The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-03 00:00:00

THE INCOME-TAX.

Yesterday a meeting of the inhabitants of Bread-
street Ward was held in Cordwainers' Hall to petition
against the renewal of the income-tax. Mr. Deputy
Bridge presided. The meeting was addressed by several
influential inhabitants of the ward, and resolutions con-
demnatory of the income-tax were unanimously agreed
to. A petition to the House of Commons founded on
them was also adopted. Similar meetings were also held
yesterday of the inhabitants of St. Paul, Covent-garden;
St. Mary, Whiteehapel; St. Clement Dunes, and other
metropolitan parishes. In addition to the meetings we
have mentioned on previous days, at which steps were
taken to prevent the re-imposition of this tax, we find
that others have been held within the last few days at
Greenwich, Stroud, Kidderminster, Sherborne, Salis-
bury, Tewkesbury, Evesham, Tiverton, Dudley, and
other places. The Chamber of Commerce at Leith and
the Town Council at Edinburgh have also agreed to
petitions against the renewal of this tax.
A meeting of the: inhabitants of the Ward of Far-
ringdon Within, convened by Mr. Alderman Kelly, in
compliance with a requisition, for the purpose of peti-
tioning the House of Commons for the total abolition of
the income-tax, was held on Wednesday at the Queen's
Arms Tavern, Newgate-street.

Mr. Alderman KELLY having taken the chair, briefly
explained the objects of the meeting.
Mr. Deputy EAOLETON proposed the first resolution,
which, with those that followed, will be found in our
advertising columns.
Mr. RUSSELL said he objected to the resolution, be-
cause it was one not dissenting from the proposed in-
crease of the tax, but demanding the total repeal of it.
He contended that the income-tax was a fair and just
impost, and was hailed with joy and surprise when Sir
Robert Peel first proposed it.—(Laughter.) When this
tax was put on, it should be remembered that a large
sum of money was taken off in the shape of indirect
taxation that pressed upon the poor man; while those
only who could best afford it paid the income•tax. At
all events, those who proposed its abolition should first
show that it could be done without.
Mr. BLLXE said that the income-tax had been im-
posed for the purpose of paying a debt which had been
incurred by u House of Commons that did not truly re-
present the people.
Mr. PAINE said that this was a tax which ought to
have died a natural death at the time when the country
was led to expect it would.
Mr. C. YOUNG observed that when the old income-tax
of 10 per cent., or 15,000,0001., was proposed, the country
refused to sanction it, and the result was that the Mi-
nister had to reduce his estimates; and the same course
could be adopted now.—(Hoar, hear.)
A petition founded on the resolutions was also
adopted, and a deputation appointed to wait upon Mr.
Pattison and Mr. Alasterman, to request those gentle.
men to present the petition to the Rouse of Commons,
and to supprt its prayer.
The usual votes of thanks were passed, and the pro-
ceedings terminated.
ST. JAMES'S WESTMINSTER.
Wednesday the parishioners of St. James's Weatmin-
Mery held a public meeting on the subject of the income-
tax. The meeting had been convened by the church-
wardens for the purpose of taking into consideration the
proposed increase of that tax, and took place, notwith-
standing the abandonment of the Ministerial plan. The
chair was filled on the occasion by Mr. W. Geesin,
churchwarden, and great unanimity prevailed in the
meeting which was a very crowded one. Mr. C. Coch-
rane moved, and Mr. R. Osborne, M.P., seconded the
first resolution, which reprobated in strong terms the
proposed increase of the income-tax. Next came a reso-
lution condemning the tax as it at present exists, urging
its repeal, and the supply of any deficiency in the revenue
by extensive retrenchments. This was moved by Mr.
Brett, seconded by Mr. Alexander Bidgood, and spoken
to by Mr. George Thompson, M.P. General Sir De
Lacy Evans, M.l'., Mr. C. Lushington, M.P., and other
gentlemen also addressed the meeting, which did not
break up till a late hour. We subjoin the second reso-
lution us a fair specimen of the proceedings :
" That this meeting considers that the Government
was solemnly pledged to the remission of the income-
tax at the expiration of three years, or at the most of
five years, from the period of its imposition; that the
time-has arrived when the people will no longer submit
to the continuance of such an oppressive and unequal
measure, aed that this meeting, therefore, calls for the
entire removal of this tax; and if, after a searching in-
quiry into the state of public affairs, means should be
found wanting of increasing the revenue beyond the
enormous amount which a wise and judicious systran of
reduction in the various departments of the national ex-
penditure will yield, that the deficiency may be supplied
by the substitution of probate duties on landed property
and such other descriptions of taxation only as will be
least injurious to the industry of the country, and guard
against the extreme injustice of estimating the pre-
carious and transitory income of the professional man
and tradesman at the same value as permanent income