The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-04 00:00:00

THE REQUISITION TO LORD

. P.ALM ERSTON.
The friends of free trade in this town lia,re deter-
mined to invite th distinguished statesman whose nam
stands at the head of this article, to allow
put in nomination at the next general :iimself to bt
election, as one o
the candidates for the represerLati
Liverpool. The requisitio on of the borough o
to his Lordship, though onl ti
publicly announced 'an Saturday, is already most respect
ably signed, an "I:includes the names of as large a portion 0:
the pron,:ay and intelligence of the mercantile body a
liave ever seen to any similar document. Its progres
nitherto has been extremely gratifying to those who ori-
ginated it, and in no respect more so than in this, that
it has received the names of many Nntlemen of
Conservative principles, who have taken thil method
of showing their concurrence in the commercial policy
of her Majesty's Ministers, and their gratitude t,,
them for bringing. it forward. The number of signa-
tures of this description far surpasses our hopes, ant)
encourages us to believe that the politics of the coun
try are about to assume a more healthy and prac-
tical character than they have possessed for som,
years. In addition to the Conservatives wh,
have signed the requisition, we are in possession of th(
names of many gentlemen of the same principles who art
determined to vote for Lord Palmerston if he should allco%
himself to be put in nomination, and these names, we ar,
convinced, are only the representatives of a large clas,
favourable, in the main, to the political principle:
of Lord Sandon and Mr. Cresswell, but not disposed t,
sacrifice the obvious interests of themselves and thei
families to mere party convenience. Indeed, the mor,
we see of the state of public opinion in this town, th(
more we are convinced that the battle of commercial
reform may be fought hen with signal success.
Of the many hundred names already attached to tht
requisition the greater portion are those of merchants.
shipowners, brokers, and professional men. We trust
however, that in the course of the present week it wil:
he numerously signed by the shopkeepers and tradesmen
of the town. Great numbers of them signed it yester-
day.—Liverpool

THE WEATHER.—NOON, JUNE 3.
ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET,
Barometer
Thermometer... 66 Highest 74 f Lowest .... ..... 53
Wind S.W.—Freezing Point 32 Deg.

THE CORN-JAWS AND THE MINISTERIAL
PLAN.—Foremost and chief in the list of wrongs which
class legislation has inflicted on the country stand the
Corn and Provision-laws—the food monopoly. Markets
closing, trade failing, workmen starving, wages falling,
provisions rising ; these are amongst the miserable effect,-
of this pernicious monopoly. And for what are the Corn-
laws upheld ? For the questionable benefit of the landed
proprietary, and this to the certain injury of all other
classes ! Or are they maintained to secure the relative
elevation of the landed interest in the social scale by the
depression of the commercial and manufacturing part or
the community ? Whatever be their object, the country
now groans under their weight. To sutler them to exist
much longer will be perraanently to depress the produc-
tive energies of England ; to endanger the very safety
and order of society. lam for the total and immediate
abolition of the Corn-laws. Let us have a free corn
trade. Let the importation of foreign grain and cattle
be restricted by -no duties or impediments. To the
attainment of that object shall my energies be di-
rected, if returned to represent you in Parliament.
The relaxation of the Corn-laws proposed by the Go-
vernment, is a part of a general financial scheme. That
scheme has my support on many grounds : first, because
it aims a mortal blow at the colonial and landed mono-
polies under which the country labours--a blow after
which these monopolies may linger for a while, but
from which they cannot recover, but must ultimately ex-
pire. Second, because the most successful mode of
swelling a revenue raised by duties on consumption, is by
increasing the facilities for consumption ; by adding to
the supply and lowering the price of the commodities on
which the duties for revenue are levied. The admission
of foreign sugars at a lower rate of duty would tend to
that result, the present rate of duty Jeing such as al-
most to amount to prohibition. Third, because it pro-
mises relief to all classes of the people, by its tendency
to cheapen some of the first necessaries and comforts of
life, to extend the markets for our industry, to add to
the demand for, and thereby increase the wages of,
labour. Thus the public revenues of the State, and the
private revenue of the people would be benefited by
the same means, and at the same time.—Mr. Gibson s
Address to the Electors of Manchester.
CITY AND COUNTY OF LIMERICK.—Sir
David Roche, Bart., M. P., arrived in town this morning from
Limerick, and is to sail this evening for London, to vote against
Sir Robert Peel's motion of " Want of Confidence." The
Hon. Member will again stand for Limerick, which will have
the effect of preventing any contest for that city, and will also
enable the Reformers there to secure the return of two Liberal
Members for the county, where the registry is in a most satis-
factory state, the Reformer, }riving a majority upon the 201.
and 50/. freeholders, exclusive of the honest ten pound elec.
tom—Dublin Evening Post.
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.-
7he census of the Unitzll States is at length officially an-
nounced, so far as refers to the population ; although rfew tin-
important counties have been estimated, from a want of proper
returns. The number of inhabitants is 17,100,572, included
in which are 2,369,553 slaves, and 371,606 free coloured pecks
pie, 'Via Forulatioa in 1830 was 12,856,407.

.: _ i

THE IRON TRADE.

IMPORTANT TO IRON MASTERS.

(Alu•idged ii•otn the Mining Journal of the 22d.

and 29th May.)
(The following only appeared in part of our
Morning Edition] :

LANOLIN IRON AND COAL COMPANY.

The operations of this Company (if prosecuted
with • energy) tending to have a considerable
influence on the imports into France of coal and
iron from this country, and the Company being
represented as having arrived at that point, by
the development of their coal-field, which justi-
fies them in considering the propriety of imme-
diately erecting furnaces for the manufacture of
iron, we have availed ourselves of the informa-
tion rendered by parties interested in the under-
taking, and more especially Mr. Nixon (the en-
gineer or viewer), in making notes of the progress
made and its present position. We observe, by
official returns, that the quantity of English coal
imported into France in the past twelve months
was 394,954 tons, the value of which may be
fairly assumed at upwards of 600,0001., and the
exports from Belgium to France, in 1838, are
given at about 400,000,000 kilogrammes. The
quantity of iron made in France, we find, ranges
from 350,000 .tons to 380,000 tons per annum, of
which not more than one-seventh is made with
coke—the latest return made, we believe, giving
twenty-two coke furnaces in activity7which, with
a weekly make of fifty tons each, would give but
50,000 tons annually—and the number of furnaces
for the manufacture of iron with charcoal being
443, yielding a produce of about 300,000 tons
annually. With reference to the consumption
of coal, we 'find, from official documents, that, in
the year 1838, the quantity of coal raised in France
wa..4 3,113,252 tons, and that imported 1,227,030
tons-=-making anaggregateof4,34o,2B2 tons. With
these data, and the, Statement embodied in the
paper on the Collieries and Iron Manufactures
of Belgium, inserted in another column, it will '
be at once seen the influence the development of
the mineral resources of our continental neigh-
bours must necessarily have on this country—
and hence our directing attention to this Com-
pany, more particularly from the extent of its
resources, as represented to us.
The property possessed by the Company is
situate on the banks of the Erdre, about twenty
miles from Nantes, the concession or grant being
seven miles in length, on the range of the coal
veins, which here take a-nearly vertical declina-
tion, being 80 deg. The veins at present worked,
but only partially, are three in number, varying
in thickness of from twelve inches to sixty feet,
which is the aggregate at the point of junction,
the veins having been worked through as one
mass of coal in certain parts of the old work-
ings. The three measures, known as the north,
central, and south veins, may be said to be com-
prehended within a space of about seventy
yards, but, as already observed, in some places
forming a junction. This coal is said to be the
and
rior
nfe
quality.ryi
ieeu id. es adaptedT6hie
pneorr
ifcioeiv•nett eolfvma asrlnveeoeudfikolrft:aar
formerly
ttuohuetafirei.lileiiysts‘c.ouyofp:;')nnei,
pitw assu nfoku
ity
the vein yv
eai n
onlythes e inter-
sected eo coal
aapti
f the
et.roooabml ft.ew3awsa tont
however,o3 ffti
I 6e
own
pth
ci mechanical Proprietors,
os nA4vi:ivnlstoeeiheirrifaecelwxedttocp; strict of the Loire
iun
water having so increased as to impe_tl
e their pro-
zress, from the circumstance of horses only used for unwatetilg„ the pithy barrels.
This pit is now, ho-oever, being cleared of water
by the introde •
..ction of pumps, which has been
effected othe depth of 200 feet, which are
o w lived
er
by the application of flat-rods to a
, powerful engine, erected on another part Of the
colliery, where a deep pit, for the " winning" of
the three veins, is being sunk. Another pit,
called the " Road Pit," was also put down,
which took the three veins, forming a " bundle,"
and workings were prosecuted on the range to
the extent of 250 yards, but not to any depth of
consequence; the coal at this point, as, indeed,
may be said to be the case in other parts of the
old workings having rather been partially proved
than worked, and therefore still standing as
whole ground, with such exceptions as may be
found in the present statement. At Pit Emma,
which is about twenty yards north-west of the
latter, a depth was attained of 400 feet, where
the north vein was intersected—the thick-
ness of which was never astertained beyond
the size of the pit, 10ft., 3 in. by 51t. 10in.,
which was entirely in the coal. In this case, as
in the former referred to, on cutting- the coal a
feeder of water was met with, which drowned
out the workings; and the impracticability, with
the power employed, of beating out the water,
led to the discontinuance of further operations
at this.point. These two latterpits communicate
with each other by levels or galleries, driven at
the respective depths of 270 and 330 feet. About
800 yards to the north-west of Pit Emma another
shaft is sunk to the depth of 3do feet, where the
coal was cut by driving a short cross-cut, being
found there to be about six feet thick. Want of
power, or engineering ability, in like manner, in
this case prevented the pit being sunk to a fur-
ther depth, but which is now preposed to be
done. Indeed, with reference to the three last-
mentioned pits, active operations are being car-
ried on for draining the old workings, and fur-
lier sinking the pits, by communicating the one
with the other at the lower depths. At about
130 yards further north-west another pit has been
sunk 300 feet. This pit intersected the three se-
veral measures, or veins, at a depth of 150 feet,
where the thickness of the seams was forty-five
feet, and has been worked to about eighty feet
deeper than the point of intersection, but not to
any great extent in length.
Again, further north-west 300 yards, a pit has
been sunk by the present proprietors to the depth
of 200 feet, at which depth another feeder was
cut, which rendered it necessary to discontinue
the working for a time, until extra power was
obtained, by attaching flat-rods to the engine ;
the thickness of the vein was proved by a cross-
cut from the shaft, at 170 feet depth, to be twelve
feet in thickness, and which remains unworked
until the pit-work is completed and the water
drained. We have thus been !,ninute in detailing
the principal workings, to show the extent to
which the colliery may be worked, provided it
was unwatered, and that energetic measures be
taken for extending the operations, by sinking
the present pits to a greater depth, and opening
communications by galleries, with the object o
affording facility in drawing the water, as also
aiding the ventilation. It will be seen that the
several veins vary in thickness, as do they in
their proximity to each other—at one time giving
an aggregate thickness of four or five feet, in
others twenty to thirty, and in some instances of
fifty to sixty feet.
The operations of the present company have
hitherto been principally directed to the sinking
of a main engine pit, and to the re-opening of the
old pits, and applying machinery for unwatering
them. The principal pit on which the large en-
;Tine is erected, it is contemplated will afford all
the facilities necessary for unwateringthegreater
Part of the concession, and is at present sunk to
~he depth of 160 feet, its size (ten feet) being di-
vided—the one part being employed for pump-
ing, and the other part as a winding pit. At the
depth of 100 feet from surface a cross-cut was
driven to intersect the south vein, which proved
to be of about three feet six inches, of very supe-
rior quality, and thus affording another point from
which to raise coal, which cross-cut will be conti-
nued to take the central and north veins—the
coal being unworked at this part of the colliery
for several hundred yards in extent. The engine
is described as being equal to 350 to 400-horse
power, being the largest in France, and calcu-
lated to draw 300 fathoms, being upwards of four
times the depth of the lowest present works—
the pumps employed varying from six to twelve
inches. There are also two other engines, of
English manufacture, one 20-horse power and
the other 40-horse power.
We are given to understand that about 70,000/.
has been expended on the undertaking—the ca-
pital of the company. being 100,0001.—thus leav-
ing 30,000/. to be called for, which it is intended
to apply principally to the erection of the iron
works. The assay made of the ironstone which
lies at surface, and is said to extend over a tract
of four miles, gives 45 to 60 per cent., and an
analysis of the coal 84 per cent. of pure carbon.
The property is held in perpetuity, and not sub-
ject to any rent or royalty.

We last week directed attention to the opera-
tions of this company, confining our observations,
however, principally to the collieries; as this is
the only English company (that we are aware of)
formed for the purpose of carrying on the manu-
facture of iron or working collieries in France, we
are glad to avail ourselves of the information
which has come before us, and, by the estimates,
to see how fir the extension of works of this
character in France is calculated to affect our
home interests. There can be no doubt but that
the successful working of this or other com-
panies in the manufacture of iron from coke,
protected as French production is by tho
import duty on castings, and ma-
. chinery,comhineEd ii'sg'iltilstlithi:cli'eapness of the mate-
rials and low rate of labour, must, at some future
period have a considerable influence on our ex-
ports. The main uestion however, appears to be
hether- the quality • cif -the -h zn olt so anufac-•
and the
lured, q
w quantity, are likely to supersede
the introduction and use of English manufac-
ture in France. Having preuise4 th 4 much, we

shall proceed to make such observations on the
" concession " obtained by the Company, and
the prospects held out from three ports made on
the district, as appear to us to be deserving of
attention.

The first which comes under notice is that a
M. Henri Fournel, Ingenieur des Mines, which
appears to have been drawn hp with great care
and precision, and affords a striking contrast, we
regret to say, to the reports too generally pre-
sented by English engineers or mine agents--Alial
of M. Fournel being clear and comprehensive in
its details, the several points for consideration
being treated upon separately, and the results
readily arrived at, while each subject meets with
attention. We wish we could say as much of
" reports" at home. Take, for instance, Mr.
lioldsworth's Report on the far-famed Talacre
coal and iron district, which appeared in our
columns—a Report so general, and, indeed, so
confused, that it matters little whether it be
read backwards or forwards. We must, of
course, admit that there are exceptions) and
our Journal of the present week affords A pleas-
ing instance in the Report of Mr. Matthias
Dunn, on the property of the Durham County
Coal Company—that gentleman having fear-
lessly grappled with figures, and given his ho-
nest and unbiased opinion. Yet, it must be
admitted, that our continental neighbours take
the lead of us in the association of theoretical
science with practical acquirements, and that
in obtaining a Report on a mineral district the
parties employed combine within themselves a
perfect knowledge of geology, mineralogy, che-
mistry, underground operations, practical mining,
and the useful arts generally ; whereas, with our
practical viewers or mine agents, it is seldom
that .we find them to be possessed of
other information than that acquired un-
derground, and in one locality. The Re-
port of M. Fournel, to which we have already
adverted, in founding his estimates on the pro-
bable cost of manufacture of pig-iron at Languin,
gives a brief outline of the operations ofa Company
en contmandite, formed in 1828, with a capital of
60,000/. for working the iron ore which abounds
in this district, at La Jahotiere, in the commune
of Abbaretz, where iron of superior quality was
made; and upon the basis furnished by the ope-
rations at those works, M. Fournel assumes the
cost of iron manufactured at Languin. From the
observations of M. Fournel, it, however, appears
that the Company, like many others, was grossly
mismanaged, and hence its dissolution, and the
abandonment of the works—the data afforded is.
however, useful, in arriving at the cost of produc-
tion. The ore used, which was taken exclusively.
from the forest of Larche, appears to have cost
' is. 71d. per ton for extraction, carriage, and ren-
dering fit fur furnace use—that roasted being at-
tended with an additional cost of 21d. per
ton; and, as two-thirds of the crude ore was used
to one part of the roasted ore, the medium cost
was that of one shilling and eightpence-halfpenny
per. ton, which affords a strong contrast to the
price at which that article is rendered in this
country, the ore of this district, it should be ob-
served, yielding in the furnace 43-7,5 per cent. It
may be well to follow this experiment, for, al-
though cristly, it can only be considered as such,
the furnace having been in blast only six weeks.
The flux used cost about 2s. 4d. per ton, the
greater proportion of 'which was cost of carriage,
land the coke was made on the spot from coal ob-
tained at Monzeil, the cost of which (including
ss. 7d. per ton carriage) was 15s. 7d. per ton; the
cost of a ton of coke at La Jahotiere was thus
found to be 1/. 17s. per ton, while at Languin it is
computed that it .would not exceed 19s. 61 It
appears, on reference to the books in which the
quantities of materials.used were registered, that
at the expiration of three weeks from the furnace
being put in blast, the charges in eight hours
consisted of sixteen of coke, of 440 lbs., being
equal to 31- tons ; sixteen of ore, of 880 lbs., or 61
tons; and of flux, the like number, of 220 lbs.,
or 11 ton, the produce of pig-iron run being 9,1
tons, or about 81 tons in twenty-four hours. The
proportions of the quantities of the several mate-
rials, and their cost in the manufacture of one
ton of iron, would, therefore, stand thus—

s. d.
I ton 2 cwt. 2 cr. coke, at 11. 17s. p-4. ton 1 74
2 5 0 ore Is. 80. per ton 0 810
0 10 0 flux 2s. Bcl. per ton 0 1 4

Cost of materials on make of one ton of iron 2 6 tti
To this should be added, labour, and sundry ex-
penses, 14s. to ... 0 16 0

Grua amount, mlusive of intereit on capital .3 -2 9-4
Such being the facts deduced from the work-
ing of the furnace at La alt tLre, we will pro-
ceed to notice more particularly the property
possessed by the, Languin Company, which em-
braces not only the iron ore thus easily attain-
able, but coal, which may be raised at a consi-
derable less cost than that cited in the above cal-
culation 4,s hereafter shown. The iron deposits
of this district, which is pronounced as of great
richness-as will be seen in the proportions of
nn _.terials above named-produces 43.75 per cent.
and is found in great abundance at several points
-the nearest is situate about six miles north-
west of Languin, the ore being described as an
oxide hydrate. Several beds, in some instances
lying horizontal, resting on schist strata, in
others, diffused in a clay, from which it is readily
liberated, have been proved, and the cost of the
ore upon the spot, including payment to the pos-
sessors of the soil, does not exceed ls. Bd. per
ton. The ore of the forest of Larche, the most
distant (nine miles), it is calculated, would cost
45. 9d. per ton delivered at Languin.
.Assuming, then, that the collieries of the
Company are sufficiently opened to justify the
erection of furnaces, and to construct iron works
on a commensurate scale, the first proposition is
the cost of the materials. It is already stated
that the ore is abundant, and can be delivered,
.say at ss. per ton, that coke can be rendered
at less than 20s. pei ton, and flux at 4s. If a
calculation, founded on the preceding figures,
showing the results at La Jahotiere, be made,
it will be seen 1 that the cost of a ton of
pig-iron at Languin will not exceed 2/. -10 s.;
to this again, must be added the cost of trans-
port to Nantes, which, taken at 21s. 6d.
per ton, would make the price, delivered in
that market, 3/. lls.• 6d. per ton-but, from
other authorities we learn, that from arrange-.
ments made by the Company, the cost of trans-
port will not exceed 10s. per ton, thus making
the cost at Nantes about 3/. per ton, being even
less than the duty imposed (3/. 7s. Bd.) on
English iron. We may here observe, that the
price of iron in Nantes may be fairly assumed
at Si. 15s. to 9/. ss. per ton, if the following
figures be accurate-say, price of pig-iron put
on board, 4/. 55., freight and charges 18s., duty
3/. 7s. Bd., commission, landing, and other
• charges ss. 6d., profit to merchtint and -interme-
diate expenses, 5 per cent., or Ss. per ton; this
would bring the English pig at Nantes to 9/. 4s.
2d., while the estimate of Languin iron but little
exceeds 3/. per ton.
M. Fournel advances, as a reason for recom-
' mending the erection of furnaces, and the appli-
cation of the coal to the manufacture of iron, in
preference to sale of that article, that the coal
produced is entirely small coal--that a part (the
dull coal) has an appearance that would always
tend to depreciate its price-in the trade-and
that these two circumstances united may prove
to be a main obstacle to the sale of the coal,
when obtained in large quantities-while, on the
other hand, the nature of the coal peculiarly
adapts it for the manufacture of iron, and from
which increased profits would be realised. It
would certainly appeAr, from this evidence of
M. Fournol, that the main feature, and most
important object of the Company, must be the
manufacture of iron-thetetbre it is, that imme-
diate measures are in contemplation of erecting
the necessary works, with the view to the pro-
duction of a compering article, as coke-made
iron with that of English make.
Having thus considered the position.of the Lan-
guin Company, with referenceto the quantity
and quality of coal at command, as also the
abundance and properties of the iron ore, with
the cost of the respective materials employed in
the manufacture of iron, it becomes necessary
-further to institute an inquiry into the prospec-
tive advantages held out to the capitalist in ac-
complishing this object. It is hardly necessary
to say, that this is taking a view of the subject dis-
tinct from that proposed in our preceding re-
marks, but it is an important one as affects the
raising of capital in this country for the benefit
of other nations. Mining operations, the work-
ing of collieries or iron-works abroad, is, doubt-
less, as legitimate a mode of employment of Bri-
tish capital as the investment in Spanish Bonds
or French Rentes, and, therefore, we will for a
moment consider how far the erection of iron-
works by the proprietors of the Languin Com-
pany is calculated to advance their prospects, and
to remunerate them for the capital employed.
In the first place, it has been shown that the
cost . of pig-iron delivered at Nantes may be
taken at little more than 3/. per tun, while the
duty on English pigs is 3/. 7s. Bd, and that on
castings or machinery considerably more. It is,
therefore, manifest that if the quality be equal
or approximating to that of English iron, it
will come into the market at a price so as to
supersede, in a great measure, our products; the
price of English pigs being assumed, at the pre-
sent moment, at 8/. 15s. to 9/. 55., as already
stated. The capital proposed to he expended, in
addition 'to 75,0004 already outlaid in-the -pur-
chase of property, and *milting the collieries, is
estimated at from 2070001. to 22,0001. We leave

to tlicts@ inEeitested to make Left' calculations as
to the profits.to be realised, assuming the data
here set out to be correct, wiOle it will be our
province to callevA ititufmation of the progreEs
of tile company, as also of the operations of
other establishments of a like nature.

PROBABLE SAFETY OF THE
iißtsibtistt.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
The greatest excitement has prevaile3 here throughout the
day, in consequence of an arrival at this port of the Fortitude,
Captain Arbuthnot, from Buenos Ayres, who reports that,
when in lat. 47. North, long. 24, 30. West, oil the 25th of
May, at five o'clock a.m., saw a very large 'steatites' steering
to the north-east, and making but slow progress. she Was
without a funnel—with crippled fore-mast,. large paddle-boxes
painted dark colour, had a large square topsail set upon the
maintop-mast, a topgallant-sail on the foretop-mast, with fore
and aft-sails. Captain Arbuthnot sPems positive that the ves •
sel seen by him was the President steamer ; she was about ten
miles distant at the time. The prevailing opinion here is that
the vessel seen was the President, There are, however, others
who conclude that it was the Britannia steamer from Boston, now
some days over due.
It is not unlikely that the Liverpool agents of the President
may despatch the British Queen (now in (lock here) in search
of the crippled steamer. She wsll most likely put into the first
Irish port she can reach.

(Piton A COunEspONIANT.)
Liverpool, Half-past sr. as. Wednesday.
have just time to say a few words. News has arrived here
that the President is safe. She was seen on the 25th of last
month in the Atlantic ; and last nigh the Jessie, from St.
John's, N. 8., which had been given up for lost for the last
three months, and part of the insurance money had been paid,
arrived in the River. The news has created a great sensation
in the town.

There will be another great meeting in Clayton-square this
evening. Requititions are being got up to present to Lord
Palmerston and Sir Joshua Walmsley to allow themselves to be
put in nomination for Liverpool in the event of a dissolution.