The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-14 00:00:00

TAXES ON KNOWLISDGIt.

in the United States of Amer ea, where the aims of
Britain live under laws originally the same as the laws of
their forefathers, but altered from time to titno so as to
promote the greatest degree of happiness to the greatest
number of the community, there are no stamp dote,
no itniiediments to the diffusion of knowledge. Every
child is educated, and every man sufficiently instructed, to
know his rights, and to obey the laws. Every man i■
allowed to print what he pleases, and to sell bow he can
every kind of publications. No man is imprisoned there
for selling cheap publications, unstamped almanacks, or
news printed on cloth ; whilst in London our prisons
are filled with poor men for seeking to make a few pence,
by the sale of cheap publications to keep them from
starvation. The laws thus at once prevent the diffu-
sion of knowledge, and condemn the unfortunate ven-
ders to starvation. What a contrast in laws be-
tween the United States of America and Enalend !
awl what a difference is there in the condition of the in-
dustrious population of both countries. Peace, plenty,
and obedience to the laws prevail in every state of Arne=
rica, whilst, in every county in England, discontent, want,
and a restless disregard of the laws are witnessed. The
explanation is simple. In America there are no classes
who live in luxury and idleness on the public taxes, at the
expence of the industrious, but each man enjoys the profits
of his own capital and labour, free from the rapacity of
the tax-gatherer. In England a large portion of the
Aristocracy live on the public taxes, and at the expense of
the working man, exacting, in the shape of taxes and
Corn Laws, half his earnings, and leaving him to drag on*
a miserable existence in toil and want. Discontent natu-
rally arises in the minds of Englishmen, and they show
that discontent in burning and destroying the property of
the rich, who have so long refused attention to their pe-,
titions and remonstrances. And to prevent the people
from complaining and making known their misery and
wretchedness, the public press is shackled in every pos-
sible way, except where passive oitedienee to the Kin:, and
Church are to he preached and published. We have beeu
led to make these observations, by having put into our'
hands a Parliamentary Paper, printed on the l7tlt of De-
cember, though delivered only a few days ago, by which
it appears, that in London alone, in the course of the last
year, there have been seventy-seven persons committed to
prison under various pretences and pleas, for selling cheap
publications and papers of information.

There have been committal—.
By the Magistrates at Guildhall, 10—from 7 days to 3 months.
By the Lord Mayor and Sir C. Hunter, 3—from 14 days I month,
By the Magistrates at the Town-hall, Southwark, s—from 7 td
14 days.
By the Magistrates at Bow-street, 10—from 14 days to 3 months.
Ditto, Hatton-garden, 3—from 14 days to 1 month.
Ditto, Great 111arlborough-street, 35—from 7 days to 3 months.
Ditto, Queen-square, I—for 10 days.
Ditto, Public Office Union-hall, s—from 14 days to 3 months.
Ditto, WhitechapeCoffice, s—from I to 3 months.

In this way, at the caprice of the 111;:gi,races, were these
persans subjected to a punishment ether of seven days,
the smallest, or of three months, toe largest illaprisopirtirnt,
although for the same offences. Thus each ..ffiee gwe a
different interpretation of the law, and to the riegiee of the
offence, although the committals are stated to be under the
same acts. Thus at Guildhall, at the Iginsion.bouse, at
the Town-hall at Southwark, and at the office,
Whitechapel ; the 16th Geo. 11., c. 26, is the Act under
which they were committed. Whilst at Bow•street,
Hatton-garden, Great Marlborough-street, and Queen-
.quare the 30th and 38th of Geo.III. were in addition to the
16th of Geo. 11., and, at Union-11111, the 50th of Gto.

11. is brought into play. Thecutitnittlls Grrat M,irl-

Borough-street were all for selling unstaniped newspapers
And unstamped almanacks ; but all for selling irformation
to the people—all as punishment for the d3fTusion of
knowledge. Whe❑ are these proceedings and pranks to
be put an end to ?