The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-27 00:00:00

ANTI-CORN-LAW POETRY.

The following Hymn, composed by Ebenezer Elliott,
of Sheffield, the Corn-law Rhymer, was sung by a num-
ber of choristers, at the Manchester Anti-Corn-law tea
party, accompanied on the orgue express or French
seraphine, by Mr. John Bardsley:—
Wrong not the lab'ring poor, by whom ye live,
Wrong not your humble fellow-worms, ye proud !
For God will not the poor man's wrongs forgive !
But hear his plea, and have his plea allow'd.
Oh ! be not like the vapotirs, splendour-roll'd,
That, sprung from earth's green breast, usurp the sky,
Then spread around contagion black and cold,
Till all who mourn the dead prepare to die !
No ! imitate the beauteous clouds, that rise
Freighted with bliss, from river, vale, and plain ;
The thankful clouds, that beautify the skies,
Then, fill the lap of earth with fruit and grain.
Yes ! emulate the mountain, and the flood,
That trade in blessings with the mighty deep ;
Till, soothed to peace, and satisfied with good,
Man's heart be happy as a child asleep.

THE CORN-LAW FIEND.
I lay in my bed, and ponder'd o'er
The mournful history of the poor;
The feeble crushed by the handful strong;
The right oppress'd by triumphant wrong;
I thought of the noisy pride that flings
Its scorn on silent sufferings;
And all tliv miseries that lie
In the bittcr cup of poverty.
I tried to rest, but I could not rest,
Such troubled thoughts were in my breast ;
" And did our common father plan
" Man's inhumanity to man ?
" It cannot be !"—" Come forth and see !"
A beckoning spirit said to me.
So I rose and followed—the morning dew
Had drenched the welkin through and through:
'Twas dark—'twas dreary, dank and cold:
We threaded the narrow streets—" Behold!
Behold!" said the spirit—l stood aghast
While the forms of-wretchedness near me passed.
There were the aged bending and bare—
Men in their prime were famishing there ;
Youths were tottering—children crying—
Babes on their mothers' bosoms dying:
" 0 woe!" I exclaimed—the spirit lean'd
Forward and shouted " The Corn-law Fiend."
The looms were cobweb'd o'er and still;
The wheels were silent in the mill;
Huge piles of stuffs iveie cuMber'd high
And rotting—there were none to buy—
Strange thoughts then struggled in my brain,
And I saw " The Corn-law Fiend" again.
" But come," said the spirit—l looked around,
Magnificent harvests clothed the ground
Uncut—while lazy crowds o'erfed
Roamed naked—" Let them sell their bread
" And clothe their limbs"—a demon grinn'd
" But I jorbid"—'twas " The Corn-law Fiend 1"
How long shall The Corn-law Fiend oppress
The weary world with wretchedness ?
How long shall the earth's free bounties be
Usurped by foul monopoly ?
How long shall the millions bear the wrong
Enslaved—insulted ? LORD ! How long ?
J. B.

London, May 19, 1841.—Manchester Times.

OPPOSITION OF THE CLERGY

TO A REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
Much unnecessary surprise has, we think, been mani-
fested at the almost universal opposition of the Esta-
blished Clergy to a repeal of the Corn-laws. When it is
considered, however, that every measure which has a
tendency to raise the price of grain, necessarily increases
the stipends of ministers in landward parishes, all sur-
prise will cease, except upon the part of those who have
a higher estimate than we entertain of the justice and
Christian principles of the Established Clergy generally.
As a body, they are opposed to every measure which has
for its aim an extension of the privileges and comforts of
the people ; and it would be strange indeed, if, upon a
question which directly affects their own incomes, they were
to act differently from their usual course. Nor is the
influence of the Corn-law question felt in the
case of the landward clergy only : it extends in-
directly to those settled m the towns. When
the stipends of country ministers were, through
the operation of our precious Corn-laws, raised to a
height beyond all former precedent, the propriety of ad-
vancing the stipends of the town Clergy to a proportional
extent was naturally pressed on the attention of Town
Councils. This became necessary, in order to secure for
town churches men of talent; and besides the disparity
between the incomes of the two classes appeared to be
invidious. In this way even the clergy of the towns
came to be interested in keeping up the high price of
corn. The value of their livings once enhanced, all
sympathy for the suffering poor was lost in the sink of
self-interest. Wallowing in the midst of elegance and
comfort themselves, they became wilfully blind to the
privations of their poor parishioners. Perhaps nothing
could exhibit, in a stronger light, the downward progress
of the working classes in regard to comfort, and the in-
creased comfort of the clergy, both produced by the same
cause, than the following contrast between two periods,
not very remote from each other, in the history of the
town of Paisley:—
When the late and worthy Dr. Findley was pastor of
the High Church of Paisley, his stipend was 1201. per
annum. At that time the average earnings of three
weavers were more than adequate to the payment of that
sum. The present minister of the High Church of
Paisley has at this time a stipend of 300/. per annum,
and it now requires the labour of fifteen weavers, fully
employed, allowing each to earn 201. per annum, which
is above their average income, to make up that sum.
The impoverished inhabitants of Paisley demand a re-
peal of the Corn-laws. Will the Established Clergy
throughout the country back them in their efforts to ob-
tain it ? We know there are exceptions, but these are
so rare, that, when mentioned, they are regarded as
wonders. Let no one, then, who reflects on matters as
they stand, express surprise that the Clergy are opposed
to cheap bread.—Glasgow Argus.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
MANCHESTER.—Yesterday was one of the most gloomy-
and discouraging market-days ever known at Manches-
ter. Notwithstanding the general working of short time
the produce of the manufactories considerably exceeds
the demand, and prices consequently continue to recede.
Indeed, from the little business done, and the extent of
the sacrifices made by needy spinners and manufacturers,
it is difficult to say what are the market prices, either of
goods or yarn. This week, however, we have not heard
of any failures ; and we are enabled to state that a re-
port affecting the credit of a house of extensive business
in the town is altogether unfounded.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, MAY 24.
The flannel market this week has been worse, ifpossible,
than that of the preceding Monday. Everything in the
way of business, at present, is at a stand. The state of
the wool market this week has been similar to that of
the piece market.
HUDDERSFIELD MARKET, MAY 25.—This market
was a little more animated to-day, but the business done
was generally unsatisfactory ; many heavy purchases
being made at depreciated and unremunerating prices.
In short, it is a struggle for existence, the strong living
on the destruction of the weak. A crisis, however, has
arrived; and the two great antagonist political parties
are heartily sick of a struggle that must overwhelm both
if a remedy is not speedily devised.

THE ENSUING ELECTION.—Mr. Whittle
Harvey was yesterday waited upon by a deputation from
a country constituency, who offered to return him,
free
of expense, to the next Parliament. mr. Harvey, it is
understood, informed the deputation, that havingmate-
rially impaired his fortune by .pecuniarythe
sacrifices
v he
felt it his duty to re-
tainhad hisad present whilersen t inappointment,Pa Parliament,,
am e
n t'he
whichprtehaclut theded him
offer fromwas
sitting in Parliament. It is rumoured
made in consequence of an application from some influ-
ential Members of Parliament, who are anxious that Mr.
Harvey should have a seat in the forthcoming struggle ;
and that an annuity could be purchased by sub-
scription to enable him to surrender his present appoint-
ment, and sustain an independent position in the House.
ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.-- Sir Alexander
Grant, by his recent disgustingly selfish conduct on the
question of the Sugar Duties Bill, has given great dis-
satisfaction to many of his quondam supporters ; and we
understand that on the approaching dissolution of Par-
liament--no other candidate coming forward to oppose
him—it is the intention of Mr. Charles. Wagstaff to offer
himself for the suffrages of his fellow-townsmen.—
Cambridge Advertiser.
REPRESENTATION OF. LIVERPOOL.—We are
happy to say that the friends of Free Trade in this
town are
full of activity and confidence, and are determined to contest the
representation on Free Trade principles. Arrangements are
in progress which it is hoped will enable them to take the field
in a day or two with candidates in every respect qualified to fight
the battle with success, and to do honour to the borough of Li-
vol.---Liverpoo/ Times.
1.--Liverpool
MOVEMENTS.—It is pretty gene-
rally believed in Warrington, that William Stubs, Esq., has
declined coming forward on the Liberal interest in the event of
a general election. Mr. J. B. Smith, chairman of the Man-
chester Chamber of Commerce, and the late candidate for Wal-
sall, has (so goes the report) since .been applied to.—Liverpool
Times.
BRIDPORT ELECTION.--(From a Correspon•
dent).—Mr. Mitchell, an eminent Russia merchant, has
started on the Liberal interest. and Mr. Cochrane (who. ap:.,
peals to the constituency as heir-at-law of " Naval Gloria,
former
Io
on the Tory. Both have commenced the canvass, the
with great success. Mr. Warburton's seat will of course not
be disturbed.

PORTUGAL AND THE HOLY SRL —The
Augsburg Gazette, under head of Rome, 10th inst., states
that the Portuguese Ambassador, Viscount Carreira' was that
day admitted wish grand ceremony to deliver his letters of
credence from the Government of Donna Maria to the Pope,
and that a solemn Te Deum was in consequence to be sung in
the Portuguese Church to celebrate this formal recognition of
the Government. Don Miguel is stated. to have made some
difficultie= about accepting the apannee Offered him by Portu-
gal, and to have demanded a million of cre?tris once paid, or
about 5,400,000 f. It was, expected that, in the next Consis-
-Wry, the Pope would appoint a Nuncio for Portugal.
TURN-OUT AMONGST THE COLLIERS.—
The colliers in the neighbourhood of Whiston have turned out
for an advance of wages, and the redress of what they look upon
in the light of grievances. They go so far as to insist upon
having their own banksmen, instead of one appointed by the coal
proprietor, thus leaving him no check upon their honesty in
settling the amount of wage's due. Some colliers .from
situations
from Wales
ndigfhro night to
to
their preserm
w or ktl..f.
have been brought to the neighbourhood,
and the consequence is that a large body of the police have been
'
a inonwdeui daysti,vmen to an
and
peace, and compelled toe
escort i mceort
the
Liverpool Times.