The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-01 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

Earl FITZ WIL LIAM said he had a petition to
present from the inhabitants of Sheffield, signed by
10,864 persons, each of whom not following but per-
haps giving the example to the petitioners whose petition
was presented by a NobleEsrl that evening (Malmesbury)
stated his employment and residence. That petition,
and others which he should present, related to a subject
of the greatest possible importance, and which could
not be better described than as a law to limit the
population of the United Kingdom, for such was necessa-
rily the effect of a law which limited the population to the
means of sustenance which could be produced within
these realms.—(Hear, hear.) The petitioners com-
plained that there was an interference with that free in-
tercatirse with foreign nations which it had been the in-
tention of the Almighty should be kept up by giving to
various countries various productions, and by enabling
them to exchange those productions one with the other.
They complained that many obstacles were put in the
way of intercourse with foreign nations by means of
those laws ; they stated that the effect of those obstacles
was most injurious to themselves and those who de-
pended upon them—that they produced great commer-
cial inconveniences, and that, under particular circum-
stances, they created great distrust among tho
great mass of the population of this coun-
try. In the view which the petitioners took of those
laws he entirely concurred, and he would take the
liberty of laying upon their Lordships' table the first
petition, which was from the inhabitants of Shef-
field, and at the head of which were the signa-
tures cf the Master Cutler, and several of the Ma-
gistrates of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The
Noble Earl also presented a petition from Brad-
ford, signed by between 7,000 and 8,000, and about
60 petitions from places in Scotland and England,
about one half of which were from agricultural parishes
and districts—in all, signed by upwards of 4,000 per-
sons, all to the same offect.

The Marquis of NORMANBY laid on the table
of the House certain returns of the number of Irish
Peerages created since the Union ; also the number
of those become extinct in the same period. The
Noble Marquis then laid upon the table copies of
the instructions issued by the Poor-law Commissioners
in Ireland to the Poor-law Guardians, for the regula-
tion of their proceedings, and also to the Poor-
law valuators. Before the return was printed
he begged to state to the Noble Duke ( Wel-
lington) that he had made inquiries with respect
to the effect of the sth section of the Act of
last year, as it referred to the 85th section of the
prz.vintis Act. He had taken the opinion of the Law
Officers et the Crown, and their opinion was, that tlic
85th section remained unaffected by the Act of last
year. Under these circumstances he would not be
called.upon to redeem the pledge he had given to intro
(Ince a dectaratory Act. The correspondence between
Mr. Nichols and the resident Poor-law Commissioners
was also presented, and he wished to know whether the
Noble Duke ;wished to have all these ',returns and cor-
respondence printed ?
The Duke of WELLINGTON did not think it
necessary.
Toe Duke of I3EAUFORT presented a petition
from Gloucestershire praying for the repeal of the Corn-
laws.
The Duke of RUTLAND presented petitions from
Leicestershire against any further grant to the College
of Mavnooth, and' in favour of the Exemption Union
Workhouse Bill.
FRIVOLOUS SUITS' BILL.

On the motion of Lord DENMAN, the Frivolous

Suits' Bill was read a third time and rtssed. The
Noble Lord also r.ve notice of withdrawing the Rated
Inhabitants Evidence Bill.
The House then adjourned.

• HOUSE OF COMMONS, APRIL 30.
There being only 27 Members present at Four
o'Clock, thz House adjourned till to-morrow.

• A COMPANY.—The following circumstance Las
been mentioned to us by a shareholder, and the names of the
possession of some
parties too. A few individuals
which they did, in
property, pretended to make a saleabot:victi,n.
its value, value, and then
fact, to thernselves, extravagantly
capital, and
considerable
apportioned it in shares, paid dividends
To prevent
gulled some parties to purchase these shares at °f
eeLthernselves
premium upon the already exaggerated capitala
unpleasant diselosuraMey have contrived to k
in as managers, but take good care to produce
and can give no satisfactory account of the capital. This is
a Railway Company, but a concern that is in high repu'tel'w'itoltl
the public; and, we understand, the knot of individuals in gee,-
ti, n are mien of property, and considere to be respectable. A
certain banking-house is said to be not altogether innocen in
,he transaction.—Railway Maya: