The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-09 00:00:00

ally abolishing those unjust laws"—(Hear)—then the
country might believe that conversion was at last worked
on the minds of their rulers.—(Cheers.) The Learned
Gentleman then expressed a hope that this might be
their last meeting in that hall on the subject ; and said
he would merely hope in parting, that they would learn
from this struggle how to work in other great struggles,
that they might profit.—(Loud cries of " Bravo,' and
ecnthusiastic applause, amidst which Mr. Moore resumed
his seat.)
On the motion of Professor KEY, seconded by JAMES
BROTHERTON, Esq., the thanks of the meeting were
voted to General Briggs for his conduct in the chair ;
after which, and " three hearty cheers for the Gallant
General," Mr. Moore giving " the time," the meeting
separated.

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
On Saturday, a meeting of the members of the East
Surrey Agricultural Association was held at the Grey-
hound, Croydon, for the purpose of receiving returns of
the crops of corn and potatoes from the different parishes
comprised within this division of the county of Surrey,
and also to take into consideration other matters con-
nected with the present position of the agricultural
interest.
J. W. Sutherland, Esq., the President of the Associa-
tion, took the chair ; E. Antrobus, Esq., M.P. for the
Eastern Division, was also present ; and there were be-
tween sixty and seventy of the principal farmers of the
district also present.
Mr. Join; DRUMMOND, the secretary, read the re-
turns that had been sent in from twenty-five parishes,
in conformity with the requisition of the Association.
The general result appeared to be, that of wheat there
was an average crop, peas and barley, somewhat more
than an average, the other crops of corn deficient, and
potatoes had generally failed to the extent of nearly half
the crop.
Mr. 4UTHERLAND, after the returns had been disposed
of, addressed the meeting briefly, and, after alluding to
the statement of its being the intention of the Govern-
ment to propose the immediate repeal of the present corn-
law, he said he did not believe that there was any such
intention entertained by the Ministry, and the report
had indeed been contradicted from an apparently official
source. Although, however, it might be true that there
was no immediate intention to alter the existing law, he
considered it very likely that some material alteration
might eventually be made, and he suggested whether it
would not be better for the agricultural interest to en-
deavour to propose some measure that would be likely
to effect a compromise, and thus avoid the extreme of
total repeal.
Mr. C. H. TURNER, of Rook's Nest, objected to any
such discussion being entered into. He said they were
not assembled to propose or suggest any modification of
the present corn-law, but to take the best measures to
secure the amount of protection that was at present
afforded to agriculture.
Mr. ANTROBUS addressed the meeting, and said that
he, like many others, no doubt, was very much astonished
at the statement as to the intentions of the Government
with regard to the corn-laws. He did not at the time
believe it to be true, and it was his opinion that the
Ministry had no such intention. He, and the majority
of the Conservative Members, had consented to a very
material modification of the old law, and they felt it
their duty to do so, when they considered the circum-
stances of the times, the depressed state of the manufac-
turing interest, and the necessity of doing something to
improve its condition. They had hoped this would have
a conciliating effect, and that the sacrifices made by the
agricultural interest would have been considered suffi-
cient to prevent any public agitation. It did not appear,
however,:to have had this effect ; but he could only say
that they would be determined to oppose the Go-
vernment if any extreme measure were pro-
posed ; and he had no doubt that those Members
of the House of Commons who were more
especially interested in, and pledged to the support of
agriculture, would be found strong enough to prevent
the carrying of such a measure should it be proposed.
Some other speeches were made, and it was argued by
some of the speakers that there was very little ground
for the present excitement upon the subject of the scar •
ciity of food, for although the potato crop had failed, yet
the harvest of last year had been sufficient to supply the
population for thirteen months and a half, and therefore
there was quite sufficient of the present harvest to supply
them until the next harvest.
A resolution, embodying this opinion, and pledging
the meeting to support the existing corn-laws, and call-
ing upon their representatives in Parliament to assist in
carrying out the views of the Association, was then pro-
posed and carried, after which the meeting adjourned.

ANTI-CORN-LAW MEETING.
WorroN-usisea-Enon, Dec. 6.—A public meeting
was held here this afternoon in the National School-
room, for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the
Anti:Corn-law League, and hearing from them the pre-
sent condition and future prospects of the movement.
There was a very numerous attendance. The room,
which is capable of accommodating nearly 2,000 persons,
was densely crowded in every part, and among those
present were many of the farmers of the surrounding
neighbourhood. At about three o'clock Earl Ducie,
who had been appointed to take the chair, entered the
room, accompanied by the Hon. F. A. Moreton, Mr.
Richard Cobden, M.P., Mr. John Bright, M.P., and
several of the leading residents of the town and neigh-
bourhood, all of whem were received with reiterated
plaudits.
Earl DUCIE, in taking the chair, expressed the grati-
fication it afforded him to find that the anti-corn-law
movement was uniting under its banners men of every
political creed. Of the success of the cause, although
in attaining it they had to combat prejudices and inter-
ests, he had no doubt.—(Cheers.) They should cast
aside all minor differences and join hand and heart for
tho promotion of an object so closely connected with
the welfare of their country. They were told that
Sir Robert Peel was about to repeal the corn-laws,
and that Right Hon. Baronet had done so many extra-
ordinary things that he should not wonder at anything
he did; but, at the same time, they must not depend
upon his doing so.—(Hear.) They should not forget
that Sir R. Peel had a good deal of the eel in him, and
was very slippery—(Laughter and applause)—and the
farmers would, he thought, find him to be an electrical
eel. There was no district in England which had suf-
fered more from the operation of the corn laws than
that in which they had met. If they looked at their
empty mills and their unemployed population, they
would see whether they ought to support those baneful
laws which were useful to no one but the large mono-
polist. He was glad to see so many farmers present, for
he was sure his friend Cobden would soon convince them
that they would suffer no injury from a repeal of the
corn laws.—(Hear.) He (Lord Dude) knew that a
great many of them believed, that if the corn-laws were
abolished, the country would be inundated with corn ;
but this idea was as ridiculous as the one which had pre-
vailed among the young servant-maids and apprentices,
who, having read the story of " Whittington and his
Cat," believed in their simplicity that the streets of
London were paved with gold. He could assure his
brother farmers that they would have nothing to fear,
for he fully believed that, instead of reducing the home-
grown corn to the foreign standard, it would raise the
foreign standard to that of England.
Mr. COBDEN proceeded to address the meeting, and
was received with prolonged applause. He said, in pass-
ing through that beautiful district in the morning he
had seen what to him were the most convincing argu-
ments against the corn-laws, for everywhere he saw the
woollen-mills idle.— (Hear.) But why should the people
of Wotton-under-Edge be unemployed ? It might be
said that their trade had gone to other quarters—to
Yorkshire and the North of England. But was there
any reason why there should not be trade enough for
them all ? The district in which they were met pos •
sessed all the requisites of a busy manufacturing dis-
trict ; and if the corn-laws were repealed, there was no
reason why they should not have as good a trade as
Yorkshire.—(bear.) They could make as good cloths
as in Yorkshire, nay, better ones, and the only reason
why people did not wear the best west of England broad
cloths was, that by the operation of the corn laws they
were ground,down into poverty.—(Hear.) What were the
fatal consequences of the decline of trade in that beau-
tiful district ? What did they see around them ?
Why, reduced wages, unemployed artisans, starving
children, pale and anxious mothers, half-fed cot-
tagers, ruin, misery, disaffection, crime, and despair.
—(Great cheering.) He would be bound to say
that there were labourers present, who, even when
fully employed, received 6s. per week.—(Cries of
" That's true.") Why, in the north they paid none less
than 14s. and 15s.—(Hear.) Was the state of decline
to which he had referred to continue? Would they lie
down under it.—(No, no.) Shame on them if they did.
(Cheers.) The men of Wotton-under-Edge must
arouse themselves to recover their trade; and who would
oppose them? Would the farmers ? Would not a
farmer rather have a farm in the neighbourhood of
Manchester, were everything flourished and advanced,
than in the nighbourhood of declining and decaying
Wotton-under-Edge?—(Hear, bear.) Would he not
rather be surrounded by an employed population than
by paupers? To be sure he would, fur he could get
better prices for his commodities, and would be more
certain of receiving the money for what he had sold.—
(Cheers.) Well, then, would the landlords oppose them?
Certainly not, unless they were more blind than were
the moles and the bats. For was it not their paramount
interests to promote the welfare of the tenantry on their
estates? He would now address himself to the farmers
present, some of whom, no doubt, considered that for
every quarter of corn brought from abroad they would
sell one quarter the less at home. That was the greatest
of all possible fallacies, .because the direct influence of
a repeal of the corn-laws would be to immea-
surably increase trade. The people would then have
better wages, and the consequence would be that the
consumption of corn would be more than doubled, so
that all the corn which was grown at home, and all that
was brought from abroad would readily find customers
in the market ; but another delusion which was prac-
tised upon the farmer was, that England could not afford
to repeal the corn-laws because of the large amount of
taxes she paid, and that if she did so her peasantry would
soon be reduced to serfdom, similar to Russia or Poland.
This was perfect nonsense. True, we paid taxes, but
did not other countries do the same ? He had travelled
much, and he never met with any country that did not. '
Did they think that in Russia or Poland no taxes were
paid ? Why, it seemed to him to be the very essence of
governments to get as much taxes as possible out of
the people, and the Emperor of Russia followed the
general example. Why, if it were true that no taxes
were paid by the people of Russia, what a slur it would
be on the glorious Con stituptiaoind Eng fif or,
were
Eifmthpeey.
potentates governed
rwoerr eo
ft h e only
Russia p eaonpdl e
otthhaetr
foreign
their nations, and kept themselves and their Govern-
ments without levying taxes, he should say it would be
a very good thing for England if it were under
Russian Government instead of its Own.—(chem.)

Another thing that was said was that the farmers had
to pay highway rates. Well, but if they had had the
advantage of good roads, which was one of the greatest
blessings that could be rendered them—if they doubted
this, let them only convey their corn and their produce
to the market as they did in Spain—in sacks upon the
backs of their horses across their fields for a few days,
without using the roads, and he would undertake to say
that they would find out what an inestimable advantage
it was to have good roads. Then they talked of the
farmers paying the poor-rates ; but if they did, it was
the corn-laws that made the paupers. But foreigners
supported their poor as well as England, not, perhaps, in
such a systematic manner, but did they think that Eng-
land was the only place in the world that had any charity?
Then it was said that they paid church-rates, and that
foreigners did not. This was another very great mis-
take, for let them go into any country which was Roman
Catholic, or where the Greek Church prevails, and
they would find that the priests there, as indeed every-
where else, got all they could out of the people, and that
in proportion as the people were well off or otherwise, so
were the;priests rich or otherwise. Then let not the farmer
be any longer cajoled by these stories. But then it was
said, what use would be the repeal of the corn-laws if
they were not as a consequence to have cheap bread ?
Why, who cared for the price of bread ; all that was
wanted was, that the people might have plenty of it.
Their object i❑ arguing in favour of free trade was
not cheapness, but abundance, to extend their trade and
commerce, so that they did not care what the price of
bread was as long as the people were so fully employed
as to have money in their pockets to buy plenty of it.
The difference of free trade and what was called protec-
tion was, that it would give them a happy, peaceable, and
contented, instead of a gloomy, miserable, and
discontented people. Well, but it was said that
these laws were to be repealed. The Government
was in a fix, and was it not strange that these
rotten potatoes should be of more force with them than
sound arguments ? But the Government were in a fix,
and it was said that Peel acid Wellington would abolish
these laws, and the protection gentlemen, who had all
along been telling them that they could not compete
with foreigners, would suddenly wheel round and tell
them the other story. Then, again, it was said that the
repeal would reduce the rents of farms ; he did not think
that it would, for they could not increase their farms
while the population was daily increasing. He hoped
each farmer who had heard his arguments would repeat
them to his friends, and if it should be productive of a
change in their feelings in favour of free trade, then his
mission would not have been in vain. Mr. Cobden then
alluded to the mode of extending the franchise and pur-
chasing freeholds for the county.
The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Austing, Mr.
Child, Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Bedy, &c., and the usual
resolutions having been carried by acclamation, the
meeting seFarated at half-past five o'clock.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF CHANCERY, D.c. 8.

The Lord Chancellor intended to resume his sittings to-
day in the old hall, Lincoln's Inn, but in consequence, as we
understood, of having to attend a Cabinet Council, the fol-
lowing notice was put up :

" The Lord Chancellor will resume his sittings on Tuesday,
instead of Monday.

" The paper will be the same as that fixed for Monday."
His Lordship will to-morrow give judgment in the eases of
Combe v. the Corporation of London, Mann v. Ricketts, and
Oldfield v. Cobbett, after which he will hear lunatic petitions
and appeals.

ROLLS' COURT, Dec. 8.
LORD NELCON V. LORD BRIDPORT.

_
The hearing of this case was resumed,
Mr. I'm{Ey proceeded with his arguments, and cited the
authority of several writers on Sicilian jurisprudence in sup-
port of his position that the estate of Lord Horatio Nelson, at
Bronti, could be sold, and the money realised by the sale in-
vested in the purchase of land in this country by his fiduciary
heirs, as well as the other points, sub judici, which appeared
fully idour Evening Edition of Saturday last.

VIOE-CHANCELLORS' COURT, Dec. 8.
Ilia Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR Of ENGLAND took
cause petitions to-day. The case of

DAVIS V. COMBER3IERIS
occupied his Honour the whole morning.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Dec. 8.
(Before Mr. Justice Coucutuatc.)
TOMAH V. PRICE.

This was an action upon a policy of insurance taken by the
plaintiff against the Dissenters' Fire and Life Insurance Com-
pany, for the recovery of 1,3001., the amount for which cer-
tain premises in St. Martin's-lane had been insured in that
office. The claim was resisted by the defendant upon the
ground that the premises had been fraudulently fired.
There was a great number of witnesses summoned on both
sides, and it is likoly that the case will occupy at least two
days.
The Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General are en-
gaged for the defendant.

The cross-examination of the first witness, by the Azroa•
NEY -GENERAL, occupied several hours, in the course of
which it appeared that the first witness, Robert Gadesden,
had as great a variety of employments or callings as
Caleb Quotem. He said he had been an agent, an accountant,
a discounter of bills, manager and secretary of the Southern
Counties Junction and the Bath and Bristol and Dover Rail-
way Companies, arranger of bankrupts' accounts, getter-up
of bankrupts' accounts, dealer in mineral waters, and a great
number of other occupations.
Henry Fole was the next witness called, but before he
was examined the Court adjourned to take refreshment.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Dec. 8.
Sittings in London, before the Loan CHIEN' JUSTICE and a
Common Jury.)
KEOUGH P. ADAMS.

This was an action brought to recover compensation in
damages for injuries sustained by the plaintiff, through the
culpable negligence of the defendant orhis servants.
Mr. Sergeant Byles, with whom was Mr. Corner, conducted
the case for the plaintiff. No one appeared for the defendant.
The circumstances out of which the action arose were

these :—the plaintiff is aj potato factor, anTiCisPartof his
business to superintend the discharge of a ship's cargo, and
to see that the superior potatoes (called the " ware") should
be separated from the inferior or damaged ones (called the
" chat"). The defendant is master and part ' owner of the
schooner Isabella, engaged in that trade. On the day laid in
the declaration, the plaintiff was standing near the hatchway
on board the defendant's vessel, employed in his usual avoca-
tion, when the ship's boat, which, as was alleged, had not
been slung with sufficient care, slipped down to the deck,
and struck the plaintiff with so much violence as to dislocate
his collar bone, and otherwise severely injure him.
These facts were proved, and the surgeon who attended
the plaintiff stated that the latter was confined to his bed
more than a month, and the medical expenses amounted to
10/. Other witnesses proved that the plaintiff's earnings
amounted to 9/. a week.

There being, as we have said, no defence, the jury returned
a verdict for the plaintiff, with Damages, 401.

HODDY V. COLEMAN.

This an action of debt to recover a balance of rent due,
the defendant refusing to pay, on the ground that the plain-
tiffs were not the persons properly entitled to receive the
rent.

Mr. Sergeant BYLES, ( with whom was Mr. Barstard), put
in a mass of documentary evidence, to prove the plaintiffs'
title to collect the rents in their capacity of trustees to the
will of the deceased owner of the property.
His LORDSIIIP having expressed his opinion that the evi-
dence was conclusive,
Mr. PEARSON, who was for the defendant said, that as his
client had acted only from an anxiety to guard against pay-
ing improper parties, he hoped the Court would give him
time for the payment.
A verdict was then taken for the plaintiffs, and his Lord-
ship ordered execution in a fortnight.

RING AND °TERNS V. NEWMAN.
The Court was occupied the rest of the day in hearing this
case, which arose out of a contract for the leasing of tolls in
the county of Middlesex, between Kentish Town and Hol-
loway. The particulars were interesting only to the
parties concerned.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
QUEEN-SQUARE.
MURDER OF Mns. MUNDELL.—This case was brought
before the Coroner's Court last week, when a verdict
was given that deceased had committed suicide. Sus-
picions, however, fell upon a young woman, now in
custody, Mw the R, owning, who, it seems, had been
living with the deceased at the time of her death.
Further inquiry confirmed the suspicion of murder, and
the manner and language of the prisoner were of a
character such as allows little room for doubt who has
been guilty of the deed. The facts need not be detailed,
as they will appear in evidence. The prisoner was
brought up before Mr. Bond on Wednesday last, and
remanded till yesterday, when she was again brought into
Court. The prisoner is a good-looking young woman, of
poor condition. She seems to labour under the deepest
agony. She had to be lifted on both occasions into the
dock, where she was accommodated with a chair.
Throughout the examination yesterday she continued in
a reclining posture, her eyes shut, her features deadly
pale, seemingly unconscious of what was going on.
Her breast displayed marks such as might have been in-
flicted by herself in the agony of despair.
The first witness called to-day was Ann Gage, the
daughter of the deceased. Her evidence last week was
read over to her, which she again confirmed. She said
she lives at 11, Rochester-street, Rochester-row. She
knows the prisoner, who has lived with her mother for
the last three months. It was on Monday morning last
that she came to witness's room, and said her mother
had had a fit, and screamed out " Murder, mur-
der ! ' She (prisoner) said no person had gone
into the room, for the door was locked.
Witness rose from bed and went to deceased's lodgings.
When she went into the room she looked into the bed,
and found that empty, but afterwards saw deceased
lying on a box. A rope was fastened twice round the
throat of deceased, and her mother was then quite
dead. Since the inquest they had had reason, from the
prisoner's manner and conduct, to suspect her. On
Tuesday morning prisoner had asked her to go with her
to the corner of Bedford-street, Covent-garden, where
she expected to got some money. Witness went with
her to near the plaeo, when she was left by the prisoner
for a time. Prisoner, when she came back, said she
had got a 51. note. Next morning prisoner went over
to the " Blue-coat Boy " public-house to get change of
the note, but when she returned to witness's house
she said the gentleman had played a trick upon
her by giving her a Bank of Elegance note. Wit-
ness's husband, on this, wished to see the note,
and prisoner, after waiting a moment as if unwilling,
gave it to him. That note had marks of grease on it.
The note produced in Court is the same. Her husband,
upon seeing it, said to witness, " Your mother had two
notes like that." Witness had often seen them, and one
of those notes was marked with two spots of grease.
Mary Cheshire said she lives at 1, Providence-row,
Brewers-green, in the same house with the deceased.
On the night of the murder she was awakend by the
cry of " Murder, murder." She knows it was Mrs.
Mundell's voice. Before witness could get up, she
heard deceased cry again, " What are you doing to me?
what are you doing to me?" She went and knocked at
the door of deceased's room, but received no answer.
Knocked again, and after a time the prisoner said, ina
low voice, " Nothing is the matter.' She is certain