The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-23 00:00:00

TO THE WORKING CLASSES.

FELLOW WORKMEN-Eighty years ago the parish of
Manchester contained only about 40,000 inhabitants. If
at that time the landowners had obtained an Act of Par-
liament that no one in the parish should eat any bread that
was not made from corn grown within its narrow bounds, it
is clear, supposing the land could then produce only as
much food as would sustain the 40,000, that for every child
s
born there
zumsttbhee toafesoudbtorfacatlieonr,es. t the amount
would
of its
have
• :-
been done by such an Act for the parish of Manchester
has since been done for all England by the Corn-laws,
which enact that a population of fourteen millions shall
draw their food from the same quantity of land which for-
merly
the la
supported
landowners scveerns
tell y
millions.
ou
But
that, although you pay them
a high price for their corn, they pay it. back to you again
which I have So
spoken. mtght the landownersThey
mimight
t
onuchemstaekrehave said, if they had ob-
tained .
inafaiovnbieuhm:e Downs
said,tn
parish buying the
0 trh l,e,i
your
%gEsvo ooucioofrfd
Manchester
iya,
will ever see the colour
would have been, potatoes, f
not
rsoerndi to the farmers on Bowdon
us two loads ofit
e?
rr
moneyyeu are
agnaoitu sure.,, thatTh The
reypoluy
potatoes '' Th e farmersfor one pieceof Bowdon
calico, Downseud giveyou
can have two busheTlsheorfecpolyrnis
for a
give us only one."
forqomualtlhyegAoomdenrioewan.
falrfmweer
piece of calico, and only one from the English
farmer, the man would be a fool who did not trade with
the former.

But, say the landlords in return, " We are heavily
taxed, and therefore we must have a high price for our
corn." Our reply is that we are taxed as heavily as they
are, and that it is not fair that we should be called upon to
pay our own taxes and theirs into the bargain.
The Corn-law makers have another plea—" You would
not starve the farmers, would you ?" Our reply is that we
distressed
no wish to starve the farmers, or to hurt a hair of
their heads. To keep the farmers from starving, all the
landlords have to do is to REDUCE THEIR RENTS.
When Mr. Muggeridge was here on a Commission of
Inquiry into the condition of the hand-loom weavers, one
of thatlBl4,
„istthe
resspeedopble thereudystatedw,etrlematlawrhmeendhtehaletftthFeirranmcaeouin-
factures
but the Corn-laws stopped that ; and he had reason to be-
would be destroyed by the English competition,
lieve that the French manufactures would have been
ruined but for those laws." The wisdom oE the English
Government closed that market against us, for in 1815,
just when peace had opened the whole Continent to our
cNoomthimenrace, the Corn laws were passed, and, as Spencer
said,
" wages have been falling in this country ever since."
take the
else
Frenchcould
rhodavae e
eb, e en
France expected,
i s
not f 0 r I i ifk e we Ny, e
to will
takeno
not
English
manufactures. The weaver there has wine at
fivepence a bottle i but pane of it must come here because

to buy a fustian jacket and a calico shirt, but having no
money to give in exchange for them. Would not the parties
come at once to an equitable and advantageous barter?
Would not the weaver say, " Give me food and I will
weave you some nice fustian or shirting ?" And what would
both say if a third party stepped in and said, " You may
go half naked, and you may be half starved, but I will not
permit you to make the exchange !" Would they not be
justified in knocking the intruder on the head ?
Substitute the Atlantic for the brook, and the English
landowner is the party which steps in to prevent the ex-
change which would feed the one and clothe the other ;
and yet the working classes of England have hitherto sub-
mitted to the iniquitous intervention, scarcely uttering a
word of complaint !
The landlords tell us that this would be trading with fo-
reigners. But who are these foreigners ?—John Cassiday
is a weaver at Miles Platting. His son, Patrick Cassiday,
has emigrated and bought a piece of land in Indiana. John
Cassiday is thrown out of employment, and reduced to a
fare of potatoes and salt. Patrick Cassiday has more
wheat and Indian corn than he can eat or sell, and he
throws the surplus to his barn-door fowls and his pigs,
treating the latter moreover with a few bushels of pump-
kins and apples and peaches. The son wants clothing—
the father wants food—but they cannot effect the
change which would give comfort to both. The Eng-
lish landowner says that they shall not. He condemns the
son to nakedness and the father to starvation. The
case needs only to be extended, for it is as true in all cases
as it is in one. Hundreds of thousands in England are con-
demned to insufficiency of food, and hundreds of thousands
of the desendants of Englishmen in America aro con-
demned to insufficiency of clothing, because the land-
owners of England desire to keep up WAR RENTS. And
yet do the half-starving multitudes of England submit,
almost without a complaint, to the crying injustice!
Fellow Workmen, let us be no longer blind to the cause
of our being steeped to the lips in poverty. Let us attack
the infamous monopoly which crushes us to the ground.
Let us consider the waste of time and the waste of money
in the various contests we have entered into upon Combi-
nation Laws, the Truck System, and Short Time Bills, and
the failure of every such remedy for our distress. Let us
no longer be carried away by schemes, of improvement
which would have no more effect than the application of
plaster to the leg when the whole body is in the progress
of mortification. The disease is in the SYSTEM, and
therej-".
TION; kn. espe r tAX UPON
BREAD. Let tur shoW that we understand the question
better than our masters.
The ignorant poor alone are not to blame for their apathy
upon the question. The rich merchant and manufacturer
are equally apathetic. Twelve or eighteen months ago the
United States were in our debt to the amount of seven or
eight millions sterling more than they could then pay. lad
the importation of corn been permitted, they need not have
owed us one farthing, and all the subsequent distress might
have been prevented. And yet your merchants never
moved so much as a little finger to prevent the calamity
which then betel them. They are moving now. Let us
move along with them.
We shall now be involved in one common ruin, unless
these laws be speedily repealed. We suffer now by the
high price of provisions, but in a short time we shall suffer
also by a deficiency of employment. Rival manufactures
are rising up in every part of the world. Countries which
once took our goods ceased to take goods, and then took
coarse yarns to be woven at home. They then began to
spin their own coarse yarns, and bought only the fine num-
bers from us. It was not long before they were able to
spin fine numbers, and then they bought nothing but ma-
chinery. Latterly, instead of buying our machinery, they
have been employing men from this country to make it for
them ; and ere long they will not even require English
workmen, for the Belgians are fast becoming first- rate ma-
chine-makers ! This is a history of our progress to ruin.
Can any body doubt that wages would rise if we received
in payment what other countries can spare of their agricul-
tural produce ? Yet we are sometimes told that if bread
were cheap wages would fall. There cannot be greater
nonsense than this assertion. If at one time I can have a
dozen pounds of flour for 12 hours' labour, and flourshould
rise so that I must work eighteen hours to have the same
quantity, I must either eat less bread, or I must send out
50 per cent. more work ; and if I and my fellow-workmen
did this, our wages would tumble down just the same as if
for every twelve men out of employment on a particular
kind of manufacture six more were to enter into competi-
tion with them. It is a fact ascertained, beyond all doubt,
that when the price of corn rises wages do not rise in the
same proportion, but often fall ; and that when corn falls
in price wages do not fall in the same proportion, but often
rise.

Be in no fear that the farmers would be ruined by a re-
peal of the Corn-laws. With free trade in twenty-five
years Manchester and all the surrounding towns within
seven miles of its Exchange would be one great city. With
free trade England, Ireland, and Scotland would be one
great grazing and dairy farm, studded with thriving towns.
With free trade Northern Europe and Northern America
would be our corn fields—France, and Spain, and Portugal
our vineyards. With free trade nations would convert the
sword into plough-shares and spears into pruning hooks, and
men would learn the art of war no more.
Let us form everywhere associations to obtain the repeal
of the accursed monopoly. Let us tell the Legislature that
as it has refused to fix a minimum of wages, on the plea
that labour should be allowed to find its own level, we shall
no longer permit its interference to prevent the price of
CORN from finding its level.

A WORKING MAN.

SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. ROGERS, THE HAT-
TON-GARDEN MAGISTRATE.---011 Tuesday last Mr. Rogers
attended at the office and transacted the customary business
apparently in his usual state of health. At its conclusion
he returned to his residence at Hampstead in good spirits,
and proceeded to the drawing-room, where he reclined on a
sofa preparatory to taking dinner. Shortly afterwards he
was discovered apparently asleep, but on endeavouring to
arouse him it was ascertained that he was quite dead. Me-
dical assistance was immediately procured, but all efforts
proved ineffectual to restore life. Mr. Rogers was about
6.5 years of age, and had filled the office of magistrate for
upwards of 20 years. He was originally a chamber ma-
gistrate, and was first appointed as a metropolitan magis-
trate at Lambeth-street Office, whence he was removed to
Hatton-garden. He has left a family, who are grown up.
At the inquest, which was held yesterday, the only addi-
tional parti3ulars elicited were that the deceased had for
some time suffered severely from go ,t, although on the day
spirits
than his death he had appeased in better health and
than 1131141, YeNiot--" Died by the visitatiQu of God

THANKS TO THE LATE LORD MAYOR.
Deputy CORNET felt great pleasure in proposing such
a vote of thanks to the late Lord Mayor as he was con-
vinced would meet with unanimous approbation. He then
moved the vote of thanks.
Mr. HEPPEL seconded the motion ; which, after a few
words from Mr. LOTT and Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR, was
carried unanimously.
A purse of fifty guineas was unanimously voted to the
Rev. Mr. Davis, A.M., Chaplain to the late Lord Mayor.
ABUSES IN THE COAL TRADE.
The LORD Mavoapresented a petition from Mr. Thomas
Bradfield, of Derby-street, Parliament-street. It stated
that the unwise and unjust regulations adopted by the fac-
tors and buyers in the coal trade were in full operation at
theroal-market, to the prejudice of the public, and the
horrible oppression of the poor ; that for some time past
there had been an abundant supply of coal in the port,
notwithstanding. which the price had continued to advance
upon the consumer ; that the number of coal-weighers was
not sufficient for the discharge of the colliers, in conse-
quence of which vast numbers of ships were unable to un-
load, and the expense to the consumer became necessarily
intolerable ; and that immediate measures ought to be re-
sorted to to facilitate the discharge of the cargoes by add-
;lig; to the number Of weiters ; that tie. ro-
posed to be made three years ago by the corporation,p by
which the collier ships in the port might be 180 instead
of 147, and that there should be ten more weighers ap-
pointed, would, if carried into effect, destroy the existing
monopoly, and that a great public advantage would inevit-
ably follow
Mr. BRADFIELD, upon being asked whether he wished
to add anything to his petition, begged to he allowed to
say a few words. Since he had first appeared before the
Lord Mayor to complain of the grievous abuses in the
coal trade, several persims had attended at the Mansion-
house for the purpose of contradicting the statement he
had made on the subject, and it was perfectly well known
that those persons had failed in their object of casting dis-
credit upon what he had complained of. With respect to
the assertion that he bored Lord Mayors there was no
foundation whatever for that, and he would call upon Sir
John Cowan, if he were present, to contradict that state-
ment so -fir as regarded himself, for he had never opened
his lips to that Lord Mayor upon the subject. So much
for the charges made by Alderman Copeland.
A MEMBER—My Lord Mayor, I believe it is not the
practice of this Court to allow any petitioner to " bani-
madwert" on the conduct of any of its Members.—(Hear,
hear, and loud laughter.)
The LORD MAYOR requested that Mr. Bradfield would
adhere to the subject matter of his petition.
Mr. BRADFIELD declared the contents of his petition
were not only facts, but there were now in the river ac-
tually 150 colliers waiting for weighers, although their car-
goes were all sold.
The Loan MAYOR understood the petitioner to state
that a monopoly existed exceedingly injurious to the public
interests, but whether it existed in London or in the North
it was not precisely mentioned.
Mr. BRADFIELD—My Lord, I mean to say that if you
carry the by-laws of 1833 into effect, you will immensely
serve your fellow-citizens and the whole public, who are
grievously oppressed by the exorbitant price of coals, which
are now 1 ls, a ton higher than they were in that year, and
will, if you do not use your power, reach even a higher
price by moans of the conspiracy.
Mr. DIXON requested to know who the conspirators
wore ?—(Cries of " No, no.") Does he mean that the
coal-factors have conspired to keep up the price of coals ?
The LORD MAYOR—I understood him to say that there
were now 150 ships in the river, which cannot be unloaded
although their cargoes arc purchased, because those who
have it in their power to appoint weighers will appoint
no mere than they think proper to appoint, and that the
price of the article is thus kept up. Perhaps the best
course to adopt with respect to the petition, is to refer it
to the Coal and Corn Committee, with instructions to
report upon it.

Sheriff WOOD said that the weighers were appointed
by the trade itself, and that the Court had no voice upon
that subject.

Mr. GALLOWAY said, if he understood the petitioner
rightly, his object was to reduce the price of coals; to the
consumer to something like a fair charge. He. (Mr. Gal-
Anway) _certainly knew that .an --extensivevtobipiracy did
exist agaidtt the-public interest.—(Lowd cries of" Hear.")
He believed that the fact was now, that the coal trade
appointed the weighers, and appointed just as many as
suited their own purposes—(Hear, hear)—but he was
also of opinion that the aldermen had it in their power to
appoint any additional weighers they might consider neces-
sary, and that they might do anything else towards facili-
tating the bu.;iness which they might deem necessary.
Mr. DrxoN--I do not believe there is any such thing as
a conspiracy existing in London. I cannot say anything as
to the course of proceedings adopted in the North, but with
respect to the coal-factors and others engaged in the coal
trade in the metropolis, I know them to be as honourable
men as can be found.—(Hear.)
Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR said that, according to the state-
ment of Mr. Galloway, the Court of Aldermen had the
power to order the appointment of weighers if there ap-
peared to be a deficiency. He (Mr. Taylor) understood
that the Court of Common Council had no power at all in
the case. They could refer the matter to a Committee,
however, who might report what was best to be done.
The petition was then, upon the motion of the LORD
MAYOR, referred to the Coal and Corti and Finance
Committee.

THE NEW CITY POLICE.
Alderman VENABLES brought up the Report of the
Committee upon the Watch and Police Act, which re-
commended that the superintendant to be appointed by the
Court should have a salary of 400/. a year, and detailed the
important duties of that officer.
In the course of the discussion Mr. Whithair, the pre-
sent able Superintendent, was frequently alluded to as the
individual upon whom the appointment ought to devolve.
Some Members spoke of advertising for candidates, while
others ridiculed such a course as mere humbug, calculated
to put gentlemen who might suppose there was a chance of
success from the apparent sincerity of the advertisement to
unnecessary trouble and expense.
Finally the Report of the Committee was agreed to,
and the election was appointed to take place on Thursday.
After some further business the Court adjourned.

THE LATE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONe+
Since the apprehension of Desire Rouselle, the man sus-
pected of having fired at and wounded the " Duke of
Normandy," at Camberwell, it is considered a very singu-
lar circumstance that the pistols with which the attempt
was made have not been found. Rouselle's lodging at the
Crown, Peckham, as well as other places,
have been
searched, but nothing found to indicate that he had been
concerned in the atrocious attempt for which he was taken
into custody. Since his apprehension he denies that he had
been condemned to death in France for the part he had
taken in the affair of the Du3hess of Berri, although he
particularly mentioned the circumstance to Monsieur Le
Barre when he first applied for assistance to the Duke
of Normandy. He has already stated that he had been
only a few weeks in this country, and that he was totally
ignorant of the language ; it, however, turns out that he
had come up from Liverpool a short time ago, and that
some months previously he bad pledged an article of dress
in that city, the duplicate of which was found in his, pos-
session when taken into custody. From the surgeonsto
f
bullets re-
port it appears that the " Duke " is considered ou
' danger, and that since the extraction of the from
his arm the wound has been healing.

On Wednesday afternoon an inquest was held at the
Graham Arms, Macclesfield-street, City-road, on the body
of David Rynan, aged 32, a coal-porter. On Monday
evening he was on a barge in which was a fire in a grate
termed a " devil." The deceased was proceeding along
the side of the barge with a bucket of water, for the
purpose of extinguishing the fire, when he unfortunately
slipped and fell overboard. He was alive when taken oat
of the water, but expired a few minutes afterwards. Ver-
dict—" Accidental death."

A man, named Beaumont, was sentenced, on Sa-
turday, by the Tribunal of Correctional Police, to be im-
prisoned for a month for ill-treating his wife. On hearing
the judgment he advanced towards the President, leading
his two children by the hand, and said, " Here ! I leave
thorn with you ; it is you who must now provide them with
food." He immediately turned round and took to his heels
before anybody could stop him, leaving his children bawling
in the Court.