The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-19 00:00:00

THE ADVE

DUPUTATION TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

(THIS DAY.)
A deputation of gentlemen, representing some of the
daily and weekly metropolitan newspapers, had an in-
terview, by appointment, with Lord John Russell, at his
official residence".in Downing-street, this afternoon, on
the subject of the repeal of the advertisement duty.
The deputation was composed of Mr. Evart, M.P.;
Mr. Grant, of the Morning Advertiser; Mr. Murdo Young,
of the Sun; Mr. Francis, of the Athenirum; Mr. W. R.
Spicer, of the Patriot; Mr. D. Pratt, of the British
Banner; and Mr. Thornton Hunt, of the Leader.
Mr. EWART, M.P., introduced the subject to the Pre-
mier. The question, he said, of the repeal of the
advertisement duty, had been already brought under
the consideration of Parliament, and he (Mr. Ewart)
himself had, from time to time, presented a great number
of petitions from parties aggrieved by the operation cf
the tax, praying for its repeal, especially from indivi-
duals connected with the provincial press. lie had reason
also to belieee that there was a very strong and
growing feeling abroad with reference to the manner
in which the tax pressed upon the springs of trade and
commerce, and especially upon persons in the class of
domestic servants, who, in order to obtain situations,
were compelled to have recourse to advertising. The
deputation would not have taken the liberty of troubling
his Lordship at a time when the duties of his responsible
office pressed uton him with perhaps more than ordi-
nary weight, but that they considered the subject was
one of general interest, affecting, more or less, he might
say, almost every class of the community, from the
great landed proprietor who advertised the sale of an
estate down to thepoorest woman who sought to gain her
livelihood in domeetio service. When his Lordship took
into consideration the extreme smallness of the sum which
the duty in question raised to the revenue—a sum not
exceeding 157,0001, in connexion with its general pres-
sure upon all classes of the community, without excep-
tion almost, he (Mr. Ewart) would fain believe that his
Lordship would see that the time had arrived for the re-
mission of such a tax. There was another reason why the
tax ought to be repealed, and that was the vast variety
of modes that were constantly being adopted to evade it
—modes more ingenious than honest. For example, all
published books contained advertisements of other
books, but the advertisements of that class which
were chargeable with duty were only such as ap-
peared in newspapers or reviews. He might also
instance a mode of evading the duty which was now
adopted at railway lotions. There were many other
ways of escaping thooperation of the duty, and of de-
feating its intention els originally proposed. The deputa-
tion thought it hard,not only that those who advertised
their wants or their yarns in newspapers, should be so
heavily mulcted, but that others, who ingeniously sought
out other modes of advertisement, should escape
payment of the dotty altogether. Perhaps many of
those parties were actuated by the desire to publish their
advertisements in a more conspicuous way than the news-
papers afforded ; huts however that might be, the prac-
tices to which he had. adverted, and other kindred ones,
did lead to many ingenions modes of evading the duty
itself. He believed there was no other country than this
in which an advertisement duty existed. If his Lordship
had any opportunitieaot looking at the American news-
papers, he would see the enormous number of advertise-
ments which they contained.
Lord Joaere Russrsta, said he had often had occasion
to observe the immense number of advertisements which
appeared in the American newspapers.
Mr. FRANCIS said he could bear his testimony to the
facts which had been stated by the Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Ewart). He (Mr. Francis) held in his hand a
number of extracts from articles in various journals on
the subject of this duty ; and it was surprising to
observe the unanimity with which they condemned it.
Those extracts were taken from the Sun, the Daily News,
the Atheneum, the Patriot, and many others of the Lon-
don journals. Indeed, it was next to an impossibility to
add anything to the arguments which the writers of
those articles had used; for the repeal of the tax in ques-
tion. He might also advert to some of the means which
were now adopted to evade the tax altogether. He held
in his hand, for example, a prospectus just issued by
the North-Western Railway Company. It an-
nounced to the public that they had authorised
the whole of their station-masters at 180 stations
to receive advertisements, thus constituting themselves
advertising agents, for the purpose of inserting; them in
certain spaces that they had allotted at the different
stations for their exhibition; but that was not
all, they had also appointed an agent in the Strand.
There was no doubt that a similar practice
would in course of time be adopted generally at the
railway stations throughout the kingdom.
Mr. MURDO YOUNG—And by way of inducement to
advertisers the railway company say that 6,000,000
people travelled on their railway in one year, an ad-
vertising circulation which no newspaper can boast of.—
(Laughter.)
Mr. FRANCIS said at a recent interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer on this subject, he (Mr. Francis)
ventured to state the manner in which the proprietors
of one of the Dioramas in London contrived to advertise
theirpaying duty, namely, by inflating
balloons
concern
datlithicheinugt to them a great number of tickets
of admission to their exhibition, which tickets, after the
balloon had risen a certain height in the air, were scat-
tered about in all directions, the finders of the tickets
being entitled to admission to the exhibition at half-price
on writing on tho tickets the place where they had been
respectively He (Mr. Francis) had recently
seenana pickeddyertisi up.
advertising doh
walking along the Strand—
(Laughter)—with a bill suspended from his neck, invit-
ing the public to deal with his master, and with a bill at-
tached to his tail giving the address of his master.—(Re-
newed Lord J. Russell heartily joined.:
which
rniedes of advertising were wholly
uTnhtaatx untaxed,
many h
they,eed laughter,in
oeteely showed, amongst other considera-
tions, that the time had arrived when advertisements in
cewspapers should be uataxed also.
Mr. GRANT reminded his Lordship that a sum of not
more than 158,0001 was derived to the revenue from
this source.—(Hear.) lie (Mr. Grant) believed the
result ofabolishing the duty altogether would be
that so great
stimulus would be given to parties
to advertise exoiseable articles that the increased
con-
sumption of those articles, consequent on such ex-
tensive advertising of them would make up fully for
the sum which the Chancellor of ,the Exchequer would
lose by the repeal of the advertisement duty. In proof
of the extent to which untaxed advertisements would be
published, be knew of his own knowledge that the Nes
York Courier, and some others of the American news-
papers, contained between 1,800 and 2,000 advertise-
ments daily of articles of all descriptions.
Mr. EWART said the extremely bad principle on which
such a tax was imposed was that it taxed commerce in
its communications; in other words, the channels or
conduits through which persons in trade sought to make
known to each other their mutual wants. The eminent
political economists, M'Culloch and Mill, and other
writers, were unanimous in thinking that this was one
of the worst and most obnoxious taxes that was ever
imposed on a community. Mill had put the matter in
a very striking light; he said the Government might as
well tax the town-crier as the advertisements in a news-
paper.
Mr. THORNTON HUNT said unquestionably the severest
pressure of the tax was on advertisements which
did not exist, that was to say, on those adver-
tisements which might exist to set forth the
industry of the working classes. The working classes
as a body, he contended, were excluded from the benefits
of advertising by this tax.
Mr. PRATT was of opinion that if the duty were re-
duced to 6d. the same, if not a larger amount of money,
would accrue to the revenue.
Mr. Yams° thought the Government had better re-
peal the duty altogether, for with a small duty the
same machinery and expenses for collection would be
kept up. He submitted the tax in question was an
impediment to the operation of the principle of
free trade, because it interrupted the communications
between man and man in all commercial transactions.
Mr. GRANT said, as a matter of humanity, the tax
ought to be removed or modified, for it bore with
peculiar hardship on the class of domestic servants,
many of whom were compelled often to remain for
weeks out of a situation for want of the means to pro-
cure an advertisment in a newspaper.
Mr. THORNTON HUNT Said it was computed that about
10,000 domestic servants were constantly out of place in
London.
Mr. FRANCIS also complained of the pressure of the
tax on the exertions of literary mon. It also tended to
restrict the publication and circulation of books of an edu-
cational character and tendency.
Mr. YOUNG said to advertise a book for children would
cost as much as to advertise Macaulay's History of
England.
Lord JOIN RUSELL remarked that the duty was uni-
form on all kinds of books.
Mr. Yourea said many booksellers declined to publish
books of admitted merit, by reason of the serious cost of
advertising them; and a large sale could not take place
without advertising.
op After a few more observations from Mr. GRANT and
Mr. EWART,
Lord Joust RUSSELL said the deputation had made
out a strong case, but be must remind them that there

(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCUESTER, TUESDAY.—Although the American
letters which came to hand on Monday reported a fur-
ther increase in the receipts of cotton, as compared with
the same period of last year, and another decline in
prices, yet both spinners and speculators have gone more
freely into the Liverpool market, so as to raise the quo-
tations Id. per lb.; and, upon our own Exchange, we have
had a somewhat better spirit than that which prevailed
last week, with an upward tendency in most descrip-
tions of yarns. The large proportion there is said to be
of injured .cotton appears to have contributed to this
result. The business of the day has been of no
great extent ; but the merchants connected with Ger-
many and Italy have executed a good many small or-
ders for twist and weft, and the home consumers
have added a little to their scanty supplies. The prices
paid for warps, and 20's and 30'a water in the bundle
are such as were asked, but not acceded to, last week;
they may be considered practically higher by fully
In mule yarns there can hardly be said to be any change
beyond that of a greater degree of firmness. There is
not much inquiry for these by the Indian buyers, who
have as yet received merely a brief telegraphic noti-
fication, by way of Trieste, of some improvements
at Bombay and Calcutta, and also in China. As
regards goods, we have a less favourable account to
give of them than of yarns. The manufacturers show
some increase of firmness, but the inquiry is limited, and
the purchases arc inconsiderable. At the Frankfort fair,
the manufacturers have found a ready sale for their
fabrics; and this would have influenced their operations
in English yarns much more than it has done but for the
news of the fall in the value of cotton.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—There has been another ex-
tremely dull market in flannels, with a downward ten-
dency in prices. The wool market has been quiet, and
prices were in favour of the manufacturers.
MACCLESFIELD, TUESDAY.—The improvement in de-
mand for manufactured goods noted in our last, although
barely sustained, has in some measure renewed the con-
fidence of our manufacturers, who are now more sanguine
of a demand for spring goods taking place between
this and Easter. The market for thrown must be
quoted much the same as last week, some holders press-
ing business at the reduced rates now asking, but up to
the present have nut been met by consumers with a cor-
responding desire to purchase. The dyers complain
much of the prolonged stagnancy of business, many houses
making short time, evidence of the cautiousness of manu-
facturers, with whom stocks are said to be comparatively
light,—tin unusual thing at this season, and owing to
the precariousness of the trade throughout the current
year.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—Business has been gene-
rally flat with us to-day. Not much has been done in
the ball. The merchants have picked up new patterns
for the spring trade. The manufacturers complain of
their heavy goods lying on hand, and at this advanced
period they have no hopes of their getting off. The
wool trade has been better during the week; indeed, a
pretty good trade has been done at rather easier prices.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—The trade in our Piece Ball
is much the same as reported in our last, with the ex-
ception, perhaps, that there has been a little more in-
quiry for some of the finer descriptions of fabrics. eThe
tone of the yarn market is scarcely so hopeful as it was;
and, as the limited demand for export has reduced the
quotations below the cost of production, the spinners are
disposed to curtail their operations. There is not much
doing in wool, and the staplers are more ready to listen
to the terms offered by the spinners.
LEEDS, TUESDAY.—There is no now feature to notice
in the woollen trade since last week. The markets have
been dull, and there is not much doing to order. Busi-
ness is also quiet in the warehouses.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWA
(Continued from our Fourth Edition of last night!)
After a most interrupted and noisy discussion,
The CHAIRMAN set the anxieties of the meeting a
rest by assuring them that the proxies would not be
used at the special meeting.
Mr. MARGREATES (a director). in a speech of great
length, which excited the enthusiastic cheers of the
meeting. denounced the agreement. If passed, the
6,000,0001 of the Eastern Counties Company would have
been ruined, and remarked with great severity upon the
interest which the Norfolk Company took in fastening
their guarantees upon the Eastern Counties Company.
At the conclusion of his speech the cheers of the meeting
were deafening.
Mr. MoutEr. WHITTLE HARVEY, is a speech of great
humour, supported the committee, and earnestly called
upon the shareholders to exercise a careful discretion at
the present crisis of their fortunes.
Mr. Sergeant GA/FLEE took occasion to attach great
blame to the Northern and Eastern directors.
Mr. KENNARD defended the course those directors
had pursued.
The resolution for the adoption of the report of the
committee was then put and carried unanimously.
A supplemental report of the committee was then
read for continuing the services of that body; and the
following resolution will best explain the intentions of
the proprietary.
Adopting the supplementary report, the resolution
proceeded in these terms :—" And that they (the com •
mittee) be requested to continue their services, with a
view of bringing their negotiations with the Newmarket
Railway to a close, and that the committee have power
to enter into negotiations with any other company or
companies for the purpose of effecting traffic arrange-
ments between them and the company; and that such
committee do report the result of such negotiations for
the approval or otherwise of the shareholders at a special
meeting to be convened for the purpose."
The resolution having been carried unanimously, the
business of the special meeting was declared to be at
an end.
The adjourned half-yearly meeting was then held.
The business was to discuss the remaining paragraphs in
the report, the adoption of the report, and the forfeiture
of certain shares; and the election of two directors was
to be disposed of, in the place of Mr. Margreaves and Mr.
Smyth. The proceedings were of the most tumultuous
—or, perhaps, we should rather say excited character.
The result, however, was, that upon the nomination of
Mr. Margreaves, Mr. Archibald Boyd was nominated in
opposition by Mr. Whitney. Upon being put to a show
of hands Mr. Margreaves was declared to be elected by a
considerable majority.
Mr. WHALLEY demanded a poll, amid a perfect storm
of yells.
Upon Mr. Smyth being put in nomination, Mr.
Whalley was placed i❑ nomination in opposition. and
upon a show of hands Mr. Smyth was declared duly
elected.
A poll was demanded for Mr. Whalley.
The CHAIRMAN then, in a very handsome manner,
stated that the seat at the board vacant by the resigna-
tion of Mr. Betts should be placed at the disposal of the
shareholders. As a matter of form, that seat could only
be filled by the directors; but in the present state of af-
fairs, the directors would be happy to follow out the re-
commendations of the meeting.
Mr. WADDINGTON would take that opportunity of ex-
onerating himself from the charges that had been made
against him iu connexion with that company. He had
accepted, it was true, 1,0001. of the company's money,
but he did so in the belief that the directors had ordered
its payment to him for the services which he bad ren-
dered to the company, by bringing up its tragic from
6,0001. a week to 13,0001. a week, and for attending to
the Parliamentary affairs of the company. When, how-
ever, the new directors had called upon him and pointed
out the objection that had been made to this sum being
handed to him, he repaid it —(Hear, hear.) The Hon.
Gentleman made other statements to show that he had
refused to accept shares in this railway and in other
companies, and bad declined to accept offers of other
kinds, because he believed that to act in a contrary man-
ner would have been to have adopted a course that would
be inconsistent with right.—(Hear. hear.)
Mr. JACKSON said, that in 1647, when the London
and Westminster Bank refused to cash the company's
cheques, he (Mr. Jackson) had made effective ar-
rangements to carry on the financial concerns of the
oompany.
The proposition that Mr. Waddington be placed on the
direction was carried, and a poll demanded.
Mr. HONEY announced that the poll would take place
at ten o'clock to-morrow (this day), and terminate at
four o'clock.
The meeting then separated.