The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-14 00:00:00

Nottingham, Erewash, &c., I%—Nottiugham ;and 130.-Av,
-IN—South Midland, 51 2s.

'YOR, JAN. 13.
&STOCKFALCHANGS.—The K
sales are—Newcastle aid Dar=
lington, Brandiing, 544—York and North Midland Exten-
sion, 393#-Ipswich and Bury, s%—Newcastle and Ber-
wick, 19%—North British, ;New Carlisle Branch, 31 Is.—
Londori and York,
_ 44—Axhohne, 3—Leicester and Bed-
ford, 1/. lls. 3d.—Leicester, I'amworth, Coventry, Birming-
ham; and Trent Valley Junction, 24—Manchester, Buxton,
Matlock, and Midland, 414—North Staffordshire, s%—North
Western, 31. 43.—Welsh Midland, 24—York and Car-
lisle, 27,4.

BRISTOL, .TAN. 13.
STOCK EXCH.% NOK.—The sales were—Bristol and Exe-
ter, New, 81/4—Bristol and South WTales Junction, 3/. Is. 3d.
—Midland, New, 29.

•
EFFECT OF THE REPEAL OF
THE CORN-LAWS UPON THE AGRICUL-
TURAL LABOURER.
TO THE AGRICULTURISTS OF AYRSHIRE.
Gentlemen,—lt appears certain that the present Govern-
ment intend to repeal the corn-laws, and as it is most im-
portant that such a step should not be discussed as a party
question. I, who can have no sympathy in ith the political
principles of Sir Robert Peel, entreat you to give to his pro-
posal a favourable attention, and invite yuu to consider
calmly a few facts bearing upon the most important feature
in this absorbing question. I allude to the employment of
the industrious classes; fir you are aware that many of the
surporters of "protection"' assert, and I have no doubt sin-
cerely believe, that free trade in corn would prevent the re-
clamation of waste land, and thereby diminish the em-
ploytnent of the agricultural labourer. I confess I once
entertained a similar opinion ; but practical experience, for
the last ten years, has forced upon me a very different con-
clusion.
During this period, besides building the mansion-houses of
Comer and Drumlamford, I ihiye erected eight of the best
farm steadings in the parish, attaching to each from two to
five hundred acres ; I have given suitable encouragement to
seven other tenants to erect their own buildings, each of
their. having from forty to one hundred acres. I have built
five bridges, and made nine miles of public road, and can
most truly assert that, with the exception of the cost of the
mansion-house of Corwin. (and building a mansion-house in
the country should always be considered as nearly a loss), I
have been no loser by my improvements. Profit I never
desired ; all I wished was that which I have obtainel, a
healthy and pleasant occupation. Whether my operations
have been of public benefit, I leave to the decision of those
among you who have been for some years acquainted with
the country for the first six miles along the turnpike road
from Barr-hill to Newton Stewart.
But if you take into consideration the fact, that during
this period, besides being engaged in political warfare—stand-
ing four contested electiuns and three election petitions—l
• have suggested and carried one of the most important public
improvements in the metropolis, connecting the Grosvenor
property with the Houses of Parliament, you will imme-
diately perceive how much more profitable my improve-
ments would have been, had they been directed by your
superior practical knowledge, and watched over by your un-
divided attention ; yet, during the last ten years, the price of
corn has been, for the greater portion of the time, at a price
which would leave no profit to a grower either in Europe or
America, after he had paid freight and other incidental
charges.
• It is also said that abolition of the corn-laws would throw
poorer land out of cultivation, and thereby diminish the em-
ployment of agricultural labourers. This I conceive to be
impossible ; for if, with low prices, I can profitably reclaim
waste land, necessarily loaded with the extra cast of build •
tog farm-houses, making roads, &c., and also with consi- •
derably greater expenses in the actual cultivation, how is it
credible that land which is now profitably cultivated would
cease to be so. That rents would be reduced Ido not doubt,
although perhaps not to the extent at present contemplated ;
for both landlords and tenants would soon discover that de-
ficiency in price might, by high farming, be compensated for
by increased quantity, and you all know that high farming
cannot be practised without increasing the employment of
the agricultural labourer. Trusting that these observations
may induce those among you, who have considered that a
free trade in corn will throw the agricultural labourer out of
employment, to reconsider your opinion, I have the honour
to be, Gentlemen, 3 our faithful servant,
__ _

iIIGBY WASON.

ALARMING TIRE.
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO BURN FOUR
HOUSES.
Last night, shortly after nine o'clock, the immediate
vicinity •of Camden-town was thrown into a state of
feverish excitement by the simultaneous outbreak of no
fewer than four separate fires, which there is every
ground to conclude were the work of some vile incon-
diary.
From inquiries instituted on the spot, our reporter
learned that at the time previously stated, three police-
cototables of the S division were going their rounds past
Hawley Fields; Camden-town, when tine of them' (No.
90) had his attention suddenly directed towards the
western corner house of a pile of four newly-erteted
habitations, situate in the fields, by perceiving an un-
usual light therein. • At first the officer imagined that
the light was caused by some,of the workmen drying the
bUilding, but the same increasing in strength; he hastened
across,the fields to examine th 3 place, when he found im-
mensghodies of smoke pouring forth from the roof and
windeivs, which at ,once-satisfied him -that the building
was on fire.. Without delay alarm was raised in the usual
way, and the officer being quickly joined by other con-
stables, an attempt was at once made to extinguish
the flames by pouring buckets of water upon them.
Whilst the constables, however, were passing the three
other houses, they discovered, to their no small amaze-
ment, that the other corner house was also on fire at the
back ; and in the course of a few seconds afterwards
they found out that the remaining two houses were like-
wise in flames. A messenger was, therefore, dispatched
in a cab to the several stations cf fire-brigade, and also
to the West of England office, with intelligence of the
circumstance. In the mean time the police exerted them-
selves most manfully in endeavouring to stop the further
ravages of the flames. Notwithstanding, however, the
fire travelled with such fury as to speedily penetrate
the roof of the house in which the fire was fir: ob-
served. Nothing daunted, thy continued to labour
without any intermission until Mr. Staples, the fel e-
man of the London Brigade, arrived, with several
engines of the establishment ;. and to their exertions
may be attributed the •saving of a deal of property.
The West of England engine, from the Waterloo-
road, with the Company's firemen and Mr. Con-
norton, were taken to the scene with all possible expe-
dition. The firemen, upon arriving, had to encounter
great difficulties to get an engine near the burning
houses. They having plenty of fire-buckets at hand, a
fernied by the men, and, by passing the water
frailjtfriluetimros vast stream was dhcharged at the
buildingolwlickhadeithe desired effect of getting the
flames extingliished ;`,that, however, was not accom-
plished until the .fire had travelled throughout the first-
named house, and severely burnt the remaining three,
more especially the staircases and parlour floorings.
From the fact of the four houses being on fire at the
same time, not the least doubt remains that the fire was
wilfully caused, but by whom is at present wrapped in
mystery. The firemen, upon examining the premises
after the fire was got out, found that the flames could
pot by any possibility have travelled from one house to
the other without the aid of some one. They also found
that the fire had commenced in every place about the
Staircase. The houses are said to be the property of Mr.
Marshall, of llentwick-place, and it is atpresent unknown
whether or not they are insured.

ROYAL HUMANE SOClETY.—Yesterday, at two
o'clock, the half-yearly general court of the Royal Humane
Society, of which her Majesty is the patroness, was held in
sadur a r3fi' five vvohoenetr: sr
the board-room of the society's offices, No. 3, Trafalgar-
square, to receive the last half-year's report. Mr. B. B.
Cabbell presided. Mr. Charlwood, the secretary, read the
report, which showed that there had been received in dona-
tions, subscriptions, &c., 2,346/, 2s. Id., and that, after paving_
all expenses,_ there was a balance in hand of 143/.:175. From
June 1 to Oct. 17, 457,173 persons had bathed in the Ser-
pentine,
exertions
ewr
tl
ii
oi which noufmt bh eer
society's 27w otd
Inheanv.efl theiroere
hlllai6(vi
which
dwel
cases,
rasltoempte suicide, an
during the year altogether
ThwellB"th2e distribution of rewards,
tahlsanhhaad.oobeen l
lubmes,t oallovded; 17 bronze
tentr treated
foundted s uheeeyesesnfdu I lrye.c 0
vTerhye.re
raMoi7:larj.eslt?,r'aslpsholiep, Cwolilliilnepa-otosd,piftoirieasazinhyg
102 rewards
The following received the silver medal :—Mr.
Aigkii nlhnsmee Ddphinlai:inoirnws'egn:euymfLat-eitireeboard after him ; Le Capitaine Lefour who
e Williamcoastof
seamanwhile
off
t h;
gaepleidfeo ffo f hisan vessel English
Normandy,Chapman,
save
corporal
joafmthees BHstoltsrgitannednthat Kingstown, who savd the lives of
ippolita, a man of colour, who were
upset in a canoe off Fort Charlotte, Cape St. Vincent—(the
Legislature of the island thought so highly of the heroism of
the act that they voted the sum of 201. to be paid to him for his
gallant conduct ; the testimonials and decree of the Legisla-
ture were presented to the society by Lieutenant-Colonel
F. Mansell, of the regiment) ; George Matthews, aged
fifteen years, for saving the life of a sailor who fell over the
stern of the Princess Royal steamer ; Mr. Bernard, for
saving the lives of two brothers who were bathing in the
River Colne, Essex; Mr. P. Dancourt, for saving John
Scanlan, by taking him out of the River Lea at Cork; and
W. Toat, of the Russian corvette Princess of Warsaw, for a
like act

OFFENCES IN THE PARKS.—Tuesday the monthly
printed lists of offenders, for the month of December, in
Hyde, the Green, and St. James's parks, were exhibited by
order of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests at the en-
trance gates into the respective parks. The lists mentioned
but three offenders : one for cutting the scats, fined 10s. ;
and two others for indecent conduct in Hyde-park, each
sentenced to three months' hard labour in the House of Cor-
rection. From January up to December, in last year, there r.
have been 30 individuals apprehended for indecent conduct in
Hyde, the Green, and St. James's parks. It is a singular
circumstance that in the Eegent's-park not any offences are
committed.

It was stated by several of our Contemporaries
last week, that there would be a chapter of the Order of the
Garter on Monday last at Windsor Castle. We understand
there was not the slightest foundation for the report, neither
is any day appointed for a chapter of that illustrious order.
'We are authorised to give the most express contra-
diction to the statement put forth at the late vestry meeting
at Windsor, that the late King George 111. and his succes-
sors uniformly paid rates for the Flemish Farm, such being
directly contrary to the facts. It is true that when this farm
was let to a tenant the rates were paid in the usual coluirm
but since the tenant quitted possession.
uniformly been in the hands of the Crowinn, and
ever since been paid. We have every reason to
disclaiming the
when the memorial agreed to at the
. vestry, 1840,
is tas Royal Highness's
hsob as neeeo. rates_i
ge uvTee
question
thatint aio
legal liability, has been presented, it _
m equivalent
'l°l
'uf ihtvheael peCnrte tm: nithuciaennranntonels;gold at Paris
touching;
tthoeppaise,roagsau
PnicE or GOLD.
per mine, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s.
ilsOld2. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25
45, and the exchange
at Paris on London at short being
25 57k, it follows that gold is 0.49 per cent. dearer in London
than in Paris. By advices from namburgh the price of
gold is 434 per mark, which, at the English Dlint price of 3/.
17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of
13 9i ; and the exchange at Hamburgh on Loudon at short
being 13 11, it folows that gold is 0.68 per cent. dearer
in London than in Hamburgh.
A rumour prevailed last night that Lord Gran-
ville Somerset was about to retire from the Cabinet. This
step is attributed to his Lordship's dissatisfaction with the
contemplated measure of Sir Robert Peel upon the corn-
laws, which was communicated to the Cabinet on Monday.
--Chronicle.