The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-02 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS

CO-OPERATION OF THE FARMERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

STRIA; your colu:nns are ever open to the varying views
of your readers upon points important to all, perhaps you will
permit me to offer a few suggestions on this " question of
questions."
I have dwelt long in agricultural districts, and I trust I can
deeply appreciate the blunt sincerity, kindness, and candour of
the farmers generally ; hence I am anxious not only that the
proposed modification of the Corn-laws should receive from
them no opposition, but, on the contrary, that they should see
in the imposition of a fixed duty instead of a fluctuating one a
manifest advantage to themselves.
1 peed not tell them that the Corn-laws were enacted not
for their " protection," but for higher rents, in which those
who enacted them largely participated. They are quite awake
to this truth. They know well enough that the rents they pay
are very different to the rents their fathers paid, and they know
too how often their gi umblings are met with—" See what high
prices are got under the Corn-laws, surely you have no right
to complain I"
Is it so, my friends ? Do you get the high prices which the
fluctuating scale occasionally produces? Do your landlords
make a practice of permitting you to withhold your rents
until those high prices are realized? lam afraid your answer
will he "We are obliged to sell to meet our payments at par-
ticular periods, and the high prices we almost invariably find
are obtained when we have nothing to sell, but when the corn
speculator, who can afford to be without his capital longer than
we can, lets out his bonded corn at one shilling per quarter
duty."
if this be true, does it not occur to you that those whose
plea for exacting high rents is the protection and high prices
which the Corn-law gives to you are obtaining your money
" under false pretences ?"
Ask yourselves quietly the question—How many brother
farmers have I known who have had their stock sold up under
distraints and executions for rent during the. "protecting"
operation of the Corn-laws ? Were there as many during the
olden times, when no Corn-law existed at all ?

There is another class likewise to whom those laws are said
to afford " protectioe," viz., the agricultural labourers. Have
those Corn-laws given them protection? How many enclosure
acts have been passed since those laws came into operation ?
How many rights of common and of pasture, where a poor man
might keep a cow or a pig, or a few geese, to eke out his
earnings, have been destroyed, and made into good round
faring, she Lord of the Manor getting the lion's share, and the
parson of the parish the jackal's?
Formerly our labourers and working men were distinguished
for their loyalty, are they so now ? Or have they been so since
one by one under the " protection" of the Cora-laws they have
been stripped of every chance to grow a cabbage or feed a pig.
These are a few of the evils of the Corn-laws as they imme-
diately affect agriculturists themselves. Let us now look at a
few of the probable, or rather possible, evils of a change.
It is possible, I think probable, that corn will be lowered,
while rents under leases will not. The landlord will have his
" pound of flesh." He has often two bondsmen to assure it to
him. How then ? Are those three persons, the farmer and
' his two bondsmen, to be ruined ? VV ill England permit it?
Will England, that generously and nobly voted twenty mil-
lions to emancipate the African, refuse a portion of the duty on
the importation of foreign corn to compensate, and save from
destitution, farmers under leases who cannot help themselves.
Many Corn-law Repeaters say that prices will not generally
fall, and farmers Kill not be injured; if so nothing would be re-
quired, and all such reasoners will testify their consistency by
readily consenting to grant as compensation what may appear
to be the loss occasioned by the change. On the contrary, to
these who contemplate a large reduction in prices, why the
largest they can contemplate, if made up during the contin-
11111CC of existing leases, would not be one per cent. upon the
permanent advantages which the country would derive by be-
coming " the workshop of the world." To the farmer such a
proposition would give hope and energy; he would cheerfully
join in repealing laws which he well knows were never made
for his benefit, it by so doing, he would not ruin himself.
It is computed that the difference in prices paid by the con-
sumer between home. and foreign produce (say Hamburgh) is
about 24,000,0001. per annum, ai.d of this that the landlords
get about 6,000,000 t., or one-fourth part additional rent—the
other 'eighteen millions are thrown into the sea, or, what is
much the same thing. expended in forcing land, hicll Nature
intended to grow thistles for asses, to produce dear food for man.
If the landlords have mortgaged their lands—if they have
anticipated their incomes to revel in luxury—if they have
coldly calculated on the credulity of the farmers and apathy of
the country lasting for ever, they deserve no pity. England is
just, but England's justice to them would be on the other side
of compensation—it is for their dopes and victims I plead—
may my plea not be made in vain !
1 have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
HAMPDEN.

THE POLISH REFUGEES.—We have much
pleasure in inviting the attention of our readers to the fete pro-
posed to be given on Saturday next, at Stafford House, in aid
of the funds for the relief and support of the Polish Refugees.
The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland kindly granted the use
of their magniticen% mansion upon the occasion, where a con-
cert is to take pita, in addition to the performance of the
celebrated tragedian. It is cheering to see rank and wealth
thus nobly devoted to the generous task of administering to the
relief of unmerited misfortune, and foremost in seconding the
efforts of the friends of the persecuted and oppressed. It is
still more cheering to see the homage thus continued to be
paid to the cause of Poland, to hail this gratifying evidence of
the sympathy in the fortunes of that glorious country being as
strong as ever ; and that time has -increased rather than dimi-
nished die sense that pervades all 'ranks in this country of the
enormity of Muscovite oppression, continued, as it appears to be,
with unrelenting cruelty, and in spite of the remonstrances of
every civilized nation.
DEATH OF LADY HORNE;--TiliS venerable
lady, the widow of Sir .Everaid Morrie, Bart., sergeant-sur-
geon to King George 111, who died in 1832, expired at Ham
on Wednesday last, at the great age of 82 years. Her ladyship
minwasarmez andther tohfe Rbirev.J.
C. A.
E. Horne,
, Bart.,e Captain in the royal

We hrAve to announce the death of Rear Admiral
Samuel Mottley, on Thursday last at Portsmouth. He retired
as rear admiral on half-pay in 1837, after a service, within a few
days, of 70 year, having entered the navy the 15;11 Jane 1771,
being then at a very early age. His commission was dated lieut.
30th Nay, 1782 ; commander, 29th April, 1799; captain, 29th
April, 1802 ; retired rear-admiral, 10th January, 1837.
WEYMOUTH. CAPTURE OF A FRENCH
SMUGGLING LUGGER.—On the 18th ultimo, whilst the
Eagle revenue cutter, commanded by Lieutenant Ray, R.N.,
was cruising in the West Bay, about eight miles to the west-
ward of the Bill of Portland, and sailing under square sail
and half-topsail, Lieutenant Ray, espied a large French
lugger making for the coast, of which no notice was taken
until she came nearly abreast ; the Frenchman evidently
taking the Eagle (from her wily appearance) for a coaster.
The Eagle then made sail, and gave chace, which was soon
observed by the lugger, which, in an attempt to escape, was
put on wind. The chase now became interesting, and some
doubt existed whether the Eagle would have come up with
her. There was a spanking breeze, and just the one that
suited the sailing qualities 01 both ; however, the lugger, find..
ing the cutter gaining upon her, altered her point of sailing,
but gained nothing by this manoeuvre, and then commenced
throwing over her cargo, which is supposed, from her size,
to have consisted of upwards of 200 tubs. After a
gallant
chase of thirty-five minutes, she was boarded by one of the
English boats, who found eight men and twenty-two tubs of
foreign spirits on board.. Five of the crew were Frenchmen,
and the others were proved to be thorge andHeernerybrßouygathtt,
to
Portland, and Edward Cox, alias Silcox, of Preston. The
boat picked up only fourteen of the tubs thrown overboard. On
thWe,edncuesidtoamy
-nhtoorunseh.igexth
teat bhoajto,umrneani.and tubs, W