The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-26 00:00:00

" TO THOMAS GRIMSDITCH. ESQ.

" Sir—We, the undersigned, respectfully request you
to take the qualification oath, as Member for the Bo-
rough of Macclesfield, before the Returning Officer, on
Wednesday next, Aug. 18th, 1841, at Twelve o'clock, at
the Town-hall. " Your's respectfully,_

"JOSEPH DAVENPORT,
"PETER LEECH.

" Dated this 17th day of August, 1841."
The requisitionists were in attendance at the time and
place specified, but the Hononrable Gentleman did not
make his appearance.
Query—Will the Hon. Gentleman take his seat in
Parliament for the borough of Macclesfield ?

BERRY'S GEOMETRIC TABLE.
The difficulties in which geometry is now involved,
through its adoption of indefinite symbols and abstruse
technicalities, have enveloped it in obscurity beyond what
1 the Egyptian inventors of the science contemplated, or
Euclid himself could have suspected. Much of the labour
of the present age is to diminish these impediments,
which so obstruct the path'of mathematical knowledge,
and to bring the science to its primitive clearness. The
King who wished there were some " royal road to gel)•
metry," no doubt felt this fact acutely ; and yesterday's
exhibition of Mr Berry's Geometric Table, at Mr.
Swaine's, in Fleet-street, was fully capable of persuading
how much towards simplification can be effected.
No youth now enters upon the study of this first of
sciences, which lies at and is the root of all others, but
an immediate obstruction presents itself to him in the
crabbed Greek of the technical words, and more particu-
larly in the intangible nature of the forms and figures pre-
sented to his mind. In the exquisite simplification of these
consists Mr. Berry's plan. His geometric table is com-
' posed of a square board, divided into 138 compartments,
which contain a vast variety of rhombs, angles, cubes,
quadrants, and other shapes, formed of vari-coloured
kinds of wood. To this table the youthful mathemati-
cian is supposed to address himself. Instead of the in-
tangible triangle, heptagon, or octagon of "Euclid's Ele-
ments," composed of subtle and eluding lines, the stu-
dent sees, and the sight only imprints the figure
permanently on the memory, that the octagon
is a palpable eight-sided piece—the cube, a so-
lid sexagonal block—the polygon, a piece with a mul-
tiple of sides, &c. But here the invention stops
not. These are but the simple elements which can be
brought into more complex action. In the upper compart-
ments of Mr. Berry's table the simple triangle, square,
and circle are conjoined into more elaborate forms, so
that .the scholar as he progresses can actually arrive at
the composition of such involved figures as a geometric
staircase, as exact in proportion as any that adorns the
mansion of a noble, or can build up the fortifications of
a city, true to all the rules of art.
So plain, simple, and intelligent a plan towards the
perspicuous understanding of this science, cannot but
render it an immediate favourite in our academies and
schools.

AWFUL THUNDER STORM AT LIVERPOOL.
—LrvearooL, TUESDM—Liverpool was last night visited by a
moll dreadful thunder storm. About one o'clock the lightning
and thunder was most awful, and the rain fell in torrents. Two
of our must beautiful modern churches have sustained damage,
which will take thousands to repair. The tower and steeples of
St. Michael's and St. Martin's are so much damaged that they are
expected to fall every minute, and the wind, which is now blowing
very fresh from the noith.west, has considerable influence upon the
shattered condition of St. Michael's.

HIOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY.
%fouling 43 minutes altar 8 I Evening 33 minutes after 9.

LONDON
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1841.

The House of Lords did not sit last night. The Commons
were almost exclusively occupied with debate on the Ad-
dress. Lord PALMERSTON was not in his place to answer
Mr. Ronnucn's announced question, and the APLEon
affair therefore was not mooted.
Mr. EwAnT resumed the adjourned debate, and was
followed by Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. WARD made some
happy allusions to the influence of the weather over policy,
and regretted for the sake of Ireland the probable change
of the Government.

Mr. SUTTON obtained from Lord J. RUSSELL an ex-
planation that it was Lord CANTERBURY'S conduct at
the Privy Council which led him to oppose his re-elec-
tion as Speaker.
Dr. BOWRING and Mr. M. P. STEWART both spoke on
the Liberal side. The other chief speakers were Mr.
COBDEN, whose speech ,is universally praised, Mr.
BAILLEY, Mr. BROTHERTON, Mr. H. GRATTAN, and Mr.
lIASTIE. At twelve o'clock the Debate was again Ad-
journed.
The House continued full the greater part of the
evening, and towards the close was much crowded.

Mr. COBDEN made an impression on the House, as an
earnest and sincere man always will ; and his manly de-
claration, that he will always call the Corn-laws a bread
tax, astounded and abashed those who would be gentlemen
if they were not plunderers. They obviously began to be
ashamed, and one or two more resolute and honest men
in the House like Mr. COBDEN, will make them give up
the Bread-tax as a detected thief casts away his stolen
goods, in the hope to escape worse consequences. The
human heart cannot be deaf to the voice of justice wIWn
resolutely lifted up, and a very few Hon. Members who
should always speak of the Corn-law as it deserves', would
ensure its abolition.

The country has now before it the Speech dictated by
the Whigs, their Address in conformity to the Speech,
and the Tory Amendment. They correspond to our ex-
pectations. The Speech is not so bold as we would wish,
and the amendment of the Tories, as we announced
oil
Monday, turns all on their want of confidence in their
opponents.
Whatever the well-endowed and sleepy priesthood
may believe, because they wish it, and whatever the oli-
garchy may hope as a means of safetymteontlaireemu,
ntqhue re-
iep.....
t
sent is nut an age of mental apathy.
they suffer, and are agitated. The) look abroad with
anxiety for the means of relief, and pant, as Mr. CAR-
LyLE has said, for a leader. To the uneasy and anxious
multitude, the Speech, though more bold and more com-
prehensive than Royal speeches usually are, gives no
hope. Does any man feel his heart throb and his eyes
glisten as he reads it ? Does it awaken any emotion?
Does it kindle any enthusiasm, or stir up a strong
desire to catch the good it holds out in pros-
pect? We cannot answer in the affirmative. It
kindles no generous emotions, and will not make
men hurry from the workshop to follow the writer
of the speech as their guide to safety. It is at best a
t ()A, repulsive, routine document, which has not, never-

MORNING SUN

theless, not saved the -Whigs from the charge of violating
official decorum, while it will not rally around them the
sufferingand aspiring multitude.
They have not done justice to themselves. The fact
that great suffering exists throughout the manufacturing
districts is undeniable. It is equally undeniable that •
trade is painfully checked, 'and that there is no corn- •
pensating prosperity amongst the working agricultu-
rists. How easy, therefore, would it have been,, how
graceful, too, how worthy of her MAJESTY, and how ae7.:;
ceptable to her people, to have put forward their sad au ,
desolate condition as the reason for calling the attend()
of Parliament to the " revision of the duties affecting.,
the production of foreign countries," and "to the -
laws regulating the trade in corn." ;'Nothing, of the sort
is done. The necessity for increasing the public reve-
nue is put forward as the main reason for proposing -an
inquiry into the landlords' monopoly. • Soniething, in-
deed, is said about the effects of the monopoly, but even
there the " privations of the people " appear as a sewn-,
dart'- consideration to the derangement of the currency:
and the safety of the Bank of England.
That is not the way to treat the people ; for whatever.,
statesmen may think, they have hearts and heads, and
understand when they are dealt with like men or like
slaves. Increase of revenue ! why the people already.
complain of Government getting too much, and they
can care nothing about measures which are mistakinglY
put before them, as calculated to take more. If that be.
the motive and object for abolishing the landlords' ma- •
nopoly, the people will tell the Whigs to effect it if they
can, and will leave them to conquer or be defeated by ale
Tories themselves.

Everything which can now be done ought to be, to
reconcile the estranged people to the Government. Last
night Mr. DUNCOSIBE presented several petitions to the
House of Commons directed against the present state of
the representation. Throughout the country meetings
are holding, at which resolutions are passed, declaring
that the present constituencies, and, of course, the Mo-
nopolists they elect, are opposed to the liberties and
interests of the nation. Chartism is by no means dead.
We grieve much, therefore, to see any means lost of car-
rying a conviction home to the people that their condi-
tion really occupies the attention of the Government,
and deeply do we grieve to see the Whigs throw away
such a glorious opportunity, by putting prominently for-
ward the increase of the revenue instead of the condition
of the people as their leading motive for proposing com-
mercial reform.
But what has the Opposition done to repair the faults
of the Whigs ? What do Sir ROBERT PEEL and his
friends propose ? Do they move an amendment to inform
her MAJESTY that as Government exists only for the
good of the people, and revenue is only collected. to "pro-
mote their prosperity, they cannot think of augment-
ing the revenue till wages be raised, and the distress of
the working classes relieved? Not they. Their amend
ment says, in substance, dismiss the Ministers and place
us in office. Their only remedy for the national distres!-
is, make us Ministers. If the Whigs have lost, an oppor"
tunity of regaining the affections of the people, the To-
ries have made an opportunity to insult them. The an-
swer they gave to Mr. MARE PRILLipS'S pathetic appeal 911
behalf of the starving thousands was, we care nothing for
them, but we will ask the QUEEN to dismiss the Whigs.
It is true that the Tories in their Amendment talk of
consulting the interest, and promoting the welfare of all
classes of her MAJESTY'S subjects. But how can mono-
polists do this? The present Parliament has been elected
for the very purpose of overruling the interest of the
many, and trampling their welfure into the dust. The
majority of the present Parliament is elected on the prin-
ciple of despising the welfare and interests of all othe,
wr,
classes than those of the landowners. " It was supposed,
said the Duke of Ea MOND on Tuesday evening, " that the
Ministers. coming into office would turn round upon the
farmers and refuse them protection, but he, on the part
of the landed interest, would say, if they did so they
would have them out of office. If they (the Tories)
came forward and offered an Bs. duty, he would tell them
that the same men who brought them into power would be
the first to thrust them out." The authors of the Amend
ment have neither the power nor the will to consult the
interest and to promote the welfare of all classes of her
MAJESTY'S subjects. They are the slaves of one class, sent
to Parliament to promote by legislation its selfish ends,
and it is adding insult to neglect and injury to talk in
that Amendment which is to turn out the Whigs, about
the interests and welfare of all.
The bulk of the community, then, has ceased to respect
and honour the Whigs, and it has not ceased to despis°
and hate the Tories. It has no reason to be satisfied
with either, and it has no confidence in either. Between
it and the ruling classes the gulf is widening every day,
and every graceful opportunity, like the present, of fin-
ing it up, is lost. 'We regret this for the sake of the
country and the sake of the Whigs, who might, without
departing from consistency, have charmed the people
by putting forward their condition as the reason for alib-
i jecting the landlord's monopoly to investigation.

It cannot be otherwise than gratifying to us to find
the Corn• laws now become, with one common accord,
the general, and indeed almost the only, topic of public
discussion. Nor is it less gratifying to find the ultra or
extreme principles which we long ago espoused, now be-
come very prevalent. The Devil's laws, as we years ago
denominated them, are now stigmatized by the. Ministers
o:' every faith in the empire—except the members of the
Established Church, who appear to have a pecuniary in
terest in high prices, and in the starvation of the people---
as laws contrary to Christianity, contrary to the Provi-
dence of God, and therefore, as we say, they are the
Devil's laws. What those are who support them, it is
scarcely seemly in us to say, but the Christian Ministers
at the Manchester Conference have proved that they are
not Christians. _

Some of the arguments by which the anti-Christians
support these unchristian laws, seem to us unworthy of
.
legislators, to say nothing of Christians. For example►
the Earl of RIPON, on Tuesday night, would not allow that
our people should have cheap bread, because other coun-
tries have Corn-laws. The CZAR of RUSSIA, an ignorant
stupid despot, meddles with the trade of his slaves, the
Monarchs of Germany do the same with theirs, there-
fore, argues this sapient Earl, we must have a Corn-law
in England. Might he not as well say Russian women
yet spin with a distaff, all nations have spun with a dis-
taff, therefore, burn all the spinning mules, and give em-
ployment to old women. The Peers of England are so
mistrustful of the national civilization that they would
model the laws of their enlightened countrymen on those
of the northern barbarians.

-
This Earl and the rest of the supporters of the un-
christian Corn-laws can see nothing in society but GO'
vernments, and he and the rest of the Peers continually
argue as if Government and society were identical. In
a 'Tory, who has seen society over and over again set
aside the laws he wished to support, this is sheer stupi-,
dity, which no experience can teach. Instead of look-
ing only at Government, let the Peers look to thinol,
and they would see commerce setting at nought Czars :nd
Emperors. The Peers ought to look exclusively to our
own people, and if it be just to tax their bread—if it be
. • honest to make one man pay 50 per cent. of his income,
and another not i per cent. for his food—if it be wise
to provoke their wrath, why, boldly tax their bread,
boldly grind them to poverty, and boldly goad them into
madness ; but do not shabbily, meanly, and insultingly
plead as an excuse for wrong-doing that the CzA nrand
the POPE have passed Corn-laws, and that the corn trade
naturally.
e It
is not free in Russia and Rome. What is the bravrosbarr.l.:d
to Englishmen ? If the Peers wish to be
the ci
now, because
Another argument still insisted thatot ct
costs olt
ltiok
de
ehsipmi
s,e thatand Nhvailtlebteh
the
nb additionalr
ead
tax
er
taxers.
. reason
ti
,fho rwe thpoe:: e
d • and, therefore, we must
it cots more
Corn-laws.
keep up our
law to make it cost
raiseell ra
corntionalm hereen had given
abroyaes:
more to
we have passed the Corn-
raisegiydeOnesitnuolcoss,morie nat
corn here ; but it
, that is such an
,appending on so mmy facts, that it is
uncertain .
wake it an element of legislation.
scandalous to Lure
more to raise corn in some parts
If it costs ---° In Ireland of England
in others. there are low tithes and
costs less ; but, whether
.more or less, tl
rates in Scotland there are no tithes, and ver
low Pcwr-
e-rates. The fat vale of Evesham is more fertile
~,,,,, two-
whsn'the stony hills of Kent or of Buckinghamshire.
two-
than
is grown cheaper in the Ukraine than in Poland.
It is grown cheaper in different countries in different
it costs less
years, according as the season is good in one and bad in
the other, and if the difference of price, therefore, be a
proper basis of legislation, which wo deny in toto, the law
ought to be different in different years, different as the
corn is grown in the Ukraine or Poland ; and a different
degree of protection should be given to the corn grown
in England and Scotland, and to corn grown in fertile
or sterile land. It is impossible, however, to adjust a law
to all these circumstances, which impossibility is a. demon-
stration of the absurdity of legislating at all on the dif-
ference of price or difference of cost of 'production in
England and other countries. Those, therefore, who
argue a great deal about legislation on this basis, should
spare their ink or their breath, and look only at the
honesty or dishonesty of the law as regards the sub-
jects of this empire.
_......._

We leans with much pleasure from Lord BIOUGNAIeII speech en
Tuesday night, that many opinions on the subject of the Budget es-
pressed by this Journal arc approved of by him. He spoke of the
Ministerial measures as being short-coming and inefficient. He
described them as indefensible, as financial measures, while as
measures for the relief of trade they were founded on an excellent
principle. Well, too, did he say, that had Ministers entertained
these measures, particularly tt.e Corn-laws, two years before; the
result of the dissolution would have been essentially different.

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