Star.
London, England, 1830-04-22 00:00:00

TAX ON NEWSPAPERS.

,eqnisition baying been addressed to the Ccmmittee
of the City of London Literary Institution, setting forth " the heavy
annual expanse of the institution for its present inadequate supply
of daily r.ewspapers," stating that " the taxes on newspapers were
taxes 0:1 information ;" suggesting that a " reduction of those taxes
would, by eccasioning an increase of consumption, produce an In-
man of revenue to the Government," and, at the same time, prove
highly beneficial to this and similar institutions, and to the commu-
nity at lurgc ;" a meeting was held in the theatre of the institution
in Aldersgate-street, on Monday evening, for the purpose of con-
sidering the propriety of petitioning Parliament, and me:norialising
the Lords of the Treasury, for a reduction of the duty on newspapers
and advertisements.

Dr. Southwood Smith was called to the Chair.
A resolution in the spirit of the requisition was then moved and
seconded, and a long discussion succeeded, which terminated in an
adjournment to the following evening.
The question was resumed on Tuesday, and the resolution, after
a stormy discussion, carried by a majority of two to one. The
length of the proceedings prevents our entering into a detailed
report. It was stated that the present period had beer. chosen fur
the rurpose of bringing the subject betore Parliament, because the
proposed alterations in the Irish Stamp Duties would present a
favourable opportunity for discussing the matter. The state of
newspapers in France and America was adverted to—in France the
circulation dame of the newspapers amounted to between 40,000 and
60,000 daily ; and in America, where not a town with 8,000 or 10.000
inhabtants, was without its newspaper, the number of newspaper:,
which in 1810 was 368, now amounted to 828. In those countries the
number of persons who were able to read—the reading public—fell
infinitely short, in proportion to the population of the numhtr
milarly circumstanced in Great Britain ; and it was, therefore, fair
to infer that the modification of taxation would increase the number
and circulation of the public journals, and ultimately tend to the ad-
vantage of the revenue. To show that the meeting had not been
called to discuss a subject foreign to the interests of the institution,
it was stated that newspapers formed one of the most important
items in their accounts; and of the sum thus expended, more than
one-half passed into the Exchequer. The duty on advertisements
rendered it necessary that booksellers, in order to cover their ex-
penses in this respect, should materially increase the price of their
books, by which also the institution was materially affected.
The petition was opposed by two different parties. By the firs
and most numerous it was objected that, however desirable the pro.
putted reduction might be, still it was not a •übject which ought to
be entertained by a literary society; that it was, in act, essentially
a political question ; and that, if they were to petition at all for
redaction, they might as well call for an alteration in the taxes on
coals, or on windows, by which they were by far greater sufferers.
It was also resisted on the ground that no abolition of existing re-
strictions would be likely to make newspapers more extensively
circulated than they were at present ; and that the high duties ren-
dered it necessary that great capitals should be embarked in news.
pap tr property, which had been the principal cause that the English
newspaper was so superior in every respect to the flimsy sheet—
flimsy, like the nation among whom it circulated—which was the
characteristic of the French press.
In reply to this, It was urged that newspapers formed an im-
portant part of the literature of the country, and that the tax upon
them acted as a most galling restriction--as a•t barbarous tax" upon
knowledge. That their high price prevented the great body of the
people from seeing more than one or two of the newspapers, by
which means they were unable to compare opinion with opinion,
and to conic to a sight judgment upon different matters. Ina' Iy,
that though, indeed, a political question, it could not be considered
as coming under the denomination of party politics, which were alone
excluded by the rules of the institution. It was a subject which
concerned the diffusion of knowledge and the interest of literature—
objects for which the society was originally established; and no com-
parison could be instituted between it and the window tax, inasmuch
as the removal of the one impost was calculated to enlighten the
human mind—the other merely to throw light on the body.

DETERMINED ATTEM.ICTAT SUICIDE.
On Sunday evening the Inhabitants of Barnet were
thrown into a state of considerable excitement by an attempt, on the
part of a highly respectable young man named Frederick Clements,
to commit suicide by shooting himself. Mr. Clements, who Is 19
years of age, is the son of wealthy parents residing In London, and
be has been for some time at Barnet with his brother-in-law (Mr. COW.
ing). He became acquainted with die family of Mr. Hudson, a respect.
able tradesman, and was observed to pay particular attention to one
'of the daughters of that individual, a pretty-looking girl about
his own age, but his attentions were not received in so flatter-
ing a manner as a youthful lover both desires and expects, and he
became restless and uneasy. On Sunday evening at ten o'clock he
met Miss Hudson in the street, with her sister and another young
lady, who were returning from a visit, and for some time conversed
with them. Bliss Hudson appeared [tore cool than usual, and Mr.
Clements remonstrated with her on the subject, and a slight alterca-
tion having taken place, they separated, and he went home. He
was much agitated, and retired, as they supposed, to bed. In a
quarter of an hour, however, the family were dreadfully alarmed
at hearing the report of fire-arms in the upper part of the house.
and Mr. Cowing rushed up with a light, and on entering Cie-
ments's bed-room, found the unfortunate youth stretched en
the floor, with a pistol grasped in his right hand, and weltering in
blood, which was pouring forth from a wound in the side. He was
insensible, and appeared to be dying. Mr. Morris, a surgeon, was
sent for, and examined the wound, and administered every possible
remedy. Au express was sent off to London for further medical
assistance, and to convey the melancholy tidings to his parents, who,
with au eminent surgeon, arrived at Barnet early on Monday. The
ball entered between the ribs on the left side, and lodged in the
body, and up to yesterday the surgeons had not been able to
extract it, nor did they hold out any nope that such an operation
could be effected at all. The young man lingers without the
smallest hope of his recovery being entertained. tie is much re-
spected in the town, and this unhappy event has produced a general
feeling of sorrow among the inhabitants.

MACKAREL FISHERY.—During the past week the
St. lye's fishing-boats have had tolerably good success ;
the fish appear to be drawing nearer the shore, =I hopes
are entertained that the season will prove a favourable
one. We are sorry to say that the fishery in Mouut's
Bay has not been equally successful ; the boats there
have taken very few fish since our last publication.--
West Briton.

Yesterday evening, between eight and nine o'clock,
the lea of a house, in Castle-street, Leicester-square,
occupied by Mr. Armstrong, oilman, suddenly gave way.
to the imminent danger of the inmates and persons pass-
ing through the street. The second fluor, fortunately,
was strong enough to support the weight which fell on it,
otherwise the consequence must have been serious, as
several persons were in the lower part of the house tit ihe
time. A policeman, named Fatly, L 136, was struck,
and seventy bruised by the fragments of the parapet,
which fell into the street. He was picked up in a scre
state by Mr. Gieen, a surgeon, and conveyed to a
house near at hand, %%here Mr. Gieen rentkimi him
every attention, and afterwards accompanied him in a
coach to Middlesex Hospital. He is not cons'clered in
danger.

Respites have been received by the High Sheiiffof the
county, for Patrick Lynch, John Leary, William
Slane, James Roche, and James Mayrath, against
whorl sentence of death was given and reecrtled at foe
late assizes, for being concerned in the Doncriii4 cot-
opiracy.— Cork Southern Reporter.

SMITHFIELD, i ram- 22.
!feasts.
She and Lambs 8,150 . Figs .. ..... ..... .......... 190
We( •.. ....... zs 4J to 4. Od Veal • ...... ...is Od n, to Od
Mutton .... —4l Od 4. 6•1 Pork :a 10d 4, ed
Lamb
Hay (per load), 42 10s. to 44
Straw, 42 51. to 44 101.

15s. (lora, 4'3 10% to £5 tpi.

NEW FARRINGDON MARKET, APRIL 22.
Prices per IL to the cc sumer.
Bear—Flmst lloaqing, 64d. and 7d. Do. Boiling, 44d. l'qual
quantity of each, 5,d. Rump Steaks. 9d. Beet Steaks, Id. Hump
of Beef, 4d. Wrreess Wyne—Leg, 7d. aml
641 an.l 7d. Saddle, 6J. Loin, 61d. Shoulder, bid. and cd.
Neck, sjd. Breast, 4id. VEAL—Leg, 61d. and 7d. Fillet, 9d.
Loin, 7d. and 7,141. lireast, Vid: Shoulder, Std. and id. POUIC,
sd. to 61./. Lassa, 94d. ami 10d.

NEWGATE AND I.EADENIIALL, AIME. ie:—
By the atea‘e.--Ver stone of Sibs.
Beef, 2i Sd. to 3.t. 4d. Mutton. 3s. to 3.. t Od. Veal, 's. to 4s.
54. Pork. 21 fa to 31. 10d. Lamb, st. S.i. to 6s. 54.

ST. JAMES'S HAY.IIAIIKET, Aram 22.
Coarse Heavy Lowland Meadow Hay, A 2 ss. to £2 15s Useful
ditto, .d 2 15s. to 13 15s. Fine Upland Meadow and Rye Grass
Hay. 44 Os. to AS Os. Clover Hay, Al 10s. to 45 is. Oat
Straw, f 2 Ls. to Wheat Straw, £2 is. to see lOs, per lead
of 34 trusses.