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Leader (1850-1860), 5th April 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 317, Untitled Article

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    • POSTSCRIPT. Saturday, April 5.
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      Untitled Article

      Sir Charles Wood brought forward his amended budget last night in a speech which would compare , as to length , with an American President ' s message . The main alteration is in the house tax . First of all he proposes to repeal the window duty , arid in place of it to impose a , uniform tax of ninepence in the pound on the annual value of all dwelling-houses above £ 20 , and sixpence in the pound on shops , ¦ victuallers' houses , and houses used in the occupation of land . This arrangement he justified by a copious production of arguments and facts , declaring that

      it would give full scope to all sanitary improvements , and exempt about 500 , 000 houses now paying window duty altogether from taxation . If the change were carried out , the present amount of duty , £ 1 , 860 , 000 , would be reduced to about £ 720 , 000 , which sum would be contributed by 400 , 000 of the best houses , belonging to the classes most able to pay , while all other dwellings , 2 , 100 , 000 in . number , would be left unvisited by the tax-gatherer . The whole result of the finance scheme is to strike off £ 1 , 490 , 000 from the estimated income of the year , leaving a permanent surplus of about £ 350 . 000 , and , as the reductions will not take immediate effect , placing some £ 900 , 000 to the credit side of the public account , at the end of the

      current year . Respecting the other taxes he had proposed to modify many criticisms had been offered . The smaller items , consisting of the transference of a portion of the charge for lunatic asylums and the abolition of the duty on grass seeds , appeared to be universally censured , and ho should , therefore , {> ive them up . In the reduction of the duty on coffee and foreign timber ho still persisted . He considered the basis on which he hnd proposed to leave those imposts unobjectionable , and the reasons he had urged in defence of the change perfectly sound . The coffee duty would consequently be reduced to 4 d . per lb . ; the foreign timber duties be cut down to one half the present amount . A great deal had been said about the adulteration of coil'ce . He

      wag not prepared to send an army of excisemen into every grocer ' s « hop , nor wa , s he prepared to get up prosecutions in every possible quarter , but he had cfecided on meeting the evil in n more legitimate way , by making the article cheaper . He waived all discussion at that time on the income tax . He admitted that the income tax was originally proposed t , o meet a detigiency in the revenue , and that it was renewed to enable Sir Robert l \ el to c : ury out bin intentions on the aubject of import dutica . The result had shown thut that was a wine and

      beneficial policy , and the motion that ho now made for the renewal once more of thut tax hud for itw object the carrying ou t still farther of that policy . When that policy wan fully carried out a reduction in . the income tax may bo advisable , to be followed by its complete extinction . If the policy of the ^ ProteotionintH be carried , it would deprive the great ixiuhh of the population , opt only of the ixdvantages which <» e propopnlH ho now ttiuxjo would confer , but of those , they alrea dy enjoyed . To ugretj to th « uuuuduieut of which Mr . Ilerrios had given notice would , foe lh « brut sttsp bae ^ waiid *? - Ho concluded by moving a *

      -sojution for the renewal of the income tax . At a later hour of the evening he stated that his proposal was to renew the income tax for a further period of three years . ( Oh , oh . ) With regard to the schedules , he thought it would be much better to defer the discussion upon them until the House was in committee . Mr . Herbies complained that Sir Charles Wood had departed from the understanding of the preceding night , that his proposition should be reserved for discussion , on . Monday ; and he contended that this Budget was an announcement to the country that the income tax was to be perpetual . Mr . Heni-ey considered the statement of Sir C . Wood

      to be totally subversive of public credit . He liad said it was necessary to have a large margin of surplus in his hands ; the margin he held was only £ 350 , 000 , and he had at the same time held out the prospect of a demand for a Kafir war . Mr . Macgregor , Mr . William Brown , Sir De Lacy Evans , Mr . Wakxey , and other Liberal members expressed their qualified approval of the new Budget . Mr . T . Baring should fear for the national fundholder if he had no better security than direct

      taxation , which in time of distress would be thrown off . The Treasury should retain an ample surplus in order to meet exigencies ; but the present Government were weak , and sacrificed the principles they rdcognised to pressure from without . Lord John Russell accused Mr . Baring of making " an afterdinner speech . " He had complained of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for not retaining a larger surplus than £ 900 , 000 for the present and £ 350 , 000 for next year , although he was content to follow a former Minister ( Sir R . Peel ) , when he only retained a surplus of

      £ 90 , 000 : — " He thought that the honourable gentleman had on this occasion forgotten the place in which he was speaking . ( A laugh . ) Instead of being a member of that House , speaking on a matter of figures , with which he was so able to deal — { cheers from , the Protectionist benches )—thehonourable member had on this occasion forgotten what took place in 1845 , and must have thought the present an occasion of after-dinner eloquence . ( Cheers and laughter . } Instead of relying upon his great practical knowledge on these matters , the honourable gentleman had in fact satisfied himself with making an invective against the Government . He had made a party speech against the weakness of the Government , which nothing but party reasons could have supplied . ( Cheers . )"

      Mr . Disraeii believed that most of the speeches in that House were after-dinner speeches , and he had never found the noble lord more happy than in afterdinner speech . But he could not agree with him in drawing any parallel between Sir Robert Peel ' s Government and that of the noble lord . The former might have a small surplus , but he had a strong party . The present Ministry has a large surj ) lus , but a small party . As for the Chancellor of the Exchequer , lie was

      holding out a delusive prospect of our finances . He had withdrawn the small relief he had in his former plan proposed for the agricultural interest , and brought forward a financial scheme in which not the slightest relief was afforded to the acknowledged sufferings of the owners and occupiers of hind . Colonel Thompson would not say whether the noble lord at the head of the Government had a large party or not , but he knew that he kept a large party at bay , and he hoped he would continue to do so .

      Untitled Article

      It is probable that a distinguished member of the Chancery bar is about to become a candidate for the representation of the borough , of Aylesbury on Liberal and Free-trade principles . — Morning Chronicle . The Liverpool papers contain a notice of the sudden death of Mr . Edward llushton , yesterday morning , in the fifty seventh year of his age . He was upppointed . stipendiary magistrate of Liverpool in 18 , ' 59 , since ivhieli time ho uusperformedtlieouerousdutieBof that office with adegreo . of ability , firmness , and impurti . ility , which has commanded the respect and confidence ! of all classes . The last good work in which Mr . lluKliton was engaged was the cstablinlnnent of a reformatory for juvenile criminals . Had lie lived it would no doubt . hav <> marked an epoch in juvenile crime in thin country . In private lift ; no man was more respected as a companion and a friend . Ho was the life of' a nodal circle , ; md his MUilden and untimely exit will lonfj he lemeinheivd ¦ with sorrow . The . complaint , to which be fell a victim wan gout in the stomach . Water was let . into the Birkcnhcad great , float , for the first time on Monday lust . The greater portion of the masonry work on the Hiikenhead side of the fjoat . is now completed ; and also us much as will be requited for some time to come on the Walbisey . side . The portion of the float , now finished comprises a . space ; of about sixty acres . The strike , ho long continued , of the hands formerly employed by Sir I' ) . Aruiiiage , at . the 1 ' endleton col ton-millH , near Manchester , has enlisted thr hyiupathy of other operatives in a somewhat , remarkable milliner , audit in mjderutood I but they have determined to meet , this day ( Saturday ) several thousands strong , near bury , and to march theneo in procession through Manchester and Siiiford to lVndleton , and there to hold a meeting . The » flair seemed mo threatening thut yi'M . eiday the Manchester inagiHtratcH held a meeting to consider whether permission , to pawn through the , town should b gtvei > or not . Itioluird Douglus , otherwise t > ir Richard , Douglas , otherwise CapUuu £ ) ougliuj , of Orpiuulon-houuQ . liont ;

      As <^ -villa , Ascot ; and No . 6 , Belgrave-terrace , and his two sons , Charles and Arthur Douglas , were brought up at Marlborough street Police Court , yesterday , for final examination . They were charged with having carried on a systematic course of p lunder by obtaining goods from tradesmen without any means of paying for them . The capture of the captain was effected in a very ingenious manner . He had written a pathetic letter to the Reverend Mr . Hamilton , imploring assistance , being confined , as he said , to a sick bed , and in a state of complete destitution . The police heard of this letter , and , as every attempt to capture Douglas had failed from the precaution taken to keep the police out of the house , the following stratagem was

      adopted : —Police-sergeant Allen , B 3 , dressed himself in a long _ black robe , white neckcloth , and broad-brimmed hat , with the view of rendering his appearance as clerical as possible . With an open letter in his hand be knocked at the door of No . 6 , Belgrave-terrace , and when the door was opened on the chain , to an inquiry what he wanted , he replied , in a subdued tone , he called to see a brother in affliction . The door was instantly opened , a smartly-dressed lady came iorward , and , sajing , " The Reverend Mr . Hamilton , I presume ? " begged him to walk in . The lady ushered him into a back room , arranged carefully so as to present the appearance of severe want and destitution , and there , on a truck-bed and little straw mattress , reposed the prisoner , writhing , or appearing

      to do so , with pain . The constable , in a tone of commiseration , asked if he addressed Captain Douglas . The prisoner feebly replied he did , and ne presumed he was speaking to the Reverend Mr . Hamilton . "Not exactly , " said the constable ; " my name is Allen , sergeant of the B division of police . " The lame man jumped nimbly out of bed , and , - in the voice of a Stentor , roared out to his wife that " he was betrayed . " The constable then told him his errand , and took him to the station-house . The miserable room in which the prisoner was taken was got up for the occasion , as the rest of the house , a large one , was abundantly and handsomely furnished . The constable who took charge of the two sons and got up the evidence has ascertained that , within two years , the father and sons have succeeded in getting £ 3702 worth , of property from some forty-five or fifty tradesmen . Mr . Charles F .

      Bastin , of Ascot-lodge , Berkshire : In January last the prisoner took Ascot-villa , butafter a fortnight , from what he discovered of the prisoner ' s mode of life , he compelled him to give up possession . During the time Douglas had the villa , goods were continually being ordered | from the tradesmen in the neighbourhood . On the elder prisoner a diary was found which revealed a system of living by the wits unexampled for success , audacity , and extent . The diary for the year 18-51 was kept in a business-like manner . It opened with a list of the names of gentlemen and ladies to whom begging applications for money had been made , the names of the persons who had not replied to the applications being brought forward and posted in quite a mercantile way . The first day of the year was opened by a prayer to Providence ro bless the exertions of the water and his sons , and to make them , more prosperous and productive than last year . It went on thus : — "Took possession of Ascot-villa . Got phaeton , dog-cart , horses . Looked about Guild ford , Staines . Ordered goods , coals and beer , shawls . Got a great-coat from Skinner . " Jan . X—Nothing come in . Charles hired dogcart and harness of Liley . Went in phaeton to ( Juihlford . Ordered carpetinsr , shawls , coats , &c . " 1 . —Nothing from Guildford but an impudent , letter . Sent Charles to station for carpeting' . Williamson there , and . stopped it . Fear there will be a row . Got shawls . " , " > . — Phaeton and horse seized . l'Var exposure at Ascot , and all up with chance , there , fear we must cut . " <> .- —Coals and beer came in . iMaiio us as merry as could . Went to stop in Cui zon-street . Ordered brushes . Sic . " 7 . — All day ill . Kow about stal > l « . Forcible possession taken of it .. Row all day with one pt'ivon or another . Fearful how things will end . Three boys at home idle ,. All ordering things . " 11 . —Not a ^ lulling coming in . 11 mouths to feed . AVould not order goods except to keep my children . They have f ,. uud out my addreHH at Guildford . Driuilful rows . Got carpet iui ^ . Kearful row with man who brougnt an iron salt ) . Row all iiii f ht from ringing door lull by boot and shoe man . " 1 ( 5 . —How all day with people . Mob outside of house cry ing ' Hwindler . ' " 17 . —Very ne . rveus . More rows . " IN . — -WCut to boys' to dinner—champagne ¦ very ineriy . Providence not quite , tiesei ted us . " The three prisoners were committed on five charges , two for Conspiracy , and three for obtaining goods under false pretences .

      Untitled Article

      Apw 5 , | 85 i . ] ® % e VLentitr . sir m *

      Untitled Article

      TO BEADEBS ABTD COBBESPpNDENTS . AN Ap ? hovin « J Beadhs aska if a certain " Mutual" Life Assurance Association i 3 respectable , and if , as an assurer , he would be liable for the debts of the company . Every assurer is so liable , but some companies have a guarantee fund . Ve know nothing of the office in question beyond its name . j \ W . T . next week . It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we receive . Their insertion is often delayed , owing to a press of matter ; jmd when omitted it is frequently from reasons quite independent of the merits of the communication . Communications should always be legibly -written , and on one side of the paper only . If , Igngj i £ encr

      Untitled Article

      NEW WOBK . THE LIBB . ABF FOR THE / FIME 8 . A Series of Cheap Popular Works , adapted for the School , the Cottage , the Drtiwing-roona , and the Study . On the 1 st of May will be published , price One Shilling , THE HIS TOBY of the CHURCH of ENGLAND during the Beigns of Henry VIII .. Edward VI ., and Alary : beinsr the first portion of tbe Ecclesiistisal History of this Country from the Reign of Henry VIII . to the Beigns of the House of Hanover .

      Untitled Article

      The plan of the Work cqmprise . s . three distinct series , arranged under the following heads : — I . THE HI 8 TOBICAL SEBIES . II . THE BIOGRAPHICAL 8 E&IE 3 . III . THE MISCELLANEOUS SEBIES . Portions of one or other of these Series , in Parts or in Volumes , will appear Monthly . ,- ¦ ¦¦ - Each Volume will be complete in itself , handsomely printed in foolscap 8 vo . f occasionally illustrated with Engravings , and will vary in price according id thickness . TO BOOKS ELLEBS . —Prospectuses and Showboards will be ready in a few days , and may be had on application . Agents wanted for the principal towns . London : 4 , Crescent , Blackfriars ; and all Booksellers .

      Postscript. Saturday, April 5.

      POSTSCRIPT . Saturday , April 5 .

      Untitled Article

      ( -ape journals to the 9 th of February have come to band ; but . they add little information to that lust received . No mention whatever it * made of the . movements and determination * of his Kxcelleiu ; y Sir Harry Smith , or of Major-Cieneial Somerset . JS 1 o engagement appears to have taken place between the colonial troops and the Kafirs since our previous advices . Letters fioiu ( iniui' keiiiel of the , 'Ust of Junuary describe the Htate of the districts of Cradoek anil Somerset as very alarming , the Kafir population having made common cause wit . li the tribes mure to the fast , while at , tbe ; same time great di . ~ -sali . sfad ion \ v ; ih exhibited l » y tbe ltiirghei'M or Dutch settlers in the k hi rounding district ..- ) .

      It . was , however , expecUd that tin' ci \ il . commissioner would succeed in persuading . "!()() or ' 100 burglieis to proceed to the relief of (' radock . The position ot these ; dintrictn , which lie to the buck of I lie colony towards ilw > west , re . nde . ru this insurrection and d isuff ' eciiou more important . NeWH had ciiinc from l '' oi t Armstrong thut 1 he rebels , hiyl got possession of tbe buildings , except the Tower- to which place all the lc » yal people had Hi < 1 for refuge . These were hemmed in , Their mtfTerinprtt had been K ' > 1 UI < * report , said "hut t . liey hud been without provisions during three duyt * . Meamues weie in truiu by the people , of l ' 'ort IJeaufort , UHnii * tt ; d . by the Fiugoca to effect their deliverance .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 5, 1851, page 317, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1877/page/9/