The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-02 00:00:00

PUBLIC OPINION.

The Herald is relaxing its notions a little on the sub-
ject of the Corn-laws, as appears by the subjoined pas-
sages from a leading article suggested by Lord John
Russell's late address to the inhabitants of Plymouth.
Our Contemporary admits the expediency of only the
slightest alteration in this impost ; still even this con-
cession is something from an uncompromising Tory
journal In legislating on the Corn-law one truth
must never be lost sight of ; it is that the soil of this
country, if properly cultivated under fair and moderate
rents, with those facilities which arise from an equable
and unexciteable system of currency, and before either
in importance, with the blessing of ordinary seasons,
can feed the population of the United Kingdom ; and
that any Corn-law alterations which would lead to the
throwing land permanently out of cultivation is a sacri-
fice wholly unwarranted by the real necessities of the
people, or the state of the nation. To any compromise
in the declension of the sliding scale, which shall increase
facilities for importing grain, shall get rid of fraudulent
averages, and give greater regularity to the corn trade,
without that sacrifice, we respectfully suggest to the landed
interest they ought not to object, when proceeding from
the hands of a national Administration like the present ;
in the permanency of which in power is greatly involved
the safety of the kingdom."
The Post remark?, in answer to an observation in n
Liberal Print of Tuesday, that the Austrian peasantry
are better off than those in Ireland Whatever may
have been the original cause of the very bad condition
of the Irish peasantry, this is true, that on account of
the nature of our British Government, there resides no
where the sufficient power to apply a vigorous, humane,
and intelligent remedy. It is also true that the Whig-
Radical faction is constantly employed in giving nourish-
ment and excitement to these bad parts of our governing
system, which disable the supreme authority from re-
medying the bad :condition of the Irish peasantry."—
The original cause of the very bad condition of the Irish
peasantry is at once accounted for, when one calls to
mind the long system of Tory misrule in that country.
When this despotic, grinding system was a little relaxed
the condition of the Irish peasant began slowly to im-
prove, and had a Liberal Government continued in office
a few years longer, we have no doubt his most vexatious
grievances would have been redressed ; but now that the
Tories are once again in power, it is to be feared that
the faint dawn of his prosperity will be again overcast.
The Chronicle says :—" The Whigs, who for ten years
held possession of Dublin Castle, never thought of dis-
placing any of the Tory clerks whom they found there,
but even (much to their discredit, be it said) added to
the number, as often as a vacancy occurred by death or
any other casualty. Even public officers charged with
the administration of the functions of Government, whom
they could not trust, were yet so far respected as not to
be sent totally adrift. Sir William Gossett, for example,
was handsomely provided for in the House of Commons,
and another gentleman was promoted to the government
of a colony. But Earl De Grey and his subordinates
have other notions about the patronage which power be-
stows upon them. After ten years of Whig administra-
tion, they find one or two Whigs in the Castle, and these
they set about forthwith to eject, by fair means or by
foul."—The truth is, Earl De Grey cannot help himself.
The party whom he serves, are too strong for him. The
Orangemen, greedy and amourous for a share of the
loaves and fishes, will take no denial from his Lordship;
but insist that every Liberal shall be turned out of the
Castle, the Chief Secretary's office and elsewhere, to
make room for members of their ravenous, cormorant
squad. And this is the independence and impartiality
on which the Noble Viceroy so much prided himself, on
accepting thelrish Lord-Lieutenantey I Further comment
is useless. ,
The Times thus alludes to Lord` John 'Russell's recent
visit to Plymouth, and his answer to the complimentary
address presented to him by the inhabitants :—" Hav-
ing gone thither in the character of a noted political
leech, his Lordship's pre-eminent pretensions as an in-
fallible prescriber seem to have brought around him the
whole of the incurable Liberals in that unhealthy neigh-
bourhood, the more especially as his Lordship's advice is
always given gratuitously, provided the applicants will
only swallow his drugs. The origin of this Plymouth
demonstration may be easily accounted for. Our readers
are not such greenhorns as not to be aware of the intel-
ligible device commonly practised by empirics in order
to procure popularity for their nostrums. Unhappy
persons who, in the overpowering competitions of the
present day, can no longer pick up a few half-crowns
for swearing to characters at the Old Bailey, are too
successfully ensnared to publish their formal attestation
of the miraculous virtue of certain advertised specifics.
Every newspaper exhibits scores of such certificates
daily."—The allusion to quackery in the above passage
is unfortunate, for it instantly suggests the recollection
of the Tamworth Quack—the most adroit proficient in
that line that modern times can show.
MONET—TRADE—COMMERCE.
At the tea sales on Tuesday a dozen sample packages of
Japan tea were sold at a high price. It was said to be
equal to any yet exhibited from China or elsewhere.
Above 4,0001. has been already subscribed in London
in aid of the Paisley Operative Relief Fund. Since the
deputation was in London the number receiving relief
from this fund has increased from between 4,000 and
5,000 to the fearful amount of 11,000, being a fourth part
of the whole population of Paisley, according to the last
census.
The eminent commercial house of Balmerie and Co.,
of Bordeaux, has stopped payment, but, it is hoped,i only
for a short time.
COMMERCIAL REFORM.
The journeyman paper-makers, employed at the Car-
shalton Mill, have published an address to their fellow-
workmen employed in the different mills of the United
Kingdom, deprecating the Corn-laws, and calling on
them to act for their repeal by every legitimate method.
Two hundred new members have already joined the
West Hackney Anti-Corn-law Association.
A new mode of agitating the free-trade auestion has
arisen in Ireland. Associations are formed, the members
of which agree to abstain entirely from the use of every

liquor on which a tax is imposed by Government. If
this plan were adopted in England, the gross defalcation
in the annual revenue would be 5,000,0001.

ECCLESIASTICAL.
The Tracts for the Times have been republished in the
United States, and are circulated under the recommen-
dation of Bishop Onderdonk.
AND POLICE.
The Chancery case of "Blake and others v. the Mi-
nister and Feoffees of Whaplode Drove Chapelry," re-
garding the funds of the same, was settled on the 6th
instant, nineteen years and four days after the commence-
meat of the suit 1

The case of Crim. Con., Sewell v. Farmer, was heard
on the 29th at the Sheriff's Court. The circumstances
were these. The defendant, Farmer, filled the situation
of Secretary to the Calcutta Amateur Theatre, when a
friend of Captain Thomas Sewell, of the Bengal In-
fantry, having accidentally hurt him with a sword,
Farmer was kindly received into Captain Sewell's house
for five or six years. Captain Sewell's wife was Mar-
garet Susannah, daughter of Major Hay, of the 66th
Native Infantry, who, at the time of her marriage, in
1828, was 18 years of age, and her husband 30. For
ten years they lived in India, and had four children, two
boys and two girls. In 1838, for the benefit of her health,
Mrs. Sewell, with her children, sailed for England, Cap-
tain Sewell allowing her 9001. a-year out of his income of
1,2001. On her arrival she resided with her uncle, Mr.
Kerr, of Oxford-terrace, but in a few days quarrelled
with him, and subsequently resided in Manchester-
square, Blandford-street, and Portland-place, at all of
which, by letters and witnesses, it was clearly proved
that she had kept up a flagrant and adulterous intercourse
with the defendant, Farmer. The damages recovered
were 2,000 L

On 'Tuesday Elizabeth M`Cabe, a well-dressed young
woman, was committed at Marylebone-office for robbing
her master, Mr. Beagley, landlord of the Camden Head,
of notes and gold and other property to a large amount.
When a policeman searched her boxes he found in one
of them 13 sovereigns, five half ditto, one crown, 37 half
ditto, 44 shillings, 22 sixpences, eight fourpenny pieces,
192 farthings, and a 1/. note stamped as " forged," to-
gether with some salt spoons, ear-rings, necklaces, and
a brooch ; in another box were a pair of stays, two pieces
of calico, 11 knives, 10 forks, six plates, some tumblers,
salt-cellars, and other property.
At Greenwich a young man, named James Harris, was
committed to take his trial for inflicting a dangerous
wound on his wife's face with a knife.