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

DEPTFORD ANTI-CORN-LAW

CORN LAWS.
The announcement of the Government of their intention to
propose an alteration in the Corn-laws, struck terror into the
minds of the landed Aristocracy, which has not yet been al-
layed after they have had three days for its consideration. The
neighbourhood of Whitehall Gardens was crowded this morn-
ing with Tory Alembers of both Houses—a meeting having
Si
been held at r It. Peel's residence, for the purpose of de-
ciding upon the tactics the party are to adopt on the present
emergency. It is said they have determined to muster the
whole strength of the Conservatives on Friday, and attempt to
defeat the Ministry upon Lord Sandon's motion on the Budget.
GIMI*1111.....••••••

ADDRESS OF THE METROPOLI-
TAN ANTI-CORN-LAW ASSOCIATION.
FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN-Our course of peaceful agitation
has now arrived at its ci isis. We have sown the seed—the field
is white unto harvest—shall it be reaped and garnered, or left
to rot upon the ground ? The Cabinet has transferred the re-
sponsibility for the existence of the bread-tax from itself to
you. The struggle now lies betwixt thirty thousand land-
owners and the people of England. Be up, then, and doing.
Convene public meetings in every city, town, village, and
hamlet throughout broad Britain. Let every district have its
wardmote. Where parish officers do not of their own ac-
cord assemble the inhabitants, let them be called upon
to do so by requisition. The citizens of London
have on all suitable occasions protested against the
Corn:laws. Common consistency dictates that the livery
should now act both collectively and in their several wards.
Let all branch Anti-Corn-law Associations redouble their
efforts. Carry petitions from house to house for signature, and
send them to Parliament for presentation by thousands. Let
every man act as if:the issue depended on himself. Scorn in-
timidation, let ordinary business look after itself for the time.
This is business. Make but one mighty effort, and victory is
certain. By order of the Committee.
FRANCIS PLACE, Chairman.
SINE Y SMIT H,y.
Every information and assis Dtance will be affordedSecretar or; appli-
cation at the office, 448, Strand. Funds are of the utmost im-
portance. Subscriptions, as liberal as possible, are earnestly
entreated, and are absolutely necessary. They may be sent to
the office, or left at Messrs. Prescott, Grote, and Co.'s Thread-
needle-street.

CANADA.
DEPUTY-GOVERNOR OF CANADA.--00101101 Foster has
been al:pointed to the command of the forces in the room of
Sir George Arthur.
DISMISSAL OF SIR ALLAN M'N.A.n.---From the Hamilton
Gazette we learn that this " grea and good man" has been
superseded in his office of Queen's Counsel, by the appoint-
ment of James E. Small, Esq., who has received instructions
from the Governor-General to conduct the Crown prosecutions
throughout the Western Circuit.
CANADA.—The following address to Lord Sydenham has
been prepared at Toronto, and received, as we learn from the
papers of that city, a great number of signatures :
We, the undersigned inhabitants of the city of Toronto,
aderess your Excellency, in order to bring under your notice
the alarming and lawless condition of this city and neighbour-
hood, in which at present, but for the presence of the military,
there would be safety for the lives and properties of her Ma-
jesty's subjects.

"It is our firm belief that all the ;njuries and loss of life
lately inflicted on the peaceable inhabitants of Toronto and
the adjoining counties may be traced to the members of the
Orange Society, encouraged by the inefficiency or connivance
of the city and district magistracy.
" Under these circumstances it cannot be expected, if the late
murderous and lawless proceedings be left to be investigated
by the city authorities, but that the perpetrators will be
screened from punishment, and that a still more gloomy state
of things awaits the province.
We, therefore, earnestly implore your Excellency to have
these outrages and their causes inquired into by means of a
Commission composed of men living at a distance from the
spot, of undoubted character; and also to have instituted an
Immediate, full, and penetrating inquiry into the effects of the
Orange Society on the peace and security of the country_
convinced that the impartial investigation we claim will cer-
tainly issue in the suppression, by the strong arm of the law,
of all secret political societies, as endangering the lives and
properties of her Majesty's subjects—retarding the settlement
and advancement of the province—destructive of the operation
of the law—and as subversive of British authority in North
America."

THE LATE FIRE IN ALBEMARLE-STREET,
PICCADILIX.—The following is a correct statement of the ex-
tent of damage. The St. George's Hotel, Nos. 33 and 34,
totally destroyed. The furniture insured in the Scottish Union
Fire-office (it is believed for 4,00 W.) The plate valued at
3,000/., kept in an arched chamber on the basement floor,
found to be safe. It was not insured. The building of No. 34,
insured in the Phcenix Fire-office for 3,000/., and it is be-
lieved thebuilding No. 34, is ins ired in the Globe Fire-office.
No. 32 (Mr. Stewart's private house), greatly damaged by fire,
water, and removal. The furniture insured in the Scottish Union,
and the building in the Westmimter Fire-office. No. 35, in the
occupationof Messrs. Wikland Gilling, milliners, similar damage.
Furniture insured in the Globe Fire-office. Miss Anne Soper,
a lodger in the same house, inured in the Westminster Eire-
office. Building believed to be uninsured. No. 15 (opposite
the hotel), in the occupation of Mr. Maynard, the front much
scorched. Insured in the Union Fire-office. At the rear in
Dover-street, the house of Mr. Wilson, No. 20, has suffered
considerably, the back windows having been burned out, and
the furniture and premises very much damaged by removal and
water. Uninsured. No. 21, Mr. Graham (of the Queen's
Theatre, Opera House), had a most narrow escape, the gable
end of the roof, which was only a few feet from the north
western wing of the hotel, having been on fire no less than
seven times, and each time preserved by the exertions of Car-
ter, the foreman, and the firemen of the County Fire-office, in
which Mr. Graham is insured to the extent of 3,6501. Nos.
22 and 23, forming a private hotel, in the occupation of Mr.
Brown, damaged by water and removal. Insured in the
Union Fire-office. The total amount of loss is estimated at
from 10,000/. to 12,000/.
_ _

MILITIA.—The first grand dinner of the Offi-
cers of the Militia of the United Kingdom, that truly c ,nsti-
tutional force, will take place to-morrow at the Freemasons'
Tavern. We understand a very full attendance is expected.

ASSOCIATION.
Petition unanimously adopted at a crowdet
meeting, called by public advertisement, in Dept.
ford, on Monday, April 4, and lying for signa.
ture at the White Swan and various other places
To the Honourable the House of Commons in Parliamen
assembled,
The Petition of the Members of the Deptford Anti-Corn-law
Association and others.
Sheweth—That your petitioners are connected with trade
and navigation, and live in continual sight of the memorial of
England's naval greatness, which they have been taught is
mainly founded on the same.
That the existing Corn-laws amount to a confiscation of
their property, of the same nature as would have been inflicted
on the owners of the soil, if the owners of the commercial and
water-borne properties within the country had prohibited the
sale of the produce of the soil in a free market.
That your petitioners also believe the wealth, revenue, and
standing of the country in relation to foreign States, to be cut
down in the same manner as if your petitioners had roguishly
and foolishly procured the prohibition of the free sale of the
produce of the soil, for the sake of importing more provisions
from abroad.
They therefore pray for justice and compensation, first,
through the removal of the present Corn-laws by the subtrac-
tion of three shillings annually from every grade of the exist-
ing scale ; and afterwards, through the substitution of bounties
on the importation of foreign corn, by corresponding augmen-
tations of three shillings annually on each grade of the existing
scale, till the bounties equal the present duties, and then to be
continued for twenty-six years, or so long as shall correspond
to the period during which the property of your petitioners
has been sibjected to confiscation. With reservation always,
that such bounties shall at any time be commuted for a per-
manent tax on rent, of such magnitude as to your Honourable
House shall be proved to be a fair equivalent on the part of the
owners of the soil.

MEETING AT DEPTFORD FOR THE ABOLI-
TION OF THE CORN-LAWS.
Monday evening, at half-past seven o'clock, a meeting
was held for the above purpose at the Swan Tavern, High-
street, Deptford, Mr. JOHN WADE in the Chair, who stated
that Colonel Thompson would deliver a lecture, after which
a petition to the House of Commons would be submitted to
the meeting for their approval and signature ; and expressed
his gratification at seeing so large an assemblage of persons.
He then begged to introduce the gallant Colonel Thompson, a
tried friend to the question at issue.
Colonel P. THOMPSON then rose amidst tremendous cheer-
ing, and dwelt on the evils arising from the present state of
of the Corn-laws.
Mr. JOHN WADE said that several of the ministers of the
neighbourhood had been requested to attend this meeting_.
all, in fact, with the exception of the Rector.
The SECRETARY then read letters from the Reverends Mr.
Hope, Squire, and others, all of whom expressed their regret
at not being able to attend, in consequence of important pri-
vate business.
Mr. PAINE was most happy to think that Government had
taken the question up, and he trusted that thepresent assemblage
would give strong opposition to this obnoxious and starvation
tax, by signing the petition extensively.
Mr. WADE (the Chairman) proposed that the petition be
adopted, which was carried unanimously.
The crowded state of the large room of the Swan Tavern,
which is capable of accommodating upwards of 500 people,
and the numbers that went away, not being able to get stand-
ing room, prove strongly the interes of Deptford for the aboli-
tion of the Corn-laws.