The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-06 00:00:00

P 11131.10 OPINION.

The Morning Chronicle appears to-entertain an im-
pression that, during the recess, Sir Robert Peel will
bring the question of the Corn-lases before his concaves,
with a view to propose some alteration in them. "Irons
What the Duke of Wellington said in reply to the Earl
of Radnor," observes our Contemporary, " it seems that
his declaration on the previous evening was made in too
unqualified a way, and that he does contemplate, at
some future period, some change in the Corn-laws. The
Duke of Richmond, too, tried to back out of his famous
threat to Sir Robert • Peel, that We' who put him in
would turn him out, if he dared to meddle with
the Corn-laws. We may, therefore, infer that a Corn-
law Conference has been held, and that Sir Robert
Peel, by taking out his resignation, and hold-
ing it at half-cock -at their heads,- has partly
frightened and partly coaxed the great representatives
of the .‘ landed interest' to, consent to a prospective
chinge. The value and extentof that change,- however,
may be guessed from the language of the Duke of
Richmond, who st;11 considers an Bs. duty as piece of
madness, and loudly demands ample protection for the
agricultural interest. But in the reluctant concessions
to Public opinion made by the Dukes of Wellington and
Richmond, we see a probability that during the recess
'some attempt may be made to patch up a scheme which the
united Cabinet' may be led
.to bring-before Parliament
during next Session, in the hope that an appearance of
change may enable them to cheat the people of its reality."
—Such a change in the Corn-laws-as will really be benefi-
cial to the country, is not to be expected from a Cabinet
constituted like the present. The Duke of Buckingham
alone is a guarantee for the Ministers making no altera-
tion worth accepting. His Grace had been thrust into
office by the land-owners, solely for the purpose of keep-
ing up their darling monopoly ; and no concessions will
he allow to be made, but such as are purely nominal. As
for Sir Janus Graham, we think nothing of his opposi-
tion. Having no guiding principle of action, what should
prevent Min from turning round again, as he has so often
done before ? Still, we repeat, nothiugis to be expected,
in the way of useful Corn-law Reform, from Ministers.
They are bound up with the aristocracy ; they are sworn
to du its bidding ; and they will—for the slaves cannot
help themselves—do it at all hazards !
The Times sneers at the Corn-law Reformers in the
manufacturing districts, in a style that might be mis-
chievous, were not its venom neutralized by its exceed-
ing vagueness and clumsiness. There is a would-he
aristocratic hauteur and loftiness in our Contemporary's
manner that is infinitely amusing. We quote a portion
of his comments :—" In all the great hives of manufac-
turing industry, you uniformly find a certain proportion
of humming hornets, who, happening to have gained the
ear and confidence of their associates, are continually
haranguing them upon their alleged wrongs—busily
conniving with the factory demagogues of the me-
tropolis—superintending an extensive conspiracy for
hatching grievances or demanding redress—and ever
contriving to lay their clutches upon the contribu-
tions of credulous dupes for the purpose of support-
ing themselves in mischievous idleness, as delegates, for-
sooth, to a grand National Convention l To what extent
this vulgar species of humbug has been practised in Man-
chester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Glasgow, Dun-
dee, and other places, may e tolerably well estimated,
both from the fierce quarrels of the pnneipalS last year
when dividing the spoil, and also from the angry re-
proaches of the misguided masses whom they severally
affected to represent. Such jobbing eolleSions, however,
are by no means confined tothelOwer vermin Of the fac-
tories. Your hungry hornets, with glossier wings and a
yet bolder bite, are: to. be 'found regaling their instincts
upon victims a single remove higher. The buzzing sec-
taries who disported for a few days at Manchester,
as well as the stinging tribe of Anti-Corn-law leaguers,
are all of the same genus."
The Herald affects the jocular, in noticing a remark
made by Lord Melbourne on Monday night in the House
of Lords. As it is but seldom that Cirandmama attempts
smartness or drollery, we subjoin, a specimen of her
powers on the present occasion, if only by way of no-
velty:—" Lord Melbourne has, like Shyloch, been dream-
ing so earnestly of - money bags,' that he has
actually on his awakening felt convinced that he had
the power of the Bank of England in his right hand,
rind in his left the combined influence of all the
millionaires of the City. With this strength, how-
ever, the Noble Lord commingles mercy and kindness;
he will allow the Stoic Exchange to exist ; he will
not tumble down the value of the funds ; he will not
stop the Bank of England ; he will not wholly ruin
the British public. This merciful intention Lord Mel-
bourne announced on Monday—' I will not,' declared
the ex-Premier, say one word that will produce any
effect un the money market !"rhank Heaven I The
City of London is at present to be spared a conversion
int:, a modern Petra grass is not at once to spring
up in Lombard-street, desolation is not immediately •to
be the only resident in Threadneedle. street, silence is
not hereafter to prevail in Capel-court, St. Swithen's-
lane is not to become the abode of the, solitary and por-
tentous raven. Nothing' in Lord Melbourne's politi-
cal life becomes hint as the leaving of it ;' if he did
no good in power, -he will inflict no harm- on
the nation in opposition : he will temper the
wind to the shorn lamb :' he will not pro-
duce, by an ipse dixit, another commercial panic !"
It must be very comforting for the Tories to know, that
if they. have Lord Melbourne against them, they have
the wit and waggery of the Herald in their favour.
This is, indeed, a tower of strength, which it is to be
regretted " they of the adverse faction want." The