The Sun.
London, England, 1834-02-04 00:00:00

HOUSE AND WINDOW TAXES.

A public meeting of the rate-payers and inhabitants of
the parish of Marylebone, convened by th. Vestry, wts
ht-dd yesterday within the Court-yard of Marylebone Work-
house, for the purpose of considering the hest and most
efficient means of procuring the repeal of the house and
window taxes. The meeting was most respectably attended.
Among those present we observed the Right Hon. Lord
Kenyon, the Right Hon. Lord Langford, Joseph Hume,
Esq., M.P., Sir Samuel Whalley, M.P., Mr. Hope, and
many other of the principal inhabitants of the parish.

Mr. HUME moved that Lord Kenyon be requested to take
the Chair, which being seconded, was carried unanimously.
lord KENYON, in opening the business of the day, said
that he attended strictly in his official capacity as church.
warden. He was aware that the question, to consider
which they had that day assembled, was one of very great
importance to every householder within the parish of
Marylebone ; and having been requested by the Vestry in
his capacity of churchwarden to attend, he bad thought
himself in duty bound to do so ; and he would on that, as
on every occasion, have great pleasure in furthering the
interests of the pariah.—(Cheers.)

Mr. HoVENDEN rose to move the first resolution, and
said that the country had a just claim speedily to be re.
lieved from the unjust and oppressive operation of the
house and window taxes. He hoped that this would be
the last time they should have to meet for the purpose of
claiming this relief. That hope rested on the respectful,
but earnest and determined demand of the country
for the repeal of those obnoxious taxes, and that
demand was founded on the strictest justice. If, how-
ever, i t appeared in the outset that they had miscalculated,
and were not to be relieved voluntarily by the Government,
it would not become them to despond. On the contrary,
they were pledged not to be disheartened by a repulse.—
(Cheers.) And if they should be compelled from petitions
to have recourse to a struggle to obtain their rights, then
they could be firm amongst the firmest, and would not be
subdued. He (Mr. Hovenden) as he was one of the first
to put his hand to the plough in this cause, would be one
of the last to abandon it. Would any one present aban-
don it?—(Cries of "No, no," and loud cheers.) He was
the mover of a resolution at a former meeting of the in-
habitants of the parish of Marylebone, which was to the
effect that the house and window taxes were partial and
oppressive, and lie expected the strenuous assistance of all
who voted with him upon that occasion ; for they were
all pledged by that support to use every constitutional
means to procure the total repeal of the house and window
duties.--(Hear, and cheers.) He did not mean to underrate
the opposition which would be made to this measure. His
was aware that it would be very formidable, as many county
Members would consider that they were bound in
duty to their constituents to oppose it. The opposition of
such county members they might forgive; but if any of
the members representing the large towns of the einpire—
, and especially the metropolitan boroughs, and city of Lon-
don—should oppose, or even be lukewarm in the support
of the repeal of the house and window taxes, he hoped
they would be branded and marked so that they could not
be mistaken when they next came before their constituents,
but should be treated as they deserved, if ever they ap-
peared on the hustings.—(Cheers.) They (the meeting)
might be sure, that such lukewarm advocates of their
rights acted from selfish and dirty motives, and could not
be depended on—(Hear hear)—and it was from their op-
position, and not from the opposition of the Ministry that
he apprehended difficulty.--(Hear, hear, hear.) He had
some confidence in the intentions of the Ministers, not-
withstanding their emasculation of the Irish Church Bill
—notwithstanding the Irish Coercion Bill—and some
other measures which savoured of jobbing. He could not
forget that through them the people, by their exertions—
and among them the inhabitants of Marylebone were fore-
most—obtained the passing of the Reform Bill; but while
be gave the Ministry credit for their exertions, he was fully
aware that, without the people, it would not have yet
come before Parliament, and far less have passed into a
law. He must also remember, that to the Ministry, or
rather to one of them, who he regretted was not now in
Parliament, the people of Marylebone were indebted for a
measure of great importance to their local interest—
he meant the Vestry Bill, which was brought into
Parliament by Sir John Cam Hobbouse—(Hear, hear)—
and passed under his fostering care and protection. He
felt that the people of Marylebone were bound by a tie
of gratitude to him for this Act, for without it they would
not on that day, as a parish, have had the power to meet to
consult and petition Parliament on the subject of assessed
taxes, or any other subject. He hoped that gentlemen,
in addressing the meeting, would not speak in a tone of
course defiance of the Government.—(Hear, hear.) It
would be more prudent to be guarded at first, in order
that they might have an opportunity of ascertaining the
intentions of Government, and if it appeared that the
petition of the people was treated with indifference or con •
tempt, then was the time to express indignation. They
would then have the opportunity of meeting again and ex-
pressing their sense of the treatment with which they
met.—(Hear, hear, bear.) But now it would be im-
proper to do so, as, by a too violent expression of feeling,
they might, perhaps, make enemies of those who might
possibly be inclined to be their friends.—(Hear, hear.)
He was aware that, in asking for the repeal of the house
and window taxes, he might be met with the argument,
that the finances of the country would not allow it, and
the Government would require to be supported ; but the
people tested their claims for a repeal now, as they always
had done, on the unequal nature of the burden of those
taxes—(Hear, hear)--on the falling lightly on the great
and wealthy, and an undue share coming to those who
were least able to bear their weight.—(Hear, hear,
hear.) With regard to the nature of the resolution
which he should move, it was declaratory of the embar-
rassments and difficulties under which the country
laboured.—(Hear, hear.) That such embarrassment
existed, was too notorious to deny—(Hear, hear)—anil
while it was known that a large capital existed in the
country, yet, from the system of Government, it was con-
centrated in a few hands, and the main body of the people
were in the greatest distress. The resolution went on to
state that this state of affairs was to be attributed to a
long series of mismanagement on the part of former Go•
vernments, and of lavish expenditure and wide-wasting
wars.—( Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Hovenden) was con-
vinced that the situation of affairs would continue the
same until all si.nilar mismanagement was done away
with—till all sinecures were abolished—all pensions,
nut honestly and honourably earned, stopped, and, above
all, till the permanent expense of the army and navy was
considerably reduced.—(Hear, hear.) This last, however,
could not be accomplished till justice was done to Ireland,
and till that country was ruled by the laws of the con-
stitution, and not by the sword.—(Cheers.) The words
of the resolution were these :—" That the different in-
terests of this country are at present, and have long been,
labouring under great and accumulated difficulties and em-
barrassments ; the effect of a long series of misgovern •
went, of lavish expenditure and wide wasting wars." He
hoped that no gentleman would propose a substitute for
the taxes which they proposed to be taken off, for lie was
sure that, by economy and safe retrenchment, the repeal
could be effected without any substitute--(Hear, 'hear)—
and he would say that no Government, however merito-
rious otherwise, should be allowed to remain in the Admi-
nistration without proper attention to those important
points. He hoped Government would remember that all
potter was now concentrated in the people of England—
(Hear, hear)—and that their wishes were, therefore, to be
attended to, or they would be enforced. He did not de-
spair of seeing prosperous days yet, ,notwithstanding the
present distress of the country. On the contrary, be :elt
confident that a proper attention would bring back pros-
perity, so that the country might once more bear the name
of Merry England. He concluded by moving the first
resolution.

Mr. WILSON seconded the resolution. They had now
met for the eighth or ninth time on the subject of the
house and window taxes, and he hoped that this would
be the last time they should have to do so. It was ad-
mitted by the Government that these taxes were unjust,
unequal, and oppiessive, and the wonder was that any
Administration, atter such an admission, should suffer•
them to continue.—(Hear, hear.) They bad to com-
plain of their inequality especially; and to show that they
did not do so without reason, he had only to mention
the whole of Scotland did not pay so much towards the
house and window tax as the parish of Alarylebone,
and th.t Ireland paid not a fraction at all towards the
assessed taxes.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) This was an
injustice which ought not to be allowed, and it was neces-
sity that the people of the metropolis should be prepared
for such a circumstance as happened last year, when the
agriculturists proposed to repeal the malt duty. They
(the people of the towns) said, and they had a right to
say, that they ought in the first place to procure the repeal
of the house and window taxes. The difference between
them and the aviculturists was this, that they paid the
largest share of both taxes, and had therefore an equi-
table claim for the re,:uction of that which pressed most
upon them. It appeared from returns, that the metio-
polls and the large towns paid one sixth of the malt
duties paid by the kingdom, and the other tax they
paid almost exclusively. It was just, then, that they
should first obtain relief. He (Mr. Wilson) had seen
a letter from Mr. Byng, in which it was stated that the
writer understood it to be the intention of the Government

to repeal the house duty, and that alone. Would that
satisfy them ?—(Cries of " No, no," and groans.) He
was glad to hear that expression of their sentiments.—
(Hear, hear.) Certain he was that that they would never
rest until they had obtained the entire and total abolition
of the house and window taxes.—(Loud cheers.) He
remarked, that every attempt made by Government to
relieve the people by a partial repeal of those taxes only
aggravated the evil; and this he attributed to the radically
had nature of the taxes themselves.—(Hear, hear.) He
was convinced that nothing but a total repeal would give
relief. One half of the tax was taken off houses with
shops last year. Was there ever anything so iniquitous as
to relieve one class of the trading community at the ex-
pense of all others? Was there any reason why shop-
keepers should be exempt, while all other tradesmen were
liable to the tax ?—( Hear, hear.) He, as a shopkeeper—
and in the name of the shopkeepers of Marylebone—repu-
diated such a boon, and threw it back on the givers with
contempt.—(Loud cheers.) He saw and lie could con-
ceive no reason why they should he so partially relieved at
the expense of others.—(Cheers.) There was a large
class who lived by letting lodgings, than whom none more
sensibly felt the oppression of the house and window
taxes; and while they were sensible of the oppression, the
burden was made the more intolerable by feeling that a boon
was extended to the shopkeeper which was refused to
them. Another part of the taxes repealed last session
was the duty on shops. Who were relieved by that ,
measure? Not the small distressed shopkeepers cer-
tainly—(Hear, hear)—but the great shopkeepers—those
leviathans of the City—those individuals who swallowed
up the earnings of a hundred smaller tradesmen. Wa-
terloo House, for instance, had its taxes reduced from
about 1001. to 301.. and that was the only class relieved.
He did not know what that part of the repeal of those
taxes was to be attributed to. He would not say (what-
ever he might think) that it was to be attributed to the
presence of such persons as Wynn Ellis, Morrison, and
others in the same line of business in the house, but he
would leave the meeting to form their own conclusions.
There was another subject to which he could not but
allude. He meant the interview between the Members
for the Tower Hamlets and their constituents, at which
the Members said, that they could not say what they
should do in regard to the repeal of the assessed taxes till
they knew what the Government meant to do. He (Mr.
Wilson) had himself, in company with other gentlemen,
waited on the Member for Surrey, Mr. Briscoe, and he
likewise said, that he would do nothing until he saw
what Government mean?' to do.—(Loud cries of
" Shame.") He (Mr. Wilson), could not help
thinking that it was the dray of a representative
to instruct a Minister of the wishes and wants of his
constituents, instead of waiting to know what the wish
of the Minister was before be would state to his consti-
tuents what he meant to do.—(Hear.) He could under-
stand the meaning of such doctrine in an unreformed
House of Commons, but not among those who ought to
be the real representatives of the people.—(Hear.) It
was a very different matter with a Minister now and in a
former House. If be were left in the minority now, it
could neither be necessary nor expected that he should
resign; the only meaning of such a vote would be, to tell
him he was in error and ought to retrace his steps.—
(Hear, hear.) He agreed with the last speaker, that
there was no occasion for a substitute, in case of the
repeal of these taxes. Why should so large a war
establishment be kept up, after so long continued a peace?
—(Hear, hear.) They were told of the danger of future
wars, but he thought that but a nominal reason. Within
the last six years, there had been more provocation to
war than during the whole of the former wars ; but the
opinions of people were now changed. They would not
go to war—(Hear, hear)—and that was the strongest
possible lesson for the non.continuance of such an army.
The people saw that the only purpose of war was the
aggrandisement and ambition of their rulers—(Hear,
bear)—and they would not yield to such an object.—
(Hear, bear.) In this feeling,, therefore, the people of
England had the best security that there should be no
occasion for such a standing army. With regard to
the abolition of one half of the taxes—namely, those
upon houses—he would ask if the people would be
contented to retain the window taxes upon such a condi-
tion?—(Loud cries of " No, no," and cheers). For his
part, he thought the tax upon windows the most excep-
tionable of the two, as it was most against health. Be-
sides which, it repressed the manufacture of glass, the
consumption of which would be trebled if these taxes were
taken off, and the increase of consumption would of
course give a proportionable increase of revenue from the
same source. One thing be would beg them to remem-
ber, that when Sir John Hobhouse brought forward
his motion on the subject of the assessed taxes, almost
every member of the present Administration showed the
wickedr.ess and impolicy of continuing such unjust and
oppressive taxes, and urged their repeal. He now called
on them to fulfil their former demands.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought, too, that they had a right to expect the sup-
port of their representatives on this occasion. He feared,
indeed, that one of those representatives would not be
very ready to attend them ; but that was their misfor-
tune, not their fault. He was sorry to say that there
was no sympathy between the Learned Gentleman he al.
luded to and his constituents—(Hear, hear)—and he re-
gretted that, because it would deprive the people of
Marylehone, on this occasion, of the support of one of
their two Members. The other Member (Sir S.
Whalley), he hoped, would state whether he meant to
make a specific and speedy motion upon this subject, and
when he meant to make it.—(Hear, hear).
The resolution was then unanimously agreed to.
_ _

Mr. UNDER.WOOD moved the second- resolution, and
considered it his duty, as one of the middle classes, to
state why they petitioned against the continuance of this
species of tax itiun, which was because it was a breach of
promise made by the Government to the people.—(Hear,
bear.) It was on this account that so much discontent
was to be seen. He objected to them, too, because they
were unequal and unjust, and therefore obnoxious.—

(Hear, hear.) He would be sorry to do anything to em-
barrass )Ministers—(Groans)—fur they were placed in a
peculiar and difficult situation, and it was undoubted that
they bad brought forward and passed measures of great
importance and advantage to the country.—(Hear, hear.)
Ile did not approve of all their acts. He did not approve
of the Coercion Bill, of the Irish Church Bill, or of their
system of free trade—(A laugh)—but still he felt they
had done much that was of importance to the people. He
felt certain that the revenue derived from the house and
window duties could be spared, without the necessity of
imposing a substitute; bat if, in any case, it was found
necessary to adopt some substitute, why should it not be a
tax upon the income and property of the country ?.-...(Hear,
bear.) If they could not abolish these taxes without a
substitute, let a substitute be found.—(Hear, hear.) He
thought all sinecures and pensions which had not been
properly earned, and situations—the duties of which are
performed by deputy—ought to he abolished.—(Hear,
hear.) He was aware of the necessity of keeping up the
army to a certain extent—(Cries of " No, no !" —and
groans and cheers, which continued some minutes.)
The CHAIRMAN rose to order. He would never oppose
tie expression of feeling on the part of the meeting; but
that opinion once expressed, he hoped they would allow
every speaker to proceed.—(Hear, hear.)

Air:UNDERWOOD continued—lf the Irish landlords
kept their tenants in a state of destitution, and, conse-
quently, a large standing army was required to keep them
in order—the Irish landlords, and not tie people, ought
to be made to pay for their support—(A laugh)—and if
they did not protect their own property, they ought not
to get protection at the expense of the country. He con-
cluded by saying, that if any substitute were required for
the taxes to be abolished, it ought to be one upon pro-
perty.—(Cheers.)
Mr. ROBINSON seconded the resolution; and thought
that if there was any occasion upon which the people
ought to be united, it was this. The inability of the people
to continue to ply those exactions was evident, from the
difficulty found not only iu raising the assessed taxes, hut,
what was paramount, the parochial rates. In December
last, the arrears of parochial rates due in Marylebone
alone, were 95,0001., and he was told by a collector,
that the amount of arrears on the assessed taxes was
30,0001. This showed the extent of the distress.
But that was not all. Scarcely an establishment in
the country was free of debt. The nation itself had
a debt of 800,000,000/.—the County of 1111ddlesex
a debt of 232,000/.—the parish of Alarylebone a debt
of 153,000/.—and, in shot t, hardly a public institu
lion was free from it. The Trustees of every harbour,
pier, and highway in the country had their separate debts,
and it was to pay the interest that the people were so
heavily taxed. He thought that this showed a great de-
gree of depression in the country itself. He thought the
metropolis, as it had given the country parishes assist-
ance to procure the reform in Parliament, was entitled
now to look for assistance f. out them in petitioning for the
repeal of the assessed taxes. He considered that the pre-
sent meeting had nothing to do with finding a succeda.
nem ; it was sufficient for them to know that the tax
complained of was unjust. It was the duty of the Chan-
cellor of toe Exchequer to find a substitute, if he wanted
one.—(Hear, hear.) He was glad to see the feeling
abroad on the subject of relief given to those who kept
shops, while none was given to the keepers of lodging-
houses; and he hoped that the example given by the parish
of. Marylebone, of joining heart and hand in procuring

the total and immediate repeal of those taxes, would be
hallowed by every town and parish in the kingdom.—
(Cheers.) He concluded by moving the second re-

Sir S. WHALLEY was anx:ous to have the oppor-
tunity of addressing a few words to the meeting, because
he had a double duty to perform that day for the same
good object, having to meet another body of his constitu-
ents in the parish of St. Pancras. He could tell the meet-
ing that nothing could be got from Government but what
was forced from them by the exertions of the people.
—(Hear, hear, hear.) They ought to meet often at
public meetings, to confer and ascertain each other's
sentiments, which would not only enable them to
act with vigour, but to tell thi it representatives
their wishes and wants.—(Hear, hear.) Though public
meetings had been called a farce, it was to them that re-
form was owing—it was to them that they owed the pri-
vilege as they did that day—and it was to them that he
had to attribute the honour of addressing them.—(Hear,
}tear.) He hoped they would not forget, in petitioning and
making complaints, that the House of Commons was the
guardian of the public purse, and that they should not,
therefore, as had been too common of late, appeal to any
other tribunal for redress, but to it alone.—(Hear, hear.)
They ought to know, too, that a Chancellor of the Exche-
quer was always reluctant to reduce taxation, and never
did so until he was forced. Great opposition was to be
expected from landholders on this subject, for fear of the
substitution of a property tax, but it did not ne-
cessarily follow that any such tax would be imposed on
account of the repeal of the house and window taxes.
He trusted that the day was not far distant when they
should have a property tax, but they should reserve it for
a great and better purpose, and meantime they could pro-
cure the repeal of those taxes without it.—(Hear, hear.)
There were two great grounds of complaint besides the
mere fiscal oppression. The first was, the breach of pro-
mise to repeal those taxes on the part of the Government;
the second, that they were originally laid on as war taxes,
and ought, therefore, to have been discontinued at the ter-
mination of the war. They had to complain, too,
that taxes were made the means of disfranchising the 101.
voters who were enfranchised by the Reform Bill. He
had understood that all who were new comprised in the
class of 101. freeholders were to be entitled L a vote in
the representation, and he considered their calling for the
parochial and King's taxes before voters were allowed to
be registered, a breach of faith.—(Hear, hear.) This
alone he thought a good reason why they should be re-
pealed. He would do the justice to the Tory party, and
especially to Sir Charles Wetherell, to say that they op-
posed this clause. He kpew that there was a sufficient
disposition on the part orthe people to pay the parochial
taxes without being thus forced.—(Hear, hear.) They
were not aware, perhaps, that Marylebone alone paid as
much of the assessed taxes as any twenty counties.—
(Shame, shame.) No wonder then that twenty county
members would be opposed to their repeal.—(Hear.) He
was present, and the Hon. Member for the county of
Middlesex was present likewise, when a county member
made that excuse for voting for their continuance.—(Cries
of " Name him.") The lion. Member then contended
that the assessed taxes applied almost exclusively to the
poorer classes, and the higher the rank of parties the less
they were taxed, and that they should have been repealed
in preference to the soap or other duties.—(Hear,
hear.) What use was it to repeal the duty on soap,
if it were only required to clean a face for the sole
purpose of showing the devastations made there, by
destitution and hunger 2—(Hear, bear.) Why should
soap be applied to clothes, if those clothes were only
rags?—(Hear.) He would not have them to depend on
the delusive promises of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
or requssts for delay, for fear the question might be mixed
up, as it was last session, with the question of the property
tax, and thus their hopes defeated ; and he pledged him-
self to bring forward an early motion on the subject,
should there be any appearance of delay on the part of
Government. The Hon. Member concluded by seconding
the resolution, which was passed unanimously.
Captain GOWAN moved the next resolution, and urged
the necessity as well as the practicabi ity of retrenchment.
In our foreign embassies there was great room for re-
trenchment. The colonies ought to support themselves;
Ireland should be taxed equally with England ; sugar
ought to be admitted on equal terms from the East and
West Indies, and to be refined in the colonies as well as
at home. If any additional duties were laid on, they should
be on the destructive and abominable gin—(A laugh).—
which was the bane of human existence.—,L iuehter.)
There was much room fir improvement in the Woods and
Forests. Here commended private economy to the aristo-
cracy—(A laugh)—because there was always public where
there was private waste ; and he deprecated the conduct
of lady's maids and butlers, whom be designated as most
improper in their conduct towards tradesmen, and hoped
they would learn better manners. He then moved the
next resolution.
The Rev. Dr. FELLOWS seconded the resolution. The
repeal of those taxes would have been considered last year
a boon ; they were only this year half a boon ; and if
they were delayed until next year they would be no boon
at all. It was an old saying, that alacrity in the giver
doubled the gift ; and it was true—for the idea of un-
willingness in the mind left no room fur gratitude in
the heart. The Government had not yet learned the
wisdom of concession in time. It was a truth, of which
ail Governments were miserably deficient. Of the two
taxes of which they complained, the one was founded on
injustice, the other on impiety—(Hear)—and yet it was
singular that the impious tax was the one which the
Government meant to retain.—(Hear.) MI those taxes
had their origin in the time of George 111., when borough-
mongers were in a high and palmy state, at the expense
of the people. In the reign of George 111. more was
done to repress the liberty of the subject, and to rob the
people of their rights, than in any other.—(hear, hear.)
His was a reign of war and taxes. War was his pastime
—taxes his feast; but that which was the King's nutri-
ment was hanging to his people—what his pastime their
agony.—(Loud cheers.)
The resolution was then carried unanimously.

Mr. SAVAGE, a member of the Parochial Committee,
moved the next resolution, which was seconded by Mr.
LANGHAM, and passed.

Mr. HOPE moved the fifth resolution.

Mr. POTTER seconded the resolution, and said that the
statement made by a former speaker regarding the arrears
of parochial taxes due in the parish of Mar)lebone, was
erroneous, as, instead of 95,0001., the actual amount of
arrears was only 8,000/. or 9,0001. out of an amount of
75,0001. He further stated, that there never was a more
cordial feeling among the inhabitants of the parish than
at present.
The resolution was then carried unanimously.

Mr. HUME then came forward, and stated 'that he at-
tended as a parishioner as well as in his capacity of Mem-
ber for the County, as be was anxious to ascertain the
opinions of the parish on this impottanc subject. He was
happy to find such unanimity in favour of repeal, and with
satisfaction would give his support to forward their wishes.
He assured them, too, that if they continued to he equally
unanimous, they would obtain not only the repeal of the
house and window taxes, but of many otter taxes.
Many had complained of the conduct of Lord Altborp,
and be (Mr. Hume) joined in the complaint; but he did
not think that Lord Althorp was the only person to
blame. There were also Members who had not done
their duty, and them he blamed more then any other.
He asked if, because they had got reform, which was
to be the means of retrenchment and goo I government,
they were to stop at the means, without going further ?
—(Cries of " No, no.") Had they cheap government
—(No, no.) He was glad to find them maintain that.
He could say that there never was a House of Commons
so much at the beck of the Minister as the present House.
But had the people done their duty ? No, they had not.
They had returned Members in opposition to their interests,
and even to their pledges; and certainly some Members
were in the House who bad not kept their pledges. He
saw no reason Why the expenditure of the country should
not be reduced to the scale of 1792, and he considered
that they would not be doing their duty until that was
accomplished. He deprecated the system of addressinF
the Ministers of the day instead of Parliament. L might
lie very well to send Ministers a copy of resolutions agreed
to; but Parliament was the only proper tribunal for thi
complaints of the people. The Hun. Member then stated,
that when the Re.orm Bill was brougot into Parliament,
Lord John Russell had stated to him that it would entran
cbise one million of voters, so that every Member would be
sent into Parliament by 300 good constituents; but instead
of that, it was now ascertained, in consequence of a return
for which he (Mr. Hume) had moved last session, than
there were only 500,000 voters in the whole of England
and Wales. Was that a state of representation for tio
kingdom ?—(No, no ; and cheers.) With regard to the
reduction of the house and window taxes, be was sure .t
was quite practicable. Only seven years ago, he had pro•
posed some reductions, to the amount of seven millions,
and be was laughed at as a fool; yet more than seven mil
lions bad since been reduced, and principally those taxes
the reduction of which he had recommended.—(Cheers.)
And be could now say, that if be were to live ten years
more, seven tniilions more could safely be reduced.—
(Hear, hear.) There was no fear of resignation. He
did not care whether Whigs or Tories were in power,
though, to be sure, he would, if any thing, prefer his old
friends the Whigs; but, which ever party was in, they

.•ould necessarily retrench ; and this of the house and

tax, W.s to he •i .•r hot a first
He hoped that the Government would tell pla7n!y, in the
Speech to-morrow, that they were to repeal those t-x 5.
If not he would cast off the whole set.—(Langhter.)
w dad to hear that they had some measure in view wh ch
would probably put an end to the very name of tithes.—
(Hear, hear, hear.) Hr hoped that that as well as other
r -forms were intended.—The Honourable Member was
loudly cheered throughout his speech.

A petition to the House of Commons, founded on the
regotutions, was ttien agreed to, after which

MI. KENNETT moved, that it be signed in the presence
of the Churchwardens and twenty-four vestrymen, which
was seconded by Mr. RAMERRECK, and agreed to.
Mr. GREEN then moved, that thanks be given to the
noble Chairman, fir his patient, impartial, and able con-
duct in the chair, which was agreed to amidst loud
cheers.
The meeting then dissolved-