The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-21 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

GREAT PUBLIC MEETING AT PLYMOUTH
FOR THE REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.

Last Friday one of the most crowded meetings
which ever assembled in the Guildhall, met for the pur-
pose of petitioning Parliament for a repeal of the Corn-
laws.

The Mayor (GRoaax SOLTAIT, Esq.) took the chair a
little after twelve o'clock, and liming read the requisition
which was most numerously and respectably signed, ex-
pressed his conviction of the deep importance of the sub-
ject, as affecting the welfare of so large and deserving a
portion of the community—the manufacturing classes. He
called upon the meeting to enter into the consideration of
the subject, calmly and dispassionately, and strongly urged
the importance of merging all party or political feeling in
the discussion of the subject before them.
Captain Piimurs, IL N., opened the meeting by stating
that they were met for the purpose of adopting a petition
to Parliament for the repeal of the present obnoxious and
cruel Corn-laws. The resolution he should propose to
them would be to substitute a very moderate fixed duty ;
but it would be open for the meeting to receive an amend-
ment either for a total repeal of the duty—or a moderate
duty, decreasing every year—he should not say to which of
these alterations his sentiments inclined, but confine him-
self to an exposure of the ruinous consequences of the
present system to the manufacturing interests, upon
which the welfare of the country mainly depended; they
were told that wages rose in proportion to the price of corn.
Ile would ask, was it so?—( Loud cries of " No, no.") In
1806 the price of wheat was 365. a quarter, and wages
were 10s. a week—in 1838 wheat was 78s. a quarter, and had
wages doubled ? It was a mockery to make such a propo-
sition. This was a question between the landowners and
the public. Now, the number of the former might be es-
timsted at about 100,000, the latter at about twenty-five
millions. Were the interests of such a majority to be sa-
crificed to such a minority 2 He would tell the meeting that,
if the manufacturers were to be sacrificed to the landed pro..
prietors, England would dwindle down into the insiguifi.
cance of a petty Italian state. The capital and machinery
would be very soon removed to the banks of the Elbe at d
elsewhere ; and then a foreigner, coming into England,
and inquiring for Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Shef-
field, and Liverpool, would find them little better than de-
serted villages. He begged to propose that a petition be
presented to both Houses of Parliament.

Dr. HAMILTON rose, and having ably defended himself
and fellow-requisionists from the charge of having im-
properly taken tl:a lead in this cause, and denounced the
apathy of those who, whilst they accused him and his
friends of unbecoming zeal, had exhibited the roost inglo-
rious indifference up to the eleventh hour—nay, the very
twelfth hour—entered upon a brief history of the Corn-
law, which he divided into seven well marked epochs,
tracing it from its introduction, in the reign of Ed.
ward the Third, in 1360, down to 1828, when, through
the active exertion of the present Noble Secretary far
the Colonial Department, the graduated aeale of
duties now in operation was intredued by the 9th of
George IV., chap. 00., which, although meant in kind-
ness, had been as injurious in its results to all clam:, as
the worst of its predecessors—a fact fully established by an
examination of the annual prices and fluctuations under
it, the range of which appeared to have reached 113:1 per
cent, Upon examining the official returns of our exports for
the three consecutive yea ts, 1836, 1817, and 1838, he
found a decrease in the value of the exports of six of the
staple products of our industry to no less an extent than
13,714,83-11. These six branches of industry wore as
follow :

Cotton manufactured goods £8,736,802
Linen ditto ditto
Wool and Woollens ......... 2,910,382
Cutlery and Hardware 419,349
Silk manufactured goods... 364,964
Hats 26,946

X 13,714,634
While, to counterbalance this decrease, we have an increase
of 2,625 8541. in the export of raw materials, mills, and
machinery, which go is facilitate the competition with our
manufacturers ; cotton wool to produce iivals to the Glas-
gow and Manchester looms ; linen yara to be converted
into Holland to undersell the manufacturers of Belfast;
mills and machinery, with coals and culm to set them
going ; our workmen are also become an article of ex-
port; the master manufacturers soon must follow t and in
the end landlords will find their produce unsaleable from
the want of custo ners, those who remain behind being too
poor to buy, and Britain--proud and haughty
fallen from her high estate, no longer holding the balance
between contending nations, will sink, as a mere agricul-
tural nation, into insignificance, and end her glory by be-
coming the dependent vassal of ome Continental Power.
The Doctor concluded a powerful and convincing speech
by seconding the motion.
The meeting was then addressed by Thomas Fox, Esq.,
Thomas Gill, Esq., Joseph Treiey, Esq., and several
others, and a petition adopted, pra)ing for the repeal of
the Corn-laws, and the substitution of a very low perma-
nent duty. An attempt was made to support the present
system, but the speaker was unable to obtain a hearing, and
a member of the Working Man's Association likewise
failed in endeaveuring to turn the attention of the meeting
feom the abolition of the Corn laws to that of the present
state of the Suffrage. One unanimous sentiment pre-
vailed, that of inextinguishable opposition to the present
and ruinous system of corn taxation.

CORONER'S INQUEST UPON MR.
PACY, OF THE TEMPLE.

Last evening, at 9 o'clock, an inquisition was taken be-
fore Mr. Baker, at the Cress Keyt, Belton-street, Long-
acre, upon the body of James Pacey, Esq., aged 43, of
No. 7, King's Bench walk, Temple, a gentleman of for-
tune, who was educated for the bar, but did not follow his
profession.
Mr Henry Williamson, of Great Ryder-street, St.
James's, stated that he had been acquainted with the de-
peased for some years; he was a man of delicate health.
Witness dined with deceased on Sunday night, at Mr.
Rodwell's, No 103, Great Russell-street, and • parted with
him (deceased) at Mr. Rodwell's door, at 11 o'clock the
same bight; deceased then appeared in better spirits than
usual, and was perfectly sober ; a watch was found upon
the person of the deceased, and none of his property was
missing when he was discovered; witness had no suspi-
cion of any injury being done to the deceased by any one.
William Peel, F 128, deposed that be was walking by
the dead wall in Lincoln's Inn acids, about 20 minutes
past 11 o'clock on Sundanight, when he saw an um-
brella;y-
witness Wl:ad his lamp on, and he discovered the
, deceased lying on his left side with his clothes disarranged
within the place where persons stop for private purposes.
No person was near the deceased, and witness procured
the assistance of a gentleman who happened to belong
to, the recdieal profession, that was passing soon after ;
w.tuess took thedeceased to a medical gentleman's in Por-
tugal-street, and ultimately conveyed the body to St.
Giles's workhouse.
William James Jones, surgeon, of No. 4, Portugal-
street, deposed that when he saw the deceased there was
no pulsation of the heart, and life w4s extinct; witness
was of opinion that the deceased died either from disease

of the heart or apoplexy. The Jury reti
" Dicd by the visitation of God."

POST-OFFICE

V

_1:.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE LEINSTER EXPRESS.
Sir—Being a short time siece favoured with a copy of
a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury, for the establish-
ment of a day Mail along the important line to Limerick,
which can be so easily accomplished by availing of the Li-
merick day Coach, which leaves Dublin every morning, and
anxious to facilitate the intercourse throughout Ireland, our
Mr. Johnstone having waited on Colonel:Maberly, Secre-
tary to the General Post
.Office, when in London last
week, with a view of ascertaining the disposition of that
department on the subject, which is expressed in the en-
closed letter to the merchants of your and the adjoin-
ing, counties, we have to request the favour of its inser-
tion in the Leinster Express of Saturday, as the
best medium for our apprising our kind supporters—the
public—of the result of our efforts. Still we fondly anti-
cipatc the day is not far distant, when the public's wishes
will be granted, if they only pursue the old adage—of a
long pull—a s!ror.g pull—and a pull altogether. In con-
clusion, were a ,lay Mail to Limerick cstablished-481icurs
would be saved in the correspondence between the metro-
polis and the nuznufitcheriny districts.
Assuring you of our ardent desires on these important
points, we remain most truly,

Your obedient servants,
JOHNSTON and Co.
Express Newspaper Agents, Eden- quay.
Dublin, February 13:11, 1839.
To the Merchants, Traders and Landholders, of the
Counties of Carlow, Wicklow, Kildare, Wexford, Wa-
terford, Kilkenny, King's and Queen's Counties.
Gentlemen—We had the honour to receive from R.
Cassidy, Esq., on the 4th ult., a copy of your Memorial to
the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury, praying for the esta-
blishment of a day mail to obviate the great and unwar-
rant, d detention in Dublin of the English correspondence
on the great southern lines of road, for a period of no less
than thirteen hours, thereby to facilitate the internal in.
tercourse of the several towns in the above counties; at
the same time, Mr. C. was pleased to request our co-
operation towards effecting the foregoing object.
We respectfully beg leave to acquaint )ou, we did
not lose sight of your wishes in reference theveto.—
Our Mr. Johnston. when in London last week, malt-
in., our usual sessional arrangements, waited cn
Araberly on the subject, and the only answer he could
get, or extract from the Gallant Colonel was, tha,_
the existing intercourse was " under consideration"._
this be, Mr. J., submitted was no satisfaction to the Irish
interests, to which the Colonel again replied—such " were
under consideration, and that he could give no they
answer." From the tone and manner of the gallant
eretary, it is perfectly evident, that there is only one
course to adopt, to coerce that most important of all other
public departments to depart from their " time imme-
morial" system, to give the Irish interests those advan
tages that the increasing prosperity of this country DE.
IkIAND, which can be complied with, at little inconvenience,
and but trifling cost; and that course is to
PETITION ! PETITION ! ! PETITION ! I !
AGITATE! AGITATE!! AGITATE!!!
For the Post-office have ample evidence both by individual
remonstrance and convincing proofs at individual expense,
of the practicability of adopting our suggestions for the
improvement of inland intercourse with not only the metro-
polis, but also the manufaetut ing districts, pubtidted a short
time since in the Leinster Express, under the head of
" Things as they ought to be."
As the most convenient mode of acquainting you of our
endeavours in suppo- t cf your views—we
address you
through the columns of the Leinster Express.
the honour to subscribe ourselves, Gentlemen, your
obtiged
and very obedient servants,

JOHNSTON & CO
Dublin, February 13th, 1839 Newspaper Agents, Eden-quay,

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE TIMES,
SIR,—We are extremely anxious for the improvement
of the Poet-office communication between the metropolis
and Ireland, by that department availing itself of the
rail
way to Liverpool and first-class steam-boats thence to
Dublin, whereby the present route of the Irish mails by
Holyhead would be anticipated by several hours. But in•
dividual remonstrance, vouched by the most convincing
proofs, we regret much to be obliged to state, cannot in-
duce the authorities of that most important public office to
deviate from their "time immemorial" system, to the adopt.
inn of any suggestions for the advancement of the public's
interest, even to the anticipating by several hours of the
existing arrangements—namely, were they to adopt Liver..
pool (in connection- with the railway) in preference to
Ifolyhead.

We have been in close correspondence on thn'..port.ant
o p int with the Post-office, and our (ir. Johnston)
. ... b em,
ir:)
in London last week, waited on Colonel Maberley on the
subject, and the only answer he could get, or extract from
the Gallant Colonel, was, that it was " under considera-
fon." This he respectfully submitted was no satisfaction
to the Irish interests, to which the Colonel again replied it
was "under consideration; and that he could give no other
answer." Mr. Johnston then observed that the practica-
bility and superiority of the Liverpool route (per rziilway),
over Holyhead, had been before proved and tested by us,
and as the tides at Liverpool for the present week would
serve late, and the steam traders consequently would sail
thence to Dublin, after the arrival of the London morning
mail train—that as Parliament is now sitting, and the news
of much greater interest than when our former experiments
were made, we should avail ourselves thereof, to show up
with greater effect the expediency of our plan (which
unhild be attended with much greater advantage by the acce-
leration of the present railway travelling) over the Post-
office arrangements, and their absurd perseverance therein.
To the point ;.--This morning, at Sli minutes past 9 o'clock,
we received by the City of Dublin Steam Packet C3o.ensitpeara'y
morning, and a
Queen Vic:oria, the Times of
(trading) boasterthe
ved immediately to the Press and all the pubs
lie news-rooms, &c. ; whereas the portion thereof that si 0 got
through the Post-office—to better test the. fact—did not arrive
at the' General Post office in Dublin, with the aid of alsepeveiniagl
train from Kingston, till 20 minutes past 3 p. m.,
a
the balance in favour of Liverpool of 5 hours 25 minutes I!1
and with this important advantage, that the arrival per
Liverpool embraced the whole of the business hours of the
merchants, whereas from the very late arrival of the Lon-
don express mail, and the due sorting thereof, it 3 contents
could not be
pdaisspta3teoli,ecdlocfokr),nseaayr
2aon
mhoiunruteasfteprasitts,;:t.p.%iii:t,
(20 minutes
when the exchanges and banks are closed, and most of the
merchants have gone home from their countinghouses,
and the business of the day virtually over: further, by the
time the London express mail reached the General 'Post-
ale° the Times of yesterday was then fully 30 miles from
Dublin to the south of Ireland by the ordinary Cork mid-
day mail, which city it would reach for business hours oiso,
and seven hours at least in advance of the express mornino-
watt.
We trust that this matter, of such important interest to
Ireland and to the London press, will be taken up by, and
4foluation loudly called for in the columns of, the Times.
One more remark, and we have done. During the severe
weather and westerly gales of last month we had at one
time court Holyhead mails due and only one Liverpool.
At the same time, while we in Dublin can enjoy a double
line of communication to London, both via Liverpool and
the usual route by Holyhead, yet we in Dublin cannot ex •
perience from the authorities of St. Martin's-le-Grand a
reciprocal accommodation, as no other route will be reco,7„_
m'zed from London for Dublin than by Holyhead, while the
whole south of Ireland have the option of receiving their
letters and newspapers (if so addressed) by Milford and
Waterford, or by Dublin, as they please.
Apologizing for the great length we have been compelled
to run this to, yet we trust its importance will plead our
excuse,
servantsand wo remain, Sir, your obliged
and very
Agents.ve.ryobedient
EJOHNSTON and cco
,
Eden-quay, Dublin, Feb. 13.

LONDON JUNCTION RAILWAY
COMPANY.

The General Half• Yearly Meeting of this Company
was held at the London Tavern yesterday.
The Report, which recommended that the efforts to
procure an extension of the time allowed by the Act
for completing the purchases, should be discontinued
till next, session, was read.

1 The SOLICITOR to the Company stated that as a great
' number of Shareholders had not paid up their shares it would be useless to apply to Parliament this session' And at the close of last session a new standing order:
had been established in the house of Commons, requirinn•
that personal application should be made to.cach land:
holder and lessee on the line, the expense of which, be_
tween 2.0001. and 3,000/., the Directors did not think
it right to incur.—(Hear, hear.)
From the abstract it appeared that there was a
balance of 3,0001. and upwards, in the Treasurer's hands,
forpfejited of
Some discussion ensued, which ended in the I.:2port
being adopted.
l opinion tthoe nd e c proposedlare
the thestilLartes
onrebectings
should be instructed
A resolution
those who bad not paid up ; the amount of arrears
being upwards of .5,000/.d
w as
A long debate ensue ; the general
that it would be best to leave it optional with the
Directors to eclare such shares forfeited as were not
likely in theird judgment tohe paid. ,
lie Directors
having, since last meeting, when a similar arrangement
was made, collected more than a thousand pounds of
the arrears ; and the resolution was withdrawn.
Thanks were then voted to the Directors, and
The CHAIRMAN expressed his conviction, that al-
though it was expedient to lay by
.for a time, that such
delay would not in any way prejudice the Company
but on the contrary place them in a better situation ,
.
and that the object of the Company was every play he coming more and more desirable.--alear.) '

riMEMORIAL.—ft appears that
NELSONhave been sent in for the intended monument,
have di
whiches.gris
the Sub-Committce r selected three to be laid
abou;
outbef ofore the General Committee on Saturday next for their deterini.
nation. We have been favoured with a view of the designs at Mr.
Rainey's
with the th Garee SE. llery,4 an
Ctdedo•f cTohnerseseolueertaiit\tnetaiit,iloixrvsatsoelblieefloy,e resultocetq, ofied
E 4
discrimination and judgment • at the ,same time we cannot but ex-
press our earnest desire that we may have something original and
appropriate, and that this monument may be distinguished and
different in these respects from the York Column or the Nelson
-Memorial, at Yarmouth. Columns, from frequent repetition, have
become a hackneyed device. Doubtless it is desirable on this occa.
sion to have a lofty and imposing structure, surmounted by a stat.,e
of the hero ; and surely this may be attained by some original com-
position that may be peculiarly suitable to the occasion, and worthy
of the illustrious character and achievements of Nelson. Having
said thus touch we refrain from making comments upon the three
designs in question whilst under the consideration of the Committee,
relying upon their good judgment to make a fair and worthy decision.
A CARD OF INVITATION.—At a mariestore
shop, No. 6, Sheffield,street, Clare-market a board is exhibited,
on which is painted. U Bring your Bones and Fat to Black Sall.'

r>le -L-21
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