The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-02 00:00:00

and Suffolk the agriculturists seemed sensible of this, and ha
was in conversation with some who said, " Let the Legisla-
ture leave us alone—we do not want legislative interference,
it is simply a question of price ; if we have low prices we
shall have low rents, and therefore we consider that the corn
laws were not enacted for our benefit, but for men who con-
sider that other men should pay their taxes."--(Hear, hear. )
There was another point in which the question might be
viewed. The Corn-laws were in fact an inducement to bad
farming. In the Lothians, Berwickshire, Northumberland,
the eastern parts of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and
Suffolk, it would be found that a rotation of white and green
crops was the moat profitable to the farmer. In other por-
tions of the country more white crops were grown upon the
land than it would bear, having the effect of impoverishing
the land and ultimately diminishing the corn brought into the
corn market. Let the Corn-laws be removed and we should
have good farming; for it would be found that good stock-
ing with cattle, and the rotation of green crops would
cause the land to produce more corn than it does now, ex-
hausted as it is by the false stimulus given to the growth of
white crops. But suppose less corn were grown, would the
landlords be impoverished ? Were the Cheshire landlords
impoverished by having their fields in grass ?—(Hear, hear.)
They grew no corn, and what good did Corn-laws do them?
The monopolists asked how should we exist if a combination of
all the nations of the earth was to be formed to keep corn from
us? These landlords, after loading us for seventy years with
taxes, had all at once become so exceedingly and feelingly alive
to our interests that they could not allow us to incur the risk
of being starved by being dependent upon other nations for
corn.—( Laughter.) But they were not afraid of our being
dependent upon America for cotton.—(Hear, hear.) And
yet the imports of cotton were to a much greater amount
than the imports of corn would be. It was strange they had
no fear of this kind—only that they did not grow cotton.—
( Laughter.) Now we get plenty of tobacco—he contrived
to get his pinch of snuff, and others their cigars, and the poor
man his pipe of tobacco—and he dared say he should get them
if all the nations of the world were to combine to prevent it.
—( Hear, hear.) But so far were our wise rulers from being
afraid that we should be dependent upon other countries for
our snuff and cigars, that they resolved that the Irish people
should not grow tobacco.—( Hear, hear.) What was wanted
now, he would repeat, was not so much knowledge as action.
We had stood long with our arms folded looking on, while
every where the masses are starving for want of bread. Are
we to remain in ignorance, or indifference when ignorance is
removed—when by one great exertion we might throw off the
shackles that bind us ?—( Cheers.) All we want is union.
The landowners have their unions ; they have their Farmer's
Society—for every agricultural society is one under the di-
rection of the landlord. Why should we not form similar
societies ?—( Cheers.) He was glad to say that they had de-
termined at a meeting at the York Hotel, Manchester, to
form an Anti-Corn-law Association for Manchester and its
neighbourhood, and he hoped there was not a gentleman pre-
sent who would not join it and give his hearty and unremitting
exertions for the repeal of the laws framed by cupidity and ig-
norance. and more than any others injurious to the best in-
terests of the country, and more especially injurious and ruin-
ous to this great manufacturing district.—( Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave " Free Trade," to which
Mr. HOPKINS responded in an argumentative address, re-
marking, however, that the previous observations had to a great
degree exhausted the subject.
The other toasts of the evening were—" Richard Potter,
Esq., M. P. for Wigan"—" The President," and " The Vice-
Presidents ;" after which the chair was vacated, and the greater
portion of the meeting separated.

HOSTILITIES BETWEEN FRANCE

AND MEXICO.

By the documents here subjoined it will be seen that hosti-
lities have commenced in the Mexican republic between the
French forces and the Mexican troops stationed at Tuxpsm
" Division of the Mexican Army of Operations.
" At three in the evening of the 11th I received information
that a national vessel, being pursued by a French boat, had run
. aground on the coast, and that the Mexican crew had fled and
got on shore. I immediately werLt down to the shore, having
[ left orders that the free corps should follow me ; but on my
. arrival, finding that the vessel was stranded at the distance
of more than two leagues off, and that the French had
re-embarked in the boat of the galliot, because their own.
• boat had gone to pieces, it appeared to me sufficient to
make arrangements for the prompt discharge of the cargo,
, and that a small picquet should be sent to protect the un-
loading. Accordingly this was done at eight that night ;
Sub-Lieutenant Don Pedro Echarco having then marched to
that point with twenty infantry and as many port-labourers as
could at the moment be collected. Previously a sub-lieu-
tenant and ten volunteers had been sent out for the protection
of the cargo, but they returned on the arrival of Echarco.
" At six o'clock next morning I received a despatch, in-
forming me that nothing had occurred, and that the
blockading vessels were no longer in sight. On this
notice, considering that nothing further required my
presence, I returned here. But, as the enemy's ves-
sels, which had been for a while concealed by the
cloudy state of the atmosphere, re-appeared, one boat
advancing to within 180 yards of shore, the brigantine
within 290, and a launch, with three armed boats,
within less than half-musket-shot, our troops immedi-
ately prepared to oppose the contemplated landing, and un-
th, nu-Hun/It btautlAL U. Ni-74.:)., y
gantine fired on them, and the shot raised up the sand, which
covered the persons hoisting the flag. The other vessels also
opened a fire of musketry on our troops, which was imme-
diately returned, notwithstanding the enemy had artillery in
play. The enemy's fire was kept up three hours without ceas-
ing ; but our soldiers economised their ammunition. Fortu-
nately our troops sustained no loss, but we learn that the
enemy had an officer and five men killed in their armed boats,
because they were seen to fall, and it was afterwards ob-
served that their bodies were put on board the brigantine.
It is probable that they sustained still greater loss, as they
withdrew precipitately. Some of them appeared to be leak-
ing fast, and they dropped five of their oars, which we have
picked up.
" Thus ended this first essay of the French, in which, after
a wasteful expenditure of their ammunition, they found it
necessary to heave up the anchor and make 'off. By way of
stratagem I had placed the volunteers of the neighbouring
villages, to the number of 400, in ambuscade near the shore,
and I even ordered the twenty infantry who sustained the ene-
my's fire to make a false retreat, in order to draw the enemy
into a trap ; but he doubtless had his suspicions, and thought
it more prudent to carry off his killed, and give up his pro-
jects of a descent.

" Though this affair cannot be regarded as important, it
may, however, serve to make manifest to the world, the nature
of the French aggressions, and at the same time to prove that
there can be no doubt ofthe determination of the Mexicans not
to submit to the unjust pretensions of their enemy ; it will also
show how little impression their hostile demonstrations are
likely to make on the Republic.
" The French Admiral has evidently violated the law of na-
tions, since, without any previous declaration of war, he has
fired on our troops, and has attempted a hostile landing on
our coasts. Fearing that the facts may be misrepresented by
the enemy (by whom we are almost always calumniated). I
had the idea of ordering a formal verification to be drawn up ;
but, as the event was so public, it can be at any time proved
that we were not the aggressors, and it is proper to be cool in
exposing such insults.

-"
I have the honour to make this communication to your
Excellency, in order thot you may report the same to the
President, and I repeat the assurance of my respect.
" God and Liberty 1
" MARTIN PEREECTO DE COS.
" Tuxpam, July 12, 1838.
" To his Excellency the Minister at War." .
"DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTER FOR WAR AND MARINE.
" Most Excellent Senor—The Commandant General of
Tamaulipas writes to me as follows, under date of the 20th
instant:

" The national boat San .Luis, from Tabasco, with a cargo
of cocoa, having stood in shore at Laguna Seca, twenty-six
leagues to the north of this port, I wished to see whether sho
would succeed in entering the river with the help of the
launches, which had been employed during the night in un-
loading the Spanish galliot Reyna Regcnte, which arrived at
the same point. The blockading ship, which had hitherto re-
mlined at anchor, making only insignificant demonstrations,
did not show any indication of hostility until yesterday, when
the enemy gave chase to the San Luis. The boat ran into
Barra Ciega, five leagues hence, near Laguna Seca. She
had scarcely opportunity to save her cargo, when the boats of
the blockading ship came up with her, set her on fire, and
rendered her completely useless. I hasten to acquaint your
Excellency with this fresh aggression of the French naval
force, that, on the same being communicated to the Presi-
dent, I may b.; instructed as to the means of averting, such
attempts.

I have the honour to communicate the above to your
Excellency, &c.

" God and Liberty !
" Mexico, July 25, 1838. "MORAN.
" To his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs."

On Saturday last, some young lads playing on the
banks of the river Usk, just below Usk Bridge in the town of
Brecon, discovered the body of a newly born child under the
following circumstances. In the course of their sport, they
were challenging each other to wade the furthest into the
water, when one of them said he would go as far as whi!tt he
conceived to be a dog in the stream, but on reaching
oi he
of
said was a bundle of rags, and brought it out,
coursewh of the
day before Henry Maybery, Esq.
Mr. Armstrong, surgeon, being present, discoveredn
it to be
the body of a child. An inquest was held in the
°r°fmedical gentlemen, the
some person
the Coroners for the
county, and after the examination'
oJury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against
as excessive
1 or persons unknown.—Silurian.
excessive
mental be obtained
meni‘tialE
up,
2to dietetics. Abstinence from
from the strictest attention .
excitementNT A i'
E xi
sckleTpEt.
any, a country excursion, and relaxa-
tion toil, cheerful comp
accomplishwhere allthe d'
iNfENburt.—littSle°
a cure
tion of mind, will soon .
world
d medicines in the would prove ineffiCa-
tic precepts an
• Curtis on Health.
mos.—
stake Nimrod says—" The greatest on record, de--
pending on a single heat, was 5,200 guineas. This was won
by Dorimont, a horse four years old, the property of the Earl
of Upper Ossory, at Newmarket, in the year : 1776. This
fortunate animal, the Bay Middleton of that day, also won for
his noble owner, the same season, in matches and sweepstakes,
eight other races, making the sum, in hard cash, of 7,899 gui-
neas, and the Grocrenor Stakes arid Clermont Cup. The
Grand Stakes already made to be run at Goodwood in 1839,
has 23 subscribers at 300 soya., half forfeit ; 6,9001., if all run,
but 4,0001. at the least.