The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-27 00:00:00

Colonel SIBTHORP asked if this 50,000/. was in addi- of these measures, and to lay down some principle of
selection, so as to enable them to decide what schemes
were entitled to priority.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the Ministry ought to
state what would, in their opinion, be the inconveniences
attending the construction of so many lines of railway,
and what limits ought to be placed on railway specula_
lation. They ought to propose a plan, to be inquired
into by the Committee, as the question was too great to
be intrusted to any Select Committee composed of a
small number of Members of the House.
The House was subsequently addressed by Mr. 11.
Hinde, Mr. P. M. Stewart, Mr. Plumptre, Mr. Ricardo,
the Earl of Lincoln, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Morrison, Sir
R. Peel, and several other Hon. Members.
After which the Committee was appointed.
Sir T. FREMANTLE obtained leave to bring in a Bill
for a vote of 50,000/. for the extension of public works
in Ireland.
The orders of the day being disposed of, the House
adjourned at Nine o'clock.

tion to what had been already voted, and if they were
to have any more votes for that job of all jobs, the
Shannon Harbour.
Sir T. FREMANTLE said it was a vote in addition to
the sums already voted, which were nearly exhausted.
He begged the Hon. and Gallant Member not to confuse
loans with grants.
Mr. HUME asked the Right Hon. Baronet at the head
of the Government whether, by this grant, he admitted the
principle that public money was to be voted to procure
employment for the people. He protested against any
money being given under the plea of employing the
people when there were other causes in operation
which prevented the people from being employed. If
money were granted to Ireland, why not to Stockport or
Paisley? He wished to know how the former grants
had been employed.
Sir R. PEEL would give every information with re-
spect to the appropriation of trust grants, and he assured
the Hon. Gentleman that nothing was further from the
intention of the Government than to expend this grant in
the promotion of private interests. For several years
grants had been proposed for public works in Ireland,
and he should not think during this year of discontinuing
' the practice. A full account would be rendered by the
expenditure of the grant.
Mr. HuntE objected to the public money being appro
priated to the payment of rents to the Irish landlords, as
had been the case in former instances.

Sir H. BARRON thought this was not a time to haggle
about 50,0001., when famine was imminent in Ireland,
and hundreds of thousands in that country were depen-
dent upon charity.
Mr. WILLIAMS was as anxious as any one to alleviate
the distress of Ireland, but that could only he done by
doing justice to that country, and not by grants of
public money.
Lord CLEMENTS denied that England was taxed for
Ireland. Many Irish proprietors resident in England
paid the In.!ome-tax, their income being derived entirely
from Ireland.

Dr. BOWRING thought his Hon. Friends were misunder-
stood—they doubted whether the grant would relieve the
misery of Ireland.
The grant was then agreed to, and the House resumed.

The friendly conversation (for it could not ba called
discussion) which took place in the House of Lord 4, last
evening, brought to light some facts of great import-
ance to the country at the present moment : one is, that
the Duke of WELLINGTON is resolved to support Sir
ROBERT PEEL in his plan for a material alteration of
the corn-laws ; and another, that the landowners
have at last yielded to Mr. COBDEN'S earnest
entreaties, and are ready to go into an inquiry on the
peculiar burdens on land. This is a great point gained.
Hitherto much mystery has prevailed respecting the
amount of taxes and rates paid by the agricultural inte-
rest, as compared with those paid by all other
classes. The landlords were incessantly calling
out that their burdens were enormous, that
• the corn-law Bill even did not compensate them for the
excess of rates levied on them in twenty or thirty
shapes, but, strange to say, they never could point out
where the unequal burdens lay, and still more, they
would submit to no inquiry on the subject. Mr. COBDEN
has, twice or thrice, brought forward specific motions for
an investigation into these burdens, but the landed interest
turned a deaf ear' to all his arguments and entreaties,
wrapped themselves up in their virtuous intentions, and
kept echoing the old cry—" The grievous burdens on
land." This mode of smothering facts and resisting just
demands however, it is found, will answer no longer. The
aristocracy cannot enjoy exclusive privileges merely be-
cause they form the first branch of the Legislature,
and some of them are descended from the " bold barons"
of old. They are only subjects, like the rest of the com-
munity ; a large number of them, or their immediate
ancestors, but half a century ago were commoners, and
raised to their present eminence for the political pur-
poses of the Minister of the day ; and with a reformed
House of Commons they will be allowed to lay claim to
no such privileges as those which finally banished
the French ncblesse and the French clergy from the soil
of France. To their credit, the Peers of England begin
to see that circumstances are changed, and that they can
enjoy no peculiar exemptions without showing their
grounds of exemption. The Duke of RICHMOND, to a
certain extent, admitted something of the kind. In
reply to brief remarks from the Earl of RADNOR
as to the peculiar burdens on land, he joined with the
Noble Earl in the hope that " before any change was
made in the present law there would be an inquiry into
that subject." These were the words of the Dulce, but
they differ materially from those in which he professed
to concur, and which were to this effect:—" He (the
Earl of RADNOR) for one could not understand what
were the exclusive burdens that were felt by the landed
interest, and for which compensation was to be given to
them. He hoped that that would not be given with-
out inquiry into the subject, and, when that in-
quiry was taken, he very much doubted whether
any such compensation would be given." His Grace,
however, thought otherwise, and pledged himself to
prove that the farmer who paid a rent of 3001. a year
was liable to treble the taxation that Mr. Cullom paid.
" The members of the League," he added, " both in
that House and out of it, were always making assertions,
but never were able to prove them." Here, then, is a
fair challenge to Mr. COBDEN, and, before any
compensation is granted, he will have little difficulty of
proving that, so far from the landowners being burdened
with greater taxes than others, they do not pay their
full share. Lord BEAUMONT also called out for inquiry
into the burdens upon land, because he was con-
vinced it would be pro►ed that there were cer-
tain grievances of which the landlords had reason to
complain. This is a lame conclusion, and though his
Lordship stated, on the authority of the Poor-law Com-
missioners, that the land paid annually 12,000,0001., he
4411 probably find, en analysing the report, that a large
proportioo is put down to tithes and poor-rates, which all
:lasses pay. With regard to the other point, the explanation
)1 the Duke of WELLINGTON, the public have also reason
to be satisfied—that is, taking for granted that they are
satisfied with the measures proposed by Sir R. PEEL.
in most of the statements made by " the Duke" there
is one striking feature in which he excels all other
ipeakers. He conceals nothing for a sinister purpose;
his assertions are rarely or never unintelligible ;
le goes direct to the main question, and leaves
no doubt as to his intentions. In a case of
this importance the sentiments expressed by a speaker
of such a character and weight, must, therefore, be
looked to with deep interest. He candidly admitted
chat he was at first opposed to the plans of the Minister
for throwing open the ports and introducieg
essential changes in the corn-laws, but, on
,inding that his Right Hon. Friend was resolved to
4dhere to his purpose, and would fight the battle alone,
should all his comrades desert him, the veteran warrior
could hold out no longer; he was overcome by the chi-
valry of the Minister, and generously- vowed to fight with
nim to the last. his words are so characteristic, that
they cannot be omitted. " Her MAJESTY," said he,
having thought proper to write to my Right Hon.
Friend, and to require him to resume the situation which
he still held until another Government was formed, he
wrote to me (I was in the country at the time), inform-
ing me of the circumstance, and stating that if he did re-
•ume office he had determined, happen what might, if he
stood alone, that as the Minister of the Crown he would
enable her MAJESTY to meet her Parliament. I highly
applauded my Right Hon. Friend on that occasion,
tad I determined that I for one would stand by him.
1 felt it my duty; and I did think the formation of a
Government in which her MAJESTY would _ have confi
dente was of greater importance than any opinions of any
.ndividual upon the corn-law or any other law. My
Right Hon. Friend wrote to me and desired me to attend
the Cabinet that evening, which I did. I applauded the
c induct of my Right Hon. Friend; I was delighted with
it ; it was exactly the course which I should
have followed myself under similar circumstancess ;
and I determined that I would stand by him."
And stand by him he will, for he is a
man of his word, and possibly the rePractory
Peers may find that it is better to go on still with WEL-
LINGTON and PEEL, than embark on an ocean of diffi-
culties and dangers in a crazy vessel, worn out with age,
aryl steered by one in whose experience they can place
no confidence.

Agitation, at the present moment, appears to concen-
trate its energies upon those particular segments of taxa-
tion which hamper international commerce in grain
rowards this central point all the political powers of
the multitude converge ; it constitutes the pivot of popu •
tar action. Nevertheless, although it is the grievance
upon which the fulcrum of " appeal " is pressing more
immediately than upon any other, it forms but the sec-
tional part of a gigantic whole. The present era is, in
fact, one of mercantile agitation—an agitation which
tends to relieve the people of the most grievous and op-
pressive imposts to which in this country they are
more especially subjected ; and, by so doing, to enhance
the facilities of intercourse in trade between the
several principalities of the earth. To the ac-
complishment of this great principle, a more
cffectual means could not possibly have been
adopted, than that of a peaceable commotion for the
removal of all duties upon corn. With these endeavours
our sympatlies have been frequently and emphatically
expressed ; the abolition of such intolerable burdens
upon the principal article of sustenance among all nations
appearing to us so manifestly politic, so ostensibly
necessary, and so morally judicious. This was the arch-
f Macy of all our constitutional fallacies, and, as such, it
required an immediate modification : it was the most
importunate of all our " crying evils," and hence de-
manded the first attention. Now, however, that the
victory appears to be absolutely achieved ; now that this
most pernicious of all restrictions has been sapped to its
lowermost foundations, the interest of the public starts
forward as it ware spontaneously to those
various other imposts which, though less in
comparison with the monstrous injustice of the
corn-laws, are yet in themselves of the most
arduous and unjustifiable description. Foremost
amongst these stands that general object of antipathy,
the window tax, the obnoxious character of which
cannot too often be insisted upon. At the present mo-
mentous juncture, and especially upon the very evening
upon which the Prime Minister will bring forward his
"Commercial Policy," it is far from our intention to
enter into the merits or demerits of this oft-mooted
question, with any detailed minuteness. In making this
particular allusion to a subject so repeatedly and so
thoroughly dissected as this, we are simply desirous,

first, to commemorate the demonstrations against it,
made o”. 'Friday last in the Court House, Marylebone ; I
and, secondly, to impress upon the public mind the ne-
cessity
of its destruction forming an integral portion of
any plan for alleviating the pressure of impolitic taxa-
tion, before that plan can, by any possibility, be perfect
in its form or in its application. Sir ROBERT PEEL, we
have elsewhere observed, has evidenced a gradual pro-
gression towards the abolition of the duties upon corn ;
his tariff, in several particulars, facilitated the importa-
tion of food, as, for instance, in foreign cattle. Upon
this same principle, also, of drawing inferences from his
previous conduct, we should be induced to believe the
Premier but little opposed to the annihilation of a tax
so invariably detested as the one upon windows—if
we might regard his abolition of duty upon glass as a
sufficient evidence. Without this sequence to his ori-
ginal concession, the matter in question will be a thing
but half accomplished. It will be tantamount to ren-
dering the material cheaper, while the use of that mate-
rial will be still accompanied by the most burdensome '
demands—the material (glass) of a cheapness
easily attainable by the people at large ; the use
of that material (windows) being laden with
an expense which must ever tend to render
the atmosphere of our houses impure, to abstract from
the beauty or symmetry of our streets, and in every
respect to interfere with our architectural arrangements,
while at the same time it continues an interminable clog
upon the industrial classes. To speak in still more compre-
hensible and unmistakeable language--the abolitioa of
duty upon glass, as it appears in Sir ROBERT PEEL'S ta-
riff, and the continuance of a tax upoi windows, constitute
an anomaly which can scarcely be paralleled in any
financial system upon record. For the eradication of this
anomaly we look to the indomitable and impulsive voice
of the people—to that voice which has carried forlyard
to an issue so successful the great cause of legislative
interference with the trade in corn. As the first demon-
stration against these duties upon air and light since
the commencement of the preseut session, we
regard the recent meeting at Marylebone with an inte-
rest more than ordinary; and, as the most persevering
and consistent advocate for the abolition of the tax in
question, we rejoice that Lord DUNCAN was present
upon the occasion. Cordially do we coincide with the
Noble Lord in saying that " the moment the public
began to show their: feeling upon any particular
subject, the next minute the Government was
forced to bow to that opinion, or give way to
others," and that " there was no other way of ruling
in this country than by the force of public opinion."
Diffused but potent, that " public opinion" is capable of
accomplishing everything it undertakes with earnestness.
It is the true Hercules, symbolised in the Pagan my-
thology the Hercules which can strangle the
lion of despotism or cleanse the Augean stables
of a bad Government. Let the present agitation,
therefore, be persisted in, let advocates as
sincere and energetic as Lord DUNCAN and Sir CHARLES
NAPIER come forward and insist upon its impolicy,
its injustice, and its actual immorality, and the incubus
will succumb.

The Madrid journals of the 19th contain no news.
The discussior. in the Chamber of Deputies was still
going en, and was expected to last for several days
longer, as they had reached only the 7th paragraph of
the Address.

The Three per Cents. closed at 33 13-16 at 60 days;
the Five per Cents., at 23i; and the shares of the Bank
of Isabel 11., at 166 at 60 days.

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, a
spirited discussion took place relative to the conduct of
the Government in the adjudication of railways. M.
LIIERBETTE denounced the entire system, and blamed
the Government especially for allowing high function-
aries in the state, and officers of rank in the army and
navy, to advertise themselves as the heads of railway
companies. He disapproved of the conduct of Peers
and Deputies who had joined in the gambling operations
on the Bourse, and made some strong remarks on the
conduct of the Government in first encouraging the forma-
tion of the Receiver-General's Company for the Lyons line,
and the subsequent dismissal of M. BAUDON, its chair-
man. He was supported in these attacks by M. RUNILLY,
when the Minister of Public Works replied in a speech
of great length. Me entered into a minute history of
railway legislation, and contended that the adjudications
made were on reasonable terms, both as regarded the
State and the companies to whom the concessions were
made, and he declared that France was advancing so
rapidly, that more was done now in ten years for the
improvement of the internal communications of the king-
dom than bad been done formerly in 200 years. " The
result is," said he, " that the ' reseau' of railroads, such
as are now fixed, includes not less than 41,998 kilometres-
If the whole execution by the Government had
been decreed, the country would now be engaged
in an expense of between 1,600,000,000 f. and
1,800,000,000 f. From these figures it is evident that the
State would have been obliged to concentrate its efforts
on the execution of one or two principal lines, it is evi-
dent that, with the system of the execution by the State
the reseau' in question could not have been executed to
its whole extent. The inference is, that it was indis-
pensable to make private industry co-operate in the ge-
neral enterprise in question. It was my opinion, and
that opinion prevailed ; and now, what is the conse-
quence of the law voted by you? It is that the reseau,'
whose extent I have mentioned, is being actively pro•
secuted ; that it will be completed in six years; that
in six years France will have 5.000 kilometres of rail-
roads, at the cost of 407,000,000 f., borrowed of the
State; and that in six years there will not be a province
uncrossed by a railway line. Such is the case ; and in
six years you will have executed what the old monarchy
could not have accomplished in two centuries."
A very confused and disorderly discussion ensued, which
led to no result; as, on the ballot being called for, it was
found that there was not a sufficient number Of Members
present, and the division was adjourned till Monday.
The Messager states that the report of the French
frigate La Thetis having cannonaded Cape Haytien
is quite unfounded. On the 22d La Thetis was
at Port-au-Prince, and affairs were assuming an
aspect which denoted au impending pacific issue.

Most of the papers have comments on the QUEEN'S
Speech. The Opposition, of course, are not satisfied
with it. "It offers," says the Constitutionnel, " some cu-
rious comparisons to our discourse from the throne.
That document made all possible advances to England—
friendship, affection, mutual confidence, pacific assu-
rances, and amicable exchange, good and intimate rela-
tions, and cordial co-operation. To this display of ten-
derness, the Queen of ENGLAND replies by a convenient
paragraph, but without any display of enthusiasm; it ex-
presses a wish that the present union and good under-
standing which so happily exists between the two
nations may ever minister to the interests of humanity.
We do not intend to say that the phrase is not friendly,
but, in truth, after all the advances made by M. GUIZOT
—after all the sacrifices he has made to the English alli-
ance—they could not well do less, and it will hardly be
found that they have given him good measure." On the
whole, however, they find little fault with this State
document.

On Sunday the Three per Cents. were done in the
Passage de I'Opera at 83f. 20e. •

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREI‘;N RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JAN. 26.

Ceylon, —Dutch Rhenish, B—East Indian, 1% Great Northern
of France Constituted, 14% —Great Western Bengal, % —Lyons
and Avignon, 2% Luxembourg, 2%—Mauritius, 4—Namur and
Liege, 3%—Faris and Strasbourg (Ganneroa's), 2%—Rouen and
Havre, 27%—Sambre and Meuse, 5% —West Flanders, sp.

MARKET NE WS.—,THIS DAY.)
'RAY MARKETS.
SKITHFIELD.—Meadow Hay, 3/ 8s to 41 8s ; Clover
ditto, 4/ 8s to 5/ 12s ; Oat Straw, 11103 to 11 1:s ; Wheat
Straw, 11 12s to 1/ 14s per load. Trade very dull, at the
above quotations.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 31 5s to 41 lOs ; Clover
ditto, 4153 to e/ lOs ; Oat Straw, 11 10s to 1112 s ; Wheat
Straw, 11 12a to 11 15s per load. A moderate supply, and a
steady demand.
IVHITECHAPEL.—Meadow Hay, 316 s to 4125; Clover ditto,
4/ 8s to 51 15s; Oat straw, 118 s to I/ 10s ; Wheat Straw,
11 10s
.to 1112 s per load. Supply good, and trade dull.
COLONIAL.
SUGAR.—Nothing has been done in British Plantation
worth reporting, but the market is firm, holders showing no
anxiety to press sales, and purchases could therefore not be
made at lower rates. The public sales have consisted prin-
cipally of 2,419 bags Bengal, and 406 bags Madras. Only
about one-half of the Bengal found buyers, which was
forced off at a decline of fully is to 1s 6d.
Low to good middling white Benares selling only
at 50s to 52s 6d, the remainder was taken in, being
held for the previous value. The quantity of British
Plantation landed last we ek at the East and West India
Docks was 93 hhds 26 tierces 1 barrel ; and there were
taken for home consumption 1,145 hhds 85 tierces 362
barrels. The stock in the same places is 6,819 hhds 635
tierces 847 barrels.
cOFFEE —46 casks Berbice, 1,064 bags Ceylon, and 1,194
bales Mocha; the Berbice was chiefly taken in, there being
no buyers at former rates. Only part of the Ceylon was sold
at a reduction of 2s to 3s on British Plantation descriptions;
common mixed low good ord was taken in at 495. About
one-half of the. Mocha was disposed of at 55s to 593,
for common greenish mixed quality to good long berry clean
garbled, being for the common sorts about previous rates, but
the better descriptions must be quoted 2s to 3s cheaper. Pri-
vately 1,000 bags Padatig have been sold at 28s, being an
advance of 2s upon previous rates.
RICE.-598 bags and 995 pockets Bengal at auction sold
at 15s 6d to 16s 6d for mid to good mid white and a few
lots of yellow cargo at 143 6d, which are rather lower prices.
Rm.—The quantity landed last week at the East and
West India Docks was 206 puns 146 hhds ; there were taken
for home consumption 256 puns 76 hhds, and exported 156
puns 11 hhds. The stock in the same places' is 11,968 puns
1,067 hhds.
SALTPETRE.-2,559 bags Bengal and 847 bags Madras
only partly sold at 25s to 27s for 111,4 to 83/4 per cent.
refraction Bengal, being barely the previous value; the