The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-27 00:00:00

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S FINANCIAL
STATEMENT AND REPEAL OF THE WIN-
DOW-TAX.
A very fully attended meetings of delegates from the
several metropolitan parishes took place in the Court-house,
Marylebone, on Friday night last, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the best measures to be adopted_Sfor . obs
tailing a repeal of the window duties.
Kr. W. Loveridge, of • Marylebone, occupied the chair :
and in addition to the delegates present, Lord Duncan, M.P.
for Bath, and Sir C. Napier attended.
The CHAIRMAN having briefly opened the business of the
evening,
' Mr. H. C. Wrlssox, of St. Marylebone, read letters.from
Sir Robert Peel, Col. Fox, Col. 'T. Wood, and Capt. Rous,
M.P., in reply to letters sent to those gentlemen, enclosing a
copyof a memorial agreed to at a former meeting of the
delegates for a repeal of the window-tax. The Premier and
Col.T. Wood merely acknowledged the receipt of the memo-
rial, Col. Fox 44 that he must wait until hesaw what were the
,intentions of Ministers," and Captain Rons "that having,
on a former occasion, seconded Lord Dunean's motion with
reference to these duties, his opinions real/tined un-
changes:. Mr. Wilson then, at some length, entered into
the question of the oppressive character of the window tax,
and what course should be pursued with reference to ob-
taining a repeal of that tax. In his opinion he thought the
best course to be 'pursued would be, if practicable, for
one Member of Parliament to have an interview with
the Premier, atsd suggest to him that some -notice
ishould be taken of this tax. He was well aware that
It had been said, s.enne time ago, that Sir Robert
Peel was a man, who, after he made his arrangements, was
not to be moved by any representations; but he (Hr. Wilson)
thought that Sir Robert Peel, having waited the last few
weeks to see the effect produced by the protection meetings
on the one hand, and those of the Anti-Corn-law League on -Ai
• the other, as to what course he should pursue, would gladly
receive any suggestion in favour of a large body of people, so
as to enlist on his side a larger amount of public opinion.—
(Hear.) Sir Robert Peel bad on former occasions admitted
there were great objections to this window tax, and that
when a general revision of the taxation Of the people here-
after took place, this important tax should receive his best
consideration.—(llear.)
Lord DUNCAN, M.P., said it gave him great pleasure to
meet again those gentlemen • from whom last year he bad
received so much valuable -information with respect to the
great work in which they were all engaged.—(Hear, hear.)
He intended on Monday night to give notice of a ns-.
Lion, not as in the last session, for a Committee of the
whole House to take the subject into consideratirsn, but
far a total repeal of the tax.—(Elear, hear.) He thought
that the best course to be pursued. He could bring the
motion on at any part of the session, or he could move
it as an amendment to the financial statement ; but he
thought they had better see what the statement was,
as in his opinion some allusion would bo made to the subject
They had had a great many changes lately, but
he must say that Sir Robes Peel last year met
this question in a spirit of gffilt fairness, and said that
a great many things had been brought forward,
and the question had been put before him in such a light as
he had not looked at it before, and that it should receive his
consideration, He pressed him (Lord Duncan) not to divide
the House; but he, never taking counsel from an adversary,
did—with what result they were all acquainted.-(Hear.)
Ills was not-going to enter into the whole question or the
dressive character of this tax; but in the course of the
ot.e he was struck with some remarks which fell from
Lord Francis Egerton, with reference to the condition of the
people. Coming from a party with whom he (Lord Dun-
can) differed, he thought they were of the utmost
importance. The Noble Lord said,' " Let 'us give
them other lUxuries, air, water, .drainaghe, comforts
necessary to man, and yet of whit man so
frequently tasted nothing, and let us• :perform. those
offices of humanity by ridding the country of the 'angry
disputes, the jealousies and hesatburning, by which it is
torn asunder."—( Hear, hear.) Such opinions comirg from
a Man like Lord Francis Egerton, and representing se large
anti thickly populated a constituency, they would be doing
well to ask his Lordship to turn his attention to the cha-
racter of this tax and its injurious effects.,-(Hear, hear.)
From remarks made, in the course of his speech, by Sir
Robert Peel, he (Lord Duncan) believed that some allusion
would be made to this oppressive tax.—(Here the Noble
Lord read an extract from the Speech.)—The tenour of the
whole speech induced hint to think that their cause stood
in a much better position than they anticipated. They had
seen lately the great change which had taken place in the
actions of the Prime Minister, and all this had been done solely
by public opinion. The moment the public began to show
their feeling on any particular subject, the next minute the
Governnent was forced to bow to that opinion or give way
to others. There was no other way of ruling in this country
than by the force of public opinion.—(Hear, hear.) If they
expected to carry this question there was no other way than
by directing public attention to it, as there were great num-
bers in the country strongly in favour of doing away with
window duties. Let them look at what had been done with
the corn-laws. He was one of twenty-seven who went out
on the corn-law question, and they were thought to be very
radical people. What had public opinion done for that ques-
tion?—(Hear.) After some further remarks, the Noble Lord
concluded by stating that he should feel much obliged to
any, gentleman present who could give him information
with regard to the working of this tax, so that he might be
prepared with data to go upon when he brought forward his
motion.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir C. NAPIER, M.P., said he almost entirely agreed with
the Noble Lord in the observations which had fallen
from hint. He thought that by giving notice of motion
for a repeal of the window duties on Monday night, it
would call the attention of Government to that tax, and
might be the means, if it was not one of the points to be
touched upon in the financial statement of Sir Robert
Peel, of its being alluded to on Tuesday night.—(Hear)
With respect to what bad fallen from Mr. Wilson, be (Sir C.
Napier) was of opinion that it would be perfectly useless for a
single Member of, Parliament to wait upon Sir Robert Peel
ilotette. uy'it.tnougut the Annie Lord (Lon; Duncan)
vias,pe'rfectly right in the course lie intended to pursue; but
they might depend upon it, that without calling meetings
throughout the metropolis and petitioning for a repeal of the
window taxes. they would do nothing. Agitation was now
quite the fashion, for nothing could be obtained without it.
—(Laughter.) Nothing could be more legitimate, and why
not agitate for the abolition of such an oppressive tax as the
window duties?—(llear, hear.)
Lord DUNCAN said that he certainly should put up his
notice of motion on Monday, which would show them that
those who for some time had been striving to obtain the
abolition of those ditties were not quite dean.
Mr. EWELL, of St. James's, said that he thought his
Lordship had taken a very proper course, for the moment
the notice was put upon the books it would be made known
through the medium of the press to all parts of the kingdom.
Lord DUNCAN begged to state that he had received com-
munications from Plymouth and other places, to the effect
that in the event of a dissolution, of which there was every
probability, the question of a repeal of the irindOw.duties
would claim the attention of the electoral body.—(Hear.)
After some further discussion, in which Messrs. Kennett,
Savage, Wilkes, and other gentlemen took part,
Mr. Witsost moved a resolution to the effect that a copy
of the memorial transmitted last week to Sir Robert Peel,
be sent, with the extract from Lord F. Egerton's speech, to
the latter Noble Lord, so that they might be able to enlist
the co-operation of his Lordship in obtaining a repeal of the
window duties.

This having been seconded and carried, votes of thanks
were also carried to Lord Duncan and Sir Charles Napier,
for their kindness in attending the meeting.
Lord DUNCAN, in returning thanks, would advise them to
take a leaf out of the book of the League, and cars for no
party who was in power, or who was out, but support men
only who would use their best exertions to obtain a repeal
of this tax.—(Hear.)
The usual compliment having been paid to the Chairman,
the meeting adjourned.

REMARKABLE FACT.—COMPETITION.—The situation
of secretary to the Manchester Athenaeum having become
vacant, no fewer than 440 applicants sent in their credentials!
Salary only 1501. But what is most curious in the matter, is
the fact, and it is stated on the authority of one of the direc-
tors, that out of so large a number, there was not a single
application from a resident of Manchester.—Manchester
Courier.

The Duke of Newcastle has arrived in Portman-
square from his seat, Clumber Park, near East Retford..
_nit
Madame Charles Lafitte, the wife of the etrporione
of
banker and railway projector, an Engliseth Xy
an a
with accident
the leading fashionables of Paris, has
reared, and threw her. Her
Paris, when suddenly her horse
fail,
lately. She was out with the stag
ahnosde in the vicinity of
shoulder was dislocated by the innehdge also suffers under
many' severe bruises.
Jot:MNXY
PitoVIDENET INSTITUTION.--
1
Last Saturday tze B
annualAne general meeting of the members
e
of this institution, which is established for de-
cayed members of thetrade,
their widows, and MEE
and supporters
orphans, was
held at 81, High Holborn, Mr. Appleton in the chair. The
secretary read the report, which stated that the charity,
although in its infancy, was progressing steadily and success-
fully. The receipts for the last Tear were 1171. 16s. 4d.
which, with the exception of a trifling outlay, was lodged in
tha Comm.rrial Bank Tho report was adopted, and Mr.
Thomas Dives Battersea was elected president, Mr. Thomas
H. May, treasurer ; and Mr. James Good, sub-treasurer.
The celebrated ateeple-chase horse, Charles O'Malley,
the property of John Henry Downes, Esq., of Harewaot.
near Leeds, died on Tuesday morning, the 20th instant, of
tetanus, or lock-jaw. He hscl been matched to run for 100
sovereigns a-side with Mr. Alexander Brown's horse, Jacob
Faithful, at the next Wetherby Steeple Chase, which is to
come off on the 6th of March next ; but about a fortnight
ago Mr. Brown bad declared off, and paid forfeit.

The Marquis of Hertford and the Earl of Wilton. are
said to be among the Peers who have pledged themselves to
support Sir Robert Peel's measares.
CAUTION TO THE PURCHASERS OF FLOWERS AND
PLAirrs.—A fellow, dressed as a gardiner, is going round the
metropolis selling, at good prices, apparently fine wholesome
laund geraniums, which are nothing but slips, totally
devoid of root, and strongly girded by thick twine, so that
should the dupe of a purchaser attempt plucking the slips
they remain immoveable. The imposition is not detected for
a few weeks, not until their drooping condition induces the
owner to transplant them, when the fraud developes itself.
The trick is novel, ingenious, and invariably successful.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE QUARTER OP A MILLION
FUND.—While we congratulate our readers on the
progress of the subscription to the Quarter of ft
Million Fund,. and on the effect that they bare
obviously produced without and within the walls of
Parliament, we must impress upon them the neces-
sity of not relaxing in their exertions, now that
the crisis of our great struggle has arrived. The
victory is not yet won ; all the resources, and all the
energies of the League, will be required beforeo_ ei?aint•r.
plete success can be achieved. A dissolution r
liament appears to be imminent ;
rge on our
of free trade will have to be foughtan4inch"by biantoahle
on the hustings. We are anxious
friends the importance, not
freely, but of subsribing early-
niooffmutha"lifeictsvritaebrtiiinnongg
gal?, course
our subscriptions are
bo thoroughlyur untileveryin ealrinneks t,
of and
aonfdstrtbenegdthouwbitlfluolrebnute,daebncidres
clotthooaceant""-Bt ehrei tt
British are
hul
pa
pindustry
foiosasttruo ctkheoffp,eoatit
tthhaetbvveset
shallp ro onf
y
moetely annihilated.—The League.
efevtetreyr sr
restriction
oo
-it appears that Hyde-park is still infested at night
by thieves and other abandoned characters, who
carry
their avocations with impunity, owing to the want of
lights. Darkness favours crime.
BIRD'S NEST IN WINTER.—There may be seen on
the premises of Mr. John Barrett, of Burton Joyce, farmer,
a nest of young robins, nearly three weeks old.—Notticiphans
Journal.
The Hon. Mr. George Smythe has returned from the
Continent, and has entered on the duties of Under Secretary
of Foreign Affairs.