The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-02 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE CORN LAWS.

The following was omitted mistake in our Paper of
Saturday:
A meeting was held on Friday at the South American
Coffee-house, for the purpose of effecting the repeal of the
corn laws, by the formation of Anti-Corn Law Societies
throughout the kingdom.
The chair was taken by Mr. HAWES, 'M.P., for Lam-
beth.

The CHAIRMAN briefly stated the object of the meet-
ing. It was intended to institute an Anti-Corn Law
Society, whose views would be to obtain and spread
every possible information on the nature and effect of the
present corn laws, in the hope that such knowledge would
lead to their abolition by the easie►t and most satisfactory
method. It would be necessary that the society should
not he too large, as numerous assemblies were found in-
convenient ; but it was hoped that many similar small
societies would be formed in imitation of the " London
Anti-Corn Law Society, No. 1," both in London and
other parts of the kingdom. One of the principal methods
of diffusing information on the subject which it was in-
tended to adopt would be the dissemination of small tracts
and pamphlets, and he trusted that the time was not far
distant when their efforts to disabuse the people would be
crowned with success.

Mr. Btraclss observed that no discussion on the propriety
of abolishing the corn laws was necessary, as the attend-
ance of every gentleman there present was prima facie
evidence of his supporting the repeal, and they did not
want opponents --(Hear, bear, and a laugh.)
Resolutions were then passed, restricting the number of
members of the London Anti Corn Law Society, No. I
to 30, and appointing Mr. Hawes chairman, pre tempore,
of the•Socieiy, Mr. Burgess deputy-chairman pro tem.,
and Mr. Wilson honorary secretary, pro tem. and it was
resolved that these three gentlemen, with two others,
should form the preliminary committee, who were to
conduct the proceedings of the three first meetings of the
Society. Subsequent resolutions declared that fresh
and regulations, teased on what other societies might have
determined upon, or what might be deemed expedient and
necessary, should be submitted to the fourth meeting, to
be then discussed and voted upon by ballot, when fresh
officers might be elected; that every member should have
his name enrolled on the books, and pay one guinea on
entrance, and that the resolutions then passed should be
printed, and copies given to every member and officers
of other Anti-Corn Law Societies.

Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meet-
ing separated.
A very clever summary of the arguments in favour of
the corn laws, with the title of " Form of a Petition to
the Upper House agiinst any alteration i❑ the Corn Lire,"
was laid on the table. The irony and terse humour which
pervades the composition, must cut, like a two-edged
sword, through the ranks of the advocates of the present
system.

MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION IN EDINBURGH FOR THE

REPEAL OF THE CORN LAWS.

A meeting of tradesmen was held on Wednesday last, in
the Old Burgher Alerting House, High-street, Edinburgh
for the purpose of forming an association to assist in pro-
curing a repeal of the corn laws. Mr. Boyd, cabinet-
maker, in the Chair.

Mr. W. Biadan, printer, remarked, that the injurious
operation of the cern laws was too well known and felt to
require description. It only remained to consider by what
means the grievous and intolerable tax imposed upon an
article of the first necessity could be got rid of. At one
time the corn laws totally prevented the importation of
foreign grain until the price of home grown wheat rose to
70s. per quarter. In 1827, a graduated scale of duties
was introduced, which operated thus :—When the price
of home-grown wheat was 608. per quarter, foreign wheat
was admissable at a duty of 209.; for every Is. that
the home article rose, the duty fell 3s. ; on the
other hand, for every 19. the home grown wheat fell
below 60s. the duty rose 2s. This law had produced
no benefit to the consumer; none to the grower; much
risk to the importer, from the fluctuation of duty; and
considerable loss to the British shipowner. Mr. Biggar
remarked, that the landed interest defended the continu-
ance of the monopoly, on the ground that a heavier hoiden
of taxation was borne by them than by the community.
This was not true ; and if it were, these burdens were
only an equivalent for the monopoly they enjoyed, and no
just cause of complaint until that monopoly should be re-
moved. if the price of grain in this country were reduced
to the level of the Continent (as it would be by the aboli-
tion of the Corn Laws), the foreign artisan would be
placed on an equal footing with themselves, and the supe-
rior skill of tbe British operative, aided by those vast
powers of machinery which had hitherto acted against
him, would enable British industry to command the
market of the world. The foreign manufacturer would
find it his interest to till the soil ; increased production
would be caused by increased demand, and better employ-
ment and cheaper food would fall to the lot of tbe distressed
and impoverished mechanic. It was said that we should thus
be rendered dependant fur food upon nations with which we
might be at war. Which were the corngrowing nations ?
America, Poland, and Sweden, Who thought of war with
America ? What would be the use of war with Sweden ? As
to Poland, he trusted England was more likely to lift the
sword for than against her. By a repeal of the corn lives
the expense of victualling our army and navy would he
lessened. By the renewed demand for labour which is
sure to follow, one great burden on the land—the poor
laws—would he much circumscribed. The benefit, in
short, would he shared by all classes. By rendering the
duty fixed, and reducing it at once from the present rate
of 345. to 204., with a further annual reduction of 2s. or
Ss., the prospect of a total repeal would be opened up,
while time would be left to the farmer to redeem his con-
tract to Iris landlord, to the foreign grower to extend his
cultivation, and the revenue would suffer no sudden and
unprepared-for diminution. Mr. Biggar concluded his long
and able speech, which was frequently interrupted by loud
cheers, in these words :—" You cannot but have heard of
the forming of Agricultural Associations throughout the
country—nor can you be at a loss to guess their object.
The landlords and farmers are banding themselves to re-
trio their privileges and profits. They are already in the
field. Their influence with the Government and Legis-
lature is great ; in one branch it is supreme. What, then,
is left for us, but to follow their example—to unite—and
by unceasing exertion and untiring agitation, make up
for our want of power and influence ? The cause is your
own—it affects you in the closest manner. Much care,
zeal, and discretion will be required, but the movement
once made—the agitation once begun—similar associations
will spring up in every quarter of tbe country ; and how-
ever difficult the task, however long the struggle, depend
upon it, the Corn Laws must and will be repealed. I
beg to move—' That it is the opinion of this meeting,
that an association to assist in obtaining a repeal oc,,;,he
corn laws be formed without delay.' "—(Continued
cheering.)
The resolution was carried.— Glasgow Argus.

Mr. MAcAuLA.Y...—It is rumoured in the po-
litical circles in London, that the Honourable Member
for Leeds, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Esq., is likely to
receive the appointment, from the East India Directors,
of a seat in the Council of the " Governor• General of
India," in which Council the whole civil and military
government of all the territories and revenues of India
is vested by the Act of the last session of Parliament, for
opening the trade and for the better government of India.
In the 37th clause of this Act it is provided—" That
there shall be five ordinary members of the Council, four
of whom shall he from tune to time appointed by the
said Court of Directors from amongst such persons as shall
be, or shall have been, servants of the said Company ;
and each of the said four ordinary members of Council
shall, at the time of his appointment, have been in the ser-
vice of the said Company, for at least ten years ; and that
the fifth ordinary member of the council shall from time
to time he appointed from amongst persons who shall not
be servants of ti.e said Company, by the said Court of
Directors, subj et to the approbation of his Majesty, to be
signified in writing by his royal sign manual, counter-
signed by the President of the said Board." If we rightly
comprehend the matter, Mr. Macaulay, should the
appointment take place, will be this " fifth member
of Gomel'," the principal iduty of whose office, as a
member of the Council of the Governor-General, will be
to give instructions to, and communicate with, the " Indian
law commissioners." If anything can reconcile the electors
of Leeds to the less of a representative of so touch worth
and talent as Mr. Macaulay, it will be the consideration
that the in in of their first choice will in future, and in
some degree through their instrumentality, be engaged in
forming a code of laws not only for the benefit of
100,000,000 of people in the present age, but for secur-
ing the persons and the property of this large portion of
the human race in future generations. A nobler object of
ambirion it is nit possible to conceive, nor can higher or
more important functions br, confided to a human being.
Should Mr. Macaulay's appointment take place, there
will, of course, be a vacancy in the rei.resentation of this
borough. We se iteely need say that the electors of
Leeds will again exercise their franchise in favour of some
consistent friend of freedom and reform ; rind that no
Tory, no friend of close corporations, rotten boroughs, and
religious intolerance, would have any chance of obtaining
their support.—Leeds Mercury.

Wheat.

Aberdtva ....., 135 45
Berwick...—. 1 l'.'o 35
Coldstream ...... 35 42
, upar ...........1 fa 56
Dundee,...,,._ 'Lo 60
Elgin--- 4:' c,
Inverness.-- 46 50
Kelso .....—..... 30 36
Kirkaldy...—.., 4R 61
Perth —.... 50 56
rt,s_ The size of the me.