The Sun. — London, England, 1839-03-18 00:00:00

'II ice ~+ CORN LAWS MEETING OF DELEGATES.—(SATURDAY.) The following appeared in only a part of our Second Edition on Saturday Evening : The Delegates assembled on Saturday afternoon at the usual time and place. •Among the Members of Parliament present were—D. O'Con nell, Esq., M.P. ; Joseph Hume, Esti., M.P. ; W. Evart, ; J. Easthope, Esq., M.P. ; and G. W. Wood, Esq., AL P. The CHAIRMAN said the debate upon the Corn-laws had been adjourned last night (or rather this morning), contrary to general expectation. But he was not sorry that the debate bad been adjourned—( Hear, hear) —for though he had - not had time to read the speeches—(Hear, hear, from Mr. O'Connell) —yet his attention had been directed to a paragraph from the speech of Sir R. Peel, which was as follows : " The Hon. Member for Manchester had spoken since of the decay of trade, and, had prophesied that the country was ap proaching to ruin. He (Sir R. Peel) paid the greatest respect to the statements of that Hon. Member, but he would ask of him to verify his argument by reference to some public docu ,ments•—(Hear. ) N ow w h at di d the paper which he held in his hand state with respect to commerce and manufacture ? Why it showed that the total amount of British produce in manufacture sent out from the United Kingdom, in the year 1637 , was 36 ,228,000/.—that was during the time when corn was low—and, in 1835, when it advanced, the total amount of the exports w as 43 , 3 00,000/.—(Ckeering. ) He supposed it would be said by the Hon. Gentlemen opposite that those exports vrere merely woollen yarn and cotton yarn.—( Hear. ) Now he would look to what the articles were. In woollen manufac tures in 1537 the exports were 4,660,0001. In 1838 they were 6,793 ,000/. In silk manufactures in 1337 the exports were 6140t3ie,Ory, in 153 O 01.; in 17,838, they were 778,000/. I n h ar d ware an d the exports were 1,460,0001. ; in 1538, 1 ' 507,00 0/. In earthenware, in 1837, 563,0001. In cotton Yarn, in 1 857, 6,955,000/. ; in 1838, 7,438,0001. Now what Was the total amount of articles into which labour entered ? • V 1 .17 ii 1837 the export of articles, exclusive of cotton yarn, : 1 1 . eer i i . 3 4 .0 , /0/., while in 1838 it was 16,700 , 000/ .— (G reat ) Then, with respe c t t o th e exports i n li nen manu facture; in 1837 they amounted to 2,133,000/. ; and in 1835 t°2,990 ,000/. Now, after such a statement as that, the Hon able Member for Manchester might argue as he pld, but NNo(Sir R . Peel) would say to him, Take that paper ease in your and tell me w h y i t i s unsatisfactory. " —( Great cheering. ) ."ovr he (Mr. smith) could scarcely believe that such state r,(!ments would be made by any Honourable Gentleman.— : l ear, hear. ) Th e year 1837 was one of peculiar commercial "' str ess, arising from the loss of exports from the United States, and the failure of some of the first mercantile houses in Lon don. 4: There was an exportation of gold instead of an exports .°!:"u of manufactu res , a s t a t e o f t hi ngs unparalleled in the history enin nierce.—(H ear , h ear. ) Of th i s the Right Honourable t onet could hardly have been ignorant. The exports of h ' 36 , were 4 6,000,000/.—of 1337, 36,000,00 U. —( Hear, hear)e. Now, either the Right Hon. Bart. did know this, or did not. If he did not, he manifested a degree of ignor ancetu.. rery culp a bl e i n one asp i ring to be Prime Minister of glind.—( Hear, hear.) If he did know it, his attempt to Mislead the H ouse b y statements so unfair, for the purpose of r ifli ng a temp orary o bj ect, was an instance of political dis i,restY of th e most discreditable character.—( Hear, hear.) te e Public accountant in Manchester, who was capable of at t4l''Pting such a fraud upon the public would ever be allowed ha " an opportunity of exe rc isi ng a s i m il ar i mpos i t i on. 1836 Total declared value of Expert s o f M anu f ac t ures. £46,463,295 1837 36,421,129 ~‘ e 1538 338,839 " elated value Exports of different Articles H of Manufactures. 1836. I 1837. I 1838 Cott` llanufactures ...... Cotton Yar n •...... Hard w ares and C ut l ery... Cott Iron and Steel ........... on and 8ra55....... Woollen Manufactures.— 18,511,692 13,625,464 16,700,468 6,120,366 6,933,467 7,430,532 2,271,313 1,458,666 1,507,478 2,342,674 2,069,865 2,530,903 1,072,344 1,181,732 j 1,226,258 7,998,044 4,993,313 I 6,137,813 t S h o th in at the t o t a l exports of last year were less by three millions a .: l 1836, altho ug h th ey were greater by seven millions than I t 'i b J337 * Re had not h a d th e opportunity of reading any fur farther t hey part of the spee c h, an d t h ere f ore, should not make any U ob servations ; but he happened to have in his possession 'Peed' made by th e H on. Baronet ' s father in 1815 upon the a c ubject o f the Corn-laws. Sir R. Peel (on the debate on the °r °-la fo rmer ws in 18 15 said " That it had been the w i se p o li cy o f Governments to keep the price of the chief articles of b1,11.4.1a0 subsistence as low as possible ; upon that principle Mr, '-Itth acted with success." And then he went on in the same Btrain to show the impolicy of taxing the food of the people. e regretted to see his son not following his.footsteps, and be Particularly regretted that ha had condescended to degrade him a b y a delusive statement to make an impression in favour of Particular party ; and h e cou ld not b el i eve that a man of his kaowledge and n'et't a•s—( Hear, great capacity could be speaki ng hi s rea l senti hear.) t COnnzie said there were two or three other points in speech of. Sir R. P ee l which might amuse the meeting. oe ° had devoted about half a column to a statement of the amount avin gs deposited in der to show that different ba n k s i n th e coun t r y, i n No e th ere the Corn-laws were operating favourably. ' was scarcely a country in any part of the world i tll which some sort of saving was not going on, whether eiltreY had corn -laws or not. Holland had always been a frugal rY, and Dr. Kay, in his report on the education of said that it was considered a crime for a family to At i . °P to the full amount of its income. —(Hear, hear.) co r e - same time they had the good sense not to permit any peei'llwa• Holland had not however maintained her pros totwithtanding she had a people still remarkable for beet frugality frugality. Did Sir Robert Peel mean to argue that savi 4 ; t il he Dutch had increased the amounts deposited in their ore sugar l nks, their common or national greatness had there- The no decay ? What had savings to do with corn-laws People even in Egypt and Turkey had a propensity law_s to r 1 : 1 3:: This was only another lamentable proof of Si 0 0 °-- ' Peel having resorted to the weapon most to 1 1 ' self in defending a bad cause. WpaSeeOrns spe cone remarkable circumstance in the c our se of Sir ° ert ch—he never in one single instance referred t° the great fa principles of the question at issue ; h e never once cor onsidered whether it was right or wrong, just o r un j ust, true fak ed ; b ut he travelled all over the world to pick up 1 i solat e se fa cts—alluded to isolated s t a t ements of his ups the but never once alluded to the great principles of question. When Mr. Huskisson brought forward the (14 e sti on o f the free trade in silk, Sir Robert Peel asked whe ther the H ouse would retrace its steps, and recede from the great vri aciple of free trade, se that Sir Robert is the opponent of tn° rlnpoly for the poor silk wea vets, but a supporter of mono-- I '' l 3'hr the rich aristocracy. Sir Robert had been compared ° t pleader pleading the cause of his client, but there never iras a n instance of a barrister, in the same wig and gown, and 'kith the same plausible manner, pleading first one side of a cause and then the other, which Sir Robert Peel had done oa t he question of free trade. 111 x• PLINT remarked on the disingenuousness of Sir Robert r p eel in endeavouring to make it appear that th e comparative esperity of 1838 over 1 837 was o w i ng to the increased price of b°°,l, and leavi ng ou t o f v i ew the depression occasioned in 1837 ti Y l the distress in America. ;With regard to his statements as to e.e Savin gs ' B anks, of course, in 1837 , when the work was defi thiseilt, th e poor would withdraw their deposits; and in 1838; when ot,:bhad fuller employment, their deposits would be renewed. c first debate Sir R. Peel had made use of a comparison Nrizaots fr om 1830 to 1837, an d then taking 1838 and com bee:g them he h a d d rawn the conclusion that the country had his rue m ore pro s p erous, w i thout taking at all into Sirconsideration the increased population of the country. iftg_aß bert Peel had drawn his conclusion from the e of those seven years ; whereas he would venture to say ' eola had taken the years from 1830 to 1835, and drawn his ret„ Pari '°o upon them, he would have found the country was 14414'441 instead of increasing. The Right Hon. Baronet he :been guilty of several other fallacies, particularly in he took of the question of profits. Another fallacy a the corn the analog parison of corn and wool. Before he had drawn b eeo,: r ° gY he had done upon that subject, he ought to have tt ear thate th at he was master of the whole of the facts ; but it was Peal f that he was not master of those facts. Without the re detan.°4,`" Corn -laws would have the effect of increasing the it and for English c there could be no analogy between '''°°l- There urn' another mis-statement on the part of Robert Peel t vhie w h as hetrusted some Hon. Member would tr ot Th e • t Uf Right Hen. Baronet had said "you cannot f Ito 4)44 % „, ta4 ing off the duties on the importation of t goods, because they are a source of r,"• If Sir Robert had taken the trouble to go through t 'at then's Lists, he would have seen how perfectly absurd t ti 7a, 44 Was. It was true there was a duty of twenty per I t fact Foreign woollens, and manufactures of that sort, but Wat t "as these things did not come into this country. ei t3i 4 4. ° a certain amount of revenue was derived from the 1 1 a deLat'eand tal king -sticks.—(Laughter.) He believed . that n_ I .' l ' t o the House of Commons some gentleman in a It'iaitasm,":tawteeinnent of Sir Robert Peel, very happily said that ° " r `lent d • ir k N ed derived from the fact, that manufactures were as agriculture, might be called the " walking itt,tll'" d ut i e s ex l ‘ t—(La ug ht er ) —for he found that among te";_stielcs iue re was a t ax on th e importation of walk ° 4 is -- st Hear, h ear .) The same idea had occurred 1 4 h could 44l that his friend Mr. Cobden bad expressed not but help noticing the entire absence of all . al- That'Peech of the Right Hon. Bart. to the question of :No te'r icjestice involved in the subject of the Corn-laws.— tt e d t studiously kept out of sight. Not only had he " i ltn er , ° look to the justice of the case as it affected the eon ctilt,a,itlat'sfelf,oo!l, but be had altogether kept out of sight the in ho ea ttp 4 ,itY of foreign competition,a.nd the diffiul ties in which • k itid Placed the British manufacturer, and had offered "ier a ' "atien as to how the . manufacturers were to avoid reduction f 0 profits or a reduction of the money rate of t i:' ) Olt go 'ar• ) It was said, indeed, that our manufacturers and th us a country ' where labour was cheap and taxes 11.0 'irri t , a atlceeed in competing with the forr;igner. But ' Oil b e t ' di , 1 that the effect of a repeal of the Corn-laws h t 4, l th at ° canalize the prices of both countries, he did not ,4tel Nivantage would be gained by the course which t ße ' l r • 11 uv,rit,e,d to•—(Hear. ) ItC'birattr4,l4itheb-aTtetnutLatigh:f it right to mention what perhaps had gentlemen, that the facts to which the tamtlagre4t eidealladed, were stated by Sir William A . lolesworth out ta ,, arness, and he (Mr. Hume,) having himself of fi e - P of the same character, found those statements thu d th e 1.5 .co!'rect.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Bart. had . skit, exporairlations in the amount of exports, and the nature c es of itl t t .• And Sir RAert Peel had access to the same °rlnit icn , / he had indeed apparently read from the went. same printed paper, and it was exceedingly disingenuous in the Right Hon. Bart. to make such misrepresentations ashe had done. What he wished to call the attention of the meeting to was a substantive objection. Sir R. Peel noticed the rate of duty on different articles of manufacture. He (Mr. H.) felt that that would be the principal objection to the repeal ; and he con sulted Dr. Bowring as to the best course to be taken in obtain ing a Committee of the House to examine the nature of all duties paid on imports, in order to draw the distinction between revenue and protection. Sir R. Peel had in his hand at the time a list of the duties levied on about sixty articles. Opposite each article was placed the rate of duty, and then the whole were added together, and divided by the number of a"ticles, and they got about 49 per cent., although some of them did not pay a farthing. It would be a matter of the greatest importance if the Delegates would adopt measures for carrying into effect their resolution of the sth of February.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He read the resolution in the House of Com mons, and stated that the advocates for repeal came into the House with clean hands, because they were willing to relieve themselves from protection, and they were warranted in claiming a free trade in corn. He thought a petition to the House of Com mons, suggesting such a measure, would have a beneficial effect. It would be well if the manufacturers would present a petition stating the practical exist .nee of those protections, and offering to have the whole of them removed, and also requesting that an inquiry should take place as to the extent to which protection had operated on manufactures. He thought this Session should not be permitted to pass without the appointment of such a Committee, which would show that the manufacturers were not afraid to meet the question on the fullest grounds, and then Sir Robert Peel would have no grounds for asserting, as he had last night, that protection was claimed for the manufacturer, whose capital could be moved, and taken from the farmer, whose capital could not be moved.—( Cheers. ) Dr. Bowatma said that in fact there were only six or seven articles at most which could be considered as sources of revenue. The legislation on that subject was most complicated—the re gulations as to the quantity of Alkali operated as a prohibition on Natron, whereas on Barilla the legislation was simplified. On all non•enumerated articles the tariff was 30 per cent. al though some favoured articles were taken out of the category. If the English tariff were changed, the French would change theirs, and a saving of one million would be made in the Custom House machinery, by the introduction of free trade. He agreed in deprecating the miserable, trivial manner in which this ques tion had been treated by Sir R. Peel. The quest on was, should the whole world be opened or closed to the twenty millions of inhabitants of this country. The question was whether they should communicate to other countries the blessings they en joyed, and whether they should receive from them, in return, some of the blessings they enjoyed. It was a natural right that man should become the friend of man; new what was Sir Robert Peel's statments with respect to the present question and its consequences, a free trade. Why, he had stated over and over again, that the question was the importation of 250,000 quarters of corn, and that paltry amount was to prevent them from trading with the whole world. Now, that was a position no man couldhonestly stand upon for a mo- The Right H na. Baronet had asked the House of Com mon, and the people of the country, to abjure a narrow-minded policy with respect to other nations. Why, all that they desired was to have free and uninterrupted connection with other nations.—( Hear, hear.) He had felt very much annoyed at the arguments in Parliament that a great deal of property was yet left to this country. Why, had not these people a right to the prosperity which they had obtained by their capital and and intelligence ?—( Hear, hear.) But whether they turned to the right or the left they found the doors closed against them by the Legislature of the country. It was in the House of Commons that the artillery was found against the interests of the country.—( Hear. ) He trusted that prohibitions would soon be done away with, and better things brought forward. Mr. J. STURGE wished to make one or two remarks on the speech of Sir R. Peel. He had stated that the imrorteion of corn from Ireland, in 1807,• was 463,000 quarters, and the greatest importation into this country, in 1838, was 3,758,000 quarters. NOW he believed that statement was exaggerated to the extent of half. a-million. In 1838 the quantity of wheat imported into Great Britain from Ireland was 210,000 quarters; oats, 1,950,000 quarters; Barley, 156,000 quarters ; Beans, 21,000 quarters ; Peas, 5,300 ; Rye, 650 ; Malt, 5,000 ; Oatmeal, 1,253,000 cwt. ; wheat flour, &c., 1,170,000 cwt. The importation of wheat from Ireland hid reached its maximum in 1832,—when it was 552,000 qrs., in 1833 541,475 qrs., in 1834 462,229 qrs., in 1835 340,535 qrs., in 1836 249,360 qrs., in 1837 252,720 qrs., and in 1836210,000. This showed a great decrease in the importation of wheat from Ireland. The importation of wheat flour from Ireland into this country, was— In 1832 831,434 ewt. In 1833 1,059,587 cwt. • In 1834 1,110,463 cwt. In 1835 1,124,343 cwt. In 1836 1,169,200 cwt. In 1837 932,990 cwt. In 1838 1,170,000 cwt. Nor was it a matter of regret that there was less wheat im ported from Ireland, for he (Mr. Sturge) believed that there was an increased consumption of the better kinds of food by the inhabitants of Ireland.—(Hear, hear,)--and he was convinced that if the system of free trade was established, Ireland would soon consume its whole agricultural produce.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BARKER remarked that Colonel Wood had stated in the House of Commons that the labourers perfectly under stood that cheap bread meant low wages. This he denied. There was one observation of Mr. Handley's which he wished to allude to—it was this:—" He had watched the progress of the agitation of this question, and could see one prin ciple pervading all the expedients that had been adopted, down to the last miserable resource of closing the mills, or setting them to work on short hours." Now the town with which he (Mr. Barker) was connected had certainly adopted " short time," but the gentleman who was the most anxious that that should be done, a cotton spin ner, happened to be one of those who supported the present systerm of Corn-laws.—( Hear, hear.) IsTrit only had that gen tlenaan adopted the short time himself, but had solicited his neighbours to do the same.—(Hear, hear.) That gentleman was one of Sir Robert Peel's admirers.—(Laughter.) This chewed what miserable shifts certain persons in the House, over the way, were driven to for the purpose of supporting a system that must after all tumble down, and the sooner it did so the better.—( Cheers and laughter.) Mr. WHIT3IORE (formerly ALP. for Bridgenorth) said that having, at an early period of his life, taken considerable interest in this question, and feeling the proceedings of the Delegates were going on with increased interest, he trusted that, although a stranger, he might be considered justified in offering a few observations.—( Hear. ) One great fallacy in the speech of Sir R. Peel was as to the import from abroad of 750,000 quarters of wheat per annum, and he stated that according to the statements of some gentlemen advocating the repeal, that quantity could not be greatly increased. But the fallacy of that argument was this that he alluded to an importation of 750,000 quarters per annum, as if that importation were going on year by year, whereas the fact was that foreign corn was excluded, except in years of scarcity at home, and the amount of 750,000 quarters per; annum was made up by taking the imports of one or two years of scarcity.—(Hear. ) That was a very important point, because that irregularity was not only injurious to the trade and currency of the country, but was of considerable moment to the agriculturists themselves. If it had been imported regularly in the period which he took for the average, it would have done no injury to the agricul turist.--( Hear. ) He had rarely an opportunity of attending meetings of this description, and perhaps he might be per mitted to sugggest that it was exceedingly desirable that they should endeavour to operate in their arguments, not on the House of Commons only, but out of the House of Commons— ( Hear)—not only at the present moment, but continually— upon the minds and feelings and reasoning of different classes.— (Hear.) They must endeavour to convince the good sense of the country, that this was not a question solely affecting the manu factures of the country, but that it was one deeply affecting ail the interests of the country, and no less affecting the great bulk of the agriculturists than other classes. It was of essential consequence that they should show this in a clear and forcible light, and he would advise them to endeavour to put the ques tion fairly before the farmers. It was very possible to show, then, that the Corn-law system was diametrically opposed to their in terests. That a great quantity of agricultural capital had been destroyed by the operation of these laws ; and he would urge upon them to endeavour, by simple statements, in cheap publications, to convince the great mass of the people that they were deeply interested in the question.—(Hear, hear. ) They must divest the question of its manufacturing hue, to make it a great national question, and if they continued to dis cuss it in this mode—if, avoiding exaggeration, they would take an extended view of the subject, and the benefit that would accrue to the world by the adoption of the free trade princple— it might lead to the adoption of free trade not only in Great Britain, but be the means of extending it throughout the world. They should state their reasons fairly and impartially without exaggeration, for if they had the least tincture of exagge ration, those who were not conversant with the subject would treat their statements with inattention. He did not believe the agriculturists of this country would suffer to any great extent from the change, but if the mistaken policy of keeping up the price of food were persisted in, it would prove fatal to the manufacturing interests of this country. The advantages which this country possessed in coal, in machinery, and by our insular position, have hitherto enabled us to sustain the pressure of foreign competition, but these great advantages would not enable us to do so much longer. He d:d not imagine that any great quantity of land would be thrown out of cultivation. The land at present cultivated would, perhaps, not be so frequently cropped, which would be an improvement in agriculture. lie thought that a repeal of the Corn-laws would tend to an increase in the home consumption of manufactures. It was impossible to say what might be the extent of wheat imported into this country from abroad, in consequence of the increased application of capital to cultivation of the soil. Therefore they were not to take the experience that Sir Robert Peel had taken of the last few years, and say the importa tion from abroad would be limited, but they were to look at the stimulus given to production, and the stimulus given to improvement in communication, whereby foreign produce was brought in larger quantities to this coun try. Taking all that into consideration the probabilities were that they would import from 1,600,000 to 2,000,000 quarters. The foreign trade would be benifited by having to pay for the foreign wheat imported. There would be a larger amount of manufacture going on, and a larger portion of the population would be employed. Taking the two things together, taking the large demand which he would venture to say would arise from the supply of the home market and the foreign market, taking these circumstances together, his belief was that a great additional demand would be made upon the labour of the country, and if so the result would be, that without a corre sponding increase in population there would be no fall in the price of labour.—(hear, hear.) Now if that was a sound view, and it was his deep conviction that it was, he threw it out for the consideration of gentlemen; but if it was not a soundview it was of gr eat importance that the labourers of England should know that they had as deep an interest as any class, because they would have cheaper food—(Hear) —and that too without a, diminution of wages.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He did not conceive, therefore, that the manufacturers of Eng land would derive any immediate advantage from cheaper labour—(Hear)— but they would derive this advantage— that they would change and stop the most unnatural and fatal competition which was in progress abroad, with respect to the manufactures of the country, and which would go on to a much greater extent.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Trade by the stoppage of that competition would be increased, and the manufacturer in this country would be enabled to employ his fixed capital in machinery to a much greater extent: the manufacturer would no longer have to dread the great competition he now did; he would find the demand increased in the home and foreign markets, and they would be able to carry on a much better trade than at the present time. He (Mr. Whitmore) felt con vinced that it was by convincing the great mass of the people of the vital interests which they had in this question—by operating on the good sense and real honesty which, notwith standing what had taken place in Parliament, existed as a kind of under -current in this country—it was by .such means alone, that the object of the Delegates would be attained. Let them not imagine that they would succeed the first Session —that they would succeed without great exertion and perseve rence, but by sound arguments. By firmness and by modera tion, he would venture to say that in a very short time they would see at least the commencement of that great object which he sincerely trusted they would ultimately triumphantly achieve. The CHAIRMAN said the observations of Mr. Whitmore were most valuable—that gentleman being a very old " free trader," having, so long ago as ten or twelve years, brought forward the repeal of the Corn-laws in the House of Commons, and endeavoured to apply the principles of free trade to other commodities.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Besides which the Hon. Gentleman was a large landed proprietor, and was therefore more disinterested perhaps than the Delegates. Many of the suggestions of the Hon. Gentleman had already been acted upon, and it was gratifying to find that their opinions had been confirmed by such high authority and such long experi ence.—( Hear. ) Mr. BOULTBEE expressed his pleasure that the course which the Delegates had taken was sanctioned by a, gentleman of such talents and influence as Mr. Whitmore —(Hear, hear.) He had come down prepared to give notice of a motion in accordance with the advice that gentleman bad recommended. He thought they ought to compress their observations in as concise and clear a form as possible.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He had that morning read Mr. Porter's pamphlet, and the views of that writer coincided with those which he had always entertained, and although that pamphlet was not very long, yet it would, perhaps, take more time to read than some of their opponents would think proper to bestow upon it. He, therefore, begged leave to give notice that he should, at their next meeting, move for the ap pointment of a Committee to select as many facts fro ii Mr. Porter's Pamphlet, or any other Work, as could be compressed into a letter, and that such letter be transmitted to Members of both Houses of Parliament.—(Hear, hear, hear). ➢lr. JOHNSTONE, of Glasgow, regretted that the Legislature had not thought proper to allow evidence to be tendered at their bar, because that might have prevented many erroneous statements being circulated, and they would then have been able to have convinced them that this was not a question affecting mill-owners merely, or relating to the export of manufacturers, nor was it a question of any one class of the people against the other ; but if there ever was a question that ought to be characterised as a national question, it. was this.—( Hear, hear.) Their object was not only to obtain the removal of tho Corn-laws, but to obtain an abandonment of everything in the shape of monopolies or res trictions on this exporting country. Statements of a very minute and very important kind had been sent forth to the public by Mr. M'Queen. He did not wish to speak disrespectfully of that gentleman, as he was a personal friend of his own, and he knew him to be a most industrious man, and was certainly very zealous for his party; but in looking over the statements of Mr. M'Queen, he found conclusions drawn from them which he could not follow. He would have them believe that the colonies were the great props of our trade, and that we ought to cultivate their connection rather than the con nection of foreign powers. He could not agree to that. Mr. M'Queen stated the exports of foreign countries in 1836 to amount to 3 7,000,000/, sterling, and he put under British pos sessions an export of 1 5,000,000/. sterling. Now, on examining the particulars of our exports to British possessions, be found that under the head of Gibraltar, 756,000/. as exports was put down.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Every one knew that they could take nothing for home consumption out of 756,000/. Nine-tenths of it should be put to the foreign account for the wants of Spain and the southern parts of France. The West Indies, East Indies, and Ceylon were put down at 4,605,0001. Every one knew that the ex ports to Singapore, were not for that colony, The greatest part being transhipped to China, the Philippine Islands, &c. The British West Indies were put down at 3,716,000/. New, nine-tenths of this was for the consumption of places foreign to us. He put down China 1,350,0001. What right had China to be considered a British possession ?—( Hear, and laughter.) Not less than three or four millions might be deducted from the fifteen millions, which would reduce the exports to about twelve millions to the British possessions.---( Hear, hear.) Was the Govern ment prepared to put the exporting manufacturers of the country in jeopardy by their monopolies and Corn-law s ? What were the disadvantages under which we laboured from these monopolies? We paid 12s. to 15s. per cwt. more for our sugar, and 30 or 40 per cent. for our coffee. We there fore gave them a sum nearly equal to four millions annually out of our pockets, to put into theirs.—(hear, hear.) It had been attempted to be represented that the foreign export trade was of small importance; but if we did not export, how was it possible we could import. The foundation of trade was . Food dw — e thos mi e gh l t va p n r t o s cu vcere lodging, r - cathome: b fao u o t sdu c 'p lo p t al l yn ii d n o g f we lheoetirinagnts of man must fetch fr om abroad, and we should have nothing to give in exchange except our coal or corn, and our iron ; and how would our landlords like to export their corn to the Continent, and only get continental prices for it? So that the landlords had a greater interest in the exportation of ma nufactures than they imagined. He was surprised at the observation made by Lord Melbourne, the other night, in the House of Lords on this question, and he was convinced that it was necessary for the well-being of the country that this pro tective system should be discontinued. Mr. SHIEL, of Liverpool, said, in allusion to the observations which had been m ade as to the price of coff: e, Mr. Johnson had said that the consumer paid from 40 to 50 per cent. more than he ought to, in consequence of the protective system. The fact was, he paid a great deal more, in fact he paid three prices—the actual value of a pound of coffee was 6d., the duty paid to the Government was 6d., and the additional price paid to the Colonist amounted to 60. per lb., so that the con sumers actually paid three prices for their pound of coffee in consequence of this protective system. Mr. JOHNSON, of Derby, gave notice that, on the first meeting of the Committee, he would bring forward a proposi tion for enlarging the sphere of the usefulness of this Society —to embrace what was the original intention ; because he, for one, was rather sorry that the Association had the somewhat narrow title of the " Anti-Corn-Law." Be lieving as he did that the agriculturists, as well as all ethor classes, were interested in the destruction of the Coffee and other monopolies, he thought it would be well for the Delegates to rally round them the opponents of monopolies of all kinds. The Delegates then adjourned till Monday. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sta r —l observe an advertisement in many of the Papers, affirming that the disputed territory in Canada is not above one-third the size of Ireland, and totally uninhabited- This has undoubtedly been inserted with the view of de. preciating the " value." Now, a reference to AP Gregor's " British America," or any other authentic work, will show that the actual command of a vast extent of territory, if not the positive independence of the Canadas, is involved in the possession of this territory. I am, Sir, your obedient humble Servant, ANTI-HUMBUG. The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne have issued cards for a grand dinner on Monday next. DEATM OF THE HON. MRS. MiLDMAY.-- We regret to announce the death of this amiable lady, from the effects of her clothes having caught fire a few days ago. At first it was hoped that the injuries sustained were not of a serious character ; but when the bandages, and the the remains of the burnt clothes were removed, the worst apprehensions were immediately entertained, and in a short time the unfortunate lady fell a victim. She was a daughter of Lord Ashburton, and will be long regretted by a very numerous circle of relatives and admiring friends. In consequence of the opening of the Hay market Theatre, Mr. Wrench quits the St. James's. Mr. Leman Rede (the author of His First Champagne) has been therefore engaged to succeed that popular actor as Dicky Watt, the principal character in the above-named piece. THE NEW NOVELS.—We are requested to state that Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough-street, has just published the following new works of fiction, which can be had at all the libraries : -1. Th e Y out h of Shaks • peare, by the author of " Shakspeare and his Friends."- 2. The Romance of the Harem, by Miss Pardoc, author of " The City of the Sultan," &c.-3. Horace Vernon ; or, Life in the West.-4. Pictures of the World, at Home and Abroad,roy the author of " Tremaine" and " De Vero." —5. The Only Daughter, edited by the author of " The Subaltern."-6. Gurney Married, a Sequel to " Gilbert Gurney," by Theodore Hook, Esq., and-7. Captain Chamier's new naval novel, Jack Adams, the Mutineer. SUICIDE OF A BOY.—Last week an inquiry was proceeded with, before Mr. Wakley, M. P., and a respectable Jury, at the Lamb Public-house, Hereford -street, Fitzroy square, on view of the body of Francis Maundrell, aged 16, who committed self-destruction under the following circumstances :--A witness deposed that deceased bad made strange observations at times, since a man named Wood had hung himself about a month ago in the neigh bourhood. On one occasion he said it was a good thing for a man to hang himself, if he had nothing better to do. He did not show the least symptoms of melancholy or ex treme gaiety. Neversaw him intoxicated. Deceased had been up stairs about a quarter of an hour. Verdict— " That deceased hung himself, being at the time in a state of temporary insanity." NATIONAL CONVENTION. On Saturday night there was a very large meeting of the working classes held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, for the purpose of hearing an explanation from the members of the General Conven tion of the reasons why they have thought it right to delay the presentation of the " National Petition," demanding the People's Charter, " Universal Suf frage," to the Commons, nntil the 6th day of;Alay. Mr. FROST was selected to preside. He said that the object of the meeting was to afford the Convention an opportunity of explaining the cause of the non-pre sentation of the National Petition ; and, secondly, to solicit the people's votes in favour of the Convention itself. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Sankey, a dele gate from Edinburgh ; Mr. Rogers, of London ; Mr. Feargus O'Connor ; Dr. Taylor, from Renfrewahire ; Mr. Westerton, from Lambeth ; Mr. O'Brien, delegate from six places in Lancashire ; Mr. J. Harney ; Mr. Macconnell, and Dr. M'Dowall, from Ashton under. Lynn. Sereral of the speeches were of a highly inflammatory nature, declaring that if the petition did not meet (as the speakers themselves said they did not think it would) with proper attention at the hands of the Legislature, they were ready to have recourse to other than moral force, and to meet physical force by physical force. One or two of the orators, too, stated that the pikes and other weapons were in readiness, and it required but that the word of command should go forth, and their owners were in an instant prepared to rush into the field. With regard to the non-presentation of the petition until the 6th of May, it was stated that that distant period had been appointed by the Convention with the view of affording a sufficient opportunity for procuring such a number of signature s to it as would show that that which the petition demanded was not the demand of a small body, but of millions of the people. Already the names attached to it amounted to nearly 1,200,000, and there was no doubt that era the Gth of May had arrived, that number would be doubled. The meeting was very orderly throughout the whole proceedings. TESTIMONIAL of the GRATITUDE OF THE NEGROES OF JAMAICA TO THE MARQUIS OF SLIGO. On Saturday last a deputation consisting of T. F. Buxton, Esq., the Right Hon. Dr. Lushington, M.P., Rev. John Dyer, Rev. John Burnet, Sir Geo. Stephen, Capt. Moorsom, R.N., W. B. Gurney, Esq., Joseph Sturge, Esq., John Sturge, Esq., accompanied by the Right Hon. Lord Brougham, Sir Geo. Strickland, Bart. M.P., the Hon. C. P. Villiers, M.P., William Evans, Esq. M.P., Joseph Pease, Esq. M.P., W. T. Blair, Esq., Mr. Lecesne and Mr. Russell, two gentle men of Colam, and Mr. Robt. Stokes, presented to the Marquis of Sligo, at his residence, No. 2, Mansfield street, a piece of Plate, consisting of a magnificent Candelabrum, in the form of the Arica Palm, (the West India Tree of Liberty), from whose graceful and feath ery top spring light and elegant branches for 7 lights ; at the foot of the Palm Tree, is a group of West Indian negroes, the base is triangular and richly ornamented with the Sugar Cane and Indian Corn. On two sides of the base the armorial bearings and crest of the Marquis of Sligo, with the collar of St. Patrick in bold relief, and on the third is the follo,ving inscription— " Presented to the Most Noble Howe Peter, Mar quis of Sligo, by the Negroes of Jamaica, in testimony of the grateful remembrance they entertain for his un remitting efforts to alleviate their sufferings and to-re dress their wrongs, during his just and enlightened ad ministration of the government of the island, and of the respect and gratitude they feel towards his excellent Lady and family for the kindness and the sympathy displayed towards them. 1837." The total height of the candelabrum is three feet six inches. The improvement in the moral condition of tbe Ne groes is shown by the occupation of the group, as well as in their countenance and dress. A male Negro, who has a broken whip under his feet, is explaining what he has been reading from a book resting in his hand, to a female seated by his side, who is nursing her infant, an interest in whose welfare is now for the first time con ceded to hcr. A young lad in the back ground, uncon scious of the cause of the improvement, yet fully sen sible of its effects, is sporting with a goat, now allowed to be domesticated. The appearance of the group is that of a happy and contented family. The following was the address read by Dr. Lush ington the occasion TO THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUIS 07 SLIGO, &C. &C. &C. " MY Lotto MARQUIS,—When your Lordship re tired from the Government of Jamaica in 1836, the negroes in order to testify their gratitude to your humane and enlightened administration, appointed a Committee to receive their contributions for the pur pose of purchasing a testimonial to be presented to your Lordship. The money thus raised was placed in the hands of Mr. Joseph Sturge, on his visit to Jamaica, with the folio ming resolutions for its disposal : " 1. That the funds raised as a subscription of the negroes, amounting to 1,000 dollars, form the intrinsic value of the Plate to he presented to the Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo. "2. That the subscriptions of the friends of freedom in Jamaica and elsewhere be received for th• purpose of the device. " 3. That the amount so received be put into the hands of Mr. Sturge, and that he be requested to com municate with the following gentlemen, and with such others as he may think proper, and arrange with them the best mods of presenting to his Lordship this testimonial of the gratitude of the apprentices for the protection afforded them during his Lordship's adminis tration, and the loss they have sustained by his removal from the Government :—J. F. Buxton, Esq. ; George Stephen, Esq. ; Rev. John Dyer ; Dr. Palmer ; Dr. Lushington, M.P. ; Captain Moorsom, R.N. ; the Rev. J. Burnett ; John Sturge, Esq. " It will be most gratifying to your Lordship to per ceive by these resolutions that the negroes have asso ciated the name of your excellent Marchioness with your own in this tribute of humble and loyal admiration. " Before it was possible to carry into effect the wishes of our negro friends, your Lordship added largely to those claims on their gratitude, which you already pos sessed by declaring in your place in Parliament that whatever might be its decision on the question of the apprenticeship, it was your Lordship's determination to liberate the apprentices on your own estates, on the Ist of August, 1838, a declaration that greatly pro moted the success of those efforts which the country was then making for the abolition of a system too deeply identified with slavery to be compatible with the welfare of the negro or the honour of the British Legislature. " This noble proof of the kind solicitude which your Lordship felt for their happiness even in your retire ment was not lost upon the grateful hearts of the ap prentices, and they raised additional funds to enable us to render the candelabrum, which we have now the ho nour to present, more worthy of your Lordship's accep tance. " We cannot discharge the trust which has been con fided to us by the black population of Jamaica, without offering . our respectful congratulations to ( your Lord ship, on this gratifying acknowledgment, that our de termination of the Government was not less marked y , by tender consideration for the heir)] than by the dignified firmness l under sa c u Lcu ' m e s o t p ai p ic n e s s se of peculiar, and perhaps unprecedented difficulty. " W . e are anxious t o f orget t h e crue l sce nes of past times in the contemplation of the brighter prospect which now opens to our black fellow -subjects, but we cannot forget the man to whose exertions they are principally indebted for that brighter p r ospect . ; and we are persuaded that we truly speak their sentiment:, when we express the hope that this mark of negro feeling may stimulate your children's c hildren, for many g enerations, to emulate the example of their noble an cestor, who had the courage to be humane in the midst of inhumanity, and who dared to be just where injustice had for centuries reigned with undisputed sway. " We regret that the state of your Lordship's health has prevented us from presenting this testimonial in a manner befitting the importance of the occasion ; for, whilst it records the triumph o f freedom without the shedding of blood, and the liberty of the slave, without the destruction of the master, it transmits your Lord ship's name to posterity, enwreathed with far nobler glory, than invests the hero of a thousand fields. " We ardently hope that your Lordship may long live to witness the happy res ults of that liberty w hi c h h as been extended to the long injured sons of Af r i ca i n the British Colonies; and to l ook back, with heartfelt satisfaction, on hav i ng contributed i so largely t o t h e succ ess of a measure which s so eminently ca l cu l ated t o promote the happiness of millions of the human race." Lord SLIGO replied as follows— °' Gentlemen,—lt is with feelings of no littl e p r id e, that I receive at your h ands this testimonial o f t h e gratitude and good o pinion of the n . egr?esof Jamaica. "`'hen I remember tha t the subscription . for it s pur chasewas made after I had left the Isla n d, when no advantage could be gained b y its promotion, and tlria can is the only instance whic h ever has occurred, c occur, in these dominions, of the presentation of a t r ib ute of respect from persons still in a state of modifi e d slavery. I value it so much, that I would n o t exc h ange it for th e highest distinction , %vhich the favou r of my Sovereign could bestow. " With respect to the part I have t a k en on the slave question, I shall merely say, that from my very early years I was in opposition to those around me, and a de c id e d a d vocate f o r the abolition of the trade in slaves. I admit that I felt no repugnance to the conti nuance of slavery itself, until I became a member of th e Committee o f th e H o use of Lords , appointed to receive evidence as to the condition of the slaves in our Colonies. I then became a convert, from the very evidence adduced by the West Indian Intereit itself--I entered that room a colonial advocate--I left it a decided abolitionist. " Having been subsequently entrusted with the Go vernment of Jamaica, it was my sin c ere desire to administer it with the strictest impartiality, an d i f I ever felt a momentary impulse to deviate in the slightest degree from the straight and severe line which it was my duty to pursue, that impulse sprang from discovering that the horrors of slavery were much greater than I had previously conceived, and from find ing, by personal experience, that the reports I had heard of them in England fell short, very short, of the sad reality. " Circumstances, however, not within my controul, having compelled me to tender the resignation of my office, I did not on that account feel less anxious to be of service to that most interesting Colony, and to the suffering but obedient blacks. " It is true that on my return to England, I refused to take any prominent public part on the subject, until the moment I thought I might come forward most effectively, and I may perhaps have subjected myself in consequence to the imputation of lukewarmness in the cause ; I trust, however, that the step which I took when the time which I considered the most appropriate had arrived, proved that howso ever I may have differed from others in my views of the best mode of proceeding, we all pursued in common, and unceasingly, one and the same great object, the complete abolition of every remnant of slavery, the entire and unconditional freedom of the negro. " I feel, notwithstanding, that our exertions ought not to terminate ; much still remains to be done, and if it please the Almighty to grant a renewal of my health and strength, now greatly impaired, I trust I shall always be found among the most active supporters of a cause so interesting to my own feelings and so dear to humanity. " The plate which you hare this day done me the honour of presenting to me will descend as an heir-loom in my family, and will, I trust, show to those who come after me, that the best method of securing public ap probation, is by an exact and conscientious discharge of their duties. " I hope that my kind colonial friends who have united together to present to me this mark of their affection may be made acquainted with the extreme value which I attach to it, and that they will permit me in return to offer to them, in re ference to their future conduct, some advice, to which, coming from one they know to be their friend, they may perhaps be disposed to pay the readier atten tion. Ido not wish them to imagine that I offer it be cause I think that the following considerations have not had due weight with them. I know that they hare been strongly urged upon them by their excellent mission aries, and hare, I am sure, already been the guide of their conduct. I think, nevertheless, that it is also my duty in gratitude, to impress them with what is, in my opinion, important to their welfare. lam anxious that they should feel that a strict obedience to the laws on their part is indispensible ; that they must,if they occupy their old houses and grounds on the estates of their employers, pay a rent for them, and not imagine that they are their own property. I wish them to under stand that they must not abandon their habits of labour, and become idlers, but accept a fair remuneration for their work. I wish them in short, to 'learn that the foundation of their future happiness must be laid in religion, morality, and industry. " To you, Gentlemen of the Deputation, I beg to return my most grateful thanks for your presence and assistance on this occasion." No accurate account has been received of the number of our negro fellow-subjects who contributed to this beautiful tribute of their gratitude, but some esti mate may be formed from the fact that in one of this country districts 331. is. 11d. currency, or only about 100 dollars were subscribed by 1603 individuals. The candelabrum was executed by Messrs. Green and Ward, of Cockspur-street and does great credit to the taste and ability of the artists. Lady Sligo and three of the Ladies Browne were present upon the occasion. ACCOUCIIEMENT EXTRAORDINARY.—Last week, a woman (who stated herself to be the wife of a la bourer on the line of the Manchester and Leeds railway at Sowerby Bridge, to which place she said she was going), succeeded in duping several of the charitable inhabitants of Brighouse, by the following stratagem. She repre sented herself as being so near her accouchement as to be quite unable to proceed on her journey; and she soon found that the coppers came in rather fluently. Pollard, the constable, was then sent for, to procure her a more hospit able asylum than the open street. He accordingly came, and with his wonted sagacity, perceiving the feint, got her into a wheelbarrow under a pretence of taking her to his house. The bystanders thought this was too indelicate for the woman's situation, and recommended smoother treat ment; but the stein constable was inflexible, hinting too that be should baulk the faculty, and take upon himself the office of accoucheur. Having got to his journey's end, he proceeded to his new profession, and putting his hand into his patient's pocket-hole, delivered herof a still born bundle of old rags I He then dismissed her, with a reprimand; the old women and children who had assembled, congratulated him on the success of his first operation, and hooted the impostor out of the town. —Halifax Express. PARENTAL DEPitAVITY.—At the Chelten ham Police-office, on Thursday, two children, aged eight and nine years, named Payne, were charged with commit ting several petty thefts, to which they said they were in stigated by their mother. The two first charges admitting of some doubt, the Magistrates discharged them. On a third charge, of stealing two table-cloths, the unnatural mother, who had sent her children out to thieve for her, came forward, and, to save herself from being included in the charge, afforded the evidence necessary to the com mittal of her children. The Bench, after expressing its disgust at the brutal conduct of the mother, said, young as the children were, they were obliged to commit them for tri it. The mother left the office quite unmoved at the exe crations of those present, or at the fate of her children.— Chellemhanz Chronicle. _ HALIFAX MARKET, SATUADAY.--The at tendance of buyers to-day was good, and there was a fair quantity of goods disposed of, particularly of tho sorts suitable for the home trade. —Halifax Express. A small steamer, intended to ply on the Lake of Brienz, was brought on the 2sth ult. from the Lake dr Geneva, on which it was built by an English gentleman, in a vehicle drawn by twenty-six horses, and accompanied by a numerous crowd anxious to witness this " sailing on dry land." INTERESTING TO FA RAIERS.-Experience has of late years shown the value of straw dung to be so great, especially when mixed with earth, that a large farmer near iklston has been offered 2/. ss. per hundred sheaves for all the reed he can spare between this time and harvest for litter.—Dettonport Telegraph. THE MA 1 L.—The storm which has occurred within the last few days had the effect of delaying the arrival of the south mail to-day till one o'clock, five hours beyond her stated tine. The obstruction was chiefly be tween Aluwick and Haggerston, where workmen are busily engaged in cutting the road.—Benvich Advertiser. CRIME IN SWEDEN.—It appears that in 1835, the total population of Sweden being less than three mil lions, one in every 140 persons was convicted of some cri minal offence; while in England and Wales the proportion was one in every 1,005, and even in Ireland one in 7'23._ \\Te see from the Court Circular, that the Duke of Cambridge had a dinner party Wednesday, at which were present the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Welling ton, the Archbishop of York, and others, and that after dinner they proceeded to the Concert of Ancient Music, his Royal Highness being Director for the evening. Thus a Royal Duke and a Most Rev. Prelate, may, during one of the sacred days of Lent, attend a concert, while on that day Lord John Russell, with the advice of a Bishop, for bids the divine music of William Tell, at the English Opera House ! REGISTRATION.—Though we have always advocated a general system of registration, in opposition to the narrow views of religious sectaries, we by no means consider the present Act as perfect in its construction. In one point it is exceedingly objectionable. It is very properly rendered unlawful for any person to bury a corpse without the Registrar's certificate of the individual's death ; but our sapient legislators did not foresee, or, with their usual neglect for the poor, wilfully disregarded the great inconvenience occasioned by this provision vvith the imperfect agency recognised by the Act. A poor woman in a neighbouring Union recently walked six miles to ob tain a certificate of her child's death, but, the Registrar being from home, she had to repeat the journey, carrying a child in her arms ! There ought to be a subordinate Re gistrar in every village, and then this really useful and im portant measure might be properly carried out.—Leicester shire Mercury. Four troops of the 15th Hussars, under the command of Sir Waiter Scott, en route from Glasgow, have passed through this town during the week. It is expected they are about to embark for India shortly,— Lancaster Guardian. The cod fishery between the Isle of Man and the coast of West Cumberland has commenced, and the season promises to be a successful one.—Lancaster Guardian. KEND A L.—A large supply of potatoes arrived in Kendal last w ee k, by canal,' which caused a reduction of one penny per stone. They arc now selling at sixpence halfpenny.—Kendal Mercury. We believe that the Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the propriety of establishing a Rural Police will very shortly be laid before Parliament. The report is very , voluminous, and contains a great body of evidence ; and, although its recommendations have not yet transpired, we believo we may venture to state that the Com missioners have suggested that a paid constabulary force be established in any county, riding, or division, under the controul of the Magistrates of the district, provided they, or the Guardians of the poor, or a certain portion of the in habitants, shall apply to the Police Commissioners for that purpose; and that the expense of such force is to be paid partly out of the County-rate and partly out of the Con- solidated Fund. We believe the report is very ably drawn, and will excite considerable interest in the provin cial districts.—Obserrer. CHANGE OF FORTUNE.--Catherine Doody and her niece, Judith Barry, two very poor women of this city, yesterday received, through the hands of Michael Galvin, Esq., solicitor, a large sum of money, the amount of legacies bequeathed to them many years ago by a de ceased relative in Dublin. Joy beamed in their counte nances on their acquisition of fortune.—Waterford Citron. Very great activity prevails in the Ordnance De partment at the present time. The gun business has not been so brisk since the battle of Waterloo, and good work men are with difficulty obtained. Very extensive contracts (indeed the largest ever known) have been lately entered into for the supply of military and naval stores of all des criptions. Large quantities of st ores h a ve be en lately shipped off from the Tower for the Colonies and various parts of the United Kingdom. ASSIZE INTELLIGECE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT—YOBK, THVBSDAty. DEWES V. STAPLETON AND ANOTHER. This was an action to recover damages for an alleged illegal arrest, and false imprisonment. It arose out of the late riots at Dewsbury, which took place on the 20th August, and on Sunday, the 26th August, the plaintiff was arrested by the two defendants on a charge of having thrown the first stone, was carried to the lock-up, and taken on the following day ( Monday) to the Court house at Wakefield, when it turned out, upon investigation, that the arrest of the plaintiff was a wrongful one, and be was accordingly discharged. For the injury received by him at the hands of the two defendants, one of whom was a special constable, and the other one of the metropolitan police, the present action was brought. Witnesses were called on both sides to prove the fact of the riot, the read ing of the Riot Act, and the arrest and imprisonment, and the discharge also of the plaintiff by the Magistrates. The Jury returned a verdict for both defendants. SEDUCTION.—MATPLEBECK V. CARTLEDGE. This was an action to recover damages for the seduction of the plaintiff's daughter. Mr. CRES3WELL stated the case. Miss Mapplebeck was then called. She was dressed in deep mourning, and of very interesting appearance. Sho said" l am not 19. Since I left school, four or five years ago, I assisted in keeping my father's house. I first be came acquainted with the defendant when I was about 14 years of age. The defendant is near 30 years of age. I first met him at my uncle's. He afterwards came to visit me at my father's. He continued his visits and paid his addresses to me about a month after we became acquainted. Ho continued to visit me with my parent's consent and ap probation. It was about the end of July, 1837, that some thing particular first happened. His father was a farmer, and he said they could live independent. We used to walk out together. In consequence of what happened in July 1837, I was delivered of a child in A Tril 1838. After I discovered the consequences I told him, and he said we had better be married. I saw him again in about a fortnight, and he said his father would not allow him to marry; but that his father was very infirm, and could not live long, and that after his death he should marry me. I saw him a third time, and he said the child was not his ; that it was a me dical gentleman's, named Moray, who attended our family. He attended me in my confinement. It is not true that Mr. Moray is the father of my child. When the defendant told me the child was the doctor's, I was so overcome I could not reply to him. The child died ten weeks ago. She was subjected to a cross.examination, but nothing material was elicited.' Mr. Moray, a surgeon, proved the painful delivery o plaintiff's daughter. The Lcarn . e'd JUDGE summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, 3501. HOME CIRCUIT.—MAIDSTONE, SATU)?DA F. TILE CHATHAM RIOTS AND MERDER.—John Connell, Maurice Lyons, and John Callaghan, were indicted for the murder of Robert Ross, ataChatham, on the 27th of October; and Timothy _Lawler, Bartholomew Brassman, Dennis Doyle, Joshua Sykes, J. Baynen, Michael Farrell, and Robert Johnson (all of them soldiers), wire charged with aiding and abetting. The particulars of this transaction were given at great length in the papers at the time the inquest was held. The affair arose out of a dispute be tween the soldiers and the marines stationed at Chatham. The trial commenced on Friday morning, and yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, th e Learne Judge went through his recapitulation of the evidence. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Con. nell, Lyons, and Callaghan, and acquitted all the other prisoners. Joshua Sykes was again indicted, for the murder of Charles Jeffcott, and the Jury found him guilty of man slaughter. Connell was sentenced to be transported for the term of his natural life, and Lyons, Callaghan, and Sykes, for seven years. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. An ugly. flat-nosed, ill-looking Irishman, who said that his name was Thompson, was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having obtained money under false pretences. Mary, the wife of Paddy Byrne, a labouring man, stated that the prisoner called upon her and told her he was her first cousin, and that he had brought over about 500 lbs. weight of goods, to make him comfortable. Witness told him that she did not know him, and asked him whether he was quite sure he was Paddy's first cousin ? " Devil a doubt of it at all, agra," said he," " and the goods is at the Custom-house, where they lie for the duty, which is jist half-a-crown." He said this in such a way that she believed him, especially as she saw he was a countrymen of her own ; so she with great pains contrived to get to gether the half-crown, and gave it to him, and then pre pared a place in their little room, in which to put the goods from Ireland. (Here the prisoner lauEhed ) The Loan MAYOR, —You seem to enjoy the distress you put this poor woman to, prisoner? Prisoner—l have no thing at all to say, please your Lordship. The Loan MAYOR.-Can you give any account of your self? Prisoner.—No, your Lordship. I'm an Irishman, that's all, and I'm only four days from the country, and what can I know ?—(A laugh.) . _ _ The LORD MATOR(tO the prosecutrix)_Of course he never returned? Prisoner—No, my Lord, I never did ! I took the half-crown, but I could not come back. Another poor Irishwoman said, " Oh, my Lord, he tried to rob me with the same story; he came to me, when my husband was out, and he runs up and takes me by the hand, and says, Arrah then, how are you, jewel,' says he: Why,' says I, ' I don't know you, any how, I never saw you afor ;" You don't know me,' says he, why I'm your husband's first cousin, and I've brought you a load of goods from Ireland.' Where are they ?' says I: ' They are come to the Custom-house,' says ho."—( Laughter.) The LORD MAYOR —And did you give him money to pay the duty? Witness—No, my Lord; I tould him it's impossible, says I, that you can be my husband's cousin, you arn't a bit like him. " Oh," says be, " I'll prove it ; for I've got a letter," and be pretended to run for the let ter, but he never came back. The LORD MAYOR—YOU Area moat heartless fellow, and I shall see whether we cannot pay 3ou off. You are remanded till Friday, and I dare say we shall see several of your first cousins on that day. Prisoner—Wby, my Lord, all of us Irish is related to one another more or less.—( A laugh.)—Remanded. UNION lIALL. John Bell, shopman to Messrs. Atkinson, linen-drapers, Westminster-road, was, with two young girls, his daugh ters, charged with robbing his employers of articles of mer ccry, &e., to a very great amount. The prosecutors, hay. ing for some time suspected the prisoner of dishonesty, had him watched closely ; as he was going away in the even ing he was seen to put some articles in Isis pocket. Infor mation was given to the prosecutors, who called the pri soner into the parlour, and on charging him with the theft he acknowledged his guilt, and also acknowledged having other property belonging to his masters at home. The Ma gistrate committed the three prisoners for trial. MARYLEBONE. Martha Phillips was charged with ccncealing the birth of two children. As some men were cleaning out the cesspool at No. 16, York-street, East-street, Manchester square, they raked up the body of a child. The prisoner having been seen to carry a box upstairs in a very suspi cious and cautious manner, was taken into custody. The woman said that her daughter, who lived in Lisson Grove, had been confined with dead born twins, which she put into a box and asked the sexton at the Park-road Chapel to bury ; but not having as much money as he demanded, she took them home and disposed of the bodies by throwing them into the cesspool. The Bench admitted her to bail until the inquest on the bodies. MARLBOROUGII-STREET. Rhoda Jones was brought before Mr. DYER, charged with having imposed upon a great number of the Nobility and gentry, by means of fraudulent representations. The prisoner is one of the most notorious of the begging peti tion and begging-letter fraternity, and she has been appre hended by the Mendicity Society, and committed to prison a number of times, on conclusive evidence of her endless and ingenious impositions. In the present instance she was taken into custody for attempting to impose upon the Hon. Mr. Murray, of Pall-Mall.—Committed. WORSHIP STREET. John Herbreeter, a young man about 19 years of age, was charged with committing a burglary in the house of his late employer, Mr. Rowe,hearth-rug manufacturer, Orange street Bethnal-graen, and afterwards setting fire to the pre mises. The prisoner, who is said to be ono of a gang of a most desperate description, was several times detected entering Mr. Rowe's warehouse since he was discharged for dishonesty. Several other charges were brought against the prisoner and his associates of burglary and highway robbery, and he was remanded for a further ex amination. HER MAJESTY'S TIIEATRE.—TIIC perform ances on Saturday were the same as on the opening night, but we are happy to say that they were not performed in the same manner. The improvement was obvious and remark able, especially in Mademoiselle Monnani, who has gained considerable confidence, and evinces a degree of musical skill and even a power of voice, of which those saw her a week ago would hardly have thought her capable. Of Mrs. Croft, too, we are happy to be able to speak in more favourable terms ; she has thrown off some of her fears, and with her fears part of her awkwardness and want of animation. Lablache will never equal, even if he ap• proach, his father, but his representation of Bellisario is much better than merely respectable. The ballet of Robert le Diable has been curtailed and condensed, and is all the better for it. LAUNCH OF A STEAM VESSEL AT ROTHER IIITHE.—Saturday was a busy day at Rotherhithe, in con sequence of the launching of a splendid steam-vessel from the extensive yard of Mr. Taylor, builder (of Barking), in Lower-street. Shortly after two o'clock, Mrs. Sheer, the lady of the agent to the Company, with Mr. Taylor and several ladies and gentlemen, proceeded to the head of the vessel, which was christened by Mrs. Sheer " Nichulas the First." At twenty five minutes past two, all being in readiness, Mr. Taylor gave the signal to " knock away the dog-shores," and the magnificent vessel entered the bosom of " Old Father Thames" in a most majestic style, amidst the hearty cheers of all present, the band playing " God save the Queen." Tho Nicholss, which is of 800 tons burden, and nearly 200 feet long, has been completed in the almost incredible short period of four months and a fortnight by fifty-five shipwrights, under the direction of Mr. Cook : her cost, when completed, will he near 30,0001. ; she is intended to run between St. Petersburg and Lubeck. THE RAILWAY.—The works on the Lancaster end of the Railway have been commenced, and are now being actively proceeded with. We understand that it has been finally resolved to proceed with the indictment against the bridge which carries the railway over the main road at Galgate.—Kendal Mercury. ALLEGED MURDER AT HA NEAR UXBRIDGE: On Saturday, the 9th instant, an unfortunate alte a place between two pupils of the Rev. Frecleri curate of the parish of Hayes, near Uxbridge, /I - Hastings Medhurst and Joseph Alsop, the on and the other 18 years, at the r e sidence o f 14:\4,, gentleman, Wood-end Green, Hayes, in which th`e, -:) ,. stabbed the latter in the abdomen with a FrencV,it=nir, from the effects of which he died on Thursd AA Immediately on the death of the unfortunate young man becoming known, Messing and Kelly, two constables of the mounted patrol, communicated the circumstance to the Count de Salis, a local Magistrate, who directed that Mr. Med hurst should be taken into custody. This was accordingly done, and on Friday he underwent an examination at the Ma gistrates' room, at the King's Arms Inn, Uxbridge, before the Count de Salis, Sir W. Wiseman, T. Dagnall, and T. T. Clark, Jun., Esqrs. The examination was extremely, long, the substance of which was as follows : The Rev. F. Sturmer examined—The prisoner and the de ceased Joseph Alsop were pupils of mine. On Saturday morn ing, about ten o'clock, one of my pupils, by name Maximilian Dallason, had just quitted my house. The prisoner entered the room in which Joseph Alsop and Mr. Bunney, another pupil, were present. I was also present. The prisoner, with a 4tick in his hand, came to me and said, " See what a blackguard has just left your house," holding a watch in his hand, the glass of which was broken, adding, " See he has broken the glass of my watch." Immediately Joseph Alsop turned round and said ti the prisoner, " You are a liar and a blackguard for saying it. These young men are all about 18, but the prisoner is 21 years of age. The prisoner immediately struck the deceased with a stick ha had in his hand. He hit him over the shoulder. A scuffle then ensued betweeen them, when I left the room, and in about two minutes, or two minutes aid a half, I was in the act of return- ing to see if 1 could put a stop to it, when I met the prisoner coming out of the room at the same moment I heard a groan. The prisoner said nothing. I then saw Mr. Witney come out of the room, and run out of the house, saying, " I will be witness." I saw no blow given but the one I have described with tha stick. I saw no knife in the pri soner's hand. I left the room because the prisoner was a gentle man of a hasty temper, and I knew it was of no use interfering at that time. :qr. Chadwick, a surgeon, quickly arrived, but I did not stay in the room during the time he examined the wound. I saw blood on the deceased's clothes, but I did not see tha wound until the next morning. About an hour after the transaction, I saw the prisoner and the deceased together in the bed-room. The deceased said, " We were both wrong, I forgive you." On the same afternoon I sent an express for a friend of the deceased, who came immediately, and at his his suggestion I sent for Mr. Patten, the surgeon, of Uxbridge, who came en Sunday morning. Mr. Chadwick, on th.:• Sa.i turday, said the wound was very slight. Deceased died about twelve o'clock on Thursday. Mr. flunney is now at his Ta- ther's housc. at Newbury. 'He never returned to my ' l7cy after he ran out. I have since written to Mr. Bunue-,.'s ther, who has written to say his son ran home from fright. Mr. Patten, in his deposition, said—Within two or three hours after I had told the deceased that I considered him in a dying state, in answer to a question put to the deceased by self, or by Mr. Frogley, surgeon, of Hounslow, I do not rec list which, he said, " I called him a blackguard and a liar, and he (meaning the prisoner) then struck me." It appeared that Mr. Sturmer had given no notice of the transaction to the local authorities, and his conduct on count was commented upon by the Balch. Mr. Sturmer s.,id he had acted under legal advice. The prisoner was then remanded until Monday. An inquest was held on Saturday on the body, in Mr. ;::tur mer's parlour, before Mr. Wakley, when Mr. Benjamin Coad wick, surgeon, was examined, and stated that he was called in to attend the deceased on Saturday last, when he found a wound on the left side about an inch below the navel, and about an inch and a-half long, and thinking the wound only superfi c i a l h e put a needle th ro u g the skin an the muscle of the wound for purpose of drawing it together. Another surgeon was after. a' called in and every attention paid to him, but he died of in flammation in the abdomen, on Thursday. It appeared tli2t Medhurst had been in the habit of carrying a knife of the • , !t with which he inflicted the wound, but the deceased, on 1 is death-bed, stated that he did not consider the act was at all premeditated, and admitted that he had provoked him by cal.ing h:m a liar and a blackguard. The inquest was adjourned to Monday (this day). Medhurst, it is said, will become entitled, in a few days, to a property of 7,0001. a year. He is grandson of Mr. Medhurst, who was tried for the murder of his wife, at York, in ISO 4, and acquitted on the ground of insanity, and who is now an inmate of an asylum near Hayes. THE POLICE MOVEMENTS MANSFIELD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—As I find you have had communications from t'ds place, relative to a portion of the A Divi,ian of police boing sent bete from town, I am induced to address you, I:e:,ng you will excuse the liberty I take. As the subject of ibis unexpected proceeding is now publicly qucationed (and proper it was), I shall not offer any remarks of my owti, further than that it hes put this place and neighbourhood into complete agitation, and, I fear, may ultimately be pro ductive of much personal unpleasantness : beyond tit I have no apprehensions, for the town and neighbourhood . never, within my memory (and I am a native of the town, and arrived at a half-century age), was more peacepble, not the least unpleasantness has taken place & except that pro duced by the loud and just complaints against this pieta of coercion over us. No one will confess to knowing any thing of the cause of this extraordinary affair ; that there is some wolf in sheep's clothing at the root of it, 'admits cf no doubt, but possessing sufficient guile to shelter Itimelf, for the present at least. But, Sir, to the immediate object of my letter. You are already aware that, now nearly a fortnight back, the police who have been sent from town, were sworn to act as special constables, and to-day, myself, and somewhat more than a hundred and fifty inhabitants were called upon, t y some of the Magistrates acting bore, and sworn also for special constables for half a-year. I, and several others, have cause for complaint, on the ground of being exempt by the general law from being appointed to the oal.!c of constable, and being compelled to he sworn for so long a period as half a year, when plenty of others, who are net exempt, are passed over, and I shall be greatly obliged by 3 our informing me (or, perhaps, D. W. Harvey, Esq., M. P., will be good enough) whether, under that circumstance,' I being exempted by the general law, am compelled to serve? I do not contemplate ever being wanted to act, but :Is it i 3 a question which much aff , :cts myself (on private accounts) I shall esteem an answer a great favour. Ido not wish to inquire of any one here conversant with the law of the subject, for fear of a disclosure of my unwillingness to unless I am compelled (for I do feel it a bonl,ge imposed upon me), and I hope you will accept that as my beet c;;_ case for trespassing thus upon your valuable Vme. I am, Sir, most obediently your':, Mansfield, March 9. ENQUIRER. [The Acts of Parliament applicable to nominatin c pointing, summoning, and s wear i ng i n as special cons . ta g, ble p s . , are the Ist and 2d of the late Ki ng , c. 41. :ma s th and same reign, c. 43. By the old law, applicable to constables generally, certain persons are exempted from serving the office of constable , yet, the Home Secretary of State, (under the authority of the 2d section of the first men tioned statute) on a representation made to him by the Magistrates making the nomination, can order that such persons be sworn. Still, we should say that the representation ought not to be made whilst there arc suf ficient persons to be found who are not exempt. But where there is a necessity to call upon those who are cx_ empt to act, they cannot (in virtue of the section quoted) be compelled to ba sworn for more than two calendar months. If, therefore, our Correspondent (or any others who may have been sworn) were legally exempted ur.der the ancient law from serving the office of constable, and ho or they has or have been sworn for half a year, the no mination, appointment, summoning, and swearing in of them is bad in toto._ED. THE THREE TOM SAIITI-ES.—Everybody has heard the story of the wag who called aloud in the pit of Drury-lane Theatre, " Mr. Smith, your house is on fire • " whereupon a hundred and twenty-five Mr. Smithsu,oa.nu'd.sreeld4 house," that when he continued "it is Mr. John S m ith' s that ten sat down ; leaving a preponderan ce of a hundred onei'lidred with ana twenty-fivepledge and fifteen J6hns Smiths.i s a i n net amount singular o f fact connectedcn that extensive nomenclature ( we d o not ourselves at for the truth of th e th ea t r i ca l story ) that there ~sere, and the same period, three individuals in this country hunt ing foxhounds a ll o f th e familiar appel s l q at . i , m i l lu o i f Tom aing his own —viz., Thomas Assheten Smith, E s c ri p hounds; ,io fl Thomas Thomas Smith, hunting the Craven, a sub- Smith nd those of the late Lord 0 11 11 1 i r d d p l h e r t e o n n o . u T i s ts s t o was a amine odd ecoine craniumsde ne e o f ; s a u n e d h were Smiths as might be available, there is reas on t o su pp ose a harvest o f bumps venato;r l ial would reward the search.- - Sporting Revi ew , No . SINGULAR.—As Benjamin, the eldest son of Mr. Robinson, of Nafferten, trmer, in the usual routine of business, was, early on Friday morning, the Bth instant, looking amongst the breeding ewes, he discovered one of them laid fast in a dangcrons situation ; and as death seemed inevitable, after trying some experiments in-vain, and finding her in a sinking state, when apparently dying, she was opened, and three fine healthy-looking lambs were extracted from the abdomen, which are all living end likely to do well; and what is most singular, the ewe was a ~cock or ten days of her full time.—Hull Advertiser. Eliza Ann Clarke, who was found lying on the ground insensible, in Turnmill-street, Clerkenwell, a few mornings ago, and desciiiyd as "a young lady frcm Cam bridge, supposed to have been seduced and deserted," turns out to be a notorious and drunken prostitute, whose friends are of some respectability however; and the parish officers of Clerkenwell have written to inform them of her condi tion, and request. them to take her away. ELECTION TRICKS IN FRANCE. —On the ens- - tern frontier, the Ministerial candidates informed thicket tors, that England, Prussia, Russia, and Austria, were directing movements against France and Belgium, fro,s the belief that the New Chambers under the guidance cf Soult and Tillers, would bring on a general war,. an d pamphlets were plentifully , distributed in the provinces, stating that they were on the point of having a third in va3ion, red that in all probability Lorraine, Alsace, and Franche-Comte, would be taken from France. What, adds one of these brochures, could ever French valour do against, perhaps 600,000 foreign bayonets? This beets our Tory candidates with their hypocritical denunciations of the New Poor Law. The Liverpool steamer, which took the southern passage, reached New York on the evening of the 21*.b, in eighteen days from Liverpool, and experienced a very tem pestuous passage. She was to sail for this port about the 7th instant, and may be expected here next week. There was no material variation in the cotton trade. Very largo sales had been made at New Orleans, one of 5,000 bales at lb cents. The New York Herold calculates that the crop will amount to 1,500,000 bales. The corn trade continued dull, and it is stated that America can, without ineonve nience, spare a million of barrels of flour for Great Britain. —Liverpool Mercury of Friday. M. Chatelain, during twenty years the able editor in chief of the Caviller Francais, was buried on Monday at Pere le Chaise. The Chancel lor of the Exche quer had adiriner party on Thursday evening, at his residence in D • owning.. street. • - Ai :4 V ,141t 1-7 -; L - r 1 40 ,X 1. T r3u , i - ; ! :::›... ,a(ly Hiss 133- Vil. Aice cday M - e ign is of qar- Lord Lord , r of .daY, the cant CaP- .ived and ti e fated rite d by hick [ e to sated held DV' b in a the sited , r to cious him Lbout ra nt E, by coca- El od in their earlY the eace, ettq npil be rincc elle" arch ibes! pOi" •Ote d Itilll ana ith ice' the THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1839 EVEN_TNG EDITION.