The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-17 00:00:00

DEVONPORT AND STONEHOUSE

• ELECTION.
PIA MOUTH, JULY 16.—Sir John Romilly had a first
interview with his constituents yesterday evening at
Killingly's Prince George Hotel, Stonehouse, when Mr.
Charles Chapple, a very old resident, presided.
The newly-appointed ATTORNEY•GENERAL commenced
by stating that this was the third occasion on which he
had had the honour to address them. At first he was
unknown to the voters of the borough, except by the
little matters which he had prosecuted through Parlia-
ment, and by the name which his honoured and revered
!went had left him. On the second occasion, when he
had accepted the office of Solicitor-General, they had
had but short experience of his conduct as their repre-
sentative in the House of Commons. At that time he
told his constituents, both at Devonport and Stonehouse,
that it would be impossible for him to take the same
position as when unconnected with the Government.
Any society of gentlemen who met together must give
and take, provided there was no sacrifice of principle, in
order to maintain union. He had been Solicitor-
General nearly two years, but having recently ac-
cepted the office of Attorney-General lead come to
render an account of his political conduct, and to ask
a renewal of their suffrages. With his colleague Mr.
Tufnell, he had endeavoured so to hold the interests
of the borough as to maintain it in its place
among other towns. The inhabitants of no other
country in Europe pay so little attention to foreign po-
litics as England, but on a recent occasion no doubt
great excitement had prevailed. He cordially and fully
concurred in the vote in favour of Lord Palmerston. It
was complained that the Noble Lord interfered too much
with other nations to promote his own doctrines among
them. This was incorrect. England had always inter-
fered, and it was her duty to suggest the propriety of
those salutary reforms which prevent convulsions. The
interference in Greece was on behalf of two British sub-
jects, and he (Sir J. Romilly) could not concur with
those who gravely stated that if British property be en-
croached on there is no remedy at home. An old friend
of his, a gentleman from the midland counties—no poli-
tician, but one who had travelled much in the East—
stated that the English were respected everywhere from
the moment Lord Palmerston obtained the seals of office.
11 'hen first elected the question of the navigation-laws
was under discussion. Some thought that as soon as
they were passed not another ship would be built; but
the anticipate) terrors proved utterly visionary, and
unusual activity in shipbuilding prevailed everywhere.
It was carrying out free trade—a measure which must
eventually be complete. He could not, however, but
confess that the alteration of the corn-laws bore heavily
on the landlord and on those tenants having
long leases, and the time was coming when a very con-
siderable struggle would take place. Ever since the
alt' ration there had been good harvests, but the period
would arrive when the crops must fall, and then impor-
tations would keep down the price, and a struggle would
commence. The interest of the landlord must not be
put in antagonism with the interests of the whole com-
munity. In the colonies the present Government fur-
nished liberal institutione, especially in Australia—a
course which was eminently popular. The most im-
portant subject of domestic interest was general public
retrenchment; there were many useless offices connected
with the law, but the fees were paid by suitors, and
their reduction will not diminish taxation. Further
retrenchments in the navy, army, and ordnance could
not be safely made ; if peace is to be preserved the
country must be ready for war. The state of eminence
the nation possesses has become the envy of the powers
abroad, and it was evident the other day in the Mediter-
ranean that those powers wished to get England into a
scrape. Besides the army and navy afforded occupation
for the lower classes, and if a sudden stop was put to
ship-building in the public yards, those establish-
ments could not easily be got up again. The in-
tellectual condition of the apprentices in the dockyards
would shame some of the sons of the aristocracy, and
their advar:ced education was beneficial to the state. He
had always been favourable to the extension of the suf-
frage, but could not support Mr. Locke King's Bill; it
was useless to bring forward an abstract question. He
must candidly tell them that he should always vote with
the Government, unless it became essentially necessary
to sever the connexion. It was a cardinal point with
every good Government to uphold the good faith of the
country; if the window-tax had been suddenly abolished
payments to fundholders must be postponed and the
country upset. Those who lent the money are dead,
and more than one-half of the present holders derive
less than 1001. per annum from the funds. It is difficult
to find a new tax. His opinion was strongly in favour
of a property-tax, although it fell heavily on himself, as
his professional income paid the same as that derived
from land. A great struggle will take place next year
on the renewal of the property-tax. The window-tax
brought a revenue of 1,750,0001., and it was not easy to
supply that deficiency; if that tax were taken off another
must be put on. He had considerably modified his
views on the subject; in favour of taking it off was
the great increase of light and air; there the benefit to
the tenant would rest, pecuniary advantage would accrue
only to the landlord, Take Liverpool—no poor man
there had a house, he rented a room or two; if the tax
were abolished no reduction of rent would folow. Where
a tenant had a long lease of a large house he would un-
doubtedly receive benefit. The house tax taken off by
Lord Althorp had all gone into the pockets of the land-
lords. In the House of Commons the Protectionists had
all voted for the various items of expenditure, but had
opposed taxation. He objected to the late derangements
of the Post-office, but it was singular that to the petitions
in favour of that measure 700,000 signatures had been
attached, while to those in opposition only 30,000 had
been appended; all the most considerable merchants in
the city of London voted for closing. Ho (Sir J. Ho-
miny) bad introduced several measures connected with
Ireland, which were expected to be beneficial; his
experience of the character of Irish gentlemen had much
raised them as landlords in his esteem. The New Poor
Law had given a remedy for evictions. It was the
duty of every Member of Parliament to do that which
is most conducive to the interests of the country.
He had paid attention to that department with which
he was best acquainted. The law ought not to be a
terror to suitors, and having now the assistance
of Government he had been enabled to do much
for Ireland and a little for England. The law could not
in all cases be made cheap—take for instance a collision
between two ships, when so many witnesses were re-
quired. He had in some cases diminished abuses, and
by their permission he would prosecute further remedial
measures. To the borough of Devonport and Stone-
house he owed his advancement, although, perhaps, some
other borough might have elected him. Through them
he had carried out several beneficial reforms, and it was
his anxious desire to hand down to posterity and to his
own children the same good name as his father bad left
him. This was the noblest inheritance he could trans-
mit to his son.
Mr. KENT complained of the inequality of the probate
duty, which fell heavily on the small leasehold occupiers
of Devonport and Stonehouse, while the great landed
proprietors escaped. When the Health of Towns Act
passed the tax should have been taken off staircase win-
d::
aawtts
modification Sir J. ROMILLY thought there was an inequality in
taxing personal property and not land; he considered
5.1:17.170di icfie
nance of six Field- dvoigwo-rtoaxusmlyigthot
thebe mmaadier.te.
TER, who said he was a little man and had but
Field-Marshals s at 14/ per day. In 1800
only one existed. Stonehouse *
paid more poor-rates
than any other parish.
7s. 7d. per week, and the half
A private marine's full pay was
zaf objected
,ttthe
se most
hn
family 2s. 6d. If the pa of
pay for his wile and
of the Field-Mar-
shals was appropriated is
to pay
one
poor families, it would
afford considerable relief.
recently at Totness a poor