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.

The 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 immecliitely 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 vols., with illustra-
tions. The above work is publish( d 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 Ilall and the Hamlet, by
William Howitt, 2 vols.-4. The Days of the Regency ;
or, Town and Country, by Mrs. Trollop(, 3 vols.-5.
Emilia Wyndham, Cheap Edition, forming the new
volume of " Colburn's Standard Novels."-6. Eustace
or, the Stage of Life, by 'l'. J. Serge, Esq., 3 vols.-7.
The Jesuit at Cambri.ige, by Sir George Stephen, 2
viols.-3. The Romance of War, by Captain Grant.
TROOPS FROM INDIA.—CHATHAM, JAN. 14.—The
following detachments, consisting of '5 sergeants 5 cor-
porals, and 15 privates of the 50th (Queen's Own)
r:ilprivates of the 21st British Fusiliers, ur-
Regiment, and I sergeant major, 5 sergeants, 5 corp.
garrison from Gravesend,
and
thil,s
They having dis-
embarked at that place from the ship Mahomadahab,
Captain William Cumberland. These troops embarked
.at Calcutta on the 29th of August last, and on the 15th
of November the ship put in at St. llelena, and took in
water, and sailed for England the following day. During
the voyage there we re six deaths on board, The troops
lost one man If the 50th, rind one man of the 21st, and
a prisoner under sentence of court martial of the 53d.
Captain Richard Waddy, of the 50th, and Lieutenant
H. C. Gray, of the 21st, had charge of the detachments.
Roth 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 531, 50 men to the 10th
Font, 50 men to the 32d, 50 men to the 29th, 50 men to
the 24th, and 50 men to the Olst, making a total of 300
marl.