The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-31 00:00:00

DECEXIBER 81, id4l.

MR. CHRISTOPHER'S PLAN OF

CORN-LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF 7'HE SUN.
SIR,— The persuasion in some quarters in-
creases, that Mr. Christopher's speech discloses,
or at all events approximates to, the intended
proposal of the Minister on the subject of the
Corn-laws.

The substance of Mr. Christopher's plan, as
stated in a journal on the same side of the gene-
ral question, is " that he would have the
price of wheat fixed as nearly as possible be-
tween 565. and 655. the quarter: This end he
would secure by a minimum duty'of'sS the quar-
ter on wheat, when the price reaches 65s ; and
as the price falls, by increasing the duty to a
maximum of at least 205., at most 305." The
speaker, however, is not responsible for the in-
vention of a maximum -which shall 'have a least
and a most; for on reference to the report in the
Times, what was said is stated to have been,
" that lie cannot say whether it ought to be 2.05.,
255., or 305., until he has positive and authentic
information as to the quantities and the prices at
which such quantities couldbe purchased abroad."
The brief method of reply to this seems to be
by asking, why the manufacturing and commer-
cial interest should not be found demanding to
keep the price of wheat fixed as nearly as possi-
ble between 265. and 355. the quarter; which
end they would secure by a minimum bounty of
ss. a quarter on foreign wheat when the price
fell to 265., and as the price rises, by increasing
the bounty to a maximum, which they will
settle at 205., 255., or 305., when they have
positive and authentic information as to the
quantities, and the prices at which such quantities,
could be purchased abroad.
It is difficult to see how this lex talionis is to
be attempted to be parried, except on one
ground; which is that the landlords, being in
possession of the legislature as they have been to
the extent of an exclusive test, have taxed
themselves in such a manner as to make it im-
perative on them to recover part in a mode that
inflicts a hundred-fold loss on the community.
And here the war shall lie, not with the
landlords, but with the men calling themselves
political economists. Can there be wonder at

the low estimation in which that name is
popularly held, when there is found among them
a prostration of intellect sufficient for giving way,
knowingly or unknowingly, to such an enormous
proposition, as that any legislators can possess a
right like that supposed? Imagine the case to
exist in its simplicity, and without a suspicion of
ill intention of any kind; and what would be the
conclusion, but that such legislators should be
cashiered and the public mischief removed, by
the quickest process known to the community ?
Would a single individual of any kind be found
to maintain, that such a blundering self-sacrifice
presented any claims to the perpetuation of the
public loss ?
One point in the speech I take the liberty of
noting. The speaker entirely goes with me in
the belief of the indissoluble connexion between

the Corn-laws and the present Ministry, inti-
mated in the last letter you did me the honour
of inserting.
Yours very sincerely,
T. PERRONET THOMPSON.
Blackheath, 30th December, 1841.

GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY.
Traffic returns for the week ending Dec. 27, 1841 :
Passengers £BO9 6 1
Merchandize 390 14 8

£1,200 0 9
Darlington, Dec. 29. W. O'BRIEN, Secretary.

SUICIDES AT BRIGHTON.

BRIGHTON, DEC. 29.—0 n Monday night two frightful
suicides took place at Brighton. Last evening the in-
quests were held before F. H. Gill, Esq , the Coroner for
East Sussex. The first was held at the Reeve Inn, on
the body of Joseph Cheale, a labourer.
James Cheale deposed that he was son to the deceased,
and resided at No. 35, Edward-street. The deceased
had been low-spirited and rather deranged for the last
two years, from being out of work and in bad circum-
stances. On Monday night witness's mother was in the
bed-room with the deceased, and witness was in bed
in an adjoining room. Between two and three o'clock
on Tuesday morning deceased asked his wife to go
down stairs and make him some gruel ; she refused
at first, but having repeated his request she went
down. Immediately after witness's mother had left
the room deceased jumped out of bed. Witness
watched him, and hearing the window go up, ran to him.
He was nearly out of the window, and witness caught
hold of one of his feet, but could not hold him. After
the deceased reached the ground he ran across the yard.
Witness followed him as quickly as possible, and found
him at the well, partly in the bucket. He was not going
down, but apparently hung by the side. Witness began
to draw up the bucket, vhen the deceased slipped over
and went to the bottom. Assistance was prbeured, and
in about twenty minutes he was got out. Two sur-
geons were sent for, and the usual remedies applied,
without effect.

Thomas Clark deposed to getting the deceased out of
the well, which was very deep, and contained upwards
of twelve feet of water.

The Jury returned a verdict " That the deceased de-
stroyed himself whilst insane."
A second inquest was held at the Queen's Head Inn,
on view of the body of John Way, aged 21, who de-
stroyed himself by jumping off a house.
Phillis Chapman stated that she was cook in the ser-
vice of Messrs. Lewis, Allenly, and Bedford, linendrapers,
of the Old Steine. Deceased was one of their appren-
tices, and was taken ill on Tuesday last, and kept his bed
from Thursday.

Susannah Brayne, of No. 132, St. James's-street, de-
posed that about ten o'clock on Monday night she was
going down St. James's-street, accompanied by her
daughter. On passing the house of Messrs, Lewis and
Co., witness felt something brush her back, and heard a
fall with a great crash. Witness, on turning round, saw
the deceased on the pavement. Witness was so dread-
fully agitated that she fell down. The deceased was con-
short time to recover.
veyed to Dr. nail's house, as also witness, who stayed a

Henry Patching, one of the headboroughs of Brighton,
was passing the spot at the time. Witness assisted in
conveying the deceased, who was in his shirt, to Dr.
Hall's. Deceased never spoke.
Thomas Gray, an assistant to Messrs. Lewis and Co.,
after the occurrence examined the door at the end of
the passage opening upon the parapet. It was open, and
witness observed the print of a foot on the dust, and the
candle and candlestick on the parapet. The door was
usually fastened by a latch. The deceased was very
steady, but rather an eccentric young man.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Temporary Insanity."
SHOCKING ACClDENT.—Yesterday morning a dread-
ful accident occured to an old lady, named Willmott,
aged 83. It appears that the unfortunate woman was
engaged getting her breakfast, when a spark flew out of
the fire and ignited her clothes, which, befere assistance
could be procured, were nearly burnt off her back. She
was conveyed to the Sussex County Hospital, but soon
after her arrival expired. Mrs. Willmott was well known
in Brighton as an amateur performer, and performed at
the Brighton Theatre, within the last five years, for the
benefit of the instititution in which she died. ' •

THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

READING, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—WooIIey, of whose
recovery yesterday, there was but a very faint hope en-
tertained, died a little after three o'clock this afternoon.

The bodies of Richard Ralph, Jabez Clee, and Joseph I
Hands, were sent away this morning by the six o'clock
goods train.
The LAU deodand goes, by a grant made in the
reign of James 1., to the Lord of the Manor, Mr. Palmer,
the Member for the county. From the well-known bene-
volence of that'gentleman there can be but one conviction
as to the mode in which the money will be applied.
It is to be hoped that the Jury about to be summoned
to inquire into the circumstances under which the death
of Woolley took place, will make that searching investi-
gation which all persons whose business compels them to
travel by the night or early morning trains have a right
to expect at their hands. Many such travellers are of opi-
nion that it would be perfectly legitimate for the Jury to
inquire—seeing that Woolley lost his life, in all proba-
bility, from the want of a night police on the line—in what
state of certainty or uncertainty the mail train, that
leaves the Paddington terminus at 55 minutes past eight
o'clock, proceeds upon its way. This train arrives at
Bridgewater on the following morning at 25 minutes past
two o'clock, moving, it will be seen, at some 26 or 27
miles per hour, stoppages included. If a slip were to
take place at ten o'clock in the Sonning-hill cutting, or
an embankment in the vicinity were to give way at the
same hour, would or could the engine-driver know any-
thing of either till he was dashed upon the one or preci-
pitated into the other ? Does or does not this mail train
travel the whole, or nearly the whole of the 151+ miles
in almost perfect ignorance of any accident that may
have happened upon the portion of the line in advance of
it ? Many persons are of opinion that " the London
newspapers must be wrong in stating that the railway is
not watched by night," They are unwilling to believe
that the well-regulated police which they observe along
the line by day, are withdrawn by night, and that the
trains are left to find their own way in the dark.

BLAYDON BURN RAILWAY.—On Monday
amidst cannon firing and colours waving, took place the
opening of this beautiful line of railway, made by
Messrs. Joseph Cowen and Co., from their fire-brick-
works and colliery at Blaydon Burn, through that
rugged and winding valley to their depot at the river
Tyne. This work was commenced n.qt six months ago,
and was thought by many to be impracticable ; but by
the perseverance and energy of the principal in the above
firm, aided by Mr. G. G. Bell, engineer, it has been
brought,without a single accident, to a successful con-
clusion.—York on. York Courant,

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN.—At the
meeting of the Repeal Association, to-day, the Lord
Mayor observed that he could not interfere in the ap-
proaching eleotior• for this city. The Corporate Bill
made the Lord Mayor returning officer, and he was
determined, that in everything connected with the office
he wouldact with the strictest impartiality and justice.—
Dublin Evening Post.

LITERATURE.
WARWICK'S HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Saunders and Otley, London.

The design of this publication is to give every
important detail connected with the public and
private history of the members of the House of
Commons, particulars respecting each constitu-
ency, the results of the two last general elec-
tions, and other statistical and political facts of
general interest. It commences with a brief his-
torical account of the British Parliament up to
the year 1377, in the reign of Richard 11., and
from that period to the present time gives the
names of the different Speakers, with occasional
anecdotes respecting them, and the proceed-
ings in the House of Commons. Thus we learn
that in the last Parliament of the reign of
Charles 11. the Votes were first ordered to be
printed; in the second of William and Mary, the
Tory Speaker, Sir John Trevor, was expelled for
taking a bribe of 1,000 guineas from the city of
London ; and that Sir James Cust, who was cho-
sen in 1701, was the last Speaker who adopted
the usual show of diffidence when presented for
the acceptance of the Sovereign, having described
his appointment as the only inadvertent step the
House could take, and entreated his Majesty
George 111. to direct them to present some other
person. The work altogether has evidently been
compiled with great care, much of the personal
information respecting the Members has been fur-
nished by themselves, and their political opinions
are tested by the votes they gave on the sugar
duties, the no-confidence motion of Sir Robert
Peel, and the address at the opening of the last
session. The state of the polls, with the names
of the successful and unsuccessful candidates at
the last election, are given immediately before
the description of the Members. _ _

The following account of the immaculate bo-
rough of Sudbury and its representatives affords
a fair tpecimen of this useful publication :
SUDBURY (Suffolk)-2. June 30. 5,503.
FREDERICK VILLIERS, 1. 284 Joseph Bailey, jun., t.
DAVID DYCE-SOMBRE 1. 281 George Tomline, t.
Charles Taylor, t. 271
David Jones, t. 271

*Sombre-Dyce, David-Ochterlony: son of Gen. George-
Alexander Dyce, by the dau. of Beltshazzer-Louis
Sombre, of Sirdhannah, in the North-Western pro-
vince of Hindostan; 1. 1809; ,n. 1840 the Hon. Mary-
Anne Jervis; 'youngest dau. of Edward-Jervis, 2d Vis-
count St. Vincent; was principal private secretary to her
Highness Furzand-Azuzai -Comdosul-Urraikeen-Zeb-
ul.Nissa, the late Begum Sombre, a Sovereign Prin-
cess in Hindostan (who d. Jan. 27, 1836), and whose
adopted child, we believe, he is, and to whom he was
acknowledged heir by the East India Company. The
whole of the landed possessions of her late Highness
revert to the British, and the personal property,
amounting to nearly half a crore, devolves by will upon
Mr. Dyce-Sombre, with the exception of small lega-
cies and charitable bequests. The personal proved
larger than the sum at which it is here estimated ; the
mass of it, which was bequeathed to Mr. Dyce-Sombre,
amounted to 80 lahks, or 800,0001., independent of va-
rious smaller legacies to her other officers and to per-
sons about her establishment, and also to charitable
institutions. The principal of these were to Mr. Troup,
who married one of Mr. Dyce-Sombre's sisters, 50,000
rupees ; to Mr. Solaroli, who also married another
sister, 80,000 rupees. He is of the Catholic religion,
and in politics is a staunch Whig.— Clarendon Hotel,
Bond-street.
Villiers, Frederick-Meynell ; b. 1805: represented Salt-
ash in 1831 ; was returned for Canterbury in 1835,
but unseated on petition.—Bury-street, St. James's-sq.