The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-23 00:00:00

glarnt.it

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1847.

The unanimity which was manifested in Parlia-
ment on Tuesday evening, in deliberating upon the
character of the Address to be transmitted to the
SOVEREIGN in answer to her MAJESTY'S Speech from
the Throne, has been happily continued upon the in-
troduction of the Ministerial propositions for the tem-
porary suspension of both the corn-laws and the navi-
gation laws. In the presence of the terrible afflictions
of Ireland, and of the destitution suffered by the un-
murmuring population of Scotland, the factious ani-
mosities of last session are forgotten, and the splenetic
vituperations which latterly disgraced the pages of
" Hansard " are suppressed. This is well. Every lover
of humanity will regard the commencement of the
Parliamentary discussions f0r1847 as most honest and
most commendable. No time is frittered away as
heretofore, in the indulgence of individual malice.
The representatives of the people see that the com-
munity is suffering sorely from a visitation such as
scarcely possesses any parallel, and all private con-
siderations merge into the one national consideration, as
to how the calamities consequent upon that visitation
can be diminished or prevented. Animated with this
ennobling sentiment, the difficulties of the Legislature
are being wonderfully decreased and their embarrassing
duties are being rapidly simplified. On the motion
of the Prime Minister the Lower House resolves
itself into a Committee, for the purpose of considering
whether the 4i. duty now levied upon the importa-
tion of corn shall be remitted until the Ist of Septem-
ber next, and whether, for the further facilitation of
the introduction of foreign grain, the laws relating to
navigation shall in like manner be temporarily sus-
piided. As some indication of the entire concur-
rence of the House in the policy of this proposal, it
is well to observe that the Minister is imme-
mediately seconded by Mr. BANKEs, one of the
leaders of the Protectionist Opposition. But it is
still better to find that, in the animated discussion
which ensued, no substantial objections whatever
were raised to thew Ministerial measures.
On laying the matter before the Committee, Lord
JOHN RUSSELL briefly but clearly explained the ne-
cessity for some such movement on the part of the
Legislature. It would assuredly have been almost
sufficient to bring conviction to the most sceptical
mind to discover that the enormous amount
of 4,800,000 quarters of corn from the foreign
markets, and from the British dominions, has been
imported into this country during the past year,
without any sensible diminution of the scarcity of
bread-stuffs, and with a fearful and continual rise in
the price of grain. Those 4,800,000 quarters of
corn were subsequently stated by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to be amply sufficient fur the support
of 8,000,000 of persons during an interval of four
months and a half—and yet the dearth was undi-
minished, and the prices were increased ! According
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, there was an expor-
tation of corn from Ireland to England during 1846,
less by 1,300,000 quarters than during 1845 ; be-
sides which, 500,000 quarters of foreign corn, irre-
spective of the corn forwarded thither from the
English ports, had been introduced into the Irish
markets—and yet Sir IL W. BARRON can declare to
Parliament, without any fear of contradiction, that in
many parts of Ireland the price of wheat has
reached the enormously high price of 823. per quarter !
The effect, moreover, of the deficiences of the last har-
vest and of the destruction of the potato crop—
a calamity which the Premier estimates as a loss in
money value of upwards of twelve millions sterling
—has been proportionably disastrous in England.
When it is found that wheat in the English markets
has risen from 475., in August, to 495., in September ;
that on the first week of January it was 645. 4d.; in
the second, 665. 10d. ; and in the third, actually
70s. 3d., it becomes the very extremity of idiotism
or of stupidity to deny that any other
course than that of immediately suspending
the operation of the corn laws is open to the
Legislature. It may be true, and it is doubtless
true, that there is little probability of any diminu-
tion in the market prices upon the temporary aboli-
tion of the 4s. duty, but it must never be forgotten
that that 4s. duty does " materially alter the destination
of many cargoes ;" that if a similar suspension of the
corn-laws was deemed advisable in 1756, in 1766,
in 1790, in 1791, and in 1800, it is absolutely re-
quisite in 1847 ; that supposing, as Lord_Joms ob-
served, the remission of the 4s. duty in-
creased the stock of food for consumption in any
manner whatever to the extent of a single quarter, or
even of a single loaf, " it is worth the while of Parlia-
ment to legislate for it ;" and (we would even say
with Mr. BANKes) that Parliament would literally
be most culpable in withholding that supply for a
single moment. Beyond this, it is a satisfaction to
know that ample supplies of corn are awaiting our
Purchase in the granaries of Odessa ; that the
American harvest of Indian corn for 1846 "is

perhaps the largest ever known ;" that it is asserted

by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that none of the

Indian corn of the crop of 1846 has been

yet introduced into this country; that, more

,
over, the navigation of Odessa opens in March

and the navigation of America opens in March.

From these latter considerations it becomes possible
—and that is something !—that the pockets of the
corn-fictors may not swallow the entire difference of
those four shillings ! We can afford to be amused at

:he Oriental fable of Lord GEORGE BENTINCK abou

NADIR SCHAD and his 10,000 golden tomauns, and

at Mr. ROEBUCK'S illustration from the " Arabian

Nights " about the damsel with the three marble

brothers. The rationa 1 and honourable unanimity of
Parliament upon the suspension of the corn and navi-
gation laws is so welcome, that a little prsViage may
be readily swallowed.
The

Parliamentary campaign has opened ix close
accordance with the prediction we ventured upon a
few days back. This is manifest, ai much by what
has passed without, as within, the walls of St. Ste-
phen's. In the nouie of Commons , Sir R. PEEL has
could
already declared, in as
unreserved a manner as he
, consistently with the mere announcement of
the general outline of the policy the Ministers mean
to pursue, his determination to give to
the Govern-
went his cordial support. This manly avowal has im-

On Saturday last we referred to the great meeting
of Irish landlords, which was held in Dublin on the
preceding Thursday, and expressed our cordial ap-
probation of the unanimity that existed among the
persons assembled together on that occasion, consist-
ing, as they did, of all classes and varieties of political
and religious creeds and parties, and also of the im-
proved spirit by which Irishmen in general are now
influenced. They now appear to be conscious
of the real difficulties of their position, the formidable We have received the Paris papers of Wednesday.
nature of the dangers with which they are menaced, The debate on the Address was continued in th,
and the imperative necessity for vigorous and united Chamber of Peers, and the Spanish marriages caret
exertion, to enable them successfully to encounter under discussion on Tuesday. The Due DE BROGLIE'S
these difficulties and dangers, and to preserve their was the great speech of the day. Ile defended the con-
duct of M. GuisoT throughout,, the transaction, but, as
country and themselves from the perils by which they
s
is
the pa t cfihr es
he assumed that Lord I ALa.meaasTdo.Nd had put forward the
are environed. 'We have already cautioned them
Prince of Cobhoar
hammbers in
rtreo—antheadss.umption
against in any degree passing the boundaries,
or seeking to effect any objects save those for
which they are legitimately appointed. The Irish instance,g. pggraesraebnletded etxottrhaecitcsa
which M.
bGuLti
which is manifestly contradicted by the
t
party must restrict their exertions, as a party, to
themselves when read in their unmutilated
rounded ontzto:
things exclusively relating to Ireland and the Irish,
publication reluctantly forced upon
dispatchesform—the speech of the Noble Duke is an coup
in seeking to obtain full and perfect equality in manqué. The publication of these dispatches in their
representations of the Marquis of
every respect, and procuring such laws for Ireland
as will bring into active operation her industrial re- umn.roGutrtitlzaoteTd fhoyrmt,hae
sources, will provide abundant and useful employ- NORMA NII Y, has produced a great change in public
ment for her population, will bring her fields into opinion in Paris. The Constitutonne/, which had main-
proper cultivation, and develop the natural fertility of tamed a guarded silence until the publication of the un-
her soil. This is the battle-field on which they must garbled dispatch of Lord
the energetic remon-
PALMERSTON, now breaks
triumph ; but if they abandon, or pass beyond its ground, and, after remarking
upon
limits, they will lose their efficiency and power, and strances of the English Government
againstupon the ht e muti-
meet with defeat and disappointment. They should lation of an important
document,
in which, at length, GuizoT " and pnianner
also be moderate in their demands, and be well con- 3i. does execution
himself" by its publication in an unmutilated state, tented if they can procure redress for the grievancesof an article in which the t under which their country still suffers, and not press thus (at the conclusion
re Coni
discussed at length) sums up
for reparation for bygone wrongs, for injuries that tents of the dispatches a
have been removed. We have ever advocated to the th,e,
It is,
of the
notcase: true that in the interview at the
utmost of our ability the rights of the sister kingdom, chateausCr therefore,
Eu England engaged . hoeurssee loff to
Bourbon.oapoe every
ie
pcan-
have_ exposed the errors of the inequitable and unjust mined
de whonl itinightunteratllir,ef the_ II
3 It is not true that Lord Palmer-
laws by which she was so long misgoverned, and have Mon woas3;heerfinrset to introduce. the la'riqceeenofpCreovbioouurg as a
hailed with delight the better feeling that has lately candidate, on which subject there had
from Lord Abseridneeenn,
lion, even in the docilmentne;
true that there has been in
been exhibited towards her. 'We have appreciated
the Irish character, and have never withheld the ex- citnegdhublyd , iiins
the above.on one
I tis
Cabinet or in the other, a change of
pression of our respect and regard for the people, or policy. It is not true that thel F, rje9n,chfrom Ministrythe wasiga tnioi si;
used a single reproachful or injurious term towards oe tfi goaEseedrv, observing
tahte
ldeisptatch
the of
frojcuelles towards England. It
them. We have felt that they were indeed our is not true gthat theas rupture has not been caused by our
brethren, and ever desired to cement more closely the own act."
alone which thus speaks
But it is not the Constitutionnel
bonds by which we are united. And such, we trust, of M. GulzoT. The
souit, onl the subject of the trickery
will be our course so long as there is a single grievance rersy, has expressed
it ee, which, throughout the controversy,
unredressed, and that the demands of the nation are in has on every occa-
pepnrdobation of the marriages,
of
accordance with natural justice. We, therefore, feel siso: the rupture of the
that it is unnecessary for us to disclaim any hostile or oaulreedotoolnay
tthe he bElannigelish
Government—the
entente cordiale
unfriendly feeling in any observations we may feel it Siecle is forced byp the revelation of the truth, to ac-
our duty to make on what has taken place. Whenever knowledge against its desire, that, as far as M. GUIZOT
the proceedings are entitled to praise, praise shall be and Lord PALMERSTON are personally concerned, nothing
awarded, but whenever we conscientiously differ we can be more clear than that Lord PALMERSTON is right
shall state our dissent in a fair and candid spirit, with- and M. GLIZOT wrong : and this it says, still adhering
out any abuse or personality against individuals or to its opinion that there is no violation of the treaty of
Utrecht in these marriages, and nothing objectionablein them, in either a dynastic or national point of
classes. We commented upon the propositions for
view. It thus stigmatizes the conduct of
temporary measures when they were promulgated by
M. GUIZOT,
the committee. IVe shall therefore now director •
in Presenting to the Chambers garbled extracts from
gg
attention to the second class of suestions. the official dispatches, in better to get ups case
order the
The resolutions respecting the permanent measures against the English Gov Government :
which are considered necessary for the future safety, "It is impossible, however,ern presence of the documents
I the continued prosperity of Ireland, were originally vtrhflitchmh.as(7;edzuostthbeen tardily communicated, not to allow
V really altered the meaning of the dis-
t twenty-three in number, but several were joined patch of July 19, ,
• by merely publishing two or three
together at the meeting, so that in many instances la)lsiroanseesof in which Prince Leo
polil of Saxe Cobourg is named
different principles are involved in one proposition. in which it lies threeag ain caanlidates, without giving the passages
The first resolution deprecates the direct employment
suchofthenßnritise fh Gouerranenatgi
again
nt
hdaeteltahreedcltiholletet sleionadiyfad;siorne
of the mass of the people by the State, and any system tions calculaterdheteoeencsandidates as should present qualifi-
that does not lead to the increase of food or articles i
the prosperity of the S praen
itshhe happinessat
on
atyh eh (queensupposed,
d
that may be exchanged for food, and deduces there- I 4--: stillntne pleases,realtexthtantftthiils desire was not perfectly sincere, but
from that any measures of relief for the able-bodied and again, it ought not(litosPabtechi(l)ulegiht tri), havetat ble,oendgir,
ought to have for their object the encouragement of
pmreerdsetcoenssroerferrietd
is
positive) to the Ltruanctions given by his" Phi-
the employment of labour by private individuals in gratuitous and lyingefiecftoiroet: awe had anticipated, by a
productive works, and that the whole energies of histicieontliViarsipil his friends I thaty
ill.
nGd enai jv
ootu,
reh(iis
to
Journals,
the State should be applied to the absorption of eonlagagernentf thaint shtaecrl the wrong of a first violation of the
contracted, by crying up the
surplus labour, the affording facilities for private rigorous good faith f liell
o is predecessor. °nee more, after

GONgALES BRAVO and MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA hay(
both arrived at Madrid. Dun LNRIQUE is confined to
his bed by illness.
MADRID Boma, JAN. 14.—The Threo per Cents
d,c iced to 31i ; the Five per Cents. closed at 201 ;
Coupons, 184.