The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-19 00:00:00

Lam_.

CORN-LAWS.
(From the Stamford Mercury.)
50 THOMAS GEE, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF THE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY, BOETON.
Sir,—l am honoured with your letter requesting to be in-
formed what course I propose to pursue in reference to the
Ministerial measures brought forward by Sir Robert Peel.
I entertain feelings of great respect foryou personally, and
for the gentlemen connected with the Agricultural Society
of which you are chairman, but only a few of them are elec-
tors of Boston ,• and recollecting the hostile conduct pursued -
by them towards me and my supporters at tke last election, -
when I stated my desire to afford protection to the landed,
interest by advocating a fixed duty, I scarcely expected that
they would have addressed me upon this question; more
especially as I cannot be classed among those Members- of
Parliament (of which the county of Lincoln presented such - •
early and striking examples) who, having obtained their'
seats upon the strength of reiterated pledges to oppose all
aa
change in the then existing corn-law, took the first oppor- -
tuhity of betraying their constituents, by supporting, if not •
suggesting, the alterations which immediately afterwards
took place!
Circumstances have now, however, occurred to render
hopeless the chance of maintaining a fixed duty, which might
have been obtained had party feeling not blinded the agri-
cultural classes to the advantages of Lord John Russell's -
proposition. The Government still repudiates the principle
of a fixed duty; the Opposition generally have become the:
advocates of unrestricted trade; arid a number of the agri- -
cultural party support the measures now before Parliament; ,
while a section of that party refuse to accede to any relaxa-
tion of the present law.
In this state of things, I venture to think it becomes the •
duty of every independent Member, on both sides of the
House, to consider well the ascertained results of that course
of commercial policy for the proposal of which Lord John -
Russell and the Whigs were driven from office by the landed : t
interest, to make way for Sir Robert Peel and the Conserva-
tives, aa a
who are now so successfully carrying out that policy;
and'• in connexion with such results to weigh the oonser• '
quences likely to ensue from the adoption or rejection of the
present proposals of the Government.
It must be evident to every unprejudiced mind that no-
! thing but an overwhelming necessity could have iaiiiced the
present Cabinet so soon to propose an abolition of-Me corn-
Jaw ;—and I confess that the facts stated and t s .arguments
used by the Prime Minister upon his intr. 11411 of the
mew\ are, /tad his illustrations of the eati Its of the J
prer_ous cornniercial relaxations, have convinc: me that the intended changes will be productive of immense social and other
advantages to all classes of the community, without inflicting
any permanent injury upon the agricultural interests, which
I desire to see prosperous and flourishing, and maintaining
the high position which they are justly entitled to hold in
this country.
I have therefore determined to support the Government in
the gradual abolition of the corn-laws, rather than hazard
by my vote the success of the present measure, and thereby
force an immediate repeal ; and I sincerely hope that, for
these reasons, the course I am about to pursue will be satis-
factory to your Society, as I trust it will be to ithe constitu-
ency of Boston, who have uniformly expressed their appro-
bation of my public conduct as their representative in Parlia-
ment.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your faithful humble
servant, JAMES DUKE.
London, Feb. 11, 1846.

HIGHLAND SOCIETY of CANADA•
(From the Cornwell Observer and Eastern and Ottawa dld-

vertiser, Jan. 22.)
A meeting of the Highland Society of Canada was held at
Ranald M'Donald's Inn, Williamstown, on Wednesday, the
14th January, 1846—present, the Hon. John M'Gillivray,
President, Alex, M'Donell, Esq., D. A. C. G. M'Nabb,
Rolland M'Donald, Archibald M'Bean, Alexander M'Bean,
James M'Cracken, George M'Donell, Duncan M'Donald.
David M'Pherson, A. Cattanach, Alexander H. M'Donell,
Dr. Roderick M'Donell, John M'Bean, Kenneth M'Donell,
Hugh M'Gillis, John Neil M'Lean—when several new
members were proposed and balloted for, and after their elec-
tion the committee appointed at the last meeting of the
Society to draft an address to Lord Metcalfe, the chief of the
Society, on hisleaving the country, reported the following:—
ADDRESS
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES THEOPHILUS, LORD
MItTCALFE, BARON METCALFE OF FERN HILL, LN THE
COUNTY OF BEERS, KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST
HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH, ONE OF HER MA-
JESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL, AND LATE
GOVENNOR-GENERAL OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, &C.
May it please your Excelleney,—When your Lordship was
graciously pleased to mark your approbation of the aim and
object of "the Highland Society of Canada," by consenting
to become "The chief" of the Society, its members fondly
hoped that you would'have been spared to them and to the
country for many years, but Providence has ruled it other-
, wise, and though we bew to the decree as in duty bound, we
trust that it will not be thought presumptuous in us to say,
that we do so in sorrow and regret.
Though resident many miles from the seat of Government
there are many among us (some of whom have had the ad-
vantage of a personal intercourse with your Lordship, who
would gladly hays availed themselves of the opportunity of
personally bidding your Lordship adieu, on the eve of your
departure from the shore of Canada, but unfortunately it had
actually taken place before they were aware of the intention.
The members of the Society cannot, however, allow the
opportunity afforded by their assembling together, on the oc-
casion of their annual festival, to pass away, without for-
warding to their revered " chief" the spontaneous expression
of their unfeigned regret at his departure, and their lively
sympathy with the severe sufferings which compelled him to
take a step which has entailed so great a loss upon the Pro-
vince.

The members of the Highland Society have read your
Lordship's touching address to the people of Canada, aid
their hearts have thrilled with emotion while they read, and
if the assurance, that your Lordship's " honest endeavours to
promote the welfare of this Province" are appreciated by its
people, and will be remembered with gratitude by their
latest posterity, be calculated to assuage one single pang of
your sufferings, wo pray your Lordship, in all sincerity, to
receive that assurance at r ur hands.
We now bid your Lordship farewell, fervently hoping, that
under Divine Providence, the air of your native land, and the
withdrawal from the cares and anxieties of Government
may yet prolong your valuable life, in mercy to the poor of
mankind, whose abiding friend you have ever been, and
whose blessings will follow your footsteps to the grave.
Glengarry, January 14, 1846.
When it was moved by George M'Donald, Esq., seconded
by John M'Bean, Esq., that the address just reported be
adopted, that the same be signed by the president and
secretary on behalf of the Society, that it be forwarded to J.
M. Higginson, Esq., to be transmitted to England, and that
copies be sent the Cornwall Observer and 3fontreal Herald
newspapers for publication.
It was then moved by the president, seconded by A. Catta-
naeh, Esq., that the thanks of the meeting be conveyed to
the members of the committee, appointed to draft the ad-
dress to Lord Metcalfe, our chief, for the able manner in
which they-discharged the duties imposed upon them.
James M'Cracken, Esq., moved, seconded by the president,
that this meeting do adjourn to the 18th June next, if that
day do not fall on Sunday, and if it fall on Sunday, then to
the 19th June, 1846.
JOHN NEIL WLEAN, Secretary H. S. of C.

LOSS OF THE STEADFAST AND

AR ETHUSA,

Magdalen Islands, Dec. 26, 1845.
Sir,—When I last wrote to you 1 advised the report of a ship being*
on shore at Brion Island, since which that report has been continued
by apart of the crew having reached me. She proves to be the chip
Steadfast, John Adams, master, from Quebec, bound to ltristol, tinabe r
and deal laden. The captain and five of the crew remain there for
the purpose of caring the materials, &c.

I have also to repoit the loss of the barque Arethusa, of Maryport,
Win. Lester, master, from Montreal, bound to Plymouth, flour and
wheat laden, abandoned by the crew in their long boat on the
evening of the 7th December, when about 30 miles N.T. of the
Magdalen Islands, and landed on Brion Island the following even-
ing, all of the crew being so severely frozen they will have to re-
main here during the winter.
I have also ftirther to acquaint you that Brien Island is not in-
habited, and from the exhausted state in which the latter craw
landed, being unable to save their boat and without provisions, every
soul must have inevitably perished had they not fortunately mat the
crew of the former ship still there.--I have the honour to be your
obedient servant, (Signed) LLOYD'S AGENT.
W. Dobson, Esq., Secretary, Lloyd's.
The agent to Lloyd's, at Portland, United States, referring to the
barque Mary, of London, having got on shore near Bailey'," Mistake
in November last, states that a practice exists amongst theng
and American masters of vessels bound to that port, seeking :di
from Indirect sources rather than to the authorised persons, such as
the Consul-General, &c.

To Gentlemen who shave themselves the following
query is proposed.—Whydrosialdedl tlTieatiblrestt
Rcatiztolerrsstorfop? Europeihe usaiLes,a;iedr
recommend Saunders' F•u -
is, simply because it is the only one that gives to a razor a keen :+'_id
smooth edge. Manufactory, 25, Strand,
IS GLAMORGANSIHRE SATISFIED WITH THE PRO-
(
POSED MINISTERIAL MEASURES ?—Whatever opinions in-
dividuals might entertain respecting the alterations proposes
by Sir Robert Peel in thepo
corn, as well as other
im-
portant reductions are made in the duties on various articles
of general consumption, we conceive that the above question,
as it regards the opinions of the inhabitants of this impor-
tant county, taken collectively as a whole, may be easi:y
and satisfactorily answered. If we refer to the feelings of
the extensive manufacturing and commercial interests of
Swansea, Neath, and the immediate vicinities the senti-
ments entertained in reference to this subject have been
attested by demonstrations made since the enunciation A
the Government scheme, as well as on repeated occasioas
previously. The same Aservations may be applied to tie
extensive iron districts of Merthyr, Sirhowy, and other
placed situated in the Glamorganshire hills, which about('
in riches hitherto but partially developed. The mea-
sures, we repeat, have met a reception on the part of tie
inhabitants of these portions of the county, the meaning A
which is not to be mistaken. The opinions of the inhabi-
tants of the agricultural districts must be collected by a
kind of negative process ofreasoning—not by inquiring what
they have done, but what they have not done, and com-
paring this with what they have done on former occasions.
There have been no demonstrations against the measere
throughout the county. With regard to the opinion of :he
enant-farmers of this district, we can safely aver that the
majority have heard of the proposed changes with much satis-
faction, only regretting that this question, which has been so
long a topic of ill-will and dissension between various classes,
is not to be more speedily terminated by immediate abolition.
Taking into consideration all these circumstances, we imagine
the question with which this article commences cam, without
fear of contradiction, be answered in the affirmative, that, on
the whole, Glamorganshire is satisfied with the Ministerial
measures.—Cambrian.

SUDDEN DEATH OF THOMAS PERKINS, ESQ.--Yes-
terday morning the inhabitants of Chelmsford were startled by the
awful information that this esteemed gentleman had died suddenly,
at his residence in the Broomfleld-road. Ile attended divine service
on Sunday, and while walking in his garden in the afternoon, stated
that he felt better than usual ; between eight and nine o'clock Yell-
terday morning, when the servant went to his dressing-room to give
him his letters, he was lying upon the floor partly dressed, as if
he had sat down in his chair and had slipped from ft ; and
when Dr. Miller and Mr. Cromer, who were instantly called
in, arrived, they found lie was lifeless. The awfUl occurrence has
spread a gloom over the town, as the lamented gentleman, who was
about sixty years of age, had resided here for thirty-six years; and
both in his profession and in private life was esteemed by all for his
honour and integrity, and for the peaceful and !neighbourly cast and
benevolence of his character. Exactly two months since we recorded
the decease of Mrs. Perkins, and while yet the void which she has
left in the charities of the town is keenly felt, and the sorrow for her
portedloss ls afrnedsli
encouraged, we have [to,
her
rdidn to
thatit thiswer
work
vtopt,
,g 1
Oncalieyt death of 0
afternoon,
erirnisiom,iNntvi,hthoasuiol.iii.;
for both the confidence and respecatsnopfralTolcuelro,uidnngd them.--Essex Herald.
throughf St. Clement's
Ec
eN lca dE i e.TNN°
CcahruTrireaßtUyeaEcr.dlßl,tauEibgNiolEirOtahLnr out suddenly from behind the churchyard
was knocked down
esdhobersfoer.e tFlioerctuonacaltienlr
heceudledr.pull up
etdbenkoersberisotousneinaj
ran lye and heron
rbayiltihnegsn,
the collision, and scrambling up lie
to cry out tastily gait . The carriage was t s opped almost immediately,
and having returned to the
most anxious solicitiade as tospuot its fair occupants displayed the
After a careful examination b le injuries the boy had sustained.
appeared that the boy had Sufferedtie
no injury beyond a few slight
bruises. As he, however, still c •ri
one of the ladies desired the footmaned aloud, and appeared alarmed,
which having been to place the boy iu the carriage,
done, the immediately drove with him to the
iv
nearest surgeon, where he
dition to a handsome gratuirt3e•ceTheed careveiryg eng requisite attention, in ad-
the widow of the late Mr. Som. es, thesrhalpowbenleoraed to Mrs.
ndtha ladySomas„
Acts
its inmate, with her two sisters, when the accident occurred.

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