaction in
witnessing the sanction given by the Ministers of the
Crown to the noblest act of public justice ever conferred
on the people, and the corresponding feeling of support
and patriotism which their conduct had called forth in the
country. It was not necessary for him to enter into the
detail of the plan of Reform brought forward by his Ma-
jesty's Ministers : its peculiar merits were, that while it
excludes no class of men and no species of interests from
its operation, it takes property as its foundation, and rests
the general stability upon the state which every one whom
it affects must posses in the general welfare ; it is also
highly valuable, as it includes a great mass of intelligence
dispersed through various ranks and branches of the com-
munity, which have hitherto been altogether without any
share in the choice of those men to whose discretion and
judgment the national destinies are entrusted; and it will
certainly tend to promote and encourage national in-
dustry. A man, his Grace observed, will feel a just pride
in referring to his elective franchise, not merely as the in-
strument of his political power, but as the reward of his
meritorious exertions and honest respectability.--(General
cheering.) The Members of the Aristocracy, he said, had
sometimes been considered in an unfavourable light by the
people; for much of this they were indebted to the man-
ner in which the present constitution of Parliament has
enabled them to interfere and dictate in representation.
..._(Hear.)—It was time, he said, that they should be re.
lieved from these privileges, in fact, detrimental to all par-
' ties ; it was time for them to descend from this false posi-
tion; let them occupy their own ground ; let them stand
on their own merits.—(Great cheering.)—" I have no
fear, said his Grace, that the people of England will be
unjust to the aristocracy of England united by mutual
kind feelings and good offices, and not by close boroughs,
and mock representatives.—(lmmense and continued
cheers.)—He, the Noble Duke, for one, would be very
sorry to think that his connection with his countrymen
was stronger through his burgage tenures of Knaresbo-
rough, than through the friendship and independence of
that highly respectable body of men by whom he was then
surrounded, the freeholders, yeomen, and inhabitants of
Derby. Whose burgage tenure;, said his Grace, I expect,
and I say it with sincerity, and without affectation, I hope
I shall very soon be called upon to resign.—(This disin-
terested and animated declaration was received with rap-
turous applause )—But, continued his Grace, the esteem
and good-wili of the inhabitants of this county, I ven-
ture to wish I may long, very long retain.—(Deafening
cries of " Hear, hear," and " you shall, you shall.")
--We have had, he said, recent proof that the House
of Commons, constituted as it now is, will not con-
sent to relieve the country from any impost, when the
slightest sacrifice is required on the part of some great in-
saken
tne rest s
a. r
mßn al( the
th e eagerness
the Friday
Government,
under
y, with the
motive of impairing their strength on the great question
of Reform, ought to be a powerful hint to the country,
cover
a last,
a to
dis-
puted
commercial arrangement, but, in reality,
not to relax in its ardour for Reform, and its efforts in sup-
port of the Ministers.—(Great and long-continued ap-
plause.) As there were many other gentlemen present
who were anxious to address the meeting, he would then
take his leave. I shall leave you, said his Grace, when
the business of the :day is concluded, and return to my
place in Parliament, where I hope to promote the public
interest, and do my duty by the side of my sovereign,
whom I am now more than ever proud to serve, but I
shall carry away with me the recollection of your recep..
tion, and your patriotic enthusiasm. I shall not fail to
record them as real testimonies of the merits of those great
measures of Reform, which are now under the solemn
consideration of the Legislature. And I exult in having
having had an opportunity afforded to me, and I trust it
will be afforded to many others, of having my conduct,
whether in senates or in courts, refreshed and invigorated
by a closer connection, and a more intimate alliance with
time great body of the people."—(llis Grace sat down
amidst the most enthusiastic applause, and the loudest and
most general expression of the approbation of the meeting.)
When the ferment had subsided, the Address to the
King was read, which was received with three times
three cheers.
E. S. CICANDOS POLE, Esq. then presented himself,
and said, I beg leave to second the motion with all may
heart.—(Applause.)
When the Sheriff requested a show of hands in favour
of the Address, the whole body of the people moved simul-
taneously. When he asked if any disapproved, he was
answered by cries of " Where are they? "—(Cheers.)
Sir GEORGE CREWE said, lie had for many years ad-
hered to the principle of Reform, and, as a proof of the
gillgefiti 9( WI C9lTigti9P) Giltild DAY) without tsWJI

a story, that during the last ten years, he had been offered
a seat in Parliament for various close boroughs, which he
had four times rejected, for he had determined in his mind
never to sit in Parliament fur a borough, as boroughs were
constituted.—(Very great applause.)—With respect to the
minciple of the Bill he most cordially approved of it, but
it was possible, that there might be persons who would
think that in some points of the detail it might be
amended --(Hisses, and cries of " we will have it as it is,
no alterations.") He begged he might not be misunder-
stood : contract, or extend the details as they might, he
was ever ready to support the principle, and it was his ad-
miration of the principle that had induced him to take
part in the proceedings that day. He should conclude
with moving two resolutions, and an Address to each
House of Parliament, which be felt assured would meet
the approbation of the meeting.
JOHN BEAUMONT, Esq. could not resist the solicita-
tions he had received to attend the meeting, to second the
measure so ably proposed by his friend, Sir George Crewe,
he had not, therefore, hesitated to respond to that call.—
He would take the liberty of congratulating the inhabitant•
of this country, and the country generally, on the measure
of Ministers, a measure dear to the hearts of us all, brought
forward at a time of peculiar interest, and under the aus-
pices of a Sovereign who was entwined around the hearts
of his subjects.—(Applause.)
JOSEPH KERRY, a framework knitter, of Belper, ob-
jected that the preamble of the petition to each House of
Parliament excluded a large portion of the meeting. - The
petition assumed to go from the nobility, the gentry, and
the freeholders of the county; but he begged permission
to move that it should also go to Parliament in the name
of the inhabitants of the county of Derby.—(Applause.)
The HIGH SHERIIT said that the amendment was very
proper, and that it met with the concurrence of the gen-
tlemen around him. He wished to know who seconded it ?
Wtwast MEAIZIN, a frame-work knitter, of Do field,
seconded the amendment, and it was carried with con-
tinued acclamations.

HENRY SACHEVEREL WILMOT, Esq. moved that the
petition to the House of Lords, be presented by his Grace
the Duke of Devonshire, and that to the Commons by the
county Members.

This was seconded by P. Gym., Esq. amidst vociferous
shouts of " No Mundy ! no Mundy !"

The names of the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Geo.
Cavendish were put singly and received with immense
plaudits. On the name of Mr. Mundy being put, a very
few hands were held up. On the negative being put, rela-
tive to the petition being entrusted to Mr. Mundy, the
sense of the meeting was strongly expressed by hisses,
ejaculations, and the holding up of hands.
It was then intimated by the High Sheriff, that no per-
son had been nominated to present the Address to the King.
The Duke of Devonshire was named, by the spontaneous
voice of the meeting, in three peals.
E. S. CHANDOS POLE, Esq. made the regular motion,
that the Address to his Majesty be presented by his Grace
the Duke of Devonshire. This was seconded by Sir G.
CREWE, and carried by acclamation.

The Duke of DEVONSHIRE moved that the thanks of
meeting he given to the Migh Sheriff, for his able, judicious,
and intelligent conduct in the chair.
This was seconded by Sir G. CREWE, and carried
unanimously, with loud cheers.

. _
The HIGH SHERIFF said—Gentlemen, I cordially
thank you. It is my earnest desire to fulfil the duties of
that anxious and responsible office which I hold. For one
year my time is yours ; your approbation, when it is sup-
ported by my own feelings that I have done what is right,
will be my highest recompence.

The meeting broke up with three cheers for the King,
which was loudly called for by the meeting.

TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE.

On Saturday the Committee, appointed at a public
meeting of the friends to the diffusion of knowledge
amongst the people, held at the City of London Literary
and Scientific Institution, waited upon the Chancellor of
the Exchequer as a deputation, to consult with him on the
regulations of the proposed new Stamp Act. They were
headed by Doctor Bit kbeek, Mr. Charles Buller, M.P.,
and several gentlemen of literary and scientific eminence.
Doctor I3taKexc IC said (as we are informed), that from
what he knew of his Lordship, it was unnecessary to say
one word to hint upon the advantages to be derived from
the diffusion of knowledge amongst the people, and upon
the necessity of the general diffusion of political know-
ledge and good government. The Committee would not,
in the present case, say any thing upon the duty on paper,
or upon the proposed reduced duty on advertisements, ex-
cepting as regarded the latter, that they believed a further re-
duction of the stamp duty of newspapers would be necessat y
to give the public the entire benefit of the reduced duty on
advertisements, because the existing journals could devote
but a certain space to advertisements, and it must be a
considerable increase of the field of circulation which could
produce to any very important extent an additional induce-
ment to advertising. The reduction of the stamp duty,
however, being but a penny and a fraction, there was no
ground for supposing that the price of newspapers could be
reduced more than one penny. Competition had at pre-
sent, they believed, from inquiries they had made upon this
subject, brought down the price of the commodity to a
minimum rate, and the public could not expect a reduc-
tion which would be a loss. The proposed stamp duty
would keep these vehicles of information as far as ever out
of the reach of the great mass of the community, whom
it was desirable that these media, as well as a vast
many others, should pervade. It placed an obstacle
in the way of all attempts to give them instruction
on political and moral subjects, which instruction was of
the greatest importance to them and the whole commu-
nity, including the Government. He adverted to the
great mass of surreptitious publications which arose from
the demand fur political information amongst the people,
and the high price of the regular journals occasioned by
the stamp-duty. The stamp-duty operated as a protect-
ing dut—a smuggler's premium, of between one and
two hundred. per cent., for the circulation of publications
characterized by ignorance and fanaticism. The regula-
tions against political pamphlets prevented men of pro-
found knowledge obtaining access to the minds of the
labouring classes of the community. He was informed,
for example, that Dr. Arnold of Rugby school, and Dr.
Whateley of Oxford, intended to write tracts for the in-
struction of the poor. Mr. Mill, Mr. George Grote also,
men of the highest attainments in moral and political
science, and other philanthropists, were willing to write
for the instruction of the poor on such subjects as the doc-
trine of wages and others, which it was of the greatest
importance to the whole community to have better under-
stood. These gentlemen would not break the law to over-
come the obstacles to the diffusion of knowledge amongst
the people, and the field was therefore exclusively occupied
by the ignorant and necessitous, who wrote for profit, or
were impelled by fanaticism. Were the stamp-duty en-
tirely removed such publications, which he was assured
owed their sale entirely to the reduced price at which they
were sold, would be superseded by other journals present-
ing a much wider range of information, since it could be
proved that the people preferred those publications which
gave the greatest quantity of new facts to those which
were exclusively devoted to political disquisitions. This
intelligence could only be obtained in the requisite extent
and variety by a combination of skill and capital, which
was of itself a powerful security and knowledge against
extravagance of conduct. He adverted to the securities
for truth which free competition would afford. He then
adduced numerous facts .to show the immense increase of
sale, and paper-duty and advertisement-duty, which
would result from the entire removal of the stamp-duty.
It might be shown from a knowLy.lge of the means and
habits of the people that the capacity to purchase gratifi-
cations which do not form part of what are considered ne-
cessaries of life extends from certain points in proportion
to the cheapness in a greater than a geometrical ratio.
Thua, if in any town or place composed of the average
relative proportions of the different classes of society there
are found one hundred persons who can purchase a work
sold for one shilling, there will in the same district be
fouad more than three hundred able or disposed to purchase
a thing for sixpence ; more than a thousand able or dis.
posed to purchase a work for threepence, and so on. This
fact, thus generally stated, might be established by a great
body of evidence by a Committee of the house having the
power to force the attendance of witnesses, and the will to
elicit their testimony. And were the authors of financial
measures accustomed to possess themselves of a knowledge
of the state and habits of various classes of society ; were
they accustomed not to rely solely on the opinions of
those who are governed by blind routine or swayed by
CiWOter hatereets, they mild more freitiviady increase

One of the committee said, that even so, conclusive
evidence might be adduced to prove that the Government
might derive considerable profit Irma the arrangement.
The increased expense would be only on the main roads,
and in some fevz of the larger towns. All the subordi-
nate agency for distribution would require no additional
agency whatever. The average cost for parcels sent irre-
gularly by mails and coaches was three halfpence per
pound, or 14s. per cwt. for every hundred miles. The
weight of the larger printed paper was about 40 lbs. per
thousand ; the carriage, therefore, would be five shillings
per thousand, sixpence per hundred, or less than a penny
per dozen. Supposing Government charged a penny post-
age for each paper, the profit for the distribution of every
thousand papers for 100 miles would be 3/. IBs. 4d.; but
this was on a supposition of a maximum rate of carriage, and
there could be little doubt that Government could by con-
tract have them distributed to the land's end, and to all
intermediate distances, for a much less sum. According
to the last Parliamentary Returns, it appeared that from
London alone between 10,000,000 and 11,000,000 of
newspapers had been transmitted to the country through
the post.
Lord ALTHORP asked whether individuals in the country
would not object to the increase of the postage?
Dr. Bnexistzcx said there would be no additional charge.
The newspaper proprietors would here, doubtless, in the
same way as at Paris, make arrangements for sending their
papers by post. The profit do the sevenpenny paper, for
example, was a penny and a fraction. A penny would pay
for the postage charge, and the fraction would pay a com-
mission for the collection of subscriptions.
Lord ALTnottr stated, with rererence to the price, that
he anticipated that the increase of the advertisements would
he such, that many of the newspapers would be enabled to
reduce the charge.
One of the Committee replied, that from the inquiry they
had made, they had no reason to expect such a result.
They had, for example, enquired of the proprietor of the
Examiner as to the reduction which would be occasioned
by the alteration of the stamp-duty. That gentleman had
stated that since the reduction of the duty was only a
penny and a fraction, the charge for the paper could not
be reduced twopence without great loss. They had al-
ready as many advertisements as could be inserted with-
out encroaching on the space necessary for other matters,
and therefore no reduction could be made in the price of
the paper on account of any increase of advertisements.
Now the case of this one paper was doubtless, the case of
most others.

Lord AUTHOR? said he did not consider the Examiner
a criterion, as it ‘vas.a paper of the character of those pub-
lications to which Dr. Birkbeck bad adverted, as written
for the advancement of opinions rather than for profit.
His Lordship said, that in the present state of the revenue
he could not hazard further reductions. He went entirely
along with Dr. Birkbeck in all he had said, on the ne-
cessity of the complete diffusion of information amongst
the people; aed he admitted that the measure would riot
afford any increased facilities to those publications which
would derive ne profit from advertisements and were not
written for profit. The suggestions with relation to the
Post-office he considered deserving of inquiry. But with
relation to the stamp-duty, he was not prepared for the
present to promise further reductions.
Mr. CMARLIS Bur.r.xa said that he must take the liberty
of reminding his Lordship of his recent statement about the
expected increase of the revenue.
Lord Avrnoas replied that that increase was a con-
tingency.
It was urged to his Lordship that it was of the utmost
importance that the increased facilities for information
„should go pari pass's with the extension of privileges.
It was said that the circulation of English journals abroad
was restricted, and actually suppressed by the high pries
occasioned by the duty, and by pernicious post-office regu—
lations ; and thereby English ideas and modes of thinking
were prevented from having their fair influence in forming
the opinions and feelings of the civilised world. They also
complained of the duty on foreign books, and the postage
charge on French and other foreign newspapers.
After lengthened conversations on thee. and other topics
Lord ALTHORP promised to give every attention to a
variety of documents submitted to him by the Committee.
We understand that it is in contemplation to form a per-
manent society, to obtain the removal of all fiscal and other
impediments to the circulation of knowledge throughout
the world.

THE WHOLE BILL, AND NOTHING BUT