Star.
London, England, 1815-06-02 00:00:00

TAX ON NEWSPAPERS.

Aker the Reporters had left the House of Corn-
mons on Wednesday night, in the suppositio^ that
the business was concluded, the following notice by
the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER, with an obser-
vation upon it by Sir CHARLES MoNue, took plaice :
Sir CHARLES ?slowest enquired whether the Right Km. Gen-
tleman intended to bring on that part of tie schedule wh.cis
related ro the new tax on advertisements ?

The CIANCOLLOO. Of die EXCHIQUIR stated, that he bad had
conferences with several persons who appeared to represent the
sense of those individuals who were more immediately interested
in the measure, and an arrangement had been agreed on which
was supposed to meet the views of both parties. The general
rot& of this arrangement was, that the progressive duty on ad-
vertisements should be abandoned, and that in lieu of it there
should be imposed a common duty -of an additional sixpence,
making the whole duty Ss. lid.; and also an additional duty of
one halfpenny upon the paper itself.
Sir CUARLES Monett conceived that a new question arose
out of this I.la for transposing the new duties on advertisements.
and newspapers. It was generally co.isidered that the universal
circulation of knowkdge produced by the daily journals, and
other periodical publications, was oats of the most extensive and

substantial advantages resulting from the liberty of the press.
The House, therefore, ought to determine whether it might not
be a duty they owed to the public, whose interests were most
concerned, to step in between Government and the editors ,of
newspapers, who he could easily apprehend might coincide in
an arrangement convenient to both, but by no means equally
beneficial to the public. lle coafes'ed he was very averse to
seeing the necessities of the State supplied by means which s emed
to tend to the suppression of general information. The Right
Hun. Gentleman, he hoped, would at least have no objection to
postpone the resolution for the present.
CUANCN.LLOI of the Examen& assented to the wish
of the Hon. Baronet.

If there be no mistake in the preceding statement,
we cannot account for it. It is not true that the Pro-
prietors of the London News-papers have acceded to
any arrangement that has yet been proposed. We
have since heard that some such proposal had been
made TO a Deputation of the Proprietors of Country
News-papers, not, however, in the shape of even A
compromise, but as the only alternative left to them—
either to agree to this or to be subjected to the ope-
ratipn of the proposed progressive duty on Advertise-
meta I

The progressive scale, as first suggested, instead of
yielding revenue, would diminish, considerably, the
present amount received on Advertisements—and
would destroy many of the Newspaper properties en-
tirely, which, of course, would inhihilate the red-
stamp duty to the extent of the sale of these papers.
All this was demonstrated by both the London and
Country proprietors :—But did it follow from this
that, therefore, in another way, News-papers might be
farther taxed 1
It is not,true in matters of Revenue that.two and
two sums four. When. the maximum has been reached
on any article, the operation becomes reversed in its
effects, two and two, making only daree.—lt it were
the object of the Minister to destroy the Public Press,
it will not be' denied that the proposed measure is
well calculated to answer such a purpose; bat this is
the last opinion we shall entertain : nor do we believe
that this country would submit to so great an evil.
At least the press, in its dying struggles, will try its
strength with any Minister who shall ever attempt to
muzzle or to silence it iu this country..
The Newspaper Press is already subjected to a re-
straint inconsistent with the general principles of the
Constitution. They are restricted, by law, from
selling their article above a certain price, under pain
of forfeiting the discount allowed on the Stamp duty!
By this law they are run so hard, that but for the
profit thex have on theif Advertisements, the Lon-
don Papers could not be continued. And, in fact,
several of them have gi►en up the discount and raised
their price to 91 some of them to Is.
Should News• Papers be further taxed than they
are alrstady; it will soon be proved that the Revenue,
instead of being benefited will be materially injured;
but not till a number of industrious individuals shad
have bsn ruiatd:

N

MARGAT% Juns I.—Sailed ,this evening the Bri-
tannia pocket, Captain STRANACK. for Ostend, with Coax-Excitants% hare 2.—We had very little by:
several horses, carriages, and passengers, among sines doing in the Wheat trade this morning, but
whom is Dr. HYDI4 -Physician to his Royal High- our prices may be considered the same as on Monday.
ness the Prince of 0111ANCE. and several Officers going Barley is rather cheaper, the consumption being
w join the army in the Netherlands. The Duke of nearly over. Oats fully support Wednesday's prices.
Gloucester and Venus packets are. hourly expected. in other articles there is no alteration.

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