The Sun.
London, England, 1833-10-24 00:00:00

ASSESSED TAXES.

Yesterday a preliminary meeting of the Liberty of
Saffron-hill, Hatton-garden, and Ely-rents, was held
at the Workhouse, Little Saffron-hill, upon the sub-
ject of the continuance of the above taxes, and it
was resolved unanimously, " That an early meeting
of the inhabitants be held to take into consideration
such measures as may be deemed advisable, in order
to co-operate with the other metropolitan parishes
to procure the immediate repeal of the above taxes."
The City Liberty of St. Andrew's, Holborn, is also
making active preparations for holding a public
meeting in a few days, upon the came all-engrossing
subject. Other parishes are about holding similar
meetings.

LAMBETH.—On Tuesday night, a meeting of the
Lambeth Association took place, Mr. Pitt in the
chair. Mr. Bardilow and Mr. Good spoke at some
length. Mr. Farren said they had been called half-
and-half pot-house men—(Laughter)—but among
them they could raise a Parliament, which would
shame the existing one.—(Cheers, and cries of
" Yes.") The meeting separated at a late hour.
ST. PANCRAS.—Last night, a meeting of the
inhabitants of the northern district of the St. Pan-
cras Association was held at the Beehive, Brill-row,
Somers-town, Mr. Willis in the chair. Mr.
M‘Diarmid, the Secretary, read a regulation which
had been agreed to by the Central Association, that
the members would afford every relief in their
power to those who were imprisoned for the non-
payment of the assessed taxes. Mr. Wood said,
he understood the Emperor Nicholas and some more
of the crowned heads, and the Duke of Wellington,
were about to get up a war, and the expenses would,
of course, come out of the pockets of the people{
that was, if they consented to pay the assessed
taxes. Mr. Haracle, Mr. King, and others ad-
dressed the meeting.

ATTEMPTED SALE OF GOODS.—MANCHESTER,
OCT. 21.—During the early part of last week, a
table belonging to Mr. John Doherty, late editor of
the Voice of the People, was seized for arrears of
assessed taxes, which Mr. D. declined paying, on
the ground that he had no vote. The sale was an-
nounced to take place this morning, at ten o'clock,
at which time some hundreds of people assembled
before the public-house, next door to Mr. Doherty's,
to which place the table was taken; however, an
hour elapsed, and it was evident there was some dif-
ficulty in procuring an auctioneer. Notwithstanding
the rain came down in torrents, the people did not
manifest the least impatience. The bailiff then in-
formed Mr. Doherty the sale would take place at
three o'clock. Three o'clock came, but no sale;
and ultimately at half•past five o'clock the bailiff
gave up the table. The people then gave three
cheers for Doherty, procured a band of music, and
took the table round the town in triumph.

CATASTROPHE AT THE CHAIN PIER.

(From the Brighton Guardian.)

In our last week's over-night edition we had
just time to announce the fact that during the storm
that was then raging the Chain Pier—the most
beautiful structure in Brighton—had been struck by
lightning, and that the platform between the second
and third towers were destroyed. In our morning's
edition we gave a more detailed account of the
catastrophe—an event which almost universally
called forth the sympathy of the inhabitants and
visiters. A requisition was immediately got up,
and on Thursday a meeting was held at the Town-
hall, for the avowed purpose of originating a sub-
scription to aid the Pier Company "to reinstate the
pier in all its former usefulness and attractive
beauty." The meeting was very fully attended,
and but one desire seemed to reign—that of pro-
moting the object tinder consideration. Some little
difference of opinion existed as to the best mode of
attaining the desired end ; but, as all parties at last
agreed to the plan adopted, it is not worth
while further to allude to that difference.
The meeting was addressed by our respected
member, Mr. Wigney, by Sir Matthew Tierney,
W. Seymour, E.q., Mr. Robert Wigney, Mr. T.
Freeman, Mr. Colbatch, and the Rev. J. S. M.
Anderson. The Noble Lord-Lieutenant of the
county, the Earl of Egremont, was also present,
and his Lordship explained the reason why he had
withheld his name from the requisition, and why he
did not subscribe. lie was a shareholder although
for nine years he had not received any advantage
from the investment. lie had no wish, he said,
that the inhabitants should contribute to uphold his
property, and he therefore hoped they would act
prudently, while they acted liberally. It was his
intention, should the pier be restored, to present his
property in it to the town; the Commissioners, he
presumed, would be the proper persons to accept
it. His Lordship then withdrew amid much ap-
plause; and a subscription having been resolved
upon, a Committee was appointed to carry that ob-
ject into effect. Many subscriptions were given at
the meeting, and the Committee have since ap-
pointed twenty-seven of their own body—dividing
them and the town into nine sections, apportioning
a section to each several three; and we are grati-
fied to learn that the collections have been most
satisfactory.
Having thus given an outline of the public pro-
ceedings connected with this disastrous event, we
shall allude to the existing circumstances of the
pier, and state what we think the town ought to do.
It appears from the statement of the Noble Earl,
that, as an investment, the pier has ceased to be a
property to the shareholders ; nay, the property is
likely to become a heavy tax upon them, because, by
the 6th clause of the Pier Act, the shareholders are
hour:d to keep the pier in repair. The holders of
shares are, however, at liberty to dispose of them ;
and if any very serious expenses should hereafter
appear likely to arise, there is no means of prevent-
ing the shares passing into the hands of persons of
no property, and from such no redress could be ob-
tained. We are, of course, speaking generally. The
present holders might not be disposed to shift off a
responsibility ; but their shares may pass into the
hands of mere speculators, who will nut boggle at the
means of avoiding a heavy loss.

This view of the matter brings us to the question
—" What should the town do?" No one is in-
! sensible of the importance of the chain pier to the
town ; and no one will therefore deny the propriety
of adopting means to counteract the disadvantages
that may by possibility arise respecting it. Lord
Egremont points the way ; he proposes to present
his shares to the town ; and we fancy that the
shareholders generally would, on a proper represent.
tation, see the desirability of their being rid of the
responsibility of upholding a structure which yields
them no return for the capital they have already
embarked in it. The inhabitants at large derive
benefit from the pier, and to them, as a town, the
advantages would more than counterbalance the ex-
pense and risk. It therefore appears to us desir-
able, as soon as the extent of the subscription shall
have been ascertained, that the committee should
treat with the Pier Company for the transfer of their
nominal property in the pier to the Commissioners,
in trust for the town, which might be effected at a
comparatively small expense by a short Act of Par-
liament. The Commissioners would throw the pier
virtually open to the public, and the full advantage
of that elegant and useful structure would then be
extended to the inhabitants at large.

THE NEW LlGHTS.—During the " argu-
ment" in the appeal case between the parishes of Tenter
den and Beckley, Mr. Darby insisted that " monthly
meant something more than a month."—Briyhton Guar-
dian.

A cow, belonging to Mr. Cannon, of Mil-
bourne, without previous symptoms of disease, was sud-
denly seized with paralysis of the hinder extremities and
bladder. At the suggestion of a surgeon, a heated iron
was applied along the spine, corresponding to the seat of
disease, until it was well cauteriz:d. Inflammatory action
continued three days, when the paralysed extremities re-
covered their functions, and the health of the animal was
immediately re.ertablished,—Carlisle Journol,