The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-16 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

MEETING OF THE DELEGATES—(YESTERDAY.)
The Delegates met again at three o'clock at Brown's Hotel,
J.. 8, Smith, Esq., in the Chair. Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr.

Scholefield, M. P:,and Mr. Villiers, M.P., were also present.
The CHAIRMAN said that the deputation appointed yesterday
had waited on the Lord Mayor, who received them v,,ery kindly.
His Lordship fully entered into their views, and said that he
would afford every facility to the Delegates in approaching the
Common Council, if an interview should be desired.—( Hear,
hear.) But he said the all-absorbing question with the Com-
mon Council at present was, a measure affecting their own
rights and interests—( Hear)—and therefare it was doubtful
whether at the present moment the subject will meet with that
attention which it deserved. His Lordship, however, left
it to the Delegates to say, what they wished to be done under
the circumstances. The deputation said they were afraid that
the Common Council laboured under some misapprehension
in consequence of not being acquainted with the fact that while
we claimed a right to free trade in corn, we were willing to give
up all protection on manufactures. If they had been acquainted
with this fact, they would not have petitioned for a fixed duty.
He had no doubt they would obtain the co-operation of the
City of London in the objects which they had in view.—( Hear. )
Mr. T. H. A. CLAYTON, Of Bradford, said that a communica-
tion had been received by the Bradford Anti-Corn-law Associa-
tion, to which were attached the names of fifty-six individuals,
who, as industrious and intelligent operatives, felt to their cost
the iniquity of taxing bread, to the injury of our trade. The
whole affair was unsolicited and unprompted, and accom-
panied by more than the sum requisite to constitute each a mem-
ber. The following was the document to which he referred :
" We, the undersigned, wish to enrol ourselves as members
of the Anti-Corn-law Association, under a conviction -that by
adding strength to the Association it will be more effectually
enabled to carry out the objects for which it was called into
existence ; and by endeavouring, as far as possible, to facilitate
its proceedings we shall be advancing our own interests; and
by placing ourselves at the source where every information can
be obtained, we shall be ready to embrace every opportunity
for bringing about this desirable object, namely—the repeal of
the Corn-laws."

Mr. BYLES, of Bradford, said he rejoiced at this circum-
stance, because there had been a separation' between the work-
ing people and their employers at Bradford.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOULTBEE moved that the suggestion be acted upon,
as the delegation were in want of all the assistance they
could get.

The Ctrs IRMA N said the only objection was that there would
not be a Comtnon Council until Thursday next, and that they
were so much engaged at present.
Mr. BOULTSEE said whenever they proceeded to take any
subsequent measures for the total repeal of the Corn-laws, it
would be of great importance to obtain the assistance of the
Corporation of London; and it was desirable to act upon the
suggestion as soon as possible.
Air. JonNsoN said if the Council did not meet until Thurs-
day, it might be inconvenient for the Delegates to remain so
long.---( Hear, hear.) One good resulting from the exertions
of the Delegates was, that they had now obtained the patient
attention of Parliament, which was never the case before.—
( Hear, hear.) 1. had also elicited from the opponents of repeal
their best arguments, and it would afford an opportunity of ex-
posing to the country the absurdity of those arguments, and the
untenable ;rounds on which they stood for the sustainment of
this monopoly.—( Hear, hear.) He believed that no substantial
thereprotection c could be
no
interest
givenst
which toany
showedthismanufacture
more
strongly
than
and
tiie
silk trade,because that was a trade which admitted of thegreatest
degree of fancy, and it was said to be protected by a larger
duty than any other—the duties averaging about 30 per cent.,
while on many ethers it was under 20. Alhough he was not
personally engaged in the silk trade, he wished to make a few
remarks, and he should be borne out in his observations by a
gentleman from Nottingham, who would affirm that he was in a
better state, employed a greater number of hands, and that his
profits were equally great as under the prohibitory system,
and that business was more abundant. According to thereturns
of Mr. J. D. Hume, the average import of silk, in the years
1765-6-7 (the commenceir. ent of prohibition), was 715,000
lbs. ; in 1785-6-7 (20 years afterwards), 881,000 lbs. ; 1801
to 1812, the average was 1,110,0001b5. ; 1815-16-17 (50 years
after the prohibition, and the first three after peace), 1,315,000
lbs. ; 1821-2-3 (three years previous to the change), 2,399,000
lbs. In the three quarters ending Oct. 10, 1831 (being only
five years after the change), the quantity was 4,312,000 lbs.
That showed the result of the change, and what could be done
when people were thrown on their own exertions. It
might be important to state, that the people of Coventry
who were engaged in that branch of the trade which was
the most interfered with, had been in a better condition
than any other branch for the last two years. He had ascer-
tained from one of the largest houses in the City (that of Messrs.
Morrison and Co.), that the quantity of silk which they buy
is very small, compared with that of the first years of importa-
tion. In Manchester, where the manufacture was confined
principally to broad silks, they not only successfully competed
with France, but were actually making better and cheaper
goods ; and the people of Coventry could compete with
foreigners in every shape, except a few fancy rib-
bons. Under the restrictive system, it was a fact that
England was not an exporting country at all, except
in the article of silk hosiery ; but when industry was left to it
own resources, the exports in 1836 were nearly a million sterling.
This showed that every trade, when thrown on its own re-
sources, must prosper more than under a protective or pro-
hibitory duty.—(hear, hear.) But it must have been ob-
served that the Cern-law question was supported in conse-
quence of the exclusive taxes paid by the land. He would
not go through a long array of figures on the subject ; but
there was one point which had not been previously referred
to. Great stress was laid on the amount of county
i ates. hi round numbers the amount was about 600,000/.
a year, but did it follow that boroughs did not
pay rates for similar purposes?—( Hear.) He had in his hand
an official return of the rates for the county of Derby and for
the boroughs, and in taking that county, he was taking a fair
epitome of the state of th country generally. The county
sates for the five years ending 1838 amounted to 37,5481. Gs.
211, the yearly average bring 7,5091. 13s. 3d. The
borough rates were for the same five years 13,416/. 9s.
7d. ; the annual average being 4,8801. The property as-
sessed in the county was 912,3401., and in the boroughs
88,206/. Now that being the case, the counties should pay
50,5741. yearly, but es the rate only amounted to 7,5091. there
was an actual balance in favour of the counties of 43,C65/.
And yet they had the impudence to claim exclusive pro-
tection because they paid County-rates.— ( Hear, hear, hear.)
He would contend that the amount paid by the inhabitants of
borough towns in the shape of local rates were more by ten
times the amount in proportion to the property than the
amount paid by the agriculturists in the shave of county-rates.
With regard to calling on the City of London to en-operate
with the Delegation, he was of opinion that could be done as
well by the Delegates in their collective capacity. The fact
was, the people were in need of better instruction on this sub-
ject. This he trusted they would receive, and when next the
Delegates met together, and meet again they would, if this ques-
tion were not carried, he had no doubt that they would find not only
the Corporation of the City of London, but the people of the
kingdom generally would be ready to ce-operate with the Dele-
gation for procuring a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-
laws.—( Hear. )
Mr. WALMSLEY said the apathy of the Corporation of the
City of London, on the subject of a repeal of the Corn-laws,
had been alluded to. There were some individuals belonging
to that body, who took a vast interest in this subject. and he
would now introduce to the meeting two gentlemen who were
mem;.ers of that body, Mr. Norris and Alr. Green.
Mr. PLI NT, in allusion to what Mr. Johnson had tated rela-
tive to the effect produced by the prohibitory system on the
silk trade, would state, that having had occasion to make
researches on this subject previou3 to delivering a course of
lectures, he had found that the silk which, up to 1824, had
been the creature of protection, had only doubled itself during
a period in which the cotton trade, which had never been
protected, but had always been left free, had increased upwards
of fifteen-fold, thus showing the withering effects of the falsely
called protective system.
Mr. Jomsrsosr would show the advantage of leaving trade
free by what took place in the silk trade. Previous to the
removal of the protection, they employed a machine, called
the Dutch mull, to twist the threads which made from 400 to
500 turns a minute, they now employed a machine which made
5,000 turns a minute—they employed three times the number of
labourers in the silk trade, and the amount of money wages was
as great.

Mr. BEAN could bear testimony to the truth of the observa-
ions of Mr. Johnson.
Mr. NORRIS said that, having been intreduced to the

notice of the Delegation 'as a member of the Corporation
of London, he regretted that he was appearing now only
in his individual capacity, as he should have been de-
ighted to have joined the Delegation as a representative of
bat Corporation. He could assure the Delegates that the Cor-
',m took a great interest in this subject. At a very full meet-
'.o Common Council, the subject had been debated
from one o'clock till seven, when the debate was adjourned, a
most unusual occurrence in that body, and the discusion had
ended by their petitioning for a gradual repeal, with a view

of iL