The Sun. — London, England, 1839-12-21 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION. N EGRO SLAVERY To GEORGE THOMPSON, AND HIS FRIENDS OF THE BRITISH INDIA SOCIETY. MANCHESTER, DEC. 20, 1839. Sia,—You have visited us on a mission of enlarged Philanthropy, a mission worthy of the friends of the enslaved Negro and of the suffering Hindoo. Months have elapsed since you first came amongst us ; why have you not found a response to your eloquent appeals, ) Commensurate with the magnitude and justice of your Cause i Why have not the capitalists and the opera tives of Lancashire, deeply interested as they arc in the ema 'cipation of the industry of the cotton culti vators of Hindoostan, rallied around you with their Wonted energy and liberality ? It is due to them and to you that the cause of this apparent supineness be Publicly known. The artisan and his employer here are oppressed with a load of misgovernment as great as that which bows the Ryot himself to the earth. You have told us of fiscal burdens and tyrannical restrictions upon the industry of our fellow-subjects ten thousand miles distant ; know, then, that millions of our country men at home are groaning beneath the landlord's bread tal—a tax that is inflicting a greater load of misery, vice, and premature death, than were ever caused by the Planter's whip upon the sable sons of Africa, or by the Company's edicts upon the gentle Asiatics. I claim your sympathy in the cause of the poor starving weaver. I call upon you to consider his case ; to interest your heart in the sufferings of wretches, Pining in damp cellars, or huddled in attics, willing to Work, but denied the right of selling their labour for food ! Is there a case of wanton oppression in the wide world to match the examples which Manchester will, ten thousand fold, exhibit to you, of honest, industrious fathers, pining in the midst of squalid children, because th e high-handed landowner denies them the right to earn the means of feeding, clothing, and educating their of spring Give to these sufferers a moment's sympathy—then turn to their bankrupt employers, and you will know why the inhabitants of Lancashire have not rallied to your eloquent appeals on behalf of British India. If you would obtain the aid of a once opulent, ener getic, and liberal community in your enlightened efforts to emancipate the hundred millions of Hindoos, or to Civilize the countless myriads of the African Continent, I help, first, to save us, whilst yet there is time, from the ruin and the moral degradation which are rapidly en gulfing us. Lend us, for a while, your moral influence, and your irresistible eloquence, and we will afterwards fight the holy battle of emancipation with you, till India and Africa, aye and America, shall resound with the song of liberty. C. GERMAN COMMERCIAL LEAGUE. The following official details from Germany will give all idea of the commercial improvement that has taken Place in the States belonging to the league. We give the imports and exports of wool, wine, and cotton : WooL.—For the years 1 836 and 1837 the imports and exports in this article amounted to— Imports. Exports. Prussia Saxony 3 100,000 6,000,000 Silesia Wirtemburg, Po merania, Hesse Cassel, 3,600,000 4,125,000 and Hesse Darrnstandt 12,400,000 18,425,000 In 1838 the produce in Prussia alone amounted to 4 5,000,000 lbs., estimated at 27,000,000 thalers ; while for the present year it is rated at 39,000,000 lbs., and at 29,000,000 dialers. In the exportation and importation of wines a similar unprovement has taken place within the last three years. The average importation of cotton into the German leag ue was estimated at the beginning of 1839 at 51,000,000 lbs., and the exportation of the same article at 18,000,000 lbs.—thus leaving for home consumption 34,000,000 lbs. Whereas at present the average im portation into Prussia is estimated at 31,000,000 lbs., and the quantity it exported at 18,000,000 lbs.—thus eaving for home consumption 13,000,000 lbs. PROSPECTS OF THE POOR.—The prospects of the poor during the approaching winter are, we fear, !narthing but satisfactory, indeed we shall he nearer the tru th when we say that they are dreary in the extreme. Th • a high prices of every description of provisions, and etp ecially of bread, the staple, we regret to say, even in inov.e prosperous times, of nourishment to the artisan and his family, the wretched state of trade generally, and of the glove trade of this city in particular, justify us in predicting that the ensuing winter will carry misery and desolation to the hearths of thousands of our poor and humble citizens. The charity of the wealthy and benevolent will find a wide field for exercise during the corning season. — Worcestershire Chronicle. .An iron steamer, built in England for the Rus sian Goveenment, had been thrown ashore in a gale near the Dardanelles. Three English merchantmen, the Protector, Conservative, and Enterprise, had expe rienced a similar accident on the same coast. THE GOLD DUST ROBBERY.—The Judges have not yet decided upon the points of law raised in favour of the prisoners by their Counsel, and the matter must now stand over until next term, when the Judges Will again consider the question, but it is not likely that their judgment will be delivered before February. and in the meantime the prisoners will remain in New gate. Should the Judges decide that the prisoners have not been convicted according to law, the prosecu tors will have the opportunity of preferring fresh in dictments against the prisoners, and it is said to be their inteotion to do so in the event of the former conviction being quashed for want of form. SoL,THWAßK.—Meetings of the respective friends o,c the candidates for the representation of this borough continue to be held. There are in the field Mr. Wood, a gentleman of decided Liberal politics, Mr. Walter, an anti-ministerialist, opposed to the New P,:or-law, and Mr. Curling, who declares himself op- Poscd to the bal!ot and to the total repeal of the Corn laws - but favourable to tr iennial Parliaments, and a supp oi ter of the principle of the new Poor-law. Just as Mr. Justice Patteson was about to leave the Beriach at the Central Criminal Court, on Thursday, Mr. Clarkson applied to the Learned Judge to direct the issue of the process of the Court against four per sons, against whom the Grand Jury had just returned a true bill for a misdemeanor. The Learned Gentleman said that the alleged misdemeanor consisted in h..ving Obtained goods from the prosecutors by means of false and fraudulent pretences, to the amount of 1,7001. He had to pray the warrants should be issued, and that the Parties should be ordered to find bail, themselves in 5001. and s ureties in 2.501. each. . Mr. Justice Patteson said it was n ot usual to call upon parties to find such heavy sureties, except under special circumstances, and unless the station of the defendants warranted it. Mr. Clarkson said that the defendants carried on the busi ness of merchants in the city of London. The prose cutors had been defrauded to a very large amount. Mr. Justice Patteson thought that there ought to be an affidavit of facts before the Court would be warranted in departing from its usual course. Mr. Clarkson said th a t an affidavit could be laid before the Court, but it Was necessary that speedy steps should be taken. as two of the parties had already left the country. Ul timately, a Bench warrant , was ordered to be issued. The circumstances u nder which the application was made did not transpire. The number of Letters to Ennis Post-office ha ve ,increased abont one-third since the reduction of th e p o stage, but the receipts are as yet deficient. —Clare Journal. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY. --011 Thursday evening an inquest was held at Guy's Hospital on the body of a Young man named Edwin Attree. It appeared from th e e vidence that an engine was proceeding at noon on Wednesday last, from Kingston, towards Ditton, with a train of eight empty waggons. Immediately the train started, deceased ran after it, and climbed into the " larry" or coke truck, situated between the engine and th e waggo ns, for the purpose of getting out his dinner, which he had left by mistake in the truck. The train h a d scarcely advanced twenty yards when he jumped out, and the w heels of six of the waggons p as sed over him, Mr. Firth, one o f the en g ineers to th e Co m p an y , said the train was going only at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, and if deceased had jumped in the direction ~.he engine was working the effect of so jumpin g would be to lessen, so far as the fall was concerned, its velo city. He jumped the reverse way, whereby he fell as if the train were going at the rate of thirty miles an hour. The body precipitated on the line at at that re of speed rebounded, and fell under th e waggon wheels. Mr. Bachelor, surgeon of the hospital, said deceased died in less than four hours after his admission of compound ft acture of the left leg and thigh. Verdict---" Acci- dental death." BRUSSELS, DEC. 18.—The average price of wheat last week was 22f. 62c., and that of rye 14f. 10c., which is a diminution of the price since the preceding veek, of 9.3 cents. on wheat, and of 7 cents. on rye. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RlVER.—Thurs clay an inquest was held at Wapping, on the body of a fin e young man, na med Lambert, the s on of Mr. La m b e? , `, a shipowner, in Rotherhithe, who was acci dentauy ‘ 'rowned in the Thames on Wednesday. An in quest w0 .,1 afterwards held at Rotherhithe, on the bod y o f a Idle aged men, w hich was picked up in the ri ver , o ff c ut :er's Point on Monday last. The de ceased f rom hiit dress, appeareti to have been the master ea a ship. A s.ux ch and some moneY were found on w ?:ich it appeared his person, also s . osne papers , from 'Jut hi s name was James Wilson, and he : vas a native ')f Shi e ld s . Th ere 'fere no marks of violcrw on his [arson. I n the absent:a of further evidence the Jury returned a verdict of " I'ound drowned."—Anotber to quest was held at the sa.nie house on the body of a lean who has for several - rears obtained a living by ' S elling fish about Rotherhithe and Deptford, who was -accidentally drowned in the Surrey Canal on Saturday afternoon, near the Plough-bridge. The Jury, after examining several witnesses, whose evidence was of no importance, returned a verdict of " Accidental death." "1141111Mwmpwww. PROHIBITORY DUTIES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—I should like, with your permission, to call at tention, through the medium of your columns, to a point that seems to escape public observation. In attacking the iniquitous Corn-laws, we appear to overlook the important fact that, bad as they are, they are but one of the revolting features of our horrible sys tem of legislation, the ground-work of which is the ag grandizement of the landowners. Any one who will take the trouble of looking through the British tariff, may readily perceive that the direct and immediate effect of all our prohibitory taxes is to advance the in terest of the landlords. Thus, the tax of twelve shil ings per hundred weight on foreign beef, raises English beef twelve shillings per hundred weight in price be yond what could be obtained for it in a fair and open market. In the same manner, Eng lish cheese is sold for ten shillings and sixpence per hundred weight, and English butter for 20s. per hundred weight more than it is worth ; and that the whole of this additional cost finds its way into the pockets of the landlords will appear from a considera tion of the fact that so long as there is a short supply of Iseef, cheese, or butter, and at the same time great competition amongst the dealers in, or producers of those articles, the landlord must, of necessity, absorb every thing beyond the lowest amount of profit at which the intermediate parties between the landowner and the consumer can be induced to accept. If these duties were remitted to-morrow the agricultural la bourers could not suffer from the fall in prices, for they are already at the starvation point. The farmers, the graziers, or the dealers in beef, cheese, or butter, could not reduce their profits in any perceptible degree, be cause they have not at present any surplus profit from which a deduction could be made. It follows then that the landlords' rent would be reduced in an amount equal to the taxes remitted, while the rest of the agricultural classes would feel no loss, and the community at large would be greatly benefited. The same amount of English beef, butter, and cheese would be sold as at present, unless the landlords attempted to keep up their rents to the present scale, or refused to make a reduc tion commensurate with the amount of the taxes re mitted. In the event of an equitable reduction of tent being made,the farmers, graziers, labourers, and all others below the class of landowners, interested in agricultural produce, would have precisely the same amount of profit that they have now ; and their being able to sell their beef, butter, and cheese at a reduction in price equal to the duty remitted, would effectually prevent any more foreign butter, cheese, or beef from being imported than is imported at present, and hence it follows that the landlords, and the landlords only, would sustain any loss. It appears, then, that the question is, whether the com munity are to be taxed any longer for the benefit of a privileged class, who have hitherto had the making of the laws, and have taken care to make them for their own personal advantage ? Let it be well understood that the interest of the landowners is opposed to the public interest, and if the public will submit to be taxed for the benefit of the landlords, there is nothing left for us but quiet submission. The duty of two pounds fifteen shillings per load on Baltic timber, is. I believe, supposed by some of the shipowners to be laid on for their peculiar benefit, in order that their ships may have more employ ment by being_ sent on a long voyage to Canada for timber, instead of a short one to the Baltic. I shall not now enter into the question whe ther this be any real advantage to the shipowners or not ; or, if it be, whether it is a fair and legitimate advantage ; but whatever benefit, real or imaginary, the shipowners may derive from the high duty on Baltic timber, is a mere accident ; the direct and immediate consequence of the duty is, to force up the price of English timber two pounds fifteen shillings per load higher than could be fairly obtained for it in an open market. I wonder the shipowners don't see that it would be to their interest if this tax upon Baltic timber were remitted, and a tax of an equal amount laid upon English timber instead. This would at once cause im mense employment for shipping, as nearly all our timber would then be brought from aroad. That the supply raised at home of the articles enume rated—viz., butter, cheese, beef; and timber—falls short of the demand, is evident from the fact that large quantities of these commodities are imported from abroad, in spite of the prohibitory duties; and this scarcity is in itself a positive proof; besides that it is a notorious fact, that the competition is not amongst the landowners to let their land, but amongst tenants to take it, and amongst agricultural labourers and dealers in agricultu• ral produce, so that the landowner has it in his power to extort the utmost possible amount of rent, compatible with leaving the smallest possible amount of remunera tion that the great competition amongst the classes below him will induce them to accept. I throw out these hints, in the hope that your readers may be induced to turn their attention to the subject : for the more we examine the proceedings of those who lord it over us, the more iniquitous and indefensible shall we find them to be. _ I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, ADAM LAWSON. Sunderland, 17th December, 1839. CORN-LAWS AND POOR-LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. " Nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice." SlR—The injustice, cruelty, and impolicy of the Corn-laws has so frequently been proved, and so ably commented on by yourself and others in your spirited Journal, that it might be considered an act of superero gation on my part to attempt to adduce further evidence in support of the position you have taken in regard to that subject. But nearly four years' experience as Guardian in the Andover Union, has given me so many opportunities of observing the effects resulting to the labouring poor from the co-operation of those two laws, that I am induced to trouble you with a few remarks in the hope that the united efforts of those who wish to " stay the hand of the destroyer," may at last induce the Legislature either altogether to repeal those laws or make such alterations in them as shall prevent the lamentable consequences of which the agricultural labourers are the victims. In the first place the Corn-laws were passed to enhance the price of bread, then followed the Poor-laws to prevent the poor ob taining it. It was contended by the advocates of the Poor-law, that when brought into operation it would raise labourers' wages, and thereby make him independent of his parish, but the effect has been quite the reverse, in support of that opinion I will give you an illus tration. An able-bodied labourer, with a wife and five children, applies to the Board of Guardians for parochial relief—he states, from their being but little employment at this season of the year, he cannot get more than nine (in many cases only eight) shillings per week, out of which he has to pay house rent, and what remains is not sufficient to find his family in bread alone ; he is informed by the Board the only relief they can give is the workhouse for himself and family. He retires and reflects on the loss he will sus tain in leaving his cottage and little furniture—his im prisonment—his separation from his wife and children ; rather than endure which he adopts the only alternative —that of continuing his work at eight or nine shillings per week. Cases of this sort are frequently occurring , which must convince every unprejudiced mind that the insidious working of the Poor-law has the effect of lowerin g the price of labour. But, Sir, it is not necessary to be in attendance at a Board of Guardians, to obtain evidence of the awful change that is gradually proceeding in the condition of our rural population. Take a ride of a circuit of twenty miles through villages and hamlets around this town ; the scenes of misery and destitution you will behold will surprise and shock you. The time was when the respectable appearance of a British peasant, his neat cottage with its flower border, the rose, jessamine, and woodbine, surrounding and or pamenting the doors and windows, were the admira tion of every foreigner who visited this country ; but, alas, how changed I dilapidated, cold looking dwell ings, admitting the rain and winter's blast, are every where presented to you ; the external appearance is but too faithful an indication of what you will find within, a family clothed in rags, with nothing to subsist on but bread, potatoes, and water ; reduced in physical power fsuc h living, typhus fever is now attacking them mo st malignant form, to which they fall an its a orfl easy sacrifice. The picture I have drawn is not over coloured, but a faithful representation. I • that there were impositions practised under the admitand inquired variably been found to have originated have in law of Elizabeth, but whcnexamined into, either from t h e ignorance or negligence of the parochial authorities eictriselves. I envy not the feelings of th ose Rho subscribe their money, meet, dine, carouse, and i n speeches la udatory of the conduct of such chairm en ( w ho have, adopting the new Poor-law by , in its moat severe and rigorous form, effected the paltry with' of a few pou nds, and for so doing are pre sentedmassive piece s of p late), but of this I am saviner well assured, that the money thus subscribed, as well as a great part of that now rccived by those employed in carrying out the Poor-law, would be much better bestowed, by being distributed amo ngst the poor and destitute. A GUARDIAN IN THE ANDOVER UNION. DR. WALCOT.—This eccentric physician called upon a bookseller in P aternoster -row, to inquire after his owu works. The publisher asked him to take a glass of wine,when he was presented with a cocoa - nu t goblet with the face of a man carved on it. " Eh ! eh !" said the D r. " what have we here ?" " A man's s k u ll," replied the bookseller, " a poet's for what I know." " Nothing more likely," rejoined Walcot, " for it is universally known that all booksellers drink their wine from our skulls." The celebrated Mrs. Billington, the voca list, was one of Dr. W.'s intimate friends. She invited the Dr, one day to take tea with her. Peter was punctual ; the tea was served ; but to the Dr.'s astonishment the sugar was brought on table in a brown paper bag. What the devil is all this, Mother Billington ?" , g Everything is at the pawnbroker's," was the reply, and the silver sugar dish is sent to get the tea,"-- physic and Physicians. THE ARMY. SENTENCE OF DEATH. DUBLIN, DEC. 19.—One of the most awfully impres sive ceremonials that could be witnessed took place to day at the Royal Barracks—the reading the sentence of death to a soldier. _ All the troops at present in garrison assembled at ten o'clock in the Royal-square—Royal Artillery, 6th Dragoons, 17th Lancers, the 19th, 22d, 28th, 88th, and 87th depot. The Lieutenant-General command ing, with a numerous staff of field officers, arrived at eleven o'clock, and rode into the centre, the troops being formed in hollow square. Orders were then given to bring forward the culprit. He was marched in the centre of the firing party, and was accompanied by the Provost-Marshal, and the Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Parsley, who had previously administered to him the consolations of religion, with which he appeared to be deeply impressed. The band of the regiment to %; bleb he belonged (the 38th) preceded him, playing the " Dead March in Saul." Every limb of the unfortunate man shook with his approaching fate, and his com panions, who formed the firing party, were blanched were terror at the dread of the deed they were expected to carry into execution. The escort halted in front of the General and Staff Officers, when the minutes of the Court-martial were audibly read by the Town Major, as follows : " By Lieutenant-General the Right. Hon. Sir E. Blakeney, K. C. 8., commanding her Majesty's Forces in that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland. " Whereas, at a General Court-martial held at the Royal Barracks, Dublin, on the 4th of November, 1839, for the trial of William Page, No. 999, of the 38th Regiment. " The Court having met and duly sworn, and the Deputy-Judge Advocate being also sworn, proceeded to the trial of the said private William Page, who was arraigned on the under-mentioned charge, viz. :—For having at Belfast barracks, on or about the night of the 16th of October, 1839, offered violence to colour-ser geant Michael Dolan, of the 38th Regiment, his su perior officer, by attempting with a firelock, loaded with ball cartridge, to shoot the said officer ; and for having subsequently on the same night made use of abusive and threatening language towards colour-sergeant Dolan, and saying that he (the sergeant) might thank God the piece had missed fire, or he would then have his soul in eternity, or words to that effect. " And the procoedings of the Court-martial having been forwarded and laid before the Queen, her Majesty's pleasure to the following effect has been received : " Horse Guards, Nov. 39. SlR,—Having had the honour to lay before the Queen the proceedings of a General Court-martial, held at the Royal Barracks, Dublin, on the 4th of November, 1839, for the trial of private William Page, No. 999 of the 38th Regiment, who was arraigned for having, at Belfast barracks, on or about the night of the 16th Oc tober, 1839, used violence to colour-sergeant Mielriel Dolan, his superior officer, by attempting, with a fire• lock loaded with ball-cartridge, to shoot the said colour sergeant, when in the execution of his duty, &c., upon which charge the Court came to the following decision The Court-martial, having most maturely and delibe rately weighed and considered the evidence adduced on the part of the prosecution, as well as what the pri soner had brought forward in his defence, is of opinion that he the prisoner, private William Page, of the 38th Regiment, is guilty of the charge preferred against him. " The Court-martial adjudges the prisoner, mi. vate William Page, of the 38th Regiment, to be shot to death.' " The Town Major here paused, and the prisoner ad vanced, as if to address his comrades, but was restrained by the chaplain. His intention was to acknowledge the justice of his sentence, and caution his fellow-soldiers against intemperance. The Town Major proceeded to read " I have to acquaint you that her Majesty was pleased to approve and confirm the finding and sentence of the Court. " Her Majesty was further pleased, under all the cir cumstances, to extend her most gracious pardon to the prisoner ; and instead of causing the said sentence to be carried into execution, to order that he, the said pri vate William Page, of the 38th Regiment, be trans ported as a felon to New South IVales, for the period of his natural life. " The sentence of the Court-Martial, together with her Majesty's pleasure, will be duly notified to the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench and Common Pleas, as directed by the 11th clause of the Mutiny Act. " I have, &c., (Signed) " HILL, " General Commanding in Chief." The prisoner was then marched back to the Provost prison, and the troops to their respective quarters. Tue most deep and anxious suspense was felt by all the spec tators, civil as well as military. NEWPORT MOTS. MONMOUTH, FRIDAY. The news arrived here this morning of the capture of "Jack the Fifer," who was one of the most during of . the Chartist rebels, who has so long eluded justice. Mr. Ford, the Governor of the Gaol, has received a let ter announcing his capture, and we understand that a clue has been found to the hiding-place of " David the Tinker," who is co.ifidently expected be in custody within the next 24 hours. Two expresses reached here yesterday with additional lists of witnesses against Frost, &c. One of them ar rived at the Gaol as late as seven o'clock last night, and upon its being delivered to Frost, who had then been for some hours locked up for the night, he expressed his indignation at being thus disturbed, and said he thought that the Government were acting illegally in serving him with the names of any witnesses after he had re tired to bed. It was stated that the spirits of the prisoners must be sadly depressed when they perceived the names of some of the persons who are to testify against them, and we have reason to know that the prisoners experienced the greatest amazement and dismay upon finding in the lists delivered to them the names of parties whom they had the strongest reason for believing to be their friends. Among the names which struck them more particularly were the following : " William Davies, shopman to, son of, and abiding at the house of, Roger Davies, of Blackwood, in;the parish of Bedwelty, in the county of Monmouth, shopkeeper." This, it will be recollected, is the young man who was apprehended at the house of his uncle at Canterbury upon a charge of high treason. Again, Richard Pugh, of Blackwood, in the parish of Bedwelty, in the county of Monmouth, publican. This, it will be recollected, is the landlord of the Welch Oak, at whose house the Chartist meetings were held, and where the rebels passed the Sunday night. Accounts from Newport state, that there is con siderable uneasiness in the hills, and that the military are constantly upon the alert, fearful of another outbreak. NEWPORT, EDNESDAY. The inhabitants of this town having from the mo ment of the riots expressed their conviction that but for the interposition of Divine Providence their property, it not their lives, must have fallen a sacrifice to the mad dened mob by which they were attacked, appointed this day to be observed as one of solemn thanksgiving to the Almighty for delivering them from the machinations of a lawless band of armed insurgents. In consequence of a notification to this effect, every shop, with one soli tary exception, was closed ; business was put aside, and the inhabitants repaired to the different churches and chapels for the purpose of bending before their Creator, and humbly acknowledging their thanks for his signal mercies vouchsafed unto them. In consequence of the continued attempts which are being made to tamper with and intimidate the wit nesses, the following handbill has just been issued : " TAMPERING WITH WITNESSES.-CAUTION. " By the statute of the sth of Elizabeth, c. 9, it is enacted, that all persons who shall unlawfully and corruptly procure any witness, by letters, rewards, or promises, or by any other sinister or unlawful labour or means whatever, to commit wilful or corrupt perjury in any of her Majesty's Courts, shall forfeit the sum of 401., or in default of payment shall suffer imprisonment for one half-year, and stand upon the pillory in the market-place of the town in or near which the offence may have been committed. " By the 2d George 11., cap. 25, it is enacted, that in addition to the above punishments, which are still in force, it shall be lawful for the Court or Judge before whom any such person, as above-mentioned, shall be convicted, to order such person to be sent to the House of Correction for seven years, and there to be kept to hard labour, or to be transported for the same term. !" By order of the Magistrates, " THOMAS JONES PHILLIPS, their Clerk. " Newport, Dec. 14." ROBBERY AT WINDSOR CASTLE.—lnforma tion of the following robbery was on Friday received at the head metropolis police station, Scotland-yard : " Stolen, on the 17th instant, from the domestics' apart ments in Windsor Castle, a quantity of wearing apparel, consisting of silk and velvet waistcoats, silk scarfs and cravats, two gold rings, and 1/. Bs. in money ; also from the kitchen divers articles, the property of her Majesty. The robbery is supposed to have been effected by William Beale, who was employed in the scouring pantry, and who has since absconded. He is described as being 19 years of age, middle height, of a dark florid complexion, and black hair." APOTHECARIES' HALL.—Names of gentle men to whom the Court of Examiners granted certifi cates of qualification on Thursday :—Joseph Cox Baker, London ; Geo. Brown, Colne Engaine, Halstead ; John Samuel Snook, Colyton, Deron en Giles Charmouth, Dorset ; Wm. Sugden,Bath ;Rohn Henry Eccles,CharlesPl y m ou CoDevont,a bat ;0 John ph Gr Nixon e ti e Simpson vvso n , I.;Fre dericki t - church, Salop ; Cor Johnson Cooke, Clay ; Wm. Robinson,Huddersfield n.Robert Beeston Wright ; and John i n s on, Frederick dd eNr fieolsoch THE SUN, LONDON. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1889 SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROISI THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.) (From the Courier.) All the papers and advices received from Spanish Ame rica for some time past teem witharticles of the most bitter vituperation on the perfidy and aggressions of Prance in the whole course of its relations with the States of the New World. At Potosi as at Lima, at Bogota as at Mexico, at Quito as at Buenos Ayres, at Santiago de Chili as at Rio Janeiro, the feeling and the exasperation is one and the same, both in the States which are victimized and in those which have yet escaped, but who read in present and passing events the forewarning of their own contingent doom. Nor are the injurious effects of this just expression of universal reprobation visited upon France, the guilty party, alone, for they are retaliated upon the whole of Europe, and upon Great Britain above all, because of the greater stake of her com mercial interests in those extensive regions far trans cending in importance those of the whole of Europe taken together. With some of those States we have special and amicable treaties of commerce and alliance, wherein peculiar privileges are granted in grateful return for kind service in the hour of utmost need, and for that acknowledgment of independence In the face of hostile Cabinets and the Holy Alliance which raised them to the dignity of Sovereign Powers, and crushed for a time those grasp ing projects and ambitious aspiration s developed at the Congress of Vienna by M . de Chateaubriand in his celebrated declaration, that the Spanish American States " were republics in their own despite, for every thing in America was opposed to the system which had been esta blished, and on that account it was necessary France should apply herself to establish thrones to be filled by the dynasty of the Bourbons." With such of the new republics as have not yet cemented the ties of friendship with us so closely as those first " raised into existence" by Canning, but which otherwise might have been hoped from time and a continued succession of good offices, this prejudice against European interests artfully fomented and inflamed by French aggression, is now acting to close tile door against friendly alliance. The State of Ecuador, for example, has passed a decree placing this country in the exceptional case of those vtl►ich are not to be entitled to the privileges of the most favoured nation ; whilst, singularly enough, the United States, which, so far from having been the friends and disinterested allies of Spanish America, have been first and foremost to sow dissension amongst them, and in the consciousness of superior strength to plunder them mercilessly, as in the case of the Mexican frontiers and the rebellion of Texas, arc to be ranked in the Ecuador on the same footing as the new States amongst themselves interna• tionally. (From the Globe.) When Sir Robert Peel gave his well-meant aid to the Wetherells, and Eldons, and Wellingtons—(it is in compliment to the Duke that we place his name last in the roll of bigots) to trip up Canning on the threshold of power. what was the pretext ? That he ct,uld not act un der a Prime Minister favourable to the Catholic claims. Within two years Sir R. Peel contrived to obey the word of command of a military Premier,and bring forwardthose very claims in Parliament. In 1827, therefore, Sir Robert Peel studied to raise himself on the ruins of the Canning school, in ultra-company. In 1829 he cut adrift his unwieldy convoy, and went, with full sail, before the wind of Whig opinion, and Irish impulse. Where do we find him, and where his Ultras, ten years afterwards ? Surely the pleasure is as great Of being cheated, as to cheat ! We find the Ultras again looking to Peel to undo Eman cipation ; and we find Peel (presumably) again looking to the Ultras for aid in tripping up the party in power on the very pretexts used against Canning! Is not this precisely the truth ? Is there any sort of definable diffe rence, in point of principle, between tripping a Ministry up for favouring Emancipation, and turning one out for acting in pursuance of that measure ? And can there be a more direct and logical consequence of the Act of Emancipation than the appointment (in fair proportion) of Catholics ? And is not, this the grand Ministerial crime dwelt on throughout the re cess ? Can Sir Robert Peel expect to play his poli tical thimble-rig all over again ? To rise, as in 1827, on Ultra shoulders, and kick them down, as in 1829 ? Is this what his present sup porters expect of him ? Is this what be destines for them ? We wish to speak of Sir Robert Peel, as of any one personally, with perfect candour. We do not think him chargeable with the crimes, or capable of the merits, which have sometimes marked acts of decided energetic apostacy. For apostacy may be a crime or a merit, according to its motives and circumstances. But Sir Robert Peel has always kept his principles carefully loose about him. He has always seemed intent to pro vide that be never should need exactly to apostatise. (From the Standard.) The last card in the hands of the Ministerial writers is a threat, that the ultra Protestant class of Conservatives are determined to force Sir Robert Peel to rescind the Act of 1829 upon his accession to the Government. This threat, we own, provokes some jealousy on our part ; we have been accustomed to hear ourselves called Orange = bigots—ultras of the most extravagant degree—and we have laboured to deserve these titles, which,— considering the company in which we have received' them, we have ever regarded as titles of honour. Now, however, we are assured that there is a class of Conservatives more Orange —more bigotted—more Protestant—more ultra than ourselves. We wonder where this class hid itself in 1829, when the chief palm was by com mon consent awarded to the Standard, and to the exalted individuals whose opinions it was our pride to reflect. It was in 1829 that the question was tried, and then that violent body, from which so much is now predicted, could nowhere be found—as we have said, there was no one more violent than ourselves. In recurring to our own conduct, and what we con sider our present wrongs, we of course act in part from a selfish motive as far as reclaiming our position in the van of " Orange bigotry ;" but we have another motive, and that is to bring under public attention the fact that the question now is not that which agi tated the public mind ten years ago—a question as to the equalisation of civil capacities—but an en couragement of Romanist Propagandism, with the hu miliation of the Established Protestant Churches on the one side, and a defence of the Protestant religion and of the Protestant Churches on the other. This altered state of the question will satisfactorily explain why many who favoured the Bill of 1829, or stood in different when that measure was under discussion, may resist Popish aggression as earnestly as the oppo nents of that unfortunate change, and resist it with a degree of resentment proportioned to their sense of the fraudulent professions of which they were the dupes. It by no means follows, however, that their resentment goes the length of wishing to place Roman Catholics in the position in which they were eleven years ago. SUICIDE CAUSED BY DREAD OF DESTITU TION.—An inquest was held on Thursday morning at the Lord Clive's Head, Duke-street, Manchester square, on the body of Ann England, a poor woman, aged 59, who hung herself on Wednesday morning last. It was stated in evidence that deceased had been for merly well off, but that latterly being obliged to have recourse to shoe-binding to support herself, she became excessively low spirited, and frequently expressed her fears that she should be reduced to seek an asylum for the remainder of her days in a workhouse, or have re course to the terrible alternative of suicide. On Wed nesday morning last a lodger, who was going to take her some boiling water to prepare her breakfast with, found her hanging behind her bed-room door, suspended by means of a piece of clothes-line from a crook in the door. A surgeon, who was called in, proved that she had been dead several hours. Verdict—" Temporary in sanity." KING OF NEW ZEALAND.—We have accounts from New Zealand which are of some interest at the present moment, inasmuch as they infer that the settle ment of the British emigrants to that quarter may not be without opposition. It seems that the Baron de Thierry continues to assert the sovereignty of New Zea land, where he now resides with his family. The Baron is " Sovereign Chief, King of Rahabeva," and ac t s i n the name and on th e behalf of the aborigines of the island. He has recently issued a decree from Mount Isabel, in the province of Hokianga, dated March 1839, announc i ng that the tribes may continue to liveon the land sw hi c h t h ey occupy ; that he will dispose of lands every three months at auction, the minimum price to be one dollarper acre ; that 25 per cent. shall de devoted to local improve ment, and 25 per cent. to the benefit of the aborigines. He will not o ppose the settlement of the English in his empire, and their purchase of lands with the condition that his royal rights be acknowledged. In th e year 1837 her Maje s ty's ship Beagle , Capt. Fitzroy, visited New Zealand. A controversy arose between the Baron and Capt. Fitzroy, on account of the refusal by the latter to recognise his sovereignty. In a protest, addressed to Capt. Fitzroy by the Baron, he prese n t e d a hi story of hi s lif e an d the claims which he p re f erre d to t h e sovereignty o f New Zealand and Nuabeva. He states in thi s protest that he was born i n E ng l an d o f noble p arentage , his father being an e m i grant of t h e French revolution. Educated at Oxford, he there married the daughter of a Prelate, wh o now shares with hi m t h e h onour s of his royalty. He was at one time an a tt ac h e o f the French Legation in Lond on , and always had the protection of the Royal French exiles. He is personally known to the present King of the French, Louis Philippe. and to his late Majesty King William, t o b o th of whom he intended to send hi s pro test ag a i nst t h e co nduct of Captain Fitzroy. D ur ing the Baron de Thierry p asse d sam e 11)0 res id ence o f Mr.. Vaughan at W as hi ngton, as Briti s h Mi n i ster , months th ere . In society he was admired f or hi s soc i a l qualiti es , an d par ticularly for his musical t a l ents. Tie two brothers of the Lord Bishop of Salis bury an d J o h n Evelyn Denison, Esq , of Nottingham shire, viz., Henry Denison, Esq., of All Souls College, and Alfred Denison, Esq., of Christchurch, are on the eve of quitting this country to settle in South Australia. ...Derby Reporter. MONEY MARKET and CITY NE Vl' (FRIDAY EVENING.) TIMES.—Until within a day or two past, scarcely any applications have been made to the Bank for loans under the last notice for temporary accommodation, but they are now coming in pretty extensively, and some new pressure for money exists, though from what cause does not appear, especially as the demand has been so very limited for nearly three weeks. At present it pre vails chiefly at the Stock Exchange, the discount market being comparatively easy. The transactions in foreign exchanges have not been large to-day. The supply of bills drawn in London, as well as those from the country, which usually form an important pa; t of the exchange business, was not consi derable, and on the other hand the demand was not generally so great as has been the case for some time, although to this Amsterdam must be considered an ex ception. Paris was a shade higher, and Hamburg the same as last post. • An explanation, which is so confused as to be evi dently " official," has been offered of the appearance of the signature of'" Montek,Ple" to a commercial Ex chequer bill, dated four months prior to the creation of that title. We are told that " the Public Works Act, under which Exchequer bills are issued as loans, direct that the Exchequer Loan Commissioners should give a certificate, on which the Exchequer bills should be issued ; they further enact that the Exchequer bills so issued shall bear the date which the said certificate shall appoint and direct. * The Auditor of the Ex chequer, and consequently the Controller, is bound to sign and issue the Exchequer bills in conformity with those directions, whatever may be the datedirected by the certificate." After arguing en the propriety of this course, tha writer goes on to conjecture " that in this case the long delay has arisen from the circumstance that the bill was issued under the West India Relief Act, in which cases the mortgage security is signed in the West In dies ;" " adding that the certificate of the Commission ers directs, however, that the Exchequer Bills should bear the date of the mortgage security, from which date the borrower pass interest." He observes after wards, "that some difficulty having at first arisen from the wording of the West India Relief Act, the Exchequer Bills Commissioners, under the powers given them, gave the proper directions for placing those bills in the same condition as other bills of a si milar class." To prove that the case is not altogether a new one, we are told that this practice has - existed ever since 1817, and " that the same circumstance happened in the case of Lord Auckland, who signed bills as Lord Monteagle has done, bearing a date before he was Con troller of the Exchequer, or before the office existed." All this we give as we find it, for the edification of the Exchequer bill brokers, whose comments upon the mysterious affair referred to were given, and not our own, and who possibly may be enlighted by it. That the practice of issuing ante-dated Exche quer bills is a common one we do not believe, and are confirmed in it by the necessity the interpreter is under of going back to the time of Lord Auckland for an instance. That the practice is one liable to great abuse cannot be doubted, and as the interest on the loan, whatever it may be, is accruing along with the interest of the Exchequer-bill, the fairer course would be to date both from the actual issue, and so form a general interest account between the parties, The great disadvantage at which the borrowers of Go vernment are placed by these transactions appears from the large sacrifice in discount submated to in this instance. If it is professed to lend 100/., a man ought not to receive for it a piece of paper worth only 981. 13s. No one imagined, when the strange story referred to got afloat in the city, but that there was some explana tion of it ; it is sufficient that the most experienced Ex chequer bill brokers were unable to account for it. The jokes indulged in upon the occasion are to be set down in part to their great respect for the " character" of the gentleman implicated. HERALD.—The transactions in the Continenta Exchanges have by no means been extensive this after noon ; the quotations may, however, be called quite as firm as they were on the last post day, and it the British Queen had arrived it is supposed that there would have been considerable transactions in bills upon France. A renewed hankering for wild speculation in Railway Shares appears at present to be making some progress, and whether the origin is in Liverpool or Manchester it matters not ; but it bodes no good for the weak people who seem determined to hazard everything upon these concerns without any apparent reason. Great Western New Shares are 4 dis. ; Brighton are 141 dis., and Blackwall 24 dis. ; Croydon Trunk are 9/. 13s. 6d. dis. ; Manchester and Leeds 8 a prem. ; and York and North Midland 9i a 10 prem. National Provincial Bank of England Snares are 3 dis. SUN.—Merchants were looking anxiously again to day for the arrival of the British Queen steamer, but up to this hour we have no tidings of her. The Funds closed heavily, owing to some large sales of Stock, Consols for the opening realizing 92, and lastly 921 ; Exchequer Bills were marked 2s. to 55., and India Bonds 7s. to 9s. discount. Spanish Bonds were lower this afternoon, viz., 231, but they rank& and dosed at 238 ; Belgian Bonds were steady at 10 li.-and Mexican tell to 278 ; Colombian were unaltered. The Railway Shares were in rather brisk request to day, and at steady prices. The New Great Western brought 4 discount ; the Brighton 14+ discount ; the Manchester and Leeds 8 premium, and the York and North Midland 10 premium. The Colonial Markets closed firmly this afternoon, and will remain shut all next week, in consequence of the Christmas holidays. The Foreign Exchanges were without any alteration of importance. On Paris the rate was 25.571 to 624 ; on Hamburgh, 13.9? i, and on Amsterdam, 13.3. SINGULAR RETRIBUTION.-Our readers will recollect the afflicting murder of the missionaries, Ly man and Munson, among the Battas, a year or two since. By an extract from the annual report of the American Board, read at their last meeting in Portland, we learn the following fact. A missionary of the Board re cently made a tour in that country, and ascertained that these devoted men would not have been killed had their object been known. The tribe that destroyed them was at war with another tribe, and being out upon a warlike expedition, they discovered these two strangers. In the excitement of their feelings, they immediately killed them. When the news of this affair reached the neighbouring villages and tribes, and they ascertained from various sources that the missionaries were good men, and came to do them good, they were filled with indigna tion. Assembling their forces, they marched against the village, burned the houses, destroyed the gardens, killed some of the inhabitants, and dispersed the rest. The place was called Sacca, and is now no more inhabited. A jungle is growing thickly over its ruins. How soon did their wicked deed recoil, in destruction, upon their own heads ! It is, indeed, a singular circumstance, that heathen tribes should destroy one of their own villages, in revenge for the murder of Christian Missionaries. A mission will, probably, be established among them .— Yion's Advocate ( American paper.) I . _ HIGHWAY itoBBERY.-- - --Tbursday night, be tween eleven and twelve, as Mr. Bowden, a gentleman residing at Edmonton, Middlesex, was returning home from town, on horseback, he was attacked by two men when within half a mile of his residence. Mr. Bowden struggled with them for some time, but they soon over powered him, and forcibly took from him his pocket-book, containing a 101. Bank of Eogland note, with which they made good their escape. From the darkness of the night Mr. Bowden is unable to give any further description of the robbers than that one was a tall and the other a short man. GREAT MORTALITY AMONGST CHILDREN. —lt gives us pain to state that the scarlet fever conti nues very prevalent in this town, and that many chil dren have fallen victims to its ravages. We are afraid to state the number which has been reported to us, as having died of this disease within a short period ; but the case of one family, the particulars of which we have on good authority, is so remarkable and so distressing that we are induced to record it here. The family we allude to is that of John Ilolden, who lives in Wrang ling, King-street. It consists, or rather did consist, of himself and wife, and seven children. About three weeks ago some of the children were taken ill, and one of them died and was buried in St. Peter's Church-yard on Sunday week. During the time the mourning rela tives of the little sufferer were engaged in consigning its body to its kindred earth, another of the children died, and the tidings of death met the parents at the threshold of their house on their return from the melancholy duty which they had been fulfilling. Thus two of their family wree cut off from the world ; but the hand of the destroyer was not yet stayed, for a third victim was sacrificed on the following day, Monday. These two werein terred together last Wednesday ; and on Thursday a fur ther trouble was inflicted on this poor man, for on that day a fourth child died, and our informant tells us that a fifth is at this time in a very precarious condition.— Blackburn Standard. Yesterday morning, about half-past eleven o'clock, as an elderly woman, named Anson, residing at King David's-lane, Itatcliff-highway, was crossi ng t h e road near the Law Institution, Chancery-lane, she was knocked down by a horse and much injured about the head. She was picked up and conveyed to Mr. Davis's surgeon, in Chancery-lane. The fellow (quite drunk), then set the horse galloping off as hard as he could ; he was, however, stopped by . one of the City police, and after much resistance taken into custod y . He appeared' to have been galloping very much, as the horse was in a distressed state. O'CONNELL IESTINIONIAL.—F rom all ac counts we can collect, we belie ve t h e Nationa l T r ib ute will be even more effective tha n usua l t hi s yea r ; and w e record this conviction with the more pleasure, be. cause we see by the organs of the enemy how high a value they would set upon its failure, a nd how they pant for the proofs it would fu rn i s h t h em , which they would use eagerly—the ma n if estat i on t h a t i t would afford of the decline of the influence of the leader, and of the fp:rit of the Irish people.—Piltit. REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS. - - MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS OF MANCHESTER. A meeting of the inhabitants of Manchester was convened, by requisition to the Mayor and the Bo roughrecve and Constables, on Thursday last, at the Town-hall, King-street, for the purpose of petitioning her Majesty and both Houses of Parliament for a total and immediate abolition of the Corn-laws. The meet ing was convened at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. In order to afford every possible accommodation, in ad dition to the large room usually appropriated to public meetings of an important character, the two end-rooms were thrown open, thus affording accommodation to an immense number of persons. Considering the at tempts that have been made, both by the Tory and the ultra-Chartist party, to thwart the proceedings nothing could exceed the unanimity and enthusiasm of this meeting. Although a Chartist placard was issued, in viting- the party to attend the meeting, and pass a re solution in favour of " repealing the Malt tax and the Excise laws," there were not more than from thirty to forty of that party present—at least, of those who op posed the proceedings—and of the ultra-Tory party not more than from fifteen to twenty, nearly all of whom scampered off as soon as they discovered how signally they had been beaten by the overwhelming majority which carried the first resolution. There were not, then, in the whole meeting more than a b out s i xty per sons at most who opposed the proceedings, and this op position was discontinued as soon as the first resolution was passed. In the course of this report it will appear that there was a partial interruption of the business of the meeting ; the opposition, however, arose entirely from the little party we have already mentioned, who, when they fairly discovered their weakness, were glad to hide themselves in silence. The doors being opened in a few minutes the large hall was completely crammed, so much so that in a few minutes the proceedings ex perienced a temporary interruption, in order to obtain something like ventilation. D. PRICE, Esq., one of the constables, occupied the Chair on the occasion. In opening the proceedings The CHAIRMAN said this meeting was called in pur suance of a requisition to the Mayor of the borough, and the Boroughrecve and Constables, for the purpose of taking into consideration the existing state of the Corn-laws. It was intended that this meeting should be exclusively confined to the consideration of the Corn laws, and that it should not be mixed up with any other question whatever.—(Cheers.) It was well known to them that questions had agitated this town for some time in reference to the Charter—(Hear, hear)—but in order that that question might not be mixed up with the question which was to occupy their attention at that meeting, the Boroughreeve and the Mayor had decided on not making their appearance unless as mere spectators. He had, therefore, to beg of them on no account to suffer any question of that kind to interfere with the business for which they were then more espe cially called together—(Cheers)—but to hearcalmly and dispassionately any gentleman who had sentiments to offer on this important question ; and, alter discussing the business in a sensible and rational way, to come to such a decision as would be beneficial not only to them selves but to the community at large.—(Loud cheers.) The Chairman, after reading the requision by which the meeting was convened, said he should now call upon some of the gentlemen who were to occupy their atten tion as movers and seconders of resolutions. H. H. BIRLEY, Esq. (a leading Tory), asked the Chairman whether it v:outd not be difficult to separate this question from others of a political nature? The CHAIRMAN answered that the meeting was con vened exclusively for the consideration of the Corn laws. Such questions as were connected with that one would, of course, be introduced. Some interruption was then caused by a person named Nightingale, a violent Chartist, attempting to contra• vent; the order of the meeting, and speak without any motion before him. The disturbance having subsided, MARK PHILLIPS, Esq., M.P. for Manchester, was introduced to the meeting, and was received with the most hearty and enthusiastic cheering, mingled with the faint hisses and hootings of the Tories and Chartists. He said that since he came into the room he had been requested to move a resolution. Before he proceeded to address any observations to the meeting he would read the resolution which had been put into his hands. It was, " That the free exchange of the produce of our industry for the food and corn of other countries is a natural and inherent right. A right clearly recognised by the Creator himself in awarding to various climates different prodUctions of the earth, for the common be nefit of all creatures.—(Cheers.) He had come to that meeting to perform what he conceived to be a pub lic duty. He had come before them on this occasion as one who saw the necessity for an alteration in the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.) He recollected that the very first public meeting in which he ever took part in this borough was one for the purpose of petitioning against the then existing Corn-laws.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) It he had any apology to offer for any change of cpi- Ilion or sentiment on this subject, he perhaps might de tain them by enumerating the reasons which had pro duced such change in his mind ; but, as he said before, lie was no new convert to the views which he enter tained on this question, and every year as it passed away convinced 'hint' still more strongly that these laws were not only highly impolitic, but absolutely unjust. As, therefore, even the modification of these laws had failed to convince him that they were beneficial to society at large, he was there in the presence of that meet ing once more ready to enter into what he considered to be the discharge of a public duty, and anxious to take a part in these interesting and important proceedings with the rest of his fellow-townsmen.—( Loud cheers.) This was certainly no party question. He hoped and trusted that no one in the room would on the present occasion give the slightest shade of party to any of the Proceedings connected with this business. This was a national question, a question not merely affecting the interests of the capitalists, but one of existence itself, to every member of the industrious portion of the com munity.—(Cheers.) He repeated it, that this was a national question, for it was one which, in his opinion, affected the agricultural labourer and the agriculturist himself, as well as the manufacturer and the operative —( Hear, hear, and cheers)—and at the present moment he regretted to say that his firm belief was, that that portion of the community were suffering equally with ourselves.—(Hear, hear.) He was sure that in a meeting of that kind, and among a body of his fellow townsmen, it was unnecessary for him to adduce any ar gument to prove that at the present moment we were labouring under deep distress.—( Hear, hear.) This distress was felt in common not merely by the em ployer but by the employed too—(Hear)—and more so, because the employer in all probability would have some capital left upon which he might exist for a time ; but the man who depended for his existence upon the sweat of his brow, and his daily toil, if the means of subsistence were withdrawn from him, suffered immediately and intensely too.—(Hear,hear.) Now, in the House of Commons lie should have felt that he should not have discharged his duty to his con stituency if, in agitating this or any other question, he allowed himself to go into exaggerations ; he, therefore, said fairly and openly, that deep as the distress was at the present moment—and they all knew it was deep enough—he did not contend that that distress might not exist—partially at least—even under an alteration of the Corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.) But he contended at the same time that that distress would not be what it now was if we had a free exchange with other coun trics for the produce of our industry in the way of ma nufactures.—(Cheers.) There were, he was sorry to say, many individuals who had attempted to lead aside the people from the true and proper view of this question. There were many who had en deavoured to impress upon the minds of the working classes that the reduction of price of corn would be accompanied with a reduction of the amount of wages.—(Hear, hear.) He did not mean to contend that a national reduction in the price of corn might not have some effect in the alteration of wages, but inas much as the necessaries of life would become much cheaper, and that the articles which we manufacture would find a more ready market in exchange for wheat, there must be a greater amount of labour called into ex istence, there must be more extensive means of employ ment, and every man who has a family will necessarily have a greater number of the members of that family employed.—(Cheers.) He contended, therefore, that if we could accomplish the repeal of the Corn-lewe we would accomplish one of the greatest blessings that could be conferred upon tho com m unity at large at the present moment..—(Cheers, and " Who brought the agricultural labourers here by the New Poor law?") He had just heard that there was voile degree of jealousy felt by an individual as to " the importa tion of agricultural labourers into the manufacturing districts." He had yet to learn that it was their duty to surround their manufacturing town with Custom house officers to place a duty upon their labour.— (Tremendous cheering.) We ought to have free labour —perfectly free and unrestricted ; and the only means of accomplishing that freedom would be to allow us to exchange those articles which we produce in super abundance for that agricultural produce which on the other hand may be had in superabundance on the Continent.—( ol l.) Now, while in his place in Parliament, he had seen petitions presented from Bolton and its neighbourhood, which every one knew was a neighbourhood very thickly inhabited by hand loom weavers. He regretted to find that a great deal of ignorance existed on the part of the individuals peti tinning, for they had gone to far as to ask fur a duty on the importation of cotton twist. Now what was our condition with respect to cotton twist at this moment ? —( Hear.) We find that instead of the labour of our handloom weavers being called into operation to work up this cotton twist in this country, and perhaps give employment to thousands, that upon the Continent, where they have much cheaper corn, the weavers can make so as to undersell us, and we therefore send a great quantity of twist abroad, representing only a por tion of our labour when taken to a foreign market, while it ought to have the additional portion requisite to make a finished article.—(Cheers.) Then let him ask whether we bad lest—and there were gentlemen in the EVENING EDITION. room who could answer the question—whether we ha lost, and were not continually losing, our continental! trade in manufactured goods?—(Hear, hear.) And he wished to know what security we had if we were losing our trade in piece goods, that we should not lose our trade in cotton twist also?—(Hear, hear.) To him, at least, there appeared to be little hope of any thing else, unless these laws were repealed.—(Cheers.) He would, therefore, seriously appeal to the landed in terest on this important question. He would ask them what was to become of the great manufacturing popu lation of this country if the means of subsistence were to be withdrawn from them merely because they (the landowners) wished to uphold a monopoly in which they alone were interested ?—(Cheers.) Did they think that, under such circumstances, the land could escape taxation for the maintenance of those who had not otherwise the means of existence ? It must come to this in the end ; and he feared—he really feared—that this change was taking place much more rapidly than many people were aware of.—(Hear, hear.) Our position, then, was exactly this :—They saw how rapidly inventions were spreading in America some of the most splendid inventions in the improve ment of machinery. Those improvements were taken • to the Continent, and were There called into operation ; and in Switzerland, Germany, and the Tyrol they were vigorously entering into competition with us in a two fold manner—first, they were supplying their own coun try with their own manufactures, and then, being en abled to produce for themselves at home goods cheaper than we could sell them, they would go to foreign mar kets and destroy the remnant of trade which we had left.—(Hear, hear.) Was not this already the case ? Certainly it was, for he had proof of it every day.—( Cheers.) They would meet with the pro- 1 duce of the United States in China. They there ri valled us, and could sell in the same market against us, - even Gl4•ery market of the Brazils, and all along the eastern and western coasts, and round Cape Rona— ( Hear, hear.) He had at all times felt it his duty in the House of Commons, when this subject was brought forward, to give his support to those motions which had been instituted with a view to the total repeal .of these laws. They might not all agree as to the mode in which this change should he effected. Some of them might advocate a fixed duty ; others, like himself; would say " let us have a perfectly free and unrestricted trade."—( Cheers.) But they must all agree to take some step.—('• Oh," and cheers.) They must advance, and therefore lie would observe that it was desirable they should advance together.—(Cheers) With respect to the present condition of the country, they were all aware that we were suffering, and suffering deeply and intensely, from the failure of the two last harvests. All he wished for, then, was to provide against the periodical recurrence of such evils as these; and if the working classes of this country knew their interests they would not he led aside from this great question, which was the question of all questions with them, but would steadily pursue the object, and he would guarantee to them the most cordial co-operation of the middle classes, who were at this moment suffering from the same cause as intensely as themselves.—(Cheers.) He felt that a deep and imperative duty devolved upon him to allow no opportunity to pass by, and particularly such a one as the present, without raising his voice against those laws which were hurrying the trade and commerce of this country into certain and inevitable ruin.—(Very loud cheers.) He saw as he was coming to this meeting a placard, calling the attention of individuals likely to attend there to witness the proceedings, to the important fact of the great increase of our popu lation. That placard stated that the population of our country seas increasing at the rate of half a million annu ally, or one thousand individuals per day! He would just observe that haif that amount would furnish him with an argument, sufficiently strong in his opinion to point out the necessity of a prompt and immediate change.—(Cheer.;.) Something had been said about the hours of labour. He would ask whether there was any one thing that more distinctly bore upon the hours of labour than the toil they were obliged to submit to to meet the foreign markets? Without an alteration in these laws this must continue. Somebody asked him whether lie was not going to pack up his tools and march himself to the Continent. He certainly was aware that many hundreds had already been obliged to do so, and though he was not going to follow them at present, God only knew how soon he might be compelled to do so.—(Hear.) He would not say more than that, as ho had often said he was deeply convinced of the necessity of an alteration in these laws, and he therefore nest cordially gave his support to the resolution which he held in his hand, for the truth of the statements which it contained lie thought it was impossible for any body to deny. The resolution spoke for itself. After the resolution, th e H onoura bl e againGcp rendin gropose proposed it for the adoption o f the mectini_s and sat down amidst the most enthusiastic ch eer i ng . nilhn" ar i HOLLAND HOOLE, Esq. (a Tory), rose to second the resolution. He said he most cordially seconded the re solution which had been moved by Mr. Phillias.— (Cheers.) His own personal experience during past years had fully convinced him, and had confirmed and struegthened that opinion upon the operation of the Corn-laws, which he had expressed upon a former ()en sion.—(Cheers.) He fully concurred in the remarks of Mr. Philips, with respect to our decaying trade ; amid although. there were other causes at work, and they 'sere well aware of it—( Hear, hear,. from Mr. Road) —yet these laws appeared to be the leading cause of all causes—(Cheers)---and he could not believe that we should ever recover that position, in reference to our foreign trade, which we once enjoyed, until we have a very great alteration, to say the least of it—an extensive alteration in the system of the Corn-laws.--(Cheers.) Now, he was aware of a very fallacious opinion which interested parties were endeavouring to circulate among the labouring population of this country, with respect to the operation of these laws. He contended that if instead of theorising they would go to the facts of the case, they were directly in the teeth of the impression which those parties would make.—( Hear, hear.) In 18.35, wh en the price of bread was sd. for the 41b. loaf; our wages were at the same point they are at now—(Ne e , no! yes, yes! and cheers)—when the 41b. b oat is t-la. or 9d., b u t with this very important difference, that the people can not be kept in employment, and that there is, in point of fact, and from this very cause, a quadruple pressure upon the operative. The time for working is limited in many cases to three days a week. Now be would let men, theorise as they pleased, but facts like those spoke volumes —( Hear, hear.) He would add, moreover, that, from his own knowledge ant; experience, there was an extensive increase not merely of manufactures, but of cotton spinning, on the Continent. That i:!crease was perceived by the Continental governments, and thoeo go vernments were wise enough to see, that if we bad not the sense to keep our business, they would avail them selves of it. They were in, the right, and we were in the wrong. We were, surrounded by restrictions im posed upon us, of which they were fully aware, and it was no longer a matter of doubt to them that we would nut he able to maintain our trade.—(Hear, hear.) He called himself a working man. For thirty years past he had had to do with business, and he knew what it. was to provide for a large family.—( Hear, hear.) He most heartily pitied the poor ; they were in a most de plorable state, and his astonishment was that they were so good, and quiet, and orderly, as they were at presen t , —(Loud cheers.) He hoped that when Mr. Ph',.tips returned to Parliament he would adduce this. us an additional argument of the increasing intelV e genee of the working classes.—(Hear, hear.) They what object they w e r e a i m i ng at, and 'tie felt convinced that, united as th e y were , t h ey saw clearly c"ad not fail to achieve that object.—(Deafening ehTeers.) He seconded the resolution with th e greater; cordiality. H. H. 131nr.Ev. Esq.. then rose for the purpose of proposing an amendment for a moderate fixed duty. He was recesered with the most hideous groaning and yelling ever heard, mingled with cries of " Bloody Tory," " The Hero of Peterloo," and a variety of other equally opprobrious epithets. The business of the meeting was interrupted for a considerable time by the expressiona of disapprobation, and the evident disinclination o n the part of the assembly to hear Mr. Birley. At ) 'ength The CHAIRMAN said he wished, as chairman., to have the order of that meeting, and he humbly entreated all his friends, of whatever side of the question they might be, to give to all an opportunity for fair discussion on this subject.—(Hear, hear.) lie anxiously hoped for their assistance in preser ging order in that meeting. Mr. BIRLEY apse stepped forward, and was received with cheers, w i nicl4 were completely overwhelmed by shouts of , ':isapprobation, and cries of " Peterloo, Peter loo," ". Off, off," and " Turn him out.") I will, with, your leave, read the resolution, that you may know my sentiments.—(Great uproar.) Mr. Birley then read as follows, amid the greatest possible uproar :—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, the existing law affecting the importation of foreign corn is attended with many and obvious evils, which can only lee substituted by mo derate fixed duties. But that, inasmuch as her Majes. ty's present Ministers d o not possess the confidence of a large majority of her subjects, it is inexpedient for the inhabitants of Manchester to petition Parliament on the subject, without embodying in the petition the expres sion of their decided conviction that her Majesty's pre sent Ministers are utterly incapable of effecting a settle ment of this important and difficult question."—(Much laughter, L'eroarting and cheering.) By this time Mr. Birley had occupied the attention of the meeting about thirty minutes wi t h ou t being able to obtain anything like a 'beeline, and it 'vas not until Mr. Schofield had addressed a few words to the meeting that a hearing could be obtained. Mr, BIRLEY than proceeded to say that he held it to Iquestion when they had no means point, and he would appeal to Mr. of gainingu n wis e a t o single Phillips as to what had been the effoet of the agitation of the question during the last Session of Parliament? Had not the agitation thrown the question immeasur ably back ?—( Loud cries of t‘ No, no," and cheers.) He was sure it had. It had alarmed many who were opposed to them, and had caused moderate men to keep aloof. It bad been said that politics ought not to be mixed up with this question ; in that sentiment he ful,y agreed—(Uproar)—but they (the Tories) could not help it.—(Laughter.) It was not their will —(Cheers and laughter, and " Yes it is," and ZS' I ~. 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