The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORN!!!.v

A short disussion followed, in which Mr. Sergeant
Gazelee, both as a proprietor and one of the legal
gentlemen who had been consulted, expressed his
perfect confidence in the recovery of the sum in
question.

The CHAIRMAN then made a short general state-
ment of the present condition of the business of the
bank, which he said had partaken of the improved
state of the affairs of the colony.
A vote of thanks to the Directors was proposed and
carried for their able conduct with respect to the dis-
pute between the two companies, and the meeting se-
parated. The proceedings appeared to give general
satisfaction.

REPEAL OF THE WINDOW DUTY.
A meeting of the rate-payers of the parish of St.
James's, Westminster, was held yesterday evening in
Willis's Room, Brewer-street, for the purpose of
adopting the best means of obtaining the repeal of
the window duty in the approaching session of Parlia-
ment. Mr. Keith, churchwarden, took the chair
about seven o'clock, being supported by several of the
parish officers and other respectable inhabitants.
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting had bean con-
vened by the requisition of a large and respectable
portion of the inhabitants, for the purpose of securing
the repeal of the window duty. He hoped the ex-
ample would be followed by other parishes in the
metropolis.—(Hear, hear.) The parish of St. James
was peculiarly called upon to come forward at this
juncture. They were aware that an Act had recently
been passed, called the Building Act. He had, with
his colleagues and the overseers, gone round the pa-
rish, for the purpose of ascertaining the number of
houses which, under that Act, would next year be
rendered unfit for dwellings unless they had windows
and areas, and he believed that the whole number
would not be less than one thousand.—(Hear, hear.)
It occurred to him, in going round, as a very strange
thing, that a law should be made to compel a man to
open a window, and yet that by another law he
should be punished if he did; for the effect of the
window duty was to operate as a penalty.--(Hear,
hear.) He hoped that many meetings similar to that
would take place, and that a strong appeal would be
made to the Government to abolish this infamous and
oppressive tax.— (Cheers.)
A letter was then read from Mr. T. S. Duncombe,
M.P., regretting his unavoidable absence, and pro-
mising his cordial co-operation in Parliament.
Mr. MAULE rose to propose the first resolution.
He said there was no tax more severe or unnational
than the window duty. He was not aware at what
period the outrageous device of taxing this necessary
element of existence originated, but as long as he
could remember it had been reprobated as a most in.
human and unrighteous mode of obtaining a revenue.
A poll-tax was not more hateful than a tax upon the
light of heaven and the air they breathed. There had
never been a period more favourable to the removal of
this most odious duty. The national revenue ex-
ceeded by some millions the estimates of expenditure.
There was also a disposition manifested in high quar-
ters to trace the sources of mortality, and one or two
bulky volumes had been published in reference to the
state of the smaller dwellings, and the necessity of
obtaining a free current of air. Under such circum-
stances he thought the public had a peculiar claim to
the abolition of the tax. He therefore begged to pro-
pose the following resolution That the tax upon
windows, so styled, but, in reality, a tax upon light
and air, is in its very principle revolting, inhuman,
wicked, and unchristian, denying, as it does, the full
enjoyment of the first and most essential of heaven's
bounteous gifts, and, moreover, is in its practical
workings oppressive and injurious."
Mr. EWEN seconded the resolution, which was also
supported by Dr. Costello, and carried unanimously.
Mr. GEEsn'r proposed the second resolution :
" That this tax is grievously oppressive upon the in-
dustrial community, and bears with unequal, and
therefore unjust pressure, upon that class which, for
cheapness, occupy houses in those localities from
fashion abandoned by the wealthy, and which houses
contribute, in proportion, more to the tax than the
choicest and most noble mansions."
Mr. W. ATECKETT seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
Mr. LAWFOBD proposed the following :—" That this
meeting earnestly recommend the parochial authori-
ties of the metropolitan parishes to convene meetings
in their respective districts, for the purpose of form-
ing committees to become members of a general me-
tropolitan committee, which, by being thus composed,
will concentrate within itself a power which, if well
directed, must eventually tend to carry out the object
of this meeting." He was glad to find that the large
parish of Marylebone was stirring in this matter.
He thought that if all the parishes were, united, there
could be no doubt of success.
Other resolutions were proposed, appointing a com-
mittee, and generally for the purpose of carrying out
the object.
Mr. HUGGETT observed that there was one light in
which the matter had not been put, which would have
afforded an additional reason for seeking the aboli-
tion. This tax was made a condition of the elective
franchise, and formed an impediment to its exercise.
This he conceived to be a very powerful argument
against its continuance.
A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, and
the meeting then separated.

We are glad to learn that the gingham weavers in
Whitehaven, in the employ of Messrs. Chambers and
Co., of Carlisle, have lately had an advance in their
wages of one penny per head, which will amount to from
fid. to 9d. per week to ordinary workmen, and perhaps
to is. per week to the quickest hands in their employ-
ment.— Cumberland Pacquet.
We are sorry to learn that the lobster fishers in the
Hebrides have not been so suceesaful in their specula-
tions in the English markets since our last notice as we
could have wished them, or their exertions merited.
Owing to the stormy weather and intervening fogs, the
steamers to and from the Highlands, but more particu-
larly from Glasgow, have been prevented from sailing
at the stated time; and, in consequence, the lobsters
being too long out of their native element, the greater
part of them died ere they reached the English markets.
We learn that proposals have been made to have the
lobsters boiled and prepared here before they are trans-
mitted to the sister kingdom, so that they may be fit for
the market there.—Caledenian Mercury.
THE APPROACII OP SPRING.—As an intimation of
the approach of spring, and as a proof of the fallacy of
certain predictions as to the severe and long winter with
which we were to be afflicted, we may mention that during
the present week there has been plucked from the open
hedge of an orchard attached to the residence of Mr.
Richard Major, of Silverton, in this county, a quantity of
vriwrosQs in full and perfect bloom.—Pigmenth limutow ScaooL—On Wednesday Harrow School
opened under its new head-master, the Rev. Charles
Vaughan.

BANK OF ATJSTRALASIA.
An extraordinary general meeting of the Bank of
Australasia *as held yesterday at the office of the
Company, No. 2, Moorgate-street, for the purpose of
electing a Director in the vacancy occasioned by the
resignation of W. Brown, Esq.
For this office there have been four candidates--
Mr. Atherstone, Mr. De Castro, G. H. Foster, Esq.,
and Captain J. Grover.
The CHAIRMAN announced that Mr. Atherstone
and Mr. De Castro had withdrawn, and the election
rested between Mr. Foster and Captain Grover.
Before proceeding to the show of hands,
Captain GROVER briefly addressed the meeting,
remarking on the aptitude displayed by military
men for public business; he stated, however, that he
had but slight hopes of success, anticipating a more
favourable result on another occasion.
On the show of hands,
The CHAIRMAN declared the election to have gone
in favour of Mr. Foster, by a large majority.
Mr. FOSTER briefly returned thanks, trusting that
he should discharge the duties of the office with satis-
faction to the Proprietors.
The CHAIRMAN then said that the business of the
extraordinary general meeting had concluded,
and they were now convened according to
a resolution passed at their last meeting.
The Directors were not prepared to submit to them
any report, or regular account, but, as it appeared at
the last meeting to be the wish of the Proprietors to
meet the Directors more frequently than once a year,
they had cheerfully acceded to their wishes, and the
present meeting was fixed accordingly. He congra-
tulated them that it was accidentally prevented from
taking place last December, as they should not
then have been so well able to give an
explanation of transactions that had taken place in
the colony, calculated to remove the apprehensions
that had been occasioned by recent advices from
that qualm% They were aware that this Bank had
a large pecuniary claim on the Bank of Australia.
Since the last meeting a resolution had been come to
at a meeting of the Proprietors of the Bank of Aus-
tralia, held at Sydney, that they would resist the
payment of that claim to this bank. Measures
had, therefore, been taken by the officers of this bank
in the colony, which had also been followed up here
with respect to that debt; but as the statement of
those measures would involve legal points, he would
beg them to hear Mr. Farrer on the subject.
Mr. 0. FARRER then went into an explanation of
the circumstances of the matter in dispute between
the two banks, begging the Proprietors to confine
their attention solely to the legality of their claim,
and not enter into any discussion on the propriety or
expediency of the original transaction. He
said that the resolution passed at the meet-
ing of the Bank of Australia to resist
the claim of this Company upon it, was supported
only by nineteen gentlemen, though the whole num-
ber of Proprietors of that Bank was two hundred.
He then read the questions on the case of this Com-
pany which had been laid before Sir Thomas Wilde,
Mr. Sergeant Gazelee, and Mr. Hugh Hill, and the
answers to them, whichi were every way satisfactory
to the Directors as to the complete liability of the
Bank of Australia for the amount of the sum advanced
to it by this establishment.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held
at the usual hour for the dispatch of public business.
At the opening of the Court several members who
had not taken the oaths, and made and subscribed the
declaration prescribed by the statute as a substitute
and in lieu of the provisions of the Corporation and
Test Acts, at the several wardmotes whereat they
had been respectively elected, were called to the table
for the purpose of taking the oath of office and sub-
scribing the declaration. Among those so called were
Mr. R. Taylor, who, however, retained his seat until
again called upon by the Town Clerk, when
Mr. R. TAYLOR rose, and was about to address the
Court, but
The LORD MAYOR interposed, and remarked that,
acting ministerially as he (the Lord Mayor) then
was, he could not hear Mr. Taylor until he had been
sworn, and made the declaration required by law.
Mr. R. TAYLOR replied that he had been sworn, and
had made the declaration before the proper authority
at the wardmote.
The LORD MAYOR.--I am told that you have not.
The To CLERK informed the Court that the
declaration had not been returned to him by the
ward clerk.
A MEMBER—No, and the reason was that Mr.
Taylor, after having made it, walked away with it in
his pocket.—(A laugh.)
Mr. WILLIAMS (Farringdon) said he had seen Mr.
Taylor make and subscribe the declaration.
Mr. R. TAYLOR—Yes, and I have it with me ;
but I wish to take this occasion to express my opinion
not merely on the folly, absurdity, and impertinence
of this declaration (of which this Court several years
ago expressed its unanimous condemnation),but more
especially at this time, of the intolerant and oppres-
sive use made of it by the Court of Aldermen to the
exclusion from office of Mr. Salomons and the virtual
disfranchisement of the electors of Portsoken. It is
most absurd and tyrannical. Mr. Taylor handed the
declaration to the Town Clerk, and thus the conversa-
tion dropped.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.
The next business proceeded with was the appoint-
ment of the Committees for the ensuing year. Upon
the lists presented to the Court were the names of
several gentlemen who had served upon the same
Committee for the space of four years; the maximum
period for which, according to the 32d article of the
standing orders, they were eligible.
Mr. KING objected to this abrogation of the stand-
ing order, and, after a lengthy desultory conversation,
It was moved by Mr. PRIOR, and seconded by Mr.
THOMAS, that the standing order be suspended. On
the question a division was called for by Mr. King,
when the numbers appeared—
For the motion .. BO
Against it lB
Majority .. —62
The lists of the Committee were then gone through
seriatim, and the members appointed, a proceeding
which occupied a considerable portion of time.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The Town CLERK communicated to the Court that,
appended to the annual report made by the High
Bailiff of Southwark of the receipts and disbursements
of his office, was a letter in which that gentleman
invited the attention of the corporate body to a sub-
ject which he felt it to be his duty to lay before it.
It had reference to the effect produced by the opera-
tion of the statute 7 and 8 Vic., passed for the aboli-
tion of imprisonment for debt, upon the office of High
Bailiff of Southwark and of Chief Bailiff of the
Court of Requests for the Hundred of Lambeth.
The Commissioners of the Court of Requests had
thought it right to suspend, in consequence of the
decrease in the business of the Court, the payment of
the sum for which the fees payable heretofore to the
High Bailiff has been commuted until after the Ist
February, in order to ascertain what would be the
probable average amount of fees in future. By the
17th section of the statute, the Lords Commissioners
of the Treasury were authorised to award compensa-
tion to parties whose interests were affected, and the
High Bailiff suggested the necessity for the Court, at
an early period, giving such directions in the matter
as would protect their interests in the office of High
Bailiff.
On the motion of Mr. °SHARD, seconded by Mr.
Deputy PEACOCK, the letter was ordered to be referred
to the Officers and Clerks Committee, to examine into
the same, and to report if any, and what steps, ought
at an early period to be taken in the matter.
POLICE COMMITTEE—NON-ATTENDANCE OF
ALDERMEN.
Mr. ANDERTON said he wished to call the atten-
tion of the Court, and especially of the Aldermen (of
whom he wished there were more now present), to a
subject which he was extremely sorry had been pre-
sented to the public mind in a paragraph contained
in one of the newspapers. The paragraph stated that,
for several weeks, the greatest inconvenience had been
occasioned to the public who had the misfortune to
be called upon to attend the Police Committee, in con-
sequence of the Aldermen not being present, and
stated as the result that upwards of fifty persons were
sometimes kept waiting from two to three hours be •
fore their business was transacted, and that this had
not only been the case last Saturday, but for several
previous weeks. Now he (Mr. Anderton) thought it
was most desirable that the public should know whe-
ther it was the intention of the Aldermen to continue
these omissions of their duties, or if they had made
arrangements for the better discharge of their duties.
He had the highest respect for, and wished to main-
tain the dignity of, the Court of Aldermen ; but if
this state of things were to be continued, he, for one,
should join heart and hand for the purpose of having
a paid magistracy.
Alderman Ranrceounn inquired who were the
Aldermen on the rota for last Saturday.
Mr. ANDERTON—They are named in the paragraph,
which perhaps the 61erk will be good enough to read.
The paragraph was then read as follows :
"SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE.—For several weeks the
greatest inconvenience has been experienced by
the public who have had the misfortune to be required
at this Court, by the inattention of certain worthy
Aldermen, whose duty it is to preside at the weekly
sittings, but who seldom present themselves, thereby
causing the greatest confusion, keeping the public
waiting one, two, and even three hours, when the
business is hurried over in a manner not very credit-
able to the City of London. Yesterday, for instance,
upwards of fifty persons were kept waiting for nearly
four hours ere they could leave the Court, in conse-
quence of the magistrates on the rota not making
their appearance at all. Sir George Carroll, Knight,
and Mr. Alderman Challis, at length arrived, and they
regretted extremely the inconvenience to which the
public were put. They were not to blame, not being
the magistrates on the rota; but hearing that their
brethren, Sir Claudius Hunter, Mr. Alderman Hum-
phery, and Mr. Alderman Moon, had not arrived,
they came forward to dispose of whatever cases might
be brought before them. Really the citizens of
London should petition the Court of Aldermen either
to appoint paid magistrates, or take such steps as to
require the attendance of the Aldermen punctually."
Alderman FARNCOMBE said that the absence, on
Saturday, of Mr. Alderman Moon, was owing to the
illness of that gentleman.
Mr. ANDERTON remarked that the complaint did
past.
not apply to last Saturday only, but to several weeks

The LORD MAYOR observed that personally he knew
nothing of the facts. The paragraph named three
Aldermen when two only were necessary; and had,
he known of the matter, he would have gone him-
self to the Police Committee after he had disposed of
the business at the Mansion• house.

Sir C. MARSHALL said he was glad tlfe subject
had been noticed, for that he himself had been
brought down three Saturdays out of his turn. He,
however, thought the blame ought not entirely to be
laid upon the Aldermen, but upon the officers, who
could easily ascertain beforehand whether or not the
Aldermen on the rota were in town.—(Hear, hear,
and a laugh.)
Mr. Sheriff SIDNEY said that, in justice to Mr.
Alderman Moon, he must mention, that on Saturday
last that gentleman was taken exceedingly ill, and
was confined to his bed ; and further, that it only be-
came his duty to have attended in consequence of the
absence of Mr. Alderman Humphery. Therefore,
certainly, under all the circumstances, Mr. Alderman
Moon was not to blame.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ASIIURST remarked that all the inconveniences
complained of arose out of the constitution of the
Court of Aldermen, and he called upon the members
of that body to petition that they should respectively
be subject to re-election as soon as they had passed
the chair.—(Loud laughter.) At present it was the
invariable practice to lay all the blame upon the
junior Aldermen, though it really attached to those
who, having passed the chair, cared nothing about
the duties their office of Aldermen imposed upon
them.—(Hear, hear.)
CITY IMPROVEMENTS.--NEW FARRINGDON-STREET.
Mr. R. TAYLOR presented a petition from Mr. R.
Thomson, and other inhabitants of the north side of
Farringdon Without, and of Holborn-bridge, praying
for the
New
theco_mstpreleett andionof the improvements
Mr. Taylor
in Farring-
don
said he need scarcely call attention to the incomplete
state of the contemplated improvements in question.
Everybody must have seen and known as a complete
eye-sore the four or five houses still standing, and
which had been omitted from the schedule to the Im-
provement Act, and therefore had not as yet been
interfered with, nor could it be done without an appli-
cation to Parliament for further powers. He could not
suppose the Corporation wished to leave these impor-
tant improvements in their present imperfect state;
and as it was desirable the Court should be put in
possession of all the facts, in order that, upon consi-
deration of them, the work might be completed, he
begged to move that the petition be referred to the
London-bridge Approaches Committee, to report as
to the expediency of carrying the proposed improve-ment into complete effect.