The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-11 00:00:00

our victory, but they will not move a finger to aid us.
Under existing circumstances, however, I believe we can con
quer without them, if we lay our shoulders with a will to the
wheel. I confess that, should we prove successful—as they
must share the benefit—it will be to me a proud reflection that
we can say--" Why do you distrust our good will ? Here we
have been labouring for you even more than for ourselves, at
the very moment that you were loading us with reproaches
and obloquy." One word more : the resolutions declare for
total repeal, and nothing short of it. My reason is this :
The question is, shall we have free trade in grain or restricted
trade ? Between these alternatives there is no medium.
Trade must be either free or restricted. Even those who
suggest a compromise, regard it as temporary—a gradual
transition to ultimate free trade. In this view, a low fixed
duty has been recommended for some years. Believe me, if
you grant a low fixed duty, you give the Corn-laws a new
Tease of life. At present, Government derive no revenue
through their operation : the whole emolument goes to the
landowners. But a low fixed duty will create a reve-
nue from this source, and give Government an in-
terest in their perpetuation. At present—the land-
owner! alone have (or think they have) an interest in up-
holding the Corn-laws. Is their opposition to our efforts not
strong enough, that you propose to give Government also a
direct pecuniary interest in the continuance of the Corn.
laws ? Of the danger of thus confounding commercial with
fiscal considerations, you have a striking instance in our weari-
some struggle for post-office reform, &c. No Government
likes the trouble of reforming even where it does not lose one
penny by the reform : but once allow it to imagine that its
revenue will be in the slightest degree diminished by the pro-
posed reform, to argue with the deaf adder were a lese hope-
less task. Gentlemen, the suggestions I have to make are
before you. I have done my duty in bringing you together,
and opening the discussion. It is your duty—and it is your in-
terest—now to buckle to the task with such energy as will en-
sure ultimate success, and according to the light of your own
sound judgments.

Mr. CRAIG said, they had heard the resolutions just sub-
mitted to their consideration by Mr. Weir, and he had great
pleasure in seconding their adoption.
Mr. Wm. GRAY suggested that, instead of confining them.
selves to the question of the Corn laws, they should form an
Association for the promotion of free trade in general.
Mr. CRAIG begged to differ from Mr. Gray as to the course
which he had just recommended. The question of the Corn-
laws, as they were aware, had been brought before the Cham-
ber of Commerce, but there was a great likelihood, in the es-
timation of many gentlemen that the Directors of that body
would shelve the question ; and, if this was found to be the
case, it was in contemplation by a number of gentlemen be-
longing to the Chamber of Commerce to form a Free Trade
Association. It appeared to him, however, that the object of
the present meeting should be confined entirely to the question
of the Corn-laws, as the great and master evil, and that their
time and attention should not be taken up with discussions on
other points, but that the whole energies of their minds
should be directed to the destruction of this great evil.
Mr. DYKES agreed with Mr. Gray in so far as he thought
the landlords would have good right to complain if they asked
for the abolition of the Corn-laws, and did not at the same
time ask for the abolition of these laws which benefited the
manufactui er, and which increased the price of his lady's gown.
Mr. Wfttft suggested, as the best mode of clearing up all
doubts as to their being friendly to free trade in every thing,
that an alteration should be made, on the resolution to the
effect that the individuals composing the meeting recognised
in their full extent the principles of free trade, and claimed no
protection for themselves, in asking it to be withheld from others.
This alteration satisfied the meeting.
Mr. T. DAVIDSON suggested that the words " total and
unconditional" should be omitted, on the ground that while
they did not in the least strengthen the demands of the Asso-
ciation, they might have the effect of keeping back many who
would otherwise willingly join them, and thus narrow the basis
of their society.
Mr. DYKES opposed any alteration of the resolution. By
adopting the suggestion of Mr. Davidson, many might enter
the Association friendly to what was called a modification of
the Corn-laws. Now he held that anything like a modifica-
tion of these laws would be to put matters on a worse footing
than at present. The evils would be spoken of as so small that
greater difficulty than now would be experienced in getting
them wholly abolished.
Mr. CRAIG believed, with Mr. Davidson, that by omitting
these words they might add greatly to their numerical strength
as an Association ; but he was afraid it would have the effect
of enfeebling their operations. He thought with Mr. Dykes
that by a modification of the Corn-laws they would be worse
situated than at present.
Mr, Oita said he had read in the Morning Herald an
opinion given by the editor of that paper, in reference to an
article which had appeared in the Glasgow Argus on the
Corn-laws; and in which the editor of the Morning Herald
observed, that the plan proposed by the Argus was the most
astounding for the Aristocracy and the landowners that had
over been proposed—that, in fact, it was a plan so well con-
ceived that, if carried out, he did not see how the landowners
were to get over it. This he (Mr. Orr) thought exceedingly
good, coming from a Tory paper; and it gave him so much
confidence in the talented editor before them ( Mr. Weir), that
he considered they could not do better than keep the resolu-
tions just as he had proposed them.
Mr. Went said, the public mind was in a state of prepara
tion on this subject, and he believed that if they took a shuf-
fling, hesitating, and uncertain course, as if they were looking
for assistance from the quarters which had been referred to,
they would weaken their cause, and prevent many who were
coming round to their views from taking that decided step
which an example of firmness and decision would encourage
them to adopt. Their course he considered clear I let them
fall upon a decided measure, and by that measure let them
stand—let them plant their banner in the field, rally round it,
and resolve that under no circumstances whatever would they
draw back. And not only this, but let them be assured that
all who went along with them were,;true men—let there be no
division in the camp, and let them not be diverted from their
purpose by the fears of timid and irresolute followers. It
was these internal dissensions that did more harm to a cause
than the assaults of its avowed enemies. Then let them come
to a clear understanding as to what they wanted ; tell the
world broadly what they intended to do ; but do not, by hold-
ing out false colours, allow any man to say that he had been
deceived—that he had joined them under the impression that
they were for such a thing, but that he had now found out
they were for such another thing, 13y following such a course
they would draw more in their train than otherwise they could
expect to do,
Some further conversation took place, when it was eventually
agreed to leave out the word " unconditional" repeal, in order
to obviate any impression which the use of this term might
leave on the minds of the landholders, that they wished the
repeal of the Corn-laws, while they at the same time were
unfavourable to the repeal of the bounties on commerce.
It was then agreed that the entry-money should be at the
least is., though, of course, subscribers are to be allowed to
give as much as they please.
Baillie MITCHELL, in supporting the proposal that the
entry-money should be is., said lie was for total abolition, and
agreed entirely with what had been said by Mr. Weir on the
subject. The manufacturing interest had suffered much from
the Corn-laws, but the shipping interest was also suffering
greatly—they were, in fact, paying double what the foreign
merchants were paying for their provisions, and were thus ren-
dered incapable of competing with them. In the article of
beef alone he (Mr. Mitchell) could get it at 13s. a cat. in
foreign ports, while here he paid 455. to 505.--( Hear.)
The other resolutions were then agreed to; Mr, Alexander
Johnston was appointed Chairman ; Mr. J. Dunlop, Mr.
Craig, and Mr. Mitchell Vice- Chairmen ; Mr. Weir, Secre-
tary ; and a large Committee named, with power to add to
their numbers.

Before the meeting broke up about 1501. was subscribed.

We understand that several persons, who vote uni-
formly with Ministers, and who are in a position to obtain
good Ministerial information, have been within the last week
giving directions which imply that they consider a general
election at no great distance. What is the ground of this
expectation, or whether the dissolution is contemplated as
an act of the present or of another Administration, we are
not in a condition to state—but that there is among Mi-
nisterial Members an idea of the probability of a new elec•
tion within a few months, we can state as a positive fact.—
Morning Post.
MURDER AT PRESTON.—A man named Wm.
Bell, a sawyer, has been committed to prison, charged
with the wilful murder of Alderson, a joiner, at Preston,
on Wednesday last. It appeared, from the evidence ad-
duced at the inquest, that a quarrel took place between the
patties at a public-house on the preceding evening.
The deceased went home about a quarter before
twelve, and his wife stated that he appeared in liquor.
The witness then deposed that after he had been an a
short time he got up off his chair, which was near the
fire, and went to thedoor. Witness followed him, and saw
him go across the street to Bell's door, which is opposite
the house they lived in. She heard him try the latch, and
call out to Bell, " Come out ; I want to pay you for what
you did at me at the Wellington" (the public-house in
question), and continued shaking the door. Saw Bell soon
after open the door, and saw something in his hand, but
was unable to discern what it was. Heard him say, "
thou'lt come two feet further, I'll stick thee to the heart."
Deceased went a little nearer, and said, " I'll try thee ;"
on which a scuffle ensued. Saw Bell make two thrusts
with his right hand at deceased. When this took place
she had retired to the threshold of her own door. Imme-
diately after deceased came into the house, when she saw
blood on his hands. He untied his neckerchief and un-
buttoned his waistcoat, when she saw blood running down
his left side. She sent for a surgeon, but he died before he
arrived. He died about a quarter of an hour after the
scuffle. The Jury, after a few minutes' consultation, re-
turned a verdict of " Wilful murder against William Bell."
The instrument employed was a pocket-knife.
OriaisTics OF WORKHOUSE EGGS.—At the
meetirig of the guardians of the Poor of Uarylcbone on
Tuesday, Mr. Kense4llsked why there had been pureba,sed
in thirteen days, 1,300 eggs at the enormous price c.f 12s.
6d. a hundred, or lid. a piece, whep they might be
had at Is. a dozen ? t was answered that 300 eggs were
consumed in the Christmas pudding, and a hundred a day
were used for the sick. The clerk said the workhouse eggs
cost the parish 100/. a year. A Guardian—At this rate
we must abolish Christmas pudding altogether.—( Hear,
hear.) The egg business is to be inquired into. Some of
the Guardians think they "nose" a job,

THE HURRICANE.

Accounts relative to the storm of Sunday night, continue to
crowd in upon us from every part of the United Kingdom.
We subjoin some of the more important reports :
Yesterday evening, at 6 o'clock (writes the London corres-
pondent of a Morning Contemporary,) the Wilberforce
steamer, Captain Agars, arrived at the St. Katherine's steam-
wharf, from Hull, after a somewhat tempestuous voyage. She
left Hull at twelve o'clock on Wednesday, and encountered
very rough weather in the early part of the passage, which
this fine steam-ship rode out in good style, without incurring
the least damage. Yesterday morning, at half-past eight
o'clock, she fell in with the Duke of Wellington steamer,
which left Aberdeen, for London, on Saturday afternoon, and
the non-arrival of which had occasioned the greatest alarm.
It appears that the Duke of Wellington was exposed to the
tremendous hurricane of Sunday and Monday nights. The sea
ran mountains high, and the steamer was buffetted about for
several hours without being able to make any head-way.
When the Wilberforce fell in with her, she had broken her
la-board paddle shaft, and the whole was rendered useless.
The Duke of Wellington hoisted signals of distress, and the
Wilberforce bore down towards her and found the passenges
in a state of much anxiety. She immediately took the Aber-
deen steamer in tow, and brought her in safety to Gravesend,
where the Duke of Wellington brought up at three o'clock,
and separated from the Wilberforce, which pursued her voyage
to London. The Duke of Wellington had one hundred sol-
diers on board, and their destination being Chatham, they
were landed at Gravesend, and were quartered in that town
for the night. It was expected that the Duke of Wellington
would be enabled to resume her voyage during the night. The
City of Aberdeen steam-ship, for Aberdeen, which left the
river on Monday, put into Hull for a fresh supply of coals on
Wednesday morning in consequence of the storm. The
Royal Adelaide steam-vessel which sailed from Leith on Sa-
turday afternoon at three o'clock, did not reach St. Katha-
rine's until Wednesday evening, and the crew declared that
they never met with such terrible weather before. The
starboard paddle-box was knocked away by a heavy sea,
and it was found necessary to throw her deck load overboard,
consisting of several tons of beef and mutton, and a great
many baskets of game intended for the London market. The
greatest anxiety for the safety of this vessel prevailed in Lon-
don during the whole of Tuesday and Wednesday, and on her
arrival the wharf and pier-head at St. Katherine's was covered
with people who had given her up for lost. All the steamers
which have arrived in the river during the last three days
have been delayed and suffered much damage during the late
gale. It is, however, a matter of congratulation that while
so many unlortunate disasters have occurred on the northern
coast, not a single vessel has been damaged on the Thames,
nor any of the ships in the pool blown from their moorings.
It has been stated that several tiers of vessels went adrift in
the river during the storm, and that others were damaged
and lost masts and bowsprits. Such is not the fact ; the
shipping iu the Thames has entirely escaped the ravages of
the hurricane.
LIVERPOOL, JAN. 9.—The incidents of the recent gale,
with which this day's arrivals have furnished us, have cast a
universal gloom over the town. The Victoria steamer—which
vessel, to the immortal honour of her gallant Commander,
Captain Eccles, in the course of one day, in defiance of the
fiercest gale which ever confronted the exertions of an intrepid
and humane semen—succeeded in rescuing from the rigging
of the wrecked ships upwards of one hundred unfortunate
brings, at eleven o'clock last night, was sent on her dange-
rous errand with a reinforcement of twelve boatmen, two boats,
and a life-boat. At daybreak her boats were lowered, and
pulled in the first instance to the Pennsylvania. Previously
to their arrival the Huskisson schooner had passed the
bank, and her crew were horror-stricken with the heart-
rending shrieks uttered lay the helpless individuals clinging
to the rigging, and who, during an entire night, had been ex-
posed to the pelting of the most pitiless snow-storm which
ever whitened our coast. At imminent risk twenty-three
persons were eventually snatched from the shrouds, utterly
exhausted with fatigue, and paralysed with cold. Three
corpses were left in the tops. The Victoria proceeded to the
Lockwoods, and brought from her (with one exception) all
who remained alive, to the number of thirty-eight individuals.
About thirty persons were lying on the poop of the Lockwoods
all dead, and several more were drowned in the cabin. The
captain of this latter vessel promptly proceeded to Liverpool
for assistance, had subsequently embarked on board the Vic-
toria, and was zealous and indefatigable in his exertions to
save his crew and passengers. Upwards of eighty, with pain
we add, perished.
DESTRUCTION OF THREE PACKET SHIPS.—LOSS OF LIFE.
—The statements of. the persons who reached our port this
morning are more melancholy than, furious as was the gale,
we had anticipated. It appears that the Pennsylvania,
after having lost all her sails, and seriously injured her spars,
was driven about the wild and foaming sea during two days.
Her Commander was unable to ascertain her locality, as not
merely was the light ship, the beacon on whose warning he
could naturally rely, driven from her moorings, but the
buoys were whirled from their respective stations. In this
condition was the packet placed when the Victoria from
Charleston was seen attempting to enter the channel ; no
pilot boats could be descried, and the Commander of the
Pennsylvania determined to follow in the wake of the leading
ships. The Victoria (which had not a pilot on board), find-
ing the water shoaling, let go her anchor. The Pennsyl-
vania followed her example, but unfortunately the anchor
did not catch, and the vessel struck on the North Spit.
Her Commander, Captain Smith, foreseeing the catastrophe,
which was fated to befall him, dispatched his chief officer in
the long boat, which attempted to convey his passengers on
shore. Of these one only was saved—viz., Mr. H. G.
Thompson, of New York, who owes his life to the possession
of a life-preserver, which he girded about bim. The list of
those who took to the boat, whose bodies have been washed
on shore, includes the names of Mr. Parsons, of New York,
Mr. T. F. Barrow, and Mr. Douglas, of that city. The
body of Mr. Tintour, of Carthagena, is the only body not yet
found. The sea continued to wash the decks of the packet;
and at the time that preparations were making to launch the
long-boat, a heavy cask was hurled against the head of
Captain Smith, who was immediately washed overboard,
arid perished. He was one of the moat intelligent, skilful,
and most generally respected commanders of whose services
the packet line could boast. His premature death, in tile
bloom of health and in the prime of life, is an event
as deeply deplored indeed as is the loss of the noble
vessel which he had, during many years, so ably com-
manded. Little did we dream on Sunday last, when we
bade him adieu, that on the Uteri ing Wednesday we should
have had this sad story of his fate to tell. We learn that
during his short and ill-omened voyage, his appearance was so
attenuated by anxiety and fatigue, that he seemed to have sud-
denly skipped over a space of forty years of his existence.
His first and second mates perished in the wreck. The vessel
will be utterly destroyed. The Lockwoods followed the Penn-
sylvania, and met a similar fate. After her came the St. An-
drew ; she beat over the North Bank in a disabled state, and is
now on the Main. Her crew and passengers were saved, and havl
been landed by the Victoria tug-boat. And now, for the first
time in the history of Liverpool, we have to record the simul-
taneous destruction of three packet ships, a class of vessels
which have generally been deemed, if not actually indemnified
from, at least little liable to, misfortune or mishap—the Penn.
sylvania, the St. Andrew, about which hopes are entertained
and the Oxford, which we hear is abandoned.

Our shipping return supplies us with the particulars of addi-
tional losses : and, indeed, it is a painful task even to glance
at the returns which are daily exhibited at Lloyd's,
A meeting was held this afternoon at the Underwriter's
Rooms, the Mayor in the Chair—at which it was resolved to
raise a fund to reward the exertions of the noble fellows who,
at the risk of their lives, had proceeded to the wrecks, to esta-
blish an efficient force to meet such emergencies in future, and
to relieve the sufferers in the late gale. In the course of five
minutes 3001. were subscribed.
Reserving till to-morrow the statements and observations
which we have to make on this melancholy subject, we record,
in order that we may state our cordial concurrence in the
tenor of them, the words of Mr. Aitken, the opening speaker :
" I say it with shame, that had the port afforded more effi-
cient encouragement, many might now have been alive whose
corpses are now strewed along our banks."
The Deck Committee, with praiseworthy alacrity, have de-
termined to send to the spot from which the Light Ship has
been driven, a steamer well equipped with pilots and lanterns,
Another is to be dispatched with lifeboats.
The Avon mail boat arrived safely this morning, from
Dublin.—Liverpool Standard.
A meeting of the Directors of the Steam-Tug Company
took place at an early hour in the morning of the storm, when
it was

" Resolved-- That the large boat, the Victoria, proceed im-
mediately to render assistance in the saving of life and pro-
perty. and that she call at the magazines for the life-boat to
assist her,"

This resolution was immediately
c
(From Gore's Liverpool Advrriiser of yesterday.)
TWENTY Lives LosT.—This town and neighbourhood,
and a large district extending as far as Manchester in one
direction, and Stafford in another, waerteoerd ovis
Monday, with one of
:Oited on the'night of
the
eat wholehas been experienced in the
thy- most
Sunday t last,
during
storms
course of the present century. In this town, the loss of life,
to say nothing of property, has been most lamentable : little,
if any less, than twenty deaths having been reported to the
Coroner. From the number of persons bruised and other-
wise injured, it is to be feared that that number, large as it
is, will not include the whole of the deaths in Liverpool, and
as for those at sea, and in the surrounding district, very little
is at present known. As several vessels were sunk in the
decks, and not less than fifteen were lying ashore in Bootle
Bay, the probability is, that the casualties at sea will have
been very great. From the fury with which the storm raged
so far inland as Stafford, we should suppose that it would be
felt throughout the whole kingdom, and probably along the
whole southern and western coast of the island.
peepte MZETlNG.—Yesterday
afternoon a notice was
posted in the Underwriters' and Exchange News-rooms, an-
nouncing that a public meeting would be held at three o'clock
in the afternoon in the Underwriters' room, to concert mea•
sum for rewarding the intrepid persons who had been instru-
mental in caying the lives of their fellow-creatures, from the
vessels outside the pert, Upwards of 1,000/. was put down
for the temporary fund, while WO remained iP the room, and
the snbscriptiona to the mint* fund eptounted to a large slim,
Posy-or'ricit gTP,!msRs--Two of these vessels, the Avon,
commanded by Lieutenant Townley, R. N., and the Shear-
water, commanded by Lieutenant Smithett, imp out during
du; hurri
cute of Sunday night and Monday morning last.
They, Of caws?, Axperienced the gale in its fullest fury, the
Shearwater being oh her voyage to Dublin, and the Avon on
her passage from that port to LVerpool. Lieutenant Town-
ley reports, that it was blowing a strong gale wh,en he left
piton. 4bout 15 minutes past one on Sunday morning, the