The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-28 00:00:00

THE 14 U

NOTICE! THE
WrEW NOVEL—THE WILMINGTONS
By the Author of
" Emilia Wyn 4ham," " Two Old Men's Tales," &c.
will 1,,e ready at all the Libraries,
With the M igazines, December 31, in 3 vols.
Henry Colburn, Pu basher, 13, Great Marlborough-strz,+.

THE NEI7 WORK ON CANADA.
Now ready, in 2 vols., with numerous Illustrations, 21s.
SIR JAMES ALEXANDER'S AGADIR ;
Or, SEVEN TEAKS' EXPLORATIONS in CANADA, &c.
"Replete with valuable information on Canada for the English
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Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

FRENCH PLAYS and OPERA COMIQUE,
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Mr. MITCHELL begs respectfully to announce the following ar-
rangements for the ensuing Season of French Performances at the
St. James's Theatre:—
ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE OPERA.—MdIie. Charton, Mdlle.
Dehaaser (pupil of the Conservatoire, Paris), M. Chollet (of the
Theatre de l'Opera Comique, Paris. his first appeaarnce), M. Lac
(Premier Tenor of the Theatres Bruxelles and Ghent, his first ap-
pearance), M. Nathan (Premier Besse of the Opera Comique, Paris,
h's first appearance), M. Quilly Leroy (pupil of the Conservatoire,
Paris, his first appearance), Mae. Guichard, M. Baguet, M.
Chateaufort, M. Soyer, M. Desvaux, Madame Mancini, Mdl.e.
Cott!, lkc.
FOR THE COMEDY AND VAUDITILLE.—M. Samson, of the
Theatre Francais, Paris (his first appearance in this country) ;
Mdlle. Denain, M. Regnier, Mtille. Nathalie, (artists of the Theatre
Franca's, Paris) ; Mdlie. Dejazet (who has accepted a farewell en-
gagement in this country); M. Lafont, Mdlie. Figeac (of the Thealre
Du Vaudeville) ; Mdlle. Page (of the Theatre du Vaxietes) ; Mill e.
Constance (of the Theatre du Gymnase) ; Madile. Baptiste (of the
I Theatre de i'Odeon).
An Engagement is also entered into with the eminent Trage-
dienne, Mdlie. Rachel, with whose performances the season will
terminate.

Mr. Mitchell begs further to submit an outline of the general
arrangements :—The Season will commence on Monday, January
7, 1850, by the production of a New Opera, in Three Acts, entitled
"Le Val d'Andorre," produced in Paris at the end of last year,
and since performed at the Opera Comique, Paris, more than
100 nights, and at the principal Theatres of France, with the
greatest success. The Music by M. F. Halevy ; the Libretto by M
Da St. Georges, With the following distribution of the principal
characters:—Stephan (jeune chassear des Pyrenees), M. Lac ; La
Joyeux (capitaine de milice Francalse et recruteur), M. Chollet, who
has obligingly undertaken the part for the more effective production
of the Opera ; Satuniin (garde-peche du Gaye), M. Quill. Leroy ;
Jacques Sincere (vieux cheerier), M. Nathan (their first appearance
in this country); Theresa (fermiere du Yal d'Andorre), Mdlle.
Gotthard; Georgette (cousine de Stephan), Mdlle. Cotti; and Rose
de Mat (servants de Theresa), Mdlle. Charton. The second pro-
duction will be Harold's celebrated Opera, in Three Acts, " Zampa,"
in which M. Chollet will personate the character of Zampa, as
originally performed by him at the Opera Comique, Paris. Su!Jsc-
quently will be Liven, a new Comic Opera, in Two Acts, entitled
"Le CIO," by the popular composer, Ambroise Thomas. And also,
Aaber's last new Opera of " Haydee," the character of Ihydee by
Mdli Charton.

Other productions will be selected from the following : --Jeaanot
et Colin, Nicolo ; Le Roi d'Tvetot, Adolphe Adam; Le Cheval de
Bronze, Amber; Le Macon, Aubor ; Le Sirene, Anber ; Lally et Qui-
nalt, Nic lo ; La Ferruche, Clapissoa ; Le -Valet de Chazabre, Ca-
rafe ; Uxe Fele, Mehul ; with an occasional performance of some of
the most poplar operas produced last season.
According to present arrangements the representation of the Opera
Comique will be limited to the months of January, February, and
March, terminating the season before Easter.
At the re-opening of the Theatre, after Raster, on Monday,
A pri. 1, M. Samson (of the Theatre Francais, Paris) will have the
honour of making his first appearance in this country, and will per-
form with Mdlle. Denain (also of the Theatre Francais) in several of
the most popular Comedies of the French stage; and subsequently
M. Bernier and Mdlle. Nathalle (Loth artistes of the Theatre Fran-
cais) will appear in several of the most modern and successful Come-
dies recently prodneed in Paris.
At the end of May, Mdlle. Dejazet, whose re-appearance at the
Theatre des Varietes, after a severe and protracted indisposition, has
bee • attended with her accustomed and unrivalled success, will ap-
pear In several new vaudevilles, as Le Marquis de Lauzun, Le Mou-
lin 3 Paroles, La Jeunesse de Lully, &c.

The performances of Comedy and Vaadeville will be supported by
M. Lafont (of the Theatre des Varietes), Mdlle. Figs +c, Mdlle. Con-
stance, Mdlle. Page, Mdlle. Baptiste, M. Armand, M. Leon, and a
numerous company.
The engagement of Mdlle. Rachel will commence at the end of
June, by her appearance in M. Scribe's new play of " Adrienne
Leeouvreur," a production which has excited mere than ordinary
admiration ; Mdlle. Rachel wi I also perform, for the first time,
in Dumas' celebrated play of " Mademoiselle de lie ;" and
a new Petite Comedie, in One Act, entitled "Le Moinean de
Lesbie," by Armand Berthet ; and by the occasional representation,
each for one night only, of the classical Tragedies of " Phedre,"
" Les I.loraces,' Andromaque," and "Bajazet," the season will
terminate.

The ORCHESTRA will be composed of the same eminent pre.
lessors engaged for the opera last season,• including M. Tolbeque,
M. Bourotte, M. Deloffre, M. Newsham, M. Barret, M. Baumann,
M. filet, M. Vaudreland, M. Remusat, M. Lazarus, M. Nicholson,
M. Larkin, M. C. Harper, 31. T. Harper, M. Campanile, M. T.
Wright, &c. Di. ector of the music and Chef• d'Orchostra, 31. Charles
Hanssens.

Subscribers of the past seas'm are solicited to make known their
desire of renewing their subscriptions on or before the ist of January
next.

Arrangements for season subscriptions may be mule at Mr.
Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street ; Sams's Library,
1, St. James-street ; Messrs. Andrews's, New Bond-street ; Ebers s
and Hookitam's, Old Bond-street. _

The ttox-otllee of the Theatre will be opened oa the Ist of
January.

AT Fat Al LONI)UN

TIII4 DAY orning, 12 min. after 12 I Evening, 37 min. after 12
To-Ni °MUM c,,a1., 4 min. after 1 I Evening, 29 min. after 1

i. WnArli.Elt..--Sen OFFICE, Dim 28
r4PI3.3t,'WETEIt Lowest, 20; Highest. 40. Noon. 21.
BAROMETER, 29.38; the mercury is now rising, having
gone down about an inch since Wednesday.
WIND N.N.W.—very sharp frost. Heavy snow during
the night, and stormy weather. It is now fine sun
shine, with a keen northerly breeze.

LONDOIg,

but that competition with domestic skill and captal,
which.will be at least as formidable to those farmers
who are insensible to the rapid progress of agricultural
improvement, and neglect to keep pace with it.
"I have not the presumption to offer you advice as
to the practical management of your tarms—but I may
try to impress upon you this truth, that if there be any
of you 'who product, on the average, not more than
eighteen or twenty bushels of wheat per acre, and if
there be other farmers who, in not more favoured posi-
tions and on land of equal quality, produce forty—and
if they produce this, not by expensive farming, but by
wise economy—by the command of adequate crpital—
by the application of scientific skill—by the liberal em-
ployment of labour—by the saving of every particle of
manure, and the restoration to the earth of those ele•
meats of fertility which are withdrawn with every crop
—I may, I say, without presumption. try to impress
upon you this truth, that there is no amount of pro-
tection from foreign produce, no abatement of rent,
which would enable you to meet the competition of your
own countrymen."
Not from without but from within, not from an
arbitrary enactment productive only of temporary
quiescence, but from "a clear stage and no favour,"
comes the true protection of industry. All legislative
interference here only encumbers, while it seems to
defend.

Viewing it solely as a question of protection to
British industry—(a fine sounding sentence so dear
to the " farmers' friends !")—we say again, that the
free trader's is the true protective system, tending,
as it does, to develope and invigorate our agricultural
resources, whereas the fruits of monopoly are
artificial but most evanescent prosperity, and
rapid and inevitable , ruin. But, important as
are our agricultural interests, the question of
Free- trade versus Monopoly has a yet more momentous
import. The price of food vitally concerns not one
class but all classes of the community. The great
destroyer of the corn-laws, he who by that deed has
earned (as he desired) a continual and grateful
remembrance " in the abodes of those whose lot it is
to labour"—Sir ROBERT PEEL, in his recent letter,
thus alludes to the beneficial effects of the abrogation
of the (so-called) protective duties :
" There can, I think, be no_ question that the effect of
the recent changes of the law in respect to the free im-
port of the main articles of subsistence, wi!l be to main-
tai❑ a range of low prices in average seasons, and to
prevent very high prices in seasons of dearth. In other
words, their effect will be to ensure, so far as legislation
can ensure it, cheapness and abundance of food as the
ordinary rule—to diminish the risk of scarcity—and
to mitigate the suffering from it should it unfortunately
occur.

It is because I believe that this will be the effect of
the changes to which I have referred that I look upon
them as irrevccable, and that I advise you to dismiss
altogether from your calculations the prospect of renewed
protection."

Thus, in a double capacity—as the manifesto of a
landlord and as the declaration of a free-trader—the
letter of Sir ROBERT PEEL to his tenants is emi-
nently satisfactory. The true interests of landlord
and tenant are identical, and high rents purchased by
unnatural " protection" are, in the long run, ruinous
to both, whereas mutual co-operation to develops all
the available resources of the land, after the plan
adopted by the landlord of Drayton and other true
farmers' friends, is only productive of mutual good,
to say nothing of the public benefits accruing from
such a plan—a plan founded on common sense and
e)mmon justice.

The communication from Mr. MUNTZ, which
appeared in our impression of Monday, was doubtless
received by many persons who have long respected
the Hon. Gentleman as an independent, honest, and
unflinching free trader and reformat of our monetary
code, with pleasure equal to that with which we gave
it insertion. We never for a moment supposed that
the Member for Birmingham had seen reason to alter
the liberal and enlightened views that had recom-
mended him so strongly to the suffrages of the constitu-
ency of the metropolis of the midland counties, that he
should abandon his uncompromising hostility to the
iniquitous monetary code that has produced the most
fearful distress and suffering among the industrious
classes, and brought the country to the verge of ruin;
nor did we imagine that he would lend his assistance
to the re-imposition of the corn-laws, or desire to
increase the price of food to those who earn their
daily bread by their daily labour. We gave him full
credit for the integrity of his intentions, and
felt the most perfect confidence that there
would be no tergiversation On his part. His
speech, however, at the annual meeting of
the Birmingham and Midland Counties Agricultural
Association might easily 'Live been misconstrued by
superficial reader. Ile declared himself to be "an
advocate for that protection that would protect all
classes equally, fairly, justly, and honestly; that
would equally protect the manufacturer and the
igriculturist." He did not, however, as we have
already stat€d, explain the nature of that general
protection that would benefit all, except the " idle
money interest, the few " fruges consumere nati,"
to whom the labour of the great body of the people
is mortgaged—that would stimulate production and
provide ample employment for all who were able and
iiling to work. He did not denounce our system
of currency as the real fountain and origin of all the
evils we have encountered, under which merchants
and manufacturers, as well as agriculturists, have
suffered so deeply and so severely. His sentiments
might, therefore, easily have been mistaken,
more especially as many of those who
enlightened the farmers at the various bucolic gather-
ings throughout the country declared themselves
friendly to "protection to every description of British
industry," although it was manifest that the only
protection they really desired was a tax on food,
which would enormously enhance the prices of the
necessaries of life. The reactionaries might, there-
fore, possibly have claimed the Hun. Gentleman as a
convert to their doctrines were it not for the ex-
planation elicited by our notice.
Again, it might have been imagined that Mr.
MuNrz advocated the impo‘ition of a moderate fixed
duty on foreign corn, that he considered it an unob-
jectionable mode of raising the taxation. This erro-
neous impression will, however, be removed by his
letter. He says, "I see that you object to raise
revenue upon the importation of corn, and so do I."
Nothing can be more explicit or satisfactory than this
declaration. The Hon Gentleman, however, goes
further. He says, " But so long as you raise revenue
upon the
-importation of manufactures, there is no
valid or reasonable objection why you should
not do so on corn also." Now on this point we differ
toto ccelo from the Honourable Gentleman. We could
easily show, if desirable, that heavy and we grant
unjustifiable taxes on articles of luxury, or even of
comfort, are by no means so injurious to the great
body of people as duties upon articles of primary ne-

cessity. But it is useless to enter upon the discussion,
for as Mr. MUNTZ agrees with us in thinking that
every species of indirect taxation should be abolished,
it follows that improper taxes should not be levied
for the purpose of creating an equilibrium, and
thus, perhaps, perpetuate the obnoxious and
objectionable system. The exertions of every
true reformer, and we believe Mr. MunTz to be
worthy of the name, should rather be directed to the
removal of the impolitic and inequitable taxes than
the imposition of others fully as injurious, if not
more so.

We must also dissent from the opinion of the Hon.
Gentleman, that " the price would not be as much
higher as a low duty." Let us suppose, exempli
gratia, that a fixed duty of six shillings per quarter
were imposed on foreign corn, in place of the
present rate of one shilling ; the result would
be an immediate rise in the price of corn of 53, per
quarter, and perhaps something more. At present,
taking the cost price of production, and the expenses
of freight, carriage, brokerage, storage, and other
charges to which the foreign grower is liable, the
commodity can be brought into the market in round
terms at say 403. per quarter, and that would to a
certain extent regulate the price of the home-grown
article of a similar quality. If, however, the additional
duty prevented the foreigner from sending his
into the market at a lower price than
453 , the Englit.h farmer would demand and
receive the some rate for his produce. Indeed, if
such were not the case, he would derive but little benefit
from the change.
There is, however, but little use in disputing about
minor details with one with whom we so fully coincide
on all the points of real importance. The ccnfession of
political faith with which Mr. Mus:rz closes his
communication we heartily and unequivocally adopt
as our own, and we should indeed rejoice if it were
fully and fairly brought before the nation on every
possible opportunity. We quote his own words :
"I should prefer that all import duties should be

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