The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-19 00:00:00

TEA PARTY.

The friends of free trade principles took tea together
in the Exchange, at five o'clock, when the splendid
suite of rooms were thrown open for their accommo-
I dation, and such was the demand for tickets, that
double, or even treble, the number might have been sold.
The CHAIRMAN, having commenced the evening
with a speech,
Mr. BRIGHT, in the course of some eloquent re-
marks, observed—The state of things was not here
the same as in a thinly populated country—we live in
a densely-populated land; but if twenty-eiht millions
of people are " cabined, cribbed, confined,' and told
that work however hard they may, and have as many
machines as they please, they must still be restricted
to the produce of the soil upon which they live, it is
evident that suffering must be the consequence. If
the population were to get up to fifty millions, would
they say the same then ? Would they say that re-
strictions must still continue, to enable the landlords
to sustain " exclusive burdens," which are very much
like mortgages?—(Hear and laughter.) Well, was
it to be done ? I asked Sir Thomas Dyke Acland—
the father of the Somerset gentleman who had just
changed his note—" if the Corn-law could be mai-
tained for ever ?" He replied, "it could not—that as
the population increased, its continuance was impos-
sible." I said, " When would you have the law re-
pealed ?" Sir Thomas answered, When the pressure
from without is strong enough." I said, " What is
the meaning of that ? Is not the pressure strong
enough when the distress is so great as to produce the
special notice of the Government ?" The fact is
(continued Mr. Bright), they perceive that they have
stretched the cord until it is nearly broken, and now,
I suppose they are about to give in.—(Applause.)
Mr. RICIIARD COBDEN, M.P. for Stockport, after
recapitulating ninny points stated by him at former
meetings, continued—l may mention the commence-
ment of the League as an encouragement to all who
are engaged in a good cause to persevere. At first
there were only two or three men meeting once
or twice a week behind a crimson curtain in Market-
street, Manchester, who used to call themselves the
League. Our opponents, unwisely for themselves,
attacked those three or four men. If they had known
the four obscure individuals—if they had drawn
aside that curtain and caricatured those men, they
would have done themselves better service. I men-
tion this merely to show that those engaged in a good
cause must triumph in the end.—(Applause.) The
, League had hard work to contend with the indifference
they first met with ; they did not mind so much the oppo-
sition of those who considered they went too far ; it was
from others who took no notice of them ; it was like firing
at a sand bank. True, their lecturers were pumped on,
the parish bells were rung to drown their voices,
and cannon were fired under their very noses; but
they wanted the newspaper press to begin to occupy
themselves with the subject, and at last it did. That
was a great step, and in time the agitation began to
take. It had advanced by degrees, until the news-
paper press, out of deference to public opinion, was
obliged to discuss the topic ; and this was all that
they expected to do to carry the question—they
wanted no other weapons. It is now discussed in
the coffee-house, in the steam-boat, in the market-
place ; and this was the time when they thought it
only necessary to place their case in the hands of the
electors, and a packet of tracts was ready for every
town in the kingdom, so that the million electors
would, ere long, know the merits of the question as
well as we do. In England, every thing goes by
authority; it was a great thing to have the evidence
of James Deacon Hume in their favour, who, for
forty-nine years, filled important offices under sue •
cessive Governments ; they had selections from
his evidence before the Import Duties Commit-
, tee, with a prefatory eulogium of Sir Robert
Peel, on this same Mr. Hume. Then they had
selections from the Rev. Baptist Noel's pamphlet,
and sixteen goodly pages selected from Colonel
Thompson's works on this question. Then we have
the three prize Essays, and selections from eminent
writers. These pamphlets we intend to place in the
hands of every elector, and how do you think the
landowners and county Members will look when they
know that every elector has got a copy ? It will be
very much like the comical expression of a man who
is found out.—(Laughter.) No more protection to ,
agriculture. Now, it will cost to distribute these
tracts between 30,000/. and 40,0001. Should they ,
not, as men of business, assist to carry this question
to a successful issue ? If you feel or understand it,
you will not want prompting by me. If we can put
the prize essays in the hands of the farmers, I do not
doubt but that, at another election, they will go for
free trade. But it does not require an election, we
have only to convince Hon. Members that their con-
stituents have changed their minds, and are in earnest,
and they will not wait for an election—they
will not wait for a dissolution of Parliament to repeal
the Corn-law, lest it should bring in the other
set ; and they would almost rather abolish any
law than allow those unconstitutional Whigs to come
into office.—(Hear, and laughter.) My firm belief
is, Sir Robert Peel would rather repeal the Corn-law
than not.—(Hear.) He cannot do so, however, un-
less we aid him. It is true the Earl of Ripon and
Mr. W. Gladstone may be free traders ; but the prin-
ciple found no favour with such men as Lord Stanley,
Lord Wharncliffe, and Sir James Graham. We are
not party men—whether Lord John Russell or Sir
Robert Peel propose free trade, we support him ; and
I would ask, if there are any Conservative free-traders
in Nottingham, why they do not come out ? I do
not expect to convert the leaders, but surely there is
some portion of the rank and file who are ready to
assist us in getting rid of these laws.
Colonol THOMPSON delivered himself to the meeting
in his usual argumentative and forcible manner.
Mr. CRIPPS moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Cobden,
Mr. Bright, and Colonel Thompson, who were justly
entitled to the cordial thanks of all friends of freedom
and free trade, for their exertions to abolish all mono-
polies. •
Mr. BEAN seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously, with loud applause.
The CHAIRMAN, after receiving the thanks of the
meeting, stated that the amount of the contributions
in the morning and evening was 1,330/. 15s.—(This
announcement was received with loud and long-con-
tinued cheers.) The meeting then separated.

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 16.—Arrived in the Cowes-
roads, the ship. Henry, Captain Cuthberton, from
Australia, bringing d,spatches and twenty sacks of
ship letters for the General Post-office, from Laun-
ceston, Port Philip, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne,
and Hobart Town, bearing the dates of the Ist, 17th,
and 19th of August.

BENJAMIN Woon, Esq., M.P., on taking the chair,
was received with loud cheers. He stated that the
object of the meeting was to enable his constituents
to take their own part in the measures everywhere
adopted by the people of England for procuring the
repeal of the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.) He was happy
to express it, as his decided opinion, that the League,
had made very great progress, and their prospects of
success were of the most promising description.—
(Cheers.) The object of the Great League Fund
was to extend information on the subject of the Corn-
laws, and to manifest the opinion of the people in the
manner which most effectually proved they were in
earnest—by their being willing to pay for enforcing
it by peaceable, intelligent, and constitutional means.
—(Cheers.) The history of tin present year proved
that society was in a very precarious state; and the
increase of poverty and decay of trade showed that
there was no time to be lost in removing the pressure
which weighed upon the energies of the country.
Mr. SIDNEY SMITH congratulated the large assem-
bly on having chosen for its chairman a gentleman
whose votes he had closely watched, and which he had
always found on the side of the people.—(Cheers.)
On all the Corn-law divisions their representative had
been found at his post, and he was one of the few
Members who had supported the consideration of the
National Petition and Mr. Sharman Crawford's mo-
tion.—(Great cheering.) Mr. Smith then warned
them against treacherous friends, who would accept
of moderate fixed duties, and exposed the fallacy of
Earl Fitzwilliam's proposition for maintaining a corn
duty for revenue purposes. Mr. Smith concluded by
alluding to the Quarterly Review, which had accused
the League of having caused the northern insurrec-
tion. It was of no use to ask the insolent Conserva-
tive dictator for his proofs of this. They had fortu-
tunately been furnished with conclusive proof that Sir
Robert Peel and his party were the authors of that
outbreak. He held in his hand the last number of
the .Journal of the Statistical Society, in which would
be found a statistical account, by Sir C. Shaw, of the
criminals in Manchester, from which it appears " that
of 646 offenders, 320 had wanted employment an
average of eight months and twenty-five days previous
to their apprehension."—(Hear.) He (Mr. Smith)
charged the legislation which threw these men out of
employment with their crimes.
Mr. WILLIAM WILSON, manufacturer, moved a re-
solution pledging the meeting to contribute to the
Great League Fund, and proposing a numerous list
of influential gentlemen as a provisional committee.
Mr. LUKE EMDLETON, manufacturer, seconded the
resolution.

A Mr. BLACKMORE then advanced to address the
meeting, and his appearance was the signal for hoot-
ing and hissing, particularly from the working men.
Mr. Wilson, Mr. Bracon, and the Chairman re-
quested a hearing for the speaker, but when he came
to the word " Charter," in his amendment, the groans
were deafening.
Mr. NODDER seeonded the amendment.
Other O'Connorites attempted to speak, but were
checked. •

The CHAIRMAN then put the amendment, when
about eighteen hands were held up. Nearly the
whole meeting then held up their hands against the
amendment. The original resolution was then car-
ried almost unanimously; and after a unanimous vote
of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

SURCHARGES IN THE RETURNS
OF THE PROPERTY-TAX.

Friday a numerous and highly respectable meet-
ing was held of the merchants, tradesmen, and inha-
bitants generally of the Ward of Tower, for the pur-
pose of investigating the cause of a general complaint
in regard to the numerous returns, made under the
Property and Income-tax Act, having been sent back
surcharged. The value of the wharf property made
the question peculiarly important. In the absence of
the Alderman, owing to indisposition, Mr. Deputy
Finnis was unanimously called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN said he had called this meeting in
consequence of a requisition signed by a large number
of most respectable individuals, who considerel that
they had been most improperly and unjustly sur-
charged. The requisition having been read, the
Chairman said, that he was first of all desirous of sub-
mitting to the meeting a letter from the Government
Surveyor, Mr. Welch, which had been put into his
hands as be entered the room, and which was as
follows :

" 2, Crooked-lane Chambers, Dec. 16, 1842.
" SIR,—I have been favoured with a printed no-
tice convening a meeting of the inhabitants of the
Ward of Tower, to take into consideration the course
to be pursued in consequence of a very large portion
of the ward having had their returns for the Pro-
perty and Income-tax surcharged without sufficient
cause.'

" I should have addressed this to Mr. Alderman
Lucas, to whom I have been personally known for
twenty-five years, but I understand he is unable to
attend. I therefore offer to you the following re-
marks, not that I, as a public officer, consider myself
amenable to the ward or its inhabitants, but that having
been informed the inconvenience which has been
occasioned has been ascribed to me and my office
here, I feel that I should remove that, if any such
impression still exists. _

A The ward of Tower assessment contains under
Schedule A, Property, 611 persons assessed; of this
number 142 have been increased by the ward as-
sessors, and eight by myself, and in the number of
my increases there are two who did not make returns.
In the assessment under Schedule D, Income, 1,542
assessed—of this number 556 have been estimated by
the ward assessors, it being alleged by such officers
that those persons did not make returns, which alle-
gation, from the inquiry I have made, I believe to be
partially untrue, as I think some of the parties made
returns, and the assessors have mislaid or 103 t them.
Out of the assessments here referred to, I have
made sixty-two additions, but I think I can truly say
I have not made six of those additions, without the
suggestions of the ward assessors.

,
I have not gone into this statement with a view
to screen myself from any odium my proceedings have
incurred, because I am of opinion, and I think you
will agree with me, that a public officer, acting as I
do, under the obligation of an oath, should not be
governed by the tide of local feeling. It will, how-
ever, be a matter of consideration with the ward
officers whether they should recommend the assessors
for the office of collectors.
" I am, Sir, your very
(Signed) obedLenE. w
t servant,ELc H.
" To Mr. Deputy Finnis."
The CHAIRMAN then stated that Mr. Chambers,
one of the district assessors, was present, and that he
was ready to answerwhich might be
put to him, in regard
taon any
hem questionsan n manner
in
er
re-
turns had been revised.
Mr. Chambers was then asked several questions in
regard to the data he had taken as the foundation of
the surcharges.

Mr. CHAMBERS made a long appeal to the meeting,
and declared he had most reluctantly had anything
to do with the matter. He stated that he had at
first sent in his book to the office of the Government
surveyor, made up according to the actual return.
That the book had been sent back to him, with a mes-
sage that any schoolboy could fulfil the duties of the
office as well, and that he was required to revise and
raise the amounts. He concluded by stating, that he
had done this most reluctantly, rand in corroboration
of what he had stated, he said he would be most
happy, when called upon, to produce his rejected as-
sessment.

Mr. MAITLAND said that he rose for the purpose of
submitting a resolution condemnatory of the course
which had been pursued by the surveyor and as-
sessors. He stated that he had no desire to enter into
a consideration of the necessity or policy of the Pro-
perty and Income-tax, but having been surcharged
in all his returns, he could not refrain from
coming forward and asking the meeting to
go along with him, in denouncing the wholesale sys-
tem of surcharging which had been practised. He
considered the time and trouble expended in seeking
relief by appeal as more intolerable than the pecuniary
loss itself. On the other hand, if an individual did
not appeal, it might be taken as tantamount to an ac-
knowledgment that an incorrect return had been
made. He concluded by moving " That this meet-
ing, composed of merchants, tradesmen, and in-
habitants of the ward of Tower, does not intend to
consider, upon the present occasion, the necessity or
policy of the Property and Income-tax, the meeting
having been convened solely for the purpose of de-
nounmg publicly, and in the strongest language, the
manna in which a large number of the returns in

" Downing-street, Dec. 15, 1842.
" Sir,—l am directed by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to acknowledge the receipt of a letter
addressed by you to Sir Robert Peel on the subject
of the conduct of the City assessor, as regards the
assessment of your property. Mr. roulburn desires
me to acquaint you that he will cause immediate in-
quiry to be made into the circumstances.—l have the
honour to be, Sir, your very obedient servant,
(Signed) " C. R. PEMBERTON."
Mr. Barkly concluded with some severe strictures
upon the nature of the tax generally.
Mr. GUTHRIE said, that he for one, could not agree
in the sweeping denouncement contained in 11Ir.
Maitland's resolution. Taxes generally were un-
pleasant, but, like many other evils, they were neces-
sary. Mr. Maitland should have made a distinction
in his resolution between the surcharges which had
been made on rental, and those which had bees laid
on income. He (Mr. Maitland) had made out a fine-
spun case in regard to the offensiveness of a return
being doubted. He concluded by moving the pre-
vious question, which fell to the ground witholt being
seconded.

The resolution having been then put, it was unani-
mously carried.
A long discussion then took place as to the best
mode of proceeding consequent upon the resolution
which had just been carried.
Mr. PIPER moved that a copy of the resolution,
signed by the Chairman, should be transmitted to the
Lords of the Treasury.
This motion was seconded by Mr. REDHEAD, and
affirmed by the meeting.
Mr. HUNT suggested that a memorial, founded
on the resolution, should be drawn up, and a depu-
tation appointed to wait upon the local Commission-
ers. No man had greater reason to complain than he
had. He had been surcharged, both in town and
country, and it happened the day of appeal was the
same at both places. Mr. Hunt's suggestion was
finally adopted, and a Committee, consisting of Mr.
Deputy Finnis, Mr. Maitland, Mr. Barber, Mr. Piper,
Mr. Guthrie, and Mr. hunt, was appointed to carry
out Mr. Hunt's suggestion.
Mr. PIPER having moved that the thanks of the
meeting be given to Mr. Finnis for the excellent man-
ner in which he had presided over the meeting, and
his motion having been seconded by Mr. Hunt, and
carried with acclamation, the meeting dissolved.