The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-16 00:00:00

of the law operated oppressively, especially in re-
gard to cheap newspapers.
Mr. INGRAM said the present law was most in-
jurious to our foreign trade in the article of paper.

This country stood alone in respect to a ta►x on
paper, there being no other country in the world
where such a duty existed. The Emperor of the
French had tried to impose the tax on the French
nation, but with all his power, he was not able
to do so.
Mr. Fowler, Alderman Baldwin, and Mr. J.
Cassell severally dwelt upon the injurious operation
of the duty, showing that it caused the misapplica-
tion of capital, which, instead of being invested in
profitable labour, mechanical and intellectual, by
which cheap publications might be largely extended
in their circulation for the benefit of the people, it
was now forestalied, as it were, by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer in the shape of a most obnoxious
tax.
The Earl of DERBY said this was not at all a new
subject. It had often been discussed, and had
again been gone into very fully on the present oc-
casion. Of course, the deputation could not ex-
pect that he should at that moment enter a discus-
sion of the various points that had been brought
before him. Two very different questions had
be:n raised by the gentlemen whom he was
then addressing. One was the security required
by law from newspapers and other works, and as
to whether it was possible or impossible to draw a
distinction between the two descriptions of publi-
cation. Now, as to that question, and as to the
policy of requiring any security at all, he did not
at the present moment wish to make any observa-
tion. The other question which had been brought
before him regarded the disadvantages aid the
injuries suffered by and inflicted on the manu-
facturers of paper by the Excise laws. He was
quite prepared to go a long way with what had been
said on that subject. He thought, in the first
place, in point of principle, that a great deal might
be said against a duty upon paper, and he thought
that the securities required to be taken by the Ex-
cise against fraud did afford facilities for throwing
great disadvantages in tine way of the manufacturer,
and had the effect of increasing the pressure of the
tax itself. He had one observation to make in re-
gard to what had been stated as to the effect of
tnese disadvantages on the manufacture of paper
in this country. It appeared by the memorial which
the deputation had presented to him, that, however
inconvenient might be the tat and the mode of col-
lection, there had been within the last 20 years,
under the operation of that tax, a decidedly large
inerease in the manufacture of paper. It was stated
in the memorial that the quantity of paper made in
1838 was 94,464,2401b5. weight, and in 1856 the
quantity was 171,209,2951b5. weight. It was also
stated that there had been, during that period, a
falling off in the number of the mills ; that in 1838
there were 525 mills, while in 1856 there were only
393. That diminution in the number of mills, si-
multaneously with a large increase of paper mann-
f,ctured., might be accounted for on the principle
that large capitalists had an advantage over small
capitalists. At all events, it was clear that, notwith-
standing the disadvantages of the tax, there had
been a considerable increase in the quantity of
paper manufactured. He could hardly suppose
that the manufacturers were in so utterly ruinous
a condition as some were disposed, to represent
them to be. If the present Government had suc-
ceeded to an over-abundant exchequer, and if they
could see that they had a prospect of making a
considerable reduction in the public expenditure
instead of having, as they would have, to provide
for a considerable increased amount of what he hoped
lie might call extraneous expenditure, he should have
felt disposed to look favourably on a measure for re-
clueng or even for taking off the duty on paper alto-
gether. He could not anticipate the budget of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, nor was he so san-
guine as to suppose that his right hon. friend had
such an overflowing exchequer as to enable him to
make any reduction of taxation. Of course, such a
state of things must stand in the way of a reduction
of a tax that was so productive as that of the paper
duty. He did not exactly know the amount
which that duty yielded to the revenue.
Alderman TowLE—lt is 1,200,0001.
The Earl of DERBY was afraid the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, when he came to consider how very
greatly such a duty added to the amount of revenue,
would not be able to encourage the hope that dur-
ing the present year, at all events, he could hold out
any prospect of takingofl that duty. But if it should
please the country to retain a Conservative Go-
vernment in power for two or three years (a laugh)
—and if, as some members of the deputations had
been pleased to say, a Conservative Government
managed affairs more cheaply than a Liberal Go-
vernment, they might possibly at the end of that
period be able to do what the deputations required;
but he felt that at the present moment they could
not take off the tax. At the same time, he was
ready to admit that it was a tax both in principle
and in detail open to very serioas objections, and if
there was an opportunity for repealing it, ho, for
one, should be very glad to see it repealed.
After thanking his lordship for the courteous re-
ception he had given them, the united deputations
wii hdrew.

LORD CAMPBELL'S PECULIAR POSITION

" A Liberal " writes the following letter to the
editor of the Morning Advertiser : _ _

" Sir,—By what right, and on what ground does Lord
Campbell invite the Press to mutisin during these State
trials? What plea does he put forward for leaving a pri-
soner to brave, under all circumstances, without public
aid, the whole legal power of the Crown? If this preten-
sion is founded on solid reasons,llet us hear what they are ;
and, if it is not, let not blind submission to it establish a
dangerous precedent.
" In ordinary cases between man and man the propriety
of Lord Campbell's recommendation can admit of no dis-
pute. The judge is there to expound the law, the jury to
weigh the fact, and both are responsible for deciding con-
scientiously according to the evidence before them. As
that evidence can be best sifted by those before whom it is
brought, the interference of the Press is not only needless
but it would be positively mischievous, for arguments or
declamation would supplant the data on which verdicts
should be based.

" A. prosection by the State differs tote ccelo from an or-
dinary cause. In the latter, if a judge is upright, there is
no danger of partiality, and at the present day no suspi-
cion of corruption taints the Judgment Seat of England.
Bat in a prosecution by the State it is not its integrity,
but its impeccability that is involved in the issue ; preju-
dice and party feeling biassing men whose honesty is un-
impeachable.
" Under a Despotism the Magistracy is servile, how-
ever personally honourable, and in a free country its Ma-
gistrates, like other citizens, are not exempt from the
spirit of faction. What is there in the social condition of
England to make that unlikely now? There is everything
to favour it. The judges mix with the Oligarchy and im-
bibe its sentiments and prejudices; and history proves that
they have often played the part of its reckless partisans.
Human nature is always the same, like causes produce like
effects, and the revival of political prosecutions will revive
political judges.
" The people, then, should look with watchful jealousy
on Lord Campbell's dictation to it. To what does it
amount? To its allowing him to do what he likes until
the mischief is done. Let the trial be over, let sentence
be passed, and then let the Press, when it is too late, take
exception to this or that iniquity ! That is a capital joke.
What credentials can Lord Campbell produce for this
Bill of Indemnity, for this carte blanche to say and do as
he pleases? Is it his recent conduct in the House of Lords,
or on the Bench itself? Is it the trial of the directors of
the British Bank, with its equanimity, impartiality, and
dignity ? Is it his declaration en the 4th of February that
an offence was a misdemeanour, which on the 22d of
February he affirmed to be a felony ? Is it denouncing a
Conspiracy Bill and pronouncing in its favour? Is it his
ruling in this very case, where by a fatality, every point,
as it arises, is decided against the prisoner ?
" Whether the country sees fit or not to endorse Lord
Campbell's assumption, that country, at all events, cannot
tuohncnaghytl
,owt
iffadhesanott
offender
elheyrel
atasowamitdeihstodhpwee:
ale,:
has washoneuo,
luff
o. o
tr doubt
offender
hffbeetnhwd
infractionaea
rsi
shut its eyes to his indecent position. He is now engaged
he
in trying for felony
nbh yr:
vtdeho
eaunlo lawyt
?t hoaflts
of a law of which the Lord Chief Justice of England ignored
and denied the existence? And, having affirmed what he
common
ha I denied, and so prejudged the question, if that Lord
Chief Justice to try the question and the offender too
.
Lord Campbell's situation is equally au outrage on
sense and propriety.
" Reform Club."

constipa-
tion, cures with-
, asthma,
[ADVERTISEMENT.I—We quote some interesting
eough
from
srifidbatae'lb;etous It evale it t a
out medicine of indigestion (dyspepsia),
nervous, bilious, and liver complaints, flatulency,
asthma,y cough, constipation,any flatu-
lency, and debility, beayrDeußinadrresy,'
piss, Norfolk.lca
dyspepsia,Arabia
nervousness,—Fifty
lency, spasms, sickness at the stomach, and vomi ings, have
been removed by' Du Barry's excellent Revalenta Arabica
Perth,
Food.—Maria Jolly, Wortharn Ling, near
Cure No. 3, 906.—Thirteen years' cough, indigestion, and geiie
ral (lability have been removed by Du Barry's excellent Re-
valenta Arabica Food.—James Porter, Athol-street,
Care No. 41,617.—Winchester, Dec. 3d, 1817. Gentlemen,
—I am happy to be able to inform you that the person for
whom your Revalenta WAS procured has derived very great
benefit from its use; distressing symptoms of dropsy,
dyspepsia, and constipation of long snarling have been
removed, and a feeling of restored health induced. Bay-
ing witnessed the beneficial effects in the above mentioned
case, I can with confidence recommend it, and shall have
ranch pleasure i a doing so whenever an opportunity offers, &c.,
&c.—James Shorland, late Surgeon, 96th Regiment. This food
deserves the confidence of all sufferers, and may be con-
sidered a real blessing. Inquiries will be cheerfully answered.
Supported by testimonials fromithe following celebrated Pro-
fessors of Chemistry: Dr. A. Ure; Dr. Shorlaud; Dr. Ihrvey;
Dr.
.Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker • Dr. Wurzel Dr. Ingram ;
Lord Stuart do Decies; the Dowager' Countess' of Ca'stlestuart;
8005, whose health has and.
many
Major Gon. Thomas King,'
means of cure had
tions, In canisters, failed,lll
121 b. 225, The 121 b canisters.
ooipt of Post-office order.
Regent-street, London.
, fear-
ful. dangers of spurious Importantimitations.—The
William Page Wood granted an Injunction against Alfred Hooper
been restored by it, after all other
other respectable per-
Suitably packed with full instruc-
tions,
".: 21b. 4s. 6d.; 51b. 11. s. ;
B arc sent carriage free ou re •
arry Du Barry, and Co , 77,
Caution against the.
The Vice-Chancellor Sir
islev on the 10th March,
Dun's Revaleuta Arabica Food.' ill for imitating .. Du