The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-31 00:00:00

JOHN ELLIS, Chairman of the Board &Directors.
SAIiIJEL BEALE, Deputy Chairman.
By order, J. F. BELL, Sec.

Derby,*Jan. 28, 1851.

AVIIS'S CANDLES, 40. and 54. ;
a Imes tio.yer
_lb-; magnynys, tionid .14!,
.730.;

•••••••• Norrert.”.., .747..13K7
'
'Botanic wai C.antilas,JA. ; nerMan wagit.
genuine wax, 2s. 3d. • sperm candles, 2s 2d. tone. 44. ; transparent
wax, Is. 4d. to 2s. 4d. mottled soap 565. and 60s. per 112 lbs. ; yel-
low soap, 445., 508., and 565. ; Windsor soap, Is. 4d. per packet ;
brown Windsor, Is 9d. ; rose, 2s. ; almond, 2s. 6d.; sperm ell,
7s. 6d. per gallon ; solar, 3s. Gd. ; seal, 4s. ; argand or cobza, 4s. 6d.;
sealing wax, 4s. Cd. per lb., for cash, at DAVIES'S old established
warehouse, 63, St. Martin's.lane, opposite Westminster County
Court.

REPEAL OF THE WINDOW-TAX.
DECLARATION OF VISCOUNT DUNCAN.
An aggregate meeting of representatives of the
several parishes comprised in the City and Liberty of
Westminster took place last evening.at the Vestry-
room of St. James's, Piccadilly, for the purpose of
adopting measures for procuring " the total and im-
mediate repeal of the window duties, without the
substitution of any other tax." The attendance was
numerous, comprising churchwardens, overseers, ves-
trymen, and others, from the following parishes :
St. James's, St. Paul's, Covent-garden, St. Anne's,
Soho, and St. Mary-le-Strand.
Mr. Was. GEESIN, senior churchwarden of St.
James's, presided, and urged on the assembled repre-
sentatives the importance of putting their shoulders
to the wheel. There were several claimants for the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's surplus, but none had
a stronger claim than the opponents of the window-
tax—a war tax, and one which ought to have been
repealed long ago. This most unjust and unsanitary
tax had been the means of taking sixty-
three millions from the pockets of those who
paid it.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Its repeal was
most important as a stimulus to various kinds of la-
bour—carpenters, glaziers, painters, sash-frame-
makers, and others. In reference to this tax Minis-
ters had not kept faith with the people , and they
should beware, lest their bad example was followed
by the people in reference to the national debt—the
legacy of the " Beaven-born Minister"—who had
proved one of the greatest curses this country ever
suffered.—(Hear, hear.) With a due pressure on the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, he must give way on
this tax. Let its repeal be obtained, and he would
then go for the repeal of the paper duties, soap duties,
1
and other imposts. Still, the great evil was the state I
of the representation in the House of Commons,
where there sat 86 Members representing an aggre-
gate number smaller by 247, than the constituency of
the Tower Hamlets.—(Hear, hear.) This should be
reformed altogether, and then many minor evils would
be got rid of.
Mr. W. J. NEWTON, of Brewer•street, the hono-
rary secretary, read letters which he had received
from the representatives of various parishes, amongst
others from Mr. Freeth, of Marylebone, who stated
that the petition of that parish had received 20,000
signatures.— (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WeextesoN, churchwarden of St. Paul's, stated
that a memorial addressed to Francis Smedley, Esq.,
the high-bailiff of Westminster, requesting him to
call a public meeting on the subject, had been nume-
rously signed in his parish.
The CHAIRMAN stated that similar requisitions had
been signed in the other parishes, and would be pre-
sented without delay.
Mr. MILEY, of St. James's, suggested that an in-
quiry should be undertaken by going through all the
small houses in the parish, to show the injurious effect
of the tax in a sanitary point of view.
A conversation ensued as to the steps to be taken
preliminary to a public meeting.
The CHAIRMAN suggested that it would he desir-
able to obtain a large number of petitions, with few
signatures, rather than one large petition, even if it
had 50,000 signatures. This plan had been acted on
in Islington, where Mr. Harris, the secretary of the
Reform Association, was getting up about 3,000 peti-
tions, each signed by one individual. This would
have a far greater effect on the House, as the Hon.
Member who presented those petitions would be able
to occupyan houror, two.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
He thought it would be a good plan, on th© day of
the meeting of Parliament, to have a number of men
stationed in Palace-yard, bearing large placards, in-
scribed " No Window-tax—No House-tax."—(llear,
hear.) This would at once show Hon. Members
what was wonted, and convince them of the strength
of the agitation. Ile would have a small army of
these men, so as to impede the way to the House ;
and then there could he no mistake as to what the
people wanted.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
It was resolved that a deputation should be ap-
pointed to wait on the churchwardens of the parishes
not represented at the meeting.
Lord DUNCAN, who entered the meeting at this
stage of the proceedings, was loudly cheered. lie
said—l have no hesitation in answering at once the
question which has been put to me by my friend Mr.
Geesin. I think it is now some eight or ten years
since he and I first undertook this question.—(llear,
hear.) We had then great difficulties to contend with.
Fortunately, we have proceeded so far pretty well ;
and the difficulties we had to contend with have been
annually diminishing.—(Hear, hear.) It is quite
unnecessary for me to trouble you with any arguments
for the repeal of this tax. In the days of Sir John
Hobhouse and others it had been denounced, both in
St. James's and in other of the metropolitan parishes.
The course I intend to pursue on this question is open
and straightforward; I shall certainly renew my
motion for the repeal of the window-tax at as early a
day as I can.—(Cheers.) It is my intention to bring
forward a motion for the total, immediate, and come
plete repeal of this obnoxious tax.—(Hear, hear.)
And when I regard the state of the national finances,
lam happy to say that I perceive they are now in
such a state that I can no longer be met with the only
objection that was ever brought forward—the impos•
sibility of repealing it under the peculiar circum-
stances of the revenue; for as we have so large a
surplus, I do not think there is anything to which that
surplus could be applied with more satisfaction to the
public than to the repeal of the window-tax.—(Hear,
hear.) I must be permitted to take this opportunity
of making a few observations with respect to certain
words which have fallen from other Hon. Mem-
bers of the House of Commons. Very lately, at
a meeting at Bradford, my friend Mr. Cobden
stated that in his opinion the window-tax
was not the first tax on the list that ought
to be repealed, and he expressed his belief that it fell
middle
only and exclusively upon the higher and
words must
classes of the community. I think those
rwhoasr
have fallen from my Hon. Friend rathteuoitytoilf.Y
(Hear, hear.) If he will take the o pt?
In-
vestigating the subject he will bte
only upon the
fallinclinedP
with me that the tax does noressesmost unequally
higher and middling, but also
ipy,
!Itar, and that all would
upon all classes of the community,
hear.) This very
be benefited by its repeal.—(htol
walk as far as the Crystal
day I took the trouble.
this metropolis. Now the
to ask in my place in Par-
liament is whethsehroutlldialtikCe-rystal Palace is to be sub-
jected to the window-tax.—(Hear, hear.) If it is, I
really should like to know bow much they will have
to pay for it.—(Applause.) If it is not, I should then
like this question tinswered—whether other persons
may not
he permitted to build crystal palaces as well
as the Royal Commissioners.—(Cheers.) I am
well aware that in the manufacturing districits
a great number of persons are exempted
.from
this TOM
this tax. Now, I never could understand why,
if it is to be imposed at all, the manufacturers
should not pay equally with other persons ; nor why,
if it is to be maintained, it should not be placed on
the shoulders of every man in the community.—
(Hear.) It is the numerous exemptions which have
been made from time to time in favour of large in-
terests that have caused the tax to press so unequally
on different classes.—(Cheers.) I have repeatedly
brought forward this subjeet in the House of Com-
mons, and have never received any answer at all sa-

l;t
Nr:11-
tisfactory why the tax should not be repealed, except
the financial difficulties. Those have fortunately ceased
and I do not think there can be a more auspicious mo-
ment for agitating the question than the present. It
gives me the greatest satisfaction, having only arrived
in this country yesterday from the continent, to find
the inhabitants of the metropolis so actively engaged.
I have received communications front many other
parts of the kingdom, and I am happy to say that
the agitation on this subject is not confined to
the metropolis alone. If you gentlemen out of
doors will exert yourselves, and press this question
on the attention of your representative s, I am quite
convinced that when I bring it forward,, whoever may
be in the Government, or however I msty be opposed,
I shall not be opposed successfully. I run certain that
the matter is entirely in your hands. Cod willing, I
shall make the motion, and I trust X shall have to
make it this year for the last time.—(,q pplause.) But
rest assured that if I do not carry it this year, so con-
vinced am I of the justice of the cos e, that I shall
bring it forward again snd again until I see it finally
successful.—(Cheers.) I have no doubt you are all
convinced of the benefit that will re suit from its
repeal. We have nothing to do with ti .e taxes to be
imposed ; we have only to do with th is single tax,
and considering its inequality, and the impossibility
of carrying out sanitary measures while it exists, I do
not think that, with any semblance o.rjustice, our
demands upon this subject can be successfully refused.
Mr. ANLEY stated that if the window-tax was re-
pealed he should reduce his rents on those houses for
which he paid the taxes.—(Hear, hear.).. He was
certain this example would be generally followed.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the Members for Fins-
bury, Lambeth, Westminster, and other metropolitan
boroughs, were pledged to stop the supplies if the
window-tax was not repealed.—(Cheets.)
Mr. NELSON stated that of the 1,800,0001. pro-
duced by the window-tax, only 300,0001. -was paid by
the upper classes—a proof that it pressed unjustly on
the middle and lower. There was an annual addition
of 5,000 houses to the metropolis, which did not pay
the window-tax, the majority of which were unfit for
human habitation. He moved the thanks of the meet-
ing to Lord Viscount Duncan for his attendance.
Mr. WILKINSON seconded the motion, which was
carried amidst great applause.
Viscount Duricerr briefly acknowledged the vote,
and in a highly complimentary speech to the chalk.
man, moved a vote of thanks to that gentlemait.
The meeting then adjourned.

SPRING CIRCUITS, 1851.
Yesterday the Judges appointed to proceed and hold
the ensuing Spring Assizes on the Northern, Norfolk,
and Midland Circuits met and finally arranged and fixed
the several days and places when they would attend and
open the commission in and for the several counties Qom-
prised within their respective circuits, when the follow-
ing days and places were named for that purpose:—
NORFOLK CIRCUIT.
RDOM—The Right Hon. Sir JOHN JERTIS, Lord Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas, and the Hon. Mr. Justin
ERLE.

Buckinghamshire—Monday, March 10, at Aylesbury.
Bedfordshire—Thursday, March 13, at Bedford.
Huntingdonshire—Monday, March 17, at Huntingdon.
Cambridgeshire—Wednesday, March 19, at the County
Court of Cambridge.
Norfolk—Tuesday, March 25, at the Castle of Norw;mh.
City of Norwich—The same day, at the Guildhall of
the city.

Suffolk—Tuesday, April 1, at Bury St. Edmund's.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT.
JIIDGES.—The Hon. Mr. Justice CRES WELL and Mr.
Baron PLATT.
Northern Division of Lancashire—Monday, Feb. 17,
at the Castle at Lancaster.

Westmoreland—Thursday, Feb. 20, at Appleby.
Cumberland—Saturday, Feb. 22, at Carlisle.
Northumberland—Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Newcastle.
Town of Newcastle—The same day at the same place.
Durham—Monday, March 3, at Durham.
Yorkshire—Saturday, March 8, at the Castle of York.
City of York—The same day, at the Guildhall of the
city of York.

South Division of Lancashire—Saturdaf, March 22,
at Liverpool.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.
JUDGES.—The Hon. Mr. Baron ALDERSON and Mr.
Justice COLERIDGE.

Rutlandshire—Thursday, Feb. 27, at Oakham.
Northamptonshire—Friday, Feb. 28, at Northampton.
Lincolnshire—Wednesday, March 5, at the Castle at
Lincoln.
City of Lincoln—The same day, at the Guildhall of
Lincoln.
Nottinghamshire—Tuesday, March 11, at Notting-
ham Castle.
Town of Nottingham—The same day, at the same
place.

Derbyshire—Thursday, March 13, at Derby.
Leicestershire—Wednesday, March 19.
Warwickshire—Coventry Division—Friday, March
21, at Coventry.
Warwick Division—Saturday, March 22, at the Castle
at Warwick.
The days on the Oxford and South Wales Circuits am
not yet finally fixed.