The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-28 00:00:00

A-0-torriturt
,?),4

Her Majesty's Speech relating to commercial policy be

read,
Mr. MiLzs trusted that ample time would be given to
the House to state its opinion on the subject.
_ .

tural produce used for the food of man, and he
felt the difficulty of dealing with them.
His object was to come to some adjustment of this ques-
tion between the demands of those who upheld unre-
laxed protection and those who contended for the
repeal of all duties. He feared neither party would
approve of his plan, but he proposed it for the
public advantage, as the foundation of a settlement. He
did not propose an immediate repeal of all dnty, although
ho proposed an immediate reduction in respect to all,
and immediate and total repeal in respect to many'
He proposed to make ea immediate reduction upon
the whole of the articles. He proposed to reduce the
duties one-half on butter, cheese, and hops, and
on cured fish to Is. per cwt. He proposed to repeal
immediately the duty on bacon, fresh beef, salt beet,
fresh and salt pork, and vegetables of all kinds. Every-
thing of vegetable, everything of animal food,
should henceforth be imported duty free. He had,
by removing previous duties, enabled the agriculturist
to compete with the foreigner; and, therefore,
he called upon him to give up his protectioe. He
proposed that all cattle, and animals imported
from foreign countries, should come in duty free.
Complaints had been made as to the injurious anti un •
equal operation of the tariff with regard to fat and lean
cattle. This alteration would redress that inequality.
He trusted that the agriculturists would bear in mind
that he had called on the manufacturers to set
the example of giving up protection. He would now
state his proposal with regard to the corn-laws.
He did not propose their immediate repeal; but in order
to give time for adjustment, although he proposed a tem-
porary reduction, he proposed that after the lapse of a
certain time foreign grain should be admitted duty free.
He proposed a considerable reduction in the existing
amount of duty, and that the continuance of that re-
duced amount of duty should continue only for three
years. He proposed that after the Ist February, 1849
oats, barley, and wheat should be subject only to that
nominal duty which he proposed to apply to Indian corn.
He could not admit that he had taken an erroneous view
of the pressure to which they would be subjected before
the next harvest, and it was necessary to take precau-
tions against the approaching calamity. He much wished
this calamity might induce among the people of Ireland
a taste for a higher order of food. They had to consider
what provision was to be made to meet the deficiency
in the potato crop. He was not now about to propose
what be had proposed in November, the immediate
suspension of those duties. He proposed that there
should be immediately a great reduction in duty,
to endure only for a limited period, after which
it should be merely nominal. Under the ex-
isting law, the rate of duty on all descriptions of grain
had been regulated by that of wheat. He proposed that
all colonial grain should be admitted at a nominal duty—
that all restrictions applying to the importation of meal
should be removed. He proposed that the enactment,
to endure for three years, should be as follows :
—The duty on wheat when the average price
should be under 485., 10s. ; above 495., 9s. ;
50s. and 51s, 75.; above 525. and under 535., ss. ;
and whenever the price of wheat shall exceed 545. there
shall be an invariable duty. of 4s. With respect to other
descriptions of grain, they followed the scale
which they had adopted with regard to wheat.
There would be, therefore, now levied on wheat, instead
of a duty of 165., a duty of 45., and other descriptions
of grain would be subject merely to a nominal duty.
He proposed to accompany this provision with others
calculated materially to advance the interests of that
portion of the community, which, after a lapse of three
years, wou!d be called on to relinquish pro-
tection. He would review some of the bur-
dens pressing on agriculture capable of alleviation,
not by the transfer to other parties, but by reforming the
manner of buying. With regard to the higway
rate, he thought it possible to introduce reforms
which should be a relief to the landed interest.
At present there were 16,000 local authorities for the
management of the highways. What could be
more absurd than that every continuous high-
way should be subject to different higway sur-
veyors? There was a law existing enabling parishes
voluntarily to enter into a union for the
management of continuous highways. He proposed to
make this compulsory, which would reduce the
local authorities from 16,000 to GOO. lie would
compel the guardians to appoint a competent
surveyor to undertake the management of the highways.
In a district in the north, in which this plan had been
carried out, the roads had been improved, and the
expense had been diminished from 6d. in the pound rate
to lid. in the pound. It was one of the points of rebel
to agriculture which he proposed to adopt.,
Then he proposed as alteration in the law of settlement
At present a wan moved from an agricultural district to
a town. The manufacturer had the benefit of his
labour—he was thrown out of work and he was sent
back to the rural districts. For the purpose of doing
justice to that man, and to the rural pal ish, he proposed
that, after being devoted five years to labour in any
pl ace, the labourer's settlement should be in that
place, and also the settlement of his wife and children.
At present, immediately on the death of a labouring man,
his widow must be removed. He proposed that she should
not be removable for twelve months ; and that when a
labourer became ill, no order should be taken out for remo-
val on the ground of chargability by sickness or accidents
He recommended that the state should give facilities for
agricultural improvements, by adopting measures to
promote drainage by a loan of public money
He would advise the advance of loans immediately
under the superintendence of the Jeclosure Commissioners,
and that their certificate should be the warrant for the
advance to be repaid by a rent charge, and by annual
instalments, giving this loan a priority of payment over
all other obligations ; except in cases where the parties
having such prior charge object to that advance,
in which case the advance should not be
made without the consent of the Court of Chancery
With respect to direct local burdens, he could not advise
any material alteration of the system under which as-
sessments took place. It was said the poor-rates were
a charge upon the land. In point of fact it was
not so. The opposition was not between laud and other
property alone—it was between real and personal pro-
perty, and as this was merely a local charge, there would
be no advantage in making personal property liable
to it, and how could they levy it in small
amounts, as personal property in rural districts?
If they instituted an inquiry into the profits of trade,
they must do the same into the profits of the farmer,
which, conducted by local authorities, would be
an intolerable inquisition ; and he believed.
that for the State to take upon itself the
maintenance of the poor would be most objectionable.
He proposed to take upon the Government the
charge of the maintenance of convicted prisoners, and to
defray it from the Consolidated Fund by an annual
vote. He proposed, also, that that portion of
the expense of prosecutions which was borne by local
rates should be borne by the Government, which
would give them a control, over prosecutions. In Ire
land this would amount to 17,0001., and in England
to 100,000/. a year. If any part of the kingdom would
suffer by the removal of agricultural protection, it would
be Ireland, and he proposed to relieve Ireland
by taking under the control, and into the pay
of the Government the whole police force of
the country, thus relieving the land of the whole of
the rural police rate. With regard to medical relief
under the poor-law, he proposed to take one-half of the
charge of the payment of parochial medical officers in the
Consolidated Fund. He estimated that would amount
to 100.000/. a-year in England, and 50,0001. in Scotland.
He also proposed, with regard to Scotland, that the
charge for the prison at Perth should be borne
by the public. In many workhouses the provisions
or education were very inadequate. He proposed•that the
right of appointment should be vested in the guardians;
but they proposed to provide a competent salary, on
condition that they might require competency in the
schoolmaster, and exercise the right of dismissal. In
every case in which he proposed to place upon the
public the payment of these public burdens, it was
accompanied by some public good. Before the mea-
sure was rejected, he hoped both parties would
seriously consider it. Immediate removal of du-
ties in many instances, distant removal in others,
was what be proposed. He asked for the ex-
pressioni of no immediate opinion, but he trusted the
statement would be seriously considered in the same
calm temper of mind in which it had been listened to.
While he had no guarantee that other countries would
follow our example, the Government had resolved to
consult the interests of the country, and not to punish
other countries and our own by a continuance of those
high duties. He admitted that other countries
had increased the duties on our goods and
yet our exports had increased, partly by
means of the smuggler, and partly by the high tariff, so
increasing the cost of production in those countries, that,
notwithstanding the high duties, we had been enabled to
compete with them. But, they might depend upon it
that the example of England would be followed. The
interests of the 'consumers would ultimately pre-
vail, and prohibitory and protective duties
would, in spite of Governments, be removed.
The recent report of Mr. Walker, Secretary , t 0 ,the;
Treasury of the United States, proved that such would
be the case. In Europe the example of England was
producing its effect. In Naples liberal commercial views

Sir ROBERT PEEL said his statement would be rather
a commercial statement than a financial one. He would
not call on the House to come to any decision. He
would not wish any opinion on the plan until after the
lapse of some days.
The House then resolved itself into Committee, and
Sir R. PEEL rose to explain to the House the mea-
sures which the Government proposed for their adop-
tion, in order to carry out the recommendation which
had just been read in regard to commercial policy.
Whatever might be the opinion ultimately formed
with regard to the merits of the proposal of
the Government, he was sure that the vast import-
ance of the interests concerned would secure to him a
patient and indulgent hearing. He was about to review
the duties applying to many articles, the produce of other
countries. He proceeded on the as umption that
the repeal of protective and prohibitive duties
was good, that abstractedly those duties were bad in
principle, and that it was necessary to show special
cause fur their maintenance. He agreed, that during
the last three years there had been increased pro-
duction and increased consumption, concurrent with
the repeal of prohibitive and the reduction of protective
duties. The course he should pursue had been sanctioned
by the House, and it was perfectly consistent to follow
out that course. He maintained, however, that in
the adoption of good principles they should not
be regardess of meriting public credit, nor
should they forget the recommendation that no loss
should be inflicted on any class of her Majesty's sub-
jects. He wished the house to deal deliberately and
dispassionately with his proposal. Perchance he was
about to meddle with so many interests, that all might
unite to oppose him, and when the question came
forward for discussion, it might be met by a notice that
protection to domestic industry was a good object, and
ought to be persevered in. It raight be that those who
dissented from his scheme in part might be dis-
posed to support it as a whole, in order
to bring the present conflict to an equitable termination.
The principle of the relaxation of protective duties he
was not about to apply to any particular interest.
He was not about to call upon the agriculturists
to relinquish protection, and continue it to others.
Confident that his principle was a wise one, he called
upon all protectionists to relinquish their protection.
The principle of the new' tariff had been to lower all
duties to about 20 per cent. ad valorem—that was in 1842.
In subsequent years the principle had been still further
carried out. The duty on the raw material of manufac-
tures had been relinquished, and therefore he was en-
titled to call upon the manufacturer to relinquish his
protection. He proposed to continue to act on the prin-
ciples which that House had sanctioned, and to remove
the duties from those articles of raw material still
subject to it. These were only tallow and timber. Tallow
was largely used in important manufactures, and he pro-
posed to reduce the duty levied upon tallow. The
present duty was 3s. 2d. per cwt., and he pro-
posed, in order to encourage Russia in her libe-
ral policy, that England should, without stipulation,
reduce the duty from 3s. 2d. to Is. Bd. With regard to
timber : Colonial timber was admitted at a nominal
duty, and as they were about to affect domestic interests,
they had a right to effect a reduction in the timber duties;
and he was anxious the consumer should reap the advan-
tage of the reduction, and therefore he proposed to make
it gradually. On an early day, after there had been an
opportunity of stating the details of the subject, the in-
tention of the Government should be made public
with regard to the reduction of the timber
duties. These were reductions, not repeals, and
with those exceptions he hardly knew any raw
materials which were subject to duty. He, there-
fore, called on the manufacturers to give that proof
of the sincerity of their convictions of the impolicy
of protective duties by relinquishing the protections.
He asked the manufacturers of woollen, linen, and
cotton, to set the example of relinquishing their pro-
tection. His Hon. Friend, the Member for Dorsetshire—
and he trusted that no political differences would inter-
rupt their private friendship—had expressed a hope that
small interests would nut be interfered with. He in-
ttnded to interfere with great interests, and to meddle
as little as possible with small ones. Manufactured
cottons formerly were subject to a duty of 10 per
cent. He proposed it should be imported duty free,
without restriction. The duty on manufactured cottons,
which was now 20 per cent., he proposed to reduce to 10
per cent. Ile was the more anxious that the manufac-
turers should assent to this, because they had set the
example by asking for protection. Adam Smith stated that
it was not the agriculturists but the manufacturers that had
commenced the system of monopoly. " Country gentle-
men and farmers," said Adam Smith, were least actuated
by the wretched spirit of monopoly."—(A laugh.) Pro
tection was first pressed on the Legislature by the trading
interests, and, therefore, they should first relinquish it.
With regard to linens and woollens, he proposed that
they also should relinquish protection, and he doubted
nut but that the skill of the country s ould best foreigners.
Woollen goods were subject to a duty of 20 per cent. He
proposed to reduce it to 10 per cent on linens as well as
on cottons and woollens ; that the coarser sorts should

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1846

come in duty free, and that in regard to the
finer sorts the reduction of duty should be
reduced to one-half of its present amount.
With respect to silk, he thought that they should apply,
not the same system, but make a great reduction. They
had a duty which in respect to many articles was pro-
hibitory, and it was considered a protection to domestic
industry. It was no such thing, for there were houses in
Paris which would guarantee the delivery of the goods
in London at one-half the duty. They would, by a re-
duction of that duty, encourage a lawful traffic instead
of an unlawful one. There were many articles of silk
on which the duty was more than 30 per coat, us, for
instance, o❑ crape and other articles of manufacture.
He proposed a new arrangement of those duties, and
that the general rule should be to levy a duty ad valo-
rem, in no case exceeding 15 per cent. Then with re-

gird to paper, the duty was ls. per square yard, without
distinction of quality. He proposed to reduce that duty
to 2d. per square yard. Ile now approached those ma-
nufactures connected with metals. All manufactures of
metals were charged with a duty of 15 per cent. He
proposed that no duty should exceed 10 per cent. : that
was to be the maximum. Then with regard to brocade
and earthenware, he proposed a similar reduction
Then with regard to foreign carriages, he proposed
to reduce the duty from 20 per cent. to 10 per
cent. He proposed to reduce the duty upon candles
to one-half of the present amount, and also a similar
reduction in foreign soap. Hard soap, now subject to a
duty of 305., he proposed to reduce to 20s. ; soft soap
to 10s., and Naples soap from 565. to lLs. There were
many articles in which he pro,- _e,„
sed to remit the duty
altogether. There were
.000 articles standing in the
tariff in respect of
.inich there was no duty. He pro-
posed to ve1;,37 this principle to many other arti-
cles. In respect
to all articles connected with the
manufacture of leather, great' remittances of duty had
taken place. He proposed to remove altogether the
duty on dressed hides, and then there would not be a
single raw material abbject to duty, and then
he proposed to reduce the duty on foreign
boots and shoes ; shoe fronts 3s. 6d. to ls. 9d. per dozen;
boots from IL Bs. per dozen to 145., and for shoes
from 14s. to 7s. He proposed to reduce the duty
upon straw plait from ss. to 3s. 6d. per lb. He
was disposed to act freely and impartially. He
had exhausted every article of manufacturt. He pro-
posed to reduce the duty upon brandy and foreign
spirits from 225. per gallon, and the consumption ISM
not now greater in this country than it was in the 17th
century. There was no article in which smuggling
more prevailed. He proposed to reduce the present
duty of 225. to 15s. per gallon. With regard to sugar,
he intended to propose the reduction of the duty on
foreign free labour sugar to as. 6d., reducing by that
amount the differential duty. He now came to those
articles connected with agriculture. There were many
articles subject to heavy duties which did not operate as
protection. There was, for instance, the article of to-
bacco ; and, in trL acing of these articles, lie hoped that
that House would bear in mind the necessity of support-
ing the public revenue, and not press for a simulta-
neous removal of duties which would be thought high-
He
rfoa
grass
would take
stha:khee thought
wfi first e those hn of
that,eser r
nbg y
aarticlesreducing
dninel
cofii not
tn
gcoonn l
thee de
ot .
agriculture.with
food,
• The duty on clover seed, for instance, was a heavy bur-
den on agriculture. He proposed to reduce the duty on
all seeds to ss. per cwt., as a maximum duty.s
slon order
to promote the fattening of cattle, which ws
neces-
sary to the production of manure for the fertilising of
the soil, he proposed that Indian corn should be hence-
forth admitted duty free, or rather with a merely no-
minal duty. He considered that, in doing this, he
was not doing any injury to the agricultural interest.
He proposed to subject buck wheat to the same rule, and
the flour of those articles. He proposed to admit the
meal of those articles on the same footing as the grain.
With regard to linseed cake and rape cake, the price
had been gradually rising for years. He had been re-
quested to enable many articles used in feeding cattle
in the United States—such as rice cake—to be admitted
duty free, and he therefore proposed to admit it. He
came now to consider those articles of agricul-

Thu Lords met at Five o'clock, and adjourned almost
immediately after, having transacted no business of any
puhlic importance.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.

Several petitions were presented.
About half-past four o'clock his Royal Highness
Prince ALBERT, accompanied by the Earl of JERSEY,
entered the House, and took his seat under the gallery,
immediately behind the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Shortly afterwards his Royal Highness the Duke of
CAMBRIDGE entered the House, and took his place by the
side of Prince ALBERT.
Immediately after. the Duke of CAMBRIDGE had
entered the House,

Air. M. PHILLIPS, amidst lend cheering, presented the
great Manchester petition, praying for the total and im-
mediate repeal of the corn-laws.

On the motion that the order of the (In), for the
House resolving itself into Committee on the:paragraph of

THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 28, 1846.

were beginning to hold sway, and the Sovereign of that
country took a personal interest in the subject, and he be-
lieved that from Naples they would have a liberal tariff.
Sweden, Norway, Austria, Hanover, were all becoming
more liberal in their commercial policy, and he did not
despair of their following our example. lie trusted
that increased commercial intercourse would increase
the bond of union between different countries, and give
a guarantee of the preservation of,peace. But it should
be remembered that peace exposed us to in-
creased competition, and it was therefore necessary,
to secure a pre-eminence, that we should have abun-
dance and cheapness of provisions, and security
for the continuance of that abundance. This
would contribute to the increase of wealth,
and to the alleviation of kcal and general burdens.
He asked them to give their consent to these measures,
because the true source of increase of revenue was in-
creased comfort, and an increased taste for luxury. He
asked them to consent to them, because abundance dimi-
nished crime. It had been said there was no scarcity.
Svarcity was a relative term; and they should remem-
ber that two years of abundance had altered the feel-
ings of the people in this respect. That which
was not scarcity in 1844, would be scarcity in 1846.
Let them not cheek the genial current of prosperity by

forbidding the import of articles of food. The furloughs
of the soldiers in the Guards had increased greatly in
the last three years, in consequence of the increase in
comforts of their relatives, who were constantly inviting
them to visit the country. If asked why he disturbed
the existing law under which this prosperity had been
enjoyed, his answer was, that since October last there
had been a sympathy between the prosperity of
the manufacturing districts and the price of provisions.
These were the proposals, which on the part of the
Government, he offered for the ultimate adjustment of
this question. He would not appeal to any unge-
nerous feeling to induce them to consent to this
measure. There had been agitation but not to a
great extent, but he believed that there had been
in the minds of the mass of the community a great at-
tention to this subject, but still there was a general
feeling of contentment and loyalty. Their consent

to take taxation on themselves, so as to re

lieve the labouring classes, had produced gratitude ;
and he besought them to avail themselves of
the present opportunity of effecting an adjustment,
which he felt could not be much longer delayed.
For these reasons he should deeply lament
the failure of his present attempt, vehich he
recommended to their calm consideration, as one cal-
culated to maintain friendly relations among all classes
of the community, by bettering the condition of the
great body of the people.
The Right lion. Baronet, who had spoken for up-
wards of four hours, then sat down amidst loud cheerily.
The CHAIRMAN then read the resolutions, and
Sir It. PEEL suggested this day'week for proceeding
with the further consideration of the question.
Sir R. Imams wished to know what would be the
amount of increased expenditure to be saddled on the
country by his measures?
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN suggested the postponement
for further discussion for a fortnight.
Mr. Hu= defended the policy of the Prime Mi-
nister.

have followed myself under similar circumstancess
and I determined that I would stand by him."
And ' stand by him he will, for he is a
man of his word, and possibly the refractory
Peers may find that it is better to go on still with WEL-
LINGTON and PEEL, than embark on an ocean of diffi-
culties and dangers in a crazy vessel, worn out with age,
an steered by one in whose experience they can place
no confidence.

Sir R. PEEL requested the lion. Gentleman to let him
defend himself in his own way. He proposed that the
discussion should be renewed on Thursday week. The
question was of vast imporanee, but he thought a.fort-

Agitation, at the present moment, appears to concen-
trate its energies upon those particular segments of taxa-
tion which hamper international commerce in grain
Towards this central point all the political powers of
the multitude converge ; it constitutes the pivot of popu-
lar action. Nevertheless, although it is the grievance
upoti which the fulcrum of " appeal " is pressing more
immediately than upon any other, it forms but the sec-
tional part of a gigantic whole. The present era is, in
fact, one of mercantile agitation—an agitation which
tends to relieve the people of the most grievous and op-
pressive imposts to which in this country they are
more especially subjvcted ; and, by so doing, to enhance

the facilities of intercourse in trade between the
several principalities of the earth. To the ac-
complishment of this great principle, a more
effectual means could not possibly have been
adopted, than that of a peaceable co:nrnotion for the
removal of all duties upon corn. With these endeavours
our sympat`ties have been frequently and emphatically
expressed ; the abolition of such intolerable burdens
upon the principal article of sustenance among all nations
appearing to us so manifestly politic, so ostensibly
necessary, and so morally judicious. This was the arch-
fallacy of all our constitutional fallacies, and, as such, it
required an immediate modification : it was the most
importunate of till our "crying evils," and hence de-
manded Vie In attention. Now, however, that the
victory appears to be absolutely achieved ; now that this
most pernicious of all restrictions has been sapped to its
lowermost foundations, the interest of the public eerts
forward as it were spontaneously to those
various other imposts which, though less in
comparison with the monsttous injustice of the
corn-laws, are yet in themselves of the most
arduous and unjustifiable description. Foremost
amongst these stands that general ()Eject of antipathy,
the window tax, the obnoxious character of which
cannot too often be insisted upon. At the present mo-
mentous juncture, and especially upon the very evening
upon which the Prime Minister will bring forward his
"Commercial Policy," it is far from our intention to
enter into the merits or demerits of this oft-mooted
question, with any detailed minuteness. In making this
particular allusion to a subject so repeatedly and so
thoroughly dissected as this, we are siwply desirous,
first, to commemorate the demonstrations against it,
made on Friday last in the Court House, Marylebone ;
and, secondly, to impress upon the public mind the ne-
cessity of its destruction forming an integral portion of
any plan for alleviating the pressure of impolitic taxa-
tion, before that plan can, .by any possibility, be perfect
in its form or in its application. Sir ROBERT PEEL, we
have elsewhere observed, has evidenced a gradual pro-
gression towards the abolition of the duties upon corn ;
his tariff, in several particulars, facilitated the importa-
tion of food, as, for instance, in foreign cattle. Upon
this same principle, also, of drawing inferences from his
previous conduce, we should be induced to believe the
Premier but little opposed to the annihilation of a tax
so invariably detested as the one upon windows—if
we might regard his abolition of duty upon glass as a
sufficient evidence. Without this sequence to his ori-
ginal concession, the matter in question will be a thing
but half accomplished. It will be tantamount to ren-
dering the material cheaper, while the use of that mate-
rial will be still accompanied by the most burdensome
demands—the material (glass) of a cheapness
easily attainable by the people at large ; the use
of that material (windows) being laden with
an expense which must ever tend to render
the atmosphere of our houses impure, to abstract from
the beauty or symmetry of our streets, and in every
respect to interfere with our architectural arrangements,
while at the same time it continues an interminable clog
upon the industrial classes. To speak in still more cotnpre-
hensible and unmistakeable language•—the abolition of
duty:open giass, as it appears in Sir ROBERT PEEL'S tit-
ri "klrtid the continuance of a tax upol windows, constitute
an anomaly which can scarcely be paralleled in any
financial system upon record. For the eradication of this
anomaly we look to the indomitable and impulsive voice
of the people—to that voice which has carried forward
to an issue so successful the great cause of legislative
interference with the trade in corn. As the first demon
stration against these duties upon air and light since
the commencement of the preseut session, we
regard the recent meeting at Marylebone with an inte-
rest more than ordinary; and, as the most persevering
and consistent advocate for the abolition of the tax in
question, we rejoice that Lord DUNCAN was present
upon the occasion. Cordially do we Coincide with the
Noble Lord in saying that " the moment the public
began to show their feeling upon any particular
subject, the next minute the Government was
forced to bow to that opinion, or give way to
others," and that " there ' was no other way of ruling
in this country than by the force of public opinien."
Diffused but potent, that " public opinion" is capable of
accomplishing everything it undertakes with earnestness.
It is the true Hercules, symbolised in the Pagan my-
thology the Hercules which can strangle the
lion of despotism or cleanse the Augean stables
of a bad Government. Let the present agitation,
therefore, be persisted in, let advocates as
sincere and energetic as Lord Duersse and Sir CHARLES
NAPIZR come forward and insist upon its impolicy,
its injustice, and its actual immorality, and the incubus
will succumb.

night too long to keep the country in suspense.
The House was subsequently addressed by several
Hon. Members. The House then resumed, the Chair-
man reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on
Monday, the 9th of February.
The House adjourned at Twelve o'clock.

The friendly conversation (for it could not be called
discussion) which took place in the House of Lords on
Monday, brought to light some facts of great import-
ance to the country at the present moment : one is, that
the Duke of WELLINGTON is resolved to support Sir
Romer PEEL ill his plan for a material alteration of
the corn-laws ; and another, that the landowners
have at last yielded to Mr. COBDEN'S earnest
entreaties, and are ready to go into an inquiry on the
peculiar burdens on land. This is a great point gained.
Hitherto much mystery has prevailed respecting the
amount of taxes and rates paid by the agricultural inte-
rest, as compared with those paid by all other
classes. The landlords were incessantly calling'
out that their burdens were enormous, that
the corn-law Bill even did not compensate them for the
excess of rates levied on them in twenty or thirty
shapes, but, strange to say, they never could point out
where the unequal burdens lay, and still more, they
mould submit to no inquiry on the subject. Mr. COBDEN
has, twice or thrice, brought forward specific motions for
in investigation into these burdens, but the landed interest
turned a deaf ear to all his arguments and entreaties,
wrapped themselves up in their virtuous intentions, and
kept echoing the old cry—" The grievous burdens on
I anti." This mode of smothering facts and resisting just
demands however, it is found, will answer no longer. The
aristocracy cannot enjoy exclusive privileges merely be-
oause they form the first branch of the Legislature,
and some of them aro descended from the "bold barons"
of old. They are only subjects, like the rest of the coin-
Jeunity ; a large number of them, or their immediate
ancestors, but half a century ago were commoners, and
raised to their present eminence for the political pur-
poses of the Minister of the day ; and with a reformed
House of Commons they will be allowed to lay claim to
no such privileges as those which finally banished
the French ncblesse and the French clergy from the soil
of France. To their credit, the Peers of England begin
to see that circumstances are changed, and that they can
enjoy no peculiar exemptions without showing their
grounds of exemption. The Duke of RICHMOND, to a
csrtain extent, admitted something of the kind. In
reply to brief remarks from the Earl of RADmott
is to the peculiar burdeni on land, he joined with the
Nosle Earl in the hope that " before any change was
made in the present law there would be an inquiry into
that subject." These were the words of the Duke, but
they differ materially from those in which he professed
to concur, and which were to this effect:—" He (the
Earl of RADNOR) for one could not understand what
were the exclusive burdens that were felt by the landed
interest, and for which compensation was to be given to
hem. lie hoped that that would not be given with-
out inquiry into the subject, and, when that in-
quiry was taken, he very much doubted whether
any such compensation would be given." His Grace,
however, thought otherwise, and pledged himself to
prove that the farmer who paid a rent of 3001. a year
was liable to treble the taxation that Mr. COBDEN paid.
" The members of the League," he added, " both in
that House and out of it., were always making assertions,
but never were able to prove them." Here, then, is a
fair challenge to Mr. COBDNN, and, before any
compensation is granted, he will have little difficulty of
proving that, so far from the landowners being burdened
with greater taxes than others, they do not pay their
full share. Lord BEAUMONT also called out for inquiry
into the burdens upon land, because he was con-
vinced it would be proved that there were cer-
tain grievances of which the landlords. had reason to
complain. This is a lame conclusion, and though his
LordshiP stated, on the authority of the Poor-law dom-
missioners, that the land paid annually 12,000,0001., he
will probably find, en analysing the report, that a large
proportion is put down to tithes and poor-rates, which all
classes pay. With regard to the other point, the explanation
of the Duke of WELLINGTON, the public have also reason
to be satisfied—that is, taking for granted that they are
satisfied with the measures proposed by Sir R. PEEL.
In most of the statements made by " the Duke" there
is one striking feature in which he excels all other
speakers. He conceals nothing for a sinister purpo e;
his assertions are rarely or never unintelligible ;
he goes direct to the main question, and loaves
no doubt as to his intentions. In a case of
this importance the sentiments expressed by a speaker
of such a character and weight, must, therefore, be
looked to with deep interest. He candidly admitted
that he was at first opposed to the plans of the Minister
for throwing open the ports and introducing
essential changes in the corn-laws, but, on
finding that his Right Hon. Friend was resolved to
adhere to his purpose, and would fight the battle alone,
should all his comrades desert him, the veteran warrior
could hold out no longer; he was overcome by the chi-
valry of the Minister, and generously vowed to fight with
him to the last. His words are so characteristic, that
they cannot be omitted. 4, Her MAJESTY," said he,
" having thought proper to write to my Right Hon.
Friend, and to require him to resume the situation which
he still held until another Government was formed, he
wrote to me (I was in the country at the time), inform-
ing me of the circumstance, and stating that if he did re-
sume office he had determined, happen what might, if he
stood alone, that as the Minister of the Crown he would
enable her MAJESTY to meet her Parliament. I highly
applauded my Right Hon. Friend on that occasion,
and I determined that I for one would stand by him.
I felt it my duty; and I did think the formation of a
Government in which her MAJESTY would have cone
dence was of greater importance than any opinions of any
individual upon the corn-law or any other law. My
Right lion. Friend wrote to me and desired me to attend
the Cabinet that evening, which I did. I applauded the
conduct of my Right Hon. Friend; I was delighted with
it ; it was exactly the course which I phplad

The Madrid journals of the 19th contain no news.
The discussion in the Chamber of Deputies was still
going on, and was expected to last for several days
longer, as they had reached only the 7th paragraph of
the Address.

The Three per Cents. closed at 33 13-16 at 60 days;
the Five per Cents., at 23i; and the shares of the Bank
of Isabel IL, at 166 at 60 days.

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday,
spirited discussion took place relative to the conduct of
the Government in the adjudication of railways. M.
LIIERBETTE denounced the entire system, and blamed
the Government especially for allowing high function-
aries in the State, and officers of rank in the army and
Davy,• to advertise themselves as the heads of railway
companies. He disapproved of the conduct of Peers
and Deputies who had joined in the gambling operations
on the Bourse, and made some strong remarks on the
conduct of the Government in first encouraging the forma-
tion of the Receiver-General's Company for the Lyons line,
and the subsequent dismissal of M. BAUDON, its chair-
man. He was supported in these attacks by M. Ituallm.y,
when the Minister of Public Works replied in a speech
of great length. Lie entered into a minute history of
railway legislation, and contended that the adjudications
made were on reasonable terms, both as regarded the
State anti the companies to whom the concessions were
made, and he declared that France was advancing so
rapidly, that more was done now in ten years for the
improvement of the internal communications of the king-
dom than had been done formerly in 200 years. " The
result is," said he, " that the reseau' of railroads, such
as are now fixed, includes not less than 41,998 kilometres.
If the whole execution by the Government had
been decreed, the country would now be engaged
in an expense of between 1,600,000,000 f. and
1,800,000,000 f. From these figures it is evident that the
State would have been obliged to concentrate its efforts
on the execution of one or two principal lines, it is evi-
dent that, with the system of the execution by the State,
the ' reseau' in question could not have been executed to
its whole extent. The inference is, that it was indis-
pensable to make private industry co-operate in the ge-
neral enterprise in question. It was my opinion, and
that opinion prevailed ; and now, what is the conse-
quence of the law voted by you? It is that the reseau,'
whose extent I have mentioned, is being actively pro •
years; that
in csui txe dy
e; a that aFt
France
es, will I
will
beil l
have completeds,ooo
kilometres ooff .at
the
rsu ont aac
Stated
rail-
roads,
saaetndd tbhtyhe
that
costtriani
lw six y
oa fy lies.4eia)7rs,
Such is will
tl
0 thereoo,Oo ol
notbSo ire xmrboec
be
borrowed
province
e ;
and in
six years you will have executed what the old monarchy
could not have accomplished in two centuries."
A very confused and disorderly discussion ensued, which
led to no result; as , on the ballot being called for, it was
found that there was not a sufficient number of Members
present, and the division was adjourned till Monday.
The Messager states that the report of the French
frigate La Thetis having cannonaded Cape Haytien
is quite unfounded. On the 22d La Thetis was
at Port-au-Prince, and affairs were assuming an
aspect which denoted an impending pacific issue.
Most of the papers have comments on the QUEEN'S
Speech. The Opposition, of course, are not satisfied
with it. " It offers," says the Constitutionnel, " some cu-
rious; comparisons to our discourse from the throne,
Tha; document made all possible advances to England—
friendship, affection, mutual confidence, pacific assu-
rances, and amicable exchange, good and intimate rela-
tions, and .cordial co-operation. To this display of ten-
derness, the Queen of ENGLAND replies by a convenient
paragraph, kit without any display of enthusiasm; it ex-
' presses a wig' ,that the present union and good under-

standing which so happily exiits between the two
nations may ever minister to the interes: of humanity.
We do not intend to say that the phrase is not friendly,
but, in truth, after all the advauceP made by M. GUIZOT
—after all the sacrifices he has made to the English alli•
ance—they could not well do less, and it will hardly be
found that they have given him good measure." On the
whole, however, they find little fault with this State
document.

On Sunday the Three per Cents. were done in the
Passage de I'Opera at 83f. 30c.

BUSINESS DONE IN FORED;N RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK E CHANGE, JAN. 26

Ceylon, % —Dutch Rhenish, B—East Indim;, 114—Great Northern
of Franco Constituted, 14%s—Great Wietern Bengal, Lyons
and Avignon, 2% - Luxembourg, 2%—Mauritius, %—Namur and
Liege, 3% —Parts and Strasbourg (Ganueroa's), 2%--Rouen and
Hasre, 275 —Sanabre and Meuse, 5% —West Flanders, 5 .

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.
LONDON, JAN. 27.—Wind S.W., light airs and cloudy.
II IDEAL, JAN. 26.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrd. British Monarch, Prance,
Jamaica. Arrd. from the river, Thomas Birth, Hay, Mauritius ;
Thomas Henry, Jury, Mazatlan; Princess Royal, Sewell, Cuba;
Anne Eliza Cook, Vera Cruz ; Tory, Mobile ; Eclipse, Davis,
Madeira. Arrd. from the river and sailed, Helen, DPFuller, Calcutta.
OFF FOLKESTONE, JAN. 24.—Johaai Frederick Wieting, Charleston.
BRISTOL, JAN. 26.—Wind W.8.W., fresh.—Arrd. Eliza Warwick,
Calcutta.
STUDWELL ROADS, JAN. 24.—Arrd. Ann, Hall, St. Joint's, if eW
Brunswick.
LIVERPOOL, JAN. 26.—Wind S.S.W., moderate.—Arrd. Joshua
Waddington (late Bottomly), Valparaiso; Clio, Le Orem, Buenos
Ayres; Alice Jane, Blea.sdale, Laguna; Henry Clay, Nye, New
York , St. Laurence, Brown, New York ; Argimore, St. John's, New
itrtinsvvick ; Alexander Edmond, Carr, St. John's, New Brunswick.
Sid. Waterville, Mills, Hayti.
OFF WHITEHAVEN, JAN. 25.—Scipto, ()rens, St. Andrew's.
HULL, JAN. 24.—Sld. Atwick, Brewer, Patagonia ; Ann Seaton,
Rio Janeiro.
YARMOUTH, JAN. 26.—Wind W.—Arrd. Flora, Pearce, of Tor
quay, assisted in leaky, having struck upon a floating wreck off
Southwold. The Larch of the Morel', Allen, from Middlesborough
to Portsmouth, was in contact in the Roads 23d, with the Doris,
Walker, of South Shields, and both received trifling damage. The
' Countess of Errol, Wright, of mid for Rye from Shields, was in con-
tact last night off the Dudgeon with the Novdon and shortly after
sunk ; crew saved.
LIMINGTON, JAN. 24.—The Thetis. Barns, from Woodbridge to
Liverpool, has arrived off this very leaky, and with pumps choked,
having encountered a strong gale off Portland ; will discharge.
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 26.—1 t blew very hard last night from S.W. to W.
and continues. The schooner Ann, of Jersey, with loss of three
hands overboard, was spoken, 23d inst., by the Marie, Smith, arrived
here. She reported having seen a French barque founder in lat. 8,
f 0 W.
JERSEY, JAN. 24.-The Neptune, Gander, of and from this port for
Guernsey, missed stays and struck on the rocks off the western point
of St. lirelade's Bay yesterday, and sunk in deep water; crew saved.
KIRKWALL, JAN. 22.—The Zephyr, Kirkpatrick, was stranded on
the island of Stronsay, previous to 20th inst. ; crew supposed to be
lost. One body has been picked up.
LONDON, JAN. 27.—A large vessel, drifting bottom up, was seen,
23d inst., about eight miles off the land, between Southwold and
Aldhorough, by the Prince of Wales, Jordan, arrived in the River
from Leith.
DUNDALK, JAN. 23.—Arrd. Sarah, St. John's, New Brunswick.
IsLAY, JAN. 17.—Sid. Jean Blair, Rae, Savannah.

PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
SIT DING OF JAN. 12.—PRESERVATION
OF WOOD—TANNING LEATHER.
A communication was made by M. Letellier on the pre•
nervation of wood. M. Letellier states that, as long ago as
1837, he pointed out the means of preparing wood by im-
mersion, first, by impregnating it with deutochlorure of
mercury and then with gelatine, which rendered the mercu-
rial salt insoluble, and, in December 1840, he pointed out the
disadvantages of the use of pyrolignite of iron, as recom-
mended by M. Boucherie. There is scarely any subject on
which so much has been said in the Academy and the jour-
nals as the preservation of wood. There are at least thirty
competitors for the honour of the discovery, and yet up to
this moment we hear of no establishment being formed for
any operation on a large scale. M. Boucherie appears to
have passed six or seven years in experiments only. Mr.
Banner had his patent three years for Payne's process—which
is extensively adopted in England, where it is said to yield
large profits to the patentee—before he could form even the
nucleus of a company, and thouFh he was able at last
to get together a board of direction, embracing some of
the most eminent and high-sounding names in France, the
affair is still-born, the public, in its eagerness for wild
schemes on the Bourse, having shown no disposition to
take shares. This is the fate of half or two-thirds of the
really useful discoveries and inventions that are announced
in France. Law found plenty of dupes for his schemes; the
proprietors of the bitumen companies let in thousands for
heavy bases with their unfounded pretensions, and even at
this moment, in spite of their experience of the past, capital
is to be found for schemes that are equally wild ; but in vain
does the true disciple of useful science call for the co-opera
Lion of the public for assistance to execute his plans.
A very important communication was made by M. Payen,
in the name of Dr. Turnbull, of London, relative to his prac-
tical application of the theory of endosmosis and extosmosis,
discovered by M. Dutrochet, to the process 'of tanning, and
also the application of the soluble principle of sugar to the
same purpose. We give here a short expl.snation of what is
meant by endosmosis and extosmosis :—When a membrane
intervenes between two liquids of different densities, they
produce two currents, the one outwards called extosmosis,
and the other inwards called endosmosis. By this new
physical law the currents interchange until they become of
the same specific gravity ; thus Dr. Turnbull, by sewing
up a hide filled with one liquid of a certain specific gravity,
and then immersing the hide in another liquid of greater
or lesser density, keeps up this reciprocal action until such
time as the hide is thoroughly tanned. The statement
made by Dr. Turnbull is so extraordinary, that it as-
tonished the Academy, and has equally astonished some of our
Paris contemporaries, who observe that his process, if real,
eclipses everything that has been discovered in the practical
arts for these hundred years. The best answer to the doubts
expressed as to the reality of the discovery, is to be found
in the fact that the process is carried on in London on a
very large scale, and the experiments which Dr. Turnbull
hes been performing in Paris for the last month, in presence
of many of the first tanners. By the ordinary process of
tanning it requires eighteen months to tan an ox-hide, and
4001 b of bark. Dr. Turnbull tans the hide in fourteen days,
and with only 100 lb. of bark. Here, then, is a saving of out-
lay for the process, and the tanner, with the same amount
of capital, can do thirty-six times as much as under the old
system. And this is not all. Dr. Turnbull's process gives
an extra weight of leather, varying from 15 to 2511): per
cent. Calve-skies, which under the old process reprise an
immersion in the vat of five, six, and seven months, are by
Dr. Turnbull's process tanned in two days. But, it will be
asked, is not this rapidity of execution attended with infe-
riority to the leather produced? On the contrary, it is much
better, for all the saturation required for the production of
good leather is as fully effected by the new as the old pro
cess ; and one of the great causes of bad leather is entirely
avoided. The first part of the ordinary mode of tanning is
to remove the hair from the skin—to do this lime is used,
and before the hair can be detached, the corrosive action
of the lime always produces an injury to the skin, render-
ing it spongy, and therefore readily susceptible of moisture
when the leather is made up for use, at the same time that
the interests of the tanner are affected by loss of weight.
Dr. Turnbull effects the removal of the hair by the use of
sugar or any substance containing saccharine matter ; or, if
lime be used, it is removed by the application of sugar, before
it can do any injury, whereas, by the old process, a portion
of it must for ever remain in the akin. Hitherto every pro-
cess for rapidity in tanning—comparative rapidity, we mean,
for when 111. Seguin contrived to turn ou ox-his tanned
in five or six months, the fact was thought wonrful—has
been attended with loss of quality, for the process was ex-
pedited by the use of acids. By the new process not only
are no acids used, in addition to the usual tanning materials,
but even the portion of acid which those materials contain
is destroyed. We state all this, as the French say, with
connaissance de cause, for we have been present at two of the
experiments performed by Dr. Turnbull, and had not only
the evidence of our hands and eyes as to the quality of the
leather, but also the advantage of hearing the tanners who
were prepnt declare, that every part of the process bad been
conducted under their own control, and with skins marked
by themselves. A commission of the Academy, consisting
of Messrs. Payen, Boussengault, Dumas, and Dutrochet, was
instantly appointed to visitsthe tan-yard, where these experi-
ments are going on, and to make its report.

A meeting of the Shareholders of the Southampton,
Manchester, and Oxford Junction Railway Company was
held yesterday at the Hall of Commerce, to take into conside-
ration the agreement en teredii nto by their Managing Commit-
tee with the Oxford, Southampton, Gosport, and Portsmouth,
and the Oxford, Newbury, Andover, Manchester, and
Southampton Railway Companies respectively. After a
stormy discussion, the meeting separated without coming to
any decision.
THE MtLITIA.—The following a-e the qualifications
for holding commissions in the militia :—For Colonel, 1,0;'0/.
a-year landed property, or to be heir apparent to 2,0001.
a-year. For Lieutenant-Colonel, 6001. a year landed pro-
perty, or to be heir apparent to 1,200/. a-year. For Major,
400/. a-year landed property, or to be heir apparent to 800/.
a-year. For Captain, 2001. a-year landed property, or to be
heir apparent to 400/. a-year. One half of such property
must be in the county to which such regiment belongs.
A CAT BURIED ALIVE.—Last week a hind at Fenton,
near Wooler, bad occasion to re-cpen a potato pit, when to
his great surprise his lost cat came crawling from below the
straw, a mere living skeleton 1 A month had elapsed since
the it was opened, at which time poor puss had unfortunately
entered and been covered up.—Tyne Mercury. EMI
FROST, WILLIAMS, AND JONES.—On Monday night a
public meeting vi as held in Marylebone to petition for the
pardon and restoration to their native country of Frost,
Williams, and Jones.
POISON ON TWELFTHCARES.—An inquest was held nn
Tuesday lost, at the Town Hall, Derby, on the body of Sarah
Ellen Woollatt, a girl of four years old, who died after
eating some of the ornaments from a twelftbcake. Mr.
Borough, a surgeon, stated that on a port mortem examina-
tion, the symptoms presented were precisely such as would
have been produced by carbonate of lead. The jury re-
turned a verdict, " The immediate cause of death was inter-
susception of the bowels, which aprears to have resulted from
deceased eating a portion of the ornaments of a twelfihcake."
—Derby Reporter.
Tim WANDSWORTH UNION.—At Whndworth Police-
court, on Monday, another batch of fourteen casual paupers,
men and boys, were brought up from the Wandsworth union,
charged with refusing to work and tearing their clothing.
They were sentenced to terms of imprisonment varying from
fourteen days to a month.
WATERMEN'S STEAMERS AND THE NAVIGATION COM-
mtrrEE.—During the whole of Monday, two of the Water-
men's steam-boats were stationed alongside the newly-erected
pier at Paul's-wharf, to prevent the barges from being tugged
again into the custody of the Water-bailiff.
GREAT FOOT RACE.—The foot race for 501 aside
between Butler and East, two well-known pedestrians, came
off on Monday at Hayes. In consequence of the presumed
superiority of Butler, his backers gave East five minutes'
start, in a distance of twenty miles, but notwithstanding
these great odds, Butler was the favourite in sporting cribs.
Both men had been in active training for the last month,
aid considerable sums were bet at 5 to 4 on Butler ; but
in consequence of a report which had gained circulation on
Saturday night, that he had been taken ill, a change took
place, and East enjoyed the favouritism at about the odds
above quoted. The men appeared at the twelfth mile-stone
on the Uxbridge road, to walk to the thirteenth and back, at
a little before two o'clock. Preliminaries having been
arranged, East went away with his five minutes' start, at a
smart rattling speed, and was followed after the stipulated
interval by Butler, at an equal, if not superior pace, and he
gained twenty seconds in the first mile. In the second and
third miles, however, he lost gr.ound, but then, with slight
variations, began to mend again ; and at the end of the
tenth mile had reduced the five minutes' start to four.
East continued to pursue his course in capital style, and so
obvious was it to men acquainted with such matters that
Butler could not win, that 4 to 1 was freely offered on East :
odds which increased
mile East
instances to 6 and 7 hand
In each succeeding mile East improved his advantage,
at the end of the eighteenth mile Butler resigned, his oppo-
nent being at the time nearly a mile a-head of him. East
vialked-the remainder of the di4ance in order to claim, and
completed the twenty miles in three hours fourteen minutes
ten seconds. Butler, it was stated, was attacked with cramp
in the stomach two or One times during the not