The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-22 00:00:00

SUGAR AND COFFEE DUTIES.

Lieu,
°; ISTICAL SOCIETY, May 20.
the Chair.
, w senartt-Celone' Sykes, F.R.S., V.I ~
I,,ibuticstnicct fur the evening was entitledin" A Third -Con-
i'tots ~'" Iftarcls a knowledge of the Infl.uenceeaosifonErnthpeloayt,-
lotio„"lmiti Health, by Dr. Guy." On this odc
sllft)tt-L4 the members was confined to the iseaseknoewonn-,
e'4l4li4"r too well in this country, as pulmonary
lx,tadfili the number of deaths from this dreaded and
'sic* ;in occurring in every year. in England and
'i'llt,riftio. the round numbers 36,000, being rather less than
‘,lll le-a-':1 01 the mortality for all cases, a all. agheosaenfidftoenene
'bneSsi'o-rtueti six of the total deaths occurring
Fatty,, tarat'd• Dr. Guy' classed . hi,snpdaftoieunntds, uthnedreerastuhlrteeofhgeraedast,
tier, ~ esmen, and artisans, , .
he' ‘44t the per tentage proportion of deaths whouldfianrgleasns
411,tkrreo4:;htrY than in the artisans, the trt.idesmen.hle
to
place
t,„." t ;,,Ifito Place. Dr. Guy inquires, "is it possible
dieti,-t'solen and the artisans in the same favourtarbetleehciro-f
ii141111;47" as the gentry?"' It
.would be a great s
titheii cti to suppose that it could be
td. olneeleantteonnt_ce.
a.f meat ameliorations time is an essen ia
Zsidyfri'''t the reformationor of bad habits—time for the
Oat ei of streets, the enlarging of
.housefs,
hoursthe reo-f
N-Loosir"P f,workshops,the shortening o
I ..,r, f,. ark
thillly ' nage and venilation, for the more abundannt
,48, 7 water, for public baths, for the increase of ope
s4l ti.,,;°' ex-rcise and recreation. Habits of intedmepsterreanfceor
„.vot.e I,l;',,sutld'enly brow into disease, nor will a
mace
)4710 be ereatedday. As in the case of temper
i.eier i of ventilation, the example must thebesettobsypread
"', three tasses before the contagion can be expected
lowtsr. ,
~
t,l,4tlllin b 0 long as the richdshlalleebseofcoanstseentnthtloy,enwdhuer.e-
ohl,, atmosphere of crowde p a
Dll•Miti..."'it or private the poor may be expecteddttoo remain
t_iti.titftri.t to the foul' air of their workshops, and
CT .3 ofrix!u nnti'r to the manifold inconveniences of their
mat, jh emdence. It is only, then, after the lapse of years,
petted ete,Oliditiin of the tradesman and artisan can be ex .
Z°rtaiit
..e so in proved as to reduce their present fearful
cand 0 3 from consumption to the low level of the more for-
'4.°ll, fees Much however, may be donelatt.oonncoef.
housesSonie
&1111c1 worksmlt at least may' be made for the ventilation a
Lilt's of labour.
OA ~11()Ps and for the shortening o
tiiittorllet,trao„r,,,sraoofloiisoiyo:es: wele,urlyd a
year.ve, inT
ht liise i
snni eottr oapoi natteralone,eomniaeney.
re s, i • Av 7 .. estimate merely,tereribgu admitstdisca of
fedle n,twoendstatrhans--
ill
„,, spirited and n
" al' t e paper, and the meeting, which wash ery
Bent, 2 , thoef lady
on!
Am,s
seNtrated at a late hour.
Th...,...........—is
morning, ..................... f
Capt.
4vl-I_,hilthl4.---
b I) -htle4 Pidding, of Sydenhl‘almay,
1,-am 1:---i'oRs A.ND CRSDITORS—LORD BROU,hG.lich .has
"%a' .--:11a„ Bill introduced by Lord Brougham,
I,l.twz onrt_.'itliti;d. second time, _ contains only fourteenw sections.l
it l, bobtors a-84 Actarrangements
Creditoforrs,f,aciTlihtaetpinrgeamble
r, arrZpedient that trust deeds, and other amicable declares
e,‘"trfraycijullattnlecle,rlt between debtors and their creditors should
+ls and that better means should be provided for
inset .t r same in' to effect." After the passing of th
L'ttt hi Shall be lawful for any debtor who is unable to
44%0 trar
.'14.91 -4
cement with his creditors,
osfuchoned-etbhtiordr not
v er and , with the concurrence .
I°ll, Petition' value ti-
etttiaillg Bankruptcy,
of his creditors, who shall sign a pe
the Chief Judge of the Court ofo
PreteetZrtil, .al his debts, property, &c.,
~_l)°sitl ' "„ iron). imprisjmnent, and he shall ma
.e a shall
and praying o be
Ziliont,' Pay the creditors, to which ono third
'ode of •11- commissioner is to examine in private the
ro„na tn. contracting the debts, and then to appoint a se-
tilorr.ea'oeiutitnignn:t which an official assignee may preside,tnapsd.
adopted to be reported to the commis-
le
thei
iletoil, nti alle first meeting to be called by notice, and at
„-4° arra-r„ctrtain number of creditors must agree to acceptto_
,„"ttoh tn-„,-„,s,,eutellt proosed, the resolution or agreemen '
'itleie 0;'„„"ng not to be valid unless one-third in number and
Y ail ' ."-t the creditors were present either in person or
arici 4 authorised agent. The resolution is to be confirmed,
*Nit in tatnliorary
.protection afforded. The property is o
*ere a trustee without ded as fully as if such trustee
Amide aa ass- • bankruptcy.any e " -,- • • take
ate if , lue in Examinations may n
. si, Lt us suspected a full disclosure has not beef,. 4 4 t'rlUdetii to be freed on performance of their duties, an
laiLl tine
so tbe granted to the petitioning debtor, which
orzave thame effect as a certificate of conformity in
Itacr,,PtoY• The Court of Bankruptcy is to make rules
4110:17rk,ie:aC.:regueottivieanthliii6aPnis to carry the Act into operation. This
rnehably be considered at the same time as
'8
hill, but the Bills clash considerably, and
CI the law of debtor mid. creditor very perplexing. A
tile'
starree,,nti measure is expected to be brought forward on
g„Ler 1' ti 'et.
tlkilition a woe. men are busily employed in making
ii,,eiA, ,
,fitnai,ined alterations at the Royal Observatory, Green,-
purpose of facilitating the scientific labours of
teti:j:lssrle on stillile)
„,In pier ,oval.
wiCt.
liall painioSfal'ebCruaar3t Al`Caarrivedbe,at, e
~
in at
• welt gale off the Falkland passengersldand and crew all

of fewer resources.
That by the existing arrangements the public profes-
sors are made comparatively useless. That the college
tutors are not likely to possess equal age and experi-
ence, nor to be so eminent, each in many branches, as
professors who have devoted themselves to one. That
the present usage of celibacy, enforced upon college
fellows, would be well exchanged for some other
mode of limiting the tenure of fellowships. That
the innovation
_of private tutors testifies to the inade-
quacy of the established and avowed system of instruc-
tion. That the additional expense which the private
tuition inflicts, is itself a serious evil. That artificial
restraints exist, which hinder the ablest and most active
minds in these Universities from introducing such im-
provements, as time and the advance of knowledge would
suggest. That their action is paralysed, by the use of
the Latin language in the University assemblies, by the
inability of those assemblies to originate any public mea-
sure, and by the want of all corporate organisation of the
public professors.
That the Institution of Faculties was intended to
secure for different studies their due attention, and has
had this effect in other universities; but that the power
gained by the colleges has overthrown this design.
That since the heads of houses are become the chief
University authority, their appointment should.neelonger
be regarded as the private affair of their particular
college. That the necessity imposed on most college
fellows to take holy orders, has had the effect of
securing that a decided majority of the resident acade-
micians shall be ecclesiastics. That to the undue pre-
ponderance of the clergy over the laity in university
legislation and in college administration, very many of
the evils here recounted may be traced. That the pre-
dominance of the clergy, and their employment as secu-
lar teachers, (whatever other advantages may be attri-
buted to this,) has not led to the successful cultivation
of scientific theology : a fact which is manifest in the
neglect of the Hebrew languge, of ecclesiastical history,
and of all profound Biblical erudition, as well as in the
absence of examinations for the theological degrees.
That the natural expansion of these universities is
checked by the too complete monopoly which the exist-
ing colleges and halls possess. That by restoring to
every Master of Arts his ancient right to open an inde-
pendent hall as its principal, increased accommodation
would be advantageously gained. That in this way able
and popular men would find free course for their talents,
with more satisfaction to themselves, and benefit to the
university at large, than by the present system of pri-
vate tuition.
That the religious tests still existing in these Univer-
sities belong to a system of policy entirely obsolete at
the present day; having been imposed at a time when it
was in many ways made penal to be a Dissenter from
what was then the only religious system recognised by
the secular power: whereas at present, not only are
Christians of every name admitted into the national
councils, but several different churches, both Protestant
and Roman Catholic, are upheld by public authority in
the same British empire.
That the large and increasing body of persons who
are excluded from the National Universities, by reli-
gious reasons, are hereby treated as if they were not
possessed of full citizenship in the British nation; and
are prevented from cultivating many of the sympathies,
by which all parts of this great community ought to be
knit together.
That Masterships of Grammar Schools are, by the
foundation deeds or by custom, frequently limited to
those who have attained the Degree of Master of Arts
in one of the two Universities, Oxford and Cambridge ;
and that many able and deserving persons, being ex-
cluded from graduation in those Universities, are hereby
prevented from holding the masterships of such schools
and assisting in the education of youth.
That the advancement of professional men in Eng-
land is often retarded, whatever their merit in other re-
spects, if they have not had the advantage of residence
and a Degree at one of the ancient Universities.
That the Institution of the London University, how•
ever valuable in its own place, cannot supersede the
advantages to be gained by opening the ancient univer-
sities and their colleges to all her Majesty's subjects;
nor can it lessen the equitable rights of parties who
are at present precluded from admission by the re-
ligious tests.
That the intercourse of the youth of all religious de-
nominations in the same universities, would exceedingly
tend to soften the asperity of religious party; and while
on the one hand it increased the sincerity of religious
profession within these establishments, it would on the
other diffuse a beneficial influence beyond their precincts,
in families and communities now cut off from them.
That the barriers at present kept up in these two
Universities are so opposed to the whole genius of our
age, as testified by the usage of similar learned esta-
blishments both in Great Britain and on the Continent,
that it is morally impossible for them to start for any
long time; while every year's delay is likely to render
their ultimate removal more necessary, yet more em-
barassing, from the increase of party spirit and mutual
embitterment.
That the successive Acts in the progress of the Pro-
testant Reformation, which interfered with the disposal
of Academical property,—so far as they rested on any
just principle, and were therefore permitted to be per-
manent,—aimed to adjust the condition of the univer-
sities to the growth and changes of the times : and to
render them fit nurseries, not only for the liberal pro-
fessions, but also for your Honourable House itself :
accordingly, in consequence of the admission of all pro-
fessed Christians into her Majesty's Councils and into
both Houses of Parliament, the same reasons which for-
merly dictated the opening of Rotnan Catholic endow-
ments to Protestant Episcopalians, now apply, with equal
force, for admitting lay Christians of every name into
both the Universities, to compete on equal terms for all
honours attached to intellectual eminence.
That no sound principle can be found, upon which
the subscription to any religious test can be required in
connection with giving or receiving literary or scientific
instruction.
That to require a religious subscription from youths
who are about to begin their higher education, is pecu-
liarly vain and injurious ; inasmuch as it supposes them
to have already formed their judgment on arduous
questions, concerning which even their sires are by no
means agreed.
That the daily attendance enforced at the morning or
evening service of the Church, has not at all produced
the beneficial results which were intended: while in
proportion to the greater solemnity of the service, a yet
deeper evil of the same kind is in many colleges inflicted
by the compulsory attendance at the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper.
That the maintenance of all that'is high and holy in
Truth, depends on the spiritual qualities of its professors;
which qualities are likely to be called out in greatest
lustre, when they are not superseded by the possession
of political ascendancy.
That no sufficient check exists, nor without legislative
alterations can exist, on the facilities afforded to young
men at the universities for running into debt, nor any
sure means by which a parent may gain timely know-
ledge that his son is so involving himself.
That many of these defects have been repeatedly sub-
mitted to both Houses of Parliament, and in consequence
partial attempts at revision and improvement have been
made by some of tile colleges ; but the alterations have
been, and are likely in future to be, so trivial, that no
national advantage can be anticipated from them.
That the most important defects cannot be remedied
by the action of the universities from within ; inasmuch
as they are the result of public enactments, which were
devised with the express purpose of perpetuating the
present character of the universities.
That the laws, customs, and internal discipline of the
universities and colleges of Oxford and Cambridge were
revised by public Commissioners in the reigns of Henry
VIII., Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and Charles I. :
in which visitations the most important and fundamental
alterations were made in every part of. the university
and college system. Especially those prayers for the
dead, on which the college founders generally laid so
much stress, have been long since removed from the
college formularies, so as virtually to rescind their ex-
press regulations, and decisive measures having been
used to-prevent college founders from laying a religious
yoke on the neck of the University. Moreover, in the
case of Queen's College, Cambridge, the necessity of
ordination for the presidency of a college has in a recent
instance been dispensed with; and the fellowships of St.
John's College, Cambridge, have been opened by Royal
letters patent to all natives of England and Wales.
That the subject is so large and various, and has re-
ceived so little attention from the supreme power since
the Revolution of 1688—during which time the greatest
social changes have taken place in England, with a vast
simultaneous development of political, historical, moral,
and material science, in the principal States of Europe;
that a full and searching visitation of these universities
and their colleges appears to your petitioners to be once
more urgently needed.
Your petitioners therefore pray yonr Honourable
House to address her Majesty,
that she will be graciously
pleased to appoint a Commission, to inquire into all
matters relating to the statutes, revenues, trusts, pri-

THE WEST INDIA. BODY.
Yesterday, pursuant to public advertisement, a general
meeting of planters, merchants, and others interested in the
BritisliWest India colonies, took place at Willis's Rooms,
King-street, St. James's, '• to consider the propriety of peti-
tioning the Legislature against any alteration in the duties
on sugar, coffee, laid cocoa, which should not embrace a re-
duction of the duties on similar produce from the British
possessions."
Viscount Combermere was-called on to preside. The Earl
of Harewood, Viscount St. Vincent, Lord Saltoun, Lord Reay,
Sir W. Codrington, Bart., M.P., Sir A. L. Hay, M.P., Sir A.
Grant, P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P., Sir W. W. Balling, Bart.,
Sir John Rae Reid, Sir R. C. Dallas, Sir Alexander
Crichton, Colonel Lindsay, 111 P., Sir R. Houston, Bart., Mr.
John Stewart, M.P., Mr. R. Bernal, M.P., Mr. J. In. East,
M.l'., :Mr. John Abel Smith, M.P., Mr. J. A. Mackinnon,
M.P., Mr. J. Irving, M.P., Mr. Neil Malcom, Mr. Burge,
Mr. Hibbert, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Kynaston, Mr. Maxwell
Alexander, and a number of other influential West India
proprietors were present.
The Noble CHAIR3LAN observed that the meeting had
been convened in consequence of the determination of her
Majesty's Government to make such an alteration of the
duties on sugar, &c., as would, unless a strenuous effort
were made on the part of the West India proprietary
to resist it, involve the whole of them in utter ruin. A
variety of representations had been made to her Majesty's
Ministers upon the subject, but without success, and the only
course now open to them was an appeal to the Legislature.—
(Hear.) The resolutions it was intended to propose, were as
mild as under all the circumstances they could be expected to
be, and exhibited forcibly the injuries which had been in-
flicted on the West India body of proprietors since the aboli-
tion of slavery.—(Hear.) All they now sought for was pro-
tection, and they had a right to demand that, if the duties on
the sugar of foreign colonial produce were .to be reduced,
the duties on British colonial sugar should be reduced also.
The Noble Lord concluded by hoping that the representations
which would be made that day would induce her Majesty's
Government to take the matter into their earnest and serious
consideration.—(Cheers.)
The Earl of HAREWOOD proposed.the first resolution. He
felt the greatest reliance on her Majesty's Government ;;still
he was convinced that if their proposed measure were carried
out it would tend much to the injury of the British colonies.
(Hear.) He possessed an estate in Jamaica, upon which his
grandfather had expended from 11,0001. to 12,0001. in hard
cash, and which had generally yielded no return. Indeed,
since slavery had been abolished, he had felt it necessary to
lay the land in fallow, and give up entirely the cultivation of
the estate.—(Hear.) Prior to the abolition of slavery there
were 400 slaves on that estate, but now there was not a
quarter of that number of labourers. He hoped the Govern-
ment would see the necessity of altering their opinions.
Sir EDWARD HYDE EAST seconded the resolution, and
contended that if the project of Ministers were carried, it
would not only destroy the West India colonies, but tend
greatly to depreciate our commercial and State navy.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Lord SALTOUN proposed the second resolution. He was
received with applause. He thanked the meeting for the
warmth with which they had received him on his return to
England. He had had very little to do with the West India
colonies in his own person, but he had ample opportunities
of knowing the claim which the West India colonists had
upon the kind feelings of the mother country, and he could
not shut his eyes to the fact that great injury would result
to the British colonies if the proposition of the Government
were carried out.—(Hear, hear.) It was not only the West
India proprietary body that had to be looked to ; they must
bear in mind the vast amount of money wholly arising from
West India property, upon which widows and fatherless
children were dependent.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CARLNGTON, in seconding the resolution, showed that
it was by legislation on the part of the mother country, and
through no act of their own, that the British West India
islands were reduced to their present position. He repudiated
the idea that the colonies themselves had established slavery,
and declared that, although his property, by its abolition, had
dwindled from thousands to hundreds, he would sooner that
it dwindled to nothing than return to that most inhuman
and debasing system.—(Cheers.) If the present Government
were determined to carry out certain dogmas of political
economy, such as cheap sugar, &c., for the mere sake of po-
pularity here, they had no right to do so at the expense of the
British colonists.

The motion was carried.
Lord REAP moved the third resolution.
Mr. MACKINNON, M.P., seconded the motion. The British
Government had given the colonists 17 millions by way of
compensation, when it was proved, in 1832, that the value if
their property was 140 millions ; therefore to say the former
sum was compensation was absurd. He contended that the
Ministry had no right to earn popularity at home by taking
money out of the pockets of the West India colonists.—
(Hear, hear.) The duty and freight of sugar of West India
produce did not amount to less than 335. per hundred weight,
and add to that 275. for the cost of production, it amounted
to nearly 60s. Now, we could purchase Manilla sugar for
17s. per cwt. in bond, and adding a duty of 345., made 51s.—
thus underselling the West India proprietor by 85. or 9s. per
cwt. in the market. If the Government were really desirous
of giving the public cheap sugar, why did they not reduce
the duty on West India grown sugar to 205., and keep fo-
reign sugar at 345. ?—(Hear.)
Viscount ST. VINCENT moved the fourth resolution.
Sir ALEXANDER GRANT, in seconding the proposition, ad-
verted to the loss the planters had suffered from the term of
apprenticeship having been abridged. Abolition of slavery
reduced the annual importation from the West India islands
and British Guyana from between four and five million hun-
dred weight of sugar annually, to three million five hundred
and twenty thousand six hundred and seventy-six hundred
weights ; and, in 1841, when the apprenticeship was abo-
lished, the importation fell to 2,148,218 cwts. The loss upon
this, including the eight out of the twelve. years' apprentice-
ship, which the colonists had lost, amounted to upwards of
fourteen millions sterling.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore de-
nounced the present attempt still further to take money out
of their pockets.—(Hear.)
This resolution was adopted.
Sir W. Codrington, Sir A. Leith Hay, Sir 'R. Dallas, Mr.
J. Stewart, M.P., Sir John Rae Reid, Mr. P. M. Stewart,
M.P., Mr. J. Smith, M.P., and other gentlemen addressed
the meeting, and the remainder of the resolutions, fifteen in
number, were agreed to, as was.also a petition to the:Legis-
lature founded on them.
Thanks having been awarded to the Noble Chairman, the
meeting separated.