The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-04 00:00:00

it not unfrequently occurs, indeed, that the example of
crime in others, notwithstanding the severity of penal
enactments for its repression, operates irresistibly to its
repetition and imitation, as sometimes we see a rapid
succession of murders in the metropolis in the shortest
space of time, where before there had not been one for
years, as if malaria or contagion afflicted the moral at-
mosphere at the special period.
The Sun insists that the Corn-laws act unfavourably
for labour, by limiting the demand for it in mines and
manufactories, for the products of which there would be
an increased vent abroad in return for corn imported.
And also that labour should not be expended on inferior
soils at home, when corn can be more cheaply produced
abroad. It is not necessary to reply to the put ely hypo-
thetical assumption of the increased demand for pro-
ducts, and therefore of the producing power also, which
it is pretended must follow the abolition of Corn-laws.
Experience so far has demonstrated the utter fallacious-
ness of the pretence. But surely it must be most ad-
vantageous for the country, for the whole community,
that the home market for labour should be extended the
most widely possible, and that as one of the means all
the inferior soils possible should be taken into cultivation
so as to provide the means of labour. The cost of that
labour is a fraction of addition to price which can be no
loss to the nation, but which, on the contrary, is re-
turned to it tenfold in the expenditure of wages, con-
sumption of commodities, and savings of poor's rates.
This is a branch of the subject which:our London Con-
temporary of the Morning Herald has handled with his
usual ability.

Vie Sun moreover contends resolutely that all the
distress now existing is traceable solely to the operation
of the Corn-laws, which it is pretended make bread
dear. In order to make out this proposition, it will be
necessary to prove in years of abundant harvests
cheap bread there was absolutely no distress at all ; for
else his argument is no better than reductio ad absur-
dum. For example, was there no misery when wheat
ranged from 30s. to 40s. per quarter only, from lowest
to highest, during successive years not long past? But
if dear corn or bread is the sole cause of distress here,
and therefore referable to Corn-laws, how hap-
pens it that in other countries, with and without Corn-
laws, where bread is greedy cheaper, that want and
misery prevail more extensively still ? Take France
for example, where the following description of the state
of the large manufacturing town of
.Lille is given from
ocular inspection and verification by Dr. Vlllerme, dele-
gated for the purpose of inquiring into the condition of
tho manufacturing popu!ation by the French Institute.
The special year, 1837, was one, too, of flourishing
trade :

Towards the close of 1837 the paupers of the city
of Lille were calculated at 22,205. As the (whole)
population, which appears not to have increased for
several years-past, ia eatimated at 70,000 sou's, or
thereabouts, this would give four paupers upon ever)
thirteen persons.
" In a note Dr. Villerme adds that many persons in
Lille assured him that the number of paupers in Lille
amounted to 30,000."
In addition to this, if The Sun would know how the
manufacturing districts of France exist, we add the
details as published by the same authority in respect of
those of Mulhausen and its vicinity, in the rich province
of Alsace, where the cotton trade is better paid, and
better cloths made, and the inhabitants more wealthy
than at Lille.
" For the poorer workpeople, such as those of the
factories, loom-shops, &c., the food consists commonly
of potatoes, as the basis, soup maigre (that is thin soup
made of vegotables), a little bad milk, bail pastry, and
of bread, the latter generally of good quality. They
never see meat or drink wine (sour after all) except on
pay-day or the day after, that is to say twice a month
(wages being paid no oftener).
" Those whose position is better, or, who having no
charge, gain per day from 20 to 35 sous (10d. or 171-d.),
add to this regimen other vegetables, and sometimes a
little meat."
Is The Sun answered ? If not we have more evidence
at hand for its conviction. But for the present we shall
conclude with the following extract front an American
review, from which we may learn that manufacturing
labour is not, even in the United States, quite so envi-
able a desideratum as he, in his ignorance, seems disposed
o assume :

" THE FACTORY SYSTEM.—We pass through our
manufacturing villages. Most of them appear neat and
flourishing. The operatives are well dressed, and, we are
told, well paid. They are said to be healthy, contented,
and happy. This is the fair side of the picture, the side ex-
hibited to distinguished visitors. There is a dark side,
moral as well as physical. Of the common operative!,
few, if any, by their wages, acquire a competence. A
few of what Carlyle terms not inaptly the body servants
are well paid, and now and then an agent or overseer
rides in his coach ; but the great mass wear out their
health, spirits, and morals, without becoming one bit
better off than when they commenced labour. The
bills of mortality in these factory villages are not strik-
ing, we admit, for the poor girls when they an toil no
longer, go home to die. The average life, working life
we mean, of the girls that come to Lowel, for instance,
from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, we have
been assured, is only about three years. What becomes
of them then ? Few of them ever marry, fewer still
ever return to their native places with reputation un-
impaired. She has worked in a factory,' is almost
enough to damn to infamy the most worthy and vir-
tuous girl.
" We know no sadder sight on earth than one of our
factory villages presents, when the bell at break of day,
or at the hour of breakfast or dinner, calls out hundreds
or thousands of operatives. We stand and look at these
hard working men and women hurrying in all directions,
and ask ourselves where go the proceeds of their labours?
The man who employs them, and for whom they are
toiling as so many slaves, is one of our city nabobs, revel-
ling in luxury, or he is a Member of our Legislature, en-
acting laws to put money in his own pocket ; or he is
a Member of Congress, contending for a high tariff to
tax the poor for the benefit of the rich ; or in these
times he is shedding crocodile tears over the deplorable
condition of the poor labourer, while he docks his wages
twenty-five per cent. ; building miniature log-cabins,
shouting Harrison and hard cider.' And this man,
too, would fain pass for a Christian and a Republican.
;z
lie shouts for liberty, stickles for equality, and is horn'l
fled at a sJuthern planter who keeps slaves."—Bosto
Quarterly Review.

Lieut.-General Thornton has lately presented I
one hundred guinzas to the Charing-cross Hospital, c.nel
the like sum to several other useful charities. This truly
benevolent individual, in thus exercising a judicious dis-
crimination in the distribution of his bounty, sets an ex-
ample worthy of imitation to those charitable persons who
postpone their good deeds to their death, and then be-
queath legacies of doubtful utility to those long-existing
and already wealthy charities which possess in funded
property or other sources of income countless thousands
beyond what their present cr future wants can require._
He hds also the satisfaction no less gratifying i. 0.. himself
than beneficial to the institutions which he lrfi ends,
being ab!n to see to the just appropriation of fiis liberality,
f
y,
to the alleviation of the suffertogs of his fellow-creatures,
and to those objects for the promotion of which
osity has been called forth. his gene'