The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-17 00:00:00

THE INCOME 2AX.

Last evening a meeting was held at the work-
house, in Gray 'a-inn-lane, for the purpose of pro-
moting the amendment and reduction of the income
tax.

The chair was taken by Mr. HOPGOOD, who
opened the proceedings by explainirg the objects
of the meeting, and called upon Mr. Tidmarsh to
move the first resolution.

Mr. TIDMARSII—The provisions of the two last
acts, by which the extra tax for the exigencies of
the war was to lapse in the event of the ratification
of peace before the sth of April, and pointed out
that, according to the spirit of that provision, it
ought to have so terminated, inasmuch as peace
was actually signed before that date, though the
formal ratification was not completed for some few
days after. After commenting on the unfairness
of continuing the impost under such circumstances,
he proposed the first resolution, calling for the im-
mediate reduction of the income tax to 7d. in the
pound.
Mr. CLARKE having seconded the resolution,
A GENTLEMAN pointed out that, even as the
matter now stood, the tax could be reduced to sd.
in the pound at the end of the current financial
year, and suggested that the resolution should
be modified so as to demand the immediate carry-
ing into effect of that reduction. (Applause.)
Otherwise they would be asking the Government
to tax theta to the extent of 2d. in the pound more
than the Government asked. (A. laugh.)
This resolution was seconded by another gentle-
man, who said that meetings were being held
all over the kingdom, and resolutions were being
passed in accordance with this suggestion. It be-
hoved them to be unanimous, and. to work
upon Parliament by pressure from without,
which was the only way to make them do any-
thing. Ho also complained bitterly of the man-
ner in which the income tax was assessed, and
said that the collector was a spy in every district.
He also complained of the manner in which
appeals were decided, alleging that it was almost
useless to seek justice from the commissioners. He
referred to the sale of the returns for waste-paper
as an unjust exposure of their private affairs of
every man of business, by men who had been sworn
to secresy, and wondered " whose perquisites it
was." (A laugh.)
Mr. ELDON, following up the remarks of the
last speaker on the difficulty of obtaining justice
by appeal, observed that all they did was to ask
appellant how many children he had ; and then to
make up their minds that a man with so many
children ought to have such and such au income,
and tax him accordingly.
Other speakers urged the propriety of a protest
against any tax whatever upon incomes not ex-
ceeding 1501.
Ultimately these suggestions were adopted and
the resolutions modified accordingly. As put to
the meeting it was to the effect that the tax as at
present existing was " excessive, and ought to be
reduced by taking off the additional od. for the
exigencies of the war, with a view to its total
abolition," and also that the tax ought not to be
levied on incomes of 1501. and under. In this form
it was unanimously carried.
A second resolution was also carried protesting
against the levying of the same percentage on in-
come and property. After which the meeting
separated at an early hour.

GREAT ILANDEL FESTIVAL.

CRYSTAL PALACE, MAY, 1857.

The arrangements for this enormous musical exhibi•
tion of 2,300 performers progress in the most satisfactory
manner. The interest and enthusiasm excited in musical
circles is without precedent. The committee of the
Sacred Harmonic Society have already received offers of
assistance from nearly 3,000 persons desirous of taking
part in this great celebration, a number which does not
include the society's own orchestra of 700 performers,
nor those members of the musical profession whose po-
sition precludes the necessity of applications for engage-
ments.

The provincial towns have come forward in a very
unanimous manner. Birmingham offers a choir of 400
voices. Under the organisation of Mr. Oliver Mason, the
able manager of the Birmingham Festivals, it is sug-
gested that rehearsals should at once commence. Brad-
ford has also a large force of picked Yorkshire vocalists
at disposal ; while from Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester,
York, Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester, Norwich,
Keighley, Huddersfield, Lincoln, Exeter, Peterborough,
Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Brighton, Leicester,
Nottingham, and many other towns, applications to take
part continue to be received ; and even from places as
remote as Dublin, Edinburgh, and Belfast, communica-
tions have been made of the desire to be associated in
this immense musical gathering.
One of the most gratifying features in connectio❑ with
the 1857 Festival is the spirit of emulation excited in
the various localities. In many places which had not
thought of Handel Commemorations plans are being
put forward.
Toe Crystal Palace Festival of 1857 will fail in one of
its important objects if it does not excite, not only Eng-
land, but the whole musical world to put out its full
strength in 1859. Bearing in mind that 1859 is not only
one hundred years from the death of Handel, but also
fifty years from the death of Haydn, and fifty years from
the birth of Mendelssohti, it will be apparent that this
great celebration of May, 1857, will be but, the precur-
sor of sti 1 greater solemnities, on a., occasion on which
so many interesting musical recollections will find their
focus and meeting-point.
The contract for the organ has been taken by Messrs.
Gray and Davidson, of the New road, London. It will
be on a really grand scale, with an ample supply of 32
feet and 16 feet stops ; the builders binding themselves
to have it fixed complete in the Central Transept by the
25th of April next.—Literarium.