The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1841

mons, by persons of great official and commercial experience,
in respect to the enormous amount of the injury which is
inflicted on the country by the Food Monopoly. Not only has
a large impression of a digest of the Report containing this
evidence been entirely sold off, but no fewer than three new
editions have been called for, involving an immediate issue of
nearly twenty thousand copies ; thus evincing the great interest
which is occupying the public mind on the subject of the
Corn-laws, and indeed on the whole system of restrictive policy.
A well-timed manifesto has also appeared, signed by nearly
oae hundred and fifty influential Members of the House of
Commons. which it is hoped may help to induce her Majesty's
Government to give their earliest and immediate attention to
the baneful effects which are produced by the Corn Monopoly
on the revenue and prosperity of the State.
Your Committee have to report that the extensive and mul-
tifarious business of the Association has been arduous and
difficult : how well it has been managed, the occurrences of
the past year will testify. Your Committee hope that the
Association do them the justice to think that all the effects
have been produced which could be accomplished by aid of the
fund subscribed amounting last year to 962/. 4s. 2d. The
large space over which their efforts have been extended, and
the immense number of persons who, in consequence thereof,
have been induced, directly and indirectly, to become advo-
cates for the Repeal of the Food Monopoly, have opened up
new sources of continued, unremitted exertion ; and your Com-
mittee aro satisfied that if the means be provided, everything
which has been indicated as probable, will be accomplished.
Most of the original subscribers have promised to renew their
subscriptions, and some of them, it is expected, will double the
amount ef theirs ; and your Committee have only to observe, with
respect to what are usually called the sinews of war, that should
these, as they expect they will, be fully provided, they shall be
carefully and economically expended, and as clearly accounted
for as those which were formerly entrusted to them have been
in the first Report made by the Committee to the Association.
Your Committee are of opinion that the business of the
Association should continue to be conducted as it has hitherto
been, but upon a larger scale ; and they expect that, supported
as they will be by the Local Associations in the metropolis, and
aided by and aiding the National Anti-Corn-law League, and
the Association at Glasgow, good may be done to an extent
which, they believe, has hitherto been thought impracticable
by all but a very small number of their friends.
After mature deliberation your Committee feel justified in
recommending a renewal of the measure of petitions to Par-
liament ; because, notwithstanding the apparent disrespect
with which the Legislature last Session treated the question, it
is very certain that the effect of addressing the House of Com-
mons was to diminish the former adverse majority.
Your Committee have also come to the resolution of advising
the presentation of one large national petition to the Queen
against the Corn-laws, praying her Majesty to instruct her
Government to take the subject into their immediate con-
sideration.
Your Committee cannot conclude their Report in a better
way than in the words of a former Address,thus :
" Finally, then, permit us, fellow-citizens, solemnly to ap-
peal to your sympathy—to your intelligence—to invoke your
aid and co-operatisn • since, deeply assured as we are that our
object, the TOTAL co-operation;
L OF THE CORN-LAWS, iS for the
welfare of all, so must it be the imperative duty of all to aid
in its accomplishment."
By order of the Committee.
FRANCIS PLACE, Chairman.
SIDNEY SMITII, Secretary.
Mr, BEACON moved that the Report just read be
adopted, and circulated amongst the Members of the As-
sociation. •
Mr. ASHDOWN, as a stranger, most cordially seconded
the motion. He had been quite ignorant of the principles
of Corn-law Repealers, until some of the publications of
the Association fell into his hands—they made him begin
to think upon the question, and having done so, he was
at once convinced, and he with the assistance of a few
friends got up a Branch Association, their eminent lec-
turer, Mr. J. Smith came down, and the consequence
was, they were now going on with great promise of success.
The resolution was passed unanimously.
Mr. VlLLises was then called upon to move the first
resolution, and appeared amidst loud cheers. He said he
attended the meeting in obedience to a summons from
the Committee, because be had been unwilling on that as
on former occasions, to shrink from bearing his portion of
the trouble and inconvenience that must be inseparable
from forwarding the question they had met to discuss.
He could not, however, claim any credit for the
holding of the meeting, because so long ns
the unhappy differences existed between large sections
of the people, he was of opinion that there was
not much usefulness effected in meetings of that sort ; but
he had been informed that at the last meeting, owing to
the unfortunate confusion that prevailed, the Committee
had been prevented from completing the proceedings
ne-
teissry for the maintenance of the Association, aad in
order to keep it alive it was neeessary that a future meet-
ing should be held. He was pe, fectly ccrt4iu that that
would be considered a good reason, ned ono which fully
justified the Committee in calling the present meeting, for
he was assured that here was net one present who would
not be of opinion that the Association should be continued.
Viheu he referred to the peculiar character of the meet-
ing, and to the Vferences of opinion which exi,;ted nroongst
the people, he di i not object to public meetings, because
he thought they were the great cure for all evils in taings
politic, sad that although an error had been committed
he had no doubt but that in the course of time, and that
very shortly, that error would be perceived and corrected.
Tae ueople were misled—they had been misguided—by
individuals who had gained an ascendancy over them for a
time., but their good sense would soon perceive that if the
course which had recently been pursued at public meet-
ings were to be persevered in it would net be tolerated in
this country. It was against all the habits of the English
people.—( Cheers.) They were accustomed to express
their feelings fully, and allow others to do the same.
( Cheers.) But if a body of men were to make a practice
of coming into all sorts of public meetings, not for the
purpose of discussing its objects. hut for the express pur-
pose of disturbing their proceedings, it would be consi-
dered the utmost stretch of tyranny, and Englishmen would
not bear it. By such a system a few persons had it in
their power to put an end to free discussion altogether.
When he objected to the course pursued by some portion
of the people it was not that he objected to the views they
held upon the Corn-laws, but to the manner in which they
attempted to carry their own views into effect. On the
contrary, he thought that their views—that their opinions
formed a t ery fit subject for discussion.—( Cheere.) They
were of opinion that no good could be done, or any evil re-
dressed, until they had a perfect reform of the representa-
tive system, according to the principles contained in the
Charter. They were for striking at the root of the evils
which oppressed them. That, in his opinion, was a very
fair question for discussion, and he was very much disposed
to agree with them that until there was some better distri-
bution of political power they would never obtain that jus-
tice to which they were entitled.—( Cheers.) But that
was no reason why they should disturb all meetings called
for other purposes than those of the Charter. On the
contrary, it was a reason why such Associations should
meet with aid and encouragement. They claimed such a
reform as would give them a share in the representation,
but when they came and disturbed the meetings of such
Associations—Associations which were working in the
beat manner for the amelioration of the condition of the
working classes—they showed an unfitness to be entrusted
with the power they desire, Many of them affected to
think that the Repeal of the Corn-laws would place the
working classes in a worse position. Why so ? They
acknowledged that the law was bad—it was because it
worked ill that the Association sought its Repeal. He
saw by the public newspapers that some persons calling
themselves Chartists highly approved of the Corn-laws,
and said that if they were repealed the wages of the work-
man would be reduced—that they had given three cheers
for the Corn-laws, and three groans for Villiers.-_(A
laugh.) If these were their opinions they were defeating
their own purpose I and he knew no better means of keep-
ing things as they were than by defeating all attempts at
public discussion by denying that they knew the first prin-
ciples of liberty, and by stating that those evils which
they recognised were not injurious to the public. He dis-
regarded no man's opinion and he thought it ought to be
made known that when they said the people were asked to
join in the demand for the Repeal of the Corn-laws those

who made the request had no desire or intention of lower-

ing wages. If tliat were to be the effect of the Repeal
of those laws he admitted that it would be a great and a
serious evil. But it could be demonstrated to a cer-

tainty that that would not be the effect -of the
Repeal. How was it to be proved that if
the price of corn fell wages must also fall. The prices
could only be affected by the scarcity or the abundance of
the article. The proposition that the more food was abun-
dant the worse the people must be off, was, to say the
least of it, a strange one. If that proposition was true,

so must also be its converse ; and that Would be, that the

more scarce food was the better off people must be. But
he would ask, was any man fit to be loose, or out of Bed-

lam, who would broach such a doctrine ?—(Laughter.)
We could not get more food from a foreign country, with-

out giving something in exchange for it; we could not get
that something, without creating a demand for labour.

The fact was, that every restrictron which was removed,

every approach to free trade, extended the trade of this
country, and every extension of trade created a demand
for new labour.—(Hear, bear.) Now, no man could be

sought for by two masters, without the value of his labour
being raised. It has been said that that was a Middle_
class question: It certainly was ; but it was :equally a
question which affected every other class in the country--
it was an enormous injury to every person in the cemmu-

_ .
nity. A large class was calling for the repeal of these
laws. That it should be said by any other class that they
should not have an opportunity of expressing their opinion
freely, was a tyranny which would be intolerable to the
English people. Should the Chartists prove successful,
there would be an end to all free discussion of the griev-
ances of the people. The Association had had great suc-
cess. They had dissipated the errors which had existed
in the minds of millions ; and the resolution which he bad

to propose truly congratu,lated them on the fact. He had
much pleasure in moving—P That while the members of
this Association have much reason to feel satisfied with the

result of their efforts to enlighten the public mind on the
subject of the injustice and impo lieyof the Corn-laws, and
for congratulation on the growing
restrictions interest o f the
and
mono-
polies, country
on o
in the struggle against commercial
_
* leis they see in the great distress of the industrious
classes, and the continued depression of commerce and ma-
nufacturer, the imperative duty of increased exertions in
nt heeoecsasuastiee of
s otfhleiferepeal of all protective duties on the first
. Dr.
.P. SMITH said, that although it was foreign from
Corn-laws was so extremel
help giving them his feebleyi;olump
Ins habits to attend public meetings, still the question of the
ppoorrttaunpt,onthmaotrhael caonudldronloi-t
reli-
gious grounds.
. The Rev
to prove
quoted several passages
rrooopooreve that
.denunciations of
from the Scripture in orydep.
thee against the oppres-
evil had been frequently
moral nature of the
gt
he did not see as irany
sors of the poor, Considering
as there were persons alto-
gether.
fje w.as about to enter into theticleiuerarretineclye
A STRANGER Legged to ask whether the prictei
would not be reduced by a larger growth of
be said was inseparable from
question,in t lii s country.
Corn
question, when he was ceded. to order, the
q which
Currency
question not being connected with the object
gof the meeting,
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, -.
R. STUART, Esq., M. P., had been invited to attend
the meeting, and as the representative of an agricultural
constituency, he thought it his duty to attend. He was most
happy to say that his constituents resided in the first agri-
cultural county in the kingdom, and he was most happy to

state that the great majority of the enlightened farmers in
that district, together with the whple of the labourers
were in favour of the repeal of the Corn-laws, and had
attributed their distress to those laws before the Committee
on that subject in 1837. It had been proved before the
Import Committee, that the Corn-laws formed one of the
most objectionable features of our most objectionable
tariff, and that the extra duty which the monopoly
gave, calculated only at five shillings per quarter,
was a tax upon the consumer of eleven millions, not one
farthing of which went into the public revenue. He
called upon the Association to join with the repeal agi-
tation, an agitation for the total repeal of the tariff,
He had much pleasure in moving " That this Association,
gratefully acknowledges the valuable labours of a Com-
mittee of the House of Commons during last Session, in
eliciting in its Report on the Import Duties, a mass of
valuable evidence on the subject of the Corn-laws; and
regards, with great satisfaction, the recent declaration of
a considerable section of the representatives of the people
of their determination to support the practical application
of the principles recommended in that Report, in all mea-
sures of fiscal legislation."
Mr. RICARDO seconded the motion with great cor-
diality, as one engaged in commercial pursuits, and deeply
impressed with the manifold evils of our present fiscal
system. Their enemies had now resolved the struggle
into one between agriculture and commerce. Now
although commerce was not a part of agri-
culture, still agriculture formed a part of commerce.
Whenever capital was employed for the purposes
l
as sewnneeolfil
benefit
of
mightnt eh ees
thibneuytecrthi
apexpr
theoinr gt
httaehi
lebo
baker
knoeerr t_ o
the(benefit
of gain, it was employed in commerce—( Hear, hear)
—m the
maker
dtr h therefeor
r. A
thew
laughter.) Commerce bound nations together—even now
commerce has saved us from a frightful and cruel war.—
(Cheers.) Commerce has been the founder of our
navies, the supporter of the revenue, the main spring of
our civilization ; and they were now called on to release
it from those fetters which prejudice had thrown around
it ; they were called on to effect a commercial revolution.
Mr. FORSTER supported the resolution. He had long
been engaged in commerce as a British mer-
chant, and most sorry was he to see the supineness
of his fellow-merchants in the city of London.
Foreign travellers used to be wholly unknown in this
country, but now they were to be seen every day, and our
merchants were obliged to purchase from them, their prices
being so much lower than the native manufactures, and
they were progressing at such a rate, that if the Corn-laws
were not abolished, our manufacturers would be completely
excluded from the markets we had been in the habit of
supplying. Only yesterday he had conversed with a mer-
chant from New Orleans. In that market flour was 17s.
a barrel ; the same quantity packed in the same manner in
this country, would cost from 465. to 475.—( Cries of
" Shame.") The merchant very naturally inquired whe-
ther, as we would not take their produce, we could be sur-
prised at their turning their attention to manufactures.
The result, of his experience and reflection was, that if
those laws were continued, the commercial prosperity of
this country was doomed to destruction.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. EWART congratulated the meeting upon the pro-
gress the question of the repeal of the Corn-laws had
made during the time which had elapsed since their last
meeting. The Report of the Import Committee had shown
upon the evidence of a Conservative, who had for fifty
years sat at the bar peculiarly provided for the interests
of trade, that those laws were destructive of the best inte-
rests of the country. He regretted that attempts had been
made in certain quarters to put a stop to that progress,
but he would ask whether, because one great evil existed,
another great evil, acknowledged to be so by the parties
themselves, should not be allowed to be abolished ? If the
Chartists were true to their own principles they must go
even still further.
Mr. WATKINS, a Chartist—lf that body were to be
condemned, and its proceedings found fault with, he would
insist on an opportunity of replying.
Mr. EWART was not accusing any body. He had been
reasoning strictly to the purpose, for he had been endea-
vouring to show by reason only, that the best course the
Chartists could adopt was to join them in their demand
for the repeal. It they pleased let thorn show by reason
also that the best course the Corn-law Repeaters
could adopt was to join them in their demands for the
Charter. The proceedings which they had adopted of
late would go to resist tee attempt to remove any ac-
know !edged ahuse--it would be putting a lock on all poli-
tical machinery. However, he denied that they repre-
sentel the people, and he insisted that the middle classes
were actually working this work. The progress the
question had made even among.t the aristocratic classes had
been very great in that most oligarchie3l assembly, the House
of Commons; the progress they had made was shown not
only in the Members who voted for them, but in the fears
r. hich Pe-tly operated on the minds of their opponents.
Peel bad cautiously retired from the field and left the
opposition to be conducted by such paltry orators as
Darlington and others of that el iss, who were better able
to adorn than to advance or defend any cause. In that
House they were not reasoned with, they were out-
voted, and even once they were hooted down. Certain
gentlemen came down at a certain time of the night
satiated not with debate but. with dinner—( Loud laughter)
—and not having heard one word of the proceedings,
wiselodetermined to put an end to them. If they wished
to destroy themselves, they had only to maintain those
odious laws which the Association cordially wish the
assistance of all men to have repealed. He proposed
" Thst this Association renews, with increased confidence,
its former recommendation to the Electors and Non-Eke.
tars of the United Kingdom, to promote the return to
Parliament of tbose Candidates only who will support a
Repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws."
Dr. WADE had almost intended to give up attending
public meetings while the present disunion existed between
the middle and the working classes, for if he could not be
a peacemaker, he was determined he would not be a fire-
brand. The theory of the Chartists was still untried, and
he earnestly called on them to join the middle classes, who
were doing the work of the Chartists, by breaking down
the head and front of the oligarchy by a repeal of the
Corn-laws. He would strongly advise them to come for-
ward boldly, and join in getting quit of a bad law, and not
disturb every meeting with the cuckoo cry of " Charter,
charter."—(Cheers.)
Mr. WATKIN, the Chartist, expressed himself a stre-
nuous opponent of the Corn laws, but he was quite con-
vinced they could never be repealed by a Legislature
constituted as ours at present was. He considered that a
repeal at the present time, with the Joint-Stock Banks
in full operation, would create a cursed monopoly in the
food market, to the great detriment of the working classes.
Mr. PALLISER strongly swported the objects of the
Association.
The Resolution was then put and_carried.
Mr. THORNELY, M. P., felt great pleasure in congratu-
lating the meeting on the great progress of free trade
principles within the last year. As a proof of the folly
of the tariff system, he stated that a cargo of coffee came
into Liverpool, but it being found that when foreign
coffee was shipped from the Cape of Good Hope, the
duties were much lower, the same coffee was actually
sent from Liverpool to the Cape, transhipped there, and
brought back to Liverpool; yet the merchant was a gainer.
This was a most absurd system, and one which, when
fully known, as it soon would be, by the valuable
Report of the Import Committee, could not stand.
It had been said that low prices of food caused low wages,
but his experience taught him otherwise. He remem-
bered that in a remote part of the State of New York,
when wheat was 9s. 6d. a bushel, the wages were very
high, and if all joined heartily in knocking off those ob-
structions to the industry of the country, the people
would maintain themselves without Poor-laws ; and he had
too good an opinion of the working classes to think for
one moment that if they could do so, they would stoop to
receive the boon of education for their offspring, either
from the nation or their richer neighbours. He moved
" That, relying not only upon the growing enlightenment of
the public, but the certain ultimate triumph of truth, and
entertaining an earnest conviction of the justice of their
great cause, the members of this Association renew their
solemn pledge to each other, and to their country, to con-
tinue their exertions with increasing energy, until that
cause is brought to a completely successful issue."
Mr. MILNER Grnsors seconded the resolution with much
pleasure. He was of opinion that God helped those who
helped themselves, and therefore if the people did not all
join heartily in the cause, he would despair of its success.
The question resolved itself into this, that a party of men,
Noble Lords and Hon. Gentlemen, kept a bread and beef
shop, and they did not like to see any one else open an-
other in opposition.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) That
was the real question of the Corn-laws, and very natural
it was that the owners of the shop should act so; but it
was equally natural that the consumers of bread should
desire to have as many:shops opened as possible, that they
might have the advantage of the reduction of price which
competition produced. He was much pleased to see the
great change which had taken place in the arguments
nsed in support of the Corn-laws. In a very short time
there would be no argument left in their defence except
that used by the Earl of Eldon in defence of slavery, who
said " Slavery cannot be such a very horrid thing as has
been represented, or the Bench of Bishops would have de-
nounced it long ago."—( Loud laughter.) When they
were seduced to that argument, that the Corn-laws could
not be bad because the Bishops did not denounce them,
the emancipation of trade would be carried as the emanci-
pation of the slaves had been before.
Mr. WILsoN strongly supported the repeal of the.Corn-
laws as being, when well understood, for the benefit of
all classes iu the kingdom.
The CHAIRMAN said, as they had now come near the close
of their proceedings, he must again express his regret at the
system pursued by the working classes. Until they were
supported by the great mass of that body they could never
succeed—their success would be absolutely certain if they
were united. If they continued their present system of
interrupting all discussions the new gagging bill would be
far worse than even Castlereagh's in its worst times. All
monopolies hung together and supported each other. The
Corn-law was the crying monopoly of all, and if it were
destroyed all tire rest would vanish like vapour before the sun.
The resolution was then put and carried.
On the motion of Mr. COATES, the thanks of the meet-
ing were voted to the Chairman, who having returned
thanks, the meeting separated.

A PAIR OF CARDINALS.—Abbe Grant told
us a comical story of Cardinal York and Cardinal de
Berni.. They were sitting together one day, when the
floor of the room gave way, and partly fell in. Fright-
ened to death, and thinking themselves on the verge of
eternity, they both called out with a loud voice, the one,
" Excellenza 1 assoluzione in articulo mortis 1" the other,
" Altezza reale 1 assoluzione in articulo mortis 1" How-
ever, their fears were groundless—l do not mean to pun—
for the floor did not fall a urcat way, and they met with no
hurt. —Swinburne's Courts of Europe.
A RESTIVE GALLANT.--.The Queen is very
generous, but has not a large allowance. When she first
took
whosea fancy to
cto(cs
N.?susseroinho,e thesthheentowldra,that she must give
Princess of Stig-
ihim up to her, aid the Stigliano consented; but the
gallant himself was resivc, and would not be disposed
of, and devoted his time and attendance to a third lady
whom he really loved.—Swiaburne's Courts of Europe.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, M4RCH 31.
JEW V. WOOD.
The LORD CHANIIIELLOR gave judgment to-day in this
case, which was argued before the Court on Saturday last,
upon appeal from the decision of the Master of the Rolls.
The plaintiff was tenant of part of the lands belonging to
the late Mr. James Wood, of Gloucester, and under the
circumstances which had taken place between Sir M.
Wood, whose claim as the personal representative of the
late Mr. James Wood, was disputed ; and the question
was, whether the latter could file a bill of interpleader.
The Master of the Rolls was of opinion that he could, and
his Lordship agreeing with that Judge, ordered the motion
to be dismissed with costs.

SEELEY V. FISHER.
This case came before the Court; upon motion to dis-
charge the order of the Vice-Chancellor, granting an
injunction restraining the defendants from publishing any
copy of " Scott's Commentary on the Bible," with the en-
velopes with which the defendants had hitherto published
them. The facts of the case were fully reported when
the application for the injunction was made to the Vice-
Chancellor:

The arguments had not concluded when the Court rose.
THE DEAN OF YORK V. THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ♦ND HIS

COMMISSARY.

Shortly before the rising of the Court, Mr. WIORAM
applied, en behalf of the Dean of York, fur a prohibition,
restraining the Archbishop of York, or his Commissary
(Dr. Phillimore), from proceeding to pass sentence of
deprivation and deposition against the Dean, which it was
expected the Learned Commissary would do from the
course be had pursued. Our readers will recollect the
proceedings that have taken place at York, relative t,o the
charges made against the Dean of selling livings in that
diocese. In the course of those proceedings, some alterca-
tions took place between the Dean and the Commissary,
in the course of which the latter said that the Dean in
the course he was pursuing had rendered himself liable
to deprivation and deposition, and at the termination of the
proceedings, the Court was adjourned to Thursday the Ist
of April. The affidavit of the solicitor of the Dean was
read, stating what had occurred, after which
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that there was nothing in
that affidavit which warranted the supposition that the
Commissary intended, to pronounce sentence either of de-
privation or deposition. All that the Commissary, as his
Lordship understood it, had stated was, that the course the
Dean was pursuing subjected him to deprivation and depo-
sition, but it was not to be inferred from that that he meant
to pass such a sentence. If his Lordship granted a pro-
hibition on suck slight gronnds, he might put a stop to all
proceedings on the part of
.the Archbishop to regulate his
diocese.

VICE- CHAN CELL OR' S COURT, MIIRCIf 31.
ATTORNEY-OENERAL V. THE CORPORATION OF GRAVESEND.
This case, which was before the Court at intervals
during the greater part of last week, was concluded to-day.
It was a motion for an injunction to restrain the corpo-
ration front applying the pier tolls in payment of certain
loans which it was alleged it had made in contravention
of the Pier Acts, and to the prejudice of the proper credi-
tors of the tolls. His Honour thought that no part of the
motion could be granted at present. He should, there-
fore, make no order.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, MARCH 31.
In the course of the day an order was communicatekl from
the Lord High Chancellor to the Learned Commissioners
of this Court, enjoining upon them to require from the dif-
ferent official assignees a monthly return, upon oath, of all
the balances which may remain in their hands upon the
respective estates to the collection and administration of
which they may have been appointed. This matter has
been frequently pressed by the Commissioners themselves
upon the official assignees, but hitherto without the least
effect.

HACKNEY PETTY SESSIONS..