The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-11 00:00:00

Inctatioas..been reattseri, and it a`:.bg_ been
change might be hazardous; but, sit was,.-his-
dered change desirable. But, 141'e/it otherwise—Were the e
for whom they pleaded either mantifactorgrs -or others of :the
working class, not equally entitled to protection :by the law,
and were they to droop and die becahse others had been fix-
ceived? But who said, for instance, thiii.ibe cultiiatot of the
land required this irjustice to the community for hi's protec-
tion ? Was it he who, from his extensive experience in agri •
culture, from his great possessiens as a landowner, and his
high character as a nobleman, placed him at the head of that
Society which professed to exist for the improvement of agri-
culture—he meant Lord Spencer?—(Great cheering.) No ;
they had lately heard his opinions, and he bad avowed them in
public and in private for ten years before, ar.d declared them to
be, useless for agriculture, delusive to the farmer, and prejudi-
cial to the people,—(Cheers.) Wasit he, whose vast p isses-
tions gave great authority to his well-timed fetter and munifi-
cent gift to the fend of the League? No ; for'his letter con-
tains the denial. Was it he whom Professor 13uckland, in the
presence of Sir Bobert Peel, at the dinner at Trtmwerth.
said was an example • to the landlo,d and the farmer, for
his intelligent treatment of his property ?—he meant I.::rd
Ducie.—(Cheers.) No; be is a member of, and a
contributor to, the Anti-Coin-law League. There is rnoilier
nobleman said to be a practical firmer, and of prinoely pos-
sessions, he meant the Duke of Bedford; and he was friendly
to the repeal of these laws.—(Cheers.) In short, wherever
they found a clear head and a clear estate combined, there
Clew ustialiv found a friend ; but wherever both were muddled
these laws were clung to.—( Heir.) What was it that they
heard of the farmer himself? North, south; east, and nest,
there was nothing but complaint of the depressed condition
of the British farmer. lle was in the predicament Cf a men
who had made en improvieent bargain, and wa; unable to
extricate himself.—( flear. ) Judging from his own account,
it would be dithcult to suppose • hat any- change could injure
his condition, but it was the labourer's lot on which they de-
lighted to dwell.---( Hear, and laughter.) . Oh, if they were
in the House of Gammons when the corn-laws were discussed,

how good, and kind, and benevolent to the poor, would
they think the majority of that House, who maintained these
laws !—( Hear, and laughter.) From the beginning to the
end the poor were the subjects of their care ; the simple pur-
pose, as it was alleged, of supporting these laws, was cn
their account ; and they remembered at this time last year,
the touching description given at the dinner of the airset-
shire squires, of their condition in that county—how happy
and contented they were, and •how they-loved the poor, and
how the poor loved them ; and the poetic description given of
them by Mr. Bank-. And they remembered how, a few
short months afterwards, this paradise was described by the
Queen's Commissioners sent to investigate the matter ; and
how much more like another place they represented it.—
Laughter. ) But with all this professed interest in his fate,
what was his own story ? The condition of the agrigultural
districts told it. It was the old sad argument of ignorance and
despair, and hideous Crime against society--the-destruction
of p.operty near-) Were these, theist, thg, exist ing
interests that afforded the tufficient excuse for the continuarue
of this injustice ?—( Hear, hear.) But if it were still thought
by some that there would be use in offering some compromise
of their claim, his answer was that the experiment bad already
been made. It had been made by I ord John Russell under

circumstances which, if ever justifiable, was at-that time.
There was much less knowledge and much less feeling on the
subject then than there is now, and the landlords were
strong in consequence of that ignorance. And how was
that proposition, so favourable as regarded them received?
They were scouted, derided, and the most daring things said
in favour of the law and about his motives; and he (Mr.
Villiers) trusted he would never repeat the proposition—
for he must now see that the arivocracy would nut accept
his fixed duty, that the reopl4 at large were in favour
of the trade being flee, and that he could not get rid
of the present scale without popular support.—(Loud
cheering.) It was therefore his ( Mr. Villiers') firm con.
viction that the honest and just course was the most attainable.
—( Cheers.) He had no interest in expressing this opinion, if
he did not believe it. He had never served on interest by ad-
vocating rereal; and could he believe that the condition of the
country could be equally improved by maintaining the law, arid
that its repeal was unattainab;e, he would be silent in future.
( Hear.) As tar, however, as he could judge there was nothing
to favour this idea. From every quarter the League appeared
to receive encouragement. They were now must judiciously
visiting the cons.ittieneies, and they had gone nowhere among
them without rroducirg a deep impression of the truth and
justice of their cause.—( Cheers. ) And when it was con
sidered that these were the sources of the power by which the
. .

law might be repealed, the prospect was (leering :of their &cli-
mate success.—( Cheers.) The electors of this kingdom vi ere,
in fact, comparatively few; they did not excQ• d four or five
hundred thousand ; and, judging by the conversion they lad
already effected, there was little reaaon for despair.
( Cheers.) There was no power in the country more likely

to achieve the object than a permanent, persevering, untiring
body; such as the body of men of the League had proved
themselves to be. Their objects were defined, and their cha-
racters established, and they had little reason to be diverted
from their purpose; nor would they do justice to the cause
if they gaite any het I to the silly slanders, or the foul calum-
nies that were propagated by their opponents.—(Cheers.) Ile
would only add, that if that meeting were satisfied that the
League had done much, and were capable of doing more ;
and that by extending the agitation they would finally succeed,
it was clear that they must do mete than express their ap-
proval ; and, to use the words of Lord Westminster, they
" must contribute aid more in the shape of solid pudding than
in words of praise." They must now trust for success to the
continuance of. the efforts of the League, and they must no:
suffer the Lsague to linger for want of means.—( Hear. )
Their expenditure was great, and their funds should be equal
to their ohjects.—(Cheers. ) Had their powers been more
extended hitherto, the agitation would be nearer to its close at
present.--( Hear.) Had twenty Cadens and twenty Brights
been in the field at once, the impression which they had pro-
duced wherever they had been, would now have been general
tin oughout the ecuutry. He believed that a contribution to
the League was seed set upan the rock which would bring
fruit in its time; and if not, might console those who had
given, that they had prometed that best deed of charity, rot
only to re.ieve distress as it exists, but to prevent its occur-
rence. For his own part he would say, that whatever sinal
service he could render to the cauee should r ver be at their
c mmand, and he could only say that had he the same strength
and leisure arid power, he should be quite ready to pursue the
same eon as as his distinguished friend Mr. Cobden was doing,
wle in he hoped thty w.'re about to hear. The lion. Mem-
b..l resumed his seat amid the long-continued applause of the
meeting.
Mr. Coanets, M.P., was next called upon, and was received
with lou I cheers and waving of handkerchiefs. He congra-
tulated the meeting on the speech they had just heard, and
said, having their h ader in this question amongst them, it was
only due to hint to offer hint all the encouragement in their
power. Condderirg the position in society which he held,
there were few men, unless made of very s ern stuff indeed,
could hare pursued the straightforward, undeviating, and con-
sistent course which had marked his conduct on this question.
Let them hope that in these times, when his political virtue would
be put to a harder trial st.ll, to resist compromises and fTers
of all kinds to stave off lull jitsfice—let them hope that i.e
these times he would find support and encouragement to carry
ham through. lie would state most sincerely that so long as
the conducting of this question in the House of Commons re-
mained in the hands of Mr. Villiers, he should have it.c,most
implicit confidence in its safety--( Hear)—and he might. add,
of any future Government which undertook the settlement of
this question—that the confidence with which they treated Mr.
Villiers would be no had test of the confidence which it de-
served at the hands of the eountrv.—( Loud cheers.) After
entering at some length into the yin-. s' ion of repeal, the lion.
Member concluded as f Blows:—My lion. Friend (the Chair-
man) has said something of hick I would say a word. lam
' not much of a casuist, and I must bear in mind that he will
have this opportunity of rep). immediately I sit down : hut
he said he would be snore thankful for repeal to Whigs than
Tories. —( Laughter.) Ido not pretend to say how much we
should be thankful to this or that party for that which we claim
as a right, but if I might express an opinion, I think we gene-
rally give the greatest amount of gratitude for favours when
they come from quarters least expecteci.—(Laughter and ap-
plause.) Now, 1 must confess, that I don't expect Sir Robert
Peel to repeal the corn-laws. lam not quite sure that Lord
John will do that either, but perhaps my friend Mr. Cheetham
will do that kindness for us, as he is the conscience-keeper of
that party.—(Laughter.) But though we will not put in the
scales to try the exact amount of gratitude we should give to
either party, this I will say, that the League don't cafe a rush
from what party they have it.—(Applause.) Therefore, don't
let any man suppose his opinions will be outraged by joining the
League —( Hear.) I have frequently thought it over, and Ido
not think there is a single question we could incorporate with
the corn law agitation, but it would scatter us to the winds.—
( Hear.) It would make us a rope of sand.—( Hear.)
,Mr. Cob-
den referred to the letter of the Marquis of Westminster, and
the effect it was producing. He congratulated the Member for
Ashton on the support given him to-night by his constituents,
and said he had no doubt it would be to the people of Ashton
themselves a triumph tha they had contributed so largely to
the settlement of this great world's question.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. R. R. Moons,: then announced the fo lowing subscrip-
tions : Last year. This ytar.
Robert Ashton, Dukinfield Hall £lOO £5OO
Robert Lees and Sons, Dukinfield
Thomas Ashton, Flowery-field 2OO ... 400
J. 13. Rayner, Esq , Ashton lOO ... 300
.1. Whittaker and Sons, Hurst
W. Bayley and Brothers, Staleybridge lOO ... 300
S. Ashton, Pule Bank lOO ... 300
G. Cheetharn and Sons, Staleybridge lOO ... 300
Nath. Barkley and Sons, Carr-hill 2OO
Robert Platt, Staleybridge
Abel Buckley, Ryecroft 5O ... 100
J. S. Buckley, Ryecroft.... 5O .. 100
Charles Howard, Hyde lOO ... 100
Richard Matley lOO ... 100
The total subscription was ultimately announced to be
4,3881. 2s. 4id. The announcement was received with tre-
mendous applause.
Mr. J. CIIEETHA m moved a vote of thanks to the Hon. C.
P. Villiers, the Deputation, and the League.—Carried.
Col. 'THOMPSON acknowledged the compliment; and after a
vote of thanks by Mr. Cobden, to the Chairman, the meeting
separated.

The railroad from Naples to Caresta was opened on
the 11th ult.

GREAT FOOT-RACE OF 100 YARDS.—The long-
talked-of running match between John Smith and Willox, a
first-rate peclertrian, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, came off yes-
terday near the Bull Inn, Whetstone, about a mile and a half
this side of Barnet. The race was for 501. aside, the distance
100 yards, and Willox the favourite. So sanguine, Indeed,
were the friends of the latter, that 5 and 6 to 4 were freely
offered on heavy odds, which were increased to 7 to 4, and in
one instance to 2 to I, as the time for the race approached.
The start was deferred until nearly five o'clock, when a gallant
race took place. Smith dashed off on the signal being given,
with half a yard advantage in the start, and his opponent tried
his utmost, but ineffectually, to overtake him. Smith retained
the lead at the most extraordinary speed, and won by three
yards. There was a very large assemblage of sporting men on
the gr 'und, and, as betting was brisk, a very considerable sum
must have changed owners.
ROYAL FREE lIOSPITAL.--A quarterly general
meeting of the Governors of the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's
Inn-road, was held on Tuesday, the Rev. Dr. Worthington in
the chair. The Rev. R. C. Packman, the Secretary, read
the Report, which commenced by calling attention to the un-
precedented extent of destitution which has prevailed of late
in the metropolis, and the determination of the Committee 'to
apply all the means at their disposal to the alleviatirM of every
case of destitution, accompanied by disease,
which had pre-
sented itself at the doors. The Committee also acknowledgedwith gratitude a number of munificent donations :--=The Queen
Dowager, 100 guineas ; the King of Hanover, 300 guineas,;
and Mr. J. H. Puget, of Messrs. Puget and Bainbridge 'a
Bank, 300 guineas, in three separate donations of 103 guineas
each. Ile was prompted by a benevolent wish toservte theand
charity, and to stimulate others to the same charitable act,
each subscription was given as a challenge
receipt of 300 guineas in addition to the e—
-3.• given by Mr.
Puget.—(Cheers.) The three gentleman Kin who an nob
gsce ly "took
ownadsitte, Mr. Richard
on
that some other person should do the same—the the
up the glove " were, Mr. H y t Ina rt ehsea let
"P. D. The total receipts for
and general funds were 2,3731. The number of persons
Comins, and an anonymous subtsheerilbaeert,
three
eemr
etehteheinteititahles
building
relieved during the quarter were as follow ; —Admitted into
the wards, 251 ; accidents, 70; out-patients, 5,565.