The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-24 00:00:00

STURGES BOURNE'S ACT.

Mr. HUME presented a petition, very numerously signed,
by the inhabitants of the parish of St. Mary, Upper Ken-
sington, praying that House to pass a Bill for removing
the Act, called Sturges I3ourne's Act, or the right of accu-
mulating. votes. This parish was an exemplification of the
evils arising from this Act, as the inhabitants, after they had
carried a proposition by numhers, had been frequently defeated
by the accumulated votes that were afterwards obtained.

--TAXES UPON KNOWLEDGE.
Mr. FIUME said• he had two petitions to present upon the:
subject of the Repeal of the Taxes upon Newspapers. .He
held in his hand a volume, sinned by all the printers in
London, and which was well deserving the attention cf. the
House. They complained of the inconveniences they suffered
front these taxes upon their profession and employment. They
considered that no tax should be imposed upon newspapers,
and the other means of spreading information, for he and the
petitioners were of opinion that, owing to these taxes, it might
be said that the science and employment of printing was as yet
only in its infancy. He thought that the Repeal of those taxes
would be only an act of justice,,-,and that it was a subject that
particularly deserved the attention of the House.—( Cheers.)
The other petition was from the printers of Carnarron,
which stated that this duty not only interfered with -their
employment, but also prevented the diffusion of useful
knowledge in the only way in which it could be
diffused, viz., by newspapers. Before he presented this pe-
tition, he would take that opportunity of saying, that the public
voice demanded on the part of his Majesty's Government early
attention
.to this subject. He would not dsprive the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer of any money that was brought by
this duty, but he would change it to a postage on Newspapers.
Mr. ROBINSON hoped that the Government would take
steps to put an end to a gross violation of the law which was
every day committed in this metropolis. Ile was not about to
give any opinion respecting the propriety of these taxes. He had
always given his support to the repeal of this and all other taxes
that obstructed the progress and dissemination of knowledge ;
but while the law was in existence, he must say that he hoped
those great offenders—for he knew there were very great ones
implicated—would not be allowed by the Attorney-General
and the Government to violate the law.—( Hear, hear.)
The ATT 0 RN E Y- GENERA L— With regard to the tax
itself, that belonged to the department of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, but with regard to the enforcing of the law,
he had taken steps, and would continue to do so while the
law existed, to see that it should be obeyed. He was deter-
mined whilst this tax was imposed it should be paid, and if
parties attempted to evade it, the law would be enforced against
them.

MUSIC AND DANCING.
Mr. II UM E then presented a petition, praying that the 25th
of Geo. 111., which prevented music and dancing within the
metropolis, or 20 miles thereof, might be repealed.
ROUTE TO INDIA.
The HoN. MEMBER also presented a.petition from an indi-
vidual named Waghorn, who had been sent from India to this
country to promote intercourse and navigation between the
two countries. This individual recommended his .Report in
favour of the Red Sea, and stated that in his opinion the
House ought to adopt that plan in preference to the
route by the Euphrates. states the utter hopelessness of that
course in which he (Mr. Ilume) entirely concurred, although
as an experiment he did not object to its being tried at the
public expence, as'it could not be tried by an individual. lie
would endeavour to ascertain the real state of the case, tind if
necessary, he hoped the House would interfere to prevent a
useless expenditure of the public money,
ABERDEEN COLLEGES.
The Hon. MEMBER then presented a petition from the
Trades of Aberdeen, stating that they had obserVed, that a
Bill was in progress through that House for uniting the
two Universities of Aberdeen, and they prayed that the
House, with some modification, would pass this Bill into a
law,• as .it would be highly beneficial to that community and
the country at large.
Colonel LE IT HHAY presented a petition froM Elgin and
several other places against the Aberdeen University Bill.
Mr. ROBINSON gave notice that, on Monday next, he
should present a petition from certain officers, complaining
that, notwithstanding the Report of the Committee, several
officers were still receiving compensation.
Mr. E WART presented a petition from certain inhabitants
of Liverpool and Chester against the practice of the Vicar of
Easton, in exacting certain tithes in direct violatidn of the Bth
Canon Law with extreme severity and rigour.
An Hox. MEMBER defended the conduct of the Vicar of
Easton, and stated that he knew he was highly respected in
his parish.

ORANGE LODGES.
Mr. HU.%IE gave notice, that on Tuesday the 30th July,
at which time be expected the evidence of the Select Cow-
mittee upon Orange Lodges would be upon the table, he
should call the attention of the House to the establishment
of Orange Lodges in the army, and propose certain resolu.
tions upon the subject.

The -JUT° R N Y- GENERA L said, that inconsequence
of the misconceptions which prevailed upon the repeal of the
Test and Corporation Act, coupled with the fact that a gentle-
man had been elected Sheriff of the city of London, who could
not conscientiously make all the declarations on oath which he
ought to make as Sheriff of a County, lie should now move
for leave to bring in a Bill tq plaoe Sheriffs of Cities on the
same f"tirig With the iieriifs of Counties—that the same
oaths be required of each. —A ~zreed to.

STAMP DUTIES.
Mr. WART •presented a paitit;n from Carnarvon, pray-
ing for the repeal of the Stamp Duties on Newspapers. He
felt happy to learn that not only in London, hut in every part
of the country the wish was universal for the, repeal of taxes
on knowledge. He trusted the time was not far distant whin
that obnoxious tax would he repealed.
ORANGE LODg.T,i.-4.
An LION. MEMBER salt; Of, %!-k.4.lesnce on Orange Lodges not
being cortlpli4o, ;ilcl -9,0 t to be completed before the
the Hon. •Alein',R7 for Middlesex had fixed too
early a (lay fig bringiojj on iii Motio3l t,n,specting• Orange
HUMP, replied that in that case he should Lut off his
motion.

_