The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-16 00:00:00

THE CRY FOR THE REPEAL br
THE MALT DUTY.

The English farmers are now raising a cry of dis-
tress—a thing they never fail to do when food is cheap
and the country prosperous. On such occasions they
do not look for relief to the parties who ought to
afford it, their landlords, but they besiege Parliament
with petitions, either for the imposition of some new
tax under the name of protection, or the repeal of
some old tax which, in their opinion, presses particu-
larly upon their order. Accordingly, a movement
is now commencing for the repeal of the malt
duty, an impost which is invariably attacked when
the farmers do not find themselves comfortable.
Sometimes it is avowed that their motive is to
raise the price of barley by increasing the con-
sumption, but in general the false pretext is
put forward of compassion for the working classes, or
a benevolent desire "to cheapen the poor man's pot
of beer." This was the cue taken up at a meeting held
upon the subject in London last week. One orator,
a Mr. Ellis, declared that "it was more than human
nature could put up with for a man to do field-labour,
and to be compelled to drink nothing but tea or
water." Mr. Baker " considered beer almost as
necessary as bread," and was willing to pur-
chase the more liberal use of this beverage
for the poor, even at the expense of an addi-
tion to the income-tax! But Mr. Hobbs capped
the climax by announcing the great discovery that
water drinking is fatal to life. "They must all
(he said) have seen, in going through the union
houses throughoyt the kingdom, numerous children
who had lost their fathers from being obliged to drink
water ;" and for the benefit of the faculty, he states
the type which the water-ill assumes. In the southern
counties, " Some men with large families had drunk
water till they brought on consumption !" Such are
the pitiful fictions with which these men colour over a
scheme purely selfish.
The truth is, that with the single exception of the
tobacco duty, there is not a better tax in our whole
fiscal system than that on malt. First, it is
very productive. Last year it yielded a clear
revenue of 4,873,0001., which, if given up, we
defy the ablest financier to replace by any impost
which would not be attended with tenfold
difficulty and tenfold inconvenience to the public.
Secondly, the malt duty has the advantage of being
fairly levied, for there is little smuggling' in the ma-
nufacture. Thirdly, it falls on an article more a
luxury than a necessary of life, and nearly as much
abused as whisky and gin. Fourthly, it presses so
lightly as scarcely to be felt by the great mass of
those who pay it. Upon the species of porter called
beer in England, which constitutes the favourite drink
of the working classes, it amounts precisely to 60.
upon the barrel of thirty-six gallons, that is two-
pence per gallon, or one-third of a penny on the pot.
The fourpenny pot, therefore, if the 'duty were abo-
lished, would cost the retailer abrAit one farthing less
than is now charged. Alr:cements,
never made by farthings o however, are
such articles, and the re-
sult would be, either that the price would be lowered
a halfpenny, and the beer reduced in strength ;
or the price would remain at fourpence, with a pro-
mise to raise the quality, which the brewer would not
long be able to fulfil, if the abolition of the duty ef-
fected the objected of those who carried it, that of en-
hancing the price of barley. Like the tobacco duty,
the malt-tax being chiefly paid in pennies and far-
things, its weight is scarcely felt. We ask how a
sum of nearly five millions could be raised in any
other way so easily, and with so little injury to any
person ? Moreover, who could gain by the change ?
How could even a reduction of one halfpenny on
the fourpenny pot (one. eighth of the price), produce
any sensible increase of consumption, or any sensible
rise in the price of barley ? Any person who ex-
amines the subject patiently may easily satisfy himself
that the sole effect of the abolition of the malt
duty would be to throw away five millions of re-
venue, without benefit to any class. Absurd and
mischievous as such a step would be, our rapacious
landocracy are daring enough to attempt it. Twice
within the last twelve years has the House of Com-
mons, with blind selfishness, passed a vote against the
continuance of this tax ; and twice has the Chancellor
of the Exchequer prevailed upon the Members, by
his prayers and tears, to stultify themselves by recall..
ing their vote! It behoves the oountry, then, to be
on its guard, and watch their manoeuvres; for the re-
peal of a tax yielding five millions, leads inevitably
to the imposition of another, or others, of equal
amount. The present malt-tax is but a remnant of
that which existed in 1815. While the duties on tea
sugar, soap, windows, fire insurance, and many others
felt to be oppressive, were left untouched, the land-
holders lost no time in reducing the duties on malt,
always acting on the idea that these duties kept down
the price of barley. In 1815 the tax on malt, in-
c:uding the beer duty, was about 565. or 68s. the
quarter, or nearly triple its present amount. In the
first year of peace, when rents were falling, away went
the " war malt duties," equal to 16s. the Winchester
quarter. In 1822, a year of agricultural dist•ess,
what was called the "annual malt-tax" of Bs. the
quarter was thrown overboard. n 1830 the
same parties procured the rePP;dl of the beer
duty, which was equal, we hel:leie, to 12s. on the
quarter of malt. About se:ven millions of revenue
were sacrificed to aPPeese the cravings of the
landholders, and aid them in their vain attempt to
uphold war prices in time of peace. They are still
not satisfied ; and we should not be at all surprised to
see the residue of this duty, which burdens nobody,
and is very productive, swept away because such is
their will and pleasure, while a multitude of unjust,
Unequal, and grinding taxes are spared. What the
farmers have gained by these and all the other real
or pretended efforts for their relief by legislation,
their present complaints and outcries show. We
could scarcely believe the testimony of our senses,
when we saw so sound-headed a statesman as Lord
John Russell drop some expressions on the last day
of the session intimating that the repeal of the malt-
tax was a subject worthy of consideration We sup-
pose his Lordship, when he made this remark, was
prepared to render the income-tax permanent, or to
re-impose the house duty, or the higher duties on glass,
paper, and soap, or to adopt some measure equally
strong.—Scotsman.

DEATH OF Da. ABERCROMBIB.—We are sorry to
announce the sudden demise of this celebrated and phi-
lanthropic physician. The deceased was seized with a
fit of apoplexy, at his residence in York-place, this morn -
ing, which proved almost immediately fatal. The loss
of Dr. Abercrombie will be deeply and severely felt.
His benevolence was unwearied. In his character we
have a beautiful combination of intellectual talent and
moral excellence—genius surrounded will' the halo of
Christian virtue.—Scottish Herald of Thlursday.
MELTON MOWBRAY.—The 'arrivals at this place
of sporting celebrity are umt.ually numerous. Among
the first-rate Leicestershire studs which have already
arrived are those of the Earl of Wilton, Colonel Wynd-
ham, Lord A. St. Maur, Captain Oliver, Sir J. Muigrave,
Bart., W. S. S. Crawford, Esq., C. P. Leslie, Esq., U.
G. Surtees, Esq., R. M. Oliver assey, Esq.; and stab-
ling are taken for many more studs, which are expected
in the course of the ensuing week.

THE CHRISTENING AT BURLEIGH.—An amusing
mistake occurred at this ceremony. The. Bishop of Pe-
terborough, who performed the ceremony, had com-
menced it and was going on, when it was discovered that
the infant who was to be christened was not in the room.
The young lady was immediately brought in, however,
and the ceremony recommenced.

EXTRAORDINARY SPORT AT HIS GRACE THE DMZ
OF RIITLAND'S.-011 Tuesday week, in a Small COVET
called the " Links," near Newmarket, his Grace
the Duke of Rutland, Colonel Anson, Mr. Stanley,
and Mr. Fairlie, with only four hours' shooting,
bagged the extraordinary number of 714 head of
game—namely, hares, 336 ; pheasants, 265 ; partridge,
33 ; rabbits, 80 ; and the following day upwards of 50
hares, pheasants, &c. (wounded the previous day),
were picked up. Out of the four hours shooting, two
of the party were absent an hour and a half, attending a
meeting at Newmarket—namely, his Grace the Duke of
Rutland and Mr. Fairlie. In the evening a considerable
portion of the game was distributed to the tenantry,
tradespeople, &c.—Leicester Journal.

INCREASE Or PAUPERISM.—SiAIee Thursday ibt,
not less than seventy-seven per&ons have been admitted
into the workhouse of Banbury Union ; and we believe
we are not mistaken when we state that an equal num-
ber are ready to present themselves for a like purpose.
Of the seventy-seven, forty-one are from the parish of
Bloxham, and they entered together on Friday last, pass..
ing through our town in a melancholy procession.—Ban.
bury Guardian.

HER MAJESTY'S STAG Hour;tos.—A large field, in-
eluding the Earl of Rosslyn, several of the officers of
the regiments stationed at Windsor and Hounslow, and
a considerable muster of neighbouring gentry and yeo-
men, to the number of upwards of 150, were at the meet,
yesterday morning, at Littleton, near Staines. The cele-
brated stag,Jim Crow, which afforded some exoellent runs
during last season, upon being uncarted near Askforkwelit
away towards the Staines union workhouse, doubling to
the left between Ashford and Bedfont on to Feltham
hill, and then away for Sunbury Common, crossing the
high road for Shepperton. Jim Crow then wheeled to
the left and made for Sunbury, where he took to that,
Thames, crossing the river near the weir to the Surrey
side. The hounds were then drawn off, and taken re,rand
over Walton-bridge, and again laid on near the, weir,
the stag taking away for Moulsey Hurst, wiar,re there
was a cheek, Jim Crow again taking to the. Thames,
and landing on an e 3 of in the middle of the stream. A
punt virati soon manned by the yokels of Xoulsey, and
the stag driven from his place of refuge into the
Thames, swimming again to the SI-4rrey side, =idea
for West Moulsey, where it was `..aken on the farm a
Mrs. Edwards, after a run (the first eight or nine miles
without a check) of an hour and a half, and upwards of
seventeen miles from the, kennel at Ascot. In cone...
quence of the late rains the waters were out in all di-
rections in the vicinity of the Thames, and the contrary
exceedingly heavy. The meet, on Monday, will be at
Broomhall-hut, and on Friday next at State Com-
mon.