The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-17 00:00:00

THE CORN-LAWS.

Several excellent speeches were delivered at the
meeting held in Clayton-square on Monday last, to pe-
tition the Legislature for the repeal of the Corn•laws.
Sir Joshua Walmsley showed how closely dependent
net merely the comfort and welfare of the working
classes, but our very existence as a great and inde-
pendent nation, is upon the removal of the iniquitous
tax on food, and of the numerous impolitic restrictions
en commerce, which fetter the industry of the country,
and render its vast resources comparatively unavailing.
Mr. Thornely delivered a statesman-like address, the
more valuable as it came from a practical man, long
engaged in commerce, and thoroughly conversant with
all its principles and details. Other gentlemen spoke
well, and to the purpose, but the speeches of the day
were decidedly those of Mr. Duffy, an operative tailor,
and Robert Jones, a labouring man. Honed Ro-
bert speaks feelingly, and, therefore, well. He ap-
peals to his own experience and that of his fellow-
workmen, and that appeal is quite unanswerable.
In 1833 he got good wages, and could then ob-
tain 91135. of bread for the shilling. In 1837 the
shilling loaf was only ,11 lbs., and instead of
having his wages raised, as they ought to hare
been, if there were any thing in the assertion of the mo-
nopolists that wages are dependent on the price of food,
he had to submit to a reduction of two shillings a week;
so that he got not only less food for his money, but had
less money to buy it with. " He always looked," said
he, " to what his wife fetched home -from market on the
Saturday night ; and what would be the use_ of his
having 5/. a week if it would not fill her basket ?" This
is hitting the right nail on the bead. The question is
not what is the nominal rate of wages, but what will
fill the basket, cover the back, and educate the mind ;
and the practical experience of such men as Robert
Jones on these points is worth a bushel of theories. Let
the working classes only take the trouble to think—
let them only, like Robert Jones, consider their own ex-
perience, with the inferences to which it leads, and they
will no longer submit to the delusion which has been
practised upon them. We are happy in the belief that
this enlightenment of the minds of the working classes
is in progress, for we are assured that, whenever that
process is effected, the doom of the Corn-laws, and of
all other restrictions on the industry of man and the free
enjoyment of the bounties of lie tven, is sealed at once
and for ever.—Liverpool Mercury.

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A meeting of the Kent and Sussex. Agricultural
Association took place on 'Wednesday last at l'enhurst, in
Kent. The ploughing match, which was vigorously con-
tested, was held in Lord De Lisle's park, and the ploughs
were numerous and must ably and skillfully worked.
After the labours of the day the party retired to the Lei-
cester Arms, where they dined, David Salomons, Esq , in
the chair, the Earl of Delawarr, who was to have presided,
having sent an arology expressing his regret at his tin_
avoidable absence. A number of the agricultural gentle-
men and the f rmers of the two counties supported the
Chairman. In the course of the evening, which was spent
most convivially, a great deal of agricultural information
was elicited, and many other proofs were given of the
utility of agricultural associations.