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

LONDON 3 FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY la, 1857.

ANTI-INCOME TAX MEETIAG IN

MARYLEBONE.

Last evening's public meeting of the inhabitants and
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 tax -of ninopence
in
the pound."
Mr. Jacob Bell was at 8 o'clock called to the chair, and
the spacious theatre of the institution was densely crowded.
, On the platform were Sir J. Duke, M.P., Mr. Jas.. Bell,
I M.P., Mess? s. Nicho]ay, D'lffeuger, C. Lewis, Poland,
Travener, Clement, Gauge, Major Lyon, Hodges, Dr.
Gray, &c. While the Chairman was opening the business
of the meeting, Sir B. Hall, M.P., made hif appearance
upon the platform, and was received with three rounds of
cheering.
The CHAIRMAN said the Government had been so silent
upon what their intentions were with reference to this most
obnoxious income-tax, that there had been an agitation on
the subject from one and of the kingdom to the other.
(Hear, hear.) 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 ha-1, however,
crept out that there was such a large Jeduction in the
army and navy estimates that there was a probability that
the war Pd. would come off; at •the same time the people
must continue alive to their own interests. (Applause.)
Mr. C. Lewis moved the first resolution to the effect,

" That the recant announcement of a very large.reauc.

Lion in the army and navy estimates, while it affor Is
grounds for anticipating the immediate repeal of the war
income tax, does not remove the necessity for vigilanceand
activity on the part of the public, as there is every reason
to bAieve that a considerable proportion of the proposed
reduction has been the • iesult of the strong expression of
public feelidg."
Mr. Lewis expressed his delight that there was a prospect
of the Government conceding to public opinion, and he

hoped that tomorrow night they would hear the honest
.expression of•the views of the Government that this abo•
minable and inquisitorial tax, or at least the wt.r part of it.
should at once cease. (Applause.)

Major LYON, in seconding the resolution, referred to a
letter which had been received from Lord It, Grosvenor,
stating that he was presiding over a meeting called for a
similar object that evening in another part of the county,
hut the other member, who misrepresented Middlesex—
(hear, bear)—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
would simply remark that, as that was a meeting of the
inhabitants and electors of the county of Middlesex, be
dial not think it was proper to enter into subjects only of
interest to his constituents. (Hear.) In reference to any
attacks which had been made upon him 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 hal a right to submit to
have his public conduct canvassed ; but there were two
ways of doing so. Let it be 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 he (Sir B. Hall) would
remark that, whether as a member of the Government or
a representative of the people, lie had always felt it his
duty to censure theta when wrong.anil support them when
right. (Hear.) The bill referred teethe continued silence
of thekloverinent. 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 misteke 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 1857-53 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, the 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 had 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 93.
was to come off. (Loud
_applause.) Major Reed himself
expressed his satisfaction that this statement was calcu-
lated to allay the apprehension's of the public. (Hear.) He
(Sir B. Hall) bad seldom differed with his constituents
during the whole 20 years he had represented them, and
he did not see that he differed with that, meeting in any
particular. His opinion was that this war tax was imposed
for a special object, and, that special object baying been
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-
pressive, 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 appear that 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 throrghout the country. (Applause.)
The resolution was carried unanimously, amid loud ap-
plause.)
?!r.TATENER, moved the second resolution :

"That a committee be appointed to co-operate with the
Property and Income-tax Association until the war 93.
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 It HALL then moved, amid grant 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.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

' Clay's bill should it be brought into Parliament, and on
the subject of opening places of public amusement on a
Sunday, he pointed out,. the evils resultiug from the ab-
sence of proper places of resort for the peer on the Sab-
bath, and expressed himself in &vow' of their having ac-
cess to parks, but for no money to be taken. Finally Mr.
Clive referred to the Maynooth grant, and, after sketching
its origin and histbry,-annonnced his determination -to eerie-
:port it as an arrangement which must be maintained, con-
teleding that it is far, better to have an educated than an
-uneducated priesthood; and far better that that priesthood
should be educated in Ireland than abroad. (Applause.)
Mr. KEVILL•DAVIES then addrefised the meeting. - He
came before them unfettered to any particularline of policy,
but independently as a country. gentleman residing among
them, one having a stake in the county, and note stranger,
but whose interests were mixed-up with them in every pas::
Bible way. Having alluded in terms of regret to the retire-
ment of Mr. Evans (the Conservative candidate who had
canvassed the town, but bad withdrawn from the contest
by medical advics), and to the retirement of Sir It. Price,
and the precipitancy with which the subsequent -proceed-
ings had been taken, he repudiated an assertion that he was
a Derbyite and a supporter of the tax upon bread, and said
he had no desire to see a duty upon corn. He was; not a
Proteutionist, for that subject was dead. Speaking of the
income tax, he E aid he was decidedly an advocate for the
immediate repeal of the war 91., and forabolishing the
remaining 7d. in E6O. 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 portidn, 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, he was himself in favour of its being tried,
but on a matter of such vital importance to the ouvitry,
connected so intimately with the best interests` cif" the
country and with the returning of members to Paidiameni,
he would not, before such a meeting as the present, pledge
himself to say *hat measure he would support. With re-
spect to the Maynooth grant, he thought it was e'reabject
tePon which the voters of every constitpency had a right to
expect their representative to act acemeling to-the 'bait
of the majority of his constituency. If that were the only
ground he should be prepared to vote against the grant,
because-thelquestion of the internal tenets of religions 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 Government in-
spection of nunneries. He should vote most decided& 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 Oiled the greatest
possible importance. In it Dissentfra a's %MI as Church
people were equally concerned, and be 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
trieseaarit)ogether; but, if
ar(e for doing away with
I will not say
shirk
Mr. tphAeverEess_tioinalm" `p'eSvpfeecak tlyouvetal" dy&e..
to
give
you
an
answer
Inept on the
nft e. t shluebwjeoebucotl
iotsfi
loCup hp
oonfrr ctl
al Churchirates.neaau
v
ed,
d
that part of Church rates which is placed upon Dissenters
Who do not belong to the Church of England altogether,
providing some other substitute were made for keeping the
walls of the Church of England together, so that they may
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 hands to be in favour
of Mr. Clive. The Conservatives dissented, and denounced
the decision as unfair, and a scene of disturbance followed,
which lasted for some time. As the Mayor did not accede
to the request that another show might he taken or a divi-
sion madera poll was demanded for Mr. Davies, and the
proceedings terminated.

LEICESTERSHIRE (NORTH).
Mr. Fromm 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 Mau-
'Dors. Tiro canvass returns show a majority of at least 10
to lin favour-ofLord John. In one district, where it was
supposed that Mr..Frawen had strong interest, the returns
were 319 for Lord'John, 14 for Frewen, 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 !" 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
make heal 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.

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 renSed to
complete it. I mean by thorn, Miss Stanley and. Mr.
Hughes. The arrangement W2B discussed when Miss Stan-
ley, her mother, Mr. Hughes, and myself 'were present:
By agreement I and Mr. Hughes *ere to eltPloY:Misa
Stanley and pay her her salary out of the profit,. Mr.
Hughes said thathe could not appear as tanneger of the
entertainment, in cons6guonce of a char,go which had been
trumped up against him. He did not tell me that he had
boon convicted at the Old Bailey. Ho said that ho had
been acquitted. There was also a difficulty in putting
Miss Stanley's name for Ward as a manager, as no lady er
gentleman giving an entertainment could puffthernsolvee.
(Laughter.) The entertainment was to be brought in my
name. Mr. Hughes said that he hid' sufficient money to
pay all debts, whether the speculation turned out a suc-
cessful one or not. I said that as my mime was in repute
with the public I would not accept a- salary, lint would
have one-third share of the profits. Mrs, Stanley said
that her daughter ought to have one-halt share of the
Profits, and that we ought to divide tlie other half.
between us. I then said Mrs. Stanley might give
the entertainment herself. It was subsequently agreed
that we should each have one third share of the
profit,. This is the book of the enfortainmbnt. We all
three did what we could to keep the thing afloat. I weet
jci the plaintiff in reference to the matter. The entertain-
ment was produced, and both the public and the piesssaid
,it was very.successful. I know tithe handwriting of Mr.
Hughes and... Miss Stanley.
Mr. Prentice—ls that Mr. Hughes's handwriting
Witness (with astonishment)—Hew slid you gat -that
letter? (Laughtdr.) It is my letter, and is written by Mr.
Hnghes to me. - - .
[The letter was read, and- was-to the effect that the
igreemeut betweeti`thh pe.rties-waS broken - -•-
'Cross-exaMineck:thY Sergeant' Thomas— Th. -hook
which has been produced comes under the right of rili
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 do 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 3,0001. I brought an
action against Miss Stanley in the Court of Common
Pleas to recover my share of the profits, and the amount
was 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 I^l 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 a.cember, 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 had such a connection, a drawing-room
entertainment would not answer.

Cross-examined by Mr. Griffiths—l was present on the
Monday when the entertainment wee opened, and .1 had to
make an apology to the audience in consequence of the
incompleteueos of the fittings.
Mr. John 11, adland—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—Tbe hall was let to Mr. Hughes, and
the receipts for rent were given to Messrg. Hughes and
Stammers.

Mr. Thomas Brown—l was engaged as pianist at the
entertainment by Mr. Stammers originally. Miss Stanley
wrote a letter to mo, requesting me not to leave the orches-
tra daring 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 house in 1847, 1848, and 1819, 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.
Ividence was then called to show the reasonableness of
the charges.
This was the close of the plaintiff's case, and
The Chief Baron said he was of opinion that the plaintiff
had not made out any case against the defendants, and
must therefore be nonsuited.
Nonsuited accordingly.