The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-28 00:00:00

OPENING THE PORTS.
(From the Times)
the agitation which is beginning to be raised for the
purpose of opening the ports makes us revert to a, ques-
tion which we lately put, viz.—ls the maintenance of the
present duty worth supporting strongly, or resisting
strenuously ? The question is a very simple one. It
requires no profoued calculations, no remote abstrac-
tions. But a small degree of patient reflection and sober
thought is required to measure the evil—ruch as it may
be—of the present system,. and the benefit—such as it
might be—attendant on its destruction. The data on
which we ought to proceed are tolerably familiar to all,
being furnished by the dealers in that important article
which it is proposed to render more plentiful and cheap.
The phenomena which the corn trade has during this
autumn exhibited are indeed peculiar and rare. We
entered on September with a redundant harvest of wheat,
and a prospective decline of prices. Everybody thought
that the fatal time was coming when wheat was to bo
sold for 38s. a quarter ; and almost everybody acted
on that supposition. But while there was plenty
iu England there was dearth abroad ; and the
foreigner had a stronger intimation of the com-
ing peril, which escaped the sagacity of the English
merchant. The Belgian and the Hollander, and the
Frenchman, all laid in stores to supply the deficiency
of their own grain harvest. But neither Belgian nor
Frenchman seems, any more than the Englishman, to
have anticipated the effect upon the grain market which
the potato blight must produce. The former were, how-
ever, more wary than the latter ; though, perhaps, nei-
ther took precaution enough. For the slight enhance-
ment of price even at that time offered by the Continental
market, the English speculator bartered the rich gains
which time and patience would have permitted him to
reap in the markets of his own country. Since that
penod—barely two months ago—prices have been gra-
dually and incessantly rising—from 48s. to 50s.—from
50s. to 51s.— from 51s. to 53s.—from 535. to 54s.—until
they have reached 60r. the quarter. This merely in-
dicates the average price. Particular kinds of wheat
are now selling at 70s. This great rise has been
effected in the face of a law which, it was prophe-
sied, would- pull down the remuneration of the agri-
culturist to starvation point. As an illustration of
the workings of tract* it is invaluable alike to the
opponents and the friends of protection—to confirm the
creed of the former no less than console the hopes of
the latter. But how does it affect the question of open-
ing the ports? Only in one way, as we conceive. If it
could be shown that duties were so high as either to en-
hance considerably the price of food to the consumer, or
so variable and uncertain as to deter the speculator, then
it might be demanded with undeniable justice that the
duties should be annulled. It would be a just, a proper,
and a humane policy to listen to such a demand; as
otherwise it would be impossible to feed the people. But
is this the case now? Is it likely to be the case soon?
Is it probable that the facility of procuring food will be
affected considerably, or even at all, by opening or not
opening the ports? In arguing this matter it must be
borne in mind that our policy has changed, and
that the change has got rid of one enormous evil—
uncertainty. It was the uncertainty of trade, added
to the uncertainty of production, which constituted
the peculiar vice of the old corn-law. When a
strong west wind blowing at one season, or a violent east
wind at another, would raise or depress duties beyond
calculation, men shrank from the penal patriotism of
buying food at the risk of bankruptcy. But at present
there is nothing of this sort to be dreaded. The duty
has reached its nadir, but prices have not reached their
zenith. The one will continue stationary, the latter will
continue to ascend for some weeks perhaps. But their
limit, although not definitively known, may be approxi-
mately conjectured. All the corn that can be supplied
either from America or Odessa—at any rate, by far the
greatest portion of it—must be supplied before the end
of January. This is a known quantity. It may range
freva 3.000,000 to 5,000,000 quarters ; those who are
engaged in the trade say that it cannot exceed that
amount. And there is very little doubt of that amount
being entered without any alteration in the scale of
duty, as prises will at the distance of some weeks
hare only to retrace the space they had previously
traversed. The case is shortly this, according to
Mark-lane authority : —prices may continue to rise
from 60s. to 70s. for some time, and afterward
fall from 703. to 60s. This osculation must occupy a
moderate period—probably two or three months—within
which alone almost all the imports we can expect to re-
ceive can be tended on our shores, and during which the
duty must remain constant. Now, is it worth while to
abrogate this duty under such circumstances? Cui
bona ? Whom would it benefit? The consumer? How ?
The extent of his prospective wants is nearly ascertained.
The supply is also—as far as human abilities and know-
ledge go—known to be thoroughly sufficient. We speak
of consum.rs of wheat. These have no dearth, either
present or prospective, to complain or. And fur the
Irishman, he has no restrictive duty to complaia of. The
food which he consumes is liable to no duty at all; it
has indeed for a short time teen raised above its usual
price, not so much by an acknowledged competition in
buying as by a want of preparation in trans•nitting
it. The eisptech of a low more ships to and from
America will, we hope, abate the pressure of price which
has excited so much discontent and dismay; but, as for
opening the ports, how would that benefit the Irish con-
sumer? Let all the wheat new wafted to \Vestern
Europe be con,iened to Irish dealers free of ail duty;
let large marts Pie held all over Ireland; what *villa he
the intritablo consequence? Why this—that within
ten days after the promu!gation of such a license wheat

would, by the simple action of trade, be jostled up to a
price at least one-third, perhaps two-thirds, above the
ability of the Irish to perehase. So that at last it
would find its natural course into the English markets
at a price much higher than that at vt ',jell it may nuw
he introduced at a duty of 43. To the IriAnan, there-

lore, Ole boon wool.:1- b.') an idle mockery : it ma

tors little to him w bother heftt comcs te. a duty

.4' 43., 83., or nothing at all. While the Englishmar;',
knowing—as far as may be known—the wants of the

future, knows also hots those wants may be satisfied.
Whether the duty of 4s. continue or no, he is easy
us to the next nine months. Duty or no duty, the corn
will corned!). No artificial uncertainty, no lrgislative
doubt 1161 V clogs its transit, and impedes its sale, And
as for the duty, there are few people, we suppose, :rho
think much tOunt paying a shilling cx*ra on a three
months' consumption. And this is all they now are
paying in the stu.pe of tax. Again, as for the speculator,
why should we give him the advantage (and it would he
to him alone an advantage) of a remission of duty ? lle
has already once this autumn turned the markets of con-
tinental Europe to a good account. Why should he
have the tide always at the flow ? If it were a matter
of imminent peril—if there were a moral certainty diet
the crops of the world were so scant that for the neat
nine months every man, woman, and child throughout
England would be put on short fare—we would say at
once, " Abrogate the duty." But, according to every
authority in the trade, this is not so. Merchants,
dt'alers, and captains of vessels say, that from the far
east and the west there will come food amply sufficient
to supply the wants of all ; and there are thos9
who add, that, come what mly to the continent, England
will not suffer for want of corn. Then it does he,2oma
a question worthy of rell.ction, whether it is r4,ht to
" g t up a cry " for the abr,,gation of a duty w:lich does
not press upon the English consumer,.and in no way
affects the Irish starveling'. But it is even a more mo-
mentous and serious question—which no conscientious
man can with rapid levity slur over or slight—how far,
in obedience to a cry, and in alarm at a new agitation, it
is just, manly, and statesmanlike, to bring Governments
into contempt and legislation into ridicule, and to impair
the revenue of the country, by the violation of a contract
solemnly made between two great parties, and sanctioned
by the whole empire. This, at all events, we know—of
all people in the world, the Whigs have the roost to lose
by the neglect, and the most to gain by the observance,
of their public engagements.

SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF A COMMISSION AGENT.—
Yesterday evening' an inquest was held before Mr.
Mills, at the Swan Inn, Fulham, to inquire into the cir-
cumstances of the death of Henry Benjamin Barker,
aged sixty-four years, late a commission agent in the
ironmongery trade, who is supposed to have committed
suicide by walking into the Thames from the meadows
belonging to the Bishop of London. It appeured, that
on Sunday morning last, at about half-past six, deceased
was going to cross Putney-bridge from the Middlesex-
aide, but not being able to pay the toll. he was turned
back, and it was supposed that he must have gone di-
rectly through the Bishop's meadows into the water, as
his body was discovered floating through Putney-bridge
about an hour afterwards, and was picked up by a water-
man, quite dead. He was identified in consequence of
certain articles which were found in his pockets. He
was a native of Wolverhampton, and represented several
houses in the iron trade in that town. lie came to
London on the 9th of September last, and not being able
to obtain orders, he was very much distressed, which
probably was the cause of his committing the decd. As
there was no proof before the jury that deceased went
into the water voluntarily, the jury returned a verdict of
"Found drowned."

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SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF VALUABLE PROPERTY
IN THE ROYAL ARSENAL.--A few days since, as a gang
ofconvicts belonging to the convict hulk were employed
in log,ding sand in the Practice Range of the Royal
Arsenal, near the " Butt," they discovered concealed in
the reeds close to the river a strong oak box. which was
found to contain articles of jewellery, wearing apparel,
old coins, spices, and a variety of other articles, but no
document that could lead to a discovery of the owner of
the property. It appears that instead of communicating
the circumstances to the police, one of the keepers,
named Gregory, removed the box to his own house, and
opened it, for the purpose, as he alleges, of ascertaining
what were its contents. The matter, however, reached
the ears of the police of the Royal Arsenal, and the
result was an inquiry, when the box was handed over to
tli:vgector. A report of the facts was subsequently
fo ed to the Secretary of State, and on the follow-
ing day Gregory resigned his situation. The box re-
mains in the possession of the police, but hitherto it has
not been claimed. It is supposed to
be the fruit of some
robbery, and to have been placed in the reeds for the
purpose of concealment
REWARD or COURAGE. The authorities at the
Foreign-office will shortly p gold medal to Capt.
Banton, of the United Staiesresesil a
knowledgment for the bravery ainpdEheuPnitt "whaienh ac-
displayed in saving the crew of the b • :d.natline
of Halifax, some time sinco. TherMC
piece of workmanship, from the design of Isla very
neat
larger than a crown coin. The obverse haarao'reapYeisnaenni:
tation of her Majesty with an ornamental c
the reverse the inscription—" From the British
went to Captain Bunton, of the United States" srio.
Euphasia, for saving the crew of the brigantine
of Halifax, 1845." The latter is surmountedjby the re-
presentation of a crown, and neatly finished by an oaken
wreath.

Earl Grey arrived in town on Monday evening from
biz seat Howick Hall, Northumberland.