The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-17 00:00:00

rlt '"c.-TRADE MEETING AT _BIR MINGHAM. apee ,atiNcriam. DEC. 15—A numerous and highly re :"10 meeting was held this day in the Town-hail , fur t ; l lle ci Henry Smith, Esq., mayor of the b.)rou, ; ll, by e Purpose set forth in the following requisition, h ,„ for con,idering the propt•kty of memorialising of th 3 j e stY's Govertiment for the immediate opening e on e ports of the United Kingdom for the free admis ,,,,Cfall kinds of fereign grain and provisions." % d u e requisition was signed by upwards of two thou gieeresPeclable merchants and tradesmen, and in corn toce with their request the Mayor called the meeting Shore day. Twelve o'clock was the hour appointed. „ ,Y after that time the hall was crowded to excess. If ell i t ne Platform we noticed amongst others—G. F. Stet:' Esq,, M.P., Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P., H. Aid P. H. Muntz, and Wm. Scholefield, Esqrs.; g_ e rtnen Vanwart, Beale, Weston, Bolton, Geach, ,;:to, Thornton ; Councillors Baldwin, Smith, Corah, t se r Pllt, Perry, Webster, Clifford, Malchett, Middle tdi:, Barlow, &c. ; Thomas Redfern, Esq., George ta g °II I , CI S , Esq., Joseph Sturge, Esq., Charles Sturge, Il •"- K. Douglas, Esq., Thomas Eyre Lee, Esq., Ed. tk„ '. sq., Lucas Chance, Esq and many of the most titntial men in the town, of all parties. op e NAY SMITH, Esq., Mayor, having taken his seat, loisinezid the business by saying he held in his hand a re of en ." , signed by a number of names, equal, in point p ert `:Peetability, i n p o i n t of station and commercial im tstee, to any which he had ever before seen attached fz e e aa jkluisiti on got up in that town ; and bearing that h et Ind, he could not hesitate one moment to con op per ,lnera together, in order to afford the inhabitants an ket,' `` u p tlitY of expressing their . opinions upon . the sub loestieLe had his own opinions upon the important the re f . ll involved in the requisition ; but he was not h fp3s o r the p ur p ose o f an nunciating them, but for the 4h e : of collecting the opinions of others. Believing, ton e mtd, that the question was one the most vitally m e a t with their interests, and the interests of the Itet t U nity at large ; and also believing that they we i° consider and discuss it at a crisis in the affairAW teed • istl, k e vna the most important that ever was witnessed, 4%1 "Is opinion, the most serious that could ever as tete:them together, he entreated them to bring all that S e a, that judgment, and good sense, which they loot A P °l lsessed of, and which the importance of the sub vreilserved, to the consideration of the resolution which tle k be brought forward. He had now only to remind K t that this meeting was called to consider the pro opftki. memoralising her Majesty's Government to lllti e Ce ports, and to admit into the country that food te m.. the people stood in need of. But he had also to peir o l d them, that consistently with good order every Ilk: who was present had a right to be heard so long Re e a dhered to the immediate object for which they i i is sembled. He asked them, therefore, for a patient thi ek t Partial hearing for every gentleman who might toe._Prnper to address them, and he should do his duty fete for every speaker that attention to which he Vhe entitl e d.—(Loud applause.) kteCROLEFIELD Esq., then presented himself to the h % and was received with great cheering. After lo n :,.ce said, nothing but the conviction of the great im- SaCce of the business for which they were assembled tit' ) h ave induced him to appear before them as the mover 0 4 °first resolution. The Committee called upon him for ..Sith P e ur Pose of submitting it to their consideration, and ' 4 ll o :, tt ulY further apology he begged leave to move the ' fl g resolution :—" Tnat this meeting cordially sym leCvs with those vast multitudes of their fellow-sub. ki e l w ho have already made known to her Majesty's totr ei t sta rs their apprehensions as to an impendi n g lot a , l Y, and their anxious wishes for a repeal of the 4 ", the existence of which checks the free use and Steent of the necessaries of life." They would need the P i , merit to prove to them, that in consequenc e of llootZure of the potato crop, the country was in immi- Re n rrii and in great danger of famine. Mr. Du g dale, tits t %the Members of North Warwickshire , ha d told Sis es l na recent speech that they had this year an enor- Si ) es top of corn. If that was the case, he (M r . Schole 40e; Gentleman very glad of it, but he was afraid that the R te `4entleman would get very few to believe that such teally the fact.—(Hear.) He (Nlr. S.) hoped test s hould be able that day to view the question as tkl k t „,l r elY of fact, and irrespective of any t o p ics cal kett e z s to create angry feelings amongst t hem.— kte"*.) There was no necessity for referring to mere c , ciLpolitics. They were met to consider a grave and iereir g question, and one in which the dearest in ' t ken: of all present were ivolved. It was now a el e i ll "lst br ea d was rising in pr n ice, that potatoes were etg t iu price, and that it was to be feared ere long etts u ZY would exist in the land. Under these cir - Oi ee "'flees he hesitated not to say that the pr esent 110,11ent ought to be the most fervent, the most deter -447 they had ever yet made.—(Loud cheers.) That Stl fe l ! frn-laws we re an evil of the first magnitude was I kle k :; d d by all who had ever seriously and ho n es tl y con- Ski th e subject, and he believed there never were combination of circumstances existing at any ko s Oil 'since their enactment so favourable to their re ofni t its at the p r e s ent moment. Through the exertions ten as Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright the fallacy of t hoy littu es ,l protection had been exposed. The agitation hoscarried on throughout the country had convinced all tit• e ,oPinions were worth having in the agricultural ha t il t e 's, that what was called protection was in reality no !be ak : i on to the farmer. That agitation had converted "147,'est of the Whig leaders—(Cheers) —and that agi tot ri ," had upset the strongest Ministry that had existed ko v ":"°Y years in this country. That agitation had Of t ',.` l , beyond the possibility of doubt, the iniquity ts that corn-laws, and had aroused public opinion ttle, s it t point that if they could not now sue lost ',,.getting a repeal of the corn-law: from the pre ea of Commons, they must look forward to t alteration in the constitution of that House, and 10 eid r I s te,. d that if ever the time should come when it Rat be found that the present constituency were ka,2 11 to the eraergencies of the country, such an iT 441sZeot would be made in it as would render it . stilt . - tit le ' the wants of the nation. He trusted that if this tL!laeuld arrive that if the opinion of the working 11 4 7 . did net come up to the notio ns of the middle l itt4l l Pon the point of suffrage, the middle class would s's to the opinion of the working class.—(Cheers.) t ikk all hazards, by all legitimate means , and within St4's of the constitution, they must have an imme 11aLlI.1 unconditional repeal of the corn - laws. ~ , 8 4ELsosi seconded the resolution. STURGE, Esq., then proposed an amendment, tv e :_g reference to the franchise, which was afterwards leled by the Mayor. 4 44' Alder man WESTON next briefly addressed the ng . i -oRN MASON, a Chartist leader, on the part of t h, W orking classes, expressed their earnest desire for ts.te te oval of the corn-laws.---(Loud cheers.) The 1 41 Ma ws lu had been always opposed by the leaders of 4 1 ;_ e °Ple. kt t rGE EDMONDS, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, next Its til 2ted himself to the meeting, and was r eceived with liti ed 7,lous cheering. When the applaus e had sub %et • 'le said—Seven years ago, eight thous and p ersons is , lo that h a ll, and then Mr. Muntz , their H on. Mem tiot f ,.. 4441 declared his opinion that the cor n-laws ou g ht 4 lie be removed until they altered the money-laws, fo N 3'et that gentleman had now been obliged to come and vote for a repeal of the corn-laws, because 4,1 4 - 1 , 41 d not get an alteration of the money-laws. Their , ,„kiL friend, Mr. Thomas Attwood, had also been of gti k — t ,, il ar opinion ; but he (Mr. Edmonds) was now de ha'' at being:Able to read to the meeting a letter t r, had been sent from Mr. .Thomas Attwood. Mr. ttet. - 1 4 read a letter from Mr. Attwood, expressing re %C.', his net being able to attend the meeting. From Ott i mportant document they would perceive that Mr. to ,Wo od wa s now decidedly in favour of an im teetilLte repeal of the corn-laws.---(Loud and long- S t a l led cheering. In the year 1815, when the 'se e - racy forced the corn-laws upon the country, Ik e were told what the consequences would be, but qkdespised all warnings. They surrounded the House Ik e ounons with soldiers and cannon, and in spite of' people they imposed the heavy yoke upon them " they had now borne for thirty year s— ( Hear)— le : t hick" it appeared they were determined no l o n g er D i ure.—(Cheers.) The repeal of the corn - laws was ii tactical question. It was one which the peop le could It, settl e if they were only unanimously resolved upon ,ths v u l if they now let the golden opportunity sli p —if to i',,_leferred the question of the corn laws , or att em p ted ka;ustitut e the suffrage, or currency, or any other mea keibillitbe place of it, they might depend up on it the y k nave reason to regret their conduct. 1. • UuNTz, M.P., next addressed the meeting. He s ald (1 4 , a that, as the name of Mr. Attwood had been intro !ta:4l be felt it his duty to state t h a t he had long . 4 e 14 , --t Tace of that gentleman's charact er, and he could his te,:timony to the fact that if he had any Ni z „"' it was the possession of too kindly a heart — t ci t er s)—infinitely too kindly for a place with which !ky — C„ r • Muntz) had been well acquainted for the last rtlti -tahrs•--(Laughter.) He (Mr. Mentz) was of opinion Ook corn-laws ought to be repealed; but he did not ti ts f or such results from their abolition as some par qteiltPected. Indeed, he believed that in twelve months Ne vi their abolition every man in England would be 1 1 10, 11° ed that more was required for the prosperity of ueli e — „"try that a repeal of the corn-laws. Whilst he 4 416 44 that the abolition of the corn-laws was not the hip j pi ttl easure which was required in order to secure the their measure of the country, yet he was an advocate for Chi 40 01ition, as it would have a tendency to effect the flo e success success of just and correct principles of 1-gisla the --;(1.oud cheers.) lie had stated in his address to f e 'eetors of Birmingham in 1839 that he was in air of the principles of free-trade, and as the basis of lif e , Principles a free-trade in the prime necessary of her ec rro, and in gold and silver as well, and he still ad that to those opinions. —(Bear, hear.) He thought si t t e 2o order to remove the evils under which we b atO ti, ther e oug ht t o be a change in the money laws; ea 0 , 17 found f rom hi s experience. ;11 the House of Corn , that both parties were disinclined to carry that ile7ation into effect, and he did not feel on that account s hould be justified in refusing to exert himself to pr,,- ‘ 4d a repeal of the corn-laws.—(Cheers.) Agriculture isot_kanufactures were both the same as regarded their pro,Tercial nature. Agriculture was undertaken for h ;_`l_,‘ just as manufactures, and they ought to be both ii` l 7tt in the same position, one not having more protec hi'alicithan zinther.—(Cheers.) He felt it, however, to be vrhi i t i l t3" to eautioi: them, as to his view of the effect la w Was to b from a repeal of the corn , e expecte. of 4: ill . order that when they were 7 nealed the people a b, deceivedtorn them as to the result of the abolitions sikeNvlawa, The country requir, d not only that the s should be abolished, but that sugar and other fr articles of eo • eel Y int usumption should also be allowed to enter lee tne4 : c th . e country. He could not agree to the cor lowo the argument that we ought not to be al to to _ ittv e .„ rn Lay stave grown sugar, whilst we used !N oll ; " t w cotton, and coffee, and tobacco. Their ex - I : er iftsed o t he an end to the slave-trade had rather no eased at t ., 1 ! horrors of that trade, whilst it had all diminished the number of slaves imported. e fi be r , ' j ol 00 1 ter I d • ebb, fo ie id be go od § or 14 .iof 6sbe" yoo,fo U of 1 0 the Aies' )0 3 „ n tli i , ate scbg f avc.3 0 g:er Nn ito be 05 wePt P ° De Pr 3" ° 3 • J , u 1 51 04 ,rtP' The -b. $t gel 0 cooli!,a lirect. TIIK SUN, LONDON, NWEDN'ESDAY MORNJNG, DECEMBER 17, 1845. There had been no less than 6,000 vessels, with slaves on bran', seized since 1819, and yet the importation of slaves from the coast of Africa had not de creased. We had given twenty millions of money in order to put an end to slavery, we still kept a large fleet at great expense on the coast of Africa, and we were still called on to pay a Ugh price for our sugar, under the pretence of putting down the slave-trade, although, as he before remark d, we used slave-grown coffee and tobacco without any scruple.—(Hear, hear.) If we were to go on interfering with every other nation and taking care of everybody, we should soon be in a position where our interference would be useless. They had heard a good deal about the reduction which would result from the repeal of the corn-laws, but if such a reduction of necessary expenses fol:oe ed, then he did not see why the pay of the army and navy, and of the cabinet and the judges should not be reduced also.—(Laughter and cheers.) Now they all knew then there was to be some change in the Ministry. He had some doubt about it.—(Hear, hear.) For he believed that Lord John Russell would not be able to form an Administration.—(Hear, hear.) lie was no party man, and he cared not whether Whig. Tory, or any one else wasjn power—(A laugh)—and, if he was satisfied he was doing right, he cared not whom he opposed. He had been charged with doing great wrong in advocating the repeal of the corn laws ; and it was said that great evil would arise from such a measure ; but he had Cone all in his power to obtain redress for his constituents. He was convinced that all who lived by the operation of labour were robbed of one-half by the corn-laws — (Hear)—and he, therefore, left it to the meeting to my whether he was wrong in supporting, as he had done, the repeal of the corn-laws, knowing as he did, that re peal would not produce immediate benefit—that it would produce very great distress—but that distress would oblige all parties to do something to relieve it.—(Hear.) That might be said to be doing evil that good might come from it ; but it was what everyone did every day. Now, as he said, the Ministry was to be changed ; but whatever Ministers might be in, they might promise a great deal, but let not those whom he addressed believe them.—(A laugh) All parties promised wonders, and some had done wonders. The Tories had done wonders. —(Hear, and a laugh.) For instance, they put on 5,000,000/. of taxes, and then said " Look at the revenue." —(Laughter.) There was another means of putting the hand into a man's pocket, and bringing up the revenue — he would not say what it was—but it was about equally as justifiable.—(Laughter.) However, the oftener the Ministry was changed the better for the people of this country. —(A laugh.) No change took place without concession. Ministers who now come in had:to bid for their places. His own opinion was that the Whigs were not conversant with the principles of government, and that they did not understand the interests or positions of the people ; and that the Tories were quite on a par with them—(Laughter)—and, therefore, the only way to expect anything from them, was by rubbing them against each other, and so rub off the surface of their skins, and eventually they might get some good from them.—(Laughter.) His Hon Colleague seemed to think with him upon all points but one ; but he could not understand how he, knowing how the landed inte rests were robbing them in their position, was so timor some, and could not go the whole hog.—(Laughter.) But of this he was convinced, that his Hon. Friend and colleague wished them well ; and, as far as he (Mr. Muntz) was concerned, he must say, that as long as he represented them he must do it honestly, and would do all in his power to ameliorate their condition.—(Loud cheers.) RICHARD SPOONER, Esq., M.P., followed, and com menced his address by saying as his Hon. Friend had read an extract from one of his addresses, he (Mr. Spooner) must beg leave to read an extract from a speech which he delivered in that hall when they first placed him in the important trust of representing them in Par liament. The words he used were these, "I have told you before, I do not approve of the present corn-laws. I told you I never had supported them, that I never would support the present corn laws." These were the words which he used, and his opinions were unchanged. The present corn-laws he never did support, and the present corn-laws he never would support ; but he would tell them at the same what he had told them before, that an immediate and total repeal of them would inflict upon the country generally, and that borough in particular, misery so intense, that he could not conscientiously con sent to their sudden removal. The Hon. Gentleman then repeated the arguments which had been used by Mr. Muntz in favour of an unconditional removal of the corn-laws, and concluded his address (which was listened to with mingled expressions of dissent and approbation) dissenting from the resolution. Mr. Councillor JAMES BALDWIN said the question before them was the repeal of the corn-laws and the im mediate opening of the ports.—(Hear, hear.) It was his opinion that if they (the people of England) were fairly represented in Parliament, they would not be compelled to meet there that day to demand their just and lawful rights.—(Cheers) He agreed with the Hon. Member, Mr. Muntz, upon every point which he had al luded to. Mr. Muntz and his colleague seemed, from their speeches that day, to have an inclination to assist them in carrying out the repeal of the corn-laws ; and from that time he (Mr. Baldwin) would forget all poli- tical differences which he had had with those gentlemen, for he thought they both had their country's cause at heart. It was his opinion, if the corn. laws were not re pealed very speedily, inevitable destruction threatened the land. A famine of no ordinary character was im pending, and unless the ports were opened lied the corn laws repealed, starvation was their lot.—(Hear.) Let the people of England express their determination to a man that the corn laws must and shall be repealed, and he would be bound that no Government could stand against them, and till then they would not repeal them. It had been said by the opponents of free-trade that the reports respecting the potato crop were greatly exaggerated, and that there were scarcely any injured in many parts of Ireland. Now he would say, do not believe these statements, for they were false. He moved the follow ing resolution : " That this meeting cannot view, without deep con cern, the advanced prices of all articles of food, arising, as they believe, from the operation of the corn-laws, ag gravated by the insufficient corn harvest of the present year, and the partial but too extensive failure of the potato crop ; and are convinced that a deficiency of nutritious food must be accompanied, as on former oc casions, by a decline in trade, and by widely extended difficulty, distress, and disease among the industrious classes of this densely populated borough, and of other parts of the United Kingdom." Mr. LUCAS CHANCE seconded the resolution. Mr. Alderman Plumes moved the following resolu- FREE TRADE. The following circular, which was drawn up at the close of the meeting at Guildhall on Monday, was cir cu:ats-d in the City ; " Ask the advocates of the Anti-Corn-law League why they prouoAe a, fr.-e trade in corn and give their votes in Parliament in support Of a monopoly in gold, by supporting Peel's monetary measures ? • Free trade in corn necessarily involves an immediate removal of all protection in every branch of our national manufactures. " The promoters of the League, who are for the most part cotton manufacturers, think they can afford to abandon the protection they enjoy of 10 to 15 per cent., because they have so extensively substituted machinery for human labour ; but let it be remembered that the manufacturers of silks, of woollen cloths, of iron and other hardwares, of linen, of paper, of ribbons, of cutlery, of glass, or watches, of jewellery, of shoes, of lilts, of gloves, and of the va:ious articles of British production on which our industrious at tizans depend for their daily support, are still protected from toreign competition by duties varying from 15 to 30 per cent. ; and let it be well pondered how, if free trade in corn be declared and these duties be abandoned (as they must be), the work men in the above-mentioned trades will find means of support for themselves and families when their wages are reduced one-third or more. The only way in which the case can be fairly and honestly met, is by repealing the existing money laws at the same time time that the laws which protect corn and other productions of British industry are repealed ; this would put producers on a safe footing. By the money laws, which fix the price of gold at 31. 17s. 10171. per ounce (its natural value as adopted in countries not •in directly taxed to an enormous extent as Great Britain is), the whole of the taxes by which the interest of the Na tional Debt is paid (amountiag to twenty-seven millions annually) will, ns they have done since the fatal mone tary Bill of 1819, come out of the pockets of the pro ducing classes, instead of being carried forward in price to the consumers. _ " Though tli. laws which protect native industry were removed, still there would remain taxes by customs and excise, amounting to full thirty millions, levied upon producers. When this mode of taxation was greatly extended, as it was during the Continental war, the great William Pitt saw that, with a gold equivalent cur rency, such taxation could not be carried forward in price to the more wealthy consumers, who were by the Legisluture intended to bear it ; and therefore he adopted the plan of making the currency of the nation convertible into gold at its market price in such currency only. Under this fair, reasonable, and enlightened system of money, the nation flourished beyond example, and the wages of labour were liberal and sufficient for workmen and their families. It was because taxation by customs and excise were intended ultimately to reach the more wealthy consumer through the producer, that it was called indirect ;' but by the unseen and most unjust operation of the Act of 1819, this species of im post, which amounts to three-fourths of the total revenue of Great Britain, was, for the most part, rendered ' direct' upon the industrious classes. " These statements are proved demonstratively in the tracts and pamphlets of the Society for the Emancipa tion of Industry,' a society consisting of gentlemen who, perceiving the enormous wrong inflicted by the action of the currency as it now exists, associated themselves with a view of disabusing the Government, the Legislature, and the producing classes, and of promoting a Parlia mentary inquiry into the truth of what they aver. " Considering that free trade in gold was the remedy, and that free trade in productions of British industry under the existing currency was a delusion and a fraud,' which would aggravate beyond endurance the misery of the producing classes, the Committee of the Society f•r the Emancipation of Industry respectfully addressed the following, among other questions, to the Council of the Anti-Corn-law League : " If ' gold,' the measure of value, be excluded from the law of-supply and demand, and its price be fixed, as it now is, does it not inevitably follow that all prices, whether of commodities or of labour, must be regu lated thereby ; and is it not to the fact of gold' being fixed at the low price of 31. 173. 10id. per ounce, the price it bore before taxation was so largely imposed, that the present low and unreinunerating pi ices for commodities and labour in this highly taxed country are to be attributed ? " The Committee of the Society, not having received a satisfactory reply to their first questions, offered to appoint an equal number of gentlemen to meet Messrs. Cobden, Villiers, mid Bright, for a fair discussion of.the question raised by the Society ; but this was ineffectual. "It is hoped, therefore, that those who regard the wel fare of their fellow-countrymen engaged in production of every kind, will cease to give ear to the doctrines of the League, until they have consented simultaneously to pray for a free-trade in gold as well as in corn. In confirmation of these statements, an immediate perusal is recommended of a tract entitled The Case of the Industrtou , Cjasses Briefly Stated,' published by the So ciety, and sad by Mr. Samuel Clarke, Pall-mall, East." LIE AGRICULTURAL PROTEC TION SOCIETY AND THE CORN-LAWS. ion : " That as the Houses of Parliament are not at this time assembled, and as there appears to this meeting a most urgent necessity to adopt promptly and fearlessly, those measures which may prevent the ravages of fa mine in the United empire, and also to afford a supply of seed for the next year, this meeting would respect fully, but firmly urge upon the consideration of her Majesty's Ministers the absolute and imperative neces sity of opening the ports of the United Kingdom for the admission of all kinds of grain and provisions duty free, preparatory to the abolition of all protective duties." The Rev. Mr. Strati then came forward, and was re ceived with great cheering; after which, he said he rose for the purpose of seconding the resolution proposed by Mr. Philips; and, while on his feet, he would make a few observations. He said—This is a righteous, a hal lowed agitation—now, it is hoped, near an end—an agi tation against monopoly and class-legislation—an agita tion for the rights of the working masses against the un just encroachments of the privileged few—an agitation for peace and commerce against war and oppression. Ho nour be to those men who have carried it on with su.yli talent and energy during the last seven years. Their re ward is now near. And the men of Birmingham, whose hearts have ever beat true on the momentous question, are now called to lift up their voice for the last time—to come in at the death of the monster monopoly. That voice, on all great questions, hath often been heard all over the world—let it be heard again. . . . But God Al mighty himself, in the partial failure of the fruits of the earth, speaketh from his throne, to rebuke the wickedness of man, and the nations hear it, and tyrants tremble on their thrones. In this way, out of evil the benignant Parent of the universe, in his wondrous working, will educe good. What man would not do, God, in his providence, will do ; and that which is lacking in one part of the earth the other will supply ; and thus all nations will be united in one golden bond of eternal amity—cultivating the arts of peace, &c. Is it not a fact, that the continental Powers have opened their ports to let in the corn, and the fat Dutchmen, puffing at their pipes, are laughing at the expense of Jelin Bull ; yea, even the Russian autocrat no longer fights against Pro vidence ; nay, the very Turks have been snored at the I cry of their oppressed poo r ones. To what depth hath our favoured country sunk ! Whet shall we say for England ? What evil spirit hath come over us ? Are the Turks Christians, the Christians Turks ? No, the thing will be done ; the proud must be humbled ; the men of station must serve those whose labour maintains them in their places, or give way to others. God him self is working ; the curse will come on those that withhold the corn ; :but the blessing will descend on the head of him that selleth it—" For the oppres sion," &c. All men know what these laws are, and what a fearful amount of suffering they have caused. Are they not impolitic, unju t, un-Christian ? So und p o licy will instantly blot ' them from the statute-book, and that for ever. Justice weigheth them in her ba lances, and they are indeed found wanting, and Chris tianity, accustomed to bless, uttereth ag tinst them her deepest and darkest curses. Not a word can he said for them on the score of policy, justice, or religion. These three witnesses all agree in their condemnation. A memorial to the members of her Majesty's Govern ment, in accordance with the resolutions, was then adopted. A Mr. Nexoet said Mr. Spooner had not stated in his speech whether he would support the repeal of the corn laws in Parliament if it should be brought before him. He should like Mr. Spooner to answer that question. Mr. SPOONER said he would never support the present corn-laws, nor did he ever support them.—(Groans.) Mr. Is/mow—That is not answering the question. I as)e you again, will you go for a total repeal of the corn laws?—(bear, hear.) Mr. SMITH here said that he could not allow Mr. Nixon to proceed, for it was out of the erclitiary course of proceeding,—(Great dissatisfaction.) The Chairman having vacated his seat, Mr. MUNTZ said he rose with pleasure to propose a -4e of thanks to the Mayor, who, he was sure, had ru ' 1 i mpartial ly. acted wisely aue the resolution. In answer to err. SPOONER seconue_ 1 --eged to say he would Mr. Nixon's second inquiry, ne~ewas not pledge himself to support any Mean. brought before him, if he thought it wroug, mingled with hisses.) The meeting then separated. Lord Stanley left town yesterday morning on a visit to the Marquis of Exeter, at his seat, Burghley Uol}se• _ . the cultivation of our own soil should be abandoned." Many able statements have been made and written by Practical men to refute Luis assertion. And, lastly, the petition declares that the ruin of the cultivators of the acs would be tit' itteviable consequence of carrying cut this dncrine. Has not toe r&ii already place, according - to their own sho , Aing, under the present laws, and which the numbers of farmers sold up can testify ? As to the labourers, the condition of this class speaks for itself, notwithstanding the farce carried on at the dinners given to them by those who, by their own admission, and it is a fearful one for any man delibe rately and after mature inquiry to make, that corn could be sold at a much cheaper rate in this country, and thus evidently compelling the poor and industrious workmen, and their own lab. - air. rs among the number, to expend a large proportion of their hard-earned gains !or the fan cied prot:,ction of what is called the " agricultural in terest," besides directly interfering with that wise and beneficent -ystew ordainial by the goodness of Provi dence, whereby one country is made to abound in one commodity and another in another—all more or less s•rvlceahle to the necessitits and comforts of human life. These shirt sighted protectionists would render trade and commerce a ease rather than a blessing to man kind.—Your obedient servant, Rossie Priory, December 13. IRELAND. KINNAIRD. AGRARIAN OU FRAGES IN CLARE AND LINIERICK. The Limerick Chronicle of contains the fol- Lowina:-- On Wednesday evening last, at an early hour, a gang of five men armed, and partly in disguise, entered the cottage of John Higgins, steward to Henry Spaight, Esq., of Corbally, near Quin, county Clare, where, in his absence by threats they obtained an old musket and sword, his servant boy having contrived to secrete a serviceable gun. They withdrew after beating the ser vant, and the same party, it is supposed, soon after attacked the house of John Hanneen, who was compelled to surrender a case of good pistols. Higgins and Hanneen lest no time in swearing informations of the Whiteboy outrage before Mr. 11. Spaight, who with constable Meredith went in pursuit of the marauders, and ap prehended Patrick Brassil and Michael Cody, whom Hanneen identified as being of the party, and they have been committed to Ennis gaol. " Thursday evening last, about seven o'clock, a party of five armed persons, three dressed in women's clothes, ru.-hed into the house of Denis Keogh, on the lands of Ballycollen, the property of D. J. Wilson, Esq., Belvoir. When they entered, Keogh ran into a room, and they put out a candle which was burning, and ordered the people in the house to silence two dogs then barking ; the dogs not ceasing, one of the fellows fired and shot the dogs between two men who were sitting by the fire, and both of whom miraculously escaped being ki led. Im mediately after this, the persan who appeared to be the leader, asked the man of his party how he dared to fire without orders. They called for a gun, which Keogh's son said was in a room, when two of them ran in to seise it. Before going away they said they understood there were people there surveying and dividing land, but they warned them from taking any man's land, or any man's house, and that if they did they should mark the consequence; and •as for Wilson, let him pull on for a while, but it shall be a short while.' The leader attempted to disguise his voice and talk with an English accent. They afterwards called at the house of a man named Meany, and ordered him not to quit it on any account. " In consequence of the Whiteboy attack on the dwell ing-house of Captain Welsh, at Roonatd, a meeting of the gentrn magistrates, and farmers, was yesterday held at the Petty Sessions-house of Doonass, Sir Hugh Dillon Massy, Bart., in the chair, when a large subscrip tion was entered into for the apprehension and convic . tion of the parties concerned in . the outrage. The ma gistrates also applied for an extra police force, in order that a regular and constant patrol may be kept up in that district. " Last night an armed party attacked the house of a blacksmith, named Connell, at Aherina, county Clare, beat him in a severe manner, and cautioned him to quit his place of residence. "A threatening notice was sent through the Pallas Post-office to John Switzer, steward to the Rev. A. Champagne, at Miltown, indicating that certain and im mediate death would ensue if he failed in giving up his situation. It will be recollected that this man was beaten by the Rockites recently, and that in consequence a police station has been formed at Miltown. " Thursday last a Rock notice was posted on the gate of henry Ross, Esq., of Beagh, near Pallaskenry, threatening him with death, if he did not discharge his steward, also threatening the steward (who is a strictly honest man, and careful of his master's business) with immediate death. Mr. Ross is a most benevolent gentle man, and gives employment to a number of labourers, who were in a miserable condition : but this is the re- turn he receives for his liberality. The notice was signed 'Molly Maguire.'" THE IRISH PREsS AND THE LATE MINISTRY. The Orange organ, the Evening Mail, thus announces the event :—"England is left without a Government—athreatened war with America—our foreign relations in a most ticklish condition—lreland ripe and ready for rebellion—and at a moment when difficulties beset us at home—and all this is the work of the "heaven-born" Minister—that discreetest, wisest, best of men—Sir Robert Peel. The sensation pro duced here is one of universal joy at having got rid of Sir Robert Peel, and each Protestant congratulates his fellow, as though some glorious victory had been achieved." . The Irish Whig organ, the Dublin Evening Post, says—" lt owed its dissolution to no Parliamentary confederation—it was prostrated in no disastrous debate. It committed sui cide. It fell by its own hands. Of course we are delighted with the result. Of course we glory in the discomfiture of the public enemy, and we are rejoiced beyond measure that they fell by their own suicidal hands. But scum euique—Let Wellington have the honour of the deed as well as Peel." The Freeman's Journal, the daily repeal organ, thus closes an article on this subject We have devoted so much space to the details that we have not left ourself es room for the ex pression of the thoughts which crowd upon us as we contem plate the effect of those c h anges on I re l an d. W e l oo k u pon them not without hope—hope that good will come to the universal people—hope that the people of Ireland will show at the coming elections that they contend for principle, not for men." TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—l have just read the form of petition which it is reposed by the "Agricultural Protection Society" should b adopted by the different agricultural societies throughout the country, and I cannot refrain from mak ing a few observations on it, self-evident to any one who has impartially studied the question of free trade, as aff-sting the agricultural interests. First, then, as to the "declarations made by several leading members of her Majesty's Government in the last session of Parliament being calculated to destroy all con fidence in the stability of the present corn-laws." It cer tainly is not owing to such declarations, or, at all event-, not solely to them, that the stability of the corn laws has been shaken, but to the clear insight the country gene rally has obtained of the injurious effect of these laws, owing, in a great measure, I believe, to the judicious means adopted by the League for dis seminating information on the subject. This sta bility the Agricultural Protection Society never can restore, therefore the sooner the question is set at rest, in the only way it can be, the better both for the farmer and landlord. These gentlemen protectionists seem fully aware that the present uncertainty is the greatest bar to the improvement of the land in England, which it a ef f DEATH FROM HYDROPHOBIA.—On Wednesday a , died from the effects of the above improvement is capable, by means of capital and skill, poor woman named Mary Garrett, aged 60 years, residing in About six months since the de of being carried to a very great extent, for lam satisfied I 3 _, 1 :. ceaseddrea cii:uiwaaannsd made fatal a m t a p o l r w a e d n s y e n . t a v young - pu b one of her that not only the produce, but in many instances the rent also, might be greatly increased, and in this lam neighbours; after having borne out by the opinion of many practical agriculturists, refused to eat, whereupon the poor e w d o ays in her u possession . it it man induced brought into it the as well as by my own observation. dam, in hopes by that means , might be induced to partake Secondly, the petition states " that the frequent of food; and while in the act of offering it something to eat diminutions of protective duties which have o ccurred the dam bit one of her fin g ers . Time ro lled on, and no fur. since 1815 have led to the total loss of a vast amount of ther notice was taken of i t , unt i l the Fr i day n i g h t prev i ous farming capital." That there has been a gr eat loss of .to u h r e s r t d ha a t th s , h ‘ be vhen she c omp l a i ned to severa l o f h er neigh capital in farming no one can deny; but it may be clearly arm of the fin er was very much afflicted (received a ain in the proved that the loss occurred when the laws f'ramed by However, it was notu which sLe had the bite. until rif the following evening that the the landed proprietors, with the view of protecting and first symptom of the hor encouraging agriculture, were infu/loperation, and not in It commenced by a shivering,violeniu dirase made s e its w agr u a e rg i ce a . consequence of the slight modifications which have been dreadful state of agony until Wednesday and h morning, about five made during the last 30 years ; these modifications, o'clock, when death put an end to hersUfferings.-rFaterfitrd which have been forced upon the Legislature, are the chronicle. best proof of the inefficiency of tht se laws. It is itr- EFFECTS OF INTEMPERANCE. On Monday, Mr. possible that the framers of the petition can forget the Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at the Wolfe, on Norwood precise years during that period in which the cry of Green. about a mile from the Southall station of the Great agricultural distress has prevailed. The assertion that Western Railway, on the body of John Sandford, aged ~ t h e pro d uct i on of' grain by the improvement of the thirty-nine years, whose body was found in the Grand June inferior soils of this country has very nearly kept pace t! i o . u , Ctiatenadle,eneesa4rdthat house. It appeared from the evidence with the rapid increase of our population," is a fallacy ll t Tanner, of Norewowdas a brick-moulder in the employ of Mr. On the evening of Wednesday last, which the petition asserts, and which the importation he left the ?* brick-fields hiswith f e ll o w workmen at dusk, . from abroad, during the last few years, contradicts. and accompanied them to the Prince of Wales public-house The third paragraph in the petition refers to the p rices where they remained until half-past nine o'clock at night , of grain in foreign ports ; here also is a fall ac y . Nor havin g each dur ing that perio drunk no less than two can we possibly calculate w h at t h e pr i ce w iii b e f rom w hat ga ll on s of beer. Deceased then left, and was not again seen it has been whilst grain has been lying as a drug on the alive. The next morning the body of the deceased was hands of the producers ; that the price nevercan be lower found in the canal. The jury returned a verdict that the in these ports is certain ; the probability is, that it will deceased was found dead in the water of the Grand Junction he higher, from the great demand there would be to Canal but u s t h how he came therein there was no evidence before them to esipply our now half-fed population, which is in- . THE Ir . creasing at the rate of 1,000 per day—to say nothing of ESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.—On Mon da evei • a proportionate increase taking place throughout Europe 3 committee Charles-street of the above body was held at Stannard's Hotel, increase the price. I am convinced that the market considerationreet, fi l ovent-garden, for the a rr t pose of taking into at sts should he led in the present could not be supplied with foreign wheat under 455. per crisis, in consequence resolution having ep quarter, and no land should be cultivated for wheat at a previous neet ofof the s ocietv, to cai been uhl. agreed to lc meeting which cannot produce f rom 3 5 to 4 0 b us h e ls per acre i of the electors of t i l i i i .e g city of Westminster, - for the and, taking the rent at from 40s. to 50s. per acre, lam petitioning her Majesty to open the ports, &c. Tirrppnsteouotf prepared to show, from my own experience, that whei e having taken the chair, stated that since they were last as land is properly farmed, 455. per quarter is a remunerat- sembled important events had taken place by the resignation ing price. I, of course, take it for granted that there is of the Peel Administration. A subcommittee was then a demand for other agricultural produce, enabling the formed to take steps to convene the meeting ; but in con farmer to supply at a cheap rate the manure, which is sequence of the event he had alluded to, it occurred to him that the committee might deem it advisable in the present the principal expense in raising the wheat crop. when, state of the country to wait a short . time, e seeing what But the greatest delusion under which the protec tionists labour is, " that by the abolition of the. circumstances etreetively lie might and t arise, not they iler couldof tthe n s a i, able e to act more corn-laws poor land will be thrown out of cultiva- called uPo'n several Noblemen, Members-or sub-committee had , tion." I admit that in districts where wheat has been and other genthn en advocates of free trade, to solicit their too extensively cultivated, to the comparative ex co-operation, but unfortunately they were all out o f t o wn, elusion of green crops, which indeed has be. n with the exception of Lord Robert Grosvenor, and he was the ease in this neighbourhood, some loss for a time happy to say that in the interview they had with that may be experienced, and individually I may feel it • Nobleman, they found that he e ntirel y coincided with their but the ultimate result, even in this cas e, from' views as to the urgency of an imm-diat e and total repeal of the abolition of the corn-laws, would only f orce a change the corn laws.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Gee sin said thee he was of system, which must in the end be advantageous both happy to corroborate the statement their Chairman with respect to the declaration of Lordßobert Grosvenor, as he to landlord and tenant. 'The profit on poor land depends The was one of the deputation. Noble Lord stated that had on the raising of green crops to rear and fatten sheep a fixed duty of 5s a quarter been allowed a few years ago, and cattle, by which the land is, as the farmers . say, eh' I was to * graduate each year till the duty "put into good heart," and rendered capable of producing ', to . at shilling, that by this time the trade would h N e va f s reduced grain. Meat being principally consumed in the manu- Chairman observed, that while Lord John Russell re had facturing districts, causes the farmer to he dependent on pledged himself a tote repealer, he could not be bound for their prosperity, and when the consumption diminished the opinions of his coadjutors as a body. Arr. Austin said to upwards of one-half, or from 160 head of cattle to that when they observed the country without a Government 70 per week, which was the case in Du idee a short time he thought it the most judicious course to defer the meeting fora short time. It was then referred back to the committee, since, owing to the high price of other provisions, and several of the electorsrecommending that the meeting consequent depression o trade, the man farming pour be held land must inevitably suffer. I therefore again -it on Monday !Watt . Henryrepeat Toe late Admiral H Raper, who died a few that there never entered into the mind of man a more left to his son Henry, egreeious error than the notion that poor land would be months since, since been presented*basto him, in the year 1795, by sword which thrown out of cultivation by the repeal of the corn-laws. Portugal, as reward for the great services he y hadtl Court of The fourth paragraph goes on to state, that capital them, which gift he desires may be always preserved in has been invested in land, and in the improvement fenlily in the nature of an heir-loom. To his son Charles thereof, "in consequence of the reliance upon the eon- Chancier Raper, late of the War-office, he had bequeathed * all tinuance of protective laws." A certain amount of capital his copyright, in a code of signals published by him in h as indeed been invested but merely because there was 1828, and had also left to hishim the patent he obtained a prospect of profit to be derived; that in many instances for securing the same. T t a .his daughter Jane he has ba it has not turned out advantageously is owing either to queathed the policy effec e n own life in the Equitable, in October, 1826, with all his accumulations its not having been expended judiciously, or to the exist- pointed her residuary legatee. Her brother, di and also sp its of' those very corn-laws, which, by causing fluctua- e shared the residue with his sister, but he died was to Lions of from 39 5. t o 80s. or 85s. p er q uarter, induc e lifetime of h is father ; he was also appointed a n executor edin in the ruinous speeelettlens ill grain, anti impoverish the con- conj u nction with the surviving and acting executor, Robert sumer. What T maintain is, that capiot had not 4egn Fiery Jones, Esie Til will Wag dated , In December, 1833. invested in land anything like to the amount it ought ta The personal property was valued at 4,000/, This highly have been. Why, when money was to be had at 2 and meritorious and discerning officer of her Majesty's navy was 2 i per cent., did capitalists not invest in the improvement an Admiral of the Blue,. and died in April last, at the ad of land, which would have yi elded them a handsome re- vanced age of seventy - eight. turn ? Nothing prevented them, I believe, but the un- A. WEALTHY THIEF. A man named Robert certainty occasioned by the corn-laws. It is nut the Taylor was committed for e t h w a o r,e m d on w tl i a t s h , yesterday, by the ease, as stated in the petition, " that the doctriaes of f n r f o a m gis t t i r t at es o a u t nds li o _ a t a f rniarliet-g'artieno.l ,I , ,e h li , i,ng cabbages those who advoolte a ' free importatioa of from corn in Us th e at the time eleven half-sovereigns,py•isniei had have i i ,.-: ref,;rence to these circumstances,'. or that they eleven pounds in silver, and it was ascertainedtatheabhoail e are b ase d en tireiy on the principle t inttha i corn can be 1 100 e in the savings' bank. He had been convicted twice be grown this coun tr y , rev'o l • for etty felonies. imported cheaper than it can p I us i) TURNING TH.: FIRST TURF ON THE BEDFOLtD AND BIRMINGHAM RAIL WAY. On Saturday afternoon theavorks of the Bedford and Birmingham were commenced at about the centre of the lire, and extensive arrangements were made for the ce lebration of the event. It had been previously decided that the ceremony should be performed on Wednesday last, but from some circumstance it was unavoidably postponed, which was unfortunate in one respect, inas• much as it prevented the attendance of his Grace the Duke of Bedford, who had acceded to the wish of the Directors, that he would commence the works by re moving the first earth. The spot appointed for the ceremony was that portion of Brogborough-hill situate near the farm of Mr. Turney, in the parish of Husborne Crawley, and about four miles from Woburn. On arriving at this place, about two o'clock, we found a large concourse of people from Bedford, Woburn, Arnpthill, and the surrounding villages; and a profusion of flags and standards planted along the lands in the direction of the proposed line. A carriage and four with postilions in scarlet livery arrived, and it was then announced that the Duke of Bedford was unable to at ti nd, having been suddenly summoned to London to at tend the new Council. In order, however, that there might be no delay in the proceedings, the Duchess of Bedford consented to officiate for the Duke, and Lord Alford attended to assist her. Her Grace was conducted to the site of the proposed works, where she was wel comed by the Directors of the Bedford Railway, Mr. Theed Pearse, the secretary, the deputations of the Lon don and Birmingham, and the Eastern Counties lines, Mr. Scott, the engineer, Messrs. Grissell, Peto, and Jackson, the contractors, and a large party composed principally of the county families and clergy. Her Grace's arrival was announced by a salute of cannon, which was followed by three cheers from the assembly, and a band of music struck up as her Grace was con ducted along the temporary platform. Mr. THOMAS JOHN GREEN, of Bedford, the Chairman of the Directors, then formally announced to her Grace the nature of the works, and went into detail of the great advantages that were likely to accrue to this part of the kingdom by the formation of this line. He invited her Grace to do honour to the proceedings by commencing the works, and handed her the spade. The Duchess curtsied, and, taking the spade, pressed it into the earth. Lord ALFORD then took the spade, and turning to the company, said—l cheerfully and cordially assist in commencing the works of a railway which, I am sure, is calculated to be of immense importance to the town and county of Bedford.—(Cheers.) I think it is a matter of peculiar congratulation to you all that the county of Bedford, which has hitherto had no railway, is now about to have one formed that will open a line of communication with the metropolis and some of the most important parts of the kingdom. I am of opinion that very great advantages will quickly be experienced by this line to all persons resident in and connected with the county. We have hitherto been considered very quiet people in these districts, but I have no doubt when we have a little more co►nntunication with other parts, we shall receive considerable benefit from the attrition. There is another feature in the affair which gladdens me, and that is, that a large quantity of work will, by this railway, be provided throughout the winter for the labourers of this county.—(Hear, hear.) I hope that the exertions of the Directors will be crowned with the success they deserve, and that all their expectations will be more than realised. I shall now commence these works, which thole around me will, I am sure, carry out successfully.—(Loud cheers.) His Lord ship then took off his hat and great coat, and began diggirg the clay most diligently until he had filled the barrow, amidst cheers and en couraging bravos. Having filled the barrow he wheeled it away along the platform, and led the way to a splendid marquee. The cannons were again fired off. flags waved, and the national anthem was played. On I arriving at the marquee, his Lordship . emptied his barrow, and then deposited it, together with the spade, at one end of the tent. The barrow was made of beauti fully grained oak, grown on the Woburn estate, richly carved and polished. On the front the arms of the Duke of Bedford were carved in a very elaborate style, and beneath them was a silver plate bearing the follow. ing inscription : " With this barrow the works of the Bedford and London and Birmingham Railway were commenced by his Grace the Duke of BEDFORD, who turned the first sod on the 13th day of December, 1845, upon lands in the parish of Husborne Crawley, and county of Bedford." The spade, which had a handsome twisted carved oak handle, was made of electrotyped silver, with the arms of the Duke in frosted silver, and some emblematical chasings. It bore a similar inscription to that on the barrow. LAW INTELLIGENCE. ROLLS' COURT, Dec. 16. The Court was engaged during the greater portion of the day in hearing unopposed petitions. These were for the roost part pra t ing for the payment of certain moreys in Court to the credit of different causes—an arrangement having been made between the litigants for receivers to be relieved from liabilities, having com plied with the necessary orders of the Court, and fur guardians to be exempted from their duties, their wards having attained their majority. These cases were of interest only to the parties concerned. A splendid collation was prepared in the marquee, and her Grace - was conduced to the head of the table, and supported on the left by Lord Alford, and on the right by Mr. Thomas John Green. The parallel table was presided over by Mr. Henry Littledale, one of the board of Directors. About two hundred ladies and gentlemen sat down to the luncheon, which comprised a great pro fusion of delicacies. Amongst the company were Mr. William Astell, M.P., Sir Edward Codrington, Mr. Henry Stuart, Mr. W. B. Higgins, the high sheriff of Bedfordshire; Captain Newland, Captain Boldero, Capt. Moore and party, Captain Leech, the Rev. T. Tylcote and party, the Rev. W. Joikyn and party, the Rev. W. Hedges, Dr. Meshatn, Mr. J. Harris, Messrs. Wm. Routh and J. Henderson, directors of the Eastern Counties ; Isaac Eiger, Theed Pearse and party, &c. Lord ALFORD rose, and, in the name of the Duchess of Bedford, proposed the toast of " Prosperity to the Bedford and London and Birmingham Railway."—(Loud cheers, and three times three.) Mr. T. J. GREEN then proposed the health of her Grace the Duclwas of Bedford.—(Loud cheers.) They could not but regret the unavoidable absence of the Duke himself,lbut it was a great satisfaction to find him so kindly and ably represented.—(Cheers.) The company would, he was quite sure, join him in thanking her Grace for her condescension upon this occasion.— (Cheers.) He need say no more to induce them to do justice to the toast. They were now in the centre of the county which had had repeated benefits conferred upon it by the noble house of Russell, and they had this day added another proof of their kindness. The company rose and drank the toast, and then gave three rounds of cheers. The Duchess bowed to the company on receiving these marks of attention. Mr. T. G. GREEN then proposed the health of Lord Alford, who had used such strenuous exertions to pro mote this work, and who had so kindly assisted her Grace in this day's proceedings.—Three times three. Lord ALFORD returned thanks. The well-known talents and energy of the Board of Directors, in con junction with the assistance of the Company of the London and Birmingham Railway (the best conducted railway in the world), were quite sufficient to satisfy all that the work would be carried out to the great advan tage of the county of Bedford. As far as his individual services were concerned, he begged to say that they might always b- commanded to promote this important undertaking.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. ISAAC ELDER proposel " The health of the Duke of Bedford," which was responded to with three times three. Mr. H. LITTLEDALE proposed " The 'health of th• Con tractors."—(C heers.) Mr. PETO acknowledged the toast on behalf of the contractors. It had been his good fortune to be present at the opening of many public works, but he could say with truth that none had commenced so auspiciously as this.—(Loud cheers.) He hoped that long before the time allowed for the completion of the contract—the 31st of July—they should have the pleasure of handing over the works to the Directors fully completed.—(Cheers.) Mr. HENRY STUART, M.P., proposed the health of Mr Thomas John Green, and the Board of Directors.— (Cheers.) Three times three. Mr. T. J. GREZN acknowledged the toast. There had been delays about the works which had rather prejudiced them in the eyes of the public, and created a doubt whether the undertaking would be carried out ; but the Directors themselves never had any doubt, although they had been subject to delays which they could not avoid. Now, however, they had fairly launched their boat upon the waters and had the cordial co-operation of the London and Birmingham Company, no exertion would be wanting to complete the undertaking. Mr. ISAAC ELDER then proposed the health of Henry Stuart, Esq., M.P., wha had given his valuable assist ance to the Bill in its progress through Parliament, and had otherwise rendered the directors much service.— (Cheers). . _ _ Mr. H. STUART, in returning thanks, said the line itself possessed such Merits that no opposition could reasonably be offered to the Bill. Its advantages were so apparent that no impediment could be thrown in the way to prevent the Bill being passed.—(Hear, hear.) He would be very happy to render his services to further the works in any way in his power.—(Cheers.) Mr. T. J. GREEN said he lamented the absence of the Directors of the London and Birmingham Railway, but they had the benefit of the attendance of a deputation from the Eastern Counties Railway, with which this line would be connected. He, therefore, felt great pleasure in proposing the health of Messrs. Wm. Routh and J. Henderson, the Directors of the Eastern Coun ties.—(Cheers.) Mr. W. RoUTE returned thanks. The health of Mr. Pearse having been proposed and responded to, Capt. MoonE proposed the toast of " The Ladies ;" the band played an air, and the Duchess then retired, followed by the remainder of the company. On her Grace entering the carriage, another salute was fired, and the contractors requested her Grace to accept of the barrow and spade, and they were placed in the carriage. Three cheers were then given, and her Grace took her departure, the company soon afterwards dispersing. CITY POLICE AT THE NEW PIER, BLACKFRIARS. —Monday evening, at twenty minutes past four o'clock, the steam-boat Waterman No 6, from Woolwich and Greenwich, attempted to land her passengers at the above-named pier, but were obstructed and resisted by several policemen and an inspector. The police lined the front of the barge lying broadside to the river. and when the passengers attempted to effect a landing, they were either struck or pushed back by the inspector and his men. The inspector pushed one pas senger back, and told him he might be thrust into the river and drowned, if he attempted it again. The police were repeatedly asked under what authority they so acted. It was stated at the time the pier was in mama of erection that it would be the greatest Accommodation on the river, the b A Ats of All companies r ece i v i ng equa l accomm odation. Lord Wharncliffe, in answer to inquiries on Mon day in Curzon-street, was stated to be rather better. 'The Dowager Countess Grey, Lady Carolina Bar rington, and the Hon. Captain H. Cavendish Grey, are pas.:',7. ins the winter at Nice, VIOE-CHA.NCELLOR'S COURT, Dec. 16. His Honour the Vice-Chancellor of England took motions to-day. The Court was occupied the whole of the morning with a motion for an injunction in the case of the Duke of Beaufort v. Sir John Morris, to restrain the defendant from working a coal mine in Glamorganshire, of which he w,ts lessee, and the noble plaintiff, the lessor, so as to cause the adjoining mine to be flooded with water. The application appears likely to occupy the Coin t ror a day or two. COURT OF (217L , P.;:‘,'S BENCH, Dec. 16. (Sittings at Guildhall, before Lord DENMAN.) Several cases were disposed of during the morning, which wore not of the least public interest. Amongst them WAS a case of a bill of exchange for 231. :is. The plaintiffs were Raker and Williams, and the case was undefended.—Verdict for the pl iintifls. . WHITE AND SOUTHY v. BAINBY. This was an action for breach of certain covenants in a marriage settlement. It appeared by the statement of the Learned Counsel for the plaintiff, that the plaintiff, who was a solicitor, and the defendant, who held so:ne situation in the Customs, had been married to two sisters. Mr. Southy and the plaintiff become trusters to the marriage settlement of Mr. White. D.4 . endant got married in the year 1838, and at that time he was in possession of a property, half of which was mortgaged for 500L,_ which sum the defendant agreed to pay the plain- . _ tiff within five years, and the deed contained a covenan , to that effect. The plaintiff now alleged that there were two breaches of covenant ; the one, that the de • fondant had failed to pay the 5001. within the fiveycars ; and the other, that he had not executed a *further assu rance at his own expense, but sought to cast the expense of the whole upon the trustees of the plaintiff. These were circumstances which he (the Learned Counsel) would not now further allude to ; but they were such as compelled the trastees to act with great caution, and to that end they put the matter in the hands of Mr. Edwards. Defendant alleged that he offered to pay the money into the Funds, to which the plaintiff was willing to accede, provided the defendant would hod himself liable to the consequence of the fluctuation in the Funds. The money was so paid ; but when the stock was sold, the Funds were low, and defendant re fused to pay the difference. Mr. Edwatds corroborated CounFel's statement. One other witness only was examined on behalf of the plaintiff, to show what was the practice of the Courts in reference to the mode of making conveyances, and the plaintiff's case closed. COUNSEL for the defendant contended that the decla ration had incorrectly left out the covenants, and upon those variances his client was entitled to a verdict. lle also raised several other technical objections. The COURT recommended that the case should be set- led out of Court, which was not acceded to. The jury found for the plaintiff, for the damage con tained in the declaration, subject to a deduction of a sum alleged to have been paid after the action had com menced. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec.l6. ;Sittings at Nisi Prius in London before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a Common Jury.) TAPPING V. RUSSELL-HOW THE THAMES HAVEN AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY WAS GOT UP. This was an action of debt, brought by the plaintiff, a student at law, to recover 280/. upon an account stated, to which the defendant, who was an attorney and soli citor, hal pleaded that he was never indebted. Mr. Jervis and Mr. Lee appeared for the plaintiff ; and Mr. Martin, with whom was Mr. Boven, for the defendant. The action was founded upon an I 0 U for 2501., which was given by the defendant for money lent and advanced to him by the plaintiff. It would appear'that Mr. Russell was the promoter of the Thames Junction and Southend Railway, which was proposed to run from Southern! to join one of the main lines passing through Essex to the metropolis, but the project met with little or no support at the hands of the public, and the Company organised by the defendant for carrying it out was ultimately broken up. The plaintiff's father and several of his friends were induced by the defendant, and Mr. Thomas Tapping, the plaintiff's brother, who was formerly a special pleader, but who has recently been called to the bar, to allow their names to be placed on the Provisional Committee of the proposed railway ; but it was upon the express understanding that Mr. Russell was to bear all preliminary expenses incurred previously to the issuing of the letters of allotment. Mr. Russ .11 was retained as engineer and surveyor, with the usu.l staff of assistants, for the purpose of making the customary surveys of the country through which it was proposed the line should pass, and solicited them to take the undertaking of two of the Provisional Committee as security for the due payment of their expenses within a given time after the issue of allotment; but both el them declined this offer, and refused to proceed with their labours unless they were immediately supplied with funds. 7 4 ,1 r. Russell therefore called a meeting f the Provisional Committee to devise some means to raise the necessary funds required by the engineers and surveyors, which was held at the Hurnmurns, in Covent -garden ; and at that meeting Mr. Russell soli cited a loan of 1,0001, to enable him to carry on the husineas of the project. The Provisional Committee, eowever, declined to advance the money themselves, but -orne of them promised to us' their influence with one or two of their friends to induce them to advance him the required sum. One of those friends was the plaintiff, who, at the instigation of his father, who was one of the Provisional Committee, advanced the defendant 2801., and the defendant gave him in acknowledgment of the loan the I 0 ;U, upon which, the present action was brought. Mr. MARTIN, for the defence, contended that the plain tiff was one of the promoters of the scheme, and jointly liable, with the defendant and others, to pay the ex penses and debts incurred by the Company. So far from its being the case that the Provisional Committee refused to advance funds at the meeting held at the llummums, they agreed, or rather some part of them agreed, in cluding the plaintiff, his father, and brother, to raise the 1.0001. by subscriptions of 2001. each ; but this agree ment was not strictly carried out, and some of the par ties contributed more than others. One of these par ties was the plaintiff ; and the Learned Counsel urged that the plaintiff and defendant must be considered in this particular transaction to have been in the position of co-partners, and hence the former was not entitled to Te•over. The Learned CouNsat called two witnesses to sup port this line of defence, but the t.vidence did not sub st•intiate the facts. One of the witnesses was Mr. Tapping, the barrister, and plaintiff's brother, who stated that neither himself nor his brother had anything to do with the project in the capacity of principals. His brother borrowed the 2802 from his father, and lent the money to the defendant on his own account. The wit ness himself was retained in his capacity of special pleader and barrister to settle the prospectuses of the company and advocate the merits of the line at public meetings in Essex, and ho expected Mr. Russell would remunerate him at Christmas for these services. lie induced his father and several of his friends to join the undertaking, but it was upon the understanding that Mr. Russell would pay all the expences up to the issuing of the letters of allotment. Mr. Russell's father and brother-in-law were upon the Provisional Committee, b.it when the share market became depressed both of them publicly withdrew their names from the list, and the remaining g"ntlemen on the Committee felt it ne cessary to convene a meeting and dissolve the Company. The LORD CHIEF BARON said the evidetata had en- tirely failed to substantiate the defence, and it was his duty to direct the jury to return a verdict for the plain tiff. The jury accordingly found a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount claimed—namely, 2801. SWIFT V. RUSSELL. GOLDSMITH V. SANE. COPE V. SAME. These were actions brought under similar circum• atances to the last case, and in each of them a verdic was taken for the plaintiff for the full amount claimed. ALLEGED MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS. THAMES POLICE COURT. Yes'erdav, at twelve, the adjourned examination of Captain Johnstone, for the murder of Uambert, Mars, and Reason, and also for cutting and maiming several of the crew, took place at the Thames Police-court. The crowd outside was as great, and apparently as much excited as on the previous occasions ; and on the appearance of the prison van, the prisoner, who was in it, was assailed with a perfect storm of yells, hisses, and expressions of opprobrium. Mr. Humphries attended to watch the case, as before, for the prisoner. Mr. Symons, the chief clerk, took down the depositions as on the previous occasions. Thomas Gair was the first witness called and ex • amined. He stated that on the Ist of November he was put in irons on board the ship Tory, on a false charge of threatening to take the captain's life. He remained in irons about eleven days. On the 7th of November the captain sent for him into the cabin. The captain sent Julian Cordiavallo for him, and he (the witness) went as desired, lie found Anderson, Nelson, and William Burton there. As soon as witness went in, the captain ordered him to go on his knees, and then commenced cutting at him. The captain also told French to load his pistols and fire at witness. He told him to load and put a double charge of ball in it. The captain said, if he did not load and do as he desired him, he would take his life. French loaded, but did not put a ball in it. Ho fired several times with charges of powder in the witness's face. The captain afterwards cut witness several times on the head, and then placed the point of the cutlass against his side, and said he would thrust him through. By a stagger, the captain being intoxicated at the time, the point, of' the cutlass wen t through witness's clothes, atsai ga ve a s li g h t wound in his side. He then took the cutlass, and hove it at him ; 1 it went through his clothes, and cut witness's shoulder. li e then rose, and in doing so ordered the man French to. fire again. French did not do so. He ordered wit ness on the table, and when he went on it, he took the cutlass and pushed him off with its point, The crew were then ordered up to pump sup. They went on deck and manned the pumps. - Witness went also on deck, but was not aide to do anything. In a few minutes witness, with some others, were ordered down again. They went down and stopped some time, but the captain did not make his appearance. Witness was then taken up and ?ut in iqvi again, and placed in the , lower forecastle. 'Witness altogether hai received eigh teen cuts in his head, two on his left shoulder, two on his breast, two on his left side. one on the let% thigh, and one on the right arm. There were several wher smaller wounds on different parts of his arms. His face was swollen very much, and he lost the use of the right eye for six or seven days. He did not see Morris when he was in the cabin. Joseph Morris, alias Ruellan, a Frenchman, was next ..'ailed. As the witness could speak English but im perfectly, recourse was had to an interpreter. His evi dence was to the following effect :—While in the Chan nel the pilot came on board, and the same evening the captain called witness into the cabin. Whcn there the captain asked if witness had heard the crew say anything of him forward. Witness replied that to knew of nothing. The captain answered, " You know all about it, you son of a b—h." He then said to witness get upon your knees, and then struck at him with a cutlass. The mark of the blow was on his teinp'e. The blow was with the edge. The captain then called on the cabin boy for a pistol. He aimed it at witness's stomach. The pistol missed fire by burning priadng only. He then called the boy to bring some core powder to prime afre,h. He fired again, and the ball went through witness's thigh and leg, as he was upon his kr.e-s. Witness then ran upon deck, feeling that he was wounded. The cook eiti,zht him, and brought him down again. The cook said to the captain, This man is wounded." The captain said, " Take hint iway." Witness then went on deck, and stowed him ydr away in the long-boat, under some sails. This was all he had to say. Barry Yelyerton examined—Said that he would state what took place after the ship cane to Plymouth, and the pilot Caine on board. The captain that morning . was speaking to witness in French about the cuts which the nen had received ; he said, " Now, boy, we'll send them all aft, and swear mutiny against them." The night adore this the captain took witness into the cabin, tore the shirt off his back, and beat him for about an hour or two. The next murning his eves were black and his throat swollen. The same morning the captain said, " I am sorry for what I have done to you ;" and said further, " It is a wonder I did not kill you. Do you know tho way yon addressed ma yesterday ?" Witness replied, " Fes, sir ; you were tnreatening to kill ail hands, and I said to you, for God's sake don't kill any more." French was present at the time referred to, and said, " Never mind what this person (meaning the witness', says, the moon affects him." I replied, "There is very little moon in what I said, I am speaking for the captain' s good." Witness repeated these remarks to the captain in answer to the question put about the manner he had addressed him the previous day. The captain then said thene was harm in that, and the witness retired. The day after this the captain ordered witness itro his berth, while he called the crew down, and in telling him to do so said that he intended to deliver up the men, and that he (the witness) was to say that the men had been threatening his life, and had tied him to the nsizen mast with a rope round his neck. After this the men were confined, and the captain and French went about the ship firing their pistols. The crow were ordered into various attitudes, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing. Witness saw the captain and French fire at the man Nelson and at G air, and also cut them a good deal with the cutlass. Witness was in the cabin when Morris was shot. The witness went into details respecting the treatment of Nforris, which corroborated in its main features the statement of that witness. The witness also deposed to having been commanded by the captain to cut end shoot it the men while the ship was in the channel. He had, however, never struck the men. William Burton was ne't called, and said that he officiated, after the death of Mars, as second mate. Ile recollected the pilot corning on board and going down into the cabin with the captain. When they came up the pilot had a bundle under his arm, which he took on shore. He believed it was the log-book, and he told the captain he did not care, as he knew what he had stated iu evidence, and what was written in the book, namely, that Rambert and Reason came to him and wanted to pull him out to go aft with them to fasten the cabin-doors. The captain replied, " That is not what you told me; you said they came to bring me aft." Wit ness repeated his former evidence, when the captain flung a soup knife at him, but it missed. Witness was then put in irons, and the captain said "He was a rascal, and going to give false evidence against him." When in irons witness was cut three times by the captain—on the ear, the cheek, and the wrist. Gair was also called down, and in presence of witness the captain cut him most unmer cifully. The men were afterwards called upon deck, and the captain and French shouted out, " Mutiny ! to arms !" and they began to pull the men into the cabin. The captain took his cutlass and began cutting i at them. The men at this time had nothing n their hands. There was no mutiny, that witness wa s aware of, on board. He heard no threats or mutinous lan guage from the crew, and he did not se any mutinous gestures. A light was brought in to the cabin, and the captain began to cut away at them. The men were on their knees at the time. French was ordered to load tho pistols aril fire away at them, else he would have his life taken. French fired at Gair and Nelson four or five different times, a:.,d then put the pistol to witness's ear, and said, " h--r, I'll shoot you." Witness was in irons at the AmP. French put the point of the pistol to \\ itness's ear and fired. It was filled with powder only. After whiaa he sruck him two blows with the lock of tit: : s'r capon on the head. _ In about half an hour ,afterwards the carpenter called out to pump shin, and the crew were all ordered on deck. Witn°S's went into the long-boat where he was order ,, _•':7l, and there he stopped all night. About ten o'clock neat morning witness was sent for down into the cabin, aryl the captain told him to keep up his heart, for that there was no fear of him, and ordered Julian to get some warm water to wash the blood and powder off his face. When Julian went for the water witness went out into the forecastl-, where he waited till he was washed. The captain ordered him to b'ave clean c'othes on ; that he was to have leg irons on, and that he was to stop in the lower forecastle till the ship reached London. On the 9th the revenue cutter boarded the ship, and the second in command, who came on board, ordered the three men in irons, Cone, G a i r , an d himself, to be taken out of the lower forecastle and placed in the topgallant forecastle. This was accord ingly done. That day the remainder of the crew were confined in the aft dock. The three in irons were libe rated that night by the order of the second in command of her Majesty's cutter Ranger, and told to make themselves as comfortable as they could. Henry Slack examined —The pilot came on board vi 'nen the ship was in the Channel. The witness here went into circumstances referred to in the evidence of the pre vious witnesses after the ship was boarded by the pilot, which he corroborated in their main features. He was witness to the cutting, shooting at, and putting into irons 1 several of the men. William Dunn was next called, and requested to give evidence respecting what took place after the ship came into the Channel. He said they were off Plymouth when the disturbances took place. On the evening of the day the pilot came on board the captain cut at Morris and Thompson, and sent for the boy Beresford, and accused him with getting a strand to kill Mars. The captain then cut him with a cutlass. The next day the captain sent for Cone and Gair out of irons, and cut them. In the afternoon, while at tea, the captain again sent for Cone and cut him. Witness was then sent to order all hands down, and when they went to the captain he cut at them with the sword. The men came down immediately on being sent for. The captain in addition to cutting them broke a chair over Thompson's head. They were then sent on deck again. Witness shortly after was again sent atter them, but he could not see all of them at the time. He found Gair, Burton, NelSon, and Allison. When they went into the cabin the light was put out, and he heard the captain calling " Mutiny." They then went into the other cabin. The captain ordered French to fire at them. The men had no arms, nor did he see any mutinous gestures. or hear any shouts. He saw the men on their knees. French fired at them repeatedly. The pistol was loaded with powder and crumbs of bread. Witness asked French to put in small charges, and he said he would not ; he " would have full charges ; he would let them know he was chief mate now." The witness proceeded to detail se veral other instances in which the men had been, either by the captain or at his commands, ill-treated in the manner already described, and especially the treat ment received by Morris, which he fully corroborated, Robert Thompson, one of the crew of the Tory, was next examined. His evidence was entirely corroborative of the statements made by the foregoing witnesses, re specting the violent conduct of the captain to the crew after the ship reached the Channel, and to the cutting of and striking at the men. Witness himself received a severe cut on the head from the captain, and had received a wound from the point of a cutlass in two places on the face. In proof of the abject condition in which the crew were placed, the witness stated, as an instance, that after being stabbed or kicked by the captain, the latter ordered him and another one of the crew to kiss the sole of his foot, which they did. Mr. Haywood, clerk to Mr. Maule, the solicitor of the Treasury, here came into Court, and took his seat be side Mr. Symons. Mr. Broderip was proceeding to call another witness, when Mr. Humphries rose and said it would be as well to read the depositions over that had been taken, in stead of going into fresh evidence, as Mr. Haywood, in all probability, had some application to make. Mr. Haywood said he was not prepared to make any statement then, beyond expressing that the Treasury had undertaken the conducting of the prosecution, and that he did not think in the present state of the case it would be possible to try any of the charges at the pre sent sessions. Mr. BRODERIP concurred, and thought justice would be done to neither side if the case was sent for trial at the present sessions. It was then arranged to take another witness and then to adjourn the case, Mr. BRODERIP expressing a wish that the whole of the evidence should be finished at the next sitting. Andrew Nelson was then called, and examined at some length as to the violence of the captain to the crew. He received from the captain several cuts from a cutlass on different occasions. There was no feature in his exami nation beyond what has been already fully given. The prisoner was then remanded. THE POST-OFFICE ROBBERIES. Ruouv, DEC. 13.—William Garrett, was brought up for final examination this morning. Th(! Court, as at the previous examinations , was crowded 10 excess ; b ut owing to the kindness ofrevndr theoorAlagoistraete; was provided , and Mr. Blox hwai with e vtheir olerk ' u a ccommodation. The foll ow i ng Magistrates were present •---Mr. H. S. Gibb, j un . ; J. W. B. Leigh, the Rev. R. Lickorish, Major Moultr;.e. Mr. R. W. Peacock attended to conduct the prosecu tion on the part of the Post-office, and called Mr, William Block—ls one of the Presidents of the ,~ ----; Df r h ded •