The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-02 00:00:00

MEETING AT PLYMOUTH

In compliance with a requisition to the Mayor, signed
by upwards of 190 voters for the borough, a public meet-
ing took place at the Guildhall, yesterday, " to con-
sider the propriety of memorialising- her Most Gracious
Majesty the Queen, praying her Majesty not to suffer the
Parliament to be prorogued until the house of Commons
has adopted some measure calculated effectually *to alle-
viate the present alarming distress of the working classes
•f the community." The Hall was numerously and re-
spectably filled.
The MAYOR having taken the Chair, read the notice
convening the meeting, and expressed his willingness to
receive any proposition.
Captain PHILIPS rose and said, that when he signed
the requisition requesting the Chairman to convene the
meeting, he had no intention of speaking on the subject,
thinking it might preclude other more able and compe-
tent speakers, by occupying the time of the meeting.
But having been requested to propose a resolution, ho
felt it an imperative duty to express his sentiments.
They had met without respect to party.—(Applause.) It
was a meeting to promote the prosperity, and to do jus-
tice to the country. It was also a meeting of humanity,
to afford relief to suffering and starving thousands. They
were told that other nations were unwilling to give them
food for clothing, but those who said so were unwilling
to give that right, or he would say that privilege. But
had they not a living witness, Mr. Curtis, who had come
as a delegate from America, to tell them that there was
great abundace of. corn there, and that the exchange
would make the English people and the people there
mutually happy? Then was it not a:most atrocious pro-
ceeding that the happiness of two nations should be sa
crificed to support the monopoly of this country. He
then read some extracts from a pamphlet written by the
Rev. Baptist Noel, entitled " A Plea for the Poor."
Captain Philips concluded his observations by moving
the first resolution.
T. W. Fox, Esq., said he held in his hand a resolu-
tion which it was his intention to propose to the meet-
ing ; but he would confess, before he did so, that he bad

great hopes after Parliament met that they should have
deard the intentions of the present Ministers with re-
3pect to the Corn-laws, on which subject he wok it they
were that day assembled.—(Hear, hear.) But from
what had passed at the re-elections of several Members
of the Government, it was much to be apprehended that
at the end of five months the Ministers would not bring
forward any measure which the country
'night think
would afford sufficient relief from the present unwise, im-
politic, and unjust Corn-laws.—(Hear.) lie could not
believe that the heads of the Government were aware of
the real distress existing in the country—nor would he
believe that if they were, they would hesitate to bring
before Parliament some Bill for the admission of foreign
corn into the country before they could deliberate) Y dis-
cuss the question ; but the time was not distant, be
lieved, when the Ministers would be aware of the state
of the present crops, which at that moment was only
known to a few. But it was daily gaining credence that
the crop was as small if not much smaller than in anY
year since 1816. He spoke as a person interested in the
trade—he had spared no pains nor expense to obtain
correct intelligence, and he found that the further the
farmers got into their crops the worse they found them.
He thought they were met there as Englishmen, irre-
spective of politics—(Hear, hear)—and he should con-
t
sequently throw all political feeling. overboard. I
appeared to him that the opinion of her Majesty Ls
Government was, that before the whole of the grain which
had been recently admitted jute the country would be
consumed, the country would be able to use its own corn
and no more foreign grain be required. The fact was, how-
ever, the contrary, for from a failure in the great growing
counties it was doubtful from whence the supply could be
got to make good the deficiency, unless prices became's°
high as seriously to lessen consumption. Much of the
new wheat was either too damp to Use at present, or
unfit; and whilst it was selling as low as 50s. per qu6r-
ter, fine foreign was worth nearly 80s. per quarter—s°
that the poor man must either use very bad bread, or Fay
a price for good, which his wages were unequal to. 311.'
Fox also referred to the wages of the poor man remaining
stationary, whilst prices of flour fluctuated from 105. or
20s. per sack. The duty, now 2s. Bd., would soon be
20s. Bd., which amounted to a prohibition. It was the
opinion of many that the low duty would be again
brought about to meet the consumption of the peolii,e4!
but was it not most unjust to be constantly kept in t"'"'
see-saw way ?—(Hear, hear.) He considered it a onn-
strous evil to delay for five months an inquiry into the
present system, which ought to made in less than fl",
days.—(Hear, hear.) Perniciously as the system 1'?"
worked, he believed that its operation fbr the next
,isix
months would still be more so. Mr.. Fox then moved'""
second resolution.
SAMUEL BERRY seconded the resolution, and said his
feelings were so overcome by the heart. stirring facts
which had fallen from Mr. Fox, that it was with (lit
culty he could find words to express his sentiments.
more fearful position could not possibly be presented to
them, and he wonld charitably hope. with Mr. Fox, thnh
the Government could not be aware of the distress wilirA
existed in the country, and which was likely to elteilv-
throughout the nation.
On the motion of Mr. Ginsort a Committee was 8,_13::
pointed to draw up and address her Majesty, pralwb
that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to continuo
the deliberations of Parliament until measure
e ho
. adopted for securing to her people the most plentiful
supply of food at a cheap rate, and thus conduce to Oa
general interest of the whole community. h
J O
'The address was unanimously agreed to, and t -
meeting separated.—(From the Plyntouth Journal 0£
Thursday.)