The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-06 00:00:00

N°. 18,237.] LONDON, THURSDAY E EN. N G s icy y
MARCH 6, 1851

NC 0 L L'S REGISTERED PALETOT
I This garment exemplifies in its characteristics the genera 1
excellence and moderate prices observed throughout Messrs.
NICOLL'S establishment, where
DRESS for EVENING or MORNING WEAR has its allotted
space.
UNIFORMS.—NavaI, Military, and Diplomatic, present, in their
department, the unusual aspect of fair prices for cash ; also
110 llES.—Municipal, Clerical, &c., have separate rooms, and are
placed on the same footing with the above.
BOY'S CLO THING.—This is a new department, wherein provi-
sion is also made for the display of much elegance and economy.
THE CITY ESTABLISHMENT corresponds with the above, and
is at 22, CORNIIILL, the entrance to the Shipping Department
being in Change-alley.
NICOLL'S TOGA can be used either as a cloak for the shoulders,
or a wrapper for the knees ; it is registered 6 and 7 Viet. cap. G 5,
and can be had in London only of H. J. and D. NICOII, MER-
CHANT CLOTHIERS, PALETOT PATENTEES, and MANU-
FAC HIRERS of CLOTS, REGENT—STREET (from 114 to 120
inclusive), and 22, CORNHILL.
CAUTION.—Many have assumed the use of the word " Paletot,"
but Messrs. Nicoll are the sole patentees of the design and material
(in winter or summer substances) employed in the manufacture of
this inexpensive and gentlemanly article of costume.
ICI ON PAItLE FRANCAIS.
HERR sPRICHT MAN DEUTKII.
QUI SI PARLA ITALIANO.
AQUI HIBLASE EL ESPANOL.

lIVERIES.—As unusual preparations are now
JLA being made in most families for the approaching Season,
Messrs. NICOLL are ready to submit estimates for prices (and draw-
ings where a change is considered to be desirable), for a full supply
of this branch of their business; such will present all the advantages
for which the other departments have now for a long period induced
much public favour.

H. J. and D. NICOLL, 114, 116, 118, 120, REGENT-STREET,
and 22, CORNIIILL.

NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE AND
EQUITABLE FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES
26, CORNIIILL, LONDON.

DIRECTORS.

t*T. LAMIE MURRAY, Esq., Chairman.

*W. A. B. Bennett, Esq.
Hugh Croft, Esq.
tElliotson, M.D„ F.R.S.
',Ralph Gough, Esq.
*M. C. Maher, Esq.
*John Moss, Esq.

*John Rawson, Esq.
*John Shaw, Esq.
t*Edmand S. Symes, Esq,
tielement Tabor, Esq.
t Joseph Thompson, Esq.
t*Augustus Vigne, Esq•

AUDITOR.
trrofessor Wheatitone, F.R.S.
tJ. Elltotson, M.D,, F.R.S„ 37, Conduit-street.
fiIIIREMON.

t*E. S. Symes, Esq., 77, Grosvenor-street, Grosvenor-square.
ACTUARY.
t.W. S. B. Woolhouse, Esq., F.R.A.S., &c.
SECRETARY.
*D. T. Lyons Cianehy, Esq.
SUPERINTENDENT.
*W. A. Hawkins, Esq.
BANKERS.

t*Messrs. Glyn, Hallifax, Mills, and Co., 67, Lombard-street.

SOLICITORS,

Messrs. Sutton, Ewens, Ommanney and Prudence, 6, Basinghall•
street.
*W. Tatham, Esq., 22, Throgmorten-street.
NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE OFFICE.
CAPITAL-500,0001.

The WITHDRAWAL TABLE of the Society affords to the As-
sured the greatest possible present and prospective advantages that
can be conferred by Life Assurance. On this Table the Assured is
entitled, at any time, to receive at interest an immediate advance,
to the extent of one-half the amount of the paid annual Premiums,
without security, personal liability, or deposit of the Policy, but by
simple endorsement thereon ; or the half Premium may be with-
held during the whole continuance of the Policy. Also, in the
event of the Assured at any time not requiring to continue the
Policy, on Its surrender one-half of the annual payments will be
returned by the Society.
Lapsed Policies may be renewed without tine, on proof of health
and payment of arrears of Premium without interest.
Notices of Assignment of Policies registered and acknowledged,
so as to make them available as securities in the hands of
third parties.
Ne Entrance Fees or any other charge beyond the Policy Stamp.
The present neual income of the Society from Premiums is
63,000/. ; Vie amount covered by the Policies of the Society is
1,781,5801.; and the reserved profit, applicable to future bonus to
the Assured, amounts to 82,4541. ss. 6d. At the last annual inves-
tigation, reported in May, 1850, the bonuses declared to the As-
sured were, the option of a return of 15 per cent. on their Premiums
in cash, or a reversionary addition to the original sum assured by
each Policy ♦arying from 20 to 65 per cent.
EXAMPLES OF BONUSES ALREADY DECLARED.

Now ready, at all the Libraries, crown Bvo., 7s. 6d. cloth, with
Portrait,
rir HE FEMALE JESUIT ; or, the Spy in the
Family. Including her Autobiography, or " Seventeen Years
of Convent Life," and her recent intrigues in a Protestant Family
near London.

Two vols., small Svo., 10s.,
THE MAGICIAN PRIEST OF AVIGNON ; or, Popery in the
Thirteenth Century. A History of the Life and Times of Louis the
Eighth. By T. 11. USBORNE, Esq., Author of "A New Guide to
the Levant, Syria, &e."

London : Partridge and Oakey, Paternoster row, and 70, Edgware.
road (llanbury and Co., Agents) ; and all Booksellers.

pR. CUL VERWELL'S NEW WORKS,
7 To be had of Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-raw ; Carvalho:
,47, Fleet-street; Mann, 39, Cornhill ; or direct from the author,
once Oue Shilling each ; by post, le. 6d.

.
ENJOYMENT OF LIFE.
"Health, Recreation, and rational Use of Time."
CONTENTS:—EarIy Rising—Spring and Summer Mornings—Ex-
lursions about the Environs of London—The Parks, Lanes, Hills,
Forests, Fields, High-roads, and other pleasant places—Country
Frlps and Rambles—The Sea—London at Night—Evening. at Horne
—Musio—The Drama—On Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, Bathing, Air,
q.est, Ease, Occupation, &a., &o.

IL
FRAGMENTS FROM THE MOUNTAINS. Two Vols.
Vol L
A VISIT TO THE TAKES; SKETCH. OF EDINBURGH, &o.

Vol. 11.

NEM LAKES OF KILLARNEY;
DUBLIN, &c.
WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, AND AVOID.
"That three seore years and ten our course may run."
A popular review of almost every form (cause and cure) of ner-
/ously-debilitated health and enfeebled constitution, that harasses
.be yonng, besets the man of pleasure, business, or study, and em-
)itters old age, with tables and rules tbr the diet and physical regu-
ltion of every-day life.

(CMS Or

IV.
THE PASSIONS.
•• What passions hurt the body—what improve,
Truths as refined as Athens ever heard."
SUBJECT : -Life's pilgrimage, from infancy to old age. The advent
,:the passions. Chastity and its infringements. The casualties of
Jcentiousness and dissipation, with illustrations, graphic, narrative,
end remediative. Advocacy of early marriages.
V.

THE MARRIAGE STATE.
" To be or not to be, that is the question."
PILOGIUMX3 :—Laws and obligations of nature, society, and re-
igien regarding marriage, to be observed by either sex. Time and
:bole°, on both sides, as to age, temperament, complexiom, and
igure, to secure healthy offspring, with the art of rearing them.
Physical defectiveness and its removal. Sterility and its conversion.
Oases, &c.
By R. J. CITLVERWELL, M.D. (1841), M.R.C.S. (1827), L.S.A.
1824). Twenty-five years Medical and Forensic Referee in these
nr-ten. REmption hours sally till Ave. Evenings. seven til► nine.
10 Argyll-place, Regent-street.

. SHIP NEWS.
LIVERP3OL, MARCH s.—Wind N, N.W.—Sarah and
Louisa arrived here yesterday, from Mobile, was struck
by lightning during a hurricane in February, in lat. 39,
long. 50, which damaged mizgnmast, stove cabin, &c.,
and set several articles on fire, but was extinguished
without doing material floatage. Arrd. Lenora. from
Demerara; Louis; from St. Domingo; Pyramid, Helena,
Houghton, and Ocean Star, from New Orleans; John
Horrocks, from Demerara; Imperial, from Wilmington;
Philadelphia, from Philad,lphia; Sisters and Medea,
from Constantinople; Argo, William Herdman, Trident,
and Gulnare, from Alexandria, Egypt; Irmodo, f-ont
Trieste; Rapid and Rosebud, from Palermo; Catherine,
from Marseilles; Union, from St. Übe's; Content, from
Trieste; Parkficld, from Callao; Union, from Ostend.
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 3.—Favourite, from London,
for Barbadoes, has put in with loss of stanchions, bul-
warks, &c., having been in contact, on the Ist inst. off
Fairlee, with Ceres, Norwegian barque, from Stettin, for
Bristol.

Henwros, MARCH 3.—The Aimahle Engine, from
Seaham for Bordeaux, foundered off the Long Sand
last night; crew saved.
MARYPORT, MARCH 3.—The Ann Wood, on shore
near Harrington, has been got off and towed in here.
DOVER, MARCH 3.—The George, of Shoreham, from
Shields for Folkstone, is very leaky, having grounded,
and it is feared has received considerable damage.
QUEENSTOWN, MARCH 3.—The Vivid, from New-
port for Galatz, has put in here with loss of foremast,
foretopmast, &c.
GIBRALTAR, FEB. 23.—The Union, from Rio Hache
for Marseilles, put in, F,b. 22, with loss of mainmast,
yards, sails, &c., and requires caulking in her upper
works.

BOULOGNE, MARCH 3.—The Jeannette and Anna,
from Leghorn for Antwerp, was in contact with a vessel
supposed a steamer, between Cape Grinez and the South
Foreland, yesterday morning, and sank; crew, except
one man, saved.

MEMEL, FEB. 25.—The westerly wind of the 23d
broke up the ice, and tho harbour is now clear.
I.IADRAS, J.tm. 25.----The Princess Helena, of Cal-
cutta, from Adelaide for this port, struck upon the Pu-
bent Shoal in the night of the 16th of January, was
driven on the beach, about twelve miles north of this
place, and has become a total wreck; crew saved. The
Futtay, from Coringa for this port, sprung a leak at sea,
which gained so fast upon her that she was obliged to
be ran on the beach here on the 17th instant. The
Flora. Kerr, fromjthe Clyde for Calcutta, was spoken by
the Poictiers, arrived here, on the 3d instant, in long. 89
E., when she reported that she had been in contact dur-
ing the night of the 24th ult., with the Carnatic, from
Calcutta for the Mauritius, and had sustained consider-
able damage, starboard bow stove in, foremast-head and
bowsprit sprung, foretopmast carried away, and that
the Carnatic stayed by her for four days.
CAGLIARI, FEB. 26.—The Bezulcel, from Leghorn to
London, put into Porto Conti on the 15th of February,
with loss of rudder, bowsprit, and with other serious
damage, having experienced a heavy gale on the 7th of
February; has thrown some cargo and stores overboard,
and will have to discharge partly, to repair.
CALCUTTA, JAN. 20.—The American ship Charles
Cooper,ihence for London, has grounded on a mud-bank
five miles below this place, has not experienced any da-
mage, is being lightened, is expected off this evening,
and to proceed without being ducked.
PERNAMBUCO, JAN. 20.—The Ellen Bryson, from Ca-
diz for Bahia, has been totally wrecked on the shoals off
Cape San Roque; crew and part of materials saved.
GRAVESEND, MARCH s.—Wind W.S.W., squally,
with rain.

Arrd.l Primrose and the Shamrock, from Seville ;
Lusitania, from Oporto; Circassian, from Cadiz; Louisa,
from Malaga ; Daniel Brock and the Concordia, from
Guernsey; Aroe, from Alexandria; Mary Nixon, from
Callon; Queen Dowager, from Genoa; Three Brothers,
from Groningen; Emma, from Assens; Primrose, from
Seville ; Batavier, from Rotterdam; Albion, from Bou-
logne.; Sir E. Banks, from Ostend ; Two Friends, from
Guernsey ;. John, from Lignes ; Le Coq, from Cher-
bourg ; Doncaster, from Oporto ; David Banks, from
Jaffa; Lady Newburgh, from Oporto; Fox, from Malta;
Ocean Breeze, from Alexandria; Galen, from Patras;
Maria, from Smyrna; Queen Dowager, from Genoa;
Joven Ignatio, from Tarragona; Mermaid, from Malta;
Ocean, from St. Übe's; Native, from Seville; Huntress,
from Smyrna; City of the Sultan, from Odessa; Joshua
Cerroll, from Nantes; Harriet, from Leghorn; Janvarin,
from Girgenti.
Sailed—Najaden, for Teneriffe; Oliver Cromwell, for
Shanghae; Roscommon and Diana, for Harlingen;
Nancy, for Alicante; Triton, for Ostend; Amends, for
Honduras; Rhine and Magnct,Tor Rotterdam; Governor
Harcourt, for Newport; Sandale, for Oporto; Vene-
zuela, for Havre; Stadt Dordretch, for Dordt; Countess
of Lonsdale, for Hamburgh; Thames, for Hamburgh.
VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.
Margaret brig, Feb. 10, in lat. 39 N., long. 1G W.
Carl schooner, Feb. 12, long. 16 W., let. 40 N.
Oceanile, from Stettin for Valparaiso, Feb. 11, in lat. 42
N., long. 17 W.
Utility, of Newcastle, Jan. 11, in lat. 39 N., long. 6 E.
Maid of Erin schooner, bound out, Feb. 9.
Antonato, Bremen brig, bound out,,Feb. 24, in lat 48 N.,
long. 8 W.
Isis, of Liverpool, in lat. 40 N., long. 10, W.

SEABORNE MAILS.
[N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office
by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.]

When made up in From what when
PLACES. General Post-office port dis- due.
London. patched.
---
America (by Brit. pkt.)N March 14 .. .. Liverpool March 12
America (by U.S. pkt.) N March 7
.. .. Liverpool •. March 16
America (by U.S. pkt.) M March 8 .. Southampt. March 8
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plymouth March 3
Belgium • • • • • • N Daily .. ... .Dover • • Daily
Alexandria* ........ N 19th & 30th of mo. Dover .. March 18
Brazil .• • .• M 9th of the month Southampt. Feb. 24
Buenos Ayres •• .. /d 9th of the month Southampt. Feb. 24
Califomia(viaChagres) 31 17th of month Southampt. March 7
Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plymouth•• March 3
Constantinople* .. •. N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. March 10
Central America .. M2d & 17th of mon. Southampt. March 7
Channel Isles • • • • N Mon., Wed., & Fri. Southampt. Tu. Th. Sa
Chili .. .. • • . M 17th of the month Southampt. March 20
France .. ••M & N Twice daily .. .. Dover " TwiceaailY
Greece* .. .. .. Nl7th 17th 27th of mo Dover
Hamburgh .. .. N,Tuesday & Friday London • • Tues. Sat.
Holland .. .. .. "ml'.
—I '''eunes. & Satur. London .• Mox.Thur
.. March 10
Honduras .. .. . Nil7th of the month Southampt. March 20
Ireland .. ••M & N Twice daily .. .. Holyhead • • Twicedaily
India(via Southatnp.) M 20th of the month Southampt. March 28
India (via Marseilles) IT;7thBt 24th ofmonth Dover
Mediterranean (via I .. March 23
Southampton) •• M
120th of the month Southampt. March 28
Marseilles) .. .. Nt7th&24tk ofmonth Dover
Mediterranean (via
Mexico .. • • .. Id 2d of
Madeira • • • • the month.. Southampt. March 7
M • .
,9th of the month Southampt. March 12
Malta* a_._.... 2,1, c 17th,17th,19t1427th
& 30th of month .. March 23
} Dover March 10
LI
l'eninsular • •
. . M 7th 17th 27th of mo SouthamP
Naples* .. .. •.. Is' sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. March 12
M
Papal States* .. .. N sth 15th25ihofmo Dover • •
Peru .... • • • • M 17th of the month (Southampt. March 20
Tuscany* . . • • • N sth 15th 25th of mo,Dover • • March 12
West Indies .. .. DL 17th of the month ISouthamPt. March 20
West Indies (e.,0. i t. March 12
March 6

Naples* ..
Papal States*
Peru ..
Tuscany* „ ••
West I.rdies 31' _
West Indies (except
Havanna & Nassau) 31,201 of the month ..
* The mails to those countries thus mar]
French packs via Marseilles.
*,,,* The mails for Brazil, Buenos Ayres
made ap on the morning of the 10th of It the 9th falling en a Sunday.

!Southampt.
ted (*) aro c

IMarch Y
miveyed by

and 'Madeira, will be
[arch, in consequence of

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BOW-STREET.
A woman named Eliza Driscoll was charged with ob-
taining 2/. from Messrs. Fox and Henderson, the con-
tractors, under false pretences.
James Dunn, the agent of the prosecutors, said that
in April last the prisoner called at their railway gauge-
office, in Now-street, Spring-gardens, and represented
herself as the widow of Dennis Mack, who was killed on
the Eastern Counties Railway.
She stated that she was
in great want of 40s , to complete the purchase of a pony
and open a green-grocery shop. Sho was told to call
again, and meanwhile witness wrote to the prosecutors
(who were executing some works for the railway), and
subsequently received authority to pay her the sum.
The prisoner called again, and the money
was paid to
her.

Ann Mack proved that she was the real widow of the
deceased, and was living at Stratford. She knew the
prisoner, but was not aware that her late husband had
ever had anything to do with her,
Evidence was given of the payment of 21. to the pri-
soner upon the above pretence by the cashier of the pro-
secutors. The woman affected to be ignorant of the
whole transaction when apprehended, but
she was iden-
tified by the witnesses on being taken by the constable to
the Crystal Palace.
The prisoner denied that she was the woman who had
received the money, and. declared that she had never
seen the prosecutors or their agents before.
Mr. HENRY committed her for trial,
CLERKEN WELL.
Frederick Curtis, a smart-looking young man, was
brought before Mr. Combe on a warrant, in the custody
ofA r So
he rdge eationo
ot Smith,ale;
oo
ff
et the
hea r
tdeerteoc
ot isvoe force, charged by
.square, with having
obtained a situation in his service with a false character.
Mr. Hale, son of the archdeacon, attended, and com-
municated that his father could not attend, in conse-
quence of his clerical duties on Ash Wednesday.
It appears that the prisoner, some months ago, en-
tered the service of Mr. Freshfield, solicitor to the Bank
of England, when he gave a reference to a person re-
siding at Moreton, near Norwich;
and, on application
being made, a high character was given of the prisoner,
who was received into the service. His subsequent con-
duct, however, caused great suspicion; and, on inquiries
being made at Moreton, it was ascertained that the per-
son to whom he had referred was his father. in-law, who
had surreptitiously recommended him. He was pros -
cuted, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment in
the House of Correction.

Archdeacon Hale consulted with the police, and at-
tended at this court in company of Sergeant Smith,
when a warrant was granttd for the prisoner's appre-
hension at the expiration of his term of imprisonment;
and yesterday Sergeant Smith took him into custody on
leaving the prison.
In answer to a question, Mr. Hale said the prisoner
got drunk while in his father's service, and was guilty of
other misconduct.
Sergeant Smith said that on searching the prisoner he
found a number of pawnbrokers' duplicates in bis pos-

session, for articles of silver plate, &c., which he sus-
pected to have been stolen. •
Mr. COMBS, after a private consultation with Mr.
Hale and the clerk, committed the prisoner to the
sessions.

TRAMS S.
Roger M'Grath, an Irish labourer, who bag been
twice remanded, was brought up before Mr. Ingham,
charged with cutting and wounding John O'Briant, one
of his countrymen, on the night of Saturday, the 15th
ult., with intent to murder or do him grievous bodily
harm.
'l'he parties have been repeatedly before the Court,
and their disputes have nearly terminated in murder.
The prosecutor, who has been for 17 days in the London
Hospital, appeared in a very deplorable condition and i❑
a weak state from loss of blood.
It appeared that on the 15th of February the prose-
cutor was charged by the prisoner's wife with using
abusive language towards her, and was fined 2s. without
costs. As he was leaving the court the woman struck
hina with her fist, took up a brick and threw it at his
head, and inflicted a very severe wound. On the same
night, about twelve o'clock, the prosecutor was coming
out of his own house for the purpose of going to market
to buy a piece of meat, when he was intercepted by the
prisoner and his wife at the corner of Stepney-causeway.
M'Grath said he wished to be friends with O'Briant and
have some beer. Th© prosecutor made no objection, and
they walked a few paces, when M'Grath, who had his
hands i❑ his jacket-pockets, took from one of them what
appeared to be a book, but which proved to be a small
hand-axe or hatchet, with which he struck O'Briant a
tremendous blow on the mouth, which cut his lips open
loosened several teeth, and felled him to the ground
As he was rising the prisoner struck him across the
temple with the hatchet, and inflicted a severe
wound, from which the blood flowed copiously.
As he was falling the prisoner's wife struck him on
the head, and cut it open. The prosecutor called out
" Murder" as loud as he was able, and to stifle his cries
the prisoner's wife put her shawl over his mouth, threw
him down, and beat and kicked him in a most savage
manner. A police-constable, 75 K, hearing the cries of
murder, hastened towards the spot whence they pro-
ceeded, and passed the prisoner and his wife, who were
running away in a contrary direction, Mrs. M'Grath
saying "Hurry home, hurry home.", The policeman found
O'Briant on the ground apparently dead, and bleeding
profusely from several wounds on his person. He
caused him to be conveyed to the London Hospital,
where he has ever since remained. O'Briant's life was
despaired of for several days, and he left the hospital
for the first time yesterday, and presented himself in the
court in a very weakly condition. The prisoner was
subsequently arrested by Potter, 212 K, and on being
made acquainted with the charge, he said, " that he
only struck O'Briant with his fist, and that he did so be-
cause he was a cuckold." Potter found the hatchet with
which the wounds had been inflicted, in the prisoner's
room.

Mr. INcalst expressed his intention of committing
the prisoner for trial; but, as the surgeon who had
dressed the prosecutor's wounds was not in attendance,
he remanded the case till Saturday.

REPEAL of the TAXES on KNOWLEDGE.
Last night a public meeting was held in St. Martin's-
hall, Long Acre, to promote the repeal of all the taxes
on knowledge, and in particular the penny stamp en
newspapers. The large hall was filled to overflowing,
and some interruption was caused at the commencement
of the proceedings by the "pressure from without."
Professor T. H. Key took the chair at half-past eight
o'clock. Among the Members of Parliament present
were Mr. Cobden, Mr. M. Gibson, Mr. F. O'Connor, and
Mr. Stanford.
The CHAIRMAN, who stated that he presided in the
absence of Mr. Grote, said that he had been for thirty
years an advocate for the repeal of the taxes on know-
ledge. He thought the present a suitable opportunity of
expressing the gratitude he felt for Mr. Rowland Hill, as
a labourer in this cause, whom he regarded as one of the
greatest benefactors this country ever had in procuring
the penny postage for the people. We had obtained
cheap food for the bodies of the people, and it now be-
hoved us to gain cheap food for their minds. No one
could object to the diffusion of knowledge but those
whose power or whose wealth was founded upon fraud;
and with them be had no sympathy. What was wanted
was, not only the advancement of knowledge, but the
diffusion of knowledge.—(Hear, hear.) It was not
enough that one class of the community should be edu-
cated, and the other half ignorant, becaase then the
people would make only occasional advances, to be fol-
lowed by subsequent reaction.—(Hear.) This was the
case in Spain, where the intelligence of the towns was
counteracted by the ignorance of the country. It was
also the case to some extent in France, and in England
too.—(Cheers.) The Minister of the Crown had ad-
mitted, although reluctantly, that the franchise ought to
be extended. He would only be consistent if he also
attended to the spread of knowledge among the class
whom he proposed to enfranchise.—(Hear.) The Chair-
man concluded by reading a letter from Mr. Hume,
M.P., whose absence, he regretted to state, was caused
by indisposition.
Mr. J. CASSELL said that France and America had
their penny periodicals and penny newspapers, but in
.England it was exceedingly difficult to maintain a
penny periodical in consequence of the tax upon paper.
The Messrs. Chambers' weekly tracts had a circulation
of 80,000, yet they did not pay, and were obliged to be
given up. They had since started a 1 id. publication, but
it had not obtained half the circulation of the others,
and they would be obliged to give that up also. The
reduction of the taxes upon knowledge would lead to the
employment of thousands of persons in the paper and
printing businesses, and all classes would be benefited.
The working man would have his daily paper far ld.,
and, instead of being obliged to go to the ale-house and
pay lid. for beer in order to get a sight of the paper,
he would be able to take it home to read by his own
fireside.—(Hear, hear.) Where we had one newspaper
at present, we should have ten, if the paper and ad-
vertisement duties and the stamp duty were repealed.
The Government gave 100,0004 towards education; but
it ought never to be forgotten that they took 1,000,0001.
a year from the people by the taxes on knowledge.—
(Hear, hear.) He moved
" That all taxes which impede the diffusion of know-
ledge are highly injurious to the public interest, and
are most impolitic sources of revenue, and that their
retention by the Legislature is utterly inconsistent with
the opinion now universally professed in favour of po-
pular education."
Mr. E. MIALL, in seconding the resolution, congratu-
lated the meeting upon the auspicious time at which
they were assembled. Events had reduced the Budget
to a state of liquefaction, in which it was melted down
to its original elements, and had to be cast in a new
mould. While the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
pondering, he hoped the present meeting would be able
to set the stamp of its purpose upon his new Budget
A gentleman upon the platform here produced a copy
of the New York Tribune, a daily paper published at two
cents (one penny). There were, he said, from 15 to 20
newspapers published in New York every day. Almost
every village had its newspaper; and the consequence
was, that the people of the United States were well edu-
cated and instructed.—(Cheers.)
Mr. G. H. LEWES seconded the resolution. It was
said, that to remove the stamp duty upon newspapers
would be to make that class of literature " low." But
the objection seemed to him to be founded upon that
eternal " snobism" of the English character that made
everything " low" that was not exclusive.—(Cheers.)
They were told that a good case might be made out
against every tax, but the taxes on knowledge struck at
the root of all other taxes, for the removal of these taxes
would so far diffuse political knowledge, and would so
democratize the House of Commons, that the people
would take care they were not more taxed than was
necessary for the wants of the nation.—(Cheers.)
Mr. COBDEN, who was received with great applause,
next addressed the meeting. The part he had to take
on this subject in another place would render it unne-
cessary that he should trouble them at any length. Ho
believed that no ether tax would have called together so
large an assemblage; but this was a tax on knowledge,
and when they complained of the Government for con-
tinuing it, it was, in point of fact, laying an indictment
against the Government for depriving the people of
mental food.—(Cheers.) He was, and always had been,
an advocate for the advancement of knowledge, and
' these three taxes were in point of fact impediments to
knowledge. Of these taxes perhaps the most objection-
able was that of the penny stamp on newspapers. It
was, in the first place, so trifling in its proceeds that it
laid itself open to the supposition that it was imposed
not for the sake of the amount it yielded to the revenue,
but for some sinister purpose. The annual receipt from
the tax was about 350,0001. Not less than from
60,000,000 to 80,000,000 newspapers passed through the
Post-office every year. Now, what they proposed was,
that every newspaper that went through the Post-office
should have a Queen's head upon it; and that, their
friend Mr. Hume would tell them, would produce as large
a revenue as was derived from the present system; but,
whether it did or no, the loss of a small sum on such
a commodity bore no proportion to the benefit to
result from the repeal. lie fully believed if we had no
stamp duty, and no duty on advertisements ur paper,
that we might have penny daily newspapers with large
circulations. A paper had been produced called the New
York 7'ribune, which was published at a penny. There
were others as cheap. The actual cost of producing
paper in this country was as low as in New York—
literary labour was as cheap—all the adjuncts were as
accessible—why, then, was not the newspaper as cheap
in London us there? It would be, but that the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer intervened.—(Cheers.) The fact
was, that this country had no daily press. The daily
press only existed in London. It was scarcely known in
the country, and it was not the exponent ot, the wants
and interests of the working class.—(Cheers.) Lot
them look at the "leaders" of the daily press and their
politics, and compare them with the leaders of the
weekly press, and ho asked which were the better? -h
(Cheers.) Why, no weekly paper could live upon the
politics of the Morning Herald or the 111orninyPost.—
(Laughter.) He did not wish to constitute himself a
judge in these matters, but he did say that those who
patronised the weekly press ought to have the opportu-
nity of supporting a similarly cheap daily press. At the
same time let it not be supposed that he would say any-
thing to injure any portion of the daily press. lie Com.

• PRICE SD.

plained not that the daily press existed at the price of
51, as it did. He would leave that press to its present
customers; but still he said that they should have a
echophhunreaeetassiepasf(;t.
hah enayTyt
newspaperft heryei
wantede rwe, st of the community could patronise
also.—(Cheers.) What a curious exception the daily
press was to every other article of consumption! If
they wanted a dictionary, for example, they could heve
lcieosnssa,r. ibl yu t b
ite so* l
la
less—was the magical price at which it was to be pur-
emmvl
roaiei
aggwr ythhneitctol n
hdwngbaosetrfpti
ait
pstmteeearrqa:
co
hsi
etHiquite
s:l.—neither
honest,shillingeadseo wreti
straightforward,
hateti
witty or
he more
ftrgou.
ruswti
fasci-
nating, ,enerheead er,;
perhaps, in style as some of the dearer publica
arid direct to the purpose—and if he wanted a good and
wholesome taste he should not go upward, but if he
wanted a meretricious taste he' should find' it there—
(Cheers.) Montesquieu had said that, though mankind
was reprobate in detail, it was wise in the gross, and he
had no doubt if the medium of literary and political in-
formation were made free to all, that the benefit must
be general and universal. He looked upon the repeal of
the advertisement duty as the sine qud non for a cheap
press. In fact, there could not be a cheap press until
those duties were repealed. They must do with the
press as they had done with corn, and they should al-
ways find in him a Free-trader in knowledge. ;:ee .)
The CHAIRMAN here read a letter of apology from
Mr. Scholefield, M.P., for non-attendance, and another
from Mr. Evart, M.P. The latter Hon. Member en-
closed 51. towards the object of the meeting.—(Cheers.)
A person named Setsw, who addressed the meeting
amid considerable interruption, contended that the only
way to remove the taxes on knowledge was to struggles
to obtain universal suffrage. The people would have no
power to obtain these or similar fiscal reductions until
they were properly represented.—(Cheers.)
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. Hecxsoer, who was introduced to the meeting as
the late editor of the TVestminster Review, moved the
second resolution as follows:
" That the excise on paper, the tax on advertisements,
and the stamp on newspapers, though apparently uncon-
nected taxes, are in reality parts of one system, which
restricts the freedom of the press by hampering it with
fiscal burdens."
He had not anticipated meeting them to-night, but he
had received that morning a communication from a friend
of his now abroad, in the shape of a cheque upon Barclay
and Co. for 1001. on behalf of the objects for which they
were now assembled. This donation was from Mr. Ed-
ward Lombe, a liberal Norfolk landowner, the donor of
500/. to the National Public School Association. Mr.
Lombe viewed the abolition of what he called the infa-
mous taxes on knowledge as an educational question.—
(Hear, hear.) And he (Mr. Hickson) recommended this
view to the consideration of all the friends of national
education.—(Hear.) The object of education was to
make good citizens of the people by teaching every
member of the community to understand the laws he was
called upon to obey.—(Hear.) But how could they teach
the poor man the nature of the laws if they prohibited the
circulation of the only publications that treated of the
administration of those laws? Newspapers were only ac-
cessible to the poor man at the public-house, but what
was wanted was that they should enter the cottage door.
Such publications as the Penny Magazine, Chambers's
Tracts, and Chambers's Journal, of which he did not
wish to speak depreciatingly, did not come home enough
to the real objects and business of life, and the working
classes would sacrifice them all to the cheap news-
paper. There was some reason for the allegation that
the higher classes in continuing the taxes on knowledge
had a sinister object in view, the maintenance
of political privileges and pollEcal monopoly. If
ever the people carried the repeal ofothese taxes
would be by taking the matter into their own hands.
He believed it to be within the mark that there would
be ten newspapers for one if the taxes on knowledge
were repealed, and thus increased and more remune-
rating employment would be given, not only to journey-
man printers, bate° the whole literary profession. The
local press would be especially benefited. The Ruesell
Administration appeared to be entering upon another
lease of power.—(Several voices—" A short one!")
They had lost very considerably the confidence of the.
country.—(Great cheering.) He trusted they would
turn over a new leaf.—(A cry—" It is too late!") At
all events a general election was close at hand, and, al-
though he was not favourable to pledges, he hoped the
taxes on knowledge would be admitted to stand as the
first to be repealed by a Liberal Ministry and Parlia-
ment.—(Cheers.)
Dr. LEE seconded the resolution, but wished it had
included the duty upon foreign books and the ocean
penny postage.
Mr. E. EDWARDS supported the motion, and addressed
the meeting to show the additional employment that
would be given to large classes of persons in the printing
and paper-making trades, if the taxes on knowledge were
repealed. London, with 2,500,000 of people, had only
six morning papers, while in New York, with a popula-
tion of 500,000 or 600,000, there were thirteen.
Mr. M. GIBSON. M.P., who was cordially received,
said it had devolved upon him to move the repeal of the
taxes on knowledge in the House of Commons, and he
hoped to renew that motion. But a Member of Parlia-
ment, in a like case, felt in a most forlorn situation un-
less be knew he was backed by public opinion.--(Hear,
hear.) It was for the people to carry this as they had
carried other questions, and they must remember that
no free knowledge or any other kind of freedom had ever
been handed over to the people as a free and spontaneous
gift .—(Hear, hear.) He was afraid there lay at the
root of the opposition to the repeal of these taxes an
unworthy jealousy on the part of governing men of
the spread of knowledge among the people.—(Cheers.)
It was said that the spread of cheap newspapers
would make government in this country impos-
sible. It was far more likely that ignorance would make
government impossible.—(Hear, hear.) It would be
much better that our institutions should rest upon the
basis of an enlightened public opinion. If they looked
forward to a period of universality of suffrage, nothing
could he more important than that the great body of the
people should have brought within their reach the
means of understanding the laws under which they
lived. The Government was afraid to carry out impar-
tially and literally the provisions of the Newspaper Act,
which, he contended, ought therefore not to be continued
werewi
thasking
each
ask-e
h
ifienept„rpo
tnf
ho trehtreoeosp temaatulucet
much,
abbloluotk .
they
theselt
taxeswere
mighte re
aaatl app,
epeneoeanern,
ettchhtaeetyd,
other, and he for ono would not be contented until the
threee atre
ldyu tfireese e
Her e a
hl I
ad repealed,and
ne
doubt w
ha t until the
ever
thatpres s
thew a s scat
tax
upon advertisements was not a means of revenue, but a
revenue destroyer, since it struck at industry and
commerce, the prosperity of which produced revenue.
He ventured to say that if this tax were repealed in
the next year's returns of income the amount would not
be missed. It was not, in fact, a consideration of reve-
nue that prevented the repeal of this tax, but a dread of
extending cheap knowledge and cheap newspapers among
the working classes. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
was preparing a new Budget. Ho had no great confi-
dence that he would come forward with a proposition for
the repeal of the taxes upon knowledge; but they
must not be deterred from pressing on this question by
any statement that the financial arrangements of the
year- were concluded. He held it to be perfectly fair and
Parliamentary to press all matters of this nature upon
the attention of the Government, and he trusted that he
should live to see the shackles struck from the press and
perfect freedom introduced.—(Cheers.)
The motion was carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. COLLETT, seconded by Mr.
HOLYOAKE, the following resolution was also carried, and
the meeting separated at midnight:—
" That by allowing a number of registered newspapers
to circulate a portion of their impression without stamps,
emt
metropolis,
nte others;te be
e andiwnehebirlyet e
sup-
pressing
and
per-
mittingd denying
yn
ienwgs the
and same
political privilege
the in
oof Inland Revenue has invested itself with the powers of
a censorship equally foreign to the laws of the land and
the feelings of the people of this country."
un t a
similarm p e d publications
publications
it:
the country, the Board