The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-15 00:00:00

P/RIT of the PUBLIC 'JOIJRNALS

FnOM THE EVENING &mils OF YESTERDAY.
STANDARD.--The Factory Bill was last night read
a third time and passed in the House of Commons; Lord
Ashley's amendment (limiting the hours of labour in
factories of young persons to ten) having been
rejected, after a long debate, by a majority of 297 to
159. The greatness of the majority, by which the
House has, within a few days, rescinded its solemn de-
cision, three times repeated, -will come by surprise
upon the public. We confess that though we anti-
cipated a decision against Lord Ashley's proposition, we
were not prepared for such an adverse majority as 138 ;
and now we can account for it only by two causes :
—First, the distinct and unequivocal, declaration
of the Ministers that they would resign office if
defeated ; secondly, the occurrence in the debate
of menaces against the corn-laws, introduced into
the debate by Lord John Russell and some others of the
new converts to the principle of limiting the hours of
labour. These two considerations co-operating—the
fear of losing a Ministry that had proved the faithful
protector of agriculture, on one side—the fear of that Mi-
nistry being succeeded by another, ' the leader of which
at the very moment threatened to repeat the desperate and
ruinous attempt made in 1841, would naturally alarm
the agricultural Members of the House. As regards
the first of these two considerations, there can be no
doubt that if Ministers appreciate, as we believe they
do, the magnitude of the change that Lord Ashley's
proposition would ultimately produce, and fear the
effect of that change, they were right to give it
a determined opposition, and, if unsuccessful in
that opposition, to release themselves from the
responsibilities of office. For an Administration to
prosecute the routine of Government without the power
to govern—to submit to defeat after defeat, as was
the practice of Lord Melbourne's Cabinet, or to merely
evade defeats by abandoning to the majority its.
.
own conscientious .judgment, the worst pos-
sible example. And, indeed, toe present Minis-
ters had precluded themselves, and we hope all
future Governments, from pursuing this unworthy
course, by the memorable resolution which closed the first
session of 1841. They who think with us, that the
Cabinet is in error respecting the short time ques-
tion, must nevertheless approve, .on constitutional
grounds, of the course which they have taken re-
specting its decision. But though the Ministers
themselves are perfectly clear in the matter, we are
not quite sure that the fears of many who supported
them last night were not unreasonable. Our own
belief is, that though Sir R. Peel should resign office
on the Ist of June, he would be no less Prime
Minister on the Ist of August. A Whig Admi-
nistration is what, while a remembrance of the
ten years from 1831 to 1841 shall remain, the
country will never bear ; and there is, even
among the Conservative party, no men in whose
genius, wisdom, prudence, temper—in a word, in whose
consummate statesmanship the country has so much con-
fidence as it has, most justly, in the qualifications of Sir
Robert Peel. The gentlemen who sacrificed their own
. opinions, upon an important and deeply interesting ques-
tion rather than deprive the country of the services of
such a Minister, acted no doubt conscientiously, and
paid to Sir Robert certainly the highest compliment
that could be paid to a public man ; but ought they
not to have given the people credit for the same feeling;
ought they not to have remembered, that though the
great majority of the nation differ from the Right Hon.
Baronet upon this one question, that same majority
gratefully appreciates his value as a Minister, and after
defeating him, even with the effect of render-
ing his resignation necessary, would restore hen
to office as zealously, and with even a more
cordial affection, than they placed him there in 1841?
The sec end consideration—the apprehension excited by
the Anti-Corn-law menaces of the new converts—
ought to have been of even less weight than the fear of
disturbing the Ministry. Without wishing to detract
• from the value of any recruit to what we believe to be
a go al cause, we must still remember that the converts
in question are party men. They may not, and we trust
not, come over to us with party motives, but they cannot
help bringing with them their party incumbrances. One
of these is hostility to the corn-laws; and as it is too much
for even the most unscrupulous of politicians to get rid of
two distinct sets of political principles at one and the same
time, tiey must try to reconcile their old enmity to
the protection of agricultural, with their new zeal
e
for the protection of manufacturing labour. Betwei n
the corn laws and the limitation of the hours of' labour
there is, however, no natural connexion except this—the
compeCtion of foreigners, of which we have heard
so much, as necessarily enforcing long hours
of labour, would be infinitely increased by a
r' peal of the corn-laws. All that the fereigner in-
habiting a lees encumbered, a less taxed country, with
a pepulstion long familiarised to starvation, and an
• abundance of water power, cheaper than steam as 21 is
to 12, and working much nearer than we to the great
Continental markets—all that the foreigner wants in
competing with us is capital ; and a few years
of a free trale in corn would hand over to him the
sullied of t'iis country. " Were it not (said the
late Mr. Rothschild) for occasional bad harvests,
nll the money of the world must flow to and settle in
England ;" end we have little doubt that the recent active
competition which has excited so much apprehension
might, with little difficulty, be traced to the effeCt
of the successive bad harvests from 1838. The
inquiry, though an important one, scarcely falls in
with our immediate subject, and then fore we did-
miss it for the present. Wo can, on the whole, find
no valid reason for the votes of the majority of those
who opposed Lord Ashley last night, though we are very
far from imputing improper motives to any considerable
number of them. And now to comp to the most im
portant question. The face of the short time prupo
sition having been decided for a 'session, how ate
the friends of that proposition to act ? to pre.
pare a strong force and a strong case against the
next sessiote when, or at least in the succeeding;
session at farthest, they must carry their point, if they
only act with prudence. The principle of limitation hal
been established, and it was strongly, though somewhat
inconsistently, urged by some of Lord Ashlery's most
distinguished opponent; that every each principle must
in the nature of things be progressive. How, then,
is its progress to be aided and accelerated ?—j
by angry agitation and violent speeches, and, as was;
not obscurely hinted, by " strikes ? Oh, no; note of
these things ever forwarded any but a bad cause
and have never been employed in a good one
without retarding or injuring it. The way in
which the strength of the factory labourers is
to be augmented, is by the preservation of
that noble character which they have achieved
for themselves. It is in rooted repose that the
forest oak acquires its magnificent dimensions ; it
is in repose from violent agitation that large
bodies of men acquire a great and noble character. Next,
information adapted to the new phase of the question
roust be diligently sought for and accurately prepared.
Enough is known of the suffering of the factory la-
bourers by direct testimony—more than enough for
those who are by experience acquainted with the cor-
ruption of humeri nature, and know that all responsibl.:
power v. hich men can profitably abuse, will be abused
by those who possess it.
GLOBE —A motion stands on the order-book of the
njuse of Commons fear this evening, the discussion of
which will open the oyes of the public to the enormities
perpetrated by Lord Lyndhurst's Chancery Reform Act,
for the passing of which the session of 1842 will be dis-
tinguished in the history of Parliamentary credulity, indif-
ference, and idleness. When Tory Lord Chancellors endea-
vour to lull suspicion asleep by extraordinary professions or
regard for the public interests, then is the time for
legislators to be more than commonly on their guard
tiesinst deception. The motion we allude to, which will
be brought forward by Mr. Watson, Q.C., is for " A
Seket Committee to inquire into the orders for
compensation made by the Lord Chancellor to the
persons filling the offices of Clerk of the Enrol-
ments, Comptrollers of the Hanaper, Riding Clerk, Six
Clerks, Sworn Clerks, Wailing Clerks, Agent or Pee-
card Keeper in the Court of Chancery, under the Act
. and G Vic. c. 103, and to inquire into the nature,
(lilac,. and emoluments of those offices before the pass-
ing of that Act, and their right to compensation (and
if anon to what amount), during their life, and for seven
years after the death of such- person ; and to inquire
into the taxation of suitors in courts of law and equity,
and the application of moneys raised thereby, and the
propriety of continuing the same." The Chancery Offices
Abolition Act was framed by, or under the immediate in-
structions of, Lord Lyndhurst, and was introduced to the
House of peers by the Noble and Learned Lord with a coin-
placency!of demeanour, and a blandness of tone, which
tended to allay suspicion that any mischief to the public
interests could lurk under so fair a form. The legal pro-
fession concurred in denouncing the Six Clerks'-office
as the principal cause of the reproach which the
public agreed to cast upon the Chanceik Court ; the
very name of which was synonymous in the public ear
with interminable delay and ruinous expense in litiga-
tion. Until Lord Lyndhurst undertook the Herculean
tusk, that Augean stable reposed in security. The
dread of interfering with " vested interests," and the
horror of touching the time-honoured institutions of the
country, were alternately pleaded as an excuse for
not abolishing the monster-grievances which oppressed,
harassed, and frequently destroyed the hapless suitors'
in the Chancellor's Court. Lord Lyndurst undertook
and—it was boasted—completed, the arduous labour
It was not until the Lord Chancellor's celebrated
orders were issued in December last, that the price
et '4lch the benefits of the Chancery ()eg
--cos Abo-
lition Act had been purchased became known.
Whether the framers of the Act had any idea that
the compensation which it gave would amount to a
sun approximating to that which it is now ascertained
must be paid under its provisions, we do not undertake
to. pronounce. Certain, however, is it, that a sum
considerably more than a million sterling is awarded
as compensation to the holders of the
_offices abolished
by the Act. IT the Lord Chancellor knew_ that such
ss
ould be the effect of his first experiment in law
_r.eform,
he ought to have stated the fact. If his Lordship was
ignorant of that which is now made Manifest, it will go
far to convict him of negligence in the discharge of his
rublic duties. It will also cause suspicion of the Noble
and Learned Lord's other reforms in the administration
if justice, which he has engaged to effect. Hie
Ent grand experiment has entailed a gross amount
Of Charge on the suitors of the Court, in the shape of
compensation to the holders of useless offices, to the
extent 0f1,358,4241. 3s. 50.! This is more than enough for
tl e present. That the Bill was pressed through Tarlto-
n entwith inordinate rapidity, will be seen by a reference
to the prooeedings of Parliament. The Bill was introduced
ate last month of the session of 1842. It was brought
it to the Lords on the 11th of July, 1842 ; and passed
tl 461htisev_ACe. ~.n5 in eight days, nearly sub
~ilentio.
11.-priyed_tha t Id 'Assent on the 10th of August fol-
<l:citing—the Bar-being on Circuit and the London atter-
..3..sysgenerally wholly-uninformed of the measure. In
elolll.minens it moved two stars after raidnight. Han-
44,d's Macs word not oafs Ilya of discussion in Par- '
- • • -/
•_. V.Y

liament on the Bill. There is yet some hope for the
country from the inquiry which Mr. Watson seeks to
obtain by his motion.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the London New Price Current of May 14.)
SUGAR.-To-day the market for West India Sugar pre-
sented a very dull appearance, and the trill g parcels dis-
posed of were at prices rather under those of Friday; the
total sales are only 150 hhds and tierces; there is a better
show of samples in the market ; a vessel has arrived with a
cargo of new. Barbadoes. -The parcels of Bengal and Mauri-
tius offered at public sale were again very large.
REFnsEn.-To-day few purchases were made in Refined
goods for home consumption, brown lumps are 775, and
standard lumps 78s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar is
wanted at 25s 9d to 26s per cwt. Loaves in good demand ;
Turkey Double Refined 2i to 41bs at 35s to 38s ; Hamburgh
6lbs 345, 9to 101bs 30s 6d to 31s, 13 to 141bs 30s ; Tittlers
20 to 301bs 26s 6d to 27s ; Prussian 40 to 451 b 26s 6d: Pieces
are wanted at 21s to 235. Bastards yellow at 19s to 20s,
and brown 173 6d to 18s. Treacle in fair demand at Ils. In
Dutch Crushed Sugar not much doing: 22s 6d to 23s 9d per
cwt is the value.
Maunmus.-This afternoon buyers purchased with cau-
tion, at prices is per cwt under those of this day week; fine
yellow sold at 64s to 65s 6d, good 62s 6d to 63s 6d, mid 60s to
625, low 58s 6d to 59s 6d, ord fogey brown 52s 6d to 545,
good 56s 6d, fine 57s to 58s, and common to good grey 58s to
63s per cwt.
EAST INDIA.-In Foreign East India Sugar little business ,
has been transacted privately, but holders remain firm. This
afternoon there were four public sales of Bengal Sugar, con-
taining 7,583 bags 6 casks ; white was all bought in at pre-
vious rates ; the few lots of brown and yellow sold went at
a further reduction of is per cwt; strong yellow sold at 60s Gd
to 62s 6d, middling rather soft 58s 6d to 59s 6d, damp 56s to
58s, brown 52s 6d to 54s per cwt.
FOREIGN.-To-day yellow Havannah Sugar was sought
after, and a floating cargo of 800 boxes of low qUality was
disposed of, fdr a port in the Mediterranean, at 20s 6d per_
cwt. Maroim Sugar, at public sale, sound all taken in at 22s
to 24s for mid to good white, good brown 18s 6d to,lgs, and
ordinary 17s per cwt, being above their value,' a; few- lots
washed were sold at 21s to 22.3 for white, and 1.6 s to 18s for
brown. Bahia were taken in at 18s for sound brown.
MOLASSES.-In the prices of West India there is 'no alte-
ration ; Antigua at 27s per cwt. Small parcels of Bengal
15s to 17s per cwt. Cuba Honey was taken in at 19s per cwt.
COCOA.-Prices for West India rule 2s per cwt under those
of last Tuesday ; Trinidad, good dark red at 49s to 49s 6d,
middling 47s 6d to 48s, middling to good grey 43s 6d to 465,
very low 365, and good sea damaged 44s 6d per cwt. For
Foreign in small parcels very full rates have been paid.
COFFEE.-Prices are still on the decline for West India,
and rule 2s to 3s per cwt under those of this day week. This
afternoon Mocha good mid yellow long berry clean garbled
at 82s to 85s, mid green 744 to 745 6d, fine ord 71s 6d to
72s 6d, broken 52s 6d to 655, sea damaged, first class, 688 to
69s 6d. Ceylon good ord 53s : Plantation fine bold middling
.coloury at 86s to 86s 6d, fine rather greyish 85s (one lot 79s
6d), pea berry 94s 6d, sea damaged, first class, 85s, second
ditto 765, third ditto 695, and black 51s; other sorts at 53s
per cwt for good ordinary quality, and 47s to 52s for sea da-
maged. Costa Rica taken in at 59s to 60s for fide fine- ord,:
and 54s for good ord, excepting a few lots which sold at 508
6d to 52s for good ord, and one lot inferior 49s 6d per cwt.
TEA.-Although there have been further arrivals of Tea,
still merchants show firmness, and none has been brought
to public sale. To-day green was much in demand, but of
the finer sorts the supply is scanty, and prices are still on
the advance. Of black, several parcels were sold at full rates;
common sound Congou is is to is Hyson ord 2s 3d to
2s 6d, and Twankay common is lid to is 3d per lb.
RICE.-There has been a much better demand for Bengal,
and the parcels disposed of by private contract have brought
rather higher rates. Madras at 8s 6d to 9s, and Java 8s 6d
to lls per cwt. Cleaned Rice is more in request, Patna at
13s to 17s, and Carolina 21s to 24s and 26s per cwt. To-day
Bengal Rice at lOs Gd to Ils per cwt for mid white. Yellow
Foreign East India is 8s 6d 'per cwt. •
SPICES.-This afternoon white Pepper sold d per lb. under
former rates, good bold but dingy went at 5d to sd, good
middling 4ad to 4id, middling 4d, and one lot 34.1 perdb.
For Cassia Lignea, holders refusing to sell at former rates
checked business. Sumatra Pepper at 2id to 3d per lb for
common. Pimento at rather higher prices. -
RUM ' , BRANDY AND HOLLANDS.-Jarnaica Rum at tatier
higher rates. Leewards at 2s 2d to 2s 3d for proof to 3 per
cent overproof, and common almost black at 2s ld per gallon,
proof; strong Demerara, 35 per cent overproof, 3s 2d per
gallon; Calcutta Rum at is lld to is 1 lid per gallon, proof
strength. In the better qualities of Brandy few init.-
chases made, but low descriptions have been !in
good request by exporters at 2s 9d to 3s per gallon.
For other kinds prices are drooping, and rule as follows :-
Cognac, best brands of the vintage of 1838, hhds 5s 7d, puns
5s sd; ditto 1839, hhds 5s sd, puns 5s 3d; ditto 1840, hhds
5s 3d, puns 5s id; ditto 1841, Wilds Si 2d, puns ss; ditto
1842,. hhds Si Id, puns 4s Ild ; and middling qualities As 2d,
to 4s 6d peg gallon. Geneva for exportation at ,l s Sdolaigs dd;
and several parcels of fine taken by the home trade at 2s 2d
to 3s. English Corn Spirits at lOs 2d per gallon, cash. To-
day Calcutta Rum was much sought after, and the Dobah
Company have sold all they had at. is lld proof. Leewards
proof 2s 21d to 2s 3d, 9 per cent over 2s sd. Demerara 36
to 37 over sold at 3s 2d to 3s 4d. Jamaica at 3s 3d to 5s tor
26 to 37 over.

Ons.—Linseed Oil at 26s 9d to 27s per cwt on the spat.
Rape Oil, brown at 38s to 38s 6d, and pale 39s to 39s 6d per
cwt. Olive Oil is much wanted. Gallipoli at 52110 s to 53/,
Sicily 52/, Spanish 51/ to 511 10s, and Barbary 501 to 501 lOs
per tun. Palm bought in at 26s to 27s for good and fine
quality. For Cocoa Nut 0i1283 to 32s is the value of common
to fine. Sperm Oil firm ; 751 761 per tun paid for British.
Pale Seal is 3315 s to 331105, Cod 34/, and Southern 251
to 291 per tun. _

TAdow.—There are sellers of P Y Candle for delivery in
the last three months of the year at 41s 3d to 41s Gd per cwt.
on the spot 403t0 40s 9d per cwt accepted. Town Tallow at
39s to 40s per cwt, net cash. South American 'fallow at 34s
to 39s 6d for mid to fine, 28s to 33s 6d fur low, and 3s to 93
per cwt fur scrapings and pumpings. New South Wales
fetched 38s 6d to 39s Gd for good and fine, and Italian at 39s
to 40s per cwt. To-day P Y Candle on the spot at lower
rates, 40s to 40s 6d being accepted. For delivery 41s to 41s 3d
are the quotations for the last three months of the year.
Inomo.—Holdert of East India remain firm. Some small
parcels of Spanish have brought stiff prices. This afternoon
Guatemala Indigo taken in at 3s 8d to 4s 3d per lb for mid-
dling and good.
SAGO.—At rather higher rates, 13s is the lowest price of
sound Pearl. Fine small Pearl at 20s Gd per cwt. Sago Flour
taken in at 21s per cwt. Jamaica Arrowroot sold at 8d per
lb. This afternoon Pearl Sago sold 2s under furmer rates
good ordinary small brown Pearl at Ils to 12s per cwt.

MR. BARNARD GREGORY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—l take the liberty of handing you a copy of the
petition presented on Monday night to the Douse of
Commons, by Mr. Roebuck, on the matter of the im-
prisonment of my father, and the privations to which he
is subjected by the rigorms system now in force as
affecting persons criminally proceeded against for libel.
Every allegation in the petition can be substantiated
on 'oath, and nearly every word uttered, or reported in
the public papers to be uttered, by Sir James Graham,
on the presentation of the petition, and in reply to Mr.
Roebuck, refuted by the like means. My father, after
conviction (if it can be called a conviction where a jury
has not pronounced a verdict) for the alleged libels for
which he is now paying a heartless and cruel penalty,
at the time of passing sentence was not permitted to say
a single word, much less, as Sir James Graham has as-
serted, to ask to be placed in the first class of misde-
meanours. My father was ignorant of there existing
1 any such law, and so it is presumed were his counsel
and his attorneys, fur no application was made to the
Court, a 3 stated by Sir James Graham, consequently no !'
" deliberate refusial" by the Judges could have been
given to that a hich nas not asked, nor would, probably
have been asked even if it had been known, for the mea-
sure of injustice and persecution should be filled to the
brim, that malignity may drink the deeper !
Again was Sir James Graham in error, or the re-
.porters have made him so, in stating that my father
" was better now in health than when he was first con-
fined." If. to be in 'a perfect state of physical prostra-
tion—to be attenuated and haggard in looks, and to be
enfeebled mentally from the long deprivation of literary
occupation to which he had crom early life been accus-
tomed, are signs of an improved state of health, then is
my father better —much better than be was when he
first entered his present loathsome domicile. The nine
medical certificates (the principal and most appalling
(bno having been corroborated in all its details by the
chief medical officers of the prison) are pretty con-
' elusive as to the amount of credit to be placed on this
'part of the "reported" statement. Sir James is aware
of the imminent danger of my father, or why give
directions to the Government medical officer to
report every fortnight the state of my father's
'health ? That medical officer knows the opinion of
!the eminent physicians who have seen and attended
him ; he cannot deny the facts as set forth in those
certificates ; and those certificates place an awful
responsibility on the heads of all those who, to gratify
:private feeling and personal malignity, have subjected
an, almost dying man to the cruelties intended only (if
foi any class of offenders) for those guilty of the most
heinous offences —I have the honour to be, Sir, your
obedient servant,

MARGARET GREGORY.
North Audley-street, May 9, 1844.

The following is a copy of the petition presented by Mr.
Roebuck on Monday se'rmight

;" TO THE HON. THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIAMENT
ASSEMBLED.
" The humble petition of Barnard Gregory, a prisoner in
her Majesty's Gaol of Newgate,
" Showeth,
'" That your petitioner was,on the second day of December
last, at the Central Criminal Court, holden at the Sessions-
house, Old Bailey, sentenced by Mr. Justice Coltman to
twelve months' imprisonment in the gaol of Newgate, for
alleged libels on the characters of the Duke of Brunswick,
and of his attorney, Mr. Henry Wellington Valiance ; being
four months for that on the Duke of Brunswick, and eight
months for that on his attorney.
" That the gaol of Newgate is a prison chiefly appropriated
for the imprisonment of *ions committed to be tried at the
Central Criminal Court, and, after trial, for prisoners under
sentence of death, or waiting to be removed for transporta-
tion, or sentenced to be imprisoned in other gaols or houses
of correction.
"
he was That upon your petitioner's commitment to the said gaol
placed under the rules, regulations, and discipline of
most atrocious crimilannlefasif
the said prison, the
cell without any other offenders,he hhaadvbi
having
n assigned
classitghneed to
hoifmt the
and a scat withoutupaoan),ackirak4ritutnierruthwanirethuatbeodsf atesamd,alwl
ittahblae
iraogp,e,mviatitiotoat
sleep
per sheets or illeree horse clothe for a cover-
" That his diet (until slightlyi pillow.
"That by the recommenda-
sisted tion of the surgeon of the gaol)
boiled
obliged to
varied by a small portion of meat ande
he is deprived of the use of a knife and fork,
feed himself, like an uncivilised man, with hiesing
priced, also, of the use of pen, ink, and papern,gacrand; de-
reading of newspapers, or any books except such books the
es
, and at
are permitted by the chaplain of the prison • night, a
he is not allowed the use of any light, whereby your peti-
tioner has been compelled to pass his time in solitary dark-
ness 15 hours out of the 24.
"That, in addition to the above privations, your petitioner
is not allowed by the rules of the said prison to have any
personal intercourse with his only daughter or any of his
family and friends, except upon the especial written order
of a magistrate or one of the sheriffs, which your petitioner
acknowledges with gratitude they have freely granted.
" That the said gaol so being a prison for criminal offenders,
he has had no alternative-but either to have for his associates
persons of that class, or submit hiniself (as he has done) to
solitary confinement.