The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-24 00:00:00

PRICES AND WAGES.

" Dear bread means high wages ; cheap bread means
Low wages."—Tory axiom.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—During the last few weeks an enormous increase
has taken place in the price of bread. Has a correspond-
ing increase taken place in the wages of labour ? Let
the deluded dupes, who voted for the monopolist candi-
dates at the last election, answer. I would venture to
suggest, that, in order to put an end to the repetition of
the fallacy, that the rate of wages is regulated by the
price of bread, it would be advisable that one of your
readers, residing in Buckinghamshire, and another resid-
ing in Manchester, should furnish you weekly, for the
next three months, with an account of the price of the
quartern loaf, and their weekly rate of wages. A small
rise in wages during the next two months may be ex-
pected in the agricultural districts, in consequence of the
increased demand for labour during the harvest, and an
allowance should be made accordingly. It would also be
desirable to procure an account of the prices of wheat,
and the rates of wages, in the agricultural districts, dur-
ing the months of July, August, and September, 1835
and 1840. These returns, when completed, would form
a statistical document of the highest importance, as de-
monstrating the utter falsehood and absurdity of the
Tory axiom, which is the motto of this letter.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ANTI-DEVIL'S TAX.

Boz.—We understand that a new work, edited
by this celebrated author, under the title of " The Pic-nic
Papers," is announced for publication under the auspices
of that indefatigable and successful caterer for public
taste, Mr. Colburn ; and which is, as we are informed, to
be illustrated by George Cruikshank, Phiz, &c. &c.
Resolution is beautifully defined by Bishop
Hall, who observes, that tranquillity consists in a
steadiness of the mind ; and how can that vessel, which
is beaten upon by contrary waves and winds, and tottereth
to either part, be said to keep a steady course ? Reso-
'ration is the only mother of security.

The Triennial Competition of Pipers for Prizes given
by the Highland Society of London, took place on Sa-
turday last, the 17th inst., in the Theatre Royal. The
house was crowded, every seat appearing to be occupied,
and the proceedings of the day seemed to excite the most
lively interest on the part of all present. We do not recol-
lect ever to have been present at a competition in which
so many excellent pipers appeared as competitors. The
performance throughout was of an unusually high cha-
racter, and we have no doubt that this circumstance
must have materially added to the difficult duty imposed
upon the judges. Although the performance, from the
number of competitors, entitled from their playing to
appear in public, was very long, lasting from twelve
o'clock until near six, the lively attention of the audi-
ence did not appear at any time to flag, and we were de-
lighted to see the kind and good-humoured plaudits with
which all the efforts of the performers were met on the
part of the audience.
Few of the peculiar and characteristic customs of the
Highlanders now remain to us, except their national
music, national dancing, national dress, and national lan-
guage—we may say none,—and of all these, except the
latter, a very favourable specimen was exhibited on Sa-
turday. When the curtain drew up, the martial tones of
the bagpipes were heard, and the whole competitors, to
the number of sixty, of as fine looking meal as we ever
saw marched on the stage, dressed in their national cos-
tume, with three pipers at their head. After performing
a few evolutions, they ranged themselves round the
stage, and the exhibition commenced, consisting of the
various Pibrochs played by the different competitors, in-
terspersed with reel and strathspey dancing, and the cha-
racteristic sword dance. Notwithstanding the deprecia-
tory remarks of most antiquaries and musical historians,
we consider the bagpipe, or rather the great Highland•
pipe, to be the ancient and the peculiar instrument of the
Highlanders. There is no doubt that the bagpipe was
common to almost all the ancient inhabitants of Europe,
and especially to the Celtic tribes, but by them it was
and still is by those who retain it, merely used for pur-
poses of festivity and recreation. By the Highlanders
alone it was at an early period adopted as an instrument
of music in war. Its power was increased by them
until it assumed the shape of the great Highland pipe,
and in this sense it is an instrument of music altogether
peculiar to them, while the music composed for that in-
strument is absolutely so. The various kinds of martial
music played on this instrument—the " Piobaireachd,"
or battle-piece; the " Spaidearachd," or march ; the
"Cruinneachadh," or gathering ; the "Failte," or sa-
lute ; and the " Cumha," or lament—form their charac-
teristic music of a kind quite peculiar to themselves, and
differing from all others ; and comparing their history
with other mountain people, we shall not say but what it
has had its effect upon their character as a warlike peo-
ple. The last generation saw the Highlanders animated
by its heart-stirring strains penetrate into the very heart
of England to place the last of the Stuarts on the throne
of his fathers, and, in our own time, the wild glens and
mountains of Spain have re-echoed its tones in the march
of victory through the Peninsula, while the plains of
Waterloo can tell of its influence there.

There is another point of view in which the preserva-
tion of this ancient music is of importance. We know
that there is nothing which gives a higher tone to the
character than the spirit of nationality, and the conduct
of every one will be regulated by a different spirit when
he feels that he belongs to a country or a nation to which
his own individual acts will do honour or dishonour. The
character of the Highlanders, as a people, is deservedly
very high, and we feel certain that there was no High-
lander present who did not feel, when he heard the mar-
tial tones of the pibroch, that he belonged to a people
whose high reputation he was bound by his own con-
duct to maintain.

At the conclusion of the performances, the prizes were.
delivered to the successful competitors by a Highland
chieftain present, viz., Clanranald, who accompanied
each by a few appropriate remarks.
The prize pipe, which is the first prize, was, by a con-
siderable majority, awarded to Donald M'lnnes, from
Lochaber, and in giving this prize it was explained that
the judges considered him and Donald Cameron, piper
to J. R. Mackenzie, Esq., of Scatwell, the two estb
pipers present, but as both had previously obtained se-
cond prizes before, they could only now compete for the
prize pipe. The prize pipe having been awarded to
M'lnnes, there was no other prize for which Cameron
could compete.—Edinburgh Advertiser.

POLITICALPRED.
—On Tuesday
land Countst,oted
se,ntiiot ILECTIONOF JACK KETcht.
This last functionary t, the hangman for the five Mid-
land
for,
Booth, No. presented himself at Swadlingcote Polling
nerohfistiretleas;7oannbeeliencgtoasrkoef(Al
wphploebiyle.
re lied for Mundy and Colvile, and if I had
fifty votes they should have them an." Mr. A. Bass,
called
represented the Liberal candidates, humorously
. the attention of Sir George Beaumont to the call-
zny of the elector he was thanking fur his votes. Sir
George thought he should not make such remarks upon
electors. Mr. Bass begged pardon, but said this was
such an extraordinary ease, that he could not help saying,
he hoped the distinguished elector would never be better
acquainted than he then was with any of the Liberal
party. The hangman went out of the booth grumbling,
as he went—" I have never had a job since these Whigs
came into office 1"—Derby Reporter.
MORE TORY DuINGs AT LANGLEY.—:—On
Friday last a tea drinking was given at the Parsonage,
Langley, to the Sunday School children, who were all
decorated with blue bows upon the occasion. The prin-
cipal part of the amusement appeared to consist in
shouting " down with the yellows." Is this the way in
which the worthy Rector illustrates the passage, " Train
up a child in the way he should go ?"
It is the vulgar notion in Persia that the English
as a nation, live in ships upon the water, and have no
territorial possessions except in the countries of others.
The present Persians seem still to have a lingering im-
f.pression of this sort.

After the cloth was removed, and the usual loyal and
patriotic toasts were drunk with enthusiasm,
Captain PECHELL rose to propose the health of Lord
Edward Howard, at the same time returning thanks oia
behalf of the navy, which had been proposed in conjunc-
tion with the army.
Lord E. Howartn said he had to return them his best
and sincere thanks for the honour they had done him in
drinking his health. When he came to them a short
time ago, he commenced public life, He had had
little experience, which rendered him incapable of ex-
pressing his feelings as he could wish. At this time
they had lost the cause for which they bad contended
—they had lost the cause of the country in general. He
lamented to state that the result of the general election
was so decidedly against the present Government, but it
was not by the voice of the people. The cause of it was
the neglect of the registration.—(Hear, hear.) They
could not conceal that, for the time, they were overcome.
The result of the elections would, no doubt, be held out
against them, especially in the West Riding of York-
shire, which he was astonished at, as it was the heart
of a manufacturing district. He must repeat, that it
arose from the want of registering, and the strong feel-
ing of the agriculturists in that district. Sir Robert
Peel would, although he had a large majority. have the
greatest difficulties to contend with. They (the
Tories) had long been out of power, and there
were a great many hungry expectants to feed.—(Hesx,
hear, and laughter.) The proceedings of the late—he
begged pardon, he meant the present Government, al-
though he might almost say the late Government, as it
would soon fall, would fill a glorious chapter in the
annals of our country.—(Cheering.) There was no time
when the people had made such great progress in being
able to judge for themselves ; and if they looked back
they would see the present Administration had not been,
wanting in their endeavours to obtain the pre-eminence;
and however much their enemies abused them, they must
give them credit for voting for the benefit of the country.
—(Cheers.) When the Government came into power, it
was a period of great excitement ; yet there was no
stretch of power used to support that excitement; but the
present Ministry had not been behind in suppressing it
constitutionally.— (Cheers.) Let them look for a mo-
ment at their foreign relations. It had been said that
they had been the tools of foreign countries, because
they had chosen to avoid great expenses and unneces-
sary wars. Our resources had, however, always been
ready when wanted. On the late occasion in the Medi-
terranean, our resources had not been behind. The
Tory party had made a great outcry that they were
not formidable enough ; but if their measures had been
carried we should have been at the present time involved
in war instead of being, as we were now, in perfect peace.
He was much disappointed at the result of the late elec-
tion, as he had thought that the Government had found
out measures by which commerce might have been
brought home for the benefit of the poor.---(Cheers.)
He hoped that they had found out means to increase the
prosperity without endangering the institutions of the
country. Those measures had, however, been for the
present turned aside. The men coming into power must
either increase the taxation of the country, or take
leaves out of the book of the present Government.—
(Cheers.) If they increased the taxation of the coun-
.

try they would not long. retain their places, and if they
did not they would forfeit their political character. Ile
(Lord Edw. H.) had been taunted with seeking place.
Ho did at present receive remuneration from Govern-
ment—he could assure them it was no sinecure, but he
should have given it up to serve the borough if he had
been elected.—(Cheers.) He congratulated them that
there had been no disturbance in the district during the
election—the opposition to him had been carried on in
the most gentlemanly and quiet manner. He concluded
by saying he could not sufficiently thank them for
coming into the field to support him, and he trusted they
would continue their kindness. He begged leave to give
the healths of " The independent electors of the Rape .of
Bramber."—(Cheers.)
Major ALLEN returned thanks.
The healths of Captain Pechell and Mr. Gratwicke,
the mover and seconder of Lord Edward Howard at the
nomination, were drunk with applause.
Captain PECIIELL, in returning thanks, said that the
Noble Lord, and those who fought by his side, could not
be blind to the defeat they had met with, but they could
say that it was the fault of the registration. The whole
power of the Tory interest was obtained through what
they called purging the registry by their associations
they had endeavoured to expunge every name of those
who professed Liberal principles. He hoped the Libe-
rals would exert themselves on that point.—(H
ear'hear.)
The cause had been lost mainly through the neglect of
the registration. •
Mr. GRA.TWICHE also briefly
of Captain PECHELL said that iw
Howard," and passed a
pro-
posing " The Noble House of
Grace the Duke of Norfolk
well-merited eulogiurn 00 his
for his liberality as a
who had held land under
returned thanks.
honour of
been known to coerce 3"
serrendered many private
him. He had also willingly_
landlord,ome and said that he had never
The toast was drunk with
Of SURREY returned thanks. - He said his
The Earl 0
have been delighted in meeting them
noble father ivould.
hi • great age incapacitated him
rightsnuch for
ltahuese
on such an
c'ecasAen ;NosblegPirl said he felt convinced
from Wending.
(Lord Edward
the next occasion, his son
that, on
he head of the poll.
Howard) would stand at t
public
d the 1 lth of
Lord EDWARD IIowARD propose lea Lord
George Lennox.
Lord G. LENNOX briefly returned thanks. He said
no one felt more anxiously than he did for the success
of the Noble Lord who had done him the honour of pro-
posing his health •, and he had no doubt that the name
of Howard would be at the head of the poll on the next
occasion, for he did not believe the present Member re-
presented the feelings of the electors.
The Earl of SURREY proposed the Chairman's health.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and begged to pro-
pose the health of her Majesty's Ministers.
Lord E. HOWARD said he had been asked to return
thanks, probably because he was connected with one
of the Members of the Government (Lord .Tohn
Russell). He could only say that he was convinced
that Noble Lord, and all her Majesty's Ministers
had done all in their power for the public good:
The company had wished him (Lord John Russell)
to be present that day, and no doubt he would if
he had not been a candidate, and a successful one, too,
for a lady. Hewes sure that was a sufficient exeusti for his
absence. A more able statesman, or a kinder roan, was
not in existence. He (Lord E. froward) sat that the
Noble Lord would not be out of office long ; they would
be glad to bring the preiont Government back again.
Their measures had all been for the general good of the
country ; but some of their most important measures
had been left in an unfinished state. They would now
return into an active opposition.
J. A. WIGNEY, Esq., proposed the health of Lord Fitz-
alan, which was received with great applause.
Lord FITZALAN briefly returned thanks, and proposed
the healt:i of the Members for Brighton.
J. A. WIGNer, Esq., returned thanks.
The Noble guests then left the festive board, accom-
panied by many other gentlemen, the remainder making
it out a jovial night.
Lord John Russell had been invited, but could not at-
tend, for the reason mentioned by Lord E, Howard.