The Sun. — London, England, 1846-01-21 00:00:00

IRE LW. • sorkITMENTS: . . Ik ki THE LAW API , Letter, appointing par' NI JAN 10 . --The Queo ) 8 t ial e tO th tu -General, was received at 4li u c e 1 •oce of Attorney lie a.sle this day. itlaffice of S olicitor -General is still v acant, and it is said tnce with the L_r. Prewster is pressing hard for the \;!teisdation that he could mane ce to be Yeeturned to Par s, a case of a dissolution. th e lIIE IRISH PROVINCIAL COLLEGES. all e„Principals and vice-principals of the new c o o f lle a g p es . Ntin- sgsembled in Dublin, fur the Lt k el iit it f e es el r eg s es a . nd l s ,h h e aping the statutes , Cork ; II Kan Belfast. rincipals are—Dr. ,"ip' 1.. Kirwan, Galway; and Rev. Dr. ...senTL , for theegovern .4.l4Principals are —Mr. Berwi ck, Galway ; , Ryall, irf;Crl r. Andrews Belfast. The duty of r.electing I N l.l and shaping the statutes is vested in the p s rincipals ° hi are,„,.ll!ig(ipals alone and the statement that a board was '''' ) %ted for the p ' urpose is tot ally unfounded. 1 14,, , REPEAL ASSOCIATION. ost te :aly tn what eeting of the Associ ttion held this . day was Itte rigi -ert ualY attended in anticipation of hearing I ' l lsra t 'i t itit .'s had been ar ' rived at las/ the Repeal mem . b e e e r e s,_ 4ti ou ting Morning in the commiCtee-room of the A 'clock the st the suggestion of Mr. O'Connell. At one o *hat tlat t i et 4essrable Gentleman entered the hall, and moved . tii i ; h e all i aghat i Eq M.P.or Cork, take the chair. ,_,4 ,„'i , RuAN expressed • h gratitude he fed g ..4 4 11 , 11 t 9 p r eside Pres er se the t e eeting of the ationAssoc on ti.t at2st . aPPearance in ev ConciliaTion Hall. It gave him trhe kiln., „Bstigfaction to witness such an assemblage of r e e. t itilt tiettrfror his Part he could sincerely . declare,. as the tved elan ation, reflection, and conviction, that he be- - a nti could never attnin the position she ought .n to ._ * t ti a,ei,l til , t il a domestic legislature. In his opinion, /11 sxert' "" 'wk. to England for amelioration, and in li t ~,,teas alone could the hope for redress. .. his Youngest ugxiieu, announced h's intention of starting t. e ttsat election' ii, Mr. Daniel O'onnell, jun., for Dundalk at he °4:1,4,e'41, and he felt sure that he being a namesaket i r e thatiowy,tetkl_liat tarnish him in the eyes of the rep I No •ne would therefore move that the u 'stew i i. ‘ , o4 o f n ,- baniel O'Connell, jun. to the special i - ' 4 in •'''' t rePealers of the town of Dundalk. Assoceeianstio.n. °hen was then t and carried. r: °' °--)4P ' ETI NG OF Pu REPEAL MEMBERS. k 3 stite."xiii.t. said that therepealMembers had not met it ths d'itttslY as might have been expected, in consequence ihi c h e saer to the memberssfor Limerick city and county, thti s 1 ,,,,,a 3 to take P l ace on Wednesday._ Pro m --eggarily absent. that he suggested . the the ety of e,.„. sent. At the time . . Five Members were day, th e deb ometc the meeting in question, it was his opinion b ut 4 ate on the corn-laws would take place on Thurs- Ile ss r e had since -been informed that no important busi- L 411:,, "Udee,°*lo!' the House of Commons till Monday t ut - liostpou-e't i of the Irish . c srcumstances he cons m id e e e r t ed ng it more des . ir- Bben, .. a till Friday next. i t i . ll it ,i e Zt•!l t, instead ofmeeting t 4, -4 rep rus 'uie . at Radley's Hotel, in the . i fl e Concil h ia e t p i e on t Hal t b e tr e 00 4 4 tafg h t ett a bi t , tv . on more neutral eg, who might have an objection to come j r t 11. L.. induced to meet them du t e y f (1 3 ttl Y I' ' el Ptessed his conviction that 1 4 .7i0n, eLlber of Parliament to attend in t s a a " 1, 'era ' t w h a s e House he 'Government. 1 11" 1711 0 1 . 4 the opening of the session, that he might Stgi u PPre aehie . famine the intentioofthe ' Govern and the duty of 1 4 41 8t ( 4) )11 the pestilence,&,vernment u tl i ieaec ity of adopting mmeoare 1-44gryaivert,, the calamity, rendered itth The n te '''Le 111 use of Commons than. in (2 his re_s e e n n e cl atien th e s u le . atter, hOwever would be more fully considered •pf t , -au ee he ~.t •. on .. n ay, people the Irish t' 4" ttnig t° b •1d 'P , d when they would have P uk ed last . o,f sevarai gentlemen in whom . he had in 'is caliiiirtlted conkience. The great object , tiZert ur ng the proposed meeting was to meet, if possi bl e, read an ar ti I" Deft ts q the Evenir , Mail for the formation of a fla teL,,, Y. Th .s, 1) . :'itla a e Honourable Gentleman then had ad- l 'ale et app in a late number of that journal,. e headed k r i tec i t to. 4,lnPera," recommending the object n ii. '' he w ''" mark el, dro it s • - • the minutes r n PerP viz "' opinion L'if the sentiments contained Actori a ,. oVe insertion on tiltptr-etelatf speeches from other members, intended going tortiadiareelrit%L said another reason why 11 11 liaci t t rel at i en w e. al t o see what England intendedento do with the lions iially d e 1 The reports of was idle to conceal thefact that America lio uo 'sgte s ie e ared war against England.. , pa t he k ee t ue American Senate mildness in com N n wi th gage of the President itselfyr filled him with app . rellen: conciliating IrilL4 to urHonourable was s tleman then pro -14,1'4 if they 0 4 the Government the necessity of _ coming itgle e 7 expected her co-operation in the nu gt t' ) k -gooners,,- e -illation of the proceedings the rent for the week rrueetrsel to be 3674 3s. 2d. n g then adjourned. I) . a, s ___________ -'LPIJISORY MILITARY It ia.. l'lll3 LlC SERVICE. tith,:-.41:t0,„ MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM. in .milli'tnghan,"' TUESDA.Y —When it became known s. bal lot --. that Government " intended to re-organise the ell. . it,g, thoth,,ring clubs were immediately set on foot,ancla Sk i; he p eee _g,. that ''' 'l' ' gip against theproposal soon discovered idered it necessary .. t 4PPII s 'e °letting l'i ot.i. Bl4 : 3 lT t i s rld ee n lis the subject, auq , ha% i e n r g e i gtis, d f t r the use ot the Town hall for the occasi f on c , ha w rge. 2 0th t l.geti n , fi nd it placed at their disposa° Parliament s, eiti e s obre,cYtai then fixed to he held " on the free evening of tile sit t „,, 4 th e ~„..., being thus defined, petition poOcin g i"Posal to call out the with foreign Era', an arbitration clause in our treaties ~..kt h , militia, e and in favour of ce the plat -I'o 4 soo a a lf P 4 t six o'clock this evening the hall was opened, 0, 114 b • after great re in attendan ,- 4 o eltig o , e _ .at numbers we fot , k',." Kalle r a;_ed by most of our body of the building by T h ' l lg m en - 0 Y ladies, and the influential townsmen,. 4. q t l i l t s lie P e et li t a in ir eh b ,_ av ing been . taken by the Rev. Thos. Morgan, made, after which the h u t illA 48 ;T observationswere fused. The leading s_pealeell , i eue:oseph gtulTe. wEesrge. paused. Thomas Swan, Bev. : • • 1 11,Rev John Burnet' of London. cr,7rfeirat while there is ft:large and increasing antumwbarer in 4,Ny ,T , countrymen who hold the o a pinie p n rec th e t Lgalz . a is co . ntrary to tlr spin ndprecepts of the lee. this meetir declare 9 . its conviction that the eople illlt heal are to military establishments, both . as a 'q "Ila opposed and as a great moral injury to Oa r eceSsary expense, 4 io n. pro,,, Tat the measures contemplated by Government for fLI titiZ t he militia have created both surpri▪ se and alarm, li t ' ' slit e - itts eting protests against them for these reasons : I, os? s tanding arm in time of peace is repugnant . to q4,, 1 ' ° ,e 1 1,"1 the B T British constitution. Because compelling '',_te o " `lie Militia '''. in s the way proposed inflicts a great in- e st'llthc' t he working classes, inasmuch as while th te ' Ina Is,,Nrit i 7 Provide a substitute, the po . or . man has no -(so- Ve but the gaol,else to forsake fi t ,. It a of , or a,:vitt it i honest induct r 7 for an irksome . his family and the and demoralising th,„. re of Be eause the in 141 e. infliction of imprisonment, or the W." Wh o goo ds, will he an act of grievous oppression to hi'sa i d ias a matter coi' conscience, can nei .. g a , itt- servi in • be parties to or It ilf . ce the militia, nor providm ▪ ther submit to Des --ei. Lastly because at a time when the principles . 44 411 , 4 etitnettliso much ' more w - 'clely recognised than in former tay b leat 0 , ~nation is anticipating the extension and esta lathksitsth; It iendly commercial relations all over the world, would ithdraw a -tr, 7of 4 gr had to be deprecated which wou w . . 'IQ es : men from the occupations of ail the arts of war and . in at ,it I , yto learnproductive la destruction. • d'n the t.%,..'slatSnielnent be petitioned to authorise the insertion ttM, t'', In all treaties with foreign Powers, i g -ratic;tlearties, i n ease o f an y dispate, to submit it to the P ttBOnle neutral Power.' I kt to l a , pure_hgair' lLLlalts, AND JONES. The workin lasses thqaki e l t tsd a meeting, at which it was resolved to p e e e s t , ition ta t Ztigt " I t 'll behalf of Frost, Williams, i a e d Jones, the Il tak lt iall u ' i n v 'ets. Arrangements are al n s . progress for tome th at ~,g the Crown for their pard9 , and we under- lure._ atlii, •Joseph Sturge, Mr. 4.4• William Scholefield, and iin7st the influential gentlemen have h (Ilitte readylll eo to Sir James Bart. They been applied to, to Gra am, to comply with this request. 1.1- T. i t `rp,ll ;RE RI vE a PLAT ch °- :: \ v /- 3 JAN. 20.—Advices from . Monte Video to the ll ot e alli e d el Mer ha . ve been receivedet 4 .60 et , s t s, lltedrons had destroyed land Janeiro. by i a o t t d e e r i - utt,3 v eu ,ent.rance of expecting Martin • Garcia were ih‘ -41 "It * the river ; . the large fleet of Th e ate is assembled at , b ad s rt",_ers to proceed to their destinations. most animated . spec - eaf 13 3 ° ,,_t alonte Video presented eavi4ri,,,,„,Luerchantmen were in . the a harbour, of which 8 Great antic!pa ll'aaut 0;1' 1 ,1 4 October and 28 in November , two of . these , 11, 41, ) ,Ire ta ""erd 300 'Soanish colonists . commercial relations ~„Lry ''' iyoh', entertained Of extended ih e °if pat fl ow flow from the opening up 0 merchants. I ,„ ° tte„ 4ll4 le 4 ii,, - „g 11 ,,Y to the enterprise of our would alone t' the rich coun milt- to ,-- beneficial results of . the d tra , N t Viti4°loPensate for the continued cupation of the eittil'ary day territory by Rosas's troops, and ' lt was becom tht„.e spy Ii e• appeal th ad by 0 7 1 Tno!'e evident that the weapons so . dexterously France,pla of isters of England and the aril; rith;:retal requirements of the native t r y i , 4 . 41 it t i tiltri es, would much more !ffec the than by ti m -kti on "4 ' 4e°113 r hthe anti commer - a Wa Y more consistent with progress of l 'eriu..,.._ ti '' of ql 3 LS overthrow of the a ''‘)..) i lia t 4 "al Roses —4O , had declared war against the Dictator. b. 'l4 AT R o 4t ab - d e cl A : li n itlLGE HOUSE, Ktw.—On Monday yrti k.-iouse, Kew-green, Surre . y, the residence "21'de - , g Pe fr,,,,'!", zl ess the Duke of Cambridge, had . a u n ir a i r e - s ho ra tio the ben . ) destroyed by fire. From inquiries 41 , • ar ra t ' s iappearsrhefutrhmaut aboutformation uf ftouuer fireplace:e e s Dolt Zs's h ed-room, m which is situated direc s tl i ; inc o e v ha t e in 7r i in a o bo ' ut the centre of the so tro u rd- VW building,• he and, for the purpose of • xi Str.,. l% ; ar Thtit to the room, a grate of pec a uliarly ston—e"oll. was put in. The grate was s. t a l tli o tar e ' with fire bricks and Welsh lumps, but suffi thillklilll4ode 14'44 not at the time taken by the parties It t i o a n na has caused the being tni alteration to secure the bond U.! t ed, adothatpreressleunv it was tip 4 tl t ,„ ; 00 " t ie latter had been placed directly over a beam • „ y th„Which, b square, •0. to the great heat occa: had ignited, 41,-et area kept up to warm the room, fri Lo th e not th e girders and other portions . of the flooring. te e : thediscovery been providentially made so early, • have ew ,""gh wind which prevailed the whole edificeu wen destroyed, from there being no water laid o hel k i .r A LDERMEN.—At a Court of Aldermen, 47,1 itt%.',4Y, Alderman Wilson moved that the resolution ev tak'e be la previous Court, that copies of certain i ttr, sti i n u 'iti before it be rescinded. The evidence had been •ey, oniltsPur-stree, t Compter by Aldermen . Wilson and tirk4 att a charge made by one prisoner against another,. e r l Pt to excite to the commission of an atrocious eou , .t had been supposed that the evidence of a \id,ityli.)et_ properly be thus taken, butte To A w l n ; C m l an i a :2 4or advised the Court ot ierwise. h. _ d a, _ or "", lamed that the previous Court, w ich w f k k ussi n P l lrpose, had been called for a Saturday, and no ef ,,kile r „ l ll °a this s • subject had been expected. Aldermen 'Ol4 ~,•T and Farthoth r disclaimed any intention to give i n the Previous proceedings. The Lord Mayor in avin, V' a seconder to the present motion, and some time " l 'lt . e ° ) l al'sed before Alderman Sidney rose to perform that e o i"is Lordship declared the seconding be too late . 't te a Child, Esq., of Greenwich, has been appointed ag.±strate for the western division of the county of Kent, , ti w ora in. as such. itlp 4 l ' , Rom RAILWAY LOSSES. — Yesterday an to 'pi: e st Wos held upon the body of William Edward Barrel], self o t lY a captain in e 55th regiment of foot, who shot hi- den: S aturday last th at his lodgings in Camberwell. Evmi es w as adduced t o s h ow th at t h e d ecease d h ad been in a railW Pondi leng state of mind in consequence of losses incurred by t! s Peculation. Verdict—" Temporary insanity." th e ca m °Ult.—When no man can tell me the author of gi ve I "„ i ngu, and they be likey, or such as are looked for, I which ulein little faith because men readily invent that stns is iS expected or is' credited. I give more ear to any i n "ge or unlooked-for tidings, because men are Jess to ~,yeat or to persuade themselves of that which is :n no man's """ °4 ghts. I have many times seen proof of this.— Guicciardini. ainster a early Eon 0 f C. ) ; peti- y i n g for At. K 1 to an )rdingll • part of gotink 4,Y•) ri tSS pied the of, e et.or Ofc' ra he depo eard er in the (•) is.) AND 13- Y.) T. for Lancer: eb :xcheq u iet me o C e st, ohn y: t be Ant R'• t i t s me on. 690 e bilsi p e r Liter o , r b , o f cessi" be t sion °` is ,f e etoil c i o g lie bu i ` i the ertY?' o r t ioof P tits ecui c tee ci aban inj oc • noic di p; sor, 1. 13 „ t of donne 0 ' the 19 ' be Le lease, ho tenur e ( the ;tion_ O e ed allyw b e , whos u a lessor, the Le lease, c , e manial.,l being eoi Court ct o f the now ti ge r c i and °fro pose° to rf a anum e • iardly b oe carry 011,.d0 i f the 1 a ,7 11 1. tburP Tustice e pd terre 9 .do the P 4 l O , g he ear r ,„" t eir this e oti jowl"' of trad e 00 le, be it toe d, ayS Ao li of 6 0 1 ie lessee to adonjui o f 30 it, b ut 9 1 end l Ot „ the Iso ~ the ,61 nteluP ol e n the - te other of be COuito,.A lease f B o' inufact,,looot gars,. tti ntion 0, Ible oo et:',o 4'entitl n ioo' i . irs et tor W itij r cone ° e l • his re' DAc no >AY• ) 0 01 f Ac e if o o 1 t hat w itnessiot o d its I T ., Oc eip‘ the " t ool ie jarl. - f tior we re, t o or rdict f 4 1' ) S rife )lice e" t, ,e( 11 4 was fo, a ry - ipo ith 01) 0° 110 -1/ Sell, t, t-sr ee s ioj n ,g I d a r g h e s t t e r o t !s. I hi s 9gv t yU es, be .ant OP/ 4 to lot il)tell to be '''''' of ato b 0 et t y Marie s tool the oe o tri', of.; 60, A c i f.; n ee, ;eS, 2j ' 001: slid gale til •A Ili t .1 i) is daY it fut u p r sfry k nSiti oll ' vs , f t o per t n 7 600; rite 009- g rf• cTso t d 01 le r P . . 111 5' 0 1) cgs, 13 sr tpr rOßee' to us ing of P ,ro g ot aYn i wi t P feriog er g eo t ti d , s r de nt o ll' b A Otb e so Cr An u „ ti ld sbe %r f . .9 'll° " : ng )een rn olv erl ot• ove•J„g that a nd I d tha t t be ° fl i ntie r !, hilst i ees - the witi to t° able the unfit vould 1 1 11 E _SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAYf EVENT JAWUKR 21, 1846. COURT CIF.CULA.R. Prince Albert W I NDSOR, TUESDAY.—The Queen . walked out this morning. • i s Prince Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wa. ' emd were Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, taken their accustomed exercise in the forenoon. Prince Albert took the diversion of shooting to day. The Marquis of Granby, and Colonel Bouverie were in attendance on his Royal Highness. The Marquis of Granby afterwards took his departure for town. His Royal Highness Prince George left the Castle this morning. The Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Rutland, the Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir R. Peel, the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Cleveland, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Marquis of Exeter, the Bishop of ;Winchester, the Bishop of Oxford, Sir James Graham, the Marquis of Hertford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Camden, the Earl of Fowls, Earl Talbot, the Earl of Liverpool, the Earl Delawarr, and the Earl of Jersey, took their departure from the Castle to=day. Her Majesty and her Royal Consort again walked in the pleasure grounds in the afternoon. • The Royal Family were taken airings this afternoon. - - His Royal Highness Prince George arrived at his re sidence in St. James's Palace, yesterday, from Windsor Castle. 17.tte Queen will hold a Privy Council at half-past three o 'clock this afternoon, at Buckingham Palace. Sir R o :Nert Peel arrived at his residence, in Whitehall gardens,ye ter d a y morning, from Windsor Castle. Sir George Clerk had an interview with the Right Honour able Baronet. Mr. Hif.,ham, Secretary and Comptroller-General to the Commissioners for the- Reduction of the National Debt, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex chequer yesterday, at hie official residence in Downing street. The Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Lincoln, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Granville Somerset, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert. had a meeting yes• terday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. Meek had an interview with Sir George Clerk yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial. office from the Governor of Hong-Kong, and also from the Governor of Ceylon. NAVAL IN TELLIGENCV. Woormicu, JAN. 20.—The Ariel steam- vessel, Lieutenant- Commander Mudge, has arrived at Woolwich, from Dover, to be paid off, and her officers and crew will be transferred to-morrow to the Onyx steam-vessel, destined for the same service as the Ariel was lately engaged upon. The Onyx is expected to be the fastest boat upen the Dover station, her speed,• when tried down the river, being at the rate of 161 statute miles per hour. The Goodwill arrived from Deptford on Saturday, and the Duck sailed for Chatham on the same day. The Amphion, 36 guns, launched at Woolwich Dock-yard on Wednesday last, was towed to the East India docks to-day, to be fitted with her engines. PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—An awful gale has been blowing all night from the south-east, and the sea has been dashing over the walls of the town, deluging the habitations along shore. The elemental war has not even yet abated, and much damage will, it is feared, be discovered to have been sus tained by the shipping. The schooner Ann and Elizabeth, of Fowey, from Cardiff, laden with iron, for London, drove from her two anchors at Spithead last night, about nine o'clock, and struck on the Spit, where she thumped and sank. The captain and crew were in the rigging the whole of the night, until eight o'clock this morning, when they were rescued, in a state of great exhaus. tion, by Reuben Maine, a Portsmouth waterman. Six hands (including the captain) were thus saved from appa rently.inevitable death. The stern of the schooner has since been washed out, and the sea is making a clear breach over her. Messrs. Garratt and Gibbon, the agents to Lloyd's, promptly . rendered every assistance, and suc ceeded in saving the spars, sails, three small anchors, and other stores, but all the men's clothes and property have been lost. The captain was putting his desk, containing all his savings, into the long-boat, which was got out directly the vessel struck, when a heavy sea struck her and smashed her to pieces, together with the desk and its contents, which were lost. The schooner struck and sank in less than five minutes. The captain and men describe the night as truly awful. Messrs. Garratt and Gib bon have a heavy cutter near the wreck to endeavour to save what is possible of the cargo; and when the weather moderates, dockyard lighters will he sent out to endeavour to weigh the wreck. The students of the Royal Naval College will resume their , professional studies on Thursday. The Nautilus, 10, Lieutenant-Commander M'Dowell; came into harbour this afternoon. We believe she suffered con siderably in the gale last night. The Grampus, 50, Captain Martin, C,8., has received orders to proceed to Plymouth to complete her complement. The Superb, 80, Captain Corry, remains at Spithead ; but her gallant captain is on Admiralty leave, The Scourge steam - bo mb-vessel, Commander Caffin, will leave the basin on Thursday. She will ship the mortar bed of the Etna to-morrow. The Lords of the Admiralty are expected to visit this port in a few days. The Apollo troop ship, Commander Radcliffe, sailed from Rio for Monte Video on the 27th of November, under orders from the British Minister at Rio. The Cyclops steam-sloop, Captain Lapidge, arrived at Rio, with dispatches for the British Minister on the 7th of De cember, when it -was rumoured that the Minister would de tain the Cyclops to return to England in. The Express, 6, Lieutenant-Commander Herrick, arrived at Rio on the 28th of November, from Falmouth, with mails. The Cruiser, 16, Commander Fanshawe, sailed from Trin comalee on the 19th of November, for Moulmein. ,The Vulture steam-frigate, Captain M'Dougall, arrived at nincomalee, fi-om Spithead, on the 22d of November. Art accident happened this morning to one of the men in the =ploy of Mr. Peter Rolt, the contractor for the works of the new steam basin, &c., in this dockyard, by which his arm was so dreadfully fractured from one of the piles falling upon him that it is feared amputation must be performed. The Rodney, 92, Captain Collier, C. 8., in dock, is now under the hands of the dockyard officers and artisans, who have commenced making the alterations in the internal fit ments of the ship already mentioned. , FATAL ACCIDENT on the SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY. We regret to state that a fatal accident, by which one in dividual lost his life and another was much injured, occurred on Monday night, or rather between twelve and one o'clock yesterday morning. -On the arrival of the luggage train from Dover, at the bridge which crosses a river about a mile from Tonbridge, one of the abutinents, owing, it is supposed, to the overflowing of th e water and high wind which pre vailed at the time, gave way, and as aeon as the engine en tered upon the bridge, one of the arches fell in, and the engine, tender, and two of the luggage waggons, together with the engine-driver and stoker (brothers), of the name of Doyle, were precipitated into the water. There were se veral other luggage carriages attached to the train, but they were not injured. The deceased was a young man about twenty-seven years of age, and bore a most respect able character. At the time the accident happened the train was proceeding at a moderate rate. The stoker is severely hurt, but not considered dangerously. The French mail, which ouglit to have been at the terminus at London-bridge yesterday morning at five o'clock, in con sequence of the acci dent did not arrive until eleven o'clock. The downward trains left London yesterday morning at the usual time, planks having been placed across the bridge on which pas sengers and goods could be safely conveyed over the river, where another train was in waiting to receive them. Up to the time the latest intelligence was received, the engine, tender, and two luggage waggons remained in the water, and therefore the extent of the injury and loss of property cannot at present be ascertained. in W e hear that when the two unfortunate men were thrown uredthanerdf exh austed, t o other water, one of the brothers, by his intrepidity rescued the m a n s w t e a that he dibedutonhethweahsasnohdroeafdtfhuellyriviner j before he could be removed to the station. The body of the deceased was dreadfully cut, one of the t highs broken, and was otherwise injured. There were fortunately no passengers, and the two brothers are the only persons injured. Yesterday afternoon the bridge was so far repaired that the trains were able to pass without interruption. STRIKING FEATURE IN THE SPORTING WORLD. A "new black" has recently arrived from America, of the name of W. Perry, from Annapolis, in Nova Scotia, anxious to acquire pugilistic fame, and has thrown up his hat in the P.R. as a regular tone of defiance. But, nevertheless, nnexa- he has not come to quarrel about the Ore g on territory, the a tion of the Texas, the repeal of the corn-laws, or the opening of the ports, but ultimately to decide whether the champion ship shall belong to the New or the Old World. Johnny Broome held out his hand to the man of colour, saying, " Welcome, my boy; country or colour are all the same to us Englishmen ; we only want good uns ; and if you can show us that quality, you shall not want for patrons." Perry is a fine-looking young man, and stands 6ft. liin. in height, weighing rather more than 13 stone. His nob has nothing ferocious attached to it. His face rather pleasing than otherwise. He had heard of the battles of the late brave, high-couraged Molineux, and he resolved to tread in his steps, if possible, and be on the qui vice to get at the top of the tree in the P.R. The challenge from Perry was not suffered to lie on the table; but Burton, from Leicester, weighing something more than 12 stone, and said to possess good milling qualities, made a match with the black for 151. a side, which came off yesterday. "It was to be a quiet day," the Fancy observed, and the patrons of boxing steamed it down old Father Thames on the sly to gether in perfect harmony, and as to the name' of the place, mum was the order of the day—but the boxers were to land at the first convenient spot which offered itself to prevent the interference of the beaks and the blue bottles. The office was to be ready—quick, and to go to work without loss of time. They landed before they came to Oravesend, and the men appeared in the ring with the utmost alacrity. The black looked like a dangerous oppo nent, with a potent arm capable of doing masterly execution, and the winning man. He smiled at Burton with confidence, showed no hesitation on his part, and seemed "eager for the fray," and soon showed himself a troublesome customer. "He'll do," said Johnny Broome. I never saw Molineux; but his parallel I think is in the ring to day, and he shall be matched with some of the "Big Ones yet." The black took the lea d in great 'style, and kept it, nobbing his opponent with ease; and the i..rat eight minutes convinced the spectators hOw the battle must tzArminate, and in twenty . minutes Burton was so punished, and had not the slightest chance in his favour, when the black was declared the con . queror. He appeared at Johnny Broome's fast night, with , out the least appearance that he had been exhibiting his I prowess in the ring. Perry is sure to prove a tease' to a few of the " Big Ones," and Caunt, Bendigo, Tess Parke:. &C., • must look out. The Right flon. and Mrs. W. Ewart Gladstone entertained at dinner yesterday evening, at the Right . Hon. Gentleman's mansion, Carlton House-terrace, the Bishop of Jamaica; Mr. Alexander Wood , of the Emigration-otlice ; Mr. Stevens, of the Colonial-otlice ; and other gentlemen connected with that department ; Mr. Bonham, late of tlie Ordnance ; Dr. Phillimore, and others. Covers were laid for sixteen. INCREASE OF SHIPPING IN THE WEST INDIA Doca..—The amount of shipping in the West India Dock, according to the rotation furnished for the last year, com mencing in January, and ending in December, 1845, was no less than 1,307, being considerably above the amount from the opening in 1802. The amount is expected to be consi derably increased as soon as the branch line of railway communicating with tho Eastern Counties shall be com pleted. Mr. John O'Connell, M.P., has a " Life of his Father" in the press, with his speeches. THE CORN TRADE. BRITISH. Though the natural effect of the uncertainty respect ing the corn-laws must have been to create great uneasi ness among all classes of agriculturists, it is a singular fact that supplies from the growers have for some weeks vast been on a very moderate scale. We can scarcely • - nose that this has been caused through confidence in the t . -.resent amount of protection being maintained, v has strengthened the belief that Sir as each a., 1 his colleagues contemp late a material Robert Peel - ac• duties on grain ; the most reason therefore, is that farmers are reason relaxation at e i o o n n cl i u n sio t n h? y i e k; of the last crop is really oi Sconsequentl unwillin to aware that the prdepreciated value. resent s d n e i fi r c i i fi e c n e t, th a e td Should this really be die case (and we see no reason to question the accuracy of the opinion expressed at the p t rO a p t er t t l y le L t i m e of harvest, viz. , that the produce of wheat of the United Kingdom was in 1845 materially short of that of average seasons) there is certainly nothing to war rant the recent great dec line. We consider, there fore that farmers are acting prudently in not pres sing wheat to market; for, even if the whole of what is now in bond should be liberated, it would not have any permanent effect on quotations, in case our supposition that the home produce is short be correct. We are compelled to put the matter in this indefinite manner, in the absence of statistics on so important a subject as the produce of the country ; though, from careful investigation of the reports from all quarters re ceived previous to the commencement of harvest, as well as carefully compiled estimates from practical agricul turists after the crop had been secured, we have no doubt in our own minds that the deficiency, though not so great as represented by those who raised the famine cry, is actually of sufficient importance to render it very questionable whether the value of wheat can be kept lOw during the ensuing summer, let the measures of the Government be what they may. In considering the future range of prices, the fact that millers and merchants have for many weeks past refrained from adding to their stock, must not be lost sight of. The purchases recently made have been to supply immediate wants, all parties having manifested a: determination to be in a position to take advantage of whatever effect the ex pected alteration in the corn-laws might have upon the trade. It is, therefore, not unreasonable to suppose that, when once the cause of uncertainty shall have been re moved, the demand which has for so protracted a period been languid, will immediately revive ; and, instead of a f:”-ther fall, we should not be surprised to witness a steady and gradual improvement. This cannot, how ever, be expected till it has become definitely known by what laws the importation of corn is for the future to be regulated ; and, so long as the matter is under discus sion in Parliament, no great revival in business will, we fear, take place. At all the principal provincial markets held during the week, the utmost difficulty has been experienced in effecting sales of wheat; and though, as before observed, the supplies brought forward have not been by any means large, the tendency of prices has been decidedly downwards. The reports from Liverpool, on Tuesday, state that, at an abatement of about 2d. per 701bs. on the rates of that day se'nnight, some small purchases were made for immediate use, but that millers were unwilling to take more than their pressing necessities obliged them to buy. Later in the week, the depression rather increased than diminished. The accounts from the leading towns in Yorkshire are equally dull. The Hull advices of Tuesday inform us that with a disposition on the part of sellers to facilitate business by submitting to a decline of quite 2s. per qr., little progress was made in the disposal of wheat ; whilst at Leeds on the same day, and at Wakefield on Friday, the reduction was at least 2s. per qr. The depression has been nearly as great at the leading markets at the west and north-west ; nor have affairs worn a more promising appearance in the agricultural districts, the cessation of orders from the chief consum ing towns having obliged farmers, if anxious to sell, to submit to reduced prices. By our Scotch advices we learn that the continued dull reports from the south had had their usual influence on the trade, and wheat was quoted Is. to 2 s. per q uarter lower on Wednesday at Edinburgh and Glasgow. Prices of most other sorts of grain, as well as those of flour and meal, had also receded more or less ; all parties having acted on the reserve. The Irish markets have likewise felt the influence of the flat accounts from this side of the Chanpel; still quotations of both wheat and oats are too high to admit of consignments to London with a fair chance of profit. The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been small, only 5,117qr5. having been reported up to this (Saturday) evening. The quantity exhibited at Mark-lane by land-carriage samples has been trifling, but the millers having ad hered firmly to their determination not to increase their stocks in the present unsettled state of affairs, the scanty nature of the supply has failed to impart a firmer tone to business. On Wednesday only a few samples, left over from the previous market-day, were offered for sale; to place these some difficulty was experienced, but factors refused to submit to any further reduction. On Friday there was some slight addition to the quantity of wheat on the Essex stands, and the inquiry being quite as languid as earlier in the week, the turn was rather in favour of buyers. The transactions in free foreign wheat have been on a strictly retail scale ; no variation has, however, taken place in the value of the article since Monday ; holders having, on the whole, displayed more firmness than might, under all circumstances, have been expected. On Wednesday bonded wheat was totally neglected, nor were the actual operations of importance on Friday ; but there was certainly more inquiry for the article at the close than in the commencement of the week, princi pally, we believe, for shipment to Belgium. Had sellers been disposed to give way a trifle in price, business to some extent might probably have been done. The demand for flour has, throughout the week, been excess ively slow ; hitherto, the top quotation for town-manufactured has remained at 565. per sack. Ship flour has not supported its previous value, some pressed sales having been made on Friday at about is. per sack below former terms. The arrivals of barley, though not particularly large, have proved amply sufficient to satisfy the immediate wants of the malsters:and distillers, and noone has shown any inclination to take more than necessary for present purposes; we are unable, therefore, to report the slight est improvement either in the demand for or the value 'of this grain. Malt has also been difficult of sale; but the real scarcity of superior qualties has caused the finer sorts to command relatively high rates.. The market has been moderately supplied with oats, of home growth; from our own coast only 4,060 qrs.; from Scotland, 170 qrs. ; and from Ireland, none have come to band. The smallness of this arrival has, how ever, in some measure been compensated by the receipt of 11,727 qrs. from abroad. The principal dealers have shown far more anxiety to induce them to increase their stocks; the sales of the week have consequently been on a restricted scale. Factors have, on the other hand, displayed considerable firmness; and the business done has been at terms quite equal to those current on Mon day last. Many of the cargoes of foreign oats have been offered, duty paid, from on board ship; and as these were mostly purchased at high rates on the other sides, the result must be far from favourable. Beans have met with a moderate share of attention, and handsome parcels of old have brought quite as much money as last week. The duty rose to 3s. 6d. per qr., on Thursday, and is likely to continue to tend upwards. The mildness of the season has greatly interfered with the sail of boiling peas; and though the quantity brought to market has not been large, no difficulty has been experienced in buying at last Monday's decline. Grey and hog peas have also hung heavily on hand. The duty advanced a step on the minimum point (at which it has stood for some weeks) on Thursday. FOREIGN. The reports from th e different EI foreign markets are at present of very - little interest, the uncertainty as to what alteration may be made in the corn-laws- of Great Britain having tended to check business at most of the continental ports. The latest advices from Dantzic are of the 12th inst. Since the eommencement of the new year very little business has been done in wheat; a parcel of very line high-mixed, the growth of 1842, had, however, been bought for spring shipment at equal to 565. to 575. per c h ase money paid in a dvance. There had also been qr. free on boa rd, with a large proportion of the pur some inquiry for the lower qualities, principally on Konigsberg account; and for a lot of new, by no means fine, weighing only 601bs. per bushel, equal to 495. per qr. had been obtained. Statements of the quality of wheat exported during 1845, and the stock remaining on hand at the close the reof, had been p ublished; from which it appears, that of the total 34 , 106 lasts s hi pp ed, 23,343 lasts had been dispatched to Great Britain. The exports had, it seems, materially , exceeded the arrivals from the interior, the stock having been reduced from 40,881 lasts held Ist January, 1845, to 22,138 lasts on the 31st December. From Stettin we have letters of the 10th, but their contents are of little interest. The nominal price of good to fine red wheat, for spring delivery, was then 495. to 50s. per qr. free on beard; but the rates asked having been much above the limits of the few orders received, scarcely a sale had taken place. From Rostock the latest accounts are also very dull. At Hamburgh, on Tuesday, there was scarcely any thing passing in the grain trade; no foreign orders hav ing been received there, and buyers for consumption having confined their operations to as narrow as per mitted by actual wants. Contracts for fine Waren 61 to 61?slbs. per bushel, to be shipped in spring, might nave been closed at 528 9d. per qr. free on board, but no buyers had come forward. Moderately good red Marks wheat, weighing 601b5., was then obtained on the spot at equal to 495. per qr. In spring corn the operations had ' been unimportant; oats had, however, owing to their scarcity, maintained their former value. From the Mediterranean we have nothing fresh to communicate, business in grain having become exceed ingly dull at all the southern and eastern markets. At Odessa, however, the value of wheat appears to have been pretty well supported, the latest quotation from t h,snce being 355. per quarter free on board, for the best L Nalities. By t io Acadia steam-boat we have reports of recent dates from the principal markets in the United States. Shipments of flour to Great Britain were then being rapidly proceeded with, and a good mand for the 'articlft had been experienced all through the month of December, but prices were not quite so high at the clove as they had at one period been. The exports from New York from Ist to 31st December had amounted to no less than 92,791 barrels of flour, and 58,991 bushels of wheat ; besides which large quantities of Indian corn, rye, and barley had been shipped.—Mark Lane Express. Sir James Graham returned to town yesterday, from Windsor Castle. SHREWSBURY and BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. MANCHESTER, TUESDAY EVENING. —A numerously attended meeting of the shareholders of this Company was held by ad;Lur.iment at the Star Hotel this evening, to receive the report of a deputation appointed at a meeting he:,l la,t week to proceed to London and re ceive from the Committee of Management some explana tion respecting the recent amalgamation with the Dudley, Madeley, Broseley, and Ironbridge Railway Company. The Chair was occupied by J. Todd, Esq., who called upon the deputation to report the result of that visit. Mr. lIARRISON BLAIR read a written report, the sub stance of which was that the deputation was courteously received, and that the committee thought it due to the shareholders in Manchester, whom they knew, by the re-signing of their deed last year, to be both numerous and largely interested in the Company. to send their Secretary down in order to give the fullest ex planation of the recent amalgamation with the Dudley and Madeley Company, or on any other points on which the shareholders might desire information. Mr. KNOX, the Secretary to the Company, having arrived, stated that he was ready to furnish the share holders with such information as they required, either in reference to the past proceedings, the present position, or the future prospects of the Company. Mr. Sttelt.spE4lig rnimars wished the Secretary, before he proceeded to explain the recent amalgamation With the Dudley tied Aladeley Company, to state whether the Company had got rid of the opposition of the Shrewsbury and Grand Junction Company, which opposed them last year, and threw them out on standing orders. The SECRETARY stated that the Shrewsbury and Grand Junction Company of last year did not now exist. It was then merely a branch of the Grand Junction Company, but in consequence of the feeling which existed in the district against the Grand Junction Company . before it had amalgamated with the London and Birmingham Company, what was called an independent company had been formed, in which the Grand Junction Company had only one-fourth interest, the South Staffordshire one-fourth, and he believed the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton one-fourth, leaving one-fourth for the public. This company had adopted the plans of the Shrewsbury and Grand Junction of last year, and was also a competing line to the part of the Shrewsbury and Bir mingham scheme between Shrewsbury and Wolver- hampton. The Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company had however offered to amalgamate with it, and to re ceive half its capital and half its committee on their board—an offer which if left to the shareholders would very readily be accepted ; but the committee, from the constitution of the Company, were so allied with other parties that they could only amalgamate as between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, and even as to that they stipulated for the adoption of their station, in order to accommodate the South Staffordshire and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Companies, whereas the line and station of the Shrewsbury and -Birmingham Company were on a much higher level, and could not be altered this session to the level of the Shrewsbury and South Staffordshire station, without destroying the direct communication between Shrewsbury and Birming ham. It had, however, been referred to the engineers of the two companies to consider how far it was practicable in a subseqeat session to adopt the lower level, and to have, for the accommodation of all the railways into Wolverhampton, one grand central station, for which the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company had some months ago purchased an eligible plot of be tween six and seven acres of land. If the_ con test of last year is renewed, it will be in a more friendly spirit ; and as both lines run nearly side by side all the way, it can hardly be decided upon engineer ing merits, but must be decided with reference to the claim and position of the two Companies. Upon this issue the committee of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company entertained no doubt of the result, taking into account their priority of claim, the greater extent of their schemes, and the report of the Board of Trade in their favour, a circumstance which was likely to have more weight in the present than in the last session of Parliament. A SHAREHOLDER inquired whether it was true, as had been stated in the papers, that the Grand Junction Com pany would support the opposing line in Parliament, while the London and Birmingham Company determined to remain neutral in reference to this Company ? The SECRETARY said that the shareholders could themselves judge how far such a thing was likely, seeing that the London and Birmingham Company were united with the Birmingham Canal Company and with this Company, to make all the lines in the district between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and that such lines would be useless as atomneunication with Shropshire if the line of the Shrewsbury and South Staffordshire Railway were sanctioned. Besides, he knew that so recently as the day on which the amalgamation with the Dudley and Madeley Company was completed, the chairman and solicitor of the London and Birmingham Company had stated to the Vice-Chairman of this Company, that it might depend upon the cordial support of that Company in Parliament. A SHAREHOLDER remarked that the amalgamation Of this Company with the Dudley and Madeley Company, which could not go to Parliament this year, and was about to return the deposits to its shareholders, seemed like joining a living body to a dead corpse. Another SHAREHOLDER asked whether it Was true that this Company had got a bonus of 30,0001. is the exchange with the Dudley and, Madeley Company ? He did not see how a Company whose shares were at a dis count could afford to give such a bonus. The SECRETARY said that probably the shortest plan would be to state the history of the Dudley and Madeley Company, and its amalgamation with this Company. The Dudley and Madeley Company was projected about the middle of last year, and received strong local support, having also a highly respectable pro visional committee. Its first project was a line from Dudley to Madeley, with a branch from Rudge Heath to Wolverhampton, and its original capital 800,0001,, which was readily subscribed and the deposits paid. At this time the Shrewsbury and Birmingham committee saw the danger of a line from Dudley to Madeley, as likely ultimately to become a competing line to Shrewsbury, and, as the best alternative under the circumstances, offered to contribute half the capital required, and to be represented on the Dudley and M a d e ley committee. This offer was not only rejected, but the Dudley and Madeley Company advertised an extension to Shrewsbury, and an increase of its capital to 1,600,0001. There was no thing left but for the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Com pany to oppose the line from Dudley to Shrewsbury, and in like manner, the Dudley and Madeley Company had re solved to appear as a competing scheme to this Company. The plans and sections of the Dudley and Madeley Compa nies were not only not lodged in due time, but the latter were in so defective a state, that it was found hopeless to proceed for an Act this session. The Committee accord ingly published a report, in which they stated their intention to return 2/. per share to the shareholders, reserving 12s. 6d. per share to defray the expenses in curred, and to provide for the expense of proceeding in the next following session of Parliament. It was at this period that overtures for an amalgamation were again made by this Company, and as the plan originated with himself, and had been carried out not without consider able difficulty, he hoped the reasons he had to state in its favour would be as satisfactory to the shareholders present as they had been to the committee, and had led them unanimously to conclude the agreement with the Dudley and Madeley Company. First, an opponent had been removed from the field and converted into an ally; second a line, which in other hands might have proved a powerfully competing line with this Company, and which in the general opinion of those best acquainted with the district is not only required and must be made by some one, but will pay for making, has been secured to this Company; third, this Company were enabled to effect an arrangement which will sbtain for it a bonus of about 30,0001, being just the expenses which had been incurred in the formation of the Company and the fruitless contest of last session. It was one of those arrangements which proved also beneficial for the shareholders of the Dudley and Madeley Company, and the result is seen by the matter being no longer one of negotiation, but of history, for four-fifths of the Dudley and Madeley shareholders have already signified their assent to take shares in this Company. And last, though not least, this Company will obtain additional deposits amounting to 90,0001., besides having its maiden deposit almost untouched, and when the share holders take into account that, without contributing to the Parliamentary deposit of the joint scheme between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, which has lodged duplicate plans, and is proceeding with a separate and distinct Bill, that required for the lines, as lodged by this Company, will amount to 110,0001, they will have no difficulty in perceiving that the committee have very much better consulted their interests by the amalgama tion which had been made, than had they made a call of 21. 10s. per share, in order to supply the deficiency. The capital required for the line from Dudley to Madeley would abou t e q ual that displaced b y the alliance inghainand Wolverhampton, and as the estimate of the Company is 1,900,0001., there is still idrrmY roo m to admit half the capital of the Shrewsbury and South St affordshire Com pany , if the two between pahawms be: B rty Companies come to terms. The SECRETARY then read an extct from the sub scribers' agreement, to show that the committee were f u lly empowered to con clude the amal g amation wi t h the Dudley and Madeley committee, and stated that it was consulted, but the short period before they were not . from no want of courtesy towards -the shareholders that negotiation itself, preventedthe of adoption such a course. to that effect, as also a vote of the opening of Parliament, and the very nature of the Several shareholders expressed themselves highly satisfied with the explanation given, and a resolution A SHAREHOLDER said be bad been informed that the wthaasokusntaonitmhemSseclYreptgasrsyedfor the trouble he had taken. staff of the two companies was the only thing that pre vented an amalgamation with the Shrewsbury and South Staffordshire. The SECRETARY stated that such could hardly be the case, as the engineers of the two Companies were re spectively the engin eers of the London and Birmin g ham anti the Grand Juncti on, which had united, and Mr. Swift had been offered to participate jointly with the solicitors of the Compa n y ; as to himself— A SHAREHOLDER — T wo secretaries wo uld be a bout as bad as two chairm en. A rote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. de- Lord Farnham will second the Addre ss , whi ch Lord Home w 7 lll propose , in the House of Lord s , i n rep l y to CORN-LAWS: S o . f — ou W r T merchants ith a zeal the Queen's Speech. and GL lib A e s ra G l o it; IN and manuflicturels, &c., ha ve this week come f orward and subscribed the munif icen t sum of upwards of 10,0001. to a id AGAlNS T, orworthy of TIDEoIe cause, O R the Great League Fund fo r the eonstitutioal overthrow of the Corn-laws. This is doing the work in right ear nes t, an d it attests that the city of Gl as g ow still holds its right position on this most vital of all q uestions.—Scotek Reformer's Gaza THE CORN-LAW' S. MEETING AT NORWICH. NORWICH, JAN. 20.—This evening a public meeting was convened by adve r ti sement a t St. Andrew's Hall, in this city, to which all persons interested in agriculture were espe cially invited to attend. The hall, which will hold 4,000 persons, was quite crowded, and the arrangements for the accommodation of the press were very good but a mob of ruffianly fellows s urroun d e d the inclosed space set apart for the reporters, and m a d e it very diff i cult of approach. The chair was taken by Mr. Betts, the Mayor; and the greatest excitement w as awa k ene d i n consequece of the rumour that Mr. Wod e h ouse , M . P . for Norfolk, had accepted a challenge from Mr. C o bd en t o meet him and discuss the great question of the repeal of the corn-laws. The city throughout the day was thronged with strangers, as well as groups of townspeople, discussing incidentally the object the meeting. The proceedings com mence d at half-past i o'clock. Mr. Cobden arrived first, and was much cheered; sx and w Mr. Wodehouse arrived soon afterwards,hailed with partial cheering and laughter. The MAYOR rose and said. he wished every person to be fairly heard. That was an Englishman's privilege. He did not pretend to know which was right or which was wrong on the present question; but he had quite sufficient force t o keep order, and he meant to have it kept. The Anti-Corn law League of the city of Norwich were understood to have possession of the hall till Mr. Cobden had addressed the meeting. Mr. COBDEN then rose amidst enthusiastic cheering, which was again and again renewed. He said—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, .it gives me peculiar pleasure on this occa sion to address you in this magnificent hall, because I under stand we are favoured with the presence of a gentleman dis tinguished as a leader of the agricultural protectionists, one noted in the House of Commons by his talents, competent to take a lead in that influential body of our fellow- countrymen, and who, I am sure, will be able here to state the case of the pjotectionists as successfully as any member of that body. Now, gentlemen, as I understand, this meeting is intended to afford an opportunity for a discussion between those who entertain opinions similar to my own and those who favour protection to agriculture, I shall confine myself pretty much on this occasion —(Clamour)—to the discussion of the effects of protection upon agriculture.—(Renewed clamour.) If those men are not perfectly quiet I shall call on the Mayor to ask them to leave the meeting, for I have no idea of allow ing 5,000 people to be annoyed by the conduct of ten indivi duals.—(Cheers.) I will confine myself to the effects of pro tection upon agriculture, for I will take it for granted that there are no men here connected with manufactures who are not, as we are in the north, favourable to free trade in pro visions. I will assume you want no argument from me to convince you that it is better to have abundance of food than an artificial and legalized scarcity of food. And now, taking for granted that the manufacturers and traders of Norwich are favourable to abundance and cheapness—that you want no arguments frora me to show that it is your in terest to hare abundance and cheapness, we will address our selves to the consideration of protection as it affects the agriculturists. I proceed another step. I intend to define what I mean by agriculturists. Nothing has misled so much as the neglect of definitions as we go along. By agricul turista I mean men who labour on the land. Agricul ture means labouring the land. Agriculturists means the tenant-farmer, who works with his head if not with his hand, and it includes the labourer who works with his hand.—(Cheers.) It is only the farmer and the labourer who are entitled to come near the definition of agriculturist. —(Cheers.) It is true we have landowners who call them selves agriculturists—men who probably never had one acre in their own hands to cultivate, or who receive their rents and probably live at Paris, Rome, or Naples, or spend their time at Cheltenham, Brighton, or London—men who receive their rents, and then come forward pleading the cause of the agriculturists, and say to the farmer and to the labourer "We are all rowing in the same boat."—(Great cheering and laughter.) The question we have to discuss to-night is— first, what interest the farmer and farm-labourer have in the corn-laws. I say here, as I have said a thousand times before, that the farmers and farm labourers have no interest in the corn-laws. If the corn- laws do what we are told they do— keep up the price of grain—why then one inevitable conse quence follows—rents must be higher here than on the con tinent.—(Cheers.) So long as you have twenty men bidding for every vaeant farm, you may be quite sure rents will re main up to the full extent the tenant is able to pay. If the farmer could see that an Act of Parliament could secure him 80s. a quarter for his wheat, doubtless lie would be willing to pay a higher rent than if he got 40s. a quarter for his wheat, and any Act of Parliament which does really succeed in raising artificially the prices of corn and provisions, why, that is a rent-law—(Great cheering)— and I believe there are not two farmers at this meeting or in the country, with heads on their shoulders sufficiently good to entitle them to be left at large without a keeper — (Cheers and laughter)—who would not be quite willing to admit that, in the long run, Acts of Parliament that raise the price of wheat are Acts of Parliament in some degree to raise the rent of land.—(Cheers.) Then, why all this clamour on the part of the farmers in behalf of the corn laws ? What do they hope to get by the maintenance of these laws ? What have they got by their maintenance in times past ? At the protection meetings what has all the outcry been but that farming is a bad trade ? What good, then, does protection do to farmers ? You have had that protection—you have had a majority in Parliament—you have thrown up your caps at hustings for the men who promised protection—you have ten landlords in Parliament for one manufacturer or merchant—you have had it all your own way, and yet I say farming is a bad trade, and I know it has been a bad trade.—(Hear, and loud cheers.) I'll tell you why it is a bad trade. It has been a bad trade because you have had Acts of Parliament meddling with your trade. You have had Acts of Parliament proposing to secure certain prices for your produce, and the farmers have taken their farms expecting these prices; but when they have gone to market they have found the market prices not up to the Act of Parliament prices.—(Laughter.) They have reckoned their rents upon these Acts of Parliament prices, and paid them out of the market prices, and been losers by the bargain. I need not go over now the history of the corn-laws since 1815. I have done it already in this very roan. I showed you in this very room that your first break down in 1822 was owing to the corn-laws. You had a law passed in 1815 to secure you 80s. a quarter. In 1822 wheat was selling at half that price, and in a number of the Norwich Mercury in 1822 there were no fewer than 168 adver tisements of farmers to be sold up.—(Hear, hear.) Well, then, you have had two or three times since the prices down to rearly one-half the prices the Act of Parliament pro mised you. You know the distress which followed upon farmers in consequence. I need not go back upon it ; every man here of my_ own age can recollect it.—(Hear, hear.) But I hear an Hon. Gentleman near me, the Member for one of the divisions of this county, cheering me when I allude to the distress of the farmers.— (Cries of " No, no," from Mr. Wodehouse.) lam not saying that he exults in it, but when we are cheered in the House of Commons by one of our opponents we always think that something ironical is meant by it, and I take it that the Hon. Gentleman means to infer that protection has not secured the prosperity of the farmers. But probably the Hon. Gentleman has some other way of accounting for the distress of the farmers than I have. Well, all I stipulate for is, that he shall confine him self, on the present occasion, to corn, and if they have had distress in spite of protection, what is the use of rousing the whole country and fighting the battle of protection, as if the only thing it did was to benefit the farmers ? I ap peal to past experience to prove that the farmers have not been prosperous with protection ; but I'll go further, and maintain, that the fanners have not only not been pros perous, but that they have done worse as men of business — I mean they have made less money than other classes of the community. There is not a farmer in the country who would not respond to this assertion immediately. Our shopkeepers, our drapers, our grocers, our coach builders, every trade or profession you please— our lawyers, our doctors, every other class, has made money and become prosperous, more or less; but, as a rule, farmers have generally been unprosperous. Now, why should it be so ? Why should farmers not make money as well as other people? Why should farmers be the most unprosperous per sons in the community ? I can only account for it from this, that they have been especially protected by Members of Par liament.—(Laughter.) They have had so much dry-nursing by county Members—(Continued laughter)—that they have never grown up into healthy maturity; they have been rickety bantlings, and as they grow up, though they have now been under this system for 30 years and odd, they must still have crutches given to them.—(Hear.) Well, we hear a good deal at these protection meetings about the over grown capital engaged in manufactures ; and is it not very odd, that the manufacturers, who have no protection, and who want none, should make out better than the farmers with all their protection ; that county Members should be fighting night and day in the House of Commons, and coming down to public meetings and rousing the whole country to keep up protection—that protection being intended to secure the farmer the home trade with out which you cannot possibly live, and at the same time our manufacturers in Lancashire and York shire, who are selling their goods probably to the Chinese some 12,000 or 15,000 miles off, are making money, and the farmers, who have had the home market secured to them without any competition, can't make any money at all ? Well; then, take the agricultural labourers. Why, they are at the bottom of the scale, the very lowest scale of the ladder —(Hear, hear) —making less than 7s. or Bs. a week.—(Cries of, " No, no," "Yes, yes," and other sums named.) Well, I won't pretend to settle the question. Nothing, 1 find, is so difficult as to settle the rate of wages anywhere. I find that in Wiltshire the wages are 65., 75., and Bs. a week, but I hope they are double in Norfolk. But, whether or not, this I will undertake to say, from a pretty wide knowledge of facts, that, the whole country through the lowest paid la bourer is the agricultural labourer.—(A voice, " No, no.") New, anybody that denies that must not have had his eyes and his ears open for the last two or three years. Now, why is it that the agricultural labourers are worse paid than any other labourers? I would ask the gentleman who denies that the agricultural labourer is paid less than the manufac turing labourer how is it that the labourers are running away from agriculture to manufactures? Did any one ever hear of a man running away . from 12s. a week to Bs. 2 (Laughter.) But I can imagine it possible that he would leave Bs. to get 12s. But how is it that the agricultural labourer is - not badly off? I will not go beyond one cient fac_ e t, ; that the have n that the farmers, as a rule throughout the country, e d aurffiis cient in capital for their land ; h t a h s ere an y r o e t capital for the acreage they occupy; and w . e insufficient capital, there you havely badly paid an d miserable remarks simply to Nor labourers. Now, Ido not app l y folk, for I believe Norfolk an London are two of the best ea k of the country generallv. counties in England, but I s p What I want to state i s a nations cas e, an d N not all orfolk case; and I say tha t the farmers in this country, as a rule, one-half the cap ital the y ou g ht to have. Even the ha evne notinthe House of Commons don't deny this, for I have told them so there. Now, how is this? Why, just because they are under the delusive system of the corn-laws. You have had landlords living upon the capital of su c cessive tenants in this country. If you had 163 farm tenants advertised to be sold up in the Norwich Mercury, judge of the distress which must have existed among the labourers on these farms, when all the capital was swept away to pay the rent, and the farmers left without the means of employing their la bourers.—(A voice—" That was owing to an alteration of the currency.") Well, if it be owing to the alteration in the currency, call your currency meetings, but don't go to the protection meetings, and tell the farmers there that it is protection that makes them prosperous, and when I show you that they are not prosperous; don't tell me th.;:c it is owing to the currency that they are not so. I Ir 4 . ‘ve no ob jection to your taking your own course, but tlis I am,quite resolved upon, that you shan't jump up behind. our Anti-Corn law League, as a bad boy, that does not want to hurry him self, jumps behind a post-chaise, to any errands for other people who employ -him.—(Laughter and cheers.) It is admitted that the farmers have not prospered, and that the labourers have been distressed; protection has not prevented that.—(Hear, hear.) . Let us try, then, if we cannot do with out protection. It is said that neither English farmers nor manufacturers can compete with foreigners. Why not? Are you not as good and as clever? Will you submit to have your coward ears cuffed as the farmers do?—(Laughter and cheers.) I have been literally ashamed of my countrymen when f have heard accounts of these protection meetings. Dukes, lords, squires, and great burley farmers, alongside of whom I should be but a pigmy,. meet together, weeping and declaring in the face of the country that they will be all ruined if they are not protected. (The Hon. Gen tleman held a white handkerchief to his eyes amidst Much laughter.) They want tq be protected against the Russians and the Poles, the Germans and the Dutchmen. — (Laughter.) They are protected. We don't ask them to send abroad and compete with farmers at their own doors, as we manufacturers do. We don't ask them to send their produce to China, and sell it there at what they can get after paying all the expenses of freight and duty; yet we find these men meeting together, and blubbering and mourning over the bare idea that they should be called upon to com pete with foreigners, either here, or at their own doors.— (Cheers.) It is surprising to hear one of those dukes and squires, when presiding at public meetings, tell the farmers that they will be all ruined if the corn-laws should be re pealed ; and that if foreign corn were ever introduced we should be unable to pay taxes. Where is the country that is not taxed? I should like to find out such a country. Show me the Government, whether Turkish or Russian, that will work for nothing, and I will go and live there.—(Hear and laughter.) And, farmers, if you had ever travelled as you ought you would not be gulled in the way that you are. Foreigners are taxed to the extent of all they can pay, just as you are.—(Hear, hear.) That appears to me to be the chief end of Government, as far as I know.—(Some confusion took place here in consequence of a rush made by several persons at a side-door to force an entrance, and the inter ference of a policeman, who ejected one or two of them.) How the protectionists would like to have such competition for admission to their meetings !—(Hear, hear.) The protectionists talk of the ruin of the tenant-farmers by the repeal of the corn-laaws. I ask you whether there have not been in the House of Commons three motions calling upon that House—for there are no tenant-farmers there— to show what are the burdens upon agriculture, and they uniformly voted against the inquiry ?—(Hear, hear.) They tell the farmers that they have peculiar bur dens. We tell them in the House that they have peculiar exemptions. I have told them, as I tell them now, that if they will show a burden borne by agriculture and the landowners, which is not borne by manufacturers and traders, I will show them that five times the burden is borne by the latter classes. (Hear, hear.) If, then, the peculiar than o burdens,'riy h ot what l as right s have they of t a h g e r y icu t l o tu p r r i protection any a n n o y more athee community ?—(Cries of Hear, hear.") We say, if they have peculiar burdens we will exempt them ; we say we have no desire that any class of the community should have either peculiar burdens or exemptions. We say that they should be fairly arranged; and, if we have any other taxation, let us have a fresh arrangement, in which all shall be fairly treated.—(Hear, hear.) But when we seek for a statement of accounts, they come to farmers' meetings, and say, « w e cannot compete with foreigners, on account of our burdens." —(A laugh.) I say this scheme of protection is one-half a political hoax, and the other half arises out of political igno rance.—(Hear, hear.) The men who play the game, and the men who are played upon by the players, make up the two classes of dupes and impostors.—(Laughter.) The landlords —the political landlords I mean—wish to exercise supreme authority in this country, and they frighten the farmers in order to drive them to the poll. They bellow for "Protection to agriculture."—(Laughter.) There is nothing like a good cry at an election —(Hear, hear.) Ay, but that old banner of protection is most terribly soiled and torn of late.— (Laughter.) I don't think the farmers will rally round it again.—(Cheers.) I want to see the farmers put upon the same footing as the tradesmen and other classes are ; and that they do not make their trade a species of party politics. No trade will ever answer that is mixed up with politics. If anybody comes to protect you tradesmen, shut up shop, and turn to honest pursuits.—(A laugh.) Having urged his usual arguments in favour of farms being let on leases of nineteen or twenty years, and on mercantile terms, and that they should not be suffered to be infested and injured by wild animals, nor the leases clogged with covenants injurious to the tenant-farmer, the Hon. Gentleman said, you must be allowed to do as you like, and the best you can with the land, having no restrictions as to how you are to dress and crop it, or adapt it for the preservation and hunting of game. I say that one-half of the agriculturists are dupes, and the other impostors. In the first place, the farmers are made tools of, as political farmers, by the landlords; and, in the next place, they are staved off from inquiry into the game laws tenure, and the like.---(Hear, hear.) In conclusion, Mr. Cobden argued that the landlords would no get less rent if the farmers were freed from the mischief's com mitted by game, and from ancient covenants prejudicial to the proper cultivation of land. If any landholder in Norfolk would let his land on such terms, and for a lease of nineteen or twenty years, he would under tike to get him a tenant.—(llear, hear.) Yet the landlords told the farmers that such changes would ruin them.—(Hear, hear.) What could be more degrading than to tell the farmers of England that they were the Bri tish lion, and that if the' only shook their mane and wagged their tail, the miserable manufacturers would be thrown off like dew drops.—(Laughter and cheers.) They were told that they were loyal men, that they upheld our institutions in Church and State, that they were the founda tion upon which the Throne and the aristocracy rested, and that they had fought the battles of the country at Waterloo and Trafalgar.—(Laughter.) Why, if I were addressed in that way (exclaimed the Hon. Gentleman) by abody of men, I should think of the fable of the fox and the crow, wherein the fox flattered the crow that she had a moat enchanting voice, and, deceived by the " soft sawder," she opened her beak to sing, and down dropped the cheese which she had held in it, and which was all the fox, who ran off with it, wanted.—(Great laughter and cheering.) I venture to pre dict that when the corn-laws are abolished—as abolished they will be—(Great cheering)—(A cry—" Three cheers for the abolition of the corn-laws,' which were heartily given) —you will see no more of those painful and humiliating ex hibitions. 'I he farmers will not then be brought together and treated like children—like school girls—to be flattered, to have soft sawder laid on, not with the brush, but with the trowel. I wonder they don't see through it. I think they do. But I want to see all that nonsense abolished. The farmer's vote will then be his own—(Loud cheers)—and the landlord and tenant, instead of laying their heads together for the maintenance of an interest opposed to that of the community, will lay their heads together to do as much for each other as they can in an honest way.—(Cheers.) Both landlord and tenant, I think, must feel considerably indebted to me and the League for, telling them that we are going to abolish the corn-laws. And we will do it.—(Loud cheers.) The old edifice is looking very shaky, but you will see it tottering and crumbling before six weeks are over.—(Cheers.) I want to do this without exciting the alarm of the parties concerned. I have held, meetings from Dorsetshire to Aber deenshire; the League, a few. years ago, expended 10,000/. in enlightening the farmers; but no sooner was my back turned than up got protection societies, which say to the farmers—" Don't mind what Cobden has been saying. You cnn't thrive—you can't hope to hold your farms to any good purpose unless you are protected against the Russians, the Poles, and the Americans. If you don't trust us you will all be ruined." And now in what a precious mess they are all landed !—(Cheers and laughter.) Now they are going to have the corn-laws repealed, and they know it. As to this galvanized movement among the far mers, we know all about it. It has originated with a few landlords—not the most intelligent of their class—who have sent about their agents to rouse the farmers. They cannot get above 60, or 80, er 100 persons to attend their meetings. Then they get their speeches put in the Morning Post or the Morning Herald, and this sort of thing they call a great national demonstration.—(Laughter.) Then, what do we see on the other side ? A meeting is called at Oxford, and every hand is held up in favour of free trade. At Brighton a thonsand people are seen holding up their hands for free trade, and only six against it. At Exeter, a meeting, called by the Mayor, is unanimous in favour of free trade. And with all those meetings in favour of free trade the protection ists are unable to call a single meeting in a single town in the kingdom. The game is up, and they know it.—(Cheers.) We meet in Parliament on Thursday, and what has come of this great protectionist party? Where is their own Prime !Minister, whom they made to uphold the corn-law?- (Cheers and laughter.) Run away. This state of matter reminds me of an anecdote which I once heard. A friend of mine asked a gentleman, who had to deposit stakes, whose hands he had deposited the stakes in? "In the hands of Major so-and-so," was the reply. " Yes, but," said my friend, "who will hold the major?"—(Laughter. ) In 48-11 the farmers put the stakes in sir Robert Peel's hands, and now they want somebody to hold Sir Robert.—(Renewed laugh ter and cheers.) I ask your worthy representative to oak out candidly to-night what his real opinions are as to leprospects of protection, for I think he will agree with me Ibis, at least, that if protection is likely to be abolished, nothing can be so mischievous, nothing is so greatly to be deprecated, as that the farmers of this country and kingdom should be longer deluded with the idea that protection is to be maintained.—(Hear, hear.) I ask that Hon. Gentleman to join with me to-night in a candid avowal as to the prospects of maintaining protection. I can see but one danger from the immediate abolition of the duties on corn, and that is entirely eccasioned by the absurd course followed by the protectionists. The protectionists have already robbed the farmer of ss. the quarter on his wheat for the last six weeks or two months by the panic which they have created. If there be a panic among the farmers, that will be entirely owing to the preaching and teaching of the protectionists, and all I have been trying to do for the farmer is undone. bad! now do my best to obtain free trade in corn instantly, if ar kt . is to be got at all.—(Cheers.) Now we are going to i lia mtheentiowni.thGeSinrtßle.mPaeneladnedtehrmisinpeadr t yth.-7,laireaertes.)hinisehelf frao e r m lead e that two men in the House of Common s who alone can , will admit hartdJt such. Russellis h tore case. It.e. Lord Peel. GentlemanTjhohenHoßnu.sseell is our leader.—(Loud cheers.) Sir R. Peel was their leader— (Laugh ter)—and he is run away. But that is not the worst of it. He carries with him Sir J. Graham and Mr. Gladstone, the only two men who could possibly be conceived capable of lead i;ig the House. Well, then, what is to become of the protec tionist party—ofthe 100 or 150 forlorn-looking gentlemen, with I their hearts in their shoes and their chins down to their waists ? They may revile Sir R. Peel, but the country will say they are - disappointed. They are impotent, and will sink lower and lower in public opinion as the session advances. Well, what comes of the protectionists? I tell the farmers at once the game is up ; you may . talk of anything yo u like, but if any o esp y ea oo ks m t e o a y n - ou to ag k ai oa n x o us f p?rL{tecetihonee,ra and laughter.) youshouldas A ask him, "Do gentleman has addressed a note to the taxes are to be paid. w e don't object to Ray the Queen's how, if the corn-laws are repealed, I e f asking bne.taxes. . ndgs. Weg7 m t (e objectup pho friends . —(Cheers e e r x s p lain laughter.) u p g a h y t taws er .) It nevero the heard Hon. o f Gentl eman' s agitations o nly main taind a th t e ax qu f e or sti t o h n e wu Qu i e s e h n o ' be nefit of the Queen to payrevenue. If the gentleman who p u puts Quee n' s taxes meh to ow so i oa t e w bod oul y d e te e, fo t r k e the I bwille- explain his difficulty. Mr. Cotiden next proceeded to repeat his statements on the subject of the qualification. He did not advance the m one y, ne ith er did the League. The majority of that meeting were free-traders ; and he begged of them to give Mr. Wodehouse a right frank and hospitable welcome. If that gentleman were not a very plucky one, he would not have been there that night. Having shown that the corn-laws were no benefit to farmer, labourer, or even landlord, Mr. Cobden, in conclusion, said—lf that Hon. Gentleman and his order—if the aristo cracy of this country—are so infatuated as to persist in fighting this battle against the people on that most unhal lowed of all grounds—a bread tax—then I warn them, if they put us to it, we will show that the power which the middle and industrious classes possess is sufficient to put down the usurpations of a privileged class. The trial of strength between the people and the aristocracy has taken place elsewhere, in many countries and ages. It never proved successful, and the aristocracy may depend upon it their at tempt will not prove successful here.—(The Hon. Gentle man resumed his seat amidst loud and long continued cheering.) Mr. GEARY then proposed the first resolution, as follows : " That the corn-laws, and all other laws designed to re strict trade under pretence of protecting particular classes, are unjust in principle and injurious in operation, and ought to be forthwith abolished." Colonel ANGERSTaIN seconded the resolution. Mr. WODEROUSE rose amidst cheering and clamoulri,e and said, that in presenting himself before the ineet t g that his first expression ought to be one of duty g a letter to mayor. He attended here in deference to that ased authority. He (Mr. Wodehouse) had addressed as to a famine were indications of a scarcity, the statements . the electors of Norfolk, telling them that h iol:lnTlrednsi atnh'es gh there were, and to m under i t al a l circumstances, an allegation of grossly exaggerated; but. paramount ma Cobden not matter of interest. He as that s a c t ar:i i t l y t o im ug e l s il asked if there was not in alluding, even in the smallest degree, to the something of unblushing in the on the part of Mr. scarcity which a few weeks ago was so loudly asserted to sr exist ?—(Clamour.) The amendment he intended to pro- • -• pose was as follows : 1. That this meeti ng , w hil st it is duly i sensible of the estimable blessings derived f rom the enjoyment of commet cial liberty, is still impressed with the belief that whatis , z called free trade," to use the words of Mr. Clay, formerly ' President of the United States, is no thi ng more than a beau tiful vision, existing only in the imagination of' philosophers and theorists, and practically repudiated by all nations, since an indispensable condition to the adoption of it b y one nation is its adoption by all. 2. That in levying a tariff of duties, care should be taken that all the great interests of the country, viz., agriculture, manufacture, navigation, and the mechanic arts, should, as far as may be practicable, derive equal advantage from th e incidental protection which a just system of revenue duties may afford; making it a matter of extreme impOrtance to understand distinctly what is meant by . a revenue standard, both as regards its maximum or its minimum in respect of amount; and also as to the mode in which such duties should be levied, whether on the principle of a duty ad valorem, or be taken in any other way. - 3. That the terms " Protection to domestic industry" are of popular import; but they should apply, under a just system, to all the various branches of industry in the country. Th t the farmer or planter, who toils yearly in his fields, is engaged in "domestic industry," and is as much en titled to have his labour protected as the manufacturer, the man of commerce, the navigator, or the mechanic, who are engaged also in domestic industry in their different pursuits. The joint labours of all these classses constitute the aggregate of the domestic industry of the nation, and they are equally entitled to the nation's protection. No one of them can justly claim to be the exclusive recipients of protection, which can only be afforded by increasing burdens on the " domestic industry" of the others. 4. That whilst this meeting depends with confidence upon the justice of Parliament for the maintenance of the rights of the agricultural interests of this country, it cannot contemplate with indifference the combinations of interested individuals of vast money power, whose professed object is to destroy the independence and control the free agency of Par liament, and whose leaders have given daring publicity to their intentions to undermine and control the freedom of election ; and that, such being the instruments by which the agricultural interest is impugned, this meeting pledges itself to oppose, by every legal and constitutional mode, such at tacks upon our most valued institutions, and to maintain arm the ou city inviolate the freed om o f e l ec ti on an d th e i n d epen d ence off t , h Parliament, not merely as regards the ea st ern a nd western divisions of the co un ty o f N or f o lk , b ut a l so as comprehend ingtande b ocroouoigih of ff King N o re ,s ' i cp y , n t n h e a n b d o r t o l u i e g h boroughof Great of Thetford, whose electoralprivileges may, either now orhere after,be brought to hazard by being subject to inroads of a simiar character. (The reference to " philosophers and theorists" in the amend ment was received with great laughter and clamour.) He did not know whether by the forms of the meeting he was precluded from further discussion. He was perfectly satis fied to sit down with this declaration of his resolution. The resolution which had been moved included the sugar duties, the malt-tax, and everything. He was rejoiced to see Mr. , Cobden, but regretted the absence of Mr. Bright. It was impossible to view, without sentiments of the greatest indig nation, the excessive bitterness with which Mr. Bright ex pressed himself on every occasion.—(Clamour, and cries of " Question," in the midst of which) The MAYOR rose, and said it was the right of an English man to be heard, and the more readily they listened to Mr. Wodehouse, the sooner would they hear Mr. Cobden again in reply. If the interruption were persevered in he cer tainly would dissolve the meeting, and then they would hear nothing. Mr. WODETIOUSE said, he only asked the meeting to hear him patiently for a single moment, till he called on them to bear in mind that not a thousandth part of Mr. Cobden's speech referred, in the slightest degree, to the resolution which followed.—(Great clamour and laughter.) Mr. A. HAMMOND, Westacre, said their representative, Mr. Wodehouse, had been checked by noise ancrinterruption.— (Cries of "No, no," and clamour.) Well, then, he had not been checked by interruptions. He had been checked.—(Re newed clamour.) Mr. Hammond then proceeded to state that he would answer Mr. Cobden himself ; but he would not say anything hard of that gentleman. What were they to say of the man who told them at one time that the landlord was the only party to be affected by the repeal of the corn-laws, while to-night he had said that the landlord would not suffer. Mr. Cobden had said that the agriculturists had had too much protection. He (Mr. Hammond) was ready to show that they had too little. What had been the effect of the reduction of protection in 1842? Had it not lowered prices of wheat ss. or 10s. a comb 1 Mr. Cobden had referred to the number of sales of farmers' stock in 1822. Now, he ( Mr. Hammond) wished the meeting to remembor what had taken place at the time referred to. It was certainly most improper and unjust to attribute the distress of that period to the corn-laws. It was solely attributable to Peel's Cur rency Bill, which doubled the farmer's debt, while it left him only half the means of paying it. For six years, ending and including the year 1809, the total cash currency of the country averaged 44 millions and some odd hundreds. The average price of wheat during the same period was 803. 2d. For seven years, ending and including the year 1825, the total cash currency averaged 30 millions some odd hundreds, and the price of wheat averaged 60s. For 12 years, ending and including the year 1843, the total cash currency was 28 millions, and the average price of wheat was 525. Thij, he maintained, was an evidence of the depressing effect of the currency measure on the interests of the farmer. Mr. Cobden had tried to prove that protection was of no use to the farmer. He (Mr. Hammond) would main tain that it was of great use not only to the farmer, but to every individual who works with his own hands.—(A voice, " Prove it.") The free-traders have tried to charm the peo ple with the cry of cheap bread ; they had talked of the fig loaf, and of the increased quantity of food in the country; but they had always kept out of view that cheap food meant low wages.--(Laughter, and cries of " No, no.") What they meant was that they could not compete with the foreigners because they eat cheaper bread than the people otthis coun try, and because wages were higher here than they were . there, and God knew they were low enough here too. He (Mr. Hammond) did not grudge Mr. Cobden the thousands he had made by manufacture s, but he did abominate the gross delusion which be pressed upon the minds of those men out of whom he carved that money, that it was the landlords of England who, by their attempt to keep up the price of bread, deprived these men of food. This was not the case. It merely deprived the manufacturers of a certain portion of their profits.—(Hootings and laughter.) What did that great League authority, Mr. Deacon llume, say on this matter? In answer to a question put to him by Mr.Villiers, when he was examined before a Committee of the House of Commons, whether he contemplated placing the working man of this country on the same footing as the working men of other countries, Mr. Deacon Hume expli citly said, that he would place him on the same footing. Well, what did Mr. Baring, another League authority, say on the subject. He said, " I will not deny that the desire and policy of the men engaged in trade, whatever may be said of its inhumanity, is to screw down the rate of wages as low as possible."—(Cries of " Question.") He saw that those re marks were not very palatable, so he would try another tack. —(Laughter.) He would ask why should they believe why should they trust a body of men bound together by the strongest ties of interest to aggrandize themselves at the ex pense of the rest of the country ?—(Cries of "No, no," and confusion.) Why, what had they done here? They had come to " soft-sawder" the farmers, which, however, they had most thoroughly failed in doing. They came to tell the far mers their business, when the fact was, that they did not know the commonest part of the farmers' business. They came there to describe the landlords as tyrants . , who drove their tenants to the poll like sheep. He (Mr. Hammond), as a landlord, denied that altogether. He denied that any land lord in Norfolk dare coerce his tenantry.—(Cheers and laughter.) Before concluding he wished to say a few words about the use which Mr. Cobden would make of the present meeting. He would say that he had been opposed by a few booby country gentlemen—(Laughter)—but that he had succeeded in convincing and persuading the great body of the farmers of Norfolk that protection had been of no benefit to them. He (Mr. Hammond) sincerely hoped . that the farmers would that night show by their voices that this was a fallacy. Mr. Cobden had said a hundred times that he had all the farmers with him who had any brains in their heads. He (Mr. Hammond) hoped that to night it would be shown that all the farmers who had brains in their heads were in favour of protection.—(Laughter.) He knew that they had many farmers with them who had brains in their heads, who cultivated their lands, i l t v a r who em ployed their energies, who invested land, belonging, che spent their money upon improving . th t e he not make such a admitted, to another party; but did h y and laughter.) safe by ?—(He,ar, ear, bargain as they were th a t had been uttered by Mr. Was all the nonsense trop nd to one man, and a butcher Cobden about lett in g. la again?—(Cries of " Yes.") He sheep over it ag runningthat there were cases of (Mr. Hammond) did not deny i n j u stice. He t h ou ght it was a case of injustice where a man to sport let his land to anotherover, and perhaps to a gentleman from Manchester and Nottingham, who cared for nothing but making a mercantile transaction of it—who kept hares and rabbits, not for sporting, but to send to market. This he did consider as a grievous injustice ; but, fortunately, such cases were very few. Mr. Cobden had de scribed the landlords as the most • unjust men on the face of the earth, who not only took rents from their tenants, but biassed their political principles. Now he (Mr. Hammond) had canvassed the western division of Norfolk, not for him self, but for a fri en d, an d h e h a d h a d occas i o n to see the screw applied much tighter by attorneys or money-scriveners than ever he had seen it by landlords. Mr. Cobden also told them that the League wished to increase the franchise. If Mr. Cobden wished to increase the franchise in this country, why did he not, in the House of Commons, bear witness to his desire ? But the fact was, that he only wished to in crease the franchise for a particular purpose, and nothing else. But he (Mr. Hammond) frankly said that he els approved of this interference with the representation of this country altogether ; but ho no more disapproved of it than he did of the interference of the Carlton and Reform Clubs. He thought all interference bad. He begged to urge upon the meeting not to be led away by the false statements of Mr. Cobden—for false he maintained they were. He (Mr. Hammond) admitted that he had failed to convince the meet ing' that his views were right. He was sorry to say that, he had been weak in argument although strong in the knowledge of what was right. He bad not the ability to ad dress them as he ought, but he begged the farmers to re member that, doing away with protection meant wheat at 30s. a quarter.—(Cries of "No 1" and shouts of laughter.) It meant the lowest possible wages for all kinds of labour. Mr. Cobden had taunted them that their labourers were only receiving Bs. per week. He (Mr. Hammond) employed a great many labourers, and at this moment they were re ceiving 11s. a week ; moreover, they earned Si. 12s. 6d. in harvest. Mr. Hammond concluded by urging the farmers to continue to held together, and all this bobbery of the League would come to nought. Mr. BALL then came forward and begged to be a l l owe d to make a few observations. He denied that the com a er g 1815 had been passed with a view of securing 80s. 9 alising u the for wheat, as Mr. Cobden had stated, or tfl u e purpose of price of wheat in any way, but rather o , 0 0inst the risk of giving protection to the British farmers habundance as to beat corn coming in from abroad in sucr would be ruined by the down the prices here till the gro thweedepression which occurred competition. With reference totewbich Mr. Cobden had alluded,. among the farmers in 182' , but to the fact, that im that was owing, • not to the corn lly ary hest. Accordin 0000 1821 there was Lureuthat year abundant no fewer than 4,000,000 to Mr. Jacob, t we re of wheat above the average ; in addition to whicls quarters no 000 quarters imported from Ireland ; and It there were 1,0 was owing to this excess of 5 , 000 , 000 quarters that prices w er e , beaten down, a nd so many farmers ruined. The corn-href had no tendency to produce this depression in price. Matters were bad enough with the corn-law, but they would have been ten times worse without it. They were told that there were vast quantities of corn in America, and that if we only had free trade we should have an abundant supply of corn from America, and that she would take our commodities in return. Thik sounded all very well in theory, but it would never do in prao, Lice. One effect of the introduction of American corn wee," be, that it would sweep away all the milling property in tl u i s country, for America would send flour in such vast qv ami ties, as he verily believed, would reduce the value of m illing property at least 50 per cent. ; so he advised everyb' ody who had got mills to look to themselves before they advocated free trade in corn. Hebelieved that Mr. Cobde• a would not deny that the capital employed in mina was >` Sore than equal 71,8 \ - 7) , ~/