The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1859.

THE LONDON ASSURANCE,
-7, Royal Exchange.
.SOth November, 1859.

The Corporation of the London Assurance give notice to
parties whose Lives are, Assured in their Office, that no extra
Premium will be charged to them on joining any Volunteer
Corps for service in the United Kingdom, and that all Poli-
cies will be paid in full where death ensues in consequence of
such service. JOHN LAURENCE, Secretary.

METROPOLITAN, COUNTIES, AND
GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
27, Regent-street, Waterloo-place, London, S.W.
Life Assurance, Annuities, and Endowments.
Loans on real and personal security.
' ' • ' F. FERGUSON CAMROUX, Manager.

ASSURANCE. - ADVICE OFFICE,
xi No. I, Finch-lane, Cornhill. LIFE POLICYHOLDERS
and you WHO MEAN TO INSURE YOUR LIVES write to Messrs.
DAVIES and Co. for,their prospectus. It is to be had fbr
asking for. It will show you now to convert your present Policy
into a Jewel of INTRINSIC vALut. how to make that
Policy, which new requires your constant care and watchful-
ness to save It from extinction, an INALIENABLE PRO-
PERTY, available fiir present use as well as future con• olation.
To study ►.hat prospectus, and act as it directs, may be the
means, when you are dead, of saving those who are dearest
to you from insolvency and want. Proofs unfortunately are
not Wanting that such things have come to pass through the
agency of a policy of assurance.'

T IFE ASSURANCE.-LAPSED POLICIES.
The holders of Lapsed Policies upon which fiVe or more
premiums had been paid before forfeiture, are requested to
make known their respective cases to Messrs. DAVIES and
Co., Advice Officojer Life Assr-ers, ,1, Finch-lane, Cornhill.
Messrs. DAVIES and Co., advance money (at 8 per cent. per
annum interest) to continue the premiums on policies in good
offices. .

THE VO_T.,U.YTE.EIt MOVEMENT.

SC UTII MIDDLESEX.

Yesterday eve ning a numerous meeting of the in-
habitants -of Knightsbridge was held at the Duke
of Wellington's Riding.Selliol, for the purpose of
forming a ride 3orps to join the South Middlesex
Volunteer Rifles:.

--"Colonel VEREIKER,'. who occupied the chair, said
—Before enteriug upon the question for which this
meeting has bean called, I wish to take a broad
and general view of the Volunteer Rifle Movement
throughout tliss kingdom, .and see whether that
movement is right in principle. There are two
classes of objecte rs to the. movement—those who
think that this ..tothpr warlike preparations are
injudicious, as boing likely to give offence toneigh--
bouring countries, a,nd.those who think that such
warlike preparations are injudicious, becaus.e they
betray au amount of 'groundless, alarm- which ex
poses Great Britran to the ridicule of foreign nations.
Now, I beg to say I do not think that either of these
objections is based upon cowmon sense, andi trust
this meeting coincide with me in taking this
view of the questson, if-foreign nations are sincere
and honestin the rprofessions of loyal alliance, why
should they take-offence at ourendeasouringto raise
Our military establishment to some faint- approxi-
mation to the armies of all the great Continental
States ? (Ifear„hear.)— I( I choose to put up bolts
to my doors and bars to my windows, surely no one
has a right to come to me and say, " What are you
doing all this for ? Do you suspect that I-harbour
any design 'of trying to joreals.into your house ?" I
should naturally reply to such a remark :—" Such
a suspicion never crossed my mind until this mo-
ment, but you seem so angry at thy taking com-
mon prudent precautions, that I begin to think
you must have sonic sinister, object in view." But
I am sure that the ideas •of .persons who raise
such objections are purely visionary. I am
sure that no enlightened Foreign Government
could for a moment entertain any unkindly
feelings at. seeing us doing that at the eleventh
hour which ought to have been done years ago.
(Cheers.) Our policy is never one of aggression.
The great-Continental wars in whiCh we gave been
engagecY'Were not entered upon'through lust of con-
quest, or from 'a' base and perverted ambition of
military glory. We have never taken up arms
except in defence of the weak or to prevent Europe
being trampled beneath the iron heel of overgrown
' military powers. Taking all this into consideration,
surely no other country can for a moment imagine
that our preparations are intended for aught but
self-defence, and for placing ourselves in the position
our rank as a great nation entitles us to. Now,
with reference to those who say that. we expose
ourselves to ridicule by betraying such apprehen-
sions of foreign' invasion, Ibeg to say that, in my'
judgment, we have been for many years exposing
ourselves to ridicule by neglecting to take the very.
course that wt are now adopting, and by sleeping,
as it were, with our doors and windows open, so
that any who pleased might come in 'and attack us
with comparative impunity. Depend upon it, the
ridicule and obloquy which we have hitherto in-
curred from our insane. foolhardiness are fast dying
away, and the world are beginning to see that we
have the old blood of true and loyal Britons in our
vicns. - (Great applause.) You will have resolu-
tions proposed for your consideration, and I am
sure, when all explanations have been given, you
will concur in the prudence of their adoption,
(Cheers.)

The Itev. Dr. WILSON, the incumbent of Knights-
bridge,mored the first resolution—" That this meet-
ing warmly sympathises with the great national
movement for the formation of a powerful volunteer
force for national deft-nce, and is therefore of opinion
that a company of Volunteer Rifles should forth-
with be raised for the district of Belgravia and
Knightsbridge, and 'that the company already in
formation for the district of Brompton be com-
pleted." He said he was not guilty of any derelic-
tion of duty in proposing this resolution, because
he considered it a peace movement, and he consi-
dered he was as much bound in duty to preach love
and devotion to our Sovereign as to preach the fear
of God. The Scriptures said—" The strong man
armed keepeth his house." We were the strong
man, but we were not the strong man armed.
(Hear.) If they did not keep their position in the
scale of nations, they would soon become a byeword
among the nations of Europe. He believed that
the Emperor' of the French entertained the most
kindly feeling towards this country ; but the Em-
peror of the French was not the French army.
(Hear.)
Mr. SIIARPUS seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimensly.

nearly of full strength, it is proposed to form an
Artisan Company, to be provided without expense
with the 'Government Enfield rifle anVaccoutre-
ments. Arrangements are being made by which
t,Le cost of the uniform can be repaid by. instal-
ments.

The: volunteer artillery corps at Bristol, under
the command of Major Smile, late of the Royal
Artillery, is rapidly being filled up.
In addition to the present corps in Cardiff, the
superintendent of police is forming a 4‘ volunteer
corps for the people," to comprise 100 willing to
join if their expenses were paid.
A circular has been for warded to the proprietors
and parents of pupils in Cheltenham 1;ollege, stating
that the directors arc disposed to sanction, with the
consent of their parents, the instruction of the elder
pupils in the rifle drill.

-
In Ilfracombe a volunteer rifle corps, numbering
71 members, has just been formed.
A meeting, presided over by the mayor, and
attended by the principal inhabitants of the town
and neighbourhood, had been held at Margate, for
the purpose of forming an efficient rifle corps.
, The Merthyr Tydvil corps Bumbers now nearly
100, and is like,ly to be a very efficient one.
The effective members of the. Portsmouth corps
.number 160, with 'Bo' honorary. members, and
fund. of ,X,700

At Preston, on Thursday evening last, a very
enthusiastic meeting was held in the Assembly-
room of the Corn Exchange, at which it was unani-
mously agreed to form a rifle corps. Several hand-
some subscriptions were announced.
The Ryde Rifle Volunteer Corps now form two
companies, Nos. 1 and 3, or' the Isle of Wight Rifle
Regiment, and numbers at presort 132 effective
members. Drill takes place on Mondays and
Thursdays, at the market hall, the instructor being
Sergeant Major M‘Grotty, of the Ist Battalion
Rifle Brigade. A band for the corps is in course of
formation. Newport company forms No. 2of the
regiment.

A crowded and enthusiastic meetinc, was held at
the Town-hall, Warminster, on Saturday afternoon,
under the presidency of the Marquis of Bath, for
the purpose of forming a rifle corps for that town
and neighbourhood. Lord Thynne, M.P.. and
many of the county magistrates were present. The
expediency of forming a corps was unanimously
resolved, and a committee was appointed to carry
out the object.

PROPERTY AND INCOME-TAX ASSO-

CIATIOX.

A conference of this association was held yester-
day evening at the London Coffee-house, to take
into consideration the best means during the ensu-
ing session for securing "either an adjustment of
the income tax, or the total abolition of the charge
upon trades and professions."

-Mr. COLLI ER, M.l'., who presided at the meeting,
opened the proceedings by declaring his strong
opinion that the income tax, as it did not distin-
guish between incomes derived from permanent and
those from uncertain property, was unjust. He
hoped, on the reimposition of the tax, that some
member,of the House of Commons would move a
resolution to make such a distinction, but if no.
member came fotward to dO so he would move the
resolution himself. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. ELT, in moving the following resolution,
" That this meeting is of opinion that the present mode
cif charging -one uniform rate on all classes of income (ex-
cept under Schedule B), is manifestly unjust, and hereby
pledges itself iu anticipation of a proposal to reimpose the
tax, to-endeavour to obtain such a reduction in the charges
on trades and professions that the amount chargeable
thereon shall not -oieeed one-half the amount levied on
property, especially as the amount charged on occupiers of
land (Schedule 13), has been only half the amount charge-
able on the trading portion of the community ever since the
income tax was first levied in 1842,'!

exp essed his concurrence with every word of it,
and stated- that they • Were assembled more for
friendly conference than for. setting on foot an
agitation.on the subject. In ani- reimposition of
the tax there ought to be a distinction drawn
between certain and uneertair. incomes. It was
necessary at the present time to lay a'elear state-
ment of their opinions before the House of Com-
mons, especially as an agitation on direct and
indirect taxation was arising, which he had little
doubt would in 10 or 15 years' time result in a
revision of the taxation of the cour try. He was
not prepared to say whether the proportion
adopted in the .resolution .was the right propor-
tion, but he thought it might form a basis for
discussion, and elicit public opinion on the sub 7
ject. It appeared to him that it would not be
unfair, in a revision of this tax, that the first
£l5O of a man's income should be exempt from
taxation, and that the tax should be charged only
on the surplus that remained after the withdrawal
of that sum.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. POTTER,
who advocated direct taxation as being more direct
in its application and less expensive in collection.
The pressure of the income tax upon the landed
interest and those who were engaged in trade
was most unequal, and as the former had been
for some time past exempt from the full pressure
of the tax, the latter had a right to ask to be
put on the same level. He concluded by thank-
ing the Press for their advocacy of the rules of the
society.
Mr. MERRYMAN thought the resolution required
amendment, and could not understand the line of
distinction drawn between certain and precarious
incomes. The whole income of the country ought
to be derß' , ed from direct taxation, and if such were
the case he should not object to a small amount
being levied on the working classes, released as
they would then be from all indirect taxes. On
the omission of two or three words in the middle
of the resolution, which would then be in harmony
with the opinions of the association of Birming-
ham, and of others in the north, he should be
content to support the resolution.
Mr. HYAM, as he considered the question one of
great importance, submitted the following amend-
ment to the meeting :

" That while it may be advisable, taking into account the
present enormous expenditure of the country, to levy a pro-
perty-tax as a permanent source of revenue, the tax on pre-
carious incomes derived from trades and professions should
not be reimposed except under circumstances of great emer-
gency, especially as such incomes are in most cases essen •
daily contingent upon the health of the parties on whom
the tax is chargeable, and ninny other vicissitudes, to which
property is not liable." •

It appeared, he said, that those who had paid the
income tax under Schedules I) and E had sub-

mitted to a great burden,' but the time had at
length come for releasing them. The present Act.
expires in 1860, and it was part of the original
scheme that the tax should fall in at the same time
as the Long Annuities. The amount contributed
by those who pay under Schedules D and Eis
about the same as the amount saved by,the falling
in of the Long Annuities, and on this account he
_ _

thought that —those schedules might be dispensed
with altogether. (Hear.) He proceeded to denounce
the tax as partial and inquisitive,and giving direct
encouragement to Unorality and dishonesty by
causing the sendillln of false returns. The sub-
ject was surrounded hir difficulties, but that was no
reason for not lookinglt steadily in the face. (Hear.)
Mr. BoNTEms suggested that, with so small an
attendance, it would be premature for the associa-
tion to endorse the amendment.

A GENTLEMAN 'present thought the meeting had
better not be too hasty, but wait until the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer had produced his budget.
A. tax fairly levied on property was one of the
justest which could be levied. Tic could not, how-
ever, see why professional men should ask the State
for protection witlaout their contributing a due
share to the country. As to the alleged inequality
of the tax, the only reasonable position would be to
charge 6 per cent. on all.fixed property and 2 per
cent. on all trades and professions. The estimated
value of the property upon which the tax was
levied was £240,000,000, and if the tax were levied
as he proposed the returns would be for fixed pro-
perty L 12,000,000, and for trades and professions
£6,000,000, giving a total of .C 18,000,000. Such a
mode of adjustment would be an approximation to
the feeling of the public, and would, in his opinion,
be met with fairness by the landed interest to
which he belonged. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Hirait said that the Chancellor .of the Ex-
chequer had in his speech made in October last, on
board the Great Eastern, invited the expression of
public opinion on these and similar topics, -so that
there was no °cession to wait for the budget.
Mr. ELT then withdrew his resolution, and.agreed
to the amendment.
A discussion then arose on the amendment, which
was withdrawn also, and the following resolution
was ultimately carried, with only one dissentient

voice :
‘‘ That this meeting is of the opinion that the present
mode of charging- one uniform rate on all classes of income
(except under Schedule B) is manifestly unjust, and hereby
pledges itself; in anticipation of a proposal to reimpose the
tax, to use the most strenuous exertions to secure its re-
adjustment upon the footing of a fair and just distinction
between permanent and precarious incomes."
The Ca AIR3IIN then said he was a practical man,
and as a 'practical man he wanted the resolution to
succeed, and thought they ought to set to work at