The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-30 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

It is familiar to common observation that the total
failure of crops, is a calamity which seldein occurs in
an extensive kingdom. What is thus generally true of
single countries, is always true of the world at large. Ii
is uniformly found that when the crops are unusually
deficient in a particular district, they are proportionably
abundant in some other quarter ; for it is a statement
corroborated by the widest experience, and calculated
to call forth the utmost thankfulness to the great Go-
vernor of the Universe, that provision has been thus
made for the variations of climate and the vicissitudes
of seasons. But in order to secure the benefits so
graciously designed (the essence of which are steady
prices and a constant supply), a system of averages,
not confined to a few ports in any nation,
but embracing all parts of the globe, should consti-
tute the regulating principle on which foreign corn may
be allowed importation into any particular State. Va-
rious schemes have been devised to accomplish these
objects, with a due regard to local interests, producing
results partially successful. However, as far as our
own country is concerned, few persons will be found to
agree in the proposition, that the present Corn-laws
afford either an adequate protection to the agricultural
body, or prove a satisfactory arrangement with reference
to the varied interests of the empire. It is certainly
true that the produce of land is more heavily taxed
than any other branch of industry, and therefore, agri-
culturists are entitled to demand that a du,y be laid on
foreign corn, when imported, corresponding to the ex-
cess of burdens affecting them. The justice of the
claim admits of no doubt,but the great difficulty lies in
ascertaining the amount of duty, and establishing the
mode of levy on fair and equitable principles. A fixed
duty is liable to many objections, and the sliding scale
now in force is universally admitted to be defective. At
the same time, it must be allowed that each system
has its respective merits, and perhaps are capable, by
a judicious combination of what is useful in both, of
leading to a solution of this complicated question.
With this view it is suggested that foreign corn should
be always admissible for consumption on the payment
of certain duties, the outline of which may be thus
specified. For instance, as to wheat (with a propor-
tional duty on all other species of grain), a fixed duty
of 10s. a quarter might be adopted when the home
price was at or under 60s. ; and for every shilling
that the price increased the duty to be diminished in
an equal rate, until the average price reached 705.,
when the constant duty of Is. should take effect. Un-
der regulations of this kind, the ports would be always
open, the duty would be so graduated as not to inter-
pose any formidable obstacle to importation, or hold out
indecements to ente.r on gambling speculations in order
to influence the averages, and the principal objection
removed, of levying high duties at famine prices.
Moreover, the revenue of the country will be benefited
—the working of the measure simplified—steady and
remunerating prices maintained, while the derangement
of the currency and circulation resulting from a fluc-
tuating trade, and consequent on the variations of the
foreign exchanges, would be maserially corrected.
On a calm review of the whole question, it is hoped
that the proposed plan will at least appear ars improve-
ment on the present system, and concede as much free-
dom to the trade of corn, ns will be found at the pre-
sent moment compatible with a just regard for the in-
terests involved, and a consideration for the vast amount
of capital embarked on the faith of existing laws.
Limerick, Jan. '2 5 , 1841.

FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

(From the London and Paris Ladies' Magazine o

Fashion.)

Velvet is at this moment the favourite material in the
fashionable world, whether for bonnets, paletote, or dresses;
of the latter, many are made with biais, or have lace
flounces and mantilles on the bodies ; watered silks and
satins, veloutes, are also trimmed with black lace ; re-
dingo:es have two rows of buttons down the front ; the
velvet bodies are again worn this season, in black, green,
or violet, with short sleeves trimmed with lace, and with
muslin skirts embroidered, or with three flounces of lace ; as
also with crape skirts, having three folds of velvet
of the colour of the corsage. There is no particular
change in the make of dresses ; the small short sleeves are
much ornamented, and lace is much used ; it is consi-
dered the long tight sleeve is already losing favour ; the
newest form now making in Paris is tight from the wrist
to the elbow, and then gradually enlarges to the shoul-
der. For evening dress, white, blue Joinville, and rosa
de Corinthe, are in favour. Scarfs of tarlatane, embroi-
dered and trimmed with lace, are much in demand, and
for young ladies scarfs are made of plain tarlatane, lined
with gauza, and trimmed with a fringe of pink and white.
Long gloves are finished on the top with wreaths of
gold fcuillage, cords of silver or gold, flowers, feather
fringe, lace, coques of ribands, &c. &c.
The hair continues to be dressed low; bandeaux arc very
generally worn, plaits being rather out of favour ; ring Las
are fashionable ; flowers arc much used in coiffures, the
newest are the diamenties, having dew-drops sparkling
like diamonds, some covered with snow, frost, &c., &c. ;
and the coiffure scraphique composed of a roulean of
marabouts placed at the back of the head enlarging and
terminating on each side near the checks, with deep
fringes plaited at the ends, and floating on the shoul-
ders. Turbans, resille hats, petits bords, all are now
in demand. Bonnets of black velvet have been
lined with pink velours epingle, with a pink ruche
round the interior edge, Velours epingle of citron, white
and green, &c., is much used ; one novelty is the in.
troduction of buttons to ornament bonnets; three small
buttons confine the nceuds at the side ; other trimmings
are roses pompons, curled feathers, cactuses, and wreaths
of moss, united by ribbon ; another novelty is the bonnet
of pluche bouclec ornamented with coques of the same on
one side, and a berthe of much smaller coques encircling
the face. Many bonnets arc now made of one piece of
silk, without the usual join of the frost and crown, which
is advantageous for the trimmings.