The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-15 00:00:00

THE TEA. DUTIES.

Yesterday a public meeting of the inhabitants of
Liverpool, convened by the Mayor, was held in the
Sessions house, Chapel-street, to consider of the best
means of promoting a reduction in the present exor-
bitant duties on tea. His worship the Mayor (Tho-
mas Berry Horsfall, Esq.) took the chair shortly
after twelve o'clock, at which time the Court-house
was about three parts full. The meeting consisted of
men of all shades of politics, anxious to express their
opposition to a tax which presses so heavily upon the
poor, and detracts from their means of social enjoy-
ment.

I'h, following resolutions were unanimously agreed
to, as was also a memorial to the Lords Commissioners
of the Treasury :

" That the report of the Parliamentary Committee
of last session has conclusively established the case of
the advocates for a reduction of the tea duty, and that
that report claims the immediate attention of her
Majesty's Government—proving, as it does, the in-
justice, as well as the impolicy, of continuing so
heavy a tax on an article which is mainly received
in barter for British manufactures."

"That it is the deliberate opinion of this meeting,
founded on the experience of the last three years, that
unless the duty on tea be' immediately reduced, the
question is no longer one of an increase or decrease
in our trade with China, but almost of its very exist-
ence, as a profitable outlet for the products of British
industry."
" That it is the bounden duty of Government to
foster and encourage—not to jeopardise—so important
a trade as that opened up to us in the vast empire of
China."

" That this meeting is of opinion that no direct
loss would accrue to the revenue from a considerable
reduction in the duty on tea ; but that, even if a tem-
porary deficiency were to arise, the considerations of
a social and moral character, inseparably connected
with this great question, are of paramount importance
to those of a mere fiscal nature."

" That it is a fact which can no longer be con-
cealed, that the pressure which commenced with the
manufacturing and mercantile body is now extending,
in a frightful degree, to every class of the commu-
nity ; and that, unless the cost of the necessaries of
life be lessened to the public generally, and above all
to the working classes, the present revenue of the
country cannot be maintained."—Abridged from the
Liverpool Mercury.

JAMES THE SECOND ; an Historical Romance,
edited by W. 11. Ainsworth, Esq., 3 vole., with illustra-
tions. Tho above work is published this day by Mr.
Colburn, and may now be had at all the libraries. The fol-
lowing new novels are also just published :-2. Leonora,
a Love Story, 3 vols.— 3. The Hall and the Hamlet, by
William llowitt, 2 vols.-4. The Days of the Regency
or, Town and Country, by Mrs. Trollop!. 3 v.°ls•-6•
Emilia Wyndham, Cheap Edition, forming the new
volume of " Colburn's Standard Novels."-6. Eustace ;
or, the Stage ot Lite, by T. J. Serle, Esq., 3 vols.-7.
The Jesuit at Cambridge, by Sir George Stephen, 2
vols.-8. The Romance of War, by Captain Grant.
Tuoops FROM Imata..—C na:lrenasaot,th JcA:u.eeln4:s-oTwhne)
following detachments, consisting of 5 sergeants 5 cor-
porals, and L 5 privates of t
Regiment, and I sergeant-major, 5 sergeants, 5 corpo-
rals, and 15 privates of the 21st British Fusiliers, ar-
rived at this garrison from Gravesend they having dis-
embarked at that place from the ship Mahomadshah,
Captain William Cumberland. The,.e troops embarked
at Calcutta on the 29th ot August last, and on the 15th
of November the ship put in at St. Helena, cud took in
water, and sailed for England the following day. Daring
the voyage there were six deaths on board, The troops
lost.onq man of the 50th, and one man of the 21st, and
a prisoner under sentence of court martial of the 53d.
Captain Richard Waddy, of the 50th, and Lieutenant
1-1. C. Gray, of the 21st, had charge of the detachments.
Both these regiments are on their passage home. The
50th, previous to their leaving India,. were allowed to
volunteer into other corps serving in that country, and
the 50th gave 50 men to the 53d, 50 men to the 10th
Foot, 50 men to the 32d, 50 men to the 29th, 50 men to
the 24th, and 50 men to the 61st, making a total of 300
men.