The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-18 00:00:00

MEETING OF METROPOLITAN
DELEGATES AND MEMBERS OF PARLIA-
MENT.

On Saturday a meeting of delegates from the vestries of
St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, St,. James's, Westminster, St.
Ann's, Soho, St. Paul's, Covent-garden, and other metropo-
litan parishes, took place at the Court-house, Marylebone,
for the purpose of considering the financial statement of Sir
Robert Peel, and taking steps to secure a total and imme-
diate repeal of the window duties.
Sir B. Hall was absent on account of the death of his son.
Mr. George Daniell, of Marylebone, having been called to
the chair,
Lord DUNCAN, M.P., said he felt highly honoured at the
invitation he had received to meet so respectable a body of
delegates, representing as they did so many thousand rate •
payers of the metropolis. In consequence of the recent
meeting held at Bath, upon the subject of the window
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levied. Since he had received that return the Right Hon.
Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government,
had laid his financial scheme before Parliament. Now,
although lie differed in politics with that Right Hon. Baronet,
still he had always felt happy to-vote with him whenever his
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ciples f free trade. Notwithstanding the financial scheme
of Sir Robert Peel, which, upon the whole, entitled him to
much credit, he begged to state that that scheme had not, in
the slightest degree, altered his views with respect to a
repeal of the window duties. He was told that it was a tax
which only affected the rich ; not the poor. This he denied. He
paid his taxes by a schedule, which he filled up himself, and
the Government took his word for his honesty. But why
did they not put the window-tax into that schedule ? The
answer was a simple one. The window-tax pressed upon the
poor, and the Government did not place it in the schedule,
because they assumed they could not take the word of the
poor man. The Budget of last night, he must confess, not
only somewhat pleased, but surprised him, and lie should as
soon have expected the enlarged free-trade doctrines enun-
ciated in the financial statement from Sir Robert Peel, as
from the Hebdomadal Board at Oxford. It appeared that the
duty was to be taken off glass and sugar. With regard to
the latter, however, the modification was still with a view to
protection, as it was called, to the Vest India planters.
Now, the very persons who were called on to pay for
that protection were those who paid the window, duties.
He was comparatively unknown in Parliament, and knew
that, in demanding a repeal of this tax, he would have
an up-hill game to fight, but he had still a little of the
English spirit of his ancestors left in him, and, although
he might be defeated once, twice, or thrice, still he would
not cease until he had repealed this odious tax. The wool
duty, the cotton duty, and even the great question of negro
emancipation, had to contend with defeats before they were
carried. He could not see the justice of inflicting a window-
tax and a property- tax upon England and Scotland, while
Ireland was allowed to go tree. Ireland was, no doubt, ex-
empted because the Premier knew that the Irish people had
long tongues, and if the people of England were afraid to
open their mouths, they deserved all the unjust taxation that
Government chose to inflict on them. He was an advocate
for justice being equally administered to all, and it was that
which induced him to join the Gallant Commodore on his
right, in a demand for a full and immediate repeal of the
corn-laws. The Noble Lord proceeded to cite the opinions
of Mr. Bradshaw Ward and Mr. Corbett, the Surveyor, of
Manchester, showing the bad operation of the window duties
in a sanitary point of view, and declared that its effect was
rather to convert houses into dens than places fit for
human habitation. His motion was fixed for the 20th, but
although he might not bring it on that night, be was not
going to give it up. He hoped he should not only be sup-
ported by the metropolis, but that a cry would be raised
throughout the land, and petitions pour in for a repeal of this
disgraceful tax. He had begun, and he would go on to the
end of the chapter. He had taken up this subject, and,
please God, ho would stick to it.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS, of Oxford-street, congratulated the
metropolitan delegates in having such an advocate, and the
constituency of Bath in having such a spirited Member as
the Noble Lord.

Sir C. NAPIER agreed with the Noble Lord that there
were some good points about the financial scheme of the
Premier, although he did not think that it went far enough.
Although he feared that scheme would prevent the abolition
of the window-tax, still they must have a beginning. Sir
Robert Peel was as obstinate as a mule, and would sooner
resign his post than give up any preconceived opinionsi
Much credit was due to the Right Hon. Baronet for his
financial scheme, for he had proposed to take the duty off
four hundred and thirty articles, which produced to the
revenue, individually, almost nothing. The taking off the
duty on glass might in some degree be beneficial to the
pocket, but the repeal of the window duties was not
only so, but of great importance in a sanitary point of
view. He considered the window duties a most unholy
tax altogether, and he thought it could only have been
the production of Mr. Malthus, as it. was calculated to
send people out of the world as fast as possible. An
instance he had before him--the case of a poor fellow
whose cellar was infested with mice, and because he
opened a hole to let the cat in to catch the mice, the assessor
made it a window, and surcharged him for it.—(Hear, hear.)
As a proof of the necessity of air to life, a canary-bird placed
alive at night in a cage over the heads of two persons sleep-
ing together in one room, would be found dead in the morn-
ing. He was not aware what Lord John Russell intended
to do respecting the new financial scheme; but he considered
the Noble Lord committed to the support of the repeal of
this tax, as it was the Noble Lord's colleague, Lord Althorp,
who promised that it should be. He much feared, however,
that the whole arguments of that Noble Lord would be con-
fined to the sugar duties, because the plan of Sir Robert Peel
differed from his. Now he looked upon the proposed modifi-
eation of the sugar duties as a great benefit; three-halfpence
per pound being taken off sugar would be a great benefit to
the poorer classes. With respect to the income-tax, he called
upon his constituents to take that quietly, for he believed
they would never get rid of it. He thought if it was modified
—a property-tax of 5 per cent. and income-tax of 3 per cent.
would be more equitable. With regard to his opinions on the
corn-laws the Noble Lord was in error. He had never
pledged himself to vote for a total abolition of the corn-laws.
A vnine—Then I hope you will.
Sir C. NAPIER had always voted for the total repeal
against the present sliding-scale, but if Lord John Russell
were to propose a low fixed duty ho would vote for that in
preference. It was that circumstance which had induced
him to pledge himself to join the League. Lord John Russell
had said that protection was the bane of agriculture, and
having made such a declaration he was bound to let them
know what he meant doing. He was opposed to violent and
sudden changes of every description, because he thought they
would tend to the derangement of all things at once. With
regard to the repeal of the window-tax, he would give the
Noble Lord all the support in his power.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Jackson, of St. James's, Mr. Crouch, of St. Pancras,
Messrs. Geesin, George Tyrrell; Dr. Hulm, Salmons, H. C.
Wilson, and several other delegates having spoken, resolu-
tions were proposed and adopted.

The reception in the City of the financial statement
of Sir Robert Peel has been of a mixed character. He ob-
tains great credit for his sweeping abolition of the duties on
exports, and for the general tendency of his proposed reduc-
tion of the duties on imported articles, to give new life and
activity to the commercial enterprise of the country at a time
when it is entering on a race of competition with the rest of
the civilised world. Looking to China, however, as the
greatest new market upon which that competition is to act,
and to the desired solution of the commercial problem of what
returns are to be made for the exports to that country, there
is some regret that the article of tea has been so entirely
passed over without notice—that it is neither mentioned
now, nor any hope held out for it in future. His interfer-
ence with the excise is for the most part highly approved, par-
ticularly as regards the remission of the duty on glass. The
continuance of the income-tax, as distinguished from the
property-tax, is the most unpopular part of the financial ex-
position, especially as it is now intimated that it will be
imposed for one year longer than the term of five years,
which was fixed for its utmost duration when it was first
laid on. Many persons had previously been sanguine in the
expectation that some modification of the income-tax would
have been proposed on this occasion ; that some distinction
would in the first instance be made between income and pro-
perty, by assessing property at a higher rate, preparatory,
perhaps, to the exemption of income, of the mere produce
of labour, wholly from its operation. 'Whether or not this
feeling will produce any direct manifestation on the subject,
remains to be seen.—Times-
BECSINGHAMSHIRE ELECTION.—The High-Sheriff
has appointed Friday next, the 21st inst., for the election for
the county to take place, at Aylesbury, to choose a represen-
tative in the room of Mr. Charles Scott Murray, who vacated
his seat by accepting the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hun-
dreds. There is not the remotest chance of any opposition
being Offered to the return of Mr. Christopher Tower, of
Huntsmoor-park, near her, who is the only candidate for the
suffrages of the freeholders in the field. Upwards of a cen-
tury ago a gentleman of the same name, and one of Mr.
Tower's ancestors, represented the borough of Aylesbury in
Parliament.
We rejoice to hear, on what we believe good au-
thority, that matters are under discussion in a certain noble
family, likely in their result to lead to the re-union of two
persons of high rank. During their separation the amiable
lady has always enjoyed the society and friendship of her
lord's nearest relatives.—Court Journal.
HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON.—This Society
held their first general meeting for the season on Saturday
last, at the Clarendon Hotel, New Bonel-street, Lieutenant-
General Sir James Macdonell, President, in the chair. The
dinner was served up in elegant, indeed magnificent style,
and the wines were of the choicest description. The evening
passed off in the most convivial and social manner, bringing
back to the recollection of many present the days of "Auld
lang sync."
Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the
town of Pontypool, in the parish of Trevethin, • containing a
population of more than 15,000 persons, has not had the
benefit of a money-order office extended to it: We think
this must be an oversight of the Post-office authorities.
DEATH OF JAMES Biscsorr, Esct.—We announce
with sincere regret the death of this excellent and amiable
man, the author of the "History of the Woollen and Worsted
Manufactures," and of several valuable pamphlets, intended
to promote the repeal of the wool duty and the corn-
laws. Mr. Bischoff was a Leeds man, brother of the late
Thomas Bischoff, and brother-in-law of the Messrs. Stang-
field. Though settled in London, he was connected by trade
with Yorkshire, and he was one of the most zealous, inde-
fatigable, prudent, and enlightened promoters of the repeal
of the mischievous duty on foreign wool. Mr. Bischoff was
possessed of extensive mercantile and statistical information,
and such was.the known _soundness of his judgment that he
was often consulted by Mr. Huskisson and other Ministers
at the Board of Trade. Mr. Bischoff was a sound Whig, and
ardently attached to civil and religious liberty. In private
lii'o, he wi,t, regpeetc:Ll and beloved sinecrity,
and rectitude; and to his widow and numerous family the
loss is irroparable,—Loord4 Mercury.

SOUTH WILTS ELECTION.
RETURN OF MR. SIDNEY HERBERT.
SALISBURY, SATURDAY.—A public breakfast was given
this morning at Wilton House, when upwards of 400 gentle-
men sat down in the large banquet-room, forming the right
wing of the Abbey.
Shortly before eleven o'clock the Right Hon. Candidate
and his immediate friends left Wilton Abbey, escorted by a
large cavalcade, and proceeded to the hustings.
Wm. Wyndham, Esq., of Dinton, then proposed, and John
Henry Jacob, Esq., seconded, the nomination of Mr. Sidney
Herbert, amidst loud applause.
No other candidate being proposed, the Hon. Sidney Her-
bert was declared duly elected.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT then came forward and said, if they
would honour him with a patient hearing, he would not
detain them by any long speech ; but be would briefly and
simply state to them the grounds on which he claimed their
suffrages that day. It was now 12 years since he first offered
himself as their candidate ; he then was a very young man,
first emerging into public life. He then asked them for
their suffrages upon his word, pledged for his faithfulness,
upon trust and credit for any abilities which he might pos-
sess to advance the public interest.—(Loud cheering.) It
was possible that during that time he might have made some
mistakes, for he would admit the fallibility of man—(Cries
of " No, no")—more especially when dealing with compli-
cated questions. He conceived that the course he had gene-
rally taken had been of a nature to conciliate their support,
because it had proved t,, be in unison with the general
opinions of his constituency.--(Great cheering.) lie said
he was happy to congratulate them -on the improved con-
dition of the country during the last three years. At the
commencement of that period the present Government came
into office, when they found a sad deficiency in the revenue,
which was increasing every year, in consequence of which
national credit was at stake, for the books were balanced
on the wrong side.—(Hear.) Trade was failing throughout
the country, and the manufacturing interests were in a state
of alarming distress. Many mills were closed, and great
suffering prevailed throughout those districts from the want
of a demand for their goods.—(Hear.) Then, in India, war
spread terror and alarm, and threatened the stability of that
portion of our empire, while in other parts abroad feelings of
hostility and jealousy prevailed on all aides, distrusting
every measure this country might adopt. Now this state
of things required the most prudent, moderate, and en-
lightened policy, so as to restore international bonds
of friendship, and so as to place things on a better and surer
basis.—(Cheers.) To effect the first they had recourse to a
tax which did not increase the burdens of the poor—he
meant the income-tax which was borne only by those pos.
seesed of property, while, on the other hand, they removed
several imposts on articles of food and clothing, the-consump-
tion chiefly of the poorer classes.—(Cheers.) By this tax
they had converted a deficiency of 2,000,000/. into a surplus
of 3,000,000/. By thus judiciously removing the shackles
upon the commerce of the country, our exports had been in-
creased, and thereby a much larger amount of manufacturing
industry had been called into action than was ever before re-
membered by man in this country.—(Loud cheering.) In
addition to this prosperity they found that at the present time
there were 80,000,000/. invested in railway speculations,
which would of course be expended in the employment of
labour and encouragement of industry, which would give
employment to vast numbers of the population.—(Cheers.)
There was but one more topic to which he would allude—
that relating to the change which had taken place in the
condition of the sister country.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
They had heard of agitation and discontent there almost
bordering on rebellion, and at the same time tending to the
dismemberment of the two countries. Tranquillity, how-
ever, in that unhappy country (Ireland) had been effected
by the exertion of the ordinary powers of the law alone,
and a state of contentment had been produced. He trusted
that he should live to see the day when they would be en-
abled to legislate for their Roman Catholic fellow-subjects in
a generous and free spirit ; and the Government, with this
object in view, looked forward to a very improved state of
society in that part of her Majesty's dominions—a state in
which capital might be safely invested there, and consequently
a state in which much might be done to improve the social
condition of the Irish people.—(Loud cheering.) He would
again thank them most cordially for the honour they had
done him by again electing him as their representative, and
he would assure them that, to the best of his ability, he
would strive to promote the prosperity of the country at
large, by assisting in the successful operation of the measures
introduced by the Government, including those mentioned
in the House last night; which would materially tend to in-
crease the comforts of the lower orders, and the prosperity
of all classes.—(Hear, hear.)
Three cheers were then given for Mr. Herbert.
The Right Hon. Gentleman then rejoined the procession,
which escorted him to the White Hart Hotel, where he again
briefly returned thanks for their kindness.
The sheriffs' banquet was held shortly after this re-election,
which was well attended by the greater portion of those
before referred to.

RAILWAY BUSINESS IN PAR-
LIAMENT.
COMMITTEES ON PETITIONS FOR PRIVATE BILLS
FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.
MONDAY, FED. 17.
Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway.
Manchester and Leeds Railway.
Manchester and Leeds Railway (Burnley Branch and Old-
ham and Heywood Branches Extension).
London and South-Western Railway, No. 1 (Metropolitan
Extension).
Ashton, Stalybridge, and Liverpool Junction Railway (Ard-
wick and Guide Bridge Branches).
Leeds and West Riding Junction Railway.
West Yorkshire Railway.
Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Junction Railway.
Richmond (Surrey) Railway.
York and Scarborough Railway Deviation.
Manchester and Birmingham Railway (Ashton Branches).
Leeds and Bradford Railway Extension (Shipley to Colne).
Norwich and Brandon Railway Deviation and Diss and Dere-
ham Branches.
London and York Railway.

TUESDAY, FEB. 18.
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway.
Cockermouth and Workington Railway.
Whitby and Pickering Railway.
Hull and Selby (Bridlington Branch) Railway.
Kendal and Windermere Railway.
Chester and Birkenhead Railway Extension.
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway.
Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway.
FRIDAY, FEB. 21.
Caledonian Railway.
Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway.
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway.
Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway.
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal.
Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway.

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE.
FRIDAY, FEB. 14. . . _

Leeds and Thirsk Railway—Committee on Petition, Tues-
day, Feb. 25.
Varnsley Junction Railway—Committee on Petition, Tues-
day, Feb. 25.
Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway—Committee
en Petition, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
York and North Midland (Goole Branch) Railway—Com-
mittee on Petition, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
London, Worcester, and. South Staffordshire Railway—
Committee on Petition, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Manchester, Bury, and Rossendale (Heywood Branch)
Railway—Committee on Petition, Tuesday, } eb. 25.
Bridgwater Navigation and Railway—Committee on Peti-
tion, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway—Com-
mittee on Petition, postponed from Monday, Feb. 17, till
Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Souru DEVON RAILWAY.—Great progress is being
made with the works of this undertaking in St. Thomas.
The stone arches over Okehampton •street and Alphington-
street are completed, while that over Cowick-street is in a
state of great forwardness. The ballast along the line is
nearly laid for a considerable length, and no doubt is enter-
tained but that it will be ready for opening at the time ap-
pointed, should nothing tuaforeseen interfere with the laying
of the rails and the atmospheric apparatus. Great credit ap-
pears to be due to Messrs. Carpenter and Chesterfield, the
contractors fur this portion of the line, for the efficient and
expeditious manner in which they have carried on the works.
Woolmer's Exeter Gazette.

The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of
Commons commenced his Parliamentary dinners on Saturday
last, at the Right Hon. Gentleman's mansion in Eaton-
square. As customary at the first of these Parliamentary
entertainments, the leading members of the Government in
the House of Commons were invited. The company present
included the Earl of Lincoln, Earl of Jermyn, Lord Arthur
Lennox, Lord Charles Wellesley, Lord Ernest Bruce, the
Right Hon. H. L. Corry, the Right Hon. Henry Goulburn,
the Right Hon. Sir George Cockburn, the Right Hon. Sir
James Graham, the Judge-Advocate, Sir Thomas Fremantle,
Sir George Clerk, the Attorney-General for Ireland, the Lord
Advocate, the Hon. Capt. Gordon, the Hon. W. Bingham
Baring, the Hon. H. Manners Sutton, the Solicitor-General,
Mr. G. W. Hope, Mr. H. Baring, Mr. Young, Mr. Pringle,
and Mr. Cardwell. Sir R. Peel was prevented from dining
with the Speaker, the Right Hon. Baronet having received
her Majesty's commands to repair to Brighton. Rear-Ad-
miral Bowles, Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Dawson Darner, Mr.
Miles Gaskell, and Mr. Greene, were unavoidably absent.
RESTORATION OF THE PORTLAND VASE.—At the
meeting of the Society of Antiquarians on the 13th inst.,
the recent demolition of the Portland vase, in the British
Museum, was adverted to. Mr. Windus said it was some
consolation to them and to the public that the miscreant
had not succeeded to the full extent of his wish. It was
but too true that nothing could restore to them the vase

itself ; but genuine copies had fortunately been made. The
late Pichler, the eminent engraver of gems, struck with its
beauty, moulded the vase at Rome. This mould was put
into the hands of Mr. Tassi ; and after a certain number
(only a few) of casts were made, it was destroyed. The
Marquis of Exeter, Mr. A. Pellatt, and he himself (Mr.
Windus), possessed copies. Sir Henry Ellis stated that the
British Museum had also one of these copies, which would,
as early as possible, be exhibited to the public. The vase
by Wedgewood, it appears, is only a modern copy, and not
cast from the original. Sir Henry Ellis also stated that the
,
vase had not sustained so much injury as was exeetecl
that the principal figures were preserved, and persons.n
em-
plo,yed in the Museum would be able to put it togeterlaegvaeiens.
the Right Hon. the Speaker will hold two
this session, the first on Saturday, the Ist, and the second on
Saturday, the Bth of March. '
GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER RAILWAY, FEB 15.
—This morning another accident occurred by an up. train
dashing through the terminus at the station at Gravesend.
This is the second occurrence that has happened within a
week—the train left Strood-end at nine o'clock in the morn-
ing, and in consequence of the accident the down-train was
delayed a considerable time. It appears that the engine, on
detaching itself from the train, runs off, and the carriages,
from the velocity of th e steam, p roceeded by themselves without
control. Fortunately the passengers and carriages were
saved from going into the basin of the canal, which is but a
or t distance from the station,