The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-06 00:00:00

COLONIAL MAGAZINES.

Mr. Belaney has again visited Stepney, and at pre-
sent is residing with s friend, not more than a stone's.
throw from the spot where his unfortunate partner met
with her sad fate.
BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTER RAILVIA.Y.—It iS said
to be the intention of this company to throw open their
line to carriers, difficulties arising out of the broad gauge
and the incomplete condition of the Gloucester station.
being the inducements. It is reported that considerable
claims for loss and damage are pending against the com-
pany.—Cheltenham Examiner.
SATED BY AN HOUR.—INTAIIOUS Cifil.....At
Birmingham Police-office, on Thursday last, a man
named Bennett, a dancing master, residing in Lee-
crescent, underwent an examination, before the magis-
trates, on a charge of violating one of his pupils, the
daughter of a respectable tradesman. The facts were
proved by the evidence of the child, bat as it appeared
that on the commission of the crime she was one hour
above ten years of age, the capital charge was abaci
Boned, and Bennett was committed to take his trial at
Warwick assize* for a criminal assault —Cheltenham
4xaminer.

Two monthly periodicals, both devoted to the con-
sideration of Colonial topics, are now lying before us,
the one published by Simmons, and the other by
Fisher. Each displays nearly equal care and skill in
the getting up, and, in their remarks on our different
Colonies, adopts a temperate and rational tone, steering
clear of party spirit or exaggeration.

CHURCHMAN'S MONTHLY REVIEW.
This periodical is a decided opponent of the Trac-
tarian tenets, for, in a notice of the Rev. Mr. Close's
recent work, under the title of the " Restoration of
Churches is the Restoration of Popery," we find the
Reviewer observing that the Tractarians, " in what
has recently issued from their press, have committed
themselves to Popery in its whole length and breadth."
The review is cleverly written, and is by no means
deficient in spirit.

RAILWAY REGISTER.
The Editor of this Magazine is a gentleman named
Clarice, who, so far as we can augur from a first
number, bids fair to acquit himself of the task of
superintendence with great skill and judgment. The
work, as may be surmised, is wholly of a practical
character, professing to be a monthly record of
engineering and public enterprise, for railways,
canals, harbours, docks, mines, steam navigation,
patents, inventions, &c. The present Number is em-
bellished with a curious sketch of a newly-invented
_ .

life-boat; and contains, among other articles of in•
formation, an ingenious essay on the popular subjeci
of railway extension.

THE FORTY-SHILLING FREE-
HOLDERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
toi et cid t'aidera is an adage with our
neighuours, although we need not travel so far in search
of its verification. A conviction of the truth of the
adage seems to be operating on the minds of a very
large portion of the industrious and provident classes of
this country. Deeply imbued with a conviction of the
necessity of the abolition of our restrictive commercial
code, the question with them has been, Who is to lead the
forlorn hope?—for it appeared as doubtful in its result
as it was desperate as an enterprise. Where was there
a breach in the massive and apparently impregnable
fortifications of feudalism and monopoly? Its ramparts
could not be scaled without an apparatus too costly to
convey thither a sufficient numerical strength to cope
with and to defeat the defenders of selfish monopoly,
and to expel the aristocratic exclusives from the citadel
of our Constitution. With many the belief was strong
that one who had attained to command among the mo-
nopolists would turn traitor to his professions, seeing
that his origin was from among those who were ex-
cluded and oppressed, and in whom he had sedulously
instilled a belief that he pitied their condition, and
would relieve them to the utmost of his power ; but
those who knew his deceptive character affirmed that his
object was to postpone the attack, for that he was afraid
that his partisans would turn traitors to him and deliver
his post up to his opponents. It was between these op-
posite opinions that the mind of the country oscillated.
Reconnoitring parti s frequently made observations, and
many were the schemes submitted to public considera-
tion, not one of which was practicable. It remained for
the active and practical mind of Cobden to conceive the
plan for his clear and comprehensive judgment to conso-
lidate the requisite power, and for his cool intrepidity to
lead and guide the impetuosity of the attack on that
breach which his keen eye alone had discerned. His
hand raised the standard of " The Patriotic Forty-shilling
Freeholders," to which hundreds have flocked, while
thousands more are anxious to enlist ; and it is to faci-
litate the attainment of this object that I have presumed
to trespass on your attention. It is evident that in-
dividual exertion cannot accomplish it, but that com-
bination and confidence is necessary to success, as free-
hold property in the environs of London is seldom to be
purchased for less than 7001., and all small freeholds
fetch more than their relative value, being eagerly pur-
chased for the sake of the perpetuity.
Some amount of capital is requisite for the purchase of
property by a confidential party, and public opinion un-
questionably selects the Anti-Corn-law League as the
agent in whom truth and confidence might safely be re-
posed. The actual amount of capital so employed need
be comparatively small, provided the principle of a de-
posit bank were adopted. Suppose that land of the
value of 2,0001. or 3,000/. were purchased and divided
into portions of the value of 40s. a year, when deposits
might be required of such individual amount as would
reimburse the League for the original outlay upon which
deeds might be prepared—for which an Act passed last
session gives great facilities—and delivered to the
depositors for qualification and security, the parties
themselves having no real connexion with the property
which might be let to some member of the Council and
re-let in allotments, or entire, the depositors receiving
from the secretary only their 40s. a year. To accom-
modate the system to the means of the necessitous of the
industrious classes, which ought to be a primary object is
the consolidation of the system, depositors, upon giving
notice to the secretary, and at the expiration of a certain
time, should receive their deposit, the League substi-
tuting another member desirous of becoming an elector,
which would greatly facilitate the registration of voters
with the accommodation of depositors in case of ne
cessity.
Were this plan adopted, thousands might become pos-
sessed of the franchise, who, otherwise, could never ob-
tain that privilege ; while others of larger capital could
qualify for the four metropolitan counties. But to make
the plan entirely successful, the power to withdraw is
not necessary. Calamity might overtake a small depo-
sitor, and it is with that class the League will have to
deal when his small capital would become of the highest
importance to him.
According to the success which may attend the
League Registration, so will be the measure of opposi-
tion from the supporters of monopoly.
So ling as the present system of registration worked
to the exclusive advantage of the protected classes, so
long would the supporters of monopoly be its most
strenuous upholders ; but as soon as they discover that
it can be turned to their absolute annihilation, no effort
will be wanting—no means will be scrupled at—no
pledges will be regarded—to frustrate the exertions to
emancipate commerce and industry from the last rem-
nants of feudalism.
Should the efforts of the League promise success, there
will be, next session, a second edition of Lord Stanley's
Bill applicable to England, despite the pledges to
maintain inviolable the franchise of the *form Bill.
Besides, there is a precedent for such a proposal in the
disfranchisement of the forty-shilling freeholders of Ire-
land, whose political privilege was extinguished for the
vary same reasons that this will be attempted—to sup-
press public opinion, political rights, and national claims.
The attention of the country ought to be directed to the
possibility of such a scheme, and kept on the alert so as
to be prepared to frustrate any such attempt, in the event
of it being made before the new registration can have
the desired effect.
Although, far from believing that every man to his
acre is the panacea for England's ills, I yet think that
if the property were let in allotments, at rents of the
average value, would prove an individual as well as a
national benefit, by which the incendiary would become
a producer, the poacher an honest cultivator, and the
pauper a proprietor ; and so the commercial classes, in
helping themselves, will help others, and so restore that
which is as much the strength of a country as a country s
pride—a bold peasantry to a status in society—so that
when free trade crowd our ports, and extended com-
merce stimulate our industry, there will remain a class,
the immediate creation of the present struggle, to record
and re-A ember the existence of the Anti-Cora-law
League. I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Draton, Dec. 2,1844• A MECHANIC.