A general meeting of the Shipowners' Society was held on
Tuesday. The most important business related to the alteration of the timber- duties. Lord Lansdowne had stated that no alteration in the timber- duties was contemplated ; but Alderman Thompson assured the meeting that this could not be the case ; for he added, The declaration of my Lord Lansdowne is totally at variance with what Mr. P. Thomson, the President of the Board of Trade, told me last night in the House of Commons. When I questioned him privately on the subject, he distinctly told me, that it was his intention to bring forward a measure in the present session, founded on the report of the Select Committee of the house of Commons, to reduce the timber-duties, but that he should not introduce it im- mediately; and, moreover, he requested that I might put questions to hint before the House on Friday next, in order to afford him an opportunity of stating his intention. I think that the statement of Mr. P. Thomson is mom likely to express the views of the Government than that of Lord Lansdowne ; so that I fear we have but little forbearance to expect from his Majesty's Ministers on this point. Their real design, I have no doubt, is to delay introducing the measure until a late period of the session, when probably most of those Members who support the shipping interest will be out of town, while the Ministerial phalanx will be kept together, to carry whatever measure the Ministers think proper to propose." Mr. G. F. Young said, that Mr. Poulett Thomson bad made a similar communication to him.
Resolutions were passed against any alteration in the timber-duties; and several gentlemen addressed the meeting, recommending activity opposing and counteracting the suspected designs of Ministers. The annual report of the Conimittee was received, and unanimously ap- proved of. A meeting of the market-gardeners residing in Middlesex and the adjoining counties was held on Thursday at Burn's Hotel, Palace Yard, for the purpose of considering how their interests would be affected by the new Tithe Bill. The speakers at this meeting pro- tested against the average of the last seven years' tithe being made the fixed rate in perpetuity. It was contended that laud alone should pay tithes, and not the capital expended on it ; and a petition to Parliament against the bill was agreed to.
A meeting was held on Saturday last, at the British Coffeehouse, Cockspur Street, to devise means for erecting a monument to the memory of the late William Cobbett. Mr. Rogers was in the chair; and was supported by Mr. Fielden, M.P., and Mr. W. Williams, M. P. Mr. O'Connell was also present for a short time ; and expressed his readiness to further by every means in his power the object they had in view. The meeting was merely preparatory to another on a larger scale, which is to be held shortly at the Freemason's Tavern.
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