The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-21 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE WINDOW-TAX.

A public meeting of inhabitants of the parish of
St. Marvlebone was held in the court of the work-.
house, New-road, yesteeday ; Mr. Nicholay in the
chair. About 500 or 600 parsons were present.
Several delegates attended from Islington, who wore
broad blue scarves, on which were traced, in white
letters, the words "No surrender," "Unconditional
repeal." On the Meetings we observed Lord D.
Stuart, M.P., Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P., Mr. C.
Lushington, M.P., Mr. Williams, Mr. Mowatt,
M.P., &c.
A letter was read from the secretary of Lord John
Russell, intimating that he was desired by his Lord-
ship to acknowledge the receipt of the letter convey-
ing the invitation to attend, and to state that it was not
in his Lordship's power to do so. Letters were also
read from Sir 13. Hall, M.P., Mr. Willcox, M.P.,
Mr. E wart, M.P., Mr. Leman, the Lord Mayor of
York, and others, stating their inability to attend the
meeting, but their concurrence in its objects. Sir B.
Hall intimated that he should vote, as he had always
voted, for the repeal of the window-tax, and if it
were intended to impose a tax on houses, he should
be ready to give his vote against such a proposition.
The CHAIRMAN, in explaining the object of the
meeting, stated that the committee had also received a
very powerful but lengthy letter from Mr.
M.P., declaring that he would do everything in his
place in Parliament to promote the repeal of the tax.
Mr. FREETII moved the first resolution :
"That, the window-tax being wrong' in principle,
un-
natural in character, partial, oppressive, and unfair is its
operation, and most repugnant to the feelings of the
community, and alike destructive of the morals and the
health of the people, this meeting pledges itself to use
every means to obtain the immediate, total, and uncon-
ditional repeal of this odious tax, and not to accept any
commutation or modification thereof in any manner
whatsoever."
The repeal of the window-tax he conceived to be
foregone conclusion. The latter part of the resolu-
tion referred to the contingency of a house-tax being
substituted, the great journal, which always waited ou
public opinion, having thrown out a feeler on that
point. But, repeal of the window-tax, and nothing
but repeal, was what ought to be insisted on.—
(Hear, hear.) Tracing the history of the window-
tax, he described it as having been assented to simply
because it was a war tax, the object being to fortify
our coasts; and he concluded by pointing out the evils
which attended it in a sanitary point of view, as well
as the disproportion of the assessments made on diffe-
rent classes.
Mr. MITCHELL, Oxford-street, seconded the reso-
lution, and described the window-tax as life-shorten-
ing and antagonistic to cleanliness, decency, and
morality. It was partial in its operation ; for the
assessment, which, to the majority, was 25 per cent.,
was but 5 to the owners of the " stately houses" of
England. It was hard that the artisan should forego
his evening glass of " cold without"—(Laughter)—
that he might pay a tax on light. There would be an
attempt in Parliament to divert attention from the
window-tax by long debates on what was called
" Papal aggression." They might be prepared to
hear the drum ecclesiastic ; but the opponents of this
tax ought not to allow their voices to be drowned
amidst the efforts of the Church militant.—(Cheers.)
Lord D. STUART, M.P., was received with loud
cheers. He had but few words to address to the
meeting, but they were firm, earnest, and hearty;
for he was with them in this movement as heartily as
it was possible to be. He did not need to
give any assurances. His votes were before the
constituency, and they knew that their Members had
always, when an opportunity presented itself, raised
their voices against this impost. Neither was it ne-
cessary to go into any argument to prove that the tax
ought to be repealed, for it had been condemned year
after year. They might anticipate support among
members of the Government. There was a man
whose name was known to them as associated with
Hobbouse's Act, which gave them local government ;
and others could be mentioned who, like him, had
raised their voices against this tax. Unless the Go-
vernment saw that the feeling of the people was uni-
versal on the subject, they might be inclined to retain
a tax which brought so much money into Their coffers.
He should in Parliament oppose the tax in every pos-
sible way ; and he would answer for his colleague
(Sir B. Hall), who stated that he had been in Par-
liament for 20 years, and on every occasion that it oc-
curred had voted against the continuance of the win-
dow-tax. It was to be anticipated, however, that the
Chancellor of the Exchequer would come forward at
once, finding the feeling of the people so universal,
and declare his intention to repeal the tax.—(Cheers.)
Sir DE L. EVANS, M.P., avowed himself not less
zealous in the case than Sir B. Hall, like whom he
had opposed the tax for twenty years in Parliament.
The tax was already doomed, he had no doubt, from
the intimations in public journals, some of which
were connected with the Government. But the ad-
vocates of repeal must not put their trust in public
journals or Ministers. The announcetnent that the
tax would be repealed was coupled with another, but
ominous announcement, that a moderate small house-
tax was to be imposed. (" o house-tax.") That
would be keeping the word of promise to the ear. He
did not mean to say that a house-tax, or almost any
other tax, would not be preferable to a window-tax ;
hut the question was whether the removal of the
window-tax with the proposed substitute would not
amount only to a modification of the window-tax ?
Of all commutations, that which involved a house -tax
ought to be most determinedly resisted. He had a
high opinion of the Chencellor of the Exchequer, but
should oppose the re-imposition of the house-tax as he
had its continuance 17 years ago. There were other
modes in which the sum to be supplied on the removal
of the window-tax might be obtained. Might there
not be a reduction of expenditure ?—(Hear, hear.)
The house-tax was a convenient one for Government,
inasmuch as it might be increased at any time. If
the small end of the wedge were got in it would be
easy to add 2 per cent. this year and 2 per cent. the
next. He had seen a letter in the Times of that
morning, declaring the agitation for the repeal of the
window-tax a mean and paltry agitation. The duties
on tea, soap, and other articles ought to be modified
or repealed, but the people might be diverted from
their purpose by tubs thrown to the whale, and the
vigour and unity of their efforts so destroyed.
Mr. WILLIAMS, M.P. for Lambeth, also protested
against the substitution of another tax, perhaps not so
objectionable in itself, but which ought to be opposed,
on the ground that it was not required. He con-
trasted the estimates of Sir R. Peel in 1835 with the
expenditure of the present period. The naval and
military forces consisted of 80,000 men more than in
1835. The charges under the head of civil services
amounted to 1,850,000/. more than in 1835. The
charges on the consolidated fund were 630,0001. less
in 1835 than last year.
Mr. SODEK moved the adoption of a petition to the
House of Commons, in the terms of the resolution.
Mr. WHITMORE seconded the motion, and adverted
to the sanitary view of the question. The Board of
Health had stated that consumption, and stunted
were produced by want of air,
growthaid
consumption was one-eighth
the particularly,
mortality
fi
of the whole mortality. He referred to the experi-
ence of medical men, who could riot but feel in many
cases that their exertions were thrown away because
they could not give the light of heaven and pure air
to their patients. The tax was only worthy the pur-
pose for which it was created—to promote war, de-
struction, and slaughter, and to be productive of pes-
tilence, disease, and death.—(Cheers.) To supply the
loss of revenue consequent on the repeal of the
window-tax, he should suggest the total removal of the
Islington,
sonof
African squadron, and the reducGtiosumsofs,thofe
high offices.
After some remarks by Mr-
ivision
for Finsbury had been a
the window-tax,
explanatory of the grounds on which the Member;
principle of the English Mr. JOSEPH moved--
obnsent from the last d• • in
the House of Commons
by Parliament until Constitu-
tiongriev-
ances that no supplies .
dreesed, this meeting, considering the win-
dow are re
be se intolerable grievance, respectfully re-
questdow-tax to
" That, as it is
a be voted
that in case the window-tax is not repealed the
im bers forupplies this" borough do use their endeavours to
be re
,top th
Mr. Gsxsia seconded the resolution.
Mr. LUSHINGTON, M.P., stated that he had voted
last year for the abolition of the tax. A motion simi-
lar to that now proposed had been agreed to in St.
Anne's, Westminster ; Sir De Lacy Evans and him-
self were then instructed to declared that further fi-
nancial measures could not be considered until a vote
for a repeal of the window-tax should have been
passed. These instructions they cheerfully engaged
to fulfil.
After a few remarks from Mr. MICHIE, on the an-
nouncement of the Ministerial intentions respecting

the tax,
Mr. H. C. WiLsoN moved a resolution,—
" That, in the event of a commutation er modification
of the window-tax, the meeting request the committee
to continuo their sitting, end determine what ulterior
proaecilings might he necessary to obtain the removal
of the t?.Y.'
He calle:lrEtigtuteirritc‘ipr,anymtoentthoefpl:iamoictlatiiaoinraotesis tahse a can
T
stitueneiea occasioned by the exister:,7e ofthe window_
con-
dition vf the franchise veils less objectionable ; but a
house.. tax Would produce the same tni.schievous effects
as the window. tax.
Mr. HODGES seconded the resolution, and suggested
h
taxb tax e opneatheo transferthe w i
fdor real
tnylhat Lord D. Stuart should be
t rt tr nerh.
tgnyh t
w Se
Per e o E asu rui
p moved,
pn i
e )b
requested to present the petition, and Sir B. Hall to
support it ; which motion was seconded by Mr.
GasEN, and carried unanimously, as the other reso-
lutions had been.
After ti vote of thanks to th. Gliatpon Oulit4
infi Separated.