The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THUASDAY, MAY 6, 15441.

WEST INDIA PROPRIETORS.

A mei ti, g of West India Planter-, Merchants, and
others interested in the West India coloi ies, wits held y,
teeth), at the Ti arched House Tavern, St. Jeree,'s-sireet,
pursuant to advertisement, to take into consideration t'-,e
Government proposi ion for reducing the duty on foreign
sugars. The Right Hon. the Earl of Harewood tRI the
Chair at two o'clr ck. The meeting was very thinly at-
' tended. Amongst those present we noticed several gen-
tlemen connected with the West Indies.
The NOBLE CHAIRMAN rose and said that however often
they bad n.et on other matters connected with the West
Indies, that on which: they were called together that day
was of the moat paramount importance. Since the Noble
Lend at present at the head of colonial affairs bad been ap-
pointed to that department of the Government—althougn
be ( Lord Harewood) could not speak cf his own
knowledge, yet he had been informed that he
was surpassed by none in talent and unremittir g
exertion.—( Hear.) He therefore hoped that after the
eggravatioras—for so he was compelled to term them—
that had been practised on the Wett Incise Colonies,
particularly on Jamaica, there would have been a more
favourable era, and not have found their best interest,
threatened with ruin. With respect to- the project of
the Government, it appeared to him kirly impossible that
it cculd be intended to go en. They talked of free trade—
free trade to whom ? to everybody but to ourselves.
They kept their own duties whilst they took
off the duties paid by other countries. They
had already paid, he (Lord H.) could not say how
much, but large as the sum was which had been paid to the
West Indian Proprietors for their sacrifices by the Negro
Emancipation, this country had been put to equal experee
by payments to other countries, and in supporting a navy
to stop the slave trade. Could those now supporis g this
measure at any future reriod say one word about stop-
ping the slave trade, if they went and dealt with
those colonies worked by slavery, and where the importation
of slates was carried on to a frightful extent? What was
the moment seized upon for doing this? The West In-
dian colonists were now beginning to recover from the
shock consequent upon the emancipation, and to find the
way to the payment of money to the labourers, while
the population now generally were returning to a
sense of their duty, and the whole system was
working well, when the proposed measure is put forth,
which would throw the lands out of cultivation, stop the
progress of civilization amongst the negroes, and coupling
the different means of ra:sieg money for the expenses of
the civil departments, including moral and religious edu-
cation, all these were to be shaken to their foundations
because the interests of the consumer were to be con-
sidered. He (Lord Harewood) granted that the interests
of the consumer should be considered, but not to the
ruin of the producer. This will not do either in the ques-
tion of corn or sugar. Was the producer to be overwhelmed
by importation from the slave colonies, or was be to have
fair profit on the capital be employed ? The proposed
measure was supposed to come from some who re-
commended what is called free trade. He con•
eluded that it did so, because he could appeal to
his Honourable Friend Mr. Burge, with whom he
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
at the Treasury, whither he (Lord Harewood) went with-
out any intention of speaking, but his spirit being roused
he said to the Right Honourable Gentleman, that from
what he heard he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
meant to bring in foreign slave-grown sugar to
the market ; and the answer was, that nothing which
had transpired could lead to that opinion—that the East
Indies had disadvantageous duties as well as th,
British Colonies. :.'tigar would be introduced in forcigr
ships, and for what object ?—that manufactures might
be introduced to Brussels and such places in return. He
was not speaking now in Yorkshire, but if be were be
would speak as he did now—that the great crime of this
country was in overstocking the market, which tempted
men to the greatest dishor.eity. The Anti-Slavery So-
ciety bad not, as yet, announced their intention of joining
theta, but if they acted up to their principles be bac
a good opinion of the success of the objects they had is
slew. The Noble Lord resumed his seat amidst cheers.

The SECRETARY read a letter from the General Shop-
•Owners' Society, addressed to the Noble Chairman, whici.
stilted that in consequence or the intention of her Majesty'
Government to atter the duty on corn, sugar, and ttmLer,
which would be highly detrimental to the interests of :host
trading with the British cttlonies, and amongst the rest t,
the trade with North America ; they felt bound to exer•
their utmost energies in furtherance of the objects for
which the meeting was coiled.
The • SECRETARY. was then about reading petitions t(
both Houses of Parliament, embodying the views of th,
int eting. when.
Mr. RIDGWAY said the more proper course for the meet.
irig to pursue would be to move a resolution, to which an.;
person dissenting might move an amendment, as ther•
might be many present who entertained different view
from those contained in the petition.

I Mr. Buiturz said that in order to affird an op
portunity to any gentleman to speak, he (Mr. Burge)
should move a resolution, and in doing so he should slat,
his reason for calling on that meeting to adopt a petitioi
praying both Houses of Parliament not to adopt a mea-
sure which would entail ruin on all those colonies in th!
east and west, where cultivation was effected by Ire-
labour. His proposition was, that this meeting shoul -
endeavour, by all means, to resist the attempt of her Ma-
jesty's Government to reduce the duty on sugar. There
were connected with the consideration of the objects 01
the present mee irg, consequences so momentous that be
might be allowed, in a few wotds, to submit some of then•
to the meeting, as furnishing the grounds on which the.,
were called on to appeal against the measures of be
Majesty's Government. The very fact of tEe exthetio.
or slavery 1 rought difficulties of a peculi it charactei
difficulties which he believed would, in a short time, b.
surmounted, but which pressed with peculitr force on tie
colonies during the time following that extinction, and re-
quired. on the part of the Government, a system a con-
ciliation for the relief and removal of their difficulties
Now, on the part of the colonist, the sacrifices they bar
made to continue the cultivation of the lands in tht
colonies, had been of such a natute, and of such an ex-
tent, that they particularly needed the protection el
the Government, and being protected against any mea-
sure that would tend to increase the difficulties
attending them. A great difficulty pressing upon them
wan the great supply of free labour requirel for cultiva-
tion. But they submitted to the difficulty on the faith
that there was, on the part of the Government, a deter-
mination to give effect to the great measure of Slave
Emancipation, and to protect the colonies from any at-
tempts which would have the effect of subjecting them t.
additional difficulties in the cultivation of their estates. Bte
not only were the' e individual difficulties, but the colonist,
subject -d themselves to increased burdene, which the na-
ture of the emancipation imperatively called for. net
bad increased their churches,—they had made large grant,
for the religious instruction of alt branches of the people
without sectarian distinction.—( Cheers.) The addition.
which Jamaica made to the annual expenditure for these
purposes, for the administration of justice, for emigration,
and various others connected with the extinction of slavery,
amounted to 200,0001. On the part of the colonists, the'
had done their part in giving effect to emancipation,
which alone its success depended. Now, let them sec
what the Government had done. He agreed with thi
Noble Lord that up to this time, and but for this messure
there was no man who could refuse paying to the Noble I
Lord the Secretary for the Colonies a tribute ot the high-
est admiration. He (Mr. Burge) had been, since 1812
intimately acquainted with the government of the colo-
nies, and never during that time saw a Secretary for the
Colonies more worthy of respect or admiration than that
Noble Lord. He (Mr. Burge) was not of the Nobe
Lord's political principles, but he was attached to the
colonic?, and therefore tie man who did most good fur
them, let him be Whig or Tory, net with his warm ap-
probation. Of tie conduct of the Noble Lord the Se-
cretary ot State for the Colonies, as such, be had invari-
ably heard the language wee. But that conduct only
matte the present more appalling and dreadful in contras!
with the other. Lord John • Russell was now bringing
forward a measure for the increase of the slate-trade ano
the destruction of these colonies, worthy of the imitatioi,
of all others, as, notwithstanding all difficulties, showing
that free labour could be mace ',Venable to the nation,:
prosperity, and that there could be no pretext for the con
tinuatton of stave labour. No man living could doubt late
that the effect of a 'eduction of the duty on foreign sugar
would be to hold forth a premium and protection to sla-
very and the slave trade, as bringing deslruction upon
those colonies where freedom was first established. It
was well known that with a population so small as thsr
in the principal colonies it was "sot possible that the pre'
duction of tree labour could compete with slave labour
He begged those who telt an interest on that subject ti
remember that when Clarkson and Wilbetforce first be-
gan their labours the number of slaves in St. Domingo dir.
not exceed 70,000; at present the amount necessary to
supply Cuba and the Brazils, whence the product was to
come, by the measure now introduced by her Majesty's
Government, was 150,000. That fact ought to tell in
language which no man could resist. The measure Waf
calculated not only to ruin the colonist, but to destroy the
iairest hopes of the British nation. Were millions to be
spent on foreign nations? Were vast sums to be expen-
ded in the Niger expedition for the extinction of slavery,
and the civilization of Africa, and at the very moment when
this was bring done a measure was proposed to
the nation, and to the British Parliament, which
afforded a premium on that barbarous trade ?
The petition, which it was one of the main objects of the
meeting to adopt was to impreis as strongly as possible
the fact that the proposed meow e would have the effect
cf putting out of cultivation the great commodity of the
West Indies, and of putting the colonists completely out of
the market, and leaving them no motives tor cultivation
of their estates. The moment that there measures became
law that moment would the colonies become a wilderness,
and what then would become of the negro population that
had been emancipated ? They could not advance into civi-
lization, as upon, the cultivation of the estates depended
that. He could not but believe that those great and good
men, Lushingtori, Buxton, and others, would be found
holding up their hands in opposition to that measure of
the British Guvernment, which was to perpetuate the fo
reign slave-trade. In conclusion be would add, that the
utmost ease had been bestowed in drawing up the petition
by the West Indian Committee and the Hon. Member
( Sir A. Grant) on the left of the Noble Chairman, and
he, therefore, moved its adoption.
Sir ALEXANDER GRANT said before seconding the
motion of his Honourable Friend be thought it ne-
ct.ssary to say a few words. His Hon. Friend bad ad-
dressed them with muck' eloquence, but the meeting
should bear in mind the object for which it was convened.
They were a meeting of %Vest Indian proprietors, and
their objects were to consider the effect which the pro-
pcsed resolution of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would have on their property. He entirely concurred in
what had fallen ofrom his Hon. Friend upon the effect
the proposed measure would have in rendering nugatory
the large sums of money which had been granted for the
extinction of the slave trade. Still, strongly as be f.lt
on the matter, it did not appertain to the objects of the
meeting ; what they were to look to was the Chancellor
of the Exchequer's proposal, and it would require no de-
clarationi the meeting were constituted according to thy

terms in which it was called, as West India proprietors.
No one who came here actuated by other motives had a
right to attend.—( Hear, hear.) The question
wthheer7;:r.-
cellor of the Exchequer proposed was in direct cotitradie-
tion to the arguments us. d in lost session.
Ewart brought forward his motion for the equalisation of
duties. The question the Chaacellor of the Ex, hsquer
proposed was that the duty on British colonial sugar was
to amount to what he termed "245. plus 5 per cent." He
stated that be proposed to reduce the duty on other sugar
of course ; on slave labour from 565. to 365. plus
per cent. There were practical gentlemen present, and
he (Sir A. Grant) would wish to know whether the na-
ture of the emancioetion in the colonies by which they paid
high wages for veryfew hours of labour, did not produce these
results, namely, whether the cost of manufacturing one
hundred weight of sugar is not larger than 123. on the
part cf those using free labour, than on those who use,
and who use unsparingly, the labour of sieves? If that
were so, they bad no protection whatsoever, but rather
the contrary, for the protection was all on the site of the
slave grower.—( Hear, hear.) When the .Chancellor of
the Exchequer was asked by Mr. -Goulburu to explain his
intentions on the subject now under the consideration of
the meeting, he replied that he was totally unprepared to
state the means by which this end was to be effected, but
it was intended that there should be an alteration proposed
iu the duties, by which the ',turns to the revenue would
he increased from 700,0001. to 1,000,000/. Mr. Goul-
burn again inquired how that was to be done? when the
Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, he was not then
prepared to state the machinery by which it was t be
effected. The fact was, that on Thursday the Right
Hon. Gentleman knew as little of the proposal he made on
Friday, as any one in that assembly.—( Laughter.) The
Hon. Baronet concluded by seconding the motion.
The petition was then read, but it was merely an echo
of the preceding speech.
Mr. lavnao said he considered it bad policy to attend
co the in erests of the consumer independent of those of
the producer, because, if the latter suffered from any par-
ticular cause, the former would soon experience the call,
by a rise in prices. There were many commodities
which would allow of a little increase in price, and
amongst these was sugar, and for this he rr ferred
to a certain Report, published some time back.
That paper was first published under the authority of a
Committee of the House if Commons, for the sake if
Laing the public know what were the opinions of the
House on that subject. Now what was the opinion of Mr.
M'Gregor, to which so much weight was attached? It
was that the plan would produce to the revenue 6,000,0001.
a-year.—( Hear, bear.) But what was the Charicelor of
:he Exchequer's opinion? What did he think he would
lain by sacrificing the West Indian interest ?—( Hear,
near) —by sacrificing our whole colonial system,
which had for ages been regarded as our gre west
source of strength and wealth ?—( bear.) Why, he
expected only 700,0001 ?—and, for that sum, be would
sacrifice the greatest colonial system that ever existed in
the. world—( Cheet s)—a system which produced a revenue
to this country of 7,800,0001.—( Cheery.) All that was
to be sacrificed for 7,000,0001. of revenue, and a chance
of 3,850,0001. from tie trade with Brazils.—( Hear,
'tear.) Mr. Labouchere stated the other night, in the
House of Commons, that he bad presented a petition from
the most respectable merchants in thecity of London. But
he ( Mr. hying) could assure the meeting that many of
those who signed that petition did so through missppre-
oension, and sere prepared now to sign the pal:on to
.which be believed that meeting was about to agree.—
( Cheers.) He (Mr. I.) knew a gentleman who was
highly eulogised when the City petition was presented,
and whose signature gave it great weight. That
gentleman, he could tell the meeting, had since changed
his mind, and was now determined to sign their petition.
And, as it was advisable in their present position to make
Known any circumstance that tended to afford consolation,
he would tell them that he bad reason also to know that
the gentlemen called the Anti-Slavery Society would sup-
aort the greater part of the petition now read..—(Cheers )
He concluded by moving that the petition be adopted,
arid that the members of the West India body in London
ie requested to sign it immediately, so that it might be
ready to be presented on Friday night.
A GENTLEMAN requested permission to address a few
curds to the meeting Wore the question was put. He
tid net come there, he said, to interrupt this tneetai g, or
o oppose their peal. ion. He was a person intsieeed
n the West Indies, and in all the colonies, and most
of all in this great nation itself, whose welfare eas
involved in this question. It was true that 20,000 000/.
iad been paid fur the extinction of slavery in the Wi at
Indies; but it was also true that it was not yet extinguished
there.--(Much disapprobation and laughter. Cries of
a Not true.")
Sir A. GRANT said that the meeting ought to be in-
'ormed of the gentlemen'e name, and whether he was cot.-
iected with the West !adieu interest.
Lord HARR woo]) said the gentteman had handed le m a
card, from which be learned that his name was Ridgvia:,
end that he lived in Leicester-square. He (the Chairmen)
did not know whether he was interested in the West
Indies. But he did not think it would be for the credit of
:he meeting that any gentleman who thought that the mca-
ures of the Geverament now under their consideration el-
tected the interest if the colonies of the nation at large,
•hould not be allowed to express his sentiments.
Sir A. GRANT—The gentleman says he has an interest
as the West Indies. I beg to ask him in what relation ?
Mr. RIDOWAY-A will not answer that question. _.(Oh,
.h, and laughter.) He presumed to say that with respect
o the slave-trade in Brazil, it was perfectly notorious that
t was carried on to a greet extent by British capi al.—
(Oh, oh, arid cries of " What has that to do with the
question.") He thought that the British people had a
ht to bay in what way they would be taxed themselves,
tor the 20,000,0001. was what they bad paid for the eman-
•ipation of the slaves in the West Indies. As he saw
ihare was an indisposition to heat him, he would not tres-
pass further.—( Cries of " Go on, go on.")
Several gentlemen appealed to Mr. Ridgway whether,
in fairness, he was not bound to acknowledge there was
every disposition to give him an attentive he firing as long
is he chose to speak—(Cries of " Go on")—nut he re-
mained silent.
Mr. C. BARKLEY thought that the gentleman bad no
-fight to say he was not heard with attention and c urtesy,
Ile (Mr. Barkley) could assure him that he was in error
in supposing that slavery existed in the West Indies iii any
form.—(Cheers.) He was a Radical, and expected aeon to
au to the bustiegs on Radical principles, and he bad z. a-
lously supported the emancipation of the negroes In
-very stage of the struggle.—(Cheers.) But he could
mot hear it asserted in that room that slavery still existed
in the West Indies without denying it, because he knew
tto be false.—( Applause.) He bad supported the Eman-
cipation, although he held the first mortgage on three
large estates in Jamaica—( Hear, hear)—aud his interest
was equal to the whole value of those estates, as might be
mower from the fact that the trustee could not pay hioa—
( Hear, bear, and a laugh.) It bad nothing to do will
:his question, whether or not the slave-trade in Brazil
was cavilled on with British money or not. If it was so
:he British capitalists were guilty of felony, and ought to
be punished.—( Hear, hear.) As to the subject of their
petition he could only express his opinion that it would
ruin the colonies. It would cause the necessity for an
Agrarian law in the West Indies, or lead the negroes to
imitate the conduct of their brethren in St. Domingo.
The Eat]. of HAREWOOD said that in all s'sernblies in
which the interests of men were concerned, a littls warmth
of temper was to be expected.—( Hear, hear,) But he
thought it was right that (very gentleman should be al-
lowed to express himself, however his opinions might
differ from the majority of those present. He was glad
hat Mr. Ridgway had made the statement respecting the
amployment of British capital in the Brazaien slave-
•rade. It was certainly one thing to know a fact, and
another to be able to prove it; but if Mr. Ridgway could
make good his charge he would do service to his country,
and credit to himself.
The resolution was then carried unanimously, end
'hanks having been voted to the Chairman the meeting
separated.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE —As we antici-
pated, Grisi's execution of the concluding scenes of Anna
Bolena on Saturday was too fine not to yield us theperformanee
of the whole of that opera. Its two acts were played on Tuesday
to a numerous though not a very crowded house, and gave all
the pleasure that was to be expected from such a work en-
trusted to such singers. Signora Grancha personated Gio-
vanna Seymour ; and Mademoiselle Ernesta Grist, whim
we were sorry to see looking indifferent in health, the
page and minstrel, Smeaton. A new ballet, in two acts,
was afterwards produced, under the title of La Fille de
['Exile. As the subject is taken from Madame Coffin's
well-known and deservedly popular tale of the young girl
Elizabeth, who wandered from the remotest part of Sibetia to
Moscow, in order to imploie the Emperor's clemency in be-
half of her father, we need not enter into any detail of the
plot. Madame Guy Stephan, who was entrusted with the
heroine's part, and acquitted herse f of it with much intelli-
gence, was very near meeting a serious accident as she was
ueseending, 4‘ exhausted and almost dying, the banks of the
frozen Volga." In compliance with the libretto, at this part
of her journey, a band of savage Cossacks, in quest of plunder,
meet and insult Elizabeth, and their leader is about to lay
hold of her, when the stream breaks forth from its boundarie-,
'and, while the inundation puts the Cossacks to flight, Eliza-
beth is carried away with a wooden cross, beneath which she
has sought a refuge. Under the cross, therefore Madame
Stephan sheltered herself, but it afforded her anything but pro-
tection. Owing, seemingly, to some rope breaking whilst it
was rising, she experienced a heavy fall or heavy blow which
some loud shrieks denoted. The curtain was dropped as fast
as it could be brought to a horizontal position, whist the Vol-
ga's Madame Stephan. At
billows proved that it was their debut at her Majesty's
Theatre. A very protracted interval ensued, general anxiety
being expressed as to what had befallen
length, when the call for M. Laporte was fast increasing, the
curtain rose again, and the heroine came forward .tamidst the
I
loudest demonstrations of sympathy, and fortunately reached
Moscow in such manner as to make everhody hope that she
adapted
tnoodt t
oa
tsbueffearcetri
of e.
parts very pretty. Many
oamodtihoesoamcceident. The music is well
of the costumes deserve praise likewise.
A recent decision in the Court of Exchequer, I
pregnant with most serious consequence. to the common
brewer& of England, is. we understand, about to be brought
under the notice of Parliament, with a view of obtaining
redress. By the decision just alluded to, which is neither
more nor less than a new construet:ort of the laws, revers-
ingg practice of immemorial date, the whole Fcperty f
brewers vestpd in barrels is placed in imminent peril, those
barrels bi log liable to be seized and sold wnenever the
landl, rd of a public-house has occasion t t distrain upon
his tenant. Throughout the country districts, where the
trr(vailing distress of the times is peculiarly felt, the
brewers feel there is no certainty whatever in their tran •
dered liable for their customer's rent to an extent double !
sections, while, by such a decision, their property is ren.
that of any other tradesman who is accustomed to send
out goods upon credit. The subject has therefore been
warmly taken up by the principal provincial towns, and a
9
frivat number of petitions are now in town awaiting a fa-
vourable opportunity for presentation by the respective
clearly set forth, and its Itaraships piopeTly reposed, in 811
Members. The case of the brewers in f!is instance is very
appeal to the Members of both Houses of Padisment. by
the agent entrusted with tie rcpt sentatit.ti of tor br, w. rs'
claims, of which we shall give further particulars la, fore the
question
comes on for discuseion, Morning Advertiser,

SHIP
MA

WREC
RINERS'

El) Fi
ENEVO

SHE
LENT

RMEN AND
SOCIETY.

The Toird Anniversary of this Institution pas held last
evening, at the London Tavern. It was founded with
th view of giving rell.l and as-i“ance to the widow-% and
orphans of fishermen, and of mariners, members of this
Socie'y, who lose their lives by storms and shipwreck, on
any part of the coasts of the United Kingdom, while en-
gaged in their lawful occupations; and also to render ne-
cessary aid and assistance to such mariners, soldies, or
other poor persons, as suffer shipwreck upon the said coasts.
The Queen is Patroness, Admiral Sir George Cockburn,
President, and the Institution is supported by the first
men in the country. Last evening the Earl de Grey took
the chair, and was supported on his ligSt by Sir George
Cockburn, and on his left by Sir George Murray, be-
tween whom and the venerable, independent, and con-
sistent Member for Middlesex, George By ng, Esq., sat
Sir Charles Napier, the hero of St. Jean d'Acre, and the
representative of England in the gallant warfare which
took place on the Syrian coast. Among others present
wee Sir August Dalrymple, Captain Marryat, Sir J.
Adtlphus, Sir J. Seale, aid M. Hebeler, the Prussian
Consul.
On tl e cloth Feing rem: red the Noble Chairman said
he woulti propose a toast, which he knew every man and
every woman would respond to, " The health of their
Illustrious Q_:een." When they were presided over by
a woman he was sure every Englishman would do his
duty..--( Loud cheers.)

. ,
`• God save the Qa,en," was then sung by Mr. Hawes'
company, and responded to by the most unanimous
cheering.

Tt e CHAIRMAN said—The next toast I have to give is
" Prince Albert," and I give it without delay, because I
wish to separate Prince Albert and her Majesty front one
another as short a time as possible.—( Great cheering and
laughter.) From what the gentlemen preent had heard,
and, he might say, the country in general, they were
aware that Prince Albert patronised almost every charita-
ble institution in England. He was not aware, however,
that he hod yet patronised this institution, bat, if they
were to believe the newspapers, no institution had, better
claims on him ; for, on one occasion, he had been masrly
drowned in Buckingham Gardens, and, on another, he had
saved the life of a fellow-creature in the neighbourhood of
Greenwich.—( Great cheering and laughter.)
The toast was drank with great applause.
The next toast was " Tee Queen Dowager, and thereat
of the Royal Family," which was duly honoured.
In proposing " The Army and Navy," the CHAIRMAN
said—No marl could be more fortunately situated than be
was. He was flanked by two representatives of the
army and navy that would do honour to any country, and
when either of the Sir Georges were called upon, he
knew there were n 9 men who would more readily and
more bravely perform their duty.—(Great cbeeriug.)
Sir GEORGE INIURRA Y said, in rising to return thanks on
that occasion, he took precedence from his seniority, but
from no othrr cause. The two services were intimately
connected in feeling and spirit—they were alike distin-
guished for their zeal and their common love of their
country.—(Cheers.) It was easy for him to go back to
the days of former times—to the days of Nelson and
Wellington (Loud cheering) but he would pass
them over—they were already inscribed in the records
of history—and allude to achievements of more recent
date. lie would allude to what had been performed
by the people of this country within the last twelve months,
when they were all but threatened with a foreign war, and
yet amidst all the noise and bustle of a neighbouring coun-
try they remained in perfect tranquillity and exhibited
every symptom of good fellowship, forming a striking con-
trast to the sensitive inhabitants on the other side of
the Channel. But when the time came to strike
the blow they were ready. The blow was struck
with effect, and to t.o one was the country more indebted
for the admirable display of British skill and bravery on
thet eventful occasion than to the gallant officer on his left,
Sir Charles Napier—(Loud and continued cheering)__
whom he was happy to call his friend and proud to call his
country inan—( Continued cheering)—whose arm was pe-
culiarly effective in striking that blow which settled the
:affairs of the East. and whose vigour and decision recalled to
his memory the words of Caesar, Vera, vidi, vici. His gallant
friend showed the same promptitude of decision, the same
vigour ia effecting his purpose, and the same triumphar t
success.—(Cheering.) lit conclusion, he would simply ad
vent to the great object of the meeting that evening—the
support of the orphans and widows of the brave mariners
aid filierrnen, who formed the main support, and, he
might say, were the pillars of the B; itish navy ; and he
trusted that with such patronage as he witnessed that even-
ing, they would yet look up, and not in vain, to their
countrymen for protection and support.—(Cheers.)
Sir GEORGE COCKBURN leiurned thinks for the Navy,
and contused in everything teat had been by his
Gallant Friend on the left of the Cnairman. He had
hate to add, but what he had to add was to the honour of
his Gallant Freud Sir Charles Napier, who, in 113 ex-
ploits on the coast of Syria, had covered himself with glory.
He had known him lung. 'rite first time he saw him was
nhe was lyii g wounded on a couch—k Hear, hear).—
in coast que nee or a cunt, st in ele:ence of his c,untry,
and to his eiedit he had but just finished his noble ex-
pi its on the Syrian coast when he came among them
the t evening ready to assist the widows and the orphans of
the mariners and fishermen who formed the strength of
the Briti,ll navy.—(Cht cis.)
The next toast was "The Clergy of all Denominations
who lent. their tort to the Charity."
Dr. BUitNETT returned thanks in a very long speech
amidst much interruption.
The Noble CHAIRMAN then gave " Success to the Be.
nevoteet Society of the Shiperec kei Fiseermee and Me-
rin.. rs," which, he was happy to say, was going on with
increased sutras. It had existed for only three years,
and while in the first year there were only 146 Auxiliary
Societies, at present there were not less than 400.
The SECRETARY then read the Report fur the last year,
from which tee following is an extract:—
`° The tremendous storms of the last winter were pro-
ductive of numerous wrecks, and of the destitution and
misery which are ever their attendants, even when the
lives of the wrecked fishermen or mariners are preserved.
When the painful accounts of those accideuts, and the still
more distressing details of the widow and the orphan having
to mourn the stay and the support which had been taken
from teem, were daily, and almost hourly, brought under
the notice of the Central Board, they thea felt the inesti-
mable advantage of a Society which could, in some de-
gree, alleviate and soothe such poignant sorrows ; and
they rejoiced that, as it pleased God thus to visit our
shores during the winter of 1840, His merciful Providence
had ordained that this Institution should previously have
beer. projected and established One hundred and twenty-
six widows, 436 children, and 87 aged parents, have been
relieved ; 1,007 shipwrecked persons have been ait'ed, and
forwarded to their homes ; and 205 families have received
assistance, who were left destitute, in consequence of ex-
treme distress occasioned by storms—making a total of
of 1,861 persons who, during the past year, have partici-
pated in the benefits of this Society."
He then announced the subscriptions, among which were
the Duchess of Gloucester, 51. ; the Earl de Grey, 20/. ;
the Duke of Argyll, 5/., and five guineas annually ; the
Duke of Northumberland, ten guineas; Lord Arden ten
guineas; Sir Gee. Murray, live guineas; Gee. Byng,
Esq , M. P., ten guineas ; the Prussian Consul, 5/., alto-
gether amounting to nearly 800/. for the evening.
The Eail DE GREY then rose and said, that it afforded
him great pleasure to propose the next toast. The Gala
lent Officer to whom it referred had been alluded to in
the course of the evening. He had been alluded to a, an
officer in the navy, but his abilities were not confined to
that department. He could fight at sea, as all knew, and
when he went ashore, they all possibly knew that he could
command as well as a general. He gave the health cf
their tele:mote; guest, Sir Charles Napier.—( Great cheer.
ing, which continued for some time.)
Sir CHARLES NAPIER then rose, and was welcomed with
the most euthustastic applause. He said if there was any-
thing in the whole world that was more gratifying than
another to a military officer, it was a favourable reception in
his native land. He could therefore assure the meeting
that if be Lad deserved any honour or credit from his coun-
try for the part fir had taken in the operations en the
coast of Si ria and in Egypt, he had been amply repaid by
the reception he had met. with at Liverpool and Alanches-
ti r. Wh n he was on the Syrian coast he was placed
under peculiar circumstances. He had not only t r per-
form his duty as an efficer in the navy, but be had also to
command Turks, Engl.snnien, and Austrians, on land,
and he was happy to say that he had received a little in-
struction in 'hat line in the Peninsula when he served
under the illustrious Wellington—(Great cheering)—and
also under his Galls t Freud on his right, who during
! these eventful campaigns distingehhed himseif as they all
knew in the admirable performance of his duty as Quarter.
masts r- General. In their operations in Syria the British
w. re successful, as they all knew. The sailors and the
soldiers together succeeded, though the force was
very small, in reeeuing Christians and other sects from as
great a tylartny as ever existed. In saying se, he did not
make any invidious distinction. Mehemet Ali was brought
up in an oriental school, and he followed the lessons which
he had received. They had all braid of the expedition
to St. Jean d'Acre, and he believed they would all
Admit that the British Navy had done its duty
there, and in a glorious manner toe.—( Great cheering.)
They had also heard a great deal about the deficiency' of
the British navy ; they had read in the newspapers of the
felling off in that main bulwark of this island ; but, not.
withstandieg all that had been said and published, the
English could not fail to admit that, on the coast of
the British navy', with only a peace establish-
ment, had accomplished as great deeds as at any time
they had ever accomplished in war.—(Loud cheers.)
He agr,ed with the Duke of Wellington that we ought
not to carry on war with a peace establishment, and that we
should take care that on a war breaking out we should not
be caught in that condition. The French Government
hadpaid great attention to their navy, and he thought it was
the duty of the Government of this country more
especially to suppoit the navy, and keep up th.t
farce which firmed the grew bulwark of England.
He had during the late campaign served frequently
ashore with soldiers as well as sailors, and though
the allied forces altogether did not exceed 8 000 or
10,0(10 mt.n, they sent back 60,000 of their opponents
g;;;:pt, where they ought to remain.—( Laughter and
cheers.) When that was done the Sultan was relieved
from all fear of the Egyptian 4,my, Arid under snob or-
eum:t inces he hoped the Governor of Egypt would be
I. ft, if not independent as any Sovei eign, at all
events so independent as to form, what he had already
been, the right arm of the Turkish empiee. With regard
to Mehemet Ali, he would only say, from all the interviews
he had with hint, that he believed him to be a great man—
ic might add, Mehemet Ali was perhaps the best and the
greatest man in the Eastern world.—( Loud cheers.) He
governed under the oriental system, but he governed with
great atiiity and success. Having made these few re-
mark-, he crewel conclude by thanking the conipan,
for the compliment they hod p id him, and tl e noble
Cr *lrma, fee the tnaerier in whiel proposed lis
cheetine.)
A number of other toasts were given, aid about twelve
the company separated,

LW:girl; '"

THE BUDGET ANI) CORN-LAWS.
Such are the measures proposed to Parlisment—the
substitution of a moderate fixed duty on corn for the flue.
to ting dutj, a lowering of the clerics on foreign timber
and sugar, rind a raising of the duties on colonial
Nothing was done with the quesriens further than to teak
a great de at about them, and the principal discussions will
take place when the Bills to carry them into effect shall be
introduced. We almost doubt whether they will ever be
brought in ; for, from the temper shown by the Tories and
their present possession of almost a majority, it seems to
be supposed that they will take some steps to bring
matters to a crisis with the Minister and firce them
to resign or have recourse to a dissolution, It is, we
find, a prevalent opinion that the Ministerial plan is
intended for them to go to the country on ;
and, therefore, we would have all our readers who
are interested in elect ons to he prepared for a dissolution.
We do not regard the proposed changes with to much
favour as the bold and manly langu .ge, throwing aside con
cealment, which they provoked from both sides of the
House. The Chancellor Of the Exchequer, Lord John
Russell, Lrrd Howick, Mr. Labouchcrc, Mr. Villiers,
and Mr. Hume advanced the broadest principles of Free
Trade, and made it quite apparent that our commercial
and fi-eel restrictions were deeply injuring, and would
ultimately destroy, the prosperity of the country The
Tories only spoke the language of bitter mortification.
To promote prosperity by restrictions is their plan, and is
new proved to be as complete a failure as their now ex
ploded and contemptible attempt to make men Protestants
by political persecution. We shall have future opportu-
nities to advert to these subjects; we must now content
ourselves with informing alt whom it may concern that
great changes are et hand.—Brighton Guardian.
CORN-LAWS.—On Monday evening, at eight o'clock, a
meeting was held at the Brewers' Arms to consider of the
propriety of adopting a petiti in to Parliament, praying for
a repeal of the Corn-law. Mr. N. Hammond was voted
to the Chair. A. R. Briggs, Esq., then moved the first
resolution," That this meeting adopt a petition to Par-
liament praying for a total repeal of the Corn-laws." Mr.
B. dwelt at great length oe the effects of the New Poor
law, and .Isu stated it as his decided opinion that if the
Corn-laws were repealed, we should not require any union-
houses. He deprecated the shutting out of supplies of
foreign corn, because he was sure that the English
farmer could not grow sufficient corn for the population.
Mr. John Bates seconded the proposition, and stated
that whilst the rich man rolled in luxuries, the poor man
was starving from the high taxation to which he was sub-
ject and from the want of steady employ. Mr. A. Stro-
nach begat► by stating that he had been brought up in the
Tory school, where he was taught that the many must
work for the benefit of the fen ; but as he grew in yt ars
his ,eason told him better, and he then joined the Whig
party. But he was sorry to say he found, after a few
years' experience, that he had not gained by the change.
Mr. G. Cooke said, the repeal of the Corn-law would
benefit not only the manufacturer, but the artizan. Mr.
W. Acton moved the adoption of the petition which he
read. The speaker introduced some very excellent re-
marks, showing the injurious effect the Corn-laws were
inflicting on our manufacturers in Continental markets.
Very good observations were also made on the " Import
Dirties' Evidence," as given before a Committee of the
House of Commons, proving that all excessive import
duties are an injury to the revenue, as they cause smug-
gling to increase, and injure the fair dealer, who could
not compete with the smuggler. Mr. Acton also alluded
to the high price of sugar, caused by the present rate of
duty, 635. per cwt., which, he was glad to say, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer had stated his intention to lower,
arid which, he aid riot doubt, would be the means of caus-
rng cmsich rabic increase in the consumption. Mr. Lem-
priere briefly seconded the motion, which was carried una-
nimously.—lbid.
LEWES. —The notice given by Lord John Russell, on
Friday, respecting tee Corn or Starvation-lases was re-
ceived here with evident dismay by the Conservative
cl'que, who little expecte 1 so sudden a "damper" on
their new born hope;. All who de ire the prosperity of
the country must wish for the abolition of all restrains's
upon trade. So elated with joy were the Tories on Friday
at the defeat of the Ministers on the Irish Registration
Bill that a select party of the leaders assembled at one of
the public-houses in the evening to drink the certain re-
turn of their friends to office; and the strength of the li-
quor proving too strong in several instances, some were
seen careering homewards Bachi pleni. We beli, ve it may
Ire confidently asserted, that, in the event of a dissolution
of Parliament, two gentlemen of the neighbourhood have
signified their intention to contest the borough on the Li-
beral interest. —lbid.
CORN-LAWS.—Had the Scorpion let the' Irish franchise
alone it would base been made by a slow process what he
would make it be by a violent one. Well, he made Re-
peal the charter of Irish politics. His fury has also, we
perceive, driven Lord J. Russell upon the repeal of the
Corn laws, and the Aristocracy will accordingly have
another obligation to his Lordship. The two repeals once
begun, can now never cease but with their accomplishment.
Cheap bread for England, and a property-tax with a do-
mestic Legislature for Ireland, will immortalize this petu-
lant Prince of all Repealers. —Dublin Pilot.
Tett Corte-Laws.—We congratulate our readers on
the cheering announcement which Lord John Russell made
in (he House of Commons on Friday evening, of his in-
tention to propose an alteration in the Corn-laws, by the
substitution of a moderate fixed duty for the present sliding
scale, which combines all the evils which can possibly be
found in a protecting duty, without having one single good
quality to recommend it. The present law compels us to
pay an enormous price to foreigners for the corn that we
require ; that it deranges our currency, in the most dange-
retie manlier ; that it ncoureges foreign, in preference to
13.iti,h shipping ; and that, though burthensome to the
consumer, it is comparatively unproductive to the revenue.
Ought such a law, then, to he continued. Certainly
nor. We therefore call upon the people of this
manufacturing di -trier, whose prosperity,—eay, whose
existence, almost depends upon the proper settle-
ment of this question, to bestir themselves, and to
give their most z alous and streeetous assistance to
Ministers in their- endeavours to rid the country of an im-
post, which, in its present form, hangs like a millstone
round the necks of the industrious classes, without afford-
ing the slightest benefit to anybody. The present is a
time peculiarly favourable for a consideration of the sub-
ject, inasmuch as the Governments of several other
nations are shut t) revise their own tariffs, and
to decide on whet terms, our manufuctures are to be
admitted for consumption by their subjects. Our com-
merce with Spain. with Germany, and with our hest
customers, the United States of America, depends, in a
great degree, upon a modification of our Corn-laws. If
we persist in our present mischievous system, not only
shall we gain no new customers; we shall greatly endan-
ger our connection with old ones, and we leave those
who are acquainted with the present condition of our
staple manufactures to judge how far they could bear the
loss of one or two of our most important markets. We
think it must he obvious to all who consider the subject,
that, without a considerable extension of our foreign corn-
meree, our manufacturers and artisans must suffer great
evils ; and that a serious contraction of it would produce
consequences which are frightful to contemplate.—Man-
chester Guardian.

JONATHAN WYLDE.
Amongst the old manuscript petitions in the Town-
Clerk's office, where all the ancient records are under-
going examination at the present time, is the following
from the notorious Jonathan Wilde. It will be observed
that in the document of which the following i 3 a verbatim
et litelatim copy, the name of the petitioner is spelt in
three different ways. The petition was probably written
by the petitioner's clerk, and the iist of the names of the
tnieves who returned from transportation by some other as-
sistant, and the signature to the petition by the hero
hirn f.