The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-18 00:00:00

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• TWEETING! OF THE -DELEGATES -
OF THE METROPOLITAN PARISHES UPON

TIIE ASSESSED TAXES.

On Wednesday night a numerous meeting took place
at the Quadrant Hotel, St. James's, of the Parech:al
Committees from various parishes in the metropolis, re-
lative to the efforts now making to obtain the Repeal of
the Assessed Taxes. Mr. Hancock was i❑ the Chair. lt
appeared that a memorial on the subject had been in-
trusted to Sir J. C. Hobhouse, with a view of his laying
it officially before Lord Althorp, and ascertaining the
intentions of Government. Sir John was present at the
meeting, and he said that it would be recollected, that when
he received the memorial from a deputation, he did not
think he should obtain a positive 'answer from Lord
Althorp. He, however, attended his Lordship, and
impressed upon his mind the importance of the sub-
ject : and the answer of the Noble Lord was a mere
formal assurance that be would attend to the requests
of the memorialists. He (Sir J. C. Hohhouse), in
consequence, told the gentlemen of the deputation, that
they must take their own steps.—(Hear.) When the
question was brought before Parliament (continued Sir
John Cam Hohhouse), it must be decided according to
Cocker—(A laug,h)—i. e., according. to numbers. Toe
great strength of those interested in this question lay in
the metropolitan boroughs; for in many of the northern
districts, the matter, important as it undoubtedly was, had
not even been mooted by the voters to those who welr
candidates for their suffrages. In Yorkshire, for instance,
the candidates were not questioned at all upon this point,
and in many other places it was the same. The farmers
in the country were, to be sure, indifferent upon the sub-
ject to a certain extent, because the taxes in question did
not affect them so materially as many other assessments.
It had, be understood, been said that Ministers must either
procure the repeal of the assessed taxes or go out of office ;
but this, he thought, was an alternative which the think-
ing portion of the public would not wish to impose upon
them. A Reformed Parliament had been obtained, and
there could be little doubt that with time all that the public
desired would be accomplished. It would be fur them to
elect which would be the most judicious course, to submit
for a time longer to the imposts complained of, or to cause
the present Administration to retire.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BROWN made a few observations, and
Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE suggested that possibly the repeal
of one of the taxes would give satisfaction. This obser-
vation was answered by loud cries of " No, no—both,
both."

A resolution in furtherance of the objects of the meet-
ting was then put and carried, to;,:ether with votes of
thanks to Sir J. C. Ifobhouse and the Chairman.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster
will be shortly convened, and all the Members of the me-
tropolitan boroughs will be invited to attend, and some
influential Member will be requested to bring forward a
motion for the repeal of the taxes, within seven days front
the meeting of Parliament.

PUBLIC DINNER TO MR. HUME AT

HAMPSTEAD.

Yesterday the Friends of Reform, Economy, and Re-
trenchment, met to celebrate the triumphal return of Mr.
Hume as their representative in Middlesex, by a public
dinner at Jack Straw's Castle, Hampstead, at which that
gentleman was invited to be present. At half past five
o'clock the Chair was taken by John Kelly, Esq., sup-
ported on his right by Mr. Hume, and on his left by Sir
John Scott Lillie. Amongst those present we observed
Dr. Snow, of Hampstead, Dr. Davis, Mr. Adams, Mr.
James, Mr. Holm.
After the cloth was removed, the CHAIRMAN proposed
" The King ; and may he long enjoy the affections of his
people ;" " The Queen ;" " The Duke of Su-sex, the
constant and consistent friend of civil and religious li-
berty ;" which were drank with great applause.
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said he had a toast to
propose in which he was convinced there was not a gentle-
man present who would not most cheerfully join ; their
presence was more than an evidence of this. On the
merits of the Hon. Person whose name he was about to
introduce, he felt a task too arduous to be entered upon
by an individual of his humble abilities. He would,
therefore, without further remark, propose to them " The
health of Joseph Hume, Esq., their worthy representative
in Parliament, and may he live to carry into effect, and
reap the benefit of those Reforms for which he has so lung
and so faithfully contended in his place in Parliament.'
The toast was received with every demonstration of ap-
plause, and drank amidst the most enthusiastic cheering.
After silence was obtained, Mr. HUME rose and ad-
&cued the meeting. He expressed the pride and pleasure
be derived from the manner in which his name was re-
ceived ; not that he was vain enough to attribute to him
self as an individual, any portion of that applause, but
regarding it, as he did, as proofs of the unanimity of opi-
nion that existed between himself and those by whom he
was surrounded. -He was happy to meet his constituents
on this or any other occasion ; and he considered such
meetings as the present, where public opinions were op-nly
and legally discussed, as of the utmost importance.—
(Hear, bear.) Yes, he would not shrink from declaring,
that it was to such meetings, held in the open day, that
they Were all indebted for the Reform Bill.—(Cheers.)
Such meetings had driven the Duke of Wellington out of
office. Such meetings bad carried the Reform Bill
through the House of Commons: and when Earl Grey
bad given up the reigns of GovernuAt, it was to such
meetings himself and his colleagues were indebted for their
reinstatement in office.—(Continued cheers.) Such
meetings were then necessary, and they were so still, and
would be so until this country was cleared of those abuses
which, in neighbouring nations, bad led to results which
they had all contemplated with horror. He thought
the Reform Bill was in itself a great measure of re-
lief, but it was only the means to an end. Until the base of
the Constitution was extended and strengthened by an ex-
tension of the suffrage, the people would not, and ought
not to be satisfied. There was no doubt that whilst the
great body of the people were denied the right of voting
they would be discontented, and that odious distinctions
would ixist in the country. He was denounced as an
Atheist because he wished to see the Church reformed.—
(Loud cries of " Shame.") He would not be deterred
from doing his duty by such clamours. lhere were many
in the country who thought an injury was done by re-
turning from a paper to a metallic currency, and lie would
take that opportunity of stating that he by no means agreed
with them. He thought the return a happy one, and
that eventually it would be of the greatest benefit to all
classes. As to the Reforms that were required in the law,
he would not enter into them, as there was a gentleman near
him eminently qualified to do so. He would only observe
that they required simplification and correction so as to
be understood and properly administered. There was
another topic to which he would call their attention—
RefOillil in the Church.--(Loud cries of " Hear.") It was
notorious that the Church needed reform before any other
institution in the country. It was ridiculous that the
clergy should be left to reform themselves, whilst the
people suggested the others that were necessary in the
State. They. were allowed to be judges in their own
Courts, and in every thing to act as if they were incapa
ble of error. The lamentable evils to which that had led
in a sister country, Were too Well known to be commented
upon.—(Hear, hear.) It was hardly necessary for him
to say that he referred to Ireland—that unhappy country,
which, since she became connected with this, had only
sufferings to enumerate which must fill every honest mind
with indignation. What was the actual situation of Ire-
land at present? Why, she was governed by military
law—by the sword.—(Shilase!) There was now an army
bordering en forty thousand men in Ireland, for the pur-
pose of sabering the people, unless they supported a
Church from which they had never derived the shadow of
benefit, nay, which had been and was the bane of the
country.—(Loud cries of " Shame!") Was it just this
should be permitted to continue?—(No, no.) For his
own part he would never tamely submit to the in-
sults that were offered them, and were they content
to do so lie would despise them, and regard them
as unworthy the name of men. In all parts
of the world in which he had travelled, he found
Irishmen to be brave, generous, honourable, and loyal;
and if they were not that at home, there must be a suf-
ficient cause for it. The fault was not in them. He had
travelled through Ireland, and studied her institutions, and
on the opinions which he then formed, he founded the
motion for Reform in the Irish Church, which, in 1819
he submitted to the wisdom of Parliament. Ireland would
never be satisfied until justice was done. He would, be-
fore sitting down, briefly allude to another subject—taxes
on knowledge.—(Cheers.) It was dreadful to see in a
country boasting of her liberty, poor men thrown into
dungeons for no other crime than the alleged one of selling
unstamped publications. After dwelling at consid,rable
length' on the evils of taxes on knowledge, Mr. Hutne
concluded—(amidst deafening cheers, and cries of " Go
on")--by proposing " The health of the 3,248 electors to
whom he was indebted for being placed at the head of the
poll."—Drank with loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " Mr. Churchill, and
the electors of Highgate," which was drank with applause.
Mr. CHURCHILL then rose, and was well received. He
would only address them for a few moments, as be did
not eensider himself in any way the real object of the
Nest- He was not an elector of Middlesex, nor was be

an inhabitant of TliOlgate. His connection with Di.
Snow had, however, made him acquainted with them,
and though he had not had a vote, there was none present
who hailed with more sincere satisfaction the triumphant
return of Mi. Hume. He was not, however, without an
object in rising, as he Was proud to say he was a member
of the National Political Union, to the efforts of which
Mr. Hume had borne honourable testimony. That Union
had dune much, and Mr. Hume, above all other public
men in the country, had enabled them to do it. When the
popular party were on the point of being deserted by
almost every man of influence in the country, and when
it was thought a disgrace to be connected with such a
party, Mr. Hume had stood forward as their able and un-
flinching advocate, and communicated to them a spirit
which had enabled them to defeat the supporters of cor-
ruption throughout the country. After some other com-
plimentary observations, Mr. Churchill sat down amidst
loud cheers.
Dr. SNOW then rose, and returned thanks on the par
of the electors of Highgate, in an eloquent speech, io
which he took a survey of our domestic policy since the
reign of George the Second, and concluded by proposing
" The health of the Electors of Hampstead."
Mr. A'BECKET returned thanks on the part of the
Electors of Hampstead, and entered into lengthened detail,
on the repeal of the house and window taxes. He stated
that he had been one of a deputation that waited on Lormi
Althorn, to pray his Lordship that the taxes might be re-
pealed, and detailed the answers of Lis Lordship to the
various quest ions that were addressed to him, and which
were generally favourable. • .

The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The health of Sir
John Scott Lillie," which was drank with great en •
thusiasm.

Sir JOHN SCOTT LILLIE rose and addressed the com-
pany. He thanked them for the double honour they had
done him ; first, by inviting him to attend on the present
occasion ; and again, by the very flattering manner in
which his name was received by them. He was only
induced to offer himself as a candidate to frustrate the
designs of a Tory faction that bad long domineered over
them, and who had clubbed together to deprive the metro-
politan county of their tried, honest, and consistent re-
presentative, Mr. Home. He was not disappointed at
being the lowest on the pall ; on the other hand, he was
amply rewarded for any inconvenience to which he might
he put, if he had contributed i❑ any way to the victory
achieved by Mr. Hume over the corrupt influence exerted
against him. He was well informed that, between the
day of nomination and the days of election, upwards of
two thousand pounds were distributed to secure the votes
of the electors. On this he would make no comment.
Sir John then proceeded to state the abuses that led to
the American war, and concluded by assuring them that
there was no means of correcting any abuse but by agi-
tation—by making the tables of both Houses of Parlia-
ment groan under the weight of the petitions of the
people. After a very able speech, Sir John S. Lillie
proposed " The health of their worthy Chairman, J.
Kelly, Esq., in token of their high sense of the ability
with which he bad discharged his duty." The health of
Mr. Kelly was then drank amidst loud cheers.
Mr. KELLY then returned thanks in a neat speech.
After which '° The Health of Mr. Adams," Honorary
Secretary of Mr. flume's Committee at Hampstead was
proposed and (hank.
Mr. ADAMS returned thanks.

Mr. HuatE then rose and proposed " The health of the
Committee" in a speech of considerable length, in which
he dwelt with much earnestness on the necessity of e,ta-
Wishing a Perpe!ual Committee in the various districts,
for the purpose of defeating the machinations of the To-
ries, who had commenced operations anew. The toast
was drank with honours; when Mr. Hume took his leave,
it being after ten o'clock, amidst enthusiastic cheering.