The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-22 00:00:00

TIM SUN, _LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY Iq4l

AN TI-FREE TRADE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,How unfortunate it is for the people of England
that they have so few practical men in the House of
Commons. The holds of most of its gifted Members
appear to be stuffed with theoretical notions, whilst their
eyes and ears are shut against the practical effects of
those theories. That Lord John Russell, or any other
mere theoriSt, should assert that the silk and many other
trades had thriven by the competition with the French
manufacturer is most astounding. Would that every
Member of the British Parliament were reduced to cir-
cumstances so as to feel the cursed effects of foreign•
competition, as do millions of their fellow-countrymen
connected with manufacture, whether of silk-glove, lace,
or any other. " Manufacturers," as you truly obser,md
in The Sun the other evening, " have racked invention
and tried new schemes to produce cheaper commodities,"
They have succeeded, but at what Sacrifice ! go through
the streets and lanes of every manufacturing district in
the kingdom, and there your eyes and your ears will re-
ceive the woful answer—lncrease of labour at a lower
rate o wages, almost to starvation as rewards the .Opera-
tires ; and as it regards the employers, tiheavy stock on
hand, a choked market, and if a sale is made, it must I.K.
a forged sale, with little profit, or rather no, profit at
all, if not at a considerable loss. So much for the
thriving state of our manufactures from foreign com-
petition. But is not the reverse the fact, starving
masses employed and unemployed ; ruined capitalist:,,
unable any longer to employ at the lowest rate tho-e
that were dependent on them ; and how can it be
otherwise whilst the accursed Huskissonian system is
continued to the encouragement of every description of
foreign manufacture, in opposition to our own increasing.
population, who are perishing for lack of means- of ob-
taining their daily bread.
It is a truism, however it may be denied by many, that
this country can never prosper under the system of free
trade in manufacture, seeing our population can produce
more of every description of manufactures than can pos-
sibly be consumed by the inhabitants of this and many
other countries, even if every man, woman, and child
were gorgeously apparelled ; there can, therefore; be no
room for the manufactures of other countries, and our
own must be protected to the exclusion of all others. To
bUyers and sellers, indeed, it is no matter whether
the article they deal in be British or foreign,
but to our millions of operatives it makes all the' differ-
ence ; to the unemployed, starvation ; to the employed,
a grinding down to starvation prices. Now these resulte
could not possibly follow, if the statements made re-
specting the working of the free trade system were cor-
rect ; it follows then, that the statements are false ; hence
the redundancy of every description of manufacture,
low wages, and thousands unemployed.
When we speak of manufacture we naturally confine
our ideas to articles of clothing, but the term is applica-
ble to many.articles of food. Now if we must have free-
trade, let us hav: it in that which is more necessary ; and
it needs no argument to prove that food is more neces-
sary than clOthing, seeing a man could live much longer
without the latter, than he could without the former.
Let us, then, have free trade in food, whether manufac-
tured or not; and when the people of England can wear
and tear more of clothing than their own population can
produce, let us - have free trade in silks, gloves, shoes,
lace, &c., but surely not while millions are unemployed
and starving.

Being -a constant reader of The Sun, I am aware tha.
the above statements are not in exact accordance, witl.
the sentiments maintained by you ; yet, from your gene-
ral urbanity; and readiness to insert many things that
others may deem for the public good, I have ventured tc
solicit room for the insertion of this letter, leaving you
to make such observations as you may think proper.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
A FRIEND OF FREE TRADE AS IT
SHOULD BE.
18, Milk-street, Cheapside, May 18, 1841.
[We give the above, in order to show the League and
its Lecturers what sort of prejudices they have got to
encounter. The writer does not distinguish between the
consequences of Mr. Huskisson's improvements, and the
consequences of the Corn-laws. The latter, by depriv-
ing oar people of food in exchange for their manufac-
tures, are the causes of their want of employment.—
ED. Sun.]

NEW SOUTH WALES.
From Sydney the papers reach to the 30th of Decem-
ber. Complaints and recriminations were still made
about the deficiency of labour. But, according to the
South Australian papers, which are bitter in their notices
of the subject, the emigration of labourers from thence
to Sydney was very considerable, doubtless because there
was more employment and wages as good. .The follow-
ing are the rate of wages as given seriatim in the Syd-
ney papers from New South Wales :

" RATE OF WAGES 111 SYDNEY.
" The following is a list of the wages at present paid in
Sydney to tradesmen ; and, notwithstanding the depression
of the money market, masters consider it a good bargain if
they can secure the services of workmen at the wages sub-
joined. We may also state, that most of the rates annexed
have been affirmed on oathwithin the last four months before
the magistrates, the commissioners of requests, the chair-
man of quarter sessions, the Judges of the Supreme
Court, or from the lips of the workmen, and may there-
fore be depended upon. Boat-builders, 10s. to 'lss. per
diem ; by piece work, from 12s. to 18s. per diem. Brick-
makers, from 10s. to 15s. per diem ; by piece-work, 10s.
to 163. per diem. Bricklayers, Bs. to 10s. per diem ;
piece-work, 10s. to 15s. per diem. Blacksmiths, 355. to
3/. par week. Chair-makers, 30s. to 2/. 10s. per week.
Ship-carpenters, from 2/. 10s. to 31. 12s. per week ; and
by piece-work good hands are earning 41. to 5/. and
Si. 10s. per week. Caulkers, 9s. to 12s. per diem ; and
on piece-work earning from 10s. to 16s. per diem.
Coopers, Bs. to I Is. per diem ; plenty of piece-work, at
which good workmen can earn from 10s. to 14s. per
diem. Compositors, Bs. per day, and Is. an hour
over-time. Cabinet-makers and upholsterers, 6s. to
Bs. per diem ; on piece-work, averaging 503. per week.
Cooks for lodging-houses, publicans, &c., 7s. to
15s. per week, with board and lodging additional.
Dairy-women, 121. to 201. par annum, with board
and lodging. Engineers, boiler-makers, and engine-men,
from 30s. to 31. 10s. per week ; thme employed in the
-steamers and in the country receiving rations additional.
Farriers from 30s. to 50s. per week, those working on
their own account along the roads, or in the townships,
making from 31. to 6/. per week. Fencers on piecework
from 3s. to 4s. per rod, earning from 355. to 50s. par
week. Field-labourers 2s. 9d. to ss. per ditto, indepen-
dent of lodgings, vegetables, firing, water, &c. Gar-
deners 25/. to 70/. per annum with rations. Glaziers Bs.
to Os. per diem, those hired for the interior receiving
from 6s. to Bs. with rations. Harness-makers from
3s. 6d. to 6s. per diem. Joiners from Bs. to 10s. par
ditto. Iron and brass-founders 30s. to 50s. per
week. Locksmiths Bs. to 10s. per diem. Mill-
wrights 9s. to I ls. per ditto. Milkmen and Dairy-
men 18/. to 36/. per annum, independent of rations
and lodging. hailers Bs. per diem, earning at piece-
work 10s. per ditto. Plasterers 7s. to 9s. per diem,
earning by piecework from 2/. 10s. to 3/. 15s. per week.
Ploughmen from 30/. to 401. per year, with rations and
lodging. Plumbers from 10s. to 12s. per diem. Potters
from 20s. to 355. per week with lodgings. Pressmen the
same as compositors. Quarrymen from 6s. to Bs. per
diem, earning at piecework from 103. to 18s. per ditto.
Sawyers from Bs. 4d. up to 1 ls. per one hundred
feet. Shipwrights from Bs. to 12s. per diem, earn-
ing by piecework from 12s. to 20s. per diem. Sail-
makers from 1/. to 11. 10s. per one hundred yards,
frequently clearing by piecework 1/. per diem. Shoe-
makers 6s. to Bs. per diem, piecework ss. 6d. for shoes,
boots 155., earning by home work from 10s. to 1/. per
day. Sailors, coasting trade, 3/. to 31. 10s. per month.
Foreign trade, 31. ss. to 3/. 15s. per ditto. Smiths
(general) Bs. to I Is. per diem. Stone setters from 7s,
to 9s. 6d. per diem. Tailors Bs. to 10s. per day, by
piecework earning 255. for coats, Bs. 6d. for trousers, and
ss. for vests. Turners from 6s. to Bs. 6d. per day.. Vine-
dressers from 25/. to 35/. per annum. with rations.
Wheelwrights 251. to 50/. per annum, with rations.
Shepherds from 20/. to 35/. with rations."

INDIAN THIEFTAKERS.--The hired watch-
men are generally thieves, and are faithful and efficacious.
Their presence alone is a protection against their own
class ; and their skill and vigilance, against strangers.
Guzerat is famous for one class of people of this sort,
whose business it is to trace thieves by their footsteps.
In a dry country a bare foot leaves little print to com-
mon eyes ; but one of these people will perceive all its
peculiarities so as to recognise it in all circumstances,
and will pursue a robber by these vestiges for a distance
that seems incredible. One was employed to pursue a
man who carried off the plate belonging to a regimental
mess at Caira. He tracked him to .Ahmedaybad, twelve
or fourteen miles ; lost him am'Jng the
Swell-trodden
streets of that city, but recovered his traces on reaching
the opposite gate, and though long foiled by the fugi-
tive's running up the water o€ a rivulet, he at last came
up with him, and recovered the property, after a chase
of from twenty to thirty mile s.—Elphinstone.
ROYAL SOUTH LONDON FLORICULTURAL
SOCIETY.—The second exhibition for the season was
held on Wednesday at the Horns Tavern Kennington,
and notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the,
weather was well attended. The miscellaneous collec-
tions of plants were very good, amongst the most pro-
minent being geraniums from Mr. Gaines, of Batter-
sea, Mr. Catchleugh, of Chelsea, and Mr. Chapman, of
Vauxhall. There were some fine collections of tulips,
several of which were rewarded with prizes. There
were also some very fine heart's-ease, amongst which
were some . fine specimens from Mr. May, of Ed-
monton. The collection of fruit, consisting of some
fine black Hamburgh grapes, and strawberrieS, from
Mr. Chapman, of Vauxhall, and pines from Mr. An-
drews, of South Lambeth, were very superior for the
season. A large list of prizes were awarded, and the
general show was one of the first of the season.
SILENT AGITATION.—Of the various plans
adopted by the opponents of the Corn-laws, few have
been more effectual, in speaking to the senses of the mul-
titude, than that of exhibiting a taxed and an untaxed
loaf. On Saturday last, an exhibition of this kind took
place i i this town, which attracted universal attention,
and called forth execrations both loud and deep against
a law so detrimental to the best interests of the country.
TI-e eff2cts of the sugar duties were also illustrated, for
the first time, we believe, by a similar display. A loaf
of refined sugar, and a lass filled with brown, were ex-
hibited upon a board, with inscriptions stating that the
tine white sugar, after being refined in this country, eras
consumed by the blacks in the West Indies, at 44d. per
pound, while the common adulterated brown was sold to
the poor in England at 9d. per pound ! Thus, hundrA;
who never thought upon the subject before, were led to
reflect upon its importance, and nearly every cottage in
the country will soon resound with the demand for cheap
bread and cheap sugar.—Bbekburn Gazette.
The Sacred Harmonic Society-intend performing
on Monday evening next, a Selection of the finest Eng-
lish Cathedral Music,- in _Exetcr
upwards of 500 voices. with Choir_ of

cenc'

THE CHARTISTS AT A GENERAL

EUCON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
have been bold enough to prop3se for inser-
tion in your Paper, of which I have the highest esteem.,
the article enclosed. It regards- the present notions and
determinatitm of the Radicals in the event of a general
election. Should it meet veer views, I shall be obliged
at your giving it publicity. It may serve as a sort of
introductory paper to others on the more particular
branches of polities, and on eventual proceedings.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
G. A..

It is inquired on all hands which .course 'of conduct
will the Radicals pursue, during the approaching gene-
ral election ? One thinks they will desert their post,
another concludes it reasonable that they should rest
inactive, already wearied and disgusted with their re-
cent unsatisfactory struirgleS ; and a third asks if they
will again roase untired, unsubdued, unshaken—again
to pour into'the Parliament some portion of the feeling
)f the people.,
I, i.i triith, • there is no fear, in them who are
'uniliar with the sentiments of the Radical party, no
doubt that concerns their political conduct—still would
have every hoilest politician been better pleased at the
absence of all ground for these surmises. That the Ra-
dieak have been deceived by them whom they served
fa't'efully and well, has more than once been confessed
by th 3 Whigi themselves. What wonder, then, if they
should be incredulous of the future promises of this
party ! That they have met cruel disappointment in
some of the very men whom they had chosen to speak
let the zrievances of the nation, every session displays
abundant proof. We could not therefore feel surprise, if
they had oecome careless, and were to stay for some fu-
ture exigency all active interference with the vessel of
the State.
We could not blame them for avoiding insincerity
end deceit, if the energy they control were not all-iin-
portant to the well-being of the country.
They are surrounded with difficulties—on the one
the necessities of party suborn, unavoidably, it
,vould appear, the faithfulness of their friends ; arid, on
he (At w, the temperature of Parliament induces their
w n adherents to an abandonment of_ their principles,

and to a remating of their faith. Evils such- a.; these
3ould not fail to reader mea who were either irre-
whito or weak, hopeless and desponding. •
But it is not distouracetnent alone that the Radicals

V's :net with in the Ilfhig.3—they have 'been ealurnn

aced and insulted by the leaders of that party ; -anti
just resentment may have terminated their rule long
since. They preferred,. however, to disregard all' un-
merited opprobrium, and to remain the prop of a feeble
Admi3iiteation in hope of some restilting gold. •
At this time the same moderation marks the Radical
Arty We feel no alarm at the step they may.jake.
'e have no fear of their disgust with their friends' de-

ani ingratitude being :Converted into retaliatio)

nor have we any such trusi in their credulity as to ima,
ins their being entrapped in the springs devised against
`hem by the Tories. As it is not on the goodwill of the
that their usefulness hangs, neither is it at their
ill-:isi7e that they may withdraw into inactivity.
A higher duty than useless support of party calls into
the, actioi the men who have been, and still are, the
pionee: s of modern civilization—who ;.lave exalted the
moral tone of England—who have striven with supersti-
:ion, with anti-social dominancy, with the prejudice of
caste, with political degeneracy and error; unceasingly,
ind with success. The opinions of such men are
:o meet posterity in friendship ; their principles
•olve the vigour of a gigantic State. The Radicals

Ind the Pride of the Church

was fast expe

in g her votaries ; the indolence of the Church root
ing out all education ; the craving, sensual appetite of
he Church gnawing in to the vitals, and wasting away
the nation. They threatened the mitred aristocracy, and
tithes were immediately ejected, and singular other re-
medies prescribed by them, with thanks for the clear
light that had been so powerfully cast upon them.
It is to the Radicals we owe the recent removal of an-
-2ient political and social restraints. From the period of
the Corresponding Society, when they were disjoined—
when the materials of that excellence were apprehended,
but un-systematised ; up to the present that they are
compact, and their notions settled into principles—they
have been ever advancing the prosperity
.and the happi-
ness and the glory of the nation.
The Radical constituency of England have then a duty
too high to perform, due to their own honour, dice to pos-
terity and mankind, to suffer the ingratitude of their friends
to weary or turn them. One retrograde movement (and
to pause is to go back), would swell the evil of the
enemies of liberalism—would diminish the good they
have effected—would again call into fierce life the nearly
strangled demon of Toryism, of pride and monopoly ;
it would reanimate the ardour of the youth of the na-
tion. Presumption precedes fraud, and rashness follows
success—that they should hold the vantage ground,-•
what scenes may we not behold the Torh.si perpetrate.
Another Scarlett may be there to crush the energies and
stifle the voice of the people. Then 'we may know the
miserable Chartist—houseless, amidst wealth ;, starving,
amidst plenty ; maddening under privation ; unsympa-
th;,pd with, persecuted, and hunted like a brute of the
field. The Radicals owe too much to humanity to tarry in
their course. To be cajoled, to be flirted out of
their_ propriety by the canting wiles of the Tories,
would be neither wise nor expedient ; for whom could
they benefit, what class improve, what condition of the
people ameliorate, what evils lessen,, in granting their
favour to a party whose principles oppose to repugnancy.
To allow the temper to betray the reason. and abrogate
the duties that are imposed upon them, to tarnish their
past conduct, and to frustrate the rising designs of the
genius' of the nation, would not be held- by posterity an
indiscretion of the Radicals, but a crime.
We are, however, free from all fear of the course. of
conduct to be pursued by the Radicals. They will con-
tinue to perpetuate the advances of civilization, the
prosperity of the nation, and the liberties of the people.
They will act together, and firmly—with prudenoe and
with thought, neither yielding •to anger, nor fatigued
with deception.

---
TI.IE THREE MONOPOLIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Stn, —I greatly approve the advice contained in your
paper of the 17th instant, to the landlords, from a Mem-
ber of the Anti-Corn-law League, to take the manage-
ment of their estates into their own hands; and get rid of
their agents, stewards, commissioners, &c. If they were
to do this they would find they could live without rob-
bing the poor through the instrumentality of the Corn-
laws. I believe some of the aristocracy are more plun-
dered by their agents than they gain by robbing the com-
munity and op ressing their tenants.
At no time did Ministers ever deserve the support of
the public mere than they do at present. Should they be
defeated on the sugar question, I hope they will permit
the Tories to expose themselves on the timber question,
which was a favourite measure with Sir Robert Peel
when he was in office, and not lost to all . sense of de-
. The great' features in the proposed alteration of
le timber laws are to•giVe the country a better and a
beeper article, and to,: remove the anomaly of taxing
Lite raw material more heavily than the manufactured
article, timber from America paying 100 per cent. more
than deals or planks cut out of it ; and European timber
10 per cent. more than European deals. Sympathy for
our own labourers, I should have thought, would have
indo.ced the Tories to have gone with Ministers on this
subject ; but their conduct in regard to the sugar duties,
satisfies me that any proposition to benefit the working
classes will be opposed by the Church and State men, as
they impudently call themselves.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
Manchester, May 19, 1841. A REFORMER.

A COURAGEOUS WOMAN.—Schweigliause
Forest, near Ratiabon, has, for a considerable time past, been
infested by a band of robbers, headed by a daring fellow,
named Leopold Hansel, a native of Steinsberg, =nd notwith-
standing the most active researches on the part of the Bavarian
authorities, he and his followers always em ipe. The• reason
is, that many of the inhabitants of the surrounding country,
from fear or participation, favour him, and render every pur-
suit of the police abortive. On Sunday, the 2d in,tint,
during the time of Divine service, two of his followers came
to the solitary farm of Stegweis, in the district of the
Regenstauf. All the family were absent, except the farmer's
daughter. The robbers knocked at the door and demanded
victuals, and leave to rest th,tmelves within..- Their suspi-
cious. appeal ance and behaviour male her cautious, and In-
stead of opening the door she handed out a good large
luncheon through the window. This did not satisfy her
visitors; they called for more, and insisted on being admitted.
As the woman firmly refused to open the door, they threatened
to break ;n, and to put her instantly to death. The brave girl
Wai not dismayed, but taking an old musket which was at hand,
she pointed it at one of the robbers, who had already smashed
the window% The gun, however, was not loaded, and the
srtorbebnegrth, she
didi4mmadoevea
Irkuonmatthhies
headwintlo‘; then, gathering up her
in
the manner of a bayonet
charge. The muzzle of the musket struck him with great
force on the temple, and he fell bleeding and apparently lifeless
to the ground. The other ruffian did not think it advisable
to continue the contest with such an Amazon, and carried off
his wounded companion to the wood. —Ratisbon Journal.
Mr. Wentzel met with an old Citipewyan, who,
on losing his wife in child-birth, had put the infant t 9 his
breast, and earnestly prayed that milk might flow, and
had actually been happy enough to see sufficient pro-
duced to enable him to rear the child. The Indian was
now old, but the left breast still retained the unusual size
acquired by nursing. A
parallel instance is recorded by
a Bishop of Cork. His Lordship had given half-a-crown
to a poor Frenchman, about 70 years of age, who made
the best return he could, by showing his Lordship what
he knew must be a curiosity—two large breasts, with
nipples larger than the Bishop had ever seen in a woman,
and related that, his yife dying when his child was two
months old, he endeavoured to pacify it at night by
putting it to Isis breast, and at lcngth milk actually came,
so that he suckled and brought it up. A lamb, belong-
ing to Sir William Lowther, having• lost its mother,
suckled a wether, " ato brought hlin to milk, and was
maintained by him all.the surer : he had two consi-
derable teats on his udder, eaca. side whereof* was about
the bigness of a hen'S egg," and . the milk avas made to
spurt to a distance of two yards a month af,er the lamb
was vveanecl.—Elliotson's Haman Physiolig y
ARBROATH._TAX ON',BREAD.—IVIT. Mid-
.
dleton, flo convener of the trades Of Arbroath, has called
a general meeting of the seven incorporated trades of
that.place, for the purpose of petitioning bptli*Hblises of
Parliament, for the total and immediate repeal of the
Corn-laws ; and also for the purpose 'of addressing. her
Majesty the Queen, expressive of the trades' confidence
in the wisdom and integrity of her Ministers; and en-
treating her Majesty to aid and assist them, by all con-
stitutional means, in their human endeavours to relieve
the masses of her Majesty's subjects from the grinding
rapacity of a faction of cruel andoselfish monopolists.
A cow belonging to Robert Gardner, of Wvers-
dale, last week died a miserable death. It had been losing its
"condition" fora considerable time; its earner Considered it
to be rotten, but on opening it there was found itilts'stomach
'an enormous toad, which no doubt had been alive till the
cow's death,—.lr,fts independent.

TACTICS OF THE (CHARTISTS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—As the proceedings of the above body ha:ve become cif
iate as notorious as they are inexplicable, it may serve to assist
he public in firming a proper estimate of their character by
recording their doings in every sphere. • By a comparison of
their deeds in various circumstances, we may know whether,
as they beast, they are the advocates, or the enemies, of t
liberty.
On Monday last, a meeting was intended of the inhabitants
of the manufacturing and increasing town of Smethwick, to
consider the importance of petitioning the Legilature for the
`• Total and immediate repeal of the Corn-law.'; The meet-
ing was called for half-past seven, at the 'I albot Inn, that being
the Fincipal place in the town, and the town itself is three
miles from Birmingham on the Dudley road. 'Prior to the
above hour the Chartists, who to nearly a man canoe from Bir-
mingham, assembled in great force, and, with spe?ial speakers,
&c.. took possession of the room, two-thirds of which they im-
mediately tit d. No sooner was this known than the inhabit-
ants, who were collectiire, dispersed to their homes, except a
few of bolder courage, deterred by the very nal* of the.men
ho on a certain memorable occasion performed such unfOr-
eiaten deeds by " physical furce" ahem. Thus circumstanced,
the gentleinen who had arranged for the meet* deliberated
on toe propriety of proceeding with the business, and some
thought it would be better to give it up altogethOr, and lit the
Chartists have it all their own way. It was,.: however, all
things considered, best to make an attempt, thqn,gh certain o:
defeat. They therefore proceeded to propose ;ei Chairman ;
the Chartists amended the proposition by proposing one of
their own, and carried the point. The Chairman then called
on the Rev. William Stokes, one of the Anti-Corn-law
spPakers, wh t was allowed to speak at length, was heard with
attention, and it quently cheered by the Chartists. Mr.
Smith, of West Bromwich, seconded the resolution in a very
'practical speech, amidst much Chartist interruption. A
Chartist then rose, and moved an amendineut coudem-
ratory of the Anti-Corn-law agitation, denouncing the
whole of the Vt/hi7, policy, and recommend no' the " Char-
ter" as the only cure fur our national ills. He was
followed by a Mr. Taylor, who spoke with force and much
less acrimony than is until with his party. After him speaker
after speaker rose, pouring oat a torrent of continued venom
against every thing and every body that did not work for the
Charter, until near eleven o'clock. Mr. Stokes was then al-
lowed the right to reply, but the people of the place had with-
drawn from the scene of tumult, except about a dozen, and
these remained to escort their personal friends aqay, more than
from any other cause. The amendment andsresolution were
then put from the chair, and the former *dared carried,
amidst the yells of a body of men who appeared to hold nothing
sacred on earth, except O'Connor, Frost, and She Charter.
The above will be trumpeted forth by the Ati)rthern Star as
the triumph of public sentiment in Smethwick over the Corn-
law repeaters. To correct this false impression I send you the
above from which your readers will gather, that the inhabitants
of Smethwick had* about as much to do in the matter, as
O'Connor has to do with the wisdom of Solomon, or the poli-
tical integri y of Hampden.
Sir, Yours, &c ,
West Bromwich, May 19, 1841.

AN EYE-WITNESS.

FLOGGING THROUGH THE
FLEET.
An unfortunate creature, destined by merciless judges
undergoo this butchery, has nothing on but his trou-
sers, and a blanket thrown over his shoulders, which is
removed and replaced at every ship alongside of which
punishment takes place. The poor felloW has, perhaps,
600 lashes to receive, which is equal t0..4,400 stripes ;
and, supposing there are twenty commissioned ships in
port, he receives thirty lashes at every ship.; The victim
is placed in the barge, which is a large boat, (towed by
another); with an officer, a file of marines; a surgeon, a
master-at-arms, and a drummer, in th 6 bow, beating
" The rogue's march ;" and a boat, with an officer and
file of marines, attends from every commissioned ship
under the jurisdiction of the Admiral of the port: In
this barge are erected triangles, to which the wretched
mortal is tied during the horrid infliction of flagellation
by two boatswains' mates from every ship,:till the whole
punishment, or human mangling, is concluded,--the
hands being all turned up to witness it. The shrieks of
the sufferer for mercy, as the flesh is torn from his back
by. the fell cat, are unheeded by his merciless tormentors,
nor is .it nearly dead that the laecrated, broken-:
hearted; and once brave seaman, is released from torture
andSentto the hospital. Should he recover, he is never
the same man again ; but is possessed with hatred to his
officers, disrespect •to his country (which tolerated)
cruelty), and detestation to the service•to which he be-..
longs. Such is a true picture of naval punishment daring
the late war ; and the army endeavoured to keep pace
with it, particularly abroad, where it hasieen no uncom-
mon thing to have seven pair of triangles going at the
same time,- the punishment regulated by tap of the drum.
Many now living, both officers and menr,know this to be
no fictitious tale, but one that would bear -a still higher
colouring ; and those who commanded and witnessed.
such barbarity must ask themselves a few queitions rela-
tive to the just law that tempers mercy with justice.
Many have already, paid that debt to nature that is re-
quired from all. Many still remain, whose duty it is, as
they hope for mercy, to assist in wiping away the stain
from the British Service, that we may not have a repeti-
tion of those scenes which are a disgrace to nature and
humanity, .and which the people of the enlightened age
we live in never would again permit to be practised with
impunity. The few are dependent upon the multitude,
not the multitude upon the few ; and allure the children
of one earthly and one heavenly Parent, to whom all
should bow in humble submission, and endeavour to imi-
tate His blessed attributes of mercy, love, and charity ;
and study so to abound one toward another.—Philanthro-
pist's Magazine.

DEPLORABLE DEATH THROUGH EXCESSIVE
DRlNKlNG.—Thursday an inquest was held at the George,
Folly-bridge, Bermondsey, respecting the death of Mr. Wm.
Hurst, the proprietor of a large school in the parish, who was
stated to be but forty-seven years of age, but whose appear-
ance was rather that of seventy or eighty. The deceased had
fo,merly been in the naval service, and had amassed a consi-
derab'e property, the chief part of. which was wasted to supply
his inordinate thirst ; but through the interference of his friends
he was at last induced to lay out his remaining money in the
purchase of a life annuity, which prodneed about 50/. a year.
On Wednesday fortnight the deceased's wife was delivered of
twins, and since that time he has been in a continued state of
intoxication, and it seems that he sent the boys of his seho:d
to obtain the supply. Since last Friday he was unable to
eat anything, but would occasionally drink a cup of tea. A
woman of the name of Burnett saw him up to four o'clock on
Tuesday morning, when he appeared asleep. She went again
between seven and eight, and then she foland he wi's dead.
The Coroner inquired of Alt. Slow, the beadle, whether there
was any suspicion of any viclence having beeu used, and he
stated there was not. He then informed the Coroner that the
deceased's brother had told him on the previous day that for-
merly the deceased was in the habit of drinking fourteen pints
of gin a day, and he had promised to be present at the inquiry.
The Coroner and Jury seemed to doubt whether it was possitee
for a human being to take so much, but the beadle said he was
assured of the fact. One of the Jury said that when the de-
ceased received his divid.eads he was drunk until al was ex-
pended. The Jury returned a verdict that the death of the de-
ceased was the consequence of excessive drinking. The poor
widow and her family are now almost destitute.
THE MINISTRY AND THEIR OPPONENTS.—
The course adopted by Ministers is what the actual state
of public affairs I.emands from them. The public, at the
present moment, would not be satisfied with their re-
linquishing office, according to Parliamentary precedent,
when in a considerable minority. There is too much at
stake to permit party compliments. The 'Whig Mi-
nistry have relinquished substantially their party de-
signation. They may now more correctly be styled the
Ministry of the People. They are, therefore, bound to
suffer defeat after defeat until the whole course of their
policy is fully developed and understood, until the Tories
shall have negatived distinctly every ,reform, refesed
every relief, and recorded their factious determination to
frvian7,cr the stability and welfare of the empire in order.
to uphold their own fraud and oppression-at the price of
general distress. It may be a curious - speculation to
conjecture on what pretences the timber duties will
be oppised. Slavery and philanthropy have been
party watch words on sugar, and no doubt some
other equally pertinent alliance will be .discovered for
timber. Throughout the whole debate, it was admitted
that the real object had little reference to the nominal
one, the real aim being to force a resignation, and there-
fore, without any inconsistency, some principle, beyond
that of mere monopoly,. may be called to the rescue of
rotten pine and Canada interests. Perhaps we shall be
called on in the sacred name of Liberty not to encourage
Prussian despotism and Prussian education—infidelity,
by buying cheap Timber in the Baltic. Some Dionysius
Lardner, of the Legislature, will, perhaps, implore the
House to pause before it discourages science, and renders
Kyan's Patent useless, and our shipping sea-worthy by
the eradication of Dry Rot. Tory Grand Juries will re
present that they will be deprived of the pleasure of per-
petually mending their Court Houses, and we should not
be at all surprised if the affairs of _America, and the
Boundary. Question wound up the Second Act of the
debate. Some think that Ministers will be permitted to
carry this point, we respectfully doubt it. After what
has occurred it would be ridiculous . of the Tories to
leave the Administration a shadow of success:—Soot/ern
Reporter.
IRON MINES IN THE HIGHLANDS.—We
'understand that that spirited nobleman the D .ike of Richmond
has had a number of workmen employed for some weeks past
in the mountains of Strathdoun, on an experiment, to try the
practicability of working the several minerals discovered there
last season. The meta's were sitbmitt2d to an eminent chy-
mist, and on an analysis gave the most promising result..
Should his Grace be successful in working the mines, the em-
ployment they would afford would be of 'the greatest' import-
tance•
in that district of the country, where the crops are so
precarious. The long land carriage is the most serious impe•
diment to the successful working.—Aberdeen Journal.

t _a
•
THE TABLES TURNED. •
TO THE EDITOR OF THE •
S:r,—Y our readers are, I suppose, aware, that ior a cmtple
of years this town has had nearly a:1 its public meetings inter-
rupted or upset by a party calling themselves Chartists,. and
owning Feargus O'Connor-and his Paper, the Northern Star,
for leaders. The Star has repeatedly told its readers to upset
every meeting of every kind, " Anti-Poor-law, Anti-Corn-
law, and every other Anti, and allow no gathering, but for the
C harter." Now, this advice might be safe enough ( however
tyrannical and unjust) if they had the power as: well as the
wilt, " stop the supplies of public opinion," as': the Chartist
orator, It.PDowall, eels it. But as only about 350 persons in
Manchester are subscribers to the Star at presentiAhe doctrine
physical force should he in prudence dropped.
The example which the O'Connorites have set has been
lately followed by some other parties of the "fustian jackets
and blistered hands," as the Sear calls them. Some of these
fustian-jackets want more bread to line them withal, and the
blistered bands would gladly finger a big loaf, but their Anti-
bread-tax meetings we opposed by the O'Comnorites,accordingto
order. There are some other fustian-jackets, who want to " re-
pale the Union,"and they found themselves lately in hostility with
those putters-down of all public meetings. An alliance offen-
sive and defensise was entered into between the repalers of
Union and the repealers of the bread-tax, and they have lat-
terly invaded several of the poor Cha.list meetings, and
turned them out of their own rooms. At the:' great town
meeting, at the Town-hall on Tuesday, the -O'Connorites were
so awed and snubbed by these repalers and repealers, that
their leaders hardly dared show themselves.
I understand that the followers of Feargus have received
notice that they sha'l not be allowed to hold anymore public
meetings. It would be edifying to see the: physical farce
Chartists drivrn into holes and corners to escape a storm of
their own ra sing. I remain, 8c.6,
Manchester, May 20, 1841. A.