The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-01 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 1, le4l.

THE BREAD-TAX,

We have copied from the :Morning Chronicle an
article on the meeting held at Stockport this day
week, containing an extract from Mr. Cob-
den's speech. Want of space formerly and now
prevents us giving the whole of the proceed-
ings, an outline of which has appeared in our
Journal, but we must find room for the follow-
ing additional observations of the same eloquent
speaker. They, may serve to make our readers
dream over the almost unbounded happiness
which would await our now starving countrymen
were the bread-tax abolished, and free-trade es-
tablished. But our people must only, it appears,
dream of such felicity. The law-makers who
call them themselves our fathers, and who are
said to exercise power for our good, will take
a hellish care that it shall not be re-
alised. Is there any man so besotted,
e, o blind, so atheistical, as to doubt whether
the laws of God and nature prevail in the
moral as in the physical world? and not doubting
that, while he- sees that the transgression of the
physical laws entails on a man debility, disease, and
death, can he doubt, When he witnesses the misery
which pervades society, that it outrages some of
the moral laws of God and nature, against which
that misery is intended as the warning, and of
which it is the punishment ? We have not the
smallest doubt, as Mr. Cohden says, that our pre •
sent system of restrictions -on commerce, includ-
ing what we shall continue to-harnt-s., the DEVIL'S
LAWS, is a terrible violation of the-laws of nature
and of God, for which v 4 ~ 4.. :- •edhy all that
v ice, misery, and crl '''''' i....i .. - ' j,--, "'helm the
land. Here is part of '441110,,i4' Co .., `• f.aid. :
Now, Gentlemen, you have he -,:iterneflti —:'Of the foreign
competition which fillets us. If vie Tollawie&che laWs of God
and of nature, we should hear nothing of foreitta, competition ;
for God has given enough in the wide world Tor u!siall. We
are not striving and fighting against the Gernhins,merely for
some miserable district in Europe ; what we claim is the right
to trade with all the countries of the world, and to bring back
what they have to give in exchange.—(Applause.) And this
traffic opens up to the people of England a prospect greater by
far than to any. other country, since you are always wanting
what they have to give in exchange, corn and other articles of
food, which they have in great abundance.—(Applause.) Go
to South Amei Ica—there we have an almost boundless extent
of land, watered by immense rivers, flowing through plains of
which we in Europe have no conception. '1 hink you, if 'n e
were allowed to bring back the productions of those vast plains,
that we should not be able, growing as our population is, to sa-
tisfy the wants of the people in so small a speck as this island is ?
But you go to South Americo, aid bring back cotton. I'll
take you to the 'River Plate : my friend, Mr. John Brooks,
who sends goods to Buenos Ayres and to Monte Video, shall
take a cargo up that majestic stream : there, from those enor-
mous plains of which I -have been speaking, ere countless
numbers of cattle brought down and slaughtered. The ship '
that carries out the produce of your industry waits for its
freight; the cattle are slaughtered, and you bring the skies
because they are wanted fur boots and other accoutrements for
the rich ; the horns are brought because they are wanted for
unilirella handles, and something else, which the man in mOde-
rate circumstances may require—( Applause)—the very hoofs are
brought because they are to be made into glue, for some other
classes to use ; nay, the very bones are brought, beeause the
aristocracy may use them for their hot-beds, and thus raise the
price of what you want.—( Applause.) But what becomes of
the meat ? Oh, the -meat is dried and preserved, annhere it
remains stocked up in warehouses ; and if Mr.' nks could
ship that meat, he could bring it to Liverpool, wit) ver it at
11/2d. a pound—(L9o,tplause)—but that meat is hallowed to
7ti
be brought to Englazia, at all.—( Hear.) But, A W whe talk of
Brazil, and the wl444,Pouth American continent, vast as it. is, ,
and boundless in itS'-nfiaiis, of production, yet it becomes in-
significant when it. is compared with the prospect that is held
out to you, to-morrow, of trade with America---with people of
your own blood and your own language—(-Applp.use.)-. The
Mississippi valley itself, over which people alic stragglingltAiS-,.,
tributed, living, sometimes, at distances of fifty mile, from each
other, it has been calculated would produce food enough for
the support of the 'whole world at present.—( Hear, hear.)
That seems a vast conception, too vast almost-for us to gra-tp ;
but I will narrow it, and take one State that. has lately been laid
out in that valley. The state of the Illinois lying in the n4rth-
west portion of that valley. 7 hat State alone, it has beep shown
to me by an intelligent gentleman who went into the calculation,
incapable of producing wheatenough to give every man,iwoman,
and child, in the United States, in the British Islands, and in
France, three pounds of wheaten bread every day of their lives.
—(Loud applause.) And that State does not comprise one-
thirtieth part of the territory comprised within the dominion of
the United States. Now; gentlemen, the great advantage
which you would have, if you were in possession of your right
—for it is a right, an inalienable right, as much as life and
liberty—your right to exchange the produce of your labour for
the food of the United States, of Brazil, and other countries
—the great advantage *ould be this'. that you would be mono-
polising, to a certain extrnt, the trade of all these countries,
since your merchants would he the only parties who would be
able to take in exchange the corn and other provisions which
those countries have to give.

MONUMENT TO TILE DUKE OF

WELLINGTON.

We have had an opportunity lately of viewing
the preparations made by Mr. Wyatt for com-
pleting the equestrian statue in honour of the
Noble Duke, to be placed on the arch at Hyde-
park-corner, and we are confident that he will be
as successful in this undertaking. as he has been
in the beautiful monument erected to George the
Third in Pall-Mall East. No man of the pre-
sent day, we believe, is so well qualified,
as regards taste and execution, for erecting
equestrian statues. He has paid great attention
to this department of the art ; he is indefatigable
in making improvements in casting ; and we
confidently hope that this monument will do
credit to himself and the illustrious warrior to
whom it is to be erected. We understand the
work will not be completed in less than two
years ; but when we take into account the nu-
merous and difficult operations connected with it,
and compare these with undertakings of a similar
deseription, this will appear a very short period.
The model for the horse is perfect, and the bust
is the best likeness of the-illustrious Duke that
we have seen. The bust, we understand, has
been cast from a brass gun captured from sonic
old enemy, now allied with England; the boots
are made of the same material ; and it is to be
hoped that the Government will supply old guns
enough to complete the ,roue. he statue will
be about thirty feet high,-the weight of the metal
from fifty to sixty tons, and altogether it wi 1 be
the most magnificent statue erected in ancient
or modern times. We cordially wish that the
hero of a hundred battles may live to see it from
Apsley House, and enjoy the gratitude of his
country before he sinks into the grave.

living subject; nor shall we readily forgot the expressions
of admiration, nut quite unmixed with consternation, with
which the announcement was received.
Probably no surgeon of ancient or modern times has
enjoyed a greater share of reputation during his life than
ha; fallen to the lot of Sir Astley. The old and now
world ha; alike rung with his fame; and, perhaps, we
cannot give a better example of this than one to which
we remember having alluded on a former occasion—we
mean, 1113 fact of his signature being received as a pass-
port among tho mountains of Biscay, by the wild fol
lowers of Don Carlos. A young English surgeon, seek-
leg for employment was carried as a prisoner berore Zu-
malacarregui, who demanded what testimonials he had of
bis calling or his qualifications? Our countryman pre-
seated his diploma of the College of Surgeons; and the
name of Astley Paton Cooper, Which was attached to is,
no sooner struck the eye of the Carlist leader, than he at
once received his prisoner with friendship, and appointed
him a surgeon in his army.
Sir Astley had, fir years, been subject to occasional
attacks of giddiness, which he was naturally anxious to
conceal, but which sometimes procceJed so far as to com-
pel him to ee.d.t from whatever he was employed about ;
and, on one cccasion, he even fell in the street. During
the latter part of his life he, also suffered a good deal from
occasional fits of the gout, which, however, did not present
any thing remarkable. For some time his countenance et-
hibited a purplish tinge, as from some embarrassment in the
circulation : and, latterly, he had been beard to protest, that
he must decline visiting patients who were up two pairs of
stairs—a threat which, though meant as a joke, had evi-
dently originated in the exertion distressing him. In-
deed, we understand that ho had reps tcdly expressed his
belief that there was "something wrong," and that be had
not long to live.
The last and fatal attack, however, was of resent date,
and in it be had the assistance of Dr. Chalmers. and. Dr.
Bright. Tie body was examined after death, when-the
diagnosis previously given was confirmed, by the heart
being found to be enlarged, with some atheromatous depo-
sit, in the sorts, and effthi9n into the pericardium and
cavities of the pleura.
Sir A-tley Cooper was a handsome man, and of striking.
appearance, well de!erving. the " c'est un -bel homme 1"
ehich was often bestowed upon him as he walked round
the Hotel Di-u ni hM. Dupuytren.
Thoughout his whole carter nothing could exceed the
uniform f drness of his conduct towards all his brethren,
or his kindness towards the younger members of the pro-
fession, cspesi illy those whom he saw to be possessed of
merit. Thete a-e few among us who do-not feel person-
ally gratefel to him for his conduct on some occasion.
Sir Astley, as we have seen, long enjoyed a large share
of public patronage; bat we believe the actual amount of
his torture, when stated at half a million, is considerably
over-rated. His personal expenses were not great ; but
he was very liberal to bis relations, on whom we
.have
head, on what we believe to be good authority, he be-
stowed between two and three thousand pounds annually.
He is also said t) have spent 20,000/ in bringing his bro-
ther iato Parliament. Nor Was his liberality confined to
his own family :when Dr. Baillie and some others made
up a purse for Dr. Pemberton, in the difficulties brought
upon him by his ill health, Sir Astley contributed the
munificent sum of 5001.

MARIE ASTVOINETTE'S ADVO-

CATE,

(From the Gazette des—Tribunaux of Sunday.)
M. Chauvesu Lagarde, Councillor at the Cour do Cas-
satioo, died on Friday, at six o'clock in the evening, in
his seventy-sixth year. He was born at Chartres about
the latter end of the year 1765, aid was already en-
joying a well merited reputa'ion at the bar of Paris,
when in 'B9 our polical relenerwion gave him the
means of displaying his talent on the vast and san-
guinary theatre which the divers changes of the revolu-
tionary contest offerer. Being the undanted antagonist
of Fouquier Tinville, he defended, amongst others,
General Miranda, BriSseat, Chad Ate Corday, and Marie
Antoinette. His energy during the prosecution of that
unfortunate Queen caused hint to be arrested, as well
as Troncon Decoudray,"who shared with him the dan-
ger and glory of that defence. It was endeavoured
to force them to reveal secrets which were supposed to
have been confided to them by their august client ; hut
their interrogatory dissipated upjust suspicions, and they
were set at liberty.
In Charlotte Corday's defence Chaterclu Lagardc
found himself nearly brought to a stand still by the
hernic attitude of the accused, who, not caring a straw
for her life, gloried in the murder which she had com-
mitted. He fulfilled his mission, at any rate, as well as
his exceptional position allowed him, without either
compromising his character or the opinion he might
have forme I, as a citizen, on Marat's assassination.
He limited himself to implore the indulgence of the
Judges, in maintaining the political fanaticism and ex-
citement under the sway of which Charlotte Corday
had rendered herself guilty of homicide, an asser-
tion which caused his client to interrupt him, as
she persisted in having her act considered as having
Len meditated in the quiet moments of reflection,
and under 'the pure influence of patriotic excite-
ment. Charlotte Corday, however, after her judg-
ment had been pronounced, addressing herself to
her counsel with an expression of gratitude and energy
which did not fail to strike the Court, said, " You de-
fended me in a delicate and generous manner, citizen,
and it was the only one which could suit mo ; I thank
you, and I %TT give you a proof of my esteem. These
gentlemen have just informed me that my property is
confiscated ; I have some small debts in the prison, and
I charge you to discharge them.—ilioniieur.
The honourable and intrepid avocat hastened to fulfil
the pious mission which he had accepted with gratitude.
But som• time afterwards he was arrested, notwith-
standing the credit of Coffinhal, his friend and com-
panion in early days. Being restored to liberty after
Robespierre's downfal, he defended, in 1797, before a
military commission, the Abbe B rothier, who was ac-
cused of Royalist conspiracy with Durand and Lavine-
eurnois. He became avocat to the Council of State,
in Napoleon's reign, to whose decheance ha felt bound
to adhere in 1814.
After the events of 1815 and the second restoration,
Chauvem Lagarde devoted his talent and eloquence
the defence of the proscrileei of another party. his
pleating in the prosecution of the brave General Bon-
naiie, who was falsely accused of hying ordered the
desthof Colonel Gordon, was an evideece that the ta-
lent of Marie Antoinette and Charlotte Corday's coun-
sel had not diminished. Afterwards, in 1826, he
pleaded, conjointly with M. Isambert, the cause of the
free men of colour of Martinique. In 1828 M. Chau-
vests Lagarde, who had already received from Louis
XVIII. a patent of nobil'ty at the same time the order
of the Legion of Honour was conferred upon him, was
named Councillor at the Cour de Cessation.

M. Chauveau Lagarde has published, first, an histo-
rical notice of the Prosecution of Marie Antoinette of
Austria and of Madame Elizabcth of France, at the
revolutionary tribunal (1816) ; second, a simple and
faithful detail of the conduct of General Bonnaire,
commandant of the Place de Conde, who was accused
of having ordered the murder of Colonel Gordon, who
had been sent by the King to Conde to parley, and with
having participated in that murder (1816).
Whilst at the Cour de Caseation, M. Chauveau La-
garde never disavowed any of the reminiscences of his
life, and of his former profession. His death adds a
cruel loss to those which have for the last year so pain-
fully affected the Magistracy and the bar.

CRIM. CON. IN FRANCE ; OR THE
PARISIAN LADY IN A FRENCH PROVIN-
CIAL TOWN.

The Tribunal de Senlis lately had to judge a de-
mand of separation between a married couple living
in the vicinity of the town, and, as the affair excitod a
certain degree of interest, the Court was much crowded.
M. Coguassen appeared on behalf of Madame de
Lavallez,, the wife of the attorney of Neuilly on Teel,
'eZnd asked permission to prove certain ill-treatment, and
other injuries which his client had experienced from
her husband, and in virtue of which that lady
appealed to the court to pronounce separation between
the parties. The learned counsel stated that one
day when M. de Lavallee retuned home from sporting,
he accused his wife of being intimate with the tax-eel.
lector of Neuilly en Thel, and declared, with his gun
pointed towards her, that he would shoot her as he
would a bare, were it not the fear of the law, and.
finally flung a chair at his wife's bead. On another oc-
casion M. de Lavallee struck his wife, and told her
that were it not for legal consequences he would strangle
her. Soon after he gave her two slaps on the face, on
account of a pretended walk she had taken with some
young man, and had repeated the same brutal act a few
days after, under pretext of his wile having circulated a
report of his being intimate with a young and pretty maid
servant then living in the house.

M. Cognassen having expatiated on the behaviour,
hoped that the Court would grant the prayer of his
client relative to the separation, and would give orders
that she should be provided with a suns of 1,500 E, and
an annual allowance of I,ooof.

M. DUFAY, for M. de Lavallee, applied for separa-
tion, and regretted that he should be obliged to raise a
veil which served to cover acts highly afflicting to pub-
lic morality ; he would have to show the marriage vow
violated by a guilty wife, not merely once, but in the
most profligate manner, and would have to describe
most scandalous conduct under a husband's roof, conduct
not confined to the place where her husband resided,
but which bad been equally infamous in almost every
quarter of the capital. He (M. Dufay) produced no
less than 41 items in support of his client's prayer,
and asserted that Madame de Lavallee's life
had been one continued scene of criminal con-
versation. She had been intimate with the tax-
collector of Neuilly eu Thel, from 1830 to
1834 ; with the notary's head clerk from 1836
to 1838 ; and with M. de Lavallee's own clerk in 1838 ;