The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-02-26 00:00:00

•
sometimes found in the hand of the assassin. (Cheers.) It
was no argument that there might arise from it a contingent
evil; and for tiiinself, he ventured to convey his opinion in the
words of a poet of the north—
. e`• Here is freedom for all that will read.
• Here is freedein-for all that will write •E • •
None need be afeared that the truth shall be heaial
But those who the truth would indite." (Cheers.) -
It Was remarked by Paley that there was nothing- he found con-
fer a greater degreeof happiness on him than a daily perusal of
the newspapers; and this remark perfectly coincided with his
own feelings. It had been stated by Mr. Bulwer, in the HOUSQ.
of Commons, that, in the year 1829, the number of
.papers
issued in Great Britain was only calculated at one for every
thirty-six inhabitants. In Peusylvenia, in- which the popula
Lion was only 1.200,000, the number of papers issued was-calcu-
lated to be one for every four inhabitants. In Liverpoid, they
all knew, there were only nine papers; in Boston, 'in the
United States, which was only one-third the size of Liverpool,
there were eighty papers. In Calcutta there were ten weekly
papers, besides two conducted entirely by the natives, and five
daily papers. In the United States, with reference to the price
of newspapers, a newspaper, as large as those usually printed,
was only lid; in Great Britain, the price was 7d.; and it was
very generally. known that more than one-half of this price was
aditect tax on knoWledge. If the stamp duty were taken off,
and the ditty do paper, he saw no reason why they should not
have newspapers as cheap in Great Britain as in the United
States. And with regard to the high price-on advertisements,
the conseqtience was that four hundred papers in Great Britain
duly published twice as many as twelve -daily papers in the
United States. Another tax on knowledge must be briefly ads
verted to. It was the duty imposed by the Postoffice. He
was quite willing, as a commercial man, to state that he had no
objection to take, on the price imposed for the transmission of
notion in the price would *id to increase the revenue rather than
letters, although he was of opinion that, in that respect, a dirni-
diminish it. The government charged the same price on be
transmission of pamphlets as it charged on letters. In the
United States, the reports of all. public proceedings were per-
mitted to be sent.thtough.the post a distance of 150 miles for one
halfpenny, and 200 miles for a penny. He had been in the-
habit of receiving the reports of different religious societies in
the United States,, and generally he received thenefree through
the kindness of the. American merchants; but, within the last•
two mouths, a package had been delivered to:the Postoffice, for.
which he was charged between 1.4.-and £3,- knowing its con-
tents, he did not release it, and. it remained in the Postoffice to'
enlighten theelerke. -In the United States he should not have
been charged more than as many shillings. Instead of there
being latereveniii;'assvas noW the cese, from the transmission of
paruphletseif they were allowed tn gO through the Postoffice at
a lower o.!ei6f Ptistagi;; it would ensaterially increase therevenne.
-FranCe it WE(' dime scil •404qkiiinie further remarks, Mr.
Hope concindKieitli mering thO•fi‘st resolution.
Mr. Benwie seconded the resolution, which was put by the
Chairman to the meeting, and carried unanimously.
UT—JAMES. BILANCKAR reposed the second resolution; it
was Marked for Mr. Hugh Hornby; Mr: Herlihy, however, Wei
not present, andbad sent it to him, but had not. sent his speech
along with it. He hail to congratulate the meeting on reaping._
the first freits of reform. They were there met for the first'
time under a Mayor of their own choosing. (Cheers.) It had
deprived him the pleasure of meeting theni in Clayton-squaree
(a laugh,) but he resigned that gratification willingly to meet
them before the present Mayor, who was so worthy of the situ-
ation he held, (Cheers.)
'The Rev. JANES - I‘l ARTINEAU trusted, that its speaking
against the tax on knowledge, he should not tax their patience.
(Hear.) It would be idle at that time of day for him to offer
any remarks on the advantages of printing In diffusing know-
ledge, but he would venture to call attention to a circumstance
on which the value of the press mainly depended, and to prove
that all the advantages that had been derived by modern Eu-
rope were owing to the cheapness-of publishing; and, in propor-
tion as they did away with cheapness in printing, they did
away with the advantages which accrued from it. 'There was
no physical impossibility in having the papers of the next day
published without the aid of printing, provided there were clerks'
enough engaged for the labour of writing them out, but instead
of a paper costing 7d. they would have to pay 70s. for it. Print-
ing was nothing snore than speech addressed to the eye instead
of the ear. He saw no reason why they should not have print-
ing rendered as cheap as talk, but they could never do this un-
less they had paper and ink as cheap as air. (Cheers.) He
would ask if the quarter from which the demand came for high
prices, whether the readers of the 4ge and.the Satirist, (and he
might come nearer home,) had any right to call on the law to re-
strain the licentiousness of the press. If they were to have a
law for repressing the licentiousness of the press, let them have
a law which should operate equally fur the poor and the rich;
not to encourage the licentiousness Of the rich and repress that
of the poor. He concluded with seconding the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
Mr, LAWRENCE HEYWoRTH rose to propose the third reso-
lution.. It' there were legislators who advocated the necessity of
taxation. on knowledge, and who thought they conscientiously
could do this, they must pity their weakness extremely ; but if,'
On the contrary, they were persuaded that knowledge-conveyed'
power to men, by which they might enjoy a greater share of.
many comforts, then he would .say that those who opposed the
abolition of that tax were excessively miminal in the eyes of all,
and they could not but despise the man who had so little sympa-
thy with his fellow men. There had been some objections stated
that the proprietors a newspapers, who were- large capitalists,
would be sufferers in consequence of the change. He thought
they were iu error, for they invariably found that where any,
article had been cheapened to the public, that that article was
greatly increased in its consumptiun and had always tended' to,
the advantage of the producers. (Heal.) it had also a ten-
dency to keep out a spurious article. If there was a great duty
on sugar or tea, they would soon find a spurious article intro-'
duced ; but if those articles were. cheap, no one would purchase
a spurious article for one that was good. And so it was with'
regard to newspapers, no One would purchase a newspaper, if
newspapers were cheap, which was not worth 'purchasing. He.
concluded with moving the resolution.
Mr. JOSEPH EWA ItT. rose to second the resolution. A very
great change had coins over the spirit of the times and those
who were a few years ago opposed to the diffusion of knowledge
Were now its advocates.. He would, adduce the Liverpool Me-
chanics' Institution and the C.ommerciel Institution as ex-
amples. And he would ask any,man to pay only one visit to
those institutions, and see the laudable manner in which the
people were employed in studying the arts and sciences; and he
was quite sure that individuals who might have gone there to
scoff would be greatly -pleased. It had been stated that the dif-
'fOsion of knowledge amongstetbe-weoples had sometimes the ef-
fact of making them dissatisfied with their situation. It was a
remark of.deuius, that " the people were seldom wrong iu their
• opinions, and in their judgment they were never mistaken."
Give the people the opportunity of judging between right and
wrong, and he was quite sure the remark of Junius would be.
found. correct. The removal of ever: tax on knowledge would,
he was sure, give the people a taste for information very differ-
ent from what their opponents thought—it would make theth
reason more lightly. The improvetrient of their minds would
give them a distaste for intemperance, it would render them
' more religious and more moral, and it would make.thein take a
higher station in society in every way, and make them what
'their Maker intended them to be.
TheCitettimeN put the resolution, which was unanimously
adopted.
• Mr. RATITBONE rose to propose the fourth resolution, and
was received with loud cheering. He came to that meeting
unprepared. to move a resolution, but at the same time not un-
prepared to advocate increased information and the diffu-
sion of knowledge. (Cheers.) He would congratulate them
that they. were that day, fur the first time, assembled in public
under the sanction of their Mayor, for the diffusion of that
knowledge which would enable them to see whether lie had •
acted right or wrong. (Cheers.) This, he thought, showed
some courage in the righteousness of their cause, in the con-
viction that they were only wishing. well for the people; and
they were striving as far as possible to enable the people, if they
did wrong to detect them. One word about the f. 20,000 men-
tioned iu the resolution, "that it was inconsistent to give the
people E'20,000," and why was it inconsistent? Only because;'
it should be £200,000, which it ought to be, which was advanced
for the education of the people. It ought to be the first object
of the legislature to give to every place the . opportunities of
obtaining general knowledge. They ought to have an univer-
sity in every town in England—schools In every town--infaut
schools in every town, and in every ward of the town.
(Loud cheering.) 'rhe people would support them if they
were only instituted by the government. They sent about a
million to government which was raised on taxes on knowledge,
oe rather on the newspaper tax. What did this do? It pre-
vented a man from obtaining a knowledge of those laws for
which he is to incur a penalty if he infringes diem. Our lovt.
were unfortunately very voluminous, and even with the aid of
the papers they could very little understand them—without that
aid they could not be understood at all. And how could the
magistrates be called on to convict a poor man for an offence he
never heard of in his life? Yet the magistrate was bound to
inflict a penalty. It was a cruel injostice, and therefore the tax
on newspapers was not merely impolitic but it was illegal. It
was unjust, because they had no right to require men to obey
laws they did not understand, and of which they had no know-
ledge. With these remarks he begged to second the resolution.
Alderman STUART had. much pleasure in seconding the reso-
lution which hid just been moved.
The resolution was put by the chairman and carried unani-
mously.
Mr. RetvooN proposed the fifth resolution, which Was se-
conded by Mr. MELLOR, and carried unanimously.
• Mr. HENRY Boom rose to propose a petition for the adop-
tion of the meeting, founded on the resolutions which had
been passed. He did not wonder at all at the unanimity
which .prevailed at that meeting. It appeared to him that this
tax on newspapers was one of those anomalies which, when it
was --removed, the wonder would be how it bad ever - existed.
There was something peculiar in this tax, when legislators had
thought proper to say what should be received and what pre-
vented being publisbed.. .If, for instance, a cheap publication
should be confined'to- persOnal abuse,' and •ro everything which
excited the passions, and of nothing to improve the mini[, the
legislature was u party to it—it would allow that publication.
.But if, on the Other hand, the .people had a better taste and,
thought it expedient that they should .know something of their
representatives iti -piirliamentee.if they felt a desire to be in-
formed of the state of events passing in this country...and abroad,
and of the spread of freedom throughout the ivorldiff [hey
wished to knOW what. was going on its Poland, and what in
RuSsia, then the leg,iSlature-; says, ,"this intelligence -is too
highly instructing,' we mast put, our veto on its publication.",
Could• it be endured for one moment that such inconsistencies
should be continued? He was itinight be said that this
should be treated as a financial measure. It was precisely as
if the Chancellor of the Exchequer were to say, "you may in-
troduce what inferior articles you like into the country, but if
you introduce genuine articles we will tax you." It was im-
possible that this inconsistency could last. But it' it did last.
they might be fairly to blame. It was a maxim of government
"that no one was taxed without his consent," and they might
take it for granted, that if they did not exert themselves to re-
move the tax, then the blame would rest with themselves. Ile
concluded with moving the sixth resolution and petition.
Mr. JAMES MULLENEUX seconded the resolution. It was
the proviece of government to improve the public mind, and
render the enaction of penal laws unnecessary, rather than to
erect gibbets for the punishment of the transgression of those laws,
and prevent their' recurrence by the severity of punishuients.
Mr. PARNII. would suggest that the petition should be left
for signature—they could obtain 50,000 signatures to it, rather
than that it should be signed by the Mayor on behalf of the
meeting,
Mr. JA tees BRANCKER seconded this amendment.
Mr. Boom would withdraw that part of the resolution rather
than the amendment shonld be put.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution as amended, and it
was carried unanimously. •
The CHAIR mAN was happy to tell them that the proceedings
had terminated like Perkgate, all on one side. (A laugh.) At
the sane time he hoped that none would imagine that there
mailhail
not been given the fullest opportunity for the expression
difference of opinion.
Mr. THONLAS SMITH rose tO pro ose that the thanks pof the
meeting' should be given to the requisitionists who had origi-
meted that meeting.
Mr. JAMES RIL;Y seconded the resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted..
Mr. B. SMITH, after some lengthy observations, in which he
oprietors were wrong in silliness
thought that the newspaper
fill; that a redaction of the stamp duty would injure their pro-

pert', propo,ed the last resolution, which %%as carried 4 acela
matiou.
. . . . ,

. .
The MAYOR begged to thank. thein,:very,ymiich for that ex-
pression of their satisfaction on this occasion, and for the kind-
nesS with which they bad . received the. general announcement
of his public conduct. He triisted he should: always receive
their approbation, and he did, assure them that he should always
'ittleay.ottr to deserve it., (uneers.) lie trusted that the mien-
imity which had prevailed during- that meeting, would commu-
nicate to the proprietors of. newspapers, and that they would
show that they were. unanimous for the doing away of the tax
-byinserting those resolutions gratis. it had been said that the
'press constituted the fourth order of the state ; if the proprietors
'Should decline to do this, all they could say was that they wer
supporting the privileges of; their order. (Laughter.) The
proceedings of the meeting hadsnow terminated.
The meeting then dispersed about three o'clock.

LIVERPOuL POLICE.

MONDAY. '
(Before Tuos. J A sms H 4LL, Esq.)
AN INNOCENT Tata-Elizabeth Junes, Mary Watkins, and
Ann Jackson, trois dames du pare, were brought up chFged.
with annoy iug.a, gentleman in the neighbourhood of Wapping,
on .his road home the night previous. The gentleman bei4
Unable to shake them. off. called the watch, who, on enforcing
his mandate to "move was beautified by the three ladies
with some delicate compliments of shack from the neighbouringkennel. Not likingthis, be had placed them in, "safe custody:"
Batcheldor said that Jones had been up before 40 times (1)-on
similar charges, and, that,Watkins had been else. ,in his charge
32 times. The other la4o. be had not the honour of being ac-
quainted with.—The magistrate committed Jones and Watkins
to Kiikdale for three calendar Months; and discharged Jackson
with a severe reprimand.
, TITESIDAY. •
EMBEZZLEMENT.—Thomas Holmes, Joseph Ross, and John
Stoddart, were brought up charged with embezzling a quantity
of coffee, the property of Mr. Woodville, grocer, of Vauxhall-.
road. Mr. Woqdviile said that Holmes was a porter in his em-
ployment, and Stoddart had formerly beehso, but had been dis-,
char,ed. He sent his coffee to roast. in !awe quantities to •
,
Sharp and Asnton's, in Temple-couit. He had nut missed any
coffee. Roberts, the constable, stated that iu consequence of
information he bad received from ,Stoddart, who told him that
he had been engaged with Holmes and .11uss in purloining cof-
fee, which they had taken from the,roastOs 'Several times, and
conveyed to a Cellarbeloagin;.; to M.is: NViitiSter; in- prownlow-
, hill, he took HolMes into custody. He 'Charged- Holmes with
this, but he had et.first denied it, but afterwards aCkuowledged •
it, and.also implicated Ross, whOuito afterwards took into cus-
tody. Stoddart had come to him, and. voluntarily made this.
confession, to •.him. • Mrs.. Mary Williams, of Vanihall-road,.
deposed to, her husband purchasing shiri-e coffee of one of the
.prisoners,- and Mrs. Ambrose, of Vauxhall-road, -deposed to
being present when Mr: Williams bought 42.1b5. of coffee, at
Htsi-RI-d..or Is. 9d. a pound,- of' Ross, for which_ he_ paid hips.
Ils. 9d. Roberts said this was the quantity which Stoddart
had confessed they had taken. -Mr. Whalley, grocer, of Vaux-
hall-road, deposed to purchasing about a dozen pounds of Ross,.
in December last, fur Which he paid hiM IS. Bd. a pound. Mrs.
Webster, of Brownlow.hill,.said she knew Stoddart, and that he
had asked her to let him leave a bag containing coffee at her
cellar till it was called for. Ile had not now left- any fog,. three
months. JameS Chester, who works at Sharp and, Ashton's,'
as a coffee-roaster, deposed to Holmes bringing. a quantity or
coffee to roast on Saturday last. On coming for it be said it was
a great weight, he would carry a part of it away at a time, and,
he took about 'Bibs: of -it away. The coffee was worth about
Is. 10d. a pound. Mr. Jones, on behalf of prisoner Ross, sub-
mitted that Ross had formerly been a grocer, and now sold
goods on commission, and that he had sold this cOffee openly at
a fair price, and had received his commission, not knowing that
it was stolen. Ross said that :he knew Stoddart, and that he
had asked him if he could sell him some coffee which he had to
:dispose of, and for-which he would allow him cenamisSiou. He
'accordingly sold the coffee to Mr. Williams, and received 55..
commission for selling it. He did not know that it was stolen:
The magistrate ordered Ross to be discharged, and the deposi-
tions for the commitment of the other two to be made out. •
STEALING DUCKS.—'Thomas Fairhurst, Mary Fairhurst, and
Eliza Fairhurst, their daughter, a most wretched looking trio, ;
Were brought up charged by Edward M,Curmick with stealing .
eleven dead ducks, and some fowls. from his stand in St. John's
Market; on Saturday night. He had put the ducks on a tray,
and spread a cloth over them at eleven o'clock on Saturday
night, and on Monday morning they were guue. .Faireloug,h,
the market constable, said that in Consequence of information
he had received he went to the house of the prisoners, and there
found the elder prisoners lying on the bed, druhk and asleep
iu the house he. found a tray and a cloth; which belonged to
complainant, there was a duck partly eaten on the table. The
daughter of the prisoner then told hint that she, along with other
two girls, had stolen the tray, and tbut she had sold some of
the ducks to a woman who lived to the street. A female hete
deposed that she had bought two of the ducks which were pro-
duced of the child for 10d. It wasas much as they were worth,
as they were tainted. The complainant holding one of the
ducks up by the leg, said that was a duck for, which he court
.have got Is. 6d. in the market if it had net been so ill-used. The
magistrate ordered the informatiuns for theiricumuntment to be
taken. •
EXCISE INFOGNATJONS. t-Titan M`Grath was summoned
under au information, laid by the excise, charging hint with
having smuggled two quarts ofwhiskey in Receinber last. John
Jones,doek constable, deposed that on the 3d of December last
hl stopped--the-prisoner -on his way from the dock-; he found a
bladder containing spirits concealed in his hat, amid also another
under his arm wrapped up ie,a,poeket-handkerChief. He took
him into custody, and next morning took hint before the cus-
toms. TwO of the cuttont's officers deposed to the quantity of
whisk'ey contained iu the bladders, arid that the prisoner had a
mull family. He bad borne a good character, and was em-
ployed on board one of the steamers. The prisoner said he took
it on shore for a friend to oblige him, and was discovered. Flo
weti'd ;levet do's. again. The magistrates mitigated the penalty
to xp, and intimated that they should reeutnmend the board of
customs still further to mitigate it to £F. •
Neil ItPLoglin was suinniolied on an information laid by the•
custuin-house charging him with smuggling two kegs of whiskey
in a large box, on the ,9th of. November last. The kegs were
packed in the box, which was entered in the manifest of the
steamer, of which defendaut WasAireman, as butter. Phillip
Manning, a carter, deposed to being hired to cart the box, which
he was to give to IVl`Loglin. One or tlie"tiffiters of the custom-
house deposed to the two kegs containing, seven gallons and two
qllattO-dt-vhiskey. Tbe-defietrilaut denied thatthe box was for .
.him; there was no direction en it for him. Ile had a large fa-.
wily. The magistrate said the defendant had got a notion into
his head that he did' not come within the letter of the act, be-
cause there was no direction on the box for him. The witnesses
had, however, sworn that it was for hint. They should mitigate
the. penalty to £25. and' should recommend the board of cus-
toms to further mitigate it to 1:10, and that only un accouut of.
fits ItErge