The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-03 00:00:00

EV-ENING. JANUARY 3, 1846

' several poor, lame ponies and mules, and gave each
man a few old garments, scarcely enough to cover him,
much less to protect him from the inclement season. A
little after sunset they told them to be off, pointing over
• the hills where they were taken prisoners.
In the lodge where Saxton stopped during the night,
while Brown was with him a few moments, an old chief
came in with a large package of papers, evidently robbed
from some individual, but he would not suffer him to read
any of them except the wrapper, which was of the kind of
paper used for envelopes in the War Department, and
directed on the envelope :—" Tangawanga, Chief of the
Otto Nation." The Indian then opened the package,
and took out a passport from the United States, and a
laaje pap: r having ten or twelve seals on it, opposite to
which were many signatures, a large paper resembling a
deed, and a French passport; he then folded them all up,
after pointing to the coat of arms on each, but would not
suffer them to be investigated; putting them all into the
envelope, laid them under his thigh, gave a con-
temptuous laugh, and soon left the lodge. The party
travelled till one o'clock at night without a drop of
water, on the day they left the village on the open
prairie, taking as their guide the north star, and going
in an easterly direction.
The Doctor was very much indisposed, owing to the
violent blows he had received. Soon after the party
were out of sight of the village, the smoke behind told
them that their enemies had fired the prairie, and all that
day the wind drove the fire hard upon the party, and at
night the flames of the t.. 11 grass were seen behind them
mingling with the horizon, giving it the appearance of an
ocean of tire. One of the party kept watch while the
others slept, or rather dozed.
Next morning, taking a bite of rawcorn, they continued
their course north-east; the party and poor animals suffer-
ing extreme want of water. About ten o'clock they found a
stagnant pool, where all the party were once more sensible
of the watchful care of Divine Providence. They continued
on in the same direction till three o'clock, when the party
struck a deep ravine and began to follow it, but they bad
only proceeded a short distance when the Doctor disco-
covered two Indians far in the distance to the south-east;
the parties stopped, concealed themselves in the ravine,
Brown crept to the bank to watch their movements—the
Indians advanced a little, then also stopped. The Doc-
tor then prepared to retreat and change the course of
travel, and the party readily complied with his sugges-
tion, went up the ravine some di tance, took a southerly
direction, and travelled some six miles, when they struck
a small creek, kept their course still towards the south,
and just at dark struck the Oregon road, to the great
joy of all the party. They then encamped that night at
twelve o'clock on the Republican Fork, again eating raw
corn for supper.
On the 3d of November they considered themselves
nearly out of reach of the Pawnees, being fifty miles
from their village. They arrived at the bank of the
Big Blue on the evening of the 7th, when, on enter-
ing the tall forest trees, by the light of the moon, a
large flock of tnrkeys were heard among the branches.
All were excited with pleasing anticipations of
once more tasting something palatable, as the corn,
in whatever state it was taken, for several days
had soured on the stomach of the men, and they ate it
only to keep them from starving. The next morning
Brown's well directed rifle brought a fat turkey to the
ground. After the turkey was dispatched, they re-
turned to the corn again, its the Indians gave them only
two rifles having percussion locks, with no more am-
munition, and the other rifle was unloaded to strike fire
with the powder.
On the evening of the 13th they ate the first meal in
the house of Mr. Charles Fish, quickly prepared by his
lady, residing among the Shawneee Indians, thirty miles
from the United States line.

The Doctor left the Willamette colony in a very flou-
rishing s'at ' and is of opinion that Oregon, at no dis-
tant day, will rival many of the Atlantic States in agri-
culture, science, and the arts. In this opinion all the
p: rty concur, and they intend to return again in the
spring.

A daily computation makes the distance from
Oregon City to Fort Hall BOO miles.

Fort Hall t;) Green River 195
Green River to Fort Laramie
Fort Laramie to Independence

Tot al
The St. Louis Republican of the 24th ult,, says
Dr. White is now on his way to Washington, the
bearer of a memorial to Congress, from all classes of
citizens in Oregon—American, English, French, and
half-breeds—asking for the extension of the authority
and government of the United States over that infant
territory. The documents are sealed, addressed to the
care of the Missouri delegation, and will, of course, not
be make known until presented to Congress."
At the time of the departure of Dr. White, the printing
press and types intended for the first newspaper in
Oregon, had not arrived, but it was daily expected.—
From:the independent Press.

Week
ending

Dec. 27

NAME OF RAILWAY.

Arbroath and Forfar
Bristol and Birmingham . • • • • •
Chester and Birkenhead . • • • • • •
Dublin and Drogheda • ... • • • • ..

Dublin and Kingstown .. • . • • • • • • • . • •
Dundee and Arbroath . .. • • • • •
Durham and Sunderland .• • ....... • • •
Edinburgh and Glasgow •
Eastern Counties and North Eastern• •
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr •• • •
Glgegow and Greenock.. ....... • •
Grand Junction • ....... •• • . • .....

Gravesend and Rochester....
Great North of England • ..........
Great Western . .... ...... .........

Hartlepool ......
London and Birmingham, kc........
London and Blackwall.••• •. •.......
London and 8right0n...............
London and Croydon
London and Greenwich ....... .
London and South We5tern.........
Manchester, Bolton, and Bury
Manchester and Birmingham........
Manchester, Leeds, and Hull Assoc.•
Midland Counties. •• • ...... .......••

Newcastle and Darlington ..........
Newcastle and Carlisle . • • • ..
Newcastle and North Shields.. •• •• ••
Norfolk.... •• • • ..... • .• • • • • • • •• • • ••

North Union and Bolton and Preston
Paris, Corbeil, and Orleans • • ••
Paris and R0uen...................
Preston and Wyre•• •••• •• • • •••• ••
_ _ _ _

Sheffield and ianchester.• •••• •• •• •
South Eastern..
Taff Vale ..... .....

Ulster . ...

Yarmouth and Norwich ••

York and North Midland

Last
week.

629
673
232
537
2,372
7,424
1,718
681

17,719

gm •
atzT,
tco
cg
^
c.f)

545
31,513

681
3,911
1,384

5,740

867
3,654
5,256
16,058
2,280
1,490

433
1,253
1,525

4,413
404
1,428
5,522
923
574

531
602
698
215
617
2,136
4,305
1,356
678

14,739

28,573

614
3,136
952

5,464
763
3,269
4,903
12,782
956
1,331
337
247
1,542

4,011
300
656
4,648
721
596

5,708

4,298

THE MILITIA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,-At this mt,ment, when numerous industrious
artisans are disturbed with apprehensions arising out of
the proclaimed intentions of the Government, in refer-
ence to the militia to be called out and embodied, it
may not be amiss, perhaps, to suggest a mode of reliev-
ing many of those who may net otherwise be able to
obtain for themselves substitutes; and more particularly,
if its adoption will convert to a " tower of strength"
what is now an incubus upon the country.
It is a fact, the evidence of which may be collected at
any time by the not over-worked rural police, at the
multitudinous nightly gatherings in all the " cadger," or
low lodging-houses, ~f the kingdom, that there are many
thOtisands of able-bodied men, neither gentle nor sim-
ple, too idle " to work," but not too proud " to beg," to
say nothing worse of them ; an-I to take up whom, by
some forcible persuasion, constraining them to become of
some service4o their country, would be to confer a boon
on themselves, raising them from idleness and disgrace
to comparative usefulness and honour, and at the same
time relieve useful members of society from the neces-
sity of leaving their homes and occupations, and meet
equally the necessities of our common fatherland.

Tam, Sir, yours faithfully,
RICHARD HARRISON.

Redditch, Jan. 2, 1846.

MANNING THE NAVY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In your evening paper of yesterday there is tit
able article on the subject of manning the navy. Pray
take it into your consideration how desirable it would
be to make use of an enormous, though useless force, at
present in existence—the preventive force. Every Par-
liamentary inquiry has shown the absurdity and impos-
sibility of their preventing smuggling, and they cost the
countryfully one million per annum ; remember, also,
that when the abominable corn laws are gone, the land-
owners will be sure to require the extinction of this
monstrosity.—Your obedient servant,
Jan. 2, 1846. VOX.

CROMARTY A HARBOUR OF
REFUGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Public attention being at present directed to
the formation of harbours of refuge for the protection
of our shipping, whilst our fleets should be maintain-
ing our naval superiority on the ocean, and it being
highly desirable, in the event of our being involved in
a war with the United States of America, that our
Government should put forth all its energies to bring
the contest to a speedy and honourable conclusion,
I beg to mention, through the medium of yonr
valuable paper, that the Bay of Cromarty, the Portus
Salutis of the Romans, and the point to which the
hordes of the Scandinavian race shaped their course
when meditating hostile incursions on the coast of Scot-
land, might easily, and at a comparatively small expense,
be made a most important position for the protection
of our mercantile marine, and a point from which we
could destroy the cruisers of the enemy acting against
our commerce; and it would also, from its position
opposite to the Baltic, form an admirable station for
the establishing of dockyards for the building and re-
pairing of ships, and forming magazines of naval stores.
The entrance to the Bay of Cromarty is a narrow
channel of deep water, protected on each side by the
heights of the " Souters of Cromarty." Within this
channel hundreds of ships can ride at anchor in
safety from the severest storms ; and if the heights of
the Souters were fortified, and batteries placed on the
water's edge, the entrance to the Bay would be in-
accessible to an enemy, whilst we could, in less than
tv, o hours, send frigates from it to the mouth of the
Caledonian canal, from whence they would, in less
than two days, find themselves on the coast of Ireland,
to meet our enemies in that quarter; or our fleets of
men-of-war and merchantmen could proceed in an op-

posite direction, and taking advantage of wind and tide,
pass through the Pentland Firth, in the direct course
to North America, in a shorter time than it would
take them to proceed to Ireland.
Jan. 1, 1845. A LOOKER-ON.
SPORTING IN

TELLIGENCE.
ICE EXTRA.
:R, 1846.
Tradesmen's Cup.
Little Cassino, 3 yrs
Merryman, 4 yrs
Fisticuff, 6 vrs
Zanoni, 6 yrs
Redstreak, 4 yrs
Queen of Tyne, aged
Beaufront, 5 yrs
Sarah Rebecca
Miss Burns, 6 yrs
Alice Hawthorn, aged
Blackstrap (late Euston), 4
yrs
Pompey, 6 yrs
Lycurgus, 4 yrs
Plaudit, 4 yrs
Valiant
Pal
IStreatn, 4 yrs
Astonishment, 3 yrs
Intrepid, 5 yrs
Turk, 4 yrs
Mickey Free, 5 yrs
Warp, 5 yrs
Patriot, 5 vrs
Polish, 6 yrs
Duc-an-durras, 4 yrs
Flahowlagh, 4 yrs
Colleen Bawn, 4 yrs
lonian, 5 yrs
King Cob, 4 yrs
Devil's Dust, 4 yrs
Vol-au-Vent, 5 yrs
Elemi, 5 yrs
Mongrel, 4 yrs
Correct Card, 4 yrs
Laird o' Cockpen, 4 yrs
Lothario, 6 yrs
Peasant, 3 yrs
Muscatel, by MusoutofGuava,
3 yrs
Best Bower, 5 yrs
Miss Elis, 4 yrs
Marquis of Conyngham, by
Slane—Voluptuary, 3 yrs
Blackbird, 3 yrs
Camera Obscure, 3 yrs
Clumsy, 4 yrs
Rose of Cashmere, 4 yrs
My Mary, 4 yrs
Discord, aged
Judez, 6 yrs
Faugh-a-ballagh, 5 yrs
Needful, 5 yrs
Salopian, 4 yrs
Hope, 4 yrs
Ould Ireland, 4 yrs
Collesn-dhas, 4 yrs
Queen Pomare, 4 yrs
Cataract, 6 yrs
Isabella, 3 yrs
Mount Charles, 5 yrs
Xanthus, 6 yrs
Elena Clara, 3 yrs
Tell, 3 yrs
Glossy, 6 yrs
Flattery, 4 yrs
Finvarsgb, 3 yrs
Hooton, 6 yrs
Dr. Husband, 5 yrs.
Little Hampton, 5 yrs
Gr f by Rust out of Annie,
3 yrs
Outcast, 4 yrs
Ruff, 4 yrs

INTELLIGE]
CHEST]
Nominations for th,
CEline. 4 yrs
Anti-Repealer, 4 yrs
Spur, 3 yrs
St. Lawrence, aged
Winchester, 4 yrs
Weatherbit, 4 yrs
The Roper's Daughter (late
Nix-my-Dolly), aged
Pythia, 4 vrs
William le Gros, aged
Milden, 4 yrs
Needful, 5 yrs
Trueboy, 6 yrs
Inheritress, 6 yrs
The Hero, 3 yrs
Johnny, aged
Dcodara, 4 yrs
Roderick, aged
The Warrior (bro to The
Libel), 3 yrs
Crim Can, 4 yrs
Sir Diggory Diddle, 5 yrs
Punch, 3 yrs
Event, 4 yrs
Moss Trooper, aged
Surety, 5 yrs
Pilot, 4 yrs
Whinstone, 4 yrs
Rowland Hill, by Slane, 4 yrs
Satyr, 5 yrs
Little John, 5 y: s
The Magnate, 4 yrs
Eboracum, aged
Fitzallen, 4 yrs
Extempore, 6 yrs
Pedometer, 5 yrs
Winesour, 5 yrs
Pride of Kildare, 5 yrs
What, 6 yrs
Sweetmeat, 4 yrs
The Libel, 4 yrs
Ironmaster, 4 yrs
Teetotaller, aged
Portrait, aged
Columbus, 4 yrs
Artist, 6 yrs
Lancashire Witch, 4 yrs
London, 4 yrs
Prince Royal, 4 yrs
John Davis, 4 yrs
Mermaid, 3 yrs
Wolfdog, 4 yrs
Corrunna, aged
Highwayman, 4 yrs
Vetoes, 5 yrs
Billy Purvis, 3 yrs
Arthur, 4 yrs
Example, 5 yrs
Sorella, 5 yrs
Petit Morceau, 4 yrs
The Baron, 4 yrs
Mervis, by Hornsea, out ol
Maria Day's dam, 5 yrs
Morpeth, 5 yrs
Vitula, 6 yrs
Rowena, 5 yrs
Bro to Sir Henry, 3 yrs
Joe Lovell, 5 yrs
C by Slane—Frill, 4 yrs
Lady Wildair, 4 yrs
Gamecock, 6 yrs
Javelin, 4 yrs
Jenny Wren, 4 yrs
Yardley, 6 yrs

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Her Majesty's stag hds., Mon., New lsdge ; Fri., Riching's
Park-11.
Durham County hds., Mon., Esh ; Wed., Tunstall ; Fri.,
Brancepeth-10i.
Hurworth hds., Tues., Low Middleton, Sat., Hilton.
Raby lids., Mon., Hartforth ; Wed., Witton Bridge; Sat.,
Houghton Bank Turnpike Gate-10i.
Lieut.-Colonel Hildyard's harrs., Mon., High Leven ;
Wed., Kennels ; Fri., Nunthorpe-10i.
Duke of Rutland's hds., Mon., Piper Hole ; Tues., Culver-
thorpe ; Wed., Croxton Park ; Fri., Aswarby.
Cottesmore hds., Mon., Stocken Hall; Tues., Loddington
Hall; Wed., Elsthorpe Village ; Fri., Witchiey Warren;
Sat., Market Overton-101.
Thanet harrs., Mon., Sheriff's Court; Wed., Ozangell.
East Kent hds., Tues., Swineeld Park ; Fri., Sweech Gate.
Mr. Lushington's hds., Mon., Belmont Tower; Thurs.,
Tunstall-1 0/.
Linlithgow and Stirlingshire hds., Mon., West Craigs;
Wed., Hangingside ; Thurs., Lauriestown Kennel ; Sat.,
Bathgate Toll-bar-10i.
Seventh Hussars stag Ms., Mon., Charafield ; Thurs.,
Brockford—lli.
Sir W. M. Stanley's lids., Mon., Sutton Station ; Fri.,
Gayton Mill-11.
Monmouthshire hds., Mon., Skenfrith Bridge; Thurs.,
Cross Buchan Toll-bar.
Whitecross harrs., Tues.; Betlow Lane ; Sat., World's
End.

Mr. Wall's harrs., Mon., Llanstephen, Wed., Painscastle ;
Sat., Little Hill-10.
. W. H., Tues., Seven Bridges ; Thurs., Overley Wood ;
Sat., Minety Pound-10i.
Norfolk stag hds., Tues., Drayton Cock ; Fri., Skeyton
Church.
Baron Rothschild's stag hds., Mon., Weedon ; Thurs.,
Littlecote.
Surrey stag hds., Tues., Maldon ; Sat., Half Moon, God-
stone.
Albrighton hds., Mon., Little Own; Thurs., Longford;
Sat., Shareshill
Bedale hds., Mon., Constable Burton ; Wed., Thorpe Per-
row ; Fri., Pepper
Mr. Brand's hds., Mon., Rothampstead ; Fri., Bendish
Cambridgeshire hds., Mon., White Hall ; Fri., Sandy
Warren-10i.
Cleveland hds., Mon., Wilton Lane End; Thurs., Lackenby
Whin-10i.
-. F. B. hds., Mon., Frewithen Cross ; Fri., Croft West
Haydon hds., Wed., Midge Nook; Sat., Cupola Bridge.
Mr. Horndon's hds., Mon., Horse Bridge; Tkurs., Jays.
Mr. S. Lownder's hds., Thurs., Salden ; Sat., Shenley.
Mr. Morrell's hds., Mon., Shipton ; Wed., Abingdon
Tour's End.
Oakley hds., Mon., Sherrington Toll-bar; Tues., Riseley
Village ; Sat., Bromam-10i.
Lord Parker's hds., Tues., West Wycombe Park; Fri.,
Ibstone Heath-10i.
Prudhoe and Derwent hds., Mon., Shield Row; Fr..,
Barlow.
Pytchley hds., Mon., Dodford Village ; Wed., West Had-
don; Fri.,Sywell Wood; Sat., Sibbertoft-10i.
Mr. Roe's hds., Wed., Kingstone Village ; Sat., Batis-
borough Cross.
Sinnington hds., Tues., Cowsby Wood •, Fri., Wrelton-10.
Lord Southampton's hds., Mon., Maidford ; Wed., Stoke
Plain ; Fri., Whistley Wood ; Sat., Salcey Lawn-11.
Mr. Watson's hds., Mon., Spittal Hill ; Wed., Longhirst ;
Fri., Netherwitton-10i.
Brushford harrs., Mon., Little Down; Wed., Goosameor ;
Fri., Haddon End-10.
Norfolk harrs., Tues., Kelling ; Thurs., Lion-11.
Boroughbridge harrs., Tues., Leckby Carr; Thurs., the
third milestone on the York read-10i.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—FnuLtv.
CHESTER CLIP.-50 to 1 agst Warrior (bro. to The Libel),
taken freely; 1,000 to 20 agst Alice Hawthorn, taken.
DERBY.-6 to 1 agst Sting; 16 to 1 agst Brocardo ; and
30 to 1 agst lago.

ANOTHER RAILWAY TERMINUS ROBBERY.—Yes-
terday information of the following daring railway terminus
robbery was given to the police. Stolen, between eight
o'clock on Sunday morning and one o'clock on Monday after-
noon, from the Paddington terminus of the Great Western
Railway, the property of Messrs. Ballance and Son, of Gutter-
lane, Cheapside, a bale of orgazine silk, weighing one and a
quarter cwt. The bale was directed to Messrs. Ballance and
Son, Gutter-lane, and is valued at 2001.
FATAL ACCIDENT IN A TIMBER YARD.—Yester-
day Mr. %Yakley, M.P., held an inquest in Middlesex Hos-
pital, on the body of Henry Barnes, aged 42, foreman to Mr.
Escott, timber merchant, 336, Oxford-street. The deceased.
with another man, named Goddard, were removing timber
when some logs that were piled over each other, near where
they were working, gave way, and one of them, sixteen
inches square and twenty• three feet long, fell upon the two
men, and fractured the leg of deceased, and also fractured the
leg of his fellow workman. Both were released as quickly as
possible, and removed to the Middlesex Hospital, where
Barnes died on the 23d ult., six days after his admission.
Verdict, "Accidental death." Goddard is in a fair way of
recovery.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO CAPTAIN PYALL.—Yester-
.
day afternoon, between three and four o'clock, a serious acci -
pent occurred in Hyde Park to Captain Pys.ll, a gentleman
between fifty and sixty years, residing in Oxford-terrace,
Oxford-square, Edgware-road. He was riding a spirited
horse round the carriage-drive in Hyde Park, and on arriving
opposite Kensington-gardens the horse became restive, and
shied suddenly against the wood railing, by which Captain
Pyall was thrown with great violence to the ground, his foot
hanging in the stirrup. The groom, observing the perilous
situation of his master, rode up and secured the horse at the
instant he was getting off into a gallop, and Captain Pyall
was fortunately released. The fall caused somesevere bruises
on the head, but he was able to walk home.
ANOTHER JEREMY DIDDLER.—A person with a
remarkably large head, professing to be a poet and school-
master from the neighbourhood of Welby, near Gtr..* tt
the
Grantham,
has been enjoying himself for the last three weeksr
ex-
pense of the landlord of the Crown Inn, Stamford,
it is supposed the fear of the worthy host'sbeforehis
ilbaathaving
eyes, thought fit on Friday last to make a hasty retreat,
leaving behind him a few paltry articles not worth ene• third
the amount of his bill, which he tried to dispose of during
his stay. The gentleman stated his intention of attending
.
the Stamford Dorcas Ball, but we suppose he has by this
time thought better of that. He was accompanied by a
female, who stated herself to be his sister. It is thought
they are now in the neighbourhood of Lincoln, where no
doubt they will endeavour to adopt the same system.—Lin-
colnshire Chronicle.
THE LATE EARL OF PORTARLINGTON.—III OUT
notice yesterday of the military services of Lord Portarling •
ton some surprise was expressed that a man of his rank
should have been so long in the army, and so often actively
engaged without being promoted to the rank of a general
officer. The circumstance is thus accounted for by a cor-
respondent. On the eve of the battle of Waterloo his
Lordship, accompanied by an orderly left his regiment at
bivouack and proceeded to a neighbouring farm-house to
sleep. The orderly forgot to call the Noble Earl at the ap-
pointed hour in the morning, and when his Lordship at-
tempted to rejoin his regiment, the ashes of the fire alone
marked the scene of their late encampment. Arriving at
Waterloo, the Noble Earl found his regiment (the
23d Dragoons) already in action ; and being unable
to join them, he attached himself to the first Eng-
lish dragoon regiment he met, and fought with
great :bravery thoughout the remainder of the day.
After the battle, the Noble Earl had an interview with the
Duke of Wellington, fur the purpose of explaining his
absence from his regiment. The Duke is stated to have
informed the Noble Earl that nothing but his gallantry in
the field had saved him from being tried by :a court-martial
at the same time advising his Lordship at once to retire from
the army, a recommendation which, it need scarcely be
added, Lord Portarlington immediately acted upon.
TRAFALGAR-SQUARE.—Four handsome bude lights
have lately been i meted at the corners of the square. They
have not. 1,e,e1 igh:tcl, a with the :zirmtlar
fatality attenueaL upon evely thing connected with the
square, there is a dispute about lighting between the Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests, and the parish of St.
ADlrths

ANTI-CORN-LAW MEETING AT-
ILFRACOMBE.
(Abridged from the North Devon Journal.)
This spirited place has been the first among the towns
of North Devon to join in the movement—now so general
as almost to claim to be called " national"—in favour of
a repeal of the corn-laws. In compliance with a requi-
sition, numerously signed, the worthy Portreeve, Robert
William Dickinson, Esq., convened a public meeting on
the subject on Wednesday evening last. The meeting
was very well attended, and the proceedings were in the
highest degree enthusiastic.
Mr. DICKINSON having been called to the chaiie, opened
the business of the evening by reading the requisition,
and remarking that it had given him much pleasure to
respond to the call of the requisitionists, inasmuch as
their object was in accordance with his own feelings.
They formerly had had men of talent and ability, dele-
gates from the Anti-corn-law League, who had addressed
them with sound reasoning and impassioned eloquence:
to night they must be satisfied with being addressed by
their fellow toss ns men in plain homespun language.
They were indebted to the Anti-Corn-law League for
the assistance they had rendered by teaching them the
principles on which a total repeal of the corn-laws was
d mended; and they had further to thank the League
for having kept the question before the public during a
succession of bountiful harvests, when men were apt to
be careless for the future, and when the pernicious oper-
ations of the corn-laws were scarcely felt. If the League
had been idle during the time of plenty, could it be sup-
posed that the people would now be so near the aceom-
plishment of their desire—the total abolition of protect-
ing duties upon corn ? He must take that. op-
portunity of making a remark npon one of the
main arguments used in favour of their being main-
tained : it was this—that the repeal of the core-laws
would have the effect of reducing the wages of the ope-
ratives, and was sought fur with this object. Now there
were many around him who obtained their means of
living from their wages, and he would ask them if
their wages were less last year, when they could obtain
Sibs. of flour for Is. and a peck of potatoes for 2 d. ;
or whether they had higher wages now, when they could
get only fibs. of flour for Is. and had to give sd. fur a
peck of potatoes which, two years since, were only con-
sidered fit for the food of pigs He challenged any
person to deny that quantities of potatoes were now pur-
chased and eaten by the workmen and labourers, which
they would not have eaten in a gift two years since ;
and that those potatoes which they would not have
eaten at a gift, they ware now purchasing for food for
themselves and their children. Had they higher wages
now, when all articles of food were dear? or were their
wages reduced when food was cheap 2—(Cries of " No,
no.") Was there not a greater demand for their labour
at a time food was cheap than now that it was dear?—
(Cries of "Yes.") He was sure that the most thinking
part of his audience were fully aware that it was supply
and demand that regulated the rate of wages, just as
supply and demand operated on the prices of the com-
modities of trade and commerce. The object of those
who advocated free trade was to promote agriculture,
trade, and commerce; and in promoting those departmen:s
of industry, they had in view to increase demand for labour.
They were all aware that at a time when trade and
commerce were depressed, there was a redundancy of
labour in the market; and that when there were twenty
workmen waiting for employment, and there was but
labour for ten or twelve, the master had it in his power
to regulate the rate of wages ; whereas, in times when
trade and commerce were flourishing, and there was
sufficient labour for every person able and willing to
work, the position of master and operative was changed,
and the operatives, in that case, had it in their power
to regulate the rate of wages. Now if free-trade would
give an increased demand for labour, the operatives
would have it in their power to regulate the rate of
their wages when their labour was in demand. He
therefore trusted that none of them would be misled
by the insinuations of the monopolists, that cheapen-
ing food was merely for the purpose of reducing the rate
of wages : it was an impossibility for wages to be re-
duced in value, when the labourer or operative could
choose his master. The wish of the free-traders was,
that agriculture should flourish and abound—that trade
should flourish and abound—that commerce should
flourish and abound ; and yet for years had the promo-
ters of free trade, for selfish and political purposes, been
stigmatised as destructive; ; and by whom ?—the very
party who were now ready to do the work themselves
that they so vilified the League for helping forward—ay,
and by no less a man than Sir Robert Peel himself,
whose party thrust him forward as its head, and after-
wards bolstered him up in the House of Commons with
a majority of 90 ; yes, Sir Robert was going to do the
work which his party had all along called one of de-
struction—viz., to repeal the protecting duties on corn.
If the thing must be done, we will do it"—say the
'retries, " the Radicals shall not do it—the League shall
not do it—we will do it." But they were not all come
over to the side of the League, and some of the ultra
Tories were getting positively rampant—witness the
address of the Committee of the " Wincanton and Yeovil
Society for the Protection and Defence of Agriculture,"
to the landowners and clergy of the county of Somerset,
and especially the following paragraph in it :—" Our
watchword is—' No compromise !—no surrender !'—
rest on your arms well prepared, until your illustrious
Commander-in-Chief again gives the word— Up, boys,
and at them !' " Now the words—" Up guards, and at
them !" was an expression of the Duke of Wellington
at the battle of Waterloo ; and its revival upon this
occasion, with the substitute of the word " boys" for
" guards," was very significant, and seemed to threaten
something more than a battle at the hustings. He would
trespass on them with another quotation from the
Standard of Saturday last, which, writing on the sub-
leet of Lord John Russell having been sent for by the
Queen, said:—" We had great faith in the hunger, and
consequent audacity of the Whig party—hunger will
dare anything." Oh! little did the writer think of the
double-edged weapon be was using when he wrote—
" Hunger will dare anything." At a moment when
they were threatened with famine, he seemed to forget
that there was such a thing as hunger from want of food,
as well as the political hunger from want of office. " The
hungry will dare anything!" Tbey would dare anything,
and no one knew better than the editor of the Standard
that the fear of human punishment operates feebly indeed
when opposed to the importunities of want, and when
life was possessed of nothing worth preserving. Surely
that was a most inopportune moment to have used
such a taunt. He hoped and trusted that the threatened
scarcity might be averted by a repeal of the protect-
ing duties on articles of food, and that their agitation
might be confined to their meetings, and desperation
might not drive some to agitation in the street, so as to
gratify the Wincanton Committee by giving them a
chance to whoop out—" Up, boys, and at them !" Their
agitation, in order to give freedom to trade, agriculture,
and commerce, had been confined to the use of argument
and reason ; he sincerely trusted that their object would
be accomplished, as he was sure it would be, constitu-
tionally by the approbation of Parliament and the Crown,
and consummated by universal public applause.
RICHARD BLIGH, Esq., on the call of the Chairman,
rose to move the first resolution. He should detain
them a few moments, while he endeavoured to combat
the plea of some of the aristocracy for the continuance
of these laws. They told us their estates were
mortgaged: now he asked them if that was a sufficient
excuse for cutting off a slice from each of their loaves
to pay the mortgage? most assuredly not. They also
stated that it was necessary they should continue
this tax to enable them to give larger fortunes
to Vie younger branches of their family : he
asked them if this was not too monstrous to be
entertained for a single moment? The last plea
he should notice was that they would continue this
tax for the benefit of the labourers. It would be neces-
sary that we should look into the condition of these poor
fellows. There were in the county of Devon about
20,000 existing upon Bs. per week ' • let them for a
moment consider this benefited class. Upon an average,
they had four children, making a family of six. Deduct
Is. per week for rent, Is. for fire and candle, 2s. for
clothes, shoes, and bedding, and they had a balance of
four shillings left to furnish food for twenty-one:
meals for six human beings, that is, less than
been 2 the
per
meal. If the landed proprietors had
vilest of hypocrites—if they intended resll not
theyy to
should
to benefit
the labourers when theyput on the corn-tax,
at the same time have put on a tax protect labour
upon a sliding-scale upwards, that no labourer should
work for less than Ps. sliding up to 12s. This would
have enabled them to pay th corn-tax. Mr. B. eon.
tinued:—l hold that all laws ought to be based on the
holy Word of God. What says the Scripture? Are
we not commanded not to muzzle the ox that treadeth
out the corn? Will any man in this assembly say that
the labourers in the county of Devon arc not muzzled?
The mechanics of this town were paying out of their
wages about Is. 6d. per week to the landed gentry
of this country. To show them the injustice of the
corn tax, it was enough to say that each of them was
paying as much bread-tax as he (Mr. B.) did ; was this
justice ? lie now begged to propose the resolution he
gg
held in his hand :—" That the present circumstances in
which this country is placed, especially demand the total
repeal of those laws which prevent the free circulation
of the produce of the earth, and impede the commerce
of an industrious people."
The Rev. BENJAMIN PRICE, minister of the Episcopal
Free Church, in an eloquent address seconded the reso-
lution, which was adopted with acclamation.
JOHN JONES, Esq., moved the second resolution :
That a memorial be presented to her Majesty in Coun-
cil, drawing her attentian to the anticipated famine, and
praying her Majesty that site will be graciously pleased
to direct the attention of Parliament to the present corn-
laws, with a view to their immediate repeal." It would be
nothing short of insanity in the present state of affairs,
while famine threatened their very threshold, to fold their
arms in apathetic indifference and to pray—" Give us this
day our daily bread." The duty of every patriot, of every
philanthropist, was to be active and energetic in the
use of those legitimate means placed within their reach
for the attainment of this necessary and indispensable
blessing. And, depend upon it, now was the time when
all their energies and zeal in this good cause should be
brought into full operation :—now was the time when
they were required to make every effort and all sacri-
fices, in order to convey to their rulers their unmis-
takeable and distinct determination, that they would
no longer passively submit to this unjust, unrighteous,
and iniquitous tax upon food.—(Great cheering.) He
would importune them as they valued their country's
welfare and happiness, to surround the throne with pets-
, tion on petition, with remonstrance upon remonstrance
—yea, in this matter, he would have them become per-
fect O'Connellists, and " Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!, '
and never hold their peace till the statute book was re-
lievedi, of one of the foulest blots that ever disgraced s
he
pages.—(Renewed applause.) With these sentiments
begged to move the resolution he had already read.
Mr. IfiLiztAN seconded the resolution. Addressing
himself to his Braber bread-eater=," he remarket that
the object which brought them together that evening
was very plain and easy to be understood. No argument
WAS necessary to show the difference between enough

and not enough—between giving five pence for a cer-
tain quantity of bread a short time ago, and seven pence
now ; and no sophistry could conceal the fact, that there
had been a deficient harvest, and that a mysterions
disease clave to the potatoes. He was no politician—
never was, perhaps never should be ; but this subject
required no skill in politics ; common sense told them
that those persons who before the rise of bread could
get just enough and no more, must now be minus that
twopence upon fivepence which it had since advanced
in price, and doubtless there were many such ; and those
who before had not enough, and could not get enough,
must now be descending to zero— to the point of starva-
tion. The question was, what was to be done to pre-
vent things getting worse ? The only expedient which
presented itself was to open the ports and do away
with the corn-laws. Something ought to have
been done before ; but something had been doing: Cabi-
net Councils had met, and Sir Robert Peel seemed to be
got upon his own sliding-scale ; he had been sliding up
and down on it for eight or nine Cabinet Councils:—
Lord John Russell had been called to help him, but had
failed ; and where he might slide to next, nobody could
tell ; but this seemed pretty clear—that he was willing
to send the corn-law overboard. The present
seemed a good opportunity to do it ; with
the League to help him, and a few millions of
hungry bellies behind, it must go—it must, if he
were minded to stay aboard himself:—(lmmense cheers.)
After a few further remarks, the speaker concluded a
highly effective speech, amidst great cheering, by se-
conding the resoluCon, which the Chairman put to the
meeting, who adopted it nem. con.
Mr. GEORGE Thomrsoie next addressed the meeting,
and having, in terms of the most eloquent eulogiune,
described the obligations which the nation was under to
Mr. Cobden and the Anti Corn law league, con-
cluded by proposing an address to her Most Gracious
Majesty, " humbly praying that her Majesty would be
graciously pleased, at the opening of the ensuing ses-
sion, to press upon the attention of both Houses of Par-
liament the indispensable necessity of considering the
effect of protecting taxes upon articles of food, with a
view to their immediate and total repeal."
The Rev. G. Smell seconded the adopiion of the me-
mo:it:ll, which was carried by acclamation.
On the motion of Mr. Bligh, seconded by Mr. Thomp-
son, the Portreeve was requested to sign the memorial
in behalf of the meeting.
The Chairman having left the chair, the best thanks
of the meeting, with three times three cheers, were pre-
sented to him.
Three cheers were given and repeated for the early
and total repeal of the corn-laws ; and the assembly
broke up, after one of the most unanimous and energetic
meetings ever held in Ilfracombe.