The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-12 00:00:00

modification of the present system. The Noble Earl '
insisted upon the insufficiency of the supply in con-
sequence of the restrictions caused by differential
duties, and his illustrations upon this point merit the
most serious investigation. If we can comprehend
the rather incomprehensible calculation of the Noble
Lord, the Member fur Lynn, the clamouring about
the deficiency of sugar at a price reasonable enough
for the consumption of the English population, is as

chimerical and illusory as the potato panic is declared
to have been by those very sceptical gentlemen, the

protectionists. Is it then chimerical to
maintain the insufficiency of moderately-priced

sugar, when the average consumption of that
article in England is merely 16 pounds per
annum for each individual, while the consumption at

our antipodes is absolutely 104 pounds per annum for

each individual ? Is it chimerical when we find three

quarters of our community restricted to eight pounds
per annum, while the consumption of the affluent

classes is estimated at sixty pounds, and the consump-
tion eves of the middle classes at thirty-seven pounds ?
Surely we must not attribute this disparity to a diffe-
rence of taste in the different classes. It would in truth
be something astonishing to be assured that a partiality
for saccharine juice is acquired by the excellence of
a man's broadcloth, that corduroy is a corrective to
acidity, that the peasant has not as voracious an ap-
petite after toothsome dishes as a nobleman, that
green gooseberries would give the cholic to
a landed proprietor, and afford nutrition
to an artisan ? Nevertheless, it is merely by resort-

ing to such dogmatical absurdities that a protectionist
can maintain that there is a sufficiency of supply in
colonial sugar. As a testimony that Government
does not consider this article merely necessary for the
wealthier inhabitants of these islands, we may allude
to the allowance of 221 lbs. to every pauper, and of
341 b. to every seaman. When the average consump-
tion of such a necessary of life is found to dwindle
down into a contemptible minim among three quar-
ters of our population, being literally, as the Earl of
CLARENDON calculated, " 180 per cent. below the
allowance made to the pauper, and nearly 200 per
cent. below the alloWance made to the common sailor,"
there is undoubtedly some foundation for the conjec-
ture that additional facilities should be afforded for
the importation of fresh cargoes. That such an ar-
rangement would ameliorate the condition of the
labouring classes, no reasonable man can ques-
tion. We are persuaded that the proposed measure
is not only one of commercial reformation,
but one, moreover, of sanatory reformation. It is
of fiscal as well as social importance. It will, we
are persuaded, materially increase the revenue, while
it will promote the comfort of the community. On
this particular Lord CLARENDON has only corrobo-
rated a truism, and illustrated a fundamental
principle in political economy, when he referred to
the fact of the consumption of coffee and tea
having proportionably developed itself with the
diminution in taxation. For example—in 1821,
the former commodity, covered with an im-
post of two shillings per lb., gave a consumption of
22,000,000 lbs. ; in 1844 the duty was decreased to
sixpence per lb., and in the following year the con-
sumption had risen t0,34,000,0001b5., giving a revenue
of 718,0001. instead of 340,0001. In like manner, with
tea, a consumption of 22,000,0001b5. in 1821, had in
1345 arrived at the enormous average of 44,000,000
lbs., notwithstanding, or rather in consequence of, a very
considerable reduction in the duties levied upon that
article. After having observed these beneficent results
of an enlightened policy, as testified in these instances,
it is remarkable to observe the contrary effects of an
extortionate and grasping system. Niggardliness is
repaid by meagre revenues, a generous but judicious
leniency by overflowing coffers, thriving merchants, ac-
tivity in trade, increased sobriety and health in the com-
munity. While the latter has been thus magnificently
demonstrated in regard to coffee and its sister be-
verage, how vividly has the former been illustrated in
reference to the importation of sugar ! What are the
revelations of the Earl of CLARENDON on this parti-
cular? Why, that with our vastly multiplying
population the trade in sugar has been literally
stagnant—that the consumption of sugar has been
nearly stationary. That consumption was in 1821,
4,000,000 cwt.; in 1831, 4,000,000 cwt.; in 184 f,
still 4,000,000 cwt. ; in 1844, miserably improved to
4,300,000 cwt.; and in 1845, to 5,000,000 cwt.
After a candid examination of these few
and very comprehensible facts, none but
a self-interested or obtuse-minded man can
persist in declaring that no necessity exists
for the alteration of the existing system of differential
duties. A necessity does exist, and seeing that
the anomalies of protection have been removed
from the principal necessary of existence, the
necessity for their removal from what may
be designated the next greatest necessary ce
existence becomes too glaring to admit of any
additional cavil or supplementary procrastination
Bread has been cleansed of its leaven of monopoly ;
the dumplings and cranberry pies of the la-
bourer must be free from the acidulating
effects of the sugar duties. Brazil must be
made to correspond with China and Russia
in ministering to the repasts of our popula-
tion, Louisiana and Venezuela must compete with
Pekin and Cuba in adding to the sober nourish-
ment of our sober people. With the extension of
correspondence between the various territories of the
earth will extend, not merely the national revenue,
the national happiness, and the national health of
Great Britain, but the civilisation, the humanity,
the christianity, the brotherly love, the prosperity,
and the general improvement of the entire human
family.

An inquiry has, we are happy to say, been directed
into the truth of several allegations made with re-
vect to the Millbank Prison. A commission has been
Appointed, with powers to take evidence on oath, and
to examine in the fullest manner into the whole
management of the prison, and into every charge that
has been brought against the governor and the other
officers.

The Home Secretary deserves the greatest credit
for the manner in which he has acted in this case. On
the former occasion, when it was brought forward
by Mr. DUNCOMBE, we expressed our regret that
the asked-for inquiry should be refused when charge:.
of such magnitude, impugning so severely the con-
duct of the prison authorities, and expressly charging
the governor with acts of the greatest cruelty and
oppression, were brought forward by a person whose
character and motives were unimpeached, who, from
his position, as an officer of the prison, had an oppor-
tunity of being fully cognisant of the truth of the
charges, if correct, and that the public mind should be
permitted to remain in suspense on such a subject
until the next session of Parliament.

Much indulgence, however, was claimable by Sir
GEORGE GREY on the subject. He had recently
succeeded to office---rquestions of the greatest
consequence to the nation remained for
discussion, and a serious and difficult task
awaited the several Cabinet Ministers, in se-
lecting from the enormous quantity of business
before the Legislature measures that required an im-
mediate decision, that were intended to remedy
serious and pressing grievances, and which could not
be postponed until the ensuing session without great
public inconvenience. The petition, too, had been
presented when Sir JAMES GRAHAM presided over
the Home Office, and had to a certain extent
been adjudicated on by him, he having referred it to
the Inspectors of Prisons, with a request that they
woul(l institute a full and searching investigation into
the several statements contained therein. A report
had been made, with respect to which the new Secre-
tary had little time to prepare himself. He, there-
fore, asked the House to suspend their judg-
ment, promising that nothing should be withheld,
and fully and honourably has he redeemed that
pledge. He required
.tbat the Prison Inspectors
and investigate the
on,
eneonw.
should renew their inquiry,
ad-
ditionaladmits thechargesbroughte
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ainst
necessity the
no
f
ducted under the auspices
Of persons ag
whom no charge of partiality or bias
could possibly be preferred, and we are
ready to admit that at this late period
of the session a Committee of the House must
necessarily be greatly hurried, and unable to give the
time neoessary for so important an inquiry. The
entire subject of prison discipline is one that de-
serves the fullest consideration. The horrible prac-
tice of corporal punishment is still resorted to—