The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-25 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

We insert the following to oblige a Correspondent, and
hope the farmers will profit by it :
Farmers of England, I have a laborious task before
me ; you are such a ponderous solid body that I I'm quite
afraid of you, and feel myself forlorn, dispirited and sink-
ing ; what must Ido to make some little favourable im-
pression—what can I do to arouse some auspicious bias ?
Why, I must turn to the ladies of your families, a race
who would make any drawing-room brilliant with bloom-
ing health and real English beauty. There would be
seen the faultless complexion, blending in unrivalled
unison the fair and peerless hues of the lily and the rose.
There would be seen the ever cheerful countenance, and
heard the natural lively laugh. There; too, would be
breathed the sweet perfume of pure country air. It is
almost insupportable to change the scene in a moment to
the desolate, destitute, woe-worn looks of the distressed
poor in all our manufacturing towns ; put I depend upon
finding that the finishing charm of tender feelings and
hearts has not been denied, leading the possessors, though
exempt from all difficulties and distress individually, to
a generous participation in the griefs and wants of their
fellow creatures. You are aware, ladies, what severe
distress has prevailed throughout the last winter. I do
most earnestly intreat you to assist to the utmost to pre-
vent the recurrence of so much misery,—let us not be fed,
and warmed, and clothed ourselves, and leave them again
to so hard a fate. Though my poor reasoning or per-
suasion must be as dust in the balance with your fathers,
husbands, and brothers, to prevail on them to sign peti-
tions for the total repeal of the odious tax on bread,
yours, I doubt not, would prove irresistible if calmly,
gently, but perseveringly persisted in. Leaving all es-
sential proceedings in such excellent keeping I shall go
to the past for a short time. Less than one hundred
years since there was a pretty peaceful village in a
tine corn county, comprising a neat church, the great
house, half a dozen farms, and the cottages of the
labourers employed upon them. Wheat then varied
in price from six to eight or nine shillings a
bushel.; still the landlord was satisfied, the. farmers flou-
rishing, and the poor men contented, and not over-
worked. When the rents were paid a grand treat and
dance were given to the numerous tenants by the land-
lord—Sir John dancing with the matrons, and my Lady
leading off with a farmer. These farms were all hired
on twenty-one years' leases, and held by different mem-
bers of the same family from generation to generation ;
thus the homestead, with its pretty .garden and fruitful
orchard, became a dear and valued inheritance, and
the farmer had a heart to -improve his land, knowing
his descendants would be benefited ; for no
tenant, in these good times, had warning to quit un-
less for unpardonable neglect, or inexcusable bad conduct,
at the termination of a long lease, and no man would
take a short one. Now, was not this a rational, wise,
happy state of things, all in their proper stations, and
able to live with just comparative comfort. In that altered
village there are no long leases now, no feasts at rent
paying, no security present or future. The farmers
treat the landlord now, being expected to send a fat goose,
ducks, or chickens, as their master may require. Far-
mers, are you not now serfs of the soil ? do you not hold
your farms generally on yearly leases ? and are you not
subject to be turned out for every paltry reason, and as
your land is improved to have the rent raised ? If you
are not slaves in body, are you not so in mind to
your haughty masters ? Can you give a free vote at an
election, or do you follow the lead of your landlord,
though you know his using thus his power proves him to
be no real gentleman, and that if he offers bribes, and
you receive them, you both deserve to be transported, if
punishment was justly apportioned to the magnitude and
evil of the offence? All these abuses and miseries would fall
with the destruction of the detestable monopolies. If
you are careless about your condition and the present
state of the poor, it is a melancholy proof that your
shackles have degraded and sunk you below the proper
level of the free-born sons of Great Britain. As the
country becomes more and more enlightened you must
be aware that Governments must rule on the large and
liberal principle of general public good, and not for a
hateful party putting gold into the pockets of the rich
whO need it not, and constantly taking pence from the
poor who cannot spare it. I must remind you, farmers,
that when you are ground too hard, your noble masters
return you sometimes 5 or 10 per cent., a thing never
heard of when gains were justly balanced ; and it is a
wretched subterfuge, a pauper transaction. You ought to
be able to support yourselves and your families by your
land, and not to need this pitiful donation ; and I hope
you will live to be heartily ashamed of it. Farmers, if
you do not now make a noble struggle to throw off your
yoke, you deserve to be galled with it for ever. The
hateful Corn-laws never did you any good, and never
will. That you may have good landlords, long leases,
and no injurious monopolies, is the sincere wish of

ENGLISH JOAN.

CORN-LAWS AND CHARTISTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE. SUN.

Siu,—At the approaching election, it is of conse-
quence that the Chartists and labourers should 'under-
stand their own interest, and a few remarks on the sub-
ject from your able pen may be of great service.
" The People's Charter" never will be carried, either
by Whigs or Tories, and any physical-force attempt
would end in military despotism, when the Chartists
would be much worse off than at present.
It is, therefore, their interest to assist in measures
which can be carried, and which will be of immediate
use to them. In all parts of the world, the masses, or
millions, must be labourers, whatever may be the form of
government, and all we require is, to improve their situ-
ation as much as circumstances will admit.

It is utterly impossible for the manufacturers to raise
wages higher than at present, and unless the corn-laws
be repealed, they will become still lower. The only way
therefore, by which the labourers can be benefited, is to
lower the price of corn, sugar, and the necessaries of
life, which will, in fact, be of the same advantage to
them as higher wages. The Queen, God bless her,
nobly supports the Ministers and the cause of the people,
against the selfish, bigoted Tories ; therefore our cry
should be, " The Queen and Free-trade, down with the
tyrant Tories and starving monopolists!"
The Tories (we remember the Peterloo massacre) af-
fect a regard for the poor, and abuse the New Poor-law.
This is mere cant, trick, and falsehood. The Bill was
supported and carried, and is still maintained, by the as-
sistance of the Tories, and the renegade Times is as fully
aware of this as we are. There are no doubt some abuses
in the new law which will be amended, but it is infinitely
better than the old, which would have demoralized and
pauperized the whole kingdom.

Ido not know the real—motives of Ministers in their
present acts ; but this I know, that the measures now
proposed by them, are the most liberal and enlightened
that have been submitted to the people for many genera-
tions, and will tend more to promote peace on earth and
good-will towards men than any measures that ever
were, or ever will be, proposed by the Tories. The way
to command our willing obedience is to administer jus-
tice in mercy, therefore I again say, God bless the Queen
and her present Whig. Ministers.
Your most obedient servant,
May 24. A FREE-TRADER.

DR. LUSHINGTON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-It will probably obviate further discussion re-
garding the alleged possession by my brother, Dr.
Lushington, of property in the West Indies, if I inform
you that the estate of Seven Plantations, in the parish of
Clarendon, in Jamaica, does not belong to him, and that
he has no property whatever in the West Indies. I hold
a share in the Seven Plantations estate ; and this cir-
cumstance. no doubt, led to the erroneous report, which
I now beg leave to contradict.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your faithful servant,
Chapel-place, Duke-street, C. LU SHIN GTON.
Westminster, May 24, 1841.

WESLEYANS AND MONOPOLY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir—lf the Watchman newspaper, published bia party
of Wesleyan Methodists, were to be regarded by men
in authority as expressing the sentiments of that in-
fluential body upon the subject of the Corn-laws, Lord
John Russell might fear too much, and Sir Robert Peel
hope too much from the result of a general election.
Happily, however, it no more represents the political
sentiments of the denomination than does any other
newspaper. With respect to the repeal of the Corn-laws,
I am happy to say that in this borough, where the Was-
ley-ans constitute the most numerous body of Christians,
they are, so far as my knowledge extends, repeaters to a
man. The treasurer of our Anti-Corn-law Association
is a Wesleyan, the secretary is a Wesleyan, the president
of our Operative Anti-Corn-law Association is a 'Wes-
leyan and so is the secretary. When we want money
for this object, no class of Christians gives more freely
than the Wesleyan's, and when work is to be done we
have no better workmen than the Wesleyan. Being a
wealthy body, as well as numerous, they constitute a
considerable proportion of the electoral body, and I dare
venture to read the Watchman for the next six months,
though a dreadful task, if a single Wesleyan be found
voting at the next election for a bread taxer.

Sir-Robert had better not reckon upon the Wesleyans.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A REPEALER.

Huddersfield, May 21, 1841.

CITY OF WESTMINSTER LITERARY, SCIEN-
TIFIC AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. —Last Thursdayeven-
ing Air. Wilson, the distinguished vocalist, gave the, first of a
series of lectures on Scottish music, at this Institution, to a
crowded and gratified audience. He explained, in his essay,
the limited compass of the primitive Scottish scale, as in the
case of the " Banks and braes o' bonnie Doon," to which might
be added " Logie o' Buchan," " Auld Lang syne," &e., and
pointed out the peculiar characteristics of some of our northern
melodies ; particularly the mournful effect produced by the in-
troduction of the flat seventh, in the old Border air of " The
flowers of the forest." He traced the origin .of some of our
secular tunes to the church-chaunts about three centuries back,
and showed, by changing the time of " 0 waly waly," its
strong claim to an ancient eccle!iastic existent*. His lecture
was interesting and instructive ; but his exemplications by
his own fine voice, modulated by pure taste and exquisite feeling
in which in simple melody he so eminently excels, carried to the
hearts of his hearers the most thrilling conviction. Mr. Wibon
gave several songs in his happiest manner, apd concluded with the
olden ditty cf." Tak yer auld cloak about ye," a lyric that
hears evidence to the ancient truth that differences will occur
in the best regulated families. h was sung with most graphic
Eower, and a rapturous encore attested the effect of the perform-
nce. We are glad to see this fine and flourishing.lastitution
blending occasionally the dulce with. the utile —thst. white it
directs efforts for the expansion of intellect, it neglects not
those pumas that move and mend •the heart. It is " refresh-
ing" in-this-utilitarian age to enjoy a soiree musicale of our
native unsophisticated melodies that to pleasureable sensations
attune the chords of the heart, too often discordantly jarred by
collision with the harsh realities of life. The announcement
of Mr. Wilson's second lecture next Thursday evening' was
hailed with manifest satisfaction by the assembled admirers of
the 'joyous science."
CITY OF DUBLIN REGISTRY. Upon the
present- sessions the Liberals have gained 81. The
Liberal majority in the city of Dublin is now over-
whelming,

MORNING EDITION%

ASSASSINATION IN IRELAND•

(From the Du'lin Evening Mai'.)

Extract of a letter frOm a Correspondent : an
Poor Mr. Hall was shot dead yesterday—h 3 was _
excellent and worthy man. One of his principal tenaal
who lives close to this, was persisting in burning sieturs
land against his wish, and yesterday the poor fAlois- d
over on his car to remonstrate against this procee(iiingt;
He had just got off his car, and the servant hal not t:.sei
the horse from under it, when he heard a shot fired, tti,
on looking into the field into which his master had gen:,
he saw him lying dead. No person was to be seen, and
all the workmen had moved away, although it was, t_nA
soon for dinner hour. The horrible transaction moll;
about eleven o'clock. He was shot with a pistol, and, tn,
miscreant must have been standing beside--13.6"2r0
speaking to him, as his white hat and•white hair _
both burned. The ball entered immediately under
.tns:
left ear, and passed through the spinal marrow, so t,h.o
death must have been instantaneous. The ball lodgeLt_ll,
the Velvet collar of his coat, after having passed thro4"
the neck.
There can be no reason assigned for this mysterier)
and 'nitrifying atrocity, but that Mr. Hall presumed (0
e:zereise the rights of a landlord. He was, in pnlitiesll(l
Liberal—in private life, a gentleman, benevolent an
universally beloved.
Now, " property has its rights as well as its duties
it
and we fearlessly tell the Government from which t 5•
fatal maxim (fatal to the Irish country gentleman).°Ve
rutted, that amongst those rights the most sacred is
right of protection ; which right, unless the Governrae,
be willing to extend, it forfeits its right to the obedieln
of the subject.
the
i Something must be done. The blood of the inns
s calling out for retribution against the misrulers of t
land.
vh°
An inquest was held on the remains of Mr. Ha'', 'ilea
was murdered on Wednesday last at a place ct" the
Uskane, near Borrisokane, before Mr. Carroll, o
Coroner, who was assisted in the inquiry by CaPtthe
Duff, the resident Magistraie, and Mr. 13racken, '
Policelnspector of the district. „,bo
The first witness examined was John ConnelltL e
was coachman to Mr, Hall.. He deposed that he
his master on that morning, at ten o'clock, from his reea
dente at Merton Hall to lJskane, which they reaculto
about eleven. When they alighted at the gate Nir.,;"ree
desired him to alight from the car, and put up the "°
le
in the stable. Mr. Hall then turned from the acel"„a
gate towards where there was some " beating " burl
[" beating " means sods of grass burning for nialltileng
Witness waited with the car for some minutes, thitki-en
that some one would come and open the gate, anal the
he found no one coming, he proceeded to unyoke the
horse, and While so employed, he heard a shot in e.
direction in which Mr. Hall had gone. Witness Pt to
ceeded : —lt was about 200 yards from where I with I
where he was shot ; I looked in the direction in wit'ue,
heard the report, but saw no person. I saw some sni-
n-
but I cannot say whether it was the report of a g°l/ °I
pistol. I did not think the shot was fired at any o°:e.tbe
waited till I had Fettled the traces, and then went 'll
direction in which I heard the report, where I fond'
master quite lifeless. fiela
To a Juror—There was a man ploughing in the co
when we came first to the place, but after the sh°t ',ere
fired there was no one with the plough. There
several men at work in an adjoining field who must
heard the shot, yet they did not stir. I found ~
the
ceased lying on his right side with his face toward' tell
ditch, and quite dead. I found a wound under his
et et
ear, and having opened his cravat, I found.the hd"
ase
the other side of his neck. I then returned to the hfeee
and told a woman whom I met that Mr. Hall had vtbe
shot. I think the woman is a servant to Mr. Kell," Lie
tenant of the house. I then returned towards the ,001
ceased, and ran along the ditch in hopes of seeing sfi-ies
one to assist me, but I could not. There were tw° -00
and two girls at work in an adjoining field abodtvite
yards from where Mr. Hall was shot. I told to
gerald, one of the men, that my master was sh°,!pie
which he replied, " Oh, murder !" They then
with me to where he lay. t bat
To a Juror.—They must have heard the sh,%t
they did not stir until I went for them. In aut'" the
hour after Mr. Hall was shot he was brought in's' tea
house, previous to which 15 or 20 persons had collee
about the place.
evil The Coroner' was of opinion that enough of ev'— re'
had been given to warrant the Jury in returning,tl;s4l.
diet of wilful murder ; and it might not be
towards the furtherance of justice to examine otliP'ia ea
Captain Duff, and several gentleman present, eohte
in opinion with the Coroner. f tile
Dr. Hobbs deposed that he examined the body ° bleb
deceased, and found a wound under the left ear, ftoo
he believed to have been inflicted by a bullet fire“
a pistol, which produced immediate death.

Dr. Finucane gave similar testimon3;. •
Verdict—Wilful murder against some person unknclive
The Nenagh Guardian of this morning says k 10
have learned that the ploughman, who was at wt,eef
the field, and alluded to by Connell in his evi"e,""he
has been arrested ; but it has been ascertained t113:poolt,
was not with the horses when Connell came to the
nor did he return for an hour afterwards. The dead
gentleman'bio
s pockets were turned inside out,
.0

)11 of
watch and pocket-book taken away.
„4
Mr. Hall was about fifty-six years of age, 9"-felo'
married to the sister of Edward Litton, Es.q., the
ber for Coleraine, and he was principal in the fir
Hall and M'lntyre, merchants, in this city,