The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-04 00:00:00

to suffocation. John Moor, Esq., was called to the Chair
Mr. SOMERS moved the first resolution, to the effect
that the depression of trade, and consequent suffering
which prevails throughout the country, through the ope-
ration of the laws which lay a tax upon food, are exten-
sive and increasing. The resolution was not difficult to
prove. It included two points agreed to by all—namely,
that there was misery in the country, and that .it was
both extensive and increasing.—(Hear, hear.) Even in
their neighbourhood, they felt the Corn-law's iron grasp.
—(Hear, near.) He knew individuals who worked from
three o'clock in the morning till ten o'clock at night, and
only earned seven shillings a week to support themselves
and, families. Last week a case came under his notice
of a family who had not tasted food for two days.—
(Hear, hear.) But, to take a larger survey, England,
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.presented one picture of
misery. In Scotland it had been proved that the prac-
tice existed of mixing bran with the oatmeal. In Wales
similar similar scenes existed ; but in Ireland they were
impossible to be described.—(Hear.) It had been stated
at the Manchester Conference, that the privations of the
British poor were comparative comfort when contrasted
with those of the peasantry of Ireland, and to the truth
of that heecould bear his personal testimony. Even in
Dublin he had observed in the streets whole families,
and the only garment they had to cover them was the
large grey cloak so much worn in that country. Mr.
Somers then went into the details of the distress men-
tioned in the House of Commons by Mr. Sharman Craw-
ford and other Hon. Members. The distress throughout
the whole of England was derived from one and the
same cause, namely, the tax upon food.—(Hear, hear.)
They might justly ask how they came by these Corn-
laws ? It was true they were passed by the House of
Commons ; but was that House of Commons the repre-
sentative of the people ?—(Cheers, and cries of " No.")
The signatures to the petitions against the passing of the
Corn-laws were 1,638,000 more than those to the peti-
tions in its favour. So great was the hurry to get the
Bill passed into a law, that, although a public meeting
was summoned to petition the Crown not to sign it, it
was hurried through both Houses, and received the
.Royal signature before the meeting could be held. It
was asserted that the Corn-law benefited the agritul-
turists. But it appeared the expenditure of a farm in
1775, before the Corn-law, was 17CL, while in 1831 the
expenditure of the same farm was 45CL That showed
the amonnt of protection which the agriculturist derived
from the Corn-law.—(Hear, hear.) Sir Robert Peel
admitted that distress existed, but said that hereafter
it should have his solemn consideration ; so that 2,000,000
or 3,000,000 of human beings, on the verge of starva-
tion, were to wait till Sir Robert Peel could say what he
could do for them. When so many now could not tell
where to get bread, what would it be in the coming
winter? He looked with the most fearful anticipations
to the future.—(Hear.)
Mr. BRYAN seconded the resolution.
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. BRABY moved the next resolution, to the effect
" That the distresses of the country call for a prompt
and efficacious remedy," and deprecated the postpone-
ment of their consideration.
Mr. SMITH seconded the resolution. If not prepared
with a plan for the relief of the country, Sir Robert
Peel ought not to have taken office.—(Loud cheers.) In
ordinary business what would they say to a man who
had been knocking at their door fur months and de-
manding employment, and when they had admitted him
and desired him to turn to and work, he, instead of
doing so, was to make a low bow, and say, " Please,
Sir, lam not prepared ?"—(Laughter.) Such a thing
would be ludicrous in small matters, but in great it was
awful. The Ministry had no right to accept the seals of
office if not prepared to do the duty.—(Cheers.)
Sir Charles Napier, M.P., Dr. Bowling, M.P., Mr.
Yorke, M.P., and other gentlemen, here entered the
room, and were received with the most enthusiastic
cheering.
Mr. HINE opposed the motion, and was pushed off the
platform. He made his way back again, and insisted
upon being heard. Great uproar ensued. Mr. Hine
declared, in a stentorian voice, that they (the opponents
of the present Ministry) advocated an Bs. duty,whereas
they were only paying ls. duty.
Dr. BOWRING said it was only Is. a quarter when at a
starvation price.
Mr. Hine was again pushed off the platform, and great
uproar ensued.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER, M.P., with difficulty obtained
a hearing. If he held any influence over them they
would hear the gentleman till midnight, and he would
undertake to reply to him.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. HINE was then heard.
The Rev. Mr. GARNET triumphantly replied to it.,
The resolution was then put and carried, only ne
hand being held up against it.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER came forward, amidst enthusias-
tic cheering, to move the next resolution :—" That we
present a dutiful and loyal memorial to her Majesty,
praying her not to allow the present Parliament to
be prorogued until the state of the country be fully
investigated, with a view to such remedial measures
as shall ameliorate the condition of our suffering fel-
low-subjects." The resolution was a very proper one
to be moved and carried ; but he could not give them
any flattering hopes that it would be successful in its
object. The present Ministers had declared most
decidedly that they would not assent to the wishes
of the people.—(Cries of " Shame.") It was disgrace-
ful that they should accept office and not be prepared to
adopt some remedial measures, especially as related to
the duties on corn, sugar, and timber. By the perseve-
rance of gentlemen on his side of the House. Sir-Robert
Peel, although he came with the intention of being silent,
had been forced to speak out.—(Cheers.) They had
driven out the late Ministers, and were not prepared to
propose any measures themselves.—(Cries of " Shame.")
Sir Robert Peel had told them distinctly that the poor
must go through all the rigours of the winter to give him
time for consideration. The late Ministry were prepared
with measures of relief, but he (Sir Robert Peel) had
none, and yet he had driven them out of office,—(Cries
of " Shame.") He (Sir Charles Napier) had not de-
clared his opinion in the House of Commons yet on the
Corn Question, but he would take that opportunity of
asserting that the Corn-laws were among the worst
that ever existed.—(Loud cheers.) The gentle-
man who had just addressed them had said
that corn was lately admitted at a duty of ls., but
he would ask whether, if it had not been for Sir
Robert's sliding scale, corn would ever have got up to
86s. a quarter?—(Cheers.) Had there been a fixed duty
such a thing would never have happened.—(Loud
cheers.) From inquiries he had made amongst the
labourers in his own part of the country, he believed they
could live very well when corn was from 50s. to 555.
When corn was at that price they could manage to get
through life very well. The labourers then had 12s. a-
week, and when corn was about 50s. a quarter they could
live, but when it reached 865., as it was at present, they
had no means of living. They could not economise in
any other way than by lessening the quantity of bread
necessary for their daily subsistence. If the luxuries in
which the rich man indulged were to rise as suddenly in
price as corn, he might give them up or borrow money
at his banker's till the duty fell again, but the poor man
could not do that. The shopkeeper would not trust him,
and he had no other mode than by diminishing the quan-
tity of bread consumed by himself and family. Then, as
to the interest of the country in general. Large specula-
tors were ever on the watch. They had thousands of
quarters on hand ; and suppose that he (Sir C. Napier)
was a merchant, living in Egypt or Poland, or any other
corn-growing country, and observing that corn was high
in England, would ship a cargo of corn for this country ;
so great were the fluctuations of corn in this country
that the probability would be, if the ship was detained
by contrary winds, that a duty of perhaps 30s. would be
laid on the corn in the interval. The merchant loses by
this speculation, and he says " I'll send no more. I'll
see the people of England starving first."—(Cheering.)
Dr. Bownisto, in seconding the resolution, begged to
confirm the opinion just expressed by their Gallant Re-
presentative (Sir C. Napier), that there were but slight
grounds to hope for any measure of relief for the sufferirg
poor from her Majesty's Government. They seemed de-
termined to put off the consideration of the Corn-laws,
although distress of the most aggravated character was
accumulating from day to day.—(Hear.) It was owing to
unjust and unwise legislation that the people wanted bread.
It was in vain to expect the House of Commons to do
anything till they 'were made uneasy ir. their seats by
that agitation which they so much deprecated. He
begged to remind them that they (the Liberal Members)
were helpless in the House of Commons unless the peo-
ple came to their assistance. You must (continued the
Hon. Member emphatically) come to our assistance out
of the House of Commons. The remainder of the sentence
was lost in a deep response of united cheering, mingled
with loud cries of" We will." The Hon. Gentleman re-
peated his cordial assent to the resolution, and sat down
amidst great applause.
The CHAIRMAN put the resolution, and it was carried
by acclamation.
A memorial to the Queen, praying her Majesty not
to prorogue Parliament till the Corn-laws had been con-
sidered, was then read.
Mr. YORKE, M.P. for York, at the requeet of the
meeting, came forward to move the adoption of the
memorial.
The Rev. Mr. GARNEY seconded the adoption of the
memorial.
The CHAIRMAN put the motion, and it was carried
unanimously. The memorial received a great number of
signatures on the spot.
MARYLEBONE.
A public meeting of the inhabitants of Christ Church,
Marylebone, was held on Friday evening at the Lord
High Admiral, Church-street, Lisson-grove, to hear a
lecture on the Corn-laws from Mr. Sidney Smith, and to
memorialise the Queen.
Mr. Surrn intimated that he had an interview with
the Earl of Radnor and Lord Kinnaird in the early part
of the day, and their Lordships had consented to go
down to Windsor, and present the vas; number of memo-
rials to her Majesty which had been forwarded to the
Metropolitan Anti-Corn-law Association from all parts of
the empire.
The memorial received a vast number of signatures on
the spot.