A meeting of a large number of householders in St.
Pancras parish was held on Monday last, at the Duke of York Tavern, Regent's Park ; at which a resolution was adopted to form an association to effect by all legal means the total abolition of the Assessed Taxes. A Mr. King was in the chair; and among ether remarks which he addressed to the meeting, were the following.
Ile had felt it necessary to place in his window "No taxes paid here," and he would resist the payment of theta, it' the parishioners would support ltim, to his last stick. (Applause, and " 1Ve will.") But he did not think that the Go- vernment would distrain, as no broker, he thought, would be found to levy. He had, however, received a letter from the Solicitor of his Majesty's Exchequer, :Mr. Leggett, stating that unless he paid up all arretus on or before the 2-4th of October, his goods would be Exchequered. ( Uproar.) Well (continued the Chan moi), we must either consent to pay these taxes or shut up our shops; and which will you do?
A Parallioner—" Why, shut up our shops, to be sure." (Applause.) Mr. Wood said— Ile had upon several occasions petitioned the House of Commons for the repeal of these abominable assessments to no effect. Lord Althorp had rejected their applications. The Whig Government hail done nothing this year, and there- fore it was not likely fluty would do any thing next. (Lccuyhter.) He thought, out of the number holding places under Government to the enormous amount of 11-1,S6:31., little good could be expected. The taxes were five times what they were fifteen years ago; and no consideration was taken for a tradesman with a large family, or the depreciation of trade. Let a property- tax be put upon the Puke of Portland—( Great applunse)—upon the Marquises of Westminster, Wellesley, &c. ; and, if that would not answer the Assessed Taxes, then let them put 50 per cent. upon those noblemen ; which would prevent the bed from being- taken from their children. ( Continued opplause.)
Several more speeches in the same tone were made before the meet- ing broke up.
The Westminster Association for the Abolition of the Assessed Taxes held a meeting on Monday, at the Prince's Head Tavern, Prince's Street. Mr. Phillips, a broker, was in the chair. He stated his resolution to suffer his goods to be seized, rather than pay the House and Window-taxes. Much anger was expressed by the meeting at the conduct of Mr. Pearce, a broker, who had seized the goods of Mr. William West, the comedian, for those taxes. Mr. Pearce, how- ever, expressed his contrition, and promised not to offend again ; he was then enrolled a member of the Association.
Mr. Lauren, the Secretary, said, that since the last meeting_ lie had a commu- nication to make, for the benefit not only of the Association, but for time country in general. By the act of Parliament appointing the Local Commissioners of Taxes, it was enacted that they were bound, on being appointed to the office, to be possessed of property to the amount of 5,000/. per annum—under a penalty of 2001. should it he ascertained that they did net possess such property, and were ineligible. Such was the fact; it was lint generally known. He read over the names of several Local Commissionors of Taxes, well known to most of the members of the Association, and asked if any man believed that they were worth 5,00i1. per aunum ? (Loud lanyhter, and cries of "Yid jive hundred! "). A parishioner here rose and said, that although lie detested informers, he thought that Mr. livers the informer might profit by the statement of their worthy Secretary ; and hoped he would go to work without delay.
The accounts were audited ; and a sub-committee having been ap- pointed to act in case of emergency, the meeting adjourned.
The Marylebone Householders' Association held a meeting at the Mechanic's Institute on Wednesday evening, in order to receive an answer from Sir William Horne to a letter from the association, re- questing that he would advise his constituents how to act in conse- quence of the proceedings which had been commenced against them to compel payment of the House and Window Taxes. Sir William ap- pointed yesterday to meet a deputation of the householders; who ac- cordingly had an interview with him at his chambers in Lincoln's Inn. 111r. Savage stated that his Marylebone constituents, who were under prosecution for obstructing the sale of goods seized for Assessed Taxes, wished to have his advice as to the course they ought to pur- sue ; and they applied to him more especially, because the prosecu- tions were carried on in his name. Sir William replied, that he knew nothing about them—his name was used just as those of John Doe and Richard Roc in other forms of action. Mr. Savage said, that being aware of that, they wished to give him some information on the subject ; and Mr. Birch said that their Association numbered two thousand members, all hostile to the payment of the Assessed Taxes. He then detailed the circumstances attending time seizure of his own goods, and the distress which the proceeding had brought upon his family. He declared his inability to pay the taxes ; and that he had applied to Lord Althorp, Mr. Wood, and the local Commissiotiers, to procure relief; but in vain. A good deal more conversation took place ; and Sir 1Villiam was asked whether he was not aware that con- siderable opposition to the payment of the taxes had arisen in the Me- tropolis.
Sir W. Horne—" I only know it through the public journals."
air. Birch—" The newspapers sometimes tell unpleasing truths." These prosecutions were to be instituted in the Exchequer in the name of the Attorney- General. Now, as William Horne was his Majesn's Attorney- General, and as lie was also at the saute time one of the representatives of the borough 01 Marylebone, he as mac of his constituottts, tool as one of a deputation front a large portion of the electors, begged to know what course lie intended to take in respect to those prosecutions. sir W. Horne replied, that if he were called upon hy the Government to give an °sillier' on the subject in question, ire %vomild give that opinion feativs.ly autt faitlifolly. He would telly be consulted by the ;overnutent in his capacity ol legal ad riser t r.ser :town, and his opiniaa would only apply to the law of the case. With respect to the policy of the I I. be oath! not, in that etpiwity, say tiny thing. AI! he could ut would du WOldti ;11Vt. his OphliOn as a lawyer, mid as oae swum to give au honest opinion. Th.tt Lm would frarlessly do. Mr. l3iteh—" But are you not, Sir William. sometimes called upon to give as epinien as to the ;whey of enforcing the law." Mr. Savage did not think that that was exactly a question that could be well put to the A tt, (miff- ( keep], • Sir W. Ilc rept• !red, that his 11 tje,t)'s Government would only consult hill in his capaotty 1,,gal adviser 1.• uhi Crown. Mr. Birch said that the Attorney-General had the power, if he thought lit, to prevent the prosecution to which he had rt.ferred. Sir W. Horne said. that lie was 11,/r aware that he possessed such a power. I itit. on the act being handed to him by Mr. Birch, he perceived that he was so far empowered.
The deputation still endeavoured to extract from Sir William an opinion on the policy of the Asse-eamd 'Taxes; but were unsuccessful, as all their questions were parried with legal dexterity; and they then left hint.
A large body of the rate-payers of the parish of St. Marylebone sat down to dinner at the Yorkshire Stings) Tavern, on Tuesday to celebrate time passing of the Vestries Act, which has enabled the in- habitants of this parish to break up the close vestry system, and assume the management ()I- their own funds. About tour hundred rate-payers were present ; Mr. Potter in the chair. From the speeches delivered on the occasion, it appeared that the new system has already had the effect of reducing Orb expenditure of the parish to a considerable extent.
A number of householders of the parish of Lambeth held a meeting on -aIminday night, at the Corne-all Inns, Cornwall Road, at which association was formed for proem-Ma the toad repeal of the Assessed Taxes. Several persons present (—pressed their determination to suf- fer their got ids to be seized rather than pay these taxes, and enrolled themselves members of the association.
A second meeting, very numerously- attended, was held last night. Many new members were enrolled; and a deputation of ten brokers from the Westminster Association came over voluntarily to give the meeting their advice and assistance. A number of speeches- were made, and the determination to allow their furniture to be seized rather than pay the taxes was avowed by all.
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