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THE EXAMINER. 137-----
Exchequer said he had under-rated the produce of the tax considerably;
but that Gravesend was under circumstances which could render a tax upon
steam-vessels less burdensome to those interests than it would be to those
in other neighbourhoods. The deputation assured his lordship that such
was not the case. They said that the duty on persons travelling by stage
coach was about 15 per cent. on the amount of their fares, whereas the
proposed tax on travelers by steam would exceed 100 per cent. upon their
fares, and in many cases amount to no less than 3,000 per cent. The tax
on coaches, including the assessed taxes, the mileage duty, and the tax on
the coachman, amounted to three-pence per passenger for 22 miles. The
disparity between the two taxes would therefore be enormous. The
collection would be attended with innumerable difficulties. There was no
mode, for example, in a vessel which travelled a given distance—as that
from London to Gravesend— whereby the tax could be levied on
passengers for any intermediate distances, as five or ten miles—and such
passengers formed a considerable portion of those who travelled by
steam-vessels. Great numbers of persons had taken residences at Gravesend on
account of the cheap conveyance afforded by the purchase of yearly tickets,
which entitled the holders to conveyance at all times. These tickets were
sold at three guineas each, for which the owner might pass and repass
between 600 and 700 times. The proposed tax, therefore, upon those who
passed and repassed each day would be 60l. each person per annum, or 20
times the amount of the fare. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that
government intended to modify the duty. It would not be imposed as a
poll tax, but rather as a tax on the vessel—possibly upon the tonnage.
Government were not disposed to abandon the tax. The deputation
declared that such a mode of taxing would check the improvements making
in such mode of conveyance by increased length and size, which considerably
added to the speed of the boats: and that if government intended to
assimilate the tax, to the duty on coaches, so as to be at the rate of 3d. per
passenger, the tax would not be worth the expense of collecting. If a duty
exceeding that were put on, the produce and the traffic would be
annihilated. In 1827 when the fare was 3s., not one-fifth of the number of persons
resorted to Gravesend, as compared with the number in 1830, when
the fare was but 1s. 6d. The visitors to Gravesend consisted of the working
and middling classes, whose means were now much straitened, and the
consequence of the proposed tax would be, a proportionate reduction in
the number of passengers. The deputation having received no further
assurance of relief from the intended measure, retired, after having
expressed their determination to petition parliament against the tax.
THE GREAT AND THE MINOR THEATRES.—The Lord Chancellor has
advised his Majesty to determine, that the prerogative cannot be so limited,
by patents granted by his predecessors, as to preclude his Majesty from
granting similar patents: but that taking into consideration the various
circumstances of this case, the privilege of the new English Opera House
shall be limited to six months every year, commencing with May and ending
with October. His Majesty has likewise determined that in future all the
minor theatres shall receive their licenses from the Lord Chamberlain's
Office, and not from the magistracy. The utility of this alteration is
extremely questionable.
We are assured by various correspondents, that fires continue to prevail
throughout the country, to an alarming extent; and that the occurrence of
but a small proportion of them, is noticed by the provincial press. In
Hampshire especially, there have been fires also in Surrey, and at
Scarborough in Yorkshire; and we learn that in many places, the natural
effect of the proceedings upon the commissioners has been manifested in a
revengeful spirit, which has aggravated the fears of all those who have any
thing to lose.
LONDON UNIVERSITY.—A meeting of the proprietors, and others
interested in the welfare of London University, was held on Wednesday at
the theatre of the institution. The Duke of Somerset, Lord King, Lord
Nugent, Mr. Warburton, M. P., Dr. Birkbeck, and several other gentlemen
were present. Mr. Hobhouse took the chair, and read part of the
report. It appeared that the receipts had diminished 600l., and the number
of students were only 510. The chief falling off has been in those who
study law. The warder had voluntarily given up 200l. of his salary. This
announcement gave great satisfaction, and the conduct of the warder was
much eulogized by several of the speakers. Mr. Warburton said the
receipts for the students were at present 3,500l., and unless they were
increased by 1,500l., there would be a deficiency to that amount. He
lamented that they might possibly be obliged to get rid of their warder.
Mr. Hill, the barrister, thought that if the fees were lowered, which were
too high for the means of the students, their numbers would increase. The
University was intended for all classes. The warder thought that shares
of 50l. might be collected to build the south wing, the lower stories of
which might be appropriated to a school which would accommodate 500
boys and 20 masters. Colonel Jones said it was a general feeling that the
fees were too high. Mr. W. Tooke complained of the proprietors who
had not paid up their arrears which had crippled the resources of the
council. The motion for the reception and printing of the report was
then agreed to. Thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting
separated.
LONDON UNIVERSITY.—We learn, on authority, which we believe to be
good, that the reports which have lately been in circulation with regard
to a charter, conferring certain high privileges having been granted to the
London University, are incorrect. No charter has been yet bestowed,
nor is contemplated for some months to come. Meantime research is being
made into various ancient deeds and documents, with a view of throwing
light on the extent of powers enjoyed by other chartered bodies in
England, some of which, it is supposed, are of a nature to limit the privileges
which it would be legal to confer on others. If our information be correct,
it is probable that the charter will contain nothing in reference to degrees,
but be analogous to that of King's College. At all events, should there
exist the disposition and the ability (both of which are at present doubtful)
to obtain for any new establishment privileges "equal to those of our
most favoured Universities," we hold that it would be a glaring exertion
of official influence, were the members of a joint-stock company like the
London University, to endeavor to overtop their rival by an arbitrary exertion
of power; and the rather when it is considered that the late administration
could, with at least equal ease, have obtained for the college of their
creation all the privileges which the Crown has the power to grant—but
declined to do so. We suggested, in one of our earliest numbers, and we repeat
the recommendation—let not the London University nor King's College be
either of them raised at the expense of its neighbour, according as the
minister of the day has a certain interest in the one or in the other; but let
the institution in Gower-street be really what it is—a College; and let the
two together constitute one university. We should then have two antagonist
powers united in one common cause; and see Brougham College and
King's College striving in generous rivalship to shed lustre on the Univer-
of London.—From the London Medical Gazette, Feb. 19.
THE CITY NEW POLICE.—These men, it is expected, will appear in
their new dresses in the ensuing week. In the colour of the cloth and
---page break---
fashion it resembles that of the police of the county, but the buttons will be
yellow, and the collar decorated with a conspicuous civic ornament of a
yellow colour. There will be a sly pocket in the tail of the coat for the
truncheon. The men are not to be taught the military step, &c., nor are
they to go over their beats singly, but in couples, over a particular district,
the bounds of which are laid down according to their own discretion, and
not according to any fixed route. They are to be upon duty from eight
o'clock in the morning till eight at night, one hour being allowed for dinner,
but only one man to leave duty for that purpose at a time. To ascertain
that they are constantly on duty, they will be required to sign their names in
a book every hour at the station which will be kept open all day to afford the
public the means of readily obtaining assistance.
Regular beggars, like actors of another class, are aware of the advantages
of appearing in character. When considerable public sympathy
existed towards the Barnsley operatives, who were long out of work, common
beggars put on white aprons, washed their faces, and petitioned as
"poor weavers;" at present, as might be expected, they have adopted
another disguise, and "pray relieve a poor miner," is their lying address.
—Sheffield Iris.
A woman from one of the out-townships appeared at the New Bailey
the other day to prove her settlement. The names of her children were
specified in the affidavit; and it appeared that the two youngest, who
were twins, and who were only a few weeks old, had been christened by
the illustrious names of Henry Hunt and Daniel O'Connell!—Manchester
Herald.
A FLOOD OF PORTER.—On Wednesday se'nnight a large porter vat,
containing about 380 barrels of the best brown stout, burst on the premises
of Messrs. Mottram, in Brewery-street, Salford (Manchester.) The liquid
rushed out with such force as to carry before it a portion of a wall, under
which it nearly buried a man and horse, which were at the outside.
Another man, who was in the same room in which the vat stood, was
carried into the yard by the flood. The beer overflowed a pond, and was for
a few minutes two feet deep in the cellar of a cottage. All sorts of vessels
were in requisition for carrying off the precious liquid from the pond.
Among other comers was a sow, which was seen in the course of the day
staggering off in a state of disgusting inebriety. The loss from the
accident, we regret to state, is estimated at from 700l. to 1,000l.
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the examiner / sunday, february 27, 1831 / no. 1204 |
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