The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-29 00:00:00

THE ASSESSED TAXES WAIL

SEIZURE BP GOODS FOR ASSESSED TAXES, SUBSEQUENT RE-
COVERY OF TIIEII lII' THE MOB, AND DESTitUCTION OF THE VAN.
—On Friday morning, about half-past nine o'clock, a pan was
seen to drive up to the door of the Mechanics' Institution,
Circus-street, New-road, of whieli a Mr. Savage is the proprietor.
It soon became known that the persons who came with the Ve-
hicle were a sheriff's officer named Kemp, and his men, who, in
execution of an Exchequer writ, were about to make a seizure
on the premises for assessed taxes, amounting to £35 2s. 9cl.
The officer and his party having entered the house without op-
position, they conveyed away a sofa, tables, chairs, and other
household furniture, and they deposited them safely in the van
which they had brought with them for the purpose. A great
crowd of people soon assembled, who gave vent to their feelings
of indignation at the proceeding adopted. The van, however,
drove off with the goods amidst the deafening hisses and shouts
of the crowd. On arriving at the corner of Baker-street, the
crowd being considerably augmented, a woman, who appeared
to possess the most masculine courage, boldly stepped out from
the throng, and, seizing the horses' heads, turned the van towards
tile Institution. The crowd, animated by her example, now took
courage, and, surroundiug the van, toolahe horse out, and drew
it in triumph hack to M r. Savage's, shouting as they went along,
"No assessed taxes." The sheriff and his men -having made
their escape, the mob proCeeded, without molestation, to unpack
the goods, which they deposited safely again in Mr. Savage's
house. At this period the populace next turned their attention
to the empty van, and a cry was instantly set up, " Break it to
pieces." The work of demolition soon commenced, and in a
short space of time the vehicle was broken to pieces, with ham-
' mers and sticks, is spite of the efforts of the police to prevent it.
About the same time a seizure was made at the house. of Mr.
Brown, picture-dealer, &c., No. 128, Crawford-street, (who is a
member of the institution,) for assessed taxes, amounting to
.£l2 12s. Sd., when goods to zlonble that amount were carried
away by the sheriff's officer and his subordinates, who refused to
give any inventory of what they had taken, or to state where
they intended to deposit theni. At this place the broker, Mr.
Atkins, of No. 133, St: John-street, was sainted with execrations
by some hundreds of persons who had assembled, on the object
of the visit being made known. The property seized was thrust
with all possible expedition into the van, without any regard
whatever being paid. to the safe conveyance of the paintings,
some of which were very choice and valuable, and which, no
doubt, must have sustained considerable injury in the removal.
At two o'clock a meeting was held in the large room at Mr.
Savage's, upon the. subject of the above seizure, and the place
was greatly crowded. Some strong comments were made on the
conduct of the present ministry, and the speakers concluded by
exhorting their hearers to act peaceably, but firmly, and their
object would be accomplished. Later in the afteruocia a strong
detachment of the police, under the direction of Mr. Mayne, one
of the police 'commissioners, assembled at the neighbouring
station-house ; where also Mr. Sheriff Harmer and his deputy
attended, 'awl had an interview with Mr. Savage, who (as we
are inftirrneel) promised that the
_goods seized, mind which had
been rescued by the mob, should be forthwith restored to the
sheriffs' officers.