The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-30 00:00:00

FORTY-SHILLING FREEHOLDERS.

Mr. Cobden has addressed the following letter to
Mr. Scholefield, M.P., in answer to an invitation to
attend the annual meeting of the Birmingham Free-
hold Land Society :

" Hayling Island, Hants, Sept. 21, 1848.
"My dear Sir,—l have read, with much interest,
he letter written by Mr. Taylor, which you were so
good as to enclose to me, giving a detailed account
of the operations of the Freehold Land Society in
Birmingham and the neighbourhood. Should you
take the chair at the anniversary on the 6th of Oc-
tober, pray communicate my best wishes for the
success of the society, and my regret at not being
able to accept the pressing invitation of its indefa-
tigable secretary to be present at the meeting. In
your note, you tell me that the freehold qualification
movement claims me for its father. It is very ex-
traordinary that this mode of extending the franchise
did not occur to our Parliamentary Reformers long
ago. It was not until after the League had been
for nearly five years agitating for the abolition of
the Corn Laws that the idea of urging all Free-
traders to purchase forty-shilling freeholds struck
me. I don't know how it entered my head, but
I remember afterwards feeling astonished at not
having previously thought of so obvious a means
of effecting our object. Up to that time I could
never satisfactarily answer the question which was
constantly recurring in my own mind—' How can
the Corn Laws be repealed ?' But from the moment
when we launched the county qualification project, I
never felt the slightest doubt or difficulty in the
matter; it' became thenceforth merely question of
time and labour, both of which we were prepared to
give for the triumph of our principles. Five years
have since elapsed, and I am more than ever con-
vinced that the:Freehold Land Society of Birming-
ham has resorted to the only safe, certain, and legal
means of effecting those further political reforms
which are necessary to bring the Government into
greater harmony with the wants and wishes of the
majority of the people of this country. I observe a
disposition in certain quarters to flatter us English-
men with self-complacency and quiescence, by
pointing to the revolution of the Continent, and, like
the Pharisee, thanking heaven that we are not as
other nations are; but if we have escaped those con-
vulsions which have shook the very foundations of
social order amongst our neighbours, it is because,
whilst they have been politically stagnant, we
have been constantly reforming and changing, and
I see no other guarantee against revolutions
for the future but in the labours of earnest men, like
Mr. Taylor and his coadjutors, who inspire their
countrymen with confidence and hope that hence-
forth, as in times past, by moral means alone, all ne-
cessary reforms may be effected in the institutions
and practical policy of this kingdom. Whatever may
be the remedial changes desired by different classes of
Reformers, whether they be of an organic kind, such
as the extension of the suffrage, the ballot,
shorter Parliaments, a fairer apportionment of the
franchise—or of a practical character, such as the re-
duction or equalization of taxation, the maintenance
of peace, &c., the Freehold Land Society points out
the direct, and, I believe, the only path for reaching
the objects they have in view. With such a ready
means of arming themselves with political power,
available to the majority of Englishmen through the
exercise of a moderate share of prudence and economy
they will betray a want of self-respect if they do not,
by a general imitation of the example of your
society, obtain a sufficient control over the represen-
tation in the House of Commons, to secure the tri-
umph of those principles and that policy which shall
fairly reflect the public opinion of this country ; and
believe me, my dear Sir, faithfully yours,
RICHARD COBDEN.
William Scholefield, Esq., M.P.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, SEPT. 29.—Grocers
have shown more disposition to purchase West India
sorts this week, and several boards have found buyers at
steady rates; the refiners are still open to buy a large
quantity at the day's value, but there is scarcely any-
thing offering which is suitable for their purposes. The
salts of the week are about 400 hogsheads of West
Indian.—Bristol Mercury.
MAN SCALDED TO DEATIL-011 Tuesday last,
great sensation was caused in the neighbourhood of
Bridge- street, Warrington, owing to a report being cir-
culated that a man had been scalded
,to death. It ap-
pears, from what we can learn, that a man, named
Samuel Drinkwater, who was in the habit of assisting
at the brewhouse of Mr. Rebert Stanton, the Rose
and Crown Inn, Bridge-street, was, on the morning of
Tuesday last, engaged lading
,water from a large brew•
ing pan of boiling water, when he became overbalanced,
and was precipated headlong into the pan. Mr. Stanton,
who was present at the time of the occurrence, ran to his
assistance, and succeeded in pulling him out, not, how.
ever, without having his hands very severely scalded.
The body of the unfortunate man presented a horrifying
spectacle, his flesh being literally boiled off his bones.
Mr. Robson, surgeon, was promptly called in, and ren-
dered every assistance, but death put a period to his ex-
istence the same evening. Drinkwater has left a wife
and one child.—Liverpool Mercury.
On Friday last, a person having the appearance of
a commercial traveller, entered the bar of the Bell Inn,
at Ramsbury, and commenced offering cigars for sale. A
gentleman who was there inspected one box and then
another, which was immediately taken up by the man,
who was not a little surprised on being told that he was
in custody. The gentleman who bought the cigars was
the excise officer. The man, whose name is Thomas
Doughty (and was stated that he was an assistant to
Mr. Meadow, a chemist at Wantage), was taken before
Thomas Smith, Esq., at Ramsbury Manor, and remanded
till the following day, to give Mr. Meadow an oppor-
tunity of attending. Oa Saturday, at four o'clock, the
prisoner was again taken before the same magistrate,
when Mr. Meadow attended, and confirmed the state-
ment as to defendant being in his employ. Mr. M. said
that he was a licensed tobacconist, and was not aware
that he was infringing the law by sending round cigars
for sale. The penalty for this offence is 100/., with
power for the magistrate to mitigate it to one-fourth of
that amount. Mr. Smith said that the case was most
clearly proved, and indeed admitted by the defendant ;
but, under all the circumstances, ho should reduce the
penalty to the lowest amount in his power, and fine the
defendant 251., which was immediately paid by Mr.
Meadow.—Devises Gazette.

- -
SLIP OF EARTH ON THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE RAIL-
WAY.—During the past week a portion of the hill near
‘Varmsworth church, upon which the South Yorkshire
line of railway and the " spoil bank" rests, slipped
several feet. The " spoil bank," which runs parallel to
the railway line, consists of redundant material from the
cutting in the cliff. It is of great height and breadth,
and is supposed to have caused the slip in question. The
embankment has sunk several feet into the earth, as if
there had been a hollow beneath, and has forced the
surface-soil out of its place from the embankment to the,
edge of the river Don, where it has partly fallen in. The
line of railway has not been at all damaged or disturbed.
Doncaster Chronicle.

FIELD SPORT.—The Earl of Chesterfield, with a
distinguished party, has been shooting over the Earl's
extensive preserves. On Saturday last the Noble Earl,
with Prince George of Cambridge, Captain Oliver, and
Captain Wllonald, visited Stoke Fields for a day's
sport. They succeeded in killing 116 hares, and 63
brace of birds. When near the Burton Joyce Railway
station a hare eluded the sportsmen, and made its way
towards the village ; but being turned again, it went into
the yard of Mr. Cook, blacksmith, where a long pole
was reared in a slanting position against his shop. It
immediately began to ascend, and succeeded in getting
to the top, and from the pole on to the roof ; it then
ran along the roof of several houses and descended an
alder tree belonging to Mr. William Seston. Having
in vain tried to effect an entrance into his parlour win-
dow, by jumping against the glass several times, it was
ultimately caught at the house door.—Nottingham
Journal.
The Earl of Westmoreland is daily expected to
arrive from Berlin, having obtained leave of absence
from his diplomatic duties at the Court of Prussia. The
Countess came to town yesterday, from Apethorpe,
Northamptonshire, in order to meet the Noble Earl.
A "GREAT FACT" FOR llENwivEs.--A 'cute
Yankee has invented a nest, in the bottom of which
there is a kind of trap• door, through which the egg,
when laid, immediately drops; and the l►en, looking
round and perceiving none, lays another!—Boston (New
England) Paver,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NEWMARKET FIRST OCTOBER MEETING.
FRIDAY.
Match, 100, h ft. Last half of Ab.M.
Duke of Bedford's Festus, Bst 41b (F. Butler), bea
Mr. Pedley's Lady Mary, Bst 71b, by a head.
2to Lon Festus. Time 56 secs.
Match, 200, h ft. T.Y.C.

Lord Exeter's Carissima, 6 yrs, Bst 71b (Bartholomew,
beat Sir J. Hawley's Touchy, 2 yrs, 6st 71b, by two
lengths.

5t02 on Carissima. Run in 1 min. 16 sees.
Handicap Plate of 501.; for three yrs old and upwards.
A.F.
Mr. Verity's Diplomatist, 4 yrs, Bst 121 b (F. Butler) 1
Mr. Wilson's Duplicity, 3 yrs, 6st ... ... ... 2
Mr. Stephenson's Zisks, 4 yrs, Est 31b ... ... 3
Mr. Pettit's Blunderbuss, aged, Est ... ..• ... 4
Betting-5 to 4 agst Diplomatist, 2to 1 agst Zisk.t,
and sto 1 agst Duplicity. Blunderbuss made the run-
ning to the T.Y.C. post, when he was beaten, and Ziska
took the lead, followed by the favourite and Duplicity.
On entering the cords, the favourite went in front, and
won cleverly by a length. Run in 2 min. 26 secs.
Sweepstakes of 10 3ovs. each; for two yrs old, Est 121 b;
and three, Est 101 b. The winner to be sold for 100/.,
if demanded, &c. T.Y.C. (3 Subs.)
Lord Stanley's Circus (late Cannibal), 3 yrs ... 1
Lord Orford's cby Muley Moloch, out of Arsenic ... 2
Betting-11 to 10 on Circus, who made all the run-
ning, and won in a canter by two lengths.
Match, 200, h ft. D.I.
Mr. Pedley's Tuscan, Bst 41b (Templeman), beat the
Duke of Bedford's Minto, Bst 71b, by half a length.
_ . _ __.

5 to 2 on MintO.
Match, 200, h ft. D.M.
Lord Exeter's Swordplayer received forfeit from Co].
Peel's Sesostris.
The weather was wretchedly unfavourable, and the
attendance very thin.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—FRIDAY.
THE CESAREWITCH STAKES.-10 to 1 agst Lanesbo-
rough (taken)-12 to 1 agst Backbiter-12 to 1 agst
the Cur-12 to 1 agst Fern (take 15 to 1)-16 to 1 agst
Dacia (taken freely)-18 to 1 agst Surplice-25 to 1
agst Peep o'Day Boy-25 to 1 sgst Palma-25 tol
agst Inheritress-25 to 1 agst Meaux (taken)-25 to 1
agst Executrix (taken)-25 to 1 agst Panic (taken)-25
to 1 agst The Tartar-25 to 1 agst Loadstone.
THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAKES.-15 to 1 agst:Lanes-
borough-20 to 1 agst Foreclosure (taken)-20 to 1
agst Glendower (taken)— 25 to 1 agst The Cur (taken)
—25 to 1 agst Wanota (taken)-30 to 1 agst any other.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Mr. Morgan's hds., Mon., Viverdon; Thurs., Morwell
Down Toll- bar-10i.
Mr. Trelawny's hds., Tues., Slade Hall-11; Fri.,
Fleete Western Lodge-10.
Tiverton hds., Mon., Cruwys Morchard Mill; Thurs.,
Winsford Village; Sat., Huntsham Castle-10i.
Devon and Somerset stag hds., Tues., Simon's Bath;
Fri., Brendon-10.
Cowbridge hrrs., Mon., Agmore Down; Thurs., the
Golden Mile-10i.

CRICKET.

THE ELEVEN OF ALL ENGLAND v. EIGHTEEN OF

ESSEX.

This match was brought to a conclusion on Wednes-
day, at Chelmsford, by the Eleven winning, in one
i❑nings, by 52 runs. The score was— Essex, 58 and 31,
or 89; the Eleven, 141.

A QTJATICS.
RICHMOND JUNIOR AMATEUR REGATTA.
Notwithstanding the very heavy rain which fell
throughout the afternoon of Thursday, the above re-
gatta was proceeded with. It is almost unnecessary to
state that the assemblage of spectators was extremely
small, and that owing to the very inauspicious state of
the weather it was a very cheerless affair.
Scullers' match fora silver (model) wherry, and tankard