The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-08 00:00:00

MEDINA IMPROVEMENT BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING POST.
28. Old Bond-street, May 6, 1841.
Sir,—May I solicit the favour of your giving publicity to
certain clauses in the Medina Improvement bill, which, if
passed into a law, will, by Parliament sanctioning rights as-
serted by the corporation of Newport, but believed not to
exist, afford a most dangerous precedent for the advancement
of similar claims on the part of other corporate bodies who
happen to be conservators of rivers or harbours.
The preamble of the Bill states, " That the river. Medina
is navigable at certain tithes of high water only, for vessels and
boats ; but it is in parts extremely shallow, and at low water
is useless as a means of communication to the town of New-
port," which is five miles distant from the noble harbour of
Cowes at its mouth.

In consideration that a Joint-Stock Company shall expend
about 13,0001. in digging or dredging a channel to Newport
fer the use of small vessels (not likely to be executed for
suet a sum), and maintaining the same by continually
dredging as it tills up—the back water being wholly inade-
quate for the purpose—the Corporation, for the trifling sum
of 1501. to 2001. per annum, assert, and sell for 99 years, their
right in 6.:id to the bed of the river, and authorise the Company
(it sanctioner by Parliament) to embank any part of the river
from high to lon water-mark, and to sell any lands which
may be so reclaimed t; enclosure, to any person or persons, for
all or any part of their teiirn and estate therein. And farther,
as conservators of the navigatin:l, they include and transfer to
the said Joint-stock Company their power to take certain tolls,
dues, and petty customs upon goods acrd merchandise brought
into the said korough.
The attention of the General Shipowners' Society should be
drawn to the proposed transfer of tolls.
The determined opposition given by the inhabitants of East
and West Cowes to this job of their Newport neighbours has
occasioned the favour of a temporary respite, and the lands
which may be enclosed in front of the wharfs, promenades,
and buildings of those towns are not included in the Bill. Let
but Parliament sanction the Corporation right of taking the
river frontages of five miles of otherwise most valtoble pro-
perty on each side of the river, and next Sessien, withc,:it an-
other Act, the Corporation will be enabled to let or sell the
frontages of Cowes Harbour.
Now, if the Corporation do possess the enormous powers
asserted, they only could have been granted for the pubic
good and benefit of navigation, having reference, not to their
ditch of a river, but to the important harbour of Cowes,
over which and across the Solent Sea to the sands, called the
Brambles, their jurisdiction extend;; yet this property they
propose to demise for the benefit of the town of Newport only,
fur no improvements of Cowes harbour are contemplated by
the Bill. Should the Act be obtained, which this exposure
will render unlikely, having upwards of half a mile of
frontage of valuable building ground to the river and harbour
port recently purchased, and the remainder belonging to my
wife, the loss 1 should suffer would be immense ! and as a claim
to public sympathy, and opposition of Members of Parliament,
let us imagine the consternation of the owners of river-side
property in London, were the City, without compensation, to
enclose and sell all the lands in front of their wharfs, ware-
houses, and mansions, and give the power sought in the Me-
dina Bill of erecting buildings thereon. A pleasant pros-
pect truly ! 1 remain, Sir, your very obedient servant,
GEORGE EYRE BROOKS.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
The following are the results of " A Table of Mortality
in the Metropolis, showing the Number of Deaths from
all Causes Registered, in the week ending Saturday, the
Ist May, 1841." The Table is issued from the Office
of the Registrar-General:—
Weekly
CAUSES OF DEATH. Total. Average
1838-9-40.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases 139 204
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses lBO 151
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration
Diseases of the Bert and Bloodvessels
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other
Organs of Digestion 7O 60
Diseases of the Kidwys, &c.
Childbed, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c 0 1
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Old Age, or Natural Decay 59 71
Deaths by Violence, Privation, or Intemperance 15 25
Causes not specified 5 8
Deaths from all causes 907
Average Weekly DeathS .. 926
Deaths in the Average Weekly
Week. Deaths,lB3B-9-40.
Western Districts ... 141 ...... 139
North Districts
Central Districts 194 ..... 190
East Districts l7B ...... 211
South Districts ... ......

Total 907 926
It is stated that under the term Metropolis are com-
prised the 32 districts herein mentioned, which include the
City of London within and without the walls, the City and
Liberties of Westminster, the out parishes within the
bills of mortality—and the parishes of St. Marylebone ;
St. Pancras ; Kensington; Fulham ; Hammersmith
(Chapelry) ; St. Luke, Chelsea; Paddington; St. Mary,
Stoke Newington ; St. Leonard, Bromley ; St. Mary.le..
bow ; Camberwell ; Greenwich ; St. Nicholas and St.
Paul, Deptford; and Woolwich. The population as enu-
merated in 1831 was 1,594,890. The weekly average for
183$, 1839, 1840, was obtained by dividing the deaths in
tho three years by 156.
TEnYERATURE IN TILE WEEKS ENDING
April 24. Alsiy 1.
59' 72)
40 44
48 59
6, 1841.

Highest

Lo—west

Daily Mean .........
General Register-office, Ms

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF GENERAL SIR
RUFANE SHAWE DONKIN, M.P., AND K.C.B.—SOUTH-
MAY s.—On Monday, an inquest was held on the
body of the above venerable and gallant General, who ter-
minated his existence by hanging himself in his own apartment
here ( Southampton) on Sa!urday evening last. The evidence
went to show that Sir Rufaxe had for a considerable time been
labouring under serious bo:iily infirmities, accompanied by
great depression of spirits and occasii.nal aberrations of mind,
and that lately he had been subjected to strict personal super..
intendence. His friends, however, not anticipating any sui.
cidal attempt, did not place the gallant officer under that
.restraint which would have precluded him from taking his own
life, and hence the melancholy and distressing result. Verdict,
" Temporary insanity."
CoRN-LAWS.—Requisitions are in course of
signature for public meetings to petition against the Corn-
la'.c and support Ministers, in the borough of Southwark, SL
jarees'sClerkenwell, Southampton, Lvme Regis, and vast num-
bers of other towns throughout the kingdom. The proceed-
ings of Friday have excited a general commotion.
Admiral Thomas has been appointed to succeed
Admiral. Rosa u Ccmmander•in-Chief in the Pacific.

CORN LAWS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

- -
SIR —Your noble exertion in the cause of reform, and
the wide circulation of sour Journal in this county, miescs
me to request au insertion of this letter in your next Paper.
The duty on corn having now been made a " Cabinet
Question," it behoves every well-wisher of his c,sutitry to
exert himself for the repeal of these abominable laws.
With the exception of one Noble individual the landlords
in this country are for the most part a set of infa-
mous Tories who oppose to the full extent of their
power everything which has for its object the good
of the country. I have no doubt, therefore, that the re-
peal of the Corn-laws will be strenuously opposed by the
aristocracy and landlords of this county, more especially
to those who, bavi,,g small incomes, aro fearful lest
their rentals should decrease; for example, the Earl of
Warwick, who, it is expected, will use every means in his
poser to procure petitions from his tenantry against the
Repeal.

I
beg to say a few words to the farmers of this county.
Yeomen of Warwickshire—Come forward and express
your opinions on this great question—a;point a day to dis-
cuss the question. The repeal of the Corn.ltsys is
not a poli Teal question ; it is one which affects the
interest of all classes, and one of vital importance, to
you. The present high state of provisions cannot
exist lbng. The depression of trade, which every day in-
creases, will cause the mechanics to emigrate to coun-
tries where they can obtain a better remuneration
for their labour. English manufactures will then be
shut out from the Continent, and then farewell to
the glory of Old England. Yeomen of Warwickshire,
be assured unless you now step nobly forward and assist
in the repeal of the Corn-laws, }our fate is inevitably
sealed. Come forward then and sbew yourselves inde-
pendant Englishmen ! Fear not the persons of your
landlords ! Send petitions for the repeal to Parliament, and
oblige the nominee of the Earl of Warwick to present them.
Remember the words of Mr. Huskisson—.“ It is my unal-
terable conviction that we cannot uphold the Corn-laws,
now in existence, together with the present taxation, and at
the same time increase national prosperity, and preserve
public contentment."
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Warwick, May 6, 1841. H. H. F.

The Sheffield Operative Anti-Corn-law Association has just
issued the following spirited address :
NEVER DESPAIR, BUT FIRMLY PERSEVERE !

he benefit of so doing was never more strongly exemplified
than in the proud position in which the advocates for the repeal
of the Corn and Provision Laws stand at the present moment.
How many have derided their labours, and prophesied that no
benefit would ever arise from them.

Inhabitants of Sheffield ! the Anti-Corn-law Committee sin-
cerely congratulate you that the present Corn and Provision Laws
can no longer be borne. The increasing evils they arc produc-
ing,—the declining state of our manufactures, commerce, and
revenue, has at length awakened her Majebty's Government to
their impolicy and injustice. If they follow out their present
plan, a death-blow will be given to class-legislation and aristo-
cratic plunder, which takes from the inf,u,trious classes one.
third of their earnings, to gratify pride, luxury, and intolerance.
Operatives of Sheffield ! do your duty !
You were the first of your class who stepped forward in this
just and holy cause. You roused the attention of the artisans
of the United Kingdom. Make one more splendid effort. and
the victory will be yours. If the present moment be neglected
years of penitence and regret cannot recal it. Your oppres-
sors will stir earth and hell to pi event you from obtaining your
rights.
The advocates of class legislation say you must not eat slave-
grown sugar, but must pay double the price for that grown by
the West India planters, to whom you have given twenty mil-
lions sterling for compensation, for which 800.0001. a year has
to be provided for in taxes from the fruits of your industry ;
while you have consumed 80,000,0001b5. less of sugar, in 1840,
than you did in 1838; yet these planters purchased from Eng-
land slave-grown refined sugar far a less price than they sell
theirs at in its unrefined state.

The landowners say you must not give your knives, cotton, or
woollens, in exchange for food with other nations who have it
to give you in exchange; but you must keep them, and starve
in the streets, while foreigners, who can eat their bread and
beef at one-half the price, are beating you out of every market
in the world ; and the landowners say this, lest you should in-
jure the agriculturists (who, they urge, are your best custom-
ers), and deprive the agricultural labourer of his employment.
But this fallacy has often been exposed.
At the close of the war, which was created by Tory influence,
to crush the rising spirit of liberty in the people, thirty mil-
lions sterling, yearly, was added to your burdens; whilst their
rents had risen 100 per cent., in a depreciated currency. In
order to maintain their rents they pas ed the corn and pro-
vision laws. Had the agricultural labour employment before
the passing of those laws? Undoubtedly; and he received
•
more food for his labour than he does at the present moment.
Let not this silly stalking-horse alarm you. The repeal of
these laws will give you more labour and better wages.
What is most astonishing of all, in this contest for cheap
bread, is, the holy alliance of ultra-Chartism and ultra-To-
ryism. The Tories care not whom they 1.4 e as tools, provid-
ing they accomplish their purpose. The d :Wine of the ultra-
Chartists is to prevent every rational reform, and drive the
people to despair and madness, " by creating the greatest evil,
the greater good may come."
The address thus concludes—Rational Chartists ! who are
labouring to annihilate corruption and tyranny, by extending
information and giving the franchise to every rational being,
and vho support the opinions so ably set forth in the late ad-
dress of the London Association, by Messrs. Lovett, Collins,
&c.—are you ready to support the 'Tories, and play the same
game that some who call themselves Chartists have done at
Walsall and. Nottingham? We know who are not: witness
the spirited letter of the Chartists of Mansfield. Can you forget
Castlereagh and Sidmouth, or their worthy colleagues,
Ca-ties and Oliver? Can you forget the victims they
brought to the block, for the treason which they them-
selves were the authors and abettors ? Have not the
Tories always resisted every attempt to improve the happiness
or extend the rights of the people? Judge for yourselves, by
past experience. Will you place in power those who passed
the Corn-laws, at the bayonet's point, and would support them
with the sabre? Can you forget Peterloo? Give them a ma-
jority in the House of Commons, for the next seven years, and,
like the snake in the fable, they will turn round and sting those
who have supported them, and restored them to political
power. We ask you not to support us for party purposes. We
are as anxious for the extension of the liberties of the people,
and just and equal laws, as you are. We have got the wedge-
end into class-legislation, and we ask you to assist us to drive it
forward. It is '• measures not men," that we want, without
reference to party, whether Whig, Tory, Radical, or Chartist.
By order of the Operative Anti Corn-law Committee.
J. WARDLE, Secretary.
Men of Sheffield ! hasten and sign the petition, which will
lie open at the usual places until Saturday next, when it will
finally close.

ADDRESS OF THE COUNCIL OF
THE NATIONAL ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE.

To our Fellow-Countrymen,—Little more than two years
ago the Anti-Corn-law League was founded, for the purpose of
awakening the public mind to the injustice of a monopoly which
t 1 );es, for the benefit of the wealthy few, the food of an entire
people. Nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed from the
passing oi he Corn-law of 1815, dining which another gene-
ration had grouln up, habituated, and therefore apathetic to the
evils under which they were suffering from that law. The
League essayed to teach a.nation the causes of its sufferings.
The task was herculean ; tn.eir means were insignificant to so
mighty an end; but the cause in which they embarked was
just, and they did not despair of ultimate success. But the
progress of truth in the public mind has been more rapid than
they had ventured to anticipate. Witness the response of the
public press, and the co-operation of the enlightened and bene-
volent, in every part of the kingdom.
We hail the recent declaration of her Majesty's Govern-
ment as a crisis in the fate of this great national question.
The present is one of those tides in the affairs of men,
" which taken at the turn leads on to fortune." .

The duty of the people on this emergency is plain and
it is also urgent. The country is alive to the question of
the bread-tax—the Ministerial and Opposition parties in the
House of Commons are equally aware that something must
be done—this our annual motion for the House to deliberate
maturely on the subject has been taken out of the hands of our
trusted champion by the Ministers of the Crown. A month
—one short mouth is given us to work in. During that
month our labours must know no intermission. The result
Of .the deliberations of the House of Commons de-
pends upon the pressure that can be brought to
bea: upon them from without. To be indolent and
apathetic at such moments is the conduct of the wicked
generation idly asking for a sign, when it is blazing before
them. Let every man who would not bind upon his soul a
load of unavailing regret heavier than human strength can
bear, be labouring incessantly now that the hour has come.
Ministers have announced their intention to seek to re-ad-
just the balance between a decreasing revenue and an increas-
ing expenditure, by approximating our tariff, as far as they
can, to one constructed on the principle of taxing for revenue
aone, not for protection. They have at the same time an-
nounced their intention of grappling with the inevitable ques-
tion of the bread tax. BUT THEY HAVE KEPT THE Two
QUESTIONS SEPARATE. With the tariff they go to work at
once. But with regard to the bread tax they announce that
a month hence they will invite the Legislature to deliberate
what is to be done. They say to the country as plain as words
can speak, " Tell us what you want and what amount of sup-
port we can look for."
It is true that Lord John Russell said that he was in favour
of a low fixed duty ; but it is also true that Mr. Labouchere
declared against the principle of protective duties altogether;
and a tax upon imported grain is a protective duty. The true
view to take of the Ministerial step of Friday evening is, that
they are feeling their way to learn what they can and what
they ought to do. Therefore, we do say that they are the
true friends of their country, who, between this time and the
Ist of June, will exert themselves most strenuously to show
Ministers and the House of Commons what is the real
wish of the people on the great question of the bread-
tax. Honesty now, and always is, the best policy.
There must be no reserve ; every man must tell frankly
what he wants, the whole of what he wants. The man who,
thinking or professing to think that the law which imposed the
bread tax ought at once to be swept from the statute-book, is
as false to Government as to the cause, if he persuades those
who wish for total and immediate repeal, to ask for less. He
bids them deceive Government; he bids them tell Govern-
ment that fewer are prepared to back them in a total repeal
than really are; he bids them tell
.Government that a measure
will give satisfaction which he knows will not. Asking for all
we want cannot weaken our cause in Parliament. The House
of Commons will not reject what Ministers propose, because
they know that a heavier demand comes behind.
But ours " is not the cause of party or of faction, or of an 7
individual, but the common interest of every man in Britain.
Our business is to get up petitions, and persuade others to get_
up petitions, and to heap them on the table of the House 0!
Commons before the end of the month, for TOTAL AND
IM
MEDIATE REPEAL OE THE BREAD TAX. The operative must
be up and doing for the abolition of the bread tax, which
bpre-
vents hint earning food fur his family. '1 he capii.tcablisktvmpusstbime
up and doing for a repeal of the bread tax, v 4
dofttabxe,
in constant fear of bankruptcy, and surroundedei
hungry and
uplandirritaed men. The
thereclegy, t isbteyrsa crowdsosf
altar, must be
because it is a practical blasphemy, a wanb
man y h_is Maker.
fruits of earth freely best-wed upon
One month is ours, anti that month m nodr-esteucbtironea
must be spent in heap-
ingtill it break do
the table of the House of Commons,teg
both Ministers
wn
beneath the weight with petitions, and
the opposition that the repeal
of the Corn-laws can no longer
be postponed, and that that repeal must be total.
Signed on behalf of the Council of the National Anti-Corn-
law
League,
GEORGE WILSON, Chairman.
Manchester, May 4, 1841.

DEATHS IN, THE SURREY CANAL. It was
mentioned at an inquest held the other day at Peckham, before
Co',rone that as many as 4,048 bodies,had been
,Grand Surrey Canal ss ithin a period of
and that Taylor, who keeps the boat.
ttswaikre
ne. 1,7+:1;31
xt et
r ' t/ f
dears, t h e
house 41n the Perlham branch, had taken nut no Jess a rum-
bet than 300.

MORNING EDITION.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS.
The children of the National Schools of Lonrlors assembled
in the Egyptian Hall of the Alansion-house on Thursday, for
the purpose of undergoing the annual examination before the
Lord Mayor, several Clergymen, and other friends of the In •
stitutien.

The friends of the National Schools afterwards dined at the
London Tavern. Alderman and Sheriff Gibbs in the Chair.
The Chairman was supported by his brother Sheriff (Mr.
Farncomb), the Bishop of London, Mr. Pownall, Sir C. S.
Hunter, Doctor Russell, the Rev. G. Croly, &c. &c.
After the usual loyal toasts were drunk,
The CHAIRMAN proposed—" Success to the National
Schools." For the thirty years which had passed away since
their establishment they had rendered indescribable benefits
to the community, and he trusted that it would be soon in the
power of the Committee, through the benevolent contri
butions of the public, to establish a fourth school in the
Eastern part of the Metropolis.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.
He felt convinced that the friends of national education would
respond to the call, and vigorously promote the views of those
who were constantly labouring in the patriotic cause. It was.
he declared, particularly gratifying to hear the opinion so
warmly expressed by the flight Rev. Prelate the Bishop of
London, as to the superiority of the progress of the last year
over any former examination of the children. His Lordship
had sated that the test of advancement which he had that day
witnessed exceeded not only his expectations but any evidence
of past experience—that in fact of all the examinations at
which he had been present, that which he had just witnessed"
was the best, and bore the strongest marks of efficiency.—
(Cheers.) The Committee and the Chairman were deeply in-
debted to-the Rev. Dr. Russell for so ably superintending the
examination, which had called forth such valuable praise.

The toast was drunk with the highest applause.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of the Bishop of
London, whose exertions in the cause of national education,
and in the spread of religious knowledge by the erection of
churches wherever religious ignorance prevailed, would hand
dir.sn his name to posterity with an effect compared with which
labours for the promotion of other objects would be insigni-
ficant.—(Cheers.)
The Bishop of LONDON said that what their Honourable
Chairman bad attributed to him as a merit was nothinc, more
than the mere performance of a duty which it would be'culpa-
ble in him not to perform to the best of his capacity. fir
assured the Company that all the powers of his mind should be
directed to the advancement of the spiritual good of the com-
munity.—( Cheers.) He thought the present a proper occa-
sion on which to state that an inquiry was proceeding under
the King of Holland which addit:.?
nally proved the high claims
of that sovereign to the love and adrnj ration of his subjects and
of surrounding nations. His Majesty
,;;:td appointed a Com-
mission to investigate the causes of the fa, al effects of what
was called general education in England, and h.: (the Bishopof London) had sent over to the King the whole of the publi-
cations on the subject.—( Cheers. )
t he CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Clergy."
The Rev. GEORGE CROLY icturned thanks, and urgrti 16:
necessity of making every effort for the diffusion of nationkal
education. He assured the company that 100,000 childlest
we( e in the habit of viandering through the streets wholly des-
titute of the means of acquiring education. One-fourth or
that number would, in his (pinion, supply an adequate ,argu-
ment for the vigorous efforts of the friends of humanity.
Several other speeches were made in favour of the national
schoo;s, arid it was sugge:ted by some of the Committee that
great advantage might arise from appealing to the parochial
clergy to solicit contributions to forward the noble objects of
the friends of the rising generation.