The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-20 00:00:00

CORN LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Six,-1 rejoice to see, that instead of the Corn-laws being
called by the milk-and-water appellation " impolitic," they
and their abettors are beginning to be called by their right
name, " Diabolicals." The laws were carried against the
voice of the people, at the point of the bayonet, and who can
tell how long before the bayonet shall repeal them ? Ob-
servers of nature say retribution comes in kind.
As a suffering merchant and ship-owner I give you the fol-
lowing, as one of the many practical workings of the " Dia-
bolicals :"

Before me is the last Havannah Price Current (3d ult.),
containing one week's list of imports, and of the 53 ships
which entered that port from foreign places in the week,
only one was under the British flag, and among the 53 cargoes
not a single article was of British produce or manufacture.
The solitary English vessel was only 87 tons, and her cargo
was Mexican beef and tallow. Thirty.six of the 53 ships
were under the Belgian, Prussian, Hamburgher, and American
flags, and among the cargoes were the following goods, all of
which were of German, Belgian, Russian and Italian manu-
facture.

1,042 dozen knives.
1,255 cwt. twine and cordage.
1,060 bars iron.

27,300 lbs. nails.

3,023 reams, besides
181 bales and boxes paper.
1,700 linen bags.
3,360 pieces ribbons.
113,986 glass and stone decanters, bottles, and jugs. A large
quantity of smaller glass wares.
8,711 dozen pair stockings, chiefly cotton.
21,202 pieces, besides Z cotton, linen, and woollen piece goods
231 boxes and bales S —chiefly of German manufacture.
A large quantity of shirts, &c. &c.
The same Price Current gives a list of ships in the port,
and I find the number to be 98—of which only two are British,
the remaining 96 being Hamburghers, Prussian, Danish, Dutch,
Austrian, Belgian, French, Spanish, and American.
Now, but for the infamous and diabolical Corn-laws, the
greater part of those goods would have been of British manu-
facture, would have employed British merchants' capital, aid
not only would the carrying those goods have been in British
bottoms, but more British ships would be employed to bring
returns, in the bulky articles of Havannah produce (sugar and
coffee), to various European ports, at such remunerating
rates of freight as would soon prove to the Shipowner's So-
ciety how much more valuable is a double carrying trade on
long voyages, than the frightful American timber trade, which
causes so much loss of life, but which they so foolishly cherish.
If England will not receive foreign corn and timber, of
course foreigners are not to be blamed for availing of their
cheap food to become manufacturers—or for trading to foreign
countries to find employment for their ships and seamen. And,
within the last twelve months, many more foreign ships than
British have obtained the high rates of freight in Brazil; 51.
and 6/. per ton, for sugar, coffee, &c., to Europe.
The foreign ship too from the impolicy of the timber duties
is becoming prepared for carrying such cargoes—free from
damage. The dearness of timber in England compels its
economy, and hence British ships do not get such good decks,
spars, &c., &c., as foreigners.
But the cruelty and injustice of the Corn-laws must ere
long be so felt by the English labourer, the English mechanic,
and the English manufacturer, as to mako them speak in a
voice of thunder, and then, perchance, they may take the ra.
tribution into their own hands.
Your reader,

A. B. C.

New Broad-streat, 17th March,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—There is now a Bill pending in Parliament, brought
into the Honourable House by Sir H. Verney, for the pur-
pose of compelling owners of cottages to pay parochial rates.
Such a Bill has been undertaken before by a certain class of
politicians, and pursued with as much ardour and pertinacity
as if the safety of the empire depended on the payment of a
few rates, trifling in amount, and oppressive in their nature.
But hitherto the House have had the good sense to reject all
such attempts. It would almost appear that some gentlemen
consider themselves as sent to the Honourable House for the
sole purpose to oppress. They watch the poor as a prey, and
suffer none to escape tribute. But when hundreds of thou-
sands are being voted away for mere pageantry and vanity,
they remain as mute as fishes, yet never fail to add their nod
w hen an opportunity offers to crush the poor. Those gentle-
men are totally blind to every thing of moment or utility,
whilst they are eagle-eyed to every, the least, matter touching
their own interest, as the New Poor Laws and the Corn
Laws sufficiently prove; their selfish cravings are insatiable;
they are not even ashamed, in order to save their own pockets,
of drawing from the pockets of the poorest person in the king-
dom. Not content with plundering the people of vast sums
in the shape of Corn Laws, they now insist that the poor shall
contribute to keep the poor.
" 0 but man I Proud man

Drest in a little brief authority,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven
As makes the angels weep."
And now I come to a serious part of my subject, namely, " The
Corn Laws," which are exclaimed against on every hand, and
by every tongue, as the most oppressive laws that ever an indus-
trious nation were cursed with. These laws may be properly
named laws for robbing the poor to fatten the rich. Yet, Sir,
I think they may be turned to a much better account. Let
all the present poor-rates cease, and hereafter let a rate be laid
on land only, out of which let all the poor be maintained, not
as a favour, but as from a fund to which they have already con-
tributed far more than sufficient for that purpose. Thus, Sir,
instead of shamefully paying vast sums for the benefit of the
rich oppressor only, we shall have the supreme pleasure to
know that we, at the same time, contribute to the poor. The
land-owners by the Corn Laws do not gain less than sixteen or
eighteen millions annually; and under the worst management,
and the worst times, the poor did not cost more than eight
millions a-year, so that the land-owner would have ample rea-
son to congratulate himself on the benefit of the proposed
compromise. The plan of uniting the Poor Laws with thelCorn
Laws would be attended with the advantage of every man,
whether rich or poor, whether fund-holder, merchant, trades-
man, or whatever his calling or pursuits in life, all would have
to contribute to the maintenance of poor, and that exactly in
proportion to his consumption.
March, 1838. ALPHA.

COAL MONOPOLY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sta—Mr. Northhouse's suggestion (No. 6.) " That such
',Ater:, with an offer for sale, be exposed for public inspection
in the said Coal Market on its being received," is very much
the same as the former Market Act, of the Clerk putting IT
the Copy of the Certificate in the Market—only that this is
better, because while the ship is coming up to Gravesend or
above the Nore Light the cargo is " On Sale." He goes on—
On the same cargo being declared to be sold, the said vessel
shall be allowed to take its berth (i. c. proceed up the River
to any Coal Wharf or into the Pool) and be weighed and de-
livered without loss of time, but that no vessel shall be allowed
to enter the port (i. e. proceed above Gravesend) until such
cargo be so ctoclared to be sold."
I am sure that this bye-law, if made by the Corporation,
would break up the combination, and that we should never
al:alit see 500 sail of loaded colliers laying spread over between
Gravesend and Limehouse.--I am, your Well-wisher.
CARBONARIUS.

The Commissioners of Woods and Forests have
ordered extensive improvements in the Royal Gardens at Kew.