The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAV EVENING, APRIL 1, 1847.7

success in life—he meant Oliver Cromwell.—(A laugh.)
Well, he believed that at the time the opinion he was
about to state was delivered that Cromwell was a civilian,
for he believed that he was nearly forty years of age
before he entered the army. It is well known that
in the first two campaigns of the civil war that the
Parliamentarian army was unsuccessful, and in one in-
stance a portion of their troops was driven into Brent-
ford, and it was recorded in the statement of a conversa-
tion that had taken place between Cromwell and
Hampden, that Cromwell, to whose ingenuity and care
the elevation of the character of the men was chiefly
owing, had expressed great doubts of the ultimate
success of the conflict. To remedy this defect, he said
that he would go down into Lincolnshire, where he was
well known, and enlist the sons of the yeomen there,
whose hearts, as well as their hands, would be in the
cause. He had done so, and it was, in his belief, owing
to that movement of Cromwell.
Mr. GOULBURN believed that, i❑ the discussions on
this subject, there had been one thing altogether over-
looked, and that was the fact that in the great majority
of cases the service in the army was under five years'
duration. If, therefore, they limited the service to ten
years instead of fourteen, they would not be saving
any evil, but they would possiely be losing a great
benefit ; for it could not be denied that if
the term of service were extended to fourteen years, the
country would be deprived of the ablest assistance
which the soldier could render, and of all the expe-
rience which he had acquired daring that period.
He perfectly agreed with his Right Hon. Friend who ad-
dressed the House last night, that it would be wise and
judicious to limit the time to fourteen years, dividing the
period of service into seven years abroad and seven
years at home. He felt, too, that it would be most im-
pi oper to regulate the amount of pay or pensions of private
soldiers, and he hoped that subject would not be
touched upon by the other Bills, which it was under-
stood Government had in contemplation, for improving
the efficiency and general condition of the army. Still,
however, he thought the present system ought to be
amended, it ought to be based upon more liberal princi-
ples, and be would be quite willing to make legislative
provision to that extent if he could see clearly that it
would not cripple or interfere with the financial ma-
chinery of the State.
After a few words from Mr. FOX MAULE,
Clau-e 1 having been read,
Sir H. DOUGLAS moved, as an amendment, that the
word " ten" be omitted, and the word " fourteen" sub-
stituted as the limited period of enlistment.
Mr. HUME supported the original motion. Fie
thought that, it' anything, ten years was too long; and
he would be glad to see the term reduced even to seven
years. He believed that the passing of the present
measure would prove a glorious era in the history of the
British army.
Colonel LINDSAY supported the amendment. In
his opinion the adoption of the term of fourteen years
would tend to give a greater number of old soldiers to the
army than the period of seven years.
Mr. FOX MAULE could not agree to the amendment
for the reasons he stated on the last night the question
was before the House, and he still adhered to those
opinions.
Colonel T. WOOD said a limited service, in con-
junction with a fourteen years' term, without the old
period of seven years beieg also in the option of the re-
cruit, was preposterous, and he must vote spinet the
clause.

After a few words from Colonel SIBTHORP and Major
LAYARD, in explanation,
Mr. J. COLLETT rose amid loud cries of " Divide,"
and said he must support the amendment, as the effect
of the clause would be to withdraw all opportunity from
the private of rising in his profession.
Sir H. DOUGLAS very briefly replied.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 27
Against it
Majority against the amendment —33
The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 2 being proposed,
Colonel T. WOOD proposed the following amend-
ment.-Ist line, after the word " soldier " to omit the
words "aftercompleting," and insert "during the last year
of." He said that the object of the amendment was, that
a soldier might be required to wake up his mind in the
last year of his service whether he intended to re-enlist
in his own or some other regiment.
Mr. F. MAULE considered that the soldier should
not be trammelled in the way the Hon. and Gallant
Officer recommended; and that he should be allowed, if
he thought proper, to leave his regiment, and to regain
it in six months after if he thought proper, provided he
could do so with the approbation of his commanding
officer.
On the suggestion of Colonel REID,
Mr. F. MAULE consented to alter the clause from
" for a further term not exceeding eleven years" to " for
a further period of eleven years."
Colonel WOOD was unwilling to divide the House.
He considered that his suggestion was one which would
prove advantageous to the soldier. He trusted the Hon.
Gentleman would adopt it. He, however, should not
divide upon it.
The amendment was then withdrawn, and the clause
agreed to.
Clauses 3 and 4, with a few verbal amendments, were
then passed.
On clause 5 being proposed,
Mr. GOULBURN suggested the necessity of retain-
ing the compulsion in the service of pensioners.
Mr. F. MAULE replied that he had reason to believe
that the prospect of the deferred pension was quite
sufficient to secure the attendance of the pensioners.
After some conversation between Mr. Goulburn, Sir De
Lacy Evans and other Members, the clause was adopted,
as were also the remaining clauses of the Bill.
Major LAYARD said, that as thewhole of the clauses
had now been adopted by the House, he would take that
opportunity of expressing his regret that the advantage
of the Bill was not to be extended to those who are now
in the service of her Majesty. When he had first taken
up this subject he had taken pains to ascertain the
injury of the short period of enlistment, and he was quite
assured, not only that the Bill would be beneficial, but
that it would be so beneficial, that, unless its influence
was extended, a great injustice would be done to the
men alreadyiin the army. They had heard not only in that
House, but also in the other House of Parliament,
apprehensions expressed that the setting men at liberty
would be dangerous. But to this supposition he could
attach but very little value ; sad since the introduction
of steam navigation, our sea girt isle has been placed
ina very different position to that which it had lately held,
and he conceived that a great advantage would result
from the existence of a set of people who understood the
use of arms. As fur the danger that was likely
to arise from the adherence of old soldiers to
carry out any factious or seditious design, he
thought that they were too well acquainted with the
utter futility of attempting to stand in a mob against re-
gular troops to do any such thing. For his own
part he should as soon think of attempting to
fly as to join a mob in the face of regular troops.
He hoped, therefore, that the House would not refuse to
give a ray of hope to those veterans who require the
light of hope to cheer them in their rugged way along
the chequered path of life.
Sir DE LACY EVANS seconded the clause.
Mr. FOX MAULE opposed the introduction of the
clause. The Crown already possessed the power to
terminate at any time it thought proper the en-
gagements of the soldiers ; and for this reason
he considered the insertion of the clause would be
wholly unnecessary. The Government proposed to ex-
tend the benefits of the measure to the present army, but
he did not think it would be politic now to state to what
extent the measure would be adopted. In every case the
soldier had ample opportunities to make a statement of
his grievances to the authorities, and he had no doubt, that
if it was considered as a grievance that they were com-
pelled to continue in the army for a longer period than
ten years, while fresh soldiers were limited to ten years,
that the statements of such grievances would be fully at-
tended to.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN

TPA DE.

(From the Mark-lane Express.)
Several circumstances have combined to impart great
dullness to the grain trade. Firstly, we hava had uninter-
ruptedly fine weather for a space of nearly a fortnight;
and, though it may be questioned whether the sudden
changes which have taken place from great warmth
during the day-time to sharp frost at night can
be considered altogether favourable to vegetation,
so long as we have bright sueshine and an un-
clouded sky at this period of the year, everything
is supposed to be going on well. Another cause of
depression has been the sudden cesssation of the
Irish demand, and a material falling off in the in-
quiry for wheat and flour for shipment to Fiance ;
and last, though not least, large arrivals at Liver-
pool from the United States, and abundant supplies
of Indian corn at Cork from various quarters. These
are some of the circumstances which have operated to
cause a reduction in prices ; and we ma) add that
the appointment of Wednesday for a national fast
has in some degree interfered with the regular course of
business, several of the country markets having in con-
sequence been held off the regular day. We are, how-
ever, disposed to attribute the downward movement
more to the effect produced on the minds of both sellers
and buyers by the fine weather than to anything else ;
and as the variations in the atmosphere will from
this time up to harvest have a greater influence
on the tone of the trade than shortness of stocks
or the extent of supplies, it has become im-
possible to foresee the probable future range of
prices. The sowing of spring corn has been pro-
ceeded with, and a very large proportion of the work
has been finished in a highly satisfactory manner.
Notwithstanding the occupations in the field, far-
mers have managed to keep the markets in the
agricultural districts tolerable well supplied, the
desire to profit by the existing high rates being
very general. The quantity of wheat brought forward
has fully proved equal to the demand; and since the
falling off in the purchases on French account, prices of
the article have receded 2s. per quarter at several of the
leading shipping ports on the east coast. The dull ac-
counts from London of Monday have, no doubt, assisted
to bring about this result, and, from present appear-
ance, a further depression seems more likely to occur
than any immediate rally. At Liverpool the giving
way has probably been greater than at any other
market in the kingdom. On Tuesday considerable
difficulty was experienced in effecting sales of wheat
at a decline of 3d. to 4d. per 701 b., and Hefted
States' flour was then freely offered at 38s. to 355. 6d. per
barrel; the most important fall was, however, in Indian
corn, sales of which were pressed at rates fully 10s. per
quarter below those current ten days or a fortnight be-
fore. Later in the week a further fall of 2s. to 3s. per
barrel on flour, and 2d. to 3d. per 701 b. on wheat took
place; and Indian corn was, on Friday, offered at 50st to
525. per quarter.
At the leading towns in Yorkshire very little business
has been done, sellers having been unwilling to accede
to the terms offered by buyers. The resorts from Hull
and Leeds, of Tuesday, are without the slightest in-
terest , at both places prices were quoted 2s. per quarter
lower. At Wakefield, on Friday, business was not so
dull, and the sales made were at rates within is. per
quarter of those current on that day se'nnight. The
stock of wheat at that port was estimated at only 61,000
quarters.
From the western and north-western parts of the
kingdom the advices are to the full as dull as from the
places already referred to. At Birmingham, on Thurs-
day, with a smaller quantity of farmers' wheat on sale
than on that day week, it was necessary to submit to a
reduction of 2s. to 3s. per quarter to induce purchasers
to come forward; and at Bristol, Gloucester, and neigh-
bouring places, the decline has been to about the same
extent.
By our Scotch advices it appears that the dull ac-
counts from the south had had considerable effect; and
wheat, barley, and oats had all been offered at reduced
rates, as well at Edinburgh as at Glasgow.
The reports from Ireland are of a more cheering
character; the receipts of Indian corn, meal, &c., had
afforded seasonable relief, and an important decline
having taken place in prices, the extreme want previously
prevailing had in some measure abated. In the northern
and eastern parts of the island, farmers had made fair
progress in the sowing of spring corn, but it is to be
apprehended that in the south and west a good deal of
land will remain uncultivated, owing to the destitute
state of the peasantry, and their inability to raise the
money for the purchase of seed.
The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have
been quite moderate, only 3,940 quarters having come
to hand up to this (Saturday) evening; neither has the
quantity brought forward at Mark-lane by land-carriage
samples been by any means large, but the inquiry
having been exceedingly slow the supply has proved
fully equal to the demand. Wednesday was a close
holyday, and on Friday very little business was done.
On the latter occasion there was a tolerably good show
of samples from Essex and Kent, by far the greater
proportion of Monday's arrival having (as we then inti
mated) remained undisposed or. The millers acted on
the same cautions plan as earlier in the week, refusing
to buy more than was absolutely necessary for their
immediate use ; factors refrained, however, from press-
ing sales, and in the absence of important
transactions, prices remained nominally as before ;
to have sold, it would have been necessary to submit to
a decline of 2s. per quarter. Holders of foreign wheat
displayed no particular anxiety to realise, and, as pur-
chasers were unable to pay previous rates, the bargains
closed were on quite a retail scale. The arrivals of
wheat from abroad have amounted to 8,890 quarters
within the last eight days; and the only sale for export
which we have heard of was that of 1,000 or 1,500 quar-
ters of red Lincolnshire wheat taken for shipment to
France, at prices not more than 2s. per quarter below
the highest rates.
The sale of English flour has been grew ly interfered
with by the pressing manner in which American has
been pushed on the market. The nominal top price of
town-made has undergone no change, but ship samples
have been offered is. per sack lower. Good brands of
United States were in some cases sold, on Friday, at Is.
to 2s. per barrel below the currency of Monday.
The arrivals of barley have been quite moderate, viz.,
2,631 quarters coastwise and 9,521 quarters from abroad.
Choice qualities for sowing have met with some atten-
tion, and for the best descriptions late rates have been
maintained ; secondary and inferior sorts have, on the
other hand, been very difficult of disposal, though offered
at rather reduced rates.
In malt the operations have been on quite a restricted
scale, and the turn has been decidedly in favour of the
buyer.
The market has been very scantily supplied with
English and Scotch oats, and from Ireland there
have been no further arrivals; the receipt of
26,929 quarters from abroad has, however, pre-
vented anything like scarcity being felt. The greater
part of the foreign oats lately received have been of
very inferior quality; and these have, consequently, been
extremely difficult to quit even atfan abatement of is. per
quarter. Fine corn has been in fair request for seed, and
several parcels of Scotch have been taken for Ireland from
365. to 42, per quarter.
Beans have become almost unsaleable, and on Friday
it was impossible to place even handsome parcels except
at reduced prices.
Peas have also moved off very slowly, with the turn
against the seller.
Floating cargoes of Indian corn have been freely
offered at prices 2s. to 3s. per quarter below those of
Monday without tempting purchasers, and but very few
bargains have been closed.
By the packet ship Montezuma we have advices from
the United States nearly a week later than those per
Cambria. The value of flour appears to have tended
downwards at the leading markets in anticipation of
large supplies from the interior. At New York, on
the sth of March, very good brands of Genessee were
obtainable at 7 dolls, per barrel, and other sorts at
proportionate rates. A good many vessels had arrived
from Europe, which had caused a small decline in
freights ; still Bs. to Bs. 31 per barrel for flour had been
asked for Liverpool, and 25.3 d. to 2s. 4d. per bushel for
grain in sacks. Indian corn had been sold at lower
rates, say 95c. to 99c. for the best, and 90c. to 92c. per
bushel for inferior. At Albany, Buffalo, &e., the flour
trade appears to have become quiet ; from the former
place the accounts state that nothing had been done for
a day or two, and at Buffalo the price was, on the sth
instant, quoted 4 dolls. 75c. to 5 dolls. per barrel.
The advices from the continent of Europe are of a
more subdued character than has been the case of late;
and the tendency of prices was, about the middle of the
month, downwards at the leading ports in the north of
Europe. The weather seems to have been fine all over
the Continent; and the benefit likely to accrue from a
fine spring to winter sown wheat has, no doubt, been
the principal cause which has operated to produce the
reaction in the grain trade,
From Dantzic we learn, under date of 20th March,
that holders of wheat had rather given way; still prices
were very high there, 68s. to 70s. per quarter having been
paid for high mixed in granary, and 665. to 685. for
parcels deliverable in four or five weeks after date of
sale. The weather had for some time been mild, and it
wag calculated that the
in the Vistula would break
hjut end of the month. Charters had been
eaosed at the following rates:-For Liv
Liverpool, 4s. 11d.
to ss. per quarter; for Antwerp 30 florins per last; and
for Havre, 38f per last; with 15 per cent.
At Stettin, on the 22d inst., business was very quiet.
It by a
It was expected that the navigation would in a few days
be open; notwithstanding which but few bargains had
been closed In wheat and prices bad remained nominally
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steadily Iced
Since the previous post day the value of wheat had un-
dergone rather an important decline, arid 129 rid Lett
parcels of red, such as 1":1 a week before been worth
78e, had been freely ff-red -r r t f
at i.)s. pe guar terfree on
board. The reaction had been caused by the fine weather
and the falling off in the French demand.
From the southern ports the accounts of the wheat
trade still continue of rather a lively character.
Letters froee Leghorn, of the 18th instant, state that
purchase,' of wheat bad been made there for the Roman
states, which with a good demand for local consume-
had caused former prigs to he well supported.
Large arrivals of wheat from Egypt were expected, but
it was nut thought that supplies thence would affect
prices.

At Trieste, on the 18th of March wheat was also in
good request, and rather dearer. The stocks were very
much reduce-d, which would, it was calculated, prevent
any reduction in quotations. In those parts of France
which usually draw a portion of their supplies from
Spain, prices have riser► considerably, in consequence of
the prohibition of the export from the latter country ;
but at Paris and the sw:rounding towns both wheat and
flour had needed 'Patti daily.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MARCH 29.—There are very unfavourable
accounts of the spread of pestilence in the county of
Sligo, where the discharge of labourers from the publ.c
works has greatly augmented the general destitution.
Nothing could be worse than the conduct of the land-

lords of that county, as described by the Sligo Cham-
pion, whose previous statements on the subject have
received no contradiction. With the exception of Lord
Palmerston, Sir Robert Gore Booth, and a few others,
the landed proprietors of that county, it is stated, are
doing little or n ,thing for the relief of the destitute, but,
on the contrary, are proceeding to extremities for the
recovery of their rents.
The Sligo Champion says—" The labourer and small
farmers are now reduced to a state of beggary and ruin,
and yet the landlords insist on having their rents ;
although the peasant lost all, they must have all. Hun-
dreds of processes for rent have been issued in Manor-
hamilton, in Bailymote, and in Sligo. There is scarcely
a landlord in the county who is not applying the
screw' to his unfortunate tenantry. Upon all sides there
is a stern enforcement of the rights of pror:rty going on.
We hear of no kindness--no forbi,arence on the part
of the owners of the land. Like Shyloch, they must
have the pound of flesh, but, like Shyloch, too, in the
end, perhaps, their own heartlessness will recoil upon
them. The people of England will not tolerate the con-
tinuance of such a system of grinding oppression. They
will see justice done to our peasantry. The principle
that the soil should support the destitute poor in Ireland
will soon be established."

Very different indeed is the conduct of Lord Palmer.
ston, who has always been a most excellent landlord.
The same journal contains the following :
" Sir Robert Gore Booth has been praised for the
manner in which he is affording relief to the destitute
poor in his locality. We have made inquiries upon
the subject, and we are happy we can state that the
praise is deserved. Sir Robert and his lady are using
their best endeavours to alleviate the sufferings of the
famine-stricken creatures in their district. The
Evening Mail, however, has thought proper to state
that Lord Palmerston is doing nothing fur his tenantry,
and that Sir Robert Gore Booth is constrained to
extend his assistance to them. Now, in justice ti
Lord Palmerston. we must say, this statement is not
correct. In the first place, he had chartered two vessels
from one of our most respectable merchants, to take out
the superabundant population upon his estates. The
emigrants will get a free passage, and a liberal allow-
ance of food, including meat three times a week, coffee
and bread for breakfast, and a glass of rum punch after
dinner upon every Sunday. In fact, every precaution
has been adapted to secure the comfort of the emigrants.
Lord Palmerston also gets a weekly supply of Indian
meal, wl.ich is retailed at first cost price to his tenants.
We think it right to state this fact, as the article in the
Mail is calculated to create an unfounded prejudice
against Lord Palmerston in the public mind."
FATAL AFFRAY IN CONNEMARA.—The Galway Mer-
cury contains the following:—" Accounts have reached
town of a fatal affray in one of the islands off the coast of
Connemara, early this week. We learn that a great
number of men went in a boat for the purpose of taking
away oysters from the beds belonging to Mr. Martin,
M.P., and being warned off they persevered and flung
stones at the keeper in charge, when he was obliged to
fire upon the party, the consequtnce of which was, that
one man was killed, and another severely wounded. We
are also informed that Mr. Mayan's men were severely
hurt, and some of their limbs fractured."

TILLAGE OF LAND.—The Tralee Chronicle says
" The Roma❑ Catholic Bishop of this diocese has inti-
mated to the several clergymen under his direction his
wish that they should lay before their flocks the neces-
sity of losing no time in the sowing of corn and green
crops, and exhort the farmers and labourers in their
several parishes to tur❑ to this employment without
delay, especially as the works on the road are being
brought to a close. On Thursday, we understand the
subjtet was taken up powerfully by the Very Rev. J.
G. M'Ennery, in the Roman Catholic chapel of this
town."