The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-27 00:00:00

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Nov. 26.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
An itinerant foreign organ player, who refuse] to
give his name, was brought before Mr. Hardwick,
charged with having committed a gross assault on Eliza-
beth Edwards.
The complainant said she is a married woman, living
at 6, Park-street, Westminster. On Wednesday, about
five o'clock in the afternoon, she was on her return
home through Hyde Park, when she was accosted by
the prisoner, who muttered some jargon which she was
unable to understand. The prisoner, however, soon
made his intentions manifest, by attempting to throw
her on the ground. She resisted, and the prisoner then
knocked her down, and attempted to effect his purpose.
She screamed loudly for assistance, and a park-keeper
and a police-constable soon came to her assistance, and
took the prisoner into custody.
Police-constable Norman, A 148, said he heard the
cry of murder, and he hastened to the spot, and found
the prisoner and the complainant struggling together.
The state of the prisoner's clothes corroborated the story
of the complainant as to the intentions of the prisoner
towards her.
Henbrey, one of the park constables, said he was the
first to reach the complainant, on hearing her cries tor
assistance. The prisoner's dress was down, and the
woman appeared as if she had been very much pulled
about.
The defence of the prisoner, which was made in a
kind of Italian patois, was to the effect that the woman
was of loose character, and had made the first over-
tures to him.
Mr. HARDWICK appeared to consider that the charge
was of too grave a character to be disposed of sum-
marily, and, therefore, ordered the prisoner to be re-
manded till Monday next, in order to give the police an
opportunity of inquiring into the character of the
complainant.

SHILLIBEER V. THE EASTER:S COUNTIES RAILWAY.
This was an action brought by Mr. George Shillibeer,
the inventor and proprietor of the patent funeral car-
riage, to recover compensation in damages for certain
serious injuries sustained by him on the 18th of October
last year, in a collision which took place at the Shore-
ditch station of the Eastern Counties Railway.
Mr. Parry and Mr. Wyse appeared for the plaintiff ,
and Mr. Sergeant Shea (with whom was Mr. Edwin
James) for the defendants.
Mr. WYSE opened the pleadings. The defendants had
paid 751. into Court, considering that sum sufficient com-
pensation for the injuries the plaintiff had sustained.
The damages were laid at 3,0001.
Mr. PARRY opened the case on the part of the plain-
tiff. He said, the issue of the case was of the utmost
importance, not only to the plaintiff, but to the public.
Mr. Shillibeer carried on an extensive and lucrative
business, not only in the large towns of this country, but
in many of the continental towns. The defendants,
whether celebrated or notorious, were well known as a
portion cf the public of this country ' • they admitted
they had been guilty of negligence, and had paid 75/.
into Court, stating in their plea that they did not con-
sider the plaintiff had sustained any damage beyond
what that sum would compensate. A. more scandalous
plea was never put upon the records of this Court, and
he was perfectly justified in characterising it as most
impudent—as a gross insult added to the serious
injury he had received. The facts of the case
were these :—On the 18th of October last year he
was a passenger by the five o'clock up-train from Here-
ford, which arrived safely at that portion of the Shore-
ditch station where the tickets were usually taken. The
tickets had been taken, and the train was being propelled
into the station ; and at the time the servants of the
company must have known that the train was advancing,
whether from negligence of the driver or from gross
neglect on the part of some of the servants in neglecting
to show the proper signals, he could not tell, an engine
ran along the platform, and came into violent col-
lision with the Hereford train ; several of
the carriages were broken, and Mr. Shillibeer
and others were injured. A case of greater negligence
had never occurred, the cause of the collision being, he
believed, the neglect of the proper signals. Mr. Shil-
libeer was carried into an ante-room in an insensible
state, and it was ultimately found that he had re-
ceived a concussion of the brain, his upper left jaw
was broken, and his teeth dislodged, one of the
facial nerves was destroyed, and he had not recovered
and probably never would completely recover from the
injuries he had received. His whole nervous system
had been considerably shaken, and even now, in
the latter end of 1846, he could not endure the
night air without great pain and swelling in the
parts injured. He had already paid between 601. and
70/. for medical advice, and yet the defendants considered
75/. ample compensation for such desperate injuries—for
incapacitating him from attending to his business, and
entrusting it to others—for journeys to the country, in
the hope of restoring his health. If they wished to
afford impunity to corporate insolence, they would find
for the defendants, but he trusted they would
do their duty to the plaintiff and to the public,
and compel the defendants to do justice. They
disregarded public remonstrance, and it therefore
rested with the jury to teach the Eastern Counties Com-
pany that, if they were guilty of negligence, and caused
serious and lasting injuries to those who were compelled
to travel by their line, they should afford due compen-
sation to the parties so injured.
Mr. Lawrence, engine-driver on the Eastern Counties
—Left for Stratford at six o'clock with a coke train on
the up line, intending to cross to the down line at a
short distance. He had not gone far before the train
came into violent collision with the parcel up-train, to
which no signal light was attached. Considerable
damage was done to the engine and some of the car-
riages. Saw Mr. Shillibeer, who was insensible. Some
one showed him a white light before he started.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant SHEA—Was dis-
charged immediately after the occurrence. If there had
been a signal light in the train the accident would not
have happened. A light was placed on the train the
next night. He had been six years in the service of the
company, and seldom travelled on that part of the line.
John Brundley, late inspector on the Eastern Coun-
ties, deposed to the condition of Mr. Shillibeer imme-
diately after the accident.
Mr. Geary, assistant to Mr. Ancorn, deposed that he
saw the plaintiff a quarter of an hour after the accident.
He was insensible, and there was a great deal of blood
about his face. His eye was considerably swollen.
Mr. Ancorn said be was in the habit of attending
many of the servants employed on the Eastern Counties.
When he first saw the plaintiff, soon after the acci-
dent, he was in a state of semi-stupor, in which state
he continued for nearly eight days, when he was
allowed to leave his room. There was a fracture of
the jaw-bone, and the facial nerve was so much injured
that until latterly he could scarcely bear the influence
of the night wind upon the part. The most serious
part of the injuries he had received had not yet
developed itself, and if the swelling, which was in a
morbid state did not subside, he would most likely have
to undergo an operation. In the earlier stages his memory
seemed impaired, but it had improved since he visited
Brighton. His nervous energy had been greatly im-
paired by the accident.
Dr. Aston Key, surgeon to Guy's Hospital and to
Prince Albert, stated he had seen the plaintiff four times,
the first time early in this year. His left jaw and teeth
were displaced, and he complained of want of sight, of
smell, and loss of memory. The nerves above and below
the eye were very painful. There was a swelling in the
mouth, with respect to which an operation might be
necessary. He first saw him in February, and the
last time a few days ago. He considered
when he first saw him he was suffering from concussion
of the brain. He had greatly improved ; a man who
had received such injuries was more sensitive to disease,
and could not enjoy wine or society so much as a man
who had not been so injured.

By Mr. Sergeant SaEA.--Ile had improved, and would
no doubt continue to improve.
_ _

Dr. Garraway, of Guy's Hospital, agreed with the
last witness in his material statements.

Mr. H. W. Shillibeer, a solicitor at Taunton, and cousin
of the plaintiff, spoke to the great change which the ac-
cident bad worked in the plaintiff. Before it, he was
one of the best drivers in London, but now he was
nervous and irritable, and now drove a pony. He drove
him (witness) down to Westminster this morning. He
had visited him at Taunton, and at dinner took a mode-
rate quantity of wine.
This was the case for the plaintiff.
Mr. Sergeant STLEA then proceeded to address the
Court on behalf of the Eastern Counties Railway. He
mainly addressed himself to the mitigation of damages,
and considered that the case was one in which but
small damages would be sufficient. His Learned Friend
had imputed the greatest neglect to the compiny, but
they had done all in their power to prevent the recur-
rence of such accidents by immediately discharging the
driver, who had been in their service six years, who, it
appeared was in a wrong track, and he, as well as the
other servants of the company, must have known that
the train was on the eve of its arrival. The
company deeply regretted the accident, and
at once admitted that the plaintiff was entitled
to compensation, and they had been willing to
afford him as much as they considered him reasonably
entitled to, but as his demands were unreasonable, they
had no other course left than to allow the matter to be
submitted to a jury, satisfied that justice would be done,
and that they would not be unduly sacrificed.
Lord DENMAN summed up, and left the amount of
damages in the hands of the jury, who, after a few
minutes' consideration, found a verdict fur the plaintiff.
—Damages, 500/.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, N0v.26.
GRANT V. DICKER, MACKENZIE AND PRICE.

This was an action brought by the plaintiff (who sued
in forma pauperis), late a clerk in the employ of the
Irish West Coast Railway, to recover a sum of money
alleged to be due from the defendants, for services ren-
dered on behalf of the company.
Mr. Sergeant WILKINs appeared for the plaintiff, and
in his opening statement, said that the plaintiff bud been
employed as a clerk to the above-named company, and
that the three defendants were members of the provi-
sional committee. The plaintiff was engaged at a salary
of lOs. 6d. per day, and having occasion to go to Ireland
on business connected with the company, he was to re-
ceive, while upon that business, 255. per day, and it was
to recover the sum so due to him that the present action
was brought.
No evidence having been given to show the connexion
of the defendants with the company, the plaintiff was

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Nov. 26.
IN RE MRS. SHUTTLEWORTIL
Sir JoyiN BAYLEY was heard shortly to-day against
the rule obtained by Mr. O'Brien on Tuesday, to show
cause for issuing a writ of habeas corpus, ordering Dr.
Millengen, of Chelsea, to bring up the body of Martha
Eliza Shuttleworth, an alleged lunatic. The rule was
moved for on affidavit, denying the lunacy, and the ar-
gument, as far as it went, was mainly directed to this
lineation. The further hearing of the case was ad-
journed till Monday afternoon next, at four o'clock.
We reserve the details till the argument is closed.

was never married. She was lodging at No. 5, Kinner-
ton-mews, Knightsbridge, at a rent of ss. 6d. a week.
Mr. GREEN WOOD asked the prisoner what she had to
say to the charge? Prisoner (crying)—l am the mother
of the child. My intention was never to desert it. I
meant to pay Mrs. Bell. lam not married.
Mr. Williams—l am prepared to prove that the man
whom she says is the father of the child is a party to the
desertion. •

Mr. GREENWOOD suggested to say nothing about that,
as he was not before him. Mr. Williams had shown
great zeal and vigilance in " sifting the case and tracing
the prisoner, for which the parish of St. Pancras was in-
debted to him. If parishes were to receive children
from parties who applied, and said they were left with
them by persons whom they did not know, the work-
houses would be inundated. He asked what the parish
called upon him to do in the case ? Mr. Williams—l am
directed to press for punishment.
Mr. GREENWOOD—Then I convict her as a rogue and
vagabond, and I commit her to the House of Correction
with hard labour for two months.
GREENWICH-.

Yesterday William Darts, a fireman in the service of
the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Com-
pany, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Traill, charged
with neglecting his duty, and thereby endangering the
lives of the public, and causing great injury to the pro-
perty of his employers.
Mr. Sutton, solicitor, who appeared to support the
complaint, stated that the offence with which the pri-
soner was charged came under the 17th section of Lord
Seyinour's Act, which provides certai❑ penalties for any
person in the employ of the company who did or neg-
lected to do any act whereby the lives or limbs of per-
sons might be endangered.
Mr. May, solicitor, of Deptford, defended the prisoner.
Andrew Stiven, being sworn, stated that he is fore-
man of the engineers at New Cross. The prisoner was
directed to get the steam up of No. 20 engine, to go with
ballast at nine o'clock. The duties of a fireman are to
get the steam up, to oil the works, and stay by the engine.
Cross-examined—lt would take two or two hours and
a half to get the steam up. It was the duty of the pri-
soner to keep the regulator shut; its being open would
cause the engine to more on. The prisoner was a sober
and attentive man; he had been under witness's charge
for three weeks, but had been employed by the Croydon
Company seven weeks.
Re-examined—lt was the prisoner's duty to hare the
breaks on; if they had been, the engine could not have
gone along the line.
George Simpson, a switchman at New Cross, stated
that it was his duty to look to the points, to keep the
main line clear, and to put engines coming from the wharf
to the sidings. He saw the prisoner's engine on a
siding. The prisoner came to the switchman's box about
half-past eight. Witness asked him if the steam was
nearly up? as witness had another engine to put into the
sidings. Prisoner replied that the water was only luke-
warm, and remarked that that engine took a long while
to get the steam up when cold water was put into the
boiler. It was not unusual for persons to come into that
box whilst in charge of an engine; and he never beard
a complaint made of their being there by the last wit-
ness, or any other person. lie had seen Stiven come to
the box for an engineer or stoker, and take no notice of
his absence from the engine.
By Mr. TRAILL—He had known firemen and engine-
men come to the box when the steam was up. The dis•
tance from the prisoner's engine to the box was about
forty yards. The engine started at a quarter past nine,
while the prisoner was in the box. When the engine
started he said to the prisoner " Is that your engine
moving?" Prisoner replied, " No, I don't think it is;
there is one in front of mine." The engine was at that
time going on. As soon as he found the engine was
going, he remarked to the prisoner, there was an engine
going without giving a signal, and that he did not think
there was any one on it. The prisoner then went to
look for his engine. By that time the engine was mak-
ing a little speed. An engine had just come down from
London, and, as soon as the engineman had changed his
lights he went in pursuit. If the prisoner had been on
his engine it could not have happened. He had not to
more the points to let the engine out.
Stiven being re-called, said he never knew an instance
of an engineman or fireman being in the switchman's
box at the same time, when in charge of an engine. The
ballast engines had no one but the fireman to get the
steam up.
By Mr. May—lf the fireman had left his engine in a
proper position there would be no objection to his going
off for half an hour.

By Mr. Sutton—He should consider it great neglect
on the part of the prisoner to be in the box at a quarter
past nine, when his steam was to have been up at nine
o'clock. Prisoner would not have started with the bal-
last engine till the quarter past nine train had passed;
the engine starting as it did might have caused great
injury to persons and property. Witness knows the
parcel office at London-bridge. There are buffers at
the end of the line, and a platform of three yards wide
between the buffers and the parcel office. The butlers
have been smashed to shivers, and the wall of the par-
cel office is obliged to be propped up to prevent its fall-
ing. There was a horse-box in the way, which broke
the force, but it is completely smashed. The engine
went up on the proper line.
Robert Jobson, an engineman, who had just returned
to New Cross from London, stated that he was in the
switch-box, when he heard an engine going. It had at
that time gone 10 or 15 yards, and was going at the
rate of about three miles an hour. He said to Darts,
" That must be your engine going." But the prisoner
said it could not be. Witness told him he had better
see ; upon which the prisoner ran off, and came back,
saying it was. There was an engine on the line at the
thae, and witness spoke to Hopkins, the engineman, to go
after it. Hopkins then changed his lights, and with the
prisoner and witness went after the prisoner's engine.
When they came near the Bricklayers' Arms junction
the whistle was blown, and the signalman put up that
they must go on that line. The whistle was again blown
to reverse the signals, and they were ordered to stop.
They then went up at a slow rate to the signalman, and
explained that an engine had gone up without a
driver. They were then allowed to go on, and came up
with the runaway engine within 300 yards. When they
approached the signal lights at the Spa-road station,
they were again ordered to stop, which they did, and
having also explained to the signalman there, again went
on, and did not reach the engine till the damage de-
scribed by the last witness had been done. When they
started in pursuit from New Cross the engine was about
400 yards ahead. The runaway engine could not be
going at more than ten miles an hour.
By Mr. TRAlLL—Thought there must have been a little
action on the break, or the engine would have made more
way. Brought the engine back to New Cross, and did
not go on it till it came there. Saw that the tender was
smashed, and the wheels doubled up ; the breaks were
also destroyed, the regulator was open, but he thought
it might have been opened beyond its usual position by
the concussion. Should consider it a serious offence
to leave an engine without the regulator shut and the
breaks on.

Mr. Sutton said the published rules of the company
ordered it not to be done.

Mr. TRAILL remarked that this was a melancholy
case. People in the capacity of the prisoner, although
they had rules to guide them, put their own construction
on them in practice, and it was quite providential that
serious injury to life and property had not resulted.
The prisoner urged that he had seen no rules since he
had been in the service of the company, and the practice
of the Croydon Company was nut for the fireman to get
the steam up.
Mr. TRAILL said that was the only mitigatory circum-
stance in his case ; and, as he had hitherto borne a
good character, it would have some effect in his favour.
He should, therefore, only commit him for one month to
the House of Correction.

Mr. May applied for a fine instead of imprisonment ;
but

Mr. TRAILL said he had taken the most lenient view
of the case, and it was necessary to protect life and
property.
The damage is estimated at upwards of 300/.

EIIEUTE at BOULOGNE-SUR-TIER.
On Wednesday last, about two o'clock in the afternoon,
our peaceful little town was a scene of complete commo-
tion, occasioned by a shipment of oxen and potatoes for
England. The mob would not allow them to be em-
barked, and a violent altercation took plac,9 between
them and the police, during which time the sous-prefet,
en grande levee, the mayor, and authorities arrived ;
they were received with a volley of stones and potatoes,
several of which fell heavily upon some of the great
men in office. The sous-preet had his order torn from
his breast and was nearly killed. During the time the
authorities were parleying and seeing the potatoes put on
board the Britannia steamer, a ludicrous farce took
place ; some buys and women cut the rope to which
twenty-five cows were attached, and the beasts being set
at liberty, some were driven into the water, and others
were hooted and pelted about the town, to the terror of
the inhabitants. _ _ _

The mob, about seven o'clock in the evening, paraded
the streets, singing the " Marseillaise," and when they
arrived in the Rue de I'Ecu, opposite the Mayor's house,
they began breaking his windows ; which alarmed his
worship so much that he became enzporte, and ran out
of his house sword in hand, threatening destruction to
every one. If the National Guard (Horse) had not
suddenly come up, the worthy mayor would have pro-
bably received a severe chastisement from the infuriated
mob.
M. Adam, the mayor, has for some time past received
anonymous letters, stating, that unless he prevents the
exportation of potatoes, he must take the conse-
quence, and about ten days ago an incendiary
tire took place on one of his farms. Some of the
p mrer classes presented themselves to the mayor
with children in their arms, demanding bread
for them, and saying it was a dreadful calamity to he
afflicted with a potato disease; but, to see the staff of life
(potatoes) shipped off in face of a starving people, was
more than human nature could stand. The mayor replied,
the law did not forbid the exportation, and trade could
not be interfered with; but that he had that morning
written to the Minister of Commerce to allow American
flour to enter from England, upon payment of a certain
duty, it being prohibited from entering France unless
brought direct from America. If a stop is not put to
the exportation, it is feared it will produce serious and,
perhaps, fatal consequences.
Now (Thursday) the town is quiet.
This morning several of the ringleaders were ar-
rested.

MORTALITY OF TUE METROPOLIS.—The total num-
ber of deaths registered in the metropolis during the
week ending Saturday, Nov. 21, 1346, was 966. Of
these 941 were from other causes than violence, showing
an increase in the deaths from disease, as compared with
the week preceding, of 48. There were no deaths from
cholera during the week. Tho deaths from typhus were
58. There were 1,303 births registered during the
week.
A curious question is now pending before the
Irish Chancellor, whether a nun can have civil rights,
Or whether she be not absolutely dead in the eye of the
law. The case is M'Carthy v. M'Carthy. All parties
are Roman Catholics, and Sir Colman O'Loughlin, a
Roman Catholic barrister, will argue in support of tho
proposition which bars the enjoyment of the claim.

THE SCHOLASTICPROFESSION.—Yhe first public
examination for admission into the recently formed Col-
lege of Preceptors, and for certificates or qualification, is
appointed to take place in January. The examination
is to be conducted by graduates, in honours, of Oxford,
Cambridge, Dublin, and London, together with ex-
pt•rienced and well-known professors of the French and
German languages. The candidates themselves are to
select the branches of learning in which they desire to
'be examined,

THE SUN, LONDON, PItIDAY EVENING, NOV_EMBETI, 27, MO.

THE TEA DUTY QUESTION.
MEETING AT TerVERPOOL.
The public meeting convened by his worship the
Mayor, in compliance with a numerously-signed
requisition presented to him for that purpose, was held
at twelve o'clock on Wednesday, in the. Sessions house,
Liverpool. The attendance was extremely large, the
building being densely crowded in every part.
The MAYOR, having taken the chair, read letters of
excuse, for inability to attend the meeting, from NV. '
Entwisle, Esq., and Lord Sandon.
The requisition having been read by the town-clerk,
The CHAIRMAN called upon Win. Brown, Esq., 31. P.,
to move the first resolution.
Mr. BROWN, having read the resolution, spoke as
follows :—I am not at all interested in the exportation of
British manufactures to China, or in the importation of
tea from thence, neither am I a shipowner, nor manu-
facturer, nor a member of the society who are bringing,
this subject tinder discussion,—l am interested in pro-
moting the social comfort and domestic happiness of the
people ; and I believe a reduction of the duty on tea
would have that effect. Our position with China at this
time seems to be nearly a dead lock. To that immense
empire our exports ten years ago were 1,300,000/., and
now they are only increased to 2,300,0001, which shows,
in the clearest point of view possible, that there is no
such thing as a one-sided trade between nations. We
must buy to enable us to sell : it is the cardinal point
which we must never lose sight of in discussing commer-
cial questions. All commerce is an exchange of equiva-
lentseeach party receiving from the other something that
is more valuable to them than that with which they part.
It is not necessary on all occasions that we should carry
on a direct exchange of equivalents with any counts.) to
which we are exporting our goods, if that country has
the means of paying us through some other channel.
But unfortunately this is not the case with China, and
our object, therefore, must be to increase the direct
trade ; and I will endeavour to show, by statistical and
historical facts, that we can do this without materially
impairing the revenue, or unnecessarily alarming or
embarrassing the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who feels
the great responsibility that rests on his shoulders to be
able to comply with all our public engagements, and sus
Min the honour and dignity of the nation. Fur we
must all admit that the preservation of public credit is
our sheet anchor, and at every sacrifice that must be
sustained. I believe the present Government have every
disposition to remove all unnessary burdens from com-
merce; but they are powerless unless sustained by public
opinion to enable them to re-adjust taxation, and place
those unavoidable burdens on those objects most able to
bear them. I shall now endeavour to give you a short
outline of our China trade from its commencement, from
which you will see the remarkable fluctuations that have
taken place with the rise and fall of the duty on tea.
Prior to 1667, no tea was imported into this country by
the East India Company, but a little by the private
trade. It was made into a decoction at the coffee-houses,
and sold at an excise duty of 3d. per gallon. In 1667
the East India Company sent out their first order for
4001bs. of the best " tay," as it was then called. From
that period up to 1707, I am not able to ascertain the
duty, but I believe it to have been heavy; because, in an
old newspaper of that date, it was stated by one who
was anxious to get customers, that he was prepared to
sell it from 265. to the very low price of 16s. per pound.
In 1747, the duty was reduced 25., and it quadrupled
the consumption.—(Hear, hear.) In 1768, the duty
on black tea was reduced ls., and the consumption in-
creased eighty per cent. In 1773, the duty was re-
imposed, and we lost that eighty per cent. From that
period we come down to 1784, when Mr. Pitt, under the
Commutation Act, in order to stop smuggling, and to
add to the comforts of the people, reduced the duty from
ls. and 6 per cent. ad valorem duty to 121- per cent. The
consequence was, that the consumption rose from
5,000,0001b5. to 21,000,0001b5., in 1795.—(L0ud cries of
" Hear, hear.") There is some little discrepancy in the
actual amount of the tea consumed at that period. Some
parties state it as low as 3,000,0001bs.; I think 5,000,0001 b.
may be taken as a fair estimate. In 1795, the duty was
raised to 20 per cent.; and from that period, to 1534.
when the charter of the East India Company was abro-
gated, there was a continuous rise of duty at nine vari-
ous periods ; and at the latter date the consumption,
though more in pounds, was less per head than in 1795.
—(Flean) As this is from a parliamentary document, I
had better read you the statement, and it will carry on
the history of the trade to the year 1836.—" In 1784,
the tax was 121- per cent.; in 1795, it was raised to 20
per cent.; in 1797, to 20 per cent. under 2s. 6d. per lb.,
and 30 per cent. at and above that price; in 1798, to 20
and 35 per cent. respectively ; in 1800, to 20 and 40 per
cent. ; in 1801, to 20 and 50 per cent.; in 1503, to 65
and 95 per cent.; in 1806, to 96 per cent. on all prices; and
in 1819, to 96 per cent, under 2s. per lb., and 100 per cent
at and above that price, continuing to the termination of
the Company's charter. In 1834, the trade being thrown
open, the duty was attempted to be levied according to
a scale, which was supposed to mark quality, being ls.
6d. per lb. on the lowest tea, 2s. 2d. on the middle, and
3s. per lb. on the finest kinds. This scale was also con-
structed on the principle of taxing, as near as may be,
the article with an average duty of 100 per cunt.; but
was abandoned in 1836, owing to causes unnecessary to
state here, and was succeeded by a uniform duty of 2s.
ld. per lb., until 1840, when the additional 5 per cent.,
imposed on all Customs' duties, brought it up to 2s. 21d.
per lb." A very important fact connected with the im-
portation of tea, is embraced between the periods 1822-3
and 1831-2. The East India Company reduced the price
of Bohea 'Sid. per lb., and as it was charged an ad valo-
rem duty, a similar reduction was made on the part of
the Government, together amounting to Is. 3d. per lb.
The consequence was, that the consumption, which in
the former period was 1,800,0001b5., rose in the latter
' to 64,000,0001bs.—(Hear, hear.) If this reduction had
' not taken place, it would appear from the figures that
there would have been an actual decrease in the sales, up
to 1833, of 1,000,0001bs.: this reduction produced an ex-
cess of 46,000,0001b5. On the abrogation of the char-
ter, the consumption increased from 31,000,0001b5. to
44,000,0001b5., producing a revenue of 4,800,000/. We
have to contend with the difficulty of supplying this.
But when we look to the increase that has taken place
by the reduction of duty, and the effect of low duties in
other countries, I trust it will induce the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to believe that the reduction of duty will
produce a great increase of consumption.—(oh, oh.)
The quantity often consumed in the Channel Islands is
about 441bs. per head. In Newfounland it is rilbs. per
head, and in New South Wales 711bs. per head.—(Oh.)
Now, with the evidence before us, that moderate duties
produced increased consumption, the Chancellor will be
fully warranted in doing what he can to increase the
comforts of the people ; for tea is not now a luxury, it
has become one of the necessaries of life. A friend of
mine, whom I see in court, was in Staffordshire lately,
where he saw four men doing some work ; some ale was
sent out to them, but they said, " We are not tee-
totallers, but we find that tea enables us to do our work
better ; we shall therefore be obliged to you for a cup
of tea instead of the ale." This shows clearly the taste
of the people, so that they will prefer tea if they can
get it. Mr. Brown then combated the objection that
China would not be able to produce a sufficient quantity
of tea. He went into several calculations to show this.
The Chinese, for example, used tea as we do beer. Their
consumption was about 7lb. per head; and multiplying
this by the population of China, it would be seen that the
additional per centage we should draw would be trifling
indeed. In fact, they had the means of indefinitely ex-
tending the cultivation of the plant. We must nut lose
sight, Mr. Brown continued, of the fact, that a larger con-
sumption of tea would necessarily produce a larger con-
sumption of sugar. This will greatly assist the govern-
ment in making up the revenue. One argument brought
against us will be, why do not the United States con-
sume a larger quantity, where the duty was already
moderate, and now there is none at all ? The answer is,
the taste of the Americans is for coffee. They use six
lbs. per head, or 120,000,0001b5. per annum,
hwehniclee,waes
consume but 34,000,0001b5., or 111bs. per head. So that
what we use in tea, they use in coffee ; and,
our taste is for tea, and not for coffee, I should not be
surprised to see the consumption increase three-fold.
—(lean) As for the moral effect, that part of the
question will be ably handled by some of the gentlemen
who are to come after me. It is quite true that the
collection of a specific duty is much easier for the go-
, vermuent and for the merchant ; but is it. equity—is it
justice—that the most valuable descriptions of tea should
pay only the same duty as the lowest kinds of Bohea.
depriving the great mass of the people of the use of
this wholesome beverage ? It has been clearly shown
by Mr. Benefield, in one of his lectures, that the great
mass of the consumers of tea, the poorer classes, are as
10,300,000 compared with 4,500,000 of the middle class,
and 1,200,000 of the rich. Mr. Brown concluded by
pressing upon the public at large the necessity of aiding
in the movement for the reduction of the duty on tea ;
inasmuch as it was only by enlisting the almost omnipo-
tent voice of public opinion in their favour that their
efforts could be successful.
Mr. Basemee MOORS rose with great pleasure to
second the resolution. He entertained no fears as re-
garded the reduction of the duty on tea. He thought
the reduction might safely be made, without danger to
the revenue, and on such a scale as to affect the retail
price to the consumer, without which no benefit would
be conferred on the poorer classes. There could be no
doubt that a reduction of the duty on tea would confer
great benefits on the town of Liverpool in particular,
ou the working classes in general, contributing largely
to the comfort of the fire-side, and inducing the working
man to spend his evenings at home. Mr. Moore con-
cluded a long and able speech by seconding the resolution.
Mr. DIXON, wine and spirit dealer, then rose to address
the meeting. He said, feeling deeply the exorbitant and
disproportionate duty imposed on tea, he had deemed it
his duty to aid the object for which the meeting was
assembled, and had made some calculations from official
documents as to the effect of reduction on another article.
And if he could prove that such reduction had not dimin-
ished the public revenue, but had, on the contrary, _
aug-
mented it, he might hope that such evidence would
strengthen the hands of those who had to impressd upon
her Majesty's Government the advantages of a reduction
of of the duty on tea ; because the convictihon
pst the only
reduction would injure the revenue,
obstacle in the way. It would be
year, the
many in that room that, early in the present
Les per
duty on brandy was reduced from 22eh.irld.d• t
Mr. Dixon
gallon—a reduction or nearly one-t
in.aeshpeerrecaotllection of
duty paid, and the number of
gailla4sr,e and 1846, from '
tain number of months in 1844, afmorouancteor-f
extensive
then read in extenso a table, shiowniczlgeattshieleed
which it appeared that, notwithstanding
reduction of duty, such was the inc
that there was already an actual
gidae rineasto dthce emenpu
on wines had also
about 16,000/. The reduction m, Dixonproceeded
tended to increase the revenue. Mr. ion
ty on articles of luxur3,,
rve of
to remark that if a reduction of du
affluent portion of the comunity,
viedonlefidietdo
atoll
atchtehamloihre.
et
ee a consumptionsed
revenue,
eii
ue hoof
w whichm ul.l washire forcibly would the
.
lutel y
y required b
principle apply to an article bo,A eise
?--k pp ause.)
advantages of a redue-
wouldeve y
not
a sendeavourthe
t oc osnhioniwu n
thei ty

tion of the duty on ':ea in a commercial point of view ;
this had already been so ably gone into, chat it would i
be unbecoming in him to add one word to it. All lie
would do, in conclus,on, was to express en ardent hope
that the millions of those who moved in the humble walks
of life in this densely-populated land might be enabled
through the instrumentality of the promoters of the
present movement, to partake plentifully of that bev-
erage which " cheers but not inebriates," and adds to
social intercourse and the comfort of the domestic
hearth.—(Applause.)
Mr. HUGEL HORNBY moved the next resoluti( n. He
said he felt some difficulty in making observations on
this subject, inasmuch as he had never yet heard any
argument advanced by those opposed to the reduction of
the duty on tea, to which it would not almost be an in
stilt upon the common sense of the meeting, to attempt
to make any reply. It had always appeared to him that
the excessive duty on tea was so utterly indefensible—
attended by such manifest, such unmitigated severity—.
that it was a matter of surprise so little had been hith-
erto done to induce its reduction. But it was in refer-
ence to its mischievous effects upon the moral habits of
the working classes that it had now become a question
of paramount and pressing importance to the public at
large. At the present moment, when the utmost
anxiety existed to rescue our working population from
ignorance, destitution, and degradation, it should re-
quire no inducements to be held out to cause Govern-
ment to make a reduction of the duty on an article of
general consumption—a reduction which it was admitted
on all hands would ameliorate the social moral, and phy-
sical condition of the humbler classes. lie was aware
that, in making these observations, he had entered on a
topic reserved for gentlemen who should succeed him ;
but he felt deeply on the subject, and trusted he would
therefore be excused. We had been so long accustomed
to the high duty on tea, that he believed we had at
length become unable to make a proper estimate of
its evil consequences. If any stranger ascertained
that China could supply us, to all practicable purposes,
with an unlimited supply of tea—what would be
his astonishment on finding an impediment to the in-
creased import of tea, arising from an artificial regu-
lation of our own ? that it was in consequence of our
imposing a higher duty on this article, with the excep-
tion, he believed, of ardent spirits and tobacco, than any
other in the commercial tariff. There was no valid rea-
son why a reduction should not take place. He (Mr.
Hornby) believed there was no instance of an excessive
duty on any article of universal consumption being re-
duced, where an increased consumption did not compen-
sate for the loss of revenue which must otherwise have
been felt. In the case of coffee the reduction was at-
tended, not by loss, but by actual profit to the revenue.
With tea, in his opinion, the result would be still more
striking, because its taste was more congenial than coffee
to the people of this country. He for his part had not
the slightest doubt, if the duty on tea were reduced from
2s. 24d. to Is. per lb., in a few years the consumption
would be trebled, and the revenue would be a gainer
instead of a loser. Mr. Hornby concluded by affirming
that we had not acted in a spirit of true reciprosity with
China—maintaining the duties on tea after their grant-
ing a tariff admitting British manufactures at the mode-
rate duty, 5 per cent.
Mr. T. B. HORSFALL seconded the resolution. He
expressed his opinion, amid loud applause, that no tri-
fling reduction would be of any importance whatever ;
but that we must have a large and substantial reduction.
He amplified the calculations of Mr. Brown, to show that
previous reductions of the duty on tea had not injured
the revenue, and stated the important fact, that during
the past ten months of the present year the shipment of
goods to China had fallen off 40 per cent. He concluded
by expressing his conviction that Government not only
would, but readily, attend to the representations which
the meeting might make to it.
The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. Adam
Hodgson, Mr.Toomas Blackburn, Mr. Winch, Mr. Brod-
ribb, Mr. Hepworth, Mr. Christopher Rawson, Mr. Geo,
Grant, Mr. J. Cropper, Mr. T. Brocklebank, Mr. William
Rathbone, and Mr. Thornley, M.P., and all the resolu-
tions were passed unanimously, and ordered to be in-
serted in the Daily IVews. A deputation was named to
proceed to London, for the purpose of having an inter-
view with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, &c. Thanks
were then voted to the Mayor, and the meeting, after a
few hearty cheers, separated at a few minutes to four
o'clock.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, NOVEMBER 26.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Chester and Birken-
head, MN—Edinburgh and Glasgow, Halves, 103ja—London
and North-Western, Quarters, New, 12N p.—Ditto, Quarters
(G. J.), 20 p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 5 p.—Mid-
land, 124—Ditto, New, 4 p.—Preston and Wyre, Preference,
Halves (A), 3IA p.—York and Newcastle, Preference, p.
—Belfast and Ballymena, 7s. dis.—Great Grimsby Dock, 21%.
dis.—Great Grimsby and Sheffield, 4% dis.—Ditto, Exten-
sion, Bs. 9d. dis.—Hudderstield Canal and Railway, Exten-
sion, 1% p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 111% p.—Ditto, Branches
(blue), 734 p.—Ditto, Extensions (green), 134 p.—Leeds
and Thirsk, 214 dis.—Ditto, New, 1/, dis.—North Wales
Mineral, Halves, 21/s p.— Ambergate and Eastern Junction,
Vs p.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 1%
p.—Birmingham and Dudley, 53/t p.—Birmingham and Ox-
ford Junction, 6% p.—Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham,
1/8 p.—Glasgow and Dumfries, 3s. 9d. p.—Liverpool, Manches-
ter, and Newcastle Junction, 1/S dis. —Newry and Warrenpoint,
2'14 p.—North Staffordshire, 3% p.—North-Western, Bs. 9d.
p.—Shrewsbury and Hereford, % dis.—Shrewsbury, Wolver-
hampton, and South Staffordshire, % dis.—Shrewsbury and
Birmingham (A), 11;4 p.—Ditto, 9/. I2s. 3d. shares (B), 1/2
p.—Shropshire Union Railway and Canal, 1/4 dis.—West
Riding Union, 11A p.—Manchester, Midland, and Great
Grimsbv, 21s. 3d. dis.—North "British, New, I.Bs. 9d. p.—
Dutch Rhenish, 143 dis.—Great Luxembourg, 314 dis.
MANCHESTER, NOVEMBER 26.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 1-16 p.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and
Cheshire Junction, 1% p.—Birmingham and Dudley, 511 p.
—Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham, par—Churnet and
Blythe, 14 dis.—Direct Northern, 5R dis.—East Lancashire,
No. 1, New, 414 p.—Ditto, No. 2 (late Liverpool, Orms-
kirk, &c.), ex add. sh., 4 p.—East Lincolnshire, 1/2 p.—Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, Quarters, 18—Glasgow and Dumfries,
1-16 p.—Hudderstield and Manchester Railway and Canal.
4% p.—Ditto, Thirds, 11/ p.—Lancaster and Preston, 10
p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 21/ij dis.—Ditto, New, dis.—Leeds,
Dewsbury, and Manchester, 11 lz.t p.—Liverpool, Manchester,
and Newcastle Junction, 5-16 dis.—London, Manchester,
and Birmingham, 72—Ditto, Quarters (A), 6',7 p.—Ditto
(B), p.—Ditto (C), 61/tz p.—Manchester and Leeds,
20 p.—:Manchester and Southampton, % dis.—North Staf-
fordshire, 358 p.—North-Western, p.—Oldham Alliance,
p.—Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 1/8 dis.—Slieflie!d and
Manchester, Quarters, No. 3, 14 dis.—Shrewsbury and
Birmingham (A), 11/2 p.—Shrewsbury and Herefordshire,
c. dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4,1/„ p.—West
Lancashire Coast, Bs. dis.—West Riding Union, 1% p.—
Wharfdale (late .North-Eastern), % dis.—York and New-
castle, Preference, 5 p.
LEEDS, NOVEMBER 26.
_ _

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—East Lancashire, 41/2 n.
p.—Ditto, No. 2 (late Liverpool, Ormskirk, &c.), 4 c. p.—
Huddersfield and Manchester, 5 n. p.—Ditto, Thirds, 114 p.
—Leeds and Bradford, 4514 p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 111/2
n.p.—Ditto, Extensions, 31s. 6d. p.—Leeds and Thirsk,
dis.—Ditto' New, par—Malton and Dritlield Junction, 15s.
p.—Midland, Preference, 31/2 p.—North British, Thirds, 2% p.
—Ditto, Quarters (late Carlisle Branch), 21/2 p.—Ditto, Ex-
tensions (scrip), 20s. p.—North Staffordshire, 3% p.—Wharf-
dale Junction, 10s. dis. c.—York and Newcastle, Preference,
p.—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, par—Direct
Northern, 10s. dis.—North-Western, 7s. p.—Sheflield, Ro-
therham, and Goole, ss. p.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham,
n. p.

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