The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-05 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS I)AY.
Wrning 17 minutes after 1 I Evening 36 minutes after 1,

LONDON:
MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1841.

The Glasgow Evening Post contains the fol-
lowing announcement :
We learn that it has been resolved that the demonstration
announced to take place in this city during the Easter recess,
will not be confined, as was originally intended,' to the consi-
deration of the Corn-laws alone, but will embrace the broad
general question of the duties on every description of goods
and produce imported into the United Kingdom, including, of
course, the duties levied upon corn and provisions. We believe
that this change will afford very general satisfaction, by giving
an interest to the meeting which would have been wanting had
it been restricted to the Corn-law question. The attendance
of Members of Parliament will also, in consequence of the al-
teration, he largely increased; and we may expect to hear the
entire subject of the commercial policy of the country deve-
loped by many of the ablest Members of the Legislature, and
by deputations from several of the leadinc, commercial and ma-
nufacturing towns. We understand thate' the Riding-school,
in Cambridge-street, has been fixed upon as the place where
the demonstration is to be held. It forms the largest covered
space within the city, and is capable of being fitted up to held
comfortably somewhere about fifteen hundred individuals. The
precise day for the festival has not been named, but we believe
it will shortly be announced.
We doubt the wisdom of the course here pro-
posed. The object, as we understand the an-
nouncement, is, to abstain from discussion of the
Corn-laws as a separate measure, and to combine
it with a discussion for the general revision of
the Import Duties. Against that we submit for
consideration the following arguments.
The Corn-laws, passed for the express purpose
of enriching one class at the expense of others,
are a gross violation of the first principles of po-
litical society, of morality, and of religion. They
violate the duty which the State owes to the
people, they justify disobedience, and risk the
continuance of allegiance. They levy a most
grossly unequal tax, suppose it were levied for
the purposes of the State, but being levied for
the benefit of an idle class, they are a shock-
ing and disgusting robbery of industry. They
deny to man the blessings which a boun-
teous ALMIGHTY has showered on the earth,
and, by exposing him to misery and want, they
sow discontent in his heart, and make him irreli-
gious and immoral. To repeal them would
strengthen the Government, increase the na-
tional wealth, and add to the general prosperity.
By taking this high ground, the question of the
abolition of the Corn-laws has made great pro-
gress in the hearts and minds of the people, and
has served to elevate their moral perceptions. It
has enlisted in its favour the sympathy of the
pious and the good. The ministers of religion
have taken an active part in its favour, and the
abolition, far from being confined to those who
merely look to their pockets, now interests the
religious and serious part of the community.
The import duties have no such claims to po-
pular support, and are not connected with such
high considerations. They are levied for the
purposes of revenue ; and they all go into the
Exchequer, except the discriminating duties on
sugar, timber, and coffee, which partake of
the characteristics of the Corn-laws, and are the
plunder of one class for the benefit of some
other class. The import duties are founded on
the necessity of supporting the State, and,
were we to ask to abolish them, we should
destroy the Government. Although they are
in some cases impolitic and injurious, although
many of them inflict a great injury on trade, it
may, on the whole, be doubted whether, judi-
ciously levied, they do not constitute one of the

best methods of providing for the wants of the

State. The import duties, therefore, rest on a
totally different foundation from the Corn-laws.

The former are, to a great extent, expedient; the
latter are nothing but robbery, which, like all

robbery, wastes and destroys infinitely more than

it benefits the thieves.

On this great difference of principle, we doubt
very much the propriety of adopting the course

proposed at Glasgow, and we would strongly re-
commend all classes to join with the League to
procure the total and immediate abolition of the
Corn-laws.

There are some considerations of expediency
which ought to weigh with those who seek the
abolition of the Corn-laws.
Of late several clergymen of all persuasions have
come forward to take an active part in the aboli-
tion of the Corn-laws, and have hallowed our
cause by the most sacred of all inotives, and the
most reverential language. Of late, too, the ma-
trons of Britain have graced and ennobled this
cause by their presence and their exertions. Both
classes have been called on by the highest motives
to exert themselves, and every day will obtain
from them more active co-operation. But
we can offer to these two classes no mo-
tives or reasons for concerning themselves
about the import duties ; and the course pro-
posed at Glasgow will deprive us at once
On moral and
of their inestimable help.

ligious principles we invoke their aid to abolisi

t ieCorn-laws--on principles of expediency we

cannot ask them to concern themselves with ti.

import duties.
The revision of those duties involves the ques-
tion of an equality of duties on produce the
growth of slave and free labour. On that poin t
the great organised and influential body opposed
to slavery are decidedly against abolishing the
present discriminating duties on the sugar and
coffee imported from the Brazils and from Ja-
maica. Unless that be abolished the object of
the merchants will not be obtained, nor will
justice be done. We think the Anti-Slavery
people decidedly wrong, but they are powerful
and united; and while we may count on their assis-
t tnce to procure the abolition of the Corn-laws
we should surely encounter their hostility in
proposing a just revision of the import duties.
Further it cannot be expected that the revision
of the tariff will disarm the hostility of the
Chartists, or enlist the multitude in its favour.
It will not do them justice, nor appease their
discontent. What do they care for an equaliza-
tion of duties on commodities brought from the
Brazils and Demerara ? Far from being satis-
fied with such a scheme, they would only re-
gard it as an additional instance of the total
want of sympathy in the middle classes with
them. They would at once say that these
classes are again looking after their own pockets
regardless of us. They know that this scheme
of a revision of the tariff is recommended by an
official man as a. means of obtaining a larger
revenue, and they would be urged by such a
consideration to defeat and oppose the revision.
Believing that the Chartists and the Anti-Slavery
body would oppose the revision of the import
duties, while the women and clergy would take
no part in that agitation, we think that the

COMMERCIAL BANK OF LONDON,
No. 3, Moorgate-street, Lothbury,
And No. 6, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden.
Capital Two Millions, in 2,000 ,hares, of 1,000/. each.
TRUSTEES.
The Right Hon. Lord Petre.
Thomas Barnewall, Esq.
Edward Ozenford, Esq.

Hon. William B. Petre.
John Taylor, Esq.
George Rennie, Jun., Esq.
DIRECTORS.
ED. STILLINGFLEET CAYLEY, Esq., M.P., Chairman.
TOHN TAYLOR, Dq., Deputy Chairman.
genry Barnewall, Esq. George Alfred Muskett, Esq.,
George Bulpett, Esq. M. P.
Thomas Collett, Esq. Edward Oxenford, Esq.
J. A. Douglas, Esq. George Rennie, Jun., Esq.
Thos. Grimsditch, Esq., M.P. John Shewell, Esq.
John Harvey, Esq. Joseph Travers, Esq.
Arthur T. Holroyd, Esq. Richard 'Walker, Esq., M.P.
Jonathan Hopkinson, Esq Charles Weld, Esq.
Thomas Wyse, Esq., M.P.
Ma NAGER.— Alfred R. Cutbill.
SOLICITORS.—Messrs. Amory, Sewell, and Moores ; and
Messrs. Norris and Sons.
The Directors having purchased the Banking Premises in
Henrietta-street, Covent Garden, lately occupied by Messrs.
Wright and Co., hereby give Notice, that Busioess commenced
on the 31st ult.
A Committee of Three of the Directors attend Daily in Hen-
rietta-street.:
Accounts of Parties received and kept on the plan generally
adopted by London Bankers.
Parties having current Accounts with this Bank have the
advantage of transferring any surplus Balance to a deposit
account bearing interest; and sums of money are received on
deposit from parties not keeping current accounts at such rate
of Interest, and for such periods as may be agreed upon.
An arrangement has been made which ensures the strictest
secrecy as to all accounts kept at this Bank.
Ttie Agency of Country and Foreign Banks, undertaken on
such terms as may be agreed upon.
Purchases and Sales of British and Foreign Securities, &c.,
effected, Dividends received, and every description of Banking
business transacted.

* . • .u,
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