The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-01 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS PAY
CHRONICLE.—ABOLITION OF THE CORN MONOPOLY.
—We have to congratulate our readers on the act of justice
which Ministers are about to perform to the nation. If Lord
John Russell had thrown a shell into the House of Commons
be could not have produced greater consternation among the
Tories than he did last night when he gave his notice on the
subject of the Corn-laws. No sooner had he uttered "I beg
to give notice that on Monday, the 31st of May (that, how-
ever, being Whit-Monday, he was obliged to take the next
Order Day after the 31st)—I shall move that the House do re-
solve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider the
Acts relating to the trade in Corn," than the most tumul-
tuous excitement took place. The Liberal Members hailed
the announcement by loud and repeated cheers, while groans,
and occasionally a most melancholy attempt at derision, bore
witness to the dismay of the monopolists. In the subsequent
discussions on the Budget, their indignation found a vent
in words. The nation has suffered long and intensely in
all its interests, by the accursed monopoly of which the days,
thank God, are now numbered. For the sake of a compara-
tively small class, who derive all their importance from that
very industry which they have so long laboured to
paralyse, a burden out of all proportion greater
than the advantage derived from it by that class, has been
imposed on the rest of the community. Market after market
has been closed against British manfactures, and the starving
workman often found his industry and his skill unavailing, be-
cause hard-hearted monopolists would ont allow him to obtain
the only return for them which the foreigner could give. fs t
length a new and bright era opens on the nation. But the people
deceive themselves if they imagine the monopolists will not
struggle hard to retain their imagined advantage. The un-
equivocal expression of angry feeling which again and again
burst from the Opposition throughout the whole of
last night's discussion, ought to enlighten the nation
as to the dogged resistance which will be offered to this act of
justice. But it now rests with the people themselves to de-
termine what shall be the results of that resistance. We need
hardly observe that as all power resides in the nation, when-
ever it chooses to exert that power, it must triumph over all
obstacles. The Reform Bill, though its results have not en
tirelv corresponded with the sanguine expectations of the
people, was yet a glorious measure, and they have just cause
to be proud of it when they reflect on the share which
they had in effecting that great moral revolution. No
sooner had the Ministers announced their scheme, than
Reformers of all shades received it with acclamation,
and saw that by
.union and combined effort alone they could
hope to turn the justice of Ministers to due account, by awing
the oligarchy into concession. The people of these king-
doms did themselves immortal honour by their conduct on
that occasion. Never before, in the history of the world,
was there seen such a striking exemplification of the power of
intelligence and civilization. One of the greatest of political
revolutions—the transference of power from a wealthy and
compact obligarchy, to constituencies believed to be identi-
fied in interest with the nation, was effected without blood-
shed, by the mere moral force of the people united to-
gether as one man. These were proud days for
England. What has been done once may be done again.
Why was the Reform Bill so eagerly desired by the people ?
Because it would make them free,—secure against oppressive
and partial legislation. The unreformed Parliament promoted
the separate interests of the oligarchy. No honest man could
' conduct the Government, for the condition of his tenure of
office was to pander to the avarice of the boroughmongers.
But of all the acts of injustice with which the unreformed Par-
liament was chargeable, the Corn-laws most excited the indig-
nation of the people, and stimulated them to the efforts they
made for Reform. Among the fruits of the Reform Bill, most
ardently longed for, was the abolition of the corn monopoly, and
the consequent release of industry from its shackles. A number of
subsidiary reformers, deemed necessary to the completion of the
Reform Bill, and more especially the reform of municipal cor-
porations, were the first objects on which Ministers entered ;
and the Tories, who constituted the great majority of the peers,
displayed consummate skill in the protracted opposition by
which they combated these measures—for as a whole nation can-
not be continually wrought up into a state of intense excitement;
the people seeing fewer great practical benefits result from re-
form than they had anticipated, sunk into comparative apathy,
of which the Tories took advantage. Had repeal of the Corn-
law monopoly been proposed immediately after the passing of the
Reform Bill, when there was an overwhelming Liberal majo-
rity in the House of Commons, it must have been carried.
It was perhaps unfortunate that the opportunity was not seized
—for the gratitude of the people for a great practical advan-
tage could hardly have failed to manifest itself in such a hearty
support of their benefactors as must have taught the Tories the
hopelessness of their attempt to seize the Government. Indeed
one of the motives which most powerfully stimulated the To-
ries in their struggles to obtain a majority, was the desire to re-
, tain possession of the Corn monopoly. Political rights are means
to an end—the well-being of the people. Important as theßeform
Bill was, the abolition of the corn monopoly is still more so. It is
the practical completion of the Reform Bill. It ojiens a market
to British industry to all parts of the world. The capitalist
and workman will both benefit by a measure which will give
the former remunerating profits, and the other wages by which
he can support himself and his family in abundance. The
capabilities of this country for industry cannot be over-esti-
mated ; but a tyrant aristocracy have said—You shall not
avail yourselves of those capabilities. Nature has given you
coal and iron in abundance ; and by means of these agents a
vigorous race of men can manufacture to almost any
amount ; but then the workman must be fed, and the mono-
polist condemns him to hunger. The people of these islands
have now the opportunity of doing themselves justice. The
present is one of those rare occasions, by wisely availing them-
selves of which nations may secure a long course of prosperity
and happiness. But if the occasion be neglected. if it do not
call forth the efforts which it demands, if we would ensure
success, it may be long before such another opportunity offers
itself. Indeed the very circumstance of the apathy of the na-
tion would be eagerly laid hold of by the monopolists as a con-
clusive proof of its hostility to repeal. Let, then, the British
people show that they have a proper sense of the duties
which now devolve on them. The landowners will struggle
desperately for their monopoly, and Ministers can •nly hope
to succeed by the support of the people. Let not that sup-
port be niggardly given. There must be a long pull, and
a strong pull, and a pull altogether. The people must gird
up their loins for the battle, and consider that it is one
for life and death. The landowners can only be vic-
torious through the fault of the people ; but let the
people bear in mind that such a fault cannot be
repaired. Never let them hereafter complain of the
corn monopoly if they fail to seize the propitious moment for
getting rid of it. Lord John Russell has not communicated
the particulars of his scheme, though, from the stress laid upon
it by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget, we are
led to infer that it is intended to place the corn trade on a
liberal footin_g. We trust that Sur anticipations will be fully
realized. The hearty support of the people can only be
commanded by a thorough conviction on their part that the
alteration will be of decided advantage to them. What-
ever Ministers propose will be objectionable to the monopo-
lists, whom they cannot hope to conciliate; but they may
defeat them by such a measure as will extort the enthu-
siastic approbation of the people, and enlist their efforts in their
behalf. Lord Francis Egerton made it a matter of complaint
against Ministers, " that such a momentous question should
have been put off for five mortal weeks—hung up, as it were,
to agitate the country during all that period." There spoke
monopoly. There spoke the dread of the people. The fear
of agitation ought to call it forth. Let the people teach the
monopolists that their apprehensions were not groundless. Not
a day, not an hour is to be lost. Let every man bare his arm
for the fight. A brief display of vigour and energy now may
avert years and years of suffering. The best interests of the
country are at stake, and the interval must be turned to ac-
count. " England expects every man to do his duty."
POST.—Tux BUDGET.—The thimble-rig people at White-
hall having had their tables broken and their thimbles and peas
scattered about, and lost irretrievably, in the earlier days of
the week, set up their trade afresh last night with a bran new
set of tricks and utensils. It is plain that they are incorrigide
and that nothing short of their transportation from the scene
of their past exploits can effectually protect the interests of
the public. The Irish Registration trick, although tole-
rably successful for a time, having at length experienced
the fate to which the tricks of thimble-riggers are
ever subject, is, it seems, to be succeeded by the free trade and
Corn-law repeal trick, from which the ingenious artists hope
to derive more solid and lasting advantages. It will not be
overlooked by the country that the Corn-law modification has
been introduced into the Budget, so much of a sudden, that the
Chancellor of the Exchequer found himself under the necessity
of making his Budget speech without being prepared to furnish
any explanation whatever as to the manner in which the intend-
ed new regulation of the import duty on corn is to produce the ad-
ditional sum of 400,0001. a year, for which he takes credit, at
random, from this source. Upon the other sources from
which the Finance Minister calculates that he shall have an in-
crease of revenue he has at least some explanations to offer,
though they are somewhat vague and imperfect. But upon
that part of the proposed financial system which far exceeds all
the rest in importance, and will excite a proportionate de-
gree of anxiety in the public mind, the necessary explanations
are not to be rendered till June, that is to say, five weeks after
the House of Commons will have been called upon to give its
sanction to the financial system as a whole.
HERALD.—The annual financial statement, which goes by
the apt designation of the "budget "—probably from the usual
variety of its wares, and the indiscriminate character of their
assortment—was, last night, brought forward by the Chancellor
of the Exehequer. It was preceded by a demonstration on
the part of Lord John Russell, sufficiently remarkable and sig-
nificant. To the great astonishment of those country Members
only who have not been able to arrive at the notion of a leader
of a Government party in the House of Commons bring
actuated by that species of resentment for political defeats
which amounts to a feeling almost of hostility against an-
tagonists who have beaten him with the weapons of fair
argument and established facts, Lord John Russell
gave notice of a motion, involving a direct abandonment of
those views, with regard to the Corn-laws, which, as Lord
Francis Egerton observed, hehad most emphatically announced
from the same place in that House but a very short time since.
He gave a notice, however (on which we must pause to offer a
word or to in the way of illustration), that on the last day of
May—(and this it was afterwards found would be Whit-Mon-
day 1)—" he should move that the House resolve itself into Com-
mittee to consider the acts relative to the trade in corn."
Why meddle with the Corn-laws, my Lord, which you have
so recently denounced the dangerous policy of tampering with,
on the 30th of April, of all the days in the year 1841? Why
choose'this early opportunity, after the rout you had sustained
, the night before in the total overthrow of your Irish column, to
I announce your intended movement in a totally different
field, five weeks hence ?
TIMES..--It is evident that Ministers are endeavouring to
play off, on a great scale, the trick which their nominee, Mr.
Larpent, tried upon a small scale at Nottingham. Clinging to
office with desperate tenacity, and feeling the whole rotten
fabric of their power giving way under their feet, they still
flatter themselves that they have only to speak the word for
spirits to come from the " vasty deep," and save them from
their fate. Like ruined gamesters. who know that, whatever
they may lose, foe the future they can have nothing to pay,

they care not how much they stake ; nothing is too high for
them ; they give acceptances in blank, and make promi,es with
prodigal liberality. For a few short weeks of popular applause,
fer the chance of rallying even a small party in their favour at
the general election to which they contemplate an appear, they
will bid any price, they would all but sell their very souls.
Pledges, professions, solemn declarations, are cast to the
winds; what the Premier designated in 1840 as a measure
which none but a madman could think of, the nominal leader
of the House of Commons proposes in 1841. But the triek has
been tried too often, and cannot now succeed. The character
of Lord Melbourne and his colleagues has long since been tho-
roughly understood, and populaaity has taken leave of them
for ever. If they were even to perform what they promise, the
very men who profited by it would see through the despicable
motive, and acknowledge the boon with smiles, not of gra-
titude, but of contempt. But performance is totally out
of the question. Everybody knows that these Ministers
promise for the very reason that they cannot perform.
They are ever ready to mount the nearest ladder, and
support themselves by the first prop which comes to
hand, when their salaries are. in danger; but they
always kick it down again without ceremony, when the danger
is past, and the momentary purpose answered. We, there-
fore, without receding from any opinion which we have ever
expressed with reference either to the Corn-laws, or to what
are called protective duties, repudiate with scorn the bait of
a pretended concession to popular views upon these subjects,
which Lord John Russell and the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer threw out in the House of Commons yesterday evening.
,i:he people of EngLnd are too old birds to be caught with
any such. chaff. They cannot swallow the bait without the
hook, „ d they will not swallow the hook of despotism—the
the New Poor-law. Lord John Russell, they
despotism n!
know, is not 1i....-nIY to bring himself within Lord Melbourne's
definition of a mac man. He entertains no more expecta-
tion of altering the Corn-laws than he did of carrying
the famous appropriation aause, or the Irish Registration Bill,
which received its quietus on Thursday. But he flatters him-
self that under the parade of a ficatious Anti-Corn-law demon-
stration he may be enabled to strengthen himself in office, and
so carry on with more security his system of aggression upon
the rights and liberties of the poor. The people of England
will undeceive him, as they undeceived his more humble imita-
tor at Nottingham. It would he an insult to the common
sense of the nation to reason upon last night's proceedings in
the House of Commons, as if they really had anything to do
with corn duties, or timber duties, or sugarduties, or any other
duties whatever. They were obviously a mere Whig
move in the political game of chess—an attempt to
stave off check-mate by giving a counter-check to
the enemy. Who can imagine, that, if Ministers had
really any design of altering the Corn-laws, independently of
the discomfitures which they suffered on Monday and Thurs-
day, they would have postponed all intimation of it till yester-
day ? Who can doubt, that if so important a measure had
been thought of before the present week, it would have been
prominently noticed in the speech from the Throne on the as-
sembling of Parliament? Not a whisper was heard upon the
subject—not a hint was dropped even by the most indefatiga-
ble assailants of the Corn-laws, till Ministers had been defeated
upon the chief Government measure of the Session by majorities
of 11 and 21. There is a singular correspondency (which we
leave others to exhibit in more detail) between the expedient
originally resorted to by the present Ministers for the pur-
pose of obtaining office, and that by the assistance of which
they now hope to retain it. In both instances the motive was
the actual or the anticipated deprivation of salary. In
both cases the tabula in naufragio, to which they trusted
for their official existence, has been a measure which they
stood committed by their principles and their previous votes
to oppose. In both instances the clap-trap has been recom-
mended to their choice by a conviction that it would be easy to
get rid of it, whenever the time for its practical application
might arise, under cover of the inexorable opgosition which it
would be certain to encounter. Truly this Ministry, if any,
may say that " Servatur ad imunz, qualis ab incepto proces-
serit, et sibi constat." There are many who feel dissatisfied,
on solid grounds, with the present state of the duties on corn,
and on foreign and colonial produce. But.the changes which
such men desire must and can only be made by a strong and
honest Government, possessing the confidence of Parliament
and the country. A tottering, floundering, and falling wreck
of a Ministry, who by their duplicity and meanness have for-
feited every claim to public confidenee, influence, and respect,
meddles with these questions only for sinister purposes, and
can really do nothing but prejudice their future satisfactory
settlement.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS:

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIMES.—The Consol Market was in an unsettled state,
owing to the various reports respecting the Budget, of which,
however, nothing certain appeared to be known in the City.
The last Gazette contained the usual return of the amount
of notes circulating in England and Wales by private and
joint-stock banks, during the three months from December 26,
1840, to the 27th of March, 1841.
From this return it appears that the three months ending
the 27th of March, 1841, as compared with the three months
ending December 26, 1840, show a decrease of 407,1561. in
the total amount of country notes in circulation ; of which
253,2591. is the decrease in the notes of the private banks, and
153,897/. is the decrease in the amount of notes of the joint-
stock banks.
By comparing the three months ending the 27th of March,
1841, with the three months ending the '2Bth of March, 1840,
the decrease in the total quantity of country netes is 866,4071.,
of which 570,4331. is the decrease in the notes of the private
banks; and 295,9741. in the decrease in the notes of the joint-
stock banks.
The average of the year ending March 27, 1841, was
10,358,5371, while that of the preceding year, ending March
28, 1840, was 11,404,1191., showing a decrease of 1,045,5821.
By combining the returns of the country circulation with
the quarterly averages of the Bank of England, it appears that
in the quarter ending the 27th of March, 1841, as compared
with the preceding quarter, ending the 26th of December,
1840, there is an increase in the total circulation of 17,8441.
The increase in the stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng-
land at the same periods was 782,0001.
The quarter ending the 27th of March, 1841, compared
with the corresponding quarter last year, ending the 28th of
March, 1840, shows a decrease in the total circulation of
1.147,4071. The diminution in the stock of bullion held by
the. Bank of England at the same periods was 21,0001.

SUN.—The Funds were soon buoyed up to the former mark.
A solitary bargain was effected in Consols early in the thy at
894 for Money, and 90 for Account, but the foirier closed at
90k, and the latter at 90A. The premium on the unfunded
debt keeps up well under existing circumstances, bei.2s 12s- to
14s, and upon East India Bonds it has been again 4s. to 2s.
The most heavy Stock in the market at present is that 0; the
Bank of England, which receded again to-day, being at 169 to
168, and East India Stock was also lower, the price being 2551
to 254. Ihe New Three-and-a-Half per Cents. were marked
981 to 984, the Reduced Three-and-a-Half per Cents. 97A
to 97/, and the Three per Cent. Annuities 884 to 891.
The speculators in the Foreign Market have been very
inert to-day, and prices generally have been heavy. This state
of things will continue no doubt until it is seen whether a new
loan will be required. The Active Spanish Bonds were dull
at 23i to 231, the New Portuguese at 34 to A, Mexican at 294,
and Colombian (Venezuela) at 28/ to A. Austrian Bonds
were firm at 1101, and the Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents.
at 52g.
A good amount of business was transacted in the Railway
Shares to-day, and the previous quotations were fully sup-
ported. Great Western Railway shares were 311 to 301,
the New 151 to 4, the fifths at 8, the Birmingham at 72,
the New at 231, the York and North Midland at 331, and the
South-Western at 194 promiunt. Brighton were I*, Green-
wich (New) 24, North Midland 231, South-Eastern 141, and
Eastern Counties 14 discount. Union Bank of Australia
Shares were at 91 premium.
This afternoon the Foreign Exchanges were without altera-
tion. On Paris the rate was 25f. 60c. to 621fe, Hamburgh
13 91, on Amsterdam 12 31, on Antwerp 12 31 to 1, on
Frankfort 1491, and on Trieste 10.

FROM LAST NIGHTS GAZETTE.

ST. JAMES'S PALACE, APRIL 28, 1841.
The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of
Knighthood upon Thomas Noel Harris, Esq., late Lieutenant-
Colonel in the Army, Knight of the Royal Order of Military
Merit of Pru sia, and of the Imperial Orders of St. %Vladimir
and of St. Anne of Russia, Knight of the Royal Hanoverian
Guelphic Order, and one of the Grooms of her Majesty's Most
Honourable Privy Chamber.

ST. JAMES'S PALACE, APRIL 28.
The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of
Knighthood upon William Wightman, Esq., one of the Judges
of her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench.

ST. JAMES'S PALACE, APRIL 28.
The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of
Knighthood upon Isaac Morley, Esq., Mayor of Doncaster.

DOWNING-STREET, APRIL 29.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint Majer-General Sir
John Harvey, K.C.8., to be Governor and Commander-in-
Chief of the Island of Newfoundland and its Dependencies.

CROWN-OFFICE, APRIL '29.

MEMBER ICETURN.ICDTO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT.
TOWN OF NOTTINGHAM.-John Walter, of Bear Wood, in
the county of Berks, Esq., in the room of Sir Ronald Crawford
Ferguson, deceased.

WAR-OFFICE, APRIL 30.

2d Regiment of Life Guards—Lieut. T. Naylor to be Cap-
tain, by purchase, vice Gardnor, who retires ; Lieut. C. H.
Drummond to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Naylor; W.
H. Holmes, Gent., to be Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant, by pur-
chase, vice Drummond, dated April 30.
_ _

2;1 'Regiment of Dragoon Gua;cls—Sergeant-Major G. Bush-
man (Riding-master) to be Cornet, without purchase, vice
Buller, appointed to the 14th Light Dragoons, April 30.
9th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Paymaster-Sergeant J.
Heydon to be Regimental Quartermaster, vice Williamson,
deceased, April 30.
14th Regiment of Light Drageons--Major W. Havelock,
from the 4th Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, with-
out purchase ; Capt. E. Harvey to be Major, without purchase,
April 30._

To be Captains—Capt. W. Wainman, from half-pay of the
Regiment; Capt. J. Caulfield, from half•pay of the 6th Dra-
goon Guards ; Capt. C. Steuart, from the 80th Foot, by pur-
chase, vice Wainman, who retires ; Capt. G. G. Shaw, from
the 4th Light Dragoons ; Capt. A. E. Bromwich, from 4th
Light Dragoons, vice Harvey ; Lieut. J. H. Tonge, by pur-
chase, vice_Caulfield, who retires, April 30.

To' be Lieutenants.—Lieut. -J. 'Blakeway, from half-pay
of the Cape Corps •' Lieut. Browne, from half-pay of the 52d
Foot ; Lieut. J. Chambre, from the 96th Foot ; Lieu-
tenant C. Peterson, from half-pay 11th Light Dra-
goons ; Lieutenant F. Holder, from the 13th Foot ;
Lieut. the Hon. G. A. F. C. Graves, from the 31st Foot;
Lieut. A. Scudamore, from the 4th Light Dragoons ; Lieut.
R. H. Gall, from the 3d Foot, by purchase, vice Blakeway,
who retires ; Lieut. J. F. Fitz Gerald, from the 4th Light
Dragoons; Lieutenant J. A. Todd, from 4th Light Dragoons;
Lieut. R. B. Prettejobn, from 4th Light Dragoons ; Lieut. H.
F. Hodson, from 4th Light Dragoons; Lieut. C. W. Thomp-
son, from the 81st Foot, by purchase, vice Browne, who re-
tires : Lieut. T. W. Smith, from the 22d Foot ; Cornet W.
W. Allen, by purchase, vice Tonge, April 30.
To bo Cornets, without purchase—Cornet J. T. Brooks,
from half-pay of the Regiment; Cornet W. E. Buller, from
the 2d Dragoon Guards, April 30.
To be Cornets, by purchase—R. P. Apthorp, Gent., vice
Allen, April 30; J. Coster, Gent. vice Brooks, who retires,
May 1.
To be Assistant-Surgeon—Assistant-Surgeon E. W. Stone,
M.D., from 48th Foot, April 30.
Ist or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards.—Lord A. Hay
to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice West, pro-
moted, April 30.
Stewart, from half my
Ist Regiment or Foot-:-Capt. R.
Mitchel-
Unattached, to be Captain vice T. Nickoll,,.who
beexcchaaiiie-nsj,
11!arEincu.n to
receiving the difference ; Lieut. H. !I
by purchase, vice Stewart, who retires., Ensign W.
son to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Marnidin ; S. Van-
sittart, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Mitehelson,
April 30.
Thom pson
to
3d. Foot—Ensign C. A. be Lieutenant, by
purchase. vice Gall, appointed to 14th Light Dragoons; Gen-
tleman Cadet A. H. H. Mercer, from the Royal Military Col.
lege, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Thompson, April 30.
13th Foot.—Ensign F. V. Straubenzee to be :Lieutenant,