The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-03 00:00:00

T 0 THE FARMERS OF WILTS.
(From the Wiltshire Independent.)
have read in the Wiltshire Independent, and have
litnrd from other quarters, such instances of gross
oppression and flagrant injustice towards agricul-
tural labourers, made use of by their employers to
ourapel them to sign petitions in favour of the corn-
ws, and I feel so forcibly, not only the iniquity,
kit also the folly and impolicy of such conduct, that
I‘annot refrain from addressing these lines to you
gm the subject.
Wail-authenticated cases and the names of parties
Os in my possession, but I do not by any means
ish to expose them. It is very possible, indeed, if
ese practices are persevered in, that it may become
cessary, hereafter, to do so. At present, I will
0 ly argue the matter abstractedly, and endeavour to
pc.t before you such reasons, as I think, ought to
weigh with you to abstain from anything like com-.
fulsion.
1. The labourer is a free-man, and has as good
s.right to his opinion on the subject, as any one
of you. He is, in no respect, bound to follow
your opinions, and to act under your directions in
anything, except in matters connected with his ser-
'eke. Signing a petition with reference to the corn-
w. cannot in any way be so considered.
2. The labourer has an immediate and direct in-
Ili:est in the matter. My belief, indeed, is, that the
repeal of the corn, laws would be as beneficial to you
,to him ; but his interest is more evident. He is a
eo,Aluner ; you are both consumers and producers;
DI% interest in having what he consumes abundant
and cheap is palpable, and he knows it. Why should
he not be at liberty to express his opinion ? Stillmore,
yr.hy should he be called upon to express a contrary
one ?

A. It is your manifest interest to promote and en-
soiLrage morality in your labourers, and especially
to discourage falsehood and lying; but when you
urge a man to put his name to the expression of an
covnion, contrary to that be really entertains, you
Inge 3aim to commit a deliberate falsehood in the
foTmal manner. How can you, after this, blame
bi-n, if on any other occasion he lies to you ?
I would ask what you gain by this? , Nothing
Ist the expression of an opinion, which you know to
be insincere, and which your employers and land-
sort is, if you are candid with them, also know to be so.
Again, I would ask, what , you • lose by this ?
The ,respect and good opinion of your men. How can
a man respect one who, for his own purposes, urges
or compels another to tell a deliberate lie ?
6. But this is not all you lose. The men,
bowing, as they all, I believe, well know, that the
tor.--laws are most injurious to them, being so called
bpc naturally suspect that you must have
pots e view or object detrimental to them; or, at the
least, that you are indifferent about their wel-
. .cask every farmer in Wilts, and in the South
• Enp,litiAl, whether there exists between him and
labourefs such cordiality as could neutralise that
Suspicion ; or prevent its being highly dangerous ?
.3ut it may be said that you have a right to employ
im you like, and to give what wages you like ; to dis-
eaks% those who do not agree with you about the corn-
kwv, or to give to them lower wages. True—the
tight you have ; whether it be just or proper to
exercise it, is another question. And, on the other
luta, the men have a clear right to stick to their own
opinion and if they prefer doing so to accepting the
11/S.ges Of falsehood and iniquity, to take your dis-
missal. Would the boards of guardians refuse to
admit them, with their families, into the workhouses,
because they had refused to sign their names to a lie ?
I throw out these things for your consideration,
ead I think they are deserving your attention. I
Ilia to say nothing to irritate or annoy. I have
ess ,desire to expose the names of any who have
acted. as I think, so unjustifiably. But I will do
*Cat I can to save the labouring men from oppression
• injustice; acd I care not whom I may offend, or
urilat offence I may give, if it is necessary to do so
for that'purpose.
To conclude : Be just and fair—Do unto others as
aratt would that others should do to you. Keep your
opinions and act upon them, if you please; but let
yclr labourers keep theirs. You probably know my
("pinion, that your landlords have no right to coerce
ycu; in the same way, you have no right to coerce
your labourers. Act on these principles, which are
the principles of justice and truth, and take my word
for it that you will never have cause to repent of so
doing. RADNOR.
Grosvenor-street, May 28, 1844.

DISSENTIENT ON THE LANCAS-
TER RAILWAY BILL.
1. Because the reasons' assigned by the Commons are
wholly insufficient. They proceed mainly on a gross and
palpable error in law; namely, the assumption that there is
in law a difference between Raiiyvay Bills and Road Bills,
whereas a Railway Bill is to all inte2ts and purposes a Road
Bill, unless in so far as some special proNlsion may have been
made for Railway Bills in some particulars, and it is not
pretended, that the amendment in question came within the
*cope of any such provisions.
2. Because in so far as it is alleged, that the gates sought
to be erected, were not on the railway, but on another road,
th.tt road was most materially affected by the railway, its
traffic being very greatly di:mnished, and the road becoming
more like an occupation or private road than a turnpike-
rond,‘lind the gates were only to be erected after the comple-
tion of the railway.
. Because, in so far as want of notice is alleged, the like
leave to erect gates has been given in former instances, by
pri /ate Acts of Parliament, without any such notice.
4. Because ti'e projectors of the present Bill had agreed to
leave such a clause inserted, as a condition of the intended
oprosition being withdrawn ; and had represented that they
hat. stated the clause to many—it was said fourteen persons
..--teveral of whom were turnpike trustees of the old road in
qtt .stion.
. Because whether the Commons were right or wrong,
Pei clause having been made a condition made to the
Art tdrawing opposition, the refusal to agree to the amend-
tnen t ought to have been regarded by this House as a ter-
tion of the contract, whatever might be the cause of
much „refusal ; and the party who had made the contract in
Layout of the Bill, on the condition of the clause passing,
should. _have been 'let in to oppose the Bill; or, if that. could
no longer be done in this stage, the Bill ought not to have
be' , passed without his consent, which should have been
ob Lined on some other equivalent condition.
0,. Becauie it is of the utmost importance to prevent frauds,
▪ to protect individuals from the most grievous oppression,
the t the most perfect good faith be always kept between pro-
jet ors of works, applying for private Acts of Parliament, to
are t them with extraordinary powers, and private parties
Wir I,vhoin they bargain respecting their assent or opposi-
tie lAD such Bills.
Because the projectors of this work undertook to have
the clause passed, and this was part of their bargain with the
pri -ate parzv, and if they had bad fairly applied to the road
this tees, and given them due notice, no deception could have
been practised, and'no objection could have been taken, either
by tt e trustee; or the Commons. •
. Because all that was asked in the Lords, when the pre-
Ism., n otion was made, was a delay which could not possibly
have p •eximted the Bill from passing by the space of above
one day tin(' the delay was asked on the express ground,
that mat mai evidence was ready to be produced which must
have affe.-ted the question, whether the Commons' amend-
ments slioVd he agreed to or not.
t). Becatta.• the Bill was thus, in an unprecedented manner,
hurried throe •h, in the face of a notice given in the House
that a Select Committee would immediately be moved for,
to consider what had been the conduct of the prompters of
the Bill, grave allegations being made that the opposition
lta ' been originated either by them or in consequence of
the it proceedings, in entire breach of their contract with the
pri 'ate party.
7. ). Because this House has never, even in its legislative
caps city, decided without Bearing, unless where the matter
iin question was realty a cover for some patty proceeding, and
Was not the true subject of deliberation: But in its judicial,
a cues i judicial capacity, and when dealing with rights of
propert v and claims of parties interested, it has never, save
in this h tstance, decided without hearing those parties. ,
BROUGHAM.

TO TH. 0 EDITOR OF THE SUN.
may be interesting to many of your readers
to learn that the' young surgeon, Mr. Pollock, who
op rated in the case of cancer on Sir Charles Metcalfe,
is - son of General Pollock (India), and nephew of
tho Chief Barun.—l remain, Sir, your humble servant,
City, May 31, 1844. M. B.

STATE OF CRIME IN FRANCE.-The Minister of
attuice has just presented to the King the' report-On cri-
nges., justice for 1842. We learn from it that the de-
crease, in the number of charges before the different
CourtS of Assize, which was shown by the re-
port far 1841, as compared with -the four pre-
ceding years, was in nearly the same propOrtion in
1042. In 1840, the number was 6,004 ; in 1841,
; and in 1812, 5,104. In 1841, the decrease
wf .s in the number of charges of crimes against property.
wi .ilst those against the person had increased, but in 1842
bed) descriptions of grimes were diminished in an almost
equal degree. The number of persons involved in the accu-
sations of 1842 was 6,953, being 509 less than in 1841, and
1,273 loss :than in 1840. Of the 6,953 persons brought to
trial in 1842,._2,236 were accused of crimes against the
person, and 4,c 17 against property. Of the total num-
ber of 649453, 5, 716 were males, and 1,237 females. The
chief crimes of .the latter were infanticide, abortion mur-
der by poison, do:vestic robbery, and arson. Eighty-two
of the ,6.953 had nct attained their sixteenth year; 1,192
were beoveen,l6,and 21 years of age, 1,032 between 21
so
25, 1,198 ,between .25 and 30, 1,752 between 30 and
40, 1,037 between 40 and 50, 398 between 50 and 60,
208 between 60 and 70,,And, 54 more than 70 years
of age. About one-sixtpf the. total number were
h
without any oceupation, am living in a- state of idle-
-8 were
15( ss and habitual vice ; of the remainder, 1,
en gaged in business of some sort on their .73
own Be-
co .int; the others were workmen, se;vants, day labourers,
&c ; 3,626 were wholly without education ; 2,283 could
real and write in an. inferior degree; 805 were suffi-
cieWlY.Verbed; in these: arts •to turn them to account ;
an,l x'39 had4•eceived a superior education. Large as the
number of uneducated persons brought to trial
in 1842 was, ;there is_a gradual ditninutiOn in this class.
In 1838, 1839, and 1840, it was in the proportion of 56
per cent.; in 1841, it was 54 per cent. ; and in 1842, 52
per cent. 2,237 of We 6,953 were acquitted; 4,646 were
condemned to various punishments—viz., 42 to death ;
174 to imprisonment wish hard labour for life ; 918 to
the same punishment for b. certain number of years; 858
to solitary imprisonment ; 140 civil degradation • 2,106 to
oc.linary imprisonment for a term not exceeding one
3" ar;-.567 to ono year and under; and 9 to fines. Forty-
sot le, under sixteen years of age, were 1-quitted as
Ravi ng acted without disco eat% 14 were' given' up
to their parents ; and others were placed in peniten-
tiary ,schools. UV-

,TT:q
J. 14 simbl t!oiiL7 ounit

Li t!

I t;113

SCHOOLMASTERS' ASSOCIATION.
On Friday the adjourned meeting of schoolmasters
was held at the Green Man, George-street, Westminster.
Mr. Jones in the Chair.

The SECRETARY (Mr. MONDAY) read the minutes of
the last meeting.
The C4AiximA.N stated that since the last meeting he
had had conversations with influential persons connected
with the profession, and he had received from all the
greatest ericofiragement for the proposed Association.
The Committee had considerable difficulty in framing a
s,t of rules for the government of the Society, but he
had no doubt that in the course of a few days they
would be able to lay before the general body of teachers
a plan which would embrace the interest of all, and pre-
sent no obstacle to the scruples of any.
Mr. BARRE said that since the last meeting he had
had conversations with several persons interested in the
welfare of the profession. Amongst others with clergy-
men of high dignity in the Church, who stated to him
that they were surprised that such an association was
commenced now for the first time. He moved that the
Committee be allowed the interval to Wednesday next
to prepare a wort upon which the Society shall be
founded.

Mr. PARTON seconded the resolution, and said as the
olject of the projected Association was so comprehensive
and benevolent, that he could have no doubt the Com-
mittee would be supported by a largo majority of the
profession. It was well known to all present, that some
of the most deserving persons, having filled the import-
ant stations of teachers to hundreds of the children of
working classes, or presided over the education of young
nobility, have passed the remainder of their lives in ex-
treme indigence and neglect.
The resolution was agreed to unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. CEATON, seconded by Mr. LONG
a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the Chairman
for his judicious conduct in the chair.
The meeting then adjourned till Wednesday next.

HOSPITAL for CONSUMPTION and
DISEASES of the CHEST.

Yesterday morning a sermon on behalf of this excel-
lent charity was preached at the Church of St. Nicholas,
North Brixton, by the Lord Bishop of Winchestei. The
Learned Prelate, in the course of a very eloquent address,
adverted to the printed address circulated among the
congregation, as follows :
" There is scarcely a disease of any severity which
does not find ready admission into the wards of our
general hospitals, and many complaints of comparatively
rare occurrence and trifling importance have institutions
specially devoted to their treatment ; but consumption,
the most frequent and destructive malady in existence,
finds the doors of all our hospitals closed against it.
" The plea on which the consumptive patient is re-
fused admission into other institutions is, the lingering
nature and almost 'certain fatality of his disease. But
these very peculiarities give him the strongest claim on
our sympathy; for when the poor man falls ill, the very
sources of his subsistence are dried up ; acute diseases
impoverish and embarrass him, but chronic diseases
ruin him ; those who are dependent upon his exertions
share his destitution, and are prevented from earning
theirown livelihood by the necessity of ministering to
his wants.

"To provide him with an asylum, to surround him with
the comforts of which he stands so much in need, to
ensure him relief from the sufferings entailed by his
disease, to afford him spiritual consolation, at a period
when the mind is perhaps best adapted to receive with
benefit the divine truths of religion, and to enable those
who depend upon him to earn their own subsistence, are
the great objeets proposed to be accomplished by this
iit-w hospital.
." The following statement will show the magnitude of
the evil which this institution was formed to remedy.
Of the 60,000 deaths which occur every year in England
and Wales from slow and lingering diseases, about
36,000 are probably due to pulmonary consumption.
One-ninth, therefore, of the total mortality at all ages,
and more than one-fifth of the mortality of adults is due
to this cause ; and as the duration of the disease, taking
one case with another, is about two years, it follows that
about 72,00) persons are constantly suffering from con-
sumption, being at the rate of four persons in every thou-
sand of all ages, and eight in every thousand adults.
"Again, of the 45,000 deaths occurring every year in
the metropolis, about 5,600, or one-eighth of the total
mortality of the metropolis at all ages, and little less
than one-fifth of the mortality of adults, arises from this
fatal disease : and upwards of 11,000 persons, being
about one in 170 of the entire population of the me-
tropolis, and more than one per cent. of the Adults, are
constantly wasting away under the attacks of this
lingering malady.
" Of these 10,000 cases, about three-fourths occur in
males, of whom a large proportion are working men,
unable to provide for themselves and families, systema-
tically excluded from our general hospitals, and uniting
in their own persons every conceivable claim to sympathy
and assistance. It may be well to add that many— very
many—of these poor sufferers are the acknowledged
victims of unventilated workshops, ill-constructed dwell-
ings, vitiated atmosphere, long hours of work, and the
want of open places for exercise and recreation ; so that
they may fairly claim from their richer brethren not
sympathy only, but compensation for the injury which
their neglect has inflicted upon them.
" To all who have felt the power of the destroyer, or
who have reason to fear his attack—and what family
throughout the country has not had sad experience of
his presence?—an earnest appeal is now made, in the
full assurance that those who give their support to this
institution will combine the work of mercy with that of
justice, and aid in furthering as many important objects
as are found united in any charitable institution."

The sum collected at the conclusion of the sermon
amounted to 62L ss. 7d. Another collection for the
same laudable purpose was made in the afternoon after
an impressive sermon preached by the Rev. Townsend
Duffield.