The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-05 00:00:00

t. n:

Arvak, Tho Mee of fend has risen ; are the wages of the
labouring man rising P No, on the contrary, they are falling. I
numerous districts the symptoms of coming distress have
all -ady been to be observed. The manufacturers are work-
r short time. Warned by the signs of the past year, they
lc v well what is coming, and are looking forward with
! ay forebodings to the disappearance of the comforts
v h the working people have enjoyed, and the return of
the distress of 1841. If this, then, does not make us wise,
we are beyond all teaching. Twice in ten years we have
seen the price of corn getting up, and twice the condition
of the labouring classes has become so much the worse ;
twice in that period have we seen the price of food going
twice the condition of the labouring people ris-
ing.—(Hear, and applause.) If this calamity await us,
however, there Is at least one circumstance which affords
some wiz/illation. lam assessed, that in the manufacturing
districts the working classes have come to understand
Sas question ; and there is now no danger that any per-
son can *suede them that those who wish for cheap food
wish to injure them ; or, on the other hand, that those
who wish for dear bread wish to raise their wages. We may
now expect their co-operation to place the matter upon a
proper footing. In some quarters we have to congratulate
ourselves upon our union with those who are best fitted to
lead us; as also our union with a great population, whose
support behind us will be of immense value.—(Great ap-
plause.) A few years ago, when we had to discuss this ques-
tion, the friends of free trade were divided amongst them-
selves, until a statesman of great reputation adopted the idea
of compromising the matter by a fixed duty ; and behind we
were assailed by others who were disqualified by the efforts
of designing men from forming a judgment upon the question.
NOW, I believe. there is a complete and harmonious union ;
and, with the power of the aristocracy in our front, we shall
have the best support of the labouring classes in our rear.
So led, and so followed, we may look forward to the victory,
if not in this, at all events in the next Parliament. But how
long soevtr it may be delayed—whether near or remote—
I assure you that, while I enjoy your confidence, it shall be
my constant endeavour, as respects this question, to prove
myself your trusted representative. (Mr. Macaulay con-
cluded by proposing a resolution to the effect that the corn-
laws pressed with especial severity on the poorer classes.)
The Hon. Member sat down amidst loud and protracted
-hewing.
Mr. JagEs M‘Linsm, Master of the Merchant Company,
seconded the motion.

Mr. RUTHJIRFORD, M.P., after a brief speech, moved that
the following memorial be presented to her Majesty :

" TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
The Petition of the Inhabitants of Edinburgh in public
meeting assembled,
" Humbly showeth—That your Majesty's petitioners have
aeard with pain the accounts from all quarters of the coun-
try, of the extraordinary failure in the crop of an article of
rood, on which millions of your Majesty's subjects mainly
subsist, and they cannot contemplate without alarm the con-
dition ofsuffering to which multitudes may in consequence be
reduced. To mitigate this calamity, your petitioners hoped
that your Majesty's advisers would ere this have assembled
Parliament, in order to give facility for procuring supplies of
food from other countries, by removing all restrictions from
its importation. In this they have as yet been disappointed.
" May it therefore please your Majesty, to direct such mea-
aures to be taken, without delay, by assembling Parliament,
or otherwise, "as may be calculated to avert the menaced
scarcity and distress, by an immediate opening of the ports
for the admission of forei grain.
" And your Majesty's petitioners will ever pray."
The LORD PROVOST announced that the memorial would
be seconded by the gallant Commodore Sir C. Napier.
Sir. C. NAVIER was received with several rounds of ap-
plause. 'He said—My Lord Provost, ladies, and gentlemen,
because till the present moment the ladies have been forgot-
ten—(Cheers and laughter)—l have attended many public
meetings, but I can safely say that I never in my life at-
tended cue with more pleasure and satisfaction than this
glue meeting, assembled in the capital of the land of my fore-
fathsrs.—(Cheers.) In this town I was bred and educated,
and I now come back, happily, at a moment to assist the in-
habitants of Edinburgh to use their best endeavours to force
the Government to save the people from famine and starva-
tion.—(Cheers.) At such a moment I cannot understand how
any Government, especially any Government composed of
sensible men—(Laughter)—because we must allow that there
are many men in our present Government who are so—
(Cheers)—can be holding their Cabinet Councils—and I be-
lieve at the present moment they are holding their ninth
meeting to deliberate whether the people should have dear or
cheap food.—( Loud cheers.) I have at various times been
called on to pledge myself for total repeal of the corn-laws ;
but until the present moment, though I have constantly
voted for Mr. Tilliers's motion for repeal in preference to a
sliding-scale, I have hitherto refrained from pledging myself
unreservedly to total repeal. But the time has now come
when all squabbling about fixed duties should entirely come
to an end.—(Lnid and continued cheering.) Neither is it
sufficient to open the ports for the present moment only; as
Mr. Cobden truly says, we must put our backs against the
door, and prevent its ever being shut again.—(Great cheer-
ing.) The arguments of my friends the Members for Edin-
burgh and Leith were so conclusive as to have rendered it
almuft presumption in me to say a single word. (The Gal-
laqt Commodore sat down amid loud cheers.)
Sir G. Macrtiensoa GRANT moved a vote of thanks to the
Lord Provost for calling and presiding over the meeting,
which was cordially responded to.
The saieeting, which had continued undiminished in num-
hens and eethusiasm to the close, then broke up.