The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-04 00:00:00

classes were those most affected by the taxation of the
country, as they paid the greatest share of the Excise
and Customs duties ; in fact, one-seventh of the wages
they earned were taken from them in the shape of re-
venue attached to the various articles they con-
sumed. The speaker then alluded to the impolicy of
keeping up a large standing army at an enormous
expense. Such a system merely arose out of jea-
lousy—France increased her army, and so England,
as the Legislature told them, must do the same.
He advocated at some length the reduction of the
duties on those articles of food used by the poor
man, and a free interchange of those bounties of Pro-
vidence which had been spread in such profusion
over the various countries of the globe ; no one could
suppose that if they had free access to the produce
of the earth there, would ever be dearness or
scarcity—as abundance and cheapness were inse-
parably connected. As a remedy
,for the evils under
which the country laboured, there ought to be a
reduction of expenditure in the various-departments
of the Government, as recommended by the asso-
ciation which had called them together that evening,
and more particularly the departments of the
army and navy. Let the Government reduce
the duties as much as possible on tke commodities
used by the labouring people, and if the Members of
Parliament, would lay on taxes, let them tax their
own property.--(Applause.) He preferred direct to
indirect taxation, as people then -knew the amount
they had to pay, and would be more strict to see that
every economy was exercised in laying out their
money, and he concluded by calling upon the meet-
ing to second the efforts of the association in de-
manding that the utmost retrenchment, should be
carried out on all the departments of the public
.sereioskee-(Cheers..)
Mr. ilicreenu Surer. seconded the resolution.—lt
was clear that our national expenditure had eget eon.
siderably beyond the income; and instead of doing
what every prudent and economical member of
society would have done under similar circumstances
—reduced the expenditure to meet the income—Go-
vernment were adopting the expedient of raising the
income to meet an extraordinary expenditure. —(Hear,
hear.) A few years ago, Sir R. Peel, when at the
head of the Administration, proposed an income-tax.
Now, he (Mr. Shiel) did not object to an income-tax
as a matter of principle, because he believed, as had
been said by the chairman, that an income-tax was-
the fairest and best of all taxes; but he objected to an
income-tax levied from him who might get 5001. a
year which depended on his energy and industry,
and the exertions of his faculties, so long as he had
health and strength to exert them, and which might
be taken away from him at any momeat, and which
required no more from him who had 5001. per annum
from landed property, which might, after his own life,
be made of advantage to his successors.--(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN put the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
Mr. FRANCIS BOULT moved the second resolution,
"That in the opinion of this meeting no Government
can or ought to retain the confidence of the people,
which does not avow, and to the utmost possible ex-
tent act upon, the determination to deal justly with
all classes, by an equitable adjustment of the burden
of taxation ; so that, instead of pressing, as now, on
the springs of industry, limiting the consumption of
commodities, restricting the operations of commerce,
and causing social privations and distress, the neces-
sary revenue shall hereafter be levied by a direct im-
post on the members of the community, in proportion
to their respective ability to contribute' In doing
so he referred to the enactment of the first poor-law
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which was not en-
titled an Act for the relief of the poor, bat for setting
to work those who did not choose to work, thus
showing that it was at that time considered a crime
against society for a man to attempt to live in idle-
ness on the industry of others. It was hard that after
sending men to Parliament to represent their interest,
the people should be obliged to leave their business
and their families to come and teach those members
what was for the benefit of society and of the coun-
try.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Mr. EDWARD BRODIUBB, in seconding the motion,
said the resolution pledged the meeting to the use of
all means necessary to obtain an equitable adjustment
of taxation. That argued that the present system of
taxation was otherwise than equitable--was unjust.
Looking to Parliamentary returns, he found that the
gross amount of taxation for the year ending the sth
of January, 1847, was 58,488,0001., a sum almost
sufficient to overwhelm one's comprehension, without
thought. This sum was raised by what was called
direct and indirect taxation. The fifty-eight millions
of taxes were received under eight heads. The first,
customs and excise produced 37,290,000/. ; the cost
of collecting, 1,924,000/. Stamps produced 7,676,0001.;
__e being a. direct tax,.
only 154,000/. The land tar, 1,146,000/. ',.,Aosessed
taxes, 3,309,0004; coat. of conectior,•--01Z,000L
Ineop3e-tax,
Agf.a.l449Awer- *idling 1
Post-anoe, 4984.0004 or ;Lai4ooo4
Crikotri' litztas, 894,000/. ; cost of collecting, 259,00°4
Other-ordinary revenue, 427,000/. ; cost of collecting,
59,0001. China money, 668,0001. Given to the
army and navy by superannuation and other allow-
ances, 365,0001. Making a total of 58,438,0001., and
a total cost of collecting of 4,206,000/. Eight ar-
ticles yielded a revenue of 30,843,0001.—spirits,
8,376,000/. ; beer, 5,371,0001. ; wine, 1,892,000/. ;
tea, 5,112,0001. ; sugar, 4,050,0041.; coffee, 757,000/. ;
tobacco, 4,319,000/. ; and soap, 966,0004—(Hear.)
He would impress upon them this fact in a concise
form that they might take it away with them, think
over it, and make it a text on which to instruct their
children, that eight articles, without which the break-
fast, dinner, or tea table of any decent labouring man
cannot be furnished, paid 31 millions to the revenue.
—(Hear.) Look at the taxes on soap I Why, if
cleanliness is next to godliness, where, he would ask,
was the piety of the Legislature ?—(Loud cheers.)
Taxation had become HOW so burdensome that it
must either be abridged, or they must have a suffrage
commensurate with taxation—an extensive universal
suffrage.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. RICHARD FARRER Supported the resolution.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLRY
supported the motion. He
was exceedingly glad tofind that those who once
differed in opinion from theirs now gave them their
full countenance and support. The chairman had spoken
to them that night in a manner worthy of himself. The
chairman ha ;
auton ato things their right names. He
had spoken as m
an. Although there might
be points in which he notfully might
views taken, he did not concur that taxation was un-
justly levied and unfairly proportioned between the
oligarchy and the people,--(Cheers.) The subject of
local taxati was one Which
had had a great deal of
his attentioon n, and, no doubt, that of the National
federation. He had had some conversation with the
gentlemen who conducted that association, and he
found they took a wide and comprehensive view of
the subject of local taxation. They must bear in
mind that the general taxation was upwards of sixty
millions, but ten the local taxation _.that was taxa-
tion levied on the
_people generally—was something
like fourteen or fifteen millions. That this pressed
heavily on the industrious classes, and pressed pecu-
liarly heavy on the shopkeeping lasses, who were de-
prived of the luxuries of life, many of them of the
comforts of life, and very many y of them, he feared,
were hardly able to find the necessaries of life. Look-
ing at the taxes
of the United States, Russia, Prussia,
and Austria, what did they find That the taxation
did not exceed from 9s. to 12s. per head, whilst in
England it reached 529. 6d.—(Rear.) But they
should go further, and see who paid the taxes here. In
other countries the land paid the greater portion of the
taxes ' • but here the land only paid one million and a
half, because our legislators owned the land. It
became necessary, therefore, that the people should be
properly represented.—(Cheers.) How was Liver-
pool situated ? How was the country situated ?
Look around them. fief of the constituencies of
this county was acknowledged at once to be in the
hands of the oligarchy. A great deal more than
that were in the hands of the oligarchy. They had
all the counties. He did not call them by the name
of Whig and Tory.—(Loud cheers.) They were to
him all alike. The whole of the people that ruled
this country did not exceed some twenty or thirty
families. They had the power, and they might be-
lieve him that the House of Commons was little better
than a registration committee of the House of Lords.
If any one would take the trouble to inquire, they
would find that in a very few families they divided
their 10,0001., 15,0001., 20,0001., 60,0001., and even
90,0001. a year amongst themselves and their depu-
ties. Were they likely to give up this ? Not likely.
Very few would give up so rich a purse without a
struggle. But it was for the people of this coun-
try to struggle to take it from them. If they won't
do justice of themselves the people will do justice to
them—they will do no more than justice. They re-
fused them not their fair right, stake, and interest in
the country, but they asked them to place us on a
fair equality as freemen with them. This they
demanded, and no less would they take.—(Cheers.)
It had been well observed by their chairman that
great expense was incurred in the army,
navy, and
miscellaneous estimates. What was our army main-
tained for ? Were they threatened with invasion,
here, there, or anywhere ? No ; all were at peace
with us. They had 138,000 men in effective service,
37,000 in ineffective service, as it was called, 16,000
men in the yeomanry, 9,000 or 10,000 men in the
dock works, 43,000 men in the navy, and 25,000

police and armed police besides, making altogether an
army of 300,000 men. Shall I tell you (said he) for
what purpose ? No, you know it; you know it.—
(Tremendous cheering.) But there was another
purpose for which the army and navy were main-
tained to their present extent, and for which the
colonies were supported so well—because (said he,
emphatically) the oligarchy have the privilege of
filling all places of trust, of profit, and of emolument.
—(Loud cheers.) He (Sir Joshua) complained not
of men being well paid. He agreed they were the
best defenders when there was a necessity for them,
but he complained because a great many of them
might be much better employed in adding to the
wealth of - the nation.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.)
He recollected Sir James raham stating that
when our fleet was in a most efficient state during the
war with France, in Bonaparte's time, $6 admirals
were in the service. They had now 151 admirals in
pay, besides 43 on the retired list.—(Hear, hear.)
They bad 300 generals, major-generals, and lieute-
nant-generals. They might talk as long as they
pleased, but so long as the landed interest had the
majority, they would take the loaves and fishes.—
(Hear, hear.) There were thirty boroughs with
fewer than 300 electors, thirty-three with fewer than
400, eighteen with fewer than 500, so that they had
eighty-one boroughs returning 120 or 130 Members,
with fewer than 500 electors each. Thetford with
160 voters, and Liverpool with 14,000 or 15,000,
sent two Members to Parliament. Honiton had only
200 or 300 electors, and yet such places sent as many
Mernhers as Liverpool or Manchester. Many said
they did not want population, they would not go on
the broad principle that every man taxed should vote.
They were too.careful of their own means ; they dare
not trust the people. But his (Sir Joshua's) experi-
ence went to this, that there was more honesty in the
masses than in any (Aber portion of the community.
—(Cheers.) IC they took property and population
together, the_ result was that 326 Members r epre-
sentedlix millidns of property,"and 180,000 persons,
and The other half of the Heine of Commons repre-
sented 970,000 inhabitants sand 72 millions Of pro-
perty.—(Hear.) If they took either property or po-
pulation separately, they found the arrangement still
an injudicious one. If they took them conjointly
they found the same, and therefore they said to the
oligarchy, " Those men you have pleased to send to
the House of Commons misrepresent us : either place
the thing on another footing, or give place to others,
for the people shall have a vote in the representation
of the people."—(Loud cheering.) He hoped they
would not meet only once in six months, but monthly,
as they had done before. They could now follow
those who stood aloof from them at one time. No
higher possible gratification would any man have
than the pleasure and satisfaction of believing that
he first taught the way and was then willing to
take his place as a follower.—(Loud cheers.)
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said he had to introduce to the
meeting an old friend of the cause, whom they were
all rejoiced to see on the occasion—he alluded to Col.
Williams.—(Loud cheers.)
Colonel IVILLIAats then cane forward, and met
with a very warm reception. He had to move—
" That copies of the foregoing resolutions be sent to
the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and the Members of the borough and the
county." It might le necessary to send the resolu-
tions to those individuals, but he conjectured what
the result would probably be—a dry receipt that
they had reached them.—(Loud laughter.) The
Gallant Colonel concluded by urging the various argu-
ments which had been advanced on the attention of
the meeting.
Mr. CLAYPOLE, in seconding the resolution, said
this was only to be regarded as the first of a series
of meetings to consider the important questions which
had been introduced that evening.—(Cheers.)
The resolution was then put, and carried unani-
mously.
Mr. B. V. YATES proposed a vote of thanks to the
chairman, which was carried by acclamation.
The HAIRMAN expressed his thanks, and the
meeting broke up, at twenty minutes past eleven
o'clock.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE
OF TUESDAY.
WAR-OFFICE, Our. 3, 1848.
Ist Dragoon Guards—Captain Roderick John Hanley,
from half-pay,Unattached, to be Captain, vice Hammers-
ley, appointed Paymaster ; Lieutenant James Stirling
Stirling Stuart to be Captain, by purchase, vice Hanley,
who retires; Cornet Hugh Hamilton to be Lieutenant,
by purchase, vice Stuart ; Staff Surgeon of the Second
Class Edward William Stone to be Surgeon, vice Lewis,
who exchanges. Oct. 3.
-4th Dragoon Guards—Brevet-Colonel James Mae-
. dosald-Robertson, from half-pay Unattached, to be
Lieutertsrit-golonel,"vice Brevet-Colonel James Charles
Ghatterton, who exchanges;, Major: Edward Cooper
alutlge,.to be. Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase vice
izor,:er:Hgperin,rwyhTohroeittire.c;;Ap„bts. Williams Charles Forrest,i
# Is.sto:ll;bir.pburehase, vice 11;:codigiter;ILviiiceeutF. Francisorres
Corner, purchase,by vice
purchase,' N i c ol
vice Jamesß Richardson
hßaorbdesrotn Scott,Geenno
Sergeant-Majorbe
John Thompson td be Quartermaster, vice John An-
drews, who retires upon half-pay, Oct. 3.
7th Light Dragoons—Cornet the Hon. Charles Har-

bord to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Colmore, who
retires, Oct. 3.
12th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant Blayney Townly
Walshe, from the 9th Foot, to be Paymaster, vice Lodge
Morris Murray Prior, who retires upon half-pay; Oct. 3.
14th Regiment of Foot—Lieut. Jonathan Willington
Shelton, from half-pay 28th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice
Lawrie, appointed to the 82d Foot, Oct. 3.
15th Foot—Captain Lambert Cowell, from half-pay
Unattached, to be Captain, vice James Hay, who ex-
changes ; Lieutenant Charles Edward Astell to be
Captain, by purchase, vice Cowell, who retires; Ensign
Christopher Sayers to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Astell; Francis Powell Hopkins, Gent., to be Ensign,
by purchase, vice Sayers, Oct. 3.
77th Foot—Staff-Surgeon of the Second Class Joseph
Samuel Prendergast, M.D., to be Surgeon, vice Ander-
son, who exchanges, Oct. 3.
82d Foot—Lieutenant John Lawrie, from the 14th
Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Baillie, promoted, Oct. 3.
89th Foot—Lieutenant Arundel Edmund Hill to be
Captain, by purchase, vice Isacke, who retires; Ensiga
Edward Jonathan Head to be Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Hill; Robert Selby, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Head, Oct. 3.

93d Foot—Assistant• Surgeon James Webster, M.D.,
from the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Swan, who
exchanges, Oct. 3.
2d West India Regiment—Captain John Browne,
from half-pay of 100th Foot, to be Captain, vice Boggis,
appointed Paymaster Ceylon Rifle Regiment ,; Lieut.
John Crosbie flarnett to be Captain, by purchase, vice
Browne, who retires ; Ensign Robert Grigg to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Harnett ; John Smith
Swanzy, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Grigg,
Oct. 3.
UNATTACHED.—Lieutenant James Baillie, from 82d
Foot, to be Captain, without purchase, Oct. 3.
BREVET.—Captain John Browne, of 2d West India
Regiment, to be Major in the Army, Jan. 10, 1837.
HOSPITAL STAP7.—Surgeon George Anderson, from
77th Foot, to be Staff Surgeon of the Second Class, vice
Prendergast, who exchanges; Surgeon Thomas Lewis,
M.D., from Ist Dragoon Guards, to be Staff-Surgeon of
the Second Class, vice Stone, who exchanges; Assistant
Surgeon William George Swan, M.D., from 93d Foot, to
be Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces, vice Webster, who
exchanges, Oct. 3.
BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
George Huxham, wine merchant, Totnes.
BANKRUPTS.
James Noble and Richard Eaton Noble, plumbers and
glaziers, Pimlico, to surrender Oct. 12, at half-past one,
and Nov. 14, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Pennell, official assignee; Collins and Rigley, Black-
friars.

Henry Marsh Wells, baker, Ramsgate, Oct. 12, at
twelve, and Nov. 14, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-
street; Buchanan, Basinghall-street.
Alexander M`Alley, builder, Romsey- terrace, West-
minster, Oct. 12, and Nov. 14, at half-past twelve, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee,
Aixhurch-lane, Lombard-street; Yongo and Hancock,
Tokenhouse-yard, Lothbury.
Robert Neal, nurseryman, Wandsworth-common, Oct.
20, at two, and Nov. 14, at half-past one, at the Court
of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-
place, Old Jewry; Fletcher and Roberts, Wandsworth.
William Price, dealer and chapman, Strand, Oct. 12,
at two, and Nov. 15, at eleven, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings;
Langton, Staple Inn.
Thomas Ives, dyer, Wikkefield, Oct. 16 and Nov. 6, at
eleven, at the Leeds District. Court. Hope, official as.
signee, Leeds: Clarke, Chancery-lane, Loudon; reams_
dem, Wakefield;
Cariss, Leeds.
John Robinson, cheese factor, Leighton Cheshire,
Oct. 16 and Nov. 24, at eleven, at the Liverpool District
Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool ; Po wnall and
Cross, Staple Inn, London ; wahnsley and Co., Wem ;
Tyrer, Liverpool.
William Rees and Evan Roberts, joiners, Liverpool,
Oct. 16 and Nov. 7, at &even, at the Liverpool District
Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool; Chester
and Co., Staple Inn, London; Morecroft and Son, Liver-
pool.
John Maddock, tallow-chandler, LiVerpool, Oct. 13,
and Nov. 24, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court.
Turner, official assignee, Liverpool; Oliver, Old Jewry,
London; Evans and Son, Liverpool.
Edward Snowdon, grocer, Durham, Oct. 13, at half-
past eleven, and Nov. 10, at one, at the Newcastle-upon-
Tyne District Court. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne; Sudlows, Torr, and Janeway, Bedford-row
London; Hodge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.