The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-09 00:00:00

e *--.11,n.'3

_ .
LONDON, MONDAY, rEn-ItUARY 9, 184

When Sir ROBERT PEEL introduced hisfirfsotrneei,sv tariff
otn
hers
Bill, by which the duty on a large variety of
cies was totally abolished, and that on many
greatly reduced, an outcry was raised by certain classes
against the scheme. Native industry, it was said, would
thereby be discouraged, a preference given to foreigners
most injurious to the hard-working and highly-taxed
English mechanic and tradesman, and a great many other
calamities were foreboded 'which, happily, have not been
realised. Indeed, the number of articles imported under
the now tariff are so. extremely small, that the parties
who raisf.d such objtctions must look back with
little self-complacency on what they regarded
as deep foresight, and a knowleOge of the rrinci-
plea of trade and commerce from which such theorists
as Ilusiassmq and PEEL were entirely debarred. Ex-
perience has shown that all these apprehensions were
totally unfounded, and that the importation of foreign
rateiele
s in consequence of the row duties could not have
the slightest effect upon the native tradesman or pro- 1
ducer. Vrgm this experience, no doubt, there is almost 1
a perfect silence respectinge the further reductions pro-
posed, for, with ti !en of tho Spitalfields' weavers,
scarcely any one claxte:Pt
rare their voice egainst them,
and for the best reason rininthe world, because they find
nothg
that they have really
to Fear
before Parliament fear from foreign com-
petition. A return has been laid
pre-
paratory to the discussions on h
e puts the matter beyond doubt. nelwt tariff
is enwtihtilcehd
1" An account of the duties received in the last Antacid

Not the least extraordinary, among the political
changes which have supervened upon the Ministerial
conversion, is that of a re-examination, or, as it may be
appropriately termed, a revision of the sentiments enter-
tained by various constituencies, and prof s:ed by their
different representatives. As any mere casual spectator
must have observed during the last fortnight, our columns
have been inundated with requisitions from electors
dispatched from many quarters of the kingdom, and ad-
dressed to county Members, insisting either upon an an-
nouncement of their positive determination to support
the spirit of agricultural monopoly, in opposition to the
prop ns.ed commercial alterations, or, on the other hand,
instantly to vacate the'r seats in Parliament, as
traitors to the cause which they had origi-
nally advocated, and consequently as incompetent to
represent their interests in the Lower House. From the
numerous answers which these requisitions have elicited,
and which have likewise teen duly chronicled in our
columns, it is unnecessary to do more than remark, that
in a vast majority of cases the Hon. Gentlemen in ques-
tion have candidly and boldly expressed their opposition
to a continuance of an exclusive system of pro
tectien, accompanying the declaration with a straight-
forward and manly account of the peculiar circumstances
which have induced them to recede from their previous
principlss as untenable, and at the same moment ac-
cepting the alternative offered by their constituents, by
resigning their posts as Members of the House of Com-
mons. In acting thus, these gentlemen have been
actuated by one most laudable motive in particular ;
they have themselves, through no protracted analysis
of events, through a series of severe investigations, and
through a dispassionate experience of past sessions,
arrived at the very rational deduction that the present
system of import and export duties is prejudicial, not
only to the industrial classes in particular, but also
to crery other individual in the community
that the existing restrictions upon trade are
contrary to the dictates of common sense, as
filching the pockets of the many for the emolument of
the few—that, in fact, some general and instantaneous
abolition of these clogs upon commerce was absolutely
requisite, and that the reduction of the abstract theory
into practice was incumbent upon the Legislature.
They had, by perseverance, obtained this more en-
larged view of things ; they took a wider sur-
rey of international trade than heretofore ; they saw
facts in a new light, and through a clearer atmosphere ;
end from a definite desire and expectation that the ruul-
zitude would take, or had t .ken, a similar review of these
particularities in our Constitution, they readily with-
drew from their onerous but honourable duties, leaving
he ultimate deeLion of the matter to time, or to popu-
lar reason. Upon this great and memorable evening—
m evening a hich will be especially noted in the pages
of our ccuntry's history—we would direct a more than
cursory glance at the reply which Lord LINCOLN has
just addressed to the electors of the Southern Division
of the county of Nottingham, in answer to a resolu-
tion, passed some few days since, at a meeting of the
Nottinghamshire Agriculture Protection Association.
We would direct attention to this document at this pre-
cise time from an anxiety on our part to signalise, in a
senter.ce or two at least, the various expressions con-
.ained in that letter—expressions which redound so
,nuch to the credit, and to the honour, and to the con-
4isteney of the Noble Lord. We have already, elsewhere,
defined our notion of what a true and far-seeing poli-
tical consistency really is; and therefore it will suffice us
to observe that Lord LINCOLN merits this honourable
epithet in a particular manner, as a man who adheres
more to the inferences of sound sense than the paltry
'and narrow boundaries of party-feeling—as one
vho rather regards the whole than the inffnitessimel
portion. m
While the Duke of NEWCASTLE c retain in a
certain degree of subserviency and thraldom to what
may in a particular manner influence his re-
venues, those of his tenantry who aro capable
of participating in an election, his son can
thus throw off the straigl4jacket of self-interest and
follow the instigations of justice to his fellow-men
Lord HENNIKER also has enacted a part in these recen
squabbles with an equal amount of credit to

honesty of purpose, by acting in a similar
manner to his constituency of East Suffolk,
though his opinions upon the matter at issue are
not as definitely or comprehensibly expressed. In
conclusion, we-can inertly utter one more casual com-
ment, namely, that, admirable as the main
characteristics of the Reform Bill were, an
extens:9n both in their conception and in
their operation would have been productive of a still
treater amount cf benefit to cur Constitution. If all

hese recent exigencies, for example, had been

taken into account when that great and ever
glorious measure was being framed, we should never
have witnessed the misunderstandings to which we
have made this particular allusion. The discussion, how-
ever, which has already commenced in Parliament may
remedy more social grievances than we can well cal-

ciliate. This very night may in future times be looked
back to as the starting poiLt of our most memorable,

and most peaceful, and most triumphant Revolution.

In another column will be found a statement of
the amount of the proposed increase in the army
and navy. As to the necessity of this in-
crease, we imagine there cannot be two opi-
nions, for even the most crotchetty of the members of
the Peace Society must perceive that at the present
moment the only possible way of preset viog peace is
to let Mr. President POLK and his backers see that we
are fully prepared for war. The increase in the artil-

Lry and in the army may perhaps be sufficient,
although we should by no means hare objected to hare
seen a still larger increase proposed in both those forces;
but with regard to the navy and the marines, we con-
sider that the increase is lamentably insufficient. In
the navy not only should there be an increase
in the number of men to at bast double
the amount proposed, but there should be an in-
crease of pay full an increase of comfort. The pay of a
seaman in the British navy is somewhere about thirty
shillings a month. In the British merchant service,
and in the United States' navy, the pay is upwards of
three Founds per month—rather more than double.
The demand for able-bodied seamen is greater than the
supply, and Sir ROBERT PEEL as a good political
economist must know•that the price of sailors' labour,
like the price of every other description of labour, is
regulated by the dextrine of demand and supply, and that
if the country wants the services of able-bodied seamen,

it must be prepared to pay the proper price to se:
cure them. As to attempting to revive the
system of impressment, the Government might
as well attempt to revive the system of serfdom. "The
schoolmaster" has been abroad for the last thirty years,
and the pupils of the schoolmaster will never submit to
the press•g%.ng. The nation which paid 20,C00,0001. for
the emancipation of black slaves, while it
will not tolerate any attempt to revive the
atrocious system of white slavery, known under
the name of impressment, will not grudge a
fear and proper and liberal remuneration to those gallant

year on each of the several articles enumerated in the
resolutions moved on the 27th of January, 1846, by
the Right Hon. Sir ROBERT PEEL, specifying the rate
then levied, and the rate where the same is proposed to
be altered, and showing the aggregate of the duties re-
ceived." In these lists are included the articles the duties
on which are proposed to be repealed ; and our readers
will no doubt be surprised to learn the very small
amount of revenue produced by the fifty different
articles which form this list. The total sum amounts only
to 55,8791., about one-half of which is produced by the
duty on living animals, and nearly the same sum from
manufactures of wool or of wool mixed with cotton.
The reduction of duties on live cattle, which produced
such alarm at first, has in fact had no effect whatever,
for the price of cattle has been rising ever since, and the
amount of duties received from most of the remaining
articles is so small as hardly to deserve notice—forin-
stance the annual receipt on bacon is 371., on pork,
fresh, 561, on meat salted or fresh (not otherwise de-
scribed), 153 Z., on caviare, 81., Sae. And when we turn
to the list, in which we find articles which compete with
those produced at home, the smallness of the
quantity imported is equally astonishing. When
the duty on foreign boots and shoes was reduced,
a belief prevailed in certain quarters that London would
be inundated with French boots and shoes, and that Eng-
lish masters and journeymen would be ruined. Here is
the result :—women's boots and shoes, annual receipt of
duty, 577/. ; men's boots, 1,627 L ; boys' boots
and shoes, not exceeding seven inches in length, IL ;
hats (felt, hair, wool, or beaver), 47L ; and a
large quantity of articles of a similar description in pro
portion. Such a result is highly satisfactory, because it
shows that the skill, industry, and perseverance of our
tradesmen can set foreign competition at defiance,
and that Englishmen, even with a heavy load of taxes,
can outstrip foreigners, and safely dispense with every
protecting duty. We find, from the same return, that
the total amount received for corn, grain, meal and flour
during tl,e year, was only 357,203 L This is all the reveLue
obtained by the operations of the sliding-scale; but how
much the people had to pay, and how much went into the
pockets of the landowners, is another question. This
glaring anomaly, however„is now on the point of being
abolished for ever; fur fresh symptoms occurring every
day, leave no doubt that the measures of Sir ROBERT
PEEL will be triumphantly carried.

Imen to whose prowess it is indebted, net alone for its
station, its power, its wealth, and its honour,
but for its very existence. Let us hope, therefore,
that the present session of ParlismeLt will not
close without some material increase being voted to the
pay of the ordinary seaman. Then again with regard
to the Royal Marines, the increase proposed is only to
the extent of 2,500 men. This is by no means a suffi-
cient increase to the effective strength of this the most
efficient end useful corps in her MAJESTY'S service. Be
it recollected that the marines are both soldiers and
sailors, that they are accustomed to be at sea, and that,
therefore, unlike the soldiers of the line, they do
not suffer from sea sickness, but aro ready
for action the instant they land upon an enemy's coast.
We need only allude to the Chinese war, as a proof
of the usefulaess of a large body of marines in
conducting a coast warfare ; and as a war
with the United States would, as far as the
American Atlantic seaboard is concerned, partake very
much of the character of the Chinese war, we think it
would be but prudent on the part of the Executive to
ask for a much larger increase to the corps of Royal
Ifarines than the one proposed. In making
these preparations, the Government should bear in
mind the maxim of the. Duke of WELLINGTON, that " a
great nation cannot make a little war," and it is only by
a great nation showing that it is determined
to make any war, into which it may be,
forced a great one, that it can prevent a
community, which repudiates the laws of nations and
of honour aa openly and avowedly as it has already
repudiated those of honesty, by repudiating its just
debts, from annoying it by a little piratical war under-
taken for the mere purpose of plunder.

We have received Madrid papers of the 31st ult. On that
day the new Electoral Bill was presented and read by the
Secretary. It is nearly the same as that brought forward
last session, and the principal feature is, that the elections
will take place by districts and colleges, and not by pro-
vinces. In answer to some complaints of Senor ORENSH re-
specting the persecutions against the press, the Minister of
the Interior said he considered the liberty of the press as one
of the necessary conditions of a constitutional government,
but it was extremely difficult to regulate and keep it in
harmony with complete liberty and public order. Govern-
ment had prepared a Bill on the subject, which would be laid
before the Chambers in a few days.

On the 31st the Three per Cents. closed at 38% at 60 days;
tha Five per Cents., at 234 at GO days; the Coupons, at
24% at GO days; and the Madrid and ..A.ranjuez Railroad
shares at 2,070 at 60 days.

In the French Chamber of Deputies M. GuizoT, after the
motion of M. D'ANOEVILLE respecting Madagascar bad been
adopte3, declared that the expedition would not leave
France until the Committee on extraordinary credits had
examin:d the vote for that purpose. Most of the journals
express disapprobation of this unexpected delay. Even the
Epoque blames the Government: "Assuredly," it says ' if
there be anything in the world conducted with reserve, it is
this affair of Madagascar. We regard the conduct of the
Cabinet as even too cautious—it is absolutely timid. Our
flag has been insulted' by the islanders of Madagascar, our
countrymen having establishments in the island have been
molested and pillaged. It is now decided to vindicate the
honour of our flag, and to afford an efficient support to the
interests of French subjects. In our opinion such a line of
conduct is the least that could be adopted. Under pain of
dishonour it was absolutely impossible not to decide on this
expedition. We should have blamed the Cabinet not to have
determined on it; we do not believe that it ought to be
lauded for doing what it has done, because the accomplish-
ment of a rigorous duty does not merit an eulogium. But the
Cabinet has thought it right to accompany its preparations'
with restrictions and palliatives of which we do not perceive
the necessity. It has protested that it had not in view any
establishment or any project of colonisation. What is the
use of these declarations beforehand; why are these engage-
ments entered into? There is always time to do or nut to
do; but it appears to us absolutely superfluOus to abjure
one's liberty of action for the future. This conduct
appears to us, therefore, prudent to excess, or to
speak more correctly, timid." ThG Presse is equally
opposed to delay :—" What it is now permitted to us to see
is that the expedition, if it should take place at all, will be
without result. 'We say if it should take place, for nothing
can be more doubtful. The Minister of Foreign Affairs de-
clared that it will not set out until the Chamber, specially
discussing the question by a demand for grants, shall have
categorically expressed its opinion on this subject. A month
will certainly elapse before that moment can arrive." The
Constitutionnel expresses great anger at the turn which
affairs are taking, and thus closes an article on the subject :
" We are warranted in thinking that our ships and our troops
have been got together, and the expedition been prepared,
only to disgust us with it. Can anything be more puerile
than such conduct and such avowals ? What esteem can
France have for a Government which renders the moat im-
portant affairs dependent upon au le sad calculations ?"
The following paragrap:s respecting the disputes between
the French and Hayti Governments appears he the Presse :
" Fresh information which we have received tends to con-
tradict the news which had been lately given us of an ar-
rangement between the Government of Hayti and our refire-
sentati7. sat St. Domingo. The ultimatum sent in by Cap-
tain Lartigue to President Pierrot was composed of two parts,
an indemnity of 15,000 gourds (the gourd is worth a little
more than it.), and the official retractation of a decree issued
by the President on the occasion. For the first part we be-
lieve there is no difficulty; but, for the second, the case is
quite the opposite. The last packet from the West Indies
did not bring any official news on the subject, but we believe
that we have received such information as enables us to de-
clare that the President bas peremptorily refused the second
part of the satisfaction demanded. We may add, and the
next arrival will confirm our statement, that his refusal was
o:" such a nature as to add to our just complaint."
On Friday the Chamber of Deputies adopted the Address,
in reply to the Speech from the Throne, by a majority of 232
to 141.

A general meeting of the shareholders of the Great
Northern Railroad was held at Paris, on Thursday, when it
appeared, from the report of the Directors, that the line will
be opened, as far as Clermont, in March next, and to Amiens
in April, or the beginning of May. The centre line will be
opened to the public in June.
A letter from Berne states that, on the Ist instant, the pri-
mary assemblies had to pronounce on the decision of the
Grand Council relative to undertakingitself the work of revi-
sion. About 34,000 citizens voted, and only 10,030 stamtioned
the decision of the Grand Council, the rest deciding that
the revit,ion should be confided to a constituent assembly. The
greatest excitement prevailed. Trees of liberty had been
planted in various places, with other manifestations of popu-
lar commotion, which caused anxiety t' the; more peaceable
portion of the community.

The Augaburg Gazette, of the 2d, states that the police of
Tusc;:ny have arrested, at Leghorn, I. coffee-housekeeper, in
whose house they found a correT-mtlen,ze with the conspira.
tors of the Romagna. Several other ar rests were made after
this discovery. The same journal states that a police agent
has been ams,inated at Ancona; and accounts from Flo-
rence announce that great dissatisfacti, in had been manifested
against the Government, for aeliver ing up Ermtzt. The
most violent placards were posted up in the streets, and the
GRAND DUKE, to ev..de the annoyance, had retired ti the
Maremma fa. a time.
The Three per Cents. osod on th Paris ourse on riday a SU. ; the Five per Cents , 123 t. bc. e ; the Orßleans Railroratd gbares, 1.283 f. 7.5 e.; Rouen, 1,t051. ; Ravr.o, 633 f.; Avignon, 955 r. ;
Vierzon, Bordeaux, 646 f. 25e.; t ;oulogne, 340,C ; Troyes and
Monteteau, ; Basle, 255 E ; Great Northern, 766:. 25e. ; Fam-
poux (Paris to Strasbnrgh), 550 f. ; Span Ish Three K.' Cents., 35% ;
Ditto, Domestic Debt, 33%; Ditto, Passt ms, 6%.
We have since received the Paris ;papers of Saturday, but
they coatain no news. The large ma jority (91) for Ministers
on the adoption of the Address, hail given "a heavy blow
and great discouragement" to the 0 ppotition, and the funds
in cons-quence closed on Saturday a t a considerable advance.
The prices were quoted as follows:--

Three' rer Cents. for Cash, 84f. 15e., for Account, 84f. 25c. ; Five
per Cents. for Cash, 123 f. 30c., for Account, 123 f. 40c ; Bank of
t ranee Shares, 3,3951.; Neapolitan Shares', 101 f. 50c. ; Spanish, P.ot
quoted; New Loan, 84f. sc.
Paris and Orleans left otr at 1,285 f.; Paris. and Rouen, 1,007 f. 40c. ;
Rouen and Havre, 695 f. ; Avignon, 990 f. ; Vierzon, 705 f.; Strasburg,
253 f. 75e. ; Boulogne and Amiens, 545 f. ; Florthern, 767 f. 50c.; Bor-
deaux, 645 f. ; Montercitu, not quoted ; Farepoux, 4851.
Doilnidves have improved, Lyons having been taken o.t G2of.;
Tom's and Nantes, 573 f. 75c. ; Strasburg, As3f. 73c. ; Avignc,n, 560 f.
RUSINE,'SIS DONH IN FORICI,;N RAILWAYS .V./* TYR
LONDON gTOCK BXCHANGE, FAL 7.
Boulogne and Amiens, 12N -Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette
(Mackenzie), 2—llitto (Espeleta), 21,1 —Ceylon, I—Du'tch Rhenish,
7% -Great Northern of France Constituted, 15,4-I..allan and Aus-
trian, IN —Lyons and Avignon, 2%—Luxenibourg, I-% —Namur and
Liege, 2—Rouen and Havre, 58 cx div.

Mr. Byng, the venerable fathcr of tilt; HOMO of Com-
mons, is to attend this afternoon fox the purpose of in-
troducing Lord Morpeth. It is exr acted that the Noble
Lord will be introduced by Mr. king and Lord John
tins

Mr. Hayward, Q.C., has petitioued the Judges, in
there capacity of visitors of the inns of Court, to give
him redress in the matte: of nis exclusion from the
bench of the Inner Temple.

. .
TIIE PET/IJAIJE. —Mr. Wyld, of Charing-cross, has
just published a map of the theatre of war in India, at a very
moderate price. It exhibits the position of every town, and
almost every hamlet and village on the banks of each of the
five rivers; and will be found extremely useful for reference
when the official dispatches, describing the battles on the
Sutlej, reach this country. •
Sir George Murray, Master-General of the Ordnance,
is improving in health.
It was very currently reported. on Saturday that the
Court of Directors ( f the East India Company were in pos-
session of accounts from Sir Henry Hardinge, of twelve
hours later date than those published in the papers, and that
these accounts are favourable.—Observer.
' It is said, in the military circles, that C,,lonel Cath-
cart
uuitis::hlLieksieetluyhteetnonaasilautncaocgefetedrahetle iTne:owlfaetrteh_ilsoo.mhboesuentstlee(.:l)..Co:v. Gurwcod as
opera
nluaastrwLeaeuk:.anTdl:EATllE. Nco'elty af •
as the Risleys app
Dra
'numiterwas
ear
to-morrow, we are to have a ":ew ballet o.n.
Pantomime is quite as attractive as
numerous
s-
ever, and the houses
Lulnontheei;lnn,gheoldf
crowded every night.
MEETING or FARMEIIB.—At a
the tenant-farmers of the Mid, West, and
on Wednesday in the Royal Excha age,
resolved to appoint a committee to draw up a memorial
Government, praying for compensation, and the conversion
of their present money rents into. grain rents, in the event of
the measure proposzd by Sir .U. Peel regarding the corn_
laws, &c., being carried into efteet,--pinlourgh Advertiser.