Star.
London, England, 1819-11-19 00:00:00

2. RELIES FROM OPPRESSIVE TAXES

Having made the most careful inquiries into the
circumstances of the laborious classes, it seems to me
evident, that they are entitled to relief; and relief, I
am convinced, might be obtained, if applied for in a
Constitutional manner,

The principal causes of your distresses, I under.
stand to be these :-1. At the conclusion of the wari•
a number of persons, bred to weaving, were sud-
denly discharged from the army. With the aid of
the pensions they enjoyed, they could work at lower
wages than those who had not that advantage, and
the cther weavers were soon compelled to accept of
the same terms. 2. In order to make up for that
decrease in their incomes, the old weavers resolved
to work fourteen, instead of nine hours per days
This accumulated such a load of goods, that evert
the old markets would not have been sufficient.-..
But 3. At the very time when an immense increase
was thus made to the quantity of goods for sale, the
Governments on the Continent, checked, as much as
possible, their importation, and resolved to encourage
their subjects to become manufacturers themselves.
Hence, in a great measure, have the distresses of our
manufacturing districts originated.
It is evident, that with the diminished wages which,
owing to these circumstances, you now receive, you
cannot afford to pay either the same price for cern
to the farmers, or the same taxes to the Government,
that you formerly did. In one or other of these re-
spects relief must be given, and, however difficult,
there is every reason to hope, when the case is properly
represented to Parliament, that it will be obtained.
In regard to the Farmers, they arc in as bad a state
as yourselves; and it is for your interest to support
skim, for they and their landlords furnish the best
market for your commodities. The expense of rais-
ing corn has been carefully analyzed; and it can be
proved that wheat cannot he raised under 78s. per
quarter, nor oatmeal under 265. per boll. If 60s. per
quarter of wheat, and 20s. per boll of oatmeal, „ere
formerly accounted fair prices, the additional sums.
of 18s. per quarter of wheat, and 6s. per boll of oat-
meal, on the grain consumed in a tradesman's family,
(calculated to be two quarters of wheat, or six bolls
of oatmeal, in twelve months,) would he 11. 16s. per
annum. The question then is, how is that sum to
be got ?
Upon inquiry, I find, that a weaver and li;s family
pay, in taxes on the necessaries of life, the following
sums :

1. To the Tax cn Leather -
tt. To the Salt Tax - -
3. Taxes on Candles and Oil
4. Tax on Soap - .

- £0 10 0
- 0 16 .0
-0 6 0
-0 4 0
£1 16 0 •
These tales are on absolute necessaries, without
which the poorest individuals cannot exist in any de-
gree of comfort. They may do without tea, sugar,
malt liquors, spirits, and other luxuries—but they
cannot without leather, salt, candles, and soap,
Apply to Parliament, therefore, to have these taxes
taken of, and in their stead, let an income•tax be
levied, to raise a sum to the same amount on all per-
sons enjoying an income of above EA* pet• annum.'
I shall only add my earrest entreaties, that in-
stead of " a Radical," you will apply for " a Rational
Reform," and instead of " useless privileges," that you
will endeavour to obtain Substantial Bentjts for
yourselves, your wives, and your familiec, by the re-
moval of those Taxes which, in a peculiar manner,
press upon you. • Follow that plan, and you will
find in every honest man " A Real l'riend:"--per-
severe in violent measures, and you will cover your _
country with blood, and ultimately will compel it to
submit to despotism, as better than aaarchy. I am,
your real well-wisher, JOHN SINCLAIR.
Edinburgh, November 12.

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• _ .
MEETING OF SAINT .iiiiiES'SPAIUSII,
WESTMINSTER. • •

Yesterday evening, a very respectable Meeting of
the Inhabitants of this Palish, was held in the As-
sembly Rooms, Brewer-street, Golden-square.
At a quarter past seven o'clock, Mr. Bowie moved
that the Chair should be taken by Mr. Patin, in con-
sequence of the family affliction of the person who
had undertaken the office of Chairman.
To this there were several objections, Mr. PARR
not being a parishioner.
Mr. CLARK afterwards accepted the office, and
then proceeded to read the Requisition which had
been sent to the Churchwardens. It was signed by
'O2 Inhabitants, but the Churchwardens ret used the
use of the Church, or the Church-yard. The Chair-
man then expressed his earnest wish, that all persons
should have an impartial hearing, whatever might be
their opinions.
Mr. Bowls proceeded to read the Resolutions.
Since 168'4, the memorable year of the Revolution,
there had not, in his oyinion, been an era so import-
ant as the present, and which so urgently called on
every man, to do his duty. The proceedings which
more peculiarly marked the present as an Important
period of our history, was the awful scene which oc-
curred at Manchester. He, at the same time, strongly
reprobated the Loyal Declaration of the Church-'
wardens and a small Vestry. It was most improper
to have issued such a Declaration at the present mo-
ment. Had the Magistracy of Manchester done their
duty ? Was it not, on the contrary, obvious that
their collecting so large a military force was to over-
awe the immense assemblage convened for a legiti-
rrAte purpose, and to mark the whole with blood ?
Every outlet from the field was shut up, and the
helpless multitude were exposed to the dreadful
alternative of being trampled to death or sabred by
the Yeomanry ! That such was the motive of the
Magistrates no man could doubt, who for a moment
reflected on the result of their plans. Indeed the case
was as clear as that the sun shone at noon-day. In vain
were the Friends of Reform charged with prejudging
the question, as it was unquestionable that on that
day treason was committed against the Constitution,
and against the People who were the life and soul of
that Constitution. After detailing a number of facts
which occurred on that melancholy day, he next
commented on the conduct of those who suggested
that the whole should be left to a public investigation
in the proper Tribunals of Justice—an idea which
certainly was the most absurd, 'in every view, that
could be imagined. Had not the present Adminis-
tration prejudged the question with a haste as extra-
ordinal,- as it was unparalleled, and at the same
time induced their Royal Master to sanction those
awful eveuu, which in atrocity exceeded the massacre
of Glencoe?—He then, at some length, commented
on the Loyal Declaration of the Hector and Vestry,
and the indefinite meaning of the word " blasphemy."
He then argued that Chtistianityought to stand on its
own merits. It was not with the sentiments, but the
actions of men that we bad to do; for the genius of
religion invited a full and free inquiry into her doc-
trines, requiring every man to be fully persuaded in
his own mind. Let a man's conduct to his neigh-
bour and society be unblemished with injustice and
oppression, and then he (Mr. Bowie) would say with
a great Poet—
" For modes of faith let graceless zealots light :
" He can't be wrong, whose life is in the right!"
He co old quote a higher authority—St. Paul had said
" Show me your faith by your works—though ye have faith, and
want charity, ye arc buias sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal !"
Mr. Bowie strongly censured the conduct of Magis-
trates in prosecuting News-venders for publishing the
Newspapers on a Sunday morning, while, at the same
time, card-parties, routs, &c. were permitted to be
held with impunity in the public squares in the west
end of the town. " Let the Suppression of Vice So-
ciety
.(said Mr. B.) bring to fine and imprisonment
the rich and titled drunkards and sabbath-breakers,
instead of the poor industrious man who endeavcurs
to obtain a bit of bread for his wretched family by
selling a few newspapers." He concluded by moving a
series of Resolutions, indicative of the right of the
People to meet at all times for the discussion of pub-
lic grievances, expressing the deepest regret at the
conduct of the Magistracy of Manchester, and their
abhorrence of the breathless baste with which Go.
vernment had given their approbation to these pro-
ceedings, in the name of his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, and praying the immediate dismissal
of Ministers.

An Address on these Resolutions was then read,
which Mr. BOWIE moved should be presented to the
REGENT by the Earl of ESSEX.
Mr. ROE seconded the Resolutions.—Nd person
app..;ning to state any thing further on the subject,
the Resolutions were jut and carried unanimously,
as was also the Address; and, after some conversa-
tion, it was finally arranged that Lord Essra should
be reqnested to present it.
The Resolutions were ordered to be advertised,
after which the Meeting adjourned.

On Friday last, the 12th instant, a Meeting of
the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Justices of the Peace,
Iferitors, and Commissioners of Supply, of the County
of Linlithgow, took place in the County Hall there,
and was most respectably and numerously attended.
The Right Honourable the Earl of liontroux, Lord
Lieutenant of the County; presided. ALEXANDER
MARJORIBANRS, Esq. of Marjoribanks, Convener of
the County, stated, that the object of the Meeting
was to approach the Throne with the expression of
their loyalty, and to pledge themselves in support of
the existing laws and Constitution, against the dan-
rous designs of a lawless and desperate faction.
MMajor HAMILTON DUNDAS, younger, of Dudding-
stone, moved the Resolutions, which were seconded
by Mr. STUART, of Binnie, and unanimously agreed
to. He then proposed a Loyal Address, founded on
the Resolutions just carried, which was seconded by
Lieutenant-General Hopi. The Earl of ItosEmatax
congratulated the Meeting upon the loyal spirit which
prevailed in that part of the country, and the firm ex-
ample they exhibited of a determination to counteract
the impious and revolutionary doctrines which at this
period were so
einiquitously and industriously dis-
senthr.ted by theenemies of religion and social order.
—An Amendment was moved by Dr......SParobt, who
threatened them with his protest, if his dissent was
not recorded ; as no seconder, however, appeared, it
fell to the ground, and the original Motion was car-'
ried una.iimoudy.

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