The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-07 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, the
produce of the British possessions in America, computed
from the returns made in the week ending :Feb. 3, 1846, is
Us. ad. per cwt.

THE CORN QUESTION.

(From M. Faucher's Studies of English Life.)
Having glanced at the history of the corn-laws, he
says :—" When we have studied with attention the argu-
ments of the two parties in this debate, we remain con-
vinced that if the landed proprietors wished seriously to
devote time and capital to the amelioration of their
estates, they would have no need of the precarious as-
sistance of laws to preserve or augment their income
The noblemen best versed in agriculture, Lords
Spencer, Ducie, Fitzwilliam, and Radnor, hold on this
point the same language as Cobden, Ashworth, or Vil-
liers. But the question presents a political element of
which we must not lose sight, and which tends to compli-
cate the solution. The landed proprietors wish to have
high rents, but they are at least equally anxious to have
their farbiers so dependent on them as to fin Them
willing instruments at the time of an election. Rich
and skilful farmers would not suit them ; for these,
before investing large capitals in the cultivation of-the-
soil, would demand leases as a security ; but farmers
who had thus placed themselves beyond the reach of any
abuse of power would be ''ound independent erectors.
Farmers who consent to till the ground without a lease
cannot expect to realise much profit; it is, therefore,
necessary to offer them the illusions of a pro-
tective system. Thus the maintenance of the corn-
laws is not for the aristocracy so much a question of
motTcy as of political influence, and hence arises the
difficulty of obtaining any concession." We shall now
extract the conclusion of this chapter. because it states
the causes which render the doom of the corn-!aws ine-
vitable, even if the harvest had proved favourable, and
potatoes had escaped the murrain :—" The condemna-
tion of the corn laws is written in every page of com-
mercial legislation. The more they are discussed, the
more apparent does the weakness of their supporters
become. The mediating party which proposed a fixed
duty as a compromise has disappeared, and the Govern-
ment refuses to pledge itself to the maintenance of the
ast modification of protection which it accorded."

AMERICAN OPINION UPON SIR R.
PEEL'S MEASURES.
(From the New York Herald.)
THE NEWS FROM ENGLAND—THE REPEAL OF THE
CORN-LAWS. The accounts we have received from
Great Britain, by,the recent arrivals, have been of a very
important nature. Notwithstanding the very contradic-
tory manner in which they come, there is sufficient to
establish the fact that great changes are about being
made in the commercial policy of England.
There was very little unanimity among the different
individuals composing the Ministry of Great Bri-
tain, and it was probable that a change of some
importance would be made, before any movement in
relation to the corn-laws was made, or before the
meeting of Parliament. From all we can gather from
the conflicting statements put forth by the organs of the
different parties in England, we cannot resist the con-
clusion that the corn-law question will be settled by the
Parliament now in session; that the present corn-laws
will be repealed, and a moderate fixed duty upon foreign
grains established. The lower House of the British
Parliament will dispose of the matter without much
trouble, but the fate of any Bill reducing the duty upon
foreign grain in the House of Lords is a more sderiuou
affair, and will be involved in much doub.
tion t. an
of n
The opposi the
certainty until the last moment.
.ninthealmlinthdes
withoutof his support
in repeal
sifficult matter to get
CDaubkienetofmeeWtienlglisn,gtcornestetod
gtrheeatmanett);
juetrye.i
is utterly out of
thethe friendsupper olfitetw;eelirebtphee
the
a,
the question.
it through that body, even with his support ; but,
without it, there is no chance. This is admitted by all.
A repeal of the corn-laws of England, and the adop-
tion of a low fixed duty on foreign grain, will lead to a
complete revolution in the commercial systems of this
and other nations. We learn that our Minister in Lon-
don is engaged in negotiations in relation to this matter,
and we are prepared to receive at any time the announce-
ment that a treaty between the United States and Great
Britain has been concluded, entirely of a commercial
character,
opening the ports of each for the proaluota
and manufactures of the other upon more liberal and
advantageous terms than any yet proposed. The
closer these two nations can be brought to each other
in the pursuits of commerce, the danger of any
rupture becomes reduced, and the greater the in-
terest each has in maintaining peaceful relations.
The Conservative, or middle party, in the Senate, has
this in view ; and as they hold the balance of power,
they will, without doubt, accomplish their object. The
course Mr. Calhoun is pursuing has this end in view,
and he will make every honourable sacrifice to bring
about such a desirable result. With him an adjustment
of the Oregon question is an affair of time, and a
secondary consideration, compared with a modification of
our tariff, and a thorough change in our commercial
system. He takes a more extended view of the questions
at issue ; knowing that, if we can give Great Britain
greater advantages, in a commercial point of view, than
she now enjoys, the settlement of other matters, now
looked upon as very difficult, will become very easy, as
the iefluence on both sides of the Atlantic in favour of
peace will be very much strengthened, and many of the
differences now existing will become very much softened.
The policy of Mr. Calhoun will undoubtedly prevail, so
far as the movements of our Government are concerned;
and while it will tend to preserve our peaceful relations
with Great Britain, it will secure to us commercial
vantages greater and more valuable than we have ever
yet enjoyed.

,„,1,---„,w a party of
A Ntrvv IRON STEAMER.—On 1--uf-___ Blackvridl tO
gentlemen made an experimental trami.r.A
i, called "Le Che-
Sheerness in a beautiful new iron
the
Ditchburn and Mare for
iv Messrs. Maudesley, and are of
gines have been supplied
-The distance between the two
Government. The en-
min de fer Beige," which
the finest constructr
to the
4„, i 5. AL IV ,
Charg p_nioureettltire
stwecorehtaoruyrs. The
Legation;;Belian
Paintséd'a.sAr-ual'irein'j'iottr Lahure, and Lieutenant Quiette. were
IL Delopierre,,,x J
d pressed themselves highly pleased with the
bas dust bi een built by Messrs.
en board,, ndanaccommodation of the vessel. The " Chemin de
fsepre el3"e 1 age" is intended to run as a mail-packet between Ostend
and Dover.
A YOUNG MAN KILLID BY HIS UNCLE.—On Thurs-
day last, a lad named Robson was killed by his uncle, named
Routledge, at Swaliwell, near this town, where 'both parties
resided. The deceased, it appears, was abusing his mother,
when the uncle, the mother's brother, came into the house.
and interfered, and, after some quarrelling, the uncle struck
his nephew suddenly on the jugular vein, when the latter
fell down and expired almost immediately. An alarm wae
given, and information having been given to the police,
idoutleg• was immediately apprehended. An inquest wah
held on the deceased, on Monday, and a verdict of "Man--
slaughter" returned against Zoutledge, who 4, as been own--
mitted to take his trial.—Tyne 43Iercury.