The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-10 00:00:00

OF WIGHT MAILS.

COWES, JAN. B.—The Government have it in contem-
plation to have the mail steamer for Cowes leave this
port at half-past three o'clock in the morning, and leave
Cowes for Southampton at nine o'clock in the evening
instead of at five o'clock, as at present. This will be a
great accommodation to the inhabitants of Ventnor, as
they will have their London letters by eight o'clock,
and till nearly seven, P.M., to answer them, which now
must be done before three, P.m. Newport will obtain a
similar accommodation. The inhabitants of Cowes will
only be benefited in the departure of the mail being
four hours later. The mail train does net leavo South-
ampton till two o'clock next morning, and the Isle of
Wight letters are delayed here from half past six in the
evening. till that hour. During the time Sir Robert Peel
had resigned office, it was necessary to send a ro) al mes-
senger from Osborne House to London at seven o'clock
in the evening, but the mail steamers had left at five
o'clock,- and there was not another steamer to be got ;
the Hero pilot-boat was, therefore, hired to take the dis-
patches, but the wind and tide both being down the
river, they could nut get here, but were obliged to go to
Portsmouth. Her Majesty's residence at Cowes may,
therefore, have something to do with the proposed alte-
rations. We hope the extra labour which will fall on
the masters of steamers, and all connected with the con-
veyance of the mails, will not be forgotten, but that an
ample remuneration will be paid them. The time at the
Cowes Pest-office will be doubled, and nearly so at the
others, and should be paid for.

FREE TRADE DEMONSTRATION

AT LANCASTER.
On Monday last a public meeting convened by re-
quisition, was held in the Town-hall, to petition Govern-
ment for the immediate removal of all restrictions on
the importation of foreign grain and provisions. Shortly
after twelve o'clock the spacious edifice was filled almost
to suffocation, the audience comprising persons diame-
trically opposed to each other in general politics, but
unanimous in feeling as regarded the object which had
brought them together. Amongst other gentlemen on
the platform, we noticed T. H. Bateman, Esq., of Halton-
park; John Armstong, Esq., of Acrelands ; T. H. Hig-
gin, Esq., of Greenfield; James Johnson, Esq.,
Bare; Enoch Broster, Esq., of Vale Cottage ; W. Sas-
terthwaite, Esq., of the Greaves ; John Greg, Esq., of
Escow Beck; G. Burrow, W. Jackson, and Thomas
Dewhurst, Esqs.
Ou the motion of Mr. HIGGIN, Mr. Armstrong was
called to the

Mr. T. H. HIGGIN then came forward. Several years
had elapsed since he had the pleasure of addressing his
fellow-townsmen from the place where he then stood on
the subject of a repeal of the corn-laws. At that time it
might be considered in its infancy. But it had gradually
gained strength from year to year, and the determined
opposition which was now everywhere manifested to
these laws, showed the great progress that had been
made on this important; question.—(Hear.)
_The time
had now arrived, in the opinion of every thinking man,
for this question to be settled. It had overthrown one
Government. Another was called in, and declined to
carry it through. The result was, that Sir Robert Peel
was recalled, and it was generally believed that he would
settle this momentous question. From his heart he
hoped that it might be so, and that it would never have
to be mooted again.—(Cheers.) He trusted that the
measure which Sir Robert Peel might bring forward
would be of so large a character as to preclude any
further discussion on the subject. He hoped that it
would be a measure embracing a total, unconditional,
and immediate repeal of the corn-laws.—(Cheers.)
He was satisfied that if it was thus settled in the
coming session of Parliament, the country would be
saved from much of turmoil and distress. Still they
must nut shut their eyes to the fact that the opposi-
tion which they would have to encounter, both in the
House of Lords and the House of Commons, might be so
forrniitable as to necessitate an appeal by Sir Robert
Peel to the country, that the people might have an op-
portunity ci d.-claring what their sentiments really were
on this important question. Such an alternative might
be anticipated.—(llear, hear.) If the measure to be in-
troduced by Sir Robert Peel was not sufficiently com-
prehensive, the Liberal party woud not support it; and
if it were really large and liberal, there was a large party
in the ]louse who would oppose it. It was therefore in-
cumbent on them to look forward to the period when
they would have to exercise the important privilege they
po,sessed as el cturs; and he trusted that 'hey would
then select, as their representatives in Parliament, no
men 1% ho were not prepared and pledged to carry out
those great principles of reform in our commercial legis-
lation which experience had demonstrated to be both
just and necessary.—(Cheers.) He had stated at the
commencement of his remarks that he would not de-
tain them long ; and in fulfilment of that promise he
would resume his seat after reading the resolution which
had been placed in his hands, and which was as fol-
lows :—" That this meeting views with anxiety and
alarm the present condition and future prospects of the
labouring population of this country, arising in a great
measure from the failure of the potato crop and a de-
ficient wheat harvest, entailing upon them greatly en-
hanced prices for every description of agricultural pro-
duce, and as a consequence a great depression in trade
and want of employment."
Mr. W. SATTERTHWAITE felt the greatest pleasure in
seconding the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the meet-
ing, and it was carried by acclamation.
Mr. BATEMAN said it became his duty to read the
following resolution, which had been put into his hands:
—" That it is the opinion of this meeting that petitions be
presented to both Houses of Parliament, praying for a
repeal of the present impolitic and mischievous restric-
tions on the importation of grain, pulse, and provisions,
and that the people of these realms be henceforth allowed
to purchase food wherever the same can be bought, and
to import the same into this country duty free." They
were not met there with any political or party motive ;
yet the question which they had that day assembled
to discuss was of far greater interest in importance
than any question of mere politics could be. He
would ask their rulers what the broad ocean, which
they saw every day, was intended for, if it was not
designed for our ships to take to foreign lands what
might be required there, and to bring back those
provisions of which we stood in need ourselves ?
The ocean was the great highway of Providence. Other
highways, formed by man, were continually getting out
of repair, but this never did, which was plain proof
that it was intended to
,be constantly used.—(Cheers.)
The Israelites, when corn was scarce in their own land,
sent to their brother Joseph in Egypt for it. Now,
they had not a brother Joseph, but they had a brother
Jonathan—(Cheers and laughter)—who would give
them corn in abundance for the products of their skill
and labour.—(Hear, hear.) It had been urged by some
that the opening of the ports, by making corn and pro-
visions cheaper, would lower wages. But facts were
stubborn things ; and they all knew that the contrary
was the case, and that dear food was always followed by
Anothershor t time, want j
ee
tion oft
opolitical interest of par-
best theh
apvcier t was
on Si rt
e
injurious effect such a measure. would
timeto moot poll-
idnglow wages.—(Cheers.)
3h
But was this.a.
wthoerk4aenn
tical question, or to
h he would say, every faction—Whig, Tory,
Peel's Government. But
the
ties? Pens
and Radical—but give the people bread.—(Load
cheers.) lie (Mr. Bateman) would give it as his hum-
ble opinion, before he eat down, that Sir R. Peel would
snake some very great alteration in the corn-laws. But the
(Oily way to sat:sfy the people was to expedite their total
and uncoulitional repeal, lie should not be at all sur-
prised it some attempt were made to abolish the corn-
laws gradually. Indeed, it had been said that Sir Robert
Peel would propose a low fixed duty, decreasing annually,
so that in three or four years it would be entirely abo-
lished, saving a small nominal duty to ascertain the
quantity of foreign grain imported. Nevertheless he
could not think that Sir Robert Peel would dare to do
this. It was a low, peddling way of treating an import-
ant question, unworthy of the great landowners of this
country, and equally unworthy of any Minister who
aspired to the character of an enlightened statesman.—
(Cheers.) The first thing to be done was to insist on a
total and unconditional repeal of the corn-laws ; and
afterwards, if the landlords could make out that they had
any peculiar burdens, he was sure that there was sufficient
justice in the press and the people of this country to give
them such compensation as they were reasonably en-
titled to.—(Loud and protracted cheering.)
Dr. JAMES JOHNSON seconded the motion.
Mr. GREG moved that a petition based on the pre-
vious regulations be adopted.
Mr. Buanow seconded the motion.

Mr. SATTERTHWAITI said there was one part of the
resolution which he did not approve of. He had not
seen it before, but he thought it was only right that
their Members, and the Government, should see that
the petition was signed by the electors, because, if it
went up as proposed, it would be regarded by the House
of Commons as merely the petition of the chairman .
Mr. HIGGIN quite agreed with Mr. Satterthwaite'a
views. This must be the petition of the people. It
must be signed by the people ; and when the meeting
was over, every man who was of sufficient age would boo
called on to sign it. It was not to go forth as the peti-
tion of the chairman.
The CHAIRMAN then put the petition to the meeting;
and its adoption was affirmed unanmimously, every hand
in the densely crowded hall being held up in its favour.
Mr. lIIGGIN proposed three cheers for the success of
the petition in Parliament, and the appeal was enthusi-
astically responded to.
Thanks were voted to the chairman, on the motion of
Mr. Greg, and the meeting then broke up.

Sir Robert Peel acknowledges the receipt of a 51.
note, No. J-B 42,706, from some person unkown, as arrears
armorialof
bearings due
o 0 to theea
ppoul
tla troops by the Emperor
i
0
n
THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS AND BRITISH OFFICERS.
A
at Naples, Sir George Napier, late Governor of the Cape of
Good Hope, was present, attended by a staff of British
officers, including Col. Thomas, Col. Rice Trevor, M.P.,
Captain Cust, Captain Macdonald, Mr. Carmichael, &c. Sir
t the review
George presented Col. Thomas to the Emperor, who received
the Gallant Officer in the kindest and most condescending
manner, playfully remarking that he had one great com-
plaint to make against British officers, and that was, that
they so seldom came to see him. The Emperor added that
he should always be happy to see any of the party at
retersburgh, and the oftener they came the better.