The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. 1840.

it is no such thing ; it is 9erely a republication of
those made by the Opposition ; -and so utterly dull
is the volume—so unredeemed by anything like
spirit or vivacity—that we could wish our bitterest
enemy no severer punishment than that of being
compelled to read it through from title-page to
colophon. We question much whether he would
survive such a terrible penance ; for we hold it to
be equivalent in its effect to the drinking of a quart
bottle of laudanum, or the listening to a long
Episcopal charge by the Bishop of Exeter.

Hying for. their protection. The Itusian Consul has, 1.
understand, made a warning communication to the few
traders of his nation residnt nt Alexandria ; but the
Austrian Consul waits for specific instructions, and has
as et not favoured his countrymen with any opinion
on the matter.
The British merchants, having taken their Consul-
General's last letter into consideration, held a special
meeting the same evening, and entered into resolutions
set forth in the following minute
At a meeting of British merchants, held on the 15th
inst., to take into consideration the contents of a letter
from her Britannic Majesty's Agent and Consul-General
dated the 14th inst , read to them this morning at the
residence of Mr.. Consul Larking, it was resolved—
" 1. That the merchants of Alexandria feel sur-
prised and deeply concerned to learn from that commu-
nication, that in the present very serious and menacing
situation of affairs, her Majesty's Consul-General had
received no definite instructions from her Majesty's
Government having relation to the commercial interests
of British subjects in this country.
" '2. That the deputation of British merchants in
London interested in the trade, who waited upon her Ma-
jesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the be-
ginning of May last, be again requested to bring these
interests under his Lordship's notice, and to point out
the painful state of suspense in which British merchants
in Egypt are now placed.
" 3. That her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General be
thanked for his communications, and his promised at-
tention to their safety
_and interests.

THE HOP DUTY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,--Praise to you for your noble stand against the
proposed pillage of the public by the landlords through
the hop planters. They pocketed the high rent of last
year out of the prigits of the hop planters, and now
they want to pocket this year's rent by preventing their
tenants paying their share to the expenses of the State
under the name of " Hop Duty."
Suppose a manufacturer who, by the fluctuations in
the value of commodities, induced by the operation of
the Corn-laws, has lost some thousands, and in this dis-
tressed condition went to the Ministry, and begs to be
let off paying duty on the cotton or the article he con-
sumes, what would the hop planters' landlords say ?
They would threaten an impeachment.
Nov, Sir, I know one manufacturer who lost by
fluctuations, induced in the price of the article he con-
sumes. and by the consequent losses of others from the
same cause, in the. course of one year, ONE HUNDRED
AND TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS. Surely this man
ought to have appealed to Government. But no : he
put his shoulder to the wheel, and sought out the
cause, and since that he has been one of the staunchest
Anti-Corn-law men in Lancashire.
Persevere, pray, in preventing the Government using
our money to pay the Sussex landlords' rents.
Your's truly,
London, Sept. 3. L. E.

PROCEEDINGS OF BRITISH

MERCHANTS IN EGYPT.

ALEXANDItIk, AUGUST 16.—The arrival of Rifat
Bey and Mr. Alison, in the Bair-Tapir steamer from
Constantinople, on the 11 th inst., with the ultimatum
of the Four Powers, produced a great sensation here.
The Paella was absent at Damietta, and speculation
was left to indulge itself at leisure ; for all other oc-
cupation amongst the commercial portion of the inha-
bitants was virtually at an end. Next day (the 12th)
her Britannic Majesty's Consul, Mr. J. W. LarkiSng,
called together the British merchants, residents,
and communicated to them, the contents of a circular
letter he had received from the Consul-General, Col.
Hodges, conveying, in general but guarded terms, an
intimation of the present critical state of things, and
pretty strongly hinting the necessity of preparing for the
worst. This circular letter of advice was far from
satisfying the deep interest and anxiety manifested
by the numbers assembled to receive it : and, in conse-
quence, several leadinir questions were put to the Consul,
which, it can be well imagined, were more easily asked
than answered. As the subject is a very important one,
I shall proceed at once to lay before your readers a do-
cument which contains the entire animus of the matter
in debate, and which was the result of a meeting con-
vened next day, the 13th, by Mr. Consul Larking, to
receive in a proper business-like manner the strong re-
presentations and pointed inquiries of the British resi-
dents at Alexandria on topics that all felt to be vitally
important. I will only add, that I never witnessed more
equanimity, or heard fewer words wasted, than at this
(second) meeting, in which a number of men of business
met to demand full information and efficient protection
in a foreign land at the hands of the representatives of
their own Executive Government.

THE NEW LORD MAYOR.

"6 4. That Mr. Consul Larking be requested to
communicate these resolutions to Colonel Hodges.
"6 Alexandria, Aug. 15.'
" Present—Messrs. Briggs, Malin, Tod, Peel. Ti-
haldi, Walmyss Bell, Frazer, Harris, Thurburn, Joyce,
Galloway, and Terry."
Thus stands the affairs of the British residents, nearly
all merchants, and possessed of property vested in this
country and in Candia to the amount of at least half a
million. It is said that the Pacha is making strenuous
exertions to gather funds sufficient to pay off the long
arrears of his troops both on land and water, and has
already drawn on the merchants in account with him
hills to the amount of 5,0001. sterling. It is stated
that he will require 100,0001. sterling, in hard cash, to
satisfy all the demands of the army, navy, arsenal, &c.,
and is determined to obtain it.

TO 7'HE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

EXTRACT FROM MR. CONSUL LARKING'S MINUTE BOOK.

ALEXANDRIA, AUG. 13 —Minute of proceedings held
this day at the house of her Britannic Majesty's Con-
sul, convened at the request of the British merchants
and residents of Alexandria, to take into considera-
tion a communication made to them on the preceding
day by order of Colonel Hodges, her Britannic Ma-
jesty's Agent and Consul-General. Present, Messrs.
Briggs, Terry, Peel, Friend, Harris, Tod, Bell,
Roberts, Joyce, A. Thurburn, Taylor, Schiff, Rey,.
nolds, Bell, Walmyss, Pothemer, Popelani, Riga-
Giro, Nani, Spero-Averino, Stephens, Morris, Malin,
Tibaldi, Frazer, Cortis, Giglio, and Metaxa.
Read the communication of Colonel [lodges, dated
Aug. 11, 1840, of which the following is a true copy .
" CIRCULAR.
" Alexandria, Aug. 11.
" Sir,—The resolutions which have been taken by
four of the great European Powers for the pacification
of the East, the arrival this morning of a special Envoy
from the Sublime Porte, and the inflexible demeanour
assumed by Mehemet Ali, have inspired some doubts
as to the continuance of friendly relations with that

Pacha.
" I am not, indeed, without hope that the prudence
and moderation of Mehemet Ali- may avert an embar-
rassing complication of affairs. Still, it becomes a ne-
cessary precaution for you to call together the British
subjects and proteges trading in Alexandria. You will
recommend them to limit their credits, to arrange their
affairs without any loss of time, and to remain generally
on their guard.
" You will also communicate the same instructions
and advice to any Vice-Consul and Consular agent be-
longing to your jurisdiction.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your obedient humble servant,
" G. LLOYD HODGES."
"J. W. Larking, Esq., Her Britannic
Majesty's Consul."
On the motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr'
Peel, it was unanimously resolved,
" Ist. That this meeting yesterday learned for the
first time, with much regret and with no little anxiety,
that there is a prospect of an interruption of the friendly
relations which have hitherto existed between the British
Government and his Highness Mehemet Ali.
" 2d. That with regard to the second paragraph of
Colonel Hodges's letter, which contains the following
sentence-4 You will recommend them to limit their
credits, to arrange their affairs without any loss of time,
and to remain generally on their guard ;' this meeting
requests Mr. Consul Larking to correspond with Col.
Hodges on behalf of all the parties addressed in the
above letter, to lay before him the proceedings of this
meeting, and to call his attention to the facts stated
Mow, showing the nature and importance of British
commercial interests in this country, as well as those of
a more permanent nature, viz.:—
" That British merchants have purchased, directly
and indirectly, from the local Government, about
47,000 cantars of the last cotton crop, of the value of
about 140,0001. sterling, of which more than one-half
remains to be shipped.
" That they have British vessels in port loading cot-
ton and other goods, and that time is required for
pressing and stowing the same.
" That they have British and other merchandize in
store to a large amount unsold, which, not being dis-
posable for cash, must in some way be put in safety.
" That they have outstanding credits to a large
amount with native traders in the country, which
credits cannot be collected without great delay, or at a
great sacrifice.
" That many of them have accounts with the Go-
vernment of his Highness the Pacha, which remain to
be adjusted.
" That several of them have more permanent interest
in the country, arising out of long residence—namely,
houses and grounds ; and others of them are cultivators
of land to the extent of about '25,000 acres, on which
considerable capital has been laid out.
" That many of them have families and establish-
ments, which it would be difficult to remove, but whose
safety is of paramount importance.
"3. That these circumstances induce the British
merchants and residents to apply to her Britannic Ma-
jesty's Agent and Consul-General, through Mr. Consul
Larking, to afford them all the information generally in
his power, and particularly on the following points more
immediately affecting their position :
.. Whether from his (Colonel Hodges's) certain
information the measures contemplated by the great
Powers (should his highness continue inflexible) will
be such as to render it necessary for British residents
to quit this country ? And in the event of such a
contingency, what length of time remains for arranging
their concerns previous to the cessation of British pro-
tection ?
" Whether it is to be understood from the tenour of
Colonel Hodges's letter that an immediate removal of
British property should be made ?—and, if an imme-
diate removal be not necessary, whether a future notice
will be given, and that a sufficient one, to effect the
withdrawal of existing British interests ?"
The above resolutions were immediately transmitted
to Colonel Hodges, by Mr. Larking, who next day re-
ceived the following official reply from the Consul-Ge-
neral, which he duly presented the following morning
(yesterday, the 15th inst.) to the British residents, who
assembled at his house to receive it :
" Her Britannic Majesty's Mission, Alexandria,
Aug.l4.
" Sir—l have the honour to acknowledge your public
letter of yesterday's date. You therein inform me of
the proceedings of a meeting of British merchants and
residents held at your house, and you detail certain
questions which the meeting has been pleased to propose
to me through your medium.
" The merchants and residents are probably sensible
that I cannot give particular information as to the state
ot pending negotiations, and that any warnings of mine
must for the present be couched in general and guarded

terms.
" Everything seems to depend on the resolutions ca
Mehemet Aii, of which I can know nothing with cer-
tainty ; and it' I were to say what may be the limit of
our friendly relations with the Pacha, or the period of
actual hostilities, I should merely be giving utterance to
a private opinion, of which I am not expected to assume
the responsibility.
" I wish it to be understood that I have as yet re-
ceived no definite instructions from her Majesty's Go-
vernment having relation to the commercial interests
of British subjects in this country. The example of the
Consul-General of a great Power, and my anxiety for
the welfare of the British merchants in Egypt, are the
motives which urged me to furnish the advice contained
in my despatch of the 11th of August, 1840.
Convinced of the very serious and menacing situa-
tion of affairs, I beg of you to repeat again emphatically
to the British merchants my former warning, to limit
their credits, to arrange their affairs, and to remain ge-
nerally on their guard.
" In conclusion, you will please to assure my fellow-
countrymen that their safety and interests will occupy
my most serious attention.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your obedient humble servant,
" G. LLOYD HODGES.
" J. W. Larkins, Esq., her Britannic
Majesty's Consul."
The " great Power" above alluded to is France, whose
Consul-General, M. Cochelet, a few days since took ,
opportunity, when all the French residents were assem-
bled to elect two Deputies (to represent their interest
and transact the business of their body with the Consul
for the ensuing year), of similarly warning them of the
' probable interruption to which their commerce would be
' exposed; but assuring them that under all circumstances
of difficulty and dap!' he would beep the gag of France

fetes.

EVENING

NEW SHIP LAUNCH.

MR. EDITOR—An ironical paragraph in Tuesday's
Sun, to which my attention was called by an i.ndig•
nant friend, led me, only now, to peruse that p iper,
—but, as Fiaccus saith, sibi plura nitent, we must not
be fastidious.
I rarely venture quotation unless I can refer to my
original. My memory is better for sentiments than for
words.
It is always delightful to me to render unto Caesar
—to make amends, whom I have wronged, even in
thought ; and, at this dead season, my remarks may
neither be unwelcome to your readers, by way of va-
riety, nor to you.
1 have not, for a long time, read a more interest-
ing newspaper than The Sun under my hand. As to
the perfectly legitimate paragraph referred to—Mr
Stockdale yokes himself with none. He has proved
his detestation of all yokes, save of Him who empha-
tically exclaims, " Come unto me all ye that labour
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
His yoke, I have found, not only easy, but com-
fortable, and his burthen light and grateful.
I acknowledge no despot, but the law ; and deny and
resist all rigour, which goes beyond it.
" The worthy candidate for the mayoralty" may have
to confess the truth of your prophecy. I consider you
no " lying prophet ;" but, like another Balfur' or
Micaiah, " he doth not prophecy good for me, but
evil. Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up,
and fall ?" _

I pity Henry Vincent, and his mode of revenge on
Lord Normanby, by absenting himself from the gaol
church ; which, I suppose, he was accumstomed to at-
tend. It is childish!
I am much gratified by your own remarks on the
Sabbath, which is, beyond all dispute, the seventh day ;
but God himself, as well as Moses, who was God's
mouth-piece, commanded the seventh day to be ob-
served as God's Sabbath ; which neither Jesus Christ
nor his apostles changed, as you well observe.
JOHN JOSEPH STOCKDALE,
Long prisoner for the liberties of his country.
Gloucester-gate, Regent's Park,
3d September, 1840.

MODE OF' ABOLISHING THE
CORN LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
" Nor though a meaner give advice, repine
But follow it, and make the v:i3dom thine."
Pope's Homer, but no other Homer.

THE NEW LOAN SOCIETIES ACT. I bers are all ruined. There may be a Society , as that
ssa. of Westminster, which will escape such a fate, by being
A. more palpable instance of bungling and incon-
already managed by lawyer capitalists, and that I getting
sistent legislation could scarcely be found in the whole its law for nothing.
history of Statute Law, than the Act of the 3d and At all events, the " Act of tbe 3d and 4th afc-
4th Victoria, c. 110, which passed both Houses of toria, c. 110," to be repealed next year, is a dead Jetter.
Parliament on the last day but one of the late Session.
The object of the Act was to amend the sth and 6th
of William the 4th, c. 23. The latter, commonly
called " The Loan Societies Act," gave a qualified
exemption from the usury laws, and other privileges, to
Societies established for the purpose of making small
loans to the industrious classes. But such Societies
were required to enrol themselves, according to certain
forms set forth in the Act, and to conduct their pro-
ceedings according to regulations approved of by a
barrister, to be appointed by the Crown. Those
regulations not appearing to some Members of Parlia-
ment to have answered the purpose of sufficiently pro-
tecting the borrowers, a Bill was brought into the
House of Commons, towards the close of last Session,
to provide other and more effectual regulations. Out
of that Bill the Act now before us was elaborated by
the Committees of the two Houses, the avowed object
of all parties being to maintain the institutions in ques-
tion, but, at the same time, to correct the abuses which
were supposed to have been tolerated by the previous
law. The desire of the promoters of the Bill to prevent
the suppression of Loan Societies was so great, that a
clause, without which the Lords had declared they
would not agree to the Bill, having been thrown out
in the Commons, on the motion of Mr. T. Duncombe,
(the day before the prorogation) the Lords were per-
suaded to accept the Bill without the so much valued
clause, on the understanding that the whole subject
would come on for discussion early next year. The
Act, therefore, in its present state, was passed avowedly
for the purpose of continuing the Loan Societies esta-
blished by the sth and 6th of William IV. That was
the declared object—an object for which the promoters
were evidently anxious, as they professed to be. But
the effect has been, and could not fail to be, the ex-
tinction of every one of these Societies. The first clause
repeals the Act by which they were constituted, and
further authorises the continuance of the regula-
tions, under the repealed Act, so far as out-
standing loans are concerned. But for the con-
duct of any Society in snaking further loans, after
the 14th of August, 1840 (the day after the passing of
the Act). a new enrolment was rendered necessary,
under regulations which are found to he so far im-
practicable that all the Societies have given up the no-
tion of being enrolled. The Act having thus extin-
guished the institutions which it was expressly designed
to continue and better regulate, confers, however, one
favour upon the members, of which, perhaps, all might
not have been equally deserving ; it relieves them, in
the second clause, from all liability to penalties from any
previous usuriousness in their transactions. The
clauses from 3 to 19, inclusive, are little more
than re-enactments, with unimportant modifications,
of those parts of the Act of Wiliam IV. which re-
lated to the forms of enrolment, the revision of the
rules, &c. But clause 20 provides that no greater sum
than one shilling and sixpence shall be paid to any such
Society for the form of application, and the expenses
of inquiry into the character and solvency of the bor-
rower and his sureties. Now, it must be obvious to all
except the framers of the Bill, that this clause is suffi
cient to prevent transactions with Loan Societies (as
such) altogether, or at least to limit them so much,
that it could not be worth while to carry them on. It
must be obvious that the operations of each
must be confined within a small circle of
its own locality, within which the character of
and solvency of every person (borrower or security) may I
be ascertained without expense. It is equally obvious,
that persons, requiring small loans will not, in most
cases, make the application, and expose their temporary
necessity in their own immediate neighbourhood. In
practice, it has been found that the Societies have, in
the large majority of cases, to make their inquiries at
considerable distances, and at a proportionate expense.
By one reading of the clause (which is not very clearly
expressed), it might appear that the one shil-
ling and sixpence was allowed for the cost of
the form of application, and that the expences
of inquiry were left to be defined by the rules, under
revision of the Barrister, as afterwards provided. It
would, however, be as absurd to allow a charge of
Is. 6d. for the form of application, which costs less than
one halfpenny, as to limit to Is. 6d. the charge for
making inquiries, say at Woolwich, as often happens,
to which, from Hungerford-market, the steam-boat
passage is 2s. ; and be it observed that Hungerford-
market has close by it three of the most extensive of
those institutions in the metropolis. But Woolwich
may be the locality of only one surety—the other,
or the borrower himself, residing at Hammersmith
or Notting Dale. It is clear that Is. 6d. cannot
cover the expenses of inquiry in either of these three
Societies, and their loans must be confined to the pa-
rishes of St. Martin and St. Paul—that is, to their
neighbours, who will not apply to them—instead of
being extended as they were last year, to twenty
miles round London by the Westminster Loan Society.
It seems to have been the opinion of those who
framed this twentieth clause, that the allowance of 1.2
per cent. interest would be sufficient inducement and
remuneration. The original framers of this Act did
not think so ; for when they did away with the mileage
charge, they proposed to allow 15 per cent. interest ;
and they only consented to the reduction, lest if they
refused, the Bill would be lost in the Lords. They we, e
earnest to preserve the Societies—they eagerly accepted
a Bill which destroys them. In the 22d clause, which
fixes this rate of twelve per cent., it is provided that
the " time and manner of paying off the instalments
shall be taken into account in the calculation of the in-
terest to be paid." Thus, according to the scheme
(Schedule E, No. 1) Gs. is fixed as the year's in-
terest to be deducted in advance as upon 51., that is
exactly at the rate of six per cent. per annum. But
the calculation is that the times and proportions in
which the principal is repaid by instalments, makes up
the precise amount of six per cent. more, or rather an
advantage to the Society, in re-lending, equivalent to
such interest. The calculation to this end is made to
a nicety, and the result of twelve per cent. interest
depends upon the exact payment of each in-
stalment at the time specified, and its immediate re-
issue in the form of loan. To give the amount of in-
terest which was contemplated as sufficient to cover all
expenses of inquiry, clerks, offices, paper, &c , it is ne-
cessary that every borrower shall be punctual in every
repayment. Let us see how this punctuality is secured
by the Act. Previously there was a fine for neglect
of twopence for the first omission, fourpence for a second,
and sixpence for a third, being in sucession. This ope-
rated in two ways ; as a stimulus to the borrower to be
punctual, and as a guarantee to the Society that he
would not be otherwise if he could help it. It
was an inducement to punctuality in the bor-
rower, and to forbearance in the lenders. In the
23d clause all such fines are strictly prohibited,
and further, the Society is not allowed to make any
charge whatever for writing, or otherwise applying to
the defaulter to pay up his arrears. Being thus a
loser (according to the calculations of clause 21) by the
very first default, and being precluded from reimburse-
ment of any further expense, the Society would be
compelled, for its existence sake, to take the extreme
proceedings under the Act in this first instance, being
an absolute loser, without chance of remuneration, of
all the calculated interest from the first default to the
,
ultimate repayment of the last shilling of the principal.
But those who managed the Loan Societies were men of
business, and in this matter they were men of practical ex-
perience, and they saw at once that business could not be
conducted in this way. They knew by experience that
the needy persons (although in improving circumstances
.still needy) who want those loans, cannot, in nine cases
out of ten, be invariably punctual ; and that it is only
by dint of great exertion, and the influence of correct
principle, they are enabled to pay the last instalment
within the stipulated period, or within a short time after
it. Still it is worth while to observe, for the credit of
the industrious classes, that there have been hitherto
scarcely any, if any, ultimate defaulters ; and one insti-
tution of extensive transactions, that in Buckingham-
street, Strand, has certainly not lost one shilling from
its commencement.
From these considerations,the Act is a dead letter, and
the Loan Societies, as such, are extinct. It is curious
to observe what zeal was shown to prevent the suppres-
sion of those that were held in public-houses, at the same
time that the Act involved them in the general extinc-
tion. The clause which pointed out for destruction the
enrolled Societies held in public-houses was, to be sure,
pretty sweeping, as we believe there was but one in the
wasmetropolisthe Westminster
Lean
than i nap
that Society,u heldbl c -h
in s
Be ,
ununkc
ingham-street. i
sk eo i t
mbuttesh bet
he ne
be said—as s
e
saidutinit tmheay
better
We will not discuss the principle here, but it
; people should do without borrowing."
of sroredtsbi:L
STEAM NAVIGATION IN AUSTRALIA.-- has been clearly the wish of the Legislature to enable
The steam-ship the Sea Horse, of 250-horse power, sailed the industrious person of good character, and in strua-
from Gravesend yesterday morning for Sydney. We un- gling or improving circumstances, to receive pecuniary ,
derstand that this vessel is intended to ply between the assistance in conquering difficulties, or advancing his
various ports in the Australian Colonies, for which pur- condition ; and all we have to say is the Legislature has
pose, from her build and great power, she is eminently defeated its own intention.
qualified, it having been proved that the small steam-ves-
What then is the resource of the Loan Societies in
sels which have hitherto been sent out were unable to con-
the meantime ? They will not enrol under this Act ,
tend with the heavy seas of those southern latitudes. The
nor
therefore,hicil theythrown ha ve embarked
themselves
Sea Horse, during her stay at Gravesend, was visited by a
number of persons, and was universally admitted to be abandon will they, nor could they all at once if they would,
invdeo theonpita l .
k brrushienyes have,s in w
one of the finest steam-ships which has been seen in the
t
port of London, and is, we hear, valued at upwards of unon the Ban
Charter Act, that is, the 3d of Victoria,
30,000/. Her cabins and saloon were full of passengers, which allows any amount of interest to be taken upon
issar notes, or bills of
and she takes out a valuable cargo. rom yexceange, if not more than
oftwelve months' date, and for;
not
SEPT. 2.—The average price
Wheat last week was 22.93 f. ; that of Rye 1_2.55f..
Under this Act, sums exceeding 10/. will con-
Wheat, therefore, is exempt from import duty; R
yThies tinue to be lent, re-payable by instalments,
liab`.e to a duty of 25.50 f. per 1,000 kilogrammes.oPtatoes, but without the advantages or protection of the Enrol-
exportation of both, and of Flour as well. as ment Aot to borrower or lender. The borrower must
transacted bu-
remains prohibited. Yesterday, the King
Affairs pay, under the name of interest , w iatever the
Society
siness successively with the Minister of .
Foreign
Ant r chooses to exact for
its expenses, &c. The Society, on
and the leterior. A deputation from the eity ° we
the other hand h
and of the Royal Society of Letters, the Arts and sciences
, eying no summary resource as under
Ato the King specimens of the sth and 6th Will. IV., c. 23, will be thrown upon
of that city, yesterday.presentes. he mere
all the medals struck in honour of Rubens and of the late t yof the lawyera in every case of default, and
I will go on harassing and being harasscd, until its mem-.

THE LONDON.—The Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty have directed that the London, of 92 guns
shall be lauched on Monday, the 28th instant ; and a;
the tide will flow until three o'clock that day, the launch
is not expected to take place much before two. Her
stern, which was originally constructed after a plan of
the late Sir R. Seppings, has been removed, and re-
ncham, the present
Mr. Fi
pinlaaesteedr-sbliyipovinTeigdhetsigonfedthbey Chatham yard, and has a
noble yet light and elegant appearance. The port
illuminators, or bird's-eves, hitherto fitted in the
scuttle of the lower decii of ships of this class, have
in this instance been iuserted in holes made for
them in the ship's side between the ports, and
they are so fitted that, by a winch being applied
to a nut on the screw at the inner et,d of the
plug which contains the bull's-eye, the whole may
be drawn in or forced out at pleasure, so as to
admit the air fore and aft the lower deck without
hauling up the ports in rough weather. The bull's-
eye being placed in this position the light falls from it di-
rectly on the people in the berth without loss or impedi-
ment, whereas when it was fitted in the scuttle of the
lower deck port the greater part of it was lost by the inter-
vention of the gun, which,as a matter of course, was placed
before it. This great improvement, so conducive to the
health, comfort, and good spirits of the crew, for darkness
and sulkiness generally dwell togethrr, is said to be the
invention of Mr. Lang, the master-shipwright of Wool-
wich Dockyard. The London is also to be fitted with
one of Captain Lihou's patent rudders, which is now
ready for hanging. The following are the dimensions
of the London :—Extreme length, 242 feet ; extreme
breadth, 54 feet three inches ; breadth of lower deck,
54 feet three inches ; length of lower deck, 205 feet ;
depth of hold 23 feet ; tonnage 2,598 ions.

Ste—When England imported corn, the granaries at
Dantzic and other ports were ready to supply any suet-
den demand without making much alteration in the ex-
change ; but now a had harvest will enhance corn every-
where, and there being little in foreign stores, we must
send money (instead of goods) to purchase it, which? will
raise the exchange and the price of corn, at the smne
time that it depresses consols and paralyses trade.
These consequences were so impending during the
storms at the beginning of the harvest, that perhaps the
merchants, tradesmen, and gentry of London, will open
their eyes in time to save the kingdom from the nightly
tires, the bankruptcy and convulsion which must follow
a bad harvest. It is in the power of the Londoners on,y
to get the Corn-laws immediately suspended, and finally
repealed, if they choose to act together for that pur-
pose, without attacking any other grievance on which
opinions may differ.
But they cannot act together unless directed by one
individual, nor will they be persuaded to that except the
direction comes from an unknown person ; because, as
soon as any clever men know the person who directs,
they immediately find themselves to be superior in un-
derstanding, and will not follow his injunction. Then
the progress is prevented by each person choosing his
own road (like a team where every ox pulls a d'fferent
way), and defeat must ensue ; as it did to the Athenians
at ..Egospotamos, because they acted under ten ge-
nerals.
Do you, Sir, persuade all the Editors who disap-
prove of the Corn-laws, to exhort their readers to form
in every parish at or near London, clubs of about one
hundred neighbouring housekeepers, of whatever grades
happen to live close together ; and for the chairman of
each club to sign. on every Monday, the following- peti-
tion to her Majesty, to which will be added a stronger
clause every time, and at the third time of asking it must
succeed, if the directions to be hereafter given are
strictly followed ; and then all tradesmen throughout
the kingdom will have double the number of customers
and the newspapers as many subscribers as they now
have readers.
Perhaps this could be effected by other means, but
don't know how to move this immense mass of injured
men to act in unison, unless by such clubs, which can
thus act as one man, and without any intercommunica-
tion. Three hundred thousand men, obeying the word
of command at the metropolis, would avail more than
three millions scattered throughout the kingdom.

Thus does the repeal of the Coin-laws:and the re-
newed vigor of the State depend on the patriotism of
the London Editors dismissing all jealousies in order
to unite in supporting this suggestion of
PHOCION.
TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT
MAJESTY. _

The humble petitiOn.ofll;e undersigned inhabitants
of , parish of , in the county of
, showeth that your petitioners having been
aggrieved by the Corn-laws, during many years, are
now convinced that a longer submission thereto, will be
ruinous to themselves, and to the commonweal.
That these laws increase the cost of necessaries so
much as to impede our export trade, by enabling rival
manufacturers to undersell us ; and by inducing friendly
nations to refuse our goods, because we refuse to take

their corn.
That these laws take away one-half from the work-
men and soldiers' pay, and very much from the incomes
of tradesmen, merchants, annuitants, and gentry,
thereby impeding the effect of the State taxes.
That these laws are not advantageous to agricul-
tural tenants, because the rents are raised or remitted
according to the price of corn ; so that the more rent
is remitted at quarter day, the mete abject is the
tenant's thraldom ; and they are very injurious to all
your Majesty's other subjects, except only the landlords.
That !our petitioners are disgusted at the manner
in which the great landlords have slighted the humble
petitions against the Corn•laws ; and will not again
apply to men so deeply interested in raising the price
of bread.
That the Corn-laws act against your petitioners more
injuriously than a property tax ; and are in effect a fifty
per cent income tax on the poor, for the sole benefit of
the landlords.
That your petitioners profess the utmost loyalty
towards your Majesty ; but they owe no allegiance
whatever to the landlords, and will no longer pay this
ruinous tax, for the sole benefit of those selfish men.
We, therefore, humbly pray your Majesty to issue
an Order in Council, for the immediate suspension),
all Corn-laws, in order that our export trade may be
revived before it is too lute ; and that your faithful
people may not be subject to the many evils arising from
the high price of their daily bread.
(Signed)
Chairman for Housekeepers in

parish.