The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAir, MORNING, JANUARY' 7, 1846.

FREE-TRADE MEETINGS

WARD OF CRIPPLEGATE WITIIIN.

On Monday, at two o'clock, an important and numer-
ously attended meeting of the merchants, traders, and
others of the Ward of Cripplegate Within, was held at
the George Hall, Aldermanbury, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the propriety of petitioning both
Houses of Parliament for the immediate and unconditional
repeal of the corn laws, the meeting having been con-
vened in pursuance of a requisition to the Alderman of
the Ward (Alderman Challis), signed a large and
influential number of the inhabitants of the ward. Nearly
the whole of the Common Councilmen of the ward were
present.
Alderman CUALLIS, having taken the chair, said that
the subject of the corn-laws was one of the utmost im-
portance to every class, and was one that he trusted
would meet with the early attention of the Legislature,
in order that the question might be finally settled.
Mr. CASII, Common Councilman, moved the first reso-
lution, which was as follows :—" That this meeting
views with deep concern the unsettled state of the
country, arising, chiefly (as it believes), from the perni-
cious operation of the corn-law, which holds out delu-
sive hopes to the agriculturist, cripples commercial en-
terprise, introduces a system of gambling into the ordi-
nary business of life, which is alike destructive to morals
and legitimate trade ; induces a precarious supply, en-
hances the price &f• food, and is not only oppressive to
the poor, but also subversive of the best interest of the
vast majority of the population." He observed that the
resolution he had read expressed that by the corn-laws
delusive hopes. were held out to the agriculturist, as
farmers were always in uncertainty as to the extent of
ground they should put in cultivation for the growth of
corn, and they were well aware that the corn-laws would

not last long. He saw no other way by which the
question was to be settled, than by a total repeal of the
corn-laws. Had they been repealed years ago, there was
no doubt but that the commerce of the country at the pre-
sent moment would have been in a most flourishing condi-
tion. As to those states which were now producing their
manufactures, we should be sending articles from our
manufacturing towns, in exchange for which we should
be receiving their corn.—(Loud cries of " Hear.") He
thought that the agricultural aristocracy were not aware
of the destitution among the farming labourers in some
of the counties. He had read an account, which was
drawn up by a clergyman of the name of Ferguson,
living at Bicester, who had visited some of the miserable
dwellings of that class in Buckinghamshire and Oxford-
shire. In the former county, he entered one occupied by
a man of the name of John Ormsby, who had a wife and
six children. He earned Os. a week; out of that he had
to pay is. 6d. rent a week. They had no bed, but only
a sacking filled with straw, to sleep upon. The habitasion
was a scene of wretchedness, while there was not a pare
of glass. Yet this man, at the festivities on the coming of
age of the Marquis of Chandos, was induced to act the
character of the fool. Why did not the Noble Marquis
give him a bed? —(Hear, hear.) They were aware that a
deputation of the Common Council waited on her Majesy
last Saturday. He was happy to tell them that the uni-
versal opinion was, that the answer was considered highly
satisfactory, and that the Ministers who were present
seemed well pleased that the address was presented. It
was also remarked (which was not customary) that a
handsome cold collation was provided. He thought that,
under all the circumstances, they bad good reason to
strengthen and support her Majesty's Government.
Mr. BENNOCII, also a member of the Court of Common
Council, said that so short a period had elapsed since he
had expressed his views with regard to the iniquitous
corn-laws, that he had hoped some of the more influential
inhabitants of the ward would have taken the task of
reviewing those laws out of the hands of their represen-
tatives in the Court of Common Council. But if ever
there was a time for the serious discussion of the corn-
laws, that time was the present, and he would, with the
permission of the meeting, go into the question. In the
first place he believed the corn-laws to be based on a
wrong principle—(Hear, hear)—and that laws of protec-
tion should only be for those who could not protect them-
selves. Laws were in general made for the punishment
of crime, and he should like to know why they were to
be punished by the continuance of the corn-laws for ask-
ing for cheap bread ?—(Hear, hear.) The speaker here
at some length went on to show that although the corn-
law was ostensibly made for the agricultural labourer,
they had not benefited at all by it, but were in a
worse state, with lower wages now than at that time.
This, he contended, was owing to the landlords
neglecting to do their duty, who, if they had done as
the "cotton lords" had done, improved their manufac-
tures, and thereby increased to a large extent the power
of labour, would have conferred great benefit upon
their fellow-men. The man who by his industry
made two grains of corn grow where one never grew
before was a great benefactor to his country— (Hear,
hear)—but the culture of agricultural produce was the
same now as it was 200 years ego. This was differ-
ent with the manufacturer, who was able, solely by the
great improvements in labour, to produce three yards of
silk, or three pairs of stockings, for the same price one
was to be purchased for in 1815. The presentation of
the addresses on Saturday from two of the most impor-
tant bodies in the world had a visible effect upon
her Majesty's Ministers, and epon her Majesty herself.
(Hear, hear.) In reply to that address the Ministers
were bound to admit a falling off in the pot do crop, ad-
mitting that there was a scarcity of food, and Parliament
had been ordered to meet at an early day to advance the
permanent interest of the country.—(thar, hear.) Let
them look a little further into the question of the corn-
laws. The landlords said they must hare protection,
and so they would have if the corn -laws were repealed
to-morrow. There would be a protection of from eight
shillings to ten shillings per quarter upon corn incurred
in its transit from foreign countries to this.—(Hear,
hear.) The repeal of the corn-laws, he contended,
would be a boon to the agricultural labourer, and an act
of great justice to the manufacturer, who would
be enabled to do a much greater amount of
business by exporting his manufactures to America, and
taking corn in exchange. The Hon. Gentleman, after
some further remarks, concluded an excellent address by
stating that the time would come when Dukes and
Lords would be swallowed up it. the dark sea of oblivion,
and they might, in the twenty-ninth century, find a ducal
coronet in the museum of some archaeologist merely as
a memento to show what comical stuff Dukes were made
of in the olden time.--(Hear and laughter.) Protection
on the common necessaries of life he believed to be
despotic, the brother of crime, the partner of indolence,
and the promoter of agricultural ignorance.—(Hear,
hear.) He begged most cordially to second the resolution.
Mr. BOWDEN, of Wood-street, amid considerable mer-
riment, and cries of " Bring your grandmother," moved
an amendment to the effect that that meeting would not
petition Parliament for the abolition of protection to the
agriculturists, unless they were ready to petition for a
repeal of all protective duties.
Mr. COOPER, also of Wood-street, seconded the amend-
ment ; but on being put, only one hand was held up in
its favour, and the original resolution was carried amidst
loud cheers.

Mr. D. DEWAR, in a neat speech, moved the second
resolution—" That the direful effects of the present corn-
law set forth in the foregoing resolution, render its im-
mediate and unconditional repeal essential to the pros-
perity of the people, and the peace and safety of the
kingdom."
Mr. STRODE seconded the resolution.

Mr. HOOLE and Mr. LAST, both members of the Court
of Common Council, moved and seconded—" That peti-
tionsfounded on the foregoing resolutions be presented
by Lord Radnor to the House of Lords, and Lord John
Russell to the House of Commons ; and that the other
representatives of the city of London be desired to sup
port the prayer of the petition."

Mr. S:iiiORLEY, one of the most extensive merchants
in the ward, in moving the vote of thanks to the chair-
man, called upon all who could afford it, to purchase 40s.
freeholds ; he had done so, and had votes for six or eight
counties.—(Hear, hear.)
The worthy ALDERMAN returned thanks for the
honour conferred on him in brief terms.

Thanks having been passed to the proprietor of the
hall, for the gratuitous use of the place of meeting, the
resolutions were ordered to be advertised in the Times,
Chronicle, Morning Advertiser, The Sun, Globe, and
Standard, and the meeting broke up.