The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-06 00:00:00

LINCOLN CITY MEETING.

R O USE AND WINDOW TAXES.
GENERAL TAXATION.
A meeting of the citizens of Lincoln took place on
Saturday in the Guildhall, pursuant to a requisition
signed by 98 of the most respectable citizens. The MAYOR
in the Chair.
Mr. E. B. MINT. after an eloquent speech moved--
" That no system of taxation should exist which is calm-
ated to oppress trade and industry, or prevent the progress of
national wealth, or produce evils to society beyond the subtrac-
tion of the pecuniary amount of the tax."
Dr. BOOT in an impressive address seconded the motion,
which was carried unanimously.
G. HEBB, Esq., solicitor, moved the second resolution—
" That the assessed taxes originally enacted as war imposts,
under the pledge of being discontinued on the return of peace,
are now pressing upon the trading classes with almost intole-
rable severity ; by reason of the altered value of money, and
the diminution of profits."
This was seconded by Mr. W. BEDFORD YEATS, who
ably explained the manner in which law makers during
the last half century, had contrived to evade the burdens
they skilfully imposed upon others.
The third resolution, moved by Mr. Alderman WRIGLES-
WORTH, and seconded by Mr. Br.rtrn :
" That instances having been lately enumerated of many
sumptuous mansions which are valued much lower in propor-
tion to other property, and consequently producing an incon-
siderable portion of the revenue, compared with their value,
it is the opinion of this meeting that such instances are a dis-
graceful violation of the compact of equal taxation, and a fraud
upon the working classes, who are compelled to contribute by
far the greater part of the revenue, in the shape of indirect
taxation upon the necessaries of life."
The fourth resolution, proposed by R. S. HARVEY, Esq.,
surgeon, and seconded by Mr. ODLING, mercer :
" That it is expedient the assessed taxes, and especially the
house and window duties, should be repealed, or subject to
such revision as shall exempt houses occupied in trade, and by
the working classes, upon the principle that has already induced
the Legislature to free houses, and buildings connected with
agriculture."
A petition, founded on the foregoing resolutions, was
introduced by Mr. Northouse, which led to a full discus.
sion of the present state of public policy; and a bona fide
property tax was allowed by all the speakers (most of
whom were considerable owners themselves) to be the true
remedy for the evils under which the country is suffering;
such tax to be accompanied by a repeal of all the absurd,
circuitous modes of arriving at the surplus means of the
people.

The petition embraces the great topics discussed, and
was adopted by a large majority.
Thanks were then voted to the Mayor, for his kindness
in presiding at the meeting.

TIIE PETITION.
Air. NeRTHOUSE moved, after a very long speech,
which was much cheered, the following petition, which
Mr. W. BEnvortn. sen., seconded
TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS, IN PAR.
LI A MENT ASSEMBLED.
" THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDER-
SIGNED MAGISTRATES, MERCHANTS, TRA-
DERS, AND INHABITANTS, OF THE CITY
AND SUBURBS OF LINCOLN,
‘. HUMBLY SHOWETIT,
" That your petitioners hailed the passing of the Reform Bill
with joy and exultation, as a restitution of usurped rights, a
security for honest legislation, and a harbinger of sound, wise,
and equitable Government.
" That your petitioners expected, as one of the first results of
the passing of that Bill, a thorough and searching inquiry into
the present state of the country, as affected by taxation—a re-
lief from such burdens as prevented or impeded
_prosperity—
and a substitution of others, not calculated to have the same
effect.
"'That your petitioners received, with great gratification, the
result of the division on the malt tax, and looked forward with
hope to the success of the motion of Sir John Key, for the re-
peal of the house and window taxes.
" That your petitioners have been disappointed in these, their
reasonable expectations, but they are not unaware of the adverse
influences, not arising from your Honourable House, to which
disappointments may be attributed.
"That your petitioners should consider it as the greatest evil
that could befall the country (save that of remaining in its pre-
sent state of distress and decay), were the Government to fall
into the hands of those factious and selfish men who resisted the
Reform Bill, and strove to prevent the people having a real re-
presentation in your Honourable House.
" That with no such wish or desire, your petitioners lay before
your Honourable House the following views upon taxation, and
press upon your Honourable House the absolute necessity of
taking them into speedy consideration :
"First —lt appears to your petitioners that all taxes necessary
for the government of a State, and the payment of its debts,
should be so raised and apportioned as to produce no other evil
than that of abstracting the pecuniary amount from the pockets
of the people.
" Second.--That whatever tends to increase the wealth of a
nation by increasing or improving its products should not be de-
stroyed or reduced by taxation.
"Third.—That "the malt tax, besides the abstraction of its
amount, injures the labourer by disabling him from brewing his
own beer, the grower by preventing the sale of his barley, and
the community at large by its vexatious regulations, doubling or
greatly enhancing the price of the beer they purchase.
Fourth.—That the soap tax, besides the amount it abstracts,
prevents or impedes cleanliness—the newspaper tax, knowledge
—the insurance tax, prudence—the house and wincloy tax,
t' tit air health, and industry.
I nut— a 1,0. t. ...... ...Iv •"nrrlllnn
sible fr.ms the gross and unjust inequality of its apportionments
—from the vexatious surcharges, journeys, and loss of time it
occasions—but most of all from its impeding the progress of
trade, and thereby obstructing the national prosperity.
" Sixth.—That the Legislature has recognised the last-men-
tioned principle, by freeing from the operation of the house tax
all farm-houses, such houses being no more necessary for the
progress of agricultural production, than shops with houses at.
tached are necessary for the progress of commercial production.
Seventh.—That those of his Majesty's subjects who are en.
gaged in trade or agriculture, and who are thereby increasing or
improving products, are the creators of the national wealth, and
should not be discouraged or impeded by taxation or otherwise,
but when they cease to create or improve products; that then
they with others who possess property without creating or im-
proving the national wealth by their exertions, become debtors
to the State for the protection of their property, and are the only
fit subjects for direct taxation.
" These premises your petitioners humbly lay before your
Honours ;le House, with the additional tact that, owing to the
faulty nature of the existing taxation, and the return to cash
payments, the remission of taxes since the year 1830, and which
amounts (deducting increased duties) to about 4,400,1j001. per
annum, has not had the beneficial effect which such remissions
usually have, the difference in the revenue of last year, as com-
pared with 18W, being above 4,400,0001., besides the reduced ex.
pease of collection being about half a million more—thus de-
monstrating that the means of paying taxes are more rapidly
diminishing than the taxes themselves, with all the savings in
the expense of collecting the most rigid economy can enforce.
" Your petitioners therefore pray your Hon. House to take
these appalling facts into consideration—to revise the whole sys-
tem of taxation—to free the shops and houses of traders from
the payment of the house and window duties—to reimpose the
same amount, or what maybe necessary, upon realized property,
and to render such further relief as to your Hon. House shall
seem wise, just, and expedient.
" And your petitioners will ever pray," Ac.

A fresh cause for dull trade is assigned in the
letter of one of our Huddersfield correspondents, who says,
" Trade would be good if it was not for the influenza—as
it is, all is paralysed."

TIIE EARL OF RIPON.—When the father
of Lotds RIPON and GRANTHAM was elevated to the
Peerage, GEORGE 111., made some difficulty as to the
extent of his property, which was, in his Majesty'. opi-
nion, too small for the maintenance of his Lordship's rank.
The present Lord GRANTHAM, however, is alreAdy a
wealthy Peer, and he will ultimately be among the very
wealthiest of his order. He is heir apparent to the title
and estates of the venerable Countess de GREY, now in
her 83d year, and also to the bulk of the vast possessions
of Mrs. LAWRENCE, of Studley Park, in Yorkshire.
Lord GRANTHAM has two daughters, his only son having
died two years ago, so that the infant son of his brother,
the Earl of IttroN, now in his sixth year, may be regarded
as heir presumptive to three peerages and four large for-
tunes. The Countess of Rtrox succeeded. on the death
of her father, the late Earl Of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, to all
the unentailed estates of the Hosktyr family, including
their splendid seat of Norton Hall, in Lincolrishii-e. It is
understood that the Noble Lord Privy Seal selected the
title of Ripon because he had represented that borough in
several Parliaments, when the Members were returned
under the patronage of Mrs. LAWRENCE.

ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE ROYAL OF
FRANCE.—His Royal Highness the Duke. of ORLEANS
and suite arrived at Grillion's Hotel, in Albemarle-street,
in two travelling carriages and four, on Saturday evening,
at eleven o'clock, from Paris, via Dover. The Duke was
accompanied by Generals BAUDRAND and MARBOT, and
by several young French officers of his staff. M. de
BoIsMILON, Secretory to the Duke, was in attendance to
receive his Royal Highness. Several servants, in the li-
very of the reigning Royal Family of France, were also
in waiting to attend on the young Prince, who travelled
with all possible expedition, having embarked at Calais at
an early hour that morning, for Dover. Within twenty
minutes of his Royal Highness's arrival at GRILLON'S,
Prince TA I.LETRAND drove to the hotel, and warmly
greeted him on his arrival in England. His Excellency
exhibited much anxiety to have an interview with the
Duke, and came to the hotel ut nine o'clock, in the ex-
pectation that his Royal Highness had then reached town.
We understand that the use of the Royal carriages, and
the selection of horses from the KING'S stud, have been
offered to the Duke during his sojourn in the metropolis.
Colonel TAYLOR, one of the Grooms in Waiting to the
KING, has been directed to attend on his Royal Highness.
The young Duke de NEMOURS has not accompanied his
brother on this occasion, and we understand that it is
uncertain whether he will visit England this summer. The
Duke of ORLEANS deferred his departure until after the
expiration of the festivals given in Pais in honour of the
natal day of the King of the FRENCH, whose fete was
celebrated in the usual manner on Wednesday last. The
Duke's visit is understood to be merely an excursion of
pleasure, and totally unconnected with political conside-
rations. The Duke de VALENCAY and the Duke de
Mormsroartarcr, personal friends of the Duke of ORLEANS,
have also arrived in town from Paris.