The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-10 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

Mr. PAULTON delivered a lecture on the subje-A of
the Corn-laws yesterday, at the London Ta•. ern,
Bishopsgate-street. At the commencement of the pro-
ceedings the attendance was rather thin, but i,. the
course of the lecture the number was considerably aug-
mented. The severity of the weather, and the hour
fixed for the lecture, one o'clock in the afternoon,
will
sufficiently account for the comparatively limited num-
ber present.
Alderman WHITE having been called to the Chair,
briefly addressed the meeting, pointing out the advan-
tages that would accrue to the commerce and indu3tty
of the country from a free trade in corn, as well as in
other articles. It might be said that the question was
not a metropolitan one, but if it was regarded in a proper
light, it would be found a question materially affecting
the interests of the Citizens of London, and more espe-
cially the larger and poorer class, whose wages and re-
muneration in the various departments of trade and
industry were fixed, and must of course be materially
affected by a rise or fall in the price of provisions. The
worthy Alderman then alluded to the important Anti-
Corn-law banquet, about to take place at Manchester,
and observed that the greatest honor and credit was
due to the men of that town for the unparalleled
exertions they had made for the repeal of these most
obnoxious laws.—(Cheers.) It was gratifying to think
that the s►,bect had never hitherto been discussed with
reference to party or political feelings—men of
all classes and shades of political opinion had united
for the purpose of putting an end to the Corn-laws, and
he trusted their exertions would ere long be crowned
with success.—(Cheers.) The Chairman then intro-
duced Mr. Paulton to; the meeting, expressing a hope
that his observations would meet the attention they so
well merited.

Mr. PAULTON then proceeded to address the meeting.
He trusted that the thinness of the present assemblage
resulted more from the business habits and hours of the
merchants of London than from any apathy on the im-
portant question they were met to discuss, and which
was one of such vital interests to the commercial
and manufacturing classes of that country.—(Hear.)
After pointing out the injuries and absurd consequences
resulting from protective duties, which were only an
effort to bolster up a commodity at a price which could
not otherwise be maintained, he proceeded to point out
what had been the result of throwing open the East
India trade. The average consumption of tea for three
years previously to the repeal of the East India charter
in 1834 was 31,000,0001b5., while in 1835 the quan-
tity was upwards of 36,000,0001b3., and in 1836
49,000,000Ibe.—(Cheers.) Their exports to India had
also risen in value—in 1834 they amounted to 800,0001.,
while in 1836 they were 1,326,600/. In 1819 Mr.
Vansittart imposed a duty of 6d. a pound on all foreign
wool, by which the trade had been almost ruined, and
thousands thrown out of employment. In the year 1820
the duty was reduced to one penny, and the quantity
imported was 9,782,0001b5., and in 1833 it amounted to
38,000,0001b5. Nothing could be more clearly de-
monstrative of the inutility of a protective duty. In
1807, when the duty on coffee was 10d. per lb., the
quantity imported was I,l7o,ooolbs.—in 1808, the duty
was reduced to 7d. per lb., and the quantity imported
rose to 9,251,0001bs , and the revenue was increased
two-thirds. In 1824, the duty was reduced to 6d. per
lb., and a considerable increase took place ; and, in
1831, the quantity imported amounted to 24,947,0001b5.,
although the increase in the population in that period
had been only 27 per cent. Up to 1826, when
a very heavy duty was imposed upon foreign
thrown and raw silk, the average quantity imported for
ten years previously was 19,000,0001b5, but the
average of the twelve years subsequently to the
reduction of the duty was not less than 58,000,00011)s.,
showing an increase of 116 per cent.—(Hear,
and cheers.) It had been urged by some that
the reduction of these duties had destroyed the Spital-
field and Coventry silk-weavers, but he believed that
all those who had investigated the subject were sati-
fied that it arose from the improvements in machinery
and the successful competition of foreign countries,
combined with the operation of the Corn-laws.—Cilear,
hear.) Mr. Paulton then proceeded to point out the
effect of the Corn-laws in creating a fluctuation in
the price of grain, and observed that every ad-
shilling per quarter was a tax of nearly
three millions sterling upon the people of
that country ; and with respect to a fixed duty of ss.
per quarter, which had been advocated by some, they
would be surprised to hear that it would impose a tax
sufficient to maintain the whole of their naval and mili-
tary forces—a fixed duty of .ss. was, in fact, a tax of
12,500,000/. per annum.—( Hear, hear.) In the
month of January, 1834, the price of grain in England
was 70 per cent. in advance of the price of grain at.
Hamburg, and SI per cent. over the price at Amster-
dam. The average annual consumption of grain for that
country was 52,000,000 of quarters, but taking it at
50,000,000, and supposing the price to exceed that
At Hamburg in the proportion he had men-
tioned, it followed that the English people were
paying at least thirty millions sterling more than the
same quantity would have cost if purchased at the Ham-
burg priers. Mr. Paulton then entered into some in-
teresting details for the purpose of showing the great
amount of capital embarked in the manufactures of that
country as compared with the agricultural interest. Ac-
cording to Mr. Macculloclt's estimate the value of the
whole cotton-trade of the country in 1835 was
34,000,0001., and the money wages paid was equal to
22,000,0001. per annum. The value of the woollen ma-

nufacture was -21,000 000/. sterling, and tb wages paid
amounted to 8,200,0001., making a total of 55,000,0001
sterling embarked in the woollen and cotton trade. Nov,
in order to show the proportion which the manulact urea
in these two branches bore to the agricultureof the coun-
try, omitting the hardware,silk-stocking,and a variety of
other branches, he would state to them what wa3 the
amount of capital represented by the agricultural inte-
rest. The census of 1831 showed that the adult agri-
cultural popuLtion of the country was about 887,000,
and taking the wages at an average of 10s. a week4which
was higher than the ordinary average, the total annual
sum paid to them in the shape of wages was 22,186,0001.,
which was 81 millions less than the money wages paid

in the cotton and woollen trades alone.—(Hear, hea►r.')
In 1835 the average price of wheat was 395. 4d.,

while in IS3B the average price was 645. 7d., and the
annual consumption of wheat being estimated at 13
millions of quarters, the loss to Great Britain upon the
article of bread alone IVRS 15,780,000/. ; and it to that
was added the additional sum paid for other species of
grain, it would be found that the whole amount paid to
the agricultural by the commercial and industrial
classes in 1838 beyond that paid in 1835, %vas
35,000,0001.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. Paulton then en-
tered into some interesting details relative to the amount
of capital aad the vast number of hands depending upon
the cotton anti woollen trade lbr brubsi:tence, arid argued
that the decrease in the quantity of manufactured ar-
ticles exported, and the increase in the export of cotton
yarn and other raw material, arose from the duty im-
posed upon foreign corn, by which foreign nations were
almost prohibited from interchanging commiditics with'us
We ha►re merely room to glanee at a few of his statisti-
cal statements on this point. In 1820, the quantity cf
plain and printed cotton exported to Russia amounted to
13,200,000 yards, while in 1837 it was only 7,847,000
yards. In 1820 the quantity of plain and printed cotton
exported to Prussia was 5,442,000 yards, while in 1837
not a single yard was exported.—(Hear, bear.) In
1820 they sent 47,638,000 yards to the Garman
States, while .in 1837 they sent only 33,000,000 yards.
The increase in the export of cotton yarn, upon which
comparatively little labour had been expended, was
equally striking. In 1820, the quantity of cotton yarn
exported to Russia, Prussia, and the German States,
was 20,600,000 lbs., while, in 1837. it had increased to
77,576,000 lbs. The quantity exported in 1820 to
France, Gibraltar, Malta, the lonian Islands, Italy,
Turkey, and the Levant, was 2,300,000 lbs., and in
1837, it was 14,172,000 lbs. Mr. Paulton, after calling

, .
upon the meeting to use their efforts in every legal and
constitutional way for the repeal of these most unjust
and iniquitous laws, concluded a long and eloquent ad-
dress, of which we have merely given an outline, amidst
loud and general cheering.
Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the
1 meeting separated.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S—Yrs rE RDAT.

The betting yesterday afternoon was too slight in amount
and generally too
unimportant in its vasults to afford much
room for comment.

It is only necessary to point out two or three changes in the
Derby, the principal one affected Theon (Bro. to Euclid), who
was backed freely at 14 to 1, and closed at offers of 12, or
takers of 13 to 1. The Angelica colt as before, and not much
in favour. Nothing done on Launcelot or Mule), Ishmael, and
only two or three small bets against Bokhara and Wardan at
Monday's average. Ottoman and Glenorchy as before ; Gambia
at 30 to I, and Confederate at 40 to 1, both taken ; the latter
was backed once at 1,000 to 30, which was offered currently at
the close.
Three or four parties attempted to "put a little" on Fitzroy,
but nothing was done—his price, at a guess, was about 35 to 1.
No alteration in the out-siders, and nothing fresh in the Oaks
beyond the appearancc. of Black Bess (one of Scott's lot) at 20
to 1, which was taken to 75.

THE DERBY.
12 to 1 agst Theon (Brother to Euclid)—tak• 13 to 1
16 to 1 agst Angelica colt—take 17 to 1
15 to I agst Launcelot—take 20 to 1
20 to 1 agst Bokhara—taken and afterwards offered
20 to 1 agst Muley Ishmael
26 to 1 agst Wardan—taken
30 to 1 agst Gambia—taken
30 to 1 agst St. Andrew
30 to 1 ag,st Glenorchy
33 to 1 agst Confederate
35 to 1 agst Fitzroy
40 to 1 agst Prince Albert—taken
2000 to 30 agst Molyneux—taken
1000 to 15 agst Slay Boy—taken
1000 to 15 agst darntiau—taken
1000 to 5 agst Bokhara, Crucifix, and De Clifford winning
Derby, Oaks. and St. Leger—taken
2500 to 100 agst Crucifix winning Oaks and St. Leger—taken

THE OAKS.
8 to 1 apt Lalia Rookh—taken
13 to 1 sgst Filly out of Rawtou's darn
20 to 1 agst Black Begs—taken.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDtY•
(From the Globe.)

We understand that the Hon. G. Csvenclish, one of
the ;Members for Derbyshire, will move, and Sir W.
Somerville, Bart., Member for Drogheda, will second,
the Address tai her Majesty on the Royal Speech at the
opening of the ensuing Session.
The trial of Mr. Frost terminated last night in his
conviction for high treason, the Jury at the same
time recommending him to mercy. While the trial
was pending, and his fate :night in any, the most
remote, degree be affected by our comments, we ab-
stained from all allusion to the cause, or to the advocates
employed, whether by the Crown or the prisoner. The
verdict having been pronounced, we are relieved from
restraint ; and may now bestow a few passing remarks
on certain characteristic comments indulged in by an
Evening Contemporary, who, true to his purpose of pres-
sing all circumstances, however remote or irreconcileable,
into the service of his party, finds in the selection of Con-
servative Counsel by the accused matter for congratula-
tion. The superior virtue and talent of the Tory lawyers
is proved by the fact that, of late years, persons accused of
the serious crime of high treason have selected Tory ad-
vocates to conduct their defence—ergo, " they arc,"
says our Contemporary, " esteemed the most able men,
or the most honest." One of the examples adduced
is that of Watson and his companions, who chose
Sir Charles Wetherell and Mr. Sergeant Cop-
ley ; " and the result proved the wisdom of their
choice !" Now in 1817, and for some years after, Sir
Charles Wetherell was esteemed a very • dubious Con-
servative ; indeed in some of the earlier numbers of
the John Bull he was wont to be ridiculed and abused
without mercy or moderation. We forget whether at that
time Citizen Copley had become Tory ; but we think not.
Our Contemporary has not perhaps heard that among the
Whig lawyers who occasionally defended persons ac-
cused of State offences the names of Brougham and
Denman occasionally occurred, and excited some
attention at the time ; and that reminiscences exist
of such lawyers as Erskine and Dunning, which,
perhaps, may not be entirely extinguished by the
lustre of " Sir Robert Peel's Attorney-General and
the Conservative Member for Ipswich." Lawyers
selected for the offices of Attorney-General and Solici-
tor-General are usually among the most eminent of
their party ; and as those high officers of the Crown
usually conduct the prosecution in State cases, the
prisoners naturally look round for the most ta-
lented advocates they can get ; and in the case of
Mr. Frost no one will say that the selection was
not wisely made. As to honesty, every one acquainted
with the character of the English bar knows that
zeal and fidelity to the interests of a client are ordinary
qualities ; and that it would be difficult to find
one of its members deficient in them. Supposing our
Contemporary to use the word "honesty" in this limited
sense, we just remind him of the fact for his information,
and avoid making any unpleasant allusions, which his
inadvertent mention of " Ipswich" might provoke.
(From the Courier.)
Our readers will perceive by the report of the
trial which appears in another part of our paper,
that John Frost has been found guilty of High
Treason, but the verdict has been accompanied by
a recommendation to mercy from the Jury. So
ends, so far, the Monmouth Tragedy : and such
has ever been, and ever will be, the end of rebellion
against the laws and the majesty of the Constitution.
But who is responsible for these fatal proceedings'?
By whom were these wretched criminals incited
to the acts which have caused useless bloodshed
to others, and ending thus fatally to themselves ?
These Chartists, or by whatever other name they
may have been designated, were sedulously taught to
believe that by force and violence alone could their ends
be accomplished. They have essayed violence, and
what is the result ? Those whom they were led to be-
lieve were favourable to violence, have been themselves
compelled to assert the supremacy of the law :against
their delnderl victims. Frost has been found guilty of
High Treason :—is there a man in -the kingdom on
whose mind does not flesh the conviction that there are
other parties still more guilty than Frost, and still more
deserving' of punishment ?

(From the Standard.)
CONVICTION OF FROST.—Tbe trial of Mr. Frost
terminated yesterday iu a verdict of Guilty, delivered
by the jury after a short consultation, and accompanied
by a strong recommendation of the prisoner to• the
mercy of the Court. The Soficitor-Gene.rai's speech
to evidence, and the
,charge of the Lord Chief
Justice Tindal, had occupied the whole of the day.
As many prisoners remain to bo tried upon the
same charge, and doubtless the "same evidence upon
which Mr. Frost has been -convicted, the considerations
that enioined' a silence to commentary:during the ,prO.,-
gress of the trial concluded yesterday,- remain in full
*force. It may be observed, however, that until the I's
Judges shall have had opportunity to decide upon
the objetitions offered on the first day of the examination
of witnesses, the ulterior proceedings agai7st Mr. Pros,
its well as any others convicted, must-be stayed.
wilt probably delay tine final dispoial of the paKics un-
til March or April, at which time. .should tha.stqte (!f;
Mc country permit the extension o/ mercy, the byes, at
least of the prisoners convicted will be sale howovcr the
Juilp,es may determine the point of law. Reflecting that
such mast he the case. we cannot see without disgust
that some few miserable creatures at Birmingham, and
elsewhere, are still Lboaring to keep alive the spirit of
sedition. These persons know as well as we do, that they-
can no more save their unfortunate accomplices by force
or menace than they can displace the island
.frotti- its
base. They know AS well iS any of us, that
nothing but a restoration: of ,tranquillit) can place it in
the -power of. any Administration to exercise the prero-
gative of pardoning. Yet. they proceed. as eagerly to eni-
%roil the people as if none of their fricnds.wcre in danger.
There must be a sordid motive at the bottom of a conduct
so unfeeling, and the amore honest Chartists would
do well to look into the matter. Let them, inves-
t:gate narrowly the position, characters, expectations,
and practices of the men who are misleading them, and
they will save their unhappy accomplices by a process
most satisfactory to all good urn, and most beneficial
to themselves and to the country—the spontaneous
dissolution of their society. How many blessings will
attend the first body of Chartists who shall have the
courage to take this wise and manly course !