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At the meeting of the Common Council on Thursday, a sum of 1,5001. was unanimously voted towards the erection of almshouses in com- memoration of the Reform Bill.
The parish of St. James have resolved upon instituting a strict and impartial inquiry into the amount at which houses are rated, and to assess them in future upon a more equitable principle. Not only is the value of the house to be taken into consideration, but its extent also ; the ground it occupies in front and depth is to be measured, and the rate to be made proportionably. Thus, Burlington House, which hitherto was rated at only SOU, has been tried by the new standard, and rated at 4,000/.
The deputation appointed last Thursday at the meeting of the rate- payers of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, waited on Lord Althorp on Wed- nesday. They consisted of the Rector, Mr. Bowers, Mr. Smith the senior Churchwarden, and several of the more influential inhabitants. Sir Francis Burdett and Sir John Hobhouse met the deputation at Lord Althorp's office in the Treasury. The deputation stated their case— The local Assessors, consisting of a Committee appointed by the parish, had lowered the rates very considerably, and had made their return of the new ad- instment to the King's Surveyor ; who, however, thought fit to disapprove of at, and had made a surcharge which brought the taxes back to the old amount of assessment. This surcharge, many of the inhabitants, who had dwelt in the parish their whole lifetime, were not only unwilling, but absolutely unable to pay, owing to the depression of trade, and the great depreciation of their pro- perty- Lord Althorp expressed his fears that Government could give them no relief. Mr. Mitford, Chairman of the Board of Taxes, who was • present, was of the same opinion. Lord Althorp said- " I am aware that there is a great inequality in this species of taxation throughout the country ; and I know also that the system ought to be placed upon a much broader scale. The parishioners, however, may rely upon the matter being very seriously considered by his Majesty's Government."
_He asked whether the local Commissioners could not redress the prevance complained of?
Mr. Yockney, one of the Commissioners, said they had no such power- " Many of the parties aggrieved hold leases of their houses ; and until those leases have expired, we cannot reduce the amount of the assessment below the original rental, although the houses. may be, and I believe are, not worth bait the rental that they are paying for them."
The deputation were again assured, that whatever Government could do would be done; and with this assurance they were obliged to retire.
A meeting of noblemen and gentlemen took place on Thursday, in the large room belonging to the Agricultural Society, Regent Street, on the subject of the contemplated expedition in search of Captain- Ross and his companions. Admiral Sir George Cockburn presided; and in opening the business of the meeting, expressed his opinion, from all the facts that had come to light, that Captain Ross was still alive, and in the neighbourhood of the spot where the Fury was wrecked in Parry's last voyage. Captain Ross, it may be recollected, sailed with two vessels, a steamer and a ship ; but the crew of the latter having mutinied, he proceeded on his expedition with the steamer alone, in which were only himself and nineteen men. , It was stated in the course of the conversation at the meeting, that depots of provisions had been formed to a considerable extent in the line of Captain Ross's assumed route overland, by the Hudson's Bay Company. It was thought the best mode of employing the sum of .500/. subscribed by them for the recovery, if possible, of Captain Ross and his crew. The sum necessary for two years' maintenance of the expedition, certain, and which, with husbanding, may suffice for three years, is 5,000/. ; of which sum Government have subscribed 2,000/. Captain Back, the energetic companion of Franklin, will lead the expedition. It is hardly possible that any serious difficulty should occur in raising the 3,000/. required to complete the sum necessary for its equipment.
A Court of Directors was held on Wednesday, at the East India House ; when the following Captains were sworn into the command of their respective ships--Captain John Hine, the Marquis of Huntly ; and Captain John Cruickshank, the Farquharson, consigned to Bom- bay and China.
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