The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-30 00:00:00

LABOURERS.

The anniversary of the Wheathamatead Free-trade Auociation
was celebrated at the Swan Inn, Wheathamstead, on Wednesday
last. Mr. C. H. Lattimore, the Chairman of the Auociation, pre-
sided, and was supported on his right by Robert It. Moore, Esq. ;
and on his left by Lattimore, Esq., Mr. Burton, &c. The vice.
chair was occupied by the Rev. Mr. Gilbert. Between forty and
fifty farmers sat down to dinner, and the attendance of this class
would have been much larger had not the haymaking Imperatively
detained them on their farms. Many who had intended to be pre-
sent, and had purchased tickets for the dinner, were prevented
from attending by this cause.

Dinner, which consisted of an abundance and variety of season-
able viands, was served up in a tent in the yard of the Swan Inn,
and the arrangements altogether were exceedingly creditable to the
worthy host, Mr. Hewson.

After the cloth had been removed, and the usual toasts of eti-
quette given,

The CHAIRMAN proposed " Prosperity to the Wheathamstead
Free-trade Association," and in speaking to it at much length said
—Perhaps, in the first place, you will allow me to glance for a
moment at the place in which we are assembled, the population of
the village, and their usual occupation. It is impossible to find
any where a population more completely rural than exists here.
There are between 6,000 and 7,000 acres of land, the population
is about 2,000, and I don't know any description of manufacture
that is carried on here, or any machine that exists for the purpose
of any manufacture, even to the extent of a spinning-jenny.—
(Hear, hear.) If, therefore, any place can be isolated from manu-
factures, it is this. Perhaps a more perfect antithesis to the city
of Manchester cannot be found; and yet it is the opinion of
persons here that this place would be as much benefited by
free trade as even Manchester itself, and this Association has
been formed to demonstrate this conviction that the principle
of free trade would be equally as beneficial to this rural
village as to the manufacturing districts.—(Loud cheers.) Nothing
can possibly show more plainly the truth and beauty of this prin-
ciple, and its universality, than the fact that districts between which
there is such great contrariety in point of occupation should agree
to unite upon this principle; no greater proof of the truth of free
trade can be given than that a population like that of Wheatham-
stead should unite with Manchester in its favour.—(Cheers.) The
Chairman next proposed " The Anti-Corn-law League, the only
true farmers and labourers' friend."—( Drunk with applause).
ROBERT R. MOORE, Esq., responded to the toast in a long and
eloquent speech, in which he dwelt forcibly on the necessity of
attending to the registration, and suggested that the farmers
should choose a representative of their own class, who would sym.
pathise with their wants and attend to their true interests.

At the conclusion of Mr. Moore's speech the curtain at the back
of the Chairman was withdrawn, and we then observed the yard
thronged with the peasantry of the district, who had come for the
purpose of receiving their tickets for the beds awarded. The ma-
jority of the assembled multitude were women, whose husbands
were unable to attend, in consequence of being engaged in getting
in the hay harvest.
Tickets for the following articles-80 beds, 80 counterpanes,
80 pairs of sheets, and 50 ditto children's sheets—were distributed
to 210 of the most necessitous and deserving labourers.
The CHAIRMAN in rising to propose " Thanks to the Council of
the Anti-Corn-law League for the munificent present which they
had made," turned round to the peasantry and addressed them to
the following effect :—You areassembled here to receive a gift in
the shape of beds and sheets, which we find it impossible to distri-
bute to you this night. You, however, to whom the various
presents have been awarded, will receive tickets, and the beds
will be distributed this night week at six o'clock. You don't
know much about free trade except from mere report. You are
aware that population increases and employment does not ;
and you sometimes look at your children and ask your-
selves how they can be brought up honestly. I spoke
to a labourer the other day, who said that be did
not know what would become of his children, but he
hoped Gcd would help him to bring them up honestly. That was
a good feeling; it is your duty to bring up your children honestly,
and neither they nor you can be happy unless you do so. You
have no capital but your labour, and for that there is not now suffi-
cient demand or employment. We advocate that which will give
you more employment and also cheap food. We give you these
beds and other things, not as a charity—not to degrade you. We
want to elevate you. But we know your necessity, and we give
you that which you want—not to depress you—not ostentatiously
—but to do you good ; and we are very happy to be able to assist
you in this way. We shall distribute the goods without favour
or affection, or regard to sex, class, or creed. All we inquire is,
whether you are honest and industrious. We ask you to endea-
vour to promote the happiness of your families. There is a gentle-
man named Grantley Berkeley, who says that all the labourers are
poachers.—(Cries of " No, no.") Now, I say, that is not true;
I tell him from this place that that is not the case. Yon are
actuated by a better spirit. You are not only interested in
Your own happiness, but also in that of others. We have to work
for all we eat or wear, and whoever lives by idleness or dishonesty
takes away that which another man works for. And be you sure
that, if every man lived by honesty and industry, more food would
be grown, and more of everything that you want made, and all of
you would have a larger share. The Anti-Corn-law League
wishes to see you better clothed and better fed. Consider this.
People who never saw you, living hundreds of miles away, and
having only heard of you by report, take an interest in you. They
are free-traders: lam one. I believe that free trade is necessary
to your happiness. I could live without it; but I don't believe that
the rising generation will be able to do so. Whenever you look
upon those articles which will be distributed to you, let them re-
mind you of ►hat is the object of those who sympathise with your
situation.

At the suggestion of the CHAIRMAN the multitude, as an ex-
pression of their thanks, then gave three vociferous cheers for the
Anti-Corn-law League; after which,

Mr. MOORE addressed them to the following effect :—As one of
the League, I am pleased to tell you how glad I am that we are
able to make you this small present. Our wish is that every agri-
cultural labourer in the kingdom should have a comfortable bed.
We don't send them to you as a charity, but as an earnest of what
you would be able to get yourselves if there were no corn.law. We
believe that you deserve them, and that you would get them your-
selves if you could. We are convinced that we are working for
the good of the landlord, the farmer, the labourer, and every one in
the country. We say that labour does not get its own; that men
work hard and don't get fairly paid. But this is not the farmer's
fault, but that of the laws. He can't make a profit out of farming,
and so he can't pay you as he would wish to do. But if farming
were profitable he could pay you better.

The Rev. Mr. GILBERT, Independent minister of Wheatharn-
stead, then addressed the labourers as follows :—My friends, I know
most of you. I have sympathised with and endeavoured to alleviate
your distresses. You have been brought together to-night, and
have heard statements so clear and practical that you must have
been convinced by them. You will believe that what has been
spoken has come from the heart. I have been told by some that I
am out of the path of duty in taking part against the corn laws.
Now, I do not advocate the repeal of them as a political but as a
religious measure. I find the Bible condemns him "who holds
back the corn." But, if we want to get rid of the corn-laws, we
must do so in a peaceable way. We shall never get rid of them
by any other means. My friends, I hope you will sleep comfortably
upon the beds which have been given to you.
L. LATTIMORE, Esq., proposed the health of C. H. Lattimore,
the chairman, which was drunk with enthusiasm.

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks in an able and eloquent speech,
in which he showed that monopoly taxes every working man to the
extent of 2s. per week—a sum which, if accumulated till his 50th
year, would save him from the degradation and misery of a work-
house.

The meeting then quietly separated, highly pleased with the novel
and Interesting scene they had witnemed, which, there is no doubt,
has left a deep and `permanent impression upon the minds of all
elutes in the neighbourhood.

M. JULLIEN'S SECOND CONCERT MONSTER.
FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1845.
In consequence of the immense preparation necessary to give, at
the SECOND GRAND CONGRESS MUSICALE, the same eclat as
obtained at the first Concert Monster, June 20, the SECOND CON-
CERT MONSTER IS POSTPONED, and will take place on FRI-
DAY, July 11, on which occasion great Instrumental Novelties will
be produced, also several eminent artists from the provinces and
the Continent will arrive, in addition to the immense galaxy of instil:
mental talent at the first Concert Monstre.
M. Jullien begs respectfully to draw the attention of Musical
Amateurs to his announcements during the ensuing week, in which
the arrangements pending will be advertised.

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
COMBINATION OF ATTRACTIONS.
The Four Juvenile Minstrel Brothers and the Rock HarMoalcon,
FA-cry Day, from Nine till Dusk.
ROMANTIC GARDENS AND PROMENADE.
EXTENSIVE AND UNRIVALLED MENAGERIE.
COLOSSAL MODELLED REPRESENTATION OF EDINBURGH,
The Acme of Scenic Illusion.
The MINSTREL BROTHERS. from Four to Twelve Years of Age,
will perform Select Airs at intervals.
The ROCK HARMON ICON from Three till Eight.
aind on MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, and THURS-
DAYS, GRAND CONCERTS D'ETE and MAGNIFICENT
DISPLAY of FIREWORKS.
Admission, One Shilling.
Feeding the Caraivora at Half-past Five Pelicans and Polar Bears
at Six ; Concert at Half- aat Six; and Fireworks at lialf-pait Vine.