The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-17 00:00:00

THE CORN-LA NI S.

Several excellent speeches were delivered at the
meeting held in Clayton-square on Monday last, to pe-
tition the Legislature for the repeal of the Corn-laws.
Sir Joshua Walwsley showed how closely dependent
not merely the comfort and welfare of the working
Classes, but our very existence as a great and inde-
Pendent nation, is upon the removal of the iniquitous
tot on food, and of the numerous impolitic restrictions
4n commerce, which fetter the industry of the country,
and render its vast resources comparatively unavailing.
Mr. Thornely delivered a statesman-like address, the
more valuable as it came from a practical man, long
engaged in commerce, and thoroughly conversant with
all its principles and details. Other gentlemen spoke
well, and to the purpose, but the speeches of the day
Were decidedly those of Mr. Duffy, an operative tailor,
and Robert Jones, a labouring man. Honest Ro-
' bent speaks feelingly, and, therefore, well. He ap-
peals to his own experience and that of his fellow-
Workmen, and that appeal is quite unanswerable.
In 1835 he got good wages, and could then ob-
liAin albs, of bread for the shilling. In 1837 the
'billing loaf was only 4i lbs., and instead of
saving his wages raised, as they ought to have
been, if there were any thing in the assertion of the mo-
nopolists that wages are dependent on the price of food,
he had to submit to a reduction of two shillings a week;
1O that he got not only less food for his money, but had
lest, money to buy it with. " He always looked," said
" to what his wife fetched home from market on the
Saturday right ; and what would be the use of his
having Si. a week it it would not fill her basket ?" This
14 hitting the right nail on the bead. The question
is
tint what is the nominal rate of wages, but what will
.°N, fill the basket, cni er the back, and educate the mind ;
the practical experience of such men as Robert
'Ones on these poin:s is worth a bushel of theories. Let
Ihe working classes only take the trouble to think—
et them only, like Robert Jones, consider their own ex-
perience, with the inferences to which it leads, and they
Will no longer submit to the delusion which has been
Practised upon them. We are happy in the belief that
this enlightenment of the minds of the working classes
i`
in progress, fur we are assured that, whenever that
15tOce9a is effected, the doom of the Corn-laws, and of
all other restrictions on the industry of man and the free
`'i")Yrnent of the bounties of Heaven, is sealed at once
and for ever.—Liverpool _Mercury.

PRIVATE BILLS, &c.—A list of the petitions
'in' private bills and the progress therein in the present
'eision ii now before us, from which it appears that the
number of private bills on which petitions have been pre-
te.in,l", amounts to ;133 cr thereabouts. Out of these
13 have: already received the Royal assent, and
le!er f te others aro in an advanced state of prog!Tss.
"sal e bills embrace almost every thaeription of :private
Miter pri3e.
HURRA hip, hurra 1" originated
the crusades, it being a corruption of H. E. P. tit, ic-
t:,lB of " Rierosolyrna est perdita" (Jerusalem is lost),
e motto on the banner of Peter the Hermit, whose fol-
,ovfers hunted the Jews down with the cry of Hip, hip,
iittrra,

COURT OF SEWERS FOR WEST
MINSTER AND PART OF MIDDLESEX.

A Court of Sewers for the City and Liberties of West-
minster, and part of the county of Middlesex, was yester-
day held at the Commissioners' Offices,Greek-street, Soho.
Thomas Levetton Donaldson, Esq. in the chair.
The minutes of the proceedings of the Courts held on
the 2d and 6th instant having been read and confirmed,
Mr, LESLIE asked why the report of the Solicitors as
to the opinion of Sir W. Horne and Sir John Campbell,
taken in 1833, had not been printed and circulated among
the Commissioners, according to the order of the last Court.
The CLERK said that in consequence of the interven-
tion of the Easter holidays they could not get the printers
to work.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN a Special Court was
ordered to be held on Friday next, to examine candidates
for the office of collector. He thought, also, that the
rate of poundage might be lowered to sixpence for the
nearer disti lets, and should, therefot e, give notice that on
that occasion he should bring forward a motion to that
effect.
The Collectors then made their usual report; of cash
received and paid to the Trc asurer, and of the proceedings
taken on warrants and summonses.
The CLERK reported on the state of the Collector's ac-
count, and on the money in the hands of the Treasurer.
Various payments were ordered to be made.
The COURT having disposed of a great deal of routine
business, proceeded to the next business, which was to sign
a warrant cf distress against the Churchwardens for the
Church of St. Martin-in-the-fields, ordered at the last
Court to be prepared by the solicitors.
The CI.ERK rc ad a report from the Solicitors, stating that
they had settled the warrant with Mr. Hoggins, the counsel,
who had written certain remarks for the information of the
Court.
Mr. LESLIE had understood that the question was finally
settled at the last Court-day, and that no further discus-
sion was to take place upon it. Now Mr. Smith had
taken upon himself to consult counsel on the subject, and
he had written certain remarks which were now to be read,
and might, perchance, give rise to discussion.
Mr. A'BECKETT said that Mr. Smith was certainly
right in consulting counsel on such a case as this.
The CHAIRMAN said that the order of the Court authoe
rised the Solicitor to consult counsel.
The CLERK then read the opinion of Mr. Hoggins who
stated that he hati drawn up the warrant to the best of
his ability, but that he could not advise the Commis-
sioners to place a distress in the churches, and that if they
were beat in a Court of law on the question they would
be personally liable for the costs. The question which
would be raised before a Court of law would be as to
whether the occupier on the land was liable, but he
doubted whether in point of law the Churchwardens could
be considered as occupiers of the church.
The warrant was then read.
Mr. T. DYER moved that the opinion of Mr. Higgins
be printed and circulated among the, Commissioners, which
was agreed to.
Mr. J. WHITE said the case of Ambassadors appeared
appeared to be perfectly analagous to the present case.
The houses of Ambassadors had always been assessed, and
there had been no means of enforcing the assessment. He
therefore asked what was the situation in which they were
with regard to the houses:of Ambassadors.
The CLERK was not aware of any Ambassadors' houses
being exempt from sates at the present moment.
Mr. J. WHITE thought the Jury were correct in bringing
the churches before the Court. He would sign the war-
rant notwithstanding the opinion of Mr. Hoggins, so
strongly was he convinced that these churches were liable.
The CHAIRMAN would place the warrant upon the
table, and those who wished to sign it might do so.
Captain BAGCE understood the Chairman had pledged
himself the warrant would be signed.
The CHAIRMAN had not done so he had only said that
he supposed the nine gentlemen who had voted for the
amendment would sigu the warrant, and he had caused
them to be written to.
Mr. BRANSCOMBE, as one of the nine, would not sign it
after Mr. Hoggins' opinion.
Mr. T. DYER thought the warrant should be tendered
to each of the nine.
Mr. REocn was not one of the nine, but he protested
against the adoption of so personal a course ; after the
opinion of Mr. Hoggins he should not sign it ; but he was
still convinced that churches were liable, and thought they
ought to go to the Legislature to obtain the power of doing
their duty.
Sir G. FARRANT would sign the warrant if it were a
perfectly legal one ; but, doubting that, he would not
thrust his hand into the fire. He would move that the
solicitors be directed to draw up a statement, stating the
difficulties in the way of enforcing the sewers'-rates against
churches, and that the Chairman be requested to lay the
same before Lord Normanby, and to apply tor the intro-
duction of a clause into the New Drainage Bill, giving the
Commissioners powers to enforce the rate.
Mr. T. DYER thought that motion could not be brough'
forward without notice.
The CHAIRMAN agreed with Mr. Thistleton Dyer, and
Sir George Farrant gave notice accordingly
The CLERK repotted that two Commissioners only had
signed the warrant.
Mr. LESLIE wished to know whether they intended to
repeal the oraer of the last Court, which was, that the
warrant should be signed. There was to be no Nailer
discussion on the subject, and yet they were now going
into it. If they could not get any Commissioner to sign
it that was another matter.
Sir J. S. LILLIE thought that Sir George Farrant's
motion might be entertained without notice. For himself
he was as ready to sign it as he had been the other day,
but his signing alone would not do, there must be five
others. He thought they were at liberty then to entertain
any motion likely to get them out of their difficulty. He
was not to be induced by the fear of a white sheet to show
a white feather. He supported Sir George Farrant's
resolution, and could see no benefit from the postponement.
Mr. LESLIE said that: according to Mr. Hoggins' opi-
nion the signing the warrant would try the question as to
whether the property or the person were chargeable. Why
that was the very question they wanted to try, and those who
were of opinion that the property was liable ought to sign
he warrant.
Captain BAGUE rose to order. There was no question

before the Court.
The CHAIRMAN said the motion of Sir George Farrant
had been seconded by Mr. J. White. It was contrary to
practice to have such a motion put without notice ; but
it would be for the Court to decide whether, under the
emergency of the case, the motion might not be discussed
without notice.
Sir J. S. Liters would move that the resolution of the
last Court, as to signing the warrant, and the opinion of
Mr. Hoggins, should be laid before Lord Normanby.
Mr. Bouveirte said that it could not be expected that
the Secretary of State would take up the cudgels in fa-
vour of the crude notions of the Ccurt. They were, in
his opinion, only putting money into the pockets of
law) ers without any benefit to the public, and he thought
no Secretary of State would, or ought, to give the Com-
missioners additional powers.
Mr. T. DYER should oppose both motions, for the rea-
sons given by Mr. Bouveris. They had agreed to give
time to certain parishes to consider the question; now they
were attempting by a side-wind to legislate upon the sub-
ject. No Home Secretary could introduce a clause affect-
ing matters already the subject of litigation. He hoped
the Court would allow the question to be put at rest, and
that it would never be put into the power of the Chairman
to say that there were nine gentlemen who had refused to
sign the warrant alter voting for its being issued. He
could not sign it, because he believed that their proceed-
ings had been from beginning to end illegal. There had
been some proceedings in regard to the Palaces ; he should
like to know the position in which they stood in reference
to those proceeding=, as that might throw some light on
the subject. He should like to know also what steps had
been adopted with regard to the other parishes. He
should like to know whether the other parishes had agreed
to abide by the decision in the St. Martin's case.
The CHAIRMAN said that at the last Court it had been
understood that the case of St. Martin's Church should be
the test, and that proceedings in the other cases should be
suspended until after the case of St. Martin'e should be
decided.
Mr. SMITH said that he had been yesterday to the
Crown-office to know if it was possible to urge on the
case of Kensington Palace, but he had been informed that
there were no means of urging on the Crown. They
had pleaded to the criminal information last term as early
as they could, and the Crown had not since taken any
further steps.
Mr. T. DYER asked whether it had not been agreed to
drop these proceedings, and to turn the whole into a
special case ?
Mr. Saris I said that a proposition to that effect had
been made to Mr. Pemberton, whe had agreed to lay
the proposition before the law officers of the Crown, but
no answer bad been received to the communication.
Captain BAGUE complained that every one of these
questions had been answered over and over again, and
that they were wasting their time.
Sir J. S. LILLIE suggested that the resolution of the
last Court and the opinion should be submitted to the
Law Officers of the Crown for their opinion. He would
sign the warrant now,
Mr. LESLIE objected to Sir J. Farrar.t's motion being
put as being contrary to the standing orders.
Mr. THISTLETON DYER moved that they do proceed to
their next order of the day. He would suggest that
neither of the present motions could be entertained, as being
distinctly out of order.
Mr. W. WHITE moved that the motion of Sir George
Farrant be permitted to be put.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question upon Mr. Thistle-
ton Dyer's proposition.
For it
Against it
Majority
The COURT consequently proceeded to consider No. 9,
which was—To sign a Precept to the Sheriff of Middlesex
to return a
.Jury to inquire into such things as shall be
given them in charge : (viz., to present the property liable
to be rated to the Western Division of the Westminster
Sewers.)
Mr. A'BECKETT asked if the precept was in the usual
form ?
The CLERK stated that it was.
Mr. Last=s said he was in hopes that they would have
had Mr. Smith's printed opinions before they proceeded
to sign this precept, in the matter which had met them
every Court-day. He contended that it was not the pro-
party they rated, but the persons, and yet here they were
again about to issue a precept for rating property. He
thought they had better postpone the consideration of this
No. 9 until they bad before them the opinion of Mr.
Smith, on which that monstrous doctrine was fcnuded.
Were they to go on signing precepts for the western
district until the question should be settled They ought
to postpone the issuing this precept until the question
should be settled. In the decree they charged the per-
sons; why should they stave to the Jury that they
only wanted the property ? They had gone on to decree ;
there was the warrant on the table not signed ; but let
them recollect that they could be forced to carry out their
decrees; it was not for them to- play at battledore and
shuttlecock with the decrees as they were doing. Now,

was it wise to go on involving a million and a half of pre-
petty addHonal ? Were they to go collecting 20 00C1.
without some sort of eslin,we as to what was to be done
with it ? They had 10.0001. in hand at the time the rate
had been ordered a twelvemonth ago.
Mr. T. DYER said it was perfectly absurd to contend
that it should take thirteenth months to make a rate. lie
would undertnke tog t the rata books in the difierent pa-
rishes copied in a fortnight. When had these books been
sent by the parishes ?
The CLERK SZ.ii some of them did not send in their
books until three months after the order.
Mr. T. DYER thought it was right the public should
know that the rate was made in April 1841, upon the rate
of June 1840, so that there must be a great deal of rate-
able property which did not appear 4 all. In justice to the
public, they ought to obtain the rate-books of 1841, be-
fore submitting the question to the Jury.
Mr, UN WIN said that would apply only to a small portion
of the rate.
Mr. LESLIE thought it applied to all the rate. How
could they say ti ey were placing any existing poor-rate in
tl:e hands of the Jury ? They had no right to collect a rate
sufficient to last f,,r two years. The proper course would
be to suspend furth r proceedings until the various ques-
tions now at issue should be decided. He hoped that ear
what had been elicited by the lion. Magistrate, they bad
better pause, until they could see sonic way out of the
subject.
Mr. J. WHITE had always understood the property, and
not the person, was to be rated to the Sewers-rate. The
only question agitated by him was, that they should leave
out nothing, no property whatever. The person was merely
an indication of the property. With regard to the rate,
it was a constant practice to make a rate last as long as it
could last. It was the land and not the tenant that was
assessed, and theefore the injustice of making the rate
upon the poor-rate of 1840 did not exist. He could see
no reason why the precept should not be signed, but he
thought it had heea postponed too bang.
Mr. BotivErtiE wished to know whether the churches
were included in the property to be submitted to the Jury.

. _
The CLERK said they were.
Mr. T. DYER should draw the attention of the Jury to
the fact that the presentment was based upon the rate of
1840. He thought they ought to get the rote-book of
1841, and alter the presentment, and if additional assist-
ance were necessary, they ought to have it. He put it to
the solicitor whether he would advise the Court to make
the presentment upon the old rate?
Mr. SMITH thought if the new rate-books were ready,
it would be unwise to proceed upon the cld ones.
Mr. W. WHITE and Mr. UNWIN both said that in their
respective parishes the new rate-book was not made out.
Mr. FULLER thought it odd they should make a new
rate when they had that day refused to carry out their old
decree. He could not understand such conduct. He
thought persons, not property were assessable. He would
be no party to signing that precept.
Mr, LESLIE contended the precept was not in confor-
mity with the statute of Henry VIII.
The CHAIRMAN rose to order, Mr. Leslie had already
spoken.
Mr. BEACH thought the precept ought to be signed at
once. The land alone was liable. The person occupying
was merely named fur the more perfect identification of the
land.
The CHAIRMAN said, that unless the precept were signed,
they would to thrown back inextricably ; all the circum-
stances and opinions relating to churches would be laid
before the jury and he thought they would find it improper,
if not illegal, to include churches in the rate. He trusted
the precept would be signed for the jury to meet on the
30th April.
Mr. T. DYER moved that the Court do now adjourn.

Mr. UNwirq seconded it.
On the show of hands, there were for the adjournment,
4, against it 6.
On the question of signing the precept, there appeared
for signing it 7, against it 3 ; majority for signing the
precept 4.
Mr. T. DYER gave notice that he should ask, in the
presence of the jury, if the Vestry Clerks were in attend-
ance ? and, it not, he should tell the jury they were
making a presentment upon the rate of 1840. He would
also give notice that at the next meeting he should move—
Mr. Beach here walked out of Court, and
The CHAIRMAN observed there were only five Commis-
sioners present, and, therefore, they no longer constituted

a Court
The Court was then counted out at a Quarter to Five
o'Clock.

CHURCH-RATES.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
WEYMOUTH, APRIL 13.—This town has been kept in a
considerable state of excitement for these last twelve months,
in consequence of the all prevailing subject of Church-rates.
'I he parish church, comparatively speaking a new church, was
built under an Act of Parliament about twenty-four years ago,
and upon which 2,0001. was borrowed by the authority of this
Act, and which said sum of 2,000/. is not yet paid off, though
what arc called Trustee Church-rates have been continually
made and paid for that purpose during this period, and it
somewhat astonishes plain-dealing folks that a Trustee-rate
amounting to upwards of 400/., should be so often called
for, acrd that still this church is in debt 1,000/., the trustees
paying interest. of 5 per cent. upon that amount, and keep-
ing a clerk to attend to the business. In addition to this,
the Ciurchwardens likewise call for a rate of fourpence in the
pour d, making also upwards of 400/. per year, to keep a new
chui ch in repair. To the Dissenters of the town this is doubly
grie. cut, inasmuch as they feel that not only are they called
upon to pay to the support of an edifice in which a creed, and
form, and ceremonies are used and taught contrary to what
they consider conscientiously to be the truth, but also that they
have to pay towards the extravagances of that church. Be-
lieving this rate to be illegal, several of the inhabitants refused
to pay it, whereupon they were some some months back
summoned before the magistrates ; they pleaded the
illegality of the rate, and entered into the required
engagements to defend themselves in the Ecclesiastical
Court against any suit that might be entered by the
churchwardens. This, of course, closed the jurisdiction of
the magistrates. After waiting till March the Churchwardens
selected seven individuals as fit and proper persons to he per-
secuted by citation to the Ecclesiastical Court, namely, fur.
Charles Pope, Mr. Thomas Dodson, Mr. Stephen Farwell,
Mr. George Groves, Mr. Joseph Farwell, Alr. James Clare,
3lr. Alfred Galpin. The parties appeared to the citation at
131andford, 24 miles from Weymouth, when they were admo-
nished to appear again in a fortnight, to receive the libel that
would be then exhibited by the Churchwardens. At the ap-
pointed time they made their second appearance, when the
Churchwardens' proctor prayed the Court for further time, as,
he said, they were not prepared with their case, they had no
papers ready, and, as they would have to be presented to Dr.
Addams before they could exhibit their libels, he should ask
four four weeks more, at which time the parties cited should
again appear. Mr. Pope complained of this annoyance to the
parties, in addition to the expense of coming twenty-four miles
to no purpose, and asked, as a reasonable thing, that the
court should order the expenses of the day ; but the answer
was, " This court never allows expenses." Application was
then made to name any other day than Saturday, as it was a
most inconvenient day for the parties to leave their homes,
they being all tradesmen. This was also refused, and the whole
of the parties ordered to attend that day four weeks, Satur-
day, 24th April. At the first appearance of the parties to the
citation, it was proposed by them, that as they wished to try
the validity of the rate, and all had the same objection, the
churchwardens should take one case, Mr. Pope's, and all the
others would enter into an engagement to pay if the church-
wardens succeeded in their suit against him. Their proctor
said he would make the communication to them, and let Mr.
Pope know the result. He did make that communication,:and
the t esult was the positive refusal of the churchwardens to ac-
cede to this most reasonable proposition, and their determina-
tion to proceed with the whole of the cases. And thus the mat-
ter stands with respect to the seven inhabitants cited for re-
fusing to pay what they conceive to be an illegal rate, all hav-
ing the same objection to it.
The churchwardens, however, have not yet done. I'o-day
they have summoned twenty-two inhabitants, two of whom,
frightened at the expense and annoyance, paid the rate and
costs, but the others have declined to pay till the suits now
pending in the Ecclesiastical Court be decided, pledging them-
selves to pay if the churchwardens succeed. The Magistrates,
however, have issued orders for the payment of the rate and
costs, and say they shall issue distress warrants on their goods if
it is not paid, one of them observing that it might be four or five
years before the suits now pending would be settled. On Tues-
day next an immense number more are to be summoned, and
if the Magistrates shoidd be so insane as to grant distress war-
rants against all who have and will refuse this rate, Wey-
mouth will be turned into an entire Auction Illart, to suit the
tender mercies of the Church of England as by law esta-
blished. flow much longer are the Dissenters of this country
to be taxed against their consciences—be taxed to support a
system that the freedom of conscience God has given revolts
from ? To the Dissenters is owing the liberation of this
country from bigotry and oppression. To the Dissenters does
our beloved Queen owe the crown she now wears; and long
may she live to wear it ; but as they have once overthrown
oppression, it will be no hard task to do it again, when
once they are united, as they are fast becoming on
this all-absorbing question. It has been truly said there are
but three ways to obtain redress of grievances ; the
first by petition, the second by remonstrance, and the
third by—but God forbid they should ever be driven to do as
the Covenanters of Scotland did, gird on the broad sword of
freedom to their thighs, and in return to a citation present its
sharpened point ; yet who does not approve of their glorious
struggle for the freedom of that conscience which God has
given, free and unshackled to all men ; and will those who
approve of this conduct, carried to extremes as it certainly
was, condemn the Dissenters of their own day, who tread in
their footsteps ? No, and the surprise will be, next, they had
not done so before. Cases like the one before us arc enough
to drive men to the utmost extremity. Would not one case
have been sufficient to decide the question of the legality of
this grievous, burdensome, iniquitous rate ? But no, they will
have " justice, and their bond ;" they will have their " pound
of flesh ;" but a day of reckoning is coming—we " bide the
time."