Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-26
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FROM OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, JANUARY 81, ls4s.

comprehended within radius Of eight miles from |
st. Pauls. The cost OF making Tins survey, with |
proper system Of levels, Il estimated = ~ssaiS.
1t is to be executed by the Ordnance DepaFimsni,
and commenced Immediately. An engraved plan |
Of the survey is to be made on seie u Gss et 70
the mile, and is to include every bhek VI blildings.
&c. The expense OF engraving Is esiisnated AZ
gI2,6l4 making total expense 4 survey and en-
craving Of P36S20. The metropolis ~ 20 bear only
the proportion Of the cost which fac peyn IL NJ
part Of the kingdom al large. estimated most pro-
baby, according to population.
The window tax, operating a. II does TO prevent
free circulation Of air, tends much 10 increase the
insalubrity Of many parts OF London. II operates
against proper ventilation, IL affords means Of con-
cealing filth, and originates great many anii-sani-
tary habits DR.. Southwood Smith has told Cow
eminent that without repeal Of this tax all other
sanitary reforms will not be worth button" On
the score of Unequal pressure, the window tax IS
very exceptionable--it presses with undue weight
on the industrious and less wealthy classes of the
community; for large houses, such as are occupied
by the nobility and gentry, do not require the same
number Of windows, in proportion 10 rents, as small
and midde-sized houses inhabited by the poorer
classes 1t is true that houses with less than eight
windows are exempted from this tax, and this is to
the advantage Of the lower classes, SO far as igoes
but the following brief analysis Of the operation Of
the tax viii show that il is very UNEQUAL and con-
sequently unfair in its pressure.
The window tax contributed gl,626,059 to the
aggregate revenue of 1916. Of this amount more
than one-half or gS3l 1854, was levied upon houses
having twenty windows fewer, the class Of houses
occupied by the less wealthy of the middle classes
and by the poor in large towns. who are crowded
together in portions Of larger tenements. Of the
remaining moety fully two-thirds were contributed
by the extensive manufacturers for the windows IN,
their large mills for light to their operatives and ne
cessary ventilation. Thus the landlord majorities
of the House of Commons and the Peers escaped
with comparative IMMUNITY, contributing only about
one-sixth of the whole tax. This is distribution
of the burden which Ministers scarcely expect
to perpetuates
It is said that the window tax, like the rest Of the
assessed taxes, and the property tax, is collected at
lower per centage than any other of our imposts,
the stamps alone excepted-the latter being collect
ed at the rate Of 92 Is 3d. per cent, the former at
g3 6s. 4d. per cent. These are the most economi-
cally collected of all the various denominations Of
tribute exacted by Government from the people
of this country. simple and economical mode
of collecting a tax, however, affords no argument
for its continuance, and in this is but as fea
ther against the countervaing oppression and iniu-
rious operation of that which we considering
The opposition to the window tax has long, per-
haps always, existed. The anxiety to get rid OF it
has been expressed with increasing vehemence and
loudness every year since 1893 il is now making
itself heard more impressively than ever from all
parts of the kingdom, and Ministers must be pre-
pared to abandon an impost which presses unfairly
upon the poor and industrious, and which encour-
ages, almost compels, habits of uncleanliness de-
structve of the public health. A we-regulated
and moderate house tar has been recommended as
a substitute for the window tax.
There is certainly growing up in England what
Lord Castereagh more than once designated as an
Ignorant inlpafience Of faration.' But taxes
must be levied: the only question is, howl Lord
John Russell has told the petitioners for reduction
Of the duty on tea that the Government do not con-
template any alteration in that impost. He regards
the present tax. as necessary to the revenue, and
therefore does not agree, at least in this instance
with those advocates for low duties who assert that
such increased consumption would arise from diminished
price would than make up for the reduction Of duty
So must be content for the present to drink after
paying upon it duty of than 800 per upon its
first Nor will the duty upon tobacco be medded WITH
although the advocates for lis reduction say that nearly half
what Is consumed in England is struggled, and that, there
fores the duty reduced one-ha smuggling would in
great be stopped and the of remain
the Lord John does not think So otherwise he would
not hesitate to recommend popular which would
not interfere with his financial calculations There will pro-
will not Cypress inure any The property
be continued, increased its probably, but with
distinction between property and income.
There is doubt but that the Military and Naval force Of
England will be increased although the following
ton of Army and Navy quite formidable enough
to meet any apparent probable emergency The last
turns at the War Office and the Board Of Admiralty show
that the present military force consists OF 20 regiments Of
valy, los regiments Of infantry, rifle brigade, and reg
ment Of artillery, engineers, sapper and miners The cfec
tive force 100000 There are besides hundred
and eighty six regiments Of militia, (he staff 81 which only
kept up 10 time Of peace and the embodied Chelsea outpen
sions and yoomanry cavalry.
The Royal Navy consists of $50 ships Of war; carrying
from ten hundred and twenty guns EACH in commits
sion, in ordinary or building. OF these $50 armed steam
e built ON the most approved principles for active
vice, Of from 100 to $50 horsepower each. This feet en-
poys in time Of peace, 10000 able-bodcd seamen coo
stout lads and 900 royal marines Besides the above
there the enrolled dockyad battaons Of Depord Wool
wich, Chatham, sheerness, Portsmouth, Davenport Ply
mouth, &C., amounting to from IS 200 10 &c. 900 men, all
of whom instructed gunney and coast defence in case
OF any sudden outbreak with foreign Power
Mr. Golden and Sir w. Wordsworth have taken the field
against the Duke of Wellington and Lord EIesmere upon
the subject Of the national deences The writer of the
muncatiop the Morning Chronicle under the signature p