The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-22 00:00:00

'~~ =r~

EVENINVI

GREAT OPEN-AIR MEETING, IN
FAVOUR OF FREE TRADE.

the changes that were necessary, and he would not, for ones
refuse to take them, because they were only part of vrhat he
asked. If a man owed him 101. but could only pay him M. at
once, promising the remainder afterwards, which would be the
wise course-40 take what the man could pay, and wait for the
remainder, or to titraw him into prison ai.d probably lose the
whole? If he consulied a physician for a complication of dis-
eases, would it be wise to refuse a remedy which would relieve
the more severe of his complaints, because it would not at onee
cure the whole ? Whatever measures tended to the relief of

( AbT-idg;dfro; the Sheiftield Independent.)
On Wednesday evening a public meeting was held in Para-
dise-square, convened by the Master Cutler, to address the
Queen in favour of the abolition of all monopolies, and espe-
cially in those of corn, sugar, and timber. The meeting not
having been determined upon until noon of the same day,
the deficiency in the time allowed for making it public was
supplied by the active and zealous exertions of the Working
Mee's Anti-Corn-law Committee.
At about a quarter past six the proceedings commenced, and
the numbers rapidly increased, continuing to augment until
seven o'clock, when the whole area within the roads across and
up the east side of the square was filled with people. We
heard the number stated by a person unfavourable to the pro-
ceedings of the meeting at 12,000, others said 10,000 ; but we
should rather say, speaking moderately, seven or eight thou-
sand, a number which, considering the shortness of the notice,
is a strung proof of the deep interest which is felt in the pre-
sent effort of the Government to abate the monopolies under
which the people suffered.
The Master Cutler was unanimously called to the chair.
Mr. Dues" had attended many meetings, on many import-
ant occasions ; but he had never known an occasion more im-
portant than that which had now called them together. This
was a question that extended its branches much wider and
struck its roots far deeper, than any question of party politics.
The proposition before Parliament was to reduce the prohibi-
tory duty now levied on the sugar of foreign countries. An
alteration had also been proposed in the duties on timber and
on corn ; the great question, however, related to the corn.
fhe debate and the division were nominally on the sugar
duty, but in reality involved the whole. The amendment of
Lord Sandon was to the effect that we ought not to admit the
importation of foreign sugar, lest it should be an encourage-
ment to slavery. No men and no town in England hadatgreater
Horror of slavery than the men and the town of Sheffield ;
but the amendment suggested the serious question how
far the present monopoly tended to discourage slavery-in
other countries, as the Brazils and Cuba ? The argument of
Lord Sandon if it was good for anything, went to this, that
we ought to give up the use of all slave-grown produce—that
we ought not to receive the cotton or tobacco raised by slaves
in America; if the argument be good for anything, it ought
.o be pushed to this, its legitimate extent, and not confined to
the subject of sugar. But who were the men who used this
irgument ? and who complained that they could not, even with
a protection of fifty per cent., compete with slave-grown pro-
duce? The very men who had received twenty millions to en-
tble them to sustain the competition, now said that the amount
of saving effected in the price of sugar would be so small,
that it would do nothing for the poor man ; but he looked upon
.he measure as calculated to secure and extend our trade with
'.he Brazils; and if, the saving in the price of sugar should be
only eighteen pence the hundred weight, yet if it created a
trade that would secure constant employment to the artisans,
surely that would greatly improve their condition. Then with
regard to timber, even if the alteration of the duty did not re-
duce the price, yet established a trade with those countries which
used to deal largrly with us, and in which the manufacturers of
Sheffield once did a large amount of business, would be greatly
to our benefit ; since we excluded the timber of those countries,
hey, with retributive justice, excluded our goods. The ques-
tion then was, not merely whether the proposed measures would
reduce prices, but whether we could open foreign markets to
our manufactures. But the great question related to corn.
['tat eras the pinching point, and the main part. of the mea-
ure. It was said that if we should alter our duties an corn,
we should injure our best and largest customer, the home-
narket. If such an alteration were proposed as would mani-
festly put an end to the consumption of our Manufactures by
he agriculturists of England, it would be suicide to adopt it.
But from the present measure no such loss could take place.
Let them recollect that it was not proposed to go all at once to
free trade. There might be various .opinions on that point,
but they must all admit that a great step was made when it
was proposed to admit foreign corn at Ss. duty.—Thus
Si. would be given to the British more than to
the foreign grower. So far it was a tax on corn, and was a
disadvantage. But the advantage was, that it would reduce
the trade in corn to a certainty. There was one peculiar fea-
ture in this question. Some people argued that the manufac-
turing and commercial prosperity of England had grown up
under this law. Such men talked as: if the Corn-law was as
old as Methuselah ; but in fact it was only twelve years old,
having been brought in by Wellington and Peel in 1828. After
the law was passed we had a series of abundant harvests, which,
during the years 1833-4-5, caused the price of corn to be low.
Then the tables of Parliament groaned under petitions from
the people against this law, not from the artisans and manu-
facturers, but from the farmers themselves. These men, year
after year, deluged the Parliament with petitions, praying
for relief. The Duke of Buckingham, then Marquis
of Chandes, made an annual oration on the subject,'
and told the House they might do as they would, the
.armers could never be worse off than under those laws. Yet,
this very year, the same man tells the House that to touch
these laws would ruin them. They knew- that Earl Fitz-
william was desirous to abolish the Corn-laws. The Duke of
Devonshire took the same view, and would not allow his pri-
vate interest too stand in the way of public good. The first
Peer of the realm also, a native of Sheffield, a man who was
always first in every good word and work (the Duke of Nor-
folk) said the same thing ; and he believed he might say that,
in opposition to the Corn-laws, they had with them all the
blood of all the Howards. Let them not imagine, then, that
they were without friends among the landed interest; they had
many, and powerful friends. He did not ask them to support
a Whig or Tory Government. He did dot know whether
Mr. Otley would ask them to support a Chartist Govern-
ment ; but he asked them to aid in obtaining for them-
selves, for their townsmen, and for the men of Yorkshire
and Lancashire, the means of living. He asked them to
commisserate the destitute who were able and willing to work,
but unable to find employment. Let them bethink themselves
of the misery endured by such men, and their wives and chil-
dren. He believed in his soul that there were hundreds of
respectable working men in Shefild at this time unable to find
a sufficiency of bread for their children ; and if they had hearts
to pity these men, let them not be led astray and deluded.--
(Hear, hear.) Let them remember that cheap bread and
provisions were essential to the comforts of the poor. Let them
recollect the time when the men of Sheffield were best off,
when they were best employed, best paid, and most comfort.
able. That was at the time not whets bread was high, but
shen it was low.—(Cheers.) He with confidence submitted
the resolution he had to propose, which they would find
pledged them to no Government, but to the principles of free
trade. He read the resolution as follows :
" That a petition and address be presented to the Queen on
behalf of this meeting, assuring her Majesty that the mha-
sures which have been recently announced to Parliament by
nor Ministers for the revision of the import duties upon sugar,
corn, and timber, have been highly gratifying to the country. as
the heralds of a new and better system of fiscal policy, and un-
restricted trade ; and humbly. beseeching her Majesty not to
repose confidence in any Ministry who are not prepared to
accomplish such measures, and generally to introduce a more
enlarged and liberal system of commercial intercourse with
foreign countries."
Aneadded, with that resolution went his whole heart and soul,
and prayer, and he confidently left it in their hand---(Cheers. )
War. IBBOTSON, Esq.—( Loud cheers)—Seconded the reso-
lution. Let them only strip the question of everything ex-
traneous, and they would find that it was really very simple,
and such as no man of common understanding could fail to
comprehend. To one of his friends, who talked of its com-
plexity, he asked what proportion of a pound were sixteen thirty
seconds. He could not tell ; but when asked how much was
one half of a pound, he had no difficulty. Just so they should
deal with the question of the Corn-law. Let them suppose a
small island, with 100 inhabitants, producing food enough for
themselves and one-third more, which they exported to pur-
chase other articles. In time, the population might increase to
200, and then, so far from having corn to export, they
would not have enough at home. They must therefore
find some other commodity to export to buy the corn
they needed as well as the other things, which before
they had purchased with corn. Supposing that they manu-
factured hardware, and went on till the population had reached
four hundred thousand; it was plain they must then have an
immense importation of corn. The system would work well.
But suppose a few old families owning the land should conspire
to lay a duty of 50 pet• cent. upon all imported corn, in order
to raise the price of that produced on their own land. Then,
the corn that cost 205., would pay a duty of 10s. The effect of
that would at first be to make the hardware exported 50 per
cent. dearer to the purchasers. But they would retaliate and
lay a duty of 50 per cent. on the hardware. Thus, its price
would be practically raised from 20s. to 40s, or 100 per cent. TORY OFFICIALS.
But suppose the purchasers of the hardware should begin TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
to manufacture for themselves, and could make for 30s. the SIA,-Some of the underling officials in the country are
hardware which, with the duty, cost 40s. Then the island- giving out that Ministers have caused an inquiry to be insti-
ers must meet them in the market, and sell their own hard- tilted in the various departments, to ascertain whether addi-
ware, burdened with the double duties, for 305., which would tional receipts to the revenue cannot be screwed out of some of
reduce the price paid to the manufacturers and artizans for the items of taxation which have been remitted to the country,
what they used to sell for 205., to 10s. Thus they might go in order to make up the present deficiency in the income, and
on, as we had done, increasing their exports, but getting less that such inquiry, so far as regards the department in which
for them. Thus wages and profits would be reduced, till they serve, has been made through them. Now, Mr. Editor,
workmen were starved, and masters ruined. Just such was what I want, by my present lettee, is to impress upon Ministers
the operation here. Our prices were now constantly reduced not to trust the reports which they may receive through such
by competition—a competition in a great degree created by quarters; many of them took their offices under the Tories
our absurd laws, which would not allow those who want our whilst they were in power, and would gladly hail their return,
goods to pay for them in the only commodities they have to as the greatest God-send that could befal them. I trust Minis-
give. Surely every man could understand this, and they ought ters know better than to endeavour to improve the ieveuue
nby
to support the Government who had offered to make a great restoring items of taxation which they have given up on accout-
and beneficial change.—( Loud cheers.) of their vexatious and oppressive nallre. They are nog` stand
Mr. OTLEY said, it had been currently stated that the ing well with the country, and the recent division will improve
party to whom he belonged, had continually opposed the re- their popularity ; let them not injure themselves by a departure,
peal of the Corn-laws, and the amelioration of the condition in the slightest degree, from the just principles which they
of the working classes. Now, let them mark what these have laid down. '1 he country will support them to the uter
gentlemen were doing. There was a motion before Pasha- dismay of the Tories. The people are no longer to be butte
gentlemen do what ?To repeal the Corn-laws ?No such winked, their eyes are opened, and when the time comes when
thing. They knew better than that. lie told them Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell will appeal to them,
three years ago they would never get the Corn-laws repealed, they will manfully do their dutts, and carry her Majesty's M 5
and he told them so now.---( Disapprobation. ) There was too cisters triumphantly through alr the interested opposition h
touch class legislation ever to obtain a thorough, perfect, and monopolists, however powerful they may
unconditional repeal of the Corn-laws. '1 hese gentlemen I am, Mr. Editor. your ,
obedient.
servant,
would take an instalment of Bs. per qnarter, which would make Yorkshire, May '2O. A COI.STAN f h 'EADER.
or bahead-
it 10s. per quarter when the expense of transit was paid, so [lf Government would decimate (not by S g
fancy themselves t o be.
that there would be no improvement in the condition of the ing, but cashiering) the upper,Tnoriesiwgonld never'
working classes. It would only give the masters an opportu- who betray those they ouht to support, the .
the Common.]
now have in
nity of getting quit of their goods, which the men would have again muster sunh minority as ish
~,,.......j........_...„,„____
to produce at lower wages.—( Hear, hear, and disapprobation.) a well as liehuandehr)l n cfficials
They wanted the repeal of the Corn-laws in order to enable
them to compete with foreign nations. Competition was ex-. NAVAL
The Dee steam-vessel, Coin
-
P MAY 21.
, INTELLiGENCE.
eluding us from the markets, because we could not produce CO arrived at Woolwich on Saturday-
'milder J. Sherer,
cheaply as others ; but what was the reason ?—(The Corns
laws. ) Let them look at Ireland. They had bread cheap last, from the
there.—(No, no, they've nothing cheap there.) l'll tell you morrow (this day.
West Indies,Lieutenant
-Commander
f ltvo-.
Woolwich to-morrow
why. Because they have nothing to purchase anything with. The Spitfire stc2mt-eNd-estsoel,
It will be the same here. Ireland is only a picture of the Tringham, is expec
th, where she will be paid
States of the Continent with which you will have to com- (this day), for Portsmcou , wages
leave
pets. Gentlemen talked of monopolies, but not of those that
were of value to them. They said nothing against the profess for service on that station..
in advance, and after% a. ids proceed to the West Indies,
sions into which they could initiate their children, to make ME TRAFALGAR.—This splendid vessel is now so far
them gentlemen.—( Question.) Trade monopolies was the advanced, owing to the number of extra. hands recently
question. Then there was the army, in which they could
p Great numbers of persons daily, with the excel);
employed upon owing
that orders have been received to
make their sons officers.—(Quest ion ;" So may you,") Not repare for launching her on Saturday, the 19th of June
wihout money to purchase. . Then there was the monopoly of ' next
the hereditary landowner. And, above all, mark this, there ;lion of Sunday, visit this magnificent ship of 120 guns,
was the monopy of legislation.—(Hear, hear. ) They say they and she now presents a beautiful appearance. as her con-
! •struction is elegant and pleasing to the eye, notwithstanding
advocate free trade and liberty; but do they give you lipbearrthya
give us her large dimensions, and reflects great credit on the taste
—(No, no. ) Will they give you representatives in
meat ?—( Question. ) This is the question. Let them h '
representatives, and we will repeal the Corn-laws, and all
moteeer. ~t the architect who designed her. ; A gigantic bust of
bow, and from its magnitude has. an excellent effect.
obnoxious laws. I expected opposition to night, for the
n _art Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar, has been placed on her
ing has been packed.--, ( Who could pack a meetio
dine-square?) 1 shall now move an amendment.—(Mr.
fter To-day, being her Majesty's birthday, many of the
here received a hint from a friend behind le
hi
d; aln conse- Greenwich pensioners had a holiday, and numbers of
merit's consultation with whom, he continue
I) these brave veterans visited Woolwich to view the Tra-
shall not at
g 10.tleay-
quence of the advice of a few friends behind me . . ,
falgar, and appeared to be in raptures while pacing the
present make any motiou. —( Laughter. )recalling the asst.-
deck of a vessel every way worthy of
Mr. ELLlOTT—(Cheers)—hire Odey tells you that two
Laughter ; "We ciations of th • earlier - Some of the young tars
their ) ears.
loaves instead of one will lower wages.—(
•not, whether you will have who visited the vessel at the same time went out upon
don't believe it.") The question is
wages at all. He has of 20 feet in front of
low wages, or whether you will have any . i
the bow, which extends upwards .
'don. Coropeta oudepends the vessel, and kissed with the greatest apparent delight
told you a deal about competi
and
on the amount they have and the gallant Nelson, a name which
upon the number of competitors,the bust of
fervour .
to compete for. If you
still go on increasing, without a tor-require, rouse the spirit of
ne , \ will yet, as occasion may .
must have too m t.
responding increase of food, you .
and r many c° - 1 many a brave sailor in the hour when their services are
tors.—( Cheers. ) If Corn-faros s monopoles are good their country. It is delightful to
all to bedperous now ; are you se 2 l required in behalf of
things, you ought
Sugar D • . •these feelings of attachment to* represents,-
" No, no." Then it is not for want of Duties and Corn•
witness
•memorials of those who have 40 valiantly sus.
laws.—( Cheers. ) tons or me
nour of their native land.
Mr. BENSON appealed to the meeting if they had not made i tamed the ho
it known as much to Chartists as to Whigs, and as much to
.
Whigs as to Tories, as much as lay i n their power (Cheers. ) ?--i HER.—NOON THE WEATHER.—NOON,' 2-2
/' MAY
And now he asked—was there any pretence for swing that ! ROYAL GALLERY OP SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET.
they had unfairly p_acked the meeting, even if such a thing . Barometer
way possible ?....(tt No, no, and cheers.) He contended that_ 'thermometer... 63 Highest .... •••• 69 [ Lowest .... 54
the present proposition of Ministers was an approximation to ' Wind S.«',--Freezing Point 32 Deg. 0..4

tke people he would support, believing he should thus most
effectually promote the great end he had in view ; but 'never
while he lived should he rest satisfied or ceased to struggle till
he such more accomplished than was now proposed.
Mr. HALL, an operative, thought Mr. Otley had not
spoken rightly in saying their wages would be reduced by a
repeal of the Corn-laws. He had attentively watched the
fluctuations of trade since 1810, and he never knew a pros-
perous state of trade produce a reduction of wages.—(Cheers,
While trade was increasing, they had never seen working-
men reduced to the state of poverty and misery they now en-
dured. What had brought about this reduction ? It was the
Corn-laws. What would restore them to prosperity? The
repeal of the Corn-laws.—( Hear, hear.) It was impo-sible
that their wages could be lower when the Corn-law was re-
pealed than they were now. Where was the man among the
table •knife hatters who could earn more than eight or nine
shillings a week, unless he called in the assistance of his
ebil
clren,• and they increaxd the competition? He contended,
then, that the repeal of the Corn-law could not reduce wages

lower than they were now.
Mr. SMITH, a printer, said if England would abolish the
Corn-laws, and the United States would establish a national
bank, the trade between the two countries would again pros-
per. At present the price of American flour was such that it
'might be imported into England at Is. 6d. per stone, thus giv-
ing cheap bread, and a demand for our manufactures to the
extent of millions. The establishment of free trade would go
far to annihilate the manufactures of the United States, which

......
were every year becoming stronger ; but if the measure were
much longer delayed, the manufacturers of the United States
would become so much more powerful, that the Federal Go-
vernment would not be able to establish free trade with Eng-

land, which it would now be glad to do.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution? in favour of
which there was a general show of hands throughout the
whole meeting, while against it there only appeared I;bout a
score of hands ; and the Master Cutler declared, amid loud
cheers, that the resolution was carried almost unanimously, •
WILLIAM VICKERS, Esq., came forward to move the sty
cond resolution. He was there to support free trade in core,
and in every other commodity. Let them but have fair ',lay,
and they would not fear to take their chance in the wide
market of the world. To say that we desired the repeal
of the Corn-laws, to enable us to compete, supposed that
we were .now exempted from the necessity of competion. But
it was not ho, for we had competitors in every market at present;
and the only difference made by the Corn laws was, that we
competed with them under great disadvantages. Scissors were
now made in Germany and Prussia much cheaper than in Eng-
land, and cheaper knives were made there than we covet. pro
duce. Our matchet trade was gone entirely. And if we were to
compete for JO years longer with our foreign rivals, on the sante
terms as we had done since the peace, our manufactories might
be shut up, and this country must become agricultural. Ho
had great pleasure in proposing the Arllress to the Queen,
praying her Majesty, whether her advisers be Whigs or Tories,
to give her countenance to none who would not gave the people

fregtrade but above all, free trade in corn.—(Cheers. )
Mr. trade,
the motion. He
avowed himself a Radical, and wiling to go further than the
Ministry. But as Mr. Benson had well put it, if he were
labouring under several diseases, it would be absurd to refuse
medicine that would cure one, because the sarne thing would
not cure all the rest. That was ju.t their position as to tl,e
Corn-law. To concur in its removal need not prevent their
also agitating for the Charter, or applying for the Suffrage.
But if they wished to accomplish those objects, they must exist ,
which they could not do without food.
Mr. ELLIOTT said, the landowners are forcing men to ask,
a hundred years before the time, whether a class of persons
living on the rent of the land, ought any longer to exist in
this country? In deciding that their monopolies shall die a
natural death, or rather a most unnatural one, by destroying
the trade of this country, they, in effect, decide that their land
shall be divided among their victims. That such must be the
result if they persevere, I will make plain to your senses. Is
it not plain to your senses, that at Sheffield, on about 600
acres of bad land, covered with houses and steam engines,
live 120,000 human beings ? Now, these 600 acres of land,
if employed in agriculture, would not comfortably sustain more
than a hundred families, or 500 persons. Suppose your trade
destroyed, then, what would become of 119,500 people, here
thrown out of subsistence by Act of Parliament ? They
must fall upon the land for maintenance, because there
will be nothing else to fall upon ; and they must divide the
land, because there will be nothing else to divide, all commer-
cial property being annihilated. Yet the Duke of Wellington.
the winner of the bread-tax, who ignorantly dines every. day
on the ruined fortunes of his countrymen, expressed a wish, a
few days ago, if I understand his reported speech, that this
country had no trade! Suppose his wish gratified, what would
be the consequences? In a very short time two-thirds of you
would be living, if at all, on parish pay, thrice the number of
workhouses would not admit one-third of the applicants for
admission. There would soon be no wages, no ratepayers,
and no markets. House proprietors could not live on their
property, for no one could pay them ; mortgagees could not
receive a farthing interest, for the same reason • no farmer
would sow his land, for he would not be allowed reap the
harvest ; no shopkeeper would open Isis shop, for, if he
did, it would be instantly gutted ; and when the storm
had rocked itself to rest, and two-thirds of you had perished,
there would not be in these islands, thenceforth and for ever,
a class of men, and perhaps not an individual, living on the
rent of land. All of you, not the slandered Chartists only,
but all classes of men in the nation, particularly the pious re-
spectables, the great manufacturers and merchants, the richer
shopkeepers, the mote wealthy portion of the religionists . of all
denominations, and almost every parson, whether Dissenter or
Churchman, have supported, during the last twenty-six years,
and are still supporting, the aristocracy and their food tax, and
all other monopolists and monopolies.
The Rev. R. S. BAYLEY—(Cheers)—Was in favour of free
trade, without an exception, in religion, in commerce, in poli-
tics, in education—he repeated, without an exception.—
(Cheers.) One of his motives for appearing on this occasion
was to speak to the poor. He was the minister of the poor. It
had never fallen to his lot, and never, probably, would, unless
he should follow theexample of which they bad recently seen an
instance in the medical profession, and become a renegade, to
school the great. The bulk of his congregation consisted of
the horny-handed sons of toil. He knew how they felt—how
they lived—what was the furniture of their houses—how their
children were educated—and what was the state of their own
knowledge ind morality ; and he said, without the slightest in-
tention of slandering or hurting any one, that he believed one
of the most alarming symptoms of the operations of the Corn-
laws to be, that they deteriorated immensely beyond what any
table could show, or even Mr. Elliott, with his diamond pen,
describe, the morality of the country.—(Hear, hear,) At the
present time there was such a concurrence of circumstances as
he never remembered to have known before. We had a young
Queen—an independent and high-spirited woman, who had
shown her independence, and saved us once. —( Hear, hear.)
She was now on the perilous edge of faction, and could look
to no protection but her people. The people of England were
the best protectors of England's monarch. If the people
failed to protect her and her Ministers, she must fall under
the power of the aristocracy, and when they had got
the Queen into their own hands, and weaned her
of her popular bias, then the people would have to reproach
themselves for the lethargy that had permitted it. He was re-
joiced that this meeting had been so pacific and determined.
If the Chartists were to worry the Reformers, and the Re-
formers the Chartists, the consequence must be that the Tories
would %vex-I.y both.—( Hear, hear.) He hoped they would live
to see the day not only of the abolition of the Corn-laws, but
when there should be no need to head their placards with " No
Monopoly," because, in politics, in religion, and in trade,
there should be liberty and. equality without exception.—
(Cheers-)
The CHAIWSIAN then read the resolution and address, and
put it to the vote, when the show of hands in favour was large,
and the minority seemed even smaller than on the former mo-
tion. The Chairman declared it to be carried almost unani-
mously.—(Loud cheers.)
This triumphant and satisfactory meeting closed about eight
o'clock.