The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-03 00:00:00

soldier, exerted himself to strike off the fetters of cap-
tivity, and to give once more to freedom the glorious
chieftain of the Arabs in whose veins flows the blood
(of MAIIOMET

Whatever may be the views and feelings of the
Protectionist " rank and file," and of their would-be
leaders, the PAUL FOSKETTS, CHOWLERS, et hoc genus
omne, it is quite manifest that the more important
r umbers of the party have seen the utter absurdity
cif persisting in a vain struggle te bring back the de-
funct corn-laws, or to revive the infamous bread-tax.
At every bucolic gathering we find the principal
guests of the evening giving in their adhesion to the
opinions recently put forward by Mr. DISRAELI at
Aylesbury, and cautioning the tenant-farmers
against indulging in any sanguine anticipations of
legislative interference. They were earnestly advised
to put their shoulders to the wheel and endeavour to
overcome the difficulties and impediments of
which they are complaining by their own exertions
and from their own resources, and informed that if
any aid is to be afforded, it must be sought fob in the
only legitimate quarter—from the proprietors of the
soil, who should make abatements adequate to the
exigencies of the case. This is as it should be. It is
of the utmost importance that the British farmer
should learn his true position; that he should prepare
himself for the fair and open competition to which
he must be exposed, and not waste his time in un-
availing grumblings, or in unreasonable expectations
which can never be realized.

At Watlington last week Messrs. HARCOURT and
HENLEY made clean breasts of it. They took the
advantage of the opportunity afforded by
meeting a numerous and influential body of
their constituents to explain their tardy con-
viction, to which they had at length unwillingly
yielded. Nothing could be mere candid or straight-
forward than Mr. HARCOURT. After explaining the
deep personal interest which he, as the owner of land
in five different counties, must necessarily feel in all
relating to the cultivation of the soil, and the pros-
pects of agriculture, and briefly and gracefully
touching on the sacrifices which he had felt it his
duty to make in order to meet his tenantry halfway,
and participate in their losses, he boldly confessed the
error into which he had fallen in opposing the pro-
position of Lord JOHN RUSSELL for a fixed duty,
and supporting the sliding scale in opposition. The
Honourable Gentleman acknowledged that had he
ten years since expressed that opinion, or
voted with the Whig Minister, it would have
led to the termination of his connexion with

the constituency of the county of Oxford, but he at
the same time asserted, that had he then entertained
his present views, he would have delivered his senti-
ments fearlessly and unequivocally, without reference
to the personal consequences. He then declared that
"the state of things as they were in 1846 and 1847
could not have existed," adding, "it was essential
something should be done."
Warming with his subject, and encouraged by the
cheers with which his previous statements had been
received, the Honourable Gentleman expressed his
belief that " one of the worst votes he ever gave, and
which was most calculated to be prejudicial to the
interests of the agricultural community, was in the
year 1815, when he voted that no foreign corn should
be introduced unless the price was 80s. That year the
price was 803.; but the distress prevailing everywhere
was such that nothing since had equalled it. The
next year it was 605., when the farmers were almost
ruined." Should not these unquestionable facts,
established by the testimony of a trustworthy and
unimpeachable witness, induce the farmers to pause
and investigate the real causes of existing difficulties ?
From the examples cited by Mr. HARCOURT, and
many others that could be adduced, they may see
that " protection" did not help them in the olden
time. It was the tampering with the currency that
led to the distress in those days, and nothing but the
removal of the unjust restrictions since imposed,
which the regulators of the circulating medium were
then preparing for, can provide a fitting remedy.
Let them, if they really wish for relief, look to an
alteration of the monetary code,
_which would indeed
afford protection to every species of British industry.
If Mr. HENLEY did not quite agree with his Hon.
Colleague in regretting his past votes, he was at least
equally explicit as to the future policy that should be
pursued. Without expressing any approval of the
change that has taken place, his complaint was rather
that the question had not received " a full and free in
vestigation," than that the decision then arrived at
was erroneous ; but with respect to that decision he
said----" I see no signs whatever, so far as my ob-
servation enables me to judge, that would enable those
gentlemen who represent you in Parliament, with any
chance of success, to ash for a new trial and a
new verdict. I know I am speaking to parties
who have had an adverse judgment given.
The judgment has been given against us. lam
speaking technically, of course. You cannot get that
judgment set aside unless you can carry facts to found
a new trial upon. I say, at present we have not these
facts. When we have them we shall know how to
deal with them. But it is useless for gentlemen to
expect their representatives to make out a case, if that
case is not supported by facts out of doors. You
must take facts into Parliament, nothing else is of
any use there, and what is more, these must be of a
nature to show that they are at least emanations from
a majority of the people."
These open confessions were received, like /‘lr.
HARCOURT'S, with considerable applause. The
farmers of Oxfordshire clearly acquiesced in
the views of their representatives as to
the uselessness of making any further
struggle to bring back protective laws, and the ab -
solute necessity of accommodating themselves to the
present circumstances of the country. In Berkshire,
too, Mr. PALMER, M.P., told the assembled agricul-
turists that, " with the present House of Commons
the restoration of protection was altogether out of
the question ; what might be done, if the country
at the next general election should spoak out, no man
could say, but if, on the other hand, the result of the
next general election should be to confirm the policy
adopted i❑ 1846, the county Members could not help it,
and their constituents must patiently accommodate
themselves to circumstances."
With such indications, it requires no extraordinary
foresight to predict the course that will be pursued
by the Protectionists next session of Parliament.
It is perfectly clear that the question of the restora-
tion of any corn-law, of any tax, however trifling,
on food, is thrown overboard for the present. The
real contest will take place when the dissolution of
Parliament renders an appeal to the country neces-
sary, and if the Free-traders are then worthy of
themselves, if they duly appreciate the inestimable
blessing of " a cheap loaf," the much-vexed ques-
tion will be at once and for ever set at rest.

HEIL MAJESTY'S JOU'R.NEY SOUTIIWIRD.—It is
expected that her Majesty will arrive at Edinburgh on the
evening of Tuesday from Balmoral, and that she will leave
the Caledonian Railway station, Lothian-road, next morn-
ing, between eight and nine o'clock, on her way south
Luncheon has been ordered for the royal party at Lan-
caster, on Wednesday the Bth instant, at two o'clock. The
journey thence will likely occupy from four-and-a-half to
live hours, the distance being 170 miles.—Scotsman.

•
ACCELERATION Or THE NORTHERN MID-DAY
MAlL.—Yesterday the merchants and men of business in the
City were somewhat agreeably surprised by receiving, at
two o'clock, instead of past three o'clock as usual, their let-
ters and newspapers from the north, thereby enabling them
to write off their replies, and leave the ledger an hour
earlier. The convenience is the result of an acceleration of
this mail from the Ist inst., by direction of the Po,tmaster-
General, the mail hating left Liverpool at 1.15, instead of
6, n. M.

THE SWELLY RocKs.—When Lord John Russell
inspected the Britannia-bridge, during his recent visit to
Wales, his attention was drawn to the Swelly Rocks by Mr.
T. Asalleton Smith, and it being at the time low water, his
Lordship had an opportunity of seeing the great obstruction
which they form to the due navigation of the Straits. His
Lordship seemed impressed with the importance of the sub-
ject, and it is confidently expected that their removal will be
de ermined upon. If these rocks were blasted, nearly the
whole of the Irish trade south of Wicklow-head would find
a di, ect passage through the Straits at a great saving of time
and distance. The question excites deep interest in the lo-
cality, being of the greatest importance, not only to North
Wales, but also to the whole of the western coast of Eng-
land. The Premier and family, on quitting Beddgelert,
proceeded to the delightful vales of Ffestiniog and Tanyb-
wich, and having visited the princival objects of interest,
and attended divine service on Sunday in Maentwrog church,
passed through Rhyl, to honour with a visit the Lord.Lien-
tenant of the county, the Hon. E. M. Lloyd Mostyn, M.P.,
at Mostyn-hall.
DEPARTURE OF THE WEST INDIA MAIL.---The
Royal Mail steam-ship Dee, Captain Allan, left Southamp.
ton yesterday afternoon, with the usual West India mail,
and dispatches from Government to all the West India colo-
nies. She took out the large number of 120 passengers,
specie to the amount of 4,000/., and a full miscellaneous
cargo. The homeward mail will be brought by the Clyde,
Captain Moss.