The Lancaster Herald, and Town and County Advertiser. — 1832-12-08 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

THE TAXES ON , KNOWLEDGE.  It will hardly be believed that Miuisters have not none enough to propose the abolition of the infamous restrictions by which the diffusion of sound political knowledge in this country is prevented. It will hardly be credited, that Lord Althorp has doubts, not only of the propriety of abolishing, or at least materially reducing the taxes on knowledge, but also as to whether the public desire the abolition. Now, a better man than Lord Althorp does not exist; but we must take leave to say that he is not always a wise one; and, with respect to the question before us; we do not hesitate to assert that he has suffered himself to be grossly imposed upon by two or three great monoixilists of the Loudon press, who imagine that it would not be so easy for them to make a profit of .£90,000 per annum if the trade were thrown open. It is a pity that so honest and wellmeaning a man as Lord Altborp should be made the dupe of such deception. He ought to reflect that with his consent, or without his consent, a reformed Parliament will make the abolition of the taxes on knowledge their first step; arid as he cannot expect to retain the office which be now holds much longer, as he will soon be called to the Upper House, he should endeavour to leave it with honourable eclat.  Lord Althorp should bear in mind three important facts— first, that even in this reading cumin), there is nut one nowt.paper to sixty parsons, whilst in America there is one to twenty; secondly, that in proportion as newspapers circulate there is increase of knowledge end diminution of critue ; Rad, thirdly, that by the enormous duty on newspapers, and on the advertisements which they contain, the publicity necessary for commerce arid trade is subject to a tax injurious to the interests of both. Having these tacts before him—and they are facts, we will show in our next by statistical details—he ought not to pay the slightest degree of attention to the representations of monopanics connected with the public press, who, although they can be liberal enough when the interests of others are concerned, are 'selfish and. unjust when there is a question raised affectiug their own gains.  It has been aseerted,,with a view to deter the Government from any measure caltelated.to throw open the newspaper tiade, that a reduction of the taxes on knowledge it uuld be an encouragement to needy, criminal, and seditious men to deluge the country with their trash. This is absurd: it would be as expensive to carry on a newspaper without tax as with it. All that can be said is that, u there would be a larger sale fur papers than there is now, if the taxes were to be abolished or materially reduced, enterprising men, of intellectual resources, who are now in the back ground, would come into the field. This would be a public benefit, and as a security against the deluge of radicalism, which ministers appear to dread, they might retain the gagging Acts for a time—we mean the law requiring bonds and oaths in the Court of Exchequer against blasphemy and sedition. Let them, however, repeal the grind.log impost upon newspapers, and fney will won find that things will go on well without the necessity of any gagging at all. W. will just tell Lord Althorp what it costs to produce a newspaper. independently of the paper and stamp. The weekly expense of a daily newspaper is from £2OO to £3bo; that of an evening, paper from 4190 to £140; of a weekly paper from .E2b to 450.. Our own paper waste the latter sum before we can throw off a sink; copy. Itethwirs the taxation will not reduce tide expair mod , onotequendy, them is no reason to dread the ti :u4•4 ate prem. The difference would be in an inert% *Ai , one man reads - now, ten at least would Miff , lima' are taken off, in that proportioa wouldeenktcy It 'i he beneffttad and unproved..... lifer/et LiterartA4iette.  QpN9NEWS INQUEST,  THIC BODY Or A SUICIDT GIVEN ti voi( On Monday evening week, au inquest was het( Chapman, otherwise " Handsome Poll," aged two, an unfortunate prostitute, who firoWrird nesday night in a fit or mental derangement Dock. It appeared that the deceased, uho hu, *cif to her unforunate associates as related m u named Chaplin, at Itoel-,ester, was of sober atif position. Through inability to pay her rt., t turned out of her lodgings on the morning i,f verdict of " Mental derangement." was tett.; Holliday, the churchwarden, a•led Mr. Bike., he coulal legally give up the body to the Loll& n watootclaimed by any relatives. Mr. Baker ntrai, to do so, wi an example to prevent suicide atnon women.  Several of the latter class of females, themselves with great decorum during the lir,— hewed', with tears and the greatest earnestne., Iss.pay a mark of respect to their unfortunate burying her in consecrated ground, for which 1,.•/ already raised £3 by subscription, and given to They described her as of the beat and moat in, ff.: lieu, soil incapable of injuring any one. The Coroner, however, replied that it wa.: an example. The spirit of the Anatomy Bi:I w acted up to if the body was not riN en tip. n might claim the body as a friend, and afterwzii4i, A Juror said that he thought the London licr•pi! enough from the poor-houses ; and that tie present had sheo•n much good feeling, and nught corpse.  I%lr. Wilson, overseer, wished to take the on the subject. After wine discussion it was decided that the "seat to the hospital.  The armouncrinent of this division wa% reek most bitter lamentations hy the females, attached to the deceased.