The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-17 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE PORTS.

A meeting of the Directors of the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce and Manufactures was held on Wednes •
day, when the following memorial for the opening of the
ports was unanimously agreed to, and dispatched to Lord
John Russell:—
"TO TILE RIGHT HON. THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF

HER MAJESTY'S TREASURY.

"The Memorial of the Directors of the Chamber o!
Commerce and Manufactures at Manchester

" Showeth,—That your memorialists feel deep appre-
hensions at the prospects which threaten this district.
Whilst the prices of raw materials have been advancing,
the profits of trade have been diminishing, and important
branches of our manufactures are now prosecuted under
heavy losses. The depressing policy of our own country
up to the last session of Parliament had long tended to
fritter away our intercourse with several of our best cus-
tomers, and the short interval which bas elapsed since
the change has not yet permitted us, to resume the con-
nexions which ,we once enjoyed; the price of food at
home almost precludes hope that our people will have
the means of purchasing clothing; stocks of manufac-
tures are accumulating, and there are strong grounds for
fearing that before winter shall have passed the demand
for labour will be greatly lessened. Your memorialists
feel that any reference by them to your Lordships re-
opecting the present and expected stock of food on which
the labourer has to rely until fresh crops be available, is
not necessary; they content themselves with stating,
shortly, that at the present moment, besides a great en-
hancement in the prices of meat and bacon in this town,
bread has been advanced fully one- third, whilst oatmeal
is selling at twofold, and potatoes at threefold their usual
price, and that they look forward with dread to the con-
dition in which the people will inevitably be found in the
spring of next year.
" That deeply grateful for the measures of relief
passed in the last session of Parliament, your memo-
rialists hoped to pass through the period of transition,
and on the terms which the Legislature decreed, not
only without despondency, but with a sustaining confi-
dence. The dispensations of Divine Providence have,
however, interposed, and, in the opinion of your memo-
rialists, have thrown upon the Government further awful
responsibilities. Extreme scarcity of food is inevitable ;
if labour fail, that scarcity will become famine. Prayers
are directed to be offered up in our churches to have
those evils averted, and yet one of crur laws enacts, that
whatever may be the price of wheat, the smallest duty
to be paid upon the import of it shall be 4s. per quarter;
another law decrees that food brought into the country
by certain vessels shall not be eaten at all by our people;
whilst a third declares that nothing shall be used in our
distilleries but that which would servo as food. Your
memorialists implore your Lordships to take instant
steps to remove these conflicting and cruel anomalies in
such manner as the wisdom of your Lordships may sug-
gest. They believe that, to mitigate impending cala-
mities, nothing less will be sufficient than to admit into
our ports every species of food necessary for daily sub-
sistence free of duty ; to permit it to be brought indis-
criminately from every country by the vessels of any
nation or flag ; and to allow in our distilleries and
breweries the use of sugar and molasses, without refer-
ence to the vessels which have already brought or may
hereafter bring them to us. To this extent they humbly
pray the immediate interference of your Lordships,
believing that such a course will be approved by Par-
liament, and applauded by the nation.—And, as in duty
bound," &c. _

A Meeting of the corporation of Manchester is about
also to be held, for the purpose of memorialising the
Lords of the Treasury for the immediate opening of
the ports.

In the great cigar factory at Manilla, ten thou-
sand girls are employed, all indians of the country, or
Malays.
SUICIDE OT A BARRISTER.—Late on 'Wednesday
evening Mr. Mills held an inquest on the body of
William Walker Jordan, Esq., aged 43, barrister. The
inquiry took place at the deceased's residence, No. 15,
Gloucester-road, Regent's-park. It appeared by the evi-
dence of several witnesses that for some time past de-
ceased had laboured under great depression of spirits,
and entertained a fear, which it appears was unfounded,
that his pecuniary affairs R ere becoming embarrassed.
On Tuesday morning he rose at his usual hour, au'
went to his dressing. room, where shortly afterwards the
report of fire-arms was heard. Mrs. Jordan and the
servants went to the room, and found deceased 15 ing on
his back, having discharged a large horse pistol into his
chest. Dr. Jones, a neighbouring surgeon, was imme-
diately called in, and pronounced life extinct. Verdict,
" That deceased destroyed himself, being at the time of
unsound mind."
BEQUEST TO THE BOTANIC GARDENS AT KEW.—
The Rev. John Clowes, of Broughton Ball, Manchester,
had in his possession a most valuable collection of orchi
daceous plants, which he has by his will bequeathed to
the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, where arrangements
are now being made for their reception.