The Sun.
London, England, 1818-08-31 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS.

MR. Entroa,—As the discontented bold out
dAily threats to bring the question ot Reform. be-
fore the ensuing Parliament, it behoves all loyal
men to seek out for real subjects of Rtfortn,tespect-
ing which the Legislature may be more usefully
einPluYed ; and I now beg leave, through your
medium, to offer one or two hints for Public con-
sideration.

In the first place, when the war was at an end,
the popular cry was, to take off such taxes as
pressed most heavily on the lower classes, and all
that the Ministry could well do was done, by
taking of the War Malt 'fax to the amount of
two millions and a half per annum. But were
the People relieved ?—was Porter lowered in
price I—wai Malt Liquor improved in quality ?
I believe the answer must be—No ! Who, then,
were relieved 1 The answer is plain—THE
BREWERS ! So that the People still pay the War
Illalt Tax, which is lost to the national purse, and
is swallowed up by monopoly !
But last Sessions, Sir, the Minister was called
on to take off the Salt Tax, which he declined do-
ing-, on the plea that he could not give np one and
a half million. I grant the validity of the plea ;
but now offer a very simple salvo for it. Let the
Salt Tax be taken oft, and a Malt Duty imposed
to the sante amount, giving the Brewers due no-
tice that, if they attempt to raise their prices, the
additional Duty shall be doubled.
I am aware that the Brewers will cry out ;
hut they may be answered by the fact, that in
consequence of the existing over-charge of one
penny per pot, the People of London alone are
paying to them a Tax nearly equal to the amount
of the whole Civil List !

The next point to which I shall advert is the
nisting Dispute between TIE BANK and the Public,
respecting the detention of forged or of stopped
Bank Notes.

On this subject there exists much prejudice,
nay, some ill humour ; and there has been much
injudicious conduct displayed on both sides. But
the question may be reduced to a state of great
simplicity. In the first place, the holder of such
a Note has no right to complain if he is called on
to account for the possession of it. If he is an ho-
nest man he has nothing to fear but the inconveni-
ence : it a rogue, that is the first step that leads to
conviction. In the next place, it is proper that
the circulation of such a note should be preVented,
ufl wt►tch point an honest man can have no citise
of complaint, simply considered ; though it may
be very improper for the Bank Clerks to have the
power of detention which they have lately as-
sumed. But though it may be very proper to
guard against further circulation of a forged or
stopped note, yet the holder of that note still has
in it a bona fide properly, so far as its possession
may enable him to recover its value from the
person who paid it to him; the same property mnst
follow the note through each such succeeding re-
payment. How then shall we reconcile those
contending claims ? Briefly thus. Let an office
be opened either at Guildhall or at the Mansion-
house, during banking hours. Let the Bank
Clerk and the note holder repair to that office,
where the note shall be filed and lodged in the
custody of the Lord Mayor. Let blank forms be
printed, two of which shall be filled op by the
Filazer, in the Office, so as to be correct copies
of the note in question ; these copies to be signed
by the Filazer, and endorsed by the Bank Clerk
and the note holder, each of whom shall receive
an attested copy. By these means we shall get
rid of the evident impropriety of the Bank with-
holding what professes to be one of their own
notes ; the holder will be enabled to follow up
Iris claims with the same facility as if he held the
original note ; the person on whom the demand
is made, if he has any doubts on the subject, may
pee the original note on the Lord Mayor's file ;
and the note itself will always be forthcoming in
case of a suit at law or a criminal prosecution.

Yours,

IGNOTUS JEDILIS,

YARMOUTH, AUG. 27.—Mr. LAcoN's personal
canvass at this town is now nearly at an end ;
but that Gentleman is not yet assured of meet-
lug with an opponent, Mr. GEORGE ANsoNT
not having R 3 yet followed up his declared
intention to become a candidate by any personal
exertion whatever. The friends of Mr. LACON
have subscribed upwards of 30001. in support of
the ensuing election. The partizans of Mr.
A sTsoN held a meeting on Monday evening to ar-
r-in4e the entree of that Gentleman into town,
wUieb is expected on Tuesday evening.

It is in contemplation for the Foot Guards to
do duty in tvowsers ; that is, on undress occa-
sions. (In Thursday last, the Grenadiers ap-
peared a, St. James's in that manner, for the
hist time ; they have quitted the 'Windsor station.