The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-07 00:00:00

KENSINGTON.

A meeting of the friends of free trade and advocates
of the speedy abolition of the corn-laws was held on
Monday night, at the Theatre, Kensington.
W. I). CHRISTIE, Esq., M.P., was unanimously called
to the chair. The Hon. Member opened the business
of the meeting by congratulating the country on the
great and rapid progress which the League and friends of
free trade were making against the corn.•laws. The
League, he said, was at a premium, great and little con-
nexions coming over and adding to its numbers every
day. He rejoiced that such was the case, and was proud
to say he had himself always voted for free trade, and
co-operated with the Anti-Corn-law League for that
object. The meeting which he then had the honour of
presiding over was convened for a practical object. Men's
minds were now made up about the corn-laws, and they
were met for the purpose of uniting with the great
body of the country to get rid of them.--(gear.) The
League and the friends of free trade were engaged in
the active process of making votes that, at the next elec-
tion, would be given against candidates that would avow
their determination to uphold the corn-laws, and for can-
didates that would repeal those laws. There were some
people, interested people, who called this " unconstitu-
tional," and said " they did not like it, yet would not
go against it." Now this reminded him of the mysterious
way of saying—
" I do not like you, Doctor Fell,"
The reason why I cannot tell."

—(Laughter.) But even if were unconstitutional, it
would only be fighting the monopolists with their own
weapons. Was it constitutional to bribe—to intimidate—
to make gagged votes—to have Peers interfering in
elections? And it was by these means that the present
monopolists were forced into the House of Commons.
The League were developing the Constitution by ad-
dressing their attention to the augmentation of the forty-
shilling freehold franchise. By this franchise those who
could not get votes in boroughs on account of the high
rate of the qualification there, might revenge themselves
on the counties. The landlords have tried to
have it all their own way in the counties
by their fifty-pound tenant-at-will clause, which
they contrived to carry ; but the people might do
retribution upon them by means of the forty-shilling
freehold franchise ; and it would be a fine thing to see
" great Dukes" and " Graces', beaten in their own strong-
holds—the counties. The extension of the franchise was a
great means for the diffusion of education; besides which
it would prove the best safeguard of the public rights,
and the best security for good government. Every man
who paid 301. or 401. or 501. for a freehold, that would
give him 40s. a-year and a vote, had thenceforth always
an interest in political questions, and would study these,
and make his children also stay), them. There was an
g, that the
impression, he was glad to inform the meetin

county of Middlesex was safe to return free-traders ;
and if so, it might be advisable for those who had votes
for that county, and who were favourable to free trade,
to turn their attention to other counties not so secure, as.
for instance, Sussex, Kent, Herefordshire, &c., turning
their special attention to the Duke of Richmond's county,
and that also of the Duke of Buckingham ; and should
this last Noble Duke object to that course of proceeding,
he (Mr. Christie) would say that they had as much a
right to visit the Noble Duke's county as his Grace had
to the franchise in Aberdeenshire, in Banffshire, and
other counties not his own. Before he (Mr. Christie)
made way for Mr. Moore to address the meeting,
he would say one word on the corn• laws. A Noble Lord
who had been opposed to the League, and who stood high
in the estimation of his party—he meant Lord Ashley—
had said some months ago that " the corn-laws were
doomed ;" and no man in his senses, he (Mr.
Christie) would say, could doubt for a moment that those
laws were doomed and must go; whether their death be
by a slow or quickprocess, go they must, for doomed they
were. They were within a few days of the meeting of
Parliament, and scme were anxious to know what was to
be done; but the corn-laws, he repeated, were doomed.
The Mini,ter might still keep the people in the dark; but
there could be no doubt whatever—there could be no dif-
ference of opinion—the corn-laws must go. The mono-
polists were holding their meetings in the agricultural
counties, but they were to little purpose, go the corn-
laws must.—(Hear, hear.)
_ _ _ _

Mr. MOORE, on ri,ing, was received with applause.
The Learned Gentleman sprke at considerable length,
and in an energetic speech, which was listened to
throughout with attention, urged those members of the
meeting who were not in possession of the forty-shilling
franchise qualification to follow their Chairman's advice
and lose no time in a struggle to obtain it, telling the m
at the same time that they would obtain all information
on the subject at the office of the League.
Mr. HEN SON moved a resolution to the effect "That
the meeting pledged itself not to vote for any man who
would not pledge himself to vote for the total and uncon-
ditional repeal of the corn-laws."
Mr. LOCKHART, a gentleman of Buckinghamshire,
seconded the resolution.

Mr. LovErr, before the resolution was put, expressed
his astonishment that Kensington, Hammersmith, Ful-
ham, and Notting-hill, with their populations, amounting
to 50,000, should have been left without a representa-
tive under the Reform Bill, while boroughs with only
2,000 of a population had two members given to them by
that Bill.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously
after which, thanks having been voted to the chair, the
meeting separated.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.

OPINIONS OF THE SOLICITOR AND ATTOR-
NEY-GENERAL ON THE SUBJECT OF THE
ILLEGAL ATTESTATIONS.

The authorities of the War-office having had certain
facts relative to the claims of several men belonging to
the Royal Artillery to he discharged, on the ground of
having been illegally attested, transmitted to them by
the Master-General of the Ordnance, have submitted
these facts to the law officers of the Crown, the Attorney
and Solicitor-General, for their opinions thereon. The
decision of the law officers, which is one of great impor-
tance to the army, involving, as it does, the claims of a
great many soldiers, has just been received.
To understand these opinions it is necessary to state
that the claims for discharge were of two kinds, both
based on the 36th clauses of the Mutiny Act. The first
was that the attestations were illegal, on the ground of
the men having been sworn in before Sir John Webb
and other officers holding her Majesty's commission ;
the second, that the men had, contrary to the provisions
of the Mutiny Act, been sworn in before a magistrate
not residing within the vicinity of the place in which
they were enlisted.
The questions submitted to the law officers of the
Crown were four in number, and their substance, with
that of the opinions, i 3 as follows :

First. Wliether such officers as Sir John Webb,
K.C.H., the Director General of the Ordnance Medical
Department, Dr. Watson and the Rev. Messiter,
the Ordnance Chaplains, and Mr. Stace, the Ordnance
Storekeeper, were to be considered as holding commis-
sions within the spirit of the 36th section of the Mutiny
Act? After mature deliberation, the law officers are
of opinion that these gentlemen are not officers accord-
ing to the spirit and meaning of the Act, so as to prevent
them from attesting recruits in the usual manner.
Second. Whether a recruit enlisted in one vicinity or
district and attested in another, is legally attested? The
answer is, that such attestation is not valid if the recruit
be enlisted in one oounty and attested in another, but
there is considerable doubt as to what is to be considered
as a vicinity, which would be far more extensive, in the
country than in the metropolitan districts.
Third. Whether, supposing the before-mentioned
gentlemen held commissions in the army within the
meaning of the 36th section of the Mutiny Act, the at-
testations would be illegal? Answer, undoubtedly they
would, and the men would be entitled to their discharge.
Fourth. Whether the me❑ who have been Enlisted by
soldiers who may have been illegally attested, have been
enlisted in a valid manner? The answer—Yes, the
party enlisting being at the time in her Majesty's ser-
vice, and in the receipt of full pay.
A supplemental answer is given, based upon the terms
in which the commissions of these gentlemen are worded.
In the first instance, the Crown law officers had not seen
the commissions, but copies having been transmitted to
them, they express their previously formed opinion that
they do not in the least alter their opinion. The law
officers, however, though feeling no doubt whatever as to
the legality of the attestations made before Sir John
Webb, yet perceiving that it may lead to doubts and ob-
jections, recommend that recruits be not in future attested
by that magistrate.

ROYAL ORDNANCE CORPS.
THE ILLEGAL ATTESTATIONS.
In consequence of the doubts which have last arisen
as to the present mode of attesting recruits for the army
and more particularly for the Royal Artillery and Royal
Engineer Corps, the Secretary -at-War has caused the
following letter to be addressed to Mr. Henry Jeremy,
the presiding magistrate of the Woolwich Police-court.
" War-office, Dec. 12, 1845.
" Sir,—The Master-General of the Ordnance has
transmitted to the Secretary-at-War copies of represen-
tations from the Deputy-Adjutant-General of Artillery
at Woolwich ; and I am accordingly to request your
attention to the words of the COth clause of the Mutiny
Act, viz. :
" "fhe said justice shall put to him the several ques-
tions contained in the schedule to this Act annexed, and
shall then and there, in the presence of the said recruit,
record or cause to be recorded in writing his answers
thereunto, and the said justice is hereby required forth-
with to read over, or cause his clerk, in his presence, to
read over such to the recruit, the Ist and 2d sections of
the articles of war.'
" It is of essential importance that there should be no
room left for doubting the legality of the attestation of a
recruit; and I am accordingly to request that you will
instruct the officers of the Court over which you preside,
that the provisions of the Mutiny Act should in every
instance be strictly complied with.
" The obvious meaning of the clause is, that the
justice shall put the questions to the recruit, and shall,
in the presence of the recruit, record, or cause to be re-
corded, in writing, then and there, that is at the time and
in the presence of the justice, his answers thereto.
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed) "L. SULLIVAN."
In reply to these objections, Mr. Jeremy has decided
that it is not necessary for him, either personally or by
his official clerk, to comply with the provisions of the
Mutiny Act before recited. The swearing in of the
numerous recruits at the Woolwich Police-court is,
therefore, performed by Mr. Sherwin, the Usher of the
Court, in the presence of the magistrate, and the an-
swers in writing to the printed questions are required
to be filled up by the non-commissioned officer, by whom
the recruit is accompanied, the only part performed by
the magistrate being to affix his name to the attestation
papers.

Viscount Melbourne, accompanied by Lord and
Lady Beauvale, returned to Brocket-hall on Monday, from a
visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle.
LORD JOHN ROSSELL..—It will be remembered
that the late sudden call of Lord John Russell to Lon-
don prevented him from visiting Glasgow to receive the
freedom of the city, according to previous arrangement.
The course of events having enabled him to return to
Scotland, we understand that he has again agreed to ac-
cept the compliment intended him by the corporation,
and that the presentation will take place in the City
Hall on Monday week, the 12th instant. His Lordship,
we believe, has expressed his unwillingness to attend
any public dinner on the occasion ; but it is expected
that after the proceedings in the City Hall he will join
the Lord Provost and some of the leading members of
the Free Trade Association at dinner in the Town-
ball.—Glasgow Saturday Post.
INVITATION TO MR. COBDEN TO VISIT BELFAST.
—A strong desire has long prevailed in Belfast, to have the
honour and benefit of a visit from Mr. Cobden, the great
apostle of free trade ; and a number of the leading mer-
chants, manufacturers, and others, have resolved to invite
him to a public dinner in this town, on some day before the
meeting of Parliament. They are aware of the great de-
mands upon him elsewhere; but it is hoped that he will
find time to pay us the requested visit. His presence in
Ireland, just now, could not fail to be of the utmost public
advantage. He would come upon no party errand, and
would be received in no party spirit. Free trade is not a
question of Whig or Tory, (catholic or Protestant—it is a
question of public justice and universal good ; and it is in
this spirit that he is invited, and in this spirit lie would come,
as conic we trust he will.—Nerthern Whig.
At a meeting
of
heldtheo
npa;ilosnhdioazr laresotfi
vSe
t t.
t.Georgeh:
qquestion
tio the
Martyr, Southwark,
of rating the rectors stipend, it-asr
theesolv stedtilpieand from t if aßm theillbe
brought
p o ors
ttohaFtasrulleahmeßit to exemptll shall be opposed by the parish.
ra
tien,
The expense of opposing the Bill it was proposed to defray
out of the poors'-rate ; but in case the Poor-law Commis-
sioners should not sanction such an appropriation of the
funds of thepoor, then a meeting is to be called for adopting
further measures.

SHIPWRECK ON THE COAST OF SUSSEX.—SEVEN
LIVES LOST.—A Danish brigantine went ashore on Sunday
morning, at five o'clock, between the Tidemill and the
Buckle, in Seaford Bay. The captain and six of the crew,
we are sorry to say, met with a watery grave. The only
survivor was a seaman, who does not understand English,
who was found in the fore hatchway. A large dog was also
found on board. The vessel was outward bound, but, having
no cargo, had taken in ballast. She was copper- bottomed.
l'he sides of the vessel were stove in, and the masts were
gone, but attemps will be made in a few days to tow her off.
GOOD NEWS FOR SEMPSTRESSES.—There is so
great activity in the fabrication of soldiers' clothing, particu-
larly for that required for the militia, and a consequent de-
mand for hands, that several of the sub-contractors in the
neighbourhood of the Seven• dials, and Long-acre, where this
branch of ill-paid industry is chiefly carried on, have issued
bills, offering an increase in the price of wages of twopence

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. s.—lfer Majesty's brig Bittern,
Commander Hope, came to Spithead on Saturday morn-
ing. She was kept in the Downs some days by bad
w, Wier. It would appear that the Bittern was hurried
from the port of Sheerness without being sufficiently
fitted, or a smart gale of wind has done her much injury,
for she has produced a long list of defects, and this
morning it was found necessary- to send out a party of
shipwrights and carpenters in the Echo steamer, to put
h'er in a fit state to go to sea. Her chain messenger,
'rudder, and sundry other matters are out of order. The
dockyard artificers will be occupied five days. She is
then to be paid, and probably will not sail for the coast
of Africa before the middle of next week.
In former times, when men of war had trifling defects,
they were made good by the carpenter and his crew, but
now the dockyard aid is generally required. The hurry
and bustle which took place at Sheerness in getting the
Bittern to sea, has been the means of retarding her, so
much being required now she has arrived at Spithead.
Unless counter orders should come down, Commander
Hope will carry out the Government money to the colony
of Sierra Leone, and the dispatches for Commodore
Jones. The period fixed for this officer to meet the
French Admiral at Fernando Po is postponed, owing to
tt,e melanaholy wreck of the French steamer Pepin;
bound to Senegal.
The Daring brig has been paid this day, anti she is to
ail on Wednesday morning for Bermuda and the West
Indies, taking officers and dispatches for the Admiral on
the station.

The Retribution first-class steamer, another vessel
fitted at one of the Eastern ports, has so many defects,
that the dock-yard officers report they have a fortnight's
work for them to perform. She may probably require
docking ; however, as she is not wanted immediately,
being intended to form one of the experimental squadron
of steamers, to be tried in the spring, the delay is not of
so much importance. The Scourge, another of the ex-
perimental steamers, is in dock to have her copper in-
spected, and can be ready next week if wanted ; with a
10-inch mortar, and a 56-pounder long gun on board,
she will prove a most valuable auxiliary in any squadron
required to act offensively.
The Alban steam-transport has been in dock as long
as requisite, and will complete her refit alongside the
jetty. About this day week she will be ready for sea,
and goes to Plymouth and Cork, taking marines to re-
place invalids and others that have left the battalion in
Ireland.

The Rodney, 92, goes into dock on the 9th for a tide
only, unless more serious injury to her copper is dis
covered than expected. It is believed she will be sen-
on foreign service, with relief troeps, as the 24th and 73d
regiments are on the roster to relieve two corps coming
home.

It appears that the breaking down of the General
Palmer transport, at Gibraltar (declared unfit on sur-
vey), is the cause of the Canopus, 84, being ordered to
perform her duty, and she has doubtless been selected in
preference to the Albion, Superb, and Vanguard, in con-
sequence of her very superior capacity to stow water, a
great quantity being required for troops. The Rodney
has already shown her power of accommodation as a
troop ship, having carried the 7th Dragoon Guards to
the Cape of Good Hope.
The Janus, the Earl ofDundonald's projection, and on
which some thousands of pounds have been expended, is
to come to this port, to see if Mr. Taplin, and his able
assistants at the metal mills in the dock-yard, can
make her a serviceable vessel. If she can be rendered
seaworthy she will form one of the squadron of experi-
mental steamers.

The President, 50, with the flag of Rear-Admiral
Dacres, was at Madeira on the 27th, all well ; and
would sail for the Cape next day. They had two days
bad weather in the Channel; but afterwards everything
was as pleasant as could be wished. The Alecto steamer
was also at Madeira at the same time. Both vessels left
their ports on the 10th December.
The Endymion,44, has beencompelled to put into Fal-
mouth by stress of weather; she was there bn the Ist of
January.

The annual entry of twenty-five shipwrights' appren-
tices in this dock-yard took place this day; they are
nominated by the Admiralty, and generally the children
of mechanics working in the yard.
WooLwtea, JAN. s.—ln addition to the Polyphemus
being paid off to-morrow (Tuesday), the crews of the
William and Mary yacht and the Black Eagle steam-
vessel will be paid wages due to the 30th June last.
The Harpy steam-vessel, Lieut.-Commander H. B.
Procter, is ordered to be hastened, and the workmen are
to be employed extra time upon her.
Mr. Egerton J. Filmore, son of the late Captain Fil-
more, R.N., is appointed to the third class Admiralty
Register-office for Seamen.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR
DECEMBER.
(From the Farmer's Magazine.)
Notwithstanding we have now arrived at the close of
1845, the atmosphere during the whole of the past month
has been extremely mild and vegetative. In all parts of
England, as well, indeed, as throughout the United
Kingdom, farm labours have progressed remarkably well,
and it affords us great pleasure to be enabled to assert
that the winter wheat plants are everywhere represented
as looking strong and healthy, although they stand much
in need of a few sharp frosts to check premature exu-
berance.

The events which have taken place in political
circles, since the date of our last report, have been
of a character calculated to arouse the energies of
the agricultural body in support of their just rights
and privileges. As these events are of the highest
possible interest at this moment, we shall here take a
cursory glance at them, in order that our numerous
readers may have an opportunity of preparing them-
selves for any future legislative enactments that may be
passed having reference to the import of the staff of life.
The decided change which has taken place in the views
of Lord J. Russell, hi. Lordship now asserting that a
total free trade is inevitable ; the disunity in bir Robert
Peel's Cabinet on the corn question, and the various
changes in the Ministry, have produced a degree of ex-
citement seldom or never equalled. The strenuous
efforts of the Anti-Corn-law League—the immense
amount of subscriptions obtained by that body, to carry,
as they term it, " war into the enemy's camp "—appear
to impress many with the belief that the days of protec-
lion to the agriculturists are numbered. The result,
therefore, has been, that great activity prevailed in cur
principal corn markets in the month's early part, and the
quotations of wheat, and all other articles of grain, from
the unwillingness on the part of dealers to purchase, on,
as they conceived, the eve of a repeal of the corn-laws,
beyond what they require for immediate use. Under
those circumstances, it was but natural that the growers
should forward limited supplies of wheat for sale ; hence,
from the 22d till the close of the month, the demand for
that article ruled steady, and prices improved from 2s.
to 3s. per quarter. Looking at these fluctuations in
value, we are somewhat struck with the folly of parties
anticipating extremely low prices from the publication
of rumours—nothing more—respecting the fate of our
import laws.
That some change in the existing laws is in contem-
plation, not a doubt can exist. What its exact nature
may be, it would be impossible at this moment to state ;
still we will endeavour to reply to the question put to us
by many of the leading farmers:—" Will Sir Roberf'Peel
propose a total repeal .of the Corn-laws in the ensuing
session ?" We have carefully watched the progress of
events for a long time past, and made the most exten-
sive inquiries as to the stocks of wheat and other arti-
cles of grain in the hands of the growers ; we have not
failed to take into account the partial failure of the
potato crop—the stocks of foreign grain and flour in
warehouse here—the supplies now on their passage
hither from different parts of the world—the quanti-
ties that will be received here during the new year
—and above all, the consuming powers of our popu-
lation. All these lead us to the inference (we
may be mistaken in our impression) that all protec-
tion will not be taken from the home growers in the
next session. Still, it is clearly evident that the pro-
duce of our colonies will be placed on the same footing
as that of Canada • and we should in no way be sur-
prised to find Sir Robert Peel proposinz a fixed duty—
say of 4s. or ss. on wheat, and a nominal one en barley
and other articles of foreign growth.
The mildness of the weather has been productive of a
good supply of pasture herbage. This, together with
the superabundance of turnips and other food, has
afforded a most plentiful supply of food for depastured
and other cattle stock, which is now suffering but little
if anything from the epidemic.
From Scotland, our advices are of a favourable cha-
racter. The wheats above ground are described as luxu-
riant, though not to say winter proud ; while the land
is, generally speaking, in fine working order.

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON
THE NORFOLK RAILWAY.
ADJOURNED INQUEST.
THETFORD, MONDAY NIGHT.—The inquiry Concern-
ing the deaths of William Pickering, engine-driver, and
Richard Hedger, stoker, who lost their lives by the re-
cent accident on the Norfolk Railway, was resumed for
the third time at the Guildhall this morning, before the
same jury and Mr. Robert Eagle Clark, the borough
coroner.

The CORONER, in re-opening the investigation, re-
marked that in compliance with the jury's request, he
had forwarded a letter to Sir James Graham, the Secre-
tary of State, desiring that Government would send down
a competent engineer to examine the line, in order to
give them the fullest information in coming to a verdict,
to which he had received the following reply :
" Whitehall, Dec. 31, 1845.
"Sir—l am directed by the Secretary, Sir J. Graham,
to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 30th inst., rela-
tive to the inquest which you are holding on the bodies
f the engine-driver and stoker recently killed on the
Norfolk Railway, and I am to inform you that a copy of
your letter has been forwarded to the President of the
Board of Trade, to whose department the matter more
immediately relates.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" S. M. PHILLIPS.

" B. E. Clark, Esq., coroner for Norfolk, Thetford."
Mr. Till, the secretary, and several others connected
with the railway company, being present,
The CORONER then asked the gentlemen who repre-
sented the Company, if they knew General Pasley in-
tended to attend the inquiry, or whether they had
any communication from him ?
Mr. Till, the secretary, said he had no instructions
from that gentleman. General Pasley called upon him
at his office on Saturday, and informed him that his re-
ports of accidents were sent to the Board of Trade,
which forwarded them to the House of Commons, when
they were printed. He generally admitted theincon-
venience of such a course, but that he had no power to
remedy it. He visited the spot of the accident on Wed-
nesday, and saw the foreman of the jury, and he (Mr.
Till) did not hear any communication made to him that
it was the desire of the jury that he should attend and
give evidence at that inquiry.
The CottoNx.a. replied th it was very desirable that

the jury shouldi have the General's opinion as to the
cause of the catastrophe; and proceeded N 1 ith the inves-
tigation.

After hearing some evidence, the inquiry MIS again
adjourned for the purpose of summoning General Pasley
as a witness.

RETROSPECT of the CORN-LAWS.
(From the Devonpori Telegraph.)
The enactment of a law to raise the price of food for
the purpose of sustaining high rents, will render the year
1815 a more marked period in history even than the
battle of Waterloo. This law was based on certain re-
solutions proposed in the House of Commons by Mr. F.
Robinson (now Earl of Ripon), on the 17th of February,
1815. In reading the speech with which the resolutions
were introduced, it is rather curious to find that the pre-
cedent of restrictions on the wool trade was the argument
on which the mover principally relied, because that very
trade now forms the most striking instance which ana-
logy can afford of the inutility of restrictive laws to
protective interests, and their detriment to all other
classes. Among the opponents of the proposed law, we
find Sir Robert Peel, the father of the present Premier,
and we shall extract a portion done of his speeches :
" Ile was anxious to correct a mistake which seemed
to prevail in the House, that the interests of the land-
owner and manufacturer were conflicting and incom-
patible. They were in the view of enlightened policy
the same, and the success or ruin of the one was
the success or ruin of the other ; inasmuch as the
country generally had been enriched by the sale of our
manufactures, the landholders had received their share
of wealth and advantages. It had been the wise policy
of former Governments to keep the price of the chief
article of subsistence as low as possible. Upon this
principle Mr. Pitt had acted with success, but the sys-
tem now was about to be changed. It was undoubtedly
true that the rent of land would be diminished by the
unlimited importation of corn ; but if the resolutions
upon the table passed in their present shape, the manta
factures of the towns would be destroyed, and the land
must consequently be depreciated. Corn might be grown,
but paupers would be the only customers for it. It was
in truth impossible to separate the two interests. The
value of land in some places had within memory increased
three-fold, the owners had derived their benefit from
the political state of things, and now they must suffer
the depreciation produced by an alteration in that poli-
tical state. With respect to our manufacturers it was al-
lowed that during the war our triumphal situation on
the sea had enabld us to force a trade without rivals; but
now we were open to competition, it would be madness in
us to throw fresh obstacles in the way of those who had
SO many to contend against. In his opinion, it might
be fairly argued that the manufacturer had been the
great benefactor of the landed interests. He did not
say that his design was to serve the landowner. That
bad been the effect of the flourishing state of our manu-
factures, and in the difficulties now to be encountered
the landowner ought to participate. By the measures
now upon the table, the wise system pursued for years
was about to be subverted, and the labourers prevented
from putting the real wealth of the country into that
marketable shape by which this country had been
hitherto made the envy of surrounding nations?'
Subsequently he declared that " the more the mea-
sure became known, the more generally it was exe-
crated and condemned." The feelings of the public
on the subject were indeed sufficiently proved by the
fact that the petition against the measure, from the
City of London, received 40,571 signatures in less
than ten hours ; and that the civic petition to the
Lords was signed by more than 80,000 persons. When,
however, it became manifest that the patrons of famine
prices were resolved to pass a law to create artifi-
cial scarcity, the greatest excitement prevailed in the
metropolis. On the evening of the 6th of March,
crowds collected round the avenues of the House of
Commons to deprecate the taxation of their bread.
Those who were known to be favourable to raising a
revenue for landlords by taxing the food of the labour-
ers were hooted ; and those who, like Mr. Baring (now
Lord Ashburton), were opposed to the plunder of the
industrious for the benefit of the idle, received some
applause. The carriages of a few members were
stopped to ascertain how they intended to vote; and this
was made the pretext for ordering out a military force,
which acted so violently, that Mr. Lambton (the late Lord
Durham) was nearly trampled down by a troop of horse.
He rushed into the House of Commons, and interrupted
the debate to protest against the unconstitutional display
of an armed force to overawe the deliberations of Par-
liament. It was with some difficulty that the excitement
within doors was calmed ; but outside, notwithstanding
the presence of the military, it continued to increase in
violence. Several of the houses of the leading bread-
taxers were attacked ; but wherever the inmates ex-
hibited forbearance very little damage was done. Lord
Ellenborough came forward, and remonstrated with the
multitude ; and they were so pleased with his deport-
ment, that he was loudly cheered.
Far different Has the scene at the house of Mr.
F. Robinson (now Lord Ripon), the original pro-
pounder of the bread-tax ; fire-arms were dis-
charged from his parlour windows, which proved
fatal to two innocent persons, Mr. E. Vyse, a mid-
shipman, and Mrs. Watson. It was consistent that a
law to produce starvation should be baptised in blood.
Wilful murder by the musket was a proper preliminary
to wilful murder by famine. 'this is not our language,
it is the verdict of the coroner's juries in both cases. The
coroner's inquest on Mr. Vyse found " Wilful murder
against some person or persons firing shot fr: in and out
of fire-arms from Mr. Robinson's windows ; that on Jane
Watson returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against
Mr. Robinson's butler and three soldiers."
It is well worth while to notice the precipitation with
which the corn-law was hurried through 1 ornament; it
was first broached in the House of Commons on the
17th of February; it was passed in the House of Lords
on the 20th of March. In the interval, the City of
London prayed to be heard by counsel against a measure
so pregnant with danger to the trade and commerce of
the country ; but this reasonable request was rejected
with something like contumely.
A law passed by a packed Parliament of Members in-
terested in the perpretration of injustice naturally pro-
voked the indignation of the people ; and its authors
took measures to suppress the expression of public
opinion by military violence. No sooner was the increas-
ing extent of popular discontent known, than before
anything like outrage was committed, preparations were
made to occupy London with an overwhelming army, as
if it had been a hostile capital. The following circular
was addressed by the high constable of Brighton to the
different innkeepers of that town and the surrounding
district :
" In consequence of a requisition received by me from
the Quartermaster-General, I have to request you will,
on or before Monday next, furnish me with a correct
return of the number of soldiers you can accommodate,
in case of emergency, on their march through this town
also what number of horses you can possibly make room
for."
This precious missive is dated March 4th, 1815, and
there was not the slightest disturbance of the public
peace before Monday, March 7th. The soldiers were
stimulated to commits of violence. We have already
mentioned the two •ders committed at the house of
the present Earl of Ripon. On the same evening, Mr.
Henrick, of Cecil-street, Strand, who was quietly going
down to the House of Commons on private business,
was sabred by one of the Life Guards; and a person
who was near him had his thigh broken. Two gentle-
men who attempted to address the multitude in St.
James's Park, were very roughly handled by the soldiers,
and would have suffered severe injury but for the inter-
ference of the peace officers.
On the following days, London appear-
ancepresented_tnghe,s
of a place in a state of siege. The
Life Guards,K
and the
the
hfor and obtained de-
was formerly garrisoned b_v
leading bread-taxers applied
tachments of soldiers to guard their houses. There
was one honourable exception ; Lord Darnley, deeply
affected by the wanton sacrifice of life at Mr. Robin-
son's, now Lord Ripon's—house, insisted that the
military should be removed from his mansion. On
Wednesday, the Bth of March, the House of Com-
a false report of the approaeh of the
mons, alarmed by
mob, hastily adjourned. The inquest on Mr. Vyse,
shot from Mr. Robinson's house, adjourned for a very
different reason. Mr. Baker, one of the police magis-
trates, interposed his authority, though manifestly con-
trary to law, to prevent Mr. Robinson's servants from
being examined at the coroner's inquest. In most of the
shops of the metropolis, written papers were posted, in-
scribed with " No Corn-laws," " Cheap Bread and Good
Trade." The troops from Windsor were marched into
London on the same day ; and in consequence of the
heavy rain, the sth Regiment of Foot was brought a great
part of the way in waggons The artillery was also
brought up from Woolwich, and ball-cartridges were
distributed to the troops.
The citizens of London were completely at the mercy
of the army. Everywhere throughout the metropolis
posts were formed to command the principal avenues ;
and a proclamation issued by the Prince Regent forbade
them to assemble to protest against the iniquity of
taxing their food. Lord Sidmouth addressed a circular
to the different vestry clerks, requiring them to convene
the several parochial authorities to take measures ibr
preventing riots and tumults, and at the same time care
was taken to suppress any mention of the acts of violence
committed by the military.
At this crisis intelligence of the escape of Napoleon
from Elba arrived, and the bread-taxers took advantage
of the diversion which this incident afforded to the public
excitement to hasten the corn-laws through the House
of Lords with all the speed that the caravan of legisla-
tion can travel. The riots in the metropolis were not
renewed, for the following harvest happened to be most
abundant ; and the corn-laws were thus rendered vir-
tually inoperative. Great distress, however, Cell-
tinued to prevail among the farmers ; they wereduilniadr,.;
leases and rents founded upon an extraordinary
conjuncture of bad seasons with a state
ex-
upon an Act which promised to keel)
S no provision for
eluding foreign grain, but which mad
The strange com-
plexity effects of a productive harvest.e.evtr_i.n.one of the resolution,
2 It asserted "That
supplyabove the demand must have
the excess of the _
moved
elnlsuusekdi s isso nshin 18
arisen either from an extent of corn tillage, more than
commensurate to the general consumption of the coun-
try,"P epo rf 7"e s?arry and
or from a succession of abundant harvests upon the
same extent of tillage, or from the coincident effect of
both these causes.

=~

, -----------
ADVANCE OF IN AGES.—We understand that the
Gorbals Police Board, at their last meeting, agreed to ad-
vance the wages of the night offieers ls. 9d. each per wee
owing to the present high price of provisions.
9,44, ..
Ss ' ~,,z--,. %L. 471.,, .
....
DEATHS FROM DRINKING.—On Saturday erbeiii, ..*••>-c --'-',..',.ir,-,
, .
the wife of a shoemaker, living in the High- street, wi4c .4.=i.,:l /7
.?:-,J../
in Brodie's Close, apparently in a state of intoxssAW,,• ; :'," • '
~,
When discovered, she was able to speak, but on her ix ..0;.',!2-
to the police-office, Dr. Tait, the surgeon, found, on tixtilni- ' 1--..•- r''
Is i
nation, that she was dead. Yesterday inprning a Tizi'l .:..H. -A"
living at the south back of Canongate was found dead 7 'O. ; 4;--;.,,v7i'..: .44
The proximate cause was suffocation arising from ex . t4i"; F.--.T.,:t-- kici 1
drinking.—Caledonian Mercury. Ihl'Mi I
. 0
..,W