The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-13 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1857.

ANTI-INCOME TAX MEE,I;IA G ICY

MARELEBONE.

Last evening a public meeting
of the inhabitantsand
resident electors of Middlesex was held in the theatre of.
the Literary_ Institution, Edward-street, Portman-square,-
" to take into consideration the measures to be adopted in
consequence of the continued silence of the Government
on the repeal of the war income tee of ninepence in:
the pound."
Mr. Jacob Bell was at 8 o'clock called to thti chair, and
the spacious theatre of the institution was denselycrowded.
On the platform were Sir J. Duke, ALP., Mr. Jas. _Bell,
M.P., Messrs. Nicholay, D'lffanger, C. Lewis, Poland,
Travener, Clement, Genge, Major Lyon, Hodges, Dr.
Gray, &c. While,tho Chairman was opening ._the business
of the meeting, Sir B. Hill, M.P., made Lis appearance
upon the platform, 'and was received with three rounds of
cheering.
The CHAIRMAN said the Government had been so silent
übpooonxwiohaastitaheeoimr ien-ttaexnt, itohnast were
there hadiwith
beanref an erenceattoittahtiison moston
o
the subject from one end of the kingdom to the other.
(Hear, hoar) Not one 'word upon the subject had ap-
peared in the Queen's Speech. He was quite certain that
had the Chancellor of the Exchequer only given her Ma-
jesty a little hint nothing would more have delighted her
Majesty than to have been the medium of announcing to
her people• the removal of this impost. It had, however,
crept out that there was such a large reduction in the
army and navy estimates that there was a probability that.
the war 9d. would come off; at the same time the people
must continue alive to their own interests. (Applause.)
Mr. C. LRWIS moved the first resolution to the effect,
" That the recant annoimcement of a very large reduc-
tion in the army and navy estimates, while it afforls
ronnts-for -anticlpating the immediate repeal of the war
income tax, does not remove the necessity for vigilance and
activity,on the part of the public, as there is every reason
to believe that a considerable proportion of the proposed
reduction has been the result of the strong expression of
public feeling." •
Mr. Lewis expressed his delight that there was a prospect
of the Government conceding to public opinion, and he
hoped tliat to-morrow night they would hear the honest
expression of the views of the Government that this abo-
minable and inquisitorial tax, or at least the wer part of it,
should at once cease. (Applause.)
Major LYON, in seconding the resolution, referred to a
letter which had been received from Lord R. Grosvenor,
stating that he was presiding over a meeting called for a
similar object that evening in another part of the county,
but the other member, who misrepresented Middlesex—
(hea-, hear)—had not deigned even to answer their letter
of invitation. Although he demanded a repeal of the in-
come tax—the war tax at once, and the other afterwards—
he was in favour of direct taxation. (Hear, hear.)
Sir B. HALL, M.P., in obedience to the call upon him,
and amid loud applause and some interruption, addressed
the meeting. Before entering into the general subject he
electors
poefr
ttoh ee
nctoeurn tiya t
oo fsuAbilededtlseoseexly, hoef
would simply remark that, as that was a meeting of the
didinhabitants nottin think
interest to his constituents. (Hear.) In reference to any
attacks which had been made uponlaim he should have an
opportunity of meeting them in a proper time and place.
(Hear.) There was no one More anxious than he was to
maintain the right of the people to meet and publicly ex-
press their opinions upon public men (hear), but he should
Permit no man to find fault with him in his absence un-
justly. (Hear.) A public man had a right to submit to
have hie/public conduct canvassed ; but there were two
ways of doing so. Let it b, done• in fairness, Christian
feeling, justice, and generosity, and not with injustice and
with spleen• (Applause.) As to the matter upon which
they had assembled this meeting ho (Sir B. Hall) would
remark that, whether as a member of the Government or
a representative of the people, he had always felt it his
duty to censure them when wrong and support them when
right. (Hear.) The bill referred to the continued silence
of the Government. Now, Parliament only met on the
3d of February, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had
promised to make -his statement at the earliest possible
period. Mondays and Fridays were the only two Govern-
ment days in each week. In accordance, therefore, with
the forms of the house it was impossible the Chancellor of
the Exchequer could have brought forward his financial
statement before Friday, the 13th, when that statement
would be made. He would not point out the fact that a
great mistake had been made in relation to the Govern-
ment and this war tax. He thought it only fair, although
-he considered these public meetings most salutary, to give
every one his due. (Hear, hear.) Now, in order to show
the anxiety of the Government to make these reductions in
the war tax, so far back as November last the Government
desired all the various heads of departments to frame their
estimates for the current year 1857-58 with the greatest
possible economy as early as the 7th of January. This was
done in order that they might be enabled to reduce, if pos-
sible, tho income tax, so anxious were the Government
upon this subject. The deputation, headed by his friend
Major Reed, waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer
on the 23d of January, and when- he (Sir B. Hall) read the
observations made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
that deputation— that the Government bad no, idea of
taking advantage of the wording of the act of Parliament—
he (Sir B. Hall) felt quite assured that the war tax of 9d.
was to come off. ( Loud • applause.) Major Heed himself
expr2ssei his satisfaction that this statement was calcu-
lated to allay the apprehensions of the public. (Hear.) He
(Sir B. Hall) had seldom differed with his constituents
during the whole 20 years he had represented them, and
he did not see that ho differed with that meeting in any
particular. His opinion was that this war tax Was imposed
for a special object, and, that special object having be.in
satisfied, that they ought not, and he believed there was
not any intention on the part of the Government to con-
tinue it. (Cheers.) With regard to the remainder of the
tax, there was no doubt it was most inconvenient and op-
preire, and that there was great inequalities in it, but
let them have some proper scheme drawn to remedy the
evil. They might depend upon it that they could not re-
peal the income tax entirely without doing an injustice
to the poorer classes of society. -After complimenting the
Chancellor of the Exchequer upon his truthfulness, and
expressing his confidence that he was not the man to mis-
lead the public, the hon. baronet resumed his seat amid
applause.
Major REED, M.P., observed that the right hon. gentle-
man the Vice-President of the Board of Education had,
like the right hon. member for Marylebone, endeavoured to
make it appearlhat the Government contemplated the re-
moval of the war tax, and took credit to them for it.
(Hear, hear.) Now his belief was that the Government
would never have taken one farthing of that tax,off but for
the agitation throughout the country. (Applause.)
The resolution was carried unanimously, amid loud ap-
plause.)
Mr. TAVENER, moved the second resolution :
"That a committee be appointed to co-operate with the
Property and Income-tax Association until the war 9d.
shall have been repealed, and a more equitable adjustment
effected in the remaining portion of the Property and In-
come tax." ' _ _

Mr. GEESIN, of St. James's, seconded the resolution,
and it was also carried unanimously.
Sir R. HALL then moved, amid great applause, and.
Major REED, M.P., seconded, a vote of thanks to the chair-
man, which was carried by acclamation, and Mr. JACOB
BELL having responded, the proceedings terminated.

Clay's bill Amnia it
_lie brought into Parliament, and on
the subject of opening places of public amusement on a '
Sunday, he pointed"out the evils resulting from the ab-
sence of proper places of resort for the poor on the Sab-
bath, and expressed himself in favour of their having ac-
cess to parks, but for no money to betaken. Finally Mr.
Clive referred to the Maynooth grant, and, after sketching
its origin and historp, d his determination to sup-
,, announce
port it as an arrangement which must be maintained, con-
tending that it is far better to have an educated than an
uneducated priesthobd, and far better that that priesthood
should ba educated in Ireland than abroad. (Applause.)
Mr. KEVILL DAVIES they addressed the meeting. He
- came before them unfettered to any particular line of policy,
-but independently as a country gentleman residing among
them, one having'a stake in the county, and not a stranger,
ment of Mr.ll Es.
sbiubtlewwhaoyse..interests were mixed up with them in every pos-
canvassed the town, but had withdrawn from the contest
Yvianigi3 a,'(ltti
juldecd .oinnsetrevrnari
voef rceagnrde
dtaoteth:
ho h retire-adby medical advice), and to the retirement of Sir R. Price,
aanDdetrhbeyiptereand
precipitancy with which the subsequent proceed-
ingsa had been taken, he repudiated an assertion that he was
tosupsepeoratedr
uotfythuepotn eaxnoprir
ue
bread,
wasa notndsaid
he had no desirea
Protectionist, for that subject was dead. Speaking of the
income tax, he c aid he was decidedly an advocate for the_
immedia+e repeal of the war 93., and for abolishing the
remaining 7d. in 1.-70. He found fault with the manner
in which trades and professions are taxed equally with
property and positive incomes, and if elected he would
advocate that a great portion, if not the whole, should be
taken off the trading -and professional communities, and
the same equally imposed upon all certain incomes. As
to the ballot, ho was himself in favour of its being tried,
but on a matter of such vital importance to the country,
cenneeted so intimately with the best interests of the
country and with the returning of members to Parliament,
he would not, before such a meeting as the present, pledge
hspimeesteltfotothseaymw4hnaotomtheageruLat,hlle would support. With re-
o thought it was a subject
upon which the voters of every constituency had a right to
expect their repTesentative to act according to the feeling
of the majority of his constituency. If that were the only
ground he should be prepared to vote against the grant,
because the question of the internal tenets of religious faith
of the whole constitution were involved. Connected with
that was another subject which might come before Parlia-
ment, and one of equal importance—the Govervient
spection of nunneries. Ho should vote most decidedly for
all nunneries in England and Great Britain being inspected
by Government. The subject of education affected the
religious liberty of the country, and was one of the greatest
possible importance. In it Dissenters as well as Church
people wero equally concerned, and he would advocate any
measure for a general plan of education throughout Eng-
land, for the benefit of Churchmen and Dissenters alike,
without any relation to religious opinions. (Cheers.)
A VOICE—What about the Church rates?
Considerable uproar ensued, and a hundred voices took
up the cry " What about the Church rates?' " Don't
shirk the question !" "Speak out!" See,
Mr. DAVIES—I am
_perfectly ready to give you an answer
upon the subject of Church rates. (Hear.)• I will not say
Church of of England altogether,
I am for the abolition of Church raptelasceadltougpeotnheDr
d together, so that they may
measure for
mfoardedofionrgkaewe:
returned, I would support a mteea.
wptwhrahoal
who do
dpd s
ooai
fnr ofnttghoset o
bcmCehhel
:Luc
inrrtegehhhet ratesero fs
Euthbeesgwt
lehteui
not fall to the ground.
The MAYOR inquired whether anybody else had a candi-
date to propose?
As there was no reply he proceeded to take a show of
hands, submitting the names of the candidates in the order
they were proposed.
The MAYOR declared the show of bands to be in favour
of Mr. Clive. The Conservatives dissented, and denounced
psasibyenungwtt with
the decision es unfair, and a scone of disturbance followed,
which lasted for some time. As the. Mayor did not accede
to the request that another show might be taken or a divi-
sion made, a poll was demanded for Mr. Davies, and the
proceedings terminated.

LEICESTERSHIRE (NORTH).
Mr. Frowen has resigned the contest for North Leices-
tershire. The constituency comprises in all about 3,600 ;
of these 1,756 signed the requisition to Lord John Man-
ners. The canvass returns show a majority of at least 10
to lin favour of Lord John. In one district, where it was
supposed that Mr. Frowen had strong interest, the returns
were 319 for Lord John, 14 for Frowen, 30 neater, and 5
deal. In the Melton district, which comprises more than
half of the whole voters, the electors were almost to a man
in favour of Lord John. Mr. FraWen had secured as his
agents the chief electioneering agents of the Tory and Ra-
dical parties, and the cry of "No Popery 1" was raised in
every village. During the past week he has posted and
circulated upwards of 20,000 handbills, and enlisted in his
favour all who would recall the grant to Maynooth, whether
Dissenters or Churchmen ; but it was utterly impossible to
mako head against the Rutland interest, and his agents
gave up the contest. It is believed that in the whole
county they had not secured 200 votes.

DUMFRIESSHIRE.
Yesterday Mr. Hope Johnston was elected without op-
position for the county of Dumfries, vacant by the resig-
nation of Lord Drumlanrig, coueiquent upon the death of
his father, the Marquis of Queensberry. Mr. Johnston re-
presented the county previous to 1817.

join them in the speculation. An arrangement was to 'be
entered into, a draft of which was reduced ,into writing.
It was their entertainment. They had been partners; and
there was no question that they were partners in the en-
tertainment in question.. I arranged to join them, which
arrangement they afterwards repudiated. The terms were
agreed upon' between us, and afterwards they refused to
complete it. I mean by them, Miss Stanley-and Mr.
ley
ta:
,angßy ahhhlgeeee sryrse .easmnian
mother,
agreement
entertainment,l
hpi ar
ayrangement
haaec
nrneor
dngc
olies
Rehemorigiureu;sgueahtnnE
eoawc
siyzaosahfpnodepaidis;cac
mwiarlosayersarigseedtel
hfn't Vtweiohawhiepiieenc.r:m.hgol ie
efiphritlpsoas :.y.odeSfami
setltaeniihenstrne.;
H
trumped up against him. He did not tell me that he had
_been convicted at the Old Bailey. lie said that ,he had
been acquitted. There was also a difficulty in putting
Miss Stanley's name forward as a manager, al no lady or
gentleman giving an entertainment could puff themselves.
(Laughter.) The entertainment was to be brought in my
name. Mr. Hughes said that he had sufficient money to
pay all debts, whether the speculation turned out a suc-
cessful one or not. I said that as my name was in repute
with the public I would not accept a salary, but would
have one-third share of the profits. Mrs. Stanley said
that her daughter ought to have one-half share of the
profits, and that we ought to divide the other half
between us. I then said Mrs. Stanley might give
the entertainment herself. It was subsequently agreed
that wo should each have one-third share of the
profits. This is the book of the entertainment. We' all
three did what we could-to keep the thing afloat. I wont
to the plaintiff in reference to the matter. The entertain-
ment was produced, and both the public and the presssaid
it was very successful. I know the handwriting of Mr.
Hughes and Miss Stanley.
Mr. Prentic'e—ls that Mr. Hughes's handwriting? .
Wifhess (with astonishment)—How did yon get that
letter? (Laughter.) It is ray letter, and is written by Mr.
Hughes to me.
[The letter was read, and was to the effect that the
agreement between the parties was broken off.] •
' Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Thomas—The book
which has been produced comes under the right of pub-
lishing and selling the programmes and words of the en-
tertainment, which Mr. Hughes and I reserved to ourselves;
and that was part of the agreement which was never car-
ried out. Mr. Hughes wrote to me to desire me to break
off the second agreement, which I refused to (10 unless I
received a reasonable compensation for so doing. Miss
Stanley is at the present time in America fulfilling an en-
gagement, for which she is to receive 3,000/. I brought an
action against Miss Stanley in the Court of Common
Pleas to recover my share of the prbfits, and the amount
WSR paid into court; but I did not succeed in that action,
and the money was ordered to be paid back again. Miss
Stanley never paid anybody. (A. laugh.) Nobody was ever
paid except the landlord, and he stopped the rent. The
plaintiff had fitted up rooms for me about 19 years. Miss
Stanley lived with her mother for a considerable period
previous to this affair. Hughes lived in Gray's-inn-place.
I was not introduced to Miss Stanley till December, 1855.
Mr. Hughes assured me that all connection between him-
self and Miss Stanley was broken off, as, if it was made
public that she bad such a connection, a drawing-room
entertainment would not answer.
Cross-examined by Mr. Griffiths—l was present on the
Monday when the entertainment was opened, and 1 had to
make an apology to the audience in consequence of the
incompleteness of the fittings.
Mr. John Headland—l am secretary to the proprietor of
St. Martin's-hall. I produce an agreement to hire the
hall. [lt was proposed to read the agreement, but in conse-
quence of its being informal, it was not allowed to be
read.]
Cross-examined—The hall was let to Mr. Hughes, and
the receipts for rent were given to Messrs. Hughes and
Stammers.

Mr. Thomas Brown—l was engaged as pianist at the
entertainment by Mr. Stammers originally. Miss Stanley
wrote a letter to me, requesting me not to leave the orches-
tra during the entertainment.
James Flood—l am an upholsterer. Miss Stanley and
Mr. O'Keefe were living together as man and wife.
Jas. Reed said that Miss Stanley and Mr. O'Keefe lived
at his housein 1847, 1848, and 1849, as man and wife.
Thomas Solway—Miss Stanley ordered some wig-boxes
and a looking-glass for her entertainment of me, which she
had paid for.
Evidence was then called to show the reasonableness of
the charges.
This was the close of the plaintiff's case, and
The Chief Baron said be was of opinion that the plaintiff
had not made out any case against the defendants, and
must therefore be nonsuited.
Nonsuited accordingly.