The Sun.
London, England, 1833-03-21 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE ASSESSED TAXES.

Tuesday, at twelve o'clock, a numerous body of gen-
• tlemen, consisting of the Members for the Metropolitan
Districts, and of deputations from the Metropolitan pa-
rishes, waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in
Downing-street, for the purpose of impressing on him the
necessity of repealing the whole of the assessed taxes.
Amongst those present were—Sir F. Burdett, Mr. Byng,
Mr. Hume, Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Sir J. Key, Alderman
Wood, Mr. Grote, Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Hawes, Dr. Lush-
ington, Mr. Tennyson, Majer Beauclerk, Mr. Goring, and
Mr. D. W. Harvey ; together with several gentlemen offi-
cially connected with the metropolis and its environs.
Mr. CORDER, the Vestry Cerk of St. Paul's, Covent-
garden, addressed Lord Althorp at great length, and argued
on the oppressive character of the taxes in question.
My Lord," he said, in the course of the speech, " it is
the painful duty of this deputation to state, from our own
local knowledge, that such is the state of trade in this
gr at metropolis—(Hear, hear)—and its immediate envi-
rons, and so unable are its inhabitants to ply these im-
posts—we say, my Lord, that it is our painful duty to
state our firm conviction that these taxes can no longer be
collected."—( Hear, hear.)
Lord ALTHORP said that he felt considerable difficulty
in addressing the meeting on this subject at the present
moment, alihou.4ll it was one which he had taken into his
most serious consideration, and looked upon in all its diffe-
rent details, preparatory to laying his financial statement
before Parliament. He bad maturely considered the sub-
ject, and was aware of the difficulties by which it was beset,
and all who heard him must be aware that it would be
most inconvenient, and indeed impossible for him, as a
single member of his Majesty's Government, to decide upon
the expediency of repealing any particular branch of taxa-
tion. He was afraid, therefore, toat he could not give
the deputation a satisfactory answer as to what course he
should hereafter feel it his duty to pursue. He was aware
that this answer would not give satisfaction to the nume-
rous bodyF whom he had the honour to address—(Cries of
No, no")—but filling the situation which he filled, he
was bound by public duty, however numerous and respect-
able might be the meeting, to confine his communication
within those limits which were compatible with his situa-
tion, as a confidential member of his Majesty's Councils.
Mr. E. BROWN said it had been stated that there had
been no general expression on the subject of these taxes ;
but he would say, that if agitation were necessary to
show the general feeling, he could command plenty of it.
The am 'lint of assessment for the last year wa,
11.154,0001., of which enormous sum the county of 5114-
dlesex alone amounted to no less thin 5,143,000/.—
(Hear, hear.) Thus the metropolis an,' the metropolitan

districts alone paid more than half of the whole assess-
ment —(Hear, hear.) It bad been stated that this was
one of the fairest taxes, because every man was assessed ac-
cording to the situation of his supposed property, but he
could shcw that the inhabitants of the principal thorough-
fares—for instance, those from Holborn to Oxford-street,
from the Strand to Cheapside, and from Piccadilly, Regent-
street, &c.—where rents were highest and trade most
prosperous and profitable, the inhabitants had been bank-
rupts in the proportion of one housekeeper to three.
Lord ALTHORP—Do you mean to say that one out of
three of the housekeepers in Regent-street has been a
bankrupt ?

Mr. BRowN—I do, my Lord ; and I can prove to your
Lordship, that within the last five years the proportion of
bankruptcies amounted in a ratio to more than three and
a half for Regent-street alone. If his Lordship doubted
his assertion the Gazettes w• re before him ; and if
so many bankruptcies occurred within so short a period
every gentleman must know that at least three composi-
tions occurred for each bankruptcy. His object Wag to
show that although for the last five years an embarrassment
of trade existed beyond all precedent, vet these taxes were
enforced with a severity almost beyond example. A re-
port hail been circulated, which he had no doubt W 39 in-
tended as a calumny on the Government, that his Majesty's
Ministers intended to take off the house duty on all houses
rated under 601. per annum. He never could believe that
such an idea could enter in,o the thoughts of an enlight-
ened Ministry. Those present were old enough to re-
member that when the people of England sought for a
repeal of the property tax, the then Administration de-
clared that they wouA stand or fall by that tax. And yet
it was repealed to the extent of fourteen millions at one
full sweep, without displacing the Government. The
country, alter 18 years of peace, had a right to expect that
these taxes should be repealed.

Mr. HOME said it was his firm conviction that unless
Government made a timely concession, the people would
before long effect the repeal through the medium of the
House of Commons. However, as he believed that the
meeting had no wish to embarrass the Government, it
might perhaps be advisable to knew what day the Noble
Lord intended to bring forward his financial statement, in
order that the Hon. Baronet (Sir John Key) might be
prepared with his motion on some early day after the
Budget.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord ALTHORr begged that the meeting would not give
credit to any report which they might hear with regard to
the course which Government intended to pursue respect-
ing these taxes. Such reports were equally unfounded
and mischievous, and could not tend to advance any mea-
sure which the advoca es for the repeal of these taxes had
in view.

Mr. JACKSON, one of the Deputation from Maoebone,
said that Sir William Horne would have attended the
meeting but for the shortness of the notice. The parish
of Marylebone paid no less a sum than 150,0001. annu-
ally for taxes, being as much as the whole of Scotland
paid ; and yet in the parish of Marylebone there were
no less thin 1,500 houses emry—(Hear, hear)—and
almost every house that was occupied was either let out in
lodgings. or divided into two, in order to meet the de-
mands of the tax-collector.

Lord ALTHORP said, it would in his opinion be pre-
mature to call the attention of the House of Commons to
the subject on so early a day as that fixed for the motion
of Sir John KT. All that he (Lord Althorp) could do
in that case, would be to move that the discussion be
postponed until after the Easter recess. It was impossible
that he (Lord Althorp) could say what species of taxa-
tion be could with propriety remove previous to the sth
of April, because it would be .necessary to include in his
statement the accounts of the past year. The Noble Lord
concluded by observing that he should bring forward his
financial statement as soon after the Easter recess as pos.
Bible.

Mr. C. PEA RcON said, that in his opinion the motion
of Sir John Key ought to be brought forward previous to
bringing forward the Budget, otherwise the Noble Lord
would be in the dai k re-petting the merits of this question.
Lord ALTHORP—I don't think I can be much in the
dark. There is a good deal of light in this room.—(A
laugh.)
Mr. PEARSON—I wish your Lordship bad a little more
fire.—(Renewed laughter.)
Dr LUSHINGTON concurred in the proposition of the
Hon. Member (Mr. Hume) that this question should not
he brought forward in the House of Commons, until
after the Noble Lord had br, ught forward his financial
statement. The effect of what the Noble Lord stated
amounted to this—" I have not changed my opinion with
regard to these taxes, but as a Member of his Majesty's
Councils lam not at lit►erty to tell you what the inten-
tions of Government ate respecting them ; I must reserve
this disclosure for my financial statement."
Sir J. C. HORHOUSE begged to assure the Noble Lord
that it was not for want of feeling on the subject that the
public had not remonstrated more generally on the unjust
imposition of these taxes, and he conceived that it was a
pretty strong indication of the teeing of the metropolis,
that 13 out of the 16 metropolitan Members were now
present to 'mess for their repeal. The Noble Lord might
be assured of this, that whenever the subject ,hsuld be
brought before the House of Commons the whole 16 Mem-
bers would be found voting for the entire repeal of these
taxes. He (Sir J. C. Hobhouse) begged to add a hope,
that after their repeal lie might see the Noble Lord hold-
ing his present situation.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BRISCOE said, that whenever he asked his consti-
tuents what portion of taxation they wished to be relieved
from first, their invariable answer was, " Relieve us, if
possible, from the house and window tax.—(Hear, hear.)
The Deputttion then withdrew, and having adjourned
to the British Hotel, Cockspur-street, it was determined
that the question should not be urged in the House of
Commons until after the Chancellor of the Exchequer
had brought forward his Budget.