TIE HALIFAX PRESS. OCTOBER 22, 1842. VIII. Price One Penny. And now the time in special is, by privilege, to write and speak what may help to the further discussing of matters in agitation. The Temple of Janus, with his two controversal faces, might now not unsigmficantty be set open: and though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple. Her confuting is the best and surest suppressing.— MILTON'S AKEOPAGITICA. Who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter OUR LETTER BOX. THE ALLEGED DECLINE OF SOLID LEARNING. To the Editors of the Free Press. GENTLEMEN,— If it be a question, admitting of discussion, whether or not Solid Learning has de- clined, I think it will not be doubted that civility and gentlemanly courtesy are not characteristics of Lecturers " natives " of the land o'cakes. From the flourish of trumpets with which the article signed " D. Mackintosh," in last week's " Free Press," was ushered in, I certainly expected something in the shape of argument; but when I had waded through it, I involuntarily exclaimed Parturiunt montea, nascetur ridiculus mus ! When he gave you, Gentlemen, permission to curtail nis paper, he was no doubt conscious of the absurdities with which itabounds, and trusted to your discrimina- tion to prune it of a few. Seeing that he has left my arguments unassailed, it may seem strange that I should notice his effusion :— the reason why I do so is, that I consider it my duty to fix the character of " inexperienced presumer " upon the right person. Though he has contented himself with saying that my statements were " notoriously false ;" 1 willendeavour to show that his own richly deserve that character. I shall not waste my time and your patience by com- menting on his observations seriatim ; but shall con- tent myself with examining the drift of the whole. The substance of his paper is That novels and trashy newspapers are more read than ever;—• That Religion is on the decline ;— Tlui. t we are morally and physically degenerating. With respect to the first assertion, I would observe that the classes he has mentioned as chiefly reading these works, read nothing at all, thirty years ago. I ask any one ( Mr. M. of course excepted) to examine the state 01 our labouring population at that period, and contrast it with their present condition. Within that period, all kinds of scientific publications hare been brought within the reach of the poorest classes, and as eagerly seized upon. They have formed themselves into combinations, in order to obtain in- formation of everykind. They have become sensible that " knowledge is power ;" and the consciousness of that makes them progress. They are no longer the mute slaves of an overbearing and tyrannical aristocracy ; and this ought to convince anyone that they have made a mighty stride in intelligence. But will Mr. M. gravely assert that this is the class among whom Solid Learning lias declined ? At what period, pray, were they, as a class, remarkable for possessing it? It is the middle classes now who possess the greatest amount of knowledge;— they who constitute the might and moral strength of England;— a class which, in intelligence, have never had an equal in the history of the world. They, it was, who used to read the novels of Mrs. Ann Kadcliffe, which are now ridiculed and despised; and Mr. M., if he knows any thing at all, must know that when he says " the novels most in repute at the present day consist of gross narratives and horrific representations," he is propounding as palpable a mistake as any he had ever the misfortune to make. Scott and Bulwer,— these are the names England recognizes as the novelists of the present day,— names which will be in men's mouths when the power of this vast and mighty empire has passed away. Mr. M. says that in Bradford there are three cir- culating libraries. Why, there were three in Halifax, thirty years ago ; which contained scarcely any thing but novels of the " Love and Murder" school! Now, there is only one of this stamp ; and it has been modified by the introduction of books containing a great deal of useful information. The Newgate Calendar, the Life and Exploits of Richard Turpin, News from the Invisible World, & c. were generally read, thirty years ago or later ; whilst now they are rerely opened by any body wishful to obtain the reputation of sanity. Indeed, so strong is the prejudice against novels, that one can find few people who will acknowledge themselves novel- readers. Agreatcause of the circulation of these " Love and Murder" newspapers, is that they generally contain caricatures of royalty or aristocracv ; and are bought largely by those who wish to vent their spleen, in a laugh or sneer, at the government or constitution; whilst they never think of looking at the literary (?) part of the sheet. When the people, to speak chartistically, shall be properly instructed,— and that will be ere long, these productions will gradually die; the energies of the working classes will be directed to higher and nobler branches of knowledge ; and the truths of science and religion rooted firmly in their minds and hearts. That religion is on the decline, is as gross and glaring a fallacy as ever was uttered. If our places of worship are " nearly deserted," how comes it that government is beinu continually petitioned for grants to build new churches; that dissenting chapels are continually in course of erection ; academies for the education of young ministers continually being formed and endowed ; and the means provided for extensive missionary operations ? How is it that our principal school for Divinity has begun to turn its attention to religion,— causing the students to study what they never else would have done ? I allude to the Fusey heresy of Oxford. The Socialist mania, which is rapidly dying away, is a decisive proof of the steady progress of religion. As the most eloquent defender of Christianity of modern times has said, " he that has never felt a doubt of the truth of Christianity, cannot be said prorerly to appreciate its worth ;" so the sudden rise of these infidelities, and the equally sudden abandonment of them, is an exemplification of the onward march which truth must ever maintain. We are not to be convinced by stories of one girl saying this, and one overseer averring the other ; we reason from facts supported by inferences fairly deduced from irrefragable premises. He says that " human mortality is fast increasing; physical strength would seem to be on the decline." In proof of this appalling assertion, he advances the fact that in a town ( Glasgow) the manufactures of which have rapidly increased, and whose sewers are in a state too filthy for description, together with starvation and destitution, I say, he wonders that mortality has increased one third ! I am afraid Mr. M. must have permitted his acquaintance with modem Athens, to totally obliterate his acquaintance with ti e Athens of Demosthenes; since he says that the modern novel had its origin {" it would seem") in the light literature which preceded the downfal of ancient Greece '. I give him credit for originality in that, as well as in his theory of the cause of the present distress. Henceforth, Anti- Corn- Law leaguers, let us not be humbugged by silly tales of dear bread and restricted commerce! Sir R. Peel, cease for ever your intricate speculations respecting Joint Stock Banks, andderanaed currency !— political economists, of all shades, ranks, and opinions, forever hold your peace 1 A greater than you has arisen ! He has delivered it as his opinion that novel- reading has shut the foreign markets against us. From him there is no appeal. He sits enthroned on an awful and unapproachable height; and delivers his dictum with a force and energy which will alarm you ! And should any of you lift up your puny voices in opposi- tion to his, you will immediately be made to " sing small" by being told you are " presumptuous." Eschew Boz and Ainsworth, and all that class ; and you will soon have plenty to eat, and raiment in abundance ; for the mouth of this oracle,— this " nemo me iaipune lacesset," bath spoken it. I shall, next week, examine the paper which ap- peared in the " Free Press " of the 1st inst. signed " A Lover of Knowledge." With " A Friend to Real Learning" I have nought to do ; judging from his production, of him might be said what Dryden said of Shadwell,— The midwife laid her hand on his thick skull With this prophetic blessing—" Be thou dull!" D. Halifax, Oct. 12, 1842. [ The following letter was brought to the office of our printer, on Wednesday morning, by a person whose name was unknown to him, and who wished to have an answer as to whether it would be inserted or not. Of course, our printer could not give an answer to that question ; and he was given to under- stand that the letter would be sent to some other paper, if not published in the " Free Press." The bearer of the letter was informed that he should have an answer the next morning ; and that the manu> script should be returned, as requested, if not accepted for insertion. Immediately after perusing ; t, we unanimously decided that the whole should be inserted ; taking care that Isaac Tomkins shall have the full benefit of his own spelling and " grammer." On Thursday morning, the bearer of the letter, ( who proved to be a person who hires himself out as an occasional messenger,) called for the promised answer. His name was asked ; and he gave it, without hesita- tion. He was then asked to furnish some proof that the letter was actually sent by the person who wrote the pamphlet signed Isaac Tomkins. His reply was that he knew nothing of the contents of the letter ; but that it was sent by the same person,— that is, by Mr. Edward Sloane. We are of opinion that the style and tone of the letter sufficiently bespeak the mental and moral character of its author ; and that no individual who endeavours to sustain the upright- ness and integrity of an honest man, need feel in any way annoyed by such personalities as those contained in the following letter, or in any of the effusions which are published under the assumed name of Isaac Tomkins, by one who has not the manliness to give the public his real signature. Our printer is not, at all events, so deficient of moral courage as to shrink from printing the entire letter, without the slightest alteration ; and he does not consider it worthy of any comment. We will only add that none of the ar- ticles in the " Free Press," that have in any way alluded to the " Plug Plot," were written, either in whole or in part, by our printer ; neither ka3 he had any share whatever in the controversy respecting " solid learning." The literary department of the " Free Press " is entirely under his control; but he does not undertake to supply any part of the Corres- pondence.— EDITORS.] THE PLUG- DRAWN SPECIAL. To the Editors of the Halifax Free Press. Most learned and accomplished Gentlemen, I, Isaac Tomkins, beg leave, in the most polite manner imaginable, to inform the very witty, very humour- ous and most superlatively clever personages who have the management of that important, and highly gifted periodical, called the HALIFAX FREE PRESS, that it was not my intention when I compiled " the Great Plug Plot" to give offence ( or to speak in the language of the day) to draw the plug of any one— even should that one be the least of the least of all the specials. My sole object was to gather, and coo 2 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. dense all the daring deeds of the specials, so that the public might have a Memento of the glorious deeds achieved by the specials of Halifax : and in doing so, I was well aware that it would be folly to endeavour to please all parties, so I thought I would be candid, and treat the world for once to a Candid History. I was fully aware that there were some men whose actions I only gave a passing glance at and others that I, in the hurry of the moment, entirely overlooked, and that many who were noticed would think they were not singled out in that peculiar way they imagined most befitting them— some would fancy they were only done partially, others over done, and some for not being done at all. I was fully aware that I should have all these about my ears like the agitated inmates of a wasp's nest— Events have justified my anticipa- tions. What then am I to say to all the railing ac- cusations that are put forth against me ? To return railing for railing would ill become so grave a man as Isaac Tomkins, a personage out of whose mental or physical composition, a hydraulic press would fail to squeeze one drop of the gall of illnature. No! no' Isaac Tomkins knows a great deal better than get into a passion. Most sapient Gentlemen, I am too much of a philosopher to wonder at the sublime fury of the learned special, who writes against my " History" nor do I wonder at your ready insertion of his Letter. There is no man more fully aware than I am that the public by some unaccountable mental obliquity treated your delectable periodical with the profoundest con- tempt, and at the same time, bought the " History of the Plug Plot" with avidity. I agree with you Gentle- men, respecting the degenracy of the age when the public prefers my humble and unpretending lucubra- tions to your " viens of quiet humour" " your harm- less wit" and innocent playfulness" thus giving another glaring proof of " the decline of solid learning"— Thus it is, thus it ever was Gentlemen. " Native talent" is never properly appreciated. Prophets and clever fellows like yourselves, never have any honour in your own Country, nor indeed over much any where else, and ye are all clever fellows, though ye are no prophets. " Full many a gem of purest ray"— ye know the rest; ye are so un- common learned. Talk not to me of Genius and her irrisistability, with such astounding facts as this be- fore me— Genius doubtful profession !— Genius that slumbers at her post, while quacks and pretenders arouse the world with wonders— Genius ! that treads with fearful step lest some mischance should cross her path and let the rash and unlettered knave pass by and touch the goal! Genius ! that shuns the vulgar gaze and shrinks with modest mein to hide herself in holes and corners ! Genius! that sits be- neath a cloud of wretchedness, brooding over her woes, drinking the cup of bitter misery while dullards prosper and fools fatten. Oh Genius how are thy sons rewarded! Some sing the decline of " solidlearn- ing " iu sweet though querrelous accents— yet none listen to their song sing they ever so sweetly. Some establish a " FREE PRESS " the veriest pink of morality and decency the albumen of virtue that en- tangles all the infirmaties of the flesh, and calculated to carry off the scum in the cauldron of life— nay more, they condescend to expose their cadaverous Physiognomies, and short trowsers to the sneers of their ignorant townsfolks ! Oh Genius of the free press thou art " a rum ' un "— a foreign coin, that admits of no exchange, and passes not in currancy.— Talk not to me of Genius ! Never mind Jonathan and Gentlemen as surely as Pamela was rewarded for her virtue; will you be rewarded for your efforts to increase " solid learning "— Gentlemen from the very bottom of my philosopic soul I do pity you— yes verily the meek soul of Isaac Tomkins burns with the purest indignation at the degeneracy of the age— stupid Bat- eyed age to neglect the free press— a periodical so full of glittering thoughts, sublime con- ceptions, gems of exquisite fancy— in a word the whole a blaze— the emications of heaven born Genius — Yes Gentlemen to think that such an intellectual bantling should be brought into the world and left to starve by an ungrateful Public is enough to make an unlearned pig speak nor is this all for when one knows that the bantling has been brought into ex- istance, Jonathan, acting as midwife and dry- nurse he himself, a man of no ordinary capabilities— one who has Distinguished himself as a poet and Ex- tinguished himself as a politician—" Oh ye Gods and little fishes " that such a splendid publication as this should only circulate two hundred a week whilst such mediocr^ ' stuff as Isaac Tomkins' should sell " like bricks," is an absurdity unequalled in the history of unfortunate Geniuses— what e fearful tiling is this decline of solid learning !" yea Jonathan I am sorry for the, there is a fatality about thee. I am afraid thou art destined to be haunted through life by the twin spirits of starvation and inanition-— thou art far too good for this world— leare'it Jonathan as soon as possible— it is unworthy of thee, never mind dying— flesh and blood cannot enter into the other/ vorld, but skin and bone may. There is some consolation in this for thee Jonathan the onours dutiesof " getting up '' such a magnificent work as " the " Free Press " is wearing thee out, and the chagrin and disappointmen connected with the stupidity of the people in not buying it must necessarily" be keenly felt by a man like lliee possessed of such a|| generous mind, enlarged and benevolent heart, and fine wrought intellectual temperament. Well may the sensibilities of thy benevolent nature be touched— Yet fret not I pray thee Brother Jonathan. I see with pity " that thou waxest thiner, every day trotting onward to invisibility with great rapidity. Gentlemen let it not^ be thought that I mean to blame him with writing that article wherin there is a desperate attempt made to abuse my inimitable work and my " dear self." He was no special and as he is so desperatly religious would not, I know, adopt a signature the reverse of truth. No! no! every body that knows Jonathan must know that he never was, or ever will be a special.— just imagine Jonathan a special Constable ! Imagine whatever ridiculous tiling you may, and you cannot imagine a more ridiculous absurdity— for example you might imagine the Cock lane ghost as a stalker on a railway a flea with a pen oehind its ear in laced boots, or, a companion of Philip Quarrl with nut crackers— but; such a thing as Jonathan been sworn as a special Constable, to preserve the peace of the town, by physical force !! the idea is supremely ridiculous. The magestrates would not swear in a man that looks as if he had been drawn, and drawn, through fifty stirrups, and afterwards intended for pin wire— and he being a poet and sentimentalist to boot! Gentlemen I acquit Jonathan, of all blame in writing the letter signed " a special." It is rather a good thing in its way but scarcely up to Jonathan's standard and to shew you further that I bare not a morsel of animosity I will tender him a bit of sage advice. Jonathan ! I say Jonathan !! leave the stiff- necked public— as a wicked and perverse generation to instruct itself— Cut it off, with one third of a shilling and at once mount the stage. You might yet make your fortune as the ghost in Hamlet, the starved apothecary in Romeo, or Smike in Nicholas Nickelby. Though a man may be begotten, out of starvation by hunger that is no reason why he should starve. Friend Jonathan, practice one, or all of these Characters, and you are sure to succeed— but, I forget — the principal Character in the ben pecked husband will be in your line— you will remember this Brother Johathan eh ? A word or two with the learned special " wot wrote" in the FREE PRESS. My dear fellow, why indulge in in such outrageous tantrums ? Wipe the froth from tny mouth, sit down, and let us have a word or two together. I never argue with a man in a passion, nor with folly; In the one case I would put myself on a level with partial insanity— on the other hand, to argne with folly would make it feel important:— but, to laugh at it— hurts the sore place. Yet, notwith- standing, I am amused to see a man in a passion, he then speaks out as a man ought to do— there is no lurking orskulking about long wire- drawn- sentences, or hiding himself under a well rounded period. MISTER CONSTABLE if you have been hurt, on a sore place rub it gently and keep your teeth close— cease to bellow— else you may be mistaken for a rea] livingbona- fideBull- Calf. Patience, friend patience! But why all this rage MISTER CONSTABLE ? God knows, as well as special constables that my history has many grievous faults when compared with your chaste composition and the language that generally graces the immaculate pages of the Free Press. But you have no mercy on one— you mangle so desperately unscientifick— your weapon is as uncouth as a rag- gatherers carving- knife— and as clumsy as a plug- drawers bludgeon. There is a painted savagness and burnt Cork sublimity about you, that is really terrific to contemplate. You are an Unique fellow Mr. Constable— you say it was " audacity" to offer my twaddle to an insulted public." What a strange animal this same public must be— not to know its own mind, and fall in love with an insult. Stupid dunder- headed Plug- drawing- pnblic. Bless thy simple head! " The insulted public" bought my book— pocketed the insult— laughed at the joke— threw up its cap— clapped its hands and cried hip ! hip ! Hurra ! for Isaac Tomkins !! Insulted Public in- deed !! The public and I are on the most intimate terms— yea even on TEA DRINKING TERMS. What in the name and spirit of Gin and water— could be to do with you — when you coddled and concocted such ridiculous stuff in the dark - lantern of your little brain — Oh gin! gin ! Villainous gin beware of gin, Mister Special— you then say " There is not a single idea in ! the Plot that is not borrowed from the sun news paper and the weekly publication Punch" Rather queer that— The idea is a bright one verily— you can account for any thing— can you account for the milk in the Cocoa- nut ? You must, or you never could have found me out— though I candidly do acknow- ledge that I did " borrow " or steal if you will have it so the greater part of the History of the Plug plot from an article in the sun, headed The Afghanistan war. But why expose me Misier Constable you have too much imagination sir— you are like Joe Willett, consult the Pot and then you will be the better able to " tackle" Isaac Tomkins. But I am further accused of being " too dishonest to starve " and with injuring " The reputation of a family borne dowu with afflic- tion's iron hand." Right, Mr. Special I wont' starve till my stock of northern impudence be worn out— mark that Mister Special— but YOUR dishonesty has not always prevented YOU from starving you will re- member gathering, the crumbs from under the table of the " injured family" in which house you have often performed the office of Plate- licker- general and universal Toady. Oh clever Constable " I know tliee well" Your head is like a Barrel Organ Constructed to play only one tune— but I am determined to avoid all personalities as your letter Contains none— nor indeed does the Editor of the Free Press allow of any thing of the kind— therefore I refrain— read my little book again old friend, and you'l find it contains a vast amount of Common sence— as well as an un- common amount of intelligence There may be parts of the work above your limited comprehension, but I cannot furnish you with both brains and arguments. Your johbernoll can never climb To Comprehend the true Sublime Mr. Special, I propose some of these days to have another friendly chat with you, for the present good bye— keep your temper my good fellow— shake bands — Farewel— Gentlemen I have to apologize for the length of this letter; and being aware that a long and splendid poem entitled " Dickey Moon" is about to shine in your Columns do have the goodness to allow this to glinmer in its company, in Conclusion I am " Solid learning" Gentlemen Your never- to- be plug- drawn servent Isaac Tomkins P. S. a word about grammer Mr. Constable as you studied from Lindley Murray's Abridgement at the night- school I am willing to lend you my Cobbett to complete your knowledge of the English language. EXERCISES, REVIEWS, AND ACTION. LETTER IV. PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX. To the Editors of the Halifax Free Press. GENTLEMEN,— It may be gratifying to many of your readers to learn, that it is in contemplation to render this bitter pill perfectly palatable, if not really de- lightful, in its flavour. They may be assured that it is entirely a mistake to imagine that it is either iiau- seous or disagreeable, when properly administered. In the laudable desire which our good friend the Spectator possesses, to make us " as comfortable as may be under the government God has given us, and to help on every good work, as we see occasion,-" he sees occasion to assist the working of the pill; and has made the discovery, that though the patient1 makes wry faces and finds it really " odious," ( un- fortunate admission) the fault rests with those who administer the prescription. With regard both to food and physic, so much de- pends on how they are compounded, or by whom supplied, that it is singular this did not occur to the doctor when he was " called in." Even the cheese- cakes and tartlets at a pastry cook's shop are consi- dered to be more tempting when given out by a smart, clean, comely damsel, than by one possessing the contrary qualities. We know too that in Olympus, the nectar a^ d ambrosia are never served by such forbidding personages as a Vulcan or a Pluto; but always by a Hebe or a Ganymede. If then the qualities of the officiating agent are so important in such dainties as cheesecakes, tartlets, ambrosia, and nectar, how much more important must they be in so very repulsive a compound as schedule D. To the Spec- tator, then, be the honour of making the discovery, that by the employment of Ilebes and Ganymedes to prepare and administer Peel's Pill, it will be found not only to work well, but to be deprived altogether of its offensive and " odious" qualities. This is the secret which is to effect the mighty change in the public taste. Seriously, it is proposed, and proposed too by the Spectator I that, in order to render the tax, it does not venture to say agreeable, but " less odious," there should be a scrutiny into the political opinions of every person- employed in the machinery of this impost; commissioners, sub- commissioners, asses- sors, and the army of collectors, and that all those ! whose political opinions are opposed to the present THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. 3 government should be dismissed ! Tiie Spectator does not say l> v whom the vacancies should be lilled up ; but the only inference must be, that they are to be devoted admirers of the Peel Administration. I cannot infer that they are to be devoted admirers of the property and income tax in its present shape, be? cause I question if as many devoted admirers of the tax could be found as would be requisite to collect it. That as many might be found as would give their strenuous support'both to the tax and the government, so long as the tax and the government were the means of supporting them, I can understand ; exactly as I can understand the Spectator's strenuous support of the government. By the bye, in a provincial journal last week ( the Durham Chronicle), I observed, that after making an extract from the Spectator, the au- thority at the foot of it was given. thus—" Speclator- Peelpaper ;" and well does it merit the new baptis- mal name. I always like that my opponents should speak for themselves—" out of their own mouths shall they be judged ;" I therefore give verbatim their suggestion to " the First Lord of the Treasury" and " the min isters," to institute an investigation into the political opinions of the tax collectors, with a view to the dis- missal of all those suspected of being favourable to Radicalism, Chartism, Anti- Corn- Lawism, or Anti- Peelism. It appears in the Spectator of Oct. 1st., under the head Property Tax. " Is the army of tax collectors free from traitors, political adversaries of the government, who would like to make the tax not less, but more odious ? The first Lord of the Treasury ought to be able to answer these questions, and to say, not only that the management of the tax has been intrusted to those who arenotonlyableand honestin theirown persons, but capable; of choosing their subordinates properly.'' * * " It might be worth the while of ministers to investigate into this matter.'' Whether this proposed plan for intrusting the exclusive and entire management of the Property and Income Tax to the class of persons whom the Spectator recommends is calculated really to render it " less odious,", your readers must determine for themselves. One thing is quite clear, that the tax and its abettors are sufficiently odious at present. The phias3 " army of tax collectors" is very suggestive of the system under which we live ; we have three armies 1 First an army of red- coats, abroad, to undertake expeditions against unoffending Hindoos and Chinese; at home, to shoot us if we will not lie down and die quietly under a famine established by Act of Parliament. Next an army of black- coats ( of an established sect) to preach patience here, and Paradise hereafter; but taking for their own share present payment and Paradise here, reserv- ing their patience for hereafter; and who perforin the solemn farce of thanking Providence for a bountiful harvest, at the very time they are aiding and abetting those who spurn the bounties of Providence, by ex- cluding or locking up the people's food. And lastly, we have a motley- coloured " army of tax collectors" those who collect for the government, such as Custom- bouse Officers, excise officers, commissioners and distributors of stamps, assessors, surveyors, and collectors of Income and other taxes ; and thos: who collect for themselves such as " rural sultans," West India owners, colonial and other monopolists. Can we wonder, that under such a system of government, there should be periodical distress ? I can imagine Hecate with her attendants from the three armies compounding a Hell- broth of national distress and saying " Oh ! well done, I commend your pains, And every one shall share in the galas: And now about the caldron sing Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting alt that you put in. SONG. Black spirits anJ. red, Red spirits and grey, Mingle, mingle, mingle, Mingle you that may." Red spirits.— Let us fight and play; Black spirits— Let us cheat and pray; Motley spirits— Let us. make the people pay. CHORUS. All.— Let us make the people pay. In a former paper I said that Peel had not applied any remedy to the distress, but I did him wrong. His remedy is the Income- tax, in other words addi- tional taxation I Amongst the fanciful theories for curing diseases I have heard of one called homoeo- pathy, consisting of curing likes by likes. On this principle I suppose it is that as the country was in great distress, and all persons engaged in trades, manufactures, and commercial pursuits ( as well as the working- classes) were suffering under grievous distress, and each attack of the disease was worse than the former— therefore the attacks being very bad, they were to be cured by a tax still worse ! The author of the Exercises manifests on the subject of a Property and Income- tax his usual clear- ness of judgment. He does not object to the prin- ciple of a Property- tax ; far from it; for there being two sources from which a financier might seek his resources, labour and property, Col. Thompson very justly considers that property is the only legitimate source from which it should be taken : and so long luck as 1824, eighteen years ago, he gave the outline of a system of taxation, which we may yet see carried out when it shall become necessary to call in a wiser head than is on either Peel or Melbourne shoulders, to heal the disorders of '. he stale. It is a little singular that the only good. ingredient in Peel's pill is borrowed from the pharmacopoeia of Col. Thompson ; it is the exemption of all property yielding a less income to the individual than 1501 per annum : but then Col. T makes this great distinction that the tax should be paid only on the surplus beyond the 150/ and be in an increased ratio according tojthe wealth of the indivi- dual, up to a given point ( see vol. iii. p. 333). Besides, he considers it impossible that the two things, Pro- perty Tax and Labour Tax, can permanently exist together. He says— Let once a property- tax introduce its toe or little finger, and all the jobber taxes must move off the scene with as much velocity as is consistent with moderate warning to the dishonest Interests involved. Men will never pay a property tax in part, and be plagued with excise and cus- toms and imposts upon every thing by which it is possible for individuals to make gain by the plunder of the commu- nity, tor the remainder. They will as soon go tothe trouble and expense of juries and judges of assize, and bargain that these shall extend only toalternate hundreds, while the rest shall be open in qui icunx order, for perpetuation of the needful crop of felonies throughout the land— Col 2, page 436. No one can attentively read these volumes, without being struck with the remarkable clearness of con ception of the author, and his ' foresight as to what must necessarily result. For instance, how distinctly he foresaw that the time must come, whena Property Tax would be imposed. In 1833, nine years ago, he wrote thus :— " The opponents of a Property Tax, know that they are fighting for a great stake, and the other side know It too. It may not be yet; but it will be All that is to be done now, is for the people to put it in the things that are to be ; and as surely as chopping fells the tree the time] will come.*'— Vol. ii. p. 436'. Perhaps, as the idea lie threw out in 1824, that all incomes below £ 150 per annum were to be exempt, has been found right, and as his prediction in 1833, that most certainly a Property Tax would have to he resorted to, has come to pass— the remainder of his prediction, namely, that it will ultimately, as it ought, supersede every other tax, deserves some attention. Another remarkable prediction of his, published in 1820, is now in a course of fulfilment. So long as the necessities of the state can be supplied without any remarkable alteration in the present mode of collection, the Corn Laws may have a ehance to sUnd. jgBut the first necessity for any change, will probably bring them in ruins upon the heads of the monopolists. For instance, the first proposal of a Property Tax— which is a thing already whispered as possible— would set all who have property on the discovery, that the Property Tax was only a subscription to maintain ttie landlords in an unjust gain. It is in fact totally incredible, that any nation would acquiesce in the Imposition of a Property Tax, when the whole necessity and demand for such an infliction arose out of the determination of the dominant party to lay restraints upon the industry of the community.— Col. 1, page 94. And we have already found that the change rendered necessary in the financial system ( the introduction of the Property Tax) is bringing~ the Corn Laws " in ruins upon the heads of monopolists." Already has it been found necessary to reduce the duties on the importation of foreign corn more than one half, thus making such a breach in the temple of monopoly, as to loosen the key- stone of the arch— indeed the key- stone of the arch has already fallen— the Corn Laws are abolished ( by Gladstone's Grinding Bill), for all persons living on the water, by which means the absurdity and impossibility of continuing them for those who live on the land is obvious. In saying that Col. Thompson is favourable to the principle of a property tax, as a substitute for every other tax, let it not be for a moment imagined that he is favourable to Peel's income- tax ; on the. contrary, it has his unqualified disapprobation. He has shown the manifest unfairness and injustice of it. He has made it clear that Peel has framed a sliding scale for the income tax, as well as for the bread- tax, and that such is the unfairness, and the degree in which it favours the " rural Sultans," that the large landed proprietors positively pay under the head of property or income- tax, in proportion to their property, only one ninth of that which is paid by many other indivi- duals. I have not space to introduce the demonstra- tion of this, but inquirers are referred to vol. vi., 428 to 432, where it will be found. I am, & c. COADJUTOR. OUR CHATTER BOX. The Calendar for the Week will not be continued. We have come to this decision with reluctance, and announce it with regret; but we bow to the force of circumstances, and the expressed opinions of many of our subscribers. In compiling the calendar, it is obviously impossible to give to the occurrences of every week an equal degree of interest; and this necessarily detracts from its general attractiveness as a weekly article. Besides, many of our friends have complained of so much space beinggiven tomatte » ', of which, they say, a considerable portion may be found in many of the cheap almanacs. Other readers have expressed them- selves highly pleased with the article; but they appear to us to be in the minority. " A Chess Player " is informed that his favourite topic will not be excluded from our columns : jand if he can furnish. us with notices of games and matches in this neighbourhood, we will try to find room for them. Mr. Mackintosh has sent us a short paper entitled " Start- ling Statistical Facts showing a Decline of Taste and he hasmarkedit " to be read after D.' s letter." Itcametohand after our space had been disposed of; but shall appear in our next. THE HONOURS OF THE SPECIALS.— The substance of a letter signed " William Tell" may be given here. The writer refers to that of " Cornet Rigg," and inquires whether " the Specials" are to wear the " orders'' or " marks of honour" in the manner the Waterloo men wear their medals— that is, pendent on the breast,— and, if so— whether they are to be constantly worn, or only on full dress occa- sions. He then says,—" I am glad to observe the ol English feeling which, under the modern school of Whiggism, almost slumbered to death, begin once more to show itself. The present government has sounded the trumpjof its resurrec- tion. Its members, in many particulars, have greatly distinguished themselves; and present a striking contrast when compared with their Whig predecessors. They allow no proper occasion to pass without proving the genuineness of their principles,— evincing, in its purest form, the fine old English spirit of true loyalty and Jhigh- mindedness. They deal in realities, andj present an apt illustration of sense developed in a tangible form. Their acts are sense and truth, palpable to the eye. On the contrary, the policy of the Whigs, during their long reign of things out- of- joint and common- sense- asleep, may find its nearest similitude in sound,— noise without tangible good,— or in mist, dimming the light of the sun. Their late reign may be termed the dark or middle age of politics. To discover the vital spirit of our great and noble leaders of old springing to activity, betokens the dawn of a happier day, after a night of terror and sorrow. How refreshing ! My joy. at the happy change of bad for good, evinced in the every day experience we have that our present government is composed of men of keen and just perceptions, leads me astray. I intended merely to ask a question and drop a hint. Keen and just perception are discovered in our rulers, in the step they are taking in reference to the Special Constables; but the idea of marking themsis not altogether chivalric. Marking is rather low except in one way, which isquiteiunexceptionable. Instead of " marks of merit," I think marks of pension Would be better, for two reasons. Marks of merit are often gaven where there is no merit: pensions never are. Pensions hav the merit of substantiality; and belong in every respect to Conservatism 1 Perhaps Mr. Rigg will excuse me throwing out the hint that, being a cornet, he may be able to exercise some influence ill quarters where the intended " orders " may be made orders for pensions !'• The charade inserted in our last has elicited several answers, from which we select the following. In the first of them, another charade is proposed. I. How many, who their love- strains write, Wouldifain my first be reekon'd 1— As well a farthing candle might Aspire to be my second. Oh 1 ne'er can such, on eagle- wing. Mount up to regions airy ; But must remain my whole, and sin Their lays to BOSS or MARY- X. II. Hang roses round thy snow- white brow ; The chaplet well beseemslthee, Mary; Rose- rnary I will call thee now, Which springer winter may not vary. C. III. A beautous flower, a lovely maid,— Though both inclin'd to vary ; Will answer, Sir, your last charade, Which is, no doubt, Rose- mary. H. N. N. B. has sent us the following Charade. Poetical answer*, are requested. If life, as ancient sages say, Be tike a stream, whose ehequer'd tide Now dances in the sunny ray. Now doth in deepest shadow glide; The clouds, which o'er its current burst,. Or on its glassy mirror play, Are no lessemblems of my first— The darkness of the moral day. But while the infant Paradise. In; nature's virgin summer smil'd, E'er aught in earth, or sea, or skies, Had been by mortal sin defiled, There might my first no entrance gain,— No dwelling or in earth, or air,— To blight with discontent or pain The bliss my second tasted there. But ah ! how incomplete and dull,— How cloying the most perfect pleasures Of Paradise, though twice as full Had been the sum of all its treasures, Without love's sympathetic power, Whose hidden fetters bind the soul— The gentle spirit of the bower, The ruling passion of my whole. And yet how madding is the thought That in a world so bright and fair, My whole— tho'fairest— should have wrought l'he overthrow of gladness there. But whatsoever lot be mine, I care not whether dark or no,— My bosom never shall repine, If but my whole around me throw The beaming halo of those snipes, Whose sweetness doth with hone tip The cup fate offers to the lip, And woe of half its pains begulles- Amusement, to an observing mind, is study.— D'Israeli the Younger. IHLE WISHES.— Evervwish whichleadsus to expect happiness somewhere else but where we are,— every institution which teaches us that we should be better by being possessed of something new, — which promises to lift us a step higher than we are, only lays a foundation for uneasiness, because it contracts debts which it cannot repay. It calls that a goodK which, when we have found it, will, in fact, adci nothing to our happiness.— Goldsmith. 4 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. POETRY. ORIGINAL. A POETICAL DESCRIPTION OF DICKY MOON AND HIS COUNTRYMEN. [ The following lines have been forwarded to us as the pro- duction of an operative; and we think they will amuse our readers, although the allusions are sometimes rather obscure.] 1 seldom sing about the moon, but I have lately found Occasion just to mention it; so I will have a round. I will not sing of nature's moon, which shines in Halifax; But of a pretty Cornshaw Moon, with cheeks like painted wax A splendid shiner once was seen, i'th' bottom of a pond, In Cornshaw's little village gay, from whence it[ did abscond* The Cornshaw lads, one evening clear, saw shining in the bottom, Thelimage of old nature s moon; and suddenly bethought ' em; ; Away for cowling rakes they ran, to scrape the Creature out And fuss'd. and made the water fly, and stiri'd the mud about; But when the water grew so thick, the shining prize was gone; So thinking it was out and off, they wen tin search o'th'moon. Before they had proceeded far, they overtook a lad, With red, round, shining, rosy, face,— the picture of his dad. " We're looking for the moon," said they ; " have you not seen it pass ?" Says he, " whene'er I see the moon, I'm at the looking glass.'' So from that timehe takes his date; M, o, o, n.' s his name ; His history I will here relate, and how he hither came. But previous to't perhaps it may not be amiss to give A brief description of the folks who in old Cornshaw live. Their valiant nature you may learn, by listening to my story. One night behind Jack Hodgson s barn, the moon rose in her glory. Much farther north than usual she, that night appear'd to shine. All shook with fear, for many said it was an evil sign. Twas in tjie time of Hunt, when mobs were every where expected; And what with tales, and northern moons, the people grew distracted. One morning, ere the daylight came, great numbers ran away; And crept into the woods, in wild confusion and dismay. Three days and nights the forest shade was their obscure retreat; But lack of food brought back again their Belf preserving feet. Did ever such a set of Moons e'er run away before f Their number now I cannot tell, but there were many a score. Amongst this tribe Old Daddy Moon, a botcher by his trade, Together with Old Uncle Jock, were horribly afraid. Old Uncle Jock's an oddish clown as e'er a nephew had ; One shoulder up, and t'other down, and squints uncommon badi His legs are ong enough to run, his body rather short; And it's his most delicious fun, with little lads to sport. But I'll not dwell on Uncle Jock; his name I merely mention Because he'sjof the Moonish stock, and tickles my attention. Old Daddy Moon a butcher was, as you have heard before, Who brought his beef home in a cart, and shot it at the door. Half dead with aceident. or age, disease, or want of food, It matter'd not; he'd kill it out, and ca'i'd it very good. The Younger Moon. ofwhich Ising. has oft with aching jaws Had many a combat with tough beef, green cabbage, and his claws, One day he tuggU and chew'd androar'd: his eyes bedew'd with tears; Which set Old Daddy's rigg slap- up, and passion prickd his ears. • I'll thump thy nob, young scoundrel tbou Old Daddy Moon did say. He stamped and stared, and thrashed him well. Poor lad he ran away. To Ov— nd— n he straightway came; and went to Mr. B d, " Pray master could you give me work; I am 18years old.' .' Perhaps we may; you seem to be a lad of decent sense, '• Take off your hat, and come inside; and you shall havea chance." Elated with his good success, the Moon commenced his labour; And his next step was looking out for some kind homely neighbour, Where he might decent lodgings get, at reasonable rate. He made inquiry and engaged,— my stars, how fortunate I Well settled, and contented in his new locality; He felt at home ill Ov— d— n ; the people were so free. The time pass- d on, until at length an object came in view, Which touch'd his tender feelings, and his close attention drew. A sweet and lovely damsel fair, had shot him in the heart • From Cupid's bow the arrow flew, and made the poor lad smart. He felt the longing pangs of love, but knew not what to do • He thought she was a bashful girl, and he was bashful too. ' Her residence remote from his, but to be somewhat near He sought another lodging place, convenient to his dear.' Poor lad, he could no longer hold ; he told the lass his grief. With kindness she received his tale, and gavehls heart relief; And for a while they seem'd to love, most truly and sincere •' But ah I his fate, in courtship's path. soon proved to be severe' Their evening walks, enchanting scenes, and things I soon could name, Instead of feeding love's bright fire, extinguished all the flame. That part o'th' play just where he should have acted the most har on, He was too soft, and that's a crime a woman cannot pardon She sent the bag determinedly, with threehalfpence inside- And stated that she never could consent to be his bride ' Poor lad, he was uncommon sad, to have lost his heart's desire. He took the bag and threehalfpence and threw it in the are Such vengeance I did never see, and with it such a curse : He wished the maid where it was gone, for better and for worse. Poor Moon, to drown his sorrow, then began to take his trips. Into the busy town, amongst the post- boys and theirwhips. He soon with them familiar grew, and squand ered all hi cash; Rode to and fro, from town to town, and cut a famous dash Sometimes the carriage drove up to Pr- ley's passage end, And then would make a sudden stop to accomodate my friend. Out he would come, just like a lord, and inside take his place; TheMoon was rising then i' th' world ; no doubt you think he was. * To lamps at all did they require, however dark the night; Long as the Moon was with them, he was always shining bright. Last Whitsuntide, however, he a journey took toSe— le, His money flew, which made him rue, and eool'd his travel- ling mettle. His conscience would not let him go again a- spendingmoney; For when his pleasures were gone by, he felt uncommon funny. So he bade adieu to the riding crew,— the money- taking scamps; And left them dark, and then they had to. trim again their lamps. Poor lad, he could not bear the expense of riding up and down; Nor could he bear the bitter pangs from this young lassie frown. He hit upon another plan: to Wh— tl— y he removed, To get out of the sight and sound of her he once had loved. Most splendid lodgings there he had, with carpets on the floor, When he went home he doff't his clogs and left them at the door. In Wh— tl— y he at present lives, and works not very near ; At night he goes home through the Shrogs, and If he be afeard Of meeting bugbears in the dark, he's nothing else to do, But rise in splendour, sing and shine ; and then he'll travel through. But now to Halifax he comes; he flits just once again : I think it's to the upper end ofC, R, I, B Lane, Let a small note be wrote unto the gas directors soon, And tell them that Crib Lane will now be lighted by the Moon. OUR SCRAP BOOK. " A thing of Shreds and Patches." REMUNERATION TO FRESCO PAINTERS.— Rubens received ,£ 4000 for his painting of the Grand Plafond at the Banquetting House, Whitehall. There are little more than four hundred yards of work; so that he was paid nearly £ 10 per yard. This was in tbe reign of Charles I. Nearly a century afterwards, when the comparative value of money was much reduced, Sir James Thornhill received only a £ 3 a yard for his laborious andcrowdeil designson tbe ceiling at Green- wich Hospital; and only £ 1 per yard for painting the ornaments on the walls. The work was commenced in 1708 and finished in 1727 ; tbe sum paid to him was £ G, 685. After many attempts to screw tbe painter to a cheaper contract, the valuation of the work was made by the directors of the hospital, after consulting the following eminent artists, natives and aliens, then practising the art, in London :— Vander- velt, Cooper, Richardson, Sykes, and Degard. " The late Duke of Montague," said Sir James, in his me- morial to the commissioners for building the hospital, " paid Monsieur Rosso, f. r his saloon, £ 2000, and kept an extra rdinary table for him, his friends, and servants, fjr two years, whilst the work was doing, at an expense computed at £ 500 per annum , which is near 450 yards, amounting to about £ 7 per yard. Sianor Varrio was paid, for the whole palaces of Windsor and Hampton Court, ceilings, sides, stairs, and back- stairs, 8s. per foot, which is £ 3 12s per yard, exclusive of gilding ; had wine daily allowed him, lodgings in the palaces; and, when his eyesight failed him, a pension of £ 200 per annum, and allow- ance of wine for life." In a periodical published in 1823, the following prices are stated, as of recent date: —" Signor Rizzi had, of the present Duke of Port- land, for three rooms, £ 101 0 ; for the little chapel at Bulstrode, £ 600 ; of the Lord Burlington, for his staircase, £ 700. Signor Pellegrini, of the Duke of Portland, for work at his house, £ 800 ; and, for a small picture over a chimney, £ 50 : of the Earl of Burlington, for the side of his hall, £ 200." The humimng bird is one of the most interesting objects in creation ;— tbe smallest of the feathered tribe, and the most beautiful. It is a livi- jg gem, whose metallip lustre, glancing in tbe sun- beams, is unequalled in loveliness. Wilson states that, arriving at a thicket of blossoms, the humming bird poises itself for the space of two or three seconds so steadily that its wings become invisible, or only like a mist; then, thrusting its lonsr, slender, tubular tongue into the flowers, it extracts the liquid sweets. When two males meet at the same flower, a battle instantly takes place, and tbe combatants ascend in the air, chirping, darting, and circling round each other, until the eye is no longer able to follow them. The conqueror generally returns to the place, to reap the fruits of his victory. ENTERTAINMENT.— The Missionary Anderson says of the country about the Zak river, in South Africa, that there is very little to " entertain" a stranger there, excepting the wild beasts! Tbe sort of " en- tertainment" which they can afford, would be the very last, one would suppose, that either man or horse would wish to meet with. LUTHER'S OPINION or Music.—" I always lo'V^ d Music," said Luther. " Whoso hath skill in this art, the same is of a good kind, fitted for all things. We must by all means maintain Music in schools. A schoolmaster ought to have skill in Music, otherwise I would not regard him ; neither should we ordain young fellows to the office of preaching, except they have been well exercised beforehand, and practised in the school of Music. Music is a fair gift from Ot d, and near allied to divinity." A Cardinal was once rebuked by one of the French kings, for his excessive pomp and pride ; the mon- arch telling the ecclesiastic that it was not the manner, of old, for ecclesiastics to be so. " In times past," retorted the Cardinal, " kings were shepherds and keepers of cattle." THE RIDDLE OF CLEOBULUS— There is a father that hath twice six sons, anil they have thirty daugh- ters apiece, — party- coloured, — having one cheek white and the other black ; and they never see one another's face, nor liveabove twenty- four hours. The answer is the year. WOLVES.— The total extirpation of all formidable beasts of prey, in the British Islands, is perhaps the best proof of our highly advanced state ot civilization. Even in the most barbarous parts of Wales, and in the Highlands of Scotland, the wolf is no longer to be found. It is, also, extinct in Ireland. Mapy parts of France, which are more populous than the remoter parts of these islands, and probably in many respects much more improved, are cruelly annoyed by'this destructive animal. In the Memoirs of Mr. Edgeworth, it appears that, on his being appointed executor to a friend's will, he had necessarily occasion to write to persons indebted to the estate, requesting the discbarge of their debts, which applications were, without a single exception, resented as insults, and uniformly answered by a challenge 1 Soon alter tbe Irish members were admitted into the British House of Commons, at the Union in 1801, one of them, in the midst of his maiden barrangue, and in the national warmth of bis heart, thus ad- dressed the chair;—" And now my dear Mr Speaker," & c. which created a loud lauph from all parts of tbe House. As soon as their mirth had subsided, Sheridan gave it another fillip, by observing that " the hon- ourable member was perfectly in order; for, thanks to Ministers, now- a- ilays, every thing is dear." OCTOBER.— Of all the months of the year, commend me to Octoher, for then you have summer days and winter evenings.— Anonymous. FEELING.— Never apologize for showing feeling, inv friend ; remember that, when you do so, you apol- ogize for truth.— D'Israeli the Younger. TIGERS.— Herrera says, of the Indians of Verapaz, that, when they meet a tiger, they fall down and beseech him not to kill them. This was from super- stition. Tbey worshipped their deity, or their devil, in that shape. Those who were converted, found bows and arrows more effectual than supplications. In 1807, two tigers appeared on the Island of Sal- sette, and carried off nine persons. The inhabitants firmly believed that these beasts were not beasts, but two malicious spirits, disguised under the forms of a royal tiser and tigress, with human countenances, and large gold rings in their noses and ears. This opinion prevailed so strongly, as to prevent them from attempting to destroy these destructive animals, though a large reward was offered to induce them. On Thomas Aquinas's visit to Rome, the Pope showed hita in bis closet a vast quantity of wealth, and added, " You see the- church cannot now say, ' Silver and gold have I none.'" " True," replied Thomas, " neither can she any longer say to the sick and infirm, ' Take up thy bed and walk.' " A WKST- KND BOARDING- HOUSE.— A mixed com- pany at any dinner- table is a subject of curious ob- setvation— of various philosophical speculations— but that which congregates round a west- end boarding- house table d'hote i » one superlatively pregi ant with tbe purest elements of remark and reflection. Not one of those 20 or 25 individuals who sit down daily here ostensibly for the sole simple purpose of oiling their animal machines, who has not some covert, duplex, triplex, or quadruplex, motive for so doing. Not one who has not some underhand game to play, some assumed character to sustain, some fictitious part to enact, some secret plot to weave or unravel. Each motion has its design, each word its mission, each look its instruction— and all more or less the opposites of those which they seem. You notice yon pale delicate lady, with tbe languishing eyes and frame as transparent as alabaster— she who touches not a morsel of food, and who seems as though, snipe- like, she lived on suction alone, and that most probably the pure juice of the water lily— you would hardly dream in your philosophy that that moon- tinted being has managed to pass through her dainty portal, not two hours since, a lunch composed of a pound and a half of nearly raw beef- steak, with the supplementary etceteras of a pot of stout, cheese, fruit, and vegetables. You notice yon gaily habited little dame who is so very particular in her choice of dishes, who turns up her nose at everything brought to table, and who eats and speaks of the viands as if, like a feminine Atlas, she supported the whole establishment on her shoulders. Possibly you will gape with astonishment when we assure you that that saucy lady has never paid a shilling for her board for the last twelve months, and that she is under perpetual notice to quit,— a notice renewed every week, and every week received with a laugh of contempt for the vulgar person who gives it, as well as for the vulgar law which suggests it. The chief duty of every individual at a west end boarding- house dinner- table is to talk as much as possible about himself, that is, as much as his imagination will furnish in aid of his sustaining the character which he chooses to play. Great rela- tions, powerful acquaintances, temporary derange- ment of finances, mysterious circumstances, strict incognitos, incurable afflictions of the heart, desire to see life,— these are the most usual themes, openly avowed or trickingly hinted at, on which tbe present position of the speaker is founded ; but these vary, or others are substituted, according to the judgment and creative fancy of each autobiographer.— The Metropolitan. HALIFAX -.— Printed and Sold, for the Propretors, at the General Printing Office of H. Martin, Upper George Yard.