The Sun.
London, England, 1832-02-27 00:00:00

TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE.

Mr. Edward Lytton Bul*er has given notice of a motion
for the repeal of the newspaper stamp duty, and of the excise
on paper, and proposes the substitution of a postage as a corn_
pensation to the revenue. The very large number of persOns
Who take a deep interest in this subject as involving the inteL
lectual improvement of the working classes; will rejoice to
learn that it is in the 6.14 of so Able and spirited a Member.
Lord Althitit poSitiVely promised an amendment of the Stamp
Act, nay fixed the time for the alterations, and we shall be curi-
ous to see hoW he will meet Mr. Bulwer's motion. By their
conduct in this matter the Ministry will be judged. The vatue
of Reform depends on the in-Ipl'beinent of the people ; and
if that hr Obstructed, it is clear that Ministers have no heart
for the object they profess.

The KING took a strong interest in the pro,.
reedinge of the t ourts-martial on Colonel Bit EItETON and
Captain WARRINGTON; and it is in a great measure to
his MAJESTY'' view of the circumstances that the public
are indebted for the order for an inquiry into the conduct
of the Bristol Magistrates. The KING thought it hard
that Colette' BRERETON and Captain WARRINGTON should
be tried for regle,A of duty, without exposing the Magis-
trates to a similar ordral.— Cour! Journal.

THEIR MASESTIES.—It rejoices us to state
that the KING, to borrow the language of those near his
MAJXsTv's person, is " wondtrfully well," much better
than he has been for the last twelve months. We are
a'so glad to find that the reports of the QUEEN'S ill health
have for the most part been greatly exaggerated, the ex-
tent of her MairsTv's indisposition having been confined
to colds and a slight cough. The sojourn at Brighton
has on the whole been characterised by quiet and uni-
formity ; but although there have been no balls and galas
as last year, his NIAJE-Tv's table, as usual, has Keen most
hospitably filled ; and both the KING and bia amiable
Consort have been instrumental in relieving the distresses
of many poor families. The Ist of Mardi is still the day
named for the return of the Court to the Castle, and pre-
parations are now going actively forward for the Royal
reception. Windsor Express.

The following, which we copy from the Town
weekly Paper of yesterday, will be read with much inte-
rest. We have reason to believe that it is substantially
correct :—" In the accounts which have been published of
the QUEEN'S Draping-room, held on Thursday (finely
Friday) last, due notice is taken by the public prints of the
presentation of a congratulatory address to her MAaesTv
by the Archbishop of CANTERBURY. No mention, how-
ever, is made of the very remarkable reply which fell
from the QUEEN on the occasion, and which was delivered
extemporaneously, and with a degree of emphasis and
energy which bespoke the truest sincerity
I thank you, my Lords, for this address. I trust that you will
strenuously exert yourselves as you have hitherto so honourably
done, for the preservation of our Church and State. Believe me,
that I am in heart and soul devoted to their maintenance."'

;The tone and gesture of her MAJESTY during the recital
of this brief speech were remarked by every one who was
present in the private drawing-room at the time."

The indisposition ofthe Duchess of GLOUCES-
TER has, we regret to say, been of a more serious descrip-
tion than the public has supposed. A few days hack, in-
deed, the state of her Royal Highness's health has been of
that nature as to render it necessary for Sir H. HALFORD tO
forward a daily bulletin to their MaJEsrtEs at Brighton ;
and since the return of the Royal Family to the metro-
polis, the QUEEN and her Royal Highness's distinguished
relatives have been unremitting in their personal atten-
tions and inquiries. The nature of the disease is not pre-
cisely ascertained ; although, as it is closely connected with
some affection of the breathing process, it is suspected to
he either ossification of the heart, or water on the chest.
It may possibly be recollected that her R yal Highness
experienced a similar attack some years ago, although of
a less violent nature. The Duchess of GLOUCESTER, we
believe, is now somewhere between 50 and 60, a period
of life when attacks like the present wear a very serious
aspect. Her Royal Highness's health was somewhat better
yesterday, having passed a quiet night. The Duke of
CUMBERLAND and the Princess SOPHIA visited her Royal
Highness in the forenoon.— Windsor Express.

Mr. HENRY DAWKINS has resigned his
C .mtilissionersiip of the Woods and Forests, which he
his held since 1811, and Major• General Sir BENJAMIN
SrEetiEssos has been appointed his successor; the office
of Surveyor-General of the Board of Works, so long filled
by the General, having been abolished. Mr. DAVIES
ADAMS, whose appointment to the Woods and Forests
was contemporary with that of Mr. DAWKINS, was private
Secretary to Mr. PITT at the death of that Statesman, and
he sill, it appears, still retain his lucrative situation in
.- •

The Archbishop of ARMAGH'S house in
Charles-street, St. Jtmes's-square, nearly opposite the
Meeting house of the Anti-Reform Glick, is said to be
more remarkable for its sumptuous dinners and tine wines
than any other in the metropolis. His Grace is preparing
to " make merry" o❑ the 21st of next Aprtl, when his
nephew, the Marquis of WATERFORD, will be of age.—
Morning Chronicle.

The Charles-street Anti- Reforming Click
were extremely busy during the whole of last week. They
assembled at their Divan each day about one, and conti-
nued in close conference until three or four o'clock.—
Young Mr. BANKES, Mr. GOULBUItN, the Worthy Baronet,
M.P. for Tamworth, the Ex-Secretary to the Admiralty,
Sir R. INGLIS, and a few personages of a louver grade,
besides some high-sounding names in the Upper House of
Parliament, have been uniform in their attendance.

Lord Chief Baron ABERCROMBIE is arrived
from Edinburch with his family. We believe his Lotd-
ship, after holding this high and dignified office only for a
short period, has retired upon a pension of two thou•and
pounds a year. Previously to his accepting this office he
was M.P. for Caine, in Wiltshire, and Auditor to the
Duke of DEvoNsnittE. The latter post his Lord'hip may
probably find leisure to resume.— Court Journal.

LORD PLUNKETT.-The late exposures rela-
tive to Lord PLUNKETT and the MasTEit of the ROLLS in
Ireland, have given great embarrassment to Ministers; so
much so, indeed, that the resignation of Lord PLUNKETT
is expected.—Court Journal.

The net salary of Lord PLUNKETT, as Lord
Chancellor of Ireland, is 10,0001. per annum. The Hon.
DAVID PLUNKETT, a son of the Noble Lord, is Prothono-
tary of the Irish Common Pleas, an office worth 1,4001.
per annum.

We have the authority of Sir HENRY HAL-
FORD for stating, that the condolo-gratulatory lettere, in-
serted in a late Spectator, were not those he wrote, and
unluckily misdirected, to Earl WESTMORLAND and the
Marquis of TAvisTocic. The originals are, it seems, de-
stroyed ; and some forging knave, familiar with the turn of
the medical Baronet's ideas, has imitated his style so com-
pletely as even to deceive his best friends; and the circum-
stance, we fear, has caused him some excitement. Sir
HENRY says that he did not even write any thing like ti-.e
letters published ; and a friend of his, in the Times, asserts
that the letter to Lord TAVISTOCK contained no allusion to
politics. What stories they do tell at the Clubs'—Spectator.

A very lively sensation was produced in cer-
tain political circles by the examination of Doctor DOYLE
before the Tithe Committee on Saturday. Unwilling to
incur the hazard of any partial misrepresentation of hie
evidence, we forbear repeating the statement of its purport
current in the Clubs; but we may say that the answers
of this accomplished Divine were delivered in language
the most decisive and uncompromising, characterised
throughout by a vigour, energy, and comprehensiveness of
thought calculated to give great authority to his opinions.
Truths more bold, or in a shape more imposing, have
seldom been uttered before a British House of Commons.
It is none of Doctor DOYLE'S fault if the Legislature
should act upon any imperfect or erroneous conception of
the state of feeling in Ireland upon this great subject. He
is to be examined again to-morrow.

A few days ago a knife-grinder, passing through
Kensington, complained of being attacked with cramps and
cholera, and prostrated himself in the road. It was in-
stantly pronounced that he was visited by the genuine
Asiatic cholera, when a humane by.stander procured for
him 3 glass of brandy and bitters, which he said revived
him wonderfully, and entreated to have another, which
effected a sudden cure, and the cholera patient took his
departure, crying " Knives and scissors to grind," as loud
and lustily as if nothing had happened. Cholera patients
of this description are very common, but we have not
heard whether they are reported or not in the cholera re-
turns.— Afor ning Advertiser.

The woollen cloth trade in the west-riding
of Yorkshire is at present suffering under considerable
depression, both in the finer and inferior descriptions
of manufacture, whether for the foreign or the home
market. The f,lanket, flannel, and bocking trades are
renaarkahly flat considering the period of the year; and in
the little business that is done scarcely any profit can be
realised, which is the universal complaint in all trades.
In the worsted stuff business the demand for low goods
has been rather brisker than usual for two or three weeks
past, but prices have not much improved. There is a
tolerable demand for the finer descriptions of goods.--
Macclesfield courier.

COURT CIRCULAR.

their MAJESTIES, accompanied by the Princes Au-
GUSTA, the Duke Of GLOUCESTER, and Prince GEORGE
of Cam' ridge, attended divine service at the Chapel RoyAl
yesterday Morning, and heard A sermon by the Rev. Mr.
BARNS, from the 10th chapter of St. Luke and the
verse.

The church service was read by the Rev. Mr. BECK-
WITH, jun; ; the Communion service by the Bishop cf
Lorthoi•r, as dein of the chapel, and the sub-dean. The
mu'ical service wa Dr. AiirartAr's, in A. The anthem
was " Thou. 0 God, art praised in Z on," (composed by
Dr. GREEN), which was sung by Messrs. Evans and
BORNCASTLE. Sir GEORGE SMART presided at the
organ. The Rev. Dr. BLOMBERG was the clerk of the
closet.

Among the noblemen present were Lords SUFFIELL.,
Gasman, CLIVE, ALBFMARLE, MAYO, BANDON, ACHE-
SON, JERMVN, &C.
Divine service was performed yesterday before the
Duches's of KENT and the Princess 'VICTORIA, and their
Royal Highnesses' household, by the Dean of CHESTER.
Their MAJESTIES entertained at dinner on Friday at the
Palace of St. James's, the Duke, Duchess, and Prince
GEORGE of Cumberland, the Princess AITGEssTA, the Duke
of GLOUCESTER, Prince GEORGE of Cambridge, E ,r 1
Hover, Earl and Countess of Mayo, Earl AMHERST, Sir
WATHEN WAILER, Sir PHILIP and Lady SIDNEY, and
the Vice-Ctta-maEnt.atti to the QUEEN. There was a
musical party in the evening : the Queen's band, led by
Mr. F. CR A3IER, performed some favourite pieces. Sir
GEORGE SMART was also in attendance for the first time
since his appointment as Conductor of her Majesty's pri-
vate Concerts.

The report of the state of the Duchess of GLOUCESTER
on Saturday was, " The Duchess of GLOUCESTER con-
tinues better, though her Royal Highness has not had a
good night." The KING paid a visit to his Royal Sister
in the a'ternoon. The Princess SOPHIA also visited her
Royal Highness.
The answer given yesterday at Gloucester-house to the
numerous inquiries after the health of the Royal Duchess
was, " The Duchess of GLOUCESTER. has had a very good
night, and is better." The QUEEN and the Princess
AUGUSTA visited her Royal Highness yesterday.
The Kixo gave audiences on Saturday to the Arch-
bishop of CANTERBURY, Viscount ALTHORP, Lord HOL-
LAND, the Earl of ALBEMARLE, the Earl of 111Avo, Sir
JAMES KEMPT, and Sir BENJAMIN STEPHENSON.

The Princess SOrillA visited their MAJESTIES 01
Saturday.

The Duchess of KENT (attended by Lady KATHERINE
JENKINSON), the Duke of SUSSEX, the Princess AUGUSTA,
and a select party, dined with the KING and QUEEN on
Saturday, at the Palace at St. James's.
Lord HILL had an audience yesterday of his MAJESTY.
The Dukes of SUSSEX and GLOUCESTER, the Princess
AUGUSTA and SorlizA, visited their MAJESTIES yesterday.
The Duchess of CUMBERLAND, accompanied by Prince
GEORGE, left town on Saturday afternoon for her residence
at Kew.

The Princess AUGUSTA and the Duke of GLOUCESTER
visited the Duchess of KEN'r and the Princess VICTORIA,
on Saturday, at the Palace at Kensington.
Baroness BuLow visited her MAJESTY yesterday at the
Palace at St. James's.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, Viscount ALTHORP, and Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, had a conference with Earl GREY yester-
day. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE also visited the Noble
E ul yesterday.
Mr. BURGE, the agent for Jamaica; Mr. MAYERS, the
agent for Barbadoes; Lords SEAFORD and SANtsOl4,
transacted business with Viscount GODERICII on Saturdiy,..-
at the Colonial-office.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office, from Sir WILL-lAm IlonsTouN, the Lieutenant-
Governor of Gibraltar.
The Lords of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy
Council held a meeting on Saturday morning, at the
Council-office, Whitehall, respecting French Claims. The
Lords present were—the Master of the Rolls, the Chief
Judge of the Bankruptcy Court, Sir WILLIAM GARROW,
and Sir E. EAST. The appeal was " the Rev. PAUL
LONG, on the part of the Irish Colleges in France, whose
property was confiscated during the Fiend] Revolution in
1793, claiming for compensation." Mr. O'CoNNELL
opened the appeal, and was followed on the same side by
Mr. QUIN. Their Lordships adjourned the further hear-
ing of the case to a future day.